76 CENTRAL AFRICAN GAME AND ITS SPOOR. 



reason being that though his occasional charge is usually a blind rush straightforward, 

 he has been known to chase round his enemy, turning with great quickness ; more- 

 over, on winding man he does not always make off in the opposite direction as does 

 the elephant. 



It would seem as if on lying up he had mapped out his line of retreat, and whatever 

 occurs afterwards, whether the wind changes or whatever direction he is threatened 

 from, if disturbed he will go off puffing and snorting at an incredible pace, taking the 

 line he had originally intended. If this is the case, we think it would explain why 

 rhino charge through caravans in East Africa and why he so frequently passes at close 

 quarters to a hunter or between him and his followers. 



To say, however, that he never charges with malice is erroneous, as cases have 

 come under our notice, and in one instance without other provocation than that the 

 hunter intruded in what he might consider his private domains. 



As regards approaching him, we think it no exaggeration to say that under 

 favourable circumstances he can be approached within a few yards without his 

 becoming aware of it. 



This is only when unaccompanied by birds, as when they are with him their 

 movements would generally lead him to suspect that something was wrong. 



The broadside shot at the ear is the best, but the neck and shoulder are also good 

 spots to aim at. 



For his mid-day halt he will often He up in some thick patch of thorn jungle, in which 

 it is excessively difficult for the sportsman to move at all, and necessitates the breaking 

 back of numerous branches and continual unhooking of person and clothes. In such 

 a place if the rhino is disturbed it is exceedingly difficult to turn quickly in the right 

 direction to shoot if he passes near, and it would be very unfortunate for the hunter 

 if the rhino selected the same path as that in which he is struggling. The horns of 

 females are often extremely long and thin, while those of the males are much 

 thicker, especially at the base. 



The former are sometimes found to have been broken off. Maggots, about i^in. 

 long with pink heads, often amounting to thousands, are found in the intestines of an 

 animal on being cut up. 



Notes. 



