THE CAPE BUFFALO. 165 
suddenly roused from their strange pastime, present a most terrible appear- 
ance, their eyes glaring fiercely from amid the mud-covered dripping masses 
of hair. Sometimes the Buffalo is said to fall a victim to its propensity for 
wallowing in the mud, and to be stuck so firmly in the oozy slime, as it dries 
under the scorching 
sunbeams of that burn- 
ing climate, that it can 
be killed without dan- 
ger. They generally 
chewthecud while they 
are lying immersed in 
mud or water. 
The CAPE BUFFALO 
is quite as formidable 
an animal as its Indi- 
an relative, and much 
more terrible in out- 
ward aspect. The 
heavy bases of the 
horns, that nearly unite 
over the forehead, and = ~ 
under which the little NISS SS 
fierce eyes twinkle with BUFFALO.—(Budalus buffelus.) 
sullen rays, give to the ‘ 
creature’s countenance an appearance of morose, lowering ill-temper, which 
is in perfect accordance with its real character. 
Owing to the enormous heavy mass which is situated on the forehead, the 
Cape Buffalo does not see very well ina straight line, so that aman may some- 
times cross the track of a Buffalo within a hundred yards, and not be seen 
by the animal, provided that he walks quietly, and does not attract attention 
by the sound of his foot- 
steps. This animal is ever 
a dangerous neighbour, but 
when it leads a solitary life 
among the thickets and 
marshy places, it is a worse 
antagonist to a casual pas- 
senger than even the lion 
himself. In such a case, it 
has an unpleasant habit of ¥ 
remaining quietly in its lair 
until the unsuspecting travel- 
ler passes closely to its place 
of concealment, and then, 
leaping suddenly upon him 
like some terrible monster 2 
of the waters, dripping with Zi Ww, 
mud, and filled with rage. at fi 
Many such tragical in- CAPE BUFFALO.—(Bubalus Caffer.) 
cidents have occurred, 
chiefly, it must be acknowledged, owing to the imprudence of the sufferer : 
and there are few coverts in Southern Africa which are not celebrated for 
some such terrible incident. Sometimes the animal is so recklessly furious 
in its unreasoning anger, that it absolutely blinds itself by its heedless rush 
through the formidable thorn-bushes which are so common in Southern 
