286 IJIVISION I. YEIiTEBHAL AIJIMALS. — CLASS I. MAMMALIA. 



usually struck with the greatest precision. Williamson also affirms, contrary 

 to the representations of some authors, that the rhinoceros is an animal of 

 great activity, acuteness of smell, and rapidity of motion, and in opposition 

 to the character we have given it above, ascriljcs to it a tem[)er of extraordi- 

 nary ferocity, wantonly attacking tlie elephant and travellers, sometimes even 

 rendering the roads impassable. In further illustration of tiie habits of the 

 animal, he relates tiie following incident: "In 17S.S, t\vo officers, belonn-ino- 

 to the troops cantoned at Dunapore, went down the river towards INIonghyr, 

 to shoot and htmt. They had encamped in the vicinity of Derriapore, and 

 had heard some reports of a rhinoceros having attacked some travellers many 

 miles otf. One morning, just as they were rising, about daybreak, to go in 

 (piest of game, they heard a violent uproar, and, on looking out, found that 

 a rhinoceros was goring their horses, both of which, being fastened by the 

 heel and head with ropes, were ccmseipienlly unable either to escape or 

 resist. The servants took to their heels, and concealed themselves in the 

 neighboring jungles, and the gentlemen had just time to climb up into a small 

 tree, before the furious beast, having com|detcd the destruction of the horses, 

 turned his attention to their masters. They were barely out of his reach, 

 and by no means exempt from danger. After keeping them in dreadful 

 suspense for some time, and using some efforts to dislodge them, seeing the 

 sun rise, lie retreated to his haunt, not, however, witliout occasionally cast- 

 ing an eye back, as witli regret at leaving what he wanted the power to 

 destroy." 



Ji. Jiul/'cKS. — The Indian lUiinoceros. We ha\c already sufficiently 

 described this animal in our statement of the chara'cters of the genus, and 

 Avill, therefore, oidy add one or two paragraphs from Dr. Parsons's interesting 

 account of a young specimen exhibited in London in 173il : "He was fed 

 with rice, sugar, and hay; of tlie first he ate seven pounds, mixed with three 

 of sugar, every day, di\ided into three meals, and al)out a truss of hay in a 

 week, besides greens of different kinds, which were often brought to him, and 

 of which he seemed fonder than of his dry victuals ; and drank large quantities 

 of water at a time, being then, it seems, two years old. 



" He ap[)eared very peaceable in his temper, suffering himself to be 

 handled in any part of his body, but outrageous when struck or hungry, and 

 pacified in either case only by victuals. In his rage ho jumped about, and 

 sprang to an incredible iieiglit, dri\ing his head against the walls of the [ilace 

 with great fury and quii-kness, notwithstanding his lum[)is]i aspect." 



Ji. iSoii(liiic/i.^. This species differs from the foreg(jing, physically, in a 

 more elongated liead and muzzle, and morally, in tlie possession of a milder 

 disposition. Travellers represent this rhinoceros as perfectly harudess, unless 

 first attacked. It is of nocturnal habit, and in its night-rambles occasions 



