370 



noceroses, but from all other known animals. The point of the nasal 

 bones, instead of terminating in a distinct projection, at a certain distance 

 above the incisives, descends, without becoming thinner, before the na- 

 sal notches; and, after being separated in three projecting tubercles, 

 becomes united, by a portion which is a little thinner, to the incisive 

 bones, where they unite, and form of themselves two other tubercles. 

 All these four bones become so consolidated together, that the sutures by 

 which they were connected, as well as that which distinguished the inter- 

 maxillary from the maxillary bones, are not perceptible at only a mo- 

 derately advanced age. This structure, so solid, was doubtlessly intended 

 for the support of the horn, and would lead us to suppose, that it was more 

 strong, and could be applied with more power in this species, than in any 

 of those which now exist. 8. Behind this junction of the nasal with the 

 incisive bones begins a bony partition, which separates the two nostrils, 

 and passing backwards, is united with the vomer. 9. In consequence 

 of this partition, the incisive openings are separate from each other ; 

 whilst, in the living species, they are formed into one large opening. 

 10. From the length of the nasal notch, the eye is placed more back- 

 ward in this than in the other species. 



With respect to the existence, or the number, of incisive teeth in the 

 fossil animal, M. Cuvier observes, that after an infinite number of re- 

 searches, he has not yet obtained any thing certain : he however thinks 

 he has a right to assert, that the fossil rhinoceros did not possess them, at 

 least in the upper jaw. In the lower jaw, M. Pallas, however, speaking 

 of a jaw found at Tchikgi, says : hi apice maxillce inferioris, sen ipso mar- 

 gine, ut ita dicam, incisorio, dentes quidem nulli adsunt ; verumtamen apparent 

 vestigia obliterata quatuor, alveolorum ?ninusculorum equidistantium, e quibus 

 exteriores duo obsoletissimi, sed intermedii satis insignibus fossis denotati sunt. 

 Nov. Com. xin. p. 600. Supposing, then, this jaw had actually con- 

 tained incisors, they, from being so very small, must have belonged to a 

 different species from any which is known living ; since the incisive teeth, 

 in the rhinoceros of Asia and Sumatra, are considerably larger, inde- 



