Appendix 301 



The average size of an adult male is 5 feet 6 inches ; 

 an adult female is generally a little larger. Its total length, 

 from the tip of its nose to the root of its tail, is, on an 

 average, 1 1 feet 3 inches. As to the horns, they reach very 

 different dimensions in animals in the full force of their 

 maturity ; but those of the male are always much longer 

 and thicker than those of the female. The first horn (that 

 which is above the nose) may measure, on an average, 1 foot 

 6 inches ; the second one is sometimes as long, although 

 more often it is only from 6 to 10 inches. 



I have rarely seen female rhinoceros with their young, 

 and I cannot express an opinion on the question of breeding. 

 The only thing I know is that the young inherit the 

 ugliness of their parents, and that they do not begin to 

 have horns on their noses until they have finished sucking. 

 The young run very well, following their parents in their 

 rapid gallop without difficulty. 



The horn on the nose is used both as a weapon of 

 defence and as a pickaxe. When charging, the rhinoceros 

 always has its head very low, consequently its horn is 

 almost horizontal ; at the moment of striking it raises its 

 head violently and generally strikes upwards. The animal 

 uses its horn for unearthing roots, which compose a 

 great part of its food, seizing and dragging them up after- 

 wards with its slightly prehensile upper lip. The second 

 horn serves it little or not at all, being situated too far back 

 to touch the ground or to strike with ease. 



I do not know whether rhinoceros often fight among 

 themselves, or how they act if they do ; but I have often 

 killed animals which had torn ears, as though they had 

 bitten each other. This hypothesis is hardly admissible, 

 since the animals have neither canine nor front teeth. 

 But one must not think, either, that these marks are made 

 by other animals ; because, though the rhinoceros when 

 young may run some danger, no animal attacks it 

 when it is an adult. I confine myself, therefore, to 



