^’ersltj MeJi'cal Center Llti
Historical Collection

*7 . 'P

<JN

!

i

i

/

•

/

it i-/^. -A^'

^Digitizecirby the Internet Archive
in 2015

https://archive.org/details/americannaturalh1182godnn

■ *

y'!

■M.

>.

%

■ ■ ,i'

«

t

I

WMS OfVLB

AMERICAN

NATURAL HISTORY.

VOLUME I.

PART I.— MASTOLOGY.

BY JOHN D. GODMAN, M.D.

PBOFESSOn OF UATUEAl UISTOUT IN THE FHANKEIN INSTITUTE OF PENN-
SYLVANIA; ONE OF THE PROFESSORS OF THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM;
MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY; OF THE PHILADEL-
PHIA ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, &C.

PHILADELPHIA:

H- C. CAREY & I. LEA— CHESTNUT-STREET

H. WRIGHT, PRINTER.

1826,

Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to wit:

• •««*«•« be it remembered, That on the twenty-sixth day of

*lEll Bie fiftieth year of the Independence of the

• United States of America, A. D. 1826, Robert Wright, of
the said district, hath deposited in this office the title of a

book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following,
to wit:

“ American Natural History. Volume I. Part I. M^stology. By John
D. Godman, M. D. professor of Natural History in the Franklin Insti-
tute of Pennsylvania; one of the Professors of the Philadelphia Mu-
seum; Member of the American Philosophical Society, of the Phila-
delphia Academy of Natural Sciences, &c.

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, inti-
tuled, “An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the
copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors
of such copies, during the times therein mentioned” — And also to the
Act entitled. An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled. An Act for the
encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts,
and Books to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the
times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the
arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints.”

D. CALDWELL,

Clerk of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania^

TO

ROBERT OLIVER,

OF

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND,

• WHOSE SAME

IS ONLY ANOTHER EXPRESSION

FOB

LIBERALITY AND MUNIFICENCE,

THIS WORK IS RESPECTFULLY

AND GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED,
BY HIS FRIEND,

THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE.

This work was begun in the spring of 1823, under
a belief that the whole of the first part would be pub-
lished within a year, or at farthest eighteen months
from its commencement. Experience soon proved
that the difficulties of this enterprize had not been
correctly estimated, and that a vast labour remained
to be performed after all the facts and observations
were systematised, which remained to be gleaned
from works that professedly or incidentally treated
of American Natural History. How meagre and
unsatisfactory the best of these books are, can only be
imagined by those persons who have been obliged to
examine them carefully; by them alone can an ade-
quate idea be formed of the toil and disgust to be en-
dured by whoever makes such search in hopes of
collecting original observations, statements of facts
worthy of repetition, or remarks properly illustrative
of the manners and habits of our animals.

To account for the delay which has inevitably oc-
curred in the preparation of this work, it may be
sufficient to state that it has been frequently neces-
sary to suspend it for weeks and months, in order to
procure certain animals, to observe their habits in
captivity, or to make daily visits to the woods and
fields for the sake of witnessing their actions in a

VI

PREFACE.

State of nature. On other occasions we have under-
taken considerable journies, in order to ascertain the
correctness of statements, or to obtain sight of an
individual subject of description. It would be far
more agreeable thus to obtain materials for the whole
work from nature, than to depend in the slightest
degree upon books; but a long lifetime spent in this
way on such a work, would not be too much to
give it the requisite degree of perfection.

Another cause of delay has been the necessity we
have frequently been under of collecting materials for
the second and third volumes, when very solicitous
to expedite the first; but as similar opportunities
might not again occur, it was imperatively necessary
to profit by them. This retardation of the first
will operate, however, in equal proportion to in-
crease the value and hasten the publication of the
second and third volumes, which will be completed
with as much speed as is consistent with propriety.

Our great aim in preparing this work has been
to render it as useful and agreeable as possible, and
to this end we have freely drawn upon all accessible
authentic sources, with due acknowledgment for the
benefits received. In addition to the references
made in the body of the work, we shall give in
the third volume an alphabetical catalogue of all
the books whence we have derived assistance, or
which we have consulted with advantage. This we
do not only because we believe that there is no crime

PREFACE.

vii

more despicable than an attempt to deprive another
of the fruits of his intellectual exertions, but in or-
der to facilitate the labours of those who may be de-
sirous of extending their researches through the
most authentic works.

We should act with injustice to our own feelings
if we omitted to avow the liberal and valuable as-
sistance we have received from one whose name is
suflBicient to justify any encomiums on expanded
views and zeal in the cause of scientific truth. The
prince of Musignano, Charles L. Bonaparte, has
at all times thrown open to our use his rich library
and cabinets, and still farther enhanced this kindness
by contributing in numerous instances the result of
his own scientific observations. Similar liberality
in the cause of science has long since secured to him
the esteem and respect of those who are devoted to
its cultivation, and the warm admiration of all who
have the advantage of his acquaintance.

To our distinguished countryman Say, we are
indebted for numerous excellent suggestions and
much interesting information. Mr. George Ord,
the respected vice-president of the Academy of
Natural Sciences, has on several occasions yielded
the most acceptable assistance, and allowed us the
use of his note-book, by which we have profited con-
siderably. From Mr. Titian Peale, who in prac-
tical acquaintance with the natural history of his
country has few equals, we have received frequent

PREFACE.

viii

aid. To our friend Robert Best, M. D. of Lexing-
ton, who was formerly conservator of the Western
Museum, we feel especially grateful for the commu-
nicat'on of his most interesting notes and observa-
tions, made on the animals of the western country
during a residence of twenty-live or thirty years in
the state of Ohio.

The kindness of the venerable librarian of the
Philosophical Society, John Vaughan, Esq. has been
amply exercised towards us in furnishing the freest
opportunities of examining the admirable library of
that respectable institution. Although he considers
himself sufficiently repaid by the consciousness of
having discharged what he is pleased to call his duty,
we feel none the less grateful for his urbanity and.
the extent of his good will.

We have also received manifold acts cfi kindness
from all the respectable naturalists of our acquaint-
ance, both in this city and New York. All of these
have exhibited the most gratifying willingness to aid
in the advancement of our undertaking, and we beg
them to accept of our sincerest thanks for the spirit
in which they have contributed to its success.

The following circumstance, to be enumerated
among the services rendered to this work, is one
which we feel sure the reader will unite with us in
considering as worthy of the highest commendation,
and evincing a spirit which every generous mind must
regard with unmingled pleasure. An American artist

PREFACE.

IX

had painted two original portraits of distinguished In-
dian chieftains, which were regarded by all who saw
them as admirable for their force and truth of charac-
ter. He was repeatedly solicited to sell them at his
own price, but uniformly refused; neither would he
sell copies of them, although on one occasion they were
sought by a foreign gentleman in order to be sent to
Russia. On learning that an American work was
about to be published, for which illustrations of abo-
riginal physiognomy and costume were desirable, the
artist presented both these pictures, rejecting every
offer of compensation with a feeling truly American.
These interesting specimens of the talents and libe-
rality of Mr. John Neagle are given in this vo-
lume, the full length being a likeness of Petale-
SHAROO,* son of the Knife-chief of the Pani-Loups,

* “ Almost from the beginning of this interesting fete our
attention had been attracted to a young man who seemed to
be the leader or partizan of the warriors. He was about
twenty-three years of age, of the finest form, tall, muscular,
exceedingly graceful, and of a most prepossessing counte-
nance. His head-dress of war-eagles’ feathers descended
in a double series upon his back, like wings, down to his sad-
dle croupj his shield was highly decorated, and his long lance
was ornamented by a plaited casing of red and blue cloth.
On inquiring of the interpreter, our admiration was aug-
mented by learning that he was no other than Petalesha-
Roo, with whose name and character we were already familiar.
He is the most intrepid warrior of the nation, eldest son of
Latelesha, [the Knife-chief] destined as well by mental
YOL. 1. — B

X

PREFACE.

and the bust a portrait of Ongpatonga, or Big
Elk, distinguished as the great chief and orator of the
Omawhaws. The first was engraved by Maverick
of New York, the second by Bridport of Phila-
delphia.

and physical qualifications as by his distinguished birth, to
be the future leader of his people. — The name of Peta-
LESHARoo is connected with the abolition of a custom for-
merly prevalent in this nation, at which humanity shudders.

“ An letan woman, brought captive into the village, was
doomed to the Great Star by a warrior whose property she
had become by the fate of war; she underwent the usual pre-
parations, and on the appointed day was led to the cross
amidst a great concourse of people, as eager perhaps as
their civilized fellow men to witness the horrors of an execu-
tion. The victim was bound to the cross with thongs of
skin, and the usual ceremonies being performed, her dread
of a more terrible death was about to be terminated by the
tomahawk and arrow. At this critical juncture Peta-
LESHARoo stepped forward into the area, and in a hurried
but firm manner declared tliat it was his father’s wish to
abolish this sacrifice; that he presented himself for the pur-
pose of laying down his life Upon the spot or of releasing
the victim. He then cut the cords which bound her, car-
ried her swiftly through the crowd to a horse which he pre-
sented to her, and having mounted another himself, con-
veyed her beyond the reach ot immediate pursuit.” — Long'^s
Exped. to the Rocky Mountains, vol. i.p. 357.

This distinguished man, (together with Ongpatonga and
various other chiefs,) was in Philadelphia a few years since,
on his way to the city of Washington, accompanied by

PREFACE.

xi

The vignette which ornaments our engraved title
page is from an original design by James Peale, jr.
an amateur who unites to the correct execution of a
professed artist the happiest talent for perceiving
and delineating the picturesque and beautiful.

In relation to the animals described in this work^
it has been our constant aim to give none but such
as certainly belong to this country, being much more
desirous of presenting a faithful account of those
known to inhabit it, than to produce an imposing
catalogue of new species,” which at best might
be little better than a string of barbarous new names
applied to old and well known things.* * In our
third volume we shall give a complete synopsis of
the mammalia inhabiting this country, with distinc-
tive specific phrases, drawn up by the distinguished
author of the recent splendid work on American

Major O’Fallon. Through the friendship of that gentle
man Mr. Neagle enjoyed the most excellent opportunities
of obtaining the portraits which adorn tliis volume.

* In consequence of having mislaid the manuscript con-
taining the description of the wild cat or bay lynx, {Felis
Rufa^ that species was accidentallj" omitted, and the inad-
vertence not perceived until it was too late to rectify it at
the proper place. As this species will be fully described in the
appendix, and we give a good figure of it on the same plate
with the Canada lynx, {Fdis Canadensis,) which it closely re-
sembles in habits and manners, the omission will not be
productive of inconvenience or injury to the reader.

XIV

INTRODUCTION.

quence to the general character of their digestive
organs; by comparing different genera we trace
their degree of relationship in this respect, and
form a better idea of their natural affinities. But
if we arrange animals according to their prox-
imity of dentition and regimen, we adopt a method
(and there may be as many methods as organs) which
will separate to great and unnatural distances ani-
mals whose striking similarity in all other respects
would render such separation absurd.*

Beginners of the study of natural history are
generally liable to form erroneous conclusions, among
which none is more common and prejudicial than
that of mistaking the system of classification for the
subjects classed, or in other words, the arrangement
of the names for the things themselves; nomenclature
for natural history. The best system of elassifica-

* According to the dentition, F. Cuvier properly places
the cat first and the bear last of the carnivorous animals;
the walrus after the ruminant animals, and the beaver
among the last of the gnawers instead of the first. Various
genera, well separated by other characters, are by their den-
tition reduced to mere species or varieties of the same ge-
nus. Thus, while the system of Cuvier arranges animals
according to the closeness of their approach to the structure
of the human body, which determines their comparative per-
fection, the method of his brother, having merely reference
to their dentition, throws them into situations both curious
and unnatural, because dependant upon the comparison of a
single set of organs.

INTRODUCTION.

XV

tion in the nature of things must be in a great degree
arbitrary and imperfect, and so far from being natu-
ral history, is but a summary of distinctive epithets
and characters to aid in the arrangement of know-
ledge, which can only be derived from a proper ob-
servation of natural objects. Had these obvious
truths been attended to, we should never have had
so great a number and such a farrago of new systems
as have been offered to the world, neither would the
study of natural history have been so long regarded
by the mass of mankind as the study of any thing
rather than the study of nature.

A good system is an invaluable assistant; an imper-
fect one is infinitely preferable to the entire absence
of such an aid. The system, however, should always
be secondary to the science, whose object'is to teach
the general and individual characters of living beings
from an actual observation of their peculiarities of
form and modes of living. The mistake above
pointed out is continually urging many who would
be esteemed naturalists to the formation of new
genera and species, founded on trivial, accidental,
or imperfectly noted differences between creatures
which, to all rational observers, appear the same. —
This retards science, and misleads individuals as to
the character and objects of natural history, which,
judged by the conduct of some who are regarded as
authorities, would appear to be the science of mag-
nifying trifles and bewildering the understanding.

XVI

INTRODUCTION.

Ill natural history, as in other departments of hu-
man knowledge, none but sciolists are pedants; such
persons struggle to impart to their implements the
dignity and importance that should belong to the
work alone, and “ in self adoring pride securely
mailed” seek but to glorify themselves, considering
the interests^ of science as nothing when weighed
against the gratification of their own vanity.^

* “New nominal species perplex the student, increase the
labours of the critical naturalist, and render the study of
natural history tedious and difficult. If it was generally
understood that it is more meritorious to extinguish a single
nominal species than to establish a dozen new ones, it would
effectually check the present mania for making new species
often on slight foundations. This also leads to an over-
weening anxiety to secure priority; and hence descriptions
are liable to be drawn up in a crude and hasty manner,
without reference to the co-ordinate characters.” De Kay’s
address to the New York Lycaeum, p. 76.

ERRATA.

Page 33, first line, for “ are desirous,” — read or are desirous.

“ 35, next to last line of second paragraph, for “ occasions” — read

occasion.

“ 4ti, in the foot-note, for “order” — read family.

“ 49, third line from top, for “ quantity,” — read number.

[Page 80, the figure of the third species of shrew to have
been marked thus, * could not be procured.]

“ 117, second line, second paragraph, for “ Missouri” — read Missis’-
sipi.

“ 129, fourth line, second paragraph, for “ strgggle” — read strug-
gle.

“ 255, note, fourth line from bottom, for “ neminiunquam” — read
nemini unquam. Same line, for “ speiem” — read speciem.

“ 291, fifth line from top, for “ which are so circumstanced” — read
they being so circumstanced.

■ ? ■ ' '' ' ''

'M

!»

■1

'l

■ ■ ' •■■'•- • ■ ' ■ ''h-'

'■'ihi'-/' ' •••• '• v.-M •■'■>•

s:

/

,i

<

-' ,s

AMERICAN

NATURAL HISTORY.

CHAPTER I.

CLASS L— MAMMALIA.

Order I. Primates. — Family I. Bimana.

Genus I. Man; Homo; L. — Species I. H. Sapiens; L.

Varieties, a. Caucasian; fair or white, originally from Eu-
rope.

b. Mongolian-, Esquimaux; dark olive or swarthy,

from the north of Asia.

c. American; red, indigenous?

d. Ethiopian; black, from Africa.

SECTION I.

Origin of the American Variety.

America, although undiscovered until near the
conclusion of the fifteenth century of the Christian
era, must have been for ages previous the residence
of an extensive and increasing population, since great
numbers of native inhabitants were found on the
southern portions of this continent by the adventur-
ous voyagers who, under the guidance of Cristoforo
Colombo,^ first visited these shores. What must

* Latinized, Columbus.

VOL. i. — c

18

On the origin of the

have been the mutual surprise of the inhabitants of
the old anclr new worlds at this first meeting? The
Europeans, astonished to encounter a numerous and
eager crowd where they had anticipated one vast
solitude — and the aborigines, lost in amazement at
the unimagined spectacle of a huge body which had
slowly risen before their eyes from the remotest
verge of ocean, and borne to their soil a strange
assemblage of men differing from them in colour,
language and apparel.

The origin of the North American Indians has
justly attracted the attention of philosophers, and
produced many interesting researches, as well as
fruitless speculations. So long as those engaged in
this investigation were content with mere theory
without established data, or speculation without fact,
no result was obtained except the useless multiplica-
tion of words; but, when the geography of the
country, the nature of the climate, and the history,
manners and polity of the various tribes were studied,
the mystery involving the subject gradually lessened;
so that at present, without much difficulty or error,
we may come to a satisfactory conclusion relative to
the manner in which this continent was peopled.

Preliminary to our investigation we must refer to
the fact, that the laws of nature, governing the con-
tinuance of different races of animals profusely mul-
tiplied over the earth, are fixed and immutable, and
what we observe of Nature’s regular modes of operat-
ing at one period, is unquestionably true of all preced-
ing times. Animals which are of different kinds, or
generically distinct, are incapable of producing off-
spring together, but animals of the sav%e kind, though

AMERICAN, OR RED VARIETY. 19

of different species, may and do produce offspring re-
sembling both parents, by their union; yet this
confusion ceases with the first product, inasmuch as
these hybrids, or mules, are universally sterile, or
incapable of propagating their similitude^ This
circumstance furnishes the most satisfactory and une-
quivocal means of deciding whether any beings we
examine are specifically distinct or not, since, if they
are merely varieties of the saine species, they are
capable of producing offspring in illimitable progres-
sion; but, if they are of different species, the first
offspring terminates the race.

By the application of this test, we are able to pro-
nounce with certainty, that the human race, wherever
found, or however different in colour, are merely
varieties of the same species, and evidently descended
from the same parents. In all countries the marri-
age of Europeans with the natives, whether Asiatics,
Africans, or Indians, is followed by children more
or less resembling their parents, and this offspring is
perfectly capable of continuing the race.

If there be any mode of accounting for the arrival
of even a single male and female on this continent,
we shall find no difficulty in understanding how so
many nations became distributed over this vast region,
nor can we, on an unprejudiced view of the whole
subject, find any difficulty in believing that the myri-
ads of human beings, that have lived from the begin-
ning of time to the present hour, have all descend-
ed from two individuals. The history of the world, as
presented to us by the most authentic records, or by
the voice of universal tradition, leads us inevitably
to conclude that from some point on the Eastern con-

20

ON THE ORIGIN OF THE

tinent the human race originated, and gradually ex-
tended in various directions, subject to the influence of
all accidents, of place, climate, disease, and facility
or difliculty of procuring food: hence, notwithstand-
ing that the connexion 'of many nations with the
parent stock is entirely lost, there is not the slightest
evidence that such nations are derived from any but
the source we have stated; neither, when philosophi-
cally considered, is there any necessity that they
should have originated in a different manner, since
the cause is perfectly adequate to the effect; and
where one suflicient cause is given no other should
be sought.

Under the operation of different motives we find
the scattered members of the human family removing
by degrees from the centre towards the extremes of
the old continent, and subsisting in such remote
situations until the disposition or ability to return was
entirely lost, and they became inured to the climate,
however dreadfully inclement.

Though the human race always remains specifically
unchanged in every condition, yet the action of ex-
ternal causes is capable of producing considerable
variations in the appearance of individuals or tribes
exposed to their influence. Thus we find those
who reside in uniformly warm and spontaneously pro-
ductive countries, of a slender frame, a relaxed and
delicate habit, and of a sallow or tawny complexion.
The natives of Africa, who are exposed to the most
intense heat of the sun, are full framed, robust and
vigorous, being endowed with short, crisped and
coarse hair, and a skin whose colour shields them from
the destructive fierceness of the solar rays. In the

AMERICAN, OR RED VARIETY. 21

middle latitudes, where the means of subsistence are
readily procured, and the vicissitudes of season are
never remarkably severe, we find the human frame
in every variety of development, and distinguished
by fairness and delicacy of complexion. But on
leaving these favoured regions behind us, and visit-
ing the far northern portions of the earth, we see
man, like most of the other productions of nature,
stunted and dwarfish, displaying little or no mental
energy, barely capable of securing the scanty sub-
sistence allowed him by the rigours of his situation,
and maintaining an existence scarcely superior to that
of the whale or seal, the hunting of which constitutes
his highest ambition, as their flesh and oil are his
greatest luxuries.

Since it is not only possible, but unquestionable, that
the whole human race are varieties of the same species,
most probably descended from one male and female, it
remains for us to show in what manner the descend-
ants of this stock may have reached America, and
whether our observations can be supported by argu-
ments drawn from the condition of the new world. A
reference to a map of the globe will show us that imme-
diately within the arctic circle, the eastern extremity
of the old continent is separated from the new by a
strait which is but thirty-nine miles across, and this is
solidly frozen over during the severities of winter.
Kamtschatka, the extremity of Asia, situated between
the fortieth and fiftieth degree of north latitude, is
peopled by natives who are thoroughly accustomed to
endure all the rigours of this climate, and is provided
with many animals equally capable of existing through
all its inclemencies. Under such circumstances we

22

ON THE ORIGIN OF THE

can see no difiiculty in concluding, that from the
eastern extremity of Asia, both men and animals
have passed to America, and subsequently been mul-
tiplied over the whole continent. ' In regard to
man, it is not necessary to insist that he passed
to the American shore during winter, since the dis-
tance is not too great for us to believe that even the
rudest navigators, when driven by stress of weather
from their own coast, (as often happens to the Eski-
maux,) could, with little difficulty, reach this conti-
nent, where they would be compelled to remain by
necessity, or induced by a disposition either to extend
their acquaintance with a strange land, or to seek for
a more agreeable place of abode.

The Aleutian islands, which are very numerous, and
form an almost perfectly continuous chain, beginning
with Behring’s island, and extending from opposite to.
Kamtschatka, in about the fifty-fifth degree of north
latitude, to Alyaska, the same parallel in America, may
have afforded a much easier and more certain approach,
and that without appearing at all extraordinary to the
voyagers themselves, who might pass from one isle to
another without having any idea of the land to which
they were going. These islands are in the same paral-
lels of latitude as the greater part of Labrador, Hud-
son’s bay, &c. where even Europeans are able to en-
dure the climate during the severest seasons. There
is, ill fact, the most irrefragable testimony to prove
that the rein-deer eross over in vast herds on the ice,
subsisting on the moss found in these islands during
their passage.

In strictness of reasoning we have nothing to make
it absolutely necessary that we should refer the peo-

AMERICAN, OR RED VARIETY,

23

pling of America to so recent a period as the separa-
tion of the old and new continents by Behring’s strait.
There is neither extravagance nor impropriety in
the opinion that the two continents were originally
one, and being continuous, the only difficulty is remov-
ed that eould be urged against the approach of popu-
lation from the extremity of Asia. But, in addition to
all the reasons that can be urged in support of the
doctrine, we maintain it should not be forgotten that
there are strong evidences derived from astrono-
mical and geological observations, proving the axis
and poles of our globe to be not now precisely where
they originally stood. It is therefore very unfair
to decide against the probability of peopling Ame-
rica from the extremity of Asia, if we reason from
the existing climate of the eountries adjacent to
East cape, or cape Prince of Wales, the two nearest
points of Asia and America.

The greatest difficulty thrown in the way of this
opinion, was thought to be the striking difference be-
tween the Eskimaux and the common Indian, seeming
to prove that they were derived from different races
or kinds. We are informed in Crantz’s History of
Greenland, that the Moravian missionaries who vi-
sited the countries inhabited by the Eskimaux, were
much surprised to find that they were in all respects
similar to the Greenlanders, and made use of the same
language; showing that the Eskimaux had sprung
from the same race, and had gradually reached their
present residence from the extreme northern parts
of Europe. This fact, now rendered undeniable by
more recent researches, entirely invalidates the con-
clusion that the Eskimaux were derived from another

42

ON THE ORIGIN OF THE

species. The resemblance existing between these peo-
ple and the Siberians, Kamtschadales, Tunguse, &c.
is manifest, and notwithstanding they differ in many
respects from other inhabitants of the new world,
they are undeniably descended from the same pa-
rent stock, coming from different parts of the globe.
The copper-coloured natives of America, who are
the most numerous of the aborigines, approach
more closely to the Asiatic Tartars in colour and
stature, and this because they are descendants of
that race arriving in America from the extremity of
Asia.

The land animals common to the old and new
world doubtless reached America by the same route
with the human race; but, the species which are pe-
culiar to America were originally placed on this
soil, as we find no traces of their existence in Asia
or elsewhere. The first inference is drawn because
the community of species renders it necessary: the
second is a fair and natural induction from the ex-
clusive existence of certain species in this country,
as we see no reason why animals may not have been
from the beginning peculiar to America, as that
creatures of a singular construction should be found
exclusively pertaining to New Holland. This last
named country, differing from all others in its animal
and vegetable productions, is peopled by human be-
ings, degraded and abject it is true, but still a va-
riety of the common stock whence all mankind have
sprung.

Those who endeavour to dispute the correct-
ness of the doctrine we support, state that if Ame-
rica were peopled from the shores of Asia, many

AMERICAN, OR RED VARIETY. 25

thousand years must have elapsed subsequent to the
creation, before the population of the old world
could have become sufficiently numerous to ex-
tend to its remote borders, and thence attain the
American continent. It is also repugnant to their
ideas that so large a part of the globe should have
remained during “ so long a time” unpeopled, or
only tenanted by inferior animals. This is truly a
convenient mode of objecting, but unfortunately for
the theorist, duration of time is a very immaterial
circumstance in the great operations of nature. If
we may credit the testimony of our senses, and
rely on our reason when guided by the clearest
lights of geological science, many ages elapsed af-
ter the creation of our globe, and numerous races of
inferior animals, previous to the existence of man. In
very ancient strata, forming the crust of the earth, or-
ganic remains of various animals are preserved, but not
a single relic of the human kind has yet been obtained
from similar situations. He certainly forms a poor
idea of Deity who attempts to measure his power or
works by notions drawn from human art, or supposes,
because one part of the globe must have remained
even ten thousand years in one vast uninhabited
solitude,” that it is therefore repugnant to all the
operations of the wonderful system of nature. With
as much correctness might he conclude that the time
required by the planet Herschell to describe his orbit
around the sun should be reduced to the same dura-
tion as that necessary for the Earth, or Mars, or
Venus — because to his comprehension the orbit of
Herschell is almost unimaginable.

Another objection, founded on a similar mode of

26

ON THE ORIGIN OF THE

viewing the subject, has led Mr. Jefferson and othei’s
to believe that the number of different languages
spoken in North and South America is incompati-
ble with the idea of so recent an arrival on this con-
tinent as even three or four thousand years. “ How
many ages,” says Mr. J. have elapsed since the
English, the Dutch, the Germans, the Swiss, the
Norwegians, Danes and Swedes, have separated from
their common stock, and yet how many more must
elapse before the proofs of their common origin will
disappear? A separation into dialects may be the work
of a few ages, but for two dialects to recede from
each other until they have lost all vestiges of their
common origin, must require an immense course of
time, perhaps not less than many people give to the
age of the world.”^

Granting, as we are perfectly willing to do, the
great lapse of time which would be requisite for the
production of such radical changes, we do not think
the objection derived from the languages more solid
than those heretofore mentioned. As far as the re-
searches of philologers have extended, we do not find
that there is so much difference in the dialects of our
aborigines as the arguments of these objectors would
imply. Throughout a large mass of this native popu-
lation a very perceptible connexion of language is ap-
parent, and the relation to a parent stock is fairly
evident. Even allowing that the amount of difference
is as great as could be desired by our opponents, the
comparison of the aboriginal dialects with those of
European nations is by no means a correct mode of de-

* Notes on Virginia, p. 148.

AMERICAN, OR RED VARIETY.

27

ciding the point. If, according to our idea, people
reached this country at different times from the ex-
treme north of Europe or the north -east of Asia, the
immense extent of country they were gradually to be
scattered over, the new situations they were placed in,
the new objects by which they were surrounded, and
the new modes of life they assumed, would all con-
spire to produce a change in their language in a much
shorter time than could take place on the old conti-
nent, where their wanderings must have been, not
only comparatively circumscribed, but their modes of
living subject to very few variations. A reference to
well authenticated and recently observed facts,- will
show how great an influence is exerted over language
by these causes. Indian nations, which have com-
menced their migrations in the northern and eastern
parts of this continent, and journeyed to the western
regions, have on their route detached various colonies
from their main body, and these, in many instances,
now differ so much in language from their parent
stock, as to exhibit none but faint traces of relation-
ship. If changes of this kind can be produced under
such circumstances, what difficulty is there in be-
lieving, that still greater could occur, when the wdiole
extent of this vast continent was before the original
adventurers, and the last comers might not only be
separated from the first by thousands of miles, but live
under other skies, and be surrounded by natural ob-
jects of a totally dissimilar character.

In the present condition of our knowledge, we have
no right to state that the traces of affinity between
the American dialects are entirely obliterated; it
would be far more correct to say that we do not

28

ON THE ORIGIN OF THE

possess the means of making the necessary inquiries
and decisions; our knowledge of their languages is
confined to a few meagre vocabularies, frequently
derived from persons whose statements cannot be
implicitly relied on, however correct their inten-
tions may have been, to say nothing of the almost
insuperable difficulty of writing such languages from
the hearer’s idea of their pronunciation, W e may
with sufficient correctness trace the descent of words
in our own language from the Hebrew, Sanscrit, &c.
because we have established signs to indicate the
ideas, and we have no doubt but that the same
could be done to nearly an equal extent with our
aboriginal tongues, provided we enjoyed a similar
advantage of written characters, a proper knowledge
of their languages, and a better acquaintance with
the natural and other objects most frequently the
subjects of their conversation.

Considering all the essential circumstances which
are entirely wanting in this inquiry, we can place
very little reliance on inferences from the aboriginal
languages, more especially such as were drawn by
a late writer, respecting the affinities of dialect
between some of our Indians, and that of the Yo-
lofs, the blackest of the African tribes. We must
believe that these affinities were either totally acci-
dental, or founded in misconception, arising from the
nature of the subject, or rather from want of ne-.
cessary intimacy with the languages examined. It may
be taken as a very safe rule of judgment, that a man,
whose knowledge of any language is derived exclu-
sively from books, however perfectly he may be able
to judge of its philosophy or grammar, can have but

AMERICANj OR RED VARIETY. 29

few and faint ideas of the nice shades of distinction
in the value and application of a very large propor-
tion of words in such tongue, and by consequence, is
very little qualified to do more than conjecture their
affinities with words used by a people living under
totally different circumstances.

The learned Pennant, in treating of this subject,
expresses his belief that the inhabitants of the Ameri-
can continent were originally derived from Eastern
Asia, and supports this conclusion by an exami-
nation of the customs common to the inhabitants of
both continents.

^^The custom of scalping, says he, was a barba-
rism in use with the Scythians, who carried about them
at all times this savage mark of triumph: they cut a
circle round the neck, and stripped off the skin,
as they w ould that of an ox.^ A little image, found
among the Kalmucs of a Tartarian deity, mounted
on a horse, and sitting on a human skin, with scalps
pendent from the breast, fully illustrates the custom
of the Scythian progenitors, as described by the
Greek historian. This usage, as the Europeans know
by horrid experience, is continued to this day in
America. The ferocity of the Scythians to their
prisoners, extended to the remotest part of Asia.
The Kamtschadales, even at the time of their dis-
covery by the Russians,! put their prisoners to death
by the most lingering and excruciating inventions; a

* Herodotus, lib. iv. — Compare the account given by the
historian with the Tartarian icuncidus in Di’.Pallas’ Travels,
i, tab. X. a.

t Hist. Kamtschat. 57.

30

ON THE ORIGIN OF THE

practice in full force to this very day among the abo-
riginal Americans. A race of the Scythians were
styled Anthropophagi^ from their feeding on human
flesh. The people of Nootka Sound still make a re-
past of their fellow creatures,! but what is more
wonderful, the savage allies of the British army have
been known to throw the mangled limbs of the French
prisoners into the horrible cauldron, and devour them
with the same relish as those of a quadruped. J

“ The Scythians were said, for a certain time, an-
nually to transform themselves into wolves, and again
to resume the human shape. §> The new discovered
Americans about Nootka Sound disguise themselves
in dresses made of the skins of wolves and other wild
beasts, and wear even the heads fitted to their own.|[
These habits they use in the chase to circumvent the
animals of the field. But would not ignorance or su-
perstition ascribe to a supernatural metamorphosis
these temporary expedients to deceive the brute crea-
tion? In their march the Kamtschadales never went
abreast, but followed one another in the same track. ^
The same custom is exactly observed by the Ame-
ricans.

^^The Tungusi, the most numerous nation resident
in Siberia, prick their faces with small punctures,

" Mela, lib. ii. c. i.
t Voyage ii.

4 Golden’s Five Nations, i, 155.

§ Herodotus, lib. iv.

II Voyage ii, 311, 329.— A very curious head of a wolf, fit-
ted for this use, is preserved in the Leverian museum.

^ Hist. Kamtscli. 61.

31

AMERICAN, OR RED VARIETY.

with a needle, in various shapes; then rub charcoal
into them, so that the marks become indelible.^ This
custom is still observed in several parts of America.
The Indians on the back of the Hudson’s Bay to this
day perform the operation exactly in the same man-
ner, and puncture the skin into various figures, as
the natives of New Zealand do at present, and as the
ancient Britons did with the herb glastum, or woad,f
and the Virginians, on the first discovery of that
country by the English. J Herodian delivers down
to us this custom of the Britons: — He says that they
painted their bodies with figures of all sorts of ani-
mals, and wore no clothes lest they should hide what
was probably intended to render themselves more
terrible to their enemies.

The Tungusi use canoes made of birch bark, dis-
tended over ribs of wood and nicely sewed together. §.
The Canadian and many other American nations use
no other sort of boats. The paddles of the Tungusi
are broad at each end; those of the people near
Cook’s river and of Oonalaska are of the same form.

In burying of the dead many of the American
nations place the corpse at full length, after preparing
it according to their customs; others place it in a sit-
ing posture, and lay by it the most valuable clothe
ing, wampum, and other matters. The Tartars did
the same, and both people agree in covering the
whole with earth, so as to form a tumulus^ barrow,

* Bell’s Travels, i. 240, 8vo.
t Herodian in Vita Severi.

J De Bry, Virginia, tab. iii. 111.

§ Isbrandt Ides in Harris’ Coll. ii. 919.

32

ON THE ORIGIN OF THE

or carnedd.* In respect to the features and form of
the human body, almost every tribe found along
the western coast has some similitude to the Tartar
nations, and still retain the little eyes, small noses,
high eheeks, and broad faces. They vary in size from
the lusty Calmucs to the little Nogaians. The internal
Americans, such as the Five Indian Nations, who are
tall of body, robust in make, and of oblong faces, are
derived from a variety among the Tartars themselves.
The fine race [tribe] of Tschutski seem to be the
stock from which those Americans are derived. The
Tschutski again from that fine race of Tartars, the
Kahardinski, or inhabitants of Kabarda.’^f

Independent of all other arguments in favour of the
Asiatic origin of the aboriginals of America, the cir-
cumstance of but one species of the human race exist-
ing throughout the world is sufiicient to reduce us to
the necessity of acknowledging that mankind have de-
scended from one parent stock, however their ex-
ternal appearance may have been modified by ac-
cident, disease, or situation. We are aware that
some persons talk of the possibility of there having
been various centres of creation to the human race,
as among inferior animals; but we consider it very un-
philosophical to suppose the existence of various cen-
tres of creation for the same species. Oceasionally
we hear still more ridiculous opinions advanced by per-
sons who have not been at the trouble of examining
the facts which have been collected on the subject,

* Compare Golden, i. 17, Ladtau, i. 416, and Archseologia,
ii. 252, tab. xiv.

t Pennant’s Introduction to the Arctic Zoology, p. 260o

AMERICAN, OU KEB VxVKlETY. 33

are desirous of rendering themselves notorious by
supporting any opinion, however absurd.

Thus far we have paid a deference to those who
are unwilling to suppose that this continent was peo-
pled from the old, and we have bestowed on their
arguments a sufficient degree of. attention.* But,
as we have already hinted, all this discussion, re-
lative to the human inhabitants of this continent,
may be dispensed with; first, because the human
race, from the equator to the poles, are one and the
same, without presenting a single specific difference;
and, in the second place, because a very adequate and
perfectly natural means of approach is given, by which
all the results desired could he readily produced.
We have shown that limitation of time relates
merely to our own narrow conceptions of its dura-
tion, and has reference neither to the Deit;y nor to
the order of nature; nor is it rendered necessary by
any knowledge we possess relative to the creation of
the world. Even allowing a most immense lapse of
ages to have intervened from the creation to the peo-

* The theory of Clavigero, which supposes that a country
fifteen hundred miles in length, and of an unknown breadth,
was sunk between America and the old continent, and that
by this land the human race anciently passed to this country,
is too extravagant and unfounded to require more than a pass-
ing notice. Instead of having islands or regions sunk in the
neighbourhood of the American shores, they are continually
forming and increasing with great rapidity, being almost uni-
formly founded by the labours of the coral molluscse, and after
being built up by them from great depths to the surface of the
ocean, collect weeds, sand, and other matters, for the com-
mencement of a soil.

VOL. I. — E

34

GEWKIJAl. CHAKACTEU OF

plirig oi'tliis continent, we should rather discover in it
a proof of the correctness of our position, than a cir-
eumstance repugnant to the ])lan of nature. Had a race
of men been ereated on this continent simultaneous
Avith that established in the old world, the vast increase
of population would have long since required more
than the ordinary devastation of human life, by pesti-
lence, famine, and murderous w'ar.

An idea of creation, more consonant with enlighten-
ed intelligence than the one recently glanced at, is
that which considers the Eternal as having given ex-
istence to a few laws, or rules of action, which, through
his omniscience,com prise all subsidiary operations, and
by their influence the whole admirable system becom-
ing in due succession developed and perfected — each
joined to each in proper corelatioh, and all approach-
ing his immediate presence by a point too ineflTably
distant to be appreciated by finite comprehension.
Such an evaluation of the plan of divine providence,
or creative power, would shame us out of theories in
which we attempt to reduce infinitude to our own
standard, and mete Out the operations of the mighty
system of nature by our own miserable span of three
score and ten years!

SECTION II.

General Charaeter of the American Indian.

In various situations the North American Indians
exhibit very considerable diJferences in stature, co-
lour, and physiognomy; their medium height may
be stated to correspond with that of the Europeans,

© iT ©n©A

Bio’ELk)

C" '

6^?r/a. 'zJ.

£rtg7a.veA'bif Hitah Hridport frortt cun

original I'a.uitintj 1/y J.yeagXc.

’A

•THE AMERICAN INDIAN.

35

though many . individuals may be found in various
tribes far exceeding the ordinary size. Their colour
varies from a cinnamon brown to a deep copper
colour, and some that I have seen were rather of an
olive yellow hue. They almost universally have
black, straight and rigid hair, though it frequently
appears more harsh from their modes of dressing it,
than it otherwise would be.

The features of the face are all large and strongly
marked, if we except the eyes, which are generally
deep seated, or sunk in large sockets, and placed
rather horizontally; in this respect, and in general
beauty of person, they more nearly resemble the
European than any other variety of the human race.
The. forehead is most commonly low, somewhat com-
pressed at the sides, and slightly retreating from
the perpendicular. The facial angle is about eighty
degrees. The nose is generally elevated from the
face, and sometimes prominent, or even arched; the
cheek bones are high and widely separate; the angle
of the jaw is broad and the chin square. These
latter circumstances give a peculiar fullness to the
lower part of the face, and occasions much of the
remarkable expression of the Indian countenance.

The Indians have been often supposed to be na-
turally destitute of hair on their bodies, but this de-
ficiency is produced by the sedulous attention with
which they eradicate the hair from the chin and
other parts of the body. The hair of the head is
also in great part removed, a small lock being usually
left on the centre or crowni, which is commonly de-
corated with feathers, porcupine quills, or other or-
naments.

36

OENEKAL CHAKACTER 01'-

The habit of painting the body, either on occasions
of ceremony or preparatory to battle, is very uni-
versal among the Indians, and hence vermilion has
always been a substance of great value to them.
Under ordinary circumstances, where this pigment
is not to be obtained, they employ various coloured
days, charcoal, &c.. which are smeared over different
parts of the skin in fantastic figures.

To estimate the moral character of the Indians
correctly, our inferences must be drawn from tribes
undebased by their proximity to the \vhites, or from
periods which preceded the introduction of European
vices and corruptions amongst them. It is thus that
the venerable and excellent Heckewelder gave
his valuable recollections of the Lenapes or Dela-
Avares, not as they were at the time he wrote, but
as they had been when he first knew them, many
years before. Born and nurtured in the most un-
controlled liberty, the restraints of civilized life
have as yet only served to bring the Indian still
lov/cr than the quadruped tenants of the forest that
have been subdued by the Avhite man. Instead of
displaying the energies of nature, improved by cul-
tivation, the civilized aboriginal has sunk into a state
of hopeless apathy, incapable of . any thing better
than an imitation of the worst vices of the worst of
men.

But, AA'hen free, in his native wilds, the .American
displayed a form worthy of admiration, and a con-
duct Avhich secured him respect. Brave, hospitable,
honest and confiding, to him danger had no terrors, ’
and his house was ever open to the stranger. Taught
to regard glory as the highest reward of his actions, he

THE AMERICAN INDIAN.

37

became a stoic under suffering, and so far subjugated
his feelings as to stifle the emotions of his soul, al-
lowing no outward sign of their workings to be per-
ceived. His friendships were stedfast, and his pro-
mises sacredly kept; his anger was dreadful; his re-
venge, though often long cherished, was as horrible
as it was sure; necessity and pride taught him pa-
tience— habitual exercise made him vigilant and skil-
ful; his youth was principally spent in listening to
the recital of his father's and ancestors’ deeds of re-
nown, and his manhood was passed in endeavouring
to leave for his children an inducement to follow his
example.

Grave, dignified and taciturn, under ordinary cir-
cumstances— in the assembly of his nation, the Indian
frequently became fluent, impassioned, eloquent, sub-
lime. With few words, and no artificial aid, drawing
his images exclusively from surrounding objects, and
yielding to the influence of his own ardent impulses,
he roused -his friends to enthusiasm, or inspired his
enemies with dread, as he depicted, with few and
rapid touches, the terrors of his vengeance, or the
horrible carnage of his battles.

An Indian suffering with hunger complained not—
nor when long absent from home expressed emotion
on his return. — “ I am come,” would be his simple
salutation — it is well,” the only reply. When re-
freshed by eating and smoking, he related the story
of his enterprise to his assembled friends, who lis-
tened in respectful silence, or only testified their in-
terest in his narrative by a single ejaculation.

The Indians almost universally revere the aged,
and are exceedingly indulgent to their offspring.

38

GENERAL CHARACTER OF

whom they rarely chastise, unless by casting cold
water on them. They are not so kind to their women,
who, as a general rule, are treated rather as domestic
animals than as companions, and are seldom exempted
from severe toils, even when about to give birth
to their children. Notwithstanding this, the women
appear contented with their situation, and not unfre-
quently exhibit excellent traits of character. At
times their jealousy, or other depressing passions, lead
them to the commission of suicide, which is panticii-
larly frequent among some of the tribes. Indian habits
of thinking, varying with their modes of education,
differ very much in different nations. * The want of
chastity before marriage is not universally considered
as a loss of character, neither is incontinence in the
female, after marriage, regarded as a crime, provided
the husband gives his consent. Yet the same people
will treat as infamous, and even put to an ignominious
death, a woman who receives the addresses of an-
other man without permission of the husband. Tire
number of wives taken by the men is most common-
ly limited only by their ability to maintain them, as
almost all Indians are polygamous. Their wander-
ing modes of living and precarious subsistence, ren-
der increase of population far inferior among them
to what it is among the whites.

The government to which they submit, is that ex-
ercised by their chiefs, who are, with very few ex-
ceptions, chosen in consequence of their superior
courage, physical strength, or great experience and
wisdom. The deference paid to them is not at all
to be compared with that manifested by Europeans
to their rulersj it is a respect for qualification and

THE AMERICAN INDIAN.

39

standing, but confers no other privilege than that of
leading them to battle, or directing the movements of
their camp; it does not entitle the individual to in-
terfere with the rights of others of his tribe, nor can
his will be carried into effect, unless it be supported
by the general opinion of his people,*

The most universal and enduring passion among
the Indians is that for warlike glory. The earliest
language he hears is the warrior’s praise^ — the first
actions he is taught to perform have for object the
eventual attainment of this distinction, and every
thought is bent towards the achievement of heroic
deeds. Hence death is despised, suffering endured,
and danger courted; the song- o.f war is more musical
to Iris ear than the voice of love, and the yells of the
returning warrior thrill his bosom with pleasing anti-
cipations of the time when he shall leave blood and
ashes where the dwelling of his enemy stood, and
hear the triumphant shouts of his kinsmen, respon-
sive to his own returning war cry!

If we except their skill in hunting, and the great
excellence of observation, by which they can detect
the footsteps of game or of their enemies, we must
admit that the Indians have but little knowledge,
and their acquaintance with mechanic arts is still
less perfect. They construct lodges with skins, bark,
or earth, sustained by rude poles; make canoes of

■* Tacitus, in his excellent account of the ancient Germans,
infoi'ms us that their leaders were chosen in a similar way.
The reader may derive much pleasure from examining his 4th
Chap.de Moribus Germanias, beginning “ Reges ex nobilitate
duces ex virtvite sumunt. ” &c.

40 general character of

bark, shape bowls out of wood with vast labour, by
the aid of sharp flints and other stones; make a rude
and sun-dried pottery, fashion tobacco pipes of clay
or stone, dress the skins of animals by rubbing them,
when moistened with brains, until they are pliable,
and from these skins form moccasins, pouches, &c. va-
riously ornamented with porcupine quills, which they
know how to dye of several brilliant colours.

They cannot be said to have any acquaintance with
astronomy, if we except the ability some of them
possess to guide their course by the polar star; their
knowledge of medicine and surgery is exceedingly
imperfect and rude, or more properly it consists of a
very few actual remedies and a great deal of juggling
mummery.^' *

Their modes of living vary throughout the coun-
tries they inhabit, according to the peculiar nature
of circumstances. Those who reside where game is
plenty, live entirely by hunting — others, in the neigh-
bourhood of lakes and rivers, derive their support
principally from fishing; many tribes raise small
quantities of maize and tobacco. The Indians who
live on the prairies or in level countries, are fond of
liorses, and are excellent horsemen, while such as fre-
quent the forests are more remarkable for the celerity
and sagacity with which they travel on foot.

Their ideas of Deity are very rude aiid imperfect.

Lucretius gives a very intei’esting description of Savage
man, whicli may in a great degree be applied to the aborigi-
nal inhabitants of America.^ — See his 6th Hook, line 920, bC'
ginning “ et genus huinanum multo fuit illud in arvis.”

THE AMERICAN INDIAN.

41

though they all seem to have an idea of a future state,
as well as of a great Spirit and Director of the uni-
verse. Many tribes have some notion of rewards
and punishments in a future life; their ideas on
this subject are necessarily founded on their ap-
preciation of what is at present agreeable or disa-
greeable to themselves. They believe in bad as
well as good spirits, and are as much addicted to the
worship of the former from fear, as they are to adore
the latter from love and respect.

The Eskimaux, who inhabit the most northern
parts of North America, differ considerably from
the aboriginals generally diffused over this eoun-
try, as they are far inferior in stature, and the fea-
tures of their faces are extremely harsh and disagreea-
ble to Europeans. Their cheek bones are very pro-
minent, their cheeks tumid and somewhat globose,
their noses small, flat, or sunk, and their whole physi-
ognomy resembling eonsiderably that of the most
ill-favoured Tartar tribes.

The appearance of the Eskimaux varies from
Prince Williams’ sound, where they are of the largest
size; as they extend to the more northern regions,
to the coast of the Icy sea and the maritime parts of
Hudson’s bay, Greenland and Terra de Labrador,
they become dwarfish, in comparison with the Eu-
ropean, and have heretofore given rise to accounts
of pygmies inhabiting these icy regions.

In the Eskimaux we have an admirable exemplifi-
eation of the effects of severe climate on the human
race, for the extreme cold seems in them to have
repressed all superfluity of growth, as if to accommo-

VOL. I.-— F

12

DE^iTAL SYSTEM OF

rlate the body to a situation where food and raiment,
cannot be procured without great difficulty and dan-
ger.

SECTION III,

Dental System of the Human Race.

16 Upper

62 Teeth<

I

I

16 Lower

f4 Cutting
2 Canine
10 Grinders-

f4 Cutting
2 Canine
10 Grinders.

In THE UPPER JAWj the first euttiiig tooth is ter-
minated interiorly by a straight line; it is shaped
like a wedge, and is larger than the second. This
latter is straighter than the first cutting tooth, and
terminates by two lines, which form between them
an open angle, that is to say, its point is obtuse.
Both these teeth are rounded externally, and their
internal surface is slightly excavated. The canine
has exteriorly the form of the second grinder, but
differs from it, because its internal surface is salient
instead of being depressed; this gives it a thickness
not to be found in the other.

The first and second grinders, (which are called
false molars, on account of their slenderness when
compared with the thickness of the true grinders,)
resemble each other entirely in form and size. Ex-
ternally examined, they are but slightly distinguish-
ed from the second cutting, and canine tooth; but
they have on the crown two very thick and very ob-

THE HUMAN RACE.

43

tuse tubercles, one on their internal, the other on
their external border, separated by a deep groove.

The next tooth is a true grinder,* and is the
largest of all the teeth in the upper jaw. On its ex-
ternal edge it is divided into two equal parts, forming
two very obtuse tubercles, by a deep groove which
only comes to the middle of the crown, and when
there, separates into two very slight branches, which
form, with the principal groove, nearly the same
angle as they form with one another. On its inter-
nal edge this tooth is also divided, but unequally, by
a groove situated much nearer its posterior than its
anterior edge, so that the tubercle produced by this
part of the groove is stronger than that of the other
portion; the tubercles on this inner edge have their
summits much nearer to the middle 'of the tooth than
those on the opposite border.

The two succeeding grinders are of the same size
and form, having on their external edge two equal
tubercles, formed by a groove which divides the
tooth to the middle of the surface, where it parts
in two . branches, like the groove of the great
grinder; but these branches sometimes extend even
to the anterior and posterior edges of the tooth.
Their internal edge. is composed of a single but very
obtuse tubercle, and these anterior and posterior
parts are separated by a deep depression.

In the lower jaw, the first cutting tooth is one-
third straighter than that in the upper jaw, and is

'* True grinders, or simple grinders, are all teeth covered
with tubercles, evidently fitfor crushing or triturating food-

44

DENTAL, SYSTEM OE

equally terminated by a straight line; the second is
nearly of the same size as the firsts and terminates
by a point analogous to that of the upper jaw, but
this point is much nearer to the first cutting tooth
than to the canine.

The canine resembles the one described in the
upper jaw, except that it is not so thick.

The two false grinders have also much resemblance
to those of the upper jaw, except that they are
somewhat smaller, their external tubercle is much
thicker than the internal, and a projection on their
middle divides the groove which separates them
into two parts, and forms their two principal tu-
bercles.

The succeeding grinder, which is also the largest
of this jaw, is divided into four principal parts, or
four large tubercles, by two grooves which cross each
other at right angles at the middle of the tooth;<^S^'
these tubercles present irregular inequalities, pro-
duced by some isolated depressions, and also by som,4
slight branches of the principal grooves. The two
succeeding grinders are smaller than the preceding,
and present the same principal divisions, that is,
they have four tubercles and two grooves; but the
groove which cuts the tooth transversely is deeper
than that running from behind forwards, which makes
it sometimes scarcely perceptible on the posterior
half of these teeth. The three last teeth are true
grinders.

In their reciprocal position, the lower teeth,
as far as the middle cutting teeth, are more advanced
anteriorly than the upper ones, that is to say, the

THE HUMAN RACE,

45 .

posterior part of the lower teeth correspond to the
anterior of their analogues in the opposite jaw, which
appears to show the reason of the narrow dimensions
in the lower middle cutting teeth, compared with
the upper, and all are opposed to each other crown
to crown, except the cutting teeth, which stand face
to face; the lower by their anterior face to the pos-
terior face of the upper.*

* The Dental Systems of the different genera described in
this work, are translated from Fredekick Cuvier’s cele-
brated work, “ Des Dents des Mamniiferes Considerees
comme Caracteres Zoologiques. ’’

CHAPTER II.

Order III. FerjE. — Beasts of Prey,
SECTION I.

Under this order are arranged the animals which
are unguiculated or provided with claws, are desti-
tute of hands to their anterior extremities, and pos-
sess the three sorts of teeth called carnivorous, false
molars, and tuberculous; those which have the teeth
either entirely or partially tuberculous, feed to a
greater or less degree on vegetable matter, while
such as have their teeth studded with conical points,
feed principally on insects. In proportion to the
sharpness of the teeth we may decide whether or not
they are exclusively carnivorous.

In all the species belonging to this order, the ar-
ticulating or condyloid process of the lower jaw is
semicylindric and transversely placed, correspond-
ing so precisely with the glenoid cavity of the tem-
poral bone, that it can only be moved in one direc-
tion, or is incapable of any motion except that of
opening and shutting.

In some species the zygomatic arches are very
large, and the skull, especially at the posterior part,

* The second order, (quadrumana, or four handed ani-
mals,) is not found in North America.

BEASTS OF PREY,

47

is much compressed, which gives the space requisite
for the large and powerful muscles concerned in the
act of mastication. Their brain is destitute of the
third lobe, although sufficiently furrowed, and does
not cover the cerebellum. The orbit of the eye is
not separated by bone from the temporal fossa or hol-
low, in the skeleton*.

Beasts of prey possess the sense of smelling in a
high degree of perfection, and their olfactory nerves
are generally spread out over very numerous plates
of convoluted bony texture. They can turn the
fore-arm, but by no means with the same facility as
is done by the quadrumanous animals, and their fore-
limbs are uniformly destitute of thumbs capable of
antagonizing the other fingers.

The stomachs of beasts of prey are, generally
speaking, simple, and their intestines £ti’e less volu-
minous than those of other quadrupeds, on account of
the greater degree of facility with which the diges-
tion of animal matter can be effected.

The greatest part of these creatures are forced, by
the necessity of procuring animal food, to attack and
destroy the lives of other animals, which they are
well qualified to do by their great muscular strength,
and the offensive armour of teeth and nails with
which they are provided.

As the forms and particulars of construction are
very various in these animals, we may expect corres-
ponding variations in them habits and actions. Hence
ihey have been arranged in different families, con-
nected with each other by various relations.

48

GENEKAI. HISTORY

SECTION II.

Family I. — Cheiroptera^ Wing-handed.

The animals comprised in this family are gene-
rally known by the name of bats, and are strikingly
characterised by the manner in which the skin of
the body is extended between and connects the
anterior and posterior extremities, and is also pro-
longed over the bones of the fingers, so as to form
a large and efficient wing. Their clavicles, or col-
lar-bones, are necessarily strong, and the scapulae,
or shoulder-blades, are large, in order that the
shoulder- joint may have the necessary degree of
solidity. The fore-arm is incapable of supination,^
as the power of flying would thereby be impaired.
Bats have two teats, which are situated on the
chest.f

Dental System of the Bat.

This family has been divided into many genera on
account of the differences of the cutting teeth, and
the modifications observed in the organs of sense and
motion. In fact these are almost the only particulars
in which bats differ from each other; in all, without

* The hand is said to be prone, when the palm is turned
downwards, or towards the earthj supine, when the palm is
turned upwards.

t Penis illis, generis humani more, propendensj character
profecto talibus animantibus mirum.

OF THE BAT.

49

exception^ the true grinders and canine teeth are
of the same form and number; yet they differ in the
quantity of their false molars, which do not always
correspond with the number of their cutting teeth^
and in other modifications on which the genera of
this family are founded.

In the upper jaw, the canine is strong and angu-
lar, having the general form of this sort of tooth, and
receives by an anterior, and sometimes very deep
depression, as well as an internal very deep depres-
sion, a triangular form. In some species there is a
salient point on the exterior of this tooth, which in
all the cheiroptera seems to be a very important in-
strument in securing their prey, or as a weapon of
attack and defence.

The false molars, which are most developed, and.
may be considered regular in these animals, have a
point, and a base which extends from their internal
and posterior side, sometimes producing a small point
at its anterior part; these teeth always have two
roots. The molars are three in number, the first
and second having the same form, and differing but
little in size. They present on their external sur-
face two parallel prisms, a section of which is termi-
nated by a point at each of its angles. These two
prisms rest upon a base which is developed on the
interior of the tooth, and is composed on its anterior
part, of a slightly Salient and triangular tubercle, and
at its posterior part, by a small simple point. The
last molar, one half smaller than the others, appears
to be one of these first teeth, obliquely truncated at
its external and posterior part on account of the sud-

VOL. I.—G

50

GENERAL HISTORY

den termination of the maxillary bone, as if the half
of the posterior prism was removed, as well as the
like posterior point.

In the lower jaw, the canines, equally strong as
those of the upper jaw, are rounded in front, but flat-
tened on the posterior surface, and strongly grooved
at their base on this part.

The regular false molars are slender, with a mid-
dle principal tubercle, that is to say, having all the
general characters of these teeth. The molars,
three^in number, are composed of the two prisms,
which we have seen form au essential part of the
molars in the opposite jaw; but where they present
one of their faces outward in the upper jaw, in the
lower they present one of their angles, and the point
of this angle is commonly stronger than those of both
the others. The two first of these teeth are of equal
size, and the third a little smaller, because the pos-
terior angle is not entirely developed.

In their reciprocal position, the inferior canines
are in advance of the' superior, as in the carnivorous
animals, and the projections of the grinders interlock
with the hollows of the opposite teeth.

=*• The author has been informed by Prince Musignano,
that the celebrated Tf.mminck of Amsterdam, has made some
recent discoveries relative to the dental system of the Bat,
vrhich will most probably produce a considerable change in the
classification of these animals. Should the observations of
Temminck be published in time, we shall give them in the
appendix to this work.

OF THE BAT.

Ol

Genus II. — Bat; Vespertilio; L.

Gr. NvKTtfir.

Germ. Fledermaus, Speckmaus.
Dutch. Vlarmuis, VIederraaus.
Swed. FlKdermus, Laederlapp.
Russ. Letukscka, Neotopyr.

Ft. {am.) Chaude souris, Ratepen-
ade. {Mod,) chauve souris.

Ital. Pipistrelle, nottola, sportigli-
one, Rattopennago, &c.

Span. Murciegalo, Murceguillc.
Portug, Morcego.

GENERIC CHARACTERS.

Dental Formula.

1

<o

r .

CO

14 Upper
18 Lower

{

{

4 Incisive
2 Canine
8 Molar.

6 Incisive
2 Canine
10 Molar.

{2 False Molars
6 Molars.

J 4 False Molars
j 6 Molars.

{

{

2 regulat;

0 anomalous

2 regular
2 anomalous

The anterior limbs, or arms and fore-arins of Bats,
are peculiarly elongated, and the bones of the fin-
gers are still more lengthened, exceeding the total
length of the arm. It is over the finger-bones, espe-
cially, that the skin of the body is extended, in the
form of a soft and delicate membrane, which thus
constitutes wings as extensive and effectual as those
of many birds. The pectoral muscles, which are the
principal agents in moving the wings, are thick and
strong, to correspond with the nature of the service
they are to perform, and the middle of the sternum,
or breast- bone, has a projection to give these muscle.s
a large surface of attachment, resembling considera-
bly a similar part in birds. In consequence of these
arrangements they are able to fly with rapidity, and
at great heights in the air.

5i2

GENERAL HISTORY

These curious wings are provided wdth a short
thumb, armed with a crooked nail, which serves
them to hang by when they wish to repose, or to
climb with against the sides of caverns or other
places. Their hind feet are weak and divided into
five equal toes, all armed with nails. The eyes of
these animals are quite small, and their ears are often
very large; these, together with their wings, form a
vast membranous surface, almost naked, and exqui-
sitely sensible.

The perfect wisdom of the Author of Nature be-
comes more clearly evident, in proportion as we
carefully study the relations existing between his
creatures, the situations they occupy, and the offices
they are intended to perform. As our inquiries
are extended, we feel continually incited to express
our admiration at the excellent adaptation of means
to the end, and are induced to consider with plea-
sure, from their appropriateness, beings which, from
a superficial view, wmuld be thought frightful or
disgusting. This may be well exemplified by the
animals now to be investigated; a slight glance at
their mere external form and appearance presents
them as disagreeable, almost deformed, or most pro-
bably useless. A judicious observation of their struc-
ture and modes of living causes admiration at the ex-
celleut contrivance of their organization, and con-
vinces us that they may be eminently serviceable,
even to mankind.

The Bat certainly seems to occupy a very equivo-
cal rank in creation, since, though bearing a marked
resemblance to a quadruped, a great part of his life

OF THE BAT.

53

is spent in the air like a bird. Yet it is only in the
latter circumstance that he can be compared with the
feathered tribes, being not only destitute of beak,
plumes and talons, but suspending himself in air by
means of a velvet or leather-like membrane.

When the gray and dusky twilight succeeds the
departing glories of the sun, myriads of insects,
warmed into life and activity by his heat, take wing
in search of their females, to increase the innumerable
hosts of their own race. At the same moment the
Bats, which have shrouded themselves during the
glare of daylight, emerging from subterraneous re-
cesses, or the gloomy vaults of time-worn ruins, speed
with rapid flight along, glutting a voracious appe-
tite on insects, which, but for their exertions, con-
joined with those of other creatures, would soon
sw'arra so profusely as to render the earth loathsome
or uninhabitable.

The advantages of the Bat’s peculiar structure are
now seen — his soft and velvet wings, though plied,
with vigorous celerity, stir the air, but make no
sound; their peculiarly delicate sensibility enables
him to feel the proximity of every object, and uner-
ringly directs his flight; his large ears catch every
hum produced by the motions of his destined prey,
and he noiselessly flits through the gloom, gathering
a plenteous meal, and destroying great numbers of
insects. His strong sharp teeth and powerful jaws
are employed in seizing and erushing his prey with
slight effort, nor does he relinquish the chase until
the night is far advanced and the eravings of hunger
are entirely satisfled.

The Bat flies with a tremulous flickering movement

54

GENEUAL, HlSTOliY

of its membranous wings, and its progression is ir-
regular, now rising with swiftness, then suddenly
darting downwards, or to one side, with apparent ea-
priciousness, though it is engaged in seizing its prey,
which it distinguishes with great quickness. This dis-
position to dart at any object seen in the air is often
employed for the destruction of Bats, as they are shot
or struck down with a long switch or whip at the
moment they descend to examine objects thrown into
the air. In general the Bat flies at no great distance
from the earth, though it occasionally ascends above
the tops of trees or houses, and even much higher.
During the time of feeding it appears to he continu-
ally in motion, searching for food with much dili-
gence, as if conscious that the opportunity of pro-
curing it would soon pass by.

When on the ground, it is very evident that the
Bat is a quadruped, and what are commonly called
wings are entirely analogous to the members of other
four footed animals, though varying greatly from the
original type. ‘^The elbow is found near the knee;
the fore arm is very long, and obliquely extended
from above downwards, and from behind forwards,
as far as the nose of the animal. The wrist is placed
against the ground, and there is but one Anger on
the anterior extremity, which is the thumb. The
knee is raised as high as the lower part of the rump,
and the flve toes of. the hind feet are of equal length,
and turned outwards. The arm is extended hori-
zontally from the front to the back part, and the
thigh vertically from above downwards; the arm is
concealed behind the fore arm, and the thigh behind
the leg; they are moreover enveloped in the mem-

OF THE BAT.

55 ,

bran€S which conceal the tail and all the hinder parts
of the .body. Besides the thumb seen on the ante’
rior extremities, there are four other very long fin-
gers, extending from the fore-arm, enveloped in the
membrane, and folded near the elbow by their extre-
mity.”^

From these singularly lengthened extremities, the
animal derives little or no assistance while on the
ground, as it rests on the breast and belly, rather
propped up than standing. In this situation the.
motions of the Bat are slow and heavy, more resem-
bling the dragging along of the body , and limbs than
a fair and regular act of progression. It is by no
means easy for the Bat to take wing, and some of the
species cannot readily escape if placed on the ground;
but it is an error to suppose that it is impossible for
them to take to flight, while in this situation. Their
mode of alighting or resting is, by fixing the hook
of their hind feet to the projections of caves or
old buildings, with their wings folded on their bo-
dies, and their heads hanging down, until forced
by hunger to resume their flight. This singular
inverted position, is one which enables them to
take wing with ease, inasmuch as they can launch
themselves in air with, great facility, merely by
letting go their hold. In order to void its ex-
crement, which is very frequently found in vast
heaps in caves much frequented by them, they bend
their bodies upwards, and extend the wing until
they can lay hold of a projection with the hook on

* Daubenton.

56 GENERAL HISTORY

the thumb. When this is accomplished they re-
linquish their hold with the posterior claws, and
thus perform their evacuations, resuming their ori-
ginal inverted position, by renewing their hold with
the claws of the hind feet.

The Bat is entitled to the place it holds in our
systematic arrangements, from the circumstance of
having paps or teats placed on the chest, analogous
to those of the human race. They suckle their
young, who remain firmly attached to the teat during
the flight of the parent, until they attain a considera-
ble size.

These creatures are not deficient in those affec-
tions, which, in other animals, are supposed to de-.
note much sensibility, and always excite the sym-
pathies of mankind. The Bat has been known to
exhibit the most devoted attachment to her young,
and forego all efforts at self-preservation, in order to
be near when she could not release her captive pro-
geny. The following circumstance made known
by that enterprising naturalist, my friend Titian
Peale, will show to what an extent they may evince
this feeling: •

In June 1823, the son of Mr. Gillespie, keeper
of the city square, caught a young red Bat,. ( Vesper-
tilio JVov-Eboracensis, L.) which he took home with
him. Three hours afterwards, in the evening, as he
was conveying it to the Museum in his hand, while
passing near the place where it was caught, the mo-
ther made her appearance, followed the boy for two
squares, flying around him, and finally alighted on
his breast, such was her anxiety to save her offspring.
Both were brought to the Museum, the young one

OF THE BAT.

57

firmly adhering to its mother’s teat. This faithful
creature lived two days in the Museum, and then
died of injuries received from her captor. The
young one, being but half grown, was still too young
to take care of itself, and died shortly after.”

We have already glanced at the singular fact, that
Bats have the power of directing their flight with
perfect correctness, even when deprived of their
sight. In 1793, Spallanzani put out the eyes of a
Bat, and observed that it appeared to fly with as much
ease as before, and without striking against objects
in its way, following the curve of a ceiling, and
avoiding, with accuracy, every thing against which
it was expected to strike. Not only were blinded
Bats capable of avoiding such objects, as parts of a
building, but they shunned, with equal address, the
most delicate obstacles, even silken threads, stretched
in such a manner as to leave just space enough for
them to pass with their wings expanded. When
these threads were placed closer together, the Bats
contracted their wings, in order to pass between them
without touching. They also passed with the same
security between branches of trees placed to inter-
cept them, and suspended themselves by the wall, &c.
with as much ease as if they could see distinctly.
Similar experiments were made by Jurine of Gene-
va, who attempted to account for the fact by attribu-
ting it to the delicacy of the nerves expanded about
the muzzle, ears,.&c. Mr. Carlisle, who experiment-
ed in England with the large-eared Bat ( V. Auritus)
concluded that this faculty was owing to extreme
acuteness of hearing, as the Bat, when its ears were
covered, flew against objects, as if unconscious of
VOL. I. — H

GENKKAL H [STORY

jS

t heii' presence; it is probable, however, that there was
some unobserved source of fallacy in this experiment.

A much more satisfactory and philosophical mode
of explaining this curious circumstance was offered
by the celebrated Cuvier, who sheds light wherever
he directs his attention. In a paper read May, 1796,
this naturalist referred it to the exquisite sense of
touch resident in the membranous skin forming the
wings, ears, &c. as had been previously hinted at by
Odier. During the flight of the blinded Bat, when-
ever it approaches any object, the air set in motion
by its wings reacts against their surface with a great-
er or less degree of force, and being in this manner
warned of the proximity of the object, it avoids
injury by changing its course.

Immediately preceding thunder-storms, Bats have
been known to take shelter in dwelling-houses in
great numbers; no less than thirty were recently
captured in the house of a friend, where they had
thus entered for refuge against an approaching gust.

The Bat brings forth in the month of June and
July, generally from one to three young at a birth,
which are carefully suckled by the parent until they
grow to a considerable size.

As soon as the cold weather approaches, the Bat
retires to places of security, and frequently gathers
in large clustei’s, apparently for the sake of warmth.
They gradually become perfectly torpid, and in this
state the circulation of the blood and other functions
of the animal economy seem to he entirely sus-
pended, With the return of the warm season they
slowly acquire the ability to move, and when their
torpor has entirely passed away, they again sally

OF THE BAT.

59

forth to renew their wonted destruction of the insect
tribe.

The singular structure and habits of the Bat have
long since afforded the poets an emblem of darkness
and terror, and induced them to consecrate this crea-
ture to Proserpine, their queen of Hades. iEsop,
with his usual shrewdness of observation, has turned
the Bat to good account in his fable of the war be-
tween the birds and beasts, in which he severely re-
proves those w'ho in important affairs are disposed
to belong to no party. He represents the Bat as un-
willing to declare for either host, but to hover be-
tween both during the fight, in consequence of which
it was no longer considered either as bird or beast,
and was obliged to avoid appearing abroad until other
animals had gone to repose.

The fact, as has already been shown, is, that the
Bat is one of a large number of animals whose struc-
ture is adapted for activity and usefulness only when
the light is feeble, and food is to be obtained. — How-
ever amusing it may be in poetry or apologue to
consider such creatures as choosing night for their
appearance from a desire of concealment, it is by
no means allowable for students of natural history to
forget that all beings must live in conformity to the
laws of their organization, that the perfection of
every species is relative to the situation in which it
exists, and that our notions of beauty and deformity
are neither true tests of the excellence nor impor-
tance of any inferior animal.

60

GENERAL HISTORY

SECTION II.

Sometime after the preceding observations were
written, I received a paper on Bats, by the distin-
guished Geoffroy St. Hilaire, published in the
French Dictionary of Natural Sciences. As this
learned man has devoted a great deal of time to the
study of these creatures — as he has had the fullest
opportunities of making observations — and as he may
be relied on, I shall, for the benefit of my readers,
introduce some of his remarks from the paper just
mentioned.*

“ The writings of naturalists attest the ignorance
which formerly existed relative to Bats. Aristo-
tle defined them as birds with skinny wings; he
was not positive they were volatile, on account of
their feet; but on the other hand, he could not resolve
to view them as quadrupeds, since they were not pro-
vided with four distinct feet. His reflections on their
want of tail and rump led him to theoretical notions,
which were not based on any positive observation.

Pliny speaks of Bats only to remark, that they are
birds which bring forth their young alive, and suckle
them.

At the restoration of learning in Europe, natu-
ralists confined themselves to copying the ancients.

* We anticipate, with great satisfaction, a paper on the
subject of the bats of this country from that indefatigable and
distinguished naturalist Capt. J Le Conte, who, during ma-
ny years past, has been engaged in making the necessary ob-
servations. We understand that he has many new and very
interesting species.

OF THE BAT.

61

Aldrovandus first began to advance farther in rela-
tion to Bats: yielding uniformly to the prejudices
of his time, he placed them in the same family with
the ostrich, and the reason he gives is, that these
two species of birds partake equally of the nature of
quadrupeds!

Scaliger makes out the Bat to be a perfectly mar-
vellous being; he finds in it two and four feet; it
walks without paws, and flies without wings — sees
when there is no light, and becomes sightless when
the dawn appears. It is, adds he, the most singular
of all birds, because it has teeth, and is without a
beak.

The Bat has, like all viviparous quadrupeds, a
double heart,* cellular lungs, suspended and sur-
rounded by the pleura, a muscular diaphragm, in-
terposed between the cavity of the chest and that
of the belly, an ample and solid brain, and a skull
composed of the usual number of pieces, joined to
each other by sutures.

They have the same sentient system, and the
same organs of digestion and secretion. Their teeth
are also of three sorts; their bodies equally covered
with hair, and, as was long since known, without lead-
ing to the proper conclusion, their young are brought
forth alive, and suckled at their teats, exactly as in
all viviparous quadrupeds. Such is the degree of
resemblance, that the smallest details of their or-
ganization suffice alone, and separately, to show that

* That is, with two auricles and two ventricles: the right
auricle and ventricle to throw the blood through the lungs,
the left, through the general circulation of the body.

62

GENERAL HISTORY

they are true mammalia,* and must be classed with
them.

The Bat, though accustomed to move in the air
like birds, nevertheless is sustained by very differ-
ent instruments; hence all the anomalies observed in
its structure are derived from the mammalious type.

The parts which in birds answer to the fingers of
the human body are almost effaced; they only exist
in a rudimental form, attenuated and solidified with
each other, whence it results that the hand of birds
is nothing but a stump. The wing exists beyond
this, supported and adjusted on the extremity of
the member, and consisting of long terminal quills,
that is to say, on a fair analysis, the most useful
portion is actually composed of shoots or elements
belonging to the epidermal or scarf-skin system.

In the Bat, on the contrary, it is the fore-limbs
themselves, and principally the hands, which are
enlarged. If we can imagine the hand of an ape
drawn out (as if through a wire-drawer’s plate) and
spreading from the wrist like rays through the seg-
ment of a circle, we shall have a clear notion of the
construction of a Bat’s hand.

The thumb alone does not suffer the same modifi-
cations: it remains short, free from all connexions,
and capable of very various movements; in this it
resembles the thumb of monkeys, since it is not
employed as an organ of flight; that it may preserve

* Or animals giving suck. It is to be regretted that we
cannot express this term in English without circumlocution;
the Germans have a word “ saeugthiere” which conveys the
true idea.

OF THE BAT.

63

its ordinary function, and remain a finger as to use,
it is maintained in its integrity — that is to say, it is
provided with a last phalanx and nail.

The four fingers, on the contrary, which by their
excessive length change to instruments of flight,
passing to so strange an employment, are no longer
susceptible of the accustomed action; it is with
much trouble and fatigue that the Bat occasion-
ally is merely able to use them for the purpose of
dragging itself along a horizontal plane, or to secure
its young.

‘^Another anomaly renders these four fingers par-
cularly worthy of attention; they are not complete,
being destitute of nails, and, what is remarkable,
the terminal phalanx, which in all other instances is
formed to suit the nail, is wanting also.

“ These long finger-bones of the Bat answer tlie
same end in their wings that the sticks of a parachute
do to that instrument, that is, they are supports de-
signed to enable a material to resist the air. This
material in the Bat is a prolongation of the skin of
the flanks: the back and the belly each furnish a
layer, as we may ascertain by separating in two
equal thicknesses the membrane of the wings. Not-
withstanding that this membrane is formed thus, it
always appears to us as a thin, transparent and slight
network.

‘‘ As the bones of the hand diminish in thickness in
proportion as they are increased in length, the in-
teguments are, in like manner, thinned in propor-
tion to their extension. It is, moreover, remarkable
that this, which is here an effect of a general law of

64

GENERAL HISTORY

organization, wonderfully completes the means of
flight in the Bat, since more compact hones, or a
thicker and denser membrane, especially at so great
a distance from the moving power, would have in-
creased the weight of the animal so much as to ren-
der its flight impossible.

We may judge how much the anterior extremi-
ties are enlarged, by comparing them with the poste-
rior, which are of ordinary dimensions. These are
only partially included in the lateral membrane, the
feet being free. The membrane has its last attach-
ments on the tarsus, or instep, the little bones of
which, projecting in front, in form of a spine, give
the interfeinoral membranes a firm hold.

The toes of the hind feet are small, compressed,
equal in length, and always five in number. They
are all terminated by claws, or small horny plates,
making a quarter circle, very sharp at the points,
and remarkable for their equality and parallelism.

The whole of the functions ordinarily performed
by fingers seem concentrated in the hinder toes of
the Bat, which are invariable in their forms, or they
are, in reality, the only fingers possessed by this
genus. We have heretofore shown that only one is
found on the anterior extremities, the rest being vir-
tually nothing but solid supports to extend or fold
the membranous wings.

When the Bat is not on the wing, we could
scarcely imagine how it would use its limbs, in order
to move on the ground; yet, when it is necessary, they
employ them advantageously for the purpose. The
folded wings then become fore-legs; they are sustain-

OF THE BAT.

65

ed oil four feet; they advance, and draw themselves
along with sufficient quickness to justify us in saying
that they run fast.

^‘To effect this, how much trouble, how many ef-
forts, and how many different actions are necessary!
At first, they reach forward, and slightly to one
side, the extremity or stump of the wing, fastening
the claw of the thumb on the ground; retaining thus
a strong hold, they draw up the hind legs under the
belly, and to start from this erouching position they
raise themselves on their hinder parts, and tumble
the whole body forwards. But as they only take
hold of the ground with the claw of one wing, they
advance diagonally, throwing themselves towards the
fixed point; to make the next step, they use the
other wing, and tumbling in the contrary direction,
in spite of these alternate deviations, they move for-
wards in a right line. As this exercise is very fa-
tiguing, they do not attempt it unless when in per-
fect security, or else when they have accidentally
fallen on a level surface.

‘‘ In the latter condition, the Bat makes an effort to
escape from it as speedily as possible, because, while
thus situated, it is almost impossible to raise itself in
the air. The wings are too extensive, and the strug-
gles made, in general, merely produce a new fall;
if, on the contrary, it can gain a high place, a
tree, or a stump, it speedily makes its escape.

Professor Jacob Greex has kindly furnished us
with the following note of his observations, made on

See Diet, ties Sciences Naturelles, Art. Cheiropte'res.

VOL. I. — I

66

GENERAL lUSTORY

the Bat, m a cavern explored by him on the 1st of
November, 1816.

I this day visited an extensive cavern, about
twelve miles south of Albany, N, Y. I did not mea-
sure its extent into the mountain, but it was at least
three or four hundred feet. There was- nothing re-
markable in this cave, except the vast multitudes of
Bats which had selected this unfrequented place, to
pass the winter. They did not appear to be much
disturbed by the light of the torches carried by our
party, but, upon being touched with sticks, they
instantly recovered animation and activity, and flew'
into the dark passages of the cavern. As the cave
was, for the most part, not more than six or seven
feet in height, they could very easily be removed
from the places to which they were suspended, and
some of the party, who were behind me, disturbed
some hundreds of them at once, when they swept by
me in swarms to more remote, darker, and safer
places of retreat. In flying through the caves they
made little or no noise; sometimes upon being dis-
turbed in one place they flew but a lew yards, and
then instantly settled in another, in a state of torpor
apparently as profound as before. These Bats, in hi-
bernating, suspended themselves by the hinder claws,
from the roof or upper part of the cave; in no in-
stance did I observe one along the sides. They were
not promiscuously scattered, but were collected into
groups or clusters, of some hundreds, all in close
contact. On holding a candle within a few inches of
one of these groups, they were not in the least
troubled by it: their eyes continued closed, and I
could perceive no signs of respiration. On opening

OF THE EAT.

67

the stomach of one of these Bats, it was found en-
tirely empty; the species, I believe, was the V. JVov-
eboracensis.

While making some experiments in my laboratory
at Princeton, in a cold dark afternoon in December,
a good fire being in the stove, and the room being
warm, a small reddish coloured Bat, (probably the V.
JVoveborace7tsis,) which had secreted itself behind
some of the cases which held the philosophical appa-
ratus, made its appearance. It flew a short time
about the room, and then retired; I saw it, how-
ever, once or twice afterwards, in the course of the
winter.’’

Species I. — Cm'olina Bat.

Vespertilio Carolinensis.' — Geoff.

The essential characters of this species are the
following: — the ears are oblong and of the length of
the head; and partly velvet-like. The auricle or
projecting portion of the ear, is half-heart shaped.
The pelage is chesnut brown coloured above, and
yellowish below.

This Bat is most like the common or murine Bat
of Europe, ( V. Mw'hms, L.) The ears are of mid-
dling size, showing no folds on their internal larger
edge, and having the first half of their external sur-
face covered with fine hairs. The auricle is almost
heart-shaped; the tail is altogether enveloped by the
interfemoral membrane, excepting a small point of its
extremity, which is free. The hair is, at base, of a
blackish ash colour.

68

GENERAL HISTORY

As the name implies, this Bat is a native of Caro-
lina, where it is found in the vicinity of Charleston.
The first specimens were sent to Europe by Mr.
Bose, and described by Geoffroy, in the eighth
volume of the Annals of the Museum of Natural His-
tory.

Species II. — N'eiix York Bat.

Vespertilio Noveboracensis. L.

Red Bat of Pennsylvania, figured in Volume VI. of Wilson's Orni-
thology.

Essential characters. The ears are short, broad,
and rounded, and the whole of tlie tail is comprised
in the interfemoral membrane.

The nose of this species is short, and rather point-
ed; the interfemoral membrane, which completely
includes the tail, is velvet-like above, and of the
same reddish brown colour as the back and upper
part of the neck. The belly is of a paler colour, and
there is a white spot at the origin of the wings. The
hair covering the body is soft and furry.

This species is found in the state of New York,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, on the Missouri, &c.

Species YY.^Hoary Bat.

Vespertilio Pruinosus.— Say.

Long's Expedition io the Rocky Mountains, Vol. i. p, 168,

The ears of this species are large and short not
equalling the length of the head, and are hairy on

OF THE BAT.

69

their outside, for more than half their length. The
tragus^ is very obtuse at tip, and arcuated or bow-
shaped. The nostrils open at a distance from each
other; the canine teeth are large and prominent;
there is but one distinct cutting tooth on each side,
placed very near the canine, and almost on a line with
it; it is of a conical form, and furnished with a tu-
bercle on its exterior base. The brachial membrane
is densely hairy on the anterior margin beneath,
and the interfemoral membrane is covered with fur.

The fur of the back is long, and of a black brown
colour at base, then of a pale brownish yellow, then
blackish, and then white; towards the rump dark
ferruginous takes the place of the brownish yellow.
The colours beneath, are similar to those of the
back, but on the anterior portion of the breast the
fur is not tipped with white, and on the throat it is
of a dull yellowish white, and is dusky at base.

This Bat is nearly four and a-half inches long, and
was common in the vicinity of Engineer Cantonment,
where the expedition to the Rocky Mountains win-
tered. Mr. Thomas Nuttall, the justly distin-
guished botanist, observed it also at Council Bluffs.
A specimen captured near Philadelphia, was present-
ed to the Philadelphia museum, by the late j)i’ofessor
Barton.

* That part of the external ear, which corresponds to the
projection on the human ear, situated inimediatelj next the
face, over the joint of the jaw-bone; the antitragus is imme-
diately opposite, and a little lower down, on the outer portion
of cartilage, leaving, between the two, the little gutter directly
above the lobule or fleshy part of the ear.

70

GENERAL HISTORY

This fine large species, remarkable for its variously
coloured fur, was first scientifically described by Say,
in the work above quoted, and we are indebted to
him for all we have said relative to it. He states
it to have much affinity with the New York Bat,
before described, but is of twice the size, and dis-
tinguished from that species by various minor charac-
ters.

Species IV, — Arcuated Bat.

Vespertilio Arcuatus. — Say.

Long’s Expediiion to the Rocky Mountains, Vol. i. p. 168.

The head of this species is large, and the ears,
rather shorter than the head, are wide, rounded at
tip and hairy at base. The posterior edge has two
slight and very obtuse emarginations: the anterior
base is distant from the eye. The tragus is arcuated,
and obtuse at tip; the interfemoral membrane is
naked, including all the tail, except one half of
the joint next the last. The total length of this
Species is fivp inches; the tail being one inch and
a-half long. In expansion it is more than thirteen
inches. The upper cutting teeth, like those of vari-
ous species of our Bats, are not prominent, but much
inclined forwards, not rising at their tips above the
intervening callosity.

Mr. Say remarks, that “ this Bat might readi-
ly be mistaken for the Carolina Bat ( V. Carolinensis,
Geoff.) which it resembles in colour, but differs fr(^ '
it in being of a larger size, the ears broader and
proportionally shorter, and an arcuated tragus curv>

OF THE BAT.

71

ing in an almost uniform manner towards the ante-
rior portion of the ear, like that of the V. Serotinus,
Daub. Geoff, though not so broad.”

This Bat was obtained from the same vicinity as
the preceding.

Species Y .—-Subulate Bat.

Vesper tilio Subulatus.— Say.

Long’s Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, Vol. ii. p. 63.

The ears are longer than they are broad, and
nearly as long as the head; the half nearest the head
is hairy, a little ventricose on the anterior edge, and
extending near to the eye. The tragus is elongated
and subulate. The hair above is blackish at base,
and at tip dull cinereous; the iriterfemoral mem^
brane hairy at base, the hair of one colour; a
few are also scattered over its surface, and along its
edge, as well as that of the brachial membrane.
Beneath, the hair is black, the tip yellowish
white. The hind feet are rattier long, a few bristles
extending over the nails; only a minute portion of
the tail protrudes beyond the membrane.

The total length of this species is two inches and
nine-tenths; the tail being one inch and one-fifth
long.

On this species Mr. Say makes the following re-
marks, It appears to be an immature specimen, as
the molars are remarkably long and acute; the ca-
nines are very much incurved, and the right one is

72

GENKUAI. HISTORY

singularly bifid at tip, the division resembling short
bristles. This species is, beyond a doubt, distinct
from the Carolina Bat, ( F. Caro/fnensw, Geoff.) with
which the ears are in proportion equally elongated,
and, as in that Bat, a little ventricose on the anterior
edge, so as almost to extend over the eye; but the
tragus is much longer, narrower, and more acute, re-
sembling that of the Emarginatus, Geoff., as well in
form as in proportion to the length of the ear.”*

* The Prince of Musignano has several new species of
American Bats, the descriptions of which he at present defers
publishing, in order to gain more information relative to them.
Should he publish his descriptions in time, we shall insert
them in our appendix.

Ihd€rJ)cl.

TKeai'nx Sc.

• 'I dir r/’/d (i/. Jird.rt/ ,^Sn//.

//

1.2

ij';.

!■ ■ ;

It

‘ I,'-''-', i

'fe;':,/;' ■ v::||;;:':

CHAPTER III.

Family II. — Insectivora; Insect-Eaters.

The designation by which this family is known, is
not intended to imply that the animals it comprehends
feed more exclusively on insects, than those treated
of in the preceding chapter; but the division, by
aiding the memory, serves the purpose of facilitating
our studies. The members of this family resemble
the cheiroptera in the form of their molar teeth and
in the nature of their food, but they are destitute
of every thing like the, lateral membrane, which in
the former supplies the place of wings.

Their chief food is insects, and most of them in cold
countries pass the winter in a state of torpidity. They
all have clavicles; but their limbs are short, and their
motions feeble. Their paps, or teats, are mostly
placed on the belly; the intestines are destitute of
csBcum.^ They tread on the whole sole of the foot,
pass a great part of their lives beneath the surface
of the earth, and most generally leave their subter*
ranean retreats only at night.

^ Illis invaginatus est penis.

VOL. I.— K

74

GENERAL HISTORY

Genus V. Shrew; Sorex, L.

&>', MuynAn. French. {Ancient) Muserain; Mu-

Ang. Sax. Screawa, Scirfemus. zeraigne, Muset, Musette, Sery,
Germ. Die Spitzmaus, Reutmaus. Sri. ^ Modern) La Musaiaigne.
Zismaus, Miiger, Miitzer, Bissam- Ital. Toparagno.
mans. Span. Musgano, Musarano Murga-

Dutch. Spitzmuis. no.

Gan. & Norse. Spidsmuus, Nebbe- Port. Musaranho, Muferanho.

muus, Angelmus, Museskijer. Polish. Keret.

Swed. Nabbemus. Hungar. Patkaani. Lap. Zibak

GENERIC CHARACTERS.

The head of the shrew is elongated, conical, and
the eyes are visible, though extremely minute; the
snout is long and moveable. The ears .are short,
rounded and broader than they are long; the body is
covered with short fine hair. The fingers and toes
are very small and feeble, stand separate from each
other, and are provided with hooked nails, which are
unfit for burrowing. The teats, from six to ten in
number, are partly placed on the chest, and partly
on the belly. The feet are short, having five toes
with slight nails.

Dental System.

r 2 Incisor

r 10 False 1

18 upper

< 0 Canine

1 Molars.

J

k 16 Molar

1 8 1 rue t

H

^ 2 Incisor

f 4 False 1

o

rr>

12 lower

< 0 Canine

■< k Molars.

L

(_ 10 Molar.

6 True J

In the UPPER JAW there is a very strong hooked
cutting-tooth, terminating in a point, and strengthen-
ed at its base posteriorly by a strong edge, which is
itself divided in two by a furrow on its internal face,

OF THE SHREW.

75

which forms another uneven edge at that part. Im-
mediately next this, is a regular very strong false
molar, which is followed by two others, both of the
same size, equally regular in form, but one-half
smaller than the first. The fourth false molar is ru-
dimental, and concealed between the third and the
fifth. The latter is very large, cutting, with a flat
and salient part at its internal basis, which causes it
to resemble the tearing grinders of the most car-
nivorous animals. The three following molars are
similar to those thus far described, only that the base
on which the prisms are placed are composed anteri-
orly of a pointed tubercle, and posteriorly of a smooth
and flattened part: moreover, the anterior prism of the
first is less developed than the other, and the poste-
rior prism of the last is not at all perceptible.

In the lower jaw there is a strong, long and
crooked cutting- tooth, terminating in a point, and re-
clining in front; next to this follow two regularly
formed false molars, the first a little smaller than the
second; the three true molars resemble those of the
Shrew-mole and Star-nose, except that the last has
only the anterior point of its posterior prism.

In their reciprocal position, the lower cutting-teeth
correspond, by their points, with the inside of the
upper ones, and fill up the -furrow which separates
the principal part of these teeth from that which
exists at their base, posteriorly. The false molars
leave a large space between them, except the two
last, which touch each other, the anterior edge of
the upper being applied to the posterior edge of the
lower. The anterior face of the first lower molar,
is opposed to the internal surface of the last upper
false molar, which we have seen is small; it is be-

76

♦GENERAL HISTORY

tween these two teeth that the cutting is performed
by this system of dentition. The other teeth have
the same relations as those heretofore described.

The shrews belonging to this country are remark-
able for their diminutive size and appafent helpless-
ness, and were we to judge of their utility or capacity
for enjoyment by their size or strength, we should
conclude that their usefulness is very equivocal, and
their lives exceedingly comfortless. But their small
bodies and slight strength only fit them more perfect-
ly for the places they inhabit, and their senses being
planned on a scale relative to their condition, leave
us every reason to infer, that they may derive as
much pleasure from their peculiar food, and the so-
ciety of their mates, as the largest animals in exist-
ence, whose massive frames seem to make earth trem-
ble beneath their footsteps.

Shrews are most generally found in the country,
where their residence is either in burrows, or among
heaps of stones, or in holes made by other animals;,
near dung heaps, hay ricks, or privies, they are
more numerous than elsewhere. Insects are their
principal subsistence, but they seem no less fond of
grain, putrid flesh, and filth of various sorts, as they
have been occasionally seen rooting in ordure iii a
manner similar to that of the hog.

These animals rarely come out in the day time,
and are so small as to require very close attention to
observe their modes of living. As the autumnal sea-
son advances, they are found resorting in considerable
numbers to the barns and granaries, where they find
a large supply of food and more comfortable quar-
ters for their winter’s sleep.

OF THE SHREW.

77

A very ridiculous notion formerly existed relative
to the bite of these inoffensive creatures. It was
thought they bit and poisoned cattle; hence we find,
among other appellations, the name of ‘^poisonous
mouse” has been bestowed; This notion most pro---
bably originated in consequence of associating the
existence of shrews in the vicinity of stables, with
the appearance of some disease on the extremities of
horses, &c. As the mouth of the shrew can scarcely
be opened wide enough to grasp the doubling of skin
necessary to allow of a bite, we must perceive that
the accusation of poisoning is erroneous.

Cats and other animals will hunt and destroy
shrews, but cannot sufficiently surmount the disgust
caused by their offensive odour, to eat them. The
cause of their peculiar smell, has been discovered by
the celebrated Geoffroy, who gives a description
of the secretory apparatus in the Memoirs of the
Museum of Natural History, vol. i, 1815.

These odoriferous glands, unlike those of various
other animals, are in the shrew found on the side,
nearer to the anterior than the posterior extremi-
ties, and are of an oval form. Externally, they are
rendered visible by an oval-shaped disk, composed of
two ra:nges of short, stiff hairs. The ranges in cross-
ing each other are placed back to back, and are thus
retained; they are constantly moistened by a viscous
humour which is furnished by the internal organ,
and gives them a greasy or oily appearance. The
situation of these glands is rendered still more dis-
tinct by a circle round them, caused by the naked-
ness of the parts.

The results of numerous observations induced

78 GENBEAL HISTORY

Geoffroy to conclude, that this glandular apparatus
is not in the same state of enlargement throughout
every season of the year. It is more remarkable in
the males than in females, and in the former it is
much larger at the approach of the breeding season.
From this circumstance, the French naturalist has
concluded, that the only use of this gland is to furnish
a guide to conduct the sexes to each other, during the
season of their loves, through the long subterranean
galleries they inhabit.

If vve consider the long and pointed nose of the
shrew, which is extended considerably beyond the
jaws,, we perceive a distant resemblance to the sca-
lops or, shrew-mole, while its legs and tail give a
slight resemblance to the mouse. This comparison
does not, however, hear examination in reference to
either animal, as will be fully seen when we come
to speak of them, especially in reference to the eyes,
ears and hands of the shrew- mole, and the' teeth, &c.
of the mouse. Nevertheless there is no other ani-
mal we can well compare it with, and the first view
of one of the shrews does not fail to excite a recol-
lection of the mouse, if not of the shrew-mole.

Species I. — -Small Shrew. .

Sorex Parvus. — Say.

Long's Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, vol. i. p. 163. •

The small shrew is of a brownish ash colour on
the body above, and cinereous beneath. Its head is
elongated, having the eyes and ears concealed; the
whiskers are long, the longest reaching nearly to the

OF THE SHREW.

79

back of the head. The nose is naked and emargi-
nated: the front teeth are black, and the lateral ones
piceous. The feet are whitish and five toed; the
nails prominent, acute, and white; the tail is short,
subcylindric, moderately thick, slightly thicker in
the middle, and whitish beneath.

The length from the tip of the nose to the roof of
the tail is two inches and three-eighths. The tail
measures three-fourths of an inch. The length from
the upper teeth to the tip of the nose is three- twen-
tieths of an inch..

This species was obtained at Engineer Cantonment,
on the Missouri, where it was caught in a pitfall set
for a wolf by Mr. Titian Peale. It may proper-
ly be considered as one of the smallest mammiferous
animals belonging to this continent.

Species II. — Short-tail Shrew.

Sorex Brevicaudus.' — Say.

Long’s Expedition to the Rocicy Mountains, vol. i. p. 164.

The body of the small shrew, when seen from be-
fore, is of a blackish lead colour above; when view-
ed from behind, it is of a silvery plumbeous hue; the
fur, which is dense and rather long, is of a paler co-
lour beneath. The head is large, the eyes very
minute; the ears are white, entirely concealed be-
neath the fur. The passage to the internal ear is
very large, with two distinct half divisions (tragus and
antitragus?) which are at tip sparsely hairy. The
mouth is short with a slightly impressed abbreviated

80

GENERAL HISTORY

line above. The nose is of a livid brown colour, and
emarginated: the mouth is margined with whitish
and with scattered short hairs; the teeth are of a
pitchy black at tip. The feet are white, the second,
third, and fourth toes being subequal; the first and
fifth are shorter, the former rather shortest, the an-
terior having but few hairs and nearly naked.

The nails are nearly as long as the toes; the tail is
covered with scattered hairs; it is of nearly an equal
diameter, but slightly thickest in the middle, de-
pressed, and nearly as long as the posterior feet.

The. total length of this shrew is four inches and
five-eighths; length of the tail one inch; from the
upper teeth to the tip of the nose one-eighth.

This species bears a close resemblance to the one
first described, but it is proportionally much larger;
the head is much larger and more elongated, the
tail is more robust, and the inferior anterior pair of
incissors are similar to those of the Sorex Constrictus
of Geoffroy. Mr. Say inclines to the opinion that
this is the same species as that mentioned by Barton
as the black shrew.”

Species III. — \jnm'ked thus*, in the plate.

The description of this species is postponed for
the present, as Mr. Titian Peale, to whom it be-
longs, has not yet decided on its name. It has,
however, been described by a recent writer, as the
Sorex Araneus of Europe, with the description of
which it by no means agrees. We hope to give the
proper designation and description in our appendix.

CHAPTER IV.

Genus VI. Shrew-Molej Scalops, Cuv.

Ft. Musaraigne Taupe. Germ. Wassermavis.

Ital. Scalopo. Eng. Brown Mole.

GENERIC CHARACTERS.

The head is elongated, and terminates in an eX'
tended and cartilaginous snout, which is very flexi-
ble. The eyes are exceedingly small and entirely
concealed by the hair, requiring the closest attention
for their detection. Not only is the auricle or ex-
ternal cartilaginous part of the ear entirely wanting,
but the integument of the head nearly covers over
the cartilaginous tube leading to the internal ear,
and its situation is only known by a small naked
spot, in which there is a minute opening.

The feet are very short and five toed; the anterior
terminate in a remarkably large hand, having the
fingers joined together by the integuments up to the
last phalanx. Tliese fingers are armed with long,
flat and linear nails, increasing in length from the
thumb to the third finger; the two others are less in
size, and the external is smallest of all. The extra-

VOL. I. — L

82

general history

ordinary breadth of the hand is produced, as we
shall hereafter see, by a singular supplementary bone,
&c. The hind feet are very delicate, and the toes
are provided with small hooked nails.

Dental System.

c

20 Upper

16 Lower

{

{

2 Incisive
0 Canine
18 Molar.

4 Incisive
0 Canine
12 Molar.

|^6Trly J^olars.

{ eSe I Molars.

In the upper jaav we find an incisor with a
rounded, cutting edge, its front surface being also
rounded, and its posterior one very flat. There is
much analogy between the incisors of this animal and
those of the gnawers, more especially as they stand
side by side on the same line. Behind these teeth
come six false molars; next to these, two small ones
resembling threads, such is their tenuity; afterwards
there is another much larger, cylindrical and point-
ed, and after that a fourth, equally cylindrical and
pointed, but much smaller. The fifth is obliquely
truncated at its summit, from before backwards, the
section resembling the head of a lance, the point
being bent backwards; the sixth is entirely similar
to the preceding, except that it is twice the size.
The three molars are, in general, similar to those
of the bat; the only diflerence is, that the anterior
prism of the first molar is imperfect, its anterior
half not being developed, and the same is the case
with the posterior prism of the last one, by the ob-

OF THE SHREW-MOLE.

83

literatioii of the posterior half of this prism. Fi-
nally, the interior projection of each of these three
teeth is simple, and consists of nothing hut a tubercle
at the base of the anterior prism.

In the lower jaw there are two incisors; the
first is very small and cutting, the second pointed,
and slightly hooked, leaning forward, and destitute
of roots, properly speaking, like the tusks of certain
animals, 'in which the dental capsule remains always
free: we call them incisors, only because they act in
mastication against the upper incisors. The three
succeeding false molars have a single point, with a
small notching posteriorly, slightly inclined forwards,
and resembling each other, except in size, the first
being the smallest and the third the largest. The
three molars are exactly similar to those of the bat,
that is to say, composed of two parallel prisms, ter-
minated each by three points, and presenting one of
their angles on the outer side, and one of their faces
on the internal surface. The two first are of the
same size; the last somewhat smaller.

In their reciprocal position, the lower incisors
correspond to the internal face of the upper; the false
molars are alternate, and the molars are so related,
that the anterior prisms of the lower, fill the hollow
found between two teeth, and the posterior prism,
that which exists between the two prisms of a single
upper tooth. The lower are the thickness of one
prism in advance of the upper molars.'

84

GENERAL HISTOKi'

Species I. — Shrew-Mole.

Scalops Canadensis. — Cuv.

Sorex Aquaticus, Lin. Syst. Nat. Vol. i.p. 112, Sp. 3.

Musaraigne brune, Enc. plate 30, Jig. 2.

Talpa Fusca, Penn. Quad.p. 314.

Scalops Canadensis, Desm. Mam.p. 155,

The Shrew-Mole when at rest bears more re-
semblance to a small stuffed sack than to a living
animal, its head being entirely destitute of exter-
nal ears, and elongated nearly to a point, and its
eyes so extremely small and completely hidden by
the fur, that it would not be surprising should
a casual observer conclude this creature to be blind.
But we must be continually guarded against hasty
conclusions, or idle conjectures, drawn from slight
observations; this apparently shapeless mass is en-
dowed with great activity and a surprising de-
gree of strength, and is excellently suited for de-
riving enjoyment from the peculiar life it is designed
to lead.

The shrew-mole is found abundantly in North
America, from Canada to Virginia; often living at
no great distance from water- courses, or in dykes
thrown up to protect meadows from inundation.
But so far from exclusively inhabiting such places,
as stated in various books, I have found them in far
greater numbers at a very considerable distance from
any water-course, and in high oftener than low
grounds. In the country they frequent the gardens,
where their subterranean galleries are sometimes
productive of vexation to the farmer, especially as

OF THE SHREW-MOLE.

85

the animal occasionally courses along the rows of
pea-vines, &c. apparently for the purpose of feed-
ing on their roots. This, we shall hereafter learn, is
most probably an error, and we may find good rea-
sons for believing that the shrew-mole should be con-
sidered rather as a benefactor than a depredator.

The shrew-mole burrows with great quickness,
and travels under ground with much celerity: no-
thing can be better constructed for this purpose than
its broad and strong hands, or fore-paws, armed with
long and powerful claws, which are very sharp at
their extremities, and slightly curved on the inside.
These are thrust forward so as to be even with the
extremity of the flexible snout, and the earth to be
removed is pressed outwards, and at the same time
thrown backwards with remarkable quickness. The
soft and polished fur with which this animal is cov-
ered, preventing a great degree of friction, tends
to facilitate its subterranean march.

Numerous galleries, communicating with each
other, enable the shrew-mole to travel in various di-
rections, without coming to the surface, which they
appear to do very rarely, unless their progress is im-
peded by a piece of ground so hard as to defy their
strength and perseverance. The depth of their bur-
rows depends very materially on the character of the
soil, and the situation of the place: sometimes we
find them running for a great distance, at a depth of
from one to three inches, and again we trace them
much deeper; after following such a gallery for several
yards, it occasionally communicates with another go-
ing deep into the earth.

86

GENERAL HISTORY

The most remarkable circumstance connected with
these burrows, is the number of hills of loose dirt
which are frequently formed over the surface of
them. These hills of loose earth are usually found
in considerable numbers, at a distance of two feet
or a little more apart, being from four to six inches
high, and about the same in diameter. I have often
examined these eminences, in the neighbourhood
of Philadelphia, and have never been able fully to
understand how they are formed; a slight motion
is observed at the surface, and presently this loose
earth is seen to be worked up through a small ori-
fice, whence, falling on all sides, by its accumula-
tion the hills just mentioned are produced. It seems
to be brought from some distance, for on break-
ing up the gallery, it was evident that more earth
had been thrown out than could have been re-
moved in excavating the immediately adjoining por-
tions of the burrow. In one instance I have seen
the shrew-mole show the extremity of its snout
from the centre of one of these loose hills, where it
had come at mid-day, as if for the purpose of enjoy-
ing the sunshine, without exposing its body to the
full influence of the external air.

Under ordinary circumstances the burrows are
simply oval arched galleries, running forward either
straight or in gentle curvatures, at the depth here-
tofore mentioned, and they are most regular in
soils abounding in earth-worms. In the dry and
sandy soil of Jersey, I have found them very irregu-
lar in direction and depth, and in the woods, uni-
formly leading round the roots of trees, under which

OF THE SHREW-MOLE.

87

large excavations are frequently to be traced. We
can readily understand the object of these excava-
tions when we recollect that the ants very often have
their nests in such situations, and their larvae, or eggs,
constitute a favourite food of the shrew-mole. The
burrows made by this animal are sometimes found to
terminate under large stones, where it resorts to ga-
ther the insects which are numerous in such situa-
tions. I have traced a burrow of this sort close to a
barn-wall, and , then following it nearly around the
whole house, have found that it passed under every
large stone in its vicinity, although not directly in
the general course of the gallery, the cavity being
much larger beneath the stones than elsewhere.

The favourite food of the shrew-mole is the earth-
worm; grubs and insects of various kinds he destroys
in great quantities, and it may fairly be questioned
whether the good done in this way does not more
than overbalance any evil attendant on his presence.
It is true that this animal is accused of eating grass
roots, and roots of succulent vegetables, and may
thus be productive of some mischief in gardens,

I but scarcely to so great a degree as to constitute a
serious evil. The presence of the shrew-mole in
fields of Indian corn appears to be decidedly advan-
tageous from the destruction of great numbers of slugs
and worms; but in dry seasons these animals, if nu-
merous, may injure small grain or grasses to a consid-
erable extent, not only by the wounds they inflict on
the root with their sharp claws, but by raising the
sod while forming their burrows, so as to withdraw
the roots from the influence of the moist soil below.

It is remarkable how unwilling they are to re-

88

general history

linquish a long frequented burrow; I have fre-
quently broken down or torn off the surface of the
same burrow for several days in succession, but would
always find it repaired at the next visit. This was
especially the case with one individual whose nest
I discovered, which was always repaired within a
short time, as often as destroyed. It was an oval
cavity, about six or seven inches in length by three
in breadth, and was placed at about eight inches
from the surface in a stiff clay. The entrance to it
sloped obliquely downwards from the common gallery,
about two inches from the surface; three times I en-
tirely exposed this cell by cutting out the whole
superincumbent clay with a knife, and three times a
similar one was made a little beyond the situation
of the former, the excavation having been continued
from its back part. I paid a visit to the same spot
two months after capturing its occupant, and breaking
up the nest, all the injuries were found to be repaired,
and another excavated within a few inches of the
old one. Most probably numerous individuals, com-
posing a whole family, reside together in these ex-
tensive galleries. In the winter they burrow closer
to the streams, where the ground is not so deeply
frozen.

The shrew-mole is not only able to make his way
rapidly underground, but can run quite fast when on
the surface, notwithstanding the apparent disadvan-
tages under which he labours. When placed on a
smooth path-way, or a floor, and especially if alarmed,
he runs with far more speed than could possibly be
anticipated from the structure of his limbs. In at-
tempting to escape by running his motions are very

OP THE SHEEW-MOLE.

89

similar to those performed while burrowing; the
broad fore paws are placed on edge, with the thumb
to the ground, and both fore and hind fe«t are
moved in rapid succession, the body being trailed
along with a slight undulatory motion.

The strength of the shrew mole is really surpris-
ing, and altogether beyond what we should deem
possible in so small a creature. One which we had
in a basket on the mantlepiece of a parlour, made
its escape, and fell to the hearth; apparently it sus-
tained little injury by the fall, but hurried on until
it reached the wall, where it began to travel round
the room. Whenever its course was impeded by
the feet of the chairs, which were of large size, it
would not go round them, but wedging itself be-
tween them and the wall, pushed them with apparent
ease far enough to obtain a free passage, and it thus
continued to move several in succession. What was
more astonishing, it passed in a similar manner be-
hind the legs of a small mahogany breakfast- table,
and pushed it aside in the same way it had done the
chairs, finally hiding itself behind a pile of quarto
volumes, more than two feet high, which it also moved
out from the wall.

When endeavouring to escape a pursuer, while
in his burrow', the shrew-mole displays his utmost
strength. In this case, although you may have suc-
ceeded in catching hipi by his posterior extremities,
it is exceedingly difficult to draw him from the hole
without violence. His broad and strong fore paws
are then struck outwards against the sides of the
excavation, with all the energy of despair, and when

VOL. T, — M

90

GKNEKAT. HISTOKY

the animal is finally dragged from his retreat, he fre-
quently inflicts a severe bite on his disturber.

Shrew-moles are most active early in the morn-
ing, at mid-day, and in the evening; after rains they
are particularly busy in repairing their damaged gal-
leries; and in long continued wet weather we find
that they seek the high grounds for security. The
precision with which they daily come to the surface
at twelve o’clock is very remarkable, and is well
known in the country. In many instances when
we have watched them, they appeared exactly at
twelve, and at this time only have we succeeded in
taking them alive, which is easily done by intercept-
ing their progress with a spade, broad knife-blade,
&c. and throwing them on the surface. These ani-
mals do not appear to be well suited for living in the
open air, especially if it be somewhat cool: for,
after being a few minutes exposed, we have always
observed them shiver as if from the change of tem-
perature.

That an animal of this kind should be domesti-
cated with facility would seem hardly possible, yet
our friend Titian Peale tamed a very fine one,
which he caught while we were together exam-
ining their modes of burrowing. This shrew-mole
is kept in a box containing some loose earth and
dried grass for his bed; he eats considerable quan-
tities of fresh meat, either cooked or raw, drinks
freely, and is remarkably lively and playful, fol-
lowing the hand of his feeder by the scent, —
burrowing for a short distance in the loose earth,
and after making a small circle, returning for more
food. When engaged in eating he employs his

OF THE SHREW-MOLE.

91

flexible snout in a singular manner to thrust the food
into his mouth, doubling it under so as to force it
directly backwards. When he has obtained one piece
of meat, he will not relinquish it even for the sake
of earth-worms, or other favourite food; he is also
fond of burying himself when he has received any
thing, in order to eat it undisturbed.

The shrew-mole is covered with a soft, glossy fur,
which is about half an inch in length, and of a uni-
form eolour oyer the whole of the body. Tliis gene-
ral tint is bright plumbeous, having silvery reflexions
when viewed from the front of the animal, and ap-
pearing of a darker hue when seen from the posterior
part, with faint purple reflexions, varying according
to the incidence of light. The fur is very closely set,
and the direction of it is in all parts from before
backwards. The only places where any differences
of colour are distinguishable, is around the base of the
snout, where it is faintly ferruginous, and. this ferru-
ginous tint may be traced for a short distance on the
base of the fur towards the situation of the ear, which,
though destitute of external appendages, may be dis-
covered on the lateral part of the head, by carefully
turning away the surrounding fur. Immediately pos-
terior to the chin, or in the fold of the neck, there
is a narrow but well marked ferruginous horizontal
streak for about half an inch, and a faint trace of the
same colour may be distinguished along the centre
of the belly.

The whole fore-arm of the shrew-mole is concealed
by the skin, so as to give no external mark of its
figure, leaving the broadly expanded palm, with its

92,

GENERAL HISTORY

long nails, resting on its internal or inferior edge,
projecting from the fore part of the body in an
awkward manner, if it be compared with the ante-
rior extremity of other animals. All the joints of
the fingers are moveable, and the carpus is articu-
lated with the fore-arm, so as to be flexed with much
force by a strong muscle, whose tendon is broad-
ly expanded to be inserted into the extremities of
the phalanges. The nails of the hands are strong,
nearly straight, and edged at their extremities, be-
ing convex externally, and rather flattened on the
posterior or inner side. In addition to the bones of
the hand, which the shrew-mole has in common with
various animals, it is provided with an additional
bone on the radial edge of the hand, or exterior to
the thumb, articulated with the wrist, and of a semi-
circular, or rather scythe-like figure. There is also
a rudiment, somewhat similar in character, exterior
to the little finger. To the larger one first men-
tioned, a small tendon from the muscles is attached,
and this bone, although entirely covered by the skin
of the palm, appears to serve the purpose of very
much increasing its breadth, and adding to the use-
fulness of the hand as an instrument for burrowing.
An extension of the skin of the palm on the outside
or under edge of this bone, so as to form a small fold,
still farther increases the breadth of the hand. The
palms of the hands are seven-eighths of an inch in
breadth, and of a light fiesh-colour when the animal
is first caught.

The soles of the hind feet are placed on the earth,

in other insectivoi-ous animals; the toes are deli-'

OF THE SHREW-MOLE.

93

cate, and the joints moveable, having small curved
claws: from the heel to the base of the claws, the
distance is five-eighths of an inch.

The snout is composed of a cartilage articulated
with the premaxillary bones, and moved in various
directions by muscles situated on the side of the
head; it is naked, and of a very light flesh-colour
when the animal is first exposed to the open air;
it is half an inch long, and feels somewhat horny
at the extremity. The under surface is at the end
slightly prolonged, or projects a little beyond the
nostrils, which open on its upper surface, and are
rather oblong. The mouth of the shrew-mole is
comparatively large, and the tongue is considerable
in size. The roof of the mouth is marked by nine
transverse projections, or ridges and hollows, which
are beautifully distinct. The eyes of this creature
are exceedingly small, and very difficult to be dis-
covered externally without a good glass. They are
entirely concealed by the surrounding hair, which
being cleared away, leaves a naked space equal
in circumference to the head of a middling sized
pin; in the centre of this space a small dark speck
may be distinguished with the naked eye. On ex-
amining one adult individual with a microscope,
(No. 9,) this proved to be a number of hairs arranged
in a semi- elliptical manner, the eye-ball beingscarcely
discoverable. When the skin was carefully removed,
the eye-balls were found corresponding to the situa-
tion of these hairs, and were less in size than a grain
of mustard-seed. On holding the skin up to the
light, and examining it attentively, the exceedingly
small aperture, or separation of the eye-lids, was visi-

94

GENERAL HISTORY

ble; it would allow the passage of an ordinary sized
human hair, and possibly of a very fine horse hair.
Hence we perceive that the vision of this animal must
be extremely limited, as the focus of so microscopic
an eye is almost inconceivably small. It seems to be
barely sufficient to give the shrew-mole an intima-
tion of light, without allowing it to distinguish the
figures of bodies; this conclusion is further support-
ed by the careful manner in which the eye is con-
cealed by the fur, and the minute aperture through
the lids, or the skin. The orifice leading to the in-
ternal ear is curiously situated, being placed about
three-fourths of an inch behind the eye, and opening
nearly over the shoulder-joint of the animal. In the
specimen first examined, this opening was so small
that it was not detected, and I thought the skin con-
tinuous over the cartilaginous tube, but a recent
search enabled me to ascertain its position. The
aperture is nearly circular, and would admit an or-
dinary pin; the cartilaginous tube, leading to the in-
ternal ear, from immediately within the skin, where it
is expanded somewhat trumpet-form, to its entrance
into the skull, is five-sixteenths of an inch long.

When the skin of the animal is removed, a much
better idea of its peculiar adaptation to its mode of
life is obtained. The muscles surrounding the shoul-
der-blade, arms, and fore-arm, are of great size, and
occupy all the space anterior to the greater con-
vexity of the chest, so as to destroy all appearance
of neck, giving to the fore part of the body a robust
and clumsy appearance. The head is, however, ca-
pable of some motion, both laterally and verti-
cally. All the appearances of strength seem con-

OF THE SHREW-MOLE.

95-

centrated about the fore shoulders, where the mus-
cles swell out with strong fibres, and of a deep red
colour. The posterior extremities are delicate and
slender when compared with the anterior, the thighs
being flattened and thin, as if of less importance to
the motion of the animal.

Every circumstance seems to be studied in the
shrew-mole with a view to facilitate its progression
under the surface of the earth. We observe this
attention not only in its silky and polished fur, its
pointed head, broad and powerful hands, and mus-
cular limbs, but all its internal structure seems equally
to co-operate. The pelvis is a single, slight and flat-
tened bone; the pubic portions, instead of uniting in
the centre, and projecting as in other animals, are
very small, rise but slightly, and do not unite with
each other; but from their extremities the crura penis,
with the erector muscles, take their origin. The
penis itself, after passing forwards for half an inch,
as it approaches the surface is curved backwards,
that it may present no resistance to the motion of the
body through the ground. Neither do the testes
present externally; a small portion, about the size of
a large pin’s head, is exterior to the abdominal ring,
and this part corresponds very closely with the head
of the epididymis in the human subject, but the body
of the testis is within the cavity of the abdomen,
being half an inch long, and one-fourth of an inch
broad. Near the anus, and situated between the
upper part of the thigh and tail, we find on each
side an odoriferous gland, which is about half an inch
long, of a dark greenish tint, and having a strong

96

GENEUAL HISTORY, &C.

musky odour, which imparts to the animal, during
life, a very peculiar smell.

The total length of the shrew-mole, from the point
of the snout to the beginning of the tail, is live inches,
and the tail one inch long. The longest fur on
the body was half an inch in length. The specimen
from which this description is made was a line adult
male, which, with the assistance of my friend W. W.
Wood, was caught on the banks of the Delaware,
and kept alive for some time. We have since had an
opportunity of examining several specimens, and find
no difference between them in colour, except that
the ferruginous marking on the head and neck does
not appear to be a constant character. A living
specimen, kept for many weeks in a room, was
nearly as tame as the one already mentioned; this
individual spent the greater part of the day asleep,
and was very active at night. He could not see in
any light, as he uniformly ran his nose with some
violence against everj'^ obstacle several times, before
he learned to avoid those that were permanent.

We have, at the suggestion of a scientific friend,
applied to this animal the name of Shrew-mole, which
is a translation of the French designation, rather
than run a risk of having it confounded with the
European genus Talpa, by calling it simply the
mole,” a name by which it is popularly known.

CHAPTER V.

Genus VII. Condylura; Illiger.

Fr. — La Taupe du Canada. Germ. — Die Haarnase Spitzmause.

GENERIC CHARACTERS.

The head is long, conical, terminating in a snout,
which is encircled by a cartilaginous fringe or stel-
lated disk, having about twenty points. There are no
external ears; (but a large meatus externus, or auri-
cular orifice, with a division analogous to a tragus
and anti tragus, leads to the internal ear;) the eyes are
very small, and concealed by fur. The anterior ex-
tremities are very short; the paws, or fore-feet, are
broad, five-toed, (the toes being united by the in-
teguments as far as the second phalanx,) covered by
corneous scales, and terminated by long, straight, and
robust nails. The posterior extremities are one-third
longer than the anterior, having five slender toes,
(the phalanges of which are not kept together by
the integuments,) provided with small hooked nails.
The body is thick, covered with fine, short, soft fur,
arranged perpendicular to the length of the body: the
tail has sixteen joints or vertebrie; it is compressed
near the body, then swells slightly, and tapers thence
to its extremity, showing no inequalities caused by
the vertebrae.

VOL. I.— N

98

GENERAL HISTORY

Dental System.

2 20 Lower

20 Upper

20 Upper

(which may be considered as
canine, or false molar teeth.)

4 Incisor

10 Conical, (as above)
6 Molar.

In the upper jaw there are six anomalous cutting
teeth, situated in the premaxillary hones; the two in-
termediate are very large, contiguous, and ranged
along the whole border of the jaw, hollowed in the
form of a spoon, having a slightly oblique cutting
edge, and the angle by which they touch more salient
externally than internally. The next cutting-tooth
on each side touches the intermediary, and resembles
a very long canine tooth, being conical and slightly
triangular at its base, where it has two very small
tubercles, the one before and the other behind. The
external or lateral incisor, the smallest of all the
teeth in this jaw, is simply conic, a little compressed,
slightly curved forwards at its point, and placed
at some distance from the incisor, in the manner of
a canine tooth. There are seven molars on the
right and left, the three first of which are smaller
than the posterior, separated from each other, all
three moderately large, and furnished with a small
pointed lobe at the front of their base, and another
behind. The four last molars are larger than the an-
terior ones, and each of them composed of two folds
of enamel, forming two acute tubercles on the inner
side, and obliquely hollowed to a gutter on the out-
side: there is a projection hollowed to a cupola a.t

OF THE STAU-NOSE MOLE.

99

the internal bases of these teeth. The most anterior
of these four last molars, and the smallest, are placed
on a level with the commissure of the lips; the fol-
lowing one is higher, the third still more so, and the
last smaller than the third.

In the lower jaw, which is very delicate, there
are four flattened cutting teeth, reclined in the form
of a spoon or ear-pick, the lateral ones in part hori-
zontally inclined on the intei’mediary, and rising
slightly at their external edge. Five teeth, with many
lobes, then follow on each side, and may be considered
as false molars, as much separated from each other as
those of the upper jaw, the first being much larger
than the others, and in this alone resembling a canine,
having three lobes, the principal of which is inter-
mediate, the second very much effaced, and the third
slightly salient. The second is nearly similar, but
shorter and more compressed, having the posterior
lobe more apparent than in the preceding. The
third has four lobes, the anterior of which is the least,
the second the largest and most apparent of all, and
two small posterior ones; the fourth is nearly similar
to the third, with this difference, that the first pos-
terior lobe is more internal, and this tooth conse-
quently thicker: the fifth only differs from the fourth
by its greater width, and is almost equal to the first
true molar. There are only three molars in this jaw,
presentittg, like those of the upper jaw, two folds of
enamel, forming a point; but these folds are inverted,
the points being external instead of internal; the
grooves, on the contrary, are internal, and the lower
part of the tooth, instead of exhibiting the whole

100

GENERAL HISTORY

projection, presents a perpendicular wall, and has two
depressions at its summit, each of these depressions
corresponding to the groove that descends from one
of the two points,^

Species I. — Star-nose Mole.

Condylura Cristataj Ilhgeii.

Taupe du Canada; Belafaille, Ess. surL’hist. Nat. de la Taupe, fig. IJ'69;
Sorex Cristatus; Linn. Erx.

Radiated Mole; Penn. Syn. Quad.

Condylure a Museau Etoile ,■ Desni. Mam. p. 157. ^

The Star-nose mole frequents the banks of rivulets,
and the soft soil of adjacent meadows, where their
burrows are most numerous, and apparently inter-
minable; in many places it is scarcely possible to
advance a step without breaking down their galle-
ries, by which the surface is thrown into ridges, and
the surface of the green sward in no slight degree
disfigured. The excavations which are most con-
tinuous, and appear to be most frequented, are placed
at a short distance below the grass roots, on the banks
of small streams; these are to be traced along their
margins, following every inflexion, and making fre-
quent circuits in order to pass large stones or roots of
trees, to regain their usual proximity to the surface
nearest the water.

* This dental system is from Desmarest. See his ex-
cellent note on the genus Condylura, in the Journal de Phy-
sique for September, 1819.

OF THE STAR-NOSE MOLE.

101

The form of the burrow does not perceptibly dif-
fer from that made by the shrew-mole; but Very few
hills are to be found in the localities inhabited by the
star-nose. The chamber- cell resembles that described
in the last chapter, being a space of several inches
dug out of some spot where the clay is tenacious,
and the cell least exposed to injury from the weather
or other accidents.

The system of dentition peculiar to this genus,
would lead to the inference that the quality . of its
food must in some respects differ from that used by
the shrew-mole; but on this point it is not easy to
say more, than that as the star-nose prefers moist and
low situations, and the shrew-mole is most frequently
found in dry and rather elevated spots, they feed
on the larvae and insects proper to such places, which
are doubtless of dissimilar kinds. In a state of cap-
tivity both animals feed readily on flesh, either raw
or cooked, and neither seem to show any fondness
for, or willingness to eat, vegetable matter.

The star-nose mole is about four inches in length,
and of a blackish-gray colour; its pelage being short
and very fine. Its head is much elongated, and the
snout is distinguished by a remarkable disk, or naked
cartilaginous fringe, which surrounds the nostrils.
This disk has about twenty points or rays, the two
superior and the four inferior intermediate of which
are united at their bases, and are situated on a plane
slightly in advance of the others: the surface of these
fringes is granulated, and somewhat of a rose colour.
The neck is not distinguishable in consequence of
the position and great size of the muscles that are
destined to move the anterior extremities, which are

102

GENERATE HISTORY

very short, broad, covered with scales, and provided
with large straight nails, the shortest of which is on
the finger corresponding to the thumb; the second,
third, and fourth are successively and proportionally
longer than each other: the nail on the superior or
little finger is exactly of the same size as that of the
second or index finger: all the fingers are united as
far as the second phalanx. The hind feet are a third
longer than the fore ones, being slender, delicate,
and weak; tlie phalanges are separated from each
other throughout, and have small, curved, and sharp
nails.

The situation of the eyes is marked by three or
four equal hairs, which may be readily discovered,
and are not so stiff or large as those of the whiskers,
the direction of which is not horizontal and lateral,
like most other mammiferous animals, but raised
nearly parallel, and turned towards the snout. Se-
ven transverse wrinkles, occupy the space in the
palate between the cutting teeth and the first three
molars.

There are several very interesting external cha-
racters peculiar to the star-nose, which have been
much overlooked by those who have hitherto writ-
ten on this subject; we will introduce them in this
place, as they may be serviceable in enabling us to
compare the present genus with some others.

The star-nose is destitute of an auricle projecting
above the level of the. skin, but, nevertheless, has
a large auricular orifice. This meatus externus is
half an inch long, having a distinctly marked tra-
gus and anti-tragus, and is situated at a short dis-
tance from the shoulder, in the broad triangular fold

OF THE STAR-KOSE MOLE.

103

of integument connecting the fore-arm and head.
From the meatus, the course of the cartilaginous
tube is obliquely downwards, forwards, and inwards,
until it terminates in a delicate bony tube, previous
to reaching the tympanum, which is large and com-
posed of a very delicate membrane.

The scales on the anterior and posterior extremi-
ties have been mentioned in general terms by several
writers, especially by Desmarest, who gave the
first correct description of this animal. But these
scales are so peculiar and uniform in their position,
that a naturalist should not pass over the particulars
of their arrangement in silence.

On the anterior extremities, the superior or ulnar
edge of the hand has on its anterior surface, (regard-
ing the position of the animal) a row of corneous
scales, about nine in number, which are broadest mid-
way from the carpus to the first phalanx of the fifth
finger. Another row of scales commences on the
inferior part of the little finger, becoming broader
and of a semilunar figure as they extend towards
the metacarpus; between these two a much smaller
row is placed. The fourth finger has a single row
of small scales on its upper posterior side, and a large
one extending along the back of the finger to the
metacarpus; the middle finger has a small central row,
which is just distinguishable; that on the fore finger
is still more faint; the thumb has none but very small
ones on its central posterior part, but on its inferior
posterior part, or radial edge, it lias one scale of con-
siderable size on the phalanx, and four or five be-
tween this part and the carpus; the two nearest the
scale on the phalanx are largest.

104

GENERAL HISTORY

The surface of the palm of the hand is covered
■with small circular scales, extending most numerous-
ly, and of a darker colour, from opposite the root of
the thumb, obliquely outward to the basis of the lit-
tle finger.

On the inferior extremities, the whole of the su-
perior surface of the foot is covered with minute,
blackish, circular scales, which increase slightly in
size as they approach the toes. On the anterior
part of the fourth toe is a large central row of black
scales, and on the fifth a rather smaller one; hence
these toes have a very considerable resemblance to
the toes of a bird. The other toes of the hind foot
being applied with their anterior surfaces to the
ground, have the scales very minute and almost co-
lourless.

The colour of the scales varies on different parts
of the hand. On so much of the back of the hand
as is formed by the fourth and little fingers, the
scales are a very dark blue, approaching to black, in
the living animal; hence to the large scales of the
thumb the colour changes to a faint purplish blue,
which is little more than distinguishable.

Two other excellent characters belonging to the
palm of the hand have been neglected; the first is
the enlargement of the carpal edge of the palm by
an elongation of the integuments; this, in addition
to the row of bristles that margins all the rest of the
palm, has two distinct bristly hairs at its superior
and inferior edge, more than one- eighth of an inch
long. The second character is still more striking;
it is a process of the palmar cuticle on the superior
edge of the thumb and three succeeding fingers.

OF THE STAR-NOSE MOLE,

105

These processes are separated and directed obliquely
upwards and outwards; the serrations on the thumb
being two, and on the three succeeding fingers three
in number.

On the soles of the (posterior) feet another cha-
racter is found, which consists of five circular, dis-
tinct spots, so arranged that the two nearest the body
are parallel with each other, opposite the commence-
ment of the firet toe, counting, as in the human sub-
ject, from the one nearest the median line of the
body; the superior spot is nearly in a line with the
fourth toe, and larger and darker coloured than the
inferior; the two succeeding spots (nearer the ex-
tremity of the toes) are also parallel with each other;
the exterior one is the largest of all these plantar
scales, and placed nearly over the extremity of the
metatarsal of the fourth toe; the fifth, or single scale,
is placed in advance of all the rest, and is situated
immediately over the centre, and behind the separa-
tion of the third and fourth toes. A very analogous
arrangement may be observed in the soles of the feet
of the Sigmodon Hispidum; Ord.

By comparing the condylura with the scalops, we
are led to several interesting observations. We have
seen that the condylura has a remarkable and large
external ear, though it is destitute of a projecting
auricle. The scalops has no auricle, and but an ex-
tremely small meatus externus opening on the side of
the head near the shoulder.

The hand of the scalops is peculiar for its great
breadth and strength: the extraordinary breadth is
produced by an additional metacarpal bone, inferior
or external to the thumb, articulated with the car-

VOL, T.--0

106

GENERAL IIISTORYj &C.

pus, and having a tendon for moving it from the com-
mon flexor of the fingers.^' On the superior or ulnar
edge of the hand, there is a cartilaginous additament,
connected with the little finger by a tendon. The
condylura has the additional metacarpal bone, but
rather like a rudiment, and has not the cartilaginous
additament at the superior edge of the hand; hence
the very great difference in breadth in the hands of
the two genera. The scalops has a slight process or
elongation, not at the carpal extremity of the palm,
but on the inferior or outer edge of the supplemen-
tary bone.

* This structure resembles tliat of the Talpa Europea, or
common mole of Europe, which has recently been asserted
to inhabit Pennsylvania, on the authority of the MS. notes
of the justly celebrated William Bartram. These notes
having been made long before the genera Scalops and Condy-
lura were established, can have no weight, unless along with
the name Talpa Americana, Bartram had given such a de-
scription as to convince us tliat it was not the scalops he ob-
served, of which we have little doubt. However this may be,
we shall continue to discredit the existence of Talpa Europea
in this country, until more positive testimony is adduced.

CHAPTER VI.

Family III, — Carnivora; Flesh-Eaters.

The animals belonging to this family are certain-
ly not the only ones which feed on flesh, since all
others provided with claws, and the three sorts of
teeth, in different degrees feed on animal matter.
The creatures now about to become the subject of
our attention, are fairly and fully entitled to the ap-
pellation of carnivorous, as nature has endowed them
with sanguinary appetites and ferocious dispositions,
and supplied the strength and weapons necessary to
their gratification.

They have four large and long canine teeth, which
are separated in each jaw by six incisors, the second
of which, in the lower jaw, is always more deeply set
than the others. The jaw-teeth are uniformly either
entirely trenchant, or partly supplied with blunt tu-
bercles, and never with conical points. The ante-
rior molars of these animals are the most trenchant;
to these succeed a larger molar, which commonly has
an additional tuberculous point, varying in size; and
behind this tooth we find one or two small entirely
flat teeth. These small teeth at the back of the
mouth, enable dogs to chew the grass which they oc-
casionally eat. To these three sorts of teeth the fol-
lowing names have been appropriated by Frederic
Cuvier: the large molar in the upper and lower jaw

108

GENERAL HISTORy

he calls carnivorous; the anterior pointed jaw-teethy
false molars, and the posterior blunt ones, tubercu-
lous. We may readily and correctly decide on the
degree of exclusiveness with which the animals of
this family feed on flesh, by observing the proportion
between the trenchant and tuberculous surfaces of
their teeth.

Many genera comprised in this family apply the
whole sole of the foot to the ground while walking or
standing erect, as may be perceived by the nakedness
of the inferior surface of the hind feet. A much
larger number walk on the tips of the toes; henee
their speed is much greater, and their general habits
are also very diffei’ent. All of them are equally des-
titute of clavicles, having in its stead nothing but a
bony rudiment.

Tribe I. — Plantigrada; Plantigrade Jlnimals.'^

The individuals of this tribe have five toes on the
fore and hind feet, and in walking they place the
whole sole of the foot on the ground, which enables
them to walk or stand erect better than any other
beasts of prey. They are destitute of a caecum; and
partake of the sluggish gait and nocturnal habits of
the insect-eaters. The greater part of those found
in cold countries pass the winter in a state of tor-
pidity.

* Treading on the whole sole of the foot.

CHAPTER VII.

Genus VIII. Ui'sus, L; Bear.

Crr. Agaroir Germ. Der Bar.

Ital. Orso. Sp. Orso.

Swed. Biorn. Fr. L’ours.

GENERIC CHARACTERS.

The head is large, the muzzle varying in length,
and terminating in a moveable cartilage. The eyes
and ears are small, and the tongue smooth. The
body and limbs are large, powerful, and covered
with a thick woolly hair. The teats are six in num-
ber; four of them are placed on the chest, and two
on the belly. The nails are incurved, very large and
strong; the soles of the hind-feet are callous, and the
tail is short.

The Bear is an animal of great strength and fero-
city of disposition; slow in his movements, and of
sluggish habits. His teeth being most fitted for
subsisting on fruits and vegetable matters, he does
not frequently attack other animals, unless impelled
by necessity. During winter bears generally pass a
great portion of time in a state of inaction and tor-
pidity. They are most generally found in the re-
mote and mountainous districts of North America,
and are gradually becoming more scarce as popula-
tion increases. As we shall give a full account of

110

GENERAL HISTORY

the species, we refer the reader to what is there
said for a better understanding of the character and
habits of this genus.

Dental System.

r 6 Incisor

r 6 False Molars

20 Upper •

2 Canine

■< 2 Carnivorous

>

[^12 Molar.

f 4 Tuberculous.

H

r 6 Incisor

r 8 False Molars

22 Lower ■<

2 Canine

-j 3 Carnivorous

14 Molar.

(_4 Tuberculous.

In the upper jaw the two first incisors resemble
those of the dog, but the middle lobe almost entirely
effaces the lateral, both being very small. Internally
they are divided into two parts by a transverse de-
pression, and the internal, much less salient than the
opposite part, is itself divided into two lobes by a de-
pression which is perpendicular to the transverse
furrow. The third incisor is divided into two parts
by an oblique furrow, and its hooked form gives it
some relation to the canine.

The canine comes next, after a small unoccupied
interval; it is conical, slightly hooked, and has longi-
tudinally from before backwards a cutting edge. Im-
mediately at the base of the canine is a rudimental
false molar; then at a short distance we find a se-
cond, which sometimes falls out with age; and after
another gap there is a third at the base of the carni-
vorous, very slightly developed, but sometimes pro-
vided with two roots. The carnivorous is reduced to
its smallest dimensions; exteriorly we may recognize
the middle tubercle, proper to this species of tooth,
and the posterior tubercle, but the anterior lobe is

OF THE BEAR.

Ill

almost effaced; at its internal side we find posteriorly
a tubercle much smaller than the preceding, which
increases its thickness. This particular position of
the internal tubercle, which we always find at the
anterior part of the upper carnivorous, while at the
same time it is at the posterior part that the false mo-
lars become tuberculous, induces us to consider the
tooth just described as only a false molar; but the
upper carnivorous has entirely disappeared, and the
only regular false molar existing, supplies its place.

The next tooth has at its extreme edge the two
principal tubercles of the first tuberculous teeth; at
its internal edge there are two tubercles parallel to
the two first, but separated from each other by a
much smaller tubercle. This tooth is nearly twice
as long as it is broad.

The last molar is one-third larger than the preced-
ing, but its proportions are the same in relation to
length and breadth; it has on its external edge, at
the anterior part, two tubercles, which seem analo-
gous to those of the preceding tooth, but rather
smaller. At the internal border of the same part,
there is a crest divided in three, by two small grooves.
The posterior part is a projection or spur, making
nearly a third of the extent of the tooth, and bor-
dered by a crest irregularly divided by three prin-
cipal grooves; all the interior of the crown is cover-
ed by small furrows and asperities, which are peculiar
to the bears.

In the lower jaw the incisors are bilobated
like those of the dog, and the canine are shaped at
the sides like those of the upper jaw. The false
molars are two or three in number, and sometimes

112

GENERAL HISTORY

four; the first are at the base of the canine, the
others are separated by an unoccupied interval, and
have some relation to the true molars.

The first is larger than the second, and remains in
the adult animal; the second extremely small, falls out
with age, and in these different relations the third
resembles it; the fourth alone has the regular form.

After this comes a tooth, narrow in proportion to
its length, but not trenchant. We observe a tuber-
cle on its anterior part, another on its external sur-
face, and two smaller on its internal face, opposite
the preceding. These four tubercles form nearly
one-half of the tooth; to these succeed a deep groove,
and the tooth terminates behind a pair of tubercles.
The next molar, which is the largest tooth of this
jaw, is very irregular in relation to the disposition
of its grooves, tubercles, and the hollows or depres-
sions which separate them. We may distinguish,
however, two principal tubercles at its anterior half,
one on its internal, and the other on its exter-
nal face, which are united by a transverse crest;
but these tubercles are subdivided, especially the
internal one, by small depressions which separate it
into two or three others. We may say the same of
the posterior part, and, in fact, the engraving alone
can give a clear idea of it, because it is much more ir-
regular than the other. The last tooth is still less sus-
ceptible of a detailed description than the preceding;
it is smaller, has an elliptic form, is bordered at its
circumference by an irregularly notched crest, and is
internally marked by still more irregular rugosities.

In their reciprocal position, all these teeth are op-
posed crown to crown, except the first lower molar,

OF THE BEAR.

113

whose external edge, at its anterior part, is in re-
lation with the internal edge of the superior carnivo-
rous; these are the only teeth belonging to animals of
this genus suited to the comminution of flesh, which,
in fact, they can but imperfectly perforin.

[ The Brown Bear.

Ursus Arcfos: Lin. Erxleb. Bodd.

Ours: BnfF. tom. 8, pi. 31, Briss. Reg. An. p. 258.

Alpine Bear of Europe.

This animal has so frequently been described as a
native of this country, that persons unacquainted
with the manner in which writers have copied each
other, in relation to American natural history, may
be surprised that we entirely reject the species as an
inhabitant of the northern part of this eontinent.

It is true that various travellers have made an oc-
casional mention of brown bears,’’ but there is
abundant reason to believe that they have mistaken
young or adult black bears, in a particular state of
pelage, for them; this is rendered the more probable
from the fact that no real brown bear” has yet been
seen by any of the expeditions which have traversed
the vast forests, plains, and mountains of the western
regions, where they would almost certainly have been
encountered had they existed. Lewis and Clark, in
several instances, speak of Brovui bears;” but these
attentive observers expressly state, that they were
uniformly found in the same districts, and were spe-
cifically the same as the Grizzly, white or variegated

VOL. I. — p

114

THE BLACK BEAR.

bear, which we shall hereafter describe. We have
made many inquiries of persons who have resided in
parts of the country where the brown bear would
most probably be found, if it were a native, but have
not yet met with an individual who has seen any
other species than the common black, or American
bear, and the great grizzly bear of the West.

Taking all circumstances into consideration, we feel
authorised to believe that the Ursus Arctos is not
found in America, and in this belief we shall re-
main, at least until there is unequivocal testimony
adduced to establish the contrary.]

Species I. — American, or Black Bear,

Ursus Americanus. — Pallas.

Ours D’Jhneriquc: Cuv. Men. du Mas.

Ours. Gulaire: Geoff. Coll, du Mus.

This bear is found throughout North America^
from the shores of the Arctic Sea, to its most south-
ern extremity. That they must have existed in vast
numbers throughout this great extent of country, pre-
vious to its settlement by Europeans, we may readily
conceive, from the immense number of skins of this
animal which are procured even at the present day.
From the year 1798 to 1802, one hundred and nine-
ty-two thousand four hundred and ninety-seven bear
skins were exported from Quebec, and in the year
1822, the Hudson’s Bay company alone exported
three thousand skins of the black bear.

THE BLACK BEAR.

115

Captains Lewis and Clark observed black bears
on the wooded portions of the rocky mountains, and
subsequently found them on the great plains of Co-
lumbia, and in the tract of country lying between
these plains and the Pacific Ocean. They are occa-
sionally found throughout the territories of the Uni-
ted States, in the wooded and mountainous regions,
and in unsettled districts, where their skins are of
great value to the inhabitants as a substitute for
blankets and other manufactured woollens.

The black bear, under ordinary circumstances, is
not remarkably ferocious, nor is he in the habit of at-
tacking man without provocation. But when wound-
ed, he turns on the aggressor with great fury, and
defends himself desperately. This disposition is more
fully manifested during the coupling season, because
the males are then highly excited, and are not so
inert and clumsy as in the autumn, when they are
exceedingly fat.

If taken w hen young, this bear is readily domes-
ticated, and taught numerous tricks; we see him fre-
quently exhibited by itinerant showmen, as a ^‘learn-
ed” bear, though it requires a long continuance of
severe and cruel discipline to bring him to this
state of improvement.” In captivity they are
always remarkable for the persevering manner in
which they keep moving backward and forward at
the extremity of their chain, thus expressing their
impatience of confinement, or rather, as if solicitous
to take exercise.

This feeling of the necessity for exercise is mani-
fested in an especial manner when the animal is con-
fined in a veiw small cage, w’here he has not room

116

THE BLACK BEAR.

even to turn entirely round. Under such circum-
stances he perseveringly moves himself in every
direction that his narrow limits will allow, stepping
with his fore feet first to one side and then to the
other, and finally, by raising and depressing his body
quickly, as if jumping from the ground, he gives his
whole frame a degree of exercise, which must tend
to the preservation of his health and strength.

When the winters are severe at the north, and
they find a difiiculty of procuring food, they travel
to the southern regions in considerable bodies. Dr.
Libley states, in his report to the secretary of war,
relative to the territory bordering on Red River, that
from all the information he could gain, immense and
almost incredible numbers of these animals descend-
ed the mountains, and passed southwardly into the
timbered country.

The sight and hearing appear to be the most acute
of the senses in this bear, as well as in those hereafter
to be described. Although he kills many small ani-
mals, yet he does not follow them by the smell. When
he walks, his gait is heavy and apparently awkward,
and when running is not much less so, but his strength
of body enables him to move with considerable celeri-
ty, and for a long time.

The females bring forth their young in the winter
time, and exhibit for them a degree of attachment
which nothing can surpass. They usually have two
cubs, which are suckled until they are well grown.
The fondness existing between the mother and cubs
seems to be mutual, and no danger can separate her
from them, nor any thing, short of death itself, in-
duce her to forsake them.

THE BLACK BEAK.

117

Near the old village of Catharine, in the state
of New York, a young man of seventeen passing
through the woods early in the morning, met with a
young cub, which he pursued and caught, and seiz-
ing by the heels, swung it against a log repeatedly,
to kill it. The noise it made alarmed the dam, and
the lad, lifting his eyes, saw a large bear making to-
wards him with great fury. Dropping the cub, he
seized his gun in time to discharge the contents, which
only wounded her, when instantly clubbing the mus-
ket, he belaboured her on the sides, snout, head, &c.
till the stock of the gun was shivered, and the bar-
rel wrenched and twisted in an extraordinary man-
ner. After a sustained combat, in which the bear
tore his clothes to pieces and scratched him severely,
he took an opportunity (when, from the bleeding of
her wounds and weakness, she began to flag,) to run
away for assistance. On returning with his master
they killed the old bear and both her cubs.”*

A friend of the author’s, while traversing a wood
near Fort Snelling, on the Missouri, saw a she-bear
accompanied by two cubs, (about the size of puppies
at a month old) a short distance before him. The
cubs immediately ascended a tree, and the dam, rais-
ing herself on her hind- legs, sat erect at its foot in
order to protect them: the rifle, discharged with a
fatal aim, laid the parent lifeless on the earth. The
hunter then approached and stirred the body with
the butt of his gun, on which the little cubs hastily
descended the tree and attacked him with great ear-

* Vide, Cyclop. Am. Ed. vol. iv.

118

THE BLACK BEAR

nestness, attempting to bite his legs and feet, which
their youth and want of strength prevented them
from injuring. When he retired to a short distance,
they returned to the dead body of their dam, and
by various caresses and playful movements endeav-
oured to rouse her from that sleep which knows no
waking.”

Black bears are still numerous in the wooded and
thinly settled parts of Pennsylvania, as well as in
most of the other states of the Union, and where
their favourite food is plenteous they grow to a great
size, and afford a large quantity of oil. Bartram
relates that he was present at the cutting up of one
which weighed five or six hundred pounds, and his
hide was apparently as large as that of an ox of six
or seven hundred weight.

The food of this animal is principally grapes,
plums, whortle- berries, persimmons, bramble and
other berries; they are also particularly fond of the
acorns of the live oak, on which they grow exces-
sively fat in Florida, &c. In attempting to procure
these acorns they subject themselves to great perils,
for after climbing these enormous oak-trees, they
push tliemselves along the limbs towards the ex-
treme branches, and with their fore- paws bend the
twigs within reach, thus exposing themselves to se-
vere and even fatal accidents in case of a fall. They
are also very fond of the different kinds of nuts and
esculent roots, and often ramble to great distances
from their dens in search of whortle-berries, mul-
berries, and indeed all sweet flavoured and spicy
fruits; birds, small quadrupeds, insects, and eggs,
are also devoured by them whenever they can be

THE BLACK BEAR.

119

obtained. They are occasionally very injurious to
the frontier settlers, by their incursions in search of
potatoes and young corn, both of which are favourite
articles of food; their claws enable them to do great
mischief in potato grounds, as they can dig up a large
number in a very short time, and where the bears
are numerous their ravages are occasionally very ex-
tensive.

In the north, the flesh of the black bear is fittest
for the table after the middle of July, when the ber-
ries begin to ripen, though some berries impart a
very disagreeable flavour to their flesh. They re-
main in good condition until the following January
or February; late in the spring they are much ema-
ciated, and their flesh is dry and disagreeable in con-
sequence of their long fasting through the season of
their torpidity. Their flesh is also rendered rank
and disagreeable by feeding on herring spawn, which
they seek and devour with greediness, whenever it is
to be obtained. The southern Indians kill great num-
bers of these bears at all seasons of the year, but no
inducement can be offered to prevent them from
singeing off the hair of all that are in good condition
for eating, as the flesh of the bear is as much spoiled
by skinning as pork would be; the skins these peo-
ple bring the traders are consequently only such as
are obtained from bears that are too poor to be
eaten.

In the vicinity of Hudson’s Bay the black bear
has been observed to feed entirely on water-insects
during the month of June, when the berries are not
ripe. These insects, of different species, are found
in astonishing quantities in some of the lakes, where,

120

THE BLACK BEAR.

being driven by gales of wind in the bays, and press-
ed together in vast multitudes, they die, and cause
an intolerable stench by their putrefaction, as they
lie in some places two or three feet deep.* The
bear swims with his mouth open, and thus gathers
the insects on the surface of the water: when the
stomach of the animal is opened, at this season, it is
found to be filled with them, and emits a very disa-
greeable stench. They are even believed to feed on
those which die and are washed on shore. The
flesh of the animal is spoiled by this diet, though in-
dividuals killed at a distance from the water are
agreeably flavored at the same time of year.

The black bear is in fact very indiscriminate in his
feeding; and though suited by nature for the almost
exclusive consumption of vegetable food, yet re-
fuses scarcely any thing when pressed by hunger.
He is moreover voracious as well as indiscriminate
in satisfying his appetite, and frequently gorges
until his stomach loathes and rejects its contents.
He seeks, with great assiduity, for the larvae or
grub-worms of various insects, and exerts a sur-
prising degree of strength in turning over large
trunks of fallen trees, which, whenever sufficiently
decayed to admit of it, he tears to pieces in search
of worms.

During the season when the logger-head turtles
land in vast multitudes from the lagoons at the south,
for the purpose of laying, the black bears come in
droves to feast on their eggs, which they dig out of

* See Hearnes’ Journey, p. 371, 8vo. ed.

THE BLACK BEAR.

121

the sand very expeditiously, and they are so atten-
tive to their business, that the turtle has seldom left
the place for a quarter of an hour, before the bear
arrives to feast on her eggs.

While Major Long’s party were passing through
the country west of the Missouri, they often saw
black bears, which they observed most commonly
to feed on grapes, plumbs, dog-wood berries, &c.;
but they were also frequently seen disputing with
the wolves and buzzards for a share of the carcasses
of animals abandoned by the hunters, or of such as
had perished by disease. When the bear seizes a
living animal, he does not, as most other beasts do,
first put it to death, but tears it to pieces and de-
vours it, without being delayed by its screams or
struggles, and may be actually said to swallow it
alive.

Dupbatz, who has been properly considered an
intelligent and veracious historian, relates the fol-
lowing circumstance, in his History of Louisiana, to
prove that the black bear is by no means carnivorous.
We must in this case believe that he was misinformed,
or mistaken, since this bear is well known to feed on
flesh, even where the provocation is much less than
that he relates.

t‘The black bears,” says he, ‘^appeared in Lou-
isiana during the winter, being driven from the
northern regions by the snow which covered the
earth, and prevented them from obtaining their food.
They fed on fruits, acorns, and roots, and were most
fond of honey and milk, which, when obtained, they
would sooner be killed than relinquish. In spite of
the prejudice which supposes this bear to be carni-

VOL, I,— Q

122

THE BLACK BEAR.

vorous, I maintain, with all the inhabitants of this
province and the surrounding country, that this is
not the fact. It has never happened that they have
devoured a man, notwithstanding their numbers and
the extreme hunger they sometimes suffer; they even
do not eat flesh when it is thrown in their way.
During the time that I resided at Natchez, there was
a very severe winter in the northern regions, and
the black bears came south in great numbers; they
were so numerous that they were all starving and
very poor. Their great hunger drove them out
of the woods bordering the river; they were seen
at night entering yards which were not well closed,
and where fresli meat was exposed, yet they left it
untouched, and ate nothing but such grain as they
could find. It was certainly on such occasions that
their carnivorous disposition should have been dis-
played. They never killed animals to devour them,
and so little carnivorous are they, that they abandon
the snow-covered countries, where they could kill
men and animals at pleasure, to wander so far to the
south, in search of fruits and roots that a carnivo-
rous animal would not touch.” Sweet creatures! —
either the Abbe Dupratz was sadly misinformed, or
the disposition of the black bear has astonishingly
deteriorated since the year 1755, as those of the
present day, so far from refusing meat left in their
way, will break into enclosures in search of it, and
if opportunity offers, when pressed by hunger, they
do not scruple to kill pork for their own use.

The following instance occurred in the western
part of the state of New York, in the year 1824.
The back window of a farm-house was forced open

THE BLACK BEAR.

123

one night, and a considerable quantity of pork car-
ried off. The proprietor, without suspecting the na-
ture of the plunderer, placed a loaded musket op-
posite the window, having a string so adjusted that
the gun would be discharged by any thing attempt-
ing to enter the room through the window. During
the night the report of the gun was heard, and in
the morning the body of a large black bear was
found at a short distance from the spot where he had
received his death wound.

The usual residence of the black bear is in the
most remote and secluded parts of the forest, where
his den is either in the hollow of some decayed tree,
or in a cavern formed among the rocks. To this
place he retires when his hunger is appeased, and
in the winter he lies coiled up there during the
long period of his torpidity. The female of the
black bear, during the period of gestation, which
commences in the month of October, and continues
for about one hundred and twelve days, leads a re-
tired and concealed life, — for we have not a single
instance on record of a pregnant bear being killed
either by white men or Indians, though the mother
and very young cubs are frequently destroyed. Dur-
ing an extremely hard winter the inhabitants of the
borders of James’ river, Virginia, killed several hun-
dred bears, among which two only were females, and
those not with young.

In the northern parts of this continent, the sub-
terraneous retreats of the black bear may be readily
discovered by the mist which uniformly hangs about
the entrance of the den, as the animal’s heat and
breathing prevent the mouth of the cave from be-

124

THE BLACK BEAK.

ing entirely closed, however deep the snow may be.
As the black bear usually retires to his winter quar-
ters before any quantity of snow has fallen, and does
not again venture abroad, if undisturbed, until the
end of March or beginning of April, he must con-
sequently spend at least four months in a state of tor-
pidity, and without obtaining food. It is there-
fore not surprising that, although the bear goes into
his winter quarters in a state of excessive fatness,
he should come out in the spring of the year ex-
tremely emaciated.

The northern Indians occasionally destroy the bear
by blocking up the mouth of the cave with logs of
wood, and then, breaking open the top of it, kill
the animal with a spear or gun; yet this method is
considered both cowardly and wasteful, as the bear
can neither escape nor offer the slightest injury to
his disturbers. Sometimes they throw a noose round
his neck, draw him up to the top of the hole, and
kill him with a hatchet.

The black bear is occasionally captured in large
and strong steel-traps, well secured by a chain to a
neighbouring tree, and laid in a path over which a
freshly-killed carcass has been drawn along, — or he
is taken in a noose suspended from a strong sapling.
A common mode of hunting this animal is to follow
him with two or three well trained dogs. When he
finds that he is pursued, he generally pushes directly
forward for eight or ten miles, or farther, if not over-
taken; as the dogs come up with him their repeated
attacks cause him to turn for the purpose of striking
at them, and if they do not dexterously avoid his
blows they will be killed, as he strikes with very

THE BLACK BEAR.

125

great force. To avoid the vexation produced by
the dogs, he mounts a tree, ascending for twenty or
thirty feet, but is allowed very little rest, for the
hunter now approaching, he throws himself to the
earth, and hurries onwards, being still pursued and
worried by the dogs. Again he is obliged to take re-
fuge in a tree, and sometimes climbs as near as possi-
ble to the top, endeavouring to conceal himself among
the foliage. The hunter now strikes against the trunk
of the tree, as if engaged in cutting it down; the
poor bear soon betrays his hiding place, and slip-
ping to the end of the longest branch, gathers his
body up, and drops from a vast height to the ground,
whence he often appears to rebound for several
feet, and then runs off as actively as he can. At
length, worn out by frequently repeated exertions
to escape, he is finally shot, while attempting to screen
himself by aid of the trunk of a tree, or while em-
ployed in resisting the attacks of the dogs.

Among other modes of killing the black bear the
Indians employ a trap composed of logs, which, when
the animal attempts to remove the bait, either falls
on his body and kills him outright, or secures him
until he is put to death by the proprietor of the
snare. Our enterprising countryman, Schoolcraft,
relates an instance of his having seen one thus caught.

The animal sat up on his fore-paws facing us, the
hinder paws being pressed to the ground by a heavy
weight of logs, which had been arranged in such a
manner as to allow the bear to creep under, and by
seizing the bait he had sprung the trap and could not
extricate himself, although with his fore- paws he
had demolished a part of the works. After view-

126

THE BLACK BEAR.

ing him for some time a ball was fired through his
head, but it did not kill him. The bear kept his
position and seemed to growl in defiance. A second,
ball was aimed at the heart, and took effect, but he
did not resign the contest immediately, and was at
last despatched with an axe. As soon as the bear
fell, one of the Indians walked up, and addressing
him by the name of muck-wah, shook him by the
paw, with a. smiling countenance, as if .he had met
with an old acquaintance, saying, in the Indian lan-
guage, he was sorry they had been under the neces-
sity of killing him, and hoped the offence would be
forgiven, especially as the che-mock-o-men (white
men) had fired one of the balls.

The Indians consider this bear as one. of the noblest
objects of the chase, and they always manifest the
highest degree of exultation when they are success-
ful in killing one. Every part of the animal is valu-
able to them, even to its intestines and claws; the
latter are bored at the base and strung on deer sinews
to be worn as ornaments. The flesh is considered
most delicious food, and the fore-paws as an exquisite
dainty.

The fat of the bear is accumulated in different
parts of the body to an excessive degree towards au-
tumn, after the animal has been plentifully supplied
with food; the oil obtained by liquefying it, is a well
known popular remedy against baldness, as well as
for rubbing stiff or rheumatic joints. The fat ob-
tained from the paws is most highly prized, either
because it is most difficult to procure in any quantity,
or because it is really finer than that obtained from
the body generally. It is very certain that few, or

THE BLACK BEAR.

127

indeed perhaps none, of the animal oils are finer when
properly prepared than that of the bear, and hence,
in any case where the external application of oil is
thought to be proper, bear’s oil will be preferable to
any other; but that it possesses many other virtues
except those depending on its tenuity, we are not
prepared to admit.

The black bear, like all the species of this genus,
is very tenacious of life, and seldom falls unless shot
through the brain or heart. An experienced hunter
never advances on a bear that has fallen, without first
stopping to load his rifle, as the beast frequently re-
covers to a considerable degree, and would then be
a most dangerous adversary. The skull of the bear
appears actually to be almost impenetrable, and a rifle-
ball, fired at a distance of ninety six yards, has been
flattened against it, without appearing to do any ma-
terial injury to the bone. The best place to direct
blows against the bear is upon his snout; when struck
elsewhere, his dense woolly coat, thick hide, and ro-
bust muscles, render manual violence almost entirely
unavailing.

When the bear is merely wounded, it is very dan-
gerous to attempt to kill him with such a weapon as
a knife or tomahawk, or indeed any thing which
may bring one within his reach. In this way hunters
and others have paid very dearly for their rashness,
and barely escaped with their lives; the following
instance may serve as an example of the danger of
such an enterprise:

‘^Mr. Mayborne, who resides in Ovid township,
Cayuga county, between the Seneca and Cayuga
lakes, in the state of New York, went one afternoon

128

THE BLACK BEAR.

through the woods in search of his horses, taking
with him his rifle and the only load of ammunition he
had in the house. On his return home, about an hour
before dusk, he perceived a very large bear crossing
the path, on which he instantly fired, and the bear
fell, but immediately recovering his legs, made for a
deep ravine a short way onwards. Here he tracked
him awhile by the blood, but night coming on, and
expecting to find him dead in the morning, he re-
turned home. A little before day-break the next
morning, taking a pitchfork and hatchet, and his son,
a boy of ten or eleven years of age with him, he pro-
ceeded to the place in quest of the animal. The
glen or ravine into which he had disappeared the
evening before, was eighty or ninety feet from the
top of the bank to the brook below: down this preci-
pice a stream of three or four yards in breadth is
pitched in one unbroken sheet, and, forming a circu-
lar basin or pool, winds away among the thick under-
wood. After reconnoitering every probable place
of retreat, he at length discovered the bear, who had
made his way up the other side of the ravine, as far
as the rocks would admit, and sat under a projecting
cliff, stedfastly eyeing the motions of his enemy.
Mayborne, desiring his boy to remain where he was,
took the pitchfork, and descending to the bottom, de-
termined from necessity to attack him from below.
The bear kept his position until the man approached
within six or seven feet, when on the instant, instead
of being able to make a stab with the pitchfork, he
found himself grappled by the bear, and both together
rolled towards the pond, at least twenty or twenty-
five feet, the bear biting on his left arm, and hug-

THE BLACK BEAR.

129

ging him almost to suffocation. By great exertion
he thrust his right arm partly down his throat, and
in that manner endeavoured to strangle him, but was
once more hurled headlong down through the bushes,
a greater distance than before, into the water. — =
Here, finding the bear gaining on him, he made one
desperate effort and drew the animal’s head partly
underwater, and repeating his exertions, at last weak-
ened him so much, that calling to his boy, who stood
on the other side in a state little short of distraction
for the fate of his father, to bring him the hatchet,
he sunk the edge of it by repeated blows into the
brain of the bear. This man, although robust and
muscular, was scarcely able to crawl home, where he
lay for nearly three weeks, the flesh of his arm being
much crushed, and his breast severely mangled. The
bear weighed upwards of four hundred pounds.”

The black bear, in common with other species of
the genus, endeavours to suffocate an adversary by
violently hugging and compressing its chest. A man
might end such a strgggle in a few instants, if one
hand be sufficiently at liberty to grasp the throat of
the animal with the thumb and fingers, externally,
just at the root of the tongue, as a slight degree of
compression there will generally suffice to produce a
spasm of the glottis, that will soon suffocate it beyond
the pow’er of offering resistance or doing injury.

The black hear differs from other species of the
genus by having the nose and forehead nearly on
the same line, though the forehead is slightly pro-
minent. This projection of the front is less at the

VOL. I.— R

130

THE BLACK BEAR.

upper part than in the brown bear of Europe.* The
palms of the hands and soles of the feet are very short,
and the whole body is covered with long, shining,
straight black hair, which is by no means harsh to the
touch. The sides of the face are marked with fawn
colour, and a small spot of the same exists in some
individuals in front of the eye; others have the
muzzle of a clear light yellow, with a white line
commencing on the root of the nose and reaching to
each side of the angle of the mouth. This con-
tinues over the cheek to a large white space, mixed
with a slight fawn colour, covering the whole of the
throat, whence a narrow line descends upon the
breast. It was this variety which Geoffroy called
Ours Gulaire. The yellow bear of Carolina is also
a variety of the black or American bear. Capt.
Franklin saw adults of this species in the vicinity
of Cumberland house which were red, and remark-
ed that the cubs of these red bears were black; while
the cubs of the black individuals were as frequently
of a red colour.

* We are informed by Capt. J. Le Conte, who, as a natu-
ralist, ranks deservedly high, that the black bear is distin-
guished with still greater certainty from the brown or Eu-
ropean bear by having one moi'e molar tooth than that ani-
mal.

«

?:///

'jf'ar.

THE GRIZZLY BEAR.

131

Species II. — The Grizzly Bear.

Ursus Horribilis. — Ord.

Ursm Horribilis. Sat. Long’s Exped. to the Rocky Mountains, vol. ii.
Ursus Cinereus. Desm. Mam. p 164.

Ursus Ferux. The Grizzly, White, Variegated and Brown Bear of
Lewis & Clark.*

This bear, justly considered as the most dreadful
and dangerous of North American quadrupeds, is
the despotic and sanguinary monarch of the wilds
over which he ranges. Gigantic in size, and terrific
in aspect, he unites to a ferociously blood-thirsty dis-
position a surpassing strength of limb, which gives
him undisputed supremacy over ever*y-other quad-
ruped tenant of the wilderness, and causes man him-
self to tremble at bis approach, though possessed of
defensive weapons unknown to any but the human
race. To the Indians the very name of the Grizzly
Bear is dreadful, and the killing of one is esteemed

* In the English translation of Cuvier’s Regne Ani-
mal, the translator has given to this bear the name of
Ursus Candescens, proposed by Major Hamilton Smith,
which must of necessity be rejected, along with all others,
except the one we have adopted, because no person has a
right to change a name given by the original describe!’ of
an animal, according to the rules now well established,
and almost universally accepted by naturalists, to prevent
the confusion resulting from changes of nomenclature, which
are frequently proposed with no better reason than the mere
pleasure of an individual. Say, who first systematically
described this species, adopted the name proposed for it
by Ord, which cannot now, with any shadow of propriety, be
clianged.

132

THE GRIZZLY BEAK.

equal to a great victory: — the white hunters are
almost always willing to avoid an. encounter with so
powerful an adversary, and seldom or never wanton-
ly provoke his anger.

This formidable bear unhesitatingly pursues and
attacks men or animals, when excited by hunger or
passion, and slaughters indiscriminately every crea-
ture whose speed or artifice is not sufficient to place
them beyond his reach. The Bison, whose size and
imposing appearance might seem to be a suffieient
protection, does not always elude his grasp, as the
grizzly bear is strong enough to overpower this ani-
mal, and drag its carcass to a convenient place to be
deposited and devoured at leisure.

However singular it may appear that an animal
endowed with such a fondness for destruction and
blood, can exist altogether on vegetable food, it is a
fact that the grizzly bear, no less than all other spe-
cies belonging to the same genus, is capable of subsist-
ing exclusively on roots and fruits: this may be infer-
red from the peculiarities of their system of dentition.
It is by no means surprising that hunters and trav-
ellers should suppose the grizzly bear to be almost
wholly carnivorous, seeing that he displays sueh an
unappeasable ferocity of disposition, and so uniform
an eagerness to destroy the life of any animal that
falls within his power.

This bear at present inhabits the country adjacent
to the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, where
it frequents the plains, or resides in the copses of
wood which skirt along the margin of water courses.
There is some reason to believe that the grizzly
bear once inhabited the Atlantic regions of the Uni-

THE GRIZZLY BEAR.

133

ted States, if we may be allowed to form any infer-
ence from traditions existing among the Delaware
Indians, relative to the Big Naked Bear which for-
merly existed on the banks of the Hudson. The
venerable Heckewelder informs us that Indian
mothers used to frighten their children into quiet-
ness by speaking to them of this animal.

Notwithstanding it was mentioned a long time since
by La HtmxAN and other writers, it has been but
recently established as a distinct species in the works
of systematic Zoologists. Say was the first to give
a full description of it, in the well known work we
have quoted at the head of this article.

Two cubs of the grizzly bear were some time
since kept alive in the menagery of Peale’s (now
the Philadelphia) Museum. When first received
they were quite small, but speedily gave indications
of that ferocity for which this species is so remarkable.
As they increased in size they became exceedingly
dangerous, seizing and tearing to pieces every ani-
mal they could lay hold of, and expressing extreme
eagerness to get at those accidentally brought within
sight of their cage, by grasping the iron bars with
their paws and shaking them violently, to the great
terror of spectators, who felt insecure while witness-
ing such displays of their strength. In one in-
stance an unfortunate monkey was walking over the
top of their cage, when the end of the chain which
hung from his waist dropped through within reach
of the bears; they immediately seized it, dragged
the screaming animal through the narrow aperture,
tore him limb from limb, and devoured his mangled
carcass almost instantaneously. At another time a

134

THE GRIZZLY BEAR.

small monkey thrust his arm through an opening in the
bear cage to reach after some object; one of them
immediately seized him, and, with a sudden jerk, tore
the whole arm and shoulder-blade from the body, and
devoured it before any one could interfere. They
were still cubs, and very little more than half grown,
when their ferocity became so alarming as to excite
continual apprehension lest they should escape, and
they were killed in order to prevent such an event.

To the venerable founder of the Philadelphia Mu-
seum, Charles Willson Peale, to whom Ameri-
can students of natural history are under the most
lasting obligations for his zeal and liberality, we are
indebted for the following letter, written by the gal-
lant and lamented Pike, relative to the two grizzly
bears above mentioned:

Washington, Feb. 3d, 1808.

Sir, — I had the honor of receiving your note
last evening, and in reply to the inquiries of Mr.
Peale, can only give the following notes:

The bears were taken by an Indian in the moun-
tains which divide the large western branches of the
Rio Del Norte, and some small rivers which dis-
charge their waters into the east side of the gulf of
California, near the dividing line between the pro-
vinces of Biscay and Senora. We hajipened at the
time to be marching along the foot of those moun-
tains, and fell in with the Indian who had them,
when I conceived the idea of bringing them to the
United States, for your Excellency, although then
mere than 1600 miles from our frontier post, (Nat-
chitoches) purchased them of the savage, and for

THE GRIZZLY BEAR.

135

three or four days made my men carry them in their
laps, on horseback. As they would eat nothing
but milk, they were in danger of starving. I then
had a cage prepared for both, which was carried
on a mule, lashed between two packs, but always or-
dered them to be let out the moment we halted, and
not shut up again until we were prepared to march.
By this treatment they became extremely docile
when at liberty, following my men (whom they
learned to distinguish from the Spanish dragoons
by their always feeding them and encamping with
them,) like dogs through our camps, the small vil-
lages and forts where we halted. When well sup-
plied with sustenance they would play like young
puppies with each other and the soldiers; but the
instant they were shut up and placed on the mule
they became cross, as the jostling of the animal knock-
ed them against each other, and they were sometimes
left exposed to the scorching heat of a vertical sun
for a day without food or a drop of water, in which
case they would worry and tear each other, until na-
ture was exhausted, and they could neither fight
nor howl any longer. They will be one year old on
the first of next month, (March, 1808) and, as I am
informed, they frequently arrive at the weight of
eight hundred pounds.

Whilst in the mountains we sometimes discovered
them at a distance, but in no instances were we ever
able to come up with one, which we eagerly sought,
and that being the most inclement season of the year,
induces me to believe they seldom or never attack
a man unprovoked, but defend themselves courage-

136

THE GRIZZLY BEAR.

ously;* an instance of this kind occurred in New
Mexico, whilst I sojourned in that province;— three
of the natives attacked a bear with their lances, two
of whom he killed, and wounded the third, before
he fell the victim.

With sentiments of the

highest respect and esteem.

Your obedient servant,

Z. M. PIKE.

His Excellency, Thomas Jefferson,

President of the United States.

The grizzly bear is remarkably tenacious of life,
and on many occasions numerous rifle-balls have been
fired into the body of an individual without much
apparent injury. Instances are related by the tra-
vellers who have explored the countries in the vi-
cinity of the Rocky Mountains, of from ten to fourteen
balls having been discharged into the body of one of
these bears before it expired. In confirmation of
these statements we shall here introduce some
sketches from narratives given in the journals of
Lewis and Clark, and Long’s Expedition to the Rocky
Mountains.

One evening the men in the hindmost of one of
Lewis and Clark’s canoes perceived one of these

* It is very possible that the bears thus seen, may have
been common black bearsj the reader will find in the sequel
abundant proofs that it is not difficult to come up with the
grizzly bear, and that this animal does not often wait to be
attacked.

THE GRIZZLY BEAR.

137

bears lying in the open ground about three hundred
paces from the river, and six of them, who were all
good hunters, went to attack him. Concealing them-
selves by a small eminence, they were able to ap-
proach within forty paces unperceived; four of the
hunters now fired, and each lodged a ball in his bo-
dy, two of which passed directly through the lungs.
The bear sprang up and ran furiously with open
mouth upon them; two of the hunters, who had re-
served their fire, gave him two additional wounds,
and one breaking his shoulder-blade, somewhat re-
tarded his motions. Before they could again load
their guns, he came so close on them, that they were
obliged to run towards the river, and before they
had gained it the bear had almost overtaken them.
Two men jumped into the canoe; the other four
separated, and concealing themselves among the wil-
lows, fired as fast as they could load their pieces.
Several times the bear was struck, but each shot
seemed only to direct his fury towards the hunter;
at last he pursued them so closely that they threw
aside their guns and pouches, and jumped from a
perpendicular bank, twenty feet high, into the river.
The bear sprang after them, and was very near the
hindmost man, when one of the hunters on the shore
shot him through the head, and finally killed him.
When they dragged him on shore, they found that
eight balls had passed through his body in different
directions.

On another occasion the same enterprising travel-
lers met with the largest bear of this species they had
ever seen; when they fired he did not attempt to
attack, but fled with a tremendous roar, and such was

VOL I. — s

138

THE GRIZZLY BEAR.

his tenacity of life, that although five balls had pass-
ed through the lungs, and five other wounds were in-
flicted, he swam more than half across the river to a
sand bar, and survived more than twenty minutes.
This individual weighed five or six hundred pounds
at least, and measured eight feet seven inches and
a- half from the nose to the extremity of the hind-
feet, five feet ten inches and a- half around the
breast, three feet eleven inches around the middle
of the fore-leg, and his claws were four inches and
three-eighths long.

In fact, the chance of killing the grizzly bear by
a single shot is very small, unless the ball penetrates
the brain, or passes through the heart. This is very
difficult to effect, since the form of the skull, and the
strong muscles on the side of the head, protect the
brain against every injury except a very truly aimed
shot, and the thick coat of hair, the strong muscles
and ribs, make it nearly as difficult to lodge a ball
fairly in the heart.

Governor Clinton, in the notes to his discourse
delivered before the Literary and Philosophical So-
ciety of New York, says, that Dixon, an Indian tra-
der told a friend of his, that this animal had been seen
fourteen feet long; that notwithstanding its ferocity,
it had been occasionally domesticated, and that an
Indian belonging to a tribe on the head waters of
the Mississippi, had one in a reclaimed state, which
he sportively directed to go into a canoe belonging
to another tribe of Indians, then returning from a
visit: the bear obeyed, and was struck by an Indian.
Being considered as one of the family, this was deem-
ed an insult, resented accordingly, and produced a
war between these nations.^^

THE GRIZZLY BEAR.

139

Mr. John Dougherty, a very experienced and
respectable hunter, who accompanied Major Long’s
party during their expedition to the Rocky Moun-
tains, several times very narrowly escaped from the
grizzly bear. Once, while hunting with another
person on one of the upper tributaries of the Missouri,
he heard the report of his companion’s rifle, and
when he looked round, beheld him at a short dis-
tance endeavouring to escape from one of these bears,
which he had wounded as it was coming towards
him. Dougherty, forgetful of every thing but the
preservation of his friend, hastened to call off the at-
tention of the bear, and arrived in rifle-shot distance
just in time to effect his generous purpose. He dis-
charged his ball at the animal, and was obliged in his
turn to fly; his friend relieved from immediate dan-
ger, prepared for another attack by charging his
rifle, with which he again wounded the bear, and
saved Mr. D. from further peril. Neither received
any injury from this encounter, in which the bear
was at length killed.

On one occasion several hunters were chased by a
grizzly bear, who rapidly gained upon them. A
boy of the party, who could not run so fast as his
companions, perceiving the bear very near him, fell
with his face toward the ground. The bear reared
up on his hind-feet, stood for a moment, and then
bounded over him in pursuit of the more distant
fugitives.

Mr. Dougherty, the hunter before mentioned,
relates the following instance of the great muscular
strength of the grizzly bear: Having killed a Bison,
and left the carcass for the purpose of procuring as-

140

THE GRIZZLY BEAR.

sistance to skin and cut it up, he was very much
surprised on his return to find that it had been drag-
ed off, whole, to a considerable distance, by a grizzly
bear, and was then placed in a pit, which the animal
had dug with his claws for its reception.

This bear strikes a very violent blow with its fore-
paws, and the claws inflict dreadful wounds. One
of the cubs before mentioned as belonging to the
Philadelphia Museum, struck the other a blow over
part of its back and shoulder, which produced a
large wound like a sabre cut. It is stated in Long’s
Expedition, that a hunter received a blow from the
fore-paw of a grizzly bear, which destroyed his eye
and crushed his cheek bone.

The grizzly bear is unable to climb trees like
other bears; he is much more intimidated by the
voice than the aspect of man, and on some occasions,
when advancing to attack an individual, he has turn-
ed and retired merely in consequence Of the screams
extorted by fear. The degree of ferocity exhibit-
ed by the grizzly bear appears to be considerably
influenced by the plenty or scarcity of food in the
region it inhabits.

Anterior to the time of Lewis and Clark’s expedi-
tion, nothing very satisfactory was known relative to
this bear, and it was not until the publication of the
journal of Long’s Expedition to the Rocky Moun-
tains, that a correct scientific description was given
by that distinguished naturalist. Say.

It may be with certainty distinguished from all the
known species of this genus, by its elongated claws,
and the rectilinear or slightly arched figure of its
facial profile. Its general appearance may be com-

THE GRIZZLY BEAR.

141

pared with the Alpine bear of Europe, (U. Arctos)
especially with the Norwegian variety. The Alpine
bear has not the elongated elaws, and the facial space
is deeply indented between the eyes. — This bear is
also a climber; the grizzly bear is not.

On the front of the grizzly bear the hair is short,
and between and anterior to the eyes it is very much
so. On the rest of the body it is long and very thick-
ly set, being blacker and coarser on the legs, feet,
shoulders, throat, behind the thighs, and beneath the
belly; on the snout it is paler. The ears are short
and rounded, the forehead somewhat convex or ar-
cuated, and the line of the profile continues on the
snout without any indentation between the eyes.

The eyes are quite small, and have no remarkable
supplemental lid. The iris is of a light reddish brown,
or burnt Sienna colour. The mufile of the nostrils
is black, and the sinus very distinct and profound.
The lips are capable of being extended anteriorly,
especially the upper one, which has on it a few more
rigid hairs or bristles than the lower lip. The tail,
which is very short, is concealed by the hair. The
length of the hair gradually diminishes on the legs,
but is still ample in quantity on the upper part of
the foot.

The claws on the fore-feet are slender and elon-
gated, and the fingers have five sub-oval naked tu-
bercles, separated from the palm, each other, and the
base of the claws, by dense hair. The anterior half
of the palm is naked, and is of an oval figure trans-
versely,— the base of the palm has a rounded naked
tubercle encircled by hair.

The soles of the (hind) feet are naked, and the

142

THE GRIZZLY BEAR.

nails are more curved and not so long as those on
the fore-paws. The nails are not in the least dimin-
ished at tip, but they grow sharper at that part only
by lessening from beneath.^'

The colour of the grizzly bear varies very con-
siderably, according to age and its particular state
of pelage. Hence they have been described as brown,
white, and variegated, by Lewis and Clark, although
evidently of the same species, judging by all the
other characters. The colour of the young animal
approaches more nearly to the brown bear of Eu-
rope than any other; in advanced life the colour is
that peculiar mixture of white, brown, and black,
which has procured for this bear the appropriate
designation of Grizzly.^’

The following are the dimensions of the specimens
preserved in the Philadelphia Museum, as given by
Say.

Length from the tip of the nose to the origin
of the tail, - - - - 5 ft. 2 in.

The tail exclusive of the hair at tip.

From the anterior base of the ear to the
tip of the nose.

Orbit of the eye, - . . -

Between the eyes,

Ears from their superior base.

Longest claw of the fore-foot.

Shortest, -----

Longest claw of the hind-foot, -
Shortest, - - - - -

J-4

3

4

4f

3

■'■4

* Ursi Horribilis testes saccis duobus distinctis, etiam ad
quatuor pollicum segregatis, pendunt.

1.

THE POLAR BEAR.

143

Hair at the tip of the tail, - ' 4| in.

Length of the hair on the top of the

head, - - - - 1| to 2

Beneath the ears, - * - 2| to 3|

On the neck above, - - - 3

On the shoulders above, - - 4|

On the throat, . ... 4

On the belly and behind the fore legs

the longest hairs are - - - 6

These measurements are taken from two individu-
als which were by no means full grown, as may be
perceived by comparing them with the measure-
ments heretofore cited from Lewis and Clark. —
They will serve, however, to give a fairer idea of the
proportions of this animal than any which have been
previously given, as they are so much more detailed
and very carefully made.

Species III. — The Polar Bear.

Ursus Maritimus.— Lin.

TJrsus Alhus; Baiss. R^gne Anim. p. 260, Sp. 2.

Ours Blanc,- Burr. Supp. tom. 3. pi. 34.

Ours Blanc; Desm. Mam. p. 16. Sp. 257.

The Polar Bear; Pen. Syn. quad. p. 192. tab. 20. fig. 1. Paeias, spi-
cil. Zool. XIV. tab. 1.

In the desolate regions of the north, where unre-
lenting winter reigns in full appanage of horrors
during the greater part of the year, and even the
stormy ocean itself is long imprisoned by thick
ribbed ice,” the Polar Bear finds his most congenial
abode. There, prowling over the frozen wastes, he

144

THE POLAR BEAK.

satiates his hunger on the carcasses of whales desert-
ed by the adventurous fishermen, or seizes on such
marine animals as come up to bask in open air; and
when occasion calls, he fearlessly plunges into the
sea in pursuit of his prey, as if the deep were his
native and familiar element. To most other animals
extreme cold is distressing and injurious; to him it is
welcome and delightful: to him the glistening ice-
bank or snow-wreathed shore, canopied by louring
and tempestuous clouds, are far more inviting and
agreeable, than verdant hills or sunny skies.

Being endowed with extremely acute senses, great
strength, and a savagely ferocious disposition withal,
it is not surprising that this animal is dreaded as the
most formidable quadruped of the region he inhab-
its. Notwithstanding his great size and apparent
heaviness, he is very active, and though his ordinary
gait may appear clumsy, when excited by rage or
hunger, his speed on the ice far exceeds that of the
swiftest man.

When on an extensive ice-field; the polar bear is
often observed to ascend the knobs or hummocks, for
the purpose of reconnoitering, or he stands with
head erect to snuff* the tainted air, which informs him
where to find the whale carrion at astonishing dis-
tances. This substance, so unpleasant and disgusting
to human sense, is a luxurious banquet to the bear,
and a piece of it thrown on a fire will allure him
from a distance of several miles.

A considerable part of the Polar bear’s food is
supplied by seals, but very probably he suffers long
fasts and extreme hunger, owing to the peculiar vigi-
lance of these creatures; occasionally he is much

THE POLAR BEAR.

145

reduced by being carried out to sea on a small island
of ice, where he may be forced to remain for a week or
more without an opportunity of procuring food. In
this situation they have been seen on ice-islands two
hundred miles distant from land, and sometimes they
are drifted to the shores of Iceland, or Norway, where
they are so ravenous as to destroy all the animals they
find. Most commonly such invaders are soon destroy-
ed, as the natives collect in large numbers and com-
mence an immediate pursuit, but frequently do not
succeed in killing them, before many of their flocks
are thinned. An individual polar bear has occasion-
ally been carried on the ice as far south as Newfound-
land, but this circumstance very rarely occurs.'

This animal swims excellently, and advances at the
rate of three miles an hour. During the summer
season he principally resides on the ice-islands, and
leaves one to visit another, however great be the
distance. If interrupted while in the water, he dives
and changes his course; but he neither dives very of-
ten, nor does he remain under water for a long time.
Captain Ross saw a polar bear swimming midway
in Melville Sound, where the shores were full forty
miles apart, and no ice was in sight large enough for
him to have rested on. The best time for attacking
him is when he is in the water; on ice or land he
has so many advantages that the aggressor is always
in danger. Even in the water he has frequently
proved a formidable antagonist, has boarded and
taken possession of a small boat, forcing the occupants
to seek safety by leaping overboard. Instances are
related in which this animal has climbed up the sides

VOL. I. — T

146

THE POLAR BEAR.

of small vessels, and been with difficulty repelled
from the deck.

Generally the polar bear retreats from man; but
when pursued and attacked he always resents the
aggression, and turns furiously on his enemy. When
struck at with a lance, he is very apt to seize and
bite the staff in two, or wrest it from the hands.
Should a ball be fired at him, without taking effect
in the head or heart, his rage is increased, and he
seeks revenge with augmented fury. It has been
remarked that, when wounded and able to make his
escape, he applies snow to the wound, as if aware that
cold would check the flow of blood.

A’ great majority of the fatal accidents follow-
ing engagements with the polar bear, have resulted
from imprudently attacking the animal on the ice.
ScoRESBY, in his interesting narrative of a voyage to
Greenland, relates an instance of this kind. A few
years ago, when one of the Davis’s Strait whalers
was closely beset among the ice at the ‘ south west,’
or on the coast of Labrador, a bear that had been
for some time seen near the ship, at length became
so bold as to approach alongside, probably tempted
by the offal of the provision thrown overboard by
the cook. At this time the people were all at din-
ner, no one being required to keep the deck in the
then immoveable condition of the ship. A hardy
fellow who first looked out, perceiving the bear so
near, imprudently jumped upon the ice, armed only
with a handspike, with a view, it is supposed, of gain-
ing all the honour of the exploit of securing so fierce
a visitor by himself. But the bear, regardless of such
weapons, and sharpened probably by hunger, disarm-

THE POLAR BEAR.

14T

ed his antagonist^ and seizing him by the back with
his powerful jaws, carried him oifwith such celerity,
that on his dismayed comrades rising from their meal
and looking abroad, he was so far beyond their reach
as to defy their pursuit.’’

A circumstance, communicated to me by Capt.
Munroe of the Neptune, of rather a humorous na-
ture as to the result, arose out of an equally impru-
dent attack made on a bear, in the Greenland fishery
of 1820, by a seaman employed in one of the Hull
whalers. The ship was moored to a piece of ice,
on which, at a considerable distance, a large bear was
observed prowling about for prey. One of the ship’s
company, emboldened by an artificial courage, deriv-
ed from the free use of rum, which in his economy he
had stored for special occasions, undertook to pursue
and attack the bear that was within view. Armed
only with a whale-lance, he resolutely, and against
all persuasion, set out on his adventurous exploit. A
fatiguing journey of about half a league, over a
yielding surface of snow and rugged hummocks,
brought him within a few yards of the enemy, which,
to his surprise, undauntedly faced him, and seemed
to invite him to the combat. His courage being by
this time greatly subdued, partly by evaporation of
the stimulus, and partly by the undismayed and even
threatening aspect of the bear, he levelled his lance,
in an attitude suited either for offensive or defensive
action, and stopped. The bear also stood still; in vain
the adventurer tried to rally courage to make the
attack; his enemy was too formidable, and his ap-
pearance too imposing. In vain also he shouted,
advanced his lance, and made feints of attack; the-

148

THE POLAR BEAR.

enemy, either not understanding or despising such
unmanliness, obstinately stood his ground. Already
the limbs of the sailor began to quiver; but the fear
of ridicule from his messmates had its influence, and
he yet scarcely dared to retreat. Bruin, however,
possessing less reflection, or being regardless of con-
sequences, began, with audacious boldness, to ad-
vance. His nigh approach andunshaken step sub-
dued the spark of bravery and that dread of ridi-
cule that had hitherto upheld our adventurer; he
turned and fled. But now was the time of danger;
the sailor’s flight encouraged the bear in turn to pur-
sue, and being better practised in snow-travelling,
and better provided for it, he rapidly gained upon
the fugitive. The whale-lance, his only defence, en-
cumbering him in his retreat, he threw it down, and
kept on. This fortunately excited the bear’s at-
tention; he stopped, pawed it, bit it, and then re-
newed the chase. Again he was at the heels of the
panting seaman, who, conscious of the favourable ef-
fects of the lance, dropped one of his mittens; the
stratagem succeeded, and while Bruin again stopped
to examine it, the fugitive, improving the interval,
made considerable progress a-head. Still the bear
resumed the pursuit with a most provoking perse-
verance, except when arrested by another mitten,
and, finally, by a hat, which he tore to shreds between
his fore-teeth and paws, and would, no doubt, soon
have made the incautious adventurer his victim, who
was now rapidly losing strength, but for the prompt
and well-timed assistance of his shipmates — who, ob-
serving that the affair had assumed a dangerous as-
pect, sallied out to his rescue. The little phalanx

THE POLAR BEAR.

149

opened him a passage, and then closed to receive
the bold assailant. Though now beyond the reach
of his adversary, the dismayed fugitive continued
onwards, impelled by his fears, and never relaxed
his exertions, until he fairly reached the shelter of
his ship. The bear once more came to a stand, and
for a moment seemed to survey his enemies with all
the consideration of an experienced general; when,
finding them too numerous for a hope of success,
he very wisely wheeled about, and succeeded in
making a safe and honourable retreat.*^’

The polar bear is stated to be generally four or
five feet high, from seven to eight feet long, and
nearly the same in circumference. Individuals have
frequently been met with of much greater size; Ba-
rentz killed one in Cherie Island, whose skin mea-
sured thirteen feet.f The weight is generally from
six to eight hundred pounds. The hair of the body
is long, and of a yellowish white colour, and is very
shaggy about the inside of the legs. The paws are
seven inches or more in breadth, with claws two
inches long. In some individuals, the canine teeth

* Scoresby’s Greenland Voyage.

t Desmarest states in a note that the largest individuals
of this species which have been observed, are not more than
six feet seven inches long. This does not agree with the
accounts given by many northern voyagers: we have selected
Captain Ross’s measurements, (not because the individual
from which they were taken is the largest that has been
seen, but) because his scientific character is so generally and
advantageously known. It would have been very easy to
have selected measurements of larger specimens, from other
sources.

150

THE TOLAR BEAR.

have been found an inch and a- half long, exclusive
of the portion imbedded in the jaw: the strength of
the jaws is very great, and enables the animal to in-
flict dreadful injury when he bites.

The following measurements are from an indi-
vidual, killed during Capt. Ross’s voyage, in the
vicinity of Prince William’s Sound: —

Length, from the snout to the tail, 6 ft.

to the shoulder-blade, 2
Circumference near the fore-legs, 6
of the neck, - - 3

Breadth of the fore-paw, -
of the hind-foot.

Circumference of the hind-leg, 1
of the fore-leg, 1
of the snout, before
the eyes, - 1

Length of the snout to the occiput, 1
Height to the fore-shoulder, - 4

Fore- claws, - - - - •

Hind-claws, . , - -

Tail, ----- 4

Weight of the animal, after losing thirty pounds
of blood, 1131 1 pounds.

We have stated that the polar bear preys on seals,
fish, and the carcasses of whales; it also preys on
birds, and their eggs, and not unfrequently destroys
young whales and walruses: it is also said to disinter
human bodies, and devour them with great greedi-
ness. Occasionally they break into the huts of the
Greenlanders, attracted by the smell of seal’s flesh,
on which these people almost exclusively subsist.
Yet we are credibly informed, that, when their ac-

8 in.
10

2

10

8|

10

8

8

6

2i

1|

THE POLAR BEAR.

151

customed food is to be obtained in sufficient quantity,
they neither show much disposition to attack men,
nor cattle, however accessible these may be.

In the morse or walrus^ this bear has an enemy of
great power and fierceness, with which he has at
times dreadful combats, most generally terminating
in the defeat of the bear, as the walrus is armed
with long tusks, capable of giving deadly wounds.
The whale is also a perpetual enemy of the polar
bear, chasing him from the waters it frequents, and
killing him by blows with its tail. Notwithstanding,
the bear succeeds in catching and feasting on many
of the young whales.

The dwelling place of the polar bear on shore, is
by no means well ascertained, but is most probably
in caves, or in some well concealed situation; it has
been stated, that they reside, during winter, in exca-
vations made in the permanent ice, — but Fabricius,
from personal observation, declares the statement to
be incorrect. ^ Certainly this animal does not often
go to any great distance from the sea, on which he
is almost exclusively dependent for food. Hence the
flesh of the polar bear is generally fishy and rank,
though it is said to be whitish, and similar to mut-
ton. Captain Cook’s people always preferred it to
the flesh of the walrus or morse, yet they never con-
sidered it a very desirable food, except when none
other was to be obtained. The fat resembles tallow,
becoming as clear as whale-oil after liquefaction, and
free from disagreeable smell; the oil obtained from
the feet has been used medicinally, but except in
fineness, has no qualities which the oil of other parts
does not possess.

152

THE POLAR BEAR.

One of the most singular facts relative to the po-
lar bear is, that its liver is to a great degree poison-
ous, a circumstance unknown in almost every other
animal. Three of Barentz’s sailors were very much
injured by eating of it; and Capt. Ross, in his late
Arctic voyage, verified the observation by experi-
ment. The principle, which imparts this noxious
quality to the liver, is as yet undiscovered; we know
of no article of diet used by the animal, to which it
can be attributed, and even if we did, this would
not account for the deleteriousness of the liver, while
all other parts of the body remain free from any in-
jurious property.

The skin of the polar bear, dressed with the hair
on, forms very substantial mats for carriages, or hall
floors. The Greenlanders sometimes take it off with-
out ripping up, and inverting the skin, form a very
warm sack, which serves the purpose of a bed, the
person getting into it in order to sleep comfortably..
It cannot well be dressed at any other than the winter
season, on account of its great greasiness v^hen freshly
removed from the animal. The nations residing in
the vicinity of Hudson’s Bay dress it in the following
manner: they first stretch it out on a smooth patch of
snow, and stake it down, where it soon becomes stiffly
frozen. While in this condition the women scrape
olF all the fat till they come to the very roots of the
hair. It is occasionally permitted to remain in that
situation for a considerable time, and when taken up
it is suspended in the open air. When the frost is
very intense, it dries most perfectly; with a little
more scraping it becomes entirely dry and supple,
both skin and hair being beautifully white. Not-

THE POLAR BEAR.

153

withstanding that this bear is so large and powerful^
his skin is both light and spongy.

The time of the year at which the sexes seek each
other is not positively known, but it is most proba=
bly in the month of July, or of August. Heakne,
who is an excellent authority, relates that he has
seen them killed during this season, when the males
exhibited an extreme degree of attachment to their
companions. After a female was killed, the male
placed his fore paws over her, and allowed himself
to be shot rather than relinquish her dead body.

The pregnant females during winter seek shelter
near the skirt of the woods, were they excavate
dens in the deepest snow-drifts, and remain there
in a state of torpid inaction, without food, from the
latter part of December or January till about the
end of March; then they relinquish their dens to
seek food on the sea shore, accompanied by their
cubs, which are usually two in number. The size
of the cubs is very small; when they first leave the
cave with the mother they are not larger than rab=
bits; yet we have seen that the weight of the full-
grown animal sometimes exceeds a thousand pounds.
Hearne states that he has seen them not larger
than a white fox, and their foot-prints on the snow
not larger than a crown piece, when the impression
of their dam’s foot measured upwards of fourteen
inches long by nine in breadth. This length and
breadth appear excessive, and were probably rather
more than the actual size of the foot itself, as the
impression of the hair projecting over the feet
would give an appearance in the snow which might
lead to an incorrect notion of the size of the animal.

VOL. i.—u

154

THE POLAK BEAK.

The enterprising observer above mentioned is of
opinion that these animals breed when very young,
or at least when half grown, as he has killed young
females not larger than a London calf,” having
milk in their teats; “ whereas one of the full-grown
ones are heavier than the largest of our common
oxen. Indeed, I was once at the killing of one,
when one of its hind feet, being cut off at the ancle,
weighed fifty-four pounds.”

The female polar bear is as rugged in her appear-
ance, and as savagely ferocious in disposition, as her
mate; yet to her offspring she displays a tender-
ness of affection which strongly contrasts with her
fierce and sanguinary temper. When her cubs are
exposed, danger has no existence to her, and nothing
but death can compel her to desist from struggling
desperately to defend or save them. The death of
her offspring is with great difficulty acknowledged
by the parent; when they are shot by her side the
poor beast solicits their attention by every fond arti-
fice, and endeavours to awaken them from their
unnatural sleep: she offers them food, licks their
wounds, caresses and moans over them in such a
manner as to evince a degree of feeling which could
scarcely be anticipated from so rude and terrible a
quadruped.

Numerous instances of this fondness of attachment
have been observed, and some of them attended with
most singular displays of sagacity on the part of the
mother. The following circumstance is related in
Scoresby’s account of the Arctic Regions, and is
entitled to the fullest credence, because coming from
so competent and excellent an observer:

THE POLAR BEAR.

155

A she-bear, with her two cubs, were pursued on
the ice by some of the men, and were so closely ap-
proached, as to alarm the mother for the safety of
her offspring. Finding that they could not advance
wkh the desired speed, she used various artifices to
urge them forward, but without success. Deter-
mined to save them, if possible, she ran to one of
the cubs, placed her nose under it, and threw it for-
ward as far as possible; then going to the other, she
performed the same action, and repeated it fre-
quently, until she had thus conveyed them to a con-
siderable distance. The young bears seemed per-
fectly conscious of their mother’s intention, for as
soon as they recovered their feet, after being thrown
forward, they immediately ran on in the proper di-
rection, and when the mother came up to renew the
effort, the little rogues uniformly placed themselves
across her path, that they might receive the full
advantage of the force exerted for their safety.”
The most affecting instance on record of the ma-
ternal affection exhibited by this bear, is related
in one of the Polar Voyages; it conveys so excel-
lent an idea of this creature’s strong feeling of pa-
rental love, that we should deem the history of the
animal imperfect, were such an illustration omitted.

Early in the morning, the man at the mast-head
gave notice that three bears were making their way
very fast over the ice, and directing their course
towards the ship. They had probably been invited
by the blubber of a sea-horse, which the men had
set on fire, and which was burning on the ice at the
time of their approach. They proved to be a she-
bear and her two cubs; but the cubs were nearly as
large as the dam. Tisey ran eagerly to the fire, and

156

THE POLAR BEAK.

drew out from the flames part of the flesh of the
sea-horse, which remained unconsumed, and ate it
voraciously. The crew from the ship threw great
pieces of the flesh, which they had still left, upon
the ice, which the old bear carried away singly, laid
every piece before her cubs, and dividing them,
gave each a share, reserving but a small portion to
herself. As she was carrying away the last piece,
they levelled their muskets at the cubs, and shot
them both dead; and in her retreat, they wounded
the dam, but not mortally.

It would have drawn tears of pity from any but
unfeeling minds, to have marked the affectionate
concern manifested by this poor beast, in the last
moments of her expiring young. Though she was
sorely wounded, and could but just crawl to the
place where they lay, she carried the lump of flesh
she had fetched away, as she had done the others
before, tore it in pieces, and laid it down before
them; and when she saw they refused to eat, she
laid her paws first upon one, and then upon the
other, and endeavoured to raise them up. All this
while it was piteous to hear her moan. When she
found she could not stir them, she went off; and
when at some distance, looked back and moaned; and
that not availing to entice them away, she returned,
and smelling around them, began to lick their
wounds. She went off a second time, as before; and
having crawied a few paces looked again behind her,
and for some time stood moaning. But still her cubs
not rising to follow her, she returned to them again,
and with signs of inexpressible fondness, went round
first one and then the other, pawing them, and moan-
ing. Finding at last that they were cold and lifeless,

THE POLAR BEAR.

157

she raised her head towards the ship, and growled
her resentment at the murderers; which they re-
turned with a volley of musket balls. She fell be-
tween her cubs, and died licking their wounds.’’
The sagacity of the polar bear is well known to
the whale fishers, who often find all their ingenuity
insufiicient to entrap him, as the following instance
may serve to show. A noose, baited with a piece of
kreng,” or whale carcass, was placed at a proper
distance from the ship, which soon attracted the at-
tention of a large bear. In attempting to secure the
bait, the animal by some movement drew the noose,
so as to catch him by one of his fore-paws. Appa-
rently unconcerned by this circumstance, and con-
scious of knowing how to free himself from restraint,
he quietly loosened the slip-knot with the other paw,
and leisurely walked off to enjoy his morsel. The
trap was again baited, and the bear once more ap-
proached to obtain his favourite food, but, grown
wise by experience, he carefully avoided the rope,
and carried off the bait, to the mortification of the
captain, who wished to obtain his skin. The whaler,
resolved to baffle the address of the bear, re-ar-
ranged his noose once more, carefully burying the
rope at a considerable depth in the snow: but his
precautions were unavailing; the bear cautiously ex-
amined the vicinity, scented the ground with atten-
tion, detected the situation of the rope, dug it up
and threw it out of his way; then securing his prize,
he once more triumphantly withdrew to enjoy it.*

* See Scoresby’s Arctic Regions, vol. i. whence several of
these anecdotes are sketched.

158

THE POLAR BEAU.

Captain Scoresby shot a she-bear and took her
two cubs alive, as they did not offer to leave the
body of their mother, and he kept them on board
of his ship, until they were tame enough to be al-
lowed to go about the deck. On one occasion a cub,
tied by the neck with a long rope, was allowed to go
out of the ship, when he immediately swam to the
ice, and as soon as he attained it, made a violent
effort to break the rope by running at full speed
until he put the rope as suddenly on the stretch as
possible. Failing in his first attempt, he went back
far enough to slacken the cord, and again renewed
his race, in order, if possible, to break it. Con-
vinced by these experiments, that it was a hopeless
attempt, he lay down, sullenly growling his vexa-
tion. Another artifice resorted to by this animal
was still more singular; passing a chasm or fissure in
the ice, about eighteen inches or two feet wide,
and three or four feet deep, the slack (or bight) of
his rope dropped into it; young Bruin returned, and
going down head foremost into the chasm, he hung by
the edges, holding on with one hind-foot on each side
of it, and tried with both his fore-paws to loosen the
rope and slip it off his head, as if he was aware that
in this position he would be assisted by the weight of
the portion which had dropped lower into the cavity.

The polar bear, like the other species of this ge-
nus, is able to live exclusively on vegetable food, as
has been repeatedly proved by experiment on those
brought to Europe. One which was exhibited in
France, ate six pounds of bread a- day, and was alto-
gether fed with this substance. It appears that the
carnivorous habits of this animal, are greatly de-

THE POLAR BEAR.

159

pendent on the circumstances of its situation, for
being placed where vegetation is exceedingly scanty,
if it even exists at all, and surrounded by seals, fish,
&c. there can be no choice; notwithstanding, the
animal is provided by nature with proper organs
for the mastication and digestion of vegetable food.

The polar bear in captivity seems to suffer much
from heat, which renders his confinement very un-
comfortable, as is expressed by his restlessness and
roaring. This is in some degree quieted by re-
peatedly throwing buckets of cold water over his
body, which is always grateful and refreshing.

As far north as navigators have yet advanced,
polar bears have been found, but their numbers evi-
dently diminish where seals are scarce, while they
are very numerous where seals are found in great-
est abundance. — Near the east coast of Greenland
they have been seen in large flocks, at a distance
resembling sheep more than beasts of prey. On
the shores of the Arctic Ocean, Spitzbergen, Green-
land, and Nova Zembla, from the river Ob in Si-
beria, to the mouths of the Jenesei and Lena, and
in the vicinity of Hudson’s Bay, they are found
in various degrees of abundance.

The polar bear is peculiarly distinguished from
other species of this genus by the length of the
body, compared with its height, by the length of
the neck, the smallness of the external ears, and
length of the soles of the feet; which, according to
Cuvier, are one-sixth of the whole length of the
animal. In the fineness and length of its pelage
it also differs materially from the other species. The
forehead and muzzle of the polar bear are nearly

160

THE POLAR BEAK.

on the same line, or flat; while in the European or
brown bear, they are separated by a deep depres-
sion. In the black, or American bear, the profile
is rather an arched line, and in the grizzly bear it
is slightly convex between the eyes. The forehead
of the polar bear is flat; the European bear has it
rounded. The polar bear has the head narrow and
the muzzle large; the brown bear has the head large
and the muzzle narrow.*

* The following measurements of the polar bear are given
by Capt. Lyon, in the excellent and interesting narrative of
his Arctic Voyage in company with Captain Parry.

Length — From the snout to the insertion of the tail, 8 ft.
Zi in. — the head only 1 ft. 6 in.— from the eye to the ear,
10 in. — from the nose to the centre of the eye, 8 in. — of the
ear alone, Ai in. — the tail from root to tip, 5 in. — fore claws.,
Sg in. — hinder claws, in. — canine teeth, 2s in.

Girth — Round the body, 7 ft. 11 in. — neck, 3 ft. 4^ in. —
fore leg, 2 ft. 3 in. — hind leg, 3 ft. 3 in. — round the snout,
1 ft. 9| in. — round the forehead, 2 ft. 1 inch.

Breadth — Paws 10 in. — between the ears, 1 ft. 3 in.— ca-
nine teeth. Sin. — [Weight, 1600 Z6.3

Capt. Lyon, in consequence of having seen a polar bear
prowling about during the coldest part of the year, infers
that naturalists are mistaken in thinking that this animal be-
comes torpid during winter. We do not feel authorised to
draw a similar conclusion from Capt. L.’s observation; es-
pecially as the habits of the genus in this respect are well
known, and because the usual food of the polar bear must
be extremely difficult to obtain, if it be at all accessible to
the animal, during the severest part of the winter.

CHAPTER VIII.

Genus IX. Raccoon; Procyon, Stork. C.

Germ. Waschthier. Ft. Raton.

GENERIC CHARACTERS.

The head is short and triangular, having the nose
to project beyond the lower jaw. The tongue is
smooth; the eyes not large; the ears short and oval; the
body short and rather slender. The teats are six in
number, and situated on the belly. The feet are
five- toed, and provided with large and strong nails:
the soles of the (posterior) feet are naked, but the
animal does not always place their whole length on
the ground in walking. The tail is long and pointed,
but not prehensile. The habits of the genus are given
with the description of the species belonging to it.

Dental System.

'I r 6 Incisor f 6 False Molar

i I 20 Upper < 2 Canine ■< 2 Carnivorous
L 12 Molar. 4 Tuberculous.

H I r 6 Incisor f 8 False Molar

o I 20 Lower 4 2 Canine < 2 Carnivorous
J (^12 Molar. b 2 Tuberculous.

In the upper jaw we find three incisors, the two
central being smaller than the external, which is
slightly separated from them, longer and moreconi-

VOL. I.— X

162

THE RACCOON.

cal. The canine tooth is more slender and tren-
chant than that of the dog. There are three false
molars; the first touching the canine is rudimental,
the second is regular, but smaller and more delicate
than the third, and remarkable by the thickness of
its base, and the rudiment of a tubercle. The car-
nivorous tooth, on its exterior surface, still presents
the three characteristic divisions peculiar to this as-
pect of all carnivorous teeth in the upper jaw, but
the internal and anterior tubercle has a considerable
development, and a second tubercle arises behind
this on the posterior edge, which changes it into a
true tuberculous tooth. The tuberculous tooth which
succeeds to the carnivorous, also presents on its ex-
ternal face two divisions, or the two tubercles which
are observed in the analogous tooth of dogs; but like
the carnivorous, it is thickened, and has on its in-
terior (after the two external tubercles) three other
tubercles placed on the same line, and separated from
the first by a doep depression; in short, a fourth tuber-
cle shows itself on the internal border of this tooth,
at its posterior part, so as apparently to be a mere
division of the third internal tubercle. The last up-
per tuberculous tooth, one-third smaller than the
foregoing, and much smaller on its internal than on
its external surface, seems to present the same num-
ber of tubercles, but those of the middle of the crown,
instead of standing on the same line, are placed in a
triangle on account of the narrowing of the part they
occupy.

In the lower jaw the incisors are all similar to
each other, and the external closely approaches the
canine tooth. The latter is long, inclining forwards,
and slightly recurved at the point; its posterior face

THE RACCOON.

163

being concave. The false molars are four in num--
her; the first, placed at the base of the canine, is
rudimental; the three others increase progressively
to the last, which is thickened and extended at its
posterior part. The carnivorous tooth, at its ante-
rior part, is composed of three principal tubercles,
disposed in triangles, and a small point is seen at the
base of the first tubercle, and its posterior part is
composed of two thick and blunt tubercles. The
tuberculous tooth, nearly as large as the carnivorous,
appears to be nothing but the latter reversed; that
is, it has anteriorly two tubercles, one on its external
and another on its internal edge, and posteriorly
three tubercles disposed in a triangle.

In their reciprocal position, the relations of these
teeth consist in the interlocking of their tubercles,
with the intervals left between those of the other jaw.

Species I. — The Raccoon,

Procyon Lotor.— L.*

Ursus Lotor; Lik. Enxt, Bodd.

Vulpes Americana; Charletoit.

Le Baton; Bcee. Hist. Nat. 8, pi. 43.

Procyon Lotor; Cvy. Reg. An. p. 143. Sabine app. p. 649
Coati Brasdiensium; Klein.

Mapach, etc. Mexicanomm.

There are few parts of the American continent
in which the Raccoon has not, at some period, been

* The specific name “ Lotor” was given by Linne- The
removal of this species from the genus Ursus, by Storr,
to form his genus Procyon, will not justify the appropriation
of the species to the latter naturalist.

164

THE UACCOON.

found native, from the borders of Nootka Sound to
the forests of Mexico, and still more southern re-
gions. Yet the Count de Buffon asserts, that this
animal was originally from South America, and is
most numerous in hot climates, without giving any
fact on which his opinion is founded, or supporting
his declaration by the observations of other natu-
ralists. Sonnini properly observes, that neither
Frezier, Ulloa, nor Molina, who have given descrip-
tions of the animals of Peru, Brazil and Chili, make
any mention of the raccoon; and, in his own long and
numerous journeys in Guiana, he never found one
among the great number of quadrupeds which hold
undisturbed possession of the vast forests, by which
that interesting region is overshadowed.

But the most positive proofs of their existence,
in the northern parts of this continent, are to be
found in the journals of the most respectable ob-
servers. By Dampier, they were seen near the
southern point of California, in the 22° of N. lati-
tude; Bartram found them on the isle of St. Simon,
near the coast of Georgia, in 30° of N. latitude;
and the celebrated Capt. Cook saw them in con-
siderable numbers at Nootka and Prince William’s
Sound. Most probably, had this enterprising voya-
ger landed still farther north, he would have dis-
covered the raccoon there, as the natives of Prince
William’s Sound were in a great degree, clothed
with skins of this animal.

Were we to form an opinion of this animal’s cha-
racter solely from external appearances, the mingled
expression of sagacity and innocence exhibited in
his aspect, his personal neatness and gentle move-

THE RACCOON.

165

ments, might all incline us to believe that he possessed
a guileless and placable disposition. But in this,
as in most other cases, where judgments are formed
without sufficient examination, we should be in error,
and find, that to the capricious mischievousness of
the monkey, the raccoon adds a blood-thirsty and
vindictive spirit, peculiarly his own. In the wild
state, this sanguinary appetite frequently leads to
his own destruction, which his nocturnal habits might
otherwise avert; but as he slaughters the tenants of
the poultry-yard with indiscriminate ferocity, the
vengeance of the plundered farmer speedily re-
taliates on him the death so liberally dealt among
the feathered victims. This destructive propensity
of the raccoon is more remarkable, when we observe
that his teeth are not unsuited for eating fruits.
When he destroys wild or domesticated birds, he
puts to death a great number, without consuming
any part of them, except the head, or the blood
which is sucked from the neck.

Being peculiarly fond of sweet substances, the rac-
coon is occasionally very destructive to plantations
of sugar-cane,* and of Indian corn. While the ear of
the Indian corn is still young, soft and tender, or
in the milk,” it is very sweet, and is then eagerly
sought by the raccoons; troops of them frequently
enter fields of maize, and in one night commit ex-
tensive depredations, both by the quantity of grain
they consume, and from the number of stalks they
break down by their weight.

Sir Hans Sloane; Natxiral History of Jamaica.

166

THE RACCOON.

The raccoon is an excellent climber, and his strong
sharp claws effectually secure him from being shaken
off the branches of trees. In fact, so tenaciously
does this animal hold to any surface upon which
it can make an impression with its claws, that it re-
quires a considerable exertion of a man’s strength
to drag him off; and as long as even a single foot re-
mains attached, he continues to cling with great
force. I have had frequent occasion to pull a rac-
coon from the top of a board-fence, where there
was no projection which he could seize by; yet,
such was the power and obstinacy with which the
points of his claws were stuck into the board, as
repeatedly to oblige me to desist for fear of tear-
ing his skin, or otherwise doing him injury by the
violence necessary to detach his hold.

The conical form of the head, and the very point-
ed and flexible character of the muzzle or snout, are
of great importance in aiding the raccoon to examine
every vacuity and crevice to which he gains access;
nor does he neglect any opportunity of using his natu-
ral advantages, but explores every nook and cranny,
with the most persevering diligence and attention,
greedily feeding on spiders, worms, or other insects
which are discovered by the scrutiny. Where the
opening is too small to give admittance to his nose,
he employs his fore-paws, and shifts his position or
turns his paws sidewise, in order to facilitate their
introduction and effect his purpose. This disposition
to feed on the grubs or larvae of insects must ren-
der this animal of considerable utility in forest lands,
in consequence of the great numbers of injurious and
destructive insects he consumes. He is also said to

THE RACCOOX.

167

catch frogs with considerable address, by slily creep-
ing up, and then springing on them, so as to grasp
them with both paws.

The circumstance which has procured for the rac-
coon the specific name of Lotor,” or the Washer,
is very remarkable and interesting: this is, the habit
of plunging its food into water, as if for the pur-
pose of soaking or cleansing it. To account for this
disposition, some naturalists have supposed that the
raccoon is not as liberally supplied with salivary or-
gans as other animals, and is therefore obliged to
prepare its food by softening it in water. The rac-
coon, however, does not invariably wait to subject
his food to this preparation, but frequently devours
it in the condition he receives it, although it may
be nothing but dry bread, and clean water be within
a few steps of where he stands.

Water seems to be essential to their comfort, if not
of absolute necessity for the preparation of their food.
I have had for some time, and at the moment of
writing this have yet, a male and female raccoon in
the yard. Their greatest delight appears to be
dabbling in water, of which a large tub is al-
ways kept nearly full for their use. They are fre-
quently seen sitting on the edge of this tub, very
busily engaged in playing with a piece of broken
china, glass, or a small cake of ice. When they
have any substance which sinks, they both paddle
with their fore-feet with great eagerness, until it is
caught, and then it is held by one, with both
paws, and rubbed between them; or a struggle en-
siles for the possession of it, and when it is dropped

16.8

THE KACCOON.

the same sport is renewed. The coldest weather in
winter does not in the least deter them from thus
dabbling in the water for amusement; nor has this
action much reference to their feeding, as it is per-
formed at any time, even directly after feeding till
satiated. I have frequently broken the ice on the
surface of their tub, late at night, in the very cold-
est winter weather, and they have both left their
sleeping place with much alacrity, to stand paddling
the fragments of ice about, with their fore-legs in
the water nearly up to the breast. Indeed, these ani-
mals have never evinced the slightest dislike to cold,
or suffered in any degree therefrom; they have in all
weathers slept in a flour-barrel thrown on its side,
with one end entirely open, and without any material
of which to make a bed. They show no repugnance
to being sprinkled or dashed with water, and volun-
tarily remain exposed to the rain or snow, which
wets them thoroughly, notwithstanding their long
hair, which being almost erect, is not well suit-
ed to turn the rain. These raccoons are very fond
of each other, and express the greatest delight on
meeting after having been separated for a short time,
by various movements, and by hugging and rolling
one another about on the ground.

My raccoons are, at the time of writing this, more
than a year old, and have been in captivity for six or
eight months. They are very frolicsome and amus-
ing, and show no disposition to bite or injure any one,
except when accidentally trodden on. They are
equally free from any disposition to injure children,
as has been observed of other individuals. We fre-

THE RACCOON.

169

quently turn them loose in the parlour and they ap-
pear to be highly delighted, romping with each other
and the children, without doing any injury even
to the youngest. Their alleged disposition to hurt
children especially, may probably be fairly explain-
ed by the fact above mentioned, that they always
attempt to bite when suddenly hurt, and few chil-
dren touch animals without pinching or hurting
them. They exhibit this spirit of retaliation, not
only to man, but when they accidentally hurt them-
selves against an inanimate body; I have many times
been amused to observe the expression of spite
with which one of them has sprung at and bit the
leg of a chair or table, after knocking himself against
it so as to hurt some part of his body.

These animals may be tamed while young, but as
they grow to maturity most generally become fierce
and even dangerous. I have had one so tame as to
follow a servant about through the house or streets,
though entirely at liberty; this was quite young when
obtained, and grew so fond of human society as to
complain very loudly, by a sort of chirping or whin-
ing noise, when left alone. Nothing can possibly ex-
ceed the domesticated raccoon in restless and mis-
chievous curiosity, if suffered to go about the house.
Every chink is ransacked, every article of furniture
explored, and the neglect of servants to secure closet-
doors, is sure to be followed by^ extensive mischief,
the evil being almost uniformly augmented by the
alarm caused to the author of it, whose ill directed
efforts to escape from supposed peril, increase at
the same time the noise and the destruction.

To complete the history of the raccoon in a state

VOL 1. — Y

170

THE RACCOON.

of captivity, we shall insert here the greater part
of a letter written by Mr. Blanquart de Salines
to Count de Buffon, on the correctness of which
full reliance may be placed.

My raccoon was always kept chained before he
came into my possession, and in this captivity he
seemed sufficiently gentle, though not caressing; all
the inmates of the house paid him the same atten-
tion, but he received them differently; treatment he
would submit to from one person, invariably offend-
ed him when offered by another. When his chain
was occasionally broken, liberty rendered him inso-
lent; he took possession of his apartment, suffering
no one to approach him, and was, with difficulty,
again confined. During his stay with me, his con-
finement was frequently suspended; without losing
sight of him, I allowed him to walk about with his
chain on, and he expressed his gratitude by various
movements. It was otherwise when he escaped by
his own efforts: he would then ramble for three or
four days together over the neighbouring roofs, and
only descend at night into the yards, enter the hen-
roosts and destroy the poultry, especially the Guinea-
fowls, eating nothing but their heads. His chain
did not render him less sanguinary, though it made
him more circumspect; he then employed stratagem,
allowing the poultry to familiarize themselves with
him by partaking of his food, nor was it until he
had induced them to feel in perfect security that
he would seize a fowl and tear it to pieces: he also
killed kittens in the same manner.

“ If the raccoon be not very grateful for favours
received, he is singularly sensible of bad treatment;

THE RACCOON.

171

a servant one day struck him some blows with a
stick, and often afterwards vainly endeavoured to con-
ciliate himj by offering eggs and shrimps, of which
the animal was very fond. At the approach of this
servant he became enraged, and with sparkling eyes
would spring towards him, making violent outcries;
under such circumstances he would accept of no-
thing until his enemy had withdrawn. The voice
of the raccoon, when enraged, is very singular, some-
times resembling the whistling of a curlew, and at
others the hoarse barking of an old dog. When
struck by any one, or attacked by an animal stronger
than himself, he offered no resistance; like the hedge-
hog, he hid his head and paws, by rolling his body
in form of a ball, and would have suffered death in
that position. I have observed that he never left
hay nor straw in his bed, preferring to sleep on the
boards; when litter was given, he threw it away im-
mediately. He did not seem very sensible to cold,
and passed two out of three winters exposed to all
the rigours of the season, and did well, notwithstand-
ing he was frequently covered with snow. I do not
think he was solicitous to receive warmth; during
some frosts I gave him separately warm water and
water almost frozen, to soak his food in, and he al-
ways preferred the latter. He was at liberty to
sleep in the stable, but often preferred passing the
night in the open yard.^’

Captivity and domestication produce great changes
in the habits of this animal, as he learns to spend
nearly the whole of the daytime in active exercise,
and sleeps during the greater part of the night. —
When inclined to sleep, the raccoon forms itself into

172

THE RACCOON.

a sort of ball, by sitting on its hind legs and doubling
the head under the body, so as to apply the fore-
head to the ground; the tail is then brought forward
so as to conceal the feet and face on one side, and
the true figure of the animal is no longer discerni-
ble. In this position the raccoon sleeps profoundly,
and is not startled readily, nor by slight sounds.

The size of the raccoon varies with the age and
sex of the individual. A full grown male may be
stated to have the body a foot, or a few inches more,
in length; the highest part of the back is about a
foot from the ground, while the highest part of the
shoulder is ten inches. The head is about five, and
the tail rather more than eight inches long. The
female is larger than the male in every respect, at
least such is the fact in relation to the raccoons now
in my possession, which, however, have not yet at-
tained their full growth. They are of the same age,
and the female is strongly distinguished from the
male by the black markings on all parts of the body
being more purely black, and tbe fur and hair longer,
thicker, and more glossy than that of the male; these
peculiarities, in addition to her greater size, uniform-
ly lead strangers to suppose this individual to be the
male, instead of the female. The pelage of the male
is not only less purely black at the extremities of
the hairs, but there is a much greater intermixture
of fawn-coloured hair than in the female, giving more
of a rusty appearance to the whole surface of his
body. A young raccoon of thirty days old is about
the size of a common cat of a year old, though the
greater length of its legs, and the bushiness of its
pelage, make it at first sight appear much larger.

THE RACCOON.

173

The general colour of the body is a blackish gray,
which is paler on the under part of the body, and
has over considerable part of the neck, back and
sides, some fawn or light rust-coloured hair inter-
mixed. The general gray colour is owing to the
manner in which the hairs are alternately ringed
with black and dingy white. The tail is very thickly
covered with hair, and is marked by live or six black
rings around it, on a yellowish white ground.

The head, which is about five inches long, is very
triangular, and from its pointed snout reminds us of
the aspect of the fox: the snout terminates in a smooth
and shining black membrane, through which the
nostrils open, having the slit to rise slightly at the
sides. The nose is prolonged considerably beyond
the upper jaw, and this, together with its great
flexibility, gives the animal great advantages in ex-
ploring little crevices and crannies for insects, &c.
The pupils of the eyes are round; the ears are oval,
or rather elliptic, and of a yellowish white colour on
their extremities and anterior edges. The face is
whitish in front, but there is a black patch surround-
ing the eye, that descends entirely to the lower jaw,
over the posterior part of which it is diffused, and
a black line running from the top of the head down
the middle of the face, ending below the eyes. The
rest of the hair between the eyes, the ears, and eye-
brows, is almost entirely white, and directed down-
wards. The hair on the muzzle is usually very short;
on the feet also, and on one half of the legs; the
short hair of the feet and legs is of a dirty whitish
colour. The whiskers on the upper lip are long and
strong.

174

THE RACCOON.

All the feet have five toes each, terminated by
strong curved and pointed claws; and each foot is
furnished with five thick and very elastic tubercles
beneath. The first toe or thumb of the fore- foot is
the shortest of all; the little or external finger is
next in length, and then the fore-finger: the remain-
ing two are equal. The first tubercle, which is a very
strong one, is situated near the wrist; the second is
at the base of the little finger; the third at the root
of the inner finger or thumb; the fourth opposite the
second digit, and the fifth opposite the two longest.
The hind feet are throughout similar, except that
the first tubercle is farther distant from the heel.

The raccoon has a gland on each side of the anus,
which secretes a strong scented fluid; but this does
not impart an unpleasant smell to the animal. Its
liver has five lobes, and is provided with a large
gall-bladder; the bowels have no coecum, and the
stomach, which is situated entirely on the left side, is
elongated and small, compared with the size of the
animal.

The pelage of the raccoon is subject to considera-
ble variations of colour at different periods of life,
and in different individuals. The rings on the tail
and the patches around the eyes are, however, uni-
form and constant. The tail of the raccoon is not
affected by the coldest weather; hence this quadruped
is never known to gnaw his tail, as has been ob-
served of animals closely allied to it in configuration
and habits.*

*This is especially the case with the coati or coatamundi
of South America, and it has been considered very wonder-

THE RACCOON.

175

The fur of the raccoon forms an article of consi-
derable value in commerce, as it is largely employed
in the fabrication of hats. Vast numbers of raccoon
skins are collected by the different fur companies; and
we occasionally see in our furrier shops, skins which
must have belonged to individuals of much larger
size than those from which the measurements have
been hitherto taken.

Raccoons are found throughout the whole of North
America, and they still continue to be numerous in
many of the well peopled parts of the United States.
Occasionally their numbers are so much increased
as to render them very troublesome to the farmers
in the low and wooded parts of Maryland, border-
ing on the Chesapeake Bay. Their season of sexual
intercourse begins in the first week of March: the
female usually produces two or three cubs at a litter;
her den is then made in some hollow tree or very
secure situation.^

ful that the animal should eat its 0W7i tail, which certainly
appears to be the fact. The extreme length of its tail, in
which the blood circulates but feebly, exposes it to the in-
fluence of the cold or frost; and the exceedingly tormenting
irritation produced thereby, leads the animal to gnaw and
scratch the tail to relieve the excessive itching. The disease
spreads, and the anguish induces the coatamundi to gnaw
more furiously, and eventually his life is destroyed by the
extension of the inflammation and irritation to the spine, &c.

* Os peni inest, leviter versus glandem curvatum; testi-
culi et caput penis, tempore amoris incipiente, notabiliora
pendentioraque deveniunt. Foeminam contra terram vel
aliquod durum, frequentissime genitalia fricare notavi; pro-
fecto et marem aliquando, siraili modo, sese diligenter agitare
vidi.

CHAPTER IX.

Genus X. Badger; Meles, Briss.^

Gr. MiKa-
Lot- TaxuSj Meles.
Ital. Tasso.

Swtd. Graf-Svin.

Fr. Blaireau.

<Sjo. Tassug'o, Texon.

Gtr. Tachs, Dachs, Dar.
Scot. Brock, Tod, Pate, &c.

GENERIC CHARACTERS

The head is conical and the muzzle elongated;
the ears are rounded and the eyes small. The body
is robust and the limbs comparatively short, the di-
gits being all covered by the integuments, as far as
to the roots of the claws, which on the fore-feet are
long, and admirably adapted for burrowing. The
teats are six in number, two of them are placed on
the lower part of the chest, two on the belly, and

*Desmarest has incorrectly quoted Linne as having ap-
propriated the name “T’axws” to this genus. In this, as in
almost every other inaccuracy, the French naturalist has been
servilely copied in this country.

Linne made Taxus a species of his genus Ursus, [see ed.
6, genus 10, sp. I.] and it occupies a place in the same ge-
nus in Gmelin’s edition of the Systema Naturae, p. 102, vol. i.
The term Taxus is preoccupied in Botany; we have adopt-
ed the name given to this genus by Brisson, which has the
advantage of being the same as that used by Varro and other
Latin writers for the only species of badger then known. This
name of the genus, in some of the books, is inaccurately attri-
buted to Stour; [See Ranzani, Elem. di Zoologi, ii. p, 249.]

THE BADGER.

177

two in the groin. The most remarkable character
which distinguishes this genus, is a pouch situated
beneath the tail, whence an unctuous and fetid sub-
stance is discharged.

Dental System.

O'

h

50

CO

16 Upper

>

20 Lower

{

{

6 Incisive
2 Canine
8 Molar.

6 Incisive
2 Canine
12 Molar.

{4 False Molars
2 Carnivorous
2 Tuberculous.

{8 False Molars
2 Carnivorous
2 Tuberculous.

The dental system of the badger is very analogous
to that belonging to the genus inephitis, or skunk,
hereafter to be described; differing from it, however,
by some modifications of the carnivorous and supe-
rior tuberculous teeth.

In the upper jaw the incisors and canine teeth
are similar to those of the martens, which we shall
treat of in another part of this work. The false mo-
lars have the regular forms of such teeth. The carni-
vorous tooth, (remarkable by its small size, owing to
the diminution of its posterior part, which gives it
when externally viewed the appearance of a false
molar,) is composed at the internal part of a base
furnished with three small tubercles separated by a
perceptible depression. The tuberculous tooth is dis-
proportionately large, and is as broad as it is long;
having on its external edge three tubercles, on its
internal edge a serrated crest, and on its middle
another crest, separated into two principal parts by
a slight groove.

In the lower jaw the incisors and canine teeth
offer nothing remarkable. Of the four false molars,

YOL. I.— z

178

THE BADGER.

the first is rudimental and has but one root, the
three others have the regular forms of such teeth.
The carnivorous, at its anterior part, is composed of
three tubercles, (as in the skunk and others,) but its
posterior part, besides two tubercles, has a spur ter-
minating in a serrated crest. The tuberculous is a
small rounded tooth marked on its surface by some
irregular projections and depressions.

In their reciprocal position, the principal charac-
ter consists, as we have seen, in the lower carnivorous
and upper tuberculous teeth; thus the relations ex-
isting between these teeth are more extended. The
two first tubercles of the superior carnivorous are
in relation with the posterior edge of the opposite
carnivorous; (this is the carnivorous portion of this
dental system;) the extremity of the first of these
two tubercles fills the hollow separating the three
small tubercles of the enlarged base, which belongs
to the inner face of the upper carnivorous. The
whole remainder of th^ inferior carnivorous is op-
posed to two-thirds of the superior tuberculous tooth.
The last third corresponds with the lower tubercu-
lous tooth.

From this dental system it is evident that the
badger is an animal partly frugivorous, and the ar-
rangement for triturating vegetable substances much
exceeds that for the mastication of flesh.

THE AMERICAN BADGER.

179

Species \.—Americati Badger.

Meles Labradoria. — Sabine.

Ursus Labradorh/s: L. Gmei.

Carcajou: Buff. Sup. 3, p. 49.

Braro: Lewis and Ceahk, vol.ii. p. 177.

Meles Labradoria; Sabine, App. to Franklin’s Journey, p. €49.

The American Badger has been for a long time
known to naturalists, though it is but recently es-
tablished as a species distinct from the badger of
Europe. By some of the European naturalists and
compilers, our badger has been considered as a mere
variety of the European species, while by others it
has been regarded as entirely the same; the fact was
never fairly decided, until the publication of Sa-
bine’s Appendix above cited. Say had, however,
arrived at the same conclusion, and applied nearly
the same name to it in the the journal of Long’s Ex-
pedition to the Rocky Mountains, previous to the ap-
pearance of Sabine’s observations.

“ ScHREBER was the first author who considered
the American to be a distinct species, and Gmelin
adopted this conclusion in his edition of Linne,
though he was led to give the incorrect specific
character of palmis tetradactylis,” in consequence
of Buffon’s statement, that the carcajou had but four
toes on its anterior feet.”^'

Nature has destined this animal to a subterraneous
and solitary mode of life, which, together with its
timid disposition and nocturnal habits, throw great

* Sabine.

180

THE AMERICAN BADGER.

difficulties in our way while endeavouring to ascer-
tain its peculiarities. It is entirely inoffensive, and
apparently feeble, but if denied the advantages of
swiftness of motion or great size, it has not been left
entirely destitute of the means of providing for its
own safety. The long claws on its fore feet are ad-
mirably adapted for removing the earth, and the
celerity with which it can escape from danger, by
burrowing, is really surprising. It is altogether
fruitless to attempt to secure the animal by digging
after it, as its progress is too rapid, and the depth
to which it descends too great. It is only by artifice
that the badger can be brought from its retreat;
this is effected by the aid of dogs, smoke, &c. and
when driven to the last extremity, the strength of
its jaws and the sharpness of its teeth, enables the
animal to inflict the severest injury on its persecu-
tors. The body of the badger is thick and heavy,
and its movements on the ground slow and creep-
ing; there is little appearance of vivacity or in-
telligence in its aspect, yet it does not exhibit any
appearance of dulness or stupidity. It is in fact
endowed with exactly the degree of understand-
ing which is suited to its peculiar condition: hav-
ing the proper instruments for securing itself from
ordinary enemies, as well as strength and cour-
age enough to defend itself when pressed, but lit-
tle sagacity is necessary to enable it to obtain the
requisite food, or to continue its kind. Neither
should we indulge in reflections similar to those
found in many books of natural history, and believe
that the life of this animal is gloomy or wretched.
To men it may appear gloomy or dreadful to live

THE AMERICAN BADGER.

181

under ground, or to steal forth under cover of the
night in search of food; but this is the only mode
of life the badger is susceptible of enjoying, and the
only kind of action he is capable of.

The burrows of the badger are deep and exten-
sive, and several individuals have been found inhab-
iting one excavation. Within his subterraneous re-
treat he passes the day in sleep, and it is not until
night veils all objects in shade that he comes forth
to seek his subsistence. Then, fruits of different
sorts, frogs, insects, and most probably any small ani-
mals to be procured, constitute his food.

The badger has its young in summer, and gene-
rally two, three, or four, at a litter, which are occa-
sionally brought out to the mouth of the burrow to
enjoy the sunshine. The young become capable of
procreating when two years old, and the period of
their lives is extended to ten, twelve, or fifteen years.
If taken when young, the badger is easily tamed,
soon becomitig quite familiar and obedient.

The American badger is a pretty little animal,
and its aspect is not unlike that of some small pug-
faced dogs. It is found most frequently on the plains
adjacent to the Missouri and its tributaries, as well
as on those near the Columbia river. It is not uni-
formly found in the open country; Lewis and Clark
sometimes observed them in the woods.

This animal is about two feet five inches long, in-
cluding the tail, which measures three inches, and
its body appears long in proportion to its thickness.
The fore and hind legs are short, but remarkably
muscular, the fore paws are provided with the long
claws peculiar to this genus, which gives them the

J.82

1 JIE AMERICAJS BADGER.

means of burying themselves with great celerity
even in a hard soil. The neck is short and the mouth
wide; the eyes are black and small; the ears short,
wide, and appearing as if a portion had been cut
off them. The whiskers are arranged in four points
on each side near the nose, and on the jaws close to
the opening of the mouth. The hairs are much
shorter on the sides and rump than on other parts
of the body, which imparts an appearance of flatness,
especially when the badger rests upon its belly. —
The length of the hair is upwards of three inches,
especially upon the rump, w'hence it extends so far
towards the extremity of the tail as to conceal it
entirely, and gives to the whole of the posterior
parts of the body, the appearance of a right an-
gled triangle, of w^hich the tail forms an acute an-
gle.” Intermixed with the hair we find a small
quantity of coarse pale reddish yellow fur.

The American badger differs from the European
by generally being smaller and more slenderly form-
ed; its head is full as long, but not so pointed to-
W'^ards the nose; neither is the profile at all similar
to the badger of Europe. In the European animal,
the outline drawn from the forehead to the nose is
quite straight, while in the American there is a con-
siderable depression on a line with the eyes.

There is also a very striking difference between
the markings of these animals. In the American
badger there is a narrow white line running from
between the eyes towards the back; the remainder
of the superior part of the head is brown, the under
jawr and whole of the throat are white. A semi-
circular brown spot is seen between the ears and the

THE AMERICAN BADGER,

183

light coloured part of the cheeks. Above the eyes
the white marking extends triangularly for a short
distance, and below it runs in a line with the eyes
towards the fore part of the mouth; yet the whole
eye is within the dark colour of the upper part of
the head, and this colour runs at the corner of the
eye, with an acute angle, into the white.

The badger of Europe has three broad white
marks, one on each side and one on the top of the
head, between which there are two broad black
lines, including the eyes and ears. All the parts
under the throat and jaw are black. The hairs on
the upper part of the body and sides of the Ameri-
can badger are fine, long and grayish; in the Eu-
ropean the hairs on the same parts are darker, longer,
and coarser. In the American, the under are lighter
than the upper parts; in the European they are
darker. In our animal the legs are of a dark brown;
in the European quite black. Notwithstanding the
European badger is generally the largest, its dark
coloured nails are smaller than those of the Ameri-
can, which are of a light horn colour. The tail of
the American badger is shorter than that of the
European.*

The American badger weighs from fourteen to
eighteen pounds.

* For the details of difference in the markings of the two
species, we are indebted to Capt. Sabine’s Appendix, above
quoted. We have no specimen of the European badger in
the collection of the Philadelphia Museum.

CHAPTER X.

Genus XI. Glutton; Gulo. Stork.

Ger. Vielfrass; Rosomak. Buss. Rosamaka; Rosamak.

Fr. Gloiiton. , ISwed. Jarff; Filfras; Snop.

GENERIC CHARACTERS.

The head is but moderately elongated, and the
body is long in proportion to its distance from the
ground. The ears are very short and rounded; the tail
is intermediate in length to the tails of the badger
and raccoon. There is a simple fold of the integuments
below the tail, instead of the pouch observed in the
badger, to which animal the movements of those
belonging to the present genus bear some resem-
blance. The feet are five-toed, the toes being dis-
tinctly separated and armed with hooked claws. The
soles of the (posterior) feet are capable of being ap-
plied either wholly or partially to the ground.

Dental System.

00 ..1

I Upper
o 2^ >•

^ H j 18 or 20
Lower

{

{

6 Incisive
2 Canine
8 or 10 Molar.

6 Incisive
2 Canine
10 or 12 Molar.

{

!

6 or 8 False Molars
2 Carnivorous
2 Tuberculous.

6 or 8 False Molars
2 Carnivorous
2 Tuberculous.

The dental system of this genus offers nothing
peculiar in the different sorts of 'th to distinguish
them from those hereafter to be icribed as proper

: , ^

THE WOLVERENE.

185

to the mustelsE or martens, between which and this
genus there is a very close affinity. This genus may
be considered as intermediate to the true plantigrade
and digitigrade animals.

Species I. — The Wolverene.

Gulo Luscus. L.*

Gulo Liiscus: Sab. app. p. 650.

Vrsus Gulo: Pal. Spicil. 14, 125, pi. 2. Sckheb. pi. 144.

Glouton: Buff. Sup. 3. pi. 48.

3Ieks Gulo: Bod. Elench. Anim. p. 80, sp. 5.

U7-SUS Iniscus: L Gmel.

Ursus Frefi Hudsoni: Briss. quad. 188.

Quickhatch, or Wolverene.- Edw. av. 2. p. 103. pi. 108.

Wolverene; Penn. quad. p. 195, no. 140, pi. 20, fig. 2.

Gulo Jircticus: Desm. Mammal, p. 174.

Quickhatch: Catesby’s Carolina, app. xxx.

Carcajou: [so called by the Canadians.]

The Wolverene has served as a fruitful theme for
exaggeration and fiction, which has continued the
longer in proportion to the remoteness of the animal,
and the difficulty of ascertaining its real manners.
It is true that ferocity and destructiveness are among
its most striking characteristics, and it is known to
feed ravenously and fully when it has secured its
prey, yet in none of these respects is the wolverene
different from numerous other animals, nor is it at

* The specific name of “ Luscus^'’ was bestowed on this
species by Linne, who arranged it in his genus Ursus, in
consequence of its plantigrade character. Though it is now
removed to Storr’s genus Gido, we believe it improper to
withdraw the credit of the specific title froni Linne since,
notwithstanding the change stated, his specific name must
always be continued.

VOL. 1. — A a

i86

THE WOLVERENE.

all the prodigy that book-makers have heretofore
represented it to be.

The wolverene inhabits the northern parts of
America generally, quite to the Arctic Sea, and it
is probable that its visits extend beyond the conti-
nent towards the Pole, as a skull of this animal was
found on Melville Island by Capt. Parry. It is an
inhabitant alike of the woods and barren grounds,
and is capable of enduring the severest cold. The
motions of the wolverene are necessarily slow, and
its gait heavy, but the acuteness of its sight and
power of smelling are an ample compensation; as
they are seldom or never killed without being found
fat, there is good reason for believing that they
rarely sulTer much from hunger. This animal is
surprisingly strong, and an overmatch for any quad-
ruped near its own size; — indeed its sharp claws
and teeth enable it to offer a very effectual resist-
ance even to the bear.

The strength of the wolverene, joined to its
great gust for animal food, causes much trouble to
hunters and travellers who attempt to secure provi-
sions by burying them in the snow, or protect them
by coverings of boughs and trunks of trees. It is
almost impossible to prevent this creature from
finding access to such places of deposit either by
strength or stratagem, and destroying the stock
on which the voyager may have counted for his
future subsistence and safety. To the hunters the
wolverene is also very injurious, by robbing their
traps of the animals which are taken in them, before
the arrival of the owners. The wolverene is iiercc
and dauntless, and has been seen to take away from

THE WOLVERENE.

187

the wolf the carcass of a deer, and when itself en-
gaged in feeding, has refused to move though warn-
ed of the approach of an armed hunter, who shot it
while standing as if prepared to maintain its prize.

It is stated in all the books of natural history, that
this animal is in the habit of ascending trees for the
purpose of leaping down upon the necks of rein-deer
and other similar animals; and that it has sagacity
enough to carry with it into the top of the tree some
of the moss of which the deer are fondest, and drop
this immediately under it, so as to secure the in-
tended victim, by placing it in the most favourable
position for being leaped on. When the deer ap-
proaches to pick up this moss, the watchful glutton
is said to drop from his perch upon the neck of the
animal, drive his crooked claws into the flesh,
fasten himself firmly, and from some deep wound
to drink the blood of the unfortunate deer, until
exhaustion and death is produced. Such relations
are so frequently repeated of this animal that they
have long ago ceased to be doubted, and it may seem
like supererogatory scepticism to doubt on the sub-
ject at present. Thus much, however, it is due to
truth to state, that we have examined with some in-
terest the authorities originating such accounts of
the sagacity or instinct of the wolverene, and have
not been able to find any thing more satisfactory
than mere assertions relative to the European glut-
ton. It is not objected here that these assertions are
unfounded, but they are gratuitous, at least as ap-
plied to the W'olverene or American glutton, since
Hearne and other travellers residing in the regions
where this animal is most abundant, make no mention

188

THE WOLVERENE.

of any such thing concerning it. The necessity of
scepticism relative to the habits of the wolverene
becomes the more obvious, when it is recollected
how much of what was formerly believed as unques-
tionable, has been proved to be fable, resting on no-
thing better than the fancy of Olaus Magnus.*

The regions inhabited by this animal are supplied
most abundantly with small quadrupeds, and with
birds as well as with the larger animals, so that it is
quite probable that without any very great exercise
of ingenuity it is capable of procuring a plentiful
subsistence. When taken captive and retained in
confinement, its disposition does not seem by any
means untameable, nor is its voracity especially re-
markable.

Nothing however is better ascertained, than that
the wolverene is one of the most destructive ani-
mals found in the northern part of this continent.
It destroys great numbers of young foxes during sum-
mer, while they are small, discovering their burrows
by its keen scent, and, if necessary, enlarging the
cavity so as to gain access to the bottom of the den,
where the mother and cubs are speedily destroyed.
— The wolverene is not less inimical or destructive
to the beaver than other animals, though the habits
of the beaver expose it less to this sanguinary quad-

* Hoc animal voracissimum est, reperto namque cadavere
Ian turn vorat ut violento cibo corpus instar tjmpani exten-
datur: invent aque angustia inter arbor es se stringit ut violen-
tius egerat: sicque extenuatum revertitur ad cadaver et ad
summum usque repletur, iterumque se stringit angustia
priore!”01. Mag, Hist, de Gent. Septentrion.

THE WOLVERENE'.

189

I’uped, which is generally successful in securing his
prey only when the beaver is caught at any distance
from the margin of the water.

The fur of the wolverene is of considerable value,
and the natives of the northern parts of Asia highly
esteem the skin of the glutton for making or orna-
menting their robes. The skin of the wolverene
is not so highly valued by the Indians, nor by the
fur traders. The animal does not breed in suf-
ficient numbers to furnish any great collection to the
fur traders, and but few skins are sent by the com-
panies to the merchants.

The wolverene is about two feet two inches long
from the end of the nose to the origin of the tail,
and the latter is about eight inches in length, if the
hair on its extremity be included; without measur-
ing the hair, the length of the tail is but four inches.
The fore legs are upwards of eleven inches long,
and the hind legs one foot. The face is blackish
as high as the eyebrows, and between these and
the ears we find a space of a whitish and brownish
tint. The ears are covered with harsh hair, the
lower jaw and inside of both fore legs are spotted
with white; the upper part of the back, thighs,
and the under part of the belly are brown, or
brownish black. The sides are of a fide chesnut
colour, from the shoulders to the beginning of
the tail. There is a white spot over the navel; the
parts of generation are reddish. The short hair
of this animal is whitish. The eyes are small and
black.

There is a small tubercle at the under part of each
digit, and four others under the palm, forming a semi

190

THE Wolverene.

circle with another posterior tubercle; the hind feet
have a similar arrangement, but have no tubercles at
the heel, which are slightly raised from the ground
in walking.^ There is considerable difference in the
markings of the skins brought from Hudson’s Bay,
some being darker than others, and some having the
band of lighter hairs, which runs along the sides and
over the back and tail, very obscure. In numerous
individuals greater variations may be found, owing
to the circumstances of age, state of pelage, &c.

* See Desmarest, Mammal ogie p. 174.

CHAPTER XL

Tribe II. — Digitigrada; Digitigrade Animals.

The animals belonging to this tribe are eharac-
terized by moving on the extremities of their di-
gits, and being endowed with a greater degree of
agility than that possessed by the plantigrade tribe.

The first subdivision of this second tribe has but
one tuberculous behind the upper carnivorous tooth.
The length of their bodies, and the shortness of their
legs, enable them to pass through very small open-
ings with facility, and their vermiform appearance
has procured for them the general appellation of
vermin. They are small and weak creatures, but
are extremely sanguinary and destructive, living in
a great degree on the blood of their victims. They
have no coecum, and do not become torpid during
the winter.

Genus XII. — Mustela; L. Marten.

GENERIC CHARACTERS.

A slender vermiform and very long body, the hack
of which is convex when the animal is in a state of
repose. The head is small, oval, and apparently
flattened above, having short and rounded external
ears. The limbs are very short and five toed, the

192

THE MARTEN.

digits being armed with very sharp and crooked
nails; the tail is of a middling length. There are
some small glands on each side of the anus, which
secrete a very fetid fluid, of a powerful musky and
unpleasant odour. The teats are situated upon the
belly.

Dental System.

•-

16 or 18 ^
Upper

r 6 Incisive

4 or 6 False Molars
■< 2 Carnivorous

CO

2 Canine

CO ^

[ 8 or 10 Molar.

L2 Tuberculous.

O 4,

18 or 20 .
Lower

[" 6 Incisive

r 6 or 8 False Molars

H

CO

2 Canine

■< 2 Carnivorous

_

_ 10 or 12 Molars.

(_2 Tuberculous.

In the upper jaw we find three incisive, one
canine, two or three false molars, one carnivorous
and one tuberculous tooth. The incisive and canine
offer nothing remarkable, except that their internal
lobe is very small. The first false molar is a very
small tooth with a single root; the crown of this is
terminated by a very blunt point, and the tooth is
rudimental. The two succeeding teeth have several
roots, thin from without inwards, broad from before
backwards, and very pointed. The first is rather
smaller than the second, and they are both regular.
The carnivorous does not differ materially from that
of the cat, except that the internal tubercle is more
distinct, and the middle part larger and more acute.

In the lower jaw there are three incisive teeth,
one canine, three or four false molars, one carnivo-
rous and one tuberculous tooth. The false molars
come immediately after the base of the canine. —
The first is rudimental and has but a single root, the
three following have two roots, and the form of regu-

the ermine weasel.

193

lar false molars, and are placed somewhat obliquely
in the jaw. The carnivorous tooth resembles that of
the cat, except in the spur, which is developed at its
posterior part. The tuberculous is small and round,
its crown being terminated by three small points.

In their reciprocal position, the relations of these
teeth are nearly the same as those we have hereto-
fore examined. All the difference is, that the an-
terior part of the lower tuberculous rests against
the posterior portion and internal part of the upper
tuberculous tooth; the great development of the in-
ternal tubercle of the inferior carnivorous, corres-
ponds to the superior tuberculous tooth.

Species I. — The Ermine Weasel.^

Mustela Erminea. — L.t

Mustela Candida sive animal Ermineum recentiorum,- Ray. Syn. quad,
p. 198.

Hermellanus; Chabiet. Exer. p. 20.

U Her mine,- Buff. t. 7, p. 29, fig. 2.

The Ermine; Pexjt. quad, ii, p. 35.

Stoat Ermine,- Sabine, App. p. 652.

Among the small quadrupeds inhabiting this con-
tinent, few are to be found equalling the ermine in
beauty — perhaps none that excel it in the qualities
of courage, graceful celerity of movement, and un-

* Germ. Hermelin, Hertnelinwieselj Dutch, Hermyn;
Swed. Sekat| Norw. Roskat; Russ. Gornostai; Fr. Rosse-
let, Hermine; Ital. Armellino, Ermellino.

tThe beautiful animal generally known throughout North
America as the weasel, or common weasel, and considered by-
naturalists as the common weasel of Europe (m. vulgaris,)
VOL I, — B b

194

THE ERMINE WEASEL.

tiring activity. Its whole aspect inspires the be-
holder with an idea of its character, which is well
supported by its actions. The long and slender
body, bright and piercing eyes, keen teeth and sharp
claws, clearly show that, however diminutive the ani-
mal may appear, it is destined by nature to destroy
other creatures more numerous and less powerful
than those of its own race; this length and slender-
ness of body is accompanied by a peculiar degree of
flexibility, and by a strength of limb, which, in so
small an animal, may be fairly esteemed surprising.
There is scarcely an opening through which its prey
can enter, where the ermine cannot follow, and hav-
ing once gained access, its instinctive destructiveness
is only allayed when no other victim remains to be
slaughtered.

In the northern parts of this continent, and the
northern portions of Asia, the ermine is found in the
greatest abundance; yet it is by no means limited to
northern regions, since it is found throughout a vast
expanse of country, reaching from the highest north-
ern latitudes to the middle states of the Union. In
the middle and eastern states it is most generally
known as the weasel; farther north it is called stoat
in its summer, and ermine in its winter pelage of
pure white.

The habits of the ermine weasel are very analogous
to those of the common weasel of Europe, and as its

has, by recent examination and comparison, been proved to
be the ermine in summer pelage. For this interesting ob-
servation we are indebted to the researches of that assidu-
ous cultivator of Natural Science, Charles L. Bonaparte.

THE ERMINE WEASEL.

195

general configuration is so nearly similar, it is not sur-
prising that this animal should have been confounded
with the European species. This weasel frequents
the barns and outhouses of plantations, and its re-
treat is generally well secured beneath the floors
or rafters, amid accumulations of timber or stone,
or in similar situations. Mice, and various other
depredators on the granary, are the special ob-
jects of its pursuit, and the rapid multiplication
of many of these devourers of grain could scarcely
he sufficiently restrained, were it not that the ermine
is capable of tracing them throughout their laby-
rinths, and possesses the disposition to destroy all
that come within its reach. If the efibrts of this
weasel were confined to the destruction of these little
depredators, we might consider it as the best friend
to the husbandman; but occasionally a contribution is
levied on the hen-roost, and the morning’s light ex-
hibits an universal slaughter of the poultry, whose
throats are cut, or heads eaten off. It is scarcely
possible to prevent such occurrences when these
animals are resident in the vicinity, as they can gain
access where few other creatures can enter; then their
swiftness of motion and keen bite soon render the
escape of their victims impossible.

Still it must be acknowledged that there are many
situations in which the services of this little animal
may be esteemed a positive good; for such is the
fecundity of many of the depredators on the grain,
that nothing short of the destruction of the whole
crop would ensue, were it not that the weasel is
continually thinning their ranks and killing greater
numbers than are required for its mere subsistence.

196

THE ERMINE WEASEL.

Tlic disposition which makes this weasel so useful
under ordinary circumstances, forbids an attempt to
increase its usefulness by domestication, for the pur-
pose of freeing our houses from mice, &c. Not-
withstanding it might be so far tamed as to take up
its residence about our dwellings, it would be ex-
ceedingly dangerous to expose the lives of the in-
mates to the blood-thirstyness of this quadruped,
which is rendered doubly dangerous from the cir-
cumstance of seeking its prey during the hours de-
voted by man to sleep.

The ermine is very common in the vicinity of
Hudson’s Bay, yet it is found in greater abundance
on barren grounds or open plains than in the woods,
which in all probability is owing to the greater num-
ber of mice that frequent the former situations.

While pursuing their prey, ermines are said to re-
semble little hounds running upon a trail; their tails
are carried horizontally, while with eager haste and
most agile movements they follow their prey by the
scent. Except when in their summer dress, it is
very difficult to distinguish their actions, as in win-
ter their pure white pelage is so nearly the colour
of the snow, as to render it almost impossible to see
them. When the ermine is hunted and closely pur-
sued, like other species of this genus, it has the faculty
of ejecting from a peculiar glandular apparatus a fluid
of a powerful musky odour; this, though it may serve
to retard the pursuit of some of its enemies, is too
harmless a resource to save the ermine from the
hands of man.

There is but little probability of taming the er-
mine unless it be captured very young, and even

THE ERMINE WEASEL.

197

then the period of its mildness would pass away with
its early youth. When caught in a trap and subse-
quently kept in a cage, it exhibits every sign of
the most unappeasable disposition to kill or injure
every being it is able to master. Various attempts
have been made to domesticate the ermine, but all
without success, and frequently the restlessness and
impatience of the animal has appeared to increase
with the duration of its imprisonment.

The following interesting account of an attempt
to tame the ermine is from the pen of Capt. R. Lyon,
of the British navy, (to whom we owe many of the
facts here stated,) whose excellent observations, con-
veyed in a delightful style, while they impart the
purest satisfaction, always awaken our regret, that
his opportunities of studying from living nature were
not more ample, in order that our instruction and
pleasure might have been extended in the same de-
gree.

In the night my servant caught in a small trap
a very beautiful ermine, and I had soon a convenient
cage made, for perhaps the first of these animals
which was ever caught on board a ship four hundred
yards from the land. He was a fierce little fellow,
and the instant he obtained day-light in his dwelling,
he flew to the bars and shook them with the greatek
fury, uttering a shrill passionate cry, and emitting
the strong musky smell which I formerly noticed.
No threats nor teazing could induce him to retire to
the sleeping place, and whenever he did so of his
own accord, the slightest rubbing on the bars was
sufiicient to bring him out to the attacks of his tor-
mentors. He soon took food from the hand, but not

198

THE ERMINE WEASEL.

until he had used every exertion to reach and bite
the fingers which conveyed it; this boldness gave
me hopes of being able to keep my little captive
alive through the winter; but he was killed by an
accident in a few days.”*

We have mentioned that in the eastern and mid-
dle parts of the United States the ermine weasel
frequents out-houses, stone-heaps, piles of timber,
&c. and though capable of following its prey into
small holes, does not burrow in the earth. Captain
Lyon had an opportunity of observing a singular
kind of burrow made by this animal in the snow,
resembling the elevations of the soil produced by
the passage of a mole. These galleries in the snow
were serpentine in their direction, and in the neigh-
bourhood of the hole or residence the circles were
multiplied, as if to render the approach more intri-
cate.

The ermine weasel, in its summer pelage, is of a
light ferruginous or chesnut-brown colour over the
whole of the head; this colour extends in a rounded
spot below the angle of the jaw; the whole back, sides,
and half of the tail next the body being of the same
colour. The other portion of the tail is blackish, be-
comitig gradually 'darker as it approaches the extre-
mity, where it is quite black, and the hairs terminate
in a point resembling that of a camePs hair pencil.
The external and anterior half of the fore legs are of
the same colour as the upper part of the body, and
there are three small spots of white over the base
of the toes of the right foot, and one on the left,

Lyon’s Narrative, &c.

THE ERMINE WEASEL.

199

over the first or shortest digit, in the specimen be-
fore me.

The under part of the animal is nearly of a pure
white, beginning at the extremity of the under jaw
and spreading broadly as it passes over the throat,
where it forms a point on each side, almost reaching to
the base of the ear. The white then narrows slightly
in descending the neck, spreads broadly upon the
breast, and then suddenly growing narrower passes
down the inner and posterior part of the fore legs.
Thence it passes along the belly, where it is again
narrowed, and then spreading out widely at the
groin, it terminates at the upper and anterior part of
the thigh, becoming visible for a short distance on
its outside.

The fur in summer is short, soft and silky to the
touch, not varying perceptibly in length except on
the snout, where it is quite short, and covering the
digits of the fore and hind feet, where it is rather
longer than on the other parts, and conceals the nails
entirely. On the tail the hairs are longer and coarser
than on the rest of the body, though still soft.

The ermine weasel, in its winter pelage, is of a
pure white over the whole head, body and limbs; half
of the tail to its extremity only retaining its black
colour. This white colour is so pure in the northern
regions as to render it almost impossible to distin-
guish these animals upon the snow, when the ends
of their tails are not in sight. The whiteness is not
always thus pure, but the fur is slightly tinted with
pale yellow on the tip.

The ear of the ermine weasel is broad at its basis^
and the orifice leading to the internal ear large; the

200

THE PINE marten.

ears are not covered with fur on their posterior sur*
face, but by a very short down. On the superior
and anterior part of the external ear, there is some
hair of considerable length growing from that part
of the ear which would correspond with the helix
and anti-helix of the human ear, and almost covering
the concha. The eyes of this animal, are small and
black, yet prominent, clear and lustrous.

The fur of the ermine becomes longer, thicker,
and liner in winter than in summer; this elfect
seems to be a general consequence of rigorous sea-
sons on all animals, without reference to the perma-
nence or mutability of their colouring.^

Species II. — The Pine Marten.

Mustela Martes; L.

Mustela Martes; L. Gmei. p. 95.

Mustela Ahietum; Raii. quad. p. 200.

Martes Gndture Luteo; Aghic. An. Subter. 485.

La Marte; BuiFi vii. 185, pi. 22.

Baum Matter; Kiein, quad. p. 64.

Yellow Breasted Marten,- Penij. quad. ii. p. 42, No. 244.

Pine Weasel; Penn. quad. ii. p. 42, No. 244.

Pine Marten; Sabine, Zool. App. to Franklin’s Exp.p. 651.

The pine forests of the northern parts of this con-
tinent are inhabited by vast numbers of these mar- .
tens, and the common name by which the species is
known is derived from the preference they show
for the pines, in whose lofty tops they reside. This
species is also found in Northern Asia and in Eu-
rope; its fur is highly esteemed wherever to be ob-

- See Sabine, p. 653.

1

THE PINE MAETEN.

201

tained, and the numbers of the pine marten may be
fairly inferred from the vast amount of skins annually
collected. In the year 1743 the Hudson’s Bay
company sold 12,370 good, and 2,367 damaged skins
of the pine marten; in the same year the French
sent from Canada 30,325; if to these be added the
numbers consumed in America, and those rejected
by the traders when finally arranging their pack-
ages, we must believe that this species is one of
the most numerous belonging to our continent.

The pine marten very closely resembles the com-
mon European marten, (M. Foina,) and the two spe-
cies may be readily mistaken for each other when
inattentively observed. But they may be distin-
guished with facility by remarking that the head
of the pine marten is not so long as that of the Eu-
ropean, neither is its body as large. The pine mar-
ten has longer legs, finer, thicker and more glossy
fur, and the throat is marked by a broad yellow or
orange coloured spot, while the same part in the
European marten is white.

The pine marten resembles the ermine weasel in
habits and disposition, destroying great numbers of
small quadrupeds and birds, but shows no disposi-
tion to approach the habitations of man. The
pine marten frequently has its den in the hollows of
trees, but very commonly takes possession of the
nest of some industrious squirrel, which it enlarges
to suit its own convenience, after putting the builder
to death. It is said to feed occasionally on fruits,
berries, honey, &c., but, with the exception of the
last substance, we should have strong doubts of the
statement; when very much pressed by hunger, this

VOL, I. — c c

202

THE PINE MARTEN.

marten may feed on fruits, berries, &c.’^ but it is
too exclusively carnivorous to use such food if ani-
mal matter is to be obtained.

The pine marten is of a brilliant fulvous brown
colour over the whole of the body, with the ex-
ception of the throat and anterior part of the breast,
which are of a yellow or orange hue, varying in
depth in different individuals. The general colour
of the fur is owing to the intermixture of two sorts
of hair, one of which is longex* and coarser, of an
ash colour near the body, then of a clear fawn co-
lour, and ending at the tip with a brown mixed with
bright red: the other is a soft, fine, downy hair,
slightly coloured with white and pale brownish yel-
low. The end of the snout is of a blackish brown co-
lour, and the legs and tail are of the same, having little
or none of the yellow brown. The margins and in-
ternal surface of the ears are covered by a whitish
yellow fur.

The pine marten is most frequently obtained in
its summer pelage, which is neither so brilliant, nor
of the silky fineness which it possesses in winter.
The colour becomes paler, particularly about the
head; the yellowness on the throat cannot be easily
distinguished from that on the rest of the body, as it
changes to a dingy white, which runs into and be-
comes blended with the lighter brown of the sur-
rounding parts. ^ The fur of this marten is exten-
sively used in the manufacture of hats, and is most
generally preferred for ornamenting and increasing
the warmth of winter dresses.

* Sabine.

pennant’s marten.

203

The length of the body of this animal is about
eighteen, and that of the tail about ten inches. —
There is a very marked difference in the size of
the sexes, the male being one-third larger than the
female. Their season of sexual intercourse, ac-
cording to Linne, is the month of February, and in
December the female brings forth seven or eight
young; hence there is not much probability of the
species being speedily extinguished, notwithstanding
the vast numbers annually killed for the sake of
their skins. A little care on the part of the hun
ters to avoid destroying animals during their breed-
ing seasons, would in all cases tend to secure the per
inanence of their sources of profit.*

Species III. — Pennanfs Marten.

{Commonly called the Fisher.)

Mustela Pennanti; Erxl.

Mustela Pennanti; Ekxi. Syst. Mam. p. 470, sp. 10.

Mustela Melanorrhynca-, Bodd. Elench. an. p. 88, sp. 13.

Mustela PiscatJr,- of various authors.

Fisher Weesel; Penn. Hist. Quad. Ed. 3. p. 50. No. 246. Arct. Zool,
i. p. 94.

Fisher; Sabine, App. to Franklin’s Exped. p. 652.

Wejaek; Hearne, Joui'ney, &c. 8vo. ed. p. 378.

The impropriety of giving to animals names that
may mislead the inexperienced, is clearly shown in
the case of the present species. As it is commonly

* The names of nortlierii Indian girls are chiefly taken
frpm some part or property of a marten j such as the white
marten, the black marten, the summer marten, the marten’s

204

pennant’s marten.

called the Jisher, most persons directly infer that the
animal subsists on fish, and hence resembles the otter
and other quadrupeds in its fondness for an aquatic
mode of life. Neither of these conclusions is correct.
Like the pine marten and various kindred species,
this animal subsists by preying on various small quad-
rupeds, birds, eggs, &c, and so far from being ad-
dicted to the water, Hearne states that it mani-
fests as much repugnance to that fluid as a domes-
tic cat. That it will eat fish when they are
thrown on shore there is little doubt, as almost all
the carnivorous animals are delighted with such food;
but we have no proof that this marten is in the habit
of Jjshing for itself.

Since the common name is injudicious, by inducing
erroneous notions of the habits and manners of the
animal, and has no connexion with any distinctive
character, we have preferred a translation of the
scientific name given to this species by Erxleben,
which, if equally inexpressive of any peculiarity,
does not produce any false or incorrect opinions.

Pennant’s marten is found in various parts of North
America, from the state of Pennsylvania to as far
north as the Great Slave Lake, where it was seen
by Capt. Franklin. Its habits are stated to be very
similar to those of the pine marten, climbing trees,
catching mice, rabbits, and partridges, with as much

head, the marten’s foot, the marten’s heart, the marten’s
tail, &c. Matonabbee had eight wives, and they were all
called Martens. Hearne, p. 94. This variety of names may
serve to remind the reader of Dandie Dinmont’s celebrated
family of Pepper and Mustard terriers.

pennant’s marten.

205

facility as that animal, Hearne informs us that this
species is easily domesticated, becomes fond of tea-
leaves, is very playful, and has a pleasant musky
smell. We may correctly infer that this species is
not very scarce or uncommon, if we remark the
numbers of them which are collected by the fur
traders. Pennant says that five hundred and eighty
skins were sent in one year from the states of New’
York and Pennsylvania, and Sabine remarks that
the Hudson’s Bay eompany sent eighteen hundred
skins to England in one year.

The length of this marten is from twenty- four to
thirty inches without the tail, which is from thirteen
to seventeen inches long. The snout is pointed, and
the fur near the nose is brown, in some individuals
approaching to blacl^: the ears are broad, short, and
rounded, having a dusky fur on the outside, which
appears lighter on their tips; the throat is brown, with
a few white tipped hairs; the belly and legs are of a
dark brown. The feet are very broad and covered
with hair, which conceals the sharp, strong, white
claws. All the fur on the superior part of the body
is dark at the base, yellowish above, then tipped
with black. The fur on the head is short, but gradu-
ally increases in length towards the tail, and its co-
lour changes, losing much of the yellowish, and as-
suming a chestnut hue. The tail is full, bushy, black
and lustrous, being smallest at the end.^

^ Penis hujus, P. Lotori simillimum est.

206

THE MINK.

Species IV. — The Mink.

Mustela Lutr^ola; L.

Viverra Lutreola; Pallas. Spicil. Zool. xiv. p. 46. t. iii. p. 462.

Lulra Minor: Erxl. Mamm. p. 451, No. 3. Schheb. Saeiigth, iii. p. 462.
Lesser Otter-, Quad. ii. p. 51. No. 249, Arct. Zool. i. p. 89,

No. 28.

JacJcash of the fur traders; Heabne. Journey, Sec. 8vo. ed. p. 377.
Msenk, of the Swedish colonists in America.

This animal is found throughout a great extent of
country from Carolina to Hudson’s Bay, and in its
habits and appearance so much resembles the otter,
as to have acquired the common name above quoted
from Pennant.

The favourite haunts of this speeies are the banks
of streams, especially in the vicinity of mill-seats
or farm-houses, where it inhabits holes near the wa-
ter, or in the ruins of old walls, &c. Its food in a
great degree consists of frogs and fish, but it fre-
quently invades the poultry yards and commits as
extensive ravages as any of its kindred species,
cutting off the heads and sucking the blood of the
fowls in a similar manner. Rats, mice, and other
small animals, also fall victims to the mink, and when
this animal takes up its residence about wharves or
bridges, it does great service by the destruction of
such vermin. Lawson, in his history of Carolina, says
that the mink is very destructive to the tortoise,
scraping their eggs out of the sand and destroying
them, and adds that it feeds upon the fresh water
muscles, the shells of which are often found in con-
siderable quantity about the mouth of its hole.

THE MIXK.

207

The mink is an excellent swimmer and diver, and
can remain much longer under water than the musk
rat. When provoked this animal ejects from its anal
glands a fetid liquor, which is exceedingly un-
pleasant.

Hearne states that like the larger otter they are
frequently found in winter several miles from. any
water, and are often eaught in traps set for mar-
tens. They are supposed to prey on mice and par-
tridges like the marten; but when near the rivers
and creeks they generally feed on fish. They vary
very much in size and colour. “ They are very
easily domesticated, and in a short time become so
familiar that it is scarcely possible to keep them from
climbing up one’s legs and body, and never feel
themselves happier than when sitting on the shoul-
der of their master. They sleep very much during
the day, but prowl about and feed in the night; they
are very fierce when at their meals, not suffering
those to whom they are most attached to take it from
them. I have kept several of them, but their over-
fondness made them troublesome, as they were al-
ways in the way, and their so frequently emitting a
disagreeable smell rendered them quite disgust-
ing.^”

In addition to the latter circumstances, it may be
suggested that an animal naturally so much addicted
to destruction and so blood-thirsty, might be a dan-
gerous pet in case it were not regularly supplied
with food, especially in a house in which there
might be small children to tease or excite its anger.

* Octavo edition, p. 377-8.

208

THE SABLE.

This animal is about twenty inches in length from
head to tail, and the tail is four inches long. The
ears are rounded, the top of the head in some indi-
viduals hoary, in others tawny; the hair of the body
is of two sorts, the short being of a tawny colour and
the longer of a dusky hue. The feet are broad,
webbed, and covered with hair. The tail is dusky
and ends in a point. The fur is principally used by
the hatters.*

Species V. — The Sable,

Mustela Zibellina; L.

Martes Zihellina; Bniss. Quad. p. 248.

Zibdine; Buff. Hist. Nat. xii. p. 309.

kiable TVecsel; Penn. Quad. ii. p. 43, Arct. Zool. 1, p. 90. J1 specimen
in winter pelage in the Philadelphia Museum.

In Siberia, Kamtschatka, and the Kurile islands,
this species is very common, while in North Ame-
rica it is almost unknown; more we believe because

* From a careful comparison of the descriptions given by
the systematic writers, and an examination of numerous
skins of the animals, we are inclined to believe that the
Pekan, {M. Canadensis,) and Vison, {M. Vison,) are both
nothing more than mere varieties of the Mustela Lutreola,
which we have seen having all the markings by which they
would distinguish the species above mentioned. Nothing
but a reference to living nature can decide the doubt, and
this reference is not at present in our power. A new spe-
cies has been proposed on no better foundation than an over-
stuffed and faded skin of the common mink, belonging to
the Philadelphia Museum.

THE SABLE.

209

the northern parts of this continent have not been
sufficiently explored, than owing to the absence of
the animal. Penxant, in his Arctic Zoology, states,
on the authority of Pallas, that this animal ex-
tends across the whole continent, the skins being fre-
quently-found among the furs which the Americans
traffic with among the inhabitants of the Tschutscki
noss,’^ The skin from which the first named author
described the species was from Canada, and was of
the bleached or worst kind.”

Captains Lewis and Clark, while on their expedi-
tion, obtained one of these sables, and the specimen
was prepared and mounted for the Philadelphia Mu-
seum, in which it may now be seen. It is in that state
of pelage which Pennant speaks of above, the fur
being bleached,” or rather the individual is in its
winter dress, the colour being of a dingy white, or
white so tipped with brownish red as to give some-
thing of a faintly reddish hue to the whole animal, ex-
cept the tail, which is distinctly brownish, becoming
darker towards the extremity. The person who pre-
pared this individual was led to believe it an albino
from the colour of the fur, and hence has inaccurately
given it pink-coloured or albino eyes, but, with
this exception, the specimen is still in good condi-
tion.

The habits of the sable very closely resemble those
of the martens we have before described, but we
have so little positive information relative to the
species as it exists on this continent, that we do not
feel at liberty to enter into any details merely in-
ferred from what is known of the European species.
The skins of sables are esteemed among the most

VOL. 1. — D d

210

THE SABLE.

precious peltries, and yield large sums annually to
the Russian government.

The length of the animal from the nose to the
tail is about twenty inches; the tail, including the
hair at the extremity, is eight inches long, half of
which length is due to the hair. The general colour,
when in winter dress, is an obscure fulvous or tawny
hue. The head and ears are whitish and broad,
somewhat triangular in shape, and rather pointed
at top. The feet are very large and covered with
hair on the upper and under surfaces, which conceal
the nails.

CHAPTER XII.

Genus XIII. Skunk; Mephitis, C.

Fr. Chinche; Enfant du diable; Bete puante.
Germ. Stinkthier.

GENERIC CHARACTERS.

The head is conical and small, having a somewhat
blunt snout, and small rounded ears. The feet have
five toes, those on the fore-feet being large, strong,
and suited for burrowing.

Dental System.

14 Upper

18 Lower

{

!

6 Incisive
2 Canine
6 Molar.

6 Incisive
2 Canine
10 Molar.

{

{

2 False Molars
2 Carnivorous
2 Tuberculous.
6 False Molars
2 Carnivorous
2 Tuberculous.

In the upper jaw the incisors and canines are
exactly similar to those of the martens. There are
two false molars, one of which is very small and ru-
dimental, and the other regular, with two roots and
one point. The carnivorous tooth is remarkable for
the great developement of the internal tubercle,
which adds much to its thickness, and gives it a tri-
angular form; and the tuberculous tooth is also pe-
culiar in its dimensions, which are nearly the same
from the anterior to the posterior edge as from the
internal to the external. In the martens this tooth

212

THE SKUNK.

is only extended in the latter direction, and its
slightly salient and rounded tubercles are not dis-
tinctly marked. In the present genus these tuber-
eles are very strong and angular, which makes this
really a triturating tooth; there are four principal
tubercles separated by depressions of some depth,
but their extremely irregular figure sets description
at defiance.

In THE LOWER JAW the incisors and canines are si-
milar to those of the martens, without exception, and
the same is the fact relative to the three false molars:
the first is much smaller than the other, which has
the form and proportions of the regular false molar.
Th e carnivorous is divided into two nearly equal parts
by a rather deep cavity: the anterior is formed by
three pointed tubercles arranged triangularly, and
the posterior by a spur ending in two sharp and
rather slender tubercles, separated by a deep de-
pression. The tuberculous tooth is similar to that of
the martens.

In their reciprocal position, the peculiar cha-
racters of the carnivorous and tuberculous teeth
cause the only difference between the relations of
these teeth and those we have remarked to exist
in the martens. The great internal tubercle of the
upper carnivorous tooth, fills the space between
the three triangularly ranged tubercles of that be-
longing to the lower jaw, and the spur of the lat-
ter is in relation with the anterior half of the great
superior tuberculous tooth, the posterior part of
which corresponds with the inferior tubercle.

The genus mephitis is therefore much less car-
nivorous than the marten and wolverene, on account

A T

1 1 y

2 C9r//?i?it'

.3 L

THE SKUNK.

213

of the thickening of the cutting teeth, and more
frugivorous in consequence of the enlargement of
the tuberculous teeth.

Species I. — The Skunk.

Mephitis Americanaj Desm.

Viverra Mephiti-i,- Gmbl. [L.] Syst. Nat. p. 88, No. 13.

Chinchf; Buff. Hist. Nat. tom. 33, pi. xy. fig’. S.

Enfant du diahk; Cbarlf.v. Nouv. France v. 19S.

Shiink Weesel. Pens. Quad. ii. p. 65, No. 263.

Pedestrians, called by business or pleasure to ram-
ble through the country during the morning or
evening twilight, occasionally see a small and pretty
animal a short distance before them in the path,
scampering forward without appearing much alarm-
ed, and advancing in a zig-zag or somewhat ser-
pentine direction. Experienced persons generally
delay long enough to allow this unwelcome fellow-
traveller to withdraw from the path: but it often
happens that a view of the animal arouses the ar-
dour of the observer, who in his fondness for sport
thinks not of any result but that of securing a prize.
It would be more prudent to rest content with pelting
this quadrupe^ from a safe distance, or to drive it
away by shouting loudly; but almost all inexperienced
persons, the first time such an opportunity occurs,
rush forward with intent to run the animal down.
This appears to be an easy task; in a few moments
it is almost overtaken; a few more strides and the vic-
tim may be grasped by its long and waving tail — but
that tail is now suddenly curled over the back,
its pace is slackened, and in one instant the con-

214

THE SKUNK.

dition of things is entirely reversed; — the lately
triumphant pursuer is eagerly flying from his in-
tended prize, involved in an atmosphere of stench,
gasping for breath, or blinded and smarting with
pain, if his approach were sufficiently close to allow
of his being struck in the eyes by the pestilent fluid
of the skunk. Should the attack on this creature
be led by a dog, and he be close at hand when
the disgusting discharge is made, he runs with tail
between his legs howling away, and by thrusting
his nose into the soil as he retreats, tries to escape
from the horrible effluvium which renders the air
in the immediate vicinity of the skunk too stifling
to be endured. Thus is an animal, possessed of
very trifling strength and no peculiar sagacity, pro-
tected by the hand of nature against the most power-
ful and destructive enemies. A few glands secrete
a most noisome and intolerably stinking fluid, and
this scattered with peculiar force upon the body of
its enemies, or even in the air, is sufficient to disarm
the violence of most quadrupeds, and induce man
himself rather to avoid than to seek an encounter.

The organs by which this fluid is formed are
placed near the termination of the digestive tube,
and the ducts from the glands open into the rectum,
by the aid of whose muscles the fluid is ejected with
astonishing force, and is aimed with great accuracy,
rarely missing the object if discharged while within
the proper distance. The faculty this animal pos-
sesses of annoying its enemies by the discharge of
the fluid just mentioned, causes it rather to be shun-
ned than hunted, which the value of its skin would
otherwise be sure to occasion.

THE SKUNK.

215

The skunk inhabits the whole of North America,
and is also found throughout a considerable part of
the southern portion of this continent. As the co-
loured markings vary exceedingly in different indi-
viduals, it is not surprising that naturalists have made
several species of this animal, though without any
foundation in nature. Of several specimens in the
Philadelphia Museum there is not one corresponding
with the other in colour; neither have we ever seen
two exactly alike. Sometimes they are of a uniform
dark brown colour, having a white spot on the top of
the head; sometimes they have two white stripes,
commencing from a white patch on the back of the
head and neck, passing outwards as far as the middle
of the back, while only the tip of the tail is pure
white; again, other individuals are found with white
and black rays on the back and sides, and the tail
in great part white, as the skunk is represented
in the ordinary figures. All the species proposed
by systematic writers are reducible to one, the sub-
ject of this article. Mephitis Americana, or Ameri-
can skunk.

The fetor produced by the skunk is especially
characterized by all who have experienced it as suf-
focating or stifling, which is owing to its peculiar
concentration. The predominant odour is that of
muskiness, but in so condensed and aggravated a
form as to render it almost insupportable, even at a
considerable distance from the spot where it is first
discharged. A very good idea maybe formed of this
stench by breaking and smelling a leaf or stalk of
the plant called skunk cabbage, (the Dracontium
fetidum, or pathos fetidum) resembling it in every

216

THE SKUNK.

respect except in strength, which perhaps no arti-
ficial accumulation of this vile scent could ever
equal.

The fluid ejected by the skunk is not merely offen-
sive by its stench, blit also in consequence of its highly
stimulating and acrimonious qualities. When any of
it is thrown into the eyes, it is productive of very
violent and dangerous inflammation; we must sup-
pose that this peculiar acrimony, rather than any
mere offensiveness of odour, is the cause of the
marked repugnance evinced by dogs, as these animals
show not the slightest sign of uneasiness from the
presence of the most nauseous and putrid effluvia
from animal or vegetable substances, yet run howl-
ing and trying to thrust their noses into the ground
after having been exposed to this pungent perfume
from the skunk.

In its extreme volatility it bears a considerable
resemblance to true musk. The smallest drop is
sufficient to render a garment detestable to the
wearer and his companions for a great duration of
time, and without any perceptible diminution of
intensity. Washing, smoking, baking and burying
articles of dress, and in fact every effort short of
destroying the materials of which they are made,
seem to be equally inefficient for its removal. —
This scent is not only thus enduring when the fluid
is sprinkled upon clothing, but the spot where the
animal is killed, or where the matter was ejected,
retains it for a great lapse of time. When I was
at Cumberland House, (says Hearne, p. 378) in the
fall of 1774, some Indians that were tenting on the
plantation killed two of these animals, and made

21?

THE SKUNK.

m

a feast of them, when the spot where they were
singed and gutted was so impregnated with the
nauseous smell which they emit, that after a whole
winter had elapsed, and the snow had thawed away
in the spring, the smell was still intolerable.’’ A
friend informed the author of this work, that he had
plainly perceived the odour of the fluid ejected by
this animal from across the Hudson river, near Al-
bany; we have no doubt of its being possible to smell
it at a much greater distance when the wind blows
from the spot where the effluvium is thrown out.^
However singular the fancy may appear, we are
assured by Catesby that he has seen one of these
animals tamed as a pet, and following its owner like
a little dog, without offering to offend any one by its
peculiar odour, which it has the power of dispensing
at will. When it is recollected that on any provo-
cation or threatened injury, the skunk immediately
fires upon his disturber, it will be conceded that such

* Professor Kalm gives the following anecdotes in his
travels; — “In 1749 one of these animals came near the
farm-house in whicli I lodged; it was winter, and during the
night the dogs were aroused and pursued it; in a moment
so fetid an odour was diffused, that, being in bed, I thought I
should have been suffocated. About the end of the same
year, another slipped into our cellar, but did not make the
least unpleasant smell, because it only diffuses this w'hen
hunted or disturbed. A woman who discovered it at night
by its shining eyes killed it, and at the instant it filled the
cellar with such a stench, that not only was the woman sick
during several days, but the bread, meat and other provi-
sions kept in that cellar were so infected as to be entirely
spoiled, and required to be throwm away.”

VOL I.—E e

218

THE SKUA'K.

a pet must require a very cautious management, for
to startle it suddenly, or injure it accidentally, would
expose both friends and enemies to a shower of ‘‘li-
quid sweets,” which all “ the odours from the spicy
shore of Araby the blest” could not correct.

If the skunk be killed while unsuspicious of the
approach of danger, or before time has been allowed
for the discharge of his artillery of perfume, the
animal is not in any way disagreeable, and may be
approached closely, or even eaten without the least
unpleasantness, if the glands be carefully taken out.
Its flesh, when the odorous parts have been carefully
removed, is said to be well flavoured, and resembles
that of a pig considerably. It is eaten by the In-
dians, and occasionally by hunters, with much relish.

The skunk is most generally found in the forests
or their immediate vicinity, having its den either in
the hollow of an old tree or stump, or an excava-
tion in the ground. It feeds upon the young and eggs
of birds, and on small quadrupeds, wild fruits, &c.
Occasionally the skunk gains access to the poultry-
yard, where it does much mischief by breaking and
sucking the eggs, or by killing the fowls. When
resident in the vicinity of farm-houses, it remains
for a long time without giving notice of its presence
by emitting its offensive fluid, which proves how
ridiculous is the notion that the urine of this animal
is the source of its disgusting fetor; for, as Hearne
justly observes, were this the fact, the whole country
it inhabits would be rendered almost insupportable
to every other creature.

We have already stated that the colour of the
hair is very various in different individuals of this

THE SKUNK.

219

species at different seasons and periods of life. Very
commonly it is of a blackish brown over the whole
of the body, except on the top of the head, or im-
mediately between the ears, where there is a white
spot, and the tip of the tail, also, is white. Some
individuals have a slight white mark on the breast.
The hairs of the tail are long and bushy, and, with
the exception of their tips, are of a dark brown
colour. But, as heretofore stated, scarcely two of
them are coloured precisely in the same way. The
length of a full grown skunk is about eighteen
inches, and the tail about seven, the long hair at
the extremity making nearly one-half of this length.^

*. For a very long time the offensive fluid of this animal
was almost universally believed to be its urine, with which it
was said first to wet its bushy tail, and then, by a vigorous
flourish, to scatter the perfume far and wide against its dis-
turbers. It is not surprising that common observers should
mistake the action intended to withdraw the tail from the
course of the discharge for the manner in which the fluid is
scattered.

We are informed by our friend, Mr. T. Kearney, that on
one occasion, while going to visit a trap before day-light, he
disturbed a skunk which was running along the path at
some distance in advance of him, and was much surprised
to observe that the course of the fluid discharged was ren-
dered perfectly visible by a distinct phosphorescent light;
the odour left no doubt of the animal whence it proceeded.

CHAPTER XIII.

Genus XIV. Otter; Lutra, Briss.

Ger. Fischotter; Flussotter; Fischdieb, &c. Ital. Lontra.

Fr. Loutxe. Swed. Utter.

GENERIC CHARACTERS.

The animals belonging to this genus are charac-
terized by a broad and flat head, which terminates in
a blunt snout; small eyes and very short rounded ears.
The whiskers are large; the tongue, though not very
rough, is papillous. The body is larger in proportion
than that of the marten. The very short legs are ter-
minated by five toes, which have their phalanges
united by a web or membrane, and are armed with
sharp, not retractile claws. The pelage is composed
of. two sorts of hair, one of which is silky, soft, thick
and short, the other long, scattered and rather bristly.
The teats are placed upon the belly; on each side of
the anus is situated an orifice leading to a small sack
containing a fetid matter. These animals are excellent
swimmers, reside in holes along the banks of fresh
water streams, and feed almost entirely upon fish.

Dental System.

r 6 Incisive

r 6 False Molars

18 Upper

< 2 Canine

< 2 Carnivorous

^ J

10 Molar.

f 2 Tuberculous.

r 6 Incisive

r 6 False Molars

18 Lower

s 2 Canine

-j 2 Carnivorous

L

1 10 Molar,

i 2 Tuberculous.

THE OTTER.

221

In the upper jaw the incisor and canine teeth
are exactly similar to what we have seen in the mar-
ten, the glutton and skunk. The false molars are
three in number, the first is very small and rudi-
mental, the second slightly larger than the first,
but much smaller than the third, is regularly con-
formed like all normal false molars. The carni-
vorous tooth is principally remarkable for the ex-
tent and form of its internal tubercle. It is no
longer a salient point reposing upon a very large
base as in the skunk, but a broad surface terminated
at the inner side by a circular line, and bordered at
this part by a continuous and salient spine. The
tuberculous tooth has the dimensions and form of the
same tooth in the marten; it is also more extended
from the out to the inside than from before back-
ward, and the inequalities which divide its surface
differ in nothing from what we have observed in the
animal just referred to.

In the lower jaw the incisors and canines have
nothing to distinguish them from the dental system
of the skunk; and the same is true of the false mo-
lar, the carnivorous and tuberculous teeth.

In their reciprocal position it results from the
differences we have pointed out between the skunk
and otter, that in the latter no tubercle fills the space
left by the tubercles arranged in a triangle on the
inferior carnivorous tooth. The first of these tu-
bercles is at the anterior part of the tooth, and
opposed to the hollowed centre of the broad sur-
face, bordered by a spine which replaces in these
animals the tubercle found in the same tooth of the
skunk. The two other tubercles fill the void re-

222

THE AMERICAN OTTER.

maining between the carnivorous and opposite tuber-
culous tootb, and this last presents almost the whole of
its crown to the posterior spur of the lower carnivo-
rous tooth. Nothing is opposed to the inferior tuber-
culous tooth but the posterior edge of the analogous
tooth of the upper jaw.

It is well known that the otters subsist principally
upon fish; they also may be fed with flesh, and
may be accustomed without difficulty to use vegeta-
ble food. Nevertheless, it would be difficult to de-
termine by the teeth, whether they are more car-
nivorous than the skunk; because, while they appear
to have carnivorous teeth which separate them farther
from the marten than the carnivorous teeth of the
skunk remove that, animal, they have, on the other
hand, less extensive tuberculous teeth than those of
the latter genus.

Species I. — The American Otter.

Lutra Brasiliensis; Ray.

Mustela Luira Brasiliensis: Gmei.. L. p. 93.

Lutfa Brasiliensis: Rat. Syn. Quad. p. 91.

Lutra Brasiliensis: Bniss. Quad. p. 278.

Saricovienne de la Gvyane: Buff. Supp. 6. p. 287.

Loutre d’Jimerique: C. Reg. Anim. i. p. 151. tom. iv. fig. 3.

Lutra Canadensis: Sabine, App. to Franklin’s Exp. p. 654.

Though the Brasilian Otter has long been regard-
ed as a distinct species, the North American or Ca-
nadian Otter was almost uniformly confounded with
its European analogue, until the distinctive charac-
ters were accurately pointed out by Sabine in the
work above quoted. Cuvier considered the North

THE AMEKICAN OTTER.

223

American as identical with the Brasilian species, and
in this correct opinion he has been followed by most
of the naturalists.

This otter inhabits South, as well as various parts
of North America, along the fresh water streams
and lakes, as far north as to the Copper Mine river.
In the southern, middle and eastern states of the
Union, they are comparatively scarce, but in the
western states they are in many places still found in
considerable numbers. On the tributaries of the
Missouri they are very common; but it is in the
Hudson’s Bay possessions that these animals are ob-
tained in the greatest abundance, and supply the
traders with the largest number of their valuable
skins. Seventeen thousand three hundred otter
skins have been sent to England in one year by the
Hudson’s Bay company.

Nature appears to have intended the otter for
one among her efficient checks upon the increase
of the finny tribes, and every peculiarity of its
conformation seems to have this great object in
view. The length of body, short and fiat head,
abbreviated ears, dense and close fur, flattened tail,
and disproportionately short legs with webbed feet,
all conspire to facilitate the otter’s movements
through the water. In the crystal depths of the
river, few fish can elude this swiftly moving and
destructive animal, which unites to the qualities
enabling him to swim with fish-like celerity and ease,
the peculiar sagaciousness of a class of beings far
superior in the intellectual scale to the proper ten-
ants of the flood. In vain does the pike scud before
this pursuer, and spring into the air in eagerness

224

Ttiii AMERICAN OTTER.

to escape; or the trout dart with the velocity of
thought from shelter to shelter; in vain does the
strong and supple eel seek the protection of the
shelving bank or the tangled ooze in the bed of the
stream; the otter supplies by perseverance what may
be wanting in swiftness, and by cunning what may
be deficient in strength, and his affrighted victims,
though they may for a short time delay, cannot avert
their fate. When once his prey is seized, a single
effort of his powerful jaws is sufficient to render its
struggles unavailing; one crush with his teetli breaks
the spine of the fish behind the dorsal fin, and de-
prives it of the ability to direct its motions, even if
it still retain the least power to move.

The residence of the otter is a burrow or excava-
tion in the bank of a stream or river, and the en-
trance to this retreat is under water; at some distance
from tlie river an air-hole is generally to be found
opening in the midst of a bush or other place of
concealment. The burrow is frequently to be traced
for a considerable distance, and in numerous instances
leads to the widely spreading roots of large trees, un-
derneath which the otter finds a secure and com-
fortable abode. The winter residence is generally
chosen in the vicinity of falls or rapids where the
water is least liable to be closed from the severity of
the cold, and where the otter may find the readiest
access to the fish upon which his subsistence de-
pends. Otters have been seen during the coldest
parts of winter at very considerable distances from
their usual haunts, or from any known open water, as
well as upon the ice of large lakes, a circumstance
that appears the more singular as this animal is not

the AMERICAN OTTER.

225

known to kill game on land at this season. When
the otter is in the woods where the snow is light
and deep, it dives if pursued, and moves with con-
siderable rapidity under the snow. But its route
is always betrayed by the rising of the superin-
cumbent mass, and numbers of them are occasionally
killed with clubs by the Indians, while thus endeav-
ouring to make their escape. The old otters, how-
ever, are often able to disappoint their pursuers
by force, if not by address, for they turn upon them
with great fury and ferocity, and so desperate are
the wounds inflicted by their teeth, that few in-
dividuals are willing to encounter the severity of
their bite. The Indians have various methods of kill-
ing the otter, one of which is that of concealing them-
selves near the haunts of the animal on moon- light
nights, and shooting them when they come forth for
the purpose of feeding or sporting. A common
mode of taking them is by sinking a steel-trap near
the mouth of their burrow, over which the animal
must pass in entering or leaving the den.

We have alluded to the sporting of the otter, and
may now remark that its disposition in this respect
is singular and interesting. Their favourite sport
is sliding, and for this purpose in winter the high-
est ridge of snow is selected, to the top of which
the otters scramble, where, lying on the belly, with
the fore-feet bent backwards, they give themselves
an impulse with their hind-legs, and swiftly glide
head- foremost down the declivity, sometimes for the
distance of twenty yards. This sport they continue,
apparently with the keenest enjoyment, until fatigue
or hunger induces them to desist.

VOL. I. — V f

22C> lllE AMEKIUAIV OTTElt.

Ill the summer this amusement is obtained by se-
lecting a spot where the river-bank is sloping, has a
clayey soil, and the water at its base is of a considera-
ble depth. The otters then remove from the surface,
for the breadth of several feet, the sticks, roots,
stones and other obstructions, and render the surface
as level as possible. They climb up the bank at a
less precipitous spot, and starting from the top slip
with velocity over the inclining ground, and plump
into the water to a depth proportioned to their
weight and rapidity of motion. After a few slides
and plunges the surface of the clay becomes very
smooth and slippery, and the rapid succession of the
sliders show how nuich these animals are delighted
by the game, as well as how capable they are of
performing actions, which have no other object than
that of pleasure or diversion. This amusement is
so congenial to the frolic spirit of boyhood, that in
vicinities where otter slides are found, youngsters
while bathing sometimes take possession of one,
and sitting at the top glide thence with great glee
into the water, in imitation of the disports of the
otter. But not recollecting that the skin of the
otter is protected by a thick and fine fur against the

“ We had an opportunity of seeing on the ice of Boyer
Creek a considerable number of the tracks or paths of
otters; they were the more readily distinguishable from there
being snow of but little depth on the ice, and they appear-
ed as if the animal was accustomed to slide in his move-
ments on the ice, as there were in the first place the impres-
sions of two feet, then a long mark clear of snow for the
distance of a yard or more, then the impressions of the feet
of the animal, after which the sliding mark, and so on alter-
nately. These paths were numerous, and passed between

THE AMERICAN OTTER

227

effects of friction, the poor lads find, on relinquish-
ing their play, that, notwithstanding the apparent
smoothness of the slide, the fine sand mingled with
the clay has robbed them of a broad surface of
cuticle, the loss of which experimentally convinces
them, before they can limp home, that an otter slide,
in the end, is not altogether well suited for the re-
creation of human bathers.

The American otter is about five feet in length,
including the tail, the length of which is eighteen
inches. The colour of the whole of the body, (ex-
cept the chin and throat, which are dusky white) is
a glossy brown. The fur throughout is dense and fine.

The differences between this species and the Eu-
ropean otter are thus pointed out by Capt. Sabine.

The neck of the American otter is elongated, not
short, and the head narrow and long in comparison
with the short broad visage of the European species;
the ears are consequently much closer together than
in the latter animal. The tail is more pointed and
shorter, being considerably less than one half of the
length of the body, whilst the tail of the European
otter is ntore than half the length of its body.”

The fur of the otter is much valued by the hat-
ters and other consumers of peltries, and as the ani-
mal is hunted at all times without any regard to the
preservation or increase of the species, it must ulti-
mately become as rare in North America as the
kindred species has long since become in Europe.

the bank and a situation where a hole had been in the ice,
now frozen over.”r-~Long’s Exped. to the Rocky Mountains,
vol. i. p. 455.

328

THE SEA OTTER.

Species II. — The Sea Otter.

Lutra Marina; Erxl.

Lutra Marina, Kalan: Nov. Com. Petrop. ii. p. 367.

Castor Marin; Hist. Kamtschatka, p. 444.

Mustela Imtris: L. Gmel. p. 92.

See Biber, oder See Otter; Steller, Kamtschatka.

This animal is very interesting on account of its
habits and manners, the peculiar beauty, fineness
and value of its fur, and from the singular eircum-
stance of the comparatively narrow limits within
which the species is restricted. The sea otter spends
the greater part of its life in the ocean, where it is
abundantly supplied with food, and to all appearance
there is nothing to prevent it from roving wherever
inclination or curiosity invites; yet the species is ex-
clusively resident within the 49th and 60th degrees
of north latitude, and from the 126th degree west
longitude to the 150th east from London, on the
north- eastern coasts and seas of North America, and
on the shores of Kamtschatka and of the islands lying
between the two continents.

The sea otter when full grown is about the size
of a large mastiff, and weighs from seventy to eighty
pounds. In general appearance there is a considera-
ble degree of resemblance between this animal and
the seal, especially in the flat and webbed feet of
the hinder extremities. It is always found on the
coast, or in the immediate vicinity of the salt water,
and in tempestuous weather seeks shelter among the
weeds which are collected in great quantities in
many parts of the seas it inhabits. Its food is vari-

THE SEA OTTER.

229

ous, but principally cuttle-fish, lobsters and other
fish.

The sea otter, like most other animals which are
plentifully supplied with food, is entirely harmless
and inolfensive in its manners, and might be eharged
with stupidity, according to a common mode of judg-
ing animals, as it neither offers to defend itself nor
to injure those who attack it. But as it runs very
swiftly and swims with equal celerity it frequently
escapes, and after having gone some distance turns
back to look at its pursuers. In doing this it holds
a fore paw over its eyes, mueh in the manner we
see done by persons who in a strong sunshine are
desirous to observe a distant object accurately. It
has been inferred that the sight of this animal is im-
perfect; its sense of smelling however is said to be
very aeute.

The female sea otter brings forth on land after a
pregnancy of eight or nine months, and but one at a
birth; the extreme tenderness and attachment she
displays for her young are much celebrated. Before
the cub can swim she is observed to play with and
fondle it in various ways; sometimes she carries it
about, holding it carefully in her mouth; at other
times is observed to play with it by throwing it up
into the air and catching it between her fore-paws:
and before the young otter has learned to swim, she
carries it in her arms, swimming about on her back.
Nothing but death can induce the parent to relin-
quish her offspring, and instances are related of the
sea otter pining and dying in the vicinity of the
spot where her young has died or been killed. The
young continues with the dam until it becomes old

230

THE SEA OTTEK.

enough to seek a mate, and after pairing, the male
and female are very constant to each other, their
union not being disturbed by the wanderings of either
party. Sea otters swim on their backs, their sides,
and sometimes as if placed upright in the water,
and they are frequently observed in this attitude,
as if embracing and caressing each other, or en-
gaged in play.

The method of capturing the sea otter is com-
monly that of placing a net among the sea weed; occa-
sionally they are hunted with two boats, by means of
which the animal is soon tired down, being unable to
remain a very long time under water: they are also
killed by clubs or spears when they are found asleep
upon the rocks. The flesh is eaten by the hunters, but
its qualities are very differently represented; some
have stated it to be tender, juicy, and flavored like
young lamb, and by others it is declared to be hard,
insipid, and tough as leather; this variance we suppose
to arise from the different ages of the individuals
eaten, the young being doubtless tender and delicate,
and the old being tough and unsavory.

The length of the sea otter, (including the tail,
which is ten or twelve inches long,) is about five
feet, and the whole of the body appears to vary but
little in thickness. The upper jaw is long and con-
siderably broader than the lower; the ears are not
an inch long and are pointed, thick and fleshy, stand
erect, and are covered with short hair. The fore
legs are very short, thick and covered with fur, hav-
ing five broad toes covered with short hair, and
joined by a membrane. The hind feet, which we
have stated to bear much resemblance to those of the

THE SEA OTTER.

231

seal, have a strong and larger membrane between the
toes, which is somewhat like the shark skin called
shagreen; on the outside of the external toe there is
a skin skirting it, analogous to what is seen in some
water fowl.

The colour of the sea otter when in full season is
perfectly black, at other times of a uniform dark
brown. When the fur is opened it is of a lighter
colour than on the surface, and intermixed with the
fur are some longer, black and shining hairs, which
greatly increase the beauty of the pelage. In some in-
dividuals the fur about the ears, nose and eyes is of a
lighter colour, sometimes brown. The young are
sometimes of a cream colour, with white about the
nose, eyes and forehead. The fur of the young
animal is not equal to that of the adult, which is
unrivalled for richness and beauty. The prices at
which they have been sold in China appear enormous,
from seventy to a hundred rubles having been given
for a single skin.

CHAPTER XIV.

Genus XV. Dog; Canis, L. C

Gr. Kt«aii,
Ger. Hund.

Butch, Ilond.
Ital. Cane.
i^an. Perro.
Bort. Cao.

Fr. Chien. &

Buss. Pes, Sobaka. B

GENERIC CHARACTERS

The face is prolonged and the naked glandulous
part of the nose rounded; the cheeks are somewhat
elevated, the tongue smooth, and the ears (in the
wild animals) erect and pointed. The teats are in
the greatest number of instances placed in part on
the belly and in part on the chest. On the fore feet
there are five, and on the hind feet four toes, armed
with strong, slightly curved nails, which are not re-
tractile.

Frederick Cuvier remarks that the animals of this
genus may be considered in point of carnivorous
regimen, as standing between the glutton and skunk,
but nearer the former than the latter. We have
seen that the appetite for animal food, or the dispo-
sition to feed upon flesh, diminishes both in propor-
tion to the increased numbers of tubercles, and the
augmented thickness of the carnivorous teeth, which
in undergoing this change proportionally loose their
trenchant character.

THE DOG.

233

Dental System.

<D

G?

20 Upper
22 Lower

{6 Incisive
2 Canine
12 Molar.

{6 Incisive
2 Canine
14 Molar.

{

{

6 False Molar
2 Carnivorous
4 Tuberculous.
8 False Molar
2 Carnivorous
4 Tuberculous.

In the upper jaw the number, proportion and
respective situation of the incisive teeth resemble
those of the marten, but in their forms they have
characters peculiar to themselves; they are trilobed,
having a principal middle lobe and two smaller ones
on each side; their internal surface is not divided by
a transverse groove, but is bordered by a crest or
spine, which rises upon the edges of the two small
lobes, and by reuniting at the commencement of
the root, forms an angle varying in acuteness in dif-
ferent individuals. The canine teeth also resem-
ble those of the marten, and the false molars ex-
hibit an equal similarity, except that they are sepa-
rated by a vacant space from the canine, and the two
last have their posterior part prolonged into a very
evident spur, formed by a particular lobe separated
from the principal one by a groove. The carnivo-
rous is entirely like the analogous tooth of the mar-
ten: its principal part is divided into two lobes, an
anterior, which is larger and more pointed, and a
posterior, which is more trenchant, and presents on
its internal surface anteriorly only a very small blunt
or rounded tubercle, according to the species. The
first tuberculous tooth is very large, and its external
is larger than the internal part, by which it is dis-

VOL. 1. — G g

234

TUB DOG.

tinguished from that belonging to the marten. On
its external face it has two pointed tubercles, bor-
dered externally by a spine; in its middle there are
two small eminences which appear to be connected
with the exterior spine, and between these and
the tubercle on the external face there is a broad
and deep depression; finally, the internal face, which
is rounded, has on it a spine, which marks its out-
line, and terminates in a groove that separates it
posteriorly from the eminences before mentioned.
Between these eminences and this last spine is
found a second well marked depression. The se-
cond tuberculous tooth resembles the one we have
described, only that it is more than one-third smaller.

In the lower jaw the incisors are merely bi-
lobed, and the lobe nearest to the canine is one-half
larger than the other. The canine does not at all
dilfer from that of the marten. After a vacant
space come four false molars; the first is merely ru-
dimental, and the three others, which have all the
characters of these teeth, do not differ from each
other, except that they increase slightly in size, from
the second to the fourth, and in having their pos-
terior part divided by two serrations. The anterior
part of the carnivorous resembles the analogous tooth
of the cat; its edge is trenchant and divided in its
middle by a groove into two parts, but the anterior
is less elevated than the other, and we find at its
base interiorly, and rather at the back part, the little
pointed tubercle which we have mentioned in des-
cribing the dentition of the marten. Its posterior
part is a spur, which is principally composed of two
obtuse tubercles, one on the outside and the other on
the inside. The first tuberculous is twice as long as

THE DOG.

235

it is broad. Its anterior part is composed of two tu-
bercles, one below and the other on the outside, the
posterior consists of a spur edged by an irregular
spine. The second tuberculous tooth is very small,
circular, and composed of two small tubercles, and
is surrounded, especially on the inside, by a small
spine.

Ill their reciprocal position the relations of these
teeth, as to the incisor, canine and false molars, are
such as we have heretofore described. The internal
tubercle of the superior carnivorous fills the space
which separates the fourth false molar and the in-
ferior carnivorous. The external face of the anterior
part of the latter is found in relation with the in-
ternal part of the posterior surface of the opposite
tooth, and the spur of the first tuberculous fills the
vacuities of the opposite tuberculous tooth, and these
in turn occupy the vacuities on the spur of the
lower carnivorous. The first part of the lower car-
nivorous fills the vacuity which exists between the
two superior tubercles, and the second pair of tuber-
cles of this first tooth is in opposition with the second
lower tuberculous, which appears to be merely rudi-
mental and without function.

The species belonging to this genus are endowed
with very acute senses, especially of sight, smell,
and hearing. Their food varies accordingly to cir-
cumstances, and is composed wholly or in part of
animal matter, either recently killed, or in a putrid
state. ^

* nils omnibus penis nodosus est, quo pacto, cohserent
copula Junctis. Secundum Clariss. Linnei verba, “gravida

236

general history

Were we desired to propose a creature fit to be au
emblem of incorruptible fidelity, unwavering friend-
ship, forbearing and enduring affection, combined
with all that renders gratitude commendable, and ho-
nesty of high value, we know not one more worthy to
be thus distinguished than the dog, which, under all
circumstances of adverse or prosperous fortune, ad-
heres with untiring and zealous vigilance to the cause
of his master, being ever ready to lay down his own
life in defence of him he has chosen to serve and
obey. Without the co-operation of this highly
gifted quadruped, how could man have opposed the
noxious animals by which his path was beset, or
his dwelling surrounded? In those dreary regions
of the earth, where the face of nature wears a veil
of almost perpetual gloom, and the wretched wan-
derers of the human family are forced to maintain
a perpetual struggle against the combined severities
of cold and famine, how much more abjectly misera-
ble would their condition be, had not nature endow-
ed this animal with the disposition to seek the society
of man, despite of all the sufferings incident to his
poverty, and all the injuries inflicted through his
barbarity or neglect.

We have to regret, however, that the good man-
kind derives from the faithful services of this animal,
is closely connected with the possibility of receiving
from it the most terrible of evils, as if nature could
not operate without balancing or antagonizing every

Ixiii. diebus parit, saepe iv. ad viiij masciilis patri similibus,
femineis matri.”

OF THE DOG.

237

thing by its opposite. It is the dog kind that from
time to time inflicts on our race a malady, perhaps
the most agonizing and horrific to which humanity
is liable, from whose aspect or endurance the stout-
est hearts and best regulated minds shrink away
in terror. Against this dreadful disease the re-
sources of medicine have hitherto proved inade-
quate and unavailing, and though we continue to
hope that the augmentation of power which me-
dicine is daily acquiring through the zeal of its
cultivators may ultimately triumph over this afflict-
ing disorder, experience teaches us how much cause
there is to fear that many must still perish before
a remedy can be found.*

An examination of dogs bred in long civilized
countries will speedily convince us of the impossi-
bility of arriving, through them, at any satisfactory
conclusion as to the source or origin of the species,
because the influence of domestication and intermix-
ture of races has produced changes and varieties so
numerous and interminable as to set at defiance the
most scrutinizing and indefatigable research. But if
we visit the regions where man has long remained al-
most entirely stationary, and is still under the go-

* A dog which has bitten any person, and is supposed to
be mad, should not be immediately killed, but securely con-
fined, in order that the madness maybe positively ascertain-
ed. There is no reliance to be placed on any other pre-
ventive treatment than the immediate and perfect excision
of the part bitten, or the removal of the poison by sucking
the wound forcibly and for a considerable time. Expe-

238

general history

vernance of few other feelings than those relating
to his animal wants, we shall find the dog, though
long domesticated, continuing to exhibit as much of
peculiar and specific character as if yet in the wild
state.

The inhabitants of the northern parts of this con-
tinent, and of the north of Asia, have for ages be-
yond the memory of man employed dogs as beasts of
burthen, or for draught: the dogs thus used by the
Eskimaux, as well as those kept about the lodges of
our southern and western Indians, retain so much
of the external appearance and general carriage of
the wild animal, as to leave no question of their
descent from the same stock as the wolf residing in
the vicinity, and do not appear to be distantly re-
moved from that species, however long they may
have been in the service of man.

Notwithstanding the endless varieties produced
by the causes first referred to, and the fact that be-
tween the dog and wolf there are striking external
differences, yet they actually constitute but one natu-
ral group, of which the individuals should be regard-
ed as varieties rather than species, because they may
all be indiscriminately bred together, in such a
manner as to result in new and prolifie races, bearing
but slight resemblance to the parent individuals, and
exhibiting new modifications of external characters,
of mental qualities, and of internal configuration.

rience leads us to believe that the excision of the bitten part
at any time, before the general symptoms of the disease have
appeared, will avert the disease.

OF THE DOG,

239

This is the best, and perhaps the only suffi-
cient test of the appropriateness of specific sub-
divisions, formed in what is called systematic natu-
ral history, and affords the most satisfactory proof
of the natural alliance of various portions of the
animal kingdom. Wherever we find one race of
animals capable of having its peculiarities entire-
ly obliterated by intermixture with another, and
the altered offspring is as prolific as the parent stock,
we may feel certain that such races are but varieties
of a natural family, however they may be arranged
in arbitrary nomenclatural catalogues. We have
heretofore adverted to the fact, that there is a law
of nature, shown by the prolonged experience of ages
to be invariable, which is, that although two species
of the same genus may produce offspring partaking
in great degree of the qualities of both parents, yet
that offspring is sterile and unproductive, thus op-
posing an impassable barrier to the confusion of
species which would inevitably result, were these
mule or hybrid beings capable of continuing their
race. The converse of the proposition is equally
true, animals of the same species, however dissimilar
in external character, habits, or manners, are capa-
ble of breeding with varieties of their own species
in illimitable progression, and every successive cross-
ing of breed may result in new modifications of
form and in improved physical and intellectual con-
ditions. In domestic economy this has been carried
to the greatest extent in the improvement of animals
raised for various purposes of utility or luxury,
especially in the instance of horses, cattle, sheep,
sw’ine, poultry, &c.

240

GENERAL HISTORY

In proof of the specific identity of the wolf and
dog we may here introduce the following very in-
teresting account of a tamed wolf, given by Frede-
rick Cuvier, one of the most distinguished scien-
tific naturalists of the present age, and perhaps
second to no man, but his illustrious brother, the
acknowledged Coryphaeus of Zoologists throughout
the world.

This wolf was brought up like a young dog, and be-
came familiar with every person whom he was in the
habit of seeing, followed his master everywhere,
appeared to suffer much from his absence, obeyed
his voice, always exhibited the most entire sub-
mission to his commands, and in fact differed in no
respect from the tamest domestic dog. When his
master set out upon his travels, this wolf was pre-
sented to the menagerie at Paris, and there, shut up
in his den, he remained for many weeks without
showing any signs of gaiety, and almost refusing to
eat. From this state of depression he gradually re-
covered, attached himself to his keepers, and had
apparently forgotten all his former attachments when
his master returned after an absence of eighteen
months. At the first word which he uttered, although
he was surrounded by a crowd, and could not be
seen by the animal, the wolf instantly recognized him
and expressed his joy by his movements and cries,
and when set at liberty exhibited all the fondness
that is commonly expressed by a dog after a sepa-
ration of a few days, almost overwhelming his old.
master with caresses. In a short time he was left
as before in the menagerie, and again evinced the
deepest distress at the absence of his master, but in

OF THE DOG.

241

time resumed his vivacity. After an absence of three
years his master visited him in the evening, when
the den was shut up, and there was no possibility
that the wolf could discover him by sight; but the
moment he heard the voice, he recognised, and re-
sponded to it by cries expressive of the most impa-
tient anxiety to approach his master. As soon as the
door was opened his cries were redoubled, he rushed
forward, placed his two fore-feet on the shoulders of
his old friend, licked every part of his face, and
threatened his keepers with his teeth for venturing
to approach, though an instant before he had testi-
fied to them the warmest affection. . When his mas-
ter was under the necessity of again leaving him, the
poor wolf became sad and immoveable, refusing all
sustenance; he pined away, his hairs bristled up,
and in eight days’ time he was scarcely to be known
by those who had previously seen him. It was ex-
pected that he would die; however, he eventually re-
covered, resumed his healthy condition and glossy
coat, but his keepers dared no longer to approach
him; he would not endure the caresses of any one, and
answered strangers only by threats of injury.^

It is nevertheless true, that occasional and apparent
exceptions to the great law of nature heretofore stat-

* In the year 1800, a full grown she-wolf that had been
caught in a trap was brought to the Royal Menagerie. This
animal became so tame as to live among the dogs, and pro-
duced with them repeatedly. She barked as they did at all
strangers, and so far laid aside her carnivorous disposition as
to offer no injury to the poultry, to which she had free access.

VOL. T H h

242 GENEKAL HISTORY OF THE DOG.

ed are on record; but granting them the fullest force,
they are few and mere exceptions, which, by their
singularity and rareness, confirm rather than disturb
the stability of the general rule. If the united expe-
rience of all observers throughout the world, during a
period of three or four thousand years, cannot produce
more than two, three, or four instances of exception,
of which number few or none are adduced in any
other than a questionable shape,’’ we need nothing
better to show that this law is as old as nature her-
self, and must continue to operate in the same man-
ner until time shall be merged in eternity.

We shall not enter into any farther discussion of
the circumstances which may have led to the produc-
tion of many of the permanent varieties to be found
among animals, of which the (so called) species are
capable of producing prolific offspring together.
We know that, in their wild state, similarity of in-
stinct and mode of life is sufficient cause for the
association of races with individuals having similar
peculiarities, and this preserves the characters of the
race from change or deterioration during an indefi-
nite lapse of time; but circumstances occasionally place
animals, apparently of different species, together
at times when they are under the influence of an
imperious necessity, and the result is the commence-
ment of a new race, which, by subsequent association
and multiplication with each other, may present such,
a permanence of external characters as to induce ob-
servers to consider them as specifically distinct from
all others.

The breed of dogs produced from the wolf and
varieties of the domestic dog, during a considerable

THE DOMESTIC DOG

243

succession of generations, is characterized by a mark-
ed predominance of the qualities inherited from their
savage progenitors, in the keen and vivid expression
of the eye, ferocity of disposition, and severity of
their bite. It is impossible, however, without a
fuller and more authentic history of the dog from
the earliest day to the present time than we pos-
sess, to decide by what combinations all tbe dif-
erent varieties have been produced. That such
changes are still going on among these animals
daily observation proves; and we have ocular de-
monstration that the most curious of these varie-
ties may propagate its kind with others, which,
if external characters were to be relied on, might
be considered radically and specifically distinct. The
domestic dog and wild fox breed together, but there
is every reason to believe that the offspring are true
■mules, or incapable of continuing their kind.

Species I. — The Domestic Dog..

Cams Familiaris; L.

The dogs of the Eskimaux and other aboriginals
of this continent differ much in size and colour, yet
they are all of a breed, apparently intermediate to
the wolf and the fox. They have sharp noses,
pointed and erect ears, and long bushy tails, which
are most commonly carried over the back and curled
toward the left side. They are strong, fierce, and
courageous, biting with so much vigour and keen-

244

THE DOMESTIC DOC.

ness, that the smallest of them, when he can get
into a corner, is able to keep several large European
dogs at bay.

These dogs serve the Eskimaux, and the traders
to the snow covered countries of the North, instead
of horses and other animals, and though at first view
they may appear inadequate to the task of drawing
heavy burthens for great distances, yet on a closer
examination we shall perceive that they are better
adapted for such service in those regions than any
other quadruped. In the first place, the ground
during great part of the year is deeply buried in
snow, and the slight vegetation is beyond the reach
of any animal not taught by necessity how to remove
the snow with its feet, even if a sufficiency of food
were then to be obtained. To employ in such
countries the animals commonly used for draught,
it would be necessary to make up the lading chiefly
of provender for their support; and their own
weight would speedily fatigue and disable them, on
account of their repeatedly sinking into the snow,
on which the crust is generally too thin to bear a
large animal. But the dog is not only light and
strong, and can draw a sledge or slide carrying a
considerable weight, but, in consequence of his car-
nivorous regimen, can live on the offal of the provi-
sion on which his driver subsists; to this maybe added
the fact, that the facility of procuring flesh is far
greater in those countries than almost any other sub-
stance. We need not feel surprised that the European
and American traders should have uniformly adopted
the modes of travelling used by the aborigines, or
have substituted their simple conveyances for the

THE DOMESTIC DOG.

245

snore artificial though less appropriate European
vehicles.

In the country north of Hudson’s Bay these ani-
mals are employed by the Indians and traders to
draw their furs and other baggage, though the In-
dians are frequently too indolent to be at the trouble
of making sledges, and then the women are under
the necessity of placing a part of their load upon
the dogs, which they do by lashing their tents, kettles,
and other utensils, on the backs of the animals, as is
usually done with pack-horses. In the fall of the year
and beginning of winter the squaws sew the skins
of deer legs together in the shape of long portman-
teaus, which, when hauled on the snow as the hair
lies, soon become quite slippery, and answer very
well instead of sledges while travelling over the
open country.

The sledges made by the northern Indians vary
in size, accordingly as they are designed for women
or the dogs. Occasionally they are used as long as
twelve or fourteen feet, and from fifteen to sixteen
inches wide; but the common length is eight or nine
feet, and the breadth from twelve to fourteen inches.

These sledges are made of boards, which are not
more than a quarter of an inch thick, and from five
to six inches wide. As the Indians have no other tool
with which to fashion them boards than a common
knife, slightly turned up at the point, they sew the
boards together with thongs made of parchment
deer skin; and on the upper side several cross bars
of wood are lashed, which serves to increase the
strength of the sledge, and secure the ground-lash-

246

THE DOMESTIC DOG.

ing, to which the load is always fastened by small
strips or thongs of leather.

The fore part or head of the sledge is turned up,
so as to form a semicircle of at least fifteen or twenty
inches in diameter, which prevents it from plunging
into light snow, and enables it to slide over the snow-
drifts and solid projections; The dogs are harnessed
to these vehicles by traces of raw hide, which are
fastened to leathern eollars round their neeks. They
are generally harnessed two abreast, and tbe whole
number attached to a sledge is commonly five; the
foremost or leader being always, if possible, a well
broken and long trained dog.^'

These faithful and invaluable drudges are treated
with shameful neglect and cruelty both by the In-
dians and the scarcely less savage Voyageurs or
Engagees employed in the fur trade. They not
only flog them unmercifully, and vent all their ill
humour upon these suffering quadrupeds, but over-
load, overdrive, and starve them most barbarous-
ly. In consequence, these poor animals are almost
always in wretched plight, and their dispositions
rendered so ferocious and irritable as to keep them,
whenever they halt on a march, continually worry-
ing and teasing each other. The consequences are
sometimes severe to the Voyageurs, for occasionally a
team of dogs, when unobserved, takes off at full speed
in chase of some animal with a view of running it
down, and either dash with their sledge so furiously
against stones, trees, &c. as to break it and lose the

* See Hearne’s Journey to the Northern Ocean^

THE DOMESTIC DOG.

247

lading, or they escape so far as to be entirely lost to
their unworthy drivers.

The sledges of the Eskimaux^ are exceedingly
various in their forms, and in the materials of which
they are composed, scarcely two of them resembling
each other. The best of these vehicles are made
from the jaw-bones of the whale, sawed to about
two inches in thickness, and from six inches to a foot
in depth. These bones form the runners, and are
shod with a plank of the same substance: pieces of
bone, wood, or deer’s horn, are lashed across within a
few inches of each other, to connect the side pieces,
and these yield to any great strain which the sledge
receives. The upper part of the sledge is generally
twenty inches broad, but as the runners lean in-
wards, the breadth is somewhat greater at the bot-
tom. The weight of these bone sledges is very
great; one of moderate length, or not more than ten
or twelve feet long, weighed 217 lbs.

In the coldest part of the winter the skin of the
walrus is very frequently used for runners, and when
frozen stiff answers very well, being more than an
inch in thickness and exceedingly tough. The Eski-
maux have another ingenious contrivance to make
runners, which is to case earth and moss in seal skin,
and by pouring in some water a hard bolster is easi-
ly formed. The sticks, bones, &c. are placed across
the upper part of the runners, as before mentioned,
and the surface that is to move upon the snow is

* All the facts here stated relative to the Eskimaux sledges
and dogs are from the “ Private Journal of Capt. G. F. liV-
oN, R. N.»

248

THE DOMESTIC DOG.

covered with ice by mixing snow with fresh water
and allowing it to freeze on the runner, which ena-
bles the sledge to slide along with great facility.
An Eskimaux who owns but one or two dogs, some-
times drives them in a little tray made of a rough
piece of walrus hide, or a flat slab of ice hollowed
to resemble a bowl. Boys are often seen to divert
themselves by yoking several dogs to a small piece
of seal skin, sitting on which they hold by the
traces. They then dash off at full speed, and the
one who sustains the greatest number of bumps be-
fore he relinquishes his hold is the cleverest fellow.

The following spirited description of Eskimaux
sledge travelling, we give in the words of Capt.
Lyon, whom we are always happy to have an op-
portunity of quoting. Our eleven dogs were large
and even majestic looking animals, and an old one of
peculiar sagacity was placed at their head by having
a longer trace, so as to lead them through the driest
places, these animals having such a dread of water
as to receive a severe beating before they will swim
a foot. The leader was instant in obeying the voice
of the driver, who never beat, but repeatedly called
to him by name. When the dogs slacked their pace,
the sight of a seal or bird was suflicient to put them
instantly to their full speed, and even though none of
these might be seen on the ice, the cry of a seal, a
bear, a bird, &c. was enough to give play to the legs
and voices of the whole pack. It was a beautiful
sight to observe the two sledges racing at full speed
to the same object, the dogs and men in full cry, and
the vehicles splashing through the holes of water
with the velocity and spirit of rival stage coaches,

THE DOMESTIC DOG. 249

There is something of the spirit of professed whips
in these wild racers; for young men delight in passing
each other’s sledges, and jockeying the hinder one
by crossing the path. In passing on different routes,
the right hand is always yielded, and should an in-
experienced driver endeavour to take the left, he
would have some difficulty in persuading his team to
do so. The only unpleasant circumstance attending
these races is, that a poor dog is sometimes entangled
and thrown down, when the sledge with perhaps a
heavy load is unavoidably drawn over his body. The
driver sits on the fore part of the vehicle, whence
he jumps when requisite to pull it clear of any im-
pediments which may lie in the way, and he also
guides it by pressing either foot upon the ice. The
voice and long whip answer all purposes of reins,
and the dogs can be made to turn a corner as
dexterously as horses, though not in such an or-
derly manner, since they are constantly fighting, and
I do not recollect to have seen one receive a flogging
without instantly wreaking his passion on the ears of
his neighbours. The cries of the men are not more
melodious than those of the animals, and their wild
looks and gestures when animated, give them the
appearance of devils driving wolves before them.
Our dogs had eaten nothing for forty-eight hours,
and could not have gone over less than seventy miles
of ground; yet they returned to all appearance as
fresh and active as when they first set out.”

The Eskimaux dog bears a considerable resem-
blance to the English shepherd dog, but is much
stronger and broader across the breast, in conse-^

VOL. I.— I i

250

THE HOJMESTIC DOG.

qiienceof the severe labour he is constantly engaged
in. A fine dog about equals a Newfoundland dog
in size, but the nose is broad like that of the mastiff.
Both in winter and summer the hair is very long,
but there is a soft downy under covering in cold
weather, which is not found in the warm season.

As soon as these dogs can walk they are put into
harness, and are soon taught to pull, by their con-
tinual efforts to regain their liberty, or to go in
search of their dams. When two months old, some-
times eight or ten little ones are harnessed to the
sledge along with an old steady animal, where, by
dint of repeated and severe beatings, they are at
length educated for service. Each dog has his name,
which when it is angrily called out, has an immediate
effect on the animal. The whip has a lash of seem-
ingly immoderate length, it being from eighteen
to twenty-four feet long, and the ha die but one
foot. The dogs are guided or stopped by throw-
ing this lash on one side or the other of the leader,
and by speaking certain words. They are taught to
lie down by throwing the whip gently over their
backs, and will remain in this position during whole
hours.

The weight these animals are capable of moving
over the ice or snow is really surprising. Capt.
Lyon has seen a walrus drawn along by three or four
of them. He found by several experiments that
three dogs could draw a man on a sledge weighing
one hundred pounds, at the rate of one mile in six
minutes; and in evidence of the strength of a well
grown dog, his leader drew one hundred and ninety-
six pounds singly, and to the same distance in eight

THE DOMESTIC DOG.

251

minutes. On another occasion, seven of his dogs
ran a mile in four minutes and thirty seconds, draw-
ing a heavy sledge full of men. Afterwards nine dogs
drew one thousand six hundred and eleven pounds
one mile in nine minutes! The sledge was on wooden
runners, neither shod nor iced; had they been iced,
Capt. L. thinks forty pounds might have been added
for each dog.

The Eskimaux dogs, notwithstanding the intensity
of cold to which they are subjected, have no par-
ticular breeding season, but their females bring forth
their young at any season, seldom having more than
five at a litter. These dogs also sleep in the open
air, during the coldest weather, without inconve^
nience. They are very poorly fed, thin, gaunt
and savage looking animals; they are remarked to be
more insolent and irritable when well supplied with
food than in their ordinary half starved condition.

We have examined the observations of the late
Professor Barton, relative to the native American or
Indian dog, with much interest, and should be very
happy to believe that he has thrown light upon
the origin of this variety of the species. The facts
he adduces are too few, and of too negative a cha-
racter, to lead to any other conclusion than that the
domesticated dog of the Indians bears a closer re-
semblance to the wolf, or to ^‘a half breed” between
the wolf and the fox, than to any other animal. The
conjectures of the learned Professor, however inge-
nious, we do not feel at liberty to receive, except as
an evidence of the vividness of his imagination.
Fortunately for mankind the reign of imagination is
rapidly passing, if it hav^e not already entirely passed

252

I HE DOMESTIC DOC,

away, and the conjectures of the highest authorities
are “ void, and of none eifect’’ when opposed by
facts, and subjected to the scrutiny of common sense.

It is with much pleasure, however, that we wit-
ness the feeling with which Dr. Barton replies to
the illiberal observations of celebrated European
authors, concerning the character of the aboriginals
of this continent. As we fully coincide with him
on this subject, we give his remarks at full length.

It is well known how much ingenuity, eloquence
and science, have within the last fifty years been
employed to respresent the Americans as the de-
generated or imperfectly organized children of the
earth. To complete the large volume of calumny
against these poor people, even the manner in which
they treat their dogs is not suffered to pass unno-
ticed by the historians of the new world. ^ Prior
to their intercourse with the people of Europe,*
says the eloquent Dr. Robertson, ^the North Ame-
ricans had some tame dogs which accompanied them
in their hunting excursions, and served them with
all the ardour and fidelity peculiar to the spe-
cies. But instead of that fond attachment which
the hunter naturally feels towards those useful com-
panions of his toils, they requite their services with
neglect, seldom feed, and never caress them.’

It would, I believe, (adds Dr, Barton) be a
much easier task to prove that Dr. Robertson was
unqualified to write the history of America; to
prove that the Indian- Americans are not the in-
feriors of the people of the old world, in the mea-
sure of their intellectual endowments; and to show
that more than one-half of the charges which have

THE DOMESTIC DOG.

253

been brought against these people, are charges re-
sulting from ignorance, or from systematic zeal, than
to prove that the Indians are peculiarly entitled
to the character of kind and tender dog-masters.
After some attention to this subject, I must can-
didly confess that I possess not the materials for
a satisfying defence of the Indian.^ The charges
which have been brought against him by the writers
whom I have mentioned, will be convictive. But
why, in this inquiry, if the historian will condescend
to mention the fact and interweave it with his elo-
quence, should he forget the hardships of the savage
life? Where the master labours under a scarcity of
food, his servants, the animals which depend upon
him for their subsistence, must share in the hardships
and the evils of his state. The miserable condition
of the Indian dogs, is a necessary result of the mis-
erable condition of the Indians themselves.

Captains Lewis and Clark, while on their cele-
brated expedition, were, on several occasions, under
the necessity of subsisting their men upon the flesh
of dogs purchased from the Indians. Their pre-
judices against such food were soon overcome, and
they quickly learned to prefer it to the poor fare of

* In our opinion no defence is necessary; the treatment
of the untutored savage to his dog, is comparatively as good
as the treatment of many illiterate Europeans to their own
children. The Indian may be cruel and neglectful; more
brutal than the lower classes of many parts of Europe he
cannot be.

t Medical and Physical Journal, vol. i. p. 27.

254

THE DOIVIESTIC DOG.

the Indians, who held the dog-eaters’^ in sovereign
contempt."^

The Dog of Newfoundland is remarkable for its
sagacity, size, strength and beauty, and in external
characters differs almost entirely from the Eskimaux
and Indian dog. The Newfoundland dog has a
broader and more expressive visage, and a blunter
nose than either of the dogs yet mentioned, the orbits
of his eyes have more prominent superciliary ridges,
the ears are broad, soft and pendulous, and the whole
body is more robust, and covered with long, soft and
glossy hair. On the tail the hair is still longer than
on the body and forms a handsome brush, which ap-
pears to greater advantage when the animal is in
motion, as it is then carried slightly curved upwards
at its extremity. The Newfoundland dog is very
fond of the water, and swims with great ease; the
Eskimaux dog is by no means disposed to enter the
water, most probably from experience of the effects
of extreme cold on coming out again. The New-
foundland dog is employed with great advantage
by the settlers to draw heavily laden sledges, and

* “ The dog is unusually small, about the size of an ordi-
nary cur; he is usually particoloured, amongst which the
black, brown, white and brindle, are the colours most pre-
dominant; the head is long, the nose pointed, the eyes small,
the ears erect and pointed like those of the wolf; the hair is
short and smooth, except on the tail, where it is long and
straight like that of the ordinary cur dog. The natives
never eat the flesh of this animal, and he appears to be in no
way serviceable to them, except in hunting the elk.” — Lewis
and Clark, ii. p. 165.

THE COMMON WOLF.

255

is an invaluable servant. Of his peculiar sagacity
numerous instances are on record, and almost every
one has made observations enough in relation to this
dog, to render any repetition of such instances un-
necessary in this place. He breeds with all the
known varieties of the domestic dog, and also with
the common wolf.*

Species II. — T/ie Common Wolf.

Canis Lupus 5 L.

When the aboriginal Americans first gave place
to European adventurers, and the forests which
had flourished for ages undisturbed, began to fall
before the unsparing axe, the vicinity of the set-
tler’s lonely cabin resounded with the nightly howl-
ing of wolves, attracted by the refuse provision
usually to be found there, or by a disposition to
prey upon the domestic animals. During winter,
when food was most difiicult to be procured, packs
of these famished and ferocious creatures were ever

* Scientia naturali multum versato et fide digno viro Sa-
bine, se canera Terrae-novse cum lupa coire frequenter vidisse
dictum est; ex quo nobis ejusdem speciei esse ambos, minime
dubitare licet. Tamen, si sciolo aliquo, canem sue etiam
coire aliquando tentare, objectura sit; respondendum est, ne-
miniunquam visum cognitumve canem vtre copulari, aut spe~
iem vel suam, vel abnormem ex sue procreare. Genitalia lupi
canisque nullo modo inter sese differunt: dentes, viscera,
victus, vivendique modus eadem sunt; alter ex altero ca-
tulos gignere potest.

256 THE COMMON M OLF-

at hand, to run do'vn and destroy any domestic ani-
mal found wandering beyond the enclosures, which
their individual or combined efforts could overcome,
and the boldest house-dog could not venture far from
the door of his master without incurring the risk of
being killed and devoured. The common wolf was
then to be found in considerable numbers throughout
a great extent, if not the whole of North America;
at present it is only known as a resident of the re-
mote wooded and mountainous districts where man
has not fixed his abode, nor laid bare the bosom of
the earth to the enlivening radiance of the sun.

The common wolf of America is considered to be
the same species as the wolf of Europe, and in re-
gard to habits and manners gives every evidence
of such an identity. Like all the wild animals of the
dog kind, they unite in packs to hunt down animals
which individually they could not master, and during
their sexual season, engage in the most furious com-
bats with each other for the possession of the females.

The common wolf is possessed of great strength
and fierceness, and is what is generally called a cruel
animal, tearing the throat of his victim, drinking its
blood, and rending it open for the purpose of de-
vouring its entrails. The great strength of its jaws
enables the wolf to carry off with facility an animal
nearly as large as itself, and makes its bite exceed-
ingly severe and dangerous. Aged or wounded in-
dividuals, as well as the hinds and fawns of the deer,
sheep, lambs, calves and pigs, are killed by these
wolves, and the horse is said to be the only domestic
animal which can resist them with success. They
gorge with much greediness upon all sorts of carrion

THE COMMON WOLF.

259

of the ship: — The eyes, however, were observed
to wink whenever any object was placed near them;
some precautions were therefore considered neces-
sary, and the legs being tied, the animal was hoisted
up with his head downwards. He then, to our sur-
prise, made a vigorous spring at those near him, and
afterwards repeatedly turned himself upwards, so
as to reach the rope by which he was suspended,
endeavouring to gnaw it asunder, and making angry
snaps at the persons who prevented him. Several
heavy blows were struck on the back of his neck,
and a bayonet was thrust through him, yet above a
quarter of an hour elapsed before he died, having
completely convinced us that for the future we should
not too easily trust to the appearance of death in
animals of this description.”

Animals exposed to so much suffering from hunger,
we may readily believe, are in no way exclusive in
their preference of food, and these wolves may be
said to feed on every creature they can master, or
on the remains of any animal left by the natives.

. The common wolf is about four feet and a-half in
length, including the tail, which is rather more than
a foot long. The height, before, is two feet three
inches; behind, it is two feet four inches. The tail
is bushy and bending downwards, having upon it
hairs upwards of five inches in length.

The general colour of this wolf is reddish brown,
intermixed with ferruginous and black; but a great
variety is to be observed in the colouring of the
wolf as found in the northern, middle and southern
regions, exhibiting various gradations from grizzly

260

THE BARKING WOLF.

white to pure black.* The wolf found in Pennsyl-
vania has more of the reddish brown colour, the
hair being tipped with black, but especially so over
the fore shoulders and sides.

Species III. — The Prairie or Barking Wolf.

Canis Latrans; Say.

Canis Latrans; Sat. Long-’s Exp. to the Rocky Mountains, vol. i. p 16S.

A well prepared specimen in the Philadelphia Museum.

This wolf frequents the prairies or natural mea-
dows of the west, where troops or packs containing
a considerable number of individuals are frequently
seen following in the train of a herd of buffalo or
deer, for the purpose of preying on such as may die
from disease, or in consequence of wounds inflicted
by the hunters. At night they also approach the
encampments of travellers, whom they sometimes
follow for the sake of the carcasses of animals v/hich
are relinquished, and by their discordant bowlings,
close to the tents, effectually banish sleep from those
who are unaccustomed to their noise. According to
Say’s observation they are more numerous than any
of the other wolves which are found in North Ame-
rica.

* “ The wolves of Florida are larger than a dog, and are
perfectly black, except the females, which have a white spot
on the breast, but they are not so large as the wolves of
Canada and Pennsylvania, which are of a yellowish brown
colour.” Bartram’s Travels in Florida, p. 199.

261

THE BARKING WOLF.

The barking wolf closely resembles the domestic
dog of the Indians in appearance, and is remarkably
active and intelligent. Like the common wolf, the
individuals of this species frequently unite to run
down deer, or a bulfalo calf which has been separated
from the herd, though it requires the fullest exer-
cise of all their speed, sagacity and strength, to suc-
ceed in this chase. They are very often exposed to
great distress from want of food, and in this state of
famine are under the necessity of filling their sto-
machs with wild plums, or other fruits no less in-
digestible, in order to allay in some degree the inor-
dinate sensations of hunger.

This wolf barks in such a manner as to resemble
the domestic dog very distinctly; the first two or
three notes are not to be distinguished from those
produced by a small terrier, but diifers from that
dog by adding to these sounds a lengthened scream.
On account of this habit of harking, Say has given
the specific name of latrans’^ to this wolf, which
we prefer to translate for a trivial name, instead of
using that of prairie wolf” which is equally ap-
plicable to other species.

In confirmation of the sagacity of this wolf we
shall quote from Say, to whom we owe all that has
yet been made known on this species, some anecdotes
respecting it. ^^Mr. [Titian] Peale constructed
and tried various kinds of traps to take them, one of
which was of the description called a live trap,”
a shallow box reversed and supported at one end by
the well known kind of trapsticks usually called the

figure four,” which elevated the front of the trap

262 THE BAIIKING WOLE.

upwards of three feet above its slab flooring; the
trap was about six feet long, and nearly the same in
breadth, and was plentifully baited with offal. Not-
withstanding this arrangement a wolf actually bur-
rowed under the flooring, and pulled down the bait
through the crevices of the floor: tracks of different
size were observed about the trap. This procedure
would seem to be the result of a faculty beyond mere
instinct.’’

“ This trap proving useless, another was con-
structed in a different part of the country, formed
like a large cage, through which the animals might
enter but not return; this was equally unsuccessful;
the wolves attempted in vain to get at the bait, as
they would not enter by the rout prepared for them.
A large double “ steel trap” was next tried; this
was profusely baited, and the whole with the excep-
tion of the bait was carefully concealed beneath the
fallen leaves. This was also unsuccessful. Tracks
of the anticipated victims were next day observed
to be impressed in numbers on the earth near the
spot, but still the trap with its seductive charge
remained untouched. The bait was then removed
from the trap and suspended over it from the branch
of a tree; several pieces of meat were also suspended
in a similar manner from trees in the vicinity. The
following morning the bait over the trap alone re-
mained. Supposing that their exquisite sense of
smell warned them of the position of the trap, it
was removed and again covered with leaves, and the
baits being disposed as before, the leaves to a con-
siderable distance around were burned; and the trap

THE BARKING WOLF. 263

remained perfectly concealed by ashes; still the bait
over the trap was avoided.”* It was not until a
log- trap was used that an individual of this species
was caught. This log trap is made by raising one
log above another at one end by means of an upright
stick, which rests upon a rounded horizontal trigger
on the lower log.

The barking wolf is about three feet and a-half
in length, of which the tail forms thirteen and a-half
inches, exclusive of the hair at its extremity. The
ears are four inches long from the top of the head,
and the distance from the anterior canthus of the
eye to the end of the snout is three inches and three-
fourths.

The general colour of the barking wolf is cinere-
ous, or gray intermingled with black and dull fulvous
or cinnamon above. The hair is of a dusky lead
colour at base; of a dull cinnamon in the middle of its
length, and gray or black at tip, being of greater length
along the middle of the back than on other parts
of the body. The ears are erect and rounded at
tip, having the hair on the back part of a cinnamon
/Colour, and dark plumbeous at base, while that on
the inside is gray. The eyelids are edged with
black; the superior eyelashes are black beneath, and
on the superior surface of their tips. The supple-
mental lid is margined with black brown before, and
edged with black brown behind. The iris is yel-
low, and the pupil of a black blue; upon the lach-

'■ See Journal of Long’s Expedition to the Rocky Moun-
tains. vol. i. p. 168,

264

THE BARKING WOLF.

rymal sac is a spot of black brown. The face is
cinnamon coloured, tinted with grayish on the nose;
the lips are white edged with black, and have three
series of black bristles. The colour of the head
between the ears is an intermixture of gray and dull
cinnamon; the colour of the sides is paler than that
of the back, and faintly banded with black above
the legs, which are cinnamon coloured on the outside,
and more distinctly so on the posterior hair. The
tail is straight, broad and bushy, of a gray colour,
mingled with cinnamon above and black at the tip.
The extremity of the trunk of the tail reaches to
the projection of the os calcis when the leg is ex-
tended.

Different individuals exhibit very considerable
variations in colouring, and hence many of the minute
markings given by Mr. Say, in the above descrip-
tion, may not be found applicable. He states him-
self that other specimens which he saw differed
much from his first description; one was destitute
of the cinnamon colour, except on the snout where
it was but slightly apparent; the general colour was
therefore gray, with an intermixture of black, in re-
mote spots and lines, varying in position and figure
with the direction of the hair.” Perhaps no two
individuals could be found exhibiting throughout
precisely the same arrangement of coloured mark-
ings.

THE DUSKY WOLE.

265

Species IV. — The Dusky Wolf.

Canis Nubilus; Say.

Cants Nuhilus; Sat. Long'’s Exp. to the Rocky Mountains, vol. i. p. 169,
A weU prepared specimen in the Philadelphia Museum.

This wolf is more robust in form, and fiercer and
more formidable in appearance, than either of those
we have described. It is found in the Missouri
country, frequenting the same districts as the prairie
or barking wolf, but is by no means in equal num-
bers. It is distinguished from the common wolf by
the length of its ears and tail, while it is separated
from the barking wolf by its greatly superior size,
difierence of colour, &c. But little is known of the
peculiar habits of this species, though there is no
reason for believing that they differ much from those
of its kindred species or varieties. It is remarka-
ble for diffusing a strong and disagreeable odour.

The general colour of this wolf is dusky, the hair
being ash-coloured at base, then brownish black, then
gray, and next black. The proportion of black up-
on the hairs is so considerable as to impart a much
darker colour to the whole animal than is found in
the darkest of the barking wolves, but in the gene-
ral effect a mottled appearance is produced by the
gray of the hairs combining with the blac^ qf the
tips. The gray colour predominates on the lower
part of the sides. The ears are short and of a deep
brownish black, with a patch of gray hair on the an-
terior side within. The muzzle is blackish above,
and the superior lips, anterior to the canine teeth,
VOL. I. — L 1

266

THE DUSKY WOLE.

are gray; the same colour extends from the tip of
the lower jaw, in a narrow line backwards, nearly to
the commencement of the neck. On the under part
of the body the colour is dusky ferruginous, with
long grayish hairs between the thighs, and with a
large white spot on the breast. On the neck the
ferruginous colour is very much narrowed, but it
becomes broader on the lower part of the cheeks.
The legs are of a brownish black, having but a
slight admixture of gray hairs, except on the front
ridge of the thighs, and the lower edging of the
toes, where the gray predominates. The tail is
short and fusiform, slightly tinged with rust colour;
near the base and at the tip it is black on the upper
surface; the end of the tail itself does not quite reach
the os calcis. The longer hairs of the back, par-
ticularly over the shoulders, resemble a short spare
mane.

Length from the tip of the nose to the origin of
the tail, 4 feet 3| inches. — Length of the trunk of
the tail, 1 foot 1 inch. — Ear, from the anterior an-
gle to the tip, 3| inches. — From the anterior angle
of the ear to the posterior canthus of the eye, 4|
inches. — From the anterior canthus of the eye to
the middle of the tip of the nose, 5| inches. — Be-
tween the anterior angles of the ears rather more
than 3 inches.*

* The descriptions of this and the preceding species are
given nearly in Mr. Say’s words, from the work, cited at the
head of this article.

THE ARCTIC FOX.

271

peds, such as hares, marmots, lemings, &c. and upon
partridges and other birds, as well as their eggs, the
carcasses of fish left on shore; and, when driven by
necessity, they eat indiscriminately whatever may
promise to allay their hunger.^ The Arctic foxes
which are killed at a sufficient distance from the sea
coast are said to be very fit for the table, their flesh
being as well flavored as the rabbit on which they
feed. But near the sea they devour great quan-
tities of putrid whale flesh and similar matters,
which impart a disgusting rankness to their flesh.

These foxes are taken with great facility in traps,
and, unlike the wolves, seem to have no idea of the
design of such contrivances. They are also occa-
sionally shot while they are feeding together in
considerable numbers. This shooting is most suc-
cessful on moonlight nights, as they lie hid during
the day time in the holes among the rocks, or under
the hollow ice above the high water mark.

It is singular that these animals will prey upon
each other when they find individuals killed, wound-
ed, or caught in traps, as readily as upon other ani-
mals, a fact which altogether invalidates the old say-
ing that dog will not prey upon dog.’’ Hearne
informs us that he has known upwards of a hundred
and twenty foxes which were caught in traps to be

* “ As a proof of what foxes will eat to satisfy hunger,
I may mention having examined the stomach of one which
contained a mass of rope-yarn and line of the size of the
doubled fist; amongst which some pieces of sinnet or plait-
ed stuff were above six inches in length.” Lyon’s Private
Journal, p. 109.

I

272

THE ARCTIC FOX.

destroyed and eaten by their comrades during a
single winter, within half a mile of the fort.

We shall conclude this account of the Arctic fox
by introducing the observations Capt. G. F. Lyon^
made on different individuals which he kept on
board his ship during the tedious winter spent by
the expedition under Capt. Parry at the North
Georgian islands.

The Arctic fox is an extremely cleanly animal,
being very careful not to dirt those places in which
he eats or sleeps. No unpleasant smell is to be per-
ceived even in a male, which is a remarkable cir-
cumstance. To come unawares upon one of these
creatures is impossible, for even in an apparently
sound sleep they open their eyes at the slightest
noise which is made near them, although they pay-
no attention to sounds at a short distance. The
general time of rest is during the daylight, in which
they appear listless and inactive; but the night no
sooner sets in than all their faculties are awakened:
they commence their gambols and continue in un-
ceasing and rapid motion until the morning. While
hunting for food they are mute, but when in cap-
tivity or irritated, they utter a short growl like that
of a young puppy; it is a singular fact, that their
bark is so modulated as to give an idea that the ani-
mal is at a distance, although at the very moment he
lies at your feet. It strikes me that nature has gifted
these creatures with this kind of ventriloquism in
order to deceive their prey as to the distance they

* The name of this excellent observer is inaccurately
given as Capt. R. Lyon in p. 197 of this work.

THE ARCTIC FOX.

273

are from them. Although the rage of a newly
caught fox is quite ungovernable, yet it very rarely
happened that on two being put together they
quarrelled. A confinement of even a few hours
sufficed to quiet these creatures; and some instances
occurred of their being perfectly tame, although
timid, from the first moment of their captivity. On
the other hand there were some which after months
of coaxing never became more tractable. These we
supposed were old ones.*

“ Their first impulse on receiving food is to hide
it as soon as possible, even though suffering from
hunger, and having no fellow prisoners of whose
honesty they are doubtful. In this case snow is
of great assistance, as being easily piled over their
stores and then forcibly pressed down by the nose.f
I frequently observed my dog-fox, when no snow was
obtainable, gather his chain into his mouth, and in
that manner carefully coil it so as to hide the meat.
On moving away, satisfied with his operations, he of
course has drawn it after him again, and sometimes
with great patience repeated his labours five or six
times, until in a passion he has been constrained to
eat his food without its having been rendered luxu-
rious by previous concealment. Snow is the sub-

* “If taken young they are easily domesticated in some
degree, but I never saw one that was fond of being caressed;
and they are always impatient of confinement. ” Hearne,
p. 366.

t We have seen the domestic dog covering up food with
earth in the same manner, first pushing the dirt forward and
then pressing it down with the end of the nose.

VOL. I. — M m

274

THE BLACK TOX.

stitute for water to these creatures, and on a large
lump being given them, they break it in pieces with
their feet and roll on it with great delight. When
the snow was lightly scattered on the decks they
did not lick it up as dogs are accustomed to do, but
by repeatedly pressing it with their nose, collected
a small lump at its extremity, and then drew it into
the mouth with the assistance of the tongue.

On the 19th of December, I was so fortunate as
to catch one of these foxes in a trap. He was small
and not perfectly white, but his temper was so re-
markable that I could not resolve to kill him, but
confined him on deck in a small hutch with a scope
of chain. The little animal astonished us very much
by his extraordinary sagacity, for, during the first
day, finding himself much tormented by being drawn
out repeatedly by Hs chain, he at length, whenever
he retreated to his hut, took this carefully up in his
mouth and drew it so completely after him, that no
one who valued his fingers would endeavour to take
hold of the end attaehed to the staple.’^

Species VII. — The Black or Silver Fox.
Canis Argentatus.

lte)iard Noir ou Renard JirgcnU: Geoff. Coll, du Mus. Chaulevoix,
Nouv. France, 3. p. 123.

Renard Argent^: F. Cuvier, Mam. Lithog. livr. 5.

Canis Argentatus: Sabine, Zool. App. p. 6o7-

Were it not for the copious and beautiful black
fur of this species, there would be scarcely a charac-
teristic by which to distinguish it from the common

THE BLACK FOX.

275

ibx, ( C. Cinereo-argenteus) to which in all other re-
spects it is strikingly similar. In form and propor-
tions, as well as in gait and expression of countenance,
in sports, mode of feeding and exhibition of anger,
there is nothing which may not be equally applied
to this and the species above mentioned.

The colour of this fox, as its name implies, is a
richly lustrous black, having a small quantity of
white mingled with it in different proportions on
different parts of the body. Individuals vary con-
siderably in this respect; some have no white except
at the extremity of the tail, or a few white hairs
scattered along the middle of the breast, or else at
irregular intervals a sprinkling of solitary white
hairs along the sides, which by contrast add to the
intensity and brilliance of the black. This last co-
lour is produced by the longer silken hair which
forms the great mass of the pelage, and is occasionally
tipped with white; there is a grayish silken hair
that constitutes the immediate covering of the skin.
Over the whole body and tail the hair is long and
tufted, on the paws it is short, and on the face still
shorter, the colour of the latter being mostly whitish
on the fore part; the eyes are, of a yellowish tint.^

This fox resembles the kindred species in the un-
pleasant odour it diffuses, which is in a considerable

* “ The silver fox is an animal very rare even in the
country he inhabits. We have seen nothing but the skins
of this animal, and those in the possession of the natives of
the woody country below the Columbia falls, which makes
us conjecture it to be an inhabitant of that country exclu-
sively. It has a long deep lead coloured fur for a foil, in-
termixed with long hairs either of a black or white colour,

276

THE RED FOX.

degree owing to its urine, as well as to a peculiar
glandular secretion. After having satisfied its imn-
ger, it hides the remainder of the food, and when
disturbed, expresses its anger by growling like a
dog. A comparison of the American black fox with
the black fox of Europe, may hereafter show differ-
ences sufficient to authorize it to be considered as
distinct from that species. But until better oppor-
tunities of examination are afforded we shall hazard
no opinion on the subject. The black fox is found
throughout the northern parts of America, and is
also obtained in the north of Asia, where it is con-
sidered among the richest and most valuable of furs.^

Species VIII. — The Red Fox.

Canis Fulvus; Desm.

Renard de Virginia: De Beatjvois, Bullet, de Soc. Philom.
lied Fox: Lewis & Ceaiuc, vol. ii. p. i59.

Canis Fulvus: Sabibe, Zoo). App. p. 656.

This beautiful fox is found throughout North
America, and is the species which frequently has

at the lower part and invariably white at the tip, forming a
most beautiful silver gray.” Lewis & Clark, ii. p. 169.

The black fox of Lewis & Clark is Pennant’s marten,
[M. Pennanti,) improperly called fisher, described at p. 203
of this work.

* Colie pelli si fanno pelliccie bellissime, e ricercatissime
ordinariamente il valore di una pelle corrisponde a tanti
scudi, quanti ne pu6 la medesima contenere. Le piu belle
fra le teste indicate pellicie si pagano a Costantinopoli sino
50 mila piastre. Ranzani, tomo 2°, parte 2°.

THE RED FOX.

277

been thought identical with the common fox of Eu-
rope, to which it bears a resemblance sufficiently
striking to mislead an incidental observer. But by
the fineness of its fur, the liveliness of colour, length
of limbs and slenderness of body, as well as the form
of its skull, it is obviously distinguished.

Red foxes are very numerous in the middle and
southern states of the Union, and are every where
notorious depredators on the poultry-yards. Their
haunts are most commonly in exceedingly dense
thickets of young pine, where they can scarcely be
followed even by dogs.

Like all his kindred species, the red fox is distin-
guished by the possession of keen senses and great
sagacity or craftiness, which enables him almost to bid
defiance to traps, while his strength and swiftness of
foot render it extremely difficult to capture him in
the chase. Once fairly roused by the hounds, this
animal dashes off with great speed, and soon far out-
strips pursuit, and did he not lose the advantage of
his celerity by remitting his efforts, might soon ren-
der the exertions of the sportsman nugatory. But
the persevering hounds again and again drive him
to his utmost speed, and eventually wear him down,
though not until a wide extent of country has been
traversed, and huntsmen, horses and dogs have suf-
fered severely from fatigue.

The general colour of this fox when in full sum-
mer pelage is bright ferruginous on the head, back
and sides, but less brilliant towards the tail. Beneath
the chin it is white, while the throat and neck are
a dark gray, which colour is continued along the an-
terior part of the belly in a narrower stripe that

278

THE RED FOX.

passes along the breast. The under parts of the
body towards the tail are very pale red; and the an-
terior parts of the fore legs and feet, as well as the
fronts of the inferior part of the hind legs, are black.
The tail is very bushy but less ferruginous than the
body, the hairs being mostly terminated with black,
which is more obvious towards the extremity than
at the origin of the member, giving the whole a
dark appearance. A few of the hairs are lighter at
the end of the tail, but not sufficiently to allow us
to state that it is tipped with white.

In summer the fur of the red fox is long, line,
brilliant in colour, and lustrous over the whole body.
In winter its length and denseness is considerably
increased. The red fox is nearly two feet long and
about eighteen inches high: the tail is about sixteen
inches long. The peltry is of considerable value,
and employed in various ways by the manufac-
turers.*

*'We subjoin in this note a description of the Canis Dt-
mssatus, Geoff, given by Sabine in the work above quoted,
as the species is entirely doubtful, and may prove to be a
variety of the black fox, {C. Argentatus) ora mw/e produced
between the fox last named and the red fox. “ The cross
fox, in comparison with the red, is shorter on its legs, and has
a larger and longer body, being altogether a stronger animal.
The front of the head is gray, composed of black and white
hairs, the latter predominating on the forehead; the ears are
large, covered with short, soft, black fur behind, and within
by long yellowish hairs; the back of the neck and shoulders
are pale, ferruginous, crossed with dark stripes, one extend-
ing from the head to the back, the other passing the first at
right angles. The rest of the back is gray, composed of
black fur tipped with white; the feet are white beneath the

THE RED FOX.

279

The red fox when caught young may be domes-
ticated to a considerable degree, but it is render-
ed extremely unpleasant by the fetor of its urine,
which very strongly resembles tbe abominable odour
of the skunk, {Mephitis Americana.) We have
lately had the pleasure of seeing a female red fox in
the possession of Dr. Betton, of Germantown; this
animal is very interesting by its playfulness and vi-
vacity. It lives in the same cage, and in perfect
harmony with a raccoon, {Procyon Lotor;) shows no
fear nor enmity towards the dogs of the farm, but
always exhibits the greatest delight on being allowed
to play with them. All the gestures and movements
of this fox are exceedingly similar to those of a small
dog, but are performed with remarkable quickness.

A very young wbelp of this fox was some time
ago brought to the Philadelphia Museum in company
with its foster mother, a common cat, which had
adopted and appeared to be very fond of it. She
continued to nurse the little fox for ’ several weeks,
expressing much affectionate solicitude when he

under part of the tail, and the adjacent parts of the body are
pale yellow; the gray character of the back extends to the
upper part of the tail, at the commencement; the rest of the
tail is dark above and lighter beneath, being tipped with
white. The character of the fur is thick and long. The
specimen when set up will stand about fourteen inches high;
it is two feet four inches in length, and the tail, which is
thick and bushy, is sixteen inches long.” The colours are
very variable in different individuals, some being very nearly
of the colour of the red fox, while others more closely ap-
proach the black or silver fox.

280

THE GRAY FOX.

wandered from her, notwithstanding the frequent
ungrateful bites inflicted by ht-r vicious foundling.
How long this singular relation might have continu-
ed, or to what result it would have led, is unknown.
The fox strayed too far from his cautious nurse, fell
from the platform of a tall staircase to the ground,
and was killed: the poor cat evinced as much sorrow
for her loss as if it had been really her own off-
spring.

Species IX. — The Gray Fox.

Canis Cinereo-Argentatusj Gmel.

Menard Gris: Bbiss. Quad. p. 41.

Agourachay: Azaba, Quad, du Paraguay, i. p. 317.

Canis Cinereo-Argentatus: Sabine, Zool. App. p. 657.

Fulvous Necked Fox: Shaw, Zool. Miscel.

The gray fox is very common throughout this
country, and is found more immediately in the vi-
cinity of human habitations than either of the other
species. It is pursued by our sportsmen with more
pleasure than the red fox, because it does not imme-
diately forsake its haunts and run for miles in one
direction, but, after various doublings, is generally
killed near the place whence it first started.

The gray fox, like all the species we describe,
exhibits considerable differences of colour at dif-
ferent ages and in different states of pelage. The
length of the head and body is about twenty-four,
and of the tail eleven inches. The general co-
lour of the animal is grizzly, becoming gradually
darker from the fore shoulders to the posterior

1.

THE GRAY FOX.

281

parts of the back, produced by the intermixture
of fulvous hairs with those constituting the mass of
the pelage, which are thus coloured; near the
body the hair is rather plumbeous, then yellowish,
then white, and then uniformly tipped with lus-
trous black. The front, from the top of the head
to the edge of the orbits, is gray, while the rest
of the face, from the internal angle of the eye to
within half an inch of the extremity of the snout,
is blackish; at the extremity on each side of the
granulated black tip of the nose it is of a yellowish
white. A fine line of black tipped hairs extends
upwards and outwards, from half an inch below the
internal angle of the eyes until it is intersected by
a similar black line about half an inch beyond the
external angle of the eye, thus forming a very acute
triangle, whose basis is on the side of the face. This
blackish gray triangle, joined to the peculiar sharp-
ness of the face, and the line produced by the black
whiskers on the sides of the nose, singularly increase
the appearance of slyness and cunning expressed
in the physiognomy of this animal. The face below
this triangle is white, and the latter colour is con-
tinued semicircularly upon the upper part of the
throat.

The under jaw is blackish, this colour extending
along the line of the mouth, and passing about half
an inch beyond the junction of the lips at the ang.’e.
The inner surface of the ears is clothed with short
light yellowish hair; their tips on the ou^^^de are
blackish gray, and the whole of the of their
posterior surface is yellow, which ^lour descends
encircling the neck, and is the colour on t\y

. /

282

THK SWIFT FOX.

anterior parts, with the exception of a white spot oo
the breast. The inferior parts of the body are white,
tinted slightly in some individuals with faint reddish
brown. . The tail is thick and bushy, and the fur on
the upper side is pale yellow, slightly tipped with
black; the under part is rust coloured, and the end
entirely black.

Species X. — The Swift Fox.*

Canis Veloxj Say.

Burrowing Fox: Lewis & Ceabk, ii. p. 351.

Canis Velox: Sat, Long’s Exp. to the Rocky Mountains, i. p. 48S.

This interesting species inhabits the open plains
which extend from the base of the Rocky Mountains
towards the Missouri River, and forms its dwelling
by burrowing in the soil. It is smaller than any
other fox we have described, and is not known to
frequent forest countries.

The most remarkable circumstance peculiar to this
fox is its extraordinary swiftness, which all who
have seen it agree in declaring to surpass that of
any other animal with which we are at present ac-
quainted. The fleetest antelope or deer, when run-
ning at full speed, is passed by this little fox with

* prefer to translate Say’s specific name for the tri-
vival rather than adopt the common

name of buru.,,-^^ p^j^^ since all the foxes burrow more or
less, and the sui ^ggjpg swiftness of this animal is a much,
more distinctive ^p p||g species.

THE SWIFT FOX.

283

the greatest ease, and such is the celerity of its
motion that it is compared by the celebrated tra-
vellers above quoted to the flight of a bird along
the ground, rather than the course of a quad-
ruped. Other observers have stated that when in
full speed over the plain, the effect produced on the
eye makes the animal resemble a line drawn rapidly
along the surface, so impossible is it to distinguish
any of the parts of its body on account of the sur-
prising velocity of its motion.

Unfortunately for us the notes taken by Say of the
external characters of this animal were lost, and
he was obliged to make known the species from
nothing but the head and part of the neck of one
individual, and the cranium of another. He gives
a full account of the peculiarities of the skull of
this animal in order to prove its specific distinc-
tion from the red fox, (C. Fulvus) which we do
not think it necessary to repeat in detail, but shall
append to this slight notice of the animal his de-
scription of the head and skull which were pre-
served.

The entire length, from the insertion of the su-
perior incisors to the tip of the occipital crest, is
rather more than four inches and three-tenths; the
least distance between the orbital cavities nine-tenths
of an inch; between the tips of the orbital processes
less than one inch and a- tenth; between the inser-
tions of the lateral muscles at the junction of the
frontal and parietal bones, half an inch. The greatest
breadth of this space on the parietal bones thirteen-
twentieths of an inch.

284

THE SWIFT FOX.

The hair is fine, dense and soft. The head above
is fulvous, verging on ferruginous intermixed with
gray, the fur being of the first mentioned colour,
and the hair whitish at base, then black, then gray,
then brown. The ridge of the nose is somewhat
paler, and a more brownish line passes from the eye
to the nostrils, (as in the C. Corsac.) The mar-
gin of the upper lip is white; the orbits are gray;
the ears behind are paler than the top of the head,
intermixed with black hairs, and the margin, except-
ing at tip, white; the inner side is broadly margined
with white hairs; the space behind the ears is desti-
tute of the intermixture of hairs; the neck above
has longer hairs, of which the black and gray portions
are more conspicuous; beneath the head is pure
white. The body is slender and the tail rather
long, cylindrical and black.’’

CHAPTER XV.

Genus XVI. Cat; Felis, L

Gr. A<x«ffec-.
Ger. Katze.
Fr. Chat.

Lat. Felis, Catus, Cattus.
Ital. Gatto; Span, Gato.
Jtuss. Kot; fern. Kotscha.

GENERIC CHARACTERS

The head is rounded, having a short face and
large eyes, of which the pupils open either circu-
larly or vertically. The tongue is covered with
horny prickles or papillae, which have their points
turned backwards. The body is long, compared with
the length of the legs; the teats are either four in
number, and situated on the belly, or three or four
on the chest and four on the belly. The anterior
feet have five toes, not joined by an intervening
membrane; the toes on the posterior feet are gene-
rally four in number; all the toes are armed with
sharp hooked claws, which the animals have the
power of projecting or retracting at will. The tail
varies in length according to the species.

Dental System

4 False Molar
2 Carnivorous
2 Tuberculous.

o

'.•5

14 Lower •< 2 Canine < 2 Carnivorous
t 6 Molar. 0 Tuberculous.

286

GENERAL HISTORY

In the upper jaw the incisors are ranged side
by side in a straight line. The two first are of
equal size, wedge-shaped and transversely grooved
on their internal face; the third is twice as large as
these two, pointed and grooved on its internal face.
A vacant space separates the last incisor from the
canine, which is very large, conical, slightly hooked,
rounded on its internal and external face, and angular
at its anterior and posterior edges. The first false
molar succeeds the canine, and is a small, very ob-
tuse tooth, with a single root. A vacant space sepa-
rates that tooth from the succeeding one, or second
false molar, which we regard as having the regular
form; it is very broad, has several roots, broad from
before backwards, compressed from within outwards,
trenchant, and presenting nearly the form of a right
angle; its edges are divided by two grooves, or rather
by two serrations, which augment the trenchant
power. The carnivorous, which has at least three
roots, succeeds the false molar immediately; it is a
third larger than that tooth from before backwards,
and is in this direction divided into three parts; the
first is a small tubercle with cutting edges; the second
or middle one presents a large tubercle trenchant on
its edges, of a right angled figure; the third is ter-
minated by a nearly straight line, only a little in-
flected in its middle, and with cutting edges. At
the internal face of this tooth, and at the base of the
small obtuse tubercle, is a still smaller tubercle,
which is connected by a salient point to the middle
tubercle. Finally, the tuberculous molar is a very
small tooth, very narrow from before backward,
broader from the external to the internal side.

OF THE CAT.

287

rounded, and having one or two roots; this tooth con-
cealed at the base of the carnivorous tooth is entirely
rudimental.

In the lower jaw the first incisive is some-
what smaller than the second, and this than the
third; they are shaped like blunt wedges, and show
a slight groove from before backwards, narrower on
the side next to the canine than to the opposite
side. The canine, which immediately follows the
incisors, is strong, conical, and more hooked than
that of the opposite jaw, rounded on its anterior
and exterior, and angular at its internal face and
exterior edge. A large vacancy separates this tooth
from the first false molar, which is broad from before
backward, slender from the inner to the outside,
with trenchant edges, and having the right angled
figure, whose edges are divided by a groove as in the
upper jaw. The succeeding false molar does not
differ except in being larger and having an addi-
tional groove on its posterior edge; both of these
teeth are normal. The carnivorous tooth is, like
the preceding, compressed from within outwards,
having cutting edges; but it is divided into two
nearly equal parts by a deep groove in its middle,
still more evident on its internal than its external
face.

In their reciprocal position the incisors are op-
posed crown to crown, whence in old animals the
grooves of which we have spoken wear away, and
as these teeth are alternate, that is, the middle of
these teeth in one jaw corresponds with the interval
which separates the two opposite incisors, they wear
unequally and become pointed instead of remaining

288

GENERAL HISTORY

in a straight line. The anterior edge of the upper
canine is in relation with the posterior and exterior
edge of the lower canine. The superior false mo-
lar only fills the void between the eanine and the
first inferior false molar. The posterior edge of
the last named tooth acts against the anterior edge
of the opposite false molar; the latter, by its posterior
edge, acts upon the internal and anterior face and
internal tubercle of the opposite carnivorous tooth.
The whole breadth of this tooth is opposed to the
external face of the lower carnivorous, which only
touches the tuberculous tooth by its basis, or by that
part of it which at its posterior part is nearest to
the roots.

It will be seen by the number, form and disposition
of these teeth, that the jaws of the cat are very short,
and that the teeth being situated near the power
which moves the jaws, they can act with great force,
more especially as the points of articulation of the
jaws, or condyles, are on a line with the teeth. The
cat is absolutely carnivorous, eating nothing but
flesh, and preferring much that of animals re-
cently killed; they do not eat bones, except such as
are not very hard, or when strongly pressed by
hunger.

Nature having destined the animals of this genus
to subsist exclusively on the flesh of other creatures,
has endowed them with insatiably blood-thirsty dis-
positions, and furnished them with the most efiective
means of destruction. Their muscular strength,
especially that moving the jaw, is exceedingly great,
and gives their keen lacerating teeth, and strong.

OF THE CAT.

sharp edged, pointed claws, terrific efficacy in the
infliction of wounds, while their peculiarly flexi-
ble bodies and agility of motion enables them to
spring with vast force upon their destined victims.
They are sly, insidious and ferocious, approaching
their prey by stealth or stratagem, and secure it by
a sudden bound, or, failing in their first attempt,
sneak off as if ashamed, but in reality because they
are not well adapted to succeed in running it down.
Most of them climb with great facility, the larger
species especially bounding with a few efforts into
the tops of lofty trees; all of them (with the ex-
ception of one species not found in this country)
have their horrid claws entirely concealed in a sheath,
and protected from wearing or becoming blunted,
unless protruded at the will of the animal when
about to strike its prey, or to aid in ascending
trees, &c.

Few creatures exist which are destitute of pecu-
liar beauties, either of adaptation or ornament, and
it may appear singular to such as examine but
slightly, that nature should have been lavish of
adornment to a race of animals so generally injuri-.
ous and hateful, or that the species most remarkable
for invincible ferocity and destructive habits should
be most eminently beautiful. From the dread mo-
narch of the desert, whose limbs combine every
attribute of vigour, and whose tawny mane adds ter-
rific grandeur to his aspect of savage defiance, down
to the domestic cat, whose smooth glossy fur and
demure countenance might induce a belief in her
peculiar innocence, we may observ’^e every degree of
beauty connected with fine proportions, graceful

290

GENERAL HISTORY^ &C.

forms and agile movements, clothed with skins most
richly variegated; an unequivocal evidence that ex-
ternal ornament is no test of disposition, and that
mere beauty should not persuade us that the pos-
sessor is therefore excellent.

All these animals are called cruel^ and their dis-
position to destroy the lives and drink the blood of
other creatures growing out of a physical necessity,
has been termed cruelty. Such expressions applied
to animals are entirely incorrect, because it implies a
power of discrimination which we do not believe
them to possess. It would be exceedingly cruel in a
human being to play with the terrors of an animal
about to be put to death, and allow it to make nume-
rous fruitless efforts to escape; yet this act is perfectly
natural to the cat, and not more cruel than the most
ordinary movement, inasmuch as the cat can have
no idea of the suffering inflicted.

We must not rashly conclude that these animals
are an evil unattended by any utility or good. They
are designed by nature to occupy regions where
animal life is most likely to increase in undue pro-
portion, and it is their province to keep this in-
crease from becoming excessive. It is in the sultry
deserts of Africa and the vast plains of Asia, that
the gaunt lion raises his hollow roar, threatening
destruction; it is in the jungles of India that tire
untameable tiger lurks for his prey, and in the dense
and remote forests of our own country that the
fierce and vindictive cougar utters his startling
scream. In all cases their haunts are in the vicinity
of numerous herds of animals, whose superabundant
increase they are engaged in restraining. They live
far retired from the habitations of man, are princi' .

THE COUGAR.

291

pally solitary and nocturnal, and appear to diminish
in direct proportion to the advances of the human
race, and the extension of cultivation. Hence we
find that nature has not in these animals entailed a
curse on mankind, which are so circumstanced, that
their number may be diminished and their race even
finally extinguished, as their services become less re-
quired.*

Species \.-~The Cougar,

{Improperly called Panther. t)

Felis Concolorj L.

iWis Concohr et discolor; L. Gmel. Syst. Nat. i. p. 79, Sp. 9-12.

Le Cougar; Buff. Quad. vol. 9, tab. 59; Cougar de Pennsylvanie et
Cougar Noir; Buff. Supp. 3. p. 41, 42.

Pouma; Gahciiasso, liv. 8. chap. 18.

Gvuzara; De Azzara, Quad, du Paraguay, vol. i. p. 133.

Felis Concolor et discolor; Temminck, Monog. de Mam.livrais 4, p. 134.

The Cougar is the largest animal of the cat kind
found in North America, and has occasionally re-

* For the gratification of our readers, we subjoin a note
on this genus in the words of Linne, not only the most
learned, but one of the most eloquent naturalists whose
writings we possess.

“Felis genus sobrium, scandit facile arbores, cursu celer,
noctu potissimum speculatur, casu delabitur in pedes contu-
sion! vix obnoxiumj glans penis ipsis muricatus retrorsumj
retractis unguibus acutissimis incedunt, iisque saeviuntj in-
hiando sanguinem hauriunt; visa prseda caudam moventj ve-
getabilibus ultro non vescunt.”

t There is a great deal of confusion in the books relative
to the true panther, which Temminck has decided to be the

292

THE COUGAK.

ceived the name of American lion, from the simi-
larity of its proportions and colour to the lion of
the old world. It is very little inferior in size, and
not at all in the qualities of magnanimity, clemency,
and generosity which have been so lavishly yet so
falsely attributed to the king of beasts,” whom
we might believe to have been distinguished as royal
in derision of some of the human species, who des-
potically rule over their fellow creatures by virtue
of the right divine” of power.* * The cougar

Fells Pardus of Linne. The name employed by our coun-
try people generally, Painter,’^ evidently a corruption of
Panther. We have deemed it advisable to use the term
cougar for a trivial name, to avoid the confusion which would
be occasioned by that oi panther, more especially as the for-
mer is more generally known and used than that of puma,
applied by some European naturalists to this animal.

* The “ lordly lion” conceals himself near the places
where deer and other animals come to drink, and springs
upon them from his ambush, like the veriest tom-catj having
feeble sight, and being unfit for the chase, he follows the wild
dogs and chacals, which run down buffaloes, antelopes, &c.
and when they have succeeded, drives them off and gorges
to repletion; as he relinquishes the carcass when satiated
he is called generous", as he does not attack and devour
men— when not hungry, he is considered magnanimous;
he retires slowly, facing his enemies, being unable to
run with speed, and is celebrated for his noble spirit, and
as he does not kill the wild dogs and other small animals be-
cause— it is not in his power to catch them, he is then called
clement; while in virtue of his great strength, dreadful claws,
horrid teeth and awful roar, he is considei’ed as altogether
royal. Yet this king of quadrupeds has not half the moral
excellence of a poodle dog, nor a thousandth part of the
dignity of character possessed by the elephant He is,

the cougak.

293

may he stated to he about one-third less in size
than the lion, and has no inane nor tuft at the
extremity of the tail, which is about half the length
of the body and head.

The skin of this animal is clothed with a soft and
close hair over the limbs and body, of a brownish
yellow colour, or a mixture of red and blackish, with
occasional patches of a rather deep reddish tint,
which are only remarkable in certain lights, and
disappear entirely with the advancing age of the
individual. A dark red is spread over all the upper
parts, produced by the tips of the hair, which is
black at base, and this colour is deeper upon the
hack, the head and upper part of the tail, than upon
the sides. The belly is pale red; the breast, inside
of the thighs and legs, are of a reddish white, and
the lower jaw and throat entirely white. The ear
is whitish internally and black externally, with the
exception of the small external lobule, which is red-
dish gray. The head has a great many gray hairs
upon it; the whiskers are white and rise in a black-
ish space; the end of the tail is black. The round
spots varying in size, are more or less distinct ac-
cording to the age of the individual, and are found in
greatest number on the thighs, where they are not

moreover, no match for the great tiger of Asia, which, in
ferocity, savage daring, audacious destructiveness, uncon
querable and inappeasable hatred to mankind, is infinitely
more royal, and a more consistent emblem of a great num-
ber of human kings who have aided in various ages and
countries to retard the progress of improvement and the
march of mind.

294

THE COUGAR.

80 close together. The sexes are not distinguishable
by the colour -of the pelage.^

The cougar was at an early period distributed in
considerable number over the whole of the warm
and temperate regions of this continent, and is still
found, though by no means abundantly, in the south-
lern, middle and north-western parts of the Union,
becoming, however, gradually more rare as the popu-»
|ation increases and cultivation is extended. It is a
Ravage and destructive animal, yet timid and cau-

fious: in ferocity it is quite equal to most of its kin-
ired species, and kills numbers of small animals for
the sake of drinking their blood, and when pressed
|)y hunger attacks large quadrupeds, though not al-
b-'ays with success. When the cougar seizes a sheep
[)r calf, it is by the throat, and then flinging the vic-
tim over its back it dashes olf with great ease and
pelerity to devour at leisure; deer, hogs, sheep and
calves, are destroyed by the cougar whenever they
are within reach, and occasionally one or two of these
animals have committed extensive ravages among the
Stock of the frontier settlers. They climb or rather
spring up large trees with surprising facility and
vigour, and in that way are enabled, by dropping

* We have chosen to draw up this description from the
excellent monography of Temminck, on account of the ad-
mirable opportunities he has enjoyed and profited by, of
visiting all the rich collections of Europe, especially of Paris,
where there is a full series of cougars preserved in the mu-
seum. In this city there are very few specimens, and of
these a still smaller number fit to furnish materials for a de-
scription of extensive application.

THE COUGAR.

295

suddenly upon deer and other quadrupeds, to secure
prey which it would be impossible for them to
overtake.

In the day time the cougar is seldom seen, but its
peculiar cry frequently thrills the experienced tra-
veller with horror, while camping in the forest at
night, or he is startled to hear the cautious ap-
proaches of ithe animal, stealing step by step to-
wards him over the crackling brush and leaves, in
expectation of springing on an unguarded or sleep-
ing victim, whom nothing but a rapid flight can
save. That the cougar will attack animals of large
size and great strength is well known to those who
have resided where this beast is found, in proof of
which we may here insert a letter received from a
scientific friend, who, during twenty-five or thirty
years, has resided in the state of Ohio, and made
the study of natural history his chief amusement.

Lexington^ Ky. March 26, 1826.

Dear Friend, — About the first of December,
1819, I visited Shane’s prairie with the view of
procuring specimens of every quadruped to be ob-
tained in that district of country. I made early
inquiry of Shane^ as to what animals might be

* “ We travelled for twelve miles over a swampy country
tlirough which the St. Mary flows, after which we struck a
dry plain, known by the name of Shane’s praii’ie, and at
eighteen miles from Fort St. Mary, we crossed the river at
a settlement called Shanevillej both the prairie and the
settlement, (which consists of but one family) owe their ap-
pellation to an interpreter, who is a half bred Indian^ his

296

THE COUGAK.

collected, and whether it was possible a cougar could,
be found. On the subject of the cougar he expressed,
some doubt, but believed that one was still lurking
somewhere between Shane’s crossing of St. Mary’s
river and Fort Wayne. This individual, he was
of opinion, was the only one which for many years
past had resided within his vicinity. He related,
various anecdotes of the alarm caused to travellers
by this animal, especially at the twelve mile swamp,
then a common camping ground on the Fort Wayne
road. The following is the most interesting:

About the close of the late war, a merchant of
Piqua named Herse, received a considerable sum of
money in small bills, which made it appear of still
greater magnitude to several suspicious looking
persons who were present when it was received.
Mr. Herse being unarmed, was apprehensive that
an attempt would be made to rob him at the camping
ground, and expressed his apprehensions to a single

fatlier was a Canadian and his mother an Ottawa. He was
employed as an interpreter and spy by General Harrison
during his western campaigns, and is considered as having
acquitted himself ot his duties faithfullyj oh the conclusion
of the war he was rewarded by the grant of half a section
of land, (320 acres) which he has divided into town lotsj
he resides within a short distance of Shanesville on part of
his grant. No man is better known in this part of the coun-
try than Shane; his influence among the Indians is great,
and he enjoys a high degree of popularity among the whites,
founded upon the uniformly good character which he main-
tained during the war, and upon the unbounded confidence
reposed in him, by General Harrison. — Long’s Expedition
to the Source of St. Peters’’ River. By W. H. Keating,
A. M. vol. i. p. 76.

THE COUGAR.

297

fellow traveller who was also unprovided with arms.
In consequence, they resolved not to go to the camp-
ing ground, but to pass the night in the woods with-
out lire; there, turning their horses loose, they lay
down in their blankets on the leaves. In the night
they were aroused by hearing the horses snort, as
they are apt to do on the approach of Indians, and
shortly after they were heard to make several
bounds through the woods, as if some one had un-
successfully attempted to catch them. After some
time had elapsed they both distinctly heard what
they supposed to be a man crawling tow’ards them on
his hands and feet, as they could hear first one hand
cautiously extended and pressed very gently on the
leaves, to avoid making a noise, then the other, and
finally the other limbs in like manner and with equal
care. When they believed that this felonious visitor
was within about ten feet of them, they touched
each other, sprang up simultaneously, and rushed
to some distance through the w’oods, where they
crouched and remained without further disturbance.
A short time after they heard the horses snorting
and bounding furiously through the wmods, but they
did not venture to arise until broad day-light, being
still ignorant of the character of their enemy.

When sufiiciently light to see, by climbing a sap-
ling they discovered the horses at a considerable
distance on the prairie. On approaching them it
was at once evident that their disturber had been
nothing less than a cougar. It had sprung upon the
horses, and so lacerated with its claws and teeth
their flanks and buttocks, that with the greatest dif-
ficulty were they able to drive the poor creatures

VOL, I. — p p

298

THE COUGAR,

before them to Shane’s. Several other instances of
annoyance to travellers had happened at the same
place, and Shane believed by the same cougar.

I now offered, through Shane, a reward of ten dol-
lars to any of the Indians who would bring in this
animal, and a few evenings after, on returning from
a day’s hunting, I found an Indian waiting with the
body of the cougar, which he had killed about two
hours before. This Indian found its track about
fourteen miles from Shane’s, and tracked it to within
about two miles of Shane’s house, where he was on
the point of abandoning the chase. At this moment
he heard the bushes rustle, and turning he saw the
beast, which had sprung against the body of a tree
to observe its pursuer. He instantly fired, and shot
him through the heart, as I found on dissecting the
animal. The Indian dragged the body about a quar-
ter of a mile on the snow, but finding it too heavy,
came to Shane’s and obtained a sledge, on which he
brought it in.

The following measurements were made by my-
self on the spot: — Length from the tip of the nose
to the root of the tail, 4 feet 5 inches. — 'Length of
the tail, 2 feet 4 inches. — Height before and behind,
(toes extended) 2 feet 7 inches.-— Circumference im-
mediately before the fore legs, 2 feet 7 inches. —
Around the body just before the hind legs, 2 feet
6 inches. — Of the neck, close to the head, 1 foot 5
inches. — Of the wrist, 7| inches. — Length of the
fore leg to the body, 11| inches.— Of the hind leg
in the same way, 20 inches. — Of the head, just bC'
fore the ears, 20| inches. — The eyes were brown.

ROBERT BEST, M. D.

THE COUGAR.

299

This fine specimen was carefully prepared, and is
now in the Western Museum at Cincinnati, Ohio. We
have been furnished with a drawing of this animal
from the pencil of Mr. C. Coewine, a respectable
and promising artist, resident in that city, through
the kindness of Daniel Drake, M. D. a gentleman
who is not less distinguished by his profound ac-
quaintance with his profession, than for the zeal and
liberality with which he devotes himself to the ad-
vancement of natural science.

In the remote and thinly settled parts of Penn-
sylvania the cougar is still occasionally found, and
the following relation of the manner in which two of
these animals were recently killed, will be read with
interest from the singularity of the attendant cir-
cumstances. We have the account through our
friend Isaac Hays, M D. direct from Mr. John
Mitchell, the respectable gentleman who killed
them, and presented their skins and heads to the
Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences.

About five miles from Philipsburg, Centre County,
Mr. Mitchell, on the 8th of December, 1825, shot
at a buck {Cervus Virginianus) and wounded him
in the shoulder. He followed the animal for some
time, and at length perceived him at the distance of
about forty yards, lying with his heels upwards, and
a cougar holding him by the throat. The hunter
discharged his rifle at the cougar and shot him
through the heart, when this animal relinquished
the buck, advanced four or five yards, and fell life-
less. Having again charged his rifle, and believing
the panther to be dead, Mr. Mitchell, turning to-

30U

THE COUGAR.

wards the wounded buck, was surprised to see an-
other cougar in the act of pulling down the head,
and as it now appeared, the buck had been held
down by the throat by both cougars at the moment
the first was killed. The body of the buck was be-
tween the hunter and the second cougar, nothing but
the head of which was visible. At this Mr. Mitchell
levelled his rifle, and the ball entered it at the
angle of the eye. The beast remained still for a few
minutes, and then, for the first time, relinquished
his hold of the buck and walked over it towards
the hunter, who fired his rifle a second time and
shot him through in the neighbourhood’ of the
heart. At this moment the buck recovered his
legs, stumbled over the body of the cougar, finally
extricated himself, and ran off. A third discharge of
the rifle pierced the cougar with another ball, yet he
still remained on his feet, and it was not until the rifle
was again charged and a fourth ball driven through
the back part of the under jaw, that the animal fell
and expired. What is most singular, is that the male
should not have relinquished his hold of the buck
when the female was killed, but continued in the
same position until the ball entered his own head
near the eye.^ The buck ran near a mile before

* “ Major Smith witnessed an extraordinary instance of
the abstracted ferocity of this animal, when engaged with
its food. A puma [cougarj which had been taken and con-
fined, was ordered to be shot, which was done immediately
after the animal had received its food. The first ball went
through its body, and the only notice he took of it was by

THE COUGAR.

301

he was finally overtaken and killed. During his
walk home, loaded with the trophies of his success,
Mr. Mitchell killed another buck, having, during an
absence of four days, killed two cougars and four
bucks.

The following account of the destruction of a large
cougar, which is still preserved in the New York Mu-
seum, was given by the late Mr. Scudder. Two hun-
ters, accompanied by two dogs, went out in quest of
game near the Kaatskill mountains. At the foot of
a large hill, they agreed to go round it in opposite
directions, and when either discharged his rifle the
other was to hasten towards him to aid in securing
the game. Soon after parting, the report of a rifle
was heard by one of them, who, hastening towards
the spot, after some search, found nothing but the
dog, dreadfully lacerated and dead. He now be-
came much alarmed for the fate of his companion, and
while anxiously looking around, was horror struck
bv the harsh growl of a cougar, which he perceived
on a large limb of a tree, crouching upon the body
of his friend, and apparently meditating an attack on
himself. Instantly he levelled his rifle at the beast,
and was so fortunate as to wound it mortally, when it
fell to the ground along with the body of his slaugh-
tered companion. His dog then rushed upon the
wounded cougar, which with one blow of its paw
laid the poor animal dead by its side. The surviving

a shrill growl, doubling his efforts to devour his food, which
he actually continued to swallow with quantities of his own
blood till he ~ GnffitK> s Translation of Cuvior, p, 438,

302

THE NOKTHERN LYNX.

hunter now left the spot, and quickly returned with
several other persons, when they found the lifeless
cougar extended near the dead bodies of the hunter
and the faithful dogs.*

Species II. — The J^orthern Lynx.

Felis Canadensisj Geoff.

Fells Lynx: L. Syst. Nat. p. 83.

Le Lynx du Canada: Buff. Hist. Nat. Suppl. iii. p. 44.

Lynx du Canada: C. Ossem. Fossiles, Nouv. ed. iv. p. 443.

Gatto Lines: Kanzaiti, ii. p. 309. sp. 8.

Felis Canadensis: Geoff. Catal. des Mammif. p. 120.

Felk '^anadensis: Sabine, Zool. App. to Franklin’s Exped. p. 659.

Fehs Borealis: 1’emminck, Monog-. de Mammal, livr. 4e. p. 111.

[Loup-Cei-vier: Lynx de Suede of the Furriei-s.]

The researches of the justly distinguished Tem*
MiNCK have reduced the catalogue of lynxes or wild
cats inhabiting North America to two species, of
which one is common to both continents, and one
proper to the American. The species now to be de-
scribed is found only in the northern regions of both
continents.

* These incidents may remind many of our readers of the
spirited and highly interesting account given in Cooper’s
Pioneers of the Susquehanna, of a combat between a fe-
male cougar and a mastiff, which may be referred to with
pleasure and advantage, on account of its verisimilitudej a
merit by no means common in such works, and more especi-
ally in relation to American animals. Nothing can well be
productive of deeper disgust to one who has any knowledge
of natural history, than the inappropriate and ridiculous re-

I

THE NORTHERN LYNX. 30ii

The northern lynx^ is a fierce and subtle creature,
exhibiting most of the traits of character which dis-
tinguish animals of the cat kind. To the smaller
quadrupeds, such as rabbits, hares, lemmings, &c.
it is exceedingly destructive, never leaving the vi-
cinities they frequent until their numbers are alto-
gether destroyed, or exceedingly thinned. But
the ravages of the northern lynx are not con-
fined to such small game; it drops from the branches
of trees on the necks of deer, and clinging firmly
with its sharp hooked claws, ceases not to tear at the
throat and drink the blood of the animal until it
sinks exhausted and expires. It attacks sheep and
calves in the same manner, and preys upon wild
turkies and other birds, which it is capable of sur-
prising, even on the tops of the highest trees.

The northern lynx is found in great abundance iu
the country south-west of the Hudson’s Bay settle-
ments, but it is scarce to the north of Churchill ri-
ver. Large packages of the skins of this species
are exported by the Hudson’s Bay company to Eu-
rope annually; in one year nine thousand were sent.
The fur is highly esteemed by the dealers in peltry.

The northern lynx is fearful of man, offers very
little resistance when attacked, and is easily killed
by a smart blow over the back. This animal is

lations of the habits and appearance of animals frequently
introduced into popular books; when given correctly or con-
sistently with the true character of the anuuals, references
to nature always impart pleasure, and add to the durability
of the work they are intended to adorn.

* The description of the Felis Rufa, bay lynx, or wild
cat, will be given in the appendix.

304

THE NORTHERN LYNX.

not often found to approach closely to the Euro*
pean settlements, but frequents the plains and woods
where the animals on which it subsists are obtained in
greatest abundance. The flesh of this lynx is con-
sidered good food by hunters, being fat, white, and.
flavoured like the hare, on which it principally
feeds.

The northern lynx has a large body and strong
legs, and measures about three feet from the tip of
its nose to the end of its tail, which is about six
or seven inches long, and black for half its length
towards the extremity. The head is thick and round,
and the ears sharp and tipped with a tuft of black
hair. There are four or five small undulating bands
on the cheeks, and the . labial whiskers are white.
The animal is about sixteen inches high.

The general colour of the northern lynx is deep
reddish, marked on the flanks with small oblong spots
of a reddish brown, with small round spots of the
same colour on the limbs. The ears are black ex-
ternally, but covered by an angular space of shining
ash colour; the eyes are surrounded by a whitish
circle to a black longitudinal mark above them, run-
ning from each side towards the front. The back
is never marked by a black band along its middle.

In summer dress the pelage is short, the hair being
brown at the base and of a bright red at the point.
In winter the hairs are longer and all their points
are whitish; 'the silky hairs, which are most numer-
ous and long in winter, render the colour of the
animal ash or whitish, which in summer gives place
to the more decided red, marked with brown spots.^

* Temminck, Monog. de Mammal, livr. 4e. p. IH

CHAPTER XVI.

Family IV. — Carnivora Amphibia; Amphibious
Flesh- Eaters.

The peculiarities of conformation observable in
these animals clearly demonstrate that they are des-
tined to pass the greater part of their lives in the
water. Their bodies are elongated, tapering from
the anterior part of the chest to the posterior ex-
tremities, very flexible and powerfully muscular.
The members are so modified as to be enclosed by
the skin of the body, allowing only their flexible
extremities to project; the hind legs presenting
backwards, and placed in such a manner as to cor-
respond to the tail of a fish, both in use and posi-
tion. The heads of these animals are either entire-
ly destitute of projecting ears, and have a small slit,
which is closed by muscular action to prevent the
entrance of water, or they have very small triangu-
lar ears, little more than perceptible. The nostrils
are provided with a peculiar muscular apparatus,
by which their orifices are perfectly closed at the
will of the animal, effectually excluding water from
the lungs during submersion. Their power of swim-
ming is still further augmented by their coat of close
smooth hair, which uniformly has the points present-
ing towards the posterior extremities. The feet are
very imperfectly adapted for walking.

VOL, 1.— -Q q

306

general history

Genus XVII. Seal; Plioca, C,

Gr. ^ox.?},

Ger Robbe; Seehund.

Ben. Soelhund, Sal.
iS'wed. Sjal.

Fr. Veau Marin, Phoque. Hal. Foca.
Butch, Rob; Zeehond.

GENERIC CHARACTERS

The seals, like other mammiferous animals, are
provided with four limbs, yet nothing but their ex-
tremities appear externally, being closely covered
up by the integument of the trunk of the body,
the fore limbs to the wrist, the hinder to the heel.
The digits of the fore feet are successively shorter
from the thumb, which is the longest. The pos-
terior feet have the lateral digits either longer than
the intermediate, or the whole nearly of an equal
length. On the upper lip are strong erectile whis-
kers; the tongue is smooth and bifid at tip. The
stomach is simple, the ccccum short, the digestive
tube long and nearly equal in size. The nose is
closed by the action of muscles at the extremity of
the nostrils. The heart is formed in all respects
analogous to terrestrial warm blooded animals, but
their blood is very black and abundant. They have
a large venous sinus in their liver, which (Cuvier
thinks) may aid them in diving, by rendering res-
piration less necessary to the circulation of their
blood.

We have seen, in describing the dental systems of
insectivorous and carnivorous animals, what strong
resemblance exists between the molars of the former

Dental System

OF THE SEAL.

307

and the tuberculous molars of the latter, being alike
in their forms and destinations, composed of the
same tubercles, and arranged according to the same
relations, but only a little more obtuse in the car-
nivorous than in the insectivorous animal, and in all
better suited for crushing than cutting.

We shall now see in the seals of our first division
all the molars assume the form of the regular false
molars, varying in their degree of slenderness and
trenchant character, with deeper or more numerous
serrations on their edges, and having several roots;
and in those of the second division, we shall find
them take in thickening a more or less conical
form, which seems so much the more to make the
transition from these teeth to those of some cetaceous
animals, as each of them appears to have but a sin-
gle root.

These are the only two general forms under which
we find the molars of seals; but the divisions they
characterize, and which may be considered as sub-
orders or families, are divided into several groups
by other considerations, and among these by the in-
cisive teeth, which differ in number in different
species. In this respect the seals, havdng teeth with
several roots, form three divisions: 1st, those having
six superior and four inferior incisors, among which
we find the common seal: — 2nd, with four superior
and four inferior, (as in the P. Monachus): — 3d, hav-
ing four superior and two inferior, (the only exam-
ple of which is the P. Mitrata*)

* Sent from New York to Paris, and thus named by Mr.
Milbert.

308

GENERAL HISTORY

Seals having several Roots to their Teeth.

18 Upper

16 Lower

{

{

6 Incisive
2 Canine
10 Molar.

4 Incisive
2 Canine
10 Molar.

In the upper jaw the first incisor is rather
smaller than the second, and that, half the size of
the third; all are hooked, terminating in a point re-
sembling canine teeth in form, especially the last
one. The canine follows after a vacant space; it is
strong, uniformly rounded, except on its inner sur-
face, where there are slight longitudinal ribs, sepa-
rated at the base and united at their points. The
first molar, situated at the base of the canine, is one-
half smaller than the others, rounded, terminated
by a point, around which are placed some other very
small points irregularly disposed. The four which
follow and resemble each other have the forms
of false molars, but their posterior cutting edge is
separated by two grooves into two serrations, the
first very deep and the second slighter. These
grooves are not so distinctly marked upon the last of
these teeth.

In the lower jaw the first incisor is much
smaller than the second, and they both partake
slightly of the canine form. The canines resemble
those of the other jaw, as do the molars, except
that there are one or two grooves, and by conse-
quence one or two serrations on the anterior cutting
edge of those in the lower jaw»

OF THE SEAL,

309

In their reciprocal position the incisors and canine
teeth of both jaws have the same relations as in
the carnivorous animals, and the molars also resem-
ble, in this respect, the false molars of these quadru-
peds. They are alternate, and do not pass each
other so as to cut like scissor- blades, but the tren-
chant surfaces of the opposite teeth are applied im-
mediately against each other, dividing the food by
direct compression.

The common seal {Phoca Vitulina) furnished Mr.
F. Cuvier with this type of dentition.

A comparatively short time has elapsed since the
animals of this genus served as fruitful themes to de-
claiming theorists, and gave ample scope to their in-
genuity in explaining the supposed relations exist-
ing between them and other parts of the animal
kingdom. From the ponderous volumes of Aldro-
vandus and Gesner, down to the fascinating eloquence
of the inaccurate Buffon, these beings have been con-
sidered as a sort of anomaly, bearing the same relation
to fish as that in which the bat was supposed to stand to
birds; they have been invested by ignorant observers
with various imaginary attributes, which have been
frequently perpetuated through the heedlessness and
prejudices of the learned. Happily for us, the ab-
surdities involving this part of our subject have
gradually and finally disappeared before the increas-
ing light of science, leaving no food for wondering
credulity, but developing innumerable objects for
enlightened admiration, in the study of the beauti-

310

GENERAL HISTORY

ful Riodifications of structure by which the great Au-
thor of nature has enabled breathing and warm blood-
ed quadrupeds to dwell in “ the vasty deep” with-
out in the slightest degree depriving them of the
intelligence or other characteristics of their order.

The natural history of the seal has been known
during a great lapse of time, and what is more sin-
gular, is as correctly given by Aristotle as by Buf-
fon, with all his advantages. This difference may
be readily accounted for by observing that Aristotle
states the facts which he had ascertained, without
endeavouring to suit them to any preconceived opi-
nion. De Buffon, believing in the absurd notion
that animals capable of living for a considerable time
under water had an opening between the right and
left auricles of the heart, insists upon the existence
of such a communication in the seal, even in oppo-
sition to positive demonstration. The prejudicial
influence of error, when favoured by great men, is
very clearly seen in the instance of the French natu-
ralist, for the mere expression of his opinion was
sufficient to induce M. La Verniere, who had dissect-
ed a seal and disproved the existence of the opening
in the heart, to discredit the testimony of his own
senses,^ a degree of complaisance which we may
hope will meet with few imitators at the present day.

* Je ne sais si le changement d’liabitudes que cet animal
avoit contractees auroit pu former une membrane de cette
structure; maistV me suffit, monsieur, que vous en affirmiez
la possibilite, pour etre de votre sentiment. ”—Bep. de M.
de la Verniere; Buff. 34. p. 47.

OF THE SEAL.

311

Seals are found on the sea coasts throughout the
world in various degrees of abundance, and some
species are peculiar to certain latitudes. They are
most numerous very far to the north, vvhere they al-
most exclusively furnish the Eskimaux resident in
those chill regions with food, clothing, and imple-
ments made from their bones, &c.

Seals are viviparous, bringing forth and suckling
their young on land; they are polygamous and gre-
garious, living in large families together, and exhib-
iting curious traits of character which will be de-
scribed when treating of the species. They swim,
with admirable facility, remain for a considerable
time under water, and derive their food entirely
from the sea. They are very fond of sunning them-
selves upon the sea-beach or on ice-banks, scram-
bling upon them by aid of their flippers or fore feet.
On land their movements are awkward and heavy,
but not so slow as we might suppose from their ap-
pearance: to this motion of the seal the term wal-
loping” has been aptly applied. They are vigilant,
intelligent, and tenacious of life. It was from imper-
fectly made observations on these animals, that the
ancient fictions of sea-nymphs, mermaids, sirens and
tritons were founded.*

* We subjoin a translation of Aristotle’s account of the
seal, that the reader may judge of the accuracy of this very
ancient and truly illustrious naturalist, who flourished up-
wards of three hundred years before the Christian era. The
parts of his statement which are incorrect or doubtful are
italicised.

“The seal is an amphibious animal; it does not inhale

312

general history, &c.

De BufFon proposed to divide this genus into two
parts or subgenera, founded on a character which to
him appeared very striking and natural, the absence
or presence of external ears.* This division was
subsequently adopted by Peron, who formed his
subgenera phoca and otaria for the reception of the
species thus distinguished. The same arrangement
is followed by Cuvier and Mr. Desmarest, but is
rejected by Frederick Cuvier for the following rea-
sons:— He thinks there is nothing sufficiently absolute
in this character, and that the common seal, which
is considered to belong to phoca and not to otaria^

water, but on the contrary breathes the air; sleeps and
brings forth its young on land as if it were a terrestrial ani-
mal, but couples on the margin of the sea. It passes the
greater part of its life in the water, and there obtains its
food; absolutely viviparous internally and externally, the
female bringing forth living animals enveloped in a chorion;
she has milk like a sheep. The young are one, two, or at
most three in number. The teats are two in number, which
the young suck like other quadrupeds. The seal brings forth
like the human race at all seasons of the year; nevertheless
most frequently in the season when the kids are dropped.
When the young are about eleven days old the mother leads
them several times a day to the sea, to accustom them gradu-
ally thereto; but as their feet are not yet able to sustain
them, they allow themselves to slide along without walking.
The seal can easily draw up its body and double it on itself*
because it is fleshy, supple, and the bones are cartilaginous.
Its great quantity of flesh renders it difficult to kill, if it be
not struck on the side of the head.t Its voice resembles that
of the bull.

* Buffon, par Sonnini, tom. 34e. p. 3.

* This is entirely true of the mch of the seal-

t “Av jttJj r)<r TTctTct^tj Ttetfet rov K.eip. F.

THE COMMON SEAL.

313

has nevertheless a perfectly formed though a very
small external ear. According to his views, the
character drawn from the incisor teeth, first employ-
ed by Mr. Blainville for the divisions of an inferior
order, is preferable to that commonly adopted, after
Buffon and Peron.*

Species I. — The Common Seal.

Phoca Vitulina^ L.

Vituhis Oceani: Rond. 453.

Kassigiak; Crantz, Hist, of Greenland, i. 123.

Le Phoque Commun.- Brrrr. p. 34.

Our impressions relative to this animal will be
very opposite, according as we see it for the first

* “ Sans examiner la valeur physiologiqiie de ce caractere,
je ferai seulement remarquer qu’il n’a rien d’assez absolu,
et que le phoque commun qui est considere comme un phoque
et non point comme un otarie, a une conque externe tres
petite il est vrai, mais tres nettement formee. Quoiqu’il
en soit cette division a generalement ete suivie, et les der-
niers travaux des zoologistes la reproduisent. Le point de
vue sous lequel j’envisage les phoques, ne me permet pasde
m’y conformer; je crois meme que les caracteres pris des
incisives, et que M. Blainville a le premier employe pour les
divisions d’un ordre inferieur, est preferable a celui qui est
tire de I’oreille, quoiqu’il ne produise point encore de reu-
nions naturelles d’especes comme nous aurons occasion de
le faire remarquer. Ce sont done les divisions formees par
les dents que je suivrai dans les details ou je vais entrer. ”
~Des Dents Des Mammif. p. 117.

VOL. I. — R r

314

THE COMMON SEAL.

time upon the land or in the water. Viewed while
basking on shore, its peculiar form and seeming
helplessness lead us to misjudge its strength and ac-
tivity, while its motions are so clumsy and awkward
that it excites a degree of compassion for its appa-
rent deformity and imperfection. But, beheld in
that fluid to which every peculiarity of its confor-
mation is so admirably adapted, we relinquish all
ideas of its imperfectness, with surprise that we
could for a moment have indulged in them. Its coun-
tenance enlivened by large, dark, and lustrous eyes,
which vigilantly regard surrounding objects, is re-
markably expressive of intelligence. All its 'actiofis
indicate the exertion of great strength, which is
every moment displayed in movements of most
graceful activity, whether while surmounting with
head erect the foaming crests of the billow, and
cleaving the waves with wonderful swiftness in
chase of the finny tenants of the deep, wheeling in
easy circles by gentle flexures of the body while
sporting with its frolicsome companions, or diving
profoundly to elude the pursuit of an eager enemy.

The common seal frequents the sea-coasts perhaps
throughout the world, but is most numerous in high
northern latitudes, and furnishes the inhabitants of
those frigid regions with nearly all their necessaries
and luxuries. In such situations, the Eskimaux are
denied the opportunity of deriving their subsistence
from animals which depend upon the vegetable king-
dom for nutriment, but to compensate for this dis-
advantage, the seas which wash their ice-bound
shores are thronged with seals and walruses, supply-
ing to them the place of flocks and herds, without

THE COMMON SEAT.

315

requiring from those fed and clothed by them any
provision for their maintenance.

This seal has a round head, which at ihe fore part
bears considerable resemblance to that of an otter,
though the whole aspect is not unlike that of some
varieties of the dog, whence the name of sea-dog, sea-
wolf, &c. has been applied to different species of seal.
The extremity of the snout or muzzle is flat and
broad; the posterior part of the head is very large and
without bony projections; the upper lip is peculiar,
moveable and extensible, garnished with long, une-
qually thick, strong whiskers, which are capable of
being erected, or thrown forward by the action of
a peculiar muscle. The seal has no external ear,
but instead of it a very small tubercle on the anterior
edge of the opening to the tympanum, which is
placed considerably posterior to the orifice. Over
the eyes, which are much nearer to the ears than
the nose, there are seven or eight bristles similar to
the whiskers, but smaller. The fore limbs are short,
and the feet have five digits, joined together by a
membrane, having thick, long, black nails project-
ing from their extremities: these nails are longer on
the hind than they are on the fore feet.

The general colour of the seal is of a yellowish
gray, varied or spotted with brown or blackish in
different degrees, according to the age of the animal.
On the head and back the colour is generally darkest,
while on the flanks and belly it is pale. In advanced
age the colour is generally whiter. The hair in
this species differs remarkably from wdiat we find in
others, being close and not presenting entirely back-

318

THE COMMON SEAL.

ward. The hairs are individually stiff, harsh, flat
and pointed, yet slender, dry and shining; they are
blackish brown until near the point, and then yel-
lowish gray.

From the organization of the common seal, as well
as on account of the medium in which the greater
part of its life is spent, we should not be induced
to believe that any of its senses are remarkably
acute. Its powers of vision appear to be considera-
ble, though it sees much better in a moderate than
in a strong light; its sense of smelling cannot be ex-
ercised to much advantage while the animal js under
water, as at that time the nostrils are perfectly
closed by muscular action. From the manner in
which the whole external surface excepting the end
of the nose is covered with hair, the sense of touch
would appear to be slight, and the small size of the
ears, as well as the manner in which they are gene-
rally immersed, lead to a belief that this sense also is
not very acute.

Notwithstanding all these apparent defects, the
seal is susceptible of a remarkable degree of educa-
tion, learns to distinguish his feeder, to perform va-
rious actions when commanded, both in the water and
on land, and acquires fondness enough for the society
of domestic animals kept with him to attempt follow-
ing them, in spite of his awkward and disadvantage-
ous movements. The brain of the seal is very large,
when compared with that of various other quadrupeds
of less remarkable intelligence, and it is fair to infer
that to this circumstance its intellectual superiority
is attributable.

THE COMMON SEAL.

31

The manner in which the seal feeds is very inter-
esting; when fish are thrown into a tub where seve-
ral of these animals are kept together, they eagerly
spring to a considerable distance in the air, raising
half their bodies out of water and elongating their
necks to the utmost. In most instances the fish is
swallowed directly, without the slightest chewing,
the swallowing being facilitated by the elevation of.
the head and straightening of the neck. If the fish
be caught by the tail, it is immediately disabled by
being crushed between the teeth, and is then turned
head foremost and swallowed without chewing. When
a fish too broad to be thus bolted is given, then the
seal chews it, rather with a view of compressing it
sufficiently to allow of its passage into the stomach
than for the purpose of comminution. While en-
gaged in feeding, the aspect of the seal is very dif-
ferent from what it is when the animal is quiescent.
The upper lip is thickened and projected forwards,
the bristles or whiskers fiercely erected, and the nos-
trils dilated and closed with force. They also feed
while under water and swallow with as much ease
as in the air, but in a different manner. Under wa-
ter it opens the mouth but partially, and lowers the
under jaw, while it separates the lips at the extre-
mity, apparently drawing. in the prey by suction. It
is not yet ascertained in what manner the animal
avoids the ingurgitation of water at the moment of
thus swallowing.

In a state of captivity the seal expresses little or
nothing of fearfulness, and does not avoid either
man or animals, except when very closely approach-
ed. They are not inclined to bite or injure persons

318

THK COMMON SEAL.

examining them, so long as no attempt is made to
touch them with the hand, or otherwise disturb
them, but if thus annoyed they snap fiercely, and
also strike with their flippers or fore feet. Their
characteristic vigilance never appear to forsake them
a moment. Three of these animals, two adults and
one nearly full grown, were exhibited in this city
last season, in a large box or tub containing water.
Though they appeared to be very sleepy at times,
and unwilling to be disturbed, yet every half mi-
nute the eyes were slowly opened, and it was almost
impossible to succeed in touching them without their
being first alarmed. These were caught in a bay
on the coast of Massachusetts, by aid of a net; when
first captured they fought desperately, and were
with great difficulty secured. After being a few
months in captivity they became quite harmless, and
the younger one learned to perform several tricks,
placing himself in different attitudes at the com-
mand of the keeper. They all died during the
winter, in consequence of too much exposure to
cold, in a small quantity of nearly fresh water, to-
gether with a suspension of all their natural habits.
One of these animals occasionally made a noise re-
sembling the loud snorting of a horse, and all of them
were in the habit of drawing the head under water
every few minutes, as if to moisten the eyes.

Frederick Cuvier has published, in his splendid
work on mammiferous animals, some very interest-
ing observations on two young seals kept in the
menagerie at Paris, from which we shall here intro-
duce a sketch. These individuals showed no fear
in the presence of men or other animals, never at-

THE COMMON SEAL.

319

tempting to escape or withdraw themselves, unless
to avoid being trodden on, and then merely remov-
ing to a short distanee. One of them would occa-
sionally threaten with its voice and strike with its
paw, but would never bite unless extremely pro-
voked. They were very voracious, yet showed no
ill temper when their food was taken from them, and
some young dogs, to which one of the seals was at-
tached, would snatch the fish from his mouth just as
he was about to sw^allow it, without the seal showing
any sign of anger. When both the seals were suf-
fered to eat together, they usually fought with their
paws, and the strongest drove the other away.

One of these seals was at first very shy, and re-
treated when any one attempted to caress him, yet
in a few days he became quite tame and confident
of the kindness of those who approached him. —
When shut up with two little dogs that used to mount
upon his back and playfully bark and bite at him, he
soon entered into the spirit of their actions, and
took pleasure in their frolics, striking them gently
with his paw rather to encourage than repress them.
When the dogs ran off he would follow them, though
the ground was covered with stones and mud. Dur-
ing cold weather he would lie in close company with
the dogs for the sake of their mutual warmth. The
other seal evinced a strong degree of attachment to
the keeper, recognising him at a considerable dis-
tance, and using many expressive gestures and looks
to solicit his attention and obtain food, the idea of
which was no doubt associated with the presence of
the keeper. These seals barked commonly in the

320

THE COMMON SEAL,

evening, oi’ on a change of weather, though with a
much feebler voice than that of the dog; their am
gerwas exhibited by a kind of hissing noise.*

The common seal brings forth two young in au-
tumn, and suckles them on shore until they are six
or seven weeks old, when they are gradually ac^
customed by their parents to frequent the sea. At
this period they are generally of a whitish or light
fawn colour, covered with soft or woolly hair, and
when in distress or hurt have a sort of whining
voice. Seals are mostly associated in families con-
sisting of a few males and a large number of fe-
males and young ones.f They are fond of landing
on the sea-beach, ledges of rocks or ice-banks, for the
purpose of basking in the sun, and in fine weather
prefer being on the ice to remaining in the water;

* “ A young seal, which was given by the master of a
whaler to the officers of the Alexander, one of the ships on
the former voyage, became so entirely domesticated and at-
tached to the ship that it was frequently put into the sea
and suffered to swim at perfect liberty, and when tired would
return of itself to the boats and be taken in.” — Sabine, p. 191.

t The principal part of the materials used in preparing the
rest of our account of the seals and walrus is obtained from the
valuable writings of Crantz, Scoresby, Parry and Lyon.
A very considerable number of other respectable authorities
have been carefully examined, and their observations com-
pared, with a view of correcting and enlarging the natural
history of these useful and interesting animals. Much still
remains to be desired to render this account complete^ yet we
may be allowed to hope that the reader will find a more am-
ple collection of facts in the present instance than has yet
been presented at any one view.

THE COMMON SEAL.

321

sometimes indeed they are very averse to take to the.
water when they have been out of it long enough to
become perfectly dry.

When on their passage from one place to another
they swim in very large flocks or shoals, and become
visible to the mariner every few minutes, as they are
obliged to come to the surface to breathe; this is
generally done by the whole company nearly at the
same time, when they spring up so as to raise their
heads, necks, and even their whole bodies, out of the
water. From the peculiar vivacity of their move-
ments and general sportiveness of the company, such
a shoal of these animals has obtained from the sailors
the designation of a seal’s w'edding.”

The seal is peculiarly vigilant, and whenever a
herd of them visit the shore some are always on the
look out, and a seal when alone is observed very
frequently to raise its head for the purpose of dis-
covering the approach of enemies. Should they
be on a large field of ice, they are always careful to
secure a retreat by lying near the edge of it, or
keeping a hole in the ice alv/ays open before them.
The old ones are exceedingly vigilant and distrust-
ful, the largest crowd of them immediately disperse
at the approach of a boat, and few or none of them
are taken, while the young ones, which are not so
cautious, frequently hill victims to their inexperience
by suffering the hunters to approach. The food of
the common seal is fish, crabs and birds, which last
it contrives to secure by rising under them and seiz-
ing their feet before they can be aware of its ap-
proaeh. Feeding on much the same food as some
’whales, the latter are not found where seals are very

VOL. I. — S S

322

niK COMMON SEAL.

numerous. In the spring of the year the seals are
fattest, and yield several gallons of blubber, small
ones affording four or five gallons of oil.

In the high northern latitudes, during the winter
season, the common seal is found many miles from
any open water, and makes a very circular hole
through the ice, even when it is several feet in thick-
ness, and there comes up to breathe. This opening
is continually kept clear, and allows the entrance of
the seal’s body, the top being permitted partially to
freeze over. These breathing places bear a consid-
erable resemblance to mole-hills, and have a small
crack through their upper part.

Since the whale fishery has in some degree de-
clined in productiveness, seal hunting has risen in
importance to Europeans and Americans, some ships
being now sent almost expressly for the purpose of
procuring the oil and skins of these animals, wliich
are of extensive importance in commerce and manu-
factures. We shall make mention of the methods
used by the sealers to take these creatures, before
we refer to the implements and hunting of the Es-
kimaux, to whom the seal is more important than
bread to other people, inasmuch as they depend on
it almost for every thing.

Seals are sometimes enticed to the surface by music,
or the whistling of an individual who is prepared to
shoot them, and this proves that they can hear far
better when under water than we might be inclined
to believe from a mere glance at their external ears.
When they hear this sound they come to the surface,
elongate their necks to the utmost extent, and ex-
pose them fully to the aim of the hunter. They are

THE COMMON SEAL.

323

Viiost effectually secured however by firing duck or
other shot, which blinds them, so that they may be
approached and despatched; when killed at once by
a single bullet they most commonly sink. Another
mode of killing the seal is to go to the caves on shore,
into which herds of seals occasionally enter. When
the sealers are properly placed they raise a simufi
taneous shout, at which the affrighted animals rush
out in great confusion, and are despatched with won-
derful quickness by a single blow on the nose, struck
with a club. They are very tenacious of life when
struck or wounded on any other part of the body.

The best situation for sealing in the Arctic Seas
is stated by Scoresby to be in the vicinity of Jan
Mayen’s Island, and the best season the months of
March and April. When the boats arrive at the
ice, the sealers immediately attack the animals with
clubs and stun them by a single blow over the nose,
which mode enables one person to destroy a large
number of seals; when they are seen on pieces of
drift-ice they are hunted by means of boats, each
boat pursuing a different herd; should the seals at-
tempt to leave the ice before the arrival of the boat,
the sealers shout as loudly as possible, and produce
such amazement in the seals by this uproar as to
delay their flight till the boat arrives and the work
of destruction is begun. Where the seals are very
numerous the sealers stop not to flay those they
have killed, but set off to another ice-field to kill
more, merely leaving one man behind to take off the
skins and fat. When the condition of the ice for-
bids the use of boats, the hunter is obliged to puiN
sue the seals over it, jumping from piece to piece.

324

THE COMMON SEAL.

until they succeed in taking one, which he then
stops to flay and flense, or to remove the skin and
fat. This sometimes is a horrible business, since
many of the seals are merely stunned, and occasion-
ally recover after they have been flayed and flensed.
In this condition, too shockingly mangled for de-
scription, they have been seen to make battle and
even to swim off.

The number of seals destroyed in a single season
by the regular sealer's may well excite surprise; one
ship has been known to obtain a cargo of four or five
thousand skins and upwards of a hundred tons of oil.
Whale ships have accidentally fallen in with and se-
cured two or three thousand of these animals during
the month of April. The sealing business is, how-
ever, very hazardous when conducted on the borders
of the Spitzbergen ice. Many ships with all their
crews are lost by the sudden and ti’emendous storms
occurring in those seas, where the dangers are vastly
multiplied by the driving of immense bodies of ice.
In one storm that occurred in the year , 1774 no less
than five seal ships were destroyed in a few hours,
and six hundred valuable seamen perished.

Seal oil when properly prepared is pure and fine,
and may be employed for all purposes to which whale
oil is adapted. The skins of these animals are exten-
sively consumed in various manufactures, especially
in trunk making, saddlery, &c. The leather made
from seal skin is perhaps the most pleasant material
which can be worn in boots, on account of its light-
ness, softness and pliability, but it is too porous to be
worn during the winter season, or in wxt weather.

The Eskimaux hunt the seal in various modes, ac

THE COMMON SEAL,

325

cording to circumstances. When the breathing place
already described is discovered, the hunter raises
near it a small wall about four feet high, of slabs of
snow, to shelter himself from the wind, and sits under
the lee of his snow shelter, having deposited his spear,
lines and other implements upon several little forked
sticks set up in the snow, in order to avoid making
the slightest noise in moving them when wanted. The
most curious precaution, taken with a similar inten-
tion, is that of tying his own knees together with a
thong to prevent any rustling of his dress, which
would alarm the seal. In this situation the Eskimaux
will frequently sit for many hours, when the ther-
mometer is below zero, attentively listening to as-
certain whether the animal is working below.

When he thinks the hole is almost completed,
he carefully raises his spear, to which the line is
previously tied, and the moment the breathing
of the seal is distinctly heard, the ice being then
of course very thin, he strikes the spear into him
with both hands, and cuts away the ice with his knife
to repeat his blow. At other times, having enlarged
the breathing place, he takes his position behind the
shelter, and the animal, when he next comes to the
hole, rises fearlessly out of the water, exposing his
head and shoulders, and repeats this action with in-
creased confidence. As he is not in haste to dive
again, the hunter now starts up suddenly and drives
his spear forcibly into him. Another method adopt-
ed consists in covering the breathing hole with light
snow, and making an opening through the top of it
with the spear handle about as large as the mouth
of a bottle. The hunter then withdraw’s the spear

32G

THE COMMON SEAL.

and takes his place behind his snow-screen, listening
vigilantly until he hears the seal breathing beneath
the snow, when he silently rises and plunges his wea-
pon through the snow-covering into the body of the
seal. The moment the seal is struck, the hunter en-
deavours to catch the line behind one leg to act as a
strong checkj and as an additional security, a hitch
is taken round the ring finger, which is sometimes
either dreadfully lacerated or entirely torn off by the
violent struggles of a large seal. The animal is then
stabbed until dead; the hole being enlarged, it is
drawn out on the ice where it speedily freezes and is
in condition to be drawn home.

When seals are seen on the edge of the ice next
the open sea, the seal hunters dispose themselves in
a single file, so as to conceal their number, and appear
as few as possible when viewed from the point to-
wards which they are moving. In this manner they
creep cautiously towards the edge of the ice. When
nearly close enough to throw the spear they all crouch
low, and remain in this position for a quarter of
an hour, during which time they get all their imple-
ments in in readiness for immediate service. Then
when the seals are intercepted from view, they
creep forward, gaining a few paces at a time, until
they approach close enough to throw the spear, which
is done suddenly and with full force. This mode of
hunting the seal is occasionally attended by fatal con-
sequences to the poor Eskimaux, especially if the ice
be of recent formation, as large cakes are at times de-
tached by the force of the tide, and swept out to sea
without allowing the slightest opportunity for escape.
When a seal is observed to come up through a hole

THE COMMON SEAL.

327

in the ice, a hunter sets oflF for the purpose of ap-
proaching it by stratagem. He crawls through the
snow on his hands and knees, taking care to remain
stationary whenever the seal raises his head, and ad-
vancing as soon as the animal allows it again to rest
on the snow. When stationary as well as when mov-
ing forward, the hunter imitates the actions of a seal
with singular fidelity, and improves every opportu-
nity of approaching, until he comes near enough to
strike his spear into the body of his victim and se-
cure his prize.

The implements used by the Eskimaux in the vi-
cinity of Winter Island in their seal hunting are prin-
cipally the spear and the knife. The spear is called
akliak or oonak, has an ivory point, which is not
fastened to the handle, but attached to it by a line, and
when struck into the animal is immediately liberated
from the handle, which is provided with a float or
bladder. A few of the spears are made of a single
narwal’s horn of solid ivory, about four feet long,
well rounded and polished. The bone of whale ribs
is used for spear handles, or wood, when it can be
procured, hut the ivory of the sea- unicorn or narwal
is more easily procured at Igloolik or Winter Island
than either of these substances. When engaged in
sealing on the ice the spear and knife are generally
the only weapons used.

While hunting on the ice the Eskimaux use a long
bone feeler, both for the purpose of sounding the
cracks through which seals are thought to breathe,
as well as for ascertaining the safety of the road. An
instrument is occasionally used by them, when watch-
ing a breathing hole, serving the same purpose as

328

THE COMMON SEAL.

the float of a fishing line. This is an exceedingly
delicate rod of ivory, about a foot long and as thick as
a fine knitting needle, having a small knob at the
lower end not larger than a pin’s head, and a very
fine piece of sinew to the upper extremity, by which
it is loosely attached to the side of the hole. This
small object is not observed by the seal on rising in
the hole, and as he raises it with his nose, the watch-
ful Eskimaux strikes the unsuspecting animal as he
approaches the surface. Whenever the seal is se-
cured, the orifices made by the spear and knife are
carefully closed by small pins of bone or ivory, to pre-
vent the loss of the blood, which is highly prized by
the Eskimaux.

The seal is generally very fat, as his supply of
food is abundant, and the amount of blood contained
in his body is far greater than would be inferred from
comparing him with other animals. The flesh is of a
very dark red colour, and rather soft; that of the
young animal is thought to be quite good by Euro-
peans, but the Eskimaux are extremely fond of it at
every age and under all circumstances.

The common seal or Meitiek is the only seal the
women are allowed to cut up among the Eskimaux
residing near Winter Island. Before the knife is
used on the animal they pour into its mouth a little
water as it lies on its back, and with a little lampblack
and oil taken from the under part of the lamp they
touch each flipper and the middle of the belly. The
object of this ceremony is unknown, but from the
seriousness with which it is performed, seems to be
one of high importance. The first operation in the
division of the seal consists in cutting the animal into

THE COMMON SEAL.

329

two parts, laying open the cavity of the belly. The
boys then come eagerly forward to have a small
piece of membrane or bladder stuck upon their fore-
heads, of which they are very proud, as it is to make
them expert seal hunters. The intestines are then
removed; next the blood is carefully collected and
put into the cooking pot over the fire. The head
and flippers are then separated from the carcass and
the ribs divided.

The loose scraps are then put into the pot for im-
mediate use, except such as the lady butchers occa-
sionally cram into their own mouths with great relish,
or distribute to tbe bystanders, who are all eager to
catch such precious favours. The little children, old
enough to make their way between the legs of their
friends, also present themselves to the attention of
those who are engaged in this division of food, and
are highly delighted when their eiforts are rewarded
by lumps of raw meat which are thrust into their
mouths. The poor dogs seem to be the only visitants
not allowed to participate at this preliminary banquet,
as their attempts to subtract some small portion is
always rewarded by heavy blows with the knife- han-
dle. During the whole operation the surrounding
friends are eagerly engaged in chewing portions of
the raw intestines, which they sometimes allow to be-
come frozen, and then snap off with the same kind
of glee as is displayed by our youngsters in munching
molasses-candy. One of the women from each of the
different huts attends with her cooking pot to re-
ceive her portion of the flesh. When nothing is left
but the blubber attached to the skin, it is removed,

VOL. l.=-T t

J30

THE COMMON SEAL.

and the two portions of the latter are rolled up and
laid by with the store of flesh and blubber.

Then the feasting may be truly said to begin, and
the voracious Eskiraaux seem determined to indem-
nify themselves for all the privations to which they
have ever been subjected. They gorge until they are
absolutely stupified, and frequently are only saved
from death by the occurrence of copious bleeding
from the nose. One good trait, however, has been
observed among them, and that is worthy of record;
however hungry they may be, the children are sup-
plied before any of the grown persons touch the food.

The descriptions given by various eye-witnesses
of their filthy feasts, are such as almost to turn the
stomach of a reader, though several of these accounts
are given with great spirit and truth. We shall here
introduce Capt, Lyon’s picture of one of these enter-
tainments in his own words, referring those who may
wish to form a more extended acquaintance with the
habits of the Eskimaux to his highly entertaining
volume.

On the 16th I was rejoiced to find the seal hun-
ters had been successful; blood, blubber, entrails, skins
and flesh, lying sociably intermixed in savoury heaps.
Abundant smoking messes were in preparation, and
even the dogs looked happy as they uninterruptedly
licked the faces of the children, who were covered
with blood and grease from the chin to the eyes.
Universal merriment prevailed, and such men and
children as could bear more food stood lounging
round the women, who sat sucking their fingers and
cooking as fast as possible. While the messes were
preparing the children solaced themselves by eating

THE COMMON SEAL.

331

such parts of the raw imcleaned entrails as their young
teeth could tear, and those morsels which proved too
tough were delivered over to their mothers, who
soon reduced them to a proper size and consistency
for their tender offspring.

At the distribution of the contents of one of the
pots I was complimented with a fine piece of half
stewed seal’s flesh, from which the kind donor, a most
unsavoury looking old lady, with the most obliging
politeness, had first licked the gravy and dirt, and bit-
ten it all round in order to ascertain the most ten-
der part on which I should make the first attack.
My refusal of this delicacy did not offend, and we
had much laughing on the subject, particularly when
the old woman, with well feigned disgust and many
wry faces, contrived to finish it herself. In my ram-
bles on this day of plenty I found, beyond a doubt,
that the women do not eat with the men, but wait-
ing till they are first satisfied, then enjoy a feast by
themselves. In the meantime, however^ the females
who superintend the cooking have the privilege of
licking the gravy from the lumps of meat as they are
taken out, and before they are presented to their
husbands. Both sexes eat in the same manner, al-
though not in equal proportions, the females very
seldom, and the men very frequently stuffing until
they become quite stupified. A lump of meat be-
ing given to the nearest person, he first sucks it
all round and then pushes as much as he can into
his mouth, cutting it from the larger piece close to
his lips, to the great danger of them and his nose.
The meat then passes round until it is consumed, and
the person before whom it stops is entitled to thr

332

THE COMMON SEAL«

first bite of the next morsel. In this manner a meal
continues a long time, as each eats or rather bolts
several pounds, and the pots are in consequence fre-
quently replenished. In the intermediate time the
convives suck their fingers or indulge in a few lumps
of •lelicate raw blubber. The swallows of the Eski-
maux are of such a marvellous capacity that a piece of
flesh of the size of an orange very rarely receives
half a dozen bites before it is bolted, and that with-
out any apparent exertion. The rich soup of the
meat is handed round at the close of the repast, and
each takes a sup in turn until it is finished, when the
pot is passed to the good woman of the house, who
licks it carefully clean and then prepares to make a
mess for herself. On all occasions the children are
stuffed almost to suffocation. The meals being finish-
ed, every one scrapes the grease, &c. from his face
into his mouth, and the fingers are then cleaned by
sucking.”*

The food of the Eskimaux is cooked by the aid of
a lamp which is supplied with seal oil, the wick be-
ing composed of moss. On this lamp are they also
dependant for warmth in their huts, which are made
of snow, as well as for their supply of water to drink,
which, during a great part of the year, is only to
be obtained by melting snow. A scarcity of seals,
therefore, is accompanied by a series of ills, the hut
is deprived of light and warmth, and the sufferings of
famine are increased by the torment of thirst, against
which they have no other resource under such cir-
cumstances except to eat the snow, which affords but

* Private Journal of Capt. G. F. Lyon, p. HI.

THE COMMON SEAL.

333

a partial relief. In judging of the filth and voracity of
these poor creatures, we must ever bear in mind the
circumstances which during so much of the time ren-
der water almost unattainable, except to quench their
thirst, as well as the frequent and severe starvation
to which they are subjected.

The Eskimaux apply the skins of seals to various
purposes, amongst which the most important is the
construction of their boats. The small boat to carry
but one person is called kayak, and has been aptly
compared in shape to a weaver’s shuttle, having the
head and stern equally sharp. There is an opening
or hole in which the rower sits, having a rim or
projection to which a part of the dress may be fas-
tened in such a manner as entirely to exclude the
water. The weight of the whole does not exceed
fifty or sixty pounds, so that the boat may be readily
carried by the owner on his head, and from the pe-
culiar form of the rim without applying his hands.

The Eski ' aux are very proud of their boats; they
place a warm skin in the bottom to sit upon, and
the position of the paddler is with the legs extend-
ed and the feet pointed forwards. Whenever any
weight is to be raised, or the stowage of the boat to be
changed, two kayaks lie together, and the paddles of
each being laid across, a steady double boat is formed.
When not paddling the occupant must preserve a
very nice balance, and a tremulous motion is always
to be observed in the boat. The Eskiiviaux in the
vicinity of Winter Island have not the art of regain-
ing the upright position when overturned by a dex-
terous use of the paddle. An inflated seal bladder
is a constant appendage to the canoe equipage; the

334:

THE COMMON SEAL.

weapons are kept in their places on the upper sur-
face of the boats by small lines of whale-bone, tightly
stretched across so as to receive the points or handles
of the spears beneath them. The stem or stern of
the boat is frequently stowed with flesh, birds or
eggs; a seal, notwithstanding its roundness and lia-
bility to roll, is so carefully balanced on the boat as
seldom to require being tied on. . When going before
the wind while a smart swell is running, the kayak
requires the nicest management, as the slightest inat-
tention would expose the broadside to the sea and
be followed by immediate peril to this frail vessel.
The extreme velocity with which the kayak is im-
pelled, and the dexterity with which it is turned and
guided, render it a very interesting object.

The Eskimaux use another boat made of seal-skin,

* “ A flat piece of wood runs along each side of the frame,
and is in fact the only piece of any strength in the kayak.
Its depth in the centre is four or five inches, and its thick-
ness about three-fourths of an inch; it tapers to a point at
the commencement of the stem and stern projections. Six-
ty-four ribs are fastened to the gunwale piece, and seven
slight rods run the whole length of the bottom and outside
the ribs. The bottom is rounded and has no keel: twenty-
two little beams, or cross pieces (made of ground-willow or
small whale-bones) keep the frame on a stretch above; and
one strong button runs along the centre from stem to stern,
being of course discontinued at the seat part.

“ Length, — Body, 19 feet; stem projection, 3 feet 2 inches;
stern projection, 2 feet 10 inches; total, 25 feet. Abaft the
hole, 8 feet; before it, 9 feet 7 inches. Height. — Rim in front,
10 inches; behind, 1| inches; breadth at centre, 1 footOinches;
depth at the same place, 10 inches. Circumference of the
rim, 5 feet 1 inch.”— -Zyon’s Private Journal, p. 321.

THE COMMON SEAL.

335

which is larger and destined to carry luggage, or to
transport their families. This is called umiak or
oomiak, and is made nearly square at the head and
stern. Its frame is made of whale-bone or wood, and
the bottom is flat. The seal skins with which the
frame is covered are deprived of the hair, and are
at all times transparent, but especially so when wet.
Each of these boats has five or six seats or thwarts,
placed as in ours, and is moved by two very clumsy
oars with flat blades, which are used by the women,
and steered with a similar oar by another. They
vary much in size, having the sides very flat and
about three feet high. Sometimes they are as large
as twenty-five feet in length by eight in breadth,
and are capable of containing women, boys and small
children, to the number of twenty- one persons.

To those who wish to become well acquainted with
the details of Eskimaux manners and ingenuity, the
works of Crantz, Ross, Parry and Lyon, will afibrd
a fund of the most satisfactory information, more es-
pecially as in these works will be continually expe-
rienced the force of that charm which always accom-
panies statements made by zealous and well qualified
observers.*

* An interesting paper, by the celebrated Otho Fabricius,
published in the fifth volume of the Royal Danish Society’s
Transactions, gives a complete account and representa-
tion of the weapons and implements used by the Green-
land Eskimaux in seal hunting. These implements are
very similar to those used by the American Eskimaux,
and what is more interesting, are called by the same names

336

THE HOODED SEAL.

When Lewis and Clark wintered on the Colutn* *
bia river they found the seals very abundant on
the coast, and believed that several species frequent-
ed the shores which they had no opportunity of ex-
amining. The common seal was observed in the
river as far up as the great falls. ^

Species II. — The Hooded Seal.

Phoca Cristata; L.

Phoca Leonina: Fabricius, Faun. Grjenl.

Klap-Myssen: Egede Greenl. p. 84. (Eng. trans.)

Neitersoak; Klapmutz: Crantz, Greenl.

Hooded Seal: Peitii. Syn. No. 268, p. 342.

Phoca Cristata: De Kat, Ann. of the Lyceum of N. Y. vol. i. p. 94,

The hooded seal is most commonly found on the
shores of Greenland, of Davis’s Strait, and occa-
sionally of Newfoundland. Recently an individual
of this species has been captured in a small creek
emptying into Long Island Sound, at East Chester,
about fourteen miles from the city of New York.

The species is very obviously distinguished by
the singular appendage it has on the head, formed
by an extension of the skin of the front, which com-

by both people. This identity of language we have heretofore
referred to as being of the highest importance in aiding
us to form an opinion as to the original peopling of this con-
tinent.

* Lewis and Clark, vol. ii. p. 172.

THE HOODED SEAL.

337

muriicates with the nostrils, and can be inflated or
elevated and depressed at the pleasure of the ani-
mal. The size of this hood, which extends from the
end of the snout to five inches behind the eyes, is
twelve inches, and its height nine. Through the
anterior part of this hood the nostrils open, each
two inches in diameter, and when the hood is undis-
tended the cartilaginous partition of the nose may
be felt from the outside, rising about six inches at
its greatest elevation.

Internally the hood is strongly muscular, with nu-
merous muscular fibres surrounding the orifices of
the nostrils, and most probably corresponding to the
sphincters which close the nostrils of other seals to
prevent the entrance of water. Externally it is
covered with short, bright brown hairs, and is
slightly sprinkled transversely in many places. —
Where the skin of the hood joins the common in-
teguments of the head a few strong hairs are found,
which are considered to resemble those which in
other animals of this genus pertain to the eye.
Over the sides of this appendage, as well as the
cheek, we find twenty- five or thirty strong bristly
whiskers arranged in rows and converging for-
wards. These are black and small in the upper-
rows; whitish, flattened and very stout in the lower,
being about five inches long, all directed down-
wards, and when minutely examined appear to have
a series of short alternate bevels on each edge, but
no spiral turns.

Such is the curious structure with which the head
of this seal is provided, and the question immedi-
ately occurs, what can be the use of so peculiar a

VOL. I. — u u

338

THE HOODED SEAL.

contrivance? To this question no satisfactory answer
has yet been given, nor have vve any thing better
than conjecture to offer. As it projects over the
eyes at the inner angle when depressed, the opinion
was long since advanced, that the hood was intended
to protect those delicate organs from the sand and
other substances thrown into the air by the vio-
lent storms common on the shores frequented by the
animal. But none of the other seals residing under
circumstances of similar exposure, have any such
protection, and their eyes are equally liable to in-
jury from the same causes. The fishermen consider
it a reservoir for air, to be used while the seal is
under water. Dr. De Kay thinks that its great bulk
when distended would prevent the animal from de-
scending into or moving with facility beneath the
water. If we compare the extent of this appen-
dage when distended with the bulk and weight of
the animal, which is estimated at about five or six
hundred pounds, this objection does not appear to
us sufficient to invalidate the probability of the last
mentioned use of the hood. The opinion suggest-
ed by Dr. De Kay is, that the hood is subsidiary
to the sense of smell, which he concludes to be pe-
culiarly necessary to this animal, nature having left
it unprovided with efficient weapons of offence or
defence. It would be a very easy matter to specu-
late upon this subject, and remark that the use
last suggested for the hood is by no means incom-
patible with that generally attributed to it by the
fishermen, and that the offensive and defensive wea-
pons of this seal are as efficient as those possessed by
most other species wdiich have no such subsidiary

THE HOODED SEAL.

339

appendage to the nose. To this might he added the
probable correctness of what has been often stated,
that this liood is a merely sexual distinction, &c. but
we believe that all speculation not based on an ac-
tual and frequently repeated examination of the ani-
mal in its living state, and in its proper haunts, can
lead to nothing better tlian multiplication of words.
When the individual described by Dr. De Kay was
attacked, he inflated the hood and uttered a bellow-
ing noise, until killed by repeated discharges of a
musket.

The hooded seal is seven feet long from the centre
of the chin, or symphysis of the lower jaw, to the
root of the tail, which is six inches and a-half long,
and three broad at its base. The body is cylindri-
cal, gradually decreasing to the tail, which is flat
and tapering to a point, the whole skin being cover-
ed with flat hairs about an inch in length. The
general colour is gray and dark brow'ii, distributed
in irregular patches, the grayish appearance arising
from very short hairs beneath the white. The head,
when the hood is undistended, appears small com-
pared with the body, and the eyes are large, of a
dull greenish hue, and distant six inches and a-half
from the extremity of the upper jaw. The orifices
of the ears are distinct, situated about two inches
and a-half behind the eyes, without any rudiment
of external cartilage or concha.

The fore paws or flippers resemble those of the
common seal, but appear small in proportion to the
size of the animal, are of a uniform dark brown
colour, except near the body, where they assume the
common mottled appearance, and are twenty inches

340

THE HOODED SEAL.

distant from the end of the jaw; their length is fifteen
inches. Each digit is furnislied with a strong, com-
pressed channeled claw, the exterior of which is
largest; at the base these are dark coloured; their
tips are light horn colour. The hind paws are of
the same length as the flippers, and lunated at their
extremities, which are fifteen inches broad when
expanded. They have five depressed claws or horny
laminsB, of which the external are largest, all placed
at some distance witliin the webbed extremities.

To the above description, which is drawn up from
that given in Dr. De Kay’s excellent paper quoted
at the head of this article, we shall subjoin at full
length his remarks on the peculiar dentition of this
animal.

Teeth, thirty in number; above, four incisors,
two canine and ten jaw teeth; below, two incisors,
two canine and ten jaw teeth. The incisors above
are cylindrical and approximated; the two inner are
small; the exterior much larger, and nearly half the
size of the neighbouring canine. The canine are
considerably larger than those of the lower jaw, and
more incurved. The incisors of the lower jaw are
very small and cylindrical; the jaw teeth above and
below are small, distant, and have each a cutting edge;
on the posterior part of this edge a notch or trans-
verse indentation is visible. The first is placed at
some distance from the canine, and is much smaller
than the others.

In the foregoing description the remarkable
peculiarities presented by the teeth cannot escape
notice. The incisors resemble the canine so much
in form that their actual position alone can serve to

THE HOODED SEAL,

341

point out their nature. Pennant, in the Arctic Zo-
ology, describes four above and four below, being led
into this error by confounding the laniary teeth
with the incisors. The molares, or what may with
more propriety be designated as jaw teeth, are very
small in proportion to the size of the animal, hardly
exceeding those of a child of five years old. The
whole number of teeth in this tribe varies from
thirty to thirty-six. It is a curious coincidence that
the different species distinguished by a great de-
velopment of the hood, or appendage to the head,
are equally remarkable for the same number of teeth.
Thus the P. Leonina, Gm. {proboscidea, Peron.)
and the P. Ct'istata, Gm. have but two incisors
below, indicating a natural division in this partially
known family.”*

We have mentioned (p. 307,) a seal sent to Paris
by Mr. Milbert under the name of Phoca Mitrata,
which corresponds, in relation to the teeth, very ex-
actly with the above. On this Dr. De Kay remarks,

it is possible that this may have been brought here
from the north by a whaling vessel; should this prove
to be the case, I should incline to believe it abso-
lutely identical with the Phoca Cristata described
above.”

* Dr. De Kay’s paper in the annals of the Lyceum, is
followed by a very interesting detail of the appearances ob-
served on dissection of this seal by Drs. Ludlow and
King, which may be referred to by the reader with much ad-
vantage.

342

THE GREAT SEAL.

Species III. — The Great Seal
Phoca Barbata; Mull.

Urksuk utsiik; Cjiantz, Greenl. (Eng-, trans.) i. 125.

Lakklak: Hist. Karatsclialka, 420.

Urskuk: Egede, Diet. Greenl. llafn. 1750.

Ogiuke: Pakrt’s Voyage; Ughioo.- I.roN’.s Journal, 830;

Fhoca Barbata: O. Fabricius, Faun. Gracnl. p. 15.

Phoca Major: Parsons, Pliil. Trans. 47. p. 121.

Grand Pkoque: Burr. p. 34.

Great Seal: Penn. Arct. Zool. i. 185. Sp. 73.

This seal, which grows to the size of ten or twelve
feet, is found in the Greenland seas, and on the
northern extremities of this continent. It most com-
monly rests upon the floating ice, and when it comes
up on the fixed ice it is through holes near the outer
edge of the field.

Its skin is about half an inch in thickness and co-
vered with black hair, which in summer is almost
entirely shed, leaving the animal bare. The whiskers
of the great seal are long, pellucid and white, having
the points softer than the other part, and curled. The
middle digits of the fore-feet are longer than the
others, which in relative length are like the fingers
of the human hand.

The great seal breeds in the month of March, hav-
ing a single cub, usually upon the ice among the
islands; it approaches the land more closely at that
season than at any other.

The great seal resembles the common seal in habits
as well as in general appearance, being distinguished
from it readily by its great size and large beard-like
whiskers. The adults of this species swim slowly;
their peculiar timidity and watchfulness render it

THE HARP SEAL.

343

difficult to approach them, so that very little has been
observed relative to their peculiar habits.

At some seasons the great seal is found to be re-
markably fat, and its flesh is said to be very similar
to veal. The Greenland Eskimaux cut its skins into
thongs, and twist them into ropes, to be used in their
whaling, and for various other purposes.

Species IV. — The Harp Seal.

Phoca Graeiilandica; Muli..

Phoca Grxnlandica: O. Fab. Faun. Grxnl. p. 11

Siwl-side: Egede, Nat. Hist. Greenl. pi. 3.

.Ittarsoak: Cbastz, i. p. 124. (Eng. trans.)

Harp Seal: Pexn. Arct. Zool. i. p. 190. Sp. 77.

Tile harp seal measures from six to nine feet in
length from the tip of the nose to the end of the
tail, which is from five to seven inches long. In
circumference at the thickest part of the body it is
from four to six feet. It has a round head and high
forehead, with a short nose, large black eyes, and
whiskers disposed in ten rows of hairs.

Crantz informs us that this seal when full grown
is almost entirely of a white gray colour, having a
black figure on its back like two half-moons, with
their horns uniformly directed towards each other.
No seal varies its colour so much as this, and the
Greenland Eskimaux change its name with these
variations of colour. The foetus, which is white
and woolly, they call iblau; in the first year it is
cream coloured and the name is altarak; in the
second year it is gray and then called alteitsiak: in

344

TilK liAUP SEAL.

the third year aglektok or painted; in the Iburtli
milektok or spotted; and in the fifth year, wlien it
has attained its adult age and tlie half-moon mark,
it is called cittarsoah. At this period the Russians
call them hrylatka or winged, on account of the
half-moon marks.

The harp seal is quite common in the Greenland
seas, where it frequents the deep bays, migrates
twice a year, going in the month of March and re-
turning in May, and again in June to return in Sep-
tember. It is also found near the shores of New-
foundland. The breeding season begins in July,
and the female has one cub near the end of March
or the beginning of April, which she suckles on
fragments of ice remote from land.

The harp seal is very incautious, and shows much
of the frisky or frolicsome disposition of the common
seal. It is occasionally seen swimming in various
attitudes, and whirling about as if for sport. This
species lives in great herds that swim apparently
under direction of a leader, who watches over the
safety of the whole. They do not frequent the
field or fixed ice, but the floes or large drifting ice.
They are said greatly to dread thePhyseter Microps,
which forces them to seek safety on shore. The
Greenlanders also drive them on shore by surround-
ing and pursuing them with loud noises whenever
they come to the surface to breathe.

The harp seal has a large quantity of blubber,
which yields a greater proportion of pure oil than
is obtained from any other seal. Its skin is used
by the Eskimaux to cover their tents and boats.
The skins of the young make excellent boot-leather.

THE FETID SEAL.

345

Species V. — The Fetid Seal.

Phoca Fetida; Mull.

Neitsek: Chais-tz, Greenland, i. p 124. (Eng. trans.)

Phoea Fetida: O. Fabh. Faun. Graenl. p. lo.

Phoca Hispida: Schreb. Saeugth. tab. 86.

Phoque Neitsoak; Buff, xxxiv.

The fetid seal when full grown is about four feet
and a-half long, and its skin is covered with a brown-
ish or dingy white hair, spotted above and whitish
beneath, composed of stiff bristles intermixed with a
softer material. The hair does not lie smooth, but is
rough and similar to that of a pig. The old animals
are remarkably fetid, and this nauseous odour taints
their flesh and fat equally.

The head of the fetid seal is short and rounded,
about a third of its length being formed by the snout.
The whiskers are pale, pointed, and compressed,
having all their border undulated; the smallest of
them are black. The eyes are small, the iris brown.
The feet, ears, tongue and tail are similar to those
of the common seal. The heels of the hind feet are
scarcely apparent on account of the fatness of the ani-
mal.The colouring varies very much according
to the age. When the skins are wrought into clothing
by the Greenlanders, the rough side is generally turn-
ed inwards.

The fetid seal frequents the fixed ice near frozen
lands, and never relinquishes its haunts when old. It

* Desmarest, Mammalogie, p. 246.
VOL. 1.— -X X

346

THE URSINE SEAL

has holes in this ice for the purpose of fishing, and
is solitary in its habits, pairs being rarely seen to-
gether. It is not a timid animal, and is occasionally
preyed upon by the eagle, being taken while asleep
upon the surface. The flesh is not esteemed as food
even by the Eskimaux, though they employ the dif-
ferent parts of its body as they do those of other seals.

Species Yl.—The Ursine Seal.

Phoca Ursina; L/*

Ursus Marinus: Stelleb, Nov. Com. Petropol. ii. 231.

L’ours Marin; Bbiss. Quad. 166; Scbreb. Saeugth. 122.

Ours Marin; Buff, xxxiv. p. 94. (Ed. Sonnini.)

Chat Marin; Kbaciies-inikow, Hist, du Kamtschatka.

Ursine Seal; Penn. Quad. ii. 281. No. 485.

Otaria Ursina; Desm- Mammal. 240, Sp. 381.

The ursine seal is a large animal, being when full
grown eight feet in length by five in circumference,

* This species belongs to Peron’s subgenus otaria, and to
F. Cuvier’s second division, or seals having single roots to
their teeth. The dental formula is the following:

These teeth interlock when the mouth is closed, and in
their form and arrangement differ very considerably from
those of the other seals. Their roots are remarkable for
having a narrowing immediately below the crown; they then
swell out strongly, and are elongated so as to form a cone

20 Upper

r

6 Incisive
2 Canine
12 Molar.

16 Lower

THE URSINE SEAL. 34?

and weighing about eight hundred pounds. The
female is much smaller than the male, but otherwise
they are very similar to each other in appearance.
The anterior part of the body is very thick, the
posterior slender and tapering to the tail. The
head is rounded, rising suddenly from the nose,
which projects like that of a pug-dog; the eyes are
large and prominent, and the ears conical and point-
ed. The whiskers are very long and white, and the
lips thick.

The ursine seal diifers very materially from most
other seals in having the anterior limbs entirely at
liberty, or not enveloped by the integument of the
body. But the wrist, bones of the palm and digits,
are covered with a naked skin, which is smooth on
the superior and wrinkled on the inferior surface.
The thumb is the longest of the digits, which de=
crease successively to the external or little one. All
of them have a small nail. The posterior extremi-
ties are about twenty-two inches in length, artieu-
lated like those of other seals, but they can on
account of their length be used by the animal to
scratch the head. They have five toes, the internal
of which is as long as the three next it, and the last
is smallest of all. Each toe is united to the others by
a broad web, which gives a breadth of twelve inches
to the hinder feet when spread out.

The general colour of the ursine seal is black,

twice as long as the crown of the tooth. The same dental
formula is applicable to the Phoca Jubata^ See Dents des
Mammif. p. §2.

348

THE URSINE SEAL.

which in old individuals becomes of a dull gfay>
The hair is long and stiff, having a soft down of a
bay colour intermixed. The colour of the females
differs as much from that of the male as her size.
Sometimes they are ash coloured, and sometimes of
a reddish brown.

This species is principally found on ^he, islands
which lie between America and Kamtschatl^a, and
like the sea otter are there only seen between the
50th and 60th degrees of latitude. Ursine seals have
also been killed on the shores of New Zealand,
Staten Land, New Georgia and the Falkland islands.

They arrive at the islands between America and
Kamtschatka in the month of June, and remain until
September. When they first arrive they are exces-
sively fat and lazy, moving very seldom, and some-
times remaining for several days near one spot,
without being at the trouble of seeking food.^'

They lie upon the shores in vast herds, but are
separated into distinct families, each male having a
seraglio of from eight to thirty or more females, over
which he watches with incessant jealousy. The
family, with the young and half grown individuals,
sometimes amount to a hundred or more.

* Tempus illis coeundi, ad solis occasum est; mas femi-
naque ad horam ante, se mare immergunt, leniter natant,
unaque littus petunt. Femina prius ascendit, se resupinat
et mari amove flagranti cedit. file tarn magno ardore, quam
suo pondere, feminam in arena lutove praeter caput et pedes
sepelit: tunc temporis, sic ad voluptatem intentus et sui obli-
tus est, ut cuique ilium accedere et impune tangere liceat.

(

THE URSINE SEAL.

349

The old seals which are deserted by the females
live by themselves, and are very fierce, irascible
and quarrelsome, every intruder upon their resting
places is immediately attacked, and they will incur
any danger rather than resign their accustomed
seats. At the approach of a disturber of their own
species they relinquish their indolence and attack
him, and should the two in their struggles disturb
another, this third mingles in the fray, and thus at
times the war extends throughout the whole fiock
on shore.

The younger males are excessively provoked at
any attempt made by their neighbours to entice
away one of their wives, and furious contests are the
result of such interference with their families. After
the battle, however, the females go quietly over to
the conqueror, and become a part of his establishment.
They inflict very severe wounds upon each other
during their combats, and when they cease to fight
plunge into the sea, in order to wash off" the blood
with which they may be stained.

The males are quite fond of their offspring, but
cruelly tyrannical to the females. When any one
attempts to catch one of their cubs the male opposes
the aggressor, while the female tries to secure the
cub by carrying it off in her mouth. But should
she unfortunately drop it, the male attacks her and
beats her dreadfully against the stones. When she
recovers she crawls towards his feet with signs of
great submission. Should the young be carried off
the male then appears to be much afilieted. The
female has commonly but one cub, w'hich she brings

350

THE URSINE SEAL.

forth in the month of January. The cubs are quite
fierce, and bark and bite at the sailors passing them.*
The ursine seal is a very swift swimmer, moving
at the rate of seven or eight miles an hour, and is
able to remain under water a much longer time than
the common seal. It is very tenacious of life, and
survives dreadful wounds for a considerable time.
The old ones have a very disagreeable odour, which
taints their flesh and fat. The flesh of the female
and young is pleasant to the taste and similar to that
of a lamb.

* See Foster’s Voyage, ii. 429, 514.

it-

CHAPTER XVIL

Genus XVIII. Morse; Trichecus; L.

These animals resemble the seals in their elon-
gated and conical bodies, and the construction of
their anterior extremities. They have a round head,
no external ears, and small eyes. The orifices of the
nostrils are far distant from the upper lips. The
posterior feet are horizontally placed, have five di-
gits, of which the two extei;nal are the longest, all
being provided with small incurvated nails and
united by a membrane. The most striking pecu-
liarity of the genus is the tusks or prolonged ca-
nine teeth, which descend from the superior maxil-
lary bone and project far below the lower jaw,
serving the animal as offensive weapons as well as
instruments to aid in climbing on ice-banks, &c.

In the upper jaw the first incisor, (separated by
a vacant space of some extent from its fellow in one
species, and very close in another,) when it first
emerges from the socket, is a very small, conical and

Dental System

14 Upper

0 Incisive
0 Canine
8 Molar,

352

GENERAL HISTORY

hooked tooth, and being rudiniental is soon worn out
and disappears. Tlie second, which is much larger
than the first, is cylindrical and obliquely cut from
the outer to the inside of the jaw. The canine is
a very large tusk which is directed downwards, being
curved towards the body; it is rounded on its ex-
ternal face, marked by a longitudinal groove on
its internal surface, and rises from the maxillary bone
as high as the nostril. The first molar, separated
by a vacant space from the second incisive, and much
larger than that tooth, is, like it, cut obliquely, but
the oblique surface is slightly hollowed. The second
molar, twice as large as the preceding, is cut in the
same direction, but has two depressions or hollows at
this part, one anterior and the other posterior, sepa-
rated by an obtuse prominence, and narrow at its sum-
mit; the third strongly resembles the second, and the
fourth is merely a rudimental tooth which falls out by
age. All these teeth have but one very strong coni-
cal root, and they are formed entirely of a ve,ry hard
compact substance analogous to that of the tusks.

In the lower jaw it appears that in early life
the first tooth falls out, for which reason We have
not counted it among the others. The four molars
appear to have the same form, and are more extended
from before backwards than from right to left, and
the surface of their crowns is slightly convex. The
last is somewhat smaller than the others, which are
of equal size. These teeth are of the same nature
as those of the upper jaw.

In their reciprocal position the first molars are
opposed crown to crown; the second are alternate.
These teeth are described from several heads, which

OF THE MORSE.

353

appear to have belonged to two distinct species, judg-
ing from the proportion of some of their parts, and not
merely by the extent of the tusks. The differences
observed in the latter led Shaw to conclude that
there are two species of walrus, which, however,
lias not yet been ascertained.*

* Introductory to this dental system F. Cuvier has the fol-
lowing remarks: — “ We have seen that the seals are related
by their dental systems on the one hand to the terrestrial car-
nivorous, and on the other to the cetaceous animals. The
morse, whose organs of motion are very similar to those of the
seal, is widely different from that animal in respect to the
teeth. In this particular the present genus has a system alto-
gether singular, as it is not better adapted for bruising vegeta-
ble than for cutting animal matter. We might say that the
teeth of these amphibia are especially destined to crush hard
materials, because by their structure and relation to each
other they act like a pestle against a mortar. They form one
of those insulated groups which break the necessarily conti-
nuous series of classifications, and may be connected almost
indifferently, according to the point of view under which we
consider them, with either of the branches of the general sys-
tem we admit. We should have placed them next to the
seals, which would leave a large void between them and the
frugivorous marsupial animals, but induced by certain analo-
gies, which have also some foundation, we are led to treat of
them after the ruminant quadrupeds. Furthermore, we
should remark, that in these animals we begin to see the num-
ber of teeth vary in the individuals, because those which are
rudimental disappear according to the age of the animal We
may say that these organs diminish in importance, and should
be considered rather in relation to their number than to
their form and structure.”

Fully assenting to the general correctness of the views
of this distinguished naturalist, we do not deem the analogy
above stated of sufficient force to authorize us to swerve

VOL. 1. — Y y

354

THE WALRU&C

Species I. — The Wah 'US^

Fricheus Rosmarusj L-

Jluak: Craktz, i. 125. (Eng. transl.)

Wallross: JIarten’s Spitzbergen, 78.

Equus Marinus, &c.: Ray, Quad. 191,

Odobenus; Briss. Quad. 48.

Le Morse: BtrrF. xxxiv. p. 158, Sonn.

Jiyweh of the Eskimaux; Ltos’s Journal, p. 329.

This large and unwieldy creature bears a stronger
resemblance to the seal than to any other quadruped^
but is strikingly distinguished by the proportions of
its body and its elephant-like tusks. Vast herds of
this species formerly frequented the shores of the
inlands scattered between America and Asia, the
coasts of Davis’s Straits and those of Hudson’s Bay,
in latitude 62°. They have been found as far south
as the Magdalen Islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence,
between latitude 47° and 48°. At present they are
not met with in very great numbers, except on the
icy shores of Spitzbergen and the remotest northern
borders of this continent.

The walrus attains the size of an ox, being when
full grown from twelve to fifteen feet in length, and
from eight to ten in circumference. The head is
oval, short, small, and flat in front, having the eyes

from the arrangement of his brothei’, which places the morse
next to the seal. The resemblance of form, structure,
modes oflife and action, existing between these animals, ren-
der it not only more useful but more natural, and therefore
more correct to view them in succession, rather than to se-
parate them to so great a distance as has been done in the
“ Dents Des Mammiferes.”

THE WALRUS.

355

set in deep sockets so as to be moved forwards or
retracted at pleasure. The flat portion of the face
is set with very strong bristles, which are pellucid^
a span long, as thick as a straw, and twisted like a
three plied rope. The orifices of the ears are very
small, placed far back on the head and destitute of
external cartilages. The nostrils open on the upper
part of the snout; through these the walrus is accus-
tomed to blow the water in a manner similar to that of
the whale. The fore feet are from two to two and
a-half feet long, and when extended are fifteen or
eighteen inches broad, the digits being connected by
a membrane forming a sort of webbed hand. The
palms of old individuals have the cuticle on them
a-quarter of an inch in thickness, in consequence of
the friction to which they are subject in clambering
lip the rocks, &c. The hind feet are from two to
two and a-half feet in length, and their breadth when
fully extended is from two and a-half to three feet.
Each toe is terminated by a small nail.

The ivory tusks, or prolonged canine teeth mea-
sure from ten to twenty inches, exclusive of the por-
tion which is imbedded in the jaw, of seven inches
and upwards in length. Tusks of the walrus have
been seen thirty-six inches long, and weighing from
five to ten pounds. The circumference of one
twenty-seven inches in length is about eight inches
at base. The inside is more compact and of finer
grain than the ivory of the elephant; in the centre
the colour is somewhat brownish, but otherwise it
is pure white, though speedily growing yellow from
exposure to the air. They are slightly hollowed
where they arise from the skull, are somewhat

356

THE WALRUS.

notched, and not entirely round. At the base they
are about three inches distant from each other, and
at the point about nine inches.

The skin of the walrus is generally about an inch
thick, but is thicker on the neck than any other part
of the body. The hair is short and of a yellowish
brown colour, and the whole surface of the skin is
marked by numerous chaps and wrinkles.

This thick skin is used by the Eskimaux for vari-
ous purposes, such as the fabrication of cordage and
coverings for tents, &c. It is used by the whale-
fishers instead of mats, for protecting the yards and
rigging of ships from being injured by friction. By
tanning it is converted into a thick porous or spongy
leather, by no means so serviceable as the raw hide.
Previous to the establishment of the whale-fishery
near Spitzbergen the walrus was considered of some
importance, and voyages were made expressly to
obtain them, for the sake of their ivory and oil.
Since the whaling business has become so successful
the walrus is allowed to escape unmolested, except
by the Eskimaux, who feed upon its flesh with an
eagerness only second to that with which they de-
vour the seal.

On land the walrus is a slow and clumsy animal,
but in the water its motions are sufficiently quick
and easy. The head of a young walrus without tusks,
when observed from some distance above water, bears
considerable resemblance to the human face, and
has been occasionally mistaken by persons unaccus-
tomed to their appearance for that of a man.

The walrus is a fearless, but when undisturbed an
inoffensive animal; it is monogamous, and displays

THE WALRUS.

357

great attachment to its mate and young. The sea-
son in which the sexes seek each other is about the
month of June; the female brings forth her cub early
in the spring. When attacked the wali us is both
fierce and formidable, more especially if in company
with its young. Under such circumstances they be-
come very furious, attempting to destroy their ene-
mies by rising and hooking their tusks over the sides
of the boat, in order to sink it. Frequently the
violence of their blows is sufficient to stave in the
planks of small boats. In speaking of an instance
in which an attack was made on a herd of walruses,
Capt. Lyon remarks, — Mr. Sherer described the
fury of the wounded animals as being quite outrage-
ous, but those which were unhurt quickly forsook
their suffering companions. The beast which sank
the boat struck his tusks repeatedly through her
bottom, and she filled immediately. Had she been
alone not a soul of her crew could have been saved,
for there was no ice within three miles, and to swim
would have been impossible in such cold water.’’
The same author gives in another place the fol-
lowing account of a battle with some of these ani-
mals:— ‘‘ On some stream-ice near us were several
herds of walruses basking in the sun. They allowed
us even to land on the pieces of ice on which they
lay, before they commenced their cumbrous retreat,
facing us with open mouth. We killed one, but he
sunk before we could get the boat to him, and
wounded several others, when seeing the Fury’s
boat had been more successful, we went to assist in
towing her. On our way we met a male and fe-
male; attended by their cub, and sooq wounded the

358

THE WALRUS.

two old ones. They fought us, however, with des*
peration, and would not retreat. The female on
being killed was secured alongside, but the male,
even when shot in three places, and having two
lances sticking in him, attacked us furiously, although
each time he approached he received a bayonet to
the socket. Having at last driven him near to the
Fury’s boat, our joint efforts despatched him, after
about ten minutes struggle. This brave animal had
repeatedly attempted to hook his tusks over the
gunwale of the boat, had stove her slightly in three
places, and left eight deep marks on her bow. The
cub, which was black and without tusks, continued
by its parents during the whole combat, and fre-
quently endeavoured to mount on the back of which-
ever first rose to the surface. To this may be at-
tributed the more than usual fierceness of the old
ones, whose fears for their offspring prevented their
own escape. The female, on being hoisted in,
was considered as rather small by those who were
judges. On each side she had two teats almost con-
cealed in the belly, but they could be pulled out to
the size and length of those of a sow. The stomach
contained only about three pounds of pebbles and
a handful of sea-weed.” It has been frequently
stated that the food of the walrus is sea-grass, shell-
fish, and not flesh.* Capt. Scoresby states that he
has found, in addition to such substances, parts of
young seals in the stomach of the walrus.

The flesh of the walrus is occasionally eaten by the

* “ Fucis, corallinis, testaceis, non carne victitant.” Lif*.
Syst, Nat. p. 59.

THE WALRUS.

359

whale-fishers and other voyagers, but is not con-
sidered to be a very desirable food, as it is dark
coloured and very coarse grained. To the crews of
ships which have been long at sea and confined to
salted provisions, the use of this flesh at times proves
very acceptable and serviceable.

One of the Eskimaux modes of killing the walrus
in summer is the following: Perceiving a large herd
asleep on the floating ice, as is their custom, they
paddle to some other piece near at hand which is
small enough to be moved. On this they lift their
canoes, and then bore holes, through which they fas-
ten their lines. As soon as every thing is prepared
they quietly paddle the cake of ice towards the herd,
each hunter sitting by his own spear and line. When
arrived at the place where, the animals lie snoring,
each man if so disposed strikes a different one,
though two generally attack the same. The wounded
and terrified w'alrus now tumbles into the water, but
cannot escape from the ice to which the hunters have
fastened their lines. As soon as his victim becomes
tired, the hunter launches his canoe, and, lying at a
safe distance, spears him to death.

We have given Capt. Lyon’s picture of Eskimaux
feasting and gluttony when speaking of the common
seal; in this place we shall introduce another sketch
from the same masterly hand, which is inimitable of
its kind: — We found, on the 3d, that the party
which had been adrift had killed two large walruses,
which they had carried home during the early part
of the night. No one therefore came to the ships,
all remaining in the huts to gormandize. We found

360

THE WALima,

the men lying under their deer-skins, and clouds of
steam rising from their naked bodies. From Kooi-
littuk I learnt a new Eskimaux luxury; he had eaten
until he was drunk, and every moment fell asleep
with a flushed and burning face and his mouth open.
By his side sat Arnalooa, who was attending her
cooking-pot, and at short intervals awakened her
spouse, in order to cram as much as was possible of
a large piece of half boiled flesh into his mouth with
the assistance of her fore finger, and having filled it
quite full, cut off* the morsel close to his lips. This
he slowly chewed, and as soon as a small vacancy
became perceptible, this was filled by a lump of raw
blubber. During this operation the happy man
moved no part of him but his jaws, not even open-
ing his eyes; but his extreme satisfaction was occa-
.sionally shown by a most expressive grunt whenever
he enjoyed sufficient room for the passage of sound.
The drippings of the savoury repast had so plenti-
fully covered his face and neck, that I had no hesita-
tion in determining that a man may look more like
a beast by over-eating than by drinking to excess.”^
The fifty-fifth volume of the Philosophical Trans-
actions,! contains the following account of the wal-
rus, given by Lord Shuldham: — The walrus, or
sea-cow as it is called by the Americans, is a native
of the Magdalen Islands, St. John’s and Anticosti
in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. They resort very
early in the spring to the former of these places,

* Private Journal, &c. p. 182.
t Cited in Pennant’s Arctic Zoology, vol. i. 173.

THE WALliUS.

361

which seems peculiarly adapted to the nature of
the animals, abounding with clams (escallops) of a
very large size, and the most convenient landing
places, called Echoiieries. Here they crawl up in
great numbers, and remain sometimes for four-
teen days together without food when the weather
is fair, but on the first appearance of rain they re-
treat to the water with great preeipitation. They
are when out of the water very unwieldy, and move
with great difiiculty. They weigh from fifteen hun-
dred to two thousand pounds, producing from one
to two barrels of oil, which is boiled out of the fat
lying between the skin and flesh. Immediately on
their arrival the females calve, and engender in two
months after, so that they carry their young about
nine months. They never have more than two at
a time, and seldom more than one.

The landing places are formed principally by
nature, being a gradual slope of soft rock, with
which the Magdalen Islands abound, about eighty
or a hundred yards wide at the water side, and
spreading so as to contain near the summit a very
large number of these animals. Here they are suf-
fered to come on shore and amuse themselves for a
considerable time till they acquire a degree of bold-
ness, being at their first landing so exceedingly
timid as to make it impossible for any person to ap-
proach them.

111 a few weeks they assemble in great multi-
tudes; formerly, when undisturbed by the Americans,
to the amount of seven or eight thousand. The
form of the landing place not allowing them to re-
main contiguous to the water, the foremost are in-

363

THE WALRUS.

sensibly pushed above the slope. When they are
arrived at a convenient distance, the hunters, being
provided with a spear, sharp on one side like a knife,
with which they cut their throats, take advantage of
a side-wind, or a breeze blowing obliquely upon the
shore, to prevent the animals from smelling them,
because they have that sense in great perfection.
Having landed, the hunters, with the assistance of
good dogs trained for that purpose, in the night-
time endeavour to separate those which are most ad-
vanced from the others, driving them different ways.
This they call making a cut; it is generally looked
upon to be a most dangerous process, it being impos-
sible to drive them in any particular direction, and
difficult to avoid them; but as the walruses which
have advanced above the slope of the landing are
deprived by the darkness of the night from every
direction to the water, they are left wandering about
and killed at leisure, those that are nearest the shore
being the first victims. In this manner have been
killed fifteen or sixteen hundred at a cutP

Balls discharged from a musket are by no means
very efficient in killing the walrus, unless aimed
with care at vital parts. By shooting them with
duck or other small shot, so as to blind them, they
may be readily killed with lances or axes. When
the walrus makes an attack upon a boat, endea-
vouring to mount upon the gunwale, the most suc-
cessful mode of repelling it is by throwing a hand-
ful of sand into its eyes, which causes the animal
to retire for a time, affording an opportunity to
escape, or to make better preparations for defence,

END OF VOLUME I.

vru *:■ ■ ■ . •

••■v;7'

A

V.

i

( •

f ’

‘A M'fft*-'

, ' r -#.'■- '

1

"V

’ -l^-'

.

■■ '4 -

f-\-

Godman