Ad00341 04 003a/eng
Grosse Vierfüssige Säugethiere : Das Afrikanische Nashorn und das Nashorn von Sumatra
Beschreibungstext eng
Quadrupeds LXIX. Vol. V. No. 1.
SUCKLING QUADRUPEDS.
Fig. 1. The African Rhinoceros.
(Rhinoceros Africanus.
The two-horned Rhinoceros of Africa which we see exhibited on the present plate, differs in various respects from the Asiatick Rhinoceros represented in the second Number of the first Volume of this work.
Its skin is by no means so like armour as in the single-horned Rhinoceros of Asia, but appears like that of the Elephant lying flat on the body.
The two-horned Rhinoceros is destitute of the front or cutting teeth, but its nose is furnished with two lightly curved horns, which stand loose when the animal is in a quiet state, but become firm and a dangerous weapon when it is enraged. It inhabits the Southern regions of Africa and feeds on vegetables. During the day time it generally lies still going only in the night in quest of its nourishment: residing in wet and marshy places it delights in rolling in the mud. When pursued or wounded it cries in a dreadful manner. It measures 12 feet in length and 7 in height. This species seems to have been the kind known to the Romans and exhibited by them in their publick shows and combats of Animals.
Fig. 2. The Sumatra-Rhinoceros.
(Rhinoceros bicornis Sumatricus.)
The Sumatran double-horned Rhinoceros is the third of the different species of Rhinoceros. It differs from the two others in the situation of its horns, the larger being placed immediately above the nose and the small one, which is but four inches long, standing in the same line above the eyes.
The skin is rough but no more than a third or a quarter of an inch in the thickness, and of a brownish ash-colour. The Shape is much like that of a hog. This species has as yet only been met with in the isle of Sumatra. In size it is much inferior to the African two-horned Rhinoceros.
