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V. On a new species of Rhinoceros found in the interior of Africa , 
the skull of which hears a close resemblance to that found in a 
fossil state in Siberia and other countries. By Sir Everard 
Home, Bart. V.P.R.S 
Read December 13, 1821. 
Th e discovery of a new species of any of the larger animals, 
now that our globe has been so extensively explored, is an 
object of interest to the naturalist, and might afford sufficient 
reason for laying this new fact before the Society ; but this 
interest will be much increased, when there is a striking re- 
semblance between the form and appearance of the skull of 
this animal, now in being, and the skull of one of the same 
tribe, only met with in a fossil state. 
It has been hitherto asserted, as one of the most curious 
circumstances in the history of the earth, that all the bones 
that are found in a fossil state, differ from those belonging to 
animals now in existence ; and I believe that this is generally 
admitted, and that there is no fact upon record, by which it 
lias been absolutely contradicted ; but the observations I am 
about to state respecting this rhinoceros, illustrated by the 
drawings that accompany them, will go a great way to stagger 
our belief upon this subject. 
The skull of the animal belonging to this new species of 
rhinoceros, now living in Africa, was brought to this country 
bv Mr. Campbell, one of the Missionaries sent there from 
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