CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 11. PACHYDERM AT A. 639 









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aging from two to three feet in length, and pointing backward, while the horn of the long-horned 

 white rhinoceros often exceeds four feet in length, and inclines forward from the nose. 



"Both these varieties of rhinoceros attain an enormous size, being the animals next in magni- 

 tude to the elephant. They feed solely on grass, carry much fat, and their flesh is excellent, 

 being preferable to beef. They are of a much milder and more inoffensive disposition than the 

 black rhinoceros, rarely charging their pursuer. Their speed is very inferior to that of the other 

 varieties, and a person well mounted can overtake and shoot them." The description of the 

 famous rhinoceros birds is very interesting: 



"Before I could reach the proper distance to fire, several 'rhinoceros birds' by which he was 

 attended warned him of his impending danger by sticking their bills into his ear, and uttering 

 their harsh, grating cry. Thus aroused, he suddenly sprang to his feet, and crashed away through 

 the jungle at a rapid trot, and I saw no more of him 



" These rhinoceros birds are constant attendants upon the hippopotamus and the four varieties 

 of rhinoceros, their object being to feed upon the ticks and other parasitic insects that swarm 

 upon these animals. They are of a grayish color, and are nearly as large as a common thrush ; 

 their voice is very similar to that of a mistletoe thrush. Many a time have these ever-watchful 

 birds disappointed me in my stalk, and tempted me to invoke an anathema upon their devoted 

 heads. They are the best friends the rhinoceros has, and rarely fail to awaken him, even in his 

 soundest nap. ' Chukuroo' perfectly understands their warning, and, springing to his feet, he 

 generally first looks about him in every direction, after which he invariably makes off." 



Fossil Rhinocerid.e. — The remains of several fossil species of rhinoceros, distinct from the 

 existing ones, have been found in Europe and Asia, but none in America or Australia. The fol- 

 lowing have been recorded: R. tichorinus, Cuv.; R. incisivus, Cuv. ; R. leptorhinus, Cuv.; R. 

 minutus, Cuv.; R. elatus, Croiz. and Job.; R. pachyrhinus, Cuv.; R. kypselorkinus, Kaup. ; R. 

 Goldfusii, Kaup.; R. leptodon, Kaup. The first and third of these species are British. 



