478 UNGULATES. 



accompany them in search of the ticks with which they are infested. Mr. Hunter 

 states, however, that in the Kilima-Njaro district rhinoceroses lie out in the open 

 plain during the day. 



The common rhinoceros is met with in Southern Africa generally either 

 solitary or in family-parties of two or three. In the latter case it is usually a 

 female accompanied by her calf ; but Sir J. Willoughby met a male, female, and 

 half -grown calf together, and as in this instance the horns of the male were much 

 shorter than those of the female, it may be that the longer horns generally belong 

 to the latter sex. Occasionally several full-grown individuals are seen together, 

 Mr. Drummond stating that on one occasion he met with a party of six or seven. 

 Sir J. Willoughby relates that once he shot one of a pair of these rhinoceroses, 

 which was immediately fiercely attacked and rolled over by its companion. When 

 a cow rhinoceros is killed, the calf generally remains by the dead body of its 

 parent, from which it can with difficulty be dragged away. 



Like most other large African animals, the common rhinoceros is 

 rapidly decreasing in numbers from the incessant pursuit to which it 

 is subjected in the southern and eastern portion of the continent. Writing in 

 1881, Mr. Selous said that it was still fairly common in South-Eastern Africa, 

 although it had been nearly exterminated in the regions to the westward. Only a 

 few then remained on the Chobi, while between that river and the Zambesi there 

 were none, and the natives said that there never had been any in that district. 

 Northwards of the Zambesi they were, however, again met with, and from thence 

 they doubtless extend through the whole of Central Africa to Abyssinia and the 

 Sudan. In the Kilima-Njaro district Sir J. Willoughby 's party found these 

 rhinoceroses very plentiful in 1886, having on one occasion seen as many as 

 sixteen head during a single day's march. 



In Southern Africa the common rhinoceros is hunted either by being followed 

 up when out feeding on the plains, or by the hunter lying in wait at its drinking- 

 places. In the Sudan the Hamram Arabs are, however, in the habit of chasing 

 the rhinoceros on horseback, and of ham-stringing it by a dexterous stroke of a 

 long two-handed sword. This sport, according to Sir S. Baker, tries the speed of 

 the best horses, and that writer's account of the chase of a couple of these animals, 

 which, after running more than two miles, defied further pursuit by escaping into 

 thick cover, is probably known to many of our readers. An Arab hunter explained 

 to Sir S. Baker, " that at all times the rhinoceros was the most difficult animal to 

 sabre, on account of his extraordinary swiftness, and, although he had killed many 

 with the sword, it was always after a long and fatiguing hunt, at the close of 

 which the animal becoming tired generally turned to bay, in which case one 

 hunter occupied his attention, while another galloped up behind and severed the 

 hamstring. The rhinoceros, unlike the elephant, can go very well upon three legs, 

 which enhances the danger, as one cut will not disable him." A less sporting 

 method adopted by the Arabs of the same regions is to dig a hole about two feet 

 deep by fifteen inches in diameter in the animal's run, and to place in the centre a 

 rather elaborately-constructed snare, to which is attached a rope with a heavy log 

 of wood at the other end. When the rhinoceros steps on the pit, one of its feet is 

 caught in the running noose. When caught, the first effort of the rhinoceros is to 



