este] 
III. On the Anatomy of the Indian Rhinoceros (Rh. unicornis, L.). 
By Professor Owen, F.R.S., F.Z.S. &c. 
Read Feb. 12, 1850. 
Parr I. 
Introduction. External characters. Position of Viscera. 
THE very rare opportunity of investigating the internal structure of the Rhinoceros, 
which the death of the fine male specimen of the Indian species, Rhinoceros unicornis, 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 the animal, which was full-grown and had lived in the mena- 
gerie fifteen years, measured thirteen fect 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?. 
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 the 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 
1 Mr. Miller, the Superintendent, has transmitted to me a record which shows that the Rhinoceros, when 
received at the Gardens, 20th September 1834, weighed 13 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. 
2 «©1849, November 12th. Rhinoceros vomited slimy mucus. 
14th. ditto ditto, with blood. 
15th. ditto ditto ditto. 
16th. ditto ditto ditto, and from the nostrils. 
17th. ditto ditto ditto ditto. 
18th. ditto ditto ditto ditto. 
19th. ditto ditto ditto ditto.” 
VOL. IV.—PART II. G 
