1 84 RuiNocEitiD^. MAMMALIA. Rhinocerid^. 
probability saved my life, for, at the same instant, the 
trunk of the enraged animal descended precisely on 
the spot where I had been previously couched, sweep- 
ing away the stones, many of large size, that formed 
the fore part of my skiirm, like so many pebbles. In 
another moment his broad fore-feet passed directly 
over my face. I now expected nothing short of being 
crushed to death ; but imagine my rehef when, instead 
of renewing the charge he swerved to the left, and 
moved off with considerable rapidity — most happily 
without my having received other injuries than a few 
bruises, occasioned by the falling of the stones.” Not- 
withstanding all this, Mr. Andersson snatched up an- 
other rifle, and, taking aim, pulled the trigger, when 
the piece missed tire ; had this happened in the first 
instance, nothing could have prevented his immediate 
destruction ! 
Family II.— KHINOCEKIDiE. 
The Rhinoceroses are at once recognized, not only by 
their peculiar solitary or double horns, but also by their 
thick, scabrous, tuberculated skin, which, falling into 
distmct folds over various regions of the body, resem- 
bles an artificial defensive armature. The horns are 
strictly integumentary, being composed, as it were, 
of numerous bristles firmly bound and incorporated 
together. The head is much elongated ; the jaws sup- 
porting, in j'oung individuals, thirty-six teeth, that is, 
eight incisors and twenty-eight molars. Of the latter, 
those in the upper division have subquadrate crowns, 
surmounted by two transverse ridges ; whilst the 
crowns of the lower series are narrower, more elon- 
gated, and marked by curved lines, whose concavity 
is turned inwards. The superior incisors are mucli 
compressed, and directed obliijuely forwards ; those of 
the lower jaw being large and pointed. The outer 
incisors above, and the two inner below, are veiy small 
and concealed. Among the principal skeletal peculiari- 
ties, we may mention the remarkably thick, rough, 
elevated, and arched nasal bones, the general massive- 
ness of all the osseous elements, the presence of 
nineteen pairs of ribs, the complete development of the 
ulna and fibula, the forked spine of the pelvis, and the 
existence of only three series of digital phalanges. The 
digestive canal is about eight times as long as the 
entire body. Rhinoceroses feed upon coarse herbage, 
and are natives of the warmer regions ot the Eastern 
hemisphere. 
THE INDIAN RHINOCEROS [Rhinoceros Indicus) 
is the species best known — Plate 25, fig. 80 — and was 
formerly tci’med R. unicornis, in contradistinction to 
R. bicornis; but, as Van der Iloeven has very justly 
remarked, these terms ought no longer to be retained, 
because we are now acquainted with six or seven dis- 
tinct species, two of them being furnished with a single 
horn eacli, and the others with two horns. The species 
under consideration enjoys a j)retty extensive range in 
Eastern India, Siam, and Cochin China, being especially 
abundant on the borders of the Ganges. It is chiefly 
found in dense jungles and shady forests, far from the 
haunts of man. It is remarkably savage, and attacks 
elephants without the slightest compunction ; and 
seems to take a wanton delight in destroying every 
living creature that comes within its reach. This ani- 
mal has a singular habit of dimging in one spot ; and 
these high dung-heaps, while they serve the purpose of 
indicatmg to other animals that danger is nigh, also 
afford to the native sportsman a means of guidmg him 
as to the best spot for erecting platforms fi'om which he 
secures his victim. The skin of the Indian Rhinoceros, 
when dried, will take a high polish, and as it is more or 
less capable of resisting the force of a leaden bullet, 
fetches a high price ; the fat is also much used by the 
native doctors as an unguent. 
THE JAVANESE RHINOCEROS [Rhinoceros son- 
daicus) also possesses only a single horn. It is 
distinguished from the preceding, however, by the 
comparatively slender head, by the proportionally ele 
vated legs, by the character of the dermal armour, con- 
sisting of numerous polygonal scutes, whose centres are 
depressed and give origin to short bristly hairs, the ears 
being also bordered by long, stiff, and closely-set bristles. 
The tail is hairy underneath. By the Javanese this 
animal is also called the V.'arak, and it is sometimes 
descrilied as Rhinoceros Javanus, a title given to it by 
F. Cuvier; the one here adopted being that employed 
by Baron Cuvier and Dr. Horsfield. According to the 
latter, the Warak is gregarious in its habits, and forms 
deeply excavated retreats along the declivities of moun- 
tains and hills. It does not appear to possess the 
ferocious character of its Indian congener ; but at night- 
time it frequently causes serious damage to cofi'ee and 
pepper plantations. 
THE SUMATRAN RHINOCEROS [Rhinoceros Suma- 
trensis) possesses two horns, and was formerly con- 
founded with one or other of the African species. The 
posterior horn is very short, conical, and placed a little 
before the eyes. The hide is rough and slightly pro- 
vided with hairs ; the foldings of the skin bemg quite 
inconspicuous. It is shy in disposition, and is seldom 
seen near the haunts of men. 
BRUCE’S RHINOCEROS [Rhinoceros Africanus) is 
the form most commonly Imown in Africa, and is 
more frequently described under the vague titles of 
the African and the Two-horned Rhinoceros. It is 
the Gargatan, or Rhinaster of the Cape Colonists, 
the Chukuroo of the Matabili, and the Borele of the 
Bechuanas. Neither of the horns are of very great 
length, the posterior one being comparatively short; 
both have a greenish-brown tmt. The hide exhibits 
a yellowish-brown colour, being fleshy underneath, 
and not furnished with folds. The tail is about two 
feet long, and bristly at the tip. The habits of Bruce’s 
Rhinoceros closely resemble those of the Indian species. 
It is remarkably savage and dangerous to approach 
when wounded. Mr. Andersson mentions an instance 
where some Namaquas had shot one of these animals 
as it was rismg from its sleep. One of the party, 
imagining it to be dead, approached, mounted, and 
stablied the carcase. “ The beast, however, had only 
been stunned ; and as soon as lie felt the cold steel 
enter his body, he started to his feet and made oft’ at 
full speed. This action was so instantaneous as to 
prevent the man from dismountmg, whilst the other 
Namaquas were paralyzed widi fear. Fortmiately, 
