io6 4 THE UNGULATES, OR HOOFED MAMMALS 



can traverse places which at first sight appear utterly impracticable for an animal of 

 its bulky and apparently clumsy build. We also learn from the same observer that 

 while the present species of rhinoceros always walks with its nose carried high in 

 the air, the other kind walks with its muzzle close to the ground. Again, whereas 

 in the common species the calf invariably follows its mother, the offspring of Bur- 

 chell's rhinoceros as constantly precedes its parent. 



Mr. Selous agrees with Mr. Blanford that the ferocity of the prehensile-lipped 

 rhinoceros has been much exaggerated, and he is, indeed, inclined to regard it as an 

 animal of a rather cowardly, if not" exactly peaceable, disposition. It must, how- 

 ever, be borne in mind that those sportsmen who have attributed a ferocious dis- 

 position to this species, always make a distinction in this respect between the boreli 

 and the keitloa, and give to the latter a much better character than they assign to 

 the former. Whether any difference in this respect is really associated with the 

 variations to which these names refer, we are not prepared to say (although it seems 

 most unlikely); but it is important to notice that even those who attribute extreme 

 ferocity of disposition to some individuals of this species have never asserted that 

 this applies to all. Mr. Selous states that he was only once charged by a common 

 rhinoceros, and this after strong provocation and even then the animal did not 

 charge home; and he considers that vicious individuals are comparatively few and 

 far between. "These animals," writes the same observer, "are very quick and rest- 

 less in their movements, and either very inquisitive or mistrustful of their eyesight, 

 for usually, when disturbed by anyone approaching from below the wind, they will 

 jump up with a snort, gaze fixedly at the intruder, then, with another snort, 

 trot quickly a few steps nearer, stand again, move their heads with a quick motion, 

 first to one side then to the other, advance again perhaps, and finally, when shouted 

 at, whisk quickly round and trot away in grand style, with tail screwed up over 

 their backs." Recounting his experiences in Mashonaland, where he sometimes 

 met with five, six, or even eight in a day, Mr. Selous says that whenever these 

 animals met his wind, they invariably made off at once, but when they only saw 

 him, they acted in the manner above described. On occasions of the latter kind the 

 Kaffirs would take refuge up the nearest tree, and would urge their master to do 

 likewise. He, however, always stood his gronnd, and found that although the rhi- 

 noceroses would sometimes advance in his direction from about forty to twenty yards' 

 distance, yet, that if he threw stones or assagais at them, or even simply shouted, 

 they always eventually turned tail and fled. If, however, a rhinoceros is fired upon 

 when thus facing a man, it will, after dropping upon its knees, very often spring up 

 and rush straight forward; but Mr. Selous attributes such action not to any inten- 

 tion of making a charge, but merely to the animal being maddened by the shock 

 and rushing blindly ahead; and he considers that it is thus that many of the accounts 

 of its fierceness and aggressiveness have originated. He adds, however, that one of 

 these animals when in full career, and either wounded or tired, will not hesitate 

 to charge any obstacle that may be in its path, even a wagon and a team of oxen. 

 Finally, Mr. Selous states that he believes the pursuit of the common African rhi- 

 noceros to be attended with less danger than that of either the lion, elephant, or 

 buffalo; and he supports this opinion by observing that both Kaffirs and Hottentots, 



