156 MAMMALIA. 



howeyer, have been ascertained to inhabit Abj'ssinia as well as 

 the more southern parts of Africa. The Keitloa is said to grow to 

 six feet high at the shoulder, and may at least approach that size, 

 whereas the Borele would not probably exceed five feet. The 

 horns of the Keitloa are much longer than in the other species, 

 and its hind horn especially (which is straight and laterally 

 much compressed) grows to two feet and a half or more in length, 

 being not unfrequently as long as the anterior horn, though 

 oftener the latter is still longer, and considerably more so than 

 the other. In the Borele the posterior horn is much shorter, and 

 is generally about half the length of the anterior one, which 

 seldom exceeds two feet. Both of these are fierce and energetic 

 animals — especially the smaller species — and so active and swift 

 of foot that they cannot be overtaken on horseback. " Both 

 .sjjecies," writes W. C. J. Andersson, "are extremely fierce, 

 and, excepting the Buftalo, are, perhaps, the most dangerous 

 of all the beasts of Southern Africa. Seen in its native wilds, 

 either when browsing at its leisure, or listlesslj'' sauntering 

 about, a person would take this beast to be the most stupid 

 and inoffensive of creatures ; yet, when his ire is roused, he 

 becomes the rererse, and is then the most agile and terrible of 

 animals. The Black Rhinoceroses are, moreover, subject to 

 sudden paroxysms of unprovoked fury, ru.shing and charging with 

 inconceivable fierceness animals, stones, and bushes ; in short, 

 every object that comes in their way." " The Black Rhinoceros," 

 writes Gordon Gumming also, " is subject to paroxj-sras of sudden 

 fury, often ploughing up the ground for several yards with its 

 horns, and assaulting large bushes in the most violent manner. 

 On these bushes thej' work for hours with their horns, at the 

 same time snorting and blowing loudly, nor do they leave them in 

 general until they have broken them to pieces. During the day 

 they will be found tying asleep, or standing indolentl}^ in some 

 retired part of the forest, or under the base of the moimtains, 

 sheltered from the power of the sun by some friendly grove of 

 umbrella-topped mimosas. In the evening they commence their 

 nightly ramble, and wander over a great extent of coimtry. They 

 usually visit the foimtains between the hours of nine and twelve 

 o'clock at night ; and it is on these occasions that they may be 

 most successfiilly hunted, and with the least danger." 



