3 6 Great and Small Game of Africa 



its appearance as far back as the Miocene, and being numerous during 



the Pliocene period. In those days some were hornless and four-toed, 



others horned and three-toed, as in existing types. The thick-jawed rhino 



(R polygnathus) is considered the immediate ancestor of R. bkornis. The 



most striking characteristics of the latter are the rounded termination of 



the nasal bones, the comparatively smooth and naked hide, the pointed, 



prehensile upper lip, small round nostrils, and the position of the eyes 



behind the extended axis of the posterior horn. The tail is tufted, the 



ears are moderately large and more or less fringed with hair. Both sexes 



carry well -developed horns, differing so much in size and conformation 



as at one time to have led to a belief in the existence of two distinct 



species. 1 The following authenticated measurements- of six pairs of 



horns demonstrate this variation : — 



Anterior horn 10 in. .8 in. 28i in. 3* - 38- 4 U f- 



Posterior „ 6 in. 12 in. H in. <9i ». II in. to in. 



Cows' horns are usually longer, but more slender than those of the bulls. 

 These horns, composed of closely-packed horny fibre, are not fixed 

 solidly on the skull, though there are prominences on the latter below each, 

 on the nasal bones for the anterior, and on the frontals for the posterior. 

 But though not actually fixed to the skull, it is an arduous task to dislodge 

 them with a skinning-knife. The average dimensions of an adult bull are 

 as follows :— Tip of nose to root of tail between uprights, 9 feet ; tail, 

 , foot io inches to 2 feet; over all, "sportsman's measurement," about 

 ,2 feet ; shoulder height, 5 feet 4 inches. An adult cow will run io feet 

 over all, with a standing height of 4 feet to inches. Following are the 

 dimensions of my two best bulls :— 



, It is a remarkable fact .ha,, with the exception of a huge bull I shot in Portuguese Northern 

 zJlZ 1 have never met with another ,on g ^-horned rhino in Central or Centra, East Alr.ca 

 —i.e. a typical keitloa,— and the natives only recogn.se the one— Mpmbm. 



"- From Mr. Rowland Ward's Records of Big Game. 



