BURCHELL'S RHINOCEROS 447 



BUBCHELL'S BHINOCEBOS (Rhinoceros simus). 



Next to the Indian elephant this is the largest mammal that has 

 trodden the earth in modern times. Its huge bulk, bluntly truncate 

 muzzle, which has no prehensile tip, the great length of the skull, 

 and the enormous front horn, with its expanded base, form the most 

 striking external characteristics of this species. The cheek-teeth are 

 of quite a different type of structure from those of the preceding species, 

 being, in fact, adapted for chewing grass. In walking, the animal 

 carried its head low, so that in examples in which the front horn 

 bends forward, its tip became worn by being pushed along the ground. 

 It is difficult to surmise the reason for the application of the name 

 " white rhinoceros " to this species. 



Distribution. South and South-East Africa, in suitable localities, as far 

 north as the Zambesi ; and again in Central Africa at Lado, on 

 the equator. Exterminated early in the last century to the south 

 of the Orange River ; and now represented in South Africa at the 

 most by a few survivors in North-East Mashonaland, and possibly 

 by others in the reedy swamps at the junction of the Black and 

 White Umvolosy rivers. Between the Zambesi and Orange rivers 

 the species was abundant less than half a century ago ; Andersson 

 alone having killed sixty in the course of a few months. When 

 it was supposed to be all but exterminated, its existence in the 

 neighbourhood of Lado was made known by Major Gibbons. 

 This northern form may prove to be a distinct race. 



o 6 'd^ " Circumference. 



Front Rear Front Rear Localit y- Owner ' 



Horn. Horn. Horn. Horn. 



-62 J ... 22 \ ... South Africa . . Col. W. Gordon Gumming. 



56 ... 23^ ... Do. . . British Museum. 



about 

 -J2i ... 2\\ Do. . . Col. W. Gordon Gumming. 



44 ... 20 ... ? British Museum. 



43! ... 23! ... South Africa . A. Beit. 



42| ... 25! Limpopo . . The late W. C. Oswell. 



-41 ... ... South Africa . . J. W. Fitzherbert. 



40| ... 29! ... Do. . . Sir Edmund G. Loder, Bart. 



ap\ ... 20| ... ? Hon. Walter Rothschild. 



-40^ ... 22\ ... South Africa . . Sir Edmund G. Loder, Bart. 



