4 As
WY hs

BIOGRAPRY ;

OR,

AUTHENTIC ANECDOTES

OF THE

LIVES, MANNERS, AND ECONOMY,

OF THE

ANIMAL CREATION,

ARRANGED ACCORDING TO THE SYSTEM OF LINNEUS.

a mi ay ere
BY THE REV. W:BINGLEY, A.M.

FELLOW OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY,

AND LATE OF PETERHOUSE, CAMBRIDGE,

IN ‘THREE VOLUMES.

SECOND EDITION,
WITH CONSIDERABLE ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS.

WEARNS

Vile Te COLLECTION
QU ADRUPEDS.

ener ere

ZAVANO
London:

PRINTED FOR RICHARD PHILLIPS, no. 71, sT. PAUL'S CRURCH-

YARD; AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.

1804.

§. Rousseau, Printer, Wood Street, Spa Fields.

Be oJ

iy

x

bie tener fede

og

MRS. SHERBROOKE,
AND
MISS ELIZABETH COAPE SHERBROOKE,
UNITED
IN VIRTUES, IN PURSUITS, AND AFFECTION,
THESE VOLUMES ARE
INSCRIBED,
A TOKEN OF SINCERE ESTEEM AND RESPECT,
BY THEIR MOST FAITHFUL AND
MUCH OBLIGED SERVANT,

WILLIAM BINGLEY.

dx giving the following Work’to the public, I wish to be
ainderstood, as laying no claim whatever to attention, ex-
cept onthe score of utility.” If however by going somewhat
‘out of the track of former writers, adhering at the same time
strictly to-system, it shall appear, that I have brought for-
ward ‘anecdotes and observations that tend to promote the
study of ‘this delightful science, I shall consider my labour
@s hot having been unprofitably bestowed. For this purpose,
‘besidés my'‘own immediate observations,’ I-"have ° ranged
through a most expensive coltection of books, amounting in
number to near a thousand vohunes 3 ‘and I have taken in the
accounts of nearly dll the authentic travellers and histori-
-ans; from the earliest to the present, times.

The prine¢ipal intention of the werk, is to induce, in per-
sons.who.have not hitherto-attended-to the subject, a taste for
the study of Natural History ; and, by confining my remarks
almost exclusively to the manners of the animals, I have en-
deavoured to put such of my readers, as may think the sub-
ject worth attention, into atrain for looking more deeply
into it than any books can possibly lead them, and to point
out to.them the mode of making observations for themsélves
in the grand volume of Nature, that lies always open for
their perusal.

To the female reader 1 must remark, that every indelicate
subject is scrupulously excluded. The dangerous tendency
in this respect of the writings of the Comte de Buffon, and
a few others, his followers, is too generally known to ren-
der any further apology for such a liberty necessary.

vt PREFACE.

4

The work, as it at prerent stands, may I think, withoutims
propriety, be denominated an Animal Biography *: To this
end, I have omitted nearly every thing that did not serve to
illustrate the charaters of the animals; and the reader wil!
also observe, that to render the anecdotes of their manners
as interesting and as little interrupted as possible, by matter
not immediately relative to the subject, I have in general
confined even the descriptive parts of dimensions, colour,
shape, &c. to the firft ten or twelve lines of the account,
T have also left entirely unnoticed all such animals as afford=
ed nothing but this kind of description; for a sufficient ace
count of these is to be found in almost every authentic book
of Natural History extant; but particularly in Dr. Shaw’s
elegant and valuable work on General Zoology. JI am well
aware, that the reader may recognize many of the anecdotes.
{t is impossible entirely to prevent this; but, in order to
avoid it as much as possible, I have omitted nearly all those
that were the most trite and well known,

In composing these volumes, I have all the way attended
to every thing that might be of use in juvenile instruction.
Youth are caught by anecdote; and from this peep into na-
ture, many may be induced to look further than they at first

* The Monthly Reviewers in their very handsome critique on
the former edition of this work, express their opinion that the title is
exceptionable. “ Animal Biography (they say) is ” equivalent to an
account of the lives of living creatures,” and is therefore redundant.
This sirictly speaking, is the case; but since Biography isa term
that, by long usage, has become exclusively appropriated to the lives
of individuals among mankind, the term Animal Biography may
surely, and without impropriety, be considered to express traits of
the lives and habits of individual species of the lower orders of ani-
mated creation, as distinct from those of men. This is the precise
signification in which it is here used.—Another critic has altogether
objected to the term Biography, as haying never hitherto been ap-
plied to animals. But, doubtless, the compound of Bios and ypage
is as applicable to the lives of animals, as to those of men.

PREFACE. _. Und

intended, and to enter with spirit into the study of such
-more abstruse books as would, at first sight, have alarmed
them.

It is necessary that I should explain one circumstance, that
may be remarked by critical readers: ‘Thisis, that, in some
‘instances, an author is quoted, and no reference appears to
himinthe notes. At the commencement of the work, it was
my intention to let the general list of authorities suffice for
all, except doubtful cases; but, after | had proceeded some
way, I was induced to change my plan in this respect, and,
as far as I then could, to insert no statement, but on an im~
mediate reference to the writer. Where, therefore, this is
not found, the reader must conclude, that I had passed the
part when the after resolution was formed.

All the writers from whom I have derived information,
are, I believe, esteemed authentic : but, even amongst the
most careful of these, I have at times found some difficulty
in separating truth from falsehood. Many are too apt to de~
pend on report for subjects, that require somewhat more than
report for their authentication. We should not, however,
be justified in entirely throwing aside even those writings,
in which some glaring absurdities are discoverable: but it is
necessary, that we should be careful in selecting the sterling
grains of truth from the imperfect and drossy matter that fre-
quently surrounds them.—To render myself less liable to
censure, I have been extremely careful, wherever any state-
ment appeared doubtful, never to omit citing my authority.

The system to which I have adhered in my arrangement, is
that of Linnzus, as corrected by Gmelin, Shaw, and a few

other later writers. This, though perhaps not altogether so

natural as some others, is, I conceive, the best calculated of
any extant to simplify and assist the study.
The figures I have referred to are such authentic ones,

as the reader may have admission to at the least expence.---

Vill PREFACE.

These are marked in Italics, in the notes, at the com-
mencement of each species, immediately ‘after the list’ of

synonyms.

Christ Church, Hants, ie | W. RB

o) Feb, 1, 1804.

\
“¢
Gh’

Mews T shall esteem myself greatly obliged by the communications
ef any gentlemen, onthe manners and habits of animals, but more

particularly of those of Great Britain. |
PT WI i 9 ne

LIST

OF THB

PRINCIPAL WORKS

THAT FORM THE FOUNDATION OF THE FOLLOWING VOLUMES:

INTENDED AS AN

EXPLANATION or tHe REFERENCES *.

Acerbi. "Travers through Sweden, Finland, and
Lapland to the North Cape, in the years

1798 and 1799, 2 vols. 4to
London, 1802.
Adanson. Voyage to Senegal, the Isle of Goree, and
the River Gambia, by M. Adanson. $vo.
London, 1759.
Amer. Phil. Tran. Transactions of the American Philosophi-
cal Society, held at Philadelphia. Vols. i.
=——iv, 4to., Philadelphia, 1771.
Anderson. Accountof the present state ef the He-
brides and the Western Coasts of Scotland.
8v0. Edinb. 1785.
Recreations in Agriculture, Natural History,
Arts, and Miscellaneous Literature.

vol. i,---iv. 8vo. London, 1799.
Ann. Reg. Annual Register 36 vol. 8vo. London, 1758.
Anson. Voyage round the world, in the Years

1740, 1741, 1742, 1743, and 1744, 8vo.
London, 1748.

* It may be proper to remark that these authories are all quoted
from a perusal of the volumes themselves, and not through the me-
dium of other books.—Translations of foreign works, as more easy of
access, have been in general preferred to the originals.—Such publi-
cations as have been quoted only in one or two instances are for the

most part omitted in this list, having their titles inserted, at length,
in the margin.

b

Asiat. Res.
Bancroft.

Barébot.

Barbut.

Barrington.

Barrow.

Barton.

Bartram.

Baumgarten.

Beauplau.
Bell.

Bewich.

x
Asiatic Researches, 4 vol. 8vo. London, 1798.
Essay on the Natural History of Guiana;
in South America, 8vo. London, 1769.
Description of North and South Guinea ;
in Churchill’s Coll. of Voyages, vol. v.
London, 1732.
Genera Insectorum of Linneus, exempli-
fied by various species of English Insects
drawn from Nature, 4to. London, 1781.
Genera Vermium, exemplified by various
specimens of the Animals contained in
the Orders of the Intestina and Mol-
lusca of Linneus, drawn from nature,
4to. London, 1783,
Miscelianies, 4to. London, 1781.
Travels into the Interior of Southern Africa,
in the Years 1797 and 1798. 4to.
London, 1801.
Fragments of the Natural History of Penn-
sylvania, part the first, folio,
Philadelphia, 1799.
Travels through North and South Carolina,
Georgia, East and West Florida, &c.
8vo. London, 1792.
Travels through Egypt, &c. in Churchill’s
Collection of Voyages, vol. i.
London, 1704,
Description of Ukraine, in Churchill’s
Collection, vol. i.
Travels from St. Petersburg to divers parts
of Asia, 2vols. 8vo. London, 1764.
General History of Quadrupeds, 8vo.
Newcastle, 1792.
History of British Birds, Svo.
Newcastle, 1300,

Borri.
Borlase.
Bosman.
Pave.
Brickell.

Brison.

‘Browne.

Browne.

Bruce.

Buffon.

ee eee

C atéright.

Carreri.

Catesby.

ml
Account of Cochin China, in Churchill's
Collection, vol.-ii.
Natural History of Cornwall, folio.
Oxford, 1758.
Description of the Coast of Guinea, 8vo.
London, 1721.
Philosophical Works, edited by Dr. Shaw,
3 vols. 4to. London, 1738.
Natural History of North Carolina, svo.
Dublin, 1743.
Ornithologie, ou Méthode, contenant la
division des oiseaux, en ordres, sections,

genres, especes, & leurs varietés. 6 tom.

Ato. Paris, 1760.
Civil and Natural History of Jamaica.
folio. London, 1754,

Travels in Africa, Egypt, and Syria, from
the Year 1792 to the Year 1798. Ato.
London, 1799.
Travels to discover the Source of the Nile,
inthe Years. 1768, 1769, 1770; 1771,
1772, and 1773. 5 vols. -4to.
Edin. 1790:
Natural History, general and particular ;
translated by Smellie, 8 vols. 8vo. 1735.
Natural History, of Birds. 9 vols. 8vo,. 1790.
Journzl of Transactions and Events, during
a residence of nearly sixteen Years on
the Coast cf Labrador. 3 vols. 4to.
London, 1792.
Voyage round the World, by Gemelli Car-
reri, in Churchill’s Coll. of Voyages,
vol. iv. ;
Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and
the Bahama Islands. 2 vols. folio.
Londen, 1731—43.

b2

Charlevair.

Childrey.

Church.

Churchill.

Consett.

Cook:.

Core.

Crantz.

Dea Costa.

Dampier.

Darwin.

Dale.

Xl
Journal of a Voyage to North America:
containing, in particular, a Description
and Natural History of Canada. 2 vols.
8vo. London, 1761.
Britannia Baconica, or the Natural Rarities
of England, Scotland, and Wales. 8vo.
London, 1660.
Cabinet of Quadrupeds. Ato.

London, 1796, &c.
Collection of Voyages and Travels. 6 vols.
folio. London, 1704, &c.
Tour through Sweden, Swedish-Lapland,
Finland, and Denmark, in the year
1786, 4to. London, 1789.
Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, in 1776,
1777, 1778, 1779, and 1780. 4 vols.
8vo. London, 1784.
Travels through Switzerland, with Re-

marks, Characters, &c. 3 vols. 8vo.
London, 1789.
History of Greenland; containing a De-
scription of the Country and its Inhabi-
London, 1767.
Historia Naturalis Testaceorum Britannia.
4to. London, 1778.
Voyages, sontaining a voyage round the

tants. 2 vols. 8vo.

world ; a supplement to the voyage round
world; two voyages to Campeachy ; and

a voyage to New Holland. 3 vols. 8vo---
London, 1699---1763.

Zoonomia, or the Laws of Organic Life.
2 vols. 4to. London, 1794.
Phytologia, or the Philosophy of Agricul-
ture and Gardening. 4to. London, 1300.
History and Antiquities of Harwich, and
Dovercourt, Topographical, Dynastical,

znd Folitical, 4to. London, 1720,

D? Auteroche.

Daniel.

Denon.

Derham.

Dillon.

D’ Oésonville.

Donovan.

Da Malde:

Du Pratz.

Edwards, G.

Edwards, B.

Egede:

xiil

Voyage to California; with the Natural
History of the Province of Mexico, 8vo.
London, 1773.
Rural Sports, by the Rev. W. B. Daniel,
2 vols. 4to. London, 1801—1803.
Travels in Upper and Lower Egypt, Translat-

ed by Francis Blagdon, 2 vols, 12mo.
London; 1802.

-Physice-Theology ; a Demonstration of the

Being of 4 God from the Works of the
Creation. .
Travels through Spain, ina Series of Letters,
Ato. London, 1782.
Philosophic Essays on the Mariners of vae
rious Foreign Animals. Syo.
London, 1784.
Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects
of China, 4to. London, 1798.
The General History of China, containing a
Geographical, Historical, Chronological,
Political, and Physical Description of the
Empire of China, Chinese Tartary, Coreag
and Thibet, 4 vols. 8vo. London, 1736.
History of Louisiana; containinga Descrip-
tion of the Western Parts of Virginia and
London, 1774.
Natural History of uncommon Birds, and

Carolina, 8vo.

some other rare and undescribed Animals,
London, 1743, &c.
Gleanings of Natutal History, 3 vols. 4to.
London, 1758.

Civil and Commercial; of the
British Colonies in the West Indies, 2 vols.
4to. London, 1793.
Description of Greenland, shewing the Na-

in four parts, 4to.

History,

tural History, Situation, Boundaries, &c,

» 3

Ellis.

Elhs.
Forrest.
Forster.

Fortis.

Goldsmith.

Gregory.

Grieve.
Grose,

Hakluyt.

Hamilton.

Harris.

XIV
Translated from the Danish. 8vo.
London, 1745.
Natural History of many curious and un-
common Zoophytes, collected from va-
rious parts of the Globe, 4to.
London, 1786.
Voyage to Hudson’s Bay in 1746 and 1747,
for the. purpose of discovering a North
London, 1768.
Voyage to New Guinea and the Moluccas,
Ato. London, 1780.
Voyage round the World, in the Resolution,
commanded by Capt. Cook, during the
Years 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775, 2 vols,
Ato. London, 1777.
Travels into Dalmatia, containing general

West Passage, Svo.
DY»

Observations on the Natural History of
that Country, and. the neighbouring
Islands, Ato. London, 1778.
History of the Earth and animated Nature,
8 vols. 12mo. London, 1791.
Economy of Nature, explained and illus-
trated on the Principles of Natural Phi-
losophy, 3 vols. 8vo. London, 1798.
History of Kamtschatka and the Kurilski
Islands, 4to. Gloucester, 1764.
Voyage to the East Indies, in the Year 1750,
&c. 2vols. 8vo. London,’ 1772.
The principal Navigations, Voiages, Traf-
fiques, and Discoveries of the English
Nation, made by Sea or Quer-land, at
any time within the compass of these 1500
Years, 3 vols. folio. London, 1598.
Account of the East Indies, 2 vols. Svc.
London, 1744.
Aurelian, or Natural History of English In«
sects, namely Moths and Butterflies, to«

Narris.

Hasselquist.

Hawkesworth.

FRearne.

Horrebow.
H ughes.

H unter.
Hunter, J:
Kaempfer.

Kalin:

Kerr:

Kirby.

xv
gether with the Plants on which they feed,
folio. London, 1766.
Collection of Voyages and Travels, 2 vols.
folio. London, 1705:
Voyages and Travels in the Levant, in the
Years 1749,
ing Observations in Natural History, &c.
Londen, 1766.

Account of the Voyages performed by Com

1750, 1751, 1752, contain-
Svo.

modore Byron, Capt. Wallis, Capt. Car.
teret, and Capt. Cook, 3 vols. 4to,
Lendon, 1773.
Journey from the Prince of Wales’s Fort in
Hudson’s Bay, to the Northern Ocean,
in the Years 1769, 1770;:1771,; and’ 1772,
Ato. London, 1795.
Natural History of Iceland, folio.
London, 1753.
Natural History of Barbadoes, folio.
London, 1750;
Historical Journal of the Transactions at
Port Jackson and Norfolk Island, be
twixt the Years 1787 and 1792, 4to.
London. 1793.
Observations on certain parts ef Animal
Oeconmy, 4to. London, 1792.
Historia Imperii Japonici, ab Engelberto
Kaempfero, 2 tom. folio.
; London, 1726.
Travels into North America, 3 vol. 8vo.
London, 1770, &e:;
Animal Kingdom, or the Zoological System
of Linneeus, vol. i. 4to.
Edinburgh, 1792, 8c.
Monographia Apum Angliew, or an Attempt
to divide into their natural Genera and

b 4

Rolben.

Lalbsllardiere»

La Cepede.

La Hontan.

La Ménagerie.

Lat] ame

Lawson.

Leigh.

Leo Africanus.

Lesseps.

Lewin.

x¥i
Families, such of the Linnean Genus,
_ Apis, as have been discovered in Eng-
land, 2 vol. 8vo. London, 1802
Account of the Cape of Good Hope, tran-
slated by Medley, 2 vol. 8vo.

. London, 1731.
Voyage in search of La Pérouse, during the
Years 1791, 1792, 1793, and 1794, 2 vol.
8vo. London, 1800.
The Natural History of Oviparous Quadru-
peds, and Serpents. Translated by Kerr,
4 vol. 8vo. Edinb. 1802.
New Voyages to North America, 2 vol. 8vo.
London, 1703.
La Ménagerie du Museum National d’His-
toire Naturelle, ou description et histoire
des Animaux ; par Citoyans La Cepede
et Cuvier. folio. Paris, 1801.

General Synopsis of Birds, 7 vol. 4to.
London, 1781, &c.
Supplement II. to the General Synopsis of

Birds, 4to. London, 1802.
Description and Natural History. of North
Carolina, 4to. London.

The Natural History of Lancashire, Cheshire,
and the Peak of Derbyshire, folio.
Oxford, 1700.
Geographical Historie of Africa, written in
Arabicke and Italian, by John Leo, Moor,
translated by John Povy, folio. :
London, 1600.
Travels in Kamtschatka, during the Years
1787 and 1788, 2 vol.) 8vo.
London, 1790.
Birds of Great Britain, with their Eggs,
accurately figured, 7 vol. 4to.
London, 1789, &c.

Lewin.

Linn. Gmel.

Linn. Tran.

Lowthorp.

Marchand.

Marsden.
Martyn &

Chambers.

Montagu.

Motte.

Navarette.
Nieuhoff.
Osbeck.

Olivier.

XVil
Insects of Great Britain, systematically ar-
ranged, and accurately engraved, and
painted from nature, with the Natural
History of each species, 4to.
London, 1795.
Systema Nature Carolia Linné, cura Jo.
Frid. Gmelin, 10 tom. 8vo. Lips. 1783.
Transactions of the Linnean Society, vols.
1—5, Ato. London, 1791, &c.
Abridgment of the Philosophical Transac-
tions to the end of the Year 1700, 3 vol.
Ato. London, 1705.
Voyage round the World, performed during
the Years 1790, 1791, 1792, translated
from the French of Fleurieu, 2 vol. 4to.
London, 1801.
Natural History of Sumatra, 4to.
London, 1784.
Philosophical History and Memoirs of the
Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, from
the Year 1699 to 1720, 5 vol. 8vo,
London, 1742.
Ornithological Dictionary ; or Alphabetical
Synopsis of British Birds, 2 vol. Svo.
London, 1802.
Abridgment of the Philosophical Transac-
tions, from the Year 1700 to 1720, 2 vol.
4to. London, 1721.
Voyage to China; in Churchill’s Collection
of Voyages, vol. i.
Travels into Brazil and the East Indies, iz
Churchill’s Collection, vol. ii.
Voyage to China and the East Indies, 2 voi.
8vo. London, 1771.
Travels in the Ottoman Empire, Egypt, and
Persia, betwixt the Years 1793 and 1799,
vol. i, li, 4to. London, 1801,

Pages.

Parl.

Paterson.

Pennant.

Pérause.

Phillip.

Pail. Tran.

XV1ii
Travels round the World, in the Years 1767,
1768, 1769, 1770, and 1771, 2 vol. 8vo.
: London, 1793.
Travels into the interior Parts of Africa, per-
formed under the Direction and Patron-
age of the African Association, in the
Years 1795, 1796, and 1797, 4to.
| London, 1799s
Narrative of Four Journies into the Country
of the Hottentots and Caffraria, 4to.
London, 1789.
General History of Quadrupeds, 2 vol. Ato.
London, 1781.
Arctic Zoology, 3 vol. 4to. London, 1784, &c.
British Zoology, 4 vol. 8vo. London, 1776, &c.
Outlines of the Globe, vol. i. containing a
View of the Western Hindoostan, the
Indies, Island of Ceylon, S&c. 4to.
London, 1798.
Outlines of the Globe, vol. ii. containing a
View of Eastern Hindoostan, East Cape,
the Carnatic, Gangetic Hindoostan, and
the Province of Bengal, 4to. London, 1798.
Outlines of the Globe, vol. ili. containing a
View of India extra Gangem, China,
and Japan, Ato. London, 1800.
Outlines of the Globe, vol. iv. containing a
View of the Malayan Isles, New Hol«
Jand, and the Spicy Islands, 4to.
London, 1800.
Voyage round the World, in the Years
1795; 1786, 1787, 1788, 3 vol. 8vo-
London, 1798.
Voyage to Africa and Barbadoes, in Church-
ill’s Collection of Voyages, vol. vi.

Transactions of the Royal Society, 91 vols. 4te.

Piuche.

Pontoppidan.

Purchas.

Radcliffe.

Ray.

Rochefoucault.

Ree,
Rogers.

Russel.
Saint-Fond.

Scheffer.
Siaw, Dr. G.

XIX
Spectacle de la Nature: Nature displayed,
translated by Humphries, 7 vol. 12mo.
London.
Natural History of Norway, translated
from the Danish of the Right Rey. Erich
Pontoppidan, Bishop of Bergen. folio,
London, 1755.
His Pilgrims. 4 vols. folio. London, 1625.
Natural History of East Tartary, traced
through the three Kingdoms of Nature,
8vo. Londen, 1789.
Wisdom of God manifested in the Works
of the Creation, London, 1709.
Philosophical Letters betwixt the late learned

Svo.

Mr. Ray, and several of his ingenious

Published by W. Der-
ham; Fs R, Si sve. London, 1718.

Travels through the United States of North
America, the Country of the Iroquois,
and Upper Canada, in the Years 1795,
1796, and 1797, by the Duke de la
Rochefoucault Liancourt. 2 vol. 4to.

Correspondents.

‘London, 1799.

Voyage to the East Indies by Sir Thomas
Roe, in Churchill’s Collection of Voy-
ages, vol. i.

Voyage round the World, begun in the
Year 1708, and finished in 1711, by
Capt. Woodes Rogers. London, 1712.

Natural History of Aleppo, and the Parts

1794.

Travels in England, Scotland and the He-
brides. 2vols. Svo.

adjacent, 2 vols. 4to. London,
London, 1799.
London, 1704.
General Zoology, or Systematic Natural

History, vol. i.—iii. 8vo. London, 1800.
Naturalist’s Miscellany, or. coloured Fi-

History of Lapland, 8vo.

Siew:

XX

gures of Natural Objects, drawn atid
described from Nature, vol. 1——12. 8vo.
London, 1790, &c.

Museum Leverianum: containing select
Specimens from the Museum of the late
Sir Ashton Lever, Knight, with De-
sctiptions in Latin and English, 4to.
London, 1792.

Shaw, Dr.T. Travels or Observations relative to severah

Skippon.

Sloane.

Smmellies

Smith.

’

Parts of Barbary and the Levant. By
Thomas Shaw, M. D. folio.
Oxford, 1788.

Supplement to # Book; entitled, Travels
or Observations, &c. folio.

Oxford, 1746.

Journey on the Continent; in Churchill’s
Collections, vol: vi.

Voyage to the Islands of Madeira, Barba-
does, Nevis, St. Christopher’s, and Ja-
maica, with the Natural History of the
last of those Islands, 2 vols. folio.

London, 1707.

Philosophy of Natural History, 2 vols. 4to.

London, 1790, &c:

Natural History of Nevis, and the rest of
the English Leeward Caribee Island.
8vo. Cambridge, 1765.

Travels in Europe, Asia, &c. in Churchill’s

Collection, vol. ii.

Smith, Dr. J. E. Sketch of a Tour to the Continent in the

Smith, W.

Smyth.

years 1786 and 1787, 3 vols. 8vo.
London, 1798.
New Voyage to Guinea, describing the cus-
toms, manners, soil, climate, &c. Svo.
London, 1744.
Tour in the United States of North Ame-

Tica, 2 vols. S8yvo, London, 1784.

Sonnini.

Spallanzani.

Sparrman.

Staunton.

Stedman.

Stilling fleet.

Stork.

St. John.

St. Pierre.

Sullivan.

XX1

Travels in Upper and Lower Egypt, be-
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London, 1799.

Dissertations relative to the Natural History
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London, 1784,

Voyage to the Cape of Good Hope, 2 vols.
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Account of an Embassy from the King of
Great Britain to the Emperor of China,
$ vols, Svo. London, 1797.

Narrative of a five Years’ Expedition against
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Miscellaneous Tracts relating to Natural
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Description of East Florida, with a Journal
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Letters from an American Farmer: de-
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Studies of Nature, 3 vols. 8vo.
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Voyage to the Isle of France, the Isle of
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View of Nature, in Letters to a Traveller
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Swammerdam:+

’ y 7
Swinburne.

Tacernier.

Techo.

Thunders.
LY

Tilloch.

Townson.

Tro.

Ulloa.

Valliant.

XX

Book of Nature, or History of Insects, by:
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Travels into the Two Sicilies, in the Years
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Collections of Travels through Turkey into
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History of several parts of South America,
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Travels in Europe, Africa, and Asia, be-
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Philosophical Magazine; comprehending
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Travels in Hungary in the Year 1793, 4to.

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STUDY OF NATURE.

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“ONCE upon a time the Seven Wise men of
Greece were met together at Athens, and it was pro-
posed that each of them should. mention what he
thought the greatest wonder in the Creation. One
ofthem, of higher attainments than the rest, ex-_
plained the opinions of some of the astronomers re-
specting the fixed stars, that they were so many suns,
each haying their planets rolling round them, which
were stocked with plants and animals like this earth.
Fired with the idea, they agreed to supplicate Jupi-
ter that he would at least permit them to take a jour-
ney to the Moon, and remain there three days, in
order to see the wonders of that place, and give an
account of them to the world at their return.—Ju-
piter consented, and ordered them to assemble on a
high mountain, where a cloud should be in readiness
to convey them thither. They chose some men of
talents as their companions, to assist them in describ-
ing and painting the objects they should meet with.
Vou. I. B ;

3 OW THE STUDY OF NATURE,

Atlength they arrived at the Moon, and founda pas
lice there well fitted up for their reception. The day
following, being much fatigued with their journey,
they remained in the house till noon; and conti-
nuing still faint, partook of a most delicious enter-
tainment by way of refreshment, which they relished
so much that it overcame their curiosity. This day
they only saw, through the windows, that delight-
ful country, adorned with the most beautiful flowers,
to which the beams of the Sun gave an uncommon
lustre ; and heard the singing of the most melodious
birds, till evening came on.—The second day they
rose very early in order toe begin their observations,
but some elegant young femates of the country call-
ing upon them, advised that they should first recruit
their strength, before they exposed themselves to the
laborious task they were about to undertake. The
delicate meats, the rich wines, and the beauty of
these females, prevailed over the resolution of the
‘strangers. Music is introduced, the young ones.
begin to dance, and all is turned to jollity; so. that
the whole of this day seemed dedicated to gallantry,
tillsome of the neighbours, envious of their mirth,
rushed into the room with swords, With some diffi-
culty they were taken, and it was promised, as are~
compence to the younger part of the company, that
on the following morning they should be brought to: |
justice.—On the third day their trial was heard, and
what with accusations, pleadings, exceptions, and
the judgment itself, the whole day was occupied,
aad the term allowed by Jupiter expired. On their
teturn to Greece, the whole country flocked around:

ON THE STUDY OF NATURE: 8

the wise men to hear the wonders of the Moon de-
scribed ; but-all they could say, for it was all they
knew, was, that the ground was covered with green,
intermixed with flowers; and that the birds sung
dehghtfully among the trees ; but what was the na-
ture of the flowers they saw, or of the birds they
had heard, they were entirely ignorant.—On which
they were every where treated with the utmost con-
tempt.” *

This fable was iia with extreme propriety by
our great master, Linnzeus, to mankind in general.
In youth we are, in every respect, too feeble to ex-
amine the great objects around us: all that season,
therefore, is lost amidst indolence, luxury, and a-
musement. Little better are we in manhood: set-
tling ourselves in life; marrying; bustling through
the world; overwhelmed, at length, with business,
cares, and perplexities, we suffer those years also to
glide away. Old age succeeds: yet still some em-
ployments intervene, till at last we are passed
through the world, without scarcely a single recur-
rence to the admirable works of our Creator ; and, in
many instances, even without having at all consider-
ed the end for which we were brought into it.—This
is, with a few exceptions, the progress of man through
life. Itistrue that every person takes some notice
of nature. All can remark the beautiful verduré of

* In the Lectures of Linneus on the subject of Natural History,
he frequently made use of some apt similitude by way of exciting the
Attention of his audience. ‘Fhe present fable was one that he adopted
in his Lecture on Insects.

B 2

4 ON THE STUDY OF NATURE.

the fields and woods; the elegance of the flowers }
the melodious and delightful singing of the birds :
yet few indeed ever give themselves the trouble of
enquiring one step further, or exhibit any desires of
examining into the nature of these wonderful combi-
nations of Divine Power.

It is one material use of the study of Nature, to
illustrate this greatest of all truths :—‘‘ That there
must be aGod: that he must be almighty, omnisci-
ent, and infinite in goodness ; and that, although he
dwells ina light, inaccessible to any mortal eye, yet
our faculties see and distinguish him clearly in his
works .*.”"

In these we are compelled to observe a degree of
greatness far beyond our capacities to understand :
—we sce an exact adaption of parts composing one
stupendous whole ; an uniform perfection and good-
ness that are notonly entitled to our admiration, but
that command from us the tribute of reverence, gra-
titude, and love, to the Parent of the Universe.
Every step we tread in our obseryations on Nature,
affords us indubitable proofs of his superintendance.
From these we learn the vanity of all our boasted
wisdom, and are taught that useful lesson, humility.
We are compelled to acknowledge our dependance
on the protecting arm of God, and that, deprived
of this support, we must, that moment, dissolve inte
nothing.

Every object in the Creation is stamped with the
characters of the infinite perfection and overflowing
‘ee meena SE

* Pontoppidan, Pref. p. 1.

ON THE STUDY OF NATURE. ‘a

benevolence of its author. If we examine with the
most accurate discrimination the construction of
bodies, and remark even their most minute parts, we
see clearly a necessary dependance that each has
upon the other ; and if we attend to the vast concur-
rence of causes that join in producing the several ope-
rations of Nature, we. shall be induced to believe
further, that the whole world 1s one connected train
of causes and effects, in which all the parts, either
nearly or remotely, have a necessary dependance on
each other. We shall find nothing insulated, no-
thing dependant only on itself... Each part fends a
certain support tothe others, and takes in return its
share of aid from thein.

Previously to entering further into the subject, we
will examine for a monent that part of every animal
body called the Eye, which, though one of the most
conspicuous, 1s not still the most surprizing part of
the body. Here we have exhibited to us nicety of
formation, connexions, and uses, that astonish us.
We see it placed in a bony orbit, lined with fat, as
an easy socket in which it rests, and in which all its
motions readily take place. We find it furnished,
among many others, with those wonderful contrivan-
ces the iris, pupil, and different hurmours ; and that
incomprehensible mechanism the optic nerve, which
affords to the brain, in a manner greatly beyond our
conceptions, the images of external objects—How
admirable is the construction of the Skeleton ; every
particular bone adapted peculiarly to the mode of
life and habits of the animal possessing it. The
muscular system is still more entitled to our wonder ;

B3

6 ON THE STUDY OF NATURE,

and if we enter into examination of the viscera, the
skin, and the other parts of the body, we can fix no
bounds to our astonishment.

But all the common operations of Nature, great as
they are, become in general so familiar to us, that
in a great measure they cease to attract our notice,
Thus also all the usual powers of animal life, whichs
were they but adverted to, could not fail to affect
the mind with the most aweful impressions, are suf-
fered to operate unheeded, as if unseen.—We all
know, for example, that, whenever inclination
prompts to it, we can, by a very slight exertion of
our vital faculties, raise our hand to our head. No-
thing seems more simple, or more easy than this ac-
tion ; yet when we attempt to form an idea of the
way in which that incorporeal existence that we call
mind, can operate upon matter, and thus put it in
motion, we are perfectly lost in the incomprehensible
immensity that surrounds us. When we try to in-
vestigate the properties of matter, we perceive that
by patience and attention we can make a progress in’
attainments to which, according to our limited ideas,
bounds can scarcely be assigned. The motions of
the planets can be ascertained, their distances mea-
sured, and their periods assigned. The Mathema-
tician can demonstrate, with the most decisive cer-
tainty, that no Fly can alight upon this globe which
we inhabit, without communicating motion to it; and
he can ascertain, if he chuses to do it, with the most
accurate precision, what must be the exact amount
of the motion thus produced. In this train of inves-
tigation the mind of a Newton can display its supe-

ON THE STUDY OF NATURE, 7

rior powers, and soarto a height that exalts it far
aboye the reach of others ; and yet, in trying to ex-
plain the cause of animal motion, the meanest reptile
that crawls upon the ground is, humiliating as the
thought may be, on a footing of perfect equality
with a Newton: they can alike exert the powers con-
ferred on them by the Almighty Creator, without
being able to form the smallest idea of the way in
which they are enabled to produce these effects.
Man, however, can contemplate these effects if he
will; and Man, perhaps alone, of all the animals
that exist on this globe, is permitted, by contem-
plating the wonders that these unfold, to form, if
he pleases, some idea of his own nothingness, with
a view to moderate his pride, and thus to exalt him~
felf above the unconscious agents that surround him.

When the Anatomist considers how many mus-
cles must be put in motion before any animal exer-
tion can be affected: when he views them one by
by one, and tries to ascertain the precise degree to
which each individual muscle must be constricted of
relaxed, before the particular motion indicated can
be affected, he finds himself lost in the labyrinth of
calculations in which thisinvolves him. When he
further reflects that it is not his own body only that
is endowed with the faculty of calling forth these in-
comprehensible energies, but that the most insignifi-
cant insect is vested with powers of a similar nature,
he is still more confounded. A skilful naturalist has -
been able to perceive that in the body of the lowest
Caterpillar, which, in the common opinion, is one
of the most degraded existences on this globe, there

Ba

8 ON THE STUDY OF NATURE.

are upwards of two thousand muscles, all of which
can be brought into action with as much facility, at
the will of that insect, and perform their several of-
fices with as much accuracy, promptitude, and pre-
cision, as the most perfect. animal; and all this is
done by that insect, with equal consciousness of the
manner how, as the similar voluntary actions of Man
himself are effected !* It would be no easy matter
to make some men belieyé that the minute Epheme-
ra Fly, whose life is but for the continuance of a few
hours, is, in all its parts, for the functions it has to
perform, as complete as the stately Elephant that
treads the forests of India for a century. Littledo they
suppose that even in its appearance, under the great-
est magnifying powers, it is as elegant in every re-
spect, and as beautifully finished, as any of the larger
animals ! Unlike the paltry productions of Man,
all the minute parts of these works of God appear in
greater perfection, and afford to us a greater degree
of admiration, the more minutely and more accurate-
ly they areexamined. M. de Lisle saw, with a mi-
croscope, a very small insect, that, in one second of
time advanced three inches, taking five hundred and
forty steps; and many of the discoveries of Leuw-
enhoek were even still more wonderful than this.
Thus we evidently discern that all the operations of
God are full of beauty and perfection, and that he
is as much to be adored in the insect Creation as in
that of the Mlephant or Lion.

If, from the contemplation of microscopic objects,
we turn our attention to the stupendous system of

* Anderson’s Recreations in Agriculture.

ON THE STUDY OF NATURE. 9

the Universe, and view the Heavens, what an asto.
nishing field of admiration is again afforded us. ‘This
huge world that we tread is but a speck in the solar
system ; and that system, immense as it is, is lost
in the immensity of the space around, our Sun be-
coming a Star to Planets revolving round other Suns,
as their Suns become Stars to us, Of these no fewer
than seventy-five millions may be discovered in the
expanse exposed to our investigation: but what are
even all these when compared with the multitudes
distributed through the boundless space of air! The
Universe must contain such numbers as exceed the
utmost stretch of human imagination.—To obtain
some faint conception of the wonderful extent of
space, we may remark that stars of the first magni-
tude, or such as seem to us the largest, are near
19,000,000,000,000 miles from our Sun; and that
some of the smaller ones are many times that dis-
tance ! ‘* Great is our God, and greatis his power!
O God, who is like unto thee !”

But to return to the animal part of the Creation,
we find there innumerable proofs of our hypothesis :
we see all the smaller creatures that serve us for food
particularly fruitful, and increasing ina much greater
proportion than others ; and in the bird kind itis
extremely remarkable, that, lest they should fall short
of a certain number of eges, they are endowed with
the power of laying others in the place of those that
are taken away ; but when their numberis complete,
they invariably stop. Here is an operation, like many
others that we shail have to observe, much beyond
eur comprehension, Flow the mere privation of part

10 ON THE STUDY OF NATURE.

should cause a fresh production, is not easy to un<
derstand. ‘The organization of an offspring should,
in this case, almost seem a voluntary act of
the female ; but in what manner it is done, we are
not only ignorant at present, but most probably shall
ever remain so. Noxious animals multiply in gene-
ral so slowly as never to become above the power of
Man. But whenever we find a great increase of
these, we generally discover something given by
Providence to destroy and counterbalance them.
Many species devour each other, and multitudes,
that might otherwise, by their numbers, soon be of
serious injury to mankind, afford food to other crea-
tures. The insect tribes increase most rapidly,
Some bring so many as two thousand young each :
these would soon fill the air were they not destroyed
by innumerable enemies.

- The number of young produced by every animal
invariably bears a certain proportion to the duration
of its life. The Elephant is said to live to the age of
a hundred years or upwards: the female produces
therefore but one young one, and this does not arrive
at maturity till it is sixteen or eighteen years old,
Nearly the same thing may be remarked in the Rhi-
noceros, and all the larger animals: but in most of
the smaller ones, whose life is short, or whose in-
crease 1s not so injurious’ to Manas the increase of
these would be, we always find the number of young
much greater: many of the Rat and other tribes
produce several times in the year, and have from —
three or four to ten and upwards at a litter—One
species has neyer been found to increase so much as

ON THE STUDY OF NATURE. il

to exclude the others; and this singular harmony
and just proportion has now been supported for seve-
ral thousand years. ‘‘ One generation passeth away,
and another succeedeth,” but all so equally as to ba-
Jance the stock in all ages and in all countries.

We will for a moment recur, as it certainly be-
Jongs to our subject, and is a material illustration of
the above remarks, to the first peopling of the world,
In the beginning we find that the life of Man was
lengthened to ten or twelve times its present term,
After the flood it appears to have been the same.
We have an account of one person who lived upwards
of nine hundred years. Several of those born in the
first century reached four hundred years; none of
the second, that we can discover, reached two hun-
dred and forty; and only one of the third, arrived
at the age of two hundred years. ‘The number of
children had also been in full proportion to the age,
and at this period cities, nations, and societies began
to be formed. In the time of Moses, when the
* Earth was fully peopled, and from thence to the pre-
sent, we find that seventy or eighty years was the
extent of Man’s life. ‘‘ The days of our age,” says
David, “‘ are threescore years and ten; and though
Men be so strong that they come to fourscore years,
yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow, so
soon passeth it away, and we are gone*.”” ‘These
exact adaptions to circumstances and situation can
be accounted for in no other manner bat by an im-
mediate recurrence to Gad, their first cause.

* Psalm xc. y. 10...

12 ON THE STUDY OF NATURE.

In the vegetable Creation we observe the same re~
gularity as in animals. ‘There is scarcely a plant
that is not rejected as food by some animals, and ar-
dently desired by others. The Horse yields the
Hemlock to the Goat ; and Monkshood, which kills
the Goat, is said not to injure the Horse. Plants thus,
which afford only the natural nourishment to some,
are avoided by others as injurious. Poison is indeed,
only a relative term. Several plants that are noxi-
ous to Man, are greedily devoured by some of the
insect tribes. Thus does every creature enjoy its al-
Jotted portion ; and all this was contrived for the
wisest of purposes. Had the Author of Nature form-
ed all the plants equaily grateful to all kinds of
animals, it must necessarily have happened that some
species would have had an enormous increase, whilst
others must have perished for want of food, But as
every species must of necessity leave certain plants
to certain animals, we find that all are able_to obtain
their due share of nourishment.

All animals are calculated, in every respect, in the
best possible manner, for the climates in which they
have to live, and for their separate and peculiar
modes of life. In the dreary Northern regions, the
dark animals become white, to evade, by their re-
semblance to the prevaling colour of the country,
the quick sight of their enemies. Their clothing
also. becomes, during winter nearly double what it
is in the Summer. In the torrid climates the Sheep
loses his fleece, and is covered with hair. ‘The Ca-
mel that traverses the burning sands of the deserts,
is formed with soft spungy feet which the heat can;.

6N THE STUDY OF NATURE. 18

hot crack : it has a reservoir for water, which enables
ft to resist for many days the attacks of thirst, in a
country where water is seldom to be had; and it 1s
contented with brouzing on such miserable food as
is to be met with in its progress—We might go on
through innumerable instances, but these are reserv-
ed, with greater propriety, for the body of the work.

In vegetables again, we observe similar marks of
superintendance. Some are Alpine, and can exist
only on the high summits of the mountains: some
grow in marshes, others on the sandy plains, &c.
and each of these is exactly adapted to its peculiar
situation. The plants of the desert are nearly all
succulent, and able to bear the privation of moisture
for an astonishing length of time. Those that are
found on tlie sea shore could not, in many instances
be retained in their situation, did not their roots be-
come so matted among the sand, or strike so deeply
down as to rerider them perfectly immoyeable by all
the shocks they sustain either from the wind or wa-
ter. It is also a remarkable circumstance, that
Evergreens grow principally in the hottest climates,
where they are chiefly found in the barren woods,
thus affording a natural shelter to the various animals
from the excessive heats to which they would other-
wise be exposed.

_ If we attend to the contrivances of Nature in the
preservation of those animals that would otherwise,
in the colder climates, be deprived of food during
the Winter, we have an additional source of admira-
tion. Most of the insect-eating tribes either migrate
to other countries, or become torpid during this ri-

+4 ON THE STUDY OF NATURE,

gorous season. Insects themselves, unable to bear
the extreme cold, generally lie hidden within their
eases, from whence, at the approach of Spring, they
burst, and fly forth. Some animals, as the Beaver,
Squirrels, &c. that feed on such vegetables as can
be preserved through the winter, do not sleep, but
live in their retreats on those provisions which Nature
has kindly taught them to store up in the Summer.

The preservation of the young of all animals is not
Jess wonderful than this. However savage may be the
natural disposition of the parents, they are remarka-
bly affectionate to their offspring, and provide every
thing necessary for them with the utmost tenderness.
However powerful their enemies may be, the dam
will stand forward in their defence, and frequently
die rather than yield them up. In no more than
about three species, of all that our books have men-
tioned, are we able to trace any want of affection in
the female parents, to whose care the young gene-
rally devolve; and even these may have arisen from
the misapprehensions of the writers, for Nature seems
so uniform in this mecessary and pleasing operation,
that we cannot allow, without superabundant proof,
even of exceptions. Quadrupeds, when they bring
forth their young, have, secreted in receptacles pro-
vided for the purpose, a lquor which we call milk.
With this, whteh is peculiarly easy of digestion, the
young are nourished, till their stomachs are able to
bear, and their teeth to chew, more solid. food.
Birds are destitute of this; their offspring there-
fore are able, as soon as hatched, to take into their
stomachs such food as the parents collect for them.

ON THE STUDY OF NATURE. 15

The insect tribes are generally brought to life in a
nidus that itself affords them nourishment. Thus
does an uniformly beautiful contrivance in rearing
and nourishing their tender young, pervade every
species of the animal creation.

It is very remarkable that birds of the same species
should always form the same kind of nest, of the
same materials, laid in the same order, and made ex-
actly of the same figure; so that whenever a nest is
seen, the bird that constructed it is immediately
known. ‘This circumstance is invariable in all birds
and in all countries; with those taken, when just
hatched, from the nest, and brought up in a cage as
well as with those that have all their lives been
in a wild state.

All creatures know how to use their weapons of
defence from mere instinct. The Calf and.Lamb
push with their heads long before the horns begin to
shoot. A young Boar, in the same manner, knows
the use of his tusks; a Cat of its claws; a Dog of
his teeth; a Horse of his hoofs; and the Cock of his
spurs. The Calf, however young, never attempts
to bite its enemy; the Foal does not push with its
head, nor do the Dog or Cat make use of their heels.

From the animal we will once again turn to the
vegetable kingdom, and examine into the contrivan-
ces of Nature there. If we look around us we shall
find it a very difficult matter to discover an entirely
barren spot. If, by any devastation such is made,
it does not long remain unoccupied. Seeds are soon
scattered over it; the downy ones of the thistles,
wafted by the winds, are the first te take root, and

16 oN THE STUDY OF NATURE:

after these come various other plants, till at length
the whole space is filled. If a rock is left entirely
bare by the receding of water, the minute crustace-'
ous Lichens in a few years entirely cover it. These
dying, turn to earth, and the imbricated Lichens
now have abed to strike their roots into. Those
also die, and various species of Mosses succeed ; and
when, after some time, a sufficiency of mould has
been formed, the larger plants, and even shrubs,
‘take root and live.

The quickness of vegetation in hot and cold cli-
mates is so astonishing as to be perfectly unac-
countable, were we not able to refer it to a most
exalted wisdom.

The following is the Calendar of a Siberian or
Lapland Year.

June 23. Snow melts.

July

Snow gone,

Fields quite green.

Plants at full growth.

Op

AO Negi sO oe SP

Plants in flower.
Fruits ripe.
Plants shed their seed.

August

_
[o)

18. Snow.
From August 18, to June 23, Snow and Ice.

Thus it appears that from their first emerging
from the ground, to the ripening of their seeds, the
plants take but amonth ; and Spring, Summer, and
Autumn, are crowded into the short space of fifty-
six days*.
ae WOM | Ee

* Amanitates Academice, vol. ivy.—Stillingfleet.

ON THE STUDY OF NATURE. 17

Again, in the torrid climates, where a scorching
heat, destructive to general vegetation, prevails
through the greater part of the year, we have a si-
milar wonderful contrivance. In India, when the
wet season commences, the rain falls in such abun-
dance as to cover the whole surface of the Earth,
as if with a sheet; so that in the course of a few
hours, ponds of considerable depth are formed in
every hollow place, in many of which there had not
been, for several months past, the smallest appear-
ance of moisture, not even so much as to afford
nourishment to any of the plants. No sooner,
however, does this rain begin to fall, than in the
fields, which were, to appearance, as destitute of
vegetation as the most frequented roads in our
couitry are, vegetation commences; and in less
than twenty-four hours the appearance of verdure
can be distinctly perceived which ever way the eyeis
directed. But the most surprizing circumstance
that occurs on this occasion 1s, that almost as soon
as this verdure begins to appear, these newly form-
ed ponds are found swarming with fish of sucha
‘size as to admit of being taken with nets, and to af-
ford food for man: they are esteemed a great delica-
cy, and therefore universally known. This fact is
related by Dr. Anderson, on the authority of a very
respectable person of Bombay, and was not stated
till the fullest enquiries had been made, and the most
satisfactory evidence had appeared respecting it.*

Thus does the uniform voice of Nature exclaim

* And. Rec. in Ag, i. 270.

Cc

1s ON THE STUDY OF NATURE.

aloud, that ‘‘ the merciful and gracious Lord hath
so done his marvellous works, that they ought to
be had in remembrance.” ‘The whole material sys-
tem throughout Heaven and Earth, presents a varied
scene rich in use and beauty, in which nothing is
lost, and in which, according to our former obser-
vations, the meanest and minutest creatures have
their full designation and importance.—‘* Thus
saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, and he that formed
thee from the womb, I am the Lord, who maketh
all things, who stretcheth forth the Heavens along,
and spreadeth abroad the Earth by myself.”
Nothing of all these various existences was formed
in vain: and that which is, however it may appear
to our confined and imperfect comprehensions, is
formed with supreme wisdom. It does not become
us to pry too boldly into the designs of God. We,
whose lives are but those of day, are unable to judge
of the councils of that Providence, whose economy
regards, not the objects merely of our senses, but the
whole system of Nature. We cannot scrutinize
the performances of (sod, nor can we possibly, with
all our boasted wisdom and cunning, discover the
grand connexions between incidents that lie widely
separate in time, and which are only known to
power infinitely surpassing ours. The Creator
did not plan the order of Nature according to our
confined principles of economy. The stupendous
performance of the Deity is one throughout the
Un verse ; and if Providence does not always calcu-
late exactly according to our mode of reckoning, it
would but become our inferior stations and judg-

ON THE STUDY OF NATURE. 19

Yfent, instead of industriously seeking out imperfec-
tions, to discover that these lie alone in our own
erroneous powers of discrimination. It would be
well, if, instead of looking to self-interest only, in
the works of the Creation, we could, according to
the remark of a late writer, consider these things in
the same light as when different seamen are waiting
at one port for fair winds, each to the country to
which he is bound ; where we plainly see it impossi-
ble that all should be satisfied.

In Lapland, and some others of the Northern re-
gions, Providence has kindly contrived that what
would seem an evil, and is in some respects an incon
venience to the inhabitants, should become a means
of their preservation. ‘They are pestered with mul-
titudes of Gnats which teaze them so much by their
stings, that to defend themselves they have recourse
to smearing their faces, and keeping constantly a
thick smoke in their cottages. These insects de-
posit their eggs inthe water, and thus bring into the
country immense numbers of aquatic birds, which
feed on them; and which constitute the principal
support of the inhabitants ; and thus are these people
unhappy in the very circumstances that procures
them life. Ifit be asked, why it is necessary they
should be unhappy in order to live ? we answer, that
having developed one step, we find ourselves in-
volved as deeply in obscurity, as those whose short-
sightedness has not penetrated thus far ; but we are
taught by this not to rest too securely on our own
judgments (which are frequently built without a pro-
per basis), when we are about to censure the per-

C2

20 ON THE STUDY OF NATURE.

formances of superior intelligence; and to supposé
that as one step more than we suspected has been
explained, so might the rest be rendered equally
clear, had we but the capacity to comprehend them.

In ovr ewn country birds are, almost invariably,
considered as injurious to the industry of the farmer ;
they are said to devour his crops, and to destroy at
least one halfof the fruits of his labour. Little does
the farmer suspect, that, were he deprived of these
so much detested creatures, but a very small portion
of the present produce of the Harth could be brought
to perfection. ‘Their manure alone is of very con-
siderable value : but all the slender-billed birds, the
Lark, Black-bird, Thrush, Red-breast, Goldfinch,
Hedge-sparrow, and many others, live almost entire-
ly on insects; and are therefore peculiarly beneficial
to him. Even those that devour the grain destroy
infinitely more of the noxious insects, than will com-
pensate for any damage they commit.—It has been
calculated, with some accuracy, that a single pair of
the common Sparrows, while their young are in the
nest, destroy on an average aboye fhree thousand Ca-
terpillars every week. Does the farmer consider
this, and yet issue an unlimited edict for their de-
struction ? Mankind in general want a proper degree
of confidence in that Being, who cannot form any
thing in vain: trusting only in their own judgment,
which, every moment of their lives they find in er-.
ror, they impiously censure, only because they can-
not understand.

From all the preceding observations, it appears
that Natural History affords us a much more exten-

ON THE STUDY OF NATURE. 1

sive moral than has generally been supposed. And
the blind curiosity, which formerly was the princi-
pal motive in making collections and studying the
science, is now giving way to more noble and more
estimable ideas ; and there are yet, “ inthe instruc-
tive book of Nature, many leaves, which hitherto no
mortal has perused *.”

It is evident that the general tendency of the
study is to lead us from the admiration of the works,
to the contemplation of their Author; to teach us
to look, through Nature, up to Nature’s God. It
isa study which terminates in the conviction, the
knowledge and the adoration of that Being, to whom
we owe every thing that we enjoy. I

When Mr. Mungo Park, in the wilds of Africa,
had been plundered by abanditti, nearly of all he
possessed, we find of what material use his contem-
plations were to him, ona subject, that to many
persons would appear extremely insignificant.
«Whichever way I turned,” says he, ‘* I saw my-
self in the midst of a vast wilderness, in the depth
of the rainy season; naked and alone: surrounded
by savage animals, and by Men still more savage.
I was five hundred miles from any European settle-
ment. All these circumstances crowded at once on
my recollection; and I confess that my spirits be-
gan to fail me. I considered my fate as certuin,
and that I had no alternative but to lie down and
perish. ‘he influence of religion, however, aided
and supported me. I reflected that no human
ee

* Pontoppidan, Pref. p. 1. ;

C3

29 ON THE STUDY OF NATURE.

prudence or foresight could possibly have averted
my present sufferings. I was indeed a stranger ina
strange land, yet I was still under the protecting eye
of that Providence, who has condescended to. call”
himself the Stranger’s Friend. At this moment,
painful as my reflections were, the extraordinary
beauty of a small Moss, in fructification, irresistibly
caught my eye. I mention this to shew froin what
trifling circumstances the mind will sometimes de-
rive consolation ; for though the whole plant was
not larger than the top of one of my fingers, I could
not contemplate the delicate conformation of its
roots, leaves, and capsula, without admiration. Can
that Being (thought I) who planted, watered, and
brought to perfection, in this obscure part of the
world, a thing which appears of so small importance,
Jook with unconcern upon the situation and suffer-
ings of creatures formed after his own image ?—Sure-
ly not! Reflections like these would not allow me
to despair. I started up, and, disregarding both
hunger and fatigue, travelled forwards, assured that
relief was at hand; and I was not disappointed *.”

It is impossible to consider properly all these im-
portant objects, and then unconcernedly to ask, * of
what use is this Science ?”

Natural History is a study that seems well calcu-
lated to employ the female mind : and it has this ad..
vantage over most other pursuits, that the more
earnestly it is attended to, the more interesting it
becomes. It isa study also that meliorates the heart,

* Park's Trayels, 243.

ON THE STUDY OF NATURE. 23

at the same time that it captivates the understanding.
Every branch of it teems with delight and instruc-
tion. Even Botany, which has been ignorantly stig-
matized as a study merely of names, is, when enter-
ed upon with spirit, a most instructive and enticing
pursuit :

Not a tree,
A plant, a leaf, a blossom, but contains
A folio volume. We may read, and read,
And read again, and still find something new ;
Something to please, and something to instruct
E’en in the noisome weed.

Tt would be no inconsiderable improvement to the
rising generation, if Natural History could in some
measure be introduced to their attention, in prefer-
ence to novels and the usual pernicious books of en-
tertainment. If they could have recourse to a ratio-
nal source of amusement, rather than corrupt their
hearts and bewilder their imaginations with these,
the common trash of Circulating Libraries :—Early
impressions frequently afford such a stamp to the®
future character, as to render the proper introduc-
tion of them a matter of the utmost importance.—
That thoughtless cruelty which we now so frequently
observe toward the interior orders of created beings,
would scarcely be known, could we but teach man-
kind that the same God ‘‘ who gives its lustre to an
insect’s wing” ordains withit a right to hfe and hap-
piness as well as ourselves ; and that wantonly to de-
prive it of these is an offence against His works who
formed nothing in vain.—An attention to Nature

C4

94 ON THE STUDY OF NATURE.

from childhood would also contribute greatly to the
happiness of mankind in general, and to that of fe-
males in particular, by enabling them to overcome
all those fears and vulgar prejudices which have com-
monly attached to some of the smaller quadrupeds,
and co the reptile and insect tribes. They would
then have no greater repugnance towards handling a
Lizard, a Beetle, or a Spider, than they now have
towards that of a Bird, or a Flower.

It is necessary, however, to inform them, that they
must not be contented merely with reading: the
principal use of this is to direct them to contempla-
tions on the objects themselves, and to induce a taste
for more minute investigation ; but it is from this
investigation only that they will be enabled to reap
the advantages of the science, and such advantages
as books alone do not always bestow,

These are thy glorious works, Parent of Good,
Almighty ! Thine this universal frame,

Thus wondrous fair ; thyself how wondrous then }
Unspeakable, who sitt’st above these Heav’ns,

To us invisible, or dimly seen

In these thy lowest works ; yet these declare

Thy goodness beyond thought, and power diyine!

MAMMIFEROUS ANIMALS,

"Tue Empire of Nature has, by the general assent
of mankind, been divided into three essential
kingdoms ; the first consisting of minerals, the se-
cond of vegetables, and the third of animals.

The Mineral Kingdom, which consists of substances
destitute of the organs necessary to life or motion,
occupies in rude masses the interior parts of the earth,
It is formed from the accidental aggregation of par-
ticles, which, under certain circumstances, takea
constant and regular figure, but which are more fre-
quently found without any definite conformation.—
The Vegetable Kingdom clothes the surface of the
earth with verdure. It consists of organized bodies,
destitute of the power of locomotion, or changing
place at will. These imbibe nutriment through their
roots, respire air by their leaves, and continue their
various kinds by means of sced dispersed within pro-
per limits—The Animal Kingdom adorns the exter-
“nal parts of the earth with sentient beings. These
have voluntary motion, respire air, are impelled to
action by the cravings of want, by love, and by pain,
They, keep within proper bounds, by preying on
them, the numbers both of animals and vegetables.

06 MAMMIFEROUS ANIMALS.

The latter of these kingdoms was subdivided by
Linnzus into six classes, vz. Mammiferous Animals,
which he called Mammalia, Birds, Amphibious
Animals, Fishes, Insects, and Worms.

The class of animals denominated MAMMALIA
comprehends all those that nourish their young by
means of lactiferous glands or teats, and that have,
flowing in their veins, a warm and red blood. It
includes the wha/es,an order that, from external shape
and habits of life, has ufually been arranged among
the fishes. It is true that-these animals inhabit ex-
clusively the water, an element in which none of the
quadrupeds can long subsist, and are furnished like
the fish with fins, still, however, in every essential
characteristic, they exhibit an alliance ta the quadru-
peds. They have warm blood, produce their young
alive, and nourish them with milk furnished from
teats. In their internal structure they are likewise
in a great measure allied to the quadrupeds, having
similar lungs, and two auricles, and two ventricles ta
the heart.

The bodies of nearly all the mammiferous animals
are covered with fair, a soft and warm clothing ha-_
ble to little injury, and bestowed in quantity propor-
tioned to the necessities of the animals, and the cli-
mates which they inhabit. In most of the aquatic
quadrupeds this covering, from its too free absorpion
of moisture, 1s wanting.

‘Vhe ead in all the higher orders of animals, is the
seat of the principal organs of sense, the mouth, the
nase, the eyes, and the ears. It is through the mouth

MAMMIFEROUS ANIMALS. 27

that they receiye their nourishment. This contains
the teeth, which in most of the Mammalia are used
not only for the mastication of their food, but as wea-
pons of offence. They are inserted into two movea-
ble bones called the upper and under jaw. The front
teeth whose office it is to cut, are wedge-sliaped, and
so placed that in action their sharp edges are brought
into contact, and thus divide the aliment.—Next to
these, on each side, are situated the canine-teeth or
tusks. They are longer than the other teeth, conical
and pointed, but the points do not directly meet on
closing the mouth. Their use is to tear the food:—
The teeth in the back of the jaw, between which the
food is masticated, are called grinders. In animals
that live on vegetables, these are flattened at the
top, but in carnivorous animals their upper surfaces
are furnished with sharp conically pointed protube-
rances. From the numbers, form, and disposition of
the teeth, the various genera of quadrupeds have
been arranged.

The xose is a cartilarinous body pierced with two
holes called nostrils. In some animals this is promi-
nent, in others flat, compressed, turned upwards, or
bent downwards. In beasts of prey it is often either
longer than the lips, or of equal length with them.
In a few animals it is elongated into a moveable trunk
or proboscis, and in one tribe, the Rhinoceros, it is
armed with an horn.

The eyes of quadrupeds are for the most part de-
fended by moveable eye-lids, whose outer margins
are furnished with hairs, called eye-lashes. The open-
ing of the pupil is in general circular, but in some
animals, as Cats and Hares, it is contracted into a

&

26 MAMMIFEROUS ANIMALS,

perpendicular line, and in Oxen, Horses, and a fev
others, it forms a transverse bar, The opening con-

tracts during the day, that the yery sensible retina

may not be irritated by the rays of light ; and is ex-
panded in the dark to allow as many rays as possiblg
to pass.

The cars are openings generally accompanied by
a cartilage which defends and covers them, called the
external ears. In aquatic animals the latter are want-
ing, the sounds in them b-ing transmitted merely
through holes, which have the name of auditory holes.
Tlie most defenceless animals are very delicate in
their sense of hearing, as are likewise most of the
beasts of prey. In wild animals the ears are erect and
somewhat funnel shaped, capable of having their
opening turned towards the quarter from whence the
sounds proceed, but in those that are tame or domes-
tic the ears are, for the most part, long and pen-
dulous.

The head.is joined to the body by the neck; and
all those animals that often extend their arms or an-
terior feet forward, either to seize things, as the
Monkies, or to fly, as the Bats, have, annexed to the
upper part of the thorax, e/avicles or collar bones.
The clavicle of the Mole is particularly remarkable
on account of its thickness, which exceeds its length.
The collar-bones are wanting in those animals that
use their anterior extremities for progressive motion
only ; and there are rudiments of them in such as
hold a middle station betwixt these two different
orders.

Most of the Mammiferous Animals walk on four

MAMMIFEROUS ANIMALS. 26

feet, which are usually divided at the extremities
into toes or fingers. ‘The extremities, however, of
some, as the Horse, end in a single corneous substance,
called a hoof. The toes of a tew of the quadru-
peds end in broad flat nails, and of most of the others
in pointed claws. Sometimes the toes are connected
together by a membrane : this is the case in animals
that spend part of their lives in the water. Some-
times, asin the Bats, the digitations of the anterior
feet are greatly elongated, having their intervening, _
space filled by a membrane which extends round the
hinder legs and the tail, and by means of which
they are enabled to rise into the air.—The action of
walking in quadrupeds is deserving of particular no-
tice. ‘The animal first slightly bends the articula-
tions of the hind legs, and then extends them in or-
der to carry forward the body. he breast. being
thrown forward by this movement, the fore
legs become inclined backward; and the animal
would fall, did it not instantly throw them forward
in order to support itself. It then draws up the trunk
upon the fore legs fixed in this position, and the hind
legs are again brought into action. But it must be
obseryed, that these movements are not performed at
the same moment, by the two legs of each pair in
the action of walking; for in that case, the animal
would necessarily be completely suspended for a mo-
ment over the ground ; and its motion would then
be no longer a wa/k, but a succession of leaps, par-
ticularly denominated a full gallop. Each step is exe-
cuted by two legs only; one belonging to the fore
pair, and the other to the hinder pair; but some-

36 MAMMIFEROUS ANIMALS.

times they are those of the same side, and sometimes
those of the opposite sides. The latter is that kind
of motion which in horses is called a pace. The right
fore leg is advanced so as to sustain the body, which
is thrown upon it by the extention of the left hind
foot ; and at the same time the latter bends in order
to its being moved forward. While they are off the
ground, the right hind foot begins to extend itself,
and the moment they touch it the left fore foot
moves forward to support the impulse of the right
foot, which likewise moves forward. The body is
thus supported alternately by two legs placed in.a
diagonal manner. When the right foot moves, in or-
der to sustain the body, pushed forward by the right
hind foot, the motion is then called an amble. The
body being alternately supported by two legs of the
same side, is obliged to balance itself to the right
and left, in order to avoid falling ; and it is this ba-
lancing movement which renders the gait of a horse
so soft and agreeable to women and persons in a weak’
state of body as it is generally found.—In the ani-
mals that have their fore feet longer than the hinder.
ones, and have their strength chiefly in the anterior
part of the body, the principal impulse is given by
extending the fore foot. The hind foot then rises
to follow it, and it is not until the moment that the
latter extends itself in its turn, that the fore foot is
raised. ‘This isthe manner in which the Giraffe is
suid to move. But when the fore legs are greatly
disproportionate to the others, and particularly when
the posterior extremities are feeble and not closely
articulated, as in the Sloths, the animal is obliged to

MAMMIFEROUS ANIMALS. $i

drag itself onward, by first extending the anterior legs,
and then bending them so as to draw the body after
them ; the hind legs affording but very little assist-
ance by their impulsion. It is this circumstance
which renders the progression of the Sloths so labo-
rious.—T hose, animals which have their fore legs
very short in proportion to their hinder ones, would
be incapable of sufficiently supporting their bodies,
and must fall down forward on each impulse of the
latter, had they not the precaution to make a pranc-
ing movement; that is, to raise the anterior extre-
mities entirely off the ground, previously to their
being impelled onward by means of the hind feet.
Accordingly such animals cannot, in propriety of
language, be said to walk; they only move forward
by leaps. This is the case with the Hares, the-Rats,
and particularly with the Jerboas and Kanguroos.
Indeed these animals cannot be said to walk at all,
except in the action of ascending. When they at-
tempt to walk slowly on level ground, they are oblig-
ed to move themselves by the fore feet, and merely
to drag after them the hind pair. This may be ob-
served in Rabbets—When the hind feet are very
much separated, their impulse becomes more lateral.
It thence results that, at each step, the trunk isal-
ternately impelled side ways, and that the line of
motion becomes crooked. This may be remarked
in the swimming animals, whose manner of life re-
quires that there should be a considerable space be-
tween the hind legs; such as the Otters, and the
Beavers.—Man, anda certain number of other animals
are capable of seizing objects, by surrounding and

9, MAMMIFEROUS ANIMALS;

grasping them with their fingers. For this purpose
the fingers are separate, free, flexible, and of a cer-
tain length. Man has such fingers on his hands
only; but Apes and some other kinds of animals have
them both on their hands and feet.—Only Man,
Apes, and Lemurs have the thumb separate, and
capable of being opposed to the fingers, sq as to form
a kind of forceps. These are therefore the only ani-
mals that can hold moveable objects in a single
hand.—The others, as Squirrels, Rats, Opossums,
&c. that have the fingers sufficiently small and flexi-
ble to enable them to take up objects, are obliged
to hold them 1n both hands.—Others, which have the
toes shorter, and which besides are under the neces-
sity of resting On the fore feet, as Dogs, and Cats,
can only hold substances by fixing them upon the
ground with their paws.—Lastly, those that have the
toes united and drawn together under the skin, or
envelloped in corneous hoofs, are incapable of exer-

cising any prehensile power.

In order to lead the reader to some general idea of
the internal structure of the bodies of animals I shall
begin with the circulation. ‘That warm and red fluid
called the blood flows from the heart, its common re-
servoir, through the frame, by a series of vessels call-
ed arteries, and returns by another series denominated
veins. When this alternate motion ceases the con-
sequence is immediate death.

The /ungs of quadrupeds consist of two lobes, and
are placed within the thorax or chest. Into these the
atmospheric air is inspired from the mouth ; andin

MAMMIFEROUS ANIMALS. 83

tlm the vital air and the matter of heat, are sepa-
rated, the former containing the only principle

proper for the maintenance of life, and the latter

being necessary towards keeping up the fluidity of
the blood. The mephitic air, which remains after

the separation, is immediately expired. This act

of drawing in the atmospheric air, separating tlie

vital air, and matter of heat, and ejecting the me-

phitic air, is termed respiration.

In digestion itis that the juices calculated to nou-
rish and support the body become separated from the:
other less useful parts of the food. Reduced toa
pulp by means of the teeth and saliva, this is thrown

into a canal which, below the thorax, terminates ina
large bag or reservoir, called the stomach. Here the
aliment, penetrated and further dissolved by new
juices, undergoes a triturition from the action of the
stomach; and the nutritive juices, which, on their
union, are denominated chyle, are now expressed.
These are taken up by little vessels called lacteals,
and become converted into new blood and flesh,
The alimentary canal again contracts on leaving the
stomach, and twisting into a great variety of folds,
acquires the name of intestines. The residue of what
is not converted into chyle traverses these numerous
canals, and from them is expelled the body.

The bodies of all Mammiferous Animals are sup-
ported by a frame of bones, ‘called a skele/on. ‘To
these bones are attached the muscles or flesh, assem-
blages of fibres held together by membranes, and
terminating in akind of cords called tendons, ‘These
muscles, when excited, produce motion in the diffe-

War. L. D

84 MAMMIFEROUS ANIMALS.

rent parts of the body ; and it is their action which
gives to all animals the power of changing their
place, and performing the various movements ne-
cessary to their wants.

The sensation of animals arises from an irritation
taking place on the ends of certain cords called
nerves. ‘These are either prolonged fram the spinal
marrow, or they are united in pairs in the brain.

According to the destination of Nature, the Mam-
miferous Animals are calculated, when full grown,
to subsist upon food of various kinds ; some to live
wholly upon flesh, others upon grain, herbs, or
fruits of different kinds; but in their infant state,
milk is the food appropriated to the whole. And
that this food may never fail ta them, it is universally
ordained, that the young is no sooner born than milk
flows in abundance into the members provided in
the mother for the secretion of that nutritious fluid.
The infant animal searches for the teat almost as soon
as it comes into life, and knows perfectly at the first
how by suction to extract the fluid that preserves its
existence,

In the general economy of Nature it is one great
business of this class of animals to keep up a constant
equilibrium in the number of animated beings of
the world. ‘To man they are immediately useful in
various ways ; they aftord him their bodies for food,
and their fleece toshelter him from cold. Some of
them partake with him the dangers of combat with
his enemies; and others pursue and obtain for hin

THE APE. $5

the animais necessary to his subsistence. Many in-
deed are injurious to him, but most of them, in some
shape or other, prove their services and importance.
—The number of Mammiferous Animals that have
been examined and arranged 1s about nine hundred,
but this must bear a very insignificant proportion
to the multitudes that crowd the surface of the
globe,

THE APE TRIBE *.

The animals belonging to this tribe bear a very
considerable resemblance, both in external and in-
ternal structure, to the human race: and in their
habits and instincts we remark a much nearer ap-
proach to us, than in those of any other division of
animated nature. ‘They are endowed with memo-
ries exceedingly retentive; they are also suspicious,
agile, fond of imitation, and full of gesticulations
and grimace ; when injured or offended they adopt
threatening gestures, and chatter with cheir teeth ;
but when any thing pleases them they seem to laugh,

——

* This tribe commences the first of the Linnxan orders of Qua-
drupeds, the ParsiatTes. These have four parallel front, or cutting-
teeth in each jaw; except in some species of Bats, which have either
two only or none. They have one canine-tooth on each side in both
jaws. ‘The females have two pectoral mamme or breasts. The two
sore-feet resemble hands, having fingers, for the most part, furnished
with flattened oval nails. Their food is chiefly vegetable. The prin-
cipal animals of this order are Man, the Ape, and Lemur tribes, and
the Bats.

D2

u

36 THE APE.

The dispositions of many of the species are so wild
and unmanageable, that it is with difficulty they can
be brought into a state of domestication. Others are
indeed of a milder nature, and exhibit some degree
of attachment to those who are kind to them, but
nearly the whole tribe are indowed with mischievous
propensities. They are also in general filthy, obscene,
and thievish *.

All the species, except one, (the Barbary Ape,)
are confined to the climates of the Torrid Zone,
where for the most part they live on vegetable food ;
and although our books on Natural History enume-
rate about siéy species, we are given to understand
that these are but asmall portion of the numbers that
have even been seen about the forests of hot climates.
Bosman says he saw an immense number of different
kinds on the coast of Africa -, and Condamine tells
us, that it would occupy a volume to describe accu-.
rately only the specific characters of those to be found
along the banks af the river Amazons. The fo-
rests of Africa, India, China, Japan, and South
America swarm with them {.

Several of this tribe have pouches in their cheeks,
in which they macerate their food for some time be-
fore they chew and swallow it. They are fond of
hunting after Fleas, both in their own fur, and in
that of their companions. Few animals have a moré
delicate sense of feeling, or are agitated by more
violent passions. Most of them are gregarious, as-
sociating in vast companies, and leaping with great

* Kerr 1. 54.—¢ Bosman, 242.—{ Buffon’s Quad.

THE APE. 37
agility among the branches of the trees; but the dif-
ferefit species always keep apart, and in separate dis-
tricts, never intermixing with each other*.

This extensive genus is distinguished from all
others, by the animals having in each jaw four front-
teeth, placed near together; the canine-teeth long-
er than the rest, and distant from them; and the
erinders obtuse.

The tribe is usually divided into three sections,
namely, Apes, Baboons, and Monkies.

Apes are destitute of tails, they walk upright,
their posteriors are fleshy, their legs are furnished
with calves, and their hands and feet nearly resem-
ble those of men. In their manners they are, for the
most part, mild and gentle, and they imitate human >
actions more readily than any of the others.—Ba-
boons have short tails; they generally walk on all
fours, seldom going upright, except when con-
strained to it in a state of servitude. Some of them
are as tallas Men, have long faces, sunk eyes, and
are otherwise extremely disgusting. In their dis-
positions they are usually very sullen and ferocious.
—Monkies have tails in general longer than their
bodies. One.division of these, consisting of about ten
species, with prehensile tails, that is, such as can be
twisted round any object, so as to answer the purpose
of an additional hand to the animals, is almost en-
tirely confined to America—The Monkies are alto-
gether the most active and lively of the whole tribe ;
they are greatly addicted to thieving, and scarcely,

* Kerr 1. 54.

De

58 THE APE.

8
ever imitate human actions but with a mischievous
intention.—Neither the Lion, the Tiger, nor any
of the feline race, are the most formidable enemies to
the Monkies: their dominion in the forests is not
disputed by any of these ferocious animals, from
whom they easily escape by their nimbleness in run-
ning up the trees. ‘The Serpent tnbes alone, whieh
reside with them in the trees, are endowed with the
arr of surprizing them during their repose ; and per-
petual war is sustained between these two races *.
Conscious, however, of their own activity and safety
when awake, Labat says, he has seenin Africa “* Mon-
kies playing their gambols on the very branches
where Snakes where reposing ; and jumping over
them backwards and forwards, although the Ser-
pents of this country are naturally vindictive, and
always ready to bite any thing that disturbs
them +:

In many parts of India the animals of the Ape
tribe are made objects of worship by the natives,
and temples of the greatest magnificence are erected
in honor of them +. Their numbers are almost in-
finite. They frequently come in troops into the
cities, and they enter the houses at all times with
perfect freedom ; in Calicut, howeyer, the inhabi-
tants keep them in a great measure out of their
dwellings, but to effect this they are compelled to
have all their windows Jatticed. In Amadabad,
the capftal of Guzarat, there are three hospitals for

* Buffon’s Quad. viii. 152—+ Relat. de l'Afriq. Occident. ps S17
t Penn. Quad. i. 172.

THE APE. 30

animals, where lame and sick Monkies and even
those which (without being diseased) chuse to dwell
there, are fed and cherished. ‘Twice every week
the Monkies of the neighbourhood assemble spor-
taneously in the streets of the city. They then
mount upon the houses, each of which has a small
terrace or a flat roof, where they he during the
great heats. On these two days the inhabitants al-
ways carefully deposit on the terraces rice, millet,
or fruit; for whenever, by any accident, they are
prevented from doing it, the disappointed animals
become so furious, that they break the tiles, and
commit various other outrages * —When the Portu-
guese plundered the island of Ceylon, they
found in one of the temples dedicated to these ani-
mals, a small golden casket, containing the tooth of
an Ape. This relic the natives held in such super-
stitious veneration, that they offered no less than
700,000 ducats to redeem it. The Viceroy, how-
ever, in order to discourage their superstition,
directed it to be burnt +. About three years after-
wards, a fellow who accompanied the Portuguese
Ambassador, having got a similar tooth, pretended
that he had recovered the old one, which so rejoi~
ced the Priests, that we are informed they purcha-
sed it for a sum of upwards of 10,000 pounds ster-
ling ¢.

- * Buffon’s Quad.—t Linschotten, Voy. p. 33.—{ Hamilton, 1. 347:

D4

ae OT |
THE ORAN OTAN*,

The Oran Otan approaches in external appear
ance much more nearly to the human form than
any others of the Ape tribe: and it has, from this
circumstance, even sometimes obtained the appella-
tion of “ Man of the Woods.”

The specimens of the Oran Otan, which have been
brought into Europe, have seldom exceeded three
feet in height; but when full grown it is said that
their height is at least six feet, and that their strength
is then so great, that one of them is able with ease
to overpower the most muscular Man. ‘Their co-
lour is generally a kind of dusky brown ; their feet
are bare, and their ears, hands, and feet, nearly
resemble those of mankind; and indeed their whole
appearance is such as to exhibit a most striking ap-
proximation to the human figure. ‘They have, how-
ever, a flatter nose, more oblique forehead, and
the chin without any elevation at the base. The
eyes are likewise too near each other, and the dis-
tance betwixt the nose and mouth much too great..

When Dr. Tyson’s Oran Otan, which I shall
soon have occasion further to notice, was examined
anatomically, a surprizing similitude was also seen
to prevail in its internal conformation. It differed,

* Oran Otan in the Malayan tanguage signifies Wild Man, or ra-
ther, a Being of intelligence.

Synonyms.—Simia Satyrus. Simia ‘Troglodytes. Lénn.—Orang-
Outang. Var.—Great Ape. Penn.—Man of the Woods. Edwards.—
Drill. Charlton.—Smitten. Bosman—Barris. Purchas.—Chimpanze,
Scotin. Pongo in some parts of the East Indies.—Jocko, ine Congo.
Buffon.——Shaws Gen. Zool. pl. 1, 2 8, 4.

THE ORAN OTAN. Ay
however, from Man in the number of ribs, having
thirteen, whereas in Man there are but twelve.
The vertebrae of the neck were also shorter, the
bones of the pelvis narrower; the orbits of the
eyes were deeper, the kidneys rounder, the urinary
and gall bladders were longer and smaller, and the
ureters of a different figure*. Such were the prin-
cipal distinctions between the internal parts of this
animal and those of Man; in almost every thing
else they were exactly the same, and discovered an
astonishing congruity. Indeed many parts were so
much alike inconformation that it might haveexcited
wonder how they were productive of such few advan-
tages. ‘The tongue, and all the organs of the voice,
were the same, and yet the animal was dumb; the
brain was formed in the same manner with that of
Man, and yet the creature wanted reason: an evi-
dent proof, as the Comte de Buffon finely observes,
that no disposition of matter will give mind; and
that the body, how nicely soever formed, is formed
in vain, when there is not infused a soul to direct
its operations.

These animals are found in the most desert places
in the interior of Africa, and the island of Borneo.
They feed on fruits, and, when they happen to ap-
proach the shore, will eat shell-fish or crabs.
Their resting places are in trees, where they are
secured from the attacks of all predacious creatures
except Serpents--. We are assured by Andrew
Battcll, a Portuguese traveller, who resided in An-
gola near eighteen years, that these animals were

* Anatomy ofa Pigmy.—} Penn. Quad. 1. 167.

=

AL - THE ORAN OTAN.

very common in the woods of that country, wheré
they sometimes attained a gigantic stature. Their
bodies were covered, but not very thickly, with a
dun coloured hair; and their legs were without
calves. They always walked upright, and generally,
when on the ground, carried their hands clasped
on the hinder part of their neck. ‘They slept in
the trees, amongst which they built shelters from
the rain. ‘Their food was fruit and nuts, andin no
instance were they known to be carnivorous. The
inhabitants of the country, when they travel in the
woods, make fires around the place where they sleep,
to keep ata distance the various species of voract-
ous animals; to these fires the Oran Otans would
assemble in the mornings, sitting by them till the
last of the embers were expired *.—Among the woods
on the banks of the river Gambia in Africa we are
told that the Oran Otans collect in herds of three
or four thousand, marching in a rank, the larger
ones acting as leaders. In these troops they are ex-
cessively impudent and mischievous. Jobson, who
gives the account, says, that whenever his party, in
sailing along the river, passed their stations, they
mounted the trees and gazed upon the men; some-
times they would shake the trees with their hands,
which they did with vast force, at the same time
chattering and making a loud noise. At night
when the party were at anchor, the animals often
took their stations on the rocks and heights above.
When the men were on shore and met any of them,

* Purchas. ii. 982. Battel was in Angola in the year 1589.

3 THE ORAN OTAN. A3
the great ones generally came forward and seemed
to grin in their faces, but they always fled when an
attack was made. One of them was killed from the
boat with a gun, but before the boat could be got
ashore the others had carried it off. ‘Their habita-
tions were found in some of the woods, composed of
plants and the branches of trees, so thickly interwo-
ven as to protect them from the heat of the Sun.
The ground was beaten perfectly smooth, few plants
growing in their paths or dwellings*.— We are told
by another writer, that during the breeding season
the males relinquish these to the females and their
young-+.—The Oran Otans are not lively and fro-
licsome, but in all their actions they are much inore
deliberate and sedate than the rest of their tribe.
If a Negro is unfortunate enough to wander in the
woods, and be discovered by them, they generally
attack and kill him. They are able even to drive
off the Elephant; with a piece of wood in their
hands, or only with their fists, they will so teaze
the huge beast, that in the end he is induced to
retiret. They have been known to throw stones at
those who have offended them. Bosman informs us,
that behind the English fort at Wimba on the coast
of Guinea, several of these Apes fell upon two of the
company’s slaves, overpowered them, and were
about to poke out their eyes with some sticks, when
a party of Negroes happened to come up at a -fortu-
nate moment to their rescue||. It is said, that they

SE Sean aed eae LT Nee TORE POS Ts |
* Jobson’s Voyaze to the River Gambia Purchas. ii. 1575,

+ Matthews'’s Voyage to Sierra Leona.—t Purchas. ii, 939,

4 Bosman, 242%

Ad THE ORAN OTAN.

sometimes steal the Negresses, and carry them off
into the woods *. A Negro boy was carried off by
an Oran Otan, and lived with them upwards of a
year ; on his return he described many of thern as
being as tall and more bulky than a Man, and he
declared that they did not attempt to injure him in
any respect}. The young are said to hang on the
belly of the dam, with their hands fast clasped
about her ; and whenever the females are killed these
will always suffer themselves to be taken {.

This is all the information that I have been able
to collect respecting the Oran Otan in its wild state :
the following are accounts of it therefore in a state
of captivity and domestication.

The manners of the Oran Otan, when in con-
finement, are gentle, and, for the most part, harm-
less, perfectly devoid of that disgusting ferocity so
conspicuous in some of the larger Baboons and
Monkies. It isa mild and docile animal, and may
be taught to perform with dexterity a variety of en-
tertaining actions in domestic life.

Dr. Tyson, who, about a century ago, gave a very
exact description of a young Oran Otan then exhi-
bited in London, assures us, that, in many of its ac-
tions, it seemed to display a very high degree of
sagacity, and in its disposition was exceedingly
mild. The most gentle creature, says he, that could
be. Those that he knew on board the vessel that
‘brought him over he would embrace with the great-
est tenderness; and, although there were Monkies

*Penn. Quad. i. 167.—f Buf Quad. viii. 83.—} Purchas. ii. 982.

THE ORAN OTAN. A5

shit) yet it was observed, he never would associate
with any of them, and, as if nothing akin to them,
would always avoid their company. He used some-
times to wear cloths, andat length became very fond
of them. He often would put part of them on with-
out help, and carry the remainder in his hands to
some one of the ship’s company for his assistance,
He would lie in bed, place his head on a pillow, and
pull up the bed-cloths to keep himself warm, exact-
ly as a man *.

M. Vosmaer’s account of sie manners of an Oran
Otan, brought into Holland in the year 1776, and
lodged in the menagerie of the Prince of Orange, is
exceedingly curious.

“This animal,” says M. Vosmaer, ‘‘ was a fe-
male: its height was about two Rhenish feet and a
half. It shewed no symptoms of fierceness or ma-
lignity, and was even of a somewhat melancholy
appearance. | It was fond of being in company, and
shewed a preference to those who took daily care of
it, of which it seemed to be sensible. Often when
they retired, it would throw itself on the ground,
as ifin despair, uttering lamentable cries, and tear-
ing in pieces the linen within its reach. Its keeper,
haying sometimes been accustomed to sit near it on
the ground, it frequently took the hay of its bed,
and laid it by its side, and seemed by eyery demon-
stration, to invite him to be seated near. Its usual
manner of walking was on all fours, like other

* Anatomy ofa Pigmy, r. 8.

Ad THE ORAN OTAN.

Apes *; but it could also walk erect. One mofn«
ing it got unchained, and we beheld it with won-
derful agility ascend the beams and rafters of the
building ; it was not without some pains that it was
retaken, and we then remarked an extraordinary
muscular power in the animal; the assistance of four
nien being necessary in order to hold it in such a
manner as to be properly secured. During its state
of liberty it had, amongst other things, taken the
cork from a bottle of Malaga wine, which it drank
to the last drop, and had sct the bottle in its place
again. It ate almost every thing that was given to
it; but its chief food was bread, roots, and espe-
cially carrots; all sorts of fruits, especially straw-
berries’: and it appeared extremely fond of aromatic
plants, and of the leaves and root of parsley. It also
ate meat, both boiled and roasted, as well as fish.
It was not observed to hunt for insects, like other
Monkies; was fond of eggs, which it broke with
its teeth, and sucked completely ; but fish and roast-
ed meat seemed its favourite food. It had been
taught to eat with a spoon and a fork. When pre-
sented with strawberrics on a plate, it was extreme.
Jy pleasant to see the animal take them up, one by
one, with a fork, and put them into its mouth,
holding, at the same time, the plate in the other

©?
hand. Its common drink was water, but it alsa

* There is no doubt whatever, from the horizontal position of the
pelvis, and some other circumstances, that this is the natural mode of
walking of the whole tribe; and that their

ently the effect ef education.

going entirely upright ig

THE ORAN OTAN. Ap

very willingly drank all sorts of wine, and particu-
larly Malaga. After drinking, it wiped its lips ;
and after eating, if presented with a tooth-pick,
would use it in a proper manner. I was assured,
(continues this writer,) that on ship-board it ran
freely about the vessel, played with the sailors,
and would go, like them, into the kitchen for its mess,
At the approach of night it lay down to sleep, and
prepared its bed, by shaking well the hay, on which
it slept, and putting it in proper order ; and, lastly,
covering itself warm with the coverlet. One day,
seeing the padlock of its chain opened with a key,
and shut again, it seized a little bit of stick, and
put it into the key hole, turning it about in all di-
rections, endeavouring to see whether the padlock
would open or not. This animal lived seven months
in Holland. On its first arrival it had but very
little hair, except on its back and arms: but on the
approach of winter it became extremely well-cover-
ed ; the hair on the back being three inches in length.
The whole animal then appeared of a chesnut co-
lour ; the skin of the face, &c. was of a mouse co-
lour, but about the eyes and round the mouth ofa
dull flesh colour.’ It came froin the island of Bor-
neo, and, after its death, was deposited in the mu-
seum of the Prince of Orange *.

The Oran Otan, which the Comte de Buffon saw,
walked always on two feet, even when carrying
things of considerable weight. His air was melan-

<A

* Shaw's Gen. Zool. i. 7,

A8 THE ORAN OTAN.

choly, his gait grave, his movements measured, his
disposition gentle, and very different from that of
other apes. He would present his hand to conduct
the people who came to visit him, and walk as
gravely along with them as if he had formed a part
of the company. He frequently used to sit with
persons at dinner, when he would unfold his towel,
wipe his lips, use a spoon or a fork to carry his yie-
tuals to his mouth, pour his hquor into a glass, and
make it touch that of a person who drank along with
him. HH he was invited to take tea, he brought a -
cup and saucer, placed them on the table, put in
sugar, poured out the tea, and allowed it to cool
before he drank it. All these actions he performed
without any other instigation than the signs or ver-
bal orders of his master, and often even of his own
accord *.

Hamilton saw an Oran Otan in Java. He says, that
its habit was grave and melancholy ; that it would
light a fire, and blow it with its mouth; and that
it would broil a fish to eat with its boiled rice, 1mi-
tative of the cusom of the human race +.

One of these animals that Le Comte saw in the
Streights of Molucca is described as haying manners,
very similar to those already mentioned. It walked
upright, and used its hands and arms like a man;
agd indeed its actions were in general so nearly allied
to those of mankind, and its passions so expressive
and lively, that adumb person could scarcely render
himself better understood. Its joy or anger it sig-—

A a a ee ee ee ae a ne Re eR

* Buff Quad. viii. 86.--+ Hamilton, it, 131.

THE ORAN OTAN. 40

nified by stamping with its foot on the ground. It
had been taught to dance ; and would at times cry
like a child. While on board the vessel it frequent-
ly ran up the rigging, and played as many antics
aloft, to divert the company, as a rope-dancer. It
could leap with surprising agility and security from
one rope to another, though fifteen or twenty feet
asunder *,

We are told by Pyrard, that these animals are
found in Sierra Leona, where they are strong and
well formed, and so industrious, that, when pro-
perly trained and fed, they work like servants :
That when ordered, they will pound any substances
in a mortar; and that they are frequently sent to
fetch water from the rivers in small pitchers, which
they carry full on their heads; but, when they ar-
rive at the door of the dwelling, if these are not
soon taken off they suffer them to fall, and when
they perceive the pitcher overturned and broken
they utter aloud their lamentations -~. Barbot says
also, that they are frequently rendered of use in the
settlements on the coast of Guinea, by being taught
to turn the spit, and watch the roasting of meat,
which they perform with considerable dexterity and
address +.

M. de la Brosse, who purchased from a Negro
two Oran Otans, remarks that they would sit at
table like men, and eat there every kind of food
without distinction. That they would use a knife,

* History of China. + Voy. de Fran. Pyrard, in Buff Quad.
Vili. 92. { Barbet, in Churchill’s Coll. y. 101

Vou. I. E

Ae) THE ORAN OTAN.

fork, or spoon, to cut or lay hold of what was put
on their plate. That they drank wine and other
liquors. At table, when they wanted any thing,
they easily made themselves understood to the cabin-
boy ; and when the boy refused to answer their de-
mands, they sometimes became enraged, seized
him by the arm, bit, and threw him down. The
male was seized with sickness, and he made the peo-
ple attend him as if he had been a human being.
He was even bled twice in the right arm, and, when-
ever afterwards he found himself in the same condi-
tion, he held out his arm to be bled, as if he knew
that he had formerly reccived benefit from that ope-
ration *.

Two of these animals were sent from the forests
of the Carnatic, by a coasting vessel, as a present
to the governor of Bombay. They, like the rest of
the species, had many human actions, and seemed,
by their melancholy, to have a rational sense of
their captivity. They were scarcely two feet high,
but walked erect, and had, very nearly, the human
form. The female was taken ill during the voyage,
and died; and the male, exhibiting every demon-
stration of grief, seemed to take it so much to heart,
that he refused to eat, and lived only two days after-
wards +-.

“* T saw at Java, (says Guat,) a very extraordinary
Ape. It was a female. She was very tall, and often
walked erect on her hind fect. Except on the eye-
brows, there was no hair on her face, which pretty

* Buff Quad. viii. 89. + Grose i, 182.

THE ORAN OTANs 51

much resembled the grotesque female faces I had
seen among the Hottentots at the Cape. She made
her bed very neatly every day, lay upon her side,
and covered herself with the bed-cloths. She often
bound her head up with a handkerchief, and it was
amusing to sée her thus hooded in bed. I could re-
late many other little circumstances which appeared
to be extremely singular; but I by no means ad-
mired them so much as most other persons did, be-
cause, as I knew the design of bringing her to Eu-
tope to be exhibited as a shew, I was inclined to
think that she had been taught many of these
monkey-tricks, which the people considered as
natural to the animal. She died in our ship, about
the latitude of the Cape of Good Hope *.”

Gemelli Carreri gives an instance of something
very analogous to reason in these animals. He tells
us that when the fruits on the mountains are ex-
hausted, they frequently descend to the sea coasts,
where they feed on various species of shell-fish,
but in particular on a large species of oyster, which
commonly lies open on the shore: fearful, he says,
of putting in their paws, lest the oyster should close
and crush them, they insert a pretty large stone with-
in the shell, this prevents it from closing, and they
then drag out their prey and devour it at Icisure *.

Pere Carbasson brought up an Oran Otan, which
became so fond of him, that wherever he went it
always seemed desirous of accompanying him:

* Voy. de Fr. le Guat, in Buff Quad. vin. 92. + Buff Quad.
Viil. 98.——Barbot v. 101.

B32

59, THE BARBARY APE.

whenever, therefore, he had to perform the servicé
of his church, he was always under the necessity of
shutting it up in aroom. Once, however, the ani-
mal escaped, and followed the father to the church,
where silently mounting on the sounding board
above the pulpit, he lay perfectly still till the ser-
mon commenced. Hethen crept to the edge, and,
overlooking the preacher, imitated all his gestures
In so grotesque a manner that the whole congrega-
tion were unavoidably urged tolaugh. ‘The father,
surprized and confounded at this ill-timed levity,
severely reproved his audience for their inattention.
The reproof failed in its effect, the congregation
still laughed, and the preacher, in the warmth of
his zeal, redoubled his vociferations and his actions :
these the Ape imitated so exactly, that the congre-
gation could no longer restrain themselves, but burst
out into a loud and continued laughter, A friend
of the preacher at length stepped up to him, and
pointed out the cause of this improper conduct ;
and such was the arch demeanour of his animal,
that it was with the utmost difficulty he could com-
mand the muscles of his countenance, and keep
himself apparently serious, while he ordered the
servants of the church to take him away.

THE BARBARY APE*,

The forests of India, Arabia, and Africa, are the
habitations of this species; and they are so common

Se ee eee

* Synonyms.—Simia tnuus. Linz.—Magot. Buffon —Momenet.
Johnsion.—Ycllow Ape. Du Halde.—Barbary Ape. Pennant ~Shaw's
Gen. Zool. pl. 7.—Bew. Quad. p. 417.

THE BARBARY APE. 53

in Barbary, that trees are sometimes literally covered
with them *. A few are found near Gibraltar.—
Their face is not much unlike that of adog. Their
general length is betwixt three and four fect. ‘The
colour of the back is a greenish brown, and that of
the belly pale yellow. The cheeks are furnished with
pouches +}.

In their manners these animals are generally both
fierce and mischievous. They live on vegetables,
and are said to assemble at times in the open plains
of India, in vast troops, and if they see any of the
women going to market, they immediately attack
them, and take away their provisions +. Tavernier,
apparently alluding to this species, says, that some
of the inhabitants of India have an odd mode of
amusing themselves at theirexpence. These people
place five-or six baskets of rice, forty or fifty yards
asunder, in an open ground. near their retreat, and
by every basket put a number of stout cudgels,
each about two feet long: they then retire to some
hiding place, not far distant, to wait the event.
When the Apes observe no persons near the baskets,
they soon descend in great numbers from the trees,
and run towards them. They grin at each other for
some time before they dare approach ; sometimes
they advance, then retreat, seeming much disinclin-
ed toencounter. At length the females,’ which are
more courageous than the males, especially those
that have young ones, (which they carry in their

* Church.—f Penn. Quad. 1, 171.—{ Ib.

E3

54 THE BARBARY APE.

arms as women do their children), venture to ap-
proach the baskets, and as they are about to thrust
their heads in to eat, the males on the one side ad-
yance to hinderthem, Immediately the other party
comes forward, and the feud being kindled on
both sides, the combatants seize the cudgels and
commence a most severe fight, which always ends
with the weakest being driven into the woods with
broken heads and limbs. The victors, he tells us,
then fall to in peace, and devour the reward of
their Jabour*,

He also informs us, that as he was himself travel-
ling in the East Indies, in company with the Eng-
lish president, a great number of large Apes were
observed upon the trees around them. ‘The presi-
dent was so much amused, that he ordered his car-
riage to stop, and desired Tavernier to shoot one of
them. The attendants, who were principally na-
tives, and well acquainted with the manners of
these animals, begged him to desist, lest those that
escaped might do them some injury in revenge for
the death of a companion. Being, however, still
requested, he killed a female, which fell among the
branches, letting her little ones, that clung to her
neck, fall to the ground, In an instant all the re-
maining Apes, to the number of sixty or upwards,
descended in fury, and, as many as could, leaped
upon the president’s coach, where they would soon
have strangled him, had not the blinds been imme-
diately closed, and the number of attendants so

FO

* Travels in India,

THE PIGMY APE. 55

great, as, though not without difficulty, to drive
them off. They however continued to run after
and teaze the servants for at least three miles from
the place where their companion was slain*.

This species of Ape agrees well with our climate,
and is very common in exhibitions in this country.
It walks on four in preference to two legs ; and uses
the same grimaces to express both anger and appe-
tite. Its movements are brisk, its manners gross ;
and, when agitated by passion, it exhibits and
grinds its teeth. Notwithstanding its ferocious and
unaccommodating disposition, it is, by perserver-
ance and force of discipline, generally taught to
perform a few tricks, and to sliew off, in’ some
mode or other, to the spectators-~. Some of them
will learn to dance, make gesticulations in cadence,
and allow themselves peaceably to be clothed.

Buffon had a Barbary Ape several years. In
Summer he says it delighted to be in the open air,
and even in Winter it was frequently kept in a room
without fire. Though long in confinement it did
not become at all civilized. When food was given
to it, it always filled its pouches: and when about
to sleep, loved to perch on an iron or wooden bar ¢,

THE PIGMY APE||.
The Pigmy Ape is a native of Africa, the East
Indies, and Ceylon. It is about the size of a Fox,
and generally walks upright. ‘The face is short and

* Travels in India.
+ Penn. Quad. i. 172 t Buff} Quad. viii. 117.
|| SyNonyMs—Simia Sylvanus. Lewn.—Vitheque. Buffon —Pigmy
Shaw's Gen. Loot. pl. &.

E 4

Ape. Pennaut.

56 THE PIGMY APE.

flat, and the ears very much resemble those of
Men. ‘The general colours of the body are olive-
brown above, and yellowish on the belly.

In disposition these creatures are mild, and they
may be tamed without much difficulty. When
angry they use threatening gestures, and always
chatter when pleased. They sip their drink from
the palm of the hand *, mimic our smiles and
frowns, and, as Linnzus says, imitate the forms of
salutation used by the Caffres-~. They have reten-
tive memories, and frequently recollect the persons
of benefactors for many years. In their general
manners they are sagacious, gay, and frolicksome ;
but when laid hold of in a wild state they bite very
furiously in self defence, In their native forests they
associate in troops, and live principally on vegeta-
bles, grain, and fruit. Like many others of this
genus they often go in a body to attack gardens or
plantations. Previously to their commencement of
the plundering excursion, one of the party is always
sent to some eminence, to observe how far it appears
safe for them to venture. If the course is clear, he
gives a signal, and they all come forth and imme-
diately proceed to business. He, however, still re-

“mains on the watch. If any one approaches he ut-
ters aloud scream, when those on the ground 1m-
mediately run up the trees; and if the alarm con-
tinues, and the country is pretty well wooded, they
pursue their route, by leaping from tree to tree, all

re

* Kerr. i. 58. t+ Gmelin. i, 28.

THE COMMON BABOON. BY

the way to the mountains. In this procedure the
females are frequently burthened by three or four
young ones, clinging round their necks and backs,
yet, in spite of this incumbrance, they are able to
leap to a vast distance. The injury they do to the
fruits and corn is incalculable: they gather them
into heaps, tear and throw them on the ground in
such quantities, that what they eat and carry off, 1s
very trifling compared with the quantity they de-
stroy..

They are said to live chiefly in caverns, and the
natives adopt a singular mode of taking them alive.
They place near their haunts vessels containing
strong liquors, and the animals, assembling to enjoy
the unexpected repast, become all intoxicated, fall
asleep together, and in this predicament are easily
secured *,

THE COMMON BABOON f.

The Common Baboon is found in the hottest parts
of Africa, and also in the island of Borneo. It is
often three or four feet in height, and in its upper
parts excessively strong and muscular. Whencon-
fined in a cage these animals sometimes lay hold of
the bars, and shake them so powerfully as to make
all the spectators tremble ¢. ‘Towards the middle of

* Buff. Quad. viii. 106.

+ Synonyms.—Simia Sphinx. Linn.—Mottled Baboon. Penn.—
Papion. Buffor—Common Baboon. Shaw.—Baboon, Bewick.—>
Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 16.—Bew. Quad. p. 418.

t Bewick’s Quadrupeds, 418,

58 THE COMMON BABOON.

the body, they are, like all the Baboons, very slender.
Their general colour is a greyish brown; and the
face, which is long, is of a tawny flesh-colour.
They have pouches in their cheeks. The tail is
very short, and round it, to a considerable distance,
the posteriors are perfectly bare and callous *.

The disposition of these Baboons is exceedingly
ferdcious ; and their appearance is, at once, both
grotesque and formidable. They generally go in
troops and are dangerous enemies, when collected
in any number. Their attitude is seldom upright,
preferring the use of four to that of two legs. _

In Siam they frequently sally forth in astonishing
numbers, to attack the villages, during the time
the labourers are occupied in the rice har-
vest, and plunder the habitations of whatever
provisions they can lay their paws on -~.—Fruits,
corn, and roots, form their principal food, and in
obtaining these they often commit the most
violent outrages. Their great strength and the
sharpness of their claws, render them formidable to
dogs, wha always overcome them with difficulty,
except when excess in eating has rendered them, as
it sometimes does, heavy and inactive. When at
liberty one of them will easily overpower two or
three men, if they happen to be unprovided with
weapons of defence {.

The females seldom bring forth more than one

nn
/

* Shaw; 1. 16.

t Foibn, in Buff Quad. { Buff Quad. vill. 122.—124,

THE COMMON BABOOON. 59

young one each, which they carry between their
arms: and they have not been known to produce
in any other than hot climates. -

When in confinement these animals are invariably
savage and ill-natured, frequently grinding their
teeth, fretting and chafing with the utmost
fury. One that was exhibited at Edinburgh in 1779
presented uniformly to the spectators the most
threatening aspect, and attempted to seize every
person, who came within the reach of his chain.
on these occasions he usually made a deep grunting
noise, and tossed up his head almost perpetually *.

This Species ‘is yery fond of eggs, and one of
them has been known to put eight into his
cheek-peuches at once: then taking them out one
by one, he broke them at the end, and deliberately
swallowed their contents. In confinement these Ba-
boons may be induced to eat meat, but not unless itis
cooked: they are very fond of wine orspirits. One that
Mr. Pennant saw at Chester was of most tremendous
strength, and excessively fierce. Its voice was a
kind of roar, not unlike that of a Lion, except that
it was low and somewhat inward. It went on all
fours, and never stood on its hind legs, unless forced
by the keeper; but would frequently sit on its
rump, in a crouching manner, and drop its arms
across before its belly. It was an animal of great
beauty, and appears to have been the same that Mr.
Smellie saw at Edinburgh. Mr. Pennant says it

)
was particularly fond of cheese, and that whenever

* Note of Mr. Smellie, Buff. Quad. vili. 126,

60 THE DOG-FACED BABOON.

ears of wheat were given it, it dexterously picked
out the grains, one by one, with its teeth, and ate
them *.

Its capricious disposition often leads it to the
most deliberate acts of mischief. Dr. Goldsmith
says he has seen one of them break a whole service
of China, evidently by design, yet without appear-
ing in the least conscious of having done amiss -f.

THE DOG-FACED BABOON ff.

The Dog-faced Baboons, which are found in the
hotter parts of Africa and Asia, associate in vast
companies, and rob the plantations. When any
passengers go by they are impudent enough to run
up the trees, and shake the boughs at them with
great fury, at the same time chattering very loud,
They are about five feet high, and so fierce and
numerous, that the Coffee-planters are compelled to .
have men continually on the watch to prevent
their depredations. They are untameable, and so
strong, as, without any difficulty, to overcome a
man 4.

This species is about five feet high when erect,
The head and face greatly resemble those of a dog.
The hair is yery long and shaggy as far as the waist,

* Penn. Quad. i. 174. + Goldsmith, iy. 199. .
¥ Synonyms.—Simia Hamadryas., Linn.—Tartarin. Kerr, wha
places it among the Monkies.—Dog-faced Baboon. Penn.— Shaw's.

Gen, Zool. pl. 15.—Bew. Quad. 424.

§ Penn, Quad. 1. 180.

¢

THE URSINE KABOON. 61

but short below. The face is naked, and the ears
are pointed and hidden in the hair.

The Ursine Baboon.

These animals, which are usually supposed to be
a variety of the Dog-faced Baboons, are natives of —
South Africa, and are found in great numbers among
the mountains at the Cape. They associate in troops,
and when any person approaches their haunts, they
Set up an universal and horrible cry for a minute or
two, and then conceal themselves in their fastnesses,
and keepa profound silence. ‘They seldom descend
to the plains, except for the purpose of plundering
the gardens that lie near the foot of the mountains.
While they are engaged in this they are careful
enough to place centinels to prevent being surpris-
ed. ‘They break the fruit into pieces, and cram it
into their cheek-pouches, in order, afterwards, to
éat it at leisure. The centinel, if he sees a man,
gives a loud yell, which lasts for about a minute ;
and the whole troop retreats with the utmost expe-
dition, and in a most diverting manner, the young
jumping on, and clinging to the backs of their pa-
rents *. ‘They feed also on several kinds of bulbous
plants, which they dig up and peel with great ad-
dress. Heaps of the parings of these may frequent-
ly be seen left behind them +.

When they discover any single person resting
and regaling himself in the fields, tf great care is

* Penn. Quad. i. 181. + Thunberg, i. 285.

62 THE URSINE BABOON.

net taken, they will cunningly steal up behind,
snatch away whatever they can lay hold of, then
running to a little distance, will turn round, seat
themselves on their posteriors, and with the most
arch grimaces imaginable, devour it before the man’s
face. They frequently hold out it in their paws, as
if to offer it back again, and then use such ridicu-
lous gestures, that, although the poor fellow loses
his dinner, he seldom can refrain from laughing *.

They are indeed so numerous among the moun-
tains, as, at times, to render it exceedingly dan-
gerous for travellers to pass them. They sit undis-
mayed on the tops of the rocks, and not only roll,
but even throw from thence stones of immense
size. A gun, in these cases, 1s generally of indis-
pensible use, in driving them to such a distance
that the stones they throw may do no material in-
jury. In their flight, even with their cubs on their
backs, they often make most astonishing leaps, up
perpendicular rocks. And their agility is so great
as to render them very difficult to be killed, even
with fire-arms -f.

Lade has very accurately described their man-
ners. ‘‘ We traversed a great mountain in the
meighbourhood of the Cape of Good. Hope, and
amused ourselves with hunting large Apes, which
are very numerous in that place.—I can neither de-
scribe all the arts practised by these animals, nor
the nimbleness and impudence with which they re-

* Kolben, ii, 120. + Thunberg, i. 284.

THE URSINE BABOON. 63

turned, after being pursued by us. Sometimes
they allowed us to approach so near, that I was al-.
most certain of seizing them. But when I made
the attempt, they sprung, at a single leap, ten
paces from me, and mounted trees with equal agili-
ty, from whence they looked at us with great in-
difference, and seemed to derive pleasure from our
astonishment. Somé of them were so large, that
if our interpreter had not assured us they were
neither ferocious nor dangerous, our number would
not have appeared to be suficient to protect us from
their attacks. As it could serve no purpose to kill
them we did not use our guns. But the captain
levelled his piece at a very large one that rested on
the top of a tree, after having fatigued us a long
time in pursuing him: this kind of menace, of
which the animal, perhaps, recollected his having
sometimes seen the consequences, terrified him to
sucha degree that he fell down motionless at our
feet, and we had no difficulty in seizing him. But,
when he recovered from his stupor, it required all
our dexterity and efforts to keep hin. We tied
~ his paws together ; but he bit so furiously, that we
were under the necessity of binding our handker-
chiefs over his head *.”’

In confinement these Baboons may be rendered
docile, yet they always retain the disposition to re-
venge an injury. At the Cape they are often taken
young, and brought up with milk ; and Kolben tells

* Voyage of Robert Lade.

64 THE URSINE BABOON:

us, that they will become as watchful over their
master’s property, as the most valuable house-dog
in Europe. Many of the Hottentots believe they can
speak, but that they avoid it lest they should be
enslaved, and compelled to work. Though not natu-
rally carnivorous, they will eat meat or fish that is
cooked *. They are generally kept fastened by
means of a chainto a pole; and their agility in
climbing, leaping, and dodging any one that offers
to strike them is almost incredible. ‘Though one of
these animals was thus tied up, still it was impossi-
ble, at the distance of a few yards, to hit him with
a stone. He would either catch it, like a ball, in
his paw, or else he would avoid its blow in the most
surprising and nimble manner -f.

They are about five feet high, and are able, in
spite of resistance, to drag the strongest man along
with them.—They are sometimes caught with dogs,
but it is necessary to have a tolerable number to sub-
due one of these animals. A single dog or two can
seldom catch one of them, for if the Baboon, which
is surprisingly agile, can but get a dog by the hind
feet, he will swing it round till it is perfectly giddy.
With their immense teeth they also bite very vio-
lently, and by means of them are able to defend
themselves with the utmost obstinacy +.—When
enraged by any person, even ina state of domestica~
tion, they attempt to lay hold of the ears ; and they
will sometimes bite one of them off as close as if it

had been cut with a razor |}.

* Kolben, ii. 120. + Thunberg, i. 285. Thunberg, ii. p. 116.
| Penn. Quad. 3.121.

THE EGRET MONKEY. 65

Their features are somewhat like those of a dog,
but extremely ugly. Their colour is dusky, and
their hair of such a length as to give them much
the appearance of a young Bear.

This seems to have been the same kind of Ape
as one that M. le Vaillant had long with him in his
travels through the southern parts of Africa, to
which he gave the name of Kees. It was of infinite
use to him, being a more watchful servant than any
of his dogs, and frequently warning him of the ap-
proach of predacious animals, when they seemed
unconscious that such were near. Its numerous
whimsical pranks and actions are related in both
M. le Vaillant’s works, at considerable length.

THE EGRET MONKEY ™*,

The Egret Monkey is about two feet in length,
and somewhat of the colour of a wolf. His head,
which is excessively ugly, is large; his nose is de-
pressed, his cheeks are wrinkled, his eyebrows pro-
minent and bristly, and his lip cleft with a double
fissure. On the top of the head 1s a pointed tuft of
hair; and the feet are black. He is an inhabitant
of South Africa, India, and Java, where he is very
sportive and lively ; gamboling on the trees, and
making a continual noise during the night-f.

These Monkies often assemble in troops for tlie
purpose of plundering the plantations. When they
have entered a field of millet, they load themselves

* Synonyms.-Simia Aygula. Linn.—Aigrette. Buffon.—Egret
Monkey. Pennant. + Shaw. i. 48.

Vou. I. i

66 THE GREEN MONKEY.

with it, by taking in their mouths as much as they
can carry, and putting a quantity under their arms
and in each paw. Thus laden they return to their
retreats, leaping all the way on their hind feet. If
they are so unfortunate as to be pursued, they do
not, in their alarm, let the whole fall, in order to
run off: they drop the stalks whicn they held in their
hands, and under their arms, thatthey mayrunon their
four feet, which they do with more speed than on two,
but still carefully retain what they carried in their
mouth. ‘They examine with the most scrupulous
accuracy, every stalk they pull, and those they find
not perfectly suited to their purpose, they throw on
the ground, and tear up others instead. By this deli-
cacy of choice they often do infinitely more damage
than even by what they take away *.

They are mild and very tractable animals, but so
dirty, ugly, and loathsome, that when they make
their grimaces, they are scarcely to be viewed with-
out disgust and horror.—The natives take them in
snares concealed among the branches of the trees,
where they are continually skipping about in the
most active and ridiculous gambols +.

THE GREEN MONKEY ‘%.

Mr. Adanson says the woods of Podor, in Africa,
are filled with a species of Green Monkey. ‘These

* Rosman 243.---Barbot, v. 212. Tis account has been applied by
some naturalists only to the present species; but Bosman, who is their
principal authority, makes it common to most of the Monkies that
are found on the coast of Guinea. + Barbot.

| Synonyns.---Simia Sabea Linn.---Callitriche. Buffon.—--Green
Monkey. Pennant.

THE CHINESE MONKEY. 67

break branches from the trees and throw them at
travellers; and their green colour renders them
almost invisible: They are also perfectly silent;
and so nimble in their motions as easily to evade
the sight. Mr. Adanson fired among them, when
some concealed themselves behind the large branches,
and others sprang from one tree to another, quite
away. He killed twenty-three, not one of which
uttered the slightest cry, although they had before
assembled along with the rest, ground their teeth
at him, and assumed a threatening aspect *.

The body is of a beautiful yellow green colour ;
the throat and belly are silvery white, and the face is
black. Their size is about that of a small Cat. The
tail is very long; and they run on all fours.

THE CHINESE MONKEY}.

The Chinese Monkey has its name from the un-
usual disposition of the hair on the top of its head,
which is parted in the middle, lying smooth over.
each side, and spreading out in a circular direction,
SO as, In some measure, to resemble a Chinese cap.
—These animals are found in immense troops in the
woods of Ceylon, where they are very destructive
to such gardens and plantations as lie within the
reach of their settlements. They have long tails,
and are about the size of a Cat. Their colour is a
pale yellowish brown *.

* Adanson, 316.
+ Synonyms.—Simia Sinica. Linn.—Bonnet Chinois. Buffon.—
Chinese Monkey. Pennant.— Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 20.
t Shaw, 1. 50.

F2

68 THE CHINESE MONKEY.

In their depredations on the sugar grounds, one
of the number is always placed as a centinel in
some adjoining tree, while the rest load themselves
with the booty. When he observes an enemy, he
screams out to his companions, who, carrying as
many canes as they can grasp with their right arm,
instantly run off on three legs. When close pur-
sued, they drop their prize, and endeavour to save
themselves by scrambling up the trees, their usual
places of abode.

When fruits and succulent plants fail, they eat
insects, and sometimes descend to the margins of
rivers, and the Sea-coast, to catch fish and crabs.
They are said to put their tails between the pincers
of the crab, and, when these are closed, to carry it
quickly off, and eat it at leisure. They gather
Cocoa-nuts, and are well acquainted with the me-
thod of extracting the juice for drink, and the
kernel for food.—The natives often take them by
means of a Cocoa-nut with a hole in it. This is
Jaid near their haunts, and some one of them takes
it up, and with difficulty thrusts his paw into the.
hole in order to get at the kernel ; the. people who
are on watch, immediately run up, and seize the
animal before he can disengage himself *.

Pm ae ne a a ee re er

* Buh Quad. vill. 149.

fas]

THE STRIATED MONKEY *,

This little animal, no bigger than a squirrel, is a
native of Brazil. The tail is long and very thickly -
covered with fur, beautifully marked through its
whole length with alternate bars of black and white.
The body is of a reddish ash-colour, slightly un-
dulated with dusky shades. The face is a dark
flesh colour, having on each side a very large and
thick tuft of milk-white hair, standing out before
the ears. The paws, which are covered with hair,
have sharp nails -+.

In a native state, these monkies are supposed to
subsist principally on fruits, but in a state of con-
finement they will occasionally feed on insécts, snails,
&c. One that was brought to England in an
East {ndia ship would eat nuts, but could not be
prevailed on to touch ripe fruits. This creature
was peculiarly fond of the smaller kind of Spiders
and their eggs, but he uniformly refused the larger
ones, as well as the large blue-bottle Flies, though
he frequently ate the common ones ¢.

Mr. Edwards saw and drew one that belonged to
Mrs. Kennon, formerly midwife to the Royal Pa-
mily. This lady informed him that it ate many
different kinds of food, as biscuits, fruit, vegeta-
bles, insects, and snails; and that once, when let

* SynonymMs.—Simia Jacchus. L/n2.—Striated Monkey. Penn.
Shaw—Oustiti. Buff—Sanglin, or Lesser Cagui. Edwards.—Sanglin,
Kerr.——Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 25. Bew. Quad. p. 439.

+ Shaw, i. 62, t Phil, Tran. xlvil. 146.

F3

“0 THE PREACHER MONKEY.

loose, it snatched a Chinese Goldfifh out of a bason
of water, which it killed and greedily devoured.
After this, by way of trial, some small live Eels were
given to him. which frighted him much at first, by
twisting round his neck, he however soon called
forth resolution enough to master and eat them.

A pair of these animals, which belonged to a
Mr. Cook, a merchant of London, who resided at
Lisbon, had young at that place. These at their
birth were excessively ugly, having little or no fur.
They would frequently cling very fast to the breasts
of the dam; and when they grew a little, they
used to hang on her back or shoulders. When she
was tired, she would rub them off against the wall
or whatever else was near, as the only mode of rid-
ding herself of them. On being ferced from the
female, the male immediately took them to him,
and suffered them to hang round him for a while to
ease her of the burthen *.

Their voice 1s a kind of shrill hissing note; and
most of them have a musky smell. Linnzeus re-+
marks that they are great enemies to cats +.

THE PREACHER MONKEY‘.

These animals are natives of the New Continent,
and found in vast numbers in the woods of Brazil
and Guiana. They are the largest of all the Ame.

* Edwards's Glean. i, 15. pl. 218. + Gmel. i. 39.

{ Synonyms.--Simia Beelzebul. Linn.—Howling Baboon. Ban-
¢roft.—Guariba, Marcgrave.—LOuarine. Buffon.—Preacher Mon,
key. Pennant.

eS Te ee

THE PREACHER MONKEY. 71

rican Monkies, being about the size of a Fox.
Their fur is smooth, and of a black, glossy colour.
The tailis prehensile.

They are so wild and mischievous, as neither to
be conquered nor tamed. ‘They bite cruelly, and
excite terror by their large mouths, and frightful
voice and aspect. heir voice somewhat resembles
the noise of a drum, and it is said, may be heard to
the distance of a league. This proceeds from a
kind of bony process in the throat, in the concavity
of which the sounds are greatly augmented. Even
in a dried foetus this process was very perceptible *.

They usually keep together in parties of twenty
or thirty, and ramble oyer the tops of the woods,
leaping from tree to tree. If they see a person alone
they always teaze and threaten him. Dampier says,
whenever he was by himself he was always afraid of
shooting atthem, lest they should descend from the
trees ina body and. do him some injury +.

Weare informed by Marcgrave that they assem-
ble every morning and evening in the woods of
Brazil, and make a most dreadful howling. Some-
times one of then: mounts on a higher branch, and
the rest seat themselves beneath : the first begins, |
as it were, to harangue, and set up a howl so loud
and sharp as to be heard toa vast distance: after a
while he gives a signal with his hand, when the
whole assembly joins in chorus; but on another sig-
nal they are again silent, and the orator finishes his

——$—$ ———______—__—__——— rere 22 ————v—————_———n?

* Bufton’s Quad. viii. 177-179. + Dampier’s Voyage.
F A

. ‘

“9 THE PREACHER MONKEY.
a

ddress. Their clamour is the most disagreeable and
tremendous that can be conceived *.

When Oexmelin was in South America, he at-
tended the hunting of these animals, and was sur-
prized at their sagacity, not only in distinguishing
particularly those who were active against them, but
when attacked, in defending themselves, and pro-
viding for their own safety. ‘* When we approach-
ed,” he says, ‘ they all assembled together, uttered
loud and fearful cries, andsthrew at us dried
branches which they broke off the trees. I like-
wise remarked, that they never abandoned each
other: that they leapt from tree to tree with incre-
dible agility; and that they flung themselves head-
long from branch to branch withoutever falling tothe
ground, always catching hold either with their hands
or tail. If they are not shot dead at once they
can never be taken, for even when mortaily wound-
ed, they remain fixed to the trees, where they often
die, and from whence they do not fall till they are
corrupted, More than four days after death I have
seen them firmly fixed tothe trees ; and thirteen of
sixteen of them are frequently shot before three or
four of them can be obtained. What is singular,
as soon as one 1s wounded, the rest collect about
him, and put their fingers into the wound, as if they
meant to sound it; and when much blood is
discharged, some of them keep the orifice shut,
while others make a mash of leaves, and dexterously

-

* Hist. Brazil, quoted in Buffon’s Quad.

THE PREACHER MONKEY. 73

stop itup. ‘lhis operation I have often observed
with much admiration *.”

The Monkies that Dampier describes as having
seen near the Bay of Campeachy, appears evidently
to have been of this species. ‘* There was,” says
he, ‘a great company dancing from tree to tree
over my head, chattering and making a terrible
noise, and a great many grimaces and. antic ges-
tures. Some of them broke down dry sticks and
flung at me ; and one bigger than the rest, came to
a small limb just over my head, and leaping di-
rectly at me, made me start back, but the Monkey
caught hold of the bough with the tip of his tail,
and there remained swinging to and fro, making
mouths at me. At last I passed on, they still keep-
ing me company, with the like menacing gestures
till I came to our hutsy=

“« They are very sullen when seized, and extreme-
ly difficult to be taken when shot, for they will cling
with their tail and feet to a bough, as long as any
life remains. When I have shot at one, and broken
its leg or arm, I have pitied the poor creature, to
see it look at and handle the broken limb, and then
turn it from side to side in a manner so mournful as
scarcely to be described +.”

———_——_—_—

* It seems very probable that M.Oexmelin has misconstrued some
other action of these animals, for this completely surgical operation.
That they have been frequently known to pull cut the arrows from
their own bodies, which the Indians have shot at them, we have
pretty good evidence for asserting; but this is only a simple efiort,
and does not require any of that extent of reasoning faculty, which
is absolutely necessary in an operation like the absye.

+ Dampier’s Voyage, ji. 60.

aA THE PREACHER MONKEY.

Dampier says that they often descend to the Sea~
shores to feed on shell-fish. He saw several Mon-
kies take up Oysters from the beach, lay them on a
stone, and beat them with another till they demo-
lished the shells, and then devour their contents.
The same circumstance was observed by Wafer in
the island of Gorgonia; ‘‘ Their way was to lay the
Oyster on a stone, and with another to beat it till
the shell was broken to pieces *”.—The females
produce two young ones at a birth, and in their ex-
cursions they always carry one of these in their
arms and the other on their back, clasping its two
fore-paws round the neck, and with the hind ones
laying hold of the middle of the back. There is
no other method of obtaining the young, but by
killing the dam, for nothing will induce her to a-
bandon them while'living f.

Many of the voyagers describe the flesh as. ex-
cellent eating, having a great resemblance 1n taste
to mutton. Dampier even says, that he never ate
any thing more delicious than this and some others
of the Monkey tribes. ‘The heads are frequently
served up by the Europeans in soup, and the Ne-
groes devour these animals as the greatest delicacy.
There seems something extremely disgusting in the
idea of eating, what appears, when skinned and
dressed, so likea child. The skull, the paws, and
indeed every part of them remind us, who are un-
accustomed to it, much too strongly of the idea of
devouring a fellow creature.

* Wafer, 195. + Buffon.

ee
THE FOUR FINGERED MONKEY *,

The Four-fingered Monkey is an inhabitant of
several parts of South America. Its length is about
eighteen inches from the muzzle to the rump, ex-
clusive of the tail, whichis near two feet long.—
These are bold and active animals, full of gambols
and grimace ; and in disposition very mild and do-
cile. From their numbers and activity they enliven
the dreary forests of America.—They sometimes,
from want of better food, eat fish, which Buffon
tells us they catch with their tails. One that was
in a cage, laid hold, in one of its frolicks, of a
squirrel in this manner, that had been put to it as a
companion. By the familiarity, and even the ca-
resses of this animal, it obtained the affection of all
those who attended it-+}— When the fore-paws are
tied behind their back, these Monkies will walk or
run on their hind feet for almost any length of time,
witli the same ease and familiarity as if this was
their natural posture. Although they are easily
tamed, and in all their actions exhibit an uncommon
degree of art and dexterity, they are not always
without a mixture of that mischievous sagacicy for
which the whole tribe is remarkable.—We are told
that, in their own country, when one of them. is
beaten, he will immediately climb, with the utmost
agility, a lemon or an orange tree. ‘If he is pur-

* SyNonyMs.—Simia paniscus. Linn—Quato. Bencroft.—Spider
Monkey. Edwards.—Coaita. Buffon.---Micoo? Stedman.——~Shaw's
. Gene Zool, pl. 28.
| + Buffi Quad. viii 184, 199.

76 THE FOUR FINGERED MONKEY.

sucd, he will pick off the fruit, and throw it with
singular dexterity at the head of his adversary ; and
he frequently adopts other more unpleasant modes of
repulsion. In these situations he assumes a thou-
sand ridiculous attitudes, which afford considerable
diversion to the spectatars,

These animals, like most others of the tribe, when
on expeditions of plunder, have the sagacity to
place centinels on the heights of th¢ forest, to give
warning of the approach of danger *.—It has been
said by Ulloa, that, in their natiye forests, when
they want to pass fram top to top of lofty trees, too
distant for a leap, they will form a chain, by hang-
mg down linked to each other by their tails; and
swing in this manner till the lowest catches hold of
a bough of the next tree, from whence he draws the
rest up. We are also told, that they occasionally
cross rivers, where the banks are very steep, by the
saine expedient f.

The female brings forth one or two young, which
slic always carries-on her back. During the fruit
season these animals become fat, and they are then
thought excellent cating.—There colour is uniformly
black, except the face, which is of a dark flesh co-~
four. ‘Vhey have no thumbs on their fore-paws,
but in the place of them have very small appen-
dices, or pro jectons.
in rrp:

* Bancroft, 192.

t The truth of this assertion of Ulloa is doubted by Stedman, who
saw mueh of the manners of the South American Monkies, but never
ohveived among them any action like this. It is, however, confiry-

ed by Dampier, and Acosta; but whether from their own observa-
tien, or only fiom the reports of the natives, it fs impossible to say.

THE FOUR FINGERED MONKEY. oT

Capt. Stedman has mentioned his killing of the
black monkies of Surinam, called by the natives
Micoo, which is either the present species, or an un-
described one nearly allied to it. The account is
interesting. Being among the woods, and in want
of fresh provisions, he shot at two of these animals,
with the intention of making broth of them, ‘* but
the destruction of one of them was,” he says, ‘‘ at-
tended with such circumstances as almost ever after-
wards deterred him from going a Monkey hunting.”
—‘ Seeing me nearly on the bank of the river in
the canoe, the creature made a halt from skipping
after his companions, and being perched on a
branch that hung over the water, examined me
with attention, and the strongest marks of curiosity,
no doubt taking me for a giant of his own species 3
while he chattered prodigiously, and kept dancing
and shaking the bough on which he rested with in-
credible strength and agility. At this time I laid my
piece to my shoulder, and brought him down from
the tree into the stream ;—but may I never again
be witness of such a scene! The miserable animal
was not dead, but mortally wounded. I seized him
by the tail, and taking him in both my hands, to
end his torment, swung him round, and hit his head
against the side of the canoe; but the poor creature
still continued alive, and looking at me in the most
affecting manner that can be conceived, I knew ne
other means of ending his murder, than to hold
him under the water till he was drowned, while my
heart sickened on his account: for his dying little
eyes still continued to follow me with seeming re-

08 THE FEARFUL MONKEY.

proach, till their light gradually forsook them, and
the wretched animal expired. I felt so much on
this occasion, that I could neither taste of him nor
his companion, when they were dressed, though I
saw that they afforded to some others a delicious
repast.””

Of this species, Capt. Stedman relates a circum-
stance very remarkable.—He says, that one day he
saw from his barge, one of these monkies come
down to the water's edge, rinse its mouth, and ap-
pear to clean its teeth with one of its fingers *.

THE FEARFUL MONKEY f.

The Fearful Monkey is one of the most agile,
dextcrous, and amusing of the whole genus. It is
of a brown colour, with flesh-coloured face and
ears, and about as -big as a small cat. Though a
native of Surinam, its constitution seems well adapt-
ed to our temperate climate; and it will live com-
fortably in winter in a room without fire. It has
even been known to breed in Europe, which is yery
unusual with the Monkey tribe.—lIts affection to-
wards its offspring, is exceedingly tender. In one
pair that produced at Bourdeaux, in the year 1764,
nothing could be more beautiful than to see the
two parents occupied with their little charge, which
they teazed incessantly, either by carrying it about,
or by carressing it. The male loved it to distraction.

* Account of an Expedition to Surinam.
Tt Synonyms.—Simia trepida, Linn—Bush-tailed Monkey. Ed-

wards.—Sajou. Bujfon—Fearful Monkey. Pennant.

‘

THE SQUIRREL MONKEY. 79

Thé father and raother carried it alternately ; but
now and then, when it did not hold properly, they
gave it a pretty severe bite.—Few animals are more
whimsical than these in their taste and affections,
entertaining partiality to some persons, and fre-
quently the greatest aversion to others *.

THE SQUIRREL MONKEY f.

From the gracefulness of all its movements, the
smallness of its size, brilliancy of its colours, and
the largeness and vivacity of its eyes, this little ani-
mal has uniformly been preferred to all the other
Monkies. |

It seems to be the same that Stedman describes in
his account of Surinam, as called there by the na-
tives, Keesee-keesee. He says, that these creatures
are about the size of a Rabbet, and astonishingly
nimble. The colour.of their body is reddish, and
their tail is black at the extremity, whilst the fore-
feet are orange coloured. The head is very round,
the face milk-white, with a round black patch in
the middle, in which are the mouth and nostrils;
and this disposition of the features gives the animal
the appearance of wearing a mask. The eyes are
black, and remarkably lively. These Monkies he
saw daily passing along the sides of the river, skip-
ping from tree to tree, regularly following each other,

* Buffon’s Quadrupeds, viii. 194, note. Kerr, i. 77.

+ Synonyms.—Simia Sciurea, Linn.—Orange Monkey. Penn—
Caitaia. Marcgrave—Saimiri. Buffon—tkKeesee-keesee. Stedmai.—-
Squirrel Monkey. Shaw——Shaws Gen. Zool. pl. 5.

20 TITE CINGALESE MONKEY.

like a little army, with their young ones at their
backs, not unlike small knapsacks. Their manner
of travelling is this: the foremost walks to the ex-
tremity of a bough, from which it bounds to the |
extremity of one belonging to the next tree, often
at a surprizing distance, and with such wonderful
activity and precision, that 1t never once misses its
aim: the others, one by one, and eyen the females
with their little ones at their backs, which stick fast
to their mother, follow their leader, and perform -
the same leap with the greatest apparent facility and
safety. They are also remarkable for climbing up
the webees or natural ropes, with which many parts
of the forests are interwoven *.

This is a very tender animal, and has not yet, I
believe, been brought into Europe.

THE CINGALESE MONKEY f.

This Monkey is mentioned by Professor Thun-
berg, in his Account of Ceylon. He describes it as
being about the size of a small Cat, and having a
very long, hairy, tapering, and prehensile tail; the
body grey ; the face blackish, bald, and very little
shaded with hair ; the beard on the chin and cheeks
white, and turned backwards, the hairs standing,
however, nearly erect, and almost covering the ears

(pee eae NE ee

* Stedman’s Surinam.

+ Thunberg calls this animal Simia Silenus. It certainly cannot
be that of Linnaeus, which bas a short tail, not prehensile, and in
other respects is different. Hie calls it also Rollewai, and Cingalese Ape,
but it appears to agree with none described in our present books—«
See Thundberg, iv. 214.

THE MONKIES, 8}
in ftont. On the chin and upper-lip, he says, the
hair is short, but on the cheeks above an inch in
length. The hands and feet are blackish and nak-
ed; the nails long and blunt, and the thumb de-
tached and short. On the posteriors there are hard
and naked tuberosities. The tips of the ears are
rounded, almost bare, and black.

These animals are kept tame in many of the
houses of Ceylon. They are easily domesticated ;
and in this state generally sit upright, with their
hands crossed over each other. When they observe
any acquaintance, they immediately come jumping
to him, fawn upon him, grin, and with a peculiar
kind of cry testify their joy. They are of a very
friendly and gentle nature, and never bite, unless
much irritated. If in the presence of one of these
creatures, any person kisses and caresses a child, he
expresses a great desire to do the same. Ifa child
is beaten in his presence, he rears himself on his
hind-legs, grins and howls in a revengeful manner,
and, if let loose, will attack the chastiser. He leaps
faster then he can run, on account of his hind-legs
being longer than the others; and he is very deli-
cate and careful respecting his tail. Professor 'Thun-
berg attempted to bring one of them into Europe,
but on coming into a cooler climate he died. They
are all so very tender as not to be able to support the
slightest degree of cold.

a i ee

ee ee

M. D’Obsonville, speaking of the sanctuaries

for the Monkies in several parts of India, says, that
Vou, 1. G

82 THE MONKIES.

2

when travelling, he has occasionally entered these
ancient temples, to repose himself, and his Indian
dress gave the animals little suspicion. He has seen
several of them at first considering him, and then
attentively looking at the food he was about to eat.
Their eyes and agitation always painted their in-
quietude, their passion to gormandize, and the
strong desire they had to appropriate at least a part
of his repast to themselves.

In order toamuse himself on these occasions, he
always took care to provide a quantity of parched
pease. At first he would scatter a few on the side
where the chief was, (for he says they have always
a principal Monkey to head them) and the animal
would approach by degrees, and collect them with
avidity. He then used to present his handfull, and
as they are in general accustomed to see none but
pacific people, the chief would venture, but in a
sideling manner, to approach, as if eagerly watching
that there was no sinister contrivance. Presently,
becoming bold, he would seize the thumb of the
hand in which the pease were held, with one paw,
and eat with the other, keeping at the same time
his eyes steadily fixed on those of M. D’Obsonyille.
“If,” continues our entertaining writer, “ I laugh-
ed or moved, he would break off his repast, and
working his lips, make a kind of muttering, the
sense of which, his long canine teeth, occasionally
shewn, plainly interpreted. When I threw a few
at a distance, he seemed satisfied that others should
gather them up; but he grumbled at, and some-
times struck those that came too near me. His cries

THE MONRIES; 83

and solicitude, though in part perhaps the effect of
greediness, apparently indicated his fear, lest I
should take advantage of their weakness to ensnare
them: and I constantly obsetved that those which
were suffered to approach me nearest, were the well-
grown and strong males ; the young and the females
were always obliged to keep at a considerable
distance.”

The care and tenderness of the females, ina com-
pletely wild state, to their offspring was very con-
spicuous. They hold them under a proper obedi-
ence and restraint ; and M. D’Obsonyille has seen
them suckle, caress, cleanse, and search the vermin
from their young, and afterwards, crouching on
their hams, delight to see them play with each
other. These would wrestle, thtow, or chase one
another; and if any of them were malicious in
their antics, the dams would spring upon them,
and seizing them with one paw by the tail, correct
them severely with the other. Some would try to
escape, but when out of danger, approached ina
wheedling and caressing manner, though ever
liable to relapse into the same faults : in other cases,
each would come at the first cry of the dam. If
they removed toa little distance, the young would
follow gently ; but when there was any necessity
for going fast, they always mounted on the backs,
er rather hung embracing the bellies of the females.

Monkies are generally peaceable enough among
each other. In extensive, solitary, and fertile
places, herds of different species sometimes chatter
together, but without disturbance, or any confusion

G 2

8A THE MONKIES.

of the race. When, however, adventurous strag-
elers seem desirous of seeking their fortunes in
places where another herd is in possession, these
immediately unite to sustain their rights. M. de
Maisonpré, and six other Europeans, were witnesses
to a singular contention of this nature in the enclo-
sures of the Pagodas of Cherinam, A large and
strong Monkey had stolen in, but was soon disco-
vered; At the first cry of alarm many of the males
united, and ran to attack the stranger. He, though
much their superior in size and strength, saw his
danger, and flew to attain the top of a pyramid,
eleven stories high, whither he was instantly follow-
ed; but when arrived at the summit of the build-
ing, which terminated in a small round dome, he
placed himself firmly, and taking advantage of his
situation, seized three. or four of the most hardy,
and precipitated them to the bottom. These proofs
of his prowess intimidated the rest, and after much
noise they thought proper to retreat. The con-
queror remained till evening, and then betook him-
self to a place of safety.

Their conduct towards such of their brethren as
become captives is very remarkable. If one is chain-
ed in their neighbourhood, especially if of the socie-
ty to which he belonged, they will attempt various
means, for some time, to procure his liberty : but
when their efforts prove ineffectual, and they see
him daily submit to slavery, they will never again,
if he should by any chance escape, receive him
among them, but will fall upon and beat him away
without mercy.

THE MONKIES. 85 ~

Such is their propensity to thieving, that, not
contented with the plenty that Nature affords them
in the woods, they seldom fail to steal from houses
or gardens whatever they are able to carry away.
When any of them perceive a child with bread or
fruit in its hand, they immediately run up, frighten
it, and take away its food. If a woman is drying
grain in the sun, which in India is very common,
she will sometimes find difficulty in beating them
off. Some of them skip round and pretend to steal ;
‘and the moment she runs to strike them, the others,
watching the opportunity, fall tco and seize the
grain with all the address imaginable.

M. D’Obsonville has seen Monkies caught,
cunning as they are, by a very simple contrivance.
The man employed chose a place near their haunts,
and fastened a copper vessel, with a mouth about
two inches in diameter, to the foot of a tree; then,
after scattering some grains, removed to a distance.
These were soon devoured, and he brought more.
The third time he was more bountiful of his grain,
especially around and within the pot, in which there
were placed fixed five or running knots, crossing
each other in different directions. He had scarcely
hidden himself before several Monktes and their
young ran to try who should get first. hey had
“soon emptied the vessel, but their hancs were
‘caught. The man approached before they had
time to liberate themselves, threw a carpet over them,
and thus took two females and their young *.

* D’Obsonville, 380.
G3

ees a
THE LEMUR TRIBE.

THE animals composing the present tribe have
a considerable resemblance to the Monkies in their
habits and manners, as well as in their hand-like
paws. They differ from them principally in the
shape of the head, which is somewhat like that of a
Fox, and in the length of their hind legs. Except
in using their paws as hands, none of these creatures
have any resemblance whatever to mankind.

The principai Linnean characters of the tribe
are, four front teeth in the upper jaw, the interme-
diate ones remote : six long, compressed, parallel
teeth in the under jaw: the canine-teeth solitary ;
and the grinders somewhat lobated *.

There are in the whole ¢/irteen species; but it is
only of one of these that we have hitherto been able
to obtain any thing except mere description.

THE SLOW LEMUR.

The Slow Lemur is about the size of a small Cat,
Its body is of an elegant pale brown, or Mouse co-
lour. The face is flattish, and the nose somewhat
sharpened. ‘The eyes are extremely prominent ;
they are surrounded with a circle of dark brown,
and a stripe of the same colour runs down the mid-
dle of the back.—This animal is found in the Island
of Ceylon, and in various parts of the East Indies.

* Gmelin, i.. 41.

+ Synonyms.—Lemur ‘Tardigradus. Linn.—Tailless Macauco.
Penn. Syn.—toris. Buffon: the name given to it by the Dutch.—The- ,
Vangua or Tatonneur. D’ Odsonville—Slow Lemur. Shaw. Shaw's
Gen. Zool. pl. 29. Bew. Quad. 409. |

"

THE SLOW LEMUR. 87

It is very slow in its motions, and, from this cir-
‘cumstance, has actually been ranked by some Na-
turalists among the Sloths, though in no other res-
pect resembling them. It is a nocturnal animal,
and sleeps, or at least lies motionless, during the
greatest part of the day. In captivity it will feed on
boiled rice, small birds, or insects. Its odour is said
to be disagreeable.

The late learned and accomplished Sir William
Jones has given a pleasing general description of
this little creature, in the fourth volume of the
Asiatic Researches; and as it is always interesting
to observe the habits of an animal, even in a domes-
tic state, in its native country, I shall insert an ex-
tract from his curious paper.

“* In his manners he was for the most part gentle,
except in the cold season, when his temper seemed
wholly changed; and his Creator, who made him
so sensible of cold, to which he must often have
been exposed even in his native forests, gave him,
probably for that reason, his thick fur, which we
rarely see on animals in these tropical climates. To
me, who not only constantly fed him, but bathed
him twice a week in water accommodated to the
seasons, and whom he clearly distinguished from
ethers, he was at all times grateful; but when I
disturbed him in winter he was usually indignant,
and seemed to reproach. me with the uneasiness
which he felt, though no possible precautions had
been omitted to keep him in a proper degree of
warmth, At all times he was pleased with being
stroked on the head and throat, and frequently

GA

88 THE SLOW LEMUR.

suffered me to touch his extremely sharp teeth ;
but his temper was always quick, and when he was
unseasonably disturbed, he expressed a little resent-
iment, by an obscure murmur, like that of a Squir-—
rel, or a greater degree of displeasure by a peevish
cry, especially in winter, when he was often as fierce,
on being much importuned, as any beast of the
woods.

‘¢Fyom half an hour after sun-rise to half an
hour before sun-set, he slept without intermission,
rolled up like a Hedgehog; and, as soon as he
awoke, he began to prepare himself for the labours
of his approaching day, licking and dressing him-
self like a Cat; an operation which the flexibility
of his neck and limbs enabled him to perform very
completely : he was then ready for a slight break-
fast, after which he commonly took a short nap;
but when the sun was quite set he recovered all his
vivacity.

“ His ordinary food was the sweet fruit of this
country ; plantains always, and mangoes during the
season ; but he refused peaches, and was not fond
of mulberries, or even of guaiavas: milk he lapped
eagerly, but was content with plain water. In ge-
neral he was not voracious, but never appeared satis-
fied with Grasshoppers ; and passed the whole night,
while the hot season lasted, in prowling for them,
When a Grasshopper, or any insect, alighted with-
in his reach, his eyes, which he fixed on his prey,
plowed with uncommon fire; and, having drawn
himself back to spring on it with greater force, he
seized the prey with both his fore-paws, but held it

THE SLOW LEMUR. 88 >

in one of them while he devoured it. For other
purposes, and sometimes even for that of holding
his food, he used all his paws indifferently as hands,
and frequently grasped with one of them the higher
part of his ample cage, while his three others were
severally engaged at the bottom of it; but the pos-
ture of which he seemed fondest was to cling with
all four of them to the upper wires, his body be-
ing inverted. ‘In the evening he usually stood erect
for many minutes, playing on the wires with his
fingers, and rapidly moving his body from side to
side, as if he had found the utility of exercise in his
unnatural state of confinement.

«< A little before day-break, when my early hours
gaye me frequent opportunities of observing him,
he seemed to solicit my attention; and if I pre-
sented my finger to him he licked or nibbled it with
great gentleness, but eagerly took fruit when I
offered it; though he seldom ate much at his
morning repast: when the day brought back his
night, his eyes lost their lustre and strength, and
he composed himself for a slumber of ten or cleven
hours.

«¢ My little friend was, on the whole, very en-
gaging ; and when he was found lifeless in the same
posture in which he would naturally have slept, I
consoled myself with believing that he died without
much pain, and lived with as much pleasure as he
could have enjoyed in a state of captivity.”

In the year 1755, M. D’Obsonville purchased
one of these animals of an Indian. He was very
slow in his motions, so that even when he seemed

90 © THE SLOW LEMUR,

desirous of moving fast, he scarcely went above
six or eight yards ina minute. His voice was a kind
of whistling, by no means unpleasant. When his
prey was attempted to be taken from him, his coun-
tenance changed to an appearance expressive of cha-
grin, and he inwardly uttered a tremulous, acute,
and painful note. He was melancholy, silent, and
patient. He generally slept during the day with his
head resting upon his hands, and hiselbows between
his thighs. But in the midst of this sleep, although
his eyes were closed, he was exceedingly sensible to
all impressions from without, and never neglected
to seize whatever prey came inconsiderately within
his reach. ‘Phough the glare of sun-shine was very
unpleasant to him, it was never observed that the
pupils of his eyes suffered any contraction.

During the first month he was kept with a cord
ticd round his waist, which, without attempting to
untie, he sometimes lifted up with an air of griefs
M. D’Obsonville took charge of him himself, and
at the beginning he was bitten four or five times for
offering to disturb or take him up; but gentle
cliastisement soon corrected these little passions, and
he afterwards gave him the liberty of his bed-
chamber. Towards night the little animal would
rub his eyes, then looking attentively round, would
climb upon the furniture, or more frequently upon
ropes placed for the purpose.

Sometimes M. D’Obsonville would tie a bird in
the part of the chamber opposite to him, or hold it
in bis hand in order to invite him to approach: he
would presently come near with a long careful step,

THE BAT TRIBE. gt

like a person walking on tip-toe, to surprize another.
When within a foot of his prey he would stop, and
raising himself upright, advance gently, stretching
out his paw, then, at once seizing, would strangle
it with remarkable celerity.

He perished by an accident. He appeared much
attached to his master, who always used to carress
him after feeding. His return of affection consisted
in taking the end of M. D’Obsonville’s fingers,
pressing them, and at the same time fixing his half-
open eyes on those of his master *.

Two of these animals, which Thevenot saw in
the East, were brought from Ceylon. When ex-
amined, they would stand on their hind feet. They
often embraced each other, and looked stedfastly
on the numerous spectators that visited them, with-
out seeming in the least alarmed +.

THE BAT TRIBE.

THESE very singular animals would seem at first
sight to hold a kind of middle station between the
Quadrupeds and Birds. It is however only in their
power of raising themselves into the air by means of
the membranes which extend round their body, that
they are in the least allied to the latter, whilst with

* D'Obsonville, $70—373. + Relation, ii. 217.

02 THE BAT TRIBE.

the other they claim a place, from their structure, ©
both externally and internally.

Bats have erect sharp-pointed teeth, placed near
together. Their fore-toes are lengthened, and con-
nected by the membranes which perform the office
of wings *.

Their structure cannot be contemplated without
admiration, the bones of the extremities being con-
tinued into long and thin processes, connected by a
most delicately formed membrane or skin, capable,
from its thinness, of being contracted at pleasure
into innumerable wrinkles, so as to lie in a small
space when the animal is at rest, and to be
stretched to a very wide extent for occasional flight.
—Should a speculative Philosopher, not aware of
the anatomical impossibility of success, attempt, by
means of light machinery, to exercise the power
of flight, he could not hit on a more plausible idea
than that of copying the structure described. Ac-
cordingly, a celebrated author has represented a sage
theorist busied in imitating, for this purpose, “‘ the
folding continuity of the wing of the Bat+.”—
Although this membrane enables the Bat, after it
has once raised itself from the ground, which it does
with some difficulty, to flit along the air, yet all its
motions, when compared with those of birds, are
clumsy and awkward ; and, in walking, its feet ap-
pear so entangled with its wings, that it seems
scarcely able to drag its body along.

* Linn. Gmel. i, 45. + Shaw's Gen. Zool, i, 122-

[93 af

THE LONG-EARED BAT *,

The long-eared Bat is only an inch and three~
quarters in length, while the extent of its wings is
seven inches. Its ears are above an inch long, very
thin, and almost transparent ; and within each there
isa kind of secondary auricle, or membrane, re-
sembling an ear, so placed as to serve for a valve or |
guard to the auditory passage.—This is one of the
most common of the British Bats, and one of those
that we often see flitting about in search of insects,
in the fine evenings of summer and autumn.

All the European species of Bats pass the winter,
from the absence of their insect prey, in a torpid
state, without either food or motion, suspended in
some dark place, in old ruins, caverns, or in the
hollows of decayed trees. During the time they ree

nain in this state, most of the animal functions are
so far suspended, as scarcely to be pereeptible. The
action of the heart and arteries becomes so exceed=
ingly languid, that the pulse can hardly be felt:
if, respiration be at all carried on, it is also so very
slow as scarcely to be discoverable. ‘The natural
temperature,. or animal heat, gets greatly below the
usual standard; and digestion becomes altogether
suspended. All the visible excretions are at a stand;
and none of the functions seem to go on, except-

mg avery slow degree of nutrition, and an inter-

* SynonyMs.—Vespertilio Auritus. Lian.—Long-eared English
Bat. Edwards—Oreillar. Bué/fon.—bLong-eared Bat Penn——~
Bhews Gen.. Zoel..pl. 40—Bew. Quad. 476.

oA THE LONG-EARED BAT.

change of old for new matter in the depositary cells
of the body: this last is proved by the animals’ en-
tering into the torpid state very fat, and reyiving
excessively emaciated ; and from this it appears
that the oil, in the fatty follicles of the cellular
membrane, is gradually taken up by the absorbent
vessels into the languid circulation, to supply the
proportionally gradual waste, occasioned by. the
more than half suspended action of the emuncto-
ries *,—They retire at the end of summer to their
hiding places, where, generally in great numbers,
they remain suspended by the hind-legs, and en-
veloped in their wings +.

The Bat, like the Mouse, is capable of being
tamed to a certain degree; and we’ are told by
Mr. White, that he was once much amused with’
the sight of a tame Bat. “ It would take Flies out
of a person’s hand. If you gave it any thing to
eat, it brought its wings round before the mouth,
hovering and hiding its head in the manner of birds
of prey when they feed. The adroitness it shewed.
in shearing off the wings of the Flies, (which were
‘always rejected) was worthy of observation, and
pleased me much. Insects seemed to be most
- acceptable, though it did not refuse raw flesh when
offered; so that the notion that Bats go down
cchimnies, and gnaw people’s bacon, seems no jm-
probable story. While lL amused myself with this

req

* These observations apply to all those animals, of every cescrip-
tion, that yo into a torpid state during winter.
+ Kerr, i. OS.

THE LONG-EARED BAT. 95

wonderful quadruped, I saw it several times, con-
fute the vulgar opinion that Bats, when dewn on
a flat surface cannot get on the wing again, by ris-
ing with ereat ease from the floor. It ran, I ob-
served, with more dispatch than I was aware of, but
in a most ridiculous and grotesque manner *.

From experiments made by Spallanzani, on the
Long-eared, the Horse-shoe, and the Noctule Bats,
it appears that these animals possess some additional
sense, which enables them, when deprived of sight,
to avoid obstacles as readily as when they retained
the power of vision, When their eyes were cover-
ed, or even put entirely out, they would fly about
in a darkened chamber without ever hitting against
the walls, and always suspend their flight with cau-
tion when they came to a place where they could
perch. Inthe middle of a dark sewer, that turned
at right angles, they would always, though at a con-
siderable distance from the walls, regularly bend their
flight with the greatest nicety. When branches of
trees were suspended in a room, they always avoided
them ; and flew betwixt threads hung perpendieu-
larly from the ceiling, though these were so near each
other, that they had to contract their wings in pas-
sing through them --. Mr. Jurin supposes that the
sense which enables them to perform these unac-
countable operations 1s lodged in the expanded

* Natural Flistory of Selborne.
+. These remarks appeared in a small work, entitled « An Account
of Some species of Bats which, when deprived of sight, perform their
Inovements in the air asif they saw; a faculty not possessed by other
birds, under the same circumstances.”

06 THE LONG-EARED BAT.

nerves on the nose *; but on that of the present,
and several other species, the membrane in which
these end, is wanting. Some have supposed, how-
ever, that this power of avoiding obstacles in the
dark is dependant principally on their ears ; for
when the ears of the blinded Bats were closed, they
hit against the sides of the room, and did not seem
at all aware of their situation.

Several of the present species were collected to-
gether for the purpose of the above experiments,
and they were preserved in a box for more than a
week. They refused every species of food for se-
veral days. During the day-time they were ex-
tremely desirous of retirement and darkness, and,
while confined to the box, never moved or endea-
voured to get out while it was light; and, when
spread on the carpet, they commonly rested fora
few minutes, and then beginning to look about,
crawled slowly to a dark corner or crevice. At sun-
set the scene was quite changed; every one then
endeavoured to scratch its way out of the box; a
continued chirping was kept up, and no sooner was
the lid of the prison opened, than each was active to
escape, either flying away immediately, or running
nimbly to a convenient place for taking wing.
When these Bats were first collected, several of the
females had young ones clinging to the breast in
the act of sucking. One of them flew with perfect
ease, though two little ones were thus attached to

* Journal de Physique, for 1798.

THE VAMPYRE BAT. 07

her, which weighed nearly as much as their parent.
All the young were devoid of down, and of a black
colour *.

From Linnzsus we learn, that the female makes
no nest for her young, as most birdsand quadrupeds
do, She is content with the first hole she finds,
where, sticking herself by her hooks against the
sides of her apartment, she permits her young to
hang at the nipple, and in this manner continues
for the first or second day. When, after some time,
the dam begins to grow hungry, and finds a ne-
cessity of stirring abroad, she takes her little ones off
and sticks them to the wall, in the manner she before
hung herself, where they immoveably cling, and
patiently wait till her return.

Bats may be caught by throwing into the air the
heads of Burdock, whitened with flour. Either
mistaking these for prey, or dashing casually against
them, they are caught by the hooked prickles, and
brought to the ground -f.

THE VAMPYRE BAT %.

The Vampyre Bat is in general about a foot long,
and in the extent of its wings near four feet; but it
is sometimes found larger, and specimens have been
seen of six feet in extent. Its general colour is a

* Shaw's Gen. Zool. i. 129. + Linn. Gmel. i, 48.
+ Synonyms—Vespertilio vampyrus. Lénn.—Ternate Bat. Penn,
—Great Bat. Ediards—Roussette. Buffon—Pero volador, in New
Spain. Stedman. Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 44.

Won. I. H

08 THE VAMPYRE BAT.

deep reddish brown. The head is shaped like that
of a Fox; the nose is sharp and black, and the
tongue pointed and terminated by sharp prickles.
The ears are naked, blackish, and pointed ; and the
wings similar in colour to those of the Common
Bat *.

These animals are found in several parts of the
Est Indies, and in all the Indian islands ; in New
Holland, the Friendly Isles, New Caledonia, and
South America.—They fly from sun-set to sun-rise,
and reside during the day in the hollow trees. They
are not carnivorous, but live principally on fruit,
and are so fond of the juice of the palm tree, that
they will intoxicate themselves with it till they fall
senseless tothe ground. ‘They skim the water with
perfect ease in their sportive moods, and frequently
dip into it to wash themselves. Mr. Forster and
several other writers inform us that they swarm like
Bees, hanging near one another in vast clusters. At
least five hundred were seen by this gentleman,
hanging, some by their fore, and others by their
hind legs, in a large tree, in one of the Friendly
islands +. Finch says, that ‘‘they hang by the claws
to the bows of trees near Surat, in such vast clus-
ters, as would surprise a man to see; and the noise
and squealing they make is so intolerable, that ’twere
a good deed to bring two or three pieces of ord-
nance, and scour the trees, that the country miglit
be rid of such a’plague as they are to itt.” Ina

* °Shaw: i, 225:
+ Forster’s Cbservations on Cook’s second Voyage, 189.
} Kinch’s Tiayels into the East, in Harris's Collection, i, 84,

THE VAMPYRE BAT: a)

small island, one of the Philippines, Dampier tells
us that he saw an incredible number of Bats, so
large that none of his company could reach from
tip to tip of their wings, with their arms extended
to the utmost. The wings were of a mouse colour,
and on the joints were sharp crooked claws. In the
evening, as soon as the sun was set, he says, these
animals used to take their flight in swarms, like
Bees, to a neighbouring island ; and they were seen
to continue in immense numbers, till darkness
rendered them no longer visible. The whole of
the time from day-break in the morning till sun-
rise, they occupied in returning to their former
place; and this course they constantly pursued
all the time the ship remained stationed off that
island *.,

At Rose Hull, near Port Jackson, in New Hel-
Jand, it is suppesed that more than ¢wenly thousand
of these animals were seen, within the space of a
mile +.—Some that were taken alive in New Hol-
land, would almost immediately after eat boiled rice,
and other food from the hand; and in a few days
became as domestic as if they had been entirely
bred in the house. Governor Phillip had a female,
which would hang by one leg awhole day without
changing its position, and in that pendant situation,
with its breast neatly covered with one of its wings,
it would eat whatever was offered to it, lapping
from the hand like a cat f.

Linnezus has given to this Bat the specific deno-
mination of Vampyrus, for his conjecturing it to be

* Dampier. t Hunter, 507. t lhid.

Te

100 THE VAMPYRE BAT.

the species that draws blood from people during
their sleep*: but there is reason to imagine, that
this thirst for blood is not confined toa single spe-
cies, but is common to most of the Bat tribe. We
are informed that the Bats of Java seldom fail to
attack those persons who lie with their extremities
uncovered, whenever they can get access to them.
Persons thus attacked, have sometimes been near
passing from a sound sleep into eternity. The Bat
is so dexterous a bleeder as to insinuate its aculeated
tongue into a vein without being perceived, and
then suck the blood till it is satiated ; all the while
fanning with its wings, and agitating the air, in
that hot climate in so pleasing a manner, as ta
throw the suffererinto a still sounder sleep.—These
animals do not, however, confine themselves to-
human blood, for M. Condamine, in his yoyage to
South America, says, that in his time they had; in
certain parts, destroyed all the great cattle introduced
there by the Missionarics.

Capt. Stedman, whilst in Surinam, was attacked
during his sleep by a Vampyre Bat; and as his ac-
count of this incident is somewhat singular, and
tends to elucidate the fact, I shall extract it in the
Janguage of his cwn narrative. “I cannot here
(says he,) forbear relating a singular circumstance
respecting myself, vz. that on waking about. four
o'clock one morning in my hammock, I was ex-
tremely alarmed at finding myself weltering in
congealed blood, and without feeling any pain
whatever.’ Having started up, and rung. for

* Linn, Gmel, 145.

THE VAMPYRE BAT. 701

for the surgeon, with a fire-brand in one hand, and
all over besmeared with gore; to which, if added,
my pale face, short hair, and tattered apparel, he
might well ask the question,

* Be thou a spirit of health, or goblin damn‘d,
‘ Bring with thee airs of heay’n, or blasts froin hell”

The mystery, however, was, that I had been bitten
by the Vampyre, or Spectre of Guiana, which is
also called the Flymg Dog of New Spain, and by
the Spaniards Perro-volador ; this is no other than
a Bat, of a monstrous size, that sucks the blood
from men and cattle while they are fast asleep, even
sometimes till they die; and as the manner in
which they proceed is truly wonderful, I shall en-
deavour to give a distinct account of it.—Knowing,
by*instinct, that the person they intend to attack ig
ina sound-slumber, they generally alight near the
feet, where, while the creature continues fanning
with his enormous wings, which keeps one cool, he
bites a piece out of the tip of the great toe, so very
small indeed, that the head of a pin could scarcely
be received into the wound, which is consequently
not painful; yet through this orifice he continues to
suck the blood, until he is obliged to disgorge.
He then begins again, and thus continues suck-
ing and disgorging till he is scarcely able to fly, and
the sufferer has often been ae to sleep from
time into eternity: Cattle they generally bite in
the ear, but always in places where the blood flows
spontaneously. Having applied tobacco ashes as
the best remedy, and washed the gore from myself
and my hammock, I observed several small heaps of

Hi 3

102 TAE VAMPYRE BAT,

congealed blood all round the place where I had
lain, upon the ground; on examining which, the
surgeon judged that I had lost at least twelye or
fourteen ounces during the night *.”

The smel! of these creatures is stronger and more
rank than that of a Fox +; yet the Indians eat them,
and declare their flesh to be excellent food. They
become excessively fat at certain times of the year,
and it is then that they are said to be the most deli-
cious. The French, who reside in the isle of
Bourbon, boil them in their bouillon, 7o give it a
relish !

In New Caledonia the natives use the hair of
these animals in the making of ropes, and in the
tassels of their clubs; interweaving it with the
threads of Cyperus squarrosus <.

* Narrative of an Expedition to Surinam. + Hunter,
{ Penn. Quad. ii. 550.

[seh }

THE SLOTH TRIBE *.

IN this tribe there have been hitherto only three
species discovered, two of which are found more
commonly in South America than in any ether parts
of the world, Their motions are unparalleled in
the rest of the animal creation, for slowness and in-
activity. ‘The feet are furnished with strong hooked
claws to enable them to climb the trees, where their
voracity leads them to devour both the leaves and
fruit f+. Their eyes are languid and heavy, and
their whole countenance expresses so much misery,
that no one can look upon them without pity.
Their teats are seated on the breast; and in two of the
species it is a remarkable circumstance, that, instead
of distinct excretory apertures, there is only one

common canal, as in Birds ¢.
- ‘The Sloths have no steed teeth in either jaw:

the canine-tecth are obtuse; and there are five
grinders on each side. Their fore-legs are much

* The Linnzan Order, BruTa, commences with the Sloths. The
animals belonging to this order have no front-teeth in either jaw-
Their feet are armed with strong, blunt, and hoof-like nails. Their
‘form is in appearance clumsy, and their pace somewhat slow. Their
food is for the most part vegetable—None of ae, animals of this

order are found in Europe. ‘They consist principally of the Sloths,

the Ant-eaters, the Rhinoceros, Elephant, and Manati.
+ Elements of Natural History, i. 79. t Kerr, i. 109,

Hi 4

104 THE THREE-TOED SLOTH,

longer than the hinder ones; and the body is co-
vered with hair, and not with scales, as in the Ar-
madillo, and some other animals of this order.

THE THREE-TOED. SLOTH *.

Of the Three-toed Sloth, which is a native of the
hotter parts of South America, we have a very curi-
ous, though often-quotced account, written by Kir-
cher, principally from the authority of a Provincial
of the Jesuits, in South America, who had several
of these animals in his possession, and tried many
experiments with them relative to their nature and
properties. Its figure is, (he says) extraordinary:
it is about the size of a Cat, has a very ugly coun-
tenance, and has its claws extended like fingers. It
sweeps the ground with its belly, and moves so slowly
that it would scarcely go the length of a bow-shot
in fifteen days, though constantly inmotiont; hence
it obtained the name of Sloth. It lives generally
on the tops of trees, and employs two days in
crawling up, and as many in getting down again.
Nature has doubly guarded it against its enemies,
first, by giving it such strength in its feet, that
whatever it seizes, is held so fast, that it will not
suffer itself to be freed, but must die of hunger.

* SynonyMs.—Bradypus Tridactylus.—Linn.—Sloth. Edwards —
Luyart. Nrewhof—Haut. Nieremb.—Ai, Buffon. 'Three-toed Sloth.
Penn. Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 45.—Bew. Quad. 457.

+ This seems to be an erroneous assertion, for although in their

progressive powers they are extremely inactive, yet all others writers
that I have consulted agree in their being able to travel at least fifty
or sixty paces in a day.

THE THREE-TOED SLOTH. 105

Secondly, in having given it such an affecting
countenance, that when it looks at any one who
might be tempted to injure it, it is almost impos-
sible not to be moved with compassion ; it also sheds
tears, and upon the whole persuades one that a
creature so defenceless and so abject ought not to
be tormented.

To try an experiment with this animal the Pro-
vincial had one of them brought to the Jesuit’s
College at Carthagena. He puta long pole unde
its feet, which it seized very firmly, and would-not
let go again. ‘The animal, therefore, thus volun-
tarily suspended, was placed between two beams,
where it remained without food for forty days, its
eyes being always fixed on those who looked at
it, who were so affected that they could not forbear
pitying its dejected state. At length, being taken
down, a dog was let loose on it, this, after a
while, the Sloth seized in its claws, and held till
both died of hunger *.—Linnaus also says of it,
“that its cry is horrible, and its tears piteous -j.”

In ascending the trees this animal carelessly
stretches one of its four-paws, and fixes its long
claw as high as it can reach. It then heavily raises
the body, and gradually fixes the other paw: and
in this manner continues to climb, every motion
being incredibly slow and languid. When the
Sloth once gets into a tree, we are told that it will not
descend while a leaf or bud is remaining ; and it is
added, that in order to save the slow and laborious

——————————_

*Musurgia, Tom. I. lib. ji¢. 6, $ Linn. Gmel, i. 351.

106 THE THREE-TOED SLOTH.

descent which it would otherwise be obliged to make,
it suffers itself to fall to the ground, its tough skin,
and thick coarse hair, sufficiently securing it from
any unpleasant effect in its fall. Sometimes the
Sloths will suspend themselves by their claws from
the branches of trees, and thus hanging, a branch
may be cut off, and they will fall with it rather
than quit their hold *. One that was taken by some
person of the expedition under Woodes Rogers,
was brought on board one of the vessels, and put
down at the lower part of the mizen shrowds. It
climbed to the mast-head ; occupying two hours,
in what a Monkey would have performed in less
than half a minute. It proceeded with a very slow
and deliberate pace, as if all its movements had
been directed by machinery +.

These animals are always most active during the
night, at which time they utter their plaintive cry,
ascending and descending in perfect tune, through
the hexachord, or six successive musical intervals.
When the Spaniards first arrived in America, and
heard this unusual noise, they fancied they were
near some nation, the people of which had been
‘instructed in our music *.

When kept in a house the Sloth never rests on
the ground, but always climbs on some post or
door to repose. If a pole is held out to it, when
on the ground, it will immediately lay hold, and,
if it is fixed, climb to the top, and firmly adhere
to it §.

* Buff Quad. vil. 164.
4 Woodes Rogers, 245. + Kircher’s Musurgia. § Buff vii. 164.

THE ANT-BATER TRIBE. 107

Yn its general appearance it is extremely uncouth,
The body is thick, the fore-legs short, the hinder
ones farlonger. ‘The feet are very small, but arm-
ed with three excessively strong and large claws,
of acurved form and sharp-pointed. The head is
small, and the face short and naked. The eyes
are small, black, and round. The hair on the top
of the head projects over, and gives to the animal
a very peculiar and grotesque physiognomy. Its
general colour is a greyish brown, and the hair is
Jong and coarse, covering the body particularly about
the back and thighs, very thickly *.

The female produces one young one, which she
frequently carries on her back +.

THE ANT-EATER TRIBE.

THE Ant-eaters, living entirely on insects, have
noteeth. Their tongue, which is long, wormlike,
and covered with a kind of glutinous moisture, is the
only instrument by which they seize their food.
Instead of teeth they have, however, certain bones,
not unlike teeth, that are situated deep in the mouth,
near the entrance of the gullet. The mouths of the
whole tribe are lengthened into a somewhat tubular
form. The body is covered with hair {.

* Shaw, i. 150. + Buffon, $ Linn. Gmel. i. 52,

sc aa
THE GREAT ANT-EATER*,

The body of the Great Ant-eater is covered with
exceedingly coarse and shaggy hatr, Its head is very
long and slender, and the mouth but just large
enough toadmit its tongue, near two feet in length,
which is cylindrical, and lies folded double within
it. The tail is of an enormous size, covered with
long black hair, somewhat like that of a horse,
With this extraordinary member, when asleep
(which is generally in the day-time,) or during a
hard shower of rain, the animal covers itself in the
manner of a Squirrel; at other times he trails it
along, and sweeps the ground --.

This creatute 1s a very bad walker, always resting
on the heel of its awkward long feet, but it is able
to climb with great ease. Though destitute of
teeth, and generally inclined to shun contention,
when it is attacked, and its passions become roused,
it is a fierce and dangerous adversary. If it can
once get its enemy within the grasp of its forepaws,
it fixes the claws into his sides, and both fall toge-
ther ; and, as it frequently happens, both perish,
for the perseverance of the Ant-eater is so obstinate,
that it will not extricate itself even from a dead
adversary. Such is its strength, that even the Pan-
thers of America are often unequal to it in combat ¢.

His food consists of Ants, which he takes in the

* Synonyms.—Myrmecophaga Jubata. Linn.—Tamandua-guacu.
Shaw's

Muarcgrave-—Vamanoir. Buffon.—Great Ant-eater. Penn.
Gen. Zool. pl. 49.—Bew. Quad. 459.
¥ Stedman. } Penn. Quad. ii, 508. Gumilla Orencque, ui. 132.

‘

THE RHINOCEROS TRIBE. TOO

following manner :—when he comes to an Ant-hiil,
he scratches it up with his long claws, and then
unfolds his slender tongue, which much resembles
an enormously long worm; this being covered over
with a clammy matter or saliva, the Ants get upon
it in great numbers, and by drawing it into his
mouth, he swallows thousands of them alive; and
he repeats the operation till no more are to be
found. He also climbs trees in quest of Wood-lice
and wild-honey; but should he meet with little suc-
cess in his devastations, he is able to fast for consi-
derable time without the smallest inconvenience.
His motions are in general very slow. He swims
over great rivers with sufficient ease: on these occa-
sions his tail is always thrown over his back.

It is said that these Antpeaters are tameable, and
that in a domestic state they will pick up crumbs of
bread and small pieces of flesh. ‘They are natives
of Brazil and Guiana, and are sometimes eight or
nine feet in length from the end of the snout to the
tip of-the tail*. The females bring forth one
young one at a time, which does not arriye at ma-
turity till it is four years old.

THE RHINOCEROS TBIBE -.
WE now come to arace of animals of huge size

and bulk, inhabitants only of the tropical climates.
They are dull and sluggish in their manners, but iss

* Stedman.

+ This name is derived fiom pts pivos nose, and xspx¢ a horn.

210 THE SINGLE-HORNED RHINOCEROS.

their disposition sufficiently peaceable, except when
attacked or proyoked. They have on the nose, a
solid, conical horn, not fixed in the bone ; this is
heyer shed, but remains, unless broken off by acci-
dent, during life *. Their skin is tuberculated and
exceedingly hard, but on the under parts of the
body sufficiently tender to be’cut through with a
knife-—The general internal structure of the ani-
mals of this tribe corresponds with what is observed
in the Horse.

THE SINGLE-HORNED RHINOCEROS 3 ie

The Single-horned Rhinoceros is not exceeded in
size by any land animal except the Elephant, and
in strength and power it gives place to none. Its
length is usually about twelve feet, and this is also
nearly the eirth of its body.

Its nose is armed a with formidable weapon, a hard
arid very solid horn, sometimes above three feet in
length, and eighteen inches in circumference at the
base, with which it is able to defend itself against
the attacks of every ferocious animal: The Tiger
will rather attack the Elephant than the Rhinoceros,
which it cannot face without danger of having its
bowels torn out. “ With this horn,” says Mlar-
tial, “it will lift up a Bull like a football pa

ep

* Linn. Gmel. i. 59.
+t Synonyms.—Rhinoceros Unicornis. Lian-—Rhinoceros. Buffon.
‘Parsons, 4:¢-—— Shaw's Geni Zool. pl. 60.—RBew. Quad. 156.
t Martial, Book i, Epig. 14,

THE SINGLE-HORNED RHINOCEROS: Jil

The body and limbs of the Rhinoceros are de-
fended by a skin so hard as to be impenetrable, ex-
cept in the belly, by either a knife or spear. It is
said,-that even to shoot a full-grown Rhinoceros of
an advanced age, it is necessary to make use of iron
bullets, those of lead having been known to flatten
against the skin.

‘The upper lip in this animal seems to answer in
some measure the same purpose as the trunk of the
Elephant. It protrudes over the lower one in the»
form of a lengthened tip; and, being extremely
pliable, is used in catching hold of the shoots
of vegetables, &c. and delivering them into its
mouth.

The Rhinoceros is generally of a quiet and inof-
fensive disposition, but when attacked or provoked,
he becomes very furious and dangerous ;: and he is
even sometimes subject to paroxysms of fury, which
nothing can assuage.

Dr. Parsons, in the year 1743, published a_his-
tory of the Rhinoceros, containing a very minute
description of one that was brought from Bengal
into Europe *. He was only two years old, and the
expence of his food and journey amounted to near
10001. sterling. He had every day, at three meals,
seven pounds of rice, mixed with three pounds of
sugar; besides hay and green plants: he also drank
large quantities of water. In his disposition he was
very peaceable, readily suffering all parts of his

* The first that was brought into England was in the year 1684.

112 THE SINGLE-HORNED RHINOCEROS.

body to be touched. When he was hungry, or
was struck by any person, he became mischievous,
and nothing would appease him but food. He was
not at this time taller than a young Cow.

A Rhinoceros, brought from Atcham, in the
dominions of the King of Ava, was exhibited in
1748, at Paris. It was verytame, gentle, and even
caressing ; was fed principally on hay and corn, and
was much delighted with sharp or prickly plants,
and the thorny branches of trees. The attendants
frequently gave him branches that had very sharp
and strong thorns onthem ; but he bent and broke
them in his mouth without seeming in the least
incommoded. It is true they sometimes drew blood
from the mouth and tongue, “ but that,” says
Father Le Comte, who gives us the description,
*¢ might even render them more palatable, and those
little wounds might serve only to cause a sensation
similar to that excited by salt, pepper, or mustard,
on ours *.”

As an equivalent for a very dull ‘sight, Dr. Par-
sons remarks, that this animal hasan acute and most
attentive ear. It will listen with a deep and long-
continued attention to any kind of noise; and al-
though it be eating, lying down, or obeying any
pressing demands of nature, it will raise its head, and
listen till the noise ceases.

The Rhinoceros is said to run with great swift-
ness, and from his strength and impenetrable cover-

* Church.

THE SINGLE-HORNED RHINOCEROS. 113

ing, is capable of rushing with resistless violence
_ through woods and obstacles of every kind; the
smaller trees bending like twigs as he passes them.
In his general habits and manner of feeding he re-
sembles the Elephant : residing in cool sequestered
spots, near waters, andin shady woods. Like the
hog, he delights in occasionally wallowing in the
mine

The Asiatics sometimes tame and bring these ani-
mals into the field of battle, to strike .terror. into
their enemies. They are, however, in general so un-
manageable, that they do more harm than good ; and
in their fury it is not uncommon for them to tura on
their masters t.

The skin, which is of a blackish colour, is dis-
posed about the neck into large plaits or folds:
a fold of the same kind passes from the
shoulders to the fore legs ; and another from the
hind part of the back to the thighs. It is naked,
rough, and covered with a kind of tubercles, or
large callous granulations. Between the folds, and
under the belly, the skin is soft, and of a light rose-
colour. The ears are moderately large, upright,
and pointed. The eyes are small, and so placed, that
the animal can only see what is nearly in a direct
line before him *.

The “flesh is eaten by the inhabitants of the
country. The skin, flesh, hoofs, teeth, and even
the dung, are also ‘used medicinally. The horn,
when cut through the middle, is said to exhibit
-on each side, the rude figure of a man; the

* Shaw, i. 200. 7. Charen, t Shaw, i. 199.

Vor. I. [

1A THE TWO-HORNED RHINOCEROS.

outlines being marked by small white strokes *.
Many of the Indian princes drink out of cups made
of this horn; imagining, that when these hold
any poisonous draught, the liquor will ferment
till it runs quite over the top. Goblets made of the
horns of the young, are esteemed the most valuable.
Professor Thunberg, when at the Cape, tried these
horns, both wrought into goblets and unwrought,
both old and young horns, with several sorts of
poison, weak as well as strong, but did not ob-
serve the least motion or effervescence ; when, how-
ever, a solution of corrosive sublimate was poured into:
one of them, there arose indeed a few bubbles,
which were produced by the air that had been in-
closed in the pores of the horn, and was now disen-
gaged from it}. Martial informs us, that the Ro-
man ladies of fashion used these horns in the baths,
to hold their essence-bottles and oils. The Ja-
vanese make shields of the skin.

The Single-horned Rhinoceros is a native of seve-
ral parts of India; as well as of the islands of Ceylon,
Java,and Sumatra. It is also found in Ethiopia.—
The female produces only one young one at a birth.

THE TWO-HORNED RHINOCEROS J.

This species differs from the last, principally in
_the appearance of its skin ; which, instead of vast
and regularly marked armour-like folds, has merely

—a,

t
§ Synonyms.—Rhinoceros Bicornis. Lint——Shae's Gen, Zool.
pl. 01.—Bew. wad. 156.

* Grose, 1..273. + Thunberg, i. 246. Pb. xiv. Ep. 58:

THE TWO-HORNED RHINOCEROS. 115

a very slight wrinkle across the shoulders and on
the hinder parts, with a few fainter wrinkles on the
sides; so that, in comparison with the common
Rhinoceros, it appears almost smooth. What, how-
ever, constitutes the principal distinction, is the nose
being furnished with two horns, one of which is
smaller than the other, and situated above it. ‘These
horns are said to be loose when the animal isin a
quiet state, but to become firm and immoveable
when he is enraged *.

In its habits and manner of feeding, this differs
but little from the Single-horned Rhinoceros. Le
Vaillant says, that when these animals are at rest,
they always place themselves in the direction of the
wind, with their noses towards it, in order to dis-
cover by their smell the approach of any enemies.
From time. to time, however, they move their
heads round to look behind them, and to be assured
that they are safe on all sides; but they soon
return to their former position-+. When they are
irritated they tear up the ground with their horn ;
throwing the earth and stones furiously, and to
a vast distance, over their heads.

Mr. Bruce’s description of the manners of the
Two-horned Rhinoceros, is deserving of particular
notice. He informs us that, ‘besides the trees
capable of most resistance, there are, in the vast
forests within the rains, trees of a softer consistence,
and of a very succulent quality, which seem to be

* Shaw, i. 202. + New Travels in Africa, iii. 42.

[2

116 THE TWO-HORNED RHINOCEROS.

destined for the principal food of thisanimal. For the
purpose of gaining the highest branches of these, his
upper lip is capable of being lengthened out so as to
increase his power of laying hold with it, in the same
manner as the Elephant does with his trunk. With
this lip, and the assistance of his tongue, he pulls
down the upper branches, which have most leaves,
and these he devours first. Having stripped the
tree of its branches, hedoes not immediately abandon
it; but, placing his snout as low in the trunk as he
finds his horns will enter, he rips up the body of
the tree, and reduces it to thin pieces like so many
Jaths; and when he has thus prepared it, he em-
braces as much of it as he can in his monstrous jaws,
and twists it round with as much ease asan ox would
doa root of celery, or any small plant.

‘* When pursued, and in fear, he possesses an
astonishing degree of swiftness, considering his size,
the apparent unwieldiness of his body, his great
weight before, and the shortness of his legs. He
has a kind of trot, which, after a few minutes, in-
creases 1N a great proportion, and takes ina great
distance ; but this is to be understood with a degree

of moderation. It is not true that in a plain he beats

the Horse in swiftness. . I have passed him with

ease, and seen many, worse mounted, do the same ;
and though it is certainly true that a horse can yery
seldom come up with him, this is owing to his cun-

ning, and not to his swiftness. He makes constant-

ly from wood to. wood, and forces himself into the
thickest parts of them. The trees that are dead or
city, are broken down, as with a cannon shot, and

THE TWO-HORNED RHINOCEROS. 117

fall behind him and on his side in all directions.
Others that are more pliable, greener, or fuller of
sap, are bent back by his weight, and the velocity
of his motions. And after he has passed, restoring
themselves like a green branch to their natural po-
sition, they often sweep the incautious pursuer and
his horse from the ground, and dash them in pieces
against the surrounding trees.

«« The eyes of the Rhinoceros are very small;
he seldom turns his head, and therefore sees nothing
but what is before him*. To this he owes his
‘death, and never escapes if there is so much plain
as to enable the Horse to get before him. His pride
and fury then make him lay aside all thoughts of
escaping, but by victory over his enemy. He
stands for a moment at bay: then, at a start, runs
straight forward at the Horse, hke the Wild Boar,
which, in his manner of action, he very much re=
sembles. ‘The Horse easily avoids him by turning
_ short to one side; and this is the fatal instant: the
naked man, with the sword, drops from behind
the principal horseman, and, unseen by the Rhino-
ceros, who is seeking his enemy, the Horse, he
gives him a stroke across the tendon of the heel.
which renders him incapable of further flight or
resistance.

‘In speaking of the great quantity of food ne-
cessary to support this enormous mass, we must
MRT SCR) PE NRT Sh re Winaien, heh aD

* The account of Mr. Bruce differs in this particular from that of
M. Vaillant, before quoted; and it is impossible for me to say which

_of the two is nearest the truth.

: | as

118 THE TWO-HORNED RHINOCEROS,

likewise consider the vast quantity of water which
he needs. No country but that of Shangalla, which
he possesses, deluged with six months rain, and full
of large and deep basons, made in the living rock,
and shaded by dark woods from evaporation, or
watered by large and deep rivers which never fall
low or to a state of dryness, can supply the vast
draughts of this monstrous creature : but it is not
for drinking alone that he frequents wet and marshy
places ; large, fierce, and strong as he is, he must
submit to prepare himself against the weakest of
his adversaries. The great consumption he con-
stantly makes of food and water, necessarily confines
him to certain limited spaces; for it is not every
place that can maintain him; he cannot emigrate
or seck his defence among the sands of Atbara *.”’
—Hiis adversary is a Fly (probably of the Lin-
naan genus as/rus) which is bred in the black earth
of the marshes. It persecutes him so unfemittingly,
that it would in a short time subdue him, but fora
stratagem which he practises for his preservation. *
In the night when the Fly is at rest, the Rhinoceros
chuses a convenient place, and there rolling in the
mud, clothes himself with a kind of case, which
defends him against his adversary the following day, .
The wrinkles and plaits of his skin serve to keep
this muddy plaster firm upon him, all but about
his hips shoulders, and legs, where it cracks and
falls off, by motion, and leaves him exposed in
those parts to the attacks of the Fly. The itching

LL LR

* Travels to discover the Source of the Nile,

THE TWO-HORNED RHINOCEROS, 219

and pain which follow, occasion him to rub him-
self in those parts against the roughest trees; and
this is one cause of the numerous pustules or tuber-
cles that we see upon him.

He enjoys so much the rubbing himself, that he
groans and grunts so loud during this action, as to
be heard ata considerable distance.’ The » pleasure
he receives from this employment, and the darkness
of the night, deprive him of his usual vigilance
and attention. ‘The hunters, guided by his noise,
steal secretly upon him; and while lying on the
ground, wound him with their javelins ; mostly in
the belly, wnere the wound is mortal.

It is.by no means true that the skin of this: Rhi-
noceros, as it has been often represented, is hard
or impenetrable like a board. In_ his wild state he
is slain by javelins thrown from the hand, some
of which enter his body to a great depth. A mus-
ket-shot will go through him, unless interrupted by
a bone; and the Shangalla, an Abyssinian tribe,
kill him by the -clumsiest arrows that ever were
used by any people practising that weapon, and
cut him to pieces afterwards with the very worst of
knives.

In order to afford some idea of the enormous
strength of the Rhinoceros, even afier being se-
verely wounded, I shall quote Mr. Bruce’s account
of the hunting of this animal in Abyssinia: ‘“* We
were on horseback (says this gentleman) by the
dawn of day, in search of the Rhinoceros, many of
which we had heard making a very deep groan and
cry as the morning approached; several of the

I4

120 THE TWO-HORNED RHINOCEROS.

Agageers (hunters) then joined us : and after we had
searched about an hour in the very thickest part of
the wood, one of them rushed out with great vio-
lence, crossing the plain towards a wood of canes
that was about two miles distant. But though he
ran, or rather trotted with surprising speed, con-
sidering his bulk, he was, in a very little time,
transfixed with thirty or forty javelins; which so
confounded him, that he left his purpose of going
to the wood, and ran into a deep hole, ditch, or
ravine, a cul de sac, without outlet, breaking above
a dozen of the javelins as he entered. Here we
thought he was caught as in a trap, for he had
scarcely room to turn ; when a servant, who had a
gun, standing directly over him, fired at his head,

and the animal fell immediately, to all appearance
dead. All those on foot now jumped in with their
knives to cut him up; but they had scarcely begun,
when the animal recovered so far as to rise upon
his knees: happy then was the man that escaped
first; and had not one of the Agageers, who was
himself engaged 3 in the ravine, cut the sinew of the
hind leg as he was retreating, there would have ‘
been a very sorrowful account of the foot- hunters
that day.

«* After having dispatched him, J was curious ta
see what wound the shot had given, which had
operated so violently upon so huge an animal; and
I doubted not it was in the brain. But it had
struck no where but upon the point of the foremost
horn, of which it had carried off above an inch:
and this occasioned a concussion that had stunned

THE ELEPHANT TRIBE. - 991

him for a minute, till the bleeding had recovered
him.”

It has been often asserted that the tongue of the
Rhinoceros 1s so hard and rough, as to take away
the skin and flesh whereyer it licks any person that
_ has unfortunately fallen a victim to its fury *. Dr.
Sparrman says, however, that he thrust his hand
into the mouth of one that had just been shot, and
found the tongne perfectly soft and smooth.—The
cavity which contained the brain of one of these
huge animals, was only six inches long and four
deep ; and, being filled with pease, was found to
_ hold barely a quart ; while a human skull, measur-
ed at the same time, took above two quarts to fill it,

The Hottentots, and even some of the inhabi-
tants of the Cape, set a high value on the dried
blood of the Rhinoceros, to which they. ascribe
great virtues in the cure of many disorders of the
body. The flesh is eatable, but it is very full of
sinews.

THE ELEPHANT TRIBE,

THESE animals have no front teeth in either
jaw; and from the upper jaw proceed two long
and stout tusks, which, in a state of nature, are

used in tearing up trees for food, and as weapons
of defence against their enemies. They have a

long, cartilaginous, prehensile trunk, which is ca-

o>?

NE

* Kolbcn, il. 103.

122 THE ELEPHANT.

pable of laying hold even of the most minute sub-
stances. Their body 1s very thinly scattered over
with hairs.—No more than ove species has hitherto
been discovered.

THE ELEPHANT *,

There is scarcely any animal in the Creation that
has at different times occupied so much the atten-
tion of mankind as the Elephant. Formed in a
very particular manner for the service of man in the
hot climates, it is endowed with every requisite to
usefulness. It is strong, active, and laborious; re-
plete with mildness and sagacity. Docile in a very
eminent degree, it may be trained to almost any ser-
vice that a brute is capabie of performing.

Elephants are found wild in the shady woods of
Asia and Africa, where they generally live in large
troops. They feed on vegetables; the young shoots
of trees, grains, and fruit of various kinds. Their
incursions are much dreaded in plantations, where
they frequently commit the most extensive ra-
vages; at the same time also maternally injuring
the crops, by trampling the ground with their vast
feet.

The skin of the Elephant is generally of a deep
ash-coloured brown, approaching to black. ‘The
tusks are not visible in a young animal, but in its
more advanced state of growth they are eminently

* SyxonyMs.—Elephas maximus. Léni.—Elephant. Smellie—
Hiephantus. Buffon -——Shaw's Gen. Tool, pl. 63. 04.—Bew. Quad,

p- 106.

THE ELEPHANT. 123
conspicuous ; and in the full-grown animal they mea -
sure sometimes so much as ten fect from their
sockets *. Itis but rarely that they are seen in the
females ; and when they appear they are but small,
and their direction 1s somewhat downwards.

This is undoubtedly the largest of all terrestrial
animals, arriving sometimes at the height of twelve
feet; though the more general height seems to be
from nine to ten. It is said to live to the age of
a hundred, or a hundred and twenty, years.—
The female seldom produces more than one
at a birth. This, when first born, is about three
feet high, and continues growing till it is six-
teen or eighteen years old. The teats of the fe-
male are two, seated at a small distance behind the
fore-legs.

The eyes are extremely small ; and the ears very
large and pendulous. ‘The form indeed of the
whole animal is very awkward: the head is large ;
the body large ; the back much arched; the legs
extremely thick, and very short; and the feet
slightly divided into, or rather edged with, five
rounded hoofs. ‘The tail is terminated by a few
scattered, very thick, black hairs.

In the structure of the Elephant, the most sin-
gular organ is the trunk or proboscis. ‘Tis is an
extension of the canals of the nose: it is very long,
composed of a great number of cartilaginous rings,

ii resc ce ee Ee ee ee a

* The largest tusks imported into England measure seven feet in
Jeneth, and weigh about 150lb. each. ‘Phere 's one in the Leverian

bluseum about cight feet long, which however weighs only 1131b.

{24 THE ELEPHANT.

and is through its whole length divided by a con-
tinuation of the septum. At the lower end it is fur-—
nished with a kind of moveable finger, that seems
to divide its aperture into two parts. It is so strong
as to be capable of breaking off large branches from +
trees. ‘Through this the animal smells and breathes;
and it is possessed of such exquisite sensibility that
he can pick up with it almost the smallest bodies
from the ground. By means of this the Elephant
conveys the food to its mouth ; which is situated so
much in the under part of its head, as to seem almost
a part of the breast. The sense of smelling he en-
joys in great perfection ; and when a number of peo-
ple are standing around him, he will discover food in
the pocket of any one, and take it out by means of
his trunk with great dexterity *. With this he can
untie the knots of ropes, and open and shut gates by
turning the keys or pushing back the bolts. It is,
in short, as complete an instrument as nature
has bestowed on even her most favorite produc-
tions ~f.

The skin of this animal, where it is not callous,
1s extremely sensible. In the fissures and: other
places: where it is moist and soft, ‘he feels the sting-
ing of flies in such a lively manner, that he not

A

* Church.

+ Elephants are said to be exceedingly afraid of Mice, lest they
sheuld get through the trunk into their lungs, and thus stifle thenf:
and, therefore, sleep with the end ef the proboscis so close to the
ground, that nothing but air can get in between ——Ray's Wisdoys

af God.in the Werks of the Creation, p- S84.

“THE ELEPHANT: 125
only employs his natural motions, but even the
resources of his intelligence, to rid himself of them:
He strikes them with his tail, his ears, and his
trunk. He contracts his skin, and crushes them
between its wrinkles. He drives them off with
branches of trees, or bundles of long straw. When
all these artifices are unsuccessful, he collects dust
with his trunk, and covers all the more tender parts
of his skin with it. ‘He has been observed dusting
himself in this manner several times in a day; and-
always at the most proper season, namely, after
bathing *.

The disposition of these animals is gentle, and their
manners social, for they are seldom seen wandering
alone. They generally march in troops, the oldest
keeping foremost, and the next in age bringing
up the rear. The young and the feeble occupy .
the middle. ‘The mothers carry their young firmly
embraced in their trunks. They do not, however,
observe this order, except in perilous marches,
when they want to pasture on cultivated fields. In
the deserts and forests, they travel with less pre-
caution, but without separating so far as to exceed
the possibility of receiving .assistance from one
another.

The wild Elephants of Ceylon hve in troops or
families, distinct and separate from all others, and
seem to avoid the strange herds with particular care.
When a family removes from place to place, the
largest-tusked males put themselves at the head ;

epee ememee name fp RN

* Buff Quad.

420 THE ELEPHANT.

and if they come to ariver, are the first to pass it.
On arriving at the opposite bank, they try whether
tlic landing-place is safe: if it is, they give a sig-
nal with their trunk, on which another division
of the old Elephants swim over; the younger
then follow, holding one another by locking their
trunks together; and the rest of the old ones bring
up-the rear*.

As the modes of taking this animal, and _ren-
dering it submissive to human authority, merit
particular attention, I shall, in a cursory manner,
describe those pursuéd by the inhabitants of a few
of the different countries of the East.

At ‘Pepura, in the East Indies, the manner
of securing a single male, is very different from
that employed in taking a herd. In the former case,.
which I shall first mention, the animal is taken by
means of Koomkees, or female Elephants, trained
for the purpose ; whereas in the latter case they are
driven into a strong inclosure.

As the hunters know the places where the Ele-
phants come out to feed, they advance towards
them in the evening with four Koomkees, the num-
ber of which each hunting party consists. W hen
the mights are dark, the male Elephants are disco-
vered by the noise they make in cleaning their
food, which they do by whisking and _ striking it
against their fore-legs; and in the moon-light
nights may to be scen distinctly at some dis-

tance,

* Penn. Quad. i. °153.

THE ELEPHANT. 127

As soon as the hunters have determined on the
animal they mean to secure, three of the Koomkees
are conducted silently and slowly, at a little distance
from each other, near to the place where he is
feeding. The Koomkees advance very cautiously,
feeding as they go long, and appear like wild
Elephants that have strayed from the forest. When
the male perccives them approaching, if he takes
the alarm, and is viciously imclined, he beats the
ground with his trunk, and makes a noise, shewing
evident marks of his displeasure, and that he will
not allow them to approach nearer. In this case, if
they persist he will immediately attack and gore
them with his tusks; for which reason they take
care to retreat in good time. He, however, genc-
rally allows them to approach, and sometimes even
advances to meet him.

The drivers now conduct two of the females, one
on each side, close to him, and make thein press
themselves gently against his neck and shoulders ;
the third female then comes up, and places herself
directly across his tail. In this situation, far from sus-
pecting any desion against his liberty, he begins to toy
with the females, and caresses them with his trunk.
While thus engaged, the fourth female is broneht
near attended by preperassistan{sfurnislred with rapes,
who immediately wet under the belly of the animal
at the tail, and put aslight rope round his iiind lees.
If he takes no notice of this. slight confinement, the
hunters proceed to tie his legs with a stronger rope :
which is passed alternately, by means of a forked
stick, and a kind of hook, from one leg to the other,

i728 THE ELEPHANT.

in the form of a figure of 8. Six or eight of these ropes
are generally employed, one above another; and
they are fastened ‘at their intersections by another
rope, that is made to pass perpendicularly up and
down. A strong cable, with a running noose,
sixty cubits long, is next put round each hind leg,
above. the other ropes; and afterwards six or eight
ether ropes are crossed from leg to leg above the
cable. The fixing thesé ropes usually occupies
about twenty minutes; during which time the ut-
most silence is observed.

When thus properly secured, the animal is left to
himself, the Koomkees retiring to a little distance.
In attempting to follow them, he finds his legs tied ;
and becoming sensible of the danger. of his situation,
immediately retreats towards the jungle. The drivers,
mounted on the tame Elephants, accompanied by
anumber of people, who till this time have been kept
aut of sight, follow him at a little distance ; and as
soon as he passes near a tree sufficiently stout to
hold him, they take a few turns with the long cables
which trailed behind him, round his trunk. His
progress being thus stopped, he becomes furious,
and exerts his. utmost efforts to disengace himself.
The Koomkees dare not now come near him; and
in his fury he falls down on the earth, and tears it
up with his tusks. In these exertions he sometimes
breaks the cables, and escapes into the thick jungle.
Hither the drivers cannot advance, forfear of the
cther wild Elephants-; and are therefore obliged to
leave him to his fate. But as the cables are strong,
and very seldom give way, when he has exhausted

= gir ime,

ee 2 ae

THE ELEPHANT. 129

himself by his exertions the Koomkees are again
brought near and take their former positions, one
on each side and the other behind. After getting
him nearer the tree, the people carry the ends of ©
the long cables two or three times round it, so as
to prevent the possibility of his escape. His fore-
legs are now tied in the same manner as his hind-legs
were; and the cables are made fast, one on each
side, to trees or stakes driven deep into the earth. «

When he has become more settled, and will eat
a little food, with which he is supplied as soon as
he is taken, the Koomkees are again brought near,
and a strong rope is then put twice round his body,
close to his fore-legs, like a girth, and tied behind
his shoulder ; then the end is carried backward
close to his rump, and there fastened, after a couple
of turns more have been made round his bo-
dy. Another rope is next fastened to this, and
thence carried under his tail like a crupper, and
brought forward and fastened to each of the girths.
A strong rope is now put round his buttocks, and
made fast on each side to the girth and crupper; so
as to confine the motion of his thighs, and prevent
him fromtaking a full step. A couple of large cables,
with running nooses, are now put about his. neck,
there secured, and tied tothe ropes on each side.
Thus completely hampered, the cables round his neck
are made fast to two Koomkees, one on each side.

Every thing being now ready, and a passage
cleared from the jungle, all the ropes are taken
from his legs, except the strong one round his but-
tocks to confine the motion of his hind-legs, which

Vous 1, K

130 THE ELEPHANT.

is still left. The Koomkees pull him forward ;
sometimes, however, not without much struggling
and violence on his part. When brought to his
proper station, and made fast, he is treated with a
mixture of severity and gentleness; and generally in
a few months becomes tractable, and appears per-
fectly reconciled to his fate-— Jt seems somewhat
extraordinary, that though the animal uses his utmost
force to disengage himself when taken, and would
“kill any person coming within his reach, yet he
seldom or never attempts to hurt the females
that have ensnared him; but, on the contrary,
seems (as often as they are brought near, in order to
adjust his harnessing, ar move and slacken those
ropes which gall him) pleased, soothed, and con-
soled by them, as it were, for the loss of his'liberty,
The mode-of securing a herd of wild Elephants,
is very different from that adopted in taking a sin-
gle male, and the process is much more tedious.
Whena herd, which generally consists of from
about forty to a hundred, 1s discovered, about five
hundred people are employed to surround it. By
means of fire and noises, they in the course of some
days are able to drive them to the place where they
are to be secured, ‘This is called the Keddah. It
consists of three inclosures, communicating with
each other by means of narrow openings or gateways,
The outer one is the largest, the middle generally
the next in size, and the third or furthermost the
smallest. Whenthe animals arrive near the first
inclosure, (the palisadoes and two gates of which
are as much as possible disguised with branches of

THE ELEPHANT. ~ a RT

trees and bamboos stuck in the ground, so as to give
them the appearance of a natural jungle,) great dif
ficulty attends the business of getting them in. ‘The
leader always suspects some snare, and it is not with-
out the utmost hesitation that he passes; but-as soon
as he enters, all the rest implicitly follow. lmmediate-
ly, when they have passed the gateway, fires are
lighted round the greatest part of the inclosure, and
particularly at the entries, to prevent the Elephants
from returning. The hunters from without then make
a terrible noise by shouting, beating of tomtoms (a
kind of drum), firing blank-cartridges, &c. to urge
them on to the next inclosure. The Elephants,
finding themselves entrapped, scream and make other
noises; and discovering no opening except the en-
trance to the next inclosure, they at iength, but
not before they have many times traversed ect
their present situation, following their leader, enter
it. ‘The gate is instantly shut upon them, fires are
lighted, and the same discordant noises made as be-
fore, till they have passed through another gateway
into the last inclosure, where they are secured in a
similar manner. Being now completely surrounded
on all sides, and perceiving no outlet through which
they can escape, they appear desperate, and in
their fury advance frequently to the surrounding
ditch in order to break down the palisade, inflating
their trunks, and screaming out aloud : but where-

by light-
ed fires, and by the noise and triumphaat s sh routs of
the hunters. The ditch is then filled with water ;

ver they make an attack, they are opposed |

and after a while they have recourse to it in order to
K 2

132 THE ELEPHANT.

quench their thirst and cool themselves, which they
do by drawing the water into their trunks, and then
squirting it over every part of their bodies.

When the Elephants have continued in the in-
closure a few days, where they are regularly,
though scantily, fed from a scaffold on the outside,
the door of the Roomee (an outlet about sixty feet
long and very narrow) is opened, and one of
the Elephants is enticed to enter by haying food
thrown before it*. When the animal has ad-
vanced far enough to allow it, the gate is shut and
well secured on both sides. Finding his retreat now
cut off, and the place so narrow that he cannot turn
himself, he advances, and exerts his utmost efforts
to break down the bars in front of him, running a-
gainst them, screaming and roaring most violently,
and battering them, like a ram, by repeated blows
with his head, retreating and advancing with the
utmost fury. In his rage he even rises up, and leaps
upon the bars with his fore-feet, striving to break
them down with his huge weight. When he be-
comes somewhat fatigued with these exertions, ropes
are, by degrees, put round him; and he is secured
in a manner nearly similar to that adopted in taking
the single males. And thus, in succession, they
are all secured.

The Elephants are now separated, and each put

* In many places this mode is not adopted ; but as soon as the herd
has been surrounded by a strong palisade, Koomkees are sent in with
proper people, who tie them on the spot, in the manner we have men-
tioned respecting the single male Elepkants.

THE ELEPHANT. 133
under the care of a keeper, who is appointed to at-
tend and instruct him. Under this man there are
three or four others, who assist in supplying food and
water till the animal becomes sufficiently tractable
to feed himself. A variety of soothing and ca-
Tessing. arts are practised: sometimes the keeper
threatens, and even goads him with along stick point-
ed with iron; but more generally coaxes and flatters
him, scratching his head and trunk with a long bam-
boo split at one end into many pieces, and driving
away the flies from his sores and bruises. In order
to keep him cool, he likewise squirts water all over
him ; carefully standing out of the reach of his trunk,

In a few days he advances cautiously to his side,
and strokes and pats him with his hand, at the same
time speaking to him in a soothing voice ; and after
alittle while, the beast begins to know his keeper
and obey his commands. By degrees the latter be-
comes familiar, and at length mounts upon his back
from one of the tame Elephants; from hence he gra-
dually increases the intimacy as the animal becomes
more tame, till at last he 1s permitted to seat him-
Self on his neck, from which place he is afterwards to
regulate and direct all his motions. While they are
training inthis manner, the tame Elephants lead the
others out alternately, for the sake of exercise; and
likewise to case their legs from the cords with which
they are tied, and which are apt to gall them, un-
less they are regularly slackened and shifted.

In five or six weeks the Elephant becomes obe-
dient to his keeper, his fetters are taken off by de-
grees, and generally im about six months he suffers

K 3

134 THE ELEPHANT.
himself to be conducted from one place to another.
Care, however, is always taken not to let him ap-
proach his former haunts, lest a recollection of them
should induce him to attempt to recover his li-
berty. |

The following is Mr. Bruce’s account of Ele-
phant-hunting in Abyssinia. ‘The men who make
the hunting of Elephants their business, he says,
dwell constantly in the woods, living entirely
upon the flesh of the animals they kill, which is
chiefly that of the Elephant or Rhinoceros. They
are exceedingly thin, light, and agile both on horse-
back and foot. ‘They are called Agageers; a name
derived from the word Agar, which signifies to
hough or ham-string with a sharp weapon. More
properly it means, indeed, the cutting of the ten-
don of the heel ; and is a characteristic of the man-
ner in which they kill the Elephant, which is thus:
—Two men, quite naked to prevent their being
laid hold of by the trees or bushes in making their
escape from this very watchful enemy, get on horse-
back. One of them sits on the back of the horse,
sometimes with a saddle, and sometimes without one,
with only a switch or short stick in one hand, care-

1

fully managing the bridle with the other; behind

him sits his companion, armed only with a broad- .

sword. His left hand is employed in grasping the
sword by the handle ; about fourteen inches of the

* See a paper of John Corse, esq. on the method of catching wild
Elephants at Vipura in the East Indies, inserted in the Asiatic Re-
searches.

=. nied .

THE ELEPHANT. 136

blade of which are covered with whip-cord. This
part he takes in his right hand, without any danger
of being hurt by it; and, though the edges of the
lower part of the sword are as sharp as a razor, he
Carries it without a scabbard.

As soon as an Elephant is found feeding, the
horseman rides before him, as near to his face as pos-
sible; or, if he tries to escape, crosses him in all
directions, calling out, “ I am such a one, and such a
one, this is my horse, that has such aname ; I killed
your father in sucha place, and your grandfather
in such another place, and I am now come to kill
you, who are nothing in comparison with them.’
This nonsense he believes the Elephant perfectly to
understand ; who, chafed and angry at hearing the
noise immediately before him, attempts to seize him
with his trunk; and, intent upon this, follows the
horse every where, turning round and round with
him, neglecting to make his escape by running
straight forward, in which consists his only safety.
After having made him turn a few times in pursuit
of the horse, the horseman rides close up be-
side of him, and drops his companion just behind,
on the off side; and while he engages the Ele-
phant’s attention upon the horse, the other be-
hind gives him a drawn stroke just above the heel,
into what in man is called the tendon of Achilles.
This is the critical moment; the horseman imme-
diately wheels round, again takes his companion up
behind him, and rides off at full speed after the rest
ef the herd, if they have started more than one ;
and sometimes an expert Agagcer will kill three out

K 4

136 THE ELEPHANT:

of one herd. If the sword is good, and the man
not too timid, the tendon is in common entirely sepa-
rated; and, if not cut through, is generally so
far divided that the animal, with the stress he puts
upon it, breaks the remaining part asunder. In
either case, he remains incapable of advancing a
step, till the horseman returning, or his companions
coming up, pierce him through with javelins and
lances; he then falls to the ground, and expires
from loss of blood.—The Elephant being slain, they
cut his flesh into thongs, like the reins of a bridle,
and hang these, like festoons, upon the branches of
trees till they become perfectly dry, without salt,
and then lay them by for their provision in the
season of the rains.

In one of these Elephant-huntings, Mr. Bruce
mentions a striking instance of affection in a young
one to its mother: ‘ There now remained (says he)
but two Elephants of those that had been discover-
ed; which were a she one with a calf. The Aga-
geer would willingly have let these alone, as the
teeth of the female are very small, and the young
one is of no sort of value whatever. . But the
hunters would not be limited in their sport. The
people having observed the place of her retreat,
thither we eagerly followed. She was very soon
found, and as soon lamed by the Agageers; but
vhen they came to wound her with their darts, as
every one did in their turn, to our very great sur-
prize, the young one, which had been suffered to
escape unheeded and unpursued, rushed out from
the thicket, apparently in great anger, and ran upon

THE ELEPHANT. 137

the horses and men with all the violence it was mas-
ter of. Iwas amazed, and as much as ever I was
. upon such an occasion, afflicted, at secing the af-
fection of the little animalin defending its wound-
ed mother, heedless of its own life or safety. I
therefore cried to them, for God’s sake to spare the
mother, but it was then too late; and the calf had
made several rude attacks upon me, which I avoid-
ed without difficulty; but I am happy to this
day, in the reflection that I did not strike it. At
last, making one of its attacks upon Ayton Egedan
(another of the party,) it hurt him a little on the
Jeg ; on which he thrust it through with his lance,
as others did after, and it then fell dead before its
wounded mother, whom it had so affectionately de-
fended. It was about the size of an ass, but round,
big-bellied, and heavily made ; and was so furious
and unruly, that it would easily have broken the leg
of 2 man ora horse, could it have overtaken, and
jostled against them properly.”

In some parts of the East the Elephants are taken
by means of pit-falls. ‘Through the woody forests
several paths are cut; in these are dug deep and
large holes, which are carefully covered over with
branches and loose earth,

On distant Ethiopia’s sun-burnt coasts,
The black inhabitants a pit-fall frame ;
With slender poles the wide capacious mouth,
And hurdles light, they close; o’er these is spread
A floor of verdant turf, with all its flow’rs

. Smiling delusive, and from strictest search

Concealing. the deep graye that yawns below,

438 THE ELEPHANT.

Then boughs of trees they cut, with tempting fruit
Of various kinds surcharg’d; the downy peach,
The clust’ring vine, and of bright golden rind
The fragrant orange.. Soon as ev’ning grey
Advances, slow besprinkling all around

With kind refreshing dews the thirsty glebe,

The stately Elephant from the close shade

With step majestic strides ; eager to taste

The cooler breeze that from the sea-beat shore
Delightful breathes, or in the limpid stream

To lave his panting sides ; joyous he scents

The rich repast, unweeting of the death

That lurks within. And soon he sporting breaks
The brittle boughs, and greedily devours

The fruit delicious.---Ah ! too dearly bought ;
The price is life. For now the treach’rous turf
Trembling gives way ; and the unwieldy beast,

Self-sinking, drops into the dark profound.

When the hunters have sufficiently secured the
animals with strong ropes tied round their limbs,
they are dragged out and: taken home to be tamed.
Of their mode of performing this I shall give the
‘account of Tavernier, from his Travels in India,
who tells us that he was himself present at the tam-
ing of two that had been taken not long before.
<< After two hours travel, we came to a great village,
where we saw the two Elephants that had been lately
taken. Each of these was placed between two tame
ones. Round the wild Elephants stood six men,
each with a half-pike in his hand, with a lighted
torch fastened at the end of it, who talked to the
animals, giying them meat, and calling to them
in their own language ‘ take it, take it. If the

THE ELEPHANT. 139

wild Elephants refused to do as they were bid,
the men made signs to the tame ones to beat them;
which they did thus: one of them banged the re-
fractory Elephant about the head with his trunk,
and if he offered to make any resistance, the other
thwacked him on the other side; so that the poor
animal, not knowing what to do, was at length con-
strained to become obedient *.”

It has been stated, that the sagacity of the Ele-
phant is so great, and his memory so retentive, that
when once he has received an injury, or been in
bondage and afterwards escaped, it is not possible,
by any art, again to entrap him. The following
instances recorded in the Philosophical Transac-
tions for 1799, will prove however that this is not
the fact :—

«A female Elephant was first taken in the year
1765, by Rajah Kishun Maunick, who, about six
months after, gave her to Abdoor Rezah, aman of
some rank and consequence in the district. In
1767, the Rajah sent a force against this 4ddoor
Rezah, for some refractory conduct, who, in his
retreat tothe hills, turned the above mentioned
beast loose into the woods, after having used
her above two years as a riding Elephant. She
was afterwards retaken; but broke loose in a
stormy night, and again escaped. In the year
1782, above ten years after her second escape,
she was driven by the Elephant-hunters belonging
to Mr. Lecke, of Longford-hall, in Shropshire, into

Sen ah enn ements Ts

* A mode of taming Elephants somewhat similar to this, isaow
practised in the island of Ceyloa. Thunkerg, iy. 242,

140 THE ELEPHANT.

the inclosure in which the Elephants are secured $
and the day following, when Mr. Leeke went to see
the herd that had been taken, this Elephant was
pointed out to him by the hunters, who well recol-
lected her. ‘They frequently called to her by name;
to which she seemed to pay some attention, by im-
mediately looking towards them when it was repeat-
ed; nor did she appear like the wild Elephants,
who were constantly running about the inclosure
in arage, but seemed perfectly reconciled to her
situation.

‘¢ For the space of eighteen days, she never went
near enough the outlet to be secured; from a re-
collection perhaps of what she had twice before suf-
fered *. Mr. Leeke, at length, went himself, when
there were only herself, another female, and eight
young ones remaining in the inclosure. After the
other female had been secured, by means of the train-
ed female Elephants, called Koomkees, sent in for that
purpose, the hunters were ordered to call on her by
her name. She immediately came to the side of
the ditch, within the inclosure ; on which some of
the drivers were desired to carry in a plantain tree,
the leaves of which she not only took from their
hands with her trunk, but opened her mouth for
them to put a leaf into it, which they did, strok-
ing and caressing her, and calling to her by name,
One of the traincd Elephants was now ordered to be
brought to her, and the driver to take her by the

* When Elephants are secured in the outlet from the inclosure,

they bruise themselves terribly.

THE ELEPHANT. | At

ear and order her to lie down. At first she did not
like the Koomkee to go near her, and retired to a
distance, seeming angry; but, when the drivers,
who were on foot, called to her, she came imme-
diately and allowed them to stroke and caress her
as before ; and in a few minutesafter, permitted the
trained Elephants to be familiar, A driver from
one of these then fastened a rope round her body,
and instantly jumped on her back, which, at the
moment, she did not like, but was soon reconciled
to it. A smal! cord was then put round her neck,
for the driver to put his feet in; who seating himself
on the neck, in the usual manner, drove her about
the inclosure, in the same manner as any of the tame
Elephants.— After this he ordered her to lie down,
which she instantly did; nor did she rise till she
was desired. He fed her from his seat, gave her
his stick to hold, which she took with her trunk,
and put into her mouth, kept, and then returned
it as she was directed, and as she had formerly
been accustomed to do. In short, she wasso obe-
dient, that had there been more wild Elephants in
the inclosure, she would have been useful in se-
curing them.

‘* In June 1787, amale Elephant, taken the year
before, was travelling, in company with some others,
towards Chittigong, laden with baggage ; and hav-
ing come upon a Tiger’s track, which Elcphants
discover readily by the smell, he took fright and
ran off to the woods, in spite of all the efforts of his
driver. On entering the wood, the driver saved

himself by springing from the animal and clinging

y42 THE ELEPHAN®,

to the branch of a tree under which he was passing.
When the Elephant had got rid of his driver, he soon
contriyed to shake off his load. As soon as he ran
away, a trained female was dispatched after him,
but could not get up in time to prevent his escape,

** Fighteen months after this, when a herd of Ele-
phants had been taken, and had remained several
days in the inclosure, till,they were enticed into
the outlet, there tied, and led out in the usual
manner, one of the drivers, viewing a male Elephant
very attentively, declared he resembled the one
which had runaway. ‘This excited the curiosity of
every one to go and look at him; but, when any
person came near, the animal struck at him with his
trunk, and in every respect appeared as wild and
outrageous as any of the other Elephants.—An old
hunter at length coming up and examining him, de-
clared that he was the very Elephant that had made
his escape.

“‘ Confident of this, he boldly rode up to him ona
tame Elephant, and ordered him to he down, pull-
ing him by the ear at the same time. ‘The animal
seemed taken by surprize, and instantly obeyed
the word of command, uttering at the same time a
peculiar shrill squeak through his trunk, as he had
formerly been known to do; by which he was im-
mediately recognized by every person who was ac-
quainted with this peculiarity.”’

Thus we see that this Elephant, for the space of
eight or ten days, during which he was in the in-
closure, appeared equally wild and fierce with the
boldest Elephant then taken; but the moment he

THE ELEPHANT. JAB

‘was addressed in a commanding tone, the recollec-
tion of his former obedience seemed to rush upon
him at once; and, without any difficulty, he per-
mitted a driver to be seated on his neck, who in a
few days made him as tractable as ever.

“ A female Elephant, belonging toa gentleman
at Calcutta, being ordered from the upper country
to Chotygoné, by chance broke loose from her
keeper, and was lost in the woods. The excuses
which the keeper made were not admitted. It was
supposed that he had sold the Elephant ; his wife
and family therefore were sold for slaves, and he
was himself condemned to work upon the roads.
About twelve years afterwards this man was ordered
up into the country to assist in catching the wild
Elephants. ‘The keeper fancied he saw his long-
lost Elephant in a group that was before them. He
was determined to go up to it; nor could the
-strongest representations of the great danger dis-
suade him from his purpose. When he approach-
ed the creature, she knew him; and giving him three
salutes, by waving her trunk inthe air, knelt down
and received him on her back. She afterwards as-
sisted in securing the otNer Elephants, and likewise
brought with her three young ones, which she had
produced during herabsence. ‘The keeper recover-
ed his character; and as a recompence for his suffer-
ings and intrepidity, had an annuity settled on him
for life. ‘This Elephant was afterwards in the pos-
session of Governor Hastings.” |

These and several cther instances that have oc-
_eurred, clearly evince, that Elephants have not the

144 “THE ELEPHANT.

sagacity to avoid a snare into which they have, even
more than once, fallen.

The Elephant, when tamed, becomes the most
gentle and most obedient of all domestic animals.
He 1s so fond of his keeper, that he carresses him,
and anticipates his commands. Hesoonlearnsto com-
prehend signs, and even to understand the expres-
sion of sounds. He distinguishes the tones of com-
mand, of anger, or of approbation, and regulates
his actions accordingly. He neyer mistakes the
voice of his master. He receives his orders with
attention, executes them with prudence and eager-
ness, but without any degree of precipitation; for
his movements are always measured, and his charac-
ter seems to partake of the gravity of his bulk. He
casily learns to bend his knees for the accomoda-
tion of those who mount him. His friends he caresses
with his trunk; salutes with it such people as are
pointed out to him, uses it for raising burthens,
and assists in loading himself. He allows himself
to be clothed, and seems to have a pleasure in being
covered with gilded harness and brilliant housings.
He is employed in drawing chariots, ploughs, wag-
gons, &c. He draws steadily, and never turns res-
tive, provided he is not insulted with improper chas-
tisement, and that the people who labour with him
have the air of being pleased with the manner in
which he employs his strength. The man who
conducts him, generally rides on his neck, and uses
an iron rod, hooked at the end, or having there a
kind of bodkin, with which he pricks the head or

THE ELEPHANT. 145

sides of the ears, in order to urge him forward or to
turn him. But words are generally sufficient ;
especially if the animal has had time toacquire a
complete acquaintance with his conductor, and to
put entire confidence in him. The attachment of
the Elephant becomes sometimes so strong, and his
affection so warm and durable, that he has been
known to die, of sorrow, when, in a paroxysm of
rage, he had killed his guide.

The domestic Elephant performs more work than
perhaps six horses; but he requires from his mas-
ter much care, and a great quantity of good victuals,
He is generally fed with rice, raw or boiled, and
mixed with water. ‘To keep him in full vigour, he
is said to require daily a hundred pounds weight of
this food ; besides fresh herbage to cool him, for he
is subject to be over-heated, and must be led to the
water twice or thrice a-day forthe purpose of bath-
ing. He sucks up water in his trunk, carries it
to his mouth, drinks part of it, and, by elevating
his trunk, allows the remainder to run over every
part his body. His daily consumption of water for
drink, has been calculated at forty-five gallons *.

To give an idea of the labour which he performs, it
is sufficient to remark, that all the tuns, sacks, and
bales, transported from one place to another in
India, are carried by Elephants; that they carry
burthens on their - bodies, their necks, their tusks,
—and even in their mouths, by giving them the end

—— aan

* Thunberg, iv. 244.

Vor. I. L

146 THE ELEPHANT.

of arope, which they hold fast with their teeth ;
that, uniting sagacity to strength, they never break
or injure any thing committed to their charge;
that, from the banks of the rivers, they put
these bundles into boats without wetting them,
laying them down gently, and arranging them
where they ought to be placed ; that, when disposed
inthe places where their, masters direct, they try
with their trunks whether the goods are properly
stowed; and, if a tun or cask rolls, they go, of
their own accord, in quest of stones to prop, and
render tt firm.

M. Phillipe was an eye-witness to the following
facts :—He one day went to the river at Goa, near
which place a great ship was building. Here was
a large area filled with beams for that purpose.
Sone men tied the ends of heavy beams with a ropes»

which was handed to an Elephant, who carried it to.

his mouth, and after twisting it round his trunk,
drew it, without any conductor, to the place where
the ship was building. One of the Elephants some-
times drew beams so large, that more than twenty
men would have been necessary to movethem. But
what surprized this gentleman still more was, that
when other beams obstructed the road, he elevated
the ends of his own beam, that it might run easily
over those which lay in his way. Could the most
enlightened man have done more *?

At Mahie, on the coast.of Malabar, M. Toreen
tells us, he had an opportunity of admiring the

ee

* Voyagedu M. Phillipe, quoted in Buff. Quad.

Se eee

Se

4
¢
4

THE ELEPHANT: 1A7
sagacity of an Elephant. Its master had let it for
a certain sum per day; and its employment was to
carry with its trunk, timber for a building out of
the river : which business it dispatched very dex-
terously, under the command of a boy ; and after-
wards laid the pieces one upon another, in such
exact order, that no man could have done it
better *,

Elephants not only obey the voice of their keeper
when present; but some, even in his absence, will
perform extraordinary tasks which have been previ-
ously explained to them. ‘I have seen two,” says
M. D’Obsonville, “ occupied in beating down a
wall; which their Cornacs had desired them to do,
and encouraged them by a promise of fruits and
brandy. They combined their efforts ; and doubling
up their trunks, which were guarded from injury
by leather, thrust against the strongest part of the
wall; and by reiterated shocks continued their
efforts, carefully observing and following with
their eyes the effects of the equilibrium: at last,
when it was sufiiciently loosened, making one
violent push, they suddenly drew back together,
that they might not be wounded ; and the whole
came tumbling to the ground - .”

Now that fire-arms are the principal implements
of war, Elephants, which are terrified at the noise
and. flame, instead of being useful, would, in ac-
tion, only tend to embarrass and confuse an army.
In Cochin, and other parts of Malabar, however,

* Voyage to Surat; quoted in Buff. Quad. + D’Obsonville, 163.

L4

148 THE ELEPHANT.

as well as in Tonquin, Siam, and Pegu, where fire-
arms are but little understood, these animals are still
used in battle. The guide sits across upon the neck,
and the combatants sit or stand upon the other parts
of the body. They are also extremely serviceable in
the fording of rivers, by carrying over the bag-
gace on their backs. After the keeper has loaded
them with several hundred weight, he fastens ropes
to them; of which the soldiers taking hold,: either
swim, or are drawn through the water. In time of
action, a heavy iron chain is sometimes fixed to the
end of their trunks; which they whirl round with
such agility as to render it impossible for an ene-
my to approach them at that time. Another use
still made of this creature in war, is to force open
the gates of a city or garrison which is. closely
besieged. This he does by setting his hinder parts
against them, and moving backwards and forwards
till he has burst the bars, and forced an entrance :
to prevent which, many of the garrisons in the
Fast have large spikes stuck in their gates, pro-
jecting to a considerable distance.

The Elephant is, however, used in dragging
artillery over mountains ; and it is on such occasions
that his sagacity is most conspicuous. While the
Oxen yoked to a cannon make an effort to pull
it up a declivity, the Elephant pushes the breech
with his front, and at each effort supports the car-
riage with his knee, which he places against the
wheel. He seems to undersand whatever is said to
him.

When his conductor wants him to execute any

THE ELEPHANT. 1AQ

painful labour, he explains the nature of the opera-
tions, and recites the reasons which ought to induce
him to obey. If the Elephant shews a repugnance
to what is exacted of him, his Cornac, or conduc-
tor, promises to give him arrack, or somewhat else
that he likes. It is extremely dangerous, however, to
break any promise that is made to him ; many Cor-
nacs have fallen victims to indiscretions of this kind.

But though he is vindictive, the Elephant is
not ungrateful. A soldier at Pondicherry was ac-
customed to give a certain quantity of arrack to one
of these animals, every time he got his pay; and
having one day intoxicated himself, and being par-
sued by the guard, who wanted to put him in
prison, he took refuge under the Elephant, and
there fell fast asleep. The guard in vain attempted
to drag him from this asylum, for the Elephant de-
fended him with its trunk. Next day the soldier,
having recovered from his intoxication, was in
dreadful apprehension when he found himself under
the beliy of this enormous aninial. The Ele-
phant, who unquestionably perceived his terror,
relieved his fears by immediately carressing him with
his trunk.

This animal is, during the rutting season, seized
with a madness which makes him totally untrac-
table, and makes him so- formidable, that it is
_often necessary to kill him. ‘The people try to
bind hia with large iron chains, in the hope of re-
claiming him: but in his ordinary state, the mast
acute pains will not provoke him to hurt those who
have never injured him. An Elephant, rendered

Lg

150 THE ELEPHANT.

furious by the wounds it had received at the battle
of Hambour, ran about the field making the most
hideouscries. A soldier, notwithsanding the alarms of
his comrades, was unable, perhaps on account of his
wounds, to fly. The Elephant approached, seemed
afraid of trampling him under its feet, took him up
with its trunk, placed him gently on his fide, and
continued its route.

An incident to which M. le Baron de Lauriston
was a witness during one of the late wars in the
East, forms another proof of the sensibility of the
Elephant. This gentleman, from his zeal and
some other circumstances, was induced to go to
Laknaor, the capital of the Soubah or viceroyalty
of that name, at atime when an epidemic distemper
was making the greatest ravages amongst the inha-~
bitants. ‘he principal road to the palace-gate
was covered with the sick and dying, extended on
the ground, at the very moment when the nabob
must necessarily pass. It appeared impossible for
his Elephant to do otherwise than tread upon and
crush many of these poor wretches in his passage,
unless the prince would stop till the way could be
cleared ; but he was in haste, and such tenderness
would be unbecoming in a personage of his import-
ance. The Elephant, however, without appearing
to slacken his pace, and without having received
any command for that purpose, assisted them with
his trunk, removed some, set others on their feet,
and stepped over the rest with so much address and
assiduity, that not one person was wounded. An
Asiatic prince and his slaves were deaf to the cries

THE ELEPHANT. TH

of nature, while the heart of the beast relented ; he,
more worthy than his rider to elevate his front to-
wards the heavens, heard and obeyed the cails of
humanity *. }

The following instance of the sagacity of these
animals was mentioned to Dr. Darwin by some
gentlemen of undoubted veracity, who had been
much conversant with our Eastern settlements. The
Elephants that are used to carry the baggage of our
armies, are put each under the care of one of the
natives of Indostan ;. and whilst this person and his
wife go into the woods to collect leaves and branches
of trees for his food, they fix him to the ground by
aleneth of chain, and frequently leave a child yet
unable to walk, underhis protection; and the in-
telligent animal not only defends it, but, as it creeps
about, when it arrives near the extremity of his
chain, he wraps his trunk gently round its body,
and brings it again into the centre of his circle -f.

During one of the wars in India, many French-
men had an opportunity of observing one of the
Elephants that had received a tlefh-wound from a
cannon-ball. After having been twice or thrice con-
ducted to the hospital, where he extended hiinself
to be dressed, he afterwards used to goalone. ‘ihe
surgeon did whatever he thought necessary, ap ly-
ing sometimes even fire to the wound; and though
the pain made the animal often utter the most plain-
tive groans, he never expressed any other tok-ns
than those of gratitude to this person, who by mo-

* D'Obsonyille, 160. + Darwin's Zoonomia.

LA

152 THE ELEPHANT.

nentary torments endeavoured, and in the end
effected, his cure *.

In the last war, a young Elephant received a
violent wound in its head; the pain of which ren-
dered it so frantic and ungovernable, that it was
found impossible to persuade the animal to have the
part dressed. Whenever any one approached, it ran
off with fury, and would suffer no person to come
within several yards of it. The man who had the
care of it, at length hit upon a contrivance for secur-
ing it. By afew words and signs he gave the mo-
ther of the animal sufficient intelligence of what was
wanted ; the sensible creature immediately seized
her young one with her trunk, and held it firmly
down, though groaning with agony, while the sur-
geon completely dressed the wound: and she conti+
nued to perform this service every day till the ani-
mal was perfectly recovered.

In many parts of India, Elephants are made the
executioners of justice ; for, with their trunks, they
will break every limb of a criminal, trample him to
death, or tranfix him with their tusks, as they are
directed,

In India, they were once employed in the launch-
ing of ships. One was directed to force a very large
vessel into the water ; but the work proved superior
to hisstrength. His master, in a sarcastic tone, bid
the keeper take away this lazy beast, and bring
another, ‘The poor animal instantly repeated his |

AEE TA A TL CO LE TR ce

* D'obsonville, 16s,

THE ELEPHANT. | is Fe

efforts, fractured his skull, and died on the
spot *.

In the Philosophical Transactions, a story is re-
Jated of an Elephant having such an attachment for
avery young child, that he was never happy but
when it was near him. ‘The nurse used, therefore,
very frequently to take the child in its cradle, and
place it between his feet. This he became at length
so much accustomed to, that he would never eat
his food except when it was present. When the
child slept, he used to drive off the flies with his pro-
boscis ; and when it cried, he would move the cra-
dle backwards and forwards, and thus rock it again
to sleep -f.

A sentinel belonging to the present menagerie
at Paris, was always very careful in requesting the
spectators not to give the Elephants any thing to
eat. This conduct particularly displeased the fe-
male; who beheld him with a very unfavourable eye,
and had several times endeavoured to correct his
interference by sprinkling his head with water
from her trunk. One day, when several persons
were coliected to view these animals, a by-stander
offered the female a bit of bread. The sentinel] per-
ceived it ; but the moment he opened his mouth to
give his usual admonition, she, placing herself im-
mediately before him, discharged in his face a con-
siderable stream of water. A general laugh ensued ;
but the sentinel, having calmly wiped his face, stood

* Penn. Quad. i. 155. related from Ludolph. Com. in Hist.
fth., 147.
+ Phil. Tran. xxviii. 65.

154 THE ELEPHANT.

a little to one side, and continued as vigilant as before.
Soon afterwards, he found himself under the neces-
sity of repeating his admonition to the spectators ;
but no sooner was this uttered, than the female laid
hold of his inusket, twirled it round with her trunk,
trod it under her feet, and did not restore it till she
had twisted it nearly into the form of a screw *.

M. Navarette says, that at Macasar, an Elephant-
driver had a cocoa-nut given him, which out. of
wantonness he struck twice against his Elephant’s
forehead to break. The day following the animal
saw some cocoa-nuts exposed in the street for-sale ;
and taking one of them up with its trunk, beat it
about the driver’s nead, till the man was complete-
ly dead. ‘* This comes (says our author) of jesting
with Elephants -.” . :

An Elephant that was exhibited in France some
years ago, seemed to know when it was mocked by
any person ; and remembered the affront till an
opportunity for revenge occurred. A man deceived
it, by pretending to throw something into its
mouth: the animal gave him such a blow with its
trunk, as knocked him down, and broke two of
his ribs. Arter which it trampled on him with its
feet, broke one of his legs, and bending down on
its knees, endeavoured to push its tusks into his
body ; but they luckily ran into the ground on each
side of his thigh, without doing him any injury.—
This Elephant generally made less use of its strength —

bs)

than its address. With great ease and coolness, it

see

—_= So

* Tilloch. + Navarette, 1. 268.

THE ELEPHANT. 155

loosened the buckle of a large double leathern strap
with which its lee was fixed; and though the at~-
tendants had wrapped the buckle round with a small
cord, and tied many knots on it, the creature deli~
berately loosened the whole, without breaking ei-
ther the cord or the strap. One night, after disen-
gaging itself in this manner from its strap, it broke
up the door of its lodge with such dexterity as
not to awaken the keeper. ‘Thence it went into
several courts of the menagerie; forcing open doors,
and throwing down the walls when the doors were
too narrow to let it pass. In this manner it got
access to the apartments of other animals; and so
terrified them, that they fled into the most retired
corners of the inclosure *.

“ T have frequently remarked (says Terry, in his
Voyage to the East Indies) that the Elephant per-
forms many actions which would seem almost the
immediate effect of reason. He does every thing his
master commands. If he is directed to terrify any
person, he runs upon him with every appearance of
fury, and, when he comes near, stops short, with-
out doing him the least injury. When the master
chuses to affront any one, he tells the Elephant ;
who collects water and mud with his trunk, and
squirts it upon the object pointed out to him.”

That Elephants are susceptible of the warmest
attachment to each other, the following account, ex-
tracted from a late French journal, will sufficiently
prove. ‘wo Ceylonese Elephants, a male and a

* Buk Quad.

156 THE ELEPHANT,

female, each about two years and a half old, were in
1786 brought into Holland, a present to the Stad-
holder from the Dutch East India Company. They
had been separated, in order to be conveyed from the
Hague to Paris; where, in the Museum of Natural
History, a spacious hall was prepared for their re-
ception. ‘This was divided into two apartments,
which had a communication by means of a large
door resembling a portcullis. The inclosure round
these apartments consisted of very strong wooden
rails. ‘The morning after their arrival, they were
conveyed to this habitation. ‘The male was first
brought. He entered the apartment with suspicion,
reconnoitred the place, and then examined each
bar separately with his trunk, and tried their solidi-
ty by shaking them. He attempted to turn the large
screws on the outside which held them together,
but was not able. When he arrived at the port-
cullis which separated the apartments, he observed
that it was fastened only by a perpendicular iron
bar. This he raised with his trunk, then pushed up
the door, and entered the second apartment where
he received his breakfast.—These two animals had
been parted, (but with the utmost diificulty,) for the
convenience of carriage, and had not seen each other
for some months; and the joy they experienced
on meeting again, after so long a separation, is
scarcely to be expressed. ‘They immediately
rushed towards each other, and sent forth cries of
joy so animated and loud as to shake the whole
hall. ‘They breathed also through their trunks with
such violence, that the blast resembled an impetu-

THE ELEPHANT. 157

ous gust of wind. The joy of the femalewas the
most lively. She expressed it by quickly flapping
her ears, which she made to move with astonishing
velocity, and drew her trunk over the body of the
male with the utmost tenderness. She particu-
larly applied it tohisear, where she kept it a long
time ; and after having drawn it over his whole
body, often moved it affectinately towards her
own mouth. The male did the same over the
body of the female, but huis joy was more steady.
He seemed, however, to express it by his tears,
which fell from his eyes in abundance. Since this
time they have occupied tlie same apartment ; and
their mutual tenderness and natural affection have
excited the admiration, and even the esteem, of all
who have visited them.

These two Elephants consume every day a hun-
dred pounds weight of hay, and eighteen pounds of
bread, besides several bunches of carrots, and a great
quantity of potatoes. During summer they drink
about thirty pails of water in the day.—On their
arrival in Holland, they were conyeyedin a yessel up
the river Waal to Nimeguen, whence they were
driven on foot to Loo. The attendants had much
Aifficulty in inducing them to cross the bridge at
Arnheim. The animals had fasted for several hours,
and a quantity of food was placed for them on the
opposite side of the bridge. Still, however, some
time elapsed before they would venture themselves
uponit ; and at last they would not make any step
without first carefully examining the planks, to see
that they were firm. During the time they were

158 THE ELEPHANT.

kept at Loo they were perfectly tame, and were suf-
fered to range at liberty. They would sometimes
even come into the room at the dinner hour, and
take food from the company. After the conquest
of Holland, from the cruelty with which they were
treated by many of the spectators who crowded to
visit them, they lost much of their gentleness; and
their subsequent confinement in the cages in which
they were conveyed to Paris, has even rendered them
in some degree ferocious towards spectators. ‘They
are not suffered to range at liberty ; but are kept in
an inclosure sufficiently large to allow them some
€XEICise. This contains their den, and a pond, in
which during summer they often wash themselves *.

The Elephant, it is said, is even able to write
with a pen. “I have myself seen (says Adlian) an
Elephant write Latin characters on a board in a very
orderly manner, his keeper only shewing him the
figure of each letter +.”

Dr. Darwin tells us, that he was informed by a
gentleman of veracity, that, in some parts of the
East, the Elephant is taught to walk on a narrow
path between two pit-falls, which are covered with
turf ; and then to go into the woods, and seduce the
wild Elephants to come that way, who fall into
these wells, whilst he passes safe between them.
The same gentleman says also that it was univer-
sally observed, that such wild Elephants as had

* La Menagerie du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle.
t+ Opera Claudii Alliani, cura Con. Gesneri.

THE ELEPHANT. 159

escaped the snare, always pursued the traitor with
the utmost vehemence; and if they could overtake
him, which sometimes happened, they beat him to
death *.

Tavernier relates, that one of the kings of India
was in a hunting-party, with his son, upon an Ele-
phant, when the animal, being seized with one of
his perodical fits of madness, became at once un-
governable and furious. ‘The Cornac told the king,
that, to allay tlie fury of the animal, who would
otherwise doubtless bruise them all to death among
‘the trees, one of the three must sacrifice his life ;
and that he would willingly yield his own for the pre-
servation of the other two. In return, he only intreat-
ed that the king would provide for his family after
his death. This being promised, he threw himself
headlong under the animal’s feet; who seized him
with his trunk, and afterwards, by trampling, crush-
ed him to pieces. ‘he Elephant soon seemed to
repent of having thus, without provocation, mur-
dered his keeper; and without any farther difficulty,
became perfectly quiet. The king, says our au-
thor, provided liberally for the wife and children of
the poor fellow, who had thus generously sacri-
ficed his life for the safety of him and his son +.

Elephants, when hunted, endeavour to avoid
muddy rivers with the greatest care, probably that
they may not stick fast in the ooze ; while, on the

* Darwin's Zoonomia. + ‘'Tavernier’s Trayels in India,

160 THE ELEPHANT.

other hand, they industriously seek out the larger
rivers, which they swim over with great ease. For,
notwithstanding that the Elephant, from the form of
his feet and the position of his limbs, does not seem
to be adapted for swimming, (when he is out of his
depth in the water, his body and head being entirely
sunk under the surface ;) yet he is in less danger of
being drowned than many other land animals, as he
carries his long trunk raised above the surface of
the water in order to breathe, and can steer his
course in it by means of this appendage. It has
consequently been observed, that when several Ele-
phants have swum over a river at the same time,
they have all found the way very well; and have
been able also to avoid running foul of each other,
though their heads and eyes have been all the while
under water.

These animals are said to be kept in many parts
of India, more for shew and grandeur than for use.
And their keeping is attended with very great ex-
pence ; for they devour vast quantities of provision,
and must sometimes be regaled with a plenti-
ful repast of cinnamon, of which they are exceed-
ingly fond, It is said to be no uncommon thing
for a nabob, if he wishes to ruin a private gentle-
man, to make him a present of an Elephant ; which
he is afterwards obliged to maintain at a greater
expence than he can afford. By parting with it he
would certainly fall under the displeasure of the
grandee ; besides forfeiting all the honour which
his countrymen think is conferred upon him, by so
respectable a present.

‘

ee

Calle

THE ELEPHANT. — 16}
In the Island of Ceylon the general value of an
Elephant is about fifty pounds sterling. Butif there
is any blemish; if, for instance, its tail has been
plucked off, one of its ears slit, or it has suffered
any other kind of damage; very considerable de-
ductions are made. And, as it is very unusual to
find an Elephant free from all these defects, those
that are so are commonly sold at from one to
two hundred pounds each. They are taken to market
at certain stated periods ; and generally sold, a great
number together, by auction. It is customary for
two or more persons to purchase conjointly, fifty,
sixty, or a hundred Elephants; which they afier-
wards dispose of in separate lots, with great profit *.
Elephants are said to be extremely susceptible of
the power of music. Suetonius relates that the em-
peror Domitian had a troop of Elephants disciplined
to dance to the sound of music; and that one of
them who had been beaten for not having his lesson
perfect, was observed the night afterwards in a mea-
dow, practising it by himself ! .
At Paris some curious experiments have been
lately mace on the power of music over the sensibi--
lity of the Elephant. A band of music went to play
in a gallery extending round the upper part of the
stalls in which were kept two Elephants, distinguish-
ed by thenames of Margaret and Hans. A perfectsi-
lence was procured. Some provisions of which they
were fond were given them to engage their attention,

* Thunberg, iv. 249.

Vou. I. M

162 THE ELEPHANT.

and the musicians began to play. ‘The musicno sooner
struck their ears, than they ceased {rom eating, and
turned in surprise to observe whence the sounds
proceeded. At sight of the gallery, the orchestra,
and the assembled spectators, they discovered con-
siderable alarm, as though they imagined there was
some design against their safety. But the music
soon overpowered their fears, and all other emotions
became completely absorbed in their attention to it.
Music of a bold and wild expression excited in them
turbulent agitations, expressive either of violent joy,
or of rising fury. A soft air performed on the
bassoon, evidently soothed them to gentle and ten-
der emotions. A gay and lively air moved them,
especially the female, to demonstrations of highly
sportive sensibility. Other variations of the music
produced corresponding changes in the emotions of
the Elephants.

Some of the Indians who believe in transmigra-
tion of souls, are persuaded that a body so majestic
as that of the Elephant, must be animated with the
soul of a great man or a king. In many of the
Eastern countries the white Elephants are regarded
as the living manes of the Indian emperors. Each
of these animals has a palace, 2 number of domes-
tics, and magnificent trappings; and eats out of
golden vessels filled with the choicest food. They
-are absolved from all labour and servitude. The
“emperor is the only person before whom they
bow the knee, and their salute is returned by the
monarch.—When the king of Pegu walks abroad,
four white Elephants, adorned with precious stones

THE ELEPHANT, 163

and ornaments of gold, march before him ; and
when he gives audience, these four Elephants are
presented to him, who do him reverence by raising
their trunks, opening their mouths, making three
distinct cries, and then Kneeling. ‘This ended,
they are led back to their stable, and there each of
them is fed in large golden vessels. They are twice
a-day washed with water taken from a silver vessel.
During the time of their being dressed in this man-
ner, they are under a canopy, supported by eight
domestics, in order to defend them from the heat
of the sun. In going to the vessels which contain
their food and water, they are preceded by three
trumpets, and march with great majesty.

Such are the accounts, collected through a pretty
wide range of authorities, which I have been ena-
bled to give, of the disposition and manners of this
useful and most intelligent of all animals. These
may, perhaps, in a few instances, have been exag-
gerated by the writers, and must consequently be
received with some degree of limitation; yet we
have had so many surprising instances of their sa-
gacity, given to us on undoubted authority, that
however wonderful these may seem, it would not
be right to’ entirely discredit any of them, without
direct proof of their untruth. The authorities for
the whole are such as have been received by differ-
ent respectable and observing men, who, with both
the pow ers and ability of enquiring into them, seem
‘to ‘hayé entertained no doubts whatever of their
Validity, | ali
Oaactount of this extraordinary anitial’ cannor

M 2 |

364 THE PLATYPUS TRIBE.

be better closed than with the following expressive
lines, finely descriptive of his native state :

Peaceful beneath primeval trees, that cast

Their ample shade o’er Niger’s yellow stream,
And where the Ganges rolls his sacred wave;

Or mid the central depth of black’ning woods,
High rais’d in solemn theatre around ;

Leans the hugé Elephant, wisest of brutes.
Otruly wise! with gentle might endow’d 5
Though powerful, not destructive ! Here he sses
Revolving ages sweep the changeful earth,

And empires rise and fall; regardless he

Of what the never-resting race of men

Project: thrice happy ! could he ’scape their guile,
Who mine, from cruel avarice, his steps ;

Or with his tow’ry grandeur swell their state,
The prideof kings! or else his strength pervert,
And bid him rage amid the mortal fray,
Astonish’d at the madness of mankind.

THE PLATYPUS. TRIBE.

THE only animal at present known as belonging
to this very extraordinary tribe, was discovered a few
years ago, in New Holland. Sir Joseph Banks had
in his possession. two specimens, which were sent
over by Governor Hunter; and only one or two
others have as yet arrived in this king dom..

The Platypus has two erinders on each side both
of the upper and lower jaw. Instead of» front
tecth, it has. a process resembling the bill of a Duck«
The feet are webbed.

THE DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS *., |

The mouth of this very singular creature exhibits
so great a resemblance to the beak of someof the
broad-billed species of Ducks, that itis not without
minute and accurate examination, that we can per-
suade ourselves of its being the real beak or snout of
a quadruped. | :

The length of the animal, from the tip of the
beak to the end of the tail, is thirteen inches ; and of
this the beak occupies an inch anda half. The body
is depressed, and has some resemblance to that of
an Otter in miniature ; it is covered with a very
thick, soft fur, of a moderately dark brown colour
above, and whitish beneath. The head is rather
small ; and the tail flat, furry like the body, and
obtuse. The legs are very short, and terminate in
a broad web, which on the fore-feet extends to a
considerable distance beyond the claws. On the
fore-feet there are five claws. straight, strong, and
sharp-pointed; and on the hind-feet six curved
claws; the interior one seated much higherthan the
rest, and resembling a strong sharp spur --.

The specimens of this animal hitherto sent to
Europe, have been deprived of their internal parts,
and are for the most part very ill preserved. Mr.
Home examined one belonging to Sir Joseph Banks,

* Synonyms,—Platypus Anatinus. Duck-billed Platypus. Sha
~—Omnithorhynchus paradoxus. Home. Biumenbachm——Shiwe's Gen
ool. pl. 06. 87,

es
tee

+ Shaw’s Zool, i. 232,

M 3

166 THE DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS.

which had been kept in spirits, and was tolerably
perfect. He discovered that although the beak,
when cursorily examined, had so great a resem-
blance to that of the Duck, as to induce a belief
that it was calculated for exactly the same purposes 5
yet when all its parts were carefully reviewed, he
found that it differed in a variety of circumstances.
This, it appears, is not the animal’s mouth ; but 1s
merely a projecture beyond, and added to it.

The cavity of the mouth is similar to that of
other guadrupeds, and has two grinders on each
side, both in the upper and under jaw : but instead
of front-teeth, the nasal and palate bones are con-
tinued forward, lengthening the anterior nostrils,
and forming the upper part of the beak ; and the
two portions of the lower jaw, instead of terminat-
ing, as in other quadrupeds, are also continued for-
wards, forming the under portion of the beak. This
structure differs materially from the bills of all birds:
since in the feathered tribe the cavities of the nos-
trils do not extend beyond the root of the bill ; and
in the lower portions, which correspond with the
under. jaw of quadrupeds, the edges are hard, to
answer the purpose of teeth, and in the middle there
is an hollow space to receive the tongue: but in the
Platypus the two thin plates of bone are in the
centre, and the parts that surround them are com-
posed of skin and membrane, in which, probably,
a muscular structure is included.

The teeth have no fangs that sink into the jaw, as
in most other quadrupeds, but are embedded in the
gums,—The tongue 1s scarcely half an inch long,

THE DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS. 167

and the moveable part is not more than a quarter of
aninch. It can be drawn entirely into the mouth ;
and, when extended, reaches about a quarter of an
inch into the beak.—The organ of smell differs in
some measure from that of both quadrupeds and
birds. The external opening is placed near the end
of the beak ; whence are superadded to it two ca-
Vities, extending all the way along the beak.—The
beak itself is coyered with a smooth black skin, that
extends some way beyond the bones, both in front.
and laterally ; and forms a moveable lip, so strong,
that when dried or hardened in spirit, it seems to be
quite rigid, but when moistened is very pliant, and
is probably a muscular structure. ‘The under por-
tion of the beak has a lip equally broad with the
upper. This has a serrated edge, (wanting in the
upper mandible), but the serree are mostly confined
to the soft part—A curious transverse fold of the
external black smooth skin by which the beak is
covered, projects all round, exactly at that part
where it has its origin. ‘The apparent use of this
is to prevent the beak from being pushed too
far into the soft mud, in which prey may be con-
cealed.—The nerves that supply the beak, are
much allied to those of birds; and the cavity
of the skull has a greater resemblance to that of a
Duck than of a quadruped.— The eye is un-
commonly small for the size of the animal; and
the external opening of the ear is simply an orifice,
and so minute as not to be discovered without dif.

ficulty.
M 4

168 THE MANATI TRIBE.

From the form of this animal we are led to sup-
pose it a resident in watery situations ; that it bur-
rows in the banks of rivers, or under ground, and
that its food consists of aquatic plants and animals,
But the structure of its beak is such as not to en-
able it to lay firm-hold of its prey: when, how-
ever, the two marginal lips are brought together,
the animal has most probably a considerable power
of suction, and in this manner may draw food into
its mouth *.

THE MANATI TRIBE,

THE animals of this tribe are destitute of fore-
teeth in both jaws. From the upper jaw, however,
proceed two great tusks, which point downwards,
The grinders have wrinkled surfaces. ‘The lips. are
doubled. The hind feet are at the extremity of the
body, and unite into a kind of fin.

The Manati are entirely marine; feeding on sea-
weeds, corallines, and shell-fish, and not carni-
vorous. ‘Their elongated body, declining in bulk
from the head gradually to the tail; and their short,
fin-like feet ; give them some alliance to the fishy
tribes. ‘They may indeed be considered as form-
ing one of those steps in nature, by which we are
condueted from one. great division of the animal
world to the other. ‘Though the general residence

SS

* Phil. Tran. for 1800, p. 432.

THE ARCTIC WALRUS. 169

of all the species is in the sea, yet some of them
are perfectly amphibious, and live with equal ease
on the land and in water.

THE ARCTIC WALRUS*.

These animals, which are sometimes seen eigh-
teen feet long, and ten or twelve in circumference,
are inhabitants of the coasts of. the Magdalene Is-
lands, in the Gulph of St. Lawrence. They are
usually found in vast multitudes floating on the -ice_
In their upper jaw they have two long tusks bend-
ing downwards, which they use in scraping shell-
fish and other prey out of the sand, and from the
rocks. The further use of these is in ascending the
isiands of ice, the animals fixing them in the cracks,
and upon them drawing up their bodies. They are
also weapons of defence against the White Bear,
the Sword-fish, and Sharks +.

_ The Arctic Walrus is inelegant in its form, hav-
ing a small head, short neck, thick body, and short
legs. ‘The lips are very thick, and the upper one is
cleft into two large rounded lobes, on which there
are several thick and semi-transparent bristles. The
eyes are very small; and. instead of external ears,
there are only two small circular orifices. The skin
is thick, and scattered over with short brownish
hair. Oneach: foot there are five tocs. connected

* Synonyms.—Trichechus Rosmarus. Jlinnz.—Sea-horse. Evis—
Walross. Marten—Merse, or Walrus. Smel/. Buff: —Morse. Buffon.
—Rosmarus. Jofnsion—Arectic Walrus. Penn. Shaws Gen. Zool.

pl 68, 69.—Bew. Quad. 467. ~ Crantz, & 127.

170 THE ARCTIC WALRUS.

by webs, and the hind-feet are considerably broader
than the others. The tail is extremely short.

They are harmless animals, unless when attacked
or provoked, in which case they become furious,
and exceedingly vindictive. When surprised on
the ice, the females first provide for the safety of
their young, by flinging them into the sea, and
conveying them to a secure distance; they then
return to the place with great rage to revenge any
injury they have received. They will sometimes
attempt to fasten their teeth on the boats, in order
to sink them,» or will rise under them in great num-
bers, with the intention of oversetting them, at the
same time time exhibiting all the marks of rage,
roaring in a dreadful manner, and gnashing their
teeth with great violence. They are strongly at-
tached to each other, and will make every effort in
their power, even to death, to set at liberty their
harpooned companions. A wounded Walrus has
been known to sink to the bottom, rise suddenly
again, and bring up with it multitudes of others,
who have united in an attack on the boat from
whence the insult came *.

These animals always visit the Magdalene Islands
early in the spring. ‘These seem particularly a-
dapted to their wants, abounding in large shell-fish,
and afiording thera a convenient landing. Imme-
diately on their arrival they crawl up the sloping
rocks of the coast in great numbers, and frequently

lt

* Penn. Arct. Zool. 1.147,

THE ARCTIC WALRUS. 71

remain for many days, when the weather is fair,
without food; but on the first appearance of rain
they immediately retreat to the water with great
precipitation. Very soon after their arrival they
bring forth their young. The inhabitants suffer
them to come on shore, and amuse themselves for
a considerable time, till they acquire some degree of
boldness ; for, at first landing, they are so exceed-
ingly timid as to suffer no one to approach thei.
In a few weeks they assemble in great numbers ;
formerly, when undisturbed by the Americans,
to the amount of 7 or 8000.—At a proper time, the.
fishermen, taking advantage of a sea wind to pre-
vent the animals from smelling them, and with the
assistance of dogs, endeavour in the night to se-
parate those that are farthest advanced from those
next the water, driving them different ways. This
they call making acut, and it is generally esteemed
a very dangerous process, since it is impossible to
drive them in any particular direction, and often
difficult to avoid them. The darkness of the night,
however, deprives them of every direction to the
water, so that they stray about, and are killed by
the men at leisure, those nearest the shore becom-
ing the first victims. In this manner fifteen or six-
teen hundred have been killed at one cut.—They
are then skinned, and the coat of fat that. always
surrounds them is taken off, and dissolved into oil.
The skin is cut into slices of two or three inches
wide, and exported to America. for Carriage-traces,
and to England for glue *,

ici ee eee)

* Shuldbam, in Phil. Tran, vol. 65. p- 249,

172 THE ARCTIC WALRUS.

They sometimes attack small boats, merely
through wantonness, and not only put the people in
confusion, but frequently subject them to great
danger. In the year 1706 some of the crew of a
sloop which sailed to the north, to trade with the
Esquimaux, were attacked in their boat by a great
number of these animals; and, notwithstanding
their utmost endeavours to keep them off, one more
daring than the rest, though a sinall one, got in over
the stern, and after sitting and looking at the men
some aime, he again plunged into the water to- his
companions. At that instant, another of an enor-
mous size was getting in over the bow; and every
other means proving ineffectual to prevent such an
unwelcome visit, the bowman took up a gun, load-
ed with goose-shot, put the muzzle into the an-
mal’s mouth, and shot him dead. He immediately
sunk, aud was followed by all his companions. The
people then made the best of their way to the ves-
sel, and just arrived before the creatures were ready
to make their second attack, which, in all probabi-
lity, would have been infinitely worse than the first,
as they seemed highly enraged at the loss of their
companion *.

The following is Captain Cook’s description of a
herd of Walrusses, that were seen floating on a mass
of ice off the northern part of the continent of Ame~
tica.—‘* They lie in herds of many hundreds, upon
the ice, huddling over one another like swine ; and
roar or bray so very loud, that in the night, or in

ee
“s®

* Fearne, 28%

THE ARCTIC WALRUS. 173
fogey weather, they gave us notice of the vicinity
of the ice before we could see it. We never found
the whole herd asleep, some being always upon the
watch. ‘These, on the approach of the boat, would
wake those next to them ; and the alarm being thus
gradually communicated, the whole herd would be
awake presently. But they were seldom in a hurry
to get away, till after they had been once fired at.
They then would tumble over one another into the
sea in the utmost confusion. And if we did not, at
the first discharge, kill those we fired at, we gene-
rally lost them, though mortally wounded. They
did not appear to us to be that dangerous animal
which some authors have described ; not even when
attacked. They are rather more so in appearance
than in reality. Vast numbers of them would follow
and come close up to the boats; but the flash of a
musket in the pan, or even the bare pointing one at
them, would send them down in an instant. ‘The
female will defend the young to the very last, and
at the expence of her own life, whether in the water,
or upon the ice. Nor will the young one quit the
dam, though she be dead; so that if one is killed,
the other is certain prey. The dam, when in the
water, holds the young one between her fore-fins tS"

The Greenlandeers, when they find a herd of
them upon the ice, approach in their boats, and
fling their harpoons as the alarmed animals are
tumbling themselves along the steeps of the ice into
the sea. They seize these opportunities of killing

=

* Cook's last Voyage, ili. 42, 48.

174 THE ARCTIC WALRUS.
them, as the animals always distend their skins, to
roll with greater ease and lightness, and, therefore,
are easier to hit than when they are at rest on the
shore, and the skin is flaccid *.

When playing about in the water, they have
been frequently observed to draw Sea-fowl beneath
the surface, with their long tusks, and after a while
to throw them up inthe air; but they liye entirely
upon marine plants and Shell-fish, and never eat
these +.

This animal appears to have been known to king
Alfred so early asthe year 890, from the informa-
tion of Octher, the Norwegian, who made a voyage
beyond the North Cape of Norway, ‘* for the more
commoditie, (says Hakluyt) of fishing of Horse-
wales, which have in their teeth bones of great price
and excellence; whereof he brought some on his
returne unto the king.” Hakluyt further informs
us, that at that period the natives of the northern
coasts made cables, some of them sixty ells in length,
of the Horse-Wales and Seals-skins *.

The tusks of the Walrus, which weigh from ten
to thirty pounds each, are used as an inferior sort of
ivory ; but the animals are principally, forthe sake
of their oil. A very strong and elastic leather, it 1s
said, may be prepared from the skin, The animals
frequently weigh from.1500. to 2000) pounds, and
produce from one to: two:barrels of -oileach §.

Se ee
‘

4

* Marten’s Spitsbergen, in Iarris. + Crantzs 137. + Tak-
inyt; io: § Phik ‘Drane veh Ga, p. 249%

§

f .
ara
Al

gee a
THE WHALE-TAILED MANATI *

The Whale-tailed Manati live entirely in the wa-
ter, and in other respects they so nearly approach the
Whale tribe, as. scarcely to deserve the name of
Quadrupeds. What are denominated feet are little
more than pectoral fins, which serve only for swim-
ming

They inhabit theseas between America and Kamts-
chatka, but never appear off the coast of Kamts-
chatka, unless driven there by a tempest.—They are
always foundin herds. ‘The old ones keep behind,
and drive the young before them; and some go a-
long the sides, by way of protection—On the ris-
ing of the tide they approach the shores, and are
so tame as to suffer themselves to be handled. “hey
live in families near one another, each consisting of
a male and female, a half grown young one, and a
new-born cub ; and these families often unite S0./as
to form vast droves +. :

In their manners they are peaceable and aaa
and bear the strongest attachment to each~ aie
When one is hooked, the whole herd will , SSemaBt
Its rescue ; some will strive to oyerset the boat by
going beneath it; others will fling ae Aap on the
rope of the hook, and press it down in order to break
it; and others again will make the utmost efforts to |
wrench the instrument out of the body of their
wounded companion. a.

—m

* Synonyms.—Trichechus Borealis. Linn. — Morskuia Eorowa,
the Russian name, Sed/er.—Whale- ctaded Manati. Penn.
7 Penn. Quad. ii. 537.

176 THE WHALE-TAILED MANATI.

In their conjugal affection, if such it may be
termed, they are most exemplary. A male, after
having used all his endeavours to release his mate,
which had been struck, pursued her to the very
edge of the water; and no blows that were given
could force him away. As long as the deceased
female continued in the water, he persisted in his
attendance ; and even for three days after she was
drawn on shore, cut up, and carried away, he was
observed to remain in expectation of her return.

They are taken by a great hook fastened to a
Jong rope. The strongest man in the boat strikes
the instrument into the nearest animal; which be-
ing done, twenty or thirty people on shore seize
the rope, and with the ercatest difficulty drag tt on
shore. The poor creature makes the strongest re-
sistance, assisted by its faithful companions. It will
cling with its feet to the rocks till it leaves the skin
behind ; and often great fragments fly off before it
can be landed. “I once saw (says Dr. Grieve,)
some of the fishermen cut off the flesh from one of
them while it was alive, which all the while struck
the water with such force with its paws as entirely
to tear off the skin *.”

Their size is enormous, some of them being
twenty-eight feet long, ard we'ghing so much as

eight thousand pounds.—They are exceedingly vo-
racious, and feed on the different species of Fuct
that grow in the sea, and are driven to the shore,
When filled they fall afleep on their backs. Dur-

a

as

* Grieve, 184. Penn. Arct. Zool. i, 177- ee

THE ROUND-TAILED MANATI. 177

ing their meals they are so intent on their food,
that any one may go among them, and select out one
of theirnumber. ‘Their back and sides are generally
above water *.

The head is small. The lips are double; and,
near the junction of the two jaws, the mouth is
filled with white tubular bristles, which pre-
vent the food from running out with the water,
and also serve for cutting teeth, to divide the
strong roots of the sea-plants. Two flat white
bones with undulated surfaces, one in each jaw, sup-
ply the place of grinders—The eyes are extremely
small, as are also the orifices for the ears. The tail
is thick and strong; ending in a black, stiff fin.
The skin is thick, hard, and black, and full of ine-
qualities like the bark of oak ; beneath it there is a
thick blubber.

The flesh is coarser than beef, and does not soon
putrify. The young ones taste like veal -f.

THE ROUND-TAILED MANATI

These animals are about six feet long; and
three or four in circumference, though some-
times much more. They have a short thick neck,
small eyes, and thick lips ; are very thick about the
shoulders, and taper gradually to the tail, which is
broad and round. ‘The feet are placed at the shoul-

* Penn. Quad. ii. 507. + Grieve, 135.

} Synonyms.—Trichenus Manatus. Lzan.—Lamantin. Buffon.
Adanson—Sea Cow. Adanson—Round-tailed Manati. Penn——
Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 69.

“Van. I, N

178 THE ROUND-TAILED MANATT.

ders, and near the base of each foot, in the female,
there isa small teat. The skin is thick and hard,
and has a few hairs scattered over it.

They are found in the African rivers, from Sene-
gal to the Cape; and in abundance on some of the
Eastern coasts of South America. In the riverof A-
mazons, they are often seen nearly a thousand leagues
from its mouth. They seem much more partial to
fresh or only brackish water, than to the sea.

At times they are observed, in their frolicsome
moods, to leap to great heights above the surface ;
and they delight in shallow water near low land,
and in places secure from surges, where the tides
tun gently. Marine plants seem to constitute
their principal food. They are taken by harpoons.
The Indians go out in small canoes (with the utmost
silence, for the animal is very quick of hearing),
carrying a harpoon, fastened to a strong cord of
several fathoms in length. When struck, the Ma-
nati swims off with the instrument of death in his
body ; and, when spent with pain and fatigue, again
rises to the surface, and is taken. ‘The affection of
the parent for her young is as conspicuous in this as
in the last species. Ifa young one is with its mother
when she is struck by a fisherman, careless of her
own sufferings, she affectionately takes it, 1f not toa
large, under her fins or feet, to protect it from her
own fate. But how cruelly do mankind reward
them for these tender offices! the young, which will
never forsake its dam, even in the greatest distress,
is looked upon in no other light than ascertain prey *!

A Sy

* Penn. Quad. ii. 541.

THE ROUND-TAILED MANATI. 179

We are told that this species of Manati is often
tamed by the native inhabitants of Aierica, and
that it delights in music. A governor of Nicaragua
is said to have kept one of them in a lake near his
house, for six-and-twenty years. The animal was
usually fed with bread, and fragments of victuals,
as fish are fed ina pond. He became so familiar,
that in tameness and docility he nearly equalled
what has been said by the ancients of their
Dolphin. The domestics gave him the name of
Matto; and when any of them came at the regular
hour to feed him, and called him by his name, he
would come immediately to the shore, take victuals
out of their hands, and, (though contrary to what is
generally said of these creatures) even crawl ip to
the house to receive it. Here he would play with
the servants and children; and according to the
wirter of the account has even been known to carry
persons across the lake on his back *. From cir-
cumstances similar to these, some authors have
imagined this ta be the Dolphin of the ancients ;
and others believe that what has been written re-
pecting Mermaids and Syrens, should be referred to
this animal.

The flesh and fat of the Round-tailed Manati
are very white, sweer, and salubrious. The young
are extremely tender and delicious. The thicker
parts of the skin, cut into slips, and dried, be-
come very tough, and are used for whips. The
thinner parts, which are more pliant, se-ve the

SLO On
* Parsons (from Peter Ma:tyr), in Phil. Tran. vol. 47. p- 109,

N 2

180 SEA-APE MANATI.

Indians as thongs for fastening the sides of their
canoes *.

SEA-APE MANATI‘.

This animal, thongh placed among the Manati
by Mr. Pennant, seems rather to belong to the next
order, and to be a Seal{. The following is Dr.
Grieve’s account .of it—Mr. Steller saw, off the
coast of America, a marine animal which he calls a
Sea-ape. The head appeared like that of a Dog;
with sharp and upright ears, large eyes, and with
both lips bearded. The body was round and conoid,
the thickest part near the head; and the tail was
forked. ‘The animal was apparently destitute of feet.

It. was extremely wanton, and played a number
of apish-tricks. It sometimes swam on one and
sometimes on the other side of the ship, gaaing
at it with great admiration. It would often stand
erect for a considerable time, with one-third of its
body above the water; then dart beneath the ship
and appear on the other side, and repeat the same
thirty times together. It would frequently rise with
a sea plant in its mouth, not unlike the Bottle.
gourd, and toss it up and catch it again, playing with
it a thousand antics}.

From this animal, much more probably than from
the Round-tailed Manati, the fable of the Syrens
might originate.

* Penn. Quad. ii. 541. + Sea-ape. Grieve. { Linn. Gmel. 1. 62. n.
§ Grieve, 136. Penn. Arct. Zool.

weer: :> 5

THE SEALS *.,

Dire: Seals seem to-bear'a considerable ‘alliance td
the Manati ; most of them having the same kind of
elongated body, and fin-like feet. They also inha-
bit the waters, where they swim with great ease.
In summer they live much on the shores, but in
winter they confine themselves almost entirely to the
sea. They area dirty, and an inquisitive race of ani- ©
mals; and though courageous and quarrelsome a-
mong themselves, are capable of being rendered
tame. They are polygamous, one male having
many females. ‘Their flesh is said to be juicy and.
delicate eating ; and their fat and hides are of use
both in an economical and commercial view. They
walk yery awkwardly ; from the fore paws being
set considerably backwards, and the hind ones being
united. Their food consists of fish and other marine
productions-f.

*' The Linnezn order FEr® commences with this tribe. The ani-
mals conrposing it, haye generally six front-teeth, of a somewhat co-
nical shape, both in the upper and under jaw. Next to these are
strong and sharp canine-teeth ; and the grinders are formed into co-
nical or pointed processes. Their feet are divided into toes, which
are armed with sharp hooked claws. This is a predacious order, the
animals being all carniverous—It consists of the Seal, Dog, Cat,
Weesel, Otter, Bear, Opossum, Kanguroo, Mole, Shrew, and Hedge-
hog, tribes.
+ Linn. Gmmel. i. 62,

Ng

182 THE COMMON SEAL.

In the upper jaw they have six parallel, and sharp-

pointed fore-teeth, the exterior of which are the
jargest ; and in the lower jaw four, that are also pa-
rallel, distinct, and equal. ‘There is one canine-
tooth in each jaw; and five grinders above, and six
below, all of which have three knobs or points *.

THE COMMON SEAL >.

These Seals are found on most of the rocky shores
of Great Britain and Ireland, especially on the
Northern coasts. They inhabit all the European
seas, even to the farthest North ; are found consider-
ably within the arctic circle in the seas both of Eu-
rope and Asia, and even continue to those of Kamts-
chatka. ‘They prey on fish, and are both excellent
swimmers and ready divers }.—Their usual length
is five or six fect. The head is large and round ;
the neck small and short; and on each side of the
mouth there are several strong bristles. From the
shoulders the body tapers to the tail. The eyes are
large: there are no external ears; and the tongue
is Cleft or forked at the end. ‘The legs are very
short ; and the hinder ones placed so backward, as
to be but of little use except in swimming. The
feet are all webbed. The tail is very short. The
animals vary in colour; their short thick-set hair be-

* Linn. Gmel. i. 62. :
{ Synonyms.—Phoca vitulina. DLznn—Seal, or Sea calf. Var—
Phoque. Buffon. Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 70.— Bew. Quad. 469.
t{ Penn. Brit. Zool. i. 139.

THE COMMON SEAL. 183

ing sometimes grey, sometimes brown or blackish,
and sometimes even spotted with white or yellow *.

Their dens or habitations are in hollow rocks or
caverns near the sea, but out of the reach of the
tide. In the summer they will leave the wa-
ter, to bask or sleep in the sun on the large stones or
shivers of rocks; and this is the opportunity that our
countrymen take of shooting them. If they chance
to escape, they hasten to the water, flinging stones
and dirt behind them as they scramble along ; at
the same time expressing their fears by mournful cries.
But if they are overtaken, they make a vigorous de-
fence with their feet and teeth -f.

Dr. Borlase says, that ‘*: that they are very swift
in their proper depth of water; dive like a shot, and
in a trice rise at fifty yards distance. A person of
the parish of Sennan, in Cornwall, saw, not long
since, a Seal in pursuit of a Mullet. The Seal
turned it to and fro, in deep water, as a Greyhound
does a Hare. The Mullet, at last, found it had no
way to escape but by running into shoal water: the
Seal pursued ; and the former, to get more surely
out of danger, threw itself on its side, by which
means it darted into shallower water than it could
have swam in with the depth of its paunch and fins,
and thus escaped }.”

In swimming, the Seals always keep their head
above water. ‘They sleep on the rocks; and are ex-
tremely watchful, never sleeping long without mov-

* Shaw, i251. .— Penn. Brit. Zool. i. 141. -+ Brit. Zool. i. 143,

N4

184 THE COMMON SEAL.

ing ; seldom longer than a minute ; they then raise
their heads, and if they see or hear nothing more
than ordinary, again lie down, and so on, raising
their heads a little and inclining them alternately at
intervals of about a minute. Nature seems to haye
given them this precaution, as being unprovided
with auricles or external ears ; and consequently not
hearing very quick, nor from any great distance *.
Seals, iftaken young, are capable of being tamed;
they will follow their master like a Dog, and come
to him when called by the name that is given to
them. Some years ago a young Seal was thus do-
mesticated :—It was taken at a little distance from
the sea, and was generally kept in a vessel full of
salt water; but sometimes was allowed to crawl
about the house, and even to approach the fire. Its
natural food was regularly procured for it ; and it
was taken to the sea every day, and thrown in from
a boat. It used to swim after the boat, and always
allowed itself to be taken back. It lived thus for
several weeks ; and probably would have lived much
longer, had it not been sometimes too roughly used.
A Seal that. was exhibited in London, in the year
1750, answered to the call of his keeper, and attend-
ed to whatever he was commanded to do. He
would take food from the man’s hand, crawl out of
the water, and, when ordered, ‘stretch himself out
at full length on the ground. He would thrust out
his neck and appear to kiss the keeper, as often as
the man pleased ; and, when he was directed, would

RS RR TN,

* Brit. Zool. i. 144.

THE COMMON SEAL. 185

again return into the water *.—The following is an
interesting communication on this subject from Dr.
Hamilton of Ipswich. ‘‘ Some time ago, a farmer of
Aberdowr, a town on the Fifesliire side of the banks
‘of the Frith of Forth, in going out among the rocks
to catch Lobsters and Crabs, discovered a young
Seal, about two feet and a half long, which he
brought home. He offered him some pottage and
milk, which the animal greedily devoured. It was
fed in this manner for three days; when the man’s
wife considering it an intruder in her family, wou'd
not suffer it to be kept any longer. ‘Taking some
men of the town along with him for the purpose,
he threw it into the sea; but notwithstanding all their
endeavours, it persisted in returning to them. It was
agreed that the tallest of the men should walk into
the water as far.as he could, and having thrown the
animal in, they should hide themselves behind
a rock at some distance. This was accordingly done ;
but the affectionate creature returned from the wa-
ter, and soon discovered them in their hiding-place.
The farmer again took it home, where he kept it
for some time; but at length growing tired of it,
he had it killed for the sake of its skin.”

The Seals are taken for the advantage of their skins
and oil. The time when this is done is genera uly in
October, orthe beginning of November. The hun-
ters, provided with torches and bludgeons, enter the
mouths of the caverns about midnight, and row in as

far as they can. They then land ; and, being properly

* Parson's Phil. Tran. vol. 47, p. 118.

$86 THE COMMON SEAL,

stationed, begin by making a great noise, which
alarms the animals, and brings them down from all
parts in a confused huiry, uttering frightful shrieks
and cries. In this hazardous employment much
care 1s hecessary on the part of the hunters, to avoid
the throng, which presses down upon them with
great impetuosity, and bears away every thing that
opposes its progress; but when the first crowd has
passed, they kill great numbers of young ones,
which generally straggle behind, by striking them
on the nose, where a very slight blow soon destroys
them *.

To the inhabitants of Greenland the different
species of Seals are indispensably necessary towards
their existence. The sea is. to them, «what cafi-
fields are to us; and the Seal-fishery is their most
copious harvest. ‘The flesh supplies them with
their principal, most palatable, and substantial food.
The fat furnishes them with oil for their lamps and
fires: they use it also-with their food ; and barter it
for other necessaries with the factor. -They find
the fibres of the sinews better for sewing with than
thread or silk. Ofthe skins of the entrails they
make their windows, curtains for their tents, and
hirts ; and part of the bladders they use in fishing,
as buoys or floats to their harpoons. Of the bones
they formerly made all those instruments and work-
ing tools that are now supplied to them by the in-
troduction of iron. Eventhe bloodis not lost; forthey

boil that, with other ingredients, as soup. Of the

AA RE ee

* Penn. Brit. Zool. i. 142. and Pontoppidan, ii. 126.

THE COMMON SEALs 187

skins they form clothing, coverings for their beds,
houses, and boats, and thongs and straps of
every description.—To be able to take Seals, is the
height of the Greenlanders’ desires and pride; and
to this labour, which is in truth an arduous one,
they are trained from their childhood. By this they
support themselves ; by this they render themselves
apreeable to each other, and become beneficial
members of the community *. ;

‘The hunting of this animal also sets the courage
and enterprize of the Finlander in the strongest
possible light. ‘The season for this chace begins
when the sea breaks up, and the ice floats in shoals
upon the surface. Four or five peasants will go out
to sea in one small open boat, and often continue
more than a month absent from their families. Thus
do they expose themselves to all the horrors of the
Northern seas, having only a small fire which they
kindle on a sort of brick earth, and living on the
flesh of the Seals which they kill. The fat and
skins are what they bring home. ‘he perils with
which these voyagers have to struggle, are almost in-
credible. ‘They are every instant betwixt masses of
ice, which threaten to crush their little bark to
atoms. They get upon the floating shoals; and creep-
ing along them, steal cautiously upon the Seal, and
kill him as he reposes on the ice.—The following
narrative will represent the extreme danger of this
employment.—A few years agotwo Finlanders set out
in a boat together. Having got sight of some Seals

* Crantz, i. 180.

iss “THE COMMON SEAL.

on a little floating island, they quitted their boat,
and mounted tlie ice, moving on their hands and
knees to get near them without being perceived.
They had previously fastened their boat to the little
island of ice which they disembarked upon: but
while they were busily engaged in the pursuit, a gust
of wind tore it away ; and meeting with other shoals,
it was broken to pieces, and in a few minutes en+
tirely disappeared. ‘I'he hunters were aware of their
danger only when it was too late. They were now
left without help, without any resource, and with-
out even a ray of hope, on their floating is-
land. Vhey remained two weeks on this frail terri-
tory. The heat which diminished its bulk, and also
its prominent surface, rendered their situation more
alarming every moment. In the anguish of hunger
they gnawed the flesh off their arms. At last they
embraced each other, resolved to plunge together in=
to they sea, and thus end their misery, for they had
no prospect of escaping. ‘The fatal resolution was
just made, when they discovered a sail. One of them
stripped off his shirt, and suspended it on the muz-
gle of his gun. ‘The signal was observed from the
vessel, which was a Whale-fisher. A boat was put
out to assist them, and by this providential circum-
stance they were saved from otherwise inevitable
destruction *,

Seals, we are told, delight in thunder-storms; and
during these times, sit on the rocks and contem-
plate, with seeming delight, the convulsions of the
elements: in this respect differing widely from

a i a a a

* Acezbi, i. 201.

THE COMMON SEAL, 189

terrestrial quadrupeds, which are extremely terrified
on such occasions. —The voice of a full-grown Seal
is hoarse, and not unlike the barking of a Dog: that
of the young resembles in some measure the mewing
of a Kitten.

The female Seals bring forth two young ones or
more at abirth. These they deposit, even as soon
as produced, in the cavities of the ice; and the male
makes a hole through the ice near them, for a
speedy communication with the water. Into this
they always plunge with their young the moment
they observe a hunter approach ; and at other times
they descend into it spontaneously in search of
food. The manner in which the male Seals make
these holes is astonishing: neither their teeth nor
their paws have any share in the operation; it is per-
formed solely by their breath *. When the females
come out.of the sea, they bleat /ke sheep for their
young ; and though they often pass through hun-
dreds of other young ones before they come to their
own, yet they will never suffer any of the strangers
to suck +. About a fortnight after their birth, the
young are taken out to sea, and instructed in swim-
ming and seeking their food: when they are fatigued,
the parent is said to carry them on her back +. The
Seal hunters in Caithnes assured Mr. Pennant that
their growth was so rapid, that in nine tidés (about
fifty-four hours) after their birth, they become as
active as their parents. And it is generally under-
stood that a Seal six weeks old, will sometimes yield

about eight gallons of oil; a quantity much greater

# Acerbi, i. 187. t+ Dampier, i. 89. t Shew, i. 253.

190 THE URSINE SEAL.

than that afforded -by some of the emaciated
dams *.

The Seals eat their prey beneath the water,
When they are devouring any oily fish, the place
may be easily remarked by the smoothness of the
waves immediately above-~.-——The flesh of Seals
formerly found a place at the tables of the great in
our country; as appears. from the bill of fare of that
vast feast which Archbishop Nevill gave in the reign
of Edward the Fourth £.

The Icelanders have a strange superstition respect-
ing these animals. They believe them to resemble
the humanspecies more than any other creature; and
that they are the offspring of Pharoah and his host,
who were converted into Seals when they were
overwhelmed in the Red Sea,

THE URSINE SEAL 4,

The Ursine Seals are inhabitants of the islands in
the neighbourhood of Kamtschatka, Here they
are seen from June to September, during which
time they breed and educate their young. They
are said then to quit their stations, and return, some
to the Asiatic, and some to the American shore, ge-
nerally however keeping between lat. 50 and 56.

The males are about eight feet in length, but the
females are much smaller. Their bodies are thick,
decreasing somewhat towards the tail. The nose

* Penn. Brit. Zool. i: 142, 143. + Ibid. i. 139. t Ibid. i. 141,
§ Synonyos.—Phoca Ursina. Dznn—Sea Cat. Grieve —Ursine

Seal. Penn. Shaw's Gen. Sool. pl. 72.

THE URSINE SEAL. 101

projects like that of a Pug-dog; and the eyes are
large and prominent. The fore-legs are about two
‘feet long: and the feet are formed with toes, which
are covered with a naked skin, and have only the
rudiments of nails, bearing somewhat the appear-
ance of Turtles’ fins. The hind-legs are zather
shorter; but so fixed behind, that the animal can oc-
casionally rub his head with them: these have five
toes, separated by a web, The general colour of
the hair is black; but that of the old ones is tipped
with grey. ‘The females are ash-coloured.

The Ursine Seals live in families. Every male is
surrounded by a seraglio of from eight to fifty mis-
tresses, whom he guards with the utmost jealousy.
Each family keeps separate from the others, although
they lie by thousandson the shores wherethey inhabit.
These animals also swim in tribes when they take to
the sea.—The males exhibit great affection towards
their young, and equal tyranny towards the females,
They are fierce in the protection of the former;
and, should any one attempt to carry of their cub,
they will stand on the defensive, while the female
conyeys it away in her mouth. Should she happen
to drop it, the male instantly quits his enemy, falis
on her, and beats her against the stones till he
leaves her for dead. As.soon as she recovers, she
crawls to his feet in the most seppliant manner,
and washes them with her tears: he, at the same
time, brutally insults her misery, stalking about in
the most insolent manner. But 1f the young is
entirely carried off, he melts into the greatest

1Q2 THE URSINE SEAL.

affliction, shedding tears, and shewing every mark
of sorrow.

Those animals that, through age or impotence,
are deserted by the females, withdraw themsclves
from society, and grow excessively splenetic, pee-
vish, and quarrelsome ; they become very furious,
and so attached to their own stations, as to prefer
even death tothe loss of them. If they perceive
another animal approaching them, they are instantly
roused from their indolence, snap at the encroacher,
and give him battle. During the fight, they insen-
sibly intrude on the station of their neighbour, who
then joins in the contest; so that at length the avil
discord spreads through the whole shore, attended
with hideous growls, their note of war *,—Mr,
Steller, and his men, in order to try the experi-
ment, wantonly attacked one of these seals, put out
both his eyes, and irritated four or five of his neigh-
bours by throwing stones at them. When these
pursued him he ran towards the blind animal ; who,
hearing them approach, fell upon them with the
utmost fury. Mr. Steller escaped to an adjoining
eminence, from whence he observed the battle,
which raged for several hours. ‘The blind Seal at-
tacked, without distinction, both friends and ene-
mies; till, at length, the whole herd, taking part
against him, allowed him no rest, either on shore or
in the sea, out of which they more than once
dragged him to land, till he was dead.

This is one of the causes of disputes among these

Oe RR RR ee pI BON ie Me aT
* Penn. Arct. Zool. i. 168.

THE URSINE SEAL, 193

irritablé creatures. But the most serious one is
when an attempt is made to seduce any of their mis-
tresses, or a young female of the family : a battle ts
the sure consequence of the insult. The unhappy
vanquished animal instantly loses his whole seraglio,
who desert him for the victorious hero.

When only two of them are engaged they rest at
intervals, lying down near each other; then, rising
both at once, renew the battle. : They fight with
their heads erect, and turn them aside to avoid the
blows. As long as their strength continues equal,
they only use their fore-paws ; but the moment one
of them fails, the other seizes him with his teeth,
and throws him upon the ground. The wounds
they inflict are very deep, and like the cut of a sa-
bre; and, it is said, that in the month of July
scarcely one is to be seen that has not some mark of
this sort. At the conclusion of an engagement,
such as are able throw themselves into the sea to
wash off the blood *.—They are exceedingly tena-
cious of life, and will live a fortnight after receiving
such wounds as would soon destroy any other animal.

Besides their notes of war, they have several
others. When they lieon the shore, and are di-
verting themselves, they low like a Cow. After
victory they make a noise somewhat like the chirp-
ing of a Cricket; and on a defeat, or after receiy-
ine a wound, they mew likea Cat. ‘

When they come out of the water, they shake
themselves, and smooth their hair with their hind-

—

* Grieve’s Kamtschatka, 127,

Vor. I, oO

104 THE URSINE-SEAL.

feet; apply their lips to those of the females, as if
to kiss them; lie down and bask in the sun with
their hind legs up, which they wag as a Dog does his
tail. Sometimes they lie on their back; and some-
times roll themselves up into a-ball, and thus fall
asleep.—They often swim on their back, and so
near the surface of the water as frequently to have
their hind-paws quite dry. When they go from
the shore into the water, or when they dive, after
having breathed, they, in the manner of some other
sea animals, whirl themselves round like a wheel.
They cut through the waves with great rapidity,
frequently swimming at the rate of seven or eight
miles an hour.—Their cubs are as sportive as pup-
pies ; they have mock fights, and tumble one another
on the ground. The male parent looks on with a
sort of complacency, parts them, licks and_ kisses
them, and seems to take a greater affection to the
victor than to the other.

On Bering’s Island these animals were found in
such numbers as to cover the. whole shore; and
trayellers were obliged, fortheir own safety, to leave
the sands and level country, and go over the hills
and rocky parts. It 1s, however, remarkable, that
they only frequent that part of the coast which is
towards Kamischatka.—In the beginning of June
they retire to the southward, to bring forth their
young ; and return towards the end of August.—
They seldom produce more than a single young one,
which they nurse for three months *,

* Grieve, 129, Penn. Arct. Zool,

THE BOTTLE-NOSED SEAL. 195

The flesh of the old males is rank, but that of the
females and young is said to be exceedingly good.
The skins of the young ones cut out of the bellies
of the females, are in esteem for clothing, and are
nearly as valuable as those of the old animals.

THE BOTTLE-NOSED SEAL *,

The male of this species measures from fifteen to
twenty feet in length; and is distinguished from
the female by a large snout, projecting five or six
inches below the end of the upper-jaw. This
snout the animal inflates when he is irritated, giving
it thus the appearance of an arched or hooked nose.
The skin is scattered over with a.rust-coloured hair.
The feet are short, and the hinder ones so webbed
as to appear like fins. In the upper jaw there are
only four front teeth, and in the lower jaw no more
than two.—These animals are found in the seas
about New Zealand, on the island of Juan Fernan-
dez, and the Falkland Islands.

Their fat is so very considerable, as to lie at least
a foot deep between the skin and the flesh ; and some
of the largest afford as much as will fill a butt.
When the Bottle-nosed Seals are in motion, they
appear almost like immense skins filled with oil ;
the tremulous motion of the blubber being plainly
discernible beneath the surface. ‘They have also so
much blood, that, 1f deeply wounded in a dozen

+ Synonyms.—Phoca Leonina. Linn.—SeaLion. Anson.—Bot-
tle-nosed Seal. Penn.

Shaws Gen. Lool. vl. 73.
ve

O 2

195 THE BOTTLE-NOSED SEAL.

places, it will gush out at every one, and spout to 4
considerable distance. Lord Anson’s sailors, to try
the experiment, shot one of them, and obtained
from it more than two hogsheads of blood.

They seem to divide their time nearly equally be-
tween the land and sea; continuing out during the
summer, and coming on shore at the commence-
ment of winter and residing there all that season.
When ashore, they feed on the grass and verdure
which grows on the banks of the fresh-water
streams; and when not employed in feeding, they
sleep in herds, in the most miry places they can
find. Each herd seems to be under the direction of
a large male ; which the seamen ludicrously stile the
Bashaw, from his driving off the other males from
a number of females which he appropriates to him-
self. These Bashaws, however, do not arrive at
this envied superiority without many bloody and
dreadful contests, of which their numerous scars ge-
nerally bear evidence. ‘Their battles are very fre-
quent ; and when for the females, always extremely
furious. Some of Lord Anson’s party observed,
one day, on the island of Juan Fernandez, what
they at first took for two animals of a kind different
from any they had before seen; but, om a nearer
approach, they proved to be two of these Seals,
which had been goring each other with their teeth’
till both were completely covered with blood.

They are of a lethargic disposition, and when at
rest are not easily disturbed. It is not difficult to
kill them; being, in general, from their sluggish
and unwieldy motions, incapable either of escaping

THE LEONINE SEAL. 107

or resisting. A sailor was, however, one day, care-
lessly employed in skinning one of the young; when
the female from whom he had taken it, came upon
him unperceived, and getting his head into her
mouth, tore his skull so dreadfully, that he died in
a few days afterwards.

It has been observed, that each herd places at a
distance some.of the males as sentinels, who never
fail to give the alarm if any thing hostile approaches,
The noise they make for this purpose is very loud, and
may be heard ata considerable distance. Their usual
voice isa kind of loud grunting; or sometimes a
snorting, like horses in full vigour. The females
produce two young ones in the winter, which they
suckle for some time. ‘These, when first brought
forth are about the size of afull grown Common
Neal.

Lord Anson’s people killed many of them, in the
island of Juan Fernandez, for food. ‘They called
their flesh beef; to distinguish it from that of the
cominon Seal, which they denominated /amb. The
hearts and toneues were excellent eating; and, as
they thought, preferable even to those of the Ox *.

THE LEONINE SEAL-f.

The Leonine Seal has the head and eyes large.
The nose turns up, somewhat like that of a Pug

* Anson, 172—175.
+ Synonyms.—Phoca Jubata. Liimwus.—Sca-lion. Cook. Forster —
Penn—Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 74.—Bew. Quad, 472.

O 3

Leonine Seal.

198 THE LEONINE SEAL.

Dog. ‘The ears are conical and erect; and along
the neck of the male runs a mane of stiff curled
hair. The whole neck is covered with long waved
hair, not unlike that of the Lion. The hair of the
other parts of the body is short and red: that of the
female yellowish. At a certain age they become
grey. ‘Lhe feet resemble those of the Ursine Seal.
The weight of a large male is about sixteen hundred
pounds; and these are frequently from sixteen to
eighteen feet long, but the females seldom exceed
eight.

Leonine Seals are found in great numbers on the:
eastern coasts of Kamtschatka. They do not mi-
“grate ; but only change their place of residence,
having winter and summer stations. They live’
principally among the rocks of the coast; and by
their dreadful roaring, are frequently of use during
fogey weather, in warning sailors of the danger of
approaching in their direction.

Ifa human being appears among them, they
immediately run off; and when disturbed in sleep,
they seem seized with horror, sigh deeply in their
attempts to escape, fall into the utmost confusion,
tumble down, and shake so violently as scarcely
to be able to use their limbs. When, however,
they are reduced to an extremity, and find it impos-
sible to efiect an escape, they become desperate,
turn on their assailant with vast noise and fury, and
will even put the most courageous man to flight.—
When they find there is no intention to hurt them,
they lose their fear of mankind. Steller, when he
was on Bering’s Island, lived in a hovel surrounded

THE LEONINE SEAL‘ 199

by them, for six days. They were soon reconciled to
hun; and would observe, with great calmness, what
he was doing, lie down near him, and even suffer
him to seize and play with their cubs. —They often
dispute for the possession of females ; and he had an
Opportunity of seeing several of these conflicts:
He once was witness to a duel between two males
which lasted three days, and in which one of them re-
ceived above a hundred wounds. ‘The Ursine Seals
which were among them never interfered, but always
hastened out of the way of their battles.

They bring forth only a single young one at a birth;
and, strange to say, the parents seem to exhibit to-
wards this very little share of affection: they some-
times tread it to death through carelessness, and
will suffer it to be killed before them without con-
cern. The cubs are not sportive, like most other
young animals, but seem entirely stupified by much
sleep. The parents take them into the water, and
teach them to swim: and when they are tired they
climb on the back of their dam; but the male
often pushes them oif, to habituate them to this
exercise.

Each male has from two to four females, which
he treats with great kindness; and he seems very
fond of their carresses. In their actions. these. ani-
mals seem much allied to the Ursine Seals. The
old ones bellow like bulls, and the young bleat like
sheep *.—They live on fish, and several of the ma-
tine animals. During two of the summes months

* Penn. Arct. Zool. i. 172.

O 4 .

200 . THE LEONINE SEAL.

the old males abstain almost entirely from eating,
and indulge in indolence and sleep, swallowing at_
intervals large stones to keep the stomach distend-
ed *. At the end of this time they are excessively
emaciated.

The chase of these animals is esteemed by the
Kamtschadales an occupation of the highest honour,
When they find one of them asleep, they approach
it against the,wind ; strike a harpoon, fastened to a
long cord, into its breast; and run off with the ut-
most precipitation. The other end of the cord be-
ing fastened to a stake, prevents the animal from
running entirely off; and they principally effect his
destruction by flinging their lances into him, or
shooting him with arrows. As soonas he is exhaust-
ed, they venture near enough to kill him with their
clubs. When one of them is discovered alone on
the rocks, they shoot him with poisoned arrows,
Immediately he plunges into the sea; but, unable te
bear the poignancy of his wounds in the salt-water,
swims to shore in the utmost agony. If a good op-
portunity offers, they transix him with their lances;
if not, they leave him to die of the poison.—Such
is the stupidity of these people, that, esteeming ita
disgrace to leave any of their game behind, they
frequently overload their boats so much, as to send
both their booty and themselves to the bottom. But
they disdain the thought of saving themselves at the
expence of any part of their prize.

£

Sn

¥ Peng. Quad. i. 525,

THE DOG TRIBE, 20}

The flesh of the young is said to be pleasant eat-
ing, and their fat resembles the suet of mutton, but
is as delicious as marrow. ‘The skin is used for the
making of straps, shoes, and boots *,

THE DOG TRIBE.

ALL the animals belonging to this tribe are car-
nivorous, very swift, and well adapted for the chase;
but, when urged by necessity, are able to live on
vegetable food. None of them are able to climb
trees. The females produce many young at a litter ;
and have generally ten teats, four of which are plac-
ed on the breast and six on the belly +.

The generic characters of the Dog are these :—
He has six cutting-teeth in the ‘upper jaw ; those at
the sides longer than the intermediate ones, which
are lobated. In the under jaw there are also six
cutting-teeth, the lateral being lobated. There are
four canine-teeth ; one on each side, both above
and below : and six or seven grinders.

THE COMMON DOG %.

To no animal are mankind so much indebted for
Rerwices and affection as to the Dog. Among all the
yarious orders of brute creatures, no one has hither-

a

* Penn. Arct. Zool. i, 172. {~ Kerr, i. 129.
} Synonyms.—-Canis familiaris. Linn—Faithful Doz. Penn.

902 THE COMMON DOG.

to been found so entirely adapted to our use, and
even to our protection. There are many coun-
tries, both of the old and new continent, in which
if man were deprived of this faithful ally, he
would unsuccessfully resist the foes that surround
him, seeking opportunities to destroy his labour, at-
tack his person, and encroach upon his property.
His own vigilance, in many situations, could not
secure him on the one hand against their rapacity,
nor on the other against their spced. The Dog,
inore tractable than any other animal, conforms him- |
self to the movements and habits of life of his master.
His diligence, his ardour; and his obedience, are in-
exhaustible ; and his disposition 1s so friendly, that,
unlike every other animal, he seems to remember
only the benefits he receives. He soon forgets our
blows; and instead of discovering resentment while
we chastise him, he exposes himself to torture, and
even licks the hand from whence it proceeds.

Dogs are found in a wild state in Congo, Lower
Ethiopia, and towards the Cape of Good Hope; in
South and North America, New Holland, and se-
veral other parts of the world. The female goes
with young about sixty-three days, and commonly
produces from four to ten at a litter. The young are
usually brought forth blind: the two eye-lids are not
ee y glued together, but shut up with a membrane,

hich is torn off as saon as the muscles of the up-
per eye-lids acquire sufficient strength to overcome
this obstacle to vision, and this is generally about the
tenth or twelfth day. At this pertod the young ani-
mais are clumsy and awkward in their make. ‘The

THE COMMON DOG. 203

bones of the head are not completed ; the body and
muzzel are bloated, and the whole figure is ill de-
signed. But in less than two months, they acquire
the use of all their senses. Their growth is rapid,
and they soon gain strength. In the fourth month
they lose their teeth ; which, as in other animals, are
soon replaced, and never fall out again.

There are no fewer than twenty-three varieties of
the Dog, among which all eur domestic kinds are
included. Of these the following is an enumera-

tion) :—
1. New Holland Dog ~ 13. Dalmatian, or Spotted
2: Pomeranian Dog Dog
*3. Siberian Dog 14. Irish Greyhound
4. Iceland Dog 15. Common Greyhound
5. Water Dog 16. Italian Greyhound
6. Great Water Spaniel 17. Naked Dog
*7. Newfoundland Dog *18. Mastiff
8. King Charles’s Dog *19. Bull Dog
9. Maltese Deg 20. Pug Dog
*10. Hound *21. Terrier
*11. Blood Hound 22.. "Turnspit
12. Fointer 23. Alco, or Peruvian Dog

To dwell on the description or particular quali-
ties of this animal, so well known to both learned
and unlearned readers, would be unnecessary. In-
stead therefore of any eulogium on his character or
uses, I shall bring forward for their amusement and.
instruction such well authenticated instances of his

ee a ee a ne

‘* These marked with an asterisk I shall have occasion particularly

tO notice. .

O04 THE COMMON DOG.

sagacity, attachment, and perseverance, as I have
been able to collect,

The care of the Dog in directing the steps of the
blind, is highly deserving of notice. There are few
persons who have not seen some of these unfortunate
objects thus guided along through the winding
streets of a town or city, to the spot where they are
to supplicate charity of passengers. In the evening
the Dog safely conducts his master back, and re-
ceives as the reward of its services that scanty pit-
tance which wretchedness can bestow.—Mr. Ray,
in his Synopsis of Quadrupeds, informs us of a blind
beggar who was thus led through the streets of
Rome by a middle-sized Dog. This Dog, besides
Jeading his master in such a manner as to protect
him from all danger, learned to distinguish both the
streets and houses where he was accustomed to re-
ceive alms twice or thrice a-week. Whenever the
animal came to ay one of these streets, with which
he was well acquainted, he would not leave it till a
call had been made at every house where his master
was usually successfulin his petitions. When the
beggar began to ask alms, the Dog lay down to rest ;
but the man was no sooner served or refused, than
the Dog rose spontaneously, and without either
order or sign, proceeded to the other houses where
the beggar generally received some gratuity. “ I
observed (says he), not without pleasure and sur-
prize, that when a halfpenny was thrown from a
window, such was the sagacity and attention of this
Dog, that he went about in quest of it, took it
from the ground with his mouth, and put it into

THE COMMON DOG. 965

the blind man’s hat. Even when bread was thrown
down, the animal would not taste it, unless he re-
ceived it from the hand of his master.”

Dogs can be taught to go to market with money,
to repair to a known shop, and carry home pro-
visions in safety.—Some years since, the person who
lives at the turnpike-house about a mile from Strat-
ford on Avon, had trained a Dog to go to the town
for any small articles of grocery, &c. that he want-
ed. A note mentioning the things, was tied round
the Dog’s neck, and in the saine manner the articles
wete fastened; and in these errands the commodi-
ties were always brought safe to his master *.

A grocer in Edinburgh had a Dog, which for
some time amused and astonished the people in the
neighbourhood. A man who went through the
streets ringing a bell and selling penny pies, hap-
pened one day to treat this Dog with a pie. The
next time he heard the pieman’s bell, he ran to him
with impetuosity, seized him by the coat, and
would not suffer him to pass. The pieman, who
understood what the animal wanted, shewed him a
penny, and pointed to his master, who stood at the
street-door and saw what was going on. The Dog
immediately supplicated his master by many hum-
ble gestures and looks. The master put a penny
into the Dog’s mouth, which he instantly delivered
tothe pieman, and received his pie. This traffic
between the pieman and the grocer’s Dog continued
to be daily practised for many months +.

* Daniel, i. 21. t Smellie’s Philosophy of Natural History,

206 THE COMMON DOG.

At a convent in France, twenty paupers were
served with a dinner at a certain hour every day. A
Dog belonging to the convent did not’ fail to be.
present at this regale, to receive the odds and ends
which were now and then thrown down to him.
The guests, however, were poor and hungry, and
of course not very wasteful, so that their pensioner
did little more than scent the feast of which he
would fain have partaken. The portions were served
by a person, at the ringing of a bell, and delivered
eut by means of what in religious houses is called a
tour; which is a machine like the section of a cask,
aad, by turning round upon a pivot, exhibits whate-
ver is placed on the concave side, without discovering
the person who movesit. One day this Dog, who
had only received a few scraps, waited till the pau-
pers were all gone, took the rope in his mouth, and
rang the bell. His stratagem succeeded. He re-
peated it the next day with the same good-fortune.
At length the cook, finding that twenty-one por-
tions were given out instead of twenty, was deter-
mined to discover the trick : in doing which he had
no great ditnculty ; for lying perdu, and noticing the
paupers as they came in great regularity for their
different portions, and that there was no intruder
except the Dog, he began to suspect the real truth,
which he was confirmed in when he saw him wait
with great deliberation till the visitors were all gone
and then pull the bell. The matter was related to
the community; and to reward him for his inge-
nuity, he was permitted to ring the bell every day

THE COMMON DOG. 207

for his dinner, when a mess of. broken yictuals was
purposely seryed out to him *.

In the year 1760, the following incident, illustra-
tive of the sagacity of the Dog, occurred near Ham-
mersmith :—While a man of the name of Richard-
son, a waterman of that place, was sleeping in his
boat, the vessel broke from her moorings, and was
carried by the tide, under a West-country barge.
Fortunately for the man, his Dog happened to be
with him ; and the sagacious animal awakened him
by pawing his face, and pulling the collar of his
coat, at the instant the boat was filling with water :
he seized the opportunity, and thus saved himself
from otherwise inevitable death-}.

In the year 1791, a person went to a house in
Deptford, to take lodgings, under pretence that he
had just arrived from the West Indies; and, after
having agreed on the terms, said he should send
his trunk that night, and come himself the next
day. About nineo’clock in the evening, the trunk
was brought by two porters, and was carried into
his bed-room. Just as the family were going to
bed, their little house-dog, deserting his usual sta-
tion in the shop, placed himself close to the cham-
ber-door where the chest was deposited, and kept
up an incessant barking. The moment the cham-
ber-door was opened, the dog flew to the chest,
against which it scratched and barked with redou-
bled fury. They attempted to get the dog out of

* Dibdin’s Observations in a Tour through England.
t+ Ann. Reg. iii. 90.

308 THE COMMON DOG.

the room, but in vain. Calling in gome neigh-
bours, and making them eye-witnesses of the cir-
cumstance, they began to move the trunk about ;
when they quickly discovered that it contained
something that was alive. Suspicion becoming very
strong, they were induced to force it open ; when,
to their utter astonishment, they found in it their
new lodger, who had been thus conveyed into the
house with the intention of robbing it.

A Dog that had been the favourite of an elderly
lady, discovered some time after her death the
strongest emotions on the sight of Her picture,
when it was taken down to be cleaned. Before this
instant he had never been observed to notice the
painting. Here was evidently a case either of pas-
sive remembrance, or of the involuntary renewal of
former impressions.—Another Dog, the property of
a gentleman that died, was given to a frend in
Yorkshire. Several yeais afterwards, a brother from
the West Indies, paid a short visit at the house
where the Dog then was. He was instantly recog-
nized, though an entire stranger, in consequence;
most probably, of a strong personal likeness. The
Dog fawned upon and followed him with great af-
fection to every place where he went *.

During M. Le Vaillant’s travels in Africa, he one
day missed a favourite little Bitch that he had taken
out with him. After much shouting and firing of
guns, in order to make her hear, if possible, where
the party was, he directed one of his Hottentots to

* Percival’s Father's Instructions.

THE COMOMON DOG. 209

mount a horse and return some distance in search of
her. In about four hours the man appeared with
her on his saddle, bringing with him at the same
time a chair and a basket that had been unknow-
ingly dropped from one of the waggons. The
Bitch was found at the distance of about two leagues,
lying in the road, and watching the lost chair and
basket ; and had the man been unsuccessful in his
pursuit, she must unavoidably either have perished
with hunger, or fallen a prey to some of the wild
beasts, with which these plains abound *.

Mr. C. Hughes, a son of Thespis, had a wig
which generally hung on a peg in cne of his rooms,
He one day lent the wig to a brother player, and
some time after called on him. Mr. Hughes had
his Dog with him, and the man happened to have
the borrowed wig on his head. Mr. Hughes stayed
a little while with his friend; but, when he left him,
the Dog remained behind: for some time he stood,
looking full in the man’s face ; then making a sud-
den spring, leaped on his shoulders, seized the wig,
and ran off with it as fast as he could ; and, when
he reached home, he endeavoured by jumping to
hang it up in its usual place.—The same Dog was
one afternoon passing through a field in the skirts of
Dartmouth, where a washer woman had hung out
her linen to dry. He stopped and surveyed one
particular shirt with attention; then seizing it, he
dragged it away through the dirt to his master,
whose shurt it proyed to be -f.

* Le Vaillant, yol. i. p. 251. + Lite of James Lackington.

Vou, F: P

310 THE COMMON DOG.

In December, 1784, a Dog was left by a smug~
sling vessel near Boomer, on the coast of Northum-
berland. Finding himself deserted, he began to wor-
ry the sheep; and did so much damage, that he be-
came the terror of the country fora circuit of above
twenty miles. We are assured, that when he caught
a sheep, he bit a hole in its right side, and after
eating the fat about the kidnies, left it. Several,
thus lacerated, were found alive by the shepherds ;
and being properly attended to, some of them reco-
vered and afterwards hadlambs. From his delicacy in
this respect, the destruction he made may in some
measure be conceived ; as it may be supposed, that
the fat of one sheep a-day would hardly satisfy his
hunger. The farmers were so much alarmed by his
depredations, that various means were taken for his
destruction. ‘They pursued him with Hounds,
Greyhounds, &c. but, when the Dags came up to
him, he lay down on his back, as if supplicating
for mercy, and in that position they did nat attempt
to hurt him. He therefore used to lie quietly till
the men approached; when he made off, without
being followed by the hounds till they were again
excited to the pursuit, which always terminated un-
successfully. He was one day pursued from How-
ick to the distance of upwards of thirty miles; but
returned thither and killed sheep the same evening.
His constant residence during the day, was upon a
rock on the Heugh-hill, near Howick, where he-
had a view of four roads that approached it; and in
March, 1785, after many fruitless attempts, he was

at last shot there *.
RE
* Bew. Quad. $05,

THE COMMON DOG. Q1i

In one part of his journey through North Ame-
rica, Mr. Bartram observed, on an extensive lawn,
a troop of horses that were feeding, and under the
controul only of a single black Dog, similar,
in every respect to the Wolf of Florida, except
that he was able to bark like a common Dog. He
was very careful and industrious in keeping to-
gether his charge; and,if any one strolled from the
rest to too great a distance, the Dog would spring
up, head the horse, and bring him back to the
company. ‘The proprietor of these horses was an
Indian, who lived about ten miles from this place ;
who, from a whim, and for the sake of experiment,
had trained his Dog to this business from a puppy.
He followed his master’s horses only, keeping them
in a separate company where they ranged; and
when he found himself hungry, or wanted to see his
master, in the evening he returned to the town
where he lived, but never stayed from home at
night *,

In South America multitudes of Dogs breed'in
holes like Rabbets. Whenthese are found young,
they instantly attach themselves to mankind, and
neyer desert their masters to rejoin the society of
wild Dogs, their former companions. These Dogs
have the appearance of the Greyhound, carry their
ears erect, are very vigilant, and excellent in the
chace +.

4
* Travels in North America.
+- Pennant; who quotes Narr. of Distresses of Isaac Morris, &e. be-
longing to the Wager Store-ship of Anson's Squadron, p. 27.

P2

912 THE SIBERIAN DOG.

Some nations admire the Dog as food. In some
of the South Sea islands Dogs are fattened with ve-
getables, which the natives savagely cram down
their throats when they-will voluntarily eat no more.
They become exceedingly fat; ard are allowed by
Fwuropeans who have overcome their prejudices, to
be very palatable. ‘They are killed by strangling ;
and the extravasated blood is preserved in cocoa-
nut shells, and baked for the table *.—The negroes
of the coast of Guinea are so partial to these ani-
mals as food, that they frequently give considerable
prices for them: a large Sheep for a Dog was for-
merly, and probably is now, a common article of
exchange --.—Even the ancients esteemed a young
and fat Dog to be excellent eating. Hippocrates
ranks it with mutton or pork. ‘The Romans ad-
mired sucking whelps, esteeming them a supper in
which even the Gods delighted £.

The Siberian Dog §, which is not uncommon in
any of the climates about the Arctic Circle, is used
in Kamtschatka for drawing sledges over the frozen
snow. ‘These sledges generally carry only a single
person, who sits sideways. The number of Dogs
usually employed is five: four of them are yoked
two and two, and the other acts as leader ||. The
reins are fastened, not to the head, but to the col-
lar; and the driver has, therefore, to depend prin-

* Daniel, i. 8. + Bosman, 229. } Daniel, i. 8.

§ Greenland Dog. Bew. Quad. 303.

| In carrying baggage, or heavy burthens, the number of Dogs
employcd is se!dom less than ten

THE SIBERIAN DOG: 213

cipally on their obedience to his voice. Great care
and attention are consequently necessary in training
the leader ; which, if he is steady and docile, be-
comes very valuable, the sum of forty roubles (or
ten pounds) being no uncommon price for one of
them. :

The cry of tagtag, tagtag, turns him to the right ;
and hougha, hougha,to the left. The intelligent ani-
mal immediately understands the words, and gives
to the rest the example of obedience. 4h, ah, stops
the Dogs; and fa, makes them set off.

The charioteer carries in his hand a crooked
stick, which answers the purpose both of whip and
reins. Iron-rings are suspended at one end of this
stick; by way of ornament, and to encourage
the Dogs by their noise, for they are frequently
jingled for that purpose. If the Dogs are well train-
ed, it is not necessary for the rider to exercise his
voice : if he strikes the ice with his stick, they will
go to the left; if he strikes the legs of the sledge
they will go to the right ; and when he wishes them
to stop, he has only to place the stick between the
snow and the front of the sledge. When they are
inattentive to their duty, the charioteer often chas-
tizes them, by throwing this stick at them. The
dexterity of the riders, in picking it up again, is very
remarkable, und is the most dificult manceuvre in
this exercise: nor is it, indeed, surprising that they
should be skilful tn a practice in which they are so
materially interested ; for the moment the Dogs find
that the driver has lost his stick, unless the leader js
both steady and resolute, they set off at full speed,

BS

O14 THE SIBERIAN DOG.

and never stop till either their strength is exhausted,
or till the carriage is overturned and dashed to
pieces, or hurried down a precipice, when all are
buried in the snow.

The manner in which they are generally treated,
seems but ill calculated for securing their attach-
ment. During the winter they are fed sparingly
with putrid fish ; and in summer are turned loose, to
shift for themselves, till the return of the severe
eason renders it necessary to the master’s interest
that they should be taken again into custody, and
brought once more to their state of toil and slavery.
When yoking to the sledge, they utter the most
dismal howlings; but, when every thing is prepared,
a kind of cheerful yelping succeeds, which ceases the
instant they begin their journey *.

These animals have been known to perform, in
three daysanda half, a journey of almost two hun-
dred and seventy miles. And scarcely are Horses
more useful to Europeans, than these Dogs are to
the inhabitants of the frozen and cheerless regions
of the North. When, during the most severe
storm, their master cannot see the path, nor even
keep his eyes open, they very seldom miss their way:
whenever they do this, they go from one side to the
other, till, by their smell, they regain it; and when
in the midst of a long journey, as it often happens,
it is found absolutely impossible to travel any far-
ther, the Dogs, lying round their master, will keep
him warm, and defend him from all danger. They

_

Smee.

* Cook’s last Voyage. Lessep, i. 115.

THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 215

also foretell an approaching storm, by stopping and
scraping the snow with their feet ; in which case it
is always advisable, without delay, to look out for
some village, or other place of safety *.

The Newfoundland Dogs + were originally brought
from the country-of which they bear the name; where
their great strength and docility render them ex-
tremely useful to the settlers, who employ them in
bringing downwood, onsledges, from theintenor parts
of the country to the sea-coast. They have great
strength, and are able to draw very considerable
weights. Four of them yoked to a sledge will trail
three hundred-weight of* wood, with apparent ease,
for several miles. Their docility is as material to
their owners as their strength; for they frequently
perform these services without a driver. As soon as
they are relieved of their load at the proper place,
they return in the same order to the woods from
whence they were dispatched; where their labours
are commonly rewarded with a meal of dried fish .

They are web-footed ; and can swim extremely
fast, and with great ease.—TVheir extraordinary sa-
eacity and attachment to their masters, render them,
in particular situations, highly valuable.

In the summer of 1792,a gentleman went to Ports-
mouth for the benefit of sea-bathing. He was con-

1 in one of, the machines into the water; but

ducte<
being unacquainted with the steepness of the shore,

and no swimmer, he found himself, the instant he
5) >!

se ee

* Grieve, 107. + Bew. Quad. 326. t Church.
P 4

416 THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG.

quitted the machine, nearly out of his depth. The
state of alarm into which he was thrown, increased
his danger; and, unnoticed by the person who attend-
ed the machine, he would unavoidably have been
drowned, had not alarge Newfoundland Dog, which
by accident was standing on the shore and observed
his distress, plunged in to his assistance. The Dog
seized him by the hair, and conducted him safely to
the shore ; but it was some time before he recovered.
‘The gentleman afterwards purchased the Dog at a
high price ; and preserved him as a treasure of equal
value with his whole fortune.

During a severe storm, in the winter of 1789, 2
ship belonging to Newcastle was lost near Yar-
mouth ; and a Newfoundland Dog alone escaped to
shore, bringing in his mouth the captain’s pocket-
book. He landed amidst a number of people, several
ef whom in vain attempted to take from him hisprize.
The sagacious animal, as if sensible of the impor-
tance of the charge, whicly, in al] probability, was
delivered to him by his perishing master, at length
leapt fawningly against the breast of a man who
had attracted his notice among the crowd, and de-
livered the book to him. ‘he Dog immediately
returned to the place where he had landed; and
watched with great attention for all the things that
came from the wrecked vessel, seizing them, and
endeavouring to bring them to land.

A gentleman, walking by the side of the River
Tyne, observed, on the opposite side, that a child
had fallen into the water : he pointed out the ob-

THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 217
ject to his Dog, which immediately jumped in, swam
over, and, catching hold ofthe child with his mouth,
landed it safely on the shore *.

The following anecdote, among the tmmense num-
bers that have been recorded, affords a proof of the
wonderful spirit of the Hound, in supporting a con-
tinuance of exertion :—‘‘ Many years since, a very
large Stag was turned out of Whinfield Park, in the
county of Westmoreland ; and was pursued by the
Hounds, till, by fatigue or accident, the whole pack
was thrown out, except two staunch and favourite
Dogs, which continued the chace the greatest part
of the day. The Stag returned to the park from
whence he set out; and, as his last effort, leapt the
wall, and immediately expired. One of the Hounds
pursued him to the wall; but being unable to get
ever, lay down, and almost immediately expired :
the other was also found dead ata little distance.

“The length of the chace is uncertain: but, as
they were seen at Red-kirks, near Annan in Scot-
land, (distant, by the post-road, about forty-six
miles,) it is conjectured that the circuitous and un-
even course they might be supposed to take, would
not be less than owe hundred and twenty miles !

“To commemorate this fact, the horns of the
Stag, which were the largest ever seen in that part
of the country, were placed on a tree of enormous
size inthe park (afterwards called Hart-horn tree).

* Bew. Quad. 327.

218 THE BLOOD-HOUND.

The horns have been since removed ; and are now
at Julian’s-bower, in the same county.

The Bhod-hound was in great request with our
ancestors; and as he was remarkable for the fine-
ness of his scent, he was frequently employed in re-
covering game that had escaped wounded from the,
hunter. ite would follow, with great certainty, the
fooisteps of a man to aconsiderable distance: and,
in barbarous and uncivilized times, when a thief
or murderer had fled, this useful creature would
trace him through the thickest and most secret co-
verts ; nor would he cease his pursuit till he had
taken the felon. For this reason there was a law in
Scotland, that whoever denied entrance to one of
these Dogs in pursuit of stolen goods, should be
deemed an accessary.

Blood-hounds were formerly used in certain dis-
tricts lying between England and Scotland, which
were much infested by robbers and murderers: and
a tax was laidon the inhabitants, for keeping and
‘ maintaining acertain number of these animals. But
as the arm of justice is now extended over every
part of the country, and there are no secret recesses
where villainy can lie concealed, their services are
become no longer necessary.

some few of these Dogs are kept j in the northern
‘parts of the kingdom, and are used in pursuit of
Deer that haye been previously wounded ; they are

* Brice’s Gazetteer —Bew. Quad. 319.

THE BLOOD-HOUND. 219

also sometimes employed in discovering Deer-steal-
ers, whom they infallibly trace by the blood that
issues from the wounds of their victims.

A person of quality, (says Mr. Boyle,) to make
trial whether a young Blood-hound was well in-
structed, caused one of his servants to walk toa
town four miles off, and then to a market town three
miles from thence. ‘The Dog, without seeing the
man he was to pursue, followed him }y the scent
to the above-mentioned places, notwitlistanding the
multitude of market-people that went along the
same road, and of travellers that had occasion to
cross it; and when the Blood-hound came to the
chief market-town, he passed through the streets
without taking notice of any of the people there ;
and ceased not till he had gone to the house where
the man he sought rested himself, and where he
found him in an upper room, to the wonder of
those who had accompanied him in this pursuit *.

The Blood-hounds are very tall, most beautifully
formed, and superior to every other kind in activity,
speed, and sagacity. ‘hey seldom bark, except in
the chace. They are usually of a reddish, or brown
colour.—Somerville has finely described their mode
of pursuing the nightly spoiler :

Soon the sagacious brute, his curling tail

Flourish’d in air, low bending, plies around

His busy nose, the steaming vapour snufis

* Boyle, i. 429.

THE MASTIFF.

i)
)
oO

Inquisitive, nor leaves one turf untried,

Till, conscious of the recent stains, his heart
Beats quick ; his snufiling nose, his active tail,
Attest his joy : then with deep-opening mouth
‘That makes the welkin tremble, he proclaims
‘Th’ audacious felon: Foot by foot he marks
His winding way, while all the list’ning crowd
Applaud his reasonings : o’er the wat’ry ford,
Dry sandy heaths, and stony barren hills ;

O’er beaten paths, with men and beast distain’d ;
Unerring he pursues ;---till at the cot

Auriv’d, and seizing by his guilty throat

The caitiff vile, redeems the captive prey.

So exquisitely delicate his sense !

Mastiffs * are peculiar to this country, where
they are principally of use as watch Dogs; a duty
which they discharge not only with great fidelity,
but frequently with considerable judgment. Some of
them will suffer a stranger to come into the inclosure

they ere appointed to guard, and will go peaceably
along with him through every part of it, so long as
he continues to touch nothing ; but the moment he
tempts to lay hold of any of the goods, or en-
deavours to leave the place, the animal informs him,
first by gentle growling, or, if that is ineffectual,
hy harsher means, that he must neither do mischief,
nor go away. He seldom uses violence unless re-
sisted ; and even in this case he wil] sometimes seize
the person, throw him down, and hold him there
fer hours, or until relieved, without biting him +f.

* Bew. Quad. 307. peMMerr, le odigioes

THE MASTIFF. 221

A most extraordinary instance of memory in a
Mastiff is related by M. D’Obsonville. ‘This Dog,
which he had brought up in India from two months
old, accompanied himself and a friend from Pondi-
cherry to Benglour, a distance of more than three
hundred leagues. ‘ Our journey (he continues)
occupied nearly three weeks; and we had to traverse
plains and mountains, and to ford rivers, and go
along several bye-paths.. The animal, which had
certainly never been in that country before, lost us
at Benglour, and immediately returned to Pondi-
cherry. He went directly to the house of M. Bey-
lier, then commandant of artillery, my friend, and
with whom I had generally lived. Now the dif-
ficulty is, not so much to know how the Dog sub-
sisted on the road, for he was very strong and able
to procure himself food ; but how he should so well
have found his way, after an interval of more than
amonth*! This was an effort of memory greatly
superior to that which the human race is capable of
exerting.”

The Mastiff is extremely bold and courageous,
Stow relates an instance of a contest between three
Mastiffs and a Lion, in the presence of King James
the First. One of the Dogs, being
den, was soon disabled by the Lion ; which took
him by the head and neck, and dragged him about,

put into the

Another Dog was then let loose ; and was served in
the same manner. But the third, being put in, imme-

diately seized ‘the Lion by the lip, and held him

* D'Chsonville, 74.

222 ‘THE BULL-DOG.

for a considerable time; till, being severely torn by*
his claws, the Dog was obliged to quit his hold.
The Lion, greatly exhausted by the conflict, refus-
ed to renew the engagement ; but, taking a sudden
leap over the Dogs, fled into the interior part of his
den. ‘Two of the Dogs soon died of their wounds :
the last survived, and was taken great care of by the
king’s son; whosaid, “* fe that had fought with the
king of beasts should never after fight with any inferior
creature *,”

This animal, conscious of his superior strength,
has been known to chastise, with great dignity, the
impertinence of an inferior .—Alarge Dog of this
kind, belonging to the late M. hidley, Esq. of
Heaton near Newcastle, being frequeritly molested
by a Mongrel, and teazed by its continual barking,
at last took it up in his mouth by the back, and with
great composure dropped it over the quay into the
river, without doing any farther injury toan enemy
s0 contemptible -}.

The Bull-dog } is the fiercest of the species, and is
probably the most courageous creature in the world.
His vaiour in attacking a Bull is well known. His
fury in seizing, and hisinvincible obstinacy in main-
taining his hold, are truly astonishing. Some years
ago, at a Bull-baiting in the North of England,
when that barbarous custom was more prevalent than
it ig at present, a young man, confident of the cou~

*

Stow’s Annals, + Bew. Quad, $08, } Bew. Quad. 306.

THE TERRIER. 92'8

tage of his Dog, laid some trifling wagers that he
would, at separate times, even cut off all the ani-
mal’s feet ; and that, after every successive amputa-
tion, he would attack the Bull. The cruel and un-
manly experiment was tried ; and the Dog continued
to seize the Bull with the same eagerness as be,
fore *,

The Terrier 4 has.a most acute smell ; and is the
natural enemy of the smaller quadrupeds, as Rats,
Mice, Weesels, &c. He possesses so much cou-
rage as to attack even the Badger; and though
sometimes very roughly used, he sustains the combat
with determined fortitude.

An anecdote related by Mr. Hope, and well au-
thenticated by other persons, shews also that this ani-
mal is both capable of resentment when injured, and
of great contrivance to accomplish it. A gentleman
of Whitmore in Staffordshire, used to come twice a-
year to ‘Town ; and being fond of exercise, generally
performed the journey on horseback, accompanied
most part of the way bya faithful little Terrier Dog,
which, lest he might lose it in Town, he always left
to the care of Mrs. Langford, his landlady at St.
Alban’s; and on his return he was sure to find his
little companion well taken care of. The gentleman
calling one time, as usual, for his Dog, Mrs. Lane-.
ford appeared before him with a woeful counten-
ance :—‘ Alas! Sir, your Terricr is lost! » Our
great House-dog and he hada quarrel sand the poor

eae
yon.”
2

* Goldsmith. t Bew. Quad, 315.

QA THE TERRIER.

Terrier was so worried and bit before we could part
them, that I thought he could never have got the
better of it. He however crawled out of the yard,
and no one saw him for almost a week. He then re-
turned, and brought with him-another Dog, bigger
by far than ours ; and they both together fell on our
creat Dog, and bit him so unmercifully, that he has
scarcely since been able to go about the yard, or to
eat his meat. Your Dog and his companion then
disappeared, and have never since been seen at St.
Alban's.” The gentleman heard the story with pa-
tience, and endeavoured to reconcile himself to the
loss. On his arrival at Whitmore, he found his little
Terrier ; and on enquiring into circumstances, was
informed that he had been at. Whitmore and had
coaxed away the great Dog, who it seems had, in
consequence, followed him to St. Alban’s and com-
pletely avenged his injury *.

In Japan the Dogs are amazingly numerous ; they
hic about the streets, and are very troublesome to
passengers. In Kaempfer’s time the Emperor was so
fond of these animals, as to cause huts to be built,
and food to be provided for them, in every street ;
the utmost care was taken of them during sickness,
and when they died they were carried to the usual
burying places on the tops of mountains. ‘This at-

* Anenquiry respecting this circumstance, has lately been mad*s
et Sir. Langford, surgeon, m St. Alban’s. He says that there is now
living in St. Alban’s, one of the inn servants, who hasa perfect recol-
lection ef the event.

ee be

THE TERRIER. 995
tention to the species arose merely from the super-
stitious whim of one of the late Emperors, who hap-
pened to be born under the signa of the Dog, one of
the Japanese constellations. A poor fellow, that had
lost his Dog by death, sweating under his load in
climbing the mountain of interment, was overheard
by his neighbour cursing, at a dreadful rate, the
edict. ‘Friend, (said his neighbour,) you have
feason to thank the Gods that the Emperor was not
born under the Horse; for what would have then
been your load!’’ If these animals happen to doany
injury, none but the public executioner date presume
to punish them ; and it is even necessary for him to
feceive a direct order for the purpose from some of
the governors *. _

It is singular that the race of European Dogs shew
as great af antipathy to the American species, as
they do to the Wolf. They never meet with them
without exhibiting every possible sign of dislike; they
will fall on and worry them; while the Wolfish
breed, with every mark of timidity; puts its tail be-
tween its légs, and runs from their rage. This
aversion to the Wolf is natural to all genuine Dogs :
for it is well known that a Whelp, that has never
seen a Wolf, will at first sight tremble and run to
its master for protection ; an old Dog will naturally
attack it -.

The sagacity and attention of the Dog is so great,
that it is not difficult to teach him to dance, hunt,

* Kaempfer, i. .125. + Pénn. Arct. Zool. i. 42.

Wow: 1. Q

996 THE TERRIER:

leap, and exhibit a thousand pleasing dexterities.
The dancing dogs at Sadler’s Wells were curiously
instructed. After storming a fort, and performing
various other feats, one of them was brought in asa
deserter, was shot, and carried off as dead by his
companions. The rnode in which a Dog is taught
to point out different cards that are placed near him
(a common trick) is this. —He is first taught, by re-
peated trials, to know something by a certain mark ;
and then to distinguish one ace from another. Food
is frequently offered to him on a card he is unac-
quainted with, after which he 1s sent to search it out
from the pack ; and aftera little experience he never
mistakes. Profiting by the discovery of receiving
food and caresses as a reward for his care, he soon
becomes able to know each particular card ; which,
when it is called for, he brings with an air of gaiety,
and without any confusion: and in reality, it is no
more surprising to see a Dog distinguish one card
from thirty others, than it 1s to see him distinguish in
the street his master’s door from those of his neigh-
bours *.

It is recorded of a Dog belonging to a nobleman
of the Medici family, that it always attended at its
miaster’s table; changed the plates for him; and car-
ried him his wine in a elass placed on a salver, with-
out spilling the smallest drop. It would also hold
the stirrup in its teeth while its master was mount-
ine his horse.

a RR RR en Cr EES

* Goldsmith.

THE DOG. 497

Plutarch relates, that, in the theatre of Marcel-
lus, a Dog was exhibited before the Emperor Ves-
pasian, so well instructed as to excel in every kind
of dance. He afterwards feigned illness in so natu-
ral a manner as to strike the spectators with astonish-
ment: first shewing Symptoms of pain ; then falling
down as if dead, and suffering himself to be carried
about in that state ; and afterwards, at the proper
time, seeming to revive as if waking from a profound
sleep; and then sporting about and shewing every
demonstration of joy.

But of all the educational attainments by which
the Dog has been distinguished, that of learning to
speak seems the most extraordinary. The French
academicians, however, make mention of a Dog in
Germany, which would call, inan intelligible manner,
for tea, coffee, chocolate, &c. The account is from
no less eminent a person than the celebrated Leibnitz,
who communicated it to the Royal Academy of
France. ‘This Dog was of a middling size, and was
the property of a peasant in Saxony. A little boy,
the peasant’s son, imagined that he perceived in the
Doe’s voice an indistinct resemblance to certain
words ; and therefore took it into his head to teach
him to speak. For this purpose he spared neither
time nor pains with his pupil, who was about three
years old when this his learned education commenc-
ed; and at length he made such a progress in lan- ©
guage, as to be able to articulate so many as thirty
words. It appears, however, that he was somewhat of
a truant, and did not very willingly exert his talents,

zing in a manner pressed into the service of litera-

Q2

998 THE DOG.

ture ; and it was necessary that the words should be
first pronounced to. him each time, which he then
echoed from his preceptor. ' Leibnitz, however,
declares that he himself heard him speak ; and the
French academicians add, that unless they had re-
ceived the testimony of so great a man as Leibnitz,
they should scarcely have dared to report the circum-
stance. ‘This wonderful Dog was born at Zeitz in
Misnia, in Saxony *.

A little Dog, if advices from Sweden may be cre-
dited, was some years ago exhibited at Stockholm,
which had been taught tospeak many words, and to
utter even complete sentences, in French and Swe-
dish. Vive le Roi he uttered very gracefully +.

The sensibility ascribed to the faithful Dog of
Ulysses, shews how deeply and justly mankind have
been impressed with the noble character of these du-
tiful and affectionate creatures, even from the most
remote periods of antiquity.

He knew his lord: he knew, and strove to meet ;
In vain he strove to crawl and kiss his feet ;
Yet---all he could---his tail, his ears, his eyes,
Salute his master, and confess his joys.
Oh had you seen him vigorous, bold, and young,
Swift as a Stag, and asa Lion strong!

' Him no fell savage on the plain withstood,
None ’scap’d him bosom’d in the gloomy woed.
His eye how piercing, and his scent how true

To wind the vapour in the tainted dew!

* Shaw's Gen. Zool. vol. i. p. 289. + Gent. Mag. xxxv. 487,

THE WOLF. 229

This Dog, whom fate thus granted to behold
His lord, when twenty tedious years had roll’d,
Takes a last look, and, having seen him, dies---
So clos’d, for ever, faithtul Argus’ eyes.

Then pity touch’d the mighty master’s soul,
And down his cheek a tear unbidden stole.

THE WOLF *.

The Wolf is larger,-and more strong and muscular,
than the Dog; and his colouris generally pale grey.
These animals are natives of almost all the temperate
and cold regions of the globe : and were formerly so
numerous in this island, that King Edgar commuted
the punishments for certain offences into a requisi-
tion of a number of Wolves’ tongues from each
criminal ; and he converted a very heavy tax on one
of the Welsh princes, into an annual tribute of three
hundred Wolves’ heads.

Cambria’s proud kings (though with reluctance) paid
Their tributary Wolves ; head after head,
In full account, till the woods yield no more,

And all the ravenous race extinct is lost.

It appears from Hollinshed, that the Wolves were
very noxious to the flocks in Scotland, in 1577:
nor were they entirely destroyed till about a century
afterwards; when the last Wolf fell in Lochaber, by
the hand of Sir Ewen Cameron, of Locheil.

* Synonyms.—Canis Lupus. Linn—Loup. Bufoin——Shaw's
Gen. Sool. pl. 75.—Bew. Quad. 285.

Q 3

230 THE WOLF.

Wolves are now but rarely seen in the inhabited
parts of America; yet the government of Pennsyl-
vania some years ago allowed a reward of twenty
shillings, and that of New Jersey of even thirty
shillings, for the killing of every Wolf. Tradition
informed them what a scourge these animals had been
to the colonies, and by these means they wisely de-
termined to prevent the evil. In the infant state of
the colonies it is said that Wolves came down from
the mountains, often attracted by the smell of the
bodies of the hundreds of Indians who died of the
small-pox : but the animals did not confine their in-
sults to the dead, they even devoured, in their huts,
the sick and dying natives *.

When pressed by hunger, the Wolf, though na-
turally a coward, becomes courageous from neces-
sity: he then braves every danger, and will ventur
to attack even the Buffalo. Sometimes whole droves
of them descend upon the sheep-folds; and, digging
the earth under the doors, enter with dreadful fero-
city, and put to death every living creature before.
they depart. |

** By wintry famine rous’d, from all the tract
Of horrid mountains which the shining Alps
And wavy Appenine and Pyrenees |
Branch out stupendous into distant lands,
Cruel as death! and hungry as the grave !
Burning for blood! bony, and gaunt, and grim !
Assembling Wolves, in raging troops, descend ;
And, pouring o’er the country, bear along,
Keen as the North wind sweeps the glossy snow :
All is their prize.’’ |

aA Rie Sperone ee Bs) SPT ES 9. i ER est,

* Penn. Arct. Zool. i. 39.

THE WOLF. 231

Although the Wolf is the most gluttonous of
quadrupeds, devouring even his own species when
pressed by hunger, yet his rapacity does not exceed
his cunning ; always suspicious and mistrustful, he
imagines every thing he sees is a snare laid to be-
tray him. If he finds a Rein-deer tied to a post, to
be milked, he dares not approach, lest the animal
should be placed there only to entrap him; but no
sooner is the Deer set at large, than he instantly pur-
sues and devours it*. Such however is his extreme
cowardice, that should the animal stand at bay, and
act on the defensive, he will scarcely dare to attack
it. A Cow or Goat, by turning upon and butting
him with its horns, has often been known to put
him to flight -.

In Norway the Wolves are frequently killed by
means of a poisonous species of Lichen +, which the
inhabitants put into the dead body of some animal
and lay in their haunt. Sometimes they are caught
by means of a hole dug in the ground, and covered
with a trap-door; which falls and lets them in, and
afterwards shuts again. In these pits the cowardly
animal has been found ina corner, along with other
beasts, which his fears would not suffer him to touch.
Instances have occured even of peasants falling into
these traps, and sitting quietly with a Wolf till re-
leased by the hunter §.

* Schaeffer, 934. + Pontoppidan, il. 18.
$ Lichen Vulpinum of Linneus. § Pontoppidan, i. 19.

QA

232 THE WOLF.

The Wolf has great strength, aciallyi in the
muscles of his neck and jaws: he cancarry a Sheep
in his mouth, and run off with it without any difi-
culty. When reduced to. extremity by hunger, we
are told by Pontoppidan that he will swallow great
quantities of mud, in order to allay the uneasy sen-
sations of his stomach. His sense of smelling is pe-
culiarly strong: he scents the track of animals, and
follows it with great perseverance. The odour of
carrion strikes him at the distance of near a league.

In the year 1764, an animal of this kind commit-
ted peculiar ravages in some. particular districts of.
Gevaudan in Languedoc, and became the terror of
the whole country. If the accounts then given in
the Paris Gazette may be trusted; he was known to
have destroyed at least twenty persons, chiefly wo-
men and children. With the usual aggravation of
popular description, he was represented by some wha
had seen him, as far surpassing in size the rest of
his species, and as striped somew hat in the manner
ofa ‘Tiger. Public prayers are said to have been of-
fered up for his destruction.

Notwithstanding the savage nature of the Wolf,
he is still capable, when taken young, of being

tamed. A remarkable instance of this, we are told,

was exhibited in a Wolf belonging to the late Sir
Ashton Lever ; which, by proper education, was en-
tirely divested of the ferocious character of its species.
In the East, and particularly in Persia, Wolves are
exhibited as spectacles to the people. When young, ;
they are taught to dance, or rather to perform a kind

THE WOLY, 233
of wrestlivxe, with a number of men. Chardin tells
us, that a Wolf well educated in dancing is sold
for five hundred French crowns. The Comte de-
Buffon brought up several of them.—When young,
or during the first year, (he informs us,) they are
very docile, and even caressing; and if well fed,
will neither disturb the poultry, nor any other ani-
mals; but, at the age of eighteen months, or two
years, their natural ferocity begins to appear, and
they must be chained to prevent them from running
off and doing mischief. He brought up one till it
was eighteen or nineteen months old, in a court:
along with fowls, none of which it ever attacked ;
but, for its first essay, it killed the whole in one
night, without eating any of them. Another, having
broken his chain, ran off, after killing a Dog with
whom he had lived in great familiarity *.

Wolves, sometimes in the Northern parts of the
world, get on the ice of the sea, during the spring,
in quest of the young Seals, which they catch
asleep there. But this repast frequently proves fatal
to them; for theice, detached froin the shore, car-
ries them to a great distance from the land before
they are sensible of it. It is said that, in some years,
a large district is, by this means, delivered from
these pernicious beasts; which are then heard howl-
ing in a most dreadful manner far out at sea. -

Their time of gestation is about three months
and a half; and when the females are about to

bring forth, they search for some concealed place

a a ne Aen ee

—

* Bofk Quad.

B34 THE WOLF.

in the inmost recesses of the forests. After having
fixed on the spot, they make it smooth and plain
for a considerable space, by tearing up with their
teeth all the brambles and brushwood. They then
prepare a bed of moss, 1n which they bring forth
five or six young. The mother suckles them for
some weeks; and soon teaches them to eat flesh,
which she prepares by tearing it into small pieces.
She then brings them Field-mice, young Hares,
Partridges, and living Fowls; which they at first
play with, and then kill: when this is done, she
tears them to pieces, and gives a part to each of her
young. In about six weeks these leave their den,
and follow the mother, who leads them abroad to
some neighbouring pool to drink; she conducts
them back again, or, when any danger is appre-
hended, obliges them to conceal themselves else-
where. When they are attacked, she defends them
with intrepidity ; losing every sense of danger, and
becoming perfectly furious. She never leaves them
till their education is finished, and they have ac-
quired talents fit for rapine.

In the Wolf there 1s nothing valuable but his skin,
which makes a warm and durable fur. His flesh is
so bad, that it is rejected with abhorrence by allt
other quadrupeds ; and no animal but a Wolf will
voluntarily eat a Wolf. ‘The smell of his breath
is excessively offensive: since, toappease hunger, he
swallows, almost indiscriminately, every thing he can
find ; as corrupted flesh, bones, hair, and skins half
tanned, and even covered with lime. In short, the
Wolf is in an extreme degree disagreeable; his as-

THE HYANA. 235

ect is savage, his voice dreadful, his stench insup-

S > } Pp

portable, his disposition perverse, his manners fe-

rocious : destructive, and odious to mankind while
living ; and when dead, of little use.

THE HYENA™.

The Hyeena is a native of Asiatic Turkey, Syria,
Persia, and many parts of Africa. It is about the
size of a large Dog, of a pale greyish brown, and
marked across with several distant blackish bands.
The hair of its neck is erect, and is continued ina
bristly mane along the back, ‘The tail is rather
short, and very bushy. ‘The head is broad and flat,
and the eyes have an expression of great wildness
and ferocity.

The ancients entertained many absurd notions
respecting this animal. ‘hey believed that its neck
consisted of but one bone, which was without a
joint ; that it eyery year changed its sex; that it
could imitate the human voice, and had thus the
power of charming the shepherds, and rivetting
them to the place on which they stood.

The Hyzenas generally inhabit caverns and rocky
places ; prowling about in the night to feed on the
remains of dead animals, or on whatever living prey
they can seize. They violate the repositories of the
dead, and greedily devour the putrid corpse. They
likewise prey on cattle, and frequently commit great

* Synonyms.—Canis Hyena. Linn.—Striped Hyena. Pern—
LiHyena Buffon. Shaws Gen. Sool. pl.78—Bew. Quad. 271.

36 THE HYENA.
devastation among the flocks ; yet, when other pro-
visions fail, they will eat the roots of plants, and the
tender shoots of the palms. ‘They sometimes assem-
ble in troops, and follow the march of an army, in
order to feast on the slaughtered bodies.

The cry of the Hyzna is yery peculiar. It be-
gins with somewhat like the moaning of the human
voice,-and ends like that of a person making a vio-
lent effort to vomit.—His courage is said to equal
his rapacity. He will occasionally defend himself
with great obstinacy against much larger animals.
Kaempfer relates, that he saw one which had put
to flight two. Lions; and that he has often known it
to attack the Ounce and the Panther. There is
something in its aspect that indicates a peculiar
gloominess and malignity of disposition; and its
Manners correspond with its appearance.—Instances
have occurred of this creature being tamed. Mr.
Pennant says, that he saw a Hyeena as tame as a
Dog; and the Comte de Buffon, that there was one
shewn at Paris that had been tamed very early, and
was apparently divested of all its natural ferocity:
In Barbary, Mr. Bruce assures us that he has seen
the Moors, in the day-time, take this animal by the:
ears and haul him along, without his offering any
other .resistance than that of drawing back. And
the hunters will take a torch in their hand, go into
his cave, and, pretending to. fascinate him by
eless jargon of words, throw a blanket over him

and dra 1g him out.
Mr. Bruce locked up a Goat, a Kid, anda Lamb,

THE HYZNA. 237

all day with a Barbary Hyzena, when it was fasting,
and found them in the evening alive and unhurt; but
on his repeating an experiment of this kind one night;
it ate up a young Ass, a Goat, and a Fox, all before
morning, so as to leave nothing but some fragments
of the Ass’s bones.—In Barbary, therefore, the
Hyzenas seem to loose their courage, and fly from man
by day ; but in Abysssinia, they often prowl about
in the open day, and attack, with savage fury, every
animal they meet with.—‘ These creatures were
(says Mr. Bruce) a general scourge to Abyssinia, in
every situation, both in the city and in the field ;
and, I think, surpassed the Sheep in number... Gen-
dar was full of them, from evening till the dawn of
day ; seeking the different pieces of slaughtered car-
casses which this cruel and unclean people expose in
the streets without burial, and who firmly believe
that these animals are the evil genius Falasha, from
the neighbouring mountains, transformed by magic,
and come down to eat human flesh in the dark with
safety.. Many a time in the night, when the king
had kept me late in the palace, and It was not my
duty to lie there, in going across the square from the
king’s house, not many hundred yards distant,
have been apprchensive lest they should bite me in
the leg. They grunted in great numbers about me,
although I was surrounded with several armed men,
who seldom passed a night without wounding or
slaughtering some of them.—One night in Maitsha,
being very intent on an observation, I heard some-
‘thing pass behind me towards the bed ; but, upon
looking round, could perceive nothing. Having

238 THE HY ENA.

finished what I was then about, I went out of my
tent, resolving directly to return ; which I immedi-+
ately did, when I perceived two large blue eyes
glaring at me in the dark. I called up my servant
with a light; and we found a Hyeena standing
near the head of the bed, with two or three large
bunches of candles in his mouth: To have fired at
him, would have been at the risk of breaking my
quadrant or other furniture; and he seemed, by
keeping the candles steadily in his mouth, to wish
for no other prey at that time. As his mouth was
full, and he had no claws to tear with, I was not
afraid of him; and, with a pike, stuck him as near
the heart as I could. It was not till then that he
shewed any. sign of fierceness; but, upon feeling
his wound, he let drop the candles, and endea-
voured to run up the shaft of the spear to arrive at
me, so that I was obliged to draw my pistol from my
girdle and shoot him; and nearly at the same time,
my servant cleft his skull with a battle-axe. Ina
word, the Hyana was the plague of our lives, the
terror of our night-walks, and the destruction of our
Mules and Asses, which, above eyery thing else, are
his favourite food.”

At Dar-F tr, a kingdom in the interior of Africa,
the Hyznas come in herds of six, eight, and often
more, into the villages at night, and carry off with
them whatever they are able to master. They will
kill Dogs and Asses, even within the inclosure of
the houses; and always assemble wherever a dead
Camel or other animal is thrown, which (acting in
#n concert} they drag to a prodigious distance ; nor

THE HY#NA. * 239
are they greatly alarmed atthe sight of men, or the
report of fire-arms. Mr. Brown was told, that when-
ever any one of them was wounded, its companions
would always instantly tear it to pieces and de-
your it *,

It is, as has been before remarked, a generally
received opinion that the Hyzena cannot be tamed.
The specimen now in the Ménagerie of the Natio-
nal Museum in Paris, which was bought in Eng-
land and 1s supposed to be the variety observed by
Bruce in Abyssinia, would seem to confirm this opi-
nion. It continues to be excessively ferocious ; and
is eyen more enraged at the appearance of its keeper
than of any other person. ‘This man, however, had
formerly the care of a Hyzna which was so gentle,
that he suffered it to run loose in his room ; and he
knew its disposition so well, that after it had been
devouring its food, he could venture even to clean its
tecth.— The Hyena now in the Ménagerie, eats
five or six pounds weight of raw meat in the day.
It is a singular fact, that, contrary to the nature of
the same animals in a savage state, this sleepsin the
night, and appears aWake and active during the
greater part of the day. It utters no cry except
when any one irritates it ; and its voice on these oc-
casions, is not much unlike that of many other wild
Carnivorous animals +.

A remarkable peculiarity in this animal is, that
when he is first dislodged from cover, or obliged

* Brown.
+ La Menagerie du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, liy..

240 THE HY ENA. ;
to run, lic always appears lame for a considerable
distance; and sometimes to such a degree, ac=
cording to Mr. Bruce, as to induce the spectators
to suppose that one of his hind-legs is broken; but
after running some time, this affection goes off, and
he escapes swiftly away. |
The neck is so extremely stiff; that in looking
behind, orin snatching obliquely atany object, he
is obliged to move his whole body, somewhat in
the manner of a Hog: When the Arabs take any
of these animals, they are very careful to bury the
head; lest the brain, according to their supersti-
tion, should be used in sorcery or enchantment *,

THE SPOTTED HY NA f.

The Spotted Hyena has a considerable resém-
blance to the former species; but is larger, and mark-
ed with numerous roundish black spots. ‘The face
and upper part of the head are black; and alone
the neck extends an upright black mane. The
ground colour of the body is reddish-brown {.

These animals are natives’ of many parts of Africa 3
woe are an numerous atthe Cape, where
they are described as being cruel, mischievous, and
formidable. They have been frequently known t6
enter the huts of the Hottentots in search of prev,

>} a pee .
* Shaw's Trav. 246:

¥ Synonyms.—Cadis Crocuta. Linn.—Tiger-wolf. Sparrm. Kol-

éen—Quumbenyo, or Jackal. slat 209-—186..—Jaekals, or Bos-
hund, Ludo/f-— rea or Wild Dog. Bosman.—Spotted Uyaxna.
Penn ——Shai’s Gen. Zool. pl. 78.—Bew.. Quad. 274

Tt Nene koa.

‘

THE SPOTTED HY ANA, 241

from whence they sometimes carry off even the
children. One of them coming into a. Negro’s
house, on the coast of Guinea, laid hold of a girl;
threw her, in spite of her resistance, on his back, hold-
ing fast by one of the legs; and was making off with
her ; when the men, whom her screams had roused
from sleep, came to her relicf. The beast dropped
her, and made his escape , but she was considerably
lacerated in different parts of her body by his
teeth *. |

Numbers of them attend almost every dark night
about the shambles at the Cape, to carry away the
filth and offal left there by the inhabitants, who
suffer these their scavengers to come and return un-
molested. The Dogs too, with which at other
times they are in continual enmity, do not now mo-
lest them; and on these occasions, it has been
remarked, they are seldom known to do any mate-
rial mischief. ‘Thunberg informs us, that they are
so excessively bold and ravenous, as sometimes even
to eat the saddle from under the traveller's head,
and gnaw the shoes on his feet, while he is sleep-
ing in the open air f.

They utter the most horrid yells in the night,
while prowling about for prey ; and their propensity
to these cries is so implanted in them by nature, that
one which was brought up tame at the Cape, was
often heard in the night to emit this dreadful noise ¥.
—During the day, they remain concealed in holes

: Barbot, v. 209.—Bosman, 295. + Thunberg, ii.57. $ Church.
Vou.'1, R

9AI THE SPOTTED HYZNA.

in the ground, or in clefts of the rocks ; and in the
night time they frequently descend upon the sheep~
folds, in which, if not well defended by Dogs, they
commit terrible ravages, killing (like most of their
genus) many more than they devour *. Some of the
inhabitants of the Cape pretend that the Hyzena has
the power of imitating the cries of other animals,
and that by these means it often succeeds in decoy-
ing Lambs, Calves, &c. from the folds. It is also
said, that a party of Hyzenas half-flying and _half-
defending themselves, will decoy the whole of the
Dogs from a farm to follow them to some distance ;
while their companions have an opportunity of com-
ing fram their retreats, and carrying off sufficient
booty before the Dogs can return to prevent them f.

Every kind of animal substance is a. prize te
them ; and they will even rob the graves of their
dead, unless these are secured and well covered with
stones to preventthem{. The gluttony and filthy
habits of these animals, seem a kind interference of
Providence, urging them to consume those dead
and corrupting bedies which in very hot climates
might otherwise seriously affect the health and com-
fort of the people.

The inhabitants of Guinea kill them by fixing
guns on the outside of the villages, with a piece of
carrion fastened to the trigger and placed near the
muzzle, in such a manner, that the moment this bait
is touched, the trigger is thereby pulled, and the
piece discharged §. |

a

* Kolben, ii. 108. f~ Church. { Kolben, it, 108.
§ Barbot, y. 209,--Bosman, li. 35,

THE JACKAL, QA5

Dr. Sparrman relates a story of the Spotted Hyz-
na, for the truth of which he does not altogether
vouch ; yet it is so diverting, that I shall make no
apology for introducing it. ‘ One night, at a feast
near the Cape, a trumpeter, who had got himself
well filled with liquor, was carried out of doors in
order to cool and sober him. ‘The scent of him
soon attracted a Tiger-wolf; which threw him on
its back, and carried him away, thinking hima
corpse and consequently a fair prize, towards ‘able
Mountain. In the mean time, however, our drunken
musician awaked ; sufficiently sensible to know the
danger of his situation, and to sound the alarm with
his trumpet, which he carried fastened to his side.
The beast, as may easily be imagined, was not less
frightened in its turn*.” Another writer observes,
that any but a trumpeter, in such a situation, would
doubtless have furnished the animal with a suppert,

THE JACKAL ae

The body of the Jackal has a great resemblance
to that of the Fox; the head, however, is shorter,
the nose blunter, andthe legs longer. ‘The tail is
thickest in the middle, tapers to a point, and is tip-
ped with black. The hair, which isiong and coarse,
is of a dirty tawny colour, yellowish on the belly.
The length of the body: is about thirty inches, and
of the tail eleven.—The Jackal is found in all the

* Voyage to the Cape of Good Hope. + Church,
~ + Synonyms.—Canis aureus. Linn.—Schakal. Penn.—Chagal,
in Persia. —Adil. Belon——Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 79.—Bew. Quad. 292.

R 2

QA4 THE JACKAL.

hot and temperate parts of Asia; and in most parts
of Africa, from Barbary to the Cape.

In their manners these animals are much allied ta
the Dog, When taken young, they soon become
domestic, attach themselves to mankind, wag their
tails when pleased, and distinguish their masters
from other persons. They love to be fondled, and ,
patted with the hand; and when called by name,
will leap on atable or chair. They eat readily from
the hand; and drink as Dogs do, by lapping. They
are fond of playing with Dogs ;. unlike most others
of this genus, which run away from them. Al-
though carnivorous in a wild state, they eat bread
eagerly. Mr. Pennant seems of opinion, that they
are the stock from whence have sprung the various
races of tliese domestic animals.

In their native forests they associate in packs of
from fifty to two hundred; where they hunt during
the night, like Hounds, in full cry. They devour
poultry and Lambs, ravage the streets of villages
and gardens near towns, and are said even to de-
stroy children which are left unprotected. They are
bold and courageous; sometimes entering the tent
of a traveller while he is asleep, and stealing away
any thing that is eatable. If animal prey is not to
be met with, they wilt feed on roots and fruit. In
this case the most infected carrion comes not amiss
tothem, ‘They greedily disinter the dead, and de-
vour the most putrid bodies ; on which account the
graves are in many countries made of great depth.
‘They also attend caravans, and follow armies, to
{east on the remains of the dead.

In the night their howlings (for their yoice is nas

THE JACKAL, 245
turally a howl) are dreadful; and when they are
hear, these are so horribly loud, that persons can
with difficulty hear each other speak. Dillon says,
their voice is like the cries of many children of dif-
ferent ages mixed together: when one commences,
the whole pack immediately afterward join in the
howl. In the day-time they are silent. All the
beasts of the forest are roused by the cries of the
Jackal; and the Lion and other beasts of prey, by
a kind of instinct, attend to it as a signal for the
chace, and seize such timid animals as fly from the
noise. From this circumstance it is that the Jackal
has obtained the title of the Lion’s Provider.—
Jackals burrow in the earth; and leave their habi-
tations during the night only, to range for prey.
The females breed once a-year, and produce from
six to eight young at a birth *.

Such is, pretty nearly, the account of Mr. Pen-
nant: that of the Comte de Buffon is different.
The latter says, that these are stupid and voracious
animals, and very difficult to be tamed; and that
with one kept nearly a-year, neither caresses nor food
would soften its disposition, though taken young
and reared with the utmost care. It would allow
no one to touch it, and attempted to bite all per-
sons indiscriminately. When suffered to be at li-
berty, nothing could prevent it from leaping on
the tables, and carrying off every eatable it could
lay hold of.—This writer also informs us, that when-
ever this animal meets with travellers, it stops to

ae a a ee ea en

* Penn. Quad. i. 244.

R32

246 THE BARBARY JACKAL.

reconnoitre them without any symptoms of fear?’
that it is exceedingly voracious; and, when nothing
better offers, will even eat the leather of harnessing,
or boots and shoes. Whenever any of these crea-
tures begin to utter their cry, all the rest do the
same ; so that when one hasentered a house to steal,
and hears his companions at a distance, he cannot
refrain from adding his voice to the number, and is
thus frequently detected *.

THE. BARBARY JACKAL >.

The Barbary Jackal is about the size of the com-
mon Fox, and is of a brownish fawn-colour. From
behind each ear runsa black ine; which soon di-
vides into two, extending downwards along the
neck. The tail is bushy, and surrounded by three
dusky rings. s

This species is found in Egypt ; never in flocks
like the common Jackal, but always singly. It is
avery adroit animal. He ventures to approach,
even in the open day. the houses near which he
has his subterraneous abode ; and carefully concealed
beneath thick bushes, he frequently creeps without
“noise, surprises the poultry, carries off their eggs,
and leayes no traces of his exploits but the deyas-
tations themselves.—One of his principal talents
consists in the hunting of birds; and in this he ex-

* Buff Quad. vi. 257.
+ Synonyms.—Canis Barbarus. Shaw.—Barbary Schakal. Penn.
—Thaleb. Sonnini—Barbary Jackal. Shaw.

THE BARBARY JACKAL. QA7

hibits such surprising craft. and agility, that very
few are able to escape him.

His cunning is strongly depicted in the following
harration of M. Sonnini :—‘‘ One day, as I was me-
ditating in a garden, I stopped near’a hedge. A
Thaleb, hearing no noise, was coming through the
hedge towards me; and when he had cleared him-
self, was just at my feet. On perceiving me, he
was seized with such surprise, that he remained mo-
tionless for some seconds, without even attempting to
escape, his eyes fixed steadily on me. Perplexity was
painted in his countenance, by a degree of expres-
sion of which I could not have supposed him suscep-
tible, and which denoted great delicacy of instincts
On my part, I was afraid to move, lest I should put
an end to this situation, which afforded me much
pleasure. At length, after he had taken a few steps;
first towards one side and then the other; as if so
confused as not to know which way to get off, and
keeping his eyes still turned towards me, he retired 5
not running, but stretching himself out, or rather
creeping with a slow step, setting down his feet one
after another with singular precaution. He seemed
so much afraid of making a noise in his flight, that
he held up his large tail; almost in an horizontal
line, that it might neither drag on the ground nor
brush against the plants; On the other side of the
hedge I foundthe fragments of his meal; that had
consisted of a bird of prey, great part of which he
had devoured.”

He is one of the prettiest of quadrupeds; and per-
haps would be one of the most amiable, if his tricks

Roa |

2A8 THE FOX.

-and talents for depredation did not bear greatly teo
‘much the marks of knavery and falsehood *.

THE Foxy.

The Fox is a native of almost every quarter of
the globe ; and is of so wild and savage a nature,
that it is impossible fully to tame him. He is es-
teemed the most sagacious and most crafty of all
beasts of prey. ‘The former quality he shews in his
mode of providing himself an asylum, where he
retires from pressing dangers, dwells, and brings up
his young ; and his craftiness is discovered by his
schemes to catch Lambs, Geese, Hens, andall kinds
of small birds. The Fox, when this 1s possible,
fixes his abode on the border of a wood, in the -
neighbourhood of some farm or village. He-listens
to the crowing of the Cocks, and the cries of the
poultry. He scents them ata distance; he chuses
his time with judgment ; he conceals his road as
well as his design ; he slips forward with caution,
sometimes even trailing his body; and seldom
makes a fruitless expedition. If he can leap: the
wall, or creep in underneath, he ravages the court-
yard, puts all to death, and retires softly with
his prey; which he either hides under herbage,
or carries off to his kennel. He returns in a few
minutes for more; which he carries off or conceals
in the same manner, but in a different place. In

A need een ne

* Sonnini, it. 62.
+ Synonyms,—Canis Vulpes. Liéun——-Renard. Buffon.
Quad. 279, 260.

atid, «

Bew

THE FOX. 249
this way he proceeds till the progress of the sun, or
some movements perceived in the house, warn him
that it is time to suspend his operations, and to re-
tire to his den. He plays the same part with the
catchers of Thrushes, Woodcocks, &c. He visits
the nets and birdlime very early in the morning:
and carries off successively the birds which are en-
tangled; concealing them in different places, especi-
ally by the sides of highways, in the furrows, and
under the herbage or brush-wood, where they some-
times are left two or three days, but where he knows
perfectly to find them when heisin need. He hunts
the young Hares in the plains; seizes old ones in
their seats; digs out the Rabbets in the warrens;
discovers the nests of Partridges and Quails, and
seizes the mothers on the eggs ; and destroys a vast
quantity of game. He is exceedingly voracious ;
and when other food fails him, makes war against
Rats, Field Mice, Serpents, Lizards, and ‘Toads,
Of these he destroys great numbers ; and this is the
only service that he appears to do to mankind.
When urged by hunger, he will also eat roots or in-
sects; and the Foxes near the coasts will devour
Crabs, Shrimps, or Shell-fish. In France and Italy,
they do incredible mischief by feeding on grapes,
of which they are excessively fond *.

We are told by Buffon, that the Fox sometimes at-
tacks Bee-hives, and the nests of Wasps, for the
sake of what he can find to eat; and that he fre-
quently meets with so rough a reception here, as to

* Penn. Brit. Zool. ii, 73.

459 | HE FOX.

force him to retire, that he may roll on the grourid
and crush those that are stinging him; but having
thus rid himself of his troublesome companions, he
instantly returns to the charge, and obliges them at
length to forsake their combs, and leave them to him
as the reward of his victory. When pressed by neces-
sity, he will devour carrion. The Comte de Buffon
one evening suspended on a tree, at the height of
nine feet, some meat, bread, and bones.. The Foxes
had been at severe exercise during the night ; for
next morning the earth all around was beaten, by
their jumping, as smooth asa barn-floor.

The Fox exhibits a great degree of cunning in
digging young Rabbets out of their bufrows. He
does not enter the hole ; for in this case he would
have to dig several fect along the ground, under the
surface of the earth: but he follows their scent above;
till he comes to the end, where they he; and then
scratching up the earth, descends immediately upon
and devours them *.

Pontoppidan informs us, that when the Fox ob-
serves an Otter go into the water to fish, he will fre-
quently hide himself behind a stone ; and when the
Otter comes to shore with his prey, will make such
a spring upon him that the affrighted animal runs off
and leayes his booty behind. ‘“‘ A certain person
(continues this writer) was surprised on seeing a Fox’
near a fisherman’s house, laying a parcel of ‘Vorsks’ -
heads in a row. He waited the eyent ; the Fox hid

* Smith's Directory for destroying Vermin, p.2. + A species of Cods

THE FOX, O51 ,
himself behind them, and made a booty of the first
Crow that came for a bit of them *.”

The Fox prepares for himself 2 convenient den,
in which he lies concealed during the greater part of
the day. This isso contrived, as to afford the best
possible security to its inhabitant ; being situated
under hard ground, the roots of trees, &c. and is
_ besides furnished with proper outlets, through which
he may escape in case of necessity.—This care and
dexterity in constructing for himself a habitation, is
by M. de Buffon considered as alone sufficient to
rank the Fox among the higher order of qua-
drupeds.

He is one of those animals, that in this country
are made objects of diversion in the chace. When
he finds himself pursued, he generally makes towards
his hole; and penetrating to the bottom, lies till a
Terrier is sent intohim. If his den is under a rock
or the roots of trees, which is often the case, he is
safe ; for the Terrier is no match for him there, and
he cannot be dug out by hisenemies, When the re-
treat to his kennel is cut off, his stratagems and shifts
to escape are as surprising as they are various. He
always takes to the woody parts of the country, and
prefers. the paths that are most embarrassed with
thorns and briars. He runs ina direct line before the
hounds, and at no great distance from them; and
if hard-pushed, seeks the low wet grounds, as though

conscious that the scent does not lie so well there.

s

ie Pontoppidan, ii.22. ‘These seem such extraordinary instances of
sagacity and intelligence, that we scarcely know how to credit them.

952 THE Pox.

When overtaken, he becomes obstinately desperate,
and bravely defends himself against the teeth of his
adversaries even to the last gasp *.

Dr. Goldsmith telates a remarkable instance of
the parental affection of this animal, which he says
occurred near Chelmsford. A She-Fox that had, as
it should seem, but one cub, was unkennelled by a
gentleman’s Hounds, and hotly pursued. The
poor animal, braving every danger rather than
leave her cub behind to be worried by the Dogs,
took it up in her mouth, and ran with it in this
manner for some miles. At last, taking her way
through a farmer’s yard, she was assaulted by a
Mastiff; and was at length obliged to drop her cub,
which was taken up by the farmer. And we are
happy to add, that the affectionate creature escaped
the pursuit, and got off in safety ~-.—A female Fox
was hunted near St. Ives, during three quarters of
an hour, with a cub, about a fortnight old, all the
time in her mouth, which she was at length com-
pelled to leave to the ferocity of her pursuers {.—It
is not, however, by Hounds alone that this sagacious
animal is destroyed:

The plunder’d warrener full many a wile

Devises, to entrap his greedy foe

Fat with nocturnal spoils. At close of day,

With silence drags his trail : then from the ground
Pares thin the close-graz’d turf; there with nice hand
Covers the latent death, with curious springs
Prepar’d to fly at once, whene’er the tread

ee IO nn ee

* Church. + Goldsmith, iti, 930. { Daniel, i. 169,

THE! POX,’ > - 253
Of man or beast unwarily shall press
The yielding surface. By th’ indented steel
With gripe tenacious held, the felon grins,
And struggles, but in vain : yet oft ’t is known
When ev’ry art has fail’d, the captive Fox
Has shar’d the wounded joint, and with a limb
Compounded for his life. —But if perchance
Jn the deep pitfall plung’d, there ’s no escape :
But unrepriev’d he dies ; and bleach’d in air,

The jest of clowns, his reekine carcase hanes.
J 2 re re)

Of all animals the Fox has the most significant
eye; by which is expressed every passion of love,
fear, hatred, &c. He is remarkably playful; but
like all savage creatures half-reclaimed, will on the
least offence bite even those with whom he is most
familiar. He is never to be fully tamed. He lan+
guishes when deprived of liberty ; and if kept too
long in adomestic state, he dies of melancholy.
When abroad, he is often seen to amuse himself
with his fine bushy tail, running sometimes for a
considerable time in circles to catch it. In cold
weather he wraps it about his nose *.

The Fox is very common in Japan. The natives
believe him to be animated by the Devil; and their
historical and sacred writings are all full of strange
accounts respecting him-+. New England is said
to have been early stocked with Foxes by a gen-
tleman who imported some from Europe for the
pleasure of the chace. ‘The present breed in that
country are supposed to have sprung from these,

Kren,

# Penn. Brit. Zool. i. 73. + Kaempfer, i. 128

Q54 THE FOX.

They are there believed to be very destructive to
Lambs; and a reward is given of two shillings
a-head, for their extirpation *.

‘he females produce only once a-year (except
some accident befalls the first litter), and have
from three to six atatime. If the dam perceives
the place of her retreat to be discovered, she carries
off her cubs, one by one, to a more secure habita-
tion. The young are brought forth blind, like
puppies; and are of a darkish-brown colour.—
Foxes grow till they are eighteen months old, and
live thirteen or fourteen years ~-.—During winter,
these animals make an almost continual yelping ; but
in summer, when they shed their hair, they are for
the most part silent.

THE ARCTIC Fox *,

The Arctic Fox is smaller than the Common
Fox; and of a blueish-grey colour, which some-
times changes to perfect white. The hair is very
thick, long, and soft. The nose is sharp; and the
ears short, and almost hid in the fur. ‘The tail is
shorter, but more bushy, than that of the Common
Fox.—These animals are met with only in the
Arctic regions near the Polar Circle, and in the
islands of the Frozen and Eastern Oceans; where
they are found in incredible numbers.

* Daniel, i. 161. + Ibid. i. 165.
t Synonyms.—Canis Lagopus. Linn.—lIsatis. Buffon.

Suad. 283.

Bex.

THE ARCTIC FOX. 255

Steller has given us an ample and entertaining de-
scription of their manners *.

« During my unfortunate abode (says he) on
Bering’s Island, I had but too many opportunities
of studying the nature of these animals; which far
exceed the common Fox in impudence, cunning,
and roguery. *“The narrative of the innumerable
tricks they played us, might vie with Albertus
Julius’s history of the Apes on the island of Sax-
enburg.

«« They forced themselves into our habitations by
night aswell as by day, stealing all that they could
carry off ; even things that were of no use to them,
as knives, sticks, and clothes. They were so ex-
tremely ingenious, as to roll down our casks of pro-
visions, several poods-~ in weight; and then steal
the meat out with such skill, that, at ‘first, we
could not bring ourselves to ascribe the theft’ to
them. While employed in stripping an animal of
its skin, it has often happened that we could not
avoid stabbing two or three Foxes, from their rapa-
city in tearing ithe flesh out of our hands. If we
buried it ever so carefully, and even added stones
to the weight of earth that was upon it; they not
only found it out, but with their shoulders pushed
away the stones, by lying under them, and in this
manner helping one another. If, in order to secure it,

* This description would seem to border somewhat on romance;
“but we know not how to contradict the statement of facts to which a
respectable writer informs us he was an eye-witness.

+ The pood is equal to 40 Russian pounds, each of which is some-
what less than the English pound.

956 THE ARCTIC FOX.

we pft any animal on the top of a high post in the
air; they either dug up the earth at the bottom,
and thus tumbled the whole down, or one of them
climbed up, and with incredible artifice and dex-
terity threw down what was upon it.

* They watched all our motions, and accompa-
nied us in whatever we were about to do. If the
sea threw up an animal of any kind, they devoured
it before we could arrive to rescue it from them ;
and if they could not consume the whole of it at
once, they trailed it in portions to the mountains ;
where they buried it under stones before our eyes,
running to and fro so long as any thing remained
to be conveyed away. While this was doing, others
stood on guard, and watched us. If they saw any
one coming at a distance, the whole troop would
combine at once and begin digging altogether in the
sand, till even a Beaver or Sea-bear in their pos-
session would be so completely buried under the
surface, that not a trace of it could be seen. In
the night-time, when we slept in the field, they
came and pulled off our night-caps, and stole our
gloves from under our heads, with the beaver-co-
verings, and the skins that we lay upon. In conse-
quence of this, we always slept with our clubs in
our hands, that if they awoke us we might drive
them away or knock them down.

«* When we made a halt to rest by the way, they
gathered around us, and played a thousand tricks in
our view; and when we sat still, they approached
us so near that they gnawed the thongs of our shoes.
If we lay down as if intending to sleep, they came

THE ARCTIC Fox: 257

nnd smelt at our noses, to find whether we were
dead or alive. On our first arrival, they bit off the
noses, fingers, and toes of our dead, while we were
preparing the grave; and thronged in such a man-
ner about the infirm and sick, that it was with dif-
ficulty we could keep them off.

“« Every morning we saw these audacious animals.
patrolling about among the Sea-lions and Sea-bears *
lying on the strand; smelling at such as were asleep,
to discover whether some one of them might not be
dead: if that happened to be the case, they pro-
ceeded to dissect him immediately, and soon after-
wards all were at work in dragging the parts away.
Because the Sea-lions sometimes in their sleep over-
lay their young, the Foxes every morning examined
the whole herd of them, one by one, as if consci-
ous of this circumstance ; and immediately dragged
away the dead cubs from their dams.

«© As they would not suffer us to be at rest either
by night or day, we became so exasperated against
them that we killed them, young and old, and harass-
ed them by every means we could devise; When we
awoke in the morning, thete always Jay two or three
that had been knocked on the head the preceding
night ; and I can safely affirm, that, during my stay
upon the island, I killed aboye two hundred of these
animals with nryown hands. Onthe third day after
my arrival, I knocked down with a club, within the
space of three hours, upwards of seventy of them,
and made a covering to my hut with their skins.

* Leonine Seals, and Polar Bears,

Vor I, S

258 THE ARCTIC FOX.

They were so ravenous, that with one hand we
could hold to them a piece of flesh, and with
a stick or ax in the other could knock them
down.

“« From all the circumstances that occurred dur-
ing our stay, it was evident that these animals
could never before have been acquainted with man-
kind ; and that the dread of Man is not innate in
- brutes, but must be grounded on long experience.

«« Like the common Foxes, they were the most
sleek and full of hair in the months of October and
November. In January and February the growth
of this was too thick. In Apnl and May they began
to shed their coat ; in the two following months they
had only wool upon them, and appeared as if they
went in waistcoats.—In June they dropt their cubs,
nine or ten at a brood, in holes and clefts of the
rocks. ‘They are so fond of their young, that, to
scare us away from them, they barked and yelled
like Dogs, by which they betrayed their covert ;
but no sooner did they perceive that their retreat
was discovered, than (unless they were prevented)
they dragged the young away in their mouths, and
endeavoured to conceal them in some more secret
place. On one of us killing the young, the dam
would follow him:with dreadful howlings, both day
and night, for a hundred or more vers/s* ; and would
not even then cease till she had done her enemy
some material injury, or was herself killed by him.

“Tn heavy falls.of snow, these animals bury them-

ee

, : . a .
* The Russian verst contains about 1166% English yards.

THE ARCTIC FOX. 259

selves in that substance, where they lie as long as it
continues of a sufficient depth. ‘They swim across
the rivers with great agility. Besides what the sea
casts up, or what is destroyed by other beasts, they
seize the Sea-fowl, by night, on the clifts, where
it has settled to sleep; but, on the contrary, they
are themselves frequently victims to the birds of
prey.—Though now found in such numbers on this
island, they were probably conveyed thither from
the continent, on the drift-ice ; and being afterwards
nourished by the great quantity of animal substan-
ces thrown ashore by the sea, they became thus
enormously multiplied.”

We are informed by Mr. Crantz, that the Arctic
Foxes exert an extraordinary degree of cunning in
their mode of obtaining Fish for prey. They go
into the water, and make a splash with their feet,
in order to disturb the scaly tribes ; and when these
come up, immediately seize them: He says that
in imitation of these animals, the Greenland wo-

en have adopted the same method with success *.
—Charlevoix, apparently alluding to this species,
says that they exert an almost incredible degree of
cunning in entrapping the different kinds of Water-
fowl. ‘They advance a little way into the water ;
and afterwards retire, playing a thousand antic tricks
on the banks. The Fowl approach; and on their
coming near; the Fox ceases, that he may not
alarm them, only moving about his tail very gently :
the former are said to be so foolish as to come up

* Hist. of Greenland.

92

200 THE ARCTIC FOX.
now and peck at it; when he immediately springs
round upon them, and seldom misses his aim *.

In Spitzbergen and Noya Zembla, Mr. Pennant

tells us, these Foxes live also on the lesser quadru-

peds: in Greenland, from necessity, on berries,
shell-fish, or whatever the sea throws up: but in
the north of Asia, and in Lapland, their principal
food is the Lemming +, the multitudes of which
are sometimes so vast as to cover the whole face of
the country. The Foxes follow these in their emi-
erations from place to place; and as the return of
the Lemming is very uncertain, and frequently not
till after long intervals of time, they are sometimes
absent for three or four years in pursuit of this their
favourite prey.—Mr. Pennant also tells us, that they
are tame and inoffensive animals ; and so simple that
there have been instances of their standing by while
the trap was baiting, and immediately afterwards
putting their heads into it ¢.

They are killed for the sake of thei skins; the
fur of which is light and warm, but not durable.
They have at times appeared in such vast numbers
about Hudson’s Bay, that four hundred have been
taken in different ways between the months of De-
cember and March.—The Greenlanders sometimes
eat the flesh, which they prefer to that of the
Hare. ‘They also make buttons of the skins; and,
splitting the tendons, use thein instead of thread.

* Charlevoix, Travels, i. 207. + Mus Lemmus, of Linneus.
{ Penm Arct. Zool i. 43, 44.

e

{| 261 |
THE CAT TRIBE.

This tribe of animals is ferocious, and tolerably
swift of foot. They hunt for their prey chiefly in
the night, and seize it by surprize; lying in wait
till it comes within reach, and then springing sud-
denly forwards upon it at one leap. While their
prey is in sight, they frequently move their tail from
side to side, keeping at the same time their eyes
steadily fixed on the object. They never adopt ve-
getable food, except from necessity. Most of them
are very agile in climbing trees; and have the remark-
able property of alighting on their feet whenever
thrown or falling from a height, by which the dan-
ger usually attendant on such accidents is often pre-
vented, The females, producing a considerable
number of young at a birth, have eight teats ; four
of which are situated on the breast, and the other
four on the belly *,

All the animals belonging to this tribe have six
fore-tecth, the intermediate ones of which are equal.
They have also three grinders on each side in both
jaws. The tongue is furnished with rough sharp
prickles, that point backwards, And the claws are
sheathed and retractile -- : a necessary provision to
keep them from* being dulled while walking ; for,
being their principal weapons, as well of offence as
defence, they are both hooked and sharp.

* Linn. Gmel. t. 76. - Kerr, 1. 145.
+ Except in the Lion; which has them retractile, but not into
sheaths.—See the following account.

53

THE LION *,

The Lion is chiefly found in the interior of
Africa, and in the hotter parts of Asia. His form is
strikingly bold and majestic. His large head and
shaggy pendent mane, his strength of limb, and
formidable countenance, exhibit a picture of ter-
rific grandeur which no words can describe.

His length is from six to eight feet ; and his tail,
which is terminated by a tuft of blackish hair, is alone
about four feet. The general colour is a pale tawny,
inclining to white beneath. ‘The claws are retrac-
tile ; not into sheaths, but into the intervals be-
tween the toes by means of a particular articulation
of the last joint. ‘The last bone but one, by bend-
ing itself outwards, gives place to the last, which is
only articulated to it; and to which the claw is
fastened so as to bend itself upwards and sideways,
more easily than downwards. So that the bone
which is at the end of every toe being almost con-
tinually bent upwards, the point which rests upon
the ground is not the extremity of the toe but the
node of the articulation of the last two bones; and
thusin walking, the claws remain elevated and retract-
ed between the toes, those of the right paws towards
the right and those of the left towards the left side
of the toes. This admirable structure is not found
in the great-toe ; whose last joint bends only down-
wards, because this toe does not naturally rest upon

* Synonyms.—Canis Leo. Linu —Lion. Bufgon———Shaw's Gen,
Sool. pl. 81, 82.—Bew. Quad. 169.

THE LION. 263

the ground, being considerably shorter than the
others *.

The Lioness. is smaller than the Lion, and desti-
tute of a mane. She brings forth in the spring, in
the most sequestered places, and produces four or
five young ata time. ‘These, on their first appear-
ance, are about the size of a small pug Dog; and
they continue at the teat nearly twelye months.

The strength of the Lion is so prodigious, that a
single stroke af his paw is sufficient to break the
back of a horse, and one sweep with his tail will throw
a strong man to the ground. Kolben says, that when
he comes up to his prey, he always knocks it down
dead, and seldom bites it till the mortal blow has
been given : this blow he generally accompanies with
a terrible roar +.

A Lion was once seen at the Cape to take a Heifer
in his mouch ; and though that animal’s legs drag-
ged on the ground, yet he seemed to carry her off
with as much ease as a Cat does a Rat: he likewise
leaped over a broad ditch with her, without the least
difficulty. A Buffalo, perhaps, would be too cum-
bersome for him, notwithstanding his strength, to
seize and carry off in the manner above-mentioned.
‘Two yeomen, however, of the Cape of Good Hope,
gave Dr. Sparrman the following account on this
subject.—** Being on a hunting party near Boshies:
mans-river with several Hottentots, they perceived a
Lion dragging a Buffalo from the plain to a wood
upon a neighbouring hill. They, however, soon

* Memoirs of the Acad. of Scien. at Paris. + Kolben, ii. 95,

54

964 THE LION,

forced him to quit his prey, in order to make a prize
of it themselves; and found that he had had the saz
gacity to take out the Buffalo’s large and unwieldy
entrails, in order to be able the easter to make off
with the fleshy and more eatable part of the carcase,
And as soon as he saw, from the skirts of the wood,
that the Hottentots had begun to carry off the flesh
to the waggon, he frequently peeped out upon
them, probably with no little mortification.

‘* The Lion’s strength, however, is said not ta
be sufficient alone to get the better of so large and
strong an animal as the Buffalo: but, in order to
make it his prey, he.is obliged to haye recourse
both to agility and stratagem ; and stealing on the
Buffalo, he fastens, with both his paws, upon the
nostrils and mouth of the beast, and continues
squeezing them close together, till at length the
victim is strangled, wearied out, and dies. It was
said, that one of the colonists had had an opportu-
nity of seeing a transaction of this kind ; and others
had reason to conclude that something of this na-
ture had passed, from seeing Buffaloes which had
escaped from the clutches of Lions, and which bore
marks of the claws of these animals about the
mouth and nose. Jt was asserted, however, that
the Lion risqued his life in such attempts, especially
if any other Buffalo was at hand to rescue that
which was attacked; and that a traveller had once
an opportunity of seeing a female Buffalo, with her
_calf, defended by a river at her back, keep at bay,
for a long time, five Lions which had partly sut=

THE LION. 965

rounded her, but which did not (at least as long as
the traveller looked on) dare to attack her*,”

The Lion does not willingly attack any animal
openly, unless provoked, or extremely hungry; in
the latter case he is said to fear no danger, and to
be repelled by no resistance. ‘The method in which
he takes his prey, is, almost always, to spring or throw
himself on it, with one vast bound, from the place of
his concealment: yet, if he chances to miss his leap,
he will not {the Hottentots invariably assured Dr,
Sparrman) follow his prey any farther; but, as though
he were ashamed, turning round towards the place
where he lay in ambush, slowly, and step by step,
measures the exact Jength between the two points,
in order to find how much too short, or how much
beyond the mark, he had taken his leap.—‘* From
all the most credible accounts that I could collect
concerning Lions (continues this intelligent writer),
as well as from what I saw myself, I think I may
safely conclude, that this beast is frequently a great
coward ; or, at least, deficient in point of courage
proportionate to his strength: on the other hand,
however, he sometimes shews an unusual degree of
intrepidity, of which I will just mention the follow-
ing instance, as it was related to me.

“* A Lion had broken into a walled inclosure for
cattle, through the latticed gate, and had done
considerable damage. ‘The people belonging to the
farm were well assured of his coming again by the
same way. In consequence of this, they stretched

ee

* Sparrman’'s Voyage to the Cape of Good Hope.

266 THE LION.

2 rope directly across the entrance, to which several
loaded guns were fastened in such a manner, that
they must necessarily discharge themselves into the
Lion’s body as soon as ever he should push against
the cord, as it was expected he would, with his
breast. But the Lion, which came before it was
dark, having probabiy some suspicions respecting
the cord, struck it away with his foot; and without
betraying the least fear in consequence of the reports
made by the leaded pieces, went on steadily and
careless of every thing, and devoured the prey he had
left untouched before.”

Though the Lion generally springs upon his prey
from some lurking-place, yet there have been in-
stances where he has deviated from his usual me-
thod. Of these the following, related by Dr. Sparr-
man, is rernarkable :—A Hottentot, perceiving that
he was followed by a Lion, and concluding that the
animal only waited the approach of night to make
him his prey, began to consider of the best mode
of providing for his safety, and at length he adopt-
ed the following. -Observing a piece of broken
ground with a precipitate descent on one side, he
sat down by the edge of it; and found, to his great
joy, that the Lion also made a halt, and kept at a.
distance behind him. As soon as it grew dark, the
man, sliding gently forward, let himself down a
little below the edge of the steep; and held up his
cloak and hat on his stick, at the same time gently
moving them backward and forward. ‘The Lion,
after a while, came creeping gently towards the ob-
ject; and mistaking the cloak for the man himself,

THE LION. 267

made a spring, and fell headlong down the precipice.
By this means, the poor fellow was safely delivered
from his horrible and rapacious enemy.

One of the Namaaqua Hottentots (whose country
is about eighty leagues north of the Cape), endea-
vouring to drive his master’s cattle into a pool of
water, enclosed between two ridges of rock, espied
a huge Lion couching in the midst of the pool.
Terrified at the unexpected sight of such a beast,
which seemed to have its eyes fixed upon him, he
instantly took to his heels. In doing this, he had
presence of mind enough to run through the herd ;
concluding that if the Lion should pursue, he
would take up with the first beast that presented
itself. In this, however, he was mistaken. The
Lion broke through the herd, making directly aftea
the Hottentot; who, on turning round, and per-
ceiving that the monster had singled him out,
breathless and half-dead with fear, scrambled up
one of the tree-aloes, in the trunk of which had
luckily been cut out a few steps the more readily to
come at some bird’s-nests that the branches con-
tained. At the same moment the Lion made a
spring at him; but, missing his aim, fell upon the
ground. In surly silence he walked round the tree,
casting at times a dreadful look towards the poor
Hottentot, who had crept behind the nests. I
should here remark, that these nests belong toa
small bird of the genus Loxia*; that lives in a
state of society with the rest of its species, construct-

n+ ee

* Loxia Socia of Linnzus,

IH8 THE LION,

ing a whole republic of nests in one clump, and
under one cover, One of these clumps of nests
sometimes extends a space of ten feet in diameter,
and contains a population of several hundred indi-
viduals. It was under the cover of one of these
structures, that the Hottentot screened himself.from
the view of the Lion. Having remained silent and
motionless for a length of time, he ventured to peep
aver the side of the nest, hoping that the Lion had
departed ; when, to his great terror and astonish-
ment, his eyes met those of the animal, which, as
the poor fellow afterwards expressed himself, ‘* flash-
ed fire at him.’ In short, the Lion laid himself
down at the foot of the tree,-and did not move from
the place for four-and-twenty hours. At the end
of this time, becoming parched with thirst, the
beast went to a spring at some distance in order to
drink. ‘The Hottentot now, with trepidation, ven-
tured to descend; and ran off to his home, which
was not more than a mile distant, as fast as his feet
could carry him, where he arrived in safety. The
perseverance of the Lion was such, that, it appeared
afterwards, he returned to the tree, and, finding
the man had descended, hunted him by the scent
to within three hundred paces of the house.

It seems to be a well-established fact, that the
Lion prefers the flesh of a Hottentot to any other
food. One of these people has been frequently singled
out from a party of Dutch. The latter, however,
being disguised in clothing, and the former going
generally naked, may perhaps account for-this dis-
tinction. The Horse, next to the Hottentot, seems

THE LION, 960

to be his favourite prey ; but on the Sheep, which
perhaps he is too indolent to uncase from its woolly
covering, he seldom deigns to fix his paw *.

Where the Lion has become acquainted with hu-
man power, and experienced Man’s superiority, his
courage has been so lost that he has been scared away
even with a shout. In a tame state (but it is scarcely
fair to draw any general inference from this) we
have an instance of a Lion being overcome by a
Goat. Mr. Bruce, director and commander-general
of the Senegal company on the African coast, had
near him a large full-grown tame Lion, four years
old, when a flock of Goats was brought that had been
just purchased. The sight of this tremendous ani-
mal so frightened them, that all, except one, ran off.
This, however, looking stedfastly at the Lion, stamp-
ed with his foot upon the ground in a menacing at-
titude, then retreated three steps, and instantly re-
turning, struck the Lion’s forehead so violently, with
his horns, that the animal was stunned by the blow.
The Goat repeated this several times before the
Lion could recover himself ; and the huge poltroon
was thrown into such confusion, that he was obliged
to conceal himself behind his master fr.

If we did not know somewhat of the natural dispo-
sition of this stately animal, we should feel a great
degree of terror in seeing the keepers of wild beasts
play with him, pull out his tongue, and eyen chas-

* Barrow’'s Travels in Africa, 293. + Astley’s Collection of
Voyages, ii. 3.42.

279 - THE LION.
tise him (as they sometimes do) without 4 cause. He
seems to bear all with the utmost composure ; and
we very rarely have instances of his revenging these
unprovoked sallies of impertinent curiosity. How-
ever, when his anger is at last excited, the conse-
quences are terrible. Labat tells us of a gentleman
who kept a Lion in his chamber; and employed a
servant to attend it, who, as usual, mixed his blows
with caresses. This ill-judged association continued
for some time : till one morning the gentleman was
awakened by a noise in his room, which he could not
at first account for ; but drawing the curtains, he be-
held a horrid spectacle—the Lion growling over the
man’s head, which he had separated from the body,
and was tossing round the floor. The master imme-
diately ran into the next room, called to the people
without, and had the animal secured. from doing far-
ther mischief *. This single account, however, is not
sufficient to weigh against the many instances we
every day witness, of this creature’s gentleness and
submission, He is often bred up with domestic ani-
mals, and is scen to play innocently and familiarly
among them; and if it ever happens that his natu-
ral ferocity returns, it is seldom exerted against his
benefactors.—The following pleasing anecdotes af-
ford very sufficient proofs of the Lion’s gratitude and
affection.

In the reten of king James the First, Mr. Henry
Archer, a watchmaker in Morocco, had two whelps
given him, which had been stolen not long before

ee Se ee eee

* Labat’s Afrique Occidentale, ii. p. 11.

tne tfon, a7}
from a Lioness near Mount Atlas. They were a
male and female; and till the death of the latter, were
kept together in the emperor’s garden. He, at that
time, had the male constantly in his bed-room, tik
it grew as tall as a large Mastiff-dog ; and the ani-
mal was perfectly tame and gentle im its manners.
Being about to return to England, he reluctantly
gave it toa Marseilles merchant; who presented it
to the French king, from whom it came as a present
to king James; and, for seven years afterwards, was
kept in the Tower. A person of the name of Bull,
who had been a servant to Mr. Archer, went by
chance with some friends, to see the animals there.
The beast recognized him in a moment ; and, by
his whining voice and motions, expressive of anxiety
for him to come near, fully exhibited the symptoms
of his joy at meeting witha former friend. Bull,
equally rejoiced, ordered the keeper to open the
grate; and he went in. The Lion fawned upon him
like a dog, licking” his feet, hands, and face ; and
skipped and tumbled about, to the astonishment of
all the spectators. When the man left the place the
animal bellowed aloud, and shook his cage in an ex-
tacy of sorrow and rage ; and for four days afterwards
refused to take any nourishment whatever *.

About the year 1650, when the plague raged at
Naples, Sir George Davis, the English Consul there,
retired to Florence. He happened one day from
curiosity to visit the Grand-duke’s dens. At the
farther end of the place, in one of the dens, lay a

* Smith’s Travels, in Churchill's Coll. il 303,

Heo THE LION.

Lion, which the keepers, during three whole years,
had not been able to tame, though all the art and
gentleness imaginable had been used. Sir George
no sooner appeared.at the gates of the den, than the
Lion ran to him with all the marks of joy and trans-
port he was capable of expressing. He reared him-
self up and licked hts hand, which this gentleman
put in through the iron grate; The keeper, af-
frighted, pulled him away by the arm, intreating
him not to hazard his life by venturing so near the
fiercest creature of his kind that had ever entered
those dens. Nothing, however, would satisfy Sif
George, but in spite of all the keeper said to him
he would go into the den. The instant he enter-
ed, the Lien threw his paws upon his should-
ers, licked his face, and ran about his den, fawn-
ing, and as full of joy as a dog at the sight of his
master. After several salutations had been exchang-
ed, they parted very good friends.

The rumour of this interview between the Lion
and the stranger, ran immediately through the eity;
and Sir George almost passed for a saint among the
people. The Grand-duke, as soon as he had heard
of it, sent for Sir George ; who goine with his high-
ness to the den, gave him the following account of
what had seemed so strange.

‘* A captain of a ship from Barbary gave me
this Lion, when quite a whelp. I brought him
up tame; but when I thought him too large to be
suffered to run about the house, I built a den for
him in my court-yard ; from that time he was never
permitted to be loose, except when brought into

THE LION. 073

the house to be exhibited to my friends. When he
was five years old, he did some mischief by pawing
and playing with people in his frolicksome moods :
having griped a man one day a little too hard, I
ordered him to be shot, for fear of incurring the
guilt of what might happen ; on this, a friend, who
happened to be then at dinner with me, begged hin
as a present: how he came here I know not,”

Here Sir George ended ; and the Duke of Tus-
cany assured him, that the Lion had been given to
him by the very personon whom Sir George had
bestowed him.

An instance of recollection and attachment oc-
curred not many years since“in a Lion belonging to
the Duchess of Hamilton. At 1s thus related by Mr,
Hope: ‘‘ One day I had the honour of dining with
the Duchess of Hamilton. After dinner, the com-
pany attended her grace to see a Lion fed that she
had in the court. While we were admiring his
fierceness, and teazing him with sticks to make
him abandon his prey and fly at us, the porter
came and informed the Duchess that a Serjeant
with some recruits at the gate, begged to see the
Lion. Her grace, with great condescension and
good-nature, asked permission of the company to
admit the travellers, They were accordingly ad-
mitted at the moment the Lion was growling over
his prey. The Serjeant, advancing to the cage,
called ‘ Nero, Nera, poor Nero, don’t, you know
me?’ The animal instantly turned his head to
look at him; then rose up, left his prey, and came,

Wor: I. ‘iy

O74. THE LION.

wagging his tail, to the side of the cage. The man
put his hand upon him, and patted him; telling us,
at the same time, that it was three years since they
had seen each other; andthat the care of the Lion
on his passage from Gibraltar, had been committed
to him, and he was happy to see the poor beast shew
so much gratitude for his attention. The Lion, in-
deed, seemed perfectly pleased ; he went to and fro,
rubbing himself against the place where his bene-
factor stood, and licked the Serjeant’s hand as he
held it out tohim. ‘The man wanted to go into the
cage to him; but was withheld by the company,
who were not altogether convinced that it would be
safe for him to do so *.”

Citoyen Felix, about five years ago, brought two
Lions, a male and female, to the national ménagerie
at Paris, About the beginning of the following
June, Felix was taken ill, and could no longer attend
the Lions; another was, therefore, forced to perform
this duty. The male, sad and sohtary, remained
from that mament constantly seated at the end of -
his cage, and refused to receive any thing from the
stranger, whose presence was hateful tohim, and
whom he often menaced by bellowing. The com-
pany even of the female seemed now to displease
him ; and he paid no attention to her. The un-
easiness of the animal afforded a belief that he was
really ill, but no one dared to approach him. At
Jeneth Felix recovered; and, with intention to sur-
prize the Lion, he crawled softly to the cage, and

aL a

* Thoughts in Prose and Verse, by John Hope, 1782,

THE LION, 275

shewed only his face between the bars: the Lion,
in a moment, made a bound, leaped against the
bars, patted him with its paws, licked his hands and
face, and trembled with pleasure. The female also
ran to him: but the Lion drove her back; and
seemed angry ; and, fearful that she should snatch.
any favours from Felix, a quarrel was about to take
place, but Felix entered the cage to pacify them.

He caressed them by turns; and was afterwards
frequently seen between them. He had so great
a command over ther, that whenever he wished
them to separate and retire to their cages, he had
only to give the order: when he had a desire
that they should lie down, and. shew strangers their
paws or throats, on tue least sien they would hie on
their backs, hold up their paws one after another,
open their throats, and, as a recompence, obtain the
favour of licking hishand. ‘These animals were of
a strong breed ; and at the time above-mentioned,

were five years anda half old *,

We are assured, from numberless authorities, that
the anger of this animal is noble, his courage mag-
nanimous, and his disposition grateful. He has
been often seen to despise contemptible enemies, and

pardon their insults when it was in his power to have
punished them.. He has been known to spare the
lives of such creatures as were thrown to be devoured
by him, to live peaceably with them, to afford them
part of his subsistence, and sometimes even to want
food himself rather than deprive them of that life

* Tilloch’s Phil: Mag.
A ote

which his genefosity had spared. J shall mention a
single instance :—A Dog was put into the cage of a
Lion in them énagerie at the Tower, some years ago,
for his food. The stately animal, however, spared ifs
life ; and they lived together for a considerable time

276 THE LION,

in the same den, in the most perfect harmony, and
appeared to have a great affection for each othe.
The Dog had sometimes the impudence to grow]
at the Lion, and even to dispute with him the food
which was thrown to them; so true is the old pro-
verb, ‘* Familiarity breeds contempt :” but the no-
ble animal was never known to chastise the impér-
tinent conduct of his little companion; but usually
suffered it to eat quietly till it was satisfied, before
he began his own repast *.

A Lioness, at present in the Museum of Natural
History at Paris, permits a Dog to live in her den,
and is excessively fond of it. She seems both plea-
sed and gratified by its caresses: she is attentive to
all its wants; and is unhappy whenever it is remoy-
ed, though for a few moments only, from her sight,
The keepers assert that to this singular attachment
alone, they are indebted for the tranquillity with
which she has hitherto supported the loss of her li-
berty -f.

Instances have even occurred of his merely chas-
tising his pursuers, without destroying them. A
Hottentot of the Cape, was thus bit in the face by
a Lion, wha then stalked away, A farmer lay for

* Church.
t La Menagerie du Museum National d'Uistoire Naturelle,

THE LION, 6
some time under a Lion, and received several severe
bruises from him; yet the animal spared his life.
It is, however, a matter of some doubt, whether
this merciful disposition towards Man is the effect of
generosity, or whether it does not rather arise from
caprice and want of appetite *.

In the Museum of Natural History at Paris one of
the Lionesses, about nine years of age, has three
times had young. At the first litter she produced
nine, at the second three, and at the third two.
The young ones of the second litter, at the age of a
month, are represented in the frontispiece, with their
mother; from a painting by Maréchal, natural-
history painter in Paris. The parents, which are
about equal in age, and probably of the same litter,
were caught together, when somewhat more than
a year old, in a trap, made in a wood, in the north
of Africa. They now live together, are extremely
gentle, and exhibit great affection towards each
other.—None of the young ones had at first either
a mane, or tuft at the end of their tail; and we are
well assured that these. do not begin to appear till
the animals are three years, or three years and a half,
old. Their coat was somewhat woolly, and of a
confused colour, between grey and red. They had
several little brown transverse strokes on the upper
part of the back ; which were crossed on each side
by a straight line of the same colour, that extended
from the back of the head to the tail. As they in
creased in size, these by degrees disappeared ; and

* Church,
T 3

Ke

48 THE LION.

with a more regular proportion of limbs, the hair
assumed nearly the colour of that of the old ani-
mals. It'wasin October, 1800, that these whelps
were littered. When they were some months old,
they became very mischievous, and one in parti-
cular exhibited unpleasant signs of ferocity. The
keeper one day, against the animal’s inclination,
coinpelled him to go into the garden of the Mu-
seum ; when he sprang at the man with so much
violence, as to tear the sleeve of his coat. Two of
these yonng Lions have fallen victims to the first
effects of dentition, a period very dangerous to the
young of all savage animals that are produced in a
state of confinement.

The Lions in the Museum begin to roar at day-
break, and the females follow their example. They
continue this noise for six or seven minutes ; and re-
commence it after feeding, for about the same length
of time. At other times they are seldom heard ;
except to announce some change of weather, or
when their keeper has been long absent.—In a state
of nature, the Lion seldom leaves his den except dur-
ing the night ;. but in the Museum the animals, be-
ing shaded from the too glaring light of the sun, are,
on the contrary, always most active in the day.

In the den adjoining to that in which the above-
mentioned Lioness 1s placed, there is another fe-
male, which was caught inthe interior of Africa,
at a much greater distance from the habitations of
men than the places from whence any others in the
Museum were brought. According to the account
of Felix Cassel, the principal keeper, who travelled

THE LION. a*

into Africa to collect animals, she came from the bor-
ders of the Great Desert. She is ferocious in the ex
treme, and all the care and attentions of the keepers
have not hitherto in the least degree softened her na-
tural disposition. This circumstance seems to confirm
the opinion of Buffon and some other naturalists: who
assert, that the Lions possess greater strength and
ferocity as they are remoyed from the haunts of
Man, and that the most formidable character is to be
expected in those that frequent only the burning and
sandy deserts of the interior of Asia and Africa.

The Lion which is figured in “ La Ménagerie du
Museum National,’ is an uncommonly beautiful
animal ; and was caught seven years ago, between
Constantine and Bonne, in the dominions of the
Dey of Algiers, after a chace of three days. It
was then only a-year old, but all its teeth were found
perfect. ‘he mane did not appear till two years and
a half afterwards. It was presented by the Dey to
the French Republic.

Felix Cassel, the keeper of the Lions, asserts that
the tradition of these animals being terrified at the
crowing of a Cock, is very far from being founded
in fact. He has known a Lion catch two or three
Cocks, and in a few minutes devour them with great
eagerness. |

Tavernier mentions, that, in some parts of the
East, the inhabitants have a mode of taming Li-
ons, which does not seem to be practised in any
other part of the world. Four or five of these aniw’
mals being brought together, are tied by their hind °
legs, to stakes, at the distance of twelve yards from

T 4

280 THE LION.

each other. Another strong rope is put round the
neck of each; and this is held by men, who stand
behind the stakes. Inthe front, and in a line pa-
rallel with the animals but just beyond their reach
when they are at the extent of the rope that ties
their legs, another rope is placed; against which
several people stand, who incessantly teaze them, by
throwing stones and pieces of wood at them. The
Lions, provoked at this outrage, spring with fury
towards the people ; when the man, who holds the
ropes that are round their necks, pulls them back.
Thus they are by degrees rendered familiar. Taver-
nier was himself a witness of this method *,

Mr. Brown tells us, that, while he was resident at
Dar Fir, in Africa, he purchased two Lions, one
of which was only four months old. By degrees,
he rendered this latter animal so tame that it ac-
quired most of the habits of a Dog. It satiated it-
self twice a-week with the offal of the butchers, and
then commonly slept for several hours successively.
When food was given them, they were not only fu-
rious to each other, but to any one who approached
them ; excepting, however, these intervals, though
both were males, Mr. Brown never saw them disa-
gree, nor exhibit any signs of ferocity towards men.
Even lambs passed them unmolested. The Sultan
had also two tame Lions, which, with their atten-
-dant, always came into the market to be fed-f.

Within the dominions of the Great Mogul, it is
esteemed a royal privilege to hunt the Lion, and no

* "Travels in India. + Travels in Africa.

THE LION. 281

one can do so without especial permission from the
king, When Sir Thomas Roe was at this court, as
ambassador from James the First, a Lion and a Wolf
broke into the court-yard of his house ; and it was
not till he had sent tothe palace, and obtained
leave, that he dared to attack them *.

The roaring of the Lion when in quest of prey,
resembles the sound of distant thunder ; and, being
re-echoed by the rocks and mountains, appals the
whole race of animals, and puts them to a sudden
flight; but he frequently varies his voice into a hi-
deous scream or yell.

He is commonly said to devour as much at once
as will serve him for two or three days ; and, when
satiated with food, to remain in a state of retirement
in his den, which he seldom leaves except for the
purpose of prowling about for prey. His teeth are
so strong, that he breaks the bones of animals with
perfect ease, and often swallows them along with the
flesh. His tongue is furnished with reversed prickles,
so large and strong as to be capable of lacerating the
skin. When he is enraged, or in want of food, he
erects and shakes his mane, and beats his tail with
considerable violence against his back and sides-}.
In this state, the inhabitants of the Cape say, it is cer
tain death to any person who happens unfortunately
to approach him; but when the mane and tail are at
rest, and the animal is ina placid humour, travellers
may in general pass near him with safety ~.—The

a oatienienenall

* Voyage to India, in Churchill's Coll. i. 795. + Grose, i. 275
t Kolben.

28% THE LION. |
temper of the Lioness is said to be not so easily diss

covered: when, however, she is attacked with her

young, she seems insensible to her own wounds ;

and with her head to the ground, and her eyes fixed
upon those who would deprive her of her progeny,
she seldom fails either to save them, or perish in
their defence *: ,

The royal dam looks round with proud disdain’;
Lashes her sides, and curls her flowing mane 3

No danger fears, but, willing to engage;

With chafing jaws she churns the frothy rage.
Redoubled fires flash from her rolling eyes,

Clods scatter’d fiy, and dusty columns rise.

Roaring she frights the herd, and shakes the plain,
Mocks the slung stone, and snaps the spear in twain; |
Still zuards her young, the hunter’s motion thwarts,
And wrenches from her sides the reeking darts.

But when death hovers o’er her swimming eyes,

And clotted on the ground life’s wasted treasure lies $
When doubtful staggers own the killing wound ;
Regardless of herself she looks around,

O’er her dear cub her sinking head reclines,

In death defends, nor at her fate repines :

But dreads to see the wretch a captive made,

To hear him roar; and call in-vain for aid.

Kolben, who seems unaccountably to have been
rriore partial fo the real of rapacious animals than
that of most others, says, that the Lion is frequently
eaten at the Cape, and that the flavour is excellent,

being greatly like that of venison -.

* Grose, 1. 275. + Kolben, ii. 96.

pessae sh

THE TIGER*.

The Tiger isa native of Asia, and-is met with ag.
far north as China-and Chinese Yartary ; but he is
principally found in India, and the Indian islands.—
His general size is somewhat under that of a Lion.
At the same time that this is the most ferocious, he
is. certainly the most beautiful of all quadrupeds ;
his colour being a fine orange-yellow, white on the
face, throat, and belly, and marked throughout by
many long transverse stripes.

His disposition is fiefce and sanguinary in the
extreme, and there is no animal that he will not
venture to attack. Such furious combats have taken
place between the Lion and Tiger, that both ami-
mals have frequently been known to perish, rather
than give up the contest.

He commits horrid ravages among the flocks and
herds, in the countries where he resides; and nei-
ther the sight nor the opposition of Man (in whose
flesh he is said to delight) has any power to
make him desist. When undisturbed, he plunges

his head into the body of the animal, and drinks
Jarge draughts of blood,

t ources of. which are

generally exhausted before i. is appeased.
His muscular strength is extremely great. We
are informed, that a peasant in the East Indies had
a Buffalo fallen into a quagmire ; and while he went
to call for assistance, an immense Tiger came, that

* Synonyms.—Felis Tigris. Linn—Tigre. Buffon —Royal Tiger.
D' Obsonville—Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl..$3.—Bew. Quad. 186.

284 tHE TIGER.

immediately drew out the animal, on which the
united efforts of several men had been of no effect.
When the people returned, the first object they be-
held was the Tiger with the Buffalo thrown over his
shoulder: he was carrying it away with the feet up-
ward, towards his den. As soon, however, as he
saw the men, he let fall his prey, and instantly fled
to the woods; but he had previously killed
the Buffalo, and sucked its blood *. It may be
here observed, that some of the East Indian Buffa-
loes weigh above a thousand pounds, which is twice
as heavy as the ordinary run of our black-cattle :
whence we may form a conception of the enormous
streneth of this rapacious animal, that could thus
£un off with a weight double that of itself.

M. D’Cbsonville was present at a tertible com-
bat between a Tiger and an Elephant, in the camp
of Hyder Ali. The Tiger, not yet of full strength
(for he did not seem more than four feet high), was
brought into the area, and fastened with a chain to
a stake, round which he could turn freely. On one
side, a strong and well-taught elephant was in-
troduced by his keeper. ‘The amphitheatre was en-
closed by a tnple rank of lance-men. ‘The action,
when it on a: furious ; the Elephant,
however, after receiving two deep wounds, proved
victorious. But from an encounter like this, where
the animal seemed a feeble one of its species, and
was at the same time restrained by chains, we can-
not form an accurate judgment of its powers ina

~

ee

* Hamilton, i. 264.

THE TIGER. 285

state of liberty. M. D’Obsonville says, that al-
though four or five Elephants would have nothing
to fear from a greater number of ‘Tigers, yet, frony
what he could remark from this exhibition, he was
of opinion, that when the Tiger is in full possession
of his faculties, he will be more than equal to the
Elephant in single combat *.

We are told, but probably without foundation,
that the Tiger will encounter the Crocodile. It is
said that, when he descends to the water to drink,
the Crocodiie raises its head aboye the surface, in
order to seize him, as it does other animals that
come there for that purpose. When this is the
case, the Tiger strikes his claws into the eyes of the
Crocodile, the only vulnerable part within his
reach; and the latter, immediately plunging under
the water, drags in the Tiger also, and by this
means they are frequently both drowned.

The Tiger, if taken young, may for a short time
at least, till his ferocity comes with his age, be in
some measure domesticated, and rendered mild and
playful to his keepers——A beautiful young Tiger,
brought not long ago from China, in the Pitt East=
Indiaman, at the ave of ten months, was so far do-
mesticated, as to admit of ey kind of familiarity
from the people on board. seemed to be quite
harmless, and was as playful as a kitten. It fre-
quently slept with the sailors in their hammocks ;
and would suffer two or three of them to repose
their heads on its back, as upon a pillow, while it

ES

* D’Obsonyille, 90.

286 - THE TIGER,
lay stretched out upon the deck. In return for this,
it would, however, now and then steal their meat.
Having one day stolen a piece of beef from the car-
penter, he followed the animal, took the meat out of
its mouth, and beat it severely for the theft ; which
punishment it suffered with all the patience of a
Dog. It would frequently run out on the boltsprit ;
climb abeut the ship like a Cat; and perform a
number of other tricks, with an agility that was truly
astonishing. ‘There was a Dog on board, with
which it would often play in the most diverting man -
ner. ‘Lhis animal was taken on board the ship when
it was ‘only a month or six weeks old, and arrived in
this country before it had quite completed a year.
How much longer its good-humour might have con-
tinued, it is impossible to say: but it is very much
to be doubted, whether the same innocent playful-
ness would have formed a part of its character when
arrived at its full state of maturity *. D’Obsonville
seems, however, of opinion, that the Tiger may be
in some measure educated ; but that the Eastern na-
tions deem it useless to make subservient to their
amusement an animal, whose strength is the more
dangerous from itsnatural gloomy ferocity, which,
roused by certain ciggpmstances, might be found to
have been by no < MeRD a of

The method of the Tiger’s seizing his prey is, by
concealing himself from view, and springing, with 4
horrible roar, on his object, which he carries off into
the recesses of the forest; having first, if undis-

—

* Bew. Quad. 187. + DiChsonville, 82.

ee

THE TIGER. 237
turbed, sucked out the blood. His cry, in the act
of springing on the victim, is said to be hideous
beyond conception; and we are told that, like the
Lion, if he misses his object, he makes off without
repeating the attempt. He seems to prefer mankind
to any other prey, when he can procure them by
surprise ; but he seldom makes an open attack on
any animal capable of resistance.

In the beginning of the present century, a com-
pany, seated under the shade of some trees near the
banks of a river in Bengal, were alarmed by the un-
expected sight of a Tiger, preparing for its fatal
spring : when a lady, with almost unexampled pre-
sence of mind, unfurled a large umbrella in the ani-
mal’s face; which, being confounded by so extraor-
dinary and sudden an appearance, instantly retired,
and thus gave them an opportunity of escaping from
its terrible attack *. i

Another party had not the same good-fortune;
but, in the height of their entertainment, in an in-
stant one of their companions was seized and car- ~
rid off by a Tiger -.—But the fatal accident whicha
few years ago occurred in the East Indies, must be still
fresh in the memory of all who have read the dread-
ful description given by an eye-witness of the scene.
«© We went (says the Narrator) on shore on Sangar

_Asland, to shoot deer; of which we saw innumer-

able tracks, as well as of ‘Tigers: we continued our
diversion till near three o’clock; when, sitting down

by the side of ajungle to refresh ourselves,. a. roar

* Penn, Quad, T Ibid. i. 258.

988 THE TIGER.

like thunder was heard, and an immense Tiger seiz-
ed our unfortunate friend *, and rushed again into
the jungle, dragging him through the thickest
bushes and trees, every thing giving way to its mons-
trous strength ; a Tigress accompanied his progress,
The united agonies of horror, regret, and fear, rush-
ed at once upon us, I fired on the Tiger; he seem-
ed agitated. My companion fired also; and ina
few moments after this, our unfortunate friend came
up to us, bathed in blood, Every medical assist~
ance was vain; and he expired in the space of
twenty-four hours, having received such deep
wounds from the teeth and claws of the animal, as
rendered his recovery hopeless. A large fire, con-
sisting of ten or twelve whole trees, was blazing near
us at the time this accident took place, and ten or
more of the natives were with us, The human
mind can scarcely form any idea of this scene of
horror. We had but just pushed our boat from this
accursed shore, when the ‘Tigress made her appear-
ance, alinost raging mad, and remained on the sand
all the while we continued in sight.”

On the borders of Tartary, ‘Tigers are very fre-
quent; and in so populous an empire as China, it
would seem impossible for them to have remained
till the present day unextirpated. In the Northern
roads, hundreds of travellers are seen with lantherns
carried before them, to secure them from these ra-

* Mr. Monro, the son of Sir Hector Monro, bart. This fatal event
took-place in the year 1792.
+ Fen. Outl. of Gl. iil. 90.

“THE TIGER. 289

venous animals *.—In some parts of India, they are
particularly fatal to wood-cutters and labourers about
the forests ; and they have been known to swim to
boats at anchor at little distance from the shore, and
snatch the men from aboard ~|-.—In Java, they are
much dreaded, from their very frequently carrying off
the travelling inhabitants. When any person of con-
sequence goes out into the country, he has with him
men who blow incessantly a kind of small French-
horns, the shrill sound of which frightens these
creatures entirely away {.—The hunting of ‘Tigers
is a favourite amusement with some of the Eastern
princes; who go in search of them, attended by
considerable bodies of men well mounted and armed
with lances. As soon as the animals are roused, they
are instantly attacked on all sides, with pikes, arrows,
and sabres, and are presently destroyed. ‘Th’s-diver=
sion 1s, however, always attended with danger; for
if the Tiger feels himself wounded, he seldom re-
treats without sacrificing one of the party to his
vengeance §. There are men who, covered witha
coat of mail; or even armed only with a shield, a
poinard, and a short scymitar ; will dare to attack
these blood-thirsty animals singly, and fight with
them life for life; for in combats of this nature,
there is no other alternative, than to vanquish or to
fall.

The inhabitants of these countries predict their
success or losses by omens taken from this animal.

* Penn. Outl. of GL. iii. 99. + Ibid. i. 152. { Thunberg, iv. 162.
§ Church.

Vou. I. U

~

"290 THE TIGER.

If they are marching against an enemy, and a Tiger
is seen flying nearly in the same direction, victory
is always supposed to be certain. But as it must
of course happen that the reverse frequently takes
place, they are never in want of a subterfuge to
justify a similar augury.

The Tigress, like the Lioness, produces four or
five youny at a litter. She is at all times furious ;
but her rage rises to the utmost extremity, when rob-
bed of her young. She then braves every danger ;
and pursues her plunderers, who are often obliged
to release one of their captives in order to retard
her motion. She stops, takes it up, and carries it
to the nearest covert; but instantly returns, and
renews her pursuit, even to the gates of build-
ings, or the edge of the sea: and when her hope
of recovering her offspring is lost, she expresses her
agony by howlings so hideous as to excite terror
wherever they are heard.

The roar of the Tiger is said to be exceedingly
dreadful. It begins by intonations and inflections,
deep, melancholy and slow: presently it becomes
more acute; when suddenly exerting himself, the
animal utters a violent cry, interrupted by long
tremulous sounds, which, together, make a distract-
ing impression upon the mind. It is chiefly in
the night that this is heard; when silence and
darkness add to the horror, and his roarings are re-
peated by the echoes of the mountains *.

The skin is held in high esteem in all the Eastern

* D'Obsonville, 88.

THE LEOPARD. 208

countries; and particularly in China, where the
Mandarins cover their seats of justice with it. It
is also applied to many other ornamental and useful
purposes. The Indian physicians attribute medical
virtues to various parts of the ‘Tiger’s body *.

THE LEOPARD .

The Leopard is about four feet in length; of a
yellowish colour, and marked with numerous annu-
lar black spots. The tail is about two feet anda
half long.—It is an inhabitant of Senegal, Guinea,
and most parts of Africa; delighting in the thickest
forests, and frequenting the borders of rivers to wait
for such creatures as resort thither to quench their
thirst. :

“In general appearance, these animals are fierce.
The eye is restless, the countenance cruel, and all
the motions are short and precipitate. They attack
and devour every thing they meet, sparing neither
man nor beast ; and when their wild prey is insuf-
ficient to satiate their cruel appetite, they descend
in great numbers from their lurking- places, and
commit dreadful slaughter among the numerous
herds of cattle which are to be found in the plains.
They tear their prey, both with their teeth and
claws; and though continually devouring, their ap-
pearance is always thin and meagre ce

* D'Obsonville, 82.
+ Synonyms. —Felis Leopardus. Linn—Leopard. Buffon.—
Shaws Gen. Zool. pl. 83.—Bew. Quad. 193.
j Penn. Quad,—Church.

2

192 THE LEOPARD.

In the year 1708, if we may believe the account
of Kolben, two Leopards, a male and female, with
thrce young ones, entered a sheep-fold at the Cape.
The old ones killed nearly a hundred sheep, and re-
galed themselves with the blood. When they were
satiated, they tore a carcase into three pieces, and
eave one of these to each of their young ones. They
then took cach a whole sheep; and thus laden:
began to move off. Having been observed, how-
ever, they were way-laid on their return, and the
female and three young ones killed ; but the male
effected his escape *. The same writer also informs
us, that the Leopard will not eat carrion, nor deign
to touch what has been killed by any other beast.

The Negroes take these beasts in pitfalls; cover-
ed slightly over with hurdles, on which a piece of
flesh is placed as a bait.

The late Sir Ashton Lever had a Leopard, which
he Rept in a cage at Leicester-house. It had be-
come so tame, as always to seem highly pleased and
' gratified by caresses and attention, purring and rub-
bing its sides against the cage like a cat. Sir Ash--
ton gave it to the royal ménagerie in the Tower;
where a person, before acquainted with it, saw it
after an interval of more than a year, notwithstand-
ing which it appeared instantly to recognize him,
and began as usual to renew its caresses -.

The flesh is white and well-tasted ; eating, says
Kolben, much better than the finest veal. It is
both nourishing and delicious; that of the young —

* Kolben, ii, 98. t Church,

THE HUNTING LEOPARD. 203
is as tender as chicken *.—The skins are brought
into Furope, where they are held in high estimati-
on ; some of the most beautiful selling for more than
ten guineas each.

THE HUNTING LEOPARD }.

The Hunting Leopard is about the height of a
large Greyhound ; of a light tawny brown colour,
marked with numerous circular black spots. The
legs and tail are long. Its form is more lengthened
than that of the Tiger, and the chest is narrower, It
is a native of India.

This animal is frequently tamed, and used in the
chase of Antelopes. It is carried in a kind of small
waggon, chained and hooded, lest, on approaching
the herd, it should be too precipitate, or not make
choice of a proper animal. When first unchained,
it does not immediately spring towards its prey ; but
winds with the utmost caution along the- ground,
stopping at intervals, and carefully concealing it-
self till a favourable opportunity offers: it then
darts on the herd with astonishing swiftness, and
overtakes them by the rapidity of its bounds. If,
however, in its first attempt, which consists of five
or six amazing leaps, it does not succeed, it loses
breath ; and, finding itself unequal in speed, stands
still for a while to recover: then giving up the
point for that time, quietly returns to its keeper ¥,

* Kelben, ii. 97.
+ Synonyms—Felis Jubata? Liun—Le Guepard. Buffon—
Shaw's Gen. aol. pl. 86.
t Penn. Quad. i. 264.
U 3

THE. CAPE CAT.*;

This is an elegant animal ; and is found ina wild
state, in the mountains at the Cape of Good Hope.
It is considerably larger than the Domestic Cat.
The colour isa bright tawny ; marked on the back
with oblong black streaks, and in the other parts
with blotches of the same. A skin measured by
Mr. Pennant, was found to be three feet from the
nose to the tail.

In their native mountains, these animals are very
destructive to Rabbets, young Antelopes, Lambs,
and even to all the different species of Birds. In dis-
position, however, they are not so fierce as the ge-
nerality of their tribe; and when taken, they are ea-
sily rendered tame. Labat says, (as it seems though,
without sufficient foundation,) that their appearance
bespeaks cruelty, and their eyes a great degree of
ferocity.

When Dr. Forster and his son touched at the Cape,
in the year 1795, one of these animals was offered to
him for sale. But from its having a broken leg, he
refused it, under the apprehension that it would not
be able to bear a passage to Europe. It was brought
in a basket to his apartment, where he kept it above
four-and-twenty hours; which gave him an oppor-
tunity, not only of describing it, but, in some mea-
sure, of observing its manners and economy. These

a
* Synonyms.—Felis Capensis. Linn.—Tiger Cat of the Cape of

@cod Hope. Forster-—Tiger Bush Cat. Kollex—Nsussi. Labat.—
Cape Cat. Pennant.—Shaw’s Gen: Zool. pl. 88.

‘THE WILD CAT. 295
seetnéed perfectly analogous to those of our domestic
Cats. Itate raw fresh meat, and appeared to at-
tach itself very much to its feeders and benefactors:
In its disposition it was gentle, and had been ren-
dered perfectly tame. After Dr: Forster had fed it
a few times, it followed him like a tame favourite Cat.
It was fond of being stroked and caressed, rubbed
its head and back against the person’s clothes who fed
it, and seemed very desirous of being noticed. It
purred, as our domestic Cats do when they aré
pleased. At this time it was about nine months old,
and had been taken when quite young in the woods *;

THE WILD CAT.

The Wild Cat, from which all the varieties of
the Domestic Cat have proceeded, is a native both .
of Europe and Asia, and is even yet to be found in
some of the woody and moré unfrequented parts of
Our island. It has a larger head and stronger limbs
than the Domestic Cat ; and its colour is a pale yel-
lowish-grey, with dusky stripes, those on the back
running lengthwise, and those on the sides trans-
versely and in acurved direction. The tail is shorter
than in the domestic kinds, and is barred with dusky
tings. It breeds in hollow trees, and produces four
young at a litter ; and, in the places where it in-
Habits, it makes destructive havock among the
neighbouring Lambs, kids, and poultry.

* Phil. Tran. vol. 71. p. 3. paper by Dr. Forster.
¥ Synonyms.—Felis Catus. Linn—Common Cat. Penn—Chat
Sauvage. Buffon —Bew. Quad. 205, 28.

q U 4

296 THE WILD CAT.

The Wild Cats are sometimes taken in traps, and
sometimes by shooting : in the latter mode it 1s dan-
gerous to merely wound them, for they have fre-
quently been known to attack the person who injured
them; and their strength is so great as to render
them no despicable enemy.—At Barnboro’, a village
between. Doncaster and Barnsley, in Yorkshire, there
is a tradition extant of a serious conflict that once
took place between a Man anda Wild Cat. The in-
habitants say, that the fight commenced in an ad-
jacent wood, and that it was continued from thence
into the porch of the church. I do not recollect in
what manner it is reported to have begun; they
tell us, however, that it ended fatally to both com-
batants, for each died of the wounds received. A
rude painting in the church commemorates the
event ; and (as in many similar traditions) the ac-
cidentally natural red tinge of some of the stones has
been construed into bloody stains which all the pro-
perties of soap and water haye not been able to efface.

In Jamaica, from the quantity of food at all sea-
sons to be procured in the woods and mountains,
the Domestic Cat is very apt to become wild: to
remedy this inconvenience, the country people fre-
quently split or cut off its ears, the more to expose
these tender organs to the rain or dews; and this is
said to be generally effectual *.—In England also
the Domestic Cats will sometimes become wild ; and
when this happens to be the case, they prove them-
selves mortal foes to Pheasants at roost, and more

* Browne, 4895.

THE DOMESTIC CAT. 507
injure the diversion of the sportsman than most spe-
cies of naturally wild vermin. In Monshalm Thrift, a
large cover belonging to Sir H. St. John Mildmay,
sixteen of these animals were killed by a pack of
Fox-houndsin four days drawing the cover for Foxes.
They are usually caught in traps, having the bait
sprinkled with Valerian, and Valerian scattered in
and about the traps *.

The colours of the DoMEsTICc car} are very va.
rious. Its manners and dispositions seem to be en-
tirely changed by education; and although it does
not exhibit the affectionate attachment of the Dog,
yet it is not destitute of either gentleness or grati-
tude.—A very singular example of this is recorded
in Mr. Pennant’s Account of London. Henry
Wriothsly, earl of Southampton, the friend and
companion of the earl of Essex in his fatal insur-
rection, haying been some time confined in the
Tower, was one day surprised by a visit from his
fayourite Cat; which, says tradition, reached its
raster by descending the chimney of his apart-
ment t. In proof of the sagacity of these animals,
I shall adduce the following instances. —A friend of
mine possessed a Cat and a Dog, which, not being
able to live together in peace, had several contenti-
ous struggles for the mastery ; and in the end, the

* Daniel, i. 363. t+ Chat Domestic. Buffon.
{ Although this anecdote is brought forward on the authority of
Mr. Pennant, I must confess that it seems too absurd to be allowed
any degree of credit.

208 THE DOMESTic GAT,

Dog so completely prevailed, that the Cat was
driven away, and forced-to seek for shelter else<
where. Several mionths elapsed, during which the
Dog alone possessed the house. At length, how-
ever, he was poisoned by a female servant, whose
‘nocturnal visitors he had too often betrayed; and was
soon afterwards carried out lifeless into the court be-
fore the doors The Cat, froma neighbouring roof;
was ovserved to watch the motions of several per-
sons who went up to look at him; and when all were
retired, he descended; and crept, with some degree
of caution; into the place. He soon ventured to ap-
proach; and, after having frequently patted the
Dog with his paw, appeared perfectly sensible that
his late quarrelsome companion could no more in-
sult him ; and from that time he quietly returned
to his former residence and habits.

A Cat frequented a closet, the door to which was
fastened by a common iron latch. A window was
situated near the door. When the door was shut, the
Cat gave herself no uneasiness. As soon as she was
tired of her confinement, she mounted on the sole
of the window, and with her paws dexterously lifted
the latch andcameout, ‘his practice she continu-
ed for years *.

A physician of Lyons, in July, 1800, was request-
ed to inquire into a murder that had been commit-
ted on the body of a woman of that city. In conse-
quence of this solicitation, he went to the residence
of the deceased, where he found her extended life-

rr lt

* Smellie.

THE DOMESTIC CAT. 299

less on the floor and weltering in her blood. A
large white Cat was mounted on the cornice of a
cupboard, at the farther end of the apartment, where
he seemed to have taken refuge. He sat motioniess 5
with his eyes fixed on the corpse, and his attitude
and looks expressing horror and aftnght. ‘The fol-
lowing morning, he was found in the same station
and attitude; and when the room was filled with
officers of justice, neither the clattering of the sol-
diers’ arms, nor the loud conversation of the compa-
ny, could in the least degree. divert his attention.
As soon, howeyer, as the suspected persons were
brought in, his eyes glared with increased fury ; his
hair bristled ; he darted into the middle of the
apartment, where he stopped for a moment to gaze
at them ; and then precipitately retreated under the
bed. ‘The countenances of the assassins were dis-
concerted; and they now, for the first time during
the whole course of the horrid business, felt their
atrocious audacity forsake them *

Few aimmals exhibit more maternal tenderness,
or shew a greater attachment to their young, than
the Cat. The assiduity with which she attends
them, and the pleasure which she seems to take in all

their playful tricks, afford a very grateful entertain .

ment to every observer of nature. She has also been
known not only to nurse with tenderness the young
of different individuals of her own species, but even
those of other kinds of animals.

“My friend (says Mr. White, in his Natural

* Monthly Magazine for January, 1801.

.

306 THE DOMESTIC CAT.

History of Selborne) had a little helpless Leveret
brought to him, which the servants fed with milk
from a spoon ;' and about the same time his Cat kit-
tened, and the young were dispatched and burieds
The Hare was soon lost ; and was supposed to have
been killed by some Dog or Cat. However, in about
a fortnight, as the master was sitting in his garden,
in the dusk’ of the evening, he observed his Cat,
with tail erect, trotting towards him, and calling
with little short inward notes of complacency, such
as these animals use towards their kittens; and
something gamboling after her, which proved to be
the Leveret, that the Cat had nourished with her
milk, and continued to support with great affection.
Thus was a granivorous animal nurtured by a carni-
verous and predacious one !—This strange affection
was probably occasioned by those tender maternal
feelings, which the loss of her kittens had awakened ;
and by the complacency and ease she derived from
the procuring of her teats to be drawn, which were
too much distended with milk. From habit, she
became as much delighted with this foundling as if
it had been real offspring.”

‘* A boy (says the same gentleman) had taken
three young Squirrels in their nest. These small
creatures he put under a Cat who had lately lost her
kittens; and found that she nursed and suckled them
with the same assiduity and affection as if they had
been her own progeny.—So many persons went to
see the little Squirrels suckled by a Cat, that the
foster-mother became jealous of her. charge, and in
pain for their safety; and therefore hid them over

THE DOMESTIC CAT, | 307?

the ceiling, where one died.—This circumstance
shewed her affection for these foundlings, and that
she supposed the Squirrels to be her own young *.”

Some years ago a sympathy of this nature took
place, in the house of Mr. James Greenfield of
Maryland, betwixt a Cat anda Rat. The Cat had
kittens, to which she frequently carried Mice and
other small animals for food; and among the rest
she is supposed to have carried to them a young Rat.
The kittens, probably not being hungry, played
with it; and when the Cat gave suck to them, the
Rat likewise sucked her. This having been observ-
ed by some of the servants, Mr. Greenfield was in-
formed of it. He had the kittens and Rat brought
down stairs, and put on the floor; and in carrying
them off, the Cat was remarked to convey away the
young Rat as tenderly as she did any of the kit-
tens.- This experiment was repeated as often as
any company came to the house, till great numbers
had become eye-witnesses of the preternatural af-
fection -}-.

These incidents form no bad solution of that
strange circumstance, asserted by grave historians
as well as poets, of exposed children being some-
times nurtured by female wild beasts that probably
had lost their young. For it is no more marvel-
lous that Romulus and Remus, in their infant state,
should be nursed by a she Wolf; than that a
sucking Leveret, a set of young Squirrels, or a Rat,

* White's Naturalist’s Calendar, 94, 95.
¥ Letter from Mr. Brooke of Maryland, in Gent, Mag. xxii, 208,

369 |. ‘THE DOMESTIC CAT.

should be fostered and cherished by a fierce Gri-
malkin. :

To preserve their fur clean, and especially their
whiskers, Cats wash their faces, and generally quite
behind their ears, every time they eat. As they
cannot lick those places with their tongues, they first
wet the inside of the Jeg with the saliva, and then
repeatedly rub them over withit. This Dr. Darwin,
whimsically enough, esteems an act of reasoning;
Because, says he, a means js used to produce an
effect; which means seems to be acquired by imi-
tation, like the greatest part of human arts.

A friend of the Doctor’s‘saw a,Cat catch a Trout,
by darting upon it ina deep clear water, at the mill
at Weaford, near Litchfield. The Cat belonged to
Mr. Stanley ; who had often seen her catch fish in
the same manner in the summer, when the mill-pool
was drawn so low that the fish could be seen. Other
Cats have been known to take fish in shallow water,
as they stood on the bank. This he thinks a natural
act of taking prey, which their acquired delicacy by
domestication, has, in general, prevented them from
using, though their desire of eating fish continues in
its original strength.

These animals seem to possess something like an
additional sense by means of their whiskers, which
have perhaps some analogy to the antenne of Moths
and Butterflies. The whiskers of Cats consist not
only of long hairs on their upper lips, but also of
four or five long hairs standing up from each eye-
brow, and also two or three on each cheek; all
which, when’ the animal erects them, make wjth

THE DOMESTIC CAT. 303

their extremities so many points in the periphery of a
circle equal (at least), in extent, to the circumfe-
rence of any part of their own bodies. With this in-
strument, it is supposed that, by a little experience,
they can at once determine whether any aperture
‘among hedges or shrubs (in which animals of this
genus live in their wild state) 1s large enough to ad-
mit their bodies ; which to them is a matter of the
ereatest consequence, whether pursuing or pursued.
They have likewise a power of erecting and bringing
forward the whiskers on their lips ; which probably
is for the purpose of feeling. whether a dark hole be
farther permeable *.

Cats are very seldom, like the Dog, attached to
our persons: all their attachment seems to be con-
fined to the houses where they have been brought
up. Instances are very common of Cats returning, of
their own accord, to the place from whence they.
have been carried ; though at the distance of many
miles, and even across rivers where they could not
possibly have had any knowledge either of the road
or the direction that would lead them to it. This
may perhaps arise from their having been acquainted
in their former habitations with all the retreats of the
Mice, and the passages and outlets of the house;
and from the disadvantage which they must experi-
ence in these particulars by changing their residence.

No experiment can be more beautiful than that
of setting a kitten for the first time before a look.
ing-glass. ‘The animal appears surprised and pleas-

~_—

* Zoonomia.

304 THE DOMESTIC CAT,

ed with the resemblance, and makes several attempts
at touching its new acquaintance; and, at length,
finding its efforts fruitless, it looks behind the glass,
and appears highly astonished at the absence of the
figure. It again views itself; and tries to touch the
image with its foot, suddenly looking at intervals
behind the glass. It then becomes more accurate
in its observations; and begins, as it were, to make
experiments, by stretching out its paw in different
directions; and when it finds that these motions
are answered in every respect by the figure in the
glass, it seems, at length, to be convinced of the
real nature of the image. The. same is the case
with the Dog at an early age.

_ The sleep of the Cat, though’ generally very
slight, is, however, sometimes so profound, that
the animal requires to be shaken pretty briskly be-
fore it can be awakened. ‘This particularity takes
place chiefly in the depth of winter, and on the ap-
proach of snowy weather. At such periods also, as
well as at some others, the Cat diffuses a fragrant
smell, somewhat like that of cloves.

Tt is generally supposed, that Cats can see in the
dark: but, though this is not absolutely the case,
it is certain that they can see with much less light
than most other animals; owing to the peculiar
structure of their eyes, the pupils of which are ca-
pable of being contracted or dilated in proportion to
the degree of light by which they are affected. In the
day-time, the pupil of the Cat’s eye is perpetually
contracted, and sometimes into a mere line; for it
is with difficulty that it can see by a strong light:

THE DOMESTIC CAT. 305

but in the twilight the pupil resumes its natural
roundness, and the animal enjoys perfect vision.—
It appears somewhat singular, that, on plunging the
head of a Catinto water, although the animal be
exposed to avery bright light, the pupil should be-
come immediately expanded to all its width. ‘This,
however, is to be accounted for on optical prin-
ciples *,

It has been remarked, that the eyes of Cats al-
wayss hine with a bright light. when they are in the
dark. The Rev. William Jones was induced to make
some experiments on this circumstance, from haying
observed, among the eyesof some Sheep and Oxen
which he had procured for dissection, that one of
them shone in the day-time much in the same man-
ner as the eyes of Cats do in the dark. On examin-
ing into this, he found that if his hand was placed
between the nearest window and the extremity of
the optic nerve (a part of which, nearly an inch
long, remained with the eye, and was accidentally
pointed towards the window), the light immediately
disappeared -.—From this he was led to consider,
whether the light that appears in the eyes of some
animals in the night time, is really a reflection
of light from the eye, as is commonly supposed ;
or, whetherit does not rather pass into the eye, through
the optic nerve, from the body of the animal? It is
not easy to conceive how this shining light can be
occasioned by.a reflection of light from the bottom

* Martyn, ili. 192.
+. Essay on the First Principles of Natural Philosophy.
MOL, Li X

%06 THE DOMESTIC CAT.

of the eye, when thé light to be reflected (as ina
dark night) is not visible before its entrance into
the eye. Ifacandle be held before the eyes of a
Dog, and a person places himself in a line of
reflection, the light will be visibly reflected from
the eyes, because the illumination is sufficiently
strong; but where there is no visible illumination
at all, this cannot account for the like effect. It
is, therefore, more reasonable to suppose that this
appearance is owing to the light from within the
body of the animal; which, being weaker than the
light of the day, but stronger than that of the night,
is visible only in the dark. This light is probably
similar to that which we observe in putrifying meat,
fish, rotten-wood, phosphorus, and the Glow-
worm. |
~The fur of the Cat, being generally clean and
dry, readily yields electric sparks when rubbed; and
if a clean and perfectly dry Domestic Cat be placed,
in frosty weather, on a stool with glass feet or insu-
lated by any other means, and rubbed for a little
time in contact with the wire of a coated vial, the
vial by this means will become effectually charged.
In the time of Howel Dda, Howel the Good,
Prince of Wales, who died in the year 948, laws
were made, both to preserve and fix the prices of dif-
ferent animals ; among which the Cat was included,
as being, at that early period, of great importance,
on account of its scarcity and utility. The price
of a kitten before it could see, was fixed at one
penny; till proof could be given of its having
caught a Mouse, two-pence; after which it was

THE DOMESTIC CAT. 307

‘rated at four-pence, a great sum in those days, when
the value of specie was extremely high. It was
likewise required, that the animal should be perfect
in its senses of hearing and seeing, should be a good
mouser, have its claws whole, and, if a female, be
a careful nurse. If it failed in any of these qualifica-~
tions, the seller was to forfeit to the buyer the third-
part of its value.—If any one should steal or kill the
Cat that guarded the Prince’s granary, the offender
was to forfeit either a milch ewe, her fleece, and
Jamb; or as much wheat as, when poured on the
Cat suspended by its tail (its head touching the.
floor), would form a heap high enough to cover the
tip of the tail—F rom these circumstances we may
conclude, that Cats were not originally natives of
these islands ; and from the great care taken to im-
prove and preserve the breed of this prolific crea-
ture, we may with propriety suppose that they were
but little known at that period *.

When M. Baumgarten was at Damascus, he saw
there a kind of hospital for Cats: The house in
which they were kept was very large, walled round,
and was said to be quite full ofthem. On enguir-
ing into the origin of this singular institution, he was
told, that Mahomet, when he once lived here,
brought with him a Cat, which he kept in the sleeve
of his gown, and carefully fed with his own hands.
His followers in this place, therefore, ever afterwards
paid a superstitions respect to these animals ; and
supported them in this manner by public alms,

* Penn. Brit. Zool. i, $3.

x 2

308 ‘THE ANGORA CAT.

which were very adequate to the purpose *. The
patience, craft, vigilance, utility, and cleanliness, of
the Cat, have also obtained for it the highest de-
gree of protection in the Eastern mythology ; so far
indeed, that it is esteemed the noblest species of its
tribe +.

The following curious fact in the natural history
of the Cat, is related by Dr. Anderson ; in his en-
tertaining work, the Recreations in Agriculture :—~
A Cat belonging to Dr. Coventry, the ingenious
Professor of Agriculture in Edinburgh, which had
no blemish at its birth, lost its tail by accident
when it was young. It had many litters of kittens ;
and in every one of these there was one or more
that wanted the tail, either wholly or in part.

‘‘ A Cat (says Browne) is a very dainty dish
among the Negroes }.”

THE ANGORA CAT \.

The Angora Cat is a variety of the domestic
species. When M. Sonnini was in Egypt, he had
one of them in his possession for a long time. It
was entirely covered with long silky hairs: Its tail
formed a magnificent plume; which the animal
elevated, at pleasure, over its body. Not one spot,
nor a single dark shade, tarnished the dazzling

* Baumgarten’s Travels. Churchill's Coll. i. 477.
+ D’Obsonville, 80. t History of Jamaica, 485.
§ Synonyms.—y Felis Angorensis. Linn.—Chat d’Angora. Buffor
Angora Cat. Penn.

THE ANGORA CAT. 309

white of its coat. Its nose and lips were of a deli -
cate rose-colour. ‘I'wo large eyes sparkled in its
round head ; one of which was a light yellow, and
the other a fine blue.

This beautiful animal had even more loveliness
of manners, than grace in its attitude and move-
ments. With the physiognomy of goodness, she
possessed a gentleness truly interesting. How ill
soever any one used her, she never attempted to
advance her claws from their sheaths. Sensible to
kindness, she licked the hand which caressed, and
even that which tormented her. Ona journey, she
reposed tranquilly on the knees of any of the com-
pany, for there was no occasion to confine her;
and if M, Sonnini, or some other person whom she
knew, was present, nonoise whatever gave her the
Jeast disturbance.

In Sonnini’s solitary moments, she chiefly kept
by his side ; she interrupted him frequently in the
midst of his labours or meditations, by little caress-
es extremely affecting, and generally followed him
in his walks, During his absence, she sought and
called for him incessantly, with the utmost inquie-
tude: and, if he was long before he re appeared,
she would quit his apartment, and attach herself
to the person of the house where he lived; for
whom, next to himself, she entertained the greatest
affection. She recognized his voice at a distance ;
and seemed on each fresh meeting with him, tofeel in-
creased satisfaction. Her gait was frank, and her look
as gentle as hercharacter. She possessed, in a word,

x 3

310 THE WEESELS.

the disposition of the most amiable Dog, beneath
the brillant fur of a Cat.

‘© This animal (says M. Sonnini) was my prin-
cipal amusement for several years. How was the
expression of her attachment depicted upon her
countenance! How many times have her tender
caresses made me forget my troubles, and consoled
me in my misfortunes! My beautiful and interesting
companion, however, at length perished. After
several days of suffering, during which I never
forsook her, her eyes, constantly fixed on me, were
at length extinguished ; and her loss rent my heart
with sorrow *.”

—————

THE WEESELS,

THE Weesel tribe was divided by Linnzeus inta
two genera, Vivera and Mustela; the latter of
which contained also the Otters. Mr. Pennant
and Dr. Shaw have, however, with great propriety,

united these two; and separated from them the
- Otters, as possessing webbed feet, a character suf-
ficiently discriminating. To the latter, Dr. Shaw hag
appropriated the generic name of Lure.

The present genus therefore, as thus corrected,
contains animals which have six sharpish cutting-
teeth, with the canine-teeth somewhat longer; a

area emer renee eee meme |

* Sonnini, i, 292,

THE ICHNEUMON, 311

Jong and slender body, with short legs ; a sharp-
ened visage; and, in most species, a longish tail.
In some of this tribe also, the tongue is smooth ;
and, in others, it is furnished with prickles pointing
backwards.

THE ICHNEUMON *,

The Ichneumon is a native of Egypt, Barbary,
and the Cape of Good Hope. Its length, from the
tip of the nose to the end of the tail, is from twenty-
four to forty-two inches, of which the tail occupies
nearly one-half. Its colour is pale reddish-grey, each
hair being mottled with brown or mouse-colour.
The eyes are of a bright red; the ears almost
naked, small, and rounded; and the nose long and
slender. The tail is very thick at the base; from
whence it gradually tapers to almost a point, where
it is slightly tufted. The hair is hard and coarse ;
and the legs are short.

In Egypt, the Ichneumon is considered as one of
the most useful and estimable of animals; being an
inveterate enemy to the Serpents and other noxious
reptiles which infest the neighbourhood of the
Torrid zone. It attacks without dread that most
fatal of Serpents, the Cobra di Capello or Wooded
Snake-~; and when it receives a wound in the
combat, instantly retires, and js said to obtain an

* SynonyMs.—Viverra Ichneumon. Linn.—Egyptian Ichneumon.
Kerr.—Great Mangouste—Sm. Buffon —Ichneumon,—Penn.-—
Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 92.

+ Coluber Naja ef Linnzxus.

XA

312 THE ICHNEUMON.

antidote from some herb, after which it returns to
the attack and seldom fails of victory. It isa
great destroyer of the eggs of Crocodiles, which
it digs out of the sand; and even kills multitudes
of the young of those terrible creatures. It was not,
therefore, without reason, that the ancient Egyp-
tians ranked the Ichneumon among their deities.

It is at present domesticated, and kept in houses,
in India and Egypt, where it is found more useful
than a Cat in destroying Rats and Mice. It is easily
tamed, is very active, and springs with ereat agility
on its prey. It will glide along the ground like a
Serpent, and seem as if without feet. It sits up like a
Squirrel, eats froin its fore feet, and catches any thing
that is flung to it. Itis a great enemy to Poultry,
and will feign itself dead to attract them within its
reach. It is said to be extremely skilful in seizing
the Serpent by the throat, in such a manner as to
avoid receiving any injury *. Jwcan has beauti-
fully described the same address of this animal in
conquering the Egyptian Asp.—

Aspidas ut Pharias cauda solertior hostis
Ludit, et iratas incerta provocat umbra ;
Obliquansque caput vanas serpentis in auras
Effusze toto comprendit guttura morsu
Lentiferam citra saniem: tune irrita pestis
Exprimitur, faucesque fluunt pereunte veneno,

Thus oft th’ Ichneumen, on the banks of Nile,
Invades the deadly Aspic by a wile;

a ee)

* Penn. Quad. ii.

THE ICHNEUMON. 315

While artfully his slender tail is play’d,

The Serpent darts upon the dancing shade :
Then, turning on the foe, with swift surprise,
Full on the throat the nimble seizer flies ;

The easping Snake expires beneath the wound,
His gushing jaws with poisonous floods abound
And shed the fruitless mischief on the ground.

“Thad (says M. D’Obsonville, in his Essays on the
Nature of various foreign Animals) an Ichneumon
very young, which I brought up.—I fed it at first
with milk ; and afterwards with baked meat, mixed
with rice. It soon became even tamer than a Cat;
for it came when called, and followed me, though
at liberty, into the country.

**One day I brought to him a small Water Ser-
pent alive, being desirous to know how far his in-
stinct would carry him against a being with which
he was hitherto totally unacquainted. His first emo-
tion seemed to be astonishment mixed with anger,
for his hair became erect ; but in an instant after,
he slipped behind the reptile, and with a remark-
able swiftness and agility leaped upon its lead, seiz-
ed it, and crushed it between his teeth. This essay,
and new aliment, seemed to have awakened in him
his innate and destructive voracity ; which, till then,
had given way to the gentleness he had acquired
from his education. I had about my house several
curious kinds of fowls, among which he had been
brought up, and which, till then, he had suffered to
go and come unmolested and unregarded; but, a
few days after, when he found himself alone, he

ad THE STRIATED WEESEL,.

strangled thein every one, ate a little, and, as ap
peared, drank the blood of two *.”

In a wild state, the Ichneumon is said, to fre-
quent principally the hanks of rivers; and in times
of flood, to approach the higher grounds and in-
habited places in quest of prey. He is reported to
swim and dive occasionally, in the manner of an
Otter; and to continue beneath the water for a great
length of time. His voice is very soft, somewhat
like a murmur; but unless the animal is struck or
irritated, he never exerts it. When he sleeps, he
folds himself up like a ball; and is not easily awaked,
—The Ichneumons are short-lived, but grow very
rapidly. In our temperate climates, they cannot,
without great difficulty, be either reared or preserv=
ed. Whatever care be taken, the frosts incommode
them, and they generally fall victims to the change,

THE STRIATED WEESEL*.

This is one of three or four species of Weesel,
natives of America, whose only mode of defence
against their enemies (and it is a perfectly secure
one) is to emit from their bodies a vapour so fetid
that few animals can bear to come within its influ-
ence. Cattle that are near are so alarmed, as to
utter the most dreadful bellowings. Dogs are
indeed sometimes trained to hunt them; but, in

* D’Obsonville, 76.
+ Synonyms.—Viverra Putorius.—Linn.—Skunk. Fiskatta. Pole-
eat. Kalm. Catesby.—Striped Skunk. Kerr—Coneparte. Buffon.
Striated Weesel. Peni.——Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 94.

THE STRIATED WEESEL. 315

order to relieve themselves, they are under the ne-
cessity of frequently thrusting their noses into the
earth. The odour may be smelt to an amazing dis-
tance ; and so abominable is its stench, as to affect
provisions in such a manner that nothing can after-
wards make them eatable. When the animal is ir-
ritated or killed near a dwelling, the whole place be-
comes infected ; the clothes, provisions, and all the
rooms, are, in a few minutes, so saturated with the
vapour, that no one can live in or use them fora
very long time. Clothes, although several times
washed, soaked, and dried in the sun, retain their
smell sometimes for weeks.

Professor Kalm says, that one of these creatures
being one day perceived in its cave, a woman, un-
thinkingly, attacked and killed it. The whole place
was in a moment filled with such a dreadful stench,
that the woman was taken ill, and continued so for
several days ; and the provisions were so infected,
that they were all thrown away *.

These animals have, by travellers, had indiscri-
minately the names of Devil’s Children, and Stinking
Beasts.—Strange as it may appear, they are some-
times domesticated; and as they never emit their
fetor except when alarmed or irritated, they are not
dreaded in this state: ‘* but (an eminent Zoologist
justly observes) they ought surely to be treated with
the hichest attention.”

rs

* Kalm’s Travels.

ferstore
THE HONEY-WEESEL OR RATEL*,

This animal, which is a native of the Cape, is,
from the nose to the tail, about two feet long. Its
back is ash-coloured; and along its sides runs a light-
grey stripe, that divides this from its belly, which
is black. The legs are short; and the claws long,
and formed for burrowing. It lives in holes under
ground, and is said to be very fetid.

The Ratel seems formed by nature tobe the ad-
versary of the Bees, and the unwelcome visitor ef their
habitations ; and is endued with a particular faculty
of discovering and attacking them within their en-
trenchments —Asaman placed at the mast-head, can
most easily descry a sailor land at a great distance in
the evening, so probably this time of the day is the
most convenient for the Ratel to look out for his
food : for he is likewise said to be particularly atten-
tive to his business about sun-set ; when he will sit
and hold one of his paws before his eyes, in order
to modify the rays of the sun, and at the same time
to procure a distinct view of the object of his pur-
suit: and when, in consequence of peering in this
manner on each side of his paw, opposite to the sun,
he sees any Bees fly, he knows that they are at this
time going straight to their own habitation, and
consequently takes care to keep in the same direc-
tion in order to find them. He has, besides, the
sagacity to follow the Cuculus Indicator, a little bird,

* Synonyms.—Viverra Mellivora. Linn—Honey-weesel. Shaw.

—Ratel. Sparrman—Bew. Qual. 219

THE HONEY-WEESEE OR RATEL. 317

which flies on, by degrees, with a peculiar and al-
luring note, and guides him to the Bees’-nests.

As the Ratel’s hairs are stiff and harsh, so its
hide is tough, and the animal itself difficult to kill.
The Colonists and Hottentots both assert, that it 1s
almost impossible to kill this creature, without giv-
ing it a great number of violent blows on the nose ;
on which account they usually destroy it by shoot-
ing it, or by plunging a knife into its body.—The
shortness of his legs will not permit him to make
his escape by flight, when pursued by the Hounds.
He is able, however, sometimes to extricate himself
from their clutches, by biting and scratching them
in a most terrible manner: while, on the other hand,
he is perfectly well defended from the assaults of
their teeth by the toughness of his hide; for, when
a Hound endeavours to bite him, it can lay hold
only on this part, which instantly separates from the
creature’s body or flesh, as it is reported to lie loose
from the skin, as within a sack; so that, when any
one also catches hold of him by the hind part of
his neck, and that even pretty near his head, he
can turn round, as it were, in his skin, and bite the
arm that seizes him. It is a remarkable circum-
stance, that such a number of Hounds as are able
collectively to tear in pieces a Lion of moderate size,
are said to be sometimes obliged to leave the Ratel
dead in appearance only. Is it not, therefore, pro-
ble, that Nature, which seems to have destined the.
Ratel for the destruction of Bees, may have bestow-
ed on it a hide so much tongher than those she has
given to other animals of the Viverra kind, for the

218 THE CIVETs —
purpose of defending it from the stings of these ins
sects?

Those Bees’-rests that are built in trees, are in
no danger whatever from the Ratel. In the first
transports of his rage at having sought after these
Bees in vain, he gnaws and bites the trunks of the
trees ; and these bites are sure marks for the inhabi-
tants of the country, that a Bees’-nest is to be found
there. I should myself, says Dr. Sparrman, have
entertained many doubts concerning these proper-
ties attributed to the Ratcl, had I not obtained va-
rious accounts of this curious animal, exactly cor-
responding with each other, from many experienced
farmers and Hottentots living in different parts of
the Cape of Good Hope *.

THE CIVET >.

The Civet 1s somewhat more than two feet long,
and has a tail about half the length of its body. The
ground colour is yellowish ash-grey, beautifully
marked with large blackish or dusky spots. The
hairis coarse ; and, along the back, stands up, so as
to form a sort of mane. The body 1s thickish ; and
the nose sharp, and black at the tip. ‘Three black
stripes proceed from each ear, and end at the throat
and shoulders. ‘The eycs shine in the dark. It is
an inhabitant of several parts of Africa and India;
and will not breed in more temperate regions, though

* Sparrman’s Voyage.
+ Synonyms.—Viverra Civetta. Linn—Civet Cat. Var-—Civette.
Buffon. Shaws Gen. Zool. pl. 95. Bew. Quad. 244.

THE CIVET. 319
it lives and appears in perfect health in them : in its
own climate it is very prolific. 3

It is active and nimble; jumping about like a Cat,
and running yery swiftly. It feeds on small animals:
but particularly on Birds, which it takes by surprize ;
and it sometimes commits depredations among
poultry, when it can steal unperceived into a farm-
yard. It is very voracious; and will often roll
itself, for a minute or two, on its meat, before eat-
ing. One that Barbot had at Guadaloupe was, from
the carelessnes of his servant, kept without food for
a whole day: the animal, on the following morn-
ing, gnawed his way through the cage in which he
was kept, came into the room where M. Barbot was
writing, and, staring about with his sparkling eyes
for a few seconds, made a leap of five or six feet ata
fine American Parrot, that was perched on a piece
of wood put into the wall for the purpose. Before
his master could run to the relief of the bird, the
Civet had torn off its head, and begun to feast him-
self on his prey *. Though the Civet is naturally
savage, it is capable of being tamed, and rendered
tolerably familiar. Its voice is stronger than that
of a Cat, and somewhat resembles the cry of an en-
raged Dog.

This animal is remarkable for the production of
the drug called civet, sometimes erroneously con-
founded with musk. T his substance is a secretion,
formed in a large double glandular receptacle situ-
ated at some little distance beneath the tail, and

neem

* Barbot, v. 114, 211.

320 THE CIVEY.

which the creature empties spontaneously. The
Dutch keep great numbers alive at Amsterdam, for
the purpose of collecting the drug from them.
When a ‘sufficient time for the secretion has been
allowed, the animal is put into a long wooden cage,
so narrow that it cannot turn itselfround. The cage
being opened by a door behind, a small spoon, or
spatula, is introduced through the orifice of the
pouch, which is carefully scraped and its contents
put into a proper vessel. This operation is per-
formed twice or thrice a-week; and the animal is
said always to produce the most civet after being ir-
ritated. ‘The quantity depends in a great measure
also on the quality of the nourishment which it
takes, and the appetite with which it eats. Incon-
finement, its favourite food is boiled meat, eggs,
birds, and small animals, and particularly fish.
While the French army was in Egypt, the king of
Dar-fir sent four Civets to the generals ; and some
information was at the same time acquired respect-
ing the treatment of the animals in that country.
Since very few of them are found there, and these
few are brought from a great distance, the inhabit-
ants have found it expedient to adopt some modes
of increasing the produce of the civef. They in-
troduce into the bag a small quantity of butter or
other fat; then shake the animal violently, and by
beating, irritate and enrage it ‘as much as possible.
This, they say, greatly accelerates the secretion; and
the fat also by these means imbibes so much of the
civet, that the women of Dar-far use it upon their
hair, To this barbarous usage it is in a great mea-

THE MEXICAN WEESEL. out

gute owing, that the animals become excessively
“ferocious. |

A Civet is kept at present in the Museum of Na-
tural History in Paris which has been there more
than five years. Its odour is at all times very pow-
erful, but unusually so whenever the animal is irritat-
ed. It sleeps with its body rolled round, and its head
between its legs. This posture it seldom changes
either in the night or day ; and it sleeps so soundly
that it cannot be roused without severe blows *.

With respect to the civet procured from Am-
sterdam, it is less adulterated, and therefore held in
higher estimation, than that imported from India of
the Levant. Its average value in Holland is about.
fifty shillings an ounce; but this is subject to consi-
derable fluctuations. ‘The substance is accounted
best when new, of a whitish colour, a good con-
sistence, and of a strong disagreeable smell.—This
perfume is excessively powerful; but in small quan-
tities it is more pleasant than musk, to which it
bears some resemblance.

THE MEXICAN WEESEL*.
The Mexican Weesel-is about two feet and a half

in length, with a long prehensile tail. The general
colour is an olive-yellow, mixed with grey-brown,

* La Menagerie du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle.
+ Synony ms.—Viverra prehensilis. | Ker.—Kinkajou. Buffon—
Quincajouou Carajou. Charlevoiv—Mexican Weesel. Penn.

Vou. I. “Vi

322 THE MEXICAN WEESEL.
and lighter beneath than above. It is found in
Mexico and New Spain.

Its manners in confinement are gentle 24
sprightly. During the day it generally sleeps ; ; but
awakes in the evening, and begins to climb about
and search for food. It uses its tail with great dex-
terity, in seizing and securing such things as it can- —
not otherwise reach; but has been observed never
to extend this, till its feet are perfectly secure. It
tears every thing it finds; either for amusement,
or in quest of insects. This mischievous propensity
alone prevented one of these animals, that was kept
by M. Chaveu, at Paris, from being suffered to
range at liberty. Before this was discovered, he used
to be let loose at night; and how far soever he
might range in the dark, he was always found the next
morning lying in the same place. He distinguished
his master, whom he would follow and caress though
not very tractable. He ate bread, meat, vegetables,
and fruit; drank milk and water, and eyen spirits if
sweetened, with which he would so intoxicate him-
self as to continue sick for several days. He was
passionately fond of perfumes and sweetmeats. He
frequently attacked the poultry, always seizing them
under the wing; and seemed to drink their blood,
but never devoured them. His voice, which was
only exerted in the night, was somewhat like the
barking of a Dog. When he was sporting about, or
when he received any injury, he uttered a cry some-
what like that of a young Pigeon; and when he
meant to threaten, he hissed like aGoose. He al-
ways seemed extremely afraid of going into the water.

THE MEXICAN WEESEL. 323

Another of these animals, that was exhibited in
1773, atthe fair of St. Germain, appeared for some
time of a very mild disposition, and would lick the
hand of any person who invited such a mark of fa-
miliarity. But by frequent irritations of the popu-
lace it was afterwards rendered mischievous, and al-
ways attempted to bite at the hand after licking it.
Thiscreacure would oftensit upright, andscratch itself
with its fore paws; was very playful, would fold its
paws into each other, and perform many apish tricks.
It ate from its paws. When irritated, it always en-
deavoured to leap on the person from whom the af-
front came. It laid hold of any thing it wanted with
its tail, and would frequently hang by this part:
when walking, the tail was always carried horizon-
tally *.

The claws are long; by which it is enabled to
climb trees with great ease, where it waits for prey,
and from whence it sometimes darts upon small ani-
mals that are below. ‘These have no other chance of
escaping than by immediately rushing into the wa-
ter, if there is an opportunity at hand; when the
Weesel is obliged to let.go his hold in order to save
himself. When he seizes on any animal, he folds
his tail round it; and gnaws a small hole in its
neck, through which he sucks the blood.

Charlevoix says, it frequently leaps upon the neck
of the Moose-deer, where it first fixes itself securely,
then cuts into the juguiar vein, and does not move
from its station (unless forced by the animal’s

TS TS
* Buff. Quad. vii. 287—202,

¥-2

324 THE PINE MARTIN.
plunging into the water) till the creature falls down
from loss of blood *.

He is hunted by Foxes ; who search for him as
he lies in wait for his prey, and seldom fail to carry
him off.

THE PINE MARTIN f

Is about eighteen inches long. It is of a dark ches-
nut colour, and has a yellow throat and breast. It
frequents the pine forests of all the northern re-
gions, but particularly of America; and is found
even in some parts of England.

Its general retreat is in the hollow of some tree ;
so high up, and in other respects so situated, as to
afford it perfect security. The nest of the Squirrel
is generally preferred: of this the Martin dispossesses
the ingenious architect by killing him. The Mar-
tin now enlarges the dimensions of its new habita-
tion ; lines it with softer materials ; and in that se-
cure retreat, brings forth its young.

Its courage is so great, that it will attack ani-
mals much larger and stronger than itself. It
sometimes seizes the Shéep and the Hare: and,
if necessity obliges, will combat the fury of even the
Wild Cat ; which, though much stronger, is always
worsted, and often killed.

Notwithstanding this ferocity of disposition, the
Pine Martin is easily rendered docile. Gesner says

* Charlevoix, Travels in America, 1. 201. + Buff Quad.
{ Synonyms.—Viverra Martes. Shaw.—Mustela Martes. Linn.—
Marder. Rédinger—Marte. Buffon———Bew.2uad, 231.

THE PINE MARTIN. 325

he kept one, which was extremely playful and enter-
taining. It used to go to the houses of the neigh-
bours, and always returned home when it wanted
food. It was particularly fond of a Dog with which
it had been bred up; and would play with him as
Cats do, lying on its back, and pretending to bite
him. Buffon had one, which, though it had lost its
ferocity, did not however discover any marks of at-
tachment, and continued so wild as to require being
chained. It frequently escaped from its confine-
ment: at first it returned after some hours absence,
but without appearing pleased ; the time of absence
of each succeeding elopement gradually increased,
and at last it took a final departure. During its con-
finement, it sometimes slept for two days without in-
termission. When preparing for sleep, it formed its
body into a circle; and hid its head, which it cover-
ed with its tail.

These animals have a musky smell, which to many
persons is very agreeable. Their cry is sharp and
piercing ; but is never uttered except when in pain
or distress. ‘Their principal food consists of Rats,
Mice, and other small quadrupeds ; poultry, game,
&c. and they are also remarkably fond of honey.

The female produces three or four young, which
soon arrive ata state of maturity. She is able to af-
ford them but a small quantity of milk; but she
compensates for this natural defect, by bringing
home eggs and live birds to her offspring, and thus
early accustoms them to a life of carnage and plun-
der. . As soon as the young are able to leave the
nest, she leads them through the woods; where

Y 3

326 THE SABLE.
they begin to seize on their prey, and to provide .
food for themseives.

Pine Martins are hunted in the North for the sake
of their furs, which are held in great estimation :
the most valuable part. is that which extends along
the back. In England these are used to line the
robes of magistrates, and for several other purposes.
They form a considerable article of commerce ;
above twelve thousand being annually imported inte
this country from Hudson’s Bay, and more than
thirty thousand from Canada *,

THE SABLE. 3

The Sabie is a native of North America, Siberia,
Kamtschatka, and Asiatic Russia. Itis about eigh-
teen inches in length; and has a longish and rather
sharpened head. Its general colour is a deep glossy
brown.

The skin of the Sable is more valuable than that
of any other animal. One of these, not above four
inches broad, has sometimes been valued as high as
fifteen pounds; but the general price is from one
pound to ten, according to their quality. The
Sable’s fur is different from all others, in the hair
turning with equal ease either way. The bellies of
Sables, which are sold in pairs, are about two fingers
in breadth; and are tied together in bundles of

* Church's Cabinet of Quadrupeds.
+ Synonyms.—Viverra Zibellina. Shaw.—Mestela Zibellina. Linn.
—Sable Weegel. Penn —Zibeline. Buffon ——Bew, Quad. 253.

THE SABLE. 327

forty pieces, which are sold at from one to two
pounds a-bundle. The tails are sold by the hun-
dred, at from four to eight pounds.

The manner in which the natives of Kamtschatka '
take these animals, is very simple. They follow
the track of the Sable, in snow-shoes, till they have
detected his covert, which is generally a burrow in
the earth. As soon as the little creature is aware
of his pursuers, he escapes into some hollow tree ;
which the hunters surround with a net, and then
either cut it entirely down, or force the animal
_by fire and smoke to abandon his retreat, when he
falls into the net and is killed. ‘They sometimes
surround the tree in which a Sable is lodged, with
Dogs trained for the purpose ; and then, making a
running noose on a pretty strong cord, find means
to get the creature’s head into the snare, and thus
haul him down an easy prey*.

In other parts, where these animals are less com-
mon, the contrivances to take them are more arti-
ficial, Of this kind is the Sable-trap of the Vo-
gules, which is used in several parts of Siberia :—A
place is found where two young trees stand not far
asunder. ‘These are immediately stripped of their
branches about the bottom; and near one of them
a post is stuck into the ground, on which a beam is
placed horizontally, so fastened to both trees, that
one end of it les between the post and the tree.
Over this beam another is laid, as a trap-fall ; at the
end of which a thin support is put, which, when the

* Lessep, i. 39,

i 4

328 THE SABLE.

trap-fall is up, stands over the notched end of the
post. At the extremity of the support is a mat-
string, and another at the lower transverse beam,
ticd very short. Both are brought together; anda
stick is put through them, having at its lower ex-
tremity a piece of flesh or wild-fowl attached, which,
by its preponderance, keeps the stick down, and
thus holds the two strings together. The Sable
creeps cautiously along the lower beam, till he can
reach the bait, and pull it to him ; this looses the
stick to which the: bait is tied, and. by which the
strings were held together; the stay slips its hold,
and consequently the upper beam falls upon the
shoulders of the animal and holds him fast.

Sables frequent tne banks of rivers, and the thick-
est parts of the woods. ‘They live in holes under
ground, and especially under the roots of trees ; but
they sometimes make their nest (consisting of moss,
small twigs, and grass) in the hollows of trees. The
female brings forth in the spring, and produces from
three to five ata time. In winter they live on ber-
ries of different kinds; but in the summer-time,
before these are ripe, they devour Hares, Weesels,
Ermines, and other small animals *.

The Sable is a lively and active animal ; and leaps
with great agility from tree to tree, in pursuit of
birds or Squirrels. It is said to feed also on wild
fruits and berries. M].Gmelin saw two of these ani-
mals that had been in some measure domesticated.
Whenever they saw a Cat, they would rise on their

—

* Grieve, 110.

THE COMMON WEESEL. 529

hind feet to prepare for a combat. In the night,
they were extremely restless and active ; but during
the day, and particularly after eating, they generally
slept so sound for halfan howr, or an hour, that
they might be pushed, shaken, and even pricked,
without being awakened.

The chase of the Sable, according to Mr. Pen-
nant, was, during the more barbarous periods of
the Russian Empire, the principal task of the un-
happy exiles who were banished into Siberia ; and
who, as well as the soldiers sent there, were obliged
to furnish, within a given time, a certain quantity of
furs: but as Siberia is now become more populous,
the Sables have, in a great measure, quitted it, and
retired farther to the north and east, into the desert
forests and mountains *.

THE COMMON WEESEL‘f.

This is an active little animal, well-known in our
own country. Its length, exclusive of the tail, 1s about
seven inches; and its height, not above two and a
half. The colour of its upper parts isa pale reddish-
brown: and its breast and belly are white; but on
each side, below the corners of the mouth is a
brown spot. ‘The ears are small and rounded, and
the eyes black.

* Penn. Quad. ii. 323.
+ Synonyms.—Viverra Vulgaris. Shaw.—Mustela Vulgaris. Lenn.
Weesel. Fitchit. Foumart, or Foulimart. Ray.—W hitret, or W hitred,

+
Sibald. —Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 93.—Bew. Quad. 229.

¢

330 THE COMMON WEESEL.

It is very destructive to young birds, poultry,
Rabbets, and several other animals; and it sucks
eggs with great avidity. In this latter operation, it
begins by making a small hole’ at one end, from
which it licks out the yolk, leaving the shell be-
hind ; whereas Rats, and some other animals, always
drag the egg out ofthe nest, and either make a large
hole in it or break it to pieces. By this circum;
stance the attacks of the Weesel may always be dis-
tinguished.—Its form is elegant, but, like some
others of this genus, it has an unpleasant smell. It
lives chiefly in cavities under the roots of trees, and
in the banks of rivulets; from whence it sallies
out on the approach of evening, to commit its de-
vastations.

M. de Buffon supposed the Weesel to be untame-
able; but Mademoiselle de Laistre, in a letter on
this subject, gives a very pleasing account of the
education and manners of a Weesel which she took
under her protection*. This she fed with fresh
meat and milk, the latter of which it was very fond
of. It frequently ate from her hand, and seemed
to be more delighted with this manner of feeding
than any other. “ If I pour (says this lady) some
milk into my hand, it will drink a good deal; but
if I do not pay it this compliment, it will scarcely
take a drop. When it is satisfied, it generally
goes to sleep. My chamber is the place of its re-

* In general, however, when in confinement, they are in perpetual
agitation, appear.much disturbed by the sight of Man, and refuse to
eat in the presence of any person; and usually, if they are not
allowed some place where they can hide themselves, they soon die.

THE COMMON WEESEL. 331

sidence ; and I have found a method of dispelling
its strong smell by perfumes. By day, its sleeps in
a quilt, into which it gets by an unsown place which
it had discovered on the edge: during the night, it
is kept in a wired box or cage; which it always en-
ters with reluctance, and leaves with pleasure. If
it be set at liberty before my time of rising, after
a thousand little playful tricks, it gets into my bed,
and goes to sleepin my hand or on my bosom,
If Iam up first, it spends a full half-hour in ca-
ressing me; playing with my fingers lke a little
Dog, jumping on my head and on my neck, and
running round on my arms and body with a light-
ness and elegance which I never found in any other
animal. If I present my hands at the distance of
three feet, it jumps into them without ever missing.
It shews a great deal of address and cunning in order
to compass its ends, and seems to disobey certain
prohibitions merely through caprice. During all its
actions, it seems solicitous to divert, and to be no-
ticed ; looking, at every jump, and at every turn, to
see whether it is observed or not. If no notice be
taken of its gambols, it ceases themy immediately,
and betakes itself to sleep; and even when awaked,
from the soundest sleep it instantly resumes. its
gaiety, and frolics about in as sprightly a manner as
before. Jt never shews any ill-humour, unless
when confined, or teased too much ; in which case
it expresses its displeasure by a sort of murmur, very
different from that which it utters when pleased.

** In the midst of twenty people, this little ani-
mal distinguishes my voice, seeks me out, and

832 THE COMMON WEESEL.
springs over every body to come at me. His play
with me is the most lively and caressing ; with his
two little paws he pats me on thé chin, with an air
and manner expressive of delight. This, and a
thousand other preferences, shew that his attachment
‘to me isreal. When he sees me dressed for going
out, he will not leave me, andit is not without
some trouble that I can disengage myself from
him ; hethen hides himself behind a cabinet near
the door, and jumps upon me as I pass, with so
much celerity that 1 often can scarcely perceive him.
‘« Fle seems to resemble a Squirrel in vivacity, agi-
lity, voice, and his manner ef murmuring. During
the summer, he squeaks and runs about all night
long; but since the commencement of the cold
weather, I have not observed this. Sometimes,
when the sun shines while he is playing on the bed,
he turns and tumbles about and murmurs for a while.
‘‘ From his delight in drinking milk out of my
hand, into which I pour a very little ata time, and
his custom of sipping the little drops and edges of
the fluid, it seems probable that he drinks dew in
the same manner. He very seldom drinks water,
and then only for want of milk ; and with great cau-
tion, seeming only to refresh his tongue once or
twice, and to be even afraid of that fluid. During
the hot weather, it rained a good deal. I present-
ed to him some rain water in dish,and endeavoured
to make him go into it, but could not succeed. I
then wetted a piece of linen cloth in it, and put it
near him; when he rolled upon it with extreme de-

light.

THE COMMON WEESEL. 339

*€ One singularity in this charming animal is his
curiosity; it being impossible to open a drawer or
a box, oreven to look at a paper, but he will ex-
amine it also. If he gets into any place where I am
afraid of permitting him to stay, I take a paper or
a book, and look attentively at it; when he imme-
diately runs upon my hnad, and surveys with an in-
quisitive air whatever I happen to hold. I[ must
further observe, that he plays with a young Cat and
Dog, both of some size ; getting about their necks,
backs, and paws, without their doing him the least
injury.”

The method of taming these creatures is, ac-
cording to M. de Buffon, to stroke them gently over
the back ; and to threaten, and even to beat them,
when they attempt to bite. Aldrovandus tells us,
that their teeth should be rubbed with garlic, which
will take away all their inclination to bite !

The last mentioned author quotes from Strozza
the following part of an elegy on the death of a tame

Weesel.

Nil poterat puero te gratius esse; nec illi
Morte tua quicquam tristius esse potest.

Tu digitos molli tentabas improba morsu,
Porrecto Iudens semisupina pede ; :

Et mollem € labiis noras sorbere salivam,

Et quiddam exiguo murmure dulce queri,

Loving and lov’d! thy master’s grief !

Thou could’st th’ uncounted hours beguile;
And, nibbling at his finger soft,

Watch anxious for th’ approving smile :

334 THE COMMON WEESEULs

Or stretching forth the playful foot,
Around in wanton gambols rove ;

Or gently sip the rosy lip,
And in light murmurs speak thy love *.

The motion of the Weesel consists of unequal
leaps; and, on occasion, it has the power of spring-
ing some feet from the ground. It 1s remarkably
active; and will run up a wall with such facility,
that no place is secure from it.—It 1s useful to the
farmer in ridding him of Rats and Mice,which it will
pursue into their holes and there kill; butits depre-
dations are not altogether confined to these pernicious
animals, as it also very frequently destroys young
Poultry and Pigeons. It seizes its prey near the head;
and but seldom eats it upon the spot, generally car-
rying it away to its retreat.—It often destroys the
Moles in their habitations ; as is proved by its be-
ing at times caught in the traps laid for those ani-
mals. Weare told that when it pursues the Hare,
that timid creature is terrified into a state of absolute
imbecility ; and gives itself up without the least re-
sistance, making, at the same time, the most pite-
ous outcries.

A story is related, that an Eagle, having seized
a Weesel, mounted into the air with it, and was soon
after observed to be in great distress. His little
enemy had so far extricated itself, as to be able to
bite him very severely in the neck ; which presently
brought the bird to the ground, and gave the Wee-
sel an opportunity of escaping.

* Shaw, 1. 422-425.

‘THE OTTER TRIBE. 335

The female brings forth in the spring, and ge-
nerally produces four or five at a litter. She pre-
pares for them a bed of moss, leaves, and straw.
Aldrovandus tells us, that when she suspects they
will be stolen from her, she carries them in her
mouth from place to place, changing her retreat even
several times a-day.— M. de Buffon informs us, that,
in his neighbourhood, a Weesel with three young
ones was taken out of the body of a Wolf, that had
been hung on atree by the hind feet. The Wolf
was ina state of putrefaction; and the Weesel had
made a nest of leaves and herbage, in the thorax.

Among other curious particulars respecting this
animal, it has been observed, that, when asleep,
its muscles are in sucha state of extreme flaccidity,
that it may be taken up by the head, and swung
backwards and forwards like a pendulum several
times, before it will awake.

The Weesel is found in all the temperate parts of
Europe, and also in Barbary: but in the bleak
northern climates itis very scarce.—In Siberia there
is a white variety, the skins of which are chiefly
sent to China, where they are sold at the rate of
three or four rubles each.

THE, OTTER, TRIBE.

THE Otters differ from the Weesels, in living al-
most constantly in the water; from whence they
principally derive their food, which consists of fish,

336 THE COMMON OTTER.

Their bodies are very long, and their legs short.
They burrow and form their dwellings in the banks
of rivers and lakes, in the neighbourhood of the
situations in which they find their prey.

They have, in each jaw, six sharpish cutting-
teeth ; the lower ones of which do not standin an
even line with the rest, but two are placed some-
what within. The canine-teeth are rather longer
than the others. ‘The animals of this tribe have all

webbed feet.

THE COMMON OTTER *.,

The Common Otter is about two feet in length,
from the nose to the insertion of the tail; and the
length of the tail is nearly sixteen inches, It is ana-
tive of almost every part of Kurope, and is still to
be met with in some parts of England. Its legs
are short, but strong and muscular. The head is
broad, oval, and flat on the upper part; and the.
body is long and round. ‘The legs are so placed as
to be capable of being brought into a line with the
body, and of performing the office of fins. The
toes are connected by webs... The, general co-
Jour of these animals isa deep brown.

They inhabit the banks of rivers; and though
they sometimes seize on the smaller quadrupeds and
on poultry, their principal foed is fish. ‘* The Otter

* Synonyms.—Lutra Vulgaris. Shaw.—Mustela Lutra. Linn.
Shaw's Gen. Zool. pi. 100

Greater Otter. Penn.—Loutre. Bujfon.
Bew. Quad, 451.

THE COMMON OTTER. 337

(says Mr. Pennant) shews great sagacity in forming
its habitation. It burrows under-ground in the bank
of some river or lake: and always makes the en-
trance of its hole under water, working upwards to
the surface of the earth ; and, before it reaches the
top, it provides several ol/ts, or lodges, that in case
of high floods it may have a retreat (for no animal
seems desirous of lying drier), and then makes a
minute orifice for the admission of air. It is further
observed, that this animal, the more effectually to
conceal its retreat, contrives to make this little air-
hole in the midst of some thick bush *.

In some paris of North America, Otters are seen
in winter at a distance from any apparent open
water, both in woods and on plains; but it is not
known what leads them to such situations. If pur-
sued, when among the woods where the snow is
light and deep, they immediately dive, and make
considerable way under it; but they are easily traced
by the motion of the snow above them, and soon
overtaken. ‘Vhe Indians kill numbers of them
with clubs, by tracking them in the snow; but some
of the old ones are so fierce, when closely pressed,
that they turn upon and fly at their pursuers.

They are very fond of play ; and one of their
favourite pastimes is, to get on a high ridge of snow,
bend their fore-feet backward, and slide down the
side of it, sometimes to the distance of twenty
yards +.

Otters, though naturally of a ferocious disposition,

* Penn. Brit. Zool. + Hearne, $75.

Vou. 1. Z

338 THE COMMON OTTER.

may, if taken young and properly educated, be
completely tamed. The training of them, however,
requires both assiduity and perseverance : but their
activity and use, when taught, sufficiently repay
this trouble ; and few animals are more beneficial
to their masters. The usual method is first to teach
them to fetch, in the same way as Dogs ; but, as
they have not an equal docility, so it requires more
art and experience to instruct them. It 1s usually
performed by accustoming them to take in their
mouths a truss made of leather, and stuffed with
wool, of the shape of a fish; to drop it at a word of
command; to run after it when thrown forward, and
to bring it to their master. Real fish are next employ-
ed; which are thrown dead into the water, and which
they are taught to fetch from thence. From dead fish
they are led to living ones, till at last they are per-
fectly instructed in the whole art of fishing. An Ot-
er thus educated, is. very valuable ; he will catch fish
enough to sustain not only himself but a whole fa-
mily. ‘I have seen (says Dr. Goldsmith, from
whom this information is taken) an Otter go to a
gentleman’s pond at the word of command, drive
the fish into a corner, and, seizing upon the larg-
est of the whole, bring it off, in his mouth, to his
master *,”

A person of the name of Collins, whalived at
Kilmerston, near Wooler, in Northumberland, had
a tame Otter, which followed him wherever he
went. He frequently took it to fish in the river; and,

* Goldsmith, iv. 146,

THE COMMON OTTER. 339°

when satiated, it never failed to return to its master.
One day, in the absence of Collins, the Otter be-
ing taken out to fish by his son, instead of returning
as usual, refused to come at the accustomed call,
and was lost. ‘The father tried every means to re-
cover it; and, after several days search, being near
the place where his son had lost it, and calling it by
its name, to his inexpressible joy it came creeping
to his feet, and shewing many marks of affection
and firm attachment.

Some years ago, James Campbell, near Inverness,
had a young Otter, which he brought up and tamed.
It would follow him wherever he chose; and, if
called on by its name, would immediately obey.
When apprehensive of danger from Dogs, it sought
the protection of its master, and would endeavour
to spring into his arms for greater security. It was
frequently employed in catching fish, and would
sometimes take eight or ten Salmon in a day. If
not prevented, it always made an attempt to break
the fish behind the fin next the tail; and, as soon
as one was taken away, it immediately dived in pur-
suit of more. When tired, it would refuse to fish
any longer ; and was then rewarded with as much as
it could devour. Having satisfied its appctite, it al-
ways coiled itself round, and fell asleep ; in which
state it was generally carried home. The same Otter
fished as well in the sea as in fresh water, and took
great numbers of young Cod and other fish there.

Another person who kept a tame Otter, suffered
it to follow him with his Dogs. It was very useful
to him in fishing; by going into the water, and driv-

Z 2

340 THE COMMON OTTER.

ing Trout and other fish towards the net. It was
remarkable, that Dogs accustomed to Otter hunt-
ing, were so far from giving it the least molestation,
that they would not even hunt any Otter while this
remained with them ; on which account the owner
was under the necessity of disposing of it *.

The method of fishing with a tame Otter, 1s men-
tioned in the Predium Rusticum of Vaniere; in
a passage which has been thus translated :

** Should chance within this dark recess betray

The tender young, bear quick the prize away.

Tam’d by thy care, the useful brood shall join

The wat’ry chace, and add their toils to thine ;

From each close lurking-hole shall force away,

And drive within thy nets, the silver prey:

As the taught Hound the timid Stag subdues,

And o’er the dewy plain the panting Hare pursues.’’

M. Poissonnier, considering the account of Va,
niere as fabulous, procured a young Otter, which
he tamed, in order to pnt it to the test; and to his
ereat surprise, found that after a little instruction
it would run to a small river, about a hundred yards
from his house, and very seldom returned without a
live fish in its mouth. He also brought it to such
a state of domestication, that to whatever distance
it went, it always returned, with the utmost punc-
tuality, to its kennel.
This writer contradicts an assertion frequently

made, that the Otter is amphibious; for his never
plunged into the water but in search of prey, and

* Bew. Quad. 452, 453.

THE COMMON OTTER; 3A1

it then always returned as speedily as possible to the
bank, where it shook itself like a Water-spaniel.
When it was obliged to continue in the water for
any length of time, it frequently raised its head to
the surface to breathe ; and he believes it would have
been killed had it been forced to remain under water
for half an hour *.

When the Otter, in its wild state, has caught a
fish, it immediately drags it ashore, and devours the
head and upper parts, leaving the remainder: and
when domesticated, it will eat no fish except such as
are perfectly fresh; but will prefer bread, milk, &c.
It generally hunts against the stream; and when
more than one are fishing at the same time, they are
frequently heard to utter a sort of loud whistle to
each other, as if by way of signal. When two of
them (as sometimes happens) are hunting a Salmon,
one stations itself above, and the other below the
place where the fish is ; and they continue to chase
it, till, becoming perfectly wearied out, it surrenders
itself a quiet prey. The Otter, when it hunts
singly, has two modes of taking its prey: The first
is by pursuing it from the bottom upwards: this is
principally done with the larger fish ; whose eyes be-
ing placed so as not to see under them, the animal
attacks them by surprise from below, and, seizing
them by the belly, drags them away. The other
mode is by hunting them into some corner of the
pond or lake, and there seizing them. The latter,
however, can only be practised in water where there

ng

* Le Moniteur Universel, Nivose 21, An vii. + Penn. Brit. Zool,

L 3

3A2 THE COMMON OTTER.

is no current, and on the smaller fish; for it would
be impossible to force the large ones out of deep
water *, The Otter is as noxious in a fish-pond, as
the Polecat in a hen-roost ; he frequently kills more
fish than he can eat, and then carries off but one in
his teeth.

The female produces four or five young at a birth,
and these in the spring of the year. Where there
have been ponds near a gentleman’s house, instan-
ces have occurred of their littering in cellars or
drains.—The mail utters no noise when taken, but
the pregnant females emit a shrill squeak -/.—Ot-
ters are generally caught in traps placed near their
landing places, and carefully concealed in the sand.
When hunted with Dogs, the old ones defend them-
selves with great obstinacy. ‘They bite severely, and
do not readily quit their hold where they have once
fastened. An old Otter will never yield while it has
life; nor make the least complaint, though wounded
ever so much by the Dogs, nor even when trans-
fixed with a spear.

In the northern parts of America, these animals
change their colour in winter to white, like most of
the other Arctic animals; and it is not till very late
in the spring that they resume their brown summer
dress.

The flesh 1s exceedingly rank and fishy ; so much
s0, that the Romish Church permitted the use of it
on maigre-days. In the kitchen of the Carthusian
conyent near Dijon, Mr. Pennant saw one of them

* Church. + Brit. Zool. i. 95.

THE SEA OTTER, 343

cooking for the dinner of the religious of that rigid
order; who by their rules are prohibited, during
their whole lives, the eating of flesh *.—The Kamts-
chadales use the Otter’s fur for garments; and the
North American Indians manufacture their skins
into pouches, which they ornament with bits of horn,

THE SEA OTTER Tf.

The Sea Otter is found on the coast of Kamts-
chatka, and in the adjacent islands, as well as on the
opposite coasts of America; but it is confined within
a very few degrees of latitude. Its whole length is
about four feet, of which the tail occupies thirteen
inches. The fur is extremely soft, and of a deep glossy
black. The ears are small and erect, and the whisk-
ers long and white. The legs are short and thick,
the hinder ones somewhat resembling those of a
Seal. The weight of the largest Sea Otters is from
seventy to eighty pounds.

In their manners these animals are very harmless 5
and towards their offspring they exhibit an uncom-
mon degree of attachment. ‘They will never desert
them ; and will even starve themselves to death on
being robbed of them, and strive to breathe their
last on the spot where their young have been de-
stroyed.—The female produces only a single young
one at a time; which she suckles almost a whole

~

* Penn. Brit. Zool. i. 94.
+ SynonyMs.—Lutra Marina. Shaw —Mustela Lutris. Linn—Sea
Otter, Penn. Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 101.—Bew. Quad. 465.

ZA

3AA THE SEA OTTER.

year, and till it takes to itself a mate-—The Sea Ot-
ters pair, and are very constant. ‘They often carry
their young between their teeth, and fondle them, fre-
quently flinging them up and catching them again
in their paws. Before these can swim, the old ones
will take them in their fore feet, and swim about
with them upon their backs *.

The Sea Otters swim sometimes on their sides; at
other times on their backs, or in an upright position.
‘hey are very sportive, embrace each other, and
seem to kiss -+—When attacked they make no re-
sistance, but endeavour to save themselves by flight:
if, however, they are closely pressed, and can see
no means of escape, they scold and grin like an an-
ery Cat. On receiving a blow, they immediately
he on their side, draw up their hind legs together,
cover their eyes with their fore paws, and thus seem
to. prepare themselves for death. But if they are
fortunate enough to escape their pursuer, they de-
ride him as soon as they are safe in the sea, with
various diverting tricks: at one time keeping them-
selves on end in the water, and jumping over the
waves, holding their fore paw over the eyes as if to
shade them from the sun while looking out for their
enemy; then lying flat on their back, and stroking
their belly ; then throwing ther young down into
the water and fetching them up again. In their
escape they catry the sucklings in their mouths, and
drive before them those that are full-grown {,

The skins of the Sea Otters are of great value, and

oe Grieve, 131. + Penn, Arct. Zool. i. 89. t Fooke.

THE BEAR TRIBE. 3A5

have long formed a considerable article of export
from Russia. They are disposed of to the Chinese
at the rate of eighty or a hundred rubles each *.
The trade for this fur at Nootka, had, not many
years ago, nearly produced a war between Great Bri-
tain and Spain.—They are sometimes taken with
nets, but are more frequently destroyed with clubs
and spears.. ‘The young animals are said to be de-
licate eating, and not easily to be distinguished
from Lamb. The flesh of the old ones is insipid
and tough.

EES FS eS CELE TAS ES TD

THE BEAR TRIBE.

THE Bears have six front teeth in each jaw. The
two lateral ones of the lower jaw are longer than the
rest, and lobed with smaller or secondary teeth at
their internal bases. ‘There are five or six grinders
on each side; and the canine. teeth are solitary.
The tongue is smooth, and snout prominent. The
eyes are furnished with a nictitating or winking
membrane +.

The soles of the feet in all the animals belonging
to this tribe are long, and extend to the heel; which
gives them a very firm tread. Some of the species
use their fore paws as hands. From the length
and sharpness of their claws, they are all able to

* Marchand, i. 207. t Ling. Gmel.i. 190.

349 THE COMMON BEAR.

climb trees in search of prey, or to escape from theit
enemies.

THE COMMON BEAR*.

The Common Bears are inhabitants of the forests
in the northern regions of Europe, and are also
found on some of the Indian Islands. They vary
much in colour; some of them being brown, others
black, and others grey. The Brown Bears live
chiefly on vegetables; and the Black ones in a great
measure on animal food, on Lambs, Kids, and even
Cattle, which they destroy, sucking the blood in
the manner of the Weesel tribe. They generally
blow up the carcases of such animals as they kill,
and hide in the marshes what they cannot devour.

They are said to be particularly fond of honey.
In search of this they climb trees, in order to get at
the nests of wild Bees; for the Bear, notwithstanding
his awkward form, is expert in climbing, and
sometimes takes up his residence in the hollow of a
large tree. He will alsocatch and devour fish ; and
occasionally frequents the banks of rivers for that
purpose.

He is a sayage and solitary animal, living in the
most retired and unfrequented parts of the forest.
Great part of the winter he spends in his den, in a
state of repose and abstinence. During this period
the females bring forth and suckle their young.

* Synonyms.—Ursus Arctos. Linn.—Ours. Buffon—Common, of

Brows Bear, Penn. Shaws Gen. Zool. pl. 102.—Bew. Quad. 261.

THE COMMON BEAR. 347

These are generally two in number : they are at first
round and almost shapeless, with pointed muzzles ;
but are not, as the ancient naturalists supposed,
licked into reeular form by the mother. ‘They are
about eight inches long when produced, and are
said to be blind for nearlya month *.—The Bears
go into their winter retreats extremely fat; but as
they eat nothing during that season, they come out
excessively lean in the spring: and from the cir-
cumstance of nothing but a frothy slime having
been found in the stomachs of those that have been
killed on their re-appearance, a general opinion has
been maintained that they support themselves
through the winter by sucking their paws -}~-.—
Thomson has, with great truth and beauty, de-
scribed the retreat of these animals in the frozen
climate of the North :

There through the piny forest half absorpt,

Rough tenant of those shades, the shapeless Bear,
With dangling ice all horrid, stalks forlorn :
Slow-pac’d, and sourer as the storms increase,

He makes his bed beneath th’ inclement drift ;

And, with stern patience, scorning weak complaint,

Hardens his heart against assailing want.

* The Authors of La Menagerie du Museum National assert, that,
from observations made on the Bears in the marshes of Berne, the
young ones, immediately on their birth, are coy ered with short and
bright hair, and in their appearance are much more elegant than the
parents. ‘They assert also that these have always round their necks
a circle of white hairs; and that they have themselves seen a Bear
three feet in length, which still preserved this inark, only the hair was
become yellowish. The latter animal was usually observed in the act
ef sucking its paws.

Ae Grieve, 103,

BAS THE COMMON BEAR.

The Black Bears; we are told, are remarkably
attached to each other. The hunters never dare to
fire at a young one, while the dam is on the spot;
for, ifthe cub happensto be killed, she becomes so
enraged, that she will either avenge herself, or die in
the attempt. If, on the contrary, the mother should
be shot, the cubs will continue by her side long after
she is dead, exliibiting the most poignant affliction.
A man nearly lost his life, a few years ago, in Hun-
gary, by firing at a young Bear, in the presence of
its dam, who had indeed been concealed from his
sicht by some bushes; for, at one blow with her
paw, she brought off a great part of his scalp *.
‘This animal seldom uses its teeth as weapons of de-
fence, but generally strikes its adversary very strong-
ly with its fore-paws like a Cat; and if possible,
seizes him between its paws, and presses him to its
breast with such force as almost instantly to suffo-
cate him.

The most usual way of killing the Bears, is by
means of fire-arms or arrows. ‘The Laplanders
easily overtake them, in their snow shoes, and
knock them down with clubs; but they generally
first shoot them and then dispatch them with spears.

In some parts of Siberia, the hunters erect a scaf-
fold of several balks Iaid over each other ; which fall
altogether, and crush the Bear, upon his stepping
on the trap placed underneath.—Another method is,
to dig pits; in which asmooth, solid, and very sharp-
pointed post is fixed into the ground, rising about a

———_____ —

* Townson’s Travels, 371.

THE COMMON BEAR. 3AQ

foot above the bottom. The pit is carefully cover-
ed over with sods; and across the track of the
Bear, a small rope with an elastic figure is placed.
As soon as the Bear touches the rope, the wooden
figure starts loose ; and the affrighted animal, endea-
youring to save himself by flight, falls with a vio; ’
lent force into the pit, and is killed by the pointed
post. If he escapes this snare, at a little distance se-
veral Caltrops* and other instruments of annoyance
frequently await him ; among which, a similar
image is erected. ‘The persecuted beast, the more
he strives to get free, fixes himself faster to the
spot; and the hunter who. lies in ambush, soon
dispatches him.

Yet not only beneath and upon the earth, but
even in the air, has Man’s inventive genius con-
trived to lay snares for the liberty and the life of
this animal. The Koriacks, for this purpose, find
some crooked tree, grown into an arched form ;
at the bowed end of which they attach a noose, with
a bait. The hungry Bear is tempted by this ob-
ject, and eagerly climbs into the tree, where he be-
comes infallibly the victim of his attempt; for, on
his moving the branch, the noose draws together, and
he remains suspended to the tree, which violently
springs back into its former position.

But still more singular and ingenious is the me-
thod adopted by the inhabitants of the mountainous

* Trons with four spikes; so formed that, whichever way they fall, one
point always lies upwards. ‘These are generally used for throwing inte
breaches, or on bridges, in time of war, to annoy an encmy’s cavalryt

350 THE COMMON BEAR.

parts of Siberia, to make this ferocious animal be-
come his own destroyer. They fasten a very heavy
block to a rope, that terminates at the other end
witha loop. This isJaid near a steep precipice, in
the path on- which the Bear is accustomed to go.
On getting his neck into the noose, and finding
himself impeded by the clog, he takes it up ina
rage, and to free himsclf from it, throws it down
the precipice: it naturally pulls the Bear after it,
and he is killed by the fall. Should this, however,
accidentally not prove the case, he drags the
block again up the mountain, and reiterates his ef-
forts; till, with increasing ‘fury, he either sinks
nerveless to the ground, or ends his life by a deci-
sive plunge.

The Bear’s well-known partiality for honey, gives
occasion to one of the Russian modes of taking him.
To those trees where the Bees are hived, a heavy
log of woed is hung at the end of a long string.
When the unwieldy creature climbs up to get at the
hive, he finds himself interrupted by the log; he
pushes it aside, and immediately attempts to pass its
but in returning, it hits him sucha blow, that in
arage, he flings it from him with greater force,
which makes it return with increased violence upon
himself ; and he sometimes continues this, till he is
either killed, or falls from the tree.

In some parts of the North, a single man will
venture to attack a Bear in the open plains; and
without any other instrument than a stiletto, peint-
ed at both ends and fastened toa thong, and a sharp
knite. The thong he wraps about his right arm, up

THE COMMON BEAR. 35%

to the elbow ; and, taking his stiletto in this hand,
and his knife in the left, he advances towards the
animal, who on its hind-legs waits the attack. The
hunter, the moment it opens its mouth, with great
resolution and address thrusts his hand into its throat;
and placing the stiletto there, not only prevents it
from shutting its mouth, but also gives it such ex-
quisite pain, that the Bear can make no further re~
sistance, and suffers the hunter either to stab it
with his knife, or to lead it about wherever he
pleases *,

‘These animals are so numerous in Kamtschatka,
that they are often seen roaming about the plains in
great companies ; and they would infallibly have long
since exterminated all the inhabitants, were they
not here much more tame and gentle than the ge-
nerality of Bears in other parts of the world. In
spring, they descend in multitudes frora the moun-
tains (where they have passed the winter) to the
mouths of the rivers, for catching fish, which swarm
in all the streams of that peninsula. If there be
plenty of this food, they eat nothing but the heads
of the fish ; and when, at any time, they find the
fishermen’s nets, they dexterously drag them out
of the water, and empty them of their contents.

When a Kamtschadale espies a Bear, he endea-
vours to conciliate its friendship at a distance, ac-
companying his gestures by courteous words. The
Bears are indeed so familiar here, that the women
and girls, when gathering roots and herbs, or turf

* Grieve.

352 THE COMMON BEAR.

for fuel, in the midst of a whole drove of Bears, are
never disturbed by them in their employment ; and
if any of one of these animals comes up to them,
it is only to eat something out of their hands. They
have never been known to attack a man, except
when roused on a sudden from sleep; and they very
seldom turn upon the marksman, whether they be hit
or not.—This humane character of the Kamtscha-
dale Bear, who herein differs so remarkably from his
brethren of most other countries, procures him how-
ever, no exemption from the persecutions of man-
kind. His great utility is a sufficient instigation to
the avarice of Man, to declare eternal war against
him. Armed with a spear, or club, the Kamtscha-
dale goes in quest of the peaceful animal, in his
calm retreat; who, meditating no attack, and in-
tent only on defence, gravely takes the faggots which
his persecutor brings him, and with them, himself
chokes up the entrance to his den. The movth
of the cavern being thus closed, the hunter bores
a hole through the top, and transfixes with the
greatest security his defenceless foe *.

They are sometimes cruel enough to lay a board
driven full of iron hooks, in the Bear’s track ; placing
neay it something heavy, which the animal must throw
down as he passes. Alarmed by this, he runs upon

* A method nearly similar is practised by some of the North Ame-
rican Indians, with the Bears of that country. They block up the
dens with logs of wood: and then break in at the top, and either kill
the animal with a spear or gun; or else put.a snare about his neck,
and, drawing his head close to the hole, dispatch him with their hat-
chets. [fearne, 370.

THE COMMON BEAR. 353

the board with greater force than he would other-
wise do; and, finding one of his paws wounded,
and fixed by the hooks, he endeavours to free him-
self by striking it forcibly with the other. Both the
paws being now fixed, bellowing with pain he rises
on his hind feet; this motion immediately brings
the board before his eyes, and so perplexes him, that
he throws himself down in fury, and his violent
struggles at length destroy him.

It would be difficult to name a species of animals,
except the Sheep, so variously serviceable to man
after its death, as the Bear is to the Kamtschadales.
Of the skin, they make beds, covertures, caps and
gloves, and collars for their sledee-dogs. Those who
go upon the ice for the capture of marine animals,
make their shoe soles of the same substance, which
thus never slip upon the ice. The fat of the Bear
is held in great estimation by all the inhabitants of
Kamtschatka, as a very savoury and wholesome nou-
rishment ; and, when rendered fluid by melting, it
supplies the place of oil. The flesh is esteemed a
great delicacy. The intestines, when cleansed and.
properly scraped, are worn by the fvir sew, as masks
to preserve their faces from the effects of the sun-
beams; which here, being reflected from the snow,
are generally found to blacken the skin, but by this
means the Kamtschadale ladies preserve a fine com-
plexion. The Russians of Kamtschatka make of
these intestines window panes, which are as clear and
transparent as those made of Muscovy-glass. Of
the shoulder-blades, are made sickles for cutting
grass ; and the heads and haunches are hung up by

Vou.’ b; Aa

Bh THE COMMON BEAR.

these people, as ornaments or trophies, on the trees
about their dwellings *.

The Kamtschadales also owe infinite obligations
to the Bears, for the little progress they have hi-
therto made, as well in the sciences, as even in the
polite arts. They confess themselves indebted to
these animals for all their knowledge of physic and
surgery: by observing what herbs the Bears have
applied to the wounds they have received, and what
methods they have pursued when they were lan-
guid, and disordered, this people have acquired a
knowledge of most of those simples which they
have recourse to either as external or internal
applications. But the most singular circumstance
of all is, that they admit. the Bears to be their
daneing-masters ; and, m what they call the Bear-
dance, every gesture and attitude of that animal is so
faithfully pourtrayed, as to afford sufhcient indica-
tions to what they are indebted for this acquire-
ment. ‘They represent the Bear’s sluggish and stu-
pid gait: and its different feelings and situations ;
as the young ones about the dam, the amorous
sports of the male with the female, and its agitation

when pursued. ‘The tune to one of these dances I
shall insert ;—-this is always sung by the dancers,
toa jumble of words that are frequently devoid of
any meaning.

BS" a SE PE NTS Spl tp ple
ie Seeenrdaiaiaasie= &
6 ee bbls Boe Pee

oe Se eee om a

G25 [Luge

Poet —

* Tooke’s View of the Russian Empire.

THE COMMON BRAR. 355

All their other dances are similar to the Bear-
dance, in many particulars ; and those attitudes are
always thought to approach nearest to perfection,
which most resemble the motions of the Bear *.

If the uses of the Bear be so various to the Kamts-
chadales, not less general is the wear of his fine and
warm fur to persons of the higher classes in Russia.
A light black Bear-skin is one of the most comforta-
ble and costly articles in the winter wardrobe of a
man of fashion, at Petersburg or Moscow.

Dr. Townson has remarked, in the Hungarian
Bear, pretty nearly the same characteristics as I have
just noticed in that of Kamtschatka. He says, that
however savage these animals may be accounted,
they seem to be considerably less so than Man: for
the Hungarian children go into the woods, and col-
Ject the cranberries, &c. which is a depredation on
the property of the Bears (who feed on them), with-
out a single attack from those animals; nor has any
person in that country been known to be hurt by
them, without having first commenced the assault.

He was informed, by the peasantry of Hungary, .
(what, he says, he had often before heard,) that
when the Bears leave the woods, and come into the
corn-fields at night to feed, they draw the standing
corn through their fore paws, then rub the detached
ears between them, blow away the chaff, and eat
the grain-+.—Mr. Pennant tells us, that Bears are
very fond of peas; of which they will tear up great
quantities, and, beating them out of the shells on

——

* Lessep,a. 104. Cooke's last Voyage, iy. 100, + Townson, 391.
A.a.2

356 HE COMMON BEAR,

some stone or hard spot of ground, eat the grain,
and carry off the straw to their dens.

~ It is well known, that the Bear may, with some
little difficulty, be rendered tame and docile ; and
it has then the appearance of being mild and obe-
dient to its master; but it is not to be trusted,
without caution. It may be taught to walk, to lay
hold of a pole with its paws, and perform various
tricks to entertain the multitude; who are highly
pleased with the awkward measures of this rugged
animal, whichit seems to suit to the sound of an in-
strument, or to the voice ef its leader. But, to give
the Bear this kind of education, it is necessary to
have it taken young, and to accustom it early to re-
straint and discipline. An old Bear will suffer no
restraint without discovering the most furious resent~
ment: neither the voice nor the menaces of his
keeper have any effect upon him; he equally
growls at the hand that is held out to feed, and at
that which is raised to correct hifn.

The excessive cruelties practised on this poor
animal in teaching it to walk upright, and to regulate
its motions to the sound of the pipe, are such as
make sensibility shudder. Its eyes are frequently
put out; and an iron ring being passed through
the cartilage of the nose, to lead it by, it is kept
from food, and beaten, till it yields obedience to the
will of its savage tutors. Some of them are taught
to perform, by setting their feet upon heated iron
plates, and then playing music to them while in this
uneasy situation. It is truly shocking to every
feeling mind, to reflect that such cruelties should be

THE AMERICAN BEAR. 357

exercised upon any part of the brute creation by
our fellow-men. That these should be rewarded by
numbers of unthinking people, who crowd around
to see the animal’s rude attempts to imitate human
actions, is not to be wondered at: but it is much
to be wished that the timely interference of the
magistrate would prevent every exhibition of the
kind; that in England, at least, we might not be
reproached with tolerating practices so disgraceful to
humanity *.—Thanks to the improving taste of the
times! the inhuman custom of Bear-bailing is
nearly destroyed in our country. ‘This was formerly
one of the most favourite diversions in England, and
esteemed deserving of the attention of people of
fashion: even the British sovereign has sometimes
given a sanction to the Bear-garden, by personal
attendance. In Queen Elizabeth’s days, it was
thought an entertainment suitable for a treat to a
foreign ambassador ; and when she visited Kenel-
worth castle, it was one of the various amusements
prepared for her Majesty. Many of the nobility kept
also their bear-ward, and animals for this brutal
diversion, with which their Christmas gambols were

principally enlivened +.

THE AMERICAN BEAR f.

The American Bear differs from the European
species, principally in being smaller ; and in having a
more lengthened head, pointed nose, and longer

* Bew. Quad. 263. t+ Penn. Brit. Zool. i. 79.
+ Synonyms.—Ursus Americanus. Linn—Black Bear. Penn.

Aa 3

358 THE AMERICAN BEAR.

ears. The hair is also more smooth, black, soft, and
elossy. The cheeks and throat are of a yellowish-
brown colour.—lIt is found in all the northern parts
of America: migrating occasionally southwards.in
quest of its food, which is said to be entirely vege-
table ; or sometimes, when pressed by excessive
hunger, fish, and particularly Herrings.

These Bears arrive in Louisiana, driven thither by
the snows of the more northern climates, towards
the end of autumn. At this time they are always very
lean; asthey do not leave the north till the earth
is covered with snow, when their subsistence of
course becomes very scanty.

In the country near the Missisippi, they seldom
venture to any great distance from the banks of that
river; but on each side have in winter such
beaten paths, that persons unacquainted with them
would mistake them for the tracks of men. Du Pratz
says he was once (though at adistance of nearly two
hundred miles from any human dwelling,) for a
while deceived by one of them, which appeared as
though thousands of men had been walking along
it bare-footed. Upon inspection, however, he found
that the prints of the feet were shorter than those af
aman, and that at the end of each toe there was the
impression of a claw. “ It is proper (he says)
to observe, that in those paths the Bear does not
pique himself upon politeness, and will yield the
way to nobody; therefore, it is prudent for a tra-
veller not to fall out with him for sucha trifling
affair *.”

* Du Pratz, 241.

THE AMERICAN BEAR. 35Q

About the end of December, from the abundance
of fruits they find in Louisiana and the neighbour-
ing countries, the Bears become so fat and lazy,
that they can scarcely run. At this time, when the
animals are also in a condition to furnish a large
quantity of oil, they are hunted by the American
Indians. The nature of the chase is generally this.
The Bear chiefly adopts for his retreat the hollow
trunk of an old cypress; which he climbs, and then
descends into the cavity from above. The hunter,
whose business it is to watch him into his retreat,
elimbs by means of hooks. a neighbouring tree,
where he seats himself opposite to the hole. In one
hand he holds his gun; and in the other a torch,
which he darts into the cavity. Frantic with rage
and terror, the Bear makes a spring from his station ;
but the hunter seizes the instant of his appearance,
and shoots hun through the head or shoulder*.

Some of the Indian tribes adopt such singular
ceremonies in their chase of the Bear, that I shall
transcribe the curious account of them inserted in
Charlevoix Travels in North America.

‘¢ The chase of these animals is a matter of the
first importance, and is never undertaken without
abundance of ceremony. A principal warrior first
gives a general invitation:to all the hunters. This
is followed by a most strict fast of eight days, a
total abstinence from all kinds of food; notwith-
standing which, the day is passed in continual

* Pages, i. 49.

AaA

360 THE AMERICAN BEAR,

song. This is done to invoke the Spirits of the
-woods to direct the hunters to the places where
there are abundance of Bears. They even cut the flesh
in divers parts of their bodies, to render the Spirits
more propitious. They also address themselves
to the manes of the beasts slain in the preceding
chases, as if these were to direct them in their dreams
to plenty of game. One dreamer alone cannot
determine the place of the chase; numbers must
concur: but as they tell each other their dreams,
they never fail toagree. This may arise either from
contrivance ; or from a real agreement in their
dreams, on account of their thoughts being perpe-
tually turned on the same thing.—The chief of
the hunt now gives a great feast, at which no one
dares to appear without first bathing. At this
entertainment they eat with great moderation, con-
trary to their usual custom. The master of the
feast alone touches nothing ; but is employed in re-
lating to the guests ancient tales of the wonderful
feats in former chases; and fresh invocations to
the manes of the deceased Bears conclude the
whole. }

«¢ They then sally forth amidst the acclamations
of the village ; equipped as if for war, and painted
black. Every able hunter is on a level with a great
warrior: but he must have killed his dozen great
beasts before his character is established; after
which his alliance is as much courted as that of the
most valiant captain——They now proceed on their
way ina direct line; neither rivers, marshes, nor
any other impediments, stop their course; driving
before them all the beasts they find. When they ar-

THE AMERICAN BEAR, 361

rive at the hunting-ground, they surround as large a
space as they can with their company; and then con-
tract their circle, searching at the same time every
hollow tree, and every place fit for the retreat of a
Bear: and they continue the same practice till the
time of the chase is expired.

‘© As soon as a Bear is killed, a hunter puts into
his mouth a lighted pipe of tobacco, and blowing
into it fills the throat with the smoke, conjuring’
the spirit of the animal not to resent what they are
going to do to its body, nor to render their future
chases unsuccessful. As the beast makes no reply,
they cut out the string of the tongue, and throw it
into the fire. If it crackles and shrivels up (which it
isalmost sure to do), they accept it as a good
omen; if not, they consider that the spirit of the
beast is not appeased, and that the chase of the
next year will be unfortunate.

‘©Vhe hunters live well during the cliase, on
provisions which they bring with them. ‘They re-
turn home with ereat pride and self-complacency :
for, to killa Bear forms the character of a complete
man. ‘They give a great entertainment, at which
they make it a point to leave nothing uneaten.. The
feast is dedicated to a certain Genius (apparently that
of Gluttony) ; whose resentment they dread, if they
do not eat every morsel, and even sup up the inelted
grease in which the meat was dressed. ‘They some-
times eat till they burst, or bring on themselves
some viclent disorders. ‘The first course is, the
greatest Bear they have killed: without even taking

out the entrails, or skinning it; contenting them-

302 THE AMERICAN BEAR.
selves with singeing the skin, as is practised with
Hogs *.’;

It is common with the Southern Indians of Ame-
rica, to tame and domesticate the young cubs of
the Bear; and these are frequently taken so young
that they cannot eat. On such occasions the In-
dians often oblige their wives to suckle them; and
one of the Company’s servants at Hudson’s Bay,
whose name was Isaac Batt, willing to be as great
a brute as his Indian companions, absolutely forced
one of his wives, who had recently lost her infant,
to suckle a young Bear +.

Lawson, Catesby, and Brickell t, all relate a
very surprising circumstance respecting this animal :
they say that neither Muropean nor Indian eyer kill-
ed a Bear with young. In one winter upwards of five
hundred were killed in Virginia ; among which were
only two females, and these not pregnant. The cause
is, that the male has the same dislike to his offspring
-that the males of some other animals have; and
therefore the females, before the time of their par-
turition, retire into the depth of the woads and
rocks, to elude the search of their savage mates §.

The flesh of the American Bears is said to taste
like pork. Dr. Brickell ate part of a loin of it at a
planter’s house in North Carolina, and mistook it
for excellent pork ; but such are the prejudices to
which mankind are subject, that the next day,

* Charlevoix, Travels in North America, i. 180—187.
+ Hearne, 271, } Nat. Hist. of North Carolina, 112. § Penn,
Arct. Zool, i, 60.

' THE POLAR. BEAR. 363

being undeceived, and invited to eat of another,
he felt so much disgust, that he was not able to
taste it *.

THE POLAR BEAR.

The Polar Bear inhabits only the coldest parts of
the globe ; being confined within eighty degrees of
north latitude, as far as any navigators have hitherto
penetrated. It is sometimes found of the length of
twelve feet. It differs from the Common Bear, in
having its head and neck ofa more lengthened form,
and the body longer in proportion to its bulk. The
ears and eyes are small; and the teeth extremely
large. ‘The hair is long, coarse, and white; and
its limbs of great strength. ‘The tips of the nose
and claws are perfectly black.

The immense numbers of these animals in the polar
regions, are truly astonishing. They are not only seen
at land, but often on ice-floats several leagues at sea.
They are often transported in this manner to the very
shores of Iceland ; where they no sooner land, than
all the natives are in arms to receive them. It often
happens, that when a Greenlander and his wife are
paddling out at sea, by coming too near an ice-
float, a white Bear uncxpectedly jumps into their
boat; and, if he does not overset it, sits calmly where
he first alighted, and like a passenger sufiers him -

* Brickell, 111.
+ Synonyams.—Ursus Maritimus. L/nun.—White Pear. Var.—
White Sea Bear. AMartens.—Ours Blane. Bu/jfon.—Polar Bear. Pei; ,
Shaw's Gen. Zool. nl. 1038—Bew. Quad. 268.

364 THE POLAR BEAR.

self to be rowed along. It is probable that the
Greenlander is never very fond of his unwieldy guest;
however, he makes a virtue of necessity, and hos-
pitably rows him to shore.

The Polar Bears are animals of tremendous fierce-
ness. Barentz, in his voyage in search of a North
East Passage to China, had the most horrid proofs
of their ferocity in the Island of Nova Zembla;
where they attacked his seamen, seizing them in their
mouths, carrying them off with the utmost ease,
and devouring them even in the sight of their com-
rades'*

Not many years ago, the crew of a boat belong-
ing toaship in the Whale-fishery, shot at a Bear
at a little distance, and wounded it. The animal
immediately set up the most dreadful howl, and ran
along the ice towards the boat. Before he reached
it, a second shot was fired, which hit him. This
served but to increase his fury. He presently swam
to the boat, and in attempting to get on board,
placed one of his fore feet upon the gunnel ; but a
sailor, having a hatchet in his hand, cut it off.
The animal still, however, continued to swim after
them, till they arrived at the ship ; and several shots
were fired at him, which took effect : but on reach-
ne the ship, he immediately ascended the deck ;
and the crew having fled into the shrouds, he was
pursuing them thither, when a shot laid him dead

upon the deck -f.

Vie usual food of these animals consists of Seals,
Mt Sion Nile os vac 5

i rr eee

; poh ; ; ie
* Heemskirk's Voyage, 14. t Bew. Quad. 269.

THE POLAR BEAR. 305

fish, and the carcases of Whales; but when on
land, they prey on Deer, and other animals, as
Hares, young birds, &c. They likewise eat various
kinds of berries, which they happen to find. They
go on the flakes of ice in search of Seals: and also
attack the Arctic Walrus; but this creature makes
a noble defence with its long tusks, and sometimes
comes off victorious. They are said to be frequently
seen in Greenland in great droves, allured by the
smell of the flesh of Seals: and they will some-
times surround the habitations of the natives and
“attempt to break in * ; when, itis added, the most
successful method of repelling them 1s by the smoke
of burnt feathers -.

The following story of the sagacity of these ani-
mals in searching for prey, is inserted from the works
of the Hon. Robert Boyle: “ An old Sea-captain
told me that the White Bears in or about Green-
land, notwithstanding the coldness of the climate,
have an excelient nose; and that sometimes when
the fishermen had dismissed the carcase of a Whale,
and left it floating on the waves, three or four
leagues from the shore, whence it could not be seen,
these animals would stand as near the water as they
could, and raising themselves on their hind legs,
loudly snuff in the air, and with the two paws of
their fore legs drive it as it were against their
snouts; and when they were (as my relatcr sup-
posed) satisfied whence the odour came, they would
cast themselves into the sea, and swim directly to-

ne

*)Crantz, 3.73. + Penn. Aret. Zool. i 53.

366 THE POLAR BEAR,

wards the Whale: as this person and others observ
ed, who had sometimes the cirosity to row ata
distance after them, to see whether their noses would
serve them for guides when their eyes could not *:

During the summer, they reside chiefly on .the
ice-islands ; and frequently swim from one to ano-
ther, though six or seven leagues asunder +. They
lodge in dens formed in the yast masses of ice ¢
where they breed, producing one or two young at a
time. About the end of March they bring these
out, and immediately bend their course towards the
sea. At this time their young are not larger than a
White Fox ; and their steps on the snow not bigger
than a crown-piece, while those of the dam will
measure near fifteen inches in length and nine in
breadth.—When the masses of ice are detached by
strong winds or currents, the Bears allow them-
selves to be carried along with them; and as they
cannot regain the land, nor abandon the ice on
which they are embarked, they often perish in the
open sea.

The affection between the parent and the young
is so great, that they will sooner die than desert each
other in distress. I shall relate an instance; one which
probably the reader will recollect. ‘ While the

——————

* Phil. Works of the Hon. Mr. Boyle.

7+ Bew. Quad. 269.—There seems considerable difference in opi-
nion on this subject. Butfon says that they never swim more than a
league at atime; that in Norway they are followed in small boats, and
are goon fatigued: that also they sometimes dive, but this is only for
a few seconds; and lest they should be drowned, they sufler themeclyes
tobe killed on the surface of the water.~—-Bug- Quad, yiil. 221.

THE POLAR BEAR. 307

Carcase frigate, which went out some years ago ta
make discoveries towards the North Pole, was lock-
ed in the ice, early one morning the man at the
imast-head gave notice that three Bears were making
their way very fast over the Frozen Ocean, and
were directing their course towards the ship. They
had, no doubt, been invited by the scent of some
blubber of a Sea-horse that the crew had killed a
few days before; which had been set on fire, and
was burning on the ice at the time of their approach,
They proved to be a she Bear and her two cubs;
but the cubs were nearly as large as the dam, They
ran eagerly to the fire; and drew out of the flames
part of the flesh of the Sea-horse, that remained
unconsumed, and ate it voraciously. The crew from
the ships threw great lumps of the flesh of the Sea_
horse, which they had still remaining, upon the ice.
‘These the old Bear fetched away singly, laid every
Jump before her cubs as she brought it, and divid-
Ing it gave to each a share, reserving but a small
portion to herself. As she was fetching away the
Jast piece, the sailors levelled their muskets at the
cubs, and shot them both dead ; and in her retreat,
they wounded the dam, but not mortally. It would
have drawn tears of pity from any but unfeeling
minds, to have marked the affectionate concern ex-
pressed by this poor beast in the last moments of
her expiring young. ‘Though she was herself dread-
fully wounded, and could but just crawl to the place
where they lay, she carried the lump of flesh she
had fetched away, as she had done others before ;
tore it in pieces, and laid it before them ; and when

368 THE POLAR BEAR.

she saw that they refused to eat, she laid her paws
first upon one, and then upon the other, and
endeavoured to raise them. up: all this while it
was pitiful to hear her moan. When she found
she could not stir them, she went off, and when
she had got to some distance, looked back and
moaned ; and that not availing her to entice them
away, she returned, and, smelling round them,
began to lick their wounds. She went off a second
time as before ; and, having crawled a few paces,
looked again behind her, and for some time stood
moaning. But still her cubs not rising to follow her,
she returned to them again; and with signs of in-
expressible fondness, went round, pawing them,
and moaning. Finding at last, that they were cold
and lifeless, she raised her head towards the ship,
and uttered a growl of despair, which the murderers
returned with a volley of musket-balls. She fell
between her cubs, and died licking their wounds.

The males, says Mr. Hearne, are, at a certain time
of the year, so much attached to their mates, that
he has often seen one of them, when a female was
killed, come and put his two fore paws over her, and
yn this position suffer himself to be shot rather than
quit her *.

During the winter these animals retire and bed
themselves deep in the snow, or under the fixed ice
of some eminence ; where they pass in a state of tor-
pidity the long and dismal Arctic night, and re-ap-
pear only with the return of the sun.

* Tlearne, $86.

THE POLAR BEAR, 369

Of all quadrupeds, the Polar Bear is one that has
the greatest dread of heat. One of them described
by Professor Pallas, would not stay in its house in
the winter; although at Krasnojarsk in Siberia, where
the climate is very cold. It seemed to experience
ereat pleasute in rolling itself on the snow.—A Po-
Jar Bear that was kept in the Museum of Natural
History, in Paris, suffered very greatly during the
hot weather. The keépers, throughout the year,
were obliged to throw upon it sixty or seventy pails
of water a-day, torefresh it. This animal was fed
only with bread, of which it daily consumed no
more than about six pounds, notwithstanding which
it became very fat.—It is not known to what age
these animals live. One specimen has been in the
Museum seven years, and it was full-grown when
first brought. Itis now blind, and appeats to haye
many other infirmities *,

White Bears are sometimes found in Iceland ; but
not being natives of the island, they are supposed
to haye floated from the opposite coast of Green-
land, on some of the huge masses of ice that are
detached from those shores. After so long an abs-
tinence as they must necessarily have undergone in
the voyage, they are reduced -by hunger to attack
even Man, if he should come in their way. But
Mr. Horrebow informs us, that the natives are al-
ways able to escape their fury, if they can threw ih
their way something toamuse them. ‘ A glove (he
Says) 1s very proper for this purpose; for the Bear

* La Menagerie du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle.

Veil, Bb

370 FHE GLUTTON.

will not stir till he has turned every finger of it in-
side out ; and as these animals are not very dexter-
ous with their paws, this takes up some time, and
in the mean while the person makes off *.

They grow exceedingly fat ; a hundred pounds
weight of that substance having been sometimes
taken from a single beast. ‘The flesh 1s said to be
coarse, and the liver very unwholesome. ‘The skin
is yalued for coverings of various kinds; and the
split tendons are said to form an excellent thread +.

THE GLUTTON f.

The Glutton is a native of all the countries bor-
dering on the Northern Ocean ; it is likewise found
in Canada. and about Hudson’s Bay. Its length is
about three feet ; exclusive of the tail, which is
one foot. The top of the head, and the whole of
the back, as well as the muzzle and feet, are of a
blackish brown. ‘The sides are dusky, and the tait
is the colour of the body. |

The most material incident in the economy of
these animals, is the singular stratagem they adopt
in taking their prev, which is generally some species
of Deer. ‘They are said to climb into some tree,
-which they do with great facility, and carry along
with them a quantity of moss, to which the Deer
ure very partial, When any one of this tribe ap-

* Horrebow’s Iceland. + Penn. Arct. Zool.1. 55.
{ Synonyms.—Ursus Gulo. Linn—Gulo. Var.—Vielfrass, Jarf.
Jeerven. Genberg—Glouton. Buffon.—Glutton. Penn——Shaw's
Gin. Zool.'pl. 104.

"THE GLUTTON. a7

proaches the tree, the Glutton throws down the
moss. Ifthe Deer stops to eat, the Glutton in-
stantly darts upon its back ; and, after fixing him-
self firmly between the horns, tears out its eyes :
which torments the animal to such a degree, that,
either to put an end to its torments, or to get rid of
its cruel enemy, it strikes its head against the trees
till it falls down dead. The Glutton divides the
flesh of the Deer into convenient portions, and con-
-ceals them in the earth for future provisions *.
When the voracious animal has. once firmly fixed
himself by his claws and teeth, it is impossible to
remove him. In vain does the unfortunate Stag seek
its safety in flight: and if it does not, as has been
asserted, kill itself, its enemy soon brings it to the
ground by sucking its blood, and gradually devour-
ing its body +.

The Gluttons feed also on Hares, Mice, Birds,
and even on putrid flesh ; and it is said by the Nor-
wegians (though certainly without foundation) that
they carry,their voracity to such a degree, as to be
obliged to relieve themselves by squeezing their
over-swoln bodies between two trees ; by this means
exonerating their stomachs of that food which has
not time to digest. If this creature seizes a car-
case, even bigger than himself, he will not desist
from eating so Jong as there 1s a mouthful left.

Pontoppidan was assured by a friend, a man of
probity, that he had taken a Glutton alive, a cir-

ee

* The Gluttons on the river Lena kill Horses in a simijar manner.
—Gaz. Lit, i. 481. + Buff. Quad. vii. 277.

Bb 2

372 THE GLUTTON,

cumstance which seldom takes place ; and when he
was chained to a wall, his hunger drove him to at-
tack even the stones and mortar.

He is so strong an animal, that three stout Grey-
hounds ar¢é scarcely able to overcome him. One
that was put into the water, had two Dogs let loose
at him. The Glutton soon fixed his claws into the
head of one of them, and had the sense to keep
the animal under water till it was suffocated.—
When the Glutton is attacked, he makes a stout
resistance ; for he wil tear even the stock froma
gun with his teeth, or break the trap in pieces in
which he is caught. He is, notwithstanding, capa-
ble of being rendered tame, and of learning many
entertaining tricks.

In a state of nature, he suffers men to approach
him without exhibiting the least signs of fear, and
even without any apparent wish to avoid them. This
may be the effect of living in desert countries ; ge-
nerally out of the sight, and consequently removed
from the attacks, of Man.—He sometimes goes in
quest of snares laid for other animals, but has tco
much sagacity to suffer himself to be taken. In
countries where he is pretty common, the hunters
complain heavily of his voraciousness in devouring
their game from the traps *.

He is huixed only for his skin, which is very va-
luable. The Kamtschadales esteem it so much, that
they say the heavenly Beings wear garments made
of no other fur than this; and they would describe

* Voy. de Gmel. iii. 492. quoted in Buff. vii. 279.

THE WOLVERINE. 373

aman as most richly attired, if he had on the skin
of a Glutton. The women ornament their hair with
the white paws of this animal, which they esteem an
elegant addition to their dress; and for the two fore
paws they will sometimes give a couple of Sea Ot-.
ters. No Kamtschadale can make his wife or mis-
tress a more valuable present than by giving her one
of these skins *.

THE WOLVERINE f.

The Wolverine is not uncommon in the Northern
regions of America. It resembles the Wolf in size,
and the Glutton in the figure of its head. The
upper parts and the belly are of a reddish brown :
the sides are yellowish brown; and a band of this
colour crosses the back near the tail, which is long
and of achesnut colour. The face is black. The
legs are very strong, thick, short, and black; and
the soles of the feet are covered with hair ¢.

The pace of these animals is very slow ; but their
wonderful sagacity, strength, and acute scent, make
ample amends for this defect. ‘hey burrow in the -
ground; and are said to be very fierce and savage,
so much so as even to bea terror to the Wolves and
Bears. ‘They are also possessed of great courage
and resolution. One of them has been known to
seize ona Deer that an Indian had killed; and

~

* Grieve, 99.
+ Synonyms.—Ursus Luscus. Linn.—Quickhatch. Edwards.
Wolverine. Pennw—Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 105. } Kerr, 1. 189.

Bb3

374 THE, WOLVERINE.

though the Indian advanced within twenty yards,
he still refused to abandon his capture, and even
suffered himself to be shot on the fallen animal.
They have also been frequently seen to take a Deer
from a Wolf, before the Jatter had time to begin his
repast after killing it. Indeed their amazing strength,
and the length and sharpness of their claws, render
them capable of making a strong resistance against
every other animal of their own country.

As a proof of their surprizing strength, there
was one at Churchill, on Hudson’s Bay, some years
since, that overset the greatest part of a pile of wood
which measured upwards of seventy yards round
and contained a whole winter’s firing, to get at
some provisions that had been hidden there by the
Company’s servants when going to the Factory to
spend the Christmas Holidays. ‘This animal had
for many weeks been lurking about the neighbour-
hood of their tent: and had committed many de-
predations on the game caught in their traps and
snares, as well as eaten many of the Foxes that were
killed by guns set for the purpose ; but he was too
cunning to take either trap or gun himself. The
people thought they had adopted the most effectual
method to secure their provisions, by tying them
up in bundles, and placing them on the top of the
wood-pile. ‘They could not suppose the Wolverine
would even have found out where they were;
and much less that he could get at them if he did
discover them. To their astonishment, however,
when they returned, they found the greatest part

TUE WOLVERINE. 375

of the pile thrown down, notwithstanding some
of the trees with which it was constructed were
as much as two men could carry. The wood
was very much scattered about; and it was
imagined, that in the animal’s attempting to carry
off his booty some of the small parcels of pro-
visions had fallen down into the heart of the pile,
and, sooner than lose half his prize, he was at the
trouble of doing this. The bags of flour, oatmeal,
and peas, though of no use to him, he tore all to
‘ pieces, and scattered the contents about on the
snow ; but every bit of animal food, consisting of
beef, pork, bacon, venison, salted geese, and par-
tridges, in considerable quantities, he carried
away

The Wolverines are great enemies to the Beavers,
which they sometimes take as they come from their
houses ; but the manner of life of the latter renders
them more dithcult to come at than many other
animals. ‘They commit vast depredations on the
Foxes during the summer, while the young ones
are small. ‘Their quick scent directs them to the
dens; and if the entrance be not large enough,
their strength enables them to widen it: when they
goin, and kiJl both the mother and her cubs. They
are, in short, nearly the most destructive animals of

the country they inhabit *.

* Hearne, 370.

Bba

i Ores oe Be

THE RACCOON *.

The Raccoon is a native of North America, and
several of the West India Islands, where it is said
to inhabit the hollows of trees. Its colour is grey ;
and its head is shaped somewhat like that of a Fox.
The face is white ; and the eyes, which are large, are
surrounded with a black band, from which a dusky
stripe runs along the nose. The tail is very bushy,
and is annulated with black. The back is soinewhat
arched ; and the fore-legs are shorter than the others,
The length of the Raccoon isabout two feet, from
the nose to the tail ; and the tail is about a foot
jong.

Its food consists principally of maize, sugar-canes,
and various sorts of fruits. Itis also supposed to de-
vour birds, and their eggs. When near the shores,
the Raccoons live much on shell-fish, and particu-
larly on Oysters, Weare told, that they will watch
the opening of the shell, dextrously put in their paw,
and tear out the contents: sometimes however the
oyster suddenly closes, catches the thief, and detains
him, till he is drowned by the return of the tide.
They feed likewise on Crabs ; in the taking of which
they exhibit much cunning, Brickell, who relates
these circumstances, says, that the Raccoon will
stand on the side of a swamp, and hang its tail over
into the. water; which the Crabs, mistaking for food,

* Synonyms.—Ursus Lotor. Linn.—Mapach. Var.—Le Raton,
Buffon. Raccoon. Penn—Shaw's Gen. ool. pl. 105.

THE RACCOON. 377

lay hold of; and as soon as the beast feels them
pinch, he pullsthem out with a sudden jerk. He
then takes them to a little distance from the water's
edge; and, in devouring them, is careful to get them
¢ross-ways in his mouth, lest he should sufter frona
their nippers. A species of Land Crab, found in
holes of the sand in North Carolina, are frequently
the food of the Raccoon. He takes them by put-
ting one of his fore-paws into the ground, and haul-
ing them out*. These animals feed chiefly by night ;
as, except in dull weather, they sleep during the
greatest part of the day.

The Raccoon is an active and sprightly animal,
having a singularly oblique gait in walking. His
sharp claws enable him to climb trees with great faci-
lity, and he ventures to run even to the extremities
ofthe branches.—He is easily tamed, and is then
good-natured and sportive; but.is almost constantly
in motion, and as unlucky and inquisitive as a Mon-
key,—examining every thing with his paws, which
he uses as hands to lay hold of whatever is given to
him and to carry the meat to his mouth. He sits up
to eat ; and is very fond of sweet things, and strong
liquors, with which latter he will even get exces-
sively drunk. He washes his face with his feet,
like a,Cat.

M. Blanguart des Salines had a Raccoon, of
which he has given the following particulars :—
Before it came into his possession, it. had always
been chained, In this state of captivity. 1t was very

* Brickell, 123—Lawson, 121.

378 THE RACCOON.

gentle, but had little inclination tofondness. His
chain sometimes broke, and on such occasions liber-
ty rendered him insolent. He took possession of an
apartment, which he would allow none to enter;
and it was with some difficulty, that he could again
be reconc:led tobondage. When permitted to be
loosed frem his confinement, however, he would ex-
press his gratitude by a thousand caressing gambols.
But this was by no means the case when he effected
hisown escape. He would then roam about, some-
times for three or four days together, upon the roofs
of the neighbouring houses; descend, during the
night, into the court-yards; enter the hen-roosts,
strangle all the poultry, and eat theirheads. His
chain rendered him more circumspect, but by no
means more humane. When he was in confine-
ment, he employed every artifice to make the fowls
erow familiar with him: he permitted them to par-
take of his victuals; and it was only after having
inspired them with the greatest notions of security
that he would seize one, and tear it in pieces. Some
young Cats met with the same fate.

He used to open Oysters with wonderful dexterity.
His sense of touch was very exquisite; for in all his
little operations, he seldom used either his nose, or
his eye. He would pass an Oyster under his hind
paws; then, without looking at it, search with his
fore-paws for the weakest part; there sinking his
claws, he would separate the shells, and leave not a
vestige of the fish.

He was extremely sensible of ill-treatment.—
A servant, one day, gave him several lashes with

THE RACCOON. 379

a whip ; but the man ever afterwards endea-
voured in vain to accomplish a reconciliation. Nei-
ther eggs, nor fish, of which he was exceedingly
fond, could appease his resentment. At the approach
of this servant, he always flew into a rage ; his eyes
kindled, he endeavoured to spring at the man, ut-
tered the most dolorous cries, and rejected every
thing presented to him, till the disagreeable object
disappeared.—He never allowed hay or straw to
remain in his nest; but chose rather to lie upon
wood. When litter was put in, he instantly threw
it out,

Every thing he ate, he used (as indeed the whole
species do) to soften, or rather dilute, in water, by
immersing it in the vessel that contained the water
given him for drink. The defect of saliva, or hav-
ing but a small quantity of it, 1s most probably the
cause of his adopting this mode. This immersion
he only practised with dry food; for fresh meat,
peaches, and raisins, he ate without it.

He disliked children; their crying irritated
him, and he made every effort to spring upon them.
A small Bitch, of which he was’fond, he chastised
severely when she barked too loud *.—According
to Linneus, the Raccoon has a wonderful antipathy
to Hogs’-bristles ; and is much disturbed at the sight
of a brush.—The female produces two young at a
birth, which commonly takes place about May.

The animal is hunted for the sake ofits fur ; which

is used by the hatters, and is considered as next in

* Buff. Quad. v. 50.

350 THE BADGER.

value to that of the Beaver ; it is used also in linings
for garments, The skins, when properly dressed,
inake good gloves, and upper-leathers for shoes.—~
The Negroes frequently eat the flesh of the Rac-
coon, and are very fond of it*.

THE BADGER.

The Badger is an animal well known in this
country. It general length is about two feet and
a half; and that of the tail, six inches. Its body and
legs arethick. The eyes and ears are small; and
the claws of the fore legs long and straight. It is
of an uniferm grey colour above, and in the under
parts entirely black. ‘The face is white ; and along
each side of the head, runs a black pyramidal stripe,
which includes the eyes and ears. he hair is coarse,
and the teeth and claws peculiarly strong.—lIt is
occasionally found in all the temperate parts of Eu-
rope and Asia.

Though in itself a harmless and inoffensive ani-
mal, living principally on roots, fruit, and other ve-
getable food, the Badger has been provided by Nature
with such weapons, that few creatures can attack it
withimpunity. The address and courage with which
it defends itself against beasts of prey, have caused
it to be frequently baited with dogs, as a popular

* Brickell’s Nat. Hist. of Carolina. a
+ Sywnonyms.—Ursus Meles. Lenn—Common Badger. .Penn—
Brock. Grey-pate. Ray.—Blaireu. Buffon —Shaa's Gen. Sool. pl.
106. Bex. Quad. 254.°

THE BADGER. OBE

amusement. ‘Though naturally of an indolent dis-
position, he now exerts the most vigorous efforts,
and very frequently inflicts desperate wounds on his
adversaries. ‘The skin is so thick and loose, as not
only to resist the impressions of the teeth, but also
to suffer him, even when within their gripe, to turn
round upon and bite them in the most tender parts.
In this manner does he resist the repeated attacks,
both of men and dogs, from all quarters ; till, over-
powered with numbers, and enfeebled by wounds,
he is at last obliged to submit *.

The Badger inhabits woody places, in the clefts of
rocks, or in burrows which he forms in the ground
He is a very cleanly animal, keeping his subterra-
neous mansions exceedingly neat. He continues tn
his habitation during the day, and does not mak¢
his appearance abroad till the evening. At tines,
from indulging in indolence and sleep, he becomes
excessively fat. During the severe weather of win-
ter he remains in a torpid state in his den, sleeping
on a commodious bed formed of dried grass. Un-
der the tail is a receptacle, in which is secreted a
white fetid substance, that constantly exudes through
the orifice, and thus gives him a most unpleasant
smell tf.

These animals are not known to do any further
mischief to mankind, than in scratching and rooting
up the ground, in search of food ; which is always
performed during the night. From this circum-
stance arises one of the modes usually practised in

* Bew. Quad. 255. + Kerr, i. i987.

882 THE OPOSSUM TRIBE.

taking them. ‘Their den is discovered ;. and when
they are abroad in the night, a sack is fastened at
the mouth. One person remains near the hole to
watch; while another beats round the fields with a
dog, in order to drive them home. As soon as the
man at the hole hears that one has run in for refuge,
he immediately seizes the mouth of the sack, ties it,
and carries it off. ‘This mode,.in many parts of
the country, is called, ‘* Sacking the Badger.”
Sometimes they are caught in steel traps, placed in
their haunts.

They live in pairs ; and produce in the spring four
or five young. If caught before they are grown up,
they may be tamed—The skin, dressed with the
hair on, is used for various purposes; and the hairs
are made into brushes for painters. The flesh,
when the animals are well fed, makes excellent hams

and bacon.

THE OPOSSUM TRIBE.

WE now come to a race of Quadrupeds, so sin-
gular in their conformation, as, on their first disco-
very, to have excited the general surprise and ad-
miration of mankind. The females of most of the
species are furnished with abdominal pouches, for
the protection and preservation of their young. In
some of these there are two, in others three, distinct
cavities ; which can be shut or opened at pleasure:
being provided with two bones for that purpose. In
these pouches the young remain, hanging to the

THE VIRGINIAN OPOSSUM, 383

nipples, till they are large enough to run about.
—The Opossums are principally confined to the New
Continent, and only one species has yet been disco-
vered as a native of Europe.

Besides the abdominal pouch already mentioned,
the characters of the present tribe are, ten front-
teeth in the upper, and eight in the lower jaw ; in
the former of which the two middle ones are the
longest, but in the latter are broader and very short.
The canine-teeth are long, and the grinders indent-
ed. The tongue is somewhat rough, being furnish-
ed with pointed papille.

THE VIRGINIAN OPOSSUM *

Is about the size of a small Cat: from the upright
growth of its fur, it appears however, to be much
thicker. Its general colour is a dingy white. ‘The
head is long, and sharpened ; and the mouth wide.
The tail is about a foot long; prehensile ; hairy at
its origin, but afterwards covered with a scaly skin
which gives it very much the appearance of a snake.
The legs are short, and blackish; and all the toes
(except the two interior ones, which are flat and
rounded, with nails like those of the Monkey tribe)
are armed with sharp claws.

When it is on the ground this Opossum appears to
be very helpless. The fermation of its hands pre-
yents it from either running or walking very fast:

* Synonyms.—Didelphis Virginiana. Shaw.—Didelphis Marsupia-
lis. Didelphis Opossum? Linn.—Opossum. PaAil. Tran—Virginian
Opossum. Shaw——Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 107.

384 THE VIRGINIAN OPOSSUM:

but in recompence for this apparent defect, it is able
to ascend trees with the utinost facility and expedi-
tion ; 1n which situation, by the help of its prehen-
sile tail, it is more active than most quadrupeds. It
hunts eagerly after birds and their nests ; and is very
destructive to poultry, of which it sucks the blood
without eating the flesh. It also eats roots and wild
fruits *.

When it is pursued and overtaken, it will feign its
self dead, till the danger is over: and, if we may
believe the account of Du Pratz, it will not when
seized in this condition, exhibit any signs of life,
though even placed ona red-hot iron; and when
there are any young in the pouch of a female, she
will suffer both herself and them to be roasted alive
rather than give them up. These creatures never
move till their assailant is either gone to a distances
or has hidden himself; on which they endeavour to
scramble, with as much expedition as possible, into
some hole or bush -.

They are very tenacious of life In North Caro-
lina it is a well-known adage, “ If a Cat has nine
lives, the Opossum. has nineteen *.”

When the female is about to litter, she chooses a
place in the thick bushes, at the foot of some tree.
Assisted by the male, she then collects together, a
quantity of fine dry grass; this is loaded upon her
belly, and the male drags her and her burthen to
the nest, by her tail §. She produces from four to

i i I
.
\

* Church. + DuPraiz, 265. t Brickell, 125.—Lawson, 120.
§ Du Piatz, 265.

THE MERIAN OPOSSUM. 385

six young ones ata time. As soon as these come
into the world, they retreat into her pouch or false
belly, blind, naked, and exactly resembling little
foetuses. They fasten as closely to the teats as if
growing to them. To these they continue to
adhere apparently inanimate, till they arrive at
some degree of perfection in shape, and obtain
their sight, strength, and hair; after which they un-
dergo a sort of second birth. From that time they
use the pouch merely as an asylum from danger.
The mother carries them about with the utmost af-
fection, and they may frequently be seen sporting in
and out of this secure retreat. Whenever they are
surprized, and have not time to retire into the pouch,
itis said, they will adhere to the tail of the pa-
rent, and thus still endeayour to escape with her *,
The American Indians spin the hair of the Opos-
sum, and dye it red ; then weave it into girdles, and
other parts of their dress. The flesh is white, and
well-tasted, and is preferred by the Indians to pork:
that of the young eats very much like sucking pig +.

THE MERIAN OPOSSUM ne

We have little other description of this small ani-
mal, than what is inserted in the splendid Illustra-
tion of the Insects of Surinam, by Madame Merian,
from whom it has received its name. The follow-

LLL

* Penn. Arct. Zool, i. 74, + Brickell, 125.~-Du Pratz, 265,

+ Syxonyms.—Didelphis Dorsigera. Linn—Surinam Opossum,
Kerr.—Philandre de Surinam. Buffon.—Merian Opossum, Pena,
——Shaw's Gen, Zool, pl. 108,

Vor. J. Gc

386 THE KANGUROO TRIRE.

ing is her account of it. “ By way of filling up a
plate, I have represented a kind of Wood-rat, that
always carrics her young ones (of which there are
commonly five or six) upon her back, She is of
a yellow-brownish colour, and white beneath. When
these Rats come out of their hole, either to play or
to seek their food, the young run about with
their mother; and when satisfied with food, or
apprehensive of danger, they climb on her back, and
twist their tails round that of the parent, who thus
runs with them into her hole again.”

The paws resemble those of the Ape; having
four fingers and 2thumb, with small rounded nails,
The hind feet have four sharp claws, and a round
nail on the thumb of each *,

ree

THE KANGUROO TRIBE,

THE Kanguroos (of which only two species have
yet been discovered, and both of these in New Hol-
land) are furnished, ike the Opossums, with an
abdominal pouch. This, and a few other characters
that they have in common with that tribe, caused
them to be arranged by Linnaeus, along with the
Opossums. They have, however, since been taken
into a separate tribe with the following characteris-
tics :—-Six front teeth in the upper jaw, emarginat-
ed; and two in the lower, very large, long, and

* Kerr, 1. 195.—Shaw, 1. 485.

THE GREAT KANGUROO. 387

sharp, pointing forwards: five grinders on each side
in both jaws, distant. from the other teeth. ‘Lhe
fore legs short, and the hinder ones very long; and

in the female an abdominal pouch containing the
teats *.

THE GREAT KANGUROO +.

This singular quadruped, which was ‘first disco-
vered in New Holland, in the year 1770, by Cap-
tain Cook, has frequently been seen nearly nine feet
in length from the tip of the nose to the end of the
tail; some of the species have been found to weigh
a huudred and fifty pounds, and this is generally
believed to be by no means the largest size they
will arrive at. ‘The greatest circumference of the
animal is round the bottom of the belly and hips ;
being very small about the head and neck, and in-
creasing gradually downwards. ‘The fore legs of the
largest are about nineteen inches inlength; the hinder
ones three feet seyen inches. ‘The shortness of the
former would seém to prevent their being applied to
the purpose of walking: and it has been universally
conjectured, that they were of use to the animal
merely in digging its burrows in the ground, and in
carrying feod to its mouth; but M. Labillardiere
says that one of his crew shot a young Kanguroo
upon the shore, and he was much surprised to ob-

* Shaw, 1. 505.

+ Syxnonyms.—Macropus Major. Shaw.—Macropus Giganteus,
Nat. Misce/l—Didelphis Gigantea. Linn—Gigantic Jerboa, Zun-
merman.—Kanguru. Var.—-Great Kanguroo. Shaw.——Shaw’s Gen,
wool, pl. 115.—Bew. Quad. 404.

Ces

388s THE GREAT KANGUROO.

serve that it used all its four feet in running, and
did not support itself on the hinder feet only *.
The hind legs, which are perfectly bare and callous
beneath, are very strong; and when sitting, the
animal rests on the whole of their length, its
rump being elevated several inches from the ground.
The claws are only three in number, the middle one
exceeding the others greatly in length and strength:
but the inner one is of a peculiar structure ; at first
sight appearing single, though on farther inspection
it is seen to be really diyided down the middle, and
even through the ball of the toe belonging to it, ap-
pearing as if separated by a sharp instrument.

From the make of the animal, there can be little
doubt that its principal progressive motion must

be (notwithstanding the remark of M. Labillardiere)
by leaps : in these exertions it has been seen to ex~
ceed twenty feet at a time, and this so often repeated
as almost to elude the swiftness of the fleetest Grey-
hound ; besides which, it will frequently bound over
obstacies of nine feet or more in height, with the
greatest ease.

The Kanguroos have also vast strength in their
tail, which they occasionally use as a weapon of de-
fence; for with it they can strike with such asto-
nishing force as even to break the leg of a man.
The colonists for some time considered this as the
animals’ chief defence; but having of late hunted
them with Greyhounds, it was soon discovered that
they use both their claws and teeth. On the

* Labillardiere, i. 177,

.

THE GREAT KANGUROO, 389
Hound’s seizing them, they turn, and catching
hold with the nails of their fore paws, strike the
Dog with the claws of their hind feet, which are
wonderfully strong, and tear him to such a de-
gree that the hunters are frequently under the ne-
cessity of carrying him home on account of the se-
verity of his wounds *.—The native Dogs of the
country hunt and kill the Kanguroo ; but these are
more fierce than our Greyhounds. In the year
1788, one of them was seen, by one of the colonists,
in this pursuit; and the person, till he had shot
the Dog, mistook them both for Kanguroos f.

The Kanguroo generally feeds standing on its four
feet, in the manner of other quadrupeds. It drinks
by lapping. When in a state of captivity, it has
sometimes a trick of springing forwards and kicking
with its hind-feet in a very forcible manner; dur-
ing which action it rests or props itself on the base
of its tail +.

The female has two mamma, or breasts, in the
abdominal pouch, on each of which are two teats :
yet, so far as has been hitherto observed, she pro-
duces but one young one at a birth; and so ex-
ceedingly diminutive is this at its first exclusion from
the uterus, that it scarcely exceeds aninch in 'ength,
and weighs but twenty-one grains. At this early
period of its growth, the mouth is merely a round
hole, just large enough ‘to receive the point of the
nipple ; but it gradually extends with age, all ca-
pable of receiving the whole nipple, which then

———— ee

* Hunter, 66. + Ibid. 67. { Shaw, i. 510.
Cc3

390 THE GREAT KANGUROGO.

lies in a groove, formed in the middle of the tongue,
and well adapted to that purpose. It seems proba-
ble that in the first state it is attached to the teat
by a viscid gelatinous substance, which is always
found in the uterus. At this time, feeble as it may
appear in other respects, the fore paws are, com-
paratively, large and strong, and the claws extremely
distinct, to facilitate the motion of the little animal
during its residence in the large pouch: while the
hind legs, which are afterwards to become very long
and stout, are now both shorter and smaller than the
others, ‘The young one continues to reside in the
pouch till it has attained its full maturity, occasion-
ally running out for exercise or amusement; and
even after it has quitted this maternal retreat, it
often runs into it for shelter on the least appearance
of danger *.

The Kanguroos live entirely on vegetable substan-
ces, and chiefly on grass. In their native state
they are said to feed in herds of thirty or forty to-
gether ; and one is generally observed to be station-
ed, apparently on watch, at a distance from the rest.
According to Labillardiere, they seem to be noc-
turnal animals. They have the eye furnished with
nictitating or winking membranes, situated at the
interior angle, and capable of being extended at
pleasure entirely over the ball—They live in bur-_
rows which they form in the ground -.

One of the most remarkable peculiarities of this
animal, is the extraordinary faculty which it has of

* Phil. Tran. for 1795. Past i. p. 21.. $ Labillardiere, i. 177. ii. 18.

THE MOLES: 391
separating, to a considerable distance, the two long
fore teeth in the lower jaw. This, however, is
not absolutely peculiar to the Kanguroo ; but takes
place also in an animal of a very different and dis-
tinct genus, the Mus Maritimus *.

The flesh of the Kanguroo is said to be some-
what coarse, and such as to be eaten rather from
want of other food than as an article of luxury. Mr,
Hunter, however, callsit good mutton; but owns
it is not quite so delicate as what he has sometimes
seen bought in Leadenhall-market +.

The Kanguroo may now be considered as ina
ereat degree naturalized in England; several hav-
ing been kept for some years in the royal domains
at Richmond, which, during their residence there,
have produced young, and apparently promise to
render this most elegant animal a permanent acqui-
sition to our country ; though it must, no doubt,
lose, by confinement and alteration of food, several
of its natural habits, and exhibit somewhat less of
that bounding vivacity which so much distinguishes
it in its native wilds of New Holland ¢.

Mw 8 ee
———

THE MOLES.

THE animals composing this tribe are easily dis-
tinguished from all others; their external appear-
ance andhabits being alone sufficient to mark them.

* Linn. Gmel.i. 140. + Hunter, 66. t Shaw, i, 512.

CcA

392 THE COMMON MOLE.

The body is thick, and somewhat cylindrical; and
their snout formed like that of the Hog, for root-
ing in the ground in search of worms and the larvas
of insects, their principal food. The fore-feet are
strong, and well calculated for digging those subter-
raneous retreats in which they entirely reside. They
have no external ears; and the eyes are very small;
and completely hidden in the fur. There are seven
species.

Inthe upper jaw the Moles have six unequal
front~teeth, and in the lower jaw eight. There is
one canine-tooth on each side, in both jaws, the
upper ones of which are the largest; with seven
grinders above, and six below *.

THE COMMON MOLE -—

Is so well-known in our country, that any par-
ticular description of its figure is unnecessary. De-

stined by nature to seek a subsistence under the sur-

face of the ground, its fore-legs, which are very
short and excessively strong and broad, are situ-
ated outwards, and furnished with large claws, by
which it is enabled to work away the earth from
before it with the utmost ease. Its hind-feet, which
are much smaller, are calculated for throwing back
the mould during its subterraneous progress. The
snout is also slender, strong, and tendinous; and

* Linm ‘Gimel. i. 110.
+ SynonymMs.—Talpa. Europea. Lznn.—European Mole. Penn.—~
Mole. Mold-warp, or Want. Ray— Taupe. Bugfon——Shaw's Gen.
Sool. pl. 117.— Bew, Quad. 392.

ae
HE COMMON MOLE. $g

there is no appearance of a neck. Its general length
is between five and six inches.

The eyes of the Mole are exceedingly small; so
much so, that many have doubted whether they
were intended for distinct vision, or only to afford
the animal so much sensibility of the approach of
light as sufficiently to warn it of the danger of ex-
posure. They have, however, been proved to con-
tain every property necessary to distinct sight. The
faculty of hearing is said to be possessed by the
Mole in a very eminent degree; and if at any
time it emerges from its retreat, it is by this means
enabled instantly to disappear on the approach of
danger.

‘he females bring forth, about the month of
April, four or five young; and the habitations in
which these are deposited are constructed with pe-
culiar care and intelligence. The parent animals
begin their operations by raising the earth and form-
ing a pretty high arch. ‘They leave partitions, or
a kind of pillars, at certain distances ; beat and press
the earth ; interweave it with the roots of plants ;
and render it so hard and solid, that the water can-
not penetrate the vault, on account of its convexity
and firmness. They then elevate a little hillock
under the principal arch, upon which they lay herbs
and leaves as a bed for their young. In this situa-
tion they are above the level of ground, and con-
sequently beyond the reach of ordinary inundations;
They are at the same time defended from the rains
by the large vault that covers the internal one, upon
the summit of which last they rest along with their

bh

304 THE COMMON MOLE.

young. ‘This internal hillock is pierced on ali sides
with sloping holes; which descend still lower, and
serve as subterraneous passages for the mother to go
out in quest of food for herself and her offspring.
These bye-paths are beaten and firm; they extend
about twelve or fifteen paces, and issue from the
ptincipal mansion like rays from a centre. Under
the superior vault we likewise find remains of the
roots of the meadow-saffron, which seem to be
the first food given to the young.

In summer, the Mole descends to the low hillocks
and flat land; and, above all, makes choice of
meadows forthe place of its residence, because it
finds the earth there fresher and softer to dig
through. . Ifthe weather continues long dry, it re-
pairs to the borders of ditches, the banks of rivers
and streams, and places contiguous to hedges.

It seldom forms its hole more than five or six
inches under the surface. In the act of doing this,
it scrapes the earth before it on one side, till the
quantity becomes too great for it to labour onwards
with ease : then works towards the surface ; and by
pushing with its head, and the assistance of its ner-
vous paws, gradually raises the mould which incom-
modes it,—and thus produces those small hills so
common in our fields. After getting rid of the
earth in this manner it proceeds forwards, and con-
tinues its Jabour as before; and a person may easily
discover how many Moles are contained in a certain
space of grouud, by counting the new-raised Mole-
hill, which have no communication with each
other.

THE COMMON MOLE. 305

Moles, like the Beayers and some other qua-

drupeds, live in pairs; and so lively and reciprocal an
attachment subsists between them, that they seem

to disrelish all other society. In their dark abodes
they enjoy the placid habits of repose and cf soli-
tude; they also haye the art of securing them-
selves from injury, of almost instantaneously making
an asyium or habitation, and of obtaining a plentiful
subsistence without the necessity of going abroad,
They shut up the entrance to their retreats ; and scl-
dom leave them, unless compelled by the admission
of water, or when their mansions are demolished.

The Mole is chiefly found in grounds where the
soil is loose and soft, and affording the greatest quan-
tity of Worms and insects. During the summer,
these animals run in search of food, in the night,
among the grass ; and thus frequently become the
prey of Owls. They exhibit a. considerable degree
of art in skinning the worms, which they always do
before they eat them ; stripping the skin from end
to end, and squeezing out all the contents of the
body.

The verdant circles in the meadows and pastures,
called by country people fairy-rings, are supposed
to be owing to the operations of the Moles; who, at
certain seasons, perform their burrowing by circum-
gyrations ; and this, loosening the soil, gives to the
surface directly over these tracks greater fertility and
rankness of grass than is seen in other parts*.

When Moles are first taken, either by digging or

* Penn. Brit. Zool. i. 131, 182.

396 THE COMMON MOLE.

otherwise, they utter a shrill scream, and prepare
for their defence by exerting the strength of their
claws and teeth. ‘They are said to be very ferocious
animals ; and however contented they may be to-
gether anderground, yet when above they will some-
times tear and eat one another. In a glass case, in
which a Mole, a Toad, and a Viper were inclosed,
the Mole has been known to dispatch the other two,
and to devour a ereat part of each.

The skin of the Mole is exceedingly tough; the
fur is close-Set, and softer than. the finest velvet, or,
perhaps than the fur of any other animal.—This is
usually black: but Moles have been found spotted
with white ;—and sometimes, though only rare-
ly, altogether white.—This animal is said to be
entirely unknown in Ireland.

Linneus says that the Mole passes the winter in a
state of torpidity. Inmthis assertion, however, he is
directly contradicted by the Comte de Bufion ; ac-
cording to whom it sleeps so little in the winter,
that it raises the earth in the same manner as during
the summer.

The following is a very remarkable iristance, re-
ated by Arthur Bruce, Esq. in the Transactions of
the Linnean Society, of the exertions which the
Mole make towards crossing even broad. waters.
**On visiting (says this gentleman) the Loch of
Clunie, which I often did, I observed in it a small
island at the distance of one hundred and eighty
yards from the nearest land, measured to be so upon
the ice. Upon the island, Lord Airly, the proprie-
tor, has a castle and a sinall shrubbery. I remarked

THE COMMON MOLE, 307

frequently the appearance of fresh Mole-casts or hills.
I for some time took them for those of the Wa-
ter-mouse ; and one day asked the gardener if it was
so. No, he said, it was the Mole; and that he had
caught one or two lately. Five or six years ago he
caught two in traps; and for two years after this he
had observed none. But about fouryears ago, coming
ashore one summer’s evening in the dusk, he and an-
other person (Lord Airly’s butler) saw, at a short
distance, upon the smooth water, some animal pad-
dling to, and not far from, the island. ‘They soon
closed with this. feeble passenger: and found it to
be our Common Mole; led by a most astonish-
ing instinct, from the nearest point of land (the
Castle-hill), to take possession of this’ desert is-
land.—It had been, at the time of my visit, for
the space of two years quite free from any subter-
raneous inhabitant ; but the Mole has, for more than
a year past, made its appearance again, and its ope-
rations I have since been witness to.” —The depth of
water in this lake is seldom less, either in summer or
winter, than six feet in the shallowest and ‘from thirty
- to forty in the deepest parts.

People in general are not aware of the great mis-
chief occasioned in fields and gardens by these ani-
mals. We are, however, informed by M.de Buffon,
that in the year 1740 he planted about sixteen acres
of land with acorns, the greater part of which was in
a very short time carried away by the Moles to their
subterraneous retreats. In many of these were found
half a bushel, and in some even a bushel. Buffon,
after this circumstance, caused a great number of

308 THE COMMON MOLE,

iron iraps to be constructed ; by which, in less than
three weeks, he caught 1300 Moles.—To this in-
stance of devastation we may add the following : In
the year 1742 they were so numerous in some parts
of Holland, that one farmer alone caught between
five and six thousand of them. ‘The destruction oc-
casioned by these animals is, however, no new phe-
nomenon. Weare informed that the inhabitants of
the island of Tenedos, the Trojans, and the AXolians,
were infested by them in the earliest ages; and for
this reason a temple was erected to Apollo Smyn-
thius, the Destroyer of Moles,

I shall conclude this article with Dr. Darwin’s
description of the habitations of Moles; and an ac-
count of the methods in which they are to be taken.
—‘* The Moles (says this writcr) have cities under-
ground; which consist of houses, or nests, where
they breed and nurse their young. Communicating
with these are wider and more frequented streets,
made by the perpetual journeys of the male and fe-
male parents: as wellas many other less frequented
alleys or by-roads, with many diverging branches,
which they daily extend to collect food for them- .
selves or their progeny.

<¢ This animal is most active in the vernal months,
during the time of its courtship ; and many more
burrows are at this time made in the earth for their
meeting with each other. And though they are
commonly esteemed to be blind, yet they appear to
have some perception of light, even in their subter-
raneous habitations ; because they begin their work
as soon as it 1s light, and consequently before tlic

THE COMMON MOLE. 309

warmth of the sun can be supposed to affect them.
—Hence one method of destroying them consists in
attending to them early, before sunrise ; at that time
the earth or the grass may frequently be seen to move
over them ; and witha small light spade their retreat
may be cut off by striking it into the ground behind
them, and they may be immediately dug up *.”

If a fresh Mole-hill, says another writer, is found
by itself, that appears to have no communication
with any other, (which is always the casewhen the
Mole has worked from the surface downwards, as it
frequently does in endeavouring to procure a more
convenient habitation;) after the hill has been turned
up by a spade, a bucket of water should be poured
over the mouth of the passage. By these means the
animal, which is at no great distance, will be oblig-
ed to come forth, and may be easily caught with the
hand.—It is very easy to discover whether a hill has
any communication with another; by applying the
ear to it, and then coughing or making a loud noise :
if it has no communication, the terrified animal may
be heard by its motion. Jt will then be almost
_ impossible for it to escape; and water may ei-
ther be poured into the hole, or the earth may be
turned up witha spade till the Mole is found, for
it does not often go deeper into the earth than from
fifteen to eighteen inches. .

In the moist beds of a garden, (which it is very
fond of,) the Mole makes a passage at the depth of
scarcely an inch below the surface. In this case it

* Darwin's Phytologia, 370.

A00 THE COMMON MOLE.

is easily caught. When scen at work here, it is only
necessary to tread behind the animal with the foot,
on the passage, to preventits retreat, and then turn
it up with a spade.

<The Mole (continues Dr. Darwin, whose ac-
count I resume) suckles four or five, and sometimes
six young ones; which are placed considerably

eeper in the ground than the common runs; and
the Mole-hills near them are consequently larger, and
generally of a different colour. These nests are to
be dug up; having first intercepted the road be-
tween them andthe Mole-hills inthe vicinity, to
cut off the retreat of the inhabitants.

«The next important circumstance is, to discover
which are the frequented streets, and which the bye-
roads; for the purpose of setting subterraneous traps.
This is effected by making a mark on every new
Mole-hill, by a light pressure of the foot ; and the
next morning, observing whether a Mole has again
passed that way, and gbliterated the foot-mark,
This 1s to be done for two or three successive morn
ings. These foot-marks should not be deeply im-
pressed ; lest the animal be alarmed on his return,
and thus induced to form a new branch of road ra-
ther than open-the obstructed one.

‘“« 'The traps are then to be set in the frequented
streets, so as to fit nicely the divided canal. They
consist. of a hollow semi-cylinder of wood ; with
erooved rings at each end, in which are placed
nooses of horsehair, fastened loasely by a peg in the
centre, and stretched above ground by a bent stick.
When the Mole has passed half-way through one of

THE COMMON HEDGEHOG. AO]

the nooses and removes the central peg in his pro-
gression, the bent stick rises by its elasticity, and
strangles him *.”’

THE HEDGEHOG TRIBE.

THE WHedgehogs have two front teeth, both
above and below ; of which those in the upper jaw
are distant, and those of the lower are placed near
together. On each side there are canine teeth; in
the upper jaw five, and in the lower three. There
are also four grinders on each side, both above and
below ; and the body is covered on the upper parts
with spines. The tail and feet are very short :
and the snout is somewhat cartilaginous.

There are seven species; none of which are car-
nivorous. Of these only one is found in Europe,
and this is common in several parts of Iingland.

THE COMMON HEDGEHOG ae

These animals are natiyes of most of the tempe-
rate parts of Europe and Asia. ‘They are generally
about ten inches long, and of a greyish brown co-
Jour.—Their usual residence is in small thickets :
and they feed on fallen fruits, roots, and insects 3

* Darwin's Phytologia, 371, 372. + Linn. Gmel. i. 115.

} Synonyms.—Erinaceus Europzeus. Linn —Common Hedgehog,
Common Urchin. Penn.—Heérisson. Buffon.—Shaw's Gen. Zool.
pl. 121.— Bew. Quad. 448.

Worst. Dd

402 THE COMMON HEDGEHOG.

they are also very fond of flesh-meat, either raw or
roasted. ‘They chiefly wander about by night, and
during the day he concealed in their holes.

Naturalists have alleged that they enter gardens ;
where they mount trees, and descend with pears,
apples, or plums, stuck upon their bristles. This
however isa mistake : for, if kept ina garden, they
never attempt toclimb trees; nor even to stick fallen
fruit upon their bristles, but lay hold of their food
with tie mouth.—They also are undeservedly re-
proached with sucking cattle and inj uring their ud-
ders ; for the smallness of their mouths renders this
altogether impossible.

Mr. White says, that the manner in which the
Hedgehogs eat the roots of the plantain in his grass-
walks is very curious. Withtheir upper jaw, which
is much longer than the lower, they bore under the
plant ; and gnaw the root off upwards, leaving the
tuft of leaves untouched. In this respect they are
serviceable, asthey destroy a very troublesome weed ;
but they in some measure deface the walks, by dig-
ging in them small round holes.

The Hedgehog has a very uncommon method of
defending itself from the attacks of other animals.
Being possessed of very little strength or agility, he
neither attempts to fly from, nor to assail his enemies ;
but erects his bristles, and rolls himself up like a
ball, exposing no part of his body that 1s not covered
with these sharp weapons. He will not unfold him-
self unless thrown into water; and the more he 1s
frightened or harassed, the closer he shuts himself
up, While in this state, most Dogs, instead of biting

THE COMMON HEDGEHOG. 403

him, stand off and bark, not daring to seizehim ;
and, if they attempt it once, their mouths are so
pricked with his bristles, that it is with difficulty
they can be prevailed upon to do it a second time.
He is easily taken; for he neither attempts to fly,
nor to defend himself by any other means than this.

The Hedgehog may be rendered in a considerable
degree domestic; and it has been frequently intro-
duced into houses for the purpose of eypelling those
troublesome insects the B/atte, or Cock-roaches,
which it pursues with avidity, and on which it is
fond of feeding. By the Calmuc Tartars these ani-
mals are kept in their huts instead of Cats.—There
was a Hedgehog in the year 1799, in the possession
ofa Mr. Sample, of the Angel-inn at Felton in
Northumberland, which performed the duty ofa
turn-spit, as well in every respect asthe Dog of that
denomination. It ran about the house as familiarly
as any other.domestic quadruped, and displayed an
obedience till then unknown in this species of ani-
mals. It used to answer to the name of Tom.

In the winter the Hedgehog wraps itself up in a
warm nest of moss, dried grass, and leaves ; and
sleeps out the rigours of that season. It is frequent-
ly found so completely encircled with herbage, that
it resembles a ball of dried Jeaves; but when taken
out, and placed beforea fire, it soon recovers from
its state of torpidity.—It produces four or five young
ones at a birth; which are soon covered with prickles,
like those of the parent animal, but shorter and
weaker. The nest formed for these is large, and is
composed principally of moss.

Dd2

AOA THE COMMON HEDGEHOG.

The Hedgehog 1s occasionally an article of food
and is even said to be very delicate eating. ‘The skin
was used by the ancients for the purpose of a clothes-
brush.

This animal differs very materially from the Por-
cupine, (which at first sight it seems much to re-
semble,) both in the structure of its teeth, and in
the shortness of its spines or quills.

[1405p

THE PORCUPINES *.

To a superficial observer, the animals belonging
to this tribe would seem entitled to a place with the
Hedgehogs; but they have no farther similitude than
in the spiny covering of their bodies. None of the
species are supposed to be carnivorous.

The Porcupines have two front-teeth, cut
obliquely, both in the upper and under jaw; and
eight grinders. ‘They have four toes on the fore,
and five on the hinder feet ; and the body is cover-
ed with spines, intermixed with hair t.

THE COMMON PORCUPINE {.

The general length of the Common Pofcupine,
is about two feet and a half from the head to the
end of the tail. ‘The upper parts of the body are
covered with hard and sharp spines; some of which

* The Linnaan Order GLires commences with the Porcupines.
in this order the animals are furnished with two remarkably large and
Jong front teeth both above and below 5 but have no canine-ieeth.
Their feet have claws, and are formed both for bounding and run-
ning. ‘They feed on vegetables.—The genera are the Porcupine,
Cavy, Beaver, Rat, Marmot, Squirrel, Dormouse, Jerboa, Hare, and
Hyrax.

+-Linn. Gmel. ‘i. 178.

{ SynonyMs.—Hystrix Cristata. Lénn.—Crested Porcupine. Pen-
nant.—Pore-epice Buffon—Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 122-—Bew: Quad:
t44,

Dd3

400 THE COMMON PORCUPINE.

measure from nine to fifteen inches in length. These
are variegated with alternate black and white rings ;
and as some of them are attached to the skin only
by a delicate pedicle, they easily falloff. They are
formed of complete quills, wanting only the vane to
be real feathers. ‘The animal has the power of ele-
vating or depressing them at will; and when he
walks, they (particularly those about the tail) make
a rattling noise, by striking against each other *.
The head, belly, and legs, are covered with strong
dusky bristles, intermixed with softer hairs: on the
top of the head, these are very long ; and curved
backwards, somewhat like a ruff or crest.

This animal is a native of Africa, India, and the
Indian [Islands ; and is said sometimes to be found
even in Italy and Sicily. It inhabits subterraneous
retreats: which it is said to form into seyeral com-
partments; leaving two holes, one for an entrance,
and the other, in case of necessity, to retreat by. It
sleeps during the day time and makes its excursions
for food (which consists principally of fruits, roots,
and vegetabies) in the night. Although able to
support hunger for a great length of time, and ap-
parently without inconvenience, it always eats with
a voracious appetite. In the gardens near the Cape
of Good Hope, these creatures do much damage..

Vhen they have once made a path through a fence,
they always enter by the same so long as it continues
open; and this gives the inhabitants an opportunity
of destroying them. Whena breach is discovered,

* Cuff. Quad. vii. 75

THE COMMON PORCUPINE, 407

they place a loaded gun in such a manner that the
muzzle will be near the animal’s breast when he is
devouring a carrot or turnip, that is connected by a
string with the trigger *.—The teeth are very sharp
and strong. M. Bosman, when on the coast of
Guinea, put a Porcupine into a strong tub, in order to
secure him; but, in the course of one night, he ate his
way through the staves, even in a place where they
were considerably bent outwards, and escaped -f.

In its manners, the Common Porcupine is very
harmless and inoffensive, never itself becoming the
ageressor ; and, when pursued, it climbs the first tree
it can reach, where it remains till the patience of
its adversary is exhausted. If, however, it is roused
to self-defence, even the Lion dares not venture to
attack it ¥.

The late Sir Ashton Lever had a live Porcupine ;
which he frequently turned out on the grass behind
his house, to play with a tame Hunting Leopard, and
a large Newfoundland Dog. As soon as they were let
loose, the Leopard and Dog began to pursue the Por-
cupine, who always at first endeavoured to escape by
flight: but, on finding that ineffectual, he would
thrust his head into some corner, making a snort-
ing noise, and erecting his spines; with which his
pursuers pricked their noses, till they quarrelled
between themselves, and thus gave him an oppor-
tunity to escape 4. }

It has been asserted by many credulous travellers,

os
,

* Kolben ti. 119.
+ Bosman, 237. t+ Church.—Kolben. § Church.

Dd4

408 THE COMMON PORCUPINE.

that the Porcupines, when much provoked, dart
their quills at the object by which they are enraged.
This opinion, however, has been fully refuted by
many accurate naturalists, who have taken pains to
inquire into the matter. The usual method of de-
fence adopted by these animals, is to recline them-
selves on one side; and, on the approach of theit
enemy, to rise up quickly, and gore him with the
erected prickles of their other side. It is also said,
that when the Porcupine mects with serpents, against
whom he carries on a perpetual war, he closes him-
self up like a ball, concealing his head and feet, and
then rolls upon and kills them with his bristles,
without running any risk of being wounded him-
self *.—M. Le Vaillant says, that, owing to some
pernicious quality in the quills, one of his Hotten-
tots, who had received a wound in the leg from a
Porcupine, was ill for more than six months. He
also informs us, that a Gentleman, at the Cape, in
teazing one of these animals, received a wound in
the leg, which nearly occasioned his loss of the
limb ; and notwithstanding every possible care, he
suffered severely from it for above four months, dur=
ing one of which he was confined to his bed -.
When the animal is moulting, or casting its quills,
it sometimes shakes them off with so much force,
that they will fly to the distance of a few yards, and
even bend their points against any hard substance
they happen to strike-—It may have been: this
circumstance which gave rise to the report of its

*“ Shaw, u. + Vaillant’s Travels, i. 321.

THE COMMON PORCUPINE. 409

darting its quills against an enemy.—Claudian is the
most ancient writer that has been cited for that
strange opinion. ‘The following is a translation of his
lines :

Arm’d at all points, in Nature’s guardian mail,

See the stout Porcupine his foes assail ;

And, urg’d to fight, the ready weapons throw,

Himself at once the quiver, dart, and bow.

The female goes with young about seven months;
and produces one or two at a birth, which she
suckles about a month. ‘These she defends with the
utmost resolution against all assailants, and will ra-
ther be killed than suffer herself to be deprived of
them.—If taken early, it is said, Porcupines may
be easily tamed.

In their stomachs, Bezoar-stones are frequently
found, These are composed of a very fine hair,
which has concreted with the juices of the stomach:
they have one layer over another, so that they con-
sist of several rings of different colours. Professor
Thunberg says, he has seen them as large as a Hen’s
egg, and that they are generally blunt at one end ;
but one that he saw was as big as a Goose’s egg, was
of a brown colour, and perfectly globular *.

The quills of the Porcupine are used by the In-
dians, to adorn many curious articles that they
make ; the neatness and elegance of which would
not disgrace more enlightened artists. They dye
them of various beautiful colours, cut them inte

* Thunberg, iv. 293.

AiO THE CAVY TRIBE.

slips, and embroider with them their baskets, belts,
&c. in a great variety of ornamental figures *.—
The flesh 1s said to be excellent eating, and is fre-
quently introduced at the politest tables at the
Cape-+. According to Kolben, it is better when
hanged a day or two in the chimney.

CHE CAV Y: DRIBE:

THESE animals were arranged by Linnzus along
with the mice; but that tribe having been thought
much tooextensive,and comprehending manyaniinals
that differed very materially both in form and habit,
it was at length thought. necessary to arrange the
Cavies under a separate head ; distinguishing them
by the structure of their feet, the proportion of their
limbs, &c. the teeth being nearly the same in all.
—They have in each jaw two wedge-shaped front-
teeth, and eight grinders. ‘They have likewise four
or five toes on the fore feet, and from three to five
onthe hinder. The tail is either very short, or alto-
gether wanting. And they have no collar bones f.

They seem to hold a middle place between the
murine quadrupeds and the Hares. Nearly all the
species, which are seven in number, have a slow,
and ‘some of them a leaping pace. ‘Their habita-
tions are burrows; which they form beneath the
Toots of trees, or. inthe ground. ‘They live entirely
on vegetable food, and are all natives of America :

* Church. + Vaillant, i. 321. + Linn Gmel 1° 120.

THE GUINEA PIG. Alt

two or three of the species, however, are found also
on the Old Continent.

THE GUINEA PIG *.

Few foreign quadrupeds are more generally known
by us than this. It is a native of Brazil. In a
state of domestication (for its habits and manners as
a wild animal are mentioned in none of the accounts
that I have been able to consult) it feeds on bread
or grain, fruit, and other vegetable substances, but
it gives a decided preference.to parsley.—This little
creature is easily rendered tame, and is very cleanly
and harmless. In its disposition, it is timid: and
it appears totally void of attachment, not only to its
benefactors, but even to its own young; which it
will suffer to be taken away, and even devoured,
without discovering the least concern, or attempting
resistance.

When kept in a room, it seldom crosses the floor,
but generally creeps round by the wall. Its motions
are, in a great measure, similar to the Rabbet: it
strokes its head with its fore feet, and sits on its hind
legs, like that animal. The male usually compels
the female to go before him, and follows exactly in
her footsteps. They are fond of dark and intricate
retreats, and seldom venture out when danger is near.
When about to quit their hiding places, they spring

* Synonyms.—Cavi Cobaya. Linn. Gmel—Mus Porcellus.Linn.
Syst. Nat. Ed. xii—Cochon d'Inde. Buffon—Restless Cavy. Penn.
—Guinea Pig. Edwards.—Shaw sy Gen. Sool. pl. 126.—Bew. Quae.
345.

Ai2 THE GUINEA Pie.

forward to the entrance; stop to listen and look
round ; and if the road is clear, they sally forth in
search of focd ; but on the least alarm they run in-
stantly back again.

In their habits, they are so exceedingly clean, that
if the young, by any accident, are dirtied, the fe-
male takes such a dislike to them, as never again to
suffer them to approach her. They may frequently
be observed in the act of smoothing and dressing
their fur, somewhat in the manner of a Cat. The
principal employments of the male and female, seem
to consist in smoothing each other’s hair: after this
ofhce has been mutually performed, they turn their
attentionto the young, whose hair they take particu-
lar care to keep unruffled and even ; and they bite
them, whenever théy are in the least refractory.

They repose flat on their belly; but, like the Dog,
turn several times round before they lie down. They
sleep with their eyes half-open, and are’ very
watchful. It is observed, that the male and female
seldom sleep at the same time, but seem alternately
to watch each other. They are exceedingly delicate,
and impatient of cold or moisture. ‘Their usual
voice is a kind of grunting, like a young Pig ; but
their notes of pain are shrill and piercing.

Their manner cf fighting is very singular, and
seems extremely ridiculous. One of them seizes
the neck of its antagonist with its teeth, and at-
tempts to tear the hair from it. In the mean time,
the other turns his postertors to his enemy, kicks up
behind like a: horse, and, by way of retaliation,
scratches the sides of his opponent with his hinder

THE BEAVER TRIBE. A\3

claws, in such a manner that both are frequently
covered with blood *.

The female goes with young about five weeks,
and breeds pretty nearly every two months. Though
furnished with only two teats, she usually produces
three or four, and sometimes so many as twelve,
at a birth. And as the young have been known
to breed when only two months old, the produce
ofa single pair may amount to upwards of a thou-.
sand in the year.—In the space of twelve hours after
their birth, the young ones are able to run about
with as much agility as their parents.

Saas presser CE re

THE BEAVER TRIBE.

OF the present tribe, there are but /wo species
that have been hitherto discovered, the Common
and the Chili Beavers; and even of these, it seems
doubtful whether the latter ought not to be arranged
with the Otters.

The Beavers have the front teeth in their upper-
jaw truncated, and excavated with a transverse an-
ele; and those of the lower jaw are transverse at
the tips. There are four grinders on each side. The
tail is long, depressed, and scaly ; and there are col-
lar bones in the skeleton +.

* Church's Cabinet of Quadrup -ds. + Linn. Gmel. i. 124.

[ is |

THE COMMON BEAVER *.

The Beaver is a native of most of the northern
parts of Europe and Asia, but is principally found
in North America. ‘There is some reason to suppose
that it was once an inhabitant of Great Britain :
for Giraldus Cambrensis says that these animals fre-
guented the river Tievi in Cardiganshire, and that
they had, from the Welsh, a name, signifying ‘ the
Broad-tailed animals.” Their skins were valued by
the laws of Howel Dda, in the tenth century, at
the great sum of a hundred and twenty pence each ;
and they seem to have constituted the chief finery
and luxury of those days,

The general length of the Beaver is about three
feet. The tail is oval, nearly a foot long, and com-
pressed horizontally, but rising into a convexity on
its upper surface: it is perfectly destitute of hair,
except at the base, and is marked out into scaly di-
visions, like the skin of a fish. The hair is very
fine, smooth, glossy, and of chesnut colour, vary-
ing sometimes to black ; and instances have oc-
curred, in which these animals have been found
white, cream-coloured, or spotted. The ears are
short, and almost hidden in the fur.

No other quadrupeds seem to possess so great a
degree of natural sagacity asthe Beavers. Yet when

* Synonyms,—Castor Fiber. Linn.—Fiber. Belon—Castor Bea-
ver, Penn—Castor, Buffon—Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 128,—Bew.

Quad. 383.

’

THE COMMON BEAVER. Al5

we consider that their history, as hitherto given te
mankind, has been principally taken from the re-
ports of the Beaver-hunters—whose object it is, not
to study the nature or manners of the animals, but
merely to seize them as articles of commerce; and
whose accounts are often in themselyes contradic-
tory—it is necessary that we should not give impli-
cit faith to every thing that has been written even
by the most respectable authors concerning them,
where these authors have not themselves witnessed the
facts they relate.—Captain George Cartwright, who
resided above fourteen years on the coast of Labrador,
in order to collect the different furs of that dreary cli-
mate, saw more of the manners of the Beaver, than
nearly all other writers whatever. ‘To his work, there-
fore, and to that of M. Du Pratz, who in Loui-
slana was an eye-witness to their labours, I have
principally had recourse, in endeavouring to give to
the reader as faithful an account as possible of these
wonderful animals.

“ The front teeth of the Beavers,” says Capt.
Cartwright, ‘* are very strong, and well adapted to
the purpose of gnawing wood. They feed on leaves
and the bark of trees; and when. they eat, they sit
upright, and carry the food to their mouth, in the
same manner as the Squirrel tribe. ‘The French
naturalist, singularly enough, asserts, that “ the
Beaver has a scaly tail, because he eats fishe’ Mr.
Cartwright pleasantly observes, ‘*I. wonder M. de
Buffon has not one himself, for the same reason ;
for Iam sure he has eaten a great deal more fish than
all the Beaversin the world put together.” The

A16 THE COMMON BEAVER.

fact seems to be, that Beavers subsist wholly on ve-
getable substances, and that they will eat no animal
food whatever *.

The Beavers generally live in associated commu-
nities, of two or three hundred; inhabiting dwell.
ings which they raise to the height of six or eight
feet above the water. They select, if possible, a
large pond ; in which they raise their houses on piles,
forming them either of a circular or oval shape, with
arched tops, thus giving them, on the outside, the
appearance of a dome, while they within somewhat
resemble an oven. ‘The number of houses is, in ge-
neral, from ten to thirty. If the animals cannot find
a pond to their liking, they fix on some flat piece of
ground, with a stream running through it. In ma-
king this a suitable place for their habitations, a de-
gree of sagacity and intelligence, of intention and
memory, 1s exhibited, approaching in an extraordi-
nary degree to the faculties of the human race.

The first object is, to form adam. ‘To do this, it
is necessary that they should stop the stream, and
of course that they should know in which direction
it runs. ‘his seems a very wonderful exertion of
intellect ; for they always do it in the most favourable
place for their purpose, and never begin at a wrong
part. ‘hey drive stakes, five or six feet long, into
the ground, in different rows, and interweave them

* The faculty of medicine at Paris juridically declared the Beaver
to be afish; and as such it was, in consequence, declared lawful to
be eaten on maigre days. Charlevoix says, it has been placed in the
same class with Mackrel Vol. i. 154.

THE COMMON BEAVER. AT?

with branches of trees; filling them up with clay,
stones, and sand ; which they ram so firmly down,
that though the dams are frequently a hundred feet
_long, Capt. Cartwright says, he has walked over them
with the greatest safety. These are ten or twelve
feet thick at the base ; gradually diminishing towards
the top, which is seldom more than two or three feet
across. ‘They are exactly level from end to end;
perpendicular towards the stream ; and sloped on the
outside, where grass soon grows, and renders the
earth more united.

The houses are constructed with the utmost inge-
nuity ; of earth, stones, and sticks, cemented to-
gether, and plastered in the inside with surprising
neatness. The walls are about two feet thick ; and
the floors so much higher than the surface of the
water, as always to prevent them from being flooded.
Some of the houses have only one floor ; others have
three *. The number of Beavers in each house is from
two to thirty. These sleep on the floor, which is
strewed with leaves and moss ; and each individual
is said to’ have its own place. When they form a
new settlement, they begin to build their houses in
the summer ; and it costs them a whole season to
finish the work, and lay in their winter provisions,—~
consisting principally of bark and the tender branches
of trees, cut into certain lengths, and piled in heaps
under the water +.

* Du Pratz says, thatin one heexamined, he found no fewer than
fifteen different cells.
. +. The Indians, observe the quantity that the Beavers lay up; asa
guide in judging vhat will be the mildness orseverity of the approach-

.

ing season.

Vat. I, E 2

“AIS THE COMMON BEAVER.

The houses have each no more than one open-
ing * ; which is under the water, and always be-
low the thickness of the ice. By this means theyean are
secured from the effects of frost.

The Beavers seldom quit their residence unless
they are disturbed, or their provisions fail. When
they have continued in the same place three or four
years, they frequently erect a new house annually ;
but sometimes merely repair their old one. It often
happens that they build a new house so elose to the
old, that they cut a communication from one tothe
other ; and this may have given rise to the idea of
their having several apartments. When their houses
are completely finished, they still carry on fresh
works: nor do they desist even when the pond is
frozen over; but continue their employment for
some nights after, (if the frost is not too severe,)
through a hole in the ice, which they keep open for
the purpose.

During the summer, they forsake their houses,
and ramble about from place to place; sleeping un-
der the covert of bushes, near the water-side. On
the least noise, they betake themselves into the water
for security : and they have sentinels, who, by a
certain cry, give notice of the approach of danger.
In the winter they never stir out, except to their
magazines under the water; and during that season,
they become excessively fat.

In one of his excursions into the Northern parts
of Louisiana, M. Du Pratz gives us an account of

(SR Corea Ry IE ER A TN RT TT

* Cartwright.

‘THE COMMON BEAVER, 41g

a colony of Beavers, to many of whose operations
he was himself a witness. ‘This is in some respects
contradictory to that of Captain Cartwright ; I have
therefore no alternative but to give the sense of the
writer, and leave the matter undecided *.

At the head of one of the rivers of Louisiana, in
a very retired place, M. Du Pratz found a Beaver
dam. Not far from it, but hidden from the sight
of the animals, he and his companions erected their
hut, in order to watch the operations at leisure.
They waited till the moon shone pretty bright ; and
then, carrying branches of trees in their front to
conceal themselves, they went with great care and
silence to the dam. Du Pratz ordered one of the
men to cut, as silently as possible, a gutter, about
a foot wide, through it; and retire immediately to
the hiding piace.

** As soon as the water through the gutter began
to make a-noise, (says our writer,) we heard a
Beaver come from one of the huts and plunge
in. We saw him get upon the bank, and clearly
perceived that he examined it. He then, with all
his force, gave four distinct blows with his tail ; when
immediately the whole colony threw themselves into
the water, and arrived upon the dam. When they
weré all assembled, one of them appeared, by mut-
tering, to issue some kind of orders ; for they allin-

«
t ¥

* Du Pratz was settled sixteen years as a planter in Louisiana, and
therefore must have had sufficient means of ascertaining the man-
ners of these animals.

Ee 2

420 ‘THE COMMON BEAVER.

stantly left the place, and went out on the banks of
the pond in different directions. Those nearest to
us were between our station and the dam, and there-
fore we could observe their operations very plainly.
Some of them formed a substance resembling a kind
of mortar ; others carried this on their tails, which
served as sledges for the purpose. [ observed that
they pat themselves two and two, and that each of
a couple loaded his fellow. They trailed the mor-
tar, which was pretty stiff, quite to the dam, where
others were stationed to take it ; these put it into
the gutter, and rammed it down with blows of their
tails.

‘““The noise of the water soon ceased, and the
breach was completely repaired. One of the Beavers
then struck two blows with his tail; and instantly
they all took to the water without any noise, and
disappeared.”

M. Du Pratz and his companions afterwards re-
tired to their hut to rest, and did not again disturb
these industrious animals till the next day. In the
morning, however, they went together tothe dam,
to see its construction ; for which purpose it was ne-
cessary that they should cut part of it down. The
depression of the water in consequence of this, to-
gether with the noise they made, roused the Bea-
vers again. ‘he animals seemed much disturbed by
these exertions ; and one of them in particular was ob -
served several times to come pretty near the labourers,
asif to exarnine what passed.—As M. Du Pratz ap-
prehended that they might run into the woods, if

THR COMMON BEAVER. AQ)

farther disturbed, he advised his companions again to
conceal themselves. |

** One of the Beavers then ventured (continues
our observer) to go upon the breach, atter having
several times approached and returned l:ke a spy.
He surveyed the place ; and then struck four blows,
as he did the preceding evening, with his tail. One
of those that were going to work, passed close by
me; and as I wanted a specimen to examine, I shot
him. The noise of the gun made them all scamper
off with greater speed than a hundred blows of the
tail of their overseer could have done.”—By firing
at them several times afterwards, they were compel-
led to run with precipitation into the woods. M. Du
Pratz then examined their habitations.

Under one of the houses he found fifteen pieces
of wood; with the bark in part gnawed off, appa-
rently intended for food. And round the middle
of this house, which formed a passage for them to
go in and out at, he found no less than fifteen dif-
ferent cells.—These habitations were made by posts
fixed, slanting upwards to a point ; and in the mid-
dle was the floor, resting firmly on notches in the
posts *

Naevidhaseriditia all the sagacity and the exten-
sive reasoning faculties of mankind, how often do
we see their best-formed plans, their most dear and
favorite contrivances fail, through some unlooked
for event! We cannot then surely be surprised,
when we are told, (as we are by one writer. in order

* Du Pratz, 142—147.

i eo

499 THE COMMON BEAVER.

to lessen our opinion of the sagacity of these animals),
that a community of Beavers has in one or two in-
stances been starved to death, in consequence of a
failure of provisions, or some want of foresight in
fixing upon a spot that was found not to contain
sufficient food to support them: or that they have
sometimes established their colony in a flat situation,
where a sudden thaw has swelled the water to such a
height as to flood the whole place, wash away their
food, and thus destroy them. To suppose them ca-
pable of judging of probabilities to so great an extent,
would be to rank them in intellect with Man. We
must rather be astonished at the operations that we
see them perform, than seek for them any higher
situation than that in which they are placed.

Beavers bring forth their young towards the end of
June; and generally have two at a time, which are,
in nine instances out of ten, a male and a female,
These continue with their parents till they are full
three years old; when they pair off, and form houses
for themselves. If, however, they are undisturbed,
and have plenty of provisions, they remain with the
old ones, and thus form a double society *.

We cannot wonder that such sociable animals ag
the Beavers are, should also exhibit great attach-
ment to each other. Two young ones that were
taken alive, and brought to a neighbouring factory
in Hudson’s Bay, were preserved for some time, and
throve very fast, till one of them was killed by an
accident. The survivor instantly felt the loss, and

* Church.

THE COMMON BEAVER. - A423

starved itself to death by voluntarily abstaining from
food *.

Instances have occurred of Beavers haying been
perfectly domesticated. Major Roderfort, of New
York, related to Professor Kalm, that he had a
tame Beaver above half a year in his house, where
he went about, quite loose, likea Dog. The Major
gave him bread ; and sometimes fish, of which he
was very greedy ft; As much water was put intoa
bowl as he wanted. All the rags and soft things he
could meet with he dragged into the corner where
he was accustomed to sleep, and made a bed of
them. ‘The Cat in the house, having kittens, took
possession of his bed ; and he did not attempt to
prevent her. When the Cat went out, the Beaver
often took the Kitten between his fore paws, and
held it to his breast to warm it, and seemed to doat
upon it ; as soon as the Cat returned, he always re-
stored to her the Kitten. Sometimes he grumbled;
but never attempted to bite f.

The skin of the Beaver has hair of two kinds: the
lower, immediately next to the hide, is short, im-
plicated together, and as fine as down; the upper
hair grows more sparingly, and is both thicker and
longer. The former is of little value ; but the flix
or down is wrought into hats, stockings, caps, and
other articles of dress :

* Penn. Arct. Zool. i. 104.
+ This is contrary to the assertion of Capt. Cartwright, who says
that they livé only on vegetables.
t Kalm, ii. Go.

EeaA

AQA THE COMMON BEAVER,

The Beaver’s flix nt
Gives kindliest warmth to weak enervate limbs,
When the pale blood slow rises through the veins.

The huntcrs prefer the winter season for seeking
out the habitations of the Beavers. They stop up
the entrance to these, on the side next the water,
with stakes; and enlarge the vent-hole, which they
find on the land side: this is done for the purpose
of putting through it a Dog, who is so trained
that he holds the Beaver with his teeth, and suffers
himself to be drawn out by the hind-legs *. The
¥ndians about Hudson’s Bay first drain off the water
of the dam. and then, covering the houses with nets,
break. in at the. top; on which the affrighted Bea-
vers running through the door to escape, become
entangled in the meshes. ‘The hunters immediately
seize and skin them -.

In some parts of Lapland, Beavers are caught in
traps made of the twigs of fir-trees. The top of
these the hunters fasten with a smal] branch of pop-
lar, of which the animals are very fond. ‘The Bea-
ver gnaws away this fastening, is let down, and
caught. But it is remarked, that wherever two have
been together, the one has always set the other at
liberty 4 3

Beavers’ skins form a very considerable article of
commerce, both with the northern countries of Eu-
rope and with America. Above fifty-four thousand

* Tooke. This account too differs from that of Capt. Cartwright ;
who says they have only one hole for entrance, and that is from the
water. + Ellis, 161. t Scheiter, 236.

THE COMMON BEAVER, 425

have been sold by the Hudson’s Bay Company at
one sale: and in the year 1798, a hundred and six
thousand skins were collected in Canada and sent
into Europe and China *. ‘Those of a black colour
are preferred ; and such as are taken during winter 3
especially if they have been worn for some time by
the Indians, by which the long hairs fall off, leaving
the fine downy fur perfectly free, and better fitted
for every purpose of manufacture +. A good skin
will weigh about two pounds.

The medicinal substance called cas/or, is pro
duced in the inguinal glands of these animals; and
each individual, both male and female, has usually
about two ounces. ‘That produced by the Russian
Beavers is more valuable, and sells at a much higher
price, than what is imported from America {.—The
flesh is good eating. It is usually preserved (the
bones being first taken out) by drying it in the
smoke.

It frequently happens that single Beavers live by
themselves in holes, which they make in the banks
of rivers, considerably under the surface of the wa-
ter, working their way upward to the height of
many feet. These are called by the hunters Her-
mits, or Lerriers. Like the rest, they lay up a
store of provisions for the winter. It is supposed by
Capt. Cartwright, that their separation from society

originates in attachment and fidelity ; that, having,
(pS nT ne EL ee he
* Mackenzie's Travels, p. xxv.
+ These skins are called green Beavers: the others dry Beavers,

on]
t Kerr, i. 224.

426 THE RAT TRIBE.

by some accident lost their mate, they will not readily
pair again. Whatever may be the causes, it has
been remarked, that they have invariably a black
mark on the skin of their backs ; which is called a
saddie, and by which they are easily distinguished
from the others.

Their motions on land are very slow ; and, being
timid animals, they are easily killed, though pos-
sessing teeth so sharp and strong as to enable them
to make a stout resistance. If they happen to be
met ona shore by a Man, they sit down, and cry
hike a child *.

footer ae bee er es ee

THE RAT TRIBE,

* THIS tribe contains all those animals which ga
under the denomination of Murine Quadrupeds ;
and, although the term Rat has been adopted, it
includes not only the species that we know by the
peculiar name of Rats, but also the Mice, and
others called Beaver-rats.

These animals, in general, live in holes in the
ground ; and are very swift, and able to climb trees.
Their food is chiefly vegetable ; which most of them
seek in the night, keeping in their retreats during
the day. They feed in a somewhat upright position,
carrying the food to their mouth in their fore-paws,
They are very. prolific.

* Church..

‘THE MUSK RAT. — 427

The front-teeth are wedge-shaped. There are

generally three grinders on each side, but sometimes

only two. All the species have clavicles, or collar--
bones, in the skeleton *.

THE MUSK RAT.

This animal is about the size of a small Rabbet.
—Its head is thick and short, and somewhat resem-
bles that of the Water-rat. The eyes are large;
the ears short, rounded, and covered both inside
and outside with hair. Its fur is soft, glossy, and
of a reddish-brown colour; and beneath this is a"
much finer fur, or thick down, which is very useful
in the manufacture of hats. The tail is flattened
laterally, and covered with scales.

Musk-rats are found in America, from Hudson’, -
Bay as far south as Carolina.—In the general form
of their body, as well as in many of their habits, they
bear a considerable resemblance to the Beaver.
They construct their habitation of dry plants, but
particularly of reeds, cement it with clay, and cover
it with a dome. At the bottom and sides of this
there are seyeral pipes, through which they pass in
search of food; for they lay up no provisions for
winter. They have also subterraneous passages, in-

* Linn. Gmel. 1. 125.

+ Synonyms.—Mus Zibethicus. Lean. Gmel—Castor Zibethieus.
Linn. Ed. xii—Ondatra, or Canadian Musk-rat. Sm. Buff—Musk-
‘beaver. Pent.—Musquash. Kerr.—Musk-rat. La Hon/an.
Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 129—Bew. Quad, 331.

A28 THE MUSK RAT.

to which they retreat whenever their houses are at-
tacked.

Their habitations, which are intended only for
the winter, are rebuilt annually. At the approach
of this season they begin to construct them, as
places of retirement from the inclemencies of the
weather. Several families occupy the same dwelling,
which is frequently covered many feet deep with
snow and ice; the animals, notwithstanding, contrive
to creep out, and feed on the roots that are also bu-
ried beneath. They feed too on the fresh-water
muscles; and, when the season permits it, on fruit.
Kalm, in his American Travels, says that apples are
used as baits for them in-traps. In winter, the male
and female are seldom scen far from each other *.

During the summer they wander about, generally
in pairs, feeding voraciously on herbs and roots.
They walk and run in an awkward manner; like the
Beaver ; and cannot swim well, their feet being un-
furnished with webs +. ;

The Musk-rats, as well as the Beavers, seem to
have their Drones or Terriers, which are at no trou-
ble in the common operation of building houses,
These burrow like Water-rats, in banks adjacent to
lakes, rivers, and ditches; and often do much da-
_ mage by admitting the water through the embank-
ments of meadows.

They are remarkable for a strong muksy smell :
whence they have their specific name.—Their nests
are formed of sticks, lined on the inside with sorfte

* Penn. Arct. Zool: 1. 107. 7 Shaw, i.

THE BROWN RAT. Ag

soft materials ; and they bring forth from three to six
young ones at a time. When taken young, they
are easily tamed; they are then very playful and in-
offensive, and never bite.

The flesh is sometimes eaten ; and the fur is used
in the manufacture of hats *.

THE BROWN RAT Y.

The Brown and the Black Rat are both of them
gpecies much too well known in most countries where
they are found at all. The former, however, which
was first introduced among us from Norway, has
greatly diminished the number of the others;
but has itself multipled so excessively, and is so
very strong and voracious, as to form no acceptable
substitute.

In Ireland these Rats have very nearly destroyed
even the whole race of Frogs; which the inhabi-
tants were somewhat anxious to preserve, in order
to clear their fields of insects, and render their waters
more healthful. While the Frogs continued in
great numbers, the Rats also multiplied; but
since the latter are deprived of this considerable
part of their subsistence, they also are become much
less numerous f.

During summer, they reside chiefly in holes on
en

* Penn. Arct. Zool. i. 107. See also Charlevoix, Amer. i. 168.
» + SynonymMs.—Mus decumanus. Lénn.—Bandicote. Purchas.—
Surmulot. Bufforn.—Norway Rat. Brown Rat. Penn.——Shaw's Gen.
Zool. pl. 180.—Bew. Quad. 377.
+ Goldsmith, iv. 63.

430 THE BROWN RAT.

the banks of rivers, ditches, and ponds; but on
the approach of winter they come to the farm-
houses, and enter the corn-ricks and barns, where
they devour much of the corn, but damage infi-
nitely more than they eat. They have haunts in
the walls and about the floors of old houses, where
they frequently destroy the furniture; and they
have even been known to gnaw the extremities of
infants while asleep. They are also excessively des-
tructive to eggs, poultry, pigeons, rabbets, and
game of every description. They swim with ease,
and even dive after fish.

Their produce is enormous ; as they bring from
ten to twenty ata litter, and this thrice a-year. Thus,
their astonishing increase is such, that it is possible
for the descendants of a single pair (supposing food
to be sufficiently plentiful, and that they had no
enemies to lessen their numbers) to amount at the
end of about two years, to upwards of @ million.
But this baneful increase is counteracted, not only
by numerous enemies among the other animals, but.
by their destroying and eating each other. A large
and strong Rat is as much dreaded by its*own spe-
eies, as the whole species is dreaded by other crea-
tures that are their. prey. Thus has Providence
kindly interfered in keeping them within due
bounds. | :

Dogs and Cats destroy, but do not eat them,
The Weesel is in perpetual enmity with them; and
will pursue them into their holes, and fight with
them there. This little creature endeavours to fix
itself on their bodies, and suck their blood ; which

FHE BROWN RAT. A3}

it very often effects. They are, however, so bold
as to attack a small Dog, seize him by the mouth,
and holding fast there, they make a wound very dif-
ficult to be healed on account of its depth and la-
ceration.

In the Isle of France, Rats are found in such pro-
digious swarms, that it is said the place was en-
tirely abandoned by the Dutch on account of their
number. In some of the houses they are so nu-
merous, that 30,000 have been known to be killed
in a year. They make immense hoards under ground
both of corn and fruit ; and climb up the trees to
devour the young birds. They pierce the very
thickest rafters. At sun-set they may be seen run-
ning about in all directions ; and in a single night
they will frequently destroy a whole crop of corn,
M. de Saint Pierre says, he has seen a field of
maize, in which they had not left a single ear.
They are supposed to have been originally brought
to that islandin some of the European vessels,

On the return of the Valiant man of war from
the Havannah, in the year 1766, its Rats had in-
creased to such a degree, that they destroyed a hun-
dred-weight of biscuit daily. . The ship was at
length smoked between decks, in order to suffocate
them : which had the desired effect ;'and six hampers
were, for some time, filled every day, with the
Rats that had thus been killed *.

The following anecdote of a whimsical mode of
clearing a house of these troublesome animals, may.

* St. Pierre's Voyage to the Isle of France, p. 76. and note.

132 THE BROWN RAT.

be new to many of my readers: —A gentleman travel-+
ling through Mecklenburg about thirty years ago, was
witness to a very singular circumstance in the post-
house at New Hargard. After dinner, the landlord
placed on the floor a large dish of soup,-and gave a
loud whistle. Immediately there came into the
room a mastiff, a fine Angora Cat, an old Raven,
anda remarkably large Rat with a bell about its
neck. They all four went to the dish, and, with-
out disturbing each other, fed together ; after which
the Dog, Cat, and Rat, lay before the fire, while
the Raven hopped about the room. ‘The landlord,
after accounting for the familiarity which existed
among these animals, informed his guest that the
Rat was the most useful of the four; for the noise
he made had completely freed the house from the
Rats and Mice with which it was before infested.

Pontoppidan says, that a short time previous to a
fire, all the Rats and Mice that are in a house will
instinctively forsake it !

Some of the Japanese tame these Rats, and teach
them to perform many entertaining tricks ; and, thus.
instructed, they are exhibited as a show for the di-
yersion of the populace *.

In Egypt, as soon as the Nile, after having fer-
tilized the land, leaves it free for cultivation, mul-
titudes of Rats and Mice are seen to issue in suc-
cession from the moistened soil. The Egyptians
hence believe that they are generated from the earth
itself. Some of those people even assert, and main-

eae

* Kaempfer, 1. 126.

THE FIELD MOUSE. A383

tain with the utmost effrontery, that they have seen
the Rats in their formation, one half of the bodies
flesh, and the other half mud *.

Rats swarm in Otaheite, where they feed on the
fruits of the country ; and they are there so bold,
as even sometimes to attack the natives when asleep.
The inhabitants hold them in abhorrence as unclean;
and will even avoid killing them, lest they should be
polluted by the touch -}.

‘THE FIELD MOUSE *.

The Ficld Mouse is well known in all the tempe-
rate parts of Europe ; where it frequents dry and
elevated fields or woods. ‘The general length of its
body is about four inches and a half ; and the tail
is nearly four inches more. Its colour is yellow-
ish brown above, and whitish on the under parts.
The cyes are full and black.

‘These animals are found only in fields and gar-
dens. ‘They live in burrows, a foot or more under
ground; where they lay up great quantities of
acorns, nuts, and beech-mast. According to Buf-.
fon,a bushel of such substances has been sometimes
found in a single hole. These habitations are often
divided into two apartments; the one for living in
with their young, and the other for their provisions,

—

* Sonnini, iii. 66. + Penn. Quad. ii: 438.
ne SyNony Ms.—Mus Sylvaticus. Linn—Wood Mouse. Shaw—'
Long-tailed Field Mouse: Sim:-Bufi—Bean Mouse, in some parts of
England.—Mulot. Bujfin.Field Mouse.’ Penn——Shaw's Gen
Pool: pl. 132—Bew. Qudd. 388. * ;
Wo. I. Ff

A34 THE HARVEST MOUSE.

Often the little Mouse
Illudes our hopes; and, safely lodg’d, below
Hath form’d his granaries.

‘The nests of these little creatures may be dis-
covered by the small heaps of mould thrown up at
the entrance of their runs, which lead by winding
paths to their magazine *.

A very remarkable instance ot sagacity in this
animal, occurred to the Rev. Mr. White one day,
as his people were pulling off the lining of a hot-
bed. in order to add some fresh dung. From out of
the side of this bed, leaped something with great
agility, that made a most grotesque figure, and
was not without much difficulty taken; when it
proved to bea large Field Mouse with three or four
young clinging to her teats by their mouths and feet.
Tt was amazing that the desultory and rapid motions
of the dam did not oblige her litter to quit their
hold, especially when it appeared that they were so
young as to be both naked and blind +.

Field Mice are very prolific ; breeding more than
once a-year, and often producing litters of eight or
ten at atime, They generally make the nest for
their young very near the surface of the ground, and
often in a thick tuft of grass,

THE HARVEST MOUSE ¢&.

The Rey. Gilbert White seems to have been the
first who examined this diminutive and slender spe-

* Trans. of Bath Soc. yol. vi. + White's Selborne.
~ Synonyms—Mus Messorius. Kerr, Shaw—Less Long-tailed
Field Mouse. Harvest Mouse. Penn.

THE HARVEST MOUSE. A35

cies of Mouse, which hitherto appears to have been
only found in Hampshire. Itis, he says, somewhat
of a Squirrel colour; with a white belly having a
straight line along the sides, dividing the shades of
the back and belly.

One of the nests of these little animals he pro-
cured. It was most artificially platted, and com-
posed of the blades of wheat ; perfectly round, and
about the size of a cricket-ball ; with the aperture
so ingeniously closed, that there was no discover-
ing to what part it belonged. It was so compact
and well filled, that it would roll across the table
without being discomposed, though it contained
eight young Mice that were naked and blind. As
this nest was perfectly full, how could the dam come
at her litter respectively so as to administer a teat to
each ? Perhaps she opens the different places for
that purpose, adjusting them again when the busi-
ness is over; but she could not possibly be contain-
ed herself in the ball with her young, which more-
over would be daily increasing in bulk. This won-
derful proceant cradle, an elegant specimen of the
efforts of instinct, was found in a wheat-field, sus-
pended inthe ead of a thistle.

Mr. White remarked, that though the Harvest
Mice hang their nests above the ground, yet in win-
ter they burrow deep in the earth, and make warm
beds of grass; but their grand rendezvous seems to
be in corn-ricks, into which they are carried at har-
vest.—This gentleman measured some of them ; and
found that from nose to tai] they were two inclies
and a quarter, and their tails were two inches long,

Ff 2

430 THE LEMMING RAT,

Two of them ina scale weighed down just one cop-
per halfpenny, about the third of an ounce avoirdu-
pois! whence he supposes them to be the smallest
quadrupeds in this island. A full erown domestic
Mouse would weigh at least six times as much as
one of these *.

THE LEMMING RAT Y.

The Lemmings are inhabitants of the mountains
of Norway and Lapland. They vary much both
in size and colour; those of Norway being almost
equal to Water Rats, while those of Lapland are
scarcely as large as Mice. The former are elegantly
variegated with black and tawny in the upper parts,
having the sides of the head and the under parts
white. The legs and tail are greyish ; and the un-
der parts of the body a dull white. The head of
the Lemming is large, shert, and thick. The body
is also thick; the neck short, and the limbs stout
and strong. ‘The tail is very short.

These animals feed entirely on vegetables. In
summer they form shallow burrows under the sur-
face of the ground, and in winter they make long
passages und-r the snow in search of food; for as
they lay up no winter store, they are reduced to the
necessity of hunting for it during all the rigours of
the cold season.

5 CIT RE SE, PGS Fee ST RET, ALO ee Se eS
* White's Selborne. >

+ Syxonyms.—Mus Lemmus. Linn.—Lemmus Rat. Lapland Mar-

mot. eu Len ng Buffi—Lemming. Pontoppedan.—Siau's Gen.

x pe] . fo) 4 . 4

ool. pl. 135.—5¢ Ws a “dds OD.

THE LEMMING RAT. gal)
-'They seem to be endowed with a power distin-
guishing the approach of severe weather ; for before
the setting in of a cold winter they leave their haunts
in the above countries, and emigrate in immense mul-
titudes southwards towards Sweden, always endea-
vouring to keep a direct line. These emigrations take
place at uncertain intervals, though generally about
once every ten years: and, exposed as the travellers are
+0 attack, they of course become the food of all the
predacious animals. Multitudes also are destroyed
in endeavouring to swim over the rivers or lakes.
From these different causes, very few of them live
to return to their native mountains; and thus a
check is put to their ravages, as an interyal of seye-
ral years is necessary to repair their numbers suffici-
ently for another invasion. ‘They are bold and
fierce, and even will attack men and animals if they
meet them in their course ; and they bite so hard,
as to allow themselves to be caaried toa considerable
distance hanging by their teeth, before they will quit
their hold *.

If they are disturbed or pursued while swimming
oyer a lake, and their phalanx is separated by oars or
poles, they will not recede ; but keep swimming di-
rectly on, and soon get into regular order again.
They have sometimes been known even to endea-
vour to board or pass over a vessel. This army of
Rats moves chiefly by night, or early in the morn-
ine; and ‘makes, such destruction among the her-
bage, that the surface of the ground over which

/

* Pontoppidan, part ii. 31. Scheffer, 340.

Bie

438 THE LEMMING RAT.

they have passed, appears as if it had been burned.
Their numbers have at times induced the common
people of Norway to believe that they had descended
from the clouds *; and the multitudes that are
sometimes found. dead on the banks of rivers, or
other places, corrupt by their stench the whole at-
mosphere around, and thus produce many diseases.
They are even thought to infect the plants whielr
they gnaw; for cattle turned into pastures where
they have been, are said frequently to die in conse—
guence +.

They never enter dwellings, of any description,
to do mischief; but always keep in the open air.
When enraged, they raise themselves on their hind-
feet, anc bark like little dogs. Sometimes they di-
vide into two parties, attack each other, and fight
hike hostile armies. From these battles, the supersti-
tions of the inhabitants of Sweden and Lapland
pretend to foretell not only wars, but also therr suc-

* Pontoppidan, ii. 32. ‘The following is the form of the exorcism,
adopted by the Romish Clergy, to banish these and other plagues from
countries infested by them—“Exorcismus. Exorcizo vos pestiferos,
vermes, mures, aves seu locustas, aut animalia alia; per Deum Patrem
4- Omnipotentem, et Jesum 4 Christum fillum ejus, et Spiritum --
Sanctum ab utroque procedentem: ut confestim recedatis ab his cam-
pit, seu vineis, vel aquis, nec amplius in eis habitetis ; sed ad ea loca
transeatis, in quibus nemint nocere possitis. Et ex parte Omnipotentis
Dei, et totius curie calestis, et Ecclesia sancte Dei, vos maledicens
quocunque ieritis: sitis maledicti, deficientes de die in diem in vos
Ipsos, et decrescentes ; quatenus reliquiz de vobis nullo in loco inve-
niantur, nisi necessarie ad salutem et usamhumanum. Quod pra
stare dignetur Ile, qui venturus est Judicare vives et mortuos et secu-
lum per ignem. Amen.”

+ Baff Quad. vii $20.

THE ECONOMIC RAT» A439

cess, according to the quarters the animals come.
from, and the side that is defeated *.

The females breed several times in the year, and
produce five or six at once. Ithas been observed,
that they have sometimes brought forth during their
migrations ; and they have been seen carrying some
their young in their mouths, and others on their
backs.—The flesh of the Lemmings is not used as
food. The hair is very fine, but too thick to be of
value as a fur.

THE ECONOMIC RAT f.

The length of the Economic Rat is about four
inches; andthat of its tail, one inch. The limbs
are strong ; the ears short, naked, and almost hidden
beneath the fur of the head. The general colour of
the fur is tawny, somewhat whiter beneath than on
the back.

‘These creatures inhabit Siberia and Kamtschatka,
in vast abundance ; making their burrows, with the
utmost skill, immediately below the surface of a soft
turfy soul. ‘They form a low chamber, ofa flattish
arched form, about a foot in diameter, to which
they sometimes add as many as thirty small passages
or entrances. Near the chamber they often con-
struct other caverns, in which they lodge their win-
ter stores.. These consist of plants ; which they ga-
ther in summer, harvest and bring home ; and even, .

EN
* Scheffer, 340.
+ SynonyMs—Mus Q£coftomicus, Linn.-—Economic Mouse.
Penn—Teyoulichitck. GrieveeShaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 134.

F f4

AAO THE ECONOMIC RAT.

at times, they bring them out of their cells to give
them a more thorough drying in the sun. The
chief labour is performed by the females *.—They
associate in pairs; and except during the summer
(when the male leads a solitary life in the woods),
the male and female are generally both to be found
in the same nest.

The migrations of these animals are not less ex-
traordinary than those of the Lemming. Both Dr.
Grieve and Mr. Pennant have mentioned those of

the Kamtschatka Economic Rats, but neither of
them attempt to explain the cause. In the spring,
says the former writer, they collect: together in
amazing numbers, and proceed in a direct course
Oe a ; swimming with the utmost intrepidity
over rivers, lakes, and even arms of the sea. .Many
are drowned, and many destroyed by water-fowl or
rapacious fish. Those that escape, on emerging
from the water, rest awhile to bask, dry their, fur,
and refresh themselves.. The Kamtschadales, who
have a. kind of superstitious veneration for these
little animals, whenever they find any of them
thrown upon the banks of the rivers, weak and ex-
hausted, render them every. possible assistance. As
soon as they have crossed the river Penschinska, at
the head of the gulph of the same name, they turn
in asouth-westerly direction ; and, about the middle
of July, generally reach the rivers Ochotska and Ju-
doma—a distance of about a thousand miles! The
flocks aré also” So numerous, that“ travellers have

* Grieve, Too.

’ 4
B® « ~

THE HAMSTER. AAR

sometimes waited above two hours for them fo pass.
The retirement of these animals is very alarming to
the Kamtschadales ; but their return, which is gene~
rally in October, occasions the utmost joy and fes-
tivity, a successful chase and fishery being always
considered as its certain consequenge *.

The Kamtschadales never destroy the hoards of
these Rats. They sometimes take away part of
their store; but, in return for this, they invariably
Jeave either some caviare, or other food, to sup-
port them in its stead +.

The manner in which the Economic Rats, in
their foraging excursions, cross the rivers of Iceland,
is thus related by Mr. Olaffen.—‘“‘ ‘Vhe party, con-
sisting of from six to ten, select a flat piece of dried
cow-dung ;/on which they place the berries they
have collected, in aheap in the middle. Then, by
their united force, drawing it to the water's edge,
they launch it, and embark; placing themselves
round the heap, with their heads joined over it, and
their backs to the water, their tails pendent in the

th)

stream and serving the purpose of rudders ¢.

THE HAMSTER J.

The Hamster is about the size of the Brown or
Norway Rat; but much thicker, and its tail only

* Grieve, 105. Penn. Arct. Zool. i. 194.
+ Kerr; 1. 238. t Shaw, i.
§ SyNonyMs.—Mus Cricetus. Lzii.—German Marmot. Hamster
Rat. Penn—German Hamster. Kerr.—Hamster. Buffon. Shaw's
Gen. Zool. pl. 137.— Bew. Quad. $70.

442, THE HAMSTER.

about three inches long. Its colour is reddish brown
above, and black beneath; but on each side of
the body, there are three large oval white spots. ‘The
ears are- rather large. On each side of the mouth
are two receptacles for food: which, when empty,
are so far contracted, as not to appear externally;
but when filled, they resemble a pair of tumid blad-
ders, with a smooth veiny surface which is con~
cealed by the fur of the cheeks.

These, the only species of the pouched Rats.
found in Europe, are inhabitants of Austria, Si-
lesia, and many parts of Germany. They live
under ground, burrowing down obliquely. At the
end of their passage, the male sinks one perpendi-
cular hole ; and the female several, sometimes seven
or cight. At the extremity of these are formed various
vaults; either as lodges for themselves and young,
or as storc-houses for their food. Each young one
has its separate apartment ; and each sort of grain its
appropriate vault: the former are lined with straw
or grass. ‘Vhe vaults are of different depths, accord -
ing tothe ageof the animals. A young Hamster
makes them scarcely a foot deep; an old one sinks
them to the depth of four or five feet. The whole
diameter of the habitation, with all its communi-
cations, 1s sometimes eight or ten feet.

The male and female have always separate bur-
rows ; for, except in their short season of courtship,
they have no intercourse. The whole race are so
malevolent, as constantly to reject all association.
They will fight, kill, and devour each other. The
female shews little affection even for her young ; for

THE HAMSTER. MAS

if any person digs into the hole, she attempts to save
herself by burrowing deeper into the earth, leaving
thein a prey to the intruder. They would willingly
follow her; but she is deaf to their cries, and even
shuts up against them the hole which she has made *_

The Hamsters feed on grain, herbs, and roots ;
and, at times, even eat flesh. Their pace is ex-
tremely slow; but in burrowing in the ground
they exhibit great agility. Not being formed for
long journeys, their magazines are first stocked with
such proyisions as are nearest to their abode ; which
accounts for some of their chambers being filled with
only one species of grain. After the harvest is reap-
ed, they, from compulsion, go to greater distances
in search of provisions, and carry to their storehouses
whatever eatables they can lay hold of.

To facilitate the transportation of food to their
hoards, Nature has provided them with pouches in
their cheeks.—These, in the inside, are furnished
with many glands; which secrete a certain fluid,
that preserves the flexibility of the parts. ‘They are
each capable of containing about two ounces of grain;
which the animal empties into its granary, by press-
ing its two fore-feet against its cheeks:—When its
cheeks are full, it may easily be caught with the
hand, without the risk of being bitten ; as it has not,
in this condition, the free motion of its jaws. If,
however, a short time is allowed, it soon empties its
pouch, and stands on the defensive.

On dissecting one of these animals, Dr. Russet

bea

* Penn. Quad. ii. 462.

AAA THE HAMSTER:

found the pouch, on each side of its mouth, stuffed
with young French beans, arranged lengthways, so
exactly and close to each other, that it appeared
strange by what.mechanism this had been effected ;
for the membrane which forms the pouch, though
muscular, is extremely thin, and the most expert
fingers could not have packed the beans in more re-
gular order.. When they were laid loosel on the
table, they formed a heap three times the bulk of
the animal’s body *.

What these creatures lay up, is not for their win-
ter’s support, (since during that season, they always
sleep ;) but for their nourishment, previously to the
commencement, and after the conclusion, of their
state of torpidity. The quantity in the burrows de-
pends upon the size and sex of the inhabitants; the
old ones frequently amassing upwards of a huadred-
weight of grain, but the young and the females pro-
viding a quantity much smaller. .

At the commencement of the cold season, the
Hamsters retire into their hiding places, the entrances
to which they closeup. Here they repose for some
months; and inthis state they are often dug up by
the peasantry, who ‘at this season of the year employ
much of their time in hunting for their retreats.
These are easily known by the small mounts of earth
raised at the end of ‘the galleries. Here’ the men
dig till the hoard is discovered ; which often consists
of a bushel, or a bushel and a half, of corn: and

* Russel’s Aleppo.

THE HAMSTER, 445

they are farther rewarded by the skins of the animals, -
which are esteemed valuable furs.

In some seasons, the Hamsters are so numerous,
that they occasion a dearth of corn. In one year,
about 11,000 skins ; in asecond 54,000 ; andina
third year 80,000 ; were brought to the Town-house
of Gotha, as vouchers of claims to the rewards al-
lowed for the destruction of the animals.

The Hamster sleeps during the winter; and
though neither respiration nor any kind of feeling
can be perceived in this state, yet the heart has been
discovered (by opening the-chest) to beat fifteen
timesina minute. The blood continues fluid : but
the intestines are not irritable ; and, in the open air,
he does not become torpid. When found in a state
of torpidity, his head is bent under his belly, be-
tween the two fore-legs, and the hind-legs rest upon
his muzzle. The eyes are closed ; and when the
eye-lids are forced open, they instantly shut again.
The members are all stiff, and the body feels as cold
as ice; and if he is even dissected in this state, his
lethargy is too strong to admit of his waking entirely.

The stupor of the Hamster has been ascribed
solely to a certain degree of cold ; but experience
has proved, that to render him torpid, he must also
be excluded from all communication with the ex-
ternal air: for when one of them is shut up in a
cage filled with earth and straw, and exposed in win-
ter to a degree of cold even sufficient to freeze
water, he never becomes so. But when the cage is
sunk four or five fect under-ground, and well se-
cured against the access of air, at the end of eight

AAD THE HAMSTER.

or ten days he ts as torpid as if he had been in his
own burrow. If the cage is brought up to the sur-
face, he will awake in a few hours; and resumes
his torpid state when put below the earth again.

When the animal is passing from a state of tor-
pidity, his actions are very singular. He first loses
the rigidity of his members ; and then makes pro-
found respirations, but at long intervals. His legs
begin to move ; he opens his mouth, and utters
disagreeable and rattling sounds. After continuing
these operations for some time, he opens his eyes,
and endeavours to raise himself on his legs. But
all these movements are still recling and unsteady,
like those of a man intoxicated with liquor; he,
however, reiterates his efforts, till he is at length
able to stand on his legs. In this attitude he remains
fixed ; as if he meant to reconnoitre, and repose
himself after his fatigue. But he gradually begins
to walk, to eat, and to act in his usual manner.
This passage from a torpid to an active state, re-
quires more or less time, according to the tempera-
ture of the air. When exposed to a cold atr, he
sometimes requires aboye two hours to awake ; but,
ina more temperate air, he accomplishes his purpose .
in less than one.

The life of a Hamster is divided between eating
and fighting. He seems to have no other passion
than that of rage; which induces him to attack
every animal that comes in his way, without in the
least attending to the superior strength of the enemy.
Ignorant of the art of saving himself by flight, ra-
ther than yield he will allow himself to be beaten to

THE HAMSTER. AAW

pieces with a stick. If he seizes a man’s hand, he
must be killed before he will quit his hold. The mag-
nitude of the horse terrifies him as little as the ad-
dress of the Dog, which last is fond of hunting him.
When the Hamster perceives a Dog at a distance,
he begins by emptying his cheek-pouches, if they
happen to be filled with grain: he then blows them
up so prodigiously, that the size of the head and
neck greatly exceeds that of the rest of the body.
He raises himself on his hind legs, and thus darts
upon the enemy. Ifhe catches hold, he never quits
it, but with the loss of his lite. But the Dog ge-
nerally seizes him from behind, and strangles him.
This ferocious disposition prevents the Hamster from
being at peace with any animal whatever, He even
makes war against his own species, not excepting
the females. When two Hamsters meet, they never
fail to attack each other, and the stronger always
devours the weaker. A combat between a male and
female commonly lasts longer than that between two
males. They begin by pursuing and biting each
other ; then each of them retires aside, as if to
take breath. After a short interval they renew the
combat, and continue to fight till one uf them falls.
The vanquished uniformly serves for a repast to the
conqueror *.

The females bring forth twice or thrice a-year ;
each litter consisting of six or eight young: and
their increase in some years is so rapid, as almost to
occasion adearth. In about three weeks after their

* Bofk Quad, viii. 194—197.

448 THE ALPINE MARMOT.

birth, the young are able to seek their own provi-
sions, which the dam compels them to do; and in
fifteen or sixteen days, they begin to dig the earth,

THE MARMOT TRIBE.

THE Marmots have two wedge-shaped front teeth
in each jaw ; and five grinders on each side in the
upper, and four in the lower. They have also collar
bones in the skeleton *.

This tribe, of which only egh# species are yet
known, does not differ in many particulars from
that of the Rats. The animals have thick cylindri-
cal bodies, and large roundish heads. The fore-feet
have four claws, and a very small thumb; and the
hind feet five claws. They reside in subterraneous
holes, and pass the winter in sleep,

THE ALPINE MARMOT +

The Alpine Marmot frequents the highest sum.
mits of the Alps and. Pyrenéan Mountains, and is
also found in some parts of Asia. It is about six-
teen inches in length, has a short tail, and bears
some resemblance both to the Rat and the Bear.

, * Linn. Gmek i. 141.
+, Sy nonyms.—Aretomys Marmota., inn. Gmel—Mus Marmota.
Linn. Syst. Nat. Ed. xti—Common Marmot. Kerr.—Marmotte.
Buffon —Alpine Marmot. Peith.——Shaiw's Gén. Zool. pl. 143.—Bew.

Quad. 306. i Py

THE ALPINE MARMOT. AAY

The colour is brownish above, and bright tawny on
the under parts. The head is rather large, and flat-
tish ; the ears short, and hid inthe fur; and the tail
thick and bushy.

These singular quadrupeds delight in the regions
of frost and of snow, and are seldom to be found
but on the tops of the highest mountains. They
remain in atorpid state during winter. About the
end of September, or the early part of Octobers
they retire into their holes, and do not come abroad
again till the beginning of April. Their retreats are
formed with much art and precaution. They do not
make a single hole, nor either a straight or a wind-
ing tube ; ‘but a kind of gallery in the form of a Y;
each branch of which has an aperture, and both
terminate in a capacious apartment, where several
of the animals lodge together. As the whole opera-
tion is performed on the declivity of a mountain,
the innermost aperture alone is horizontal. Both —
the branches are inclined: one of them descends
under the apartment, and follows the dechivity
of the mountain; this is a kind of aqueduct,
and also receives and carries off all the filth that is
produced within: the other, which rises above the
principal apartment, is used for coming in and go-
ing out at. The place of their abode is well lined
with moss and hay, of which they lay up great store
during the summer.

It is affirmed, that this labour is carried on jointly ;
that some of the animals cut the finest herbage,
which is collected by others; and that they trans-
port it to their dens in the following manner, One,

Vox. L. Gg

450 THE ALPINE MARMOT.

it is said, lies down on his back, allows himself to be
loaded with hay, and extends his limbs; and others
trail him, thus loaded, by the tail, taking care not
to overset him. The task of thus serving as a vehicle,
is divided alternately among the number. “ I have
often (says M. Beauplau) seen them practise this,
and have had the curiosity to watch them at it for
whole days together.” The repeated frictions aris-
ing from sustaining a passive part in the operation, are
assigned as the reason why the hair is generaily
tubbed off from their backs. But itis more pro-
bable that this effect is produced by their frequent
digging of the earth, which alone is sufficient to
peel off the hair. However this may be, it is cer-
tain that they dwell together, and work in common in
their habitations, where they pass three-fourths of
their ives. Thither they retire during rain, or on
the approach of danger; and never go out but in
fine weather, and even then to no great distance.
One of them stands sentinel upon a rock, while
the others sambol upon the grass, or are employed
in cutting itin order tomake hay. If the sentinel
perceives a Man, an Eagle, a Dog

ob?

or other dan-
gerous animal, he instantly alarms his companions
by a ine erst tle, and is himself the last that enters
the hole

As ie continue torpid during the winter; and
as if foreseeing, that they would then have.no oc-

* Beauplau’s description of Ukraine-—This writer seems either to
have mistaken the Marmot for the next following species, or to have
confounded the two. ‘The animals he describes, he calls Bobaques.

THE ALPINE MARMOT. Ad.

easion for food ; they lay up no provisions in their
apartments. But, when they feel the first approach-
es of the sleeping season, they shut up both the
passages to their residence ; and this operation they
perform with such labour and solidity, that it is more
difficult to dig the earth in the parts they have thus
fortified than in any adjacent spot. At this time
they are very fat, weighing sometimes twenty
pounds: and continue 30 for three months; but
afterwards gradually decline, and by the end of win-
ter become extremely emaciated. When seized in
their winter retreats, they appear rolled up in the
form of a ball, and are covered with hay. In this
state they are so torpid, that they may be killed
without seeming to feel the smallest pain. Like the
Dormice, and all other animals which sleep during
the winter, tlie Marmots are revived by a gradual
and gentle heat. And those individuals that are fed
in houses, and kept warm, never become torpid, but
are equally active and lively through the whole year.

In their wild state, the old Marmots, at break of
day, come out of their holesand feed; afterwards
they bring out their young ones. The latter scamper
on all sides; chase each other; sit on their hind-
feet ; and remain in that posture, facing towards the
sun, with an air expressive of satisfaction. They
are all particularly fond of warmth ; and when they
think themselves secure, will bask in the sun for se-
veral hours. Before they collect the grass, either
for their. food or for their winter habitations, they
form themselves into a circle, sitting on their hind-
legs;sand look about on all sides. On the least alarm

Ge2

452 THE ALPINE MARMO®.
being given, they immediately hasten to their hiding
places.

In the countries where the rhubarb * grows, it
is said that the Marmot generally fixes its residence
near those plants ; and wherever ten or twenty of
these are found near each other, there are always
several of its burrows under the shade of their broad
leaves. Itis probable, that the manure thus laid
about the root contributes, in a considerable degree,
towards the increase of the plants; and that the
casting up of the earth causes the young shoots to
come forth more freely. The Mongols take very’.
little care in the cultivation of rhubarb ; therefore
we scem to be ina great measure indebted to the
Marmots for this useful root. Wherever the seed
becomes scattered among grass it is generally lost,
from not reaching the ground ; but when it is thrown
among the loose earth cast up by these little animals,
-it immediately takes root, and produces a new
plant --.

The Marmot has a quick eye, and discovers an
enemy at a considerable distance. He never does the
least injury to any other animal, andattemptsto escape
when attacked. In fact, when apprehensive of being
followed, whole families of them quit their dwellings,
and wander from mountain to mountain, although
they have in consequence new habitations to con-.
struct. But, when flight is impossible, they defend
themselves with spirit against even Men and Dogs,

* Rheum Palmatum, of Linnews. — + Bell, i. 838.

THE BOBAC, A53

and assail both with their teeth and claws all those
who approach them.

When taken young, the Marmot is easily domes-
ticated. It will walk on its hind-feet, sit upright
and carry food to its mouth with its fore-feet. It

3

will dance with a stick between its paws, and per-
form various tricks to please its master.—It has a
singular antipathy to Dogs, and will maintain an at-
tack from even the mest formidable of them.
Though small, it is extremely stout, and in addition
to this, peculiarly dexterous ; and notwithstanding:
it is able to bite most cruelly, it attacks no one un-
less previously irritated.

When they are on the ground, these creatures
may be caught without difficulty ; but except when
torpid, they are not so easily taken in their holes,
since they dig very deep when in danger.—In win-
ter they are taken in great numbers ; both on ac-
count of their flesh, which is very tender and deli-
cate, and for their skins. Their fat is esteemed
medicinal by the inhabitants of the Alps.

THE BGBAC *,

The Bobac is about the size of the Alpine Mar-
mot. Its colouris grey above, and beneath fulvous
or ferruginous. The tail 1s short, somewhat slender,
and very hairy.—It is a native of Poland, Russia,
and other mountainous parts of Europe.

* Synonyms.—Arctomys Bobac. Linn. Gmel—Bobak. Bufin—
Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 144.
Gg 3

A5A THE BOBAC,

These animals burrow obliquely in the ground te
the depth of two, three, or four yards: and form num-
bers of galleries, with one common entrance from the
surface ; each gallery ending in the nest of its inha-
bitants. Sometimes, however, the burrows consist
of but one passage. Though these are found in the
greatest numbers where the earth is lightest, yet
they are very common even in the strata of the
mountains. In very hard and rocky places, from
twenty to forty of these animals join together to
facilitate the work ; and they live in society, each
with its nest at the end of its respective gallery.—
To their nests they collect (especially towards au-
tumn) the finest hay they can procure; andin such
plenty, that sufficient is often found in one of them
for a night’s food for a Horse.

During the middle, or sunny part of the day,
they sport about the entrance of their holes; but
seldom go far fromthem. At the sight of Man,
they retire with a slow pace; and sit upright near
the entrance, giving a frequent whistle, and list-
ening to the approach. In places where they live in
large fainilies, they always place a sentinel to give
notice of any danger, during the time when the
rest are employed in feeding *.

They are mild, good-natured, and timid. They
feed only on vegetables; which they go in search
of inthe morning, and about the middle of the
day. They sit on their hams when they eat, and
carry the food to their mouth with their fore-paws ;

ee ee

* Penn. Quad.il. 400.

THE SQUIRRELS. A55

and in this posture it is that they defend themselves
when attacked. When they are irritated, or when
any one attempts to lay hold ofthem, they bite des-
perately, and utter a very shrill cry.—In summer
they eat voraciously : but remain torpid all winter,
except when kept in very warm places ;—and even
then they eat but little, and will, if possible, escape
into some comfortable place in which to pass this
dreary season; but they return to their master in
the spring. They very soon become tame, even
when taken of full age ; and the young ones are fa-
milar from the moment they are caught:

The flesh is eatable ; and, except that it 1s some-
what rank, resembles that of the Hare. The fat is
used for dressing leather and furs ; and the skins are
employed by the Russians for clothing.—The fe-
male brings forth early in the spring, and has usu-
ally six or eight young ones at a litter.

——_

THE SQUIRRELS.

THE Squirrels are for the most part light, nim-
ble, and elegant animals; climbing trees with the
utmost agility, and springing with astonishing se-
curity from one branch to another. Some of them
are provided with hairy membranes, extending from
the fore to the hind-legs ; which, when spread out,
by rendering them more buoyant, enable them to
leap considerable distances from tree to tree. Some

G g4

450 THE COMMON SQUIRREL.

of the species form their nests, and live almost en-
tirely, in the trees; and others burrow under the
ground. None of them are carnivorous. Many
of the Squirrels may, with care, be rendered do-
cile ; but when they are in the least irritated, they
attempt to bite. In confinement they are generally
very frolicsome. When they are on the ground,
they advance by leaps; and in eating they sit erect,
and hold the food in their fore-paws.

They have two front-teeth in each jaw ; the up-
per ones wedge-shaped, and the lower sharp : five
grinders on each side of the upper-jaw, and four on
each side of the under one. ‘They have also col-
Jar-bones in the skeleton; and in most of the species,
the tail spreads towards each side *.

THE COMMON SQUIRREL ‘f.

This elegant little animal is equally admired for
the neatness of its figure, and the activity and live-
liness of its disposition. ‘Though naturally wild and
timid, it is soon reconciled to confinement, and
easily taught ta receive with freedom the most fa-
miliar caresses from the hand that feeds it.

In the spring these creatures seem peculiarly ac-
tive ; pursuing each other among the trees, and ex-
erting various efforts of agility. During the warm
summer nights they may also be observed in a si-

* Linn. Gmel. 1. 145.
+ Synonyms.—Sciurus vulgaris. Linn.—Ecureil—Bujon——
Bew. Quad. 352.

THE COMMON SQUIRREL,’ AD?

milar exercise. They seem to dread the heat of the
sun; for during the day, they commonly remain
in their nests, and make their principal excursions
by night.

The nest of the Squirrel is, in its construction, ex-
ceedingly curious. It is generally formed among the
large branches of a great tree, where they begin to
fork off into small ones. After choosing the place
where the timber begins to decay, and where a hol-
low may the more easily be formed, the Squirrel be-
gins by making a kind of level between these forks ;
and then bringing moss, twigs, and dry leaves, it
binds them together with such art as to resist the
most violent storm. ‘This is covered up on all sides;
and has but a single opening at the top, just large
enough to admit the little animal ; and ‘this opening
is itself defended from the weather by a kind of ca-
nopy, formed like a cone, so as to throw off the
rain, however heayy it may fall. The nest thus
formed, is very commodious and roomy below ; soft,
well knit together, and every way convenient and
warm. ‘The provision of nuts and acorns is seldom
found in its nest; but in the hollows of the tree,
carefully laid up together, and where it is never
touched by the animals but in cases of necessity
when no food is to be had abroad. Thus a tree
serves both for aretreat and a scorehouse ; and
without leaving it during the winter, the Squirrel
possesses all those enjoyments that his nature 1s ca-
pable of receiving.

This little animal is extremely watchful: and it is
said, that if the tree in which it resides is but touch-

A58 . THE COMMON SQUIRREL,

ed at the bottom, it takes the alarm, quits its nest,
at once flies off to another tree, and thus travels with
great ease along the whole forest, until it finds itself
perfectly out of danger. In this manner it continues
for some hours at a- distance from home, until
the alarm is past; and then it returns by paths’
that, to nearly all quadrupeds but itself, are utierly
impassable. Its usual way of moving is by bounds ;
these it takes from one tree to another at a very
great distance ; and if it is at any time obliged to
descend, runs up the side of the next tree with
astonishing facility.

It seldom makes any noise, except when it expe-
riences either pain or pleasure: in the former case
it makes a sharp piercing note; and in the latter,
it makes a noise not unlike the purring of a Cat.
—The tail of the Squirrel is its greatest ornament ;
and serves as a defence against the cold, being large
enough to cover the whole body: it is likewise of
use to the animal in taking its leaps from one tree
to another.

In northern climates the Squirrels change their
red summer coat, on the approach of winter, to
grey ; and it is singular that this alteration will take
place in those climates, even within the warmth of a
stove. Dr. Pallas had one, entirely red, brought to
him on the 12th of September. It was placed in a
stove. About the 4th of October many parts of its
body began to grow hoary: and when it died,
which was just a month afterwards, the whole body
had attained a grey colour; the legs, anda small
part of the face, alone retaining a reddish tinge *.

* Pallas, Nov. Sp. Quad. $73.

[4590]

THE GREY SQUIRREL *,

This species, both in its form and manners, very
much resembles the Common Squirrel. It is about
the size of a young Rabbet; and except the inside
of the limbs, and the under parts of the body, which
are white, its colour 's an elegant pale grey.

The Grey Squirrels are said to be natives of Lap-

‘land, and some other northern climates. ‘They often
change the places of their residence; and sometimes
not one of them can be found during a whole win-
ter, where there were millions in the preceding year.
In their journeys from one part of the country to
another, when it becomes necessary to pass a lake or
river (which is very frequently the case in Lapland),
they lay hold of a piece of pine or birch bark,
which they draw to the edge of the water, mount
upon it, and abandon themselves to the waves.
They erect their tails, to catch the wind; but, if it
blows too strong, or the waves rise high, the pilot and
the vessel are both overturned, This kind of wreck,
which often consists of three or four thousand sail,
generally enriches some Laplanders, who find the
dead bodies on the shore; and, if these have not
lain too long on the sand, they prepare the furs for
sale. But when the winds are favourable, the ad-
venturers make a happy voyage, and arrive in safety
at their destined port +.

* SynonyMs.—Sciurus Cinereus. Linn.—Petit gris. Buffon—
Grey Squirrel. Catesby. Penn.
Quad, 354. .

t Schetfer, 338, who quotes Olaus Petri as a witness to one of these
migrations. y

Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 147.— Bew.

460 THE GREY SQUIRREL.

The Grey Squirrels are also natives of North Ames
rica: where they do much mischief in the planta-
tions, but particularly among the maize; for they
climb up the stalks, tear the ears in pieces, and eat
only the loose and sweet kernel which lies quite in
the inside. They sometimes come by hundreds upon
a maize-field, and thus destroy the whole crop of a
farmer in one night, In Maryland therefore, some
years ago, every person was compelled to procure
and exhibit annually four fresh Squirrels; the heads
of which, to prevent deceit, were given to the sur-
veyor. In other provinces, every one who killed a
Squirrel received from the public treasury two-pence
on delivering up its head. Pennsylvaniaalone paid,
from January 1749 to January 1750, no lessasum
than ezght thousand pounds, currency, in rewards for
the destruction of these animals; consequently in
that year as many as 640,000 must have been killed,

This species resides principally among the trees ;
im the hollows of which it makes its nest, with straw,
moss, and other materials : and feeds on acorns, fir-
cones, maize, &c. as well as on various kinds of fruit,
It is said to amass great quantities of provision for
winter; which it deposits in holes that it prepares
beneath the roots of trees, and in other places,

When these animals are sitting on a bough, and
perceive a Man approach, they instantly move their
tails backward and forward, and make a chattering
noise with their teeth. ‘This renders them peculi-
arly odious to sportsmen, who often lose their game
by the alarm they thus create.

The flesh of the Grey Squirrel is eaten by some

THR BLACK SQUIRREL. ADL

persons, and is esteemed. very delicate. The skins in
America are used for ladies’ shoes; and are often
imported into England for the lining or facing of
cloaks *.—They are very difficult to kill; chang-
ing their place on the trees with such expedition, as
generally to elude the shot of the most expert
marksman.—They are said to be easily tamed; and

in that state to associate readily with other domestic
animals.

THE BLACK SQUIRREL}.

The Black Squirrels are very nearly allied to the
preceding species ; differing principally in their coal-
black colour, and somewhat shorter tail. The
muzzle and the tip of the tail are sometimes white.

They are natives of America, and migrate from
the territory of the United States. ‘They take to
the water when rivers lie in their route; but, asif
conscious of their inability to cross the Niagara in
its wide parts, they have been observed to bend
their course along its banks, above the falls, and at
its narrowest and most tranquil parts to cross into
the British territory. In the year 1795, it was
calculated that in the course of two or three days,
fifty thousand of them passed that river; and they
committed such depredations on arriving at the set-
tlements on the opposite side, that in one part of the
country the farmers deemed themselves very fortu-

A

* Penn. Arct. Zool. i. 117.
+ SynonyMms.—Sciurus Niger. Linn. —Ecureil noir. Bufon.—Black
Squirrel. Catesby. Penn—Shax's Gen. wool. pl, 147.

462, THE STR{PFED SQUIRREL,

nate where they got in only one-third of their crop
of corn.

“© Some writers (says Mr. Weld) hive asserted
that these animals cannot swim ; but that when they
come to a river, each one provides itself with a
piece of wood or bark, upon which, when a favour-
able wind offers, 11 embarks, spreads its bushy tail
to catch the wind, and is thus wafted over to the
opposite side. Whether they do or do not cross in
this manner sometimes, I cannot take upon me to
say; but I can safely affirm that they do not always
cross so, as I have frequently shot them in the water
while swimming. No animals swim better; and,
when pursued, I have seen them eagerly take to the
water. In swimming, their tail serves them by way
of rudder, and they use it with great dexterity ; OW-
ing to its being so light and bushy, the greater part
of it floats upon the water, and thus helps also to sup-
port them. Their migration in large ae 1S
said to be an infallible sign of a severe winter *

THE STRIPED SQUIRREL ‘4.

The leneth of the Striped Squirrel is about six
inches; its tail, which 1s rather more, is not curved
and bushy, but long and very narrow. The skin is
of a reddish brown ; and is marked with five black

* Weld.
+ Synonyms.—Sciurus Striatus. Linn—Striped Dormouse. Penn.
—Ground Squirrel. Kerr.—Ecureil Suisse. Buffon.—Suisse Squirrel.
La Hontan—Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 148.—Bew. Quad. 350.

THE STRIPED SQUIRREL. 463

streaks, one of which runs along the back, and two
oneach side.—These animals eat all kinds of corn;
and, like the Common Squirrel, collect provisions 1n
autumn for the winter, and store them in their holes.
They have two cheek pouches; which they fill with
corn in the fields, and in this manner convey it
home.

They are natives of America ; and dig holes in
the ground, which serve for their habitations, and
to which they fly for shelter whenever danger
is near. Their holes are deep; and commonly divi-
ded into many branches, from one of which they
have an opening to the surface of the ground. The
advantage they derive from this is, that when they
ramble abroad for food, and are prevented from en-
tering the hole at which they went out, they may
not expose themselves to their pursuers, but imme-
diately retreat into the other. But in autumn, when
the leaves are falling from the trees, it is very di-
verting to observe their consternation when pursued :
—for their holes being covered with leaves, they
have then some difficulty in finding them: they
run backward and forward, as though they had lost:
their way ; and seemto know where their subter-
raneous haunts lie, but cannot discover the entrances.
If they are pursued, and any sudden or loud noise
is made, they are constrained to take refuge in the
trees ; but this they never do unless in cases of ne-
cessity *.

Their subterraneous dwellings are formed with

* Kalm,

AGA THE STRIPED SQUIRREL,

much art; being worked into long galleries, with
branches on each side, and each terminating in
an enlarged apartment in which they hoard
their stock of winter provision. Their acorns are
jodged in one ; in a second the maize; in a third
the hickery-nuts; and in the fourth, _ perhaps
their most favourite food, the chesnut. Nature has
given them a fine convenience for collecting their
provisions, in their cheek pouches; which they fill
with different articles of their food, that are to be
conveyed to their magazines. In Siberia they hoard
up the kernels of the stone-pine in such quantities,
that ten or fifteen pounds weight of them have been
taken out of a single magazine *.

As a Swede was some time ago making a mill-
dike, pretty late in autumn, he took for that pur-
pose the soil of a neighbouring hill, and met by
chance with a subterraneous walk belonging to these
Squirrels. By tracing it to some distance, he dis-
covered a gallery on one side, likea branch parting
from the main stem. It was nearly two feet long ;
and at its extremity was a quantity of remarkably
plump acorns of the white oak, which the careful
little animal had stored up against the winter. He
soon afterwards found another gallery, on one side,
like the former, but containing a store of maize;
a third had hickery-nuts; and the last and most se-
cret one contained.as many excellent chesnuts as
would have filled two hats +.

In winter, these Squirrels are seldom seen; as

* Penn. Arct. Zool, 1. 127. + Kalm, i. 223.

THE AMERICAN FLYING SQUIRREL. 405

during that season they keep within their holes. On
a fine clear day, however, they sometimes come out.
—They frequently dig through into cellars, where
the country people lay up their apples; these they
often eat or spoil in such a manner that few or none
of any value are left.—In the choice of their food
they are remarkably nice; having been observed,
after filling their pouches with rye, to fling it out
on meeting with wheat, and to substitute for it thé
superior grain *,

They are not to be tamed without great difficulty ;
and even then it is always dangerous to handle them,
as they will bite pretty keenly when a person is not
aware of them.

They are caught merely on account of their skins;
which, though forming but a slight or ordinary fur,
have a very pleasing appearance when properly set
off. These are said to be chiefly sold to the Chinese.

THE AMERICAN FLYING SQUIRREL +}.

This animal, which isa native of most parts of
North America, has large black eyes, circular naked
ears, and a hairy membrane extending nearly round
the body. ‘The tail, which tapers to a point, has
its hairs disposed flatways on its sides. ‘The upper
parts of the body are of a cinereous brown : the belly
is white, tinged with yellow. ‘The membrane passes

* Penn: Aret. Zool. i. 127.
$+ Synonyms.—Sciurus Volucella. Linn. —Flying Squirrel. Catesdy, ,
--Quimichpatlan. Ferrand—Polatouche. Buffon—American Fly-
ing Squirrel. Shaw.

Vou.[. Hh

AbO THE AMERICAN FLYING SQUIRREL.

the fore and hind legs, to the tail: on the fore legs
it adheres as far as the toes, and includes a peculiar
bone which is attached to the wrist, and helps to
stretch out this skin in flying; and on the hind leg
it exstends to the ancles *.

These Squirrels inhabit hollow trees : where they
sleep during the day, and from whence they only
make their appearance in the night; at which latter
time they are very lively and active. ‘They associate
in flocks ; several living inthe same tree, which
they never willingly quit to run upon the ground,
but almost constantly reside among the branches.—
By means of their lateral membranes, they are able to
imakeastonishing leaps of tenortwelve yards, fromtree
to tree. In these efforts they extend their hind legs,
and streteh out the intervening skin, by which they
present a greater surface to the air, and become more
buoyant. Theyare, however, still under the neces-
sity of taking advantage of the lower branches of the
trees ; to which they leap, for their weight prevents
them from keeping in a straight line. Sensible of
this, they always take care to mount so high as to
ensure them from falling to the ground. This ex-
tended skin acts upon the air somewhat in the man-
ner of a paper kite, and not by repeated strokes like
the wings of a bird. The animal, being naturally
heavier than the air, must of course descend ; the
distance, therefore, to which it can jump, depends
on the height of the tree on which it stands. When
it is at rest, the skin is wrinkled up against its sides.

ate tren Ses ge SP SS . el

* Kerr, i, 267.

THE EUROPEAN FLYING SQUIRREL. 467

These animals are generally seen in flocks of ten
or twelve ; and to persons unaccustomed to them,
they appear at a distance, in their leaps, like leaves
blown from the trees by the wind. ‘* When I first
saw them (says Catesby), I took them for dead leaves
blown one way by the wind; but was not long so
deceived, whenI perceived many of them follow
one another in the same direction. They will fly
fourscore yards from one tree to another *.”

The females produce three or four young at a
time. This species use the same food, and form their
hoards in the same manner, as others of the Squir-
rel tribe. They are easily tamed, and soon become
familiar: they love warmth, and are very fond of
creeping into the sleeve or pocket of their owner ;
and if thrown upon the ground, they instantly shew
their dislike to it by running up and sheltering thems

selves :n his clothes +.

THE EUROPEAN FLYING SQUIRREL ne

The European Flying Squirrel differs from the
last species principally in having its tail full of hair,
and rounded at the end: and in the colour of its
body; the upper part of which is a fine grey, and
the. lower white. Its whole length is about nine
inches, of which the tail occupies five.—It is found
in the woods of Siberia, Lapland, and other north-

ms

a

* Catesby, it 77. ¥ Penn. Arct. Zool. ii. 120.
{ Synonyms.—Sciurus Volans. Linn.—Flying Squirrel. Penz.—
Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 149.—Bew. Quad. 361,

Hh

Polatouche. Bujjon—

A68 THE DORMICE.

ern regions, where it feeds principally on the young
branches of the beech and pine.

Its nest is formed of moss, in the hollows, high
among the branches; and, except during the
breeding season, itis solitary. It always sleeps dur-
ing the day-time, and seldom appears abroad in bad.
weather. It is active the whole winter ; being fre-
quently taken during that season, in the traps laid
for the Grey Squirrels. Like the last species, it can
leap to vast distances from tree to tree.

The females have two, three, and sometimes four,
young at a time. When the mother goes outin search
of food, she carefully wraps them up in the moss
of her nest. She pays them the utmost attention ;
brooding over them, and sheltering their tender bo-
dies, by her flying membrane, from the cold. When
taken from the nest, it has been found very difficult
to keep the young alive; owing probably to the
want of proper food.—The skins of these Squirrels

are not very valuable in a commercial view *.

THE DORMICE.
@
ESE animals live in holes in the ground, where
they always continue in a state of torpidity during
the winter. Their pace is a kind of leap ; in which,

—

* Pennant.

THE COMMON DORMOUSE. A6Q

like the Jerboas, they are assisted by their tails.
They feed entirely on vegetables, and eat only in
the night. In this act they sit upright, and carry
the food to their mouth with the paws. When they
are thirsty, they do not lap (like most other qua-
drupeds); but dip their fore-feet, with the toes bent,
into the water, and drink from them *

They haye two front-teeth in each jaw; the upper
wedge-shaped, the lower compressed ; and in each
jaw four grinders. The whiskers are long. ‘The tail
is cylindrical, hairy, and thickest towards the end.
The fore and hind legs are of nearly equal length;
and the fore-feet have each four toes f.

THE COMMON DORMOUSE ff.

This animal is aboutthe size of a Mouse; but more
plump or rounded ; and of a tawny red colour, with
a white throat and full black eyes.—It lives in woods,
or thick hedges ; forming its nest of grass, dried
leaves, or moss, in the hollow of some low tree, or
near the bottom of a close shrub.

The Dormice have not the sprightliness of the
Squirrel ; but, like that animal, they form little ma-
gazines of nuts, acorns, and other food, for their
winter provision, The consumption of their hoard,
during the rigour of winter, is but small; for, re-
tiring into their holes on the approach of the cold,

* Kerr. i. 270. + Linn. Gmel. i. 155.
t Synonyms.—Myoxus Muscardinus. Linn. Gmel.+-Mus Avel-
anarius.— Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. xii—Dormouse, or Sleeper. Ray.—
Musceardin. Bujfor—Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 1514.—~Bew. Quad. 350.

Hhg3

A7O “THE SIBERIAN JERBOA.

and rolling themselves up, they lie torpid nearly all
that gloomy season. Sometimes they experience a
short revival in a warm sunny day ; when they take
a little food, and then relapse into their former
state. : | i

They make their nest of grass, moss, and dried
leaves ; this 1s ‘six inches in diameter, and open only
from above.-—Their number of young, is generally
three or four. =

THE JERBOA TRIBE.

The Jerboas seem, in many respects both of con-
formation and habit, much allied to the Kanguroos;
but an adherenee to artificial system will not allow
them to be arranged together. They use their long
hind legs in leaping, very seldom going on all-fours;
and with their fore-legs, they both carry the food
totheir mouth, and make their holes in the ground.
They are inhabitants principally of the warmer
climates.

They have two front teeth above, and two be-
low. The fore-legs are short, and the hind-ones very
Jong ; and they have clavicles, or collar bones.

THE SIBERIAN JEREOA *.

This species is found in different parts of the
Eastern deserts of Siberia: it also occurs in Bar-

* Synonyms —Dipus Jaculus. Linn. Gmel—Mus Jaculus.—
finn. Syst. Nat. ed. 1%.—Egyptian Jerboa. Pennant.—Jerboa. Bruce.
—Jerbo. Sonnint—Gerboa, or Daman Israel. Shaw's T'ravels.—Ger-
boise et Alagtava. Bujjon—Erdhaase. Gmelin’s Travels. Shaw's
Gen. ool. pl. 158.—Bew. Quad. $64.

THE SIBERIAN JERBOA. 47)
bary, Syria, and some parts of Tartary ; but sel-
dom in great plenty. It 1s of a pale-yellowish fawn
colour on the upper parts, and white beneath. The
length of the body is about eight inches; and of
the tail, ten. It very much resembles the Egyp-
tian Jerboa ; except in the hind-feet, each of which
has five instead of three toes.

The Jerboas inhabit dry, hard, and clayey ground.
They dig their burrows very speedily, not only with
their fore-feet, but with their teeth ; and fling the
earth back with their hind-feet, so as to form a heap
atthe entrance. The burrows are many yards long;
and run obliquely and winding, but not above half-
a-yard deep below the surface. They endina large
space or nest, the receptacle of the purest herbs.
They have usually but one entrance; yet, by a
wonderful sagacity, the animals work from their
nest another passage, to within a yery small space
from the surface, which, in case of necessity, they
can burst through, and so escape *, |

The sands and rubbish which surround modern
Alexandria, are mucn frequented by the Jerboas.
They live there in troops; and, in digging the
ground, are said to penetrate even through a stra-
tum of softish stone, which is under the layer
of sand. Though not actually wild, they are ex-
ccedingly restless: the slightest noise, or any new
object whatever, makes them retire to their holes
with the utmost precipitation.

It is almost impossible to kill them, except when.

* Penn. Quad. ii. 430.

Wha

A472 THE SIBERIAN JERBOA.

they are taken by surprise.. The Arabs have the art
of catching them alive, by stopping up the outlets
to the different galleries belonging to the colony ;
one excepted, through which they force them out *.

Though animals of a very chilly nature, they keep
within their holes in the day, and wander about only
during the night. They first come out at sun-set,
and clear their holes of their filth ; and they remain
abroad till the sun has drawn up the dews from the
earth f.

They walk only on their hind-legs, the fore-legs
being very short; and, on the approach of any dan-
ger, they immediately take to flight, in leaps six or
seven feet high, which they repeat so swiftly that a
man mounted ona good horse can scarcely overtake
them. ‘They do not proceed in a straight line ; but
run first to one side, and then to the other, till they
find either their own burrow, or some neighbouring
one. In leaping, they bear their tails (which are
longer than their bodies) stretched out. In stand-
ing or walking, they carry them in the form of an
S; the lower part touching the ground, so that it
seems a director of their motions. When surprised,
they will sometimes go on all-fours ; but they soon
Tecover their attitude of standing on their hind-legs,
like a bird. When undisturbed, they use the former
posture ; then rise erect, listen, and hop about like
acrow. In digging or eating, they drop on their

* Sonnini, i. 162.
+ Sonnini cbserves, that, as far as he could learn, the contrary is
the case; and that their principal time of being abroad ts during the

day.

THE SIBERIAN JERBOA. ATS

fore-legs ; but in the latter action, they often sit up
also like a squirrel *,

The Arabs of the kingdom of Tripoli, in Africa,
teach their Greyhounds to hunt the Antelope, by
first instructing them to catch Jerboas : and so agile
are these little creatures, that Mr. Bruce has often
seen, ina large court-yard or inclosure, the Grey-
hound employed a quarter ofan hour before he could
kill his diminutive adversary ; and had not the Dog
been well trained, so as to make use of his feet as
well as his teeth, he might have killed two Ante-
lopes in the time of killing one Jerboa +.

In their wild state, these animals are fond of tulip-
roots, and nearly all the oleaginous plants; but in
confinement, they do not refuse raw meat. They
are the prey of most of the smaller rapacious beasts.
It requires no difficulty to tame them, but it is ne-
cessary that they should be kept warm. ‘They are
so susceptible of cold, as to foretell bad weather by
wrapping themselves close up intheir cage before
its Commencement; and those that are abroad, always,
on these occasions, stop up the mouths of their
burrows. ‘They sleep during the winter, but a
warm day sometimes revives them. On the return
of the cold they retreat again to their holes +.

M. Sonnini fed for some time, while he was in
Egypt, six of these animals, in a large cage of iron
wire. The very first night they entirely gnawed
asunder the upright and cross sticks of their prison ;
and he was under the necessity of having the inside

* Penn. Qual, i. 430. } Bruce. t+ Penn, Quad. ii. 431.

Ard THE SIBERIAN JERBOA.

of the cage lined with tin. They were fond of
basking in the sun ; and the moment they were put
in the shade, they clung to each other, and seemed
to suffer from the privation of warmth. They did
not usually sleep during the day. Though they had
much agility in their movements, gentleness and
tranquillity seemed to form their character. They
suffered themselves to be stroked with great compo-
sure; and never made a noise or quarrelled, even
when food was scattered among them. No distin-
cuishing symptoms of joy, fear, or gratitude were dis-
coverable: and even their gentleness was by no
means either amiable or interesting ; it appeared the
effect of a cold and complete indifference, approach-
ing to stupidity. Three of these died, before Son-
nini left Alexandria ; two died on a rough passage to
the island of Rhodes ; and the last was lost, and, as
he supposes, devoured by Cats, while he was at the
island.

He says it is very difficult to transport these ten-
der little creatures into other climates: but as an in-
dispensable precaution to those who attempt it, he
adyises that they be close shut up in strong cages,
or other conveniences, without any possibility of
escaping; for their natural disposition inciting them
to gnaw whatever comes in their way, they may
occasion very considerable damage to a ship in the
course of her voyage; and, being able to eat
through the hardest wood, may eyen endanger her
sinking *,

a

*Sonnini, i, 262.

THE COMMON HARE, A?75

They breed several times in the summer, and
bring seven or eight young ata time. The Arabs
eat them, and esteem them among their greatest
delicacies.

THE, HARE, TRIBE.

THE generic character of the Hares consists in
their having two front-teeth, both above and below,
the upper pair duplicate ; two small interior ones
standing behind the others: the fore-feet with five,
and the hinder with four, toes.

These animals live entirely on vegetable food, and
are all remarkably timid. They run by akind of
leaping pace, and in walking they use their hind-
feet as faras the heel. Their tails are either very
short (called in England scwts); or else they are en-
tirely wanting *, |

THE COMMON HARET.

This little animal is found throughout Europe, and
indeed in most of the northern parts of the world.
Being destitute of weapons of defence, it 1s endowed
by Providence in a high degree with the sentiment
of fear. Its timidity is known to every one: it is
attentive to every alarm, and is, therefore, turnish-

—_—————rn

* Kerr. ii, 277.
+ SyNonyms.—Lepus Timidus. Lvny.—Lievre. Pujfor.—Shazs
Gen. Zool. pl. 162e—Bew. Quad. 337.

476 THE COMMON HARE.

ed with ears very long and tubular, which catch the
remotest sounds. ‘The eyes are so prominent as to
enable the animal to see both before and behind.

The Hare feeds in the evenings, and sleeps in
his form during the day; and as he generally hes
on the ground, his feet are protected, both above
and below, with a thick covering of hair. In a
moon-light evening many of them may frequently
be seen sporting together, leaping about and pur-
suing each other ; but the least noise alarms them,
and they then scamper off, each in a different di-
rection. ‘Their pace is a kind of gallop, or quick
succession of leaps; and they are extremely swift,
particularly in ascending higher grounds, to which,
when pursued, they generally have recourse: here
their large and strong hind-legs are of singular use
to them.—In northern regions, where, on the de-
scent of the winter’s snows, they would (were their
summer fur to remain) be rendered particularly
conspicuous to animals of prey, they change their
yellow-grey dress inthe autumn, for one perfectly
white; and are thus enabled,in a great measure,
to elude their enemies.

In more temperate regions they chuse in winter a
form exposed to the south, to obtain all the possible
wermth of that season ; and in summer, when they
are desirous of shunning the hot rays of the sun,
they change this foc one witha northernly aspect :
but in both cases they have the instinct of generally
fixing upon a place where the immediately surround-
ing objects are nearly the colour of their own bo-
dies.

THE COMMON HARE. 477

In one Hare that a gentleman watched ; as soon
as the Dogs were beard, though at the distance of
nearly a mile, she rose from her form, swam across
arivulet, then lay down among the bushes on the
other side, and by this means evaded the scent of
the Hounds. When a Hare has been chased for a
considerable length of time, she will sometimes push
another from its seat, and lie down there herself.
‘When hard pressed, she will mingle with a flock of
Sheep, run up an old wall and conceal herself among
the grass on the top of it, or cross a river several
times at small distances. She never runsin a line
directly forward; but constantly doubles about,
which frequently throws the Dogs out of the scent :
and she generally goes.against the wind. It is ex-
tremely remarkable that Hares, however frequently
pursued by the Dogs, seldom leave the place where
they were brought forth, or that in which they
usually sit; and it is a verycommon thing to. find
them, after a long and_ severe chase, in the same
place the day following.

The females have less strength and agility than
the males: they are, consequently, more timid;
and never suffer the Dogs to approach themso near,
before they rise, as the males. They are likewise
said to practise more arts, and to double more fie-
quently.

This animal is gentle, and susceptible even of
education. He does not often, however, though
he exhibits some degree of attachment to his mas-
ter, become altogether domestic : for, even when
taken very young, brought up in the house, and

478 THE COMMON HARE.

accustomed to kindness and attention, no sooner is
he arrived at a certain age, than he generally seizes
the first opportunity of recovering his liberty, and
flying to the fields.

While Dr. Townson was at Gottingen, he had -
a young Hare brought to him, which he took so
much pains with as to render it more familiar than
these animals commonly are. In the evenings it
soon became so frolicsome, as to run and jump
about hissofa and bed: sometimes in its play it
would leap upon lim, and pat him with its fore-feet ;
or, while he was reading, even knock the book out
of his hand. But whenever a stranger entered the
room, the little creature always exhibited considera-
ble alarm *.

Mr. Borlase saw a Hare that.was so familiar as to
feed from the hand, lie under a chair in a common
sitting-room, and appear in every other respect
as easy and comfortable in its situation as a Lap-dog-
It now and then went out into the garden; but
after regaling itself, always returned to the house
as its proper habitation. Its usual companions were
a Grey-hound and a Spaniel; both so fond of Hare-
hunting, that they often went out together without
any person accompanying them. With these two.
Dogs this tame Hare spentits evenings : they always
slept on the same hearth, and very frequently it
would rest itself upon them -F.

Hares are very much infested with Fleas. Lin-.
nus tells us that cloth made of their far will attract

* ‘Fownson’s Ty.cis, p. 146. + Borlase, p. 289.

THE COMMON HARE. 470
these insects, and preserve the wearer himself from
their troublesome attacks.

Dogs and Foxes pursué the Hare by instinct ;
Wild Cats, Weesels, and birds of prey, devour it;
and Man, far more powerful than all its other ene-
mies, makes use of every artifice to seize upon
an animal which constitutes one of the numerous
delicacies of his table. Even this poor defenceless
beast is rendered an object of amusement, in its
chase, to this most arrogant of all animals, who
boasts his superiority over the brute creation in the
possession of intellect and reason. Wretchedly in-
deed are these perverted when exercised in so cruel;
so unmanly a pursuit :

Poor is the triumph o’er the timid Hare!
Yet vain her best precaution: though she sits
Conceal’d with folded ears ; unsleeping eyes,
By nature rais’d to take th’ horizan in;

And head conceal’d betwixt her hairy feet,
In act to spring away. ‘The scented dew
Betrays her early labyrinth ; and deep

In scaiter’d, sullen openings, far behind,
With ev’ry breeze she hears the coming storm :
But nearer, and more frequent, as it loads
The sighing gale, she springs amaz’d, andall
The savage soul of game is up at once.

In India the Hare is hunted for sport ; not only
with Dogs, but with Hawks, and some species of
the Cat tribe. The flesh, though in esteem among
the Romans, was forbidden by the Druids, and by
the Britons of the early centuries. It is now,
though very black, dry, and devoid of fat, much
esteemed by the Europeans, on account of its pecu-
liar flayour.

ASO THE VARYING HARE.

The female goes with young about a month ; she
generally produces three of four at a litter, and this
about four times in the year. The eyes of the
young ones are open at their? birth?" Phe dam
suckles them about twenty days, after which they
leave her and procure their own food. ‘They make
forms at a little distance from each other, and never
go far from the place where they were brought
forth. . The Hare lives about eight years.

THE VARYING HARE ®™.,

This species has a very soft fur; which in sum-
mer is grey, with a slight mixture of tawny: the
tail is always white. The ears are shorter, and the
legs more slender, than those of the Common Hare ;
and the feet more closely and warmly furred. In
size, this animal is always somewhat smaller.

Besides other cold parts of Europe, the Varying
Hare is found on the tops of the highest Scots hills,
never descending tothe plains. It will not mix with
the last described species, though common in the
same neighbourhood. It does not run fast; and
when alarmed, takes shelter in clefts of the rocks.

In September it begins to change its grey coat,
and resume its white winter’s dress; in which only
the tips and edges of the ears, and the soles of the
feet, are black. Inthe month of April it again be-

comes grey. It is somewhat singular, that although

* Synonyms.—Lepus Variabilis. Linn.—Alpine Hare. For. ‘er.
Penn. Syn—Varying Ware. Penn. Quad,

oY
Se

THE RABBET. AS

this animal be brought into a house, and even kept
in stoved apartments, yet it still changes its colour at
the same pe-iods as when among its native mountains.

In some parts of Siberia the Varying Hares col-
lect together in such multitudes, that flocks of five
or six hundred of them may be seen migrating in
spring, and returning in the autumn. Want of
sustenance compels them to this: in winter they
therefore quit the lofty hills, the southern bounda-
ries of Siberia, and seck the plains and northern
wooded parts, where vegetables abound; and to-
wards spring they again return to their mountainous
quarters *, .

In their white state the flesh is extremely insipid.

THE RABBET -.

The Rabbet lives in holes in the earth, where she
brings forth her young. ‘The fecundity of this ant-
mal is truly astonishing. It breeds seven times in

-
ro)

the year, and generally produces seven or. eight
young ones at a time. . Supposing this to happen re-
cularly for about four ytars, the progeny from a
single pair will amount to more than @ million,
Their numerous enemies prevent any increase likely
to prove injurious to mankind; for besides their ab
fording food to us, they are devoured also by animals

* Penn. Quad. 4.397109 |.
+ Synonyms.—Lepus Cuniculus. Liui.—Lapin Sauvase. Bution.
—Coney. Ray —Shaw's Gen. Zoel. pi. 192.—Bew. Quad, 341, G43

Vou. I; | ee

A482 THE RABBET.

of prey, of almost every description, which make
dreadful havoc among them. Yet, notwithstanding
this, in the time of the Romans they ¢nce proved
such a nuisance in the Balearic islands, <hat the in-
habitants were obliged to implore the assistance of a
military force from Augustus to exterminate them.

The female goes with young about thirty days. A
short time previously to her littering, if she does
not find a hole suited to her purpose, she digs one ;
not ih a straight line, but of a zig-zag form. ‘The
bottom of this she enlarges every way; and then,
with « quantity of hair which she pulls from her own
body, she makes a warm and comfortable bed for
her young. During the whole of the first two days
she never leaves them, except when pressed by hun-
ger; and then she eats with surprising quickness:
and immediately returns. She always conceals them
from the male, lest he should devour them ; and
therefore when she goes out, she covers up the
hole so carefully that its place is scarcely percepti-
ble to the eye. In this manner she continues. her
attention for about a month; at the end of which
period, the young are able to provide for
themselves. ‘Notwithstanding the unaccountable
propensity which the male has to devour them when
very young, yet when they are brought by the mo.
ther to the mouth of the hole, to eat such vegeta-
bles as she gets for them, he seems to know them,
t2kes them betwixt his paws, smooths their hair
and caresses them with great tenderness.

Nabbets, as they cannot easily articulate sounds,

THE RABBET. 483

and areformed into societies that live under grounds
have a singular method of giving alarm. When
danger is threatened, they thump on the earth
with one of their hind feet; and thus produce a
sound that can be heard a great way by animals near
the surface. ‘This, Dr. Darwin, from its singu-
‘larity, and its aptness to the situation of the animals,
concludes (though apparently upon false grounds)
to. be an artificial sign, and merely acquired from
their having experienced its utility. He will not
allow of any thing like an instinctive propensity.

We have the following account in Dr. Anderson’s
Recreations of Agriculture, of the regular produc-
tion of a singular varicty of the Rabbet, with only
one ear.— A gentleman of my acquaintance chanced
to find a Rabbet among his breed that had only one
ear; he watched the progeny of that creature, and
among them he found one of the opposite sex that
had only one ear also : he paired these two Rabbets
together; and has now a breed of Rabbets one-
eared, which propagate as fast, and as constant pro-
duce their like, as the two-eared Rabbets from
which they were originally descended.”

The fur of the Rabbet is very useful in the manu-
facture of hats. The flesh, which was forbidden to
the Jews and Mahometans, is well known to be very

delicate.

hia

[i aea"

THE ALPINE HARE™®.

4

The Alpine Hare is about nine inches in length,
Yt has a long head and whiskers; and above each
eye there are two very long hairs. ‘The ears are short
and rounded. The fur is dusky at the roots, of a

bright bay at the ends, slightly tipped with white,.

and intermixed with long dusky hairs: at first sight,
however, the animals seem of a bright, unmixed
bay colour.

Their most southern residence is on the Altaic
chain of mountains near lake Baikal, in Siberia; and
they extend from thence as far northward as ta
Kamtschatka.—They are always found in the middle
regions of the snowy mountains, where these are
clad with woods, and where’ herbs and moisture
abound. ‘They sometimes burrow between the rocks,
but more frequently lodge in the crevices. They
are xenerally found in pairs ; but in bad weather they
collect together, lie on the rocks, and whistle so
much like the chirp of Sparrows, as easily to deceive
the hearer. On the report of a gun they run off into
their holes; whence, however, if nothing more ig
heard, they soon return.

By the usual wonderful instinct of similar animals,
they make a provisien agaiast the rigorous season in
their inclement seats. A company of them, towards
autumn, collect together vast heaps of fayourite
herbs and grasses, nicely dried ; which they place

* Synonyms.—Lepus Alpinus. Liin—Mountain Hare. Kerry ——s
Shaw's Gen. Sool. pl. 163.

THE ALPINE HARE. AS5

either beneath the overhanging rocks, or between
the chasms, or around the trunk ofsome tree. ‘The
way to these heaps is marked by a worn path; and
in many places the plants appear scattered, as if to
be dried in the sun and harvested properly. The
heaps are formed like round or conoid ricks; and
are of various sizes, according to the number of the
society employed in forming them. ‘They are some-
times about a man’s height, and usually three or four
feet in diameter.

Thus they wisely provide their winter’s stock :
without which they must, in the cold season, infal-
libly perish ; being prevented by the depth of snow,
from quitting their retreats in quest of food. They
select the most excellent vegetables, and crop them
‘when in the-fullest vigour. These they make into the
best and greenest hay, by the very judicious man-
ner in which they dry them. The ricks they thus
form are the origin of fertility among the rocks ; for
the relics, mixed with the dung of the animals, rot
in the barren chasms, and create a soil productive of
vegetation.

These ricks are also of great service to that part of
mankind who devote themselves to the laborious em-
ployment of Sable-hunting; for, being obliged to go
far from home, their horses would often perish for
want, had they not the provision of these industrious
little animals to support them. ‘They are easily to be
discovered by their height and form, even when
covered with snow.

The people of Jakutz are said to feed both their

1 ee

486 THE ALPINE HARE.

Horses and Cattle on the remnant of the winter stock
of these Hares.—As food, the Alpine Hares are them-

selves neglected by mankind; but they are the prey
of the Sables and the Siberian Weesel.

* Were ev’ry falt’ring tongue of Man,
Almighty Father! silent in thy praise,
Thy works themselves would raise a general voice ;
Even in the depth of solitary woods,

By human foot untrod, proclaim thy power.”?

{ 487

APPENDIX.

THE following information, respecting the manners of some
of the Quadrupeds, that, within the last ten or twelve
years, have been brought into England, was obtained too
late to admit of its being incorporated into the body of the
work. Rather, however, than it should be lost to the
reader, I have inserted it here by way of Appendix. It
principally relates to such as have been deposited in the Ex
hibition rooms at Exeter *Change, and in the menagerie at

the Tower of London.

THE SINGLE-HORNED RHINOCEROS ™*.

THE only two animals of this species that have
been brought into England during the last half cen-
tury, were both purchased for the exhibition rooms
at Exeter Change. One of them, of which the skin
is still preserved, came from Laknaor, in the East
Indies, and was brought over in the Melville Castle,
East Indiaman, asa present to Mr. Dundas. This
gentleman, not wishing to have the trouble of keeps
ing him, gave the animal away. Not long after-
wards he was purchased by Mr. Pidcock of Exeter
‘Change, for the sum of 7001. He arrived in Eng

* See vol. i. p- 119.

Pasé

488 APPENDIX.

land in the year 1790, and is supposed to have been
at that time about five years old.

He exhibited no symptoms of a ferocious propen-
sity, and would even allow himself to be patted on
the back or sides by strangers. His docility was
about equal to that of a tolerably tractable Pig: he
would obey the orders of his keeper, to walk about
the room, and exhibit himself to the numerous spec-
tators who care to visit him.—This animal usually
ate every day twenty-eight pounds weight of clover,
besides about the same weight of ship biscuit, and a
vast quantity of greens. His food was invariably
seized in his long, and projecting upper lip, and by
it conveyed into the mouth. He was allowed also
five pails of water twice or thricea day. This was
put into a vessel that contained about three pails,
which was filled up as the animal drank it; and he
never ended his draught till the water was exhausted.
He was very fond of sweet wines, of which he would
often drink three or four bottles in the course of a
few hours. His voice was not much unlike the bleat-
ing ofa Calf. It was most commonly exerted when
the animal observed any person with fruit or other
favorite food in his hand, and in such cases it seems
to have been a mark of his anxiety to have it given
him. . During the severe illness which preceded his
death this noise, but ina more melancholy. tone,
was almost constantly heard, occasioned doubtless
by the agonies that he underwent.

In the month of October, 1792, as this Rhinoce-
ros was one day rising up very suddenly, he slipped
the joint of one of his fore-legs. ‘This accident

APPENDIX. 480

brought on an inflammation that about nine months
afterwards occasioned his death. It isa singular
fact that in the incisions which were made, on the
first attempts to recover the animal, through his
thick and tough hide, the wounds were invariably
found to be healed in the course of twenty-four
hours. He died in a caravan at Corsham near
Portsmouth. -When the carriage arrived at the lat-
ter place, the stench arising from the body was sa
offensive, that the Mayor was under the necessity
of ordering’ it to be immediately buried. T! his was
accordingly done, on South Sea Common. About
a fortnight afterwards, during the night, and un-
known to any of the people of Portsmouth, it was
dug up for the purpose of preserving its skin, and
some of the most valuable of the bones. ‘The per-
sons present declared, that the stench was so power-
ful, that it was not without the greatest difficulty
they could proceed in their operations. It was plain-
ly perceptible at the distance of more than halfa
mile.

The other Rhinoceros that was at Exeter "Change
was considerably smaller than this, and was likewise
amale. It was brought over about the year 1790,
and lived not more than twelve months afterwards.
An agent of the Emperor of Germany purchased it
of Mr. Pidcock for 1000]. It died in a stable-yard
in Drury Lane, after he had been in possession of
it about two months.

490 APPENDI<s

THE ELEPHANT *,

After the full account that I have already giver
of the manners of the Elephant in a state of domes-
tication, it will be needless to add much in this place
respectiny any of these animals that have been
brought into England. Confined to the very small
apartment at Exeter Change, or within the narrow
limits of a caravan, much new information cannot
be expected, nor indeed has much been obtained.

The Elephant that died last year, at Exeter
*Change, was brought over in the Rose Hast India-
man, and purchased by Mr. Pidcock for 1000].—
He was usually fed with hay and straw, but he always
preferred the latter. The quantity -that he ate
could not exactly be ascertained, since he scattered
about a great portion of what was given him for food,
and also ate a considerable quantity of the straw with
which he was littered. He would eat with great
avidity, bread, carrots, cabbages, and boiled pota-
toes. The quantity of water allowed him was about
nine pails a day, given at three different times. He
was excessively fond of beer, and all kinds of spiritu-
yus liquors. He has been known to drink upwards
ol fifty quarts of beer in a day, given by the differ-
ent persons who came to visit him, and were desir-
ous of observing the mode in which he conveyed

fluids to his mouth.

* See volo 1. pr dee

APPENDIX, 4gt

THE HYENA*,

These armimals are to be’seen in most of the exhibi-
tions of wild beasts.in this country. They are ex-
cessively ravenous and ferocious ; and their jaws
are much stronger than those of the generality of their
tribe. The keepers represent the old animals as
invariably malignant and indocile. The keeper
of the Tower, however, informed me that seven or
eight years ago, there was one at Exeter “Change,
about six months old, so very tame that he was oc-
casionally suffered to come out of his den, and
run about the exhibition room +. The animal would
allow even strangers to approach and pat him with
their hands, exhibiting no symptoms whatever of
displeasure: he seemed fond of playing with any of
the Dogs that happened to come into the room.
still, however, there was a considerable degree of
sullenness and ill-nature in his disposition, which,
with his age, appeared every day to . increase.
After being at .Exeter "Change about two months,
he was sold to a Mr. Tennant of Pentonville, a_
dealer in animals. ‘This person, with only a sin-
gle string fixed to the animal’s collar, suffered
him twice or thrice to go out. with him into
the fields) He was soon afterwards sold to the
owner of a caravan, forthe purpose of exhibition.
From the unusual confinement, his disposition al-

* eel vol. 1: p. 235.
+ In this act he appeared always to run on one side, as though he
had been weak in the loins.

Ag2 _ APPENDrY.

most immediately became fierce, and he would ho
longer admit of the approach and carresses of
his visitors. He did not long survive this change
of -life, but gradually pined away till he died.

Mr, John Hunter had at Earle’s Court, an Hyzena,
hear eighteen months old, that was so tame as to ad -
nit strangers to approach and touch him. On Mr.
Hunter's death he was sold to a travelling exhibi-
tor of animals. Fora few months previously to
his being carried into the country, he was lodged
inthe Tower. The keeper informs me that he
there continued tolerably gentile, so much so as to
allow a person who knew him, to enter the denand
handle him. When he was confined in the cara-
van he soon exhibited symptorns of ferocity equal
to those of the most savage Hyzenas. He was at
last killed by a Tiger, the partition of whese den
from his own, he had torn down by the enormous
strength of his jaws.

The Hyena in confinement is allowed about four
pounds weight of food in the day; and he laps
about three pints of water.

The value of a full-grown Hyana for exhibition
is {tom ten to thirty pounds.

THE SPOTTED HYZNA*.

This is a larger, more strong and voracious ani-
mal than the last. ‘The strength of its jaws is so
great that it eats without difficulty even the strongest

* See vol. i. p. 240.

APPENDIX. Man) AQ3

and hardest bones. It is usually fed with such as
are the refuse of other animals. ‘These in the stc-,
mach are perfectly digested. Whenever this Hyx-
na is interrupted or disturbed whilst eating, or even
if any one is only looking on, it makes a singular
kind of laughing noise, whence most of the exhi-
bitors call it the Laughing Hyena.

Of the strength in the muscles of the jaws and
neck of this Hyzena, the following is a very re-
markable instance. ‘The den of the animal now in
the ‘ower wanted some repairs. ‘Uhese the carpen-
ter completed by nailing on the floor a thick oak
plank, of seven or eight feet in length, with ar
least a dozen nails, each longer than the middle
finger of the hand. At one end ef tliis plank there
was however a small piece left that stood’up higher
than the rest, and the man not having a proper chis-
sel along with him to cut it off, he returned! to his
shop for one. During his absence some persons
came in to see the animals, and this Hyena was let
down by the keeper from the other part of his den.
He had scarcely been in the place a moment before
he espied the piece that was leit at the end of the
plank, and seizing hold of it in his teeth, tore the
plank completely up, drawing every nail.

hisanimal is, notwithstanding, much more gentle
than most of the individuals of she other specics.
The keeper can venture to pat and caress him, and
even to enter his cage at all times exc cept wi hen he his
feeding. In suffering these liberties he seems, how-
ever, actuated’by terror, rather than by his natural
inclination, for in-all these acts the maz finds it ne-

AQA APPENDIX.

cessary to have a stick in his hand. He does not
pay the same respect to animals that come in his
way. A soldier who some time ago visited the Me-
nagerie of the ‘Tower, brought alone with him a
small terrier Dog. ‘The fellow ridiculously held him
up to the den of the Hyzena ; and on seeing the ani-
mal, the Dog was irritated, barked at him, and in
his rage thrust his head between the bars. The
furious beast sprung upon him, dragged him through
into the den and almost in an instant devoured him.
The keeper says that it is a very difficult thing
to hit his animal through the bars of his den with a
stick. His activity and strength are so great that -

he.always seizes it in his teeth,

THE LION *.

The Lion, in confinement, is usually allowed
about four pounds weight of raw flesh for his daily
subsistence ; and he seldom laps more than a quart
of water in the day. However gentle and docile
these animals may have been rendered by their keep-
ers, no one can approach them during the time they
are feeding, without almost a certainty of their
avenging the interruption. Even where the ani-
mals have become attached to Dogs that have been
put into their dens, it has been generally considered
necessary to separate them when the Lions were fed.
A Lioness in the Tower would allow a Dog to eat
with her, but not without occasional signs of dis-
pleasure. None of the animals can on any, account

* See vol. 1. p. 262.

APPENDIX. 405

be fed from the hand eyen of eheir most init mate
keeper.

A Lion and Liseeas brought over together from
Africa, about twelve years ago, were kept in the same
den at Exeter "Change. They were each about eigh..
.teen months old, and were attended by a negro who
had reared them from whelvs, and had come over .
along with them. This man would enter their den
with the greatest safety,, when they would fawn
upon, and play round him, exactly like kittens. He
frequently had a table in their den, with pipes and
glasses $ and sitting down there would quictly smoke
his pipe. If on these occasions their frolicks were
too boisterous, he had only to stamp his foot, and
by his countenance to express his displeasure, and
they would immediately cease, and quietiy-le down
by his side. But it was not on all occasions that
even this man would venture himself with them.
If they were irritated by the spectators, as through
mere wantonness they sometimcs were, he always
refused to enter their den; and it is not recollected
that he ever did it whilst they were feeding. When
this man left Exeter Change the female took his loss
so much to heart that she pined away, and died not
long afterwards.

Lions have suffered Dogs to live in the same den
with them, but no instances have occurred in Eng-
land of their allowing so great a privilece to any
other animals.—A Lion called Hector, now in the
‘Tower, had been some days very ill, when to try the
experiment, a live Rabbet was put into his den. - It
was suffered to remain here uninjured one whole

406 APPENDIX.

night and the next day; and some hopes began ta
be entertained that it would be permitted to share
the apartment with the noble animal in quiet. But
on the morning following the second night, it was
found dead. The Lion had not, however, attempted
to devour it, for the skin was not in the least lace-
rated ; but when this was stripped off, there were on
each side of the body the evident marks of his teeth:
—In another instance, of a similar kind, a Cat had
accidentally crept among the straw of his bed-place,
but the moment he discovered her, he sprang upon
and destroyed her. In this case also he left the body
undeyoured.

The Lions in the Tower generally begin to roar
in the evening just before the night closes in. A
Lioness that was bred in the Tower, regularly roars
at six o'clock in the evening through both winter
and summer. ‘This is almost always within five
mminutes, one way or the other, of the striking of
the clock. ‘This practise is supposed to have ori-
ginated in winter, and from the noise of the drums,
which, during that part of the year, always beat at six
o'clock. It is, however, somewhat strange that she
should have continued this exactly at the same hour
through the whole year, since, for several. months,
the drums are not beat till eight o’clock. ‘These
animals usually roar on the approach of rainy wea-
ther; and much more on Sunday than any other
days, from the circumstance of their being then al-
most entirely by themselves.

The value of a ful] grown Lion in this country,

APPENDIX. A407

is now about 3001.; whilst that of a Lioness is
not more than 1001.

THE TIGER *,

The Tiger that I have described in vol. i. p. 285,
arrived in this country in the year 1790. He was
brought over, when only ten months old, in the Pitt
Hast Indiaman, belonging to Mr. Alderman Macau-
ley, and given to Mr. Nepean, on condition that he
should be presented to the king, which was accor-
dingly done. He was afterwards deposited in the
Tower, where he still remains. I have already men-
tioned his extremely playful and gentle disposition
whilst on board the vessel which brought him over,
and although he has now been kept in the Tower
near thirteen years, he still continues tame. He
has in no instance been enilty of any ill-natured or
mischievous tricks. He is called Harry, and to that
name answers all the commands of his keeper.

In the year 180), one day after the Tiger had
been fed, his keeper put into the den to him a small,
rough, black, Terrier puppy, a female. The beast
suffered it to remain uninjured, and soon afterwards
became so much attached to it, as to be very rest-
Jess and unhappy whenever the animal was taken
away to be fed. On its return the Tiger invariably
expressed the greatest symptoms of pleasure and de-
heht, always welcoming its arnval by gently licking
over every part of its body. In one or two instan-

* See vol. i. p. 283.

Won. J. Kk

AQS APPENDIX.’

ces, the’ Terrier was; left in the den jby ‘mistake,
during the time the Tiger had his food. | The Dog
sometimes ventured to eat along with him, but sel-
dom without hisappearing disatisfied with the liberty.
This Terrier after a residence with the Tiger of se-
yeral months, was removed to make way for a little
female Dutch mastiff. It was thought adviseable
befere the Terrier was taken away, to shut up the
little mastiff for three or four days among the straw
of the Tiger’s bed, to take off, if possible, any
smell that might be offensive to the animal. ‘The
exchan ge was made soon after the animals had been
fed: the Tiger seemed perfectly contented with his
new companion, and immediately began to lick it
as he had before done the Terrier. It seemed at
first in considerable alarm with so formidable an in-
mate, but in the course of the day became perfectly
reconciled to its situation. This diminutive crea-
ture he would suffer to play with him, with the
greatest good-nature.. I have myself seen it bark,
at him, and bite him by the foot and-mouth with-
out his expressing the least displeasure. When the
Dog, in its frolick- seized his foot, he merely lifted
it up out of its mouth, and seemed otherwise heed~
less of its attacks. During the time she was in the
habit of daily visiting the Tiger, she happened to
be with young, and at the time of partufition was
necessarily absent from him two or three whole days.
The Tiger in this absence was extremely agitated
and uneasy, as he was afterwards whenever she hap-
pened to be detained from him a greater while than
usual in feeding her young ones, She died about

APPENDIX, 409

five weeks after this time, supposed to haye been
trodden upon by some person who came to see the
animals ; and many days elapsed before the Tiger
became reconciled to her absence. _ |
Strange Dogs have several times been put into
the Tiger’s den after his feeding, and he has in no
instance attempted to injure them. Mr. E. Cross,
the late keeper informs me that the animal’s docility
is such;;that he thinks he could himself with safety
yenture into the den.—The ship carpenter, who
came over withthe Tiger, after an absence of more
than two years came to the Tower to see him. The
animal instantly recognized a former acquaintance,
rubbed himself backward and forward against the grat-
ing of his den, and appeared highly, delighted. Not-
withstanding the urgent,request that he would not
expose himself to the danger, the man begged to
be let into the den with so much intreaty, that he
wwasrat last suffered to enter. ‘The emotions of the
animal seemed roused in the most grateful manner.
-He rubbed against him, licked-his hands, fawned
upon him like a Cat, and inno respect attempted to
injure him. The man remained here for two or
‘three hours;.and he at last began to, fancy there
would be some difficulty in getting out alone. Such
was the affection of the animal towards his former
friend, and so close did he keep to his person, as
to render his escape by no means so easy as he had
expected. With some care, however, he got the
Tiger beyond the partition of the two dens, and the
keeper watching his opportunity, closed the slide,
and separated them. ‘% 46g

Bk so

500 APPENDIX.

Tigers are fed with raw meat, and they aré usu-
ally allowed four or five pounds weight in the day :
they lap about three pints of water.

The value of a full-crown Tiger, in this country,
is from fifty to a hundred pounds.

THE PORCUPINE™®.

Although Porcupines, in their general manners,
are very harmless and inoffensive animals, yet they
appear to have no particular attachment to their
keeper. ‘They will eat bread or roots out of his
hand, or suffer him to lead them about by a string
fastened to their collar. One that was in the Tower
would even allow its keeper to take it up under his
arm: tq do this without wounding himself with its
quills, required however considerable dexterity, since
it was first necessary to close these to the animal’s
body, by sweeping his arm along the direction in
which they grew.

These animals usually sleep in the day, and be-
come awake and active towards evening. Very
little food will support them, and they are never
known to drink. They gnaw the wood-work of
their dens so much, that if there was not much iron
about them they would soon escape, even from the
strongest places.

Whenever they are irritated or offended they samy
forcibly on the ground with their hind-feet, some~
what in the manner of Rabbets. In this act they

* See vol. i. p. 40d.

APPENDIX. 501

shake all their quills, but more particularly those
about the tail; and at the same time exert their
voice, which is a kind of grunting noise-—The
Keeper informs me, that whenever a Porcupine at-
tempts to injure any person who disturbs him in his
cage, he turns round and runs backward upoff him.
This seems by no means improbable, since the direc-
tion of the quills is from the fore-part backward, and
by this act alone he is enabled to act seriously on
the offensive.

THE BEAVER*®.

THERE are at present in the upper room at Ex-
eter Change two male Beavers, which have been
there about three years. ‘They are very tame, and
will suffer themselves to be handled by the visitors,
but most persons are alarmed on approaching them
by the animals’ uttering their small and plaintive cry.
This noise they also frequently emit during their
play with each other. They are at times exceed-
ingly gay and frolicsome, wrestling and playing with
each other, as far as the limits of their small apart-
‘ment will admit. ‘They often sit upright to look
about them, or sometimes to eat; and,. if any thine
moveable be given them to play with, they drag it
about, and seem highly pleased withit. hey have
in no instance been observed to drag any thing about
on their tails, or to make any attempts to do so. In
‘all their manners these animals are extremely cleanly.

PO EOI LN ASN ei coeeneeaninar et

*'See vol. i. p.. 41S.

502 APPENDIX.

_ They are fed with the bark of trees, and on bread $
and such is their propensity to gnaw wood, that itis
by no means safe, notwithstanding the natural gen-
tleness of their disposition, to allow them the full
range of aroom, for they would soon eat their way
out, aad escape.

THE ZEBRA *,

Several of these animals have at different times
been brought into England. There is one at pre-
sent in the Tower, which was deposited there in
June last. It was brought from the Cape of Good _
Hope by lieutenant gencral Dundas ; and was after-
wards purchased by Mr. Bullock, the master. keeper
of the animals in the Tower. |

This animal, which is a female, is more docile
than the generality of Zebras that have been brought
into Europe ; and when in good humour, she is to-
lerably obedient to the commands of her keeper,
the servant of the general who attended her during
the voyage. This man, with great dexterity, can
spring on her back, and she will carry him a hun-
dred and fifty, or two hundred yards, but by the
time she has done this, she always becomes restive,
and, with almost equal dexterity, he is obliged to
dismount. Sometimes when irritated she plunges
at the keeper, and attempts to kick him. She one
day seized him by the coat with her mouth, and
threw him upon the ground, and had not the man

— tH eee

* See vol. i. p. 11%

APPENDIX. 503
been extfemély active in rising and getting out of
her reach, would certainly have destroyed him. He
has at times the utmost difficulty to manage her, from
the irritability of her disposition, and the great ex-
tent, in almost every direction, to which she can kick
with her feet, and the propensity she has of seizing
whatever offends her, in her mouth. Strangers she
will by no means-allow to approach her, unless the
keeper has hold of her head, and even then there is
great risque of a blow from her hind feet.

The beautiful male Zebra that was burnt, some
years ago at the Lyceum, near Exeter Change *,
was so gentle, that the keeper has often put young
children upon its back, and without any attempt
from the animal to injure them. In one instance, a
person rode it from the Lyceum to Pimlico. But
this unusual docility in an animal naturally vicious
is to be accounted for, from its having been bred
and reared in Portugal, from parents that were
themselves half reclaamed.—On the authority of
Mr. Chureh, I have stated this Zebra to have been
burnt ‘“ from the mischievous act of a Monkey,
setting fire to the straw on which he lay.” This,
however, was not exactly the case. The keeper
informs me, that he had left the room in which it
was kept, for the purpose of warming some milk for
a Kanguroo, when, during his absence, a light from
a tin hoop, suspended by a string from the ceiling,
burning through its socket, dropped upon the straw,

a ee

* See vol. ii, DP: 1126

504 APPENDIX:
and set fire to it.—This animal was bought by the’
exhibitor for three hundred pounds. iid
Zebras are fed with hay.—Their voice'can scarcely
be described: it is thought by some persons to have
a distant resemblance to the sound of a post horn. It
is made more frequently when the animals are alone
than at other times. The Zebra now in the Tower
has never been heard to exert its voice.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME,

Printed by S. Roussrav,
Wood Street, Spa Fields,

| INDEX.

TO THE

ENGLISH NAMES anv SYNONYMS.

|

‘Those marked with ati * are varieties of some other species ;
those printed in Izalics are Synonyms.

WE si TO, Pies
pS ee
Aigrette. - - +» +
Alagtaga « - + + + 8
ANT- EATER PRIDE) a wey
t———- great - «+ +
iy amandua guacu
— iP enarue Bays
A DP-TRIBE siiisiiay ak al
ee OraniOrmn | salut.
—— Barbary . - + «6

. . . . . . .

——— pigmy * de NG
+—— Baboon, eharoe 5
dog-faced

ee ITI eine 8
Monkey, Egret.
SrCew. - 16,
Chinese . .
striated .-.
préacher . °
—_——_—+— ‘our-fingered
~ ———-__._- fearful .° .
—— squirrel . .
—-—— Cingalese .
Ape Barris Pere Rett poe
—— Chimpanzee. .
——— Drill. 2s 6
ITEC. vet's estahatame, e

ako pi ew paerkatas . toh se

——— Macof .. i.
—— Man of the We ats :
——— Momenct. . were
—— Ptheque .

————— ‘one v0

—— Smitten .
M——— yellow j

‘ a . * ‘

Von. i,

—

Baboon, howling :
- mottled
———- Papion .
——_-_—\harkarin <
Monkey, Aigrette

£~—__- bush-tailed

i CHIDLGA EE Mees
———_- Callitriche
——_——- Coai ita .
sdriba

- Keesce-heesee
——- Lesser Cagui
- Micoo .
-orange . .
-EOuarine 1
“iOnstiin Wee
Deaton ase
- Rollewaé . .
et Sarm ip 2 . .
-Sanglin « «
—+——- Sajow

- spider

Arctic Walrus .
Peadier 5 Ss. Bie yr<s ¢
Banthauée or) Are ee
TROUT TIS eas Pees te
Bahoomna) sae. ss
ComMeN. -\ s,s
dog-faced . .
— ursine

——— howling
——__—— 94 otte td.

Pap DOR . .
tarian . «
Bar Teas aera

E1

ey is,

_—-—__-

oe Vets

- Bonnet Chinois

.

and

Bat, long-eared ° .
——— \ Anpyre ‘ .
——-— oreat ag Whe? Me

cae Opie | ee
—— Perro volador

——— Rousseite . .
— ternate cee
Bear ReRe wi. ee
—common . .
American . .

—— Polar sen
—— Glutton ..
——-+— Wolverene .
ae ACOOIM sy «)a) ile
sa Badver iso.

——------ black aa ae
a RT Rlaireu oe) ete
—— Brock .. .
——— brown. .

Sra aeRO. ci etna,

——-— Glou!on a i

wa--~---- BT ieee ae

--------- FEETUCR | eh
ho A Maopach .°. °.
~- === == =~ Ours Se 1
e==--=.-_ durs blanc. .
dt ee Quickhatch — .
Seeley Te Raton . .
wens Vielfpass, ss
wegen KORE, wen cte Ne

Beaver TRige.
SAGES ae ORM TILOIL “0 eo: hia

See os ESEI no Ue
ae ae 1 YES SY fag 8
abate BGRTIIL. 1 hora.
pees IVILOS ICN, icc radii

=~ LOT ETD re cas

4d BL CUP GIOAMAE a! ae. oak
“el ocdhound . . .

EN Til ee ea
Bonnet Chinois . . +
RD SHabIDE NS Ne ote ani
EEGGH. ou Nee seuss nae
panll-dow 7 al alie,
Caeui, lesser ea Se)
(Caitaca: (s., ‘sy eevee
Callitr: che ST hee Mine
Brajou ee: ah ales
Webrchor 6 hy pee ate
am TROBE |.) <cmeies
sae Bao ss \aeeeee
------ Tiger . 7.3 °
nas - Leopar de Pray canes
>---- Hunting Leopard
cogen= . Cape A athe c8* ae

Page.

long- cared Enelish A

93
97
ib.
93
ib.
O7
ib.
ib.
845
210
B57
305
370
a7
376
380
DOT
380
ib.
346
370

peo by 15 4

ib.

BY ae ENS
ec he eae
Miatestehs 72)
~ . 363
* 373
CeO
gate)
<°e BDe
ue A
413, 501
ahe” IDs
Ibs be
Sey 25)
eae 2)
ever eee
at aa sO
5 SES
Se 2:
a aut 67
2A, 492,
ps 74)
>. »2te
sian WARES)
ote eae
oe RCE
memset
415,501
Cm erat)
262, 494.
« 283
AeA eA

203

» 204

Cat, common 72.

fee Angora: Wl
Renae Gemesie
wo----- Le Guepard
=t----- INsussi:. Bae
------- Tigre ae
~------ ROL: sees tenes
Cavey TRiInp eae
=----=- restless

pss Cochen & Lue
------- Guinea Pig .

(é ‘hagal e . . °
Chat Saux DAW re iee
o----- domestigue —.
------ d Angora .
Chiunpansee . .
Civete.. ge Poe
Gwoetier = 558)...
Creet Cat ane eat
Contta . . Lace
Cechon a Gwe ome
RNG OLE Fs |. tte
Loney: = * 4 “ges
Daman Israel. .
DPoc Tribe B.S
a common . .

*——— Sberian &

* Newtonndland
%_.---- Hound="" 4
a= Blood-hound
ee Mastit: <7:
*.----- Bull-dog 5
———— Terrier" att
--==-- Wigltieneke. :
sages Tiycenay es
Ae ae Hyena
eee Tackal 8"
<eeee Barbary Yackat
ee Vox SH
eS Arctic Fox

eee Adu . = ate
——— Bosboutd: as
Seem Chooaks in
Seas UE oi aa
wanne- Hyena .-.

erann Sachals 3 ee
~----- PRChaL Lene
------ PSRs ok ee
eeekae BCID net
------ Pucmbengo .
= is Renard A . ’
ee Schakal 2.

ed Wiha Jee
-+---- Liger-wolf .
Dormovse TRIBE
sonveseo--nesee COMMON

Page.
2 "295
oo BOB

feo ALO
fara:
A aie tu 8
: ib.
Fees
«SSE ROS
Canine.
ae UG
ee)
Sie SS
Pee tas 3
a PME
oD.
eh
ra ae
aS
- . 470
ee BOR
3 ode
NSS
Pit 20)
AS ly J
Ho ONS
Pei 9
vos
«ge Qag
2 eaGg
938, 491
940, 492
hee eS
PS Sau 4 1)
Tene as
ore ee
e Seay
240, 492
PUeQAS
Rear?) |
235, 491
Q40; 492
ib. -ib
weet Oek
299
24.0, 4902
. 248
Pare oY.
. 4946
240, 4902
Re. 00

Soe 470.

I-N D- © Xx.

& Page.
Dormouse Muscardin . . 470
wene--------- Sleeper «wile wt Mas ADS
wennane-e-=-- Striped .a::«niges in AOP
Ge AR CP eee AEE)
MECEECIEL, 5 4. oll eel AO

SOUT. 6cens Mio mene AO
SUISSE: sau oe ee AO
ELEPHANT TRIBE... 121
j ——~ STEAL wave ep? 4.90
AAAS: shui c ayeni tae ah ATO
Be gis es cath end ae
PIG bint Ss. Saute cen
| i Ps nee Se
TIT. x pith chains ett
MTRETES occ 5 8 ac otias)/eee «Mg LUE
aI A ads ld Bea. hes oe

- PNT CREA (Tot wows Be a Ort
Gerboa . . - 470

MEER OSES ais dats he ice’ g\\ cag abs
MLGULOT es Uie tebe Wess: en LO
PO TE OE a es a Sang | 8
Grey-pate ~. 5. «\~ » 330
Grated nea | la a eat
BIMET TO. ia) 5! 5 Shai), erik ming 2 SOS
Guinea-pig . . +» + » «410
BELO its tee <2 Sine Miovir toe tome mT
re ee eee
Hamster, German. . « ib,
GARE TRIBE - 8 chacsase. 475
Ss CONLMOM Mesos pvcigrieas sul Ds
varying. iw yd. 2 480
Rabbet «angie. ARd
alpine te ceye’ A8E
COUEY d,s ea ABI
——AHnevre +... . 479
—— Lapin Sauvagé . . . 481
PROUNLALIE, /« teh) .s apa eg AGS

fT [ET ae pg dene ria OER he UR Peete nee CC
Hepceuoc TRIBE .. . 401
common... .. ib.

: Herison . . . ib.
Common Urchin ib.

SELOUNC, e755 yipen ids . 217

ile: re ae
spotted . - . 240,492
Hyena, striped . 285, 491

Hyzna

Jackal Dr OU Mere. Oe
Jackal, Barbary . 246
GIBETOCTE . “ha tok tee 8 SLO
DMEF. Sh eal esi ib.
Ichneumon . BS A PEE Fl
——__—— Egyptian. ib.
PERRO URIBE yh vk. . 470

si SIDETIAN “ten + ib,

Page.
Jerboa, Alagtaga . . . ib.
= —. Daman Ispuel ~. . ib:
a PO RUGSE Some ol:
——— Egyptian 2. . ib.
Gerboa ne ib.
eee CPOOISE. att teen oy el aati’
— givantic 387
Jeocko aa ew Fay th 40
SONOS aia hss ea » 254
Kancuroo TRIBE 386
_— great 387
— = gigantic ib.
Keescee-feesee 7Q
Kinkajou $21
Lamaniin u 177
Lapin Sauvage . : . . 481
Hemmer, ye! re tarns 436
AO NTUIY ER DI rete iene. BOtD
= SOW Sei ha ete wen tee
Tailles Macauco Sante
Se LU a RE Tp
—— Thevangua, or Vaton-
REUT ek ee odes ecodte
Beopard) «2 ip ince Qgl
— hunting. . . . 293
MEO CTE 8 SA ace tate Stes PE.
1 EG Neate 262, 494.
UPGOTIS el cs ae RB

Py Tee A chines GN. ie
Loutre PR rss ye Cols
CLOTS RO RS ann | i May
Macauco, tailless .°. .
MEOL ik" a Mig ee laa
ManatTi Trise . :
cee Arctic Watras
a wihale-faieds
= FONNG tale
*_--Sea Ape .. .
— Lamantin .
=== NMGrse . -s sing
— Morshuia korowa
Rosmarus . . .
- Sea Cow
———___ Sea Horse
Wadérass
— WWoirus F
Mangouste, ercat
Man of the Woods
Mapach . ..
DEAR eR: Cote wy ed
Marmor Trier
0 eae it ol
MGDAC hy cate
COMMAR . . -»

L1@ ‘

. 99
melee

.

MS Toh 8;

104
86
53

168

169
79

177

150

177

169.

Leen,

169

ire7s

169

I NODE Ss.

Page. Page.
Marmot German . . . . 441 Muscardtin) es ee a
ee — Lapland 2486) Masquast + sii aes se. A
———— Marmotie . . . 448 Nsusst oe A RRR eos Oe
Marie MS ag a LT RE Ae Ondatra 2s eee e .ABg
Martin, Pine basi si 3 OpossuM FRIBE- . . . . 389°
“Mastiff 2 2... . . 220 | ———— Virginian . . . 388
M2coo FeV PEN UN Ms Mn ————— Merian . ©. .)). 385
More TrisE . ©. . . 391 | ———— Philandrede Surinamib.
COMMOR My LY WANs Oe ————— Surinam oh) tbs
European)... 1B. |, Oran Otan | ; Bice iain, A
——— Mold-warp . . . ib. Oreillar 5). 4 SOO
——— Taupe . ss . . + tb Ornithorynchus paradoaus us 165

Vane ee: Pa OTTER ‘TRIBE ahs Oo
Mold-warp . poe ye etiby | ————- common?’ An Shah 886
Momenet : Beh tea ane Lars ME Eee: reo kur 1
Monkey, Boret WE Ns RG greater RN Pao 3) 6.

BTEC Mee Ley. 66 | ——— Loutre ote a

Chinese 67. PrOuwarine aug +. 2 wee EO
Queso ectriated foc UATE UGG? li @astines he. hy ania eevee ane gals

pass preachers (2) ta: at7O blang; Ma EA A
ere es four-fingered , . 75 Bastia. |< Lh ie ee
fees Ni 1 fearful ac PPS eas Papion. RS Metals Canyilig
or---------- squirrel . . . 79 | Perovoledor ee hs rere Og)
205 | ee Cingalése». °° 880. | edit gris! 18s “eT na
eT an nam Aigreite . - 65 | Philandre dé Surinam . +385
wannnn------ Bonnet Chinvise (4 DY, h eevbagrie «| 2) 85 ond as Ud!) a
AEE a o---- bush-tailed Se RS Pitheque PCat PW bs ala 9)
SCREEN Caitain 0 2? Ig | Piaryrus Trreee’.~ 1 eee ;
ELAR Seo Callitricke OE Sh — duck-billed . .°165
Sob eae AM 1. Coatte 2. 2. . 75 | ———— Orniihorynchus pa- |
eV ua aoe Guariba . . .-70 padopase 4% A Seb: |
ie ss ee Keesec-keesee’. -.. 79.\ Polatouche . . . . 465, 467
------------ Lesser Cag tie 2 REPO Pongo oi tai to! Wg Als | Relrren TCD
get lo Mitco 0. oO 75s | Porcupine Prive aoe 929405
| Oa aes Orange - 2 + 79 | ———=—cemmon . ib. 500
ee ashi ee a ae Oe ——-——-— crested . . tb. ib.
ee ee L OnarrHiere TAN OED ——- Porc- Bil ie ib. ib.
weeenan----- Duration ioe eo IN oe A opeamtiey *',* 4): 2 trp:
Bie Soe = Rollewai >. ehy 789 Quato a RSD NER So ohte. wages Za
ene ee Saimiri BAN tei 79 Quickhatch 2 fect ashe Ih Ven MUS
— Sajou . 5 . . 78 | Quinuchpatlan Se me Le oe)
Sanchar”. COk ie aterca zoe. i, yn ae

sigmidern sh.) NE oy Pia uemoen aD” 5... RSAC ale
eons 0 Vis. ae SR Gh ea et Sey Ma rt eee
Morskutakorowa::). 175 Raccoon . eR a AE SRO

Mouse, field eee see Ao oe Terns eR my Se AG

hagvest NI | ane wi Sey paises. Hs . 427
bean 5 et ie ee Ie hrown, or Norway. . 429
——— lovo-tailed fiell . . ib. | —— Field Mouse: : 5 . 433
——— less Long-tailed ficld 434 | +---- Harvest Mouse. . . 464
Malte. Sse aR ot “Lemming «* 3° 5%, . 436
BCOMOTUE AAD Pe HAL OE eet Eéonomie ye. os a9

——— yond SRO BS Aw Hamster oS) Pra
Bhiulot ae ea ee Mies” Be aiciie wt. eee 429

Rat Hamster German . ,
Begum Soil" aie

=~ Lemuus . See
eee Marinvt Lapland Sis

a+ Mouse, long- tailed field
---3- Nouse, less long-tailed

BE ihe: Baan steamy at egteneeys
Mouse, economic .. .
Mouse, wood . “ses
Mutloé . . . * sith
Musk-rat, Canadian .
ap Musquash 2: 20.0%
Ondatra sere palit eos
SUT INLOL ssh ean rake
Leavoulichitch. .« . >.
Bates eva Sy re radon
UCUEE TOR tay Stee ee! ok tea
SACU IGGL OR ke TS oT a mS
RHINOCEROS TRIBE. -
wonsenn na e-- single-horned
two-horned 0...
Heollewmar ee ses
FAT OSTIATUS, ae shi. ye
hpUssetie’ west Aare As emreties
STADE £3) tho eay Aerts oh aS
EENUNE re ha oe hs Syne
UE a ag ot epre
eI bath Sn ahs enw is
Sc hake 1 Be ee
POR ARC etal: amiahelh
MNT) ae! ah 5 hana Nig

ad Ca t . . . . . . .

e----

EL OHRE Seber St ok epe i
RDO. lmmccwile: «is
SHE REE Ms ce heeded
wrres-- common

Sa SITE a nett eee

Saeaaee botile-nosed |... .>.
=<----- Peon ine) Wea wes
------- PROGUC oh snk ates
perenne Ned Calf, . > stk. 40%
ee Sea Cate ths =o ues
------- Sea Dion so.) elO5s
AMI oo 5 gett tigen 2S os
apn==a- striped s Salleiice | ag
Tg Seer be ORY py
Sioru DP REBRAE s Bisse vs
Sloth, three-toed . . . .
ws----- ED 6 eo Salon retest
=+----- THOUEY abest weve us

pl UY OTE Ns Meters)»

Britten. 90 dere ion Nee

Mouse, dean. . iii

44)
436
ib.
ib.
33
ib.

AGA
439
433

ib.
487

ib.

ib.
429
439
316
378
248
109
487
114

INDEX.

Page.

Page,
- 455
«, 45D
» 459

SquirreL, TRIBE.. ¥> y
at COMMON iaIe le
STAY Adams
black 6 i natite. vat
striped, nih." psa
American fiying , 465
European. flying . 467

= Dorm OUSE striped. 4G2
EL CUn bis eee ce AB

Ecur eel nom. . AGI

Ecuriel Seisse * 402

fiyiig . - 465, 467
ground . . . » 462
Peeve gris peta ABQ
Polatouche . 485, 467
Quimichpatian .. 465
WUISSE fear wae AS
Surinam ‘Opossum ss 6 +885
Baer alot oe as: Bb aa dgi nce 429
coe a AN EC Sy epee ete OY:
PUmMano1t ta:\'4o teers ib.

ERP ECT IN Neues Py Pies a Wee ee haat
WGEORNCUT) 20 Miscoehsrp ia ies nema
Bau e <.. 55 peuibea ate! Eo ibolas la eo

Be Coulicheck iii lat Ue ani

Fy Perr perite: ied. hyualey Ms caneniem eos
ER GLeD ess ae ene RS i cag aS
The DAN GUA vn. teat Meat Nalin wn CAD

iver is. Sys 283, 407
Piger-cat of the Cape of Good
Hope Bk py eeigtet hs 204
Tiger PUSRERGE, caliphs, Re ose ements
eo LET- WO lf of aaah Seley AOS

’ .

4Q2
RRCUTP USS th <i GAS < athe hue SRO
Urchin, common ois... 404

Wacrus. Triami..).
—-------- arcti¢ Oh Weare sce FU:

PGP OS Se etna ane a 25 ih ont
by ant Rca ek, ee
Vrrsoy, \ DRiee iis 2. s--O
aoe ae Ichneumon.-. . 344
~---------- striatddy is; seas
w--~------- honey, or Ratel p ote
See Civet tS SPREE
See Mexican, or Kin-
ON yuvipees! A ia See
cee eee Martin, pine . .994
———- Sable 2. 0... 326
=-------. COMMON i oo oe ABB
--------- COP Due’ xs) es S8¥
a Cirel Cat oats
—------ CLselio mien cil oes
—------ Concpate sind eon BAM

Fishatta

INDEX

Page Page.
Weesel, Fitcheth +» . + «820 | Weesel, StripedShunk . .- ib.
eecteten Foulimart . . « Ib. anse-----. Whitred . . . . $29
FAS CRE 9777.1 1] OE Reeth hice a Whitret > ews os. < ae
oe Ichneumon, Egyptian 311 | --------- Zibelline . 1. « . 326
Ne Kinkajou . 7 381 W hitred Ea OS
eee nay Maneouste, great . 311 Whitret Bt iia ae =
mude-s—2y Marder . . «>. 324 Wolf SG: PRE ue BIO"
ernnenee= VERT Ens Wes es Bo TS. Wolverine . . + + «+ + 873
&-=--2--- Quincajou. . . . 821 BIO ane es SO RO ee ee BBE.
weecet-e Shunk « 5 . s . 314
{
|
:
;
|
|
’
;
:
;
t
4

LINNEANS

w
OR,
SYSTEMATIC INDEX.
st
PRIMATES. FERE.
Page. f P
age
dimes GENUS 5... a5 | BHoca’Genus 2... 18k
Pere = DALY FUNG i. va AOS na vitulina . . . . 182
ee frie ae ya So Se ht ee 190
————-— Sylvanus . . 2. BB F leonina . 198
a SPMIAX 2 Vatie) wie no jubata 1 le
——_—— Hamadryas. 60 Gaais, GENUS.) Ts iss eho
2 a ae RE Wr ectarar familiarig.'%' 4). mb.
is Pyrat s Net s Be Aye hipus 2 Vie sais
ee ne Bava get tenes (sat a aa
*F SiMe aie 67 saavicmimieieeaimie ig SEE
ae Tacchus idan aureus.) 4's a4
——— Beelzebul . ° m4 —— hbarbarus . . 246
vai re 79 Cite es
a Paniscus COM ALS EMD | Byte Wulpes 2%) sity Baw cae
————Trepida . 78 Ps Lasopus 06.) B.'eaa
ie Sciurea. : 79 cn ia sepia SRE sl 261
T'roglodytes c ——-- Leo. 2... £262, 4
Lamour Genus 3 os peace ie WE nt ee . 283, pa
———— Tardigradus ‘ b ——- Leopardus . . . 291
VESPERTILIO GENUS rie AS Jubata. . . . 293°
fat asta — Auritus a We eee ae Capensis 2 204
—Vampyrus . 97 | 1. Catus . . . - . 295
e = van Angarensis
BRUTA, Viverra Gents. , , ae
Brapypus Genus . . ib pee Ichneumon . Sil
M —--— tridactylus 104 —. Mellivora k oe
YRMECOPH: ; ieee ae see
Ce ee Reanes 1407 | ae Civetta, Fs. aie
RHINOCEROS Genus ; st i Coe de 22h
=a -—— Unicornis 11] 487 5 Pinot : eee
—————_-—. Bicornis i 114 Pe Se ee
ELepuHas Gen ; 3 —————) yulearis-.)

2 GENUus . 121 | Mustela Martes 529
———— maximus 122, 490 Sons Gok eae
PLatyeus Gents er: eibellinad . . . 326
ic se 164 — vuloaris
—— anatings 165 Lichee “| ee
Tricurecuus Genus : 168 ee Be 38

--— Rosmarus 169 Lurra ae Be:

See ee ee Borealis 165 2 pl is ae a 335

~————--—- Manatus 177 - eee Be 336
athe sean Ss = 195 a «

(d mara fll 343

Ursus Genus . = -
pice ELS nee ett
eee Americanus
as Maritim uss.)

rand oars
ATS GUESH Piehehsetaat
Later wad het: ao 7G
AGIOS Ris) pel ale
DipeLeuls GENUS .
virefniana
Dorsigera
marsupials
-s opossum é
gigantea «
Macropus GENUS .
major «
- gicanteus
"Tatpa Genus . -«

- Europea. .
Erirnaceus Genus.
Europaus

GLIRES.

Fivstrix Genus. .
poe ee eriSfata.. et ime
Cavia GENUS .°-

Cobaya 9,4:
Castor GENUS . .
fee DER en

ee

_——-.

Tho a Bs
Page.

. . 945 |- Castor eidethicds «
. . 346 | Mus Genus ae aaee
cy Bon 12. 7ibetMicus:.) seh. ¢
. . 363 |, —— decumanus . .«
. . 370 | —— sylvaticus . .
Meee srs —— messorius aie
Se SFO Mh —— eM US| eco
oft a OOON fiers economicus. .
. . 382 | ——cricetus ..:
Oko KM orsae marmotq . . .
. . 385 | ArcTomys GENUs .
« 6 S83) 4) -2r=- marmota
+ ib. | -2------------- bobac .
. « 889. |. Scrurus Genus. 4
¢ » 386 | ----------- vulgaris « .
s « B8Q | wree------- cimereus .— «
«Ube | ----4--- DIVER spy J
Pr EM Scr ----- striatus . .
. . BOQ! -++------- volucella .
. . 461 | ----------- velans! (th 5
..« ib. |. Myoxus Genus 24

==--------- muscardinus

Dieus Genus . . .
. . A405 | ------- jJaculus . . .
405, 500 | Lepus Genus . . .
. « 410 | a------- tirmhuisicae
. 2 ALL | -------- vafiabilis . .
. . 413 | -------- cuniculus . .
414, 50% | ------- + alpimus nt

-

Page.
414, 501
TSAO
6 Ae
. «fag
0 SS
Waist pa
as ABO
¢ . 439
« . 441
26 448
. ° ibe
dike Sa DS
2 6 458
othe: A5oy
ot OBB)
+) A dg
oe Ae
- <« 462
wi AOS
lek Ae
. . 468
- . 469
+ + 470
Pa eee Ne
+ + 47D
= ae ATE
» - 480
- . 484
: is 486

. hd

IOLA.

8 01506 6087