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ALMOST HUMAN 
THE GNU. 
The Gnu is a most extraordinary looking animal. It is classified as 
a member of the antelope family, but it is apparently made up of parts 
of different animals, the antelope, the ox or buffalo, and the horse all being 
drawn upon to provide some parts of its anatomy. It has a horse’s body, 
mane and tail, a buffalo’s head, an ox’s horns, and an antelope’s legs. It 
is the size of a large ass, and is of a tawny color. It is really the link 
between the buffalo family and the antelopes, and is thus of special 
interest. It has been said that the gnu was the inspiration for the 
mythical unicorn, which children may see supporting the arms of Eng- 
land, and which they know from “Through the Looking Glass” : 
“The Lion and the Unicorn were fighting for the crown, 
The Lion beat the Unicorn all round the town. 
Some gave them white bread, some gave them brown; 
Some gave them plum-cake, and drummed them out of town.” 
These theorists think that the first travellers to see the gnu saw one 
with a horn broken off, and as it had but one, thought that for the sake 
of symmetry it must be placed right in the middle of its forehead, like 
the little girl’s curl, or more probably, like the rhinoceros’ horn. It is 
a common enough occurrence for a gnu to lose one horn. They are the 
most timid things known, being literally afraid of their own shadows, 
and in their mad flight when frightened, they turn corners most reck- 
lessly, and dash against anything in the way whether it be a brick wall, 
a rock, or anything else as dangerous to their chances of keeping a whole 
skin. One at the Zoo has been known to repeatedly smash right into 
a heavy panel fence and yet remain apparently uninjured; but one day 
it struck the corner of its house with frightful violence, and broke off 
one horn completely, together with a large piece of its skull. It was 
too wild for the keepers or veterinary surgeon to attempt to do anything 
for the gaping wound, for it would have meant certain death from fright 
if they had attempted to catch it in such a condition, so it had to be 
left to take its chances. It recovered, and lived for years afterwards, 
though after the accident had been well-nigh forgotten its brains could 
be seen palpitating through the thin sheath of skin that grew over them. 
In some gardens the experiment has been tried of tethering them by 
short lengths of chain in the hope of taming them and accustoming them 
to life as it moved by, but they have always killed themselves before 
