6 



GREAT GAME ANIMALS. 



of one or two horns in the middle line of the fore-part of the 

 head ; this, together with the presence of only three front toes, in 

 the living forms, distinguishing them from the Tapirs. The 

 upper molar teeth are of a more complex type than those of the 

 latter; and the lower molars have curved, instead of straight, 

 cross-crests. The horns, as stated above, are attached only to 

 the skin, and have no connection with the bones of the skull. 

 .Rhinoceroses have very thick skins — which may be thrown into 

 folds and carry but a scanty covering of hair — small eyes, and 

 moderate-sized, tubular ears. They show but little intelligence, 

 and although usually timid in disposition, display great ferocity 

 when brought to bay. Whereas, however, the African species 

 attack with their horns, those from Asia make use of their lower 

 tusks. Although the sight is dull, their senses of smell and 

 hearing are acute. Some kinds browse on the boughs of trees, 

 and others graze on grass ; but all are fond of water and of 

 wallowing in the mud. 



Three species of Rhinoceros are recognised from Asia, 

 Asiatic • 

 Rhinoceroses * n a ^ °^ w ^ c ^ ^ e s ^ n * S ^ nrown mt0 definite folds or 

 flaps ; while cutting-teeth are present in the front 

 [Cnse H,] of the jaws, and the nasal bones of the skull are pointed. By far 

 the largest of the three is the Great Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros 

 unicornis, 999, fig. 3 c), in which the folds of the skin are very 

 strongly marked, and there are large tubercles on the hind- 

 quarters. Only a single horn is present ; and the fold across the 

 shoulders is not continued over the back. The upper teeth are of 

 a complex type, with a flat plane of wear. This Rhinoceros 

 inhabits the tall grass-jungles of Assam, in which it forms " runs/' 

 or tunnels, completely concealed from view. The specimen 

 exhibited was presented by H.H. The Maharaja of Cooch-Behar. 

 The species is confined to India. The smaller Javan Rhinoceros 

 R. sondaicus, 1000) differs by the fold in front of the shoulder 

 being continued across the neck, and by the small polygonal plates 

 on the skin. The molar teeth are of a simpler type than in the 

 j _, last, and wear into ridges. This species, of which a young 

 specimen and a skull are exhibited, ranges from the Sandarbans 

 of Bengal to Java. In the Sumatran Rhinoceros (R. [Dicero- 

 rhinus] sumatrensis, 1001) the molars are of the same type as in 



