408 CLOSING INCIDENTS. 



flowers of more gorgeous hues. Towards evening the mosquitos came forth 

 in great clouds, and were so numerous and venomous that in many places 

 the whole native population was seen marching down to the lagoons, where 

 they remained for some time with only their heads above water to protect 

 themselves against their numerous tormentors. 



At Rhino camp in Belgian Congo, Colonel Roosevelt succeeded in find- 

 ing and killing some fine specimens of the now almost extinct white rhinoc- 

 eros. He shot three good bulls and two cows beside a bull buffalo and other 

 smaller game. The naturalists collected many species of birds and mammals 

 and Kermit took excellent photographs of a living white rhinoceros. 



This enormous beast which was once so numerous in South Africa and 

 south of the Zambesi river is now almost extinct. It is the largest of the 

 genus. The species obtained by our mighty hunter measured from twelve 

 to fourteen feet in length and from six to six and a half feet in height at the 

 shoulders. Their color was slate gray with brownish tints on the shoulder 

 and haunches. The head is long and slender and square at the muzzle, as 

 seen on our excellent picture of this rare animal. The snout has two horns, 

 the front one long and sharp, the second short and obtuse. The length of the 

 horns is from three feet to four feet, six inches, and it is the ambition of 

 every native chief to have a staff made from them. The horns of the females 

 are longer and more slender than those of the males. The ears are sharp and 

 pointed, the lower part closed like a tube, the top adorned with a small tuft 

 of hair. The colonel found the flesh of the white rhinoceros more fat and 

 juicy than that of the black, and tasting some like beef, but with a pecul- 

 iar flavor. The flesh of the calf is said to be especially good, much like ten- 

 der veal. 



Our ex-President, now having satisfied his ambition of killing the white 

 rhinoceros decided to give specimens of the complete family to the Smith- 

 sonian institution. He also donated two skins to the American museum of 

 Natural History at New York and presented a head to William T. Horna- 

 day's collection. He declared that he would not retain any of the white 

 rhino trophies for himself. 



While staying at Rhino camp the American hunting party had an in- 

 teresting experience that had not been counted upon. On their second day at 

 the camp a grass fire accidentally started and threatened to burn up the whole 

 outfit, which was saved only by the energetic work of all hands in clearing 



