158 HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 



fide to fide, twift it round a flick, collect its food, or 

 feize with it any thing it would carry to its mouth. 



The Rhinoceros, without being ferocious, carnivorous, 

 or even extremely wild, is, however, totally untraceable 

 and rude. It feems to be fubjecl; to paroxyfms of fury, 

 which nothing can appeafe. That which Emanuel, king 

 of Portugal, fent to the pope in the year 15 13, deftroyed 

 the veffel in which they were tranfporting it. 



Like the Hog, the Rhinoceros is fond of wallowing in 

 the mire. — It is a folitary animal, loves moift and marlhy 

 grounds, and feldom quits the banks of rivers. — It is 

 found in Bengal, Siam, China, and other countries of 

 Afia; in the ifies of Java, Sumatra, Ceylon, &c. ; in 

 Ethiopia, and the country as low as the Cape of Good 

 Hope : But in general, the fpecies is not numerous, and 

 is much lefs difFufed than that of the Elephant. 



The female produces but one at a time, and at confi- 

 derable intervals. — During the firfi: month, the young 

 Rhinoceros exceeds not the fize of a large dog. At the 

 age of two years, the horn is not more than an inch 

 long; at fix years old, it is nine or ten inches long; and 

 grows to the length of three feet and a half, and fome- 

 times four feet. The horn is much efteemed by the na- 

 tives as an antidote againft poifon, as well as a remedy 

 for particular difeafes. 



The Rhinoceros feeds on the grofleft herbs, and pre- 

 fers thiflles and (hrubs to foft or delicate pafturage. It is 

 fond of the fugar-cane, and eats all kinds of grain. 



Dr Parfons remarks, that this animal has an acute and 

 very attentive ear. It will liften with a deep and long- 

 continued attention to any kind of noife ; and, though it 

 be eating, lying down, or obeying any prefling demands 

 of Nature, it will raife its head, and liften till the noife 

 ceafe. 



