THE WHITE RHINOCEROS 187 



the first to mention a curious trait exhibited by this 

 rhinoceros — a trait noticed also by Selous in his first 

 book, A Hmiters Wanderings in Africa. When 

 hunters are at hand and dano-er threatens the mother 



o 



and young calf of this species, the calf runs just in 

 front of the mother's snout, and is guided in its 

 course by the long fore-horn, which is pressed 

 against its sides as it runs. This very singular and 

 interesting demonstration of motherly affection is 

 very well shown in an illustration towards the end 

 of Gordon Cumming's book, The Lion Hunter in 

 SotUh Africa. 



The " Wit Ehinoster," as the Boers called it, fed 

 always upon grass, and was to be found therefore 

 usually upon grassy plains, or, as in so much of the 

 Bechuana country, in open forest where grass was 

 plentiful. The broad square muzzle of this animal 

 was manifestly adapted specially for this sort of food. 

 The black rhinoceros {Rhinoceros Ucoomis), on the 

 other hand, feeds invariably upon bush and shrubs, 

 for the seizing of which its prehensile upper-lip is 

 exactly designed. 



For untold ages of the past these mighty mammals 

 must have grazed peacefully and contentedly in 

 their South African habitat. The spears and bows 

 and arrows of the native were weapons not greatly 

 to be feared, for the rhinoceros has a tough hide an 

 inch and a half in thickness, and in consequence 



