New information on Indian rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros unicornis) in Britain in the mid-eighteenth century

摘要

Three Indian rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros unicornis) were present in Britain in the mid-eighteenth century. The first, a female, arrived in 1737, the second, a male, arrived in 1739, the third, a female known as Douwe Mout's rhinoceros or Clara, was shown in London, probably in 1756. Recent research in British newspapers provides new information about all three animals, and produces evidence to show that the rhinoceros exhibited in London in 1751-1752 was not Clara, but the female which had arrived in 1737.