252 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



poison. It is the custom to make cups of them ; and 

 in India it is said that liquid poison poured into them 

 effervesces in such a manner that it overflows the cup. 

 In Africa the inhabitants assure you that the cup will 

 turn black from the same cause ; and that water drunk 

 from them possesses medicinal properties, especially if 

 stirred with iron. The folds on the skin of the African 

 species are much less than those of the Indian, and 

 amount to scarcely more than wrinkles. The latter 

 have been known to live a hundred years ; and when 

 young, their skin has a pink tinge. All eat the young 

 branches of trees, and shrubs, and grass. 



It has been observed that the skin of the African 

 rhinoceros is so full of insects that birds are in the 

 habit of perching upon them for the purpose of feeding 

 on these insects. They suffer their winged friends to 

 remain undisturbed, thinking that as long as they stay 

 no enemy is near ; but if they fly off, some danger is 

 approaching, for which they immediately look out. 

 These birds are not unlike the missel-thrush, and re- 

 main by their friends till they are forced to leave them. 

 When the latter are shot, they fly away, uttering a 

 harsh cry, and return to their positions when all is 

 quiet, even adhering to them all night. This may also 

 be the case in India, but I have only seen it recorded 

 of Africa. 



I should suppose that the loud, blowing noise attri- 

 buted to the African rhinoceros holds good with all. 

 The black variety is the most dangerous ; they ramble 

 about at night, and go to the river to drink between 

 the hours of nine and twelve. Those sudden fits of 

 frenzy to which all are liable, are particularly out- 

 rageous in them ; and they have been seen to attack 



