The Strange Looking Gnu

A bucking gnu.

       Here  is  an  animal  called  the  Gnu,  which  seems  to  be  made  up  of  odds and  ends: the  legs  of  an  antelope,  the  body  of  a  horse,  the  tail  of  a  mule,  and the  head  of  a  bull.  The  early  Dutch  settlers  in  South  Africa  called  the  animal "wildebeest,"  and  they  had  good  reason  for  it.  This  strange  animal's  way  of living  is  almost  as  odd  as  its  appearance.  Like  most  antelopes,  it  is  very curious,  and  all  a  hunter  has  to  do  when  he  wants  to  get  a  shot  at  one  is  to lie  down  in  the  grass  and  wave  a  red  handkerchief.  The  startled  creatures  at once  gallop  off  as  if  they  never  meant  to  stop,  then  suddenly  they  all  pull  up and  look  at  each  other  as  if  trying  to  find  out  who  said  "  run  "  first.  Before they  can  make  up  their  minds,  some  of  the  males  will  begin  fighting,  and  the band  will  look  on  as  though  there  was  not  a  waving  red  handkerchief  within miles.  Then  the  whole  band  will  begin  whisking  their  tails  and  kicking  up their  heels  like  colts  and  dash  off  again.  Now  this  is  where  the  curiosity comes  in.  Apparently  they  have  forgotten  all  about  the  red  handkerchief,  but they  have  not.  The  band  will  come  back  to  where  they  started  from  and  gallop furiously  round  and  round  the  concealed  hunter,  always  narrowing  the  circle until  they  come within  easy  gunshot.  Sometimes  they  come  too  close  and one  old  fellow  will  charge  furiously.  The  hunter  has  to  look  out  for  himself then,  for  the  temper  and  strength  of  the  gnu  are  not  to  be  tampered   with. The  gnu  is  often  found  in  the  company  of  other  animals.  In  fact,  it  is  a  common sight  to  see  them  rushing  over  the  field  in  the  midst  of  zebras,  antelopes, and  ostriches.     They  appear  to  live  peaceably  together.

The gnu heard stare down a pack of hungry wolves.

The Gnu

 The Gnu
by Hilakre Belloc

G. stands for Gnu, whose weapons of defense
Are long, sharp, curling horns, and common sense.
To these he adds a name so short and strong,
That even hardy Boers pronounce it wrong.
How often on a bright autumnal day
The pious people of Pretoria say
"Come, let us hunt the'' - then no more is heard,
But sounds of strong men struggling with a word;
Meanwhile the distant Gnu with grateful eyes
Observes his opportunity and flies.

The Gnu Wooing

"The Gnus Who's Who"

 
The Gnu Wooing 

by Burges Johnson

There was a lovely lady Gnu
Who browsed beneath a spreading yew
Its stately height was her delight;
A truly cooling shade it threw.
Upon it little tendrils grew
Which gave her gentle joy to chew.
Yet oft she sighed, a-gazing wide,
And wished she knew another Gnu
(Some newer Gnu beneath the yew
To tell her tiny troubles to).

She lived the idle moments through,
And days in dull succession flew,
Till one fine eve she ceased to grieve
A manly stranger met her view.
He gave a courtly bow or two;
She coolly looked him through and through:
" I fear you make some slight mistake
Perhaps it is the yew you knew!"
(Its branches blew and seemed to coo,
" Your cue, new Gnu; it's up to you!") 

Said he: "If guests you would eschew,
I'll say adieu without ado;
But, let me add, I knew your dad;
I'm on page two, the Gnus' Who's Who."
"Forgive," she cried," the snub I threw!
I feared you were some parvegnu!
'Tis my regret we've never met
I knew a Gnu who knew of you."
(This wasn't true what's that to you?
The new Gnu knew; she knew he knew.)

"Though there are other trees, 'tis true,"
Said she, "if you're attracted to
The yews I use, and choose to chews
Their yewy dewy tendrils, do!"

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The end is easily in view:
He wed her in a week or two.
The "Daily Gnus " did quite enthuse;
And now, if all I hear is true,
Beneath that yew the glad day through
There romps a little gnuey new.

The two gnus meet and greet.