HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 161 



if compofed of horny fibres ; the upper parts are fmooth 

 and plain like thofe of an Ox. It is remarkable, that 

 the Rhinoceros makes ufe of the fhorter horn only for 

 the purpofe of digging up roots, of which its food chiefly 

 confifts, being endued with the power of turning the 

 larger horn on one fide out of the way. — The feet are 

 round, and do not fpread much : They have three hoofs 

 on each of them, which project but little ; the middle 

 one is the longeft. 



The eyes of the Rhinoceros are fmall, and funk into 

 its head ; in confequence of which it fees indiftinctly. 

 But its organs of hearing and fmelling are very acute : 

 At the leaft noife, the creature takes the alarm, pricks 

 up its ears, and liftens with great attention : If it happen 

 to catch the fcent of any perfon within a fmall diftance, 

 it rufhes out with aftoniftiing rapidity ; and it is diffi- 

 cult to avoid the impetuous attack of this powerful ani- 

 mal. 



It has been generally faid of the Rhinoceros, that its 

 tongue is fo hard and rough, as to take away the fkin and 

 flefh wherever it licks any perfon that has unfortunately 

 fallen a victim to its fury. Mr Sparrman fays, however, 

 that he thruft his hand into the mouth of one that had 

 juft been (hot, and found the tongue perfectly foft and 

 fmooth, — From the account of its inteftines, given us by 

 the fame ingenious author, we fhall juft mention the fol- 

 lowing, which will enable our readers to form a more 

 perfect idea of its enormous bulk : — The ftomach was 

 four feet in length, and two in diameter ; to which was 

 annexed a tube or canal, twenty-eight feet long, and fix 

 inches diameter ; the kidnies were a foot and a half in 

 breadth ; the heart was a foot and a half long, and near- 



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