THE BLACK AND THE WHITE RHINOCEKOS 441 



than four different species, two white and two black, each of 

 them with two horns. 



The black species are the Eorelo of the Bechuanas, and the 

 Keitloa, which is longer, with a larger neck and almost equal 

 horns. In both species the upper lip 

 projects over the lower, and is capable 

 of being extended like that of the 

 giraffe, thus enabling the animal to 

 pull down the branches on whose 

 foliao-e he intends to feast. Both the 

 Borelo and the Keitloa are extremely 

 ill-natured, and, with the exception of the buffalo, the most 

 dangerous of all the wild animals of South Africa. 



The white species are the Monoho {R. simus), and the 

 Kobaaba (i?. Osivellis), which is distinguished by one of its 

 horns attaining the prodigious length of four feet. 



Although the black and white rhinoceros are members of the 

 same family, their mode of living and disposition are totally 

 different. The food of the former consists almost entirely of roots, 

 which they dig up with their larger horn, or of the branches and 

 sprouts of the thorny acacia, while the latter exclusively 

 live on grasses. Perhaps in consequence of their milder and 

 more succulent food, they are of a timid unsuspecting nature, 

 which renders them an easy prey, so that they are fast melting 

 away before the onward march of the European trader ; while 

 the black species, from their greater ferocity and wariness, 

 maintain their place much longer than their more timid rela- 

 tions. The different nature of the black and white rhinoceros 

 shows itself even in their flesh, for while that of the former, 

 living chiefly on arid branches, has a sharp and bitter taste, and 

 but little recommends itself by its meagreness and toughness — 

 the animal, like the generality of ill-natured creatures, being 

 never found with an ounce of fat on its bones— that of the latter 

 is juicy and well-flavoured, a delicacy both for the white man 

 and the negro. 



The shape of the rhinoceros is unwieldy and massive ; its vast 

 paunch hangs down nearly to the ground ; its short legs are of 

 columnar strength, and have three toes on each foot ; the mis- 

 shapen head has long and erect ears, and ludicrously small eyes ; 

 the skin, which is completely naked, with the exception of some 



