THE RHINOCEROS 



* 



NEXT to the elephant, the Rhinoceros is 

 the ftrongeft quadruped. He is at leaft 

 twelve feet long, from the extremity of the 



muzzle 



* The rhinoceros has one large horn, fometimes two, pla- 

 ced near the end of the nofe ; it is fometimes three feet and a 

 half long, black, and fmooth. The upper lip is long, hangs 

 over the lower, ends in a point, is very pliable, and ferves to* 

 collect its food, and deliver it into the mouth. The noflrils 

 are placed tranfverfely. The ears are large, erect, and point- 

 ed. The eyes are fmaJl and dull. The fkin is naked, rough, 

 or tuberculated, and lies about the neck in vaft folds. There 

 is another fold from the fhoulders to the fore legs, and an- 

 other from the hind part of the back to the thighs. The 

 - ikin is fo thick, and fo ftrong as to turn the edge of a fcimitar, 

 and refill: a mufket ball. The tail is {lender, flatted at the end, 

 and covered on the fides with very ftiiF, thick, black hairs. 

 'The belly hangs low. The legs are Ihort, ftrong, and thick. 

 The hoofs are divided into three parto, each pointing for- 



■ rd ; Pennant' 's fynopf. of quad. p. 75. 



Though the name of this animal be entirely Greek, it was 

 .nown to the ancient Greeks. Ariftptle takes no notice of 

 :-. Strabo is the firft Greek, and Pliny the fir ft Roman au- 

 thor who mentions it. The rhinoceros probably did not fre- 

 quent that part cf India into which Alexander had penetrated, 

 ugh he met with great numbers of elephants; for it was 

 about three hundred years after Alexander, that Pompey firft 

 brought this animal to Europe. 



Rhinocerote in Italian ; Abada in Portugucfe ; Linfcot, nax 

 in Orient, pars 2. /. 44. Abada in India and Java ; Boutins Lid. 

 Orient, p. 50. P. Philippe, p. 371. Purchas's Pilgriv, vol. ?. 

 ^.1001.1773, R . - ... 'n-cbina, p. 797. Du Haldes*s 



