2304 The Zoologist — September, 1870. 



Accident to the Rhinoceros at the Zoological Gardens. — The young male single- 

 horned rliinoceios at the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park, his just afforded a very 

 singular instance of self-rautilaiion. The three magnificent specimens are now located 

 in the new elephant house and yards. On Wednesday last the male and female of the 

 single-horned species were in the adjoining yards, when the male atlempted to upheave 

 the massive iron railings dividing them hy placing his horn under the lower transverse 

 bar and raising it. Fortunately, the inclosure was constructed with a perfect know- 

 ledge of the enormous strength of these pachyderms, and could not be moved ; but the 

 animal made repeated attempts, and at last the thick massive homSvas torn away from 

 the head and fell into the yard. At first there was a considerable loss of blood, and 

 the animal roared lustily for a few minutes. He soon, however, became calm, and is 

 now as quiet as usual. The large surface exposed was shortly covered with flies, and, 

 to prevent their ova being deposited, Mr. Bartlett most judiciously applied a coaling 

 of neat's foot oil. The animal now lakes his food as usual, and seems none the worse 

 for the accident. The fact that an animal should of his own accord injure himself to 

 such an extent is another proof, if one were wanting, that the sensitiveness to pain is 

 not so great in animals of low cerebral organization as in man. The three young 

 male giraffes, whose arrival in London we noticed a few weeks since, have been 

 deposited in the Gardens by Messrs. Hagenbeck and Rice. — Editor of^ Field.' 



Rhinoceros detaching its Horn. — The "accident" that happened to the large 

 single-horned rhinoceros in the Zoological Gardens was mentioned in last week's 

 • Field' (p. 152). It is not unprecedented, as the reader will find by referring to my 

 contributions to the 'Field,' No. 871, p. 192, and No. 877, p. 344. Several years ago, 

 an animal of the same species knocked off its horn in the Zoological Gatden at 

 Moscow, and soon afterwards began to grow another, the detached horn being 

 preserved in the museum of that city; and before learning of that occurrence I had 

 argued on the probahiliiy of the so-called horns of these animals being occasionally 

 shed and renewed, as will be seen by reference to the communications mentioned. — 

 From the ' Field.' 



Nesting of the Hobby in South Devon.— The keeper here tells me that a pair of 

 hobbies nested again in the park this summer. He destroyed the young ones before 

 they were fully fledged, and shot both the old birds. I saw the remains of the male 

 bird yesterday among a heap of sparrowhawks, jays and other delinquents that had 

 paid for their trespasses with their lives.— Murray A. Mathew ; Gidleigh Park, 

 Chagford, South Devon, August 16, 1870. 



Note on the Eastern Range of the European 3/erZm.— With reference to the eastern 

 range of this species, referred to by Captain Feilden (S. S. 2261), I may mention that 

 I have seen specimens from Eastern Siberia, obtained near the coast of the Sea of 

 Okhotsk. — J. H. Gurnet/; Marldnn, Totnes, July 30, 1870. 



Note on the Dark-coloured Harrier of South Africa.— The dark-coloured harrier 

 of South Africa {Circus maurus), alluded to in the 'Zoologist' (S. S. 2261) in a 

 quotHtion from the 'Field,' is specifically distinct from the dark or melanous race of 

 Montagu's harrier {Circus cineraceus). The adult male of the dark variety of the 

 latter assumes the same gray dress as the male of the ordinary race, except that the 

 gray is of a much darker and more smoky hue, whereas the adult male of Circus 



