Anonymous, 1834. Surrey Zoological Gardens: The rhinoceros. The Times (London) 1834 April 5: 3
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Captive - Europe |
| Subject: |
Captivity |
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Indian Rhino |
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SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.
THE RHINOCEROS.
A most important addition has just been made to the already valuable collection in these gardens, in the acquisition of a fine young rhinoceros, the only of the species which has been in this country for the last 20 years. About that length of time back there was one which had been for a considerable period in the collection of Mr Cross, of Exeter Change. The great value attached to the possession of a living specimen of this animal, and the difficulty of procuring one, may be inferred from the fact that the cost of the present from the time it was taken in the Birman empire [China], and the charge of its food and conveyance to England, have exceeded £1,000, though it is yet little more than a year and a half old. It is, however, though so young, strong and apparently healthy. Its height is about that of a good-sized Hampshire hog, to which, when lying down, it has some resemblance: but his resemblance is lost when the animal walks about, except in the lower part of the head or the snout. It is, however, much stouter and stronger made in the shoulders and legs than a hog, and greatly exceeds in girth any hog of its height. This young one is now very quiet and harmless, and will follow its keeper, or indeed anyone who offers it a piece of bread or biscuit, which it will eat greedily. Its chief food at present is rice mixed with sugar in equal quantities, but it will also eat bran and hay, and seem pleased with prickly plants and the small branches of thorny shrubs. When full-grown the voracity of the rhinoceros is very great, and the quantity of food which it consumes is enormous. That which was brought to Exeter Change in 1790, and which remained here for many years, used to eat for his daily allowance 20lb of ship-biscuit, two trusses of clover, besides a considerable quantity of hay and greens. Its allowance of drink was five pails of water, which were give three times a-day. The skin of this young one is that dirty mud colour, something like that of the elephant, but in other respects there is no resemblance. The skin of the rhinoceros is tuberculated, and exceedingly hard, and is so even in this young one, and hangs loosely about the neck and shoulders; but when it is full-grown, which is not, before its 20th year, the skin is raised in this folds or plaits over the shoulders and hams, so as at a distance to resemble a tesetaccous covering, and to give the animal an appearance of being in armour. Indeed, in effect it is so, for the skin in those places is sometimes four inches thick, and so hard as to be impenetrable to sword or spear, or even to a musket ball. The portion of the snout which belongs to the upper jaw is flexible, and can be protruded at will to some extent beyond the jaw, and in this way the animal constantly uses it in thrusting small pieces of food into its mouth. About two or three inches above the snout is a hard boney substance, the germ of the future horn. In some animals this horn extends to the length of three feet. In most, however, it does not reach that length, but in every case in the full-grown animal it is a most formidable weapon of attack. The eyes of the rhinoceros are very small, and something resemble those of a hog, though from the smallness, compared with the size, they appear much more sharp. The present specimen, owing to its youth, is, as we have already stated, very harmless and will follow in a fawning manner those who feed it; yet we understand that as it approaches to mature size its native fierceness will break out, and will not tolerate the familiar approach of man, nor at times can its keeper enter its den without considerable danger. The last rhinoceros in this country was so fierce that it could not be exhibited until it was secured in its den by very heavy chains. It will, however, be many years before a similar precaution can be necessary with the young one we have just described.
The gardens were yesterday opened only to the subscribers and particular friends and patrons of the institution, and as the weather was fine were numerously attended. They will tomorrow (this day) and in future be open to the public, and as under ordinary circumstanced a visit to them would be well repaid, it is unnecessary to add that the present curious and rare acquisition will render it much more interesting.
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Surrey Zoological Gardens: The rhinoceros
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