Renshaw, G., 1904. Natural history essays. London and Manchester, Sherratt and Hughes, pp. i-xv, 1-218
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Museums - Europe |
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Museums |
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White Rhino |
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A calf obtained in 1836 by SirAndrew Smith's expedition. This animal was mounted by the celebrated taxidermist, Jules Verreaux, under Sir Andrew's personal superintendence, and added to the South African Museum at Capetown. Subsequently it was either sold to or received in exchange by the British Museum trustees, as the animal figures in the British Museum Catalogue of 1843. This specimen is now at the Natural History Museum, South Kensington. Dr. Gray called it a 'half-grown calf.' It appears to be about three years old. The anterior horn measures 3 3/4 inches, the posterior one inch. As mounted, the animal's hide is dull black, paling to brownish black beneath. The existence of this specimen is emphasised, as in the various articles which have been from time to time written on R. simus, it has almost invariably been overlooked. This is not the animal figured on plate XIX. of Smith's 'Illustrations of South African Zoology' as will be seen from the horns and from the measurements given in the book: these belong to an older animal. The young specimen will, however, be found figured under the title of 'African Rhinoceros' as fig. 377, in the 'Museum of Animated Nature'- the square lip, slit-like nostrils, position of eye, and the semi-tubular ears all being correctly given, whilst the older animal - a fine example - is also depicted as fig. 388 of the same work, under the ambiguous title of 'two-horned rhinoceros'. 3. A young Locality: South Africa. Collected by: Smith, Andrew, 1836. Adult bull obtained by Mr Coryndon (see Tring) at the same time as No. 2, is now in the Natural History Museum at South Kensington. Published measurements - height at shoulder, 6 ft. 6 in.; base of horn to top of tail, 14 ft. 6 in.;: anterior horn, 1 ft. 7 in.; posterior horn, 7 in.. In Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom.
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Natural history essays
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