36S 



GNOU. 



kind of oblong square brush of stiff reversed bristles, 

 while the hairs of the cheeks are disposed down- 

 wards : round the eyes grow several very strong 

 white bristles in a radiated manner : the tail some- 

 what resembles that of a horse, and is full of hair, 

 and of a white colour. The limbs of the Gnou are 

 light and elegant, though the form of the head and 

 body is thick and heavy : it is said to have only 

 one false hoof behind each foot, instead of the usual 

 pair : each foot is marked by a blackish or dusky 

 bar above the hoof. The Gnou, says Mr. AUamand, 

 is a very singular compound of animals ; uniting 

 the strong head and horns of the Bull, with the 

 lightness and skin of the Stag, the beauty of the 

 mane, body and tail of the Horse, and the sinus 

 lachrymales^ of the Antelope. 



The Gnou, says Mr. Pennant, is a fierce and 

 dangerous animal, but is sought after on account 

 of its flesh, which is an excellent kind of venison. 

 It is principally found in the country of the Nimi- 

 quas^ where it lives in large herds. The female is 

 said to be horned like the male, and in the young 

 animals the horns are quite strait. 



Of this highly singular species a coloured draw- 

 ing was sent by the late Lord Bute to the Count 

 de BufFon, under the name of Fefa Heda, or Bos- 

 Biiffel, and another drawing, supposed to be more 



* The si?ius lachrymalis, which in this tribe of animals is pecii- 

 iiariy conspicuous^ is that small channel or duct situated at the in- 

 terior angle of the eye. In the Antelopes it forms a large ex^ 

 tended fissure or furrow on the skin. It is also very large in some 

 of the Deer tribe. 



