THE RHINOCEROS. 261 



of some short tusks that are barely seen beyond the lips, yet these little 

 tusks are as fearful weapons as the longer teeth of the Bosch Vark, for 

 they are shaped like a lancet, being acutely pointed and double-edged, 

 so that they cut like knives and inflict very terrible wounds. 



No animal seems to be capable of withstanding the united attacks of 

 the Peccary, even the jaguar being forced to abandon the contest and 

 to shrink from encountering the circular mass of Peccaries as they 

 stand with angry eyes and gnashing teeth ready to do their worst on 

 the foe. 



The usual resting-place of the Peccary is in the hollow of a fallen 

 tree, or in some burrow that has been dug by an armadillo and for- 

 saken by the original inhabitant. The hollow tree, however, is the 

 favorite resort, and into one of these curious habitations a party of 

 Peccaries will retreat, each backing into the aperture as far as he can 

 penetrate the trunk, until the entire hollow is filled with the odd little 

 creatures. The one who last enters becomes the sentinel, and keeps a 

 sharp watch on the neighborhood. 



The color of the Peccary is a grizzled brown, with the exception of a 

 white strip that is drawn over the neck and has earned for the animal 

 the name of the Collared Peccary. 



Several species of the Rhinoceros are still inhabitants of the earth. 

 Of the existing species, two or three are found in various parts of Asia 

 and its islands, and the remainder inhabit several portions of Africa. 

 Before examining the separate species, we will glance at some of the 

 characteristics which are common to all the members of this very con- 

 spicuous group. 



The so-called horn which projects from the nose of the Rhinoceros 

 is a very remarkable structure, and worthy of a brief notice. It is in 

 no way connected with the skull, but is simply a growth from the skin, 

 and may take rank with hairs, spines, or quills, being, indeed, formed 

 after a similar manner. If a Rhinoceros' horn be examined — the 

 species of its owner is quite immaterial — it will be seen to be polished 

 and smooth at the tip, but r6ugh and split into numerous filaments at 

 the base. These filaments, which have a very close resemblance to 

 those which terminate the plates of whalebone, can be stripped upward 

 for some length ; and if the substance of the horn be cut across, it will 

 be seen to be composed of a vast number of hairy filaments lying side 

 by side. 



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 w^hich have been hardened with tin or solder. The 

 extreme strength of the skin is well known to both the Asiatic and Af- 

 rican natives, who manufacture it into shields, and set a high value on 

 these weapons of defence. 



