166 THE REASON WHf : 



The nose was ugly, long, and big, 



Broad, and snouty like a pig ; 



Which showed he would in dunghills love to dig." OTWAT. 



that when he bends himself any way, one part of his board-like 

 skin should slip or shove over the other ; and that these several 

 folds should be placed in such parts of his body as might facilitate 

 the performance of every voluntary motion he might be 

 disposed to make. 



466. This view is further enforced by the fact, that in the rhinoceros bicornis, 

 the hide of which is not so hard, the same extent of folding does not exist. 

 The Indian rhinoceros is the most remarkable for the density of its skin. In this 

 species it is thrown into large folds, which add to the uncouth appearance of the 

 animal, and form a sort of armour, very difficult to be pierced : hence it is manu- 

 factured into shields and the like. The arrangement of the folds, or rather solid 

 plates with folded edges, is as follows : Around the neck, which is short and deep, 

 the skin forms two large folds, of which the last hangs over the front of the chest. 

 The shoulders are covered with a thick hard plate, falling in a fold over the top of 

 the fore limbs, and separated also by a posterior fold for the plate covering of the 

 body. This is folded across the top of the crupper, the fold running down just 

 below the haunch-bones, and loosing itself on the belly. The crupper-plate is 

 divided by a longitudinal fold running to the root of the tail on each side from a 

 large crural plate, which hangs in a deep fold over the thighs. Between the folds 

 the skin is soft and flexible, and of a pale pink or flesh colour ; but everywhere else 

 It is Karl and dense, and covered with horny incrustations. Hence, were it not for 

 thep< folds, the animal would necessarily be restricted in his motions. 



467. Why has the tapir an indurated skin over the head 

 and neck? 



Because, in seeking its food, 

 it pushes its way through 

 dense brush-wood. Being al- 

 most defenceless, it also flies 

 from its enemies into the 

 densest thickets, which it does 

 with considerable ease and 

 speed. 



Its head is remarkably 

 well adapted for boring 

 through tangled places, being in the form of a conical wedge, 

 and so thick toward the posterior part, tftat wherever it opens 

 u way, tl}e rest of the body can pas? 



