XVI 
RHINOCEROS 
9i 
presented to me, when leaving Africa, by the 
great sheik of the deserts, Hussein Khalifa 
Pasha. 
The horns are not attached to the skull, but 
they are merely seated upon the hard and thick 
bone, which forms a foundation, slightly convex, 
above the nose. The skin is immensely thick 
at the base from which the horn springs, and it 
appears bristly and rough, to a degree that would 
suggest gradual development into horn, which is 
actually the case. 
When a rhinoceros has been killed, and the head 
has been exposed in the sun to dry, the horns will 
fall off upon the third day if struck lightly with a 
stick, and they will expose the foundation upon 
which they rested; this closely resembles the 
bottom of an artichoke when the prickly leaves 
have been removed. 
Although the horns would appear unsuitable for 
rough work, being merely attachments to the skin, 
they are most powerful weapons of offence. It has 
been asserted that the rhinoceros will kill an 
elephant; this is highly probable, if it had an 
opportunity of striking it in the belly, or the flank 
by an unexpected attack ; but no rhinoceros would 
have the remotest chance in actual conflict with 
an ordinary bull elephant, as the weight and 
strength would be immeasurably superior, in addi¬ 
tion to the length and power of the two tusks. 
Elephants are much afraid of rhinoceros, but they 
are almost equally timid with other animals, while 
