A series of numerical experiments is performed to compare the characteristics of outflow hydrograph using linear and nonlinear Muskingum-Cunge methods for two cases: (a) sinusoidal inflow hydrographs and (b) rainfall inputs. The nonlinear method shows the steepening of the rising limb, coupled with a corresponding flattening of the receding limb. The linear method conserves mass exactly. In contrast, the nonlinear method is subject to a gain and a loss of mass. The loss of mass and the subsidence of peak outflow increases with a mild slope, a small baseflow $q_b$ and a large peak inflow to baseflow ratio $q_p/q_b$. A shock wave and associated numerical instability results in the increase of mass for a steep slope and a large $q_p/q_b$ ratio. While the linear method depends on the reference flow per unit-width, the nonlinear method depends on a baseflow and the $q_p/q_b$ ratio. It is found that, unlike for the sinusoidal inflow, the outflow for the rainfall inputs conserves mass fairly exactly in the nonlinear method.