392 THE RHINOCEROS. 



ceros bicornis, Linn.) and her calf. "We saw other footprints 

 among the hills of Semalembue; but the black rhinoceros 

 is remarkably scarce in all the country north of the Zam- 

 besi. The white rhinoceros (Rhinoceros simus of Burchell,) 

 or Mohohu of the Bechuanas, is quite extinct here, and 

 will soon become unknown in the country to the south. 

 It feeds almost entirely on grasses, and is of a timid, un- 

 suspecting disposition : this renders it an easy prey, and 

 they are slaughtered without mercy on the introduction of 

 fire-arms. The black possesses a more savage nature, and, 

 like the ill-natured in general, is never found with an ounce 

 of fat in its body. From its greater fierceness and wariness, 

 it holds its place in a district much longer than its more 

 timid and better-conditioned neighbor. Mr. Oswell was 

 once stalking two of these beasts, and, as they came slowly 

 to him, he, knowing that there is but little chance of hitting 

 the small brain of this animal by a shot in the head, lay 

 expecting one of them to give his shoulder till he was 

 within a few yards. The hunter then thought that by 

 making a rush to his side he might succeed in escaping ; 

 but the rhinoceros, too quick for that, turned upon him, 

 and, though he discharged his gun close to the animal's 

 head, he was tossed in the air. My friend was insensible 

 for some time, and, on recovering, found large wounds on 

 the thigh and body: I saw that on the former part still 

 open, and five inches long. The white, however, is not 

 always quite safe, for one, even after it was mortally 

 wounded, attacked Mr. Oswell's horse, and thrust the 

 horn through to the saddle, tossing at the time both horse 

 and rider. I once saw a white rhinoceros give a buffalo, 

 Which was gazing intently at myself, a poke in the chest, 

 but it did not wound it, and seemed only a hint to get out 

 of the way. Four varieties of the rhinoceros are enume- 

 rated by naturalists, but my observation led me to conclude 

 that there are but two, and that the extra species have 

 been formed frGm differences in their sizes, ages, and the 

 direction of the horns ; as if we should reckon the short- 



