14 THE WONDERS OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



to class the Gnu in the capra tribe. The hairs are very long and black on the breast and between the 

 fore-legs, but the hair on the hinder part of the body is not longer than that of the horse. The tail 

 reaches to the first joint of the legs, full of hair of a whitish hue, and when viewed from this part, 

 the animal has all the appearance of a Galloway. The predominant characteristics of the horse are 

 here decidedly manifest ; and the opinion of Lacepede becomes strongly confirmed, that the Gnu will 

 be ultimately considered as forming a distinct species, and that it cannot be classed under any of the 

 tribes to which it has been hitherto supposed to belong. 



The body of the Gnu is thick, covered with smooth short hair of a rusty brown or ash colour, 

 tipped with white, forming a singular contrast with the black and bushy hair of the fore-part of 

 the body. The feet have only one spurious hoof on each. 



The most remarkable characteristic of this animal, however, is the suborbital sinus, or the lachrymal 

 furrow of the Antelope ; and when we consider the slender and elegant make of its legs, resembling 

 those of the Roebuck, we must allow that the earlier zoologists possessed some valid authority for 

 classing the Gnu in the same tribe as the Antelope : j udging by analogy, we must suppose that the 

 suborbital sinus of the Gnu is adapted to the same purposes as that of the Antelope, and that its uses 

 are particularly effective in the rapid flight of the animal, which is little inferior to that of the 

 Antelope itself. 



The ordinary size of the animal is that of a common Galloway, the length of it being rather 

 above six feet, and the height of it about four feet. They inhabit, in great numbers, the fine 

 plains of the Great Namacquas, a considerable distance from the Cape of Good Hope, extending 

 from lat. S. 25° to 28° 42'. The Hottentots have given it the name of Gnu, from the sound of its 

 voice, which has two notes, one resembling that of an Ox, the other more clear. In the above plains 

 they are so numerous, that it is by no means uncommon to see several hundreds in a herd together ; 

 they are represented, however, as very fierce animals, and as they congregate in herds, it is a matter of 

 great difficulty and danger to attack them, for in their nature they are extremely treacherous, and will 

 conceal themselves in the thickets and woods, and thence rush forth on the unsuspecting traveller, or 

 the unguarded hunter. The manners of these animals are very extraordinary, for on the sudden 

 appearance of any one near them they dash off in full gallop, and, having attained the distance of 

 about two hundred yards, they wheel round and march boldly towards the advancing person ; furrowing 

 the ground with their horns, and exhibiting other indications of rage. They then gallop off again, 

 but shorten the distance to about fifty yards, and then advance as before. These manoeuvres are 

 practised until they come within a few yards of the person, when it is generally considered prudent to 

 leave them, as were any further provocation to be given, a great probability exists that they would 

 become the assailants, and of the issue not the slightest doubt can be entertained. 



The flesh of the Gnu resembles that of the Ox, and is in much request with the natives of the 

 Country, but all attempts to domesticate the animal have hitherto proved abortive. In its state of 

 confinement it appears rather a placid animal, but any opinion which is formed of the characteristic 

 habits of an animal in a state contrary to its nature must necessarily be subject to great suspicion, as 

 they are constrained to exhibit themselves under a wholly different character when subject to the 

 controul of man, than when roaming free and unfettered in their native wildernesses. 



