350 ANIMAL DEFENCES 



attack. When obliged to fight, however, their tusks are pretty 

 nearly as useful as those of the walrus, being, however, of different 

 nature, i.e. they are not canines but huge incisors, and continue 

 to grow through life. The powerful trunk is also used in defence, 

 and many a tiger has found to his cost that to be stepped or 

 knelt upon by an elephant is a serious matter. 



The different species of Rhinoceros are as well if not better 

 defended than the elephant, but in an entirely different manner. 

 The chief weapons of the African forms are the two sharp horns, 

 which are entirely epidermal in nature. Of these the front and 

 longer one is carried on the nasal region, and the other one farther 

 back. The common Indian Rhinoceros has only one horn, cor- 

 responding to the first of these, though it is by no means so 

 formidable as a weapon, this being fully compensated, however, 

 by the presence of two sharp tusks in the lower jaw, which are 

 used like the tusks of a wild boar. Many accounts have been 

 given of the ferocity of rhinoceroses, but the balance of evidence 

 appears to show that they are, for the most part, only dangerous 

 when hard pressed by enemies and thoroughly aroused. The 

 different species, however, and different individuals of the same 

 species, would appear to differ greatly in this matter. 



Horses and their allies fall next to be considered, and in these 

 the first instinct appears to be retreat, though when forced to 

 defend themselves they are able not infrequently to discomfit their 

 enemies by vigorous kicks, the formidable nature of which is 

 greatly enhanced by the hard hoofs, structures whose primary use 

 is related to swift locomotion. The powerful teeth are also em- 

 ployed against some of their enemies. The following quotation 

 from Vogt {Natural History of Mammals) regarding wild horses, 

 illustrates combination for defence on the part of social animals: — 

 " The herds live under the leadership of some old males, which 

 have to watch over the well-being of their subjects. We cannot 

 but admire the courage of these proud creatures, which, seeming 

 to rejoice in battle, dart down upon an attacking carnivore, the 

 whole herd arranging itself in a circle with the foals in the middle, 

 and all ready to strike with the hoofs of their hind-legs. In 

 fighting with wolves, stallions try to seize their antagonists with 

 their teeth by the nape of the neck, then to lift them up and dash 

 them to the ground, after which they trample them underneath 

 their feet. But these battles, from which perhaps the military 



