THE GC7ATS. 



103 



these the one shown in fig. 180, the Wilde- 

 beest of the colonists (C. gnu), is the com- 

 monest. The head resembles in a measure 

 that of a small buffalo; the horns, which are 

 placed near one another and are present in 

 both sexes, are twisted first outwards and 

 downwards and then upwards and forwards, 



and finally end in sharp points. The ears 

 are of moderate size, there is a tuft of stiff 

 hairs on the nose, another on the throat; a 

 short stiff mane similar to that of the zebras 

 runs along the neck from the nape to the 

 shoulders. Tufts of hair also hang from the 

 breast, and the tail, which is moderately long, 





Fig. 180.— The Wildebeest or White-tailed Gnu {Catoblepas gnu). 



is bushy. The body is pretty long, the legs 

 strong and of moderate length, the hoofs 

 broad and high. The nostrils can be com- 

 pletely closed ; the small eyes have an expres- 

 sion of wild savagery. The general colour 

 is a dark brownish-gray; the eyebrows and 

 the hair on the lips are white. The animal is 

 of about the size of an ass. Large flocks of 

 it inhabit the plains of Africa south of the 

 equator. From all other antelopes it is dis- 

 tinguished by its alternately roguish and 

 frolicsome, but frequently also sullen and 

 savage disposition. The colonists were right 

 when they bestowed upon it the name of 

 "wild cattle." It is now often seen in our 

 menageries, but its outbursts of fury always 

 make it dangerous to its keepers. 



The Goats. 



The group of the goats (Caprida) is dis- 

 tinguished by the structure of the horns. 

 These have solid bony cores, and the horny 

 sheath is bent backwards and laterally com-, 

 pressed, so as to form an edge, and has 

 knobs or tubercles arranged transversely in 

 the form of rings. Both sexes carry horns, 

 but those of the female are always smaller 

 than those of the male, and are like those 

 of the young he-goats. The goats almost 

 always have a beard at the chin. They 

 have neither tear-pits nor inguinal or inter- 

 digital glands. The short tail with two lines 

 of hairs and naked on the under surface is 

 usually carried erect. The large hard hoofs 



