RHINOCEROS. 



Rhinoceros Indicus, (of India,) Rhinoceros Africanus, (of 



Africa.) 



PLATE XIV. THE RHINOCEROS. 



NEXT to the elephant, the rhinoceros is the most pow- 

 erful of animals. He is usually found about twelve feet 

 long, from the tip of the nose to the insertion of the tail ; 

 from six to seven feet high ; and the circumference of his 

 body is nearly equal to his length. He is, therefore, equal 

 to the elephant in bulk: although in appearance much 

 smaller to the eye, the reason is, that his legs are much 

 shorter. Words can convey but a very confused idea of 

 this animal's shape ; and yet there are few so remarkably 

 formed : its head is furnished with a horn, growing from 

 the snout, sometimes three feet and a half long ; and but 

 for this, that part would have the appearance of the head 

 of a hog ; the upper lip, however, is much longer in pro- 

 portion, ends in a point, is very pliable, serves to collect its 

 food, and deliver it into the mouth: the ears are large, 

 erect, and pointed ; the eyes are small and piercing ; the 

 skin is naked, rough, knotty, and lying upon the body in 

 folds, after a very peculiar fashion: there are two folds 

 very remarkable ; one above the shoulders, and another 

 over the rump ; the skin, which is of a dirty brown color, 

 is so thick as to turn the edge of a scimitar, or to resist a 

 musket-ball ; the belly hangs low ; the legs are short, 

 strong, and thick, and the hoofs- divided into three parts, 

 each pointing forward. 



Such is the general outline of an animal that appears 

 chiefly formidable from the horn growing from its snout ; 

 and formed rather for war, than with a propensity to 

 engage. This horn is sometimes found from three to three 

 feet and a half lorg, growing from the solid bone, and so 



