Rhinoceros, Hyrax, and Hippopotamus. 15 i 



merely a growth from the skin, from which it may be 

 removed by a few cuts around the base from a keen- 

 bladed knife. An ordinary penknife is quite sufficient 

 for this purpose. This horn must be ranked in the 

 same category with hair, spines, and quills, the structure 

 being precisely similar in all. This may be at once 

 proved by an examination of the horn, which, although 

 smooth and polished at the tip, is separated at the 

 base into a number of filaments, the hair-like formation 

 of which may be easily seen. 



In order to avoid the effect upon the brain of the 

 violent concussion caused by the headlong charges of 

 the animal, the bones of the face are modified in a 

 very remarkable manner, forming a kind of broad and 

 strong arch, one end of which is left free and unsup- 

 ported. Above this end the horn is situated, the elas- 

 ticity of the bony arch effectually breaking the force of 

 *he shocks. The horn does not attain its full dimen- 

 sions for several years after the birth of the animal. 



In olden times, the horn of the rhinoceros was held 

 in great estimation on account of its supposed poison- 

 detecting powers, and bore a fancy value in conse- 

 quence. Eastern monarchs, for example, were 

 accustomed to have their drinking-cups formed from 

 the horn, the superstition being that any poison intro- 

 duced into the vessel would cause the contents to 

 bubble violently, and so bring about a discovery of the 

 attempted assassination. 



At the present time the horn is still of considerable 

 value, being largely employed in the manufacture of 

 umbrella handles and various other articles. 



The skin of the rhinoceros is of great thickness, and 

 of so tough a nature that it will resist any but a 

 specially hardened bullet. The balls used in the chase 

 of the animal are therefore alloyed with solder or tin or 

 mercury, in order to supply the requisite hardness. 



