598 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



have terminated here, but by my superior agility I had the 

 advantage in the turn. After standing a short time, eyeing 

 me through the bush, he got a whiff of my wind, which at 

 once alarmed him. Uttering a blowing noise, and erecting 

 his insignificant yet saucy-looking tail, he wheeled about, 

 leaving me master of the field, when I sent a bullet through 

 his ribs, to teach him manners. 



But the most extraordinary fact connected with the history 

 of the rhinoceros comes under the observation of Gumming 

 immediately after this incident. It is thus introduced : — 



On the forenoon of the 23d a native came and informed 

 me that he had discovered a white rhinoceros lying asleep in 

 a thick cover to the south. I accordingly accompanied him to 

 the spot, and commenced stalking in upon the vast muchocho. 

 He was lying asleep beneath a shady tree, and his appearance 

 reminded me of an enormous hog, which in shape he slightly 

 resembles. He kept constantly flapping his ears, which they 

 invariably do when sleeping. Before I could reach the proper 

 distance to fire, several " rhinoceros birds," by which he was 

 attended, warned him of his impending danger by sticking 

 their bills into his ear, and uttering their harsh, grating cry. 

 Thus aroused, he suddenly sprang to his feet and crashed 

 away through the jungle at a rapid trot, and I saw no more 

 of him. 



These rhinoceros birds are constant attendants upon the 

 hippopotamus and the four varieties of rhinoceros, their 

 object being to feed upon the ticks and other parisitic insects 

 that swarm upon these animals. They are of a grayish color, 

 and are nearly as large as a common thrush ; their voice is 

 very similar to that of the mistletoe thrush. Many a time 

 have these ever-watchful birds disappointed me in my stalk, 

 and tempted me to invoke an anathema upon their devoted 

 heads. They are the best friends the rhinoceros has, and 

 rarely fail to awaken him even in his soundest nap. " Chu- 

 kuroo" perfectly understands their warning, and, springing 



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