The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-21

regarding the horn of the rhinoceros.
which Is not as valuable for It's ivory as
that from the elephant Rinoceros horn
shaNinss are supposed by many people to
cure many diseases, and IT is believed that
II poison be poured into cup made OF
the horn It will burst it, German writ
er says: This horn will not endure the
touch of poison; / have often been a wit
ness TO this. Many people of fashion at
the Cape have cups turned out of the
rhlhoceros horn; some have them set in
silver and some In gold. If wine is poured
into one of these cups It Immediately
rises and bubbles up as though II were
boiling. and If there is poison in 1t the
cup Immediately splits. If poison Is put
by itself into one of these cups It in an
instant flies to pieces. The chips made
IN turning one of the cups are carefully
saved and returned to the owner Of the
cup, being esteemed OF great benefit In
commissions, Paintings and many other
complaints"
AS to whether the horn of the rhinoce-
ros is such test for poison the reader
may safely doubt, but 1t can make but
little difference since 1t is hardly prob
able he cares either for the wine or the
poison and has no need of such a sensi-
tive drinking cup.
clumsy looking as the great brute is
Mr.. Gordon Cumming says "a horse and
rider can rarely manage to overtake It,"
Another famous African hunter writes:
He Is not often pursued on horseback,
and chiefly because his speed and endur-
ance are such that 1t is very difficult to
come up with him. to say nothing Of the
Danger attendant upon such a course"
one OF the most singular of attendants
Is that which the rhinoceros has. 1t is
little bird called by ornithologists
buphasa Africana, and known TO hunters
as the rhinoceros bird This little fellow
clings to the animals hide by means of
its long clays and elastic tall feeding on
the insects that infest the leathery skin.
In doing this 1t renders great service to
the huge brute, but trlfiing one as com
pared to its other duty. II acts as senti-
mel to warn It's movable feeding place OF
approaching danger. While it is eating
II is ever on the alert and at the first
stern sign of the hunter 1t flies in the
air, uttertng its warning note, which is
ever quickly needed, the rhinoceros start
ing off at once in the direction taken by
It's watchful friend Mr.. Cumming states
that when the rhinoceros is asleep, and the
bird, hearing the approach of the hunter,
fails to awaken him by its voice, 1t will
arouse him by picking the inside of his
ear
Some species Of rhinoceros are Inclined
to peace, and win rarely attack man save
IN defense of their young or their lives
while others, and more particularly the
keitloa, will attack man or beast simply
to crafty their love OF fighting The lion
never risks an encounter with a rhinoc-
eros, save when absolutely necessary for
his own safety and 1t is but seldom the
elephant cares to measure strength with
him, for the larger animal is far less quick
in his movements than the smaller.
The rhinorecors of Asia is much better
tempered than its African brothers.
Nothing is definitely known as to the
average age of this animal, but II is gen
orally believed that the duration of life
Of an Asian rhinoceros is hardly less than
100 years.