THE RHINOCEROS. 



M6 



strangers. His docility was about equal to that of a tolerably tractable pig ; lie would obey the orders 

 of his keeper, to walk about the room, and exhibit himself to the numerous spectators who came to 

 visit him. This animal usually ate every day twenty-eight pounds weight of clover, besides about the 

 same weight of ship-biscuit, and a vast quantity of greens. His food he invariably seized in his long and 

 projecting upper lip, and by it he conveyed it into his mouth. He was allowed, also, five pails of water 

 twice or thrice a-day. This was put into a vessel that contained about three pails, which was filled up 

 as the animal drank it ; and he never ended his draught till the water was exhausted. He was fond 

 of sweet wines, of which he would often drink three or four bottles in the course of a few 

 hours. His voice was not much unlike the bleating of a calf. It was most commonly heard 

 when the animal observed any person with fruit or other favourite food in his hand ; and, in such 

 cases, it seems to have been a mark of his anxiety to have it given him. In the month of October, 

 1792, as this rhinoceros was one day rising up very suddenly, he slipped the joint of one of his fore legs, 

 which brought on an inflammation, which terminated in his death, about nine months afterwards. During 



SIi.EI.ETON OF THE HHINO< 'Kl:c PS. 



his last illness the noise just referred to, but in a more melancholy tone, was almost constantly 

 occasioned, doubtless, by the agonies that he underwent. It is a singular fact, that of the incisions 

 which were made, on the first attempts to restore the animal, through his thick and tough hide, the 

 woimds were invariably found to be healed in the course of twenty-four hours. Of late years several 

 of the same species have arrived in London. One of them, a fine, healthy animal, has long been 

 living in the Zoological Gardens. The skeleton of the rhinoceros is of remarkable strength. We shall 

 now look particularly at some distinct species. 



THE INDIAN RHINOCEROS.* 



THIS animal leads a tranquil, indolent life in his native regions. Like the elephant, he prefers the 

 marshy borders of lakes and rivers, or swampy woods and jungles, delighting to roll and wallow in the 

 oozy soil, and plaster his skin with mud. He also swims with ease and vigour. Sluggish in his habitual 

 movements, the rhinoceros wanders through his native plains with a heavy step, carrying his huge 

 head so low that his nose almost touches the ground, and stopping at intervals to crop some favourite 

 plant, or, in wanton play, to plough up the ground with his horn, throwing the mud and stones behind 



* Rhinoceros Indicus. 



