EHIXOCEROS KEITLOA. 



though every where the species appeared rare when compared with the others ; and, after several 

 months' wanderings, it was found that only sixty-eight individuals had been seen, eight of which 

 in one herd, (two of them, not more than half grown,) were disturbed by myself when 

 feeding near to the banks of a river we were descending. According to the evidence of the 

 natives, the Keitloa is of a very savage disposition, on which account it is more feared than 

 Borili, which has also a character for ferocity. Its food consists of small shrubs, or the 

 more delicate branches of brushwood, in collecting which, the prolongation of the anterior ex- 

 tremity of the upper lip proves a useful assistant. For a more detailed account of the manners 

 and habits of this species, we may refer to the Appendix hereafter to be published. 



While in the neighbourhood of the Tropic, we heard of two other species of the genus, which 

 exist still farther to the northward ; but, unfortunately, could not obtain any very circumstantial 

 evidence concerning them, as the persons who had seen them were only on a visit in the 

 country they inhabit. One of them was stated to approximate the Keitloa ; tlie other was de- 

 scribed as very different to any species previously seen by them, and to have only one long horn 

 towards the forehead. Now, though descriptions of objects furnished by such persons are 

 often inaccurate, from the circumstance of their not having been favourably situated for makino- 

 correct observations, as well as from a deficiency of language calculated to convey the informa- 

 tion tliey actually possess, I have always remarked that even a hasty examination seemed to 

 supply the savage with more accurate notions of tiie general characters of animals than it did 

 the civilized man, and therefore I do not despair of species such as they mentioned being yet 

 discovered. 



It is' in regard to the species with the single horn, that we experience the greatest hesitation 

 in receiving their evidence as credible, and, therefore, it is agreeable to have it corroborated by 

 the testimony of a man from a very different part of the country, as obtained and publislied by 

 a missionary of great research who resided a long time in Madagascar. The individual who 

 furnished Mr. Freeman with the account of the Ndzoo-dzoo, was a native of the country 

 northward of Mozambique, and if we admit certain portions of the descriptions to be tainted 

 with errors, we can recognise in the remainder the genuine habits of a Rhinoceros, and probably 

 one of the species, with which our informants were slightly acquainted. 



" It appears," observes Mr. Freeman, "that the Ndzoo-dzoo is by no means rare in Makooa. 

 It is about the size of a horse, extremely Jleet and strong. It has one single horn projecting 

 from its forehead, from twenty-four to thirty inches in length. This is flexible when the animal 

 is asleep ; it can be curled like the trunk of the Elephant, but becomes perfectly firm and hard 

 when the animal is excited, and especially when pursuing an enemy. Its disposition is ex- 

 tremely fierce, and it universally attacks man if it sees him. The usual method of escape 

 adopted by the natives is, to climb up a dense and high tree, so as to avoid, if possible, being 

 seen. If the animal misses his sight of the fugitive, he immediately gallops off to his haunt; 

 from whence it may be inferred that he is not endowed with the power of a keen scent. Should 

 he, however, espy his object in the tree, woe to the unfortunate native, — he begins to butt with 

 his horns, — strikes and penetrates the tree, and continues piercing it till it falls, when his victim 

 seldom escapes being gored to death. Unless the tree is of a large girth, he never fails in 

 breaking it down. Having killed his victim, he leaves him without devouring the carcase. 

 The male only is provided with the horn. The female has not anything of the kind."* 



• South African Christian Recorder, Vol. i. p. 33. 



