OF THE 



THE RHINOCEROS. 



SEVERAL species of tli.< KHIN.MII:,.- arc still inhabitants of tlio north. : i nd several others 

 d:i\.- I..M- net. :ni<l .-an only lie recogni/e.1 I -y means of th.-ir fossilized remains. Of 



tin- exi-tini: sj-ecies, two or tliree are found in \arious parts of Asia and its islands, and the 

 n-ni:iin.|. r inli:il>it -.-\.-i-il portions of Africa. Before examining the separate species, we will 

 dan.-.- :it some of tin- characteristics which are common to all the m.-ml>ers of tli in very con- 

 spicuous group. 



The so-called horn which projects from the none of the Rhinoceros is a VT\ remarkable 

 structure, :iiil worthy of a In i>f notice. It is in no way connect^! with the skull, hutissimph 

 .i grow tli from tli-' -kin. lad IIM.\ ik; rank with hairs, spines, or quills, I in.: in.|.-.-.l f..i m.-.| 

 after a similar mann.T. If a Khinoceros horn be examined the species of its owner is quite 

 immaterial it will In- x-en to be i>oli>he<l and smooth at the tip, but rough and split into 

 numerous filaments at tin- base. These filaments, which have a very dose resemblance to those 

 which terminate the plates of whalebone, can be 8tripi>ed upwards for some length, and if the 

 substance of the horn !> cut across, it will be seen to lie composed of a vast numl>er of hairy 

 filaments him; side by side, which, when submitted to the microscope, ami illuminati-d by 

 polarized light, glow with all the colors of the rainbow, and l-ar a Htronir n semblance to 

 trans\cr>e sections of actual hair. At the birth of the young animal, the horn is hardly visi- 

 ble. and its full growth is the work of years. 



As the horn is employed as a weajxin of offence, and is subjected to violent concussions, it 

 is set upon the head in such a manner as to save the brain from the injurious effects which 

 mi-lit result from its use in attack or combat. In the first place, the horn has no direct con 

 nectioii with the skull, as it is simply set ujton the skin, and can l>e removed by jwssing a 

 sharp knife round its base, and wpamt ing it from th> hide on which it grows. In the second 

 place, the Ixmes of the face are curiously developed, so as to form an arch with one end free, 

 the horn l*>ing placed upon the crown of the l>ony arch, o as to diminish the fore.- of the con- 

 cussion in the l>est imaginable manner. The substance of the horn is very dense, ami even 

 when it is quite dry, it ] Assesses very great weight in proportion to its size. In former <la\ -. 

 it was supposed to bear an antipathy to jioison, and to cause effervescence whenever liquid 

 poison was poured ujion it. Goblets were therefore cut from this material, and when gor- 

 JBOiish mounted in gold and precious stom-s, were employed In Kastern monarch* as a rvad\ 

 means for detecting any attempt to administer a deadly drug. 



The skin of the Rhinoceros is of very great thickness and strength, bidding defiance to 

 ordinary bullets, and forcing the hunter to provide himself with balls which have been hard- 

 ened with tin or solder. The extreme strength of the skin is well known lx>th to the Asiatic 

 and African natives, who manufacture it into shields and set a high value on these weapons of 

 defence. 



All the species of Rhinoceros are very tetchy in their temper, and liable to flash out into 

 anger without any provocation whatever. During these fits of rage, they are dangerous neigh- 

 bors, and are apt to attack any moving object that may be within their ivach. In one well- 

 known instance, where a Rhinoceros made a sudden dash upon a number of picketed horses, 

 and killed many of them by the strokes of his horn, the animal had probably l>een irritated by 

 some unknown cause, and wreaked his \en. .n the nearest victims. During the season 



of love, the male Rhinoceros is always vicious, and, like the elephant, the buffalo, and other 

 animals in the like condition, will conceal himself in some thicket, and from thence dash out 

 upon any moving object that may approach his retreat. 



Sometimes the Rhinoceros will commence a series of most e. \tniordinarj* antics, and seem- 

 ing to have a spite towards some particular bush, will rip it with his horn, trample it with his 

 f.-'-t, roaring and trruntint: all the while, and will never cease until he has cut it into shreds 

 and levelled it with tn- Around. He will also push the jM>int of his horn into the earth, and 

 career along, ploughing up the ground as if a furrow had been cut by some agricultural imple- 



