R H I 
young Rhinoceros does not exceed the fize of a 
large dog. When recently brouorht forth, it has 
noTiorn, though the rudiments of it appear in the 
foetus. At the age of two years, the horn is about 
one inch long; and, at that of fix, it is from nine 
to ten inches in length. Now, as fome of thefe 
horns are known to be nearly four feet in length, 
it appears that they continue to grow during the 
half, or perhaps the whole of the animal's life; 
which muft be of confiderable extent, fince the 
Rhinoceros defcribed by Dr. Parfonshad only ac- 
quired about one half of it's height at^the age of 
two years; from whence it may be inferred, that 
this animal, like man, lives fevcnty or eighty 
year?. 
Deftitute of thofe beneficial qualities poffeffed 
by the elephant, the Rhinoceros is equally hurtful 
by his voracity, and p:irticularly by the prodigious 
wade occafioned by him in cultivated fields. In 
a word, he is ufdefs while alive; though his flefh 
is reckoned excellent by the Indians and negroes; 
and his fl^in compofes the hardefl: and beft leather 
in the world. Not only his horn, but all other 
parts of his body, and even his blood, urine, and 
excrements, are efteemed antidotes againd poifon, 
or remedies for particular difeafes: thefe antidotes 
or remedies, extrafted from different parts of the 
Rhinoceros, are of equal eftimation in the Indian 
pharmacopoeia with the theriaca in that of Eu- 
rope; but moft of the virtues afcribed to both are 
probably only imaginary. 
The Rhinoceros fubfifts on the groflTeft herbs, 
which he prefers to the fofteft pafture of the moft 
luxuriant meads. He is fond of the fugar-cane; 
and likewife ea's all kinds of grain. Having no 
appetite for fle!h, he neither diilurbs the final!, 
nor dreads the larger animals; but lives a.nicably 
with all, not excepting the tiger, v^hich fomedmes 
attends the Rhinoceros without daring to attack 
him. This picific difpoution renders combats 
between the elephant and che Rhinoceros very 
fufpicious ; fuch contefts mull at leaft be feldom, 
fmce there is no ofFenfive difpofition on either 
fide. Pliny feems to be the firft author v/ho 
makes mention of thefe confiifts. It appears that 
thefe animals were compelled to fight at the Ro- 
man fpeiftacles; and hence probably the idea that, 
when in a Rate of nature, they figiu in the fame 
manner: but every action wichouc a motive is un- 
natural; it is an efrc(5l without a caufe, which muft 
originate folely from accident, 
Thefe creatures neither afiemble, nor march in 
troops, like elephants: they arc more folitary and 
favage; and it is perhaps more difficult to hunt 
and overcome them. They never attack men 
but when provoked ; and then they become very 
furious and formidable. Pennant mentions a 
Shropfaire gentleman, whole belly was ripped 
open by the horn of one of thefe animals while en- 
gaged in amiliLary capacity in the Eaft, and who 
was fo fortunate as to lurvive the wound. Their 
fldns are fo amazingly hard, as to refift fabres, 
lances, javelins, and even mufket- balls. The 
only penetrable parts of their bodies are their bel- 
lies, their eyes, about their ears, and under the 
folds: hence the hunters, inftead of attacking 
them face to face, follow them at a diftance by 
the tracks of tlicir feet, and watch them till they 
lie dov/n to fieep. 
Bulfon tells us, that there is a foetus of a Rhi- 
noceros in the Royal Cabinet, which was ex- 
trafted from the body of the mother in the ifland 
Vol. 11. 
R H 1 
of Java. By the memoir accompanying this 
fxtus we are informed, that twenty-eight hunters 
having afiembled in order to attack the dam, 
tliey followed her at a diftance for fome days, de- 
taching one or two of their number from time to 
time to reconnoitre her fituation: that by this 
means they furprifed her while afleep; and filently 
approached fo near, that the whole tvs^enty-eight 
muftrets were difcharged at once into the lov/er 
part of her belly. 
In fome parts of the continent of Afia, where 
the natives are more ambitious of appearing war- 
like than proving themfelves brave, thefe animals 
are tamed, and led into the field in order to ftrike 
terror into the enemy; but they are always un- 
manageable and reftive, and probably more dan- 
gerous to their owners than to thole Vv'hom they 
are defigned to annoy. 
If we may credit fome naturalifts, the Rhino- 
ceros is the unicorn of Holy Writ, and of the 
ancients, the oryx and the Indian afs of Ari- 
ftotle, who fays it has but one horn. He might 
indeed fitly compare the cluinfy fhape of the Rhi- 
noceros to that of the afs, fo as to be eafily in- 
duced to pronounce it a whole-footed animak 
However, though this opinion is not univerfally 
adopted, it feems very probable that the Unicorn 
of Scripture pofTefTed all the properties v/hich be- 
long to the Rhinoceros. 
Rhinoceros, Tv/o-Horned; the Rhinoceros 
Bicornis of Linnreus. This fpecies has two 
horns, one placed beyond the other; the nofeand 
upper lip rcfemble thofe of the common Rhino- 
ceros ; it has no fore-teeth; and the fkin, which is 
much granulated or warty, is deftitute of plicje 
or folds. The general colour is a deep cinereous 
grey; but between the legs it is fm.ooth and fiefti- 
coloured : in other parts there are a few fcat- 
tered ftiff briftles, moft numerous about the ears 
and the end of the tail ; and the tail itfelf is no 
thicker than a man's thumb, convex above and 
below, and flatted on the fides. 
Thefe creatures are found only in Africa. Fla- 
court firft obferved them in the Bay of Saldagne, 
near the Cape of Good Hope ; but their exiftence 
was queftioned for fome time, till Dr. Sparrman 
confirmed it's reality. This gentleman, with the 
laudable perfeverance of a naturalift, watched the 
arrival of thofe and other animals at a muddy wa- 
ter at fome diftance north of the Cape, whither 
wild beafts refort to quench their thirft, and fome 
to indulge in rolling in the mud: in that fpot he 
fhot two of thefe animals ; one fo very large, that 
the united ftrength of five men could not move 
it. The leffer he meafured; and it's length was 
found to be eleven feet and a half; the girth 
twelve; and the heio;ht between fix and feven. 
This fpecies, with refpedl to it's habits, feems to 
agree with the other: it's flefti, which is reckoned 
proper for food, taftes like coarfe pork; cups are 
manufa6lured of it's horns; and whips of it's hide. 
It feeds on the boughs of trees; and alfo on fuc- 
culent plants, particularly the ftinking ftapelia. 
During the day-time it continues in a ftate of reft ; 
but in the evenings and mornings it wanders 
about in fearch of food, or of fuitable places to 
roll in. It has no other voice but a kind of fnort- 
ing, v/hich v/as obferved in females anxious for 
their young. It's fight is laid to be very indifi'e- 
rent; but it poaeffes the faculties of iiearing and 
fmeliing in an exquiure degree, the leaft noife or 
fccnt putting it in motion. To the fpot whence 
3 O thefe 
