468 



UNGULATES. 



not bred in captivity in Europe, the point is one not likely to be soon cleared 

 up. The Indian rhinoceros thrives well in confinement, and frequently lives in 

 that state for a long period. One specimen acquired by the London Zoological 

 Gardens in 1834 lived till 1849, while a second, purchased in 1850, died in 1874, 

 and a third presented in 1864 is still (1894) flourishing. Mr. Blanford states that 

 he has heard of captive specimens living fifty or sixty years, and Mr. Brian 

 Hodgson was of opinion that the natural term of this animal's life is upwards 

 of a century. 



From the immense thickness and apparent toughness of its enormous folds, it 

 was long considered that the hide of the Indian rhinoceros was bullet-proof, and 

 that the only places where the animal was vulnerable were the joints of the 

 armour. General Kinloch relates an amusing story of a soldier in India, who had 

 heard of this legend, firing point-blank at a tame rhinoceros which had been 

 captured by his regiment during the Mutiny, in order to obtain ocular proof of its 



GREAT INDIAN RHINOCEROS. 



truth. Needless to say, as the shot was well aimed, the unfortunate animal fell 

 dead, which meant a considerable loss to the regimental prize-fund. And we may 

 mention here that the Indian rhinoceros, like all its kindred, when shot sinks down 

 in its tracks, and lies as if asleep, instead of falling over on its side like most 

 other mammals. 



As a matter of fact, the skin of the living animal is quite soft, and can readily 

 be penetrated in any place by a bullet, or easily pierced by a hunting-knife. When 

 dried it becomes, however, exceedingly hard ; and it was formerly employed by 

 the Indian princes in the manufacture of shields for their soldiery. General 

 Kinloch states that if polished the hide " is very handsome and semi-transparent, 

 and when held up to the light looks exactly like tortoise-shell, the tubercles giving 

 it a beautiful mottled appearance." 



The horn is used by the Hindus (to whom in common with the natives of 

 most parts of India, the animal is known by the name of gainda) in some of their 

 religious ceremonies ; when manufactured into cups it is considered by the Chinese 

 to possess the property of indicating the presence of poison. 



