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Show 1876.] HON. W. D R U M M O N D ON AFRICAN RHINOCEROSES. 1 13 siderable difficulty conveyed it to our camp. The bottom in which it was tethered contained abundance of the rich grass which forms the chief food of R. simus ; but it did not eat much of it, though even on the first evening it consumed a large quantity of the young shoots and tender leaves of the thorn-branches provided for it, and seemed to be most fond of the hack, or waitabit thorn, turning over the other kinds with its snout and tasting them, and then passing them by to search for the former. On the second evening, however, I noticed it, after returning from water, commence to eat the surrounding grass; and though it did not show so great a relish for it as it did for the thorn-shoots, it ate it, both then and afterwards, in such large quantities as proved that it naturally forms a by no means inconsiderable portion of its food. In disposition this species much resembles R. keitloa-neither often charging without provocation, though they will puff and snort and show a disposition to do so ; and it may also be said to be the more gregarious as well as the most common, herds of from five to fifteen being sometimes seen in unusually favoured localities. It undoubtedly exists in all the country S.E. of the Zambesi, being especially plentiful in some parts of Zululand. Whether it or the species I shall next describe under the name of R. bicoi'nis minor is the one spoken of by Andersson on the west, I am unable to say, as he gives no measurements, though the head and horns depicted in one of his plates resemble those of the latter. Travellers in Central and Northern Africa speak of R. bicornis as existing without giving any details by which it can be identified; and though, for reasons to be hereafter given, I imagine the smaller species is alluded to in Northern Africa, I cannot of course be in any way certain. The distinctive characteristics of R. bicornis minor are very marked. Its average measurements are as follows:- ft. in. Length from nose to base of tail 10 4 Height at the shoulder about 4 6 Circumference about 8 0 Average length of the anterior horn .... 0 10 Average length of the posterior horn .. 0 5 Sometimes specimens are found with the front horn 13 or 14 inches in length, and the posterior in proportion ; but they are uncommon. The head is smaller in proportion than that of any other species, while the upper lip protrudes to a greater degree, and the eye is unusually small. Its foot is also smaller in proportion to its body than that of any of the others. Its food is, as I have before said, solely the leaves and branches of thorns ; and it is scarcely ever found out of thorn-jungle, though R. bicornis major is often found in other coverts. Its disposition is savage and morose to the very last degree. It continually attacks without other provocation than the mere sight of a human being affords ; and it will follow the scent of the human foot for some distance. When seen without the observer's proximity being PRO sCu.s pZeOcOteLd., Sito cis- 1ge8n7er6a,ll yN oh.e aVrIdI Ig.ru mbling and gru8nt ing out its |