RHINOCEROS, GIRAFFE, AND ZEBRA 255 



Keeping by choice to a restricted area, the 

 rhinoceros is a browser, though when eating small 

 ground shrubs he has the appearance of grazing. 

 He feeds at night, drinks at pools rather than 

 rivers, and lies up in light (often thorny) scrub 

 during the day. The spoor is about the size of 

 the hippo's, but has a three-toed impress. The 

 dung, often dropped in the same spot, may be 

 kicked and scattered by the rhino. Poor of 

 sight and hearing, he lias a keen sense of smell, 

 and this fact, with his stupidity and uncertain 

 temper, makes him appear to attack people some- 

 what frequently, though most of his charges are 

 attempts to get away. On one occasion in South- 

 East Africa when a rhinoceros ran over me, I am 

 convinced, from the circumstances, that it was 

 attempting to escape and not to charge. When 

 wounded they will undoubtedly charge, and some- 

 times in a most determined manner ; I have been 

 charged both in the open and in thick bush by 

 these animals. 



The brain of the charging rhino is covered 

 by his horn, and even a neck or body shot is only 

 possible if the hunter can get to one side. Fatal 

 shots are those striking him near the ear-hole 

 (for the brain) and low down behind the shoulder 

 (for the heart). 



The GIRAFFE (Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis) 

 (Onduli of the Umbundu, and Njamba nduli 

 of the Cokue) is found only in the desert scrub 

 or savannah forest of the south of Angola. It 

 has a more reticulated coat than the G. c. 

 capensis, with larger chocolate patches on a 



