 Reference Base  Note on the comparative size of the so-called common Indi... |
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Young Nimrod, 1875. Note on the comparative size of the so-called common Indian Rhinoceros (R. indicus, Cuvier) and the Sunderbun Rhinoceros (R. sondaicus, Muller). Oriental Sporting Magazine (new series) 8 (88, April): 157
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| Location: |
Asia - South Asia - India |
| Subject: |
Morphology - Size |
| Species: |
Asian Rhino Species |
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Note on the comparative size of the so-called common indian rhinoceros (R. indicus, Cuvier) and the sunderbun rhinoceros, (R. sondaicus, Muller).
As Jerdon, in his Mammals of India, gives the size of the first named species, which he designates " the great Indian rhinoceros”— "length, about 9 to 10 feet, occasionally it is said 12 feet, tail 2, height 4 ½ to 5 feet,” and that of the last-named species, which he calls “ the Lesser Indian rhincceros,”—“ length 7 to 8 feet, height 3 ½ to 3 3/4 feet,” those sportsmen who are unacquainted with the Sunderbun animal will be apt to consider it comparatively insignificant in size, but as such is not really the case, I am induced to give the actual measurements* of a huge specimen of each one of the two aforesaid species, both of which are exhibited in the Indian Museum, Calcutta.( Kindly supplied to me by Mr. Oscar L. Fraser, Osteologist of the Indian Museum. Calcutta, sometime last year, I entered in my Note-book at the time-YN.)
R. Indicus - Length 12 feet 3 inches + tail 2 feet l inch = 14 feet 4 inches. Height 6 feet 3 inches.
R. Sondaicus. - Length 12 feet 3 inches + tail 2 feet 4 1/2 inches = 14 feet 4 ½ inches. Height 5 feet 6 inches.
Thus it will be seen that the differences between the two species do not vary so much as Jerdon’s figures would lead one to suppose : in fact, while the Sunderbun rhinoceros is inferior in height by several inches, three-fourths of a foot, than what he calls “ the great Indian rhiupceros,” the former is absolutely of greater length, if we include the caudal appendage, or minus it, well-nigh inappreciably smaller.
Khulna, Jessore: March 26th, 1875. - YOUNG NIMROD.
P.S.- I ought, I think, to add here, that I find in the Asiatic Journal, Vol. IX, Part 11., p. 167, an account of the destruction. I cannot give it any other name - of an enormous “Saugar Island rhinoceros” with a 8-pounder, taken from the Oriental Sporting Magazine of that time— the year of grace 1832—the dimensions of which are stated therein thus: - "12 feet in length without the tail, and height 7 feet”. This would go to show that the Sunderbun rhinoceros is superior even in height to the so-called Indian rhinoceros; but, I venture to think, the statement needs confirmation, being doubtless written merely from memory, in the same way as some sportsmen, good and true, are wont in careless strains to chronicle the slaying of tigers in length 13 feet, and even 14 feet I! Enough. Y N .
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