CH. xiv] THE CRAZE FOR " RECORDS ' 415 



averaged mucli better horns tlian the black rhinos we 

 had seen in East Africa, between one and two hundred 

 in number, there were any number of exceptions on botli 

 sides. 'I'liere are recorded measurements of white rhino 

 liorns from South Africa double as long as our longest 

 from the Lado. Now this is, scientifically, a fact of 

 some importance, but it is of no consequence whatever 

 when compared with the question as to what, if any, the 

 difference is between the average liorns ; and this last 

 fact is very difliciilt to ascertain, largely because of the 

 foolish obsession for " record " heads which seems com- 

 pletely to absorb so many hunters who write. AVhat 

 we need at the moment is more information about the 

 average South ^Vfrican heads. There are to be found 

 I among most kinds of horn-bearing animals individuals 

 I with horns of wholly exceptional size, just as among all 

 I nations there are individuals of wholly exceptional 

 I height. lUit a comparison of these wliolly exceptional 

 ( horns, although it has a certain value, is, scientifically, 

 I much like a comparison of the giants of different nations. 

 ' A good liead is, of course, better than a poor one, and a 

 special effort to secure an exceptional head is sportsman- 

 I like and proper ; but to let the desire for " record " 

 I heads, to the exclusion of all else, become a craze, is 

 j absurd. The making of such a collection is in itself not 

 I only proper, but meritorious ; all I object to is the loss 

 of all sense of proportion in connection therewith. It 

 is just as with philately, or heraldry, or collecting the 

 signatures of famous men. The study of stamps, or of 

 coats of arms, or the collecting of autographs, is an 

 entirely legitimate amusement, and may be more than 

 a mere amusement ; it is only when the student or 

 collector allows himself utterly to overestimate the 

 importance of his pursuit that it becomes ridiculous. 



