THE RHINOCEROS. 
174 
tree, and reduces it to thin pieces, like sO 
many laths ; and when he has thus prepar^^ 
it, he takes up as much of it as he can in hi® 
monstrous jaws, and twists it round with 
much ease as an ox would do a root of celery- 
When pursued and in fear he displays n** 
astonishing degree of swiftness, considering 
the unwieldiness of his body, his great weigh* 
before, and the shortness of his legs : but i* 
is not true that in a plain he can outstrip th^ 
horse ; for though a horse can seldom coin® 
up with him, this is owing to his cunning, 
not to his speed. He makes constantly fm®* 
wood to wood, and forces himself into th® 
thickest part of them. The trees that nt® 
dead or dry are broken down, as with a can' 
non-shot, and fall around him in all direction® 
Others that are more pliable, greener, nn 
full of sap, are bent back by his weight; nn^ 
after he has passed, recovering their natm^ 
position, they often sweep the incautious pn* 
