186 WATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

nose at an angle of 45°. The posterior horn of either specicu
seldom exceeds six or seven inches in length. Both these
varieties attain an enormous size, being the animals next in
magnitude to the elephant. They feed solely on grass, carry
much fat, and their flesh is excellent, being preferable
to beef.”
Rhinoceros Mr. Gordon Cumming gives several graphic
Hunting. descriptions of his experiences with the rhinoceros,
in his “Hunting Adventures in South Africa”, from which
work the foregoing description of the several species is taken.
On one occasion after following a huge white rhinoceros,
which, however, escaped him, he says, “I found myself on the
banks of the stream beside which my waggons were out-
spanned. Following along its margin, I presently beheld a
bull of the borélé, or black rhinoceros, standing within a
hundred yards of me. Dismounting from my horse, I secured
him to a tree, and then stalked within twenty yards of the
huge beast, under cover of a large strong bush. Borélé,
hearing me advance, came on to see what it was, and suddenly
protruded his horny nose within twenty yards of me. Knowing
well that a front shot would not prove deadly, I sprang to
my feet and ran behind the bush. Upon this the villain
charged, blowing loudly, and chased me round the bush.
Had his activity been equal to his ugliness my wanderings
would have terminated here, but by my superiority I had
the advantage in the turn. After standing a short time eyeing
me through the bush... he wheeled about, leaving me master
of the field.” This was not the only nor even the narrowest
escape experienced by Mr. Gordon Cumming when hunting
this enormous beast. On another occasion he says :—“ Having
proceeded about two miles with large herds of game on every
side, I observed a crusty looking old bull borélé or black
thinoceros, cocking his ears one hundred yards in advance.
re had not observed us; and soon after he walked slowly
towards us, and stood broadside, eating some wait-a-bit