204 AFRICAN NATURE NOTES CHAP, x 



a very large crocodile were to seize a rhinoceros by 

 the one hind-leg, and was sufficiently powerful to 

 hold that limb off the ground, the largest of these 

 animals would become almost helpless ; for if either 

 hind-leg of a rhinoceros be broken by a bullet, the 

 animal is rendered immediately almost incapable of 

 movement, and very soon assumes a sitting position. 

 I imagine that a rhinoceros would easily be able to 

 pull the largest of crocodiles out of water, if it was 

 harnessed to one of these reptiles, and so could get 

 a fair pull at it from the chest and shoulders ; but I 

 think that the paralysing effect of the crocodile's 

 hold on one of its hind-legs would be sufficient to 

 account for the helplessness of the animal whose 

 struggles and ultimate death Mr. Fleischmann 

 witnessed in the Tana river. 



