DEATH OF "JIM."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1367, 19 February 1912, Page 6

DEATH OF "JIM."

THE FAMOUS RHINOCEROS AT LONDON "ZOO." One of the most- famous animals in the world has passed away in tho person of "Jim," the gigantic. Indian rhinoceros of the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park, London. His was the first cage on tho left as you entered the Elephant's House after leaving the parrots, and you had to be very brave (if it was your first visit) or you never got. auy further than that monstrous ridged and furrowed head, bloodcovered, it might be, from futile, titanic battling with the brick and steel prison. "Jim" was never conquered, and at certain seasons of the year he would fight madly with his cage. He never seriously hurt .himself, but he'ended by covering his head with extraordinary callosities which made him an object of terror to children.

He was a ruler's gift, having teen presented by the predecessor of the present Maharajah of Cooch Behar, and a naturalist has undertaken to convert his hide into walking-sticks. For a week before ho died "Jim" was unablo to get upon his feet. Never before had a keeper ventured into his cage. He felt no malice in the matter—ho simply felt it was his duty to attack ■ keepers. On his deathbed he tolerated them, and even took food from their hands.

He died from sheer old • age, after twenty-five years in Regeufs Park. Examination showed that "Jim's" teeth had failed him. Unlike tho liorse, these do not continue to grow, and when they are worn away the rhinoceros must die. Man is as old as his arteries and the rhinoceros as his teeth.