QUADRUPEDS. 125 
ther in herds, and when alarmed, they fling up their heels 
and then plunge and rear, tossing their heads and tails, 
before they gallop off; which they do, the whole herd 
following their leader singly, like a troop of soldiers. 
The Gnu inhabits the sandy deserts of South Africa ; and 
its flesh, which is said to resemble beef, is sometimes eaten 
by the colonists near the Cape of Good Hope. When 
caught young, the Gnu may be tamed, but its disposition 
is always uncertain, and when offended, it throws itself 
on its knees, like the nyl ghau, and then springing up, 
butts furiously with its horns. 
THE STAG. (Cervus Elephas,} 
THIS animal is the male of the red Deer, and he is gene- 
rally famed for long life, though upon no certain authority. 
Naturalists agree, however, upon this point, that his life 
may exceed forty years : but that his existence, as it has 
been asserted, reaches to three centuries, is too absurd to 
be believed. His horns are at first very small, but they 
increase every year, and become gradually larger and 
