26 RHINOCEROSES 



the Perissodactyla (" odd-hoofed ") : so named from the fact that in each 

 foot the toe corresponding to the middle finger or toe of the human 

 hand or foot is symmetrical in itself and larger than any of the others. 

 In the case of the horse tribe this toe alone exists in a functional 

 condition. 



Bulky, big-headed, and short-limbed animals, rhinoceroses have 

 three toes to each foot, and one or two horns in the middle line of the 

 head. Such horns consist of a solid mass of closely packed vertical 

 fibres, with a slight hollow at the base, resting upon a corresponding 

 prominence on the bones of the skull, from which it can readily be 

 detached with a knife. Teeth, of a characteristic type, may or may 

 not be present in the front of the jaws ; but seven pairs of cheek-teeth 

 are constantly developed, and have a distinctive and easily recognised 

 pattern, their crowns being comparatively low and broad, with two 

 bold transverse crests springing from an outer wall, and between them 

 an open valley. The large and massive head has a concave profile, 

 with the somewhat tubular ears set far back, and the eyes small ; 

 while the upper lip is generally pointed and prehensile. Each toe 

 bears a hoof-like nail of great breadth. The tail is thin and of medium 

 length, with a small terminal tuft ; and the skin, which may be divided 

 into several partially distinct shields by deep folds, is of great thick- 

 ness, and either nearly naked, or more or less sparsely covered with 

 coarse hair. 



At the present day the group is restricted to Africa and the 

 warmer parts of Asia, although in former times it was represented in 

 Europe and North America. 



The two African species, which are two-horned, differ from their 

 Asiatic relatives by the absence of front teeth, and of distinct foldings 

 in their skin. 



The keitloa, or black species, is characterised by its sharply pointed 

 and prehensile upper lip, the rounded tip of the nasal bones of the 

 skull, and the comparative lowness and simple structure of the crowns 

 of the upper cheek-teeth, which, in correlation with bough -eating 

 habits, wear into a ridged surface. The nostrils are small and rounded, 

 and the eye is situated behind the line of the axis of the second horn. 

 In height bulls stand from about 5 feet 6 to 5 feet 8 inches at the 

 shoulder. Great variation occurs in the proportionate lengths of the 

 two horns, although the front one, especially in cows, is generally the 

 longer. The second horn is always more or less compressed and 

 dagger-shaped. In bulls the front horn, which may exceed 40 inches 

 in length, is comparatively stout, although not with a very broad and 



