Blyth, E., 1862. On Rhinoceros crossii. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (3) 9: 243
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Taxonomy |
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Sumatran Rhino |
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The following extract from a letter addressed to the Secretary by Edward Blyth Esq. (Corr. Memb.), dated Maulmein, May 10th, 1861, was read to the meeting:-
'I have made this day a grand discovery, which neither you nor others will believe in at the first announcement, but it is true nevertheless,-viz. that the extraordinary Rhinoceros horn figured as that of Rhinoceros Crossii by Gray, in your Proceedings, is the well-developed anterior horn of an old male R. sumatranus - the common species of these provinces. My host at this place is a great sportsman, and some noble trophies of the chase hang in his verandah; but what fixed my attention was the head of R. sumatranus, with a development of horns which I had never imagined to occur in this species ; and the resemblance of the much-curved anterior horn to that of Gray's supposed species, R. Crossii, struck me at once. Conversing with my host on this subject, he remarked that he took a similar head to England (where it now adorns his family hall), with the front horn at least 3 inches longer, and still more curved. A little reflection, and I felt satisfied that R. Crossii must sink into a synonym of R. sumatranus'
In a subsequent communication Mr. Blyth remarked
All doubts now removed about the identity of R. sumatranus and R. Crossii. Mason states that the skin of the Tenasserim species is quite smooth, like a buffalo's' - meaning devoid of folds; but Col. Fytche assures me that the one he shot had the slight folds described and figured of R. sumatranus. The mature female horns are small, and the nasal bones comparatively narrow; I am not aware that a corresponding sexual difference occurs in any other Rhinoceros. In the Indian one-horned species the sexes are alike in size and development of horn.
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On Rhinoceros crossii
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