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Show 1894.] ON T H E WHITE RHINOCEROS IN MASHONALAND. 329 b. Back grey, sides and shoulders rich rufous or cinnamon ; size intermediate between last two (skull 84 mm.). N. Somali. 3. M. phiilipsi, Thos. B. Last lower molar with a third lobe; upper line of premaxillae S-shaped. Proboscis more developed. c. Tip of nasals about level with front edge of anterior premolar, about 33 m m . from end of premaxilla; (gnathion). c1. Back of orbit to gnathion about 86 m m . Damaraland. 4. M. damarensis, Giinth. d2. Back of orbit to gnathion about 76 m m . S. Somali to Kilima-njaro. 5. M. kirki, Giinth. d. Tip of nasals about level with back of middle premolar and about 42 m m. from gnathion. e2. Plateau of Central Somaliland. 6. M. guentheri, Thos. P.S. (April \Qth, 1894).-Since this paper was read Dr. E. Donaldson Smith has presented the British Museum with further examples of the two Northern Somali species-M. phiilipsi (from Milmil, 1894) and M. swaynei (also from Milmil). 3. On the Occurrence of the White or Burchell's Rhinoceros in Mashonaland. By R. T. CORYNDON. [Received March 30, 1894.] (Plate XVIII.1) This subject cannot but have a melancholy interest, not only zoologists, but to sportsmen and naturalists all the world over, for it is more than probable that before the close of this century the White Bhinoceros,the largest of all the mammals after the Elephant, will be extinct, and this, too, with but very few preserved specimens in existence to give the natural-history student of the future an idea of its enormous size and peculiar structure. In the early hunting days in Matabililand, and in the high well-watered country which has since come to be known as Mashonaland, Bhinoceroses of both kinds were comparatively common: the White (Rhinoceros simus) was found usually in the open grass-country, the Black (R. bicornis) usually in the rugged hill-country. It is now generally recognized that there are in Africa only two varieties 1 [The figure (Plate XVIII.) is taken from one of the male specimens shot by Mr. Coryndon, which has been excellently mounted for the Tring Museum by Mr. Rowland Ward, F.Z.S., of Piccadilly. It is described (' Land and Water,' April 14, 1894, p. 571) as follows :- " The specimen stands 6 feet 1£ in. at the withers; length between uprights 12 feet 1 in.; length from lip, along bases of horns, up between ears, and following curves of back to root of tail, 13 feet; to tip of tail 15 feet 8| in ; girth behind shoulders 10 feet 3£ in.; girth round fore-arm 3 feet 4^ in. The development of the muscle of the fore-arm attracts attention at once. The width of the lip between the greatest depth of the nostrils is just under 12 inches. The anterior horn measures 2 feet 3 in. round the base, and is 1 foot 10^ in. from base to ' tip.' " Mr. Rothschild asks me to add the following remarks :-" In years gone by, when this species was common throughout the Cape Colony, those found in the south-west are said to have been much paler and whiter in colour than those in the north-east, and may have justified to a certain extent the name of White Rhinoceros."-P. L. S.] |