. A general history of quadrupeds : the figures engraved on wood . afs, fu-gar-canes, and fruits. If difturbed, it takes to the water,fwims with great eafe, or plunges to the bottom j and,like the Hippopotamus, walks there as on dry ground. It is about the fize of a fmall Cow: Its nofe is longand flender, and extends far beyond the lower jaw, form-ing a kind of probofcis, which it can contra«5l or extendat pleafure ; each jaw is furniflied with ten cutting teeth,and as many grinders; its ears are fmall and ere£t; itsbody formed like that of a Hog; its back arched ; legsihort •, and hoofs, of w
. A general history of quadrupeds : the figures engraved on wood . afs, fu-gar-canes, and fruits. If difturbed, it takes to the water,fwims with great eafe, or plunges to the bottom j and,like the Hippopotamus, walks there as on dry ground. It is about the fize of a fmall Cow: Its nofe is longand flender, and extends far beyond the lower jaw, form-ing a kind of probofcis, which it can contra«5l or extendat pleafure ; each jaw is furniflied with ten cutting teeth,and as many grinders; its ears are fmall and ere£t; itsbody formed like that of a Hog; its back arched ; legsihort •, and hoofs, of which it has four upon each foot. HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 175 fmall, black, and hollow ; its tail is very fmall j its hairlliort, and of a dufky-brbwn colour. The Tapiir is mild and inofFenfive, avoids all hoftilitieswith other animals, and flies from every appearance ofdanger. Its Ikin, of which the Indians make bucklers, isvery thick; and, when dried, is fo hard as to refift theimpreflion of an arrow. The natives eat its flelli, whichis faid to be very THE RHINOCEROS. [Rhinoceros Unicornisy Lin.—Rhinoceros^ BufF.) We are indebted to the labours of many learned andingenious naturalifts for accurate defcriptions of thiswonderful creature, which in fize is only exceeded bythe Elephant, and in ftrength and power is inferior to noother animal. Bontius fays, that in the bulk of its bodyit equals the Elephant, but is lower only on account ofthe fhortnefs of its legs. 176 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. The length of the Rhinoceros, from the extremity ofthe muzzle to the infertion of the tail, is ufually twelvefeet; and the circumference of its body nearly equal toits length. Its nofe is armed with a formidable weapon,peculiar to this creature, being a very hard and folidhorn, with which it defends itfelf from every Tiger will rather attack the Elephant, whofe trunkit can lay hold of, than the Rhinoceros, which it cannotface, without danger of having its bowels torn o
Size: 2032px × 1229px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1800, booksubjectmammals, bookyear1800
