62 THE GREAT INDIAN RHINOCEROS. 



Rhinoceros, like several of the deer and antelope tribe, has the habit of dropping its dung 

 in one place. Vast heaps of these droppings, the accumulation of years, are constantly to be 

 seen, and native Shikaris frequently watch these spots and obtain a shot at easy distance. 



The Great Indian Rhinoceros is by no means ' a thing of beauty.' Huge and unwieldy 

 in form, with an enormous head and general pig-like appearance, it is enveloped in what 

 seems at first sight impenetrable armour, the thick and tuberculated skin hanging in massive 

 folds, which attain their greatest thickness on the neck, shoulders, and quarters. 



So thick and tough do these folds or shields appear, as to have given rise to the popular 

 belief that the animal is nearly invulnerable, and that it is only by striking the joints in his 

 harness that a bullet can penetrate. 



I recollect an amusing story of a soldier in the Mutiny who was placed in the guard-room 

 for shooting a tame Rhinoceros which had been captured by his regiment. His defence was 

 that he had read in a book that the hide of the animal was bullet-proof; and being of an 

 enquiring turn of mind, had determined to put the theory to the test ! As the shot was well 

 directed, the unfortunate subject of the experiment fell dead, and the prize fund was several 

 thousand rupees the poorer. 



As a matter of fact, the skin is quite soft when fresh ; a bullet will penetrate anywhere 

 with the greatest ease, and a hunting knife can be driven through it with the slightest amount 

 of force. When dried, of course it becomes extremely hard, and used to be in great request 

 for the manufacture of shields. The hide, when polished, is very handsome and semi-trans- 

 parent, and when held up to the light looks exactly like tortoise shell, the tubercles giving it 

 a beautiful mottled appearance. 



The horn of this species seldom exceeds a foot in length ; it is composed of agglutinated 

 hairs, and is not firmly attached to the skull, but rests on a slight bony excrescence on the 

 snout, from which it is easily removed, a day or two after death. Contrary to general belief, 

 the Rhinoceros does not make use of its horn as a weapon of offence ; the wounds which it 

 occasionally inflicts on Elephants are caused by its long sharp incisors, with which it can 

 give a very formidable bite. 



The horn is highly valued by natives both of India and China, and fetches a high price 

 in the market ; being worth from Rs. 50 to Rs. 100 according to weight. Hindoos use it in 

 some of their religious ceremonies, while the Chinese ascribe to it the virtues of the famous 

 Venetian glass, and believe that drinking cups manufactured from it possess the property of 

 indicating the presence of poison. 



The foot of the Rhinoceros is peculiarly formed, having only three toes, and its trefoil- 

 shaped track cannot be mistaken for that of any other animal. 



Ungainly animal as the Rhinoceros is, it is possessed of considerable speed, and although 

 its usual gait when disturbed is a long swinging trot, it occasionally breaks into a lumbering 

 gallop, the pace of which is surprising. 



Owing to their formation Rhinoceros do not readily roll over on their sides, and when 

 shot they almost always die in a recumbent position, as if they had quietly sunk down to 

 sleep. 



