184 



MAMMALIA. 



probability saved my life, for, at the same instant, the 

 trunk of the enraged animal descended precisely on 

 the spot where I had been previously couched, sweep- 

 ing away the stones, many of large size, that formed 

 the fore part of my skarm, like so many pebbles. In 

 another moment his broad fore-feet passed directly 

 over my face. I now expected nothing short of being 

 crushed to death ; but imagine my relief when, instead 

 of renewing the charge he swerved to the left, and 

 moved off with considerable rapidity most happily 

 without my having received other injuries than a few 

 bruises, occasioned by the falling of the stones." Not- 

 withstanding all this, Mr. Andersson snatched up an- 

 other rifle, and, taking aim, pulled the trigger, when 

 the piece missed fire ; had this happened in the first 

 instance, nothing could have prevented his immediate 

 destruction ! 



FAMILY II. RHINOCERIim 



The Rhinoceroses are at once recognized, not only by 

 their peculiar solitary or double horns, but also by their 

 thick, scabrous, tuberculated skin, which, falling into 

 distinct folds over various regions of the body, resem- 

 bles an artificial defensive armature. The horns are 

 strictly integumentary, being composed, as it were, 

 of numerous bristles firmly bound and incorporated 

 together. The head is much elongated ; the jaws sup- 

 porting, in young individuals, thirty-six teeth, that is, 

 eight incisors and twenty-eight molars. Of the latter, 

 those in the upper division have subquadrate crowns, 

 surmounted by two transverse ridges ; whilst the 

 crowns of the lower series are narrower, more elon- 

 gated, and marked by curved lines, whose concavity 

 is turned inwards. The superior incisors are much 

 compressed, and directed obliquely forwards ; those of 

 the lower jaw being large and pointed. The outer 

 incisors above, and the two inner below, are very small 

 and concealed. Among the principal skeletal peculiari- 

 ties, we may mention the remarkably thick, rough, 

 elevated, and arched nasal bones, the general massive- 

 ness of all the osseous elements, the presence of 

 nineteen pairs of ribs, the complete development of the 

 ulna and fibula, the forked spine of the pelvis, and the 

 existence of only three series of digital phalanges. The 

 digestive canal is about eight times as long as the 

 entire body. Rhinoceroses feed upon coarse herbage, 

 and are natives of the warmer regions of the Eastern 

 hemisphere. 



THE INDIAN RHINOCEROS (Rhinoceros Indicus) 

 is the species best known Plate 25, fig. 80 and was 

 formerly termed R. unicornis, in contradistinction to 

 R. bicornis; but, as Van der Hoeven has very justly 

 remarked, these terms ought no longer to be retained, 

 because we are now acquainted with six or seven dis- 

 tinct species, two of them being furnished with a single 

 horn each, and the others with two horns. The species 

 under consideration enjoys a pretty extensive range in 

 Eastern India, Siam, and Cochin China, being especially 

 abundant on the borders of the Ganges. It is chiefly 

 found in dense jungles and shady forests, far from the 

 haunts of man. It is remarkably savage, and attacks 

 elephants without the slightest compunction; and 



seems to take a wanton delight in destroying every 

 living creature that comes within its reach. This ani- 

 mal has a singular habit of dunging in one spot ; and 

 these high dung-heaps, while they serve the purpose of 

 indicating to other animals that danger is nigh, also 

 afford to the native sportsman a means of guiding him 

 as to the best spot for erecting platforms from which he 

 secures his victim. The skin of the Indian Rhinoceros, 

 when dried, will take a high polish, and as it is more or 

 less capable of resisting the force of a leaden bullet, 

 fetches a high price ; the fat is also much used by the 

 native doctors as an unguent. 



THE JAVANESE RHINOCEROS (Rhinoceros son- 

 daicus) also possesses only a single horn. It is 

 distinguished from the preceding, however, by the 

 comparatively slender head, by the proportionally ele- 

 vated legs, by the character of the dermal armour, con- 

 sisting of numerous polygonal scutes, whose centres are 

 depressed and give origin to short bristly hairs, the ears 

 being also bordered by long, stiff, and closely-set bristles. 

 The tail is hairy underneath. By the Javanese this 

 animal is also called the Warak, and it is sometimes 

 described as Rhinoceros Javanus, a title given to it by 

 F. Cuvier; the one here adopted being that employed 

 by Baron Cuvier and Dr. Horsfield. According to the 

 latter, the Warak is gregarious in its habits, and forms 

 deeply excavated retreats along the declivities of moun- 

 tains and hills. It does not appear to possess the 

 ferocious character of its Indian congener ; but at night- 

 time it frequently causes serious damage to coffee and 

 pepper plantations. 



THE STTMATRAN RHINOCEROS (Rhinoceros Suma- 

 trensis) possesses two horns, and was formerly con- 

 founded with one or other of the African species. The 

 posterior horn is very short, conical, and placed a little 

 before the eyes. The hide is rough and slightly pro- 

 vided with hairs ; the foldings of the skin being quite 

 inconspicuous. It is shy in disposition, and is seldom 

 seen near the haunts of men. 



BRTTCE'S RHINOCEROS (Rhinoceros Africanus) is 

 the form most commonly known in Africa, and is 

 more frequently described under the vague titles of 

 the African and the Two-horned Rhinoceros. It is 

 the Gargatan, or Rhinaster of the Cape Colonists, 

 the Chukuroo of the Matabili, and the Borele of the 

 Bechuanas. Neither of the horns are of very great 

 length, the posterior one being comparatively short ; 

 both have a greenish-brown tint. The hide exhibits 

 a yellowish-brown colour, being fleshy underneath, 

 and not furnished with folds. The tail is about two 

 feet long, and bristly at the tip. The habits of Brace's 

 Rhinoceros closely resemble those of the Indian species. 

 It is remarkably savage and dangerous to approach 

 when wounded. Mr. Andersson mentions an instance 

 where some Namaquas had shot one of these animals 

 as it was rising from its sleep. One of the party, 

 imagining it to be dead, approached, mounted, and 

 stabbed the carcase. " The beast, however, had only 

 been stunned ; and as soon as he felt the cold steel 

 enter his body, he started to his feet and made off at 

 full speed. This action was so instantaneous as to 

 prevent the man from dismounting, whilst the other 

 Namaquas were paralyzed with fear. Fortunately, 



