BASITS OF TBE RHINOCEROS. 617 



THE RHI-NOCEROS. 



SEVERAL species of the RHINOCEROS are still inhabitants of the north, and several others 

 have long been extinct, and can only be recognized by means of their fossilized remains. Of 

 the existing species, two or three are found in various parts of Asia and its islands, and the 

 remainder inhabit several portions of Africa. Before examining the separate species, we will 

 glance at some of the characteristics which are common to all the members of this very con- 

 spicuous group. 



The so-called horn which projects from the nose of the Rhinoceros is a very remarkable 

 structure, and worthy of a brief notice. It is in no way connected with the skull, but is simply 

 a growth from the skin, and may take rank with hairs, spines, or quills, being indeed formed 

 after a similar manner. If a Rhinoceros horn be examined the species of its owner is quite 

 immaterial it will be seen to be polished and smooth at the tip, but rough and split into 

 numerous filaments at the base. These filaments, which have a very close resemblance to those 

 which terminate the plates of whalebone, can be stripped upwards for some length, and if the 

 substance of the horn be cut across, it will be seen to be composed of a vast number of hairy 

 filaments lying side by side, which, when submitted to the microscope, and illuminated by 

 polarized light, glow with all the colors of the rainbow, and bear a strong resemblance to 

 transverse sections of actual hair. At the birth of the young animal, the horn is hardly visi- 

 ble, and its full growth is the work of years. 



As the horn is employed as a weapon of offence, and is subjected to violent concussions, it 

 is set upon the head in such a manner as to save the brain from the injurious effects which 

 might result from its use in attack or combat. In the first place, the horn has no direct con- 

 nection with the skull, as it is simply set upon the skin, and can be removed by passing a 

 sharp knife round its base, and separating it from the hide on which it grows. In the second 

 place, the bones of the face are curiously developed, so as to form an arch with one end free, 

 the horn being placed upon the crown of the bony arch, so as to diminish the force of the con- 

 cussion in the best imaginable manner. The substance of the horn is very dense, and even 

 when it is quite dry, it possesses very great weight in proportion to its size. In former days, 

 it was supposed to bear an antipathy to poison, and to caiise effervescence whenever liquid 

 poison was poured upon it. Goblets were therefore cut from this material, and when gor- 

 geously mounted in gold and precious stones, were employed by Eastern monarchs as a ready 

 means for detecting any attempt to administer a deadly drug. 



The skin of the Rhinoceros is of very great thickness and strength, bidding defiance to 

 ordinary bullets, and forcing the hunter to provide himself with balls which have been hard- 

 ened with tin or solder. The extreme strength of the skin is well known both to the Asiatic 

 and African natives, who manufacture it into shields and set a high value on these weapons of 

 defence. 



All the species of Rhinoceros are very tetchy in their temper, and liable to flash out into 

 anger without any provocation whatever. During these fits of rage, they are dangerous neigh- 

 bors, and are apt to attack any moving object that may be within their reach. In one well- 

 known instance, where a Rhinoceros made a sudden dash upon a number of picketed horses, 

 and killed many of them by the strokes of his horn, the animal had probably been irritated by 

 some unknown cause, and wreaked his vengeance on the nearest victims. During the season 

 of love, the male Rhinoceros is always vicious, and, like the elephant, the buffalo, and other 

 animals in the like condition, will conceal himself in some thicket, and from thence dash out 

 upon any moving object that may approach his retreat. 



Sometimes the Rhinoceros will commence a series of most extraordinary antics, and seem- 

 ing to have a spite towards some particular bush, will rip it with his horn, trample it with his 

 feet, roaring and grunting all the while, and will never cease until he has cut it into shreds 

 and levelled it with the ground. He will also push the point of his horn into the earth, and 

 career along, ploughing up the ground as if a furrow had been cut by some agricultural imple- 



