TxHE ZooLocist—Marcu, 1876. 4849 
Mr. E. A. Schafer read a paper prepared by himself and Mr. D. J. 
Williams, on the structure of the mucous membrane of the stomach in the 
kangaroos, in which he gave a minute description of the histological cha- 
racters of the different portions of this organ. 
A communication was read from Mr. W. H. Hudson, containing notes 
on the habits of fhe rails of the Argentine Republic. 
The Hon. W. H. Drummond read a paper on African rhinoceroses, in 
which he gave reasons for believing in the existence of five species in Africa, 
including R. Oswelli, which, however, might. probably be merely a variety 
of R. simus. 
[The following abstract of Mr. Drummond's paper on the species of African 
rhinoceroses appeared in the ‘ Field’ of January 22 :— 
« At the last meeting of the Zoological Society, held on the 18th inst., 
amongst various papers read was an interesting communication from the 
Hon. W. H. Drummond on the subject of African rhinoceroses, in which 
the author expressed his views on the much-vexed question as to the 
number of species which inhabit the African continent, and detailed his 
personal experience of the species which he had himself met with. It has 
generally been supposed that two species only existed in this part of the 
world—Rhinoceros simus and R. bicornis; but the published observations 
of sportsmen and travellers within recent times certainly point to the 
existence of a third, the so-called R. keitloa. Mr. Drummond has good 
reasons for believing that there are at least four, if not five, species, which 
have been more or less hitherto confounded. The species he would dis- 
criminate as follows :— 
“1. R. simus, an animal measuring somewhat over 12 ft. in length, and 
about 5 ft. 10 in. in height, having a square nose and large rounded horns, 
the anterior of which averages about 2 ft. 6in. in length, though not un- 
commonly found measuring 38 ft. 6in., or even over 4 ft.; the posterior rarely 
or never exceeding 15 in., and generally speaking not being more than 12 in. 
It inhabits all the country south of the Zambezi, and there is some reason 
to believe in its existence in Central Africa. It feeds solely on grass and 
small herds are sometimes seen together. 
“2. R. bicornis major, a much smaller animal, about 11 ft. in length, and 
5 ft. in height, with an elongated head, and prehensile upper lip ; the horns 
being thicker in proportion to length than those of R. simus. The anterior 
averages 20 in. or 22 in. in length, and never attains to more than 20 in. or 
28 in.; while the posterior averages 10 in. or 12 in. It is found in all the 
country south of the Zambezi; inhabits thorn thickets chiefly (in which 
R. simus is never found); but occasionally occurs in other jungle or open. 
It feeds chiefly on thorn leaves and branches, though also eating grass, and 
is gregarious, five or six being sometimes found together. 
“3. R. keitloa, whose measurements differ but little from those of R. 
