THE RHINOCEROS 



from upwind, and the rhino naturally runs away 

 upwind. He opens fire, and has another thrilling 

 adventure to relate. As a matter of fact, if he had 

 approached from the other side, and then aroused 

 the animal with a clod of earth, the beast would 

 probably have "charged" away in identically the 

 same direction. I am convinced from a fairly varied 

 experience that this is the basis for most of the thrill- 

 ing experiences with rhinoceroses. 



But whatever the beast's first mental attitude, the 

 danger is quite real. In the beginning he rushes 

 upwind in instinctive reaction against the strange 

 scent. If he catches sight of the man at all, it must be 

 after he has approached to pretty close range, for only 

 at close range are the rhino's eyes effective. Then 

 he is quite likely to finish what was at first a blind 

 dash by a genuine charge. Whether this is from 

 malice or from the panicky feeling that he is now too 

 close to attempt to get away, I never was able to 

 determine. It is probably in the majority of cases 

 the latter. This seems indicated by the fact that 

 the rhino, if avoided in his first rush, will generally 

 charge right through and keep on going. Occasion- 

 ally, however, he will whirl and come back to the 

 attack. There can then be no doubt that he actually 

 intends mischief. 



Nor must it be forgotten that with these animals, 

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