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| Location: |
Asia - South Asia - India |
| Subject: |
Distribution |
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Indian Rhino |
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On a new species of Indian rhinoceros
by WILLIAM JAMRACH
In the early part of April, 1874, I received a telegram from Calcutta, stating that two new species of Rhinoceroses had been shipped for me. My agent Mr. O. FRASER of Calcutta, pronounced them both to be of a species hitherto undescribed. The largest of the two died during the voyage to England, and was cast into the sea; the other arrived in good condition and it is of this one I wish to speak. At first sight it struck me as being entirely different from any Rhinoceroses I had ever possessed; the surface of the skin being tuberculated, the head rather long, and behind the usual single fold, as with Rh. Indicus, I noticed the appearance of an additional one. When I pointed these formations out to Mr. BARTLETT, he pronounced the animal to be a young one of Rh. Sondaicus. I said nothing. Several savants were then invited the following day to inspect the animal. They said nothing. That night I had no sleep. Remembering having seen a stuffed specimen of Rh. Sondaicus in the museum at Calcutta, I tried to bring its appearance to my memory, which I succeeded in doing. The following morning I rushed off to Mr. BARTLETT, telling him I was now thoroughly convinced that my animal was not Rh. Sondaicus, but an undescribed species. He shook his head, whereupon, I sent a full description of the animal to the "Field", naming the same Rh. Jamrachi. It was never published. I stamped my foot and bestowed my blessings upon science. Poor rhino, not being recognised by anyone here, was banished to Berlin.
And now remains the most curious part of this history, the animal has been there ever since and no one has yet come forward to refute my description. Last week I went on a special visit to Berlin to see it, and was well rewarded for my exertion, by finding the animal in excellent condition with the posterior fold fully developed. It was placed in juxta-position to the two Rh. Indicus, and the most thick-headed schoolboy would, at a glance, now be able to discern the difference between the different species. I leave it to abler hands to give a more accurate description than the one beneath, and I rest contented with the idea of having named one of the THREE NEW SPECIES of Rhinoceros brought to England by me, alive.
DESCRIPTION
It possesses one horn. Folds on knee joints very distinct, other folds similar to Rh. Indicus, with an additional one at the nape of the neck. Head, in appearance, like Rh. Indicus, but much longer, and laterally more compressed, with square lower lip, differing in this last feature entirely from Rh. Sondaicus. Colour, a uniform dark grey. The markings of the skin are very peculiar and different from any other known species, the whole is covered with bosses, varying in size from a sixpenny piece to a shilling, and are all detached, not joining as in Rh. Sondaicus. The space between the anterior and posterior folds is quite smooth, just the reverse therefore to the Rh. Sondaicus. Ears are large and hairy at extremities. Toes, three on each foot. Tail, about the same length and appearance as Rh. Indicus of the same age. Like all its congeners, it possesses a prehensile upper lip, but not in the same degree as Rh. Sondaicus, rather more than in Rh. ndicus.
Habitat, Mooneypoor and probably Upper Burma.
W. JAMRACH
October 8th, 1875
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On a new species of Indian rhinoceros
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