•_,L^, ' UNIVERSITY OF V CAUFORNIA J Bioscience & Natural Resources Library THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTED BY PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID ^ . / NATURAL HISTORY bntisli anti QUADRUPEDS; CONTAINING MANY MODERN DISCOVERIES, ORIGINAL OBSERVATIONS, AND NUMEROUS ANECDOTES. BY JAMES H. FENNEL L. WITH TWO HUNDRED WOOD CUTS. " Science should be stripped of whatever tends to clothe it in a strange and repulsive garb; and every thing which, to keep up an appearance of superiority in its professors over the rest of mankind, assumes an unnecessary guise of obscurity, should be sacrificed without mercy." SIR JOHN HERSCHEL. LONDON: JOSEPH THOMAS, FINCH LANE, CORNHILL. 1841. LONDON : PALMER and CLAYTON, Printer*, 9, Crane Court. F33 //pvavy PREFACE. ALTHOUGH many modern works are to be found descriptive of particular groups of the higher animals, or of the miscellaneous, but generally very imperfect, collections in our zoological gardens, yet a long time has elapsed since the publication of any work like the present, giving a concise, but comprehensive view of the characteristic appearances, habits, and uses, of this class of animals in general. The progress which this department of zoology has made since the time of BufFon, renders his work, as well as the volumes which Goldsmith, Bewick, and others, have chiefly compiled from him, but ill-adapted for popular instruction. BufFon will ever claim our respect and our praise, for the zeal with which he accumulated facts on his favourite study ; but his predilection for theories which he could not support without a violation of truth, and his invincible prejudices against many animals, which he determined to depict in the worst colours, often led him, unfortunately, to draw wrong inferences from facts, and sometimes to exaggerate and distort them ; while, on the other hand, he has often embellished them, so that they might promote those efforts at ensuring an eloquent effect, which are so apparent throughout his work, and which, like the will-o'-the-wisp, display an effulgence more calcu- lated to deceive than to assist. By the experienced and dis- criminating naturalist alone, can Buffon's work be perused without fear of being misled by the persuasions of eloquence ; which, in philosophic inquiries, generally prove delusive to the unwary. Even, putting these considerations aside, IV PREFACE. the circumstance of many popular errors having been detected, many discussions settled, many new species and important facts discovered, and some valuable leading principles of classification developed since his time,, renders the works to which I am now alluding, and which are the only ones of the kind generally accessible, most imperfect instructors in the present much-advanced state of zoological science. Having devoted myself, for some years, to this delightful and most useful branch of natural history, I have here attempted to furnish those who also feel interested in the subject, but who may not happen to possess the same facili- ties as myself, with a work containing the result of no little research and observation, instituted without prejudice, or pre-conceived theory; and which result is conveyed to the reader in a style as homely and frank as " a round unvar- nish'd tale :" void of all eloquence, unless it be such as Nature herself imparts to the discourse. My wish has been, that the perusal of this book should prove, if possible, as agreeable and lively a recreation as a walk through the Zoological Gardens ; that the solemn and melancholy strain which is generally affected in works of this kind, should give way to a tone more congenial with that warm and lively emotion with which the actions and the frolics of animals are contemplated by the visitors to those instruc- tive and diverting exhibitions. Coleridge, in his reproof of poets who assume a doleful strain in their descriptions of the nightingale, assures them that " in nature there is nothing melancholy," but the human mind ; and another poet asks, " Who can refrain to smile with Nature?" Still I have not been regardless of the just observation of Palcy, who says, " If one train of thinking be more desirable than another, it is that which regards the phenomena of nature, with a constant reference to a supreme intelligent Creator." The earnestness with which the admirable adapt- ation of the structure of animals to their necessities and situ- PREFACE. V ations is pointed out, will impress the mind of every reader with a constant conviction of Almighty wisdom and benevo- lence. But everything in nature is so well contrived, so well ordained, that it is hardly prudent to select from the whole particular things as special instances of creative wisdom, and as deserving our admiration more than others. Wonder lies In the mind merely of the wondering man : Treading the steps of common life, with eyes Of curious inquisition, some will stare At each discovery of Nature's ways, As it were new to find that God contrives. The contrary were marvellous to me, And till I find it I shall marvel not ; Or all is wonderful, or nothing is." To revert more directly to the materials of this volume, it may be permitted to me to observe, that I believe it will be found to contain a greater collection of well -authenticated facts than any similar work of the same size. Nature is so exten- sive, and man's life so inadequate to acquire the whole of this kind of knowledge, that it is well to convey, to those who seek it, as much as possible in a given space, rather than to administer it on the homoeopathic principle. But while I have placed facts before the reader, I have also called at- tention to many agenda, or matters which still remain to be ascertained ; and also to such statements as are vague, inde- cisive, or contradictory, contenting myself with merely sug- gesting what may appear to be most probably true, instead of attempting to impose a dogmatical opinion. By pursuing the former course, which I trust will be appreciated, as it instructs all and deceives none, I have neglected the ex- ample of many professors of science, who are ever fearful lest their pupils should find they cannot supply them with positive information on everything. Lord Bacon had the temerity to complain of a similar failing in his period. " As knowledge is now," he observes,