4 68 
UNGULATES. 
not bred in captivity in Europe, the point is one not iikely to be soon cleared 
up. The Indian rhinoceros thrives well in confinement, and frequently lives in 
that state for a long period. One specimen acquired by the London Zoological 
Gardens in 1834 lived till 1849, while a second, purchased in 1850, died in 1874, 
and a third presented in 1864 is still (1894) flourishing. Mr. Blanford states that 
he has heard of captive specimens living fifty or sixty years, and Mr. Brian 
Hodgson was of opinion that the natural term of this animals life is upwards 
of a century. 
From the immense thickness and apparent toughness of its enormous folds, it 
was long considered that the hide of the Indian rhinoceros was bulletproof, and 
that the only places where the animal was vulnerable were the joints of the 
armour. General Kinloch relates an amusing story of a soldier in India, who had 
heard of this legend, firing point-blank at a tame rhinoceros which had been 
captured by his regiment during the Mutiny, in order to obtain ocular proof of its 
GREAT INDIAN RHINOCEROS. 
truth. Needless to say, as the shot was well aimed, the unfortunate animal fell 
dead, which meant a considerable loss to the regimental prize-fund. And we may 
mention here that the Indian rhinoceros, like all its kindred, when shot sinks down 
in its tracks, and lies as if asleep, instead of falling over on its side like most 
other mammals. 
As a matter of fact, the skin of the living animal is quite soft, and can readily 
be penetrated in any place by a bullet, or easily pierced by a hunting-knife. When 
dried it becomes, however, exceedingly hard; and it was formerly employed by 
the Indian princes in the manufacture of shields for their soldiery. General 
Kinloch states that if polished the hide “ is very handsome and semi-transparent, 
and when held up to the light looks exactly like tortoise-shell, the tubercles giving 
it a beautiful mottled appearance.” 
The horn is used by the Hindus (to whom in common with the natives of 
most parts of India, the animal is known by the name of gainda) in some of then- 
religious ceremonies; when manufactured into cups it is considered by the Chinese 
to possess the property of indicating the presence of poison. 
