THE BLACK RHINOCEROS 



the slightly hollowed base of the horn rests upon a 

 bony elevation which grows from the skull. When 

 skinning the head, the horn can easily be detached 

 from the skull. 



Although one long, front or nose horn and a small 

 back one is the rule, specimens have been obtained 

 with both horns of equal length, and others with 

 three and even five hornS. 



Formerly these varieties were divided into local 

 races or sub-species, but they are now regarded as 

 individual eccentricities, and in consequence only 

 one species is recognised throughout the extensive 

 range of this animal. 



The Black Rhinoceros is dark slaty-grey, and is not 

 noticeably darker than the so-called White species. 

 However, it is smaller and lighter than the other; 

 its length from nose to root of tail averages about 

 ID feet, and the height at the shoulder 5- feet. Its 

 upper lip is elongated and prehensile, and the head 

 is much shorter than that of the White Rhinoceros. 

 The skin is hairless, thick and almost smooth, and 

 the eye is small. An adult living female was 

 weighed and scaled 1080 lbs. 



In addition to the two species of Rhinoceroses 

 which inhabit Africa, there are three other species 

 in eastern countries, viz. the Great Indian Rhino- 

 ceros {Rhinoceros unicornis), the Javan Rhinoceros 

 {Rhinoceros sondaicus), and the Sumatran Rhinoceros 

 {Rhinoceros sumatrensis). The two former have a 

 single horn each, and the latter two horns. 



219 



