CHAPTER X 



NOTES ON THE BLACK OR PREHENSILE-LIPPED 

 RHINOCEROS 



Character of the black rhinoceros — Its practical extermination in 

 South Africa at a very trifling cost to human life — No case 

 known to author of a Boer hunter having been killed by a black 

 rhinoceros — Accidents to English hunters — Harris's opinion of 

 and experiences with the black rhinoceros — Seemingly unneces- 

 sary slaughter of these animals — Large numbers shot by Oswell 

 and Vardon — Divergence of opinion concerning disposition of 

 the two so-called different species of black rhinoceroses — Experi- 

 ences of Gordon Gumming, Andersson, and Baldwin with these 

 animals — Victims of the ferocity of the black rhinoceros extra- 

 ordinarily few in South Africa — The author's experiences with 

 these animals — Sudden rise in the value of short rhinoceros 

 horns — Its fatal effect — Dull sight of the black rhinoceros — 

 Keen scent — Inquisitiveness — Blind rush of the black rhino- 

 ceros when wounded — An advancing rhinoceros shot in the 

 head — Author chased by black rhinoceroses when on horseback 

 — Curious experience near Thamma-Setjie — Black rhinoceroses 

 charging through caravans — Coming to camp fires at night — 

 Author's doubts as to the extreme ferocity of black rhinoceroses 

 in general — Testimony of experienced hunters as to the char- 

 acter of the black rhinoceros in the countries north of the 

 Zambesi — Captain Stigand severely injured by one of these 

 animals — Experiences of Mr. Vaughan Kirby — Extraordinary 

 number of black rhinoceroses in East Africa — Experiences 

 of A. H. Neumann and F. J. Jackson with these animals — 

 Views of Sir James Hayes -Sadler — Great numbers of rhino- 

 ceroses lately shot in East Africa without loss of life to hunters 

 — Superiority of modern weapons — President Roosevelt's letter 

 — Mr. Fleischmann's remarkable account of a combat between 

 a rhinoceros and a crocodile — Possible explanation of seeming 

 helplessness of the rhinoceros. 



In a previous chapter I have spoken of the diffi- 



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