MAMMALS. 



623 



Africa. In the former the horn ma"y grow to be three feet in length, 

 forming a very efficient instrument as well as a weapon of offence and 

 defence. In the two-horned forms the forward horn is usually much the 

 larger, and may be four feet long, while the second may extend to half 

 that distance. These figures are extremes : usually the dimensions are 

 much less. 



Fig. 404. — Tapir (Tapiriis americanus). 



The African species are much better known than those of India, and 

 almost every volume of travel in the l dark continent ' details the excite- 

 ment of a rhinoceros hunt. These huge beasts live in the dense jungle, 

 lying still in the shade during the heat of the clay, and going to their 

 feeding-places in the morning and evening. At about eight at night the 

 animal goes to the river to drink, usually following a regular path which 

 he has broken for himself through the underbrush. A knowledge of this 

 habit is of much use to the hunter, and it is in these paths that he awaits 

 his game, or places his snares and pitfalls. There is far less excitement in 

 hunting these animals than is the case with lions, elephants, or tigers, but 



