Sclater, P.L., 1872. Notes on Propithecus bicornis and Rhinoceros lasiotis. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (4) 10 (58): 298-299
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Taxonomy |
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Sumatran Rhino |
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Answer to Gray 1872. As regards the two asiatic two-horned rhinoceroses in the Zoological Society's Gardens, when the first specimen arrived from Chittagong I referred it to Rhinoceros sumatrensis, that being the only species of this section then known to science. But when the second animal (obviously of a different species) reached us, I carefully examined the literature on the subject and came to the conclusion (exactly contrary to that of Dr Gray, ANMH p.207) that the latter was the true R. sumatrensis and the former new to science. Under these circumstances, in a paper read before section D at the British Association's Meeting at Brighton on 16 August last, I proposed to call the former Rhinoceros lasiotis (See The Times of 19 August, p.5, where a notice of this paper is given, also Athenaeum of 24 August, p.243).
Supposing even that the existing descriptions and figures of Rhinoceros sumatrensis are not sufficient to settle the question (which, however, in my opinion, is by no means the case), the known localities from which the two animals were brouyght are themselves strongly presumptive that my determination is correct. One was captured near Chittagong, in a district where no two-horned rhinoceros was previously known to occur; the other in Malacca, where the fauna is well known to be identical with that of the adjacent island of Sumatra. I may add that Mr Blyth, who has paid special attention to Asiatic rhinos, and Dr. Dorner, who has examined not only the specimen in the Regent's Park, but also the similar animal in the Zoological Society of Hamburg, of which he is Secretary, are both of opinion that the Malaccan animal is the true R. sumatrensis, and I believe that any naturalist who has an opportunity of examining the two animals in the Zoological Society's Gardens will come to the same conclusion.
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Notes on Propithecus bicornis and Rhinoceros lasiotis
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