. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE CAPE BUFFALO. 165. BUFFALO.—{Bubalus btiffelus.) suddenly roused from their strange pastime, present a most terrible appear- ance, their eyes glaring fiercely from amid the mud-rovered dripping masses of hair. Sometimes the Buffalo is said to fall a victim to its propensity for wallowing in the mud, and to be stuck so firmly in the oozy slime, as it dries under the scorching sunbeams of that burn- ing climate, that it can be killed without dan- ger. They generally chewthecud while they are lying immersed in mud or water. The Cape Buffalo is quite as
. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE CAPE BUFFALO. 165. BUFFALO.—{Bubalus btiffelus.) suddenly roused from their strange pastime, present a most terrible appear- ance, their eyes glaring fiercely from amid the mud-rovered dripping masses of hair. Sometimes the Buffalo is said to fall a victim to its propensity for wallowing in the mud, and to be stuck so firmly in the oozy slime, as it dries under the scorching sunbeams of that burn- ing climate, that it can be killed without dan- ger. They generally chewthecud while they are lying immersed in mud or water. The Cape Buffalo is quite as formidable an animal as its Indi- an relative, and much more terrible in out- ward aspect. The heavy bases of the horns, that nearly unite over the forehead, and under which the little fierce eyes twinkle with sullen rays, give to the creature's countenance an appearance of morose, lowering ill-temper, which is in perfect accordance with its real character. Owing to the enormous heavy mass which is situated on the forehead, the Cape Buffalo does not see very well in a straight line, so that a man may some- times cross the track of a Buffalo within a hundred yards, and not be seen by the animal, provided that he walks quietly, and does not attract attention by the sound of his foot- steps. This animal is ever a dangerous neighbour, but when it leads a solitary life among the thickets and marshy places, it is a worse antagonist to a casual pas- senger than even the lion himself In such a case, it has an unpleasant habit of remaining quietly in its lair until the unsuspecting travel- ler passes closely to its place of concealment, and then, leaping suddenly upon him like some terrible monster of the waters, dripping with mud, and filled with rage. Many such tragical in- cidents have occurred, chiefly, it must be acknowledged, owing to the imprudence of the sufferer : and there are few coverts in Southern Africa which are not celebrated for some such terrible incident. Sometimes
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
