untiring diligence in rubbing it down, so as to
prevent its natural increase. In a state of nature,
however, it is a formidable weapon. Pennant
mentions a Mr. Pigot, an acquaintance of his
own, “who had his belly ripped up by one, but
survived the wound.”
Sluggish in his habitual movements, the Rhinoceros wanders through his native plains with a heavy step, carrying his huge head so low that his nose almost touches the ground, and stopping at intervals to crop some favourite plant, or, in playfulness, to plough up the ground with his horn, throwing the mud and stones behind him. The jungle yields before his weight and strength, and his track is said to be often marked by a line of devastation.” In captivity it has generally been found to be peaceable, and tolerably tractable, but subject to fits of violence. ‘The specimen seen by Dr. Parsons, in England, in 1739, often became unruly, and could be appeased only by food. When he was hungry, or irritated, he would spring forward, rear himself up, and push violently with his head against the walls. ‘ad the individual now in possession of the Zoological Society, is occasionally thrown into a state of excitement by the noise produced by the roller upon the gravel-walk, charging down towards it, and rearing himself up against the fence with great violence.
Bontius, who appears to have been familiar enough with this species in India, records the following instance of its fury when provoked. ‘A party on horseback had proceeded to a wood, when, in a marshy place, they came upon a Rhinoceros and her young one. The mother, on
