WHITE RHINOCEROS 473 
The WHITE or BURCHELL’S RHINOCEROS (Rhinoceros [Diceros] simus). 
Khartyt, Sudani. Vit Rhinaster, Cape Dutch. 
Next to the Indian elephant this is the largest mammal that has 
trodden the earth in modern times. Its huge bulk, the bluntly truncate 
muzzle, which has no prehensile tip, the great length of the skull, and 
the enormous front horn, with its expanded base, form the most striking 
external characteristics of this species. The cheek-teeth are of a 
different type of structure from those of the preceding species, being, in 
fact, adapted for chewing grass. In walking, the animal carries its 
head low, so that in examples in which the front horn bends forward, 
its tip becomes worn by being pushed along the ground. It is some- 
what difficult to surmise the reason for the application of the name 
white rhinoceros to this species. 
Distribution—South and South-East Africa, in suitable localities, as far 
north as the Zambesi; and again in Central Africa at Lado, on 
the equator. Exterminated early in the last century to the south 
of the Orange River ; and now represented in South Africa at the 
most by a few survivors in North-East Mashonaland, and possibly 
by others in the reedy swamps at the junction of the Black and 
White Umvolosi rivers. Between the Zambesi and Orange rivers 
the species was abundant about half a century ago; Andersson 
alone having killed sixty in the course of a few months. Its 
existence in Central Equatorial Africa was indicated by Sir 
Samuel Baker on the evidence of horns, and subsequently made 
certain in the neighbourhood of Lado by Major Gibbons. The 
northern race (A. s. cottonz) is distinguished by the proportions of 
the fore part of the skull, and apparently by the sculpture of the 
skin. 
Length on Cir : 
outside curve. ircumference. 
Front Rear Front Rear Locality. Owner. 
horn. horn. horn. horn. 
-624 son 224 nee South Africa. . Col. W. Gordon Cumming. 
563 ec 234 ar Do. A . British Museum. 
about 
—524 ee 214 Fe Do. : . Col. W. Gordon Cumming. 
51 ae 25 ae Do. : . Lieut.-Col. J. Duke. 
44 as 20 orc Do. : . British Museum. 
43% 237 Do. 4 . The late A. Beit. 
422 wee 252 BAe Limpopo 3 . The late W. C. Oswell. 
41 II 26 224 Lado . ; - Capt. P: M. Dove. 
—41 $05 sb A South Africa . . J. W. Fitzherbert. 
— Owner's measurements. 
