NO. I 



THE WHITE RHINOCEROS HELLER 



41 



vent to a series of squealing grunts similar to those made by the black 

 species under like circumstances. 



Grass forms the sole food of the square-lipped species. The 

 stomachs of the specimens shot were examined for food substance, 

 and found to contain only the stalks and blades of the coarse veldt 

 grass which at that season was quite dry and hard. The enlarged 

 squared lips and blunt snout fit this species admirably for grazing. 



The dung of this species found in the Lado, lay scattered along the 

 paths or in the bush country frequented by the rhinoceroses. There 

 was no evidence here of its deposition at definite spots until a large 

 amount was assembled, as is the habit of the black species in equatorial 

 Africa. In Mashonaland, Coryndon states that this species deposits 

 its dung in heaps until a large accumulation is formed, but that no 

 scraping occurs as is the habit of Dicer os. About these dunging places 

 of the black species there are usually to be seen broad furrows in the 

 soil made by the scraping of the hind feet after deposition, but no 

 evidence of such a habit was observed in the haunts of the white 

 species. 



The hot hours of the clay are spent by the white rhinoceroses sleep- 

 ing in the shade of the scattered clumps of trees or bushes which dot 

 the grassy veldt. They seem to rest indifferently, either lying down 

 or standing up with lowered head. When at rest they stand with their 

 noses almost touching the ground, their heads being elevated to a hori- 

 zontal position only when alarmed. The drooping position of the 

 head is also maintained when the animal is running at full speed. 

 The grazing is done chiefly during the cool hours of dusk or dawn 

 and at night. Grass fires disturb them very little ; at least, they exhibit 

 no annoyance. Large areas of the grassy veldt were burned during 

 our stay at Rhino Camp and these burned areas were at once trav- 

 elled over by the rhinoceros. 



Gordon Cumming found the speed of the white rhinoceros of South 

 Africa to be much less than that of the black. He had no difficulty 

 in running the former down with a horse. The two species he found at 

 times closely associated and drinking at the same water-hole. In the 

 Nile district, however, the two species have not been found in the same 

 territory. 



The female specimens of rhinoceroses secured in the Lado add 

 materially to our scanty knowledge of the breeding habits of the 

 species. Rhinoceroses have generally been considered very slow 

 breeders, but it is obvious from the evidence gathered in the Lado that 

 in this region the adult female is seldom found without a calf. The 



