WHITE OR BURCHELL'S RHINOCEROS 473 



WHITE or BURCHELL'S RHINOCEROS (Rhinoceros [Diceros] simus). 

 KJiartyt of the Sudanese. Vit RJienaster of the Dutch. 



Next to the Indian elephant this is the largest mammal that has 

 trodden the earth in modern times. Its huge bulk, the bluntly truncate 

 muzzle, which has no prehensile tip, the great length of the skull, and 

 the enormous front horn, with its expanded base, form the most striking 

 external characteristics of this species. The cheek-teeth are of a 

 different type of structure from those of the preceding species, being, in 

 fact, adapted for chewing grass. In walking, the animal carried its 

 head low, so that in examples in which the front horn bends forward, 

 its tip became worn by being pushed along the ground. It is some- 

 what difficult to surmise the reason for the application of the name 

 white rhinoceros to this species. 



Distribution. South and South- East Africa, in suitable localities, as far 

 north as the Zambesi ; and again in Central Africa at Lado, on 

 the equator. Exterminated early in the last century to the south 

 of the Orange River ; and now represented in South Africa at the 

 most by a few survivors in North-East Mashonaland, and possibly 

 by others in the reedy swamps at the junction of the Black and 

 White Umvolosi rivers. Between the Zambesi and Orange rivers 

 the species was abundant about half a century ago ; Andersson 

 alone having killed sixty in the course of a few months. Its 

 existence in Central Equatorial Africa was first indicated by the 

 late Sir Samuel Baker on the evidence of horns, and subsequently 

 made certain in the neighbourhood of Lado by Major Gibbons. 

 This northern form may prove to be a distinct race. 



Length on /-./ 



outside curve. Locality. Owner. 



Front Rear Front Rear 



Horn. Horn. Horn. Horn. 



-62^ ... 22i ... South Africa . . Col. \V. Gordon Gumming. 



56^ 23^ ... Do. . . British Museum. 



about 

 52^ 214 ... Do. . . Col. W. Gordon Gumming. 



44 ... 20 ... Do. . . British Museum. 



43f 23 L f Do. . . The late A. Beit. 



42|j ... 25! ... Limpopo . . The late W. G. Oswell. 



-41 South Africa . . J. W. Fitzherbert. 



40^ 29^' Do. . . Sir Edmund G. Loder, Bart. 



- Owner's measurements. 



