84 THE RHINOCEROS. 



and some of the most valuable of the bones, though the stench 

 was so powerful, that the persons employed found the greatest 

 difficulty in performing their operations. 



The other rhinoceros, exhibited at Exeter 'Change, was con- 

 siderably smaller than the former. It was brought over in the 

 year 1799, and was purchased by an agent of the Emperor of 

 Germany for 1000, but it died in a stable-yard, in Drury-lane, 

 about twelve months after, its arrival in England, and two 

 months after it was sold by Mr. Pidcock. This animal is supposed 

 to be the unicorn of the ancients. It was known to the Romans 

 at an early period, and Augustus caused one to be exhibited in 

 his triumph over Cleopatra. 



The flesh of the rhinoceros is esteemed excellent by Indians 

 and Negroes. Kolben says, that he has often eaten it with pleas- 

 ure ; but the skin is the most valuable part, as it makes the hard- 

 est and best leather of any in the world. In the countries where 

 the rhinoceros is found, its horn, and indeed almost every part 

 of its body, Js esteemed an antidote against poison, as well as a 

 remedy against various diseases. These virtues, however, are 

 doubtless no more than imaginary. The period of this animal's 

 life is supposed to be about eighty years; but this, arid its time 

 of gestation, are equally uncertain. 



The double-horned rhinoceros is extremely rare, and its ex- 

 istence was long considered as fabulous, or at least doubtful, 

 until it was discovered at the Cape of Good Hope, by Dr. Spar- 

 man, who has published a most exact anatomical account of this 

 before-undescribed animal, which, however, does not appear ma- 

 terially to differ from that just described, except in the circum- 

 stance of having two horns, and in the appearance of its skin, 

 which, instead of being covered with armour like folds, has 

 mere'y a slight wrinkle across the shoulders, and on the hinder 

 parts. 



Mr. Bruce's account of the manners of the two-horned rhino- 

 ceros, is particularly worthy of attention. He observes, th^t 

 " besides the trees capable of most resistance, there are in the 

 vast forests within their range, trees of a softer consistence, and 

 of a very succulent quality, which seem to be destined for the 

 principal food of this animal. For the purpose of gaining the 

 highest branches of these, his upper lip is capable of being length- 

 ened out, so as to increase his power of laying hold with it, in 

 the same mariner as the elephant does with his trunk. With this 

 lip, and the assistance of his tongue, he pulls down the upper 

 branches, which have most leaves, and these he devours first. 

 Having stripped the tree of its branches, he does not immedi- 

 ately abandon it; but, placing his snout as low in the trunk as he 

 finds his horns will enter, he rips up the body of the tree, and 



