184 
THE NEEL-GHAU. 
irritation, and then darts forward with a powerful 
spring, and beats with its head in the most deter- 
mined manner;* and both horse and rider have 
been prostrated by a charge of these animals. Dr 
Hunter has mentioned an instance of their strength 
while butting, which proved fatal to the animal. “ A 
poor labouring man, without knowing that the ani- 
mal was near him, and therefore neither meaning to 
offend, nor suspecting the danger, came up near to 
the outside of the paling of the enclosure, the Nyl- 
Ghau, with the quickness of lightning, darted against 
the wood-work with such violence, that he broke it 
to pieces, and broke off one of his horns close to 
the root.”f 
In the Philosophical Transactions it is mention- 
ed by Dr Parsons, that the animal never lay up- 
on the side, but always upon its limbs, like the 
Camel. There was something particular in his voice, 
which imitated the croaking noise of a child’s rattle, 
or the croaking of some birds ; and of the pair which 
are recorded in the same valuable work as entrusted 
to the care of Dr W. Hunter by the Queen, it is 
noticed that the male, though reported to be a very 
vicious animal, was in reality a most gentle creature, 
and seemed pleased with every kind of familiarity, 
always licked the hand which either stroked or gave 
it bread, and never once attempted to use its horns 
offensively. It seemed to have much dependence on 
its organs of smell, and snuffed keenly or with noise, 
* Bennet, Zool. Gardens. f Phil. Trans. 
