64 THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



comparatively little when compared to that of the Elephant, Lion, 

 or Buffalo ; and if one be found charging under severe provocation, 

 it will seldom make a second onslaught should the first fail. By 

 these remarks it is not intended to convey any impression that this 

 Rhinoceros may be attacked with impunity, but it is attempted to 

 show that it is not the ferocious and bloodthirsty animal most 

 travellers and nearly all natives represent it to be. However heavy 

 and ungainly it looks, it can run with most unexpected rapidity, its 

 trot almost equalling in speed that of the Eland, although a fairly 

 good horse can come up to it easily ; and when stalking on foot, if 

 the wind be favourable, it can, owing to its deficiency of vision, be 

 walked right up to without difficulty, and a side shot in the region 

 of the heart or through both lungs will quickly prove fatal. If only 

 wounded in one lung, however, the blood spoor may be followed up 

 perhaps for hours without ultimate success. Owing to the difficulty 

 of getting at the brain, a head shot is rarely effective. A solid 

 bullet should invariably bs employed. 



The Black Rhinoceros is nocturnal in its habits, drinking early in 

 the evening if not disturbed, wandering over large tracks of country 

 during the remainder of the night in search of food, and spending 

 the heat of the day sleeping in the shade of some thick bush, being 

 more partial, however, to a very rugged and broken country. 

 Although not, strictly speaking, gregarious, it is rather of a social 

 disposition, it not being unusual to meet with several in com- 

 pany. It has a peculiar habit of scattering its warm dung in every 

 direction. 



The Rhinoceros bird {Buphaga africand) is a very constant com- 

 panion of that quadruped, which, besides preying on the numerous 

 parasitic insects infesting its hide, also acts as a sentinel, on the 

 approach of danger flying into the air and uttering piercing cries. 

 This, together with the rapid flapping of its wings, attracts the 

 attention of the Rhinoceros, which at once precipitately retreats 

 without waiting to ascertain from whence comes the danger. 



The White Rhinoceros {Rhinoceros simus). Fig. 33, Plate 

 IX. — ( Vit Rhinaster of the Dutch ; Chukuru of the Bechu- 

 anas ; Umhofo of the Matabele.) 



Although there is every reason to suppose that the White or 

 square-mouthed Rhinoceros is now extinct, it is thought advisable 



