468 UNGULAVA. 



appetite is enormous, and even in captivity the animal requires nearly 

 sixty pounds weight of food a day. The Indian species uses its finger- 

 like lip to seize tufts of grass, and to convey them to its mouth. As the 

 throat is enormous, it swallows its food half-masticated. Small trees or 

 shrubs are often dug up by the aid of its horn, which it inserts beneath 

 their roots. But in their food, also, the various species differ. The 

 Indian Rhinoceros prefers twigs ; the Sumatran, grass ; the African, the 

 branches of the mimosa, which it cuts off " as if with a pair of shears," 

 while it is poisoned by the Euphorbium which the White Rhinoceros 

 eats with impunity. 



The Rhinoceroses pass their lives eating or sleeping. Unlike the 

 elephants, they do not live in herds ; their troops never exceed ten mem- 

 bers. In this society there is little harmony, each lives for itself, and 

 does what it chooses. Between the sexes, however, intimate and perma- 

 nent friendships are formed, and pairs may be often seen which seem to 

 act in common ; and in captivity both sexes display a tender affection for 

 their mates. Usually the Rhinoceros walks slowly, and is awkward in 

 lying down or rolling, but he is not so unwieldy as he looks. He can 

 not turn actively, nor can he climb ; but when once in motion on level 

 ground he runs pretty quick at a brisk trot, for he does not pace like the 

 camel or elephant. He holds his head very low, and when enraged 

 shakes it from side to side, and raises his stumpy tail. He can keep up 

 this trot for a considerable time, and is dangerous even to well-mounted 

 hunters, especially where the jungle is thick, while elephants with a 

 howdah have no chance with him. He swims well, and has been seen 

 to dive to the bottom of pools for the purpose of digging up aquatic 

 plants with his horn. 



The Rhinoceros possesses a very acute sense of hearing and of smell. 

 He often pursues his enemy by scent alone, and when enraged, regards 

 neither the number nor quality of his opponents. He charges straight 

 on a line of armed men, or on the most inconsiderable object. Red 

 colors provoke his anger, even when the wearer or bearer of the offen- 

 sive garment is quite peaceable. His anger knows no limits ; he cuts at 

 the bushes near him, or plows long furrows in the ground. A writer, 

 describing the single-horned species, says that " it is a mistake to sup- 

 pose that the horn is their most formidable weapon. I thought so rnvself 

 at one time," he adds, " but have long been satisfied that it is merely 

 used in defence, and not as an instrument of offence. It is with their 



