HISTORY OF THE RHINOCEROS. 137 



The rhinoceros which was shown at London in 1739, 

 and described by Dr. Parsons, had been sent from Bengal. 

 Though it was very young, not being above two } r ears' 

 old, yet the charge of his carriage and food from India 

 cost near a thousand pounds. It was fed with rice, sugar, 

 and hay : it was daily supplied with seven pounds of rice, 

 mixed with three of sugar, divided into three portions ; it 

 was given great quantities of hay and grass, which it 

 chiefly preferred ; its drink was water, which it took in 

 great quantities. It was of a gentle disposition, and per- 

 mitted itself to be , touched and handled by all visiters, 

 never attempting mischief, except when abused, or when 

 hungry ; in such a case, there was no method of appeasing 

 its fury, but by giving it something to eat. When angry, 

 it would jump up against the walls of its room with great 

 violence, and made many efforts to escape, but seldom 

 attempted to attack its keeper, and was always submissive 

 to his threats. It had a peculiar cry, somewhat a mixture 

 between the grunting of a hog and the bellowing of a calf. 



The age of these animals is not well known ; it is said f 

 by some, that they bring forth at three years old, and if 

 we may reason from analogy, it is probable they seldom 

 live above twenty. That which was shown in London, 

 was said by its keeper to be eighteen years old, and even 

 at that age he pretended to consider it as a young one ; 

 however, it died shortly after, and that probably in the 

 course of nature. 



The rhinoceros is a native of the deserts of Asia and 

 Africa, and is usually found in those extensive forests that 

 are frequented by the elephant and the lion. As it sub- 

 sists entirely upon vegetable food, it is peaceful and harm- 

 less among its fellows of the brute creation ; but, though it 

 never provokes to combat, it equally disdains to fly. It is 

 every way fitted for war, but rests content in the conscious- 

 ness of its security. It is particularly fond of the prickly 

 branches of trees, and is seen to feed upon such 



