THE EDINBURGH 



JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



AND OF 



THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES. 



N^ 3. 



SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1835. 



ZOOLOGY. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE. 



The Rhinoceros. — The animals of this genus are nearly equal in size to the Ele- 

 phant, although they appear less, owing to their legs being much shorter, in propor- 

 tion to the dimensions of their bodies. They are generally of peaceable dispositions, if 

 anmolcsted, living upon herbs and branches of trees, and frequenting marshy places. 

 There have been five species of this genus ascertained by naturalists. 



Yitr. 1. The Indian Rhinoceros. (^Rhinoceros Indiciis, Cuvier.) This species 



has been the longest known to mankind, by the name of the one-horned Rhinoceros. 

 It inhabits India beyond the Ganges. In a wild state, it grows to twelve feet in length, 

 its circumference being nearly equal to its length. Its skin is composed externally of 

 numerous horny tubercles, which render the hide impervious to the claws of the Lion 

 and Tiger ; and this, together with the formidable horn on its nose, makes it more than 

 a match for either of these desperate animals. It is but seldom the Elephant will dare to 

 give the Rhinoceros battle; when he does, he generally meets death as a reward for his 

 temerity. The hide of this animal is remarkable for the deep folds formed across and 

 behind the shoulders, as well as on the front of the legs, thighs, and flanks. The sight 

 of the Rhinoceros is but dull, but its sense of hearing is said to be extremely acute. 



Many of the Indian princes drink out of cups made of the horn of this animal. 

 They have a superstitious belief, that, when those hold any poisonous draught, the li- 

 quor will ferment till it runs quite over the top. I\Iartial informs us, that the Roman 

 ladies of fashion used these horns in the baths, to hold their essence-bottles and oils. 

 The Javanese make shields of the Rhinoceros' hide; the flesh is used as an article of 

 food ; and the teeth, which are very white and solid, are used by dentists in making 

 false teeth. 



Fig. 2. — The lesser two-horned Rhinoceros. (Rhinoceros Africanus, Cufier.) 

 This animal inhabits Africa, and differs from the Indian species in having two horns, 

 and also in the appearance of its skin, which is nearly smooth, having merely slight 

 wrinkles across the shoulders and hinder parts, and a few fainter folds on the sides; he 

 also diflPers in colour, being usually of a brownish black ; while the other species is of 

 a violet-tinged blackish gray. 



Bruce says that these Rhinoceroses are very swift when pursued, and even to a de- 

 gree which is astonishing, when we take into account their unwieldy forms. Le Vail- 

 lant informs us that whenever they are at rest, they place themselves in the direction 

 of the wind, with their noses towards it, in order to discover by smell the approach 

 of any enemies. Bruce mentions, that, *' besides the trees capable of most resist- 

 ance, there are in the vast forests, within the tropics, trees of a softer consistence, and 

 of a very succulent quality, which seem to be destined for the principal food of this 

 animal. For the purpose of gaining the highest branches of these, his upper lip is 

 capable of being lengthened out, so as to increase the power of laying hold with it, 

 in the same manner as an elephant does with his trunk." It is not true that the skin 

 of the Rhinoceros is so hard and impenetrable as to resist a musket ball. In his wild 

 state he is slain with javelins thrown from the hand, some of which enter his body to 

 a great depth ; and the Shangalla, an Abyssinian tribe, kill him with very clumsy ar- 

 rows, and afterwards cut him to pieces with the worst of knives. 



Pace of a Loaded Camel. — I have made many long journeys on camels, and I 

 certainly think that animal, when well taken care of, and not overloaded, fully capable 

 of marching ten or eleven hours per day, at an average rate of two miles and a half 

 an hour, in valleys or over rough roads, and three miles on plains, without being at 

 all distressed. On the banks of rivers, and in districts where water and forage are 

 plentiful, except urged on, the men are always inclined to move more slowly, and 

 make a shorter day's journey, not so much to save their camels, as to lessen the fa- 

 tigue to themselves; a few days more or less en route being generally a matter of 

 indifference to them— Travels in Ethiopia, by G. A. Iloskins, Esq. London, 1835. 



Enraged Elephant.— A very characteristic action of D'Jeck, the famous elephant 

 of M. Huguet, was lately near costing the life of a young man, a native of Bruges. 

 The elephant, it is well known, is very fond of sweetmeats, and this young man amused 

 himself at Madame D'Jeck's expense, baulking her by oflFering her some, which, when- 

 ever she reached out her trunk to take, he immediately withdrew. This trick having 

 been noticed by M. Hu^et, he observed to the young man how foolish such conduct 

 was towards an animal at once so susceptible and vindictive. But not taking warning 

 from this remark, the Belgian again invited the elephant to approach, and not only 

 again deceived her, but gave the sweetmeats to Mademoiselle Betsey. Madame 

 D'Jeck now lost her patience, and, regardless of the presence of her master and a 

 numerous assemblage of spectators, lifted her trunk and knocked the young man 

 down, tearing open his cheek, and rending his clothes to tatters. Happilv M. Huguet 



interposed his authority, and the elephant left her hold, but the imprudent sufferer was 

 long confined to his bed from the effects of his absurdity. 



Social Habits of Birds. — In June last (1835), a singular instance of the do- 

 mestic and social habits of birds was to be seen at Auchmuty paper-mills, in the 

 parish of Markinch, Fifeshire, where a monthly China rose-bush, trained to the front 

 of the dweUing-house, was fixed upon by three distinct species of birds, even of differ- 

 ent genera, to build their nests and rear up their little families. A blackbird, a yel- 

 low-hammer, and a sparrow, composed this small community. Delighted with the 

 rich green foliage and expanding roses, amidst which they had placed their downy 

 dwellings, they lived together in the greatest harmony and good fellowship, alternate- 

 ly singing their sweet notes, and watching their progeny. — Caledonian Mercury, \Zth 

 June 1835. 



Culture of Bees. — Mr Begbie, gardener to Sir John D. Erskine, Bart., Terry, 

 purchased a hive (n. second cast) last year, and which, towards the approach of winter, 

 showed that the ** store" was far from " complete," and quite inadequate to their 

 wants during that season. He determined to try a novel expedient; and, in Novem- 

 ber last, buried the hive in the earth three feet below the surface, covering it care- 

 fully with straw, and placing a flag above, and then earth on the top. In April it 

 was dug up and found to be in good condition, contrary to all expectation; and to 

 crown the whole, this hive threw a capital swarm in June last, as a grateful testimony 

 of the snug quarters enjoyed during winter. 



Description of a New British Shell — The Clouded Scallop Pecten 



Ncbiilosus. — Shell almost circular, ears nearly equal in size, with seven broad, unequal, 

 and flattish ribs; external surface of both valves covered with very fine, parallel, longi- 

 tudinal strisE, and also with minute, undulating, transverse striae, which are hardly dis- 

 cernible to the naked eye, but feel rough to the touch. Both valves are somewhat 

 inflated towards their base, with a longitudinal series of densely-set ribs, and the mar- 

 gin finely crenulated, two-thirds the length of the shell. The upper, or convex valve, 

 is of a rich, reddish brown, irregularly clouded with white; under valve, cinereous, 

 and immaculate ; inside white, of a pearlaceous lustre, exhibiting slightly iridescent re- 

 flections. Length, one inch and seven-eighths; breadth, the same. The specimen 

 from which the following figure was drawn was found at Largs, mouth of the Clyde, 

 in July 1834. 



We are indebted for the discovery of this beautiful species to that zea'ons na- 

 turalist, Mr John Blythe of Glasgow, He first noticed some fragments of this 

 shell about seven years ago, while examining the shores at Millport, and after- 

 wards found a perfect specimen. Mr Blythe informs us that the shell is not uncom- 

 mon in Lochfine, and that his friend, Mr Drew, writer, Inverary, has procured se- 

 veral live specimens attached to the lines employed in cod fishing. They live in very 

 deep water. We read an account of this shell before the British Association at Edin- 

 burgh in 1834. and were then doubtful whether it was an undescribed species. We 

 thought that it might possibly be the Pecten aspersus of Lamarck, as it is nearly allied 

 to it in form and markings. We thought that Lamarck's might be the young shelL 

 Since that time, however, Mr Blythe has kindly presented us with two young speci- 

 mens, in both of which the ribs, or rays, are seven in number; whereas Lamarck says 

 his shell is five-ribbed; and we hardly think so acute an observer would have over- 

 looked the transverse undulating strite. 



