ted, either to soothe or to threaten th kingdom of Scotland, as dhould appear 1 or necefsary; and she prepared, by o lord president of the north in Engla forces for making her mediation effectua 22d of January Morton was conveyed i burgh to Dumbarton castle, that he mig immediately in the keeping of Lenno dolph to the lord president fol. 107.] In time, Angus kept Dalkeith house, and fields adjoining in military force. The midated by the arrival of Randolph and fifh troops coming to Berwick, sends for the court, who continues firm to Mortor party*.

*Folio 104.

To be continued.

It is chiefly hee that must doe us good (writes Ra 25, 81.) being as worthie an yonge gentleman as ev bredd.

"Angus, Marr, and Glencairn, are the only noblemen of whom best accompt is to be made for affection to her m vice." [Randolph 29 March 1581.] The noblemen and friends and allys of Morton, as sett down by Randolph, 122.] are the earls of Marre, Rothes, Angus, Boughan, the abbotts of Dumferlinge, Cambuskenneth, Drybrugh Karte. The lords Ruthven and Boyd, the lairds of L Tullibardin, and Whithinghame, and Archibald Douglas Lochleven. [The laird of Lochleven married the lady Margal aunt to Marr who was the mother of the regent Moray.] I ton library cal. 6. fol. 145, there is a full account of the that was held between the earl of Morton, and John Dury, and ter Balcanquall immediately before his execution which we sent to our readers on some future occasion.

THE RHINOCEROS

IS, next to the elephant, the largest terrestrial animal now known. Its body, many naturalists have supposed, is equal to that of the elephant in bulk, but its legs being shorter, it is not so tall as that noble animal.

The length of the rhinoceros from the muzzle to the insertion of the tail, is usually about twelve feet, and the circumference of its body nearly equal to its length. Its belly is large, and hangs near the ground; its legs fhort, round, and very strong; its hoofs are divided into three parts, each pointing forward. The head of this animal is large; its ears long and erect; and its eyes small, sunk, and without vivacity: The upper lip is long, and overhangs the lower, and is capable of great extension; it is so pliable that the rhinoceros can move it from side to side, twist it round like a stick, collect its food, or seize with it any thing it would carry to its mouth,

But the peculiar feature which distinguishes this animal from all others, is its horn. This formidable weapon is placed upon its nose; it consists of a substance of the nature of horn; it is pliant and flexible when split into small pieces; it is of a dufky greyish colour, and semitransparent; its fibres are coarser than those of horn, rather resembling whalebone in this respect. This horn has no core, like those of cattle, fheep, and many other animals, but is solid throughout its whole length. With this powerful weapon it defends itself from every adversary. The tiger will rather attack the elephant, whose trunk it can lay hold of, than the rhinoceros, which it cannot face without danger of having its bowels torn out.

The body and limbs of the rhinoceros, are covered with a skin so hard and impenetrable, that he fears neither the claw of the tiger, nor the more formidable proboscis of the elephant; it will turn the edge of a scimitar, and even resist the force of a musket ball. The fkin, which is of a blackish colour, forms itself into large folds at the neck, the shoulders and the crupper, by which the motion of the head and limbs is facilitated. Round the neck, which is very fhort, are two large folds; there is also a fold from the fhoulders, which hangs down upon the fore legs, and another from the hind part of the back to the thighs. The body is every where covered with tuberosities or knots, which are small on the neck and back, but larger on the sides. The thighs, legs, and even

49 the feet, are full of these incrustations, which have been mistaken for scales by some authors; they are, however, only simple indurations of the fkin, without any uniformity in their figure, or regularity in their position. Between the folds the skin is penetrable and delicate, and soft to the touch as silk, and of a light flesh colour; the fkin of the belly is of the same consistency.

The rhinoceros prefers thistles and shrubs, to soft or delicate pasturage. It is fond of the sugar cane, and eats all kinds of grain. It is a solitary animal, loves moist and marshy places, and it wallows in the mire like a hog, and seldom quits the banks of rivers. It is found in Bengal, Siam, China, and other countries of Asia; on the isles of Java, Sumatra, Ceylon, &c.; in Ethiopia, and the country as low as the Cape of Good Hope; but in general the species is not numerous, and is much lefs diffused than the elephant.

The female produces but one at a time, and at considerable intervals. During the first month, the young rhinoceros does not exceed the size of a large dog; at the age of two years, the horn is not more than an inch long; at six years it is nine or ten inches long; and grows to the length of three feet and a half, sometimes four feet. The horn is much esteemed by the natives as an antidote against poisons, and was formerly an article of value in the materia medica; but it is now fallen into disuse.

The rhinoceros is not in general ferocious, nor even extremely wild, yet it is totally untractable,,

VOL. vii.

G

1513 which, being seized with one roxysms at sea, destroyed the vefsel in were transporting it.

This animal has an acute and ver ear. It will listen with a deep and lon attention to any kind of noise, and t eating, lying down, or obeying any I mands of nature, it will raise its head till the noise ceases,

His sense of smelling is so exquisi hunters are obliged to avoid being to of him. They generally follow him at and watch till he lies down to sleep; approach with great precaution, and their muskets all at once into the low the belly.

From the particular conformation of the rhinoceros can only see what is imme fore him. When he pursues any object, h directly towards it, overturning every tion. From these peculiarities of his con and habits, the hunters sometimes are e run him down by fatigue. One man back presents himself and provokes the r to follow him. He directs his course to place where another man is stationed t him; when they come together the first 1 to a side behind the first cover he can thus escapes the sight of the rhinoceros, a