618 THE JAVANESE RHINOCEROS. 



ment. In such case it seems that the animal is not laboring under a fit of rage, as might be 

 supposed, but is merely exulting in his strength, and giving vent to the exuberance of health 

 by violent physical exertion. 



The Rhinoceros is a good aquatic, and will voluntarily swim for considerable distances. 

 It is very fond of haunting the river-banks and wallowing in the mud, so as to case itself with 

 a thick coat of that substance, in order to shield itself from the mosquitoes and other mordant 

 insects which cluster about the tender places, and drive the animal, thick-skinned though it 

 may be, half mad with their constant and painful bites. In Sumatra, a curious result some- 

 times follows from this habit of mud-wallowing, as may be seen from the following extract 

 from the " Journal of the Indian Archipelago." " This animal, which is of solitary habits, is 

 found frequently in marshy places with its whole body immersed in the mud, and part of the 

 head only visible. The Malays call the animal 'Badak-Tapa,' or the recluse Rhinoceros. 

 Towards the close of the rainy season they are said to bury themselves in this manner in dif- 

 ferent places ; and upon the dry weather setting in, and from the powerful effects of a vertical 

 sun, the mud becomes hard and crusted, and the Rhinoceros cannot effect its escape without 

 considerable difficulty and exertion. The Semangs prepare themselves with large quantities of 

 combustible materials, with which they quietly approach the animal, who is aroused from his 

 reverie by an immense fire over him, which, being kept well supplied by the Semangs with 

 fresh fuel, soon completes his destruction, and renders him in a fit state to make a meal of." 



In every species of Rhinoceros the sight appears to be rather imperfect, the animal being 

 unable to see objects which are exactly in its front. The scent and hearing, however, are very 

 acute, and seem to warn the animal of the approach of danger. 



The Asiatic species of Rhinoceros are remarkable for the heavy folds into which the skin 

 is gathered, and which hang massively over the shoulders, throat, flanks, and hind quarters. 

 Upon the abdomen the skin is comparatively soft, and can be pierced by a spear which would 

 be harmlessly repelled from the thick folds of hide upon the upper portions of the body. In 

 the INDIAN RHINOCEROS this weight of hide is especially conspicuous, the skin forming great 

 flaps that can be easily lifted up by the hand. In a tamed state the Rhinoceros is pleased to 

 be caressed on the softer skin under the thick hide, and in the wild state it suffers sadly from 

 the parasitic insects that creep beneath the flaps, and lead the poor animal a miserable life, 

 until they are stifled in the muddy compost with which the Rhinoceros loves to envelop its 

 body. The horn of the Indian species is large in width, but inconsiderable in height, being 

 often scarcely higher than its diameter. Yet with this short, heavy weapon, the animal can 

 do terrible execution, and is said, upon the authority of Captain Williamson, to repel the 

 attack of an adult male elephant. 



The height of this animal when full-grown is rather more than five feet, but the average 

 height seems scarcely to exceed four feet. In color it is a deep brown-black, tinged with a 

 purple hue, which is most perceptible when the animal has recently left its bath. The color 

 of the young animal is much paler than that of the mother, and partakes of a pinky hue. 



THE JAVANESE RHINOCEROS is not so large as its Indian relation, the skin-folds are much 

 less conspicuous, and are arranged in a different manner. The hide, too, is covered with 

 certain angular markings, interspersed with short hairs, and its limbs are proportionately 

 longer and more slender. It is a nocturnal animal, seldom being seen by day, and issuing at 

 night from its place of concealment for the purpose of feeding. Being a large and powerful 

 beast, and happening to be very fond of several cultivated plants, such as the coffee and the 

 pepper vine, it is apt to burst its way into the plantations, and to do considerable damage 

 before it retires to its forest home. It seems to be more gentle and tractable than the common 

 Indian Rhinoceros, and lias been trained to wear a saddle, and to be guided by a rider. 



The Sumatran species possesses two horns upon its nose, the first being tolerably long and 

 sharp, and the second very thick, short, and pyramidal. The skin-folds are very slight in this 

 animal ; the hide is black in color, rough in texture, and is covered with a thin crop of short 

 bristly hairs. The neck is short and heavy, and the limbs are more clumsy than those of the 

 Indian species. From all accounts it seems to be a very quiet creature, and to be held in no 



