Though Sondaicus has been described as the lesser Indian rhinoceros, there is little difference in the size between this and other Indian varieties.
R. lasiotis and R. sumatrensis have more or less hairy hides instead of tubercles. Lasiotis is larger, lighter in colour, with wide-set ears, a short tufted tail, and a long fringe of hair on the back edge of the ear; Sumatrensis is smaller, darker, with close-set ears (which are filled with black hair but have no fringe), and tail long, tapering, and semi-nude.
The native names of all four varieties seem much the same: ‘Gaindá,’ ‘Gairá,’ ‘Gonda,’ generally; ‘Gor’ Assam, ‘Khyenhsen’ Burmah, ‘Bodok’ Malay.
The rhinoceros does not extend to Central and Southern India, being only found in the heavy grass swamps of the Terai, Assam, &c.; consequently the only way of hunting this beast is with elephants. The rhinoceros may be either tracked up to his lair on a single elephant, or the jungle may be beaten as for tigers.
Measurements
| Authority | Height at shoulder | Length head and body | Tail | Girth chest | Girth forearm | Length of horn | Girth at base | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R. indicus | ||||||||
| ft. ins. | ft. ins. | ft. ins. | ft. ins. | ft. ins. | ins. | ins. | ||
| Col. Kinloch, ‘Large Game Shooting’ | 5 9 | 10 6 | 2 5 | 9 8 | 3 2 | 12 | .. | |
| British Museum | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 19 | 20½ | |
| ” | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 38 | 26½ | Single horns—doubtful specimens |
| ” | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 33½ | 27 | ” |
| R. sondaicus | ||||||||
| Sterndale | 5 6 | 12 3 | 2 4½ | .. | .. | .. | .. | The length 12 ft. 3 ins. appears to include tail |
| R. lasiotis | ||||||||
| No measurements procurable | ||||||||
| R. sumatrensis | ||||||||
| Sterndale | 3 8 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
| British Museum | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 27 | 17½ | |
| ” | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 32¼ | 17¼ | |
| Mr. A. Manson, ‘Oriental Sporting Magazine,’ 1876 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 8½ | .. | Rear horn merely a knob |
In no branch of sport is it more necessary to have trustworthy men in charge of the mahouts of the pad elephants. A rhinoceros when roused makes such a noise crashing through the reeds and snorting, that, though he rarely charges home, and even then only bites instead of using his horn, he fairly terrifies both mahouts and their animals, and consequently, unless the line is under good control, the beating is carried out in a very half-hearted manner. The usual pace of a rhinoceros is a trot, but he will sometimes break into a gallop and gets over the ground with surprising speed. When shot they usually sink down on their knees and rarely roll over on to their sides. The flesh is said to be as good as, or better than, most Indian beef. The track is easily distinguished, as the foot has only three toes.
There is a story of a fight having been witnessed between a rhinoceros and a wild male elephant, in which the latter was worsted. A rhinoceros is said to have wantonly attacked the camp of two officers from Dinapore, near Derriapore, in 1788. The brute killed their horses, which were picketed, treed the officers and their servants, and ‘after keeping them in dreadful suspense for some time, and using some efforts to dislodge them, seeing the sun rise, retreated to his haunt.’