[Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by the Rural Publishing Company, in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.] 
RHINOCEROS SONDAICUS. 
Our British friends keep up a great interest 
in their Zoological Gardens. Their commer¬ 
cial relations with all parts of the world and 
the enterprise of their naturalists, enable 
them to acquire rare specimens of zoology; 
and their gardens are a constant source of 
amusement and instruction to the people. 
We are glad to know that in this country a 
like spirit is fully inaugurated ; and with the 
accompanying accumulation of wealth and 
scientific knowledge and the more general 
dilTusion of that knowledge wo may hope 
that our people will not only know more of 
the zoology of our own country but be able 
to study foreign specimens in our owu Zoo¬ 
logical gardens. 
Herewith we give an illustration of a new 
Rhinoceros recently added to the Royal Zoo¬ 
logical gardens in London—a species which 
has never before been in the possession of 
the Society, called Rhinoceros Sondaicus. 
It was captured in Java, but is not common 
there. The engraving is said by Mr. Tegkt- 
mkif.r to accurately represent the specimen. 
It is distinguished from the larger Indian 
species by several remarkable peculiarities ; 
the head is very long and narrow, the back 
hairy and convex. The folds of skin are 
very peculiarly arranged ; at the back of the 
head a fold resembling a saddle covers the 
neck, passing completely from side to side. 
The body and limb3 are closely studded with 
small circular plates, whereas in the com¬ 
moner species they are large bosses, which 
are present on the flanks and back only. 
The tail, again, is six inches longer in the R. 
sondaicus than in the better-known species, 
although the animal is smaller, even when 
full grown, and at present it is apparently 
about two-thirds of its full growth. The 
upper lip is exceedingly movable, and serves 
as an admirable prehensive organ. 
-- 
MITES ON HEDGEHOGS, ETC. 
Jane Bauwell Carter says, in Science 
Gossip :—'The Hedgehog is frequently infested 
by a mite, which lays its eggs in the skin; 
the mites increase with astonishing rapidity 
and weaken the Hedgehog by their constant 
feeding upon it. Tho frequent use of soap 
and water is absolutely necessary to free the 
Hedgehog of the parasites; tobacco juice 
may be used also with advantage. No ani¬ 
mal is fonder of water than, the Hedgehog, 
which swims and floats in it, with evident 
delight. When domesticated, the Hedgehog 
requires a roomy, deep box or basket, well 
filled with hay or paper shavings ; it likes to 
be well covered and warm ; it requires milk, 
and for food any scraps from the dinner- 
table, bones of pigeon, partridge, chicken, 
the small bones of lamb, pieces of liver, and 
bits of lean meat. Iu autumn, Hedgehogs 
begin to look out for a winter sleeping-place, 
and ought to have a convenient box prepared 
for them, with plenty of hay ; they make a 
neat nest for themselves und ought not to be 
disturbed ; it is sufficient to feel if they are 
warm ; if they arc uncoiled and cold, they 
must be attended to directly, warmed and 
well fed, after which they will probably go 
to sleep again. Hedgehogs that are thrown 
out of their nutural habits by being domesti¬ 
cated, seldom lie dormant for more thau a 
week at a time. The Hedgehog becomes a 
most interesting pet, soon knows its name, 
and is very gentle and most grateful for 
kindness, and patient under the washings 
necessary for keeping it free of parasites. 
-»♦*- 
NOTES FOR NATURALISTS. 
A Humming Bird Duel is reported as hav¬ 
ing occurred at Kingston, N. Y., between 
two green-backed humming birds, the affray 
lasting seventeen minutes. Tho Liny antag¬ 
onists would dart on each other most vi¬ 
ciously ; would soar twenty feet or more in 
the air, and then return to the flowers in the 
beds for a moment or two, where the war¬ 
fare raged most bitterly. Occasionally, the 
larger would pin the other to the ground, 
when tho latter would strike vigorously at 
the throat of its foe. Finally, the larger bird 
made an energetic spurt. The other fell to 
the ground, its wings fluttered, the body 
quivered, one quick gasp, and the ruby- 
throated little one was dead. 
A Wh lie Robin. — G. O. Howel in Science 
Gossip says :—“ Some years ago an uncle of 
mine caught in u trap (what was said to be] 
a white robin. It was identical in form with 
the redbreaft, but its plumage was of a 
creamy white, and it had bright pink eyes. 
The bird was kept in a cage for some weeks 
after its capture, but at length it died. 
NEW YORK, AND ROCHESTER N, Y„ MAY % 1874 . 
PRICE SIX CENTS. 
82.50 PER YEAR. 
VOL. XXIX. No. IS. I 
WHOLE No. 1266. J 
