ill; presented to Gbe library or tbc University of Toronto Major H.W. Tate TH.E THE NATURALIST'S CABINET: Containing INTERESTING SKETCHES OF ANIMAL HISTORY; Illustrative of the MATURES, DISPOSITIONS, MANNERS, AND HABITS, OF' ALL THE MOST REMARKABLE Quadrupeds, Birds, Fishes, Amphibia, Reptiles, fyc. IN THE KNOWN WORLD. REGULARLY ARRANGED, AND ENRICHED WITH NUMEROUS BEAUTIFUL DESCRIPTIVE ENGRAVINGS. " Who can this field of miracles survey, And not with Galen all in rapture say, Behold a Godt adore him, and obey ?" BLACKMORE. VOLUMES. VOL. I. BY THE REF. THOMAS SMITH, toditor of a New and Improved Edition of Whiston's Josephusj &c. &c. ALBION PRESS PRINTED: PUBLISHED BY JAMES CUNDEE, Ivy-Lane, Pafernoster-Row. , 2. \ INTRODUCTION. AMONG the numerous subjects that arc continually issuing from the press, few are of greater utility than such as relate to Natural History— a science equally calcu- lated to gratify a laudable curiosity, to afford an unfailing source of amusement, and to impress the mind with the most ex- alted ideas of that Divine Being, by whose eternal fat the universe was brought into existence, and by whose infinite power and love the lives of his creatures are preserved, and their wants abundantly supplied. To the junior classes of society (as well as to readers in general) the study of Ani- mal History seems peculiarly adapted; as every branch of it is replete with instruc- tion, and the contemplation of every object which it exhibits, tends to ameliorate the JV INTRODUCTION. heart, to illumine the understanding, and insensibly to allure to further research and investigation. In many instances, it must be acknow- ledged, this fascinating science has appeared tinder the most uninviting forms ; and the Fair Sex, in particular, have been deterred from the perusal of volumes which were, in some parts, offensive to the eye of female modesty. But in the. NATURALIST'S CA- BINET the most unremitting attention has been paid to obviate these objections, and the Editor, can affirm, with conscious satis- faction, that the following pages are unsul- lied by a single sentence which might excite a blush, or contaminate, even in the slightest degree, the purest and most delicate mind. The work now respectfully submitted to the public, though not professedly systema- tic in its arrangement, is divided into four distinct classes — Quadrupeds — Birds • — Fishes and Amphibia — Reptiles and In* sects ; each class designed to form a vo- lume, and the whole embellished with beau* tiful engravings, from original designs, on an entire new plan, and illustrative of the, most curious anecdotes related in the course, of the work. INTRODUCTION. V It only remains to add, that the usual descriptions of form, size, colour, 8$c. are, given in a compendious manner, and the body of the work is consequently occupied by such accounts of the manners, habits, and modes of life, of the several classes of animal creation, as appeared most likely to attract the attention of the reader, and to render the subject generally interesting and instructive. CONTENTS. VOL. I. TlIE LION 7 TIGER 30 - ... LEOPARD 40 .... PANTHER 43 .... LYNX 45 .... OCELOT 46 .... HYJENA ....... 48 SPOTTED IIYJENA . . . . 5« WOLF 56 FOX 6T .... ARCTIC FOX 72 .... JACKAL 73 .... BARBARY JACKAL .... 81 .... BEAVER *82 .... COMMON BEAR . " . . . .93 .... AMERICAN BEAR . . .101 .... POLAR BEAR 106 .... RACOON 112 .... BADGER 116 .... GLUTTON .118 WOLVERINE 121 ELEPHANT ,123 .... RHINOCEROS j6l .... DOUBLE-HORNED RHINOCEROS . l6f , . . . HIPPOPOTAMUS 174 LONG-NOSED TAPIIR . . . .178 .... OURANG OUTANG . . . .180 .... BARBARY APE iyi PIGMY APE 193 COMMON BABOON .... 196 , , . . DOG-FACED BABOON .... 199 .... URSINE BABOON ibid .... FOUR-FINGERED MONKEY . . 203 .... EGRET MONKEY 206 .... STRIATED MONKEY . . . .207 .... GREEN MONKEY 209 ,S,. CHINESE MONKEY . , , , 2iO CONTENTS. Wagt. THE OUARINE, OR PREACHER . . 211 .... SAJOU 215 ORANGE MONKEY . . . .216 .... CINGALESE MONKEY . . . .217 .... SLOW-PACED LEMUR k 223 .. . . VIJfGlTSIAN OPOSSUM . . . 2CQ ...» SURINAM OPOSSUM . . . . 2.11 KANGUROO ...... 232 .... DUCK BILLED PLATYPUS . . 2.36 COMMON SEAL Sio URSINE SEAL 2*7 .... BOTTLE-NOSED SEAL . . . .251 LEONINE SEAL «4 WALRUS 256 .... BAT 262 .... VAMPYRE BAT 267 .... MOLE 271 .... SLOTH 279 PORCUPINE 283 HEDGEHOG 287 .... COMMON \VEASEL . . . .291 HONEY-WEASEL 2Q7 .... CIVET SQ9 .... MARTIN 301 SABLE 303 .... ICHNEUMON 3C6 .... SQUIRREL 309 .... GREY SQUIRREL 312 FLYING SQUIRREL .... 313 JERBOA 315 .... HARE 319 .... RABBIT 325 CAMEL 3'J8 .... BISON 336 .... BUFFALO 340 .... 2EBRA 346 GIRAFFE, OR CAMELOPARD . . 34Q , . NYL-GHAU 331 THE Jlaturaltsf Cabinet CHAP. I. fe What if the lion in his rage I meet ! — Oft in the dust I view his printed feet ! And fearful, oft, when day's declining light; Yields his pale empire to the mournful night, By hunger rons'd, he scours the groaning plain. Gaunt wolves, and sullen tigers in his train : Before them death, with shrieks, directs their way. Fills the wild yell, and leads them to their prey." COLLINS. THE LION. Majestic appearance of the king of animals. THE lion is considered as the king of animals, and has been judiciously chosen as a symbol of the British empire. It is justly remarked by a celebrated naturalist, that the outward form of this animal seems to denote the superiority of his internal qualities ; for his figure is peculiarly striking; his countenance bold and command- ing; his gait majestic, and his voice terrible. His body is not unwieldy, like that of the ele- NATURAI IS Form, colour, &c. — JVh- phant or rhinoceros; noi that of the bison, or hippop respect he is compact and weL unites the most surprising stren^ most agility. The length of the lion varies from feet, and the height from three feet anv five feet, exclusive of the tail, which is four feet long. The head is covered with shaggy hair, and the neck is adorned with a p dent mane; but the hair on the rest of the bodj is short and smooth. The general colour is a pale tawny, inclining to white beneath. The lioness is about one fourth smaller than the lion, and is destitute of that mane which constitutes so essentially to the majesty of her consort's appearance. The time of parturition is in the spring, when she retires to the most se- questered places, and produces four or five young, which at first, are about the size of a small pug dog, and continue at the teat nearly twelve months; though, during that time, they are taught to suck the blood and lacerate the flesh of such prey as the dam occasionally carries to her den. The lioness is a perfect model of maternal af- fection ; for though naturally weaker and less courageous than the male, yet, when she has young, she becomes equally formidable, and even more ferocious. She is extremely solicitous to conceal her place of retirement, for which pur- THE LION. Roaring of the lion — Symptoms of hunger or displeasure. pose she often contrives to efface the prints of her feet; and sometimes conveys her cubs to another spot, when alarmed for their security. In their defence she becomes perfectly infuriate, exposing herself to the most imminent dangers, and attacking indiscriminately both men and animals. When robbed of her whelps, she has been known to pursue the depredators across the most rugged precipices, and even to follow them for some distance out to sea. The roaring of the lion, when in quest of prey, resembles the sound of distant thunder. Being re-echoed by the rocks and mountains, it terrifies all the animals of the deserts, which seek their safety in a precipitate flight. He is said to de- vour as much at once as will suffice for two or three days, and when satiated, to remain in his den, which he seldom quits, unless to prowl about for prey. His teeth are so strong, that he breaks the bones of animals with perfect ease, and swal- lows them together with the flesh. His tongue is furnished with reversed prickles, so large and strong as to be capable of lacerating the skin. When enraged, or in want of food, he erects and shakes his mane, at the same time violently lash- ins; his back and sides with his tail. In this state it is said to be certain death to any one who hap- pens to approach him : but when his mane and tail are at rest, and the animal is in a placid hu- mour, we are assured that travellers may in ge- neral pass near him with safety. NO. I. B 10 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Deficiency of scent — lYliiscular strength. He lumts only by the eye, his scent being less perfect than that of most other animals, it was probably this deficiency that proved the salvation of a modern traveller, on his perilous route through the interior of the African continent. Mr. M ungo Park relates, that as he was one day passing through a desert, he observed a huge lion stretched on the sand, reclining his bearded chin on his broad extended paws, and with his eyes scarcely closed, dosing in the burning sun. Though he was not a little alarmed at this unex- pected sight, he had, however, the presence of mind to turn aside, and steal softly behind the bushes in his rear, by which means he effected his retreat in safety. He would not, in all pro- bability, have proved so fortunate, had this tre- mendous monster possessed that acute sense of smelling with which most species of quadrupeds are endowed. In speaking of the muscular strength of the lion, naturalists have observed, that a single stroke of his paw is sufficient to break the back of a horse, and one sweep of his tail will bring the strongest man to the ground. Kolben has remarked, that when the lion overtakes his prey, he always knocks it down, and seldom bites it till he has given the mortal blow, which is gene- rally accompanied with a tremendous roar. A lion was once seen at the Cape of Good Hope, to take a heifer in his mouth, and to carry her off with the same ease as a cat does a rat. THE LION. 11 Carrying off a buffalo — Mode of attack. He likewise leaped over a broad ditch with her without the least apparent difficulty. The fol- lowing account of a display of strength, superior even to the above example, was given to Dr. Sparrman by two respectable persons belonging to the colony, on whose veracity he could rely. " Being on a hunting party, near Bosjesman's River, with several Hottentots, they perceived a lion dragging a buffalo from a plain to a wood upon a neighbouring hill. They, however, soon forced him • to quit his prey, in order to make prize of it themselves ; and found that this crea- ture had had the sagacity to take out the large and cumbersome entrails of the Buffalo, the more easily to carry off the remainder of the carcase. The ferocious animal as soon as he saw, from the skirts of the wood, that the Hottentots had be- gun to carry off the flesh to the waggon, fre- quently peeped out upon them, and that proba- bly with no small degree of mortification. " The strength of the lion, however, is said not to be sufficient alone to overcome an animal so large and so powerful as the buffalo ; but in order to make it his prey, this fierce creature is obliged to have recourse both to agility and stratagem. Stealing unawares on the buffalo, he fastens with both his paws on the nostrils and mouth of the beast, and continues squeezing them close toge- ther, till at length the poor animal is strangled, exhausted, and expires. It was said, that one of the colonists had witnessed a circumstance of B 2 NATURALISTS CABINET. Lying in ambush — Springing on the prey. this kind; and others had reason to conclude, that the observation was correct, from seeing buf- faloes, which had escaped from the clutches of lions; of whose claws they bore evident marks about the mouth and nose. They, however, as- serted, that the lion himself risked his life in such attempts, especially if any other buffalo were at hand to rescue that which was attacked. It was also said, that a traveller once had an opportu- nity of seeing a female buffalo with her calf, de- fended by a river at her back, keep at bay,, for a long time, five lions, which had partly surround- ed, but did not, at least as long as the traveller looked on, venture to attack her." When he is not pressed by hunger, the lion, lies in ambush in the manner of the cat and the tiger, and patiently waits for his prey. When it approaches, he springs or throws himself upon it, with one prodigious bound, from the place of his concealment; and if he chance to miss his leap, he will not, as the Hottentots informed Dr. Sparr- man, pursue his prey any farther; but as though he were ashamed, he turns round towards the place where he lay in ambush, and slowly mea- sures, step by step, as it were, the exact length between the two points, as if to ascertain how far short of his mark, or how much beyond it, he had taken his leap. Dr. Sparrman is of opinion, that it is not in magnanimity, as many will have it, but in an in- sidious and cowardly disposition, blended with a THE UON. Supposed cowardice — Instances of intrepidity. certain degree of pride, that the general charac- ter of the Jion consists: but that hunger must naturally have the effect of inspiring so strong and so nimble an animal with uncommon intre- pidity and courage. fe From all the most credi- ble accounts that I could collect concerning lions/' continues this author, " as well as from what I saw myself, I think I may safely con- clude, that this wild beast is frequently a great coward, or, at least, deficient in point of courage, comparatively to his strength : on the other hand, however, he sometimes shows an unusual degree of intrepidity, of which I will just mention the following instance, as it was related to me. " A lion had broken into a walled inclosure for cattle,, through the latticed gate, and done consi- derable damage. The people belonging to the farm were well assured of his coming again by the same way: in consequence of this, they stretched a rope directly across the entrance, to which several loaded guns were fastened in such a manner that they must necessarily discharge their contents into the lion's body, as soon as ever he should push against the cord, as he was ex- pected to do, with his breast. But the lion^ which came before it was dark, having, probably, 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 loaded pieces, went on steadily and careless 14 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Predilection for the flesh of Hottentots. of every thing, and devoured the prey he had left, untouched before." It is a fact, established by the testimony of va- rious writers, that the lion of the Cape prefers the flesh of a Hottentot to any other creature,, and has frequently been known to single one out from a party of Dutch. One of the Namaaqua Hottentots, who reside about eighty leagues north of the Cape, attempt- ing to drive his master's cattle into a pond situa- ted between two ridges of rock, discovered a lion couching in the middle of the pool. Terrified at this unexpected sight, he instantly took to his heels, and had sufficient presence of mind to run through the herd ; under the idea, that if the lion should pursue, he would stop to attack the first beast that fell in his way : he was, however, mis- taken. The lion darted through the herd, mak- ing directly after the Hottentot; who, perceiving that the animal had singled him out, scrambled breathless and half dead with terror, up one of the tree-aloes, in the trunk of which, a few steps had been cut, the more easily to come at some nests contained in the branches. It should be observed, that these nests belonged to a species of small birds, of the genus Loxia, •which live in a state of society, and construct in one clump, and under one cover, a whole repub- lic of nests, perhaps ten feet in diameter, and containing a population of several hundreds of individuals. THE LION. 15 Perilous situation of a Hottentot. Under the cover of one of these clumps of nests the Hottentot concealed himself from the sight of his inexorable foe. At the moment of his ascending, the lion made a spring at him ; but missing his aim, he walked in sullen silence round the tree, casting at times, a terrific look towards the poor Hottentot, who had crept behind the nests. The latter having long remained silent and motionless, ventured to peep out of his hid- ing-place, hoping his enemy had taken his de- parture ; but to his no small astonishment and affright, his eyes met those of the animal, which, as he afterwards declared, flashed lire at him. The lion then lay down at the foot of the tree, where he remained without stirring for twenty- four hours ; but being then parched with thirst, he went to a spring, at some distance, to drink. The Hottentot, seizing this opportunity, descend- ed the tree with trepidation, and hastened with all possible expedition to his home, not more than a mile from the spot, where he arrived in safety. It afterwards appeared, that his enemy had returned to the tree, and rinding that the man had escaped, had hunted him, by the scent, to within three hundred paces of the house. In the more northern parts of the African con- tinent, which are infested with this animal, the natives display extraordinary address and intre- pidity in attacking him. Claude Jannequin, in his voyage to Senegal, describes one of these combats, on the banks of the Niger, between a BISCT. :c :, p.:-: :f -i 18 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Anecdotes of the lion's clemency. and even to dispute with him the food that was- thrown into the den: but the lion, instead of chastising the impertinence of his companion, usually suffered him to eat quietly before he be- gan his own repast. This natural magnanimity, and contempt for inferior enemies, has induced many persons to relate wonderful, and in some instances, altoge- ther incredible stories respecting this royal beast. " A Jacobin monk, at Versailles," says the Pere Labat, " being in slavery at Mequinez, resolved, with a companion, to attempt his escape. They got out of their prison, and travelled during the night only, to a considerable distance, resting in the woods by day, and hiding themselves amongst the bushes. At the end of the second night they came to a pond. This was the first water they had seen since their escape, and of course they approached it with great eagerness; but when they were at a little distance from the bank, they observed a lion. After some consultation, they agreed to go up to the animal, and submissively to implore his pity; accordingly they kneeled before the beast, and in a mournful tone related their misfortunes and miseries. The lion, as they told the story, seemed affected at the relation, and withdrew to some distance from the water; this gave the boldest of the men an opportunity of going down to the pond, and filling his vessels, whilst the other continued his lamentable oration*. THE LION. 1Q Instances of attachment to man. They afterwards both passed on their way before the lion, which made no attempt whatever either to injure or molest them." The story, as thus related by two superstitious old monks, is too ridiculous to obtain any credit as to the motives which induced the animal to such a mode of conduct. It, however, may be considered to rest on a better foundation, when it is observed, that the lion might have had his appetite fully satisfied previously to their appear- ance, and at that moment have been too indolent to attempt to injure them. His retiring at the relation of their story, was, no doubt, to suit his own convenience, only thus interrupted as lie was by the wanderers. Many pleasing anecdotes are related of the attachment and gratitude of this animal to man. The ancient story of Androcles and the lion, re- corded by Dio Cassius, cannot fail to be familiar to every reader. With the following, which are of more recent date, they may not, perhaps, be so well acquainted. " In the reign of King James I, Mr. Henry Archer, a watch-maker, residing at Morocco, had two whelps given him, which were stolen, not long before 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. After that time, he had the male con- stantly in his apartment, till he attained the size «f a mastiff. He was perfectly tame and gentle c 2 CO NATURALISTS CABINET. Instances of attachment. in his manners. Being about to return to Eng- land,, Mr. Archer reluctantly gave the animal to a merchant of Marseilles, who presented him to the French king. By that monarch he was sent as a present to the English sovereign, and was kept for seven years afterwards in the tower. A man; who had been in the service of Mr. Archer, accidentally went with some friends to see the animals there. The lion instantly recognized him, and by his whining and gestures, exhibited the most unequivocal signs of joy at meeting with his former acquaintance. The man, equally rejoiced, desired the keeper to open his cage, and went into it. The lion fawned upon him like a dog, and licked his hands, feet, and face, leaping and tumbling about, to the astonishment of all the spectators. When he left the place, the ani- mal roared aloud in an extacy of grief, and for four days refused to take any kind of nourish- ment." A similar circumstance is related by Mr. Hope, in his Thoughts in Prose and Verse. t( One day," says that writer, " I had the ho- nour of dining with her grace the Duchess of Hamilton. After dinner, the company attended her grace to see a lion that she had in the court, fed. While we were admiring his fierceness, and teazing him with sticks to make him aban- don his prey and fly at us, the porter came, and informed the duchess, that a serjeant, with some recruits at the gate, begged permission to see the THE LION. Instances of attachment. lion. Her grace, with great condescension and good nature, asked permission of the company for the travellers to come in, as they would then have the satisfaction of seeing the animal fed. They were accordingly admitted at the moment when the lion was growling over his prey. The serjeant, advancing to the cage, called out, (( Nero! Nero! 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 wag- ging his tail, to the side of his cage. The man then 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, but that the care of the lion, on his passage from Gibraltar, had been committed to him, and he was happy to see the poor beast show so much gratitude for his attention. The lion, indeed, seemed perfectly pleased; he went to and fro, rubbing himself against the place where his benefactor stood, and licked the Serjeant's hand as he held it out to him. The man wanted to go into the cage to him, but was withheld by the company, who were not altogether convinced of the safety of the act." About the year 1799, Felix Cassel, brought two lions, a male and a female, to the national menagerie, at Paris; soon after which, he was taken ill, and being unable to attend the lions, another person was obliged to perform his duty. The male became sad and solitary, and remained NATURALISTS CABINET. Instances of attachment. motionless at the end of his cage, refusing to take any thing from the stranger, at whom he roared in a menacing manner. The company of the female seemed even to displease him, and his uneasiness induced a belief, that he was really ill. In the mean time, no one dared to approach him. Felix, at length recovered, and with a view to surprise the lion, he advanced unobserved to the cage, and showed nothing but his face between the bars. The lion instantly made a spring, leaped against the bars, patted him with his paws, licked his hands and face, and showed every sign of pleasure. The female likewise ran towards him, but the lion, as if apprehensive lest she should snatch any favours from Felix, drove her back, and a quarrel seemed about to ensue, when Felix entered the den to pacify them. He ca- ressed each by turns, and was afterwards fre- quently seen between them. Such was the com- mand he had over them, that whenever he wished them to separate, and to retire to their cages, a word was sufficient; on the least sign from him they would lie on their backs, hold up their paws one after another, and open their mouths, to show them to strangers, and as a recompence, they obtained the favour of licking his hand. These animals were of a strong breed, and were at that time, about five years and a half old. The French of Fort St. Louis, had, at one time, a lioness, which they kept chained. But the poor animal was reduced to such extremity THE LION. 23 Instance of gratitude — Tame lions. by a disease in the jaw, that the people of the fort supposed her to be dying ; and, having taken off her chain, they threw the body into a neigh- bouring field. Here she was found by M. Com- pagnon, author of ee Travels in Bambuck," who happened to be returning from the chace. Her eyes were closed, her mouth open, and swarming with ants. Compagnon was touched with pity at the poor animal's sufferings, and having washed her mouth with water, poured a small quantity of milk down her throat. This simple application produced a visible effect, and the lioness, being carried back to the fort gradually recovered. The kindness of her benefactor oc- casioned such an attachment towards him, that she would take nothing but from his hand ; and when perfectly cured, she frequently followed him about the island, with a cord round her neck, like the most familiar dog. We are informed by Mr. Brown, that, during his residence in Dar Fur, in Africa, he purchased two lions, one of which was only four months old. This animal, he rendered by degrees, so tame, that he acquired most of the habits of a dog. He went twice a week to feed on the offal of the butchers, and then commonly slept for se- veral hours successively. When food was given them they manifested a ferocity towards each other, and towards any person who approached them; but, excepting on these occasions, Mr. Brown never saw them disagree, or show any 24 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Dreadful effect of ill treatment. signs of malignity towards the human species. TSav, such was the gentleness of their disposition, that even lambs might pass them unmolested. The sultan of Dar Fur had likewise two tame lions, which always went to the market with their keeper, to feed. It is truly astonishing to observe, with what patience and good humour this noble animal suf- fers his keeper to play with him, to pull out his tongue, and even wantonly to chastise him. Some instances have, indeed, occurred, of his re- venging these unprovoked sallies, but they are very rare. Labat speaks of a gentleman who kept a lion in his chamber. The servant whom he employed to attend him, frequently mingled blows with his caresses. This injudicious treat- ment he continued for some time; but one morn- ing, the gentleman was awakened by an unusual noise in his room, and, on drawing the curtains of his bed, he beheld with horror the lion growl- ing over the man's head, which he had separated from his body, and was tossing round the floor. He hastily withdrew into the adjoining apart- ment, called for assistance, and had the animal secured from doing farther mischief. Instances are, indeed, recorded of the lion's being satisfied with chastising his pursuers, with- out killing them. Thus, a Hottentot of the Cape received a bite in the face from a lion, who then stalked away; and a planter was for some time in the power of a lion, which spared his life,, alter THE LION. 25 Mode of taming lions in the East. giving him several severe bruises. It seems doubtful, however, whether this apparently mer- ciful disposition is the effect of generosity, or whether it arises merely from caprice and want of appetite. We are informed by Tavernier, that the inha- bitants of some parts of the East have a method of taming lions, that is not practised in any other part of the world. Four or five of those animals are assembled, and tied by their hind legs to stakes, twelve yards asunder. A strong cord is likewise put round each of their necks; and these cords are held by men, who stand behind the stakes. In front of the animals, but just out of their reach, when they are at the extent'. of the rope that ties their legs, another cord is stretch- ed ; and against it stand several people, who con- tinually teaze them by pelting them with stones and wood. Irritated at this treatment, the lions furiously spring forward, when the men who hold the ropes that are. fastened round their necks, pull them back. By this practice, of which Ta- vernier himself was an eye-witness, they are by degrees accustomed to become familiar. in the dominions of the great mogul, it was formerly esteemed a royal privilege to hunt the lion, which none durst exercise without the spe- cial permission of the emperor. When Sir Tho- mas Roe was ambassador at that court from James I, a lion and a wolf broke into the court- yard of his house, and it was not till he had sent NO. I. D •6 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Flesh of the lion eaten by Arabs. to the palace, and obtained the licence of the sovereign, that he dared to attack those formida- ble intruders. At the Cape of Good Hope, the natives betray the lion into pit-falls, dug for that purpose; and have sometimes the hardihood to attack him with clubs and spears. His skin being extremely firm and compact, and the hair very thick on the fore-parts in particular, it is not easily penetrat- ed ; but is not proof against a javelin or a mus- ket-ball. Kolben says, that at the Cape, the flesh of the lion is frequently eaten ; that its flavour is excellent, and not unlike the taste of venison. Mr. Bruce informs us, that in the deserts of Bar- bary, there is a tribe of Arabs which almost en- tirely subsist on the flesh of these animals, and claim peculiar privileges on account of the pains they take to destroy them. But that traveller, who himself partook of this extraordinary fare, describes it as being in general tough, and hav- ing a strong smell of musk, which gave it a disa- greeable flavour. The lion arrives at maturity at the age of five years, and has been known to live upwards of seventy. In his natural state, it is probable, that he attains a much greater age. A lion and lioness, brought over from Africa, about fourteen years ago, were placed in the same den, at Exeter 'Change, being at that time only eighteen months old. Their keeper, (a negro, who had reared them from whelps, and THE LION. 27 Lions at Exeter 'Change. attended them to England) bad them in such complete subjection, that he frequently used to sit and smoke his pipe in their den, with a table and glasses before him, whilst the animals fawned upon, and played round him like two kittens; and if their frolics became too boisterous, he could instantly command silence by stamping his foot, and appearing displeased. It was not on all occasions, however, that even this man would enter the den ; as he invariably refused, when the animals had been wantonly irritafed by the spec- tators; nor was he ever known to venture him- self with them whilst they were feeding. It may be proper to add, that when the negro quitted the menagerie, the lioness was so sensibly affected by her loss, that she pined away, and soon died. There are at present, at Exeter 'Change, a lion and lioness ; the former about three years, and the latter three years and a half old. The lion, brought over by General Dundas, in the Fa-* vourite Packet, is a remarkably fine animal, and was formerly entirely under the command of hit keeper, who frequently entered his den, in order to comb him, make up his bed, &c.: but, since last September (1805) he has not permitted such freedoms, nor ever suffered his attendant to enter his cage. The keeper informs me, that this ani- mal usually consumes six pounds of raw flesh, for his daily subsistence; but half that quantity suffices the female. Lions have sometimes been known to permit » 2 CS NATURALIST'S CABINKT. Attachment of a lioness to a dog. clours to share their habitation in a state of con- finrmcnt. 1 have myself seen a dog in the Tower,, with a lioness, which was so extremely fond of him, that, whenever he attempted to pass through the bars of the den, she drew him back bv his hinder parts, and placed her paw iivmly upon his body, as if intreating him not to leave her. This lioness, according to the best of my recollection, was brought over to England when very young; she was so remarkably tame that, during her voyage, the sailors on board the vessel with her, frequently reposed on her body as on a pillow ; and when brought to London, she was led to the tower in a string, by a person to whom she was affectionately attached. On his quitting her, the poor animal became per- fectly melancholy, and refused taking any nou- rishment, till on the keeper's going one day into her den, with a puppy in his arms, the lioness became suddenly attached to it, and they after- wards lived together in the greatest harmony. It does not appear, however, that lions have ever become attached, or ever reconciled to any other animal than the dog. A lion, called Hec- tor, now, or lately in the Tower, had been very ill for several days, when, to try the experiment, a live rabbit was put into his den. The little creature remained unmolested during one whole night, and the next day; so that the keeper be^ gan to hope it would be permitted to share the den in safety. On the morning following the 6 ' THE LION. 29 Lions in the Tower of London. second night, however, it was found dead, and, on being skinned, the body exhibited evident marks of the lion's teeth, though there was not the least external mark of violence. In another instance, a cat had accidentally crept among the lion's straw on which he reposed ; but the instant he discovered her, she fell a victim to his resent- ment, though, as in the former case, he did not attempt to devour the body. The lions in the Tower generally begin to roar just before the night closes in. Miss Fanny Howe, a fine lioness, whelped in the Tower, on the 1st of June, 1794, and so named on account of Lord Howe's victory gained on that memora- ble day, regularly roars about six o'clock in the evening through both winter and summer. This practice is supposed to have originated in winter, from the noise of the drums, which, during that part of the year, always beat at six o'clock : but it is somewhat remarkable, that she should have continued this at the same hour through the whole year, since, for several months, the drums are not beat till eight o'clock. . These animals invariably roar on the approach of rainy wea- ther; and much more on Sunday than any other day, from the circumstance of their being then almost entirely by themselves. SO NATURALIST'S CABINET. General description. THE TIGER. THIS animal may be justly ranked among the most beautiful of quadrupeds, bis colour being a fine orange yellow, wbite on the throat and belly, and elegantly marked throughout with long transverse bands or stripes. He also holds the second place in the class of carnivorous ani- mals; but it has been justly observed that, while he possesses all the bad qualities of the lion, he seems entirely destitute of his good ones. To pride, strength, and intrepidity, the lion joins magnanimit}-, and some times clemency ; while the tiger is fierce without provocation, and cruel without necessity. Alike regardless of man and all his hostile weapons, he is the scourge of every country which he inhabits: wild as well as tame animals are indiscriminately sacrificed to his insa- tiate voracity ; he even attacks the young ele- phant and rhinoceros, and has sometimes en- gaged the lion himself with such fury and perse- verance, that both animals have perished in the dreadful contest. The tiger commits dreadful ravages among the flocks and herds in the countries where he re- sides ; and when undisturbed, he tears open the body of his victim, thrusts his head into the wound, and drinks large draughts of the blood, before he begins to prey on the carcase. The tiger's method of taking his prey is by THE TIGER. 31 Springing on the prey. concealing himself from view, and springing sud- denly on his victim,, with a roar which is hideous in the extreme; and it is said, that, like the lion, if he miss his object, he makes off without re^- peating the attempt. He seems to prefer man- kind to any other prey, when he can procure them hy surprise; but he seldom ventures to make an open attack on any animal capable of resistance. A few years ago, a company seated under the umbrageous branches of some trees near the banks of a river in Bengal, were alarmed by the unexpected appearance of a tiger, preparing for its fatal spring : but, a lady having with almost unexampled presence of mind, unfurled a large umbrella in the animal's face, it instantly retired, as if confounded by so extraordinary and sudden ati appearance, and thus afforded them an oppor- tunity of escape. To another party, however, fortune' did not prove so propitious; but, in the height of their entertainment, one of their companions was sud- denly seized and carried off by a tiger. The fatal accident which occurred a few years ago in the East Indies, must also be still fresh in the memory of all who have read the description given by an eye-witness of that tragic scene. A party went on shore on Sangar Island, to shoot deer ; of which they saw innumerable tracks, as well as of tigers : they continued their diversion till near three o'clock; when, sitting down by NATURALIST'S CABINET. Dreadful accident on Sangar island. the side of a jungle to refresh themselves, a roar like thunder was heard,, and an immense tiger seized on Mr. Monro, son of Sir Hector Monro, bart. and immediately rushed into the jungle, dragging him through the thickest bushes and trees, every thing giving way to its monstrous strength; a tigress accompanied his progress. The united agonies of horror, regret, and fear, rushed at once upon the friends of the unhappy victim. One of them firedl on the tiger; he seemed agitated. A second gentleman fired also ; and in a few moments after this, the unfortunate gentleman came up to them, bathed in blood. Every medical assistance proved vain; and he expired in the space of twenty-four hours, hav- ing received such deep wounds from the teeth and claws of the animal, as rendered his recovery impossible. It is remarkable, that a large fire, consisting often or twelve whole trees, was blaz- ing near the party, at the same time this accident took place, and ten or more of the natives were with them. " The human mind/' says an eye- witness, " 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 appearance, almost raging mad, and remained on the sand all the time they continued 'in sight." The muscular strength of this animal is ex- tremely great, as will appear from the following anecdote. A peasant in the East Indies had a THE TIGER. S3 Muscular strength — Combat with an elephant. a buffalo fallen into a quagmire; and while he went to call for assistance, a tiger came to the spot, and immediately drew out the animal; though the previous efforts of several men united had been of no effect. When the people re- turned, the first object they beheld was the tiger with the buffalo thrown over his shoulder, and carrying it away with the feet upwards, towards his den. On perceiving the men, however, he let fall his prey, and instantly retreated to the woods ; but he had previously killed the buffalo, and sucked its blood. It may be here proper to observe, that some of the Indian buffaloes are twice as heavy as the ordinary run of our black cattle : whence we may form some idea of the prodigious strength of this rapacious animal, which could carry off so enormous a weight with apparent facility. Very obstinate combats have sometimes taken place between the tiger and the elephant, and one of these was seen by M. D'Obsonville, in the camp of Hyder Ali. The tiger, not yet of full strength (for he was not 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 introduced by his keeper. The amphitheatre was enclosed by a triple rank of lance-men. The action, when it commen- ced, was extremely furious; but the elephant, after receiving two deep wounds, proved vic- NO. 1. E Rencounter between the tiger and crocodile. torious. From an encounter like this, how- ever, where the animal seemed a feeble one of its species, and was at the same time restrained by chains, we cannot form an accurate concep- tion of its prowess in a state of liberty. M. D'Ob- sonville observes, that although four or five ele- phants would have nothing to fear from a greater number of tigers, yet, he was of opinion, from his remarks on this combat, that a tiger, in full pos- session of his faculties, would prove superior to the elephant in single combat. It is said, that a rencounter sometimes takes place between the tiger and the crocodile; in which case both generally perish. When the tiger descends to the water to drink, the croco- dile raises its head above the surface, in order to seize him, as it does other animals that come thither. When this is the case, the tiger strikes his claws into the eyes of the crocodile, the only vulnerable part within reach ; and the latter, im- mediately plunging into its native element, drags in the tiger also, by which means they are both drowned. Animals of this species, if taken young, may be, in some measure, domesticated, and rendered mild and submissive to their keepers. A beautiful tiger, now exhibited in the Tower of London, was brought over from Bengal in the year 1791, in the Pitt East Indiaman, belonging to Mr. Alderman Macauley, and was given to Mr. JSepean, on condition that it should be pre- THE TIGER. 35 Remarkably tame tiger in the Tower oi' London. sented to his majesty, which was accordingly done. During his voyage to England, he exhi- bited the most gentle disposition, and seemed to be as harmless and playful as a kitten. It some- times permitted two or three of the sailors to re- pose their heads on its body as on a pillow. It also frequently climbed about the vessel in the most diverting manner ; and on being one day severely beaten by the carpenter, for stealing a piece of beef, it submitted to the chastisement with all the patience of a dog. It is also worthy of remark, that although this animal has now been kept in the tower near fifteen years, he still continues remarkably tame ; has in no instance been guilty of any ill-natured or mischievous tricks. He seems extremely fond of his keeper and implicitly obeys all his commands. In the year 1801, one day after this tiger had been fed, his keeper put a rough, black, ter- rier puppy* into the den. The beast suffered it to remain uninjured, and soon afterwards be- came so much attached to it, as to appear rest- less whenever the animal was taken away to be fed ; and to welcome its return by gently licking over every part of its body. In one or two in- stances, the terrier was left in the den during the time the tiger had his food; and sometimes ven- tured to eat along with him, but seldom without his appearing dissatisfied with the liberty, This terrier, after a residence with the tiger of several months, was removed to make way for a little E 2 36 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Dog permitted to share a tiger's den. pug bitch, which was previously shut up for three or four clays among the straw of the tiger's bed, to take off, if possible, any smell that might have proved offensive. The exchange 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 (lone the terrier. It seemed at first in consider- able alarm with so formidable an inmate, but in the course of the day, became reconciled to its situation. This diminutive creature would fre- quently play with the tiger, bark at him, and even bite him by the foot and mouth without ex- citing the least resentment or displeasure. Dur- ing the time the bitch was in the habit of daily visiting the tiger, she happened to be with young, and, at the time of parturition, was necessarily absent two or three whole days ; during which time the tiger seemed agitated and uneasy, as he was afterwards whenever she happened to be de- tained a greater while than usual in feeding her young ones. It has been • asserted, that this little animal died, in consequence of having been trodden upon by some person who came to see the royal menagerie. This, howeve^ is a mistake : the little creature being still alive (December 1805) and in perfect health ; as I can testify from my own observation. It appears that she was re- moved from the tiger's den by the present keeper Mr. B. Greenfield; who informs me, that any THE TIGER. 3| Instance of attachment. dog may be safely put into the den after the tiger has been fed ; as he has ascertained by repeated experiments. The ship carpenter, who came over with the tiger, after an absence of more than two years came to the Tower to see him. The animal in- stantly recognised his former acquaintance, rub- bed himself backward and forward against the grating of his den, and appeared highly de- lighted. Notwithstanding the urgent request of the keeper that he would not rashly expose himself to danger, the man begged so earnestly to be let into the den, that he was at 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 in no respect attempted to injure him. The man remained here for two or three hours; and he at last began to imagine 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 almost impracti- cable. 'With some care, however, he got the tiger beyond the partition of the two dens, and the keeper watching his opportunity, dexterously closed the slide, and thus separated them. An experiment was tried some time ago at Edinburgh, by putting a bitch big with young into the den of a tigress. It was naturally ex- pected, that the defenceless creature would have 38 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Instance of puppies living with a tigress. been instantly devoured, by an animal so feroci- ous as the tigress. The latter, however, appeared wholly regardless of her new companion, and not only suffered her to remain uninjured, but even to feed with her, and occasionally to repose on her ample back. In a short time the bitch pro- duced five puppies, which lay securely in a cor- ner of the den; while the tigress evinced, by stepping carefully over them, and by other signs, that she held them unworthy of notice, or at least, that she had no desire to molest them. This curious circumstance was witnessed by many spectators, and the above particulars were communicated to me by the person who made the experiment : but after some time, three of the puppies unfortunately strayed from the den, and were devoured by a lioness, and the two others are supposed to have been carried off by some of the visitors who crowded to see them. The bitch, however, is said to be still living, and in perfect amity with her formidable companion. A fine young animal called the ring-tailed tiger, and which answers to the name of Tippoo, is now exhibited in the Tower of London. Dur- ing its voyage to England it ran about the decks of the vessel, and evinced the most perfect tame- ness. It was presented to her majesty by Admi- ral Rennier, and a boy (servant to the admiral) carried it to the Tower in a dog-kennel. Having taken it to the den in his arms, the youth seemed very unwilling to quit his favourite, but THE TIGER. 3Q Hunting the tiger. remained a considerable time, kissing the animal, and bidding it farewel in tbe most tender man- ner. The tiger also exhibited every possible mark of attachment ; and some time elapsed be- fore the keeper could reconcile it to its new situation. This animal is fed with boiled meat, by desire of the admiral who presented it. But tigers are generally fed with raw flesh; of which they consume five or six pounds weight in a day: and they lap about three pints. of water* The hunting of these animals is a favourite amusement with some of the Oriental princes; who go in search of them, attended by consider- able bodies of men well mounted and armed with lances. As soon as a tiger is roused, he is in- stantly attacked on all sides, with pikes, arrows, and sabres, and presently destroyed. This diver- sion, however, is always attended with danger ; for if the animal feels himself wounded, he sel- dom retreats without sacrificing some one of the party to his vengeance. There are men who, covered with a coat of mail, or armed only with a shield, a poniard, and a short scymitar, will ven- ture to attack these sanguinary beasts singly, and fight with them life for life ; for in combats of this nature, there is no other alternative, than to overcome or perish. The tigress produces four or five young at a litter. She is at all times furious; but when rpbbed of her young her rage rises to the utmost 40 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Defence of the young — Roaring of the tiger. extremity. She then braves every clanger, and pursues her plunderers, who are often under the necessity of releasing one of their captives in order to retard her motion. She stops, takes it up, and carries it to the nearest covert; but in- stantly returns, and renews her pursuit, even to the gates of buildings, or the sea shore: and when the hope of recovering her offspring proves fruitless, her agony is expressed by the most hideous and terrific bowlings. The roar of these animals is said to be exceed- ingly dreadful. It begins by deep, melancholy, and slow intonations and inflections; presently it becomes more acute; and then suddenly changes to a violent cry, interrupted by long tremulous sounds, which, together, make a dis- tracting impression upon the mind. This is chiefly heard in the night; when silence and darkness add to the horror, and the roarings are repeated by the echoes of the rocks and moun- tains. The Indian physicians attributed medicinal virtues to different parts of the tiger's body; and the skin is held in high esteem in all the Oriental countries, where it is applied to a variety of use- ful and ornamental purposes. THE LEOPARD. THIS animal is about four feet in length, ex- clusive of the tail, which generally measures THR LEOPARD. 41 General description — Devastations. two feet and a half. Its skin is extremely beau- tiful, being of a fine bright yellow, elegantly marked with annular black spots. It is chiefly found in Senegal, Guinea, and the interior parts of Africa; delighting in the most impervious fo- rests, and frequenting the borders of rivers to wait for such animals as resort thither to allay their thirst. It also resides in some parts of China, and among the mountains of Caucasus, from Per- sia to India. The general appearance of these animals is marked with extreme ferocity. The eye is rest- less, the aspect cruel, and all the motions are short and precipitate. They attack and devour indiscriminately every thing they meet, sparing neither man nor beast; and when they cannot obtain a sufficient supply in their native wilds, they descend in great numbers from their lurk- ing-places, and commit dreadful devastations among the numerous herds which are to be found in the plains. Kolben relates that in the year 1708, two leo- pards, a male and female, with three young ones, entered a sheep-fold at the Cape of Good Hope. The old ones killed nearly a hundred sheep, and regaled themselves with the blood. When they were satiated, they tore a carcase into three pieces, and divided it between their young ones. They then took each a whole sheep; and thus laden began to move off. Having been observed, however, they were way-laid on their return, and NO. I. F 42 NATURALISTS CABINET. A tame leopard — Leopards in the Tower. the female and three young ones were killed ; but the male effected his escape. The same writer also informs us, that their flesh is white, nourish- ing, and delicious; much better than the finest veal. The negroes frequently take these animals in pitfalls, slightly covered with hurdles; and regale on their flesh. The negresses make collars of their teeth, which they suppose to possess some particular virtues; and the skins are sent to Eu- rope, where they are held in such estimation, that some of the most beautiful sell for upwards of ten pounds each. The late Sir Ashton Lever kept a leopard in a cage at Leicester-house, where it became so tame, as always to seem highly gratified by ca- resses and attention, purring and rubbing its sides against the cage like a cat. It was after- wards presented to the royal menagerie in the Tower ; where a person, before acquainted with it, saw it after an interval of more than twelve months, notwithstanding which, it appeared in- stantly to recognize him, and began to renew its caresses. There are at present (1806) a beautiful leopard and leopardess in the Tower of London, the for- mer presented to his majesty by Mr. Devaynes, banker; the latter by Sir Charles Mallet. Here also is a beautiful black leopardess, from the coa>t of Malabar, given by J. Hutchinson, csq. This animal is a great curiosity ; for although I THE PANTHER. Hunting leopard — Mode of attack. her skin is black, the spots are so much deeper as to be perfectly obvious. There is a variety of this species called the hunting leopard, which is about the height of a large greyhound; of a light tawny brown colour, marked like the former with circular black spots. This animal, which seems to be chiefly found in India, is frequently tamed, and used in the chase of antelopes. For this purpose it is car- ried in a kind of small waggon, chained and hooded, lest, on approaching the herd, it should be too precipitate, or not select a proper animal. When unchained, it does not immediately spring towards its prey; but winds, in the most cautious manner, along the ground, stopping occasionally, and carefully concealing itself till a favourable opportunity offers : it then darts on the herd with astonishing celerity, and soon overtakes them by the rapidity of its bounds. If, its first attempt, however, which consists of five or six surprising leaps, does not prove successful, it loses its breath ; and, finding itself unequal in speed, stands still for some time to recover; then relinquishing the attempt for that time, quietly returns to its keeper. THE PANTHER IS larger than the leopard, being frequently from five to six feet long, whereas the latter, as Already observed, seldom exceeds four feet. The 44 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Form and appearance— Taking the prey. general colour is yellow, of a deep tint on the back, but growing paler towards the belly, which, together with the chest, is white: on the back, sides, and flanks, it is elegantly marked with black spots, disposed in circles of four or five each, with a single spot in the centre. The ears of this animal are short and pointed; the eyes fierce and restless ; and the countenance ex- tremely ferocious : it is supposed, indeed, to be absolutely timameable, and in a state of confine- ment, growls almost incessant!}'. It is chiefly found in Africa, where the species extends fiom Barbary to the remotest parts of Guinea. A pan- ther presented to his majesty by the Dey of Al- giers is now exhibited in the Tower. The panther happily prefers the flesh of brute animals to that of man ; but when pressed with hunger, it attacks every living creature without distinction. It takes its prey by surprise, either lurking in thickets, or creeping on its belly until it come within its reach : it will even climb trees in pursuit of monkeys, and other small animals, so that nothing is secure from its insidious attacks. The ancients seem to have been well acquaint- ed with these animals; and the Romans exhibited great numbers of them in their public shows. Panthers were at that time extremely numerous in the northern parts of Africa, and they still abound in the tropical regions of that continent. THE LYNX. 45 General description — Thirst of blood. THE LYNX IS distinguished from every other animal of the cat kind, by its long and erect ears, which are ornamented at the end with a tuft of long black hair. The length of its body is upwards of four feet, and that of the tail about six inches. Its hair is long and soft, and marked with dusky spots, which vary in colour according to its age. Its legs and feet are thick and strong, and its often known one of them to attack the ounce and the panther. THE HY&NA. 49 Mr. Bruce's account of the Abyssinian hysenas. " These creatures/' says Mr. Bruce, " were a general scourge to Abyssinia, in every situation, both in the city and in the field ; and, I think, surpassed the sheep in number. Gondar was full of them, from evening till dawn of day ; seek- ing the different pieces of slaughtered carcases which this cruel and unclean people expose in the streets without burial ; firmly believing that these animals are the Falasha or evil genii, trans- formed by magic, and come down from the neighbouring mountains to eat human rlesh 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, no-t many hundred yards distant, I have been appre- hensive 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, 1 heard something pass behind me towards the bed; but, upon looking round, could perceive nothing. Having finished what I was about, I went out of my tent, resolving directly to return ; which I immediately 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 hya3na standing near the head of the bed, with two or three large bunches of candles in his NO. II. G 50 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Mr. Brace's adventure with a hyaena. mouth. To have fired at him, would have been nt the risk of breaking my quadrant or other fur- niture; 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 1 could. It was not till then that he shewed any sign of fierceness ; but upon feeling his wound, he dropped the candles, and endeavoured to run up the shaft of the spear to arrive at me, so that 1 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. In a word, the hyaena was the plague of our lives, the terror of our night-walks, and the destruction of our mules and asses, which, above every thing else, are his favourite food." At Dar-Fur, a kingdom in the interior of Africa, these animals came in herds of six, eight, and sometimes more, into the villages at night, and carry off whatever they are able to master. They kill dogs and asses, even within the inch>- sure of the houses ; and always assemble where- ever a dead animal is thrown, which, by their united efforts, they drag to a prodigious distance; nor are they greatly intimidated at the approach of men, or the report of fire-arms. These animals are now to be seen in most of the exhibitions of wild beasts in England. The keepers represent the old ones as extremely stub- V THE HYJENA. 51 Instances of lameness. born and malignant; but instances have occurred of the younger animals being tamed. Mr. Pen- nant asserts, that he once saw a hyaena as tame as a dog; and the Comte de Buffon mentions one which was exhibited at Paris, and was appa- rently divested of its natural ferocity. The keeper of Exeter 'Change informed me, that a hyaena now in his possession, was so very tame when about six months old, that he was occasi- onally suffered to come out of his den, and run about the exhibition room. He seemed fond of playing with any of the dogs that happened to come into the room; and would even allow strangers to approach and pat him with their hands, exhibiting no symptoms of displeasure. Still, however, there was a considerable degree of sullenness and ill-nature in his disposition, which, appeared to increase with his age, and it is now necessary to keep him closely confined. This animal was brought over in the Manship East- Indiaman ; and is now about seven years old. Mr. John Hunter had at Earle's Court, one of these animals, near eighteen months old, that was so tame as to admit strangers to approach and touch him. On Mr. Hunter's death he was sold to a travelling exhibitor of animals. For a few months previously to his being carried into the country, he was' lodged in the Tower; where he continued tolerably gentle; but on being con- fined in the caravan he soon exhibited symptoms of ferocity equal to those of the most savage hy- NATURALIST'S CABINET. Quantity ot iood — Singular affection. senas. He was at last killed by a tiger,, the par- tition of whose den he had torn down by the enormous strength of his jaws. In a state of confinement the hyaena is allowed three or four pounds weight of raw flesh in the day; and generally laps about three pints of water. A remarkable peculiarity in the hysena is, that when first dislodged from cover, or obliged to run, he always appears lame for a considerable distance; and sometimes to such a degree, 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 with great celerity. THE SPOTTED HY/ENJ. THE spotted or laughing hyaena bears a near resemblance to the former species ; but is larger, »nd marked with numerous black spots. The ground colour of the body is reddish brown ; the face and upper part of the head are black; and the neck is furnished with an upright black mane. It has received the appellation of Laughing hy- aena, from the singular laughing noise which it makes when food is shown to it, or whenever it is interrupted whilst eating. These animals are found in many parts of Africa; but are peculiarly numerous at the Gape THE SPOTTED HYAENA. $3 Nocturnal rambles — Native cry. of good Hope, where they are extremely mis- chievous and formidable; frequently entering the huts of the Hottentots in search of prey, and sometimes even carrying off the children. Bar- hot relates, that one of them coming into a ne- gro's house, on the coast of Guinea, seized a girl, in spite of her resistance, threw her on his back, holding fast by one of the legs; and was making off with her : her screams, however, for- tunately brought some men to her relief; upon which the beast dropped her, and made his escape; but she was considerably lacerated in different parts of her body by his teeth. Numbers of hyaenas attend almost every dark night about the shambles at the Cape, to carry away the filth and offal left by the inhabitants, who suffer these animals to come and return un- molested. The dogs too, with which at other times they are in perpetual enmity, do not then molest them ; for on these occasions, it has been remarked, they are seldom known to do any ma- terial mischief. During their nocturnal rambles in search of prey, they utter the most horrid yells ; 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 hideous noise. Some of the inhabitants of the Cape assert, that the hyaena has the power of imitating the cries of other animals, by which 54 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Decoying the victim — Muscular strength. artifice, it often succeeds in decoying lambs, calves, &c. from the folds. It is also said, that a party of hyaenas will sometimes decoy the whole of the dogs from a farm, while their companions have an opportunity of issuing from their retreats, and carrying off sufficient booty before the dogs can return to prevent them. The inhabitants of Guinea kill these ferocious animals by fixing guns on the outside of the vil- lages, 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 pulled, and the piece discharged. The muscular strength of the jaws and neck of the spotted hyaena is extremely great, as will ap- pear from the following anecdote: The den of the animal now in the Tower requiring some re- pairs, the carpenter completed them, by nailing on the floor a thick oak plank, of seven or eight feet in length, with at least a dozen nails, each longer than the middle finger of the hand. At one end of this plank, however, there was a small piece left that stood up higher than the rest, and the man not having a proper chisel 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 the hyaena was let down by the keeper from the other part of his den. He had scarcely entered the place before he discovered the piece that was left at the end of the plank* * THE SPOTTED HYJENA. 55 Cowardice-— Instance of ferocity. and seizing it with his teeth, tore the plank com- pletely up, drawing every nail with the utmost facility. It is worthy of remark,, that the hyaena will not openly attack a man ; in proof of which, Mr. Greenfield informs me, that the animal now un- der his care, has been turned loose into the yard, without any such attempt. The spotted hyaena is much more gentle than most of the individuals of the other species : as the keeper can enter his den at all times except when he is hungry or feeding. In suffering these liberties, however, the animal seems actuated by terror, rather than by his natural inclination ; for in all these acts the man finds it necessary 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 years ago visited the royal menagerie, brought along with him a small ter- rier dog, and ridiculously held him up to the den of the hyaena. On seeing the animal, the dog was irritated, and in his rage thrust his head be- tween the bars; when the furious beast sprung upon him, dragged him through, and almost in- stantly devoured him. An animal of this species is now exhibited at the menagerie, Exeter 'Change, where it has been about six years. 56 NATURALIST'S CABINET. General description. CHAP. II. " By wintry famine rous'd, from all the tcact Of horrid mountains which the shining Alps And wavy Appenines and Pyrenees Branch out stupendous into distant lands, Cruel as death ! and hungry as the grave ! Burning for bloud ! bony, and gaunt, and grim ! Assembling wolves, in raging troops, descend -9 And, pouring o'er the country, bear along, Keen as the north wind sweeps the glossy snow : Ail b their prize.'* THOMBOJf. THE WOLF. THIS animal is considerably larger and more muscular than the dog ; his body frequently mea- suring three feet and a half in length, while that of the largest mastiff is seldom known to exceed three feet. The colour of his coat is generally a mixture of black, brown, and iron-grey; though in Canada it is black, and in some parts almost entirely white. The head is long, with a pointed nose, formidable teeth, and sharp erect ears ; the eyes slant upwards, and are of a fiery green colour, and the aspect is marked with extreme ferocity. THE WOLF. 57 Voracious appetite — Devastations. The length of the animal's hair augments his ap- parent bulk ; and the tail is long and bushy. The wolf is one of those animals whose carni- vorous appetites is the most voracious, and whose methods of satisfying it are the most various; nature having amply furnished him with strength, agility, and all the requisites for pursuit or con- quest: yet, with all these advantages he fre- quently dies with hunger: for being proscribed by man, and driven into the sequestered retreats of forests and mountains, the wild animals elude his attack by swiftness or artifice, and those he can take are not sufficiently numerous to satisfy the inordinate cravings of his stomach. Wolves are naturally timid and cowardly ; but when pressed by hunger they become courageous from necessity, and seem to bid defiance to every danger. In countries where they are numerous, whole droves come down from the mountains, or out of the woods, and unite in the work of gene- ral devastation. They attack the sheep-folds, enter the villages, and carry off sheep, lambs, hogs, calves, and even dogs; for at such times every kind of animal food is equally agreeable. The horse and the ox, the only tame animals that can make any resistance against these ene- mies, are frequently overpowered by their numbers and their repeated attacks. Even man himself, on these occasions, frequently falls a victim to their rapacity. They are seldom driven back until many of them be killed; and when obliged NO. II. H NATURALIST'S CABINET. Fxtreine cunning — Devastations in Languedoc. to retreat, soon return to the charge. Those that have once tasted human flesh, ever after particu- larly seek to attack mankind; and evidently pre- fer the shepherd to the flock. Although the wolf is so extremely gluttonous that he will sometimes fill his stomach with mud, and devour even his own species when pressed hy hunger yet his rapacity does not exceed his cunning. Ever suspicious and mistrustful, he imagines every thing he sees is a snare laid to betray him. If he find a rein-deer tied to a post, to he milked, he dares not approach, lest the ani- mal should he placed there only to entrap him ; but no sooner is the deer set at liberty, than he pursues and devours it. In the year 1764, an animal of this species committed the most terrible devastations in some particular districts of Languedoc, and soon be- came the terror of the whole country. Accord- ing to the accounts given in the Paris gazette, he was known to have killed twenty persons, chiefly women and children; and public prayers are said to have been offered up for his destruction. The following singular adventure of General Putnam, with one of these ferocious animals in North America, may not be unacceptable to the reader. Some time after Mr. Putnam had removed to Connecticut, the wolves, which were then very numerous, broke into his sheep-fold, and killed seventy fine sheep and goats, besides worrying THE WOLF. 50 Gen. Putnam's adventure with a wolf. several lambs and kids. This dreadful havoc was committed by a she-wolf, which, with her annual whelps, had for several years infested the neigh- bourhood. The whelps were commonly destroy- ed by the vigilance of the hunters, but the old one was too sagacious to come within reach of gun-shot; and upon being closely pursued, she would generally fly to the western woods, and return the next winter with another litter of whelps. This animal, at length, became such an intole- rable nuisance, that Mr. Putnam and five of his neighbours agreed to hunt alternately, until they could destroy her; and t\vo of them, in rotation, were to be constantly in pursuit. It was known, that, having lost the toes from one foot, by a steel trap, she made one track shorter than the other. By this vestige the pursuers recognized, in a light snow, the route of the wolf. Having fol- lowed her to Connecticut river, and found she had turned back toward Pomfret, they immedi- ately returned, and by ten o'clock next morning,, the blood-hounds had driven her into a cave about three miles distant from Mr. Putnanrs house. The people soon assembled with dogs, guns, straw, fire, and sulphur, to attack their common enemy, and several attempts were made to dislodge her from the den, but the hounds came back wounded and intimidated ; and neither 'fhe smoke of bla/ing straw, rior the fumes of 60 Gen. Putnam's adventure with a wolf. burnt brimstone could compel her to quit her re- tirement. Wearied with these fruitless attempts, which had continued nearly twelve hours, Mr. Putnam proposed to his negro servant to go down into the cavern and shoot the wolf; and on his de- clining the hazardous service, the general re- solved himself to destroy the ferocious animal, k'st she should escape through some unknown fissure of the rock. Accordingly, having provid- ed himself with several strips of birch bark, to light him in this darksome cave, he pulled off his coat and waistcoat, and having a long rope fas- tened round his legs, by which he might be drawn back at a concerted signal, he entered head foremost, with the blazing torch in his hand. The aperture of the cave, on the east side of a high ledge of rocks, is about two feet square : from thence it descends obliquely fifteen feet, and then running horizontally about ten more, it ascends gradually sixteen feet towards its termi- nation. The sides of this cavity consist of smooth solid rocks, which seem to have been di- vided from each other by an earthquake. The top and bottom are also composed of stone, and the entrance, in winter, being covered with ice, is extremely slippery. It is in no place high enough for a man to raise himself upright, nor in any part more than three feet broad. THE WOLF. 61 Gen. Putnam's adventure with a wolf. Mr. Putnam having groped his passage to the horizontal part of the cavern, the most terrifying darkness appeared in front of the dim circle of light afforded by his torch ; and all was silent as the house of death. Cautiously proceeding onward, he came to the ascent, which he slowly mounted on his hands and knees, till he discovered the glaring eye-balls of the wolf, who was sitting at the extremity of the den. Startled at the sight of fire, she gnashed her teeth and gave a sullen growl ; upon which the general kicked the rope, as a signal for pulling him out. The people at the mouth of the cave hearing the growling of the wolf, and imagining their friend to be in the most imminent danger, drew him out with such celerity, that his shirt was stripped over his head, and his skin severely lacerated. However he boldly persisted in his resolution, and, having adjusted his clothes, and loaded his gun with buck-shot, he descended a second time. On his second approach, the wolf assumed a very fierce and terrible countenance, howling, rolling her eyes, snapping her teeth, and dropping her head between her legs; but when she was on the very point of springing on him, Mr. Putnam fired at her head, and was immediately drawn out of the cave. After refreshing himself, and permit- ting the smoke to dissipate, he went down again, and on applying his torch to the animal's nose, ' found her dead; then taking hold of her ears, (i'2 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Formerly numerous in England. and kicking the rope, he drew her forth, to the astonishment of all the spectators. Wolves were once so great a nuisance in this country, that rewards were formerly proposed for their destruction ; but happily the race has here been long extirpated. King Edgar at- tempted to effect this beneficial purpose, by re- mitting the punishment of petty crimes on pro- ducing a certain number of wolves' tongues; and in Wales, certain taxes were commuted for an annual tribute of wolves' heads. Some centuries afterwards they increased to such a degree, as to require the serious attention of government, and great rewards were given for destroying them. Camden informs us, that certain lands were held on the condition of hunting and destroying the, wolves that infested the country. In the reign" of Athelstan, wolves abounded so much in York- shire, that a place of retreat was built at Fli^ton, near Scarborough, for the protection of passen- *gers against their attacks. The ravages of these animals being the most terrible in winter, when the ground is covered with snow, and food the most difficult to procure, our Saxon ancestors distinguished the month of January by the appellation of wolf-month. An outlaw was also among them denominated wolf- shed, or one that was out of the protection of human society, and liable to be destroyed by the wolves. THE WOLF. 63 Methods of taking wolves. Wolves continued to infest Ireland many cen- turies after their extinction in England, but now they are extirpated in that island ; and their num- bers are considerably diminished in most of the countries of Europe; a natural consequence of the increase of population, and the extension of agriculture. Hunting the wolf is a favourite diversion among the great men in some countries ; and it has been justly observed, this is a species of the chace at which reason need not blush, nor huma- nity drop a tear. To rid the world of such a pest is certainly meritorious ; and for this pur- pose, both force and stratagem are employed. One method is to take them in strong nets, into which they are driven by the hunters, who sur- round a large tract of land, and with drums, horns, and other instruments, accompanied with loud shouts from a large company, drive them into the entrance of the nets, where they are en- tangled and easily dispatched. In some sequestered parts they hang a piece of carrion on the branch of a tree, having pre- viously laid a train, by leaving, at proper inter- vals, small pieces of carrion, which the wolves, having an exquisite scent, can smell at a great distance. The hunters then wait till the approach of night, and with great circumspection approach the place, where they often find two or three wolves assembled, leaping up and endeavouring 6 04 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Stupefaction of the wolf when ensnared. to catch the bait; and while the animals are thus employed, they dispatch them with their fire-arms. It is remarkable, that as soon as the wolf finds himself ensnared, and sees no possibility of escape, his courage entirely forsakes him, and he is for some time so stupified with fear, that he may be either killed or taken alive, without diffi- culty; and at that moment an individual may muzzle him, and lead him along like a dog; his consternation seeming to extinguish his ferocity and resentment. Instances have sometimes occurred, of a wolf4 and a peasant being both snared in a pitfal, when the former was so completely stupified by the sense of his captivity, that he made no at- tempt to injure the peasant; who, however, must have been truly thankful when delivered from so formidable a companion. In the northern parts of the world, wolves sometimes get on the ice of the sea, during the spring, in quest of the young seals, which lie there asleep. This repast, however, frequently proves fatal to them ; for the ice, detached from the shore, carries them to a considerable distance from the land before they are sensible of it ; and instances have occurred, of a large district being, by this means, delivered from those pernicious animals. The female wolf goes with young about three months and a half: and when she is about to bring L3T. THE WOLF. 65 Maternal attentions — Tame wolves. forth, she searches carefully for some concealed place in the inmost recesses of the forests. Having fixed on a spot, she makes it perfectly smooth for a considerable space, by tearing up with her teeth all the brambles and brushwood. She then prepares a bed of moss, in which she brings forth five or six young. These she suckles 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 leverets, par- tridges, and living fowls ; which they at first play with, and then kill; when this is done, she tears them to pieces, and gives a portion to each of her young. In about six weeks they leave their den, under the guidance of the mother, who leads them to some neighbouring pool to drink, conducts them back again, or teaches them to conceal themselves when any danger is appre- hended. When they are attacked, she defends them with intrepidity; losing every sense of dan- ger, and becoming perfectly infuriate. She never abandons them till their education is finished, and they have acquired talents fit for a life of rapine. Notwithstanding the savage nature of these animals, they are still capable, when taken young, of being tamed. A singular instance of this was exhibited in a wolf belonging to the late Sir Ashton Lever ; which, by proper education, was entirely divested of its ferocious character and manner. In Persia, and other Oriental countries, NO. II, 1 66 N ATI; ft A LIST'S CAJMNKT. Instances of temporary docility. wolves arc exhibited as spectacles to the people, When young, they are taught to dance, or rather to perform a sort of wrestling with a number of men ; and Chardin observes, that a wolf well edu- cated in dancing, is worth five hundred French crowns. The Comte de BufYon, who brought up several of them, informs us, that during the first year, they are docile and even caressing; and, if well fed, they will neither injure poultry nor any other animals : but when they are about eighteen months or two years old, they begin to exhibit symptoms of their natural ferocity; and, unless chained, they are apt to run off, and commit some depredations. He brought up one in a court yard, along with a number of fowls, till it was about nineteen months old ; and during that time the poultry remained uninjured; but soon afterward the wolf killed the whole in one night, though he did not devour any of them. A wolf, now in the Tower of London, was sent as a present from a Spanish admiral to Lord St. Vincent, with a flag of truce, at the time his lordship was blockading Cadiz. The animal being then young, was permitted to run about the cabin, and used to pick up the crumbs under his noble owner's table, exactly like a dog. About six years ago, Lord St. Vincent presented him to the king; and since his residence in the royal menagerie, a bull bitch has been introduced to his den, which has produced three puppies, one mule and two females, bearing strong character- THE FOX. 6? Puppies of the wolf species— Wolves of America. istics of the wolf species. These puppies I saw myself, and compared them with the wolf, towards the latter end of 1SO5, when they appeared per- fectly strong and healthy. These animals are now hut rarely seen in the inhabited parts of America; yet the government of Pennsylvania some years ago offered a reward of twenty shillings, and that of New Jersey of even thirty shillings, for the killing of every wolf. In the infant state of the colonies it is said, that wolves came down from the mountains, often at- tracted by the smell of the hundreds of unfortu- nate Indians who died of the small-pox: but the animals did not confine their insults to the dead ; they even devoured the sick and dying natives in their huts. A young wolf from the Alps is now in Mr. Pidcock's menagerie at Exeter 'Change; and the keeper informs me that he regularly eats between three and four pounds of raw flesh per day. THE FOX IS more slender in form than the wolf, and considerably less in height and size; the tail, also, is much longer and more bushy; but the oblique direction of the eyes, and the form of the ears are similar to those of the wolf; and the head appears proportionably larger. He is re- markably playful, but can never be thoroughly I 2 (58 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Instances of cunning and sagacity. tamed, and like all savage animals half reclaimed, will, on the slightest offence, bite those with whom he is most familiar. He evidently lan- guishes when deprived of liberty; and if kept too long in confinement, he falls a victim to me- lancholy. This animal is esteemed the most sagacious and most crafty of all predaceous quadrupeds. The former quality he exhibits in his mode of providing himself an asylum, where he retires from pressing danger, resides and brings up his young; and his craftiness is discovered by his schemes to catch lambs, poultiy, and all kinds of small birds. When this appears practicable, the fox fixes his abode on the border of a wood, in the neighbourhood of some farm or village. He there listens to the crowing of the cocks, and the cries of the poultry ,• which he perfectly scents at a considerable distance : he chuses his time with judgment; he conceals his road as well as his de- sign ; he slips forward with caution, sometimes even trailing his body ; and seldom makes an un- successful expedition. If he can leap the wall, or creep in underneath, he ravages the court- yard, puts all to death, and retires silently with his prey; which he either conceals under her- bage, or carries off to his kennel. In a few mi- nutes he returns for more ; which he carries off or conceals in the same manner, but in a different place : and thus he proceeds till the rising sun,, or some movements in the house warn him to THE FOX. 69 Instances of cunning — Voracious appetite. suspend his operations, and to retire to his den. Bird-catchers are also well acquainted with the -craft and ingenuity of this animal : for he usually visits their nets and hirdlime early in the morn- ing; and carries off successively the birds which are entangled; concealing them by the sides of highways, in the furrows, and under the herbage or brush-wood, where they are sometimes left two or three days, but where he knows perfectly to find them when pressed by hunger. He fre- quently discovers the nests of partridges and quails; when he seizes the mother on the eggs, and destroys a vast quantity of game. Such, in- deed, is his voracity, that on a failure of better food, he will prey on rats, field-mice, serpents, lizards, and toads ; and this is the only service that he appears to render to mankind. When pressed by hunger, he will also eat roots or insects ; and the foxes near the sea coast will de- vour crabs, shrimps, or shell-fish with the utmost Avidity. Buffon informs us, that this daring robber sometimes attacks bee-hives, and the nests of .wasps, for the sake of what he can find to eat: but his reception on these occasions is frequently so rough as to compel him to retire, that he may crush his assailants by rolling himself on the ground. Having thus rid himself of his trouble- some companions, he instantly returns to the charge, and obliges them at length to 70 NATURALISTS CABINET. Catching rabbits, crows, &c. thdr combs, and leave them to him as the reward of his victory. A great degree of cunning is exhibited by the fox in digging young rabbits out of their bur- rows. He does not enter the hole; for in this case he would have to dig several feet along the ground, under the surface of the earth; but he follows their scent above, till he comes to the end, where they lie; and then scratching up the earth descends upon them with perfect facility. Pontoppidan, bishop of Bergen in Norway, observes, that when the fox perceives an otter go into the water to fish, he will frequently hide him- self 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 leaves his booty behind. " A certain person," says this author, " was surprised on seeing a fox near a fisherman's house, laying a parcel of torsks' (cod's) heads in a row. He waited the event; the fox concealed himself behind them, and made a booty of the first crow that came for a bit of them. The fox is one of those animals that afford much diversion in the chace. When he finds himself pursued, he generally flees for refuge to his kennel; and penetrating to the bottom, lies till a terrier is sent in to him. If his den be un- der 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 his THE FOX* 71 Stratagems in the chace — Maternal affection. enemies. But when a retreat is cut off, his shifts and stratagems to escape are equally numerous and surprising. He always takes to the woody parts of the country, and prefers the paths that are most embarrassed with thorns and briers. He runs in a 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. When overtaken, he becomes obstinately desperate, and defends himself against his adver- saries even to the last gasp. A remarkable instance of the affection of thii animal is said to have occurred some years ago, near Chelmsford, in Essex. A female fox, that had but one cub, was unkennelled by a gentle- man's hounds, and was hotly pursued. The poor animal, braving every danger rather than leave her cub to be worried by the dogs, took it up in her mouth, and fled before her pursuers in this manner for several miles. At last, taking her way through a farmer's yard, she was assaulted by a mastiff; and was obliged to drop her cub, which was taken up by the farmer; while the affectionate mother fortunately escaped the pur- suit, and got off in safety. The Rev. B. Daniel also mentions a female fox which was hunted near St. Ivcs, during three quarters of an hour, with a cub, about a fortnight old, all the time in her mouth, which she was at NATURALIST'S CABINET. Maternal care — The Arctic Fox. * length compelled to leave to the ferocity of her pursuers. The females produce once a year, and have1 from three to six at a time. If the dam perceive the place of her retreat to be discovered, she carries off her CUDS to a more secure asylum. The young are brought forth blind, like pup- pies; and are of a darkish brown colour. Foxes grow till they are eighteen months old, and live thirteen or fourteen years. In the winter season, these animals make an almost continual yelping; but in summer, when they shed their hair, they are generally silent. THE ARCTIC FOX IS smaller than the common species ; and of a blueish-grey colour, which sometimes changes to white. The hair is remarkably thick and soft. The nose is sharp; and the ears are short, and almost concealed in the fur. The tail also is shorter and more bushy than that of the common fox. These animals are only found in the Arctic regions near the Polar Circle, and in the islands of the Frozen and Eastern Oceans, where they are extremely numerous. In winter these animals usually bury themselves in the snow, where they lie as long as it conti jaues of a sufficient depth ; and they are said to THE ARCTIC FOX. 73 Food — Catching water-fowl. swim across rivers with great agility. Their prey is various; it being observed, that in Nova Zem- bla and Spitzbergen, they subsist chiefly on the smaller quadrupeds; in Greenland they are com- pelled to appease the cravings of appetite with berries,, or whatever is thrown up by the sea; but in Lapland and the northern parts of Asia they find an abundant supply in those troops of Lemings which sometimes cover the face of the country. Their mode of obtaining fish for prey evinces an extraordinary share of cunning and ingenuity. They go into the water, and make a splash with their feet, in order to disturb the scaly tribes ; and when these come up, they im- medi^tely seize them. An almost incredible de- gree of cunning is also displayed in their mode of entrapping the different kinds of waterfowl. 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 his frolics that he may not alarm them, only moving his tail very gently,- the former are said to be so foolish as to come up now and peck at it ; when the fox sud- denly springs round, and secures the unsuspecting victim. On the other hand, however, they are themselves frequently destroyed by the birds of prey; and Mr. Pennant observes, they are so simple that instances have occurred of their standing by while a trap was baiting, and imme- diately afterwards putting their heads into it. NO. II. K 74 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Account of the foxes in Bering's island. Of the manners of these sagacious animals an ample and entertaining description has been, ijivru by a writer of respectability who was also an eye-witness of what he relates. " During my unfortunate abode," says Steller, **. on Bering's Island, I had but too many oppor- 1 unities of studying the nature of these animals; which far exceed the common fox in impudence, cunning and roguery. A narrative of the innu- merable tricks they played us, might vie with Albertus Julius's History of the Apes on the Island of Saxenburg. " They forced themselves- into our habitations by night as well 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 extremely ingenious, as to roll down our casks of provisions; and then steal the meat out with such skill, that at first we could not brinir o 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 stab- bing two or three foxes, from their rapacity in tearing the 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 discovered it, 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, we put any animal on the top of a high post in the air; thcy-ieither dug up the earth G THE ARCTIC FOX. 75 Concealing the prey. at the bottom, and thus tumbled the whole down, or one of them climbed up, and with incredible artifice and dexterity threw down what was upon it. " They watched all our motions, and accom- panied us in whatever we were about to do. If the sea threw up any animal, they devoured it before we could arrive to rescue it from them: and if they could not consume the whole at once, they trailed it in portions to the mountains ; where they buried it under stones before our eyes, running to and fro as long as any thing re- mained to be conveyed away. While this was doing, others stood on guard, and watched us. If they saw any one coining 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 possession would be so com- pletely 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 coverings, and the skins that ^e lay upon. In consequence 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 76 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Attacks on the dead ; both men and animals. thongs of our shoes. If we lay down as if in- tending to sleep, they came and smelt at our noses, to find whether we were dead or alive. On our first arrival, they bit off the noses, fin- gers, and toes of our dead, while we were pre- paring the grave; and thronged in such a man- ner about the sick and infirm, that it was with difficulty we could keep them off. " Every morning we saw these audacious ani- mals, patrolling on the strand among the sea- lions and sea-bears; smelling aft such as were asleep, to discover whether some of them might not be dead : if that happened to be the case, they proceeded to dissect him immediately, and soon afterwards all were at work in dragging the parts away. Because the sea-lions, sometimes in their sleep, overlay their young, the foxes every morning examined the whole herd, one by one, as if conscious of this circumstance; and imme- diately 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 harassed them by every means we could de- vise. When we awoke in the morning, there always lay 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 above two hundred of these ani- mals with my own hands. On the third day THE ATICTIC FOX. 77 Varioxis appearances in different months. after my arrival, I knocked down with a club, within the space of three hours, upwards of se- venty of them, and made a covering to my hut with their skins. They were so ravenous, that with one hand we could hold to them a piece of flesh, and with a stick or axe in the other could knock them down. " From all the circumstances that occurred during our stay, it was evident that these animals could never before have been acquainted with mankind; and that the dread of man is not in- nate in brutes, but must be grounded on long ex- perience. " 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 April and May they began to shed their coat ; in the two follow- ing 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 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 bowlings, both day and night; and 78 NATURALIST'S CABINET. I low conveyed to islands. — The Jackal. would not cease till she had done her enemy some material injury, or was herself killed by him. " Though now found in such numbers in this island, they were probably conveyed thither from the continent, on the drift ice; and being after- wards nourished by the great quantities of animal substances thrown up by the sea, they became thus enormously multiplied." These animals are killed for the sake of their skins; the fur of which is extremely light and smooth. The Greenlanders also eat the flesh, which they prefer to that of the hare; and split the tendons, which they use instead of thread. THE JACKAL. THE body of this animal is about thirty inches in length, and has a great resemblance to that of the fox; but the head is shorter, the nose blunter, and the legs longer. The tail is thickest in the middle, tapering to a point, and tipped with black. The hair is long and coarse, and the colour a dirty tawny, yellowish on the belly. In their manners these animals seem nearly allied to the dog. When taken young, they soon become domestic, attach themselves to mankind, and distinguish their masters from other persons. They love to be fondled, and when called by name, will leap" op a chair or table. They eat THE JACKAL, 7t> Mode of hunting — Rapacity — Hideous cry. greedily from the hand; and drink by lapping. They are also fond of playing with -dogs; unlike most others of this genus, which run away from them. 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 lambs and poultry, ravage the streets of villages, and gardens near towns, and sometimes destroy children which arc left unprotected. They are bold and audacious ; sometimes enter- ing the tent of a traveller while he is asleep, and stealing away any thing that is eatable. They are by no means choice in their food, but gree- dily disinter the dead, and devour the bodies when completely putrescent ; on which account the graves are in many countries made of great depth. When animal prey is not to be met with, they feed on roots, fruits, &c. and in a state of domestication they seem particularly fond of bread. In the day time they are silent, but their noc- turnal bowlings are dreadful; and when they are near, these are so horribly Joud, that persons can with difficulty hear each other speak. Dillon sa^s, their voice is like the cries of many children of different ages mixed together: when one com- mences, 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; 8O NATURALIST'S CABINET. "Why called the Lion's Provider — Mr. Pennant's account. 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 cir- cumstance it is that the jackal has obtained the title of the Lion's Provider. Jackals burrow in the earth ; and leave their habitations during the night only, to range for prey. The females breed once a year, and produce from six to eight young at a birth. They are found in all the hot and temperate parts of Asia, and in most parts of Africa, from Barbary to the Cape of Good Hope. Such is the substance of the account given by Mr. Pennant : that of the Comte de Buffon is different. He observes, that these are stupid and voracious animals, and very difficult to be tamed; and that with one kept nearly a twelve- month, neither food nor caresses would soften its disposition, though taken young and reared with the utmost attention. It would allow no one to touch it, but attempted to bite all persons indis- criminately. When suffered to be at liberty, nothing could prevent it from leaping on the tables, and carrying off every eatable it could lay hold of. This naturalist also asserts, that when- ever this animal meets with travellers, it stops to reconnoitre them without any symptoms of ap- prehension : that it is exceedingly voracious ; and, when nothing better offers, will even eat the leather of harness, boots, or shoes. Whenever any of these creatures begin to utter their cry, all the rest do the same; so that when one has en- THE BARBARY JACKAL. 81 General description — Anecdote from M. Sonnini. tered a house to steal, and hears his companions at a distance, he cannot refrain from adding his voice to the number, by which means they are frequently detected. THE BARBARY JACKAL. THE Barbary jackal is about the size of the common fox, and of a brownish fawn-colour. From behind each ear runs a black line ; which soon divides into two, and extends downward along the neck. The tail is bushy,, and sur- rounded by dusky rings. This species is never found in flocks like the common jackal, but always singly. He ventures to approach, even in the open day, the houses near his subterraneous abode; and carefully con- cealed beneath thick bushes, he frequently creeps silently among the poultry, carries off their eggs, and leaves no traces of his exploits but the de- vastations themselves. One of his principal ta- lents consists in the hunting of birds ; and in this he exhibits such cunning and agility, that they seldom escape him. Of the cunning of this ani- mal, a tolerable idea may be formed from the fol- lowing narration of M. Sonnini. " One day," says that intelligent traveller, " as I was meditating in a garden, I stopped near a hedge. A Thaleb, hearing no noise, was coming through the hedge towards me; and when he NO. II. L 82 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Anecdote related by M. Sonnini. had cleared himself, was just at my feet. Oft perceiving me, he was seized with such surprise that he remained motionless for some seconds, without even attempting to escape ; his eyes fixed steadily on me. Perplexity was painted in his countenance, by a degree of expression of which I could not have supposed him susceptible, and which denoted great delicacy of instinct. 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 escape, and keeping his eyes still turned towards me, he retired ; not running, but 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 a horizontal line, that it might neither drag on the ground, nor brush against the plants." THE BEAVER. THE general length of this animal is about three feet. The tail is oval, about eleven inches long, and compressed horizontally, but rising into a convexity on its upper surface : it is des- titute of hair, except at the base, and is marked out into scaly divisions, like the skin of a fish : THE BEAVER. 83 Description — Natural sagacity. this serves as a rudder, to direct the animal's mo- tions in the water, and is a most useful instrument in other operations. The hair is smooth, glossy, and of a chesnut colour, varying sometimes to black ; and instances have occurred, in which these animals have been found white, cream- coloured, or spotted. The ears are short, and almost hidden in the fur : the fore feet are small, and not unlike those of a rat ; the hinder ones are large and strong, and the toes are connected by membranes. The front teeth are remarkably strong, and excellently adapted to the purpose of cutting wood; and, indeed, the animals subsist chiefly on the bark and leaves of trees, No other quadrupeds seem to possess so great. a Degree of natural sagacity as the beavers. In- dustry is their distinguishing characteristic ; and their labours seem the result of a social compact, formed for mutual preservation and support. They generally live in communities of two or three hundred ; inhabiting dwellings 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 the interior resembles that of an oven. The number of houses varies from ten to thirty. If the anim.ils cannot find a pond suited to their purpose, they fix on some level piece of ground, with a stream L 2 84 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Construction of dams, houses, &c. running through it; and their operations in ren- dering this perfectly suitable for their habitations, evince a degree of sagacity and intelligence, of design and recollection, approaching in a surpris- ing degree to the faculties of the human race. Having divided themselves into companies, their first object is, to form a dam ; and this they always do in the place most favourable for their purpose, cutting down trees of great size, driving stakes, five or six feet long, into the ground, in different rows, and interweaving them with small branches: they also fill up the interstices with clay, stones, and sand ; which they ram so firmly down, that though the dams are frequently a hundred feet long, a man may walk over them with perfect 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 and compact. After completing the mole, their next business is to erect their houses. These are most ingeni- ously constructed with earth, stones, and sticks, cemented together, and plastered in the inside. The walls are about two feet thick ; and the floors so much higher than the surface of the water, as always to preclude the danger of being flooded. Some of the houses have only one floor ; others have three, and Du Pratz informs us, that in one THE BEAVER. 85 Habitations. he examined he found fifteen different cells. The number of inhabitants in each house varies from two to thirty. Each individual is said to form its bed of moss, leaves, Sic. and each family lays in a stock of winter provisions, consisting chiefly of bark and the tender branches of trees, cut into certain lengths, and piled up with great neatness and regularity. In each house are two openings, one towards the land, by which the animals go in quest of food; the other under the water, and always be- low the thickness of the ice; by which means they are secured from the effects of frost. When they have continued in the same place three or four years, they frequently erect a new- house annually ; and it sometimes happens, that the new building is so close to the old, that they cut a communication from one to the other; and this may probably 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 employ- ment for some nights after, through a hole in the ice, which they keep open for that purpose. In the summer season, they often forsake their houses, and ramble about from place to place, sleep- ing under the covert of bushes, near the water-side. On these occasions they have sentinels, who, by a certain cry, give notice of the approach of dan- ger: in the winter they never stir out, except to 86 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Hermits — Operations of a colony. their magazines under the water; and during that season,, they become remarkably fat. 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 water, working their way upward to the height of several feet. These are called by the hunters hermits, or terriers ; and it has been ob- served, that they are invariably distinguished by a black mark on the skin of their backs. M. Du Prate, in one of his excursions into the northern parts of Louisiana, had an opportunity of witnessing the operations of a colony of bea- vers : the substance of his narration may there- fore be, probably, acceptable to the reader. In a very retired place, at the head of a river, M. Du Pratz found a beaver dam. Not far from it, but hidden from the sight of the animals, he and his companions erected a temporary hut, in order to watch their operations at leisure. They waited till the moon shone pretty bright; and then, carrying branches of trees in their front to conceal themselves, they approached the dam; and having with great care cut, as silently as possible, a gutter, about a foot wide, through it, they immediately retired to the hiding place. " As soon as the water through the gutter be- gan to make a noise," says our author, " we heard a beaver come from one of the huts and plunge in. We saw him get upon the bank, and THE BEAVER. 8? Assembling the colony — Repairs. 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 were all assembled, one of them appeared to issue some kind of or- ders ; for they all instantly 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 therefore we could plainly observe their operations. Some of them formed a substance resembling a kind of mortar ; others carried this on their tails, which served as sledges for the purpose. I observed that they put 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 receive 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." Our author and his companions afterwards re- tired to rest. In the morning, however, they went to the dam, to see its construction; for which purpose it was necessary that they should cut part of it down. The depression of the water in consequence of this, together with the 6 88 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Dispersion of a colony. noise they made again roused the beavers, which seemed much disturbed by these exertions ; and one of them in particular was observed several times to come pretty near the labourers, as if to examine what passed. As M. Du Pratz appre- hended they might run into the woods, if farther disturbed, he again retired with his companion to their place of concealment. " One of the beavers then ventured," continues our author, " to go upon the breach, after hav- ing several times approached and returned like 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 compelled to run precipitately into the woods ; leaving their dis- turbers at liberty to examine their houses. These habitations were made by posts fixed, slanting upwards to a point; and in the middle was the floor, resting firmly on notches in the post ; and under one of them were fifteen pieces of wood, with the bark gnawed off, apparently designed for food. The skin of the beaver has hair of two kinds: the lower, immediately next to the hide, is short, implicated together, and as fine as down; the THE fcEAVEtt, 89 Beaver skins — Castor — Sociable disposition. upper grows more sparingly, and is both thicker and longer. The latter is of little value; but the flix or down is wrought into hats, stockings, caps, and other articles of dress. These skins form a very important article of commerce, both with America and the northern countries of Eu- rope. Upwards of fifty thousand 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 are preferred which are taken during winter; 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. The medicinal substance called castor, is found in a liquid state in the inguinal glands of these animals; and each individual, both male and fe- male produces usually about two ounces. The female beavers bring forth towards the end of June; and generally have two young at a time ; which 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 form a double society. It is by no means surprising that such sociable animals should also exhibit instances of strong attachment to each other. Two young beavers NO. ii. M .NATURALIST'S CABINET. Victim of regret — Tame beaver. that were taken alive, and brought to a neigh- bouring factory in Hudson's Bay, were preserved for some time, and throve very fast, till one of them was accidentally killed. The survivor in- stantly felt the loss, and soon fell a victim to a voluntary abstinence from food. The domestication of these animals has some- I'iines been attempted with success. Major Ro- derfort, of New York, had a tame beaver above half a year in his house, where he went about, quite loose. He was fed with bread, and some- times fish, of which he was very greedy. As much water was put into a bowl as he wanted. All the rags and soft things he could meet with he dragged into the corner where he was accus- tomed to sleep, and made a bed of them. A 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 ten- derly to his breast as if to warm it : as soon as the cat returned, he always restored his little charge. Sometimes he grumbled, but never at- tempted to bite. The winter season is preferred by the hunters for seeking out the habitations of the beavers. They stop up the entrance to these on the side next, the water, and enlarge the aperture on the laud side; after which they introduce a dog so trained, that lie will seize the beaver with his teeth, and suffer himself to be drawn out by the THE BEAVEK. 91 \ Mode of taking beavers — Two nt Exeter 'Change. hind legs. The Indians in the neighbourhood of 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 terrified ani- mals attempt to escape through the doors, and thus become entangled in the meshes. In some parts of Lapland, beavers are caught in twigs of fir-trees; but it is worthy of remark, that whenever two have been caught together, the one has set the other at liberty. The beaver is a native of most of the northern parts of Europe and Asia, but is principally found in North America. It also seems to have been once an inhabitant of Great Britain : for Giraldus Cambrensis says that these animals fre- quented 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 the Good, in the tenth century, at the sum of a hundred and twenty pence each ; and they seem to have con- stituted the chief finery and luxury of those days. There are at present ( 1 806,) in the menagerie at Exeter 'Change two beavers, brought over from Hudson's Bay by Captain Turner, who had also on board a male and female with three young ones; but having unfortunately lined the trough for their water with lead instead of tin, they were all poisoned by gnawing it, in one night. The animals now in Mr. Pidcock's possession are re- markably tame, and will even suffer themselves M 2 NATURALISTS CABINET. Beavers at Exeter 'Change. to be handled ; but when approached by any one they utter a small plaintive cry, exactly like that of a new-born child. They are sometimes re- markably lively and frolicsome, wrestling and playing with each other, and if any thing be given them to play with, they seem greatly de- lighted, and drag it about as far as the limits of their small apartment will admit. The keeper informs me, that they will frequently build a kind of stage of the willow branches given them for food, and the straw which forms their litter; and that unless checked in their progress, they would soon escape, by this method, from their confine* ment. They also gnaw the wood work about them so incessantly, that it is necessary to covei? it in many parts with plates of tin or iron. Their food consists of willow-bark, cabbage- leaves, and bread ; the latter of which they inva- riably sop in their trough before they use it, They often sit upright in the act of eating, and are sometimes observed to wash their feet, and pick their teeth. In a word, their disposition ig perfectly gentle, and all their manners are pecu» liarly clean. THE COMMON BEAR. 93 General description. CHAP. III. There through the piny forest half absorpt, Hough 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. THOMSON, THE COMMON BEAR, THIS is a savage and solitary animal, inhabit- ing the most inaccessible excavations of the mountains, or fixing its residence in the darkest and most impervious parts of the forest. Its ears are short and rounded ; its eyes small, and fur- nished with a winking membrane; its snout is prominent, and its sense of smelling remarkably acute. In all animals of this species the legs and thighs are strong and muscular; the feet re- markably long; and the claws so long and sharp that they can ascend trees with tolerable facility. The voice of the bear is a deep and surly growl, which is frequently exerted without any provo* Cation, §4 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Numerous in Kamtschatka — Peaceful disposition. These animals are so numerous in Kamts- chatka, that they are often seen roaming about the plains in great companies ; and they would certainly have long since depopulated the coun- try, were they riot here much more gentle than the generality of bears in other parts of the world. During the winter season they reside chiefly in the mountains; but in spring, they de- scend in multitudes 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 whenever they have the fortune to find the fishermen's nets, they dexterously drag them out of the water, and empty them of their contents. When a Kamtschadale espies one of these ani- mals, he endeavours to conciliate its friendship at a distance, accompanying his gestures by courteous words. The bears are indeed so fami- liar here, that even the women and girls, when gathering roots, herbs, or turf, for their fuel, in the midst of a whole drove of bears, are never disturbed in their employment; and if any of these animals approach them, it is only to eat something out of their hands. They have never been known to attack a man, except when sud denly roused from sleep; and it rarely happens that they turn upon the marksman, whether they be hit or not. This humane character of the Kamtschadale bear, however, procures him no exemption from persecution. Armed with a THE COMMON BEAR, 95 Methods of taking bears. spear, or club, the Kamtschadale goes in quest of the peaceful animal, in his calm retreat; who, meditating no attack, and only solicitous for his own defence, gravely takes the faggots which his persecutor brings him, and with them, chokes up the entrance to his den." The mouth of the ca- vern being thus closed, the hunter bores a hole through the top, and transfixes his defenceless foe with perfect security. Sometimes they lay a board driven full of iron hooks, in the bear's track ; placing near it some- thing heavy, which the animal must throw down as he passes. Alarmed by this, he runs upon the board with greater force than he would otherwise do, and finding one of his paws fixed by the hooks, he attempts to free himself by striking it forcibly with the other; but his wounds and pain being now increased, he rises on his hind feet, and thus brings the board before his eyes ; which so perplexes him, that he throws himself on the ground, and bellows with agony till his violent struggles at last destroy him. In some parts of Siberia, the hunters erect a scaffold of several balks laid 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 a smooth and sharp-pointed post is fixed into the ground, rising about a foot above the bottom. The pit is carefully covered with sods; and across thti track of the bear, a small rope with an elas- 96 NATUIIALIST'S CABINET. Methods of taking bears. tic figure is placed. As soon as the animal touches the rope, the wooden figure starts loose; and the bear, endeavouring to save himself by flight, falls with a violent force into the pit, and is killed by the pointed post. If he escape this snare, at a little distance, spiked irons, like those used to annoy an enemy's cavalry, 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 concealed hunter soon dispatches him. The Koriacks catch these animals by the fol- lowing contrivance. They find some crooked tree, grown into an arched form; and at the bowed end of it they attach a noose, with a bait. The hungry bear is tempted by this object, and eagerly climbs into the tree ; but on his moving the branch the noose draws together, and he re- mains suspended from the tree, which violently springs back into its former position. In the mountainous parts of Siberia, they fas?- ten a very heavy block to a rope, that terminates at the other end with a loop. This is laid 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, the animal takes it up in a rage, and to free himself from it, throws it down the precipice; and he, being pulled after it, is instantly killed by the fall. Should this, however, not prove the case, he drags the block again up the mountain. THE COMMON BEAR. 97 Methods of taking bears. and repeats his efforts; till, with increasing fury, he either sinks exhausted to the ground, or ends his life by one decisive plunge. The strong predilection of this animal for honey, has given rise to one of the Russian me- thods of taking him. From those trees where the hees are hived, a heavy log of wood is sus- pended at the end of a long string. When the bear climbs up to get at the hive, he finds him- self interrupted by the log; he pushes it aside, and immediately attempts to pass it; but in re- turning, it strikes him so violently, that in a rage, he flings it from him with greater force, which makes it return with increased violence upon himself; and he sometimes continues this, till he falls the victim of his own simplicity. In some parts of the north, a single man will attack a bear in the open plains, without any other instruments than a sharp knife and a sti- letto, pointed at both ends and fastened to a thong. The thong he wraps about his right arm, and taking his stiletto in one hand, and his knife in the other, he boldly approaches the animal, who rears on its hind legs to receive the attack. The instant the creature opens its jaws, the hun- ter thiusts his stiletto into its throat, and gives it such acute pain that all its resistance is at an end, and the victim may be either stabbed, oi- led home alive by the hunter. No animal is so variously serviceable to the Kamtschadales, after its death as the bear. Of NO. III. N 98 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Serviceable to the Kamtschadales. the skin, they make beds, covertures, caps, and gloves, and collars for their sledge-dogs. Those who go upon the ice for the capture of marine animals, make their shoe soles of the same sub- stance, which thus never slip upon the ice. The fat of the bear is held in great estimation, as equally savoury and nourishing; and, when liquified by melting, it supplies the place of oil. The flesh also is esteemed a great delicacy ; and the intestines, when cleansed and properly scrap- ed, are worn by the women to preserve their faces from the effects of the sun-beams, which here, being reflected from the snow, are gene- rally 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 trans- parent as Muscovy-glass. Of the shoulder- blades, are made sickles for cutting grass; and the heads and haunches are hung up as trophies and ornaments, near the huts of the natives. The Kamtschadales are also greatly indebted to the bears, for the little progress they have hitherto made in 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 languid, and disordered, these people have learned to dis- tinguish most of those simples which they have recourse to, either as external or internal appli- cations. It is equally true, that they admit the THE COMMON BEAR. 99 Bear dances — Reprehensible cruelties. bears to be their dancing-masters ;• and, in what they call the bear-dance, every gesture and attitude of that animal is so faithfully imitated, as to afford sufficient indications to what they are indebted for this acquirement. They represent the bear's sluggish and stupid gait, and its different feel'- ings and situations ; as the young ones about the clam, the sports of the male with the female, and its agitation when pursued. All their other dan- ces resemble this in many particulars, and those attitudes are deemed the nearest to perfection which are copied from the bear. It is well known, that this animal may be ren- dered tame and obedient to its master. It may be taught to walk, to lay hold of a pole with its paws, and to perform a variety of tricks to entertain the multitude ; who are highly pleased with the awkward measures which it seems to suit to the sound of an instrument, or to the voice of its leader. But the cruelties practised in giving it this sort of education 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 cruel instructors. Some of them are taught to perform, by setting their feet upon heated iron plates, and then playing music to them while m tin's uneasy situation. ^ That these cruelties," says Mr. Bewick, that the racoon will stand on the side of a swamp, and hang its tail over into the water; which the crabs, mistaking for food, lay hold of; and as soon as the animal feels them pinch, he pulls them 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 cross-ways in his mouth, lest he should suffer from their nippers. A spe- cies of land crab, found in holes of the sand in North Carolina, are frequently the food of the racoon. He takes them by putting one of his fore-paws into the ground, and hauling them out. These animals feed chiefly by night ; as, except in dull weather, they sleep during the greatest part of the day. The racoon is an active and lively animal; his sharp claws enable him to ascend trees with great facility, and he even ventures to run to the ex- tremities of the branches. When tamed, he is good-natured and sportive; but is almost con- stantly in motion, and as mischievous and inqui- sitive as a monkey; 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; is very fond of sweet things; and, if permitted, will com-* pletely intoxicate himself with strong liquors, NO. in. p 114- NATURALIST'S CABINET. Manners of a tame racoon — Occasional depredations. Of a racoon formerly the property of M. Blan- quart des Salines, the following particulars have been related. Before it came into his possession, it had always been chained. In this state of cap- tivity it was very gentle, but exhibited little in- clination for fondness. His chain sometimes broke, and on such occasions liberty rendered him insolent. He took possession of an apart- ment, which he would allow none to enter; and it was with considerable difficulty, that he could again be reconciled to bondage. When loosed from his confinement, he would express his gra- titude by a thousand caressing gambols. Bu£ this was by no means the case when he effected his own escape. He would then roam about, sometimes 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 their heads. His chain rendered him more circum- spect, but by no means more humane. When be was in confinement, he employed every arti- fice to make the fowls grow familiar with him; be permitted them to partake 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 also, became the victims of his artifice. He used to open oysters with surprising dex- terity. His sense of touch was very exquisite ; for ia all his little operations, he seldom used THE RACOON. 115 Mode of opening oysters — Resentment — Dislike of children. either his nose, or his eyes. He would pass an oyster under his hind paws ; then, without look- ing at it, search with his fore-paws for the weak- est part; there sinking his claws, he would sepa- rate the shells, and leave not a vestige of the fish. He was extremely sensible of ill-treatment; nor could an injury be easily effaced from hi« recollection. A servant, one day, gave him ss- veral lashes with a whip; but the man could never afterwards effect a reconciliation. Neither 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, uttered the most mournful cries, and re- jected every thing presented to him, till the dis- agreeable object retired. He never allowed hay or straw to remain in his nest; but chose rather to lie upon wood. He disliked children; their crying irritated him, and he made every effort to spring upon them. A small bitch, of which he was very fond, lie chastised severely when she barked too loud. This animal is hunted for the sake of its fur; which is used by the hatters, and is considered as next in value to that of the beaver; it is also used in linings for garments. The skins, when properly dressed, make good gloves, and upper- leathers for shoes. The flesh of the racoon, is frequently eaten by the negroes, who seem to reckon it excellent food. 116 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Racoons in the Tower, and Exeter 'Change. There is at present (1806) a female racoon in the Tower of London, where it has resided about fourteen years, and is now blind with age. The male which formerly shared its apartment, acci- dentally got to the den of the Greenland bear last year, and was devoured. It is generally asserted, that the racoon washes irs meat: but Mr. Greenfield assures me, that neither of the above animals have ever evinced such an inclination. A racoon from North Ame- rica is now among the animals in the menagerie at Exeter 'Change, and is said to consume about half a pound of raw meat per day. THE BADGER. THE general length of this animal is about two feet and a half; and that of the tail, six inches. Its body and legs are thick. The eyes and ears are small; and the claws of the fore legs long and straight. It is of a grey colon? above, and in the under parts entirely black. The face is white ; and along each side of the head, runs a black pyramidal stripe, including the eyes and ears. The hair is coarse, and the teeth and claws remarkably strong. It inhabits almost all the temperate parts of Europe and Asia. The badger is naturally harmless and inoffen- sive, living principally on roots, fruit, and other THE BADGETi. 117 Means of defence — Mode of living. vegetable food ; but it is provided with such wea- pons, that few creatures can attack it with impu- nity. 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 amusement; and on such occasions, though na- turally of an indolent disposition, he makes the most vigorous exertions, and sometimes in- flicts desperate wounds on his adversaries. The «kin is so thick and loose, as not only to resist the impression 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. Thus does he resist the repeated attacks both of men and dogs ; till overpowered by numbers, and enfeebled by wounds, he is at length obliged to submit. These animals generally live in pairs, and pro- duce four or five young annually. They reside in woody places, in the clefts of rocks, or in bur- rows which they form in the ground. They continue in their habitations during the day, and do not appear abroad till evening. At times, from indulging in indolence and sleep, they be- come excessively fat. During the severe wea- ther of winter they remain in a state of torpidity sleeping on a commodious bed of dried grass. Under the tail is a receptacle, in which is secreted a white fetid substance, that constantly exudes through the orifice, and occasions % most u,n? pleasant smell. NATURALIST'S CABINET. Sacking the badger — Description of the glutton. Badgers are not known to do any further mis- chief to mankind, than in scratching and rooting up the ground, in quest of food : which is always performed during their nocturnal excursions. This circumstance has given rise to one of the modes practised in taking them. Their den is discovered; and when they are absent in the night, a sack is fastened at the mouth ; one per- son remaining near the hole to watch; while another beats round the fields with a dog, in order to drive the animals home. As soon as the man at the den hears that one has run in for re- fuge, he immediately seizes the mouth of the sack, ties it, and carries it off; which is usually called, " Sacking the Badger." If caught be- fore they are grown up, they may be tamed. The skin of the badger dressed with the hair on, is used for various purposes ; and the hairs are made into brushes for painters. The flesh* also, when the animals are in good condition, is said to make excellent hams and bacon. THE GLUTTON. THIS animal derives its appellation from it* Voracious appetite, and is found in Siberia, and the northern parts of Europe and America. The length of its body is about three feet, exclusive of the tail, which usually measures one foot. The general colour is a reddish brown, but along' the THE GLUTTON. Cruel attacks on the rein-deer — Extreme voracity. back, of a shining black. The fur is held in. great estimation, for its peculiar softness and glossy appearance. The legs of the glutton are very short, and consequently unfit for pursuit ; but the claws are admirably adapted for climbing trees, where it frequently watches whole days together in expec- tation of prey. The elk and rein-deer are its fa- vourite food, and when either of these passes under the tree, the glutton instantly darts upon its back; and, after fixing himself firmly between the horns, tears out its eyes : this 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 ; or if this does not happen, iu enemy soon brings it to the ground by sucking Its blood ; and then continues to devour the flesh till it sinks in a state of torpidity by the side of its hapless victim. In this situation it remains till returning animation enables it to renew the savage banquet, which never terminates till the carcase be wholly consumed. Gluttons feed also on hares, mice, birds, and even on putrescent flesh; and it is said by the Norwegians (though probably without founda- tion) that they are sometimes 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. 1(20 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Prodigious strength — Boldness and sagacity. The strength of this animal is so great, that three stout greyhounds are scarcely able to over- come 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 his ene- mies, and had the sense to keep him under water till he was suffocated. When attacked, he makes a stout resistance; for he will tear even the stock from a gun with his teeth, or break the trap in pieces in which he is caught. Yet, if taken young, he may be rendered tame, and is capable of learning many entertaining tricks. In a state of nature, he suffers men to approach him without exhibiting the least sign of fear, and even without any apparent wish to avoid them. This may be the effect of living in desert countries; generally out of the sight, and conse- quently removed from the attacks of man. He sometimes goes in quest of snares laid for other animals, and devours the game from the traps; but has too much sagacity to suffer himself to be taken. The Kamtschadales esteem the skin of this animal so highly, that they say the celestial beings wear garments made of no other fur than this; and they would consider a man as most superbly attired, if he had on the skin of a glutton. The women decorate their hair with the white paws of this animal, which they esteem an elegant ad- dition to their dress. M 1 THE WOLVERINE. 121 Description — Boldness, &c. THE WOLVERINE. THIS quadruped resembles the wolf in size, and the glutton in the formation 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 a chesnut colour: the face is black. The legs are remarkably strong, short, and black ; and the soles of the feet are covered with hair. The pace of the wolverine is very slow; but this defect is amply compensated by sagacity, strength, and acuteness of scent. They burrow in the ground ; and, from the fierceness of their disposition, are said to be even a terror to the wolves and bears. They are also possessed of great courage and resolution. One of them has been known to seize on a deer that an Indian bad killed; and though the Indian advanced within twenty yards, he still refused to relinquish his prize, and even suffered himself to be shot on the fallen animal. They have also been some- times seen to take a deer from a wolf, before the latter had time to begin his repast after killing it. Indeed their- amazing strength, and the length and sharpness of their claws, enable them to make a vigorous resistance against almost every other animal. As a proof of their prodigious strength, there so. in, o J2<2 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Instance of prodigious strength. 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 concealed there by the company's servants when going to the factory to spend the Christmas holidays. These animals are chiefly found in the north- ern regions of America. THE ELEPrfANT. 123 General description. CHAP. IV. 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 huge elephant, wisest of brutes ! O truly wise! with gentle might endow'd ; Though powerful, not destructive ! THOMSON. THE ELEPHANT. THE elephant is the largest of all quadrupeds, and an animal, which, in many respects, merits crur attention. When at full growth, it measures from ten to twelve feet in height from the ground to the highest part of the back, which is six or seven feet broad, and somewhat protuberant. It has a round thick body, a large short head, and a short neck; a long proboscis, snout, or trunk, hanging down almost to the ground; a little nar- row mouth, with two long tusks proceeding from the upper jaw, one on each side of the proboscis ; besides four strong grinders in each jaw; small i'24 NATl'R A LIST'S CABINET. Tlie proboscis or trunk. piercing eyes, and large pendulous ears. Its leg* arc round and thick, supporting its vast weight like so many columns; and its feet are short, those before being broader and rounder than those behind, each of them defended by four hoofs. Its skin is very hard, especially on the breast: its colour is generally a deep ash-coloured brown, approaching to black. The proboscis or trunk of the elephant is of such a structure, that he can extend or contract, dilate, raise or depress, and bend or twist it about at pleasure. Sometimes he makes it of a con- cave, sometimes of a convex form ; now doubles it, again expands it, and in short turns it round every way with surprising agility. By this mem- ber he takes in his meat and drink, and conveys them to his mouth ; by this he takes up a vast weight, levels- trees, unfastens the locks and bolts of doors, and makes use of it as a hand upon all occasions: it likewise serves for the purposes of smelling and respiration. It is really wonderful to observe how nimbly the elephant moves this trunk, which is six or seven feet long, and of considerable bulk at its origin, though it gradually tapers towards the ex- tremity. The shortness of the elephant's neck is compensated by the length of this member, which Dr. Derham says is so admirably contrived, so curiously wrought, and applied with so much agility and readiness by that unwieldy creature to its several occasions, that he thinks it a mani- fest instance of the Creator's wisdom. THE ELEPHANT. Grinders — Tasks — Skin, of the elephant. The grinders of the elephant are of such a thickness, both in the upper and lower jaw, as contributes to render the mouth narrow; nor need it be broader, because the strength of the grinders is so great, as to comminute the aliments at once in such a manner, that they do not want to be moved to and fro in the mouth, in order to be farther masticated, as is usual with other ani- mals; and therefore the tongue is small, short, and round, (not thin and flat, as in an ox) and has a smooth surface. The tusks of this animal, which are what we call ivory, vary in size ; but the longest imported into England are about seven or eight feet long, and weigh from a hundred, to a hundred and fifty pounds. It is but rarely that they are seen in the females; and when they do appear, they are small, and their direction is somewhat down- ward,, The skin of the elephant, where not callous, is extremely sensible. Indeed the animal feels so acutely the stinging of flies and other insects, that he not only employs his natural motions, but even the resources of his intelligence, to rid himself of this annoyance. He strikes them with his tail, his ears, and his trunk; contracts his ,skin, in order to crush them between its wrinkles; drives them off with branches of trees, or bun- dles of long straw ; and when all these artifices prove unavailing, he collects dust with his trunk, and covers all the more tender parts of his skin 126 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Food — Longevity. with it. Buffon remarks, that an elephant has been observed dusting himself in this manner se- veral tirnes in a day; and always at the most proper season,, namely, after bathing. The natural food of these animals is grass, and when that is wanting they dig up roots with their tusks. They have a very acute sense of smelling, by which they readily find out their food, and avoid all noxious herbage. When tamed, they eat hay, oats, barley, &c. and drink a vast quan- tity of water, sucking it up by the trunk, as we have already observed, and thence conveying it to the mouth. It appears to have been a custom to give them spirituous liquors when they went to battle, in order to make them inebriated and furious. The elephant is said to live to a great age, even to a hundred and twenty, two hundred, or three hundred years. Tavernier, who travel- led into India, says, he never could learn exactly how long the elephant lived; but one of the keepers told him, that he knew such an elephant to have been in his great grand-father's, grand- father's, and father's custody, which he computed not to have been less than a hundred and twenty or thirty years. It is, indeed, generally allowed, that this animal lives to a great age, though it is subject to several distempers. Elephants take great care of their young, rather chusing to lose their own lives than that they should lose theirs. They always go in herds, the THE ELEPHANT. 12? Friendly offices — A vulgar error confuted. largest foremost; and, when they are to pass a river, they lift the young ones across on their tusks, twisting the proboscis round their middle. When they find any of their species dead in the woods, they cover the carcase with branches of trees, grass, or what else they can get : and, if one of them be wounded, the rest take care df him, bring him food, and run together to save him from the hunter. It was formerly asserted, that the female sucked her own milk, and con- veyed it to her young by means of her proboscis or trunk. This, however, appears to have been entirely erroneous; for J. Corse, Esq. informs us in the Asiatic Researches, that he has seen young elephants, from one day to three years old, sucking their dams; and this gentleman as- serts, that they suck constantly with their mouths, never using their trunks except to press the breast, which by natural instinct they seem to know will make the milk flow more freely. Here we must also observe, that the actual observations of modern authors have completely overturned what has been so often related concerning the mode of connection between the male and female, their supposed delicacy, and a variety of other hypo- theses equally void of foundation. The elephant, when tamed, becomes the most gentle and most obedient of animals; and seems formed in a peculiar manner for the service of man in the hot climates. Strong, active, and laborious, it is capable of the greatest exertions; 128 NATURALISTS CABINET. Utility of tame elephants. and owing to its sagacity and recollection, it may be easily trained to almost any particular use. He soon learns to comprehend signs, and even to distinguish the tones of command, anger, or approbation, which regulate his actions accord- ingly. He never mistakes the voice of his mas- ter, but receives his orders with attention ; and, if properly treated, soon evinces the most affec- tionate attachment; learns to bend his knees for the accommodation of those who mount him; allows himself to be clothed, and seems highly gratified when covered with gilded harness and brilliant trappings. When employed in drawing chariots, waggons, &c. he draws steadily, ami never turns restive, provided he is not insulted with improper chastisement, and that the people who labour with him have the air of being pleased with the manner in which he employs his strength. His cornac or conductor, generally rides on his neck, and uses an iron rod, pointed at the end, with which he pricks the head or sides of the ears, in order to turn him, or to urge him for- ward. But words are generally sufficient; espe- cially if the animal has had time to become ac- quainted with his conductor. One of these animals, in a state of domestica- tion, performs more work than perhaps six hor- ses; but he requires from his master much care, and a great quantity of good victuals. The reader may form a tolerable notion of the labour performed by these noble animals, if he THE ELEPHANT. Labours performed by elephants. consider, that all the sacks, bales/ tuns, ^.trans- ported from place to place in India, are carried by elephants ; that they carry burthens, not only on their bodies, but on their necks, their tusks, and even in their mouths, by giving them the end of a rope, which they hold with their teeth ; that, from the banks of the rivers, they put these bales or sacks into boats without wetting them, laying them down gently, and arranging them properly; that, when disposed in the places where their masters direct, they try with their trunks whether the goods are properly stowed; and, if a tun or cask roll, they immediately go in quest of stones to prop, and render it firm. M. Phillipe one day went to the river at Goa, near which place a large vessel was building. Here was a spacious area filled with beams for that purpose. Some men tied the ends of heavy beams with a rope, which^was handed to an ele- phant, 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 build- ing. One of the animals sometimes drew beams so large, that twenty men would have been scarcely able to move them. It was also parti- cularly worthy of remark, that when other beams obstructed the road, the sagacious creature ele- vated the ends of his own beam, that it might run easily over those which lay in his way. M. D' Obsonville asserts, that he once saw two elephants employed in beating down a wall, to NO. III. K 1;K) NATURALISTS CABINET. Surprising instances of strength. which their keeper had instigated them by a pro- mise of some fruits and brandy. They united their efforts; and, doubling up their trunks, which were covered with leather, to guard them from injury, they thrust against the strongest part of the wall: and by repeated strokes continued their exertions, carefully watching the effects of the equilibrium-: at length, having made one violent effort, they suddenly drew back, to avoid being wounded; and the whole came tumbling to the ground. Elephants were formerly used in India for the purpose of launching vessels. One was ordered to force a ship of considerable burthen into the water; but the task proved superior to his strength. His master, in a sarcastic tone, desired the keeper to take away that lazy beast, and bring another in its stead. The poor animal im- mediately renewed his efforts with such violence, that he fractured his skull, and died on the spot. Previous to the use of fire arms these animals were successfully employed in battle ; but in the present S3rstem they wrould only serve to embar- rass and confuse an army. In dragging artillery over mountains, however, they are extremely serviceable, and on this occasion their care and sagacity are particularly conspicuous. They are also extremely useful in the fording of rivers, by carrying over the baggage on their backs. After the keeper has loaded them with several hundred weight, he fastens ropes to them ; of which the 6 THE ELEPHANT. 131 Fording rivers — Kept for ostentation. soldiers taking hold, either swim, or are drawn through the water. Another use still made of this animal 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 pre- vent which, many of the Oriental garrisons have large spikes stuck in their gates, projecting to a considerable distance. In many parts of India, these animals are kept more for grandeur and ostentation than for use. And their keeping is attended with a prodigious expence; as they devour vast quantities of pro- vision, and must sometimes be regaled with a plentiful repast of cinnamon, of which they are exceedingly fond. It is no uncommon thing for a nabob, if he wish to ruin a private gentleman, to make him a present of an elephant; which he is afterwards under the necessity of maintaining at a greater expense than he can afford: for, should he attempt to part with it he would un- avoidably fall under the displeasure of the gran- dee; besides forfeiting all the honour which is conferred by so magnificent a present. In some of the Oriental countries elephants perform the parts of public executioners ; break- ing every limb of a criminal with their trunks, trampling him to death, or impaling him on their tusks, according to their directions. History affords many surprising instances of K 2 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Instances of attachment and gratitude. the fidelity, gratitude, and sagacity of the ele- phant. ^Elian relates, that when Porus, king of India, was subdued by Alexander the Great, he was wounded with several darts; which the ele- phant drew out of his body with his proboscis; and when he perceived his master fainting by the loss of blood, gradually leaned himself down till he fell flat upon the ground, that his rider might receive no harm by alighting. Athenseus mentions the gratitude of an elephant to a woman that had done him some service, and used to lay her child near him when it was very young ; for, the mother dying, the elephant was so fond of the child, that he showed great uneasiness when it was taken out of his sight, and would not eat his food unless the nurse laid the child in the cradle between his feet, but then he would eat heartily. When the child slept, he chased away the flies with his proboscis, and when it cried he would toss or rock the cradle till it fell asleep. An elephant in Adsmeer, which often passed through the market, as he went by a certain herb- woman, always received from her a mouthful of greens : at length he was seized with a periodical fit of rage, broke his fetters, and, running through the market, put the crowd to flight, and among others this woman, who, in her haste forgot a little child she had with her. The animal, recol- lecting the spot where his benefactress usually sat, took up the infant gently in his trunk, and placed it in safety on a stall before a neighbouring house* THE ELEPHANT. 133 Care of children. Another elephant, in his periodical madness, killed his keeper, upon which the wife took her two children and flung them before the enraged animal, saying, " Now you have destroyed the father, you may as well put an end to their lives and mine." The creature instantly relented, placed the largest of the children on his back, adopted him for his keeper, and would never afterwards be mounted by any other person. Dr. Darwin was informed, on the most respec- table authority, that the elephants which are em- ployed to carry the baggage of the armies be- longing to the East India company are put each under the care of one of the natives of Hindos- tan ; 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 a length of chain, and frequently leave a child yet unable to walk, under his protection; and the intelligent 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. Tavernier relates, that one of the kings of India was on a hunting-party, with his son, upon an elephant, when the animal, being seized with one of his fits of madness, became at once ungo- vernable and furious. The keeper told the king, that, to allay the fury of the animal, who would Otherwise bruise them all to death among the 1.14. NATURALIST'S CABINET. Effects of an elephant's fury— Defence of a soldier. i, 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 intreated that the king would provide for his family after his death. This being promised, he immediately threw himself under the feet of the animal; who seized him with his trunk, and trampled him .to death. The elephant soon seemed to repent of this rash action, and without any further difficulty, became perfectly quiet and submissive. The grateful monarch provided munificently for the wife and family of the faith- ful fellow who had so cheerfully sacrificed his life for the preservation of himself and son. It also appears from indubitable authority, that a soldier at Pondicherry, who was accustomed to give part of his victuals to one of these animals, having one day drank too freely, and finding himself pursued by the guards, took refuge under the elephant's body and fell asleep. In vain did the guard endeavour to force him from this asy- lum, for the elephant resolutely protected him. Next morning, the soldier, recovering from his intoxication, shuddered with horror to find him- self under the belly of this huge animal, but the elephant immediately began caressing him with his trunk, to make him understand that he might now depart in safety. M. le Baron de Lauriston, during one of the late wars in India, was induced to go to Laknaor, x at a time when an epidemic distemper was mak- THE ELEPHANT. 135 Interesting adventure at Laknaor — Instances of revenge. ing the greatest ravages amongst the inhabitants. The 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 neces- sarily pass. It appeared impossible for his ele- phant 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 ten- derness would be unbecoming in a personage of his importance. The sagacious animal, however, without appearing to slacken his pace, and with- out having received any command, assisted them with his trunk, removed some, set others on their feet, and stepped over the rest with so much ad- dress and assiduity, that not one person was injured. But as elephants are remarkable for their love, gratitude, and tenderness, so they are also sub- ject to resentment. Acosta asserts, that a soldier in Cochin, a town on the coast of Malabar, hav- ing thrown a nut at an elephant, the animal took it up and hid it; and some days after, seeing the soldier pass by, he threw the nut in his face, making a great noise, and going away leaping and dan- cing. Another soldier in the same town, meet- ing an elephant with his keeper, would not give way to them ; whereupon the keeper complained of the affront to the elephant, who, some time afterwards spying the soldier by the side of the river that runs through the town, ran hastily J36 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Humorous revenge. towards him, lifted him up with his trunk, and plunged him several times in the river; after which he drew him out, leaving him to be laughed at by the spectators. Captain Hamilton observes, that, when he was at Achen, in the island of Sumatra, he saw an elephant that had been kept there above an hun- dred }Tears, and by report was then three hun- dred years old ; he was about eleven feet high, and remarkable for his extraordinary sagacity, of which he gives an instance in a laughable piece of revenge. " In 16Q2," says he, " a ship, named the Dorothy, commanded by Captain Thwaits, called at Achen for refreshments, and two Eng- lish gentlemen in that city went on board to fur- nish themselves with such European necessaries as they had occasion for; and, amongst other things, they bought some Norwich stuffs for; clothes, and, there being no English taylor to be had, they employed a Surat, who kept a shop in the great market-place, and had commonly seve- ral workmen sewing in his shop. It was the elephant's custom to reach in his trunk at the doors or windows as he passed along the side of the street, as begging for the decayed fruits and joots, which the inhabitants generally gave him. One morning, as he was going to the river to be washed, with his rider on his back, he happened to put his trunk in at the taylor's window, and the taylor, instead of giving him what he wanted, pricked him with his needle. The elephant THE ELEPHANT. 157 Revenge of injuries. seemed to take no notice of the affront, but went calmly on to the river, and washed ; after which he stirred up the mud with one of his fore feet, and sucked up a great quantity of the dirty water into his trunk. Then passing unconcernedly along the same side of the street, where the tay- lor's shop was, he put in his trunk at the window; and spurted out the water with such a prodigious force, that the offender and his journeymen were blown off their board, almost frightened out of their senses." A painter was desirous of drawing the elephant which was kept in the menagerie at Versailles, in the attitude of holding his trunk raised up in the air, with his mouth open. The painter's boy, in order to keep the animal in this posture, threw fruit into his mouth, but as he frequently deceived him, the elephant grew angry ,• and _(as if con- scious that the painter's intention of drawing him had occasioned the insult,) he turned his resent- ment upon the master, and taking a quantity of water in his trunk, spurted it over the drawing and completely spoiled it. At the Cape of Good Hope it is customary to hunt and kill these animals, for the sake of their teeth ; and upon such occasions three horsemen, well mounted, and armed with lances, attack the animal alternately, each relieving the other as they see their companion pressed, till their victim is totally subdued. Three Dutchmen, brothers, who had accumulated considerable wealth by this NO. III. S 138 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Revenge of injuries. business, determined to retire to Europe and en- joy the fruit of their labours ; but resolved, be- fore they went, to have a last chace by way of amusement. They soon met with their game, and began the attack in the usual manner ; but unfortunately one of their horses fell and flung his rider ; the enraged animal instantly seized his fallen adversary, flung him up to a vast height in the air, and received him on one of his tusks: then turning towards the two other brethren, held out to them the impaled wretch writhing on the bloody tooth. A sentinel, belonging to the menagerie at Pa- ris, always requested the spectators not to give elephants any thing to eat. This conduct parti- cularly displeased the female ; 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 assembled to view these animals, a by-stander offered the female a bit of bread. The sentinel perceived it, and opened his mouth to give his usual admo- nition ; but she, placing herself immediately be- fore him, discharged in his face a considerable stream of water. A general laugh ensued ; but the sentinel, having calmly wiped his face, stood a little on one side, and continued as vigilant as before. Soon afterwards, he found himself under the necessity of repeating his admonition to the spectators; but no sooner was this uttered, than THE ELEPHANT. 139 Instance of revenge — Mutual attachment. the female seized his musket, trod it under her feet, and did not restore it till she had twisted it nearly into the form of a screw. An elephant that was exhibited in France some years ago, seemed to know when it was mocked by any person; and remembered the insult till an opportunity offered for revenge. A man de- ceived 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. After 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. Of the mutual attachment of these noble ani- mals, the reader may form a tolerable idea from the following relation, extracted from a French journal. — Two young Ceylonese elephants, a male and a female were, in 1786, sent to the stadholder of Holland from the Dutch East-India company. They had been separated, in order to be con- veyed from the Hague to Paris; where, in the Museum of Natural History, a spacious hall was prepared for their reception. This was divided into two apartments, which had a communication by means of a large door resembling a portcullis; the inclosure round the apartments consisted of strong wooden rails. The morning after their arrival, they were conveyed to this habitation. 140 NATURALISTS CABINET. Instance of mutual affection. The male was first brought. He entered the apartment with suspicion, reconnoitred the place, and examined the strength of each bar separately with his trunk. He even attempted to turn the large screws on the outside, which held them to- gether, but could not effect it. When he arrived at the portcullis which separated the apartments, he raised with his trunk the perpendicular bar by which it was fastened ; then pushed up the door, and entered the second apartment where he received his breakfast. These two animals had been separated for the convenience of car- riage, and had not seen each other for some months. Their unexpected meeting was there- fore productive of the most lively joy. They immediately rushed towards each other, send- ing forth cries of joy so animated and loud as to shake the whole hall; and breathing through their trunks with such violence, that the blast resembled an impetuous gust of wind. The female expressed her delight by napping her ears, •with astonishing velocity, and drawing her trunk over the body of the male with the utmost ten- derness, and then moving it affectionately to* wards her own mouth. The joy of the male was more steady ; but he seemed to express it by a, copious flood of tears. From this time they oc- cupied the same apartment; and their mutual tenderness and affection excited the admiration of all who visited them. On their arrival in Holland, these animals were ELEPHANT. 141 Method of catching wild elephants. conveyed in a vessel up the river Waal to Nime- guen, whence they were driven on foot to Loo. The attendants had much difficulty in inducing them to cross the bridge at Arnheim : for although they had fasted for several hours, and a quantity of food was placed for them on the opposite side of the bridge, much time elapsed before they would venture themselves upon it; and at last they would not make any step without first care- fully examining the planks, to see that they were firm. During the time they were kept at Loo they were so perfectly tame, that they were suf- fered to range at liberty; and would sometimes even come into the room at the dinner hour, and take food from the company. After the con- quest of Holland, they were treated with such cruelty by some of the spectators who crowded to visit them, that they lost much of their gen- tleness ; and their subsequent confinement during their removal to Paris, rendered them in some degree ferocious towards spectators. The method of catching wild elephants at Tipuri, in the East Indies, as communicated in the Asiatic Researches, by J. Corse, Esq. is well worth the reader's attention. " In the month of November, when the wea- ther has become cool, and the swamps and marshes are dried up, the male elephants come from the recesses of the forests, and make noc- turnal excursions into the plains ; where they fre- quently destroy the labours of the husbandman, 142 NATURALISTS CABINET. Method of catching wild elephants. by devouring and treading down the rice, sugar- canes, &c. These depredations oblige the farmers to keep regular watch under a small cover, erected on the top of a few long bamboos raised about fourteen feet from the ground. From this elevated station an alarm is easily communicated, by means of a rattle to the neighbouring villagers, who either scare the intruders away with reiterated shouts, or impede their progress by lighting a number of fires. To secure one of the males a very differ- ent method is used from that which is employed to catch a herd ; for the former is taken by fe- male elephants trained for the purpose, and the latter is driven into a strong enclosure. " As the hunters are perfectly acquainted with the places where the elephants come out in quest of food, they advance towards them, in the even- ing, with four trained females, that being the number of which each hunting party consists ; when the nights are dark, the male elephants are discovered by the noise they make in cleaning their food, by striking it against their fore-legs; and by moonlight the hunters can see them dis- tinctly at a considerable distance. " As soon as they have determined on the goouda/i, or male elephant, they mean to secure, three of the trained females are conducted slowly and silently toward the place where he is feeding. When the male perceives them approaching, if he take the alarm and be viciously inclined, he THE ELEPHANT. 143 Method of catching wild elephants. beats the ground with his trunk, and exhibits evident marks of displeasure ; and if they conti- nue to advance he will immediately attack and gore them with his tusks ; for which reason they take care to make a timely retreat. But should he be amorously disposed, as is generally the case, he allows the seducers to approach, and sometimes advances to meet them. " When, from these appearances, the hunters judge that he will become their prize, they con- duct two of the females, one on each side close to him, and make them press gently with their posteriors against his neck and shoulders; and the third female, being brought forward, places herself directly across his tail. In this situation, instead of suspecting any design against his liberty, the goondah begins to toy with the fe- males, and caress them with his trunk. While he is thus employed, the fourth female is brought near; and the proper assistants creeping under the belly of the third female, put a slight cord round the hind legs of the goondah'. should he move, it is easily broken ; in which case, if he does not appear suspicious of what is going for- ward, the hunters proceed to tie his legs with a strong cord, called the b-undah, which is passed alternately from one leg to another, and as these ropes are short, six or eight are commonly em-- ployed, for the convenience of being more readily put round his legs ; and they are made fast by another cord, which is passed a few turns perpen- 6 144 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Method of catching wild elephants. dicularly between his legs, where the folds of the Inindahs intersect each other. A strong cable with a running noose is then put round each hind leg, and again above them several additi- onal bimdahs are made fast in the same manner as the others were. " The putting on these cords generally takes up ahout twenty minutes, during which time the most profound silence is observed, and the hunt- ers, who lie flat upon the necks of the females, are screened from the goondah's observation hy a covering of dark coloured cloth. " While the people are employed in tying the legs of the goondah, he caresses sometimes one, and sometimes another of his seducers; and he is so well secured by the pressure of a female on each side, and one behind, that he can hardly turn himself, or see any of the people who keep under the belly of the third female, which stands across his tail. If, however, the goondah happen to break loose, the hunters can, upon the first alarm, mount on the backs of the tame elephants, by a rope that hangs ready for the purpose, and thus elude the effects of his fury. This, how- ever, happens but very seldom. When the goondah's hind legs are properly secured, the hunters retire to a little distance, and he naturally attempts to follow the females; but, finding his legs tied, he is roused to a proper sense of his situation, and retreats toward the jungle: the hunters follow, at a moderate dis- THE ELEPHANT. 145 Mode of taking wild elephants. dance, on the tame elephants, accompanied by a number of people, who, as soon as the goondah passes near a stout tree, make a few turns of the long cables that are trailing behind him around his trunk : his progress being thus impeded, he becomes outrageous, exerting his utmost force to disengage himself, and sometimes goring the earth with his tusks. If, by these exertions, the ropes are broken, and he escapes into the jungle, the hunters dare not follow, lest they should be attacked by the other wild elephants; but if the cables prove sufficiently strong, and the animal exhausts himself by his fruitless endeavours, the females are again brought near and placed in their former positions. After getting the goon- dah nearer the tree, the hunters carry the ends of the long cables around his legs, and then about the trunk of the tree, making two or three turns, so as to prevent even the possibility of his escape. For still greater security, his fore-legs are tied in the same manner that the hind-legs were, and the cords which have been placed above the bundahs are made fast on each side, to trees, or stakes driven deep into the earth. Dur- ing the process of tying his legs, the people em- ployed cautiously avoid going within reach of his trunk ; and if he attempt to seize them, they either retreat to the opposite side of the females, or get upon them by means of the above-men- tioned rope. When the goondah has become rather settled, NO. IV. T 146 X. \TTII A LIST'S CABINET. Mode of takiut: "'ild elephants. and eaten a little food with which he is supplied by the hunters, a number of strong ropes are put about his neck and body, and a couple of large cables are fastened to two of tbe tame females, in order to conduct him to a proper station. Every thing being ready, and a passage cleared from the jungle, the ropes that confined his legs are taken off, and tbe tame elephants pull him for- ward, while the people from behind urge him on. Instead of advancing in the direction they wish, lie exerts all his force to retreat into the jungle ; tears up the earth with his tusks; utters the most piteous groans; and sometimes bruises himself so severely, that he does not survive his exertions more than two or three days. In general, how- ever, he becomes reconciled to his fate, and, if necessary, may be conducted from the jungle as soon as a passage is cleared. When brought to his destined station and pro- perly secured, the captive elephant is treated with a mixture of gentleness and seventy; and, in a few months, he is expected to become tract- able and submissive to his keeper. It is a singu- lar fact, that though the goondah uses his utmost exertions to disengage himself when taken, and would infallibly kill any person who came within his reach, yet he very seldom attempts to hurt the females that have seduced him; but, on the contrary, whenever they are brought near him, lie seems pleased, and comforted lor tbe loss of his liberty* THE ELEPHANT. 147 Mode of taking wild clephauts. Female elephants are never taken singly, but always in the herd, which consists of fifty or a hundred animals of both sexes, and is always under the direction of one of the oldest females, and one of the largest males. When a herd is discovered, about five hundred people are employed, who divide themselves into small parties at the distance of twenty or thirty yards from each other, and form an irre- gular circle, in which the elephants are enclosed. Each party then lights a fire, and clears a foot- path to the nearest station, by which a regular communication is soon formed through the whole circumference, and reinforcements can easily be brought to any quarter upon a sudden emergency. The first circle being thus formed, the remaining part of the day and night is spent in keep- ing watch, cooking victuals, 8cc. Early next morning, a man is detached from each station to form another circle in the direction where they wish the elephants to advance. When this is accomplished, the people, stationed by the new circle, put out their fires, and file off to the right and left; thus leaving an opening for the herd to pass through, and, also, by this movement both the old and new circle are united, and form an oblong. The people from behind now begin shouting and making a noise with their rattles, Sec. to cause the elephants to advance; and as soon as they are got within the new circle, the people T 3 148 NATURALISTS CABINET. Mode of taking wild elephants. close up, take their respective stations, and pass the night as before. In the morning the same process is repeated; and in this manner the ele- phants advance slowly in that direction where they find themselves least incommoded by the clamour of the hunters; and feed as they go along, upon the leaves of bamboos, branches of trees, &c. which come in their way. As the peo- ple employed on this occasion are extremely slow in their operations, they seldom bring the herd above one circle in a day, except on an emer- gency, when they exert themselves and advance two circles. They have no tents, nor covering but the thick woods, which, in the day-time, keep off the solar rays ; and at night they sleep upon mats, wrapt up in a piece of coarse cloth, and surrounded by their fires. Sentinels supply these fires with fuel, and particularly with green bamboos, which, by their snapping and crackling noise, deter the elephants from coining near ; so that the herd generally remains near the centre of the circle. Should they, however, attempt to advance, an alarm is given, and the people frighten them back by shouting and springing their rattles. The heddah, or place where the herd is to be secured, consists of three enclosures, communi- cating with each other by narrow gateways. The outer enclosure is the largest, the middle one is generally the next in size, and the third is the smallest. These enclosures are all pretty strong, THE ELEPHANT. J4<) Mode oi' taking wild clcphartts. but the third is the strongest; nor are the ele- phants deemed secure till they have entered it. This, like the two other enclosures, has a deep ditch on the inside ; and upon the bank of earth thrown up from the excavation, a row of strong palisades of middle-sized trees is planted, strengthened with cross bars, and supported on the outside by strong posts like buttresses, hav- ing one end sunk in the earth, and the other pressing against the cross bars to which they are fastened. It must, also, be observed, that the palisades and gateways are all disguised with branches of trees and bamboos stuck in the ground, so as to give them the appearance of a natural jungle. It seems, that the greatest difficulty consists in getting the herd to enter the first enclosure; for, notwithstanding all the precautions that have been used, the leader appears to suspect some snare, from the difficulty and hesitation with, which she generally passes into it: but as soon as she enters, the whole herd implicitly follow. As soon as they have all passed the gateway, fires are kindled round the greatest part of the enclosure, and particularly at the entrances, to prevent the animals from returning; and the hunters from without make a terrible noise by shouting, beating their drums called tomtoms, firing blank cartridges, &c. to urge the herd on to the next enclosure. The elephants, finding themselves ensnared, begin to scream violently; 150 NATURALISTS CABINET. Mode of taking wild elephants. but finding the entrance, through which they lately passed, barricadoed up, and seeing no opening, except the gateway leading to the next enclosure, they, at length, pass through, and are, soon after- wards, forced into the last enclosure. Being now completely surrounded, and perceiving no means of escape, the elephants appear outrageous, and frequently rush toward the ditch, in order to break down the palisades, screaming louder than any trumpet, and sometimes growling like the murmur of distant thunder; but wherever they make an attack they are opposed by blazing fires, and the triumphant shouts of the hunters. When they find all their exertions fruitless, they continue sulky, and seem to meditate their escape; but the hunters form an encampment around them ; watchmen are posted close to the palisades; and every possible precaution is used to prevent them from breaking loose. After the herd has remained a few days in the keddah, the doors of an outlet called the roomee are opened, and one of the elephants is enticed to enter, by having food thrown first before, and then further on into the passage. When the animal has passed beyond the gate, a person from without shuts it by pulling a string, and-se- cures it first by throwing two bars across it on each side, and afterwards by pushing horizontal bars through the openings of the palisades, both before and behind those crosses. Alarmed at the noise that is made in shutting the gate, the ele- THE ELEPHANT. 151 Mode of taming elephants. phant immediately retreats backward, and, on finding himself hemmed in, he runs against the bars of the outlet, and endeavours to break them down by leaping upon them with his fore-feet, and battering them with repeated blows of his head; but in spite of all his exertions he is eventually secured with ropes, and dragged to his proper station by two tame females, assisted by the hunters. As soon as each elephant is brought to the ap- pointed place, he is put under the care of a keeper, who is appointed to attend 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 cares- sing arts are practised: sometimes the keeper threatens, and even goads him with a long stick pointed with iron; but more generally coaxes and flatters him, scratching his head and trunk with a long bamboo, split at one end into many pieces, and driving away the flies from his sores and bruises. In order to keep him cool, he like- wise squirts water all over him : taking care to stand 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 in a soothing voice; ami after a little while, the animal begins to know his keeper and obey his commands. By degrees the latter becomes so familiar as to mount upon 2 152 NATURALISTS CABINET. Mode of taming elephants — Elephant hunting. his back from one of the tame elephants; and gradually increases the intimacy as the animal becomes more tame, till at length he is permitted to seat himself on his neck, from which place he is afterwards to regulate all his motions. While they are training in this manner, the tame ele- phants lead the others out alternately, for the sake of exercise; and likewise to ease their legs from the cords, 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 degrees, and generally in about six months he suffers himself to be conducted from one place to another. Care, however, is always taken not to let him approach his former haunts, lest a re- collection of them should propel him to attempt the recovery of his liberty. The mode of elephant-hunting in Abyssinia is thus described by Mr. Bruce: The men who make the hunting of elephants their business, 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 called Agageers; a name derived from the word Agar, which signifies to ham-string with a sharp weapon. More strictly speaking, however, it means, the cutting of the tendon of the heel; and is a characteristic of the manner in which they kill the elephant. Two men, quite naked, to prevent their being laid hold of by the trees THE ELEPHANT. 153 Elephant hunting in Abyssinia. or bushes in making their escape from this vigi- lant enemy, get on horseback. One of them sits on the back of the horse, sometimes with a sad- dle, and sometimes without one, with only a switch or short stick in one hand, carefully ma- naging the bridle with the other; behind him sits his companion, armed with a broad-sword. His left hand is employed in grasping this wea- pon by the handle ; and in the other hand he holds the blade, of which about fourteen inches are covered with whip-cord; 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 discovered, the horseman rides as near to his face as possible; or, if he attempt to escape, crosses him in all direc- tions, exclaiming, " I am such a one, and such a one, and such a one, this is my horse, that has such a name ; I killed your father in such a 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 the ele- phant is supposed to understand; who, chafed and angry at hearing the noise immediately be* fore him, attempts to seize the Agageer 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 NO. IV. U NATURALISTS CABINET. Elephant hunting in Abyssinia. the horse, the horseman rides close up beside him, and drops his companion just behind, on the off side ; and while he engages the elephant's attention upon the horse, the other behind gives him a drawn stroke just above the heel, into what in the human subject is called the tendon of Achilles. This is the critical moment; the horseman wheels round, again takes up his com- panion, and rides off at full speed after the rest of the herd, if they have started more than one; and sometimes a skilful Agageer will kill three out of one herd. If the sword be sufficiently keen, and the man not timid, the tendon is en- tirely separated; or, if not cut through, it is ge- nerally 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, transfix him with javelins and lances; when he falls to the ground, and expires from loss of blood. As soon as the animal is dead, they cut his flesh into thongs, like the reins of a bridle, and hang them, like fes- toons, upon the branches of trees, till they become perfectly dry, and then lay them by for their provision in the rainy season. On one of these occasions, Mr. Bruce witnes- sed a remarkable instance of affection in a young elephant to its mother: " There now remained," says he, " but two elephants of those that had been discovered; which were a female with a THE EtEFHANT. Affection of a young elephant. calf. The Agageer would willingly have let these alone, as the teeth of the female are very small, and the young one is of no value whatever. But the hunters would not be limited in their sport. The people having observed the place of her retreat, she was very soon found, and as soon lamed by the Agageers; but when they came to wound her with their darts, as every one did in their turn, to our very great surprise, the young one, which had been suffered to escape unheeded, rushed out from the thicket, apparently in great anger, and ran upon the horses and men with all the violence it was master of. I was amazed and afflicted, at seeing the affection of the little ani- mal in defending its wounded parent, 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 avoided without diffi- culty; but I am happy to this day, in the reflec- tion that I did not strike it. At last, making one of its attacks upon another of the party, it hurt him a little on the leg; 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 Defended. It was about the size of an ass, but round, big-bellied, and heavily made: and was so furious and unruly, that it \vould easily have broken the leg of a man or a horse, could it have overtaken, and jostle^ against them properly." * 156 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Instances of re-taking elephants. It has been asserted, that the elephant's me- mory is so retentive, that when once he has been in bondage and afterwards' escaped, it is utterly impracticable again to entrap him. But this opinion has proved erroneous ; as will appear from the following instances recorded in the Philoso^ phical Transactions for 1799- " A female elephant was first taken in the year 1765, by Rajah Kishun Maunick, who, six months afterward gave her to Abdoor Rezah, a man of some rank in the district. In 1767, the rajah sent a force against this Abdoor Rezah, for some refractory conduct, who, in his retreat to the hills, turned the afore-mentioned animal 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 ele- phant-hunters belonging to Mr. Leeke, of Long- ford-hall, in Shropshire, into the inclosure in which the elephants are secured ; and the clay 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 recollected 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 ren peated; nor did she appear like the wild ele- phants, who were constantly running about th§ THE ELEPHANT. J5? Account of elephants that have been retaken. inclosure in a rage, but seemed perfectly recon- ciled to her situation. " For the space of eighteen days, she never went near enough the outlet to be secured; from a recollection perhaps of what she had twice be-> fore suffered. Mr. Leeke, at length, went him- self, when there were only herself, another fe- rnale, and eight young ones remaining in the in^ closure. After the other female had been se- cured, by means of the female elephants sent in for that purpose, the hunters were ordered to call her by 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, at the same time stroking and caressing her. One of the trained elephants was now ordered to be brought to her, and the drive* to take her by the ear and order her to lie down. At first she retired to a distance, apparently angry; but, when the drivers called to her, she came immediately and allowed them to stroke and caress her as before; and in a few minute* after, permitted the trained elephants to be fami- liar. A driver from one of these 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 small cord was then put round her neck, for the driver to put 1.38 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Account of elephants that have been retaken. his feet in ; who seated himself in the usual man- ner, and drove her about the inclosure. After this he ordered her to lie down, which she in- stantly 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 heen ac- customed to do. In short, she was so obedient, that had there been more wild elephants in the inclosure, she would have been useful in securing them. " In June 1787, a male elephant, taken the year before, was travelling, in company with some others, towards Chittigong, laden with bag- gage ; and having come upon a tiger's track, which elephants readily discover by the scent, he took fright and ran off to the woods, in spite of all the efforts of his driver. On entering the wo6d, the driver saved himself by springing from the animal and clinging to the branch of a tree under which he was passing. When the ele- phant had got rid of his driver, he soon con- trived 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. " About eighteen months afterwards, when a herd of elephants had been taken, and had re- mained several days in the inclosure, till they were enticed into the outlet, there tied, and kd THE ELEPfrANT. Female elephant at Exeter 'Change. out in the usual manner, one of the drivers, viewing a male elephant very attentively, declared he resembled the one which had run away. 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 out- rageous as any of the other elephants. An old hunter at length coming up and examining him, declared that he was the animal that had made his escape. " Confident of this, he boldly rode up to him on a tame elephant, and ordered him to lie down, at the same time pulling him by the ear. The creature seemed taken by surprise, and instantly obeyed the word of command, uttering at the same time a shrill squeak through his trunk, as he had formerly been known to do; by which he was instantly recognized by every person ac- quainted with this peculiarity." There is at present (1806) in the menagerie at Exeter 'Change, a female elephant, bred tame at Calcutta, and brought to England in 1796, by the Hon. Hugh Lindsey. She is a very fine ani- mal, being nine feet in height, about twenty in girth, and weighing two tons five hundred pounds. She is remarkably tame, and particu- larly fond of ladies and children. On visiting the menagerie, a few months ago, I was much gratified with the sagacity, and truly curious performances of this quadruped. T|ie lt>0 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Performances of an elephant at Exeter 'Change. keeper having demanded how many persons were come to see her? she replied by two strong exhalations from her trunk, which she held nearly perpendicular to the ground; and when asked how many candles were in the room? (it being night) she repeated those exhalations six times. I now thought she had mistaken the number; but on examination, I perceived that each of two lanterns contained three lights. She next bolted and unbolted a pair of folding doors, and the hatch of her own apartment, with the utmost readiness and dexterity; and knelt clown at the word of command, to show how she might be loaded. These performances, however, were far sur- passed by another, which seemed to require even thought and human ingenuity. The keeper hav- ing laid a shilling on the floor, near the partition, and beyond the reach of her trunk, desired her to take it up and give it to me: when to my astonishment, having curved her trunk and appa- rently measured the distance, she blew strongly and repeatedly in such a curious direction that every blast drove the shilling from the wall to- wards her, till at length it came within reach. She then put it into my hand, and on my return- ing it she deposited it in the breeches pocket of her keeper. After these demonstrations of sagacity and obedience, a pail of water was brought into the room, which she drew up in her trunk at three RHINOCEROS. 161 Performances of an elephant at Exeter 'Change. draughtSj and the noise it made when emptied into her mouth was exactly that of pouring water or any other liquid from one vessel into another. On being asked if she chose any more? she sig- nified her assent; and drank as much and in the same manner as before. She then, without bid^ ding, took up the pail by the handle, and return- ed it to the keeper, with a polite inclination of the head. I am informed, that this animal's daily allow- ance of food consists of one truss of hay, one do. of straw, a bushel of barley-meal and bran made into a mash, about thirty pounds of potatoes, and six pails of water. THE RHINOCEROS. NEXT to the elephant, this animal claims pre-eminence in the scale of creation, on account of its enormous strength, and the magnitude of its body. Its length, from the tip of the nose to the insertion of the tail, is usually twelve feet ; its height varies from five to seven feet, and its cir- cumference is nearly equal to its length. Its nose is armed with a hard and 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. This weapon is pointed so as to inflict the se- NO. iv. x NATURALISTS CABINET. General description — Disposition. verest wounds, and so disposed as to be managed with the greatest advantage: for while the ele- phant, the bear, and the buffalo are obliged to strike transversely with their weapons, the rhino- ceros employs all his strength with every blow. The tiger, therefore, notwithstanding its extreme ferocity, seldom ventures to attack this animal; as he cannot do it without danger of having his bowels torn out. The body and limbs of the rhinoceros are de- fended by a skin so hard as to be impenetrable by either a knife or spear. This is disposed 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 of a blackish co- lour; naked, rough, and covered with a kind of galls or tubercles. It is said, that even to shoot a full-grown rhinoceros, it is necessary to make use of iron bullets, those of lead having been known to flatten against the skin. Between the folds and under the belly, however, the skin is soft, and of a light rose colour. 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 very pliable, is used in catching hold of the shoots of vegetables, 8cc. and delivering them into its mouth. The disposition of the rhinoceros is generally quietand inoffensive; but when attacked or pro- THE RHINOCEROS. Food — Manners, &c. voked, he becomes furious and dangerous; and is even sometimes subject to paroxysms of fury, which nothing can assuage. In the year J743, Dr. Parsons published an account of a rhinoceros 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 body to be touched. But when hungry, or irritated, he be- came mischievous, and nothing would appease him but food. When angry, he would jump up against the walls of his apartment with great vio- lence, and make repeated efforts to escape; utter- ing a peculiar cry, somewhat between the grunt- ing of a hog and the bellowing of a calf. He was not at this time taller than a young cow. A rhinoceros, brought from Atcham, and ex- hibited in 1748, at Paris, was very gentle, and even caressing; he was fed principally on hay and corn, and appeared particularly fond of sharp or prickty plants, and the thorny branches of trees. The attendants frequently gave him branches that had very sharp and strong thorns on them ; but he bent and broke them in his mouth without seeming in the least incommoded. Sometimes, indeed, they drew blood from his x 2 164 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Acute sense of hearing— General habits. mouth arid tongue, " but that/' says our author, " might only serve to give a poignant relish to the animal's palate, and might answer the same grateful ends in seasoning his banquet, that spices do in heightening ours." The eyes of the rhinoceros are small, and so situated that he can only see what is nearly in a direct line before him. But, as an equivalent for this defect, Dr. Parsons remarks, that this fenimal has a most acute and attentive ear. He will listen with a deep and long-continued atten- tion to any kind of noise; and although he be eating, or lying down, he will raise his head, and listen till the noise ceases. Notwithstanding the clumsy and unwieldy ap- pearance of this quadruped, he is said to run with great swiftness, and from his strength and the impenetrability of his covering, he 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 ge- neral habits and manner of feeding he resembles the elephant : residing in cool sequestered spots, near waters, and in shady woods. But he imi-? tates the hog in occasionally wallowing in the mire. In some parts of Asia, these animals are fre^ quently tamed, and carried into the field of bat- tle to strike terror into their enemies. They are, however, in general so unmanageable, that they injure the cause they are designed to serve, and THE RHINOCEROS. lG.5 Medicinal virtues attributed to the rhinoceros. ^ in their fury it is not uncommon for them to turn on their masters. The flesh, hoofs, teeth, and even the dung, are used medicinally by the Asiatics. The horn, when cut through the middle, is said to exhibit on each side, the rude figure of a man ; the out- lines being marked by small white strokes. Many of the Indian princes drink out of cups made of this horn; under the idea, that when these hold any poisonous draught, the liquor will ferment till it runs over the top. Goblets made of the horns of the young, are esteemed the most valu- able. Professor Thunberg, when at the Cape, tried them, both wrought into goblets and un- wrought, both old and young horns, with se- veral sorts of poison, but he did not observe the least motion or effervescence ; when, however, a solution of corrosive sublimate was poured into one of them, there arose a few bubbles, which were produced by the air that had been inclosed jn the pores of the horn,, and was now disengaged from it. The only two animals of this species that have been brought into England during a considerable number of years, were both purchased for the exhibition rooms at Exeter 'Change. One of them came from Laknaor, in the East Indies, and was brought over in the Melville Castle, East Indiaman, in the year 1790, as a present to Mr. J)undas. But this gentleman, not wishing to have the trouble of keeping him, gave the animal 166 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Manners and death of a tame rhinoceros. away; and shortly afterwards he was purchased .by Mr. Pidcock of Exeter 'Change. He exhibited no symptoms of ferocity, but would obey the orders of his keeper, to walk about the room, and exhibit himself; arid would even suffer himself to be patted on the back or sides by the numerous spectators who came to visit him. His daily allowance of food was twenty-eight pounds of clover, besides the same weight of ship biscuit, a prodigious quantity of greens, and from ten to fifteen pails of water which were given at five pails a time. His food was invariably seized in his long and projecting upper-lip, and by it conveyed into the mouth. 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 somewhat like the bleating of a calf. It was most com- monly exerted when he observed any person with fruit or other favourite food in his hand, and was probably indicative of his anxiety to have it given him. In the month of October, 1792, as this animal was one day rising up suddenly, he unfortunately slipped the joint of one of his fore-legs. This ac- cident occasioned an inflammation that about nine months afterwards terminated in his death. He died in a caravan at Corsham near Ports- mouth. But on the carriage arriving at the lat- ter place, the stench arising from the body was so offensive that the mayor was under the neces- DOUBLE-HORNED RHINOCEROS. 167 Disinterring a rhinoceros. sity of ordering it to be immediately buried. This was accordingly done, on Soutb Sea Com- mon. But it was privately dug up about a fortnight afterwards, for the purpose of preserv- ing its skin, and some of the most valuable of the bones. The persons present declared, that the stench was so powerful, that it was plainly per- ceptible at the distance of more than half a mile; and it was with the greatest difficulty they could proceed in their operations. The skin of this animal is now stuffed, and deposited in one of the exhibition rooms. The other rhinoceros that was at Exeter 'Change was considerably smaller than this. It was brought over about the year 1799, and lived not more than twelve months afterwards. Mr. Pidcock sold it to an agent of the emperor of Germany ; but it died in a stable-yard in Brury- Lane, about two months afterwards. DOUBLE-HORNED RHINOCEROS. THIS species of the rhinoceros differs from the last in the appearance of its skin ; which, in- stead of vast and regularly marked folds, resem- bling armour, has merely a slight wrinkle across the shoulders and on the hinder parts, with a few fainter wrinkles on the sides ; so that, in compa- rison with the common rhinoceros, it appears almost smooth. The principal distinction, how- NATURALISTS CABINET. Description, manners, &c. ever consists in 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 is in a quiet state, but when he is angry, they become firm and inv moveable. Le Vaillant asserts, 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 discover by their smell the ap- proach of any enemies. When irritated they tear up the ground furiously with their horn; throwing the earth and stones to a vast distance, over their heads. Mr. Bruce's account of the manners of these animals is too interesting to be omitted in a work of this description : te Besides the trees ca^ pable of most resistance," says this traveller, " there are, in the vast forests within the rains, trees of a softer consistence, and of a very succu- lent quality, which seem to be destined for the principal food of this animal. 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, he does not immediately abandon it; but, placing his snout as e DOUBLE-HORNED RHINOCEROS. l6<) Strength and celerity. 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 laths ; and when he has thus prepared it, he embraces as much of it as he can in his monstrous jaws, and twists it round with as much ease as an ox would do a 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, increases in a great proportion, and takes in * considerable distance; but this is to be under- Stood with a degree of moderation. It is not true that in a plain he beats the horse in swift- ness. I have passed him with ease, and seen many, worse mounted, do the same; and though it is certainly true that a horse cavii very seldom, come up with him, this is owing to his cunning, and not to his swiftness. He makes constantly from wood to wood, and forces himself into the thickest parts of them. The trees that are dead or dry, are broken down, as with a cannon shot, and fall behind him and on his side in all direc- tions. 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 position, they often sweep the incautious pursuer and his horse from the ground, NO. iv. y 170 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Bravery in self defence. 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, like the wild boar, which, in his manner of action, he very much resembles. The horse, however, 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 rhinoce- ros, 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 necessary to support this enormous mass, we must likewise consider the vast quantity of water which he needs. No conn try 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 eva- poration, 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 crea- DOUBLE-HORNED RHINOCEROS. 171 Curious defence against the stings of flies. ture : but it is not for drinking alone that he fre- quents wet and marshy places : large, fierce, and strong as he is, he must submit to prepare him* self against the weakest of his adversaries. The, great consumption he constantly makes of foo4 and water, necessarily confines him to certain, limited spaces ; for it is not every place that can maintain him; he cannot emigrate or seek hi% defence among the sands of Arabia." The double-horned rhinoceros has a formida- ble adversary in a fly, bred in the black earth of the marshes ; and this insect persecutes him sq unremittingly, that it must eventually subdue Jbim, were it not for a stratagem which he prao tises for his preservation. In the night when th^ fly is at rest, the rhinoceros chuses. a. conve-e jiient 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 plaster firm upon him, all but about his hips, shoulders, and legs, where it cracks and, falls off, by motion, #nd leaves him exposed in those parts. The itching and pain which follow,, occasion him to rub himself in those parts against the roughest trees; and this is probably one cause of the numerous pustules or tubercles that are perceivable upon his skin. The pleasure he receives from this employ- ment, and the darkness of the night, deprive him ef his u$ual vigilance and a^ntjon; and the Y 2 172 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Method of killing the rhinoceros. noise lie makes is heard at so considerable a dis- tance, that the hunters, guided by this sound, steal secretly upon him; and while lying on the ground, wound him with their javelins in the belly, where the wound is mortal. The assertion that the skin of this rhinoceros is hard or impenetrable like a board, is very in- correct. In his wild state he is slain by javelins thrown from the hand, some of which enter his body to a great depth. A musket-shot will go through him, unless interrupted by a bone ; and the Abyssinians kill him with the clumsiest ar- rows that ever were formed, and cut him to pieces afterwards with the most wretched knives. Of the strength of the rhinoceros, even after being severely wounded, some idea may be formed from Mr. Bruce's account of the hunting of this animal in Abyssinia: " We were on horseback," says our author, " by the dawn of day, in search of the rhinoceros, many of which \ve had heard making a very deep groan and cry as the morning approached ; several of the Aga- geers 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 about two miles distant. But though he trotted with surprising speed, considering 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 DOUBLE-HORNlRD RHINOCEROS. Strength of a rhinoceros when severely wounded. ran into a deep hole, ditch, or ravine, 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 him- self engaged 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. and disproportionabk ; the and ears small 5 and the tail about a toot long, taper, and sparingly scattered with hair, lire whole animal \i with short hair, thinly set, and is of a brownish colour. The hide, which bears some resemblance to that of a hog, i> in some parts two inches thick, and sumciently heavy to load a camel. From the uawkldinfisi of hk body and the THE HlPFOFOTAMfTf. 175 shortness of his leg*, this quadruped is not able, according to Buffon, to more fast upon land, and is then extremely timid. When panned he takes to the water, phmge* in, sinks to die bot- tom, and is seen walking there at ease; he can- not, however, continue there long without rising to the surface. In the day-time he is so mock afraid of being discovered, that, when be inhales fresh air, the place is hardJy perceptible, for he scarcely ventures to pot even his nose out o£the water. The hippopotamus when wounded, will rise and attack boats or canoes with great fury, and sometimes sink them by biting large pieces out of their sides. In shallow rivers, be makes deep holes in the bottom, in order to conceal his enor- mous bulk. When he quits die water he usually puts out half of his body at once, and smefls and looks around; but sometimes rushes out with great impetuosity. During the night be leaves the rivers in order to feed on sugar-canes, rushes, millet, rice, &c. consuming great quantities, and trampling down every thing in bis way. The Egyptians have a singular method of freeing themselves from this destructive animal. They lay a large quantity of peas in the places that he chiefly frequents, and when the creature comes ashore, he begins eating voraciously, till the food occasion an insupportable thirst. He then rushes into the water, and drinks so copi- •esly that the peas in bis stomach, being fully 176 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Mode of taking the hippopotamus. saturated, swell so much as very soon afterwards to kill him. " The hippopotamus," says Dr. Sparrrnan, " is not so quick in its pace on land as the generality of the larger quadrupeds, though, perhaps, it is not so slow and heavy as M. de Buffon describes it to be; for both the Hottentots and Colonists consider it very dangerous to meet a hippopota- mus out of the water ; especially as, according to report, they had had a recent instance of one of these animals, having for several hours pursued a Hottentot, who found it very difficult to make his escape." Among the Caffres in the south of Africa, this animal is sometimes taken in pits made in the paths that lead to his haunts. But his gait, when undisturbed, is generally so slow and cautious, that he often smells out the snare, and avoids it. The most certain method is to watch him at night, behind a bush close to his path ; and, as he passes, to wound him in the tendons of the knee-joint, by which he is immediately lamed and rendered unable to escape the numerous hunters that afterwards attack him. A person of respectability at the Cape of Good Hope informed Professor Thunberg, that as he and a party were on a hunting expedition, they observed a female hippopotamus come from one of the rivers, and retire to a little distance from its bank, in order to calve. They lay still in the bushes till the calf and its mother made their ap- THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 1?7 Singular instance of pure instinct. pearance, when one of them fired, and shot the ktter dead on the spot. The Hottentots, who imagined that after this they could seize the calf alive, immediately ran from their hiding-place^ but though only just brought into the world, the young animal got out of their hands, and made the best of its way to the river, where, plunging in, it got safely off. This, as the learned Pro- fessor observes, is a singular instance of pure in- stinct; for the creature unhesitatingly ran to the river, as its proper place of security, without having previously received any instructions from the actions of its parent. The flesh of the hippopotamus affords a fa- vourite repast to the Hottentots^ who are very fond of it, either roasted or boiled. The gelati- nous part of the feet is spoken of by Le Vaillant as peculiarly delicious; and the tongue, when dried, is considered at the Cape, as a rare and excellent dish. The skin is cut into thongs for whips, which; for softness and pliability, are pre- ferred by the Africans to those made of the hide of the rhinoceros; and the tus^s, from their always preserving their original purity > are reck- oned superior to ivory. These animals appear capable of being tamed ; for Belon asserts, that he has seen one so gentle as to be let loose out of a stable and led by its keeper, without attempting to injure any per-> son. They inhabit the rivers of Africa, from NO. iv. z 178 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Description of the tapiir. Berg River to the Niger,, several miles north of the Cape of Good Hope. They formerly abound- ed in the rivers nearer the Cape, but are now almost extirpated there. THE LONG-NOSED TAPIIR SEEMS to be the hippopotamus of the new world, and has been sometimes mistaken for that quadruped. It is about the size of a small cow, with a body formed like that of a hog, and its hide of a dusky brown colour. Its nose is long and slender, and extends far beyond the lower jaw, forming a sort of proboscis, which it can contract or extend at pleasure. Its ears are small and erect ; its legs short and thick ; and its tail very small. The disposition of this animal is perfectly mild and inoffensive, and it appears to possess a considerable degree of timidity, as it invariably flies from every appearance of danger. It is a solitary animal ; sleeping during the day, and going out at night in quest of its food, which consists of grass, sugar-canes, fruits, &c. When disturbed it takes to the water, where it swims with great facility, or plunges to the bottom, and, like the hippopotamus, walks there as on dry ground. THE LONG-NOSED TAPI1R. 179 Where found — Utility of the skin. These animals are chiefly found in the woods and rivers on the eastern side of South America, from the Isthmus of Darien to the river of Ama- zons. The Indians make bucklers of the skin, which is very thick, and so hard, when dried, as to resist the impression of an arrow. 160 NATURALISTS CABINET. General description. CHAP. V. '•' There roam the ape, the monkey, and baboon, Fearless and fierce amid their native woods." THE OURANG OUTANG. THIS animal is the largest of the ape species, and from the near resemblance of its external appearance to the human form, it has sometimes obtained the appellation of <( Wild Man of the Woods." It has, however, a flatter nose, a more oblique forehead, and the chin without any ele- vation at the base. The eyes are likewise too near each other, and the distance betwixt the nose and mouth much too great. A variety of essential differences have also been discovered in the internal conformation ; which sufficiently evince that notwithstanding the apparent affinity to man, the interval which separates the two spe- cies is immense : the resemblance in figure and organization, and the imitative movements which seem to result from these similarities neither THE OURANG OUTANG. 181 Specimens seen in Europe. make him approach the nature of man, nor ele- vate him above that of the brute. The specimens hitherto brought into Europe, have seldom exceeded three feet in height; but the largest are said to be about six feet high, very active, and of such prodigious strength, that one of them is able with ease to overpower the most muscular man. They are also exceed- ingly swift, and cannot be taken without much difficulty. Their colour is generally a kind of dusky brown ; their feet are bare, and their ears, hands, and feet, nearly resemble those of man- kind. These animals inhabit the woods in the inte- rior of Africa, and the island of Borneo. They feed on fruits, and, when they happen to ap- proach the shore, will eat fish or crabs. An- drew Battell, a Portuguese traveller, who re- sided in Angola near eighteen years, asserts, that they were very common in the woods of that country, where they sometimes attained a gigan- tic 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, car- ried 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 consisted of fruit and nuts, and in no in- stance were they known to be carnivorous. Jobson informs us, that among the woods on 18C NATURALIST'S CABINET. Boldness in their native woods. the banks of the river Gambia, in Africa, these animals sometimes assemble in herds of three or four thousand, inarching in a rank, the larger ones acting as leaders. On these occasions they are excessively impudent and mischievous; and our author says, that whenever his party, in sailing along the river, passed their stations, they mounted the trees and gazed upon the men ; sometimes 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 ani- mals often took their stations on the rocks and heights above. When the men were on shore and met any of them, the great ones generally came forward and seemed to grin in their faces, but they always fled with precipitance 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 habitations were found in some of the woods, composed of plants and the branches of trees, so thickly interwoven as to protect them from the heat of the sun. The ourang outangs exhibit little or none of that frolic and vivacity which are the distinguish- ing characteristics of the monkey; but all their actions are more deliberate and sedate. They are able to drive off the elephant, with a piece of wood in their hands, or only with their fists; they have sometimes been known to throw stones at those THE OUftANG ODTANG. 183 Attacks on the human species — Manners in confinement. who have offended them ; and if a negro be unfor- tunately discovered by them in the woods, they ge- nerally attack and kill him. Bosnian informs us, that behind the English fort at Wimba, on the coast of Guinea, several of these animals fell upon two pf the company's slaves, overpowered them, and were about to poke out their eyes with some slicks, when a party of negroes fortunately ar- rived in time for their rescue. There have, also, been instances of their stealing the negresses, and carrying them off into the woods. A negro boy was carried off by an ourang outang, and lived with them upwards of a year ; on his return he described many of them as being as tall and more bulky than a man, and he declared that they did not attempt to injure him in any res- pect. 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. The manners of these quadrupeds, when in confinement, are gentle and harmless, perfectly devoid of that disgusting ferocity so conspicuous in many of the larger baboons and monkeys! They are also very docile, and may be taught to perform a variety of entertaining actions. Dr. Tyson, who gave a very minute descrip- tion of a young ourang outang exhibited in Lon- don, about a century ago, assures us, that, in many of its actions, it seemed to display a very high degree of sagacity, and its disposition was J84 NATURALIST'S CABINET. M;inncrs of the ourang outang in confinement. exceedingly mild and gentle. Those that he knew on board the vessel that brought him over he would embrace with the greatest tenderness ; and, although there were monkeys aboard, yet it was observed, he never would associate with any of them, but seemed to hold them in contempt, and always avoided their company. He used sometimes to wear clothes, and at length became very fond of them. He would even put part of them on without help, and carry the remainder in his hands to some of the ship's company for assistance. He would lie in bed, place his head on a pillow, and pull up the bed-clothes to keep himself warm, exactly as a man. Of the ourang outang brought into Holland in the year 1776, M. Vosmaer has given the follow- ing account : " This animal was a female : its height was about two Rhenish feet and a half. It showed no symptoms of fierceness or malig- nity, and was even of a somewhat melancholy appearance. It was fond of company, and evinced such a predilection for those who took daily care of it, that when they retired, it would throw itself on the ground, as if in despair, utter- ing lamentable cries, and tearing in pieces the linen within its reach. Its keeper, having some- times been accustomed to sit near it on the ground, it frequently took the hay of its bed, and laid it by its side, as if inviting him to be seated near. Its usual manner of walking was on all fours, like other apes ; but it could also THE OURANG OUTANG. 185 Favourite food — Propriety of behaviour. walk erect. One morning it got unchained, and we beheld it with wonderful 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 men 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 set the bottle in its place again. It ate almost every thing that was given to it; but its chief food was bread, roots, fruits, aromatic plants, and. the leaves and roots of parsley. It also ate meat, both boiled and roasted, as well as fish. It was not observed to hunt for insects, like other monkeys ; was fond of eggs, which it broke with its teeth, and sucked completely ; but fish and roasted meat seemed its favourite food. It had been taught to eat with a spoon and a fork. When presented with strawberries on a plate, it was extremely 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 beverage was water, but it willingly drank all sorts of wine, and particularly Malaga. After drinking, it wiped its lips; and after eating, if presented with a tooth-pick, would use it in a proper manner. On ship-board it ran freely about the vessel, played with the NO. IV. 2 A 186 NATURALIST'S CABINET, Imitative manners. 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 directions to ascertain whether the padlock would open or not. On its first arrival in Holland, it had but very Jittle hair, except on its back and arms: but on the approach of winter it became w ell-covered ; the hair on the back being three inches in length. The whole animal then appeared of a chesnut colour; the skin of the face, &c. was of a mouse colour, but about the eyes and round the mouth of a dull flesh colour." It lived about seven months in Holland, and, after its death, was deposited in the museum of the prince of Orange. The Comte de Buffon saw one of these animals which always walked on two feet, even when car- rying heavy burthens. " His aspect/' says that na- turalist, " was melancholy, his deportment grave, his movements regular, his disposition gentle, and very different from that of other apes. Un- like the baboon or the monkey, who are fond of mischief, and only obedient through fear, a look kept him in awe ; while the other animals could THE OURANG OUTANG. 187 Imitative manners. not be brought to obey without blows. 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. I have seen him sit down at table, when he would unfold his towel, wipe his lips, use a spoon or a fork to carry the victuals to his mouth, pour his liquor into a glass, and make it touch that of a person who drank along with him. When in- vited to take tea, he would bring a cup and sau- cer, place them on the table, put in sugar, pour out the tea, and allow it to cool before he drank it. Ail this I have seen him perform without any other instigation than the signs or the command of his master, and often even of his own accord. He was perfectly gentle and inoffensive; and appeared rather to solicit caresses than inclined to offer injuries. He continued at Paris one summer, and died in London the following winter. One of thes-e animals seen in the Straits of Mo- lucca, is described as having manners very simi- lar to those already mentioned. It walked erect, and used its hands and arms like a man ; and in- deed its actions were in general so nearly allied to those of mankind, and its passions so expres- sive and lively, that a dumb person could scarcely have rendered himself better understood. Its anger was signified by stamping with its foot on the ground. It had been taught to dance; and would sometimes cry like a child. While on SI A 2 188 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Ourang outangs employed as servants. board the vessel it frequently ran up the rigging, and played a variety of antics aloft, to divert the company. It could leap with surprising agility from one rope to another, though fifteen or twenty feet asunder. Mr. Hamilton, when in Java, saw one of these animals, which he describes as of a grave and melancholy deportment. He says, that it would light a fire and blow it with its mouth; and that it would even broil a fish, to eat with its boiled rice, in imitation of the persons who were about it. Pyrard asserts, that the animals of this spe- cies found in Sierra Leona, are strong and well formed, and so industrious, that, when properly trained and fed, they work like servants: that when ordered, they will pound any substance in a mortar; and are frequently sent to fetch water from the rivers in small pitchers, which they carry full on their heads; but when they arrive 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 loud lamentations. Barbot says also, that they are frequently rendered useful to the Euro- peans on the coast of Guinea, by being taught to turn a spit, watch the roasting of meat, &c. which they perform with considerable dexterity. M. de la Brosse purchased two of these ani- mals, which would sit at table like men, and eat every kind of food without distinction. They would use a knife, fork., or spoon, to cut or lay THE OURANG OUTANG. 189 Manners of an ourang outang on ship-board. hold of what was put on their plate ; and readily drank wine and other liquors. When they wanted any thing, they easily made themselves understood hy the cabin-boy; and when he re- fused to attend, they became enraged, seized him by the arm, bit, and threw him down. The male was seized with sickness, and was attended by the people as if he had been a human being. He was even bled twice in the right arm, and, whenever afterwards he found himself in the same condition, he held out his ami, as if he re- collected formerly receiving benefit from that operation. 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 were scarcely two feet high, but walked erect, and had, very nearly, the human form. Their actions also were strongly imitative, and they seemed, by their constant melancholy to regret the loss of their liberty. The female was taken ill during the voyage, and died ; and the male, after exhibiting every demonstration of grief, obstinately refused to eat, and lived only a few days. Guat informs us, that he saw a very extraordi- nary female ape at Java. " She was very tall/' says he, " and often walked on her hind feet. Except on the eye-brows, there was no hair on her face, which nearly resembled the grotesque female faces I had seen among the Hottentots at 190 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Imitative manners — Mode of opening oysters. the Cape. She made her bed very neatly every day, lay upon her side, and covered herself with the bed-clothes. She often bound her head up with a handkerchief, and it was amusing to see her thus hooded in bed. I could relate many other little circumstances which appeared to be extremely singular; but I by no means admired them so much as most other persons did, because, as I knew the design of bringing her to Europe to be exhibited as a show, I was inclined to think that she had been taught many of these 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 asserts, that when the fruits on the mountains are exhausted, these animals fre- quently descend to the sea coast, where they feed on various kinds of shell-fish, but parti- cularly on a large species of oyster, which com- monly lies open on the shore. But as they are fearful of putting in their paws, lest the oyster should close and crush them, they insert a pretty large stone within the shell, to prevent it from closing; and then drag out their prey and de- vour it at leisure. THE BARBARY APE. 1QJ Description — Curious combats. THE BARBARY APE. THIS animal, sometimes called the magot, is more sullen, vicious and untractable than the rest of the species. The head is large, and the face approaches nearer to that of a dog than of man. The body is covered with brownish hair, except on the belly, which inclines to yellow. When standing upon his hind legs, the animal is about three feet high ; and when resting, he sup- ports his body on two prominent callosities. The cheeks are furnished with pouches, which the creature generally fills with food before he begins to eat. It walks on four in preference to two legs ; its manners are peculiarly gross ; and when irritated or displeased it exhibits and grinds its teeth. These animals are generally very mischievous, and are said to assemble in large troops on the open plains of India; when, if they see any of the women going to market, they immediately attack them, and take away their provisions. Tavernier, alluding to this species, asserts, that some of the Indians have a curious mode of amusing themselves at their expense. 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: they then retire to some hiding- place, not far distant, to watch the result. The NATURALIST'S CABINET. Curious combat — Instance of revenge. apes, perceiving no person near the baskets, soon descend in great numbers from the trees, and run towards them. They grin at each other before they venture to approach; sometimes ad- vancing, then retreating, as if reluctant to en- counter. At length the females, which are more courageous than the males, especially those that have young ones^ venture to approach the bas- kets, and as they are about to thrust their heads in to eat, the males on the one side advance to hinder them. Immediately the other party comes forward, and the feud being kindled on both sides, the combatants seize the cudgels, and a most severe engagement ensues, which always ends with the weakest being; driven into the O woods with broken heads and limbs. The vic- tors then fall to in peace, and devour the reward of their labour. The same traveller remarks, that as he was once travelling in the East Indies, in company with the English president, a great number of large apes were observed upon the trees around them. The president was so much amused, that he or- dered his carriage to stop, and desired Tavernier to shoot one of them. The attendants, who were principally natives, 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 compa- nion. Being, however, still requested, he killed a female, which fell among the branches, letting THE APE. 193 Instance of revenge — The pigmy ape. her little ones, that clung to her neck, fall to the ground. In an instant all the remaining apes, to the number of sixty or upwards, descended in. fury, and as many as could, leaped upon the pre- sident's coach, where they would soon have strangled him, had not the blinds been immedi- ately closed, and the number of attendants so great, as, though not without difficulty, to drive them off. However, they continued to run after and teaze the servants for at least three miles from the place where their companion was slain. 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. These animals are found in most parts of Africa,, from Barbary to the Cape of Good Hope, THE PIGMY APE. THE pigmy ape generally walks erect on its hind legs ; and is much smaller than the former ; seldom exceeding eighteen inches in length. The face is flat, and the ears nearly resemble those of man. The general colours of the body are olive-brown NO. v. 2 B NATURALIST'S CABINET. Robbing plantations. above, and yellowish on the belly. It lives in woods and fields principally on fruits and insects, These animals are generally of a mild disposi- tion, and may be tamed without much difficulty. They will sip their drink from the palm of the hand, mimic the smiles and frowns of their mas- ter, and, as Linnaeus says, imitate the forms of salutation used by the Caffres. They have reten- tive memories, and frequently recollect the per- sons of benefactors for many years. In their ge- neral manners they are sagacious and frolicsome; but when taken hold of in a wild state th they will THE BABOON. 201 Stealing a dinner. cunningly steal up behind, and snatch away whatever they can lay hold of; then running to a little distance, will turn round, seat them- selves on their posteriors, and with the most arch grimaces, devour it before the man's face. They frequently hold it out in their paws, as if to offer it back again, and use such ludicrous gestures, that, although the poor fellow loses his dinner, he seldom can refrain from laughing. Mr. Lade has given a very accurate description of their manners. " We traversed a great moun- tain," says he, " in the neighbourhood of the Cape of Good Hope, and amused ourselves with hunting large apes, which are very numerous in that place. I can neither describe all the arts practised by these animals, nor the nimbleness and impudence with which they returned, after being pursued by us. Sometimes they would allow 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 agility, whence they looked at us with great in- difference, and seemed to derive pleasure from our astonishment. Some of them were so large, that if our interpreter had not assured us they were neither ferocious nor dangerous, our num- ber would not have appeared sufficient to protect us from their attacks. As it could serve no pur- pose to kill them we did not use our guns. But the captain levelled his piece at a very large one NO. v. 2 c 202 NATURALIST'S CABINET. Tame baboons. 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 conse- quences, terrified him to such a 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 him. We tied his paws together; but he bit so furiously, that we were under the necessity of binding our handkerchiefs over his- head." These animals are frequently taken young, and nourished with milk by the inhabitants of the Cape; and it is said, that they will become as watchful over their master's property, as the i-nog-t valuable house-dog in Europe. They are generally kept fastened by means of a chain to 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 impossible, 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 sur- prising and nimble manner. They are not natu- rally carnivorous; but will eat meat or fish that has been cooked. ThunlxTg informs us, they are sometimes caught with dogs, but it is necessary to have a tolerable number: a single dog or two can sel- THE MONKEY. General description. clom catch one of them, for if the baboon can but get a dog by the hind feet, he will swing it round till it is perfectly giddy. They also bite violently, and by means of their immense teeth are able to defend themselves with the utmost obstinacy. When enraged by any person, even in a state of domestication, 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. PO UR-FINGERED MONKE Y. THE four-fingered monkey is about eighteen inches in length from the muzzle to the rump^ exclusive of the tail, which is nearly two feet long. These animals are bold and active, full of gambols and grimace; and of a mild and docile disposition. The colour is uniformly black, ex- cept the face, which is of a dark flesh colour. The animal has no thumbs on the fore paws, but in place of them it has small appendices or pro- jections. It inhabits the forests of South Ame- rica; and the female brings forth one or two }Toung, which she carries on her back. One of them in a state of confinement lived on the most amicable terms with a squirrel that had been put to it as a companion, and obtained by its famili- arity and caresses, the affection of all those who at tended it. When the fore-paws are tied be- 2 c 2 204 N ATURALJST'S CABINET. Mischievous sagacity. hind their back, these monkeys will walk or run on their hind feet for almost any length of time, with the same ease and facility as if this were their natural posture. Notwithstanding their gentleness, they are not entirely devoid of that mischievous sagacity for which the whole tribe is remarkable. It is said, that, in their own country, when one of them is beaten, he will immediately climb, with the ut- most agility, a lemon or an orange tree. If he be pursued, he will pick oft' the fruit, and throw it with singular dexterity at the head of his adver- sary; and he sometimes adopts more unpleasant modes of repulsion. On these occasions he as- sumes a thousand ridiculous attitudes, which af- ford considerable diversion to the spectators. They commonly subsist on roots, fruits, &c. : but, for want of better food, they will eat fish ; which they are said to catch with their tails. Like most others of the monkey tribe, when on predatory expeditions, they place centinels on the heights of the forest, to give timely warn- ing of the approach of danger. Ulloa asserts, that, in their native forests, when they want to pass from top to top of lofty trees, too distant for a leap, they will form a chain, by hanging 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, whence he draws the rest up. They are also said to cross rivers, where the THE FOUR-FINGERED MONKEY. An affecting scene in Surinam. banks are very steep, by the same expedient ; and though this assertion is doubted by Stedman, it is confirmed by Dampier and Acosta. Captain Stedman being among the woods of Surinam, and in want of fresh provisions, shot at two of these animals with the intention of mak- ing broth of them; but, he observes, the destruc- tion of one of them was attended with such cir- cumstances as almost ever after deterred him from going a monkey hunting. ce Seeing me nearly on the bank of the river in the canoe," says our author,