TIIK Kill A OR BO RULE. 



kin-) of dread, a* mi adult mule luus be*-n wen to fly in terror before the attack of one <>f the 

 native wild diir>. Tin- head of tin- SJM-, -i.- i- peculiarly 1mm. a characteristic which is observ- 

 able in tin- >kull ua well a.s in the living animal. 



Or African Rhinoceroses four species are clearly ascertained, and it is very probable thai 

 others may yet U- in , xisteiice. Two of tin- known Npedea are black, and tin- other two 

 white; tin- animals dilT.-rin- from .-arli other not onl\ in color, but in form, dimensions, habits, 

 and disunion. Tin- ci.mmoiieM .f tin- African s|N-cies is the BOI:I i i . Kins \-i i i:. .T LITTLE 

 HIM K KinscM i i:os, of Soiitht>ni Africa; an animal wliidi max I"- easily distinguished from 

 its relations by the sha]>e of the horns and the UJ.JMT lip. In the liorelc tin- foremost hum is 

 of considerable length, and U-nt nitli.T l>ackward. while the second horn i-* short, conical, and 

 much r.-s,. m |>l,-s tli.- weapon of the Indian animal. The head is rather rottnded, and the ]M>inted 

 upjter lip overlaps the lower, and is ca|ial>le of coiisjdenible \t-n>i<>n. 



The Borele la a very fierce and dangerous animal, and is more feared by the natives than 

 evi-n tin- lion. Although so clumsy in shajie and as]..-.-!, it is really a quick and active creature. 

 darting alN>ut with li^htninu SJM^I, and t-.stiim the jtoweraof a good horse to e.sca}M> from its 

 ohargt'. IJke many other wild animals, it In-comes furiously savap- when woiunled, but it 

 will sometimes attack a pass,. n^.-r without the l.-a.st piiiviM-ation. < >n one occasion an an-r\ 

 RhitKM-en>s i-aim- i-hanrin^ down ii|>n a wairon, and strurk hi.n honi into the bottom plank 

 with such force as to s-nd tin* wagon forward for s.-\..nil pa<vs, although it was sticking in 

 deep sand. He then left the wagon, and directM his attack IIIK>II the lire, knocking the 

 burning WCKM! in every direction, and upsetting the jnit which liacl IKM-II place<l on the tin-, lie 

 then continue*! his wild career in >pite of th.- attempts of a native who Hung his sjx-ar at him. 

 but without the least effect, as the iron i*>int U-nt agjiinst the strong hide. 



The skin of this animal does not fall in heavy folds, like that of the Asiatic sje<-i.-s. imt is 

 n-'^-rtheless extremely thick and hard, and will resist on ordinary leaden bullet, unless it ! 

 fired from a small distance. The skin is employed largely in the manufacture of whips, or 

 jamboks, and is prepared in a rather curious manner. \Vhen the hide is removed from the 

 animal it is cut into strips of suitable breadth and laid on the ground. These strips are then 

 hammered for some time in order to condense the sulistam--- <-f the skin, and when they are dry 

 are carefully rounded with a knife and polished with sand-paper. One of thes,- whips will 

 continue serviceable for several years. The horn of the Borele. from its corn jwini lively small 

 dimensions, is not so valuable as that of the other sjteciea, but is still employed in the manu- 

 facture of drink in -ups and sword -handles. Its value in about half that of ivory. 



The food of the Black Rhinoceros, whether the Hon-le or the kcitloa, is composed of roots, 

 which the animal ploughs out of the ground with its horn, and of the youim branches ami 

 shoots of the wait a -bit thorn. It is rather remarkable that the black species is poisoned by 

 one of the Eiiphori>iacen>, which is eaten with impunity by the two white animals. 



When wounded, the Block Rhinoceros is a truly fearful opponent, and it is generally 

 considered very unsafe to fire at the animal unless the hunter is mounted on a good horse or 

 provided with an accessible place of refuge. An old experienced hunter said that he would 

 rather face fifty lions than one wounded Borele; but Mr. Oswell. the well-known African 

 sportsman, always preferred to shoot the Rhinoceros on foot. The l>est place to aim is just 

 behind the shoulder, as, if the lungs are wounded, the animal very soon dies. There is but 

 little blood externally, as the thick loose skin covers the bullet -hole, and j events any outward 

 effusion. When mortally wounded the Rhinoceros generally drops on its knees. 



It \s at all times a rather savage beast, and is apt to quarrel with it> own kind. Mr. 

 Andersson mentions a curious battle of which he was an eye- witness, where fourof these animals 

 engaged furiously with each other. Two of them he contrived to shoot, and found that one 

 HMabsoiuti-i\ ""' ; '" ! ' ' '"-' '"! "i with festering wounds whkk had bm received in 



former em nt- i^ The tlesh of this animal is tolerably ir, MM l. but that of the black species is 



rather toui:h, and possesses a bitter and unpl.-asant flavor, in consequence of the food on 

 which the animal lives. The whit.- s|KN-ies f.-.ils almost exclusively on grass, and its tiVsh is 

 remarkably good and tender. The Borele is a nocturnal animal, rousing himself from sleep 



