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ARCTIC ZOOLOGY.

VOL. I.

1

CLASS I. QJJADRUPEDS.
II. BIRDS.

mD N D O N:

PRINTED FOR ROBERT FAULDEI^, NEW BOND STREET.

M.DCC.XCII.

"♦..

/I

t I

DIRECTIONS FOR PLACING THE PLATES.

VOLUME I.

Tab.

Title Page. Head of the Elk not arrived at its
full Growth.

Vn. Muflc Cow, with the Head of the Bull — ■ —
VIII. A full-grown Elk cr Moofe, with the velvet or young
Horns, -.nd a full grown Pair on the Ground; from a
Painting by Mr. Stubbs, communicated to me by that
liberal Charaftcr, the late Dr. Hunter.

Pag«

CLASS II.— BIRDS.

IX. St. John's Falcon. N" 93 — -« — 234

Chocolate- coloured, N* 94.

X. Swallow-tail'd Falcon, N* 108 — — — 1245

XL Red Owl, N' 1 17.

Mottled Owl, N» 1 1,8. Barred Owl, N" 122 — 27 1

XII. M. and F. Baltimore Orioles, N° 142, with the Neft 302

XIII. Ferruginous Woodpecker, N' 159.

Nuthatch, N° 170 — — — — 330

^/or.T33rjrr«

/>

J / ■

I ^u. ■

ARCTIC ZOOLOGY,

CLASS I. Q^U ADRUPEDS.

D I V. I. HOOFED.

H I S r. ^ C/ ^ Z). Genus II.

I. OX.

American Ox, Hifi.^d. p. 19. Yi^SmilUt, vi. 198.

OX. With fhort, black, rounded horns i with a great fpace
between their bafes : on the IhoMlders a vaft bunch, cora-
pofed of a flelhy fubftance, much elevated: the fore part of the
body thick and ftrong: the hind part (lender and weak: tail a foot
long, naked to the end, which is tufted : the legs fhort and thick.

The head and ftioulders of the Bull are. covered with very lon»
flocks of reddifh woolly hair," falling over the eyes and horns, leavt
ing only the points of the latter to be feen : on the chin, and along
the dewlaps, is a great length of fhaggy hairs : the reft of the body
during fummer is naked, in winter is cloathed equally in all parts.
The Cow is lefler, and wants the fhaggy coat, which gives the Bull
fo tremendous an afpeft.

It grows to a great fize, even to the weight of fixteen hundred
or two Aoufand four hundred pounds *. The ftrongeft man can-
not lift the hide of one of thefe animals from the ground f.

* Lofw/on, 116.

Vol. I.

t Catejby, ii. App.

B

I. Bison.

Size.

The

Where
antientlv

POUND.

Where at

PRESENT.

Europe.
Asia.

!:l

( i

BISON.

The Bifon and y^urecbs of Europe is certainly the fame fpccies with
this J the difference confifts in the former being lefs fhaggy, and the
hair neither fo foft nor woolly, nor the hind parts fo weak. Both
European and American kinds fcent of mufk.

In anticnt times they were found in different parts of the old
work!, but went under different names ; the Bona/us of Ariftotle^ the
Urus of Cafar, tiie Bos ferus of Straboy the Bifon of Pliny ^ and the
Bijion of Oppian, fo called from its being found among the Bijiones^
a people of Thrace. According to thefe authorities, it was found in
their days in Media and in P^onia, a province of Macedonia -, among
the Alps, and in the great Hercynian foreft, which extended from
Germany even into Sarmatia*. In later days a white Ipecies was a
native of the Scottijh mountains j it is now extinft in its favage ftate,
but the offspring, fufficiently wild, is ftill to be feen in the parks of
Drumlanrig, in the South of Scotland, and of Chillingbam Caftle *.*
Northumberland f.

In thefe times it is found in very few places in a ftate of nature ;
it is, as far as we know, an inhabitant at prefent only of the forefts
of Lithuania, and among the Carpathian mountains, within the ex-
tent of the great Hercynian wood :j:, its antient haunts ; and in JJia,
among the vaft mountains of Caucajus.

It is difficult to fay in what manner thefe animals migrated ori-
ginally from the old to the new world; it is moft likely it was
fr'^m the north of Afta, which in very antient times might have been
ftocked with them to its moft extreme parts, notwitliftanding they
are now extind. At that period there is a probability that the old
and the new continents might have been united in the narrow chan-

• Ariftot. Hiji. An. lib. ii. c. i — Cafar Bell. Gall. lib. vi Plinii Hift. Nat. lib.

XV. c. i^.'—Oppian Cyneg. ii. Lin. 160.

t Br. Zeol. i. N° ^.—Voy. Hebrides, 124. — Tour Scotl. 1772, Part ii. p. 285.
X There is a very fine figure of the European Bifon in Mr. Ridinget's Jagbere Thiere.

nel

BISON.

~l b<-tw«„ r.bu,U nc/, and the oppofitt hfadl.nd» of ^^;„,

N^fo. inands fomewh.. „„„ diftan, ft„tchi„g v.ry „.ar to

«^.chjo,„ed the two continents, and formed into their infular ftate

w« probably thus d,sjo,ned from ^/W„> BrUain from ^.«,„. /„.
i»W from Gr«,/Wi J>,Vj;i^^„ from Z^//W.

But that they pafled from ^> to ^m«-ica is far the more proba-
blc, d,an that tiiey (locked the new world fron, the fiJe of W
not only on account of the prefent narrownefs of d.e ftreight betwren'

tte two contments, which gives a greater caufe to fuppofe them to
have b ^^. ^ ,^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^Jl^^ ^ ^^^_^^

-hat thde aramals m antient days were natives of Siiiria.- the fcuUs
WK ^e horns affixed, of a f.e far fuperior to any known at tI!L*
time, have been found fomi not only on the banks of the Iha which
falls ,„tod,e I.„a. but even in thofe of Ae J„aJ,r. the m4 eafter^
of the *«},„» rivers, and which difembogues north of K^MaiU
mto thofe ftreights: f.milar fculU and horns have been difcove^d
near D,./^«, ,n WW, alfo of a gigantic magnitude, and in my
opimon of the fame fpecies with the modem B,Zs • ''"'"''

m,les weft of «,^.,, Bo,, dus is rf,eir moft nordiem refidencr

F^m d,ence they are met with in great d^ves as low as C^^^,

at. 33, a htde north of Caliform., and alfo in the province of M.

V.., .n N^ Me^icoU the fpecies idhndy ceafe's fouth rf th^fe

- lon^r. «.f:taC:X ""'■" ■""" " "- '^ ""'-"f «"'«-<.„ ; which
t ^.r*„ iv. ,,eo. ,566. , ^,^,,,„, ^^. ^^. ^ ^ 3„._^_„,„, ^,

America.

countries.

,rv— ,^^.

! 1j'

'li

Timid.

Chase.

Another.

METHOD.

B I

O N.

countries. They inhabit Canada, to the weft of the lakes j and in
greater abundance in the rich favanms which border the river MiA
Jiftpiy and the great rivers which fall into it from the weft, in the
upper Louiftana *. There they are feen feeding in herds innumera-
ble, promifcuoufiy with multitudes of ftags and deer, during morn-
ing and evening; retiring in the fultry heats into the ihade of tall
reeds, which border the rivers oi America.

They are exceedingly fliy ^ and very fearful of man, unlefs they
are wounded, when they purfue their enemy, and become very
dangerous.

The chafe of thefe animals is a favorite diverfion of the /«-
dians: it is efFeded in two ways; firft, by fliooting; when the
markfman muft take great care to go againft the wind, for their
fmeil is fo exquifice that the moment they g<^t fcent of him they
inftantly retire with the utmoft precipitation f. He aims at their
fhoulders, that they may drop at once, and not be irritated by an
inefFedtual wound. Provided the wind does not favor the beafts
they may be approached very near, being blinded by the hair which '
covers their eyes. I'he other method is performed by a great
number of men, who divide and form a vaft fquare : each band
fets fire to the dry grafs of the favanna where the herds are feeding;
thefe animals have a great dread of fire, which they fee approach
on all fides; they retire from it to the center of the fquare J j the
bands clofe, and kill them (prefled together in Iieaps) withoJt the
left hazard. It is pretended, that on every expf dition of this nature
they kill fifteen hundred or two thoufand beeves.

The hunting-grounds are prefcribod with great form, leaft the
different bands ftiould meet, and interfere in the diverfion. Pe-

* Du Pratz, ii. 50. 1. 116. 286.
J Charlevoix, N. France, v. 192.

t Du Pratz, i 49. ii. 227.

nalties

aU

B I

O N.

nalties are enadled on fuch who infringe the regulations, as well
as on thofe who quit their pofts, and fuffer the beafts to efcape
from the hollow fquares ; the punilhments are, the ftripping the
delinquents, the ♦■aking away their arms (which is the greateft
difgrace a favage >'-n. undergo), or laftly, the demolition of their
cabins *.

The ufes of thefe animals are various. The /«^/^»j often fix the Uses.

hoofs of Buffaloes to their own feet, to deceive their enemies and
avoid being tracked : and fometimes ufe for the fame purpofe the
broad paws of the bear f. Powder-flafks are made of their horns.
The fkins are very valuable j in old times the Iridiam made of
them the beft targets ;}:. When drefled, they form an excellent Skin.

bufFj the Indians drefs them with the hair on, and cloath them-
felves with them -, the Europeans of Louiftana ufe them for blankets,
and find them light, warm, and foft. The flefh is a confiderable
article of food, and the bunch on the back is efteemed a very great
delicacy. The Bulls become excefll/'^ly fat, and yield great quan-
tity of tallow, a hundred and fifty pounds wei^^ht has been got from Tallow.
a fingle bcaft ||, which forms a confiderable matter of commerce.
Thefe over-fed animals ufually become the prey of Wolves ; for
by reafon of their great unwieldinefs, they cannot keep up with the
herd.

The Indians y by a very bad policy, prefer the flefh of the Cows i
which in time will deftroy the fpecies: they complain of the rank-
nefs of that of the Bulls -, but Du Pratz thinks the laft much more
tender, and that the ranknefs might be prevented, by cutting off
the tefticles as fbon as the beaft is killed.

The hair or wool is fpun into cloth, gloves, flockings, and gar- Hair.

ters, which" are very flrong, and look as weU as thofe made of the

• Charle-voix, v. 192.
(I Du Pratz.

f Adair, 385.

X Purchas, iv. 1550.

beft

hi '-i

H ;

Defence

A O A I N S T

Wolves.

Hard to be

TAMED.

BISON.

beft fhceps wool ; Governor Pownall aflures us, that the moft luxu-
rious fabrick might be made of it* The fleece of one of thefe
animals has been found to weigh eight pounds.

Their fagacity in defending thcmfelves againft the attacks of
Wolves IS admirable: when they fcent the approach of a drove of
thofe ravenous creatures, the herd flings itfelf into the form of a
circle : the weakeft keep in the middle, the ftrongeft are ranged
on the outfide, prefenting to the enemy an impenetrable front of
horns: fhould they be taken by furprize, and have recourfe to
flight, numbers of the fatteft or the weakeft are fure to perilh f.

Attempts have been made to tame and domefticate the wild, by
catching the calves and bringing them up with the common kind,
in hopes of improving the breed. It has not yet been found to
anfwer: notwithftanding they had the appearance for a time of
having loft their favage nature, yet they always grew impatient of
reftraint, and, by reafon of their great ftrength, would break down
the ftrongeft inclofure, and entice the tame cattle into the corn-
fields They have been known to engender together, and to breed ,
but I cannot learn whether the fpecies was meliorated t by the
intercourfe: probably perfeverance in continuing the crolTes is
only wanted to effeft their thorough domeftication ^ as it is no-
torious that the Bifons of the old world were the original ftock of
all our tame cattle.

Thefe were the only animals which had any affinity to the Euro^
pean cattle on the firft difcovery of the new world : before that pe-
riod, ,t was in poffeffion of neither Horft nor Afs, Cow nor
Sheep, Hog, Goat, nor yet that faithflil animal the Dog. Man*
kind were here in a ftate of nature^ their own paffions unfubdued,
they never th'>ught of conquering thofe of the brute creation,.

• Topog. Defer. N. Am. 8. t Du Pratz, i. Z28. J Kalrn. I zoj.

and

I

O N.

and ''"denng the„, fervient to their wiU. The few animals
which they had cong, ous to thofe mentioned, might poffibly by
md.ftjy have been reclamed. This animal might have LI
brought to aU the „fes of the £«.^.» Cow, the Pecari might
have been fublUtuted for the Hog, the Fox or Wolf for the Do» •
but the natives, living wholly by chafe, were at war wid, the

ZTt "IT' ""^ "'^'''"'^ "" ™'"™"°" "f ^y P^«. except
the laft, which was imperfeftly tamed.

Such is the cafe even to die prefent hour, for neidier the ex-
ample of the Eurcfem, nor die vifible advantages which refu't
from an attention to d,at ufefal animal d,e Cow, can induce die
man to pay any refpeft to it. He contemns every fpecies of

ofT^^ tv"- ^"-^^ ^'" '' "^"'^-^ '- '"--^/^ p-^fi™

o.man corn and on that is his great dependence, ftould ^e'
chafe prove unfuccefsful. Juouiu tne

Domefticated cattle are capable of enduring very rigorous cli
mates. Cows are kept at ^uukjock in Ucka 4» J, noX fr m
the ara,c circle, but they do not breed there, the fuccemon h
preferved by importation: y^\^ Iceland aflr T ^"^

is ™H.n die Circle, cattle aLndf ^Urj TZ:^
lamuoes : they are generaUy fed with hay, as in other pla es but

Kam^chatka, like America, was in equal want of every domeftic
animal, except a wolf-like Do^ till xZ t? tr r , ^ ^^o^eltic
A J 1 ^ ^' ^ ''^^ Ruffians of late years inrrn

duced rhe Cow and Horfe. The colts and calves brougl "k;
noith into the rich paibrcs .i K«n,JAa,ka, where die ^J^Z^^,

grow

Lapmark.

Iceland.

Kamtschatka.

hi

ip!

m

i !

i' i

1 ■;

1 1

If'

> I
1 i

If;

M U

K.

grow to fuch a fize, that no one would ever fufpeft them to be de-
fcended from the Ponies and Runts of the Lena *. The y^rgali,
tlie (lock of the tame Sheep, abounds in the mountains, but even
to this time are only objefts of chafe. The natives are to this hour
as uncultivated as the good Evander defcribes the primary natives
of Latium to have been, before the introduftion of arts and fci-
ences.

Quels neque mos, neque cultus erat, nee jungere tauro5>
Aut componere opes norant, aut parcere parto :
Sed rami atque afper viflu venatus alebat.

No laws they know, no manners, nor the care
Of lab'ring Oxen, or the (hining Share ;
No arts of gain, nor what they galn'd to fpare :
Their exercife the chafe : the running flood
Supplied their thiril ; the trees fuppUed their food.

}

Btydtn.

2. Musk. Mufk Ox, Hiji. !^ad. N' 9.

Le Boeuf mufque, de M. Jeremit, Voy. au Nord, iii. iX/^i—XUharlevoix, N. France,
• V. 194.— Lev. Mus.

"DULL. With horns clofely united at the bafe; bending in-
wards and downwards; turning outwards towards their ends,
which taper to a point,, and are very fharp : near the bafe are two
feet in girth 1 are only two feet long meafured along the curva-
ture : weight of a pair, fepa rated from the head, fometimes is fixty
pounds f.

The hair is of a dulky red, extremely fine, and fo long as to trail
on the ground, and render the beaft a feeming fhapelefs mafs, widi-.

• Fallas, Sp. Zoal. fafc. xi. 76.

f M. Jeremie, in Voyages au Nord, iii. 315.

out

mn^ '

de-

-gali,
even
lour

tives

fci-

«

i^^^^^^^^HHi^!l^i."ffllH^^^Hn«

M U

out diftinftion of head or tail*: the legs and tail very fliort: the
fhoulders rife into a lump.

In fize lower than a Deer, but larger as to belly and quarters f*
I have only feen the head of this animal; the reft of the defcription
is taken from the authorities referred to : but by the friendfhip of
Samuel Wegg, Efqj I received laft year a very complete Ikin of the
cow of this fpecies, of the age of three years, which enables me to
give the following defcription :

Cow. The noftrils long and open: the two middle cutting
teeth broad, and fharp-edgedj the three on each fide fmaU, and
truncated : under and upper lips covered with Ihort white hairs on
their fore part, and with pale brown on their fides : hair down the
middle of the forehead long and ereftj on the cheeks fmooth and
extremely long and pendulous, forming with th?-- on die throat a
long beard : the hair along die neck, fides, and rump hangs in the
fame manner, and almoft touches the ground : from the hind part
of the head to the Ihoulders is a bed of very long foft hair, forming
an upright mane : in the old beafts the fpace between the fhoulders
rifes into a hunch : the legs are very Ihort, covered with fmooth
whidfh hairs j thofe which encircle the hoofs very long, and of a
pure white : hoofs fhort, broad, and black : the falfe hoofs large in
proportion: tail only three inches long, a mere ftump, covered
widi very long hairs, fo as to be undiftinguifnable to the fight. Of
the tail, the EJkimaux of the north-weft fide of the bay make a cap
of a moft horrible appearance; for the hairs fall all round their
head, and cover their faces ; yet it is of fingular fervice in keeping
off the Mufquetoes, which would otherwife be intolerable J.

Space between the horns nine inches : die horns are placed ex-
aaiy on the fides of the head; are whidfh; thirteen inches and a

• M. Jeremie, in Foyages au Nord. iii. 315.
X Ellis's Voy. 232.

Vol. I. c

t Drage's Voy. ii. 260.

- half

Sizi<

Horns.

lO

Eari.

Color.

J

Hair.

li ■'

Wool.

SlZ£.

•i;l

!i:9

h [III

J

MUSK.

half long J eight inches and a half round at the bafej of the fame
fort of curvature with thofe of the BuU : the ears are three inches
long, quite erefti Iharp-pomted, but dilate much in the middle j
arc thickly lined widi hair of a dulky color, marked with a ftripc
of white.

The color of the hair black, except on thefe parts:— from the
bafe of one horn to that of the other, is a bed of white and light
ruft-colored hair: the mane is dufky, tinged with red, which is con-
tinued in a narrow form to the middle of the back ; on which is a
large roundifh bed of pure white, and the hairs in that fpace Ihorter
than any of the reft, not exceeding diree inches in length, and of a
pale brown towards their roots.

The hairs are of two kinds, the longeft meafure feventeen inches i-
are very fine and glofly, and when examined appear quite flat: this
is the black part, which cloaths moft part of the animal..

The bed of hair between the horns, and that which runs along
the top of the neck, is far finer and fofter than any human hair, and
appears quite round. The white bed is ftill finer, and approaches
to the nature of wool.

Beneath every part of the hair grows in great plenty, and often in
flocks, an afli-colored wool, moft exquifitely fine, fuperior, I think,
to any I have feen, and which might be very ufeful in manufac-
tures if fufficient could be procured. I give full credit to M. Je.
remie, who fays, that he Drought fome of the wool to France, and
got ftockings made with it, more beautiful than thofe of filk *.
The fkin is thin.

The length of the whole hide, from nofe to tail, is about fix feet
four inches : of die head alone fourteen inches. The legs could
not be well meafured, but were little more than a foot long.

• Foy. au NorJ, iii. 314.

The

MUSK.

The fituation of thefe animals i, ve^- local. Thev appear firft i„
the traa ben.ee„ aurm n.„ and that of «., „„ Z wefti, ^

tIT' f ■ . ?•' "' -'T -serous between the latitudes 66
and 73 north wh.ch ,s as far as any tribes of InJia„s go. They

kan^des feveral herds .„ one day's walk. They delight moft in Ae
rocky and barren mountains, and feldom fi^uent the woody part

toe rock . The flelh taftes very ftrong of Mulk. and the heart I
fo ftrongly .nfefted as hardly to be eatable, but tie former sv 1
wholefome. havng been found to reftore fpeedily to health the fiS
crew who made it tlieir food t. "'tneucuy

They are Ihot by the ««„ for the fake of the meat and (kins
4e M from .ts warmth making excellent blankets. They ^e
brought down on Hedges to the forts annually during winte7w^h
about three or four tlxoufand weight of d,e fleA. t£ f™!;! h
aurm Buflaloes. to diftinguin, them from the J Wies wS
are „ m,fon's Ba, caUed Inland Buflaloes, of whS, ^^t
tongues are brought as prefents %. '

They are found alfo in the land of the CrU or CriJKmu,, and the
IIk7V T"."^""^ *^ ^"■m./ti.uay. a nation fup;ofedt

t Drage's Voy. ii. 260. + ;i^ ^ ',

^ ^eoos t Hud/on't Bay, iQ, ze. 11 P i •

^' '9. ZS- II Pwrr^^/, IV. ,561. v. 854.

II

C 2

Some

tft

N -.

^

MUSK.

Some of the fkulls of this fpecies have been difcovered on the
mofly plains near the mouth of the Oby in Sibiria. It is not faid
how remote from the feaj if far, they probably in fome period
might have been common to the north oi Afia and q{ America \ if
near the Ihore, it is poffible that the carcafes might have Hoated on
the ice from America to the places where the remains might have
been found *. Of this fpecies was the head, and fuch were the
means of conveyance, from die coaft oi Htidfon's or Baffin's, men-
tioned by Mr. Fabriciusy and which he faw fo brought to Green-
land t J for it could not have been, as he conjefbures, the head of
the grunting Ox, an animal found only in the very interior parts of
northern Afta.

• PaHat, in Nov. Com. Pttrop. xvii. 6oi. ub. xvii.

t Faun. GnmU %%.

I I,

SHEEP.

H E

P.

SHEEP. Hiji. ^uad. G b h u s III.

<J

A R G A L I : WUd Sheep, Hi/l. ^d. N» 1 1. H. p. i%.^Smlli,, vi. 205.-

L£v. Mus.

rpHE Sheep, in its wUd ftate, inhabits the north-eaft of ^f^,
X beyond lake Baikah between die Onon and Argun, to die
height of latitude 60, on die eaft of die Lena, and from dience to
Kamtfchatka, and perhaps die Kurile iflands. I dare not pronounce
diat diey extend to die continent of America i yet I have received
from Doftor Pallas a fringe of very fine twifted wool, which had or-
namented a drefs from die ide of Kadjak i and I have myfelf an'
odier piece from die habit of die Americans in latitude 50. The
firft was of a fnowy whitenefs, and or" unparalleled finenefs; die
otiier as fine, but of a pale brown color : die firft appeared to be
die wool which grows intermixed with the hairs of die Argali ; the
laft, diat which is found beneadi thofe of die Mufic Ox. Each of
tiiefe animals may exift on that fide of die continent, notwithftand-
ing they might have not fallen widiin die reach of die navigators in
tiieir Ihort ftay ofi'die coaft.

Certain quadrupeds of this genus were obferved in California by
die miffionaries in 1697 ; one as large as a Calf of one or two years

old.

H

Chasb in
Kamtschatka.

In Mongolia.

•,m

SHEEP.

old, with a head like a Stag, and horns like a Ram : the tail and
hair fpeckled, and fhortcr than a Stag's. A fecond kind was larger,
and varied in color; fome being white, others black, and furni(hcd
with very good wool. The Fathers called both Sheep, from their
great refemblance to them ♦. Either the y^mertcans of latitude 50
are poflefled of thefe animals, or may obtain the fleeces by com-
merce from the fouthern Indians.

The y^rgali abound in Kamtfcbatka\ they are the moft ufeful of
their animals, for they contribute to food and cloathing. The
Kamtfchatkans cloath themfelves with the (kins, and efteem the flefh,
efpecially the fat, diet fit for the Gods. There is no labor which
they will not undergo in the chafe. They abandon their habita-
tions, with all their family, in the fpring, and continue the whole
fummer in the employ, amidft the rude mountains, fearlefs of the
dreadful precipices, or of the avelencbes^ which often overwhelm the
eager Iportfmen.

Thefe animals are fhot with guns or with arrows ; fometimes
with crofs-bows, which are placed in the paths, and difcharged
by means of a firing whenever the Argali happens to tread on it.
They are often chafed with dogs, not that they are overtaken by
them i but when they are driven to the lofty fummits, they will
often ftand and look as if it were with contempt on the dogs
below, which gives the hunter an opportunity of creeping
within reach while they are fo engaged j for they are the fhyeft
of animals.

The Mongols and Tunguft ufe a nobler fpecies of chafe : they
coUeft together a vafl multitude of horfes and dogs, attempt-
ing to furround them on a fudden -, for fuch is the' "'tjief. and
cunning, that if diey perceive, eidier by fight or fmeii, tlu* ap-

Ph. Tranf. atr. v. part ii. 195.

proach

SHEEP.

proach of the chaff urs, they inftantly take to flight, and fecurc
themfdves on the lofty and inacccmble fumniits.

Dooicfticated Sheep will live even in the dreadful climate of
Greenland. Mr Fahricius • fays, they are kept in many places.
They arc very numerous in Iceland. Before the epidemical difeafe
which raged among them from 1740 to 1750, it was not un-
common for a fingle perfon to be poflcfled of a thoufand or twelve
hundred. They have upright ears, fhort tails, and often four or
five horns t. They are fometimes kept in ftables during winter,
but ufuaUy left to take their chance abroad, when they commonly
hide themfelves in the caves of exhaufted vulcanoes :|:. They are
particularly fond of fcurvy-grafs, with which they grow fo fat as
to yield more than twenty pounds. The ewes give from two to
fix quarts of milk a day, of which butter and cheefe is made.
' The wool is never fhorn, but left on till the end of Mzy, when it
grows loofe, and is ftripped entirely ofF in one fleece j and a fine,
fhort, and new wool appears to have grown beneath; diis con-
tinues growing all fummer, becomes fmoodi and glofly Uke the
hair of Camels, but more ihaggy ||. With the wool the natives
manufafture their cloth; and the flelh dried is an article of com-
merce.

In all parts of European Ruffia are found the common Sheep.
Thofe of the very north, and of the adjacent Finmark, have fhort
tails and upright ears, and wool almoft as rude as the hair of Goats-
but are feldom polyceratous. They fometimes breed twice in a
year, and bring twins each time §.

In the ^>//V dominions o( Ruffia, from the borders o^ Rujia
to thofe of China, is a mofl: fingular variety of Sheep, deftitute of

• Faun, Groenl. p. 29.
II TroiPs Foy. 138.

t SmeUie,\i. 207, 219.
§ Leems, 228.

Shbip in
Iceland.

I Horrehonu, 46.

tail?.

t6

'.' ■

SHEEP.

tails, with rumps fwelling into two great, naked, and fmooth
hemifpheres of fat, which fometimes weigh forty pounds : their
nofes are arched : their ears pendulous : their throats wattled : their
heads horned, and fometimes furnilhed with four horns. Thefe
are fo abundant throughout "Tartaryy that a hundred and fifty thou-
fand have been annually fold at the Orenburg fairs j and a far greater
number at the foit Troizkajay from whence they are driven for
(laughter into different parts of Ruffia*. Sheep do not thrive in
Kamtfchatka, by reafon of the wetnefs of the country.

Sheep abound in New England and its iflands : the wool is fhort,
and much coarfer than that o( Great Britain y poffibly proper at-
tention to the houfing of the Sheep may in time improve the
fleece; but the feverity of the climate wiU ever remain an obftacle
to its perfeaion. Manufadures of cloth have been eftablilhed,
and a tolerable cloth has been produced, but in quantities in no
degree equal to the confumption of the country. America likewife
wants downs i but by clearing the hills of trees, in a long feries
of years that defed may be alleviated. As we advance further
fouth, the Sheep grow fcarcer, worfe, and the wool more
hairy.

• Pallas, Sp. Zool. fafc. xi. 6i, tab. iv.

GOAT.

G

T.

17

GOAT. Hiji.^uad. Genus IV.

IBEX, mji S>uad. N. ,3 *, is fuppofed to extend to the mountains of the
caftern part of Sibiria, beyond the Lena, and to be found within the go-
vernment oi Kamf/chatka Lev. Mus.

'X^HE tame Goat inhabits northern Europe ^% high as TTard^
A buys, in latitude 7 1, where it breeds, and runs out the whole
year, only during winter has the proteftion of a hovel : it lives
during that feafon on mofs and bark of Fir-trees, and even of the
logs cut for fliel. They are fo prolific as to bring two, and even
three, at a tinae. In Norway they thrive prodigiouPy, infomuch
that 70 or 80,000 of raw fkins are annually exported from Ber~
gen, befides thoufands that are fent abroad dreffed.

Goats are alfo kept in Iceland, but not in numbers, by reafon
of the want of fhrubs and trees for therp to brouze. They have
been introduced into Greenland, even to fome advantage. Be'
fides vegetable food, they will eat the ArSfic trouts dried, and
grow very fat f.

The climate of South America agrees fo well with Goats, that
they multiply amazingly: but they fucceed fo ill in Canada, that
It is neceflary to have new fupplies to keep up the race %

Smellie, vi. 363.

t Faun, Groenl. p. 29.

X De Biiffon, ix. 7 1 .

^^OL. I.

D

DEER.

i8

3. Moose.

■1,
'i '

1^1

Color.

SiZB.

OF Horns.

I

PLACEt

MOOSE.

DEER. Hi/}, ^ad. Genus VII.

Elk, Hijl. ^ad. No 42 — Smellie, vi. 315 Lev. Mus.

DEER. With horns with fhort beams, fpreading into a
broad palm, furnilhed on the outward fide with Iharp fnags j
the inner fide plain : no brow antlers : fmaJl eyes : long flouching
afinine ears : noftrils large : upper lip fquare, great, and hanging
far over the lower ; has a deep furrow in the middle, fo as to ap-
pear almoft bifid : under the throat a fmall excrefcence, with a long
tuft of coarfe black hair pendent from it : neck Ihorter than the
head j along the top an upright, fhort, thick, mane : withers ele-
vated: tail Ihort: legs longi the hind legs the Ihorteft: hoofs
much cloven.

Color of the mane a light brown j of the body in general a hoary
brown : tail dufky above j white beneath. The vaft fize of the
headj the Ihortnefs of the neck, and the length of the ears, give
the beaft a deformed and ftupid look.

The greateft height of this animal, which I have heard of, is
feventeen hands; the greateft v/eight 1229 pounds.

The largeft horns I have feen are in the houfe of the Hudfori's
Bay Company ; they weigh fifty-fix pounds : their length is thirty-
two inches j breadth of one of the palms thirteen inches and a half;
fpace between point and point thirty-four.

The female is lefTer than the male, and wants horns.

Inhabits the ifle of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and the weftern fide
of the Bay of Fundy \ Canada, and the country round the great
lakes, almoft as far fouth as the river Ohio *. Thefe are its prefent

* Du Pratz, i. 301.

northera

M 0

E.

^

northern and fouthern limits. In all ages it affeded the cold and
wooded regions in Europey Afia., and America. They are found In
all the woody trafts of the temperate parts of Rujfiay but not on the
Ardlic flats, nor yet in Kamtjchatka. In Sibiria they are of a mon-
ftroup fize, particularly among the mountains.

The Elk and the Moofe are the fame Ipecies ; the laft derived
from Mufu, which in the Algonkin language fignifies that animal *.
The Englijh ufed to call it the Black Moofe, to diftinguifh it from
the Stag, which they named the Grey Moofe f. The French call it
U Original.

Thefe animals refide amidft forefls, for the conveniency of brou-
fing the boughs of trees, becaufe they are prevented from grazing
with any kind of eafe, by reafon of the fhortnefs of their necks and
length of their legs. They often have recourfe to water-plants,
which they can readily get at by wading. M. Sarrafin fays, that they
are very fond of the anagyris fcetida, or ftinking bean trefoil, and
will uncover the fnow with dieir feet in order to get at it.

In pafllng through the woods, they raife their heads to a hori-
7ontal pofition, to prevent their horns from being entangled in die
branches.

They have a Angular gait : their pace is a fhambling trot, but
they go with great fwiftnefs. In their common walk they lift their
feet very high, and will without any difficulty ftep over a gate five
feet high.

They feed principally in the night. If diey graze, it is always
againft an afcent ; an advantage they ufe for the reafon above af-
figned. They ruminate like the Ox.

They go to rut in autumn ; are at that time very furious, feeking
die female by fwimming from ifle to ifle. They bring two young

Name.

Residence ami
Food.

Gait.

Ruminate.

Young.

Kalm, i. 298. iii. 204,

f Mr. Dudley's Phil. Tranf. Abr'tdg. vii. 447.

D 2 at

20

m:

FlE3H>

Skin,

Hair.

Ho»NS.

Chase.

M O O

E.

at a birth, in the month of Jpril, which follow the dam a whole
year. During the fummer they keep in families. In deep fnows
they colled in numbers in the forefts of pines, for protection from
the inclemency of the weather under the fhelter of diofe ever-
greens.

They are very inoffenfive, except in the f utting-feafon ; or except
they are wounded, when they will turn on the aflailant, and attack
him with their horns, or trample him to death beneath their great
hoofs.

Their flelh is extremely fweet and nourifhing. The Mia»s hy,

that they can travel three times as far after a meal of Moofe, as

after any other animal food. The tongues are excellent, but 'the

nofe is perfea marrow, and efteemed the greatell delicacy in all

- Canada.

The fkin makes excellent buC; is ftrong, foft, and light. The
Indians drefs the hide, and, after foaking it for fome time, ftretch
and render it fupple by a lather of the brains in hot water. They
not only make their fnow-fhoes of the fkin, but after a chafe form
the canoes with it: they few it neatly together, cover the feams
with an unftuous earth, and embark in them with their fpoils to
return home *.

The hair on the neck, withers, and hams of a full-grown Elk
is of much ufe in making mattrafles and faddles ; being by its
great length well adapted for thofe purpofes.

The palmated parts of the horns are farther excavated by the
favages, and converted into ladles, which will hold a pint.

It is not ftrange that fo ufeful an animal Ihould be a principal
objed of chafe. The favages perform it in different ways. The
firft, and the more fimple, is before the lakes or rivers are frozen.

• he Hentan, i. 59.

Multitudes

M

O

E.

21

Multitudes affemble in their canoes, and form with them a vaft
crefcent, each horn touching the fhore. Another party perform
their Ihare of the chafe among the woods j they furround an ex-
tenfive trad, let loofe their dogs, and pre^s towards the water with
loud cries. The animals, alarmed with the noife, fly before the
hunters, and plunge into the lake, where they are killed by the
perfons in the canoes, prepared for their reception, with lances or
clubs *.

The other method is more artful. The favages inclofe a large
fpace with ftakes hedged with branches of trees, forming two
fides of a triangle: the bottom opens into a fecond enclofure, com-
pletely triangular. At the opening are hung numbers offnares,
made of flips of raw hides. The Indians, as before, affemble in
great troops, and with all kinds of noifes drive into the firft en-
clofure not only the Moofes, but the other fpecies of Deer which
abound in that country : fome, in forcing their way into the far-
theft triangle, are caught in the fnares by the neck or horns i and
thofe which efcape the fnares, and pafs the little opening, find
their fate from the arrows of the hunters, directed at them from all
quarters f .

They are often killed with the gun. When they a^e firft unhar-
boured, they fquat with their hind parts and make water, at which
inftant the fportfman fires j if he miffes, the Moofe fets ofl: in a
moft rapid trot, making, like the Rein-deer, a prodigious rattling
with its hoofs, and will run for twenty or thirty miles before it
comes to bay or takes the water. But the ufual time for this di-
verfion is the winter. The hunters avoid entering on the chafe
till the fun is Lrong enough to melt the frozen cruft with which
the fnow is covered, otherwife the animal can run over the firm

Charlevcisr, v. i88.

t Charlevoix, and Le Hontan, i. 65.

furface :

•p. .

Superstitions

relating to

the moosk,

■f I !

MOO

E.

Surface : they wait till it becomes foft enough to impede the flight
of the Moofe ; which finks up to the fhoulders, flounders, and
gets on with great difficulty. The fportfinan purfues at his eafe
on his broad rackets, or fnow-fhoes, and makes a ready prey of
the dillrefled animals :

As weak againft the mountain heaps they pufli
Their beating breaft in vain, and piteous bray.
He lays them quivering on th' enfanguin'd fnows.
And with loud (houts rejoicing bears them home.

Thomson.

The opinion of this animal's being fubjeft to the epilepfy feems
to have been univerfal, as well as the cure it finds by fcratching
its ear with the hind hoof till it draws blood. That hoof has been
ufed in Mian medicine for the falling-ficknefs ; they apply it to
the heart of the afflifted, make him hold it in his left hand, and
rub his ear with it. They ufe it alfo in the colick, pleurify, ver-
tigo, and purple fever j pulverifing the hoof, and drinking it in
water. T\vt yllgonkins pretend that the flefh imparts the difeafe ;
but it is notorious that the hunters in a manner live on it with
impunity.

The favages efteem the Moofe a beaft of good omen; and arc
perfuaded that thofe who dream often of it may flatter themfelves
with long life *.

Their wild fuperftition hath figured to them a Moofe of enor-
mous fize, which can wade with eafe through eight feet depth of
fnow J which is invulnerable, and has an arm growing out of its
ftioulder, fubfervient to the purpofes of the human: that it has a
court of other Moofes, who at all times perform fuit and fervice,
according to his royal will f .

* Charlevoix, v, 1 86.

t The fame.

I lament

..mt

\

MOO

E.

I lament that I am not able to difcover the animal which owned
the A-aft horns fo often found in the bogs oUreland, fo long and fo
confidently attributed to the Moofe. Thefe have been found to be
fometimes eight feet long, fourteen between tip and tip *, furnilhed
with brow antlers, and weighing three hundred pounds : the whole
fkeleton is frequently found with them.

The fables delivered by Joffelyn, of the Moofe being thirty-three
hands, or twelve feet, high , and by Le Hontan, of its horns weigh-
ing between three and four hundred pounds, occafioned the natu-
rahfts of pad times to call the foffil horns thofe of the Moofe • and
to flatter themfelves that they had difcovered the animal they be-
longed to : but recent difcoveries evince the error. I once enter
tamed hopes that the Wajkejfe^ of the HudforCs Ba. Indians was the
Jpecies , but by fome late information I received from Mr. Andrew
Graham faftor in the Bay, I find it to be no other than the com-
mon Moofe.

The Eik has deferted the fouth .^i Sweden for a confiderable
time; toll fome are found in the forefts near Stockholm, more or
fewer, according to 4e year, for tliey are a fort of vagabond ani
mals. The chafe is entirely referved for the nobiUty or gentrv ■
and even they arc prohibited fron, killing thcm before the Lth of
Mf. "nder penalty of fifty ri^-dollars, or .,/. 13,. 4^. The
.nhabuants diffike them greatly as neighbors, fo much mifchief do
they do .„ the cultivated grounds. In May, June, and July, they
are fo bold, d,at the people are obliged to drive them away witl.
blows of a ftick : after that they are more difficult of approach
In 7«/W. a province oi Norland, their chafe is free to every one'
The largeft Elk Mr. Oedman ever heard of, weighed eleven hun-
dred and fixty pounds. A fawn of dus fpecies, taken very young,

• WriiW. LMbiam, book m. 20. tab. mU. ^ UiJI. ^u.d. 45.

2J

Fossil

NOT BEL
TO THE

HORNS
ONCINO

Moose.

IS

24

i' '

III! ■

i

4. Rein.

^ rnVii

i I'

I

N.

is capable of being eafily tamed, and may be made as familiar as a
dog ; but the male becomes fierce when it is in heat, at left if it is
not caftrated. It will drink greedily of wine, if given to it i and
when it gets drunk, it will fnort it out of its noftrils. In a wild
ftate, this animal feeds on the Mens, bark of the afpen poplar, the
grey and the goat willows : when tame, it eats hay, and is very fond
of peas ftrawj but the laft muft be given in fmall quantity, as it is
apt to produce a fatal coftivenefs. When the female is clofely pur-
fued by the dogs, it wiU fling itfelf into the water with its fawn,
and will continue fwimmlng with it for many hours. She rarely
brings more than one at a time. During winter, when the ground
is covered with fnow, the hunter cloaths himfelf with white linen,
in order to render himfelf lefs vifible.

Hiji.^iad. No 43 — SmellU; vi. 316 — Hackluyt, iii. 114 Lev. M

us.

J^EER. With large but flender horns, bending forward j with
brow antlers broad and palmated, fometimes three feet nine
inches long; two feet fix from tip to tipj weight, nine pounds
twelve ounces avoirdupoife. The body is thick and fquare : the
legs fhorter than thofe of a Stag : the height of a full-grown Rein
four feet fix.

Color of the hair, at firfi: fiiedding of the coat, of a browr^r,
afli; aftei-wards changes to a hoary whitenefs. The anima;
admirably guarded againft the rigor of the climate by the great
thicknefs of the hairs, which are fo clofely placed as totally to hide
the Ikin, even if they are put afide with ever fo much care.

Space round the eyes always black : nofe, tail, and belly white :
above the hoofs a white circle : hair along the lower fide of the
neck very long : tail lliort.

Hoofs,

I

N.

Hoofs, and falfe hoofs, long and black ; the laft loofely hung,
making a prodigious clatter when the animal runs.

The female is furnifhed with horns j but lelfer, broader, and
flatter, and with fewer branches than thofe of the male. She has
fix teats, but two are fpurious and ufelefs. They bring two young
at a time.

The habitation of tliis Deer is ftill more limited than that of the
former, confined to thofe parts where cold reigns with the utmoft
feventy. Its moft fouthern refidence is the northern parts of Ca^
mda, bordering on the territories of Hudfon's Bay. Charlevoix men-
tions a fingle inftance of one wandering as far as the neighborhood
of Quebec *. Their true place is the vaft trad which furrounds
the Bay. They are met with in Labrador, and again in New-
foundland, originally wafted thither acrofs the narrow ftraits of
Belleijle, on iflands of ice.

They fpread northerly into Greenland, particularly on rhe weft-
ern coaft, about Bijko f. I can find no traces (even traditional) of
them xn Iceland; which is the more furprizing, as that ifiand lies
nearer to Greenland than Newfoundland does to the Labrador coaft
It ,s probable that they were deftroyed in very early times, when
that ifland was fo infinitely more populous than it is at prefent •
and the farther migration of thefe animals prevented by the amaz*
ing aggregate of ice, which in later ages blocked up and even de
populated the eaftern fide of Greenland. No vegetable, not even
mcfs, is to be found on that extenfive coaft to fupport thefe hardy
animals. Their laft migration was from the wcftern parts of
Greenland, over unknown regions and fields of ice, to the inhofpi-
table Alp of Spitzbergen. Thefe, with the Polar Bear and Arftic
Fox, form the Hiort catalogue of its quadrupeds. They refide

25

Female.

* V. 191.

Vol. I.

t Egede, 59. Crantx, i. 70.— The Canadians call it Le Caril

E there

Place.

Hudson's-Bav.

Labrador.
Newfoundland.

Greenland.

Spitzbergen.

26

R E

I

N.

\r I

Kamtschatka.

Samoiedea.

I;! 'Ill

there throughout the year; and by wondrous inftina: difcover
their food, the lichen rangi/erims, beneath the fnow, which they
remove to great depths by means of their broad and Ipade-hke
antlers i and thus find fubfiftence thirteen degrees beyond the
jir^^ic circle *.

To the weflern fide o{ Hud/on' s Bay I trace the Rein as far as the
nation called Les Plat-cote des Chiens f , the remoteft we are ac-
quainted with in the parallel of thar i ititude. Beyond, are lands
unknown, till we arrive at that new-difc ivered chain of ifiands,
which extends to within a fmall diftance of Jftay or the northern
cape oi Kamtjchatka, where I again recover thefe animals. There
is reafon to imagine that they are continued acrofs the continent of
America, but not on the iflands which intervene between it and
Afia X' But in the ifle of Kadjaky and others of the eafternmoft
Fox iflands, the inhabitants have fkins of them from the American
continent, and border their bonnets with the white hairs of the do-
meftic Rein-deers, ftained red. 'They are found again in the coun-
tries which border on the Icy fea § ; from which they retire, at
approach of winter, towards the woods, to feed on the mofs, not
only that which grows on the ground, but the fpecies pendulous
fi-om the trees. The whole north-eaft of Sil>iria abounds with
them. They alfo are yet found wild in the Urallian mountains i
along the river Kama, as far as Kungus -, and about fome fnowy
fummits more fouth : and again on the high chain bordering on
Sil>iria on the fouth, and about lake Baikal. Towards the weft they
are continued in the land of the Samoieds j and finally among die
well-known Laplanders. Wild Rein-Deer are very fcarce in the
north of Sweden : die Wolves having almoft extirpated this fine

• Marfe»'s Spitxbergen, gg. Phipps', 'voy. 185. f Dobbs's Hud/on' s Bay, 19.

X Muller's 'voyages from Afia te Ammca, Preface xxv. ^ -&«>•«/« 'voy.

and

!,'■ i

R

I N.

oil T • " """" ""' '"'''" """»' "»" *' '■"ell
.f"r' *')' 7"' "'""""-^firil perception, become unma
nagcable, fo ,h« .he rider, cannot »itl,out difficulty keep tl^n

plan, to g.ve a fl.ght co„,parative view of d,e progrefs of eiviliza!
t.on among the inhabitants of thefe frozen climes

W>th the I^f/a.J„ Ms animal is the fubftitute to the Horfe
t e Co„, the Saeep, and the Goat. Thofc moft innocent ofpeo
pie have even tmder their rigorous tky. fomeof the charm of a
paftora hfe^ They have fubdued thefe animals to ^^ 1
and reclamed them from their wild ftate. They attend their hds'
of Re,n-dcer dur.ng fummer, to the fummits of their aL 1
.he fides of the,r clear lakes and ftreams. often horde d wS'„
nve rofes. They know the arts of the dairy, milk the 'the ica "
tie, and make from t a rich chepfp ti ,

fledge, confider them as their le ^ure Zi I" ^ T '" ""
the utmoft tendernefs. ' '"'' """'* "'="' ^i*

The brutifli SamM confiders them in no other view .!,»„
ammals of draught, to convey them to the chafe of he "L r™ ""

cacy of the milk ortUTtut p^X t^'r^t
t.nes of beafts, or the half-putrid flelh of a h rf » o T
which they find dead on the high road • P'

wii^^Hf:ir;:;te; iS :i 't-' - ^ ■-■

the richeft, to the amount „f, ''' "^ ^"''" '■»">' "f

are they as to at ZT r "I '"""'' *°"''^"'' ^ ^^ ^^ Sordid

y as to eat none except fuch which they kill for die ftt- e

■he ^ : an article of commerce with dieir n'eighbl:: ;!;: t^.

* U JSrujn, I 7, 8.
E 2

i:f

Laplanders,
thbirusesof it.

Samoiedj,

KoR

tKl,

(hatkatjs :

28

R

I

N.

ESKIM AUX
AND

Greenlanders.

i.hatkans : otherwife they content themfelves with the flefh of thofe
which die by difeafe or chance. They train thenn in the fledge,
but negleft then) for every domeftic purpofe*. Their hiftorian
fays, they couple two to each carriage ; and that the Deer will tra-
vel a hundred and fifty verfts in a day, that is, a hundred and twelve
Englijh miles. They caftrate the males by piercing the fpermatic
arteries, and tying the fcrotum tight with a thong.

The inhabitants about tiie river Kolyma make ufc of the foft fkins
of the Rein-deer, drefled, for fails for a kind of boat called Schitiki^
caulked with mofs -, and the boards as if fcwed together with thongs ;
and the cordage made of flices of the Ikin of the Elk f.

The favage and uninformed EJkimaux and Greenlanders^ who pof-
fefs, amidft their fnows, thefe beautiful animals, negledl not only the
domeftic ufes, but even are ignorant of their advantage in the
fledge. Their element is properly the water j their game the Seals.
They feem to want powers to domefticate any animals unlefs Dogs.
They are at enmity with all ; confider them as an objeft of chafe,
and of no utility till deprived of life. The flefli of the Rein is the
mofl: coveted part of their food j they eat it raw, drefled, and dried
and fmoked with the fnow lichen. The wearied hunters will drink
the raw blood ; but it is ufually dreflfed with the berries of the
heath : they eagerly devour the contents of the ftomach, but ufe tnc
inteftines boiled. They are very fond of the fat, and will not lofe-
the lefl: bit J. The flcin, fometimes a part of their cloathing,
dreflfed with the hair on, is foft and pliant ; it forms alfo the inner
lining of their tents, and mofl: excellent blankets. The tendons are
their bow-fl:rings, and when fplit are the threads with which they
few they jackets §.

• Hift. Kamt/chatka, 226, 227. — T)\eKoreki exchange their Deer with the neigh-
boring nations for rich furs. f Mullet's Summary, i^c, xviii. % Faun.
Croenl. p. a8. § Drage's Voy. i. 25.

The

REIN.

• The Greenlandersy before they acquired the knowledge of the gun,
caught them by what was called the clapper-hunt ♦. The women
and children furrounded a large fpace, and, where people were
wanting, fct up poles capped with a turf in certain intervals, to
terrify the animals -, they then with great noifc drove the Reins into
the narrow defiles, where the men lay in wait and killed them with
harpoons or darts. But they are now become very fcarce.

On the contrary, they are found in the neighborhood o{ Hudforis
Bay in mcft amazing numbers, columns of eight or ten t'^oufand
are feen annually pafllng from north to fouth in the months of
March and y^prilfy driven out of the woods by the muiketoes,
feeking refrefliment on the fhore, and a quiet place to drop their
young. They go to rut in Septembery and the males foon after fhed
their horns; they are at that feafon very fat, but fo rank and mufky
as not to be eatable. The females drop their young in JimCy in
the moft fequeftered fpots they can find ; and then they likewife
lofe their horns. Beafts of prey follow the herds : firft, the Wolves,
who fingle out the ftragglers (for they fear to attack the drove)
detach and hunt them down: the Foxes attend at a diftance, to
pick up the offals left by the former. In autumn the Deer with the
Fawns re-migrate northward.

The Indians are very attentive to their motions ; for the Rein
forms the chief part not only of their drefs but food. They often
kill multitudes for the fake of their tongues only ; but generally they
feparate the flelh from the bones, and preferve it by drying it in
the fmoke : they alfo fave the fat, and fell it to the Englijh in
bladders, who ufe it in frying inftead of butter. The Ikins are
alfo an article of commerce, and ufed in London by the Breeches-
makers.

39

• Cr&Htx, i. 71,

•f Dobhs, ig, 22.

Multitudes

1 N
Hudson's Bay.

Migration.

Uses.

The

s^f-l

■ M

30

Chasi.

hi I

I

■rriUllli

sss

STAG.

The tndiafts Ihoot them in the winter. The EngUpj make
hedges, with flakes and boughs of trees, along the .voods, for five
miles in length, leaving openings at proper intervals befet with
(hares, in which multitudes are taken.

The Indians alfo kill great numbers during the feafons of migra-
tion, watching in their canoes, and fpearing them while pafTing
over the rivers of the country, or from ifland to ifland j for they
fwim moll admirably well.

A benevolent governor of Iceland^ about twenty years ago, in-
troduced the Rein Deer into that ifland ; and I am informed by
Mr. Stanley^ that they increafe and profper greatly.

5. Stag.

Hifl. ^ad. N»45. — Smelliet iv. 74. — Lev. Mus.

i!i

"p\EER. With long upright horns much branched: flender
and Iharp brow antlers : color a reddilh brown : belly and
lower fide of the tail white : the horns often fuperior in fize to
thofe of the European Stags, fome being above four feet high, and
thirty pounds in weight.

Inhabits Canada^ particularly the vaft forefls about the lakes;
are fecn in great numbers grazing with the Buffaloes on the rich
favannas bordering on the Mtffifip^ the Miffburiy and other American
rivers ; they are alfo found within our Colonies, but their numbers
decreafe as population gains ground. An Indian living in 1748
had killed many Stags on the fpot where Philadelphia now (lands *.

They feed eagerly on the broad-leaved Kalmia-, yet that plant
is a poifon to all other horned animals -, their inteftines are found
filled with it during winter. If their entrails are given to Dogs,

Kai'm, i. 336.

they

I

S T A G.

theytjccome ftupified, and as if drunk, and often arefo ill as hardly
to efcape with life *.

Stags are alfo found in Mexico, where they are called Jculliame:
they differ not from thofe of Spain in Ihape, fize, or nature f. South
America is deftitute of thefe animals : they can bear the extremes
of heat but not of cold. They are found neidier in HudJotCs Bay,
Kamtjchatka, nor in any country inhabited by the Rein— a line in a
manner feparates them.

Their fkins are an article of commerce imported | by the Hud-
Jon's Bay company j but brought from the diftant parts far inland
by the Indians, who bring them from the neighborhood of the lakes.
In moft parts of North America th^y are called the Grey Moofe,
and the Elk ; this has given occafion to the miftaken notion of that
great animal being found in Virginia, and other fouthern pro-
vinces.

The Stags of America grow very fat : their tallow is much ef-
teemed for making of candles. The Indians Ihoot them. As they
are very fhy animals, the natives cover themfelves with a hide,
leaving the horns eredj under fhelter of which diey walk within
reach of the herd. De Brie, in the xxvth plate of the Hiftory of
Florida, gives a very curious reprefentation of this artflil method
of chafe, when it was vifited by the French in 1564.

Stags are totally extirpated in Ruffia, but abound in the rnoun^
tanous fouthern trad of Sibiria, where they grow to a fize far fu-
penor to what is known in Europe. The height of a grown Hind
IS four feet nine inches and a half, its length eight feet; diat of
Its head one foot eight inches and a half.

It is pofitively faid by Siiernhook, in his treatife Be jure Sueonum
vetufto, that in old time Stags were unknown in Sxveden, and that

• Kalm, i. 338. ^ Hernandez, Nov,Hifp. 325.

«f 1764, 1,307 were entered.

31

t In the fale

they

VIRGINIAN DEER.

they were introduced there but a little before the time of Gu/avus
Enckjon, who began his reign in 1521. Such Stags (fays he, to
diftinguifh them from the Rein-deer), which are now found in
our fouthern provinces. Let me add, that it is certain that they
have alfo long fince reached Norway.

The fpecies ceafes in the north-eaftern parts of SiUriat nor are
any found in Kamtjchatka,

6. ViRGIN'IAK.

Hi/}, ^iad. N" 46.— -Lev. Mus.

m \

?L

ACE.

T^EER. With round and flender horns, bending greatly for-
ward J numerous branches on the interior fides : deftitute of
brow antlers : color of the body a cinereous brown : head of a deep
brown: belly, fides, Ihoulders, and thighs, white, mottled with
brown : tail ten inches long, of a dulky color : feet cf a yellowilh
brown. Are not fo well haunched as the Englijh Buck, and are
lefs aftlve*.

• Inliabits all the provinces fouth of Canada, but in greateft
abundance in the fouthern ; but efpecially the vaft favannas con-
tiguous to the MiJJifipiy and the great rivers which flow into it.
They graze in herds innumerable, along with the Stags and Buf-
faloes. This fpecies probably extends to Guianay and is the Baieu
of that country, which is faid to be about the fize of a European
Buck, with fhort horns, bending at their ends f.

They are capable of being made tame; and when properly
trained, are ufed by the Indians to decoy the wild Deer (efpecially

* The late ingenious Mr. Ellis fliewed me a Bezoar found in one of thefe Deer,
killed in Georgia. It was of a fpheroid form, an inch and tliree quarters broad, half
an inch thick in the middle ; of a pale brown color ; hard, fmooth, and glofTy.

\ Bancroft.

in

*

Guftavus
rs he, to
found in
:hat they

nor are

latly for-
ftitute of
of a deep
Jed with
jrellowilh
, and are

I greateft
nas con-
7 into it.
and Buf-

the Baieu
European

properly
efpecially

thefe Deer,
broad, half

lofTy.

in

VIRGINIAN DEER.

in the rutting feafon) within fliot. Both Bucks and Does herd
from September to March j after that they feparate, and the Does
fecrete themfelves to bring forth, and are found with difficulty.
The Bticks from this time keep feparate, till the amorous feafon
of September revolves. The Deer begin to feed as foon as night
begins ; and fometimes, in the rainy feafon, in the day : otherwife
they feldom or never quit tlieir haunts. An old /imerican fportf-
man has remarked, that the Bucks will keep in tlie thickets for a
year, or even two *.

Thefe animals are very reftlefs, and always in motion, coming
and going continually f. Thofe which live near the Ihores are
lean and bad, fubjedl to worms in their heads and throats, gene-
rated from the eggs depofited in thofe parts %. Thofe that frequent
the hills and favannas are in better cafe, but the venifon is dry.
In hard winters they will feed on the long mofs which hangs from
the trees in the northern parts.

Thefe and other cloven-footed quadrupeds oi America are very
fond of fait, and refort eagerly to the places impregnated with it.
They are always feen in great numbers in the fpots where the
ground has been torn by torrents or other accidents, where they
are feen licking the earth. Such fpots are called licking-places.
The huntfmen are fure of finding the game there; for, not^
withftanding they are often difturbed, the Buffaloes and Deer
are fo paffionately fond of the favory regale, as to bid defiance
to all danger, and return in droves to thefe favc-'te haunts.

The fkins are a great article of commerce, 25,027 being im-
ported from New-Tork and PenJ'ylvania in the fale of 1764.

The Deer are of the firft importance to the Savages. The
Ikins form the greateft branch of their traffick, by which diey pro-

n

* Doftor Garden.

Vol. I.

f Du Pratz, ii. 51.

F

X Law/on, 124.

Fond of Salt.

m'ii

cure

Ii-:.

!^;

J4

r ,1

iS M

[ nil

VIRGINIAN DEER. *

cure from the colonifts, by way of exchange, many of the articles
of life. To all of them it is the principal food throughout the
year ; for by drying it over a gentle but clear fire, after cutting it
into fmall pieces, it is not only capable of long prefervation, but is
very portable in their fudden excurfions, efpecially when reduced
to powder, which is frequently done.

Hunting is more than an amufement to thefe people? They
give themfelves up to it not only for the fake of fubfiftence, but to
fit themfelves for war, by habituating themfelves to fatigue. A
good huntfman is an able warrior. Thofe who fail in the fports
of the field are never fuppofed to be capable of fupporting the
hardlhips of a campaign ; they are degraded to ignoble offices,
fuch as drelTlng the fkins of Deer, and other employs allotted only
to flaves and women *.

When a large party meditates a hunting-match, which is ufually
at the beginning of winter, they agree on a place of rendezvous,
often five hundred mi.cs diftant from their homes, and a place,
perhaps, that many of them had never been at. They have no
other method of fixing on the fpot than by pointing with their
finger. The preference is given to the eldeft, as the moft expe-
rienced f .

When this matter is fettled, they feparate into fmall parties,
travel and hunt for fubfiftence all the day, and reft at night ; but
the women have no certain refting-places. The Savages have
their particular hunting countries j but if they invade the limits of
thofe belonging to other nations, feuds enfue, fatal as thofe between
Percy and Douglas in the famed Cbevy Chace.

As foon as they arrive on the borders of the hunting country,
(which they never fail do=ig to a man, be their refpeftive routes

4

• Law/ofi, 2q8.

t Catejhy, App. xii.

I'M

ever

If; !

VIRGINIAN DEER.

ever fo diftant or fo various) the captain of the band delineates
on the bark of a tree his own figure, with a Rattlefnake tivined
round him with diftended mouth -, and in his hand a blocdy toma-
hawk. By this he implies a deftrudive menace to any who are
bold enough to invade their territories, or to interrupt their di-
verfion *.

The chafe is carried on in different ways. Some furprife the
Deer by ufing the Itale of the head, horns, and hide, in the man-
ner before mentioned : but the general method is performed by
the whole body. Several hundreds difperfe in a line, encompaf-
fing a vaft fpace of country, fire the woods, and drive the animals
into fome flrait or peninfula, where they become an eafy prey.
The Deer alone are not the objeft; Foxes, Raccoons, Bears, and
all beafts of fur, are thought worthy of attention, and articles of
commerce with the Europeans.

The number ofDeerdeftroyed in fome parts of America is in-
credible; as is preter.ded, from an abfurd idea which the Savages
have, that the more they deftroy, the more they fhall find in fuc-
ceeding years. Certain it is that multitudes are deftroyed j the
tongues only preferved, and the carcafes left a prey to wild beafts.
But the motive is much more political. The Savages well difcern]
that Ihould they overftock the market, they would certainly be
over-reaci.ed by the European dealers, who take care never to pro-
duce more goods than are barely fufficient for the demand of the
feafon, eftablifliing their prices according to the quantity of furs
brought by the natives. The hunters live in their quarters with
the utmoft feftivity, and indulgence in all the luxuries of the coun-
try. The chafe rouzes their appetites ; they are perpetually easing,
and will even rife to obey, at midnighc, the calls of hunger. Their

3S

• Catejly, App. ix.
F 2

viands

!!-!

36

VIRGINIAN DEER.

viands are exquifite. Venlfon boiled with red peafe j turkies bar-
becued and eaten with bears fat i fawns cut out of the does belly,
and boiled in the native bag ; filh, and crayfifh, taken in the next
ftreann ; dried peaches, and other fruits, form the chief of their
good living ♦. Much of this food is carminative : they give loofe
to the effecfts, and (reverfe to the cuftom of the delicate Arabs f )
laugh moft heartily on the occafion %.

They bring along with them their wives and miftrefles : not that
they pay any great refpeft to t ,. They make (like the Cath-

nefians) errant pack-horfes of tht, , loading them with provifions,
or the fkins of the chafe j or making them provide fire-wood.
Love is not the pafllon of a Savage, at left it is as brief with them
as with the animals they purfue.

Mr. Hutchins was prefented, by the Weahipouk IndianSy with a
Deer four feet eight inches long, and three feet two high. It was
entirely white, except the back, which was mottled with brown.
The fur was Ihort and fine, like that of the Ermine. The Indians^
ill their manner of expreflion, faid it came from a place where there
was litde or no day.

■ ! :

7. Mexican, Mexican Roe? Hiji. ^ad. N" 52 Smellie, w. 136.

J^ E E R. With horns near nine inches long, meafuring by the
curvature j and near nine inch , between tip and tip, and two
inches diftant between the bafes. About an inch and a half from
the bottom is one fharp ereft fnag. This, and the lower parts
of the horns, are very rough, ftrong, and fcabrous. The upper
parts bend forwards over the bafes j are fmooth, flatted, and broad,
dividing into three fharp fnags. Color of the hair like the £«-

• Law/on, 207,

t D^Jrvieux's traveh, 147.

X Larwfon, 207.

ropean

k

if

MEXICAN ROE.

ropm Roe ; but while young are rayed with white. In fize fome-
what fuperior to the" European Roe.

Inhabits Mey.ico * j probably extends to the interior north- weftern
parts oi America, and may prove the Scenoontmg or Squinatotiy de-
fcribed as being lefs than a Buck and larger than a Roe, but very
like it, and of an elegant form f

37

Hijl. %«</. No 51 — Smtllie, iv. lao Lev. Mus.

jQ E E R. With upright, round, rugged horns, trifurcated : hairs
tawny at their ends, grey below: rump and under-fide of the
tail white. Length near four feet : tail only an inch.

According to Charlevoix, they are found in great numbers in Ca-
mda. He fays they differ not from the European kind : are easily
domefticated. The Does will retreat into the woods to bringiorth,
and return to their mafter with their young J. They extend far
wefl:§. If Pifo's figure may be depended on, they are found in
Brazil |(j are frequent in Europe i and inhabit as high as Sweden
and Norway f : is unknown in RuJ/ia.

Roes are at prefent found fcarcely any where but in the foreft of
Smalandy and that but rarely. The female brings only two at a
time : the buck will defend itfelf widi courage againft the dogs,
when driven to extremity. They never make a ring when they
are hunted, but run ftrait forward, two or three Swedijh miles, or
twelve or eighteen £«f///2» j and then return along their former
track i but fo fatigued as feldom to efcape.

• Hernandez. f J^obbs\ HudforCs Bay, 24. j Hiji, Nou-v. France, v. 195.

% Dobbs^s Hud/on^s Bay, 24. || 37. ^ j.^„. ^uec. N<> 43, and Pontop.

Norway, u.g, '" ^

7. Rob.

i> 1 Ik I

i

^i

TAIL-LESS

SEE

w

38

mm

IMI

I !)

R O

A. Tail-less Roe, Hi^. ^a^. p. 109.

In its ftead is a larger variety : with horns lilce the laft, and color
the fame ; only a great bed of white covers the rump, and extends
fome way up the back : no tail, only a broad cutaneous excref-
cence around the anus.

Inhabits all the temperate parts ofRuJ/ia and Sihiria^ and extends
as far to the north as the Elk. Defcends to the open plains in the
winter. The "tartars call \t Saiga: the Ruffians Dikaja Roza.

B. Fallow-deer, ////?, ^aa'. N° 44.

Are aninials impatient of cold : are unknown in the Ruffian
empire, except by importation: and are preferved in parks in
Sweden*. The Englijh tranflator of Pontoppidan mentions them
(perhaps erroneoufly) among the deer of Norway.

Fallow-deer feem not to have been natives of Sweden ; there
are none in the forefts, but which have efcaped out of the king's
parks: fuch as thofe near the capital; in the ifle ofOeland; that
of IVeJengore, in lake Wetter ; and at Omberg. Even Stags are rare
in a ftate of nature, and thofe only in the forefts of Smaland,

* Du Pratx, ii. 54.

MUSK.

M U

39

MUSK. Hi/, ^uad. Genus. X.

. Tibet M. Hi/f. ^aJ. N" 54— Mofchus, Pallas Sp. Zool. fafc. xiii. Lev. Mus.

MUSK. With very <harp flender white tiifks on each fide
of the upper jaw, hanging out far below the under jaw : ears
rather large : neck thick : hair on the whole body long, upright,
and thick fet] each hair undulated} tips ferruginous; beneath
them black j the bottoms cinereous : on each fide of the front of
the neck is a white line edged with black, meeting at the cheft ;
another crofles that beneath the throat : limbs very flender, and of
a full black : tail very ftiort, and fcarcely vifible. The female
wants the tufl<s and the mufl<;-bag.

The mufk-bag is placed on the belly, almoft between the thighs.
A full-grown male wnll yield a drachm and a half of muflc i an old
one two drachms.

The length of the male is two feet eleven; of the female, two
feet three. The weight of a male from twenty-five to thirty
pounds, Troy weight : of an old female, from thirty to thirty-five ;
but fome young ones do not exceed eighteen.

Inhabits Jfta, from lat. 20 to 60, or from the kingdoms o( Laos
and Tong-King, between India and Cbinay and through the kingdom
of l^ibet* as high as Mangajea. The river Jenejei is its v/eftern
boundary, and it extends eaftward as far as lake Baikal, and about
the rivers Lena and TVitim ; but gradually narrows the extent of its
refidence as it approaches the tropic. Lives on the highefl: and
rudeft mountains, amidft the fnows, or in the fir-woods which lie

• Correft in p. 1 13, Hiji. ^ad. 9. 44 or 45, read 20.

betweea

Size.

Place.

5

Hi

40

M U

K.

i

Camel.

Wild Boar.

between them : goes ufually folitary, except in autumn, when they
colled in flocks to change their place : are excefllvely aftive, and
take amazing leaps over the tremendous chafms of their alps^ or
from rock to rock : tread fo light on the fnow, with their true and
falfe hoofs extended, as fcarcely to leave a mark j while the dogs
which purfue them fink in, and are forced to defift from the chafe :
are fo fond of liberty as never to be kept alive in captivity. They
feed on lichensy ar^u/us, rhododendron^ and whortleberry-r ' jits. Their
chafe is moft laborious : they are taken in fnares j or fhot by crofs-
bows placed in their tracks, with a firing from the trigger for
them to tread on and difcharge. The Tmguft Ihoot them with
bows and arrows. The fkins are ufed for bonnets and winter
drefTes. The Ruffians often fcrape off the hair, and have a way of
preparing them for fummer cloathing, fo as to become as foft and
fhining as filk.

The two other hoofed animals of the north ai Afia^ the Two-
bunched Camel, and the Wild Boar, do not reach as high as lat. 60 :
the firft is found in great troops about lake Baikal^ as far as lat. 56
or 57 i but if brought as high as Jakutjky beyond lat. 60, perifh
with cold *. The Wild Boar is common in all the reedy marfhes
of Tariary and SiMria, and the mountanous forefts about lake
Baikaly almoft to lat, ^^ -, but none in the north-eaftern extremity
of Sibiria,

II

• Zimmerman, 357.

D I V.

■h

\

it^K

D I V. II.

DIGITATED QJU A D R U P E D S.

S E C T. L With Canine Teeth.

Vol.1,

B^-|

4a

w o

F.

DOG.

9. Wo'.r,

Color.

D I V. II. Digitated Quadrupeds.

SECT. I. With Canine Teeth.
Rapacious, Carnivorous.

0

H I S r, ^UA D. Genus XVII.

ilijl.^ad. N« \^-j.-~Smellii. iv. 1 96.^! B v. M us.

jr\OG. With a long head : pointed nofe : ears fharp and ereft:
-■^ legs long : tail bufliy, bending down : hair pretty long.
Color ufually of a pale brown, mixed widi dull yellow and black

Inhabits the interior countries fouth of Hudfon's Bay ; and from
thence all Jmerica, as low as FlorUa, There are two varieties, a
greater and a lefler. The firft ufually confines itfelf to the colder
parts. The latter is not above fifteen inches high *. In the more
uninhabited parts of the country, they go in great droves, and
hunt the deer like a pack of hounds, and make a hideous noife.
They will attack the Bufl^alo , but only venture on the ftragglers
In the unfrequented parts of Jmrica are very tame, and will come
near the few habitations m hopes of finding fomething to eat.
They are often fo very poor and hungry, for want of prey, as to
go into a fwamp and fill themfelves with mud, which they will dif-
gorge as foon as they can get any food.

The Wolves towards Hud/o^^s Bay are of difl=ercnt colors ^ grey
and white i and fome black and white, the black hairs being mixed
with the white chiefly along the back. In Ca.acia they have been

• Du Pratz, ii. 54.

found

4 I

w o

F.

43

found entirely black *. They are taken in the northern parts in
log-traps, or by fpring-guns i their (kins being an article of com-
merce.

In the Leverian mufeum is the head and fcuU of a wolf:
diifky and brown, formed by the natives into a helmet. The pro-
teftion of the head was the natural and firft thought of mankind ,
and the fpoils of beads were the firft things that offered. Henules
feized on the fkln of the Lion : the yimericans, and ancient Latians
that of the Wolf.

Fulvofque Lupi de pellc galeros
Tcgmen habct capiti.

Wolves are now fo rare in the populated parts of /Imerica, tliat
the inhabitants leave their flieep the whole night unguarded : yet
the governments o^ Perifyhania and New Jerjey did fome years ago
allow a reward of twenty Ihillings, and the laft even thirty fliiilings,
for the killing of every Wolf. Tradition informed them what a
fcourge thofe animals had been to the colonies j fo they wifely de-
termined to prevent the like evil. In their infant ftate, wolves came
down in multitudes from the mc itains, often attrafted by the
fmell of the corpfes of hundreds of Indians who died of the fmall-
pox, brought among them by the Europeans: but the animals did
not confine their infults to the dead, but even devoured in their
huts the fick and dying Savages f .

The Wolf is capable of being in fome degree tamed and do-
mefticated |. It was, at the firft arrival of the Europeans, and is
ftill in many places, the Dog of the Americans §. It ftill betrays
its favage defcent, by uttering only a howl inftead of the fignificant
bark of the genuine Dog. This half-reclamed breed wants the

Do

c.

* Smellie, iv. 2 12.
-Laivin, 119,

t Kalm, I 285. X The fame, 286.

§ Smith') Hijl, Virginia, 27,^Crantz Greenland, i. 74.

G 2 fagacity

44

WOLF.

H||i-;

1 :

!

j

1

1

^ 1

1

i

■W

r

': ^ ;, i

M|!,:ii Ml

fagaclty of our faithflil attendant ; and is of little farther ufe in
the chafe, than in frightening the wild beafts into the fnares or
traps.

The Kamtjchatkansy EJk'mauXt and Greenlanders^ ftrangers to the
fofter virtues, treat thefe poor animals with great negled. The
former, during fummer, the feafon in which they are ufeiefs, tui/.
them loofe to provide for themfelves ; and recall them in October
into their ufual confinement and labor : from that time till fpring
they are fed with fifh-bones and ofanay i. e. putrid fiih preferved
in pits, and ferved up to them mixed with hot water. Thofe ufed
for draught are caftrated ; and four, yoked to the carriage, will
draw five poods, or a hundred and ninety Englijh pounds, befides
the driver; and thus loaden, will travel thirty verfts, or twenty
miles, a day -, or if unloaden, on hardened fnow, on Aiders of
bone, a hundred and fifty verfts, or a hundred Englijh miles *.

It is pretty certain that the Kamtjchatkan Dogs are of wolfifli de-
fcent ; for Wolves abound in that country, in all parts of Sibiria,
and even under the ArEtic circle. If their mafter is flung out of
his fledge, they want the afl^edionate fidelity of the European kind,
and leave him to follow, never ftopping till the fledge is overturn-
ed, or elfe ftopped by fome impediment f. I am alfo ftrengthened
in my opinion by the ftrong rage they have for the purfuit of
deer, if on the journey they crofs % the fcent ; when the mafter
finds it very difficult to*wiake them purfue their way.

Tlie great traveller of the thirteenth century, Marco Polo, had
knowledge of this fpecies of conveyance from the merchants who
went far north to traffic for the precious furs. He defcribes the

* Hlfi. Ka»itfdmtka,io-j.\^7. f The fame, 107.

t The fame — There is a variety of black wolves in the Vekroturian mountains.
Tlie flie-wolves haxx been fucceisfiilly coupled with dogs in fome noblemen's parks
about Mnj\o-M,

fledges i

w o

F/

45

%

fledges ; adds, that they were drawn by fix great dogs ; and that
they changed them and the fledges on the road, as we do at pre-
lent in going port *.

The Kamtjchatkans make ufe of the flcins of dogs for cloathing,
and the long hair for ornament : feme nations are fond of them
as a food; and reckon a fat dog a great delicacy f. Both the
4fiatic and American Savages ufe thefe animals in facrifices to their
gods Xi to befpeak favor, or avert evil. When the Koreh dread
any infedlion, they kill a dog, wind the inteftines round two poles,
and pafs between them.

The G.emlanders are not better mafters. They leave their dogs
to feed on mulTels or berries ; unlefs in a great capture of feals,
when they treat them with the blood and garbage. Thefe people
alfo fometimes eat their dogs : ufe the fkins for coverlets, for
cloathing, or to border and feam their habits : and their bell thread
is made of the guts.

The Dogs in general are large ; and, in the frigid parts at left,
have the appearance of Wolves : are ufually white, with a black
face ; fometimes varied with black and white, fometimes all white ;
rarely brown, or all black : have Iharp nofes, thick hair, and Ihort
ears : and feldom bark ; but fet up a fort of growl, or favage
howl. They fleep abroad ; and make a lodge in the fnow, lying
with only their nofes out. They fwim moll excellently : and will
hunt, in packs, the ptarmigan, arftic fox, polar bear, and feals
lying on the ice. The natives fometimes ufe diem in the chafe
of the bear. They are e.rceffively fierce ; and, like wolves, In-
Itantly fly on the few domellic animals introduced into Greenland.
They will fight among themfelves, even to death. Canine mad-

Grebnlakd.

• In Bergtron, 160.
fame, Drage, i. 216.

t Hijl. Kamtfchatka, 231 — The Americans do the
t Hiji, Kamtfch. 226.—Drage, ii. 41.

nels

i^jmax^^ a«aii«Lu >i

II'; h

46

Ice

L4ND.

,1 n

if

I '!

i't-

lis

m

w

F.

nels is unknown in Creeftland*. They are to the natives in the
place of horfes : the Gremlanders fallen to their fledges from four
to ten J and thus make their vifits in favage ftate, or bring home
the animals diey have killed. Egede fays that they will travel over
the ice fifteen German miles in a day, or fixty Englijh, widi fledges
loaden with their mafters and five or fix large feals f.

Thofe of Che neighboring ifland q{ Iceland have a great refem-
blance to them. As to thofe of Newfoundland, it is not certain
that diere is any diftind breed : moft of them are curs, with a crofj
of the maftifl?": fome will, and others will not, take the water, ab-
folutely refufing to go in. The country was found uninhabited,
which makes it more probable that they were introduced by the
Europeans j who ufe them, as the fadtory does in Hudjon's Bay, to
draw firing from the woods to the forts.

The Savages who trade to Hudfm's Bay make ufe of the wolfifh
kind to draw their furs.

It is Angular, that the race oi European Dogs Ihew as ftrong an
antipathy to this American fpecies, as they do to the Wolf itfelf.
They never meet with them, but they fhew aU pofTible figns of
difiike, and will fall on and worry them; while the wolfilh breed,,
with every mark of timidity, puts its tail between its legs, and
runs from the rage of the others. This averfion to die Wolf is
natural to all genuine Dogs : for it is well known that a whelp,
which has never feen a wolf, will at firfl fight tremble, and run to
its mafler for protcdion : an old dog will inflantly attack it.

I IhaU conclude this article with an abflraft of a letter from Dr.
V alias, dated OElober 5th, 1781 j in which he gives the foUowing
confirmation of the mixed breed of diefe animals and Dogs.

« I have feen at Mojcow about twenty fpurious animals from
«' dogs and black wolves. They are for the moft part like wolves.

• Faun, Gresnl. p. 19.

t Ege^e, 6y'~~Crafitx, I 74.

" except

if I ' "

' 'Hill

WOLF.

« except that fome carry their tails higher, and have a kind of
" coarfe barking. They multiply among themfelves: and fome
« of the whelps are greyilh, rufty, or even of the whiti/h hue of
" the Araic wolves : and one of thofe I faw, in fliape, tail, and
" hair, and even in barking, fo like a cur, that, was it not for his
« head and ears, his ill-natured look, and fearfulncfs at the ap-
« proach of man, I fhould hardly have believed that it was of
" the fame breed."

In many parts o^ Sweden the number of Wolves has been con
fiderably diminifned by placing poifoncd carcafes in their way
but in other places they are found in great multitudes. Hunger
fometimes compels them to eat lichens , thofe vegetables were
found in the body of one killed by a foldier, but it was fo weak
that It could fcarcely move. It probably had fed on the liche'n
viilpmus, which is a known poifon to thefe animals.

Madnefs, in certain years, is very apt to feize the Wolf. The
confequences are often very melancholy. Mad Wolves will bite
Hogs and Dogs, and the laft again, the human fpecies. In a finale
parilh fourteen perfons were vidims to this dreadful malady The
fymptoms are the fame with thofe attendant on the bite of a mad
dog. Fury fparkles in their eyes , a glutinous fdiva diftils from
their mouths ; they carry their tails low, and bite indifferentlv
men and beafts. It is remarkable that this difeafe happens in the
depth of winter, fo can never be attributed to the rage of the dog-
Often, towards fpring, Wolves get upon the ice of the fea to
prey on the young Seals, which they catch aOeep : but this repafl
often proves fatal to them ; for the ice, detached from the Ihore
carries them to a great diftance from land, before they are fenfible
of It. In fome years a large diftrift is by this n>eans delivered
from thefe pernicious beafts, which are heard howling in a moft
dreadful manner, far in the fea.

When

47

, 1

^ I

/

■immmmtummsj^..

Ml! ■ i ■!

I'M

I

r ; r

1

f i

!

)

i

i

j

J

, ■■ ■ -
1 •■■-

m

43

10. Arctic,

' iiv

ARCTIC FOX.

When Wolves come to make their attack on cattle, they never
fail attempting to frighten away the men by their cries ; but the
found of the horn makes them fly like lightning.

Arftic Fox, Hi/}. Siuad. N" —Lev. Mus.

irjOG. With a fliarp nofe: ears alm.ofl: hid in the fur, fhort
and rounded : hair long, foft, and filky : legs fhort : toes
covered above and below with very thick and foft fur : tail Ihorter
than that of the common Fox, and more bulhy.

Inferior in fize to the common Fox : color a blueilTi-grey,
and fometimes white. The young, before they come to maturity,
duflcy. The hair, as ufual in cold regions, grows much thicker
and longer in winter than fummer.

Thefe animals are found only in the Ardic regions, a few de-
grees within and without the Polar circle. They inhabit Sfitz-
bergerii Greenland^ and Iceland * : are only migratory in Hudfon's
Bay, once in four or five years f: are found again in Bering's
and J Copper IJIe, next to it ; but in none beyond : in Kamtf-
chatka, and all the countries bordering on the frozen fea, which
feems their great refidence j comprehending a woodlefs trad of
heath land, generally from 70 to 65 degrees lat. They abound
in Nova Zembla || : are found in Cherry ifland, midway between
Finmark and Spifzbergen §, to which they muft have been brought
on iflands of icej for it lies above four degrees north of the firft,
and three fouth of the laft : and laftly, in the bare mountains be-
tween Lapland and Norway. When the Arftic Fox has been ia
purfuitof the wandering Lemmus, p. 136. Ar£}. Zool. it fometimes
lofes its way home, and has been taken in places far from its

• Egede, tz.— Marten's Spitzb. 100 — Horrehoiu's Iceland, 43. f Mr. Graham.

t MuUer's Col, l.j. 53. |i Heemjkirk'i Foy. 34. § Purchas, iii. 559.

natural

0

ARCTIC FOX.

natural haunts. The late Mr. Kalm has left an inftance of one
being taken in Weftrogothia. Profeflbr Retzius favored me with
an account of one fhot near to Lundy in lat. ^S- 42.

They are the hardieft of animals, and even in Spitzbergen and
Nova Zembla prowl out for prey during the feverity of winter.
They live on the young wild geefe, and all kind of water-fowl ,*
on their eggs , on hares, or any lefler animals j and in Greenland,
(through neceffity) on berries, fhell-fifh, or whatfoever the fea
throws up. But in the north of Jfta, and in Lapland, their prin-
cipal food is the Lemings *. The Ardic foxes of thofe countries
are as migratory as thofe little animals ; and when the laft make
their great migrations, the latter purfue diem in vaft troops. But
fuch removals are not only uncertain, but long : dependent on
thofe of the Lming. The Foxes will at times defert their native
countries for three or four years, probably as long as they can find
any prey. The people of Jenifea imagine, that the wanderers from
their parts go to the banks of the Oby,

Thofe found on Bering's and Copper IJIes were probably brought
from the J/mtic fide on floating ice : Steller having feen in the re-
moter iflands only the black and brown foxes : and the fame only
on the continent of America. They burrow in the eardi, and form
holes many feet in length ; ftrewing the bottom with mofs. But
in Spitzbergen and Greenland, where the ground is eternally frozen
they live in the cliffs of rocks : two or three inhabit die fame hole
They fwim well, and often crofs from ifland to iHand in fearch of
prey. They are in heat about Lady-day ; and during that time
continue in the open air: after that, retreat to their cardis. Like

* Of which I apprehend there are two fpecies-the Lapland, Hift. 9uad. N« 317.
and the Mu. Mi.ratcnus of Pallas, or raik Rat, Wji, ^W. N- 326. which inhabit,
the country near the YaiL

49

Vol. I.

m

H

dogs.

t^

50

10 A.

ARCTIC FOX.

dogs, continue united in copulation : bark like them : for which
reafon the Ruffians call them Pefzti. They couple in Greenland in
March, and again in May ; and bring forth in Jpril and in June *.

They are tame and inoffenfive animals ; and fo fimple, that there
are inftances of their flanding by when die trap was baiting, and
inftandy after putting their heads into it. They are killed for the
fake of dieir fkins, botii in Jfia and Hudfon's Bay: the fur is light
and warm, but not durable. Mr. Graham informed me, that they
have appeared in fuch numbers about die fort, that he has taken,
in different ways, four hundred from December to March. He
likewife affured me, that the tips of their tails are always black j
thofe of die common foxes always white: and that he never could
trace the breeding-places of the former.

The Greenlanders tzkc±Gmc\i\iQv in pitfaUs dug in the fnow, and
baited with the Capelin fifhi or in fprings made widi whale-bone,
laid over a hole made in the fnow, ftrewed over at bottom with
the fame kind of fiflii or in traps made like litde huts, with flat
ftones, witii a broad one by way of door, which falls down (by
means of a firing baited on the infide widi a piece of flefh) when-
ever the fox enters and pulls at itf. The Greenlanders preferve
the fkins for traffic ; and in cafes of neceffity eat die flefh. They
alfo make buttons of die fkins: and fplit the tendons, and make
ufe of them inflead of diread. The blue flirs are much more
efteemcd dian the white.

The SooTV. D. widi a dulky fur on every partj in fize and
habit refembling the former.

^ A diftinft fpecies. Inhabits Iceland in great numbers. Commu-
nicated to me hyjohn Thomas Stanley, Efqi who, excited by his paf.

• faun. Groenl. 20. f Crantx, i. 72.

don

f«o B.

EUROPEANFOX.

fion for fcience, in 1789 made a voyage to Iceland, and returned
highly informed of the various inftrudive particulars refpeding that
wondrous ifland. ^

Grebvland. D. above of a footy brown: ears rounded, white
within: a white bed extends from each to the lower part of the throat-
which, with the whole underfide, and infide of the haunches, is white :
tai white below, brown above, in one fpecimen the one half of the
tail wholly white: beneath each eye a white fpot: feet furred
beneath. A very fmall fpecies.
Inhabits Greenland, Bought by Mr. Stanley, at Copenhagen.

5»

Eurtjpean Fox, Hiji, ^ad. N» ,39-^//., Iv. 2,4.-Lev. Mus.

J])OG. With a pointed nofe: pointed ere<5b ears: body of a
tawny red, mixed with afh-color: forepart of the legsblack^
tail long and bufhy, tipt with white.

Inhabits the northern parts oi North America, from Hudjon^s Bay
probably acrofs the continent to the iflands intermediate between
A.er.a and Karntfchatka. Captain Bering faw there five quite
tame, being unufed to the fight of man. '

This fpecies graduaUy decreafes to the fouthward, in numbers
and in fize: none are found lower than P./y..,,,. They Tr
fuppofed not to have been originaUy natives of that country. Th
/«^..«. beheve they came from the north o( Europe in an exceffive
hard winter, when the fea was frozen. The truth feems tot
that they were driven in fome fevere feafon from the north of theiV
own country and have continued there ever fince. They ab und
about HudM's Bay, the Labrador country, and in Nelfo^Z^d

^ ^ and

II. EuftopEAir.

52

I '1

BLACK FOX.

and Canada I and are found in Iceland'^. They burrow as the Eu^
ropean foxes do j and in Hudjon's Bay^ during winter, run about the
woods in fearch of prey, feeding on birds and lefler animals, par-
ticularly mice.

New England is faid to have been early ftocked with foxes by a
gendeman who imported them from England, for the pleafure of
the chafe ti and that the prefent breed fprung from the occafion.
This fpecies is reckoned among the pernicious animals, and, being
very deftrudlive to lambs, are profcribed at die rate of two Ihillings
a head.

The variety oiBritiJh fox, with a black tip to the tail, feems un-
known in America.

The fkins are a great article of commerce : abundance are im«
ported annually from Hudjon's Bay and Newfoundland. The natives
oi Hudjon's Bay eat the flefh, rank as it is.

This fpecies abounds in Kamtjchatka, and is the fineft red fur of
any known: grows fcarce within the Ardic circle oixhtAJiatic
regions, and is found there often white.

« Black.

^ HIS variety is found very often entirely black, with a white
tip to the tail J and is far inferior in value and beauty to thofe
of Kamtjchatka and Sibiriay where a fingle Ikin fells for four hundred
rubles.

The beft in North America are found on the Labrador fide of
Hudjon's Bay. They are alfo very common on the iflands oppofite
to Kamtjchatka. The American black foxes, which I have examined,
are frequently of a mixed color: from the hind part of the head to

• Olaffcn,\. 31.

t Kalm, i. 283.

the

CROSS AND BRANT FOX.

the middle of the back is a broad blacic line : the tail, legs, and
belly, black: the hairs on die face, fides, and lower part of die
back, cinereous -, tlieir upper ends black i the tip white.

S3

JP O X. With a bed of black running along the top of the back,
croffed by another pafling down each fhoulder j from whence
It took the name. The belly is black : the color of the reft of the
body varies in different fkins; but in all is a mixture of black, cine-
reous, and yellow : the for in all very foft : and the tail very bulhy
and full of hair; for nature, in the rigorous climate of the North,
IS ever careful to guard the extremities againft the injury of cold. *
This is likewife a very valuable variety. It is remarked, that
the more defireable the fur is, the more cunning and difficult to be
taken is the fox which owns it *. The Cojacks quartered in Kamt~
fchatka have attempted for two winters to catch a fingle black fox.
The Crofs-fox, Vulpes crucigera o( Ge/ner, and Kors-raef oUh^
Swedes f, is found in all the Polar countries.

In the new-difcovered Fox ijlands thefe animals abound : one in
three or four are found entirely black, and larger than any in
Stbma: the tail alfo is tipt with white. But as they live among
the rocks, there being no woods in thofe iflands, their hair is almoft
as coarfe as diat of the Wolf, and of little value compared to the
Sibirian..

& Cross..

Prant Fox, Hifl, i^taH. p. 235.

pox. With a very iharp and black nofe: fpace round the
ears ferruginous : forehead, back, fhoulders, fides, and thi^^hs
red, cinereous, and black: the afh-color predominates, which

Hift. Kamt/chatka, 95.

t Ge/ner ^ad. ^e^.—Faun. Suec. N» 4.

gives

y Brant,

0 i

^' /

k f

i I;

pWi

54

CORSAK AND GREY FOX.

gives it a hoary look : belly yellowifh : tail black above, cinereous
on the fides, red beneath.

About half the fizc of the common fox. Defcribec^ from one
Mr. Brooks received (rom Penjyhaniay under t\\c n^imtt o( Brandt^
fox ; but it had not that bright rednefs to merit the name of either
Brandt-fucbjey or Brand-raef, given by Gefner and Lim^us,

J Colli A K.

la. Grky.

Corfak Fox, Hiji. ^eui. p. 236.

pox. With upright ears: yellowiih-green irides: throat
white : color, in fummer, pale tawny ; in winter, cinereous :
middle of the tail cinereous; bafe and tip black; the whole
very fliU of hair: the fiir is coarfer and fhorter than that of the
common fox.

I difcovered this fpecies among the drawings of the late Taylor
JVhite, Efqj who informed me that it came from North America,
I imagine, from Hudjon's Bay.

This fpecies is very common in the hilly and temperate parts
of Tartary, from the Don to the Amuvi but never is found in
woody places : it burrows deep beneath the furface. It is alfo
faid to inhaWt the banks of the rivers Indigi/ky and Anadyty where
the hills grow bare. In the reft oi Sibiria it is only known beyond
lake Baikal; and from fkins brought by the Kirghiftan and Bu-
charian traders. In Rujfia it is found in the defarts towards Cri-
mea and 4/lracan, and alfo on the fouthern end of the Urallian
mountains.

Grey Fox, HljJ. ^ad. N' 142.

JpOX. Widi a fharp nofe : long Iharp upright ears: long
legs: color entirely grey, except a little rednefs about the
cars.

Inhabits

cinereous

from one

)( Brandt"

of either

: throat
inereous :
'le whole
at of the

te I'aylor
America,

ite parts
found in
t is alfo
r, where
1 beyond
and Bu-
irds Cri-
Urallian

GREY AND SILVERY FOX.

Inhabits from Ne.v England to the fouthern end of iV..;^ ^^.
rua; but are far more numerous in the fouthern colonies. Thev
have not the rank fmell of th. red foxes. They are alfo lefs adive
and grow very fat*. They breed m hollow trees : give no di'
verHon to the fportfmcn, for after a mile's chafe they run up a tree f
limbs Tht' are deftrudlive to poultry, but neve'r deftroy
mbs t The Hens are ufed to line clothes : the fur i, in great
requ.l among the hatters. The greafe is reckoned efficacious
in rneumatic diforders. cmcacious

Silvery Fox, Hijl. ^ad, N» 143..

pox. With a fine and thick coat of adeep brown color, over-

rpr«d w,th long filvery hairs of a moft elegant appearance

Inhabits Louifima, where their holes are feen in «rL ,k j '

on the wood, heights. As they live in IreKich al^d

«.^^game, the, never n^left the poult^. fo are fjffered ,ot7at

They differ fpecifically from the former, more by their nature
in burrowing, than in colors. ^ ™'^'

Mr. BuuUn. informed me of a whitifh grey Fox, no larger than
a Hare common among the Arcminuc Mians : four thouTnd of
.heir tons have been fent in one year to the faftories.

5^/.:t^;.x-cw.:::f:;.'^~^'^''--

5S

^3' Silvery.

t Kalmy'i, 282*.

P i«

5 : long
)out the

Inhabits

'7

i

Hjsr.

ni

t 4

5«

U M A.

Ill' N

CAT.

14. Puma.

HIS r. ^U^D. Genus XIX.

Jfi/l. ^ad. N" i6o.^Sml/u, v. 197, 300— Lev. Mus.

C V* ^''^ u' I*""'" ^''^ '' ^''^' ^y" ^ ^^" ^ 'i"l^ pointed :

red, mixed with dufky hairs: breaft, belly, and in fide of the legs,
cinereous: tail a mixture of dufky and ferruginous, the dp

The teeth of a vaft fizc: claws whitifh; the outmoft claw of the
fore feet much larger than the reft: the body very long: the legs
high and ftrong. The length of that I examined was Bve feet
three from head to tail ; of the tail, two feet eight.

Inhabits the continent of Nmb America, from Canada to Florida •
and the fpecies is continued from thence low into South Americi
through Mexico, Guiana, Brafil, and the province of ^«;/,, in Peru
where it is called Puma, and by the Europeans miftaken for a Lion *
It IS, by reafon of its fiercenefs, the fcourge of the country. The
different climate 0^ North America feems to have fubdued its rage
and rendered it very fearful of mankind : the left cur, in compL'
with his mafter, will make it run up a tree *, which is the opportu-
nity of Ihooting it. It proves, if not killed outright, a dangerous
enemy; for it will defcend, and attack either man or beaft The
flefti IS white, and reckoned very good. The Indians ufe the fkin
for winter habits; and when drefled is made into fhoes for women
and gloves for men f. '

Catejl,yy App, xxv. f law/on, 118.

It

PUMA. LYNX.

It is called in North America the Panther, and is the mod per-
nicious animal of that continent. Lives in tiic forefts. Sometime,
purs, at other times makes a great howling. Is extremely de-
ftruaive to domeftic animals, particularly to hogs. It preys alfo
upon the Moofe, and other deer, falling on them from the tree it
lurks in, and never quits its hold *. The deer has no other way
of faving itfelf, but by plunging into the water, if there happens
to be any near; for the Panther, like the Cat, dctefts that element.
It will feed even on bea/ls of prey. I have feen the fkin of one
which was fhot, juft as it had killed a wolf When it has fatisfied
Itfelf with eating, it carefully conceals the reft of the carcafe, cover-
ing it with leaves. If any other animal touches the reliques, it never
touches them again.

Hijl. ^ad. N- 170.— 5w//,>. V. 207. 217— Lev. Mu«.

(^AT. With pale yellow eyes: ears ereft, tufted with black
long hair: body covered with foft and long fur, cinereous
tinged with tawny, and marked with dulky fpots, more or lefs
vifible in different fubjefts, dependent on the age, or feafon in which
the animal is killed: the legs ftrong and thick: the claws large.
About three times the fize of a common Cat: the tail only four
inches long, tipt with black.

Inhabits the vaft forefts oi North America : is called in Gi//«^^,
Le Chat, ou Le Loup-cervier f, on account of its being fo deftruftivc
to deer; which it drops on from the trees, like the former, and,

* Charlevoix, V. ,89, who by'miftakc caUs k Carcajou. ^:^^ Kincajou ; two very
cilFerent animals. '

t Charlevoix, V, I ^^,

Vol, I, t ^ .

* „ fixing

57

15. Lynx.

?:!

; h
m

A

I

iii'i

hi!

$8

BAY LYNX.

fixing oh the jugular vein, never quits its hold till the cxhauftcd
animal falls through lofs of blood *.

The Englijh call it a Wild Cat. It is very deftrudive to their
young pigs, poultry, and all kind of game. The fkins are in high
cfteem for the foftnefs and warmnefs of the fur ; and great numbers
are annually imported into Europe.

The Lynx is the moft formidable enemy which the Sheep has":
it is pretended uiat they only fuck the blood : but it is pretty-
certain that they alfo devour the liver end lungs, for thofe parts
are often found eaten. The little Kat-h or Lynx is very fcarce ;
its fur is efteemed more valuable than that of the greater or Warglo.
It is fuppofed to be a particular fpecies. — Mr. Oedman.

I- 1 11^:

%U

l6. liAT. Bay Lynx. fl"^?. %a</. N" 171.

r^KT. With yellow irides: ears like the former: color of the
head, body, and outfide of the legs and dughs, a bright bay,,
obfcurely marked with dufky Ipots : the forehead marked with black
ftripes from the head to the nofe : cheeks white, varied with three
or four incurvated lines of black : the upper and under lip, belly,
and infides of the legs and thighs, white : the infide of the upper
part of the fore legs crofTed with two black bars : the tail fhort j the
upper part marked with dulky bars, and near the end with one of
black J the under fide white. In fize, about twice that of a com-
mon Cat; the fur fhorter and fmoother than that of the former.

This fpecies is found in the internal parts of the province of New
Tork. I faw one living a few years ago in Ijindon, The black
bars on the legs and tail are fpecific marks.

• Laiv/on, iiQ,f^a:eJl>y, App. xxv.

1

;

1, J;

'1

4 i ,

■ 1 . i ■
:
M

Lo

\

Mifi.

MOUNTAIN CAT,

Hiji. ^ad. N» 1 68.

Cat-a-mountain ? la'wfon, 1 18— Z)« Pratz, ii. 64.

^ A T. With upright pointed ears, marked with two brown bars t
head and upper part of the body of a reddifh brown, with long
narrow ftripes of black : the fides and legs with fmall round fpots :
chin and throat of a clear white: beUy of a dull white: taU eight
inches lon^, barred with black. Lengdi from nofe to tail two feet
and a half.

Inhabits North America. Is faid to be a gentle animal, and to
grow very fat. Defcribed originally in the Memoires de VAcadmiei
fince which an account of another, taken in Carolina.yf^ communi-
cated by the late Mr. Collinjcn to the Count de Buffon *. The only
difference is in fizej for the laft was only nineteen inches long:
the tail four; but the fame charafteriftic ftripes, fpots, and bars,
on the tail, were fimilar in both.

There ftill remain undefcribed fome animals of the Feline race
whicl are found in North America^ but too obfcurely mentioned by
travellers to be afcertained. Such is the beaft which Lawjon faw to
the weftward of Carolinay and calls a Tiger. He fays it was larger
than the Pandier, i. e. Puma, and that it differed from the Tiger of
Afia and Africa f. It poffibly may be the Braftlian Panther, Hifi.
^uad. N" 158, which may extend further nordi than we imagine.
It may likewife be the Cut-a-mount of Du PratzXi which, he
fays, is as high as the Tiger, i. e. Puma, and the fkin extremely
beautiful.

The Pijotix oiLouifianay mentioned by Charlevoix §, are alfo ob-

• Supplem. iii. 227. ^ HiJ{. Carolina, 119.

I ii. 64.-I wifh to fupprefs the fynonym of Cat-a-mount. as applied to the Cajenue
Cat, as It feems applicable to a much larger fpecies.
5 HiJi. de U Nouv. Franu, vi. 158,

I i fcure

59

17. Mountain.

SlES.

Obscure Spe-
cies.

I if' hIj

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DOMESTIC CAT.

fcurc animals. He fays they are very like our Wild Cats, but
larger : that fome have fhorter tails, and others longer. The firft
nnay be referred to one of the three laft fpecies i the laft may be our
Cayenne Cat, N" 163.

Domeftic Cats are kept in Iceland and Norway *. Some of them
efcape and relapfe to a favage ftate. In Iceland thoit are called Ur-
dakeltery becaufe they live under rocks and loofe ftones, where they
hide themfelves. They prey on fmall birds. The moil valuable
of their fkins are fold for twelve Danijh Ikillings, or fix pence a-
piece. Lhnausj fpeaking of the cats of Sweden^ fays, they are of
exotic origin f. They are not found wild either in that kingdom,
or any part of the RttJJian dominions. Unknown in America.

• Olttf. Iceland, i. Paragr. Zo.'^Pontop. ii. 8, f 'P'««»' ^»*<"« N" 9.

HIS r.

POLAR BEAR.

6i

HIST. ^UAD. Genus XX.

BEAR.

Hiji, ^ad. N" 175.— Lev. Mu«.

BEAR. With a long narrow head and neck: tip f the nofe
black : teeth of a tremendous magnitude : hair of a great
length, foft, and white, and in part tinged with yellow : limbs very
thick and ftrong : ears fhort and rounded.

Travellers vary about their fize. De Buffon quotes the authority
of Gerard le Ver * for the length of one of the (kins, which, he fays,
was twenty-three ktt. This feems to be extremely mifreprefented i
for Gerard^ who was a companion of the famous BarMz^ and HeemJ-
kirky a voyager of the firft credit, killed feveral on Nova Zmbla,
the largeft of which did not exceed thirteen feet in length f. They
feem fmaller on Spitzbergen : one meafured by order of a noble and
able navigator J, in his late voyage towards the Pole, was as follows :
I give all the meafurements to afcertain the proportions.

Feet. Inches.
Length from fnout to tail - - 7 i

from fnout to fhoulder-bone - 2 3

Height at the fhoulder - - 4 3

Circumference near the fore legs - 7 o

of the neck near the ear 2 i

Breadth of the fore-paw - -07

Weight of the carcafe without the head,

Ikin, or entrails - - _ 6iolb.

18. Polar.

ft

1 (

'I:

• De Buffon, Suppl. ili. 200. f See Le Ver, p. 14. ed. 1606. jimftcU.

X The Honorable Conjimtim JohnPhipps, now Lord Mulgravt.

This

6t

Placi.

i' ^

li':-

:

ii^

ij

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1"

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11, s

, I, I

■s .

'li .

POLAR BEAR.

This fpecies, like the Rein and Aidic Fox, almoft entirely fur-
rounds the neighborhood of the Polar circle. It is found within it,
far as navigators have penetrated j in the ifland of Spitzbergetiy and
within Baffin's Bay i in Greenland and Hudjon's Bay ; in T^erra di
Labrador * j and, by accident, wafted from Greenland^ on iflands of
ice, to Iceland and Newfoundland. It perhaps attends the courfe of
the Ardic circle along the vaft regions oi America-, but it is un-
known in the groupes of iflands between that continent and Afta;
neither is it found on die Tchuktki Nojsy or the Great Cape, which
juts into die fea north of Kamtfcbatka f. None are ever feen in that
country. But they are frequent on all the coafts of the Frozen
Ocean, from the mouth of the Ob J, eaftward j and abound moft
about the eftuaries of the Jenejei and Lena. They appear about
thofe favage tra6ts, and abound in the unfrequented iflands o? Nova
Zemhla, Cherry, and Sfitzbergen, where they find winter quarters
undiaurbed by mankind. The fpecies is happily unknown along
tiie fliores of the White fea, and thofe oi Lapland and Norway. Pof-
fibly even thofe rigorous climates may be too mild for animals that
affea the utmoft feverity of the Arftic zone. They never are feen
farther fouth in Sibiria than Mangajea, nor wander into the woody
parts, unlefs by accident in great mills.

They ai'e fometimes brought alive into England. One which I
faw was always in motion, reftlefs, and furious, roaring in a loud and
hoarfe tone j and fo impatient of warmth, that the keeper was ob-
liged to pour on it frequently pailfuls of water. In a ftate of nature,
and in places little vifited by mankind, they are of dreadful ferocity.
In Spitzbergen, and the other places annually frequented by die hu-
man race, they dread its power, having experienced its fuperiority.

• Phil. Tra»/. Ixiv. 377. f Mulhr, Pref. xxv. J Purcba^', Pilgrims,

iii. 805.

and

polarbear,

and Ihun the conflift : yet even in thofe countries prove tremen-
dous enemies, if attacked or provoked.

Barentz, in his voyages in fearch of a north-eaft pafTage to China,
had fatal proofs of their rage and intrepidity on the irtand of Nova
Zmbla: his feamen were frequendy attacked, and fome of them
kiUed. Thofe whom they feized on diey took in their moudis, ran
away with the utmoft eafe, tore to pieces, and devoured at their
leifure, even in fight of die furviving comrades. One of thefe ani-
mals was fhot preying on the mangled corpfe, yet would not quit
Its hold; but continued ftaggering away wida die body in its mouth,
till dilpatched with many wounds *.

They wiU attack, and attempt to board, armed veflels far diftant
from fhore j and have been with great difficulty repelled f. They
feem to give a preference to human blood ; and will greedily dif-
inter the graves of the buried, to devour the cadaverous con-
tents J.

Their ufual food is filh, feals, and die carcafes of whales. On
land, they prey on deer §, hares, young birds, and eggs, and often
on whortleberries and crowberries. They are at conftant enmity
with the Walrus, or Morfe : die laft, by reafon of its vaft tufks,
has generally die fuperiorityj but frequently both die combatants
perifli in the conflicb ||.

They are frequently feen in Greenland^ in lat. 76, in great droves;
where, allured by die fcent of die flefli of feals, they wiU furround
the habitations of the natives, and attempt to break in^ j but are
foon driven away by die fmell of burnt feathers **. If one of
them is by any accident kiUed, die furvivors will immediately eat
ittf.

• Hamjkirk^s Fay. ,4. + The fame. ,8. J Marten^s Spit.L ,0..

* Faun. Groenl. p. .3. ,| Ege^e, 83. ^ The fame, 60. - Fau„.

^/•««/.p.23. if HeemJ^iri, 51.

They

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m.,

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i. f

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POLAR BEAR.

They grow exceflively fat j a hundred pounds of fat has been
taken out of a fingle beaft. Their flefli is coarfe, but is eaten by
the feamen : it is white, and they fancy it taftes like mutton. The
iiver is very unwholefome, as three o( Heemjkirk's failors experienced,
who fell dangeroufly ill on eating fome of it boiled *. The fkin
is an article of commerce : many are imported, and ufed chiefly for
covers to coach-boxes. The Greenlanders feed on tht flefh and fat ;
ufe the fkins to fit on, and make of it boots, fhoes, and gloves j and
fplit the tendons into thread for fewing.

During fummer they refide chiefly on iflands of ice, and pafs fre-
quently from one to the other. They fwim moft excellendy, and
fometimes dive, but continue only a fmall fpace under water.
They have been feen on iflands of ice eighty miles from any land,
preying and teeding as they float along. They lodge in dens form-
ed in the vaft mafles of ice, which are piled in a ftupendous manner,
leaving great caverns beneath : here they breed, and bring one or
two at a time, and fometimes, but very rarely, three. Great is the
afftftion between parent and young;, they will fooner die than de-
fert one another f. They alfo follow their dams a very long time,
and are grown to a very large fize before they quit them.

During winter they retire, and bed themfelves deep beneath,
forming fpacious dens in the fnow, fupported by pillars of the fame,
or to the fixed ice beneath fome eminence ; where they pafs torpid
the long and difmal night J, appearing only with the return of the
fun §. At their appearance the JrSlic Foxes retire to other haunts |.
The Polar Bear became part of the royal menagery as early as

* Heemjkirk, 45. f Marten* s Spitzh. 102.

t Egede, 60. — Martens fays, that the fat is ufed in pains of the limbs, and that it
aflifts parturition.

§ Heemjkirk's Fey. in Purchas, 'in. 500, 501, || The fame, 499.

the

I I-

; III

BLACK BEAR.

th. reign olHmry III. Mr. JValpU has proved how great a patron
that defpifed prmce was of the Arts. It is not lefs evident Sat he
extended his proteftion to Natural Hiftory. We find he had pro-
cured a White Bear from Ncr^c^, from whence it probably was
.mported from G«»/W, the Ncrv,egians having poflefled d,at
country for feme centuries before that period. There are two writs
extant from that monarch, direding the Iheriffs of U«dm to furnijh
r.x pence a day to fupport our White Bear in our Tower of London ■
and to provide a muzzle and iron chain to hold him when out of
the water; and a long and ftrong rope to hold him, when he was

fo!'? I Ir:' *■ ^" p™"""" "»^ '"»''' « *= 1-^'"' time

tor die king's Elephant.

The (kins or- this fpecies, in old times, were offered bv the hunters
to the h,gn altars of cathedrals, or other churches, that he prieft
might (land on them, and not catch cold when he was celebrating
high mafs in extreme cold weather. Many fuch were annuaUy
Offered at die cadiedral at DronMn. in Norw^ ; and alfo die ^1
of wolves, which were fold topurchafe wax-lights to bum in hono

H

UIJI- ^W. N- ly^—Smlli,, v. 19.

gEAR. Widi a long pointed nofe. and narrow forehead: the
cheeb and diroat of a yellowilh brown color: hair over the

ttt oftr^V t !f " ^'"""^ '"^^' '"•"°»*" -<• *<>«" *^"

that ot the European kind.

They are ufuaUy fmaller than thofe of the old world; yet Mr
Bartram gives an inftance of an old he-bear killed in Florida, which

• MaJox's Antiquities of the Exchequer, \, jy6.
t 0/auj Magnus, lib. xviii. c. 20-

Voi. I. V

•*^ was

19. Black.

■liiii

!' I

liii

66

Food;

r 'I

"f

11

'1,1.

BLACK BEAR.

was feven feet long, and, as he gueffed, weighed four hundred
pounds *.

Thefe animals are found in all parts of North Jmericat from Hud-
JorCs Bay to the fouthern extremity j but in Loutfiana and the fouth-
ern parts they appear only in the winter, migrating from the north
in fearch of food. They fpread acrofs the northern part of the
American continent to the Jftatic ifles. They are found in the
Kuriljki iflands, which intervene between Kamtjchatka and Ja^an f,
JeJ(j Mafma^ which lies north of Japan J, and probably Japan itfelf j
for Kampfer fays, that a few fmall bears are found in the northern
provinces §.

It is very certain that this fpecies of bear feeds on vegetables.
Bu PratZy who is a faithful as well as intelligent writer, relates, that
in one fevere winter, when thefe animals were forced in multitudes
from the woods, where there was abundance of animal food, diey
rejefted that, notwithftanding they were ready to perifh with hunger j
and, migrating into the lower Loutfiana, would often break into the
courts of houfes. They never touched the butchers meat which
lay in their way, but fed voracioufly on the corn or roots they met
with II .

Neceffity alone fometimes compels them to attack and feed on
the fwine they meet in the woods : but flelh is to them an unnatu-
ral diet. They live on berries, fruits, and pulfe of all kinds, and
feed much on the black mulberry ^j are remarkably hvA of pota-
toes, which they very readily dig up with their great paws j make
great havock in the fields of maize; and are great lovers of milk and
honey. They feed much on herrings, which they catch in the feafon
when thofe fifh come in ihoals t. > the creeks, which gives their

• Journal of his travels into Eaji Florida, 26.
t Voy. au Nord. iv. 5, § Hift. Japan, i. 126.

^T Adair, 360.

t Hiji. Kamtjch. iii. 287.
II Du Pratz, ii. 57.

flelh

• . . IS .

BLACK BEAR.

fle/h a difagreeable taftc; and the fame effedl is"obfervcd when
they eat the bitter berries of the in<pf/<7.

They are equally inoffenfive to mankind, provided they are not

irritated, but if wounded, diey will turn on their aflailant with

great fury, and, in cafe they can lay hold, never fail of hugging him

to death ; for it has been obferved they never make ufe, in their

rage, of eidier their teeth or claws. If they meet a man in a path

they will not go out of his way j but will not attack him. They

never feek combat. A fmall dog will make them run up a tree.

The American bears do not lodge in caves or clefts of rocks, like
thofe o( Europe, The bears of HuJ/on's Bay form their dens beneath
the fnow, and fuffer fome to drop at the mouth, to conceal their
retreat.

The naturalift's poet, with great trudi and beauty, defcribe* the
retreat of this animal in the frozen climate of the north :

There through the piny foreft half abforpt.
Rough tenant of thofe fhades, the fhapelefs Bear.
With dangling ice aU horrid, ftalks forlorn;
Slow pac'd, and fourer as the ftorms increafe.

He makes his bed beneath th' inclement drift.
And with ftern patience, fcorning weak complaint.
Hardens his heart againll affailing want.

Thofe of the fouthern parts dwell in die hollows of antient trees.

The hunter difcovers them by ftriking with an ax the tree he fufpeds
they are lodged in, then fuddenly conceals himfelf. The Bear is
immediately rouzed, looks out of the hollow to learn the caufe of
tiie alarm ; feeing none, finks again into repofe *. The hunter dien
forces him out, by Hinging in fired reeds s and fhoots him while he
defcends the body of die tree, which, notwithftanding his aukward

• Du Pratz, ii. 6i.
K 2

€7

,U.^'

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> i:.j

appearance,

-k%^ '

Ij^

(8

BLACK BEAR.

appearance, he does with great agility j nor is he lefs nimble in
afcending the tops of the higheft trees in fearch of berries and
fruits.

The long time which thefe animals fubfift without food is amaz-
ing. They will rontiuuc m their retreat for fix weeks without the
left provision, reni^aining tliher afleep or totally inadive. It is pre-
tended that they live by fucking their paws j but that is a vulgar
error. Th» fad is, they retire immediately after autumn, when
they have fattened themfelves to an exceffive degree by the abun-
dance of the fruits which they fine! .it 'hat feafon. Thi enables
animals, which perfpire very little in a ftate of reft, to endure an
abftinence of uncommon length. But when this internal fupport
is exhaufted, and they begin to feel the call of hunger, on the ap-
proach of the fevere feafon, they quit their dens in fearch of food.
Multitudes then migrate into die lower parts ofLouiJana: they
arrive very lean j but foon fatten with the vegetables of that milder
climate *. They never wander far from the banks of the Miffiftpiy
and in their march form a beaten path like the track of men.

Law/on and Catejby f relate a very furprizing thir<5 in relpedt to
this animal, which is, that neither European or Indian ever killed a
Bear with young. In one winter were killed in Virginia fivt hun-
dred bears, and among them only two females ; and thofe not preg-
nant. The caufe is, that the male has the fame unnatural diflikc
to its offspring as fome other animals have : they will kill and de-
vour the cubs. The females thel-efore retire, before the time of par-
turition, into the depth of woods and rocks, to elude the fearch of
their favage mates. It is faid that they do not make their appear-
ance with their young till March %.

• Du Pratz, ii. 60.
% JoJ/ilyn'i Fey. 91.

t Laiv/on,MT.^'Cate/hy,Jpp,%xvi,

Ml

BLACK BEA

R.

All who hrive tailed the flefh of this animal fay, that it is moft
delicious eating: a young Bear, fattened with the autumnal fruits,
is a difh fit for the niceft epicure. It is wholefome and nourifhing.'
and refembles pork more than any other meat. The tongue and
the paws are eftec.ned the moft exquifite morfels , the hams are
alfo excellent, but apt to ruit, if not very well preferved.

Four inches depth of fat has been found on a fingle Bear, and
fifteen or fixteen gallons of pure oil melted from it ♦. The fat is
of a pure white, and has the fmgular quality of never lying heavy
on the ftomach, notwidiftanding a perfon drank a quart of itf.
The Americans make great ufe of it for frying their fifh. It is
befides ufed medicinally, and has been found very efficacious in
rheumatic complaints, achs, and Ibains.

The Indians of Louifiana prepare it thus:— As foon as they hav«
killed the Bear, they fhoot a Deer; cut ofFthe head, and draw the
fkin entire to the legs, which they cut off: they then ftop up every
orifice, except that on the neck, inro which they pour tht melted
fat of the Bear; which is prepared by boiling the fat and fiefh to-
gether. This they call a Deer of oil, and feU to die Frencb for a
gun, or foniething of equal value :j:.

Bears greafe is in great repute in Europe for its fuppofed quality
of making the hair to grow on the human head. A great chymift
in the Biymarkei in London ufed to fatten annually two or three
Bears for the fake of their fat.

The fkin is in ufe for aU purpofes ^ hich the coarfer forts of .rs
are applied to : it ferves in America, i. diftant journies, for cover-
lets; and the finer parts have been in fome places ufed in die hat
manufadlure §.

Th* Indians of Canada daub their hands and face with the greafe.

• Bartram'j j ourn. E. Florida, a6.
^' ^*' § Ltm/on, 117.

t Law/on, 116.

I Du Pratz,

to

49

t

*-#■

70

BROWN BEAR.

to prcferve them from the bite of muflcetocs : they alfo fmear their
bodies with the oil after cxceflive cxercife ♦. They think, like the
Romans of old, that oil fupplcs their joints, and prcfervcs them in
full adlivity.

ao. Brown.

13.

i.

BUck Bear, Hijl. ^aj, N» 174— 5(»w///>, v. 19.

gEAR. With long (haggy hair, ufually dulky or black, with
brown points •» liable to vary, periiaps according to their age,
or fome accident, which does not create a (pecific difference.

A variety of a pale brown color, whofe fkins I have feen imported
from Hudfon*s Bay. The fame kind, I believe, is alfo found in*
Europe. The cubs are of a jetty black, and their necks often en-
circled with white.

Bears fpotted with white.

Land Bears, entirely white. Such fometimes fally from the lofty
mountains which border on Sibiria, and appear in a wandering
manner in the lower parts of the country -|-. Marco Polo relates,
that they were frequent in his time in the north oiTartary, and of a
very great fize.

Grizzly Bears. Thefe are called by the Germans Silber-har, or
the Silver-hear, from the mixture of white hairs. Thefe are found
in Europey and the very nordiern parts of North Amerkay as high as
lat. 70 J wliere a liill is called after them. Grizzle Bear Hilly and
where they breed in caverns %* The ground in this neighborhood
is in all parts turned by them in fearch of the hoards formed by the
Ground Squirrels for winter provifion.

• Kaltn, iii. 13.

t Doiior Pallat.

I Mr. Samuel Hearne.

All

BROWN BEAR.

All thefe varieties form but one fpecies. They are granivorous
and carnivorous, both In Europe and Jmericai and I believe, accord-
ing to their refpeftive palates or habits, one may be deemed a va-
riety which prefers the vegetable food ; another may be diHinguilhed
from its preference of animal food. Mr. Graham afllires me, that
the brown Bears, in the inland parts oUIudfon's Bay, make great
havock among the Buffaloes : are very large, and very dangerous
when they are attacked and wounded.

The Bears of Kamtjchatka are of a dun brown color : and feed
chiefly on fifli, or berries. They are far from rejefting animal food ;
even mankind becomes their prey when preffed by hunger i and
tliey will hunt the natives, in fuch cafes, by fcent, and prowl out of
their ufual trafts for thatpurpofe: at thofe times, or when wounded
they are exceedingly fierce *. It is faid that they give chafe to the
Argali with great addrefs. They know that they have no chance in
taking them by fpeed ; the Bears therefore climb up die rugged
mountains, nd gain the heights above the fpots where the wild
flieep feed : they with their paws fling down pieces of rock upon
the herdi and, if they happen to maim any, defcend and make a
repaft on the lamed animal f. When the Bears find plenty of food
they will not attack the human kind : yet if they find a Kamtjchadalt
afleep on the ground, they will through wanntonnefs bite him feverely,
and fometimes tear a piece of flefh away. People thus injured are
called Drankiy or tht flayed %.

In all favage nations the Bear has been an objeft of veneration. Bear, vbn
Among the Americans a feaflr is made in honor of each that is killed.
The head of the beaft is painted with all colors, and placed on an
elevated place, where it receives the refpefts of all the guefts, who

7»

eu IN Ame

ERAT-
RICA.

• Captain King, in Cook's voy. iii. 305.
X Hift. Kamtjchatka, iii. 386.

f Same 306.

celebrate

7*

BROWN BEAR.

1 1

-:C'-'

! '1,

celebrate in fongs the praifes of the Bear. They cut the body in
pieces, and i egale on it, ".nd conclude the ceremony *.
Chase. The chafe of thefe aninnals is a matter of the firft importance,

and never undertaken without abundance of ceremony. A princi-
pal warrior firft gives a general invitation to all the hunters. This
is followed by a moft ferious faft of eight days, a total nbftinence
from all kinds of food; notwithftanditig which, they pafs the day in
continual fong. This they do to invoke the fpirits of the woods to
dired tnem to the place where there are abundance of Bears. They
even cut the flelh in divers parts of their bodies, to render the
fpirits more propitious. They alfo addrefs themfelves to the manes
of the beafts Oain in preceding chafes, as if it were to direft
them in their dreams to plenty of game. One dreamer alone can-
not determine the place of chafe, numbers muft concur -, but, as
they tell each other their dreams, they never fail to agree : whether
that may arife from complaifance, or by a real agreement in the
dreams from their thoughts being perpetually turi^ed on the fame
thing.

The chief of the hunt now gives a great feaft, at which no one
dares to appear without firft bathing. At this entertainment they
eat with great moderation, contrary to their ufual cuftom. The
mafter of the feaft alone touches nothing ; but is employed in re-
lating to the guefts antient tales of the wonderful feats in former
chafes : and frelh invocations to the manes of the deceafed Bears
conclude the whole. They then fally forth amidft the acclama-
tions of the village, equipped as if for war, and painted black.
Every able hunter is on a level with a great warrior j but he muft
have killed his dozen great beafts before his charader is eftabliHied :
after which his alliance is as much courted as that of the moft valiant
captain.

* Charlenjoi^c, Ncuv. Fr, v. 443.

They

BROWN BEAR,

■ They now proceed on their way in a direft Mne : neither rivera
marfl,es or any other impediments, ftop their courfe, d"Z;
before them all the beafts which drc-y find in tl,eir way vJhl

hey arr.ve m the hunting-ground, they furround as large a fpace a

re reat of the bear, and continue die fame praftice till the rime of
the chafe is expired.

As foon as a bear is killed, a hunter puts into its mouth a lighted
pipe of ,ob,„„, ,„,^ y„.^^g .^^^ .^^ ^^^ ^^_^ ^^_^ gi>ted

fmoke conjunng the fpirit of the animal not to refent what they
are gc^ng to do to its body, nor to render their future chafe un
fuccersfol. As the beaft makes no reply, they cut out the W
of he tongue, and throw it into the fire: if it crackles and ^n ^
(which It IS almoft fure to do) they accept it as a good Zen
.f not, they confider that the fpirit of the beaft is not appeTd'
and that the chafe of the next year will be unfortunate

The hunters live well during the chafe, on provif.ons which they
bring with Aem. They return home with great pride and ftll
^fficien^ for to kill a bear forms the charader'of a complel
man. They again give a great entertainment, and now make a
point to eave nothing. The feaft is dedicated to a certain genius
perhaps that ol Gluttony, whofe refentment they dread, if tLdo
not eat every morfel, and even fup up tlie vei^ melted g aTet
which the meat was drefled. They .bmetimes Lt tiU th^ur t
or bring on themfelves fome violent diforders. The firft courfe is
the greateft bear they have killed, without even caking !t the n

^ 1:1:? ':'^f "'"■ ™"'^"""S them/dvesllth iinLL"
the Ikin, as is praftifed with hogs *. * '

ig

Vol. r.

* Charlevoix, v. i6^ to 174.

L

The

7J

] . I

I I

4i

74

BROWN BEAR.

Ik

Kamtschat

KA.

. ii, 1 i

li

► hi

The Kamtfchatkans, before their converfion to Chriftianity, had al-
moft fimilar fuperftitions refpefting bears and other wild beafts :
they entreated the bears and wolves not to hurt them in the chafe,
and whales and marine animals not to overturn their boats. They
never call the two former by their proper name, but by that or Si-
pangi or ill-luck.

At prefent the Kamtjchatkans kill the bear and other wild beafts
with guns : formerly they had variety of inventions j fuch as filling the
entrance of its den with logs, and then digging down upon the ani-
mal and deftroying it with fpears *. In Sibiria it is taken by making
a trap-fall of a great piece of timber, which drops and crufhes it to
death : or by forming a noofe in a rope fattened to a great log ; the
bear runs its head into the noofe, and, finding itfelf engaged, grows
furious, and either falls down fome precipice and kills itfelf, or wea-
ries itfelf to death by its agitations.

The killing of a bear in fair battle is reckoned as great a piece of
heroifm by the Kamtjchatkans as it is with the Americans. The
viaor makes a feaft on the occafion, and feafts his neighbors with
the beaft j then hangs the head and thighs about his tent by way of
trophies.

Thefe people ufe the fkins to lie on, and for coverlets i for bon-
nets, gloves, colI'TS for their dogs, foles for their fhoes, to prevent
them from flipping on the ice. Of the fhoulder-blades they make
inftruments to cut the grafs ; of the inteftines, covers for their faces,
to proted: them from the fun during fpring ; and the Cojfacks ex-
tend them over their windows inftead of glafs. The flelh and fat
is among the chief dainties of the country f.

Superftitions, relative to this animal, did not confine themfelves
to America and Afia^ but fpread equally over the north of Europe,

• Hift. Kamtfchatka, Fr, iii. 73.

f The fame, 390.

Tl)c

■ >' ' f

BROWN BEAR.

The I^planJ^s held i, in .he greateft veneration : they called it the
D»^ofGoD becaufetheyefteemed it to have the ftrength often
men. and the fenfe of twelve • They never prefume to calU "

fl^ks , but ftyle u M„4^.a^,u. or the »/. „„„ .« « /„,:;;

The killing of a Bear was reckoned as great an exploit in Lap.
&Was .t was .n America, and the hero was held in'the high4
efteem by both fexes, and, by a regular cuft.^ was forb d
commerce w,th his wife for three days. The ^p,.„J^, bring
home the nam beafts in great triumph. They ereft a new tent
near the,r former dwelhng, but never enter it till they have flungoff
Ae urefs of the chafe. They continue in it three entire days , and
Ae women keep at home the fame fpace. The men drefs the flefl,
of the B ar m the new tent, and make their repaft, giving part to
he females, but take great care never to beftow on Lm a bit Z
the rump. Nether wiU they deliver to them the meat through the
common entrance of the hut. but through a hole in another pan:
In ngn of vaory, the men fprinkle themfelves with the blood of
the b.-aft. n/« vi.

After they have finiihed eating the flelh. they bury the bones
w,th great folemnity, and place every bone in its prope7place, from

newldy "' ^" "" "' """"''• "' "^™'™^ ^

At the pulling off the (kin. and cutting the body into pieces
.hey were uf^d to fmg a fong, but without meaning or Ze t !

^"Lf "r'r' '"'"'■ '"''' '^"°' '>'s"/™beiiiL 1;

the tranHator. is far from inelegant.

• W l.,„.M. S.ff,. 64. ^ The fa„, 50.. (, Th= fame, &,

L 2

Beaft!

n

fS.s

{k

>J

ll; f '

I' I JL

76

WOLVERENE.

Beaft ! of all foreft bcafts fubdued and flain.

Health to our huts and prey a hundred-fold

Reftore ; and o'er us keep a conftant guard !

I thank the Gods who ^ ave fo noble prey !

When the great day-ftar hides beyond the alps,

I hie me home ; and joy, all clad in flowers.

For three long nights fliall reign throughout my hut.

With tranfport IhaU I climb the mountain's fide.

Joy op'd this day, joy fhall attend its clofe.

Thee 1 revere, from thee expeft my prey :

Nor e'er forgot my carol to the Bear ♦.

21. Wolverene.

<|

Hiji, ^ad. No 176, 177. Syn. ^uad.

Gulo, Pdlas SpiciL Zod. Fa/c. xiv. 25. tab. ii.-L£v. Mus.

JgEAR. With fhort rounded ears, almoft concealed by the fur-
face fharp, black, and pointed : back broad, and, while the
animal is in motion, much elevated, or arched ^ and the head car
ned low : the legs Ihort and ftrong: daws long and fharp, white
at their ends.

The length from nofe to tail twenty-eight inches; of the trunk of
the tail feven inches. It is covered with thicl long hairs, reddifh
at the bottom, black at the end, fome reach fix inches bevond the
tip.

The hairs on the head, back, and belly, are of the fame colors,
but much finer and fofter. Before they are examined, the animal
appears wholly black. The throat whitifh, marked with black
Along the fides, from the fhoulders to the tail, is a broad band of a
ferruginous color : in feveral of the fkins, brought from Hud/on' s
Bay, I obferved this band to be white. The legs are black; the

Nichols's Rujian Natiens, i. 50.

ktt

WOLVERENE.

n

teet covered with hair on the bottom. On the fore feet of that

which ! examined were fome white fpots. On each foot were five

toes, not greatly divided.

It hath much the aftjon of a Bear j not only in the form of its

back, and the hanging down of its head, but alfo in refting on the ■

hind part of the firft joint of its legs.

This is one of die local animal, of .America. I trace it as far Pi..ce

north as the Co^er river, and to the countries on the weft and foutb

of Hud/m's Bay, Canada, and the traft as far as the itraits of Michill^

makinac, between the lakes Huron and Superior.

I have reafon to think that the Glutton of the old writers is the GtaTTONoroL^

fame with this animal j and that in m.y Hiftory of Quadrupeds I Writers.

unneceflarily feparated them. Since I have received the late publi-
cation of Dr. P alias y J am fatisfied that it i*s common to the north
oiAmeri-a, Europe, ^nd Jfta, eve:: to Kamt/chatka -, inhabiting the
vatt forefts of the nonh, even within the Polar circle. The Kamt--
Jchatkans value them fo highly as to fay, that the heavenly beings
wear no other furs. The Ikins are the greateft prefent they can
make their miftrefles ; and the women ornament their heads with
the parts of the white banded variety. The Ruffians call diefe ani-
mals Rofomak ; the Kamtfchatkans, Tymi, or "TummL

It is a beaft of uncommon fiercenefs, the terror of the Wolf and Manners.
Bear ; the former, which will devour any carrion, will not touch the
carcafe of this animal, which fmells more fetid than that of a Pole-
cat. It has great ftrength, and makes vaft refiftance when taken ;
will rear the traps often to pieces; or if wounded, will fnap the
ftock t>om the barrel of the muflcet; and often do more damage in
die capture than the fur is worth.

It preys indifferently on all animals which it can matter. It feeds
by night, and, being flow of foot, follows the track of wolves and
foxes ir ■ faow, in order to come in for Ihare of their prey. It

wiU

I

•i ,,

Fill

! ' I

7«

Fur.

WOLVERENE.

will dig up the carcafes of animals, and the provifions concealed
by the huntfmcn deep in the fnow, which it will carry away to
other places to devour. About the Lena it will attack horfes, o„
whofe backs are often fcen the marks of its teeth and claws. By a
wonderful fagacity it will afcend a tree, and fling from the boughs a
fpeces of mofs which Elks and Reins are very fond of and
when thofe animab come beneath to feed on it, will fall on 'them
and deflroy them : or, like the Lynx, it afcends to the boughs of
trees, and falls on the Deer which cafually pafs bene J a
^u. .he, faU down .. .,,,. ,, J, ^ ^^^t
Beavf.. and is on that account fometimes caUed the Beavl-ea,er
It watches at the mouth of their holes, and catches them as they
come out. It fearches d,e traps laid for taking other beafts and
devours thofe which it finds taken. It breaksLo the mf zi„es
of the nat,ves, r.„d robs them of the provifons, whether thy ^

v-vi uuica or jsadgers j never dieeine its own H<»n

K IS capable of being made vepir tame 5.

The tos are frequently brought from Huf^n's Say, and com
mon^y ufed or muffs. In s„Ha d,e <kin is moft valu d licht
black and has left of the ferruginous band. Thefe are cMeflv
found .„ He mountanous forefts of 7^.^. ,„d ufed J h ntfv!
to adorn the.r caps. Few of the Siiiria, (kins are fent into J^^
but are chiefly fold to the Mo«^a/s and CU„./e. ^'

•D.U„^o. tM-.G„W ,Th.&„e.

§ Ediv. ii. 103.

The

RACCOON.

The relations of the exceflive gluttony of this animal ; that it eats
till It IS ready to burft, and that it is obliged to unload itfelf by
fqueezing its body between two trees ; are totally fabulous : Uke
other animals, they eat till they are Iktisfied, and then leave off*

79

k V

v> ?

i^i ,1

Hiji. ^ad. N» 178— W/A>, V. 46.-LEV. Mus.

gEAR. With upper jaw larger than the lower : face Iharp-
pointed, and fox-like: ears Ihort and rounded: eyes large of
a yellowifh green ; the fpace round tliem black : a dufky line ex
tends from the forehead to the nofe ; the reft of the face, the cheeks
aJid the throat, white : the hair univerfally long and foft, that on
the back tipt with black, white in the middle, and cinereous at the
roots : tail annulated with black and white, and very foil of hair-
^e^black, and quite divided : the fore-feet fen^e the purpofes of a

Thefe animals vary in color. I have feen fome of a pale brown
others white. Their ufual length, from nofe to tail, is two ktt \
near the tail about one.

Raccoons inhabit only the temperate parts oi North America, from
New England^ to Florida %. They probably are continued in the
fame latitudes acrofs the continent, being, according to Dampier,
found in the ifles of M.,Wa, in the South Sea, between the fouth
point of California and Cap torimtes. It is alfo an inhabitant of
Mexico, where it is called Mapach §.

It lives in hollow trees, and is very expert at climbing. Like
other beafts of prey, keeps much within during day, except It proves
dark and cloudy. In fnowy and ftormy weather it confines itfelf to

■I J j

• Hiji. Kamt/ch. 385.
S fernand,Nov.Hirp.

t Jofefyn's Foy. 85.

J Account of Florida, 50.

its

22. Raccoon.

Pl

ACE.

Man

NERS.

8o

i ii-g

RACCOON.

its hole for a week together. It feeds indifferently on fruits or flefh.
IS extremely deftru6live to fields of mayz, and very injurious to all
kinds of fruits ; loves flrong liquors, and will get exceffively drunk.
It makes great havock among poultry, and is very fond of eggs.
Is itfelf often the prey of Snakes *.

Thofe which inhabit places near the fhore live much on Ihell-
filli, particularly oyfters. They will watch the opening of the fliell,
dextroufly put in its paw, and tear out the contents; fometimes the
oyfter fuddenly clofes, catches the thief, and detains it' till drowned
by the return of the tide. They likewife feed on crabs, both fea
and land. It has all the cunning of the Fox. Lawjon f fays, that
It will ftand on the fide of a fwamp, and hang its tail over into the
water : the crabs will lay hold, miftaking it for a bait ; which, as
foon as the Raccoon feels, it pulls out with a fudden jerk, and
makes a prey of the cheated crabs.

It is made tame with great eafe, fo as to follow its mafter alone,
the ftreets; but never can be broke from its habit of dealing, or
killing- of poultry %. It is fo fond of fugar, or any fweet things, as
to do infinite mifchief in a houfe, if care is not taken §.

It has many of the anions of a Monkey , fuch as feeding itfelf
with Its fore feet, fitting up to eat, being always in motion, being
very mquifitive, and examining every thing it fees with its paws!
Notwithilanding it is not fond of water, it dips into it all forts of
dry food which is given to it, and wiU wafli its face, with its feet
like a Cat. *

It is fought after on account of the fur. Some people eat it, and

efteem it as very good meat. The Swedes call it Siup^ and EJpan,

he^././., Hejpan ; and the Iro^ueje. Affighro. The hair makes the

bell hats, next to that of the Beaver. The tail is worn round the

neck in winter, by way of prefervative againft the cold ||.

" 63. ^ ,21.

• Kalm, i. 97
II Kalm, ii. 57.

X Kalm, i. 208.

§ The fame.
HIST,

\^mv^.

B

E R.

8i

• HIST. ^UAD, Genus XXI.
American Badger, H^fl. ^w. p. .98. ^.-W^. iv. ..6.-Lev. M.s.

or the BaC. Bounded „„ „cH fidlT; Itt Vf-^c^rZ

:t<:r:r;:L:- ^-"'^ ^ -^ -- -- ■- "-

that defea from M. de Buffon's defcription. They were dufkv
and the toe. furnimed with Caws, likel Europ.1^ ^"^^
Buffon obferved only four toes on the hind feetf but then h» ful
pefted that one was torn off from the dried fkin he faw. '

There ammals are rather fcarce in America. They are tound in
the naghborhood of Budfon's Bay, and in Terru di Lairadc. and
perhaps as low as A„„/, w,. „h,„ .^ey are called Ground h;^*
They do not iffer fpecifically from the European kind- but are
fometimes found white in America f.

tk'raik7 ' rr *"" '" "°"'"" ^^''' "^^^" *^" *^ banks of
hrl t *■ , ;!^ "■' '°'""°" '" '^^■'"- ""x^" "'^y ^--^ frequently
brought to tl,e Ihambles. being an efteemed food 5. In north"™
Europe, they are found in Norway and Smde„ ||

l.ame deBuffon imagines this animal, to be the Carcajcu of
the ^»,«-,„„, and not the Wolveren. The matter is uncertain :

Kalm, i, 189,
Travels, ii. 83.
torn. iii. 242.

Vol. I.

\ Brijon ^tad. i^. % Pallas,

P°»toppUan,u. z^.^FaHn,Suec. N°20.

M

§ BeU

Ts

IT Suppl.
yet

BADGER.

23- Common.

Place.

4

ts

iij

BADGER.

yet I find that name bellowed on the latter by La Hontan ; by Dohhs^
who makes it fynonymousj and by Charln ix, though the iaft
miftakes the animal, yet not the manners of that which he afcribes
it to. On the other hand, Mr. Graham and Mr. Edwards omit
that title, and call it only Wolveren, or Quecquehatch.

ii 1

HIS r.

o P o S S IJ

M.

8J

HISr. ^UAI>, G.N us XXII.

ff ". ^ad. N» i8i.

QPOSSUM With .en cutting teeth above, eight beneath :
y -s black i^nan. and lively : ears large, naked, membrana-
ceotn, and ro.mded : face long and pointed, whiflcers on each nde
of the nofe, and tuft, of long nairs over the eyes : legs are ftort •
he thumb on the hind feet has a flat nail, d,e reft oL toes have'
on Aem Iharp t. , : .he b„dv is ftort, round, and thick : the
tail long ; the bafe .s covered with i.air for three inches, the reft is
covered w.th fmaU f-ales. and l,as the Jifgufting refemblanceof a

• "rf.'""" '"" °' ""■ '^"^ "^'^^ '■""^'' i' » l"ge pouch
.n wbch the .eats are placed, and in which Ae young lodge 1

foon as they are born. The body is cload^ed wil ve' long foft
hau., ly.„g ufualy uneven: the color appears of a diTty white
the lower parts of the hair, dulky. and above each eye is a whitilh"
fpot : the belly tinged with yeUow.

founeen"'* "' °" ' """''"'' "" '""«-" '-"«• "^ *e .ail

call , URa, d< hu; from thence it extends fouthward, even to the
BrafiU .nireru. The ftngularity of the ventral pouc^ o the f

tiiemoft wonderful animals ofthe new continent.

Charle-voix, v. 197.

M 2

OPOSSUM.

«♦• VmOINIAK.

«

Place,

M

'"

As

i ?^'a

.s^.

^'^ -^.Q.

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

I.I

1.25

lit Uj |22

Sim ■-

£ Ofi 112.0

14

U 11.6

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0^.

Photographic

Sciences

Corporation

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m.^

\

^riV

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^^

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 873-4503

-cp

0

84

OPOSSUM.

As foon as the female finds herfelf near the time of bringing
forth, fhe prepares a neft of coarfe grafs, covered with long pieces
of fticks, near four feet high and five in diameter, confiifedly put
together *. She brings forth from four to fix at a time. As foon
as they come into the world they retreat into the falfe belly, blind,
naked, and exadtly refembling little foetufes. They fallen clofely
to the teats, as if they grew to them j which has given caufe to the
vulgar error, that they were created fo. There they adhere as if
they were inanimate, till they arrive at a degree of perfeftion in
fhape, and attain fight, ftrength, and hair : after which they undergo
a fort of fecond birth. From that time they run into the pouch as
an afylum fro.n danger. The female carries them about with the
utmoft afieftion, and would rather be killed than permit this re-
ceptacle to be opened -, for fhe has the power of contradling or di-
lating the orifice by the help of fome very ftrong mufcles. If they
are furprifed, and have not time to retreat into the pouch, they will
adhere to the tail of the parent, and efcape with her j-.

The Opofl!um is both carnivorous and frugivorous. It is a
great enemy to poultry ; and will fuck the blood and leave the flefli
untouched ;):. It climbs trees very expertly, feeding on wild fruits,
and alfo on various roots. Its tail has the fame prehenfile quality
as that of fome fpecies of Monkies. It will hang from the branches
by it, and by fwinging its body, fling itfelf among the boughs of
the adjacent trees. It is a very (luggiih animal j has a very flow
pace, and makes fcarcely any efibrts to efcape. When it finds it-
felf on the point of being taken, it counterfeits death -, hardly any
torture will make it give figns of life §. If the perfon retires, it
will put itfelf in motion, and creep into fome neighboring bulh.

• Bartram's Journal £, Florida, 30. f The fame.

S The fame, 66.

J Du Pratz, ii. 65.
It

OPOSSUM.

It is more tenacious of life than a Cat, and wiU fuffer great vio-
lence before it is killed *.

The old animals are efteemed as delicate eating as a fucking pig;
yet the fkin is very foetid. The Indian women of Louifiana dye
the hair, and weave it into girdles and garters f.

»s

Laiv/on, 120.

t Dh Pratx, ii. 66.

HIST.

s«

W E E S E L.

WEESEL.

H 1 S <r, ^UJD. Genus XXm.

25. Common.

Hift. ^ad. No 192 — Smellie, iv. 257.--LEV. Mus.

Place,

"TTT E E S E L. With fmall rounded ears : beneath each corner
V V of the mouth is a vhite fpot : breaft and belly white ; reft

of the body of a pale tawny brown. Its length, from the tip of the

nofe to the tail, is about feven inches j the tail two and a half.
Inhabits the country about Hudfon's Bay, Newfoundland, and as

far fouth as Carolina *. Mr. Graham fent fome over, both in their
fummer coat, and others almoft entirely white, the color they afllime
in winter. We meet with them again in Kamtjchatka, and all over
Ruffia and Sibiriai and in thofe northern regions they regularly
turn white during winter. One, which was brought from Natka
Sound in North America, had between the ears and nofe a bed of
gloffy black, which probably was its univerfal color before its
change. Dr. Irving faw on Moffen ifland, north of Spitzbergen,
lat. 80. an animal, perhaps of this kind, fpotted black and white f.

26. Stoat.

Hiji. ^ad. N"» x^i.—'Smellie, iv. 262 Lev. Mus.

"^^EESEL. With fliort ears, edged with white : head, back,
fides, and legs, of a pale tawny brown : under fide of the
body white : lower part of the tail brown, the end black.

In northern countries, changes in winter to a fnowy whitenefs.

Catejby, App,

t Phipps's Foy, 58.

the

* T O A T.

the end of the tail excepted, which retains its black color: in this
ftate IS called an Ermne.

f t"f ' ^'°7 "5' " ''"' ''" '"^'^^ > ^' "« " five and a half
Inhato only a^>, Sa,. Canada, and the northern part of
^>\^.'a. In N^fiu«4U^ it is fo bold as to coL Z
A fe .„ open v,ew Feeds on eggs, the young of birds, and o^

R bW "^ . wt''"" "™'"« ^•'-'x'- Thev alfo prey on
Rabbits, and d,e White Grous. The (kins are exported from C-
«.^ among what d,e F™.. call /. ««,«.•, ,//«^;/„, f^^u^,^

«1 and"t T. '" "'r'^ '" ^-'/.te*.t. the W,' Mands.
S'inna, and m all the northern extremities of Eurm It is feared
.n^J^r.... , and its chafe is not attended to, aiSdft th^ ul

d a le?"u "T ^^ '" ^*'"^ --l ^---^ they are a confi-
de, able article of commerce. I„ the former, they are taken in
traps, baited with a bit of flelli t • in ,1,. i „ "? »'%'^^" '"
!,,„„, , , ™" ?: i m the latter, eidier ftot with

blunt arrows, or taken, as garden -ice are in £«/W, by a flat
ftone propped by a baited ftick, wh.ch faUs down on the left touch
and crulhes them to death |. They are found in SiM™^
plenty m woods of birch, yet are never feen in thofc of fir. Ael

pt;::Lfd";.*"° "- "- '^ '"- -° ~ *- p-<^ ^-mg

flt^ZT^"^ '""""'l °" *' ^""^ '''"^- The inhabitants of the
thq- are of a larger fize than any in the M„J/!a, dominions.

animals to migrate, as was evident in the year ,730, and, .744 ,.
• cw„./,, V. ,57. +ffjj.jf^,/,,.„^„ t&//',r™

»7

Place.

CaPTURIi

" 31

Hi/f.

88

27- Pine
Martin.

Place.

Manners.

PINli MARTIN,

fii/f' ^ad. N" zoo.*— Br. Zool. i. N° iG.~-Smellii, iv. 245 — Lev. Mus.

"IX/" E E S E L. With white cheeks and tips of ears ; yellow throat
and breaft ; reft of the fur of a fine deep chefnut-color in
the male, paler in the female : tail bufhy, and of a deeper color
than the body.

Thefe animals inhabit, in great abundance, the northern parts of
America i but I believe the fpecies ceafes before it arrives at the
temperate provinces. They appear again in the north of Europe^
extend acrofs the Urallian chain, but do not reach the Oby.

They inhabit forefts, particularly thofe of fir and pine, and make
their nefts in the trees. Breed once a year, and bring from two to
four at a litter. They feed principally upon micej but deftroy
alfo all kinds of birds which they can mafter. They are taken by
the natives of HudJorCs Bay in fmall log-traps, baited, which fall on
and kill them. The natives eat the flelh.

Their fkins are among the more valuable furs, and make a moft
important article of commerce. I obferved, that in one of the
Hudfon's Bay Company's annual fales, not fewer than 1 2,370 good
fkins, and 2,360 damaged, were fold; and in that year (1743)
30,325 were imported by the French from Canada into the port of
Rochelle. They are found in great numbers in the midft of the
woods of Canada; and once in two or three years come out in
great multitudes, as if their retreats were overftocked : this xie
hunters look on as a forerunner of great fno^vs, and a feafon favor-
able to the chafe *.

It is remarkable, that notwithftanding this Ipecies extends acrofs
the continent of America, from Hudjon's Bay to the oppofite fide.

• Chark'voix, v. 1 gj.

yet

.WM'k

K

N.

y« .t « loft on .he ^fia,u Hde of the ftraies of rjchuktjchi ; nor U
..recovered „.l yo„ reach Ca,l,„.,.Uur,. . diftria of ^^^ « Je^

^^-«. The fineft m .he known world are uken about Ufa, and

procure .he tons for doathing themfelves from the AmJicJ
Aejr country being deftitute of trees, and confequen.; 01X1^
mals ,nhabi.ants of forefts, fbrnifting .hofe ufefiS articles

The Houfe Martin, Hift. ^uad. N- ,59, is found „eid>er in ^.-
n«, or the /?r,5K countries. . erin.a>,<-

9,

H:JI. ^aJ. N. 204._W&, vu. jo7._Lb,. Mo..

1

WEESEL With ears a little pointed: body and head co-
vered with hair of a „.ixture of grey, chefnut, u.d black,
and beneath protefted by a cinereous down : the lower jaw encir
cled with white : legs and tail black: on the breaft, between the
fore-legs^ a fpot of white, and another on the belly between the
hind-legs : toes covered above and below with flir.

I faw this and the following animal at Paris, in the cabinet of
M^^^O;. Cure de St. Louis en Uljle. They were in glafs cafes,
fo I could get only an imperfed view of them. According to M
de Buffon, the length of this was a foot and a half French meafure •
the tail ten inches %, The fur is fine, and the flcins were often im-'
ported by the French from Canada.

This feems to me to be very nearly allied to the European Mar-
tm, N» 15. Br. ZooU vol. i. It agrees very much in dimenfions,

t MulUr, Pref. xxix. j Lt Pekan, torn. xiu. 304.

• Doaor Pallas.
tab. xlii. xliii.

Vol. I.

N

and

28. Pekak.

90

I

O N,

19. ViSON.

30. Sab LB.

PtACSf

and in the white marks. It is alfo the animal which Mr. Graham
fcnt to the Royal Society from Hudfon's Bay, under the name of
Jackajht which he fays harbours about creeks, and lives on fifh.
Brings from two to four young at a time. Is caught by the na-
tives, who cat the flefli and barter the fkins.

Hift. Sluad. N° 20$.— ■Smellif, vil. 307.

l^^EESr With a long. neck and body: fliort legs: head
and body brown tinged with tawny : tail black : the down
of a bright afh-color.

Length from head to tail one foot four inches, French j tail feven
inches, or to the end of the hairs nine.

Inhabits Canada,

Hifl. ^aJ. N» 201, and p. 328 — Smellie, viJ. 309.
Muftela Zibellina, Pallas Sp. Zeol./a/c. xiv. 54. tab.

"Y^EESEL. With head and ears whitifh : the ears broad, in-
clining to a triangular form, and rounded at top, in the
Afiatic Ipecimens ; in the American^ rather pointed : whole body of
a light tawny: feet very large, hairy above and below: claws
white.

Length, from nofe to tail, twenty inches; of the trunk of the tail,
four inches j from the bafe to the end of the hairs eight : of a duflcy
color.

This defcription is taken from a fkin fent from Canada : but it
extends acrofs the whole continent, being frequently found among
the furs which the Americans traffic with among the inhabitants of

the

B

E.

the rjchuktjchi No/s *. The American fpecimen, which I had oiv-
portunity of examining, was of the bleached, or worft kind; pro-
bably others may equal in value thofe of .-^^.

The great refidence of thefe animals is in yf/ia, beginning at the
Urallian chain, and growing more and more plentiful as they ad-
vance eaftward, and more valuable as they advance more north
None arc found to the north-eaft of the J^adir, nor in any parts
deftitute of trees. They love vaft forefts, efpeciaUy thofe of fir, in
which thofe of moft exquifite beauty are found. They are fre-
quent in Kamt/chaika, and are met with in the Kuril ifles f. They

• extend from about lat. 50 to lat. 58.

They are very eafily made tame : will attach themfelves fo to
their mafter, as to wander a confiderable way, and return again to
their home. They abhor water : therefore the notion of their being
the Satherioti oi Ariftotk is erroneous.

Another way of taking them, befides thofe which I before men-
tioned in my Hiftory of Quadrupeds, is by placing a piece of
timber from tree to tree horizontally , near one end of this is
placed a bait: over the lower piece of wood is placed another, fuf-
pended obliquely, and refting at one end on a poft very (lightly- a
rod extends from it to a noofe, to which die bait is faftened. As
foon as the Sable feizes i'- meat, the upper timber falls, and kills

• the precious animal :|:. The hunting feafon always begins with the
firft fnows : but they are now become fo very fcarce, as to be con-
fined to the vaft forefts of the extreme parts of Sibiria, and to the
diftant Kamtfchatka. Such has been the rage of luxury !

It was not till the later ages that the furs of beafts became an
article of luxury. The more refined nations of antient times ne-

; u

9«

1 f ■'3

Capture.

* Doaor Pallas. . f De/cr. Kamt/cJbatia, 27 ; .

t yojages de Pallas, u. 3,9. tab. xm.--Decour.erUs dans U Ruffe, ^c. iv. ^x^
b. VI. v'li "" J'*

Furs when

FIRST USED AS A
LUXURY.

tab. vi. vii.

N

vcr

1 1''

92

B

E.

ver made ufe of them : thofe alone whom the former ftigmatized
as barbarians, were cloathed in the (kins of animals. Strabo de-
fcribes the Indians covered with the Hcins of Lions, Panthers, and
Bears * j and Seneca f, the Scythians cloathed with the Ikins of Foxes,
and the leflcr quadrupeds. Virgil exhibits a pifture of the favagc
Hyperboreans, fimilar to that which our late circumnavigators can
witnefs to in the cloathing of the wild Americansy unfeen before by
any polilhed people.

Gens effrsna virum Riphtro tunditur Euro (
Et pccudum fulvis velantur corpora fetis.

Moft part of Europe was at this time in fimilar circumflanccs.
C^efar might be as much amazed with the fkin-drefled heroes of
Britain, as our celebrated Cook was at thofe of his new-difcovered
regions. What time hath done to us, time, under humane con-
querors, may effed for them. Civilization may take place, and
thofe fpoils of animals, which are at prefent eflential for cloathing,
become the mere objeds of ornament and luxury.

I cannot find diat the Greeks or old Romans ever made ufe of
fiirs. It originated in thofe regions where they moft abounded
and where die feverity of the climate required that fpecies of
cloathing. At firft it confifted of the fkins only, almoft in the ftate
in which they were torn from the body of the beaft^ but as foon as
civilization took place, and manufadures were introduced, furs
became the fining of the drefs, and often the elegant facing of the
robes. It is probable, that the northern conquerors introduced the
fafhion into Europe, We fmd, that about the year 522, when
rottla, king of the Viftgoths, reigned in Italy, that the Suethons (a
people of modern Sweden) found means, by help of the commerce
of numberlefs intervening people, to tranfmit, for the ufe of die

• Straho, Ub. xvii. p. 11 84.

t Epijl. Ep. xc.

Romans,

SAB

E.

Romans, faphilinas Relies, the precious fkins of the Sables ♦ As
luxury advanced, furs, even of the moft valuable fpecies, were ufed
by princes as lining for their tents: thus Marco Polo, in xici
found thofe of the Cham of ^artary lined with Ermines and Sa-
bles f. He calls the laft Zibelines, and Zamholines. He fays that
thofe, and other precious furs, were brought from countries far
north; from the W./i)..^«.y,, and regions almofl inaccefllble,
by reafon of morafies and ice %. The IVelJh fet a high value on
furs as early as the time oi Ho^cl BdaS, who began his reign
aoout 940. In the next age, furs became the fafhionable magnifi-
cence of £«r.^.. When Godfrey o^ Boulogne, and his followers, ap-
peared before the empero^ Ale.is Comnene, on their way to the illy
Land, he was ftruck with the richnefs of their drefles, tarn e, cjlro
quam aurifrigio et niveo opere harmelino et ex mardrino griftoaue et
vano. How different was the advance of luxury in France, from
the time of their great monarch Charlen^agne, who contented him-
felf with the plain fur of the Otter ! Henry I. wore furs, yet in his
diftrefs was obliged to change them for warm fFelJh flannel « But
in the year 1337, the luxury had got to fuch a head, that Ed
tvard III. enaded, that all perfons who could not fpend a hundred
a year, Ihould abfolutely be prohibited the ufe of this fpecies of
finery Thele from their great expence, muft have been foreign
furs obtained from the Italian commercial ftates, whofe traffic was
at this period boundlefs. How flrange is the revolution in the fur
rade ! The north of ^>, at that time, fupplied us with every va-
luable kind; at prefent we fend, by means of the pofleffion of Hud^
Jons Bay, furs, to immenfe amount, even to Turkey and the diftant

9.7

h^
k

! .]

• "Jomandes de Rebus Geticis,
X 160, 161, 162. % Leges fTellica.

t In Bergtrev*t Coll. jo.~-Purchas, iii. 86.
II Barrittgton on the Statuttt, 4th ed. 243.

Bifl,

B'

ill

94

HER.

31. FiSHIIl.

\HiJi. ^d. N* joz — Smillit, V. 307.— Liv. Mu»,

y^ E E S E L. With ears broad, round, and diifky, edged with
white : head and fides of the neck pale brown mixed with
afh-color and black : hairs on the back, belly, legs, and tail, brown
at the bafe, and black at their ends : fides of the body brown.

The feet very large and broad, covered above and below thickly
with hair: on each foot are five toes, with white claws, fliarp,
ftrong, and crooked : the fore legs ftioiter than thofe behind : the
tail is full and bufhy, fmalleft at the end. Length, from nofe to
tail, is twenty-eight inches j of the tail feventeen.

This animal inhabits Hud/on's Bay^ and is found in New England^
and as low as Penfyhania. About HudJorCs Bay they are called We-
jacksy and Woodjhocks, They harbour about creeks, feed upon fifh,
and probably birds. They breed Ciice a year, and have from two
to four at a birth. The natives catch them, and difpofe of the flcins,
which are fold in England for four or fix fliillings apiece. Such is
the account I received from Mr. Graham.

The late worthy Mr. Peter Collmjon tranfmitted to me the fol-
lowing relation, which he received from Mr. Bartram .•— " They
" ^re found in Penfyhania-, and, notwithftanding they are not
" amphibious, are called Fijhers, and live on all kinds of lefler
" quadrupeds." I do not know how to reconcile thefe accounts
of the fame animal (for fuch it is) unlefs it preys indifi^erently on
filh and land animals, as is often the cafe with rapacious beafts, and
that both Mr. Graham and Bartram may have overlooked that cir-
cumflance.

Hift,

STRIATED WEESEL.

^5

1^.

Hijt, ^aJ. N* 307 Smlli*. V. 297.

^^ EES EL. With rmall and rounded ears : the ground color
of the whole animal black, marked on the back and fides
with five long parallel lines of white; one extending from the head
along the top of the back to the bafe cf the tail; with two others
on each fide, the higheft of which reaches a little way up the tail :
the tail is long, and very bufhy towards the end.

This fpecies varies in the difpofition of the ftripes, and I fufpeft
the male is entirely black, as defcribed by M. Du Pratz * -, who
fays, that the female has rings of white intermixed. If that is the
cafe, the Ccafey which M. de Bttffon f received- from Firgitjta, is of
this kind. It is of an uniform color; but what is a ftronjyer r»-oof
of their differing only in fex, is the agreement in number of toes
in the fore feet, there being four on each ; an exception to the cha-
radler of this Genus.

In fize It is equal to an European Pole-cat, but carries its back
more elevated.

Thefe animals are found from Penfyhania as far as Louifianay where
they are known by the name of the Pole-cat % or Skunk ; which
is given indiflTerently to both of thefe foetid beafts.

Nature hath furnifhed this and the following a fpecies of defence
fuperior to the force either of teeth or claws. The French moft
juftly call thefe animals enfans du Dialky or children of the Devil,
and Betes puantes^ or the (linking beafts ; as the Swedes beftow on
them that of Fijkatta. The peftiferous vapour which it emits from
behind, when it is either attacked, purfued, or frightened, is fo

• Vol. ii. 67. t xiii. Coafe, p. 288.— Itf Compute (the female) ibid. tab. '

xxxviii. xl, \ Cattjly, ii. tab. 62.

fufFocating

3s. Striatio*

'■}> - ?l

♦ I'

5>6

. STRIATED WEESEL.

fuffocating and foetid, as at once to make the boldeft aflailant retire
with precipitation. A fmall fpace is often no means of fecurity;
the animal either wiU turn its tail, and by a frequent crepitus pre-
vent all repetition of attempts on its liberty; or elfe ejaculate its
ftifling urine to the diftance of eighteen feet*. Its enemy is ftu-
pified with the abominable ftench ; or perhaps experiences a tem-
porary blindnefs, fhould any of the liquid fall on his eyes. No
wafhing will free his deaths from the fmell : they muft even be
buried in frefh foil, in order to be efFeftnally purified.

Perfons who havejuft undergone this misfortune, naturally run to
the next houfe to try to free themfelves from it; but the rights of
hofpitality are denied to them : the owner, dreading the infeftion,
is furc to fhut the door againft them.

Profeflbr Kalm ran the danger of being fufFocated by the ftench
of one, which was purfued into a houfe where he was.

A maid-fervant, who deftroyed another in a room where meat
was kept, was fo afFedled by the vapour as to continue ill for leveral
days ; and the provifions were fo infeded, that the matter of the
houfe was forced to fling them away f .

Travellers are often obliged, even in the midft of forefts, to hold
their nofes, to prevent the effefts of its ftench.

The brute creation are in like dread of its effluvia. Cattle will
roar with agony ; and none but true-bred dogs will attack it : even
thofe are often obliged to run their nofcs into the ground before they
can return to complete its deftruflion. The fmell of the do<rs, after
a combat of this nature, remains for feveral days intolerable.

Notwithftanding this horrible quality, the flefh is eaten, and h
efteemed as fweet as that of a Pig. The bladder muft be taken out,
and the Ikin flayed ofi^, as foon as the animal is killed J.

• Kalm, i. 275. f The fame, 277.

t Law/on, lig."~Kalm, i. 278.

I fhould

STRIATED WEESEL. SKUNK.

I fhould think it a very difagreeable companion : yet it is often
tamed fo as to follow its matter like a Dog; for it never emits its
vapour unlefs terrified *. It furely ought to be treated with the
higheft attention.

The fkin is neglefted 'jv ihe Europeans^ by reafon of the coarfe-
nefs of the hair. The Indians make ufe of it for tobacco pouches,
which they carry before them like the Highlanders,

It climbo trees with great agility. It feeds on fruits f and infeds.
Is a great enemy to birds, deltroying both their eggs and young.
It will alfo break into hen-roofts, and deftroy all the poultry ij:. It
breeds in holes in the ground, and hollow trees, where it leaves its
young, while it is rambling in queft of prey.

97

Hiji. ^ad. N«» 2iS."'Smellte» v. 297.— Lev. Mu«.

■^/^E E S E L. With fliort rounded ears : fides of the face white :
from the nofe to the back extends a bed of whire j along the
top of the back, to the bafe of the tail, is another broad one of black,
bounded on each fide by a white ftripe: the belly, feet, and tail,
black. But the colors vary : that which is figured by M. de Buffon
has a white tail : the claws on all the feet very long, like thofe of a
Badger: the tail very full of hair.

This inhi^bits the continent oi America, from Hudjon^s Bay% to
In thelalt it is called Chinche. It burrows like the former,
and has all the fame qualities. It is alfo found in Mexico, where it
is called Conepatlj or Boy's little Fox %,

33. Skvnk.

Peru

• Kalm. i. 278. -j. Catejhj, ii. tab. 62. I Kalm, i. 274.

from thence by Mr. Graham. || FeuilUe Obf, Ptru, 1 7 14. p. zjz,

nandez, Mex. 382,

Vol. I. o

S Sent
V Her-

Mnltela

9«

K U N K.

Muftek mvaiis.-^Fennorum Nirpa Lumiko, Lumitirka, Nov. Aa. Acad. Reg.
Scient. Sutc. vi. 1785.?. t\2.^LappoH. St\!bhfh,—Ru//is Lalka.

W. With large canine teeth : body in fummer grey, with a
tindure of rufous : tail of the fame color : belly white. Length
from the tip of the nofe to the bafe of the tail fix inches and a hSf:
tail an inch and a half. Shape of the Stoat.

Inhabits the north of Finland and Lapland. Lives during the
fummer in the foreftsj in winter frequents villages and houfes.
Feeds on mice, fmall birds, their eggs and young j eats alfo frogs
Is itfelf the prey of rapacious birds, and of the Ermine or Stoat.
In winter changes to white, the whifkers, and a few hairs in the
tail, excepted. Has not the foetid fmell of the Weefel and Stoat.
Is taken in traps baited with a moufe, or fmall bird. The fkin is
equal in price to that of the Ermine.—Profeflbr Retzius.

HIS sr.

COMM >J OTTER.

99

HISr. ^UAD. Genus XXIV.

OTTER.

Hijl. ^ad. N" 226— 5r. Zoel. i. N» ig.^Smellte, iv. 232.-.LEV. Mus.

OTTER. With fliort rounded ears: head flat and broad:
long whilkei s : aperture of the rnouth fmall : lips very muf-
cular, defigned to clofe the mouth firmly while in the aftion of
diving : eyes fmall, and placed nearly above the corners of the
moudi : neck fhort : body long : legs fliort, broad, and thick : five
toes on each foot, each furniflied with a flrong membrane or web :
tail deprefled, and tapering to a point.

The fur fine j of a deep brown color, with exception of a white
Ipot on each fide of the nofe, and another under the chin.

Thefe animals inhabit as far north as Hudfon's Bay, Terra di La-
brador, and Canada, and as low fouth as Carolina and Louiftana * ;
but in tht latter provinces are very fcarce. The fpecies ceafes
farther fouth. Law/on fays that they are fometimes found, to the
weftward of Carolina, of a white color, inclining to yellow. Thofe
of North America are larger than the European, and the fijrs of fuch
which inhabit the colder parts are very valuable. Their food
is commonly filhi but they will alfo attack and devour the
Beaver f.

They are found again in Kamtfchatka, and in moft parts of nor-
thern Europe and Afta, but not on the ArSfic flats: are grown
very fcarce in Rujfta. The Kamtjchaikans ufe their furs to face their

34. Common.

• Lavjfon, 1 19, and Dtt Prtttz, ii. 69.

O a

f Dobbs, 40.

garments,

lOO

LESSER OTTER.

garments, or to iap round the fkins of Sables, which are preferved
better in Otter (kins than any other way. They ufuaUy hunt them
with dogs, in time of deep fnow, when die Otters wander too far
from the banks of rivers *.

The Jnericans round Hud/on's Bay {hoot or trap them for the
fake of the fkins, which are fent to Europe. They alio ufe the Ikins
for pouches, ornamented with bits of horn ; and eat the fkfh.

Otters are probably continued along the Jr^ic parts ofJmericay
weftwardi being found on the moft eaftern, or the greater Fo^c
mnds, which are fuppofed to be pretty near to that continent.

35. Minx.

Description.

Akerica.

Lefler Otter, Hijl ^ad. N» 228*

O T T E R. With a white chin : rounded ears : top of the head
in fome hoary, in others tawny: the body covered with Ihort
tawny hairs, and longer of a dulky color: the feet broad, webbed,
and covered with hair: the tail dulky, ending in a point. This
animal is of the Ihape of the common Otter, but much fmaller: its
lengdi being only twenty inches from head to tail, of the taU only
four. *

It inhabits the middle provinces of North America, from New
Jerfey to the CaroUnas. I did not difcover it among the Ikins fent
by ivlr. Graham from Hudjon's Bay, the animal defcribed as one of
this fpecies differing from the many I have feen from the more
fouthern colonies : yet pofllbly it may be found in a more northern
latitude than that which I have given it, if the Foutereaux, an am-
phibious fort of little Polecats mentioned by La Hontan, be tl.e
fame f .

• H.Ji.Kamif. 115, 116.

t i. 62.

It

LESSER OTTER.

It frequents the banks of rivers, inhabiting hollow trees, or holes
which it forms near the water *. It has, like the Skunks, when pro-
voked, a moft exceflively foetid fmell. It lives much upon fi(h, frogs,
and aquatic infeds -, dives admirably, and will continue longer under
water than the Mufk-beaver t : yet at times it will defert its watery-
haunts, and make great havoke in the poultry yards, biting off the
heads of the fowls, and fucking the blood. At times it lurks amidft
the docks and bridges of towns, where it proves a ufeful enemy to
rats J.

It is befides very deftruftive to the Tortoife j whofe eggs it
fcrapes out of the fand and devours : and eats the frefh-water
mufcles ; whofe Ihells are found in great abundance at the mouth
of their holes. It is capable of being made tame, and domefti-
cated §.

The ipecies is fpread in JJay along the janks of the Taik, in the
Orenburg government ||. None are feen in Sibiria; but appear
again near the rivers which run into the Amur. Its fur is in thofe
parts very valuable, and efteemed as next in beauty to the Sable.
It is either hunted with dogs or taken in traps. In Europe it is
found in Poland and Lithuania^ where it is named Nurek; and the
Germans call it Nurtz. It is alfo an inhabitant of Finland: the
natives call it Tichuri -, the Swedes^ Mank f , a name carried into
America by fome Swedijh colonift, and with a flight variation is ftill
retained.

xoi

Asia.

Europe.

• Kalm, ii. 62.
S Lanv/oHf ill.

f Letter from Mr. Peter Collin/oni % Ktdm, ii. 6li»

II Dr. Pallas. f Fauna Suee, N» 13.

m*

101

SEA OTTER.

36. Sea.

Description.

I'

Size.

Placb.

Hijl. S>uad. No 230.

Lutra Marina, Kalan. Nov. Com. Petrop. u. 367. tab. xvi.

Caftor Marin, Hiji. Kamf/chatka, 444.

Sea Otter, Mulltr, 57, 58 •—Lev. Mui.

QTTER. With hazel irides: upper jaw long, and broader
than the lower : nofe black ; ears ereft. conic, fmall : whiOcers
long and white: i„ the upper jaw fix, in the lower four, cutting
teeth: gnnders broad: fore legs thick; on each four toes, covered
with ha,r,and webbed: the hind feet refemble exadly thofe of a
Seal : d.e toes divided by a ftrong ihagreened membrane, with a
fkm fkirting the external fide of the outmoft toe, in the manner of
feme water fowl.

The (kin is extremely thick, covered clofely with lone hair re
markably black and glofly, and beneath that is a foft l' Th^
h.r teeume, varies to Glvery. The hair of the young is foft and

The length, from nofe to tail, is about diree feet, that of the
.a.l th.rteen .nches and a half. The tail is deprefled, fbU of lu^
m the middle, and Iharp-pointed. The weight of A biggeft, f
venty or eighty pounds. ^ '

Thefe are the moft local animals of any we are acquainted

w.th, beuig entirely confined between lat. 49 and 60, and weft

onguude ^^6 to.jo eaft from Lo„4o„, i„ the coaft and fl ™

the north-eaft parts of America; and again only between the Kam,.

_ • I h.rc infcrt the fynonyms j for ii, Ae SynopSs of QuadrUDeds folhw

Jchatkan

SEA OTTER.

fcbatkan lliores and the ifles which intervene between them and
jimerica. They land alfo on the Kuril 'Hands ; but never arc
feen in the channel between the north-eaft part of Sibiria and
jimerica.

They are moft extremely harmlefs, and moft fingularly af-
feftionate to their young. They will never defert them, and
will even pine to death on being robbed of them, and ftrive to
breathe their laft on the fpot where they experienced die misfor-
tune.

It is fuppofed that they bring but one at a time. They go be-
tween eight and nine months with young, and fuckle it almoft the
whole year. The young never quits its dam till it takes a mate.
They are monogamous, and very conftant.

They bring forth on land: often carry the young between
their teeth, fondle them, and frequently fling them up and
catch them again in their paws. Before the young can fwim, the
old ones will take them in their fore feet, and fwim about upon
their backs.

They run very fwiftly : fwim fometimes on their fides, on their
backs, and often in a perpendicular diredtion. They are very ipor-
tive, embrace each other, and kifs.

They never make any refiftance ; but endeavour, when attacked,
to fave themfelves by flight : when they have efcaped to fome dif-
tance, they will turn back, and hold one of dieir fore feet over their
eyes, to gaze, as men do their hands to fee more clearly in a funny
day; for they are very duU-fighted, but remarkably quick-
fcented.

They are fond of thofe parts of the fea which abound moft with
weeds, where they feed on fifli, fepis, lobfters, and ftiell-fifh, which
they comminute with their flat grinders.

They

lOJ

Manners.

f<H

Capture,

Pvn.

SEA OTTER.

They are taken different ways: in the fummer, by placing nets
among the fea-plants, where thefc animals retire in the frequent
ftorms of this tempeftuous coaft.

They are kiUed with clubs or fpears, either while they lie aneep
on the rocks, or in the fea floating on their backs.

Thirdly, they are purfued by two boats till they are tired for
they cannot endure to be long at a time under water.

During winter they are brought in great numbers to the KurilioH
iflands, by the eaftern winds, from the American Ihore.

The hunter goes with a dog, who points them. He knocks it
on the head, and flays it, while the dog is beating about for
another.

KaJa^r ''' ^"'"'"^ '" '^' ^amtjcbatkan tongue Kdan, in the plural

Their flefli is preferred to that of Seals by the natives ; but the
unfortunate crew who were Ihipwrecked in the expedition in 1741
under Captain Bering, found it to be inflpid, hard, and tough as'
leather; fo that they were obliged to cut it in fmall pieces be.
fore they could eat it. Others pretend, that the flefh of the
young IS very delicate, and fcarcely to be diftinguifhed from young

But the valuable part of them is their flcin. Few are brought
into Europ; but great quantities are fold to the Cbinefe, at vafl:
prices, from feventy to a hundred rubles apiece, or 14 or 2c/
fterhng each. What a profitable trade might not a colony carn^
on, was It poflible to penetrate to thefe parts of North America
by means of the rivers and lakes ! The accefs to Pekin would
be then eafy, by failing up the gulph of Petcbeli. At prefent
thefe valuable furs are carried by land above three thoufand miles
to the frontiers of China, where they are delivered to the mer-
chants.

Thefe

SEA OTTER.

Thefe animals partake very much of the nature of Seals, in their
almoft conftant refidence in the water, their manner of fwimmjig,
fin-like legs, and number of fore teeth. In their ears they
gready refemble the little Seal of my Hiftory of Quadrupeds,
N° 386, and feem uief animals which conneft the genera of Otters
and Seals.

They arc feen very remote from land, fomctimes even at die dif-
tance of a hundred leagues.

105

Vol. I.

D I V.

D I V. II. Sect. II.

DIGITATED QJU ADRUPEDS.

Without Canine Teeth : and with two Cutting Teeth

only in each jaw.

P a

io8

VARYING HARE.

DI V. II. Sect. II. Digitated Quadrupeds.

Without Canine Teeth : and with two Cutting Teeth

only in each jaw.

Generally Herbivorous, or Frugivorous.

HARE.

H I S r. ^tfAD. Genus XXVI.

Z7' Varying.

Hijf. ^ad. N" 242 — Alpine Hare, Br. Zool. i. N" 21.— Lev. Mus.

HARE. With the edges of the ears and tips black : the colors,
in fummer, cinereous, mixed with black and tawny: tail
always white.

Mr. Graham fays, that thofe o(Hudfon's Bay arc of the fame fize
with the common j but thofe which I have examined in Scotland
are much lefs, weighing only fix pounds and a half: the common
Hare weiglis upwards of eight.

This fpecies inhabits Greenland^ where alone they continue white
throughout the year * i and are very numerous amidft the fnowy
mountains. They are ufually fat; and feed on grafs, and the
white mofs of the country. They are found about the rocks at
Churchill, and the ftreights of Hudfon's Bay ; but are not common.
They breed once a year, and bring two at a time f. They chano-^
their color to white at approach of winter. Tiiey are met widi m

• Crantz, i, 7o.~£^f</f, 62,

t Mr. Graham,

Canada

AMERICAN HARE.

Canada and Newfoundland; after which the fpecicj ceafcs to the
fouthward, or at left I have no authority for its being continued j
the Hare of New England feenting, by Jojelyn's account, to be the
following fpecies.

The Greenlanders eat the flefli drcfled, and the contents of the
ftomach raw. They ufe the excrements for wick for their lamps j
and cloath their children with the foft and warm (kins.

This fpecies abounds from Livonia to the north-eaft part of Sli>i'
ria and Kamtjchatka ; and from Archangel to Saratofy on the banks
of the i'f^olgay in eaft lat. 49. 52, and even farther into ae Orenburg
government. In Sibiria they quit the lofty mountains, the fouthern
boundaries of that country, and, coUedling in flocks innumerable,
at approach of winter migrate to the plains, and northern wooded
parts, where vegetation and food abound. Mr. Bell met with them
daily in their progrefs *. Multitudes of them are taken in toils by
the country people, not for the fake of the flefli, but the flcinsj
which are fent to Peterjburgy and from thence exported to various
parts.

109

American Hare, Ph. Tranf. Ixii. 4. yj(i.~-H'tJi. S^uad. N» 243.

»

TJ" ARE. With ears tipt with grey : neck and body rully, cine-
reous, and black : legs pale ruft- -color : belly white : tail black
above, white beneath.

The diftinftions between this and the common Hares and vary-
ing Hares are thefe : — They are lefs, weighing only from three
pounds eight ounces to four pounds and a half: the length to the
fetting-on of the tail only nineteen inches. The hind legs aie longer
in proportion than thofe of the common Hare or varying Hare j

• Travels, odlavo ed. i. 246.

the

38. AMEIt,ICAH.

SlZK.

^KmME'

'

UI^^^HE

IH^Hb

f

IB

(

>!B^^H^

!

'

IIO

Size of a
VAXYiNC Hare.

AMERICAN HARE.

the length of this, from the nofe to the tip of the hind legs, extend-
ed, being two feet five: of a varying Harej meafured at the fame
time, in Hudfon's Bayy only two feet feven and a half i but from the
nofe to the tail was two feet : its weight feven pounds fix ounces.

Thefe animals are found from Hudjon's Bay to the extremity of
North America \ but fwarm in countries bordering on the former.
In the time of M, Jermie, who refided in EudJorCs Bay from 1708
to 17 14, twenty-five thoufand were taken in one feafon *. At pre-
sent they are a principal winter food to our refidents there. They
are taken in wire fnares, placed a: certain intervals in fmall open-
ings made in a long extent of low hedging formed for that purpofe;
the animals never attempting to jump over, but always feek the
gaps. Thefe hedges are removed, on the falling of the fnows, to
other places, when the Rabbets feek new tracks f. Their flefh is
very goodj but almoft brown, like that of the Englijh Hare.

From BudJorCs Bay, as low as New England, thefe animals, at ap-
proach of winter, receive a new coat, which confifts of a multitude
of long white hairs, twice as long as die fummer fur, which ftill re-
mains beneath. About the middle of Ap-il they begin to Ihed their
winter covering.

From New England fouthward they retain dieir brown color the
whole year. In both warm and cold climates they retain the fame
nature of never burrowing} but lodge in the hollow of fome de-
cayed tree, to which diey run in cafe diey are purfued. In the cul-
tivated parts oi America, they make great havoke among the fields
of cabbage, or turnips J. In Carolina, they frequent meadows and
marfhy places i and are very fubjed to have maggots breed in the
fkin §. In that province they breed very often, and even in the

• Voyages au Nord, iii. 344.
S LoFw/hn, 122)

t Drage, L 176.

} Kalfiii ii. 46.

winter

i^ L ? I N E ,H A R E.

winter months, and bring from two to fix at a time t but ufually
two or four *,

I know of no ufe that is made of the (kins, excepting that the
natives o{ Hud/on' s Bay wrap them round the limbs of their children,
to preferve them againfl the cold.

tii

* * Without a tall.

,JJARE. With fhort, broad, rounded ears: long head, and
,whi(kers: fur dufky at the roots) of a bright bay near the
ends i tips white : intermixed are divers long dufky hairs.

Length nine inches.

Found from the Altaic chain to lake Baikal^ and from thence to
Kamtfchatka. They dwell amidft the fnows of the loftieit and moft
dreadful rocky mountains, and never defcend to the plains. They
ajfo are faid to inhabit the fartheft Fox or Jleutian iflands : there-
fore poflibly may be met with in America.

The manners are fo amply defcribed in my Hiftory of Quadru-
peds, that I fliall not repeat an account of them.

* Doilor Garden.

European,

39. Alpine,

Ill

ALPINE HARE.

i

A. European, Sr. Zooh i. N" .'-Hiji. ^ad. ii. N"

The common Englijh Hare is found in Sweden^ and is perhaps
the only kind in the fouthern part. Profeflbr Retzius is of opi-
nion, that it does not differ in Ipecies from the Varying^ N° 37. 1
have given my reafons, in the 'Tour to Scotland, and my Hijiory of
^adrupedsy vol. II. p. 370, for differing from his refpedlable
opinion.

In Sweden the common Hare is in flimmer of a dufky brown : in
winter becomes cinereous. In that ftate, I have feen a brace fent
over to England. In Scania they are twice as large as tiiey are in
the northern parts o( Swedeny i. e. as thofe I call the Varying,

HIST.

R.

HIST. ^UAD. Genus XXVII.

Hiji. ^ad. N° 2^1.-— Smellie, v. 21.— Lev. Mus.

BEAVER. With a bluiic nofe : ears fhort, rounded, and hid
in the fur : eyes fmall : very ftrong cutting teeth : hair of a
deep chefnut brown : fore feet fmall, and the toes divided : hind
feet large, and the toes webbed : the tail eleven inches long, and
three broad j almoft oval j flat, and covered with thin fcales.

The ufual length, from nofe to tail, is about two feet four i but I
have meafured the fkin of one, which was near three feet long.

Beavers vary in color. They are fometimes found of a deep
black, efpecially in the north. In Sir y^Jhton Lever's mujeum is a
fpecimen quite white. As they advance fouthward, the beauty of
their fur decreafes. Among the Illinois they are tawny, and even
as pale as ftraw color *.

In North America thefe animals are found in great plenty all
round HudJorCs Bay^ and as low as Carolina f and Louifiana J. They
are not known in Eaji Florida §. The fpecies alfo ceafes before it
arrives in South America. To Ipeak with precifion, it commences
in lat. 60, or about the river of Seals, in Hudjon's Bay -, and is loft
in lat. 30, in Louijiana.

From Hudjon's Bay and Ca::ada, I can trace them weftward to
1 20 degrees of longitude, as far as the traft weft of Lac Rouge, or
the Red lake ||. The want of difcovery prevents us from know-

• Charh'voix, V. 140.
ef Eaft Florida, 50.

Vol. I.

f Lai'jfon.
Dobb, 35.

X Du Pratz, ii. 6$. § Account

ing

"3

BEAVER.

40. Castor.

Description.

Place.

114

SAOACiry.

\

Dwellings.

Labors,

CASTOR.

ing whether they are continued to the weftern extremity of this
great continent oppofite to Afta : probably they are, for the Ruffian
adventurers got fome of their fkins on the iHe o( Kadjak,vi\Ach. the
natives muft have had from America, They certainly are not found
in the iflands of tht new Archipelago; nor yet in Kamtfchatka*,hy
reafon of the interruption of woods, beyond the river Konyma.
From thence I doubt whether they are met with aflbciated, or in a
civilized ftate, nearer than the banks of the river Jenejei, or the
Kondat and other rivers which run into the Oby : but they are found
fcattered in the woody parts of independent tartary ; alfo in Cafan,
and about the Talk, in the Orenburg government. In the fame
unfociable ftate they inhabit Europe, and are found in Ruffia, m
Lapland, Norway, and Sweden. The Beaver k extremely fcarce in
the lower part of Sweden. Mr. Oedman recolleds but one in-
ftance, and that was in IVeftrogothia. It was fo litde known there,
that the common people regarded it as a prodigy.
^ Thefe are the moft fagacious and induftrious of animals. They
live in fociety, and unite in their labors, for the good of the com-
monwealth they form. They ereft edifices, fuperior in contrivance
to the human beings. They ufually live near, and fhew a dexterity
in their oeconomy unequalled by the four-footed race.

In order to form a habitation, they feled a level piece of ground,
with a fmall rivulet running in die midft. To effea their works, a
community of two or three hundred affembles : every individual
bears his Ihare in the laborious preparation. Some fall trees of
great fize, by gnawing them afunder widi their teeth, in order to
form beams or piles j others are employed in rolling the pieces to
the water; others dive, and fcrape holes with their feet in order to
fix them; and another fet exert their efforts to rear them in their

• The Sea Beaver (as it is caUed) Sp. of this work, mull not be confounded with

proper

CASTOR.

proper places. A fifth party is bufied in coUefting twigs to wat-
tle the piles. A fixth, in coUefting eardi, ftoncs, and clay j odiera
carry it on their broad tails to proper places, and with their feet
beat and temper the earth into mortar, or ram it between the piles,
or plaifter the infide of the houfcs.

All thefe preparations are to form their dwellings within an arti-
ficial piece of water or pond, which they make by raifing a dam
acrofs the level fpot they had pitched on. This is done, firft by
driving into the ground ftakes, five or fix feet long, placed in rows,
and fecuring each row by wattling it with twigs, and filling the
interftices with clay, ramming it down clofe. The fide next to the
water is floped, the other perpendicular. The botiom is from ten
to twelve feet thick j the thicknefs gradually diminiflies to the top,
which is about two or three. The centre of the dam forms a feg-
ment of a circle j from which extends, on each fide, a flrait wing :
in the midfl: of the centre is ufually a gutter left for the wafl:e water
to difcharge itfelf. Thefe dams are often a hundred feet long, and
nicely covered with turf.

The houfes thefe wife animals make, are placed in the water col-
ledted by means of the dam, and arc feated near the fliorc. They
are built upon piles, and are fometimcs round, fometimcs ovaU
the tops are vaulted, fo that their infide refembles an oven, their
cutfide a dome. The walls are made of earth, ftoncs, and fticks,
and ufually two feet thick. They are commonly about eight feet
high above the furface of the water*, and are very neatly and
clofely plaiftered on the infide. The floor is a foot higher than the
water. The houfe, fometimcs, has only one floor, which is ftrewed
with leaves or mofs, on which each Beaver lies in its proper place j
at other times there are three apartments i one to lodge, another to

nj

Dams.

:inl

! I

Houses.

* Cleri, i. 142.

CL2

eat

ii6

Magazines.

Food.

Number op

HOUSES;

OFINHABITANTS.

CASTOR.

eat in, and a third to dung in*: for they are very cleanly, and
inftantly caufe the filth to be carried ofF by the inferior Beavers.

MDu Pratz f fays, that thofe oi Louiftana form numbers of cells,
and that each animal, or more probably each pair, poffefs one. He
fays, that he has feen no lefs than fifteen of thefe cells furrounding
the centre of one houfe. He alfo a quaints us, that the Beavers of
Louiftana are a third lefs than the brown fort; are covered with a ci-
nereous down, which is covered with long filvery hairs.

In each houfe are two openings ; one towards the land, the other
IS within, and communicates with the water, for the conveniency of
getting to their magazine of provifion in frofty weather. This ori-
fice is formed fo as to be beyond the diicknefs of the ice; for they
lodge their provifions under the water, and dive and bring it into
their houfe according as they want it.

Their food is laid in before winter by the tenants of each houfe;
It confifts of the bark and boughs of trees. Law/on fays that they
are fondeft of the faflafras, afh, and fweet gum. In fummer they
live on leaves, fruits, and fometimes crabs and cray-fifh; but they
are not fond of fiih.

The number of houfes in each pond is from ten to twenty-five:
the number of animals in each, from two to thirty. They are fup-
pofed to aflbciate in pairs; are therefore monogamous : another
proof of their advances towards civilization.

I think I have heard that every family confifts of an even number
Sometimes the community, within the precind of a dam, confifts of
four hundred; but I prefume this muft be in places litde frequented
by mankind. ^

They begin to build their houfes, when they form a new fetde-
ment, in the fummer; and it cofts them a whole feafon to finilh
tneir work, and lay in their provifions.

Mr, Grahams-^CateJby, Jfp. xxx. f i. 24,.

They

TOR.

117

They are very attentive to their fafety j and on any noife take to
the water for their further fecurity. They form vaults or burrows
in the banks of the creek formed by the dam, into which they re-
treat in cafe of imminent danger.

They feem to be among quadrupeds, what Bees are among
infefts. They have a chief, or fuperintendant, in their works, who Overseers.
direds the whole. The utmoft attention is paid to him by the
whole community. Every individual has his talk allotted, which
they undertake with the utmoft alacrity. The overfeer gives a
fignal by a certain number of fmart flaps with his tail, '^xprefllve of
his orders. The moment the artificers hear it, they haften to the
place thus pointed out, and perform the allotted labor, whether
it is to carry wckod, or draw the clay, or repair any accidental
breach.

They have alfo their centinels, who, by the fame kind of fignal, Centinels.
give notice of any apprehended danger.

They are faid to have a fort of flavifti Beaver among them (analo- Slaves.

gous to the Drone) which they employ in fervile works, and the
domeftic drudgery *.

I have mentioned before their fagacity in laying in the winter
provifion. They cut the wood they prefer into certain lengths ; their woo
pile them in heaps beneath the water, to keep them moift j and,
when they want food, bite the wood into fmall pieces, and bring it
into their houfes. The Indians obferve the quantity which the
Beavers lay in their magazine at approach of winter. It is the
Almanack of the Savages ; who judge, from the greater or lefs
ftock, of the mildnefs or feverity of the approaching feafon f.

The expedition with which they cut down trees, for the forming
their dams, is amazing. A number furrounds the body, and will

D HOW

CUT.

• Mr, Graham^

f Charlevoix, v. 151.

m

m.h

ii8

f I

;• i
I 1

CASTOR.

in a few minutes gnaw through a tree of three feet in circum-
ference j and always contrive to make it fall towards the fpot they
wifli *.

Beavers have in jimerica variety of lakes and waters in which
they might fix their feats; but their fagacity informs them of the
precarious tenure of fuch dwellings, which are liable to be over-
thrown by every flood. This induces them to undertake their
mighty and marvellous labors. They therefore feled places where
no fuch inconveniences can be felt. They form a dam to fupport
a refervoir, fed only by a fmall rill ; and provide for the overflow
of the wafte water by a fuitable channel in the middle of their
bank. They have nothing to fear but from land floods, or the
fudden melting of the fnows. Thefe fometimes make breaches, or
damage their houfes ; but the defers are infliantly repaired.

During the winter they never ftir out, except to their magazines
of provifion j and in that feafon grow exceflively fat.

They are ftrongly attached to certain haunts, there being places
V hich they will not quit, notwithftanding they are frequently dif-
turbed. There is, fays Charlevoix, a ftrong inftance on the road
between Montreal and lake Hurotiy which travellers, through wan-
tonnefs, annually moleftj yet is always repaired by the induftrious
inhabitants.

In violent inundations diey are fometimes overpowered in their
attempts to divert the fury of the water. In thofe cafes they fly
into the woods: the females return as foon as the water abates;
the males continue abfent till July, when they come back to repair
the ravages made in tiieir houfes f.

Beavers breed once a year, and bring forth the latter end of
winter ; and have two or diree young at a birth.

• Catejiy, App, 30. t CbarltVQh, v. 151.

I

There

C A

R.

119

There is a variety of the Beaver kind, which wants either the fa-
gacity or the induftry of the others, in forming dams and houfes.
Thefe are called Terriers. They burrow in the banks of rivers,
and make their holes beneath the freezing depth of the water,
and work upwards for a great number of feet. Thefe alfo form
their winter magazines of provifion. Beavers which efcape the
deftruftion of a community, are fuppofed often to become Ter^

riers.

Strange animal feen by Mr. Phipps and others in Newfoundland,
of a fhining black : bigger than a Fox : fhaped like an Italian gre-
hound : legs long : tail long and taper. One gentleman faw rive
fitting on a rock with their young, at the mouth of a river j often
leapt in and dived, and brought up trouts, which they gave to their
young. When he fhewed himfelf, they all leapt into the water,
and fwam a little way from Ihore, put their heads out of the
water and looked at him. An old furrier faid, he remembered a
fkin of one fold for five guineas. The French often fee them in

Hare Bay.

Beavers have, befides man, two enemies j the Otter, and the
Wolverene j which watch their appearance, and deflroy them. The
laft is on that account called, in fome parts of America, the Beaver-
eater. They are very eafily overcome j for they make no refiflancc :
and have no fecurity but in flight.

It is not wonderful that fuch fociable animals fhould be very af-
fedtionate. Two young Beavers, which were taken alive and
brought to a neighbouring fadlory in Hudjon's Bay, were preferved
for fome time j and throve very fall, till one of them was killed by
an accident. The furvivor inflantly felt the lofs, began to moan,
and abftained from food till it died *.

Terrihr,
Beavers.

THEIR BNEMIE *

• Dragt's Vcy, i. 151.

They

lao

How TAKEN,

CASTOR.

They are taken fcveral ways : fomctimes in log-traps, baited
with poplar flicks, laid in a path near the water. The Mians
always wafli their hands before they bait the traps, otherwife the fa-
gacious animal is fure to ihun die fnare.

Sometimes they are ihot, either while they are at work, or at
food, or in fwimming acrofs the rivers. But thefe methods are
iifed only in fummer, and not much praftifed i for the (kins in
that feafon are far lefs valuable than in the wii r. At that time
they are taken in nets placed above and below their houfes, acrofs
the creeks, on flakes. If the water is frozen, the ice is cut from
Ihore to fhore, in order to put down the flakes. When the net is
fet, the Indians fend their women to the Beaver-houfes to difturb
the animals ; who dart into the water, and are ufually taken in the
net, which is inflantly hauled up j and put down again with all ex-
pedition. If the Beaver mifTes the net, it fometimes returns to its
houfe, but oftcner into the vaults on the fides of the banks j but the
poor creature feldom efcapes, being purfued into all his retreats,
the houfes being broke open, and the vaults fearched by digging
along the Ihores.

The value of the fur ofdiefe animals, in the manufadlure of hats,
is well known. It began to be in ufe in England in the reign of
Charles I *, when the manufadture was regulated, in 1638, by pro-
clamation; in which is an exprefs prohibition of ufing any mate-
rials except Beaver ^uf, or Beaver wool; and the hats called demi-
caflors were forbidden to be made, unlefs for exportation.

This caufed a vafl encreafe of demand for the Ikins of die
Beavers. The Indians, on the difcovery of America, feem to have
paid very little attention to them, amidfl the vafl variety of beafls
they at that time pofTefTed, both for food and cloathing. But

* Rj/msr^s Fader a, xx. 230.

about

r.n

R.

121

about the period of the fafliion cf hats, they became an article of
commerce, and objeft of chafe. The fouthern colonies foon be-
came exhaufted of their Beavers ; and of later years the traffic has
been much confined to Canada and Hudfon's Bay. The importance
of this trade, and the ravages made among the animal creation in
thofe parts, will appear by the following ftate of the imports into
the ports oi London and Rochelle in 1743. I take that year, as I
have no other comparative ftate :

Hudjon's Bay company fale, begun November 17th 1743.
26,750 Beaver fkins.
14,730 Martins.

590 Otters.
1,110 Cats, i. e. Lynx,
320 Fox.
600 Wolverenes.
320 Black Bears.
1,850 Wolves.

40 Woodlhocks, or Filhers.
10 Minx.
5 Raccoon.
120 Squirrels.
130 Elks, i. e. Stags.
440 Deer.
Imported into Rochelle in the fame year.
127,080 Beavers.
16,512 Bears.
110,000 Raccoon.
30,325 Martins.
12,428 Otters and Fifhers.
1,700 Minx,
ii22o Cats.
Vol. I. R 1,267 Wolves.

m

laa

1,267 Wolves.
92 Wolverenes.
10,280 Grey Foxes and Cats.
451 Red Foxes.
This great balance in favor of the French arifirs not only from
their fuperior honefty in their dealings with the ignorant Indians,
but the advantageous fituation of Canada for the fur trade. They
had both fides of the river St. Lawrence; the country round the
five great lakes ; and the countries bordering on the rivers flowing
into them; and finally, die fine flir countries bordering on the
Hud/on's Bay company, many of whofe waters falling into the St.
Lawrence, gave an eafy conveyance of diofe commodities to Mont-
real; where a fair is annually kept, with all the favage circum-
ftances attendant on Indian concourfe.

The traffic carried on in Hud/on's Bayh chiefly brought from the
chain of lakes and rivers diat empty themfelves into the bay at
Nel/on's river, running foutherly from lat. 56 to lat. 45. Lake
Pacbegoia is the mod northerly: there the Indians rendezvous in
March, to make their canoes for the tranfportation of the fursj for
at that feafon the bark of the birch-tree feparates very eafily from
the wood.

41* Musk.

Ifi/f. ^ad. No zsz.^Smellie, v. 260.

REAVER. Wida a thick nofe, blunt at the end: ears fhort
hid in the fur : eyes large : body thick, and in form quite re-
fembks that of the Beaver j its color, and diat of the head, a red-
difh brown : breaft and belly cinereous, tinged wirfi ruft-color : the
lur \s very foft and fine.

The

MUSK.

laj

The toes on every foot are <liftin«5t and dirided : thofe of the
hind fret fringed on both fidps with ftiff" hairs or brii\krs, clofcly fct
together : tail comprcfled, and thin at the edges, covered with foiall
fcalcs, with a few hairs intermixed.

Length, from nofc to tail, one foot : of the tail nine inches.

Thefe animals arc in fcxne parts of Amtrtca called the Little
Beaver, on account of its form, ajid fome parts of its occonoroy.
From its fcent it is ftyled the Muflc Rat, and Mufquafh. The
Huretu call it Ondathra j from which M, tie Buffen gives it the name
of Ondatra *.

It is found from Iludfon's Bay to as low at left as Carolhta f .
Like the Beaver, it forms its houfe of a round fhape, covered with a
dome, and conftrudled with herbs and reeds cemented with clay.
At the bottom and fides are fevcral pipes, through which they pafs
in fearch of food ; for they do not lay in a ftock of provifion, like
the former. They alfo form fubterrancous paflages, into which
tliey retreat whenever their houfes are attacked.

Thefe houfes are only intended for winter habitations : are defertci,
and rebuilt annually. During fummer, they live in pairs, and bring
forth their young from three to fix at a time. At approach of win-
ter, they conftrudt their houfes and retire into them, in order to be
protedled from the inclemency of the feafon. Several families oc-
cupy the fame dwelling, which is oft-times covered many feet
with fnow and ice ; but they creep out and feed on the roots which
lie beneath. They are very fond of the Acorus Verust or Calamus
Aromaticus X. This perhaps gives them that ftrong mufky fmell
thefe aiiimals are fo remarkable for ; which they lofe during winter,
probably when this fpecies of plant is not to be got. They alfo
feed on the frelh-water Muflels. They feed too on fruit j for Kahn

f X. 12.

f Lanv/on, 120.

R 2

X The fame.

fays,

•ii*'^-:

«H

M U

K.

r^, Aat appte are At baks ufed for them in traps. We may
add, that ■„ winter they eat the roots of nettles, and in fummer,
ftrawbernes and rafberries •, during which time it is rare to U the
male and female feparate.

The flelh is fometimes eaten. The fur is made nfe of in the ma-
nufeaureofhats. The Mufk hao ;= (■„„...• mmcma.

,„ r t .- ™™K-bag IS fometimes put among cloths
to preferve them from worms or infefts.

Thefe animals, as well as the Beaver, feem to have their r«-n»-.
crfomewhich do not give themfelves the trouble of buildingZfo
dth"r: '''J'^T''^' - "-^^ adjacent to lakes, riveS

«h ough the embankments of meadows. They continue in X
holes, except when they are in-the water in fearch of fo^ Th v
make^their nefts with fficUs, placing a lining of fome foft matl^

h:t:tee^;;sr:; *^' '^^ '-'- '-^^ -^^ ^^^

• Charlevoix, V. 158.
§ V. 158.

t Kalm, ii. 56, and Charlevoix,

X Kalm, ii. 58.

HIST.

CANADA PORCUPINE.

125

H I S r. ^U A D, Genus XXVIII.

PORCUPINE.

Hiji. ^ad. N" 257. — Lev. Mus.

42. Canada.

PORCUPINE. With Ihort ears, hid in the fur : hair on the
head, body, legs, and upper part of the tail, long, foft, and of
a dark brown color j but fometimes found white : on the upper part
of the head, body, and tail, are numbers of ftrong fliarp quils ; the
longeft, which are thofe on the back, are three inches long ; the
ftiorteft are towards the head and on the fides, and concealed in the
hair ; mixed with them are certain ftiff ftraggling hairs, at left three
inches longer than the others, tipt with dirty white : the under fide
of the tail is white.

On each fore foot are four toes ; on the hind five j all armed with
long claws, hollowed on the under fide*

The fize of one, which Sir Joseph Banks brought from New-
foundlandy was about that of a Hare, but more compadly made ;
the back arched ; and the whole form refembling that of the Beaver :
the tail is fix inches long, which, in walking, is carried a little bent
upwards.

This ipecies inhabits America^ from HudJorCs Bay to Canada''^ ^
Newfoundland^ New England., and, but rarely, as far fouth as Virginia f.
Lawjon makes no mention of it among the animals of Carolina. Du
PratzX fays, it loves the cold, and is found on the banks of the
Illinois. It may therefore be ranked among the local northen ani-
mals.

* Charlfvoix, v. 198,

f Catejhy, App. xxx.

I ii. 63.

They

126

i jl'i

'; ii
i1

CANADA PORCUPINE.

They are found in great plenty about Hud/on's Bay, where the
trading Minns depend much on them for food. They are reck-
oned excellent eating, even by the Europeans, tafting, when roafted,
hke fucking-pig. The bones, during winter, are of a greenilh yel-
low, owing, as is fuppofed, to their feeding during that feafon on
the bark of the pine. It is obferved, that the bones of animals
fometimes take a tindure from their diet 5 for example, thofe of
beafts which feed on madder become red *. The Caqua, or Ca-
tuida Porcupine, feeds much on the bark of pines or juniper: it is
their food the greateft part of the year, and the buds of willows
their chief fupport the reft. In walking it drags its tail along the
ground. Indians difcover them by the track they make, but
chiefly by the unbarked trees. In fummer, they live on the wild
fruits, and lap water, but will not go into it. In winter, take fnow
by way of beverage.

They neftle under the roots of great trees, and will ilfo, in queft
of fruits, afcend the boughs. When the Indians difcover one
in a tree, they cut it down, and kUl the animal by a blow on the
nofe.

They defend themfelves with their quils. They fly from their
purfuer j but when they cannot efcape, will fidle towards their ene-
my, in order to pufli their quils into him : they are but weak in-
Itruments of oflx^ncej for a fmall flrroke with the hand againft the
grain will bring them from the fkin, leaving them flicking flightly
in the flefh. The Indians ufe tliem to make holes in their nofes and
ears, for the placing their nofe and ear-rings, and other finery f.
They alfo trim the edges of their deer-fkin habits with fringes
of dyed quils J, or make pretty linings with them for the bark
boxes.

• Phil, Tranf, bcii. 374. ^ Drage^s Voy. i. 177. j The fame, ^91.

They

CAN .DA PORCUPINE.

They are very indolent animals, fleep much, and feldom travel a
mile from their haunts *.

M. de Buffon gives two figures of tliis beaft, under the name of
Le Coendou and VUrJon. The firft he makes an inhabitant of
Brafil: the laft, of HudJorCs Bay : but the Coendou is a very differ-
ent animal \. The two figures he has exhibited are of our Porcu-
pine in the winter and fummer drefs, the hair growing thinner as
the warm feafon approaches \. His Coendou. fhews it in the firft
ftate, his Urjon in the fecond §.

They are faid to copulate in September^ s :a to bring only one
young, the firft week in April i another, which it brings forth, be-
ing always dead jj.

• Mr. Graham. f ??e Syit. ^ad. N» % Ednv. Hijl. Birds, i- 52-

\ Htft. Nat. xii. tab. liv. Iv. || Mr. Graham.

HIST.

127

m

f

..li
5 'I

I

/

128

QUEBEC AND MARYLAND MARMOT.

MARMOT.

43. Quebec.

44. Maryland.

H IS <r. ^UAD. Genus XXIX.

Hijl.^ad. No 259.

Mus empetra, Pallas, Nov. Sp. Siuid.fa/c, i. 75.

Ti/f A R M O T. With fliort rounded ears : blunt nofe : cheeks
irX fwelled, and of a cinereous color : end of the nofe black -
top of the head chefnut : the hair on the back grey at the bottom,
black in the middle, and the tips whitilh : the belly and legs of a

deep orange, or a bright ferruginous color.

Toes black, naked, and quite divided : four toes, widi die rudi-

ments of another, on the fore feet, five on the hind feet : tail fhort,

dulky, and full of hair.

The fpecimen which I faw formerly at Mr. Brook% alive, ap-
peared larger than a Rabbet; but the fpecimen in the Royal So-
ciety's Muftum * was only eleven inches long from nofe to the
tail, and the tail diree inches. This probably was a young one.

The IVenuJk, or ^ehec Marmot, feeds on coarfe grafs "^ It bur-
rows in the earth in a perpendicular manner. The Indians take it
by pouring water into the holes, which forces it out.

Hiji. Sluad. N» 26o.Smellie, iv. 346.

^ A R M O T. With prominent dark eyes : fhort rounded ears :

nofe fharper-polnted than that of thelaft, and of a cinereous

color; head and body of a brown color, which is lighter on the

• Phil. Tranf. kii. 378,

fidesj

-V-

HOARY MARMOT.

fides, and ftill more fo on the belly : the legs and feet dufky : toes
long, and divided : claws long, and fharp : tail dufky, and bufhy j
half the length of the body : a fpecific diftindtion from the other
kinds.

Size of a Rabbet„

Inhabits the temperate and warm parts of North America^ from
Penjyhania to the Bahama I/lands. It feeds on fruits, berries, and
vegetables. In the provinces it inhabits the hollows of trees, or
burrows under ground, fleeping for a month together. The Eu-
ropean fpecies continues dormant half the year : whether it takes a
long deep in the warm climate of the Bahamas I am uncertain. It
dwells there among the rocks, and makes its retreat into the holes
on the approach of the hunters. In thofe iflands it is very fond of
the berries of the Ehretia Bourreria, called there Strong Back, The
flefh is reckoned very good, but refembles more that of a Pig than
a Rabbet *.

It is called there the Bahama Coney. By Mr. Edwards^ who
figures one from M.^.rylandy the Momxt or Marmot oi America f.

Hijf. ^ad. N^ 261 Lev. Mus.

TV/TARMOT. "With the tip of the nofe black: ears fliort, and
oval : cheeks whitifli : crown dufl<y and tawny : hair in all
parts rude and long ; on the back, fides, and belly, cinereous at the
bottoms, black in the middle, and tipped with white, fo as to Ipread
a hoarinefs over the whole : legs black : claws dufky : tail full of
hair, black and ferruginous.

Size of the preceding.

Inhabits the northern parts of North America,

* CaU'Jl'y Card!, ii. 79.— vi'//. xxviii.

Vol. I. S

f Hi/}. Birds, 11. 104.

45, Black

129.

45. Hoary.

JiJO TAIL-LESS AND EAR-LESS MARMOT.

A. 45. Black Marmot. With the tip of the nofe whitifh: face,
brown and hoary : tail, fix inclies long : hair on the body (hort ;
and of a full black : palms naked beneath. Size of a Rabbet.

Defcribed from a (kin in the Hudfon's Bay houfe. Inhabits the
interior parts of the country, and faid to be rare.

46. Tail-less.

Hiji. ^ad. N» .—Lev. Mus.

jyjARMOT. With Ihort ears: <

cinereous brown : the extremities
cutting teeth above, four below : no tail.

About the fize of the common Marmot.

Inhabits Hudfon's Bay.

'^ the head and body a
the hairs white : two

47. Ear-less.

HiJi. S>Jiad. N" 263. — Smellic, viii. 234.

AT A R MOT. Without ears: face cinereous: back, and hind
part of the head, of a light yellowifli brown j fometimes
fpotted diftinftly with white, at others undulated with grey : belly
and legs of a yellowifh white : tail about four inches and a half long.
Length, from nofe to tail, about nine and a half. Bijt there is a
pygmy variety wholly yellow, and with a fliort tail, frequent near
the fait lakes, between the moutlis of the 7'aik. and tiie Jcmba.

Inhabits Bohemia, Auftriay and Hungary, r d in the Ruffian empire;
begins to be common about the Occa, eaft of Mojcow \ extends over
all the temperate and open parts of Sibiria, and about Jakutjk, and
in Kamtfchatka. It is alfo on the ifland of Kadjak, and was feen in
great numbers by Steller on Scbamagin's ifles, almoft dole on tlie
fhore of North /Jmcrka, which give it place in this part of the
work.

They

EAR-LESS MARMOT.

They burrow, and fink the pipes to their retreats obliquely, and
then winding ; and at the end is an arched oblong chamber, a foot
in diameter, ftrewed with dried grafs. The entrances, or pipes, of
the males are of greater, and thofe of the females of leffer, diame-
ters. Towards winter they make a new pipe to their neft, but
that only reaches to the turfj and with the earth which is taken
out they fill up the fummer pipe.

They live entirely in a ftate of folitude, unlefs in the amorous
feafon, when the females are found in the fame burrows widi die
males ; but they bring forth in their own burrows, and by that
means prevent the males from deftroying the young, as they cannot
enter by reafon of the narrownefs of the pipes, the males being
fuperior in fize to their mates. They fieep all night j but in the
morning quit their holes, efpecially in fine weather, and feed and
Iport till approach of nigh*:. If the males approach one another,
they fight fliarply. The females often fet up a very fliarp whiftle ;
the males are, for the moft part, filent. At the fight of a man,
they inftantly run into their burrows ; and are often feen Handing
upright, and looking about them, as if on the watch ; and if they
fpy any body, give a loud whiftle, and difappear.

They are very eafily tamed, and become very fportive and amuf-
ing; and are very fond of being ftroked and cheriflied. In this
ftate they will eat grain, and many forts of herbs. In a wild ftate
they prey on mice, and fmall birds, as well as vegetables. Gmeiin
fays, that in Sibiria they inhabit granaries ; but I do not find it con-
firmed by Do6tor Pallas. Gmeiin adds, that thofe who frequent
granaries, feek for prey during the whole winter * : as to the others,
they certainly remain torpid all the fevere feafon, and revive on the
melting of the fnows.

I3»

Manners.

f i;

* Voyage en Sibirie, i. 378,
S 2

They

132

MARMOT.

They bring forth from three to eight at a time. The young
grow very quick, and defert the maternal burrows in the fum-
mer.

Their enemies are all forts of Weefels, which dig them out of
their holes. More males than females perifh, as the latter are
fiercer, and defend themfelves much better. During day they are
fnatched up by hawks and hungry crows.

In fome places they are taken in fnares, for the fake of their
fkins, which are ufually fent to China. The Kamtjchatkans make
moft elegant garments and hoods of them ; fpecimens of the latter
are preferred in the Leverian Mujeum. In Sibiria their flefh is
efteemed a great delicacy, elpecially in autumn, when they are
a lump of fat.

The Ruffians call them Sujlik j the Sibirians, "Jevrajcha^ and Jmu-
ranka ; the Kamtjchatkans ^ Syrath.

A. BoBAK, Ri^.^atf. N" 262. — SmeItU,vu. 198.

A^ARMOT. With Ihort oval thick ears : finall eyes : upper

part of the body greyifh, mixed with long black and dulky

hairs, tipt with grey : throat ruft-colored : reft of the body and

infide of the limbs yellowilh ruft : four claws on the fore feet, and

a Ihort

MARMOT.

a lliort thumb furniflied with a ftrong claw : five toes behind : tail
fhort, flender, and full of hair. Length fixteen inciies : of the tail
five.

Inhabits in great plenty Kamtjchatkay Sihirta, Tartary, the Ukraine
and Poland.

Its manners moft amply defcribed in the Hiftory of Qua-
drupeds.

1J3

HIST,

»J4

SQUIRREL.

48, Hudson.

i
i

If

,v,ff

1

ml'

1

mil

fit.

HUDSON S Q^U I R R E L,

H ISr. ^UAD. Genus XXX.
N. B. The ears of the American Squirrels have no tufts.

Hu<lro»'. Bay Sqmrrol. IliJI. <J,w. N" 274._I,,v. Uv,.

S^^h I'^f ^: , °!' ' '""'■"g'"™^ "'»■•. -""ked along the mp
"J ofthe back w,th a hneofa deeper hue: belly of a pale an,-co-
o^ mottled w.th black, and divided from the fides by a dulky ine •
ta. Ihorter and lefs bufty d,an that of the European ki'nd ; of a nl
color, barred, and fometimes edged with black

Inhabits the pine-forefts of ffi,^>„..&_,,„d:f,j,^^^.
he cones : keep .n their nefts the whole winter. Are found as Zh
as the Copper r.ver , yet do not change their colors by the feve ,°v
o the wnter, hke the P„iu ,ris of northern Eurofe li^t(Z
wluch t ey form a diftinft fpecies. I know of only of™
t.on.„ change of color in thofe of J^erica, Sir JfiJn Uv^ ^Zl
poflefled of a fpecimen of a milky whitenefs ; but he did not k w
from what part of the continent it came.

C.r.li„a*. With the head, back, and fides, grey, white, and fer-
rug,nous ,„ter„,„d : belly white : the color divided fro n tha f
the fides by a ruft-coloured line : lower part of the legs red • taU
brown, mixed witl, black, and edged with whire '

Both thefe are rather lefs than the Eur^tem Squirrels.

• Lcfc Grey Squirrel, Uijl. ^,aj. p.

HiJI,

itf

GREY S Q^U I R R E L.

^3$

Hift. ^aj. N'» zji.-^Smellit, v. 321.— Lev. Muj,

49. Grey.

CQJJIRREL. With hair of a dull grey color, intermixed
with black, and frequently tinged with dull yellow : belly white.
But they vary, the body being fometimes of a fine uniform grey.

This is the largeft of the genus, and grows to half the fize of a
Rabbet.

In America I do not difcover this animal farther north than New
England* ; from whence they are found in vaft numbers as far fouth
as Loiiifiana f . Thefe, and the odier fpecies of Squirrels, are the
greateft pefts to the farmers of North y^merica. They fwarm in fe-
veral of the provinces, and often dcfcend in troops from the back
fettlements, and join the reft in their ravages on the plantations of
mayz, and the various nuts and maft which that fertile country
produces.

Thofe which migrate from the mountains generally arrive in au-
tumn ; inftantly clear the ground of the fallen acorns, nuts, and
maft, and form with them magazines for their winter provifions, in
holes which they dig under ground for that purpofe. They are
often robbed of their hoards ; for the colonifts take great pains to
find them out ; and oft-times the hogs, which rove about the woods,
root up and devour their magazines. It is from, thefe that they
fupply themfelves, from time to time, with provifions, quitting their
nefts, and returning with a fufficient ftock to laft them for fome
fpace J it being obferved, that during winter they do not care to quit
their warm retreat, unlefs on a vifit to their ftorehoufes i therefoie,
whenever they are obferved to run about the woods in greater

• 7#6"»'* ^ey* 86.

f Bojit, i. 36?.

numbers

i

fl

■i

i

V >f !

K-Jfi

GREY S CLU I R R E L.

numbers than iifua), it is a certain fignof the near approach of fevere
cold; for inlHnft diie<^s them to lay in a greater ftock than iifiial,
leaft the inclemency of the weather fhould deprive diem of accefs
to their fubterraneoiis magazines.

The damage which they do to the poor planters, by deftroyin^
the mayz, is incredible, 'riicy come by hundreds into the fields"
climb up the flalks, and eat the fwcet corn wrapt up in the heads,*
and will deftroy a whole plantation in a night. For this reafon
they were profcribed. -In fome places the inhabitants were, each,
obliged annually to bring in four Squirrels heads. In others, a fum
was given, about three pence, for every one that was killed. This
proved fuch an encouragement, as to fet all the idle people in the
province in purfuit of them. Pa,/yhama paid, from Jamary 1749
to January 1750, 8000/. currency: but on complaint being made
by the deputies, that their trcafuries were exhaufted by thefe re-
wards, they were reduced to one half. How improved mud the
ftate of the /Imerkam then be, in thirty-five years, to wage an ex-
pcnfive and fucccfsful war againft its parent country, which before
could not bear the charges of clearing the piovinces from the
ravages of thefe infignificant animals !

It has been obferved, that the Squirrels are greatly multiplied
within thefe few years, and that in proportion to theencreafe of the
fields of mayz, which attradl them from all parts j I mean not only
the grey fpecies, but all the others.

They arc eaten by fome people, and are efteemed very delicate.
Their ll<ins, in Anerica, are ufed for ladies flioes 3 and are often
impoi ted into England, for lining or facing for cloaks.

Tiiey make their nefts in hollow trees, with mofs, llraw, wool,
and other warm materials. They chiefly inhabit trees of the deci*
duous kind J but fometimes in pines, whofe cones are an article of
their provifion. They keep their nefts for feveral days together,

feldom

GREY S CLU I R R E L.

ffldom (lining out, except for a frelli fiipply of food. Should a
deep fnow prevent them from getting to their ftorehoufcs, multi-
tudes pcrifl) with hunger.

Wlien they are fitting on a bough, and perceive a man, they in-
ftantly move their tails backward and forward, and gnafh their
teeth with a very confiderable noife. Tliis makes them detelled
by the fportfmen, who lofe their game by the alarm they give.
The Grey Squirrel is a difficult animal to kill : it fits on the
higheft trees, and often between the boughs, and changes its place
with fuch expedition that the quickefl: markfman can fcarcely find
time to level his piece j and if it can once get into a hole, or into
any old neft, nothing can provoke it to get out of its afylum. They
nin up and down the bodies of trees, but very rarely leap from
one to the other.

They are eafily made tame j will even be brought to play with
cats and dogs, which in a ftate of domeft:icity will not hurt them.
They will alfo attach themfclves fo far as to follow children to and
from the woods.

They agree in their manner of feeding with the European kinds;
and have all the fame fort of attitudes.

«37

ii

S QU I R P EL. With coarfe fur, mixed with dirty white and
black : the throat, and infide of the legs and thighs, black : the tail
is much fliorter than is ufual with Squirrels, and of a dull yellow,
mixed with black : in fize equal to that of the Grey.

Inhabits Virginia. ■ Mr. KmphaM, in whofe coUedion I found it,
informed me, that the planters called it the Cai Squirrel.

I fufpeft that this animal is only a variety. Lawfon* fays,
that he has feen the Grey fpecies pied, reddilh, and black i but this

(3. Cat.

Vol. I.

* Hijl, Carol. 124.

T

point

/

II

I3S

BLACK SCLUIRREL.

point muft be determined by natives of the countries which they
inhabit, who, from obfervation, may decide by their manners, or
their colors, in different feafons, or periods of life.

50. Black.

Uift, Sluad. N« 273.-5r«v«V Zoology, tab. xlvii.—LEv.

Mus.

SQJJIRREL. With white ears, nofe, and feet: the body totally
formeT '^' '''^ ^^''^' "^' ""^'^ ^^''^'' ^ ^'^' ^'l"^^ '« ^^

Thefe fornetimes vary: there being examples of individuals
which are wholly deftitute of any white marks. The beautiful
figure of one of thefe animals from Eaft Florida, in Mr. Bro^^n^,
Zoology, has ears edged with white, and a much longer tail than

Inhabits neidier HudJorCs Bay nor Canada, but is found in mofl:
other parts oi America, as far as Me.ico *. It is equally numerous,
and as deftruc5tive to the mayz as the Grey Squirrel, but breeds and
aflbciates in troops feparate from that fpecies f, yet makes its neft
in the fame manner, and like it forms magazines of provifion
againfl the fevere feafon. i' "

In Mexico, and probably in other parts of ^;;;.r;V^, they eat the
cones of pme-treesi and lodge in the hoUows of the trees.

• Is the ^auhtechalkmic, or rWacote.uiUin. of the Mexicans. FemanJe., 8.

IH

A. With

FLYING S CLU I R R E L.

A. With membranes from leg to leg.

Hijl. ^lad. N"> 283. — S/itellie, v. 307. — Lev. Mus.

C QU I R R E L. With large black eyes : round and naked ears :
a membrane, covered with hair, extending from the fore to the
hind legs : the hairs on the tail difpofed flatways on each fide : are
long in the middle, Ihort towards the end, which tapers to a point :
that and the body of a brownifh cinereous : the belly white, tinged
with yellow.

Inhabits all parts of North Americay and as low as Mexico y where
it is called ^imkhpatlan *. The natives of Virginia named it AJfa» ■
panic ■\.

They live in hollow trees. Like the Dormoufey they deep the
whole day ; but towards night creep out, and are very lively and
aftive. They are gregarious, numbers being found in one tree.
By means of the lateral membranes, they take prodigious leaps,
improperly called flying ; and can fpring ten yards at an effbrt.
vv nen they would leap, they extend the hind legs, and fl:retch out
the" intervening fkin, which producing a larger furface, makes the
animals fpecifically lighter than they would otherwife be : even with
all this advantage, they cannot keep in a ftrait line, but are urged
downward with their weight. Senfible of this, they mount the tree
in proportion to the diftance of the leap they propofe to take, leafl
• they fliould fall to the ground before they had reached a place of
fecurity.

IJ9

51. Flying.

'sl

^.1

* Fernand, Nov, Hi/p. 8.

f Smilh'i Virginia, 27.

T 2 They

iT^aasa

140

If'

HOODED S CLU I R R E L.

They never wiUingly quit the trees, or run upon the ground, be-
ing conftant refidents of the branches. They go in troops of ten or
twelve, and feem in their leaps, to people unaccuftomed to them,
like leaves blown off by the wind.

They bring three or four young at a time. They ufe the fame
food, and form their hoards like other Squirrels.

They are very eafily tamed, and foon grow very familiar. They
feem of a tender nature, and to love warmth, being very fond of
creeping to the (leeve or pocket of the owner. If they are flung
down, they fhew their diflike to the ground, by inftantly running up
and fheltering themfelves in his cloaths.

52'H03DED..

Hijl.^ad. N0 284.

SQUIRREL. With the lateral fkins beginning at the ears,
uniting under the chin, and extending, like thofe of the former,
from fore leg to hind leg : the ears naked, and rather long : the hairs
on the tail difpofed horizontally.

The color of the upper part of the body reddifli: the lower part
cinereous, tinged with yellow.

This fpecies, according to Seba, who is the only perfon who has
defcribed or figured it, came from Virginia*. Linnaus is very
confufed in his fynonyins of this and the former kind j that of
Mr. Edwards refers to the ether fpecies i and that of Seba, in his
article of Sciurus Volans^ to both f.

• Seh. Muf. i. tab. xHv. p. 72.

t Sjft. Nat. 85, where he caUs it Mus Volansy aiid p. 88, where he ftyles it
Sciurui,

It

SEVERN RIVER S Q^U I R R E L.

It is Angular that there Ihould be only one fpecimen ever
brought of this fpecies, from a country we have had fuch great
intercourfe with. It may perhaps be a monftrous variety, by the
extent of the fkin into a fort of hood. As to color, that is
an accidental difference, which happens to numbers of other
animals.

Hift, Sluad. N<» 282.

Greater Flying Squirrel, Ph. Tr. Ixii. 379.

CQUIRREL. With the hair on the body and fides of a deep
cinereous color at the bottom; the ends ferruginous: breaft
and belly of a yellowifh white : the whole coat long and full : the
tail thick of long hairs, dilpofed in a lefs flatted manner than thofe of
the European kind ; brown on the upper fide, darkeft at the end j
the lower part of the fame color with die belly : the lateral fkin>
the inftrument of flight, difpofed from leg to leg, in the fame man-
ner as in the firft fpecies, N" 51.

In fize it is far fuperior to the common Flying Squirrel, being
at left equal to the Englijh kind.

This ipecies is found in the fouthern parts of Hudfon's Bay,
in the forefts of the country bordering on Severn river in Jamas' s,
bay.

141

53. Severn

RlV£R.

Common,

I?'

ii\

, 1

-ft-

I4«

MIt

COMMON S C^U I R R E L.

t/ii

A. ' Common, Hift. ^ad. N** i^S.—Smellie, iv. 268.— Lev. Mus.

g QU I R R E L. With tufted ears : head, body, and legs, ferru-
ginous : breaft and belly white : tail reddifh brown.
This fpecies inhabits the northern world, as high as Lapmark; is
continued through all the Ardic countries, wherefoever wood is
found J abounds throughout Stbiria, except in the north-eaft parts,
and in Kamtfcbatka, where it ceafes, by reafon of the ceflation of
forefts.

In all thefe countries they are red in fummer, but at approach
of winter change to various and elegant greys. Their furs are of
exquifite foftncfs, and are the forts known to us by the name of
Petit Gris. In the more foutherly parts of thefe cold climates,
they retain a tinge of the fummer red, and are lefs valuable. The
change of color is effeded gradually, as is its return in fpring to its
ferruginous coat.

It is very fingular, that the alteration is not only performed in
the feverity of the open air, but even in the warmth of a ftove. Dr.
Pallas made the experiment on one which was brought to him on
the 1 2th of Scptemhery and was at that time entirely red. About
the 4th oi October many parts of the body began to grow hoary;
and at the time it happened to die, which was on the 4th of No-
vember,

COMMON S Q^U I R R E L,

vemhefy the whole body had attained a grey color, and the legs, and
a fmall part of the face, had alone the reddifh tinge *.

The varieties are as follow : — A blackifh one, with the fur footy
tipt with red, and full black glofly tai), are common about lake
Baikaly and the whole courfe of the Lena. Sir Afljton Lever is in
pofleflion of one of a jetty blacknefs, with a white belly: its ears,
as well as thofe of all the Petit Gris, are adorned with very long
tufts. Thefe change in winter to a lead-color, and are taken in
the thick y^lpine forefts, where the Pinus Cembray or Stone
Pines, abound. The fkins of thefe are neglefted by the Chinefey
but greatly efteemed in Europe elpecially the tails, for facings of
dreffes.

This variety is obferved fometimes to migrate in amazing num-
bers from their lofty alpine abodes, compelled to it whenever there
happens to be a fcarcity of provifion f. Swarms have appeared
even in the town of 'tomfk^ in deferted houfes, and in the towers of
the fortifications ; where numbers are taken alive, and of great fize,
by the children of the place.

A beautiful and large variety, about the Barabuy called the Teleu-
tiany is in great efteem for its beautiful grey color, like a Gull's
back, with a filvery glofs, and finely undulated. Their fummer
color is ufually dufky red, and the fides and feet black. Thefe are
highly efteemed by the Chinejey and fell at the rate of 6 or 7/. fterling
per thoufand \.

A fmall variety of this, leffer even than the common kind, is met
with about the neighbourhood of the Kafym and IJet.

A variety is alfo met with which change to a white color j and
others again retain a white color both in winter and fummer.

'43

♦ Nov. Sp. ^ad. 373.

X Mem. Rujf. Afiat. vii. 124.

t Nov. Sp.an. 188.

The

144

EUROPEAN FLYING SQUIRREL.

The late navigators to the Icy fea brought home with them from
Pulo Condor i a knot of iflands in north lat. 8. 40. on the coaft of
Cambodia^ a Squirrel totally black.

? I

B. European Flving SquiRREL,^/^.i9£/«y. N«285 Smellie.y. 307.— Lev.Mu').

g QU I R R E L. With naked ears : flying membranes extending
from the middle of the hind legs to the bafe of the fore feet,

and fpreading there in a rounded fail : tail full of hair, and round

at the end: color of the upper part of the body a fine grey, like

that of a Gull's back ; the lower part white.

Length to the tail four inches and a quarter i of the tail, five.
Inhabits the birch-woods oi Finmark, Lapland, Finland, Lithuania,
and Livonia. Is found in ^^, in the woods of the C/r<?//w« chain,
and from thence to the river Kolyma. Neftles in the hollows of
trees remote from the ground, where it makes its neft of the fofrefl:
moffes. Is always folitary, except in the breeding-feafon, and
never appears in the d. 7-time. Lives on the buds and catkins of
the birch, and on the flioots and buds of pines, which give its juices
a ftrong refinous fmell j and its excrements will burn ftrongly with
a pitchy fcent. The laft are always found at the root of the tree,
as if the animal defcended to eafe nature. It feldom comes out in
bad weather i but certainly does not remain torpid during winter;
for it is often taken in the traps laid for the Grey Squirrels. The
fkins are often put up in the bundles with the latter, fo that the
purchafer is defrauded, as their fur is of no value. They leap at
vaft diftances from tree to tree, and never defcend but for the pur-
pofe before mentioned. By reafon of fimilitude of color between
them and the birch bark, they are k^n with great difficulty, which
preferves them from the attacks of rapacious birds.

They

Mi

EUROPEAN FLYING SQUIRREL*

They bring forth two, three, and rarely four, young at a
time. When the parent goes out for food, flie laps them care-
fully up in the mofs. They are very difficult to be preferved, and
feldom can be kept alive, by reafon of want of proper food.
They are born blind, and continue fo fourteen days. The
mother pays them great attention ; broods over them, and covers
them with its flying membrane. The Ruffians call them Ljetaga,
or the Flying.

»4S

Vol. L

U

HIST,

t4«

STRIPED DORMOUSE.

DORMOUSE.

HIST, ^UA D. Genus XXXI.

54. Striped.

Ground Squirrel, Hijt. Sluad, ^•zSS.^Smm, v. 329.-LSV. Mcs.

,1

Sizfr..

TNORMOUSE. With naked rounded ears: the eyes fuU
X^ and black, about them a whitifli fpace.- the head, body,
and tail, of a reddilh brown, deepeft on the laft : from neck to tail
a black line extends along die top of the back: on each fide run
two others, parallel to the former, including between them anodier
of a yellowilh white : breaft and belly white : the toes almoft naked,
and of a flefh-colorj long, flender, and very diftinftj four, widi
the rudiment of a fifth, on die fore feet, five perfeft toes on the
hind.

The length is about five mches and a halfi of the tail, to the
end of the hairs, rather longer.

Inhabits all parts of Norih America^ I think, from Hudfon's
Bay to Louiftanai certainly from Canada^ where the French call
them Les SuiJfeSy from their Ikins being rayed with black and
white, like die breeches of die Switzers who form die Pope's
guard *.

They are extremely numerous : live in woods, yet never run
up trees, except when purfued, and find no other means of
efcape. They live under ground, burrow, and form their habi-
tations with two entrances, diat they may fecure a retreat dirough

Chark-voixt V. I98.

fhe

n ;,

STRIPED DORMOUSE.

the one, in cafe the other fliould be (lopped. Thefc little aninnals
form tlieir fubterraneous dwellings with great (kill, working them
into the form of long galleries, with branches on each fide,
every one terminating in an enlarged apartment, in which they
hoard their (lock of winter provifion *. Their acorns are lodged
in one, in a fecond the mayz, in a third the hickery-nuts, and
in the lail their moft favorite food, the Chinquaquint or chefnut.
Nature has given to them, as to the Hamper ■[, a fine convc-
nicncy for coUeding its provifions, having furniihed them with
pouches within their cheeks, which they fill with mayz, and
other articles of food, and fo convey them to their maga-
zines.

Thofe of Sii>iria live chiefly on feeds, and particularly on the
kernels of the CemhrOi or Stone Pinej and thefe they hoard up in
fuch quantities, that ten or fifteen pounds of the moft choice have
been found in a fingle magazine %.

They pafs the whole winter either in fleep or in eating. During
the fevere feafon, they very rarely ftir out, at left as long as their
provifions laft ; but if by an unexpeded continuance of bad wea-
ther their provifions fail, they will then fally out, and dig under
ground in cellars where apples are kept, or into barns where tnayz
is ftored, and make great devaftations. They will even enter
houfes, and eat undifmayed, before the inhabitants, any corn they
chance to meet with§. The Cat makes great havock among
them, being at all feafons as great an enemy to them as to do-
meftic Mice. It is hunger a!one that tames them. They are
naturally of a very wild nature, will bite moft feverely, and cannot
by any means be rendered familiar.

H7

• Kalm, i. 322. 325. f lliji. ^ad. N" 324.

379.-^07. de Pflllas, ii. 29Z, § Du Pratz, ii. 68.

U 2

t Pal/as, Kov. Sp. an.

They

I

irnfimM

14a

STRIPED DORMOUSE.

They are remarkably nice in the choice of their food, when the
variety of autumnal provifions gives opportunity, They have been
obferved, after having (luffed their pouches with the grains of rye,
to fling it out when they meet with wheat, and to replace the rye
with the more delicious corn.

Their fkins form a trifling article of commerce, being brought
over among le menue pelliterie, the fmall f jrs, and ufed for the lining
of ladies cloaks.

In Sibiria they are killed with blunt arrows, or caught in fall-
traps. About the Lena^ the boys go out in the amorous feafon of
thefe little animals, and. Handing behind a tree, mimic the noife
of the females, which brings the males within reach of their (licks,
with which they kill them. The (kins are fold to the Chine/e mer-
chants. About the Lena, a thoufand of their fkins are not valued
at more than fix or eight rubles ♦.

Thefe animals are found in great numbers in Afta, beginning
about the river Kama^, and from thence growing more and more
frequent in the wooded parts oi Sibiria ; but thefe, and all the fpecies
of Squirrel, ceafe towards the north-eaft extremity of the country,
by reafon of the interruption of woods, which cuts them off from
Kamffcbatka.

Ml:

• Pallas, Nov. Sp. an. 380.

t A river falling into the IFolga about forty miles below Ca/k

'an.

iW

Dormoufe,

ENGLISH DORMOUSE.

149

Dormoufe, Br. Z«t/. i. N« zi^~~HiJt. ^ad, N» i^,^SmtIlit, iv. 334.-.LEV. Mus. 55. English i

Mr. Z,<?w/o» fays that the Englijh Dormoufe is found in Carolina i
but it has not as yet been tranfmitted to Great Britain, In order
to afcertain the fpecies, I add a brief dcfcription.

rjORMOUSE. With ifuU black eyes : broad, thin, femi-tranf-
parent ears : throat whitt : reft of the body and the tail of a
tawny red. Size of the common Moufej but the body of a plum-
per form, and the nofe more blunt: tail two in.:hes and a half long,
covered on every fide with hair.

In Europe, inhabits thickets i forms its neft at the bottom of a
tree or fhrub j forms magazines of nuts for winter food ; fits up to
eat, like the Squirrel ; lies torpid moft of the winter, in its retreat,
rolled up into the Ihape of a ball j retires to its neft at approach of
cold weather.

HIST,

150

BLACK RAT.

,1 1

RAT.

H IS r. ^UAD. Genus XXXIII.

56. Black.

Br. Zeol. l N« 2$^Hi/f. ^jfoJ. N« i^j.^SmtlUe, iv. 275— Lev. Mu».

r

.1 i

RAT. With head and body of a very deep iron grey, nearly
black : belly afh-colored : legs almoft naked, and dulky : a
claw inftead of a fifth thumb on die fore feet. Lengdi, from nofe
to tail, i^vm inches ; tail near eight.

Inhabits North America, not only the fettled parts, but even the
rocks of the Blue mountains *, remote from all human dwellings.
There they live among the ftones, and in the fubterraneous grottos
frequent in thofe hills. They lie clofe during day, but at night
come out, and make a moft horrible noife amidft tliefe American
alps. In violent frofts they lie torpid j and in the inhabited parts
of the country they are obferved to redouble their fcreaks before
fevere weather, as if they had fome prefage from their conftitu-
tions.

By Mr. Bartram's obfervations it appears very certain, that
thefe animals are nanves oi America. They are found even at pre-
fent in the moft defolate places, as well as in the houfes and barns
of the inhabited parts. It is unknown in Europy that either the
common Rat or Moufe ever deferted the haunts of mankind, for
rocks and deferts : they therefore have been there from the earlieft
times. It is likely, that if ever the Blue mountains become inlia-
bited, die wild Rats will quit their rocks, and rcfort to thofe places

• Bartram, as quoted by Mr. Kalm, ii. 47.

where

BROWN AND AMERICAN RAT.

where they find harvcfted food, and will quickly become pernio
cioufly domeftic. ♦

We are pofitively told; that South America was free from thefc
troublefome animals, till they were introduced there from Euro^^
by the means of Ihips, in 1 544 ♦.

We find none of the fpecies in Kamt/cbatka, nor any where to the
eaft of the UraUian chain, yimerica muft therefore have been ftoclc-
cd with them from the fide of Europe. They are very common
in RuJ/ia. Towards ^Jtracan they arc very fmall, but of the fame
color with the others.

Br, Zool. i. N» 26.^Hift. Sluad, N» zgi.^Sme/lif, Iv. 336— Lev. Mvu 57. Buowk,

J^AT. Above, light brown mixed with tawny, dufky, and cine-
reous : below, of a dirty white : four toes before, and a claw
inftead of a fifth toe.

I have no authority for giving this fpecies a place here : biit muft
fuppofe that the new world could not polTibly efcape die peft, as it is
univerMy become a moft deftruftive inhabitant o( European fhips.

»5«

-yj/?. %a</, N° 299.

CharachQ, Jiie Cholqomae, or Great Moufe oti^tMonguh^-^Lvv. Mus.

J^AT. With the upper jaw extending very far beyond the lower :
ears large and naked : tail rather Ihorter, in proportion, than
that of the Black, to which it is rather fuperior in fize : color a dulky
brown.

The fpecimcn, fi-om which this defcription b taken, was fent

58. American.

GardlaJ/h dt la Fega, 384.

fronv

^' *•■ ■:

ml

W

m

ii (.,

154

59. Watsh.

WATER RAT AND MOUSE.

from North America to Sir AJhton Lever ; but I am not informed,
whether it only frequented the deferts, or infefted houfes.

Br. Zool. N" 300. — Hiji. ^uad. N' 300.— 5»;f//(V, iv. 290.— Lev. Mus.

"D AT. With fmall eyes : ears covered with the fur : teeth yel-
low : body covered with long hairs, black mixed with a few
of a ruft- color : belly of a deep grey.

Lengtli of the head and body feven inches j tail five, covered with
fliort black hairs. Weight nine ounces.

Inhabits North America^ from Canada to Carolina *. In the firft,
varies to tawny and to white f : feeds on the fry of fifn, infeds,
IheJl-fifh, frogs, and roots j burrows on the banks of ponds and
rivers j and dives and fwims as well as an Otter, notwithftanding it
is not web-footed. *

In northern Eur op and Afia it is extremely common j from ¥e-
terjburgh to Kamtjchatka in Sibiria, they are twice as large as in other
places. They are found alfo from Lapland to the Cafpian fea, and
alfo in Perfta i and are one of the animals which endure the cold of
the Ardtic circle.

i I

!!■;:

60. Mouse. Br. Zool i. N° lO.—Hifi. ^laJ. N" ^OL—Smellie, iv. 282.— Lev. Mus.

npHIS common animal needs no defcription. It is very abun-
dant in the inhabited parts of America J, and is to be found
from Peterjburgh perhaps as far as Kamtjchatka.

Kalm imagines them to be natives of America ; for he aflures us

her-ufon Carolina, 122.

f De Buffhn, xiv. 401.

I Kalm, ii. 46.
that

^m

FIELD, VIRGINIAN, AND LABRADOR, RAT.

that he has killed them in the crevices of the rocks in defert places,
far from the haunt of man *.

Hiji. ^aJ. N" 302. «. American.— ^OTtf/Z/V, iv. 285.— Lev. Mus.

"DAT. With great, naked, and open ears : cheeks, fpace below
the ears, and fides quite to the tail, orange- colored : back
dufky and ruft-colored, marked along the top, from head to tail,
with a dark line : throat, breaft, and belly, of a pure white : tail
dulky above, white beneath : feet white : hind legs longer than
thofe of the Englijh kind.

Length about four inches and a half; of the tail, four inches.

Inhabits Hudfon's Bay and New Tork,

Hiji. ^aJ. N» 307.

"D AT. With a black nofe: fur fhort, and in all parts white:
limbs flender : tail very thick at the bafe, tapering to a point,
and cloathed with long hair.

Seba alone, vol. i. p. 76. tab. xlvii. fig. 4, defcribes this fpecies.

153

61. FiBLD.

62. Virginian.

"D AT. With a blunt nofe: mouth placed far below: upper lip
bifid : ears large, naked, rounded : fore legs Ihort, furnilhed
with four toes, and a tubercle inftead of a thumb : hind legs long
and naked, like fome of the Jerboas : toes long, flender, and dif-
tinft i the exterior toe the fliorteft : thumb ihort.

• Kalm, il. 47.

Vol. I,

X

The

63. Labrador.

»54

SlZEt

Colors.

64. Hudson'*.

HUDSON'S AND MEADOW RAT.

The whole length of the animal is eight inches, of which the tail
is four and three quarters.

Color above a deep brown, beneath white, feparated on each fide
by a yellow line.

Inhabits Hudfon's Bay and Labrador, Sent over by Mr. Graham,

♦ * With ftiort tails.

Hiji. Slj^ad, N° 3 19— Lev. Mus. *

j^AT. With foft long hair, duflty at the bottom, whitilh brown
at the points : along the middle of the back, from head to tail,
runs a dufky line: fides ycUowilh : belly and infide of the thighs of
a dirty white.

Legs very fliort : on the toes of the fore feet of the male only arc
four very large and ftiarp claws, tuberculated beneath j in the fe-
male fmaller and weaker : on the hind feet five toes with flender
claws.

Tail not three quarters of an inch long, terminating with long
ftifF hairs j it is fcarcely vifible, being almoft loil in the fun

Defcribed from a (kin which Doftor Pallas favored me with,
which he received from the Labrador coaft.

This is nearly a-kin to the Lemmus*

65. Meadow ? Short-tailed Field Monfe ? Br. Zool. J. N° 3 1 .—Uifi. ^ad. N« 322 ? — Smillie,

iv. 293.— Lev. Mus.

Oat. With a blunt nofe: great head: prominent eyes: ears
buried in the fur : head and upper part of the body of a fer-
ruginous brown inixed with black : belly of a deep alh-color.

Length,

HARE-TAILED AND CECONOMIC RAT.

Length, from head to tail, fix inches j tail only one and a half,
with a fmall tuft at the end.

Inhabits HudJorCs Bay and Newfoundland, in the laft very nume-
rous, and does vaft damage in the gardens j refides under ground.

Hijl. ^aJ. N" 320.

"DAT. Widi fmall and rounded ears : head brou. ; color dulky
and tawny brown : the belly of a dirty white : a dufky line
paffes from between the eyes, and extends obfcurely along the
back. Larger than the common Moufe. Defcribed from fo mu-
tilated a fpecimen, fent to the Royal Society from Hudfon*s Bay*,
that it was impoffible to determine the fpecies ; only, by the dark
line along the back, it feemed likeft the Hare-tailed, an inha-
bitant of Sibiria, whofe manners are defcribed in die Hiftory of
Quadrupeds.

«55

66. Hare-

TAfLED.

■I 1 V

A. (Economic, Iiijl.^a,l ^^ ix^.-^De/cr. Kamtfchatka, Fr. ed. 392.

I

IJAT. With naked ears, ufually hid in the fur: fmall eyes;
teeth tawny : limbs ftrong : color, an intermixture of black
and yellow, darkeft on the back : under fide ho^.

• Ph. Tr. Ixii. 379. Sp. 15.

X 2

Length

156

Migrations.

OSCONOMIC RAT.

Length four inches and a quarter, to the tail j the tail one inch.

Inhabits in vaft abundance Sii>ma, from the eaft fide of the Ural-
Han chain, even within the Arftic circle, and quite to Kamtjchatka.
It is the noted 1'egultfchitch of that country, diftinguilhed by its cu-
rious oeconomy and by its vaft migrations.

They make their burrows with the greateft flciU, immediately
below the furface of the foft turfy foil. They form a chamber of a
flattilh arched form, of a fmall height, and about a foot in diameter,
to which they fometimes add as many as tiiirty fmall pipes or en-
trances. Near the chamber they often form other caverns, in
which they lodge their winter ftores : thefe confift of various kinds
of plants, even feme of ipecies poifonous to mankind. They ga-
ther them in fummer, harveft them, and even at times bring them
out of the cells to give them a more thorough drying in the fun.
The chief labor refts on the females. The males, during fummer,
go about folitary, and inhabit fome old nefts ; and in that feafon
never touch their hoards, but live on berries. They are mono-
gamous, and the male and female at other times found in the fame
neft. The female brings two or three young at a time, and breeds
often in the year.

No litde animals are fb relpedted by the Kamtfchatkans as thefe,
for to them they owe a delicious food j and with great joy, about
autumn, rob the hoards, and leave there many ridiculous prefents
by way of amends : they alfo never take the whole of their provi-
fions, and leave befides a little dried ovaries of fifh for their fup-
port.

But the migrations of thefe Mice, in certain years, is as extraor-
dinary a fad as any in natural hiftory : I will only mention thofe of
Kamtjchatka. The caufe is unknown. Dodor Pallas thinks it may
urife from the fenfations of internal fire in that vulcanic tradt, or a
prefcience of fome unufual and bad feafon. They gather together

in

RED RAT.

in the fpring in amazing numbers, except the few that are conver-
fant about villages, where they can pick up fome fubfiftance. This
makes it probable that the country is over-ftocked, and they quit
it for want of food. The mighty hoft proceeds in a direft courfe
weftward, and with the utmoft intrepidity fwims over rivers, lakes,
and even arms of the fea : many are drowned, many deftroyed by
water-fowl, or rapacious fifh ; thofe which efcape reft awhile, to
bafk, dry their fur, and refrefh themfelves. If the inhabitants find
them in that fituation, they treat them with the utmoft tendernefs,
and endeavour to bring them to life and vigor. As foon as they
have crofled the river Penfchim, at the head of the gulph of the
fame name, they turn fouthward, and reach the rivers Judoma and
Ocbot by the middle ofjuly. The fpace is moft furprifing, on con-
fulting the map of the country. The flocks are alfo fo numerous,
that an obferver has waited two hours to fee them all pafs. Their
return into Kamtjchatkay in 05fobery is attended with the utmoft fef-
tivity and welcome. The natives confider it as a fure prognoftic
of a fuccefsful chafe and fiftiery : the firft is certain, as the Mice
are always followed by multitudes of beafts of prey. They equally
lament their migration, as the feafon is certainly filled with raini
and tempefts.

B. Red, Hiji. ^ad. N» 314.

T> AT. With briftly nofe and face : ears oval, rifing above the
hair, naked, only tipt with fur : color, from forehead to rump,
a bright red : fides light grey and yellow : belly whitilh : tail dufky
above, light below.

Length not four inches i tail more than one.

Grow

157

'.7 I ''I
1.1 'tn ~!

*■ 'I

/

f

} •

fi < ! .r

1

III

. I

I !

X5S

L E M M U S

RAT.

Grow very comm'on beyond the Ob, and live fcattered over all
Sibtria, in woods and mountains, and about villages ; extend even
to the Ardtic circle. It is the rjchctanauftjchu, or RedMoufo of the
Kamtjchatkans. It is a fort of drone : makes no provifion for it-
felf, but robs the hoards of the laft fpecies *. Lives under logs of
trees; frequents houfes; dares the fevereft weather, and is abroad
amidft the fnows; feeds on any thing, and is often caught in the
traps fet for Ermines, in attempting to devour the bait.

C. Lemmus, mji.^ad, No3i7.-.GoddeSaeppan, Lecms,

224.

RAT. With fmall eyes and mouth: upper lip divided: ears
fmall, placed far backwards : four flender toes on the fore feet,
and a fharp claw, like a cock's fpur, i.i place of a thumb: fkin
very thin. Color of the head black and tawny, of the belly
yellow. '

Length of thofe o^ Scandinavian Lapland, ^hoy^ five inches; thofe
or the RuJ/ian dominions not four.

The manners and wonderful migrations of the Lemmi of Europe
have been fully treated of in my Hiftory of Quadrupeds.

They abound in the countries from the mite Sea to the gulph
of the Oby, and in the northern end of the Urallian chain ; but differ
in fize and color from thofe of Europe. Like them, they migrate
at certain periods; and tend from th, Urallian mountains, fome-
times towards Jene/ei, fometimes towards Petzorah, and at thofe
times rejoice the Samoieds with a rich chafe of the animals which
purfue the wanderers. The Samcieds aflert, that the Rein-Deer
will greedily devour them; perhaps they take them medicinally, as
bheep are known as greedily to feek and fwaUow Spiders

• Df/cr. Kamt/chatka, 592.

D. Lena,

LENA AND RINGED RAT.

D.Lena, Mus Cmtlini, Pallas, Nov. Sf. ax. ipj*

T> AT. With fhort round ears: white whifkers: thick broad
body, in all parts nearly of equal breadth : tail fhort, thickly
covered with rude hairs : five toes on the fore feet> with claws very
ftrong and white : four on the hind feet, with claws much weaker :
the fur pretty long ; three parts of its length, from the roots, cine-
reous, the reft white -, fo that the animal appears entirely white,
except the cheeks, which are afh-colored, and the chin, which is
dufky.

The length is three inches one-fifth, the tail four-fifths of an
inch.

They are feen in great numbers in autumn, on the borders of die
Icy Sea, and about the parts of the Lena that fall into it. They
appear fuddenly, and depart as expeditioufly. They feed on the
roots of mofles, and are themfelves the food of ArSlic Foxes. Per-
haps they extend to tlie Jenefei : for it is faid that there are two forts
of Mice found there ; one wholly white -, the other black, yellow,,
and white, which perhaps is the Lemmus *.

159

[.' .hfl

E. Ringed, Hifi.^ad. N° 205.

"O AT. With a blunt nofe : ears hid in the fur : hair very fine t
claws ftrong and hooked : color of the upper part, fometimes
ferruginous, fometimes light grey undulated with deep ruft-color :
a crefcent of white extends on each, from the hind part of the head
towards the throat, bounded on each fide by a bed of ruft-color.

Nw. Sp. an, 197.

LengtK

/

■iiriMiaTiii-iTt-rm-TrniiirTii^BHgHaaftt

Il ^1

i'

if«

'III '

i6q

TCHELAG RAT.

Length to the tail little more than three inches ; tail one, ter-
minated by a brillly tuft.

Found in the y^r^ic neighborhood of the Ol>y. Makes its neft
with rein-deer and fnowy liver- worts, juft beneath the turfy furface.
Are faid to migrate, like the Lmmus,

F. TcHELAC, De/lr. Kamtfchatka, 392.

^ H E author of the defcription of that great peninfula fays no
more than that it is a very fmall fpcciesj frequents houfes;
, and will go out and eat boldly any thing it has ftolen. The natives
call it 'Tchehgatchitch,

HIST.

FCETID SHREW.

H I S r. ^UJD. Genus XXXIX.

Br. Zool. i. N" i2.--Hifi. ^ad. N» i\i.—Smllie, iv. 305.

SHREW. With the head and upper part of the body dufky :
fides of a browniih ruft-color : eyes very fraall, almoft hid in
the fur : ears fhort : nofe very long and iknder : upper mandible
extends far beyond the lower.

Inhabits Hudfon's Bay, and probably Carolifia, as Law/on mentions
a Moufe found there which poifons Cats * if they eat it. It is a
notion in England that they are venomous ; it is notorious that our
Cats will kill, but not feed on them ; probably thofe of America
have the fame inftinft : fo that their deaths in the new world muft
arife from fome other caufe, and be falfely attributed to thefe ani-
mals.

Mr. Graham fent over two other fpecimens, befides that de-
fcribed. They were of a dulky grey above, and of a yellowifh
white beneath : their fize, rather lefs than the Englijh kind ; one
being only two inches and a quarter long, the other only two inches j
Jbut they feemed not to differ fpecifically from the other.

The common Shrew is found in Ruffia j in all parts of Sibiriaf
even in the Ar£lic flats j and in Kamffcbaika,

• Hrfl. Carolina, 1 25.

Vol. I.

HIST,

161

SHREW.

67. Foetid t

i I

u

I

^ I

It'

iSi

LONG-TAILED AND RADIATED MOLE.

MOLE.

HIST. ^UJD. Genus XXXV.

fffl^^HB

y ■

|^Hh||. i

H

1

^^^^H|i

sw^^^lB ',

|B|j

68. LOKO-TAIL-
ED.

69. Radiated.

////?. ^«</. N" 352 — Lev. Mus.

MOLE. With two cutting teeth in carh jaw, and two fharp
flender canine : the grinders fmall and fharp : nofe long,
the end radiated with fhort tendrils : fore feet not fo broad as thofe
of the Englijh Mole, furniftied with very long white claws: toes on
the hind feet quite feparated : body not fo thick and full as that of
the common fpecies : hair long, foft, and of a rufty brown : tail co-
vered with fhort hair.

Length of the body four inches two-tenths j of the tail, two and
a half

Inhabits North America, Received from New Tork.

Hifi. ^aJ. N" \^\,'^SmeUie,v/. 316.— -Lev. Mus.

U

TV/TOLE. With a long nofe, radiated like the former: the body
fhorter, and more full : hair dufky, very long, fine, and com-
paft : fore feet rtlembling thofe of the preceding ; but the toes of
the hind feet are clofely connedled.

Length to the tail three inches three quarters : the tail flender,
round, and taper,, one inch three-tenths long.
Received from New Tork».

This

J i

I'lf

B R O V/ N MOLE.

This fjpecies forms fubterraneous paflages in the fields, running
!n various dircdlions, and very (hallow. Their courfe may be
traced by the elevation of the earth on the furface, in form of a little
bank, two inches high, and as broad as a man's hand. Thefc holes
arc unable to fdpport any weight, fo that walkers find it very trouble-
fome to go over places where thefe animals inhabit, the [ground per-
petually breaking under their feet*.

Thefc Moles have all the ftrength in their legs as thofe of Europe,
and work in the fame manner. They feed on rootSj are very iraf-
cible, and will bite very feverely.

TIT OLE. With a long and very flender nofe : two broad cutting
teeth in the upper, four Iharp and (lender in the lower, jawi
the two middlemoft Ihort: the grinders veiy nui. crous, ftrong,
(harp, and feparate : the fore feet very broad i thofe and the hind
feet exadly like thofe of the European kind.

Length about fix inches j tail one.

I received two fpecimens of this animal from New York. The
hair in both foft, filky, and glofly : the hair in each dulky at the
bottom ; but in one, the ends were of a yellowi(h brown : in the
other, brown : the feet and tail of both v/ere white. I iufpedl: that
they were varieties of the kin \ defcribed by Scba f, v xh he got
from Virginia : it was totally lack, glolTed over with a moft re-
fplendent purple. I may here note, the Tail4efs Mole, figured by
Sel^a in the fame plate, is not a native oiSibiria, as he makes it j but
is an inhabitant of the Cape of Good Hope.

•<j

• Kahn, i. 190. f P- 5»' t-^* ^^^'''^'

Y2

Thefc

Manners,

l! ''•

70. Brown.

Place.

: r-l

{ ml

I

II'

i64

Placb.

EUROPEAN MOLE.

Thefe three fpecies agree pretty nearly with the Shrew in the fore
teeth i for which reafon Linnaeus clalTcs the two lie defcribes among
the Sorices, I call them Moles from their fhape, which differs not
from the European kind -, but thofe who chufe to be very fyftematic,
may divide tlie genus of Shrews, and ftyle thefe Sorices Talpa-
formes^

A. EUROPBAJJ, Hifi ^ad. li. No Sr. Zool. i.

A/TOLE. With fix cutting teeth in the upper; eight in the
lower jawi and two canine teeth in each : color of the fur
black.

Inhabits Sweden ; but does not extend farther than the fouth of
Norway y where it is called Vond. Is frequent in the temperate parts
of Ruffiaj and even in Sibiria^ as far as the Lena. In Sibiria it is
twice as big as thofe of Europe. Is found there milk-white, but
more ufually fo in the Verchoiurian mountains.

i«i r
r i

^^^H

i«

HB^

1

1

1

^In

iM

ii

HEDGE-

HEDGE-HOG.

i«5

FI E D G E - H O G, W//. ^uaJ, Gexus XXXVI.

B. Com mok, Hi/f. ^ad. ii. N' ISS^Br. Ztol. L N»

HE D G E - H O G. With noftrils bounded on each fide by a
loofe flap : ears rounded : back covered with prickles, white,
barred with black: face, fides, and rump, with ftrong coarfe hair:

tail an inch long.

Is found in Sweden. In the diocefe of Aggerbuys ; and in that of
Bergen in Norway*, It is called, in the Norwegian tongue, BttJ^
tedyvel Is common in Ruffian except in the extreme northern and
fouthern parts. None in Sibiriay or very fcarce at left.

• Urns, 2l(),^Pontoppidan, ii. 28.

Place.

^!

t'tl

D I V.

I II

I *

Wl >

m

!l ",i

D I V. III.

PINNATED QJJADRUPEDS,
Or,, with Fin-like Feet.

''I i

i68

WALRUS.

71. Arctic.

DlSCRIPTICN.

ARCTIC WALRUS.

D I V. III. Pinnated Quadrupeds;
Or, with Fin-like Feet.

H I i-r. ^UJD. Genus XLI.

Hiji. ^uad. No ^7i.^Phipps's Voy. 184.

Rofmarus, Zimmerman, 330.

Le Tricheque, Schreber, ii. 82. tab. Ixxix.

Cheval Marin, Hift. Kamtfchatka, 427 — Smellie, vii. 354.— Lev. Mus.

TTT A L R U S. With a round head ; Ihort neck ; fmall and
V V fiery eyes, funk a finger's depth in the fockets, and retraftile
from external injuries * : mouth very fmiill j lips very thick, befet
above and below with great whifkers, compofed of briftles, tranf-
parenr, and thick as a ftraw : inftead of ears are two minute orifices,
placed in the moft diftant part of the head.

Body is very thick in the middle, leflening gradually towards the
tail. The fkin in general is an inch thick, and two about the
neck f , and much wrinkled about the joints : it is covered with
Ihort hair, of a moufe-colorj fome with reddifli, others with greyj
others are almoft bare, as if they were mangy, and full of fears J.

The legs are very fliort ; on each foot are five toes, connedled by
webs, with a fmall blunt nail to each. The hind ktt, like thofe of

• Crantz, I 126. t The fame, 125.

X Marten's Spitzbcrg.

Seals,

lii 4 1

m

ARCTIC WALRUS.

Seals, are very broad : the tail is very fliort : the penis two feet long,
and of a bony fubftance.

In the upper jaw are two very long tulks, bending downwards.
No cutting teeth ; but in each jaw, above and below, four grinders,
flat at top, and the furfaces of thofe which I examined much worn.
The length of the largeft tu(k I have heard of, was two feet three
inches, Englijb meafure, the circumference at the lower end, eight
and a half j the greateft weight of a fingle tuik twenty pounds :
but fuch are rarely found, and only on the coafts of the Icy fea,
where they are feldom molefted, and of cr . "- permitted to attain
their full growth *.

The Walrus is fometimes found of the length of eighteen feet,
and the circumference, in the thickeft part, ten or twelve. The
weight fi-om fifteen hundred to cwo thoufand pounds.

Inhabits, in prefent times, the coafts of the Magdalene iflands, in
the gulph of St. Laurence, between latitude 47 and 48, their moft
foutherly refidence in any part of the globe. They are not found
on the feas of Labradore. The EJkimaux purchafe the teeth, for
the heading their Seal-darts, from the Indians of Nuckvank, about
lat. 60 } who fay, that they are annually vifited in the winter by
multitudes of thefe animals ■\. They are found in Davis's StreightSy
and within Hud/on' s Bay %, in lat, 62. They alfo inhabit the coaft
of Greenland. I am uncertain whether they frequent Iceland ; but
they are found in great numbers near the iflands of Spitzbergen, and
on all the floating ice from thence to Cherry Ifle, a folitary fpot inter-
mediate between the laft and the moft northerly point oi Norway.
In 1608, they were founc^ there in liich numbers, huddled on one
another, Uke hogs, that a inip's crew killed above nine hundred in
feven hours time §.

• Hijl. Kamt/chatkch 120.
fj Martens Spiizberg. T82.

Vol. I.

f Ph. Tranf. Ixiv. 378,

z

t mils'' i Voy 80.
If

169

Teeth.

>I7.E.

Place.
America.

Spitzbergen.
Cherry Isle.

17©

ARCTIC WALRUS.

tr^'

1*1 '

Norway. If they are found in the feas of Norway, it is very rare* in thefe

days, Leems, p. 316, fays that they fometimes frequent the fea
about Finmark -, but about the year 980, they feemed to have been
fo numerous in the northern parts, as to become objeds of chafe and
commerce. The famous 0£lher the Norwegtariy a native of Helge-
land in the diocefe of Drontheimy incited by a moft laudabie curiofity
and thirft of difcovery, failed to the north of his country, doubled
the North Cape, -^nd. in three days from his departure arrived a; the
farthefl place, frequented by the Horje-whale filhers. From thence
he proceeded a voyage of three days more, and perhaps got into the
White Sea. On his return he vifited England, probably incited by
the fame of King Alfred's abilities, and the great encouragement he
gave to men of diltinguilhed character in every profeflion. The
traveller, as a proof of the authenticity of his relation, prefented the
Saxon monarch with fome of the teeth of thefe animals, then a fub-
ftitute of ivory, and valued at a high price. In his account of his
voyage, he alfo added that their Ikins were ufed in th.; Ihips infiead
of ropesf .

They are found again on the coafts of Nova Zembla, and on the
headlands which ftretch moft towards the north pole ; and as far as
the Tjchutki point, and the ifles off that pro Tiontory. They fcarcely
extend lower than the neighborhood of the country of the Anadyr,
but are feen in great abundance about cape Newnham, on the coaft of
America. The natives of the iflands off tlie Tchutki Nojs ornament
themfelves with pieces of the Walrus ftuck through their lips or
nofes ; for which reafon they are called by their neighbors Zoobaiee,
or large-teethed X. The natives about Unalajcha, Sandwich Sound,
and Turn-again river, obferve the fame fafliion. I entertain doubts
whether thefe animals are of the fame fpecies with thofe of the

Nova Zembla,
AND Icy Sea,

• Pontoppldan/u. 157.

f Hacklup, I. 5.

X Hifi. Kamtfchatka, 47.

Gulph

ARCTIC WALRUS.

Gulph of St. Laurence. The tufks of thofe of the Frozen Sea arc
much longer, more flender, and have a twill and inward curva-
ture.

They are gregarious, and fometimes have been found together in
thoufandsj are very fhy, and avoid the haunts of mankind. They
ufually are feen on the floating ice, preferring that for their re-
fidence, as their bodies require cooling, by reafon of the heat which
arifes from their exceliive fatnefs *.

They are monogamous ; couple in June^ and bring forth in the
earlieft fpring f. They bring one J, or very rarely two young at a
time J feed on fea-plants, fifh, and fhells, which they either dig out
of the fand, or force from the rocks with their great teeth. They
make ufe alfo of their teeth to afcend the iflands of ice, by faftening
them in the cracks, and by that means draw up their bodies.

They fleep both on the ice -^nd in the water, and fnore exceflively
loud §.

They are harmlefs, unlefs provoked j but when wounded, or at-
tacked, grow very fierce, and are very vindidive. When furprifed
upon the ice, the females firft provide for the fafety of the young, by
flinging it into the fea, and itfelf after it, carrying it to a fecure
diftance, then returning with great rage to revenge the injury.
They will fometimes attempt to fallen their teeth on the boats, with
an intent to fink them, or rife in numbers under them to overfec
them ; at the fame time they fliew all marks of rage, by roaring in a
dreadful manner, and gnafliing their teeth with great violence j if
vonce thoroughly irritated, the whole herd will follow the boats till
they lofe fight of them. They are ftrongly attached to each other,
and will make every eflTort in their power, even to deathj to fet at
liberty dieir harpooned companions |1.

• NoTi. Com. Petrop. ii. 291. \ FauK, Greenl. 4. % Barents, 4.

% Alii! tern, 109. II The fa.Tie, no.

Z 2 A wounded

171

Manners.

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17a ARCTICWALRUS.

A wounded Walru! has been known to fink to the bottom, rife
fuddenly again, and bring up with it multitudes of others, who united
in an attack on the boat from which the infujt came *.

They fling the water out of their noftrils, as the Whale does
out of its head. When chafed hard, they commonly vomit,
and fling up fmall ftones. Their dung is like that of a Horfc,
and excefllvely fetid, efpecially where they are found in large com-
panies.
V3ES. The tongue, which is about the fize of a Cow's, may be eaten if

boiled frefla ; but if kept, foon runs into oil. The teeth ufed to be
applied to all the purpofes of ivory ; but the animals are now killed
only for the fake of the oil. Seamen make rings of the briilles of
the whifkers, which they wear as prefervatives againft the cramp.
The Frencb coach-makers have made traces for coaches of the fkins,
which are faid to be ftrong and elaftic f. The Ruffians formerly
ufed the bone of the penis pulverifed, as a remedy againft the
ftone X, Bartholinuj '^ recommends it, infufed in ale, in fits of the
ftrangury. The Greenlanders eat the flefli and lard, and ufe the laft
in their lamps. Of die fkin they make ftraps. They fplit the
tendons into thread ; and ufe the teeth to head their darts, or to
make pegs in their boats.

Their only enemies, befides mankind, r.re the Polar Bears, with
whom they have dreadkil conflids. Their feuds probably arife
from the occupancy of the fame piece of ice. The Walrus is ufually
vidorious, througli the fuperior advantage of its vaft teeth ||. The
cflcds of the battle arc very evident j for it is not often that the
hunters find a beall ^vith t\ 0 entire tufks %

* Phipps'a Voy. 57. f De Bvffon. % Worm. Muf. 290.

§ As quoted in Mufeum Regium Hf^fnia, &c. pars i. feft. iii. 9. |J Egede, 83.

f Crantz, 1. 126.

" The

ARCTIC WALRUS.

" The Walrus, or Sea Cow, as it is called by the Americans"
fays Lord ShuUham *, " is a native of the Magdalene iflands, St.
« John's, and Anticojii, in the gulph of St. Laurence. They refort,
" very eaj-ly in the fpring, to the former of thefe places, which
" feems by nature particularly adapted to the nature of the animals,
« abounding with clams (efcallops) of a very large fize ; and the
« moft convenient landing-places, called Echoueries. Here they
«* crawl up in great numbers, and remain fometimes for fourteen
" days together without food, when the weather is fair j but on the
« firft appearance of rain, they retreat to the water with great pre-
« cipitation. They are, when out of the water, very unwieldy,
« and move with great difficulty. They weigh from fifteen hun-
'' dred to two thoufand pounds, producing, according to their fize,
« from one to two barrels of oil, which is boiled out of the fat be-
« tween the (kin and the Befh. Immediately on their arrival, the
« females calve, and engender again in two months after j fo that
" they carry their young about nine months. They never have
" more than two at a time, and fcldom more than one.

" The Echoueries \ are formed principally by nature, being a
« gradual Hope of foft rock, with which the Magdalene iQands
« abound, about eighty or a hundred yards wide at the water-fide,
" and fpreading fo as to contain, near the fummit, a very large
« number of thefe animals. Here they are fuffered to come on
" fhore, and amvife themfelves for a ccnfiderable time, till they
«f acquire a degree of boldnefs, being at their firft landing fo ex-

• Pbil. Tranf. Ixv. part i. 24.9. — The French call them Vachts Marines. Char!,-
rjdx, V. 216. That voyager fays, that the EngUjh had once a fiihery of thefe ani-
mals on the Ip de Sable, a fmall iiland fouth of Cape Breto.'i ; but it turned out to no
advantage.

t Thii word is derived from Eckouer, to land, or run on fliore.

" ceedingly

173

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ARCTIC WALRUS.

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ceedingly timid as to make it impofTible for any perfon to ap-
proach them.

" In a few weeks they aflemble in great multitudes : formerly,
when undifturbed by the Jmerkans, to the amount of feven or
eight thoufand. The form of the Echouerie not allowing them
to remain contiguous to the water, the foremoft are infenfibly
pulhed above the flope. When they are arrived at a conve-
nient diftance, the hunters, being provided with a fpear fharp on
one fide, like a knife, with which they cut their throats, take
advantage of a fide wind, or a breeze blowing obliquely upon the
Ihorc, to prevent the animals from fmelling them, becaufe they
have that fenfe in great perfedlion. Having landed, the hunters,
with the affiftance of good dogs, trained for that purpofe, in the
night-time endeavour to feparate thofe which are moft advanced
from the others, driving them different ways. This they call
making a cuti it is generally looked upon to be a moft dangerous
procefs, it being impoffible to drive them in any particular di-
redion, and difficult to avoid them ; but as the Walrufes, which
are advanced above the (lope of the Echouerie, are deprived by
the darknefs of the night from every diredion to the water, they
are left wandering about, and killed at leifure, thofe that are
neareft the fhore being the firft vidims. In this manner have
been killed fifteen or fixteen hundred at a cut.
" The people then fkin them, and take off a coat of fat which
always furrounds them, and diffolve it into oil. The fkin is cut
into flices of two or three inches wide, and exported to America
for carriage traces, and into England for glue. The teeth make
an inferior fort of ivory, and is manufadured for that purpofci
but very foon turns yellow."

n 1 s f.

COMMON SEAL.

»7S

Hisr. ^UAD. Genus XLII.

Br. Zool. i. N'yi.— //j/?. ^ad. N" iJ^.—SmelUe.
Kalfigiak, Faun. Greenl. N» 6.— Lev. Mus.

SEAL. With a flat head and nofe : large black eyes: large
whifkers : fix cutting teeth in the upper jaw; four in the lower :
two canine teeth in each jaw : no external ears : hair on all parts
Ihort and thick : five toes on each foot, furnilhed with ftrong fharp
claws, and ftrongly webbed : tail Ihort ^nd flat.

Ufual length of this fpecies, from fie to fix feet. Their color
diflfers ; duflcy, brinded, or fpotted with white and yellow.

Inhabits all the European feas, even to the extreme north ; and
is found far within the Ar5lic circle, in both European and Jftatic
feas. It is continued to thofe of Kamtjcbatka *.

Thefe animals may be called the flocks of the CreenlanderSy and
many other of the Arftic people. I cannot defcribe the ufes of them
to the former more exprefllvely than in the very words of Mr. Crantz,
a gentleman very long refident in their chilly country.

" Seals are more needful to them than Sheep are to us, though
*' they furnifli us with food and raiment j or than the cocoa-tree is
" to the Indians J although that prcfents them not only with meat
" to eat, and covering for their bodies, but alfo houfes to dwell in,
" and boats to fail in, fo that in cafe of necefllty they could live

folely from it. The Seals flefli (together with the Rein-deer,

which is already grown pretty fcarce) fupplies the natives with

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• Steller, in N«v. Com. Petrcp, ii. 290.

SEAL.

72. Common.

! f

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THEIR GREAT
USE TO THE

Grecnlanders.

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their moft palatable and fubftantial food. Their fat furnilhcs
them witli oil for lamp-light, chamber ind kitchen fire i and
whoever fees their habitations, prefently finds, that if they even
had a fuperfluity of wood, it would not do, they can ufc nothing
but train in them. They alfo mollify thfir dry food, moftly fidi,
in the train ; and finally, they barter it for all kinds of necell lies
with the fadlor. They can few better with fibres of the Seals
finews than with thread or filk. Of the fkins of the entrails they
make their windows, curtains for their tents, Pnirrs, and part of
the bladders they ufe at their harpoons , and they make train
bottles of the maw. Formerly, for want of iron, they made all
manner of inflrumcnts and working-tools of their bones. Nei-
ther is tlie blood wafted, but boiled with other ingredients, and
eaten as foup. Of the fkin of the Seal they Hand in the greateft
need ; for, fuppofing the fkins of Rein-deer and birds would
furnifh them with competent cloathing for their bodies, and co-
verings for their beds -, and their flelh, together \\ ith fifh, with
fufficient food -, and provided they could tirefs their meat with
wood, and alfo new model their houfe-k.°^ping, fo as to have
light, and keep themfelves warm with it too; yet without die
Seals Ikins they would not be in a capacity of acquiring thele
fame Rein-deer, fowls, fifties, and woodj becaufe they muft
cover over with Seal-fkin both their large and fmall boats, in
which they travel and feek their provifion. They muft alfo cut
their thongs or ftraps out of them, make the bladders for their
harpoons, and cover their tents with them i without which they
could not fubfift in fummer.
" Therefore no man can pafs for a right Greenlander who cannot
catch Seals. This is the ultimate end they afpire at, in all their
device and labor from their childhood up. It is the only art
(and in truth a difficult and dangerous one it is) to which they

((

are

COMMON SEAL.

" are trai J from their infan y; hy which tliey maintain them-
«* felvcs, make themfclves ag cable to others, and become benefi-
" cial members of the community *.

" The Gr-enlanden ha 't three ways of catching Seals : either
«* fingly, th the bladder j or in company, by the r!app>' hunti
" or in th winter on tJie ice: whereto may be ndde the ''^^oting
** therr iii, .i gun.

** I'he principal and mod common way is the taking them with
" the bladder. "When the Greenlander fets out equipped according
" to the 7th Seftion, and fpies a Seal, he tries to furprife it una-
" wares, with the wind and fun in his back, that he may not be
** heard or feen by ir He tries to conceal himfelf behind a wave,
** and makes haftily, but foftly, up to it, till he comes within four,
" five, o'- fix fathom of it; meanwhile he takes the utmofl care
" that the liarpoon, line, and bladder, lie in proper order. Then
" he takes hold of the oar '"h his left hand, and the harpoon with
" his right by the ha d- board, and fo away he throws it at the
" Seal, in fuel, a mannt that the whole dart flies from the hand-
" board and leavcb that in his hand. If the harpoon hits the luark,
" and buries itfelf deeper than the barbs, it will direflly difengage
** itfelf from the bone-joint, and that from the (haft ; and alfo un-
" wind the firing from its lodge on the kajak. The moment the
" Seal is pierced, the Greenlander muft throw the bladder, tied to
" the end of the firing, into the water, on the fame fide as die Seal
" runs anci dives j for that he does inflantly, like a dart. Then
« the Greenlander goes and takes up tlie fhaft fwimming on the
« water, and lays it in its place. The Seal often drags the bladder
" with it under water, though 'tis a confiderable impediment, on
" account of its great bignefs ; but it fo wearies itfelf out with it,

Vol. I.

• Eijl, Cmnl, i. 1 30.

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WEBSTER, N.Y. 14S80

(716) 872-4503

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COMMON SEA I.,

" that it muft come up again in about a quarter of an hour to take
" breath. The Greenlander haftcns to the Ipot where he fees the
bladder rife up, and fmites the Seal, as foon as it appears, with
the great lance defcribed in the 6th Seftion *. This lance al-
ways comes out of its body again ; but he throws it at the crea-
ture afrefh every time it comes up, till 'tis quite fpent. Then
« he runs the litde lance into it, and kills it outright, but ftops up
'* the wound diredly to preferve die blood i and laftly, he blows
'* it up, like a bladder, betwixt Ikin and flefh, to put it into a
" better capacity nf fwimming after him j for which purpofe he
" faftens it to the left-fide of his kajaky or boatf.

" In this exercife the Greenlander is expofed to the moft and
greateft danger of hb life; which is probably the reafon that they
« call this hunt, or filhery, kamavocky i. e. the Extinction, viz. of
« life. For if die line fhould entangle itfelf, as it eafily may, in its
« fudden and violent motion; or if it Ihould catch hold of the
kajaky or Ihould wind itfelf round the oar, or die hand, or even
the neck, as it fometimes does in windy weather.; or if the Seal
fhould turn fuddenly to the other fide of die boat -, it cannot be
otherwife dian that the kajak muft be overturned by the firing,
" and drawn down under water. On fuch defperate occafions the
" poor Greenlander flands in need of all die arts defcribed in the
« former Seftion, to difentangle hiriifclf from the firing, and to
" raife himfelf up from under the water feveral times fucceffively ;
«* for he wiL continually be overturning till he has quJte difengaged
" himfelf from the line. Nay, when he imagines himfelf to be
** out of all danger, and comes too near the dying Seal, it may flill
«* bite him in the face or hand i and a female Seal diat has young,
" inftead of flying the field, will fometimes fly at the Greenlander in

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t See vol. i 1 10. tab. viii.

" the

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COMMON SEAL*

the moil vehement rage, and do him a mifchief, or bite a hole in
his kajak that he muft fink.

" In this way, fmgly, they can kill none but the carelefs ftupid
Seal, called Attar/oak*. Several in company muft purfue the
cautious Kajftgiak f by the clapper>-bunt. In the fame manner
they alfo furround and kill the Attarjoit % in great numbers at
certain feafons of the year ; for in autumn they retire into the
creeks or inlets in ftormy weather, as in the Nepifet found in
BaW% river, between the main land and the ifland Kangeky which
is full two leagues long, but very narrow. There the Grten-
landers cut off their retreat, and frighten them under water by
Ihouting, clapping, and throwing ftones j but, as they muft come
up again continually to draw breath, then they perfecute them
again till they are tired, and at laft are obliged to ftay fo long
above water, that tliey furround them, and kill them with the
fourth kind of dart, defcribed in the 6th Sedion. During this
hum 'rt have a fine opportunity to fee the agility of the Green'
landers^ or, if I may call it fo, their huffar-like manoeuvres.
When the Seal rifes out of the water, they all fly upon it, as if
they had wings, with a defperate noifej the poor creature is
forced to dive again diredtly, and the moment he does, they dif-
perfe again as faft as they came, and every one gives heed to his
poft, to fee where it will ftart up again j which is an uncertain
thing, and is commonly three quarters of a mile from the former
ipot. If a Seal has a good broad water, three or four leagues
each way, it can keep the fportfmen in play for a couple of
hours, before 'tis fo fpent that they can furround and kill it.
If the Seal, in its fright, betakes itfelf to the land for a retreat,
'tis welcomed with fticks and ftones by the women and children.

«79

• See N» 77. of this work,
of N» 77,

f Ditto, No 73.
A a 2

X Ditto, a variety
and

i8o

K

COMMON SEAL.

« and prefently pierced by the men in the rear. This is a very
" lively and a very profitable diverfion for the Grenlanders, for
" many times one man will have eight or ten Seals for his (hare.
" The third method of killing Seals upon the ice, is moftly
praftifed in Dijkoy where the bays are frozen over in the winter.
« There are feveral ways of proceeding. The Seals themfelves
" make fometimes holes in the ice, where they come and draw
« breadi i near fuch a hole a Greenlander feats himfelf on a ftool,
" putt: ig his feet on a lower one to keep them from the cold.
" Now when die Seal comes and puts its nofe to the hole, he
" pierces it inftandy with his harpoon j dien breaks the hole larger,
and draws it out and kills.it quite. Or a Greenlander lays him-
felf upon his belly, on a kind of a fledge, near other holes, where
« die Seals come out upon the ice to baflc themfelves in the fun.
« Near this great hole they make 'a Utde one, and another Green-
« lander puts a harpoon into it with a very long (haft or pole. He
« diat lies upon die ice looks into die great hole, tiU he fees a Seal
" coming under the harpoon, then he gives die odier die fignal,
who runs the Seal dirough widi all his might.
" If die Greenlander fees a Seal lying near its hole upon the ice,
he Aides along upon his belly towards it, wags his head, and
grunts like a Seal; and the poor Seal, thinking 'ds one of its
innocent companions, lets him come near enough to pierce it
with his long dart.
«* When the current wears a great hole in the ice in die fpring,
« the Greenlanders plant diemfelves all round it, till the Seals come
" m droves to the brim to fetch breadi, and dien they kiU them
" with dieir harpoons. Many alfo are killed on die ice whUe they
lie flceping and fnoring in die fun *."

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COMMON SEAL*

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Nature has been fo niggardly in providing variety of provifion
for the Greenlanders, that they are neceflitated to have recourfe to
fuch which is offered to them with a liberal hand. The Kamt-
Jehatkan nations, which enjoy feveral animals, as well as a great and
abundant choice of filh, are fo enamoured with the tafte of the fat
of Seals, that they can make no feaft without making it one of the
difhes. Of that botli Ruffians and Kamtfcbatkans make their can-
dles. The latter eat the flefh boiled, or elfe dried in the fun. If
they have a great qiwntity, they preferve it in the f. owing man-
ner:

They dig a pit of a requifite depdi, and pave it with ftones $ then
fill it with wood, and kt it on fire fo as to heat the pit to the
warmdi of a ftove. They then colled all the cinders into a heap.
They ftrew the bottom with the green wood of alder, on which;
they place fepjrately the flefh and the fat, and put between every
layer branches of the fame tree; when the pit is filled they cover it
with fods, fb that the vapour cannot efcape. After' fome hours
they take out both fat and flelh, and keep it for winter's provifions>
and they may be preferved a whole year without Ipoiling.

The Kamtfcbatkans have a moft Angular ceremony. After they
take the flefh from the heads of the Seals, they bring a vefTel in
form of a canoe, and fling into it all the fculls„ crowned with certain
herbs, and place them on the ground. A certain perfon enters the
habitation with a fack filled with Toncbitche, fweet herbs, and a little
of the bark of willow. Two of the natives then roll a great ftone
towards the door, and cover it with pebbles j two others take the
fweet herbs and difpofe them, tied in little packets. The great
ftone is to fignify the fea-fhore, the pebbles the waves> and the
packets Seals. They then bring three difhes of a halh, called Tol-
koucba; of this they make Utde balls, in the middle of which they
ftick the packets of herbs : of the willow-bark they make a little

canoeji

Uses in Kamt-

SCHATKA.

SuPERSTtTlOrS
CUSTOM.

l82

Capture,

COMMON SEAL.

canof, and fyi it with rolhucba, and cover it with the fack. After
fome time, the v^o Kamtjchatkans who had put the mimic Seals into
the Tclkoucha, take the bails, and a veffel rcfcmbling a canoe, and
draw It along the fand, as if it was on the fca, to convince the real
Seals how. agreeable it would be to them to come among the Kamt^
fchatkans, who have a fea in their very>r/., or dwellings. And
this they imagine will induce the Seals to fufFer themfelves to be
taken in great numbers. Various other ceremonies, equally ridi-
culous, are pradifedj in one of which they invoke the mnds, which
dr:ve the Seals on their Jhores, to be propitious*.

Befides the ufes which are made of the flefh and fat of Seals, the
fkms of the largeft are cut into foles for fhoes. The women make
their fummer boots of the undreffed ikins, and wea.- them with the
hair outmoft. In a country which abounds fo greatly in ftirs very
little more ufe is made of the fkins of Seals in the article of drefs
than what has been mentioned f. But the Koriaks, the Oloutores
and rchut/chi, form with the Ikins canoes and veffels of different
fizes, fome large enough to carry thirty people.

Seals fwarm on all the coafts oi Kamt/chatka, and will go up 'the
rivers eighty verfts in purfuit of fiih. They couple on the ice in
^prth and fometimes on the rocks, and even in the fea in calm
weather. The l-ungufi give the milk of thefe animals to their chil-
dren inftead of phyfic.

The Seals in this country are killed by harpooning, by fhooting,
by watching the holes in the ice and knc .ing them on the head as
they rife i or by placing r«o or three ftrong nets acrofs one of the
rivers which thefe animals frequent: fifty or more people affemble
m canoes on each fide of die nets, while others row up and down,
and with great cries frighten the Seals into diem. As foon as any

• De/ir. Kamtfcbatka, 425. f The fame, 41, 42, 424.

arp .

COMMON SEAL.

are entangled, the people kiU them with pikes or clubs, and dVa«
them on ihorc, and divide them equaUy among the hunters j fomet
times a hundred are taken at a time in this manner.

The navigators obferved abundance of Seals about Bering's
inand,but that they decreafed in numbers as they advanced towards
the ftraits; for where the Walrufes abounded, the Seals grew more
» and more fcarce.

. I did not obferve any Seal-fkin garments among thofe brought
over by the navigators, fuch as one might have expefted among
the E/quimaux of the high latitudes they vifited, and which are fo
much in ufe with thofe of Hud/on' s Bay and Labrador. That fpecies
of drefs doubrlefsly was worn in the earlieft times. Thefe people
wrated their hiftoriansj but we are affured that tht MaJageU*^
cloathed themfelves in the Ikins of Seals. They, according to D'a„vi/k,
inhabited the country to the eaft of the Cafpian fea, and the lake
^rali both of which waters abound with Seals.

Seals are now become a great article of commerce. The oil
from the vaft Whales is no longer equal to the demand for fup-
plying the magnificent profufion of lamps in and round our capital.
The chafe of thefe animals is redoubled for that purpofe, and the'
Ikms, properly tanned, are in confiderable ufe in the manufadory
of boots and Ihoes.

Five varieties of Seals are found in the B^Hic. It is made a
doubt whether they are not even diftina fpecies.

The firft is the Grey Seal, Grd Sid/, which when jtril born is
wholly yeUow ; but that color foon grows obfcure, and the Ikin
becomes varied with fpots or waved lines. This variety is the large
of thofe which inhabit the Swedijh feas.

The fccond is the Hauf/kdL This, when juft dropped, is more

• Straie, lib. v. 781.

"83

Massagetje
cloathed in

SfiAL-SKlNS.

white.

l34

-i

SEALS,

■white, and never changes, unlefs to a tinge of pearl color, when it
has ceafed growing. It never attains the fizc of the former, lives
feparate from it, and is more timid.

Thefe two varieties live on the high feas, and feed on herrings,
meduja^ and blcnnies. During winter they retire under the ice,
through which they form holes by blowing on it, let the thicknefs
be ever fo great. In fummer they mount on the fand-banks to
flecp.

The Seal called the Wikare gris, and fVikare noir, are two
varieties, which fleep on fliore. The two preceding fometimes
fleep in the fea, keeping their heads above water i they fleep fo
found that the hunters can reach and harpoon them in that fitua-
tion. The ff^ikarg feeds chiefly on the gaftero/ieus acuUatust Lin,
three-fpined ftickleback, Br. Zool. III. No. 129. and becomes fo
fat, that when killed it cannot fink to the bottom. The young of
the Black IVikare are conftantly black j thofc of the Grey Wikare
always grey.

Fifthly. The MorungehzH^zy^ ^ip^6. (tigre). This fpecies
is of late years fo diminiflied, that for ten years pafl: there has not
•been feen one in all the Swedijh archipelago.

If thefe five are varieties, they are certainly varieties which live
always feparated, and never mingle with one another.

The chace of the Seals in the gulph of 5t?//&»w, is as remarkable
as that of the Greenlanders. In the fpring, when the rivers oiLap^
knd £or<x vfith their ftream, into the fea, vafl: mafles of ice, the
Grey Seals and Hautjkdh retire upon them. The hunters never
negleft the opportunity of taking them : they find out thefe floating
mountains, which, according to Mr. Hjarnet are twelve or fourteen
fathoms in thicknefs below water, and of a great extent. The
hunters lay in provifions for fix weeks, and a hearth to drefs their
meat on. They then moor their boat to one of thefe mountanous

pieces

GREAT SEAL.

pieces of ice, the holiows of which are ailed with Seals. They
cloath themfelves in white, to render themfelves Icfs fufpcfted by
thofe animals. They alfo whiten their boats with lime j and fleep
in them during night, and thus pafs ten or twelve days among the
ice, till they difcover the Seals. When they hear a certain crack-
ling, they confider it as a fign that the piece of ice is about to fall
to pieces j they guard againft the confequcnces, and feelc ano-
ther ; and fo continue rowing from one piece of ice to another,
in fearch of the Seals, till they have exhaufted every obje<St"of the
chace.

Hi/. ^aJ. N" 382.

Phoca Barbata, Faun.Greenl. N» 9 Urkfuk. GreiHl.

Lakktak, Hijl. Kamtfchatka, 420 Lev. Mus.

g E A L. With long pellucid white whifkers with curled points :
back arched : black hairs, very deciduous, and thinly difperfed
over a thick fkin, which in fummer is almoft naked: teeth like the
common Seal: fore feet like the human hand; middle toe the
longefti thumb fhort: lengdi more than twelve feet.

The Greenlmders cut out of the Ikin of this fpecies thongs and
lines, a finger thick, for the Seal-filhery. Its flelh is white as veal,
and efteemed the moft delicate of any : has plenty of lard, but does
not yield much oil. The fkins of the young are fometimes ufed to
lie on.

It inhabits the high fea about Greenland i is a timid fpecies, and
ufually refts on the floating ice, and very feldom the fixed. Breeds
in the earlieft fpring, or about the mondi q{ March, and brings forth
a fingle young on the ice, ufually among die iflands j for at diat

Vol- I. Bb feafon

i«/

73' G»|EAT,

tjii-

,?E|*-*f'

Ill*

QR,EAT SEAI*.

leafon it approachejB a, Uttle nearer to the land The great old one^
fwirp very flowly.

In the Teas of the north oS Scotland is founql a Seal twelve fee^
long A gentleman of my acquaintance (hot one of that fize on
the coad; of Suth^lmdi but n;iade no particular remarks on it.
A young one, feven feet and half long, was (hewn in London
ibme years ago, which had not arrived at maturity enough even
^o have fcarcely any teeth*: yet the common Seals have them
complete before they attain thp fize of fix feet, th^ir utimoft
growth.

A fpecies larger than an Ox, found in the Kamtfchatkan (eas from
56 to 64 north latitude, called by the natives Lachtak f . They
weighed eight hundred pounds : were eaten by Bering's crew ; but
their flefli wr.s found to be very loathfome^J. The cubs are quite
black.

Steller has left behind him accounts of other Seals found in
thofe wild feas ; but his defcriptions are fo imperfeft as to render
it impolfible to afcertain the fpecies. I^e fpeaks in his MSS. of
z, mid^le-fizpd kind, univerfally and moft elegaqdy ijpottedj
4Ppther» blacH with brown fpotsi* and the belly of a yellowifli
white, and as large as a yearling Ox j a third fpecies, black, and
Vith a particvjl^r formation of the hinder legs j and a fourth, of
a yellpwilh cplpr, with a ^reat circlq oj^ it of the color of cher-
ries!.

• Ph. Tranf. Abr, ix. 74. tab. v. xhrii. i^o. f iVoo/. Com, Fttrop. ii. 290.

J MuIIer's Voy, 60. 5 Dr. Paliast and De/cr. Kamtfcbatka, 420.

liijl.

ROUGH SEAL,

187

////?. ^aJ. N» 383.

Phoca f oetida, Fmn. Gtttnl. N» 8.-*Neitfeck Gretnl Crantx, I

74. ROVSH.

g E A L. With a fhort nofc, and fliort round head : teeth like the
common Seal : body almoft of an elliptical form, covered with
lard almoft to the hind feet : hairs clofely fet together, foft, long,
and fomewhat creft, with curled wool intermixed : color dufky,
ftreaked with white j fometimes varies to white, with a dufky dorfa!
line.

jjocs not exceed four feet in length.

Never frequents the high fcas, but keeps on the fixed ice in the
remote bays near the frozen land ; and when old never forfakcs its
haunts. Couples in Jmei brings forth in January ^ on the fixed ice,
which is its proper element. In that it has a hole for the benefit of
fifhing i near that it remains ufually folitary, rarely in pairs. Is
very incautious, and often fleeps on the furface of the water, yielding
itfelf a prey to the Eagle. Feeds on linall fifh, ftirimps, and the
like. The ufes of the (kin, tendons, and lard, the fame with thofe
of other Seals. The flefli is red, and fcetid, efpecially that of the
males, which is naufeated by even the Gremlanders.

The Seal-hunters in Newfoundland have a large kind, which they
call the Square Phippety and fay weighs five hundred pounds. Its
coat is like that of a Water-dog; fo that it feenis by the length of
hair to be allied to this j but the vaft difference in fize forbids us
from pronouncing it to be the fame fpecies*

Bb3

Hi/I.

i88

LEPORINP SE AL.

75« Lipomtrk.

Sizi..

l!;' ■

Phoca Leporina. L.f.ch>n. Aa. JcU P„rop. par.. L 264. ub. viiL ix.-
Hiji. ^aJ, N" 381.

g E A L. With hair of an uniform dirty white color, with a tijige
of yellow, butnever fpottcdj hairs crcft, and interwoven, foft
as that of a Hare, efpecially the young : head long : upper lip fwcll-
ing and thick : whifkers very ftrong and thick, ranged in fifteen
rows, covering the whole front of the lip, fo as to make it appear
bearded: eyes blue, pupil black: teeth ftrong j four cutting teeth
above, the fame below * : fore feet fhort, and ending abrupt : the
membranes of the hind ktt even, and not waved: tail fhort and
thick i its length four inches two lines.

Lengdi of this fpecies, from nofe to tip of the tail, is fix feet
fiXi its greateft circumference five feet two. 'ihc cubs are milk
white.

This kind inhabits the WUte Sea during fummer, and afcends
and defcends the m.ouths of rivers f with the tide in queft of prey.
It is alfo found on the coafts of Iceland, and within the Polar circle
from Spitzbergen to rcbutki No/s, and from thence fouthward about
Kamt/cbatka.

Like the others, it is killed for its fat and fkin. The laft is cut
into pieces, and ufed for ftraps and reins. The fkins of the young,
which are remarkably white, are dyed widi black, and ufed to face
caps, in imitation of Beavers fkinsj but the hairs arc much ftiffcr,
and do not foon drop ofE.

• Mr. Lepecbln compares the number of the teeth to that of another kind (our
K^rp Seal J which, he fays, lias only four teeth in the lower jaw.
t The fame.

Hifl.

l-i'

HOODED SEAL.

189

Hifi. ^aJ. N» 384.

Phoct Lconina, Faun. Grttnl. N« 5,

76. HoOOIDt

g E A L. With four cutting teeth above, four below : fore fece
like the human; the thumb long: the membranes on the hind
feet extend beyond the claws : on the forehead of the male is a thick
folded (kin, ridged half the way up, which it can inflate and draw
down like a cap, to defend its eyes againft ftorms, waves, ftones,
and fand. The females and young have only the rudiment of this
guard. U has two fpecies of hair j the longeft white, the Ihorteft
thick, black, and woolly, which gives it. a beautiful grey color.

It grows to the length of eight feet. The Greenlanders call it
Neitfek-foak*, or the Great Neitjek. It inhabits only the fouthern
parts of their country, where it inhabits the high feas ; but in Jprily
May, and June, comes nearer to the land. Is polygamous i copu-
lates with its body ered. Brings forth in JprU one young upon
the ice. Keeps much on the great fragments, where it deeps in an
unguarded way. Bites hard : barks, and whines : grows very fierce
on being wounded ; but will weep oa being furprized by die hunter.
Fight among themfelves, and inflia: deep wounds. Feed on all
kinds of greater filh. The (kins of the youny form the moft ele-
gant dre(res for the women. The men cover their great boats with
thofe of the old j they alfo cover their houfes with them, and when
they grow old convert them into facks. They ufe the teeth to head
hunting-fpears. Of the gullet and inteftines they make the fea-
dreflfes. The ftomach is made into a fi(hing-buoy.

• Crantx, i.. 25,

It

iij

fpO

HARP SEAL.

ii

It is alfo found in Newfoundland. Our Seal-hunters name it the
Hooded Seal, and pretend they cannot kill it till they remove that
integument. The Germans call it Klap^Mutz, from its covering its
face as if with a cap.

The moll dreaded enemy which this fpecies has in Greenland is
the Pbyfeier Microps; on the very fight of which it takes to the ice,
and quietly expeds its fate *. The Greenlanders therefore deteft
this fpecies of Whale, not only on account of the havock it makes
among the Seals, but becaufe it frightens them away from die
bays f .

It is entirely different from the Leonine Seal, or from that of
the South-fea, called the Bottle-nose.

W

77. Harp. Hifl. S^md. N" 385-

Phoca Oceanica, Kryhua Rujfts, Lepethin, Aa. Acad. Petrop, pars. i. 259. tab.
vi. vii.

Phoca Greenlandica, Faun. Greenl. N° 7.~Atak Greenl. Atarfoak, Crantz.u
124.

gEAL. Widi a round head: high forehead: nofefhort: large
black eyes : whifkers difpofed in ten rows of hairs : four cutting
teeth in the upper jaw, the two middlemoft the longeft -, four alfo in
the lower, lefs Iharp than the others : two canine teeth ia each jaw :
fix grinders in each jaw, each three-pointed : hairs fliort : flcin diick
and ftrong.

Head, nofe, and chin, of a deep chefnut color, nearly black ;
reft of the body of a dirty white, or light grey: on the top of the
fhoulders is a large mark of the fame color; with the head bifur-

* Faun, Greenl. p. 9,

t The fame, p. 45.

cated.

?«<

Il A F P S E A L.

eated, each fork extending downwards along the fides half way the
kngth of the body. This mark is always conftant j but there are
beHdes a few irregular fpots incidental to the old ones.

The female has only ryo, retradile, teats j and brings only one
yt ig at a time. The cub, the firft year, is of a bright afh-cdor,
whitilh beneath, arid marked in all parts with multitudes of fmall
black fpots, at which period they are called by the Ruffians White
Seals. In the next year they begin to be fpotted j from that period
the females continue unchanged in color. The males at full age,
which Mr. Crantz fays is their fifth year, attain their diftinguifhing
^ot, and are called by the Greenlanders Atiarfoak* i by ^t Ruffians,
Krylatkay or winged.

This inhabits the fame countries with the Rough and Leporine
Seal; but loves the coldeft parts of the coaft. Continues on the
loofe ice of Nova Zembla the whole year ; and is leen only in the
winter in the White Sea, on the floatir^ ice carried from the nor-
thern feas. It brings forth its young about the end oi Jprilt and
after fuckling it a fufficient time departs with the firft ice into the
Frozen Ocean, The young remains behind for fome time, then
follows its parent with the ice which is loofed from the fhore f .

It abounds in Greenland and about Spitzbergen, Specially in the
bottoms of the deep bays. Migrates in Greenland twice in the
year : in March, and returns in May ; in June, and returns in Sep-
tember. Couples in July, and brings forth towards the end of March
or beginning of April: has one ^oung, rarely two, which it flickles
on fragments of ice far from land. It never afcends the fixed ice j
but lives and fleeps on the floating iflands in great herds. Swims
in great numbers, having one for a leader, which feems to watch
for the fecurity of the whole. Eats its prey with its head above

B91

* Crantz, i. 124.

f J^, Acad, Pttrop. pars 263.

water.

1^2

SiZK.

Uses.

M ^ i

HARP SEAL,
^ter. Swims in variom w^ys; on its beUy, back, and Me, and

01 me water. Is very mcaufous. Has great dread of die PMt,r
Maops, wluch forces it towards the ihore. It is often furrou^ded
by^troops ofhunters, who compel teven to land, ^here i"

di'hT.! 1'^ '"^ °^"'"' •■«'• The meafurements of one
defcnbed by Mr. JUfechi„ are as foUow :-The lenRth from 2
nofe to die tip of die taU, was fix feet: die lengl rf'dilZ fi

The Ikin is ufed to cover trunks j diat of die youne taken in A,
xne of ../..,,, on the weft fide of the ^^>, Sea. I mSet^ „t
^d .s exceUent for keeping out water. The G««/.„ J."" d7et
fing die ton,, ^urry off die hair, and leave fome fat on die infide
to render them diicker. Widi diefe diey cover theiV boats 1^
«th die undrefled ftins dieir tents, and, when diey d t'tt
other, make ufe of diem foicloathing. " get no

The oil extrafted from the blubber of diis Seal is far die moft
valuable, eing fweet, and fo free from greaves as to yield a LT"
quantity dian any other fpecies. The flefii is black. ^

and nlf7"™"*r^ Seal-hunters caU it die H.rp. or Hearf Seal,
and name the marks on the fides die faddle. They fpeak too of a
W^ort. which diey caU ,.,^. and befieve toX^f

Bi/f,

RUBBON AND URSINE SEAL.

Wift. ^ad. No 380. fig. at p. 513.

SEAL. With very fhort briftly hair, of an uniform glofly color,
almoft black: the whole back and fides comprehended within
a narrow regular ftripe of pale yellow.

It is to Dr. Pallas I owe the knowledge of this fpecies. He re-
ceived only part of the fkin, which feemed to have been the back
and fides. The length was four feet, the breadth two feet diree;
fo it muft have belonged to a large fpecies. It was taken off the
Kuril iflands.

Hift. ^ad. No 387.

Kot Ruffis Gentilibrs ad Sinum Penchinicum, Tarlatfch-ga, Nov. Cm, Pttrop, ii.
331. tab. XV.

Sea Wolf, Pernety, Engl. Tr. 187. tab. xv\.^Ulha*s Fey. i. 226.
Chat Marin, Hifi. Kamtfihatka, 433.

^EAL. With a high forehead: nofe projefting like that of a
dog: black irides: fmaragdine pupil: whilkers compofed of
tri?ngular hairs, thinly fcattered : noftrils oval, divided by zjeptum:
lips thick i their infide red, and ferrated.

In the upper jaw four bifurcated cutting teeth; on each fide of
thefe a very fharp canme tooth bending inwards j beyond thefe ano-
ther, which, in battle, the animal ftrikes widi, as Boars do with

•The French generic name for the Seal is Loup Marin, and the Spanijb, Ubo

C c their

Marino,

Vol. L

193

78. RuBBON.

1%' Ursine.

Teeth.

' , ^

' 1*

': ^^

ip4

URSINE SEAL.

Tongue, Ears.

Fore

LEGS.

■ J

Hind legs.

Tail.

Body.

Femalb.

Color.

tri

their tuflcs. Inftead of grinders, in each upper jaw are fix Iharp
teeth refembling canine, and very flighdy exerted. In the lower
jaw four cutting teeth, and canine like thofe in the upper -, and on
each fide ten others in the place of grinders. When the mouth is
clofed all the teeth lock into each other.

The tongue rough and bifid : the ears lliort, finall, and fliarp-
poirited, hairy on the outfide, fmooth and poliflied within.

Fore legs two feet long, not immerfed in the body, like thofe
of other Seals, but refemble thofe of common quadrupeds. The
feet are furnifhed with five toes, with the rudiments of nails ^ but
thefe are fo entirely covered with a naked fkin, as to be as much
concealed as a hand is with a mitten. The animal ftands on thefe
legs with the utmoft firmnefs i yet the feet feem but a fhapelefs
mafs.

The hind legs are twenty-two Inches long, and fituated like thofe
of Seals i but are capable of being brought forward, fo that the
animal makes ufe of them to fcratch its head : on each are five toes,
connefted by a large web ; and are a foot broad. The tail is only
two inches long.

The body is of a conoid fhape. The length of a large one
is about eight feet j the circumference near the fhoulders is five
feet, near the tail twenty inches. The weight eight hundred
pounds.

The female is far inferior in fize to the male : it has two teats,
placed far behind.

The whole animal is covered with long and rough hair, of a
blackifh color -, that of the old is tipt with grey i and on the neck
of the males is a little longer and ered:: beneath the hair is a foft
fur oi' -. bay color. The females are cinereous. The Ikin is thick
and ftrong.

Thefe

fi

URSINE SEAL.

Thcfe animals arc found in amazing multitudes on the iflands
between Kamtfchatka and America * j but are fcarcely known to
land on the Jftatic ftiore : nor are they ever taken except in the
three Kurilian iflands, and from thence in the Bobrowois More, or
Beaver Sea, as far as the Kronojki headland, off the river Kamtfchatka^
which comprehends only from 50 to ^6 north latitude. It is ob-
fervable that they never double die fouthern cape of the peninfula,
or are found on the weftern fide in the Penfchinjka fea: but their
great refort has been obferved to be to Bering's iflands. They are
as regularly migratory as birds of paflage. They firfl: appear off the
three Kurili iflands and Kamtfchatka ''m the earlieft fpring. They
arrive exceffivcly fat 5 and there is not one female which does not
come pregnant. Such which are then taken are opened, the young
taken out and flcinned. They are found in Bering's ifland only on
the weftern ftiore, being the part oppofite to Afta, where they firft
appear on their migration from the fouth. They continue on fliore
three months, during which time the females bring forth. Except-
ing their employ of fuckling their young, they pafs dieir time in
total inaftivity. The males fmk into the moft profound indolence,
and deep fleep j nor are they ever roufed, except by fome great pro-
vocation, arifing from an invafion of their place, or a jealoufy of
their females. During the whole time they neither eat nor drink.
Steller differed numbers, without finding the left appearance of
food in their ftomachs.

'f'hey live in families. Every male is furrounded by a feraglio
of from eight to fifty miftreffes j thefe he guards with the jealoufy
of an caftern monarch. Each family keeps feparate from the oth^j-s,

"^9$

II

Placb.

MlGRATORV,

Long sliep anb

FASTING.

IiIVB IN FAMI-
LIES.

• They fay that the Sta-Cat, or Siiuutcha, is found in thcfe iflands ; but Sinuutcba
\i the name given by the Kamtfchatkm$ and Kuriliam to the Leonim Seal only.
s^QTthern Jrcbiftlago, &c. by Fon Stablen. Printed for Hejdinger, 1774, p. 34.

C c 2 notwithftanding

- T

t

1"

/'

1^6

Affection

TOWARDS THEIR
YOUNG.

Conflicts;

CAU8SS0F THEM.

URSINE SEAL.

notwithftanding they lie by thoufands on the fhore. Every family,
with the unmarried and the young, amount to about a hundred and
twenty. They alfo fwim in tribes when they take to the fea.

The males fhew great afFedion towards their young, and equal
tyranny towards the females. The former are fierce in the protec-
tion of their offspring j and fhould any one attempt to take their
cub, will ftand on the defenfive, while the female carries it away in
her mouth. Should Ihe happen to drop it, die male inftandy quits
its enemy, falls on her» and beats her againft die ftones till he
leaves her for dead. As foon as Ihe recovers, flie crawls to his feet
in the moft fuppliant manner, and walhes them with her tears -, he
at the fame time brutally infults her niifery, flalking about in the
moft infolent manner. But if the young is entirely carried off, he
melts into the greateft affliftion, likewife iheds tears, and fhews
every mark of deep forrow. It is probable that as the female
brings only one, or at moft two cubs, he feels his misfortune the
more fenfibly.

Thofe animals which are deftitute of females, through age or
impotence, or are deferted by them, withdraw themfelves from fo-
ciety, and grow exceffively fplenetic, peevifh, and quarrelfomej
are very furious, and fo attached to their antient ftations, as to pre-
fer death to the lofs of them. They are enormoufly fat, and emit
a moft naufecus and rank fmell. If they perceive another animal
approach its feat, they are inftantly roufed from their indolence,
fnap at the encroacher, and give batde. During ihe fight they in-
ienfibly intrude on the ftation of their neighbor. This creates new
offence; fo that at length the civil difcord fpreads through the
whole fhore, attended with hideous growls, their note of war. They
are very tenacious of life, and will live a fortnight after receiving
fuch wounds as would foon deftroy any other animal.
The particular caufes of difputes among thefe irafcible beafb are

the

URSINE SEAL.

197

Notes.

MNB Seal.

the following :— The firft and greateft is, when an attempt is made
to feduce any of their miftrefles, or a young female of the family : a
battle is the immediate confequence of the infult. The unhappy
vanquiftied inftantly lofes his whole feraglio, who defert him for the
victorious hero.

The invafion of the ftation of another, gives rife to frefh conflids j
and the third caufe is the interfering in the difputes of others. The
batdes they wage are very tremendous -, the wounds they intiidt very
deep, like the cut of a fabre. At the conclufion of an engagement
they fling themfelves into the fea to walh off the blood.

Befides their notes of war, they have feveral others. When they
lie on fhore, and are diverting themfelves, they low like a Cow.
After vidory they chirp like a Cricket. On a defeat^ or after re-
ceiving a wound, mew like a Cat.

Common Seals, and Sea Otters, ftand in great awe of thefe ani- Dread the Leo
mals, and fhun their haunts. They again are in equal awe of the
Leonine Seals, and do not care to begin a quarrel in their fight,
dreading the intervention of fuch formidable arbitrators j who like-
wife poffefs the firft place on the fhore.

The great and old animals are in no fear of mankind, unlefs they
are fuddenly furprized by a loud fhout, when they will hurry by
thoufands into the fea, fwira about, and ftare at the novelty of their
difturbers.

When they come ouf of the water, they fhake themfelves, and
fmooth their hair with their hind feet : apply their lips to thofe of
the females, as if they meant to kifs them : lie down and bafl<^ in the
fun with their hind legs up, which they wag as a Dog does its tail.
Sometimes they lie on their back, fometimes roll themfelves up
into a ball, and fall afleep. Their fleep is never fo found but they
are awoke by the left alarm j for their fenfe of hearing, and alfo
that of fmelling, is moft exquifite.

They

Fear not Man-
kino.

■ n

. \i -I

•I ,£»

f 4T

■' <j;''|i in

ipS

U R S I N

E SEAL.

Ill

copulatiok.
Gestation.

Swift swim-
mers.

Capture.

Uses.

Rl-MICRATION.

m>

They copulate, mre butnano, in Jufy^ and bring forth in the June
following ; fo they go with young eleven months. The cubs arc
as fportive as puppies ; have mock fights, and tumble one another
on the ground. The male parent looks on with a fort of compla-
cency, parts them, licks and kifles them, and feems to take a greater
affeftion to th- vidlor than to the others.

They fwim with amazing fwiftnefs and ftrcngth, even at the rate
of feven or eight miles an hour, and often on their back. They
dive well, and continue a great while under water. If wounded
in that element, they will feize on the boat, carry it with them widi
great impetuofity, and often will fink it.

When they wilh to afcend die rocks, they fix their fore feet on
them, arch their backs, and then draw themfelves up.

The Kamt/chatkans take them by harpooning, for they never land
on their fhore. To the harpoon is faftened a long line, by which
they draw the animal to the boat after it is fpent with fatigue; but
in the chafe, the hunters are vtry feaiful of too near an approach,
leaft the animal fhould faften on and fink dieir veffel.

The ufes of them are not great. The flefh of the old males is
rank and naufeousj that of the females is faid to refemble lamb;
of the young ones roafted, a fucking pig. The fkins of the young,
cut out of the bellies of the dams, are eftecmed for cloathing, and
are fold for about three fhillings and four pence eachj thofe of the
old for only four fhillings.

Their re-migration is in" the month of Septemhert when they de-
part excefllveiy lean, and take their young with them. On their
return, they again pafs near the fame parts of Kamtfchatka which
they did in the fpring. Their winter retreats are quite unknown i
it is probable that they are the iflands between the Kurili and Japan,
of which we have fome brief accounts, under the name of Compagnie
Landj States Land, and Jefo Gafma, which were difcovered by Mar*

tin '

URSINE SEAL.

tin Uriel in 1642*. It is certain that by his account the natives

cnnploy themfelves in the capture of Seals f. Sailors do not give

themfelves the trouble of obferving the nice diftindion of fpecific

marks, we are therefore at liberty to conjedure thofe which he faw

to be our animals, efpecially as we can fix on no more convenient

place for their winter quarters. They arrive along the fliores of the

Kurili iflands, and part of thofe of Kamtfchatkay from the fouth.

They land and inhabit only the wellern fide of Bering's ifle, which

faces Kamtfchatka -, and when they return in September ^ their route is

due fouth, pointing towards the difcoveries of Uriel. Had they

migrated from the fouth-eaft as well as the fouth-weft, every ifle,

and every fide of every ifle, would have been filled with them i nor

fliould we have found (as we do) fuch a conftant and local refi-

dence.

Before I quit this article I muft obferve, that there feems to be
in the feas of Jejo Gafimo another fpecies of Seal, perhaps our Little
Seal, N° 386. Hift. Sluad. The account indeed is but obfcure,
which I muft give as related by Charlevoix in his compilations re-
fpeding that ifland. " The natives," fays he, " make ufe of an
" oil to drink, drawn from a fort of fifh, a fmall hairy creature
" with four feet." If this account is true, it ferves to point out the
fartheft known refidence of this genus, on this fide of the northern
hemifphere.

Finally, the Urfine Seals are found in the fouthern hemifphere,
even from under the line, in the ifle of Gallipagos J, to New Georgia §,

• He failed from the eaft fide of Japan in the fnip Caftricom, vifited the ifle of
Je/o, and difcovered the iflands which he called States Land and Company Land, the
laft not very remote from the mod fouthern Kurili ifland. Recueil de Foy, au Nord,
iv. I. f The fame, 13.

t Woodes Rogers*! Voy. 26$.->He fays that they are neither fo numerous there, nor
is their fijr fo fine as thofe on Juan Fernandez, v,'hich is faid to be extremely foft and
delicate. % Cook's Fey. u^zi^,

in

199

Ursine Seal
in the south-
ERN HEMI-
SPHERE.

4* tiX

f u

aoo

LEONINE SEAL.

in ibuth latitude 54. 1 5. and weft longitude 37. 15. In the inter-
mediate parts, they are met with in New Zelmd*, in the ide of
-Juan Fernandez, and its neighbor Mnjfa Fuera, and probably along
the coafts of Chili to Terra del Fuego, and Staten Land. In Juan
Fernandez, Staten Land, and New Georgia^, they fwarmj as they do
at the northern extremity of this vaft ocean. Thofe of the fouth-
crn hemifphere have alfo their feafons of migration. Alexander
Selkirk, who pafled three lonely years on the ifle of Juan Fernandez,
remarks that they come alhore in June, and ftay till September %,
Captain Cook found them again, in their place of re-migration, in
equal abundance, on Staten Land and New Georgia, in the months
of December ar J January § -, and Don Pernety || found them on the
Falkland inands, in the month of February.

According to the Greenlanders, this fpecies inhabits the fouthern
parts of their country. They call it Auvekajak. That it is very
fierce, and tears to pieces whatfoever it meets; that it lives on land
as well as in water, fwims moft impetuouHy, and is dreaded by the
hunters f.

80. Leonine.

Hijl. ^ad. N" 389.

Beftia Marina. KuriUis, Kamt/chadalis et RuJ^s, KurilUco nomr^f^ Si-wut/chal

didta. Nov. Com. Petrop. ii. 360.
Lion Marin, Hift. Kamtfchatka, 428.

§ E AL. With a large head : nofe turning up like that of a pug
Dog : eyes large -, pupil fmaragdine : the greater angle of each
as if ftained widi cinnabar color. In the upper jaw four fmall cut-
ting teeth J the exterior on each fide remote, and at fome diftance

• Cook, \. 72. i6.^Forlier\ Ob/. 189. f J„/o„>, Voy. xzz.^Cook, ii.

» 94- 213. X Selkirk's account in fF. Rogers's Foy.i^S. § U 194 213

II His voyage, £'«^. TV. 187. ^ Faun. Greenl. 'p.e.

from •

LEONINE SEAL.

from thcfc are two large canine teeth : in the lower jaw four fmall
cutting teeth, and the canine : the grinders fmall and obtufe ; four
on each fide above, and five below : ears conic and ercft : feet cx-
aftly like thofe of the Urfine Seal.

Along the neck of the male is a mane of ftiff curled hair; and
the whole neck is covered with long waved hairs, fuch as diftin-
guiih a Lion j the reft of the animal cloathed with fhort reddifh
hairs : thofe of the female are of the color of ochre j the young of
a much deeper. The old animals grow grey with age.

The weight of a large male beaft is fixteen hundred pounds.
Length of the males is fometimes fourteen, or even eighteen feet *.
The females are very difproportionably lefler, not exceeding eight
feet.

Inhabits the eaftern coafts o( Kamt/chatkay from cape Kronozki as
low as cape Lapatka and the Kurili iflands, and even as far as
Matfmai, which probably is the fame with Jefo Gafma, Near Mat/-
mat Captain Sfanberg obferved a certain ifland of a moft pidturefque
form, bordered with rocks refembling buildings, and fwarming with
thefe animals, to which he gave the name of the Palace of the Sea
Lions f. Like the Urftne Seals, they are not found on the weftern
fide of the peninfula. They abound, in the months of June^ July^
Auguft, and September y on Bering's ifland, which they inhabit for the
fake of quiet parturition and fuckling their young. Steller alfo
faw them in abundance in July on the coafts of America.

They do not migrate like the former -, but only change the place
of refidence, having winter and fummer ftations J. They live

20 1

III

1 "I

• Narhorough, ^i.—Pettrofe Falkland IJles, zi.—Pernetti, Foy. Malouines, 240—87
his confounding the names of this and the Bottle-nofe Seal, N» 288. HiJl.i^taJ. he
led we into a miftaice about the length of this.

t Defer. Kamt/chatka, 433. | Nov. Ctm. Petrof. ii. 365.

Vol. I.

Dd

chiefly

I

II

sot

! 1

I!'.

Fear mankind;

VNLESS HABITU-
ATED.

LEONINE SEAL.

chiefly on rocky (hores, or lofty rocks in the fca, which feem to
have been torn away from the land by the violence of fomc
earthquake*. Thefe they climb, and by their dreadful roaring
are of ufe in foggy weather to warn navigators to avoid dcftruc-
tion.

They copulate in the months of Auguft and September ; go ten
months, and bring only one at a time. The parents fhcw them
little afFedlion, often tread them to death through careleflhefs, and
will fufFer them to be killed before them without concern or rcfcnt-
ment. The cubs arc not fportive, like other young animals, 'jut
are almoft always afleep. Both male and female take them to fea
to learn them to fwim ; when wearied, they will climb or /he back
of their dam j but the male often pufhes them off, to habituate
them to the exercife. The Ruffians were wont to fling the cubs
into the water, and they always fwam back to Ihore.

The males treat the females with great refpeft, and arc very
fond of their careffes. They arc polygamous, but content them-
selves with fewer wives than the former* having only from two to
four apiece.

The males hkvc a tcnible afped, yet they take to flight on the
firft appearance of a human creature ; and if they are diflurbed
from their fleep, feem feized with great horrors, figh deeply in their
attempts to go away, fall into vaft confuflon, tumble down, and
tremble in finrh a manner as fcarcely to be able to ufe their limbs.
But if they are reduced to a ftrait, fo as not poffibly to effed an
efcape, they grow defjaerate, turn on their enemy with great fury
and noife, and even put the moft valianr to flight.

By ufe they lofe their fear of men. o<t. V; oi:ce lived for fix days
in a hovel amidft thei, ^hief quarterf., uiid fouj.i them foon recon-

• Mulkr*s Voy. 60.

oiled

LEONINE SEAL,

ciled to the fight of him. They would obfervc what he was doing
with great calmncfs, lie down oppofitc to him, and fufFer him to
feizc on their cubs. He had an opportunity of feeing their con-
fli^s about their females j and once faw a duel between two males,
which lafted three days, and one of them received above a hundred
wounds. The Urfinc Seals never interfered, but got out of the
way as faft as poffible. They even fuffercd the cubs of die former
to fport with them widiout offerin-r dicm the left injury.

This fpecies has many of the lame adions with the former, m
fwimming, walking, lying, and fcratching itfelf The old bd-
low like Bulls; the young bleat like Sheep. Sfe/Ier fays, that
from their notes he feemed like a ruftic amidft his herds. The
males had a ftrong fmell, but were not near fo fetid as the Urfuie
fort.

Their food is fiih, the leflcr Seals. Sea Otters, and other marine
animals. During the months of June and July the old males al-
moft entirely abftain from eating, indulge in indolence and fleep,
and become exceffively emaciated.

The voyagers made ufe of them to fubfift on, and thought the
flefh of the young very favoury. The feet turned into jelly on be-
ing drefled, and in their fituation were cfteemed great delicacies.
The fat was not oily ; that of the young refcmbled the fuet of
mutton, and was as delicious as marrow. The fkin was ufeful for
ftraps, fhoes, and boots.

The KamtfchatkaKs cfteem the chafe of thefe animals a generous
diverfion, and hold the man in highcft honor, in proportion to the
jiumber he has killed. Even thefe heroes are very qautious when
they attack one of the animals on fhore : they watch an opportu-
nity when they find it afleep, approach it againft the wind, ftrike
their harpoon, faftened to a long thong, into its breaft, while their

D d 2 comrades

20J

Not SI.

Food.

Us«9,

Chasb.

i ""HI!

^iiMMM|

jlf^

^^^1

■ ■

"''^1

r

i

}^^l

1 ;

jifl

ao4

I'f, 1

ti I >

IP

LEONINE SEAL.

comrades faften one end to a ftake, and that done, he takes to his
heels with the utmoft precipitation. They efFeft his deftruftion at
a diftance, by Ihooting him with arrows, or flinging their lances
into him -, and when exhauftcd, they venture to come near enough
to knock him on the head with clubs.

When they difcover one on the lonely rocks in the fea, they
Ihoot it with poifoned arrows : unable to endure the pain of the
wound, heightened by the falt-water, which it plunges into on
the firft receiving it, it fwims on fliore in the greateft agony.
If they find a good opportunity, they transfix it with their
weapons; if not, they leave it to die of the poifon, which
it infallibly does in twenty-four hours, and in the moft dreadful
agony *.

They efteem it a great dilgrace to leave any of thefr game be-
hind : and this point of honor they often obferve, even to their own
deftrudion j for it happens that when they go in fearch of thefe
animals to the iHe of Jlaif, which lies fome miles fouth-wcft of
Lapatka promontory, they obferve this principle fo religioufly, as
to overload their boats fo much, as to fend them and their booty to
the bottom j for they fcorn to fave themfelves, at the expence of
throwing overboard any part f .

This fpecies has been difcovered very low in the fouthern hemi-
Iphere j but, I believe, not on the wellern fide. S'w John Narbo-
rough % met with them on an ifland off^ Port Befire^ in lat. 47. 48.
Sir Richard Hawkins % found them on Pinguin ifle, within the fe-
cond Narrow of the ftreights of Magellan. They abound in the
Falkland IJlands || j and were again difcovered by Captain Cook on

• Defer. Kamtfchatka, 377. -j Nov. Com. Petrop. ii. 302.

% Foji. 75. II Pernetfs Voy. 188. tab. xvi..

X f^oy. 31.

tlie

'■f -

LEONINE SEAL.

the New Tear's IJlandsy off the weft coaft of Staten Land *. In thofe
fouthern latitudes they bring forth their young in the middle of our
winter, the feafon in which our late circumnavigators f vifited thofe
diftant parts.

• Cook, ii. 194. 203. — The months in which thefe animals were obferved by the
navigators, were January and February ; but by Sir J. Narborough, in the ftreights
oi Magellan, about the 4th o( Marcbt O. S.

t Forfttr^s Voy. ii. 514.

ao5

¥ I

HIST,

■ m

-J2.

30$

WHALE-TAILED MANATL

MANATi.

HIST, ^UAD, Genus XLIII.

<> I

I V

U

iii.i

I-

1 'I

ii

8i. Whale-
tailed.

Hift. ^ad. N» 390.

Morlkaia Korowa, Rujforum. Nov. Com. Petrcp. u. 294.

Vaches Marines, Defer. Kamt/chatka, 446.

TiiTANATI. With a fmall oblong fquarilh head, hanging
ItX down : moudi fmall : lips doubled, forming an outward and
inward lip : about the junftion of die jaws a fet of white tubular
briftles, a? thick as a pigeon's quil, which ferve as ftrainers to per-
mit the running out of the water, and to retain the food: the lips
covered widi ftrong briftles, which ferve inftead of teeth to crop the
ftrong roots of marine plants : no teeth, but in each jaw a flat white
oblong bone with an undulated furface, which being placed above
and below, performs the ufe of grinders to comminute the food.

Noftrils placed at die end of the nofe, and lined with briftles :
no ears, only in their place a fmall orifice.

Eyes very fmall, not larger than thofe of a Sheep, hardly vifiblc
through the litde round holes in the Ikinj the irides black i the
pupil livid : tongue pointed and fmall.

The whole animal is of great deformity: the neck thick, and
its union with the head fcarcely difcernible : the two feet, or rather
fins, are fixed near die flioulders ; are only twenty-fix inches long;
are deftitute of toes, or nails, but terminate in a fort of hoof, con-
cave beneath, lined widi briftles, and fitted for digging in fand.

The outward Ikin is black, rugged, and knotty, like the bark of
an aged oak: widiout any hair, an inch thick, and fo hard as

fcarcely

WHALE-TAILED MANATL

fcarcely to be cut with an ax j and when cut, appears in the infide
like ebony. From the nape to the tail it is marked with circular
wrinkles rifing into knots, and iharp points on the fide. This fkin
covers the whole body like a cruft, and is of fingular ufe to the
animal during winter, in protedting it againft the ice, under which
it often feeds, or againft the fliarp-pointed rocks, againft which it
is often dalhed by the wintry ftorms. It is alfo an equal guard
againft the fummer heats ; for this animal does not, like moft
other marine creatures, feed at the bottom, but with part of the
body expofed, as well to the rays of the fun as to the piercing cold
of the froft. In fadt, this integument is fo eftential to its preferva-
tion, that Steller has obferved feveral dead on the Ihore, which he
believes were killed by the accidental privation of it. The color
of this (kin, when wet, is dufky, when dried, quite black.

The tail is horizontally flat j black, and ending in a ftifi^" fin,
compofed of laminse like whale-bone, terminating with fibres near
nine inches long. It is fli^tly forked s but both ends are of equal
lengths, like the tail of a Whale.

It has two teats placed exaftly on the breaft. The milk is
thick and fweet, not unlike that of a Ewe. Thefe animals copu-
late more humojio, and in the feafon of courtlhip fport long in the
fea J the female feigning to ftiun the embraces of the male, who
purfues her through all the mazes of her flight.

The body, from the flioulders to the navel, is very thick ; from
thence to the tail grows gradually more flender. The belly is very
large} and, by reafon of the quantity of entrails, very tumid.

Thefe animals grow to the length of twenty-eight feet. The
meafurements of one fomewhat IcflTer, as given by Mr. Sfeller, are
as follow :

The length, from die nofe to the end of die tail, twenty-four
feet and a half: from the nofe to the Ihouldcrs, or fetting-on of the

fins>

207

Tail^

Sus.

P

!

to8

WeiGHT.

Place.

WHALE-TAILED MANATL

fins, four feet four. The circumference of the head, above the
noftrils, two feet fevenj above the ears, four feet : at the nape of
the neck, near feven feet : at the fhoulders, twelve : about the
belly, above twenty: near the tail, only four feet eight: the extent
of the tail, from point to point, fix feet and a half.
The weight of a large one is eight thoufand pounds.
Inhabits the fhores of Bering's and the other idands which inter-
vene between the two continents. They never appear off Kamt-
Jchatka, unlefs blown alhore by tempefts, as they fometimes are
about the bay of Awatjcha. The natives ftyle them Ka^ufinik, or
cabbage-eaters, from their food. This genus has not been difco-
vered in any other part of the northern hemifphere. That which
inhabits the eaftern fide of South America, and fome part oi Africa,
is of a different fpecies. For the latter I can teftify, from having
feen one fiom Senegd. Its body was quite fmooth j its tail fwelled
out in the middle, and (loped towards the end, which was rounded*.
To fupport my other opinion, I can call in the faithfl Damfieri
who defcribes the body as perfedly fmooth f : had it that ftriking
integument which the fpecies in queftion has, it could not have ef-
caped his notice. Let me alfo add, that the fize of thofe which
that able feaman obferved, did not exceed ten or twelve feetj nor
the weight of the largeft reach that of twelve hundred pounds %.

I fufpea that this fpecies extends to Mindanao, for one kind is
certainly found there §. It is met widi much farther fouth ; for I
difcover, in the colledion of Sir Joseph Banks, a iketch of one
taken near Biego Rodriguez, vulgarly called Biego Rais, an ifle to
the eaft of Mauritius • ?nd it may poffibly have found its way
through fome northern inlet to the feas o( Greenland -, for Mr. Fa^

• A figure of this fpecies is given in De Buffon, xii. tab. IvU. and in Schreber, ii.
tab. Ixxx.

t %• J. 33'

X Ibid.

% Dampier, i. 331.

bricius

WHALE-TAILED MANATL

brmus once difcovered in that country the head of one, half con-
fumed, with teeth exaftly agreeing with thofe of this fpecies*.

Thefe animals frequent the ihallow and fandy parts of the Ihores
and near the mouths of the fmall rivers of the ifland of J5.n«f , feem-
ingly pleafed with the fweet water. They go in herds : the old
keep behind and drive their young before them : and fome keep
on their fides, by way of protedion. On the rifing of the tide they
approach the fhores, and are fo tame as to fuffer themfelves to be
ftroked : if they are roughly treated, they move towards the fea :
but foon forget the injury, and return.

They live in families near one another: each confifts of a male
and female, a half-grown young, and a new-born one. The fami-
lies often unite, fo as to form vaft droves. They are monogamous.
They bring forth a fingle young, but have no particular time of
parturition j but chiefly, as Steller imagines, about autumn.

They are moft innocent and harmlefs in their manners, and moft
ftrongly attached to one another. When one is hooked, the whole
herd will attempt its refcue : fome will ftrive to overfet the boat by
going beneath it j others wiU fling themfelves on the rope of the
hook and prefs it down, in order to break if, and others again
will make the utmoft efforts to .orce the inftrument out of its
wounded companion.

Their conjugal affedion is moft exemplary: a male, after ufing
all Its endeavours to releafe its mate which had been ftruck, pur-
fued It to the very edge of the water j no blows could force it
away As long as the deceafed female continued in the water, he
perlilted in his attendance j and even for three days after Ihe was
drawn on fiiore, and even cut up and carried away, was obferved to
remain, as if in expeftation of her return.

m

Vol. I.

• FaHti, Grtenl. p. 6.

£ e

209

Manners.

I'l' <

They

<IO

Capture.

I "f

, 1

WHALE-TAILED MANATL

They are moft voracious creatures, and feed with their head
under water, quite inattentive of the boats, or any thing that pafles
about them; moving and fwimming gently after one another,
widi much of their back above water. A fpecies of loufe har-
bours in the i ^ughnefs of their coats, which the Gulls pick out,
fitting on them as Crows do on Hogs and Sheep. Every now
and then they lift their nofe out of the water to take breath, and
make a noife like the fnorting of Horfes. When die tide retires,
they fwim away along with it j but fometimes the young are left
alhore till the return of the water : otherwife they never quit that
element : fo that in nature, as well as form, they approach the
cetaceous animals, and are the link between Seals and them.

They were taken on Bering'^ ifle by a great hook faftened to
a long rope. Four or five people took it with them in a boat,
and rowed amidft a herd. The ftrongeft man took the inftru-
ment, ftruck it into the neareft animal ; which done, thirty peo-
ple on fhore feized the rope, and with great difficulty drew it on
Ihore. The poor creature makes the ftrongeft refiftance, affifted
by its faithful companions. It will cling with its feet to the rocks
till it leaves the fkin behind; and often great fragments of the
crufty integument fly off before it can be landed. It is an animal
full of blood ; fo that it fpouts in amazing quantities from the ori-
fice of the wound.
They have no voice ; only, when wounded, emit a deep figh.
They have the fenfes of fight and hearing very imperfeft j or at
^left negled the ufe of them.

They are not migratory; for they were feen about Bering's illand
the whole of the fad ten months which Mr, Steller paflTed there after
his fliipwreck.

In the fummer they were very fat ; in the winter fo lean that the
ribs might be counted.

ThQ

i-4

S E A A P E.

The Ikin is ufcd, by the inhabitants about the promontory Tchukt^
chiy to cover their boats. The fat, which covers the whole body
liice a thick blubber, was thought to be as good and fweet as May-
butter: that of the young, like hogs-lard. The flelh of the old,
when weU boiled, refembled beef: that of the young, veal. The
flefh will not refufe fait. The crew preferved feveral cafks full,
which was found of excellent fervice in their efcape from their hor-
rible confinement *,

To this article muft be added an imperfedl defcription of a ma-
rine animal ftcn by Mr. Steller on the coaft q{ America, which he
calls a Sea Ape. The head appeared like that of a Dog, with fharp
and upright ears, large vjt^, and with both lips bearded : the body
round and conoid j the thickeft part near the head: the tail forked;
the upper lobe the longeft: the body covered with thick hair[
grey on the back, reddilh on the belly. It feemed deaitute of
feet.

It was extremely wanton, and played a multitude of monkey-
tricks. It fometimes fwam on one fide, fometimes on the other
fide of die Ihip, and gazed at it with great admiration. It made fo
near an approach to the veflel, as almoft to be touched with a pole ;
but if any body moved, it inftantly retired. It would often ftand
erea for a confiderable fpace, with one-third of its body above
water} then dart beneath the fliip, and appear on the other fide ;
and repeat the fame thirty times together. It would frequently
arife with a fca-plant, not unlike the Bottle-gourd, tofs it up, and
catch it in its mouth, playing with it numberlefs fantaflric tricks f.

On animals of this fpecies the fable of the Sirens might very well
be founded.

2IX

Uses.
The Fat.

Lean.

Sea Apb.

■i,i^il

r

* MulUr's Voj. dz — Nov, Com. Pttrop. ii. 329.

E e 2

t Hifi, Kamt/chatka, 136.
Ifiiafl

/

213

Sea

Bkluoa,

Description.

i

SEA BELUGA.

I fliaU conclude this article with a recantation of what I fay in the
357th page of my Synopfis, relating to the Beluga; which I now
find was coMed, by the author I cite, from the reports of Cojacks,
and Ignorant fifhermen. The animal proves at laft to be one of
the cetaceous tribe, of the genus of Dolphin, and of a fpecies called
by the Germans Wit-Fijch, and by the Rujftans Beluga * ; both fig.
mfying White fifh : but to this the laft add Morjkaia, or of the L
by way of diftinguifhing it from a fpecies of Sturgeon fo named!
It IS common in all the ^rSlic feas, and forms an article of com-
merce, being taken on account of its blubber. They are nume-
rous in thegulphofSt. La'-^rence; and go with the tide as high
as Quebec. There are fifheries for them, and the common Porpe/Te,
m that nvrer. A confiderable quantity of oil is extracted, and of
their fkins is made a fort of Morocco leather, thin, yet ftrong enou^^h
to refift a mufquet-ball f. They are frequent in the Dwina and
the Obyj and go in fmall families from five to ten, and advance
pretty far up the rivers in purfuit of filh. They are ufually caught
m nets ; but are fometimes harpooned. They bring only one yovmo-
at a time, which is dulky j but grow white as they advance in age!
the change firft commencing on die belly. They are apt to follow
boats, as i{ they were tamed j and appear extremely beautiful, by
reafon of their refplendent whitenefs %.

It being a fpecies very litde known, and never well engraven, I
ihall give a brief defcription, and adjoin an engra^in<r ^.^»n ^--Jm
an excellent drawing communicated to me by Dr. Puiu.

The head is Ihort: nofe blunt: fpiracle fmall, of the fo:
crefcent: eyes very minute : mouth fmall: in each fide cf eacu jaw
are nine teeth, Ihort, and rather blunts thofe of the upper jaw are -

•Pallas, Itin, iii. 84. tab. \v,^Crant^ Greenl. I , ^.^P„rcbas'r Pilgrims, iii. 540.
t CharUvcix^ V. 217. j Faun. Gmnl. ji.

bent.

'J

SEA BELUGA.

bent, and hollowed, fitted to receive the teeth of the lower jaw when
the mouth is clofed : peroral fins nearly of an oval form : beneath
the fkin may be felt the bones of five fingers, which terminate at
the edge of the fin in five very fenfibic projcdions. This brings it
into the next of rank in the order of beings with the Manati. The
tail is divided into two lobes, which lie horizontally, but do not
fork, except a little at their bafe. The body is oblong, and rather
{lender, tapering from the back (which is a little elevated) to the
tail. It is quite deftitute of the dorfal fin.

Its length is from twelve to eighteen feet. It makes great ufe of
its tail in fwimming ; for it bends that part under it, as a Lobftcr
does its tail, and works it with fuch force as to dart along with the
rapidity of an arrow.

A full account of the filh of the Whale kind, feen by the Reverend
Dr. Borlaje * between the Land's End and tlie Scilly iflands, is a
deftderatum in the Britijh Natural Hiftory. He defcribes ihem as
being from twelve to fifteen feet long ; fome were milk-white, others
brown, others fpotted. They are called "thornbacksy from a fharp
and broad fin on the back. This deftroys my fufpicion of their
being of the above fpecies,

• Oh/. Scilly IJkndt, 3.

213

Sizi.

w

■u <
Is.' •"

I* ^

* !

IV. Winged.

214

NEW YORK AND LONG-HAIRED BAT.

■BAT.

IV. Winged.
H I S r. ^UAD. Gekus XLIV.

82. Njw York.

i

Hijf. ^uad. N' 403 .— L E V. M u s.

"DAT. With the head likethatofa Moufe: top of the nofc a
J-^ little bifid: ears broad, fhort, and rounded: in each jaw
two canine teeth: no cutting teeth: tail very long, inclofed in the
membrane, which is of a triangular form : the wings thin, naked,
and dufky : bones of the hind legs very (lender.

Head, body, and upper part of the membrane inclofing the tail,
covered with very long hair of a bright tawny color, palefton the
head, beginning of the back, and the belly: at the bafeofeach
wing is a white fpot.

Length from nofe to tail two inches and a half j tail, one inch
eight-tenths : extent of the wings, ten inches and a half.

Inhabits the province o{ New York; and difcovercd by Dr. For^
Jler * in New Zealand, in the South Seas.

\\\

83. Long-
haired.

Mr. Clayton, in Ph. Tranf. Abridg. iii. 594.

gAT. With long ftraggling hairs, and great ears.

The above is all the account we have of this fpecies; which
is faid to be an inhabitant of Virginia.
Mr. Lawjon fays, that the common Bat is found in Carolina ■[.

• Oi/},vetms, ^c. 189. f ffj/f, Carolina. 135.

Hi/I.

1"

aMma' '

h

mH^PI''

%

Imwb w^

nHp^

,

^ra—ii?

^HHfe>^

.i.

NOCTULE AND COMMON BAT.

aiS

Hift. ^uad. N« 407.— Great Bat, Br. Zed. i. N« 38.

84> NOCTVLE?

g A T. With the nofe flightly bilobated : cars fmall and rounded :
on the chin a fmall wart: body of a cinereous red.

Extent of wings fifteen inches : body between two and three in
length : tail, one inch feven-tenths.

Brought from Hudfon's Bay in fpiritf . I faw it only in the bottle j
but it appeared to be this fpecies.

A. Com mon Bat, HiJI. ^ad. N» 41 i.—^r. Zool. i. N« 41.— Lev. Mu*.

,' ' " \

li

•$v.

^HIS fpecies is found in Iceland, 2,^ I was informed by the late
Mr. Fleifchevy which is the moft northernly refidence of this
genus. In Afia I can trace them no farther eaftward than about the
river Jrguriy beyond lake BaikaL

(f

CLASS

ii

I!

1 1

ti

2l8

\V

f

CLASS II. BIRDS.

D I V. I. LAND BIRDS.

II. WATER BIRDS.

APACIOUS,

D I V. I. O R D E R I. R

Genus.

I. T TULTURE.

II. V Falcon.

III. Owl.

II. PIES.

IV. Shrike.
V. Parrot.

VI. Crow.

* Roller.
VII. Oriole.
VIII. Grakle.
IX. Cuckoo,
Wryneck.
X. Woodpecker.
XI. Kingfisher.
XII. Nuthatch.
XIII. Tody.
Hoopoe.

• The Gmra wHch have not the number prefijced, are not found in America.

XIV. Creepbr.

Genus.

XIV. Creeper.
XV. Honey-Sucker.

III. GALLINACEOUS.

XVI. Turkey.
XVII. Grous.
XVIII. Partridge.
XIX. Bustard.

IV. COLUMBINE.

XX. Pigeon.

V. PASSERRINE.

XXI. Stare.
XXII. Thrush.

XXIII. Chatterer,

XXIV. Grosbeak.
XXV. Bunting.

XXVI. Tanagre.
XXVII. Finch.
XXVIII. Flycatcher.
XXIX. Lark-.

Wagtail.
XXX, Warblers,
XXXI. Titmouse.
XXXII. Swallow.

XXXIII. Goatsucker.

D I V. II. WATER BIRDS.

VI. C L O V E N - F O O T E D.

XXXIV. Spoonbill.

S19

XXXV. Heron.

Ff 2

XXXVL. Ibis.

i

S20

Genus.
XXXVI. Ibis.
XXXVII. Curlew.
XXXVIII. Snipe.
XXXIX. Sandpiper,
XL. Plover.
XLI. Oyster-Catcher.
XLII. Rail.
XLIII. Gallinule.

SS| I

'■ 'l!

VIL PINNATED FEET.

XLIV. Phalarope.
XLV. Coot,
XI.VI. Grebe.

VIII. WEB-FCOTED.

Iff.
If,

XLVII.
XLVIIL
XLIX.
L.
LI.
LII.
LIII.
LIV,
LV.
LVI.
LVII.
LVIII.
LIX.

Avoset.
Flammant.
Albatross.
Auk.

Guillemot,

Diver.

Skimmer.

Tern,

Gull,

Petrel.

Merganser.

Duck,

Pblecan.

CLASS

CARRION VULTURE.

221

86. Carrion.

C L A S S II. BIRDS.

D I V. I. L A N D B I R D S.

ORDER I. Rapacious.

I. VULTURE, Gen, Birds I,

Unibu, Aura Tzopilotl, Mexic. Margrave, 207, loS.'-Wil. Orn, 69.'— Rait Sjn.

Av. 180.
Carrion Crow, 5loaiu Jam. ii. 294.— ^roov/t Jam. 471.
Corvus Sylvaticus, Barren, 1 29.
Galllnazo, Ulloa Voj. i. 60. 201.
Turkey Buzzard, JoJfelyn.-'Latxifon, 138 — Catejhy, L 6. — Bancreji, i^i„m^Du

Pratz, ii. 77. '
Vultur Aura, Lin. Syft. 122 — De Buffon,i. 175. — PI. Enl. N» 187.
Le Vautourdu Brafd, Brijfon, i. ^6%.'— Latham, i. 9. N' 5.— Lev. Mus.

WEIGHT four pounds and an half. Head fmall, covered Descriptiom.
with a naked wrinkled red fkin, befet with black briftles.
This gives it fome refemblance to a Turkey ; from which it derives
one of the names. The noftrils are very large, and pervious : the
whole plumage is dufky, dafhed with purple and green : legs of a
dirty flefh-color : claws black.

Thefe birds are common from Nova Scotia to 'Terra del Fuego-, PtAcr.

but fwarm in the hotter parts of America j and are found in the
iflands, where they are faid to be far inferior m fize to thofe of
North America,

In

r,* i,
ft, rf 1 -

i!

1 • 1

f

r

ARRION VULTURE.

In the warm climates they keep in vafl flocks. Perch at night
on rocks or trees j fitting with difheveUed wings to purify their
bodies, which are moil ofFenfively fetid. Towards morning they
take flight, foaring at a vafl: height, with the gentle motion of a
kite; expcding notice of their banquet by the tainted effluvia of
carrion, excrements, or any filth. They have mofl: fagacious nof-
trils, and fmell their prey at a vafl: difl:ance; to which they refort
from all quarters, wheeling about, and making a gradual defcent
till they reach the ground. They do not confine themfclves to
dead animals, but feed on Snakes, and fometimes on Lambs. They
are very tame, and, while they are at their meals, will fufl^er a very
near approach.

In the torrid zone, particularly z^oyyt Carthagena, thev haunt in-
habited places, and are feen in numbers fitting on the roofs of the
houfes, or walking along the fl:reets with a fluggifli pace. In thofe
parts they are ufeful, as the Ibis in Egypt, devouring the noifome
fubjeds, whi'^h would otherwife, by the intolerable ftench, render
the climate ftill more unwholefome than it is.

When thefe birds find no food in the cities, they are driven by
hunger among the catde of the neighboring paftures. If they fee
a beaft with a fore on the back, the inftantly alight on it, and at-
tack the part aff^eded. The poor animal attempts in vain to free
itfelf from the devourers, rolling on the ground with hideous cries:
but in vain ; for the Vultures never quit hold, till diey have efl^efted
its defl:ru<aion. Sometimes an Eagle prefides at the banquet, and
keeps thefe cowardly birds at a diflance, until it has fiaiflied its re-
pafl:.

Mifchievous as they are in a few inftances, yet, by the wife and
beneficent difpenfations of Providence, they make in the hot climates
full recompence, by leflbning the number of thofe deftrudive ani-
mals the Alligators, which would otherwife become intolerable by

J their

Ml

CARRT«>^ VULTURE.

theif uiuJtitudes. During the feafon in which thefe reptiles lay
their eggs in the fand, the Vultures will fit hid in the leaves of the
trees, watching the coming of the female Alligator to depofit its
eggs, who then covers them with fand, to fecure them, as (he ima-
gines, from all danger : but no fooner does ihe retire into the water,
than the birds dart on the fpot, and with claws, wings, and
beak, tear away the fand, and devour the whole contents of the
depofitory.

No birds of this genus are found in northern regions of Europe
or jifiay at left in thofe latitudes which might give them a pretence
of appearing here. I cannot find them in our quarter of the globe
higher than the Grijon Alps *, or Silefic f j or at fartheft Kalijhi m
Great PolandX* Certainly the Count De Buffon was mifinformed
as to the habitation of the Ipecies, which he afcribes to Norway 1|.
In the Ruffian dominions, the Bearded Vulture of Mr. Edwards, iii.
tab. 1 06. breeds on the high rocks of the great Altaic chain, and
beyond lake Baikal ^i which may give it m Europe a latitude of 52.
20. in AJia of 55.

aaj

• ff^il. Orn. 67. t Schwenchftldt av. Silejia, 375. % Rzaczynfii, Hiji,

Nat.^Polon. 298. II Hiji D'Oif. i. 164.— P/. Enl. 449.

§ Dr. Pallas's Catalogue of the Birds of the Ruffian tmfiri, which he favored me
tvith in MS. my lureft clue to the Arctic birds.

II. FALCON,

HP

I ^'

• ii

324

S E A E

A n.

L E.

II.

FALCON, Gefi. Birds II.

86.A.SeaEacle.

Pl

ACS.

||.;i;

!1

£r. Zee/. I N«» 44.

Falco Offifragus, li„. Syfl. X2^^Latha„^ I jo.-P/. E„l, ,,. 4, .
Grey Eagle, Zaw/w, 137. • *'*'

Land Oem, Lems, 23a

y ARIES , little from the BriHfl, fpecies, and is much fupe-
lr^Z:i:^. ^"^ ''"^ *^- feet three inche. „f.i^„g.

a wmte. brealt and beUy brown, fpotted with white-
covens of w.„8s brown, clouded, primaries blacT: taildulky" 4^
middle motded wid, white : legs feathered half down.

fcvereft w nters, even as h.gh as Newfoundland. Thefe birds prey
on fea fowls, as weU as land, and on young Seals, which they fel
floating, and carry out of the water.
Eagles, and all forts of birds of prey, abound in JmerUa, where

the feUs of JV«^^^, ,nv,ted by 4e carcafes of Deer, Bears and
other animals, which ar. ,o frequcndy hurried down i^ at emp^g
to crofs d,e nver above this ftupendous cataraft. ^^

This fpec.es .s very frequent in Kamtjchalka ; and is found during
^mmer even on the Arftic coaft: is very common in RuMaZ

F. With

GOLDEN AND WHITE-BELLIED EAGLES.

a25

J?^ With the forehead brown : crown and hind part of the neck
ftriped with brown, white, and rufly yellow : lower part of
the neck, breart,and belly, of a deep brown : coverts of the wings,
back, and fecondaries and fcapulars, of the fame color j the two
laft white near the bottoms, mottled with brown -, primaries black :
middle feathers of the tail brown, croffed with two or three cine-
reous bands ; the exterior, brown blotched with cinereous : legs
cloathed to the toes with pale brown feathers : toes yellow. Length,
three feet. Br. Mus.

Inhabits Hudfon's Bayy and feems a variety of the Fako Chryjaetos,
Lin. Syft. 125. Fauti. Suec. N" 54. Le grand Aigle de Buffon, i.
76. PI. Enl. 410 i and the Golden Eagle, Br. Zool. i. N» 42.
Latham, i. 31. The chief difference confifts in the color of the tail,
which in the European kind is of a deep brown blotched with ob-
fcure afh.

In Europe it inhabits moft parts, even as high as Norway ; is found
in yifia, about the foudiern parts of the Urallian mountains, and
thofe which border the fouthern part of Sibiria j but grows fcarcer
towards the eaft.

86. B. Golden
Eacl£.

Place.

i

1J

i^ , 'ft

Latham, 33. jc. N»7. a.— -Lev. Mos.

P^ With a large bill, of a brownifh yellow color : head, neck, 86. c. Whitb-
* breaft, belly, thighs, and vent, white : back, wings, and tail, ""'" ^*°"-
deep brown, three inches of the end of the tail excepted, which is
white : the legs yellow, and very ftrong. Length, two feet nine
inches.

Obferved by Captain Cook, in Kaye iOand, off the coaft of ^^- Pi,^^.

rica, lat. 59, 49. north, in company with the White-headed Eagle.

Vol. I.

Gg

F. With

1

^iS

TELLOW-HEADED AND BLACK EAGLES.

86. D. Yellow-
HSADSD Eagle.

Place.

p* With dufky bill, cere, and irides : head and neck of a dirty
yellow : back of a deep brown, each feather tipt with dirty
yellow.

Appears in Hudfm*s Bay, in April : builds its neft in trees, with
fticks and grafs : lays only one egg. It preys on the young of
Deer, on Rabbets and birds. Retires fouthward in OSiober. Is called
by the Indians 3 Etbenefue mickefue.

The above was defcribcd from a fpecimen, in very bad condition,
fent from Uudjon's Bay, It was an Eagle of the middle fize.

S7. Black
£aol£.

Placi.

Br. Zaol. i. N" 43.

Faico Fulvus, Lin. Syfi. i2$.^LaiAam, L 32. N" 6.

White-tailed Eagle, EJiu. i. i.— Lev. Mvs.

L'Aigle conunud, Dt Buffon, I. 86. — PLEnl. 409.<— Lev.Mus.

npHE whole plumage is of a duflcy-brown: the breaft marked
with triangular Ipots of white; in which it varies from the
Britijh kind : the tail white, tipt with black j but in young birds
dulky, blotched with white : legs covered to the toes with foft ruft-
colored feathers : vent feathers of the fame color.

Inhabits Hudjon's Bay^ and northern Europe as far as Drontheim ♦.
Is found on the higheft rocks of the Urallian chain, where it is
not covered with wood f i but is moft frequent on the Sibirian,
where it makes its neil on the loftieil: rocks. It is rather inferior in
fize to the Sea Eagle j but is a generous, fpirited, and docile bird.
The independent Tartars train it for the chace of Hares, Foxes,
Antelopes, and even Wolves. The ufe is of confiderable anti-
quity j for Marco Polot the great traveller of 1269, obferved and

Efpecially in the winter, Leemt, 233.

f Dr. f alias.

admired

BI. ACK-CHEEKED EAGLE.

admired the diverfion of the great Cham of Canary \ who had fe-
veral Eagles, which were applied to the fame purpofes as they are
at prefent *. I muft add, that the Tartars eftecm the feather* of
the tail as the beft they have for pluming their arrows.

The Kalmucs ufe, befides this fpecies of Eagle, that which the
French call Jean le Blanc t> and alfo the Lanner j all which breed
among them : but people of rank, who are curious in their Fal-
cons, procure from the Bajchkirians the Gyrfalcon and the Pe-
regrine, which inhabit the lofty mountains of the country %.

The Falco MelanaetoSy and the F. Fulvus of Linn/eus, or my
Black EagUt are the fame; the F. fulvus being only the young of
the firft. It is a fcarce Ipecies in Sweden, — Mr. Oedmatt,

aay

P With a dufky and blue bill j yellow cere : head, neck, and
breaft, of a deep afh-color : each cheek marked with a broad
black bar pafling from the corner of the mouth beyond the eyes :
back, belly, wings, and tail, black: legs yellow, feathered below
the knees.

Is about the fizc of the laft. Communicated to me by the late
Taylor fTbife, Efqj who informed me that it came from North
America. Is defcribed by Mr. Latham, i. 2S' N" lo ; and feems
to be the fpecies engraven by M, Robert, among the birds in the
menagery of Louis XIV.

• M. Polo, in Purchas, iii. 85. in Bergeron, 74, f tie Buffon.

X ExtraSlt, iii. 303. A name by which I quote an abridgement of the travels of
Pallas, Gmblin, Lepechin, and others, publifhed by the Societe^ Typo-
CRAPHiquE, at Berne, under the title of Histoire uesDecowvertes, faitespar
divers favans vovageurs dans pluficurs contrees de la Rujte et de la Perfe, 4 vols. 8vo.

88. Blacic'
cheeked EaCLEi

p ijvi

Sub,anoPlace*

''fi

Gg a

Falco

il .

I'^il

itil

228

89. White-

VEADEO £acLE.

Manners.

WHITE-HEADED EAGLE.

K

Ptlco iMcoceplialM, Li,. Syf. 124,

Bald Eagle, £„„/„, ,„.^Ca„Jiy, i. , '^BricM i„ t.,u ■

Lev. Mks. "'""*> 73-— i<««««, 1. 19—

1= Pyga,g«e a >a« btochc, D,i,^„. ,. ^^fug,,, ^....l.,, j,„,_

BILL, cere, and feet, pale yellow: head, neck, and ail of a
purewh,te: body and wings of a chocolate-color. It does not
acquire its white head till the fecond year
This Eagle is leffer Aan the foregoing fpecies, but of great foirlf

p::r:hor""' ^''" '^""''- ='"" «"■ = '» "^^ terror'zfo :

afifl., the former purfues till the Ofprey drops its prey, which

' Jo«r *e?"'" 'r ™" '"''^''' ^^P'"^" t' - P'-' ™Pend-
"ig over the fea, or fome great river, in company with Ofprevs

Herons. and other birds: and their nefts are fo numerous. iTrl
femble a rookery. The nefts are vcrv lar^^ ,„H r • ■ T

r^lonofthereliques oftheirprey. Z^XT heTbt'd^^

cliffs, near 0.Z ^ Xe"''!^; *''^ ^^^ »" '"=
beginning of >/;,. * ' '"'' '=>' ''^» *8g» in the

THIS

WHITE EAGLE.

229

T^HIS moft beautiful and fcarce fpccies is entirely white, except

the tips of the wings, which are black. We know notliing of
this bird, but what is colledted from Du Pratz *. The natives of
Louiftana fet a high value on the feathers, and give a large price for
thofe of the wings j with them they adorn the Calumet, or pipe
of peace. Different nations make ufe of the wings, or feathers of
different birds j but, according to Hennepin j always decorate it with
the moH beautiful.

The Calumet is an inttrument of tlie firfl importance among
the Americans. It is nothing more than a pipe, whofe bowl is ge-
nerally made of a foft red marble t ; the tube of a very long reed,
ornamented with the wings and feathers of birds. No affair of
confequence is tranfadted without the Calumet. It ever appears in
meetings of commerce, or exchanges j in congrelTes for determin-
ing of peace or war j and even in the very fury of a batde. The
acceptance of the Calumet is a mark of concurrence with the terms
propofed j as the refufal is a certain mark of rejeftion. Even in
the rage of a conflift this pipe is fometimes offered j and if acceptr-
ed, the weapons of deftruftion inftandy drop from their hands,
and a truce enfues. It feems the facrament of the Savages j for no
compaft is ever violated, which is confirmed by a whifF from this
holy reed. The Dance of the Calumet is a folemn rite which always
confirms a peace, or precedes a war. It is divided into three
parts : the firft, appears an adt of devotion, danced in meafured
time : the fecond, is a true reprefentation of the Pyrrhic dance "^ :
the tliird, is attended with fongs exprefTive of the vidories they had
obtained, the nations they had conquered, and the captives they had
made.

90. White
Eagle.

Calumet.

• Du Pratz, ii. y^,— Latham, i. 36.
X Strabot Ub. x. p. 736. edit. Jmjiel. 1707.

t Du Pratx, i. 298.— ATfl/zw, iii. 230.

From

ajo

WHITE EAGLE.

From the winged ornaments of the Calumet, and its conciliating
ufes, writers compare it to the Caduceus of Mercury, which was
carried by the Caduceatores, or meflcngers of peace, with terms to
the hoftile ftates. It is fingular, that the moft remote nations,
and the moft oppofite in their other cuftoms and manners, ftiould
in fome things have, as it were, a certain confent of thought. The
Creeks and the Americans had the fame idea, in the invention of the
Caduceus of the one, and the Calumet of the other. Some authors
imagine, that among the Greeks the wings were meant as a fymbol
of eloquence. I rather think tliat the twifted Serpents expreffed
that infinuating faculty j and that the emblem was originally taken
from the fatal effeft the rhetoric o{ Satan had on our great mother,
when he aflumed the form of that reptile, which the higheft autho-
rity reprefents as morefubtile than any beaft of tbt field. On this the
headien mythology formed their tale of Jupiter taking the figure of
a Serpent, to infinuate himfclf into the good graces of Olympiasi
who, like Eve, fell a viclim to his perfuafive tongue. As to the
wings, it is moft probable that they were to fhew the flight of dif-
cordi which the reconciled parties gave, with all the horrors of
war, to the air, and fport of the winds.

The Oole, or Eagle, is a facred bird among the Americans. In
cafe of ficknefs, they invoke this bird to descend from heaven
(which in its exalted flight it approaches nearer than any other)
and bring down refrefliing things ; as it can dart down on its rapid
wing quick as a flafti of lightning*.

• Adair* t Hifi, A/n> Indiam, 179,

Fifliing

E Y.

231

Fiftung Hawk, Catefiy, i. z.-^Latu/on, l^-j.—Brickell, 173. JI. OsmiY.

Ofprey. JofiljH'i Rsri/ia, ii — Br. Zoo/, i. N» ^d.— Latham, i. 4J.

Lc Balbuzard. De Buffon, i. 103. pi. a.

Falco flaiixtus. Blafot. Fidc-orn, Faun. Suec. N» 63.

FUk Gjoe, Z,w/»/, 234 — PI. EmI. 414 — Lev. Mos.

JP With blue cere, and feet: head, and lower part of the body,
white : upper part brown : two middle feathers of the tail
plain brown i the reft barred with white and brown.

This, in all refpe<5ls, refemblcs the European kind. Notwith- Manmbri,
ftanding it is fo perfecuted by the Bald Eaglet yet it always keeps
near its haunts. It is a fpecies of vaft quicknefs of fight j and will
fee a fifh near the furface from a great diftance * : defcend with
prodigious rapidity, and carry the prey with an exulting fcream
high into the air. The Eagle hears the note, and inftantly attacks
the Ofprey i who drops the fifh, which the former catches before it
can reach the ground, or water. It fometimes happens that the
Ofprey perilhes in taking its prey j for if it chances to fix its talons
in an over-gro"'n fi£h, it is drawn under water before it can difen-
gage itfelf, and <s drowned.

It is very frequent in Kamtjchatkai and in fummer, even under Placi.

the ArSiic zone of Europe and ^yia. Is very comm- - in Sibiria,
and fpr^ads far north; probably common to the north of Jmerica,
and JJia. Is rare in Rujfia. It is likewife very frequent as low on
the Wolga as the trad between Syfran and Saratoff^ where they are
faid to be tlie fupport of the Em Eagle, as they are of the White-
tailed Eagle in America^ each living by the labors of the Oiprey.

• That agreeable traveller, the Reverend Dr. Burnafy, adds, that it is often feen
refting on the wing for feme minutes, without any vifible change of place, before it
defcends. Travtls in America, 2d ed. p. 48.

The

m

m

^^

■' !■

*•

/

M'

232

GY RFALCON.

The tartars have a fuperftition, that a wound from its claws is
mortal, either to man or filh, and confequently dread its attack *.
The Ofprey returns into Sweden later than the Kite. Mr o'ed
man flings new %ht on the hiftory of this bird : he fays that it
breeds on the tops of die higheft trees, and makes its r : f^, with won
derful art, of die twigs of the fir-tree, and lines die bottom with
folypdies. It lays diree eggs, of die fize of diofe of a Hen, mar-
bled with ruft-color. It brings fifh and ferpents to feed its young-
and even eels of a vaft fize : this makes its neft very foetid It
does not prey on birds, but on fifh only. It defends its neft widi
great fpirit.

ill

83. N»69. ^ ^

FaJco Iflandus i^.«.. Crcenl. 58. No ^s^^Brunnich, N"' 7. 8.-Cr^««, i. 78.-.
tgede, t^.^Um-rebo'w, 58.— Lev. Mus.

P^ '.vridi a yellow cere : bluilh bill, greatly hooked : eye dark
blue : the throat of a pure white : die whole body, wings,
and tail, of the fame color, moft elegantly marked with duflcy
bars, lines, or fpots, leaving the white the far prevaling color.
There are inftances, but rare, of its being found endrely white.
In fome, the whole tail is croffed by remote bars of black or
brown j in others, diey appear only very faintly on the middle fea-
thers : the feathers of die thighs are very long, and unfpotted : the
legs ftrong, and of a light blue.

Its weight forty-five ounces Troy : length near two feet : extent four
feet two. Of the fame manners and haunts with the Greenland Falcon,
Is very frequent in Iceland', is found in Uimark"^, and Norway %-,

Sizi.

Place.

• Extrails, i. 47p,

f Leetiti, 2 J 5.

X Strom.

and

ROUGH -LEGGED FALCON.

and rarely in the Orknies, and North Britain. In J/ta, it dwells in
the higheft points of the Urallian and other Sibirian nnountains, and
dares the coldeft climates throughout the year. It is kept, in the
latitude of Peterjburgy uninjured in the open air during the fevered
winters, when the Peregrine Falcon, N" 97, lofes it? claws by the
fioft.

Mr. Hukhins * has often obferved it about Albany fort, where it
appears in May, and retires before winter. It feeds on the white,
and other Grous.

This fpecies is pre-eminent in courage as well as beauty, and is
the terror of other Hawks. It was flown at all kinds of fowl, how
great foever they were j but its chief game ufed to be Herons and
Cranes.

Falco Lagopus, Brunnkh, N° l^.'—Leems Lapm. 236.

Rough-legged Falcon, Br. Zool. ii. App. ^z^.— Latham, i. 75 Lev. Mus.

T7 With a yellow cere, and feet : head, neck, and breaft, of a
yellowifh white, marked with a few oblong brown fpots : belly
of a deep brown : thighs white, ftriped with brown : fcapulars
blotched with yellowilh white and brown : coverts of the wings
edged with ruft-color j primaries black : tail, little longer" than the
wings } the part next to the rump white j the end marked with a
black bar; the tips white : legs feathered to the toes: feet yellow.
Length two feet two inclfes.

. • At the time this flieet was printing, I had the good fortune to meet with Mr.
Hutchins, Airgeon, a gentleman many years refident in Hud/en's Bay ; who, with the
utmoA liberality, communicated to me his MS. obrerv?.(ions, in a large folio volume :
in every page of which his extenfive knowledge appears. The benefit which this
work will, from the prefent page, receive, is here once for all gratefully acknow-
leged.

Vol. I. H h Inhabits

nz

Vert hardt.

92. Rough-

LECCEO.

r ,nj

Sixt.

il >l

f 1 ; i ■

234^

Place.

ST. JOHN'S AND CHOCOLATE FALCON.

Inhabits Efiglaad, Norway, Lapmark, and North Jmmca, Was
fliot in ComuSicut,

93- St. John's. £«/*«», L 77. N" 58.

SiZB.

Place.

94. Chocolate-
colored.

F. With a ihort d«(ky bUl : head of , d«p brown : hind part

• . f *%"!';''■, ''*'^' '■"P"'"'' »d averts of the tail, marked
w.th bars of black, and duU white, pointing obliquely: coverts of
the wings deep brown , the greater fpotted on their inner fides with
wh.,e , the primaries duflcy, the lower part white, barred with deep
a<h-color and black: the under Me of the body brown, marked
/par,ngly wHh white and yellowilh fpots: taU Ihorter than the ex-
tremity of d,e wngs, the end white, beneath that is . bar of
Hack fucceeded by two or three black and cinereous bands, the
r^ of the taU marked wiA broad bars of white, and narrower of
aft-color : 4e legs are ckKithed with feathers to the toes, which are
yellow, and very fhort.

Length, one foot nine inches.

inh^hits Hudfm^s Bay and Nnvfoun<ffa»d. Bl. Mus.

Laf&am, I 54, N<» 34. A; 76. N' 57.

JT With a fhort and black bill, and yeUow cere. The whole
plumage of a deep bay or chocolate-color, in parts tinged with
ferrugmous: primaries black; the lower exterior fides of a pure
whi^, forming a confpicuous fpot or fpeculum: the wings reach
to the end of the tail : the exterior fides of the five outmoft feathers
of the tail dufky, their inner fides blotched with black and white •
the two middle, black and cinereous : the legs and toes feathered ]
the laft remarkably Ihort. Lbncth one foot ten inches.

Inhabits

zoo

,r f

'!'?!!!

BWHBB s

■l

NEWFOUNDLAND AND SACRE FALCON.

Inhabits Hudfon's Bay and Newfoundland. Prey* much on
Ducks. Sits on a rock and watches their rifing, when it inftantly
ftrikes at them.

235

Placi.

Latham, i. 79. N" 60.

P^ With a yellow cere: deep yeUow irides: hind part of the
head ferruginous : crown, back, fcapulars, and coverts of
wings, brown, edged with a paler color : belly ruft-colored, blotch-
ed with deeper fhades : thighs of a motded alh, marked with round
dufky fpots, and on the lower parts widi four large dark blotches :
the tail crofled by four bars of deeper and lighter brown: legs yel-
low, ftrong, and feadiered half way down. Length twenty inches.
The defcription borrowed from Mr. Latham.
Inhabits Newfoundland.

Belon, mjl. des Oif. loi.—Buffbn, i. 246.

Speckled Partridge Hawk Of ^«-^.«'/if«y,/»Mrr«^IxU.383^Li/*^ i -g
N" 58, 59,

P^ With a dufky bill ; upper mandible toothed : irides yellow :
cere and legs bluifh. Head, and upper part of the body, of a
dufky brown: hind part oi the head motded with white: whole
under fide of the body, from chin to vent, white i the middle of
each feather marked widi a dufky fpot: wings reach almoil to the
end of the tail : coverts, fcapulars, and primaries, of a deep brown
elegantly barred tranfverfely with white : tail brown, marked on
each fide widi oval tranfverfe fpots of red: fer ' ers on the thighs
very long, brown fpotted widi white : the fore part of die legs co-

Hh 2 vcred

95. Newpowno-

tANO.

PtACB.

96. Sac RE.

Ml

.''i'

it

2j6

PtACt.

STREAKED AND PEREGRINE FALCON.

vcred with feathers almoft to the feet. Length two feet. Weight
two pounds and an half ^

Inhabits Hudfon^s Bay and Newfoundland: found alfo in tartan
and IS a fpecies celebrated there for the fport of falconry. It is a
hardyfpec.es; for .t never quits the rigorous climate o^ Hudjon^s
Bay Preys on the White Grous, which it will feize even while th
fowler ,s driving them into his nets. It breeds in April JjZ
m defert p aces. The young fly in the middle of jL The ^
males are faid to lay only two eggs.

•Streaked
Fai,con.

^' »r.r 7 "^ '""'■ '^™*^ '^'^ " '"Se and pointed
procefs .„ the upper mandible: cere yeUowilh: head front
of the neck breaft, and beUy. white, each feather marled ^Z
4e ftaft wuh a ftreak of brown, the narroweft are on the h d
back and coverts of the wings of a dirty bluifl, aih-color, edges of

Ti rhet" '""Vf' '"«*ed with white, interior bafred

r wh teT T 1 ^ ' """^ ~'°^ *"■> *= ''-■'• -'• •'--^
I W F V . ""' "'''' ">' '^^'■'^- »* "ke thofe in the

^W Falcon oppofe the dark bars on d,e adverfe fide: leg!
bluifh. Length two feet two inches. ^

This fine fpecies inhabits iy«<^e»V %.

97. Perbgkine.

Br. ZooLu N« ^i.^Lathan., I 68, N" 49 ; 73. N- 5..
Spotted Hawk, or Falcon ; and Black Falcon, £^a.. i. w
Le Faucon, De Buffon, i. 249. pi. ,6.-Lev. Mus.

F. With^a fhort ftrong biD, toothed on the upper mandible, of
a blu,fh color: cere yellow : irides hazel: forehead whitifh •
crown, ami hind part of the head, dufky : the back, fcapulars, and

coverts

GENTIL FALCON.

coverts of wings, elegantly barred with deep blue and black: the
primaries dufky, with tranfverfe oval white fpots : the throat, chin,
and breaft, of a pure white, the laft marked with a few dulky lines
pointing down : the belly white, crofled with numerous dulky bars,
pointed in the middle : legs yellow : toes very long.

The American fpecies is larger than ""he European. They are fub-
jed to vary. The Black Falcon, and the Spotted Falcon of Mr.
Edwards^ are of this kind j each preferve a fpecific mark, in the
black ftroke which drops fr^m beneath the eyes, down towards the
neck. The differences in the marks in the tail may poflibly pro-
ceed from the different ages of the birds j for few kinds differ fo
much in the feveral periods of life as the Rapacious,

Inhabits different parts of North America^ from Hudfon's Bay as
low as Carolina. In AfiUy is found on the higheft parts of the Urallian
and Sibirian chain. Wanders in fummer to the veiy Ardic
circle. Is common in Kamt/chaika,

Gentil Falcon, Br. Zool. i. No 50.

F. Gentilis. Falk. Faun. Suec. N" ^'i.— 'Latham, i. 64— Lev. Mus.

pT^ With a dufky bill : yellow cere, irides, and legs : head and
upper fide of the neck ferruginous, flreaked with black : under
fide, from chin to tail, white, marked with dufky heart-fhaped fpots :
back, coverts of wings, and fcapulars, brown, edged with ruft- color :
primaries dufky, barred on the exterior fide with black : wings reach
only half the length of the tail : tail long, barred with four or five
broad bands of black cinereous i each of the firft bounded by a nar-
row line of dirty white.

In

ajf

Place.

I'M

98. Gentil*

238

Size.
Flacb.

99. Goshawk,

GOSHAWK FALCON.

In fize fuperior to the European kind, being two {tet two inches
long. Shot in the province of New Tork, Is found in northern
Europe, as far as Finmark *.

£r. ZmL i. N» 52.

F. Palumbarius. /-«««. Sute. N« Sy.^DeBuffoH, i. 230.— Z«/^«;„, i. 58.-LEV.
Mus.

:ll

'i

Place.

A WHITE VA-
RIETY.

Excellent for
falconry.

P^ With a bluifli bill, black at the tip : yellowifli green cere :
yellow legs: head brown; hind part mottled widi white:
over each eye extends a long whitilli line: hind part of the neck,
back, and wings, of a deep brown color : breaft and belly white,
crofled with numerous undulated lines of brown: tail of a cinere-
ous brown, croffed by four or five bars of black: wings fhorter
than the tail. ,

That which I faw in the Leverian Mu/euniy was fuperior in fize
to the European. Mr. Law/on fays, they abound in Carolina: are
fpirited birds, but lefler than thofe of Mujcovy. Is common in that
country, and Sibiria. Dr. Pallas adds, that there is a large white
variety on the Urallian mountains, mottled with brown and yellow.
Thefe are yet more frequent in the eaft part of Sibiria ; and in
Kamtfchatka they are entirely white. Thefe are the beft of all Hawks
for falconry. They extend to the nvtr^mun and are ufed by
the emperor of China in his fporting progrefles f, attended by his
grand falconer, and a thoufand of the fubordinate. Every bird has
a filver plate faftened to its foot, with the name of the faiconer who
had the charge of it, that in cafe it fliould be loft, it might be
brought to the proper perfon : but if he could not be found, the

• Leems, ^ij.—Strm. zi^.

t Bell. ii. 87.

bird

[•■fti*i«

GOSHAWK FALCON.

bird is delivered to another officer, called the Guardian of loft birds i
who keeps it till it is demanded by the falconer to whom it belong-
ed. That this great officer may the more readily be found, among
the army of hunters, who attend the emperor, he eredts a ftandard
in the moft conspicuous place *.

The emperor often carries a Hawk on his hand, to let fly at any
game which prefents itfelf j which are ufually Pheafants, Partridges,
Quails, or Cranes. Marco Polo faw tliis diverfion about the year
ii6^-\ ; a proof of its antiquity in thefe parts, when it formed fo
regular and princely an eftablifhment in the ftate of this great eaftern
monarch j the origin of which might have been in fome long pre-
ceding age. The cuftom of carrying a Falcon extended to many
countries, and was efteemed a diftinftion of a man of rank. The
IFelJh had a faying, that you may know a gentleman by his Hawk,
Horjcy and Grebound, In fadt, a perfon of rank feldom went with-
out one on his hand, Harold, afterwards king of England, is painted
going on a moft important embafly, with a Hawk on his hand, and
a Dog under his arm if. Henry VI. is reprefented at his nuptials,
attended by a nobleman and his Falcon §. Even the ladies were
not without them in earlier times j for in an antient fculpture in
the church of Milton Abbas, in Dorjetjhire, appears the confort of
King Athelftan with a Falcon on her royal fift [j tearing a bird : and,
perhaps to indulge his queen in her paffion for the diverfion, he de-
iranded of my countrymen (befides an immenfe tribute) fome of
their moft excellent Hounds, and of their beft Hawks : which
proves thp high efteem in which our Dogs and Falcons were held
in thofe early days ^.

a39

• Bergeron, 75, 76. f The fame. J Monumens di la Monarcbie Fran^oife,

\. 372. § Mr. WalpoWs Anecdotes of Painting, i, 35. )| Hutchins^t Dor/etjhire,

ii. 443. ^ Malmjbury, lib. ii. c. 6.

Julius

1 ' h

2:4.0

RED-TAILED AND LEVERIAN FALCON.

Julius Firmicus, a celebrated writer in aftrology, who dedicated
his books to Mavortius Lollianus, conllil in 354, affirms, that who-
foever were born under the influence o( Mercury and VirgOy would
be ftrong and induftrious, and be well fkilled in breeding fine horfcs,
and in training Hawks and Falcons, and other birds ufcful in bird-
catching, &c. By this it appears, that adual falconry was in ufe
long before the time I imagined.

ico.Ri:d-tailed. American Buzzard, Latham, i. 50.--LE

V. M

us.

Plac£.

P^ With a dufky bill, and yellow cere : head, lower part of the
neck, and chin, brown, mixed with white : breaft and belly
white, varied with long ftripes of brown, pointing downwards : fe-
moral feathers very long, white, and marked with long dentated
ftripes of pale brown: upper part of the neck, and back, of a very
deep brown : coverts and tertials brown, barred or edged with
white : primaries dufky, barred with cinereous : tail of a pale ruft-
color, marked near the end with a dufky narrow bar : legs yellow.
Size of the Gojhawk,

Inhabits North America. Sent from Carolina to Sir AJhton Lever,

101. Leverian.

Place.

P^ With a dufky bill, greatly hooked : head flriped with brown
and white : upper part of the body and wings of a deep
brown -, each feather elegantly marked at the end with a large white
fpof : the whole under fide of die body white : the outmoft feathers
of the tail marked with nine white, and the fame number of dufky
bars i middle feathers with dufky and cinereous : the wings extend
beyond the end of the tail : !egs ftrong and yellow.
Size of a Buzzard. Sent to Sir AJhton Lever from Carolina.

f\-

Barred.

.li.

RED-SHOULDERED, AND BUZZARD FALCON.

241

Barred-brcaftcd F. Latham, i. 56, N» 36. — Lev. Mus.

Jp', With a (lender dufl<y bill ; yellow cere j and legs, head, and
neck, of a yellowifti white, ftreaked downwards with dufky
lines : back of a deep brown, edged with ruft-color : lefler coverts
of wings ferruginous, fpotted with black ; primaries and fecon-
daries black, fpotted on each fide moft diftindlly with white : brcaft
and belly of a light tawny; the firft (Ireaked downwards with
black; the laft traverfed with deeper tawny: tail Ihort^nd dufky,
crofTed by feven narrow bands of white ; the two neareft to the ends
more remote than the others : legs weak. Length twenty-two
inches.

Inhabits Long IJland, This is a new fpecies, preferved in Mrs,
Blackburne's Muftium.

102. RbO-
SHOULOBRED,

Pc

ACB,

Afli-colorcd Buzzard, Ed-iu. ii. 53— Z,«//j«m, i. 55, N" 35. 48; No 28.— 2)^ 103. Buzzard.

Biiffon, '\. zz^.
Falco Buteo. Quidfogel, Faim, Suec. N» 6o.--5r. Zool. i. 54 Lev. Mus.

P^ With a duflcy bill, and bluiih yellow cere : head, and hind
part of the neck, of a cinereous brown, ftreaked with yellow :
back brown ; lower part and rump barred with ruft-color, fome-
times with white : the coverts of the wmgs brown ; the greater and
fcapulars fpotted with white; the three firft quil-feathers black,
white at their bafes ; the interior webs of the reft blotched with
black and white : the throat and breaft yellowifli, muiked thinly
with oblong brown fpots : belly white, varied with great fpots of
brown : feathers of the thighs long, white, croflcd with fagittal bars
Vol. L I i of

C41

; I

Placb.

104. Plain..

Place.

BUZZARD, AND PLAIN FALCON.

of yellow: tail marked with about nine bands of black and light
ciiicreous , the tip white : legs Ihort, ftrong, and yellow. Length
two ftet two inches.

^ The ylmerican varies in fizc, and fometimes nightly in color -, but
m both has fo much the habit of the Englijh Buzzard, as not to me-
rit reparation. It is called in New Tork, the great Hen Hawk
from Its feeding on poultry. It continues diere the whole year'
Lays in May five eggs: the young fly about the middle o(Jum
It is alfo an inhabitant o( Hudfon's Bay and Newfoundland; and in
Europe as high as Sondmor, in Norway , where, from its attacking
the Eagle, it is called Orne-Falk. Migrates, before winter, from
Sweden. Is fcarce in Ruffia ; and very few are found in Miria. Is
found in winter as low as fVoroneJch *.

P With die bill black : head dufky : nape fpotted with white:
back, and coverts of wings, and tail, of an uniform deep brown •
unoer fide of die neck, breaft, and belly, and thighs, deep brown,'
flightly fpotted with white: primaries dulky; inner webs marked
with great oval fpots of white, mottled with brown : middle feathers
of the tail plain brown; inner webs of the reft mottled with white •
exterior webs and ends flightly edged with the fame: legs ftrong'
yellow ? Wing reaches near the length of the tail. Length, from
bill to tail, two foot one.
Inhabits Hudfon's Bay.

t i '

• In HiiJ^a, /at. ;z north.

Marfli,

MARSH, AND RINGTAIL FALCON.

241

Marih Hawk, E<iw. iv. z^i.'^Laiham, i. 90.— Lev. Mui.— Bl. Mus.

10$; Marsh.

p* "With a bluifti billj oningc cere, orbits, and legs: irides
hazel : a black line extends from the corner of the bill beyond
the eyes -, above that is another of white, which encircles the cheeks,
and meets in front of the neck : head, throat, and upper part of
the breaft, varied with black and ruft-color : back, and coverts of
the wings, brown : runnp white : breaft and belly, and thighs, of a
bright ferruginous : tail duflcy brown, crofled by four black bands :
legs ftrong, thick, and fhort j which are fpecific diftindions from
the next. Length two feet.

Inhabits Peujylvania : frequents, during the fummer, marfliy
places i where it feeds on the fmall birds. Frogs, Snakes, and Li-
zards. At approach of winter quits the country.

. 1

Place.

Br. Zeol. i. N" 59. — Ec/w. iii. loj.'—Latbam, i. N''» 75, 75 A, and N" 34,15 a io6. Ringtail.

ruft-colored v.-iricty.
Faico Pygargus, F. Hudfonlus, Lin. SyJ}. 128. — Muller, N" 72. — Bl. Mus.

Tj^ With a dufky bill and yellow cere : a white line over each
eye : head, upper part of the neck, and back, dufky brown :
coverts and primaries of the fame color ; the inner fides of the laft
white : breaft, belly, and thighs, whitifti, marked with ferruginous
fpots : vent and rump white, encircling the root of the tail : the
middle feathers of the tail dufky ; the next of a bluifh afh-color ;
the outmoft white, all marked tranfverfely with orange bars ; legs
long, and very flender.

This fpecies is fuperior in fize to the Britijh Ringtail ; but, having
moft of the charadters of that bird, we doubt not but that it is the

I i 2 fame.

Size.

iiii

it

244

h/^

\ i.

mi

b'i

I 'f '

Size and Place.

X07. Winter.

Size,
Place,

WINTER FALCON.

fame. Like the European kind, fkims along the ground in fearch
of prey, which is Mice, Frogs, and fmall birds. Builds its neft
indifFerently on the ground, or on the lower parts of trees. It is
fubjeft to vary to a deep ruft-color; plain, except on the rump
and tail. *^

Inhabits Nu^/cu's Bay. Weight, in Hud/c's Bay, feventeen
ounces and a half. Length twenty-one inches. Extent three feet
feven. Is very common in the open and temperate parts ofRu^a
and miria ; and extends as far as lake Baikal *. It is not found far
in the north of Europe. Limaus omits it among the birds of his
country ; but Mr. Brunnick defcribes one, which had been fliot in
lat. 58, on the little ifland of Chriftianjoe f.

P^ With a black bill; yellow cere : head of a deep brown : back
the fame, tinged widi ruft : hind part of the neck ftreaked
with white : the coverts of the wings dufky, edged with dull white ;
thofe on the ndge with orange; ends of the primaries dufky ; the
other parts barred with brown and white : breaft and belly white
marked widi heart-Ihaped fpots : thighs fulphur-colored, fpeckled
With dulky: vent feathers white: tip of the tail white; then fuc^
ceeds a broad dufky bar; the remaining part barred with brown,
tawny, and black : legs long, and Yury flender.

Is of an elegant form, and about the fize of the Ringtail.

Inhabits the province of New York: appears at approach of
winter, and retires in the fprlng. Bl. Mus.

Mr. Latham^ Northern Falcon, N^ 62, feems to differ from this
only in age, or fex.

* Dr. Pallas. f In the Baltic, a little north-eaft oi Bomholm.

Hirundo

I in fearch
:is its neft
ees. It is
the rump

feventeen
three feet
> o{ Ruffia
found far
ds of his
ti fliot in

/n: back
ftreaked
ill white J
flcyj the
ly white,
Ipeckled
hen fuc-
1 brown,

IL.

roach of
rom this

'olm.

Hirundo

!' 1!

!iJt!

'.n

rV^r.^v/-^^,^v/ .>&^Vi^ J\/^,^S.

SWALLOW-TAILED FALCON,' AND BUZZARDET.

245

Hirundo maxima Peruviana, avis prsdatorls calcaribus inftrufta, Feuillee Voy. 108. ?5WALlow-

T>. ♦/»«, :; ,-. TAILED.

Peru, torn. u. 33.

Herring, or Swallow-t iled Hawk, Law/on, i^i.—Briciell, i7^.—-Cate/ly, i. 4.

Le Melan de la Caroline, Brifon, i. li.—De Bujon, i. 221.

Falco Furcatus, Z,/«. %?. 129.— L«/ 7, i. 60.— Lev. Mus.

•p With a black bill, Icfs hoc "d than ufual with rapacious
* birds i bafe of the bill hid in feathers, and briftly : the eyes
large j irides red : head, neck, breaft, and belly, of a fnowy white-
nefs : back, coverts of wings, and fcapulars, black, gloffed with
purple and green : inner webs of the primaries and fecondaries
white towards their bafcj the tertials white: tail of the fame color
with the back j and moft extremely forked ; the outmoll feather
above eight inches longer than the middlemoft : the legs yellow.

This moft elegant fpecies inhabits only the fouthern parts of
North America ; and that only during fummer. Like Swallows,
they feed chiefly flying ; for they are much on wing, and prey on
various forts of infects. They alfo feed on Lizards and Serpents j
and will kill the largeft of the regions it frequents with the utmoft
eafe. They quit North America before winter. We are not ac-
quainted with their retreat. It probably is in Peru : at left we
have the proof of one being taken in the South-fea, off the coaft
which lies between Tlo and yfricay in about the latitude 23 fouth,
t)n September i ith, by the reverend the Father Louis Feuillee*,

Place.

Mf'

rm

'( !

'11

■p With duflcy bill: head, cheeks, neck, breaft, and belly, 109. Buzzardet.

white, marked with large brown fpots, more fparingly dif-
perfcd over the breaft and belly : leflfer coverts brown i the others

• Journal det Olfew, i^c. vol. ii, 33.

colored

2^6

no. Little.

Size.

Placi

LITTLE FA

L C O N.

colo d hke the head : primaries du%: thighs white, with fmall
fagittal fpots of brown: tail dufky, barred and tipt with white:
egs yellow Length fifteen inches. It has much the habit of
the Buzzard, but the legs in proportion are rather longer

In the Lhvbrian Mufeum. Except in the almoft uniform

Little Hawk, Caujiy, i. s-'-Lai/^a,., I no. N" 94.
Emenllon de Cayenne. Bufo„, i. ^g^.^pJ, Enl. N" 444.
Falco Sparverius, Lin. Sj:/K 128.-Lev. Mus.-Bl. Mu».

M A

L E.

P With bluilh bill, and yellow cere : crown of fine light grey
with a red fpot in the middle , on the hind part a femicircle
formed of round black fpots : cheeks white, bounded on each fide
^ith a large black fpot: throat white: breaft of a pale yellow,
fpotted widi black : back of a brilliant bay, crofled by broad black
bars: coverts of the wings of a beautiful grey, thinly fpotted with
black, primaries black, fpotted on their inner webs with white : tail
long; the middle feathers barred near the end with a black band,
and tipt with white , the two exterior feathers white, crofled with
three or four black bars : legs yeUow.

Length eleven inches and a half. Weight only three ounces and
an half. This varies in color from the female, in the fame manner
as the European Keftrils.

Thefe birds inhabit Jn^nca, from Nova Scoria to the Mlks -, are

• r r ^^^Jf^'^' ^^'y Pr^y «" ^"^all birds. Mice, Lizards, and
mfefts. The Female is the following.

II

Emerillon

LITTLE, AND PIGEON FALCON.

247

Emerillon de St. Domingue, De Buffon, i. 291.—/'/. Enl. N° 465. — Latham, i. m.
No 95 — Lev.Mus.— Bl. Mus.

T^ With a fliort and very crooked bill : crown of a deep flaty
blue, obfcurely fpotted with red : hind part of the neck, back,
and tail, of a bright ferruginous color and black, elegantly difpofed
in narrow tranfverfe bars : coverts of the wings of the fame colors ;
primaries black : under fide of the neck, breaft, and belly, of a
dirty white, marked with large ferruginous fpots : thighs and vent
feathers white : legs long, flender, and orange-colored : tail long,
croffed with eleven black, and the fame number of bright ferrugi-
nous bars.

The New Tork Merlin of Mr. Latham^ i. 107. N" 94, bears fo
great a refemblance to ^his, that I do not venture to feparate
them.

Pigeon Hawk, Catejhy, i. 3. — Phil. Tranf. Ixii. 382. — Latham, i. 10 1.
Falco Columbarius, Lin. Sjji. 128.— Lev. Mus. — Bl. Mus.

III. Pigeon,

rp With a dufky bill, and yellow cere : crown, back, and co-
verts of the wings and rump, of a bluifh grey, with the middle
of each feather ftreaked with black : the hind part of the head
fpotted with reddifh white : cheeks and under fide of the body
white, with large oblong fpots of black : primaries and fecondaries
dulky J their infides marked with great oval fpots of white : tail
long i black tipt with white, and crofled with four bars of bluifh
grey : legs yellow.

Its length is from ten to twelve inches. The weight fix ounces.

It inhabits America^ from Hudfon's Bay as low as South Carolina.
In the laft it attains to a larger fize. In Hudjon's Bay it appears in

3 ^^^y

Size.
Place.

%

248

DUBIOUS, AND DUSKY FALCON.

May on the banks of Severn river, breeds, and retires fouth in au-
tumn It feeds on fmall birds ; and on the approach of any per-
fon, flies in circles, and makes a great Ihrieking. It forms its neft
m a rock or fome hollow tree, with (ticks and grafs; and lines it
with feathers : and lays from two to four eggs, white, fpotted
with red. In Carolina it preys on Pigeons, and young of the wild
Turkies.

.1.. Dubious. ^ With a dufl<y bill: yellow cere and irides : head dufky,

ftreaked with rufl-color: back and coverts of wings brown,
edged with ruft : the primaries dufky afh-color, barred with black
and the inner webs marked tranfverfely witJi oval ferruginous
^ots : tail long, of a d jep cinereous, with four broad bars of black •
breaft and belly dirty white, marked with oblong ftreaks of brown :'
legs yellow.

Length about ten inches. Weight fix ounces. In the marks
and colors of the tail it much refembles the Sparrow Hawk : in
the fpots on the breaft it agrees with the Englijh Merlin

Inhabits New York and Carolina. I have my doubts whether
this IS any more than a variety of the preceding, efpecially as the
t^nghjh Sparrow Hawk varies with the fame colors.

Sizs.

Plac£,

113. Dusky.

^ With a bluilh bill J upper mandible armed with a fharp
procefs J yellow cere : head, back, and coverts of the wings
and tail, a dulky brown, nightly edged with ferruginous : hind part
of the neck fpotted with white : primaries dufky ; inner webs
marked with oval fpots of a pale ruft-color : tail/.^r/, tipped with
white, and barred with four broad dufky ftrokes, and the fame
number of narrow ones of white : the hind part of the head fpotted

with

MP'^'il

^Hi-1

gjE^I

B'

^TF?^.(..

CINEREOUS EAGLE.

249

with" white : from the chin to the tail whitifh, ftreaked dovnwards
with diftinft lines of black : legs deep ycilow.

Inferior in fize to the laft. Inhabits the province of New Tork. Sxze, and Place.
Bl. Mus.

A. Cinereous Eagle, Br.Zool, I. H'* \$.— Latham, i. 33.
Vultur Albicilla, Lin. Sjji. 123.

"C* With pale yellow bill, irides, cere, and feet : plumage light
cinereous : body and coverts of the wings clouded with darker:
primaries dulky : tail white.

In fizc equal to the Black Eagle. Inhabits EuropCt as high as Sizb,and Place.
Iceland and Lapmark*. Is common in Greenland i but does not
extend to America : at left, if it does, it varies into the White-
headed Eagle, to which it has great affinity, in particular in its
feeding much on fifh : the Danes therefore call it Fijke-orn f . Is
common in the fouth of Ruffian and about the Volga^ as far as trees
will gr6w. Is very fcarce in Sibiria j but has been obferved in the
eaftern parts about Nertfchink. It feems to be the fpecies called by
the 'Tungufty Elo j which breeds on the banks of the Khariou/owaf a
river which falls into the Penjhina fea J.

It inhabits Greenland the whole year, fitting on the rocks with
flagging wing, and flies flowly. It makes its neft on the lofty

• Lems, 331,

Vol. L

t BmnnUkt N*" 12.

K k

X Hift, Kamt/cbatka, 501.

cliffs.

t 'ii
4

250

if

CINEREOUS EAGLE.

clifFs- with twigs, lining the middle with mofles and feathers. Lap
two eggs. Sits in the latter end of May, or beginning of June.

Thefe birds prey on young Seals, which they feize as they are
floating on the water j but oft-times, by fixing their talons in an old
one, they are overmatched, and drawn down to the bottom, fcream-
ing horribly. They feed alfo on fifli, efpecially the Lumpfiih, and
a fort of Trout * ; on Ptarmigans, Auks, and Eider Ducks. They
fit on the top of rocks, attentive to the motion of the diving birds •
and, with quick eyes, obferve their courfe by die bubbles which
rife to the furface of the water, and catch the fowls as they rife
for breath.

The Greenlanders ufe their fkins for cloathing, next to dieir bo-
dies. They eat the flefh, and keep the bill and feet for amulets.
They kill them with the bow, or take them in nets, placed in the
fno>^ properly baited, or tempt them by the fat of Seals, which
the Eagles eat to an excefs , which occafions fuch a torpidity as to
make them an eafy prey.

The Erne, or Cinereous Eagle, the Vultur Albicilla of Lm-
N^us, IS the firft year wholly dufky, even to the biU, cere, and taiL
In die fecond year the cinereous color commences, teffelated with
black 3 the tail becomes white, and the end of its feathers for fome
time tipped with black.

It is very cafily made tame : will attach itfelf to Its mafter dif-
tinguifh him from others, and receive him with many marks of
endearment. When hungry, repeats the founds, tack tack, and
when fatisfied with food expreffes its content, by a repetition of the
fame note. Is particularly fond of filh : is a Huggifh and cowardly
^ec.es,and will be put to flight even by the Turkies.-Mr.
teaman,

• SaJmo Carpio, Faun, GrunL 170, N« 124.

B, Cryino

CRYING EAG

L E.

25 »

B. Crying Eaclb, Planjja et Clanga, AriJiot.HiJi. An. lib. ix.

Morphnos, Clanga, Anataria, Wil. Qrn. ti^Raii Sy„, Av. 7. N" 7
Spott' ! Eagle, Latham, i. 38. ' /•

Le Petit Aigle, De Buffos, i. 91.-.BR. Mus.

F^ With a dufky bill and yellow cere : color of the plumage a
ferruginous brown ; the coverts of the wings, and fcapulars,
elegantly varied with oval white fpots; on the greater coverts very
large: primaries dufky ; the ends of the greater white : breaft and
belly of a deeper color than the reft of the plumage, ftreaked down-
wards with dull yellow: tail dark brown, tipt with dirty white:
legs feathered to the feet, which are yeUow. Length two feet.

Is found in many parts of £«r.^^, but not in Scandimvia: isfre-
quent in Rufta and Sibiria, and extends even to Kamtjchatka. Is
lefs generous and fpirited than other Eagles ; and is perpetually
making a plaintive noife, from which it was ftyled by the antients
Vlanga & Clanga i and Anataria, from its preying on Ducks, which
Pliny * defcribes with great elegance. The Arabs ufed to train it
for the chacej but its quarry was Cranes, and other birds: the
more generous Eagle being flown at Antelopes, and various qua-
drupeds. This fpecies was even itfelf an objeft of diverfion j and
made the game of even fo fmaU a Falcon as the Sparrow Hawk :
wliich would purfue it with great cagernefs, foar above, then fall on
the Eagle, and, fattening with its talons, keep beating it about
the head with its wings, till they both fell together to the ground.
This Sir John Chardin has feen pradifed about Tauris,

* Lib. X. c. 3.

Place.

1 H

i Si

5: ' !;l

Kk s

C. Iceland

252

ICELAND FALCON,

Jf i

C. IcEtAND Falcon. Gou. Mag. xjji, p. ,57. fig. g^^j.
I-alco Iflandus Fufcus, BrunnLk, 2. N»g.
Le Ger;au!t d'lfland. BnjTo^. i. 373. tab. xxxi.~/>/. £,/. 2,0.
Falco Gv.r,.^, //.. ^ .3o..>/v,«,. 5... N" 64.--L..^«.. i. 8z, N«68; and ;».
iN^jo B. jvtiag. 2d.— Lev.Mus. '

P^ With a flrong bill, much hooked, and the upper mandible
fliarply angulated on the lower edges i cere bluifh : head of a
very pale ruft. color, f^v,-|;M downwards v. ith duflcy lines : neck.
. bieaft, and belly, white, marked with cordatcd fpots : thighs white*
CrofTed with fhort bars of deep brown : back and coverts of wings
dufl<y, fpotted and edged with white : the exterior webs of the pri
maries dufky, mottled with reddifh white j the inner barred with
white : the feathers of the tail crofTed with fourteen or more narrow
bars of dufky and white ; the dufky bars regularly oppofing thofe
of white : the wings, when clofcd, reach almofl to the end of le
train: legs flrong and yellow. The Length of the wing, from
the pinion to the tip, fixteen inches.

This fpecies is an inhabitant of /.,W, is the moft efteemed of
any for the fport of falconry, and is, with the two following, re-
ierved for the kings of De^^ark , who fends his falconer, with two
attendants, annually into the ifland to purchafe tliem. They are
caught by the natives , a certain number of whom in every diflridt
are hcenfed for that purpofe. They bring all they r.ke, about
M^jm;».er, to 5#/.^, to meet the royal falconer; and each brings
ten or twelve, capped, and perched on a crofs pole, which the'y
carry en horfeback, and refl on the flirrup. The falconer examines
the birds, rejefts thofe which are not for his purpofe, and gives
the feller a written cc, nficate of the qualities of each, whic , enti-
ties him to receive from the king's receiver-general fev- nteen rix-
dollars for F, or the purefl white Falcon , ten for E, or thofe which

'M

ICELAND FALCON.

are left white , and fevcn for this fpecies ♦. This brings Into tiie
ifland between two and three thoufand rixdoUars annually -|-.

They are taken in the following manner : — Two pofts are faf
tened in the ground, not remote from their haunts. To one is
tied a Ptarmigan, a Pigeon, a Cock or Hen, faftened to a cord
that it may have means of fluttering, and lo attrad the attention of
the Falcon. On the other poft is placed ^ net, diftended on a
hoop, about fix feet in diameter. Through this poft is introduced
a ftring, above a hundred yards long, which is faftened to the net,
in order to pull it down ; and another is faftened to the upper part
of the hoop, and goes through the poft to which the bait is tied.
As foon as the Falcon lees the fowl flutter on the ground, he takes
a few circles in d»e air, to Pe if there is any danger, then darts on
its prey with fuch violence as to ftrike off the head, as nicely as if
it was done with a razor. He then ullially rifes again, and takes
another circle, to explore the place a '"^cond time : after which it
makes another itoop j when, at the inibnt of its defcending, the
man pulls the dead bird under the ncrj and, by means of the other
cord, covers the Falcon with the net, at the moment it has feized
the prey j the perfon lying concealed behind fome ftones, or elfe lies
flat on his belly, to elude the fight of the Falcon |.

As foon as one is caught, it is taken gently out of the net, for
fear of breaking any of the feathers of the v ings or tail -, and a cap
is placed over ita eyes. If any of the tail- adiers are injured, the
falconers have the art of grafting others § , which fometimes has
oCcafioned a needl, .s multiplication of fpecies.

The Iceland Falcons are in the higheft efteem. They will laft
ten or twelve years i whereas thofe of Norway ^ and other countries.

a5J

" I

• Brunnick, p. 2. f OlaJjUt, i. 32.

J Brunnick, p. ^.—Horreiow, 58.

J Hortthoiu, 59, 60.

feidom

Mannir or

TAKINO.

254

ANTiqUITY OF

Falconry.

ANTIQ^UITY OF FALCONRY.

r<-Mom are fit for fport after two or three years ufe. Yet the Nor-
^ja„ Hawks were in old tiroes in great repute in this kingdom,
and even thought br.bcs worthy of a king. C>.fy Lc P,,r„. chi,(

i. ^W,« nught have leave to export a hundred weight of cheefe
>i„ the fon of 0..,„., gave a N.r^,y HawV to hal the klgt

IT Tl^l ^r^ '^""""•'' '" '" ''™ ''^^^ »>" '"<«1>"'» chat,
tels, and /<«////„„ fi„,.d to King S,.pi,„ i„ two Girfkls (GyrfaU

com) and two Ncr^., Hawks, that he might have the fame ac-

quittance that his father had ♦.

I cannot fix the precife time of the origin of falconry ; the paf-
fagc in JnM/e, and the epigram in Marfra^, do by no means fix it
to the periods in which they wrote. The philofopherf informs

"VI '^r "^" ' ^^^"^ ^" '^^''''' i" -J^ich the boys ufed
^^ to afTemble at a certain time of the year, for the fake of bird-
catching. That the fpot was much frequented by Hawks,
which were wont to appear on hearing themfelves called : and
would drive the litde birds into the bull.es, where they were
caught by the children, and that the Hawks would even fome.

<c 'T) V i^.!*^"^^ ^"d ^i"g ^'-"^ ^o thefe young fportfmen ,
who (after finifhing their diverfion) gratefully bellowed on their
« alTiftants part of their prey." This tale may have fome truth at
the bottom , It being notorious that Larks, and even Partridges
will, by the terror of a Hawk palTing over them, lie fo ftiU as to
iufFer themfelves to be taken by any paflenger. Here feems to
have been no training of thefe Uradan Hawks, but a mere cafual
concurrence of Hawks and fmall birds, which afibrded now and
then an amufement to die youth of the country. The thought ex,

r Z '}'. '"'^'"' ^'""^ "^ ""^^ ^'"^^ ^"g^g^d i" ^^^ cl^ace of
Deer, affiled by an Eagle, may have originated from this ftory

• ilW, ^.,j. E.ch. ^69. 497. ^ ^v,/. ,e Miraiil. 4ufcult.

The

ANTICLUITY OF FALCONRY.

The Poet only dcfcribes another kind of bird-catching, in the
following epigram on the fate of a Hawk :

Prxdo fuit volucrum, famulus nunc Aucupis, idem
Decipit, et captas non fibi, mocrct, avcs •.

By the word decipit, it is plain that the Hawk was not trained -, but
was merely iifcd as a ftale, either to entice fmall birds under a net,
or to the limed twigs : die laft is a method ftill in ufe in Italy.
The Italians call it Uccellare con la Civetta j for inftead of a Hawk,
they place a fmall fpecies of Owl on a pole, in tiie middle of a
field i and furround it, at various diftances, with lime-twigs. The
fmall birds, from their ftrange propenfity to approach rapacious
fowls, fly around, perch on the rods, and are taken in great num-
bers f. A Hawk would ferve the purpofe full as well. Pliny
mentions the ufe of bird-lime % -, and Longus, in his elegant ro-
mance of Daphnis and Chlocy employs the latter to catch little birds
for his beloved §.

Julius Firmicusy who dedica«-ed his book to Mavortius Lollianus,
conful A. D. 354, proves that falconry was in ufe in his days ;
for, fays he. Falcons taken when the fun is in Firgo or Mercuriiy are
far the beft. And wc further learn that it was in ufe in France in
the reign o{ Merouee, who began his reign about the year 576 ; and,
being in the abby of toursj was perfuaded to amufe himfelf widi
.Dogs and Hawks ||.

I cannot find any certainty of Hawks being trained in our
illand for diverfion before the time of King Ethelberty the Saxon
monarch; who died in the year 760^. He wrote into Germany
for a brace of Falcons, which would fly at Cranes and bring them

^Si

• Lib. xiv. ep. 216.
§ Fr. ed. odavo, 82.
fl Saxon Cbr, 60.

f Olina, 65. X Hifl. Nat. lib. xvi. c. 44.

II La Fauconnerie de Ch. d'ArcaJfia, p. 443.

to

' i'

256

(M

■■', 1 !

^ i

ANTICLUITY OF FALCONRY.

to the gt-oiind *, as there were very few fuch in Kent. This
Ihews how erroneous the opinion was, of thofe who place it in the
reign of the emperor Frederic Barbarojfa f, who was drowned in
1 1 89. By the application of Ethelbert to Bcnifacey archbifhop of
Mcntz, for the brace of Falcons, it is evident, that the diverfion
was in perfedion in Germany before the year 752, the time in
which that prelate was martyred by the Pagans. It feems to me
higlily probable, that falconry was invented in Scythia^ and pafTed
from thence into the northern parts of Europe. Tartary is even at
prefent celebrated for its fine breed of Falcons ; and the fport is in
fuch general eftcern, that, according to Olearius, there was no hut
but what had its Eagle or Falcon %. The boundlefs plains of that
country are as finely adapted to the diverfion, as the wooded or
mountanous nature of moflpart of Europe is ill calculated for that
rapid amufement.

The antiquity of falconry in ^artary is evinced by the exhibition
of the fport on the very antient tombs § found in that country ; in
which are figured horfemen at full fpeed, with Hawks on their
hands : others again, in the fame attitude, difcharging their arrows
at their game, in the very manner of the antient Scythians.

From Germany, falconry got footing in England; and became fo
favored a diverfion, that even fanguinary laws were enafted for the
prefervation of rapacious fowls. Edward III. made it death for
the flealing of a Hawk : and to take its eggs, even in a perfon's
own ground, was puniihable with a fine at the king's pleafure, and
imprifonment for a year and a day. In the reign of James I. the
amiifement was carried to fuch an extravagant pitch, that Sir nomas
Monjon is faid to have given a thoufand pounds for a caft of Hawks.

* Quoted by Mr. Whitakcr in Hiji. ManchJIer, fiom Max. BiUMica Patrum, xiii,
p, 85. ep. 40.

t Speiman's Gkjf. j 0/.«m;V Tra-vcls, 177. ^ StrahUnherg, tab. A. B.

D. Greeniano. '

mvim

M

M

GREENLAND FALCON.

257

D. Grbekland.

Dusky. Falco Fufcus, Faun.Groen. 56, N» 34. b.
Grey Falcon, Crantz, i. j8.^-Eget/e, 64..

rp With dufky irides : lead-colored cere and feet : brown crown,
marked with irregular oblong white fpots : forehead whitilh :
cheeks blackifli : hind part of the head and throat white : breaft
and belly of a yellowifti white, ftriped downwards with dufky
ftreaks : the back dufky, tinged with blue, the ends of the feathers
lighteft, and fprinkled over with a few white fpots, efpecially to-
wards the rump : wings of the fame colors, variegated beneath with
white and black t the upper part of the tail dulky, crofled very
faintly with paler bars ; the under fide whitilh.
. LefTer than the Collared Falcon.

Inhabits all parts of Greenland^ from the remoteft hills to thofe
which impend over the fea. They are even {iten on the iflands of
ice remote from Ihore. They retire in the breeding-fcafon to the
fartheft part of the country, and return in autumn with their young.
They breed in the fame manner as the Cinereous Eagle, but in more
diftant places -, and lay from three to five eggs. The tail of the
young is black, with great browr> fpots on the exterior webs.

They prey on Ptarmigans, Auks, and all the fmall birds of the
country ; have frequent difputes with the Raven, but feldom come
off vidlors ■, for the Raven wijl, on being attacked, fling itfelf on
its back ; and, e'ther by defending itfelf with its claws, or by call-
ing, with its croaking, numbers of others to its help, oblige the
Falcon to retire. The Greenlanders ufe the fkin, among many
others, for dieir inner garments ; the wings for bruflies ; the feet fo*-
amulets : but feldom eat the fleih, unlefs compelled by hunger.

It is alfo a native of Iceland,

Size.
Plac*.

\ !l

■o,(.

Vol. I.

L 1

E. COLIARED.

81 I

|i

It

258

Place.

COLLARED, AND KITE FALCON.

E. Collared. Faico Rufticolus. Lin. Syjl. iz^.^Faun. Suec. N" s6.-Faur,. Greenl.
N° 34 — Latham, i. 56.

P^ With a lead-colored bill, tipt with black : head broad and
• flat, ftreaked lengthways with black and white ; on the cheeks
the white predominates : the throat, under fide of the neck, and
breaft, are of a pure white j that on the neck almoft furrounds it,
forming a fpecies of collar: the belly is of the fame color, marked
with a few dufky cordated fpots : the back is waved with alh-color
and white J the tip of each feather white: the coverts of the wings
of the fame colors, but more obfcure : the exterior webs of the
primaries dufky : the tail rounded, croflld with twelve or thirteen
whitilh and duflcy bars : the legs yellow. Size of a Hen.

Is rarely found in the remoteft parts of Greenland. Inhabits alfo
Swedem and extends eaftward as far as Simbir/k, lat. 54I, in the
government of Cafan *.

%

Size.
Place.

F. Kite, Br. Zool. i. N» 53 — Latham, i. 61, N' 43.
FaIco Milvus Glada, Faun. Succ. N" 57.
Le Milan Royal, De Buffon, i. 197.—/'/. Enl. 422.— Lev. Mus.

p^ With yellow bill and cere : white head, ftreaked with black :
* body ferruginous, with a few dufky fpots : tail much forked
and ferruginous.

Weight forty-four ounces. Length twenty-feven inches : extent
five feet one.

Inhabits the north of Europe, as high as Jarljberg, in the very
fouth of Norway f j but does not extend farther. This fpecies, the

• Extract, 1.315.

f Hammer, Faun, Norway,

Sea

lis

Is fi ' 1

KITE FALCON.

259

Sea Eagky Lamer, Buzzard, and Kejiril, quit Sweden, in flocks, at

approach of winter, and return in fpring *. Of thefe, the Buzzard

and Kejlril winter at Woronejch, in Rujfta, in lat. 52 f » ^"d» together

with the Lanner and i'iC//<?, about AJlrakan J, in /^/. 46. 30 ; but the

far greater part of the Kites are fuppofed to retire into Egypt, being

feen in September pafllng by Conftantinople §, in their way from the

north i and again in April returning to Europe \, to (hun the great

heats of the eaft. They are obferved in vaft numbers about Cairo,

where they are extremely tame A feed even on dates, I fuppofe for

want of other food f . They aho breed there j fo that, contrary to

the nature of other rapacious birds, they increafe and multiply

twice in the year j once in the mild winters of Egypt, and a fecond

time in the fummers of the north. It makes its appearance in Greece

in the fpring; and in the early ages, fays Arifiopbanes **, " it governed

that country : and men fell on their knees when they were firft

bleffed with the fight of it, becaufe it pronounced the flight of

winter, and told them to begin to flieer their vernal fleeces. The

" Crane likewife, by its autumnal departure, warns the mariner to

hang up his rudder, and take his reft, and every prudent man to

provide their winter garments : and the Swallow again informed

" them when they were to put on thofe of fummer. Thus, adds the

" chorus of birds, are we to you as Ammon, Dodona, Apollo :"

meaning, in thofe early days, that man confulted only thelc natural

calendars, and needed no other than what they took from the flight

of birds ff, or the flowering of plants.

They inhabit England in all feafons. I have feen their young
taken, the laft week in May, or firft in June, in the great woods be-

m

u

cc

((

((

(C

• Amcen.Acad.\\. f ExtraEls,\. \.oo. % Vol. ii. 142. ^ Fcrjkahl,

Dtfcr. Arab. ■] . || JF;7. Or«. 75. ^ ^f/e» 0^ xxxvi. p. IC7. b. ** Aves,

tt See this fubjeft moft ingenioufly handled in Mr. Stillingflbet's Ellays,
in the Calendar ef Flora.

L 1 2 longing

2.6o

Placi.

Placi.

HONEY BUZZARD, AND LANNER.

longing to Sir Jo/epb Banks, in Lmol^Me ; and have often ob-
fcrved them m various places in the depth of wiiiter.

G- Honey Bitzzard, Br. ZcoL i. N" s6.-^Latham. l 52. N« -3.
Falco Apivorus Slaghok, Faun. Suec. N" 65— Lev. P.Ius. "*

F^ With an afh-colored head ; dark brown abov , below white

fpotted or barred with rufly brown : tail brown, barred with

two dufky bars, remote from each other: legs ftrong and yellow:

bill and cere black. Lei^qth twenty-three inches. Weight thirty
ounces. •'

Inhabits as far north as the diftrid o{ Sondmor, in Norway * Is
found in plent)' in the open parts oiRufta and Sihiria, near woods •
and preys much upon Lizards.

H. Banner, 5r.ZW.i.N''5i.«Z«,^^«x,i. 86.

Falco Lannarius, Faun. Suec. N- 62,-Z), Bujon, i. 243.

F. Wth a White line over ea:h eye: cere and legs bluifh : breaft
white, tinged with yellow, and marked with brown foots-
pnmaries and tail duflcy. the M marked with oval rull-color d
fpots on the inner webs -, the laft, on both

andtell^'"^^.:'^^"" ''''' "' '"^^"^ ^^^ ^-'-^ ^^^-^
eait of Stbma, Much efteemed for falconry.

• Stnm, 235.

I. Moor

MOOR BUZZARD, AND KESTRIL

I. Moor Buzzard, Br. Zool. N" ^j.—Lajham,

1- 53-

Falco uEruginofus, Faur. Su;c. N" 66.

Hons-tjuf, Le Bafard. De Buffon, i. 218. pi. x.^Pl. Eal. 424.

P Entirely of a chocolate brown, tinged with ruft: on the hind
part of the head a light clay-colored fpoc : flsnder lo^y yellow

legs : cer : black.

Weight twenty ounces. Length twenty-one inches.

Found in the Tranjbaltic countries, as far north as Sondmor *.

Common in the fouth oi Rujfia : not in Sibiria. It continues the

whole year in Sweden.

1

»

1 t||H

» '■"''" f^B

si5i

Size.
Pi ACE.

K. Kestril, Br. Zool. i. N° 60. — Latham, i. 94.

Falco Tinnunculus, Kirko-Falk, Faun. Suec. N" 61 Mulkr, N" 65.

La Oefferelle, De Buffon, i. 280. pi, xviii. — Fl. Enl. 401, 471.

Male, C^ With the crown and tail of a fine light grey, the laft
marked with a black bar near the end : back and wimcs of

a purplifh red, fpotted with black. Female. Head reddifh ; crown

ftreaked with black : back, tail, and coverts of wings, dull ruH-co-
lor, barred with black: legs yellow. Weight o^ Male fix ounces
and a half : of /^^w<3/(? eleven.

Frequent in the deferts of 'Tartary and Sibir'a, in the open coun-
tries, where fmall trees are found for it to breed in. Migrates into
Swederiy at the time in which the White Wagtail returns, and the
Saffron, Snowdrop, and bulbous Violet, bioffom. Each of thefe
birds quit the country about the fame day, in September f. Not
found farther north ?

• Strom, 235.

t Calendar of Flora, and Migr. A-v. in Amau. Acad. v. 397. 38a.-
far fouth as the Ho!ji Land.-^Ha^elquiJi Itin. 291.

-Is found at

L. Sfakrow

PLACI;

ifl.

262

Place.

Pl

ACE.

SPARROW HAWK, AND HOBBY.

L. Sparrow Hawk, Br. Zool. i. N» 62 Latham, i. 99.

Sparfhok, Faun. Sutc. N" eS.—MulUr, N' 71 Arww. 235.

I.'Epervier, De Buffon. i. 225. pi. xi— PA £«/. 412, 467.

With head, back, and coverts of wings and tail, (in fome)
of a deep bluifh grey; in others, of a deep brown, edged with
ruft-color: breaft and beUy of a v.-hitifh yellow, with waved bars
of deep brown or duU orange : taU cinereous, ^ith five broad black
bars J the tips white.

Weight of the male five ounces : female nine.
Found as high as Sondmor, and in the Feroe iflands, in the fouth
of Rujfia; but none in Sibiria.

U. Ho c B y , Br. Zool. i. N» 6 ! .--Latham, i. 1 03 .
Falco SuliutPQ, Faun. Suec. N" 59.

P With crown, back, and coverts of a bluifli. black : from the
crown a black ftroke points down the cheeks, which are white •
breaft white, with oblong black fpots : diighs and vent pale orange :
inner webs of primaries marked with oval reddifh fpots : two mid-
ile feathers of the tail plain dove-color; the inner webs of the
others markea like the primaries : legs yellow. Weight of the
mak feven ounces.

Schofie», Che moft ibuthern province of ^-^^^w *, and, 1 believe
does not extend farther north. This fpecies winters about ff^oro'^
nefch and JJlrakan \ ; and frequents the fame places in Siiirja with
the Kestril.

• Faun. S§ttc,

t Exira£ls, v.. 147..

III. O W I.

GREAT HORNED OWL.

263

III. OWL

Gen, Birds III.

♦EARED OWLS.

Great Horned Owl, EJiu. 60.— Latham, i. 119.
Great Grey Owl, Joffelyn, ^b.—Lavifon, 145.
Jacuiutu, Margrave, 199.
Stria Bubo Uf, Faun. Suec. N" 6^.

OW ith a dulky bill : yellow irides : horns Ihorter than the
• European Eagle Owl j thofe, with the head, black, marked
with tawny : circle round the eyes cinereous, edged with black : on
the throat a large cruciform mark of a pure white, reaching to the
beginning of the breaft : upper part of the brcaft dufky and tawny j
the lower p;irt thickly barred with black afli -color, mixed with yel-
low : coverts of wings, fcapulars, and back, elegantly painted with
zigzag lines, cinereous, black, and orange; the fcapulars alfo
marked with a few great white fpots : primaries broadly barred with
black and ferruginous : tail of a deep brown, croffed with brown
dufky bars, and marked with numerous tranfverfe cinereous lines :
legs and feet covered with foft light brown feathers to the very
claws, which are very ftrong and hooked.

This fpecies is inferior in fize to the Eagle Owl, Br. Z09I. i.
N" 64 ; but feems only a variety.

It is common to South and North Jmerica, as high as Hud/on' s
Bay. Makes, during night, a moft hideous noife in the woods,

not

114. Eagle.

Size.
Place.

254

I i

I '

lis. LiO N a •

lAREO.

Place.

LONG-EARED OWL.

not unlike the hollowing of a manj fo that paflengers, beguiled by
it, often lofe their way.

The fuvages have their birds of ill omen, as well as the RomaNs.
They have a mod fupej ftitious terror of the Owl ; which they
carry, fo far as to be highly difpleafed at any one who mimics its
hooting *.

This fpecies is common in Kamf/cbaika, and even extends to the
Jr.lk- regions; in the firft of which it very often inclines to white.
It IS found as low as J/}raka»,

Br. Zed. i. No 65.— Moyen Due ou Hibou, Htfl. d'Olf. i, 341.
Strix Otu., Faun. Suec. N» Jl.^Latham, i. 121.

O. With very long ears, of fix feathers each, yellow and black • ^

indes yellow : back and coverts of wings deep brown, grey,
and yellowilh ruft-color : primaries barred with duflcy and ferru-
ginious : breaft and belly pale yellow, with flender brown ftrokes
pointing downwards : tail barred with cinereous and duflcy ; the
bars of the middle feathers bound above and below with white- ktt
feathered to the claws. Length fourteen inches; extent of the
Englijh fpccimens three feet four f. Weight ten ounces.

Obferved by Mr. Hutchins about Severn fetdement in Hudfcn's
Bay, where it lives in the woods, far from the fea : at night fallies
Jn k-arch of prey, Approaches the tents of the inhabitants, and is
very clamorous. Builds its neft in trees, and lays four white eggs
in y^pril. Never migrates,

• CeUe/i's Six Indian Nations, i. \-j.

.. \^^ ;"° T-"f ' '" ''"^^" '" ^'' ""''^'"'^' ^'^' '^' ^-^^^"^ " '^^^ V far than that of
the E>,^I-jf} kir.d.

Inhabits

SHORT-EARED OWL.

Inhabits Sweden, and the northern and fouthern parts of the Ruffian
domhiions, and the eaftern parts of Sibiria. Is found as far fouth
as Jfirakan, and even in the hot climate of Eg)'pt *.

26$

I' ", if

Short-eared Owl, Br. Zoo/, i. N» 66.—Phil. Trmf. Ixii. 384 Latham, i. 124.

Moyen Due, ou Hibou, PI. Enl. 29.— Bl. Mus.— Lev. Mus.

Q With a lefler head in proportion than the former : bill dulky :
irides yellow: head, buck, and coverts of the wings, pale
brown, edged with dull yellow : breaft and belly ycUowilh white,
marked with a few dufky ftreaks pointing downwards : thighs, legs,
and toes, warmly covered v, ith plain yellow feathers : tail dufky
brown, marked on each fide of the middle feathers with a large
yellow circle, with a brown fpot in the middle. In the others, the
feathers are yellowilh, obliquely barred with black. The horns, or
ears, confift of only a fingle feather, which it can raife or deprefs at
pleafure. The wings reach beyond the end of the tail. Length
fourteen inches. Weight fourteen ounces.

Found in plenty in the woods near Chateau Bay, on the Labrador
coaft. It is alfo an inhabitant of the Falkland IJlands ; fo probably
is common to North and South America. In Hud/cn's Bay it is called
the Mou/c; Hawk. It never flies, like other Owls, in fearch of prey j
but fits quiet on aftump of a tree, watching, like a Cat, the appear-
ance of Mice. It breeds near the coaft ; makes its neft with dry
grafs upon the ground ; and migrates fouthwards ia autumn. Father
Feuillee fpeaks of an Owl he found in Peru that has fome refemblance
to this, particularly in the Hawk-like fhape of the bill. He fays

116. Short*

EARED.

Size.
Place.

Vol. I.

• Hiffcliwji, hit. 233.
M m

jt

I'

!•! I

266

) ^' ill

SHORT- EARED OWL.

it burrows under ground to a great depths, like a R^bctj for
which reafon he names it UJuia €unicularia*. It is very com-
mon in the .lorthern and woody parts c£ Sibtria. Comes boldly
to the night fires, and aflaults men, when it i>, often killed widi
flicks.

In Europe it is found in Great Britain^ and reaches to the
Orktiey iflcs. Does not perch, but fits on the ground, on which
it lays it eggs amidft the heath. Appears and difappears in Lin-
colnjhire with the Woodcock. Perhaps laigrates to Sweden or
Nori^ay, where it is alfo found, and even as high as Iceland f.
Flies and preys by day, in dark and cloudy weather. Friendly
to the farmer, by being an excel 'cnt moufer. Does not tly far;
but if difturbed, foon alights, and fits looking about ; at which
times its horns are very confpicuous. This circumllaace hitherto
unattended tOi fo that it has been ranked among the Earlefs
Owls.

The Short-eared Owl appears to me ro be La Chouette of
the Cmte de Buffon, and his Moyen Due, ou Hibou, tab. 29. of
the PL Enlum. In p. 102. of my indexes to his Ornithologiey and
the PL EnL I have endeavoured to clear up the confufion, which
the illuftrious writer has introduced on the fubjedt.

!

h '!

* Foy. Peru, ii. 562.

t See Strix Fimerea, /"««//. Sutd^^jy—Ponlop. ^tlas Dmica, tab. z^.—Obftn's
let land, il. tab. 46,

Little

RED, ANn MOTTLED OWU

iSy

II r- «-|

Little Owl, Ca/e/f>j. i. -j.^Latbtim, \. 12^.

Strix Afio, Lin. Sjijl. 132.— Bl. Mus.— Lev. Muj.

117. Rbo>

In ■:

^ W yellow it ides: horns, cad, back, and wings, of a plea-
fant tawny red, ftreaked with Mack: the IcapuUrs marked
with large white fpots : primaries barred with black, red, and
white : breaft pale tawny, marked with bblong black fpots : tail
red, barred with dufky : feet covered with fcatiiers to the claws.
Length ten inches and a half.

Inhabits New 7''ork, and as low as the Carolwas. Lives \i. the
V s near the roaft.

Placi.

Latham, i. 126.— Bl. Mus.— Lev. Mus.

ii8. Mottled.

Q\ With the face white, fpotted with brown: head, wings,
and upper part of the body, mottled with afh-color and
pale red : the fcapulars marked with p;reat white fpots ; as are the
coverts of the wings : the primaries with black and pale ferru-
ginous : breaft and belly whitifh, varied with dufky ragged ftripes,
pointing downwards : toes feathered to die claws. Length eleven
inches.

Inhabits the province of New Tork. Breeds in May^ and con-
tinues in the country the whole year.

Place.

M m 2

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IMAGE EVALUATION
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23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. f4580

(716) 872-4503

268

WAPACUTHU, AND. SOOTY OWL.

** WITHOUT EARS.

up. VVrtPACU-
THU.

Place.

Q With glofly black bill, and claws much incurvated : bafe
of the l^jill befet with ftrong briftles : irides bright yellow :
ipace between the eyes, cheeks, and throat, white: the ends of
the feathers on the head black: fcapulars, and all the coverts
of the wings, white, elegantly barred with dufky reddlili mark's,
pointing downwards : primaries, fecondaries, and tail feathers,
irregularly Ipotted and barred with pale red and black: back
and coverts of the tail white, mixed with a few dufky fpots :
breafl and belly dirty white, crofled with innumerable reddilh
lines : vent white : legs feathe red to the toes, which are covered
with hairs. Weight five pounds : length two feet : extent
four.

Inhabits the woods about Hudjon's Bay : makes its nefl on the
mofs, on the dry ground. The young are hatched in Aday, and fly
in June ; and are white for a long time after. Feeds on Mice and
fmall birds. Called by the Indians y JVapacuthuy or the Spotted
Owl. The Europeans fettled in the bay, reckon it a very delicate
food.

120. Sooty.

Cinereous Owl, Latham, i. 134, N" ip.—BR. Mus.

r\ With a whitifh bill : bright yellow irides : circlets confift

of elegant alternate lines of black and pale afh-color : head,

hind part of the neck, and coverts of wings, footy, marked with

narrow bars of dirty white : primaries deep brown, with broad

bars.

SOOTY, AND SNOWY OWL.

269

bai'S, compofed of lefTer of dufky and pale cinereous : tail moft:
irregularly marked with oblique ftrokes of brown and dirty white :
the breaft and belly whitilh, greatly covered with large oblong
blotches of duflcy brown : as a Angular mark, from the chin to
the vent is a fpace, about an inch in breadth, entirely naked : legs
feathered to the feet. Weighs three pounds : length two feet :
extent four.

Inhabits UudJorCs Bay the whole year. Flies in pairs. Feeds on
Mice and Hares. Flies very low ; yet feizes its prey with fuch
force, that, in winter, it will fink into the fnow a foot deep ; and,
with great eafe, will fly away with the American Hare, N' 38,
alive in its talons. It makes its neft in a pine-tree, in the middle
of May^ with a few flicks lined with feathers j and lays two eggs,
Ipotted with a darldlh color. The young take wing in the end of

PlACt.

iy

Great White Owl, Ed-w. 6 1 .^Ellis's Voy. ^o.—Du Pratz, ii. 9 1 Clayton's Vir- 1 2 1 . S now v.

ginia. — Ph. Tranf, iii. 589.
Great Speckled Owl, Egede, Greenland, 64.
Strix Nyftea, Harfang, Fam. Suec. ti^ -je.—BuJcn, i. ^i-j.— Latham, \. i^z^

No 17— Bl. Mus— Lev. Mus.

Q\^ With a head lefs in proportion than other Owls : irides yel-
low: whole plumage of a fnowy whitenefs, fometimes pure,
oftener marked with duiky fpots : the legs and k^t covered warmly
to the very claws with long fnowy feathers of the moft delicate and
elegant texture : the claws are of a fine contrafting blacknefs, very
large and very crooked. Its length two feet; but it varies greatly Size.

in weight, from three pounds to one and a half.

It inhabits the coldeft parts of Jmerira, even as high as the re- Placb.

mote mountains in the icy centre of Greenland i from which, in in-

tenfe

H

? 1

r

370

SNOWY O V,'- L.

tenre cold ir migrates to the Aores. It add. horror even to that

Doftor 0^' : -^ l^uifu.a, yet ha. been frequently feen by

groves of i..W trees, or the Chamerof, humilis', which line thi
Ihores from the Capes of ^W. quite to a../,>™. There 2;
lurk durmg day, and fally out in que« of prey during nigh !
very common ^.U^fin'sB.,,.. iV»r.^, and 1.,/J/ 1 fea
not the r,gor of the feafon. but bears tl,e cold of the northern
regions thewhole year. It flies by day, and is fcarce.y to be^mn
g^.thed from the f„ow= it flies pretty iWiftly. a„a fllspep "l

on the Hares , for to the laft circumftance it owes its ^^elfi name!
Harfa„s. It preys alio on Mice, and Carrion, and J IIu2^

tains' tr,,'" """-^r' ^™" ™°" ~"""°" o" *^ ^'■'"■- -o™-
ta>ns. and aU over the nord, and eaft of ««„•.. and in its 4f.rf.

• Z/^.5/./'/. „. .657.-^SeeaIfo^«,vWs Journal ,765,0. ,,.

Z/7/i^

-?/»,

?n to that
n in deep

)m ftrays
r feen by
long the

line the
ere they
?ht. Is
It fears
lorthern
e diftjn-
rpendi-.
robably
' name,
ludfon's

of the

noun-
4ftatic
leroua

tb^imt

ir*

I i

•^ t\

|:» '

BARRED, AND HAWK OWL.

Zo/>5««, i. 133, N" i8. — 3l. Mus.— Lev. Mus-

r\ With a pale yellow bill, befetwith ftrong brilUcs : iridcs yel-
low : circlets whitifli, barred with dufky lines : head, back,
coverts of the wings, and the breaft, barred with dark brown, and
white tinged with yellow ; the primaries with black and white : the
belly white, marked downwards with long ftripes of deep brown :
tail barred with broad bands of black, and narrower of white :
wings reach only half the length of the tail : feet feathered to the
claws.

A large fpecies, two feet long j the extent four. Weight three
pounds.

Inhabits Hudfon's Bayj and New Tork. Preys on Hares, Grous,
Mice, ^c. ■ ■ ;;r

271

122. Barred.

-Size.
Place.

r ?

- 4i

■Kt

' I

Little Hawk Owl, EJiv. Si.—Latham, i. 142, N« 29 ; 143, N* 30 ; 147, N" 36 ;

148, N" 37 — Phil. Tranf. Ixi. 385.
Le Chat-huant de Canada, Brijfon, i. 5 1 8,—De Buffon, i. 391.
Chouette a longue queue de Sibirie, PI' E»l- 463.— Lev. Mus.

/TX With yellow iridest head finely fpotted with diriky and
pure white : back brown, with a few large white fpots : pri-
maries of a deep brown, regularly fpotted with white on each web :
upper part of the breaft white j lower part and belly barred with
brown : tail very long, and cuneiform, marked with broad bars of
brown, and narrow of white : feet protedted with feadiers to the
claws.

Length feventeen inches. Weight twelve ounces. Never
hatches above two young at a time ; which, for fome months after

flight, retain a rufty brown plumage.

3 This

123. Hawk.

172

Placb.

WHITE OWL.

This fpecies is common to North America^ Denmark^ and Sweden,
The Savages who come down to HudJorCs Bay^ call it Cabetitutcb.
It flies high, like a Hawk, and preys by day on the White Grous.
Like the Short-eared Owl, will hover over tlie nofturnal fires. Is a
bold bird -, will attend the fowler, and often ftcal the game he has
fhot, before he can pick it up. Was feen by the navigators near
Sandwich found, in lat. 6 1 north.

This bird is very f*- uent in all Sibiria^ and on the weft fide of
the Uralian chain, as , * as Cafan and the Vol^a : not in Rujia,

J24. Whtte, Tuidara, Margrave, 205.

Barn Owl, Clayton's Firgima.—PhiL Tranf. iii. 589.
White Owl, Br. Zool. i. N° 6-j.— Latham, i. 138.
Strix Flammca, Faun. Suec. N" 73. ,

L'Effraie, ou L'Effrafaie, De Buffon, i. 366. pi. xxvi ?/. Enl 440.— Lev?

Mus — Bl. Mu5,

Sr iii

Place.

Q^ With a white bill : dufky irides : head, back, and coverts of
wings, of a pale beautiful yellow, with two grey and two white
fpots placed alternately on each fide of the fhafts : breall and belly
wholly white : interior fides of the feathers of the tail white j ex-
terior marked with obfcure dufky bars : legs feathered : feet covered
with fhort hairs. Length fourteen inches, Weight eleven
ounces. *

This bird is common to North and South America^ and to Europe,
Was found by the navigators near Sandwich found, lat, 6 1 north.
Is rare in Sweden^ and, I believe, not found farther north. Inhabits
Canary. The Mongol and Kalmuc Tartars almoft pay it divine ho-
nors ; becaufe they attribute to this fpecies the prefervation of the
fpunder of their empire, Cingis Khan, That prince with his fmall

army

I i

BROWN OWJL

army happened to be furprized and put to flight by his enemies,
and forced to conceal himfelf in a little coppice :' an Owl fettled on
the bufli under which he was hid, and induced his purfuers not to
fearch there, as they thought it impoflible any man could be con-
cealed in a place where that bird would perch. From thenceforth
they held it to be facred, and every one wore a plume of the feathers
of this fpecies on his head. To this day the Kalmucs continue the
cuftom, on all great feftivals ; and fome tribes have an idol in form
of an Owl, to which they fatten the real legs of one*.

Brown Owl, Br. Zool. i. N» Sg^^Latham, i. 140.— Z)<? Buffon, i. ^-jis^Pl. Enl.

438.
Strix Ulula, Faun. Stiec. N" 78.— Bl. Mus.— Lev. Mus.

r\ With dark hazel irides : head, wings, and back, of a deep
brown fpotted with black: coverts of the wings and fcapulars
varied with white fpots : breaft of a pale afh-color, marked widi
dufky jagged ftrokes pointing downwards; feet feathered to
the claws. Length jvbout fourteen inches. Weight nineteen
ounces.

Inhabits Newfoundland: rare in Rujfta: unknown in Sibiria;
found in Sweden and Norway f .

• Extract. \ X Brunnich, N» 19.

^n

125. Brown.

Pla

cv.

ta

I

ii;;

p"j

t

1 , vj

:*A

Vol. I.

Nn

Little

' - il

I' '

I. I 1

474

LITTLE OWL,

126. Little.

Little Owl, Br. Zoo!, i. N<> 70.— -Dt Buffon, \. 377.

Strix Paflcrina. Faun. Suu. N- ■jg.^Ladam, i. 143, N« 38, N« 39 j 150, N« 40.
— Bl. Mus.— -Lev. Mu«.

Pl

ACI.

Q^ With pale yellow iridcs: bill whitifh brown: head light
brown fpeckled with white : back, and coverts of the wings,
and fcapulars, of the fame color, marked in parts with white fpots:
the bread whitilh, varied with ruft-color : tail barred with white,
and marked regularly on each web with circular white fpots: feet
feathered to the claws. It varies in length, from eight to (tv^n
inches. The fmalleft I have feen is from Nova Scotia -, which has
white circlets about the eyes, and fewer white fpots on its plu-
mage.

Inhabits from HudfotCs Bay to New Tork, CaUed by the natives
of the firft, Shipmofpijh. Lives in all feafons among the pines :
builds its neft halfway up the tree: lays two eggs. Are moft
folitary birds. Keep clofe in dieir retreat the whole day i but are
moft aftive moufers during night. Frequent in Ruftui lefs fo in
Sibiria.

The Little Owl appears in Sweden with the firft rays of the
fun : its voice is a moft acute whiftle, by the imitation of which,
final! birds are readily coUefted together.

♦EARED,

SCANDINAVIAN, AND TAWNY OWL.

ns

♦EARED.

A. ScandinavianEaredOwl, Strix Scandiaca, Faun. Suec. N* ya^Latham L 1 20.

Q^ With the plumage entirely white, fprinkled with black fpots.
Size of a Turky : in all refpefts like the Snowy Owl, except
the ears.

Inhabits the Lapland aips. Mentioned by Limausi who fcems
to take his defcription from a painting of RuSeck's j but its cxiftencc
is confirmed by Mr. T'oming of Drmtheim \

Size.
Place.

**EARLESS.

3. Tawny Owl, Br. Zoel. I N» bS.—Latl!>am, i. 139.

Strix Stridula, Skrik Uggla, Fouh. Suec. N» yj-^-PI. En/. 437.— Lev. Mus.

Q^ With a plain head : dufky irides : plumage of the head, and
the whole upper part of the body, tawny, fpotted and powdered
with duiky fpots : breaft and belly yellowifh, mixed with white,
marked downward with duflcy ftreaks : tail blotched, barred, and
fpotted with pale ruft-color and black : toes feathered to the daws.
Weight nineteen ounces.

• Rariora Norvegia, in Amcen, Acad. vii. 479,
N n 2

Inhabits

,.^' il

,176

Place.

SWEDISH OWL.

Inhabits Europe, as far as Sweden. Frequent in the fouth o( Ruffla,
and clefcrts of Tartary j and breeds in the neRs of Rooks. None in
Sibiria : a fufpicion that it is found in Hud/on" s Bay ?

C. Swedish.

'pHE Strix Aluco of Linn^usj La Hulote, de Buffon, i. 358}
PL Enl. 441, is a bird oi Sweden. I never met with it, there-
fore borrow the defcription from Mr. Latham's Ornithology.

The head is large : irides dufky : circle of feathers round the eyes
greyifh : upper part of the body deep iron grey, fpotted with black
and white : bread and belly white, ftriped down with ragged black
ftrokes : legs and feet covered with feathers, white, with numerous
black fpecks: tail barred with reddifh alh and black: the firft
feather of the wings exceeds the reft by two or three inches : the
wings reach beyond the end of the tail.

This fpecies lays, in Jprily from three to five eggs, of a fnowy
whitenefs : the young are blind to the tenth day, and are covered
with filthy red warts. The female parent feeds them with mice.
They fly towards the end o^ July. The note of the young is like
the noife of granfhing one's teeth. The old fly in the moft quiet
manner, and make no fort of noife: they feed on fmall birds, but
vetches have been found in their ftomach. In the fummer they
live in the woods j towards winter return to the neighborhood of
houfes. It refufes to eat in captivity, and lofes its life with its li-
berty. If one of its young is taken away, it removes the reft to ano~
ther place.

D. Spotted.

SPOTTED OWL.

277

D. SrOTTBD.

"pJOCl OR fengmalmy an able ornithologift, refident near Stock-
holm, lately difccvercd a new fpecies of Owl, of the fize of a
Blackbird. The bill dufky, tipped with white : from its corners,
to each eye, is a line of black : the irides yellow : the circlet of
feathers round the eyes is white, mixed with dufky : head grey,
ftriped with white, and furrounded with a dulky circle fpotted with
white and dufky : primaries dufky, barred with white : breaft and
belly white, varied irregularly with dufky marks : tail above, of a
* dufky grey, ftriped with white : toes feathered to the claws ; grey,
with pea-fliaped fpots of white.

dltN

ORDER

*. -^i

a78

GREAT SHRIKE.

O R D E R II. PIES.

la;. Great,

Plac£.

IV. S H R I K E. Gen. Birds IV.

Great Shrike, Br. Zool. i. N" 71.

Lanius Excubitor, Warfogel, Fauti. Suec. N* Zo.— Latham, i. 160.

White Whifky John, Phil. Tranf Ixii. 386.

La ?ie.gi ieche Grifj;, De Bujhn, i. 296. pi. xx.—Pl. Enl. 445 L E v. M us.

SWith a black bill and legs : cinereous crown, hind part of
• the neck, and back : cheeks white, crofled from the bill with
A bar of black : under fide, from chin to tail, white, marked with
femicircular lines of a pale brown : leffer coverts black j thofe on
the joints of the wings afh-color: primaries black, marked with a
iingle band of black j fecondaries tipt with white : die tail cunei-
form i the two middle feathers black, die tips of the next on each
fide white i on the reft the white prevales, till the exterior, when
the black almoft entirely vanifhes : beyond each eye of the female
is a brown bar.

Inhabits North Jmrua, from Hud/bn's Bay to Lout/tana. In
Hudfon's Bay^ lives in the woods remote from Ihores, and is the
firft bird there which brings out its young in the Ipring. Makes
its neft widi dry grafs or bents, and lines it thickly with feathers :
lays feven eggs, of a pale blue color, blotched with brown.

Is frequent in Ruffia, but does not extend to Sibiriai yet one was
taken by our navigators within Bering's ftraits, in lat, 66, on the
Jftatic fide of the Frozen Sea. Has the fame manner of transfix* ,
ing and tearing its prey as die Englijh kind,

3 S. V/ith

BLACK-CROWNED, CRESTED, AND NATKA SHRIKE.

g^ With the bill, legs, crown, and fides of the head, back, and
' coverts of wings, black: primaries black, marked with a fmall
fpot of white, and another on the rrJgi- of the wing: throat, cheeks,
and vent, pure white : breaft and bei., tinged with afli-color : tail
long ; middle feathers black -, the reft marked at their ends with
white, which increafes to the exterior i in which the black almoft
vanilhes. Rather inferior in fize to the laft.

Inhabits North Jmerica. Seems to be La Pie Griejche de la Loui"
JtanCy Brijfon, ii. 162 j Latham^ i. 162.

279

128. 6lack<

CROWNED.

Place,

Lanius CanaJenfis, Lin. SjJ}. 134 — De Buffon, i. 316— i*/. EnU 479. fig. 2.— 129. Crested,
Latham, i. 182. * ,

La Pie Griefche de Canada, Brijfon, ii. 171 Lev. Mus.

g With black bill and legs : head adorned with a reddifli creft :
cheeks dufky, fpotted with white : hind part of neck and back
brown> inclining to red : throat and breaft of a yellowifh red : belly
and vent of a fine alh-color : coverts of the wings black, edged
witli white j primaries with white on their exterior fides : tail black,
bordered on each fide, and tipt with white. Length fix inches
and a hrlf : Extent about eleven.

Inhabits Canada* Place.

g With the bill flightly incurvated at the end, black, except the
upper half of the lower mandible : crown, lower part of the
upper fide of the neck, and the back, black : over each eye is a
white line, extending to the very nape ; beneath that one of black :
from ciiin to vent is wholly white : a narrow white circle quite en-

compafles

130. Natka.

28o

RED-BACKED SHRIKE.

!■

Pla

CE.

compafles the neck : lefler coverts of the wings black j greater
white, more or lefs dafhed down die Ihafts with black : primaries
dulky, fringed with yellowifh brown; fecondaries black, edged
and tipped widi white : tail black, a litde rounded j the four out-
moft feathers tipped with white : rump cinereous, the edges of the
feadiers grey : legs black. Length feven inches one-fourth.

Brought from Natka found in North America. Communicated
to me by Mr. Latham^ who defcribes it (vol. i. p. 169) under the
name of the Northern.

131. Red-
backed.

Place,

Br. Zool. 1. N»72. — Latham, i. 167.
Lanius Collurio, Faun. Suec. N" 81.
Pie-grieche de la Louifiane, De Buffon, i. 307.— i>/. Enl. 397.~Lev. Mus.

g^ With grey crown and rump : ferruginous back and coverts of
wings : black line acrofs the eyes : breaft and belly rofeate :
tail black J exterior feathers edged with white: head and upper
part of the Female dirty ruft-color ; line over the eyes the fame
color : breafl and belly dirty white, marked with dufky femicircular
lines. Llngth feven inches and a half.

Inhabits Ruffia i not Sibiria. Is found in Sweden and Chrijiianfoe.
The Count Be Buffon fays, he received one from Louiftana. I
imagine, that, as the Norwegians give the Great Shrike and this a
name, that they may be found in their country. The firft they call
Klaverty the lall Hanvark. Mr. Ekmark has obferved both of
them, only during fummer, in Eafi Gothland-, but is not certain
whether they winter. Each fpecies appears in Italy in the fpringj
retires in autumn.

The Red-backed Shrike returns to Sweden the latter end of
Ap-il: makes its neft in low bufties, in form of a cup, near a quarter
of a yard in diameter, of wool, foft dry grafs,&c. with amazing art.

The

GREY S H IKE.

The young are long before they Hy i -. (k of feeding the young
refts chiefly on the fepnalej and princip ; the food confifts of in-
fers of the hymenopera order. Their food is not confined to thofe,
for Mr. Oedman has feen about the nefts the exuvia of thoufands of
hornets. The female defends its neft ftoutly, yet at otlier times is
very timid : the male with great aflfeaion feeds its mate, when the
latter is on the duty of incubation j and during that time is rarely
feen at home. When the female has quitted the nefl, the male un-
dertakes the care of the young ; fitting for their protedion in the
top of fome neighboring tree : the female fits in fearful filence :
its mate elevates its voice. This fpecies feeds chiefly on infefts^
feldom on fmall birds.— Mr. Oedman,

%%i

A. GnEV, Lanius Nengeta, Hn. Syjl. i^^.—l,ati>am, j. 183,
Grey Pye oi Brajil, Edw. 318.

g With the crown, hind part of the neck, back, and coverts of
the wings, deep cinereous : a black line pafl^es from the bjU
through the eyes to the hind part of the head : greater coverts and
fecondaries black, tipt with dirty white j primaries black : breaft
and belly light afli-color : tail black j ends of the outmoft feathers
white. Much larger than N" 127, the common Great Shrike j
and differs fpecifically.
Vol. I. O 0 Inhabits

SSl

i 1

Place,

Placi.

LESSER GREY SHRIKE,

Inhabits RuJ/ia, but is more frequent in Sihiria -, where it lives
in the forefts the whole winter. Taken and tamed by the fowlers j
and kept by the Ruffians for the diverfion it affords in the manner
of killing its prey. They ftick a rod with a Iharp point into the
wall of a room, on which the Shrike perches. They turn loofe
a fmall bird, which the former inftantly feizes by the throat,
ftrangles, and then fpits it on the point of the ftick, drawing it on
widi its claws and bill. Thus it ferves as many as are turned to
it, and afterwards eats them, thus fufpended, at its leifure *. The
Germans ftyle it Wurchangek or the Suffocating-angel. The old Eng^
lijh, Wanangeh which fignifies a bird of fome very mifchievous
qualities i as is evident from Chaucer.

This Sompnour, which that was as ful of jangles.
As ful of venime ben thife WariangUs f.

B. Lesser Grey, Pie Grieche d*ItaJie, De Buffon, i. 298.— ?/. Enl. 32.

g^ With the forehead black : a black line croffes the eyes, like
as in the former : head, hind part and fides of the neck, back,
and coverts of wings, cinereous, paleft on the rump: ridge of the
wing white: primaries black, with a white fpot near the bafci fe-
condaries black, tipt with white : throat white : breaft and beUy
tinged widi rofe-color : tail marked like the preceding.
Inhabits Ruffia, but not Sibiria. Found in Italy and Spain.

* Edwards, G/. p. 233.

t The Freres tale.— F*/ 0/ venime, becaufe it was believed, that the thorn on
which it ftuck it* prey was venomous.

V. PARROT.

CAROLINA PARROT.

a8j

V. P a\ R R O T. Gen, Birds V.

Parrokeeto, Lanv/on, \\i,— Latham, i. 227.— Lev. Mus.
Parrot of Carolina, Catefiy, i. w.—Du Pratz, ii. 88.
Pfittacus Carolinenfis, Lin. Syft. 141.— .J?r^«, iv. 350.
La Perruche a tete jaune, De Buffon, vi. 274.
Le Papegai a tete aurorc, De Buffon, vi. 247.

132. Carolina.

'f I,

PWith the forehead, ridge of the wings, and feathers round
• the knees, orange : head and neck yellow: bark, body, and
coverts of wings and tail, green : primaries dufky, nruxed with blue
and green j the upper exterior fides edged with yellow : tail very
long and cuneiform: legs white. Length thirteen inches.
Weight three ounces and a half.

Inhabits the fouthern parts of North America^ but never appears
higher than Firgima. It is in general a migratory bird, even in Ca-
rolina i arriving at the feafon when mulberries are ripe, which they
are very fond of, and which are the earlieft fruits of the country,
except ftrawberries. They infeft, in autumn, the apple-orchards
in vaft flocks, and make great havock by fplitting the fruit for the
fake of the kernels only, being very greedy of them, and the feeds
of cyprefs, and other trees. They devour too the buds of the
birch.

Few of thefe tender birds continue in Carolina during the whole
year. They breed in hollow trees, in low fwampy grounds. When
taken, they eafily grow tame, but do not fpeak. Their inteftines
are faid to be a fpeedy poifon to Cits. '

O 0 2 The

Place.

■«ji ,ji

^

284

Eooj.

133. Illinok.

Placb.

Latitudes of

PARROTt.

ILLINOIS PARROT.

The eggs of Parrots arc roundifh, and generally of a pure white i
thofe of the Maccaws fpotted, like the eggs of a Partridge. The
ftuirber ufually two ; yet the Count De Buffon gives an inftance of
a Perroquet, in a ftate of confinement, which laicj four eggs every
fpring, during five or fix years : one of the ^^i% was addle • the
others produdive *. *

Tui-apeta-jube, Margra've. 206, N« i.^lViL Orn. xxS.^Rail. Syn. Av 34-

De Buffon, vi. 269.—/'/. EnL szS^Latiam, i. 228.
Pfittacus Pertinax, Lin. Syji. 142.
La Perruche Illinoire, Brifci, iv. 353.
Yellow-faced Parrot, Edw. 234.

p^ With a cinereous bill : orange-colored irides : forehead,
cheeks, ind fometimes the hind part of the head, of a rich
orange : crown, upper part of the body, tail, and coverts of the
wings, of a fine green: primaries green, edged externally with
blue : breaft and belly of a yellowifli green : vent yellow : tail very
long and cuneiform. Of the fame fize with the former

Inhabits the interior parts of North America, i„ the country of
the nimots, fouth of lake Michigam: it is alfo met with in the Bra
ztls. Is a hvely bird; but its voice not very articulate. Father
Cbarlevotx met with fome on the banks of the fheatiki, a river that
rifes a httle fouth of lake Michigam, and runs into the MiJ/iftpi He
fays, that thofe he faw were only ftraggiers, which migrated before
winter; but that the main body paflcd the whole year on the bor-
ders of the MiJ/iftpi ■\.

The Count Be Buffon confines the whole genus of Parrots to ex
aeUy twenty-five degrees on each fide of the Equator %. It always

♦ Oi/, vi. ,,5. ^ Journal Hijiori^tu, vi. 124. , Qiy, yj. ^2.

gives

ILLINOIS PARROT.

gives mc pain to differ in opinion with fo illuftrious a charafterj
but I muft produce my authorities of their being common at far
greater diftances. On the continent oi America, two fpecies have
been obferved by the Spaniards about Trinity Harbour, in the South
Seas, m north lat. 4,. 7 •. Dr. Forjier faw, in the raw, rainy lati-
tude oiDuJky Bay, in Netv Zealand, 46 fouth, two kinds. In the
neighborhood oi Botany Bay, in New Holland, in fouth lat. 34, five
fpecies were difcovered -, among which, die greater variety of the
fulphur-crefted Cockatoo appeared in amazing multitudes. But
what IS moft wonderful, a fmall fpecies of this tender genus is to be
met with as low as Port Famine, in the ftreights of Magellan, in
fouth lat. S3' 44 1» in flocks innumerable. They inhabited die
vaft forefts of the country. Their food muft be confined to buds
and berries j for no fort of fruit-trees have been obferved diere.
The forefts likewife were frequendy bounded by mountains, pro-
bably cloadied with eternal fnow.

• BarriHgton*s Mi/cellanies, 489.491.

t See Spilbtrgtn's Fey. in Purchas, i. 80 ; Wood's, in Dampier's Voy. iv. 1 12 ; and
Byron's, in Ha^wkefworth's Coll. i. 38. Befides thefe authorities, Lieut. Gore (fince
Captain) and Mr. Edwards, now furgeon at Caernarvon, who failed with Mr. Byron
confirmed to me the exiftcnce of thefe birds in the ftreights of Magellan. ' *

285

VI. C R O W.

?'»

1^=^-!'-

P^

»f

286

RAVEN.

VI. CROW. Gen, Birds XII.

134. Raven.

Size.
Place.

Br. Zoo/, i, N" 74,
Corvus Corax, Lin. Syfl. 155.
Korp, Faun. Suec. N» i^.—Leems, 240..
'-De Buffon, iii. 13. — Lev. Mus.

-Faim. Groin/, p. 6z.^Lat/jam, i. 367.

^ With the point of the bill a little incurvated, with a fmall
V-J« tooth on each fide, of a black color, glofled with blue. It
varies to white, and to pied. In the Feroe ides is a breed which
are black and white, and are faid to keep in a place feparate from
the common kind *.

The largeft of the genus. Weighs three pounds. Length two
feet two inches.

Very numerous as far north as Finmark, Iceland, and Greenland,
where it frequents the huts of the natives, and feeds on the offals
of the Seals f. Preys in concert with the White Bear, Ardic Fox,
and Eagle. Devours the eggs of birds, efpecially the Ptarmigan :
eats fhore-filh, and fhell-filh : drops the laft from on high to break
them, and get at the contents. Turns round in the air, and is dex-
terous J changes its prey from its bill to its feet, or from its feet to
its bill, by way of eafe. Eats alfo berries, and, when almoft fa-
mifhed, dried fkins and excrements. Neftles on high rocks, which
overhang and afford a canopy. Couples in March -, lays in April
Each preferves a diftrift to itfelf. The male fits in the day ; the
female in the night : the former deeps clofe by its mate. Have

• Brunnici, p. 8.

t EgeJe, 64.

ftrong

CARRION CROW.

flrong affcaion to their young brood. Hearing its croaking
echoed, repeats itj as if admiring its own note. At approach of
ftorms, collefts under fhelter of rocks.

Caught by the natives. Its fleli is eaten. The fkins reckoned
the beft for cloathing : the wings ufed for brufhes : the quils fplit,
are made into fifhing-lines. They alfo inhabit Newfoundland, and
now and then appear as low as Virginia and Carolina *.

This bird is, among the American favages, an emblem of return
of health. Their phyficians, or radier magicians, when they vifit
a fick perfon, invoke the Raven, and mimic his croaking voice f.
The northern Indians, on the contrary, deteft this and all the Crow
kind|. It inhabits Kamtfcbatka and Sibiriui but not within the
AJiatic Arftic regions.

The Raven in winter lives in Sweden, in flocks, near the Ihores
of the fea, to fupport itfelf on whatfoever the waves fling up. The
ruftics efteem it a bird of ill omen, efpecially when it is heard
croa.iing near the houfes of the fick. They fear fhooting this bird,
under a notion that it will fpoil their gun.— Mr. Oedman.

987

Br. Zool L N» 75 }—Lstham, i. 370.

Blaae Raage, Brunnick, N» 29.

Corvus Corone, Faun. Suec. N" 86.

La Corbine, ou rCorneiUe, De Buffon, iu. 45— P/. Enl. 483.— Lev. Mus.

Q^^ With the plumage wholly black, glofltd with violet : bill
flrong, thick, and arched : noflrils covered with llrong black
briftles : ends of the feathers of the tail flightly pointed. Length
eighteen inches and a half. Weight from twenty to twenty-two
ounces §.

• Laiv/on, 139.
§ Voyage, i. 121.

3

t Adair* tHifi, Am. 173,

X Mr. Hutchlni.

Inhabits

135. Carrion.

$81

Placc.

CARRION CROW.

Inhabits the province of New Torky and the inland parts odlud-
Jon's Bay. Mr. Blackburn obferved, that it retains there the fame
manners as the European (pccies; and never migrates from New
Tork. Mr. Kaim Hiys, that they fly in great numbers, and have a
cry much refembling the Rook. *. By his account, they appear of
a mixed nature, feeding not only on grain, but on carrion j and arc
alfo very pernicious to young poultry. Like Rooks, they pull up
the corn of the country, the new-fown maize -, and, when it ripens,
pick a hole in the leaves which furround the ears, expofing it to
corruption, by letting in the rain. The inhabitants of Penjylvania
and New Jerjey were wont to profcribe them, fetting three pence
or four pence on the head of each Crow j b. : the law was foon
repealed, becaufe of the great expence it brought on the public
(lock f. Mr. Kalm alfo remarks this agreement with the Rook
fpecies, that diey fettle much on trees, both in Febrnary and the
fpring.

Thefe birds are fo rare in Sweden^ that Linnaeus gives only one
inftance of its being killed in his country. Yet it is found in the
diocefe of Drcntbeim, and in the Feroe iflands. They are fcarce in
Ruffia; and only in the north. Grow more common in Sibiria,
and are found plentifully beyond the Lena^ where the Hooded
Crow ceafes. Was obferved about Botany Bay, in Nr^v Holland i
and is met with in the Pbilippm ifles J.

The Carrion Crow is never ken farther north than Norcofin^
Jat. 58. 45. — Mr. Oedman.

* See article Rook» p. 292, A. where a comparifon is made of the diftcrcncei
between thefe two birds,

^ ytyaf^e, ii. 65, ' % Di Bujon, iii. 66.

Sr,

I"
P.

MAGPIE, AND CINEREOUS CROW,

289

Sr. Zool. I. N»78 — Latham, i. 392.— Z)* Sujon, iii. 85.

Corvuj Pica, Skata, Skiura, Skara, Faun. Suec. N»92.— Lev. Mvs,

136. Magfib.

/^ Variegated with black and white, the black moft beautifully
gloflcd with green and purple : the tail very long, cuneiform,
black, refplendenf with the fame rich colors as the body. Length
eighteen inches : weight nine ounces.

Vifits Hudfon's Bay^ where the natives call it Que ta-kee AJke^ or
•the Heart-bird, It migrates, and but feldom appears there *.

Is found in EuropCy as high as JVardhuySy m lat. 71 f. It is
cfteemed there an augural bird. If it perches on the church, it is
fuppofed to portend the death or removal of the minifter : if on
the caftle, that of the governor f. The Magpies fwarm in the
temperate parts of Rtiffia, Common in Sibiria^ and even as far as
Kamtjchatkaj and the ifles.

Place.

S-l

Corvus Canadenfis, Lin. Syjl. 158 Latham, i. 389.

Le Geay Brun de Canada, Brijfon, ii, 54. — De Buffon, iii. 117.— Lev. Mus.

J37. Cinereous.

r^ With a black bill, ftrong, ftrait, notched near the end of-the
upper mandible : noftrils covered with a tuft of whitifh fea-
thers reflefted downwards : the forehead, cheeks, and under part of
the body, of a dirty reddifh white : the feathers on the crown long
and black, forming a fpecies of creft, like that of the Englijh Jay:
the plumage on the back brown, filky, loofe, and unwebbed, like
that of the Jay: wings black: tail long, cuneiform, black •; the
three outmoft feathers tipt with dirty white: legs black. Le-ngth
near eleven inches : extent fifteen. Weight two ounces and a half.

• Pbil. Ttan/. Ixii. 387.

f Leems, 241.

Vol. I.

PP

Inhabits

390

Placi.

BLUE CROW.

Inhabits Uudfon*s Bay, Newfoundland, and Canada, and the woods
on the wcftern coafts o( Jmrica. Thcfc birds breed early in
fpring : their nefts arc made of flicks and grafs, and built in pine-
trees. They have two, rarely three, young ones at a time. Their
eggs are blue. The young are quite black, and continue fo for
fome time. They fly in pairs. The male and female are per-
fefbly alike. They feed on black mofs, worms, and even flefh.
When near habitations or tents, they are apt to pilfer every thing
they can come at, even fait meat. They are bold, and come into
the tents to eat viduals out of the difhes, notwithftanding they have
their hoard of berries lodged in the hollows of trees. They watch
perfons baiting the traps for Martins, and devour the bait as foon
as they turn their backs. Thefe birds lay up ftores for the winter j
and are ftldom fcen in January, unlefs near habitations : they are a
kind of mock-bird. When caught, they pine away, and die, tho'
their appetite never fails them*. Detefted by the natives of
lludjon's Bay.

I '^

138. Blue. Jay. Clayton'' s VirgiHia.-^Phil. Tranf.m. 590. — Lavifin, 141,

Blue Jay, Catejby, i, 15.— jS'^/w. z^g.—Latbam, i. 386.
Corvus Criftatus, Lin. Syji. 157.

Lc Gcay Bleu dc Canada, Brijfon, ii. 55. — Dt Bufon, iii. 120.— Bl. Mu».
—Lev. Mus.

Q^ With a fl:rong thick bill : head adorned with a rich blue
crett : a ftripe of black from the bill extending beyond the
eyes : throat and cheeks white : neck furrounded with a black col-
lar : breaft of a pale vinaceous red : belly white : back of a pale
purple : coverts of the wings and fecondaries, of a rich blue.

I' I

• Mr.Hutchinu

beautifliUy

STELLER'S CROW.

beautifully barred with black j the fecondaries, and one order of
the coverts, tipt with white : tail long and cuneiform, barred with
blue and black , the tips of all white, excepting thoie of the two
middlemoft : legs black. Lenc ^h twelve inches.

Inhabits Newfoundland, Canada, and as far fouth as Carolina. Has
the fame adlions and jetting motion as the EngliJJj Jay, but its cry
is lefs harfh. It feeds on fruits and berries, and commonly fpoils
more than it eats. It is particularly fond of the berries of the bay-
Icavi-d Smilax. Refides in the country all the year. Lays in A%
five or fix eggs, of a dull olive with rufty fpots.

a^i

Placi.

'!J .1

Q With a crcfted head: bill, neck, and back, black : lefler co- .39- Stiller's..

verts of the wings dufl<y ; the others of a rich refplendent
blue : exterior webs of die primaries of the fame color, the inner
dufky ; the fecondaries of a beautiful rich blue, crofled with narrow
black bars, remote from each other : the rump, belly, and breaft,
of a dull blue : tail very long, cuneiform, and of a fine glofly blue i
the middle feathers flightly barred. Size of an Engliflj Jay.

Inhabits the woods about Nootka or George found, in North Ante- Plac«.

rica. It had been before difcovered by Steller, when he landed on
the fame fide of that continent. Defcribed from a fpecimen in the
colleaion of Sir Joseph Banks.

• Latham, i. 387.

Pp

A. Rook,

ft •■ 1

;»

1

!

■

f(

'a

,?■

i$i

R

O

K.

I .

Place.

"\ Rook, Br. Zool. i. N" 'jb.'— Latham, i. 372.

Corvus Frugilcgus, Roka, Faun. Suec. N" Sy.—De BuJvk, iii. 55.

r^ Black, glofled with purple : a tinge of dull green over part
of the tail : the ends of the feathers of the tail broad, and
rounded ; thofe of the Crow, acute : the bill ftraiter, flenderer, and
weaker, than that of the Carrion Crow : the length two inches and
a halfi that of the latter only two inches and a quarter. The bill
of the Crow is of a more intenfe black. The noftrils and bafe of
the bill of the Rook naked, and whitilh, occafioncd by being often
thruft under ground in fearch of food. The weight of both
nearly the fame, about twenty-one ounces : the length about
eighteen inches : the extent of wings in the Rook three feet one
inch and a half j of the Crow, two inches and a half lefs *.

The Rook has not been obferved in Swedetiy except in the fouth-
ern province of Scania, and the ifle of Oland. It breeds there j but
is driven away by the feverity of the winter. No mention is made
of it in the Danijh or Norwegian Faunae. Is common in Rujfiay
and the weft of Sibiria ; but there are none in the eaft. They
migrate in the beginning of March to the environs of JVoroneJch,
and mingle with the common Crows \.

• I once had the curiofity to compare the meafurements of thefe common birds, and

found them as above; but they are often inferior in fizes to the fubjefts I examined.

f Ex trails, i. 103.

3 B. Hooded,

I'

Hi'

HOODED CROW.

253

B. Hooded Cr. Br. Zoo/, i. N<» T]. ^Latham, i. 374.
Corvus Comix-, Kraka, Faun. Suec. K° 88.
Krage, Leem, 239 — De Buffon, xii. 61.

Q^ With black head, wings, and tail ; afh-colored body.

Inhabits Europ, as high as the Feroe idands and Lapmark,
where it continues the whole year; but in the northern countries
often retires to the Ihores, where it lives on (hell-filli. Is very
contimon in all Ruffta and SmHa: none beyond the Lem. Mi-
grates to tVoronefch, and pafles the winter there. Grows very large
beyond the Oby and often varies to entire blacknefs. This bird,
and the Raven, in OSlober quit the Jub-alpine woods, where they
breed; and fpread all over the plains oHtaly. This fpecies extends
to Syria, as do the Raven, Crow, Jackdaw, and Magpie *.
. It is very fingular, that the Hooded Crow, when it migrates, at
the approach of winter, out o{ Smoland, retires into Upland, a pro-
vince three degrees to the north of the former : there it lives during
winter, near the ihores, in the manner of the Raven. It is a bird
detefted by the natives. Feeds on the eggs of the wild Geefe and
Ducks. Is driven away from the ifles by the Black-backed
Gull. — Mr. Oedman.

This fpecies, the Raven, Crow, Jackdaw, Pie, and Jay, pafs
their winter at Woronejch f, removing probably from hotter as well
as colder climates j for three of the above can endure die fevered
cold.

Place.

i

\1 '

Rufel's Aleppo, 6g,

f Exirai}.', i. 100,

C. Jackdaw,

I I

^94

JACKDAW, AND NUTCRACKER.

II

C. Jackdaw, Br. Zool. i. N" Si .—Lahjam, i. 378.
Kaia, Faun. Suec. N" 89. — De Buffon, iii. 69.

^ With white irides : hind part of the head light grey ; breaft
and belly dufky afli ; reft of the bird black. Length thir-
teen inches.
^''*^'^' Inhabits as far north as Sondmor : is fometimes feen in the Feroe

ifles. Migrates from Smoland and Eaft Gothland the moment that
harveft ends -, and returns in the fpring, attendant on the Stares.
Winters about Upfal:, and pafles the night in vaft flocks in ruined
towers, efpecially thofe of antient Upjal. Is feldom met with be-
yond Helfmgelandy a province lying between lai. 61. and 62. 23'
Inhabits towers, but often ufes the deferted nefts of Woodpeckers.
Common over all Rujfia and the weft of Sihiria. A few are
feen beyond lake Baikal, Are migratory, unlefs in the foudi of
Ruffia.

D. Nutcracker, Br. Zool. ii. App. p. 62^.— Latham, i. 400 De Buffon, iii. 122.

Merula Saxatilis, Aldr. Av. ii. 284.

Corvus Caryocataftes, Notwecka, Notkraka, Faun. Suec. No 91.

Placi.

^ With primaries and tail black, the ^aft tipt with white : vent
white : reft of the plumage of a rufty brown : crown, and co-
verts of the tail, plain ; every other part marked with white trian-
gular fpots. Size of a Jackdaw.

Is found as high as Sondmor. Common in the pine-forefts of
RuJ/ia and Sii>iria, and even in Kamtjchatka. Lives on nuts and

acorns.

II '1

1 A Y.

acorns, and on the kernels of pine-cones. Neftles in Ae bodies
of trees, wh.ch it perforates lilce tlie Woodpecker.

The NuTBRBAKER comes very late into SweJ,.; and (lays there
t.11 the nuts are gathered. Is not to be feen beyond Ufl^J. Hazel
nuts rarely are to be met beyond ft/., lat. 60. 45 : they have indeed
been planted, by Mr. %A«, « »,&> near the araic circle •
they endured the winter, but did not bearfruit. The nuts of 0/W

a 2T '' t"^^ f" '" ^""''"'•' '"^ *^"S'>' *«^ "^ fweet as
almonds.— Mr. Oedma».

29s

E. J.V. BrZ.!. I NO 79.-Z«.^.., ;. ,s,.-De Buffon, iii. ,07.
Corm Glandanus, Allonfkrika, Kornftrika, Faun. Suec. N^ 90.

C^ With a black fpot on each fide of the mouth: very long
feathers on the head : body purplifh afh : greater coverts of
wings beautifully barred with rich blue, black, and white. Le^^gth
thirteen inches.

^ Is met with as high north as Sondmor. Not migratory. Common
in the woods o{ RuJ/:a and Si/^iria, but none beyond the Le^m It
is met with again in Cbim.

The Jay is eaten in Sweden; and taken in fpringes, baited
with the berries of the mountain afh, or forhs aucuparia.^Mr.
Vedman.

Place.

F. Rock,

i

2^6

ROCK C R O W»

F. Rock, Greater Redftart, Wil. Orn. 197,
La PaifTe Solitaire, Belon Oyf. 322.
Codiroflb Maggiorc, Olina, /^"j .^^Latham, i. lyS.—DJBuJoii, iii. 354.— ^/rfV-. Av. ii.

282.
Stein-Rotela, Ge/n. A-v, 732. ,

r^^ With crown, and neck above, and coverts of wings, brown
and dirty white. In the males, the middle of the back marked
with a fpot, confining of a bar of blue, black, and ruft-colored :
throat, breaft, and belly, orange, fpotted with white, and a few dufky
fpots : two middle feathers of the tail dufky ; the reft ferruginous :
has the fame loofe filky texture of feathers as the Ja/. Size of a
Stare. ,

Place. Found as high as theforefts o{ Lapland. Is called by the SwedeSy

Lappfiata and Olyckfugl; by die Norzvegiansy Gertrudsfogel i alfo
Ulyksfuegl^ from its being fuppofed to forebode ill-luck. Linnaust
for the fame reafon, flyies it Lanius Infaiiftus ; and in his Fauna,
Corvus Infaujlus *. It is common in the woods of the north oiRuJJia
and Sibiria. Is a moft audacious bird. Linnaus relates, that in
dining amidft the Lapland forefts, it would often fnatch away the
meat before him. Breeds in crevices of rocks. Feeds on worms
and infedls. bings finely, and is often prefcrved in cages for its
fong.

• .J)J/?. 138.— f .!«//. 5«iV. No 93.

ROLLER.

i r

GARRULOUS

ROLLER,

W

ROLLER. Gen. Birds, XIH.

Coracia, Oarrul», Spa„fc-lc„k„, illa-kraka. f .... s,„. N« 54.

R- bliT L^"' ,''"' ''^'°"'' ''^'' ^»^= ''-^' -*. back.
'"^<^»'*' belly, and greater coverts of the wings of a iiirl,,

bl«,m green . back ferrt.ginous : coverts of the tail, Je ov r^o
the wrngs, anU lower parts of the fecondaries. of a r ch bLe 1

7::. T:t7- r, T"- ""'""' ^-'- ^^^

S..EofaJay. ' ""'' "P' ™'* "^^''^ fegsyellowift.

This elegant bird is found not fpread, but as if it were in a ftream

St::dt:rJ^:?r^r;^"'^•°^^^^^

C...«. retires at the conZ.; o "thf te^VTJk ' ''=
neft in the birch, preferably to a„ other tls^; ,7'lZ
where trees are wanting, fuch as ^./,. and^X,; Lm

fclk, r\ "^- ^'""•"'' '''' " '"^^ «- ^eS^. of clear ee
fpnnkled w„h ,n„„,„erable dark C, =cks |. It k^ on fruits, acl^s;

• f'^'lyLff,, 6,. t A»». ^w. iv. S83.

«:. Jr^^l:;,;' ^ '"■" '"'' "'"■"«-«• °- of!" ='~ na.„ i. ^„,,.
5 Z™«,- «4//, A-w,,, bv. p. 68. tab. x. Sj. 25.
Vol. I.

aq

and

PtACI.

,;j

1^'

1

^<f%

GARRULOUS ROLLER.

and infefts. Is a fhy birdj but, at times, is feen in company
with Crows and Pies on the plough lands, picking up worms,
and grains of corn. Srhwenckfelt fays, that in autumn it grows
very fat, and is efteemed as a delicacy*. It is remarkably
clamorous. Is migratory. M. Adanjon obfervec' them in Senc'^
gal, in flocks, in the month o( September, and fuppofes they winter
there f.

• Av. Sikfia, 244. t Voy. Senegal, Engl. ed. z$. 107.

liHii

. )

VII. ORIOLE.

R E D-W I N G O R I O L

999

VII. ORIOLE. Gen. Birds

XIV.

Acolchichi, Fernm^. AW. IVj-p, p. j^.^;^,/. 0^: ^^^.^Raii Syn, Av. 166—

Latham, i. 42 S.
Black Bird (2d fp.) Laiv/on, 139.
Ped-winged Starling. C«/./_y, i. i3.-2)« Pratz, ii. 9,.
Le Troupiale a Aifles Rouges, 5r/^«, ii. 97.
Le Commandeur, /)f ;7,/^fl„, iii. 214.—^/. £«/. 402.
Oriolus Phoeniceus, Lin, Syji. i6i.

140. RCD-WINC.

r\ With black biU and legs : plumage of a fine jetty blacknefs,
V-/. except the leffer coverts of the wings, which are of a bright
fcarlet, with the lowefl: row white. Length ten inches. The Fe-
males are of a dufl^y color.

Inhabit from the province of New York to the kingdom of
Mexico. In North America they are called Red-winged Starlings,
and Swamp Black-birds j in Mexico, Commendadores, from dieir red
ihoulders, refembling a badge worn by the commanders of a certain
Sfanijh order. That kingdom feems to be their moftfouthern refi-
dence. They appear in New York in Apil, and leave the coun-
try in 05iober, They probably continue the whole year in the
fouthern parts, at left Catefuy and Lawjon make no mention of
tlieir departure. They are i^^n in flocks innumerable, obfcuring
at times the very Iky with their multitudes. They were efteemed
the peft of the colonies, making moft dreadful havock among the
maize and other grain, both when new fown, and when ripe. Tliey
are very bold, and not to be terrified with a gun j for, notwithaand-

Q q 2 ing

Plac*.

Manners.

i;.

1' ' \

300

Uses.

I\ f

^ 1 V

11' I

Ne3

ST.

R E D-W I N G ORIOLE.

ing tlie rportfman makes Haughter in a flock, the remainder will
take a fhort flight, and fettle again in the fame field. The farmers
fometimes attempt their deftrudion, by fteeping the maize in a de,
coftion of white hellebore before they plant it. I'he birds which
eat this prepared corn are feized with a vertigo, and fall downj
which fometimes drives the refl: away. This potion is particularly
aimed againft the Purple Grakles, or Purple Jackd.w, which
conforts in myriads with this fpecies, as if in confpiracy againft the
labors of the hulbandman. The fowler feldom flioots amon- the
flocks, but fome of each kind fall. They appear in greateft numbers
m autumn, when they receive additions from the retired parts of the
country, in order to prey on the ripened maize.

Some of the colonies have eftablifhed a reward of three pence a
dozen for the extirpation of the Jackdaws : and in New England,
the intent was almoft efleded, to the coft of the inhabitants ^ who
at length difcovered that Providence had not formed even thefe
feemingly deftrudlive birds in vain. Notwithftanding they caufed
fuch havock among the grain, they made ample recompence, by
clearing the ground of the noxious worms * with which it abounds
As foon as the birds were deftroyed, the reptiles had full leave to
multiply: the confequence was the total lofs of the grafs, in 1749.
when the New Engenders, late repentants, were obliged to get their
hay from Penjyhania, and even from Great Britain,

The Red-winged Orioles build their nefts in bulhes, and among
the reeds in retired fwamps, in the form of a hang-neft, leaving it
fufpended at lo judicious a height, and by fo wondrous an inftind,
that the higheft floods never reach to deftroy it. The neft is ftrong
made externally with broad grafs, a little plaftered^ thickly lined

• The CaterpiUar of the Bruchus Pifu or Peafe Beetle, in particular. See Kal., i.
173. 170.

with

WHITE-BACKED ORIOLE.

with b=„t or wUhered graft. The eggs are white, tl>i„ly and irre-
gularly ftrcakcd with black. , '

/■.;«„*^ fays, that in Mexico they build in trees near towns-
and both he and Catefiy agree, that tl,ey f.ng as well in a (late of
confinement as of nature, and that they may be taught to fpeak.
I agree w.th M 4, Buffo„, that, in cafe the manner of their nyifi.
canon is as Fer„anjez aflerts, the difagreement in the different coun-
tries IS very wonderful.

In Lcuijima they appear only in winter, and are taken in a clap-
net, placed on each fide of a beaten path made on purpofe, and
ftrewed over with rice. As foon as the birds alight, the fowler
draws the net, and fometimes takes three hundred at a haul.
They are alfo eaten in the Englijh colonies. Fe~„a„dez does not
commend their flelb, which, he fays, is unpalatable and unwhole-
fome.

DuPratz fpeaks of two kinds: this, and another which is grey
and black with a red Ihoulder, like the fpecies in queftion I
fufped he forms out of the young birds, not yet arrived at foil color
a new kinds or perhaps a female bird ; for I have received from
Dr. Garden one under that title, which agrees with the defcription
g.v.n by M Du Prat., Thefe are ftreaked with pale rufty
orown: cheeks black: over each eye a white line: breaft and
belly black, ipotted with pale brown: lelTer covem of the win^s
orange. °

301

YOUKG, OR

Females ?

White-bac d Maize Thieves, Kulm, ii. 274.

^ Species mentioned barely as above by Mr. Kalm, with the ad-
dition of their being lefs than the laft: that they fing finely
and appeared flying now and then among the bulhes near SaraJa-

but

141. White-

^ A C U C D,

il'-

301

BALTIMORE ORIOLE.

Placi.

142. BALTiMORt.

but that he faw them for the firft time near New Tcrk. As Mr.
Kalm feems not to have had a diftind fight of thefe birds, it is pof-
fible that they are the White-winced Orioles of Mr. Lathatn, ij.
440 : the coverts of whofc wings are white -, the reft of tiie plumage
entirely black. His ^ecies came from Cayenne,

Baltimore bird, Catejl>y, i. ifi.^-Latham, i. 432.

Le Baltimore, Brijfon, ii, 109. — De Buffon, iii. 231.—/'/. Enl. 506.

Oriolus Baltimore, Lin, Syjl. i62.—Bl. Mus.— Lev. Mus,

Mali.

Female.

Place.

Ill

C\ With the head, throat, neck, and upper part of the back,
black : lefler coverts of the wings orange j the greater black
tipt with white : breaft, belly, lower part of the back, and coverts
of the tail, of a bright orange: primaries dulky, edged with
white : two middle feathers of the tail black j the lower part
of the reft of the fame color, the remaining part orange : legs
black.

Head and back of the female olive, edged with pale brown :
coverts of the wings of the fame color, marked with a fingle bar
of white: under fide of the body, and coverts of the tail, yellow:
tail duflcy, edged with yellow. Length of this fpecies feven
inches.

Inhabits from Carolina * to Canada f. Sufpends its neft to the
horizontal forks of the Tulip or Poplar trees, formed of the fila-
ments of fome tough plants, curioufly woven, mixed with wool,
and lined with hairs. It is of a pear fhape, open at top, with a
hole on the fide, through which the young difcharge their excre-

• Law/on, 145.
3

t De Bufon,

ments,

xu

i?^,?

1;i.

'"^^^//^ymcJre Hru/Z^y .yl^

f4-Q.

JA^.-.i:'

BASTARD ORIOLE.

mcnts, and are fed. In fomc parts of North Jmnca, this fpecies,
from its brilliant color, is called the Fiery Ilang-neft. It is called
the Baltimore bird, from its colors rcfembling thofe in the arms of
that nobleman.

It quits North America before winter, and probably retires to
Mexico, the Xochitototl of Fernandez * feeming to be the fame fpe-
cies.

w

Baftard Baltimore, Catsjfy, I ^^.^Ltuham, i. 433.

Le Baltimore Batard, Briffon, ii. m.—De Dufon, iii. 233 PI. Enl. 506.

Oriolus Spurius, Lin. Syft. 162.— Bl. Mus.—Lev. Mus.

14.3. Bastard.

'i

Q^ With the head, neck, and upper part of the back, of a full
glofly black : breaft and belly of a fine orange bay : lower
part of the back, and coverts of the tail, of the fame color: the
lefler coverts of the wings light bay j the greater black, edged with
dirty white : the quil feathers dufky, edged with white : tail cunei-
form and black.

The head of the female, and hind part of the neck, deep olive :
throat black: coverts of wings dulky edged with white j primaries
and fecondaries of the fame colors: under fide of the body of a
greenifh yellow : tail dufky, edged with yellow.

Inhabits North America, Arrives in New York in May. Lays
five eggs i and ufually hangs its neft in an apple-tree.

• Av. Nov. Hijp. 3^.

Placb.

11

i

n

Lathami

n

304

144- Black.

11':]

Pl-ACE.

145. Brown.

HEAPED,

Place,

iiiinf!

BLACK, AND BROWN - HEADED ORIOLE.

Latham, il. 445, N^ 37.

Le Troupiale ^o^r.BriJfon, ii. 103. tab. x.^De Bnffhn.
— Br. Mus. . "^

iii. s^o.—P/. Enl, 534.

O. With a black bill, an inch long: legs of the fame color-
whole plumage black and glofly. Length near ten inches.'
Extent one foot. Weight two ounces and a quarter.

Female. With head, breaft, and belly, dufky, tinged with ci-
nereous ; the reft of the plumage of a greenifh brown.

Inhabits North America, even as far as Hudjon's Bay, Arrives
there in the beginning of J^;;., as foon as the ground is thawed fuf.
ficiently for them to get food, which is Worms and Maggots.
They fing with a fine note tiU the tim.e of incubation, when they
defift, and only make a chucking noife till the young take their
flight i when they refume their fong. They build their nefts in
trees, about eight feet from the ground, and form them with mofs
and grafs. Lay five eggs, of a dark color, fpotted with black.
Gather m great flocks, and retire foutherly in September, A bird
which I apprehend to be only a lefler variety, is defcribed by the
(^omte de Buffon, m, %ii^ fl, Enl ^6., Uthm.n, ^^6,

«

O. With the head of a rufty brown : the body and wings black,
glofied with green: the tail of a dufky color, 3i?e of « com-
mon Blackbird— Br. Mus, Lev, Mus.

Inhabits Nm Tcrk, and appears there in fmaJI flocks during
furnmer. Perhaps migratcf to St, Domingo, where it is alfo found,
and IS called there, according to Mr. Kuchan', account, Siffieur, or
W hiftler ; but diflers from that defcribed by M. De Buffon, iii. j.o,
which 15 entirely yellow beneath.

O. With

^ RUSTY, WHITE-HEADED, &c. ORIOLE.

O. With dufky bill and legs : head, and hind part of the neck,
of a blackilh purplifh hue, with the edges of the feathers ruft-
colored : from the bill, over and beneath the eyes, extends a black
fpace, reaching to the hind part of the head: throat, under fide of
the neck, the breaft, and back, black, edged with pale ruft: belly
dufky : wings and tail black, glolTed with green. Length between
leven and eight inches.

• Appears in New Tork in the latter end of OSfober, and makes a
very fhort ftay th^re : it probably is on its way foutherly from Hud-
Jon s Bay, where it is alfo found.

^05

146. Rusty,

Placei

Le Caffique de la Louifiane. De Buffcn, iii, 242.-?/. EnU 646.

O. With the head, neck, belly, and rump, white : the reft of the
plumage changeable violet, bordered with white, or in fome
parts intermixed. Length ten inches French.
Inhabits Louifima,

147. White-

HEADED.

Place.

O. With a dufky bill : head and throat pure white : ridge of the
wing, fome of the under coverts, firft primary, and thighs, of
the fame color : all the reft of the bird dufky, in parts gloffed with
green: on the breaft a few oblong ftrokes of white: legs dufl.y
Length eight inches and a half Extent thirteen and a half.
Weight an ounce and three quarters.

Inhabits Hud/on' s Bay. A very rare fpecies. Quere, if only dif-
■fering in fex from the laft.—LEv. Mus.

Vol. I.

R r

Le

148. Hudson I Air
White-headed.

Place.

nil

1,

r

i ■

u

|o6

I4p. Olive.

Place.

OLIVE, YELLOW . THROATED, &c. ORIOLE.

Le Carouge Olive de la Louifiane, De BuJom, iii. 251.— ?/, Enl, 607,

Q With the head olive, tinged with grey : hind part of the
neck, the back, wings, and tail, of the fame color, tinged with
brown, brighteft on the runnp and the beginning of the tail : the
fides alfo olive, daflied with yellow ; the fame color edges the greater
coverts and primaries: the throat is orange-colored: the under
fide of the body yellow : legs a brownifli alh-color. Lbnoth fix
or feven inches French. Extent from ten to twelve.
Inhabits Louifianaf

.150. Yellow-
throated.

Flack.

151. Unalasch-

KA.

Pla

CI,

Q^ With a bright yello»v ftroke over each eye: cheeks and
throat of the fame color : all the reft of the plumage tinged
with green, only fome of the coverts of the wings are tipt with white :
bill and legs dufky. Length nine inches. Extent fifteen and
a half.

Was fhot in Hudfon's Bay.

Latham, ii. 447, N® 40,

Q With a brown bill ; between its bafe and die eyes a white
mark : plumage above, brown ; the middle of each feather
clouded : chin white, bounded on each fide by a dark diverging
line: fore part of the neck and breaft of a rufty brown : coverts of
the wings the fecondaries, and tail, brown, edged with ruft : pri-
maries and belly plain: fides duiky: legs brown. Length eight
inches.

Brought by the late navigators from Unalajchka.

Latham,

S H A R P.T A I L

ED ORIOLE.

307

Laiham, i. 448.

O. With the crown brown and cinereous : cheeks brown, fur-

bafe „/°"f ^l". ^"^" "^"Sht clay-color, commenced at the
bare of each manible of the bill: throat white: breaft fides and
vent of duU pale yellow, fpotted with brown: belly w^li'Ck
vaned w.* aft-color, blaclt, and white : greater anlllffi^J *

e cffid^ L ' ? "* ™* '■ *■= '■""'"^ °f *^ «i' nope off on
each fide to a point, not unUke thofe of a Woodnecker ,„ T

-«cy^^. and obfcurely barred : the legs ^ptt^ sl^
^^W.abits the province of Ar«.r.^,_K,„„ Mrs. i;/«Ws col.

152. Sharp-
tailed.

!^'

Pl

ACE.

R

r a

VIII. GRAKLE.

3o8

PURPLE GRAKLE.

VIII. GRAKLE. Gen. Birds, XV.

»53. PURPLB.

Tequixquiacatzanatl •, Fernandez Mex. 21.

La Pie de la Jamaique, Brijfon, ii. i^i.—De Buffhn, iii. 97 />/. £«/. 538.

Merops Niger iride fub-argentea, Bro'wn's Jamaica, 476.
Purple Jackdaw, Catejby, i. iz.^Latbam, i. 462.
Black-bird, Laivfcn, fp. 2d, 139. — Sloane Jamaica, ii. 299.
Gracula Quifcula, Lin. SjjL 165 — Bl. Mus Lev. Mus.

Size.

G With a black bill : filvery irides : head and neck black,
• glofled over with a moft refplendent blue, variable as
oppofed to the light : back and belly, with grc n and copper-color,
growing more dufky towards the vent : tail long, and cuneiform :
legs black : wings and tail rich purple. Female entirely dufky j
darkeft on the back, wings, and tail.

Length of the male thirteen inches and a half: the Weight
about fix ounces. Length of the female eleven inches and a
half.

Thefe birds inhabit the fame countries as the Red-wing Orioles^
and generally mingle with them. They fometimes keep feparate ;
but ufually combine in their ravages among the plantations of
maize. After that grain is carried in, they feed on tlie feeds of the
Water Tare Grafs, or Zizania aquatica. Their good qualities, in
clearing the country from noxious infeds, have been recited before,
in page 300, mixed with the hiftory of their congenial compa-
nions.

• i. c. The Salt Starling, becaufe in Mexito it frequents the fait lakes.

They

Iff

Placi.

Nbst.

BOAT-TAIL GR AKLE.

They appear in New York and Philadelphia in February, or the
beginning oi March ; and fit perched on trees near the farms, and
give a tolerably agreeable note. They alfo build in trees, ufually
m retired places, making their nefts externally with coarfe ftalks,
internally with bents and fibres, with plaifter at the bottom. They
lay five or fix eggs, of a pale plue color, thinly fpotted and ftriped
with black. After the breeding-feafon, they return with their
young from their moft diftant quarters, in flights continuing for
miles in length, blackening the very iky, in order to make their
depredations on the ripening maize. It is unfortunate that they in-
creafe in proportion as the country is more cultivated j following
the maize, in places they were before unknown, wherefoever that
grain is introduced.

They migrate from the northern colonies at approach of winter
but continue in Carolina the whole year, feeding about the barn-
door. Their flefii is rank, and unpalatable ; and 'is only the food
of birds of prey. The fmall Hawks dalh among the flocks, and
catch them in the air.

They are alfo found in Mexico, and in the ifland of Jamaica.
They are fometimes eaten i but their flefh is haiJ, rank, and of
bad nourilhment.

Gracula Barrita, Lin. Syft. \(>^,^Laiham, i. 460, ' ,, «

Lc Troupiale Noir, Ifterus Niger, Brijfon, ii. loj.-Z). Buffon, UI. zzo.-P/. *»*^-^*»^-

Enl. 534.

•Monedula tota nigra, Shane, zi^^.^Raii Syn. Av. 185.— Lev. Mus.

Q With the bill an inch and a half long, fharp, and black :
plumage black, glofled with purple : tail cuneiform, ex-
panded when walking i in flight, or on the perch, folded, fo as

to

309

3IO

Plack.

BOAT-TAIL GRAKLE.

to form an oblong cavity in its upper part. Length ?bout thir-
teen inches.

Inhabits not only the greater Mtillesy but the warmer part*
of North America -, conforting with the Purple Grakles, and Red-
-winged Orioles, Feeds on m<uze and infeds i in die iilands on
Bmanas^

IX. CUCKOO.

CAROLINA CUCKOO.

jix

IX. CUCKOO. Gen. Birds XIX.

Cuckoo of Carolina, Catejhy, i. g.^^Lanv/oii, 143,

Le Coucou de la Caroline, Brijfon, iv. 1 1 2.

Cuculus Amcricanus. Lin. Syjl. i-jo.— Latham, 1 537.— Lev. Mus.-Bl. Mus.

/^ With the upper mandible of the bill black, the lower yel-
V><« low : head, and whole upper part of the body, and coverts
of the wings, cinereous j under fide entirely white : primaries
brown on their exterior, orange on their interior fides : tail long ;
two middle feathers entirely cinereous, the others tipt with white :
legs dulky. Length twelve inches.

Inhabits North America. Arrives in New Tork in May. Makes
its neft in >w, ufually in apple-trees ; and lays four eggs, of a
bluifli white color. The neft is made of fmall fticks and roots,
and refembles greatly that of the Englip Jayj but is fmaller. It
retires from North America in autumn.

This bird, as well as all the foreign Cuckoos, have only the
generical charafter of the well-known European fpecies. They
differ in their oeconomy, nor have the opprobrious notes of that
bird.

155. Carolina.

Pl

ACH.

V r<]

' M

! I

* i.

A, EUROPKAM

I ,ill

3n'

EUROPEAN C U C K O a

Flaci.

A. EuROPEAK Cuckoo, Br. Zoo/, l N" 82. tab.xxxvi. fcm.^Laf/^a^,, i. cog-.
Cuculus Canorus, Gjok, Faua. Suec. N" 96.
Le Coucou, De Buffon, vi. 305.— Lev. Mus.

Q^ With dove-colored head, hind part of the neck, back, rump,.

and coverts : throat, and under fide of the neck, of a pale

grey: breaft and belly white, barred with black: primaries dulky ;.

- inner webs marked with white oval fpots : tail cuneiform ; middle*^

feathers black, tipped with white j the rcR marked with white fpots

en each web Female. Neck of a browniih red : tail barred

with ruft-color and black, and fpotted with white.

Inhabits all parts o( Europe, as high as Saltens Fogderie, in Nor-
way *, within the Ardic circle ; and even at Loppen, in Finmark f.'
It is found equally high in Jfia -, and extends as far eaft as Kamt-
frhatka. In all places it retains its Angular note, and its more An-
gular nature of laying its eggs in the nefts of fmall birds, and to-
tally deferting them %. Of the above circumftance I beg leave to
add a proof, which fell under my own notice in June 1778 i when
I faw a young Cuckoo, almoft full grown (when I firft difcovered
it) in the neft of a white Wagtail, beneath fome logs in a field ad-
jacent to my houfe. The Wagtail was as folicitoua to feed it, as
if it had been its own offsprings for, many days after the Cuckoo

Pontof. ii. 75.

f Lcems, 291.

X Dr. Pallas.

fled,.

W R Y N E C

K.

JU

WRYNECK, G... 5/r^,xx.

B. Wrvkbck. Br. Zoo/, i. N" Sj.-Z^./..,, i. ^.g.
Jynx Torquilla Gjoktyta. /-«««. 5«,,. n„
Le Torco], />. i?«^,«. vii. 84.-/>/. £«/. 658.-LKV. Mus.

\y Wkh a black and colored lift dividing Jen^^thwavs th.

Extends over all Ji„^a and &«to, and even to jr^»,/-* ,j
Found .„ w., and as high as IV«.„^, ;„ H, ^t"
baby migrates as far as the C«fo,. The SmJes Z ,l" T^
Cjck^ta, or the bird which eMm ,h, ^ ^" "" *'^ """l

lil

Pt

ACB,

J

Vol. I.

s r

X. woo D-

3H

^V HI T E .B I L L E O WOODPECKER.

156. WlUTE-
JilLLEO.

i£^

Place.

X. WOODPECKER. Gefi. Birds XXI.

Quatotomomi, Fernand, Mex. ^o,—WiL Orn. 390.

Ipecu, Marcgrave, 207, — WiLOrn. 138. — Rati Syn.^ad. J^^,'— 'Latham, u. 553.

Picus principalis, Lin. Syjl. 173.

Largcft White-bill Woodpecker, Catejhy, i. \6.-^Laiv/ofi, A^i.'—Barrere Fr.

Equin. 143.— A'«//w, ii. 85.
Grand Pic noir a bee blanc, De Buffon, vii. 46. — PI. Enl, 6go.

WWith a bJU of ivory whitenefs ; great ftrength ; three
• inches long : irides yellow : a conic creft, of a rich fear-
let color, on the hind part of the head : head, throat, neck, breaft,
and belly, black : beneath each eye is a narrow ftripe of white,
crooked at its beginning, running afterwards ftrait down the fides
of the neck : upper part of the back, primary feathers, and coverts
of the wings, black i lower part of the back, and the fecondaries,
white: tail black.

This is a gigantic fpecies, weighing twenty ounces j and in bulk
equal to a Crow.

Inhabits the country from New Jerjey to the Braftls. Is in North
America a fcarce bird -, in South America more common. It breeds
in the kingdom of Mexico in the rainy feafon; for which reafon
Nieremberg ftyles it Picus Imhrifcetus *. The Spaniards call them
Carpenter OS y Carpenters, on account of the multitude of chips which
they hew out of the trees, either in forming their nefts, or in fearch
of food, infefts, and worms, which lurk beneath the bark. They are
very deftruftive to trees j for they have been known to cut out a

♦ Eu/eb, Nieremberg.

meafure

PILEATED WOODPECKER.

meafure of chips in an hour's time *. Inftinft direds them to form
their holes in a Avinding form, in order the better to protect their
nefts from the injury of the weather f.

Canada is deftitute of tliefe birds. The Indians of that fevere
chmate purchafe the bills from the favages of the more foutheri
parts, at the rate of two or three Buck fkins apiece, in order to
form the coronets | of their fachems and warriors. Thefe coro-
nets were made with feveral materials. Gay plumes formed the
rays ; the beaks of birds, claws of rare animals, and the litde horns of
their Roes, were the other ornaiTients. They were never worn but
on high folemnities j either when a warrior fung the fong of war, or
was fetting forward on his march to meet the enemy.° He went
forth like a Spartan hero, dancing, and crowned |(.

Z^S

I ■'■ r

Larger Red-crefted Woodpecker, Catefiy, i. 17.
Le Pic noir hupe de Virginie, Brifon, iv. 29.
Picas Pileatus, Li». Syft. i-/y^Latham, i. 554.

Le Pic noir a huppe rouge, De Buffon, vu. 48.-?/. Enl 7i8.~L£v. Mus.—
Bl. Mds.

^^ With a bill two inches long, of a dufky color on the upper,
and whitifli on the lower mandible : irides of a gold-color •
a tuft of light brown feathers refleded over the noftrils : the crown
adorned with a rich fcarlet creft, bounded by a narrow buff-colored
line, beneath that is a broad band of Mack, reaching from the
eyes to the hind part of the head; under this is another line of
buff-color, commencing at the bill, and dropping down on each
fide of the neck to the pinions of the wings : from the lower man-

• Catejly. ^ Barrcre. ^ Qatcjly. || Laf.tau Mceun de Sau.age, ii. 60.

S f 2 dible

157. PiLEATED.

s^s

FtACg.

G O L D E N - W I N G WOODPECKER.

clible a line of jcarlet extends along the lower part of the cheeks:
chin and throat white: fore and hind part of the neck, back, bread,
belly, and tail, black : the wings black, marked with a double line
of white: legs duHcy. Length eighteen inches. Weight nine
ounces.

Inhabits the forefts of Penfyhania and New Tork. When the
maize begins to ripen, this and the other kinds make great havock,
by fettling on the heads, and picking out the grain j or making
holes in the leaves, and letting in the wet, to the deftrudVion of the
plant*. It breeds and refides the whole year in the country. It
extends as high as lat. 50. 31. north; being found near the banks
oi Albany river, near four hundred miles from its difcharge into
Uudjon's Bay. Lays fix eggs, and brings forth its young in June,
The Indians deck their Calumets with the creft of this fpecies.

158. GOLDEN-
WJNC.

Golden-winged Woodpecker, Catejhy, i. 18.

Le Pic Rayc de Canada, Brifon, iv. 70.

Picus Auratus, Lin. SyJ}. \-] /^.—Latham, i. 597.

Le Pic aux aUes dorccs, De Bujfon, vii. i^,^Pl, Enl. 693— Lev. Mus— Bt.

Mus.

y^^ With a black bill, bending like that of a Cuckoo : crown
cinereous ; on the hind part a fcarlet fpot : cheeks and un-
der fide of the neck of a pale red : from each corner of the mouth a
black line extends along the cheeks : the upper part of the bread
is marked with a black crefcentj the remainder and the belly
whitilTi fpotted with black : back and coverts of wings of a fine
pale brown, barred with black: the primaries cinereous j their
ihafts of a moft elegant gold-color; the under fide of the webs of a

• Kaim,

glofly

FERRUGINOUS WOODPECKER.

glofly yellow : rump white, fpotted with black : tail black, ed<red
vv.th white, the fhafts of all the feathers gold-colored, except thVc
of the two middle feathers: legs dufky. Lfmcth twelve inches
Weight five ounces. The Female wants the black on each fide
of the throat.

Inhabits from Hud/on's Bay to Carolina, and again on the weftern
fide of North America. In .he firft is migratory, appearing in
^prtl, and leaving the country in September, All the American
Woodpeckers agree with thofe of Europe in building in hollow
trees, and m laying fix white eggs. The natives oUhdfon's Bay
call this fpecies, Ou-thee-quart-nor-ozv, from the golden color of the
fhafts and under fide of the wing feathers *.

The Swedijh Americans call it Hittock, and P/«/ f • words formed
from its notes. It is almofl continually on the ground j and never
picks Its food out of the fides of trees, like others of the genus • nei-
ther does it climb, but fits perched like the Cuckoo j to which it
has fome refemblance in manners, as well as form. It feeds on in-
fers. Grows very fat, and is reckoned very pal ible. It inhabits
the Jerftes, and other provinces to the fouth, the whole year.

3»7

Pi. A CI.

Latham, i. 592.

Le Pic Mordore, De Buffon, vii. 34.—/'/. Enl. 524,

yy^ With a dufky bill : the crown and pendent creft of a pale
yellow : a crimfon bar extends from the mouth along the
lower part of the clieek : the cheeks, back, and coverts of the wings,
of a deep ferruginous color : lower part of the back of a pale yel-
low: primaries ferruginous, barred on their inner webs with black.
Size of the Green Woodpecker.

• Phil, Tr. Ixii. 387. t Ka/m, ii. 36.

This

»59' Pehruci.
^ous.

f" 1

f: 1

1

i, ^ii

ii ■■i

31'

Place.

i6o. Red-
headed.

Place.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER.

This new fpecies was fcnt to me by Dr. Garden^ of Charleftown^
South Carolina,

Red-headed Woodpecker, Catejbj, i. 20 — La-w/on, 3d fp. 143 Du Pratz, 92.—

Latham, i. 561.
PIcus Er/throcephalus, Lin.SjJi. 174.

Le Pic a tcfte rouge, de la Virginie, Bnjfon, iv. 53. — PL Enl, 117.
Le Pic noir a domino rouge, De Buffm, viL ^^.^PLEnL 117 Lev. Mus.— i

Bl. Mus.

"y^ ^ With a lead-colored bill : head and neck of the moft deep
and rich fcarlet : back, coverts of wings, primaries, and tail,
of a glofly blacknefs : the fecondaries white, marked with two black
bars : breaft and belly white : legs black. The head of the Fe-
male is brown. Length nine inches and a half. Weight two
ounces.

Inhabits Penjyhama, and the neighbor' ng provinces. Feeds on
maize and apples ; and is a moft deftruftive fpecies. They pick
out all the pulp, and leave nothing but the mere rind. They feed
alfo on acorns. They were formerly profcribed j a reward of two
pence was put on their heads : but the law was repealed. They
migrate fouthward at approacn of winter. When they are ob-
fcrved to linger in numbers in the woods, in the beginning of winter,
the inhabitants reckon it a fign of a mild feafon *.

This fpecies extends acrofs the continent to the weftem coaft of
America.

* Kalm, ii. 87,

Red-

CAROLINA, AND SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

J19

Red-bellied Woodpecker, Catefby, i, 19.

Picus Carolinus, Lin. Syft. ij^.— Latham, i. 570.

Le Pic varie de la Jamaique, Brifon, iv. 59.-/)^ Buffon, vii. 72.

Woodpecker of Jamaica, Ediij. 244 Bl. Mus.

\y , With the forehead, crown, and hind part of the head, of an
orange red j under fide of a light afh-color, tinged with yel-
low : the vent fpotted with black : the back and wings clofely
barred with black and white: middle feathers of the tail black, the
outnnoft barred with black and white. The crown of the female is
light grey : hind part of the head red. Length eleven inches.
Weight two ounces eleven penny- weights.
Inhabits North America, and the greater Antilles.

161. Carolina.

Pl

ACE.

Great Spotted Woodpecker ? Br. 2coL i. No ^.^Latham, \. 564.
Le Pic varie, Briffon, iv. 34—/)^ Buffon, vii. 57.— i*/. EnL 196. 595.
Picus Major, Faun. Suec. N' 100 Lev. Mus.— Bl. Mus.

V

Y^, With buff forehead ; black crown, bounded behind with a
crimfon band: vent feathers crimfon : back black : fcapuiars
white: wings and tail barred with black and white: bread and
belly white, tinged with yeUow. Length nine inches. Extent
fixteen. Weight two ounces three quarters. Female wants the
crimfon marks.

Sent to Mrs. Blackburn from New Torh Inhabits Europe, as
high as Lapmark. Extends to the moft eaftern part of Sibiria.

162. Spotted.

Place.

L'Epeiche

3^0

CANADA SPOTTED, AND HAIRY WOODPECKER.

165. Canada.

JPOTTED.

PlAC.E,.

L' Epeiche de Canada, De Buffon, vii. 6^.^Pl. Enl. z^^.—Briffin^^r. 45.

Yy^ With white forehead, throat, breaft, and belly: crown
black; beneath is a band of white, encircling the head;
from each eye another of black, uniting behind, and running down
the hind part of the neck; each fide of this bounded by white;
that again bounded by black, commencing at the bafe of the bill,'
and uniting with the fcapulars: the back black; fcapulars of the
fame color, mixed with a few white feathers : wings fpotted with
black and white: middle feathers of the tail black; the outmoft
black and white. Size of the laft.
Inhabits Canada.

164. Hairy..

Hairy Woodpecker, Catcjby,\. 19 — Latham.i. sjz.

Picas Villofus, Lin. SyJ}. 1 75.

Le Pic varie de la Virginie, BrIJfon, iv. 48.

L'Epeiche ou Pic Chevelu de Virginie, De Buffon, vii. 75.^Lev. Mus.-Bu
Mus.

^^ With the crown black : the hind part of the head marked
with a crimfon fpot; the cheeks .^ith two lines of white and
two of black . whole under fide of the body white : back black, di-
vided in the middle lengthways with a line of white unconneded
feadiers, refembling hairs : the wings black, fpotted in rows with
white : two middle feathers of the tail black ; the two outmoft en-
tirely white ; the reft black, marked croflways with white. The
female wants the red fpot on the head. Length nine inches.
W"iiGHT two ounces.

^ Inhabits

DOWNY WOODPECKER.

Inhabits from Hudfon's Bay* to Camlin^ t l . .
ftruftive to apple-trees. '"^ ^''<^^^"^' In the laft very de-

321

PtACB,

Smalleft Spotted Woodpecker, Catejiy, I 2u
Pkus Pubefcens, Z/«. 5,^. ,7s.-I«,^,«.i.
Le Petu Pic varie de la Virginia, Br,J.„, iv. 50.
Fourth Woodpecker, Z;«av>, ,43.

m,A, , T . ? ' ""'' " ''"'"S 'he outmoft feather of the tail
marked with a fingle white bar.

alfot^'^ifK^'"'^^'^'^" '"** ^''"*''' "^ « very numerous. It is
.Ubfound but more rarely, near Jiia^ fort, i„ a^y„,v 5^. The

V 1 r f u "^ ^'™'' '"""'■« « i^ *e moft daring. It is

he peft of the orchards, alighting on Ae apple-trees, running round

th eriniVatT T™ "u '" '"" --'edwith numbers of
thefe ™gs, at fcatcely an mch's diftance from each other; f„ that
the tree dries and perifhes.

• PM. Tranf, hii. 388.

Vol. I.

165. OOWKY.

PtACt.

'^ 'I

' 'f

•1;

Tt

yellow.

3«

YELLOW-BELLIED, &c. WOODPECKER

166. Yellow-

BELI.I£D.

Yellow-bellied Woodpecker, Catejhy, i. 21.

Picus Varius, Lin. Syft. lyS.^Latham, i. 574,

Le Pic Varie, Brijfon, iv. 62.

Le Pic Varie de Carolina, De Buffbn, vii, 'p, — Lbv. Mus.— Bl. Mus.

Place.

167. Yellow-
legged.

'^J^ ^ With a crimfon crown, furrounded by a line of black :
cheeks white, with two lines of black: chin crimfon:
breaft and belly light yellow; the firft fpotted with black:
coverts black, croffed by two bars of white : primaries fpotted
with black and white : tail black ; interior webs of the two mid-
dle feathers barred with white; the two outmoft feathers edged
with the fame color. The Female wants the red on the crown.
Length nine inches. W^eight one ounce thirteen penny-
weights. ,

Inhabits the fame country with the former. Is very numerous,
and very deftrudtive to the fruits.

HTHIS is inferted on the fufpicious authority of y//^/« *. Ke
- fays, that it is i-f the fize of the Little Englijh Spotted Wood-
pecker; that the hind part of the head is black; the ridges of the
wings, and the lower part of the belly, white; the reft of the plu-
mage, and the tail, black ; the legs yellow.

• Vol. iii, ^.-'Brijon, iv. 24, who follows yllhin, calls it, Le Pic ticir de la Nouvelle
AngUterre,

Three-

imufaiiMiijimiiiSM

THREE-TOED WOODPECKER.

i

Three^oed Woodpecker, £^.,. , r^,^PM.rra./. Ixii. s28.-^Lar&a.,l6oo. Co:.
Le Pic varie de la Cayenne, Brifoa. iv. 55,-LEv. Mus.

W/^. With black feathers reflefted over the noftrils : crown of
a bright gold color: irides blue: cheeks marked length-
ways with three black and two white lines: hind part of the n'eck
.nd back black; the laft fpotted on the upper part with white:
covert, of the wings black; primaries black, fpotted with white:
all the under fide of the body white; the fides barred with black:
the middle feathers of the tail black; the outmoft fpotted widi
white: legs dufky: toes, two before, only one behind; which
forms the charaaer of this fpecies. Lew oth eight inches. Ex,
T£NT thirteen. Weight two ounces.

Inhabits Hudfon's Bay, and Norfon Sound, lat 64. Is frequent in
Uj. and common as far as Mo/co^, in the alps of DalecaHia in
Swedefi, and in thofe o{ Switzerland*.

J43

168. Threi.

TOBD.

PtACB,

7 {i

Tt 2

A. B

I-ACK

i'

324

BLACK WOODPECKER.

I

A. Black W. Picus Martius, Lin. Syfi, 173.

Spillkraka, Tillkraka, Faun. Sutc. N" g^.—De Bnffon, vii. /^l.'^Wil. Orn. 135.—
Latham, i. 552.— Lev. Mus.

"VKT With the crown of the head of a rich crimfon : the reft of
the plumage of a fiill black : the head of the female marked
with red only behind. Length eighteen inches. Extent twenty-
nine. Weight near eleven ounces.
Place. Inhabits the forefts o( Germany t Switzerland, and the north, from

Peterjbourg to Ochotjk, on the eaftern ocean, eaftward, and to La^-
mark weftward. It migrates to Woronejch, about the third of
March, and continues coming in greateft numbers in Apil. Is
called there l^he Fuftlier ; and is the moft cunning, and difficult to
be fhot, of all the tribe.
Manners. It does vaft damage to trees, by making holes of a great depth

in the bodies to neftle in. A bulhel of duft and chips, a proof
of its labors, are often found at the foot of the tree. Makes
as much noife in the operation, as a woodman does with an
axe. Rattles with its bill againft the fides of the orifice, till
the woods refound. Its note very loud. Lays two or three white
femi-tranfparent eggs. Feeds on caterpillars and infefts, eipecially
Ants.

B. Grekn,

GREEN, AND GREY - HEADED WOODPECKER,

32s

B. Green, Sr. Zoo/, i. N" 84— Z«/^^«, j. ^yy,

Picus Viridis Wedknar. Gronfpik, Grongjoling, /.««. ^«., N^ 99.-2?, Bufo„
vu. 7.— Lev. Mus. -"^"Wj

\y^ With crimfon crown: green body } lighteft below. Length
thirteen inches.

Inhabits Europ, as high north as Lapmark, where it is called
Zhtat^eJ. Is found in RuJ/ia; but difappears towards S^ria.
It inhabits the wooden fteeples of Sweden, as weU as trees.

Pla

CE,

C. Grey-headed, Edw. 65 — Latiam, i. 583.

\^^ With a grey head, and neck of a bluilh grey : noftrils co-
vered with harlh black feathers, extending in a line to the
eyes : a black line, beginning at the bafe of the lower mandible,
points beneath the cheeks towards the hind part of the neck: under
fide of the body of the color of the head, dalhed with green • all
other parts fo exaftly like the laft, that I fl-.ould fuppofe it to have
been a variety, had not my very fcientific friend, Pallas, aflured
me that it was a diftinft fpecies, and inferior in fize to the common
Green.

■ It is found in Norway, and among the alps of Switzerland f ; and
common in the north of RuJ^a, and ftill more in Sil,ina. The
r«»^«/?, of Nijmaia tungou/ka, roaft this fpecies, bruife the flefli,
and mix it with any greafe, except that of die Bear, which diflblves

• Leems, 292.

t Catalogue of 5^//J birds in M. Sprunglin^% cabinet, which that gentleman fa-
vored me with. This fpecies was not unnoticed by the great Gesner. See his
Htft. Av. ed, p. 710, line 20.

too

Place.

1 -;\

1

S '.if

i':^ M

\

(

J,

1

M

i 1 ^'

326

MIDDLE, AND LEST SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

too readily. They anoint their arrows with it, and pretend, that
tlie animals, which are ftruck with them, inftantly fall *.

D. Middle Spot t e d W. Br. Zool. i. N' i6.^Latham, i. 565.
Picus Medius, Faun. Sutc. N" ioi.^Brtfo», iv. 38.

"\y ^ With a crimfon crown and vent : in all other refpefts like
the Great Spotted, N« 162, except in fize, being rather
lefs.

Place.

E. Lest Spotte d W. Br. Zool. I. N° 87.
Picus Minor, Faun, Suec. N" 102.
Le Petit Epeiche, De Buffon, vU. ez.^H. Enl S9^.^Brijron, iv. 41.-LEV. Mus.

\y ^ With a crimfon crown : the reft of the head, breaft, and
belly, like thofe of the former : back barred with black and
white: the white on the wings difRjfed in broad beds. Weight
under an ounce. Length fix inches. Extent eleven.

The Middle only is found in Ruffia. This, and the Great
Spotted, extend to the eaftmoft parts o{ Sibiria, but all three
are found as high as Lapmark f, the extremity of northern Europe,
fai within the polar circle j a country which is one vaft foreft
of pines, firs, and birch %. Innumerable infefts, or their larv^,
lurk in all feafons in the bark of the trees; fo that this tribe of
birds is never compelled, for want of food, to Ihun even the
moft rigorous winters of that fevere climate. It alfo bears the
heats of the torrid zone; for I difcovered it among the drawings
m the colleaion of Governor Loten^ made in the ifland oi Ceylon,

* Gmelin.^ Voy, Sibhk, ii. 1,3. ^ Leems, 292. j Flora Lapp. Proleg. 21.

XI. K I N G-

BELTED KINGFISHER.

327

5CI. KINGFISHER. Gen. Birds

XXIII.

Kingfilher, Catefiy, i. 69.

American Kingfiflier, Ediju. 115.

Le Martin pefcheur hupe de la Caroline. Brijfon, iv. 512. & de St. Domingue,

Alcedo Alcyon, Lin. Syft. lio.— Latham, i. 637.
Le Jaguacati, Z>^ ^«^j«, vii. 210 Lev. Mus.

169, Belted.

i; I'!.. I

i !

XT With a black bill, two inches and a half long : head crefted
IV. with long bluifh grey feathers : above the upper mandible of
the bill, on each fide, is a white fpot; beneadi each eye is another :
chin and throat white : the upper part of the breaft crofled by a
broad grey belt; the lower part, and belly, white: the fides of a
vermilion color; in fome croffing the breaft: upper part of the
neck, the back, and coverts of the wings, of a pleafant bluifh grey:
the fecondaries of the fame color; their ends, and thofe of the
lower order of coverts, tipt with white : primaries black, barred
with white: tail grey; the two middle feathers plain; the reft
barred with white: the legs orange. Length diirteen inches.
Weight three ounces and a half.

Inhabits Hudfon's Bay^ Norton Soundy and other parts of North
America. Tht Acbalala5li, i. e. the Devourer of filh, of the Af^;f-
ieans *, feems to be the fame bird It has the fame cry, manners,
and folitary difpofition, ^idi xht European fpecies; and feeds not
only on fifh, but Lizards. It makes its neft in the face of high

.• Femandtz, Nov. Hi/p. 13.

Place.

I-'.
'In

banksj

328

Pla

CI.

EUROPEAN KINGFISHER.

banks, penetrating deep into them in an horizontal diredion. Lays
four white eggs, which difcharge the young in June. It migrates in
Mexico ; is there eaten, but is obferved to have ihe fame ranknefs
as other pifcivorous birds.

A. European Kingfisher, Br. Zool. I N» 9Z.^Latham, i. 626.

Le Martin- Pecheur, Buffon, vii. 164 PI. Enl. jj.

Alcedo Ifpida, Lin. Syjl. 179— Lev. Mus.

J^^ With the crown, and coverts of the wings, of a deep green,
fpotted with cerulean : fcapulars and back bright cserulean:
tail rich deep blue : breaft and belly orange red.

Said by Du Pratz to be found in North America j but, as I never
faw it in any coUeftion, doubt tii- faft. Inhabits the temperate
parts oiRuJfta and Sibiria, and is frequent about the Jenejei, but not
farther eaft. It does not extend to Sweden^ and it even feems a
rarity in Denmark *.

The Tartars and Ofliaks ufe the feathers of this bird as a love-
charm. They fling them on water, md preferve thofe which fwim i
believing, that the woman, whom they touch with one of thefe
feaaiers, will immediately become enamoured with them. The
OJliaks preferve the bill, feet, and fkin, in a purfe, and imagine
them to be pr^xlr/atives againft all forts of misfortunes f.

• Muller, Prod. Zool, Dan. 13. f Gmelin, Foj. ii. 112.

The

^

SUKOPEAN KINGFISHER.

The moft Angular northern philtre, ia&fnrtrf^ /v
apoftrophc IS very diverting. ^inn.£us s

J»9

J-

Vs

1

s-UI

Vol. I.

Uu

XII. NUT.

330

CANADA, AND BLACK-HEADED NUTHATCH.

XII. NUTHATCH. Gen, Birds XXIV.

170. Canada.

• ik

1 y

i«

1 .i I

Place.

171. Black-

HEADEP.

Place,

nuTHATCH, Br. Ztol i. N» 89 y^-.Latham, 1. 648. 651.
Lc Torchepot de Canada, BriJJbn, iii. 592.
Sitta Europea Notwacka, Faun. Suec. N* 104,
La Sittellc, De Bujhn, v. 460.— Lev. Mus.

"^r With the crown, hind part of the neck, and fhoulders,
i.^ • black: back and rump of a light blue grey: over each
eye a white line : cheeks white : primaries dufky, edged with grey :
breaft and belly of a pure white: two middle feathers of the tail
grey; the others black, with a white fpot at the end: vent ruft-
colored. Size of the European; of which it feems a mere variety.
Inhabits Canada, and as far fouth as New Tork', and extends to
the weftern fide ofJmerica.Kamt/cbatka*, Sibiria, and Rufta; Swe-
den, and Sondmor j- in Norway : and does not migrate.

Nuthatch, Catejiy, l 22, lower figure — Lf:'fJl>am, i. 650. B.
Le Torchepot de la Caroline, Brt/^n, iii. 22.

^ With the bill, head, and hind part of the neck, black : over
each eye is a white line : back of a fine grey : wings dufky,
edged with grey: breaft and belly, and vent feath-rs, red: two
middle feathers of the tail greyj the refl black, marked with a
white fpot. Lefs than the European.
Inhabits the temperate parts of America.

• Among a fmaU colleaion of drawings made in that country by one of our
Yoyagers.

t Strm, 247.

Small

xni

'A"rrt/^'^i/rr/^ yf^/^^^r^fic^ ,M'/5.(} . ^A

I

w%

' if

6Ce/lcl^Vc' J^^/

/■

LEST NUTHATCH.

331

Small Nuthatch, Caujiy, i. zi.^BrJfon, ili. gs9.^LatAa^^ I 6s,.C.
La Peute SitteJle k tete Prune, De Buffon, v. 474.

173. Lbit.

JJ^ With a brown head, marked behind with a white fpot : back

grey : wmgs of a deep brown : under fide of the body of a

dirty white: two middle feathers of the taU grey, the others

Inhabits Carolina, and other parts of North America,

Place.

\f

J1

M

I'
w

if

Uu ft

XIII. TODY.

si

Jja

t73' DusKV.

Place,

DUSKV TODY: HOOPOE.

XIII. TODY. Cm. Birds XXV.
ToJi Sp. ,„ma, PA. StHI. vi. i,.-La,i^, a 66,, N« 9.-8.. Mt,..

nn With a bill half an inch long, broad at the bafe, nightly
A . mdented above the noftrik, and a little bent near the point,
bafe befet w,th briftles, «pper mandible brown, lower white : co-
lors above dulky, below yeUowifl, white: primaries and tail of the
fame color w.th the back, edged with dirty white : legs dark. Sm
Ota Hedge Sparrow.

lr^^h\ts Rhode IJIand. Has the anions of a Flycatcher. Fre-
quents decayed trees, and feeds on infedls. Has a brief agreeable
note, which It repeats twice or thrice.-BR. Mus.

HOOPOE. Cen. Birds XXVII.

A. Hoopoe, Br. Zool. i. N" go.^Latham i 687 n. R ^

.T p y ' ^""^am, 1. 087 — iJe Buffon, vi. 439.

Upupa Epops, Harfogel, Popp, Faun, Suec, N- ics-Lev. Mus.

^ With a high creft, of pale orange tipt with black : back and

brenftr/L^'u.''"^ ""'"'^ ""^ "^"^ = "^^^ ''^^'^ brown:
breaft and belly white : only ten feathers in the tails black, wid. a

white

HOOPOE.

wto crefcent.acrors the „,iddle: legs black. U.orn twelve

SoId,er.b,rd. not only on account of its plumed head, butZl

The Hoopoe is called the a./.^rf, or SMier-M. not from its
creft but ,ts note, uttering, as it rims on the ground, the „«e 0^
^. cpp. thnce repeating it, then haftens moft Lftly „ 1" f^'
and repeats the fame. Ofp, in the W^ languL, flifa rhc
fame as fo Arms! hence this bird has been ftvled ,1 c

The N...,.„s ft,,e it ^rfu.L. it il trere^el^e /r " ^^
fomenmes v.f,t their county. It i, p,„p„,^ , fcuthern b Id Tnd

ferts of i?«^. and Tartar-, grows fcarcer beyond the Oi; yet fome

caies a, J Aat he had feen the neft of one in the privy of an unin-
hab.ed houfe, i„ the fuburbs of W,y,. Jy^Tom t™ o
feven cinereous eggs. Ufually has no neft of its own. Breeds
fomemnes in hollow trees, holes in walls, or on the ground. Mi-

• Co„ca .he defcription of d,i, par. i„ ,h. Sririjl, Z^hgy.
t See Br. Z«d. u 2s8._Is ,„ely fee„ i„ M,ai,.

333

Placi

XIV. CREEPER.

334

EUROPEAN, AND BAHAMA CREEPER.

174. European.

Place.

XIV. CREEPER. Gen. Birds XXVIII.

Br. Zool. i. N" 91 — Catejby, App. xxxvi.

Ccrthiu Familiaris Krypare, Faun. Suec. N" \o6.— -Latham, i. 701.

Le Grimpereau, De Buffon, v. 481.— Lev. Mus.

CWith head and neck brown, ftreaked with black: rump
• tawny : coverts of wings varied with brown and black : pri-
maries dufky, edged with white, and edged and barred with ferru-
ginous marks : bread and belly filvery : tail very long, confiding
of twelve fharp-poirted feathers of a tawny hue.

Inhabits North America, Is found, but very rarely. In Ruffia and
Sibiria. Found in Swedetty and never quits the country; and ex-
tends as far north as Sondmor *.

175. Bahama.

Bahama Titmoufe» Catefiy, i. 59.

Yellow-bellied Creeper, Ediv. 362.

Certhia Flaveola, Lin. Syji. lij. ^-Latham, i. 737.

Le Grimpereau de Martinique, ou le Sucrier, BriJJin, iii. 611.

Le Sucrier, Dt Buffon, v. 542.

r^ With a duflcy bill, head, and back : cheeks black : above each
eye is a yellow line : rump yellow : wings dulky ; the prima-
ries eroded with a bar of white : neck, bread, and belly, yellow :
tail black ; the exterior feathers tipt with white.

The female hath the fame marks, but the colors are more ob-
fcure.

• Strom, 244.

Inhabits

PURPLE CREEPER.

Inhabit the Bahama IJlands, and the Antilk. ; i„ the laft it fiv.

5^5

Place.

I

C, Wholly of , p„^,, ^„,^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^

^^^_ Accorchng to «., it inhabits ^^«., ,„d i. Taidt" fing

175. A.

CrEBP£r,

• Z?^ ^»^v, V. 542,

XV. HONEY.

33^

RED-THROATED HONEYSUCKER.

XV. HONEYSUCKER. Gen. Bircis XXIX \

176. Red-
throated.

Manners.

Pafler Mufcatus, Ge/ner, Jv. 655.

Ouriffia five Tomineio, CIu/. Exot. 96.

Guainumbi Prima, (foem.) Marcgrave, 196.

Colibry, Viamelin, or Rifing Bird, Jofelyn's Voy. lOO.^Rtirifies, 6.-.Lev. Mus.

Trochilus Colubris, Lin. Syji. igi. ^Latham, i. 769.

L'Oyfeau Mouche a rouge gorge, Brifon, iii. 716.

Humming Bird, Catejly, i. 6^.^Laiv/on, i^G.—Edw. 38.

Le Rubis, De Buffhn, vi. 13.

TT With a black bill, three quarters of an inch long : crown,
J. X • upper part of the neck, back, and coverts of the wings, of a
moft refplendent variable green and gold : chin and throat of a
ihining rich fcarlet, changing, as oppofed to the light, from gold to
a full black i thefe feathers lie nearly as compadly as fcales : breafl
and belly white ; the fides green : middle feathers of the tail green j
the exterior purple.

The chin, throat, and whole under fide, of the female, is white:
the exterior feathers of the tail tipt with white.

This bird, fo admirable for its minutenefs, vaft fwiftnefs of flight,
food, and elegance of form and colors, gave rife to numbers of ro-
mantic tales. They were not the Europeans alone, who were ftruck
with its great beauty j the natives oi America, to whom it was fo
familiar, were afFefted with its gemmeous appearance, and beftowed
on it titles expreffive of its refplendent colors. Some nations called

* This genus n,ay be divided into thofe with ftrait and thofe with incurvated biUs;
bat, there bemg none of the laft in North America, the diftinftion is omitted.

«

It

-r-^f^-S*

'*«r'*-.,,„

RED-THROATED HONEYSUCKER.

it Ouriffia, and Guaraciaba or tlv <!■,„ i,„
or Hairs of .he ^Jl^^^^:^^;^'!:'!'':-^'-'^^'^"
or the iJ.^..,,,,. becaufe the^bered i .fed ',," ""*•

re-animated at the return nf .7 7 . *"""'">'• ''"'^ ""

bili into the ™ k o a re : "" " ^' °" ^ *" " ""* '«
when the vi«l ' '■^"'""^'' "f*''» f"'- fi" months ■

niceft obferver. I iZt Ju r '"'^ '' " ""= imperceptible to the

nor the giare :2:^:^:::t:::'^-^f^^ ''^'''

wing, rufpended over the flower tetrafls nJ^l' ^''"' ''"""
'ts only food is the honied juice ^3^,1^ """' ^°'

rucks through the t.,bes of is cuJlt ^ tfkrhr'f "
ing exhaufted the honey of one flower ir w\, ' '""'^

fearch of new fweets Tr T '1 "^"^ ~ "•« "«='. i"

tl>e deepen tubr Thu/1""7 T" *°''^ "<"'"' "'''* "ave

-»...: are X'-iti^nhttrfert::; r-

ing around ttflowl anTt^""'^'™"^ '''' » -"^ *- <•"—
by putting their Sn'elrir^Jf of verticillated plants,
they find that their bZ.77 T u"? '"""''' ">= t^"'- '^
flower of the honey thJv r " '^'"'^'"''' ^""^ '°'>^^ *«

the ground '' ' """ '" "S^' P'™" <"5 -" throw it on

pofl-emon of t^ tL fl ^r^r"^" "7."- 0 W- - difpute

opeiij

337

I

Swiftness,

Food,

I ■•(!

Rage.

339

NOTEi

NisTu;

it

€t

RED-THROATED HONEYSUCKER.

open, take a turn round the room, as Flies do in England, and
then fuddenly regain the open air. They are fearleis of mankind i
and in feeding will fufFer people to come within two yards of them j
but on a nearer approach, dart away with admirable fwiftnefs=

Fernandez Oviedo, an author of great repute, fpeaks from his own
knowlege of the fpirited inftinft, even of this diminutive bird, in
defence of i' young: « So that when they fee a man clime y« tree
where they have their neRs, they Hee at his face, and ftryke hym
in the eyes, commyng, goying, and returnyng, with fuchfwyfc-
" nefs, that no man woulde lyghdy beleeve it, that hath not feene

Fadier Charlevoix gives a more apocryphal inftance of the cou-
rage of this bird, in its attack on its difproportioned enemy the
Raven. As foon as the laft appears, the Honeyfucker flies up like
lightning, beds itfelf beneath the Raven's wing, and, piercing him
widi his needle-like bill, till the bird is heard to croak with agony,
at length tumbles to die ground dead, either from die fall or die
wound. This relation feems of a piece widi die combat of the
Wren widi the Eagle, mentioned by Ariftotle-^x but, to do juftice
bodi to die French voyager and Grecian phUofopher, I muft add,
that each of diem delivered dieir reports from oral evidence.

Many fables have been related of die melody of the fong of diefe
birds. In fad, their only note is S creep, /creep, /creep j but the noife
which diey make with dieir wings, efpecially in die morning, when
numbers are in motion, is a fort of buzz or found refembling that
of a fpinning-wheel. Their note is chiefly emittel when diey
happen to ftrike againfl: each odier in dieir flight.

Their nefts are found widi great difficulty, being buUt in die

• Hifi. of Weft Indies, tranflated by Richard Edtn, p. 199.
t Hijl, An, Ub. ix. c. II. vol. i. ^iL^Ckarkvoift, v. 232,

branch

RED-THROATED HONEYSUCKER.

branch of a tree, amidft the thick foliage. It is of elegance fuit-
ablc to the architefts ; formed on the outfide widi mofs , in the in-
fide lined with the down or goflamer coUcfted from the Great
Mullein, or Verbafcum Thapjusi but it is alfo fometimes made of
flax, hemp, hair, and other foft materials. It is of an hemifphcrical
ihape. Its inner diameter an inch : its depth half an inch. The
female is faid to be the builder; the male fupplying her widi ma-
terials. Each alTifts in the labor of incubation, which continues
during twelve days. They lay only two eggs, white, and as fmaU
as peafe. The firft is very fingular, and contrary to the general
rule of nature; which makes, in all other inftances, the fmalleft and
moft defencelefs birds the mofl prolific. The reafons of the ex-
ception in this cafe are double. The fmallnefs of their bodies
caufes them commonly to efcape the eyes of birds of prey , or if
feen, their rapid flight eludes purfuit : fo that the fpecies is pre-
ferved as fully as if they had been the moft numerous breeders.

The Indians of Mexico, Peru, and M^nas, make moft exquifite
pia:ures of the feathers of birds; but thofe of the Honeyfuckers
form the moft brilliant part. Some ufe them as ornaments, and
hang them as pendants in their ears, which give a blaze emulous
of the Ruby and Emerald. In order to compofe piftures, the /»-
dtans draw ofi^ the feathers with fmall pincers, and widi fine paftc
moft artfully join them together. They difpofe them with fuch
flciU, us to give the true lights and fhade to the performance, and
imitate nature with the greateft fidelity. Thefc were meant to de.
corate the idols and temples; for, before the depreffion of the /«-
dtan fpirit by the tyranny of the Spaniards, religion was highly cul-
tivated among the Mexicans and Peruvians ; and, notwithftanding
It was cruel, was attended with great fplendor.

The generical name (in the Brajilian tongue) of thefe birds, is
Cuianumbi. There are fcveral fpecies, but only one which is found

X X 2 in

339

'HI

' ^

340

Placi.

MiGRATIS.

RUFFED HONEYSUCKER.

in North America. This kind is found from Canaday through that
great continent, as low as Ijiuiftana, and from tlience to the Brafils,
It breeds even in the northern climate o^ '". ' v/^, but retires not
only from thence, but even from the u ovinces of Carolina,

at approach of winter. In Hijpamoi', tue mountains of Jamaicoy
and the Braftls, countries where thcie are a perpetual fucceffion of
flowers, they refide throughout the year.

177. Ruffed.

Female.

Plack.

Latham, i. 785.

JJ^ With long ftrait (lender bill : head of a rich variable green
and gold : the feathers on the neck long, and difpofed on
each fide in form of a ruff, and of a moft brilliant crinifon and cop-
per color : back, and coverts of the tail, ruft-colored : breaft and
belly white, the laft dafhed with red : feathers of the tail pointed j
the ends brown, bottoms ferruginous : coverts of wings green :
primaries deep blue.

Crown, upper part of the neck, back, and coverts of wings and
tail, green and gold : throat white, fpotted with brown and varia-
ble copper : belly white, dalhed widi ruft : primaries deep blue :
middle feathers of the tail green ; thofe on the fide ferruginous at
their bottoms, black in the middle, and tipped with white.

Inhabit in great numbers the neighborhood of Nootka Sound.
The Indians brought them to our navigators alive, with a long hair
faftened to one of their legs.

ORDER III.

WILD TURKEY,

J41

ORDER III. GALLINACEOUS.

XVI. TURKEY. Ge,. Birds XXXL

Turkey. Jofelyn's Foy, s^.^RanHe,, %,^Clayton^, V,rgin.^Ph Tr AhrA -

Le Coc d'Inde, ^^V 248.
GaUo-pavus, Ge/Her, A^v. 481. -/rw. 56.
Gallo-pavo, ^/^re-u. ^v. jj. jg,
Callo-pavo, the Turkey. A. 3.

T. iTi* *' "■'^"•^"^ ''"■"*«i i" Ae definition of the genus
cot J" '•' '"™''^' ''"^- ^''"^■■> -"» variable col;

fl,^.. , A ail confifls of two orders the upner or

the greateft part of he extenor feathers of the fame ground with
t.e others, n,arlced with -ly three bred bands of mlrd Le„
pk ed remote from each other, the two next are colored Z^lft

t tL* ""' *^ "^ ' '''"■ ^ -«■«■ -^' ^ ^»^'e r:

178. Wild.

If i

Descp'ption.

Taii

The

J4»

White

VARIITY,

Size.

MANN£R&i

I''

WILD TURKEY.

The longer, or lower order, were of a rufty white color, mottled
with black, and crofTed with numerous narrow waved lines of the
fame color, and near the end with a broad band.

Wild Turkies prefcrve a famcnefs of coloring. The tame, as
iifual with domeftic animals, vary. It is needlcfs to point out the
differences, in fo well-known a bird. The black approach neareft
to the original (lock. This variety I have feen nearly in a ftate of
nature, in Richmond and other parks. A moft beautiful kind has
of late been introduced into England, of a fnowy whitenefs, finely
contrafling with its red head, and black peftoral tuft. Thefe, I
think, came out of Holland, probably bred from an accidental white
pair; and from them preferved pure from any dark or variegated
birds.

The fizes of the wild Turkies have been differently reprefented.
Some writers affert, that there have been inftances of their weigh-
ing fixty pounds j but I find none who, fpeaking from their own
knowlege, can prove their weight to be above forty. Jofelyn fays,
that he has eaten part of a Cock, which, after it was plucked, and
the entrails taken out, weighed thirty ♦. Lawfony whofe authority
is unqueftionable, faw half a Turkey ferve eight hungry men for
two meals f ; and fays, that he had feen others, which, he believ-
ed, weighed forty pounds. Catejby tells us, diat out of the many
hundreds which he had handled %, very few exceeded thirty pounds.
Each of thefe fpeak of dieir being double that fize, merely from the
reports of others.

The manners of thefe birds are as fingular as their figure. Their
attitudes in the feafon of courtfhip are very ftriking. The males
fling their heads and neck backwards, briftle up their feathers,

• Ntiu England Rarities, 8. f ^i/?- Carolina, 149 and 27.

X App. xliv.— The greateft certain weight is given by Mr. Clayton, who faw one
that reached jSlb.— />/&. Tra»f.

drop

WILD TURKEY.

^♦a

NOTIJ.

Irascible.

not .„l.ke the ,nrr of a gr„t fpinning-whecl. On bdng W

Si Im: '"T ?"■ "" '^''="«' ''"' "°" ^"'O " '<-'" »"d
guttural gobble! and then return to dalliance

The found of die females U plaintive and melancholy.
The paffions of the males are very ftrongly exprefled bv the
change ofcolo. in the flefl,y fubftance of the heL aS «ck whL,

e^ '"^I'-r^ "-• »" ^^"-im. as they happen to be at
fcfted. The nght of any thing red excites their chokr greatly

1 hey are polygamous, one cock ferving or h^n« n
byin d.e fpring, »d will lay a great number of eggs. They^iU

^rt "/"•*":"*• *™"6'' "^' at loft of its mate, being very

yo n^ Id t '^- ^"^ '■'■"^'^ "' -^ »ff'«i-- to *^
young, and make great moan on the bfs of them. They lit on

They are very ftupid birds , quarrelfome, and cowardly. It is

tTX!::^: ^""^ ""- "'"^'' *^ "™-" ^ock, iho wiii

«or a long time keep a great number at bay.

They are very fwift runners, in die tame a, weU as the wild
ftate. They are but mdifferent flyers. They love to perch on
trees, and ^„ ,h h^jg^t diey wilh, by rifuig from bough 'oZugr
In a w, d ftate. they get to the very fummit of die foftieft trees.
mn fo high as to be beyond die reach of the mufquet f.

Swift.

PSRCH HIGH.

De Buffon,

t Laiu/gn, 45,

:i!

1 1

r'

In

i*t'

344

WILD TURKEY.

Gregarious. fn the ftate of nature they go in fiocks even of five hundred ♦,

Feed much on the {n,a\\ red acorns j and grow fo fat in March,
tliat they cannot fly more than three or four hundred yards, and are
then foon run down by a horfeman. In the unfrequented parts
bordering on the Miji/tpiy they are fo tame as to be fhot with even
a piftol f .
Haunts, They frequent the great fwamps J of their native country; and

leave them at fun-rifing to repair to che dry woods, in fearch of
acorns, and various berries j and before fun-fet retire to the fwamps
to rooft.

The flefh of the wild Turkey is faid to be fuperior in goodnefs
to the taine, but redder. Eggs of the former have been taken
from the neft, and hatched under tame Turkies ; the young will
ftill prove wild, perch feparcte, yet mix and breed together in the
feafon. The Indians fometimes ufe the breed produced from the
wild, as decoy-birds, to feduce thofe in a ftate of nature within their
reach §.

Wild Turkies are now grown moft exceflively rare in the inha-
bited parts of Americay and are only found in numbers in the diftant
and moft unfrequented fpots.

The Indians make a moft elegant cloathing of the feathers.
They twift the inner webs into a ftrong double thread of hemp,
or inner bark of the mulberry-tree, and work it like matting. It
appears very rich and glolTy, and as fine as a filk fhag||. They
alfo make fans of the tail i and the French of Louijiana were wont
to make umbrellas by the jundion of four of the tails f ,

* LaiKifon, 149. f Adair's Amer. 360.

X It is in the fwamps that the loftieft and moft bulky trees grow: the wet, witli

which they are environed, makes them a moft fecure retreat.
§ Laiv/ofi, 149. II Law/on, iZ,-— Adair, /^z^.

f Du Pratx, ii. 85.

When

*> r .-K*'^^:

WILD TURKEY.

When diforbed, they do not take to wing, but ™n m. of fchf
It .s ufual to chafe them with dogs > when ^ ZlT'l^l
on t e next tree. They are fo ft„pid. or fo inflfiWe of ^"1

the death of theu companions •

TuRKiES are natives only of ^»m.«. or the N^ IVorU; and of
conrfe unknown to the antients. Since both thefe pohtiJns have

ce::r:'"i b ' r °'f """ =™"™' "^"-''»^ »' ^^ "- *

J.&»t. the earlieft of Aofe writers who are of opinion that d,efe
b.rds were nat.ves of the old world, founds his notion on the de
fo.pt.on of d.e G«« Fowl, the Mska^nJes of S.r.U. J„^
^n.. and others of the antients. I reft the refutation on thet:
cellent account given by ^/W»., taken from Clj^^^s Mikfius a
d.fc,ple of ^„>,/., which can fuit no other than thaf fowl, /xhe^
want, fays he, ■' natural affeftion towards their young. T.Heir
head rs naked, and on Ae top is a hari round body, iL a peg
__ or na.l: from d,e,r cheeks hangs a red piece of fleft, like I

are black fpotted w.A wh,te: they have no fpurs: and bod,
fexes are fo hke, as not to be diftinguilhed by the fight." VarJ
and i./„,5 take notke of the fpotted plumage, and the gibb™
fubftance on the head. m>n.us is more minur.. and conLdSs
eve,, charaaer of the Turkey: whofe females ar: remarlabkf*
thejr natural affeftion, which differ materially in form from the
males; whofe heads are deftitute of the callous fubftance- and
whofe heek (in the male) are armed with fpurs.

* Du Pratz, 224.
§ Lib. X. c. 26.

Vol. I.

t 2^2. Hijl.de, Oij:

Yy

X Lib. iii. c. 9.

S4S

PtACH.

i m

Mistaken bv
Belon.

34^

WILD TURKEY.

Aldrovandus,

AMD GeSNEK'

Aldrovandus, who died in 1 605, draws his arguments from the
fame fource as Belon j I therefore pafs him by, and take notice of
the greateft of our naturahfts, Gesner * j who falls into a miftake
of another kind, and wilhes the Turkey to. be thought a native of
India, He quotes ^lian for that purpofe j who tells us, " that in
" India are very large poultry, not with combs, but with various-
" colored crefts, interwoven like flowers : with broad tails, neither
" bending, nor difplayed in a circular form, which they draw along
" the ground, as Peacocks do when they do not ereft them : and
" that the feathers are partly of a gold color, partly blue, and of
•* an emerald color f .

This, in all probability, was the fame bird with the Peacock
Pheafant of Mr. Edwards, Le Paon de 'Tibet of M. Brijfont and the
Pavo Bicalcaratus of Linnaus. I have feen this bird li^^ing. It has
a crefl:, but not fo conlpicuous as that defcribed by JSlian -, but it
has thofe ftriking colors in form of eyes : neither does it ereft its
tail like the Peacock J. The Catreus of Strabo § feems to be the
fame bird. He defcribes it as uncommonly beautiful, and {potted;
and very like a Peacock. The former author || gives a more mi-
nute account of this ipecies, and under the fame name. He bor-
rows it from ClitarchiiSt an attendant of Alexander the Great in all
his conquefts. It is evident from his defcription, that it was of this
kind } and it is likewife probable, that it was the fame with his
large Indian poultry before cited. He celebrates it alfo for its fine
note } but allowance mull be made for the credulity of Mlian,
The Catreus, or Peacock Pheafant, is a native of Tibet, and in all
probability of the north of India, where CUtarchus might have ob-
ferved it j for the march oi Alexander was through that part of In-

♦ ^"v. 481. •(• De Anim. lib. xvi. c. 2.

i. 291.— Z/«. 5y_/?. 268. § Lib. XV. p. 1046.

c. 23.

X Edi*}. il. 6j,—BriJJon,
II Dt Anim, lib. xvii.

dia

■*'**^;^.

.•^0*^::'

WILD TURKEY.

547

dia which borders on Tibet, and now known by the name of Penj-ab,
or Five Rivers. ,

I Ihall now collea from authors the feveral parts of the world Not natives o.

where Turkies are unknown in the ftate of nature. Europe has no
ihare in the queftion, it being generally agreed, that they are ex-
otic in refpeft to our continent.

Neither are they found in any part of Afm Minor, or th^ Jfiatic
Turkey, notwithftanding ignorance of their true origin firP- . -''ed
them to be named from that empire. About Aleppo, capital of
Syria, they are only met with domefticated, like other poultry *. In
Armenia they are unknown, as well as in Perfta, having been brought
from Venice by fome Armenian merchants into that empire f ; where
they are IHll fo fcarce, as to be preferved among other rare fowls
in the Royal menager/ :(:.

In India they are kept for ufe in our fettlements, and imported
from Europe, as I have been more than once informed by gentle-
men long refident in that country.

Du Halde acquaints us, that they are not native:, of China-, but
were introduced there from other countries. He errs, from mif-
information, in faying that they are common in India.

I will not quote GemelH Careri, to prove that they are not found
in the Philippine illands, becaufc that gentleman, with his pen, tra-
velled round the world in his eafy chair, during a very long indif-
pofition and confinement §.

But Dampier bears wimefs that none are found in Mindanao «.
The hot climate oi Africa barely fuffers t :fe birds to exift in
that vaft continent, except under the care of mankind. Very few
are found in Guinea, except in the hands of the Europeans : the ne-

• Rufell, 63. f Tavermer. 146. % Bell's Travels, i. 128.

§ Siv James Porter's Ob/. Turkiy, i. i, II I. 32 1.

Y y 2 groes

Europe ;

NOR OF Asia;

NOR. Africa

■ f !j

348

WILD TURKEY.

groes declining to breed any, on account of their great tender-
nefs *.

Projper Alpnus fatisfies us that they are not found either in NuUa
or in Egypt. He defcribes the Meleagrides of the antients j and
only proves that the Gwwfa-hens were brought out of Nubia, and
fold at a great price at Cairo f, hut is totally filent about the Tur-
key of the moderns.

Let me in this place obferve, that die Gmnea-\itTi% have long
been imported into Britain. They were cultivated in our farm-
yards : for I difcover, in 1277, in the grainge of Clifton, in the pa-
rilh oiAmbroJdm, in Buckinghamjhire, among other articles, vi. w«-
tilones, ^nd/ex A?KiCA^jEf^min^%; for this fowl was familiarly
known by the names o^ Jfra Avis, and Gallim Africana & Ntimida.
It was introduced into Italy from Africa, and from Rome into our
country. They were neglefted here by reafon of their tendernefs
and difficulty of rearing. We do not find them in the bills of fare
of our antient feafts § : neither do we find the Turkey : which laft
argument amounts to almoft a certainty, that fuch a hardy and
princely bird had not found its way to us. The other likewife was
then known here by its claffical nanr.e j for that judicious writer.
Dr. Cuius II, defcribes, in the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth,
the Guinea fowl, for the benefit of his friend Gejner, under the
name of Mekagris, bellowed on it by Arifiotle f .

Having denied, on the very beft authorities, that the Turkey ever
cxifted as a native of die old world, I mull now bring my proofs

• Barbot, in ChurchilVs Cell v. zg.'-Bofinan, 229. ^ Hi/i. Nat.

■^gypti, i. 201. X Kennet's Parochial Jntiq. 287.

§ Neither in that of George Ne^il, archoifliop of Tork, in 1466, nor among the
delicacies mentioned in the Northumberland HovifhoU Book, in the beginninc of the
Xiignoi Henry y 111, * fi ' ««=

II C"*/' Ofu/c. 93. ig Hij}, An, lib. vi. c. 2.

of .

WILD TURKEY.

349

k M maT.T" ' """' "^"^ ""' '"' °f *' P'rio'i " which
Jt hrft made its appearance in Europe.

The firft precife defcription of thcfe birds is »iv™ i,„ n ■ ^

e^ the Inches for the rfe of his monarch Charles V, This learned
:;:. '-f "«-'';'>^ ^^ «" »d i. inands in perion a d p d
War regard to the natural hiftory. It appears &«; him that
the Turkey was ,„ his days an inhabiunt of th greater Mand and
cf the ma.n land. He fpeaks of them as Peacocks ; ^^^^^^

thought hey bore to the former: « But (fays he) the neck is bare
of feathers but covered with a Ikin which they change after their

hv7 f.°"\ ""f "^■■'" 0" '1^ breaft." He defcribes other
b.rds. which he alfo calls Peacocks. They are of the gaUinaceous
genus and known by the name of Cur.gao birds; the mrof
which is black, the female ferruginous. °^

The new who fpeaks of them :is natives of the main land of the
warmer parts of America, is Frmcijco Fernandez, fent there by
PUtp II. to whom he was phyfician. This naturalift obferved
Am ,n Mexico. We find by him, that the Mian name of the M
-ale .^Hue.,ofl, of the female CVWA.- he givesThem tt '

Spamards domeft.cated thefe ufeflil birds, he fpeaks of the fee by
comparifon, faying that the wild were twice the magnitude of the

ton r f t' T '^°' "'* """^ "' ^^ t. I cannot
learn the time when Fernandez wrote. It muft be between the
years ijjj and ijj8, the period oiPUlif^ reign,
i-.-/™ </. Geja mentions Turkies on the Ifthmus of mrien%. D«.,.„.

Ir. Purchas, iii. 59^,

t ^i^. ^^. A^.,,. Hi/p, 27. ,^ j,^,,^,^^^

— ^- — ^-.-___.,..

350

Yucatan.

N. America.

When first in-
troduced INTO

EUR01>£.

WILD TURKEY.

Lery^ a Porlugucfe author, aflerts that they are found in BraftI, and
gives tlicm an Indian nanae * j but fince I can difcover no traces of
them in that diligent and excellent naturalift Marcgrave, who re-
fided long in that country, I mud deny my affent. But the former
is confirmed by that able and honeft navigator Damper, who faw
them frequently, as well wild as tame, in the province of Tucaian f,
now reckoned part of the kingdom of Mexico,

In North America diey were obferved by the very firll difcoverers.
When Rene de Luudonniere, patronized by Admiral Co//^yf«/, attempt-
ed to form a fettlement near the place where Charlejiown now itands,
he met with them on his firft landing, in t 564, and by his hiftorian,
has rep'-'^fented them with great fidelity in the Vth plate of the re-
cital of his voyage \. From his time, the witnefles to their being-
natives of this continent are innumerable. They have been feen in
flocks of hundreds in all parts, from Louijtana even to Canada : but
at this time are extremely rare in a wild ftate, except in the more
diftant parts, where they are ftill found in vaft abundance.

It was from Mexico or Tucatan that they were firft introduced into
Europe; for it is certain that they were imported into England as
early as the year 1524, the 15th of Henry VIII §. We probably
received them from Spain, with which we had great intercourfc
till about that time. They were moft fuccefsfliily cultivated ia
our kingdom from that period ; infomuch that they grew common
in every farm-yard, and became even a dilh in our rural feafts by

• In De Laet^s Defer, des hides, 491. f Voy ges, vol. ii. part. 2d, p. 65,

85, 114. X De Bry.

§ Baker's Chr. — Jnderforis Did. Com. i. 354. — Hackluyt, ii. 165, makes
their introduftion about the year 1532. Barnahy Googe, one of our early writers on
hufbandry, fays they were not fee n here before 1 530. He highly commends a Lady
Hales, of Kent, for her excellent management of thefe fowl, p, 166.

the

.^' ^^^^r:

WILD TURKEY.

rfie year 1585 ; for we may certainly depend on the word of old
Tufery m his account of the Chrijimas huHsandlie fare *.

Beefe, mutton, and porke, Ihred pies of the beft.
Pig, veale, goofe and capon, and Turkie well dreft :
Cheefe, apples, and nuts, jolie carols to heare.
As then in the countrie, is counted good cheare.

But at this very time they were fo rare in France, that we are
told that the very firft which was eaten in that kingdom appeared
at the nuptial feaft of Charles IX. in 1 570 f.

They are now veiy common in all parts 'oi Ruffia, but will not
thrive in Stkna. Are cultivated in Sweden and even in Norway,
where they degenerate in fize %.

* Five hundred pointes of good bujbandrie, p. ^-j.

t ^nderfin': Diil. Comm. i. 410. j Pc„topp. 78.

55 >

XVII. G R O U S.

Il

mi\

3S^

RUFFED GROUS.

XVII. GROUS. Gen. Birds XXXVI.

179. Ruffed.

RufFed Heathcock, or Grous, E^inu. 248.— ZaZ/Jaw.
Morehen, La Hontan, i. 69.
Pheafant, Law/on, 1 39.

Tetrao umbellus, Lin. Syji. 275 — Tetrao togatus, ibid.
La geUnote hupee de Penfylvanie, -Br/^««, i. 2i4.-and. La grofle gelinotc
de Canada— -toy.

Le Coq de Bruyerc a fralfe. De Bufon, Oif. ii. 281.— P/. EnU 104.— Lev.
Mus.— Bl. Mus.

/^R. With a great rufF on the hind part of the neck, to be
VJ raifed or depreffed at pleafure : the head crefted: that, hind
part of the neck, the ruff, back, and coverts of the wings, pret-
tily varied with brown, ferruginous, and black: the black on the
ruff difpofed in broad black bars : the coverts of the tail marked
with heart-fhaped fpots of white : chin white : fore part of the neck
yeUowifh : breaft and belly dirty white, barred with cinereoug
brown : primaries barred on tlieir outmoft fides with black and ruft-
color.

Tail large, expanfible like a fan; in fome of a cinereous colour,
in others orange, moft elegantly barred with narrow undulated lines
of black i near the end with a broad band of afh-color, another
of black, and tipped with white.

Legs feathered to the feet : toes naked and peftinatcd.

Female wants both creft and ruff Crown dufky : back mixed
widi black and ruft-colour like a Woodcock: breaft, belly, and
coverts of the wings, barred with dirty white and cinereous brown :

tail

Ruffe

^ G R o

u s.

::!,!:? '""'"■ '"" ""'' *«'- - "'^'"e feather „o„.U

po«u„i„„f„brc™„g ies manners, to wWd. ftaU f,? "'r

He IS (fays Mr. BarframJ a fine bird wh.n J,- •

;: P'r ' '"' '"■ ""^^ ''^ -i-eads is ailteth orV^*"
" cock, and erefts a r.V^u rr . °^ ^ Turkey-

•• wa.icLgve;t:e;:r ^X"™'!"^'" "'^ ^™^'
" thing like a Turkey • ar wV T '^ . '""^ '^ "°''''= '■°'"'-

" Melya. I,im or hi flLr i"- ^ '"' '""'" ""'* «- --^di-

"befoiherrt;, othrgit'^xr™;"'!"'™'^^^^

" able in what we caU th!r* "/<""^th,ng veiy remark-

•' wm„. k , ^."" """"^ thumping, which they do with th^i.

" The? i^d ''""' *'" "^"'"^ *"' «"-• - *= hu" rs t
1 ney Itand upon an old fallen frp,. i-l,,, i, i • '""'■'=" lay.

" the ground, where thJh, . 1l ' '"'" "•="/ years on
" -oLndaofJme dl 'T "' "™'" ^^^''"^"y- « ^''"^
•' q>-icker and qu ^er ™t 1 ..'r T "°*"' "'' "P^" •''^'"
" diftance, wMch c:^, frf ™'V !""!' '*<= '"""der at a

" then ceafed, for about Hx or Xhr^ ^'"u"? ''""' " """"'='
« -found isheardnearValflteX^ilt::^^^^^

• PM. Tranf. Ixli. ^93.
Canada, vol. v. defcribes it verv Lx Chark'vo,., m his account of

Vol. I. ' •

"^ ^ " covered

J5J

(r

Size.

Place.

MAN\fiR3

From Mr. Bar.

TRAM.

354

Mr. Brooke.

HUFFED GROUS.

" covered by the hunters, and many of them killed. I have fhot
" many of them in this pofition ; but never faw them thump, they
« moftly feeing me firft, and fo left off. They commonly exercife
" in thumping fpring and fall, at about nine or ten in the morning,
" and four or five in the afternoon. Their food is chiefly ber-
" ries and feeds of the countiy : their fleflx is white, and choice
** food. I believe they breed but once a year, in the fpring, and
" hatch twelve or fourteen at a brood ; wliich keep in a company
" till the following fpring. Many have attempted to raife the young
" ones, and to tame them ; but to no purpofe. When hatched
" under a hen, they efcape into the woods foon after they are
« hatched, where they either find means to fublilt, or perilh."

The hiftory of this bird is thus further illuftrated by Mr. Brooke
of Marylandy in North America : " The ruffed Grous, or Pheafant,
" breeds in all parts of Maryland^ fome countries on the Eaftern
" fhore excepted. They lay their eggs in nefts they make in the
" leaves, either by the fide of fallen trees, or the roots of f>.^nding
" ones. They lay from twelve to fixteen eggs : the time of incu-
bation is in the fpring ; but how long their eggs are hatching
I cannot fay j but probably it is three weeks, the time that a
Dunghill Hen fits. I have found their aefl:s when a boy, and
" have endeavoured to take the old Pheafant, but never could fuc-
** ceed : flie would almofl: let me put my hand upon her before (he
* would quit her neft j then by artifice ftie would draw me off
from her eggs, by fluttering jufl before me for a hundred paces
or more ; fo that I have been in confliant hopes of taking her.
" They leave their nefl:s as foon as they are hatched ; and I believe
" they live at firfl: on ants, fmall worms, &c. When they are a
" few days old, they hide themfelves fo artfully among the leaves,
" that it is difficult to find them : as they grow up, they feed on
" various berries, fruits, and grain of the country: grapes they

" iikewife

«

tt

((

it

<t

RUFFED GRO

J S.

« hkc^vife arc fond of in the (cafon ; but the Phrafant is more par-
*' t,cularly fond of the ivy-berry. I <b not know any other animal

u f 'ir /" f " ^"■'■^ '' ^ "°^ " '^ P'^'^«" ^° '"^"y- Thougt.
^^ th . Fheafant hatches nnany yonng at a time, and often fits twice

^^ a year, the great nuu and variety of Hawks in MarvM

cc .r pT ? ' ^''''''"'' '^''^ '"^'■"'''"S ^^^- ^^^^^ beating of

the Phe.fant, n^ we term it, is a noife chiefly made in the fpring

^^ oftheyearby .cock-bird; it may bediftindWyheard amilein a
^^ calm day ; taey fwell d.cir breads like the Powting Pigeon, and
beat with their wingr, wliich make a noife not unlike a drum in
" found ; but the Pheafant Mortens each founding note, till they
« run one nuo another undif ^nu(hably, fke ftriking two empty
" bottles together." *^ '

In order to perfedl:, as far as 1 am able, .he hillory of this bird,
I fliall give a quotation from Bar^ n La ho.^an's Voyages to North
^/«.nV« publilhed in Enghjh, (vol. i. ^ 6y.) where he fpeaks of
a bird found near the lakes of Canada, which, I think, can be no
other than the above-defcribed, though the names given them dif-
agree.

La Hontan fays, « I went in company with fome Canadefe on
purpofe to fee that fowl flap with its wings : believe me, this
fight is one of the greateft cu ^ofities in the world ; for their flap-
ping makes a noife much like a drum, for about the fpace of a
minute; then the noife ceafes for half a quarter of an hour-
« after which it begins again. By this noife we were direded to'
" the place where the unfortunate More-hen fat, and found them
^^^' upon rotten mofly trees. By flapping one wing againll the
other the) mean to caU their mates ; and the humming noife that
« enfues thereupon may be heard half a quarter of a league. Tins
^^ they do in the months of 4,n7, May, September, and O^ohr -,
and, which IS very remarkable, the More-hen never flaps in this

(C

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m

La Hontan.

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manner

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

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Sciences
Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 873-4503

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Mr. Graham.

PINNATED GROUS.

" manner but upon one tree. It begins at break of day, and gives
" over at nine o'clock in the morning, till about an hour before fun-
" fet, then it flutters again, and continues fo to do till night."

To thefe accounts I beg leave to add the following, out of the
Philofopbical Tranfa£iions i which informs us, that this fpecies of
Grous bears the Indian name o( Pujkee, or Pujpujkee, suHudfon's Bay,
on account of the leannefs and drynefs of their flefh, which is ex-
tremely white, and of a very clofe texture j but when well prepared,
is excellent eating. They are pretty common at Moo/e Fort and
Henly Houfe j but are feldom feen at Jll>any Forty or to the northward
of the above places. In winter they feed upon juniper-tops, in fum-
mer on goofeberries, rafpberries, currants, cranberries, &c. They
are not migratory j flaying all the year at Moo/e Fort : they build
their neft on dry ground, hatch nine young at a time, to which the
mother clucks as our common hens doj and, on the left appearance
of danger, or in order to enjoy an agreeable degree of warmth, the
young ones retire under the wings of their parent.

i8o. Pinnated,

UrogaUus minor fufcus cervice plumis alas unitantibus donata, Cafe^y, App, tab.

Tetrao Cupido, Lin, Syft. 27 /^.—Latham.

La Gelinote hupee d'Amerique, ^rj^», i. 212.— Lev. Mus— Bl. Mus.

Q R. With head, cheeks, and neck of a reddilh brown, marked
with dufky lines : chin and throat of a pale rufty brown :
on the head is a fmall creft : on each fide of the neck a moft lin-
gular tuft (five feathers in each) gradually lengthening to the fifth,
which is about three inches long: the upper feathers ferruginous
and whites the lower black: back and fcapulars black and pale
ruft-cclour J the former fpotted with white : breaft and belly barred
with white and pale brown : tail barred with pale brown and black.

Leg*

J-iL.

SHARP- TAILED GROUS.

Legs covered with foft brown feathers : toes naked and pedli-
nated. ^

SizEofaPheafant. A peculiar fpecies, not to be confounded
with the preceding*. Defcribed from the real bird by Mr Catef
b'. and by myfelf from the fpecin.ens in Mrs. BlackburrC, cabinet
wh.ch were fent from the province of Conremcut. Is frequeni
about a hundred miles up Albany river, in HudJorCs Bay.

The tufts, which diftinguifh this fpecies from all others, are
rooted hgh on the neck, not far from the hind part of the head.

When H?'l H '°"':// '"''"^ °^ ''■°PP^"S '^'^ '' Pi^-^--.
When difturbed,,t would fpread them horizontally, like little wings -

at odier tmies let them fall on the fides of the neck f. It is pL*
bable, that they affiit in running or flying, or perhaps both, as the
real wings are very fhort, in proportion to the weight of die body.
Thefe appendages are peculiar to th, cock, and almoft die only
difference between it and die hen.

357

Size.

Place.

Long-tailed Grous, BJiu. ii8 Pi,. Tr. Ixii.

Tetrao Phafianellus, Lin. Syji. zyj Latham.

Le Coq de Bruyeres i longue queue, de la Baye de Hud/cn, Brijfcn, Apt. o.-Z),
Bttffon, ii. 386.

iSi. Sharp.

TAILED.

Q R. Widi the head, cheeks, and hind part of die neck, varied
with reddilh brown and black: die back and coverts of the
tail of the fame color : the fcapulars and great coverts of die wings
ferruginous, fpotted with black, and great fpots of white : prima-
ries black, fpotted with white : breaft and fides white, elegandy
niarked widi fagittal fpots of black: belly white: tail fliort and

• The Comte De Bufon, ii. 282. faUs into this millake.

f Catejby.

cuneiform i

358

SHARP- TAILED GROUS.

Size.
Flace.

cuneiform ; the two middle feathers two inches longer than the
others : the tail is of the fame color with the backj only the
exterior feathei s are fpotted with white : the legs are covered with
foft and long feathers, extending over the peftinated toes, which
would be otherwife naked.

The Length of this fpecies is feventeen inches : the Extent of
wings twenty-four: Weight two pounds.

Inhabits Hudfon's Bay j and, according to Dr. Mitcbelt the unfre-
quented parts of Virginia j but none have been brought over to
England from any other place than the Bay. -

Unnaus confounds this with the Wood Grous, or Cock of the
Wood ♦. Comparifon will (hew with how little realbn the Comte
De Buffon f makes it to be the female of the next fpecies, our Spot-
ted Grous. If the female of that was not afcertained, the difference
in the form of the tail would be fufRcient to eftablifh a diftinftion j
by which it approaches neareft to the European Pheafant of any
bird in North America.

The Indians about Hudfon's Bay call this fpecies the Au Kujkow.
It continues there the whole year; lives among the fmall larcii
bulhes, and feeds, during winter, on the buds of that plant and the
birch ; in the fummer, on all forts of berries. The females lay from
nine to thirteen eggs. The young, like others of this genus, run
as foon as hatched, and make a puling noife like a chicken. They
differ chiefly from the cock, in having lefs of the red naked fkin
over the eyes. The cock has a fhrill crowing note, but not very
loud. When difturbed, or while flying, it makes a repeated noife
oiCuck, cuck; and makes a noife with the feathers of its tail like
the cracking of a fan. The flelh of thefe birds is of a light brown
color, plump, and very juicy.

£r. Zool, i, N" 92. tab. xl.

f Oi/. ii. 279.

Black

SPOTTED GROUS.

Black and Spotted Heathcock (male) Ediv. ii8.
Brown and Spotted Heathcock (female) EJw, 71.
Tetrao Canadenfis (male) Lin. Syft. 274.
TetraoCanace (female) Lin. Sy ft. i-ji^. ^Latham.

La Gelinote de la Baye de Hudfon, Brijfon, i. 201. and the fame, App. 10. (male.)
La Gelinote de Canada, BriJJim, \. 203. tab. xx. lig. 1. 2. (m. and fem.)— Z)«
Buffon, ii. 2^^.'—Pl, Enl. 131, 132.

OR. With a white fpot before and uehind each ey. ; head, neck,
back, and coverts of the wings and tail, dufky brown, crofled
with black: throat of a glofly black, bounded by a white line,
commencing at the external corner of each eye : breaft of the for-
mer color : belly white, marked with great black fpots : tail black,
external feathers tipt with orange : legs featliered : toes naked and
pcdlinated.

The Female is of a reddifh brown, barred and fpotted with black :
belly of a dirty white, Ipotted with black : i:ail of a deep brown,
barred with mottled bands of black j the tips of the exterior fea-
thers orange.

The Weight is twenty-three ounces : Length fifteen inches :
Extent near two feet.

Inhabits UudJorCs Bay, Newfoundland^ and Canada. Is called by
the EngUjh of Hudjon's Bay, the fVood Partridge, from its living in
pine woods. Thefe birds are very ftupid ; fo that they are often
knocked down with a ftick j and are ufually caught by the natives
with a noofe fattened to a ftake. In fummer they are very palat-
able; for in that feafon they feed on berries. In winter they live
on the ftioots of the fpruce-fir, which infe<5ls the flefh with a very
difagreeable tafte. If it is true, that this fpecies lays but five
eggs *> it is a ftrange exception to the prolific nature of the genus.

3S9

182. Spottkd.

Female.

Size.

Place.

• Fib. Tr. Ixii. 390.

White

3^0

WHITE GROUS.

183. Whiti,

Summer
Plumage.

Winter

PtUMAGE.

DOUBLV

Featherbd.

Size.

Place.

White Partricige, Ediv. -ji—ElUi't Voy. 37.

La Lagopede de la Bale de Hudfon, De Buffon. ii. 276. tab. ix.^Latham.

La Giliuote blanche, Brifon, i. z\6.^PLEnl.

Tetrao Lagopus, fuecis Snoripa, Lappa Chcruna, Faun. Suec. N«> 203.

QR. With a black bill: fcarlet eye-brows, very large in the
male, in the female far lefs confpiruous. Head, neck, and
part of the back, coverts of the tail, and fcapulars, deep orange,
crofled with numerous dufky lines, and often marked widi great
blotches of white : belly, legs, and middle feathers of the tail, white :
the reft of the tail dufky, tipt with white : the ihafts of the quill
feathers black : the legs and toes wa. -nly clad with a very thick and
long coat of foft white feathers : the claws broad and flat, adapted
for digging.

Such is the fummer drefs : in wiiiter they change their color to
white, or, more properly fpeaking, moult, and change their colored
plumes for white ones. By a wonderful providence, every feather,
except thofe of the wings and tail, becomes double i a downy one
fhooting out at the bafe of each, as exprefled in the plate, which
gives an additional protedion againft the cold. In the latter end
of February, the fummer plumage begins to appear firft about the
rump, in form of brown ftumps *, the firft rudiments of the coat
they aflume in the warm feafon, when each feather is fingle, fuit-
able to the time. I oughr . have obferved before, that the Spot-
ted Grous alfo changes its fingle for double feathers at approach
of winter, notwithftanding it undergoes no change Ox'" color.

The Weight of this fpecies is twenty-four ounces: its Length
fixteen inches and a quarter : Extent twenty-three.

Thefe birds are met with round the globe, within and without

Drage's Voy. ii. 9.

the

1

WHITE GROU3.

the .mc circle, »d as high « la,. ^,, i„ ,he countries round H.i.

N ofSI^lT".^""^"*''' ''■^"-'^> P-Oapsifthc
W. of Ae;?«^«„ dominions mi:„„;.., a„d certainly in^^f^ all
over S.hna, as far as W/A,i., and in tl.e iHands which & be
tween that country and ^„.,v.. K„,„,, ,hey abound in Z^/w

K^nd the leffer agreed in every point wid, that which I defcribe
N 9S, vol I. of my BriliJbZmhgy ™icriDe,

for*' istL^T"" « '""'^- ^'" '''Ser, which inhabits
orefts, ,s ftyled by them Shrv Ryfe, or the Wood Grous- the
kfler, which lives in the mountains, is called FUU Ry^^r tt
Mountain Grous f. They all burrow under the fnow td fo™
eKtenfive walks beneath. There they feed, efpedally Li^^™
on Che feeds of the dwarf birch %. and in the Lon on vaijj of
berr.es of mountain plants. During winter they are takerand
brought to Bergen by thcufands, are half roaft«i, and put imo
firkms. and tranfported to other countries J ^

The leffer variety is not unknown in America. The fort here

per PJ. or ,>l "XT^Tr "^ ""' '"" '" '" "'"" "^ «' ""-^

kind. ^ "* ^""^ *^°" ^al'^t'^e fize of the ^;^W««

t f/. Lap, 268. 5 /».«/./;»,;&«, U. 92.

Vol. I. . -

^ ^ dcfcribeci

jtfi

Norvvav",

Norwegians

distinguish

two kinds.

3^2

WHITE GROUS.

defcribed is found in amazing quantities, efpecially about HudfotCi
Bay, where they breed in all parts along the coafts, make their neiU
on dry ridges on the ground, and lay from nine to eleven eggs,
powdered with black.

This is die only fpecies of Grous in North America to which
Providence hath given that warm proteftion to its feet, evidently
to fecure them againft the cold of their winter lodgings ; and, as
they are greatly fought after by Eagles, Owls, and other birds of
prey, a fine provifion is made for their fafety, by the change of co-
lor, which renders them not to be diftinguilhed from the fnow they
lie on.

Every morning they take a flight into the air diredly upwards,
to fhake the fnow from their wings and bodies. They feed in the
mornings and evenings, and in the middle of the day bafk in the
fun. In the morning they call to one another with a loud note,
interrupted j feeding in the intervals, and calling again.

In the beginning of OSfohety they aflfemble in flocks of two hun-
dred, and live much among the willows, the tops of which they eat;
whence they are called Willoiv Partridges. About the beginning of
December they appear in lefs plenty, retiring from the flats about the
fettlements on Hudfon's Bay to the mountains, where in that month
the Ihow is lefs deep than in the lowlands, to feed on cranberries
and other berries *. In Greenland they refort in fummer to the
mountains for the fake of the crowberries f, which they eat even
with the leaves of the plant. In winter they defcend to the fhores,
where the winds fweep the fnow off the rocks, and enable them to
pick up a fuftenance.

They are an excellent food, and much fearched after by the Eu-
ropeans in Hudfon's Bay. They are generally as tame as chickens.

• Dr age's Voy. i. 174.
64, 75.

t Empctrum Nigrum.— See Crantx. Greenl. i.

clpecially

WHITE GROUS,

cfpecially in a mild day : fomctlmes they arc rather wild ; but by
being driven about, or (hot at with powder, they grow fo wearv
by the fhort flights they take, as foon to become ve'ry rame agah'
Sometimes the hunters, when they fee the birds likely to take alng

much TTl T'''^ '^ ' "'"^> "^"^^^ '"^'-dates them fo
much, tha they inftantly fettle. When the female is killed, the
male can fcarcely be forced from the body of its mate *

The ufual method of taking them is in nets made of t;ine, twe:.
ty feet fquare fattened to four poles, and fupported in from in a
perpendicular direftion with flicks. A long line is fattened to thefe
props, the end of which is held by a perfon who lie, concealed at a
diftance. Several people are then employed to drive the birds
widiin reach of the net, which is then pulled down, and often covers
at one haul fifty or feventy. At this time they are fo plentiful,
that ten thoufand are taken for the ufe of the ibttlement from No-
vemher to the end o^ Apil. In former days, they mutt have been
infinitely more numerous ; for Sir Thomas Button relates, that when
he wintered there in 1612, he took eighteen hundred dozens of
thefe and other fowl f : but this is a trifle to the fuccefs of M. >
rmie, who aflferts, that there were eaten in one winter, between
himfelf and feventy-nine others, ninety thoufand Grous, and twenty-
five thoufand Rabbets J.

The Laplanders take them i>y forming a hedge with the boughs
of birch-trees j leaving fmaU openings at certain intervals, and
hang in each a fnare. The birds are tempted to come and feed on
the buds or cadcins of the birch; and whenever they endeavour to
pafs through the openings they are inttantly caught.

• Faun. Groenl. p. , ,7. ^ 0^^^,^ j^ Nmh^n^cn Fox. 228.

t Recueildt Fej. au Nord. iii. 344.

\

3«3

u

w-'

3A 2

II

> il

■

ROCK

}f

3^4

ROCK, AND GREAT GROUS.

184. Rocx.

Male.
Size.

FSMALS.

JJ^OCK Gr. With a black line from the bill to the eye. In
all other parts of the plumage of the fame colors with the
White, N» i8j i but inferior in fize by one third.

Differs in nature. Feeds on the tops of fmall birch. Frequents
only the dry rocky grounds, and the larch plains. Makes a fingu-
lar fnoring noife, with its neck ftreched out, and feemingly with
difficulty. Is very numerous in the northern parts of IM/on's Bay
and never vifits the fouthern end, except in very hard weather
Never takes Ihelter in the woods, but fits on the rocks, or burrows
in the fnow. Is inferior in goodnefs to the preceding.

A. Great Grous, J?a Zool i. N°92.

Tetraonis alterum Genus, Plinii, lib. x. c. 22.

Tetrao urogallus Kjader, Faun. Suec. N" lOC^Latham.

La Tetras, ou le grand Coq de Bruycre, DeBuffon, ii. 19.. tab. v.-/*/. Enl. 73, 74,

QR. With head, neck, and back croffed with (lender lines of
black and grey : upper part of the breaft gloffy green : tail
black i the feathers on each fide fpotted with white : legs feathered :
toes naked and peftinated. Length two feet eight : Weight
fometimes fourteen pounds.

Length of the female only two feet two : color ferruginous and
black, difpofed generally in bars.

Notwith-

GREAT GROUS.

Notwithftanding the opnions of Linn^us and the Count Be
£ufo,, this fpccks is unknown in Norfb America. Its moft fouth-
crly habitation, as far as I can difcover, is the Archipelago, it being
found m the iflands of Crete and of Mllo. One was fhot in the
laft, percJied on a palm-tree, on whofc fruit it probably fed I
fufpea that it does not extend into Afia Minor ; for Dodor RuM
does not enumerate it among the Syricn birds. As the Tetrao.
which Atben^us * calls a fort of Pheafant, was found in the antient
Medta, ,t may ftill be met with in the northern part of Per/ta If
Arijiotle intends this fpecies by the words Teirix and Ourax f, it was
likewife found in Greece-, but he applies tliofe names only to a bird
which lays Its eggs on the grafly ground, and fays no more

P/iny gives a far clearer defcription of the Tetraones of Italy
Dccet Tetraonas>«. nitor, abfolutaque nigritia, in Juperciliis cocci
rubor. This certainly means only the cock of the Black Grous •
which is diftinguifhed by the intenfe blacknefs and the brilliant
glofs of Its plumage, as well as by its fcarlet eyebrows, which is
common to it and the Wood Grous -, which laft is the fpecies de-
fcnbed by the ancient naturalift, truly in fome refpedls, hyperbo-
lically in others. He fays it is of the fize of a Vulture, and not un-
like it in color :{:. Both thefe aflertions approach the truth • for
the upper part of the body has a dulTcy or footy look, not unlike
that of the Vulture of the Alp. But when he fpeaks of its being
the heavieft bird next to the Oftrich, we fee plainly he goes beyond
all bounds. r' ■'

It is a fpecies found in moft parts of the wooded and mounta-
nous countries of £«r.;,,, and extends even to the arftic Latmark^-
IS common in Rufta and Sibiria ; in the laft are found greater and
leffer varieties. It is found even as far as Kamtjchatka.

• Lib. xiv. p. 654. ^ Hift. An. lib. vi. c. i,

*• 22. § Leems, 241,

X Uiji. Nat, lib. X.

The

^

365

Place.

i

366

SPURIOUS GROUS.

The Great Grous is very cafily tamed, if taken young, and is
fed with corn. The males, in a domeftic ftate, emit the fame note
all the year, which in a wild ftate they only ufe in the f.afon of
love. When a cock of this fpecies is (hot in the woods, its widows
are heard to utter a note inexprefllbly miferable at their lofs. In
the love feafon the females have been found (o gready overpowered
with the all-ruling paflion, as to lay themfelves on the ground, fo-
liciting the company of the males, with their ufual note j and fo
intent on the expcfted joys, as to negleft their own fafety fo much,
that the peafants have adually taken them up in their hands.—
Mr. Oe(bnati,

B. Spurious Gr. Tetrao Hybridus. Rackkhane. Rojlagh Roflare, Faun, Sutc.

N0 2OI.

/^R. With a fpotted breaft and forked tail. In fize equal to the
hen of the preceding. Is much fcarcer, more timid, and its
note very different.

The Spurious Grous, or Racklehanen of the Swedes, is a breed
bttween the cock of the Black Grous , and a female of the Great Grous i
its note partakes of both fpecies. It is reftlefs, conftantly moving
from tree to tree ; is therefore hated by Iportfmen, as it gives other
birds notice of their approach. This variety ir. well figured by
Doflor Sparman, in his Mufeum Carlfoniantmy tab. xv. — P.

The cock of the Black Game has been known in Sweden to
cover the common domeftic Hen, which did produce a barren
Ipurious breed.

C. Black

BLACK GROUS.

367

C. Black Otoui, Br.Zaol. i. N'gj,
Tetrao i"', /»//»«.

'Ictiao Tctrix, Orrc, Fmh. Su/e. N« aoa.
Lc Pnit Tctra,. ou Coq dc Bruycre a queue forchue. D, Buffon, U. 1,0.-/'/. £;,/.

QR. With a white fpot on the Ihouldcrs, and white vent fea-
thcrs: reft of the plumage of a full black, gloffec' with blue •
tail much forked, exterior feathers curling outwards. Weight
near four pounds. Length one foot ten inches.

Female weighs but two pounds. The tail is flighdy forked and
Ihort: the colors ruft, black, and cinereous.

Inhabits Europe, as high as Lapland: extends over Rujfta and SU
hma, as far as birch-trees grow, of the catkins and bud. of which
It IS very fond. Feeds much on the populus talfamifera\ which
gives Its flefh a fine flavor. In northern Europe, this and the laft
fpeces live during fummer on whorde- berries, and feed their ^ ^untr
with gnats. ■' «>

The Black Grous in the winter-time fills its craw with the cat-
kins of the birch, before it retires under the fnowj and by this
means can fuftain life feven days widiout any other food.-Mr
Oeaman.

In fummer the males perch on trees, and animate the forefts

with their crowing. In winter they lie on the ground, become

buried in the fnows, and form walks beneadi, in which they often

continue forty days f. They are at prefent taken in fnarcsi but

in Lapland were formej ly fhot widi arrows %,

• The TaccMiahacca 0! North America Catejhy, i. 34.

*^' S?"* \ Olms Gent, Sej>tr. lib. xix. c. 13.

t Amtxn. AcaJ,

During

Placi,

^li

^^' PTARMIGAN GROUS.

During winter, there is at prefent a very fingular way of taking
the Black Grous in Sibiria. In the open forefts of birch, a cer-
tain number of poles are placed horizontally on forked fticks :
by way of allurement, fmall bundles of corn are placed on them j
^ and not remote, are fet certain tall bafkets of a conic fhape, with
the broadeft part uppermoft: within the mouth is placed a fmall
wheel, through which pafles an axis fixed fo nicely as to admit
it to play very readily, and permit one fide or the other, on the
leaft touch, to drop down, and again recover its fituation. The
Black Grous are foon attrafted by the corn on the horizontal
poles i firft alight on them, and after a fhort repaft fly 1:0 the bafkets,
attempt to fettle on their tops, when the wheel drops fideways,
and they fall headlong into the trap, which is fometimes found
half full.

D. Pt A R M I G A N, 5r. Zool. i. N" 95.

Tetrao Lagopi.s. Sueds Snoripa. Lappis Chcruna, Faun. Sm. N- 203.
Le Lagopede, De Bujon, ii. 264. tab. ix.

QR, With the head, neck, back, fcapulars, and fome of the
coverts of the wings, marked widi narrow lines of black, alh-
color, and ruft, intermixed with fome white : wings and belly white :
outmoft feathers of the tail black; thofe of the middle cinereous^
mottled with black, and tipt with white. The male has a black
fpot between the biU and the eye; which in the female is
fcarcely vifible. One which I weighed in Scotland was nineteen
ounces. Another weighed by Mr. Ray, in the Grijons country,
only fourteen. It regularly changes its colors at approach of
winten

Inhabits

i-f II Qfi.

i*ili'»nii ririmiiiii

REHUSAK GROUS.

Inhabits Greenland, Iceland, Upland, all Scandinavia, and Ruffia,

but I beheve does not extend to Sibiria or Kamtjchatka. This

from us haunts, ,s called by the Norwegians, Fi.lde Rype, or Moun-

am Grous. But in Ru^a it inhabits indifferently woods, moun-

tains, plains, and marfhes. Its feathers were formerly an article of

ZT'T J' '' '''''" '""""S '^' Laplanders, by the fame ftrata-
gem as the White Grous, N» 183.

The Greenlanders catch it in noofes hung to a long line, drawn
between two „,en, dropping them over the neck of this'fdly
bird. They fometimes kill it with ftones, but of late oftener by
Ihootmg. It IS faid, that when the female is killed the male un-
willingly deferts the body *.

The Greenlanders eat it either dreffed, or half rotten, or raw,
wi h feals lard. The inteftines, efpecially thofe next to the rump
and frefh drawn, are reckoned great delicacies. They alfo mix
the contents with frefh train-oil and berries; a luxury frequent
among thefe people. The fkins make a warm and comfortable
fhirt, with the feathers placed next to the body. The women for-
merly ufed the black feathers of the tail as ornaments to their head-
dreffes.

369

Place,

ll

QR. With neck ruft-colored, fpotted with black: back and
coverts of tail black, varied with rufty ftreaks : bread divided
from the lower part of the neck by a dark fhade: reft of the breaft
and vent white; the hen fpotted with yellow: primaries white :
tail black; end whitifh: thighs white, with fome rufty fpots: legs

Vol. I.

• Faun. Groenl p. 117.

3B

feathered

37<i

Place.

HAZEL GROUS.

feathered to the toes : toes naked, covered with large brown fcales.
Size of a fmall Hen.

Inhabits both the woods and alps of Lapland. Lays thirteen or
fourteen reddifh eggs, marked with large brown ipots. When
difturbed, flies away with a loud noife, like a coarfe laugh. The
Kemiy or common Ptarmigan, on the contrary, is fUcnt. The
Keron inhabits the Jlps only.

Size.
Place.

F. Hazel G^,Will. Orn. 17;.

Tetrao bonafia. Hiarpe, Faun. Suec. N" 204.

La Gelinotte, De Buffon, ii. 233. tab. vii, — PI. Enl 474, 475.

^ R. With the chin black, bounded widi white : head and up^
per part of the neck crofled with dufky and cinereous lines:
behind eich eye a white line: coverts of wings and fcapulars fpot-
ted with black and ruft-color : breaft and belly white, marked with
bright bay fpots: feathers of the tail mottled with alh and black j
and, except the two middlemoft, crofled widi a broad Angle bar
of black: legs feathered halfway down. Female wants the black
fpot on the chin, and white fl:roke beyond the eyes. Its fize fupe-
rior to an Englijh Partridge.

Inhabits the birch and hazel woods of many parts o( Europe^ as
high as the diocefe of Drontheimy and even Lapland* j and is not
unfrequent in the temperate parts. Paulfen f fays that it migrates
into the fouti of Iceland in Jprily and departs in September ? It lays
from twelve to twenty eggs : perclies ufually in the midft of a tree :
is attrafted by a pipe, imitative of its voice, to the nets of the

Scheffer Lapl, 138,

t Catalogue of Ictland Birdt, MS.

ipcrtfmen.

HAZEL GROUS.

fportfmcn, who lie concealed in a hovel *. Is excellent meat, in-
fonrauch that the Hungarians call it r/chajamadar, or the bird of
Cafar, ^s if it was only fit for the tablp of tlie Emperor, h found
in moft parts of the Ruffian dominions with the Ptarmigan, but grows
fcarcer towards the eaft oiSibiria.

37 f

* Gefner Av. 230.

3R ^

XVII. P A R.

372

MARYLAND PARTRIDGE.

»

XVII. PARTRIDGE. Gen. Birds, XXXVII.

.85. MAav.AHP. ^™ Partridge, Claytcn. PL Tr. atnJ,. iii. 590.-.Z...>, hc-C^..^, j.p,

plate xu.— 2)« />,«/«, ii. 86. "^ '^^ ^^

Tetrao Virginianus, Lin. Syfi. 277.

Le Perdrix d'Amerique, Brijfon. I zji.-Et de la Nouvelle Angleterre, 2zg.^De
•oa^sw. li. 447. '

Pl

ACE.

P V^ith white cheeks and throat, bounded by a line of black on
A .ail fides, and marked widi another paffing beneath each eye •
breaft whitifh, prettily marked with femicircular fpots of black '
upper part of the breaft, coverts of wings, fcapulars, and coverts
of tail, bright bay, edged with fmall black and white fpots : fcapu-
lars ftriped with yellowilh white: primaries and tail of a light
alh-color. °

The head of the female agrees in the white marks of the male,
but tht boundaries are ferruginous. There is alfo more red on the
breaft. n other refpeds the colors nearly correfpond. In Size,
above half as big again as the EMgliJh Quail.

Frequent from Canada to the moft fouthern parts of Norfb Ame^
rtca, perhaps to Mexico. Are great breeders, and are feen in covies
of four or five and twenty. Breed the latter end of 4,r/7, or be-
ginning of May. Colled, towards the beginning of June, in great
flocks, and take to the orchards, where they perch when difturbed
Feed much on buck-wheat i grow fat, and are excellent meat. Mi-
grate from Nova Scotia, at approach of winter, to the fouthern pro-
vinces i but numbers refide in the latter the whole vear. The males
have a note twice repeated, which they emit, while the females are

fitting,

9

COMMON PARTRIDGE.

fitting, ufuaJIy perched on a rail or gate. Make a vaft noife with
the wings when they arife.

Of late they have been introduced into Jamaica; are naturalized
to the chn^ate, and increafe greatly in a wild flate. andTflm
informed, breed in that warm climate twice in the year.

373

In Jamaica.

^ L« Perdrix Grift, D, Buffin, ii. 401.-7./. £„/, j^. ^

INHABITS as highas^w*«. but has not yet reached TVir-

and U,r,a, and even beyond lake BM. where it winters about
iteep rocky mountains expored to the fun, and where the fnow lies

During winter, in Sweden it burrows beneath the fnow, and the
whole covey retires there, leaving a fpiracle at each end of their
lodge.

* Brunnich, N° 201.

B. QiTAIL*

374

CL U A I L.

JB. QvAU> Br. Zool. i. N* g^.—fTacbtel, Faun. Suec. N"» 206.— Ley. Mrs.— -Bi,. Mus.

T S found no further north than Sweden. It appears there in the
beginning of the leafing month (May) ; and is neither heard or
feen there in autumn or winter, unlefs it ftiould, as Linnaus fup-
pofes, migrate to the fouthern province, or Scbonen, or retire to the
Ukrainey Wallachiay &c *.

Quails fwarm fo greatly, at the time of their migration, about
the Dnipefy and in the fouth of Rufftay tliat they are caught by
thoufands, and fent to Mojcow and Peterjburgh in cafks. They
are common in all parts of Great I'artary j but in Sibiria only in
the fouth, as their paflage is hindered by the lofty fnowy mountains.
It is faid they winter beneath the fnow j and in great frofts, to be
found torpid in the Jnt-hills. Beyond lake Baikaly the quails ex-
aftly refemble thofe of Europey but are quite mute. Thefe are ufed
by the Cbineje in fitting, as we do Cocks,

* Jmeen. Acad. iy. 592,

XVIII. BUS-

NORTON SOUND, AND LESSER BUSTARD.

375

XVIII. BUSTARD. Gen, Birds, XXXIX.

I Am foriy that I have it not in my power to do more than afcer-
tain that a bird of the Bustard genus is found in North Ame-
rica. Captain King was fo obliging as to inform me, that he faw
on the plains near Norton Sounds N. lat. 64 1, great flocks of a
large kind. They were very Ihy j ran very faft, and for a confidera-*
ble way before they took wing j fo that he never could get one fhot.

I often meet with the word Outarde^ or Bujiardy among the
French voyagers in North America -, but believe it to be always ap-
plied to a fpecies of Goole.

The Great Buftard, Br. ZooL i. N" 98, is frequent over all the
defert of Tartary, and beyond lake Baikal. Is a folitary bird i but
collefts into fmall flocks at the time of its fouthern migration, and
winters about AJlracan *.

A. Lesser Bust ard, Br. ZooL 1. N» gg,
Tetrao Tetrax, Faun. Suec. N" 196.

La Petite Outarde, ou la Cane-petiere, De Buffbn, ii. 40 PI. Enl. 10. 25.--LEV.

Mus.

Jg With crown, back, fcapulars, and coverts of the wings, ferru-

' ginous and black ; primaries black at their ends, white at

their bottoms j the fecondaries quite white: neck black, marked

* Extraiis, 143.

186. Norton
Sound.

near

376

Flaci.

LESSER BUSTARD.

near the top and bottom with a white circle : breaft and belly white :
middle feathers of the tail crolled with ruft and black, the reft white.
Female entirely ferruginous and black, except wings and belly.
Size of a Pheafant.

Appears in Sweden rarely in the fpring : not traced further north.
Very frequent in the fouthern and fouth-wdt plains oiRuffiUy and
in fmall flocks when it migrates. Continues a good way into the
deferts of Tartary i but is never feen in Sibiria,

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

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