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NATURAL HISTORY. 



RHINOCEROS. 



Bicoruis (Lat. bis, twice; cornu, a horn), the-ffwo- Horned Rhinoceros, 



or Rhinaster. 



Their food consists almost entirely of the thorny branches of 

 the wait-a-bit thorns. Their horns are much shorter than 

 those of the other varieties, seldom exceeding eighteen inches 

 in length. They are finely polished with constant rubbing 

 against the trees. The skull is remarkably formed, its most 

 striking feature being the tremendous thick ossification in 

 which it ends above the nostrils. It is on this mass that the 

 horn, is supported. The horns are not connected with the 

 skull, being attached merely by the skin, and they may thus 

 be separated from the head by means of a sharp knife. 

 They are hard, and perfectly solid throughout, and are a fine 

 material for various articles, such as drinking cups, mallets 

 for rifles, handles for turners' tools, &c. &c. The horn is 

 capable of a very high polish. The eyes of the rhinoceros 

 are small and sparkling, and do not readily observe the 

 hunter, provided he keep to leeward of them. The skin is 



