NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 39 



region, and only a few scattered bands still exist. Nearly- 

 all of the specimens now living in captivity were born in 

 captivity, for both species of Gnu take kindly to life in 

 parks and gardens. 



Every way considered, the Gnu is an animal of odd and 

 remarkable form. It has a nose of strange shape, its 

 horns are curiously formed, the hair on its head and neck 

 exhibits various peculiarities, and its hips are oddly mod- 

 eled. Its long, ' flowing tail is so horse-like that for many 

 years this animal was pictured and popularly known as the 

 "Horned Horse." 



The White-Bearded Gnu, (Connochaetes albojubatus), is 

 noticeably larger than the white-tailed species, and in some 

 respects it presents a finer appearance. Its bulk is con- 

 siderably greater, and its color is more pleasing. This spe- 

 cies bears a strong resemblance to the third species, which 

 is known as the Brindled or Blue Gnu, (Connochaetes tau- 

 rines), from which the former is distinguished by its white 

 mane and jaw-tufts, and generally paler color. At wide 

 intervals the White-Bearded species inhabits southern East 

 Africa, from about S. Lat. 23°, to the Albert Nyanza and 

 Lake Rudolph, but chiefly near the coast. In only one 

 locality do we learn of its occurrence west of the 30th me- 

 ridian. To-day it is most numerous in German East Africa 

 and the southern portions of Uganda. 



The Addax Antelope, (Addax naso-maculatus) , is a spiral- 

 horned antelope which inhabits the southern edge of the 

 Sahara Desert from Dongola quite across Africa to Senegal. 

 Its extremely broad and spreading hoofs betoken a dweller 

 upon sand, and are strongly suggestive of the snow-shoe 

 hoofs of the caribou. It is said that this animal is not to 

 be taken without making a journey into the desert, with 

 camels. 



The Leucoryx Antelope, (Oryx leucoryx), is the only 

 member of its genus which has curved horns. Because of the 

 length and very slight curvature of the horns, this species 

 has by some writers been spoken of as the Sabre Antelope, 

 and by a mischievous perversion that name has been turned 

 into "Sable" Antelope, which refers to a totally different 

 creature, (Hippotragus niger). Anyone who places an order 

 for the purchase of a real Sable Antelope, and receives a 

 Leucoryx instead of Hippotragus niger, is profoundly dis- 

 appointed. 



This species is a desert habitant, and its home is the desert 

 recrion of North Africa from Dongola to the Senegal coun- 



