82 
RHINOCEROS. 
The rhinoceros is a native of Asia and Africa, 
and is usually found in those extensive forests 
that are frequented by the elephant and the lion. 
This animal is neither so useful nor so common 
as the elephant, the female producing but one at 
a time, and that at considerable intervals. The 
most singular part of the creature is the horn which 
grows upon the nose, and which is sometimes found 
above three feet long. This formidable weapon, 
rendered doubly so by its advantageous situation, 
is so much the terror of the savage tiger, that he 
generally chooses to attack any other animal in 
preference ; being perfectly aware that, even if he 
escapes the horn, he will not be able to make any 
impression on the skin ; which, like a thick, dark 
blanket, falling in folds over the body of the rhino- 
ceros, presents a barrier which renders all the ef- 
forts of his enemy to penetrate it unavailing. 
A pig-like head with two little dull eyes, a short 
thin tail with a few hard hairs at the extremity, and 
a huge uncouth body supported by four short, 
strong, and thick legs, will complete the general 
outline of this ugly animal. 
It seems the opinion of Mr. Bruce, that the 
rhinoceros lives entirely upon trees, and that he 
does not spare the most thorny ones, but rather 
seems to be fond of them. Besides the trees ca- 
pable of most resistance, there are in the vast 
forests of Africa, within the rains, trees of a softer 
consistence, and of a very succulent quality, which 
seem to be destined for his principal food. For the 
