648 



ME. P. L. SCLATER ON THE EHINOCEEOSES 



about If inch iu depth, upon examining which it is clearly seen that the whole horn 

 has been cleanly torn away from the matrix. 



"Very soon after the loss of the old horn, we observed indications that a new horn was 

 forming. This has increased rapidly in size, and is now already perhaps 1^ inch in height 

 (see fig. 3). It is thus certain that the Rhinoceros has the power of reproducing its horn 



Fig. 3. 



Head of male Rhinoceros, with new horn growing (January 3rd, 1871). 



after the existing one has been broken off. I am well aware that this fact has already 

 been noticed by different explorers and observers ; moreover Mr. Blyth has informed 

 us (see ' Field,' Aug. 20, 1870, p. 173) that several years ago an accident similar to what 

 has been here recorded occurred to an animal of the same species in the Zoological 

 Gardens at Moscow, and that in this case likewise the horn grew again. I have never- 

 theless thought that the present occurrence is well worthy of a place among the records 

 of the Society. It is notorious that the reproduced horn of an animal is liable to be 

 materially different in structure from the normal horn ; and it is very possibly due to 

 some such accident as above mentioned, that we have been favoured with the creation 

 of certain new species of Rhinoceroses that have been based upon horns alone." ' 



At the scientific meeting of this Society held on Feb. 16th last I read an extract from 

 a letter addressed to me by Mr. William Jamrach, stating that he was bringing home 

 from Calcutta an example of "a new Rhinoceros, procured in the Bhootan Terai," and 

 I exhibited a drawing of the animal taken in Calcutta in January 1875 by Khaliludin 



' Bhinoceros erossii, Gray, P. Z. S. 1854, p. 250, probably based upon an anterior horn of E. sumatranus 

 (f/. Blyth, P. Z. S. 1852, p. 1), and li. oswelUi, Gray, P. Z. S. 1853, p. 46, which is usually considered the same 

 as B. simus. 



