THE RHINOCEROS BIRD. 8 J 



that he had something important to communicate. 

 So he had, for a short distance from camp he came 

 across a black rhinoceros asleep in an open glade, 

 and, without disturbing the beast, had come off to 

 give me information. Although going in pursuit of 

 this valuable prize entailed my once more dressing in 

 my shooting clothes, and terminating my dolce far 

 niente, such a chance was not to be lost, so, in a 

 marvellously short time, I was once more en grandc 

 tenue for the chase. Our course led us directly from 

 the river, through the heavy timber, till the more 

 open lands were reached ; these were skirted, 

 through grass and brush almost up to my hips, for 

 a distance of about two hundred yards, when my 

 attendant enjoined upon me the strictest silence, and 

 caution how I placed my feet down, so as not to 

 break any of the withered boughs that occasionally 

 occurred. From the expression of my guide's 

 countenance, I felt convinced that the game was not 

 far distant, so had a fear that the foolhardiness of 

 my man might bring me closer to the dangerous 

 animal than was desirable. In a short time we 

 halted, and listened. All was silent to my ear, if 

 I except the occasional utterance of an unknown 

 bird, which had, at the same time, a most peculiar 

 and plaintive note. A short further advance re- 

 warded us with a view of the feathered stranger, 

 which was about the size of our home-bred starling. 

 In manner it was most peculiar, for every few seconds 



G 2 



