394 RHINOCEROS OF THE LADO [ch. xiv 



problems for inquiry in the discontinuity of their dis- 

 tribution. The most extraordinary instance of this 

 discontinuity is that offered by the distribution of the 

 square-mouthed rhinoceros. It is ahnost as if our bison 

 had never been known within historic times except in 

 Texas and Ecuador. This great rliinoceros was formerly 

 plentiful in South Africa south of the Zambesi, where 

 it has been completely exterminated except for a score 

 or so of individuals on a game reserve. North of the 

 Zambesi it was and is uttei'ly unknown, save that 

 during the last ten years it has been found to exist in 

 several localities on the left bank of the Upper Nile, 

 close to the river, and covering a north and south 

 extension of about two hundred miles. Even in this 

 narrow ribbon of territory the square-mouthed rhino- 

 ceros is found only in certain localities, and although 

 there has not hitherto been nuich slaughter of the 

 mighty beast, it would certainly be well if all killing of 

 it were prohibited until careful inquiry has been made 

 as to its numbers and exact distribution. It is a curious 

 animal, on the average distinctly larger than, and utterly 

 different from, the ordinary African rhinoceros. The 

 spinal processes of the dorsal vertebrae are so developed 

 as to make ii very prominent hump over the withers, 

 while forward of this is a still higher and more prominent 

 fleshy hump on the neck. The huge misshapen head 

 differs in all respects as widely from the head of the 

 common, or so-called black, rhinoceros as the head of a 

 moose differs from that of a wapiti. 



The morning after making camp we started on a 

 rhinoceros hunt. At this time in this neighbourhood 

 the rhinoceros seemed to spend the heat of tlie day in 

 sleep, and to feed in the morning and evening, and 

 perhaps tluoughout the night ; and to drink in the 



