THE RHINOCEROS. 103 



fk'n is penetrable, delicate, and as foft to the 

 touch as filk, while the external part of the 

 fo'd is equally hard with the reft. This tender- 

 fkin between the folds is of a light flefh- colour; 

 and the (kin of fhe belly is nearly of the fame 

 colour and confidence. 1 hefe galls or tuberofi- 

 ties mould not be compared, as forhe authors 

 have done, to fcales. They are fimple indura- 

 tions of the fkin only, without any regularity in 

 their figure, or fvmmetry in their refpective po- 

 rtions. The flexibility of the fkin in the folds 

 enables the rhinoceros to move with facility his 

 head, neck, and members. The whole body, 

 except at the joints, is inflexible, and refembles a 

 coat of mail. Dr Parfons remarks, that this animal 

 liltened w r itb a deep and long continued a ten- 

 tion to any kind of noife; and that, though he 

 was fleeping, eating, or obeying any other pref- 

 fing demands of nature, he railed his head 

 liftened till the noife ceafed. 



In fine, after giving this accurate deft on 

 of the rhinoceros, Dr Parfons exa 

 ther the rhinoceros, with a double h 

 and, having compared the teftimonies or : 

 cients and moderns, and the rem- ■ ■ va- 



riety in the collections of natural 1 

 with much probability, concludes, that the rhi 

 cerates of Afia have commonly but one horn, 

 and that thofe of Alia have generally two. 



It is unquestionably true, that Ibme rhinoce- 

 ra&s have t ■ - • e hern, and that others have 



two. 



