!»79^* '^^ rhinoceros. 49 



the feet, are full of these incrustations, -wTiich 

 have been mistaken for scales by some authors j 

 thej are, however, only simple indurations of the 

 "ikin, v^'ithout any uniformity in their figure, or 

 regularity in their position. Between the folds 

 .the fkin is penetrable and delicate, and soft to the 

 touch as silk, and of a light flelh colour ; the Ikin. 

 of the belly is of the same consistency. 



The rhinoceros prefers thistles and flirubs, to 

 soft or delicate pasturage. It is fond of the sugar 

 cane, and eats all kinds of grain. It is a solitary 

 animal, loves moist and marfhy places, and it wal- 

 lows in the mire like a hog, and seldom quits the 

 'banks of fivers. It is found in Bengal, Slam, 

 'China, and*.other countries of Asia ; on the isles 

 of Java, Sunlatra, Ceylon, ij'c. ; in Ethiopia, an4 

 the country as low as the Cape of Good Hope ; 

 but in general the species is not numerous, and is 

 much lefs diffused than the elephant. 



The female produces but. one at a time, and at 

 considerable intervals. During the first month, 

 the young rhinoceros does not exceed the size of a 

 large dog ; at the age of two years, the horn 

 is not more than an inch long ; at six years it 

 33 nine or ten inches long ; and grows to the 

 length of tliree feet and a half, sometimes four 

 feet. Tlie horn is much esteemed by the natives 

 as an antidote against poisons, and was formerly 

 an article of value in the materia medica ; but it 

 is now fallen into disuse. 



The rhinoceros is not in general ferocious, nor 

 even extremely wild, yet it is totally untractable, 

 'XOL. vii. G \ 



