122 EINAR LONNBBRG, MAMMALS COLLECTED BY THE SWEDISH ZOOLOGICAL EXPEDITION ETC. 



his communication. Specimens with smaller orbital breadth than this somaliensis 

 skull can evidently be found in different parts of Africa, and the zygomatic measu- 

 rement is very variable. 



The least width of the skulls at the postorbital constriction appears to be 

 rather constant in the specimens measured by the present author, but unfortunately 

 Lydekker has not given this measurement, nor that for the width across the ante- 

 rior horn boss which latter i« more variable in size. The exact condition of somali- 

 ensis in these two respects cannot be stated but the specimens from Guaso Nyiri do 

 not appear to differ essentially from skulls from other parts af the continent. To 

 judge from the present material there is thus no pronounced racial difference between 

 the Rhinoceroses at Guaso Nyiri and those in East and South Africa. 



There are, however, individual differences which appear very striking at the 

 first look but prove to be less important when considered more closely. The breadth 

 of the anterior end of the mandible is in South African specimens usually 5 to 5 V2 

 cm., and in the Guaso Nyiri skulls from 4 to nearly 5 cm. but in a skull from Kili- 

 manjaro it is very broad, measuring 6,2 cm. and containing rudiments of four inci- 

 sors. Such a thing has, however, only interest for the study of the individual varia- 

 tion but is then of importance. 



It appears rather uncertain how long time this interesting remnant of a past 

 fauna will be allowed to exist. The danger for extermination is the greater as the 

 Rhinoceros is a slow breeder. It certainly has diminished rapidly in some districts, and 

 it is deplorable that so many of these huge beasts are killed without reason. The 

 Rhinoceroses have a bad reputation and this causes the death of many of their kind. 

 »He is irritable, nervous, inquisitive, and churlish; unwary and wanting intelligence; 

 unsympathetic as the dry, arid districts in which he lives », says F. Vaughan Kirby 

 in sThe Great and small Game of Africa* (p. 37) about the Black Rhinoceros. With 

 my little experience I cannot say anything against these attributes, but the three 

 first of them he shares to some degree with not a few of them that speak ill about 

 him, and, worse still, act accordingly. 



It is much spoken of charging Rhinos, and it is, of course, an undeniable fact, 

 as I have experienced myself, that some Rhinos do charge viciously. But it is by 

 far the smallest number of them that are wicked. The greatest number flee at once 

 when they get the wind of, or hear a man. Some may perhaps advance compelled 

 by curiosity when they with their very bad eye-sight cannot make out what it is 

 that has disturbed them. Others may, when they have been scared and rush away 

 in the direction in which they happen to be headed, run so that they pass in proxi- 

 mity of man, and then it almost looks as if they intended to charge, although they 

 are entirely innocent. Such incidents are, however, sometimes counted together with 

 the real charges and the Rhinos are therefore by some people, who have witnessed 

 real attacks, and by a number of nervous persons regarded to be much worse than 

 they really are. Unfortunately some people also give vent to their hatred and shoot 

 down the Rhinos in such a way that it must be termed wanton destruction and be 

 most seriously condemned. 



