572 THE RHINOCEROS. 



the south. It feeds almost entirely on grasses, and is of a 

 timid unsuspecting 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 neighbour. 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 ex- 

 pecting 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 enumerated 

 by naturalists, but my observation led me to conclude 

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

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

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

 horned cattle a different species from the Alderneys or 

 the Highland breed. I was led to this, from having once 

 seen a black rhinoceros with a horn bent downwards, like 

 that of the kuabaoba, and also because the animals of the 

 two great varieties differ very much in appearance at 

 different stages of their growth. I find, however, that 

 Dr. Smith, the best judge in these matters, is quite 

 decided as to the propriety of the subdivision into three 

 or four species. For common readers it is sufficient to 

 remember that there are two well-defined species, that 

 differ entirely in appearance and food. The absence of 

 both these rhinoceroses among the reticulated rivers in the 



