NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



were considered to be valueless, and were left upon 

 the veld. 



Fifteen years ago in Natal good pairs of horns 

 were in great demand at ^^lo per pair. At the 

 present time they are selling at ^i los. to £2. 



The Black Wildebeest is noted for its great speed, 

 powers of endurance and tenacity to life. 



When brought to bay by dogs they fight fiercely, 

 and use the sharp upturned points of their horns 

 to great advantage. 



In captivity the males are very pugnacious, and 

 furiously attack any man or animal that might 

 intrude into their paddocks. Instances are on 

 record of men being thus gored to death. 



On the advent of the breeding season the males 

 fight viciously with one another. In fact, when not 

 feeding or resting, they are nearly always either 

 sparring with each other or prodding the ground 

 with their upturned horns. 



The calves are born usually in December after 

 a gestation period of eight to eight and a half months. 

 Although the calf begins to nibble grass and Karoo- 

 bush wheH a week old, the mother continues to 

 suckle it for seven or eight months. 



In the early days before these animals had learned 

 by bitter experience to regard man as a dangerous 

 enemy, they showed great curiosity, and acted in a 

 most extraordinary way when he approached. One 

 or even several herds would gallop and charge, wheel 

 about, caper, whisk their tails, paw the ground, butt 



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