THE RHINOCEROS 65 



have mentioned. On the slopes of Mount Kenia, 

 it is stated, a fine bull was recently killed with 

 a horn measuring shghtly over 40 inches, and 

 even this measurement is said to have been 

 exceeded in the same part of the country-. 



The black rhinoceros is a large and powerful 

 beast, probably weighing at maturity almost if 

 not quite three tons. Only one calf is produced 

 by the female at birth, which takes place, it is 

 beUeved, during the early rains. The Uttle 

 beast rapidly acquires the necessar\- activity 

 to enable him to follow his mother at a great 

 pace, and is a perfect miracle of disproportionate 

 ughness for several years. But, considering its 

 unmense and somewhat tmwieldy size, the speed 

 with which the rhinoceros can get over the ground 

 is extraordinaiy". He moves at a boimding 

 gallop, not unlike that of an immense pig. Baker 

 points out in one of his pubUcations that the 

 length of the hind leg from the thigh to the 

 hock is the factor which afiords the tremendous 

 springing power which is the secret of this animal's 

 vast speed, and with this I quite agree, as 

 otherwise it coiild never reach such rapidity of 

 motion with the remarkable smoothness which is 

 another of its peculiarities. 



Possessing powers of scent almost if not 

 quite as keen as those of the elephant, great 

 quickness of hearing, unbounded irascibihty, 

 and the curiosity of an Ul-regulated woman, the 

 rhinoceros has nevertheless, fortunately for 

 mankind, been furnished with ven," poor eyesight, 

 a pecuharity to which many a hxmter doubtless 



