638 
VERTEBRATA. 
distinctly marked. It is a native of Sumatra, and though found from the sea-coast to the mount- 
ains, seems to prefer high situations. 
The African Rhinoceros or Gargatan, B. bicornis, is of a pale yellowish-brown ; the horns, 
which are two, are of unequal length, and of a livid brown color, with tints of green ; the few 
hairs on the tip of the tail and the margins of the ears are black and bristly ; the folds of the skin 
are not so distinct as in the B. Indicus ; the length is greater, ten to eleven, and even twelve feet. 
This species is known to the colonists of the Cape under the name of Bhinaster ; it feeds on brush- 
wood and the branches of smc'Jl trees, and is found only in wooded districts. It feeds slowly, is 
a lazy animal, and subsists with a small amount of nourishment. 
The Keitloa Rhinoceros, or Sloan's Rhinoceros, B. Keitloa, is of a pale brownish-yellow, 
with two horns nearly of equal length ; length of the body and head eleven to twelve feet. 
The Common White Rhinoceros, or Muchoco, or Mohoohoo, or Burchell's Rhinoceros, 
B. sitmis, is of a pale gray-brown, with a yellowish tinge ; the edges of the ears and tip of the 
tail clothed with black, bristly hairs; the mouth ox-like; the horns two, the anterior one very 
long, the other very short ; the body and head twelve feet long ; the height five feet seven 
inches There appears to be still another species, the Kobaoba or Long-horned White Rhi- 
noceros. 
The four kinds immediately preceding are all found in Southern Africa, and all have two horns. 
Thus we are acquainted with seven species of rhinoceros, and there is reason to believe there are 
in Africa two or three others. It is in this quarter of the world that these animals appear most 
abundant, and here they have been of late unsparingly pursued by the hunters. Cummings ftir- 
nishes the following information in respect to them : 
" Of the rhinoceros there are four varieties in South Africa, distinguished by the Bechuanas by 
the names of the 'jBore/fe,' or black rhinoceros, the '■Keitloa,^ or two-horned black rhinoceros, the 
'■Muchoco^ or common white rhinoceros, and the ^Kohaoha^ or long-horned white rhinoceros. 
Both varieties of the black rhinoceros are extremely fierce and dangerous, and rush headlong and 
unprovoked at any object which attracts their attention. They never attain much fat, and their 
flesh is tough, and not much esteemed by the Bechuanas. Their food consists almost entirely of 
the thorny branches of the wait-a-bit thorns. Their horns are much shorter than those of the 
other varieties, seldom exceeding eighteen ijiches in length. They are finely polished with con- 
stant rubbing against the trees. The skull is remarkably formed, its most striking feature being 
the tremendous, thick ossification in which it ends above the nostrils. It is on this mass that the 
horn is supported. The horns are not connected with the skull, being attached merely by the 
skin, and they may thus be separated from the head by means of a sharp knife. They are hard, 
and perfectly solid throughout, and are a fine material for various articles, such as drinking-cups, 
mallets for rifles, handles for turners' tools, &c., &c. The horn is capable of a very high polish. 
The eyes of the rhinoceros are small and sparkling, but do not readily observe the hunter, pro- 
vided he keep to leeward of them. The skin is extremely thick, and only to be penetrated by 
bullets hardened with solder. During the day, the rhinoceros will be found lying asleep, or stand- 
ing indolently in some retired part of the forest, or under the base of the mountains, sheltered 
from the power of the sun by some friendly grove of umbrella-topped mimosa,s. In the evening 
they commence their nightly ramble, and wander over a great extent of country. They usually 
visit the fountains between the hours of nine and twelve o'clock at night, and it is on these occa- 
sions that they may be most successfully hunted, and with the least danger. The black rhinoce- 
ros is subject to paroxysms of unprovoked fury, often plowing up the ground for several yards 
with its horn, and assaulting large bushes in the most violent manner. On these bushes they 
work for hours with their horns, at the same time snorting and blowing loudly ; nor do they 
leave them in general until they have broken them into pieces. All the four varieties delight to 
roll and wallow in mud, with which their rugged hides are generally encrusted. Both varieties 
of the black rhinoceros are much smaller and more active than the white, and are so swift that a 
horse with a ridei-on its back can rarely overtake them. The two varieties of the white rhinoc- 
eros are so similar in habits that the description of one vrill serve for both, the principal diff"erence 
consisting in the length and set of the anterior horn; that of the common white rhinoceros ayer- 
