THE LITTLE BLACK RHINOCEROS AND THE KEITLOA. 263 



is said, upon the authority of Captain Williamson, to repel the attack 

 of an adult male elephant. 



The height of this animal when fully grown is rather more than 

 five feet, but the average height seems scarcely to exceed four feet. 

 In color it is a deep brown black, tinged with a purple hue, which is 

 most perceptible when the animal has recently left its bath. The color 

 of the young animal is much paler than that of the mother, and par- 

 takes of a pinky hue. 



Of African Rhinoceroses four species are clearly ascertained, and it 

 is very probable that others may yet be in existence. Two of the known 

 species are black and the other two white, the animals differing from 

 each other not only in color, but in form, dimensions, habits, and dis- 

 position. The commonest of the African species is the Borele, Rhin- 

 ASTER, or Little Black Rhinoceros of Southern Africa — an animal 

 which may easily be distinguished from its relations by the shape of 

 the horns and the upper lip. In the Borele the foremost horn is of 

 considerable length and bent rather backward, while the second horn 

 is short, conical, and much resembles the weapon of the Indian animal. 

 The head is rather rounded, and the pointed upper lip overlaps the 

 lower and is capable of considerable extension. 



The skin of this animal does not fall in heavy folds, like that of the 

 Asiatic species, but is nevertheless extremely thick and hard, and will 

 resist an ordinary leaden bullet, unless it be fired from a small dis- 

 tance. The skin is employed largely in the manufacture of whips, or 

 jamboks. 



The food of the Black Rhinoceros, whether the Borele or the Keitloa, 

 is composed of roots, which the animal ploughs out of the ground with 

 its horn, and of the young branches and shoots of the wait-a-bit thorn. 

 It is rather remarkable that the black species is poisoned by one of 

 the Euphorbiacese, which is eaten with impunity by the two white an- 

 imals. 



When wounded, the Black Rhinoceros is truly a fearful opponent, 

 and it is generally considered very unsafe to fire at the animal unless 

 the hunter be mounted on a good horse or provided with an access- 

 ible 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 Rhino- 

 ceros on foot. The best 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 pre- 

 vents any outward effusion. When mortally wounded the Rhinoceros 

 generally drops on its knees. 



The Keitloa can readily be recognized by the horns, which are of 

 considerable length, and nearly equal to each other in measurement. 



