for hours: hundreds of thousands
scarcely tell their number. "I give you my word," said a boer, "that I
have ridden a long day's journey, over a succession of flats covered
with them as far as I could see, as thick as sheep standing in a fold."

Among the Antelopes of the same part of the world is the Oryx, or
Gemsbok, a very beautiful animal, which has been supposed to give rise
to the Unicorn of Sacred writings; "for its long, straight horns, always
so exactly cover one another, when viewing them from a distance, that
they look like one. They have an erect mane, a long tail, and are like a
horse, with the head and hoof of an Antelope. Their bearing is most
noble, they are the size of an ass, have black bands about the head,
looking like a stall collar. They live in almost barren regions, never
want water, are very swift, and only to be caught by riding down."

The fierce Gnoo, Gnu, or _Blue Wilde Beest_ of the colonists to the
north of the Cape of Good Hope, are not as numerous as the spring-boks;
and are easily distinguished by their large, curving horns, and the
downward carriage of their head; for they never can look up. One was
found with a fore leg caught over his horn, and so was easily secured;
for he could not, of course, run, and had probably got himself into that
attitude when fighting. They have a shaggy head, long hair or mane upon
the chest, a long white tail, and wild red eyes. They utter fearful
snorts, and kick and leap about in the most grotesque and fantastic
manner. If a red handkerchief be held before them, it produces the most
violent excitement.

GOATS.

The three last genera of which I shall treat are all Ruminantia, and are
distinguished by their horns, which are divided into cells; and which
cells communicate with the skull. The two first, goats and sheep, so
closely resemble each other, that in many instances the one appears to
be a mere variety of the other. If we look at the Merino breed, with its
closely curled, soft, white wool, and then turn to a grave-looking goat,
with its long beard and hair, we shall not be conscious of their
resemblance; but if we place a sheep that has long resided in, or been
born in a tropical country, by the side of the goat, we shall scarcely
be able to distinguish one from the other. The wool gradually uncurls,
lengthens, and becomes harsh and glossy; and were not the goat's horns
directed upward, and then inclined backwards, those of the sheep
di