344 WILD ANIMALS. 



AfricaB animals, -wHicli are -wortli quoting : "Of the rhinoceros 

 there are four varieties in South Africa, distinguished by the 

 Bechuanas by the names borele, or black rhinoceros ; the keitloa, 

 or two-horned black rhinoceros ; the muchocho, or common white 

 rhinoceros ; and the kobaoba, or long^horned white rhinoceros. 

 Both varieties of the black rhinoceros are extremely fierce and 

 dangerous, and rush headlong and unprovoked at any object 

 which attracts their attention. They never attain much fat, and 

 their flesh is tough, and not much esteemed by the Bechuanas. 

 Their food consists almost entirely of the thorny branches of the 

 waitabit thorns. Their horns are much shorter than those of the 

 other varieties, seldom exceeding sixteen inches in length. They 

 are finely polished with constantly rubbing against the trees. The 

 skull is remarkably formed, its most striking feature being the 

 tremendously thick ossification in which it ends above the nostrils. 

 It is on this mass that the horn is supported. . . . During the 

 day the rhinoceros will be found lying asleep, or standing indo- 

 lently in some retired part of the forest, or under the base of the 

 mountains, sheltered from the power of the sun by some friendly 

 grove of umbrella-topped mimosas. In the evening they com- 

 mence their nightly rambles, and wander over- a great extent of 

 country. They usually visit the fountains between the hours of 

 nine and twelve o'clock at night, and it is on these occasions that 

 they may be most successfully hunted and with least danger. The 

 black rhinoceros is subject to paroxysms of unprovoked fury, often 

 ploughing up the ground for several yards with its horn, and 

 assaulting large bushes in the most violent manner. On these 

 bushes they 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 in pieces. All the four varieties 

 delight to roll and wallow in the mud, with which their rugged 

 hides are generally encrusted. Both varieties of the black 

 rhinoceros are much smaller and more active than the white, and 

 are so swift that a horse with a rider on his back can rarely 

 overtake them." 



This same writer states that both the rhinoceros and hippo- 

 potamus are generally attended by small birds known as rhinoceros 



