1S94.] WHITE BHLtfOCEBOS TS MASHONALAKD. 331 



it is difficult to conjecture how this solitary horn got into Central 

 Africa. The second instance is this : I hear that information from 

 Lisbon has been received in London to the effect that the White 

 Rhinoceros has been seen upon the borders of Angola, on the West 

 Coast of Africa. Xow it is possible, I suppose, that continued 

 persecution may have driven this animal from the north-eastern part 

 of Mashonaland to the upper grounds — still absolutely undisturbed 

 — of the Zambesi ; though it is extremely improbable that it would 

 go so far as Angola. Besides, the White Rhinoceros is so entirely 

 connected with the country south of the Zambesi that it is more 

 than possible that the traveller who brought this information may 

 have been mistaken. 



The main points of difference between the two African Rhino- 

 ceroses are the shape of the mouth and the manner of feeding. 

 R. bicomis has a prehensile upper lip and a much smaller head 

 altogether than R. simus ; he feeds entirely upon leaves and twigs 

 and prefers a rough, bushy, inhospitable country ; he is wary and 

 shy, quick to anger and exceedingly obstinate, inquisitive, and 

 suspicious. R. simus has a disproportionately large head with a 

 great jaw which is cut off quite square in front, and the great 

 rubber-like lips are suited for the grass upon which he feeds 

 entirely, though in the autumn and winter, when vast stretches 

 of country have been burnt away, it is a puzzle how he manages 

 to get enough nutriment to sustain his great bulk. He carries 

 his head very low, and has long ears slightly tipped with curly 

 black hah" ; he is not so inquisitive or suspicious as his black 

 brother, and is slightly more sluggish in his movements, though 

 upon occasion he can cover the ground with unexpected speed. 

 Another curious fact is that the calf of R. simus always runs in 

 front of the cow T , while the calf of R. bicomis invariably follows 

 its mother : this habit never varies. 



Rhinoceroses drink every day — or rather every night, and as a 

 rule do not go down to the water till after midnight. When the 

 sun gets very warm they generally enjoy a siesta, sometimes in the 

 bush and sometimes out in the glaring, quivering heat ; and though 

 they will occasionally lie in thick bush they do not make a point of 

 choosing the deepest shade. When fairly asleep they do not 

 waken easily, and they may then be readily shot or photographed. 



I am convinced, along with Mr. Selous, that the temper of the 

 rhinoceros has been put down very generally as much worse than it 

 really is. One strong proof of this is that a native hunter will 

 seldom lose the opportunity of a shot at a rhinoceros, whereas 

 he will very rarely take advantage of any chance he may get at a 

 lion, elephant, or buffalo. When rudely awakened from a comfort- 

 able doze by such a sudden shock as a 10-bore bullet most probably 

 produces, it is not surprising that a rhinoceros should feel annoyed 

 or that he should express such annoyance by a charge ; but I can- 

 not believe that the majority of the "vicious attacks" sustained — 

 by their own account — by hunters were intended as such by the 

 somewhat slow-witted animal. 



