by I. Vaughan- Kirby. 227 
Again the shape of the ear-conches is markedly different in the two 
species, being much rounded in the black, and having their outer 
edges very hairy, whereas in the white the very large ear-conches are 
much elongated and pointed, with a few bristly, stiff, and somewhat 
curly hairs at the extreme tips. In the latter species also the lower 
edges of the conches meet to form a sort of tube. 
Other external characters which at once attract the attention of the 
observer, in addition to the length of the head and the shape of the 
muzzle, are the huge muscular hump on the nape of the neck, and the 
comparative paucity of hide folds on the body, which are far less 
conspicuous than in the black species. There is a fold behind the 
elbow, less conspicuous in some positions of the body than in others, 
and one at the back of the thigh, below the buttock. A heavy fold 
passes transversely over the elbow joint, and completely encircles the 
outside of the fore-limb ; it is well-marked in any position assumed by 
the animal, and as much so in calves as in adults. A short but heavy 
transverse fold passes over the nape of the neck, and a longer, but less 
heavy one encircles the throat. |The conspicuousness or otherwise of 
these two folds depends upon the position in which the animal carries 
its head. | When this is raised in alert watchfulness the neck fold is 
well-marked, while that under the throat is less so, but when the head 
is lowered in the manner so characteristic of the animal, the former 
becomes much flattened out, and the latter correspondingly increased 
in size. 
Yet another character which the white rhinoceros shares in common 
with all other living species is the flattened, compressed ridge of hide 
which stands out along the front edge of the thigh, and is of 
considerable thickness. 
The circumference of the spoors of three white rhinoceros bulls taken 
in damp hard sand were 31, 33 and 35 inches respectively, that of the 
black species under similar conditions is about 26 or 27 inches. — In 
both species the spoor of the hind-foot, is smaller and more oval in 
shape than that of the fore-foot, but there is considerably less 
difference between the relative sizes of fore- and hind-foot spoors in 
the case of the white than in that of the black. 
Upon the question of size, both actual and relative, it may be said 
that great differences of opinion exist, but at the same time it is quite 
clear that this ought to be a matter of fact and not opinion. If care- 
ful measurements were always taken, in a uniform manner, and 
absolute accuracy aimed at, there would be no room left for mere 
expressions of opinion, but, unfortunately, there has always been a 
remarkable lack of uniformity in the methods employed for measuring 
