274 
EASTERN ETHIOPIA 
XXI 
weak caustic alkali solution it will soften and flake 
in the same way that our finger nails and patches of 
hard skin soften under the influences of soap and 
water. 
There is one use the rhinoceros has for its horn, and 
The tail of an African elephant. The hairs are compound, and 
similar in structure to the nasal horn of the rhinoceros. 
that is prol)a1)ly peculiar to it. After dropping its 
dung the animal turns round and charges the heap with 
its horn and wrathfully tosses the dung about; some¬ 
times ploughing up deep holes in the ground with the 
nose and horn during this weird performance. Selous 
states that this applies to every prehensile lipped 
rhinoceros irrespective of the length of the posterior 
