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III. On the Anatomy of the Indian Rhinoceros (Rh. unicornis, L.). 

 By Professor Owen, F.R.S., F.Z.S. &!c. 



Read Feb. 12, 1S50. 



Part I. 



Introduction. External characters. Position of Viscera. 



XHE very rare opportunity of investigating the internal structure of the Rhinoceros, 

 which the death of the fine male specimen of the Indian species, Rhinoceros u7iicornis, L., 

 at the Menagerie of the Zoological Society, has afforded, enables me to submit to the 

 Society the following details of its anatomy. 



I may premise, as a requisite point of comparison with the dimensions and weight of 

 some of the viscera, that tlie animal, which was full-grown and had lived in the mena- 

 gerie fifteen years, measured thirteen feet and a half from the end of the muzzle to the 

 root of the tail, and thirteen feet in its greatest circumference : its total weight was 

 upwards of two tons'. 



The animal had begun to show a loss of appetite in July 1849, when it was supposed 

 to be under the influence of the rut : the more decided symptoms of ailment first mani- 

 fested themselves about a week before its death, when it was observed to make occa- 

 sional efforts, as if to vomit, followed by the escape of a bloody and frothy mucus and 

 fluid from the mouth and also from the nose. It died on the evening of the 19th of 

 November 1849. Subjoined are the symptoms noted in the Head-Keeper's Minute- 

 book 2. 



After the removal of the integuments and some dissection of the muscles, the abdo- 

 minal and thoracic viscera were exposed by the detachment of all the ribs of ihe left 

 side ; when it was found that the seventh rib had been fractured at the bend near the 

 vertebral end : a kind of false joint had been formed between the broken portions. One 



' Mr. Miller, the Superintendent, has transmitted to me a record which shows that the Rhinoceros, when 

 received at the Gardens, 20th September ISS*, weighed Ij ton : there was no means of weighing the entire 

 animal after its death : but an approximation was made by weighing separately the limbs, the trunk, detached 

 masses of flesh, the hide, &c., which allowed the total weight to be estimated at about 5000 lbs. avoirdupois. 

 ' " ISig, November 12th. Rhinoceros vomited slimy mucus. 

 14th. ditto ditto, with blood, 



ditto. 



ditto, and from the nostrils, 

 ditto ditto, 

 ditto ditto, 

 ditto ditto." 



/- 



