The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-03
Brahman to eat, and is strictly preserved In
nj az fha Ia,

Brahman to eat, and is strictly preserved Ia
Nepaui mt the present day.
More literature relating to the African forms
is accessible, because they have been pursued
to greater extent and the habits and charsc-
ter of the animal have thus naturally attract
cd attention. Entire unanmity of opinion
upon the disposition of any class of la &c game
does not exist, but so far as the daily life of
rhinoceri in Africa has been described, the
narratives have much in common. Like their
Indian allies, bicOrnis and sinus love water
aud mud, and for the same reason. On the
grassy plains aud park country which form
largo portion of the southern half of Africa,
these luxurics arc not so easily procured as 10
India or lnd0-China; but wherever they exist,
there the rhin0ceros certainly resorts both
from necessity and protection against his in
sect enemies. Similarly with tho Asiatio
species these animals are chiefly nocturnal, but,
rs has been explained, their food Is dssimilar.
fact which frequently separates the creatures
themselves. 1t seems to DO q well-attC5tcd fact
that the African rhinocer us whole are as.
ISOLATED with that curious bird, BuphaGa AT.
ricana which feeds upon the parasites inlestiug
their skins, aud acts as a sentinel also. This
bird is said by Anderson to occupy like po-
sition towards tho hippopotamus, and. as is
well known, the elephant, crocodile aud buff
falo have their special feathered attendants.
Upon tho whole, there 10 q preponderance Of
evidence in favor Of the peaccable disposition
OF A. sinus. IL will fight when wounded. or in
defense of its young, though not invariably but
generally, rs sir w. @. Harris observes, lit is
less furious than tho black rhiuoGeros." Never.
thcess, this writer, whom recording his expo
riences with wild beasts in tho COshan Mount
aims, frequently speaks Of unprovoked attacks
made by the white rhHoceros, tells us also how
ono charged his wagOntrain while on the
march, and states that he constantly shot them
in sell. delcnse"
With regard to the character Of the smaller
black species, whether boreie or keitloa, there
seems Co be something like an agreement of
opinion. Seions asserts that no "nover found
them to be by any means dangerous animals"
but he stands almost alOno in this view. Sir
James Alexander, Anderson. Sir Samuel Baker,
Drummond, Iarris, Capt. Drayson, and all
hunters OF the first rank tell very much the
same story of A. bcornis and tho sense of their
statements is this: that the animal is inornse
and vicious. prone To charge whenever its scent
suggests an enemy or intruder. subject TO un-
provoked fits of furious rage. III which 1t Will
attack anything. animate or inauimate, that at
tracts its attention aud very difficult TO kill.
not because its hide is impenctrable but for the
reason that, while possessing great teuaciLy Of
qucutiy out OF reach. From the best evidence
eXtant, the black double horned rhinOccrOs ap-
pears 10 merit the distinction of being regarded
Ms ono OF the most di5agrecable. aggressive, fe-
rociouS and dangerous wild beasts upon tho
face Of Che Garth
Ito be c0aiinucd1