The tail is small; the head very long and large. Taken altogether, there
are few--if any--animals that compare with the rhinoceros in ugliness.
The eyes are set in such a manner that the animal can not see any thing
exactly in front of it; but the senses of hearing and smelling are so
keen that sight is not required to detect an enemy, whether it be man or
beast.
The skin of the African rhinoceros is smooth, and has only a few
scattering hairs here and there. It is, however, very thick and tough,
and can resist the force of a rifle-ball unless it is fired from a very
short distance.
The largest known species of the rhinoceros is found in Asia. It lives
chiefly in the marshy jungles, and on the banks of lakes and rivers in
India. Some of this species are over live feet in height, and have horns
three feet in length and eighteen inches around the base.
Unlike the African rhinoceros, the skin of the Asiatic species is not
smooth, but lies in thick folds upon the body, forming flaps which can
be lifted with the hand.
The food of the rhinoceros consists of roots, and the young branches and
leaves of trees and shrubs.
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