394 RHINOCEROS OF THE DADO [ch. xiv 
problems for inquiry in the discontinuity of their dis¬ 
tribution. The most extraordinary instance of this 
discontinuity is that offered by the distribution of the 
square-mouthed rhinoceros. It is almost as if our bison 
had never been known within historic times except in 
Texas and Ecuador. This great rhinoceros was formerly 
plentiful in South Africa south of the Zambesi, where 
it has been completely exterminated except for a score 
or so of individuals on a game reserve. North of the 
Zambesi it was and is utterly unknown, save that 
during the last ten years it has been found to exist in 
several localities on the left bank of the Upper Nile, 
close to the river, and covering a north and south 
extension of about two hundred miles. Even in this 
narrow ribbon of territory the square-mouthed rhino¬ 
ceros is found only in certain localities, and although 
there has not hitherto been much slaughter of the 
mighty beast, it would certainly be well if all killing of 
it w r ere prohibited until careful inquiry has been made 
as to its numbers and exact distribution. It is a curious 
animal, on the average distinctly larger than, and utterly 
different from, the ordinary African rhinoceros. The 
spinal processes of the dorsal vertebrae are so developed 
as to make a very prominent hump over the withers, 
while forward of this is a still higher and more prominent 
fleshy hump on the neck. The huge misshapen head 
differs in all respects as widely from the head of the 
common, or so-called black, rhinoceros as the head of a 
moose differs from that of a wapiti. 
The morning after making camp we started on a 
rhinoceros hunt. At this time in this neighbourhood 
the rhinoceros seemed to spend the heat of the day in 
sleep, and to feed in the morning and evening, and 
perhaps throughout the night; and to drink in the 
