11^ THE SINGLE-HORNED RHINOCEROS. 



body to be touched. When he was hungry, or 

 was struck by any person, he became mischievous, 

 and nothing would appease him but food. He was 

 not at this time taller than a young Cow. 



A Rhinoceros, brought from Atcham, in the 

 dominions of the King of Ava, was exhibited in 

 1748, at Paris. It was very tame, gentle, and even 

 caressing ; was fed principally on hay and corn, and 

 was much delighted with sharp or prickly plants, 

 and the thorny branches of trees. The attendants 

 frequently gave him branches that had very sharp 

 and strong thorns on them ; but he bent and broke 

 them in his mouth without seeming in the least 

 incommoded. It is true they sometimes drew blood 

 from the mouth and tongue, " but that," says 

 Father Le Comte, who gives us the description, 

 " might even render them more palatable, and those 

 little wounds might serve only to cause a sensation 

 similar to that excited by salt, j^epper, or mustard, 

 on ours *. 



As an equivalent for a very dull sight, Dr. Par- 

 sons remarks, that this animal has an acute and most 

 attentive ear. It will listen with a deep and long- 

 continued attention to any kind of noise ; and al- 

 though it be eating, lying down, or obeying any 

 pressing demands of nature, it will raise its head, and 

 listen till tlie noise ceases. 



The Rhinoceros is said to run with great swift- 

 ness, and from his strength and impenetrable cover- 



• QiBich. 



