RHINOCEROS. 161 
vegetable food.* In temper they are slovenly 
and inoffensive, but on being irritated, they are 
furious and revengeful, possessing enormous 
strength, and exercising a most formidable power 
with their horn, which renders them no despicable 
assailant, even to animals the most powerful and 
active. Their principal horn is sometimes nearly 
three feet in length, and though a blunt looking 
instrument, when wielded by an animal of such bulk 
and strength, is made to force its way through 
almost any resistance. 
The skins of the Rhinoceri are used for various 
purposes both in Africa and India ; but in the 
latter country they seem more pursued as a 
matter of emolument by the natives, — few Euro- 
pean sportsmen liking to engage them, both from 
the actual danger, and the great dislike which the 
Elephants have to face them. Shields are made 
by the Indians, which will turn a leaden bullet ; 
and their tallow is used medicinally — for which 
purpose we also find it mentioned in some of the 
old Pharmacopeias. They are shot by the native 
sportsmen, Colonel Williamson tells us, with 
jingals, or heavy guns, containing an iron ball of 
three ounces weight, and an aim is generally 
taken at the eye or thorax, or some of the vulnerable 
parts, where the skin is thinnest, and the part is 
See our account of that animal, p. 104, extracted from 
the description of Dr Parsons. 
VOL. XXIII. 
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