THE WHITE RHINOCEROS 



129 



feet, measured from the base of the anterior horn 

 to the tip of the two foot tail : the maximum 

 weight of this rhinoceros has been estimated at 

 five thousand pounds (Andersson). The white 

 rhinoceros is a larger animal than the black species, 

 from which it may at once be differentiated by the 

 square, rubber-like and non-prehensile upper lip. 

 Other distinguishing characters of Rhinoceros simus 

 are the slit-like nostrils, the characteristic position 

 of the eye behind the line of the second horn, the 

 semi-tubular ears, and the great length of the 

 shapeless head these points amply justifying the 

 refusal of the late Joseph Wolf to depict the white 

 rhinoceros as resembling its black congener in all 

 respects, save for the square upper lip. He said 

 that surely other important differences existed, and 

 indeed, when closely compared, the two animals 

 are really very unlike each other, as may be seen 

 from the following table : 



White Rhinoceros. 

 (Rhinoceros simus). 



1. Upper lip square, non-prehen- 



sile, and adapted for grazing. 



2. Nostrils slit-like, elongated, 



and narrow. 



3. Eye situated entirely behind 



line of second horn. 



4. Ears semi-tubular and scantily 



tufted. 



5. Head much elongated. 



6. Feet broad, leaving a wide 



spoor or footmark about 36in. 

 circumference. (Kirby). 



7. Size of animal very large, 6ft. 



at shoulder. 



Black Rhinoceros. 

 (Rhinoceros bicomis).~L 



Upper lip pointed, prehensile, and 

 adapted for browsing. 



Nostrils small and rounded. 



Eye situated behind axis of second 

 horn. 



Ears open : fringed on upper edge. 



Head less elongated. 



Feet smaller : spoor about 27in. 

 circumference. (Kirby). 



Size smaller up to 5ft. 8in. at 

 shoulder. (Baker). 



1 Some naturalists have recently adopted Diceros bicornis as the 

 scientific name of the black rhinoceros. 



