20 THE RHINOCEROS. 



Sir Stamford Raffles in Java, the smallest of all the living 

 species, and quite distinct from the Indian one-horned rhi- 

 noceros. 



The characters which these several species possess in com- 

 mon, and which distinguish them from all other quadrupeds, 

 are the following. Both sexes are armed with one or two 

 horns, of an uniform fibrous texture, placed on the nose, 

 and always situated on the middle line of the head. They 

 have three toes on each foot, and each toe is inclosed in a 

 thick rounded hoof. These, therefore, constitute the true 

 generic character of the rhinoceros. 



In their large size, bulky body, and thick legs, they resem- 

 ble the elephant, have a hide even thicker than that animal, 

 and are rendered further peculiar in some of the species by 

 being thrown into deep and extensive folds. The surface 

 of the skin is rough, and devoid of hair : the snout is elon- 

 gated in some of the species, while in others it is remark- 

 ably blunted, and as if cut off : the eyes are very small, like 

 those of the hog : the ears elongated, but much shorter than 

 the head, and supported, as it were, on a sort of pedicle or 

 stalk : the lips project beyond the mouth, and the upper one 

 especially is very moveable : the tail is short, and its extre- 

 mity bears a number of very stiff and large bristles set on at 

 the sides, and projecting in two opposite directions. The 

 number of nipples are two, and situated on the groin. Some 

 species possess, while others are deficient in, incisive or front 

 teeth ; the canine teeth are wanting in all ; the grinding or 

 cheek teeth are seven in each jaw on each side. 



It is our intention, in succeeding Numbers, to give the most 

 accurate figures and accounts that can be obtained of the se- 

 veral species above indicated. In the present Number the 

 one-horned species of India {Rhinoceros Indicns, Cuv.) will 

 be described. As this is the only species which, in modern 

 times, has been brought alive to Europe, it has been most 

 commonly figured. A sketch was taken from the animal 

 sent to Portugal in 1513, which was engraved by Albert 

 Durer. This sketch, as it was improved and embellished by 

 the celebrated painter of Nuremberg, came afterwards into 

 the possession of Sir Hans Sloane ; and to it was attached a 

 German inscription, of which the following appears in the 

 Philosophical Transactions for 1744, as * a close translation.' 

 "In the year 1513, upon the 1. day of May, there was 

 brought to our king at Lisbon such a living beast from the 

 East Indies that is called Rhinocerate : therefore, on ac- 

 count of its wonderfulness, I thought myself obliged to send 

 you the representation of it. It hath the colour of a toad, 



