He said nothing for a moment, and then uttered only these words softly: "My little rhinoceros-bird." "Will you kindly explain the meaning of that extraordinary phrase ?" He did not answer just then, but got into the cab with her and directed the driver to her home.
She had removed her wraps in the drawing-room when she turned to him and demanded further information as to the term applied to her.

He made comment on some people's general ignorance of natural history, took a big arm-chair, placed the young lady in a low seat close beside him, and, assuming a ponderous, pedagogical air, began: "The rhinoceros, my child, as you may possibly be aware, is a huge beast of uncouth appearance, with a horn on its nose, and inhabiting the wild regions of certain wild countries, notably Africa.

It is a dangerous animal, and has enemies galore and friends but few.

The hunter counts it a noble prize, and steals upon it in its fastnesses, and even a rhinoceros may not withstand the explosive bullet of modern science.

Somewhat sluggish and dull, at times, is the rhinoceros, and it is in his careless, listless moods that he is liable to fall a victim.