28 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



ably entirely a grass-eater, feeding in the late evening, 

 through the night, and in the early morning. He moves 

 steadily along at a slow walk all the time he is grazing, 

 not remaining more or less in one place to do so, as is the 

 habit of many animals. On the sun getting hot he lies 

 down under some convenient tree or bush to sleep soundly 

 through the warmer hours of the day ; he is then very 

 easy to approach. Sight and hearing both appear rather 

 deficient, but scent is keen. When on the move the head 

 is carried so low that the horn is almost parallel to the 

 ground. The calf precedes instead of following the 

 mother, and is guided by a gentle pressure of her horn. 

 White rhinoceroses are seldom found at any great 

 distance from water. They are believed to be very 

 numerous indeed to the west of the Nile, practically from 

 Lake Albert to some distance north of Lado, and have 

 not, so far as can be ascertained up to the present time, 

 been reduced in numbers to any noticeable extent. 

 This is due to the fact that the numerous hunters who 

 recently were busy in their haunts pursued the elephant 

 alone, a chase which precludes thought of all else. It is 

 therefore to be hoped that when access to these remote 

 regions becomes less difficult, Government will take 

 effectual steps to guard these inoffensive and interesting 

 creatures, in this their last known refuge, from the fate 

 which has overtaken -them in South Africa. 



THE BLACK or PREHENSILE-LIPPED RHINOCEROS. 

 Unlike his so-called " white " cousin, the black rhinoceros 

 has a range embracing nearly the whole of Africa, except 

 where he has been exterminated through human agency. 

 In colour he is not noticeably darker than the other 

 species ; the height is much less, only about five feet at 

 the shoulder ; the skull is shorter, and the horns, of 

 which the front one usually, though not always, exceeds 



