THE RHINOCEROS. 
5 
one-horned rhinoceros alone is found. Its size is only- 
inferior to that of the elephant, although it is con- 
siderably smaller. Its bulk, however, is greater in 
proportion to its height, and, from its superior cou- 
rage and activity, it is a much more formidable crea- 
ture. Its head resembles that of a pig, and it has 
two small dull eyes which give it an appearance at 
once stupid and intractable. Its length, not in- 
cluding the tail, is from eleven, to twelve feet, and 
the circumference of its body about the same ; though 
it is said sometimes to exceed this standard. It occa- 
sionally attains to the height of seven feet, and is 
amazingly strong, while its skin is so hard and thick 
as to be generally impervious to a musket ball. The 
hide is curiously divided into sections, and the dif- 
ferent divisions are adapted with such exquisite pre- 
cision as to have the appearance, at a short distance, 
of a beautiful coat of mail. It is extremely rough, 
and offers so complete a resistance to the touch, as 
not to yield in the slightest degree to the strongest 
pressure. The only vulnerable parts are the belly, 
the eyes, and near the ears. 
This animal is of very sequestered habits ; it tra- 
verses the most impenetrable jungles alone and is the 
terror of every creature with which it comes in con- 
tact, although it seldom attacks unless provoked by ag- 
gression. The horn upon its nose, which is thick and 
pointed, curves upwards towards the forehead, forming 
an acute angle with the bone of the snout, and pro- 
jecting from it about thirty inches. It is a most fear- 
ful weapon ; so much so, that even the colossal ele- 
phant has been occasionally laid prostrate by a well 
b 3 
