THE RHINOCEROS 



REMOVING RHINOCEROS 



Having resolved on a certain day in October 1865 to 

 remove for the winter months the two young rhinoceroses 

 to the house next to the Elands, I arranged the night 

 before with the keepers to muster at six o'clock the 

 following morning. 



Dr. Corrigan, the Director "nd President of the Dublin 

 Gardens, was in London at the time, and as he had also 

 received a male rhinoceros, which was brought to England 

 at the same time as our pair, he was, I knew, interested 

 in and would like to witness' any operations connected 

 with them, in order that he might get a hint for his 

 own future guidance. I therefore informed him that if 

 he wished to be present at the removal I should be glad 

 to see him. 



At the appointed time all was ready. One of the 

 animals had a strong leather collar on, the other a 

 collar made of strong, thick, soft rope, round the neck ; 

 to these collars were tied two strong ropes, one on each 

 side of the animal. The men were divided so as to take 

 charge of the ropes attached to the collars, there being 

 about twelve men to each beast, and one or two others 

 to assist in leading, or attending to other matters, such 

 as opening or closing gates, keeping the way clear, etc. 

 One keeper was to lead off with a bundle of new hay 

 on his back, in the expectation that as the brutes were 

 hungry they would, perhaps, follow him at once. The 

 ropes fast, the men arranged and the gates opened, the 

 animals came out at a nice easy trot ; seeing the crowd 

 of men they suddenly turned round and plunged about. 

 This caused a great commotion, at the same time some 

 of the ropes getting slack became entangled with the 



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