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Show 1876.] DISTRIBUTION OF SOUTH-AFRICAN MAMMALS. 287 In summer the colour of their skin is a dark brown ; but in winter turns to black. On taking out the brains when preserving a head there is generally found a quantity of a large white maggot, more like an exaggerated woodlouse than the common maggot; the Blesbock too seems equally afflicted with these creatures. In December we observed lots of young calves; they resembled their mothers in colour ; at this time the old bulls lead a solitary life, and seem to be much tamer, as I one day walked up to two on open ground to within one hundred and fifty yards, whereas they will scarcely allow one within five hundred on ordinary occasions. This species is liable to an epidemic which at times, I believe, makes great havoc amongst them ; 1 saw a young one in this condition : all the hair was off as if it had been burnt; and it was unable to rise. It is very amusing to watch the antics of a herd when aroused or excited ; when approached to within five or six hundred yards they chase one another round and round for a short time, stand, stare, and paw the ground, then lashing their long white tails against their sides, set off as hard as they can go. They go in herds of from eight to fifty; but I never saw them in such masses as the Blesbocks. They exhibit a good deal of curiosity; three approached our waggon one day when out-spanned close enough to allow of m y shooting one of their number from the waggon-box, where I was sitting writing. Although the Orange Free State and the Transvaal are the headquarters of this animal, yet they are found considerably to the north and west of this, as Chapman mentions meeting with this species on the Chobi river, which is in 18° S. lat., and 25° E. long.; Baines and Andersson mention it as common in some parts of South-west Africa through which they travelled. In summer the old males separate from the herds and live solitary. At this time they fix on one spot, making a sort of lair, to which they will return after feeding or being disturbed. This sometimes leads to their destruction ; for if two or three men go together, the old bull immediately gets up and goes away; on this one of the party lies down in the spot lately occupied by the beast, the other two then retire. The Wildebeest thinking every thing is now safe goes quietly back to his particular spot, and is then shot at by the man who is lying down. 20. CATOBLEPAS GORGON. (The Brindled Gnu.) The Blue Wildebeest, as it is generally called in S. Africa, was at one time found in abundance almost to the borders of Cape colony ; but it does not seem to have entered it, according to Dr. Smith's account of that animal; it is yet found in the Zulu country ; and, according to Baines and Andersson, it is common in Damara-land. In Col.Grant's 'Observations' sent to the Geographical Society he says:- " This Gnu was found in large herds in Khutu, in the western borders of Uyaramo. It inhabits the park-like country adjoining the river Kingani, and was not seen after crossing the east coast range." It is a common species through S. Africa, very often being in company with Burchell's Zebra. About November the old bulls separate from the |
