Presented to the
library of the

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

Mrs, Andrew Kellogg

I

fnaravedfor tJwtfatamlist's library.

THE

Sfi AIM MLfiJL 2A *

LONDON, CHATTO & WiNDTJS

PICCADILLY

THE

NATURALIST’S LIBRARY.

EDITED BY

SIR WILLIAM JARDINE, BART.

F.R.S.E., F.L.S., ETC., ETC.

YOL. XXIII.

MAMMALIA.

THICK-SKINNED QUADRUPEDS.
BY THE EDITOR.

LONDON :

HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN;

AND ALL BOOKSELLERS.

CONTENTS

PAGE.

Memoir op Sir Hans Sloane. . . 17

Pachydermes. . . . .93

The Elephants. .... 104

The Elephant of India.

Elephas Indicus. Plate II. . . 106

The Elephant of Africa.

Elephas Africanus. Plate IV. . 124

The Elephant of the Lena. Plate V. .133

The Great Mastodon. Plate VI. . 150

The Hippopotamus. ... 153

The Common Hippopotamus.

Hippopotamus amphibius. Plate VII. . 154

Rhinoceros. ..... 158

The Indian Rhinoceros.

Rhinoceros Indicus . Plates VIII. and IX. 164
One- Horned Sumatran Rhinoceros.

Rhinoceros Sondaicus . Plate X. . 174

Two- Horned Sumatran Rhinoceros.

Rhinoceros iSumatranus. Plate XI. • 179

CONTENTS,

Two- Horned African Rhinoceros. "

PAGE.

R. Africanus. Plate XII. • «

The Flat-Nosed Rhinoceros.

182

Rhinoceros simus. Plate XIII. •

The Syrian Hyrax.

. 18G

Hyrax Syrianus. Plate XIV.

The Cape Hyrax.

189

Hyrax Capensis. Plate XVI.

. 197

The Swine. e ,

The Wild Boar.

201

Sus scropha. Plates XVII. and XVIII.
The Papuan Hog.

205

Sus Papuensis. Plate XIX.

210

Sus Koiropotomus. Plate XX.

212

The Domestic Hog. Plate XXI.

. 213

Chinese Breed. Plate XXII.

The Babiroussa.

215

Sus babiroussa. Plate XXIII.
iElians’ Wart Hog.

216

Phascochaeres JEliani. Plate XXIV

The ^Ethiopian Wart Hog.

. 219

Phascochceres larvatus , Plate XXV.

The Collared Peccary.

232

Dycoteles torquatus. Plate XXVI.

The White Lipped Peccary.

234

Dycoteles labiatus. Plate XXVII. .

. 236

The Tapirs. ....

The American Tapir.

238

Tapirus Americanus. Plate XXVIII

The Tapir of the Andes.

. 241

Tapirus pinchaque. Plate XXIX. ,

The Malay Tapir.

243

Tapirus Malay anus. Plate XXX.

• 246

i

MEMOIR

*• op

SJR HANS SLOANE.

i

M E M O I ft

OF

SIR HANS SLOANE.

Whatever may have been the influence of Sir
Hans Sloane on the progress of Natural History
in his day, (and we believe it to have been
considerable,) to the present generation he is
most advantageously known as the founder of
the British Museum ; it may not, therefore, be
uninteresting, before relating his personal history,
to give some account of the private museums that
were in existence previous to his time, especially
as some of them merged into his own splendid
collection, which ultimately became the property
of the public.

The first attempt at forming a Museum in
Britain, was made early in the seventeenth
century, by John Tradescant, a native of Holland,

B

18

MEMOIR OF

who is supposed to have arrived in this country
during the reign of Elizabeth, and afterwards to
have been in the service of the Lord Treasurer
Salisbury, and Lord Wooton. He travelled into
various parts of Europe, and, in 1620, was on
board of a vessel forming pari of a fleet sent
against the Algerines. Availing himself of that
opportunity of pursuing his favourite studies, he
collected plants from Barbary and the Mediter¬
ranean Islands, and a few years after we find him
settled at Lambeth, where he founded a celebrated
Botanic Garden ; and, in 1629, obtained the title
of Gardener to the King, (Charles I.) Here he
established his museum, which was the wonder of
the age, and was known as Tradescant’s Ark. It
was much frequented by the principal nobility,
who contributed specimens; and among the names
of these his “ benefactors,” as he terms them,
appear those of the King and Queen, Archbishop
Laud, the Duke and Duchess of Buckingham, &c.

At what period he died, we are not informed,
though it is conjectured about 1652 ; he was
certainly dead in 1656, when his son published
a catalogue of the contents of his “ Ark,” under
the following title : “ Museeum Tradescantianum ;
or a Collection of Rarities Preserved at South
Lambeth, near London. ^ He arranges “ the
materialls” under “two sorts; one Naturall, of
which some are more famiiiai iy known and named

SIR HANS SLOANE.

19

amongst us, as divers sorts of birds, four-footed
beasts, and fishes, to whom I have given usual
English names. Others are less familiar ; and, as
yet, unfitted with apt English terms, as the shell-
creatures, insects, minerals, outlandish-fruits, and
the like, which are part of the Materia Medica
(encroach ers upon that faculty may try how they
can crack such shells.) The other sort is Artificials,
as utensills, householdstuffe, habits, instruments
of warre used by several nations, rare curiosities
of art, See. These are also expressed in English,
(saving the coynes, which would vary but little if
translated,) for the ready satisfying whomsoever
may desire a view thereof. The catalogue of my
garden I have also added in the conclusion, (and
given the names of the plants both in Latin and
English,) that nothing may be wanting which at
present comes within view, and might be expec¬
ted from, your ready friend, John Tradescant.”
The work, which is now exceedingly rare, contains
engraved portraits by Hollar, of the father and
son. Under the father’s head is the following
inscription : — “ Johannes Tradescantus Pater,
rerum selectarum insignem supellectilem in
Reconditorio Lambethiano, prope Londinum,
etiamnum visendam primus instituit ac locuple-
tavit.” Under that of the son are these lines,
“Johannes Tradescantus Filius, genii ingeniique
paterni verus heres, relictum sibi rerum undique

‘20

MEMOIR OF

congestarum thesaurum, ipse plurimum adauxit
et *n Museo Lambethiano amicis visendum
exhibet.”

In a very short time after this, the family
became extinct, for the son who inherited the
museum died in 1662. He, by a deed of gift,
dated December 16, 1659, had bestowed the
collection on Elias Ashmole, who lodged in his
house, and had obtained great celebrity by the
publication of his “ Theatrum Chymicum Britan-
nicum.” Mrs Tradescant, however, the donor’s
widow, contested Ashmole’s right to the Museum,
which obliged him to prefer a bill in Chancery
against her ; and it was not till 1674, that,
pursuant to a decree of the court, she delivered
up the property.

Ashmole materially increased the collection in
various departments, but more particularly in
coins, medals, and manuscripts. In October,
1677, he offered to give the whole to the
University of Oxford, provided they would erect
a building fit to receive them, to which propo¬
sition the University willingly assented. On
Thursday, May 15, 1678, the first stone of the
Ashmolean Museum was laid ; and being finished
in March, 1682, the collection was transferred
there, and the articles arranged by Dr Plot. On
the 21st of May following, the building was
opened for public inspection, and was visited by

SIR HANS SLOAN E.

21

the Duke of York, (afterwards James II.) with
his Duchess, and the Princess Anne, (afterwards
Queen of England.) It may be proper to mention,
that among the remnants of Tradescant’s collec¬
tion still preserved, there are the bill and foot
of the Dodo, ( Didus ineptus , Lin.*) a bird no
longer in existence. “ It was first seen by the
Dutch when they landed on the Isle of France,
at that time uninhabited, immediately after the
discovery of a passage to the East Indies by the
Cape of Good Hope. It was of a large size and
singular form ; its wings short, like those of an
Ostrich, and wholly incapable of sustaining its
heavy body even for a short flight. In its
general appearance it differed from the Ostrich,
Cassowary, or any known bird.” I “ The death
of a species,” says Mr Lyell, “ is so remarkable
an event in Natural History, that it deserves com¬
memoration ; and it is with no small interest that
we learn from the archives of the University of
Oxford, the exact day and year when the remains
of the last specimen of the Dodo, which had been
permitted to rot in the Ashmolean Museum, were
cast away. The relics, we are told, were “a Museo
subducta, annuente Vice-cancellario aliisque cura-

• The Dodo is now supposed to form the Rasorial type
among the Valuridce. See an excellent paper in tlid
Nouvelles Annales des Sciences Naturelles.

t Lyell’s Principles of Geology, vol. ii. p. 157. 8vo.
edit.

22

MEMOIR OF

toribus, ad ea lustranda convocatis die Januarii,
8vo, 1755.” That the specimen was entire in
Tradescant’s time we have proof, as it is enumera¬
ted among his “ Whole Birds,” in the following
terms:* — “Dodar, from the Island Mauritius; it is
not able to fly, being so big.” f And as illustrating
the history of another species, that is now almost
extirpated from this country, may be mentioned
his notice of the Bustard, ( Otis tarda,') “ as big
as a Turkey, usually taken by grayhounds on
Newmarket heath.”

To Tradescant succeeded two other celebrated
collectors of natural curiosities, — William Courten,
Esq. and Mr James Petiver. The former was the
grandson of a wealthy merchant, whom James I.
created a baronet, and was born in the parish of
Fenchurch, in London, March 28, 1642. His
father having become insolvent the following year,
he quitted the kingdom, and died at Florence
in 1655. The son appears to have received a
good education notwithstanding, and early in life
was sent to complete his studies abroad ; and at
Montpelier is supposed to have first met with Sir
Hans Sloane, with whom he soon formed an
intimacy that ripened into a friendship, which
continued, without interruption, to the end of

* A painting, now in the British Museum, was made from
the living bird, by George Edwards, who lived between
1698 and 1773.

t Mus. Trad. p. 4.

SIR HANS SLOANE.

23

his life. Soon after he came of age, he returned
to London for the purpose of recovering the
remainder of his father’s and grandfather’s fortunes
from the hands of a Mr Carew, who had obtained
letters of administration to the estates of the
Courten family ; but, after some time, he com¬
promised the case, and, “ by a bond, surrendered
all claims to the administration, for valuable
considerations not specified ; adding, that what¬
ever he had received from the wrecks of the
fortune of his father, was ex dono et gratia , and
not ex jure . He even relinquished his family
name of Courten, and assumed that of William
Charlton, and publicly announced his intention
of quitting England, and living in a strange
land.”*

He is supposed to have remained abroad many
years, and it must have been during this interval
that lie became acquainted with Sloane. In 1669? he
began to collect coins and medals. To what extent
his curiosities increased may be seen from the
following notices of his museum, gleaned from the
contemporary Diaries of Evelyn and Thoresbv.
“December 16, 1686, I carried the Countesse of
Sunderland to see the rarities of one Mr Charlton,
in the Middle Temple, who shewM us such a
collection as I had never seen in all my travels

* Chalmers’ Biographical Dictionary, art. Courten.

24

MEMOIR OF

\

abroad, either of private gentlemen or priuccs. It
consisted of miniatures, drawings, shells, insects,
medals, natural things, animals, (of which divers,
I think one hundred, were kept in glasses of
spirits of wine,) minerals, precious stones, vessels,
curiosities in amber, christal, agate, & c. all being
very perfect and rare in their kind, especially his
oooks of birds, fish, flowers, and shells, drawn
and miniatured to the life. He told us that one
book stood him in £300 ; it was painted by
that excellent workman whom the late Gaston,
Duke of Orleans, employed. This gentleman’s
whole collection, gathered by himself travelling
over most parts of Europe, is estimated at £8000.
He appears to be a modest and obliging person.”*
“ March 11, 1690, I went again to see Mr
Charlton’s curiosities, both of art and nature, and
his full and rare collection of medals, which, taken
altogether, in all kinds, is doubtless one of the
most perfect assemblage of rarities that can be
any where seen. I much admired the contortions
of the thea root, which was so perplexed, large,
and intricate, and, withal, hard as box, that it
was wonderful to consider/’f

“November 30, 1691, I again saw Mr
Charlton’s collection of spiders, birds, scorpions,
and other serpents, &c.”J

* Evelyn’s Diary. + Ibid.

t Ibid.

SIR IIANS SLOANE.

05

4Ut /

Thoresby thus mentions it under the date of '
May 24, 1695. “ Walked to Mr Charlton’s

chambers at the Temple, who very courteously
shewed me his museum, which is, perhaps, the
most noble collection of natural and artificial
curiosities, of ancient and modern coins and
medals, that any private person in the world
enjoys ; it is said to have cost him £7000 or
£8000 sterling; there is, I think, the greatest
variety of insects and animals, corals, shells,
petrifactions, & c. that ever I beheld. But I spent
the greatest part of my time amongst the coins;
for though the British and Saxon be not very
extraordinary, yet his silver coins of the emperors
and consuls is very noble. He has also a costly
collection of medals of eminent persons in church
and state, domestic and foreign reformers. But
before I was half satisfied, an unfortunate visit
from the Countess of Pembroke, and other ladio»
from court, prevented farther queries,” &c.*

Obadiah Walker’s treatise on “ Greek ar^
Roman History, illustrated by coins and medals,
is dedicated to “ William Charlton of the Middle
Temple, F,sq.” in which he says, “ your eminency
in this study, and your plentiful and (not without
great skill and difficulty'! well chosen treasure,

* Tboresbv’s Diary, vol. i. p. 209.

T 8vo. 1692.

26

MEMOIR OF

both for this and other parts of Natural History,
and your unparalleled readiness to further and
assist all ingenious lovers of this most copious
and gentle study, do justly challenge a more
universal and public testimony of your singular
worth and eminent goodness.”

He died at Kensington Gravel Pits, March 26,
1702, aged sixty, and was buried in the church¬
yard of that parish, having bequeathed his museum
to Sir Hans Sloane.

Mr Petiver was a wealthy apothecary, who
resided in Aldersgate street, in London, “ a per¬
son,” says Sloane, “ sufficiently known by his
understanding in Natural History all over the
world /” He distributed printed lists and direc¬
tions among captains and surgeons of ships, bound
to foreign parts ; and by these means procured a
very extensive and valuable collection, of which
he published short catalogues at successive dates,
as his curiosities increased. The first commences
in 1695, and is entitled “ Musei Peteveriani,
Centuria Prima, Rariora Naturae continens, viz.
Animalia, Fossilia, Plantas, ex variis Mundi
Plagis advecta, Ordine digesta, et Nominibus
Propriis Signata.” These were continued to the
number of ten centuries, the last being published
in 1703, and of course describing one thousand
articles ; the greater part, however, are plants. He
aiso enumerates his “ generous benefactors,” and

SIR HANS SLOANE.

27

to the list appends the following amusing “ P.S.
I hope the generous example of these curious
persons will excite and encourage others, who
travel to or reside in foreign parts, to do the like
for me ; especially, since the preserving of all
animals, vegetables, and fossils, is so easily per¬
formed according to my printed directions, which
I am ready and free to give to all such as will be
so kind to make collections for me, and, as I have
elsewhere hinted, the most common as well as
rare, — i. e. whatever they meet with, either of
plants, shells, insects, fossils, & c. — will be highly
acceptable to me, and shall, on all occasions, be
gratefully acknowledged by your most obliged
and humble servant, James Petiver.” He died,
April 20, 1718, and his museum was purchased
by Sir Hans Sloane for L.4000, — an immense sum
for that period, when the value of money was so
much greater than at present.

Having thus traced the first of these collections
till it was rendered of general utility by being
placed at the service of the public, and the other
two into the possession of the individual who so
laudably adopted the same plan in their final
disposal, we now offer a brief notice of the life of
the generous testator.

Alexander Sloane, a native of Scotland, was at
the head of that colony of his countrymen which
James I. settled in the north of Ireland. He became

28

MEMOIR OF

collector of taxes for the county of Down, and
after the restoration of Charles II. commissioner
of Array ; he died at Killileigh, in that county, in
166*6, where, on the 16th of April, 1660, his
seventh and youngest son, Hans, was born.*
Being naturally of a delicate constitution, which
excluded him from the usual boisterous pursuits
of youth, he appears to have had recourse to the
study of nature at a very early age ; and having
determined on following the medical profession,
entered on the necessary studies with diligence
and ardour. But at the age of sixteen, these
were unfortunately interrupted by a spitting of
blood, with which he then became afflicted. This
confined him to his chamber for three years. By
a rigid course of temperance, abstaining entirely
from wine and other fermented liquors, he suc¬
ceeded in conquering the disease, and his own
prudence induced him to continue ever after in
a great degree to adhere to the same strict
regimen. It was his favourite maxim, “ that
sobriety, temperance, and moderation, are the
best preservatives that nature has vouchsafed to
mankind and he himself was certainly a proof
of its efficacy, as by attention to this maxim, his
own life far exceeded the allotted period of man’s
ordinary existence.

* His mother was Sarah, daughter of Dr Hickes, pre¬
bendary of Westminster, and chaplain to Archbishop Laud.

SIR HANS SLOANE.

29

Upon his recovery, he resorted to London for
the purpose of attending his professional studies.
The Botanic Garden at Chelsea had at that time
very recently been established by the Company of
Apothecaries.* Here he became an indefatigable
student, attending also lectures on chemistry,
anatomy, and physic. At this period, he formed
an acquaintance with the two eminent philosophers,
Bovle and Rav, with whom he ever after lived
on the most friendly terms. After four years of
severe application in London, for his farther
improvement he determined to visit the Conti-f
nent ; and in company with two fellow students,
one of whom was Mr (afterwards Sir Tancred)
Robinson, crossed over to Dieppe, and from
thence to Paris, where he attended the botanical
lectures of the celebrated Tournefort, and those
of Du Verney for anatomy ; at the conclusion of
which, he visited Montpelier, taking with him
letters of recommendation from Tournefort to
Monsieur Chirac, then chancellor and professor of

* In 1673, they obtained a lease of a piece of ground,
containing three acres one rood, for sixty-one years, at a
ground rent of £5 per annum, of which Sir Hans Sloane,
in 1721, granted them the freehold. In 1732, a spacious
greenhouse was erected, and the grounds laid out anew, and
systematically arranged. It is now said to be suffering
materially from the confined situation and smoky air
consequent upon the vast increase of London.

30

MEMOIR OV

that University ; by which means, he obtained
introductions to all the learned of that neighbour¬
hood. Being delighted with the attentions he
received from Monsieur Magnol, the professor of
botany, whose herbarizing excursions in the
neighbourhood he always attended, he parted
from his two companions, who continued their
travels in Italy, while he remained for a twelve¬
month collecting plants ; and then, pursuing
the same occupation as he travelled through
Languedoc, he returned to Paris by way of
Thoulouse and Bourdeaux. After a short residence
in the metropolis, he set out for England in the
latter end of 1684, with an intent to settle and
follow his profession, having, it is believed, taken
his degree of M.D. at Montpelier.

Soon after his return to London, he became
acquainted with the celebrated Dr Sydenham,
in whose family he became domesticated, and
was by him introduced to professional practice.
On the 26th November, 1684, he was proposed
by Dr Martin Lister, as a candidate for the Royal
Society, of which he was elected a member on
the 21st of January following. From this time,
he became a regular attendant on and frequent
contributor to the society ; so that, in July the
same year, he was a competitor for the office of
their assistant secretary, but Dr Halley was the

SIR HANS SLOANE.

31

successful candidate, being elected by a majority
of sixteen, the numbers being twenty-five and
nine. On the 12th of April, 1687> he was chosen
a Fellow of the College of Physicians.

Flattering as were his prospects at home at
this period, he did not hesitate to accept an
appointment abroad, which promised to afford
him the means of enlarging his knowledge of
Natural History and Medicine. The Duke of
Albemarle having been appointed governor of
Jamaica, applied to his physician, Doctor Bar-
wick, to recommend him a proper person to
accompany him to the colony in a professional
capacity, who consulted Sloane on the occasion.
This appeared to the latter too tempting an oppor¬
tunity for self-improvement to neglect, and having
asked a short time to consider the matter, offered
himself, and was accepted. In a letter to Ray,
Sloane thus mentions the subject : “ I have talked
a long while of going to Jamaica with the Duke
of Albemarle as his physician ; which, if I do,
next to the serving his grace and family in my
profession, my business is to see what I can meet
withal that’s extraordinary in nature in these
places. I hope to be able to send you some
observations from thence, God Almighty granting
life and strength to do what I design,”* to which

* Ray’s Philosophical Letters, page 206.

32

MEMOIR OF

Ray replies, “ If you go to Jamaica, I pray you
a safe and prosperous voyage. We expect great
things from you, no less than the resolving all our
doubts about the names we meet with of plants
in that part of America, as the Dildoe, Mammee,
Mangrove, Manchinello, Avellanse purgatrices,
the Sower-sop and Custard apple.* Of most of
which, though I am pretty well informed and
satisfied by Dr Robinson, yet I shall be glad to
be either confirmed, or better informed by so
knowing and curious an observer as yourself. I
should be glad to know what manner of fruit
the Mandioca bears ; for, whatever some have
written, that it is not without, I am confident. You
may also please to observe, whether there be any
species of plants common to America and Europe,
and whether Ambergrise be the juice of any sort

s

* A contemporary of Sloane’s, gives this account of the
custard apple : — “ When it is ripe we gather it, and keep
it one day, and then it is fit to be eaten. We cut a hole
at the lesser end (that it may stand the firmer in the dish)
so big, as that a spoon may go in with ease, and with the
spoon eat it. Never was excellent custard more like
itself, than this to it ; only this addition, which makes it
transcend all custards that art can make, though of natural
ingredients, and that is a fruity taste, which makes it
strange and admirable. Many seeds there are in it, but so
smooth, as you may put them out of your mouth with some
pleasure.” Ligon’s “ True and Exact History of the
Island of Barbadoes, 1673.”

SIR HANS SLOANE.

33

of metal or aloe dropt into the sea,* as Trapham
would have it. VVliat kind of Arundo it is, the
same author calls the Dumb-cane ; as also what
his animal seeds may be. The shining barks of
trees which he mentions deserves observation,
because I find nothing of them in other writers,”
&c.f

With these instructions he prepared for his
voyage ; and at length, on Monday, September
12, 1687) he went on board his Majesty’s ship,
Assistance, forty-four guns, commanded by Cap¬
tain Lawrence Wright, then lying at Spitliead.
They weighed anchor the same afternoon, and
reached Madeira on Friday, 21st October. “Con¬
sidering,” says he, “ that this island had not been
very anciently inhabited, being but discovered
in the fourteenth century, and that common fame
relates all the inhabitants hereof to be criminals
banished hither, I expected to have found a great
deal of barbarity and rudeness here, and nothing
else ; but on going ashore, I was very much
disappointed, for I have not seen any where more
accomplished gentlemen than here, having all the
civility one could desire.” His medical skill was
in great demand during the ten days he remained

* It is almost needless to remark, that it is now ascer¬
tained that this substance is a concretion formed in the
stomach or intestines of the Physeter macrocephalus, or
Spermaceti whale.

t Letters, page 209.

C

34

MEMOIR OF

here ; but on Sunday they quitted the island, and
two days after, he notices that they “ first took
dolphins with fis-gigs, or sharp arrow-headed or
bearded irons, fitted with poles of about ten
feet long, lead for the more convenient striking
them, and a rope or line tied to them to hold the
fis-gig, which is shot at them by the strength of
the hand, when they come within reach of
those waiting for them, usually on some of the
yardarms, backhead, or poop ; in which fishing,
the great matter seems to be, to allow for the
refraction of the water. They were laid in wait
for, not only so, but likewise with lines and
hooks, which were hung out, baited with rags, in
the shape of flying fish, and so adjusted as to
hang, sometimes to touch the water, at others not,
according to the waves, thereby imitating the
flying-fish, which the dolphins pursue with great
greediness. Dolphins are reckoned the swiftest
swimmers that are, their bodies being contrived
for that purpose. There is as much pleasure in
seeing them pursue the flying fish as in hunting
or hawking ; the flying-fish getting out of the
water, where the dolphins cannot pursue them.”
They cooked one they had caught, which, Sloane
observes, “ wras dry, though pretty good victuals,
and well tasted ; the nearer the head the more it
is prized : although,” he humorously adds, “ I
am apt to think, that if this fish, so much com¬
mended bv sailors, were ashore in a market whore

SIR HANS SLOANE.

35

other fish were to be had, it would not be counted
so great a delicacy.”

On the 25th November, they reached Barba-
does, where they were hospitably entertained by
Sir Edwin Steed, the governor. “ For my own
part,” says Sloane, “ I liked so well the dessert
after dinner, which consisted of shaddocks, guavas,
pines, mangrove-grapes, and other unknown fruits
in Europe, that I thought all my fatigues well
bestowed when I came to have such a pleasant
prospect.” He enjoyed these luxuries for ten
days, when they again put to sea, and passed St
Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, Guadaloupe, Mont¬
serrat, and once more landed at Nevis, on Friday,
December 9th, but quitted it again on the 11th,
and in five hours reached St Christophers, at that
time occupied by both French and English, the
former being in possession of the extremities, and
our countrymen of the centre. The governor
“treated his Grace the Duke of Albemarle; and the
French governor, hearing of his coming ashore,
sent him a compliment by an officer.” From
thence they proceeded by St Eustache, Saba,
Santa Cruz, Mona, Altabella, “ famous for turtles,
where are a great many eggs laid by them in the
sand, which are there hatched,” and Hispaniola ;
and, finally, on the 1 9th December, they came
into Port Royal Harbour.

Dr Sloane had, during the voyage, availed
himself of every opportunity of examining the

36

MEMOIR OF

natural productions of the different islands at
which he touched. In botany, more particularly,
he made great collections, and anticipated a rich
harvest, now that he had reached Jamaica, when
an unexpected event blighted all his prospects in
this quarter. The Duke of Albemarle died almost
as soon as he had landed; and the Duchess, natu¬
rally anxious to return to England, only awaited
instructions from the Court at home, in reply to
her notification of the Duke’s decease. During
the necessary interval, the doctor assiduously
exerted himself, and visited all parts of the island.
He recorded in a journal a description of every
natural curiosity ; he collected about eight
hundred plants, and employed an artist to make ’
drawings of the birds, fishes, insects, shells, and
fruits. Some of his observations, selected at
random, will probably amuse readers of the present
day.

“ I was somewhat surprised to see serpents,
rats, and lizards, sold for food, and that to under¬
standing people , and of a very good and nice
palate ; but what of all those things was most
unusual, and to my great admiration, was the
great esteem was set on a sort of cossi or timber-
worms, called cotton tree worms by the Negroes
or Indians.”

*

The two following stories are much akin to
the marvellous relations we frequently meet with
in the American newspapers.

SIR HANS SLOANE.

37

%< There was an alligator that used to do abun¬
dance of mischief to the people’s cattle in the
neighbourhood, having his regular course to look
for prey. One of the inhabitants there, as I was
told, tied a long cord to his bedstead, and to the
other end of the cord fastened a piece of wood
and a dog, so that the alligator, swallowing the
dog and piece of wood, the latter came cross his
throat as it was designed, and after pulling his
bedstead to the window , and awakening the person
in bed , he was caught. Alligators love dogs
extremely, but prey also on cattle. This alligator
was nineteen feet long.”

“ I once went jto visit Mr Rowe, a sick person,
at St Jago de la Vega, in Jamaica, in a morning,
and found him more than ordinarily discomposed ;
for that the ants, by eating in the night some of
the joints of his bedstead, his bed of a sudden
had fallen to the ground.”

Mr Knapp, in his elegant and highly interesting
“ Journal of a Naturalist,” * has remarked how
slowly the potato was received into England as
an article of food, and that it was entirely con¬
fined to the use of the lower classes for many
years. + An observation of Sloane’s (writing so

* Page 33.

t From an anecdote in the Retrospective Review, vol.
xi. p. 331, it appears that about seventy years ago, they
were beginning to be appreciated as a delicacy in the
neighbourhood of London. A lady then living, (1825,)

38

MEMOIR OF

late as 1 707? be it observed) may be adduced in
confirmation of this fact. In speaking of the
great variety of food mankind is sustained by, he
says,* “ Many live on the Irish patatas, a sort of
Solarium , on which , I have heard , they live in the
mines of Potosi , and in Ireland and in his
Account of Jamaica Plants, f he describes the
potato in the following terms : “ The root is
tuberous ; for shape and bigness very uncertain ;
but being for the most part oblong, as big as a
hen’s egg ; from a swelled middle tapering to both
extremes ; yellow and sweet within ; when roasted,
tasting like a boiled chestnut, and having many
fibrils by which it draws its nourishment. The
stalks are green, a little covered, and creeping for
many feet in length along the surface of the
earth, and putting forth leaves and flowers at
every inch’s distance,” &c. “ In four months

after planting, they are ready to be gathered, the
ground being filled with them, and if they con¬
tinue therein any longer, they are eaten by
worms.”

who had resided all her life near the road from London to
Epsom, states, that “ in her youth she used to look for¬
ward with much pleasure to the quarter days, when the
tenants dined at her father’s house, because on these days
only was she treated with a dish of potatoes

* Introduction to Natural History of Jamaica, vol. i.

p. 21.

t Natural History of Jamaica, vol. i. p. 150.

SIR HANS SLOAN Es

09

But to resume the narrative. Having remained
only fifteen months in the island, Dr Sloane re¬
embarked in the Assistance frigate, on the 16th
March, 1689> and reached England on the 29th
May. During the interval of his absence from
this country, the Revolution had occurred, of
which he appears to have received the first tidings
within a few leagues of Plymouth. “ I was sent,’*
he relates, “ in an armed boat, to get certain
knowledge of the situation of public affairs, and
to give a speedy account of it to the Fleet, who
were to stand off' of that port, till they were
assured of their safety or danger. We had sight
first of a boat, which was fishing some leagues
from the land, whose master did what he could to
dy from us ; but, coming up with him, asking
what news, and where the king was, he asked, —
what king we meant , for that King William was
well at Whitehall, and King James in France.”

He had attempted to bring home some living
reptiles, but without success. The following is
his account of the failure of his endeavours : —
“ Though I foresaw the difficulties, yet I had an
intention to try to bring with me from Jamaica
some uncommon creatures alive, such as a large
yellow snake, seven feet long ; a guana, or great
lizard ; a crocodile, &c. ; and I had the snake tamed
by an Indian, whom it would follow as a dog

40

MEMOIR OF

would bis master ; and after it was delivered to
me, I kept it in a large earthen jar, such as are
for keeping the best water for the commanders of
ships during their voyages, covering its mouth
with two boards, and laying weights upon them.
I had it fed every day by the garbage of fowl, &c.
put into the jar from the kitchen. Thus it lived
for some time, when, being weary of its confine¬
ment, it shoved asunder the two boards on the
mouth of the jar, and got up to the top of a large
house, wherein lay footmen and other domestics
of her grace the Duchess of Albemarle, who,
being afraid to lie down in such company, shot
my snake dead.* It seemed, before this disaster,
to be very well pleased with its situation, being
in a part of the house which was filled with rats,

* There is a figure given of this snake in vol. ii. plate
274 ; and the author, describing it in page 335, says,
“ They feed on birds, rats, &c. which they swallow
whole ; and therefore Nature has given them such a folded
or rugous inward tunicle of the stomach, that it may
extend and receive things of large dimensions. Many of
them have been killed with thirteen or fourteen rats in
their bellies.

“ An Indian brought this figured here, and several
others to me. He used to take them behind by their
necks, so that they could not bite him ; then he would
give them leave to twist themselves about his arm as they
pleased. He killed them by putting their tails under his
foot, taking them behind their necks, and stretching their
back-bones, and twisting and pinching hard their lungs
and trachea: arterice.

SIR HANS SLOANE.

41

which are the most pleasing food for these sort of
serpents. It is upon this account that the Euro¬
pean nations inhabiting the countries producing
sugar, do not molest these creatures, because they
destroy the rats, (which came originally from
ships cast away on the coast, & c.) which multiply
strangely there, and do infinite mischief to the
sugar canes, not only by eating them, but spoiling
the juice of those they gnaw.

“ The guana used to feed on calabash pulp, and
lived very well on board of the yacht, till one day,
when it was running along the gunnel of the
vessel, a seaman frighted it, and it leaped over-
- board and was drowned.

“The Crocodile, or Alligator, I kept in a tub of
salt water towards the forecastle, and fed it with
the same sort of food as the snake, but it died on
the 15th of May. Thus I lost, by this time of
the voyage, all my live creatures ; and so it
happens to most people, who lose their strange
live animals for want of proper air, food, or
shelter.”

Immediately on his arrival, he settled as a
physician. The collections he had brought home
with him excited the curiosity and admiration of
the learned, and contributed to his public fame.
“ Several circumstances,” says Dr Pulteney,*
“ concurred respecting the voyage of Dr Sloane

* History of the Progress of Botany in England,
vol. ii. p. 69.

42

MEMOIR OF

to Jamaica, which rendered it peculiarly suc¬
cessful to Natural History. He was the first man
of learning whom the love of science alone had
led from England to that distant part of the globe,
and consequently the field was wholly open to
him. He was already well acquainted with the
discoveries of the age : he had an enthusiasm for
his object, and was at an age when both activity
of body and vivacity of mind concur to vanquish
difficulties.” His reputation was now so great
that, on the 30th November, 1693, he was elected
secretary of the Royal Society ; and, in accord¬
ance with his active character and ardent zeal for
the interests of science, he immediately revived
the publication of the “ Philosophical Transac¬
tions,” which had been interrupted from the year
1687. He continued in this office till 1712, when
he was succeeded by Dr Halley, who, we have
seen, had been the successful competitor with
Sloane for the office of assistant secretary in the
year 1685, and who, subsequent to the voyage of
the latter to Jamaica, had also crossed the
Atlantic to visit the British settlements in
America for astronomical purposes, returning in
September, 1700.

Dr Sloane’s professional fame now rapidly
extended. In October, 1694, he was chosen
physician to Christ’s Hospital ; and his circum¬
stances appear to have been in so flourishing a
condition as to justify his refusal to receive the

SIR HANS SLOANE.

43

emoluments of that office ; but, because he would
not offer a precedent that might be injurious to
his successors, he punctually took the money, but
constantly applied it to the relief of those belong¬
ing to the Hospital who were in greatest need.
This appointment he filled till 1730, when age
and infirmities obliged him to resign. As it is
as a naturalist and patron of science he is con¬
nected with this work, we shall merely enumerate
his professional appointments and honours, which
were very numerous ; and it is sufficient to men¬
tion, that, in the College of Physicians, he warmly
promoted the plan of a Dispensary for the sick
poor, which met with so much opposition from
the apothecaries, and which gave rise to Dr
Garth’s well known satire.

Although the Doctor does not appear to have
been in her Majesty’s household,* we are told
that he was frequently consulted by Queen Anne,

* It has been stated, in the “ History of Europe for
1712,” that “ Dr Hans Sloane was sworn physician to
Queen Anne in the room of Dr Shadwell but we sus¬
pect that this is a mistake, as we are not aware that Dr
Shadwell was displaced from that appointment, and he
held it both under George I. who knighted him, and
George II. ; indeed, till his death, which happened
December 4, 1747 ; unless it occurred in this way, —
Dr Shad well’s name stands in Chamberlain’s “ Present
State of Great Britain for 1710” as Physician Extra¬
ordinary to the Queen. Perhaps, by the death of one of
her physicians in ordinary, Shadwell might succeed to

44

MEMOIR OF

and that, in her last illness, she was blooded by
him ; but, soon after the accession of George I.
he was created a baronet,* being the first English
physician on whom an hereditary title of honour
had been conferred, and was appointed physician
general to the army, which office he enjoyed till
1727, when George II. made him his own
physician. He had, in 1719, been elected
President of the College of Physicians, which
high honour he continued to hold till 1735, when
he resigned.

During the intervals of relaxation from a life
so laborious as that of an eminent London
physician, Dr Sloane arranged his Collections
and Observations, formed while in the West
Indies, and, preparatory to his great work,
printed, in 1696, 8vo. his Catalogue of Jamaica
plants, with the following title : “ Catalogus
Plantarum quae in Insula Jamaica, sponte pro-
veniunt, vel vulgo coluntur, cum earundem
synonimis et locis natalibus, Adjectis aliis qui-
busdamquae in Insulis Madeira, Barbadoes, Nevis,
et Sancti Christopheri nascuntur ; ceu Prodromi
Historia Naturalis Jamaica, pars prima.” This he

that office, and Sloane thus obtain the appointment o.
physician extraordinary, which would explain the fact of
his being called in to attend her Majesty’s death-bed.

* April 3, 1716.

SIR HANS SLOANE.

45

dedicated to the Royal Society and College of
Physicians. “ This volume/' says Dr Puiteney,
“ intrinsically valuable as it is, may yet be con¬
sidered as only the nomenclature or systematic
index to his subsequent work. The arrangement
of the subject (and which was strictly followed in
the History) is nearly that of Mr Ray; vegetables
being thrown into twenty-five large natural classes
or families. Among botanists of that time,
generical characters had not attained any remark¬
able precision ; and Sloane, like Plukenet, was
little farther anxious than to refer his new plants
to some genus already established, without a
minute attention to the parts of fructification,
farther than as they formed part of the character
drawn from habit ; yet, with this defect, the
figures and descriptions of Sloane proved suffi¬
ciently accurate to enable his successors to refer
almost all his species to the appropriate places in
the system of the present day.”

Eleven years after, appeared the first volume
of his “ Natural History of Jamaica.” This is a
splendid folio, entitled “ A Voyage to the Islands
Madeira, Barbados, Nieves, St Christophers, and
Jamaica, with the Natural History of the Herbs
and Trees, Four-footed beasts, Fishes, Birds,
Insects, Reptiles, & c. of the last of these islands,
to which is prefixed an Introduction, wherein is
an Account of the Inhabitants, Air, Waters,

46

MEMOIR OF

Diseases^ Trade, &c. of that place, with some
Relations concerning the neighbouring continent
and islands of America. Illustrated with the
Figures of the Things described, which have not
been heretofore engraved. By Hans Sloane,
M.D. Fellow of the College of Physicians, and
Secretary of the Royal Society, Vol. I. < Many
shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be
increased, * Dan. xii. 4. London : printed by B.M.
for the Author, 1707.”

It is dedicated to Queen Anne in the following
terms : —

TO HER MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY,

THE QUEEN,

THIS

NATURAL HISTORY OF JAMAICA,

» ONE OF

THE LARGEST AND MOST CONSIDERABLE
OF

HER MAJESTY’S PLANTATIONS
IN

AMERICA,

IS, WITH ALL HUMILITY, DEDICATED,

BY

HER MAJESTY’S MOST DUTIFUL AND
MOST OBEDIENT SUBJECT,

HANS SLOANE.

The introduction, consisting of one hundred
and fifty-four pages, contains a general account
of the West Indies, their discovery, climate,

SIR HANS SLOANE,

47

rivers, soil, productions, trade, and

diseases, and more particularly t.hose of Jamaica ;
then follows an account of his voyage in forty-
eight pages, and the remainder of the book,
occupying two hundred and sixty-four pages, is
taken up with an account of the plants, of which
he makes the following arrangement.

Chapter 1. Of submarine plants.

Under which head he includes Corals, &c.

2. Of mushrooms, mosses, &c.

3. Of ferns, or capillary plants.

4. Of herbs with grassie leaves.

5. Of herbs with less perfect or staminious

flowers.

6. Of herbs with monopetalous flowers.

7. Of verticillated plants.

8. Of herbs that are leguminous, or have a

papilionaceous flower.

9. Of herbs whose flowers are composed pf

two or three petala or leaves.

10. Of herbs whose flowers are composed of

four petala or leaves.

11. Of Vasculiferous Herbs with pentapetalous

flowers.

12. Of herbs which are of the kindred of

umbelliferous plants.

13. Of plants that are rough leaved, culled

Asperifolia.

14. Of herbs commonly accounted to have

many naked seeds.

15. Of herbs that are bacciferous or pomiferous.

48

MEMOIR OF

16. Of herbs with bulbous roots, those of their

inured, and of herbs with flowers, that
taie six or more petala or coloured
leaves.

17. Of herbs whose flowers are composed of

several flowers.

To the introduction are attached eleven plates
of shells, crabs, &c. and a map, and to the body
of the work one hundred and thirty-four plates of
plants, they are all double folio, mounted on guards
in the centre, and are executed by Michael Vander-
gutcht, in the best style of that period, and are
a proof of the wealth and munificence of the
author.

It was not till 1725 that Sir Hans had leisure
to put the second volume to press, though the
greater part of the plates for it were engraved at
the time the former appeared ; having, says he,
“ a multiplicity of business in the practice of
physic, which I esteem one of my first cares, and
must be minded if the lives of persons be regarded
with due attention to the several symptoms and
changes of their diseases.” He acknowledges
the favours he had received from the king in the
following dedication to George I.

49

SIR HANS SLOANE.

TO HIS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY,

THE KING;

THIS SECOND VOLUME OF THE

NATURAL HISTORY OF JAMAICA,

ONE OF

THE LARGEST AND MOST CONSIDERABLE
OF

HIS MAJESTY’S PLANTATIONS'

IN

AMERICA,

IS, WITH ALL HUMILITY DEDICATED,

AS A TESTIMONY OF HIS DUTY AND GRATITUDE
FOR THE MANY GREAT BLESSINGS
WHICH HE WITH OTHERS ENJOY,

UNDER HIS MAJESTY’S WISE GOVERNMENT

AND POWERFUL PROTECTION ;

AND FOR SEVERAL PARTICULAR INSTANCES
OF HIS MAJESTY’S FAVOURS CONFERRED ON
HIS MAJESTY’S MOST OBEDIENT,

MOST DUTIFUL,

AND MOST FAITHFUL
SUBJECT AND SERVANT,

HANS SLOANE.

There is an introduction of eighteen pages in
vindication of those parts of the catalogue which
had been attacked by Plukenet* in his Mantissa.

* Leonard Plukenet was a celebrated botanist, who,
like bis contemporaries Sloane and Petiver, practised
medicine, but whether as a physician or apothecary is not
known, but probably the latter ; at all events, he never
attained to any eminence in his profession, which appears
to have excited his jealousy against them, who were both
in high estimation and flourishing circumstances, particu¬
larly as, according to Sir J. E. Smith’s opinion, in
botanical science he “ was apparently a man of more
solid learning than either of those distinguished writers;
and, having been less prosperous than either, he was

I)

50

MEMOIR OF

He then resumes his Natural History, which,
with the index, occupies four hundred and ninety-
nine pages, commencing with the trees of
Jamaica. We shall exhibit an analysis of this
volume.

Chapter 1. Of trees which bear their flowers and fruit
separated.

2. Of trees bearing dry fruits which are not

siliquose.

3. Of trees that have papilionaceous flowers,

and are siliquose.

4. Of trees which bear berries, and arc;

umbilicated or caliculated.

perhaps less disposed to palliate their errors. As far as
we have examined, his remarks, however severe, are not
unjust.” Linnaeus’s opinion of him may be formed from the
following observations to Haller: “ Who has ever been
free from botanical errors ? He is a wise man who can
distinguish good from evil ; and that general may be
esteemed happy, who conquers and disperses his enemies
with the loss of half his own forces. Who is more meri¬
torious in exotic plants, though not a systematise than
Plukenet ? but who was ever more unprincipled, more of
a heretic in botany, or a greater scandal to our science,
than either Plukenet or Vaillant ?” The full title of the
work mentioned above, is “ Almagesti Botanici Mantissa,
Plantarum novissime delectarum ultra Millenarium Nume-
rum complectens,” 1700, 4to.

The Herbarium of Plukenet consisted of eight thousand
plants, an astonishing number to be collected by a private
and not opulent individual. It came, after his death, into
the hands of Sir Hans Sloane, and is now in the British
Museum — Biographical Dictionary by Chalmers, article
Plukenet.

SIR HANS SLOANE.

51

5. Of trees which bear berries, that are

neither umbilicated or calculated.

6. Of pruniferous trees, or such as bear

plumbs.

7. Of pomiferous trees, or such as bear apples.

8. Of woods, fruits, rosins, & c.

On this chapter he makes the following observa¬
tion : — “ The several things described in this
division, are such as I know very imperfectly, —
only so far as they are made use of in Jamaica to
the purposes hereafter recited. I am apt to sus¬
pect that some of them may be before taken
notice of, and that I have not known them to be
the vegetables put to those uses here mentioned.”
This chapter concludes the First Book, or bota¬
nical division of the work.

The Second Book commences with the account
of Insects, which he prefaces with this just
remark, — “ The power, wisdom, and providence
of God Almighty, the Creator and Preserver of
all things, appear no where more than in the
smallest animals called insects, which are provided
with such senses as are necessary to bring them,
through their several changes, to perfection : and
notwithstanding their little bodies, and many
enemies in every state, they are enabled to live,
thrive, and propagate their kind, so that, since we
have any exact history of them, none seem to be
lost.” He arranges them under the following
division :

5*2

MEMOIR OF

Chapter 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Of such as suffer no change in their forms,
and have no feet.

Of insects which are commonly believed to
suffer no change in their forms, and
have six or more feet.

Of libellae, perlae, or adderbolts, wild
bugs, locusts, and crickets.

Of beetles.

Of erucae, aureliae, or coffins, butterflies,
and phalenae, or moths.

Of insects with membranaceous wings, as
ants, bees, wasps, flies, and gnats.

The Third Book treats of Testaceous Animals,
and is thus divided :

Chapter 1. Of land and river shells.

2. Of patellae or limpets.

3 Of tubuli vermium.

4. Of conchae veneris.

5. Of nerits.

6. Of sea snails and trochi.

7- Of buccinae whose spirae are short.

8. Of buccinae whose spirae are longer and

smooth.

9. Of buccinae whose spirae are long and

muricated.

10. Of the coverings for the mouths of some

unknown shells.

11. Of bivalve shells, and first of the pinna and

spondyls.

1 2. Of scallops and cockles.

13. Of oysters, muscles, and pholades.

14. Of tellinae and chamae.

15. Of multivalves.

16. Of echini marini, sea urchins or sea eggs.

SIR IIANS SI.OANE.

o3

Book the Fourth contains “ Crustaceous Animals,
Sea -stars, and Blubber.” It is divided into three
chapters, one for each head.

Book the Fifth, embraces the “ Fishes of
Jamaica,” and is prefaced with this apology:
“ My being six miles every way from the sea, the
heat of the air making fishes soon pUtrify here,
and my other affairs, have made my observations
of this kind very imperfect.” This is his arrange¬
ment.

Chapter 1. Of long cartilaginous, and plain flat fish.

2. Of the eel.

3. Of fishes with rounder or contracted bodies.

4. Of fishes which are smooth and have one fin

on their backs.

5. Of fishes which are smooth and have two

fins on their backs.

6. Of fishes which are prickly and have one fin

on their backs.

7. Of fishes which are prickly and have two fins

on their backs.

The Sixth Book is devoted to the “ Birds of
Jamaica.” “ It is a common opinion,” he remarks,
“ that the hot parts of the world abound most
with birds of fine coloured feathers, and that they
want those who sing. The first of which is true,
and the latter false, for there are many sweet
singing birds to be found here, and those of as
pleasant notes as any in Europe,” He makes but
three chapters or divisions of them. “ First, Of

54

MEMOIR OF

land birds. Second , Of birds which wade or
frequent watering places ; and Thirds Of water
fowl, or such as are web-footed and swim.”

The Seventh Book is also divided into three
chapters.

1. Of the larger quadrupeds, that are whole

and cloven footed.

2. Of quadrupeds which are oviparous, or lay

eggs.

3. Of serpents.

The Eighth and last Book treats “ Of the stones,
earths, sands, minerals,” &c.

There are one hundred and thirty-nine plates
to this volume, consisting of plants, insects, shells,
fish, and birds ; the two volumes containing two
hundred and eighty-five plates, besides the map.

“ To the curious botanist,” says Dr Pulteney,
it will be observable, that out of eight hundred
vegetables described in these volumes, above one
hundred are ferns ; and that of the others, more
than two hundred and fifty species are of the
arborescent kind. Subsequent voyagers have
established it as a fact, that in the warmer and
intertropical regions, this latter class constitutes,
in a general way, the third part of the vegetable
productions of nature. Abundantly the reverse
of this takes place in temperate and cold climates.”
“ In these volumes, Sir Hans has introduced all
his quotations at length, from the books of travels
mentioned in the ‘ Catalogue,’ to illustrate the

SIR HANS SLOANE.

P* P'

GO

various uses of each vegetable. They exhibit a
proof of the author’s veracity, which I conceive it
is difficult to parallel in any other work.” “ The
voyage of Dr Sloane was productive of much sub¬
sequent benefit to science, by exciting an emula¬
tion both in Britain and on the Continent. Sir
Arthur Rawdon, upon viewing his splendid col¬
lection, sent James Herbert, a skilful gardener,
to Jamaica, who returned with a ship almost laden
with plants, in a vegetating state, and with a great
number of dried specimens. Of the latter, Sloane
had all such as were new, before he published his
first volume. Many of the living plants succeeded
in the garden of Sir Arthur, at Moyra, in Ireland;
and many were distributed into the garden of the
Bishop of London, at Fulham, Dr Uvedales at
Enfield, the Chelsea garden, and especially that
of her Grace the Duchess of Beaufort, at Bad¬
minton, in Gloucestershire ; the botanic gardens
of Amsterdam, Leyden, Leipsic, and Upsal,
shared these varieties. Tournefort sent Dr
Gundelscheimer, his associate in his oriental
journey, into England, to view Sloane’s plants,
and this gave occasion to Plumier’s expedition
into the Caribbee Islands.”*

Sir Hans Sloane was ever ready to promote
the interests of science, by his purse and his

* Pulteney’s Origin and Progress of Botany, vol. ii. pp.
79—81.

56

MEMOIR OF

exertions. He advanced £700 to the College of
Physicians, which ne allowed to be paid off by
instalments ; and in 1721, he made the same
society a present of £100. The same year,
(having become lord of the manor of Chelsea, by
purchase, in 1712,) he gave to the Company of
Apothecaries the freehold of their botanical
garden there, upon the sole condition, that they
should present yearly to the Royal Society, fifty
new plants, grown in the garden, till the number
should amount to 2000, and pay a quit rent of
£5 per annum, which was cheerfully accepted; and
the number, of course, was completed in the year
1761, but the practice was continued till 1773, at
which time 2550 were completed. Catalogues
of them were published annually in the Philoso¬
phical Transactions. Sir Hans also contributed
largely towards the expenses of the hot-houses and
other necessary erections. In testimony of their
respect for him, the Company, in 1733, erected
in the centre of the garden, a marble statue
executed by Rysbrach, representing him in a full
bottomed wig and doctor’s gown. On the
pedestal is a Latin inscription, commemorating
his donation, and the design and advantage of it.*

* Hansio Sloane, Baronetto. Aiatro Insignissimo
Botanices Fautori, Hoc honoris c\ Monumentum Inque
perpetuum ejus Memoriam Sacrum, voluit Soeietas Phar-
macopeiorum, Londinensis, 1733.

SIR HANS SI.OANE.

57

Upon the death of Sir Isaac Newton, in 1727?
Sir Hans was elected President of the Royal
Society, naving previously served the office of
Vice-President. To this Society he had ever
liberally contributed ; besides a hundred guineas,
he presented them with a bust of King Charles
the Second, and is said to have been instrumental
in procuring Sir Godfrey Copley’s benefaction of
a medal ; and when, at the age of eighty, he
begged to retire from so arduous an honour, in
1740, the Society entreated his permission, as a
mark of respect for his eminent services, that they
might continue his name on the list of their
council as long as he should live.

Of his numerous charities it is difficult to give
an idea. He was a governor of most of the
London hospitals, a liberal benefactor to them
during his life, and left them considerable legacies
at his death. To the poor he was uniformly
a considerate and attentive friend, assisting them
with money, and prescribing for them in sickness,
even after he had retired from public life to his
house at Chelsea. To foreigners he was extremely
courteous ; and kept an open table once a-week
for his learned friends, particularly the Members
of the Royal Society.

But it is his Museum with which we have more
to do. From a very early period, he appears to
have commenced forming it. His collections

58

MEMOIR OF

during his West Indian voyage were the nucleus.
The earliest notice of it occurs in Evelyn’s Diary,
who, under the date of April 16, 1 691, mentions,
— “ I went to see Dr Sloane’s curiosities, being
a universal collection of the natural productions
of Jamaica, consisting of plants, fruits, corals,
minerals, stones, earth, shells, animals, insects,
&c. selected with great judgment ; several folios
of dried plants, and one which had about eighty
several sorts of ferns, and another of grapes ; the
Jamaica pepper, in branch, leaves, flower, fruit,
&c. This collection, with his journal and other
philosophical discourses and observations, is indeed
very copious and extraordinary, sufficient to furnish
a history of that island, to which I encouraged him.”
It received its first, and perhaps principal increase,
however, in 1702, upon the death of his friend
Mr Courten, who, we have seen, bequeathed his
extensive and valuable museum to Sir Hans, upon
condition of his paying certain legacies specified
in his last will. What was the precise state or
value of this accession, we have no means of
knowing,* as there exists no separate catalogue of
its contents. The Biographical Dictionary,
indeed, informs us, that there are MS. catalogues
which, “ swelled with short histories and accounts
of their contents, amount in all to thirty-eight

* We have seen it estimated at £ 8000, both by Evelyn
and Thoresby. See p. 4, 5.

SIR HANS SLOANE.

59

volumes in folio, and eight volumes in quarto.”*
But these catalogues were stated, at the time of
Sloane’s death, to be those of the whole museum
as then existing ; and we know that, from many
other sources, Sir Hans obtained augmentations ;
and the account he himself gives of it after the
purchase of Petiver’s collections, compared with
that published immediately after his death, will
shew that it was constantly increasing.

Apologizing in 1725 for the delay in publishing
the second volume of his Natural History of
Jamaica, he says — “ The putting into some kind
of order my curiosities, numbering them and
entering their names, and accounts received with
them, in books, which was necessary in order to
their preservation and uses, hath taken me up
some of the time I have had to spare from the
exercise of my profession ; and because some
people have represented me careless and negligent
in not giving this second volume sooner, I think
it proper, in my own justification, to acquaint the
reader, that I have entered into books, and
numbered these natural and artificial things
following.”

The numbers in the first columns are those he
tliere gives ; those in the second column, are
from the list as transmitted to the British Museum
after his death.

* Article Courten, vol. x. p. 363,

60

MEMOIR OF

1725 1753

Earths and salts, .... 53 6 1035

Bitumens, sulphurs, ambers, ambergrise, 249 399

Metals and minerals . . . 1394 2725

Talcs, micae, Sec. . . . , 169 388

Crystals and spars, or fluores crystallini, 1025 1864

Flints, stones, and other remarkable

fossils that are anomalous, . 730 1275

Precious stones, agates, jaspers, and fine

marbles, ..... 1394 2256

Corals, or such as are akin to them, as

sponges, and other submarine plants, 804 1421

Vegetables, and vegetable substances, as
roots, woods, fruits, seeds, gums,
resins, and inspissated juices, 8226 12,506

Besides two hundred large volumes of
dried samples of plants, amongst
which are such specimens as were
collected by myself in Europe, the
• Madeira Islands, and America; as
also, those gathered by Dr Merret,

Dr Plukenet, Mr Petiver, and other
curious persons all over the known

world, .

200

334

Insects, .

3824

5439

Testacea or shells, and their parts, both
natural, found at sea and land, and

fossil, .....

3753

5843

Echini, or sea urchins, and parts of them,
both natural and fossil, found at sea

and land, ....

486

659

Crustacea, or crabs, lobsters, Sec. .

263

363

Fishes and their parts,

1007

1555

SIR HANS SLOANE.

1725

Asteriae, trochi, entrochi, &c. . 183

Birds and their parts, . . 568

Eggs, . . . . 185 /

Quadrupeds and their parts, . 1194

Vipers, serpents, &c. . . 345

Humana, namely, stones of the kidneys
and bladder, anatomical preparations,
and the like, . . 507

Miscellaneous things, not comprehended
with the foregoing, both natural and
artificial, . . . 1169

Things relating to the customs of ancient
times or antiquities, urns, instru¬
ments, &c. . . 302

Large seals, . . .81

Pictures, many relating to Natural History, 319
Mathematical instruments, . 54

Large vessels, handles, and other things
made of agate, jasper, cornelian,
crystals, besides many camei and
seals, excisa et incisa. . 441

Medals, ancient, as Samaritan, Phoenician,

Greek, Consular, Roman, &c. and
modern ; and coins in all metals, 20,228
3ooks in Miniature or colours, with fine
drawings of plants, insects, birds,
fishes, quadrupeds, and all sorts of
natural and artificial curiosities, 136

Books of prints, &c. . . 580

Volumes of manuscripts, the greatest part
of them relating to physic and
natural history, travels, &c. 2666

f)i

1753

241

li72

1886

521

756

2098

1125

268

471

55

542

and

cameos

70t

23,000

These

three
heads,
with his
printed
books,
estimated

50,000

62

MEMOIR OF

From the above comparative statement of its
treasures in the years 1725 and 1753, it will
easily be perceived that Sir Hans Sloane himself
most materially increased every department of
this magnificent collection. In January, 1741, he
commenced removing them, together with his
library, from his house in Bloomsbury, to that at
Chelsea ; and having entirely completed the
transfer by May following, he retired thither to
enjoy the remainder of his life among his books
and scientific treasures, and the society of the
learned. Here, in 1748, he was honoured with a
visit from their Royal Highnesses the Prince ana
Princess of Wales, the father and mother of King
George III. of which the following account was
given at the time, which affords additional
particulars of the state and arrangements of the
museum. “ Dr Mortimer, Secretary to the Royal
Society, conducted the prince and princess into
the room where Sir Hans was seated, being
ancient and infirm. The prince took a chair, and
sat down by the good old gentleman for some
time, when he expressed the great esteem and
value he had for him personally, and how much
the learned world was obliged to him, for his
having collected such a vast variety of curious
books, and such immense treasures of the valuable
and instructive productions of nature and art. Sir
Hans’s house formed a square of about one

SIR HANS SLOAN E.

63

hundred feet on each side, enclosing a court, and
three front rooms had tables set along the middle,
which were spread over with cases filled with all
sorts of precious stones, in their natural beds or
state, as they are found in the earth, except the
first, that contained stones formed in animals, which
are so many diseases of the creature that bears
them ; as the most beautiful pearls, which are but
warts in the shell- fish, the bezoar, concretions in
the stomach, and stones generated in the kidney
and bladder, of which man wofully knows the
effects ; but the earth, in her bosom, generates
the verdant emerald, the purple amethyst, the
golden topaz, the azure sapphire, the crimson
garnet, the scarlet ruby, the brilliant diamond,
the glowing opal, and all the painted varieties
with which Flora herself might wish to be
decked ; here the most magnificent vessels of
cornelian, onyx, sardonyx, and jasper, delighted
the eye, and raised the mind to praise the great
Creator of all things.”

“ When their royal highnesses had viewed one
room, and entered another, the scene was shifted ;
for when they returned, the same tables were
covered for a second course, with all sorts of
jewels, polished and set after the modern fashion,
or with gems carved or engraved, the stately and
instructive remains of antiquity. For the third
course, the tables were spread with gold and

64

MEMOIR OF

silver ore, with the most precious and remarkable
ornaments used in the habits of men from Siberia
to the Cape of Good Hope, from Japan to Peru,
and with both ancient and modern coins, and
medals in gold and silver, the lasting monuments
of historical facts ; as those of a Prusias, king of
Bythinia, who betrayed his allies ; of an Alexander,
who, mad with ambition, overran and invaded his
neighbours ; of a Caesar, who enslaved his country,
to satisfy his own pride ; of a Titus, the delight
of mankind ; of a Pope Gregory the XIII.
recording, on a silver medal, his blind zeal for
religion, in perpetuating thereon the massacre of
the Protestants in France, as did Charles IX. the
then reigning king in that country. Here might be
seen the coins of a king of England, crowned at
Paris, a medal representing France and Spain
striving which should pay their obeisance to
Britannia ; others shewing the effect of popular
rage when overmuch oppressed by their rulers, as
in the case of the De Wits in Holland, the
deliverance of Britain by the arrival of William,
the glorious exploits of a Marlborough, and the
happy sway of the present royal family.”

“ The gallery, one hundred and ten feet in length,
presented a most surprising prospect. The most
beautiful corals, crystals, and figured stones, the
most brilliant butterflies and other insects, shells
painted with as great variety, as the precious

SIR HANS SLOANE.

65

stones, and feathers of birds vying with gems.
Here the remains of the world, before the Deluge,
excited the awful idea of that catastrophe ; and
are so many evident testimonies to the truth of
Moses’s history.”

“ Then a noble vista presented itself through
several rooms filled with books, and many hundred
volumes of dried plants ; a room full of choice and
valuable manuscripts ; the noble present sent by
the French King to Sir Hans, being prints of his
collection of paintings, medals, statues, palaces, &c.
in twenty-five large atlas volumes, besides other
valuable things, too numerous to mention here.’’

“ Below stairs, some rooms were filled with
curious remains of antiquities, from Egypt,
Greece, Etruria, Rome, Britain, and even
America ; others with large animals preserved in
the skin ; the great saloon lined on every side
with bottles filled with spirits, containing various
animals. The halls were adorned with the horns
of various creatures, as of the double horned
rhinoceros of Africa, and deers’ horns from Ireland,
nine feet wide, and with weapons of different
countries ; among which it appears, that the
Mangalese, and not our most Christian neigh-
oours, the French, had the honour of inventing
that butcherly weapon, the bayonet.^ Fifty
volumes in folio would scarcely suffice to contain
a detail of this immense museum, consisting of

ove two hundred thousand articles.

66

MEMOIR OF

“ Their royal highnesses were not wanting in
expressions of their satisfaction at seeing a collec¬
tion which surpassed all the notions or ideas they
had formed of it, from even the most favourable
accounts. On this occasion the prince shewed
his great reading and happy memory ; for in such
a multiplicity and such a variety of the produc¬
tions of nature and art, upon any thing being
shewn to him that he had not seen before, he was
ready in recollecting having read of it ; and upon
viewing the ancient and modern medals, he made
so many judicious remarks, that he appeared to
be a perfect master of history and chronology.
He expressed the great pleasure it gave him to
see so magnificent a collection in England,
esteeming it an ornament to the nation ; and
expressed his fixed sentiment, how much it must
conduce to the benefit of learning, and how great
an honour will redound to Britain, to have such a
grand repository established for public use to the
latest posterity.”*

Amidst these tranquil occupations, he attained
an age far beyond the period assigned by the
Psalmist to those very few “ who, by reason of
their strength,” exceed, though “ in labour and
sorrow,” man’s allotted portion of existence, and
this, without these painful concomitants, even to
the ninetieth year of his age. From that time,

* Letter of Dr Mortimer in Gentleman’s Magazine,
July, 1748.

SIR HANS SLOANE.

67

however, he became sensible of a gradual decay,
and his friend, George Edwards, the naturalist,
has left us the following interesting but distressing
narrative of his latter days. “ Sir Hans Sloane
employed me for a great number of years in
drawing miniature figures of animals, &c. after
nature, in water colours, to increase his very
great collection of fine drawings by other hands ;
which drawings are now all fixed in the British
Museum, for the help and information of those in
future generations, that may be curious or studi¬
ous in natural history. Sir Hans in the decline
of life left London, and retired to his manor-
house at Chelsea, where he resided about four¬
teen years before he died. After his retirement
to Chelsea, he requested it as a favour to him,
(though I embraced his request as an honour
done to myself,) that I would visit him every
week, in order to divert him, for an hour or two,
with the common news of the town, and with
any thing particular that should happen amongst
his acquaintances of the Royal Society, and other
ingenious gentlemen, many of whom I was weekly
conversant with ; and I seldom missed drinking
coffee with him on a Saturday, during the whole
time of his retirement at Chelsea. He was so
infirm, as to be wholly confined to his house,
except sometimes, though rarely, taking a little
air in his garden in a wheeled chair ; and this

68

MEMOIR OF

confinement made him very desirous to see any
of his old acquaintance to amuse him. During
this latter part of his life, he was frequently peti¬
tioned for charity by some decayed branches of
families of eminent men, late of his acquaintance,
who were famous for their learned works, &c.
which petitions he always received, and considered
with attention ; and provided they were not found
fraudulent, they were always answered by his
charitable donations. He has often desired that I
would inquire into the merits of such petitions ;
and if found satisfactory, he commissioned me to
convey his bounty to the distressed. The last
time I saw him, I was greatly surprised and con¬
cerned to find so good a man in the agonies of
death. This was on the tenth day of January,
1 753, at four o’clock in the afternoon. He died on
the eleventh, at four in the morning, being aged
ninety-three years. I continued with him later
than any one of his relatives, but was obliged
to retire — his last agonies being beyond what I
could bear ; though under his pain and weakness
of body, he seemed to retain a great firmness of
mind, and resignation to the will of God.”*

Sir Hans had married, in 1695, Elizabeth,
daughter of Alderman Langley, of London. She
died in 1724, and was buried at Chelsea, where,
on the 18th of January, 1753, her husband’s body

Essays upon Natural History, 8vo. 1770, pp. 122, 124.

SIR HANS SLOANE.

69

was deposited in the same vault with her. A
monument was erected to their memory, con¬
sisting of a pedestal, surmounted by a portico,
which is supported by four pillars, under which
is an urn, entwined with serpents, emblematical of
his profession, with the following inscription : —

“ In memory of Sir Hans Sloane, Bart. President
of the Royal Society and of the College of
Physicians, who died in the year of our Lord
1753, the ninety-second year of his age, without
the least pain of body, and with a conscious
serenity of mind ended a virtuous and beneficent
life. This monument was erected by his two
daughters, Elizabeth Cadogan and Sarah Stanley.”
On the north side of the monument is a memorial
of Lady Sloane. *

In conformity with the custom of the time, a
funeral sermon was preached by Dr Zachary
Pearce, at that time Bishop of Bangor, but who
had been expressly forbidden by the deceased to
give way to the gross flatteries so prevalent on
such occasions, Sloane very properly accounting
it a degree of profanation to debase with the
praises of human excellencies that pulpit which
should be devoted to display to men the attributes
of the Deity, and to instruct them in his laws.

* “ Here lies interred Elizabeth Lady Sloane, wife of
Sir Hans Sloane, Bart, who departed this life in the year
of our Lord 1724, and the 67th of her age.

70

MEMOIR OF

Two daughters only survived Sir Hans Sloane,
a son and a daughter having died in their infancy,
Sarah, the eldest, was married to George Stanley,
Esq. of Poulton, in Hampshire,* and Elizabeth
married Lord Cadogan. Unwilling to deprive
these ladies of so large a portion of his fortune,
and yet reluctant to have his museum divided
after his death, and equally reluctant to deprive
his country of the benefit of so valuable a collec¬
tion, Sir Hans, by his last will, bequeathed this
magnificent result of the exertions of his whole
life to the nation, on condition that Parliament
should reimburse his family to the extent of
£20,000, a sum, though large, said to be “not
more than the intrinsic value of the gold and
silver medals, ores, and precious stones in it
and he himself states in his will, that the first cost
to him had been at least £50,000. In con¬
sequence of this, immediately after his death,

* Mrs Stanley left one son and two daughters. Hans,
the son, died January 13, 1780, at Althorp, the seat of
Earl Spencer. He was a Lord of the Admiralty from 1757
to 1763. In 1761 he was appointed Charge des Affaires at
Paris ; and, in 1765, was sent ambassador extraordinary
and plenipotentiary to the Empress of Russia ; and, in
1766, he was appointed Cofferer of the King’s household.
He was many years M.P. for Southampton.

Anne, his eldest sister, was married to William Ellis,
Esq. created Lord Mendip ; and Sarah became the wife
of Christopher d’Oyley, Esq. who died January 19, 1795,
aged 87.

SIR HANS SLOANE.

7J

“ above forty of the trustees, appointed by the will
to take charge of his museum, met the Lord
Cadogan, and the other executors, at the manor-
house, Chelsea. His lordship produced the
will, and acquainted the trustees with the codicils,
containing the dispositions for continuing his
collection together at Chelsea, and for giving a
small part of its value to his family ; and, for that
purpose, to make an offer of the said museum to
the King or to the Parliament of England, for
£20,000, to be paid to the family; and if the
same was accepted, and continued at Chelsea, to
give the manor-house and lands at Chelsea, with
the museum as it is now disposed, which would
save the expense and hazard of removing the
same ; and to be kept open at proper hours for
the access of the studious and curious. Then Mr
Sloane acquainted the trustees, that, the executors
being apprehensive of danger, the medals of gold,
silver, and some curious copper coins, and the
precious stones, such as pearls, rubies, emeralds,
&c. and the vases of gems, &c. had been removed,
for safety, to the Bank of England ; and that two
of the executors had seen them all packed up.
The Earl of Macclesfield having been desired by
the trustees to take the chair, the will and codicils
were read. An account, also, of the nature and
value of the museum, and an abstract of the

72

MEMOIR OF

articles it contained, was read by Mr James
Empson, who had taken care of the museum for
many years past, and was then appointed secre¬
tary to the trustees. Sir George Lyttleton then
moved, and Mr West seconded, that a memorial
should be presented to his Majesty relating to
this matter ; and a committee was appointed to
draw up the same.”*

The result was, that Parliament immediately
closed with the offer; and, in 1753, an act was
passed, entitled, “ An Act for the purchase of the
Museum or Collection of Sir Hans Sloane, Bart,
and of the Harleian collection of MSS. and for
procuring one general repository for the better
reception and more convenient use of the said
collection, and of the Cottonian library in addi¬
tion thereto.”

By this act, the sum of £ 100,000 was ordered
to be raised by a lottery, and certain great officers
of state, together with private individuals as
representatives of the families of the principal
contributors, and others, were incorporated by
the name of “ Trustees for the British Museum.”f

* Gentleman’s Magazine, January, 1753.

t The Government of the British Museum is at present
rested in forty-eight trustees, of whom twenty-three are
ex-officio, nine are representatives of the families of Sloane,
Cotton, Harley, Townlev, Elgin, and Knight ; one is
appointed by the King, and fifteen are elected. The

SIR HANS SLOANE

73

The first act of these trustees was to provide a
proper building for the reception of the collections
confided to their care ; and, after various pro¬
posals, they at length fixed upon the mansion
built, about the year 1680, by Ralph, first Duke
of Montague, who, being at that time ambassador

official Trustees are, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord
Chancellor, Speaker of the House of Commons, Lord
President of the Council, First Lord of the Treasury,
Lord Privy Seal, First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord
Steward, Lord Chamberlain, three principal Secretaries
of State, Bishop of London, Chancellor of the Exchequer,
Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench, Master of the
Rolls, Lord Chief- Justice of the Common Pleas, Attorney-
General, Solicitor- General, President of the Royal
Society, President of the College of Physicians, President
of the Society of Antiquaries, and President of the Royal
Academy.

The present Trustees or Representatives of the Sloane
family are the Earl of Cadogan and (vacant.)

The Regulations for the inspection of the Museum, are
as follows : —

“ The Museum is kept open for public inspection every
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, in every week, except
in the Christmas, Easter, and Whitsunday weeks; on the
30th of January, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, the 5th of
November, and any Fast or Thanksgiving day that may
occur, and likewise during the month of September.

“ Persons who may wish to see the Museum, are to apply
in the anteroom of the house, between the hours of ten
and two, where their names, and the number of the friends
they may wish to introduce with them, are inscribed in a
book kept for the purpose, upon which admission will be
granted.”

74

MEMOIR OF

at Paris, sent over French artists for erecting and
adorning the edifice he had in contemplation.
This palace, together with its gardens and
appurtenances, occupying in the whole an area of
seven acres and twenty perches of land, was ceded
by the representatives of the Montague family for
the moderate sum of £10,000. The necessary
repairs (which, the house having stood long
empty, proved very expensive) were immediately
proceeded upon ; and the proper bookcases and
cabinets having been completed, and the collec¬
tions removed thither, the museum was at length
opened for study and public inspection, January
15, 1759* The sum actually netted by the profits
of the lottery under the Act of Parliament, was
£95,194, 18s. 2d. which was expended in the
following manner: —

Paid for the Sloanean collection,- . £20,000 0 0

for the Harleian, . . 10,000 0 0

for Montague House, . . 10,000 0 0

Laid out in the purchase of £30,000,
three per cent reduced annuities, &c.
appropriated to the maintenance of
the establishment, . . 28,663 15 0

Repairs, cases, furniture, removing, and

incidental expenses, . . 26,531 3 2

£95,194 18 2

SIR HANS SLOANE.

75

From that time to the present, it has been
gradually extended and increased by donations,
bequests, and purchases — but to trace the pro¬
gress of this increase belongs not to this work. It
has very recently been newly arranged and con¬
siderably improved in every respect ;* and a very
copious and interesting account of its present
state may be obtained from the twenty-eighth
edition of the “ Synopsis of the Contents of the
British Museum,” published in 1834.

We have already alluded to Sir Hans Sloane’s
contributions to the Philosophical Transactions.
We shall enumerate the titles of those papers
connected with zoology.

An account of the bird called the Condor of
Peru, from the relation of Captain Strong, who had
met with one on the coast of Chili, which measured
sixteen feet from tip to tip of the wings. Vol. 18.

* As an evidence of the increasing taste for Natural
History among the public at large, it may be noticed,
“ that the number of visiters to the collections of natural
history in the British Museum amounted, in the year
1810, to 15,000. The year following, upon the mode of
admission being changed, the number was doubled ; and
it has since that time constantly increased, amounting, in
1818, to above 50,000, and, in 1824, considerably exceed¬
ing 100,000.” — Quarterly Review, vol. 34, p. 158. We
have no means of ascertaining the numbers since that date,
but have no doubt they have gone on increasing in at least
the same proportion.

76

MEMOIR OP

An account of the Fossil Tongue of a Pastinaca
Marina , (Raia Pastinaca , Lin.) dug up in Mary¬
land; with a comparison of it with the recent
tongues of the Thornback. Illustrated with many
figures. Vol. 19*

An account of a pair of very extraordinary
large horns, found in a cellar at Wapping ; with
figures. Dr Hook suspected they were the horns
of an animal described by Nieuhoff under the
name of Sukotyro, as it is called by the Chinese.
Sir Hans conjectures, they might belong to the
Taurus Carnivorus of Agacharchides ; of which
he traces the history through the writings of the
ancients ; but thinks it very uncertain whether this
is the same animal with the Sukotyro. Vol. 34.

An account of such specimens of Elephants'
Teeth and Bones as are reposited in the museum
of Sir Hans Sloane, with figures, vol. 35. Intro¬
ductory to

Remarks on divers accounts of Teeth and
Bones, found under ground, vol. 35.

Conjectures on the fascinating power attributed
to the Rattle Snake, vol. 38.

Accounts of the pretended Serpent Stone,
called Pietra de Cobra de Cabelos, and of the
Pietra de Mombezzo, or the Rhinoceros Bezoars ;
with the figure of a Rhinoceros with a double
horn, vol. 46.

SIR HANS SLOANE.

77

Besides these, there are many papers on
botanical and medical subjects, contained in the
17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 40, 41, and 44th volumes,
and, in the 49th, a very curious account of the
introduction of Innoculation for Small Pox into
England.

Sir Hans Sloane was also the cause of Dr
Leonhart Rau wolf’s “ Journey into the Eastern
Countries’* being translated into English, of which
he writes thus to Ray : “ I have perused most
part of Rau wolf’s Voyage ; which, being only
extant in high Dutch, and that understood by
very few, I thought would do very well in
English, and so borrowed it from the Royal
Society ; and Captain Hatton, being desirous of
it likewise, we put it into the hands of Mr Stap-
horst, who has done it, as you see, I think, pretty
clear — though the making it good language and
the notes are left wholly to you. Some passages
are not to be well translated, because of different
customs and proverbs ; but I think, so far as the
Natural History is concerned, it may be under¬
stood.” * Accordingly, the book translated by
Nicholas Staphorst, and improved by Ray, was
published in the second volume of the work
known by the title of “ Ray’s Travels,” and
reached a second edition in 1738.

MEMOIR OF

Among the friends of Sir Hans, may be men¬
tioned the names of Sydenham, Boyle, Evelyn,
Ray, Lister, Edwards, and indeed all the aristo¬
cracy of talent in existence during his life. To
have commanded the esteem and respect of such
men, would reflect honour on any one. We have
seen the affectionate memorial of him penned by
Edwards, many years after his death ; and Ray,
while on his deathbed, addressed him in the
following terms, being the last lines he ever
wrote ; “ and which bear,” says Dr Derham,
“ the marks of a dying hand in every letter.”

Dear Sir, — The best of friends ; these are to
take a final leave of you as to this world. I look
upon myself as a dying man. God requite your
kindness expressed any ways towards me an
hundred fold. Bless you with a confluence of all
good things in this world, and eternal life and
happiness hereafter. Grant us an happy meeting
in heaven. I am, Sir, eternally yours,

John Ray.

Black Notley , Jan. 7, 1704.

Postscript, — When you happen to write to my
singular friend, Dr Hotten, I pray tell him I
received his most obliging and affectionate letter,
for which I return thanks, and acquaint him that
I was not able to answer it ; or -

SIR HANS SLOANE.

79

Dr Derham adds, “ his strength failing, as I
perceive by his writing, (which was scarce legible
in this postscript,) he was forced to break off
abruptly.”

In person, Sir Hans Sloane was tall and well
made ; in his manners, easy, polite, and engaging ;
sprightly in his conversation, and obliging to all.

Natural History has always been considered a
pursuit favourable to the cultivation of religion
and pure morality. To “ lead through Nature, up
to Nature’s God,” may be a hackneyed sentiment,
but that very fact proves the connection; it has,
however, unfortunately not been uniformly the
case, and among the few memoirs we have already
submitted to the reader, we have had instances
that

Our wayward intellect, the more we learn
Of nature, overlooks her Author more ;

From instrumental causes, proud to draw
Conclusions retrograde, and mad mistake.

But the life of Sir Hans Sloane exemplifies the
very reverse of this : it is one we dwell on with
pleasure, and record with pride ; it proves that

- Philosophy, baptized

In the pure fountain of eternal love,

Has eyes indeed ; and, seeing all she sees
As meant to indicate a God to man,

Gives him his praise, and forfeits not her own.

« To fear God and keep his commandments,”

MEMOIR OF

“ and to visit the fatherless and widows in their
affliction,” seems to have been his habitual practice
throughout his long protracted existence. We
nave seen him born with a natural delicacy of
constitution, which nothing, it is probable, but
rigid temperance and self-denial could have sus¬
tained, yet cheerfully submitting to these restraints,
while cultivating the abilities his Maker had bes¬
towed upon him ; we have seen him carry with
him the good wishes and recommendations of his
instructors, while pursuing his education in foreign
countries ; and, finally, brought into active life
at home, under the auspices of men of high talent
and reputation, whose kindness and judgment
the result fully justified. His middle age was
passed in active benevolence, alleviating “ the
evils that flesh is heir to, ” among all classes, from
the sovereign on the throne, to the casual and
dependant inmate of an hospital, receiving honours
from the one, and blessings from the other; a
generous promoter of every institution calculated
to enlarge the mental powers of man or relieve
his bodily infirmities ; and, at length resigning
his soul into the hands of the God who gave it
with humility and resignation, and with admirable
consistency so rarely practised, leaving directions
that no sycophantic eulogy should be pronounced
over his remains ; but that the occasion should be
improved by those salutary reflections which such

SIR I1ANS SLOANE.

81

a spectacle was calculated to excite. Never were
the vanity of all earthly blessings, the fragility of
all earthly possessions, however connected with
science, literature, and all that we are accustomed
to consider as indicative of mental superiority, —
never were the futility of such things alone more
strikingly illustrated than in the present instance,
“ seeing that wise men also die and perish together,
as well as the ignorant and foolish, and leave their
riches to others.” Blessed are they who, like Sir
Hans Sloane, rate such pursuits at their real value,
as preparatory to a higher state of existence, and
who, like him, “ having provided for their own,”
bestow their superfluities on the improvement of
their fellow men. Such men are the “ salt of the
earth”

As a Naturalist, it is true we cannot place him
in the highest rank ; but as the patron of Natural
History, the encourager of science, the promoter
of every charitable work, he obtained the unani¬
mous applause of his contemporaries, and deserves
the grateful esteem and respect of posterity. As
the founder of the British Museum, he merits the
admiration of every one to whom the national
progress in literature, science, and art is dear. If
we rightly appreciate the advantages of an institu¬
tion, calculated to foster a taste for those pursuits
that elevate man above sensual appetites and sordid
gain, — an institution, intended to assist the author,

82

MEMOIR OF

the artist, and the philosopher, in their several
studies, — an institution which, on the most liberal
scale, is open to all who, from an enlightened
curiosity, may wish to inspect, or for particular
purposes to consult it, — if such an institution is
valued in an age distinguished by its efforts to
educate all classes, it is to Sir Hans Sloane the
merit of it is due, — to him is owing not merely
the respect of all who, like ourselves, are engaged
in the promotion of the delightful study of Natural
History, but the gratitude of the nation at large.

SIR HANS SLOANE.

&3

APPENDIX.

WILL OF SIR HANS SLOANE.*

“ I, Sir Hans Sloane, of the parish of St George,
in Bloomsbury, in the county of Middlesex, doctor in
physic and baronet, being in health of body and mind,
(thanks be to God,) but having before me, more than
most men, the great uncertainty of life : and having,
by the blessing of God, acquired a considerable real
and personal estate, requiring some law in the dis¬
position of them, do make this my last 'will and
testament.

“ In the first place, I do very willingly resign my
soul unto my almighty, merciful, and wise Creator,
whenever it shall please him to remove me out of
this troublesome life; not doubting the forgiveness
of what failings or transgressions, either of omission
or commission, through passions, inadvertencies, or
otherwise, I may have been guilty of, and thereby
offended God or man ; firmly hoping for a better life
hereafter ; having earnestly besought God, in this
dark and ignorant state, to direct my belief and
actions according to his will, and endeavoured to
inform my conscience, (as much as my necessary
affairs and civil duties would give me leave,) and to
conform my actions to it, and in doubtful cases
striving to make this my rule, to do to others as l
thought I should desire to be done to me in like
circumstances.

“ I will that my body shall be buried in a decent
manner, in the church-yard, at Chelsea, about noon,
or at a convenient time of the day. And I will that
there be invited to my funeral all such persons as I

* We have been indebted to Faulkner’s Historical and Topo¬
graphical Description of Chelsea for this copy of the will.

84

MEM 01 R OF

shall leave in a list by me signed ; or if no such list
be left, then such persons as my executors shall know
to have been my most intimate friends and acquain¬
tances. And that they shall have rings of twenty
shillings value given to each of them.

“ Whereas, from my youth, 1 have been a great
observer and admirer of the wonderful power, wisdom,
and contrivance of the Almighty God, appearing in
the works of his creation, and have gathered together
many things in my own travels or voyages, or had
them from others, especially my ever honoured late
friend, William Courteen, Esq. who spent the
greatest part of his life and estate in collecting such
things in and from most parts of the earth, which he
left me at his death, subject to several debts and
legacies, which have been long since satisfied and
paid, and his collections kept entire. And whereas
I have made great additions of late years, as well to
my books, both printed and manuscript, as to my
collections of natural and artificial curiosities, precious
stones, books of dried samples of plants, miniatures,
drawings, prints, medals, and the like ; with some
paintings concerning them, now placed in my house
and gardens ; amounting in the whole to a very great
sum of money, reckoning them at first cost to be at
least fifty thousand pounds. Now, desiring very
much that these things, tending many ways to the
manifestation of the glory of God, the confutation of
atheism and its consequences, the use and improve¬
ment of physic, and other arts and sciences, and
benefit of mankind, may remain together and
not be separated, and that chiefly in and about the
city of London, where I have acquired most of my
estates, and where they may, by the great confluence
of people, be of most use. Now, I do give and devise
the same unto Charles Lord Cadogan, my nephew'
William Sloane, Esq. and the Rev. Dr Sloane Els-
fnere, rector of Chelsea, wrhom I do make executors
of this my last will and testament. Nevertheless,
such my bequest and gift to them is upon this special
trust and confidence, that they shall, as soon as may

SIR HANTS SLOANE*

85

he, after my decease, sell and dispose of the same, to
be settled for the public uses aforesaid, at the rate of
twenty thousand pounds of lawful money of Great
Britain. And my will and desire is, that his Grace
the Duke of Richmond, the Lord Cadogan, Sir
Robert Walpole, Sir Paul Methuen, Mr Edgecomb,
or any other proper persons 1 have the honour to be
known to, who understand matters of this nature,
and may have access to his most excellent Majesty,
King George the Second, and are willing to promote
so public a good, may be humbly desired to offer them
to his Majesty, at the rate above mentioned, for the
purposes aforesaid. But if his Majesty shall not think
fit to accept of the same within six months after such
overture made, then my will is, that they be offered,
at the same price, to the President, Council, and
Fellows of the Royal Society of London, for improv¬
ing natural knowledge; and upon their refusal, to the
Chancellor and Scholars of the University of Oxford ;
and upon their refusal, then successively to be offered
to the College of Physicians at Edinburgh, the Royal
Academy of Sciences at Paris, that at Petersburg!),
Berlin, and Madrid, who have done me the honour to
make me one of their members. And my will is that
every one of them shall have one month’s time, to be
accounted from the time of the respective offer made
to them ; which offer or intention of mine may be
signified to all, or any of them, for the acceptance of
such offer, soon after my death. And in case none
of the persons or public bodies aforesaid shall think
tit to buy them at the price of twenty thousand
pounds, then my will is, that my said executors do
sell or dispose of them, either entirely to any person
or body of men, or in parcels by auction, printed
catalogues of them being timely dispersed ; and that, in
selling or disposing of them, and their catalogues or
observations upon them, they take the advice of such
persons as are skilled in natural knowledge, medals,
&c. allowing him or them what my executors an'*
they think reasonable for their care and trouble i.\
perusing and correcting my catalogues, which have

86

MEMOIR OF

Deen taken generally in great haste ; I will, that the
money arising by such sale be disposed of by my
executors as hereafter is appointed and directed.”

He then devises all that his Manor of Chelsea,
with its rights, members, and appurtenances, and also
all his lands, messuages, tenements, and hereditaments,
in Chelsea, or elsewhere; and all other his estates of
inheritance and personal whatsoever, together with
the residue of his personal estate, to his aforesaid
executors, upon the trusts following: —

“ One third part of the said manor, and of all his
messuages, &c. to the use of his eldest daughter, Mrs
Stanley, and her assigns, and after her decease to her
two daughters and their lawful issue, share and share
alike, provided that the said daughters marry with
the consent of their mother, or their guardian ; and
if not, then such share to go to the other sister. The
other two-thirds of the manor, & c. to his youngest
daughter Lady Cadogan, and to her heirs.

“ In case either of his daughters die without issue,
then the share of her so dying, to the survivor and
her heirs ; and in default of such issue of both his
daughters, then the whole of the said Manor, &c. to
his nephew, William Sloane, Esq. and his heirs ; in
default of such issue, to his neice, Lady Fowler, and
her heirs, or to his Sister, Mrs Elsmere, and her
heirs, successively.

“At the same time that I thus leave to my daughters,
relations, and friends what I have, I earnestly recom¬
mend to them the practice of moral and religious
duties, as being of greater use to them than any thing
I can leave them, not only in the life to come, but
even in this, by helping them through the difficulties of
it, by more inward quiet, satisfaction and better health
than otherwise, and Avith the esteem and respect of
their friends and acquaintance.

“ Item. I desire his Grace the Duke of Richmond
to accept such live and rare animals as I may have
at the time of my decease.

I. Sir Hans Sloane, of Chelsea, in the county of
Middlesex, Bart, do make this codicil to be annext

SIR HANS SLOANE.

87

to my last will and testament, as follows : — Whereas
I have, in and by my will, given some directions
about the sale and disposition of my musenm, herein
more particularly mentioned, now I do hereby revoke
my will, as far as relates thereto ; and I do direct
and appoint, concerning- the same, in the following-
manner : — Having- had from my youth a strong-
inclination to the study of plants, and all other pro¬
ductions of nature; and having, through the course
of many years, with great labour and expense,
gathered together whatever could be procured, either
in our own or foreign countries, that was rare and
curious ; and being fully convinced that nothing
tends more to raise our ideas of the power, wisdom,
goodness, providence, and other perfections of the
Deity, or more to the comfort and wellbeing of his
creatures, than the enlargement of our knowledge in
the works of nature, I do will and desire, that, for
the promoting of these noble ends, the glory of God
and good of man, my collection in all its branches
may be, if possible, kept and preserved together whole
and entire, in my manor house, in the parish of
Chelsea, situate near the Physic Garden, given by
me to the Company of Apothecaries, for the same
purposes ; and having great reliance and confidence
that the Right Honourable, Honourable, and other
persons hereafter named, will be influenced by the
same principles, and faithfully and conscientiously
discharge the trust hereby reposed in them, I do give,
devise, and bequeath, unto the Right Honourable
Charles Sloane Cadogan ; Hans Stanley, Esq. ;
William Sloane, Esq.; the Rev. Sloane Elsmere,
D.D. ; and the Rector of Chelsea for the time being,
and certain other persons herein named; all my
museum at, in, or about my manor house, at Chelsea,
aforesaid, which consists of too great a variety to be
particularly described. But I mean all my library
of books, drawings, manuscripts, prints, medals, and
coins; ancient and modern antiquities; seals and
cameos, intaglios and precious stones, agates, and
jaspers ; vessels of agate, jasper, or crystal ; inathe-

88

MEMOIR OF

matical instruments, drawings, and pictures; and
all other things in my museum, which are more
particularly described and numbered, with short
histories or accounts of them, with proper refer¬
ences in certain catalogues by me made, containing
38 vols. in folio, and 8 vols. in quarto, except such
framed pictures as are not marked with the word
“ collection.” To have and to hold, to them and their
successors, or assigns, for ever ; to the intent only
that the same, and every part and parcel of my
museum, may he vested in the Right Honourable,
and Honourable, and other persons, upon the trusts,
and for the uses and purposes, and subject to the
several limitations and directions hereafter particu¬
larly specified. And for the rendering this my
intention more effectual, that the collection may be
preserved and continued entire in its utmost perfec¬
tion and regularity ; and being assured that nothing
will conduce more to this purpose, than placing the
same under the direction and care of learned, expe¬
rienced, and judicious persons, who are above all low
and mean views, I do earnestly desire, that the King-,
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, His Royal
Highness William Duke of Cumberland, the Arch¬
bishop of Canterbury, &c. will condescend so far as
to act, and be visiters of my museum : and I do
hereby, with their leave, nominate and appoint them
visiters, with full power and authority for any five,
or more of them, to enter my said collection, or
museum, at any time, to peruse, supervise, and
examine the same, and the management thereof, and
to visit, correct, and reform, from time to time, as
there may be occasion, either jointly with the trustees
or separately, upon application to them for that
purpose, or otherwise, all abuses, defects, neglects
or mismanagements, that may happen to arise therein
or touching or concerning the person or persons,
officer or officers, that are or shall be appointed to
attend the same ; and my will is, and 1 do hereby
request and desire, that the said trustees, or any
seven or more of them, do make their humble appli-

SIR HANS SLOANE.

89

cation to his Majesty, or to Parliament, at the
next session after my decease, as shall be thought
most proper, to pay the sum of £20,000 unto my
executors, or the survivors of them, within twelve
months after my decease, in consideration of the
collection, or museum, it not being, as I apprehend
or believe, a fourth of their real or intrinsic value ;
and also to obtain such sufficient and effectual means,
powers, and authorities, for vesting in the trustees
all and every part of my collection or museum before
mentioned, in all its branches ; and also my capital
manor house, with such gardens and out-houses as
shall thereunto belong, and be used by me at the
time of my decease, in which it is my desire the same
shall be kept and preserved. And, also, the water
of or belonging to my manor of Chelsea, coming
from Kensington, subject to furnishing or supplying
the Lord Bishop of Winchester’s house. And, also,
all that the advowson, presentation, or right of
patronage of the church of Chelsea; to the end the
same premises may be absolutely vested in the
trustees for the preserving and continuing my collec¬
tion or museum, in such manner as they shall think
most likely to answer the public benefit by me in¬
tended ; and also obtain a sufficient fund or provision
for maintaining and taking care of my collection and
premises, and for repairing and supporting my manor
house, water works, and premises, to be vested in the
trustees for ever ; and I do hereby farther direct and
appoint that my executors do, upon payment of the
sum of <£20,000, deliver, or cause to be delivered unto
the trustees, or any seven or more of them, for and
in the name of all of them, in the presence of the
visiters, or any five or more of them, as w ell as the
possession of my manor house and gardens at Chelsea ;
as also my museum aforementioned and described,
and every part thereof, in all its branches, w hole and
entire, as the same shall be found in my manor house,
according to the said catalogues, and together with
the several volumes of catalogues thereunto belong¬
ing; and, farther, my will is, and I do hereby also

no

MEAIOIR OF

direct and appoint, that, in case his Majesty, or the
Parliament, do accept the offer, and do pay the sum
of £20,000 unto my executors, or the survivors of
them, that then my executors do, within six months
after such payment as aforementioned, and obtaining
proper powers for effectually vesting in the trustees
all my collection, and my capital house and gardens,
with their appurtenances, water, and advowson,
presentation, or right of patronage of the church of
Chelsea, together with my heir or heirs at law, and all
other proper parties, do, and shall join in and execute
such acts, deeds, and conveyances, as shall be thought
requisite and necessary for the more perfect and
absolute vesting, conveying, and assuring the premises,
in and to the trustees, and their assigns and successors
for ever, for the uses, intents, and purposes herein
mentioned. And my will is, and I do hereby empower,
that the trustees, or any seven of them, or more of
them, do, and shall, in convenient time, after payment
of the sum of £20,000 unto my executors, or the
survivors of them, meet together, as often as shal>
he thought fit, and there make and establish, to
be afterwards ratified and approved by the visiters
hereby appointed, or any five or more of them, such
rules and ordinances, and to make and appoint such
officers and servants for the attending, managing,
preserving, and containing of my museum and
premises for ever, with such salaries, payments, or
allowances, to them respectively, as shall seem
necessary. And farther, my will is, and I do hereby
order and direct, that, in case any difference or dis¬
pute shall happen to arise by or between the trustees
touching the premises, which cannot be adjusted or
settled among themselves ; then, and in such case,
and as often as the same shall happen, the visiters
hereby appointed, or any five, or more of them, shall,
and are hereby authorized and empowered to hear
and determine, in the most summary way, such dif¬
ference or dispute, whose order or determination
shall be final. And it is also my will and desire, that
all such other powers and authorities may be added

SIR HANS SLOANE.

91

or vested, as well in the intended trustees, as in the
visiters hereby appointed, as shall by the legislature
be thought most proper and convenient for the better
management, order, and care of my collection and
premises. And farther, it is my will, and I do hereby
declare and direct, that the advowson, presentation,
and right of patronage of the church of Chelsea, shall
be filled up from time to time, as often as the same
shall become vacant, by such person or persons as
the trustees hereby appointed, or the major part of
them, shall nominate and appoint. And 1 do hereby
declare, and it is my desire and intention, that my
museum, or collection, be preserved and kept in my
manor house, at Chelsea, aforesaid, by the said trus¬
tees and visiters, and that the same may be from time
to time visited and seen by all persons desirous of
seeing and viewing the same, under such statutes,
directions, rules, and orders, as shall be made from
time to time by the trustees, or any seven or more
of them, to be afterwards ratified by the visiters, or
any five or more of them, that the same may be
rendered as useful as possible, as well towards the
satisfying the desire of the curious, as for the im¬
provement of knowledge, and information of all
persons ; and, for this purpose, I have hereby reposed
a sincere trust and confidence in my Right Honour¬
able, Honourable, and other trustees and visiters
hereby appointed. In case the <£20,000 should not
be obtained as aforesaid, then the collection to be
offered at the same rate to the Royal Academy of
Sciences at Petersburg, the Royal Academy of
Sciences at Paris, the Royal Academy of Sciences
at Berlin, and the Royal Academy of Sciences at
Madrid, successively. And if not disposed of as
above mentioned, the executors then to sell or dispose
of the same in the most advantageous manner ; and
the said manor house, advowson, &c. shall go to and
belong to such person or persons, and in such manner
as the rest of his said manors, lands, and tenements
are devised to.”

Dated July 10. 17 0

92

MEMOIR OF SIR HANS SLOANE.

By another codicil, dated July 21, 1750, he
bequeaths to his nephew, William Sloane, Esq. all
his manor lands, &c. in Chelsea, in trust for Lady
Cadogan, during her life ; to his grandson, William
Cadogan, Esq. for his life ; and then to his great
grandson, Charles Henry Cadogan, and his heirs, on
condition of paying to Mrs Stanley £9000 over and
above all that may be due to her at the time of his
death.

. And by another codicil, dated April 14, 1751, he
revokes what he has given to Mrs Stanley, and
bequeaths instead, all the residue of his personal
estate that shall remain after payment of his debts,
&c., and he appoints Mr James Empson one of his
executors, and to have the care of the museum, as
long as it shall remain unsold, with <£100 per annum,
over and above what he had already given him.

A farther codicil, dated September 22, 1751,

revokes the former will and codicils, as far as they
are inconsistent herewith, and bequeaths one moiety
of the manor, &c. of Chelsea, unto Mrs Stanley, and
her heirs, for ever; and the other moiety of the said
manor, &e. to Lady Cadogan, and her heirs.

THE PACHYDERMES.

It is proposed to devote the present volume 'to
one of the Baron Cuvier’s orders, which succeeds,
and is very nearly allied to the last animals
we treated of. It comprises creatures of great
utility when domesticated, and of very remark¬
able form and structure.

The Pachydermes of Cuvier is evidently a group
bearing only the rank of a tribe or family, and
not of an order. It forms the seventh order of the
Baron’s system, followed by the Ruminants, with
part of the orders Bruta and Belluce of Linnaeus ;
while, in the natural arrangement proposed by Mr
Svvainson, it is made to form a portion of his great

94

PACHYDERM ES,

order Ungulata, or Iluofed animals , of which our
present volume, with the two last, will give an
idea of the typical forms ; his other two divisions
being composed chiefly of the extinct Pachyder-
mous animals, and of the Sloths, Ant-eaters, and
Ornithorynchus or the Edentates and Monotremes.

The Packydermes, or thick skinned animals, so
named from the strength and folded nature of their
almost impenetrable hides, contain the largest land
animals in creation. The Elephant, Rhinoceros,
and Hippopotamus, belong to this group ; the
Mastodon, and all those huge wrecks of a former
world, which for many years have engaged the
speculations of the geologist, range under it ; —
immense herbivorous quadrupeds, living amidst
the stupendous foliage of a vegetation propor¬
tionate to their bulk. At the present time, we
find the members of this group inhabiting the
warmer latitudes of Asia, Africa, and America ;
one individual extending in a wild state to Europe,
and two or three, used economically, now nearly
universally distributed by domestication. They
frequent the retired forests and thick jungle, pre¬
ferring such as are watered by some noble stream,
where they can bathe and wallow during the hotter
parts of the day. They are mostly herbivorous,
and either feed on the foliage of peculiar trees, or
upon the luxuriant herbage, which serves as an

pachyderm es«

95

undergrowth in these vast vegetable nurseries. In
disposition they are rather timid and inoffensive,
but when roused to attack or defend, possess the
most revengeful temper, and rush to the onset
with blinded fury. They are for the most part
gregarious.

In form these animals are very bulky ; unwieldy
and clumsy in their proportions, yet possessing
immense strength, and an activity beyond what
would be supposed ; and their pace, when they
have fairly commenced it, from the length of
stride, and the great propeh’ng weight of their
bodies, is for a time very rapid, and bears before
it all ordinary obstacles, clearing a way through
the thickest and most matted underwood. Their
physiognomy is rather dull and inexpressive,
partly occasioned by the peculiarity of the eye,
which is, comparatively, remarkably small, piggish
in appearance, and wanting in animation. When
enraged, however, there is a degree of inexpres¬
sible ferocity and malevolence contained in. their
look, which is completely intelligible. Their skin
is of great thickness, defending them from the
attacks of insects, which would prove intolerable
over so large a surface, and resisting the sharp
spines of the brush, and staked points which they
are liable to encounter in their path through the
forests. It is often distributed in folds so strong
as to resist the force of a leaden musket bullet,

96

PACHYDERMES.

and is in most instances nearly destitute of hair,
except a few stiff stragglers about the head,
shoulders, or end of the tail. In the Elephant,
Rhinoceros, and Hippopotamus, where these
characters are most strongly marked, the skin is
thick and deeply furrowed ; and the epidermis,
which is also thick, is bristled upon the surface
with little plates, which detach themselves from it
like scales. The sole of the foot, according to
Cuvier, presents a very singular structure. It is
divided outwardly into nearly circular deep pits,
in each of which are contained a number of
small irregular polygones, which make the surface
appear like a chagrined skin.*

The males are in most instances furnished with
tusks, which often grow to an immense size and
weight. Both jaws are sometimes furnished with
these elongated teeth, which express the distinctive
mark of the male, and are used as organs of offence
or defence, being seldom employed, or indeed
being scarcely fitted for assisting in any of the
wants of the animal. It is from these organs that
fhe ivory of commerce is derived. But the
"emarkable part of the structure of these animals
seen in that of the nostrils. In the greater
portion of them they are elongated, the entrance
of the nostrils forming a tube, which is used as

* Lemons d’ Anatomic Comparee.

PACHYDERM ES«

97

an organ of delicate prehension, of touch, and of
smell, — a convenient apparatus for some of the
more unwieldy, where their short neck would not
enable them to stretch far above them, or even
very easily to reach the ground. In these instances
it serves the place of the flexible upper lip of
some of the Ruminants, and the lengthened tongue
of the Cameleopard. We find this structure most
developed in the Elephant, whose elongated
nostrils are familiarly known under the name of
trunk or proboscis, and of whose structure we
have entered more into detail in describing the
Indian species. It will suffice to say here, that it
is an organ of the utmost delicacy, in displaying
the senses of smelling and touch, and at the same
time capable of the most prodigious strength, and
is constantly used by the animal in pulling within
its reach the branches and foliage on which it
feeds. The creatures which have it in the next
♦ greatest proportion elongated, are the Tapirs, in
which the nostrils also are contained in a moveable
snout, scarcely however used for prehension, but
possessing great delicacy of smell and touch, and
used in seeking out and discriminating their food.
In the Rhinoceros the lip is elongated, but without
being pierced by the nostrils ; and in the P«gs we
perhaps see the most industriously nosed quadru¬
peds, the lengthened form, and stiff pierced
cartilage, serving as a powerful instrument to
"jra up the surface in search of insects, worm

G

98

PACHYDERMES.

and roots, while smelling and touch seems to
guide to those which have been uprooted, the eye
being seldom, if ever, used in discriminating their
food.

The skeleton of the Pachydermes is necessarily
of great strength, perhaps better expressed by the
word massive. The immense weight of the head
in most species renders a muscular apparatus of
great power indispensable, and for this purpose
there must be a large surface of insertion for the
muscles. The head, by its extended surface
gives attachment to those of the neck, which
are the most powerful, not only for the support
of the head, but to assist in the operations of
digging, or employing the tusks or horn as a
defence. “ The processes of the cervical vertebrae
are here more strongly developed, than in tlje
long flexible neck of the Ruminantia, and^the
spinous processes of the dorsal vertebrae are
lengthened, and strong, and generally terminated *
by round tubercles. The scapula is generally
broader at its vertebral margin, and the strong
pelvic arch is more vertical in its direction ; the
extremities are generally shorter and more mas¬
sive, and the separate bones more completely
formed, than in the former groups of quadrupeds.
The ulna and the fibula being developed through¬
out, and four toes at least, generally reaching the
ground on all extremities.”* They are, as poetically
* Grant’s Outlines, p. 105.

PACIIYDERMES.

99

remarked by an eminent anatomist, like the
Cyclopean walls of some ancient city, huge and
shapeless, and piled over each other as if they
were destined more to sustain the weight, than
to permit motion. The strength and power of
this frame-work will be better seen in the accom¬
panying representation of the skeleton of the
Rhinoceros, Plate I. taken from Cuvier’s Ossemens
Fossiles.

The internal structure of the Pachvdermes is more
simple than that of the Ruminants. Though they
feed on nearly the same sort of sustenance, a few,
as the Pigs, are nearly omnivorous ; at least, in a
domesticated state, they feed on almost anything
that is set before them, flesh, fish, or vegetables. The
stomach of the Elephant is of a very lengthened
and narrow form ; its greatest diameter next the
cardiac orifice is only about a fourth of its length.
The internal membrane forms there thick wrinkles,
and five large folds placed across, of which the
first arises very near the cardiac orifice. This
membrane is itself smooth, and is united in the
middle part of the stomach ; it only has some
large transverse wrinkles towards the pylorus,
which cross and intercept each other, often forming
a number of small hollows. The muscular part
is throughout very thick. There seems also to
be a receptacle in the stomach of this huge beast,
though in a much less extent than that of the
Camel, to allow it to retain or secrete a supply of

JOO

PACHYDERMES.

water, which may be kept for the purpose of
moistening its food, but at other times is made use
of to disturb the insects, which, during a march,
or in hot weather, annoy and torment it. This
is effected by throwing out from its proboscis a
quantity of water upon the part on which the
flies fix themselves.

The stomach of the Rhinoceros is placed by
Cuvier among those of simple construction. It
is of a very lengthened form, the place which
corresponds to the pylorus being globular, and
separated from the rest by a contraction.

That of the Hippopotamus, again, is mucn more
complicated, and is of a form and structure very
singular. The cardiac orifice communicates with
three pouches, of which only two appear exteriorly,
and into a long bag or bowel, of which the cavity
is transversely divided by many folds in the form
of small valves. On the side of the last valve,
the above mentioned bowel continues farther

PACHYDERMES.

101

lengthened, and is terminated by a narrow appen¬
dage, which is folded under it, and finishes at the
pylorus. The internal membrane is all cleft,
indurated and granular in the two largest pouches,
and in the lengthened bowel, to the last valve,
it is smooth and plaited. In the narrow appen¬
dage, it is not plaited, but the muscular membrane
is very thick, particularly round the pylorus.

In the Pigs, the stomach is globular in form,
very ample, and surmounted by an appendage
like a hood ; and in that singular little animal,
which naturalists have agreed to place here, the
Daman, or Hyrax Capensis , the stomach is sepa¬
rated into two distinct pouches, by a central par¬
tition, pierced with a hole in the centre. Each
pouch answers to the right and left division in
ordinary stomachs. The webs of the stomach are
moderately thick, becoming more so round the
pylorus, which is narrow and directed forwards.

102

PACHYDERMES.

The animals composing this group are not so
conspicuous for their common utility as the
ruminating animals. They, without doubt, hold
their place in the balance of creation, lending
their aid in the consumption of the vegetation of
the Tropics ; but the Elephants and Pigs are the
only genera which have been subjected by domes-*
tication to be of direct use to man. Without the
Elephant, we should be in much difficulty over all
our eastern possessions ; heavy baggage, or the
accompaniments to an army, would be ill trans¬
ported without his giant help, while in the more
luxurious modes of travelling, and in the sports
of the East, he is indispensable. Pigs are now
almost universally bred and fattened, yielding an
immense revenue, and serving to maintain in part
our navy and large establishments. The Tapirs
of America, though not hitherto used, are, from
their mild temper and dispositions, thought
capable of being trained as beasts of burden, and
might prove useful from their great strength.
Thongs, leather, and whips are made from the
hides of the largest of this family ; and the Cape
colonist would be badly off indeed, in his rugged
roads, and unwieldy weighty wagon, could he
not provide a harness of a substance proportionate
to the stress to be borne, and he finds it in the skins
of the Hippopotamus and Rhinoceros, made limber
and preserved from the sun by their own grease.

PACHYDERMES.

103

The value of ivory is well known ; it is supplied
principally from the tusks of the Elephant ; and
to obtain this small but valuable portion of these
immense creatures, many personal risks are in¬
curred, and great and indiscriminate slaughter
is often made. The teeth of the Hippopotamus
yield a closer grained and harder material than
the tusks of the Elephant, and are preferred
by dentists for artificial teeth, and for subjects
which require great delicacy of carving. An
immense quantity of ivory reaches China, and
is again exported, carved into many beautiful and
ingenious articles. We may also just mention
the very useful, though common articles procured
from other animals of the Pachydermes , — hog’s
lard and pig’s bristles ; nor should we neglect the
beautiful and lustrous article, pig’s hair, sometimes
difficult to be procured, but always in high request
by the angler.

We shall now examine the members of the dif¬
ferent genera separately, and commence with

10 L

THE ELEPHANTS.

Calm amid scenes of havoc, in his own
Huge strength impregnable, the Elephant
Offendeth none, but leads a quiet life
Among his own contemporary trees.

Till nature lays him gently down to rest,

Beneath the palm which he was wont to make
His prop in slumber ; there his relics lie
Longer than life itself had dwelt within them.

Bees in the ample hollow of his skull

Fill their wax citadels, and store their honey ;

Thence sally forth to forage through the fields,

And swarm in emigrating legions thence.

There little burrowing animals throw up
Hillocks beneath the over arching ribs
While birds within the spinal labyrinth
Contrive their nests.

These stupendous creatures inhabit the tropical
forests of Asia and Africa, living in troops or
herds, in a state of inoffensive quiet, unless when
attacked by some of their larger and stronger
animal assailants, or their powerful and more,
relentless enemy, man. They delight in the
boundless forest, and in the vicinity of water,

THE ELEPHANTS.

105

where a more gorgeous and efficient shade is
afforded, and they can enjoy the luxury of a cold
bath, and wallow covered at once from the
influence of the sun, and the torment of insects.
Here the herd, guided by some monstrous male,
long standing in years, spends the forenoon heats,
at evening or morning venturing to the out¬
skirts or open glades, to feed on the tender foliage,
which they can reach, and are able to pluck from
a great height by means of their trunks or pro-
bosces. They are particularly fond of those of a
saccharine quality, whence they often enter and do
prodigious damage in the plantations of the sugar
cane. They are easily alarmed, and retreat to
cover upon the alarm being given by their leader ;
but when attacked or wounded, they turn upon
their assailant with the utmost fury, and unless
he has previously prepared a way of escape,
seldom fail in wreaking their vengeance, and
satisfying their revenge, by mangling and tramp¬
ling the body long after life has been extinct.

Two species of Elephants now existing have
been described ; the one inhabiting the Asiatic
continent, the other the African. The principal
external distinction is the immense size of the
ears in the last, compared with those of the Indian
animal, as we have endeavoured to represent on
tmr plates. We shall now describe and illustrate
die species separately ; and first, '

106

THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA. 1

Elephas Indicus. — Cuvier.

PLATE II.

Elephas inaximus, Linn. — Elephas Indicus, 1’ Elephant
des Indes, Cuv. Regne Anim. — Griff. Synopsis.

The Indian Elephant is distinguished by an
oblong head, concave forehead, by the crown of
the cheek teeth presenting undulating transverse
ridges, which are the separations of the laminae
which compose them, worn down by trituration.
There are four nails on the hind feet, and the
ears are small compared with its African congener.
It is found in the forests of the southern parts of
India, and in many of the eastern islands. It
has been from time immemorial under the domi¬
nion of man, having been used in his wars, as
his beast of draught and burden, and even to
attack and capture its own species. Those in
a domestic state are tended with the greatest care
and luxury, and a favourite and tractable Elephant
is almost invaluable.

A full grown Elephant has a most unwieldy

ELEPHANT OK INDIA.

THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA.

107

appearance, yet his activity and speed are very
great, a swift horse being sometimes unable to
get away from him. The skin is thick and hard,
dry like, and wrinkled into folds about the setting
on of the legs, on the neck and breast. It is of
a brownish gray colour, sometimes slightly mottled
with flesh colour, and is thinly set with rigid
hairs of a somewhat similar tint, which are most
abundant on the head. The form of the head
varies with age, it increases immensely in the
adults, and exhibits the depth of sinus, which
almost entirely surrounds the cavity of the
head, and is observed in the skeleton. The
teeth are often of immense weight, and with
the tusks are the most valuable part of the
animal, and for which they were formerly much
persecuted. There are sometimes twenty trans¬
verse ridges in a single tooth. The tusks grow
to a very large size, but are of a concentric struc¬
ture, and afford the finest ivory. The first tusks
are shed when they have obtained the length of
three or four inches, and are replaced by the
permanent ones, which sometimes reach an enor¬
mous size. They are composed of conical layers,
set in one after the other, the interior being the
last produced. The base is hollowed into a
conical cavity, prolonged into a narrow canal,
which runs along the centre of the tusk, and is
filled with a blackish matter. The outward layer

108

THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA.

. is true enamel, but is not harder than the centra
part of the tooth or the ivory. The external ear
is large, but small compared with that of the
next animal. The eyes are very small, with
round pupils, and with a piggish expression.
The feet have five toes, which are concealed by
an envelope of skin, (and are only shewn at the
tips by the nails) which fits them and protects
them like a slipper. But the most remarkable
portion of the structure of the Elephant, is what
is usually called the trunk or proboscis, properly
an elongation of the nose, and used as an organ
of prehension, most valuable when we consider
the unwieldy size of the head, and the shortness
of the neck.* It acts also as a delicate organ of
touch and of smell ; it can lift an article of great
minuteness, while it can raise the most immense
weights; it serves also to convey drink to the
mouth, which otherwise would be unattainable,
and it is a weapon of defence of a most powerful
description. It is formed by a membranous pro¬
longation of the tubes of the nostrils, furnished
with muscles, and covered exteriorly with tendi¬
nous expanse. The muscles which move the trunk
are of two kinds, — the longitudinal ones, divided

• Among herbivorous animals we have noticed a relative
proportion between the neck and the legs, but here there
is none, and a substitute was required, which we find
beautifully compensated by the trunk.

«

THE ELETHANT OF INDIA.

109

into a number of arcs, of which the convex part
is exterior, and the two ends adhere to the
internal membrane ; and of transverse muscles,
which stretch from the internal to the external
membrane, like the rays of a circle. These last
straiten the outward covering, without closing
the internal canal, and by this action they lengthen
the trunk, by forcing the longitudinal muscles to
stretch themselves. The others by contracting
shorten the trunk, either entirely when they are
all brought into action, or in different parts, either
on one or more sides at a time, in one or more
portions of its length, and which produces various
curves on several parts of its surface, either in a
spiral direction, regularly or irregularly ; a
mechanism at once simple and useful. At the
extremity there is an appendage in the form of a
finger, by which very small bodies can be raised ;
and the whole organ displays one of the most
beautiful instruments, remarkable for its sim¬
plicity, delicacy of sense and action, and for its
strength.

The general height of the Indian Elephant is
from eight to ten feet ; that of the female, about
seven or eight. Mr Scott, of Sinton, mentions
one male as the largest he had heard of, twelve
feet two inches high, from the crown of the head
to the ground ; and at the shoulder, about ten feet
five inches. The length was fifteen feet. But the

110

THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA.

collection of Petersburgh possesses a skeleton
fourteen feet high, and one or two are recorded
of thirteen feet and a half. The young animal
grows very rapidly at first ; by the second year
it has reached a height of four feet ; after this
period, it increases more slowly, till it has reached
twenty or twenty-two years. They are suckled
for two years; and, in a wild state, the young
run for suck indiscriminately to any female without
regard to the mother, and thus the cry of distress
from any of the young, generally arouses the
herd. The tusks are shed about the twelfth or
thirteenth year. The cheek teeth appear about
six or seven weeks after birth.

Like other animals, the Elephant is subject
to variation. Difference of the general colour
is frequently seen, and some of a reddish hue
are met with ; but this has been attributed to
adventitious matter received upon the skin by
rubbing, though, as a variety, it is still asserted by
some to exist naturally. A similar kind is found
in Africa. But the white Elephant, occasioned
by albynism, is the most valuable, held even in
veneration, and always brings a most extravagant
price. The different direction of the tusks has
also given rise to different names ; of those the
most esteemed have the tusks nearly horizontal,
and by the native princes they are frequently
ornamented, and bear trinkets suspended.

THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA. Ill

India, and the East, are the countries where
the Elephant is most subjected to the dominion of
man ; and where it becomes almost a necessary .
animal in the business of the inhabitants, of course,
affording a profitable employment to the dealers
in those animals, or, if one may be allowed the
term, to the elephant jockies. Various modes
have been devised to capture them ; and they do
not appear to display the same active intelligence
which they do on many occasions in a tame state,
or to be so timorous and wary as African travellers
describe the animal of that country. One of the
most commonly employed means of capture, is
driving them into a keddah , or enclosure, with a
wide or extensive opening, which is gradually
narrowed, and made on the same principle with
the Buffalo pounds, which we have noticed in a
former volume. The strength, however, of the
last enclosure, is very different. There is a broad
ditch, too wide for an Elephant to stride over,
of a considerable depth, and around, on the out¬
side, is a paling of large timbers, well bound with
strong battens, and supported by props at suitable
distances, forming an immense bulwark. When
a large herd of Elephants is discovered, or when
two or more small herds are found so contiguous,
as to be easily brought together, the people of
the neighbouring country, who in general receive
regular wages for their aid, are collected to sur¬
round them ; and often assemble to the number of

112

THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA.

six or eight thousand men, with fire-arms, drums,
trumpets, fire-works, and, in short, any thing that
can intimidate the herd. The whole body move
slowly towards the funnel, in which is strewed a
small quantity of those fruits and vegetables in
which Elephants delight, such as plantains, sugar
canes, &c. Many days are frequently required to
drive a herd, and sometimes the Elephants are
driven thirty or forty miles. The circle is gradu¬
ally narrowed as the funnel is approached, and
when fairly within, the funnel itself forms a part
of the circle. They begin to taste some of their
favourite foods, which being quickly consumed,
some by degrees venture into the keddah itself.
The example is soon followed, and but little
coercion is required now to urge the whole within
the paling, which is then secured with strong
bars.

At one period, the manner of subjection, after
the animals were thus enclosed, was by starvation,
binding their legs with strong ropes, and gradually
accustoming them to the individual who was
afterwards to have them in charge. It has, how¬
ever, been found to be much more advantageous
to entice them by kindness ; by this treatment,
they are sooner subjected, and are not liable to be
rendered useless from the cutting wounds inflicted
by the ropes with which they were bound, and
which, in a warm climate, ulcerated to an immense
xtent, and often proved fatal. When in a proper

THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA.

113

state to be removed, tame males, or decoy
females, are used, which lead him to the place
where he is to be picketed. Here the mahout,
or keeper, redoubles his care and caresses, and
seldom fails to become a favourite, and often an
object of great attachment to the animal.

The most singular method, however, which has
been adopted for taking Elephants, is by the
assistance of decoy females, which enter into the
undertaking as if they were as much interested
in it as their owners. This is chiefly practised
with those males which have been driven off from
the herd, and are wandering about by themselves.
They are known by the title of satins, and are
valuable to dealers, being the second in size and
strength to the leader of the herd. Two decoy
Elephants, or koomkies, as they are termed, are
generally employed in this business, attended by
the mahout, provided with a black covering and
strong ropes. When the wild animal is discovered,
the decoys approach as near as possible, the
mahout mounted, covered with his cloak, and
crouching. When afraid of discover, he slides
down, and the females proceed alone on their
treacherous errand, in which they generally suc¬
ceed so well bv caresses, as to distract the atten-
tion of the animal, and thus enable the men to bind
his legs. Sometimes, during the caresses, he is led
towards a tree, and his bonds made fast to it. The

H

114

THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA.

flasps for the hind legs are made with a joint
in the middle, and studded in the inside with
short nails, which inflict much pain when the
animal begins to struggle, and ultimately oblige
him to desist. In case of the men being dis¬
covered during the operation of binding, the tame
Elephants will attack and restrain the wild animal
until they escape ; and instances are even told of
their having suffered death in defence of their
keeper. If the binding is successful, the animal
is left to himself during the first day, and, on
discovering his position, vents his anger and dis¬
appointment in struggles and incessant roaring,
refusing all sustenance or kindness. Thirst and
exhaustion, however, begin to tame him, and he
gradually receives water, and the same tame
animals which captured him, with their keepers,
by degrees win upon him by pampering his
appetite, and doing him various acts of kind¬
ness. Before being liberated, large ropes are
fastened round his body. When still trouble¬
some, — and they sometimes make furious attempts
to escape, — the leading Elephant proceeds as
quickly as possible, while others goad him behind,
and the mahouts spur them on.*

Another method of catching Elephants is men¬
tioned by Colonel Williamson as practised in
hiepaul and the frontier countries — a kind of

* Oriental Field Sports.

THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA.

115

lassoing, or throwing a slip-knot over the head
of the animal to be captured. Two Elephants
are employed, selected for their size and speed,
males being preferred. Each mahout is provided
with a slip-knot of very strong rope, about two
inches in circumference, and ten or twelve yards
in length, exclusive of what is passed round the
Elephant’s body. At the end of the rope, which
lies coiled on the Elephant’s head, is a sliding
noose, that works freely, and has affixed to it a
strong cord, for the purpose of relaxing its hold
as occasion may require. When the herd is dis¬
covered, the director of the hunt singles out
the one to be pursued ; and in this he is regulated
by the size of his Elephants, for he might be
run away with, by one larger and stronger than
his own. The mahouts, who are accustomed to
the business, are extremely expert, and rarely fail
to throw the knot over in the most effectual man¬
ner, causing it to light fairly round the brows and
behind the ears of the Elephant, which instinc¬
tively curls up its trunk, whereby the lower part
of the knot slips under it, and completely en¬
circles the neck. The Elephant is impeded, and
time is thus given for the second hunter to come
up on the other side and fasten his rope, which,
being better tightened, impairs the power of
breathing, or stops respiration so as to cause the

116

THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA.

animal to fall and become a captive. He is
afterwards led to his picket, sometimes with the
utmost difficulty and danger, but is almost always
at last' overcome, temporary strangulation being
again resorted to.

They are also taken in pitfalls, made soft at
the bottom, in which they are allowed to remain,
and starved into subjection. When sufficiently
subdued to come out, they are relieved by the pit
being gradually filled up, on which the animal, as
if aware of the object, raises his feet, preventing
himself from being buried, and patiently waits
until he can step out. This method, however,
is the most disliked, for the prodigious weight
of the animal falling, often maims or disfigures
him externally, or gives inward bruises which he
feels when afterwards put to hard work.*

Among the ancients, Elephants became known,
and were used in the wars of the Greeks and
Homans ; they were also often exhibited at their
public shows and triumphs, and at their contests
of wild animals. They were most probably pro¬
cured both from India and Africa, as the distinc¬
tive character, in the form of the head and size of
the ears, is plainly to be traced on some of the
representations of ancient sculpture. The natives

* Williamson’s Oriental Field Sports, i. p. 147.

THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA.

117

at that period had, of course, some method of
capturing them by stratagem ; Aristotle, when
describing the hunting of Elephants, (that is, for
capture, not destruction,) mentions that tame ones
were used, which attacked the wild animals, and
these, when wearied or exhausted, were mounted
by the keeper or master, and governed into
obedience by a spear, — a method which would
require no little share of courage and coolness.
In Africa, where great slaughter of these animals
has always been effected, the natives are said to
ascend a tree, and to spring on the backs of the
passing Elephants, slide down by the tail, and,
during their short suspension, hamstring the
animal.*

Let us now see for what purposes this valuable
animal is used, after so much risk and labour are
expended on its capture and subjection. In the
ancient times of the empires of India, Elephants
were the indispensable attendants upon a court
and upon nobility, and were esteemed the principal
among all the immense number of animals which
formed part of the royal retinue. In the ninth
century, the Emperor Jehengir is said to have
possessed twelve thousand of these animals, while,
among the nobles of his empire, forty thousand

* See a very curious old work. Elephantographia
Curiosa, 1715.

118

THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA.

were thought to be distributed,* a number which
at the present time, far exceeds our ideas of even-
eastern magnificence, and when combined with
the quantity of food, and number of attendants
requisite, seems more like an oriental tale than
a reality. They were then used for show, for
the transport of baggage, and in war. They
were fed and treated in the most careful and
luxurious manner, with sugar and rice, and
long and round pepper, occasionally mixed up
with milk; and during the sugar season, each
Elephant was furnished daily with three hundred
canes for two months. In the travelling expedi¬
tions of these ancient kings, either for pleasure
or war, from eight hundred to fifteen hundred
Elephants were frequently employed in transport¬
ing the emperor’s baggage, besides nearly an
equal number of camels. Those for the battle
were separated, caparisoned and protected accord¬
ing to the way they were to be employed, and
the enemy they were to encounter ; and from two
thousand to three thousand of these animals were
not unusual during the eastern wars of the eighth
and ninth centuries. At the same courts were held
almost daily the fights of wild beasts, in which
the Elephants took a prominent part, and numbers
of these noble animals fell, in giving a barbarous
gratification to their royal masters.

* Hawkins, quoted from Ranking.

THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA.

119

Even at a very early period, the Indian kings
employed immense troops of Elephants, and
several thousands were brought to the field. In
the wars of Alexander, however, they scarcely
exceeded four or five hundred ; and during the
height of the Roman Empire, from thirty to two
hundred were all that could be mustered.

In the east, at the present time, the Elephant is
only employed in carrying baggage, or in assisting
to drag artillery ; they do not enter into the
general engagement, but their use to an army on
its march is incalculable. They exhibit much
sagacity in the exercise of their strength, and effect,
in a degree proportioned to their superior powers,
the labour of bullocks and horses. Their exertions
are made by either pushing, or dragging, or lifting
The forehead is generally defended with strong
leather, and is the principal part employed in
pushing ; and where more than one is employed,
they will act in concert, to render their efforts
more effectual. Although still an attendant to a
limited extent on the courts of the East, and valu¬
able for the production of ivory, fortunately the
Elephant does not now hold the same scale of
utility it formerly did ; for the hundreds of thou¬
sands of these animals which were then taken
have tended, in India at least, to diminish their
numbers, and to increase the difficulty of
procuring them. In Africa, the capture, on
account of their tusks, is great ; and at Darfur,

120

THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA.

thej are still seen in large troops, Major Denham
having counted forty-seven, and the natives re¬
ported herds even to two thousand.*

* The imports of Elephants’ teeth, in 1831 and 1832,
were, at an average, 4130 cvvt., of which 2950 cwt. were
retained for consumption. The medium weight of a tusk
may be taken at about 60 lbs. ; so that the yearly imports
of 1831 and 1832, may be taken at seven thousand seven
hundred and nine tusks ; a fact which supposes the des¬
truction of at least three thousand eight hundred and fifty-
four male Elephants ! But, supposing the tusks could only
be obtained by killing the animal, the destruction would
really be a good deal greater, and would most probably,
indeed, amount to four thousand five hundred, or five
thousand Elephants. Occasionally, however, tusks are
accidentally broken, one lost in this way being replaced by
a new one ; and a good many are also obtained from
Elephants that have died in the natural way. Still it is
sufficiently obvious, that the supply from the sources now
alluded to cannot be very large ; and if to the quantity of
ivory required for Great Britain, we add that required for
the other countries of Europe, America, and Asia, the
slaughter of Elephants must, after every reasonable deduc¬
tion is made, appear immense ; and it may well excite
surprise, that the breed of this noble animal has not been
more diminished. The western and eastern coasts of
Africa, the Cape of Good Hope, Ceylon, India, and the
countries to the eastward of the straits of Malacca, are the
great marts whence supplies of ivory are derived. The
imports from Western Africa into Great Britain, in 1831,
amounted to 2575 cwt. ; the Cape only furnished 198
cwt. The imports during the same year from India,
Ceylon, and other eastern countries, were 2173 cwt. The
Chinese market is principally supplied with ivory from
Malacca, Siam, and Sumatra.

The chief consumption of ivory in England, is in the

THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA.

121

In Europe, the Elephant is only known in con¬
finement, from animals captured when young and
imported, or from one or two adult specimens
sent as presents. In this country, till very lately,
they have always been kept in a situation too
confined to afford any good idea of their man¬
ners, and in the restraint of a cage could only
exhibit a few tricks, taught them by their keepers,
to please the popular part of their visiters ; but
they give us no idea of the healthy animal among
his own luxuriant foliage. In the more extended
paddock, and supply of water which our various
zoological gardens now allow to the large
Pachydermes, we may expect an improvement of
their keeping, and to see them in as free a con¬
dition as we can well expect, without going to
look for them in India or Africa.

The most remarkable Asiatic Elephant which

manufacture of handles for knives ; but it is also exten¬
sively used in the manufacture of musical and mathematical
instruments, chess-men, billiard-balls, plates for minia¬
tures, toys, &c. Ivory articles are said to be manufactured
to a greater extent, and with better success, at Dieppe,
than in any other place in Europe. But the preparation of
this beautiful material is much better understood by the
Chinese, than by any other people. No European artist
has hitherto succeeded in cutting concentric balls after the
manner of the Chinese : and their boxes, chess-men, and
other ivory articles, are all far superior to any that are to

be met with any where else _ M' Culloch's Dictionary of

Commerce, p. 737.

12-2

THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA.

*

has been lately exhibited in England, was that
which it was necessary to destroy in Exeter Change,
during one of his periodical paroxysms of fury
He was, at first, a fine animal, remarkable for
do cility ; and had previously belonged to Mr Harris
of Covent Garden theatre, who paid nine hundred
guineas for the animal, and introduced him upon
the stage in the procession incidental to a grand
pantomime, called Harlequin Padinanaba.* We
were fortunate in seeing this animal play his
part, apparently with delight, and with great
gentleness and docility, moving around the
crowded stage, as if conscious of his ponderous
bulk, and the feeble resistance that could be
made to any opposition which he might offer.
His death afterwards was painful, though abso¬
lutely necessary; nearly two hundred balls must
have pierced him ; and when we consider the
naked African going out alone to the hunt, and
sometimes bringing down this huge animal with
a single ball, we cannot help thinking that a little
previous coolness and deliberation would have
saved both much pain and danger.

So many anecdotes of this animal are con¬
tinually before the public, that we do not propose

* See a lengthened account of the death of this animal
in Griffith’s Cuvier, p. 348, vol. iii. t

THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA.

12 8

introducing any in illustration of its disposition
or docility ; for, indeed, we scarcely know where
to find a new one. They have often also been
twisted to serve the immediate purpose of the
writer, or exaggerated to maintain some wonderful
exertion of intellect. Suffice it to say, that, look¬
ing to all our accounts of both the known species
as impartially as possible, we cannot attribute a
greater portion of intellect to the Elephant than
we could to some other animals. In a wild state,
his actions are all guided by his passions — blind
fury when attacked — the care and comfort of
his body — or his attachment for the female ; and
we have seen his passion, in this latter case, so
blind as actually to allow him to be taken. In
captivity, he is docile, possesses an excellent
memory, and from this qualification performs
most of his useful labours, for without memory
or experience he will not undertake any new
operation, until it is explained. The same faculty
makes him revenge bad treatment, and long
remember it. At the periodical seasons, he
becomes almost as infuriated as when wild, and
will at times not even obey his keeper or his
favourites ; and it is necessary, at this time, even
to allow the animal his liberty to range in the
jungle, whence he will again return, of his own
accord, to the charge and company of his
keepers*

124

THE ELEPHANT OF AFRICA.

Elephas Africanus. — Cuvier.

PLATE IV.

Elephas Africanus, Cuvier, Regne Anim. E. Capensis,
Cuvier’s Memoir et Hist. Elephant d’Afrique, Loxodon-
tes Africanus, Fred. Cuv. Hist. Nat. des Mammiffres.

This animal is distinguished from the last by
its more rounded head, by its very large ears,
which cover the whole shoulder, descending upon
the legs, and are of such magnitude as to be
employed at the Cape of Good Hope as sledges
to draw tools to the field, and even to convey
the sick ; and by the form and structure of the
cheek teeth, which have the divisions of the
crown lozen-shaped, whence Fred. Cuvier has

9

given it his new generic name of Loxodontes. The
animal is also generally smaller in its proportions.
In the colour of the skin and hair, and scanty
distribution of the latter, there is little variation
from the last; and the red colour of the skin, taken
notice of by Vaillant, is owing to a similar cause
as that we mentioned when speaking of the Asiatic
Elephant.

ELEPHANT OP AFRICA.

Sr. YotUltf.

THE ELEPHANT OF AFRICA.

125

The African Elephant inhabits that continent
from the Cape of Good Hope to the Niger, living
nearly in the same condition, and having Jhuch
the same manners as its allied species in the
Asiatic continent ; delighting even more in the
vicinity of water, and in the luxury of shade, so
tempting in those parched countries. They go
in herds, are equally watchful, defend their young
to the utmost extremity, and are fierce and re¬
vengeful when wounded or attacked, venting their
rage and revenge by trampling and mangling their
victim till little vestige of him remains. They are,
however, nearly, if not entirely, extirpated from
the Cape colony, and one has to travel far into
the interior before being gratified by a view of
those stupendous animals, or indeed of any of the
larger game formerly so abundant, enjoying their
own forests. And we have reason to believe,
from recent accounts, that the late Caffer wars
have contributed farther to the extirpation of
many noble animals.

Unlike the Indian animal, it scarcely has been
domesticated, and is not employed for any use¬
ful labour, unless we include its employment
bv the ancients in war, as there seems no
reason for doubting that the animals used by the
Carthaginians were of African origin. Since that
period, however, we have no trace of them being
used in a tame state, the large race of Bullocks
being employed in South Africa, and the Hor

1*26 the elephant of Africa.

and Camel in the northern regions; neither do
any of the late travellers in Northern Africa men¬
tion them as being domesticated. It is attacked
only as a sport or amusement, or as a matter of
emolument. Our task will, therefore, only be to
recount one or two of those dangerous adventures
which so well portray the coolness and dexterity
of the Hottentot, and others which may throw
some light on the habits or dispositions of the
animal.

The African Elephant not being of such bulky
proportions as that of India, the risk of attacking it,
or the difficulty of its destruction, is not thought
more of than the hunting of the Lion or the Tiger in
India. Colonel Williamson, a person of experience
in these matters, however, is of a different opinion,
and thinks, that neither “ natives nor Europeans
would undertake such a piece of rashness as to go
out shooting wild Elephants.” In Africa it is
different, and all the three huge African animals
are not only shot, but also speared by the naked
Hottentot, who trusts to his agility only for his
escape.* The encounters are certainly sometimes
fatal to the aggressor, and dreadful then is the
deed of retaliation and revenge. We shall
transcribe one of Pringle’s African sketches,

* Pringle speaks of one of the settlers at Enon lying
concealed among the forest wood, and shooting the Ele¬
phants as they passed down the glen at mid-day.

THE ELEPHANT OF AFRICA.

127

during an exploratory excursion with some engineer
officers, which gives a good idea of the natura*
haunts and habits of this species.

“ I rode with them next day into the Ceded
Territory ; and while they ascended the Winter-
berg, I constructed, with the aid of the Hottentot
soldiers, a sort of booth or shieling for our shelter
at night, on the skirts of a wood, in a lovely ver¬
dant glen at the foot of the mountain, all alive
with the amusing garrulity of monkeys and paro¬
quets. The aspect of the Winterberg from this
spot was very grand, with its coronet of rocks,
its frowning front, and its steep grassy skirts,
feathered over with a straggling forest partly
scathed by fire. As lions were numerous in the
vicinity, we took care to have a blazing watch-
fire, and a couple of sentinels were placed for our
protection during the night. We received, how¬
ever, no disturbance, and spent a very pleasant
evening in our ‘ greenwood bower ; * the spot, in
jocular commemoration of one of the party, being
thenceforth denominated Fox’s Kraal or Shieling.

“ Next day, we followed the course of the
Koonap over green sloping hills, till the increas¬
ing ruggedness of the ravines, and the prevalence
of jungle, compelled us to pursue a Caffer path,
now kept open only by the passage of wild
animals along the river margin. The general
character of the scenery I have already described.

128 THE ELEPHANT OF AFRICA.

During the forenoon, we had seen many herds o»
quaggas, and antelopes of various kinds, which .
need not stop to enumerate ; but after mid-day,
we came upon the recent traces of a troop of
Elephants. Their huge foot-prints were every
where visible ; and in the swampy spots on the
banks of the river it was evident that some oi
them had been luxuriously enjoying themselves,
by rolling their unwieldy bulks in the ooze and
mud. But it was in the groves and jungles that
they had left the most striking proofs of their
recent presence and peculiar habits. In many
places, paths had been trodden through the midst
of dense thorny forests, otherwise impenetrable.
They appeared to have opened up these paths
with great judgment, always taking the best
and shortest cut to the next open savannah, or
ford of the river ; and in this way their labours
were of the greatest use to us by pioneering our
route through a most intricate country, never ye
traversed by a wheel-carriage, and great part of
it, indeed, not easily accessible even on horseback.
In such places, the great bull Elephant always
marches in the van, bursting through the jungle, ,
as a bullock would through a field of hops, tread¬
ing down the brushwood, and breaking off with
his proboscis the larger branches that obstruct the
passage, whilst the females and younger part of
the herd follow in his wake.

THE ELEPHANT OF AFRICA.

129

“ Among the mimosa trees sprinkled over the
meadows, or lower bottoms, the traces of their
operations were not less apparent. Immense
numbers of these trees had been torn out of the
ground, and placed in an inverted position, in
order to enable the animals to browse at their
ease on their juicy roots, which form a favourite
part of their food. I observed that, in numerous
instances, when the trees were of considerable
size, the Elephant had employed one of his tusks,
exactly as we would use a crow-bar — thrusting it
under the roots to loosen their hold of the earth,
before he attempted to tear them up with his pro¬
boscis. Many of the larger mimosas had resisted
all their efforts ; and, indeed, it is only after heavy
rains, when the soil is soft and loose, that they
can successfully attempt this operation.

“ While we were admiring these and other indi¬
cations of the Elephant’s strength and sagacity,
we suddenly found ourselves, on issuing from a
woody defile, in the midst of a numerous herd of
those animals. None of them, however, were
very close to us ; but they were seen scattered in
groups over the bottom and sides of a valley two
or three miles in length ; some browsing on the
succulent spekboom, which clothed the skirts of
the hills on either side ; others at work among the
young mimosas and evergreens sprinkled ove

.1

loO THE ELEPHANT OF AFRICA.

the meadows. As we proceeded cautiously
onward, some of these groups came more dis¬
tinctly into view — consisting apparently, in many
instances, of separate families, the male, the
female, and the young of different sizes ; and the
gigantic magnitude of the chief leaders became

o o

more and more striking. The calm and stately
tranquillity of their deportment, too, was remark¬
able. Though we were a band of about a dozen
horsemen, including our Hottentot attendants,
they seemed either not to observe, or altogether
to disregard, our march down the valley.”

“ As we rode leisurely along through a meadow
thickly studded over with clumps of tall ever¬
greens, I observed something moving over the
top of a bush close a-head of us, and had just time
to say to the gentleman next me — ‘ Look out
there ! when we turned the corner of the bush,
and beheld an enormous male Elephant standing
right in the path within less than a hundred paces
distance. We halted and surveyed him for a few
minutes in silent admiration and astonishment.
He was, indeed, a mighty and magnificent crea¬
ture. The two engineer officers, who were
familiar with the appearance of the Elephant in
his wild state, agreed that the animal before us
was at least fourteen feet in height ; and our
Hottentots, in their broken Dutch, whispered that
he was ‘ een groot yruwzaam karl — bania ’, banicC

THE ELEPHANT OF AFRICA. 131

groot ! * — or, as one of them translated it, f a
hugeous terrible fellow, plenty, plenty big!’

“ The Elephant at first did not seem to notice
us, for the vision of the animal is not very acute,
and the wind being pretty brisk, and we to the
leeward of him, his scent and hearing, though
keen, had not apprised him of our approach.
But when we turned off at a gallop, making a circuit
through the bushes to avoid collision with him,
he was startled by the sound of our horses* feet,
and turned towards us with a very menacing atti¬
tude, erecting his enormous ears, and elevating
his trunk in the air, as if about to rush upon us.
Had he done so, some of us would probably have
been destroyed ; for the Elephant can run down
a well mounted horseman in a short chase ; and,
besides, there was another ugly defile but a little
way before us, where the only passage was a diffi¬
cult pass through the jungle, with a precipice on
one side, and a wooded mountain on the other.
However, the ‘ gruwzaam karl ,* fortunately, did
not think proper to give chase, but remained on
the same spot, looking steadfastly after us ; well
pleased, no doubt, to be rid of our company, and
satisfied to see his family all safe around him. The
latter consisted of two or three females, and as many
young ones, that had hastily crowded up behind
him from the river margin, as if to claim his pro¬
tection, when the rushing sound of our cavalcade
startled their quiet valley'”

132 THE ELEPHANT OF AFRICA.

An account of the fossil Pachydermes would
ead us beyond our limits, besides encroaching upon
the contents of a volume, which we propose to
devote to a consideration of ancient Mammalia,
and the huge reptilian forms ; but we cannot
omit here a notice of the animal discovered at the
mouth of the Lena, and of the Mastodon, as
shewing the form of the proboscis bearing
animals of the New World. The account of the
first we transcribe entire, being of great interest,
from the perfect and almost fresh state in
which the animal was discovered, and exhibiting
a different hairy covering when compared with
the living animals we are now acquainted with.
We add a reduced plate of the figure which
accompanies it.

.FOSSIL ELEPHANT of SIBERIA.

. . *?

*

133

/

THE ELEPHANT OF THE LENA.

PLATE V.

According to several writers, the term Mam-
.moth is of Tartar origin, and is derived from
mama , which signifies the earth,* and the natives
of Siberia give the name of “ bones of the Mam¬
moth” to the remains of Elephants which are
found in great abundance in that country, believ¬
ing that the Mammoth is an animal which lives
underground at the present time.

The Mammoth or Elephants bones and tusks,
are found throughout Russia, and more particu¬
larly in Eastern Siberia and the Arctic marshes.
The tusks are found in great quantities, and are
collected for the sake of profit, being sold to the
turners in the place of the living ivory of Africa,
and the warmer parts of Asia, to which it is not
at all inferior.

* According to others it is derived from behemoth, men¬
tioned in the hook of Job, or mehemoth, an epithet which
the Arabs commonly add to the word Elephant, to desig¬
nate one which is very large. See Cuvier, Ann. du Mus
vol. viii. p. 45.

134

ELEPHANT OF THE LENA.

Almost the whole of the ivory-turner’s work
made in Russia, is from the Siberian fossil ivory,
and sometimes the tusks, having hitherto always
been found in abundance, are exported from
thence, being less in price than the recent.
Although for a long series of years, very many
thousands have been annually obtained, yet they
are still collected every year in great numbers on
the banks of the larger rivers of the Russian
empire, and more particularly those of farther
Siberia. They abound most of all in the Laich-
ovian Isles, and on the shores of the Frozen Sea.
In digging wells, or foundations for buildings,
there are every where discovered the entire
skeletons of Elephants, which are very well pre-
-served in the frozen soil of that country. The
instances of these bones being found in the above
mentioned regions, and their great numbers, are
so frequently stated by Russian travellers, that it
may be fairly contended that the number of
Elephants now living on the globe, is greatly
inferior to the number of those whose bones are
remaining in Siberia.

It is particularly to be noticed, that in every
climate, and under every latitude, from the range
of mountains dividing Asia, to the frozen shores
of the Northern Ocean, Siberia abounds with
Mammoth bones. The best fossil ivory is found
in the countries near to the Arctic circle, and in

ELEPHANT OF THE LENA.

135

he most eastern regions, which are much colder
than the parts of Europe under the same latitude,
and where the soil in their very short summer, is
thawed only at the surface, and in some years not
at all.

In the year 1805, when the Russian expedition
under Krusenstern, returned for the third time to
Kamschatka, Patapof, master of a Russian ship
bringing victualling stores from Okhotsk, related
that he had lately seen a Mammoth Elephant dug
up on the shores of the Frozen Ocean, clothed
with a hairy skin ; and shewed, in confirmation
of the fact, some hair three or four inches long
of a reddish black colour, a little thicker than
horse hair, which he had taken from the skin of
the animal : this he gave to me, and I sent it to
Professor Blumenbach. No farther knowledge
has been obtained on this subject, and unfortu¬
nately Patapof was not employed by any of our
societies to return to Siberia. Thus has this
curious fact been consigned to oblivion ; nor
should we now possess any information respecting
the carcass of the Mammoth, which forms more
particularly the subject of this memoir, if the
rumour of its discovery had not reached Mr
Adams, a man of great ardour in pursuit of
science, who undertook the labour of a journey
to these frozen regions, and of preparing these
gigantic remains, and transporting them to a great
distance

136 ELEPHANT OF THE LENA.

The preservation of the flesh of the Mammoth
through a long series of ages, is not to be wondered
at, when we recollect the constant cold and frost
of the climate in which it was found. It is a
common practice to preserve meat and berries
through the winter by freezing them, and to send
fish, and all other provisions annually at that
period, from the most remote of the northern
provinces, to St Petersburgh and other parts of
the empire.

I shall now proceed to the account which Mr
Adams has published of his journey to the Icy
Sea, and to the place where the carcass of the
Mammoth, whose skeleton is now to be seen in
our museum, was found lying on the sand and
ice. It was first published in the Journal du
Nord, printed at St Petersburgh, in 1807> under
the title of “ Relation abrege d’ un Voyage a la
mer Glaciale, et decouverte des restes d’ un
Mammouth,” and afterwards in some German
ephemerides, but as t'hey are now scarce, I shall
cite his own words.

(< I should reproach myself if I longer delayed
the publication of a zoological discovery, which
is highly interesting in its detail, since it makes
us acquainted with a species of animal, whose
existence was a subject of dispute among our
best informed naturalists.

“ I was told at Jakutsk by the merchant PopofT,
chief of the bodv of merchants of that town, that

ELEPHANT OF THE LENA.

137

there had been discovered on the shores of the
Frozen Ocean, near the mouth of the river Lena,
an animal of extraordinary magnitude. The flesh,
the skin, and the hair, were in a state of preser¬
vation, and it was supposed that the fossil pro¬
duction known under the name of Mammoth’s
horns, must have belonged to an animal of this
species. Mr Popoff had, at the same time, the
kindness to present me with a drawing and
description of this animal, and I thought it right
to send them both to the president of the academy
of Petersburgh.* The news of this interesting
discovery determined me to hasten the journey
which I had in contemplation, for the purpose of
visiting the shores of the Lena, as far as the
Frozen Ocean ; wishing to preserve these precious
remains, which might otherwise be lost. My stay
at Jakutsk, consequently, did not last many days ;
I set off on the 7th of June, 1806, furnished with
some necessary letters, of which part were for
the agents of government and the merchants, whose
assistance I thought would be useful in my
researches. On the 16th of June, I arrived at
the little town of Schigansk, and towards the
end of this same month, I was at Kuma-Surka ;

* Telesius says, these are both preserved in the Academy,
but describes the drawing as very bad, representing a Pig
rather than an Elephant, with red hair on the back. He
says that the description was quite worthy of the drawing.

138

ELEPHANT OF THE LENA.

from thence, I made a particular excursion, of
which the Mammoth was the object, and I will
now relate what my journal contains on that
subj ect.*

“ The contrary winds, which had prevailed
during the whole summer, delayed my departure
from Kuma : this place was then inhabited by
forty or fifty Tungusian families, who were gene¬
rally employed in fishing, &c.

“ The wind having at length changed, I deter¬
mined to pursue my journey, and passed my rein
deer across the river. The next day at sun-rise,

set off, accompanied by the Tungusian chief,
Dssip Schumachof, the merchant of Kuma-Surka,
Belkoff, my hunter, three Kossaks, and ten Tun-
gusians. The Tungusian chief was the person
who had first discovered the Mammoth, and who
was proprietor of the territory through which our
route lay. The merchant of Kuma-Surka had
passed almost all his life on the shores of the
Frozen Sea; his zeal, and the advice he gave me,
have the strongest claim to my gratitude, and I
even owe to him the preservation of my life in a
moment of danger.

“ We passed in our way over high steep
mountains, valleys which followed the course of
small brooks, and dry and wild plains, where not

* Some parts of this account not immediately relating
to the object in view, are here omitted.

ELEPHANT OF THE LENA.

139

a shrub was to be seen. After two days travelling,
we arrived at the shores of the Frozen Ocean.
The Tungusians called it Angardara, or Terra
Firma. To reach the Mammoth, we were obliged
to traverse a peninsula called Byschofskoy-Mys
or Tamut. This peninsula, which stretches into
a spacious gulf, is on the right of the mouth of
the Lena, and extends, as I was informed, from
south-east to north-west, for the length of eighty
wersts, (about fifty-three miles.) The name is
probably derived from two points like horns,
which are at the northern end of the promontory.
The point on the left, which the Russians more
especially call Byschofskoy-Mys, on account of
its greater extent, forms three large gulfs, where
are some Jakutsk settlements ; the opposite point,
called Manstai, on account of the great quantity
of floating wood found on its shore, is of half the
size ; the bank is lower, and this canton is com¬
pletely inhabited. The distance from one point
to the other is reckoned at forty-five wersts,
(thirty miles.) Hills form the more elevated
part of the peninsula of Tamut. The rest is
occupied by lakes, and all the low lands are
marshy, &c.

“ The peninsula of which we have just spoken,
is so narrow in some places, that the sea is seen
on both sides. The rein deer migrate every year
regularly, abandoning these places to proceed by

140

ELEPHANT OF THE LENA.

the Frozen Sea, towards Borchaya and Nytjansk,
and for this purpose, they assemble in large troops
towards the autumn.* To follow the chase of
these animals with greater success, the Tungusians
have divided all the country of this peninsula into
departments separated by paling. They alarm
the rein deer by loud cries, and by dogs which
pursue them. The rein deer frightened by this
noise, run into the enclosures of the palings,
where they are easily taken ; all those which try
escape on the ice, are shot by the hunters.

“ The third day of our journey, we pitched
our tents at some hundred paces distant from the
Mammoth, on a hill called Kembisaga-Shaeta.”

Schumachof related to me nearly in these terms
the history of the discovery of the Mammoth.

“ The Tungusians, who are a wandering
people, remain but a little time in the same place.
Those who live in the forests, often take ten years
or more to travel over the vast regions between
the mountains : during this time, they do not once
return to their habitations. Each family lives
isolated, and knows no other society. If, during
the course of several years, two friends meet by
chance, they then communicate to each other
their adventures, their different successes in hunt¬
ing, and the number of skins they have obtained.
After having passed some days together, and

* Sauer Beschreibung tier Billingschen Reise, p. 130.

ELEPHANT OF THE LENA.

141

consumed the few provisions they had, they
separate cheerfully, carrying each other’s com¬
pliments to their > acquaintance, and trusting to
Providence for another meeting. The Tungusians
inhabiting the coast, differ from the former in
having more regular and fixed habitations, and
in collecting together at certain seasons for fishing
and hunting. During winter, they inhabit cottages
built side by side, so that they form villages.

“ It is to one of these annual trips that we owe
the discovery of the Mammoth. Towards the
end of the month of August, when the fishing
season in the Lena is over, Schumachof generally
goes with his brothers to the peninsula of Tamut,
where they employ themselves in hunting, and
where the fresh fish of the sea offer them a whole¬
some and agreeable food. In 1/99, he had con¬
structed for his wife some cabins on the banks of
the lake Oncoul, and had embarked to seek along
the coasts for Mammoth horns. One day he
perceived among the blocks of ice a shapeless
mass, not at all resembling the large pieces of
floating wood which are commonly found there.
To observe it nearer, he landed, climbed up a
rock, and examined this new object on all sides,
but without being able to discover what it was.

“ The following year, (1800,) he fonnd the
carcase of a Walrus ( Trichecus Rosmarus .) He
perceived, at the same time, that the mass he had

142

ELEPHANT OF THE LENA.

before seen was more disengaged from the blocks
of ice, and had two projecting parts, but was still
unable to make out its nature. ‘Towards the end
of the following summer, (1801,) the entire side
of the animal, and one of his tusks, were quite free
from the ice. On his return to the borders of the
lake Oncoul, he communicated this extraordinary
discovery to his wife and some of his friends ; but
the way in which they considered the matter
tilled him with grief. The old men related on
the occasion their having heard their fathers say,
that a similar monster had been formerly seen in
the same peninsula, and that all the family of the
person who discovered it had died soon afterwards.
The Mammoth was, in consequence, unanimously
considered as an augury of future calamity, and
the Tungusian chief was so much alarmed that
he fell seriously ill ; but becoming convalescent,
his first idea was the profit which he might obtain
by selling the tusks of the animal, which were of
extraordinary size and beauty. He ordered that
the place where the Mammoth was found should
be carefully concealed, and that strangers should,
under different pretexts, be diverted from it, at
the same time charging trust-worthy people to
watch that the treasure was not carried off.

“ But the summer of 1802, which was less
warm and more windy than common, caused the
Mammoth to remain buried in the ice, which had

ELEPHANT OF THE LENA.

143

Scarcely melted at all. At length, towards the
end of the tifth year, (1803,) the ardent wishes
of Schumachof were happily accomplished ; for
the part of the ice between the earth and the
Mammoth having melted more rapidly than the
rest, the plane of its support became inclined, and
this enormous mass fell by its own weight on a
bank of sand. Of this, two Tungusians, who
accompanied me, were witnesses.

“In the month of March, 1804, Schumachof
came to his Mammoth, and having cut off his
horns, (the tusks,) he exchanged them with the
merchant BultanofF for goods of the value of fifty
rubles. At this time, a drawing was made of the
animal, but very incorrect,* for it gave him
pointed ears, very small eyes, horse’s hoofs, and
bristles all along the back, so that it represented
something between a Pig and an Elephant.

“ Two years afterwards, or the seventh after
the discovery of the Mammoth, I fortunately
traversed these distant and desert regions, and I
congratulate myself in being able to prove a fact
which appears so improbable. I found the Mam¬
moth still in the same place, but altogether muti¬
lated. The prejudices being dissipated, because
the Tungusian chief had recovered his health,
there was ^o obstacle to prevent approach to the
carcass of the Mammoth ; the proprietor was
* This is the drawing before mentioned page 137, note.

144

ELEPHANT OF THE LENA.

content with his profit from the tusks, and the
Jakutski of the neighbourhood had cut off the
flesh with which they fed their dogs during the
scarcity. Wild beasts, such as white bears,
wolves, wolverenes, and foxes, also fed upon it,
and the traces of their footsteps were seen around.
The skeleton, almost entirely cleared of its flesh,
remained whole, with the exception of one fore
ieg.* * * § The spine from the head to the os coccygis,f
one scapula, the basin, and the other three extre¬
mities, were still held together by the ligaments
and by parts of the skin. The head was covered
with a dry skin ; one of the ears, well preserved,!;
was furnished with a tuft of hairs.

“ All these parts have necessarily been injured
in transporting them a distance of eleven thou
sand wersts, (seven thousand three hundred and
thirty miles.) Yet the eyes have been preserved,
and the pupil of the left eye can still be distin
guished.§ The point of the lower lip had been
gnawed, and the upper one having been destroyed,
the teeth could be perceived. The brain was
still in the cranium, but appeared dried up.

* This has been restored in plaster of Paris from the
other side.

t This is an error, as of twenty-eight or thirty caudal
vertebrae, only eight are remaining.

£ The ears are not well preserved, but may perhaps
nave suffered in so long a carriage.

§ A dried substance is visible, but it is not certain
whether it is the pupil of the eye.

ELEPHANT OF THE LENA.

145

“ The parts least injured are one fore foot and
one hind foot ; they are covered with skin, and
have still the sole attached. According to the
assertion of the Tungusian chief, the animal was
so fat and well fed, that its belly hung down
below the joints of the knees. This Mammoth
was a male, with a long mane on the neck, but
without tail or proboscis.* The skin, of which I
possess three-fourths, is of a dark gray colour,
covered with a reddish wool and black hairs.
The dampness of the spot, where the animal had
lain so long, had in some degree destroyed the
hair. The entire carcass, of which I collected
the bones on the spot, is four archines (nine feet
four inches) high, and seven archines (sixteen
feet four inches) long, from the point of the nose
to the end of the tail, without including the
tusks, which are a toise and a half f in length ;
the two together weighed three hundred and sixty
pound avoirdupois ; the head alone, without the
tusks, weighs eleven poods and a half, four
hundred and fourteen pound avoirdupois.

“ The principal object of ury care was to sepa¬
rate the bones, to arrange them, and put them up

* The places of the insertion of the muscles of the
proboscis are visible on the skull. It was probably devoured
as well as the end of the tail.

f Nine feet six inches measuring1 along the curve. The
distance from the base or root of the tusk to the point, is
three feet seven inches.

&

146

ELErHANT OF THE LENA.

safely, which was done with particular attention.
I had the satisfaction to find the other scapula,
which had remained not far off. I next detached
the skin of the side on which the animal had lain,
which was well preserved. This skin wras of
such extraordinary weight, that ten persons found
great difficulty in transporting it to the shore.
After this I dug the ground in different places to
ascertain whether any of its bones were buried,
but principally to collect all the hairs* which the
white bears had trod into the ground while
devouring the flesh. Although this was difficult
from the want of proper instruments, I succeeded
in collecting more than a pood (thirty-six pounds)
of hair. In a few days the work was completed,
and I found myself in possession of a treasure
which amply recompensed me for the fatigues
and dangers of the journey, and the considerable
expenses of the enterprise.

“ The place where I found the Mammoth is
about sixty paces distant from the shore, and
nearly one hundred paces from the escarpment of
the ice. from which it had fallen. This escarp¬
ment occupies exactly the middle between the
two points of the Peninsula, and is three wrersts
long, (two miles,) and in the place where the
Mammoth was found, this rock has a perpendi¬
cular elevation of thirty or forty toises. Its sub-

* On the arrival of the skin at Petersburgh, it was
totally devoid of hair.

ELEPHANT OF THE LENA.

147

stance is a clear pure ice ; it inclines towards the
sea ; its top is covered with a layer of moss and
friable earth, half an archine (fourteen inches) in
thickness. During the heat of the month of July,
a part of this crust is melted, but the rest remains
frozen. Curiosity induced me to ascend two
other hills at some distance from the sea ; they
were of the same substance and less covered with
moss. In various places were seen enormous
pieces of wood of all the kinds produced in
Siberia; and also Mammoth’s horns in great
numbers appeared between the hollows of the
rocks ; they all were of astonishing freshness.

“ How all these things could become collected
there, is a question as curious as it is difficult to
resolve. The inhabitants of the coast call this
kind of wood Adcimschina , and distinguish it
from the floating pieces of wood which are
brought down by the large rivers to the ocean,
and collect in masses on the shores of the frozen
sea. The latter are called Noachina. I have
seen, when the ice melts, large lumps of earth
detached upon the hills, mix with the water, and
form thick muddy torrents which roll towards
the sea. This earth forms Wedges which fill up
the spaces between the blocks of ice.

“ The escarpment of ice was thirty -five to forty
toises high ; and, according to the report of the
Tungusians, the animal was, when they first saw
it, seven toises below the surface of the ice, & c.

148 ELEPHANT OF THE LENA.

“ On arriving with the Mammoth at Borchaya,
our first care was to separate the remaining flesh
and ligaments from the bones, which were then
packed up. When I arrived at Jakutsk, I had
the good fortune to re-purchase the tusks, and
from thence expedited the whole to St Peters-
burgn.”*

The skeleton is now put up in the Museum of
the Academy, and the skin still remains attached
to the head and the feet.

The Mammoth is described by M. Cuvier as a
different species from either of the two Elephants
living at the present day, the African or the
Indian. It is distinguished from them by the
teeth, and by the size of the tusks, which are
from ten to fifteen feet long, much curved, and
have a spiral turn outwards. The alveoli of the
tusks are also larger and are produced farther.
The neck is shorter, the spinal processes larger,
all the bones of the skeleton are stronger, and the
scabruous surfaces for the insertion of the muscles
more prominent than in the other species. The
skin being covered with thick hair, induces M.
Cuvier to consider that it was the inhabitant of a
cold region. The form of the head is also diffe-
ent from that of the living species, as well as
the arrangement of the lines of the enamel of the
teeth : but for these and other particulars, ace the

* Mem. of Imp. Academy of Petersburg!!, vol. v.

ELEPHANT OF THE LENA. 149

memoirs of M. Cuvier, in the “ Annales du
Museum d’Histoire Nfcturelle.”

The Mammoth more nearly resembles the
Indian than the African species of Elephant.

A part of the skin, and some of the hair of this
animal, were sent by Mr Adams to Sir Joseph
Banks, who presented them to the Museum of the
Royal College of Surgeons. The hair is entirely
separated from the skin, excepting in one very
small part, where it still remains firmly attached.
It consists of two sorts, common hair and bristles,
and of each there are several varieties, differing in
length and thickness. That remaining fixed on
the skin is of the colour of the camel, an inch
and a half long, very thick set, and curled in
locks. It is interspersed with a few bristles,
about three inches long, of a dark reddish colour.

Among the separate parcels of hair are some
rather redder than the short hair just mentioned,
about four inches long, and some bristles nearly
black, much thicker than horse hair, and from
twelve to eighteen inches long.

The skin when first brought to the Museum
was offensive. It is now quite dry and hard, and
where most compact, is half an inch thick. Its
colour is the dull black of the living Elephants.

The huge American animal, considered to
belong to the tribe of Proboscideans, will exceed
in size and massiveness of skeleton any of the
creatures we have yet noticed. Our figure of

\bO

THE GREAT MASTODON,

PLATE VI.

Is taken from the Ossemens Fossilesof Cuvier, and
will give some idea of the bulk and form of this
creature. The remains of the Mastodon have been
found over the greater part of North America,
and in some places in such abundance, that to
one of its localities has been applied the name of
“ Big bone lick while the frequency of their
remains on the banks of the Ohio, has gained for
the Mastodon the appellation of the “ Animal of
the Ohio.”

It is considerably beyond a hundred years since
these immense deposits of bones were first noticed,
and they occupied a considerable portion of the
attention of Pallas and Camper, and Dr Hunter,
the former unravelling the confusion which had
been created by considering these remains identical
with the Mammoth of Siberia. But it was not
until about the year 1 800 that any thing approach¬
ing to a perfect skeleton was procured, which,
after great labour, Mr W. Peale, founder of th^

I

GREAT MASTODON.

THE GREAT MASTODON.

151

Museum of Natural History in Philadelphia,
succeeded in completing, so far as to give a
tolerable idea of the form and size of this animal.
In one of the deposits of bones found at Withe,
in Virginia, a mass of little branches, grass, and
leaves, in a half bruised state, among them a
species of rose, now common in Virginia, were
found enclosed in a kind of sac, which is the
authority authors have, independent of their
reasoning from its structure, that the animal
fed on these substances ; while there are records
existing of the natives having found, with some
heads, “ a long nose, under which was the
mouth.”

When these remains came under the inspection
of Baron Cuvier, he at once considered them as
belonging to an animal, which would form a
genus different from the Elephant, and proposed
for it the title of Mastodon , from the mammillary
form of the teeth ; and after concluding his
examination, he sums up the whole, by giving an
opinion of the form and mode of life of this
animal.

“ That the great Mastodon, or animal of the
Ohio, resembled the Elephant in its tusks and
osteology, except in the form of the grinders ; that
it had most probably a trunk ; that its height did
not surpass that of the Elephant, but that it was
of a larger form, and had thicker limbs, with st

152

THE GREAT MASTODON.

less capacious belly ; that notwithstanding these
agreements, the peculiar structure of the grinders
would be sufficient to characterize it as a genus
different from the Elephant ; that it fed much in
the same manner as the Hippopotamus, or Wild
Boar, preferring the roots and other fleshy parts of
vegetables ; that this kind of nourishment would
lead it to seek the soft or marshy grounds ; but
that, nevertheless, it was not formed to swim and
live in the water like the Hippopotamus, but was
truly a land animal ; that the bones are now very
common in North America ; that they are there
better preserved, and fresher than the other fossil
bones, but there is not the least proof or authentic
information which could lead to the supposition,
that the animal now exists either in America or
elsewhere.”

The remains of other animals apparently resem¬
bling the Mastodon, have been discovered in
Europe and South America; so that even this
form seems to have had its congeners in an ancient
world.

The next animal to which we shall advert, now
lives in the Waters of Africa ; it is

153

THE HIPPOPOTAMUS.

The Hippopotamus, amidst the flood
Flexile and active as the smallest swimmer,

But on the bank ill balanced and infirm.

Following the Elephants of such stupendous
animal bulk, we have placed in our systems an
animal nearly as large, but standing much lower
upon its limbs, while it is entirely aquatic in its
habits. Upon the land it is certainly the most
unwieldy and unshapely animal in existence, and
like all the aquatic mammalia we are acquainted
with, the form is round, shapeless, but smooth,
and possessing no sudden angles, which, while
they might assist the symmetry, would offer
resistance when swimming. The skin is hairless,
almost like that of the Cetaceae when newly seen
after immersion ; and underneath there is a thick
coat of fat, as under the skin of the Swine, and
perhaps somewhat analogous to the blubber of the
Whale.

One species only of Hippopotamus is yet
known with any degree of authenticity ; it is

154

THE COMMON HIPPOPOTAMUS.

Hippopotamus amphibius. — Auct.

PLATE VII.

The Hippopotamus inhabits principally the
rivers of South Africa, but is receding fast before
civilization, and it is not now found without a
march of considerable distance to the interior.
The rivers of the north of Egypt, on the Nile,
are also inhabited by them, where they are
gregarious in small parties. Like all the large
animals of this family, they are herbivorous, and
only quit the water by night, or during the
greatest seclusion, feeding on roots and succulent
stems of large aquatic plants. Their system of
dentition is fitted for cutting and bruising ; the
teeth are of large size, very heavy, and yield the
firmest and hardest kind of ivory. The eyes,
nostrils, and ears, are all placed nearly on the
same plane, which allows the use of three senses,
and of respiration, with a very small portion of
the animal being exposed, and a shot at the
whole great bulk of the animal can scarcely ever

THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. Native of Africa.
Daniels.

THE COMMON HIPPOPOTAMUS. 155

be obtained. By the natives they are trapped
in pits, while the colonists use the rifle. They
are valuable both on account of the uses to which
their skins are applied, their much esteemed meat,
and particularly for the estimation in which the
ivory of their teeth is held.

Burchell describes the colour of the animal
as of an uniform hue, correctly imitated by a
light tint of China ink, and having the skin des¬
titute of hair, except a few scattered bristles on
the muzzle, edges of the ears, and tail. The
eyes and ears were disproportionally small ; the
mouth altogether disproportionally large. The
animal alluded to was the first of the kind Mr
Burchell had seen newly killed. It was said only
to be half grown, yet its bulk was equal to twc
oxen. Upon arriving at the spot, they were
floating the animal to the bank, and were labour¬
ing hard to get it out of the water ; the mon¬
strous size, and almost shapeless mass of even a
small Hippopotamus, when lying on the ground,
compared with the people who stood around it,
appeared enormous. When rolled upon the
grassy bank, all who had knives immediately fell
to work in cutting it up. The hide, above an
inch in thickness, and hardly flexible, was dragged
off, as if they had been tearing the planks from a
ship’s side ; it was carefully divided into pieces,
that would best admit of being cut into shamboks,

156

THE COMMON HIPPOPOTAMUS.

as these constituted to the Klaar- water people the
greatest part of the profits. The ribs are covered
with a thick layer of fat, celebrated as the great¬
est delicacy, and known to the colonists as a
rarity by the name of Zeekce-spek, (sea-cow pork.)
This can only be preserved by salting; as on
attempting to dry it in the sun, in the same
manner as the other parts of the animal, it melts
away. The rest of the flesh consists entirely of
lean ; and was, as usual with all other game, cut
into large slices, and dried on the bushes, reser¬
ving only enough for the present use. Three
bushels, at least, of half chewed grass were taken
out of its stomach and intestines.*

It has been generally considered, that there is
only one species of Hippopotamus known from
recent specimens. M. Desmoulins is the only
person who has given us any reason to doubt it,
and as we find other animals of North and South,
or South and West Africa, though closely allied,
co differ, there is reason to suppose, that in this
case we may also have distinct species. The
question is at present quite undecided. M. Des¬
moulins takes his characters from the skeleton of
a Hippopotamus from the Cape, and one from
Senegal. In the first, the sagittal crest is, at least,
a fifth of the distance from the occipital crest, to

*

Burch ell’s Travels in South Africa.

TIIE COMMON HIPPOPOTAMUS. 157

the end of the nose; in the other, which is larger,
it is scarcely the sixth. In the animal of the
Cape, the lower lateral incisors are more bent.
The canine teeth do not seem to be similarly used
in the two animals, which would argue, that there
was a different mechanism employed in the move¬
ments of the jaw ; and they are always larger in
the Senegal animal. Very many smaller distinc¬
tions are pointed out, which occur in comparing
the different bones of the animals ; but these it is
impossible to describe without an actual compari¬
son. They are, upon the whole, not considered
less than those which the Baron has pointed out
as separating the fossil from the living species
He has applied to them the titles of II. Capensis
and II. Senegalinsis .

Three fossil species have been indicated — IL
major , minor, and mtdius.

158

RHINOCEROS.

T1 ie Rhinoceri are another race of enormous
animals, which are peculiar to the warm Darts of
Africa and India, inhabiting the districts where
vegetation is profuse, and where there is an abun¬
dance of water. They may be said to be charac¬
terized externally, principally by the great thick¬
ness and strength of their skin, which is destitute
of hair, often arranged in folds, and presents, as it
were, a mailed armour, almost impenetrable to an
ordinary leaden bullet ; and by the nose and snout
being furnished by one or two excrescences having
the form and appearance of curved formidable
horns. These are of a substance as if hair was
agglutinated together, and rendered compact,
possessing no central sheath, and unconnected
with the bone of the skull. Mr Burchell’s remarks
on their structure are interesting. “ The horn
of the Rhinoceros, differing in structure from that
of ever}' other animal, and placed in a situation
of which it is the only example, had long appeared

RHINOCEROS.

159

to me to be an anomaly very deserving examina¬
tion. Dispersed over the skin of all animals are
pores, which I have supposed secrete a peculiar
fluid, which may be designated by the name of
corneous matter. This secretion or fluid is
designed by nature for the forming of various
most useful and important additamentae, all of
which continue growing during the whole life,
have an insertion not deeper than the skin, and
are farther distinguished by the absence of all
sensibility and vascular organization, being purely
exuvial parts, like the perfected feathers of birds.
In all these parts, the growth takes place by the
addition of more matter at their base. When
these pores are separate, they produce hairs ;
when they are confluent, and in a line, they pro¬
duce the nails, the claws, and the hoofs, the fibrous
appearance of which naturally leads to the suppo¬
sition of their being confluent hairs ; and the same
may be said of the scales of the Manis, the quills
of the Porcupine, Hedge-hog, and other animals,
which may be regarded as hairs of extraordinary
size. When the pores are confluent, and in a
ring, they furnish the corneous core of the horns
of the animals of the ruminating class ; and when
confluent on a circular order, they supply matter
for the formation of a solid horn, such as we see
in the Rhinoceros. At its base, it is, in most
nstances, evidently rough and fibrous, like a

1 GO

RHINOCEROS.

worn-out brush. It grows from the skin only, in
the same manner as the hair, — a circumstance
which entirely divests of improbability the asser¬
tion of its sometimes being seen loose, although by
no means so loose as some writers have supposed.
Nor is it at all extraordinary that the Rhinoceros
should possess the power of moving it to a certain
degree, since the Hog, to which, in the natural
arrangement, it so closely approaches, has a much
greater power of moving its bristles, which, if
concreted, would form a horn of the same nature.”*
The teeth vary considerably at different periods
of their age ; their feet have three toes, apparent
externally, as if shod with blunt hoofs ; and the
real structure of their bones, with that of the
other parts of the skeleton, will be seen in our
first plate.

The Rhinoceri go sometimes in pairs and in
small groups, but at other times are gregareous.
They feed entirely on vegetables, tender branches
of trees, and the grasses ; and their interior struc¬
ture, though simple, is very ample, the stomach
and caecum very large, the intestines very long.
The upper lip is rather long, elongated into a
narrow point, and prehensile, thus continuing
the form of the proboscidean animals, and is used
in the same way to collect and gather in the

• Burch. Trav. ii. p. 76.

RHINOCEROS.

161

vegetable food.* In temper they are slovenly
and inoffensive, but on being irritated, they are
furious and revengeful, possessing enormous
strength, and exercising a most formidable power
with their horn, which renders them no despicable
assailant, even to animals the most powerful and
active. Their principal horn is sometimes nearly
three feet in length, and though a blunt looking
instrument, when wielded by an animal of such bulk
and strength, is made to force its way through
almost any resistance.

The skins of the Rhinoceri are used for various
purposes both in Africa and India ; but in the
latter country they seem more pursued as a
matter of emolument by the natives, — few Euro¬
pean sportsmen liking to engage them, both from
the actual danger, and the great dislike which the
Elephants have to face them. Shields are made
by the Indians, which will turn a leaden bullet ;
and their tallow is used medicinally — for which
purpose we also find it mentioned in some of the
old Pharmacopeias. They are shot by the native
sportsmen, Colonel Williamson tells us, with
jingals , or heavy guns, containing an iron ball of
three ounces weight, and an aim is generally
taken at the eye or thorax, or some of the vulnerable
parts, where the skin is thinnest, and the part is

* See our account of that animal, p. 164, extracted from
the description of Dr Parsons.

162

RHINOCEROS.

generally struck with the greatest correctness.
According to the last mentioned writer, the
Rhinoceros (and he speaks, we believe, of the R.
Indicus ) is a much more active animal than what
he is represented to be by others, possessing great
acuteness of smell, great rapidity of motion, and
accompanied by a vivacity, such as a cursory
view of the animal would by no means suggest.
He writes also of this animal making wanton
attacks on the Elephant whenever he has an
opportunity, and mentions the circumstance of
the latter being found with the belly torn
open. An instance is, at the same time, related,
as well known, of a Rhinoceros, which even ren¬
dered the roads impassable by attacking travellers,
or those who passed near his haunts ; and he relates
an attack upon a sporting company, which was
made by the same animal in the close of the year
1788, as generally known to the army and resi¬
dents of the district. “ Two officers belonging

» _

to the troops cantoned at Dunapore, near Patna,
went down the river towards Monghyr, to shoot
and hunt. They had encamped in the vicinity of
Derriapore, and had heard some reports of a
Gheudah, or Rhinoceros, having attacked some
travellers many miles off. One morning, just as
they were rising about day break, to go in quest
of game, they heard a violent uproar ; and on
looking out, found that a Rhinoceros was goring

RHINOCEROS.

163

their horses, both of which being fastened by their
head and heel with ropes, were consequently unable
either to escape or resist. Their servants took to
their heels, and concealed themselves in the
neighbouring jow jungles ; and the gentlemen
had just time to climb up into a small tree not
far distant, before the furious beast, having com¬
pleted the destruction of the horses, turned his
attention to their masters. They were barely out
of his reach, and by no means exempt from
danger, especially as he assumed a threatening
appearance, and seemed intent on their downfall.
After keeping them in dreadful suspense for some
time, and using some efforts to dislodge them,
seeing the sun rise, he retreated to his haunt ; not,
however, without occasionally casting an eye
back as with regret at leaving what he wanted
the power to destroy.” *

Both a single and two horned Rhinoceros was
known to the ancients, as we know from their
sculpture, coins, and writings. What the indivi¬
dual species were, we cannot now so well make
out.

We shall now examine the species which have
been recorded ; and shall first notice the animals
of the Indian continent.

*

Oriental Field Sports.

If) 4

THE INDIAN RHINOCEROS.

Rhinoceros Indicus. — Cuv.

PLATES VIII. and IX.

R. unicornis, Linn. — Indian Rhinoceros, Dr Parsons —

Griffith's Cuvier — Menagerie du Musee.

This is the oldest known species of modern days.
It has been figured by Albert Durer, Dr Parsons,
and Edwards ; more lately by Frederick Cuvier,
in his great work, and by Griffiths, in the Animal
Kingdom of Cuvier, both from the same animal,
which was first exhibited in London, and after¬
wards reached the Parisian menagerie. Dr Par¬
sons’ account was taken from a specimen exhibited
in London in 1739 ; the animal was young, and
the horn had scarcely reached the length of more
than an inch. We add a great portion of his
interesting and minute description.

“ He was fed here with rice, sugar, and hay: of
the first he ate seven pounds mixed with three of
sugar every day, divided into three meals ; and

INDIAN RHINOCEROS
Liverpool Zool. Gardens.

THE INDIAN RHINOCEROS.

165

about a truss of hay in a week, besides greens of
different kinds, which were often brought to him,
and of which he seemed fonder than of his dry
victuals ; and drank large quantities of water at
a time, being then, it seems, two years old.

“ He appeared very peaceable in his temper,
suffering himself to be handled in any part of his
body ; but outrageous when struck or hungry,
and pacified in either case only by victuals. In
his outrage he jumps about, and springs to an
incredible height, driving his head against the
walls of the place with great fury and quickness,
notwithstanding his lumpish aspect : this Dr
Parsons saw several times, especially in a morning,
before his rice and sugar were given him.

“ In height he did not exceed a young heifer,
but was very broad and thick. His head, in pro¬
portion, is very large, having the hinder part,
next his ears, extremely high, in proportion to
the rest of his face, which is flat, and sinks
down suddenly forward towards the middle, rising
again to the horn, but in a less degree. The
horn stands on the nose of the animal, as on a
hill. The part of the bone on which the horn is
fixed, rises into a blunt cone, to answer to a
cavity in the basis of the horn, which is very
hard and solid, having no manner of hollow nor
core, like those of other quadrupeds. That of
this animal, being young, does not rise from its

166

THE INDIAN RHINOCEROS.

rough base above an inch high, is black and
smooth at the top, like those of the ox-kind, but
rugged downwards ; the determination of its
growth is backwards, instead of straight up ;
which is apparent, as well in the different horns
of old Rhinoceroses, as in this of our present
subject; for the distance from the base to the
apex of this, backward, is not within a third part
so long as that before, and it has a curved direc¬
tion ; and, considering the proportion of this
animal’s size to its horn, we may justly imagine,
that the creature which bore any one of those
great ones, must have been a stupendous animal
in size and strength; and, indeed, it were wo
wonder, if such were untractable at any rate.

“ The sides of his under jaw are wide asunder,
slanting outward to the lower edge; and back¬
ward to the neck, the edges turn outward ; from
this structure his head naturally looks large.
The part that reaches from the fore part of the
horn towards the upper lip, may be called the
nose, being very bulky, and having a kind of
circular sweep downward towards the nostrils ;
on all this part he has a great number of rugae
running across the front of it, and advancing on
each side towards his eyes. The nostrils are
situated very low, in the same direction with the
rictus oris, and not above an inch from it. If we
look at him in a fore view, the whole nose, frore

THE INDIAN RHINOCEROS.

167

the top of the horn to the bottom of his lower
lip, seems shaped like a bell, namely, small and
narrow at top, with a broad base. His under lip
is like that of an ox, but the upper more like
that of a horse ; using it, as that creature does, to
gather the hay from the rack, or grass from the
ground ; with this difference, that the Rhinoceros
has a power of stretching it out above six inches,
to a point, and doubling it round a stick or one’s
finger, holding it fast ; so that, as to that action,
it is not unlike the proboscis of an Elephant.

u As to the tongue of the Rhinoceros, though it
be confidently reported by authors, that it is so
rough as to be capable of rubbing a man’s flesh
from his bones ; yet that of our present animal is
soft, and as smooth as that of a calf ; which Dr
Parsons often felt, having had his hand sucked
several times by him. Whether it may grow
more rough as the beast grows older, we cannot
say. His eyes are dull and sleepy, much like
a hog in shape, and situated nearer the nose than
that of any quadruped ever seen, which he very
seldom opens entirely. His ears are broad and
thin towards the tops, much like those of a hog;
but have each a narrow round root with some
rugae about it ; and rises, as it were, out of a
sinus surrounded with a plica. His neck is very
short, being that part which lies between the back
edge of the jaw and the plica of the shoulder; on

IGS

THi: INDIAN RHINOCEROS.

this part there are two distinct folds, which go
quite round it, only the fore one is broken under¬
neath, and has a hollow flap hanging from it, so
deep that it would contain a man’s fist shut, the con¬
cave side being forward. From the middle of the
hinder one of these folds or plicae, arises another,
which, passing backwards along the neck, is lost
before it reaches that which surrounds the fore
part of the body. His shoulders are very thick
and heavy, and have each another fold downward,
that crosses the fore leg ; and almost meeting that
of the fore part of the body just mentioned, they
both double under the belly close behind the
fore leg.

“ His body, in general, is very thick, and juts
out at the sides like that of a cow with calf. He
has a hollow in his back, which is mostly forward,
but backwards, the line or ridge rises much higher
than that of the withers ; and, forming the plica
on the loins, falls down suddenly to the tail,
making an uneven line. His belly hangs low,
being not far from the ground, as it sinks much in

the middle. From the highest point in his back,

*

the plica of the loins runs down on each side
between the last ribs and the hip, and is lost
before it comes to the belly ; but, above the place
of its being lost, another arises, and runs back¬
ward round the hind legs, a little above the joint ;
this he calls the crural fold, which turns up

THE INDIAN RHINOCEROS.

169

behind till it meets another transverse one, which
runs from the side of the tail forward, and is lost
before it reaches within two inches of that of the
loins. The legs are thick and strong; those
before, when he stands firm, bend back at the
knee, a great way from a straight line, being very
round, and somewhat taper downwards. The
hinder legs are also very strong, bending back¬
wards at the joint to a blunt angle, under which
the limbs grow smaller, and then becomes
gradually thicker, as it approaches the foot ? so
also does that part of the fore leg. About the
joint of each of his legs, there is a remarkable
plica when he bends them in lying down, which
disappears when he stands.”

Another specimen, as v'e have mentioned, vras
exhibited in London in 1815, and a good figure
appeared in Griffith. This animal, to judge from
the figure, was of a much greater age than Dr
Parsons’, — the horn lengthened, and appearing a
formidable weapon.

The animal recorded by F. Cuvier as being in
the Parisian menagerie, is nearly thus noticed.
The height, at the most elevated part of the back,
was four feet ten inches, and its entire length
about nine feet. The body was covered with a
thick tuberculated and almost naked skin, formed
into irregular folds. The natural colour of the
skin, w’as a dull grayish violet, but it appeared

170

THE INDIAN RHINOCEROS.

almost black, from being smeared with grease two
or three times weekly, to prevent the hide
becoming dry and cracking. Under the folds, it
was of a flesh colour, and much softer. Upon
certain parts, the outside of the limbs, the knees,
and about the head and face, excrescences from
the skin had acquired a considerable length, and
resembled horny threads, which have been con¬
sidered by some authors as a disease. The hairs,
principally upon the tail and ears, were strong
and smooth, while a few, which were found on the
other parts of the body, were thick and hard, but
had a woolly appearance. The knees were bent ;
but this was evidently caused by confinement
and the inactive life which it led. The feet were
furnished with three large nails, almost in the
form of slippers, covering the toes above and
below. The tail, kept habitually in a hanging
position, could be moved backwards and forwards.
The eyes were very small, a simple eyelid and
round pupil. The nostrils open upon the sides of
the upper lip. The external ear was large and
moveable. The sense of touch appeared only to
exist in the upper lip. The horn, which was short
and blunt, was used, in anger, to strike, and even
to tear and destroy the object of attack, and
there seemed an instinctive motion to make use
of that part rather than any other, in any case
where the employment of force was necessary.

THE INDIAN RHINOCEROS.

171

All the senses of the animal, except that of
touch, appeared to be very delicate. It frequently
consulted its sense of smell, and gave the pre¬
ference to sweet fruits, or even sugar itself. It
collected the smallest things with its moveable
lip to carry them to its mouth ; and when eating
honey, collected it with this lip, and conducted it
to its mouth with the assistance of its tongue.

Our figures of this animal are taken from a
young specimen, belonging to the Liverpool
Zoological Gardens, during its late visit to
Edinburgh. We give below an account of it, for
which we are indebted to a friend, who used
considerable pains in taking correct measure¬
ments, and ascertaining its habits since it had
been kept in confinement.*

• Within the last fifty years there have been, so far as I
am aware of, only four individuals brought to Great Britain.
The first, in 1790, which died in 1793 of inflammation,
brought on by the accidental dislocation of his right fore
leg ; the second, in 1799, which was sold by Mr Pidcock to
an agent of theEmperor of Germany for £1000, but it died
before it could be exported ; the third was exhibited at
Exeter Change, London, in 1810, and after being kept
four years, was sold for exhibition on the Continent ;
a fourth specimen is at present living, exhibiting in Edin¬
burgh, which I have examined and accurately measured,
and has been the occasion of my drawing up this paper.
The animal in question is a male, and was brought from
Bengal, having been for some time kept in the gardens of
the Governor- General at Calcutta. He has been sixteen
months in Britain, during which time he has visited

172

THE INDIAN RHINOCEROS.

Another animal, the One-Horned Sumatran
Rhinoceros, Rhinoceros Sondaicus, Cuvier, is
closely allied to this ; it is a native of the Indian

London, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, and is at present the
property of the proprietors of the Zoological Gardens at
Liverpool. It is stated to be six years old, and to
weigh two tons ; is a beautiful specimen, and appears
to be in the highest state of health. It is fed on bruised
oats, boiled rice, and bran steeped in warm water, with
large quantities of hay, and a few carrots ; consuming,
in the whole, about one hundred weight and a-half per
day. Its drink is water, with the chill off. There are
two canine teeth, one on each side of the lower jaw, and
two corresponding ones just protruding at the upper jaw ;
the grinders are so far back in the head, that it is impos¬
sible to count them. There are long eyelashes on the
upper eyelid, but more on the lower ; and the only
appearance of hair is on the ears, the extremity of the tail,
and three or four on the centre of the back, between the
shoulders : its skin is dressed with cocoa-nut oil. I may
remark that it is retromingent. The following are the
measurements, which were taken with as much accuracy as
possible, consistent with the motions of the animal. They
invariably include the angles of the body.

Feet lnchei

Height from the highest part of the back, 4 H

Length from the tip of the snout, to the

extremity of the tail, . . .12 9f

Length from tip of snout, to back of skull

bone, . 3 0

Length from back of skull, to the insertion

of the tail, . 7

Length of tail, . 2 0

Length of fore feet from the fold of the skin,

to the toes, . 2 5

Girth of fore feet at the knee, ... 1 lOf

/ '

RHINOCEROS.

THE INDIAN RHINOCEROS.

173

Islands, and was first discovered in Sumatra bv

*/

Dr Horsfield and Sir Stamford Raffles, while the
distinctions were pointed out and the name applied
by Baron Cuvier.

Length of hind feet, from the fold of the skin,

Feet

Inches

to the toes, .

1

8

Girth of ditto, .

2

6f

Width from the Tygoma over the skull,

1

5

Width from the same point under the skull,
Length from the fold of the skin, at the back

3

0

of the head, to the tip of the lower jaw,
Width of the fold of the skin straight across

2

u8

the shoulder, ....

Width of the fold of skin straight along the

1

11

body, .

2

10

Girth of the middle of the belly,

9

4*

Girth of the neck within the folds,

4

4I

Space between the base of the ears,

0

4

Length of the ears, .....

1

01

Space from the ear to the eye,

1

0

Space from the eye to the nostril,

0

9

Length of the eye, ....

0

2

I have said nothing of the general appearance of the
animal, because the common engravings give a very correct
idea of its figure. Its eye is dull, and its disposition is
heavy and sluggish, seeming inclined to sleep a good deal.
The keeper appears to have it in great subjection ; but on
one occasion, during his absence, it shewed a sudden
ebullition of irritation, when it repeatedly knocked its
head with considerable violence against the wall with
great quickness ; but on the reappearance of the keeper,
immediately became tranquil. The only noise I have
ever heard it emit, was like the lowing of a calf. Much
has been written about the roughness of the tongue ; the
tongue of this individual appears to me to be very similar
to that of a cow, except that it is much thinner at the
point.

174

ONE HORNED SUMATRAN
RHINOCEROS.

Rhinoceros Sondaicus. — Cuvier.

PLATE X.

Rhinoceros Sondaicus, Cuv. — Horsfield’s Zool. Re¬
searches in Java.

The chief distinctions are seen in the more
attenuated head and muzzle. The folds appear
less rough and prominent; those of the neck
comparatively smaller ; and the posterior fold,
which has an oblique direction towards the spine,
is less extended. The thick covering, or coat, is
divided on the surface into small tubercles, or
polygon ous scutula ; and a few short bristly hairs,
rising from a slight depression in the centre, con¬
stitute a peculiar character. The ears are bordered
with a series of long stiff bristles, closely arranged,
and a similar series also extends along the tail
through its whole length. Dr Horsfield gives
the following description of its habits.

“ TKe individual represented in our plate, and
which has afforded the preceding details, was

\

PLATE 10 .

SUMATRAN RHINOCEROS.

ONE-HORNED SUMATRAN RHINOCEROS. 175

taken, when very young, in the forests of the
province of Keddu, and was conveyed to the
residency at Magellan, in the year 1815 or 1816.

“ By kind treatment, it soon became domesti¬
cated to such a degree, that it permitted itself ta
be carried in a large vehicle, resembling a cart, to
the capital of Surracarta. I saw it during its con¬
veyance, and found it perfectly mild and tractable.
At Surracarta, it was confined in the large area or
square which bounds the entrance to the royal
residence.

“ A deep ditch, about three feet wide, limited its
range, and for several years it never attempted to
pass it. It was perfectly reconciled to its con¬
finement, and never exhibited any symptoms of
uneasiness or rage, although, on its first arrival,
harassed in various ways by a large proportion
of the inhabitants of a populous capital, whose
curiosity induced them to inspect the stranger of
the forest. Branches of trees, shrubs, and various
other twining plants, were abundantly provided
for its food. Of these the spices of cissus and the
small twigs of a native fig tree, were preferred :
but plantains were the most favourite food, and
the abundant manner in which it was supplied
with these by the numerous visiters, tended
greatly to make the animal mild and sociable.
It allowed itself to be handled and examined
freely, and the more daring of the visiters some-

176 ONE-HORNED SUMATRAN RHIN'OCEROS.

times mounted on its back. It required copious
supplies of water ; and, when not taking food, or
intentionally roused by the natives, it generally
placed itself in the large excavations, which its
movements soon caused in the soft earth that
covered the allotted space.

“ The animal rapidly increased in size. In the
year 1 81 7> having been confined at Surracarta
about nine or ten months, the dimensions, as
already stated, were nine feet in length, and four
feet three inches in height at the rump. In 1821
it had acquired the height of five feet seven inches.
This information I received from my friend Mr
Stavers, who is now in England, on a visit from
the interior of Java ; and he favoured me farther
with the following details, which complete the
history of the individual whose figure is annexed.
Having considerably increased in size, the ditch
of three feet in breadth was insufficient for con¬
fining it ; but, leaving the enclosure, it frequently
passed to the dwellings of the natives, destroying
the plantations of fruit trees, and culinary vege¬
tables, which always surround them. It likewise
terrified those natives that accidentally met with
it, and who were unacquainted with its appearance
and habits. But it shewed no ill-natured disposi¬
tion, and readily allowed itself to be driven back
to the enclosure like a Buffalo. The excessive
excavations which it made by continually wallow-

ONE-HORNED SUMATRAN RHINOCEROS. 177

ing in the mire, and the accumulation of putrifying
vegetable matter, in process of time became
offensive at the entrance of the palace, and its
removal was ordered by the Emperor to a small
village near the confines of the capital, where, in
the year 1821, it was accidentally drowned in a
rivulet.

“ The Rhinoceros lives gregarious in many parts
of Java. It is not limited to a particular region
or climate, but its range extends from the level of
the ocean to the summit of mountains of con¬
siderable elevation. I noticed it at Tangung, near
the confines of the Southern Ocean, in the districts
of the native princes, and on the summit of the
high peaks of the Priangang regions, but it prefers
high situations. It is not generally distributed,
but is tolerably numerous in circumscribed spots,
distant from the dwellings of man, and covered
with a profuse vegetation. On the whole, it is
more abundant in the western than in the eastern
districts of the island. Its retreats are discovered
by deeply excavated passages which it forms along
the declivities of mountains and hills. I found
them occasionally of great depth and extent.

“ In its manners the Rhinoceros of Java is com¬
paratively mild. It is not unfrequently met in
the wilds by Europeans and by natives. No
instance of its shewing a disposition to make an
attack has come to my knowledge. Being the

M

178 ONE-HORNED SUMATRAN RHINOCEROS.

largest animal in Java, its passions are not roused,
as in many parts of India, by contentions with the
Elephant. It is rarely seen in a domestic state,
but it is occasionally decoyed into pits, and
destroyed. Our animal rambles chiefly at night,
and often occasions serious injury to the planta¬
tions of coffee and pepper, which are laid out in
the fertile districts selected for its retreat.

“ The horns and skin are employed for medicinal
purposes by the natives.”*

• Horsfield’s Zool. Researches in Java.

ii a. iv rr. i

TWO HORNED SUMATRAN RHINOCEROS

E. Cuvier.

TIIE TWO-HORNED SUMATRAN
RHINOCEROS.

Rhinoceros Sumatranut.

PLATE XL

Sumatran Rhinoceros, Bell, Phil. Trans. — Rhinoceros
ae Sumatra, F. Cuv. Mammiff. — R. Bicornis Sumatranus,
Griff. Cuv. Synopsis. — Desmarest, Mammalogie, ii. 401.

One of the oldest authenticated descriptions of
this animal is always referred to, as given by
Mr William Bell, surgeon at Bencoolen, in the
Transactions of the Philosophical Society. That
gentleman made his observations from an animal,
shot about ten miles from Fort Marlborough, within
a day from its death, — a male, four feet four inches
high at the shoulder, and about eight feet five
inches high. He judges? from its appearance,
that it had not reached maturity. The shape of
the animal was much like that of a hog. The
general colour, a brownish ash ; under the belly,
between the legs, and fold of the skin, a dirty
flesh colour. The ears were small and pointed,

ISO TWO-HORNED SUMATRAN RHINOCEROS.

lined and edged with short black hair. The horns
were black, the larger was placed immediately
above the nose, pointing upwards, and was bent
a little back ; it was about nine inches long. The
small horn was four inches long, of a pyramidal
shape, flattened a little, and placed above the
eyes, rather a little more forward, standing in a
line with the upper horn immediately above it.
The neck was thick and short ; the skin, on the
under side, thrown into folds, and these again
wrinkled. The body was bulky and round ; and
from the shoulder ran a line or fold, though but
faintly marked : there were several other folds and
•wrinkles on the body and legs, and the whole
gave rather the appearance of softness. The
whole skin of the animal is rough, and covered
very thinly with short black hair. The skin was
not more than one-third of an inch in thickness
at the strongest part, and under the belly scarcely
one-fourth.*

In 1825, F. Cuvier gave another figure of this
Rhinoceros in his Mammifferes , which nearly
agrees with what we have detailed above,
the colour is a dull brown, the skin is nearly
quite smooth, and without any of the tuberculated
structure, which is so peculiarly seen in K.
Sondaicus , and it is furnished with a greater

* W. Bell’s Philosophical Transactions, for 1793.

TWO-HORNED SUMATRAN RHINOCEROS. 181

proportion of short and strong hairs. The folds
in the skin, with the exception of those on the
neck, are shallow, and there is only one large one
behind the fore legs, and another before the hind
quarter. The height of this animal is only given
at about three feet ten inches.

We have used the figure of F. Cuvier, and
regret that there seems to be little known of the
habits of this animal, farther than inhabiting the
island of Sumatra.

These three species seem to be ascertained as
clearly distinct in the Asiatic continent. De
Blainville gave to another, which he characterized
from the skull, the title of R. Camperii ; but
the species remains in uncertainty, and can scarcely
be now admitted, without farther examination.
From the examination of the skull, G. Cuvier
thought that it might be a young species of R.
Sondaicus .

The species of Africa, which are authenticated
with any certainty, are only two, R. Africanus
and R. simus , Burchell.

THE TWO-HORNED AFRICAN
RHINOCEROS.

B. Africanus. — .Cuvier,

PLATE XII.

R. bicornis, Sparman, Linnams. — R. Africanus, Cuvier ,

Burchett.

This Rhinoceros, which was formerly frequent
within the boundary of the Cape Colony, is the
animal seen and described by most of the
travellers in Africa, during the last century ; and
being then the only two horned species which was
known, received the distinguishing epithet of
bicornis, not, however, now a good appellation,
from several species having a similar number of
like appendages. It was met with frequently,
and is noticed most lately, in the interesting
travels of Mr Burchell, who was fortunate in being
able to shoot no fewer than nine of these huge
animals. Speaking of the second which came
under his observation, he says, “ The first view of
this beast, suggested the idea of an enormous hog,

TWO HOKXKD AFRICAN RHINOCEROS.
Daniel.

TWO-HORNED AFRICAN RHINOCEROS. 183

to which, besides, in its general form, it bears
some outward resemblance in the shape of its
skull, and the smallness of its eyes, and the pro¬
portionate size of its ears ; but in its shapeless
clumsy legs and feet, it more resembles the
Hippopotamus and Elephant. Its length, over
the forehead, and along the back, from the
extremity of the nose to the insertion of the tail,
was eleven feet two inches, of English measure ;
but in a direct line, not more than nine feet three
inches. The tail, which, at its extremity, was
compressed or flattened vertically, measured
twenty inches, and the circumference of the
largest part of the body, eight feet four inches.”
There was no hair, except on the edges of the
ears, and on the extremity of the tail. The
skin, though thick and strong, did not flatten the

balls which did not strike some bone.” Thev

«/

were, however, of a mixture of lead and tin ; and
Mr Burchell admits, that bullets of pure lead,
fired with a small charge, or at too great a distance,
would fall from the strong part of the folds,
flattened and harmless.

The Rhinoceros of Africa does not seem to be
looked upon with the same terror by the natives
or Hottentots, as the animal of India. He pos¬
sesses the same keen and nice smell, and delicate
sense of hearing, and can only be approached

184 TWO-HORNED AFRICAN RHINOCEROS.

against wind, and they do sometimes become
furious, and attack their pursuers ; but the cool
disposition of the native hunters, and their great
agility, protects them. They allow the animal to
rush impetuously on, and, when near, by shifting
nimbly aside, avoid the charge, and have time,
in their turn, to attack him, and to reload their
muskets. They are often killed with a single
ball, and one individual thinks it no hazard to
act alone against them. In South Africa they
are much esteemed as food, which Burchell agrees
in considering excellent, much resembling beef.
The tongue is considered the most delicate part.
When an animal of this description is killed, the
neighbours all flock around it, and encamp by
its side, until they have consumed it entirely,
being scarcely so provident as to dry any part of
the flesh for after use. The bushmen are insati¬
able. They broil, eat, and talk, and no sooner
have they finished one slice than they turn to
the carcass, and cut another. According to Bruce,
the Rhinoceros is also used as food in North
Africa, and much esteemed by the Shangalla.
The sole of the feet is here reckoned the part
most fitting for the epicure. Of the skin,
shields are sometimes made as in India, which
are said to be capable of turning a musket
ball ; but the most useful and common application

TWO-HORNED AFRICAN RHINOCEROS. 185

of it is for whips, shamboks ;* and the skin is
always immediately cut up into strips for this
purpose.

• * The shambok is a strip three feet or more in length, of
the hide either of a Hippopotamus or Rhinoceros, rounded
to the thickness of a man’s finger, and tapering to the top.
This is universally used in the Colony for a horsewhip,
and is much more durable than the whips of European
manufacture. This manufacture is also known in North
Africa, and forms an article of trade, under the name of
corbage.

]8S

THE FLAT-NOSED RHINOCEROS.

Rhinoceros Simus — Burchell.

PLATE XIII.

Burchell, Journal de Phys. — African Travels, ii. p. 75.

The second African species is so named from
its flattened nose and mouth, by which distinc¬
tions it is easily known from the last, as well as
by the different proportions of its head, and its
greater size.

The following is Mr Burchell’s account of this
Rhinoceros : —

“ In my travels in the interior of Southern
Africa, I met with this animal for the first time
near the 26° of latitude, inhabiting the immense
plains, where they are wild during the greatest part
of the year. They frequent the fountain every
day, not only for drink, but also for the purpose
of rolling in the mud, which, by adhering to a
skin entirely free from hairs, serves to protect them
from the scorching heat of the climate. The size is

PLATE 13

ELAT-NOSED RHINOCERO S . Native of Africa

THE FLAT-NOSED RHINOCEROS. 187

nearly double that of the specimen named Rhino¬
ceros bicornis. These two animals are recognized by
the negroes and Hottentots, as two very distinct
species, and are distinguished by them by different
names. As we have killed ten examples, I have
had sufficient opportunities of observing the cha¬
racters which distinguish them. They consist
principally in the form of the mouth, as may be
verified by comparing the Rhinoceros bicornis and
th & Rhinoceros unicornis with the figure, (PI. XIII.)
which I have carefully drawn after nature. I
have named this species Rhinoceros simus. The
negroes and Hottentots inform me, that it eats
nothing but grass, while the other species feeds
on branches of trees and shrubs, — a peculiarity
which may be inferred from the structure of the
mouth. The head, when separated from the first
vertebrae, was of such enormous weight, that four
men could only raise it from the ground, and eight
were required to put it into the carriage. The
flesh of the two species is equally good to eat ;
and they resemble each other in having a double
horn, and wanting conspicuous hairs on the skin,
which distinguishes, at first sight, the Rhinoceros
unicornis. The following comparative measures,
taken from adult individuals, killed by ourselves,
in these countries, will afford a proof of the diffe¬
rence of size : —

188 THE FLAT-NOSED RHINOCEROS.

From the lips to the insertion of the tail of the

Rhinoceros bicornis, 111 inches, of Rhinoceros simus, 134

Length of the tail, 20 — 25

Circumference of the

body, . . 100 — 140

From the extremity of

the lips to the ear, 27^ — — — • - 43

Several extinct species of Rhinoceros are known,
in part, from their remains, distinct from any of
those we have been noticing. In almost every
/ountry where the bones of the Elephant have
been found, they are accompanied, in nearly equal
quantities, by those of the Rhinoceros. The vale
of Arno, in Italy, is one of the greatest deposits,
also different parts of Germany and Siberia. One
of the more remarkable species, and unfortunately
least known, is scarcely larger than the common
hog. Our authority for its introduction rests
upon the discovery of some teeth and other bones
found in the department of Loire and Garonne,
among the debris of other Rhinoceri, Crocodiles,
and Tortoises. R. minutus has been applied
to it.

We have now come to another genus of
animals, which most of our later zoologists have
agreed to bring into the present situation. It is
the genus Hyrax of Herman, which we shall
illustrate first by

PLATE 14.

SYRIAN HYR AX .

Cuvier.

*

189

THE SYRIAN HYRAX.

Hyrax Syrianus.-— Gmelin.

PLATE XIV.

Hyrax Syrianus, Gruel. — Ashkoko, Bruce ? — Le Daman
d’Ethiopie, H. Syriacus, Fred. Cuvier , Hist. Nat. des
Mammif.

Receding, in its pigmy size, from the great bulk
of the proboscidean animals, this little creature
approaches nearest to the form of the Glires or
Rodentia, looking like a diminutive Hare ; and,
instead of the strong hide, bare and wrinkled, or
with only a few hard bristles, it is clothed with a
thick and short fur; and, in place of dwelling in
the forest, like the Elephant and Rhinoceros, or
in the extensive morasses, as the Mastodon was
supposed to do, it finds its retreat among the rocks,
and affords a support to the birds of prey which
haunt its localities, from the convenience of a
ready food ; and one species, from these habits,
has received the title of “ Rock Rabbit,” or
“ Cape Badger.”

190

THE SYRIAN HYRAX.

PYom the close resemblance which these little
animals have to many of the Glires, they have
been generally placed with them. The Baron
Cuvier, however, by attention to their anatomy,
clearly demonstrated their alliance, at least, with
the animals we have been describing, and has
placed them there, while the latest published
system, by Mr Swainson,* has assigned their
station as the Glireform type of the Pachydermes.

Pallas, who was the first that anatomically
examined the Hyrax, saw specimens alive at
Amsterdam, but took his anatomical details only
from the body, (as Cuvier observes, without the
most important parts, the head and feet,) having
been transmitted to him in spirits after skinning.
By this excellent naturalist, it is placed among
the Cavies, but with the remark, that in several
points it essentially differed from them. His
remarks were taken from the H. Capensis.

Cuvier points out the following near resem¬
blance of the skeleton of Hyrax to some of the
Pachydermes. In the general composition of the
trunk, there are several alliances ; and one of the
more remarkable analogies is, that the Hyrax has
twenty-one ribs on each side, a number greater
than that of other quadrupeds, the Sloth excepted,
which has twenty-three ; and those animals, which

* Classification of Quadrupeds, p. 198.

THE SYRIAN IIYRAX.

191

have the greatest number after the Hyrax, belong
precisely to this order of Pachydermes with
which we wish to range them. The Elephant and
Tapir have each twenty, the Rhinoceros nineteen,
and the Solipedes, which approach nearest the
Pachydermes, eighteen ; while the most of the
Rodentia, on the contrary, have but twelve or
thirteen, 'the Beaver alone having fifteen.*

In the structure of the head it resembles the
Pachydermes. The maxillary bones are very
distinct from those of the Rodentia by the small
size of the suborbital hole, which in the latter is
enormously large. There are four lower incisive
teeth, while the two above are not bent and trun¬
cated, but are triangular and pointed, and re¬
semble those of the Hippopotamus. The other
teeth also differ from those of the Rodentia ; the
condyle of the jaw is also different, permitting
the motion from right to left. This will be illus¬
trated on the accompanying plate of Skull and
dentition of Cape Hyrax. Plate XV.

The number of toes in the Hyrax is four before
and three behind, as in the Tapir. They are
united by the skin to the very nail, as in the
Elephant and Rhinoceros, and represent those of
the former animal, both in their figure and in the
manner in which they are placed upon the foot,

* Ossemens Fossilles.

192

THE SYRIAN HYRAX.

while the wrist joint very closely resembles that
of the Tapirs.

Our plate, which accompanies this, will give
an idea of the form of this curious and yet limited
genus. It is taken from the figure of F. Cuvier,
drawn from a living specimen, which appears to
have been obtained from the Exeter Change
collection. All the upper parts of the body are
of a brownish gray, the lower parts white ;
between the two colours the tint is yellowish, and
the head, as well as the feet, are of a grayer tint
than that of the body. The separate hairs are
ringed with yellowish, black, and white. The
exposed parts of the skin are blackish violet.

The specimen alluded to had all the appearance
and somewhat of the habits of the Rodentia,
resembling the Sphermophili. It was about eleven
inches in length, and stood about ten inches high.
Its movements were quick and lively. It was very
active, searching around, guided by its scent, and
trying to get into narrow openings, or holes, where
it could lie concealed. It delights in heat, and
exposes alternately the different parts of its body
to the sun ; while, in cold weather, it rolls itself
up in its hay or litter. It was quite tame, but does
not like to be seized, though it never attempts to
bite, and only utters a slight hissing sound when
irritated. It is an animal entirely diurnal in its
habits, and completely herbivorous — fed, when

THE SYRIAN HYftAX. 193

confined, on bread, roots, fruits, and herbs. It
appears to have little intelligence, and little fear.
When at liberty, it has the same inquisitive and
searching habits, and comes freely to the hand
which is held out to it.

The Askoko of Bruce is given as a synonym for
this animal. On this account we think it worth
while to transcribe his description of its habits, &c.
which agree nearly with what is above mentioned.

“ This curious animal is found in Ethiopia, in
the caverns of the rocks, or under the great stones
in the Mountain of the Sun, behind the Queen’s
palace at Koscam. It is also frequent in the deep
caverns in the rocks in many other places in
Abyssinia. It does not burrow, or make holes,
as the rat and rabbit ; nature having interdicted
him this practice, by furnishing him with feet, the
toes of which are perfectly round, and of a soft,
pulpy, tender substance ; the fleshy parts of the
toes project beyond the nails, which are rather
broad than sharp, much similar to a man’s nails ill
grown ; and these appear to be given him rather
for the defence of his soft toes, than for any active
use in digging, to which they are by no means
adapted.

“ The whole of the fore-foot is very thick,
fleshy, and soft, and of a deep black colour, alto¬
gether void of hair ; though the back, or upper
part of it, is thick covered like the rest of its

N

194

THE SYRIAN HYRAX.

body, down to where the toes divide, and the hair
ends ; so that these long round toes very much
resemble the fingers of a man.

“ In place of holes, it seems to delight in less
close, or more airy places, in the mouths of caves,
or clefts in the rock, or where one projecting, and
being open before, affords a long retreat under it,
without fear that this can ever be removed by the
strength or operations of man. The Askoko is
gregarious, and frequently several dozens of them
sit upon the great stones at the mouth of caves,
and warm themselves in the sun, or even come
out, and enjoy the freshness of the summer even¬
ing. They do not stand upright upon their feet,
but seem to steal along as in fear, their belly being
nearly close to the ground, advancing a few steps
at a time, and then pausing. They have some¬
thing very mild, feeble like, and timid in their
deportment ; are gentle, and easily tamed, though,
when roughly handled at first, they bite very
severely.

“ This animal is found plentifully on Mount
Libanus. I have seen him also among the rocks
at the Pharan Promontorium, or Cape Mahomet,
which divides the Elanitic from the Heroopolitic
Gulf, or Gulf of Suez. In all places they seem to
be the same : if there is any difference, it is in
favour of the size and fatness, which those in the
Mountain of the Sun seem to enjoy above the

THE SYRIAN HYRAX.

195

others. What is his food I cannot determine with
any degree of certainty. When in my possession,
he ate bread and milk, and seemed rather to be a
moderate than voracious feeder. I suppose he
lives upon grain, fruit, and roots. He seemed too
timid and backward in his own nature to feed
upon living food, or catch it by hunting.

“ He makes no noise that ever I heard, but
certainly chews the cud. To discover this was
the principal reason of my keeping him alive.
Those with whom he is acquainted he follows
with great assiduity. The arrival of any living
creature, even of a bird, makes him seek for a
hiding place ; and I shut him up in a cage with a
small chicken, after omitting feeding him a whole
day : the next morning the chicken was unhurt,
though the Askoko came to me with great signs
of having suffered from hunger. I likewise made
a second experiment, by enclosing two smaller
birds with him for the space of several weeks.
Neither were these hurt, though both of them fed,
without impediment, of the meat that was thrown
into his cage ; and the smallest of these, a kind
of tit-mouse, seemed to be advancing in a sort of
familiarity with him, though I never saw it ven¬
ture to perch upon him, yet it would eat frequently,
and at the same time, of the food upon which the
Askoko was feeding ; and in this consisted chiefly
the familiarity I speak of, for the Askoko himself

196

THE SYRIAN HYRAX.

never shewed any alteration of behaviour upon
the presence of the bird, but treated it with a kind
of absolute indifference. The cage, indeed, was
large, and the birds having a perch to sit upon in
the upper part of it, they did not annoy one
another.

“ In Amhara this animal is called Ashkoko,
which, I apprehend, is derived from the singularity
of those long herinaceous hairs, which, like small
thorns, grow about his back, and which in Amhara
are called Ashok. In Arabia and Syria he is
called Israel’s Sheep, or Gannim Israel ; for what
reason I know not, unless it be chiefly from his
frequenting the rocks of Horeb and Sinai, where
the children of Israel made their forty years pere¬
grination : perhaps this name obtains only among
the Arabians. I apprehend he is known by that
of Saphan in the Hebrew, and is the animal erro¬
neously called by our translators Cuniculus, the
rabbit or coney.”

To render the illustration of this very curious
genus as complete as our limits will permit, we
have introduced a figure of the species described
by Pallas.

CAPE HYRAX

Cuvier.

PLATK 16

1 97

THE CAPE HYRAX.

Hyrax Capensis. — Gmelin.

PLATE XVI.

Covia capensis, Pallas, Miscellanea Zool. — Hyrax
Capensis, Gmel.

The Cape Hyrax is about the size of a Hare,
but with shorter legs and more clumsy form ; it
is of a uniform grayish brown, and along the
back is marked with a darker band. The toes on
the fore feet are only three in number, whereas in
the last animal they were four, a difference which
is now taken as one of the principal distinctions
of the animals which inhabit the opposite portion
of the great African continent. This animal was
of frequent occurrence in the Cape of Good
Hope, living in the clefts of rocks ; and in its
motions, when retiring to its burrows, exhibiting
many similarities to those of the common Rabbit.

Major Smith gives the following description of
a third species of Hyrax, under the title of H.
arboreus , found in many of the forests of South
Africa, and inhabiting the hollows of decayed
trees.

198

THE CAPE HYRAX.

“ This species rather exceeds the size of the
Hyrux capensis, usually measuring about twenty-
one inches from the tip of the nose to the extre¬
mity of the back, and about seven inches in
height. In its general form, it resembles the
species just named ; and in the manner of moving
and sitting they exactly coincide. The colour
above is a sort of tawny red, freely mottled and
variegated with black ; on the lower parts of the
sides, it is reddish white, with a less abundant
intermixture of black ; and beneath, as well as on
the insides of the legs, it is an uniform dull white.
The reddish colour arises from the tips of most
of the hairs being of that hue ; and the black
variegations depend partly on a scanty intermix¬
ture of long hairs, which are entirely of that
colour, but principally upon an exposure of the
deeper parts of the general covering, which are
throughout inclined to black ; and in consequence
of this last being the chief source whence
the mottled appearances are derived, that neces¬
sarily is more or less considerable according to
the position of the hair, &c. The crown of the
head has a predominance of black ; the sides and
middle of the face anterior to the eyes, are
covered by a sort of short, dull, dusky, or reddish-
white hair ; and a whitish streak extends back¬
wards from thence over each eye. The sides of
the head a mixture of grayish-white and black,

THE CAPE HYRAX.

199

the upper and lower lips whitish, as is also the
point of the chin, the throat, and the other under
parts, as already mentioned. The ears are short
and roundish, with their tips projecting but little
beyond the hair with which the animal is covered ;
outside they are beset with long dusty whitish
hair, and inside they have a mere scanty coating
of the same colour. Directly in the middle of
the back, about half way between the shoulders
and rump, is a narrow longitudinal whitish blotch,
and about the centre of the chin is a transverse
darkish band. The tail is wanting ; the feet and
toes are covered above by a dirty reddish-white
hair ; the whiskers are long, black, and situated
on the anterior parts of the upper lip, and some
similar looking hairs occur immediately over each
eye.

“ The teeth in this species differ a little from
those in the other Cape Hyrax, more particularly
the incisors ; but as I have not had an opportunity
of examining them minutety, I may only mention
at present, that the upper ones are more pointed,
and that the lower ones stand in pairs, from the
two intermediate ones being separated by a con¬
siderable interval. The latter are also a little
shorter than the lateral ones, and all of them have
their tips tri-dentated.

“ This animal is found in many of the forests of
South Africa, and is occasionally seen coming out

200

THE CAPE HYRAX.

of holes in decayed trees, or standing upon the
summits of such as have only trunks remaining.

“ Little is yet known of its manners ; and almost
the only observation that can be elicited from the
farmers and inhabitants of the parts of the country
in which it resides, is, that it makes a great noise
previous to the fall of rain.”

201

THE SWINE.

We now come to a series of animals, a part of
which, in its various races, fills a very important
place in the general economy of mankind, — the
Swine, ( Sus of the ancients,) including the diffe¬
rent forms which this rather extended group
exhibits in different countries, and which have
received various appellations. The true Sivine
are very extended in their distribution, the sup¬
posed stock of our domestic breeds reaching over
Europe, Asia, and the north of Africa, while it
has been introduced and thrives in America,
Australia, and the South Sea Islands. In Africa,
we have also a variation of form in Phascochceres ;
in America, of Dicoteles; and the South Sea
Islands seem to possess a distinct species of true
Sow, represented on plate XIX. Of these, only
the true Swine have been domesticated or used
for any economical purpose ; though there seems
no reason to suppose, that either the Babiroussa
or Dicoteles might not, with some trouble at
first, become useful animals.

202

THE SWINE.

In their form, they are low set ; the body nearly
cylindrical ; the head placed upon the same line
with the trunk. The skin is thick, covered with
strong and stiff hair, called bristles, which are
in general thinly planted, and have often an
under fur of fine curled hair. In many cases,
however, this last is wanting, and the skin is
distinctly seen among the bristles. They are
furnished with a strong mane. The tail is short, and
generally twisted ; but in some forms it is entirely
wanting. In the males, the canine teeth are greatly
developed, prove formidable weapons of offence
or defence, and by an enraged animal are made
to inflict torn wounds of a most severe kind.
Their food is mostly roots and vegetables, and
also worms and insects, to procure which they
are furnished with an elongated nose, supplied
with a strong cartilage at the extremity, and with
powerful muscles, which renders this flexible, and
enables them to turn up the soft or moist ground
in search of roots, or worms and insects, in which
they are also assisted by their acute sense of
smell. Acorns, beech-mast chestnuts, and the
produce of similar fruit-bearing trees, are also a
very favourite as well as fattening food ; and the
herdsmen of old, and even yet, in some of the
English forests, avail themselves of this, and drive
their pigs in autumn to feed and fatten themselves
in the woodlands of oak and chestnut. When

THE SWINE.

203

hard pressed, however, the Swine are a race that
can subsist on almost any thing placed within
their reach ; and scarcely any sort of food,
either animal or vegetable, comes amiss to them.
“ Voracious” is therefore the title which has been
most commonly applied to them.

The sense of smell is extremely acute ; it is
almost the only sense employed when the animal
is rooting up the ground ; and a little attention
to a herd so occupied, will soon shew with
what subtlety it is employed : scarcely a small
root or a worm escapes ; and on every fresh turn¬
ing of a few inches of ground, this useful instru¬
ment is employed in trying by smell the disturbed
fragments. On the Continent, this faculty is said
to be sometimes employed by having the animals
trained to hunt for truffles, when, we suppose, they
will act as both finders and diggers. But the most
remarkable instance of the culture of this sense
in the Sow, was exhibited in the animal which
belonged to Col. Thornton, and which was taught
regularly to hunt, quarter the ground, and to back
the other pointers. When hunted alone, her scent
was very sure ; and in one or two instances, she
was known to stand steadily at snipes. In this
instance, the training was accomplished by good
treatment, and a reward of bread carried in
the pocket of the keeper. The Wild Boar in the
Parisian Menagerie was taught to go through

204

THE SWINE.

certain attitudes, upon being shewn some favourite
food.

The Wild Boar has, in its wild state, been
always looked upon as an object of terror, and,
in confinement, as an animal of loathsome and
dirty habits, and associated with what is beastly
and disgusting. When hunted or enraged, the
Boar becomes a most ferocious animal, defending
himself to the utmost; but in confinement, the
Sow seems conscious of good treatment, and
will follow the individual who thus well uses it.
For their dirty habits, they are perhaps somewhat
indebted to the carelessness of their masters, and
the limited and dirty space in which they are
kept ; for a Sow, in an ill kept sty, is, in reality, ,
the perfect image of a “ dirty beast ;w but when
at large, excepting their propensity to wallow,
which is common to all the Pachydermes, and a
provision in warm climates to protect from insects
a hide naturally bare of hair, we have nothing
more unseemly to separate them from their allies.
The sleeping lair of the Wild Hog, is generally
among some dry and warm herbage ; and a supply
of fresh and clean litter causes expressive com¬
fort to the animal in his sty ; and in both cases,
when the cover is abundant, it is made to conceal
and skreen the body from heat or cold.

We have represented on the accompanying
plate,

THE WILD BOAR.

PLATE 18.

205

THE WILD BOAR.

Sus scropha. — Linn.eus.

PLATES XVII. and XVIII.

Sus ferus, porcus, aper, and scropha, of authors. — Le
Sanglier, Buffon.

Our drawing was from a European specimen in
the Edinburgh Museum. In the ancient times of
the British kingdom, the Wild Boar inhabited her
forests, and was an object of royal protection.
We have various records in the history of the
country of its existence in particular districts,
edicts for its preservation, and proclamations of
punishment for its destruction. It has, however,
long ceased to exist, and there are now few or no
forests in that impenetrable or unexplored state,
which could long support their grizzly inhabitants
undisturbed. On many parts of the continent of
Europe, it may yet be said to abound, and is a n
object of chase much followed, requiring great

206

THE WILD BOAT!.

courage and coolness, and attended with consi¬
derable danger. Here they are most commonly
shot with rifles, or baited with strong hounds ;
and in other places, driven by an assemblage of
the country people to a narrow circle, where they
are variously despatched. But it is perhaps on
the continent of India only where the hunting
of the Wild Boar or Hog is followed really as a
sport, and is accompanied with all the usual
retinue of followers. They frequent the strong
grassy jungles, thick and matted, and of suffi¬
cient length to conceal the animal even when
running ; or they delight in the extensive planta¬
tions of sugar cane, where they both find cover,
and a supply of favourite and very fattening food.
They are pursued on horseback, and speared when
at full speed. When about to be hunted, a collec¬
tion of people is formed, who regurlaly beat the
cover, and endeavour by noises of all sorts to
force the animal to flee to some other retreat. The
huntsmen are generally placed at the corners, and
start in pursuit when they consider the Hog has
gained sufficient distance from the canes or grass, as
not again to retreat to them. There is both danger
in the attack, and considerable dexterity required
to render it efficient : many horses will not go up
to the Hog, while others are rash, and subject
themselves to be bitten or ripped, and sometimes
are completely disabled ; while, if the rider is

THE WILD BOAR. 207

thrown at all in the vicinity of the game, he is
almost certain to be severely hurt.*

The speed of the Hog is much greater than
what might be supposed from the look and form
of the animal. A trot at first, changed into an
ambling gallop, will keep some of the swiftest
steeds of India for a time at a distance ; and it
is by pressing hard at first, and blowing the game,
that it is generally come up with. Colonel William¬
son mentions an instance where he, with some
others, were fairly beat in a distance of three
miles, the Hog gaining the cover in spite of their
exertions. A chase sometimes extends to five,
six, or seven miles.

The adult Wild Boar is generally of a brownish
black ; the hair of considerable length about the
head and mane. They stand from twenty to
thirty inches high at the shoulder ; and Colonel
Williamson mentions having seen a huge Boar
of forty- two inches in height ; while he speaks of
three feet as a common size, which, being most
active, also exhibit the best sport. The young are
of a pale yellowish tint, irregularly brindled with
yellowish brown. Colonel Williamson gives the
characters of the wild Indian breed : “ a broad
flat forehead ; short pricked ears, rather round at
their tips, and lying very close to the neck. The

* See a long account in Colonel Williamson’s Oriental
Sports.

208

THE WILD BOAR.

eye very full, with much display of the white when
in action. The head short, thickly furnished with
hair inclining to curl ; a very muscular neck ; a
high shoulder ; the back very nearly straight ; the
loins broad ; the bristles thick on the neck and
shoulder. The tail rather short, and near the
tips covered W’ith lateral bristles, reserving the
wings of an arrow.” * Plate XVIII. exhibits the
female and young.

In its wild state, in Europe, the Wild Boar
frequents the most retired forests. He lives
solitary, choosing some deep recess for his lair,
near a convenient watering place, and having
access to some glade or path, which conducts to
the more open country. Hence he only sallies in
the evening in search of food, which is chiefly
vegetables, roots, or fruits ; but during the season of
harvest very considerable damage is effected, not
only to the grain crops, but also to the vineyards.
It is only during the rutting season, that the native
Hog is somewhat gregarious, and selects a female
after an exhibition of his prowess against his rivals
on the same errand. The females again, are gene¬
rally gregarious, several litters joining company,
and making excursions together. The young grow
for several years, and remain with the mother and
the herd, until they have attained their maturity.

Oriental Field Sports, i. p. 80.

THE WILD BOAR.

209

It is now admitted by all writers, that this
animal is the stock whence our domestic race3
have arisen, and spread themselves nearly over the
world, with the exception of the islands in the
South Seas, whose stock we shall now advert to.

o

210

THE PAPUAN HOG

Sus Papuensis. — Lesson & Garnot.

PLATE XIX.

Cochon des papous, Sus Papuensis, Lesson and Garnot
Voyage du Coquile, i. 171. pi. viii.

The large and rich isles of Papua, or New
Guinea, afford a shelter and abode for this curious
animal, feeding on roots and fruits which abound
there. According to the above quoted naturalists,
it forms a passage to the South American genus,
Dicoteles or Peccaries. It wants the tusks, so
formidable in the Wild Boar, and the tail is
nearly rudimentary ; but there is no trace of the
gland upon the rump, or strong smell about
the Papuan animal. It has, however, only eight
paps, by which it approaches the Peccaries, the
common Sow having generally twelve. The
Papuan Hog usually stands from eighteen to
twenty inches high, and the form is light and
slender ; the ears proportionally short ; the body
round in its form ; the legs short. The hair is

PLATE 19.

THE PAPUAN HOG.

211

of middling thickness, but less so than in the
Siam Pig, or in the Babiroussa ; the skin is brown
and wrinkled, naked and reddish behind the
ears, upon the cheeks, and many parts of the
abdomen. The extremity of the muzzle is ^fur¬
nished with long black hair, most abundant on
the lower jaw, and around the eyes, and two black
bands stretch upon the lower jaws. The upper
parts of the body and the sides are blackish red,
duller and browner upon the limbs. The cheeks,
throat, flanks, and belly, are white, jingled with
some black hairs. The young are commonly of
a dull brown, having upon the back from two to
five longitudinal bands of a bright fawn colour.
They are extremely common in the forests of
New Guinea. The Papuans keep them confined
in enclosures around their cottages, having, for
the most part, trapped the young ones ; but they
never attempt to tame the animal, which always
retains its wild and fierce manners. Those which
were taken on board the Coquile, were remark¬
able for their strength and courage, though in a
short time they became tame. They were much
esteemed for the delicacy of their flesh, and
formed a welcome delicacy during the voyage.

In the South Sea Islands, there is a small, short
legged, black variety of Pig, which some authors
are inclined to consider as derived from some
other stock than the Wild Boar ; but there seems

2 12

TIIE PAPUAN BOG.

no very good reason for this conclusion, and the
Dreed would appear to be nearest to the Chinese
variety, while the animal we have represented
on plate XX. Sus koiropotamus , is known by the
figure of M. Demolin only ; but in other respects
our information is nearly altogether deficient.
We have used for our copy the representation
above alluded to.

In the races which have sprung up, the form is
exceedingly varied, but, as among other domesti¬
cated animals reared for profit, a form of beauty
founded upon that which yielded the greatest
return, was fixed upon as the standard, and this
we see in some of the unwieldy masses of flesh
and fat, which are found in the stores of the prin¬
cipal breeders.

PLATE

OMMON HOG

*:•

213

THE DOMESTIC PIG,

PLATE XXL

Which we have selected for our illustration,
was the property of a respectable baker in the
town of Kinghorn, in the county of Fife ; and
when we got the drawing made a few days before
she was killed for the market, she was about two
years old. We have chosen her, not on account
of any very great purity or excellence in her
breeding, but simply as a fair average specimen
of a common domestic Pig. She was originally
from Irish stock on the female side, but from the
county we have mentioned on that of the male.

There is a curious circumstance which was
related to us by the proprietor of this animal, and
which we know to be authentic, respecting one of
the two Pigs which constituted her first litter.
One died, the other survived, and became attached
to a Bull Dog, also the property of the person we
have mentioned, which it would follow and sport
with in a variety of ways. The Pig would also

214

DOMESTIC PIG.

follow its master when accompanied by the Dog,
for a distance extending half a dozen miles ; and
the Dog being very fond of swimming, the Pig
imitated the same propensity, and apparently had
much pleasure, and shewed a good deal of dexte¬
rity in this element, — a propensity which we
believe is not very usual or natural • in such
animals. If any floating substance was thrown
into the water for the Dog to fetch out, the Pig
would follow, and dispute the prize with its canine
companion, evincing much energy and adroitness.
The Dog and Pig invariably slept together.

The most prominent domestic breeds Mr Cully
places under three varieties, the Berkshire , the
Chinese, and the Highland, or Irish breeds. The
first of these, in a variety of modifications, is
perhaps the most extensively spread and reared,
and individuals of this breed have been known to
reach a weight of above eighty stones. The
Chinese breed, of a black colour, and easily
fattened, has also wrought much improvement
among these animals, and it sometimes reaches
a state of feeding so as to present to the observer
little more than a round mass. Our next figure
will represent the

PLATE 22.

215

CHINESE BREED.

PLATE XXII.

The colour is most commonly black, the form
characterized by a fine appearance, small head,
thin ears, and short and slender legs. They .are
remarkable for being easily fed, and perhaps
become too fat for the general purposes of the
table, and a cross is therefore oftentimes more
esteemed.

The other British breeds receive their names
most frequently from the county in which they
were introduced and reared. Thus the Hamp¬
shire, Sussex, Suffolk, Cheshire, and Shropshire
Pigs, are well known as excellent. Upon the
border districts, there are also some superior
breeds, which are reared to a great extent. In
the extreme north of Scotland, and some of the
islands, the race is very diminutive. At one
period, a strong prejudice or superstition existed
here against this animal in every way ; but this
is now fast becoming extinguished, and is replaced
by a rapid improvement in the breeds.

The next animal we have to notice, is

THE BABIROUSSA.

Sus babiroussa.— Lutsm^s.

PLATE XXIII.

The Babiroussaof authors. — Sus babiroussa, Linn. &.c _

Le Babiroussa, Fred. Cuv. Fist, des Mammiff.

This rather handsome animal is very remark¬
able for the great development of the tusks, which
project from both jaws, and form a circular turn
upon each side of the nose. It is from these tusks,
very conspicuous in the wild animal, that, it is
conjectured, the name of Babiroussa, literally Hog-
deer, has been applied to it, and not from any simi¬
larity in the make of the animal to the form of a
Deer, for, with the exception of the limbs being
more slender, there is no other similitude whatever.
Fred. Cuvier says, that the upper tusks pierce
the skin of the muzzle before coming upwards ;
they form nearly a circle, and often touch the
skin of the animal a second time. Living, or
entire specimens, have seldom, till lately, reached
Europe, and we have used the figures of F. Cuvier,

PLATE 23

THE BAEIROUSSA.

217

which were made from specimens brought by the
Astrolabe to the Paris collection. They were a
male and female ; the latter bred once after arriving
in Europe, but the cold gradually producing dis¬
eased lungs, cut them off in about three years after.
The male was aged, and remarkably fat, which
rendered him inactive, and his short life was
passed in sleeping, eating, and drinking. The
female was younger, and more active ; when the
male retired to his litter, she would cover him
completely over, and afterwards herself slip under
the straw, so that both were entirely concealed
from sight. The skin of these animals was very
thinly furnished with hair ; and that which grew
upon them was long and hard. The colour of
the sidn was of a uniform greyish tint, changing
to fawn colour on the belly. The number of the
incisor teeth in the Babiroussa differ from those
of the true Swine, but the structure is the same.
The tusks in the old male are not so dangerous
as those of the Wild Boar during attack, owing
to their curvature, but nevertheless they are
formidable weapons.

These animals abound in the Molucca Islands,
and a few of the others of the Indian Archipelago,
chiefly towards the interior. They seem difficult
to obtain, notwithstanding their acknowledged
plenty; and when hunted, are said to take the

218

THE BABIROUSSA.

sea freely, and swim to some other neighbouring
island.

Our next animals exhibit a very remarkable
African form. There seems, without doubt, to be
two species, — one from the south-west, the other
from the north of the continent. The correct
synonymy of the first, or oldest known, seems yet
somewhat confused ; and the unravelling of the
Sus Larvatus, the Sus Ethiopicus, and Ethiopian
Hog of Daniel, is left even by our latest zoolo¬
gists in uncertainty. The eighth volume of the
Memoirs du Musee will contain the best account
of the variation of the skulls, and of the dental
system. Phascochaeres has been applied as a
generic term to this form, remarkable for the
large and strong tusks, and for the swollen and
warty appearance of the face ; we have taken
Ruppel’s figure for our first illustration, and give
his description entire, so little being yet known
regarding these formidable looking creatures.

AELI AN'S PEAS C 0 C 0 C H(E KES

. . % l

*•

\

t

219

jELIANS’ WART-HOG.

Phascochaeres JEliani. — .R up pel.

PLATE XXIV.

Phascochaeres, JEliani, Mus. Franc _ iElians’ warzen-

schween, Ruppel, Atlas , vol. xxv. p. 61.

After having carefully compared those species
of animals which were sent to us by our traveller
from the north of Africa, we were led to consider
that they are always of smaller size than those
found in the Cape, although in other respects,
and characteristic features, quite the same, and
to be considered as identical. Keeping well
in mind this consideration, it was only after a
very careful examination that we were induced
to regard the Wart-Hog, which is to form the
object of the following description, as different
from the species which is found on the Cape ;
and we shall just give our reasons for it.

We mention, first of all, the acute judgment
of Fred. Cuvier, on the dental formation of the
Wart Hog, in the Memoir du Mus. d’Hist. Natur.

220 ILIANS’ WART-HOG.

vol. viii. p. 450. He notices in the skull of a
Wart Hog in the Parisian collection, the exis¬
tence of two incisors in the intermaxillary bone,
which he considers, therefore, as denoting a pecu¬
liar species ; because the upper incisors of the
species at the Cape are not only entirely wanting,
(even in the young individuals,) but, in conse¬
quence of the thin leafy substance of the inter¬
maxillary bone, cannot even take root in it. His
reasons for considering both of the same genus,
notwithstanding the absence of the upper incisors
in the one, are sufficiently supported by the cir¬
cumstance, that the same occurs in others of the
Pachyderm es, as in the case of the Rhinoceros.
Cuvier accompanied the above distinction between
the two Wart Hogs, by a representation of the
two skulls which guided his judgment, and we
instantly recognized our new species.

The discovery of two new species of the genus
Phascochaeres, is thus due to the merit of Fred.
Cuvier. What we add on that subject, we merely
wish to give as an additional inquiry supporting
the labours of that learned naturalist, and with
an intention of corroborating his views. A consi¬
derable number of that same species which were
sent to us by Ruppel, enables us to state the
following facts as well established. First. All the
individuals of our new species, whether of old or
young animals, and such as had not yet atta'ned

■rfELIANS’ WART-U0G.

221

their full growth, of both sexes, have, in the inter¬
maxillary bone, two incisors, which have their
crowns turned inward, and their roots sharply
pointed in an outward direction, wedged into the
lower plate of the intermaxillary bone. These
upper incisors are of greater size in males than in
females, are generally larger in animals that have
obtained their full growth than in younger ones,
and do freely rise a few lines above the axis of
the palate. In the lower jaw, we observe six
incisors, which are not wanting even in the very
old animals. The lower incisiors, to the number
of six, have invariably been found of larger size
in old animals than in young ones, and none of
the oldest individuals we possess want either of
these teeth.

Second , The upper corner teeth have on their
outer and inner surface a groove, which is con¬
tinued with the curve at the teeth. This groove
is wanting in the lower corner teeth, which in old
animals are by a third smaller than the upper
ones.

Third , In all which we used for our general
description, both in young animals and such as had
obtained their full growth, of both sexes, we found
.n the upper jaw four back teeth, and three in
the lower jaw. The first and second are small,
narrow, roundish, with simple crown-globules,
and with two roots wedged into two separate

JELJANS* WART-HOG.

alveolae. The third, (in the upper jaw, and the
second in the lower,) is strong, and as broad as
the fourth ; its enamel surface contains five crown-
globules, four of which occupy the corner, and
one the middle. It is wedged into four separate
alveolae, by means of four roots.

With regard to these three first back teeth
we would remark, that as age advances they
gradually disappear, and none remain except the
anterior ones. In one animal, greatly advanced
in age, we find all three of them almost entirely
destroyed. The third is diminished by two-thirds,
and nothing remains of it but the crown surface,
which keeps its position only by being wedged
in between the fourth large one, and the second
back tooth ; whilst the alveolae, which held its
roots, have entirely vanished. But even this
animal had all its upper and lower incisors
still, although in a somewhat worn-out state.
Fred. Cuvier, in explaining this circumstance,
shews, that the fourth or posterior back tooth,
which, in growing, is pushed forward towards the
front, in the same manner as we find this in the
Elephant, causes thereby the falling out of the ante¬
rior teeth. We admit the soundness of this view,
and readily believe that the continual growing of
the posterior back tooth should injure and remove
the anterior ones, or even cause them to fall out.
But besides, our attention has been directed by

iELIANS* WART-HOG.

223

this subject towards the really two-fold type in
the construction and the diversity in growth of
the back teeth of the Wart Hog. We find,
namely, the three anterior back teeth shaped and
nourished in quite the same manner as all other
teeth provided with enamel bodies and real roots.
We farther must suppose a decay and dying
away of the nourishing organ (bulbus) of these
anterior back teeth, whenever they have obtained
their full growth, (whether these animals expe¬
rience a change of teeth we cannot say, as none of
the animals in our possession would justify us
in asserting such a change,) and thus they are
deprived of nourishment, which circumstance we
would state as the cause why the alveolae are then
filling with a bony substance, and loosen, and
finally push out the tooth they contained; which
tooth, in old age, is diminished to less than half
its size, in consequence of the drain sustained by
its solid organ of nourishment. The three
anterior back teeth are thus, by the nature of their
construction and functions, as much subject to
decay and falling out as the teeth of all other
animals advanced in age. It is altogether different
with respect to the fourth, the largest and hindmost
of the back teeth. The latter is, as Fred. Cuvier
observed, a compound tooth,* (dent compo see,) and

* S. des Dents des Msmmiferes, Disc, praelim. p. xlvi.

224

Ilians’ wart-hog.

to be placed into the same class as the back teeth
of the Elephant. It consists of three rows, placed
alongside of each other, at well connected tubes,
each about two inches long. At the outer side,
we count nine such tubes, eight at the inner, and
seven at the middle row, (this was the case in an
old individual, in some animals we found. several
middle tubes double,) which tubes can be distin¬
guished from each other at the enamel surface
by their oblong globules. Each of these tubes,
even the foremost or most recently formed, is
hollow in the lower two-third portions, or closed
up towards the enamel surface, and contains
the bulb, ( bulbe , Fred. Cuvier,) destined for the
continual nourishment of the individual tubes,
which bulb was distinctly noticed by us, after
soaking the skulls. All the tubes of this tooth
are free towards the root-end, and contained in
one common large alveola, which is hollow at the
bottom, only the anterior tube excepted, which at
the lower end, and in an anterior direction, is
separate from the rest of the tooth ; whereby a gap
is formed between it and the second tube, which
gap is filled with a bony substance, a circumstance
peculiarly obvious in that of the lower jaw. This
fact would suggest a doubt, whether the posterior
back tooth would push forward towards the ante¬
rior side ; although we did observe in younger
divlduals the after growth of the posterior tubes

iELIANS* WART-HOG.

225

as typical of the animal. The lower jaw contains
only three back teeth. The two anterior ones
are formed like the upper ones, with two and four
roots ; and what we mentioned with regard to the
posterior or fourth back tooth at the upper jaw,
is perfectly applicable to the third or posterior
one of the lower jaw.

From the above remarks on the teeth of the
Wart Hog, we are led to the following conclu¬
sions : — 1st, That the species examined by us, is
at all ages provided with incisors in the upper
and lower jaw ; and therefore, in the most marked
manner, distinguished from the species found at
the Cape. An additional mark of distinction is
mentioned by Fred. Cuvier, who says, that the
W art Hog at the Cape has in its upper and
lower jaw only three back teeth ; whereas the
species examined by us constantly presents four
in the upper jaw. But we hesitate in admitting
this latter mark of distinction to be of much
weight ; because, as was stated above, the anterior
back teeth are disposed to decay, and the alveolae
which contained the teeth are filling up, which
might have well occurred in the case of those
very animals which were examined by Frederick
Cuvier. 2d, That the formation of the back
teeth of the genus Phascochaeres occurs in a two¬
fold type ; we must adopt one regarding the
formation and manner of nourishment for the

P

2*26

ILIANS’ WART-HOG.

anterior ones, which are simple teeth, with enamel
crowns, bodies, and real roots ; and we must take
another for the posterior large ones, which are
compound teeth, ( dents composees ,) without roots.

This remarkable fact, the co-existence of two
different types of formation for the back teeth
of one and the same animal, will assume even a
greater importance from an exact examination of
the vessels and nerves which conduct to the diffe¬
rent teeth ; and we wish to direct the attention of
naturalists to this subject, because we think that
it will be an easier matter to procure subjects fit
for such an inquiry from the Cape, than from
Abyssinia.

But besides the existence of the incisors in the
intermaxillary bone of our Wart Hog, and the
absence of these incisors in the species of the
Cape, we would now give some farther marks of
distinction in the skulls of both, which, from their
constant character, are available for the specific
determination of the animal.

If a line be drawn from the hind part of the
head, as far as the most prominent part of the
nasal bone, we shall find between the two points
(in the case of the Wart Hog we are describing)
a sinus, the depression of which falls in the
middle of the line, where it declines nine inches
from the plain. Now, this very spot, in the
case of the Wart Hog of the Cape, rises up in

Ilian’s wart-hog.

‘227

an arched prominence.* Again, the Abyssinian
Wart Hogs are more in diameter than those of
the Cape; their forehead is pressed inward, and,
what is very conspicuous, the space between the
upper and posterior eye socket border, to the end
of the occiput, is longer by one half than in the Cape
Wart Hog, which gives to the whole skull a sort
of lengthening shape, and pushes the occipital
bone more backwards. We consider these two
marks of distinction as constant, because we
invariably found them to exist.

F. Cuvier gives, in his memoirs, to the Wart
Hog of the Cape, the name of Phacochoere
d’Ethiopie, and he calls ours Phacochoere d’Afrique.
If we have not acceded to his wish, that these two
names should be retained, we state our reasons
for not complying, as follows : — We strictly
follow the injunctions of Illiger, who objects to
designate animals by countries, rivers, &c. as
proving, in his opinion, injurious to science. In
the next place, we were inclined to call our
^hascochaeres by the name of iElian, to have an
pportunity of proving, at the same time, that

* That this arched prominence is constant, may be seen
from a representation of the animal by Fred. Cuvier, and
an examination of the skulls in the Leyden museum,
undertaken by Temminck ; according to which, we find
that all the skulls of the Cape Phascochaeres, and another
from the land at the Ashantees, have the same external
form.

228

DELIANS’ WART-HOG.

this ancient author had a not-to-be-mistaken
knowledge of our species. ./Elian de Animaliurn
Natura, liber xvii. cap 10, says : — “ hkyei 6s A/Vw»
sv Al^/ocra yevetfSau rovg 'ogvfictg rou? /xffvbnegug, xa/
‘Trobfiarci sglwv grv <\J//Aa r^v/u? de xa/xri Xuv e^ovra”
“ Dinon tells us, that in /Ethiopia, Unicorn birds,
and four-horned Hogs, and Sheep, are found,
which have no wool, indeed, but the shaggy tufts
of hair of Camels.” The animals mentioned in
these few words would appear as fabulous, if we
were to take the words in their literal sense,
according to our present notions. But if we
compare this statement with those animals which
still now-a-days are found in the /Ethiopia of
the ancients, we may not be wrong in suggesting
that Dinon, in his imperfect description, meant
by the Unicorn bird, the Buceros corniculatus ,
(Le Vaillant ;) by the four-horned Hog, our Wart
Hog ; and by the Sheep, which was covered by
the shaggy tuft of Camel hair, the Ovis tragela -
phus, (Geoffrey.) The reporter of these strange
animals has, comparatively speaking, called the
prominence on the bill of the Buceros cornicu¬
latus a horn. In like manner, the very large
corner teeth of the Wart Hog have been repre¬
sented by him as horns ; and lastly, in using the
word be gave such an excellent descrip¬

tion of the shaggy tuft of hair of the Ovis
tragelapkus, that we scarcely entertain any doubt

JELTANS’ WART-HOG. 229

concerning the truth of our interpretation, but do
really believe that he meant to convey, by his
few designations, a description of these three
animals. Considerations such as these, and still
more the respect due to the wisdom of the
ancients, have induced us to call our Wart Hog
by the name of Ahian.

The external appearance of the Wart Hog is
as follows : — The whole skin is of an earthy
colour, scantily covered with bristles. Between
the ears arises a mane, which extends along the
neck and the back, and the single hairs of which
are frequently ten inches long. The bristles of
this mane, as well as on the rest of the body, are
of light brown colour, and have not each of them
their individual root, but three or six bristles
together form one tuft, and have one common
root. As the whole body, except on the back, is
but scantily provided with hair, it presents rather
a bare appearance. The head along the brow is
broad, the latter somewhat depressed ; the eyes
are small, and situated very high up ; from the
brow downwards to the naked ridge, occurs a
depression below the eyes, and in the vicinity of
the cheek, is a wart which, in comparing it with
another smaller one, alongside the cheek, we call
the larger wart. These warts are formed out of
a thickened skinny tissue ; and we find them con¬
siderably smaller than in the species of the Cape.

230

iELIANs’ WART-HOG.

Along the lower edge of the lower jaw, we per¬
ceive a whisker of white hair curled upwards.
The eyes are small, with light black eye-lashes,
and long black eye-brow bristles, and a tuft of
bristles is under the eyes. The ears at the lower
part of the external margin are cut obliquely, and
the whole margin is bordered with white bristly
hair. The tail is almost bare, thin, and its joint
provided with a tuft of hair. On the fore-feet is
a piece of protuberant thick hard skin. Our
Wart Hog has been found by Ruppell, first at
Kordofan, and more frequently afterwards at the
eastern slope of Abyssinia. It frequents low
bushes and forests. If in quest of food, which,
as far as could be ascertained, merely consists of
roots, it creeps on its bent fore-feet, and in this
posture digs up the roots of plants by means of
its huge corner teeth. It likewise moves on in
this posture, by allowing its hind legs to push the
body forward. The natives of Massawats call it
Flarvja , those at Kordofan, Flalluf. They do
not eat its flesh, but travellers declare that its
taste is not unpleasant.*

We have now reached the American form of
the Swine, seen in the genus Dycoteles or
Peccaries. They vary in the number and modi¬
fied form of the teeth — in sometimes wanting

* Crech. in Rupp. Atlas.

ILIANS’ wart-hog.

231

the small accessory hoofs — in the metatarsal and
metacarpal bones of the two great toes being
soldered together, as in the ruminants — in the tail
being nearly rudimentary, — and in having a gland
upon the rump, distilling a strong smelling liquor.
The form will be illustrated by

232

THE ETHIOPIAN WART-HOG.

Phascochceres larvatus.

PLATE XXV.

As far as we can judge, the Ethiopian Boar,
and the Sus larvatus , or Masked Boar of authors,
are identical. The figure commonly referred to
for the last, is that in Daniel’s African Scenery,
which we have now used, and we add the des¬
cription which accompanies it. Little is known
of its habits, but they are most probably similar
to those of the preceding animal.

“ There is not, perhaps, a more disgusting, or
a more savage animal, than the Wild Hog of
Africa. This beast, as well as the Elephant, the
Buffalo, and the Rhinoceros, abounds in the
woods of Sitsikamma, and is generally hunted by
Dogs, which, with its long sharp fangs growing
out of the lower jaw, it sometimes lacerates in a
dreadful manner, and frequently tears them to

PLATE 2b.

ETHIOPIAN WART-BOli

Daniel.

THE .ETHIOPIAN WART-HOG. 233

death. Its eyes are small, and placed high in the
forehead ; two remarkable excrescences grow like
two ears out of its cheeks, and the lower part
of its head appears as if enclosed in a sack. The
neck, the shoulders, and the breast, are covered
with long hair. It differs very considerably from
the Babiroussa or Ethiopian Hog, which is also
a native of the Cape.”

234

THE COLLARED PECCARY.

Dycoteles torquatus.

PLATE XXVI.

Stis Tajussu, Linnceus. — Peccari, Buflbn. — Dycoteles
Torquatus ; Taytetou Azara, Cuvier.

The Collared Peccary inhabits the eastern side
of South America, frequents the forests, living on
vegetables and roots, and occurs chiefly in small
families. To outward appearance, at a little dis¬
tance, it is of a grayish tint ; but a narrower
inspection shews the hairs alternately ringed
with black and yellowish white. They arc stiff
and strong in the dried skin, having the rigidity
of bristles ; along the neck and back, they are
very long, and form a kind of bristly mane, which,
with nearly the whole hair upon the body, is erected
and bristled up upon irritation. From behind the
shoulders to the fore part of the neck, the bristles
are whitish, forming a narrow oblique line of that
colour, whence the specific name is derived.
Upon the rump, the gland, though concealed, is

]'I.AVi 26.

COLLARED PECCARY.
Native of S. America.

m mill r i ■ • _

THE COLLARED PECCARY.

235

conspicuous from the turn or swirl of the hair
around it ; and when in confinement, or in a tame
state at large, the animal appears to have pleasure
in frequently rubbing it ; and when approached
ny those with whom it is familiar, endeavours to
rub this part against their legs. We had an
opportunity of often seeing a tame specimen of
this Peccary. It was quite familiar, was generally
allowed to run at large, and would come to any
person upon food such as it delighted in being
offered to it. It was, however, at other times
easily irritated at strangers, and would turn the
head, and appear as if about to rip with its short
tusks. It detested dogs, shewed its bristles, and
few ventured a second attack, being always
touched with the tusks in the first. It would
also occasionally stray to a considerable distance.
Mr Bennet describes those in the Zoological
Society’s Garden as perfectly tame and quiet, but
is not sure how far it might be safe to trust them.
They seem hardy, having lived and thriven
through two winters without more than ordinary
protection.

The next species is,

236

THE WHITE LIPPED PECCARY.

Dycoteles labiatns. — Cuvif.r.

PLATE XXVII.

Taquicati Azara. — Dicoteles labiatus, Cuv. — La Tojacu,
Fred. Cuvier. — The White Lipped Peccary, JBennet ,
Gardens of Zool. Soc. i. p. 60.

This species is considerably larger than the
last, but is at once distinguished from it by its
darker colour, and the conspicuous white margins
of the lips. The hairs on the body are black,
with a few brownish rings, which are most con¬
spicuous about the head, and thence modify the
tint. The whole of the under lip, the sides of the
mouth and nose, are white, whence the name ; and
the mane and hair about the head are so long as
nearly to conceal the ears. In the young animal
Mr Bennet mentions, the skin is more varied,
being in some degree striped like that of the
young Wild Boar of Europe. But these stripes
are lost by degrees as the animal advances in
age, and few traces of them remain after the first

PLATE 27.

THE WHITE LITPED PECCARY. 237

year. Mr Bennet mentions that the gland in this
species is inodorous.*

They inhabit Paraguay? and are gregarious,
assemble in vast troops, generally led, it is said,
by some old male ; sometimes a thousand assemble
together, and stretch for a mile in length. Like
many of the ruminants, they obey the conduct of
the foremost. If any obstacle has to be crossed, a
deliberation ensues ; but as soon as one has passed,
the difficulty is overcome, and the same place is
chosen by the whole troop. They appear to be
excellent swimmers, and in this way a river is
crossed after the first has ventured on the plunge.
These bands, would attack a huntsman if in the
way, or molesting them.

The Peccaries are said, by all those who have
partaken of them, to be excellent eating ; and
Sonnini frequently mentions the delicious repasts
in the forest. Being, in addition, animals so easily
tamed, and becoming so tractable, and feeding
upon a very small allowance, it is to be regretted
that some attempts have not been made for their
more general introduction. We are not aware that
they are even domesticated in America.

For a time our climate would be unfavourable,
but by breeding they would harden in constitu¬
tion, as those in the Society’s Gardens have
proved.

Bennet, Gardens of Zool. Soc.

THE TAPIRS.

The Tapirs are the last of the existing animals
which we have to notice, belonging, as we before
stated, to the Anoplotheres of Swainson, who has
used this extinct and comparatively unknown
form as the type of one of his families. They
are very remarkable, exhibiting a rounded com¬
pact form, standing a considerable height from
the ground, and having the nose and nostrils
more prolonged than in any of the Pachydermes,
except the Elephant, employing this part of their
structure as an organ of touch and smell, and
partially of prehension. Three species are known,
— two inhabiting America, and one part of the
Asiatic Islands ; while it is said that D’Orbigny
has discovered a new animal belonging to this
group, in South America, but it has not yet been
noticed in the numbers of his important voyages
at this time published. They are harmless
and inoffensive creatures, never attacking unless
attacked ; sluggish in the extreme, according to

THE TAPIRS.

239

most of their describers ; inhabiting the thickest
forests, and issuing only on the approach of twi¬
light to feed, after a day spent in sleep or sluggish
repose. They feed chiefly on vegetables ; but in
confinement are by no means nice in their food,
and will even swallow substances altogether
extraneous, such as pieces of stick or metal.
They are very easily tamed, become familiar, and
know their master, and will follow him, even
when they are permitted their liberty ; and it has
been thought that a little care would train them
to become useful beasts of burden, for which their
immense strength would well fit them.

The dentition of the Tapirs is different from
the other Pachydermes. There are six incisors
and two canine in either jaw, seven molar teeth
in the upper, and six in the lower jaw. In
osteology they approach near to the Rhinoceros
and the Hogs. The intestinal canal is simple, but
differs remarkably in the American and Indian
animals.*

In the first the stomach is small ; the intestines
of moderate length, the ccecum large. In the
latter it is the reverse, the stomach is large, the
intestinal canal very long, the ccecum small. The
dentition of the two animals is similar/}*

The bodies of the Tapirs are covered with

* Bennet.

t Yarrel, Zool. Journal

240

THE TAPIRS.

thinly set but closely growing stout hair, rising
to a somewhat bristly mane in one of the Ameri¬
can species. Tlhe skin itself of all is remarkably
strong, enabling them to crush through the
deepest and most short pointed thickets, and
presenting a strong defence from other assailants.
We shall proceed with the description of

PLATE 28

AMERICAN TAPIR .

F. Cuvier.

241

THE AMERICAN TAPIR.

Tapirus Americanus — Linn.

PLATE XXVIII.

Mborebi, Azara _ Tapirus Americanus, Linn, also

Hippopotamus terrestris — Tapir Americain, Lacepede
— Tapir d’ Amerique, Fred. Cuvier, Hist. Naturelle
des Mammif.

This animal is the largest quadruped in South
America, and is extensively distributed over that
continent, extending over almost every part of it
east of the Andes, but probably most abundant
within the tropics. It reaches from five to six
feet in length, is powerfully formed, and is
covered with a scanty close lying hair, forming
a bristly mane upon the neck. The colour is
a deep brown. “ The sides of the lower lip, a
band occupying the middle of the chin beneath,
the upper edges of the ears, and a naked line at
the junction of the hoofs, are all purely white.” *
The young are of a lighter colour, and spotted or
striped for the first year at least. That de¬
scribed by Mr Yarrel from the Zoological Society’s
Menagerie, was “ of a rusty reddish brown, with

* Bennet.

<1

242

THE AMERICAN TAPIR.

indications of lighter spots and horizontal lines
on the ribs, flanks, and thighs.”

This animal is frequently hunted by the South
Americans with dogs, sometimes it is trapped,
sometimes killed with poisoned arrows by the
natives, and occasionally it is shot. In all the
contests, it is with difficulty mastered, for though
inoffensive, its thick skin withstands the attacks of
the dogs, and its great strength allows it to handle
very severely those who are foremost or boldest in
the attack. It is either surprised from its lair, or
intercepted at early dawn, on its return from its
feeding ground ; and when pursued, makes always
for water, where he can stand on his defence,
while the dogs are obliged to swim around, and
are incapable of exerting all their powers. The
skin is remarkably thick, and is said to resist a
musket ball. M. Roulin mentions having fired at
one crossing a stream, and seeing his ball make
an impression on the back without farther harm.
This might glance off, but we question if the skin
of any of these large animals would resist a ball
directly fired from a properly loaded and efficient
gun. They are hunted for the skin, which is
'Irong, as we have mentioned, and also for the
flesh which the Indians delight in ; but which is
said to be coarse and unpalatable to the unaccus¬
tomed stomach of the European.

The other American species is

PLATE 29.

TAPIR O F THE AXDE

243

THE TAPIR OF THE ANDES.

Tapirus pinchaque. — Roulin.

PLATE XXIX.

Annales des Sciences Nat. 1829, p. 26, vol. i.

It had long been suspected by M. Roulin, from
the accounts of Oviedo and P. de Aqueda, that a
second species of Tapir existed in South America;
and from being described to possess a long and
thick hair, that gentleman commenced his inquiries
and researches regarding it, among the higher
regions of the Andes. He was at last successful
in procuring the animal, and has communicated a
sketch and description in the Annales des Sciences
Naturelles, which we have now used.

The size of the adult is nearly similar to that of
the other animal, but there is a general difference
in the form and appearance of the two. The
trunk, or elongated snout, does not exhibit upon
the sides those wrinkles which shew that the
animal keeps it always contracted. On the chin
there is a white spot which is prolonged to the
angle of the mouth, and returns upon the upper

244

THE TAPIR OF THE ANDES.

lip for nearly half its length. The ear is without
the white border, and there is not the remarkable
crest which commences behind the eyes, and runs
upon the shoulder of the common animal. The
neck of the Alpine animal is perfectly round, and
the hairs upon the centre are neither longer, nor do
they lie in another direction ; there is, in fact, no
trace of a mane. The hair upon the whole body is
very thick, long, and of a blackish brown, deepest
upon the tips, which gives the peculiar tint deno¬
minated, when referring to horses, “bay? On
the haunches, on each side, there is a spot, about
the size of the hand, devoid of hairs, but exhibit¬
ing no callosity.

The form of the skull exhibits a still more
marked difference, which will be seen in the
accompanying representations.

THE TAPIR OF THE ANDES.

245

This animal was about five feet six inches in
length, and about two feet nine inches in height
at the shoulder. The entrails having been re¬
moved to facilitate its transportation, the food
could not be ascertained. The hunters, when
they discovered the animal, noticed that it was
feeding on a sort of bamboo, and pointed out
another plant on which they particularly delighted,
a species of Espeletia.

246

THE MALAY TAPIR.

Tapirus Malayanus — Raffles.

PLATE XXX.

Tapirus Malayanus, Raffles , Trans. Linn. Soc. vol. xiii.

p. 2 _ Horsjield’s Zool. Researches in Java — Le

Maiba, Fred. Cuvier , Hist. Nat. des Mammif.

•

The first specimens of this animal wereprocured
and forwarded by Major Farquhar, while we
are indebted to Sir Stamford Raffles for the first
descriptions, and through his assistance to Sir E.
Home, for some notes upon its anatomy It is
very remarkable for the decided contrast of the
colours of the body, but in other respects resem¬
bles the form of the American animals, being
destitute, however, of any mane. The colours
are very deep purplish brown, and white, as dis¬
tributed on the figure of our plate ; the skin thick,
but thinly covered with hair ; the ears bordered
with white. The young, according to Major
Farquhar, “ until the age of four months, is black,

MALAYAN TAPI]

THE MALAY TAPIR.

247

and beautifully marked with spots and stripes, of
a fawn colour above, and white below ; after that
period it began to change the colour, the spots
disappeared, and at the age of six months it had
become of the usual colour of the adult.” It was
of a very mild and gentle disposition, tame and
familiar as a dog, fed indiscriminately on all sorts
of vegetables, and was very fond to attend at
table, to secure bread, cakes, and the like. Sir
Stamford Raffles* living specimen was occasionally
allowed to roam in the park at Barrackpore, and
it frequently entered the ponds, and appeared to
walk on the bottom under water, and not to make
any attempt to swim.

The Malay Tapir is from six to eight feet in
length, and from three to three feet and a half
in height at the shoulders. The manners, so far
as known, are similar to those of the American
Tapir. It inhabits the forests of the Malay
Peninsula, and some of the Indian islands, leading
an equally inoffensive life, and receiving ample
sustenance from the vegetable productions of these
luxurious regions. The flesh, though eaten by
the Indian with relish, does not seem to cause it
to be so much hunted as the American beast, and
we are rather surprised that an animal of such
bulk and singular markings remained so long
unknown, and now remains so much unnoticed
with regal'd to its habits.

248

THE MALAY TAPIR.

We have now noticed all the existing animals
which range in this division, and as we before
stated, will refrain from mentioning those which are
extinct. They have been placed under the names
of Palceotherium, Lophiodon, Anoplotherium,
Xiphiodon, and Dicobunes. They are in size
from that of the Rhinoceros to a small Pig.

THE END.