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Show 4 HEER F. E. BLAAUW ON CATOBLEPAS GNU. [Jan. 15, fig C) the frontal or basal parts begin to show, whilst the hairy intermediate part (a-b, fig. C) gets narrower and narrower until at the age of two years little of it is left. As the animal gets older this hairy region becomes restricted to a narrow space of from 2 to 4 cm. in width, and is generally narrowest in the males, as in them the horns acquire their greatest development. Until the age of about two years the frontal parts (a b, fig. C) are quite smooth ; but after this time the roughness which the adults present on these parts begins to appear in theVollowing manner:-At first longitudinal fissures or Fig. D. Horns of Catoblepas gnu. Adult female. cracks begin to show, which are gradually cut through by vertical fissures, so that little squares are formed. These soon begin to loosen themselves partially from their bases in such a way that the part furthest from the centre of the front keeps fast, whilst the opposite parts get more or less loose and turned up, so that a kind of rough irregular scales is formed. "Whilst the straight parts of the horn are growing, the horny covering or sheath comes off comparatively easily ; and it is manifest that the interior with its blood-vessels runs quite up to the top of it. Afterwards the straight points in great part get quite massive and horny ; and after this there is little danger of their being broken off, unless by the animal repeatedly rubbing itself against hard stones &c, as it often does when confined in a narrow space. |
