268 The American Naturalist. [March, 
attest its value, and the hard work that it had accomplished. A 
portion of the walnut stock had been completely worn away to s 
depth of an inch by the tearing friction of the wait-a-bit tho 
when carrying the gun across the saddle in chase at full speed pee 
the hooked-thorn bushes. The stock had the appearance of having 
been gnawed by rats, 
« At the time of Oswell’s visit the country was alive with wild ani- 
mals, all of which have long since disappeared before the advance of 
colonial enterprise and the sporting energy of settlers. There was 4 
particular locality that was so infested with rhinoceroses that Oswell 
had grown tired of killing them, and he passed them unnoticed, 
unless he met some specimen with an exceptional horn. He was 
riding a favorite horse, which had been his constant companion in 
countless shooting incidents, and he happened to remark a large white 
rhinoceros standing in open ground alone. This animal possessed a 
horn of unusual length, which made the owner worthy of attention. 
«‘ Oswell immediately rode towards it. The animal took no notice 
of his approach until he arrived within about one hundred yards. 
The Rinoceros simus (white species) is not considered dangerous, there- 
fore he had approached without the slightest caution or hesitation. I 
forget whether he fired; but I well remember that the beast calmly 
confronted the horse, and slowly but determinedly, with measured space, 
advanced directly towards the rider. Like an object in a disturbed 
dream, this huge creature came on, step by step, leisurely but surely, 
never hesitating or halting, but with eyes fixed upon the attacking 
party. Firing at the forehead being useless, Oswell endeavored to 
move either to the left or right, to obtain a shoulder shot ; but the 
horse, that was accustomed to a hundred contests with wild animals, 
was suddenly mesmerized and petrified with horror. The quiet and 
spectre-like advance of the rhinoceros had paralyzed and rooted it to 
e ground. Trembling all over, its limbs refused to move. The 
spur and whip were unavailing. The horse. felt that it was doomed. 
This horrible position endured until the rhinoceros was within only 4 
few paces. It then made a dash forward. 
‘ Oswell describes his first sensations, upon returning consciousness, 
nearly as follows: He found himself upon a horse. The reins were 
not in his hands. A man was walking in front, leading the animal 
by the reins, which had been pulled over its head. There were natives 
upon either side, apparently holding him upon the saddle. A dreamy 
feeling, and a misty, indistinct view of the situation, was sufficient to 
assure him that something must have happened. He felt certain that 
