THE HARNESSED ANTELOPES.[16]
The HARNESSEDANTELOPESproper are all of small size, the elegant GUIBnot being larger than a Goat, its proportions being infinitely more delicate. It is of a pale bay colour, and the distinct transverse white streaks, running down from the middle of its back with connecting bands, have given the origin to its name.
The BUSHBUCKdiffers in wanting any body stripes. It is also African. Writing of it, Mr. Drummond remarks that the Bush Buck, “the male of whom is known as the ‘Ukouka,’ and the female as the ‘Umbabala,’ and which differ so greatly that experience is necessary to teach one that they are of the same species, is undoubtedly the finest in every way of all the Antelopes, whether found in the [Cape] Colonies or interior, that are known to the hunter as ‘small game.’ In size it resembles a full-grown Fallow Buck, weighing, according to age and condition, from nine to thirteen stone; its colour is a dark reddish-brown, often verging into black, and with indistinct markings on the sides, haunches, and legs; it has a great deal of hair, and a considerable mane, while the neck, which is thick out of all proportion, is nearly bare. The last mentioned peculiarity detracts from the otherwise graceful outlines of its body, the more so, perhaps, from the head being so finely shaped and small. The horns are nearly straight, rough, and ringed for about three inches from their base, and then taper away, smooth and polished, to an almost invisible point; they vary from nine inches to a foot long, and from the way in which they are set on the skull, the immense strength in the neck and shoulders of the animal, and their extreme sharpness, form about as formidable weapons as could well be imagined, especially as their owner is the most plucky Antelope, without exception or consideration of size, with which I have become acquainted in Africa. I do not think that in all my experience ... I remember a single instance in which a Ukouka has not tried to charge when wounded and brought to bay; and no one, even after a very moderate experience, would ever allow any Dog on which he placed any value to attack them.”
The BUBALINEANTELOPE, together with the HARTEBEEST, has a peculiarly elongated and narrow head, at the same time that the body is not elegant in its proportions, being triangular in form, heavy in the shoulders, and falling away behind. The horns, which are smaller in the females, are turned abruptly backwards at their tips after having been directed forwards and upwards in a lyrate manner. The Bubaline of North Africa is of a uniform bay colour, and the much more recently discoveredTORAANTELOPEof Eastern Africa resembles it in this respect, whilst its horns differ slightly in their direction and size, being more divergent and slender. The Hartebeest is grey-brown, and black on the outer sides of the limbs, with large, triangular white spots on the haunches; a black line also runs down the middle of the face from between the horns.
Mr. Pringle, when writing on the Hartebeest, says of it that it “is one of the largest and handsomest of the Antelope family.... In the nooks of the narrow ravines, through which the game are wont to descend from the steep and stony mountains, for change of pasturage, or to drink at the fountains that ooze from their declivities, I have frequently found fresh skulls and horns of the Hartebeest, those slight relics being all that remained to indicate that there the Lion had surprised and rent his prey, and that the ferocious Hyæna had followed and feasted on the fragments, devouring even the bones, except the skull and a few other unmanageable portions.”
BUBALINE ANTELOPE.
BUBALINE ANTELOPE.
The BLESBOK, BONTE-BOK, and SASSABYare about the size of a calf three months old. Their horns are lyrate and ringed at their bases. The two former are of a purple-red colour, white faces and white rumps. Of the Blesbok, Mr. C. J. Andersson remarks—“It is of a beautiful violet colour, and is found in company with black wilde-beests and Spring-boks in countless thousands, on the vast green plains of short, crisp, sour grass occupying a central position in South Africa. Cattle and Horses refuse to pasture on the grassy products of these plains, which afford sustenance to myriads of this Antelope, whose skin emits a most delicious and powerful perfume of flowers and sweet-smelling herbs.”
The Sassaby, or Bastard Hartebeest of the Cape colonists, stands four feet and a half in height. It has strong horns a foot in length, crescentic, with the points directed inwards. Its body colour is a dark purple-brown above, which changes into dusky-yellow underneath, a slate-coloured patch extending from the shoulder and the hip down to the knee and hock, at the same time that the rump is fawn-coloured. The tail is nearly two feet long.
THE GNUS.[18]
The GNUand the BRINDLEDGNUare two of the most grotesque of creatures. With the head not unlike that of a small Cape Buffalo, it has the limbs and hind-quarters not unlike those of a pony, in proportions as well as size. The nose is broad and flattened, with a bristly muzzle. The horns are broad at the base, where they nearly meet, and after turning downward as well as forward, they again turn up abruptly in a hook-like manner. They are found abundantly in Southern Africa, where, as their flesh is worthless, they are not much hunted. They are extremely wild and fearless, and remarkably tenacious of life. Their speed is great, and they have a habit of prancing about and kicking out furiously when suspecting danger. Both species have a mane along the neck, and lengthy hair between the forelegs. In both the tail is long, covered with a mass of hair not unlike that of the Horse.
GNU.
GNU.
The Common Gnu is of a deep brown-black, the tail and mane being white, whilst the bushy beard, running back to the chest and between the forelegs, is black. Lengthy black hairs, diverging and ascending from a median line, cover the upper part of the nose, at the same time that other smaller tufts under the eyes help to give a most ferocious aspect to the face. From Captain Harris’s description of the animals of South Africa, an excellent idea of the peculiarities of the creature may be gained. “Of all quadrupeds,” he writes, “the Gnoo is probably the most awkward and grotesque. Nature doubtless formed him in one of her freaks, and it is scarcely possible to contemplate his ungainly figure without laughter. Wheeling and prancing in every direction, his shaggy and bearded head arched between his slender and muscular legs, and his long white tail streaming in the wind, this ever-wary animal has at once a ferocious and ludicrous appearance. Suddenly stopping, showing an imposing front, and tossing his head in mock defiance, his wild red sinister eyes flash fire, and his snort, resembling the roar of a Lion, is repeated with energy and effect. Then lashing his sides with his floating tail, he plunges, bounds, kicks up his heels with a fantastic flourish, and in a moment is off at speed, making the dust fly behind him as he sweeps across the plain.”
In the Brindled Gnu the front of the face lacks the lengthy hair of its ally; the tail is also black instead of white. Its body colour is a dirty dun, variegated with obscure pale streaks. This species, as well as the Common Gnu, is the constant companion of the equally abundant Quaggas of the same region.