144 THE RHINOCEROS. 



What might one expect after that from the polite- 

 ness of the black rhinoceros ? 



Dr. Livingstone writes : " Mr. Osvv T ell was once 

 stalking two of these animals, and as they came 

 slowly to him, he, knowing that there is but little 

 chance of hitting the small brain of this animal by a 

 shot in the head, lay, expecting one of them to give 

 his shoulder, till he was within a few yards. 



" The hunter then thought that by making a rush to 

 his side he might succeed in escaping ; but the rhino- 

 ceros, too quick for that, turned upon him, and, though 

 he discharged his gun close to the animal's head, he 

 was tossed in the air. My friend was insensible for 

 some time, and on recovering found large wounds on 

 the thigh and body. I saw that on the former part 

 still open, and five inches long." 



Mr. Moffat having brought down a black rhinoceros, 

 the natives threw themselves on the beast, shouting 

 with joy ; twelve lances at once penetrated the sides of 

 the victim. The punctures reanimated him; he sprang 

 up in an instant, and, tearing up the earth with his 

 horn after his fashion, rushed upon his conquerors, 

 who promptly showed him their heels. 



The rhinoceros is, after the elephant, the largest 

 mammiferous animal known on the earth. The name 

 is derived from two Greek words, which might be trans- 

 lated horn on tlie nose* It is well known, in fact, that 



