42 



SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF MAMMALIA. 



is very long, tapered to a point, and slightly curved 

 back ; the second is short, conical, and obtuse. The 

 general colour is pale broccoli-brown; the buttocks, 

 shoulders, and under parts shaded with brownish purple ; 

 fail clothed with stiff black hair. (Fig. 15.) Accord- 

 ing to Dr. Smith, the introduction of fire-arms among 

 the Bechuanas has rendered this animal rare in the dis- 

 trict where Mr. Burchell found it numerous : higher up 

 the country, however, it still maintains its ground. In 

 disposition it differs irom the other two species, being 

 much more gentle, and is therefore regarded with less 

 fear than either the keitloa or the borili. 



The flesh of all three species is esteemed wholesome 

 food by the natives, who dig pitfalls for them in situa- 

 tions to which they are known to resort; and sometimes, 

 though rarely with success, attempt to kill them with 

 the assagai or s])car. In style of motion they are all 

 alike, and so awkward that their swiftness is to be appre- 

 ciated not by directly watching the animal itself, but by 

 fixing the eye upon some two points between which it 



15. — T«o-liornod Rhinoceros. 



