THE
NATURAL HISTORY
QUADdUPEDS,
AND
CETACEOUS ANIMALS,
FROM THE WORKS
OF THE
BEST AUTHORS, ANTIENT AND MODERN,
EMBELLISHED WITH
NUMEROUS PLATES,
ACCURATELY COLOURED FROM NATURE.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
BUNGAY J PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY BRIGHTLY AND CO »
1814
CONTENTS
699
CcL
ttf W .
mi * ,
VOLUME THE SECOND.
Antelope tribe page
229
Cachalot, small-eyed page
404
blue
231
high-finned
405
Egyptian
231
Leucoryx
232
Camel tribe
149
Algazel
233
Arabian
150
elk
234
Bactrian
158
harnessed
236
Llama
159
Guinea
237
Guanaco
163
royal
237
Paco
164
Indostan
238
Vicugna
165
swift
239
Chilihuque
166
red
239
striped
240
Cavy tribe
9
common
241
Guinea pig
10
Barbary
242
Capibara
15
Kevel
242
Agouti
16
Springer
243
Acouchy
19
Chinese
245
rock
19
Ourebi
246
Patagonian
20
Klip-springer
247
spotted .
0
20
white-faced
248
Ritbock .
248
Cetaceous animals
#
378
Bosbock
249
cinereous
250
Deer tribe
172
Sumatran
250
Elk
172
Corine
251
Rein-deer
178
Cervine
251
Stag
194
Gambian .
253
fallow
211
Guldensted’s
254
roe-buck
215
Gnu
254
tailless-roe
220
Chamois
256
Axis
221
Nyl-ghau
258
Virginian
222
Scythian
260
Mexican
224
1 . . * .
porcine .
224
Beaver tribe
23
rib-faced
225
common
23
grey
225
Chili
35
Dolphin tribe
405
Cachalot tribe
399
Porpesse
406
blunt-headed
403
common
408
small
404
I Grampus
411
CONTENTS.
Dolphin, bident
page
412
Horse, Wild mule
page
340
narrow-snouted
412
Ass
342
Beluga
;
402
Zebra .
«
351
Quagga
356
Dormouse tribe
•
105
cloven-footed
357
common
105
fat
* •
106
Hyrax tribe
143
garden
#
106
Cape
143
wood
*
107
Syrian
•
144
earless
*
107
Hudson’s Bay
148
gilt-tailed
108
Guerlinguet
109
Jerboa tribe
110
Egyptian
110
Giraffe tribe
•
226
Siberian
114
Cape .
115
Goat tribe
•
262
torrid
116
Ibex
262
tamarisk
117
Caucasan do.
265
Canadian
117
common
•
266
j
Angora
271
Marmot tribe
74
Syrian
272
Alpine
74
African
•
272
Quebec
80
Whidaw
0
272
Maryland
80
Capricorn
0
272
hoary
•
81
long-horned
0
273
Mauline
.
81
earless
.
81
Hare tribe
$
120
Gundi
.
83
common
0
120
Bobac
•
83
varying
<8
127
Rabbit
©
128
Musk tribe
167
Alpine
135
Tibetian
5
167
American
137
Indian
169
Baikal
138
Brasilian
.
169
Cape
0
139
Meminna
.
170
Brasilian
•
139
Java f
170
Viscaccia
9
139
pygmy
.
171
Ogotona
9
140
Leverian
.
171
calling
0
141
-
minute
9
142
Narwhal tribe
.
380
Unicorn
380
Hippopotamus tribe
358
spurious
383
Hog tribe
&
365
Ox TRIBE
292
common
0
366
common
292
Ethiopian
372
grunting
303
Cape Verd
375
Buffalo
305
Babyroussa
0
375
Musk
311
Mexican
0
376
Arnee
314
Cape buffalo
314
Horse tribe .
*
318
common
c
319
Porcupine tribe
.
l
i
CONTENTS,
Porcupine, common page 1
long-tailed 5
Brasilian 5
Mexican 6
Canada 7
brush-tailed 8
Hat tribe . * 36
musk . . 37
Coypu . . 38
Piloris . . 38
great * 43
black * . 49
American . 45
water . . 45
Bandicote . 46
Perchal . » 46
blue . . 55
Scherman . 56
Lemmus . . 57
ringed . . 60
Hudson’s Bay . 60
hare-tailed . 62
Hamster . . 63
Yaik . * 68
Canada . . 69
sand . . 70
Songar * * 70
Baraba » . 70
blind mole . 71
Daurian . , 72
African . . 72
Cape . 0 73
talpine . , 73
Mouse, common . 47
field . . 48
harvest * 50
Jineated . 51
Oriental * 51
Virginian . 52
wandering . 52
birch . . 52
rustic . „ 53
little . . 53
rock . „ 54
^economic . 54
red . . 56
garlic . . 57
soricene . 57
Mouse, woolly page 61
Baikal
61
social
62
meadow
63
Astrican
68
Sheep tribe
273
common
274
Argali „
288
Pudu * »
291
Squirrel tribe
85
common .
85
great
89
Madagacar
90
Gingi
90
Chilian
90
Georgian
91
Persian •
91
grey
91
black i
93
striped
94
Ceylon
97
Abyssinian
97
Java
97
Bombay .
98
ruddy
98
Hudson’s Bay
98
varied
99
fair
99
Brasilian
99
Mexican .
99
Palm
100
Barbary .
100
sailing
101
Sev. River flyingl02
Hooded do.
102
American do.
102
European do.
104
Tapir tribe .
363
Wiiale tribe
384
common
392
Fin-fish
395
pike-headed .
396
bunched
398
under-jawed
398
rostrated
399
DIRECTIONS FOR PLACING THE PLATES
IN
VOLUME I.
Plate 1 to face
p. 4
Plate 24 to face 85
Plate 47 to face 255
2
13
25
88
48
•
260
3
16
26
88
49
285
4
18
27
_
92
50
-
286
5
_
19
28
i.
96
51
300
6
22
29
m
101
52
317
f
_
22
30
-
107
53
312
8
32
31
108
54
m
31 4,
9
_
36
32
109
55
326
10
„
41
33
113
56
m
339
11
_
43
34
120
57
m
353
12
45
35
.
167
58
-
361
13
46
36
-
168
59
386
14
48
37
.
171
60
-
397
15
_
54
38
-
178
61
420
16
58
39
182
62
-
424
17
59
40
_
201
63
-
428
18
63
41
-
244
64
-
444
19
*
65
42
221
65
~
448
20
.
66
43
217
66
466
21
73
44
_
219
67
447
22
_
79
45
_
219
68
439
23
.
S3
46
- .
218
DIRECTIONS FOR PLACING THE PLATES
IN
VOLUME 11.
Plate 69 to face
‘ 1|
Plate 87 to face 172
Platel05 to face 305
70
-
10 1
88
_
194
106
_
303
71
23
89
221
107
.
351
72-
57
90
si
226
108
1
356
73
-
47
91
. A
232
109
i
358
. 74
.
63
92
d
258
lio
i
363
75
74
93
-
254
111
C
365
76
8:9
94
242
112
_
366
77
100
95
_
271
113
372
78
-
102
96
288
114
.
375
79
-
105
97
m
292
115-
t*
380
80
-
110
98
m
298
116
392
81
-
1 15
99
337
117
■»-
403
82
- ..
120
100
&
319
’ 118
L
410
83
-
150
101
-
296
119
-
406
84
158
102
342
120
.
49
85
-
163
103
m
86
-
167
104
291
• QUADRUPEDS.
PORCUPINE TRIBE.
TO a superficial observer, the animals belong-®
ing to this tribe would seem entitled to a
place with hedgehogs ; but they have no farther
similitude than in the spiny covering of their bo*
dies. None of the species are supposed to be car-
nivorous.
The porcupines have two front teeth, cut ob-
liquely, both in the upper and under jaw ; and
eight grinders. They have four toes on the fore*
and five on the hinder feet ,* and the body is cover-
ed with spines, intermixed with hair.
Common porcupine.
The general length of the common porcupine*
is about two feet and a half from the head to the
end of the tail. The upper parts of the body are
covered with hard and sharp spines, some of which
measure from nine to fifteen inches in length.
These are variegated with alternate black and
white rings ; and as some of them are attached to
the skin only by a delicate pedicle, they easily fall
OiF. They are formed of complete quills, wanting
only the vane to be real feathers. The animal has
the power of elevating or depressing them at will ;
VOL. II. R
2
COMMON PORCUPINE.,
and when he walks,, they (particularly those about
the tail) make a rattling noise,, by striking against
each other. The head., belly, and legs, are cover-
ed with strong dusky bristles, intermixed with
softer hairs ; on the top of the head these are very
long- ; and curved backwards, somewhat like a
ruff or crest.
Such is the formation of this quadruped, in
those parts in which it differs from most others :
as to the rest of its figure, the muzzle bears some
resemblance to that of a hare, but is black ; the
legs are very short, and the feet have five toes,
both before and behind, armed with strong claws ;
the ears are thinly covered with very fine hair, and
are in shape like those of mankind ; the eyes are
smal 1 , like those of a hog, being only one third of
an inch from one corner to the other. After the
skin is taken off, there appears a kind of paps on
those parts of the body from whence the large
quills proceed ; these are about the size of a small
pea, each answering to as many holes which ap-
pear on the outward surface of the skin, and which
are about half an inch deep/like as many hollow
pipes, wherein the quills are fixed, as in so many
sheaths.
In its manners, the common porcupine is very
harmless and inoffensive, never itself becoming the
aggressor ; and when pursued, it climbs the first
tree it can reach, where it remains till the patience
of its adversary is exhausted. If, however, it is
roused to self-defence, even the lion dares not ven-
ture to attack it.
The late sir Ashton Lever had a live porcupine,
which he frequently turned out on the grass behind
his house, to play with a tame hunting leopard, and
a large Newfoundland dog. ' As soon as they were
let loose, the leopard and dog began to pursue the
porcupine, who always- at first endeavoured to
COMMON PORCUPINE,
escape by flight ; but,, on finding that ineffectual,
he would thrust his head into some corner, making
a snorting noise, and erecting his spines ; with
which his pursuers pricked their noses, till they
quarelled between themselves, and thus gave him
an opportunity to escape.
It has been asserted by many credulous travel-
lers, that the porcupines, when much provoked,
dart their quills at the object by which they are
enraged. This opinion, however, has been fully
refuted by many accurate naturalists, who have
taken pains to inquire into the matter. The usual
method of defence adopted by these animals, is to
recline themselves on one side ; and, on the ap-
proach of their enemy, to rise up quickly, and
gore him with the erected prickles of their other
side. It is also said, that when the porcupine
meets with serpents, against whom he carries on a
perpetual war, he closes himself up like a ball,
concealing his head and feet, and then rolls upon
and kills them with his bristles, without running
any risk of being wounded himself. M. Le Var-
iant says, that, owing to some pernicious quality
in the quills, one of his Hottentots, who had re-
ceived a wound in the leg from a porcupine, was
ill for more than six months. He also informs us,
that a gentleman at the Cape, in teazing one ot
these animals, received a wound in the leg, which
nearly occasioned his loss of the limb ; and not-
withstanding every possible care, he suffered se-
verely from it for above four months, during one of
which he was confined to his bed.
When the animal is moulting, or casting its
quills, it sometimes shakes them off with so much
force, that they will fly to the distance of a few
yards, and even bend their points against any hard
substance they happen to strike. It may have
k
COMMON PORCUPINE.
been this circumstance which gave rise to the re-
port of its darting its quills against its enemy.
Those which are brought to this country to be
shown, are usually fed on bread, milk, and fruits ;
but they will not refuse meat when it is offered
them ; audit is probable, they prefer it in a wild
state, when it is to be had. The porcupine is also
known to be extremely hurtful to gardens ; and,
where it enters, does incredible damage.
The Americans w ho hunt this animal, assure us,
that the porcupine lives from twelve to fifteen years.
During the time of coupling, which is in the
month of September, the males become very fierce
and dangerous, and often are seen to destroy each
other with their teeth. The female goes with
young seven months, and brings forth but one at a
time ; this she suckles but about a month, and
accustoms it betimes to live, like herself, upon
vegetables and the bark of trees ; she is very
fierce in its defence ; but, at other seasons, she
is«fearful, timid, and harmless.
The Indians eagerly pursue the porcupine, in
order to make embroidery of its quills, and to eat
its flesh. This, as we are commonly told, is very
tolerable eating ; however, we may expect wretch r
ed provisions when the savages are to be our ca-
terers, for they eat every thing that has life. They
dye the quills of various colours, and then split-
ting them into slips, as we see in the making of
a cane chair, they embroider with these their belts,
baskets, and several other necessary pieces of fur-
niture.
It inhabits India, the sand bills to the south-
west of the Caspian sea, Southern Tartary, Persia,
and Palestine, and all parts of Africa. It is found
wild in Italy ; but at the same time it is thought
not to have been originally a native of Europe.
5
LONG* TAILED PORCUPINE, &C.
It is bought in the markets of Rome for the table.
The Italian porcupines have shorter quills, and a
less crest than those of Asia and Africa. Some
of these animals produce a bezoar. These bezoars
were once highly valued, and have been sold for
five hundred crowns a-piece.
Long-tailed porcupine.
The long-tailed porcupine has also long whis-
kers ; large bright eyes ; and short naked ears*
His body is short and thick, and covered with long
stiff hairs, as sharp as needles, of different colours,
gilded, green, or of a reddish tinge, as the rays of
light fall on them. His feet are divided into five
toes ; that which serves as a thumb turns back-
wards. The tail is as long as the body, very slen-
der at the end, which consists of a thick tuft.
The bristles are thick in the middle* appear as if
jointed, and rise one out of the other like grains
of rice. They are transparent, and of a silvery
appearance. It inhabits the isles of the Indian
Archipelago, and lives in the forests.
Brasilian porcupine.
The Brasilian porcupine has a small head,
blunt nose, long white whiskers, and a bed of
small spines beneath the nose. The top of its
head, its back, its sides, and the base of its tail,
are also covered with spines. The longest of these
on the lower part of the back and tail are about
three inches long, very sharp, and white, barred
near their points with black. They adhere close
to the skin, which is quite naked between them ;
and are shorter and weaker as they approach the
belly. On the breast, belly, and lower parts of
the legs, they are converted into dark brown
6
MEXICAN PORCUPINE.
bristles. Its feet are divided into four toes each,
with very long ciaws, and a great protuberance on
the place of the thumb. Its tail is eighteen
inches long, slender and taper towards the end ;
for the last ten inches it is almost naked, having
only a few hairs upon it ; but for that space, it
lias a strong prehensile quality. The animal is
about a foot long from the nose to the tip of the
tail.
It inhabits Mexico and Brasil ; it lives in the
woods, and preys, not only ©n fruits, but also on
birds ; it sleeps by day in the hollow of trees or
beneath their roots, and preys by night ; and gene-
rally makes a noise with its nostrils, as if out of
breath ; it grunts also like a hog. It climbs
trees, but very slowly ; in descending, for fear ot
falling, it twists its tail round the branches ; it
spends no more arrows in darting its quills than
the rest ; it grows very fat ; and its flesh is said
to be very white and good. They may be tamed.
Piso says there is a greater and a lesser kind o!
this species.
I
Mexican porcupine.
The Mexican porcupine is of a dusky colour,
with long bristles intermixed with its fur. Its
spines are three inches long, slender, and varied
with white and yellow ; but they are scarcely ap-
parent, except on the tail, which is thicker and
shorter than that of the preceding species ; from
the middle to the end it is free from spines. It
grow s to the size of a middle sized dog. It inha-
bits the mountains of Mexico, lives on the summer
fruits, and may easily be made tame. The Indians
pulverize the quills, and say they are very effica-
cious as a remedy for the gravel ; and that applied
whole to the forehead, they will relieve the most
CANADA PORCUPINE.
1
violent head-ach. They adhere till filled with
blood, and then drop off. It is said to be a fetid
animal.
Canada porcupine.
The porcupine met with in Canada, and the
other parts of North America, as high as Hudson’s
Bay, has short ears hid in its fur. Its head, body,
legs, and the upper part of its tail, are covered
with soft, long, dark brown hair ; on the upper
part of the head, back, body, and tail, there are
numbers of sharp strong quills. The longest, mea-
suring about three inches, are on the back, the
least towards the head and sides ; but they are all
hid in the hair. There are some stiff straggling
hairs intermixed, three inches longer than the rest,
and tipt with a dirty white. The under side of its
tail is white. It has four toes on the fore feet,
five behind, each armed with long claws, hollowed
on their under side. The form of its body is ex-
actly like that of a beaver ; but it is not half the
size. One brought from Newfoundland was
about the size of a bare, but more compactly
made. Its tail was about six inches long. They
vary in colour. One in the Leverean museum was
entirely white. It is about the size of a fox, but
a very differently formed animal, as it is very short
and thick.
They make their nests under the roots of great
trees, and will also climb among the boughs.
The Indians kill them by striking them over the
nose. They are very plentiful near Hudson’s
Bay ; and many of the trading Indians depend on
them for food, esteeming them both wholesome
and pleasant. They feed on wild fruits and the
bark of trees, especially the juniper. They eat
snow in winter, and drink water in summer ; - but
8 BRUSH-TAILED PORCUPINE.
avoid going into it. When they cannot avoid
their pursuer, they will sidle towards him, in order
to touch him with their quills, which seem but
weak weapons of defence ; for on stroking the
hair, they will come out of the skin sticking
to the hand. The Indians apply them to various
purposes ; for piercing their noses and ears to make
holes for their ear-rings, and other finery ; they
also trim their deer skin habits with fringes made
of the quills, or cover with them their bark
boxes.
Brush-tailed porcupine.
This animal, which is described and figured in
the seventh supplemental volume of the Count de
Buffon’s History of Quadrupeds, is a native of
Malacca. It differs, according to that author,
from the common porcupine in several particulars,
and especially in the form and length of its tail,
which is naked, scaly, about a third of the length
of the body, and terminated by a tuft of long flat
hairs, or rather small white laminse, resembling
strips of parchment. The body measures fifteen
or sixteen inches, and is consequently less than
that of the European porcupine ; the head also
Is longer in proportion ; and the snout, which is
covered with a black skin, is furnished with whisk-
ers of five or six inches in length ; the eyes are
small and black ; the ears smooth, round, and
naked ; there are four toes united by a common
membrane, on the fore feet, with only a tubercle in
place of a fifth toe ; the hind feet are united in a
similar manner, by a membrane somewhat smaller
than that of the fore feet ; the legs are covered
with blackish hair ; the flanks and upper part of
the body are whitish, ayd covered with spines,
shorter than those of the common porcupine, and
p
CAVY TEIBE. 9
of a peculiar shape, being a little flattened, and
channeled with a longitudinal furrow ; they are
white at the point, and black in the middle, and
many of them are black above and white below ;
and from this mixture results a varying cast of
black and white over the whole body of the animal.
This species, like others of its genus, which na-
ture seems to have provided with defensive weapons
only, possesses a kind of instinctive fierceness ;
when approached, it stamps with its feet, and ap«
pears to inflate itself, raising and shaking its
quills. It sleeps much by day, and is active only
by night. It eats in a sitting posture, holding
apples and other fruits between its paws, peeling
them with its teeth ; it is particularly pleased
with stone fruits, and especially with apricots ; it
will also eat melons, and is never observed to
drink.
CAVY TRIBE.
These animals were arranged by Linnaeus along
with the mice ; but that tribe having been thought
much too extensive, and comprehending many ani-
mals that differed very materially both inform and
habit, it was at length thought necessary to ar-
range the cavies under a separate head ; distin-
guishing them by the structure of their feet, the
proportion of their limbs, &c. the teeth being
nearly the same in all.
They have in each jaw two wedge-shaped front
teeth, and eight grinders. They have likewise
four or five toes on the fore feet, and from thr©&
VOL. II. G
10
GUINEA FIGo
to five on tbe Linder. The tail is either very shorty
or altogether wanting. And they have no collar
bones.
They seem to hold a middle place between the
murine quadrupeds and .the hares. Nearly all the
Species, which are seven in number, have a slow,
and some of them a leaping pace. Their habita-
tions are burrows ; which they form beneath the
roots of trees, or, in the ground. They live en-
tirely on vegetable food, and are all natives of
America : two or three species, however, are found
also on the old continent.
Guinea pig.
The guinea pig is a native of the warmer cli-
mates,* but has been so long rendered domestic,
and so widely diffused, that it has now become
common in every part of the world. There are
few unacquainted with the figure of this little
animal ; in some places it is considered as the
principal favourite ; and is often found even to
displace the lap-dog. It is less than a rabbit, and
its legs are shorter ; they are scarce seen, except
when it moves ; and the neck also is so short, that
the head seems stuck upon the shoulders. The
ears are short, thin, and transparent ; the hair is
like that of a sucking pig, from -whence it has
taken the name ; and it wants even the vestiges of
a tail. In other respects, it hasrsome similitude
to the rabbit. When it moves, its body lengthens
like that animal ; and when it is at rest, it gathers
up in the same manner. Its nose is formed with
the rabbit dip, except that its nostrils are much
farther asunder. Like all other animals in a do-
mestic state, its colours are different ; some are
w hite, some are red, and others both red and white.
It differs from the rabbit in the number of its
GUINEA PIG.
11
toes,, having four toes on the feet before,, and but
three on those behind. It strokes its head with
the fore feet, li'ke a rabbit ; and like it, sits upon
the hind feet ; for which purpose,, there is a
naked callous skin on the back part of the legs
and feet.
These animals are, of all others, the most help-
less and inoffensive. They are scarce possessed of
courage sufficient to defend themselves against the
meanest of all quadrupeds, a mouse. Their only ani-
mosity is exerted against each other ; for they will
often fight very obstinately ; and the stronger is
often known to destroy the weaker. But against
all other aggressor's, their only remedy is patience
and non-resistance.
As to their manner of living among us, they owe
their lives entirely to our unceasing protection.
They must be constantly attended, shielded from
the excessive colds of the winter, and secured
against all other domestic animals,, which are
apt to attack them from every motive/either of ap-
petite, jealousy, or experience of their pusillani-
mous nature. Such, indeed, is their stupidity,
that they suffer themselves to be devoured by the
cats without resistance ; and, differing from all
other creatures, the female sees her young destroy-
ed without once attempting to protect them.
Their usual food is bran, parsley, or cabbage
leaves ; but there is scarce a vegetable cultivated
in our gardens, that they will not gladly devour.
The carrot top is a peculiar dainty ; as also salad ;
and those who would preserve their healths, would
do right to vary their food ; for if they he con-
tinued on a kind too succulent or too dry, the
effects are quickly perceived upon their constitu-
tions. When fed upon recent vegetables, they sel-
dom drink. But it often happens that, conducted
by nature, they seek drier food, when the former
12
GUINEA PIG.
disagrees with them. They then gnaw clothes,,
paper, or whatever of this kind they meet with ;
and on these occasions they are seen to drink like
most other animals,, which they do by lapping.
The\r are chiefly fond of new milk ; but in case
of necessity, are content with water.
They move pretty much in the manner of rab-
bits, though not near so swiftly ; and when confined
in a room, seldom cross the floor, but generally
keep along the wall. The male usually drives
the female on before him, for they never move
abreast together, but constantly the one seems to
tread in the footsteps of the preceding. They
chiefly seek for the darkest recesses, and the most
intricate retreats ; where, if hay be spread as a
bed for them, they continue to sleep together, and
seldom venture out but when they suppose all in-
terruption removed. On these occasions they
act as rabbits ; they swiftly move forward from
their bed, stop at the entrance, listen, look round,
and if they perceive the slightest approach of dan-
ger, they run back with precipitation. In very
cold weather, however, they are more active, and
run about in order to keep themselves warm.
They are a very cleanly animal, and very differ-
ent from those whose name they go by. If the
young ones happen to fall into the dirt, or be any
other way discomposed, the female takes such
an aversion to them, that she never permits them
to visit her more. Indeed, her whole employment,
as well as that of the male, seems to consist in
smoothing their skins, disposing their hair, and im-
proving its gloss. The male and female take this
office by turns ; and when they have thus brushed
up each other, they then bestow all their concern
upon their young, taking particular care to make
their hair lie smooth, and biting them if they ap-
pear refractory. As they are so solicitous for
GUINEA PIG.
13
elegance themselves* the place where they are kept
must be regularly cleaned* and a new bed of hay
provided for them at least every week. Being
natives of a warm climate* they are naturally
chilly in ours ; cleanliness* therefore* assists warmth*
and expels moisture. They may be thus reared,
without the aid of any artificial heat ; but* in
general* there is no keeping them from the fire in
winter* if they be once permitted to approach it.
When they go to sleep* they lie flat on their
bellies* pretty much in their usual posture ; ex-
cept that they love to have their fore feet higher
than their hinder. For this purpose they turn
themselves several times round before they lie
down to find the most convenient situation. They
sleep like the hare* with their eyes half open ;
and continue extremely watchful* if they sus-
pect danger. The male and female are never
seen both asleep at the same time ; but while he
enjoys his repose* she remains upon the watch,
silently continuing to guard him* and her head
turned towards the place where he lies. When
she supposes that he has had his turn* she then
awakes him with a kind of murmuring noise,
goes to him* forces him from his bed* and lies
down in his place. He then performs the same
good turn for her ; and continues watchful till she
also has done sleeping.
These animals are exceedingly salacious* and.
generally are capable of coupling at six weeks old.
The female never goes with young above five
weeks ; and usually brings forth from three to
five at a time ; and this not without pain. But
what is very extraordinary* the female admits the
male the very day she has brought forth* and be-
comes again pregnant ; so that their multiplica-
tion is astonishing. She suckles her young but
about twelve or fifteen days ; and during that time
14
©VINE A FIG,
does not seem to know her own ; for if the young*
of any other be brought,, though much older, she
never drives them away,, but suffers them even to
drain her to the disadvantage of her own imme-
diate offspring. They are produced with the eyes
©pen,, like all others of the cavy kind ; and in
about twelve hours equal even to the dam in agi-
lity. Although the dam has but two. teats, yet
she abundant!}' supplies them with milk; and they
are also capable of feeding upon vegetables, almost
from the very beginning. If the young ones are
permitted to continue together, the stronger, as in
all other societies, soon begins to govern the weak.
Their contentions are often long and obstinate ;
and their jealousies very apparent. Their disputes
are usually for the warmest place, or the most
agreeable food. If one of them happens to be
more fortunate in this respect than the rest, the
strongest generally comes to dispossess it of its
advantageous situation. Their manner of fight-
ing, though terrible to them, is ridiculous enough
to a spectator. One of them seizes the hair on
the nape of the other’s neck with its fore teeth,
and attempts to tear it away ; the other, to re-
taliate, turns its hinder parts to the enemy, and
kicks up behind like a horse, and with its hinder
claws scratches the sides of its adversary ; so that
sometimes they cover each other with blood.
When they contend in this manner, they gnash
their teeth pretty loudly, and this is often a denun-
ciation of mutual resentment.
These, though so formidable to each other, yet
are the most timorous creatures upon earth, with
respect to the rest of animated nature : a falling
leaf disturbs them, and every animal overcomes
them. From hence they are difficultly tamed;
and will suffer none to approach them, except the
person by whom they arc fed. Their manner of
CAP IB A. XI A CAW.
lb
eating is something like that of the rabbit ; and,
like it, they appear also to chew the cud. Al-
though they seldom drink, they make water every
minute. They grunt somewhat like a young pig,
and have a more piercing note to express pain. In
a word, they do no injury; but then, except the
pleasure they afford the spectator, they are of very
little benefit to mankind. Some, indeed, dress and
eat them ; but their flesh is indifferent food, and
by no means a reward for the trouble of rearing
them. This, perhaps, might be improved, by
keeping them in a proper warren, and not suffering
them to become domestic ; however, the advan-
tages that would result from this, would be few,
and the trouble great ; so that it is likely they
would continue an useless, inoffensive dependent*
rather propagated to satisfy caprice than to supply
necessity.
Capibara cavy.
The capibara lias a very large and thick head
and nose, small rounded ears, and large black eyes.
Its upper jaw is longer than the lower. It has
two strpng and great cutting teeth, and eight
grinders in each jaw. Each of these grinders
forms, on its surface, seemingly three teeth, each
flat at their ends. Its legs are short ; its toes are
long ; these are connected, near their bottoms, bv
a small web, and guarded at their ends by a small
hoof. It has no tail. The hair on the body is
/short, rough, and brotvn. On its nose it has long
and hard whiskers. It grows to the size of a hog
of two years old. It inhabits the country from
the isthmus of Darien to the Brasils, and even to
Paraguay, and lives in fenny parts, not remote from
the banks of great rivers, such as the Oronoko,
Amazon, and the Rio de la Plata. It runs slowly ;
16
AGOUTI,
but swims and dives remarkably we!!, and keeps
under water so long, that the hunters frequently
give up for lost those they have been in chase of.
It feeds on fruits and vegetables, especially sugar-
canes ; but is very dexterous in catching* fish,
which it brings on shore, and eats at its ease.
It sits up, and holds its prey with its fore feet,
feeding like an ape.
They keep always in pairs, a male and a fe-
male, or else in great herds ; feed in the night,
and commit great ravages in gardens. They
make a horrible noise, like the braying of an ass.
They are of a gentle and peaceable disposition,
easily made tame, and grow very familiar. Their
flesh is eaten ; it is tender, but has an oily and
fishy taste, in its wild state, in consequence of
its food. Buffon thinks they might be propaga-
ted in Europe. The female has but one young
one at a birth.
Agouti.
This animal is found in great abundance in the
southern parts of America, and has by some been
called the rabbit of that continent. But, though
in many respects it resembles the rabbit, yet still
in many more it differs, and is, without all doubt,
an animal peculiar to the new world only. The
agouti is about the size of a rabbit, and has a head
very much resembling it, except that the ears are
very short in comparison. It resembles the rabbit
also in the arched form of its back, in the hind
legs being longer than the fore, and in having four
great cutting teeth, two above and two below ;
but then it differs in the nature of its hair, which
is not soft and downy as in the rabbit, but hard
and bristly like that of a sucking pig, and of a
reddish brown colour. It differs also in the tail*
agouti.
If
wlndi is even shorter than in the rabbit, and
entirely destitute of hair. Lastly, it differs in the
number of its toes, having but three on the hinder
feet, whereas the rabbit has five. Ail these dis-
tinctions, however, do not countervail against its
general form, which resembles that of a rabbit, and
most travellers have called it by that name.
As this animal differs in form, it differs still-
more in habitudes and disposition. As it has the
hair of a hog, so also it has its voraciousness.
It eats indiscriminately of all things ; and when
satiated, hides the remainder, like the dog or the
fox, for a future occasion. It takes a pleasure in
gnawing and spoiling every thing it comes near.
When irritated, its hair stands erect along the back/
and, like the rabbit, it strikes the ground violently
with its hind feet. It does not dig a hole in the*
ground, but burrows in the hollows of trees. Its
ordinary food consists of the roots of the country,
potatoes and yams, and such fruits as fall from the
trees in autumn. It uses its fore paw, like the
squirrel, to carry its food to its mouth ; and as
its hind feet are longer than the fore, it runs very
swiftly upon plain ground, or up a hill, but upon
a descent it is in danger of falling. Its sight k
excellent, and its hearing equals that of any other
animal ; whenever it is whistled to, it stops to
hearken. The flesh of such as are fat and well
fed is tolerable food, although it has a peculiar
taste, and is a little tough. The French dress it
like a sucking pig, as we learn from M. BufFon'si
account ; but the English dress it with a pudding
in its belly like a hare. It is hunted by dogs ; and
whenever it has got into a sugar-ground, where
the canes cover the place, it is easily overtaken,
for it is embarrassed every step it takes, so that a
naan may easily come up with it without any other
assistance. When in the op®n country, it usually
VOL, li.
AGOUTI.
m
runs with great swiftness before the dogs until it
gains its retreat, within which it continues to hide,
and nothing but filling the hole with smoke can
force it out. For this purpose, the hunter burns
faggots or straw at the entrance, and conducts the
gmoke in such a manner that it fills the whole
cavity. While this is doing, the poor little animal
#eems sensible of its danger, and begs for quarter
with a most plaintive cry, seldom quitting its hole
till the utmost extremity. At last, when half
suffocated, it issues out, and trusts once more to
its speed for protection. When still forced by the
dogs, and incapable of making good a retreat, it
turns upon the hunters, and with its hair bristling
like a hog, and standing upon its hind feet, it
defends itself very obstinately. Sometimes it bites
the legs of those that attempt to take it, and will
take out the piece wherever it fixes its teeth.
Its cry, when disturbed or provoked, resembles
that of a sucking pig. If taken young, it is easily
tamed, continues to play harmlessly about the
house, and goes out and returns of its own accord.
In a savage state it usually continues in the woods,
and the female generally chooses the most obscure
parts to bring forth her young. She there prepares
a bed of leaves and dry grass, and generally brings
forth two at a time. She breeds twice or thrice a
year, and carries her young from one place to
another, as convenience requires, in the manner
of a cat. She generally lodges them, when three
days old, in the hollow of a tree, suckling them
but for a very short time, for they soon come to
perfection, and it should consequently follow, that
they soon grow old.
19
ACOUCHYj AND ROCK CAYY.
i
Acouchy.
This animal, which is by some regarded as a
variety of the agouti, differs in being somewhat
smaller, rather thinner, and entirely of an olive
colour, paler, or more inclined to whitish beneath ;
the tail is also longer than on the agouti. It is
a native of tho same parts of South America with
the agouti; is of a similar manner; and is also
tamed with equal readiness. We are informed by
Mens, de la Borde, that it does not attempt the
water like the agouti, but will rather suffer itself
to be taken. Mons. de la Borde also adds, that
it produces but one young at a time. Its voice
resembles that of the cavia cob ay a, or guineas
P*g-
Rock cavy, or aperea.
This species has also its upper lip divided
short ears ; four toes on the fore feet, and three
on the bind. It lias no tail. The -colour of the
upper part of its body is black, mottled with
tawny ; but its throat and belly are white. It is
one foot in length, and inhabits Brasil, living
in the boles of rocks, whence it is driven out, and
taken by little dogs. For the table, it is prefer-
able to our best rabbits ; its motions are like those
of the hare. Some of them resemble the hare in
colour too ; but the head is longer, and the ears
are not above an inch in length; the fore legs
exceed not three inches ; those behind are a little
longer.
PATAGONIAN, AND SPOTTED CAYY,
20
Patagonian cayy.
The ears of (he Patagonian cavv are long and
touch dilated near the bottom. Its upper lip is
divided. On each side of its nose, there are tufts
of soft hair, and long whiskers. jThe tip of its
nose is black ; its face, its back, and the fore part
of its legs, are cinereous and rust coloured ; its
breast and sides are tawny ; its belly is of a dirty
white. On each thigh it has a white patch. Its
rump is black ; its legs are very long ; its claws
are long, straight, and black ; it has four on the
fore feet, three on the hind. Its tail is a mere
naked stump. Some of these creatures weigh
six-and-twenty pounds. They are found in plenty
about Port Desire, in Patagonia. They live in
holes of the earth, like the rabbit. Their flesh is
of a snowy whiteness, and of an excellent flavour.
Sir John Narborough, and other voyagers, call it
a hare.
Spotted cavy, or paca.
This species of the cavy has a round head;
the upper jaw longer than the lower ; large
nostrils ; a divided lip ; long whiskers ; short and
naked ears, and a thick neck. The eyes are
brown, large, and prominent. It has five rows
of spots on each side. Its hair is short and hard ;
on the upper part of the body, a dark brown.
Its sides, on the lower part, are marked length-
ways with lines of grey spots. Its belly is white.
In some, perhaps young ones, the sides and
spots are of a pale yellow. It has five toes on
each foot; and only the mere rudiment of a
tail. Its make and voice resemble those of a pig.
|ii some places, it is called the hog-rabbit. It
SPOTTED CAV Y » 21
inhabits Brasil and Guiana, and lives in fenny
places. It burrows under ground,, grows very
fat, and is esteemed a great delicacy in Brasil;
even its skin is eat, like that of a pig. It eats its
meat on the ground, not sitting up as some others
of this genus do. It is a solitary timorous animal,
and the prey of a vast number of enemies.
They are discovered by little dogs, who point
out the places they lie in. The master digs over
them ; and when he comes near, transfixes them
with a knife; otherwise they are apt to escape.
When they have an opportunity, they will bite
dreadfully. There is a variety of them quite
white, found on the banks of the river St. Francis.
Mr. Pennant says, that in size this species mea-
sures only ten inches ; but Buffon says they are
larger than any rabbit. Speaking of one that was
kept in France, Though our animal/' says he,
had not acquired his full growth, he was eigh-
teen inches long in his natural contracted situa-
tion ; but when he extended himself, he was near
two feet. His head from the nose to the top of
the front, wras five inches ; his eyes were about
two inches distant. When upon his legs, his
height before was seven inches ; behind about nine
inches and a half. The posterior part of the
body measured nineteen inches and a half in cir-
cumference, the fore part only fourteen. Five lon-
gitudinal rows of white spots ran along the sides,
and approached each other at the extremities.
His tail was hardly visible. Upon search, we
found a small button of two or three inches long/'
The count gives a pretty full account of the
manner of living and acting of the above animal,
which he kept in liis house from the month of
August, 1774, to the twenty-eighth of May, 1775 ;
during all which period its size continued to aug-
ment. Provided with a wooden cage or box, it
22 SPOTTED CATY.
remained perfectly tranquil during the day* especi-
ally when plentifully supplied with food. After
feeding, he retired of his own accord to his box ;
but when night approached, he discovered a
violent inclination to get out. He was remarkably
cleanly : and when about to void his excrements,
he always retired to the most private corner he
could fold. All obscure corners seemed agreeable
to him. He would make himself anew nest in the
bottom of an open press, or under the kitchen
grate ; and nothing but force would make him
leave his new abode. He was fond of adulation,
and licked the hand of the person that caressed
him. When gently stroaked on the back, be
stretched himself out, and lay down on his belly.
His skin was so sensible, that the slightest touch
was sufficient to excite the most lively emotions.
This great sensibility produced sometimes the
most violent paroxisms of passion. The bare
sight of an unknown dog was sufficient ; he would
dart suddenly on the dog, however innocent, and
bite him severely. He was apt to treat people
with whom he was not acquainted, in the same
manner, if they tried to irritate him. He hacl an
aversion to children, and pursued them. He ex-
pressed his passion by chattering his teeth. He
often sat on his posteriors, and seemed to comb his
head and whiskers with his paws, which he licked
and moistened with his saliva. In this operation
he often used both paws at a time, and would after-
wards scratch all his body. He would eat bread
equally well, whether it had been soaked in water,
wine, or vinegar. When sugar or fruits were
offered him, he expressed his joy by bounding and
leaping. He ate, with equal relish, grapes, celery,
onions, and garlic ; he did not refuse grass, moss,
or the bark of trees. He would eat wood even
half charred. He seemed to like flesh the least
. .
■■•...■• . •
\
mmAviam
'BEAVER TRIBE.
of any kind of food. He lapped like a dog'.
Mr. BufFon thinks he might be naturalized ih
France ; and imagines,, the introducing him would
be a valuable acquisition, as a single individual of
this species would furnish as much good meat as
seven or eight rabbits.
M. de la Borde says, that there are two or three
species of the cavy, at Cayenne, which are said not
to intermix. Some of them weigh from fourteen
to twenty pounds, and others from twenty-five to
thirty.
BEAVER TRIBE.
Of the present tribe, there are but two species
that have been hitherto discovered, the common
and the Chili beavers ; and even of these, it seems
doubtful whether the latter ought not to be arranged
with the otters.
The heavers have the front teeth in their upper
jaw truncated, and excavated with a transverse
angle ; and those of the louver jaw are transverse
at the tips. There are four grinders on each side.
The tail is long, depressed, and scaly ; and there
are collar bones in the skeleton.
Common beaver.
The beaver is a native of most of the northern
parts of Europe and Asia, but is principally found
in North America. There is some reason to suppose
that it was once an inhabitant of Great Britain ;
for Giraldus Cambrensis says that these animals
24> COMMON BEAVEE,
frequented the river Tievi, in Cardiganshire, and
that they had, from the Welsh., a name, signifying
the broad-tailed animals *y Their skins were
valued by the laws of Howel Dda, in the tenth
century, at the great sum of a hundred and twenty
pence each ; and they seem to have constituted the
chief finery and luxury of those days.
The general length of the beaver is about three
feet. The tail is oval, nearly afoot long, and
compressed horizontally, but rising into a con-
vexity on its upper surface ; it is perfectly desti-
tute of hair, except at the base, and is marked out
into scaly divisions, like the skin of a fish. The
hair is very line, smooth, glossy, and of a chesnut
colour, varying sometimes to black ; and instances
have occured, in which these animals have been
found white,, cream-coloured, or spotted. The
ears are short, and almost hidden in the fur.
Like birds, it has but one and the same vent for
the emission of its excrements and its urine ; a
strange peculiarity, but which anatomists leave us
ilo room to doubt of.
The beavers begin to assemble about the months
of June and July, to form a society that is to
continue for the greatest part of the year. They
arrive in numbers from every side, and generally
form a company of^above two hundred. The
place of meeting is commonly the place where
they fix their abode, and this is always by the side
of some lake, or river. If it be a lake in which
the waters are always upon a level, they dispense
with building a dam ; but if it be a running
stream, which is subject to Hoods and falls, they
then set about building a dam, or pier, that crosses
the river, so that it forms a dead water in that part
which lies above and below. This dam, or pier,
is often fourscore or a hundred feet long, and ten
or twelve feet thick at the base. If we compare
COMMON BEAVER. %&r
the greatness of the work, with the powers of the
architect, it will appear enormous ; but the soli-
dity with which it is built is still more astonishing
than its size. The part of the river over which
this clam is usually built, is where it is most shal-
low, and where some great tree is found growing
by the side of the stream. This they pitch upon
as proper for making the principal part in their
building ; and, although it is often thicker than
a man's body, they instantly set about cutting it
down. For this operation they have no other in-
strument but their teeth, which soon lay it level,
and that also on the side they wish it to fall, which
is always across the stream. They then fall about
cuttingfoff the top branches, to make it lie close
and even, and serve as the principal beam of their
fabric.
This dike, or causey, is sometimes ten, and
sometimes twelve feet thick at the foundation. It
descends in a declivity, or slope, on that side next
the water, which gravitates upon the work in pro-
portion to the height, and presses it with a pro-
digious force towards the earth. The opposite
side is erected perpendicular, like our walls ; and
that declivity, which, at the bottom, or basis, is
about twelve feet broad, diminishes towards the
top, where it is no more than two feet broad, or
thereabouts. The materials whereof this mole
consists, are wood and clay. The beavers cut,
with surprising ease, large pieces of wood, some as
think as one's arm or thigh, and about four, five,*
or six feet in length, or sometimes more, according
as the slope ascends. They drive one end of these
stakes into the ground^ at a small distance one
from the other, intermingling a few with them
that are smaller and more pliant. As the water
however, would find a passage through the inter-
vals or spaces between them, and leave the resej>
VOL, II, E
IS COMMON BEAVER*
voir dry, they have recourse to a clay, which they
know where to find, and with which they stop up
all the cavities both within and without, so that
the water is duly confined. They continue to
raise the dike in proportion to the elevation of the
water, and the plenty which they have of it. They
are conscious, likewise, that the conveyance of
their materials by land would not be so easily ac-
complished as by w ater ; and therefore they take
the advantage of its increase, and swim with their
mortar on their tails, and their stakes between
their teeth, to the places where there is most oc-
casion for them. If their works are, either by the
force of the water, or the feet of the huntsmen,
who run over them, in the least damnified, the
breach is instantly made up ; every nook and
corner of the habitation is reviewed, and, with
the utmost diligence and application, perfectly
repaired. But when they find the huntsmen visit
them too often, they work only in the night time,
or else abandon their works entirely, and seek out
for some safer situation.
The dike, or mole, being thus completed, their
next care is to erect their several apartments, which
arc either round or oval, and divided into three
stories, one raised above the other ; the first below
the level of the causey, which is for the most part
full of water ; the other two above it. This little
fabric is built in a very firm and substantial man-
ner, on the edge of their reservoir, and always in
such divisions or apartments as above-mentioned ;
that, in case of the water's increase, they may
move up a story higher, and be no ways incommo-
ded. If they find any little island contiguous to
their reservoir, they fix their mansion there, which
is then more solid, and not so frequently exposed
to the overflowing of the water, in which they
sre not able to continue for any length of time,
COMMON BEAVER.
27
In case they cannot pitch upon so commodi-
ous a situation, they drive piles into the earth, in
order to fence and fortify their habitation .against
the wind as well as the water. They make two
apertures, at the bottom, to the stream ; one is a
passage to their bagnio, which they always keep
neat and clean ; the other leads to that part of
the building where every thing is conveyed, tha£
will either soil or damage their upper apart*
ments. They have a third opening, or door-way,
much higher, contrived for the prevention of their
being shut up and confined, when the frost and
snow has closed the apertures of the lower floors.
Sometimes they build their houses altogether upon
dryland; but then they sink trenches five or six
f vet deep, in order to descend into the water when
they see convenient. They make use of the same
materials, and are equally industrious in the erec-
tion of their lodges as their dikes. Their walls
are perpendicular, and about two feet thick. As
their teeth are more serviceable than saws, they
cutoff* all the wood that projects beyond the wall.
After this, when they have mixed up some clay
and dry grass together, they work it into a kind of
mortar, with which, by the help of their tails*
they plaister all their works, both within and
without.
The inside is vaulted., and is large enough for the
reception of eight or ten beavers. In case it rises
in an oval figure, it is for the generality above
twelve feet long, and eight or ten feet broad. If
the number of inhabitants increase to fifteen,
twenty, or thirty, the edifice is enlarged in pro-
portion. We have been credibly informed, that
four hundred beavers have been discovered to
reside in one large mansion-house, divided into &
vast number of apartments, that had a free com*
munication one with aiiothcr.
28 COMMON .BfcAT.ftft.
All these works,, more especially in the northern
parts, are finished in August, or September at far-
thest;- at which time they begin to lay in their
stores. During the summer, they are perfect
epicures ; and regale themselves every day on the
choicest fruits and plants the country affords.
Their provisions, indeed, in the winter season,
principally consist of the wood of the birch, the
plane, and some few other trees, which they steep
m fro™ tarae .ta>ti.me,.iii such quantities as
are proportioned to the number of inhabitants.
They cut down branches from three to ten feet in
length. Those of the largest dimensions are con-
yeyed to their magazines by a whole body of bea-
vers; but the smallest by one only : each pf them,
however, takes a different way, and has his proper
walk assigned him, in order that no one labourer
should interrupt another in the prosecution of his
work. Their wood-yards are larger or smaller,
in proportion to the number in the family ; and,
‘according to the observation of some curious na-
turalists, the usual stock of timber for the ac-
commodation of ten heavers, consists of about
thirty feet in a square surface, and ten in depth.
These logs are not thrown up in one continued
pile, but laid one across the other, with intervals
or small spaces between them, in order to take
out, with the greater facility, but just such a
quantity as they shall want for their immediate
consumption, and those parcels only, which lie
at the bottom in the water, and have been duly
steeped. This timber is cut again into small
f ►articles, and conveyed to one of their largest
edges, where the whole family meet, to consume
their respective dividends, which are made impar-
tially, in even and equal portions. Sometimes they
traverse the woods, and regale their young with
& more novel and elegant entertainment.
COMMON BEATER,
29
Such as are used to hunt these' animals, know
perfectly well that green wood is much more ac-
ceptable to them than that which is old and dry ;
for which reason they plant a considerable quan-
tity of it round their lodgments ; and as they come
out to partake of it, they either catch them in
snares, or take them by surprise. In the winter,
when the frosts are yery severe, they sometimes
break a large hole in the ice ; and when the bea-
vers resort thither for the benefit of a little fresh
air, they either kill them with their hatchets, or
cover them with a large substantial net. After
this, they, undermine and subvert the whole fabric ;
whereupon the beavers, in hopes to make their
escape in the usual way, fly with the utmost pre-
cipitation to the water ; and plunging into the
aperture, fall directly into the net, and are inevi-
tably taken.
The beavers seldom quit their residence, unless
they are disturbed, or their provisions fail. When
they have continued in the same place three or
four years, they frequently erect a new house an-
nually * but sometimes merely repair their old
one. It often happens that they build a new
house so close to the old, that they cut a communi-
cation from one to the other ; and this may have
given rise to the idea of their having several apart-
ments. When their houses are completely finish-
ed, they still carry on fresh works ; nor do they
desist even when the pond is frozen over ; but con-
tinue their employment for some nights after,
if the frost is not too severe, through a hole
in the ice, which they keep open for the pur-
pose.
During the summer, they forsake their houses,
and ramble about from place to place ; sleeping
under the covert of bushes, near the water-side.
On the least noise, they betake themselves into the
30
COMMON BEAVER.
water for security ; and they have sentinels* who*
by a certain cry* give notice of tile approach of
danger. In the winter they never stir out* except
to their magazines under the water ; and during
that season* they become excessively fat.
At the head of one of the rivers of Louisiana* in
a very retired place, M. Du Pratz found a beaver
dam. Not far from it* but hidden from the sight
of the animals* he and his companions erected
their hut* in order to watch the operations at
leisure. They waited till the moon shone pretty
bright ; and then* carrying branches of trees in
their front to conceal themselves* they went with
great care and silence to the dam. Du Pratz
ordered one of the men to cut* as silently as possi-
ble* a gutter* about a foot wide* through it ; and
retire immediately to the hiding place.
As soon as the water through the gutter began
to make a noise*” says our writer* ‘f we heard a
beaver corne from one of the huts and plunge in.
"We saw him get upon the bank* and clearly per-
ceived that he examined it. He then* with all his
force* gave four distinct blows with his tail ; w hen
immediately the whole colony threw themselves
into the water* and arrived upon the dam. When
they were all assembled* one of them appeared* by
muttering* to issue some kind of orders ; for they
all instantly left the place* and went out on the
hanks of the pond in different directions. Those
nearest to us were between our station and the
dam* and therefore we could observe their opera-
tions very plainly. Some of them formed a sub-
stance resembling a kind of mortar ; others car-
ried this on their tails* which served as sledges for
the purpose. I observed that they put themselves
two and two* and that each of a couple, loaded
his fellow. They trailed the mortar* which was
pretty stiff, quite to the dam* where others were
r COMMON BEAVER# 31
stationed to take it ; these put it into the gutter,
and rammed it down with blows of their tails.
The noise of the water soon ceased* and the
breach was completely repaired. One of the bea-
vers then struck two blows with his tail ; and in-
stantly they all took to the water without any noise,,
and disappeared.' *
M. du Pratz and his companions afterwards
retired to their hut to rest* and did not again dis-
turb these industrious animals till the next day.
In the morning* however* they went together to the
dam* to see its construction ; for which purpose
it was necessary that they should cut part of it
down. The depression of the water in consequence
of this* together with the noise they made, roused
the beavers again. The animals seemed much
disturbed by these exertions ; and one of them in
particular* was observed several times to come
pretty near the labourers* as if to examine what pass-
ed. As M. du Pratz apprehended that they might
run into the woods, if farther disturbed* he advised
his companions again to conceal themselves.
One of the beavers then ventured” continues
our observer* to go upon the breach* after having
several times approached and returned like a spy.
He surveyed the place; and then struck four
blows* as he did the preceding evening, with his
tail. One of those that were going to work*
piassed close by me ; and as I wanted a specimen
to examine* I shot him. The noise of the gun made
them scamper off with greater speed than a hundred
blows of the tail of their overseer could have done.’'
By firing at them several times afterwards* they
were compelled to run with precipitation into the
woods. M. du Pratz then examined their habi-
tations.
Under one of the houses he found fifteen pieces
©f wood ; with the bark in part gnawed off* appa*
32 COMMON BEAYEH*
rcntly intended for food. And round the middle
of this house, which formed a passage for them to
go in and out at, he found no less than fifteen dif-
ferent cells. These habitations were made by posts,
fixed slanting upwards to a point; and in the
middle was the floor, resting firmly oh notches in
the posts.
Notwithstanding all the sagacity and the exten-
sive reasoning faculties of mankind, how often do
we see their best-formed plans, their most dear and
favourite contrivances fail, through some unlooked
for event ! We cannot then surely be surprised,
when we are told, (as we are by one writer, in
order to lessen our opinion of the sagacity of these
animals,) that a community of beavers has in one
or two instances, been starved to death, in con-
sequence of a failure of provisions, or some want
of foresight in fixing upon a spot that was found
not to contain sufficient food to support them
or that they have sometimes established their co-
lony in a fiat situation, where a sudden thaw has
swelled the water to such a height as to flood the
whole place, wash away their food, and thus de-
stroy them. To suppose them capable of judging
Of probabilities to so great an extent, would be to
rank them in intellect with man. -We must rather
be astonished at the operations that wc see them
perform, than seek for them any higher situation
than that in which they are placed.
Beavers bring forth their young towards the .end
of June ; and generally have two at a time, which
are, in nine instances out of ten, a male and a fe-
male. These continue with their parents till they
are full three years old ; when they pair oif, and
form houses for themselves. If, however, they are
undisturbed, and have plenty of provisions, they
remain with the old ones, and thus form a doubk
COMMON BEAVER*
33
We cannot wonder that such sociable animals as
the beavers afe* should also exhibit great attach-
ment to each other. Two young ones that were
taken alive* and brought to a neighbouring factory
in Hudson's Bay* were preserved for some time*
and throve very fast* till one of them was killed by
an accident. The survivor instantly felt the loss*
and starved itself to death by voluntarily abstaining
from food.
Instances have occurred of beavers having been
perfectly domesticated. Major Roderfort* of new
York* related to Professor Kalm* that he had a
tame beaver above half a year in his house* where
he went about* quite loose* like a dog. The Major
gave him bread ; and sometimes fish* of which he
was very greedy. As much water was put into a
bowl as he wanted. All the rags and soft things
he could meet with* he dragged into the corner
where he was accustomed to sleep* and made a bed
of them. The cat in the house* having kittens,
took possession of his bed ; and he did not attempt
to prevent her. When the cat went out* the
beaver often took the kitten between his fore paws*
and held it to his breast to warm it, and seemed to
doat upon it ; as soon as the cat returned* he al«
ways restored to her the kitten. Sometimes he
grumbled ; but never attempted to bite.
The skin of the beaver has hair of two kinds ;
the lower* immediately next the hide, is short* im-
plicated together* and as fine as down ; the upper
hair grows more sparingly* and is both thicker and
longer; The former is of little value ; but the
flix, or down, is w rought into hats* stockings* caps,
and other articles of dress.
The hunters prefer the winter season for seeking
out the habitations of the beavers. They stop
up the entrance to these* on the side next the
Water, with stakes ; and enlarge the vent-hole,
JO&e St, ' 1'
34 COMMON BEAVER*
which they find on the land side ; this is done for
the purpose of putting through it a dog, who is so
trained that he holds the beaver with his teeth,
and suffers himself to be drawn out by his hind
legs. The Indians about Hudson’s Bay first drain
off the water of the dam, and then, covering
the houses with nets, break in at the top ; on
which the * affrighted beavers running through
the door to escape, become entangled in the
meshes. The hunters immediately seize and skin
them.
In some parts of Lapland, beavers are caught
in traps made of the twigs of fir-trees. The top
of these the hunters fasten with a small branch of
poplar, of which the animals are very fond. The
beaver gnaws away this fastening, is let down, and
caught. But it is remarked, that wherever two
have been together, the one has always set the
other at liberty.
Besides these associated beavers, there is ano-
ther sort, called terriers, which either want indus-
try or sagacity to form houses like the others.
They burrow in the banks of rivers, making
the mouth of their holes beneath the freezing
depth of the water, and work up for a great num-
ber of feet. These also form a winter stock of
provisions.
Beavers vary in their colours. The finest are
black ; but the general colour is a chesnut brown,
more or less dark. Some have been found, but
Very rarely* entirely white ; others spotted. Their
skins are a prodigious article of trade, being the
foundation of the hat manufactory. There were
sold in a single sale of the Hudson’s Bay company,
in 1763, no fewer than fifty-four thousand, six
hundred, and seventy skins. They are distinguish-
ed by different names. Coat beaver is what has
been worn by the Indians ; parchment beaver has
CHILI BEAVER. 33
its name from its resemblance to parchment ; but
stage beaver is the worst* and is that which the
Indians kill out of season in their stages or jour-
neys.
The valuable drug castoreum* is taken from the
inguinal glands of these animals. The Russian
castoreum sells for two guineas a pound ; the
American for eight shillings and sixpence only ;
yet vast numbers of beaver skins are imported
to Russia. Their flesh is reckoned good eatings
being preserved after the bones are taken out* by
drying it in the smoke.
The ancients had a notion that the castoreum
was lodged in the testicles* and that the animal*
when hard pursued* would bite them off and leave
them to its pursuers* as if conscious of what they
wanted to destroy him for.
Chili beaver.
This is a species peculiar to South America*
and appears to have been first described by Molina*
in his Natural History of Chili. He informs us
that it is found in the very deep lakes and rivers
of that country* and feeds principally on fish and
crabs.
Its length from nose to tail is about three feet ;
the head is of a squarish form ; the eyes small ;
the ears rounded and| short* and the snout obtuse;
in each jaw are two sharp and strong cutting teeth*
and the grinders are like those of the common
beaver. The body is very broad* and covered* like
the common beaver* with two sorts of hair ; tb©
shortest or softest of which* is superior to that of
most other quadrupeds* and is in high esteem w ith
the manufacturers* being wrought into a kind of
cloth* which has the softness of velvet ; and is
#lso used in the manufacture of hats.- The coloqr
38 RAT TftlBH*
of this animal is grey above and whitish beneath j
the toes of the fore feet are lobated, or bordered
with a membrane, and the hind feet are webbed ;
the toes are five in number on all the feet. The
tail is of a compressed lanceolate form, and hairy.
It is a bold, and even fierce animal, and has the
power of continuing a great while under water.
It does not construct any regular habitation like
the common beaver, nor does it afford any cas-
toreum. The female is said to produce from two
to three young at a birth. It is called iu Chili by
the name of guillino.
/
RAT TRIBE.
This tribe contains all those animals which go
pnder the denomination of murine quadrupeds ;
and, although the term rat has been adopted, it
includes not only the species that we know by the
peculiar name of rats, but also the mice, and others
called beaver rats.
These animals, in general, live in boles in the
ground ; and are very swift, and able to climb
trees. Their food is chiefly vegetable ; which
most of them seek in the night, keeping in their
retreats during the day. They feed in a some-
what upright position, carrying the food to their
mouth in their fore paws. They are very pro-
lific.
The front teeth are wedge-shaped. There are
generally three grinders on each side, but some-
times only two. All the species have clavicles^
hi collar-bones, in the skeleton*
■tn — ***
MUSK RAT,
37
Musk rat, '
This animal is about the size of a small rabbit.
Its head is thick and short, and somewhat resem-
bles that of a water-rat. The eyes are large ;
the ears short, rounded, and covered both inside
and outside with hair. Its fur is soft, glossy, and
©f a reddish brown colour ; and beneath this is
a much finer fur, or thick down, which is very
useful in the manufacture of hats. The tail is
flattened laterally, and covered with scales.
Musk rats are found in America, from Hudson’s
Bay as far south as Carolina. In the general form
of their body, as well as in many of their habits,
they bear a considerable resemblance to the beaver.
They construct their habitation of dry plants, but
particularly of reeds, cement it with clay, and
cover it with a dome. At the bottom and sides of
this there are several pipes, through which they
pass in search of food ; for they lay up no pro-
visions for winter. They have also subterraneous
passages, into which they retreat whenever their
houses are attacked.
Their habitations, which are intended only for
the winter, are rebuilt annually. At the approach
of this season they begin to construct them, as
places of retirement from the inclemencies of the
weather. Several families occupy the same dwel-
ling, which is frequently covered many feet deep
with snow and ice ; the animals, no withstanding,
contrive to creep out, and feed on the roots that
are also buried beneath. They feed too on the
fresh water muscles ; and when the season permits
it, on fruit. Kalm, in his American Travels, says
that apples are used as baits for them in traps. In
winter the male and female are seldom seen far
from each other.
38 COYPU RAT, AND PILORIS/
During the summer they wander about, gene-
rally in pairs,, feeding voraciously on herbs and
roots. They walk and run in an awkward manner,
like the beaver ; and cannot swim well, their feet
being unfurnished with webs.
The musk rats., as well as the beavers, seem to
have their drones, or terriers, which are at no
trouble in the common operation of building
houses. These burrow like water-rats, in banks
adjacent to lakes, rivers, and ditches ; and often
do much damage by admitting the water through
the embankments of meadows.
They are remarkable for a strong musky smell ;
whence they have their specific name. When
tamed, they are very playful, and never bite*
Their flesh is eaten by the Indians.
Coypu RAT.
The first describer of this animal was Molina,
who informs us that it is an inhabitant of the
waters of Chili ; that it has the general appear-
ance of an otter, being of the same size and
colour ; but that in its teeth it agrees with the
rat tribe ; the feet are each furnished with five
toes ; those of the hind feet being connected by
a web ; the ears are round ; the nose longish, and
covered w ith whiskers ; and the tail thick, and
fiattish on the sides.
This animal lives occasionally on land, as well
as water ; sometimes frequenting houses, and k
easily tamed. The female produces five or six
young at a birth.
PlLORIS.
1 HIS
islands.
species is found in India and the Indian
and in size nearly equals the guinea pig.
GREAT RAT.
39
Its colour is whitish, with a cast of grey ferru-
ginous on the back, and of cinereous on the abdo-
men ; the tail is longish, nearly naked, scaly, and
obtuse at the extremity. A variety of this animal
is found in the American islands, which seems to
differ from the above, in being of a darker colour
on the back, and in having a much shorter tail.
Perhaps it may be a distinct species ; but the his-
tory of both seems, at present, not sufficiently
clear, to enable us to determine this point.
Great rat.
The animal best known at present, and . in every
respect the most mischievous, is the great rat %
which, though but a new comer into this country*
has taken too secure a possession to be ever re-
moved. This hateful and rapacious creature,
though sometimes called the rat of Norway, ap-
pears to be utterly unknown in ail the northern
countries, and comes originally from India and
Persia. Its first arrival was upon the coasts of
Ireland, in those ships that traded in provisions to
Gibraltar ; and perhaps we owe to a single pair of
these animals, the numerous progeny that now in-
fests the whole extent of the British empire.
This animal, which is called by M, BufFon the
surmalot, is in length about nine inches ; its eyes
are large and black ; the colour of the head, and
the whole upper part of the body, is of a light
brown, mixed with a tawny and ash colour. The
end of the nose, the throat and belly, are of a
dirty white, inclining to grey ; the feet and legs
are almost bare, and of a dirty pale flesh colour ;
the tail is as long as the body, covered with minute
dusky scales, mixed with a few hairs, and adds to
the general deformity of its detestable figure. It
is chiefly in the colour that this animal differs from
m
GREAT RAT. '
tlie black rat, or the common rat as it was one®
called ; but now common no longer. This new
invader, in a few years after its arrival, found
means to destroy almost the whole species, and to
possess itself of their retreats.
But it was not against the black rat alone that
its rapacity was directed ; all other animals of
inferior strength shared the same misfortunes*
The contest with the black rat was of short con-
tinuance. As it was unable to contend, and had
no holes to fly to for a retreat, but where its vora-
cious enemy could pursue, the whole race was soon
extinguished. The frog also was an animal equally
incapable of combat or defence. It had been
designedly introduced into the kingdom of Ireland
some years before the Norway rat ; and it was
seen to multiply amazingly. The inhabitants were
pleased with the propagation of a harmless animal,
that served to rid their fields of insects ; and even
the prejudices of the people were in its favour,
as they supposed that the frog contributed to ren-
der their waters more wholesome. But the Nor-
way rat soon put a stop ta their increase ; as these
animals were of an amphibious nature, they pur-
sued the frog to its lakes, and took it even in its
own natural element. The frog is said to be once
more almost extinct in that kingdom ; and the
Norway rat, having no more enemies left there to
destroy, is grown less numerous also.
Wc are not likely, therefore, to gain by the
destruction of our old domestics, since they are
replaced by such mischievous successors. The
Norway rat has the same disposition to injure us,
with much greater power of mischief. It bur-
rows in the banks of rivers, ponds3 and ditches ;
and is every year known to do incredible damage
to those mounds that are raised to conduct streams^
or to prevent rivers from overflowing. Jn these
GREAT RAT.
41
holes,, which it forms pretty near the edge of the
water, it chiefly resides during the summer, where
it lives upon small animals, fish, and corn. At
the approach of winter, it comes nearer the farm
houses ; burrows in their corn, eats much, and
damages still more than it consumes. But nothing
that can he eaten, escapes its voracity. It destroys
rabbits, poultry, and all kinds of game ; and,
like the polecat, kills much more than it can carry
away. It swims with great ease, dives with great
celerity, and easily thins the fish pond. In short,
scarce any of the feebler animals escape its rapacity,
except the mouse, w hich shelters itself in its little
hole, where the Norway rat is too big to follow.
These animals frequently produce from fifteen
to thirty at a time ; and usually bring forth three
times a year. This great increase would quickly
be found to over-run the whole country, and render
our assiduity to destroy them fruitless, were it not,
happily for us, that they eat and destroy each
other. The same insatiable appetite that impels
them to indiscriminate carnage, also incites the
strongest to devour the weakest, even of their own
kind. The large male rat generally keeps in a hole
by itself, and is dreaded by its own species, as the
most formidable enemy. In this manner the num-
ber of these vermin is kept within due bounds ; and
when their increase becomes injurious to us, it is
repressed by their own rapacity.
But beside their own enmities among each other,
all the stronger carnivorous quadrupeds have natu-
ral antipathies against them. The dog, though he
detests their flesh, yet openly declares his alacrity
to pursue them ; and attacks them with great
animosity. Such as are trained up to killing these
vermin, dispatch them often with a single squeeze ;
but those dogs that show any hesitation, are sure
to come off* but indifferently ; for the rat always
YOL. II. G
42
GREAT RAT.
takes the advantage of a moment's delay, and
instead of waiting for the attack, becomes the
aggressor, seizing its pursuer by the lip, and
inflicting a very painful and dangerous wound.
From the inflammation, and other angry symptoms
that attend this animal’s bite, some have been led
to think that it w as in some measure venomous ;
but it is likely that the difficulty of the wound’s
healing, arises merely from its being deep and
lacerated by the teeth, and is rather a consequence
©f the figure of the instruments that inflict it,
than any venom they may be supposed to possess.
The cat is another formidable enemy of this kind ;
and yet the generality of our cats neither care to
attack it, nor to feed upon it when killed. The
cat is a more prudent hunter than the dog, alid
will not be at the pains to take, or combat with
an enemy that is not likely to repay her time and
danger. Some cats, however, will pursue and
take the rat ; though often not without an
obstinate resistance. If hungry, the cat will some*
times eat the head ; but, in general, she is merely
content with her victory.
A foe much more dangerous to these vermin, is
the weasel. This animal pursues them with avidity,
and being pretty nearly of their own size, follows
them into their holes, where a desperate combat
ensues. The strength of each is pretty near equal :
but the arms are Very different. The rat, fur™
nished with four long tusks at the extremity of its
jaw, rather snaps than bites ; but the wreasel,
where it once fastens, holds, and continuing also
to suck the blood at the same time, weakens its
antagonist, and always obtains the victory. Man™
%ind have contrived several other methods of
destroying these noxious intruders ; ferrets, traps,
and particularly poison ; but of all other poi-
sons, the nox vomica, (Spanish nut,) ground and
great hat. 43
mixed with meal., is said to be the most certain, as
it is the least dangerous.
In the isle of France, rats are found in such
prodigious swarms, that it is said the place was
entirely abandoned by the Dutch on account of
their number. In some of the houses they are so
numerous, that thirty thousand have been known
to be killed in a year. They make immense
hoards under-ground, both of corn and fruit ;
and climb up the trees to devour the young birds.
They pierce the very thickest rafters. At sun-set
they may be seen running about in all directions ;
and in a single night they will frequently destroy
a whole crop of corn. M. de Saint Pierre says, he
has seen a field of maize, in which they had not
left a single ear. They are supposed to have been
originally brought to that island in some of the
European vessels.
On the return of the Valiant man of war, from
the Havannah, in the year 1766, its rats had in-
creased to such a degree, that they destroyed a hun-
dred-weight of biscuit daily. The ship was at'
length smoked between decks, in order to suffocate
them ; which had the desired effect, and six ham-
pers were, for some time, filled every day with the
rats that had thus been killed.
The following anecdote of a whimsical mode of
clearing a house of these troublesome animals, may
be new to many readers : — A gentleman travelling
through Mecklenburg, about thirty years ago, was
witness to a very singular circumstance in the post-
house at New Stargard. After dinner, the land-
lord placed on the floor a large dish of soup, and
gave a loud whistle. Immediately there came into
the room, a mastiff, a fine Angora cat, an old raven,
and a remarkably large rat with a bell about its
neck. They all four went to the dish, and, with*,
out disturbing each other* fed together ; after
44
BLACK RAT.
which the dog, cat, and rat, lay before the hre,"
while the raven hopped about the room. The
landlord, after accounting for the familiarity which
existed among these animals, informed his guest
that the rat was the most useful of the four ; for
the noise he made had completely freed the house
from the rats and mice with which it was before
infested.
Pontoppidan says, that a short time previous to
a fire, all the rats and mice that are in a house will
intinctively forsake it.
Some of the Japanese tame these rats, and teach
them to perform many entertaining tricks ; and,
thus instructed, they are exhibited as a show, for the
diversion of the populace.
Black rat.
This species is of a deep iron grey colour, near-
ly black. Its belly is cinereous ; its legs dusky,
almost naked. It has a claw in the place of a fifth
toe on the fore feet. Its body measures seven
inches ; its tail near eight. It inhabits most parts
of Europe. They are very destructive to corn,
furniture, young poultry, rabbits, and pigeons.
They will even gnaw the extremities of infants
when asleep. They breed often in a year, and
bring six or seven young at a time. They make
their nest in a hole, often near a chimney, with
wool, bits of cloth, or with straw. They will de-
stroy and devour one another ; but their greatest ene-
my is the weasel. They were carried into South
America about the year 1544, by the Europeans,
and are now become the pest of all that continent.
The word rattus, or rat is modern. None of them
•are found in Siberia. They swarm at Otaheite,
and others of the Society Islands, and are met with
in New Zealand and New Holland* In Otaheite
AMERICAN, AND WATER RAT. 45
they are so bold as to attack the inhabitants when
asleep, who hold them in the utmost detestation*
and will not even kill them, lest they should be
polluted by the touch. They will not even eat
the bread-fruit these animals should happen to run
over.
These also are supposed to be Indian or Persian
animals.
American rat.
This species is larger than the black, but less
than the brown rat. Its upper jaw is much longer
than the lower ; its head is long ; its nose narrow
and pointed ; its ears large and naked ; its whisk-
ers are fine, but long ; its tail is naked, and like
that of the black rat, but not so long ; its colour
is a deep br^^m, inclining on the belly to ash.
It burrows in the banks of rivers, and is sup-
posed to extend from the lake Baikal to Chi-
na, where it is very noxious. It bears a very
striking resemblance to the common brown rat.
It is supposed by Dr. Pallas to have migrated from
the southern provinces of China, and also to in-
habit North America.
Water rat. !
The water rat, the mus amphibius of Linnaeus,
has a thick blunt nose ; ears hid in its fur ; small
eyes, and yellow teeth ; it has five toes on each
foot ; the inner toe of the fore foot very small,
and the first joint very flexible ; its head and body
are covered with long hair, black, mixed with
ferruginous ; its belly is of an iron grey ; its tail
is covered with short black hair ; its lip is whit-
ish ; its body measures seven inches ; its tail five:
it bears some resemblance to the beaver ; th@
4$' BANBICOTE, AND FERCHAL RAT®
shape of its head and body is more compact than
that of the former species .
It inhabits Europe,, the north of Asia, and
North America. Those of Canada vary to taw-
ny and white. It burrows in the banks of rivers,
ponds, and ditches ; feeds on small fish and fry,
frogs, insects, and roots. It swims and dives ad-
mirably ; but while it preys on so many other
fishes, it becomes itself the prey of the pike. It
brings six young at a time. This animal and the
otter, are eaten in France on meager days. It has
sometimes a musky smell.
Bandicote rat. ^
This is a very large species, being at least equal*
if not superior, to a rabbit in size. In its shape and
general appearance, it seems most to resemble the
Norway rat. Its colour is a pale cinereous brown ;
the ears thin, nearly bare, and rounded ; the snout
rather long ; the fore feet shaped like those of
the Norway rat, with four toes, and a claw in
place of a fifth ; the hind feet have five toes, of
which the two exterior are considerably shorter
than the rest ; the tail is above eleven inches in
length.
This species is said to be very common about
the coasts of the Malabar country. At Pondi-
cherry it is frequent, infesting houses like the
brown rat. Its voice is said to resemble the
grunting of a pig.
Perchal rat.
This species is a native of India, and in its gene-
ral appearance resembles the Norway rat, but is of
a longer shape, with a thicker and shorter tail in
proportion. It is of a deep ferruginous brown above*
W(O>03D> MOUglEi
•MTOIITO MOTJg®
COMMON MOUSE.
47
and of a greyish cast beneath ; the hind legs are
larger than the fore ; the ears naked and rounded ;
and the nose rather blunt.
This rat is said to be very numerous about Pon-
dicherry, infesting houses in the same manner as
the rats of Europe. It seems to have been first
described by Mens Sonnerat, and is evidently allied
to the bandicote rat. Both species are said to be
occasionally eaten by the natives.
Common mouse.
Almost all animals are tamed more difficultly
in proportion to the cowardice of their natures.
The truly bold and courageous easily become
familiar, but those that are always fearful are
ever suspicious. The mouse being the most feeble,
and consequently the most timid of all quadru-
peds, except the guinea pig, is never rendered
thoroughly familiar ; and, even though fed in a
cage, retains a large portion of its natural appre-
hensions. In fact, it is to these alone that it owes
its security. No animal has more enemies, and
few so incapable of resistance. The owl, the cat,
the snake, the hawk, the weasel, the rat itself, des-
troys this species by millions, and it only subsists
by its amazing fecundity.
The mouse brings forth at all seasons, and seve-
ral times in a year. Its usual number is from six
to ten. These, in less than a fortnight, are strong
enough to run about and shift for themselves.
They are chiefly found in farmers' yards, and
among their corn, but are seldom in those ricks
thatare much infested with rats. They generally
choose the south-west side of the rick, from
whence most rain is expected ; and from thence
they often, of an evening, venture fofth to drink
48
FIELD MO USB.
the little drops* either of rain or dew* that hang
at the extremities of the straw. Aristotle gives
us an idea of their prodigious fecundity* by as-
suring us* that having put a mouse with young into
a vessel of corn, in some time after he found a
hundred and twenty mice* all sprung* from one
original. The early growth of this animal implies
also the short duration of its life* which seldom
lasts above two or three years. This species is
very much diffused* being found in almost all parts
of the ancient continent* and having* been ex-
ported to the new. They are animals that* while
they fear human society* closely attend it ; and*
although enemies to man* are never found but
near those places where he has fixed his habita-
tion. Numberless ways have been found for des-
troying* them ; and Gesner has minutely described
the variety of traps by which they are taken. Our
Society for the Encouragement of Arts and Manu-
factures proposed a reward for the most ingenious
contrivance for thatpurpose ; and Goldsmith says
he observed almost every candidate passing off des-
criptions as inventions of his own. He thought
it was cruel to detect the plagiarism* or frustrate
the humble ambition of those who would be
thought the inventors of a mouse-trap.
They are diffused over America* but are believ-
ed to have been introduced from Europe. Their
hair* when examined by the microscope* exhibits a
very curious appearance.
Field mouse.
TiIe field mouse is well known in all the tempe-
rate parts of Europe ; where it frequents dry and
elevated fields or woods. The general length of
its bodv is about four inches and a half : and the
v *
FIELD MOUSE.’
fail is nearly four inches more. Its colour is yel-
lowish brown above, and whitish on the under
parts. The eyes are full and black.
These animals are found only in fields and gar-
dens. They live in burrows, a foot or more under
ground; where they lay up great quantities of
acorns, nuts, and beech mast. According to Buf-
fom, a bushel of such substances has been some-
times found in a single hole. These habitations
are often divided into two apartments ; the one for
living in with their young, and the other for their
provisions.
Often the little mouse,
Illudes our hopes ; and, safely lodgkl, below
Hath form’d his granaries.
The nests of these little creatures may be dis-
covered by the small heaps of mould thrown up at
the entrance of their runs, which lead by winding
paths to their magazine.
A very remarkable instance of sagacity in this
animal, occurred to the Rev. Mr. White one day,
as his people were pulling off the lining of a hot-
bed, in order to add some fresh dung. From out of
the side of this bed leaped something with great
agility, that made a most grotesque figure, and
was not without much difficulty taken ; when it
proved to be a large field mouse, with three or four
young clinging to her teats by their mouths and
feet. It was amazing that the desultory and ra-
pid motions of the dam did not oblige her litter
leir hold, especially when it appeared
were so young ag to be both naked and
Field mice are very prolific ; breeding more
than once a year, and often producing litters of
eight or ten at a time. They generally make the
VOL, XI. ®
to quit i
that they
blind.
HARVEST MOUSE.
BO
nest for their young very near the surface of the
ground, and often in a thick tuft of grass. They
are said to do more mischief in France, than all
the other animals and birds taken together.
Harvest mouse.
The Rev. Gilbert White seems to have been
the first who examined this diminutive and slender
species of mouse, which hitherto appears to have
been only found in Hampshire. It is, he says,
somewhat of a squirrel colour, with a white belly ;
having a straight line along the sides, dividing the
shades of the back and belly.
One of the nests of these little animals he pro-
cured. It was most artificially platted, and com-
posed of the blades of wheat ; perfectly round,
and about the size of a cricket-ball ; with the aper-
ture so ingeniously closed, that there was no dis-
covering to what part it belonged. It was so com-
pact and well filled, that it would roll across the
table without being discomposed, though it con-
tained eight young mice that were naked and blind.
As this nest was perfectly full, how could the dam
come at her litter respectively so as to administer
a teat to each ? Perhaps she opens the different
places for that purpose, adjusting them again
when the business is over ; but she could not pos-
sibly be contained herself in the ball with her
young, which, moreover, would be daily increasing
in bulk. . This wonderful procreant cradle, an ele-
gant specimen of the efforts of instinct, was found
in a wheat field, suspended in the head of a this-
tle.
Mr. White remarked, that though the harvest
mice hang their nests above the ground, yet in
winter they burrow deep in the earth, and make
warm beds of grass ; but their grand rendezvous
LINKATED, AND ORIENTAL MOUSE. 51
seems to be in corn-ricks, into which they are car-
ried at harvest. This gentleman measured some
of them ; and found that from nose to tail they
were two inches and a quarter, and their tails
two inches long. Two of them in a scale weighed
down just one copper halfpenny, about the third of
an ounce avoirdupois ; whence he supposes them
to be the smallest quadrupeds in this island. A
full grown domestic mouse would weigh at least
six times as much as one of these.
Lineated mouse.
This small and elegant species w as first described
by Sparrman, and is a native of the forest regions,
on the Slangen river, a great way eastward, from
the Cape of Good Hope. It is one of the least of
the genus, being little more than two inches long,
from nose to tail.
Oriental mouse, &c.
The oriental is about half the size of the com-
mon mouse. It is of a grey colour, and has
rounded ears. Its back and sides are elegantly
marked with twelve rows of small pearl-coloured
spots, extending from the head to the rump. Its
tail is as long as its body. It inhabits India. It
is a doubtful species.
The Barbary mouse is also less than the common
one ; of a brown colour ; marked on the back
with ten pale stripes. It has three toes, with
claws on the fore feet, and the rudiments of a
thumb. Its tail is of the same length with the
body
The Mexican mouse is of a whitish colour,
mixed with red. Its head is whitish ; each side
of its belly is marked with a great reddish spot.
53 VIRGINIAN., WANDERING MOUSE, &C.
' >'
Virginian mouse.
The Virginian mouse lias pointed ears ; a black
pointed nose ; and long whiskers. Its fur is very
short; its limbs are very slender ; its tail very
thick at the base, and all beset with long hair,
tapers gradually to a point, and is very long and
slender. The colour of this animal is universally
white. The thickness at the base of the tail is its
specific difference.
Wandering mouse.
This species has an oblong head, a blunt nose,
with a red tip, and yellow cutting teeth. Its eyes
are placed midway between the nose and ears ;
its ears are large, oval, and naked; but dusky
and downy at the tips ; its limbs are slender ; its
tail is longer than the body, and very slender
also ; its colour above is pale ash, mixed and
waved with black ; with a black line along the
back. The ends of its limbs arc whitish. Its
body and tail are each about three inches long.
It inhabits the whole Tartarian desert. At certain
times, they wander about in great flocks, migrating
from place to place during the night. They are
observed in birch woods as high as 57° North.
They are of a very tender nature, soon become
torpid, and sleep rolled up in a cold night, even
in the month of June. They live in holes and
fissures of rocks. The Tartars call it the grega-
rious mouse.
Birch mouse.
The birch is still less than the w andering mouse.
]Like it, it is very tender, and soon grows torpid
RUSTIC,, AND LITTLE MOUSE. 53
I
in cold weather. It inhabits the same countries*
runs up trees* and fastens to the boughs with its
tail. By the assistance of its slender fingers, it
adheres to any smooth surface. It emits a weak
note. It has a sharp nose* red at the point* like
that of the former ; but smaller cars* brown and
bristly at the points. Its tail is very slender*
prehensile* and much longer than its body ; brown
above* and white below. It has a dusky line also
along the back.
Rustic mouse.
The rustic mouse has a sharp nose* an oblong
head* small ears lined with fur. Its colour is
ferruginous above* whitish beneath. Above each
hind foot* it lias a dusky circle. It is of a less
size than the field mouse. Its tail is only half the
length of its body. It is found in Germany* in the
temperate parts of Russia, in villages and corn
fields* and in the woods of Siberia. In Russia*
it is called the corn mouse. At times they migrate
in vast multitudes* and destroy the whole expec-
tations of the farmer. In 1763 and 1764* this
plague made great ravages in the rich country
about Casanand Arsk. They came in such num-
bers* as to fill the very houses ; and* through
hunger* became so bold as to rob the tables of
bread* before the faces of those who had sat down
to eat it. At the approach of winter* they all
disappeared.
They burrow* and form their retreats but little
below the surface.
•Little mouse.
The little mouse* the least of the genus* weighs
not half a dram. It accompanies the former spe-
54
ROCK, AND (ECONOMIC MOUSE,
eies in com fields, barns, and birch woods. It is
said there are more males than females of this
species, and that they seem to wander without
having any certain place for their nests. They
have sharpish noses, and small ears half hid in their
fur, and are of a deep tawny colour above, white
below, with grey feet.
Rock mouse.
The rock mouse is about four inches long ; its
tail one and a half, having a few hairs scattered
over it. Its head is oblong ; its nose rather
pointed ; its ears rise above the fur ; and are oval
and downy, with brown edges ; its whiskers are
short ; its limbs are strong ; its colour is brown,
slightly mixed with grey above ; its belly is of a
light ash ; its snout dusky, with a very slender
ring of white. It makes its burrows in a wonder-
ful manner, between the fissures of rocks.
(Economic mouse.
The (economic mouse has small eyes ; naked
ears hid in its fur ; strong limbs, and very tawny
teeth. Its colour is black and yellow intimately
mixed. It has a dark down beneath the hair ;
the ends of its feet are dusky. It is about four
inches and a quarter long ; its tail is rather more
than an inch. In the form of its body, it resem-
bles the meadow mouse ; but is rather longer, and
lias a bigger belly.
It inhabits all Siberia, especially its eastern
parts, and Kamtschatka, in great numbers. It is
even found within the arctic circle.
Dr. Pallas gave them the name of oeconomic
mice from their curious way of living. They in—
habit damp soils, and shun the sandy, and form
BLUE RAT.
55
burrows with many chambers and entrances. la
their chambers they lay up store of provisions*
collected with great pains in summer, from various
plants, which they bring out of their holes in a
sunny day, that they may dry them more effectually.
During summer they never break upon their
hoards, but live on berries, and other vegetable
productions. In certain years they make great
migrations out of Kamtschatka. They collect in
the spring, and go off in incredible multitudes.
Like the lemmus, they go on in a direct course*
and neither rivers nor arms of the sea stop their
progress. In their passage through the watery
element, numbers of them fall a prey to ravenous
fishes. But on land they are safe ; for the people
of Kamtschatka have a superstitious veneration
for them, and are so far from hurting them, that if
they find any of them lying faint from fatigue or
hunger, they give them all possible assistance.
On their return from a migration, expresses are
sent to all parts with the glad news. When the
natives rob them, they never take away all their
store, but leave them something to subsist on.
Blue rat.
This is a species described by Molina, in his
History of Chili, of which country it is a native,
and is about the size of the wood rat, and of a
fine pale blue colour, with rounded ears. It inhabits
subterraneous burrows, which it forms of the
length of many feet, and on each side of which are
several holes, or rececptcles, in which it depo-
sits its winter provisions, consisting chiefly of
tuberous roots, &c . It is a timid animal, and is
said to be very cleanly. It breeds twice a year,
producing six at a time. The peasants of Chili
56
S CHER MAN RAT, &C.
frequently rob the subterraneous retreats of this
species, of the hoards which they contain.
ScHERMAN RAT.
This species is said to be common about the
neighbourhood of Strasburg, and appears to have
been first described by Mr. Hermann, who, in the
year 1776,, communicated a specimen to Count de
Buifon. The length of the animal from nose to
tail, is six inches ; of the tail, about two inches
and three quarters ; the head is rather short ; the
snout thick • the eyes small, and the ears almost
as short as those of a mole, and concealed beneath
the fur. The general colour of the fur is a
blackish brown, mixed with grey tawny towards
the tip ; the edges of the mouth are bordered with
short hairs, and the whiskers arc black ; the under
parts of the body are of a mouse grey ; the legs,
which are short, are covered with dusky hair, as
are also the feet, which are very small ; the tail is
hairy, but not so well covered as that of the water
rat. This animal resides in watery places, and
about the gardens at Strasburg, and is said to be
very destructive to the plants in cultivated grounds.
It swims and dives extremely well, and also burrows
occasionally under-ground.
Red mouse.
The red mouse is not quite four inches long ; its
tail above one, and full of hair ; its nose and face
are very bristly ; its back is of an uniform, plea-
sant, tawny red ; its sides are light grey and yel-
low. The underside of the body is whitish ; its
feet are also white.
It inhabits Siberia, from the Oby eastward to
0
TiPJD-r,
WSk 0
GARLIC, AND SOllICENE MOUSE, &C. 57
Kamtscliatka, in woods and mountains. It is also
found within the arctic circle. They wander out
the whole winter, and are very lively even amidst
the snows. They eat any thing that comes in their
way!, They have been sometimes seen in Germany.
Garlic mouse.
The garlic mouse is frequent in magazines of
bulbous roots formed by the peasants of Siberia,
especially in those formed of angular garlic. It
has great open naked ears ; its tail is clothed with
hair. The colour of its back is cinereous, mixed
with long hairs, tipped with a dusky grey ; its sides
are of a light ash ; its breast, belly, and feet, are
white ; its body is four inches ; its tail one and a
half.
Soricene mouse.
The soricene mouse, found in the neighbourhood
of Strasbourg, is of a yellowish grey on the up-
per parts of the body, with a white belly. Its
nose is a little extended ; it has four toes before,
five behind, round ears, a tail of a middling
length, and covered with hair.
Lem m us.
The lemmus, or lemming, has two very long
cutting teeth in each jaw, a pointed head, and
long whiskers. Its eyes are small and black ; its
mouth is small ; its upper lip divided; its ears
are small and blunt, reclining backwards ; its fore
legs are very short, with four slender toes on each,
covered with hair ; and in the place of a thumb,
it has a short claw, like a cock's spur ; it has five
toes behind ; its skin is very thin ; its head and
XOL, II, i
58
LEM M US.
body arc black and tawny, disposed in irregular
blotches ; its belly is white, tinged with yellow ;
its length is about five inches ; its tail one and a
half. Those of Russian Lapland are much less
than those of the. Norwegian or Swedish. They
appear in numberless troops, at very uncertain
periods, in Norway and Lapland, and are at once
the pest and wonder of the country. They march,
like the army of locusts so emphatically described
by the prophet Joel, destroy every root of grass
before them, and spread universal desolation.
They seem to be endowed w ith a power of dis-
tinguishing the approach of severe weather ; for
before the setting in of a cold w inter, they leave
their haunts in the above countries, and emigrate
in immense multitudes southwards towards Swe-
den, always endeavouring to keep a direct line.
These emigrations take place at uncertain intervals,
though generally about once every ten years ; and,
exposed as the travellers are to attack, they of
course become the food of all the predacious animals.
Multitudes also are destroyed in endeavouring to
swim over the rivers or lakes. From these differ-
ent causes, very few of them live to return to
their native mountains ; and thus a check is put
to their ravages, as an interval of several years is
necessary to repair their numbers sufficiently for
another invasion. They are bold and fierce, and
will even attack men and animals, if they meet
them in their course ; and they bite so bard, as to
allow* themselves to be carried to a considerable
distance hanging by their teeth, before they will
quit their hold.
If they are disturbed or pursued while swim-
ming over a lake, and their phalanx is separated
by oars or poles, they will not recede ; but keep
swimming directly on, and soon get into regular
order again. They have sometimes been knowsa
LEM M tig*
59
@Ten to endeavour to board, or pass over a vessel.
This army of rats moves chiefly by night, or early
in the morning ; and makes such destruction
among the herbage, that the surface of the ground
over which they have passed, appears as if it
had been burned. Their numbers have at times
induced the common people of Norway to believe
that they had descended from the clouds ; and the
multitudes that are sometimes found dead on the
banks of rivers, or other places, corrupt by their
stench the whole atmosphere around, and thus
produce many diseases. They are even thought
to infect the plants which they gnaw ; for cattle
turned into pastures where they have been, are said
frequently to die in consequence.
They never enter dwellings of any description,
to do mischief; but always keep in the open air.
When enraged, they raise themselves on their hind
feet and bark like little dogs. Sometimes they
divide into two parties, attack each other, and
tight like hostile armies. From these battles, the
superstitious of the inhabitants of Sweden and
Lapland pretend to foretel not only wars, but
also their success, according to the quarters the
animals come from, and the side that is defeated.
The females breed several times in a year, and
produce five or six at once. It has been observed*
that they have sometimes brought forth during
their migrations ; and they have been seen carrying
some their young in their mouths and others oo
their backs. The flesh of the lemmings is not used
as food. The hair is very fine, but too thick to be
of value as a fur.
They feed on grass, on the rein-deer liverwort,
and the calkins of the dwarf birch. The first
they get under the. snow, beneath which they wan-
der during winter. Where they make their lodge?
Clients, they have a spiracle to the surface for tbs
60 RINGED,, AND HUDSON^ BAY RAT.
sake of air. In these retreats they are eagerly
pursued by the Arctic foxes.
They make also very shallow burrows under the
v turf ; but do not form any magazines for winter
provision ; by this improvidence; it seems; they are
compelled to migrate., urged by hunger to quit
their usual residence.
They are the prey of foxes; lynxes, and ermines,
who follow them in great numbers. In former
times, the priests exorcised them in a long set form
of prayer.
Ringed rat.
Tiie ringed rat has a blunt nose ; ears hid in its
fur legs strong and short ; soles covered with
hair ; claws very strong, and hooked at the end,
and very fine hair all over the body ; of a ferru-
ginous colour, mixed with yellow ; sometimes
pale grey, clouded, or waved with a dusky rust
colour. From the ears, down each side of the
head, there is a dusky space ; and behind that, a
stripe of white ; so that the neck appears to he
encircled with a collar ; behind which there is
another dusky one. The body is three inches long ;
the tail one. At its end there is a tuft of hard
bristles. It inhabits the northern parts about the
Oby ; burrows with many passages beneath the
turfy soil ; and lines its nest with rein-deer and
snow liverwort. They are said to migrate at the
same seasons with the lemmas.
Hudson’s bay rat.
The Hudson’s Bay rat has slender brow n whis-
kers ; very fine, long, soft hair ; ash, tinged with
tawny, on the back, with a dusky stripe running
along its middle ; and along each side a pale
WOOLLY, AND BAIKAL MOUSE. €)l
tawny line. Its belly is of a pale ash-colour ; its
limbs are very short; its fore feet very strong.
The two middle claws of the male are very strong,
thick, and compressed at the end. Its tail is
very short, terminated by some stiff bristles. The
body is about five inches long. It inhabits La-
brador.
Woolly mouse.
The woolly mouse, is a South American species,
and is a native pf Chili, where it resides in sub-
terraneous retreats, in a gregarious manner, and
feeds on various kinds of roots. It breeds twice
a year, bringing five or six at a time. It is said to
be of a very mild and gentle disposition, very
easily tamed, and often rendered domestic. The
ancient Peruvians are said to have manufactured
various valuable articles from its fur, which is of a
woolly nature, long, and of exquisite fineness. This
species is of a cinereous colour, and measures
about six inches ; the ears are very small ; the
nose short, and the tail of middling length.
Baikal mouse.
This species is a native of Siberia, and forms
its nest beneath turfy ground, with several minute
entrances. It is supposed to feed chiefly on the roots
of the lilium pornponium, and allium teouissimum,
which it collects for its winter provision. The male
and female, together with the young of one year's
age, reside in the same retreat. This species is not
observed to migrate. It varies in size ; and the
males are in general much smaller than the females.
The usual length seems to be about four inches,
and the tail about an inch and half; but some of
62 HARE-TAILED RAT, AND SOCIAL MOUSE.
the males do not exceed three inches, from nose to
taih
Hare-tailed rat.
This species has a long head, and a blunt nose ;
lips rough and swelling out ; and ears short, round,
and flat. Its tail is the shortest of any of the genus,
scarce appearing out of the hair ; its fur is very
soft and full, ash mixed with dusky, with a dark
line along its back ; its body is between three and
four inches long. It inhabits the country about
the Yaik, the Irtish, and the Jcnesey. They
love a firm, dry soil ; burrow, and make two
entrances, the one oblique, the other perpepdi-
cular.
The males fight for the females, and devour
each other. They are very salacious. When in
heat, they emit a musky smell. They bring
six at a time. Like the marmots, they are slow
in their motions, and sleep rolled up like them.
They are very fond of the dwarf iris ; but feed
on all sorts of seeds. They also migrate in great
troops ; and the Tartars call them the rambling
mouse.
Social mouse.
Tiie social mouse has a thick head ; a blunt
nose ; naked oval ears ; short strong limbs ; and
a slender tail. The upper part of the body is of
a light grey, palest on the sides ; the shoulders
and belly are white ; the body is above three
inches ; the tail one and a half. It inhabits the
Caspian desert, and the country of Hyrcania.
They live in low, sandy, grassy places, in great
societies. Their burrows are about a span deep.
EEAMg'TPJBlTR,
MEADOW MOUSE., AND HAMSTER.
63
with eight or more passages. They are always
found either in pairs, or with a family. They rare-
ly appear in autumn: but swarm in the spring.
They are said to migrate, or change their place in
autumn, or to conceal themselves among the
bushes ; and in winter to shelter themselves in hay
ricks. They breed later than the other kinds ;
feed much on tulip roots ; and are the prey of wea-
sels, crows, and vipers.
Meadow mouse.
The meadow mouse or rat, the mus terrestris of
Linnaeus, has a large head ; a blunt nose ; short
ears hid in its fur ; prominent eyes ; and a short
tail. The head and body are ferruginous, mixed
with black ; its belly a deep ash colour ; its feet
dusky ; its body is six inches long ; its tail one
and a half, covered with hair, and tufted.
It inhabits Europe. It is also found in great
abundance in Newfoundland, where it does much
mischief in the gardens. In England it makes its
nest in moist meadows ; brings eight young at a
time, and has a very great affection for them. It
resides under ground, and lives on nuts, acorns,
and corn.
Hamster.
The hamster is about the size of the brown or
Norway rat ; but much thic1 1 ”A A 1
about three inches long.
brown above, and black beneath ; but on each
side of the body, there are three large oval white
spots. The ears are rather large. On each side
of the mouth are two receptacles for food ; which,
wheri empty, are so far contracted, as not to ap-
pear externally ; but when filled, they resemble &
HAMSTER.
6P
pair of tumid bladders, with a smooth veiny sur-
face, which is concealed by the fur of the cheeks.
These, the only species of the pouched rats
found in Europe, are inhabitants of Austria, Si-
lesia, and many parts of Germany. They live
under ground, burrowing down obliquely. At the
end of their passage, the male sinks one perpendi-
cular hole ; and the female several, sometimes
seven or eight. At the extremity of these are
formed various vaults ; either as lodges for them-
selves and young, or as store-houses for their food.
Each young one has its separate apartment ; and
each sort of grain its appropriate vault ; the for-
mer are lined with straw or grass. The vaults are
of different depths, according to the age of the
animals. A young hamster makes them scarcely
a foot deep ; an old one sinks them to the depth
of four or five feet. The whole diameter of the
habitation, with all its communications, is some-
times eight or ten feet.
The male and female have always separate bur-
rows ; for, except in their short season of courtship,
they have no intercouse. The whole race are so
malevolent, as constantly to reject all association.
They will fight, kill, dnd* devour each other. The
female shews little affection even for her young ;
for if any person digs into the hole, she attempts io
save herself by burrowing deeper into the earth,
leaving them a prey to the intruder. They would
willingly follow her, but she is deaf to their cries,
and even shuts up against them the hole which she
has made.
The hamsters feed on grain, herbs, and roots %
and, at times, even eat flesh. Their pace is ex-
tremely slow ; but in burrowing in the ground
they exhibit great agility. Not being formed for
long journeys, their magazines are first stocked
with such provisions as are nearest to their abode;
UAMS^Eft*
65
wliicli accounts for some of their chambers being
filled with only one species of grain. After the
harvest is reaped, they, from compulsion, goto
greater distances in search of provisions^ and car-^
ry to their storehouses whatever eatables they can
lay hold of.
To facilitate the transportation of food to theiC
hoards, nature has provided them with pouches in
their cheeks. These, in the inside, are furnished
with many glands, which secrete a certain fluid,
that preserves the flexibility of the parts. They are
each capable of containing about two ounces of
grain ; which the animal empties into its granary,
by pressing its two fore feet against its cheeks.
When its cheeks are full, it may easily be caught
with the hand, without the risk of being bitten ; as
it has not, in this condition, the free motion of its
Jaws. If, however, a short time is allowed, it
soon empties its pouch, and stands on the defen-
sive.
On dissecting one of these animals. Dr. Russel
found the pouch* on each side of its mouth, stuffed
with young French beans, arranged lengthways, so
exactly and close to each other, that it appeared
strange by what mechanism this had been effected ;
for the membrane which forms the pouch, though
muscular, is extremely thin, and the most expert
fingers could not have packed the beans in more
regular order. When they were laid loosely on the
table, they formed a heap three times the bulk of
the animal’s body. ,
What these creatures lay up, is not for their win^
ter’s support, since, during that season, they always
sleep ; but for their nourishment previously to the
commencement, and after the conclusion, of theif
state of torpidity. The quantity in their burrows
depends upon the size and sex of the inhabitants |
the old ones frequently amassing upwards of a
fQL, II, &
66
HAMSTER,
hundred-weight of grain, but the young and the
females providing a quantity much smaller.
At the commencement of the cold season, the
hamsters retire into their hiding places, the en-
trances to which they close up. Here they repose
for some months ; and in this state they are often
dug up by the peasantry, who at this season of the
year employ much of their time in hunting for
their retreats. These are easily known by the
small mounts of earth raised at the end of the
galleries. Here the men dig till the hoard is dis-
covered ; which often consists of a bushel, or a
bushel and a half of corn ,* and they are farther re-
warded by the skins of the animals, which are es-
teemed valuable furs.
In some seasons, the hamsters are so numerous,
that they occasion a dearth of corn. In one year
about eleven thousand skins, in a second fifty-four
thousand, and in a third year eighty thousand,
were brought to the town- house of Gotha, as
Touchers of claims to the rewards allowed for the
destruction of the animals.
The hamster sleeps during the winter ; and
though neither respiration nor any kind of feeling
can be perceived in this state, yet the heart hat
been discovered (by opening the chest) to beat fif-
teen times in a minute. The blood continues fluid,
but the intestines are not irritable ; and, in the
open air, be does not become torpid. When found
in a state of torpidity, his head is bent under his
belly, between the two fore legs ; and the hind legs
rest upon his muzzle. The eyes are closed; and
when the eye-lids are forced open, they instantly
shut again. The members are all stiff, and the
body feels as cold as ice ; and if be is even dissected
in this state, his lethargy is too strong to admit of
bis waking entirely.
, The stupor of the hamster has been ascribed
HAMSTER.
67
solely to a certain degree of cold ; but experience
has proved, that to render him torpid, he must
also be excluded from .all communication with the
external air ; for when one of them is shut up in
a cage filled with earth and straw, and exposed
in winter to a degree of cold even sufficient to
freeze water, he never becomes so. But when the
cage is sunk four or five feet under-ground, and
well secured against the access of air, at the end
of eight or ten days he is as torpid as if he had
been in his own burrow. If the cage is brought
up to the surface, he will awake in a few hours ;
and resumes his torpid state when put below the
earth again.
When the animal is passing from a state of tor-
pidity, his actions are very singular. He first
loses the rigidity of his members ; and then makes
profound respirations, but at long intervals. His
legs begin to move ; he opens his mouth, and
utters disagreeable and rattling sounds. After
continuing these operations for some time, he opens
his eyes, and endeavours to raise himself on his
legs. But all these movements are still reeling
and unsteady, like those of a man intoxicated with
liquor ; he, however, reiterates Lis efforts, till
he is at length able to stand on his legs. In this
attitude be remains fixed ; as if he meant to re-
connoitre, and repose himself after his fatigue.
But he gradually begins to walk, to eat, and to
act in his usual manner. This passage from a
torpid to an active state, requires more or less
time, according to the temperature of the air.
When exposed to a cold air, he sometimes re-
quires above two hours to awake ; but in a more
temperate air., he accomplishes his purpose in less
than one.
These animals are very fierce ; they will jump
%t % horse if he happens to tread near them ; and ,
68 YAIK, AND ASTRICAN MOUSE,
will hang by his nose in such a manner, that it is
difficult to disengage them. They make a noise
like the barking of a dog. In some seasons they
are so numerous as to occasion a dearth of
corn, and on that account are proscribed. But
polecats are their greatest enemies, for they pur-
sue them into their holes, and destroy numbers.
It is remarkable, that the hair sticks so close to the
skin, as not to be plucked off but with the utmost
difficulty.
V'
Yaik.
The Yaik has a thick snout, a blunt nose, and
very tieshy lips ; its upper lip is divided ; its
upper fore teeth are small, yellow, convex, and
truncated ; the low’er slender and pointed ; its eyes
are large ; its naked ears stand up high above its
fur ; its tail is short and cylindrical ; its face is
white ; its body, four inches long, is of a cine-
reous yellow, mixed with brown above, below of
a hairy whiteness. It inhabits the deserts of Siberia,
about the Yaik, quits its burrow, and runs about
during the night.
Astrican mouse.
The Astrican mouse has its forehead much ele-
vated ; the edges of its eye-lids are black ; its cars
are naked and oval, standing far out of the fur ; it
is of a hoary ash-colour, with dusky hairs above ;
its sides whitish ; the under side of the body,
and the extremities of its limbs, are of a snowy
whiteness ; it is about three inches and a half Iong'r
and inhabits the deserts of Astracan, and the
Hyrcanian mountains. About the Persian villages
in Hyrcania, it commits great ravages among the
vice* It docs not grow torpid during the winter.
CANADA RAT.
69
Canada rat.
This, which is a species but lately discovered,
seems to be the most remarkable of all the
pouched rats, for the proportionable size of the
receptacles. It is a native of Canada, and the in-
dividual here figured, was taken by some Indians,
in the year 1798, and afterwards presented the lady
of Governor Prescot. It is about the size of a
brown Norway rat, and is of a pale greyish brown
colour, rather lighter beneath ; the length to the
tail is about nine inches ; and that of the tail,
which is but slightly covered with hair, about two
inches ; the legs are short ; the fore feet strong,
and well adapted for burrowing in the ground,
having five claws, of which the three middle ones
are very large and long ; the interior much smaller,
and the exterior very small, with a large tubercle, or
elbow beneath it. The claws on the hind feet are
comparatively very small, but the two middle arc
larger than the rest, and the interior one is scarce
visible ; the teeth are extremely strong, particularly
the lower pair, which are much longer than the
upper ; the ears are very small. The manners of
this species are at present unknown ; but it may
be concluded, it lays in a stock of provision, either
for autumnal, or winter food. The pouches of the
individual specimen, above described, when first
brought to Governor Prescot, were filled with a
kind of earthy substance ; it is therefore not im-
probable that the Indians who caught the animal,
might have stuffed them thus, in order to preserve
them in their utmost extent.
TO SANb, SONGAR, AND BARABA RAT*
Sand rat.
The sand rat has a sharp nos*, very large
pouches* great oval brown ears, white nails, and
a short hoary body ; its gides, belly* limbs* and
tail* are of a pure while; it is four inches long ;
its tail above one ; it inhabits, and burrows in
the sandy plains near the river Irtish^ in Siberia,
It is a nocturnal animal.
Songar.
The songar is of a grey colour ; has a thick
head, and a blunt nose ; its ears are oval, very
thin, and lightly covered with a hoary down ; its
tail is short, blunt, thick, and hairy. A black
line runs along its back ; its sides are spotted with
white ; its belly and legs are white. They are
found in the same country with the sand rat.
Dr, Palla3 kept some of them a great while,
They grew familiar, would feed from his hand,
lap milk, and, when placed on a table, shewed
no desire of running away. They were slower
in all their motions than the other species ; washed
their faces with their paws, and sat up to eat ;
wandered about during the day, and slept all night
rolled up. They seldom made any cry ; and,
when they did, it was like that of a bat. It is a
native of Siberia.
Baraba rat.
m
The Baraba rat, about three inches and a
quarter long, has a sharp nose, large, broad,
naked ears, of a dusky colour, edged with white*
It is of a cinereous yellow above, below of a
•sjirty white. A black line extends from the neck
B11NI> MOLE RAT,
n
to near the tail ; the tail, near one inch long, is white*
marked with a dusky line.
They inhabit the sandy plain of Baraba, towards
the Qby ; and about the lake Dalai, in the Chinese
empire.
Bund mole rat.
This rat has a great head, broader than the
body, and not the least aperture for eyes ; yet be*
meath the skin are found what may be called the
rudiments of those organs, though not larger than
the seed of a poppy. It has no external ears ; the
end of its nose is covered with a thick skin ; its
nostrils are remote and placed below ; its mouth
gapes, and the teeth are exposed ; those above are
short ; the lower ones are very long, and their
ends arc quite uneven ; its body is cylindrical ;
its limbs short ; it has five toes on each foot, with
short claws ; its hair is short, thick, and soft ;
dusky at the bottom, grey above, white about the
mouth and nose. It is between seven and eight
inches long. A male one will weigh above eight
ounces.
It inhabits the southern parts of Russia, from
Poland to the Wolga. It delights in moist and
turfy soils. The earth it throws up in hillocks
of two yards in circumference. It works with
great agility. On any apprehension of an enemy,
it forms instantly a perpendicular burrow. Its bite
is very severe. When irritated, it snorts and
gnashes its teeth, but emits no cry. It often quits
its hole, especially in the morning, and during
the amorous season, along with the female, to
bask in the sun. In Ukraine, the vulgar believe
thatthe touch of a hand which has suffocated this
animal, ha3 the same virtue in curing the king’s-
72 DA. IT III AN j AND AFRICAN RAT,
evil, as was once believed to be inherent in ilia
now abdicated royal family of Great Britain.
Daurian rat.
This creature has a thick flat head, a short
snout, and a blunt nose. Its upper fore teeth are
naked * a moveable lip covers the lower; it has
no external ears ; its eyes are very small, yet visi-
ble ; its body is short and depressed ; its limbs
are very strong, especially the fore legs ; its tail
is short ; its hair soft and loose, of a greyish colour.
They measure from six to nine inches ; inhabit the
arctic mountains, and beyond lake Baikal ; bur-
row a little below the surface ; have a voice weak
and plaintive.— -The Russians call it the earth
bean
African rat.
The African rat has a large head* a black UOse*
flat and corrugated ; its eyes are minute, and
much hid in the fur; it has no ears ; its tail*
about two inches long/ is compressed* and covered
above and below w ith short hair, and edged with
bristles disposed horizontally. It is of a cinereous
brow n, palest on the lower parts, and about thir-
teen inches long.
It inhabits the sandy country near the Cape of
Good Hope; it burrows, and makes the ground
so hollow as to be very inconvenient for travellers ;
for it breaks every six or seven minutes under the
horses feet, and lets them in up to the shoulders.
It grows to the size of a rabbit, and is, by some*
esteemed a good dish.
CAPE, AND TALPINE RAT,
73
Cape rat.
The Cape rat is about seven inches long, and
is very destructive to the gardens about the Cape.
Its tail is very short, beset with bristles. Though
the rest of its nose is white, yet the end of it is
naked and black. Its head, cheeks, back, and
sides, arc of a rusty brown ; but it has a ^vhite
space round its eyes and ears.
Talpine rat.
Thei Talpine rat, about four inches 16ng, has
& large short head, and a thick truncated snout.
Its upper teeth are long and fiat, extending out
Of its mouth ; its eyes are small, hid in its fur ;
its ears are bounded by a small rim ; its tail
scarce appears without the fur ; its upper parts
are dusky ; its chin, belly, and limbs are whitish.
It inhabits the open grounds of the temperate
parts of Russia and Siberia; it loves a black
turfy soil, and is frequent in meadows near vil-
lages. Its manners resemble those of the mole.
They do not become torpid in the winter ; hut
make their nest deep in the ground, and keep them-
selves warm by lining it with soft grass. They
are very easily taken, but soon grow sick in confine-
ment, Unless a quantity of earth is put into the
place where they are kept. They are in heat at
the end of March or beginning of April ; the
females have then a strong musky smell ; they
bring three or four at a time. They vary in cd<*
hour ; some are found quite black.
VOL. II.
L
MARMOT TRIBE, &C.
n
MARMOT TRIBE.
The marmots have two wedge-shaped front
teeth in each jaw ; and five grinders on each side
In the upper, and four in the lower. They have
also collar bones in the skeleton.
This tribe, of which only eight species are yet
known, does not differ in many particulars from
that of the rats. The animals have thick cylindri-
cal bodies^ and large roundish heads. The fore
feet have four claws, and a very small thumb ; and
the hind feet five claws. They reside in subterra-
neous holes, and pass the winter in sleep.
£ . >
Alpine marmot. ■ \
i
The Alpine marmot frequents the highest sum-
mits of the Alps and Pyrenean mountains, and is
also'Tound in some parts of Asia. It is about six-
teen inches in length, has a short tail, and bears
some resemblance both to the rat and the bear.
The colour is brownish above, and bright tawny
on the under parts. The head is rather large, and
flattish ; the ears short, and hid in the fur ; and
the tail thick and bushy.
The Alpine marmot, when taken young, is tamed
more easily than any other wild animal, and almost
as perfectly as any of those that are domestic. It
is readily taught to dance, to wield a cudgel, and
to obey the voice of its master. Like the cat, it
has an antipathy to the dog ; and when it becomes
familiar to the family, and is sure of being sup-
ported by its master, it attacks and bites even the
largest mastiff. From its squat, muscular make,
it has great strength, joined to great agility. It
.Aiipjirai Mabimlot jptu-^5
4
ALPINE MARMOT.
r'h
has four large cutting teeth., like those of the
hare kind, but it uses them to much more advan-
tage., since in this animal,, they are very formidadle
weapons of defence. However, it is in general a
very inoffensive animal ; and, except its enmity
to dogs, seems to live in friendship with every
creature, unless when provoked. If not prevented,
it is very apt to gnaw the furniture of a house, and
even to make holes through wooden partitions %
from whence, perhaps, it has been compared to
the rat. As its legs are very short, and made
somewhat like those of a bear, it is often seen
sitting up, and even walking on its bind legs in
like manner ; but with the fore paws, as was
said, it uses to feed itself in the manner of a
squirrel. Like the hare kind, it runs much
swifter up hill than down ; it climbs trees with
great ease, and runs up the clifts of rocks, or the
contiguous walls or houses, with great facility.
It is ludicrously said, that the Savoyarbs, who arc
the only chimney-sweepers of Paris, have learned
this art from the marmot, which is bred in the
game country.
These animals eat indiscriminately of whatever
is presented to them ; flesh, bread, fruits, herbs,
roots, pulse, and insects. But they are particularly
fond of milk and butter. Although less inclined
to petty thefts than the cat, yet they always try
to steal into the dairy, where they lap up the
milk like a cat, purring all the while like that
animal, as an expression of their being pleased.
As to the rest, milk is the only liquor they like.
They seldom drink water, and refuse wine. When
pleased, or caressed, they often yelp like puppies ;
hut when irritated, or frighted, they have a piercing
note that hurts the ear. They are very cleanly
animals, and, like the cat, retire upon necessary
occasions ; but their bodies have a disagreeable
(
70 ALPINE MARMOT,
scent, particularly in the heat of summer. This
tinctures their flesh, which, being very fat and firm*
would be very good, were not this flavour always
found to predominate.
We have hitherto been describing affections in
this animal wfyich it has in common with many
others ; but we now come to one which distinguishes
it from most other quadrupeds ; this is, its sleeping
during the whiter. The marmot, though a native of
the highest mountains, and where the snow is never
wholly melted, nevertheless seems to feel the in-
fluence of the cold more than any other, and in a
manner has ail its faculties chilled up in winter.
This extraordinary suspension of life and motion
for more than half a year, deserves our wonder,
and excites our attention, to consider the manner
pf such a temporary death, and the subsequent re-
vival. But first to describe, before we attempt to
discuss.
The marmot, usually at the end of September
or the beginning of October, prepares to fit up
its habitation for the winter, from which it is never
seen to issue till about the beginning or middle
of April. This animal's little retreat is made with
great precaution, and fitted up with art. It is $
hole on the side of a mountain, extremely deep,
with a spacious apartment at the bottom, which
is rather longer than it is broad. In this several
marmots can reside at the same time, without
crowding each other, or injuring the air they breathe.
The feet and claws of this animal seem made
for digging ; and, in fact, they burrow into the
ground with amazing facility, scraping up the
earth like a rabbit, and throw ing back what they
have thus loosened behind them. But the form of
their hole is still more wonderful ; it resembles
the letter Y ; the two branches being two openings,
5|hich conduct into one channel, and terminate
ALPINE MARMOT.
77
in their general apartment, that lies at the bottom.
As the whole is made on the declivity of a moun-
tain, there is no part of it on a level, but the
apartment at the end. One of the branches, or
openings issues out, sloping downwards ; and this
serves as a kind of sink, or drain to the whole
family, where they make their excrements, and
where the moisture of the place is drawn away.
The other branch, on the contrary, slopes upwards,
and this serves as their door upon which to go
out and in. The apartment at the end is very
warmly stuccoed round with moss and hay, ot
both which they make an ample provision during
the summer. As this is a work of great labour,
so it is undertaken in common ; some cut the
finest grass, others gather it, and others take their
turns to drag it into the hole. Upon this occasion,
as we are told, one of them lies on its back, per-
mits the bay to be heaped up on its belly, keeps its
paws upright to make greater room ; and in this
manner, laving still upon its back, it is dragged
by the tail, hay and all, to their common retreat.
This also some give as a reason for this hair being
generally worn away on their backs, as is usually
the case ; however, a better reason for this may
be assigned, for their continually rooting up holes,
and passing through narrow openings. But, be
this at it will, certain it is that they all live toge-
ther aad work in common to make their habita
tion as snug and convenient as possible. In it
they pass three parts of their lives ; into it they
retire when the storm is high ; in it thef continue
while it rains ; there they remain when apprehen-
sive of danger, and never stir out except in fine
weather, never going far from home even then.
Whenever they venture abroad, one is placed as
a sentinel, sitting upon a lofty rock/%hile the rest
amuse themselves in playing about the green fields.
78
ALPINE MARMOT.
or are employed in cutting grass,, and making bay
for their winter's convenience. Their trusty sen-
tinel, when an enemy, a man, a dog, or a bird of
prey approaches, apprizes its companions with a
whistle, upon which they all make home, the sen-
tinel himself bringing up the rear.
But it must not be supposed that this hay is
designed for provision ; on the contrary, it is al-
ways found in as great plenty in their holes at the
end as in the beginning of winter ; it is only sought
for the convenience of their lodging, and the ad-
vantages of their young. As to provision, they
seem kindly apprized by nature, that during the
winter they shall not want any, so that they make
no preparations for food, though so diligently em-
ployed in fitting up their abode. As soon as they
perceive the first approaches of the winter, during
which their vital motions are to continue in some
measure suspended, they labour very? diligently to
close up the two entrances of their habitation,
which they effect with such solidity, that it is easier
to dig up the earth any where else, than where
they have closed it. At that time they are very
fat, and some of them are found to weigh above
twenty pounds ; they continue so for even three
months more ; but by degrees their flesh begins
to waste, and they are usually very lean by the
end of winter. When their retreat is opened, the
whole family is then discovered, each rolled into
a ball, and covered up under the hay. In this
state they seem entirely lifeless ; they may be taken
away, and even killed without their testifying any
great pain ; and those who find them in this
manner, carry them home, in order to breed up the
young and eat the old ones. A gradual and gentle
w armth revives them ; but they w ould die if too
suddenly brought near the fire, or if their juice*
were too quickly liquefied*
ALPINE MARMOT. . 79
Strictly speaking/' says M. Buffon, ee these
animals cannot he said to sleep during the winter ;
it may be called rather a torpor, a stagnation of
all the faculties. This torpor is produced by the
congelation of their blood, which is naturally
much colder than that of all other quadrupeds.
The usual heat of man and other animals is about
thirty degrees above congelation ; the heat of these
is not above ten degrees. Their internal heat is
seldom greater than that of the temperature of
the air. This has been often tried by plunging the
ball of the thermometer into the body of a living1
dormouse, and it never rose beyond its usual
pitch in air, and sometimes it sunk above a degree.
It is not surprising, therefore, that these animals,
whose blood is so coid naturally, should become
torpid, when the external cold is too powerful for
the small quantity of heat in their bodies, yet re-
maining; and this always happens when the ther-
mometer is not more than ten degrees above com
gelation-*’ This coldness M. Buffon has experi-
enced in the blood of the bat, the dormouse, and
the hedgehog, and with great justice he extends
the analogy to the marmot, which, like the rest,
is seen to sleep all the winter. This torpid state
continues as long as the cause which produces it
continues ; and it is very probable that it might
be lengthened out beyond its usual term, by artifi -
cially prolonging the cold ; if, for instance, the
animal were rolled up in wool, and placed in a
cold cellar, nearly approaching to, but not quite
so cold as an ice-house, for that would kill them
outright, it would remain perhaps a whole year in
its state of insensibility. However this be, if the
heat of the air be above ten degrees, these animals
are seen to revive : and, if it be continued in that
degree of temperature, they do not become torpids
80 Quebec/ and Maryland marmot.
but eat and sleep at proper intervals, like all other
quadrupeds whatever.
Quebec marmot.
The Quebec marmot is rather larger than a rab-
bit ; it has a black blunt nose ; short rounded ears ;
cheeks puffed, of a grey colour, and a dusky face.
The hair on its back is grey at bottom, black in
the middle, with whitish tops. Its belly and legs
are of an orange colour ; its toes are black, naked*
and quite divided. It has four toes and the rudi*
tnents of another, on the foie feet ; five behind.
Its tail is short, and of a dusky colour. It inha-
bits Hudson’s bay and Canada, and may be tamed.
Maryland marmot.
The Maryland marmot is about the size of a
rabbit. Its ears arc short and rounded ; its eyes
black and prominent. Its nose is sharper than
that of the last. Its nose and cheeks are of a
bluish ash colour ; its hack of a ferruginous
brown ; its sides and belly paler. Its tail is halt
the length of its body, covered with pretty long
dusky hair ; its toes are divided, and armed with
sharp claws. It has four before, and five behind.
Its feet and legs are black.
It inhabits Virginia and Pennsylvania. During
winter it sleeps under the hollow roots of trees.
It lives on wild fruits, and other vegetables. Its
flesh is reckoned very good eating. It tastes like
that of a pig. When surprised, it retreats into
holes. It is found in the Bahama isles also ; but
it is probable it does not sleep during the winter
in that climate.
StOAlilr, Am nMUM MAHMOTi &C. pi
Hoary, $iAfeM§$?.
The hoary marmot, abduf the same size as the
former , derives its name from it§ appearance. It
inhabits the northern parts of North America,
The tip of its nose is black ; its ears are short
and oval ; its cheeks are whitish. Its colour is
dusky and tawny ; its hair is coarse and long, ash
coloured at the root, black in the middle, and
Whitish at the tip ; whence it has that hoary look.
Its legs are black ; its claws dusky ; four before,
five behind ; its tail is black, mixed with rust
colour.
MlULINE JKARMof.
This animal was discovered by Molina, in the
province of Maule, in Chili, where it inhabits
woods. It is said to be about twice the size of the
Alpine marmot, nearly of the same colour, but has
pointed ears, lengthened no&e, four rows of whisk*
ers, and a longer tail than the common marmot.
On each foot are also said to be five toes. It is re*
presented as a strong animal, and not easily con-
quered by dogs which happen to attack it.
Earless marmoi1.
This species is marked by a white line over
each eye, yellow teeth, long black whiskers, and
an ash coloured face. The hind part of its head,
and its whole back, are of a pale yellowish brown,
often distinctly spotted with white, sometimes un-
dulated with grey ; the underside of the body and
legs are of a yellowish white; its tail is covered
with long hair, brown above, bordered with black,
each hair tipped with white ; its underside is of
VOL. II. M
SS EARLESS MARMOT.
a bright rust. The three middle toes of the fore
feet are long, armed with long sharp claws ; the
exterior and interior toes are short ; the last lies
remote from the others, with a short blunt claw.
It is the most elegant of the marmots, and has
scarcely any external ears.
The length of the animal is about one foot ; of
its tail, to the end of the hairs, four inches and a
half. It inhabits Bohemia, Hungary, and from
the banks of the Wolga to India, and Persia, Si-
beria, Great Tartary, Kamtschalka, and even the
continent of America itself. It burrows, and
forms its magazine of corn, nuts, &c. for its winter
food. Like the squirrel, it sits up while it eats.
Some inhabit the fields of Siberia, others penetrate
into the granaries. The first form holes undeF
the ground with a double entrance, where they
sleep during winter ; those which inhabit grana-
ries keep in motion even during the cold season.
About the Lena, they couple at the beginning of
May ; but about Astracan much earlier. They
bring from five to eight young ones, which they
bring up in their burrows ; only one inhabits each
burrow ; the males are always, except in the
coupling season, separate from the females.
They whistle like the former species, are very
irascible, and bite hard. They often quarrel with
and tear each other ; yet they sit in multitudes
near their holes. They are very fond of salt, and
are taken in great numbers on board the barges
laden with that commodity on the rivers. They
are both herbivorous and carnivorous. They feed
on plants, and destroy the young of birds and mice.
The ladies of Bohemia were wont to make cloaks
of their skins they are now used only for linings
and appear very beautiful for that purpose. They
dieep a lar^e portion of their time at all seasons.
GfJNDI MARMOT., AND BOBAC. 8 3
Gundi MARMOT.
This animal is of the size of a small rabbit,
and of a red colour ; inhabits Barbary towards
mount Atlas. It has truncated ears, with large
apertures, and a short tail. Its upper fore teeth
are truncated ; the lower slender, and pointed. It
has four toes on each foot, furnished with clawi#
and walks on the hind feet as far as the heel*
BOBAC.
Tiie bobac is about the size of the Alpine mar-
mot. Its colour is grey above, and beneath fulvoua
or ferruginous. The tail is short, somewhat slen-
der, and very hairy.-— It is a native of Poland,
Russia, and other mountainous parts of Europe.
These animals burrow obliquely in the ground
to the depth of two, three, or four yards ; and
form numbers of galleries, with one common en-
trance from the surface ; each gallery ending in
the nest of its inhabitants. Sometimes, however,
the burrows consist of but one passage. Though
these are found in the greatest numbers where the
earth is lightest, yet they are very common even in
the strata of the mountains. In very hard and
rocky places, from twenty to forty of these animals
join together to facilitate the work • and they
live in society, eaeh with its nest at the end of its
respective gallery. To their nests they collect,
especially towards autumn, the finest hay they can
procure ; and in such plenty, that sufficient is
often found jin one of them for a night’s food for ft
horse.
During the middle, or sunny part of the day,
they sport about the entrance of their holes ; but
fejdom go far from them. At the sight of man.
BOBAe
m
they retire with a slow pace ; and sit upright near
the entrance, giving a frequent whistle, and listen^
ing to the approach. In places where they live in
large families, they always place a centinel to give
Oolite of aiiy danger, during the time when the
rest are employed in feeding.
They are Mid* gdod-ftatftred* and timid. They
tkid only Oft vegetables J- Which they go in search
of ih the morning, ahd about the middle of the
day. They sit ori their hams when they eat, and
carry the food to their mouth with their fore paws ;
and in this posture it ts that they defend themselves
when attacked. When they are irritated, or when
any One attempts to lay hold of them* they bite des-
perately, and utter a very shrill cry.^--In summer
thfey eat Vbfaciotisly * but remain torpid all winter,
except When kept in very warm places ; and even
then they eat but little* and will, if possible, escape
into softie Comfortable place* in Which to pass this
dreary season ; but they return to tjieir master in
the spring. They very sooft become tame, even
When taker! of full age, and the young Ones are
familiar frofti the moment they are caught.
The flesh is eatable ; and, except that it is some*
What rank, rOiTetiibles that of the hare. The fat is
tised for dressiftg leather and furs ; and the skins
are employed by the Russians for clothing. The
feftiale brings forth early in the spring, and has
usually six or eight young ones at a lifter.
SQUIRREL TRIBE. 85
m ?>* .... • ■ ; .
§f\ ' 1 '! ' v v ‘ h ' i.j rtr ,":i;
SQUIRREL TRIBE.
The squirrels are for tile most part light, nim-
ble, and elegant animals ; climbing trees with the
Utmost agility, and springing with astonishing
security from one branch to another. Some of
them are provided with hairy membranes, extend-
ing from the fore to the hind legs ; which, when
gpread out, by rendering them more buoyant,
enable them to leap considerable distances from
tree to tree. Some of the species form their nests,
and live almost entirely in the trees ; and others
burrow under the ground. None of them arc
carnivorous. Many of the squirrels may, with
Care, be rendered docile ; but when they are
in the least irritated, they attempt to bite. In
confinement they are generally very frolicsome.
When they are on the ground, they advance by
leaps ; and in eating they sit erect, and hold the
fond in their fore paws.
They have two front teeth in each jaw ; the
upper ones wedge-shaped, and the lower sharp ;
five grinders on each side of the upper jaw, and
four on each side of the under one. They have
also collar bones in the skeleton ; and in most
Of the species, the tail spreads towards each side.
Common squirrel.
This elegant little animal is equally admired for
the neatness of its figure, and the activity and
liveliness of its disposition. Though naturally
wild and timid, it is soon reconciled to confine-
ment, and easily taught to receive with freedom
86 COMMON SQUIRREL,
the most familiar caresses from the hand that
feeds it.
In the spring these creatures seem peculiarly
active ; pursuing each other among the trees, and
exerting various efforts of agility. During the
warm summer nights, they may also be observed in
a similar exercise. They seem to dread the heat of
the sun ; for during the day, they commonly re-
main in their nests, and make their principal excuf-
sions by night.
It seldom makes any noise, except when it expe-
riences either pain or pleasure ; in the former case
it makes a sharp piercing note ; and in the latter,
it makes a noise not unlike the purring of a cat.
The tail of the squirrel is its greatest ornament ;
and serves as a defence against the cold, being large
enough to cover the whole body ; it is likewise of
use to the animal in taking its leaps from one tree
to another.
In northern climates the squirrels change their
red summer coat, on the approach of winter, to
grey ; and it is singular that this alteration will
take place in those climates, even within the warmth
of a stove. Dr. Pallas had one, entirely red,
brought to him on the 12th of September. It
was placed in a stove. About the 4th of October
many parts of its body began to grow hoary ; and
when it died, which was just, a month afterwards,
the whole body had attained a grey colour ; the
legs, and a small part of the face, alone retaining a
reddish tinge.
The squirrel/' says Buffon, tf is neither carni-
vorous nor hurtful ; its usual food isfruits, nuts, and
acGrns * it is cleanly, nimble, active, and industrious ;
its eyes are sparkling, and its physiognomy marked
with meaning. It generally, like the hare and rab-
bit, sits up on its hinder legs ; and uses the fore pawg
COMMON SQUIRREL. 87
as hands ; these have five claws, or toes, as they
are called, and one of them is separated from the
rest like a thumb. This animal seems to approach
the nature of birds, from its lightness, and sur -
prising agility on the tops of trees. It seldom
descends to the ground, except in case of storm,
hut jumps from one branch to another; feeds in
spring, on buds and young shoots ; in summer,
on the ripening fruits ; and particularly the young
cones on the pine-tree. In autumn it has an exten-
sive variety to feast upon ; the acorn, the filbert,
the chesnut, and the wilding. This season of
plenty, however, is not spent in idle enjoyment ;
the provident little animal gathers at that time
its provisions for the winter ; and cautiously fore-
sees the season when the forest shall be stripped of
its leaves and fruitage.”
Its nest is generally formed among the large
branches of a great tree, where they begin to fork
off in small ones. After choosing the place where
the timber begins to decay, and an hollow may
the more easily be formed, the squirrel begins by
making a kind of a level between the forks ; and
then bringing moss, twigs, and dry leaves, it binds
them together with great art, so as to resist the
most violent storm. This is covered up on all
sides ; and has but a single opening at top, which
is just large enough to admit the little animal ;
and this opening is itself defended from the wea-
ther by a kind of canopy, made in the fashion of
a cone, so that it throws off the rain, though nevet
so heavy. The nest thus formed, with a very
little opening above, is, nevertheless, very com-
modious and roomy below ; soft, well knit toge-
ther, and every way convenient and warm. In
this retreat, the little animal brings forth its
young, shelters itself from the scorching heat of
the sun, which it seems to fear, and from the
88
COMMON SQtJIftKEl.
storms and inclemency of winter, which it is still
less capable of supporting. Its provision of nuts
and acorns is seldom in its nest, but in the hollows
of the tree, laid up carefully together, and never
touched but in cases of necessity. Thus one single
tree, serves for a retreat and a store-house ; and
without leaving it during the winter, the squirrel
possesses all those enjoyments that its nature is
capable of receiving. But it sometimes happens
that its little mansion is attacked by a deadly and
powerful foe. The marten goes often in quest
of a retreat for its young, which it is incapable
of making for itself ; for this reason it fixes upon
the nest of a squirrel, and, with double injustice,
destroys the tenant, and then takes possession of the
mansion.
However, this is a calamity that but seldom
happens ; and, of all other animals, the squirrel
leads the most frolicksome playful life, being
surrounded with abundance, and having fewr ene-
mies to fear. They seldom bring forth above
four or five young at a time; and that but once
a year. The time of their gestation seems to be
about six weeks ; they are pregnant in the be-
ginning of April, and bring* forth about the middle
of May.
The squirrel is never found in the open fields,
nor yet in copses, or underwoods ; it always keeps
in the midst of the tallest trees, and, as much as
possible, shuns the habitations of men. It is
extremely watchful ; if the tree in which it re-
sides be but touched at the bottom, the squirrel
instantly takes the alarm, quits its nest, at once
flies off to another tree, and thus travels, with
great ease, along the tops of the forest, until it finds
itself perfectly out of danger. In this manner it
continues for some hours at a distance from home,
until the alarm be passed away ; and then it returns
GREAT SQUIRREL.
89
by paths, that to all other quadrupeds but itself
are utterly impassable. Its usual way of moving
is by bounds ; these it takes from one tree to ano-
ther. at forty feet distance ; and if at any time it
is obliged to descend, it runs up the side of the
next tree with amazing facility.
Great squirrel.
Op all the species yet discovered, this is the
largest, being equal in size to a cat. It is a native
of India, and was first described by Mons. Sonnerat,
who informs us it is found in the Malabar country,
and especially about the mountains of Cardamone,
where it feeds on fruits, and is particularly fond
of the milk of the cocoa-nut, which, it pierces when
ripe, in order to obtain the liquor.
The fur on the whole animal is long and full ;
the top of the head, ears, hack, and sides, are fer-
ruginous, and a small band of a similar colour
commences beneath each ear, passing along the
neck towards the sides. Part of the neck, in
front, the beginning of the body, and outsides of
the shoulders and thighs, are black ; the tail is
also black ; the head, under part of the neck,
insides of the limbs and belly, are yellowish fer-
ruginous, somewhat paler on the breast ; the iris
of the eye is of a pale yellow ; the fore feet have
four toes with crooked claws, and a very small
thumb or fifth toe, with a small rounded nail ;
the hind feet have five toes, with strong crooked
claws on all ; the tail is longer than the body,
and appears equal to it in size when fully expand-
ed. This animal, according to Somierat, is ea-
sily tamed, and is called about the coasts of Mala-
bar the great wood rat.
VOL, n.
N
90 MADAGASCAR SQUIRREL, &C,
Madagascar squirrel.
This,, which, from Mr. Cepede’s description,
given in the seventh supplemental volume of Buf-
fon, should seem equal in size to the preceding, is
said to measure seventeen inches to the tail, which
is still longer, and of a dissimilar appearance to
that of other squirrels ; and rather resembling
that of a cat, but feathering towards each side,
and terminating in a very taper point. The whole
upper parts and tail are of a deep black, and the
nose, ears, and whole under parts, yellowish white ;
the ears are plain or not tufted. It is a native of
Madagascar.
GlNGI SQUltlREL.
This species is described by Sonnerat, who in-
forms us that it is rather larger than the European
squirrel, and of a brownish grey colour, lighter
on the belly, legs, and feet ; on each side the
belly is a white band reaching from the shoulders
to the thighs ; the eyes are also encircled with
white, and the tail is black, with whitish hairs
intermixed. It is an inhabitant of Gingi, in the
East Indies.
Chilian squirrel.
This species is mentioned by Molina in his
Natural History of Chili. It is somewhat larger
than a black rat, and is of yellowish brown colour,
with a black stripe on each shoulder ; the nose
is sharp, the ears rounded, and the tail flocky
towards the tip, and of the same colour with the
body. It is a gregariousanimal, and inhabits holes
GEORGIAN SQUIRREL &C. 91
m shrubby places, feeding on roots and fmits, of
Which it collects a magazine for food,
Georgian squirrel.
This species is said by its describer, Mr, Gul~
denstedt, to be a nati ve of Georgia, in Asia, and
to be larger than a common squirrel. Its colour
on the upper part of the head, body, and limbs,
is dusky ferruginous ; and of the under parts and
tail, bright ferruginous, the breast and belly being
paler than the other parts : the ears arc small, and
slightly sharpened at the tips.
Persian squirrel.
In its general appearance and way of life, this
is said to resemble the common squirrel, but di£*>
fers in colour, and in having plain or untufted ears ;
the upper parts are dusky; and the parts about
the eyes, black ; the throat, breast, and belly,
yellow, and the sides white ; the tail blackish grey,
marked beneath, about the middle, with a white
band ; the feet reddish. It is an inhabitant of the
jnpuntainous parts of Persia.
. Grey squirrel.
This species, both in its form and manners, very
much resembles the common squirrel. It is about
the size of a young rabbit ; and, except the inside
of the limbs, and the under parts of the body,
which are white, its colour is an elegant pale
grey.
The grey squirrels are said to be natives of Lap-
land, and some other northern climates. They
often change the places of their residence ; and
fonietimes not one of them can be found during
92
GRE¥ SQUIRREL.
a whole winter, where there were millions in the
preceding year. In their journeys from one part
of the country to another when it becomes neces-
sary to pass a lake or river, (which is frequently the
case in Lapland,) they lay hold of a piece of pine
or birch bark, which they draw to the edge of the
water, mount upon it, and abandon themselves to
the waves. They erect their tails, to catch the
wind; but, if it blows too strong, or the waves
rise high, the pilot and the vessel are both over-
turned. This kind of wreck, which often consists
of three or four thousand sail, generally enriches
some Laplanders, who fmd the dead bodies on the
shore ; arid, if these have not lain too long on the
sand, they prepare the furs for sale. But when the
winds are favourable, the adventurers make a
happy voyage, and arrive in safety at their destined
port.
The grey squirrels arc also natives of North
America ; where they do much mischief in the
plantations, but particularly among the maize ;
for they climb up the stalks, tear the ears in
pieces, and eat only the loose and sweet kernel*
which lies quite in the inside. They sometimes
come by hundreds upon a maize-held, and thus
destroy the w hole crop of a fanner in one night.
In Maryland, therefore, some years ago, every
person was compelled to procure and exhibit an-
nually four fresh squirrels; the heads of which,
to prevent deceit, were given to the surveyor. In
other provinces, every one w;ho killed a squirrel
received from the public treasury two-pcnce, on de-
livering up its bead. Pennsylvania alone paid,
from January, 1749, to January, 1750, no less a
sum than eight thousand pounds, currency, in re-
wards for the destruction of these animals ; con-
sequently in that year,, as many as six hundred and
forty thousand must have been killed.
(
BLACK SQUIRREL. 93
This species resides principally among the trees ;
in the hollows of which it makes its nest, with
straw, moss, and other materials ; and feeds on
acorns, fir-cones, maize, &c. as well as on various
kinds of fruit. It is said to amass great quanti-
ties of provision for winter ; which it deposits in
holes that it prepares beneath the roots of trees,
and in other places.
When these animals are sitting on a bough, and
perceive a man approach, they instantly move their
tails backward and forward, and make a chattering
noise with their teeth. This renders them peculi-
arly odious to sportsmen, who often loose their
game by the alarm they thus create.
The flesh of the grey squirrel is eaten by some
persons, and is esteemed very delicate. The skins
in America arc used for ladies' shoes ; and are
often imported into England for the lining or facing
of cloaks. They are very difficult to kill ; chang-
ing their place on the trees with such expedition,
as generally to elude the shot of the most expert
marksman. They are said to be easily tamed ;
and in that state to associate readily with other do-
mestic animals.
BLACK SQUIRREL.
The black squirrels are very nearly allied to
the preceding species ; differing principally in
their coal-black colour, and somewhat shorter
tail. The muzzle and the tip of the tail are some-
times white.
They are natives of America, and migrate from
the territory of the United States. They take to
the water when rivers lie in their route ; but, as if
conscious of their inability to cross the Niagara in
its wide parts, they have been observed to bend
their course along its banks, above the falls, and
34
STRIPED SQUIRREL.
at its narrowest and most tranquil parts, to erosj
into the British territory. In the year 1795, it was
calculated that in the course of two or three days,
fifty thousand of them passed that river ; and they
committed such depredations on arriving at the
settlements on the opposite side, that in one part of
the country the farmers deemed themselves very
fortunate where they got in only one third of their
crop of corn.
Some writers/' says Mr. Weld, cc have as-
serted that these animals cannot swim ; but that
when they come to a river, each one provides itself
with a piece of wood, or bark, upon which, when
a favourable wind offers, it embarks, spreads its
bushy tail to catch the wind, and is thus wafted
over to the opposite side. Whether they do or do
not cross in this manner sometimes, I cannot take
upon me to say; but I can safely affirm that they
do not always cross so, as I have frequently shot
them in the water while swimming. No animals
$wim better ; and, w hen pursued, I have seen them
eagerly take to the water.. In swimming, their
tail serves them by way ef rudder, and they use
it with great dexterity ; owing to its being so light
and bushy, the greater part of it floats upon the
water, and thus helps also to support them. Their
migration in large numbers, is said to be an infal-
lible sign of a severe winter/'
STRIPED SQUIRREL.
The length of the striped squirrel is about six
inches ; its tail, which is rather more, is not curv-
ed and bushy, but long and very narrow. The
skin is of a reddish brown ; and is marked with
five black streaks, one of which runs along the
back, and two on each side. These animals eat
all kinds of corn ; and, like the common squirrel.
S.TRIPER SQUIRREL.
95
collect provisions in autumn for the winter,, a;ul
store them in their holes. They have two cheek
pouches ; which they fill with corn in the fields,
and in this manner convey it home.
They are natives of America, and dig holes in
the ground, which serve for their habitations, and
to which they fly for shelter whenever danger
is near. Their holes are deep ; and commonly
divided into many branches, from one of which
they have an opening to the surface of the ground.
The advantage they derive from this is, that when
they ramble abroad for food, and are prevented
from entering the hole at which they went out, they
may not expose themselves to their pursuers, but
immediately retreat into the other. But in au~
tumn, when the leaves are falling from the trees*
it is very diverting to observe their consternation
when pursued : for their holes being covered with
leaves, they have then some difficulty in folding
them ; they run backward and forward, as though
they had lost their way ; and seem to know where
their subterraneous haunts lie, but cannot discover
the entrances. If they are pursued, and any sud-
den or loud noise is made, they are constrained to
take refuge in the trees ; but this they never do
unless in cases of necessity.
Their subterraneous dwellings are formed with
much art ; being worked into long galleries, with
branches on each side, and each terminating in
an enlarged apartment, in which they hoard their
stock of winter provision. Their acorns are
lodged in one ; in a second the maize ; in a third
the hickery nuts ; and in the fourth, perhaps
their most favourite food, the chesnut. Nature
has given them a fine convenience for collecting
their provisions, in their cheek pouches ; which
they fill with different articles of their food, that
are to be conveyed to their magazines. In Siberia
96
STRIPED SQUIRREL.
they board up the kernels of the stone pine in such
quantities, that ten or fifteen pounds weight of
them have been taken out of a single magazine.
As a Swede was some time ago making' a mill-
dike, pretty late in autumn., he took for that pur-
pose the soil of a neighbouring hill, and met by
chance with a subterraneous walk belonging to
these squirrels. By tracing it to some distance, he
discovered a gallery on one side, like a branch
parting from the main stem. It was nearly two
feet long- ; and at its extremity was a quantity of
remarkably plump acorns of the white oak, which
the careful little animal had stored up against the
winter. He soon afterwards found another gallery >
on one side., like the former, but containing a store
of maize ; a third had hickery nuts ; and the last
and most secret one contained as many excellent
chesnuts as would have filled two hats.
In winter, these squirrels are seldom seen ; as
during that season they keep within their holes^
On a fine clear- day, however, they sometimes come
out. They frequently dig through into cellars
where the country people lay up their apples ;
these they often eat or spoil in such a maimer, that
few or none of any value are left. In the choice
of their food they are remarkably nice ; having
been observed, after filling their pouches with rye,
to fling it out on meeting with wheat, and to sub-
stitute for it the superior grain.
They are not to be tamed without great diffi-
culty ; and even then it is always dangerous to
handle them, as they will bite pretty keenly when
a person is not aware of them.
They are caught merely on account of their
skins ; which, though forming but a slight or ordi-
nary fur, have a very pleasing appearance, when
properly set off. These are said to be chiefly sold
to the Chinese.
CEYLON* AND JAVAN SQUIRREL,
97
Ceylon, and abyssinian squirrel.
We have joined these two in the same section)
as Mr. Pennant seems to suspect that the latter
may be only a va, iety of the former ; and indeed
it must be obvious, that when naturalists describe
species from single subjects, there is some a »g,er
of their multiplying the species from slight vaca-
tions observable in different individuals belonging
to the same ?peciesrs
The Ceylon squirrel has its ears tufted with'
black ; a flesh-coloured nose ; cheeks, legs, and
bcilv, of a pale yellow, with a yellow spot be-
tween its ears; its fore head, sides, back, and
haunches, are black ; its cheeks are marked with
a forked stroke of black ; its tail is twice a&
long as the body, of a light grey, and very bushy*
The part of it next the body is quite surrounded
with hair ; on the rest of it the hairs are separated
and lie flat. It is thrice the size of the European
squirrel.
The Abyssinian squirrel, described by Thevenot*
is of the same size with that found in Ceylon “
but he says that its belly and fore feet were grey*
and that its soles were flesh-coloured ; that it was
very sportive and good-natured, like the common
squirrel * that it would eat any thing except flesh*
and would crack the hardest almonds.
Javan squirrel.
Tins species, discovered and briefly described
by Sparrman^ is black on the upper part of the
body, and brown on the lower ; the end of its tail
is black* and its thumb has a round nail.
m
BOMBAY; RUDDY SQUIRREL; &€.
Bombay squirrel*
The Bombay squirrel has tufted ears too, but
Ms upper parts are of a dull purple, its lower
yellow, and the end of its tail orange. From
noes to tail, it measures near sixteen inches ; its
tail seventeen*
Ruddy squirrel.
The ruddy squirrel inhabits India ; it is larger
than the common squirrel ; its ears are slightly
tufted ; its colour above is yellow, mixed with
dusky below of a blood red, inclining to tawny.
Its tail is slender, of the same colour, marked
lengthways with a black stripe. It has four toes
on the fore feet, with a remarkable protuberance
instead of a thumb ; and five toes on the hind
feet.
Hudson's bay squirrel*
The Hudson's Bay squirrel is smaller than
the European, has plain ears, and is marked
along the back with a ferruginous line from head
to tail. Its sides are paler ; its belly is of a pale
ash-colour, mottled with black ; its tail is neither
so long nor so bushy as that of the common kind ;
but it is of a ferruginous colour, barred with
black.
The Carolina squirrel is a variety of the same
species. Its head, sides, and back are grey, white,
and rust-colour, intermixed. Its belly is white,
and is divided from the sides by a ferruginous line
The Idwer parts of the legs are red. The tail is
brown mixed with black, and edged with white.
These are also less than the European squirrels ;
VARIED* FAIR SQUIRREL* &C. 99
they vary in colour ; but in most the grey pjredo*
rainates.
Varied squirrel.
The varied squirrel has plain ears ; the Mppet
part of its body is varied with black* white* and
brown ; its belly is tawny. It is twice the size of
the common squirrel. It inhabits Mexico* lives
under-ground* lays in a stock of winter food ; it
lives on maise* but is never to be tamed.
Fair squirrel.
The fair squirrel is of a very small size. It$
body and tail are of a flaxen colour.* It has plain
round ears, and a rounded tail* and inhabits the
wood near Amadabad* the capital of Guzarat*
where they are to be seen in great abundance*
leaping from tree to tree. Linnseus says it is an
inhabitant of South America.
Brasilian squirrel*
A small creature* eight inches long* is covered
with soft dusky hairs* tipt with yellow. Its tail*
which is ten inches long* is annulated with black
and yellow. Its throat is cinereous. The inside
of its legs and its belly are yellow. Its belly is
divided lengthways with a white line, which begins
on the breast* is interrupted for a small space in
the middle* and then continued tp the tail. It in**
habits Brasil and Guiana,
Mexican squirrel,
The Mexican squirrel is of a mouse colour.
The male is marked on the back with seven whit@
|00 PA IM, AND BARBARY SQUIRREL,
lines, which extend along the iSfil ; the female
^vitii only five.
Palm squirrel.
The palm squirrel has plain ears, an obscure
pale yellow stripe on the middle of the back,
another on each side, and a third on each side of
the belly. The two last in some arc very faint ;
the rest of the hair on the back, sides, and head,,
is black and red, very closely mixed ; on the thighs
and legs redder ; the belly is of a pale yellow.
The hair on the tail is coarse, and does not lie
flat ; it is p f a dirty yellow, barred with black,
Possibly they may vary with respect to the nmiv
her of stripes. They live much in cocoa trees,
and are very fond of palm wine. Some authors
$ay, that this species does not erect its tail like
|he other squirrels, but expands it sideways.
Barbary squirrel.
The Barbary squirrel has full black eyes,
^with white orbits. Its head, body, feet, and tail,
are cinereous, inclining to red, lighter on the
legs. Its sides are marked lengthways, with two
white stripes. Its belly is white; its tail bushy,
marked regularly with shades of black. It is of
the size of the common squirrel. Both this and
the former species inhabit Barbary, and live in trees,
^specially the palm.
We come n6w to a second division of this genus,
parked by a membrane extended from the tore to
the hind leg of each species.
Bamaex S^raiEimii
SAILING SQUIRREL/ ^ " 101
Sailing squirrel.
Names are necessary for distinction ; but may
sometimes mislead. The sailing squirrel has no-
thing to do on the w;*ter. He inhabits Java, and
others of the Indian islands, leaps from tree to
tree, as if he flew, and will catch hold of the
boughs with his tail. They vary in size ; some
are of the size of the common squirrel; others as
large as a hare. The usual length, from the nose
to the tail, is eighteen inches ; the tail fifteen.
The colour of the head, body, and tail, is a bright
bay ; in some parts inclining to orange ; the
breast and belly are of a yellowish white. Its
bead is small and rounded ; its upper lip cloven ;
its ears small and blunt. It has two small warts
at the outmost corner of each eye, with hairs
growing out of them. Its neck is short. It has
four toes on the fore feet ; and, instead of a
thumb, a slender bone, two inches and a half long,
lodged under the lateral membrane, and serving to
stretch it out ; from thence to the hind legs, ex-
tends the membrane, which is a continuation of the
skin of the sides and belly, and extends along the
fore legs, and stretches out near the joint in a
winged form. This species has five toes on the
hind feet ; and, on all the toes, sharp, Compressed,
bent claws. Its tail is covered wirh long hairs,
disposed horizontally. It is not flat, like that ot
other squirrels, but cylindric> like that of a cat.
It is very nearly allied to the flying opossum.
Nieuhoff describes this creature under the name
pf the flying cat.
102 SEVERN FLYING SQUIRREL, &C.
Severn river flying squirrel.
This species is found about the Severn river in
the southern parts of Hudson’s Bay. In the Phi-
losophical Transactions, it is called the greater
flying squirrel. Its back and sides are of a deep
ash colour at bottom, ferruginous on the surface.
The underside of the body is of a yellowish white.
Its hair is everywhere long and full. The instru-
ment of flying is disposed from leg to leg ; but
does not border the fore legs. It is about the
size of a common squirrel.
Hooded flying squirrel.
The hooded squirrel, according to Seba, who
is the only author that has described it, inhabits
Virginia. Its lateral membrane begins at the
chin and ears, and extends from the fore to the
hind leg. It is reddish above, cinereous tinged
with yellow beneath. Its ears are large and oval,
American flying squirrel.
This animal, which is a native of most parts of
North America, has large black eyes, circular
paked ears, and a hairy membrane extending nearly
round the bodj. The tail, which tapers to a
point, has its hairs disposed flat-ways on its sides.
The upper parts of the body are of a cinereous
brown ; the belly is white, tinged with yellow.
The membrane passes the fore and hind legs, to the
tail ; on the fore legs it adheres as far as the toes,
and includes a peculiar bone, which is attached
to the wrist, and helps to stretch out this skin in
flying ; and on the hind leg it extends to the an *
eies.
ipia ye
!l
H(D01MBSD MUHa $QmEEMA
AMERICAN FLYING SQUIRREL. 103
These squirrels inhabit hollow trees ; where they
sleep during the day, and from whence they only
make their appearance in the night ; at which lat-
ter time they are very lively and active. They as-
sociate in flocks ; several living in the same tree*
which they never willingly quit to run upon the
ground, but almost constantly reside among the
branches. By means of their lateral membranes,
they are able to make astonishing leaps, with the
greatest ease, from tree to tree. In these efforts
they extend their hind legs, and stretch out the in-
tervening skin, by which they present a greater
surface to the air, and become more buoyant.
They are, however, still under the necessity of tak-
ing-advantage of the lower branches of the trees
to^which they leap, for their weight prevents them
from keeping in a straight line. Sensible of this,
they always take care to mount so high as to en-
sure them from falling to the ground. This ex-
tended skin acts upon the air somewhat in the
manner of a paper kite, and not by repeated
strokes like the wings of a bird. The animal
being naturally heavier than the air, must of
course descend ; the distance, therefore, to which
it can jump, depends on the height of the tree on
which it stands. When it is at rest, the skin is
wrinkled up against its sides.
These animals are generally seen in flocks of ten
or twelve ; and to persons unaccustomed to them,
they appear at a distance, in their leaps, like leaves
blown from the trees by the wind. “ When I
first saw them,” says Catesby, I took them for
dead leaves blown one way by the wind ; blit was
not long so deceived, when! perceived many of
them follow one another in the same direction.
They will fly fourscore yards from one tree to
another.”
The females produce three or four young at a
104 EUROPEAN FLYING SQUIRREL.,
time. This species use the same food, and fomt
their hoards in the same manner as others of the
squirrel tribe. They are easily tamed, and soon
become familiar ; they love warmth, and are very
fond of creeping into the sleeve or pocket of their
owner ; and if thrown upon the ground, they in-
stantly shew their dislike to it by running up and
sheltering themselves in his clothes.
EUROPEAN FLYING SQUIRREL'.
The European flying squirrel differs from the
last species principally in having its tail full of
hair, and rounded at the end ; and in the colour
of its body ; the upper part of which is a fine
grey, and the lower white. Its whole length is
about nine inches, of which the tail occupies five.
It is found in the woods of Siberia, Lapland, and
other northern regions, where it feeds principally
on the young branches of the beech and pine.
Its nest is formed of moss, in the hollows, high
among the branches ; and, except during the
breeding season, it is solitary. It always sleepg
during the day time, and seldom appears abroad iu
bad weather. It is active the whole winter ;
being frequently taken during that season, in the
traps laid for the grey squirrels. Like the last
species, it can leap to vast distances from free to
tree.
The females have two, three, and sometimes
four young at a time. When the mother goes out
in search of food, she carefully wraps them up in
the moss of her nest. She pays them the utmost
attention ;; brooding over them, and sheltering
their tender bodies, by her flying membrane, from
the cold. When taken from the nest, it has beeft
found very difficult to keep the young alive;
evving probably to the want of proper food. The
OTUJJmJjiIK (&T TJB T
DORMOUSE TRIBE, &C. 105
skins of these squirrels are not very valuable in a
commercial view*
DORMOUSE TRIBE,
These animals live in holes in the ground*
where they always continue in a state of torpidity
during the winter. Their pace is a kind of leap,
in which-, like the jerboas, they are assisted by their
tails. They feed entirely on vegetables, and eat
only in the night. In this act they sit upright, and
carry the food to their mouth with the paws.
When they are thirsty, they do not lap, (like most
other quadrupeds,) but dip their fore feet, with
the toes bent, into the water, and drink from
them.
They have two front teeth in each jaw ; the up-
per wedge-shaped, the lower compressed ; and in
each jaw four grinders. The whiskers are long.
The tail is cylindrical, hairy, and thickest towards
the end. The fore and hind legs are of nearly
equal length ; and the fore feet have each four
toes,
COMMON DORMOUSE,
This animal is about the size of a mouse, but
more plump or rounded ; and of a tawny red co-
lour, with a white throat and full black eyes. It
lives in woods or thick hedges ; forming its nest of
grass, dried leaves, or moss, in the hollow of some
low tree, or near the bottom of a close shrub.
The dormice have not the sprightliness of the
VOL. II. 3»
106 FAT, AND GARDEN DORMOUSE.
squirrel ; but, like that auimal, they form little
magazines of nuts, acorns, and other food, for
their winter provision. The consumption of their
hoard, during the rigour of winter, is but small ;
for, retiring into their holes on the approach of the
cold, and rolling themselves up, they lie torpid
nearly all that gloomy season. Sometimes they
experience a short revival in a warm sunny day ;
when they take a little food, and then relapse into
their former state.
They make their nest of grass, moss, and dried
leaves ; this is six inches in diameter, and open
only from above. Their number of young is ge-
nerally three or four.
FAT DORMOUSE.
The fat dormouse, with thin naked ears, is near
six inches long; its tail four and a half; its body
is thicker than that of the squirrel, and is covered
with soft ash coloured hair ; its belly is whitish ;
and its tail is full of long hair.
It inhabits France, and the south of Europe *
and the south-west parts of Asiatic Russia. It
lives on trees ; leaps from bough to bough ; feeds
on fruits and acorns ; lodges in hollow trees ; and
remains in a torpid state during winter, at which
time it is very fat.
Garden dormouse.
This species has its eyes surrounded with a large
spot of black, reaching to the base of the ears.
It has also another black spot behind its ears.
Its head and body are of a tawny colour ; its
throat, and the whole under side of its body, is
white, tinged with yellow ; its tail is long, with
short hair at the base, but bushy at the end.
107
EARLESS DORMOUSE, &C.
It is about five indies long ; its tail four. It
inhabits France and the south of Europe. It is
found in magpies' nests, and hollow trees about the
Wolga; but neither this nor the former species
extends beyond the Uralian mountains. . It infests
gardens, and is very destructive to fruits of all kinds.
It is particularly fond of peaches ; lodges in the
holes of walls ; brings five or six young at a time ;
and, like the former, remains torpid during the
winter, waking only at intervals. It has a strong
smell like a rat.
Wood dormouse.
This species is much allied to the preceding,
but has a less sharpened visage, and a much
shorter tail, and its general proportions bear a
great resemblance to those of the fat dormouse.
Its length to the tail, is about four inches, and
the tail about three inches ; its colour on the upper
parts and tail, is greyish ferruginous, and of the
under parts, yellowish white ; the patch, or black
mark on each side the head, is much narrower
than in the preceding species, and extends only to
the ears ; the tail is very furry, the hair spreading
as in that of a squirrel. It is said to be a native
of Russia, Georgia, &c. ; inhabiting woods, &c.
Earless dormouse.
The earless dormouse is so called, not because
it is absolutely without ears, but because its ears
are so very minute, as scarcely to appear. Its
head is flat ; its nose obtuse ; its eyes full and
black ; its upper lip is bifid ; and its whiskers are
long ; its upper parts and its fore legs, are of a
pale . ferruginous colour, except that from the
shoulder to the hind parts, it has a white lin®
10S GILT-TAILED DORMOUSE.
along each side,, and another above each eye. Its
belly and feet are of a dirty white ; its tail is black
in the middle., and hoary on the sides ; its toes are
long and distinct, with very long claws. There
is a large knob on the fore feet. The hind legs
are black behind, and naked.
It is a creature of the size of a common squirrel ;
but much broader and flatter. It inhabits the
mountains, about eight hundred miles above the
Cape of Good Hope. It never climbs trees ; it
burrows; feeds on bulbous roots; and is particu-
larly fond of potatoes. It often walks on its hind
feet, and often lies* flat on its belly, is very tame,
and never offers to bite. It frequently flirts up
with its tail. It makes a warm nest, and forms a
round hole in it, in which it lodges. It sometimes
keeps close in this retreat for three entire days
together.
Gilt-tailed dormouse.
This singular species, though considered by its
first describer, Mr. Allatnand, as well as by Mr.
Pennant in his History of Quadrupeds, as a species
of dormouse, is allied in perhaps an equal degree
of the porcupines, among which it is placed by
Mr. Schreber. It is supposed to be a native of
Surinam, and is remarkable for the beauty of its
colours, being of a fine purplish brown above,
rather paler beneath ; the tail is brown at its base,
black for half its length, and the remainder of a
bright gold-yellow, and on the top of the head, is
a longitudinal stripe, of that colour. The head is
large in proportion to the body, the eyes small, the
eats moderately large, short, and rounded ; the
upper lip divided ; the front teeth white and short,
those of the lower jaw being the largest ; on each
side the nose are long vibrissas, or whiskers ; the
GTJERLINGUE*,
109
Tegs are short ; the feet divided into four toes ;
with weak crooked claws ; and in place of a
thumb, a small tubercle. On the hind part of
the head, and along the back, are scattered several
hairs, much longer than the rest, and of a very
different form and substance, being flat, stiff, and
rough to the touch ; they seem to arise from small
transparent sheaths, and their conformation is
highly singular, each hair, or rather quill, being
cylindric, arid very small near the body, growing
flat towards the middle part where it is half a line
broad, and thence gradually diminishing to a very
fine point ; along the middle runs a. channel, or
gutter, which, if examined with a glass, appears
yellow, while the sides, which are elevated, are of
a brown colour, and thus a sort of double reflec-
tion of light takes place, causing the purplish
tinge above mentioned ; these singular hairs or
quills become gradually smaller as they approach
the sides of the body, and quite disappear towards
the abdomen. It seems to be an animal formed for
climbing trees, and from the description given
above, it will appear that Mr. Schreber's opinion
is just, and that it should in reality be considered,
notwithstanding its diminutive size, as a species of
porcupine. Its length from nose to tail, is five
inches, and of the tail six inches and nine lines.
Gu ERLINGUET.
This animal is described in the seventh supple*
mental volume of the count de Buffon’s Natural
History, and is said to be of the size of a squirrel,
hut of a longer form. It is a native of Guiana,
and resides on trees. Its teeth resemble those of a
squirrel, and it has the same method of elevating
its tail, which is longer than the body, and ob-
scurely atmulated with numerous alternate brown
110
JERBOA TRIBE.
and yellowish bands, the tip itself being black. This
animal measures between seven and eight inches
f A lllA fa i 1
JERBOA TRIBE.
The jerboas seem in many respects, both of con-
formation and habit, much allied to the kanguroos ;
but an adherence to artificial system will not allow
them to be arranged together. They use their
long hind legs in leaping, very seldom going on
all-fours ; and with their fore legs, they both
carry the food to their mouth, and make their holes
in the ground. They are inhabitants principally of
the warmer climates.
They have two front teeth above, and two below.
The fore legs are short, ami their hind ones very
Jong ; and they have clavicles, or collar bones.
Egyptian jerboa.
This species is found in Egypt and different parts
of Africa.
The jerboas inhabit dry, hard, and clayey ground.
They dig their burrows very speedily, not only
with their fore feet, but with their teeth ; and
fling the earth back with their hind feet, so as to
form a heap at the entrance. The burrows are
many yards long ; and run obliquely and winding,
but not above half a yard deep below the surface.
They end in a large space or nest, the receptacle
of the purest herbs. They have usually but one
eptrance ; yet, by a wonderful sagacity, the animals
1H&-80
JTEKB.QA.
*
EGYPTIAN JERBOA.
Ill
work from ''their nest another passage, to within
a very small space from the surface, which, ill
case of necessity, they can burst through, and so
escape.
The sands and rubbish which surround modern
Alexandria, are much frequented by the jerboas.
They live there in troops ; and, in digging the
ground, are said to penetrate even through a stra-
tum of softish stone, which is under the layer
of sand. Though not actually wild, they are ex-
ceedingly restless ; the slightest noise, or any new
object whatever, makes them retire to their holes
with the utmost precipitation.
It is almost impossible to kill them, except when
they are taken by surprize. The Arabs have the
art of catching them alive, by stopping up the out-
lets to the different galleries belonging to the co-
lony ; one excepted, through which they force them
out.
Though animals of a very chilly nature, they
keep within their holes in the day, and wander
about only during the night. They first come out
at sun s$t, and clear their holes of their filth ; and
they remain abroad till the sun has drawn up the
dews from the earth.
They walk only on their hind legs, the fore legs
being very short ; and, on the approach of any
danger, they immediately take to flight, in leapg
six or seven feet high, which they repeat so swiftly,
that a man mounted on a good horse can scarcely
overtake them. They do not proceed in a straight
line ; but run first to one side, and then to the
other, till they find either their own burrow, or
some neighbouring one. In leaping, they bear
their tails, which are longer than their bodies,
stretched out. In standing or walking, they carry
them in the form of an S ; the lower part teaching
the ground, so that it seems a director of their mo-
Egyptian jerboa.'
113
tions. When surprised, they will sometimes go on
all fours ; but they soon recover their attitude of
standing on their hind legs, like a bird. When
undisturbed, they use the former posture ; then
rise erect, listen, and hop about like a crow. In
digging or eating, they drop on their fore legs ;
but in the latter action, they often sit up also like
a squirrel1.
The Arabs of the kingdom of Tripoli, in Africa,
teach their greyhounds to hunt the antelope, by
first instructing them to catch jerboas ; and so agile
are these little creatures, that Mr. Bruce has often
seen, in a large court-yard or inclosure, the grey-
hound employed a quarter of an hour before he
could kill his diminutive adversary ; and had not
the dog been well trained, so as to make use of
his feet as well as his teeth, he might have killed
two antelopes in the time of killing one jerboa.
In their wild state, these animals are fond of tu-
lip -roots, and nearly all the oleaginous plants ; but
in confinement, they do not refuse raw meat. They
are the prey of most of the smaller rapacious beasts.
It requires no difficulty to tame them, but it is ne-
cessary that they should be kept warm. They are
so susceptible of cold, as to foretel bad weather by
wrapping themselves close up in their cage before
its commencement ; and those that are abroad,
always, on these occasions, stop up the mouths of
their burrows. They sleep during the winter,
but a warm day sometimes revives them. On
the return of the cold, they retreat again to their
boles.
M. Sonnini fed for some time, while he was in
Egypt, six of these animals, in a large cage of iron
wire. The very first night they Entirely gnawed
asunder the upright and cross sticks of their pri-
son ; and lie was under the necessity of having the
inside of the cage lined with tin. They were
EGYPTIAN JERBOA*
113
fond of basking in the sun ; and the moment they
were put in the shade,, they clung to each other,
and seemed to suffer from the privation of warmth .
They did not usually sleep during the day. Though
they had much agility in their movements, gentle-
ness and tranquillity seemed to form their charac-
ter. They suffered themselves to be stroked with
great composure ; and never made a noise or quar-
relled, even when food was scattered among them.
No distinguishing symptoms of joy, fear, or gra-
titude were discoverable ; and even their gentleness
was by no means either amiable or interesting ; it
appeared the effect of a cold and complete indiffer-
ence, approaching to stupidity. Three of these
died before Sonnini left Alexandria ; two died on
a rough passage to the island of Rhodes ; and the
last was lost, and, as he supposes, devoured by cats*
while he was at the island.
He says it is very difficult to transport these ten-
der little creatures into other climates ; but as an
indispensable precaution to those who attempt it,
he advises that they be close shut up in strong
cages, or other conveniences, without any possibi-
lity of escaping ; for their natural disposition in-
citing them to gnaw whatever comes in their way,
they may occasion very considerable damage to a
ship in the course of her voyage ; and, being able
to eat through the hardest wood, may even endan-
ger her sinking.
They breed several times in the summer, and
bring seven or eight young at a time. The Arabs
eat them, and esteem them among the greatest de-
licacies.
Its ears are thin, erect, and broad ; its eyes full
and dark ; its whiskers long ; its fore legs are one
inch long ; its hind ones two and a quarter. On
each of the fore feet, there are five /toes ; the inner
one, or thumb, is scarce apparent ; but that* as
von. n, q
114
SIBERIAN JERBOA,
well as the rest, is furnished with a sharp claw*
The hind legs are long, thin, covered with short
hair, and exactly resembling those of a bird. There
are three long toes on each, covered above and be-
low with hair ; the middle one longest. There is
on each a pretty long sharp claw.
Its length from nose to tail, is seven inches and
a quarter ; its tail is ten inches long, covered with
very short coarse hair ; but terminated with a
thick black tuft, tipped with white. The upper
part of the body is thin, as if compressed side-
ways ; that about the rump and loins is large.
It is covered w ith long hair, ash coloured at the
bottom, and pale tawny at the ends. Its breast
and belly are whitish . Across the upper part of
the thighs there is an obscure dusky band, with
long soft hair.
When taken, it emits a plaintive feeble note. It
feeds on vegetables, and has great strength in its
forefeet. The Arabs call it daman Israel, or the
Iamb of the Israelites. It is supposed to be the
coney of Holy Writ. It is also the mouse of
Isaiah, chap. Ixvi. 17. It was forbidden food to
the Israelites. Dr. Shaw met with it on mount
Libanus, and distinguished it from the following
species.
Siberian jerboa.
Of the Siberian jerboa there are three varieties*
the greater, the middle, and the pigmy.
The greater Siberian jerboa has a truncated nose,
edged with white. Its lower teeth are slender, and
twice as long as the upper * its ears are large and
pointed, tipt with white, and naked within ; its
hair is very soft, tawny on the back, and lower of
a dark grey ; its legs, and the underside of its
body are white. The half of the tail next the
cape jerroa; 115:
body is covered with short whitish hairs ; the other
half with long black hairs, and terminated with
a white feather tuft, an inch long. On the hind
legs, an inch above the feet, are two long toes,
armed with nails ; the back part of each leg is
naked. The length of the body is eight inches and
a half; of the tail ten. It is found fijom the
Caspian Sea to the river Irtish ; it is of the size
of a rat ; it is of the colour of the former, except
that the rump, on each side, is crossed with a white
line.
The middle variety has its nose more lengthened,
and its ears shorter and broader ; its tail is thicker,
and not so elegantly tufted ; its hind legs are
shorter ; and its coat is longer and thicker. It is
found beyond lake Baikal, also in Barbary and
Syria, and even as far as India.
The pigmy differs from the greater, in wanting
the white circle round the nose, in having a less
tuft to the tail, and the end just tipt with white.
It agrees entirely in form, but is far inferior in
size to even the middle variety. It inhabits the
same countries with the greater.
These three agree in manners with the Egyptian
species. Whether these ought to be reckoned
different species instead of varieties, or whether
they are some of them varieties of the Egyptian,
is not yet ascertained.
&
Cape jerboa.
The Cape jerboa has a short head, broad between
the ears ; its mouth is placed far below the upper
jaw ; the lower is very short. If has two great
teeth in each. Its ears are thin and transparent,
and one third shorter than those of the common
rabbit. It has also great whiskers, and large eyes.
Its fore legs are short ; - it has five toes on each.
116
TORRID JERBOA.
with a great protuberance next to the inner toe.
The claws of the fore toes are crooked, and two-
thirds longer than the toes themselves. It has
four toes behind, with short claws. Its colour is
tawny above ; cinereous below, mixed with long
hairs pointed with black. Two-thirds of the tail
is tawny, the rest blackish, and full of hair. The
length or the body fourteen, of the tail fifteen, of
the ears near three inches. It inhabits the great
mountains, far north of the Cape of Good Hope ;
and is called by the Dutch, the jumping hare. It
is very strong, and will leap twenty or thirty feet
at a time. It emits a grunting sound ; sits upright
like a squirrel, when it eats, with its legs extended
horizontally, and its back bent. It uses its for^
feet to bring food to its mouth ; and burrows witfii
them most expeditiously. In sleeping, it sits with
its knees separate, and puts its head between its
hind legs, and, with its fore legs, holds its ears
over its eyes. It is the largest of the jerboas.
It burrows in the ground like others of the genus.
It is noticed by La Vaillant.
Torrid jerboa.
The torrid jerboa has naked oval ears ; long
whiskers ; four toes on the fore feet ; the hind
feet are as long as the body, thick and strong,
but thinly haired. It has five toes on each foot ;
scarcely any neck. The tail is also the length of
the body, with very little hair upon it. The
colour of the upper part of the body is yellow ;
of the lower white. It is of the size of a common
mouse. It inhabits the Torrid Zone, and the
sandy desert of Naryn, 46~° north latitude. Its
burrows are about an ell deep, and have three en-
tries. It does not walk erect, like other jerboas^
but runs with great rapidity.
TAMARISK., AND CANADIAN JERBOA. Ilf
Tamarisk jerboa.
This species, which was first described by Dr*
Pallas, is about the size of the brown rat. It is
an inhabitant of the most southern parts of the
Caspian deserts, and probably of the warmer parts
of Asia. It delights in low grounds and salt
marshes, and burrows under the roots of the tama-
risk bushes. The animal comes out by night to
feed, and makes its principal repast on succulent
maritime plants, as the salsola, &c. ; which, in
the salt deserts it inhabits, are very plentiful. The
head of this species is oblong ; the whiskers large ;
the nose blunt, and the nostrils covered with a
flap ; the eyes large ; the ears large, oval, and
naked : the space round the nose and eyes, and
beyond the ears, white ; the sides of the head and
neck cinereous ; the back and sides yellowish grey ;
the tips of the hairs brown ; the breast and belly
white ; the tail ash-coloured, and annulated more
than half-way from the base with rings of brown ;
the hind legs are long in proportion to the fore
legs, and the feet are longitudinally black beneath ;
©n the fore feet is a warty tubercle in place of the
thumb. The length from nose to tail, is about
six inches ; the tail not quite so long.
Canadian jerboa.
This minute species is a native of Canada, and
appears to have been first discovered by General
Davies, who had an opportunity of examining it
during his residence at Quebec, and who has
described it in the fourth volume of the Transac-
tions of the Linnaean Society. The description is as
follows :
19 As I conceive there are very few persons*
CANADIAN JERBOA/
IIS
however conversant with natural history, who may
have seen or known, that there was an animal exist-
ing in the coldest parts of Canada, of the same
genus with the Jerboa, hitherto confined to the
warmer climates of Africa, I take the liberty of
laying before this society the following observa-
tions, accompanied by a drawing of an animal of
that kind, procured by myself in the neighbour-
hood of Quebec, during my last residence in that
country. The specimens from which I made the
drawing, are now in my collection. With respect
to the food, or mode of feeding of this animal,
I have it not in my power to speak with any degree
of certainty, as I could by no means procure any
kind of sustenance, that I could induce it to eat ;
therefore when caught, it only lived a day and a
half. The first I was so fortunate to catch, was
taken in a large field, near the falls of Montmo-
renci, and by its having strayed too far from the
skirts of the wood, allowed myself, assisted by
three other gentlemen, to surround it, and after an
hours hard chace, to get it unhurt ; though not
before it was thoroughly fatigued, which might
in a great measure accelerate its death. During
the time the animal remained in its usual vigour,
its agility was incredible for so small a creature. It
always took progressive leaps of from three to four,
and sometimes of five yards, although seldom above
twelve or fourteen inches from the surface of the
gras^; but I have.observed others in shrubby places,
and in the woods among plants, where they chiefly
reside, leap considerably higher. When found
in such places, it is impossible to take them, from
their wonderful agility, and their evading all
pursuit, by bounding into the thickest parts of
the cover they can find. With respect to the
figure given of it in its dormant state, I have to
observe, that the specimen was found by some
CANADIAN JERBOA,
119
workmen, in digging* the foundation for a sum-*
mer-house, in a gentleman’s garden, about two
miles from Quebec, in the latter end of May, 1787.
It was discovered enclosed in a ball of clay, about
the size of a cricket-ball, nearly an inch in thick-
ness, perfectly smooth within, and about twenty
inches underground. The man who first discover-
ed it, not knowing what it was, struck the ball with
liis spade, by which means it was broken to pieces,
or it would have been presented to me. How
long it had been underground it is impossible to
say ; but as I never could observe these animals
in any parts of the country after the beginning
of September, I conceive they lay themselves up
sometime in that month, or beginning of October,
when the frost becomes sharp ; nor dill I ever see
them again before the last week in May or begin-
ning of June. From their being enveloped ira
halls of clay, without any appearance of food,
I conceive they sleep during the winter, and re-
main for that term without sustenance. As soon
as I conveyed this specimen to my house, I depo-
sited it, as it was, in a small chip box, in some cotton,
waiting with great anxiety for its waking ; hut
that not taking place at the season they gene-
rally appear, I kept it until I found it begin to
smell ; I then stuffed it, and preserved it in its
torpid position. I am led to believe its not re-
covering from that state, arose from the heat of
niy room during the time it was in the box, a fire
having been constantly burning in the stove, and
which, in all probability was too great for its res«
pi ration/'
This animal, in the last edition of Mr, Pennant’s
History of Quadrupeds, is referred to the genus
mus, and is described under the name of the Cana*
da rat,
120
HARE TRIBE., &C,
HARE TRIBE.
The generic character of the hares consists m
their having two front teeth both above and below,
the upper pair duplicate ; two small interior ones
standing behind the others ; the fore feet witli
five, and the hinder with four toes.
These animals live entirely on vegetable food,
and are all remarkably timid. They run by a kind
of leaping pace, and in walking they use their
hind feet as far as the heel. Their tails are either
very short, (called in England scuts,) or else they
are entirely wanting.
COMMON HARE.
This little animal is found throughout Europe,
and indeed in most of the northern parts of the
world. Being destitute of weapons of defence,
it is endowed by Providence in a high degree with
the sentiment of fear. Its timidity is known to
every one ; it is attentive to every alarm, and is,
therefore, furnished with ears ver}r long and tubu-
lar, which catch the remotest sounds. The eyes
are so prominent as to enable the animal to see both
before and behind.
The hare feeds in the evenings, and sleeps in
his form during the day ; and as he generally lies
on the ground, his feet are protected, both above
and below, with a thick covering of hair. In
a moon-light evening many of them may fre-
quently be seen sporting together, leaping about
and pursuing each other ; but the least noise
alarms them, and they then scamper off, each in
a different direction. Their pace is a kind of
f
C6M0N HAH£.
121
gallop, or quick succession of leaps ; and they
are extremely swift, particularly in ascending
higher grounds,, to which, when pursued, they
generally have recourse : here their large and
strong hind legs are of singular use to them. In
northern regions, where, oil the descent of the win-
ter’s snows, they would, were their summer fur to
remain, be rendered particularly conspicuous to
animals of prey, they change their yellow-grey
dress in the autumn, for one perfectly white ; and
are thus enabled, in a great measure^ to elude their
enemies.
In more temperate regions they chuse in winter1
a form exposed to the south, to obtain all the pos-
sible warmth of that season ; and in summer, when
they are desirous of shunning the hot rays of the
sun, they change this for one with a northerly as-
pect ; but in both cases they have the instinct of
generally fixing upon a place where the immediately
surrounding objects are nearly the colour of their
own bodies.
An animal so well formed for a life of escape
might be supposed to enjoy a state of tolerable
security ; but as every rapacious creature is its
enemy, it but very seldom lives out its natural
term. Dogs of all kinds pursue it by instinct,
and follow the hare more eagerly than any other
animal. The cat and the weasel kinds are con-
tinually lying in ambush, and practising all their
little arts to seize it ; birds of prey are still more
dangerous enemies, as against them no swiftness
can avail, nor retreat secure ; but man, an enemy
far more powerful than all, prefers its flesh to that
of other animals, and destroys greater number*
than all the rest. Thus pursued and persecuted
on every side, the race would long since have been
totally extirpated, did it not find a resource in its
amazing fertility.
YQh, ji. n
122 ' fte.MMC/tf HARE.
The hare multiplies exceedingly ; it is in a
state of gendering at a few months old ; the
females go with young but thirty days, and gene-
rally bring forth three or four at a time. As soon
as they have produced their young, they are again
ready for conception, and thus do not lose any
time in continuing the breed. But they are in
another respect fitted in an extraordinary manner
for multiplying their kind ; for the female, from
the conformation of her womb, is often seen to
bring forth, and yet to continue pregnant at the
same time ; or, in other words, to have young onei
of different ages in her womb together. Other
animals never receive the male when pregnant, but
bring forth their young at once. JBut it is fre-
quently different with the hare ; the female, often,
though already impregnated, admitting the male,
and thus receiving a second impregnation. The
reason in this extraordinary circumstance is, that
the womb of these animals is divided in such a
manner that it may be considered as a double organ,
one side of which may be filled while the other
remains empty. Thus these animals may be seen
to couple at every period of their pregnancy, and
even while they are bringing forth young, laying
the foundation of another brood.
The young of these animals are brought forth
with their eyes open, and the dam suckles them for
twenty days, after which they leave her, and seek
out for themselves. From this we observe, that
the education these animals receive is but trifling,
and the family connection but of a short duration.
In the rapacious kinds the dam leads her young
forth for months together ; teaches them the arts
of rapine ; and, although she wants milk to sup-
ply them, yet keeps them under her care until they
are able to hunt for themselves. But a long con-
nection of this kind would be very unnecessary as
COMMON HARE.
m
well as dangerous to the timid animals we are des-
cribing ; their food is easily procured ; and their
associations, instead of protection, would only ex-
pose them to their pursuers. They seldom, how-
ever, separate far from each other, or from the
place where they were produced ; but make each
a form at some distance, haying a predilection
rather for the place, than each other’s society.
They feed during the night rather than by day,
choosing the more tender blades of grass, and
quenching their thirst with the dew. They live
also upon roots, leaves, fruits, and corn, and pre-
fer such plants as are furnished with a milky juice.
They also strip the bark of trees during the win-
ter, there being scarce any that they will not feed
on, except the lime or the alder. They are parti-
cularly fond of birch, pinks, and parsley. When
they are kept tame, they are fed with lettuce and
other garden herbs ; but the flesh of such as are
thus brought up is always indifferent.
As their limbs are made for running, they ea-
sily outstrip all other animals in the beginning ;
and could they preserve their speed, it would be
impossible to overtake them ; but as they exhaust
their strength at their first efforts, and double back
to the place they were started from, they are more
easily taken than the fox, which is a much slower
animal than they. As their hind legs are longer
than tlib fore, they always choose to turn up hill,
by which the speed of their pursuers is diminished,
while theirs remains the same. Their motions are al-
so without any noise, as they have the sole of the foot
furnished with hair ; and they seem the only ani-
mals that have hair on the inside of their mouths.
They seldom live above seven or eight years at
the utmost ; they come to their full perfection in
a year ; and this multiplied by seven, as in other
animals, gives the extent of their lives* It is s'aidy
124 COMMON HARE;
however, that the females live longer than the
males ; of this M. Ruffon makes a doubt ; but
Goldsmith was assured that it is so. They pass
their lives, in our climate, in solitude and silence ;
and they seldom are heard to cry, except when they
are seized or wounded. Their voice is not so sharp
as the note of some other animals, but more nearly
approaching that of the squalling of a child. They
are not so wild as their dispositions and their habits
seem to indicate ; but are of a complying nature,
and easily susceptible of a kind of education
They are easily tamed. They even become fond
and caressing, hut they are incapable of attach-
ment to any particular person, and never can be
depended upon ; for, though taken never so young*,
they regain their native freedom at the first oppor-
tunity. As they have a remarkable good ear, and
sit upon their hind legs, and use ther fore paws
as hands, they have been taught to beat the drum,
to dance to music, and go through the manual ex-
ercise.
But their natural instincts for their preservation
are much more extraordinary than those artificial
tricks that are taught them. The hare, when it
hears the hounds at a distance, flies for some time
through a natural impulse, without managing its
strength, or consulting any other means but speed
for its safety. Having attained some hill or rising
ground, and left the dogs so far behind that it no
longer hears their cries, it stops, rears on its hinder
legs, and at length looks back to see if it has not
lost its pursuers. But these, having once fallen upon
the scent, pursue slowly and with united skill, and
the poor animal soon again hears the fatal tidings
of their approach. Sometimes when sore hunted
it will start a fresh hare, and squat in the same
form; sometimes it will creep under the door of
$ sheep-cot, and hide among the sheep ; sometimes
COMMON HARE,
125
14 will run among them, and no vigilance can
drive it from the flock ; some will enter holes
like the rabbit, which the hunters call going to
vault ; some will go up one side of the hedge,
and come down the other ; and it has been known
that a hare sorely hunted has got upon the top of
a quick-set hedge, and run a good way thereon,
by which it has effectually evaded the hounds.
It is no unusual thing also for them to betake
themselves to furz bushes, and to leap from one to
another, by which the dogs are frequently misled.
However, the first doubling a hare makes is gene-
rally a key to all its future attempts of that kind,
the latter being exactly like the former. The
young hares tread heavier, and leave a stronger
scent than the old, because their limbs are weaker ;
and the more this forlorn creature tires, the heavier
it treads, and the stronger is the scent it leaves.
A buck, or male hare, is known by its choosing to
run upon hard highways, feeding farther from the
wood-sides, and making its doublings of a greater
compass than the female. The male having made
a turn or two about its form, frequently leads the
hounds five or six miles on a stretch ; but the
female keeps close by some covert side, turns,
crosses, and winds among the bushes like a rabbit,
and seldom runs directly forward. In general,
however, both male and female regulate their
conduct according to the weather. In a moist
day they hold by the highways more than at any
other time, because the scent is then strongest
upon the grass. If they come to the side of a
grove or spring, they forbear to enter, but squat
down by the side thereof, until the bounds have
overshot them ; and then, turning along their former
path, make to their old form, from which they
vainly hope for protection.
Hares are divided, by the hunters, into moun«
126 60 MM ON HA-RE.
tain and measled hares.. The former are more
swift, vigorous, and have the flesh better tasted ;
the latter chiefly frequent the marshes, when hunt-
ed keep among low grounds, And their flesh itf
moist, white, and flabby. When the male and
female keep one particular spot, they will not
suffer any strange hare to make its form in the
same quarter, so that it is usually said, that the
more you hunt, the more hares you shall have ; for,
having killed one hdre, others come and takepos-
sessionof its form. Many of these animals are
found to live in woods and thickets, but they are
naturally fonder of the open country, and are- con-
strained only by fear to take shelter in places that*
afford them neither a warm sun, nor an agreeable
pasture. They are, therefore, usually seen stealing
out of the edges of the wood, to taste the grass, that
grows shorter and sweeter in the open fields than
under the shade of the trees ; however, they sel-
dom miss of being pursued ; and every excursion
is a new adventure. They are shot at by poachers ;
traced by their footsteps in the snow ; caught in
springes ; dogs, birds, and cats, are all combined
against them ; ants, snakes, and adders, drive them
from their forms, especially in summer ; even fleas,
from which most other animals are free, persecute
this poor creature ; and, so various are its enemies,
that it is seldom permitted to reach even that short
term to which it is limited by nature.
We shall now relate two anecdotes of the hare in
its domestic state.
While Dr. Townson was at Gottingen, he had
a young hare brought to him, which he took so
much pains with as to render it more familiar than
these animals commonly are. In the evenings it
soon became so frolicsome, as to run and jump
about his sofa and bed ; sometimes in its play it
would leap upon him, and pat him with its fore
VARYING HARE.
127
feet ; or, while he was reading,, even knock the
book out of his hand. But whenever a stranger
entered the room, the little creature always exhibit-
ed considerable alarm.
Mr. Borlase saw a hare that was so familiar as
to feed from the hand, lie under a chair in a com-
mon sitting room, and appear in every other respect
as easy and comfortable in its situation as a lap-dog.
It now and then went out into the garden ; but
after regaling itself, always returned to the house
as its proper habitation. Its usual companions
were a grey-hound and a spaniel ; both so fond of
hare-hunting, that they often went out together
without any person accompanying them. With
these two dogs, this tame hare spent its evenings ;
they always slept on the same hearth, and very fre-
quently it would rest itself upon them.
They are sometimes said to be found with
horns.
In India the hare is hunted for sport ; not only
with dogs, but with hawks, and some species of
the cat tribe. The flesh, though in esteem among
the Romans, was forbidden by the Druids, and by
the Britons of the early centuries. It is now,
though very black, dry, and devoid of fat, much
esteemed by the Europeans, on account of its pecu-
liar flavour. ,
Varying hare.
This species has a very soft fur ; which in sum-
mer is grey, with a slight mixture of tawny ; the
tail is always white. The ears are shorter, and the
legs more slender, than those of the common
hare ; and the feet more closely and warmly
furred. In size, this animal is always somewhat
smaller.
Besides other cold parts of Europe, the varying
128 EABBIt.
hare is found on the tops of the highest Scots hills,
never descending to the plains. It will not mix
with the last described species, though common in
the same neighbourhood. It does not run fast ;
and when alarmed, takes shelter in clefts of the
rocks.
In September it begins to change its grey coat,
and resume its white winter’s dress ; in which only
the tips and edges of the ears, and the soles of the
feet, are black. In the month of April it again
becomes grey. It is somewhat singular, that al-
though this animal be brought into a house, and
even kept in stoved apartments, yet it still changes
its colour at the same periods as when among its
native mountains. „
In some parts of Siberia, the varying hares col-
lect together in such multitudes, that flocks of five
or six hundred of them may be seen migrating in
spring, and returning in the autumn. Want of
sustenance compels them to this ; in winter they
therefore quit the lofty hills, the southern bounda-
ries of Siberia, and seek the plains and northern
wooded parts, where vegetables abound ; and to-
wards spring they again return to their mountain-
ous quarters.
In their white state the flesh is extremely insipid.
Rabbit.
The hare and the rabbit, though so very nearly
resembling each other in form and disposition, are
vet distinct kinds, as they refuse to mix with each
other. Mr. Buffon bred up several of both kinds
in the same place ; but from being at first indif-
ferent, they soon became enemies ; and their com-
bats were generally continued until one of them was
disabled or destroyed. However, though these
experiments were not attended with success/ we
&ABBXT, 1^9
Ere assured that nothing is more frequent than an
animal bred between these two, but winch, like the
mule, is marked with sterility. Nay, it has been
actually known that the rabbit couples with ani-
mals of a much more distant nature ; and there
is at present in the museum at Brussels, a creature
covered with feathers and hair, and said to be bred
between a rabbit and a hen. The fecundity of the
rabbit is still greater than that of the hare ; and
if we should calculate the produce from a single
pair in one year, the number would be amazing.
They breed seven times in a year, and bring eight
young ones each time. On a supposition, there-
fore, that this happens regularly, at the end of
four years, a couple of rabbits shall see a progeny
©f almost a million and a half. From hence we
must justly apprehend being overstocked by their
increase ; but, happily for mankind, their enemies
are numerous, and their nature inoffensive ; so that
their destruction bears a near proportion to their
fertility.
But although their numbers be diminished by
©very beast and bird of prey, and still more by
man himself, yet there is no danger of their cxtir-
pation. The hare is a poor, defenceless animal,
that has nothing but its swiftness to depend on for
safety ; its numbers are, therefore, every day de-
creasing ; and in countries that are well peopled,
the speties are so much kept under, that laws are
made for their preservation. Still, however, it is
most likely that they will be at last totally de-
stroyed ; and, like the wolf or the elk in some
countries, be only kept in remembrance; But it
is otherwise with the rabbit, its fecundity being
greater, and its means of safety more certain.
The hare seems to have more various arts and in-
stincts to escape its pursuers, by doubling, squat- *
VOL. ii9 $
i
130
RABBIT.
ting*, and winding; the rabbit has but one art of
defence alone, but in that one finds safety ; by
making itself a hole, where it continues a great
part of the day, and breeds up its young ; there it
continues secure from the fox, the hound, the kite,
and every other enemy.
Nevertheless, though this retreat be safe and
convenient, the rabbit does not seem to be natural-
ly fond of keeping there. It loves the sunny field
and the open pasture ; it seems to be a chilly
animal, and dislikes the coldness of its under-
ground habitation. It is, therefore, continually
out, when it does not fear disturbance ; and the
female often brings forth her young at a distance
from the warren, in a hole, not above a foot deep
at the most. There she suckles them for about a
month, covering them over with moss and grass,
whenever she goes to pasture, and scratching them
up at her return. It has been said, indeed, that
this shallow hole without the warren, is made lest
the male should attack and destroy her young ;
but Goldsmith says, the male himself attends the
young there, leads them out to feed, and conducts
them back upon the return of the dam. This ex-
ternal retreat seems a kind of country house, at a
distance from the general habitation ; it is usually
made near some spot of excellent pasture, or in the
midst of a field of sprouting corn. To this both
male and female often retire from the warren ;
lead their young by night to the food which lies
so convenient, and, if not disturbed, continue there
till they are grown up. There they find a greater
variety of pasture than near the warren, which is
generally eaten bare ; and enjoy a warmer sun, by
covering themselves up in a shallower hole.
Whenever they arc disturbed, they then forsake
their retreat of pleasure for one of safety ; they fly
RABBIT. 131
to the warren with their utmost speed ; and if the
way be short, there is scarce any dog, how swift
Boever, that can overtake them.
But it does not always happen that these animals
are possessed of these external apartments ; they
most usually bring forth their young in the war*
ren, but always in a hole separate from the male.
On these occasions, the female digs herself a
hole, different from the ordinary one, by being more
intricate ; at the bottom of which she makes a
more ample apartment. This done, she pulls off
from her belly a good quantity of her hair, with
which she makes a kind of bed for her young.
During the two first days she never leaves them ;
and does not stir out but to procure nourishment,
which she takes with the utmost dispatch ; in this
manner suckling her young for near six weeks, un-
til they are strong, and able to go abroad them-
selves. During all this time, the male seldom
visits their separate apartment ; but when they are
grown up, so as to come to the mouth of the hole,
he then seen^s to acknowledge them as his offspring,
takes them between his paws, smoothes their skin,
and licks their eyes ; all of them, one after the
other, have an equal share in his caresses.
In this manner the rabbit, when wild, consults
its pleasure and its safety ; but those that are bred
up tame, do not take the trouble of digging a hole,
conscious of being already protected. It has also
been observed, that when people, to make a war-
ren, stock if with tame rabbits, these animals, hav-
ing been unaccustomed to the art of scraping a
hole, continue exposed to the weather and every
other accident without ever burrowing. Their im-
mediate offspring also are equally regardless of
their safety ; and it is not till after two or three
generations, that these animals begin to find the
necessity and convenience of ail asylum, and prac %
133 RABBIT.
tise an art which they could only learn from na-
ture.
Rabbits of the domestic breed, like all other
animals that are under the protection of man, are
of various colours ; white, brown, black, and
mouse colour. The black are the most scarce ;
the brown, white, and mouse colour are in greater
plenty. Most of the wild rabbits are of a brown
and it is the colour which prevails among the spe-
cies ; for in every nest of rabbits, whether the
parents be black or white, there are some brown
ones found of the number. But, in England there
are many warrens stocked with the mouse colour
kinds, which some say came originally from an
island in the river Humber, and which still conti-
nue them original colour, after a great number of
successive generations. A gentleman, who bred
Tip tame rabbits for bis amusement, gives the fol-
lowing account of their production :
cc I began," says he, by having but one male
and female only ; the male was entirely white, and
the female brown; but, in their posterity, the
number of the brown by far exceeded those of any
other colour ; there were some white, some parti-
coloured, and some black. It is surprising how
much the descendants weresobedient and submissive
to their common parent ; he was easily distinguish-
ed from the rest by his superior whiteness ; and,
however numerous the other males were, this kept
them all in subjection. Whenever they quarrelled
among each other, either for their females or
provisions, as soon as he heard the noise he ran
up to them with all dispatch, and upon his ap-
pearance, all was instantly reduced to peace and
order. If he caught any of them in the fact, he
instantly punished them as an example to the rest.
Another instance of his superiority was, that hav-
ing* accustomed them to come to me with the call
RABBIT.
133
of a whistle, the instant this signal was given, I
saw him marshalling them up, leading them the
foremost, and then suffering them all to file off be-
fore him.
The rabbit, though less than the hare, generally
lives longer. As these animals pass the greater
part of their lives in their burrow, where they
continue at ease and unmolested, they* have nothing
to prevent the regularity of their health, or the
due course of their nourishment. They are, there-
fore, generally found fatter than the hare ; but
their flesh is, notwithstanding, much less delicate.
That of the old ones, in particular, is hard, tough,
and dry ; but it is said, that in warmer countries,
they are better tasted. This may very well be, as
the rabbit, though so plentiful in Great Britain
and Ireland, is nevertheless a native of the w armer
climates ; and has been originally imported into
these kingdoms, from Spain. In that country, and
in some of the islands in the Mediterranean, we are
told, that they once multiplied in such numbers as
to prove the greatest nuisance to the natives. They
at first demanded military aid to destroy them ;
but soon after they called in the assistance of fer-
rets, which originally came from Africa, and these,
with much more ease and expedition, contrived to
lessen the calamity. In fact rabbits are found to
love a warm climate, and to be incapable of bear-
ing the cold of the north ; so that in Sweden they
are obliged to be littered in the houses. It is
otherwise in all the tropical climates, where they
are extremely common, and where they seldom bur-
row, as with us. The English counties that are
most noted for these animals, are Lincolnshire,
Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire. They delight in
grounds of a sandy soil, which are warmer than
those of clay ; and which also furnish a softer
and finer pasture.
RABBIT.
134
The tame rabbits are larger than the wild ones,
from their taking more nourishment, and using less
exercise ; but their flesh is not so good, being more
insipid and softer. In order to improve it they
are chiefly fed upon bran, and are stinted in their
water ; for if indulged in too great plenty of moist
food, they arc apt, as the feeders express it, to grow
rotten. The hair or fur is a very useful commodi-
ty, and is employed in England for several pur-
poses, as well when the skm is dressed with it on,
as when it is pulled off. The skins, especially the
white, are used for lining clothes, and are con-
sidered as a cheap imitation of ermine. The skin
of the male is usually preferred, as being the most
lasting, but it is coarser ; that on the belly in either
sex, is the best and finest. But the chief use made
of rabbit’s fur, is in the manufacture of hats ;
it is always mixed in certain proportions, with the
fur of the beaver ; and it is said to give the lat-
ter more strength and consistence.
The Syrian rabbit, like all other animals bred
in that country, is remarkable for the length of its
hair ; it falls along* the sides in wavy wreaths, and
is, in some places, curled at the end like wool ; it
is shed once a year, in large masses ; and it
often happens that the rabbit, dragging a part of
its robe on the ground, appears as if it had got
another leg, or a longer tail. There are no rab-
bits naturally in America ; however, those that
have been carried from Europe, are found to mul-
tiply in the West India islands in great abundance.
In other parts of that continent, they have animals
that in some measure resemble the rabbits of Eu-
rope ; and which most European travellers have
often called hares or rabbits, as they happen to be
large or small.
Rabbits, as they cannot easily articulate sounds,
and are formed into societies that live underground*
Alpine hare. 135
have a singular method of giving alarm. When
danger is threatened,, they thump on the earth
with one of their hind feet ; and thus produce a
sound that can be heard a great way by animals
near the surface. This Dr. Darwin, from its
singularity, and its aptness to the situation of the
animals, concludes (though apparently upon false
grounds) to be an artificial sign, and merely ac-
quired from their having experienced its utility.
He will not allow of any thing like an instinctive
propensity.
We have the following account in Dr. Anderson’s
Recreations of Agriculture, of the regular pro-
duction of a singular variety of the rabbit, with
only one ear. A gentleman of my acquaintance
chanced to find a rabbit among his breed that had
only one ear ; he watched the progeny of that
creature, and among them he found one of the
opposite sex that had only one ear also ; he paired
these two rabbits together ; and has now a breed
of rabbits one-eared, which propagate as fast, and
as constant produce their like, as the two-eared
rabbits, from which they were originally descend-
ed.”
The flcsh/'which was forbidden to the Jews
and Mahometans, is well known to he very deli-
cate.
Alpine hare.
/
The Alpine hare is about nine inches in length.
It has a long head and whiskers ; and above each
eye there are two very long hairs. The ears are
short and rounded. The fur is dusky at the roots,
of a bright bay at the ends, slightly tipped with
white, and intermixed with long dusky hairs ; at
first sight, however, the animals seem of a bright
unmixed bay colour.
136
Alpine iiarej.
Their most southern residence is on the Altaio
chain of mountains near lake Baikal, in Siberia ;
and,they extend from thence as far northward as
to Kamtschatka. They are always found in the
middle regions of the snowy mountains, where
these are clad with woods, and where herbs and
moisture abound. They sometimes, burrow be-
tween the rocks, but more frequently lodge in the
crevices. They are generally found in pairs ; but
in bad weather they collect together, lie on the
rocks, and whistle so much like the chirp of spar-
rows, as easily to deceive the hearer. On the
report of a gun they run off into their holes ;
whence, however, if nothing more is heard, they
soon return.
By the usual wonderful instinct of similar ani-
mals, they make a provision against the rigorous
season in their inclement seats. A company of
them, tomards autumn, collect together vast heaps
of favourite herbs and grasses, nicely dried ;
which they place either beneath the overhanging
rocks, or between the chasms, or around the trunk
of some tree. The way to these heaps is marked
by a worn path : and in many places the plants
appear scattered, as if to be dried in the sun and
harvested properly. The heaps are formed like
round, or conoid ricks ; and are of various sizes,
according to the number of the society employed
in forming them. They are sometimes about a
man’s height, and usually three or four feet in
diameter.
Thus they wisely provide - their winter’s stock;
without which they must, in the cold season, in-
fallibly perish ; being prevented by the depth of
snow, from quitting their retreats in quest of
food. They select the most excellent vegetables,
and crop them when in the fullest vigour. These
they make into the best and greenest hay, by the
AMERICAN HARE. 137
Very judicious manner in which they dry them.
The ricks they thus form are the origin of fertility
among the rocks ; for the relics, mixed with the
dung of the animals, rot in the barren chasms, and
create a soil productive of vegetation.
These ricks are also of great service to that part
of mankind who devote themselves to the laborious
employment of sable-hunting ; for, being obliged
to go far from home, their horses would often
perish for want, had they not the provision of these
industrious little animals to support them. They
are easily to be discovered by their height and
form, even when covered with snow.
The people of Jakuiz are said to feed both their
horses and cattle on the remnant of the winter
stock of these hares. As food, the Alpine hares
are themselves neglected by mankind ; but they
are the prey of the sables and the Siberian weasel.
American hare.
These have their ears tipt with grey ; the upper
part of the tail black, the lower white ; the neck
and body mixed with ash, rust colour, and black.
Their legs are of a pale ferruginous colour ; their
belly white. Their fore legs are shorter, and
their hind ones longer in proportion than those of
the common hare. They are about the size of the
rabbit, as they measure eighteen inches in length,
and weigh from three to four pounds and a half.
They inhabit all parts of North America. In
New Jersey, and the colonies to the south of that
province, they retain their colour during the whole
year. But to the northward, on the appr oach of
winter, they change their short summer fur, for one
very long, silky, and silvery, even to the roots, the
edges of the ears only preserving their colour. At
thattime, it is in the highest season for the table, and
voi, n. y
m
BAIKAL* MARE.
is of great use to those who winter in Hudson's Bay*
where they are taken in vast abundance in springs
made of brass wire, placed in hedges, constructed
on purpose, with holes before the snares for the
hares or rabbits to pass through.
They breed once or twice a year, and have from
live to seven at a time. They do not migrate,
hut always haunt the same places. They do
not burrow, but lodge under fallen timber, and
in hollow trees. They breed in the grass ; but,
in the spring, shelter their young in hollow
trees, to which they also run when pursued. The
hunters force them out of those retreats, by means
of a hooked stick, or by making a fire* and driv-
ing thetn out by the smoke.
Baikal hare.
The tail of the Baikal hare is longer than that
of the rabbit ; in the male, the ears are longer in
proportion than those of the varying hare ; its fur
is of the same colour with that of the common
hare. It is red about the neck and feet. Its tail is
black above, and white beneath. The name here
given it marks its country. It extends from file
lake Baikal as far as Thibet. The Tanguts call
it rangwo, and consecrate it to the spots of the
moon. It agrees with the common rabbit in the
colour of its flesh ; but does not burrow. When
pursued, it runs for shelter straight to the holes of
the rocks, without any circuitous doublings, like
those of the common hare ; so that it agrees in na-
ture, neither with the hare nor with the rabbit.
The Mongols call it tolai. Its fur is bad, and is
of no use in commerce. It is a larger species than
the common hare. The eyes and end of its nose
are bordered with white hairs.
' CAPE? ANB BRASILIAN HARE, &C, 139
Cafe hare.
The long cars of the Cape hare are dilated in
the middle. On the outside they are naked, and
of a rose colour ; their inside and edges are cover-
ed with short grey hairs. Its crown and back are
dusky, mixed with tawny ; its cheeks and sides
ash coloured ,* its breast, belly, and legs, rust co-
loured. Its tail, which it carries upwards, is of
a pale ferruginous colour. It is of the size of a
rabbit, and inhabits the country for three days
march north of the Cape of Good Hope. It is
there called the mountain hare ; for it lives only in
the rocky mountains, and does not burrow. It is
difficult to shoot it, as, on the sight of any one, it
instantly runs into the fissures of the rocks. The
same species probably extends as high as Senegal.
Brasilian hare.
The Brasilian hare, like the common kind, has
very large ears, and a white ring round its neck.
Its face is of a reddish colour ; its chin is white ;
its eyes are black ; and its colour like that of thg
common hare, only a little darker. Its belly is
whitish. It has no tail ; and some want the ring
round the neck. They live in the woods ; are very
^prolific ;and are reckoned very good meat. They
do not burrow.
They are found both in Brasil and in Mexico,
where they are called citli,
Yiscaccia.
This species is said to have the general appear-
ance of a rabbit, but has a very long bushy and
bristly tail, like that of a fox, which the animal
/
1 40
OGOTONA HARE.
also resembles in colour. The fur on all parts ex-
cept the tail was soft, and is used by the Peruvians
for the fabric of garments worn only by persons
of distinc tion. In its manners,, this animal resem-
bles the rabbit, burrowing under ground, and
forming a double mansion ; in the upper of which
it deposits its provisions, and sleeps in the other.
It appears chiefly by night, and is said to defend
itself when attacked by striking with its tail.
Ogotona hare.
The ogotona hare has oblong oval ears, a little
rounded ; shorter whiskers than the Alpine hare ;
fur long and smooth ; light grey in the mid-
dle ; white at the ends, intermixed with a few
dusky hairs ; with a yellowish spot on the nose ;
and a space about the rump of the same colour.
Its limbs also are yellowish on the outsides, and
its belly white. It is only about six inches long*
The male weighs from six ounces and a half, to
seven and a quarter ; the female from four, to
four and three quarters. It inhabits Tartary, and
lives in the open vallies, and on gravelly or rocky
naked mountains, under heaps of stones ; but in a
sandy soil they burrow, leaving two or three en-
trances. Their holes run obliquely ; in these they
make their nests of short grass. They wander out
chiefly in the night. Their voice is excessively
shrill, in a note like that of a sparrow, twice or
thrice repeated, but very easily to be distinguished
from that of the Alpine hare. They are fond of
the bark of a sort of service tree, and of the dwarf
elm. Before the approach of severe cold, they col-
lect great quantities of herbs, and fill their holes
with them. Directed by the same instinct as the
Alpine hare, they form, in autumn, their ricks of
hay, of a hemispherical form, about a foot high
CALLING HARE.
141
and wide. In the spring, these elegant heaps dis-
appear. They copulate in the spring. About the
latter end of June, their young are observed to be
full grown. They are the prey of hawks, mag-
pies, and owls ; but the cat manul makes the great-
est havock among them. The ermine and polecat
are equally their enemies.
Calling hare.
This species, called by the Tartars ittsitskan,
or the barking mouse, has a longer head in pro-
portion to its size, (which is very diminutive,) than
is usual with hares. The head is thickly covered
with fur, even to the tip of the nose. It has large
whiskers ; its ears are large and rounded ; its legs
are very short ; and its soles are furred beneath.
Its whole coat is very long, soft, and smooth ;
with a thick long fine down beneath, of a brown*
ish lead colour. The hair is of the same colour,
of a light grey towards the ends, and tipt with
black. The lower parts of the body are hoary ;
the sides and ends of the fur are yellowish. Its
length is about six inches ; its weight from three
ounces and a quarter, to four and a half. In win*
ter they are scarcely two and a half.
They inhabit the south-east parts of Russia ;
but are found no where, in the east, beyond the
river Oby. They delight in sunny v allies, and
hills covered with herbs, especially those near the
edges of woods, to which they run on any alarm.
They live so concealed a life, as very rareljr to be
seen ; but are often taken in winter, in the snares
laid for the ermines. They choose, for their bur-
rows, a dry spot amidst bushes, covered with a
firm sod, preferring the western sides of the hills.
Their place would scarcely be known, but for their
cerements ; and even those they drop, by a wise
142
MINUTE HARE,
instinct, under some bush, lest their dwelling*
should be discovered by their enemies among the
animal creation*
It is their voice alone that betrays their abode.
Their cry is like the piping of a quail, but deeper ;
and so loud as to be heard at the distance of half
a German mile. It is repeated by just intervals,
thrice, four times, and often six. This cry is emit-
ted at night, and in the morning ; but seldom m
the day, except in rainy or cloudy -weather* It is
common to both sexes ; but the female is silent for
some time after parturition, which happens about
the beginning of May. She brings forth six at a
time, blind and naked ; she suckles them often, and
covers them carefully with fcthe materials of her
nest.
These most harmless and inoffensive creatures
never go far from their holes. They feed, and
make their little excursions by night ; drink often,
sleep little, and are easily made tame. They will
scarcely bite when handled ; yet the males have
been observed, when in confinement, to attack each
other, and to express their anger by a grunting
noise.
Minute hare.
This is by far the smallest of this genus, scarce
exceeding the meadow mouse in size. It is a na-
tive of Chili, where it is said to be much esteemed
as a delicate food, and is often kept in a domestic
state. The body is of a conoid shape ; the ears small,
pointed, and covered with hair ; the nose long ;
the fail so short, as to be scarcely visible. This
animal varies in colour, (at least when in a domes-
tic state,) being either brown, white, or spotted.
It produces about eight young at a time, and is said
to breed almost every month. No figure of this
m
HYRAX TRIBE, &C.
animal appears to have been yet given, nor sj its des-
cription by Molina and others quite so full and
circumstantial as might be wished. It is said to
fee called in Chili by the name of cuy. '
HYRAX TRIBE.
The genus hyrax is distinguished from all the
rest of the glires, by the remarkable circumstance
of having four teeth in the lower jaw instead of
two ; these lower teeth are also of a different
structure from the upper, being broad, short, and
crenated, or denticulated at the top ; the upper
teeth in this genus arc also less sharp, or pointed,
than in the rest of the glires. In other particu-
lars the genus hyrax seems most nearly allied to
that of cavy.
Cape hyrax*
This species, well known at the Cape of Good
Hope, where they are found in great abundance
among the rocky mountains, like several of the
others, burrows under ground, has a slow creep-
ing pace, and a sharp voice, which is often repeat-
ed. It is distinguished by a thick head, full
cheeks, and oval ears, half hid in its fur. Its head
is of the colour of a hare ; the top of the back
dusky, mixed with grey ; its sides and belly are
of a whitish grey. Its toes are like those of the
rest ; and its tail is scarce visible. It is of the
size of a rabbit; but the shape of the body is
SYRIAN HYRAX.
144
thick and clumsy. Its flesh is esteemed very good
meat.
Syrian hyxiax.
This species seems to have been first clearly and
fully described by Mr. Bruce in the appendix to
his celebrated Abyssinian Travels ; if the des-
cription appears in some parts rather too minute,
let it be considered that Mr. B. was treating of
an animal almost unknown to European naturalists,
and which, in consequence, seemed to demand a pe-
culiar degree of exactness.
“ This curious animal/5 says Mr. Bruce, “4s
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 parts of 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, very similar to a
man’s nails ill grown, and these appear rather given
him for the defence of his soft toes, than for any
active use in digging, to which they are by no
means adapted.
“ His hind foot is long and narrow, divided
with two deep wrinkles, or clefts, in the middle,
drawn across the centre, on each side of which
the flesh rises with considerable protuberancy,
audit is terminated by three claws; the middle
one is the longest. The fore foot has four toes,
three disposed in the same proportion as the hind
foot ; the fourth, the largest of the whole* h
i
SYRIAN HYRAX.
145-
placed lower down on the side of the foot, so
that the top of it arrives no further than the bottom
of the toe next to it. The sole of the foot is di-
vided in the centre by deep clefts, like the other*
and this cleft reaches down to the heel, which it
nearly divides. The whole of the fore foot is very
thick* fleshy* and soft* and of a deep black colour,
altogether void of hair, though the back or upper
part of it is thick-covered like the rest of its body*
down to where the toes divide, there the hair ends*
so that these long toes very much resemble the
fingers of a man.
cc In the 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 pro-
jecting, 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 ashkoko are gregarious* and frequently se-
veral 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 evening. They do not stand upright
upon their feet* but seem to steal along as in fear*
their belly being nearly close to the ground, ad-
vancing a few steps at a time* and then pausing.
They have something very mild* feeble* and timid*
in their deportment; are gentle and easily tamed*
though when roughly handled at the first* they bite
Very severely.
“ This animal is found plentifully on Mount
Libanus. I have seen him also among the rocks
at the 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 fat-
ness which those in the Mountain of the Sun seem
to enjoy above the others. What is his food I can-
vol.- ii, u
StRfAN mu
146
not determine with any degree of certainty. When
in my possession, he ate bread aod milk, and seem-
ed to be rather a moderate than voracious feeder,
I suppose he lives on grain* fruits, and roots. He
seemed too timid and backward in his own nature
to feed upon living food* or catch it by hunting.
The total length of this animal* as he sits,
From the point of his nose to the extremity of his
body* is seventeen inches and a quarter. The
length of his snout from the extremity of the nose
to the occiput is three inches aod three eighths.
His upper jaw is longer than his under; his nose
stretches half an inch beyond his chin. The aper-
ture of. the mouth when he keeps it close* in pro-
file* is -little more than an inch. The circum-
ference of his snout around both his jaws* is
three inches and three eighths, aod around his
head just above his ears eight inches and five
eighths ; the circumference of his neck is eight
inches aod a half* and its length, one inch and
a half. He seems more willing to turn his
body altogether than his oeck alone. The cir«
comferenee of his body measured behind his
fore legs is nine inches and three quarters* and
that of his body* where greatest* eleven inches
and three eighths ; the length of his fore leg and
toe is three inches and a half. The length of his
Mod thigh is three inches and one eighth* and the
length of his hind leg to the toe taken together
is two feet two inches ; the length of the fore foot
is one inch and three eighths ; the length of the
middle toe is six lines* and its breadth six lines
also. The distance between the point of the nose
and the first coiner of the eye is one inch and five
eighths ! the length of his eye from one angle to
the other four lines. The difference from the fore
angle of his eye* to the root of his ear, is one inch
mnd three lines* and the opening of his eye two
SYRIAN HYRAX.
147
lines mi a half. His upper lip is covered with
a pencil of strong hairs for mustaclioes* the length
of which are three inches and five eighths* and
those of his eye-brows two inches and two eighths.
He has no tail, and gives at first sight the idea of
a rat* rather than of any other creature. His co-
lour is a grey mixed with a reddish brown,, perfect-
ly like the wild or warren rabbit. His belly is
white,, from the point of the lower jaw to where
his tail would begin* if that he had one. All over
his body he has scattered hairs* strong and polish-
ed like his mustachoes ; these are for the most
part two inches and a quarter in length; His ears
are round* not pointed. He makes no noise that
ever I heard* but certainly chews the cud. To
discover this was the principal reason of my keep-
ing 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 to feed
him a whole day ; the next morning the chicken
was unhurt* though the ashkoko came to me
with great signs of having suffered with hunger.
I likewise made a second experiment* by inclosing
two smaller birds with him for the space of seve-
ral weeks : neither were these hurt* though both
of them fed* without impediment* of the meat that
was thrown into his cage*, and the smallest ©f
these* a titmouse* seemed to be advancing in a
sort of familiarity with him* though I never saw
it venture to perch upon him ; yet it would eat
frequently* and at the same time* of the food
upon which the ashkoko was feeding ; and m
this consisted chiefly the familiarity I speak of*
for the ashkoko himself never shewed any altera-
tion of behaviour upon the presence of the bird*
but treated it with a kind of absolute indifference*
148 HUDSON^ BAY HYRAX.
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.
■c In Am bar a this animal is called ashkoko,
which I apprehend is derived from the singularity
of those long herinaceous hairs, which, like small
horns, grow about his back, and which in Am-
hara are called ashok. In Arabia and Syria, he
is called Israel’s sheep, or gannini Israel, for what
reason I know not, unless it is chiefly from his
frequenting the rocks of Horeb and Sinai, where
the children of Israel made their forty years'
perigrination ; perhaps this name obtains only
among the Arabians. I apprehend he is known
by that of saphan in the Hebrew, and is the ani-
mal erroneously called by our translators cuiiicu^
lus, the rabbit or coney."
Hudson's bay hyrax.
1?ms was first described by Mr. Pennant, and
was in the Leverian Museum. Its colour is a ci-
nereous brown, with the ends of the hairs white.
It is a native of Hudson’s Bay. Its size is nearly
that of a common marmot ; the two upper teeth
are moderately large, and shaped like those of
the Cape hyrax ; the four lower are very strong,
rather long than broad, and are very abruptly
truncated, without any appearance of denticula-
tions ; the feet are tetradactylous ; of a similar
form to those of the Cape hyrax, but have rounded
claws on all the toes. Nothing particular is
known of the manners or Natural history of this
species*
i \ f
CAMEL TRIBE.
149
CAMEL TRIBE.
All the animals of the camel tribe are mild
and gentle in their disposition. In a wild state
they are not to be caught without great difficulty ;
yet when taken young and trained to labour, they
are made very serviceable to mankind. There
are reckoned to be seven species,, two of which
only are found on the old continent, the rest being
confined to the Alpine countries of Chili and
Peru. It is supposed that most if not all of them,,
are gregarious, associating together in vast herds*
The females have two teats, and seldom produce
more than one young one at a birth. The hair of
these animals is of a soft and silky texture ; and
their flesh forms a very palatable food.
In the lower jaw of the camels there are six
front teeth, which are somewhat thin and broad.
The canine teeth are at a little distance both from
these and the grinders ; in the upper jaw there
are three, and in the lower two. The upper lip
is cleft or divided.
These animals, like all the other genera of their
order, are furnished with four stomachs, in conse-
quence of which they not only live solely on
vegetable food, but ruminate or chew the cud.
They swallow their food unmasticated. This is
received into the first stomach, where it remains
some time to macerate ; and afterwards, when
the animal is at rest, by a peculiar action of the
muscles, it is returned to the mouth in small
quantities, chewed more fully, and then swallowed
f second time for digestion.
150
ARABIAN CAMEL.
Arabian camel.
The height of this animal from the top of its
bunch to the ground, is about six feet six inches.
Its head is small ; its ears are short ; its neck
long, slender, and bending. Its hoofs are in part,
but not thoroughly divided. The bottom of the
foot is tough and pliant. The tail is long, and
terminates in a tuft also of considerable length.
Oo the legs this animal has six callosities ; four
on the fore legs, and two oo the hinder ; besides
another on the lower part of the breast. These
are the parts on which it rests. Its hair is hoe,
soft, and of considerable length ; longest indeed
upon the bunch, the neck, and the throat. In the
middle of the tuft, terminating the tail, the hair
is soft and hue ; on the exterior parts, coarse,
and often black. On the protuberance it is
dusky ; over the rest of the body of a reddish asli
colour.
Till very lately the camels have been supposed
to possess, independently of the four stomachs
common to ruminating animals, a fifth bag, which
served them as a reservoir for holding water.
From a preparation,, however, in the collection
of Mr. John Hunter, it appears that this fifth
bag never existed but in idea. The second sto-
mach is of a very peculiar construction, being
formed of numerous cells several inches deep,
having their mouths uppermost, and the orifices
apparently capable of muscular contraction. When
the animal drinks it probably has the power of
directing the water into these cells, instead of Set-
ting it pass into the first stomach, and when these
are filled, the rest of the water will go into that
stomach. In this manner a quantity of water
may be kept separate from the food, serving ©eea®
3a85
ARABIAN CAMEL. 15!
sionally’to moisten it in its passage to the true
stomach for several days.
The came! is the most temperate of all animals,
and it can continue to travel several days without
drinking. In those vast deserts, ^vtiere the earth
is every where dry and sandy, where there are
neither birds nor beasts, neither insects nor vege-
tables, where nothing is to be seen but hills of „
sand and. heaps of bones, there the camel travels,
posting forward, without requiring either drink or
pasture, and is often found six or seven days with-
out any sustenance whatsoever. Its feet are form-
ed for travelling upon sand, and utterly unfit
for moist or marshy places ; the inhabitants, there-
fore, find a most useful assistant in this animal,
where no other could subsist, and by its means,
cross those deserts with safety, which would be
impassable by any other method of conveyance.
An animal, thus formed for a sandy and desert
region, cannot be propagated in one of a different
nature. Many vain efforts have been tried to pro-
pagate the camel in Spain ; they have been trans-
ported into America, but have multiplied in
neither. It is true, indeed, that they may be
brought into these countries, and may, perhaps, be
found to produce there; but the care of keeping
them is so great, and the accidents to which they
are exposed from the changeableness of the climate,
are so many, that they cannot answer the care of
keeping1. In a few years also, they are seen to de-
generate ; their strength and their patience forsake
them ; and instead of making the riches, they be-
come the burden of their keepers.
But it is very different in Arabia, arid those
countries where the camel is turned to useful pur-
poses. It is there considered as a sacred animal,
without whose help the natives could neither sub-
sist, traffic, nor travel ; its milk makes a part of
132
ARABIAN CAME&,'
their nourishment ; they feed upon its flesh*
particularly when young * they clothe themselves
with its hair, which it is seen to moult regularly
once a year, and if they fear an invading enemy*
their camels serve them in flight, and in a single
day they are known to travel above a hundred
miles. Thus, by means of the camel, an Arabian
finds safety in his deserts ; all the armies upon
earth might be lost in the pursuit of a flying
squadron of this country, mounted upon their
camels, and taking refuge in solitudes where no-
thing interposes to stop their flight, or to force
them to wait the invader. Nothing can be more
dreary than the aspect of these sandy plains, that
seem entirely forsaken of life and vegetation ;
wherever the eye turns, nothing is presented but a
sterile and dusty soil, sometimes torn up by the
winds, and moving in great waves along, which,
when viewed from an eminence, resemble less the
earth than the ocean ; here and there a few shrubs
appear, that only teach us to wish for the grove
that reminds us of the shade, without affording
its refreshment ; the return of morning, which,
in x ther places carries an idea of cheerfulness,
here serves only to enlighten the endless and dreary
waste, and to present the traveller with an unfinish-
ed prospect of his forlorn situation ; yet in this
chasm of nature, by the help of the camel, the
Arabian finds safety and subsistence. There are
here and there found spots of verdure, which,
though remote from each other, are, in a manner
approximated by the labour and industry of the
camel. Thus these deserts, which present the
stranger with nothing but objects of danger and
sterility, afford the inhabitant protection, food,
and liberty. The Arabian lives independent and
tranquil, in the midst of his solitudes ; and, instead
of considering the vast solitudes spread round
ARABIAN CAMEL.
153
lilm as a restraint upon bis happiness,, he is, by
experience, taught to regard them as the ramparts
of his freedom.
The camel is easily instructed in the methods of
taking up and supporting his burden ; their legs,,
a few days after they are produced, are bent under
their belly ; they are in this manner loaded, and
taught to rise ; their burden is every day thus in-
creased, by insensible degrees, till the animal is
capable of supporting a weight adequate to its
force ; the same care is taken in making them
patient of hunger and thirst 2 while other animals
receive their food at stated times, the camel is
restrained for days together, and these intervals
of Tamine are increased in proportion as the ani-
mal seems5 capable of sustaining them.
In Turkey, Persia, Arabia, Barbary, and Egypt,
their whole commerce is carried on by means of
camels, and no carriage is more speedy, and none
less expensive in these countries. Merchants and
travellers unite themselves into a body, furnished
with camels, to secure themselves from the insults
of the robbers that infest the countries in which
they live. This assemblage is called a caravan,
in which the numbers are sometimes known to
amount to above ten thousand, and the number
of camels is often greater than those of the men “
each of these animals is loaded according to his
strength, and he is so sensible of it himself, that
when his burden is too great, he remains still
upon his belly, the posture in which he is laden,
refusing to rise till his burden be lessened or taken
away. In general the large camels are capable of
carrying a thousand weight, and sometimes twelve
hundred ; the smaller from six to seven. In these
trading journeys, they travel but slowly, their
stages are generally regulated, and they seldom go
above thirty, or at most about five and thirty miles
TO h, II. x
154
ARABIAN 'CAMEL.
a day. Every evening, when they arrive at a
stage, which is usually some spot of verdure,
where water and shrubs are in plenty, they are
permitted to feed at liberty ; they are then seen to
eat as much in an hour, as will supply them for
twenty-four ; they seem to prefer the coarsest
weeds to the softest pasture ; the thistle, the nettle,
the cassia, and other prickly vegetables, are their
favourite food ; but their drivers take care to
supply them with a kind of paste composition,
which serves as a more permanent nourishment. As
these animals have often gone the same track, they
are said to know7 their way precisely, and to pur-
sue their passage when their guides arc utterly
astray ; when they come within a few7 miles of
their baiting place in the evening, they sagaciously
scent it at a distance, and increasing their speed,
arc often seen to trot with vivacity to their stage.
The patience of this animal is most extraordi-
nary ; and it is probable that its sufferings are
great ; for when it is loaded, it sends forth most
lamentable cries. At the slightest sign it bends
its knees, and lies upon its belly, suffering
itself to be loaded in this position ; by this prac-
tice the burden is more easily laid upon it, than if
lifted up while standing ; at another sign it rises
with its load, and the driver getting upon its back,
between the two panniers, which, like hampers,
are placed upon each side, he encourages the
camel to proceed with his voice, and with a song.
In this manner the creature proceeds contentedly
forward, with a slow uneasy walk, of about four
miles an hour, and when it comes to its stage,
lies dow n to be unloaded as before.
M. Bulfon seems to consider the camel to be
the most domesticated of all creatures, and to
have more marks of the tyranny of man im-
printed on its form. He is of opinion,* that this
ARABIAN CAMEL,
155
animal is not now to be found in a state of nature ;
that the humps on its back, the callosities upon its
breast and its legs, and even the great reservoir
for water, are all marks of long servitude, and do-
mestic constraint. The deformities he supposes
to he perpetuated by generation ; and what at
first was accident, at last becomes nature. How-
ever this be, the humps upon the back grow large
in proportion as the an mi a 1 is well fed, and if ex-
amined, they will be found composed of a substance
not unlike the udder of a cow.
They have a very great share of intelligence ;
and the Arabs assert that they are so extremely
sensible of injustice and ill treatment, that when
this is carried too far, the inflictor will not find it
easy to escape their vengeance ; and that they will
retain the remembrance of an injury till an oppor-
tunity offers for gratifying their revenge. Eager,
however, to express their resentment, they no longer
retain any rancour, when once they are satisTied ;
and it is even sufficient for them to believe they
have satisfied their vengeance. Accordingly, when
an Arab has excited the rage of a camel, he throws
down his garments in some place near which the
animal is to pass, and disposes them in such a man-
ner that they appear to cover a man sleeping under
them. The animal recognizes the clothes, seizes
them in his teeth, shakes them with violence, and
tramples on them in a rage. When his anger is
appeased, he leaves them, and then the owner of the
garments may make his appearance without any
fear, load, and guide him as he pleases.
The mode in which loaded camels were made
to cross the Nile, attracted the particular attention
of Mr. Norden, as extremely singular. A mao,
he says, swam before, with the bridle of the first
camel in his mouth ; the second camel was tied to
the tail of the first, and a third to the tail of the
156
ARABIAN CAMEXi,
second : another man^ sitting on a truss of straw,
brought up the rear, and, by his directions, was
employed in keeping the second and third camels
in their course.
Few travellers have ever had greater occasion
to try the perseverance of the camel, and receive
all the services which this animal is capable of
affording, than Mr. Bruce, on his return from the
court of Abyssinia to Cairo. On his way be-
tween Sennaar and Syene, in the deserts east of the
Nile, after a long and dreary journey, in which
lie and his attendants had exhausted their provi-
sions, to the last remains of their miserable
stock of black bread and dirty water the
strength of his camels was so far overcome, or so
much were they benumbed by cold, that no arts
nor efforts could raise them from the ground ; or
at least prevail with them to stand but two minutes
without kneeling down again. In this hopeless
situation, his only resource was, to kill two of
those fainting animals, to draw out the water that re-
mained in their stomachs for drink, each affording
about four gallons, and take a part of their flesh
for food. The same traveller relates, that the
camels of the caravans, which travel from the
"Niger, across the desert of Selirna, are said to take
\ once as much w ater as they need for forty days.
He asserts as an uiiquestionabe fact, that even an
ordinary camel will live, upon occasion, fourteen
or fifteen days without water.
Mankind owe also other benefits to this animal.
The Arabs, and other nations among whom they
are common, use their flesh and milk, not merely
in causes of extreme necessity, but even for their
ordinary food. The flesh is dry, but of an agree-
able enough taste ; though, except for feasts, none
are ever killed but the old, and those without
pmy pains being taken to fat them. The milk is
ARABIAN CAMEL.
157
wholesome, nourishing, and antiseptic ; but always
faintly acid in its taste. In the more temperate
latitudes of Asia and Africa, the hair is of a silky
fineness,, and sells at a considerable price. It is
wrought into some valuable stuffs. His skin is
another article of great value. Camel's dung is
the only fuel which travellers have to kindle their
fires of, in the desert. If dry, it kindles instanta-
neously., and affords a strong heat, and a bright
ilame.
No wonder then, that the Arabians have, from
the earliest ages, assiduously availed themselves of
the services which this animal is qualified to afford.
Six thousand camels were part of the immense
wealth of the patriarch Job. To tend, to train, to
improve the breed, and to multiply the numbers of
their camels, is to this day the chief employment of
many of the Arabians. In tracing the annals of re -
mote antiquity, we cannot discover the period when
camels existed only in a wild state-. But so gentle
an animal would, the instant be became known to
man, be subjected to his authority. In Egypt, the
camel has been perhaps as long known and serviceable
as in Arabia. He is there used chiefly as a beast
of burden. A loaded camel travels between Cairo
and Suez, a journey of six and forty hours, without
needing either food or water. The food on whic
the Egyptians sustain him. is bruised stones, or
kernels of dates. The Persians have several ex-
cellent breeds of camels. Their strongest, which
they call chotornain, carry a load, a thousand or
eleven hundred pounds in weight. Those of a
secondary character, called i Persia, do 'or, in
Arabia, jenial, and in Indostan, oatt, Ik o* six or
seven hundred. The feeblest race, m e ed u: Arabic,
ragahill, carry at least five hundred. W !v >e
camel-drivers wish their camels to quirt u ir
pace, they chant to them wild} irreguk. , of
158
BACTRIAN CAMEL.
beat rude tunes oo small, kettle-drums. The
Persians have yet a more delicate,, and better shaped
breed, denominated, in their language, chotordor^
or chotobaad ; and by the Arabians, deloul, or
elmecharis. These they train to make long
marches, and feed with choice and substantial
food. In the English dominions in India, the
temper of the camel is said to be so froward, and his
motions so violent, that the days of his hircarah or
groom are frequently shortened by the trouble and
fatigue which he suffers in managing him. Wild
camels are said to subsist still in the deserts, in the
temperate latitudes of Asia.
Many of the above particulars, concerning the
maimers and uses of the camel with one bunch, or
dromedary, regard also the nest species, the Bac®
trian or Turkish camel, who is furnished with two
hunches.
Bactrian camel.
Except in having two bunches on the hack
instead of one, this species scarce differs from the
proceeding. Their size, their colours, their qua-
lities, their uses, are almost entirely the same.
Next after that which the bunches constitute,
the most remarkable difference is, that the Arabian
camel or dromedary thrives in the most torrid
climates of Asia and Africa, where he is gentle,
hut slender, and almost destitute of hair ; whereas
the camel inhabits the more temperate climates, and
is often larger, and of superior strength, moves
with a firmer step, and is covered with finer hair.
Tartary, Turkey, and Persia, are the regions which
the camel chiefly inhabits. Dromedaries are most
numerous in Arabia and Barbary.
February is the season of copulation to these
animals. The female is a year pregnant ; produces
lHL-84fc
LLAMA.
159
only one at a birth ; and suckles her young for
two years. The Arabian merchants, every year,
conduct troops of dromedaries into the provinces
of Turkey and Persia ; where they procure camels
to copulate with them ; and by thus crossing the
breed, obtain a mongrel race, in which the vigour
of the camel is united with the mild docility of the'
dromedary.
Wild camels are still found in the northern parts
of India, and in the deserts on the coniines of China.
They are possibly descended from a domestic race
that may have accidentally become wild. Dr«
Russel relates, that except in caravans coming
from Bagdad to Bassora, the camel with two
bunches is scarce ever seen in Syria.
The Persian name of the camel is chotortork m
boghor.
Llama.
In form and manners, this American quadruped
bears so considerable a resemblance to the drome-
dary and camel of Asia and Africa, that notwith-
standing the inferiority of its size, naturalists agree
in considering it as a congeneric species. The
llama is scarce four feet and a half high, to the
top of the shoulders, and not more than six feet
in length. His neck is arched, but not so much as
the camel's. His back does not rise to so large a
bunch. His tail is graceful. His feet are elegant-
ly formed. He has a bunch on his breast, which
constantly exudes a yellowish, oily matter. His
hair is long and soft. His colours are a beautiful
clouding of black, white, and a dusky yellow.
His body is often swelled with a considerable
depth of fat, immediately under the skin. His
head is not armed with horns. His nose is short
!60
LLAMA,
His'Boofs are divided. His eyes are large, black*
and sparkling. In the structure of his stomach*
he has four ventricles, one of which is cellular.
He has neither cutting nor canine teeth in his upper
■jaw. His feet are armed behind with a sort of
spur, which assists in supporting the ' animal on
rugged, difficult ground. His wool or hair is long
on his dank and belly, but short on his back, crup-
per, and tail.
His voice is a sort of neighing sound. Though
naturally mild and inoffensive, he defends himself
when tea zed or attacked, by butting, kicking, and
squirting at his enemy, through a fissure in his
upper lip, an acrid spittle, which inflames and
blisters the skin. His motion is slow ; he bears
up his head, and walks on with a grave, regular,
majestic pace. He eats but little ; and scarce
ever drinks. His food is the coarsest, and most
ordinary plants. With the mildness, the llama
possesses also the obstinacy of the camel. He
cheerfully receives any load to which his strength
is not unequal ; and if the place to which his bur-
den is to be conveyed be known to him, proceeds
to it without a guide. But when overloaded, or
fatigued with travelling, he squats down on his
belly, with his feet under him ; and no severity of
blows will compel him to rise. Squeezing his
testicles sometimes succeeds, when every other art
lias been tried in vain. By continued abuse, the
poor animal is sometimes driven to despair, and
strikes bis head from side to side upon the ground,
till he die.
The female llama goes five or six months with
young ; never produces more than one at a birth*
and is furnished with two paps to suckle it. The
young male becomes capable of procreation at the
age of three years The term of his life never ex-
tends much beyond fourteen years.
LLAMA;
161
Peru is the native country of the llama. He has
been settled by nature, on the mountains of that
elevated tract of country. The species at present
abound through the whole extent of the kir dom of
Peru, from Potosi to Carraccas ; and the industry
of the Spaniards has propagated them through
other parts of their American dominions.
When the Spaniards first penetrated into South
America, they were astonished to find it destitute
of the domestic animals, to which they had been ac-
customed in Europe. The Indians liad no horses,
oxen, asses, or mules, to assist their industry.
The llama and the paco were the only animals
which they cultivated as domestic. And to see
them use sheep, for such did these seem, as beasts
of burden, heightened the contempt which their
European visitants had conceived for their charac-
ters. There appeared a remarkable similarity
between the temper and manners of the llama, and
those of his Indian master. The same mildness,
the same cool, phlegmatic temper, the same per-
severance in labour distinguished both. Rude
and inartificial as were the manners of the simple
Peruvians ; they had, however, learned, not only
to load the llama, as a beast of burden, but also
to yoke him in the plough.
The Spaniards, upon settling in Peru; soon
found, that this species whom they had thought
too pitiful to be cultivated as the principal domes-
tic animal, was not ill qualified for the labours in
which the nature of the country induced them to
have recourse to its assistance. The roads were
so rugged and uneven, that an animal, less sure-
footed, or of a temper less cool and phlegmatic
than the llama, could scarce travel along them
with safety. For the labours of the mines, a crea-
ture of a more impetuous, generous spirit, w ould
have been very ill qualified. The llama conveys
V OL. II, Y
162
UA MA>
the ores of Potosi over the most rugged hills, and
through the narrowest parts of the Andes. He fears
not to descend precipices, and climb steep accents,
where even man himself dares not accompany him.
An hundred and fifty pounds is his ordinary load.
The strongest carry two hundred. With this load,
the animal will travel on for four or five days
without indicating the smallest fatigue. He stops
to rest, without waiting for the directions of his
driver ; and obstinately reposes four and twenty
or thirty hours, before he can be prevailed upon to
resume his journey. Requiring but a small por-
tion of food, he takes that by browzing as he tra-
vels, on any shrubs or herbage that happen to
fringe his path. At night he only rests and rumi-
nates.
Such are these animals in their domestic state ;
but as they are found wild in very great numbers,
they exhibit marks of great force and agility in
their state of nature. The stag is scarcely more
swift, or the goat, or the chamois a better climber.
All its shapes are more delicate and strong ; its
colour is tawny, and its wool is but short ; in their
native forest they are gregarious animals, and are
often seen in flocks of two or three hundred at a
time. When they perceive a stranger, they regard
him at first with astonishment, without marking
any fear or surprise ; but shortly, as if by common
consent, they snuff up the air, somewhat like horses,
and at once, by a common flight, take refuge on
the tops of the mountains ; they are fonder of the
northern than the southern side of the Andes ;
they often climb above the snowy tracts of the
mountain, and seem vigorous in proportion to the
coldness of their situation. The natives hunt the
wild llama for the sake of its fleece. If the dogs
Surprise one upon the plain, they are generally suc-
cessful ; but if once the llama obtains the rocky
/ )
gvan&co, I63
precipice of the mountain, the hunters are obliged
to desist in their pursuit.
Besides serving as a beast of burden, the llama
affords various articles of no small utility to
human life. His wool, though of a strong, dis-
agreeable scent, is used as a material for cloth.
It forms, likewise, so thick a covering on the ani-
mal, that he needs not a saddle to protect his
back under a load. His skin is of a very close
texture ; and is accordingly made into shoes by
the Indians, and used for harnesses by the Spa-
niards, The flesh, especially of the young llama*
is wholesome and of a pleasant taste.
As our principal domestic animals, the horse*
the ass, the sheep, and the goat, have, by the cares
of the European settlers, been introduced into
America ; so the llama has also been imported
into Europe. But the climate of Spain, the coun-
try into which he has been brought, has always
proved too hot for this animal. Norway* Scotland*
or the summits of the Alps or Pyrenees, might
perhaps prove more favourable ; the temperature
of these regions approaching nearer to the cold
of the Andes.
Guanaco.
In form and manners the guanaco so nearly re-
sembles the llama, that he has been viewed by
some eminent naturalists, as merely a llama in a
wild state. But as, besides various other distinc-
tions of character, the guanaco, whether tame or
wild, constantly refuses to associate with the llama*
we cannot hesitate to rank these animals as distinct
species.
The guanaco inhabits that range of mountains
in South America* called the Cordilleras* The
164
PACO*
severities of winter oblige him to descend into the
plains of Chili and Peru.
A full grown guanac.Q is about seven feet in
length, and four feet three inches in height. His
ears resemble those of a horse. His tail is formed
like a stag's. The upper parts of his body are
tawny ; the lower white. He has no protuberance
on his breast, no bunch on his hack. His fore
feet are longer than those behind. He moves with
a sort of leaping pace.
Tins species are gregarious. On the summits
of the Cordilleras, they often assemble in flocks
of several hundreds. They are stronger, more ac-
tive, and nimbler than the llama. Although in
a state of liberty, they are not secure from the per-
secution of mao. The value of their fleeces,
which are rather long smooth hair than wool,
renders there an object , of profit to the Indian
hunter. When he surprises them in places of easy
access,' he cannot fail of being successful in the
chaee. But give them time to escape among the
precipitous cliffs, which are their favouite haunts;
and both men and dogs must desist in disappoint-
ment from the pursuit. When young it is pur-
sued with dogs, and when old caught with nooses.
The flesh of the young animals is excellent, and
that of the old is preserved with salt. They seem
incapable of subsisting in either a warmer climate,
or a thicker atmosphere, than that of the ele-
vated region in which they at present abound.
Paco.
Besides the llama, the Indians, before the ar-
rival of the Spaniards in South America, had
domesticated no other animal but the paco.
The paco, in shape nearly similar to the llama.
Vicugna.
163
but much inferior in size, is covered with long,
line wool, sometimes entirety black, and sometimes
of a brown colour, intermixed with yellow. It
seems to bear nearly the same relation to the
llama, as the ass bears to the horse. The llama
bears a load of a hundred and fifty pounds ; the
paco is overloaded if more than fifty be laid upon
him.
The paco, as well as the llama and the guanaco,
is confined to that stupendous range of moun-
tains, w hich terminates the southern extremity of
the American continent. His fleece is an article
of great value. It is manufactured into gloves,
stockings, bed clothes, and carpets. Neither the
beaver of Canada, the goat of Angora, nor the
sheep of Caramania, affords a finer material for
cloth than the paco. His wool is as soft as silk,
and is sold at as high a price. His flesh is eaten,
though not very delicate food.
Vicugna.
In the vicugna, we have an animal which bears
nearly the same relation to the paco, as the guana-
co bears to the llama. In figure, and in the form
of his tail, he somewhat resembles our common
goat. But bis neck is twenty inches in length ;
his head thick, short, and destitute o£ horns ; his
ears small, erect, and sharp-pointed. His wool
is shorter, but still finer than that of the paco, of
a beautiful rose colour, and of such a nature,
that a dye may be easily fixed upon it. His
belly often affords a bezoa'r.
This is a wild, but a gregarious animal. Like
the llama, the guanaco, and the paco, lie is con-
fined within that lofty range of country, which
bounds the southern continent of America. He
flimbs and leaps among the lofty cliffs of the Cor-
166 CHILIfftJQtJS.
dilleras. The greatest numbers are found in the
provinces of Chili, Coquimbo, and the Copiapo.
Naturalists have generally regarded the vicugna
as being no other than the paco in a wild state*
But, however favourable circumstances, the in-
tercourse of love never takes place between these
two animals.
The vicugna is remarkably swift and timid, and
formed to endure the severest extremities of cold.
It is scarce possible to tame one of these crea-
fares. Their fleeces are a very alluring prize to
the Indian hunters. Their flesh too is delicate
and juicy. The method of taking them is to
drive a flock, or as many as possible, into some
narrow defile, surrounded to the height of three
or four feet, with cords, hung with small pieces
of linen or woollen cloth ; these wave in the
wind, and so fright and confound the timid anf*
reals, that they cannot possibly make their es*>
cape.
Chiliiiuque.
This species, which inhabits Peru and Chili,
is described as measuring about six feet in
length, and about four in height. It is covered
with woolly hair, and in its general appearance is
not unlike a ram. The ears are flaccid, or pen-
dulous ; the neck and legs long ; the tail like
that of a sheep, but shorter in proportion : the
wool is very soft, and the colour of the animal
is said to vary in dilferent individuals, being
either brown, black, ash colour or white.
This animal was employed by the ancient in-
habitants of Chili as a beast of burden, as well as
in ploughing. Its wool was also used in the manu-
facture of a fine silky cloth or stuff ; but this is now
said to have given place to the introduction of
IMDtT^K
MUSE TRIBE* &€. 167
European wool* as being stronger and more ser-
viceable*
MUSK TRIBE.
The musk animals are inhabitants, almost ex-
clusively, of India, and the Indian isles. Two or
threp of the species are so exceedingly small, as
scarcely to equal a rabbit in size. They are very
gentle, but excessively timid ; on the appearance
of a man they fly with precipitation into the re-
cesses of their native wilds. Like the camels they
have no horns.
In their lower jaw they have eight front teeth;
and in the upper jaw two long tusks, one on each
side, which project out of the mouth.
Tibet ian mijsk.
The present species, the principal one of the
tribe* is destitute of horns. The ears are somewhat
large, the neck thick, and the hair on the whole
body long, upright, and thick set. Each hair is
undulated, the tip ferruginous, the middle black,
and the bottom cinereous. The limbs are very
slender, and of a full black colour ; and the tail
is so short, as to be scarcely visible. The length
of the male is about three feet, and that of the
female about two feet and a quarter ; and their
average weight is from twenty-five to thirty
pounds.
The Tibetian musk is a native of many parts
of Asia* and is found throughout the whole king-
168
TIBETIAN MUSK.
dom of Tibet. It lives retired among the highest
and. rudest mountains. Except in autumn it is a
solitary animal ; but at this season large flocks
collect in order to change their place., being driven
southward by the approaching cold. During
this migration the peasants lie in wait for them*
and cither take them in snares, or kill them with
arrows and bludgeons. At these times they are
often so meagre and languid from hunger and fa-
tigue as to be taken without much difficulty.
They are gentle and timid, having no weapons
of defence except their tusks. Their activity is
very great, and they are able to take astonishing
leaps over the tremendous chasms of the rocks.
They tread so lightly on the snow, as scarcely to
leave a mark, while the dogs that are used in pur-
suing them, sink in, and are frequently obliged to
desist from the chace In a state of captivity they
live but a very short time. They feed on various
vegetables of the mountains. They are usually
taken in snares, or shot by cross-bows placed in
their tracks, with a string from the trigger for
them to tread on and discharge the bow. Some-
times they are shot with bows and arrows. Their
chase is exceedingly laborious.
In an oval receptacle about the size of a small
egg, is contained the well known drug called
musk. This hangs from the middle of the abdo-
men, and is peculiar to the male animal. A full
grown male will yield a drachm and a half, and
an old one two drachms. The bag is furnished
with two small orifices, the one naked and the
other covered with oblong hairs. Gmclin tells
us, that on squeezing this bag, he forced the musk
through the apertures, in the form of a brown
fatty matter. The hunters cut off the bag and
tie it up for sale, but often adulterate the contents
by mixing them with other matter to increase their
INDIAN^- AND BRASILIAN MUSK* 169
weight. The musk is even frequently taken entire-
ly out,, and a composition of the animal’s blood
and liver.,, (for -this drug has much the appearance
of clotted blood,) is inserted in its stead ; but
when the bags are opened, the imposition is easily
detected. The deceit, however, most commonly
practised, is that of putting into the bags little
bits of lead, in order to augment the weight. The
animals should be found in eastern countries in
great numbers, for Tavernier informs us, that in
one journey he collected seven thousand six hun-
dred and seventy-three musk bags.
It is generally asserted, that when the musk
bag is first opened, so powerful an odour comes
from it, that every person present is obliged to
cover his mouth and nose with several folds of
linen, and that, notwithstanding this precaution,
the blood will frequently gush from the nose.
When the musk is fresh, a very small quantity in
a confined place is insupportable ; it causes giddi*
ness in the head, and hemorrhages, which have
sometimes proved fatal.
Indian musk.
This species are inhabitants of India; some-
what larger in size than the former ; and distin-
guished by slender legs, oblong, erect ears, and the
resemblance which their head bears, in shape, to
that of ahorse..
Brasilian musk.
In size, this animal approaches to an equality
with the European roebuck. Its back, sides,
chest, and thighs, are of a bright rust colour ; but
the lower part of the belly, and the inside of the
thighs white. Its eyes are large and black ; its
VOL. n„ %
170 ME MINNA, AND JAVA MUSK,'
ears four inches long ; the tail six inches long ; the
legs slender,, jet muscular.
These creatures, peculiar to Guiana and Brasil,
are remarkable for their timidity, and for a cor-
respondent lightness of form, and agility of motion.
Like goats, they are sometimes seen standing with
their four legs together on the point of a rocke
The delicacy of their flesh draws upon them a
number of enemies. The Indians, as well as the
tigers, and other beasts of prey, all eagerly pursue
them. Their safety is most endangered when
they attempt to swim ; for their legs are but very ill
adapted to that exercise. They are ranked in this
genus, not as affording musk, but as wanting
horns.
Meminna.
This animal is an inhabitant of Java and Cey-
lon. Its form is diminutive. It is not more than
one foot five inches in length. Its whole weight
is only five pounds and a half. Its ears are large
and open ; its tail very short ; its sides and
haunches are variegated with spots, and transverse
bars of white on a cinereous olive ground. The
rest of the upper part of its body is a cinereous
olive, without spots. Its throat, breast, and belly
are white.
Java musk.
Peculiar to Java is another animal of this
genus, equal in size to a rabbit, with remarkable
slender, puny legs ; w ith its snout and ears bare,
without pits in the groin, or under the eye ; having
tufts on its knees ; and under its throat, two iong
divergent hairs. The neck is hoary, with an in-
termixture of yellow ; a black line , marks the
PYGMY., AND LEVERIAN MUSK. 171
crown of the head ; the general colour of the body
is ferruginous ; the neck and belly are white, but
the neck variegated with two dusky spots. The tail
is of a moderate length, and terminates in a white
tuft.
Pygmy musk.
This animal is an inhabitant of the continent of
India, and the Oriental islands, rather than of
Guinea. It is only nine inches and a half in length ;
has two small tusks in its upper jaw ; large ears ;
and a tail an inch long. Its belly is white, and
the rest of its body tawny ; but the specimens vary
in colour. Among the Malays, they are caught in
great numbers, carried to market in cages, and
sold at a very moderate price.
Leverxan musk.
This species, if such it really be, seems to have
been first described by Seba, who assures us that
it is a native of Surinam, and described it as of a
ferruginous colour, thickly spotted with white,
except on the head, breast, and belly. He is not
very clear in his expressions relative to its size,
but it seems to rank among the very small species,
such as the Javan, pygmy, &c. The animal
described and figured in the first volume ©£
the Museum Leverianum, under the title of mos-
chus delicatulus, or small spotted musk, appears so
very nearly allied to that of Seba, that it is in all
probability the same.
m
PEER TRIBE.
DEER TRIBE.
This is an active tribe., inhabiting principally
wild and woody regions. In their contentions,,
both among each other and with the rest of the
brute creation, these animals not only use their
horns, but also strike very furiously with their
fore feet. Some of the species are employed by
mankind as beasts of draught. The flesh of the
whole tribe is wholesome, and that of some of the
kinds, under the name of venison, is accounted par-
ticularly delicious.
The horns are solid and branched. They are re-
newed every year ; and while young are covered
with a skin, which is extremely vascular, and
clothed with a fine velvet fur, that dries, shrivels,
and falls off when the horns have attained their
full size. There are eight front teeth in the lower
jaw. In general this tribe is destitute of canine
teeth, but sometimes a single one is found on each
side in the upper jaw.
' ELK.
The elk, or moose deer, is found in Europe,
America, and Asia, as far as Japan ; but it is
met with in greatest quantity in the northern parts
of both continents, where it frequents the forests.
It is often found larger than the horse, both in
height and bulk ; but the length of its legs, the
bulk of the body, the shortness of the neck, and
uncommon length of the head and ears, without
any appearance of a tail, render its form very auk-
ward. The hair of the male (which far exceeds the
female in. size), is black at the points, cinereous in
ELK.
173
'the middle,, and at the roots perfectly white. That
of the female is of a sandy brown, but whitish
under the throat, belly, and flank. The upper
lip is square, very broad, deeply furrowed, and
hangs much over the mouth ; the nose is broad, and
the nostrils extremely large and wide. The horns,
which are found only on the males, have no brow-
antlers, and the palms are extremely broad. They
are shed annually, and some have been seen that
weighed upwards of sixty pounds.
The legs of the elks are so long, and their necks
so short, that they cannot graze on level ground,
like other animals, but are obliged to browze the
tops of large plants, and the leaves or branches of
trees.
In all their actions and attitudes they appear very
uncouth, and when disturbed never run, but only
make off in a kind of trot, which the length of
their legs enables them to do with great swiftness,
and apparently with much ease. In their common
walk they lift their feet very high, and they are
able, without any difficulty, to step over a gate five
feet in height.
Their faculty of hearing is supposed to be more
acute than either their sight or scent, which renders
it very difficult to kill them in the summer time,
and the Indians have then no other method of
doing this, but by creeping after them among the
trees and bushes, till they get within gun shot. In
winter, when the snow is so hard frozen that the
natives can go upon it in their snow-shoes, they
are able frequently to run them down, for their
slender legs break through the snow at every step,
and plunge them up to the belly. They are so ten-
der-footed, and so short-winded, that a good runner
will generally tire them in less than a day ; there
have been some, however, that have kept the hunt-
ers in chase for two. days. On these occasions the
17*
ELK.
Indians in general take with them nothing mor^
than a knife or bayonet, and a little bag, con-
taining implements for lighting a Are. When the
poor animals are* incapable of further speed, they
stand and keep their pursuers at bay with their head
and fore feet : in the use of the latter of which
they are so dexterous, that the Indians are gene-
rally obliged to lash their knives or bayonets at the
end of a long stick, and stab the elk at a distance.
Some who have neglected this necessary precaution,
and rashly attempted to rush in upon them, have
received very serious blows from their fore feet.
When wounded they sometimes become furious,
rush boldly on the hunters, and endeavour to tread
them down ; in this case the men are frequently
compelled to leave their outer garments, (on which
the animals wreck their vengeance,). and escape
into the trees.
In summer the elks frequent the margins of rivers
and lakes, getting into the water in order to avoid
the innumerable multitudes of musquetoes and
other flies’ that pester them during that season.
They are often killed by the Indians, while .they are
crossing rivers, or swimming from the main land
to islands. When pursued in this situation, they
are the most inoffensive of all animals, never
making any resistance. And the young ones are
so simple, that, in North America, Mr. Hearne
saw an Indian paddle his canoe up to one of them,
and take it by the poll without the least opposi-
tion ; the poor harmless animal seeming, at the
same time, as contented along-side the canoe, as if
3 winding by the side of its dam, and looking up
in the faces of those who were about to become
its murderers with the most fearless innocence ;
using its fore feet almost every instant to clear its
eyes of musquetoes, which at the time were re^*
markably numerous.
ELS*
175
Sometimes the Indians assemble in multitudes in
their canoes, and form with them a vast crescent
towards the shore. Large parties then go into
the woods, surround an extensive tract, let loose
their dogs, and press, with loud hallooings, towards
the water. The alarmed animals fly before the
hunters, and plunge into the lake, where they are
killed with lances or clubs, by the persons prepared
for their reception in the canoes.
The Indians also sometimes inclose a large piece
of ground with stakes, woven with branches of
trees, which form two sides of a triangle, the bot-
tom opening into a second inclosure completely
triangular. In the opening are hung snares made
of slips of raw hides. The deer are driven by a
party in the woods, into the first inclosure, and
some endeavouring to force their way into the
farthest triangle, are caught in the snares by their
neck or horns ; and those which escape the snares,
and pass the opening, meet their fate from the
arrows of the hunters directed at them from all
quarters.
The elks are the easiest to tame and domesticate
of any of the deer kind. They will follow their
keeper to any distance from home) and at his
call return with him, without the least trouble,
and without ever attempting to deviate from the
path.
An Indian had, at the factory at Hudson's Bay,
in the year 1777, two of them so tame, that when
he was on his passage to Prince of Wales’s Fort,
in a canoe, they always followed him along the
bank of the river ; and at night or on any other
occasion, when he loaded, they generally came
and fondled on him, in the same manner as the most
domestic animal would have done, and never
offered to stray from the tents. He did not, how-
ever, possess these animals long, for he one day
176
ELKo
crossed a deep bay in one of the lakes, in order to-
save a very circuitous rout along its bank, and ex-
pected the creatures would, as usual, follow him
round, but unfortunately at night they did not
arrive ; and as the howling of wolves was heard in
the quarter where they were, it is supposed they
bad been devoured by them, for they were never
afterwards seen.
M. D’Obsonville mentions bis having in his
possession, while in the East-Indies, an animal
which he calls a moose deer. From the warmth
of that climate it seems very doubtful whether it
was not some other species, but as we have no
satisfactory proof of its being such, we shall recite
his account. I procured it” he says, ff when only
ten or twelve days old, and had it for about two
years, without ever tying it up. I even let it run
abroad, and sometimes amused myself with making
it draw in the yard, or carry little burdens. It
always came when called, and I found few signs of
impatience, except when it was not allowed to remain
near me. When I departed from the island of
Sumatra, I gave it to Mr. Law, of Lauriston, the
governor-general, an intimate friend. This gentle-
man, not having an opportunity of keeping it about
his person, as I had done, sent it to his country
house. Here being kept alone, and chained in a
confined corner, it presently became so furious as
not to be approached. Even the .person who every
day brought its food was obliged to leave this at
a distance. After some months absence I returned ;
it knew me afar off, and as I observed the efforts it
made to get at me, I ran to meet it ; and never
shall I forget the impression which the caresses and
transports of this faithful animal made upon me.
A friend, who was present at the meeting, could
not forbear sympathising with me, and partaking
of my feelings.”
ELK.
177
An attempt has been made at New York to ren-
der the elk useful in agricultural labours, which
has been attended with success. 1 Mr. Chancellor
Livingston, the president of the New York Society,
had two of these animals broken to the harness.
Though they had been but twice bitted, and were
two years old, they appeared to be equally docile
with colts of the same age. They applied their
whole strength to the draught, and went on a
steady pace. Their mouths appeared very. tender,
and some care was necessary to prevent them from
being injured by the bit. If, upon trial, it is found
that the elks can be rendered useful in harness, it
will be considerable acquisition to the Americans.
As their trot is very rapid, it is probable that, in
light carriages, they would out-travel the horse.
They are also less delicate in their food than that
animal, becoming fat on hay only. They are long-
lived, and more productive than any beast of bur-
den.
The Indians have u superstitious notion that
there is an elk of such an enormous size, that eight
feet in depth of snow is no impediment to its walk-
ing. That its hide is proof against weapons of
every description ; and that it has an arm growing
out of its shoulder subservient to the same purposes
as ours. They say also that this imaginary animal
is attended by a vast number of other elks, which
form his court, and render him every service that a
sovereign can require of them. The Indians es-
teem the elk an animal of good omen, and believe
that to dream of it often is an indication of long
life.
When suddenly roused, and it is endeavouring
to make its escape, the elk is observed at times to
fall down, as if deprived for some moments of mo-
tion. Whether this be owing, as frequently has
been imagined, to an epileptic fit, . or whether it
VOL. ir A a
m
REIN DEER.
merely arises from fear (as is sometimes observed
to be the case in horses*) is not perhaps easy to
determine. The fact, however, is too well authen-
ticated to admit our doubting it. This has given
rise to the popular superstition of attributing to the
hoofs the virtue of an anti-epileptic medicine ; and
the Indians even still imagine that the elk lias the
power of curing itself of its own disorder, or of
preventing an approaching fit, by scratching' its
ear w ith the hoof till it draw's blood.
The flesh of the elk is good, but the grain is
coarse, and it is much tougher than any other kind
of venison. Mr. Hearne remarks, that the livers
of these animals are never sound ; and that, like the
other deer, they have no gall. According to Mr.
Pennant* the tongues are excellent, and the nose so
like marrow, as to be esteemed the greatest deli-
cacy produced in Canada. Their skins, when
dressed by the natives, make excellent tent covers,
and shoe-leather. They are of very unequal thick-
ness ; but some of the Indian women, who are
acquainted with the manufacture of them, render
them, by scraping, as even as a piece of thick cloth :
and, when well dressed, they are very soft. The
hair of the hams, which is of great length, is used
in stuffing mattresses and saddles.
The females have from one to three young
at a time, and generally produce them towards
the latter end of April, or about the beginning of
May.
Rein deer.
The rein deer is found in most of the northern
regions, both of Europe, Asia, and America. Its
general height is about four feet and a half. The
colour is brown above, and white beneath, but as
the animal advances in age it often becomes of a
REIN DEER.
179
greyish white. The space about the eyes is always
black. The hair on the under part of the neck
is much longer than the rest. The hoofs are long,
large, and black. Both sexes are furnished with
horns, but those of the male are much the largest.
These are long, slender, and branched ; furnished
with brow-antlers, having widely expanded and
palmated tips, directed forwards. To the Lap-
landers this animal is the substitute for the horse,
the cow, the goat, and the sheep ; and is their only
wealth.
Lapland is divided into two districts, the moun-
tainous and the woody. The mountainous part of
the country is at best barren and bleak, excessive-
ly cold, and uninhabitable during the winter ;
still, however, it is the most desirable part of this
frightful region, and is most thickly peopled dur-
ing the summer. The natives generally reside on
the declivity of the mountains, three or four cot-
tages together, and lead a cheerful and social life.
Upon the approach of winter, they are obliged
to migrate into the plains below, each bringing
down his whole herd, which often amounts to more
than a thousand, and leading them where the pas-
ture is in greatest plenty. The woody part of the
country is much more desolate and hideous. The
whole face of nature there presents a scene of
trees without fruit, and plains without verdure.
As far as the eye can reach, nothing is to be seen,
even in the midst of summer, but barren fields*
covered only with a moss, almost as white as
snow ; no grass, no flowery landscapes, only here
and there a pine-tree, which may have escaped the
frequent conflagrations by which the natives burn
down their forests. But what is very extraor-
dinary, as the whole surface of the country is
clothed in white, so on the contrary, the forests
seem to the last degree dark and gloomy. While
ISO
REIN DEER.
one kind of moss makes the fields look as if they
were covered with snow, another kind blackens
over all their trees, and even hides their verdure.
This moss, however, which deforms the country,
serves for its only support, as upon it alone the
rein deer can subsist.' The inhabitants, w?ho, dur-
ing the summer, lived among the mountains, drive
down their herds- in winter, and people the plains
and woods below. Such of the Laplanders as
inhabit the woods and the plains all the year
round, live remote from each other, and having
been used to solitude, are melancholy, ignorant,
and helpless. They are much poorer also than
the mountaineers ; for, while one of those is found
to possess a thousand rein deer at a time, none of
these are ever known to rear the tenth part of that
number. The rein deer makes the riches of this
people ; and the cold mountainous parts of the
country agree best with its constitution. It is for
this reason, therefore, that the mountains of Lap-
land are preferred to the woods ; and that many
claim an exclusive right to the tops of hills cover-*
ed in almost eternal snow. As soon as the summer
begins to appear, the Laplander, who has fed his
rein deer upon the lower grounds during the win-
ter, then drives them up to the mountains, and
leaves the woody country, and the low pasture,
“which at that season are truly deplorable. The
gnats breed by the sun's heat in the marshy bot-
toms and the weedy lakes, with which the country
abounds more than any other' part of the world,
are all upon the wing, and fill the whole air like
clouds of dust in 'a dry windy day. The inhabi-
tants, at that time, are obliged to daub their faces
with pitch, mixed with milk, to shield their skins
from their depredations. All places are then so great-
ly infested, that the poor natives can scarce open
their mouths without fear of suffocation ; the insects
REIN DEER.
181
enter., from their numbers and minuteness, into the
nostrils and the eyes, and do not leave the sufferer
a moment at his ease. But they are chiefly enemies
to the rein-deer ; the horns of that animal being
then in their tender state, and possessed of extreme,
sensibility ; a famished cloud of insects' instantly
settle upon them, and drive the poor animal almost
to. distraction. In this extremity, there are but
two remedies to which the quadruped, as well as
its master, are obliged to have recourse. The one
is, for both to take shelter near their cottage,
where a large fire of tree-moss, is prepared, which
filling the whole place with smoke, keeps off the
gnat, and thus, by one inconvenience, expels a
greater ; the other is, to ascend to the highest sum-
mit of the mountains, where the air is too thin,
and the weather too- cold, for the gnats to come.
There the rein deer are seen to continue the whole
day, although without food, rather than to ven-
ture down to the lower parts, where they can
have no defence against their unceasing persecu-
tors.
Besides the gnat, there is also a gadfly, that,
during the summer season, is no less formidable
to them. This insect is bred under their skins,
where the egg has been deposited the preceding
summer ; and it is no sooner produced as a fly,
than it again endeavours to deposit its eggs in some
place similar to that from whence it came. When-
ever, therefore, it appears flying over a herd of
rein-deer, it puts the whole body, how numerous
soever, into motion ; they know their enemy, and
do all they can, by tossing their horns, and r mi-
ning among each other, to terrify or avoid it. All
their endeavours, however, are too generally with-
out effect ; the gadfly is seen to deposit its eggs,
which, burrowing under the skin, wound it in seve-
ral places, and often bring on an incurable dis-
182
REIN DEER.
order. In the morn mg’, therefore,, as soon as the
Lapland herdsman drives his deer to pasture, his
greatest care is to keep them from scaling the sum-
mits of the mountains where there is no food, but
where they go merely to he at ease from the gnats
and gadflies that are ever annoying them. At
this time there is a strong contest between the dogs
and the deer ; the one endeavouring to climb up
against the side of the hill,, and to gain those
summits that are cohered in eternal snows ; the
ether forcing them down,, by barking and threaten-
ing, aodj in a manner, compelling them into the
places where their food is in the greatest plenty.
There the men and dogs confine them ; guarding
them with the utmost precaution the whole day,
and driving them home at the proper seasons for
milking.
The female brings forth in the middle of May,
and gives milk till about the middle of October.
Every morning and evening, during summer, the
herdsman returns to the cottage with his deer to be
milked, where the women previously have kindled
up a smoky fire, which effectually drives off the
gnats, and keeps the rein deer quiet while milking.
The female furnishes about a pint, which, though
thinner that of the cow, is, nevertheless, sweeter,
and more nourishing.
Upon the return of the winter, when the gnats
and dies are no longer to be feared, the Laplander
descends into the lower grounds ; and as there are
but few to dispute the possession of that desolate
country, he has an extensive range to feed them
in. Their chief, and almost their only food at
•that time, is the white moss already mentioned ;
wjiich, from its being fed upon by this animal,
obtains the name of the lichen rangiferinus. This
is of two kinds ; the woolly lichen, which covers
almost all the desert parts of the country like
REIN DEER.
183
snow ; tlie oilier is black, and covers the branches
of the trees in very great quantities. However
unpleasing these may be to the spectator, the na-
tive esteems them as one of his choicest benefits,
and the most indulgent gift of nature. While
Iris fields are clothed with moss, he envies neither
the fertility nor the verdure of the more southern
landscape ; dressed up warmly in his deer-skin
clothes, with shoes and gloves of the same mate-
rials, he drives his herds along the desert, fear-
less and at ease, ignorant of any higher luxury than
what their milk and smoke-dried flesh affords
him. Hardened to the climate, he sleeps in the
midst of ice ; or awaking, dozes away his time
with tobacco ; while his faithful dogs supply
his place, and keep the herd from wandering.
The deer, in the mean time, with instincts adapted
to the soil, pursue their food, though covered in
the deepest snow. They turn it up with their
noses, like swine, and, even though its surface
be frozen and stiff, yet the hide is so hardened
in that part, that they easily overcome the diffi-
culty. It sometimes, however, happens, though
but rarely, that the winter commences with rain,
and a frost ensuing, covers the whole country with
a glazed crust of ice. Then, indeed, both the
rein deer and the Laplander are undone ; they have
no provisions laid up in case of accident, and the
only resource is to cut down the large pine-trees that
aTe covered with moss, which furnishes but a
scanty supply ; so that the greatest part of the
herd is then seen to perish without a possibility
of assistance. It sometimes also happens, that.,
even this supply is wanting ; for the Laplander
often burns clown his woods, in order -to improve
and fertilize the soil which produces the moss,
upon which he feeds his cattle.
In this manner*, the pastoral life is still continued
184f
REIN DEER .
near the pole ; neither the coldness of the winter,
nor the length of the nights ; neither the wildness
of the forests, nor the vagrant disposition of the
herd, interrupt the even tenor of the Laplander’s
life. By night and day he is seen attending- his
favourite cattle, and remains unaffected, in a 'season
which would be speedy death to those bred up in
a milder climate. He gives himself no uneasiness
to house his herds, or to; provide a winter subsis-
tence for them ; he is at the trouble neither of
manuring his grounds nor bringing in his harvest ;
he is not the hireling of another’s luxury; all his
labours are to bbviate the necessities of his own
situation ; and these he undergoes with cheerful-
ness, as he is sure to enjoy the fruits of his own
industry. If, therefore, we compare the Laplan-
der with the peasant of more southern climates,
we shall have little reason to pity his situation ;
the climate in which he lives is rather terrible to
us than to him ; and as for the rest, he is blessed
with liberty, plenty, and ease. The rein deer alone
supplies him with all the wants of life, and some
of the conveniences ; serving to show how many
advantages nature is capable of supplying, when
necessity gives the call. Thus the poor little
helpless native,, who was originally, perhaps, driven
by fear or famine into those inhospitable climates,
would seem, at first .view, to Jbe the most wretch-
ed of mankind ; but it is far otherwise ; he looks
round among ihe few wild animals that his barren
country can maintain, and singles out one from
among them, and that of a kind which the rest of
mankind have not thought worth taking from a
state of nature ; this he cultivates, propagates,
and multiplies ; and from this alone derives every
comfort that can soften the severity of his situa-
tion.
The rein deer of this country are of two kinds.
REIN DEER.
185
the wild and the tame. The wild are larger and
stronger, but more michievous than the others.
Their breed, however, is preferred to that of the
tame; and the female of the latter is often sent
into the woods, from whence she returns home
impregnated by one of the wild kind. These are
fitter for drawing the sledge, to which the Lap-
lander accustoms them betimes, and yokes them to
it by a strap, which goes round the neck, and comes
down between their legs. The sledge is extremely
light, and shod at the bottom with the skin of a
young deer, the hair turned to slide on the frozen
snow. The person who sits on this, guides the
animal with a cord, fastened round the horns, and
encourages it to proceed with his voice, and drives
it with a goad. Some of the wild breed, though
by far the strongest, are yet found refractory, and
often turn upon their drivers ; who have then no
other resource but to cover themselves with their
sledge, and let the animal vent its fury upon that.
But it is otherwise with those that are tame ; no
creature can be more active, patient, and willing ;
when hard pushed, they will trot nine or ten
Swedish miles, or between fifty and sixty English
miles, at one stretch. But, in such a case, the
poor obedient creature fatigues itself to death, and
if not prevented by the Laplander, who kills it
immediately, it will die a day or two after._ In
general, they can go about thirty miles without
halting, and this without any great or dangerous
Efforts. This, which is the only manner of travel-
ling in that country, can be performed only in win-
ter, when the snow is glazed over with ice ; and
although it be a very speedy method of convey-
ance, yet it is inconvenient, dangerous, and trouble-
some.
In drder to make these animals more obedient,
and more generally serviceable, they castrate them ;
Ybt, if " b b
186
11EIN DEER,
this operation the Laplanders perform with their
teeth ; these become sooner fat when taken from
labour ; and they are found to be stronger in draw-
ing the sledge. There is usually one male left
entire for every six females ; these are in rut from
the feast of St. Matthew to about Michaelmas.
At this time, their horns are thoroughly burnished,
and their battles among each other are fierce and
obstinate. The females do not begin to breed till
they are two years old ; and then they continue
regularly breeding every year till they are superan-
nuated. They go with young above eight months,
and generally bring forth two at a time. The
fondness of the dam for her young is very remark-
able ; it often happens, that when they are separated
from her, she will return from pasture, keep calling
around the cottage for them, and will not desist
until, dead or alive, they are brought and laid at
her feet. They are at first of a light brown ; but
they become darker with age ; and at last the old
ones are of a brown, almost approaching to black-
ness. The young follow the dam for two or three
years ; but they do not attain their full growth
until four. They are then broke in, and managed
for drawing the sledge ; and they continue service-
able for four or five years longer. They never
live above fifteen or sixteen years ; and when they
arrive at the proper age, the Laplander generally
kills them for the sake of their skins and their flesh.
This he performs by striking them on the back
of the neck with his knife, into the spinal marrow ;
upon which they instantly fall, and he then cuts
the arteries that lead to the heart, and lets the
blood discharge itself into the cavity of the breasts.
There is scarce any part of this animal that is
not converted to its peculiar uses. As soon as it
begins to grow old, and sometimes before the rut,
it is killed, and the flesh dried in the air. It is
REIN DEER,
187
also sometimes hardened with smoke, and laid up
for travelling provision, when the natives migrate
from one part of the country to another. During
the winter, the rein deer are slaughtered as sheep
with us ; and every four persons in the family are
allowed one rein deer for their week’s subsistence.
In spring they spare the herd as much as they can,
and live upon fresh fish. In summer, the milk
and curd of the rein deer makes their chief provi-
sion ; and, in autumn, they live wholly upon
fowls, which they kill with a cross bow, or catch
in springes. Nor is this so scanty an allowance ;
since, at that time, the sea-fowls come in such
abundance, that their ponds and springs are covered
over. These are not so shy as with us, but yield
themselves an easy prey. They are chiefly allured to
those places by the swarms of gnats which infest
the country during summer, and now repay the
former inconveniences, by inviting such numbers of
birds as supply the natives with food a fourth part
of the year, in great abundance.
The milk, when newly taken, is warmed in a
caldron, and thickened with rennet ; and then the
curd is pressed into cheeses, which are little and
well tasted. These are never found to breed mites
as the cheese of other countries ; probably because
the mite dv is not to be found in Lapland. The
whey which remains is warmed up again, and
becomes of a consistence as if thickened with the
white of eggs. Upon this the Laplanders feed
during the summer ; it is pleasant and well tasted,
but not very nourishing. As to butter, they very
seldom make any, because the milk affords but a
very small quantity, and this, both in taste and con-
sistence, is more nearly resembling to suet. They
never keep their milk till it turns sour ; and do
not dress it into the variety of dishes which the
jaorc southern countries are known to do. The
188 BEHTDEER.
,$nly delicacy they make from it is with wood-
sorrel/ which being boiled up with it, and coagu-
lating, the whole is put into casks or deer skins,
and kept under-ground to be eaten in winter.
The skin is even a more valuable part of this
animal than either of the former. From that part
of it w hich covered the head and feet, they make
their strong snow shoes/ .with the hair on the out-
side. Of the other parts they compose their gar-
ments, which are extremely warm, and which cover
them all over. The hair of these also is on the
outside ; and they sometimes line them with the
fur of the glutton, or some other warm furred
animal of that climate. These skins also serve
them for beds. They spread them on each side of
the fire, upon some leaves of the dwarf birch tree,
and in this manner lie both soft and warm. Many
garments made of the skin of the rein deer are
sold every year to the inhabitants of the more
southern parts of Europe ; and they are found so
serviceable in keeping out the cold, that even
people of the first rank are known to wear them.
In short, no part of this animal is thrown away
as useless. The blood is preserved in small casks,
to make sauce with the marrow in spring. The
horns are sold to be converted into glue. The sinews
are dried, and divided so as to make the strongest
kind of sewing thread, not unlike catgut. The
tongues, w hich are considered as a great delicacy,
are dried, and sold into the more southern provinces.
The intestines themselves are wrashed like our
tripe, and in high esteem among the natives.
Thus the Laplander finds all his necessities amply
supplied from this single animal ; and he who has
a large herd of these animals has no idea of higher
luxury.
But although the rein deer be a yery hardy and
vigorous animal, it not without its diseases. "We
REIN DEER. 183
JiKve already mentioned the pain it feels from the
gruif, and the apprehensions it is under from the
gadfly. Its hide is often found pierced in a hun-
dred places-, like a sieve, from this insect, and
not a few die in their third year from this very
cause. Their teats also are subject to cracking,
00 that blood comes instead of nulk. They some-
times take a loathing for their food ; and, instead
of eating, stand still and chew the cud. They
are also troubled with a vertigo, like the elk, and
turn round often till they die. The Laplander
judges of their state by the manner of their turn-
ing. If they turn to the right he judges their
disorder but slight ; if they turn to the left, lie
deems it incurable. The rein-deer are also subject
to ulcers near the hoof, which disqualifies them
for travelling, or keeping with the herd. But
the most fatal disorder of all is that which the
natives call the suddataka, which attacks this ani-
mal at all seasons of the year. The instant it is
seized with this disease, it begins to breathe with
great difficulty ; its eyes begin to stare, and its
nostrils to expand. It acquires also an unusual
degree of ferocity, and attacks all it meets indis-
criminately. Still, however, it continues to feed
as if in health, but is not seen to chew the cud,
and it lies down more frequently than before. In
this manner it continues; every day consuming
and growing more lean, till at last it dies from
mere inanition ; and not one of these that are
attacked with this disorder are ever found to re-
cover.
Besides the internal maladies of this animal,
there are some external enemies which it has to
fear. The bears now and then make depredations
upon the herd ; but of all their persecutors, the
creature called the glutton is the most dangerous
and the most successful* The war between these
190
REIN DEER,
is carried mi not less in Lapland than in North
America, where the rein deer is called the carribou,
and the glutton the carcajou. This 'animal,
which is not above the size of a badger, waits
whole weeks together for its prey, hid in the
branches of some spreading tree ; and when the
wild rein deer passes underneath, it instantly
drops down upon it, fixing its teeth and claws
into the neck, just behind the horns. It is in vain
that the wounded animal then flies for protection,
that it rustles among the branches of the forest ;
the glutton still holds its former position, and al-
though it often loses a part of its skin and flesh,
which are rubbed off against the trees, yet it still
keeps fast, until its prey drops with fatigue and
loss of blood. The deer has but only one method
of escape, w hich is by jumping into the water ;
that element its enemy cannot endure ; for;, as we
are told, it quits its hold immediately, and then
thinks only of providing for its own proper secu-
rity.
Therein deer are able to swim with such incre-
dible force and swiftness across the widest rivers,
that a boat with oars can scarcely keep pace with
them. They swim with their bodies half above
water, and will pass a river or a lake even in the
coldest weather.
In Siberia, where they are extremely numerous,
they meet with a more rough and savage usage
than their fellows experience from the harmless
Laplanders. In the woody districts, where springes,
fire-arms, and spring-guns can be applied, the
natives resort to such for either the taking or kil-
ling of this harmless animal ; but in open plains,
where these contrivances would fail, many other
means have been invented. Those adopted by the
Samoydes seem the most uncommon.
These people go out in parties for th© purpose ©£
REIN DEER.
191
killing rein deer, and when they perceive a herd,
they station the tame rein deer that they bring with
them on an elevated plain to the windward. Then,
from this place to as near the savage herd as they
can venture to come without alarming them, they
put into the snow long sticks, at small distances,
and to each of them tie a goose s wing, which
flutters about freely with the wind. This being
done, they plant similar sticks and pinions on the
other side, under the wind ; and the rein deer,
being busy with their pasture under the snow,
and being chiefly guided by their scent, genera lly
observe nothing of these preparations. When
every thing is read}", the hunters separate ; some
hide themselves behind their snowy intrenchments,
while others lie with bows and other weapons in
the open air to the leeward, and others again go
to a distance, and drive, by a circuitous route, the
game between the terrific pinions. Scared by
these, the wild rein deer run directly to the tame
ones, which are standing by the sledges ; but here
they are alarmed by the concealed hunters, who
drive them to theii companions that are provided
with arms, and these immediately commit terrible
slaughter among them.
If it happens that a savage herd are feeding
near a mountain, the hunters hang up all their
clothes on stakes about the foot of the mountain,
making also with the same frightful pinions a
broad passage towards it, into which they drive
the game. As soon as they are come into this path,
the women go with their sledges directly across
the farther end of it, shutting the rein deer in,
who immediately run round the mountain, and at
every turn are saluted by a shot from the hun-
ters.
On these occasions it is necessary that a number
of people should be present The Samoydes,
132
REIN DEER.
therefore; have recourse to other inventions to de-
ceive the caution of these animals. The marks-
man, for example, goes, clad in rein deer skins,
stooping in the middle of five or six rein deer,
trained for the purpose, which he leads by a rope
fastened to his girdle; and he is enabled, by this
means to approach very near the wild herd without
bein g bet raved.
O J,
In autumn, which is the rutting season, the hun-
ters pick out , a strong and vigorous buck from
their droves, to whose antlers they tie nooses, and
then turn him loose among the wild herd. The
wild stag, on observing a strange rival, immedi-
ately rushes on to fight him. During the combat,
lie so entangles his antlers in the loops, that when
lie descries the hunter, and strives to escape, the
tame buck strikes his head to the ground, and
there pins his antagonist fast till the marksman
can kill him.
Ail persons who have described the rein deer,
Iiave taken notice of a cracking noise which they
make when they move their legs. This has been
attributed to the animals separating and afterwards
bringing together the divisions of their hoofs ;
which, as they inhabit a country generally covered
with snow, are therefore admirably adapted to the
surface they have mosf commonly to tread. The
under part is entirely covered, with hair, in the
same manner that the claw of the ptarmigan
is with feathery bristles, which is almost the only
bird that can endure the rigour of the same cli-
mate.
The hoofs, however, are not only thus protected;
but the same necessity which obliges the Lapland-
ers to use snow shoes, makes the extraordinary
width of the rein deer's hoofs to be equally con-
venient in passing* oVer snow, as it prevents their
sinking too deep, which they w ould be subject to
REIN DEER.
193
eternally, did the weight of their body rest only on
a small point. This quadruped has, therefore,
an instinetto use a hoof of such a fbrm in a stilt
more advantageous manner, by separating it when
the foot is to touch the ground, so as to cover a
larger surface of snow. The instant, however,
that the leg of this animal is raised, the width
of the foot becomes inconvenient, especially when
it is going against the wind ; the hoof there-
fore, is then immediately contracted, and the
collision of the parts occasions the snapping which
is heard upon every motion of the animal.
Pontoppidan tells us, that the rein deer has
over his eyedids a kind of skin, through which it
peeps, when otherwise, in hard showers of snow*
it would be obliged to shut its eyes entirely. He
however, seems to have mistaken this for, probably*
a breathing-hole, somewhat similar to that near
the eye of the fallow deer, and some of the spe-
cies of antelope.
The rein deer cast their horns annually. The
rudiments of the new horns are at first covered
with a kind of woolly membrane, which the crea^-
ture, after some time, rubs off. They also change
their hair every spring, during which time they
are very lean, and of little use.
Rein deer were formerly known in Iceland, but
by order of governor Thodal, thirteen head were
sent over from Norway in the year 1770, of which
ten died from want of proper attention before they
reached the place. The three remaining ones
throve exceedingly wcll> and in the first two years
had several fawns. They have there their proper
food, for Iceland abounds with all those mosses,
to which these animals have so great a partiality.
Sir Henry George Liddell, bart. brought with
him from Lapland, in the year 17S6, five rein deer
to England, whickhe kept at his seat at Esjington
vol. ii, c e
m
STAG,
Castle iri Northumberland. They bred, and there
was every prospect that they would succeed and
even become prolific ; but, unfortunately, some of
them were killed, and the others died in conse-
quence of a disorder similar to that called the rot
in sheep, supposed to have been occasioned by
the richness of the grass on which they were fed.
Stag,
The stag is an animal of a stately elegant form0
When full grown., he is commonly between four
and five feet high. Often, when he enjoys abun-
dance of food, and lives undisturbed by mankind
or the beasts of prey, he attains a much larger
size. His legs are slender and elegant ; his tail
is short ; his ears large and pointed ; his horns
lofty and branchy. The hind is of a smaller and
more slender form, and destitute of horns. A red-
dish brown colour, which has gained this species
the appellation of red deer, distinguishes the up-
per part of the body ; the hinder part of the neck,
and the space between the shoulders, are marked
with a black list ; some part of the face is com-
monly black ; the belly and the lower side of
the tail are white. Sometimes we see yellow
stags ; and sometimes, but very seldom, a white
one.
If we compare the stag and the bull , as to shape
and form, no two animals can be more unlike ;
and yet, if we examine their internal structure, w£
shall find a striking similitude between them,
Indeed their differences, except to a nice observer,
will scarcely be perceivable. All of the deer kind
want the gall bladder ; their kidneys are formed dif-
ferently ; their spleen is also proportionably larger ;
their tail is shorter ; and their horns, which aie
solid, are renewed every year. Such are the disr
HEX.-88
STAG
195
criminations between two animals, one of which
is among the swiftest, and the other the heaviest
of the brute creation. *
The stag is one of those' innocent and peaceable
animals that seems made to embellish the forest,
and animate the solitudes of nature. The easy
elegance of his form, the lightness of his motion*,
those large branches that seem made rather for
the ornament of his head than its defence, the size,
the strength, and the swiftness of this beautiful
creature, all sufficiently rank him among the first
of quadrupeds, among the most noted objects of
human curiosity.
The stag, or hart, whose female is called the
hind, and the young a calf, differs in size and in
horns from a fallow deer. He is much larger,
and his horns are round ; whereas in the fallow
kind they are broad and palmated. By these the
animal’s age is known. The first year the stag
has no horns, but a horny excrescence, which is
short, rough, and covered with a thin, hairy skin.
The next year the horns are single and straight ;
the third year they have, two antlers, three the
fourth, four the fifth, and five the sixth ; this
number is not always certain, for sometimes there
are more, and often less. When arrived at tire
sixth year, the antlers do not always increase ; and
although the number may amount to six or seven
on each side, yet the animal's age is then estimated
rather from the size of the antlers, and the thick-
ness ©f the branch which sustains them, than from
their variety. These horns, large as they seem,
are, notwithstanding, shed every year, and new
ones come in their place. The old horns are of a
firm, solid texture. But while young, nothing
can be more soft or tender ; and the animal, as if
conscious of his own imbecility at those times,
instantly upoii sheading his former horns, retires.
1%
SIA®.
from the rest of his fellows, and hides himself m
solitudes and thickets, never venturing out to
pasture, except by night. During this time, which
most usually happens in the spring, the new horns
are very painful, and have a quick sensibility ot
any external impression. The flies, a. so, are ex-
trernely troublesome to him. When the old horn
is fallen off, the new does not begin immediately
to appear ; but the bones of the skull are seen
covered only with a transparent periosteum or
skin, which, as anatomists teach us„ covers the
bones of all animals. After a short time, how.*,
ever, this skin begins to swell, and to form a
soft tumour, which contains a great deal of blood,
and which begins to be covered with a downy sub-
stance that has the feel of velvet, and appears near-
ly of the same colour with the rest of the animal's
hair. This tumour every day buds forward from
the point like the graft of a tree ; and, rising, by
degrees from the head, shoots out the antlers on
either side3 so that in a few^days, in proportion as
the animal is in condition, the whole head is com-
pleted. However, as was said above, in the
beginning, its consistence is very soft, and has a
sort of bark, which is no more than a continua-
tion of the integument of the skulh It is vel-
veted and downy 3 and every where furnished with
blood-vessels, that supply the growing horns with
nourishment. As they creep along the sides of th$
branches, the print is marked over the whole sur-
face; and the larger the blood-vessels, the deep-
er these ma,rk( are found to be : from hence arises-
the inequality of the surface of the deer's horns ;
which, as we see, are furrowed all along the
sides, the impressions diminishing towards the
point, where the substance is as smooth and as
solid as ivory. But it ought to be observed, that
this substance, of which the horns are compose^
STAG.
19?
begins to harden at the bottom while the upper
part remains soft, and still continues growing ;
from whence it appears that the horns grow dif-
ferently in deer from those of sheep or cows ; in
which they are always seen to increase from the
bottom. However, when the w hole head has re-
ceived its full growth, the extremities then begin
to acquire their solidity ; the velvet covering, or
bark, with its blood-vessels, dry up, and then
begin to fall ; and this the animal hastens, by
rubbing its antlers against every tree it meets.
In this manner, the whole external surface being
stripped off by degrees, at length the whole head
acquires its complete hardness, expansion and
beauty.
It would be a vain task to inquire into the
cause of the annual production of these horns ;
it is sufficient to observe, that if a stag be castra-
ted when its horns are fallen off they will never
grow again ; and, on the contrary, if the same
operation be performed when they are on, they
will never fall off. If only one of his tes-
ticles are taken out, he will want the horn on that
side ; if one of the testicles only be tied up, he
will want the hern of the opposite side. The
increase of their provision also tends to facilitate
the growtii and the expansion of the horns ; and
M. Buffon thinks it possible to retard their:
growth entirely by greatly retrenching their food.
As a proof of this, nothing can be more obvious
than the difference between a stag bred in fertile
pastures and undisturbed by the hunter, and one
often pursued and ill-nourished. The former has
his head expanded, his antlers numerous, and the
branches thick the latter has but few antlers,
the traces of the blood-vessels upon them are but
slight, and the expansion but little. The beauty
stnd size of their horns, therefore, mark tlieiy
198
STAG.
strength and their vigour ; such of them as are
sickly, or have been wounded, never shooting out
that magnificent profusion so much admired in
this animal. Thus the horns may, in every res-
pect, be resembled to a vegetable substance, graft-
ed upon the head of an animal. Like a vegetable
they grow from the extremities ; like a vegetable
they are for a while covered with a bark that
nourishes them ; like a vegetable they have their
annual production and decay ; and a strong
imagination might suppose that the leafy produc-
tions on which the animal feeds, go once more to
vegetate in his horns.
About the beginning of spring, all of this
kind are seen to shed their horns, which fall off
of themselves ; though sometimes the animal as-
sists the efforts of nature, by rubbing them against
a tree. It seldom happens that the branches on
both sides fall off the same time, there often be-
ing two or three days between the dropping of
the one and the other. The old stags usually
shed their horns first ; which generally happens
towards the latter end of February, or the begin-
ning of March. Those of the second head, (name-
ly, such as are between five and six years old) shed
their horns about the middle or latter end of
March ; those still younger, in the month of April ;
and the youngest of all, not till the middle or latter
end of May ; they generally shed them in pools
of water, whither they retire from the heat : and
this has given rise to the opinion of their always
hiding their horns. These rules, though true in
general, are yet subject to many variations ; and
Universally it is known that a severe winter retards
the shedding of the horns. The horns of the
stag generally increase in thickness and in height
from the second year of its age to the eighth. In
this state of perfection they continue during the
STAG.
199
vigour of life ; but as the animal grows old, the
horns feel the impressions of age, and shrink like
the rest of the body. No branch bears more than
twenty or twenty-two antlers, even in the highest
state of vigour : and the number is subject to great
variety ; for it happens that the stag at one year,
has either less or more than the year preceding, in
proportion to the goodness of his pasture, or the
continuance of his security, as these animals seldom
thrive when often rouzed by the hunters. The
horns are also found to partake of the nature of
the soil ; in the more fertile pastures they are
large and tender ; on the contrary, in the barren
soil, they are hard, stunted, and brittle. As scon
as the stags have shed their horns, they separate
from each other, and seek the plainer parts of
the country, remote from every other animal,
which they are utterly unable to oppose. They
then walk with their heads stooping down, to keep
their horns from striking against the branches of
the trees above. In this state of imbecility they
continue near three months bfefore their heads have
acquired their full growth and solidity ; and then,
by rubbing them against the branches of every
thicket, they at length clear them of the skin
which had contributed to their growth and nou-
rishment. It is said by some that the horn takes
the colour of the sap of the tree against which it
is rubbed ; and that some thus become red, when
rubbed against the heath ; and others brown, by
rubbing against the oak ; this, however, is a mis-
take, since stags kept in parks where there are no
trees, have a variety in the colour of their horns,
which can be ascribed to nothingbut nature.
This animal may differ in the term of his life
according to the goodness of his pasture, or the un-
disturbed repose he happens to enjoy. These are
advantages that influence not only his age, but his
200
STAG.
size and his vigour. The stags of t lie plains, the
valleys, and the little hills, which abound in corn
and pasture, are much more corpulent and much
taller than such as are bred on the rocky waste, or
the heathy mountain. The latter are low, small,
and meagre, incapable of going* so swift as the
former, although they are found to hold out much
longer. They are also more artful in evading the
hunters ; their horns are generally black and short,
while those of the lowland stags are reddish and
flourishing; so that the animal seems to increase
in beauty and stature in proportion to the goodness
of the pasture, which he enjoys in security.
Of all the animals that are natives of this climate,
there are none that have such a beautiful eye as
the stag ; it is sparkling, soft, and sensible. His
senses of .smelling and hearing are in no less per-
fection. When he is in the least alarmed, he lifts
the head and erects the ears, standing for a few
minutes as if in a listening posture. Whenever
he ventures upon some unknown ground, or quits
his native covering, he first stops at the skirt of the
plain to examine all around ; he next turns against
the wind to examine by the smell, if there be any
enemy approaching. If a person should happen
to whistle or call out, at a distance, the stag is seen
to stop short in his slow measured pace, and gazes
upon the stranger with a kind of aukward admira-
tion ; it the cunning animal perceives neither dogs
nor fire-arms preparing against him, he goes for-
ward, quite unconcerned, amd slowly proceeds
without offering to fly. Man is not the enemy he
is most afraid of; on the contrary, he seems to be
delighted with the sound of the shepherd’s pipe |
and the hunters sometimes make use of that in-
strument to allure the poor animal to his destruo
tion.
The stag eats slowly, and is very delicate in tn$
j6TA6o
choice of his pasture. When he has eaten a suf-
ficiency, he then retires to the covert of some
thicket to chew the cud in security. His rumina-
tion, however, seems performed with much greater
difficulty than with the cow or sheep ; for the grass
is not returned from the first stomach without
much straining, and a kind of hiccup, which is
easily perceived during the whole time it continues.
This may proceed from the greater length of his
neck and the narrowness of the passage, all those
of the cow and the sheep kind having it much
wider.
This animal’s voice is much stronger, louder,
and more tremulous in proportion as he advances
in age ; in the time of rut it is even terrible. At
that season he seems so transported with passion,
that nothing obstructs his fury ; and, when at bay,
he keeps the dogs off with great intrepidity. Some
years ago, William Duke of Cumberland caused a ti-
ger and a stag to be inclosed in the same area ; and
the stag made so bold a defence, that the tiger was at
last obliged to fly. The stag seldom drinks in the
winter, and still less in the spring, while the plants
are tender and covered with dew. It is in the beat
of summer, and during the time of rut, that he is
seen constantly frequenting the side of rivers and
lakes, as well to slake his thirst, as to cool his
ardour. He swims with great ease and strength,
and best at those times when he is fattest, his fat
keeping him buoyant, like oil upon the surface of
the water. During the time of rut he even ven-
tures out to sea, and swims from one island to
another, although there may be some leagues dis-
tance between them.
The cry of the hind, or female, is not 30 loud as
that of the male, and is never excited but by ap-
prehension for herself or her young. It needs
scarce be mentioned that she hat no horns, or that
YQL, n» D d
203
STAG.
she is more feeble and unfit f tit bunting than the
male. When once they have conceived, they sepa-
rate from the males, and then they both herd apart.,
The time of gestation continues between eight and
nine months, and they generally produce but one
at a time. Their usual season for bringing forth,
is about the month of May, or the beginning of
June, during which they take great care to hide
their young in the most obscure thickets. Nor is
this precaution without reason, since almost every
creature is then a formidable enemy. The eagle,
the falcon, the osprey, the wolf, the dog, and all
the rapacious family of the cat kind, are in conti-
nual employment to find out her retreat. But,
what is more unnatural still, the stag himself is a
professed enemy, and she is obliged to use all her
arts to conceal her young from him, as from the
most dangerous of her pursuers. At this season,
therefore, the courage of the male seems transferred
to the female ; she defends her young against her
less formidable opponents by force ; and when
pursued by the hunter, she even offers herself to
mislead him from the principal objects of her con-
cern. She dies before the hounds for half the day,
and then returns to her young, whose life she has
thus preserved at the hazard of her own. The
calf, for so the young of this animal is called,
never quits the dam during the whole summer ; and
in winter, the hind, and all the males under a year
old, keep together, and assemble in herds, which
are more numerous in proportion as the season is
more severe. In the spring they separate ; the
hinds to bring forth, while none but the year old*
remain together ; these animals^ are, however, in
general, fond of herding and grazing in com-
pany ; it is danger or necessity alone that separates
them.
The dangers they have to fear from other ani-
203
STA.U*
mals, are nothing when compared to those from
man. The men of every age and nation have
made the chase of the stag one of their most fa-
vourite pursuits ; and those who first hunted from
necessity, have continued it for amusement. la
our own country, in particular, hunting was ever
esteemed as one of the principal diversions of the
great. At first, indeed, the beasts of chase had
the whole island for their range, and knew no
other limits than those of the ocean.
In the present cultivated state of this country,
the stagis unknown in its wild natural state ; and
such of them as remain among us are kept, under
the name of red deer, in parks among the fallow
deer. But they are become less common than
formerly ; its excessive viciousness, during the
rutting season, and the badness of its flesh, in-
ducing most people to part with the species. The
few that still remain wild, are to be found on the
moors that border on Cornwall and Devonshire
and in Ireland, on most of the large mountains of
that country.
In England, the hunting the stag and the buck
are performed in the same manner ; the animal is
driven from some gentleman’s park, and then hunt-
ed through the open country. But those who
pursue the wild animal, have a much higher object,
as well as a greater variety in the chase. To let
loose a creature that was already in our possession,
in order to catch it again, is hut a poor pursuit, as
the reward, when obtained, is only what we before
had given away. But to pursue an animal that
owns no proprietor, and which he that first seizes
may be said to possess, has something in it that
seems at least more rational ; this rewards the hunt-
er for his toil, and seems to repay his industry.
Besides, the superior strength and swiftness of the
wild animal prolongs the amusement ; it is possess*
STAS*'
204
ed of more various arts to escape the hunter, and
leads him to precipices where the danger ennobles
the chase. In pursuing the animal let loose from
a park, as it is unused to danger, it is but little
versed in the stratagems of escape ; the hunter fol-
lows as sure of overcoming, and feels none of those
alternations of hope and fear which arise from the
uncertainty of success. But it is otherwise with
the mountain stag : having spent his whole life in
a state of continual apprehension ; having frequent-
ly been followed, and as frequently escaped, he
knows every trick to mislead, to confound, or in-
timidate his pursuers ; to stimulate their ardour,
and enhance their success.
Those who hunt this animal have their peculiar
terms for the different objects of their pursuit.
The professors in every art take a pleasure in thus
employing a language known only to themselves,
and thus accumulate words, which to the ignorant
have the appearance of knowledge. In this manner,
the stag is called the first year, a calf, or hind calf ;
ihe second year, a knobber ; the third, a brock ;
the fourth, a stag-guard ; the fifth, a stag ; the
sixth, a hart. The female is called a hind ; the
first year she is a calf; the second a hearse; the
third, a hind. This animal is said to harbour in
the place where he resides.
Such are but a few of the many terms used by
hunters in pursuing of the stag, most of which are
now laid aside, or in use only among gamekeepers,
The chase, however, is continued in many parts of
the country where the red deer is preserved, and
still makes the amusement of such as have not
found out more liberal entertainments. In those
few places where the animal is perfectly wild, the
amusement, as was said above, is superior. The
first great care of the hunter, when he leads out
his hounds to the mountain side., where the deer i\\'&
STAG,
205
generally known to harbour, is to make choice of a
proper stag to pursue. His ambition is to unhar-^
hour the largest and the boldest of the whole herd ;
apd for this purpose he examines the track, if there
be any, which if he finds long and large, he con-
cludes that it must have belonged to a stag, and
not a hind, the print of whose foot is rounder.
Those marks also which he leaves on trees, by the
rubbing of his horns, show his size, and point him
out as the proper object of pursuit. Now to seek
out a stag in his haunt, it is to be observed, that he
changes his manner of feeding every month. From
the conclusion of ruttingtime, which is November,
he feeds in heaths and b too my places. In Decem-
ber they herd together, and withdraw into the^
strength of the forests, to shelter themselves from
the severe weather, feeding on holm, elder trees,
and brambles. The three following months they
leave herding, but keep four or five in a company,
and venture out to the corners of the forest, where
they feed on winter pasture, sometimes making their
incursions into the neighbouring corn-fields, to feed
upon the tender shoots, just as they peep above
ground. In April and May they rest in thickets
and shady places, and seldom venture forth, unless
rouzed by approaching danger. In September and
October their annual ardour returns ; and then
they leave the thickets, boldly facing every danger,
without any certain place for food or harbour.
When, by a knowledge of these circumstances, the
hunter has found out the residence, and the quality
of his game, his next care is to uncouple and cast off
his hounds in the pursuit : these no sooner perceive
the timorous animal that flies before them, but they
altogether open in full cry, pursuing rather by the
scent than the view, encouraging each other to
continue the chace, and tracing the flying animal
yrith the most amazing sagacity , The hunters also
206
STAG.
are not less ardent in their speed on horseback,
cheering up the dogs, and directing them where
to pursue. On the other hand, the stag, when
unharboured, flies at first with the swiftness of the
wind, leaving his pursuers several miles in the
rear ; and at length having gained his former co-
verts, and no longer hearing the cries of the dogs
and men that he had just left behind, he stops,
gazes round him, and seems to recover his natural
tranquillity. But this calm is of short duration,
for his inveterate pursuers slowly and securely
trace him along, and he once more hears the ap-
proaching destruction from behind. He again,
therefore, renews his efforts to escape, and again
leaves his pursuers at almost the former distance ;
but this second effort makes him more feeble than
before, and when they come up a second time, he
is unable to outstrip them with equal velocity.
The poor animal now, therefore, is obliged to
have recourse to all his little arts of escape, which
sometimes, though but seldom, avail him. In pro-
portion as his strength fails him, the ardour of
his pursuers is inflamed ; he tracks more heavily
on the ground, and this increasing the strength of
the scent, redoubles the cries of the hounds, and
enforces their speed. It is then that the stag seeks
for refuge among the herd, and tries every artifice
to put off some other head for his own. Some-
times he will send forth some little deer in his stead,
in the mean time lying close himself, that the
hounds may overshoot him. He will break into
one thicket after another, to find deer, rousing
them, gathering them together, and endeavouring
to put them upon the tracks he has made. His
old companions, however, with a true spirit of
ingratitude, now all forsake and shun him with
the most watchful industry, leaving the unhappy
creature to take his fate by himself. Thus ab&Q^
STAG
207
cloned of his fellows, he again tries other arts, by
doubling and crossing in some hard beaten high-
way, where the scent is least perceivable. He
now also runs against the wind, not only to cool
himself, but the better to hear the voice, and judge
of the distance of his implacable pursuers. It is
now easily peroeivable how sorely he is pressed, by
his manner of running, which, from the bounding,
easy pace with which he began, is converted into a
stiff and short manner of going ; his mouth also is
black and dry, without foam on it ; his tongue
hangs out ; and the tears, as some say, are seen
starting from his eyes. His last refuge, when every
other method of safety has failed him, is to take the
water, and to attempt an escape by crossing what-
ever lake or river he happens to approach. While
swimming, he takes all possible care to keep in
the middle of the stream, lest by touching the
bough of a tree, or the herbage on the banks,
he may give scent to the hounds. He is also
ever found to swim against the stream ,* whence
the huntsmen have made into a kind of proverb.
That he that would his chase find, must up with
the river and down with the wind. On this oc-
casion too he will often cover himself under water,
so as to show nothing but the tip of his nose.
Every resource, and every art being at length ex-
hausted, the poor creature tries the last remains
€>f his strength, by boldly opposing those enemies
he cannot escape ; he therefore faces the dogs and
men, threatens with his horns, guards himself on
every side, and for some time stands at bay. In
this manner, quite desperate, he furiously aims at
the first dog or man that approaches ; and it often
happens that he does not die unrevenged. At
that time the more prudent, both of the dogs and
men, seem willing to avoid him; but the whole
208
STAG.
pack quickly coming' up, he is soon surrounded
and brought down, and the huntsman winds a
treble mort, as it is called, with his horn.
This species were once numerous through Bri-
tain, The Saxon monarchs of England formed
some uncultivated tracts into forests for deer.
The princes of the Norman line, animated with
the most extravagant passion for the chace, and
careless of the welfare of their subjects, depopu-
lated their kingdom, razing villages, and levelling
churches and other religious houses, to form
forests for the maintenance of these and other wild
beasts. But in the progress of liberty and civili-
zation, the number and extent of those forests
were greatly reduced. Our monarchs learned to
consult the happiness of their subjects, and the
population of their dominions, in preference to
their own diversions. And though there are still
several royal forests in England, these are not
many, nor are they guarded by the same san-
guinary laws as formerly.
Besides being a tyrannical encroachment on the
liberties of the subject, and a savage depopulation
of the kingdom, the existence of so many forests, and
the forest-laws, were calculated to produce the most
unfavourable effects on the morals of the lower
classes of the people. Deer stealing was a crime
of which, when they could escape detection, the
youth made very light. But the parties who en-
gaged in such an enterprise were generally lost to
sobriety and industry, and had their morals com-
pletely corrupted. We iudeed owe the dramatic
productions of our admired Shakespeare to the
prosecution for deer stealing, which drove him
from his original occupation. But the same cir-
cumstances which excited a Shakespeare to the
exertion of powers of genius, that might other**
If SOI?
wise have lain dormant, -would undoubtedly con-
duct many others to extremities of guilt and mi-
sery.
The deer stealers practised some singular arts,
and had often dangerous and surprising adventures
in pursuing their forbidden sports. They would
sometimes watch the pregnant hind to her lair, and
when the calf was dropped, pare its feet to the quick,
to prevent its escape till it became large and fat
enough to be killed. Sometimes, a brother deer
stealer was by moon shine mistaken for a deer, and
shot at with a bullet. Some of those fellows once
advancing with a dog to a place in Wolmer forest,
where they suspected a calf to hp,ve been der
posited, the parent hind rushed out from the brake,
and making a vast spring with all her feet close
together, pitched upon the neck of the dog, wh$
fell dead to the ground.
In the Highlands of Scotland, there are still
some red deer. Before the hereditary jurisdiction
of the Highland chieftains was abolished, and
means employed to weaken the attachment by
which their vassals were so absolutely devoted
to their will, thousands used to be occasionally
assembled to hunt the deer over the wild hills
©f the north ; the head of a clan went out t$
pursue his sports with a parade of attendants, as
if he had been a mighty monarch. So late as in
the beginning of the last century, there were red
deer scattered over the hills of Galloway. But
by the eagerness with which the peasants pursued
them, they have been long since exterminated
from that district.
These animals afford various articles of utility
to human life. The firm and |olid texture of the
horns, fits them for handles to knives and other
domestic utensils. The skin is dressed into excel-
lent leather. The flesh, though when taken in
- . yol, u* e e
210 STAG;
the rutting season, of a disagreeable taste and
smell, affords, at other times, wholesome and plea-
sant food. The tallow is made into very good
candles. Spirit of hartshorn is a well known
stimulant.
When a herd of stags have to pass a pretty wide
river, which they are able to do without much diffi-
culty, they are said to rest their heads on each other's
rumps. When the leader is fatigued, he retreats
to the rear, and suffers the next in succession to take
his place.
The natives of Louisiana hunt these animals
both for food, and as an amusement. This is some-
times done in companies, and sometimes alone.
The hunter, who goes out alone, furnishes himself
with the dried head of a stag, having part of the
skin of the neck attached to it. This, a gun, and
a branch of a tree, or piece of a bush, are all that
he has need of. When he comes near any of the wild
deer, hiding himself behind the bush, which he
carries in his hand, he approaches very gently till
he is within shot. If the animal appears alarmed,
the hunter immediately counterfeits the deers’ call
to each other, and holds the head just above the
bush ; then lowering it towards the * ground, and
lifting it by turns, he so deceives the stag with the
appearance of a companion, that he seldom fails t®'
corne towards it, in which case the hunter fires
into the hollow of his shoulder, and lays him dead
©n the spot.
When the hunters go in large parties* they form a
wide crescent round one of these animals, the points
of which may be half a mile asunder. Some of
them approach towards the stag, which runs, af-
frighted, to the other side, when finding them on
that part advancing, lie immediately rushes back
again. Thus he is driven from side to side, the
crescent closing into a circle, and gradually ap~
FALLOW DEEffc.
211
proaehing, till at length he is so much exhausted
as no longer to be able to stand against them, but
quietly submits to be taken alive. It sometimes
happens, however, that he has sufficient strength
left to stand at bay, in which case he is seized from
behind, but seldom in this case before some one is
wounded. This mode of hunting is merely adopted
as a recreation, and is called f<r the dance of the
deer.1*
Much has frequently been said of the extreme
long life of the stag, and many wonderful stories
have been related by naturalists respecting it ;
but there is great reason for supposing that this
animal does not often reach the age of fifty years.
Fallow deer.
The fallow deer is smaller than the stag, of a
brownish bay colour, whitish beneath, on the
insides of the limbs, and beneath the tail. The
horns, which are peculiar to the male, are very
different from those of the stag ; they are not
branched, but are broader towards the upper part,
and divided into processes down the outside. A
simple antler rises from the base of each, and a
similar one at some distance from the first. In its
general form the fallow deer greatly resembles the
stag ; and yet no two animals keep more distinct
or avoid each other with more fixed animosity.
They are never seen to herd in the same place, they
never engender together, or form a mixed breed ;
and even in those countries where the stag is com-
mon, the buck seems to be entirely a stranger ; in
short, they both form distinct families ; which,
though so seemingly near, are still remote ; and
although with the same habitudes, yet retain an
unalterable aversion. The fallow deer, as they
#re much smaller, so they seem of a nature leg#
#A£fcOW DEER.
212
robust, and less savage than those of the stag kind.
They are found but rarely wild in the forests ;
they are, in general, bred up in parks, and kept
for the purposes of hunting, or of luxury, their
flesh being preferred to that of any other animal.
The horns of the buck, as of all other animals
of his kind, are shed every year, arid take the usual
time for repairing. The only difference between
it and the stag is, that this change happens later in
the buck ; and its rutting time consequently falls
more into the winter. It is not found so furious
at this season as the former ; nor does it so much
exhaust itself by the violence of its ardour. It
does not quit its natural pastures in quest of the
female, nor does it attack other animals with in-
discriminate ferocity ; however, the males combat
for the female among each other ; and it is not
without many contests, that one buck is seen to
become master of the whole herd. It often hap-
pens, also, that an herd of fallow deer is seen to
divide into two parties, and engage each other
with great ardour and obstinacy. They both seem
desirous of gaining some favourite spot of the
park for pasture, and of driving the vanquished
party into the coarser and more disagreeable parts.
Each party has its leader, which is always the
oldest and strongest of the flock. They attack in
regular order of battle ; they fight with courage,
and mutually support each other ; they retire,
they rally, and seldom give up after one de^
feat. The combat is frequently renewed for
many days together ; till, after several defeats,
the weaker party is obliged to give way, and leave
the conquerors in possession of the object of their
contention.
The fallow deer is easily tamed, and feeds upon
many things w hich the stag refuses. By this means
it preserves its tenrsoa better ; and even after
# Alto# We#.
m
F itting, it does not appear entirely exhausted. It
continues almost in the same state through the
whole year, although there are particular seasons
when its flesh is chiefly in esteem. This animal
also browzes closer than the stag ; for which
reason it is more prejudicial among young trees,
which it often strips too close for recovery. The
young deer eat much faster and more greedily than
the old ; they seek the female at their second year ;
and, like the stag, are fond of variety. The doe
goes with young above eight months, like the
hind ; and commonly brings forth one at a time
but they differ in this, that the buck comes to per-
fection at three, and lives till sixteen ; whereas the
stag does not come to perfection till seven, and lives
till forty.
As this animal is a beast of chase, like the stag,
BO the hunters have invented a number of names
reiative to him. The buck is the flrst year called
a fawn ; the second, a pricket ; the third, a sore! ;
the fourth, a sore ; the fifth, a buck of the first
jbead ; and the sixth, a great buck ; the female is
called a doe ; the first year a fawn ; and the secondly
tegg. The manner of hunting the buck is pretty
much the same as that of stag-hunting, except that
less skill is required of the latter. The buck is
more easily rouzed ; it is sufficient to judge by the
view, and mark what grove or covert it enters,
as it is not known to wander far from thence ; nor,
like the stag, to change its layer, or place of re-
pose. When hard hunted it takes to some strong
held, or covert, with which it is acquainted, in
the more gloomy parts of the wood, or the steeps
of the mountain ; not like the stag, flying before
the hounds, nor crossing nor doubling, nor using
any of the subtleties which the stag is accustomed
to. It will take the water when sorely pressed,
but seldom a great river ; nor can it swim so long^
FALLOW DEER.
#14
nor"' so swiftly, as the former. In general, the
strength, the cunning, and courage of this animal,
are inferior to those of the stag ; and, consequent-
ly, it affords neither so long, so various, nor so
obstinate a chase ; besides, being lighter, and not
tracing so deeply, it leaves a less powerful and
lasting scent, and the dogs in the pursuit are more
frequently at a fault.
Fallow deer inhabit through almost all Europe.
In France and Germany, they are not numerou •,
Wild fallow deer are found in the forests of Li-
thuania and Moldavia, in Greece, and the north
of China. They were not original iy natives of
America. In Spain, they grow remarkably large.
They are more numerous in Britain than in any
other part of Europe. In Russia, they are entirely
unknown ; in Sweden, preserved in parks. One of
the breeds which have been propagated in Britain
was originally introduced from Norway by king
James I. when he went to bring home his Danish
bride.
The flesh of the fallow deer is perhaps the most
agreeable species of animal food. Both men and
dogs prefer it greatly to that of the stag. The
skin of the buck and the doe is dressed into the
best leather for breeches, gloves, &c. The horns
of this, as well as those of the species last de-
scribed, being compact, solid, and weight}', are
wrought into excellent handies for knives and other
utensils. Spirit of hartshorn is extracted from
them ; and after losing that spirit, they are reduced
by calculation, to what is called burnt hartshorn,
which constitutes a valuable material in flukes fof
promoting the fusion of metals.
ROE BUCK.
215
Roe buck.
The roe buck is the smallest of the deer kind
known in our climate, and is now almost extinct
among us, except in some parts of the Highlands
of Scotland. It is generally about three feet
long, and about two feet high. The horns are
from eight to nine inches long ; upright, round)
and divided into only three branches. The body
is covered with very long hair, well adapted to
the rigour of its mountainous abode. The lower
part of each hair is ash colour ; near the ends
is a narrow bar of black, and the points are yel-
low. The hairs on the face are black, tipped with
ash colour. The ears are long, their insides of
a pale yellow, and covered with long hair. The
spaces bordering on the eyes and mouth are black.
The chest, belly, and legs, and the inside of the
thighs, are of a yellowish white ; the rump is of
a pure white, and the tail very short. The make
of this little animal is very elegant ; and its swift-
ness equals its beauty. It differs from the fallow
deer, in having round horns, and not flatted
like theirs. It differs from the stag, in its smal-
ler size and the proportionable paucity of its ant-
lers ; and it differs from all of the goat kind
as it annually sheds its horns and obtains new ones,
yvhich none of that kind are ever seen to do.
As the stag frequents the thickest forests, and
the sides of the highest mountains, the roe buck,
with humbler ambition, courts the shady thicket,
and the rising slope. Although less in size, and
far inferior in strength, to the stag, it is yet more
beautiful, more active, and even more courageous.
Its hair is always smooth, clean, and glossy ; and
it frequents only the driest places, and of the
purest air. Though but a very little animal,
ROE BUCK.
$18
we have already observed, yet, when its young ig
attacked, it faces even the stag himself, and often
comes off victorious. All its motions are elegant
and easy ; it bounds without effort, and continues
the course with but little fatigue. It is also posses-
sed of more cunning in avoiding the hunter, is more
difficult to pursue, and, although its scent is much
stronger than that of the stag, it is more frequent-
ly found to make a good retreat. It is not with
the roe buck, as with the stag, who never offers
to use art until his strength is beginning to decline ;
this more cunning animal, when it finds that its
first efforts to escape are without success, returns
upon its former track, again goes forward, and
again returns, until by its various windings it has
entirely confounded the scent, and joined the last
emanations to those off its former course. It then^
by a bound, goes to one side, lies flat upon its
belly, and permits the pack to pass by very near,
without offering to stir.
But the roe buck differs not only from the stag
in superior cunning, but also in its natural appe-
tites, its inclinations, and its whole habits of living.
Instead of herding together, these animals live in
separate families ; the sire, the dam, and the young
ones, associate together, and never admit a stran-
ger into their little community. All others of the
deer kind are inconstant in their affection ; but
the roe buck never leaves its mate ; and, as they
have been generally bred up together from their
first fawning, they conceive so strong an atta h-
ment, that they never after separate. Their rut-
ting reason continues but fifteen days, from the
latter end of October to about the middle of No-
vember. They are not at that time, like the stag,
overloaded with fat ; they have not that strong
odour, which is perceived in all others of the deer
kind ; they have none of those furious excesses %.
feOE BUCK.
git
nothing, in short, that alters their state ; they only
drive away their fawns upon these occasions ; the
buck forcing them to retire, in order to make
room for a succeeding progeny ; however, when
the season is over, the fawns return to their does,
and remain with them some time longer ; after
which, they quit them entirely, in order to begin
an independent family of their own. The female
goes with young but five months and a half ;
which alone serves to distinguish this animal from
all others of the deer kind, that continue pregnant
more than eight. In this respect, she rather ap-
proaches more nearly to the goat kind.
When the female is ready to bring forth, she
seeks a retreat in the thickest part of the woods,
being not less apprehensive of the buck, from
whom she then separates, than of the wolf, the
wild cat, and almost every ravenous animal of
the forest ; she generally produces two at a time,
and three but very rarely. In about ten or twelve
days these are able to follow their dam, except in
cases of warm pursuit, when their strength is not
equal to the fatigue. Upon such occasions the
tenderness of the dam is very extraordinary ; leav-
ing them in the deepest thickets, she offers herself
to the. danger, flies before the hounds, and doe$
all in her power to lead them from the retreat
where she has lodged her little ones. Such animals
as are nearly upon her own level, she boldly en-
counters ; attacks the stag, the wild cat, and even
the wolf ; and while she has life, continues her
efforts to protect her young. Yet all her endea-
vours are often vain ; about the month of May,
which is her fawning time, there is a greater des-
truction among those animals than at any other
season of the year. Numbers of the fawns are
taken alive by the peasants ; numbers are found
out, and worried by the dogs ; and still more by
YOi, It. W f
SiB EO;E SUCH.:
the wolf, which has always been their most invete-
rate enemy. By these continual depredations upon
this beautiful creature, the roe buck is every day
becoming' scarcer, and the whole race in many coun-
tries is wholly worn out. They were once common
in England ; the huntsmen, w ho characterized
only such beasts as they knew, have given names
to the different kinds and ages as to the stag ;
thus they called it the first year a hind ; the se-
cond a gyrle ; and the third a bemuse : but these
names at present are utterly useless, since the
animal no longer exists among us. Even in France,
where it was once extremely common, it is now
confined to a few provinces ; and it is probable
that in an age or two the whole breed will be to-
tally extirpated. M. Buffon, indeed, observes that
in those districts where it is mostly found, it seems
to maintain its usual plenty, and that the balance
between its destruction and increase is held pretty
even ; however, the number in general is known to
decrease ; for wherever cultivation takes place
the beasts of nature are known to retire.
Many animals that once flourished in the world
may now be extinct ; and the descriptions of
Aristotle and Pliny, though taken from life, may
be considered as fabulous, as their archetypes are
no longer existing.
The fawns continue to follow the deer eight or
aine months in all ; and, upon separating, their
Jftorns begin to appear, simple and without antlers
the first year, as in those of the stag kind. These
they shed at the latter end of autumn, and renew
during the winter ; differing in this from the stag,
who sheds them in spring, and renews them in sum-
mer. When the roe buck's head is completely
furnished, it rubs the horns against trees in the
manner of the stag, and thus strips them of the
rough skin and . the blood-vessels, which no
ROE BUCK , 219
fer contribute to their nourishment and growth.
Vlien these fall, and new ones begin to appear,
the roe buck does not retire as the stag to the co-
vert of the wood, but continues its usual haunts,
only keeping down its head to avoid striking its
horns against the branches of trees, the pain of
which it seems to feel with exquisite sensibility.
The stag, who sheds his horns in sinmmer, is
obliged to seek a retreat from the flies, that at
that time greatly incommode him ; but the roe
buck, who sheds them in winter, is under no such
necessity ; and, consequently, does not separate
from its little family, but keeps with the female
all the year round.
As the growth of the roe buck, and its arrival
at maturity, is much "Speedier than that of the stag,
so its life is proportionally shorter. It seldom
is found to extend above twelve or fifteen years ;
and, if kept tame, it does not live above six or
seven. It is an animal of a very delicate constitu-
tion, requiring variety of food, air, and exercise.
It must be paired with a female, and kept in a
park of at least a hundred acres. They may easily
be subdued, but never thoroughly tamed. No arts
ca i teach them to be familiar with the feeder,
much less attached to him. They still preserve a
part of their natural wildness, and are subject to
terrors without a cause. They sometimes, in at-
tempting to escape, strike themselves with such
force against the walls of their inclosure, that
they break their limbs, and become utterly dis-
abled. Whatever care is taken to tame them,
they are never entirely to be relied on, as they have
capricious fits of fierceness, and sometimes strike
at those they dislike w ith a degree of force that is
very dangerous.
The cry of the roe buck is neither so loud nor
so frequent as that of the stag. The young ones
^0
TAIL-LESS ROE*
have a particular manner of calling to the dam*
which the hunters easily imitate, and often thus
allure the female to her destruction. Upon some
occasions also they become in a manner intoxicated
with their food, which during the spring, is said
to ferment in their stomachs, and they are then
very easily taken. In summer they keep close
under covert of the forest, and seldom venture
out, except in violent heats, to drink at some
river or fountain. In general, however, they are
contented to slake their thirst with the dew that
falls on the grass and the leaves of trees, and sel-
dom risk their safety to satisfy their appetite.
They delight chiefly in hilly grounds, preferring
the tender branches and buds of trees, to corn or
other vegetables : and it is universally allowed
that the flesh of those between one and t^vo years
old is the greatest delicacy that is known. Per-
haps, also, the/ scarceness of it enhances its fla*?
vour.
Tail-less roe.
This animal inhabits all the temperate regions
of Russia and Siberia. It is larger than our com-
mon roe buck. Rut its chief distinction is the
want of a tail. It is covered with a long thick
coat, of a clay colour on the under part of the
body ; white on the buttocks ; and on the other
parts, coloured like our roe. Its horns are di-
vided like those of our roe, into three branches,
and are tuberculated at the base.
In summer these tail-less roes inhabit the lofty
mountains of Hyrcania, Siberia, and that part of
Russia which lies north-east of the river Wolga.
In winter they descend from the mountains into
the adjacent plains.
Mimr iw/trkr .
AXIS.
221
Axis.
The axis is a very beautiful animal,, nearly
of the size of the fallow-deer ; its horns dividing
into three branches, all pointing upwards, and its
tail being of the same length as that of the fallo w-
deer.
But of this species there are several varieties*
differing in size and colours.
The spotted axis is of a light reddish brown
colour, has its body beautifully variegated with
white spots, and is marked on the lower part of its
sides, next the belly, with a line of white, the un-
der parts are of a pale colour. The tail is reddish
above, and white beneath.
Pliny mentions this as an animal of India sacred
to Bacchus, characterizing it by the resemblance
which it bears of a fawn ; and its being sprinkled
over with white spots. The same species still
abounds in India. On the banks of the Ganges,
and in the island of Ceylon, they are very common.
From India they have been introduced into Europe.
Nor is the temperature of our European climates
at all unfavourable to them. In the king of
France's parks, they have multiplied into Hocks.
In the duke of Richmond's parks in England, they
are said to have propagated with the fallow deer.
They have also bred in the prince of Orange’s parks
near the Hague. In their manners they are mild
and peaceable, and refuse not the familiarity of
mankind. Their powers of smelling are so exqui-
site, that though they readily eat bread from the
hand, they refuse a piece which has been breathed
on.
Nearly of the same figure, but larger, and never
spotted, but sometimes varying in colour from light
red to white, (in which latter state it is considered
222
' VIRGINIAN' BEER,
as a great curiosity,) is the middle-sized axis of
Pennant, an inhabitant of the dry hilly forests of
Borneo, Java, Celebes, Ceylon, and probably Su-
matra. Hundreds are often associated in one herd.
They grow very fat, and are often pursued in Java
and Celebes, by numerous hunting parties, who kill
multitudes in one expedition. Their flesh, either
salted or fresh, is excellent food. The tongue is a
delicacy. The hides are articles of traffic.
A pair of horns, similar in shape to those of the
above varieties of the axis, but considerably larger
and stronger, not less than two feet nine inches
long, and two feet four inches from tip to tip, are
to be seen in the British Museum. They are con-
jectured to belong to a still larger variety of this
same species ; a variety, which, as Mr. Pennant
was informed by Mr. Loten, are of a reddish colour,
as tall as a horse, and inhabit the low, marshy
grounds in the islands of Ceylon and Borneo.
Virginian deer.
The Virginian deer are a distinct species, corn
moo to all the provinces of North America, south
of Canada, but more numerous in the more
southern.
The horns are slender, with numerous branches
on the interior sides, and much bent forwards, but
without brow antlers. They are nearly of the
same size as the English fallow-deer, only some-
times rather larger. Their general colour is a light
cinereous brown, the head of a deeper cast, and the
belly, sides, shoulders, and thighs, brown mottled
with white ; the length of the tail ten inches.
They are numerous on the extensive plains lying
along the Missisippi and the rivers that run into
it. They are very probably likewise natives of
Guiana. Their rutting season is in September,
VIRGINIAN DEER. 223
From September till March, the bucks and does
herd together. The does then retire to bring
forth, and live apart till, with the return of autumn,
both they and the bucks again feel the influence of
passion. They are wandering restless animals. Near
the shores* they are infested by insects, which de-
posit their eggs on the head and throat of the deer ;
and worms are of consequence generated in these
parts. From this and other causes, they are, in
such pastures, always lean, and in a bad condition.
On the hills and inland plains, they are not exposed
to the same annoyances, and accordingly thrive
better. They are fond of salt, and resort eagerly
.to places impregnated with it. Their skins have
been an important article of commerce to the states,
particularly of New York and Pennsylvania, from
which places more than twenty-five thousand skins
were imported in 1764.
They are objects of great consequence to the
savages. War and the chase are the two great
employments which occupy those simple people.
The cliace not only affords the means of subsist-
ence, but prepares the hunter for enduring the
fatigues, and practising the arts and stratagems of
war. Vast numbers of those deer are annually
destroyed by the Indian hunters ; who either sur-
round them, fire the woods in which they are shel-
tered, and, driving them into some peninsula or
narrow defile, slaughter crowds at once, without
difficulty ; or, with greater artifice, disguise them-
selves in the skins of deer formerly killed, having
the heads and horns still appended to them, and
thus deceiving the unwary animals to approach
familiarly, slay them before they suspect their
danger.
224 MEXICAN, AND PORCINE DEER.
Mexican deer.
This animal, in colour, figure, and size, resem-
bling our European roe, furnished with horns of a
different form, is confined, perhaps, to the southern
regions of the new world ; to Mexico, Guiana,
and Brasil. Its head is large ; its neck thick ;
its eyes large and bright. The skin of the young
is often marked with white rays. Its horns are
strong, thick, rugged, and bent forwards ; trifur-
cated at the upper part, and furnished besides
with a sharp erect snag, separating from the
trunk of the horn, about an inch and an half above
the root. It does not live always retired in the
interior parts of the country ; but ventures out,
at times, upon the borders of the plantations.
Its flesh is not equal to that of our European
roe.
The Indian roe, whose horns are in the British
Museum, is considered by Shaw as a variety of
this species. They are about sixteen inches long,
very strong, and rugged, their ends bend forward,
and are divided into two branches, with many
processes.
Porcine deer.
The porcine deer is an oriental animal, about
three feet six inches long, and nearly two feet and
a half in height. The figure of its body is thick
and clumsy, like that of a hog. Its legs are slen-
der and elegant. Its horns are thirteen inches
long ; its tail eight ; its head ten and a half. The
upper part of the neck, body, and sides, is brown ;
the body and sides are lighter coloured.
They are natives of Borneo ; and the late lord
Clive brought one to England from Bengal. They
RZB-FACED, AND GUINEA DEER. 223
are entrapped in pit falls dug in the ground, and
covered over with slight materials, on which they
heedlessly trust themselves. Their feet are used
for tobacco stoppers. There is a spotted variety
of this species.
Rib-faced deer.
This deer is peculiarly characterized by three
longitudinal ribs extending between the horns and
the eyes. Its horns are supported on a bony pro-
cess, covered with hair, and rising three inches
above the scull. They are trifurcated, and have
the upper fork hooked. The upper jaw is on each
side armed with a tusk.
It is shaped like the porcine deer, but inferior
in size to the British roe buck. Like the roe,
this species associates only in families. They are
inhabitants of Java and Ceylon.
Grey or Guinea deer.
This deer is of the size of a cat ; with long
ears ; grey on the upper part of its body, but black
below ; and marked between the eyes with a black
line.
This is an obscure species. The only description
of it was furnished by Linnasus ; and, as the horns
were wanting in the specimen which he examined,
he could not determine certainly whether it were
a deer, a musk, or a female antelope.
• S
YOi. 1L
226
GIRAFFE TRIBE, &C.
GIRAFFE TRIBE.
In this tribe, of which but a single species has
been hitherto discovered, the horns are simple,
covered with skin, blunt at the ends, and each ter-
minated by a tuft of black hair. In the lower
jaw there are eight broad and thin front teeth, the
outermost of which on each side are deeply di-
vided into two lobes.
This animal, although nearly allied both to the
deer and antelope tripes, is so remarkable in its
structure, as, in an artificial system at least, to re-
quire a distinct classification.
Giraffe,
This extremely singular quadruped is never
met with in a wild state but in the interior parts of
Africa, and even there it has been but seldom seen
by European travellers. Its head bears a consi-
derable resemblance to that of the horse, but is fur-
nished with erect horns, covered with a hairy skin,
about six inches long ; these are blunt, as though
cut off at the ends, and each tufted with a brush
of coarse black hairs. The neck is very long,
thin, and erect, and has on the ridge a short erect
mane, which extends along the back nearly to the
origin of the tail. The shoulders are very deep,
which has given rise to the vulgar error that the
fore legs are longer than the hinder ones, a cir-
cumstance that proves on examination to be by
no means true. When they stand with their head
and neck perfectly erect, many of the giraffes
measure sixteen or eighteen feet, from the hoof to
the end of the horns. In their native wilds their
heili-cdi©
GIRAFFfc.
227
singular form gives them, at a distance, the ap-
pearance of decayed trees ; and this is not a little
aided by their colour, which is a reddish white,
marked with numerous large rusty spots.
They are of a mild and timid disposition. When
pursued, they trot so fast, that even a good horse
is scarcely able to keep pace with them, and they
continue their course for a long time without re-
quiring rest. When they leap, they lift first the
for j legs, and then the hinder ones, in the manner
of a horse whose fore legs are tied together. Their
general position, except when grazing, is with the
head and neck erect. They feed principally on the
leaves of trees, and particularly on those of a pe-
culiar species of mimosa, common in the country
where they are found, to which the extreme length
of their legs and neck admirably adapt them.
When they feed from the ground, they are under
the necessity of dividing their fore legs to a con-
siderable distance. In preparing to lie down, they
kneel like the camel.
It has been generally supposed that the giraffe
possessed neither the power nor the strength to de-
fend itself against the attacks of other animals ;
this, however, seems to be unfounded ; for M. le
Vaillant has asserted, that by its kicks, it fre-
quently wearies, discourages, and distances, even
the lion. The utility of the horns appears to he
hitherto unknown ; this writer says, that they are
not used as weapons of defence.
The giraffe is never seen near the coasts of Africa,
confining itself entirely to the interior recesses of
the forests, whence it is never taken alive except
when young. From divers accounts that have
been left to us, it seems to have been known to the
ancients. Heliodorus, the Greek bishop of Sicca,
mentions it particularly in his time, and his der»
GIRAFFE,
cription seems more original and authentic than
those of most of the old writers.
f<r The ambassadors from the Axiomitae,” he says,
rf brought presents to Hydaspes, and, among other
things, there was an animal of strange and wonder-
ful species, about the size of a camel, and marked
upon the skin with florid spots. The hinder parts,
from the loins, were low, like those of a lion ; but
the shoulders, fore feet, and breast, were elevated
above proportion to the other parts. The neck was
small, and lengthened out from its large body like
that of a swan. The head, in form, resembled a
camel, but was in size about twice that of the ly-
hian struthium, (ostrich) and it rolled the eyes,
which had a film over them, very frightfully.-— It
differs in its gait from every other land or water
animal, waddling in a remarkable manner. Each
leg does not move alternately, but those on the
right side move together, independently of the
other, and those of the left in the same manner,
so that each side is alternately elevated. It is so
tractable as to be led by a small string fastened to
the head, by which the keeper conducts it as he
pleases, as if with the strongest chain. When this
animal appeared, it struck the whole multitude
with terror ; and took its name from the principal
parts of its body ; being called by the people ex-
tempore Camelopardalis.”
The flesh of the young giraffe is said to be good
eating'. The Hottentots hunt the animal princi-
pally on account of its marrow, which, as a deli-
cacy, they set a high value upon
ANTELOPE THIBET
2W
ANTELOPE 'TRIBE,
The antelopes are in general an elegant and
active tribe of animals, inhabiting mountainous
countries, where they bound among the rocks with
so much lightness and elasticity, as to strike the
spectator with astonishment. Some of them reside
in the plains, where herds of two or three thou-
sand are sometimes to be seen together. They
browse like goats, and frequently feed on the ten-
der shoots of trees. In disposition they are timid
and restless, and nature has bestowed on them long
and tendenous legs, peculiarly appropriated to
their habits and manners of life. These, in some
of the species, are so slender and brittle, as to snap
with a very trifling blow ; the Arabs, taking ad-
vantage of this circumstance, catch them by
throwing at them sticks, by which iileir legs are
entangled and broken.
We shall complete the description of their cha-
racter from Goldsmith, who calls them gazelles.
The gazelles, of which there are several kinds*
can, with propriety, be referred neither to the goat
nor the deer ; and yet they partake of both na-
tures. Like the goat, they have hollow horns
that never fall, which is otherwise in the deer.
They have a gall-bladder, which is found in the
goat, and not in the deer. On the other hand, they
resemble the roe buck in size and delicacv of
form ; they have deep pits under the eyes like that
animal : they resemble the roe buck in the colour
and nature of their hair; they resemble him in
the bunches upon their legs, which only differ in
being upon the fore legs in these, and on the hind
legs in the other. They seem, therefore* to be of
§30 ANTELOPE TRTB1S ,
a middle nature, between these two kinds ; or, t©
speak with greater truth and precision* they form
a distinct kind by themselves.
The distinguishing marks of this tribe of ani-
mals, by which they differ both from the goat
and the deer, are these , their horns are made dif-
ferently, being annulaled or ringed round, at the
same time that there are longitudioated depressions
running from the bottom to the point. They have
bunches of hair upon their fore legs ; they have
a streak of black, red, or brown, running along
the lower part of their sides, and three streaks of
whitish hair in the internal side of the ear. These
are characters that none of them are without ; be-
sides these, there are others, which, in general, they
are found to have, and which are more obvious to
the beholder. Of all animals in the world, the
gazelle has the most beautiful eye, extremely bril-
liant, and yet sc meek, that all the eastern poets
compare the eyes of their mistresses to those of this
animal. A gazelle-eyed beauty is considered as
the highest compliment that a lover can pay ; and,
indeed, the Greeks themselves thought it no inele-
gant piece of flattery to resemble the eyes of a
beautiful woman to those of a cow. The gazelle,
for the most part, is more delicately and finely limb-
ed than even the roe buck ; its hair is as short, but
finer, and more glossy. Its hinder legs are longer
than those before, as in the hare, which gives it
greater security in ascending or descending steep
places. Their swiftness is equal, if not superior,
to that of the roe ; but as the latter bounds for-
ward, so these run along in an even uninterrupted
course. Most of them are brown upon the back
white under the belly, with a black stripe sepa-
rating those colours between. Their tail is of va-»
rious lengths, but in all covered with pretty long
hair ; and their ears are beautiful, well-placed*
'BLUET, AND EGYPTIAN ANTELOPE. 231
and terminating in a point. — They all have a do- '
ven hoof : the female has smaller horns than the
male.
Blue antelope.
This animal is larger in size than any ordinary
buck. Its horns are sharp-pointed, taper, arcuated,
and reclining backwards ; they are twenty inches
io length, and marked with tw enty prominent rings,
but smooth towards the points. The hair of the
body is long. The tail is seven inches in length :
and the hairs at the end of it seven inches. The
colour of the hair, when the animal is alive, is a
beautiful glossy blue grey : when dead, it takes
a grey colour. The belly is white ; and under
each eye, the face is marked with a large white
spot.
This animal is a native of Africa, in the neigh-
bourhood of the Cape ; but seems to be confined
within some districts at a considerable distance
from that promontory.
Egyptian antelope.
The animals of this species are of the same size
a9 our common domestic he-goat; but in figure,
colour, and agility, chiefly resemble the stag.
The lengthof a skin which Mr. Pennant examined,
was better than six feet six inches, reckoning from
its nose to the tip of the tail. The tail, which is
covered with long black hairs, is, between the
rump and the end of the hairs, two feet six inches
long.
The belly, the rump, and the legs, are white ;
but each leg is marked below the knee with a dusky
spot. The rest of the body is grey, or reddish ;
except that a black line runs along the back. The
232 LEueoRrx.”
horns are almost perfectly straight ; three feet
long ; of a blackish colour ; each about an inch
and a half in diameter at the base., and distinguished
on the lower half by twenty or more prominent
wavy rings, the upper half smooth, and tapering
into a sharp point. The distance between the points
of the horns is fourteen inches. It has a remark-
able triangular spot on the forehead, which termi-
nates in a line running down its face, and dividing
into two patches, one on each side of the nose.
This animal is found in the neighbourhood of
the Cape. It is also au inhabitant of Syria, Arabia,
Persia, India, Egypt, and Ethiopia. It is supposed
to be the zebi of the holy Scriptures. Mr. Pa-
terson informs us, from his own observation, that
the horns of this antelope are remarkably long and
sharp ; and that, when attacked by dogs, it de-
fends itself sitting on its hinder quarters. They
do not associate in herds, but in small parties of
two or three.
Leu c oryx.
The leu c oryx is of the same size with a small
bx from Wales, or the Highlands of Scotland.
Its body is thick and clumsy ; its limbs rather
more elegantly formed ; its nose thick and broad,
like a cow's ; its ears somewhat slouching; its
horns long, slender, slightly incur vated, annulated
for a part of their length, black, and terminating
with sharp points. Its tail reaches to the first
joint, and ends with a tuft.
The body of this animal is almost all over of a
milk-white colour ; only the middle of the face,
the sides of the cheeks, and the limbs, are tinged
with red. Its face is marked like that of the
Egyptian antelope.
The island of G.ow Bahrein in the gulph of
M (F^IMnr-^M TISlLi OTMi
ALGAZEL.
233
Bassora, is the native region of the leucoryx,
Mr. Pennant relates from a paper which he found
in the British museum, that Shah Sultahn Hous-
sein kept some of this species as curiosities, in a
park, at the distance of eight leagues fro nr his
capital. A fossil horn from Siberia has been sus-
pected, by Dr. Pallas, to have been produced on
the head of a leu c oryx.
Algazel,
There appears to be a considerable resemblance* ?
both in size and other particulars, between the al-
gazel and leucoryx. But the horns of the alga*
zel, though long, slender, and nearly upright, as
well as the horns of the leucoryx, differ, however,
from those of the latter animal, in being gently
arched, not backwards, but towards each other.
They are always annulated ; but the inequalities
produced by the rings on the surface of the horn
are less remarkable in some than in others. The
breast and the buttocks of this animal are white ;
the rest of its body is red.
India, Persia, Egypt, and Ethiopia, are the
countries which produce the algazel. It is a gre-
garious animal. Along a plain it moves slowly ;
but climbs the sides of hills with great vigour
and velocity. It is extremely shy and "timid ; yet,
when taken alive, is easily tamed. Autumn is its
season of love, and spring, of parturition. The
oriental bezoar, a concretion once highly valu-
ed for its supposed medical qualities, strongly
odorous, and highly aromatic, was formerly
thought to be obtained only from this animal. The
bezoar, however, is at present regarded as a con-
cretion, not peculiar to any one animal, but formed
within many other animals of the East, and even
of Europe.
VOE, II. H h
23*
ELK.' . ANTELOPE,
Elk antelope.
In size and shape this animal bears some resem-
blance to the elk. The forehead of the elk an-
telope is fla^ and broad above the eyes ; but from
the eyes to the tip of the nose becomes gradually
narrower^ till it terminates in a sharp point. The
breast is “furnished with a dewlap* covered with
long hair. On the upper part of the forehead
stands a top of erect hairs. A thin erect mane
runs along the back* from the nape of the neck to
the origin of the tail. The ears are long and
pointed. Though the body is of a thick robust
form, the legs are slender and elegant. The height
of the animal is commonly between five and six
feet. The horns are generally about two feet
long, of a dark brown colour, having each, from
the base for one third of its length, three sides,
and three ridges or ribs separating the sides, with,
a spiral wreath running over both the ridges and
the sides ; from the termination of the ridges and
the spiral wreath, the rest of the horn is round
and smooth ; both horns rise almost in an upright
direction ; only their tops are slightly bent for-
wards. The hoofs are short, and surrounded at
their junction with the leg, with a circle of black
hairs. The tail does not reach to the first joint
of the leg, but is terminated with a tuft of long
black hairs ; the short hair covering it is of an ash
colour. The whole body, indeed, except the tuft
at the end of the tail, the skin between the fetlocks
and the hoofs, and the thin erect mane, is of a
bluish ash colour tinged with red.
India, Congo, and the southern parts of Africa,
are the countries which afford these animals.
Before Sparrman, no natural historian had given
a description of the elk antelope from personal ob-
ELK ANTELOPE*' ' 235
servation. That enthusiastic student of nature
had various opportunities, in his journey from the
Cape into the interior parts of Africa, both of ex-
amining the form and appearance, and of observ-
ing the manners of this species.
They are gregarious, and are often seen in im-
mense herds in the extensive plains on the confines
of Caffraria, north-west from the Cape. The in-
dustry of the Dutch colonists, who hunt them
eagerly for their flesh, hides, and tallow, has al-
most exterminated them from the districts lying
nearer that promontory. Though the elk antelope
affords always a considerable quantity of tallow,
and is generally fat and bulky, yet he is content
with such a moderate quantity of food as he can
crop from shrubs and bushes, without requiring
large quantities of grain or grass. When hunt-
ed, these animals always run, if possible, against
the wind, and will even face the hunter rather
than flee in a different direction. Their fatness
and heaviness render it difficult for them to run
along, if hard pursued ; and it is probable that
they turn their faces against the wind, when pur-
sued, from finding that in this direction they be-
come not so soon so insufferably hot and breathless,
as when their progress is assisted by the force of
the wind. Some of the hunters pretend that they
have seen the elk antelope, when fleeing with
all speed before a pursuer, exude from his neck
a bloody froth. Sometimes a mixture of melted
fat and blood is seen to gush, on similar occasions,
from the nostrils of the panting animal. At other
times, even the younger and fleeter bucks are seen
to drop down dead, when their strength is ex-
hausted in the flight.
The flesh of the elk antelope is excellent food.
It is of a fine grain, very juicy, and tastes delich
@usly„ The breast especially, is considered as a
236
HARNESSED ANTELOPE.
great delicacy. The fat of the heart is not only
very copious, but so fine and tender as to be no
bad substitute for butter ; and the Dutch farmers
at the Cape use it without scruple in dressing their
victuals.
The hide on the neck of the elk antelope is very
thick and tough ; and, next after that of the buf-
falo, makes the best traces for waggons, halters
for oxen, field-shoes, &c. Both the Hottentots
and* the Boshiesmen use the horns of this animal,
with wooden stalks fitted to them, for tobacco
pipes ; from which they gulp up large draughts of
smoke with the gTeatest avidity. A good draw
ing* of one of these African tobacco-pipes is given
in the first of the plates annexed to the first vo-
lume of Sparrman’s Voyage.
Harnessed antelope.
This is one of the' smaller antelopes. Its legs,
like those of the other antelopes, are long and
slender ; its neck rather long and round ; its fore-
head broad, and somewhat prominent ; its ears
broad ; its horns situated almost on the hinder
part of the head, straight, spiral, and flattened so
as to have two angular sides ; its tail ten inches
in length, and covered with long shaggy hair.
The length of this animal, from the tip of the
nose to the root of the tail, is about four feet and
a half ; the height, from the heels of . the hinder
feet to the back, two feet eight inches. The hair,
over the whole body is short and smooth. The
ears are bare within. The females have no horns.
The ground colour of the body of this animal
is a deep tawny. Beneath each eye, the face
is marked with a white spot. On each side, the
body displays six’ transverse, and two longitudinal
white stripes or bands, so regularly disposed, as to
GUINEA;, AND ROYAL ANTELOPE. 237
have the appearance of harnessing. The thighs
are marked with white spots. The cheeks and the
under part of the neck are white.
This animal is very common in Senegal. It is
gregarious. Large herds of harnessed antelopes
are seen spread through the plains and woods of
the country of Podor. It inhabits the south of
Africa,, in Zwellendam and the adjoining districts
near the Cape ; but appears not farther east than
Zwellendam, in those regions, til! you reach the
country of the Tambuki. The flesh of the har-
nessed antelope is not tender or delicate.
Guinea antelope.
This animal is of a more diminutive size than
most of those antelopes we have hitherto been
describing. It is about eighteen inches high ;
with slender legs ; a considerable length of neck ;
rather a sharp snout ; its forehead somewhat pro-
minent ; large ears ; dusky eyes, and under each
a cavity into which a strong-scented oily fluid is
constantly secreted, and there becomes concrete ;
its horns not three inches long, slightly annul ated
at the base, and tapering gradually till they ter-
minate, each in a sharp point ; and between the
horns a tuft of black hairs, which serves as one of
the most striking characteristics of the animal.
The females are destitute of horns. The belly of
this elegant animal is white ; its tail, which is
short, white beneath, and black above ; the rest
©f the body of a yellowish brown colour.
Royal antelope.
This little creature is only about nine inches
high ; its legs are not thicker than a goose quill ;
23S INDOSTAN ANTELOPE.
the male has small,, straight, black horns, smooth,
shining as jet, and only two inches long ; but the
female is hornless ; the ears are broad ; the legs
are long in proportion to the size of the body, and
very slender ; the hoofs are divided ; the horns
are annulated ; and the number of rings on a horn
denotes the years of the age of the individual to
which it belongs. The colour of this little crea-
ture is chiefly a reddish brown ; but the belly is
white ; and the tail, which, though short, is co-
vered with pretty long hair, partly yellow, partly
red, and partly white.
It is amazingly swift ; it springs readily over
walls twelve feet high, climbs the loftiest moun-
tains, and is never, caught without the greatest
difficulty ; yet, when taken, and familiarized to
mankind, it becomes very tame and mild.
It is a native of Senegal, and the other hot re-
gions of Africa * and such is the tenderness of its
constitution, that it can scarce bear transportation,
and does not thrive in our colder European cli-
mates. It is called by the Hottentots noumetjes ;
it utters a long, shrill, warbling cry, amazingly
loud for so diminutive an animal. Its flesh is one
of the most exquisite delicacies that can appear on
the table of the epicure.
Indostan antelope.
The most remarkable peculiarities of this an-
telope are horns bending forwards, a mane on the
neck, a bunch on the back, and a long bushy
tail.
It is about five feet high ; the hair covering the
body is short, soft, and of an ash colour. The
tail is two and twenty, and the horns seven inches
in length. It is furnished with a dewlap on the
■ SWIFT, AND RED ! ANTELOPE. 239
lower part of the breast, like a' bull. The legs
are of an elegant slender form. The neck resem-
bles that of the camel.
This animal is an inhabitant of the most remote
parts of the Mogul's dominions in India : it is a
ruminating animal. It lies down and rises like the
camel. Its voice is of a harsh croaking sound.
Swift antelope.
This animal is chiefly distinguished by having
the extremities of its horns beet forwards in the
same manner as those of the chamois bend back-
ward. The ground colour of its body is tawny ;
but the belly, the lower part of the sides, the rump,
and the thighs, are of a pure white. The fore
part of the neck is also marked with a milk-white
spot. The individuals of the species, however,
are not all uniformly coloured. The horns are
eight inches in length, black and round, and bent
forward at the tips. The length of the body is
commonly about four feet ; and its height ap-
proaches to three. Both sexes have horns.
Africa is the native country of this species.
They are timid and gentle, easily tamed, but so
amazingly swift, that they seem to need neither
defensive weapons nor ferocity of manners to pro-
tect them from the tyranny of mankind. The
velocity of their flight has been compared by iElian
to the awful impetuosity of a whirlwind.
Red antelope.
This animal resembles the roe buck in size.
It is about four feet in length, and in height two
feet three inches. Its horns are five inches and a
half long, almost smooth, only with one or two
slight rings at the base, and bent forwards at the
240
STRIPED ANTELOPE*
point, but not so much as those of the preceding ;
its body is all over of a pale red colour ; its ears
are longer than its horns.
This species is a native of Africa. They abound
in the country of Senegal, and in the neighbour-
hood of the Cape. Sparrman considers the steen-
bock as a variety belonging to this species, distin-
guished by a white spot over the eyes.
Striped antelope.
This animal, the koedoe of the Dutch colonists
at the Cape of Good Hope, is of a beautiful tall
figure, with long slender shanks ; and though
of a less clumsy and heavy form, larger than the
elk antelope. The male koedoe is distinguished by
large spiral horns, with a ridge following The
wreath, compressed sideways, consisting of three
flexures, and measuring often between four and five
feet. The body of the animal is commonly nine
feet long, and four in height ; its predominant
colour is a rusty brown ; the face is marked with
two white lines, originally one from the corner of
each eye. A brownish white stripe extends along
the ridge of the back. Eight or nine white stripes
run down the sides. The posterior part of the
belly, w ith the fore part of the hinder leg, are also
white. A short mane adorns the upper part of the
neck. A few 4ong hairs hang between the throat
and the breast. The tail is brown above, white
beneath, and two feet in length. The mouth of
the koedo^ is furnished with cartilaginous processes
resembling tusks.
This species inhabits the south of Africa. They
are well known to the Dutch colonists at the Cape
of Good Hope, and have not escaped the notice of
the curious travellers from Europe who have
visited that region* Shrubs and low bushes afford
COMMON ANTELOPE, 241
their favourite food. Though their form seems to
promise agility and speed, yet are they said to run
slowly., and to become soon fatigued. No other
antelope is so easily overtaken by the hounds. But
when the foe approaches, the male turns, and brave-
ly defends himself with his horns. The female,
though not furnished with these weapons of de-
fence, is not swifter than the male. The flesh is
excellent food, the marrow delicious.
Common antelope.
The animals of this species are somewhat infe-
rior in size to the fallow-deer. The general co-
lour of their body is a dusky brown, mixed with
red. The belly and the inside of the thighs are
white. The orbits of the eyes are likewise white ;
and a white spot marks each side of the forehead.
The horns. are about fourteen inches long, marked
with distinct rings nearly to the points, and bended*
by a double flexure, into a form resembling that
of the ancient lyre. The females are without
horns.
Barbary and India are the regions which this
species is known chiefly to inhabit. The female
goes nine months with young, and produces only
one at a birth.
Bengal, as we learn from travellers, affords a
variety of this species, the horns of which resem-
ble those of the common antelope of Barbary ; but
its face, back* and sides, are of a very deep brown
colour ; its belly and the inside of its legs are
white ; its tail is black above and white beneath ;
and its size superior to that of the last variety.
Mr. Pennant distinguishes this animal by the
epithet brown, and conjectures that it may be the
same with the lidmee of Barbary, mentioned by
Dr. Shaw in his Travels.
VOLa II. I i
242 BARBARY ANTELOPE., AND REVEL.
In the cabinet of the Marquis de Marigny, in
the Museum that was lately sir Ashton Lever's,
and in Mr. Pennant's cabinet of natural curiosities,
there are several horns which appear to have be-
longed to a third variety of this species. They are
of a spiral form, but smooth and black. Two are
joined in a parallel direction, with the points
turned different ways ; and we learn, that, joined
in this manner, these horns are carried by the
Fakirs and Santons in India, as a sort of a weapon,
and an ensign of dignity. With the animals which
afford them our European naturalists are as yet but
imperfectly acquainted.
Barbary antelope.
This species is distinguished by horns about
a foot in length, first reclining backwards, then
bending in the middle, and reverting forwards, an-
nul ated with about thirteen rings, of which those
nearest the base encircle the whole horns, hut
those approaching to the point are only half rings,
and also furrowed longitudinally. In size and
figure these animals nearly resemble the roe buck.
The colour of the upper part of the body is a red-
dish-brown ; the buttocks and the lower parts are
white : a strong dusky line divides the brown from
the white. Each knee is furnished with a tuft
of hair. The tail is black above, and white
beneath.
This species is gregarious. In Barbary, Egypt,
Arabia, and Syria, they are seen in numerous herds,
Keyel.
Its horns are, like those of the last species,
marked with rings, from fourteen to eighteen in
number ; but instead of being round, they are
l
SPRINGER,
243
flattened on the sides. It is equal in size only to a
small roe buck. In other respects, it bears an
exact resemblance to the antelope of Barbary.
Both females and males are furnished with horns.
These animals are known for inhabitants both
of Senegal and of Persia. They herd together,
and are easily domesticated. Their flesh is juicy,
and of a very agreeable relish. It has the odour of
musko
Springer.
The horns of this species are seven inches long,
of a deep black colour, annulated near the base,
but smooth towards the points, for more than one
half of their length. They rise from the base,
almost in an upright direction ; but as they ad-
vance, bend gently towards the sides ; forming,
each, with more than the upper half of its length,
a beautiful curve. The horns of the two sexes are
similiar both in size and shape. The ears are
six inches and a half in length. The whole length
of the animal, from the nose, is but a very little
more than four feet. The tail is somewhat less
than a foot long, and towards the extremity very
slender, and covered with a few dark brown hairs,
from one to two inches and a half in length, The
eyes of this antelope are highly beautiful ; but the
face is not marked with pori ceriferi under Them.
Brown is the predominant colour of the body of
this animal. The face, the belly, and the rump
are white, A white list, which the animal can
expand at pleasure, extends from the tail half way
up the back/ The lighter brown of the neck and
sides is separated from the white parts of the body,
by brown stripes of a much deeper shade. The
ears are ash-coloured, and partly covered with very
short hairs, partly bare.
§44
SPRIKGEft,
These antelopes are inhabitants of Africa. In
seasons of extreme drought, they advance from
the northern interior parts of that continent towards
the Dutch settlements, and proceed straight for-
wards till they penetrate to the sea. When their
progress is stopped by this barrier, they return
by the same road. They journey in immense herds.
Dr. Sparrman shot one of a herd of about two
thousand, that came all to drink at the same well.
M. Yaillaint, on his return from visiting the
Gonaqois and the Caffres, to the Cape, travelled
a while in the middle of a herd of these animals,
migrating in search of water and cool shelter ;
the number of which lie estimates at much more
than fifty thousand. He, with his dogs, oxen,
carriages, and attendants, travelled : in the midst of
the herd, without giving them any alarm. He
shot among them and killed three, without scat-
tering the rest. So peaceable, so insensible to
danger, is the species, or so difficult is it for divi-
dual s wedged into so immense, unwieldy a herd, to
save themselves by flight. Hyaenas, lions, and
other beasts of prey, attend them on their march,
and thin their numbers with eager rapacity. The
Hottentots call them the lion’s flocks of sheep.
The form of the springer is remarkably elegant.
Its manners are mild and playful. It runs with
considerable velocity ; and its race is frequently
interrupted by a bound, to the elevation perhaps of
two yards. At that height, the animal seems to
suspend itself for a few moments in the air ; some-
times expands the white list on its back, and by
drooping its head, and gathering its feet together,
raises that part into a convex form ; and, at other
times, depressing its belly, sinks its back into
a concavity, till the rump and the neck almost
inset.
It would appear that the , emigrations of the
CHINESE ANTELOPE.
245
springers are not regularly periodical. They for-
sake tracts of country which are desolated by
droughty or which they have bared of herbage,
for others where they may find water and pasture.
According to Dr. Sparrman's account, they are
quickly dispersed before the pursuer when assem-
bled in moderate herds. Their flesh is juicy, and
©f a good taste. In the collection of living ani-
mals kept by the Dutch governor, there are
many of this species ; yet their economy is very
imperfectly known. Sparrman gives a fine figure
of a springer.
Chinese antelope.
This species, the tzeiran of Buffon, the yellow
goat of Du Halde, in his account of China, cal-
led by the Mongals dseren, by the Chinese hoang
yang, and whang yang, are distinguished by yel-
low annulated horns, nine inches long, di verging
much near the points ; but having these turned
towards each other. The body is nearly four
feet and a half long, and in height two feet and
a half. The head is of a thick form, and the
nose blunt and convex above. The ears are small
and sharp-pointed. The structure of the wind-
pipe forms a remarkable protuberance on the neck.
The pits in the groin are uncommonly large. The
tail is short. The females are destitute of horns.
From the beginning of May, the period at which
the animal changes its coat, the hair continues,
through summer, short, close, and tawny. As
winter advances, it becomes long, rough, and
hoary.
These animals abound in the deserts inhabited
by the Mongal Tartars, and through all the wide
tract of country between Tibet and China. They
are likewise among the animals hunted by the Bu~
246
0UREBI.
ratti, and are spread through the country between
Tangut p,nd the borders of India. They associate
in herds. Low rocky hills and dry sunny plains
are their favourite haunts. They select the sweet-
er plants. They avoid woods and water with the
most fearful solicitude. In running and leaping,
they exhibit amazing agility," and are almost in-
defatigable. When taken young, they are easily
tamed. The young are produced so late in the
season as the month of June. They are not less
watchful of their safety than swift. But notwith-
standing their vigilance and velocity, they escape
not the Mongal hunters. They spy out the herd
from an eminence, surround them secretly, and
easily shoot them attempting io escape. When
one of the herd breaks through, all his companions
follow in a single line ; whatever the obstacles
which opposed their passage ; however certain the
dangers into which they run. The hunters use a
sort of whizzing arrows with broad heads, and
having a round piece of bone with holes upon the
shaft ; the noise of which contributes much to
stupify and confound the animals.
Ourebi.
This, which seems much allied to the ritbock,
is thus described by Mr. Pennant, from Mr.
Altamand’s Supplement to the Count de Buffon's
History of Quadrupeds.
Antelope with small straight horns, small
head, long neck, long pointed ears. Colour above
a deep tawny, brightening towards the sides, neck,
head, and legs ; lower part of the breast, belly,
buttocks, and inside of the thighs, white. Tail
only three inches long, and black. * Hair on the
body short ; under the chest long and whitish ;
on each knee a tuft of hair : the females are horn-
KLIPSPRINGER.
247
less : length three feet nine inches to the tail. In-
habits the country very remote from the Cape ot
Good Hope. Seldomu more than two are seen to-
gether ; they generallly haunt the neighbourhood
of fountains surrounded with reeds. Are excel-
lent venison.'3
Shaw is not without some suspicion that this
may be only a variety of the ritbock.
Klipspringer.
This species is to be numbered among the late
acquisitions in natural history ; having been first
described by Dr. Forster.
It is a native of Africa, and is known to the
Dutch residents at the Cape of Good Hope by
the name of klipspringer. It inhabits the high-
est and most inaccessible parts of the rocky moun-
tains beyond the Cape ; leaping with surprising
agility from erag to crag, over the most tremen-
dous abysses.
Its size is that of a roebuck, and its colour
pale yellowish tawny, accompanied with a very
slight greenish tinge ; the horns are quite straight,
slender, upright, and sharp-pointed : they are
slightly wrinkled at the base, and are about five
inches in length. The female is said to be desti-
tute of horns, and has the head marked by some
black or dusky streaks ; the tail is extremely short,
so as to be scarce visible. The flesh of the klip-
springer is much esteemed as an article of food.
The Count de Buffon, in his sixth supplemental
volume, seems to consider this species as a variety
of the nagor or red antelope.
243
WHITE- FACED ANTELOPE,, &C.
White-faced antelope.
So great is the similitude between this species
and the flat-horned antelope, that the chief dif-
ference appears to consist in size ; this being larg-
er than a fallow deer. The horns resemble those
of the animal before mentioned, and are sixteen
inches long, and about five between tip and tip ;
they are very strongly annulated in the male,
but said to be nearly smooth in the female ; the
face is white ; the cheeks and neck, in the living
animal, of a bright bay ; the back, and upper
parts of a ferruginous brown, with a dark stripe
down the back ; the belly and rump white, as
was also, in the Leverian specimen, the lower half
of the legs ; the sides of the body are marked, as
in many others of this genus, with a dark or
blackish stripe ; the tail is about seven inches
long, covered with black hairs, which extend
some inches beyond the end. The figure of the
kevel, or flat-horned antelope, in the sixth vo«^
lume of the Count de Bu firm’s supplement, so
perfectly represents this species, that it might pass
for a very good representation of it ; and Shaw
confesses himself to be extremely sceptical as to
the supposed specific distinction of this as well as
of some other antelopes.
The specimen which was preserved in the Le-
verian Museum measured rather more than three
feet from the hoofs to the top of the shoulders,
and about five feet to the top of the horns.
Bitbocsl.
The ritbock or ritrebock, so named from its
chiefly frequenting reedy places, was first describ-
ed by Mr. Allamand, to whom a specimen was
BOSBOC&;
sent by captain Gordon. Mr. Allamand informs
us that its size is that of a roe buck, and its co-
lour a very elegant pale grey, with the throat,
belly, hips, and insides of the limbs, white, but
without any dusky line of separation along the
sides of the body, as in many other antelopes.
The horns are black, glossy, slightly annulated
for about half their length, and are about one
foot three inches long, bent slightly forwards,
and sharp-pointed : the ears are very long, and
near the base of each is a bare spot ; the tail is
eleven inches long, flat, and covered with long
white hairs ; the eyes are black and beautiful,
with sinuses beneath. Mr. Allamand adds, that
he received another specimen, which resembled
the former entirely as to the horns, but differed
in colour, being of a reddish tawny. The female
ritbock resembles the male in colour, but has
no horns, and is rather smaller. Mr. Allamand
farther informs us, that this animal is called by
the "Hottentots a, ei, a, each syllable being pro-
nounced with a kind of clacking of the tongue,
not easily described or imitated by an European.
The ritbocks are chiefly found about a hundred
leagues to the north of the Cape of Good Hope,
in woods, and among reeds and sedges in watery
places. They go in small herds, and sometimes
only in pairs.
Bosboce.
In its general form this seems most allied to
the harnessed antelope, but is said to be rather
smaller. Like that species, itTnhabits woods, and
is found at a great distance above the Cape of
Good Hope. Its colour is a dark brown above,
and white beneath ; tlie head and neck having
somewhat of a rufous cast, and the thighs are
VOL. II. k k
250 CINEREOUS ANTELOPE^ &C,
marked with several small round white spots. The
horns measure from ten to thirteen inches in
length, and are black; and marked in a somewhat
spiral direction; with circular rings. On the top
of the neck and back is a slight appearance of a
mane ; the tail is about six inches long; and
white. The female is said to be destitute of horns.
The voice of the bosbock resembles the barking of
a dog.
w CINEREOUS ANTELOPE.
This is described by Mr. Pennant from one of
Mr. Schreber’s plates, of which the description is
yet unpublished. It appears to be an elegant spe~
cieS; and is supposed to be a native of Africa.
The head; hind part and sides of the neck, back;
sides3 shoulders, and thighs, of a most elegant
greyish ash colour ; front of the neck, breast,
belly; and legs, pure white ; horns marked with
spiral wreaths. Mr. Pennant places it among
those whose horns incline forwards.
Sumatran antelope,
x
The Sumatran antelope seems to have been first
mentioned by Mr. Marsden, in his account of that
island; under the name of cambing ootan, or goat
of the woods. A specimen is preserved in the
British Museum; which is about the size of a
common goat; but stands considerably higher on
its legs ; its colour is an uniform black, but each
hair; when narrowly examined, is grey towards
the base ; on the top of the neck, just above the
shoulders, is a patch of whitish, bristly, long,
straight, hair, much stronger than the rest, and
having somewhat the appearance of a partial
mane ; on each side the lower jaw is a longitudi-
CORINE, AND CERVINE ANTELOPE. 251
fial patch of yellowish white ; the ears are of a
moderate size, marked internally with three obscure
longitudinal bands of white,, as in some other
antelopes ; the horns are six inches long, bending
slightly backwards, sharp-pointed, black, and an-
nul at ed near half their length with prominent rings ;
the tail is about the length of the horns, and
sharpish ; the hoofs rather small and black ; the
hair on the whole animal is rather harsh, and not
lighter coloured below or on the belly, than on the
upper parts.
Corine.
This species have very slender horns, not mark-
ed with rings, but with circular rugse. In size
they are smaller than the roe buck. The neck, the
body, and the flanks are tawny ; the belly and
the inside of the thighs white, and separated from
the sides by a dark line. The ears are large.
A white, and, beneath it, a black line, marks each
side of the face. The knees are furnished with
tufts of hairs.
Senegal, and some other parts of Africa, are the
country of this animal. Its colour, its velocity in
running, and agility in leaping, have induced some
naturalists to suspect that it might be the female of
the kevel, or flat-horned antelope.** But its horns
are remarkably different from those of that species.
Cervine antelope.
The horns of this antelope rise almost from one
base, and widening as they advance, bend, first
forwards, and then, after rising for a considerable
length, almost in an upright direction, turn their
points backward. Measuring along the exterior
curvature, they are from six to nine inches in
8E& cervine antelope/
Jpngth ; they are annulated nearly to the points j
entirely of a deep black colour ; and common to
both sexes.
It is somewhat above four feet in height, A
cinnamon colour predominates over its body. The
forehead is covered with black and brown hairs
intermixed. A broad black streak extends over
the hinder part of the haunch, down the thigh,
as far as to the knee. The anterior parts of both
the fore and the hinder legs are also marked with
black. Two narrow stripes of the same colour,
rise one behind each ear, and run nearly together
along the ridge of the back. The pori ceriferi
under the eyes are exceedingly small. The face
exhibits at least the rudiments of a beard and
whiskers. The tail reaches nearly to the joint ef
the leg ; it is covered with long bristly hairs, but
does not terminate in a tuft. The legs are of the
same slender and elegant form as those of the other
antelopes. The buttocks are finely rounded. The
ears are asinine. The head is large, and the fore-
head high. The animal has no teeth in the upper,
and only eight in the lower jaw.
This species are natives of Africa. Naturalists
have become acquainted with them in Barbary,
and in the neighbourhood of the Cape. The
ancient Romans, who ransacked almost every fo-
rest and range of mountains through the known
world, for wild beasts to exhibit in the Circus,
were not strangers to this animal. Pliny mentions
the Bubalus as an inhabitant of Africa, and as
somewhat between a calf and a stag in form. The
same animal seems to be a native of Arabia.
Travellers tell, that its young are easily tamed,
and associate readily with other cattle. The Ara-
bian name is Rakar XJasch, or Bekker el Wash.
The inhabitants at the Cape are familiarly ac-
quainted with these antelopes. They have not
GAMBIAN ANTELOPE, 253
indeed attempted to domesticate them ; but they
often pursue and shoot them in the chace. Herds
of them range through all the districts in which
the Dutch colonists are settled. Sometimes a
solitary individual or a single pair are met with.
Even at its full speed, this animal seems to
gallop with a heavy pace : yet, its motion is not
slower than that of any other of the large antelopes.
When pursued, it often turns and gazes on its
pursuer. Fighting, it drops on its knees like the
gnu, in order to rush on its antagonist with the
greater impetuosity.
Its flesh is somewhat dry, but of a fine grain,
and of an agreeable high flavour. The Dutch
colonists make handsome spoons of its horns. The
cerumen which oozes from its pori ceriferi, is es-
teemed by the Hottentots as a rare and excellent
medicine.
The Senegal antelope of Mr. Pennant is regarded
merely as a variety of this species. Its head, its
loins, its ears, are all nearly of the same form as
those of the cervine antelope. Its tail is in the
same manner covered with coarse bristly hairs.
The whole skin is seven feet in length. But if
it have a mane, as Mr. Pennant represents, that
no doubt affords reason for ranking the animal as a
distinct species. It is an inhabitant of Senegal.
The French call it La grande vache brune.
Gambian antelope.
This species bears a considerable resemblance,
in shape and colours, to what we have considered
as a second variety of the last species. Its horns
are thirteen inches long, and annulated with eight
or nine rings, but smooth at the points. Its size
is equal to that of the fallow-deer. Its fore legs
y
254 guldensted’s antelope, and gnu;
have the knees protected by a covering of long
hairs.
It is an inhabitant of Gambia and Senegal, in
Africa ; one of the most timid animals of the kind ;
when pursued, it hesitates not to throw itself down
rocks and precipices.
Guldensted's antelope.
This species was first described by Mr. Gul**
densted, in the Petersburgh Transactions. He in-
forms us that it was found in Persia, between the
Caspian and the Black seas ; that its size and
general appearance is that of a roe buck ; that
it is of a gregarious nature, and feedsjprincipally
on the artemisia pontica, or pontic wormwood.
The horns are about thirteen inches long, and
smooth at the tips, The colour of the animal is
a cinereous brown above, with the belly and insides
of the limbs, and a space surrounding the tail,
white ; the tail is short and full of hair. On
the fore part of the neck is a protuberance, but not
so large as in the preceding species. The flesh of
this animal is reckoned extremely good.
Gnu*
The form of this animal resembles partly the
horse, partly the ox, and partly the stag. It is as
large as a middle-sized horse ; the length of its
body between five and six feet ; its height between
four and five. Its neck, though neither so long
nor so slender as the neck of a horse, is, however,
longer and more slender than that of the ox, and
adorned with a stiff erect mane. Its body displays
the elegant proportions of the horse ; and its tail,
though somewhat longer, is, like that of the horse*
GNU.
255
copiously furnished with long hair. But the head
of the gnu is thick and large, and horned like
the. head of an ox. On the forehead, between the
nose and the flexures of the horns, the face is
covered with an oblong square brush of stiff black
hairs, turned upwards. On the inferior jaw too
it has a beard of thick shaggy hair. Its legs are
long, and elegantly slender, like the legs of the
stag ; the space between the fore legs is covered
with long bushy hair. Its horns are rough ; they
rise on the hinder part of the head ; and, bending
their direction forward for a short way, almost
close to the skin, they turn suddenly upwards, and
run back for a considerable length, so as to bear a
near resemblance in form, to the sickles common-
ly used through Scotland in cutting corn. The
females are horned as well as the males ; nor are
the two sexes distinguished from each other by any
difference of the horns. The horns of the young
fnu are perfectly straight ; they acquire their
exure as the animal grows older, and they longer
and thicker.
The tail and mane of the gnu are of a light
grey colour ; the shag on its chin and its breast,
and the stiff brush on its forehead, black ; and the
rest of the body uniformly dark brown.
The gnu is a lively capricious animal, fierce,
and dangerous. When irritated,1 even though at
a distance from its enemy, it expresses its resent-
ment by plunging, curveting, flinging out its legs
behind, and butting with its head against mole-
hills, bars, and other similar objects. These ani-
mals feed in large herds ; and it is only when a
straggler has been accidentally separated from the
herd, that any of them is found in a solitary state.
The voice of this species has obtained it from the
Hottentots the name of gnu ; they sometimes utter
256
CHAMOIS.
\
a sound like the bellowing of an ox,, and some-
times a clearer note.
The gnu is an inhabitant of the south of Africa.
It is found chiefly in the districts of Camdebo and
Agter Bmnfjes-hoogte. Dr. S parr man seems even
to think that it is confined within those regions.
The flesh of the gnu is very juicy, and more
agreeable and nourishing even than beef*
Chamois.
The chamois is nearly of the same size with the
domestic goat. Its neck is slender ; its forehead
elevated ; its horns slender, black, and upright,
with the points hooked backwards. Its tail is
short. Its hoofs are much divided. Its legs are
long and agile ; but not remarkably slender. Its
ears are long, erect, and pointed. Behind each
of the horns, it has a large orifice in the skin of
the head. The head is rather short on the upper
of the body ; but upon the sides, the haunches
the neck, and the belly, long, like the hair of the
common goat.
The body of the chamois isTommonly, in spring,
of a donor ash colour, which changes in summer
to a yellowish brown, mixed with black ; arid in
winter, assuming a darker shade, becomes deep
brown. Its forehead is brown. Its cheeks, chin,
and throat, with the inner sides of the ears are
white. A black line runs along the back. The
belly is yellowish. It is an inhabitant of the Alps
and the Pyrennees.
These animals are found in flocks of from four
to eighty, and even a hundred, dispersed upon the
crags of the mountains. They do not feed indis-
criminately, but only on the most delicate herbag©
they can find.
CHAMOIS,
m
Their sight is very penetrating, and their senses
cf smelling and hearing remarkably acute. When
the wind blows in a proper direction they are said
to be able to scent a man at the distance of a mile or
upwards. Their voice somewhat resembles that of
a hoarse domestic goat ; by means of this they are
called together. When alarmed they adopt a dif-
ferent noise, and advertise each other by a kind of
whistle. This the animal on watch continues as
long as he can blow without taking breath : it is
at first sharp, but flattens towards the conclusion.
He then stops for a moment, looks round on all
sides, and begins whistling afresh, which he con-
tinues from time to time. This is done with such
force, that the rocks and forests re-echo the sound.
His agitation is extreme. He strikes the earth
with his feet. He leaps upon the highest stones
he can find ; again looks round, leaps from one
place to another, and, when he discovers any thing
seriously alarming, he flies off. This whistling is
performed through the nostrils, and consists of a
strong blowing, similar to the sound which a man
may make by fixing his tongue to the palate, with
his teeth nearly shut, his lips open, and somewhat
extended, and blowing long, and with great force.
The chamois scramble among the inaccessible
rocks of the country they inhabit with great agility.
They neither ascend nor descend perpendicularly,
but always in an oblique direction. When de-
scending, in particular, they will throw themselves
down across a rock, which is nearly perpendicular,
and of twenty or thirty feet in height, without
having a single prop to support their feet. In do**
scending, they strike their feet three or four times
against the rock, till they arrive at a proper resting
place below. The spring of their tendons is so
great, that, when leaping about among the preci-
VOL. II. L 1
ar>8
NYL-GHAU.
pices, one would almost imagine that they pos-
sessed wings instead of limbs.
They are hunted during the winter for their
skins,, which are very useful in manufactures ; and
for the flesh, which is good eating. Their chace
is a laborious employment, as much care is neces-
sary in order to get near them. They are shot with
rifle-barrelled guns. They generally produce two
young ones at a birth; and are said to be long-
NYL-GHAU.
The height of the nyl-ghau is somewhat more
than four feet at the shoulder. The male is of a
dark grey colour, and furnished with short blunt
horns that bend a little forward. There are white
spots on the neck, between the fore legs, on each
side behind the shoulder joints, and on each fore
foot. The female, which is destitute of horns, is
of a pale brown colour, with two white and three
black bars on the fore pari of each foot, imme-
diately above the hoofs. On the neck and pari of
, the back of each is a short mane ; and the fore
pari of the throat has a long tuft of black hairs.
The tail is long, and tufted at the end.
In the Philosophical Transactions we have an
accurate account of this animal by Dr. Hunter.
He says, that although the nyl-ghau is usually
reported to be exceedingly vicious, yet the one he
had the care of was very gentle. It seemed pleased
with every kind of familiarity, always licked the
hand, which either stroked it, or gave it bread,
and never once attempted to use its horns offen-
sively. It seemed to have much dependance on the
©rgans of smell, and snuffed keenly, and with con-
■K-inij aMAU
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NYL-GHA0.
259
siderable noise, whenever any person came within
sight. It did the same when any food or drink
wass brought to it ; and was so easily offended
with an uncommon smell, or was so cautious, that
it would not taste bread that was offered with
a hand that had touched oil of turpentine or
spirits.
Its manner of lighting was very particular.
This was observed at Lord Clive’s, where two
males were put into a little inclosure ; and it was
thus related by his lordship : while they were at
a considerable distance from each other, they pre-
pared for the attack by falling down upon their
fore knees, and when they were come within some
yards, they made a spring, and darted against each
other.
At the time that two of them were in his stable.
Dr. Hunter observed this particularity, that when-
ever any attempt was made on them, they imme-
diately fell down upon their fore knees ; and some-
times they would do so when he came before them ;
hut as they never darted, he so little supposed this
to be a hostile posture that he rather supposed it
expressive of a timid or obsequious humility.
The intrepidity and force with which they dart
against any object, may be conceived from an anec-
dote that has been related of the finest and largest
of these animals that has ever been seen in Eng-
land. A poor labouring man, without knowing
that the animal was near him, and therefore nei-
ther meaning to offend, nor suspecting the danger,
came up to the outside of the pales of the inclosure
where it was kept ; the nyl-ghau, with the swift-
ness of lightning, darted against the wood-work
with such violence that he shattered it to pieces,
and broke ofi* one of his horns close to the root.
This violence was supposed to occasion his death,
which happened not long after. From this it ap-
260
SCYTHIAN ANTELOPE*
pears,, that at certain seasons the animal is vicious
and fierce., however gentle it may be at other times „
The first of this species that were brought into
England were a male and female, sent from Bom-
bay as a present to lord Clive, in 1767. They bred
every year. Afterwards two others were sent over
and presented to the queen by Mr. Sullivan. These
were the two above described.
They are uncommon in all the parts of India
where we have settlements, those that are found
there having been brought from the distant interior
parts of the country. Bernier mentions them in his
travels from Delhi to the province of Cachemire.
He describes the emperor's amusement of hunting
them, and says that sometimes great numbers of
them are killed ; which proves them to be in suffi-
cient plenty about their native habitations. In se-
veral parts of the East they are looked upon as
royal game, and are only hunted by the princes.
Scythian antelope.
The Scythian antelope is about the size of the
fallow deer, and of a grey yellowish colour. The
horns are annulated, about a foot long, and bent in
the form of a lyre. The head is somewhat large,
and the neck slender. The tail is about four
inches long, naked below, clothed above with
upright hairs, and ending in a tuft. , The females
are without horns.
These animals are found in several of the dreary
open deserts of the continent about Mount Cau-
casus, the Caspian Sea, and in Siberia. They
chiefly confine themselves to countries where there
are salt-springs,^ for on the plants that grow near
them, and on salt they principally feed. While
feeding, they frequently walk backwards, and
pluck the grass on each side. They are migratory*
SCYTHIAN ANTELOPE.
261
collecting in autumn in flocks, which consist of
some thousands,, and retiring into the southern
deserts. In spring they divide again into little
flocks, and return to the north.
It seldom happens that a whole flock lies down
to rest all at the same time, but some are always
stationed on watch. When these are tired they
give a jkind of notice to such as have taken their
rest, who instantly rise, and, as it were, relieve the
sentinels of the preceding hours. By this means
they often preserve themselves from the attacks
of the wolves, and the insidious stratagems of the
hunters. They are so swift that they are able
for a while to out-run the fleetest horse* or grey-
hound ; yet such is their extreme timidity and short-
ness of breath, that they are very soon taken. If
they are but bitten by a dog they instantly fall
down, and will not again attempt to rise. In run-
ning they seem to incline on one side ; and their
fleetness is for a short time so astonishing, that their
feet appear scarcely to touch the ground. In con-
sequence of the heat of the sun, and the reflection
of its rays from the sandy plains which they fre-
quent, they become in summer almost blind, which
is another cause of their destruction. In a wild
state they seem to have no voice, but when brought
up tame, the young emit a sort of bleating, like
sheep.
The females bring forth only one young one at a
time, and this in the month of May. The young
are easily domesticated ; but the old ones, when
taken, are so wild and timid as to refuse food en-
tirely. The flesh of these antelopes is sometimes
eaten/but its taste is to most people very rank and
disagreeable. The horns and skins are of consi-
derable use in a commercial view.
262
GOAT TRIBE,
GOAT TRIBE.
The animals of the goat kind live principally in
retired mountainous situations, and have a rank and
unpleasant smell, especially the males. Although
very timid and shy while they continue in a wild
stated they are easily rendered domestic, and even
familiar. They differ from sheep, not only in the
erect position of their horns, but also, when they
•fight; in rising on their hind legs, and turning the
head on one side to strike ; for the rams run
full tilt at each other, with their heads down.
The horns are hollow, rough, and compressed ;
they rise somewhat erect from the top of the head*
and bend backwards. In the lower jaw there are
eight front teeth, ■ and in the upper none ; and no
canine teeth in either. The chin is bearded.
i. - Ibex.
The male ibex is larger than the tame goat, hut
resembles it much in appearance. The head, in
proportion to the body, is small. The eyes are
large, round, and brilliant. The horns are large,
weighing sometimes sixteen or eighteen pounds,
and measuring from two to four feet in length ;
they are flatted before, round behind, and divided
by several transverse ridges ; are bent backwards,
and of a dusky brown colour. The beard is long,
the legs slender, and the body short, thick, and
strong. The tail is short, and naked beneath.
The hair is long, and of a brownish or ash-colour,
with a streak of black running along the back.
The belly and thighs are of a delicate fawn co-
lour. The female is about a third less than th«
IBEX.
263
male, and not so corpulent. Her colour is less
tawny, and her horns not above eight inches long.
These animals assemble in flocks consisting of
sometimes ten or fifteen., but generally of smaller
numbers. They feed during the night in the
highest woods ; but at sun-rise they quit the woods,,
and ascend the mountains, feeding in their progress,
till they have reached the most considerable heights.
They are generally seen on the sides of the moun-
tains which face the east or south, and lie down in
the highest places and hottest exposures ; but when
the sun is declining, they again begin to feed and to
descend towards the woods ; whither they also re-
tire when it is likely to snow, and where they
always pass the winter. The ibex inhabits the Alps,
Pyrenees, and Carpathian mountains.
The males that are six years old and upwards,
haunt more elevated places than the females and
younger animals ; and, as they advance in age, they
become more inclined to solitude. They also be-
come gradually hardened against the effects of ex-
treme cold, and frequently live entirely alone.
The season for hunting the ibex is during the
months of August and September, when they are
usually in good condition. None but the inhabi-
tants of the mountains engage in this chase ; for it
not only requires a head that can bear to look down
from the most tremendous heights without terror,
address, and sure-footedness in the most difficult and
dangerous passes, but also much strength, vigour,
and activity. Two or three hunters usually asso-
ciate in the perilous occupation ; they arearmed with
rifle-barrelled guns, and furnished with small bags
of provisions ; they erect a miserable hut of turf
among the heights, where, without fire or co vering,
fhey pass the night ; and, on waking in the morning,
they not unfrequently find the entrance blocked
up with snow three or four feet deep. Sometimes^
264
SBEX.
in pursuit of this animal, being overtaken by dark»
ness, amid crags and precipices, they are obliged
to pass the whole night standing, and embraced
together, in order to support each other, and to
prevent themselves from sleeping.
As the animals ascend into the higher regions
very early in the morning, it is necessary to gain the
heights before them, otherwise they scent the hun-
ters, and betake themselves to flight. It would
then be in vain to follow them, for, when once
they begin to escape, they never stop till they are
entirely out of danger, and will even sometimes
run for ten or twelve leagues before they rest.
Being very strong, when they are close pressed
they sometimes turn upon the incautious huntsman
and tumble him down the precipices, unless he has
time to lie down, and let the animal pass over him.
It is said also, that when they cannot otherwise
avoid the hunter, they will sometimes throw them-
selves down the steepest precipices, and fall on their
horns in such a manner as to escape unhurt. Cer-
tain it is, that they are often found with only one
horn, the other being probably broken off in some
fall. It is even pretended, that, to get out of the
reach of huntsmen, they will hang by their horns
over the precipices, by a projecting tree, and re-
main suspended till the danger is over.
The ibex will mount a perpendicular rock of fif-
teen feet at three leaps, or rather at three successive
hounds, of five feet each. It does not seem as if
he found any footing on the rock, appearing to
touch it merely to be repelled, like an elastic sub-
stance striking against a hard body. If be is be-
tween two rocks which are near each other, and he
wants to reach the top, he leaps from the side of
one rock to that of the other alternately, till he
has attained the summit. The fore legs being con-
siderably shorter than the hinder ones^ enables
CAUCASAN IBEX,
263
these animals to ascend with much more ease than
to descend ; and on this account it is that nothing
but the severest weather will induce them to go
down into the valleys.
Their voice is a short sharp whistle, not unlike
that of the chamois, but of less continuance ; some-
times they make a kind of snort, by breathing hard
through the nostrils, and when young, they bleat.
The female, in general, brings forth only one
young one at a time. Towards this she exhibits
great attachment, and will defend it even against
the attacks of wolves and eagles. She sometimes
takes refuge in a cavern, where, presenting her head
at the entrance, she opposes the strongest enemy
with great perseverance.
The ibex is supposed by some to be the stock
from which the common goat is derived.
Caucasan ibex.
I
This animal is superior in size to the largest he-
goats : its form resembles the stag ; its body is
covered with shaggy hair ; and, for the greatest
part, of a grey or a yellowish rust colour * a black
line runs along the back ; its chin is furnished
with a great beards the colour of which is between
a dun and a chesnut ; its head is of a thick form,
and remarkably hard ; its horns rise almost out
of one base ; diverge and bend backwards as they
advance towards the extremities ; but approach
nearer each other, and are hooked at the points.
They are smooth and black, with sharp ridges on
the upper parts, which are hollow on the exterior
sides. The tail is very short and black ; the neck
Und joints are remarkably stout ; the belly affords
a bezoar. The females are generally destitute of
horns ; and when they happen to be furnished with
them, they are very small in comparison with thos^
¥01.. ii. * m m
266
COMMON GOAT.
of the males. The horns of the males are com-
monly three feet in length, and often eight pounds
in weight.
This ibex displays amazing agility ; it often
leaps headlong down precipices, and escapes un-
injured, by falling on its horns. The moment it
reaches the ground, it springs up upon its legs,
and bounds nimbly away.
The lower mountains of Caucasus and Taurus,
the hills of Laar and Khorazan in Persia, the
island of Crete, and the Alps in Europe, are all
habitations of this animal.
Common goat.
The common domestic goat, believed by some
naturalists to be nearest allied to the ibex, and by
others represented as a descendant of the Caucasan
ibex, is distinguished by horns which incline
gently backwards as they rise from their bases,
increasing the curve towards the upper extremity.
The male is honoured with a beard. The finest
bucks have pendent ears, thick thighs, black
thick soft hair, a long bushy beard, a short fleshy
neck, and a light head. The best she-goats have
large bodies, thick thighs, long capacious udders,
and soft bushy hair ; and walk with a light lively
step.
The character of the goat is much less amiable
than that of the sheep. Viciousness, subtlety,
and lechery, are the predominant qualities of this
animal. Even in bis ordinary motions he betrays
the caprice of his character. He walks, runs,
leaps, retires, approaches, in the most irregular
manner imaginable. Our domestic goat, like the
ibex, is amazingly swift and agile. He mounts
the most rugged mountains, and fearlessly ap-
proaches the steepest precipices ; and though he
COMMON GOAT,
267
appears thus rashly to expose himself to certain
danger, yet such is his address in running, climb-
ing, leaping, and balancing his body in difficult
situations, that he scarce ever meets with any unfor-
tunate accident. The plants which the goat pre-
fers for food are chiefly such as are despised by the
sheep, the cow, the horse, and most other domes-
tic animals ; and indeed grow in situations where
few other animals can approach them. Hemlock,
euphorbium, and several mosses, are absolutely
delicacies to the goat. He devours, with great
avidity, the bark, leaves, and branches of most
trees.
The she-goat goes live months with young, and
brings commonly one or two, but sometimes even
three or four at a birth. The kids are usually
produced between the end of February and the be-
ginning of May.
■Though' fond of the summits of bleak and lofty
mountains, the goat is but ill qualified to bear
extreme cold. In France, goats are sheltered
under roofs in winter, as well as black cattle, and
fed with branches of trees, gathered for the pur-
pose in autumn, and with cabbages, turnips, and
other similar plants. But heat, however intense,
is scarce ever injurious to the health of goats ;
they bask in the rays of the sun, without feeling
themselves scorched, or in any other way disagree-
ably affected.
The domestic goat is well known through Eu-
rope, and even in the other regions of the globe.
Considerable numbers are kept in the mountainous
parts of Wales. The Welch goats are greatly
superior in size to any of the breeds cultivated in
other mountainous countries, and commonly of
a white colour. In Caernarvonshire, they are
generally suffered to run wild on the rocks, in
both winter and summer. If we may judge from
268 COMMON GOAT,
the expressions of the ancient pastoral poetg, goats
were in their days tended in Greece and Italy with
not less care than sheep. In Norway, goats are
numerous, notwithstanding their inability to suffer
extreme cold. Nay, in that northern climate, they
thrive so prodigiously, that, as Pontoppidan re-
lates, not less than seventy or eighty thousand raw
hides are annually exported from Bergen. Even
Iceland is “ not destitute of goats ; but that
island is so scantily supplied with trees, shrubs,
and the other plants on which these animals de-
light to browse, that they are not numerous nor
thriving there. Attempts have been made to in-
troduce this animal into Greenland ; and as the
goat, when it cannot obtain its favourite ve-
getable food, refuses not to eatt dried fish, it is
found capable of subsisting even in that barren
and dreary region. Our common domestic goat
is not, indeed, a native of America ; but with the
other chief domestic animals of the Old World,
has been conveyed thither by the settlers from Eu-
rope. In South America, these animals have muD
tiplied prodigiously ; but the climate of Canada
has been found too severe. Africa, India, Ma-
dagascar and the Oriental islands all afford this
animal. Our voyagers to the South Seas found
abundance of goats in the island of Juan Fernan-
dez ; which, though in consequence of living in
regions where they are almost totally sequestered
from human intercourse, they were become in
their character and dispositions absolutely wild,
yet were of the same variety with the common
domestic goat of Europe. In Batavia, the Dutch
colonists have, among their other domestic animals,
herds of goats.
A small island between Bonavista and Mayo is
related by an English voyager who visited these,
the Cape dp Verd islands, and the coast of Guinea,
COMMON GOAT.
269
in the year 1566, to have contained at that time
such numbers of goats, that the Portuguese who
inhabited it, used annually to export to Europe
about 40,000 skins. The few' inhabitants of the
island valued the flesh so little, that they cheer-
fully supplied our voyager and his company with
as many carcases as they could use, without ex-
pecting any price.
The goat, though less friendly, and less ser-
viceable to mankind than the sheep, affords, how-
ever, a variety of articles of no small utility to
human life.
The flesh of this animal is wholesome food.
That of a spayed goat, six or seven years old, is
remarkably sweet and fat. The haunches, salted
and dried, make excellent hams. The dried blood
of the he-goat is, with some persons, a specific
for the pleurisy and inflammatory disorders.
The milk is of the best kind ; much more
agreeable than that of the sheep, and possessed of
some valuable medicinal qualities. The cheese
prepared from it is much esteemed in some places.
The cream is scarce ever separated for butter.
The milk and the whey are both eagerly drank, as
powerful remedies in cases of consumption. In
the summer months, people of consumptive habits,
through Scotland and Ireland, resort in consider-
able numbers to places where goat’s milk is ob-
tained.
The horns of the goat are materials of manu-
facture, as well as those of the cow and the
sheep. Even the disagreeable odour of the he-
goat is thought to operate on the human frame as
a cure for nervous and hysterical distempers, and
as a good preventative against many others.
Horses, it is imagined, find it very refreshing ; and
ipany persons of skill in the management of horses,,
$70
COMMON GOAT.
keep a he-goat in their studs or stables, for this
very purpose.
But the skin is perhaps the most valuable part
of the goat. It is prepared for a great many pur-
poses, either with or without the hair. It covers
the soldier's knapsack, and is manufactured into
bolsters and hangings. When dressed without
the hair, the skin of the kid especially becomes
a soft and pliant species of leather, excellent for
gloves, and fit to be made into stockings, bed-
ticks, sheets, and shirts. It takes a dye better than
any other skin ; is susceptible of the richest co-
lours : and when it used formerlv to be flowered
and ornamented with gold and silver, became an
elegant and superb article of furniture. The hair,
separated from the hide, is a valuable material to
the wig-maker. The whitest wigs are made of
goats' hair. That on the haunches is brighter,
longer, and thicker, than that on the other parts of
the body. A skin well furnished with hair of a
good quality, is frequently sold at no less a price
than a guinea. Pliny relates, that in Cilicia, and
either in Syria or in the country adjacent to the
African Syrtes, (for there are differ ent readings of
tips passage,) the hair of the goat used anciently
to be shorn in the same manner as in other places
the fle'ece of the sheep.
The tallow of this animal is also an article of con-
siderable value. It is much purer, and approaches
in its nature much nearer to butter than tile tallow
of either the ox or the sheep. Where goats are
numerous, it is often used by the poorer people
in the preparation of food. Candles made of it
are far superior in whiteness to those made of
other tallow, and burn better.
C(Q)AT
ANGORA GOAT.
271
Angora goat.
The Angora goat is shorter in the form of its
body than our common domestic goat. Its sides
are broader and more flat,, its legs shorter,, and its
horns straighter. Its hair is soft and glossy, like
silk, and of a silver white colour, and hangs down
in curling locks, eight or nine inches long. Its
horns are wreathed in a spiral form, and extend to-
wards its sides. Its ears are plain and pendulous.
These goats are confined within the tract of
country around the towns of Angora and Beibazar
in Asiatic Turkey. The goats of Cougna, the old
Iconium, are probably near allied in their charac-
ter to those of Angora. Touroefourt, in mention-
ing the goats of these two different districts, re-
presents those of Angora as distinguished from
those of Cougna only by diversity of colour ; the
latter being all either black or brown. A Baron
Alstroemer attempted, with what success we know
not, to introduce this breed into Sweden, for the
sake of the hair. It is remarkable, that not only
the goat, but even the sheep and the hare of An-
gora have longer and softer hair than the same
animals in any other part of the globe.
The length, the fineness, the curling softness*
and the beautiful white colour of the hair of the
Angora goat* render it a very valuable commodity.
It is spun into thread, of which the finest camblets
are wrought. The Turkish administration, with
a wise policy, prohibit this hair from being ex-
ported raw ; because the spinning of it affords
employment and sustenance to a number of their
subjects. An animal furnished with such precious
hair, would surely be a valuable acquisition to
Britain, if w:e might hope that it would thrive in
272
VARIOUS GOATS,
our climate. Perhaps some patriot may one day
make the experiment.
Various goats.
Syria affords a peculiar variety of the goat; with
large pendulous ears,, and short black horns. The
ears are usually between one and two feet in length,
and sometimes so troublesome to the animal, that
the owners find it proper to cut off one of them for
its convenience. This goat is rather larger in size
than our common domestic goat ; its hair is
usually yellow. This variety abounds through the
east, and is found also among the Kirghisian Tar-
tars. The city of Aleppo is plentifully supplied
with their milk. They appear, from the rela-
tion of Aristotle, to have been known to the
ancients.
Africa affords a variety of the goat, distinguish-
ed chiefly by their dwarfish size. The horns of
the male are short, thick, and triangular, and lie
fiat upon the skull ; he is covered with rough hair *
and two long hairy wattles hang beneath his chin.
The female has smaller horns, a smooth coat, and
no wattles.
Whidaw, or Juda, in Africa, breeds a peculiar
variety, of a small size, with short smooth horns,
turning' a little forwards at the points. Some
natural historians represent this animal as a native
of America ; others strenuously contend, that nei-
ther the goat nor any other domestic animal was
known in America before its discovery by the
Spaniards. It would be difficult to decide in the
case. This goat is not confined to TVidaw; but
common also in Guinea, Angola, and some other
parts of Africa.
The Capricorn is another variety ; the charac**
SHEEP TRIBE,
teristic marks of which are short horns turned for-
wards at the ends, marked on the sides with rings ;
and those more prominent before than behind,
M. Buffon considers these as an intermediate race
between the domestic and the wild goat.
A breed of tame goats resembling the common
kind, but without horns, inhabit the country of
the Cabonas, north of the Cape of Good Hope.
The long-horned W hid aw is considered by
Buffon as a variety of the whidaw ; the horns
are rather depressed than upright; much longer;
and bending somewhat outwards and upwards in an
elegant manner at the tips ; the hair is long and
silky, and the whole animal bears some resemblance
to a small Angora goaf. Buffon describes it as
considerably larger than the whidaw, measuring
two feet nine inches in length, while the other was
only twenty-four inches long. This variety is
represented in the present work, and seems to be
the kind mentioned by M. Sonnini in his Travels,
as common in some parts of Egypt, and which he
says has long, thick, soft, and silky hair, and slen-
der, handsomely turned horns.
SHEEP TRIBE.
Few animals render greater, or more essential
service to mankind than the sheep. They supply
us both with food and clothing ; and the wool
alone of the common sheep affords in some coun-
tries an astonishing source of wealth. They are
all harmless animals, and in general exceedingly
shy and tirnid. Both in running and leaping, they
VOL. II. H i! * *
I
274 COMMON SHEEP.
exhibit much less activitj than the goats. They
collect in a wild state into small Hocks,, and though
they do not altogether avoid the mountains, gene-
rally prefer dry open plains. They fight by butting
against each other with their horns, and threaten
by stamping on the ground with their feet. The
female goes with young about five months, and
usually produces one, sometimes two, and rarely
three at a birth.
There are, perhaps, strictly speaking, but three
different species of sheep ; but of the common sheep
there are no fewer than ten or twelve very distinct
varieties. The horns are hollow, wrinkled, and
bent backwards and outwards into a circular, or
spiral form, generally at the sides of the head.
The lower jaw has eight front teeth ; there are
none in the upper jaw, nor any canine teeth in
either.
Common sheep.
The general appearance of tins animal is too
well known to need any description, but on atten-
tive examination of its properties and habits, will
afford considerable information and entertainment.
Those animals, s' says Goldsmith, that take
refuge under the protection of man, in a few gene-
rations become indolent and helpless. Having lost
the habit of self-defence, they seem to lose also
the instincts of nature. The sheep, in its present
domestic state, is of all animals the most defence-
less and inoffensive. With its liberty it seems to
have been deprived of its sw iftness and cunning ;
and what in the ass might rather be called pa-
tience, in the sheep appears to be stupidity. With
no one quality to fit it for self-preservation, it
makes vain efforts at all. Without swiftness, it
endeavours to fly ; and without strength it some-
SHEEP.
275
times offers to oppose. But these feeble attempts
rather incite than repress the insult of every
enemy ; and the dog follows the flock with greater
delight upon seeing them fly,, and attacks them
with more fierceness upon their unsupported at-
tempts at resistance. Indeed they run together in
flocks rather with the hopes of losing their single
danger in the crowd, than of uniting to repress the
attack by numbers. The sheep, therefore, were it
exposed in its present state to struggle with its
natural enemies of the forest, would soon be ex-
tirpated. Loaded with a heavy fleece, deprived
of the defence of its horns, and rendered heavy,
slow, and feeble, it can have no other safety than
what it finds from man. This animal is now,
therefore, obliged to rely solely upon that art for
protection, to which if originally owes its degra-
dation.
cc But we are not to impute to nature the form-
ation of an animal so utterly unprovided against
its enemies, and so unfit for defence. The mouf-
flon, which is the sheep in a savage state, is a
hold, fleet creature, able to escape from the
greater animals by its swiftness, or to oppose the
smaller kinds with the arms it has received from
nature. It is by human art alone that the sheep
has become the tardy, defenceless creature we find
it. Every race of quadrupeds might easily be
corrupted by the same allurements, by which the
sheep has been thus debilitated and depressed.
While undisturbed, and properly supplied, none
are found to set any bounds to their appetite.
They all pursue their food while able, and con-
tinue to graze till they often die of disorders oc-
casioned by too much fatness. But it is very dif-
ferent with them in a state of nature ; they are in
the forest, surrounded by dangers, and alarmed
with unceasing hostilities ; they are pursued every
276
SHEEP.
hour from one tract of country to another ; and
speed a greater part of their time in attempts to
avoid their enemies. Thus constantly exercised,
and continually practising all the arts of defence
and escape, the animal at once preserves its life
and native independence, together with its swift-
ness, and the slender ability of its form.
O
The sheep, in its servile state, seems to be di-
vested of all inclinations of its own ; and of all
animals it appears the most stupid. Every qua-
druped has a peculiar turn of countenance, a phy-
siognomy, if we may so call it, that generally
marks its nature. The sheep seems to have none
of those traits that betoken either courage or cun-
ning ; its large eyes separated from each other, its
ears sticking out on each side, and its narrow nos-
trils, all testify the extreme simplicity of this
creature; and the position of its horns, also show
that nature designed the sheep rather for flight
than combat. It appears a large mass of flesh,
supported upon four small, straight legs, ill fit-
ted for carrying such a burden ; its motions are
awkward, it is easily fatigued, and often sinks
under the weight of its own corpulency. In pro-
portion as these marks of human transformation
are more numerous, the animal becomes more help-
less and stupid. Those which live upon more
fertile pasture, and grow fat, become entirely fee-
ble ; those that want horns are found more dull
and heavy than the rest ; those whose fleeces are
longest and finest, are more subject to a variety
of disorders ; and, in short, whatever changes
have been wrought in this animal by the industry
of man, are entirely calculated for human advan-
tage, and not for that of the creature itself. It
might require a succession of ages, before the
sheep could be restored to its primitive state of
activity, so as to become a match for its pursuers
SHEEP. 277
of the forest.’9— — This picture is, however,, too
highly coloured.
The ewe usually produces only one lamb at a
time. There are generally., however,, a good
many instances of two, in a flock ; and on some
very singular occasions, one parent will produce
three lambs at a birth. It is observable of this spe-
cies, that they drink very little. The juice of the
vegetables which they eat, and the dew and rain
with which the grass is often moistened, supply
almost all the moisture that they need.
Sheep, like other animals, are liable to various
diseases. Water often gathers in their head, and
produces a disorder which soon proves fatal ; the
feet of whole flocks are often affected with a sort
of mortification, which makes them halt when
they walk, and renders them almost unable to
run ; at other times, the young especially, are
liable to suffer a speedy death from the effects
of noxious air evolved from their food in the sto-
mach. The dropsy, phthisic, jaundice, and
worms in the liver, are also annually destructive
to considerable numbers of sheep. Several sorts
of insects infest this animal. A certain gadfly
is very troublesome, by depositing its eggs above
the nose, in the frontal sinuses ; a tick and a louse
likewise feed on the sheep ; of which it is some-
times relieved by the undistinguishing appetite of
the magpie and the starling. The ordinary term
of the life of those sheep which escape disease
and violence, is twelve or thirteen years.
The benefits which mankind owe to this animal
are very numerous. Its horns, its fleece, its flesh,
its tallow, and even its bowels, are all articles
of great utility to human life.
The horns are manufactured into spoons, "and
many other useful articles. The manufacture of
the wool into cloths, has long formed the principal
278 SHEEP.
source of the riches of England. We know
not indeed whether the simple Britons and the
rode Saxons were acquainted with the important
uses of wool ; it is most probable that they were
not. But Henry II. paid so much attention to
the manufacture and improvement of this com-
modity^ as to forbid the use of any other but
English wool in the making of cloth. Yet, the
excellence of English wool was long known be-
fore the English paid much attention to the art
of making woollen cloth, or attained any supe-
rior skill in it. Wool was then a staple article
for exportation ; and the Flemings were their mer-
chants. But in the reign of queen Elizabeth,
several favourable circumstances, which the ta-
lents and the patriotic spirit of that princess en-
abled her to take advantage of, concurred to es-
tablish the woollen manufactory in England, in
that thriving state in which it has since continued.
In Scotland we have never attained great excellence
in this manufacture. Yet, the bonnets, which,
though now very much out of use, were in for-
mer times very generally used as a covering for the
head, and the stockings of such superior fine-
ness, for which the isles of Shetland and the city
of Aberdeen are still celebrated, are articles which
shew that the inhabitants of Scotland are not less
capable of ingenuity in this way, than their neigh-
bours of England. The Spanish wool has been
much celebrated ; and it is not very long since
broad cloth bearing the name of Spanish, was
prized above the English. But the wool produ-
ced in Britain bas been, by f various arts, so much
improved, as to be now not inferior in excellence
to that of Spain ; and no woollen cloth is at pre-
sent esteemed superior to that of English manu-
facture. The sheep with the finest fleeces in Eng-
land are fed on the Coteswold downs, and in
SHEEP.
279
Herefordshire, Devonshire, Lincolnshire, Suffolk,
and Yorkshire. The wool of Wales is coarse ;
nor is that of Scotland, except in some instances,
remarkable for fineness. The wool of the small
sheep in the Highlands and the isles of Scot-
land is superior to the finest Spanish or English
wool.
The skin of this animal is prepared into leather
for an inferior^ sort of shoes, for the coverings of
books, and for gloves, and into parchment. The
entrails, by a proper preparation, are made into
strings for various musical instruments.
The milk of the sheep is thicker than cow’s
milk. Its taste is rather disagreeably strong. It
is, therefore, rather made into cheese than used
for drinking. The cheese is rich, and of a strong
taste. It would probably be still better, if more
attention were paid to cleanliness in the preparing
of it. It were perhaps best to leave all the milk
of the ewe to her lamb.
The flesh of the sheep is perhaps our most va«
livable article of animal food. It is neither dis-
agreeably coarse, nor yet so tender and delicate
as not to afford strengthening nourishment. The
flesh of the lamb is, in the proper season, one
of the nicest delicacies that the epicure can de-
sire.
The bones are useful for various purposes. Of
these, as well as of other hones calcined, are made
the cupels used in the refining of metals.
Sheep, when enslaved by man, tremble at the
voice of the shepherd or his dog ; but, on the
extensive mountains where they range, almost
without controul, and where they seldom depend
on the aid of the shepherd, they assume a very
different mode of conduct. In these situations a
ram or a wether will boldly attack a single dog,
and often come off victorious ; but, when the
280
SHEEP,
danger is more alarming, they have recourse to the
collected strength of the whole flock. On such
occasions they draw up into a complete body,
placing the females and young in the centre, whilst
thes males take the foremost ranks, keeping close *
by each other. Thus an armed front is presented
on all quarters, that cannot easily be attacked
without danger of destruction to the assailant.
In this manner they wait with firmness the ap~
p roach of the enemy ; nor does their courage
fail them in the moment of attack ; for, when
the aggressor advances within a few yards of the
line, the rams dart upon him with such impetu-
osity as to lay him dead at their feet, unless he
judiciously saves himself by timely flight. Against
the attacks of single dogs or foxes, when in this
situation, they are perfectly secure.— A single ram,
regardless of danger, will often engage a bull ;
and his forehead being much harder than that of
any other animal, be seldom fails to conquer ;
for the bull, by lowering his bead, receives the
stroke of the rain between his eyes, which usually
brings him to the ground.
The sheep in the mountainous parts of Wales,
where the liberty they enjoy is so great as to ren-
der them very wild, do not always collect into
large flocks, but sometimes graze in parties of
from eight to a dozen, of which one is stationed
at a distance from the rest, to give notice of the
approach of danger. When the centinel observes
any one advancing at the distance of two or three
hundred yards, he turns his face to the enemy,
keeping a watchful eye upon his motions, allow-
ing him to approach as near as eighty or a hundred
yards ; but, when the suspected foe manifests a
design of coming nearer, the watchful guard
alarms his comrades by a loud hiss or whistle,
twice or thrice repeated, when the whole party
SHEEP,
281
instantly scour away with great agility, always
seeking the steepest and most inacessible parts of
the mountains.
It is very singular that in the holms round Kirk-
wall; in the island of Mainland, one of the Ork-
neys, if any person about the lambing time enters
with a dog, or even without, the ewes suddenly
take fright, and through the influence of fear* it
is imagined, instantly drop down dead, as though
their brain had been pierced with a musket-ball.
Those that die in this manner are commonly said
to have two,, and sometimes three lambs within
them.
The fleeces of the sheep above Cairo are very
thick and long. The skins are used by most of
the Egyptians for beds ; since, besides their being
very soft, it is said that in sleeping on them per-
sons are secured from the stings of scorpions, which
never venture upon wool, lest they should be en-
tangled in it. These fleeces are (as at present is
done in some parts of England) taken off entire,
and one of them, long and broad enough to serve
a man as a mattrass, was sold as high as twenty
shillings sterling, whilst the whole animal alive,
and without its fleece, only brought about six
shillings.
There are in the voices of all animals innumer-
able tones, perfectly understood by each other, and
entirely beyond our powers of discrimination. It
should seem somewhat remarkable thatthe ewe can
always distinguish her own lamb, and the lamb its
mother, even in the largest flocks ; and at the time
of shearing, when the ewes are shut up in a pen
from thedambs, and turned loose one by one as they
are shorn, it is pleasing to see the meeting between
each mother and her young one. The ewe imme-
diately bleats to call her lamb, which instantly
obeys the well-known voice, and, returning the
VOX,. II, © o
282
SHEEP.
bleat, comes skipping to its dam. At first it fs
startled by her new appearance, and approaches her
v/ith some degree of fear, till it has corrected
the sense of sight by those of smelling and hear-
ing.
Even in Britain we have a good many different
breeds of this animal. Linnaeus distinguishes the
breed peculiar to England as destitute of horns,
and having its tail and scrotum depending to the
knees. This is the fine large breed for which
Warwickshire, and particularly Lincolnshire is
noted. They have, in the course of the last
twenty years, been introduced into Galloway, and
other parts of Scotland, under the denomination
of mugg sheep. Their flesh is rather coarse,
and their wool intermixed with dry hair.— This
is the hornless sheep of Pennant.
The northern regions of Europe, particularly
Gothland and Iceland, afford another variety of
the sheep, distinguished by having their heads
furnished with three, four, or even five horns.
Besides this abundance of horns, the sheep of
Iceland are remarkable for straight, upright ears,
and very small tails. In stormy weather, the sheep
of Iceland, by a sagacious instinct, retreat for
shelter to the caves and caverns, which are very
numerous over the face of that island ; but when
a storm of snow comes on too suddenly to afford
them time to gain such a retreat, the flock ga-
ther into a heap, with their heads towards the
middle, and inclined to the ground ; a, posture in
which they will remain several days, without
perishing under the snow. Among the herbs on
which they feed, the inhabitants of Iceland re-
mark that scurvy-grass contributes most to fatten
them. When the summer crop happens to fail,
the Icelanders are obliged to feed their sheep in
winter with chopped fish bones. Those sheep
SHEEP.
283
appear to afford milk in more abundance than ours.
Dr. Van Troil says, they give from two to six
quarts a day. The fleece is not shorn from the
sheep in that island, as with us ; about the end
of May it loosens of itself, and is stripped off at
once, like a skin.
The Spanish sheep, remarkable for the fineness
of their wool, and distinguished by spiral horns,
bending outwards, are of a breed believed to have
been originally introduced into that kingdom from
England. Mention is made, indeed, of two va-
rieties of Spanish sheep, one of which, the Merino,
is highly valued for the fineness and quantity of
the wool ; whereas the fleece of the other is of
a very inferior quality. A large proportion of
the flocks in Spain are of the former variety ; and
the care with which they are managed renders the
business of the shepherd much more complex in
Spain than in most other countries. The number
of these sheep fed in Spain, is above four mil-
lions. In summer the flocks feed on the moun-
tains in the northern parts of the kingdom ; in
winter, they are conducted into the milder plains
of Estremadura and Andalusia, and distributed
into districts. A flock consists usually of about
ten thousand sheep, under the management of a
bead shepherd, with fifty inferior shepherds, and
as many dogs. In summer, the sheep are made
to’eat a great quantity of salt. The rams are, as
is usual in other places, kept in separate flocks,
except during the rutting time. This begins
about the end of July ; and they are then distri-
buted among the ewes. The fleece of a ram fre-
quently weighs above five-and-twenty pounds ;
that of an ewe scarce ever more than five; hut
the wool of the ram is not equally fine with that
of the ewe. In the middle of September the shep-
herds mark the sheep of their flocks on the loins.
28 4
SHEEP,
with ochre dilated in water. Tins smearing with
ochre not only distinguishes the sheep of different
proprietors* but is also supposed to render the
Wool closer and warmer* and to contribute to the
preservation of the sheep's health. The end of
September is the period about which the flocks are
conducted from the mountainous pastures where
they have spent the summer* to milder and lower
regions. The shepherds are careful to conduct
each flock* if possible* to the same pastures where
it has fed in former winters. The lambs are pro-
duced early in the season* in consequence of the
rams having been admitted to the ewes about the
end of July. In March the lambs are trimmed
of a part of their tails* and the tips of their horns ;
marked on the nose with a hot iron ; and such
of the males as are not meant to be kept for rams*
castrated* or at least incapacitated for generation*
by the squeezing of the scrotum* till the spermatic
vessels are twisted like a rope. In April the
flocks are led back to their summer pastures. In
May the fleeces are shorn ; every fleece contains
three sorts of wool ; the finest on the back and
the belly ; a second sort on the neck and the
sides ; and on the breasts* the shoulders* and the
thighs* a coarser species. Considerably more
than nine millions* seven hundred thousand pounds
weight of wool are annually exported from Spain ;
of which* notwithstanding the abundance and the
superior quality of our British wool* more than
one third comes to England.
The African sheep form a remarkable variety
of this species. Guinea and the desert of Sahara
are the places of which they are originally na-
tives ; and they have been introduced into Arne-
rica. Their form is meagre ; their legs are long ;
the ears are pendent* and covered* not with wool*
but with hair ; the neck is shaggy ; and the cover-
TPJLi-103
SIIEEP.
285
ing of the whole body has so much of the dim-
ness and hardness of hair, that it cannot be with
any propriety denominated wool. These are con-
jectured to be the animals named by Leo Africa-
nus Adimain, and described by him as being of
the size of an ass, and of the shape of a ram,
with pendent ears.
The Cretan sheep mentioned by Buffon under
the denomination of Wallachian, is remarkable
for large, spiral horns. The distance between
the horns of the ewe enlarges towards their tops j
those of the ram are parallel. They are under-
stood to be natives of Candia ; numerous flocks
of them graze on Mount Ida ; they are also
spread through the other islands of the Archipe-
lago, and are frequent in Austria and Hungary,
The butchers in these last mentioned countries,
prefer them to all other sheep. In size, and in the
nature of the fleece, they differ not remarkably
From the common kind.
Those countries of Asia which abound most in
slieep, afford yet another variety, distinguished
by the amazing breadth and bulk of their tails.
They do not, as far as we know, differ consider-
ably from our common sheep, in any other res-
pects. They are generally white ; yet sometimes
vary in colour. The tail is seldom pointed, but
commonly either square or round, much like a
cushion. The great size of the tail renders it
often so incommodious to the sheep, that it is
found necessary to support it with a small wheel-
ed machine. Some of these tails weigh more than
thirty pounds. Persia, Assyria, Arabia, Egypt,
Ethiopia, Barbary, and Tartary, all afford this
variety.
Of these sheep with large tails, the tails are
not all of the same form : some are short and
thick ; others broad., and of a moderate length ;
286
SHEEP.
others so remarkably long, ag to obtain the sheep
that carry them the denomination of long tailed
sheep. The short thick-tailed sheep are common
among the Tartars. Tibet affords the broad-tail-
ed sheep ; which are in that kingdom distinguish-
ed likewise for the superior fineness of their wool.
This wool, not inferior in quality to that of Cara-
mania, is, like it, wrought into shawls for the
great omrahs, which are sold at a higher price
than those of any other manufacture. The long-
tailed sheep form the flocks of the Dutch colonists
at the Cape of Good Hope. A late travel ler,
who advanced from the Cape a considerable way
into the inland country, relates that he saw among
the Hottentots, in the country adjacent to Orange
river, a sort of sheep with much longer tails than
those of the sheep about the Cape, and covered,
not with wool, but with coarse hair, which gave
them, at a distance, the appearance rather of
dogs than of sheep. The Cape sheep are not less
distinguished by their ears, which are large and
pendent, than by their tails. The tail, in its na-
ture between fat and marrow, is a delicacy worthy
of the approbation of the nicest epicure. This
variety of the sheep was not unknown to the an-
cient Greeks and Romans. Aristotle mentions
them as inhabitants of Syria ; and Pliny, proba-
bly on Aristotle's authority, repeats the same
fact.
Another variety of this species is the fat-rump-
ed sheep, which is not provided with a tail. Its
buttocks swell out like two globes, are perfectly
smooth, and scarce leave the os occygis discern-
ible. Its nose is arched ; its ears are pendulous ;
its legs are slender ; its head black ; its fleece
commonly white, but at times black, reddish, or
spotted. The globular buttocks are composed
solely of suet ; and are sometimes so large as to
SHEEP*
287
weigh forty pounds. The whole body of the sheep
frequently weighs two hundred pounds. The
voice of this animal resembles rather the lowing of
a calf than the bleating of a sheep.
Sheep of this character abound through the
deserts of Tartary, from the Volga to the Irtish
and the Altaic chain. They are remarkably pro-
lific ; producing usually two., and not unfrequently
three lambs at a birth.
The sheep of Bucharia are described by Linnaeus
and Pallas as a particular variety ; distinguished
by large pendent ears, and a large tail, formed like
a cushion. These are represented as a hybridous
breed, produced by the copulation of individuals
of the long-tailed variety with others, either with
broad tails, or of the variety distinguished by the
want of a tail. Lamb’s skins, possibly of this
variety, are brought from Bucharia, Chiva, and
the adjacent countries, to Astrachan, and there
sold at a very high price, on account of their
glossy appearance and furry texture. The wool
of some of them is curled ; that of others waved.
They are used in Persia, Russia, and other parts*
for the lining of coats, and the turning up of caps*
These are chiefly the skins of lambs taken out of
the bellies of ewes killed during the period of ges-
tation. The instant the lamb is taken out of it*
mother’s belly, it is killed and flayed. Lambs are
also killed for their skins, in the same manner, im-
mediately after being brought forth in the natural
w ay ; and these are scarce inferior to the others.
One of these skins will sell at Astrachan for five or
six shillings sterling. They are usually grey ©r
black.
288
ARGALIo
Argali.
This species is distinguished by horns situated
on the summit of the head, which at first rise up-
right, then bend, and are twisted outwards, like
those of the common ram ; and are, in the form of
its circumference, flat on the interior side, but
rounded on the exterior. The head of this animal
resembles that of our common ram ; it has smaller
ears ; it is nearly equal in size to a small stag ; its
fore are shorter than its hinder feet ; its tail is very
short, and white, tipped with yellow. The hair of
the body is very short in summer, and of a yellow-
ish ash-colour, mixed with grey. In winter, the
hair is an inch and half in length, and of a grey
ferruginous colour ; the hair on the neck is, in this
season, rather longer than that of the body ; and
the hair under the throat still longer. In spring,
the animal casts its hair. The females are smaller
than the males. These animals, as well as our
common sheep, sometimes want horns.
Siberia, Kamtschatka, and the Kurili islands,
are the favourite regions of the wild sheep. They
are social animals, and feed together in small
flocks.
In Kamtschatka, they afford to the inhabitants
both food and clothing. The flesh, and particu-
larly the fat, the Kamtscliadales esteem as diet fit
for the gods ; and there is no labour which they
will not undergo in the chase. Whole families
abandon their habitations in the spring of the year,
and occupy the entire summer in this employment,
amidst the steepest and most rocky mountains, fear-
less of the dreadful precipices which often over-
whelm the eager sportsman.
These animals are shot with guns or with arrows ;
sometimes with cross-bows placed in their paths.
-AIR, (S-AHLslL
ARGALI.
289
and discharged by their treading on a string which
pulls the fatal trigger. They are sometimes cha~
sed by dogs,, but their fleetness in a moment leaves'
these far in the rear. The purpose, however, is
answered ; they are driven to the heights, where
they often stand and view, as it were with con-
tempt, the dogs below ; while their attention is
thus occupied, the hunter creeps cautiously
within reach, and brings them down with his
gun.
In some of the other northern countries, a great
multitude of horses and dogs are collected together,
and a sudden attempt is made to surround them.
Great cation is necessary ; for if the animals per-
ceive the approach of their enemies, either by
their sight or smell, they instantly take to flight,
and secure themselves among the lofty and inac-
cessible summits of the mountains*
The Kamtschadales do not shear these sheep,
but leave the wool on till the end of May, when
it becomes loose, and is stripped entirely off in
one fleece.— The dried flesh is in Kamtschatka an
article of commerce.
Father Rubruquis, who visited the nations of
Tartary as ambassador from St. Lewis of France,
in the relation of his travels mentions this animal
under the name of artack, and tells us that he
could scarce lift a pair of its horns with one
hand.
This animal is ascribed by the ancients to Spain
Sardinia, and Corsica, and still exists in Sardinia
and Corsica. Several pairs have been imported
from these islands into Britain.
General Paoli, who, after making a brave, but
ineffectual effort to vindicate and establish the
liberties of his country, found an honourable asy-
lum in Britain, imported from Corsica, a male
of this kind named Martino. Martino died at
VOL. ii* p p
290
ARGALI*
the age of four years. His horns were then twen»
ty-two inches long ; but the poor animal happen-
ed to be ill-used in the latter part of his life,, other-
wise his horns would haye been considerably lon-
ger.
The Corsicans call the male mu fro, the female
mufra. They inhabit the highest tracts of coun-
try in the island. They can only be shot or taken
by stratagem ; nay, such is their wildness, cun-
ning, and velocity, that the old ones can never be
taken alive. They feed on the most acrid plants*
When tame, they eat tobacco, and drink wine*
Their flesh, though always lean, is savoury and
agreeable to the taste. The skin is thick, and is
used in Sardinia, both as an under shirt, for a
preservative against the noxious effects of bad
air, and a surtout, to defend the body against
the impression of thorns and briars, in passing
through thickets.
If we may credit Hector Boecc, these animals
were once inhabitants of the British isles. He
ascribes to St. Kilda a species, of which his des-
cription nearly agrees with what we have here
said of this animal. To confirm his account,
which might otherwise perhaps not obtain credit,
a figure of an argali has been discovered in a
piece of Roman sculpture taken from Antonius’s
wall, near Glasgow.
The old rams of this species are very strong.
It is with difficulty that even ten men can hold
one of them. They quarrel like the rams incur
flocks of common sheep ; and in their quarrels
one often strikes the other down a precipice, where
he is instantly dashed in pieces, or soon perishes.
The horns of two or more, are sometimes acci-
dentally entangled ; in which case they fall down
and perish together. The young are easily
tamed* They produce with the common sheep ;
_ Mffi
y
FUDU. 291
and it is even said that the progeny are not bar-
ren.
Another variety is thus described by Mr. Pen-
nant :
(£ Sheep with the hair on the lower part of the
cheeks and upper jaws extremely long, forming a
divided or double beard ; with hairs on the sides
and body short ; on the top of the neck longer,
and a little erect. The whole under part of the
neck and shoulders covered with coarse hairs, not
less than fourteen inches long. Beneath the hairs
on every part was a short genuine wool, the ru-
diments of a fleecy clothing. The colour of the
breast, neck, back, and sides, a pale ferruginous.
Tail very short. Horns close at their base, re-
curvated, twenty five inches long, eleven in cir-
cumference in the thickest place, diverging,' and
bending outwards, their points being nineteen
inches from each other.
Mr. Pennant observed that the learned Dr,
Kay, or Caius gives a good description of this ani-
mal from a specimen brought into England from
Barbary in the year 1561. Dr. Kay named it
tragelaphus on a supposition of its being the same
with the trogelapus of Pliny.
Pudu.
This is a newly discovered species, having been
first described by Molina in the Natural History
of Chili.
He informs us that it is a native of the Andes,
that it is of a brown colour, about the size of a
kid of half a year old ; with very much the ap-
pearance of a goat, but with small smooth horns,
bending outwards, and without any appearance of
beard. It is of a gregarious nature ; and when
the snow falls on the upper parts of the mountains.
292
OX TRIBE* &C.
descends into the valleys in large herds to feed in
the plains of Chili* at which time it is easily taken
and readily tamed. The female is without horns.
OX TRIBE.
The animals of this tribe are seldom found ex-
cept in flat pastures* entirely avoiding mountains
and woods, for which their form is extremely ill
calculated* as they are much more large and
clumsy than most other animals. Their services
to mankind are more considerable than those even
of the sheep ; for* in addition to the qualifications
of these animals* they are employed as beasts of
draught and burden. Their voice is called low-
ing and bellowing. They fight by pushing with
their horns, and kicking with their feet.
There are about nine different species, many of
them however so nearly connected as to render it
difficult in many instances to assign a proper dis-
tinction between species and variety. The com-
mon ox is found in no less than eight different va-
rieties.
In the ox the horns are concave, smooth, turned
outwards, and forwards* in a semilunar form. In
the lower jaw there are eight front teeth ; there
&re none in the upper* and no tusks in either jaw.
Common ox.
This animal in its wild and native state* is dis-
tinguished by its size* and the great depth and
shagginess of its hair* which about the head.
JBI -MB'
COMMON OX*
293
»«ck, and shoulders, is sometimes of such a length
as almost to touch the ground. His horns are ra*
ther short, sharp-pointed, exceedingly strong, and
stand distant from each other at their bases. His
colour is generally either a dark or a yellowish
brown. His limbs are very strong, and his
whole aspect savage and gloomy. He grows
to so enormous a size as sometimes to weigh six-
teen hundred, or two thousand pounds, and the
strongest man cannot lift the hide of one of* these
from the ground. Wild oxen are found in the
marshy forests of Poland, among the Carpathian
mountains, in Lithuania, and also in several parts
of Asia.
In Lord Tankerville’s park, at Chillingham,
near Berwick-upon-Tweed, there is yet left a
breed of wild cattle, probably the only remains of
the true and genuine breed of that species at pre-
sent to be found in this kingdom.
Their colour is invariably white, with be muz-
zle black, and the whole inside of the &ar, and
about one-third part of the outside, from the hip
downwards, red. Their horns are whte, with
black tips, very fine, and bent downwards. The
weight of the oxen is from thirty-five to foty-five
stone, and of the cows, from twenty-five o thirty-
five, fourteen pounds to the stone.
At the first appearance of any person rear them
they set off in full gallop, and at the ditance of
two or three hundred yards, wheel roundind come
boldly up again, tossing their heads in a nenacing
manner. On a sudden they make a full spp at the
distance of forty or fifty yards, and loek wildly
at the object of*their surprise: but, on the least
motion, they all turn round, and gallop off with
equal speed, but not to the same distance forxnin
a smaller circle ; and again returning wit
and more threatening aspect than before.
a bolder
they ap~
294 ‘ COMMON OX.
proach much nearer, probably within thirty yards,
when they make another stand, and again gallop
off. This they do several times, shortening their
distance, and advancing nearer, till they come
within a few yards, when most people think it
prudent to leave them, not choosing to provoke
them further, as it is probable that in a few turns
more they wt>uld make an attack.
The mode of killing them was perhaps the only
modern remains of the grandeur of ancient hunting.
On notice being given that a wild bull would be
Icilled on a certain day, the inhabitants of the
neighbourhood assembled, sometimes to the num-
ber of a hundred horsemen, and four or five hun-
dred foct, all armed with guns, or other weapons.
Those 01 foot stood upon the walls, or got into
trees, wlile the horsemen . rode off a bull from the
rest of he herd, until he stood at bay, when they
dismouited and fired. At some of these huntings
twenty tr thirty shots have been fired before the
animal was subdued. On such occasions the
bleeding victim grew desperately furious, from
the smarting of his wounds, and the shouts of
savage j)y echoing from every side. But from the
number )f accidents which happened, this dange-
rous mote has been little practised of late years, the
park-keeper alone generally killing them with a
rifie-gui at one shot.
When the cows calve, they hide their young for
a week >r ten days, in some sequestered retreat,
and go to suckle them two or three times a day.
If any pesons come near the calves, these clap their
heads cloe to the ground, ancf lie like a hare in form,
to hide hemselves. This seems a proof of their
native wldness, and it is corroborated by the fol-
lowing crcumstance that happened to Dr. Fuller,
the author of the History of Berwick, who found a
hidden cilf two days old, very lean and weak. On
COMMON OX,
295
his stroking its head it got up, pawed two or
three times like an old bull, bellowed very loud,
went back a few steps, and bolted at his legs with
all its force ; it then began to paw again, bellowed,
stepped back, and bolted as before. But being
aware of its intentions, he moved aside, and it mis-
sed its aim, fell, and was so very weak, that though
it made several efforts it was not able to rise. It,
however, had done enough ; the whole herd was
alarmed, and coming to its rescue, they obliged him
to retire.
When any one of them happens to be wound-
ed, or is grown weak and feeble through age or
sickness, the rest of the herd set upon and gore it
to death.
These animals in their domestic state, are patient
and peaceable ; neither remarkably stupid, nor
eminent for docility ; affectionate to their young ;
and even capable of some degree of attachment to
those who use them kindly. Bulls are sometimes
so ferocious as to attack, even unprovoked, people
who pass near them ; but the cow and the bullock
are seldom troublesome in this way, unbss they
have been very improperly managed. The natural
character of all ruminating animals is evidently
mild and pacific. They are not armed with tusks
or claws. Their vicera are formed for the recep~
tion rather of vegetable food, which must pass
through a long process before it can be converted
into aliment, than of animal food, which is more
speedily digested.
The age of the cow is known by the teeth and
horns. This animal is furnished with eight cutting
teeth in the lower jaw ; at the age of ten months,
the two middlemost of these fall out, and are replaced
by others, that are not so white, but broader ; at
the age of sixteen months, the two next milk-white
teeth fall out likewise, and others come up in their
296
COMMON OX.
room ; thus, at the end of every six’ months, the
creature loses and gains, till at the age of three
years, all the cutting teeth are renewed, and then
they are long, pretty white, and equal ; but in pro-
portion as the animal advances in years, they become
irregular and black, their inequalities become
smoother, and the animal less capable of chewing
its food. Thus the cow often declines from this
single cause ; for as it is obliged to eat a great
deal to support life, and as the smoothness of the
teeth makes the difficulty of chewing great, a suffi-
cient quantity of food cannot be supplied to the
stomach. Thus the poor animal sinks in the midst
of plenty, and every year grows leaner and leaner,
till it dies.
The horns are another, and a surer method of
determining this animal's age. At three years old,
they shed the outer skin of the horns ; at four
years of age, the cow has small, pointed, neat,
smooth horns, thickest near the head ; at five the
horns become larger, and are marked round with
the foriiier year’s growth. Thus, while the animal
continues to live, the horns continue to lengthen ;
and every year a new ring is added at the root ; so
that allowing three years before their appearance,
and then reckoning the number of rings, we have in
both together the animal’s age exactly.
As we have indisputably the best breed of horned
cattle of any in Europe, so it was not without the
same assiduity that we came to excel in these, as in
our horses. The breed of cows has been entirely
improved by a foreign mixture, properly adapted
to supply the imperfections of our own. Such at
are purely British, are far inferior in size to those
on many parts of the continent ; but those which
we have thus improved, by far excel all others.
Our Lincolnshire kind derive their s*ze from the
Holstein breed ; and the large hornless cattle that
IE© it nan
297
ox,
are bred in some parts of England, earrte origin-
ally from Poland. We were once famous for a
wild breed of these animals, but these have long
since been worn out ; and perhaps no kingdom in
Europe can furnish so few wild animals of all
kinds as our own. Cultivation and agriculture
are sure to hanisli these, wherever they are found *
and every addition a country receives from art,
drives away those' animals that are only fitted for
a state of nature.
There is scarcely any part of the ox but is of
some use to mankind. Boxes, combs, knife-han-
dles, and drinking-vessels are made of the horns.
The horns, when softened with boiling water, be**
come so pliable as to be formed into transparent
plates for lanterns ; an invention ascribed to king
Alfred, who is said to have first used them to prer-
serve his candle-time measurers from the wind.
The dung of these animals is useful as manure.
Glue is made of the cartilages, gristles, and the
finer pieces of cuttings and parings of the hides,
boiled in water, till they become gelatinous, and
the parts sufficiently dissolved, and then dried.
The bone is a cheap substitute, in many instances,
for ivory. The thinnest of the calves’ skins are
manufactured into vellum. The blood is used as
the basis of Prussian blue. Sadlers, and others,
use a fine sort of thread, prepared from the sinews,
which is much stronger than any other equally
fine. The hair is valuable in various manufac-
tures ; and the suet, fat, and tallow, for can-
dles. The utility of the milk and cream is well
known.
From the circumstance of these animals fur-
nishing the Gentoos with milk, butter, and cheese,
their favourite food, they bear for them a super-
stitious veneration, founded thus principally in
gratitude. There is scarcely a Geatoo to be fouad
yql0 ii. q q |
298
ox.
that would not, were he under a forced option,
prefer sacrificing his parents or children to the
slaving of a bull or cow. Believing fully in the
doctrine of transmigration, they are also alarmed
at the idea of injuring the souls of those of their
fellow-creatures that have taken their abode in
these animal cases. This also tends to restrain
them from destroying designedly any of the brute
creation, and to prevent them from dispossessing,
by violence, any being of that life which God
alone can give ; and they respect it in the flea
equally with the elephant.
The Indians, who use the ox in agriculture,
think it more convenient for their purposes to be
without horns. They have, therefore a mode of
impeding the growth of these, by making an in-
cision, at a proper period, where the horns are
first seen, and afterwards applying fire to the
wounds.
The aurochs of the modern Germans, the urus
of Caesar and Pliny, was well known in ancient
times as an inhabitant of the Hercynian forest.
Caesar describes this animal as little inferior to the
elephant in size ; in shape and colour like acorn-
mon bull ; of amazing strength ; so ferocious as
to attack, even unprovoked, people who approach*
edit; and absolutely untameable.— -Their horns,
which were large, were often hooped with silver^
and used as cups.
The American bison, a variety of this species,
has short, rounded horns, pointing outwards. It
is covered in many parts with long shaggy hair,
and has a high protuberance on the shoulders.
The fore parts of the body are excessively thick
and strong ; and the hinder parts are comparative-
ly very slender.
These animals range in droves, feeding in the
ppen savannahs morning and evening. They re-
smSSSSr “ppow
V. -~:«w .- :-«;.^-^^»t.v<
ox.
299
ike during the sultry parts of the day to rest
near shady rivulets and streams of water,. frequent-
ly leaving so deep an impression of their feet in
the moist land, from the great weight of their bo-
dies, as to be thus traced and shot by the artful
Indians. In this undertaking it is necessary that
the men should be particularly careful ; since,
when only wounded, the animals become exces-
sively furious. The hunters go against the wind,
as the faculty of smell in the bisons is so exquisite,
that the moment they get scent of their enemy, they
retire with the utmost precipitation. With a fa-
vourable wind the men approach very near, since
the animals are frequently almost blinded by the
hair that covers their eyes. In taking aim they
direct their piece to the hollow of the shoul-
der, by which means they generally bring them
down at one shot. If they do not fall, they im-
mediately run upon their enemy, and, with their
horns and hoofs, as offensive weapons, tear him
in pieces, and trample him into the earth.
They are so amazingly strong, that when they
fly through the woods from a pursuer, they fre-
quently brush down trees as thick as a man's arm ;
and, be the snow ever so deep, such is their strength
and agility, that they are able to plunge through
it much faster than the swiftest Indian can run
in snow-shoes. cf To this/' says Mr. Hearne, f<r I
have been an eye witness many times, and once
had the vanity to think that I could have kept
pace with them ; but though I was at that time
celebrated for being particularly fleet in snow
shoes, I soon found that I was no match for the
bisons, notwithstanding they were then plunging
through such deep snow, that their bellies made
a trench in it as large as if many heavy sacks had
been hauled through it.”
In Canada the hunting of the bison is a very
300
ox.
common employment of the natives. They draw
up in a large square, and commence their opera-
tions by setting fire to* the grass, which, at certain
seasons, is very long and dry. As the fire goes on,
they advance, closing their ranks as they proceed.
The animals, alarmed by the light, gallop con-
fusedly about, till they are hemmed in so close, that
frequently not a single beast is able to escape.
In Louisiana the men mount on horseback, each
with a sharp crescent-pointed spear in his hand.
They approach with the wind, and, as soon as the
animals smell them, they instantly make off ; but
the sight of the horses moderates their fear, and
the majority of them, from their luxuriant feed-
ing, are, at certain times of the year, so fat and
unwieldy, as easily to be enticed to slacken their
pace. As soon as the men overtake them, they
endeavour to strike the crescent just above the
ham, in such a manner as to cut through the ten-
dons, and render them afterwards an easy prey.
The hunting of these animals is also common in
several parts of South America, It commences
with a sort of festivity, and ends in an entertain-
ment in which one of their carcases supplies the
only ingredient. As soon as a herd of cattle is
seen on the plain, the most fleet and active of
the horsemen prepare to attack them, and des-
cending in the form of a widely extended crescent,
hunt them in all directions. After a while they
become so jaded and weary, that they seem ready to
sink under their fatigue : but the hunters, still
urging them to flight by their loud cries, drive
them at last from the field. Sucli as are unable
to exert the necessary speed for escape are slaugh-
tered. The hunters from these supply themselves
with what flesh they want, and abandon the rest
to the wolves.
The sagacity which the animals exhibit in de-
301
&... ox.
fending themselves against the attacks of the wolves
is admirable. When they scent the approach of a
drove of those ravenous creatures, the herd throws
itself into the form of a circle, having the weak-
est in the middle, and the strongest ranged on
the outside, thus presenting an impenetrable front
of horns. When, however, they are taken by sur-
prise, and have recourse to flight, numbers of
those that are fattest and most weak infallibly
perish.
Attempts have been made to domesticate these
animals, by catching the calves and herding them
with the common kind, in hopes of improving the
breed. This has not, however, been found to an-
swer, for, when they grew up, they always became
i'mpatietft of restraint, and, from their great
strength, would break down the strongest inclo-
sure, and entice the tame cattle to follow them.
The uses of the bison are various. Powder-
flasks are made of their horns. The skin forms an
excellent buff leather, and, when dressed with the
hair on, serves the Indians for clothes and shoes.
The Europeans of Louisiana use them for blan-
kets, and find them light, warm, and soft. The
flesh is a considerable article of food, and the
bunch on the shoulders is esteemed a great delicacy.
The bulls, when fat, frequently yield each a hun-
dred and fifty pounds weight of tallow, which
forms a considerable article of commerce. The
hair, or wool, is spun into gloves, stockings, and
garters, that are very strong, and look as well as
those made of the finest sheep's wool.
The great Indian ox is another variety of this
species. Its horns are short, and bend backwards,
close to the neck ; its shoulders are loaded with
a large lump, the flesh of which is very fat and
delicious : its hair is of a reddish colour When
the breed is crossed by intermixture with our
§02
ox.
common European cattle, the lump disappears
in a few generations. Madagascar affords the
same variety ; and they grow there to an enor-
mous size. Pliny mentions Indian oxen, of the
size of camels, with horns four feet wide. He
mentions also Syrian oxen, that wanted dewlaps*
hut had a bunch on the back.
India affords also another variety of this species ;
the bos Indicus of Linnseus, and the zebu of M.
Buffon. It has a lump on the shoulders ; but
its horns are almost upright, only bending a lit-
tle forward. It is used both as a Peast of draught,
End for riding. It is very mild and peaceful, and
often displays a degree of affection to mankind.
In Abyssinia there are two distinct races of oxen.
One of these is destitute of horns, and is employ-
ed in bearing burdens ; the others are remarkably
large, about twice as big as our common Euro-
pean cattle. The Ahyssinians fatten them with
milk, and kill them for eating. Their horns are
sufficiently capacious to hold five gallons, and
are used for pitchers.
Adel, or Adea, and Madagascar, are said to
afford snowy white cattle, as large as camels, with
pendulous ears, and hunch backs. White cattle,
with black ears, are ascribed to the island of Ti-
nian. The island of Guam affords cattle of the
same appearance. The lant or dant of Leo Afri-
eaous, is, perhaps, of this species. Its hair, lie
informs us, is white ; it resembles the ox in shape,
hut has smaller legs, and comelier horns. Its
hoofs are black. Targets, impenetrable by bullets,
are made of its bide.
The cattle of Holstein and Jutland are among
the largest produced in Europe. Their pasture
being very rich, they consequently grow to an
uncommon size, and the cows yield a great deal
of milk*
GRUNTING OX,
303
Podolia and the Russian Ukraine, in the tracts
adjoining to the rivers Bog, Dnieper, and Dnies-
ter, afford a fine breed with large horns, and a
dusky line along the back. Vast quantities of
these cattle are annually sold in Germany at a
high price. The same breed abounds in II un-
gary.
Grunting ox.
The grunting ox has a short head, abroad nose,
and thick hanging lips. His ears are large, cov-
ered externally with coarse, bristly, hairs, and
pointing downwards, but not pendulous*- His
horns are short, slender, round, upright, and sharp
pointed, and bend inwards ; they are remote from
each other at the bases ; and the hair forms a long
curling tuft between them. The whole body is
covered with long hair, much like that of a he-
goat ; and of so considerable a length on the in-
ferior part of the body, as to cover half the legs.
His hoofs are large ; upon each of the hinder feet
there are two tufts of hair, one before, the other
behind ; on each of the fore feet there is only one
tuft, which is placed behind. The shoulders are
loaded with a bunch. The tail is long and
bushy.
This animal is commonly black all over the
body, except on the front, the mane, the ridge of
the back, and the tail : these parts are white.
The horns of the tame animals of this species
have been observed to vary in colour, from red
to black ; and to be sometimes white as ivory.
Some have no horns, but so thick a frontal bone,
that it is very difficult to knock them down with
an ax.
There is probably a greater and smaller variety
304
GRUNTING OX,
of the grunting ox ; the former much exceeding
the bulk of our common cattle.
The voice of these animals is remarkable : in-
stead of lowing, like the former species of this
genus, they grunt like a hog. In their manner
they are ferocious. Though susceptible of do-
mestication, they retain, even in a tame state, their
natural ferocity. When red, or other gaudy co-
lours strike their eyes, they are instantly agitated
with fury ; their eye-balls glare ; they raise and
move their tails ; and even shake the whole body.
The wild breed, denominated bucha, are very
dangerous. If the liunter only wounds one of
these, without killing him on the spot, lie turns
and pursues the assailant ; and, if he overtakes
him, raises him on his horns, and tosses him to
death. — They are used as beasts of burden ; and
their milk is a valuable object of commerce among
the Tartars. Even the genuine breed were so
tame, as to submit to draw the waggons of the
wandering Tartars. The owners used to disarm
them, by cutting off the tops of their horns.
The stomach of the grunting bull is said to
afford a hezoar highly esteemed by the nations
of the East ; but the tail is still more valuable.
It is one of the chief articles of commerce which
Tibet affords. Mounted on a silver handle, it
forms the chowraw or fly-brush, so necessary, and
so generally used through India. People of
fashion, both when they walk abroad, and w hen
they appear in ceremony at home, are constantly
attended by two servants, with brushes of this
kind, (chowrabadars) whose business is to drive
away the flies. The tail of this animal is also
fastened, as an ornament, to the ear of the ele-
phant. The Chinese adorn their bonnets with
tufts of the hair which it affords, dyed red*
(Q) ‘XWKriLQE
BUFFALO*
30 5
With the Mongals, and with most of the other
eastern nations, the cow is an object of worship ;
and, accordingly, this animal is often respectfully
mentioned in their sacred books*
Buffalo.
The buffalo is considerably larger and stronger
than the ox. His horns extend for a considerable
length in an horizontal direction from their bases,
and then bend upwards ; they are not round, but
flattened ; and on one side sharp. His skin is
black ; his hair thin and short ; his tail bare ;
and his forehead adorned with a tuft of curling
hair. The body of the buffalo is thicker and
shorter, his legs longer, and his head smaller in
proportion to the size of his body, than that of
the ox ; his ears are also larger, and his skin
thicker and harder. His eyes are white ; his nose
broad and square ; and he has no dewlap. His
body is of a square form ; his tail shorter and
more slender than that of our common cattle. The
horns of these animals are sometimes amazingly
large. In the British Museum there is one six
feet six inches long, weighing twenty-one pounds,
and sufficiently capacious to hold five quarts.
The buffalo exists both in a tame and a wild
state. The wild buffalo is very fierce and dan-
gerous, if attacked. He is afraid of fire, and
even provoked at the sight of any thing red-co-
loured. He delights to wallow in mud, is fond
of the banks of rivers, and is an excellent swim-
mer.
Even the tame buffalo is a violent and untract-
able animal ; next to the hog, the dirtiest of do-
mestic’animals ; ungraceful in his appearance, and
awkward in his motions. His voice is deeper and
¥QLo II. e r
306
BUFFALO.
stronger than that of the bull ; and his bellow-
ing hideously frightful.
Notwithstanding the general resemblance which
the form of the buffalo bears to that of the com-
mon ox, yet the ox and the buffalo are distinct
species. They refuse to copulate together ; the
female buffalo will not suffer a common calf to
suck her, nor will the cow suckle a young buffalo-;
the female buffalo goes twelve months with young ;
our cows only nine.
The milk of the buffalo, though generally in-
ferior in quality to that of the cow, is used for
the same purposes ; in those countries in which
the species is domestic, it affords a great deal of
cheese. The flesh of this animal is also eaten ;
but it is black and hard, has a disagreeable taste,
and a more disagreeable smell. The only part
that can be called good eating is the tongue. The
skin is more valuable than the flesh ; it is solid,
pretty flexible, and almost impenetrable ; and is
accordingly prepared into excellent buff. The
horns are employed in various manufactures. The
strength and size of the buffalo render him su-
perior to the ox as a beast for the draught. A
ring, passed through bis nose, enables the driver
to manage him. He carries his head and neck
low ; and of consequence the whole strength of
the body is employed in drawing. These advan-
tages of size and carriage are so considerable,
that two buffaloes will draw as much as four
strong horses.
The buffalo is a native of the warm cli-
mates. These animals abound in India, Abyssinia,
Egypt, and in the neighbourhood of the Cape of
Good Hope. They exist in a wild state in Ma-
labar, Borneo, and Ceylon. The negroes of Ma-
labar, and of Guinea, where they are also nuuie*
BUFFALO.
307
irons, are fond of hunting them. They mount a
tree, or hide in a thicket, and shoot the buffalo as
he passes.
In Abyssinia, the buffalo grows twice as large
as our ox. On account, as well of his enormous
size, 'as of the thickness and blackness of his skin,
he has there obtained a name signifying taurele-
pfeas.
In India, the tame buffalo is more peaceable
and tractable than in any other country. In Egypt
too, this animal is sufficiently manageable.
It is said to be a singular sight to see, morning
and evening, large herds of them cross the Tigris
mnd Euphrates. They proceed, all wedged against
each other, the herdsmen riding on one of them,
sometimes standing upright, and sometimes couch-
ing down ; and if any of the exterior ones are out
of order, stepping lightly from back to back, to
drive them along.
A very singular circumstance relative to these
animals, is recorded by those who completed the
voyage to the Pacific Ocean, begun by Captain
Cook. When at Pulp Condore they procured
eight buffaloes, which were to be conducted to the
ships, by ropes put through their nostrils and round
their horns ; but when these were brought within
sight of the ship’s people, they became so furious
that some of them tore out the cartilage of their
nostrils, and set themselves at liberty ; and others
broke down even the shrubs to which it was fre-
quently found necessary to fasten them. All at-
tempts to get them on board would have" proved
fruitless, bad it not been for some children whom
the animals would suffer to approach them, and
by whose puerile management their rage was
quickly appeased ; and when the animals were
brought to the beach, it was by their assistance in
twisting the ropes about their legs, that the men
308
BUFFALO.
were enabled to throw them down* and by that
means get them into the boats. And what appears
to have been no less singular than this circumstance
was* that they had not been a day on board* before
they became perfectly gentle.
The buffalo is also an inhabitant, or* at least
an occasional visitant of the Gold Coast of Guinea,
B osman relates* that these animals are found all
over Guinea ; but in such small numbers* that one
of them is scarce to be seen in three or four years.
On the Slave Coast* they are sometimes found in
great numbers. Those in this tract of country
appear to be of the same form and character with
those in the neighbourhood of the Cape. Theji
are of a red colour. Bosman mentions that those
which he saw* though very swift* had the appear-
ance of being lame.
In the large island of Sumatra* in the East In**
dies* the buffalo* called by the natives carbow* is
the principal domestic animal. The buffalo of
that island seems to possess some peculiar charac-
teristics* and must therefore be regarded as a
distinct variety. Like the other buffaloes that have
been already "described, the buffalo of Sumatra has
a large* heavy body, short legs* and large hoofs ;
its horns turn backwards, but sometimes point for-
wards*and are always in the plane of the forehead.
The tail is slender* reaches only to the middle joint
of the leg* and terminates in a bunch of hair. The
female goes nine months with calf ; and suckles
her calf for six. When crossing a river she carrier
her young on her back. The voice of the animal
is a weak* sharp cry* very uqlike the lowing sof
oxen.
These buffaloes* as well as those of other coun-
tries* delight to roll in mud and water. They
display great dexterity in throwing the water with
the horn over their back and sides* when there is
BUFFALO-
309
not sufficient depth to cover them. The mud,
mixed with the water, forms a crust on their skins,
by which they are preserved from the stinging of
insects ; which, on account of the thinness of their
hair, must otherwise prove very troublesome to
them. Their proprietors light fires at night, to
afford them an opportunity of drying the mud on
their bodies, by exposing themselves to the smoke.
Even of these Sumatran buffaloes there are two
varieties, the white and the black. Both are em-
ployed in labour ; but the white are scarce ever
killed for food. Different reasons have been as-
signed for this exemption ; some of the native*
say, that the white are suffered to live uninjured,
because they are accounted sacred ; others say,
that the only reason is the inferior quality of their
flesh.
In Sumatra, the buffalo displays considerable
docility and address. It is taught to lift the shafts
of a cart with its horns, and place the yoke fixed
to them across its own neck. The rest of the har-
ness consists of a breast-band, and a string passing
through the cartilage of the nose. This animal is
not capable of undergoing much fatigue ; any ex-
traordinary exertions, especially in the heat of the
day, are likely to put an end to its life. The
female buffalo affords better milk than the cow of
Sumatra, but that not in so large a quantity.
Wild buffaloes are also known in the same island.
They are considered, not as an originally wild
breed, but as stray cattle, and are therefore distin-
guished by the name of carbow gellan. They are
gregarious ; and it is remarkable, that in herds
they are not so ready to attack the passenger as
when met singly. Like the turkey, they discover
an antipathy at red colours. They are as swift
in running as an ordinary horse. When alarmed
or attacked, they flee for a short distance ; then
mo
BUFFALO.
face about, and form into a regular body ; and,
when the cause of their apprehensions advances
nearer, again take to flight ; thus they alternately
retreat and face about till they gain some place
of security. Among the inhabitants of the forest,
the tiger is thffir principal enemy ; but only the fe-
males and the weaker males fall a prey to his rapa-
citv.
o
An animal of this species, but almost naked,
and considerably smaller than those which have
been described, was, a number of years ago, exhi-
bited in London, under the name of bonasus. Its
rump and thighs were quite bare ; the hairs, thin-
ly scattered over the rest of the body, were bristly ;
the rump was marked with t\vo dusky stripes,
pointing downwards ; the thighs with two transverse
stripes ; its horns were compressed sideways, taper,
and sharp at the points. It was said to come from
the East Indies.
In the Celebes, there is an animal of the size of
a middling sheep, which appears to be a variety of
the buffalo. It is called anoa ; is a gregarious ani-
mal ; and is found in small herds on the mountains
of those islands, which abound in caverns. It is
exceedingly difficult to take any of these creatures ;
and even in confinement, they are so remarkably
fierce as to rip up the bellies of stags kept in the
same paddock.
Ceylon affords a peculiar sort of an ox, which
may, perhaps, be referred to this species. Its back
stands up in a sharp ridge ; its legs are white half
way up ; and it is called the gauvera. Mr. Pen*
nant mentions his having received information that
there are hvinched-baeked oxen in that island ; and
thinks the animals intended in the above
script! on.
MUSK. OX,
311
Musk ox.
This animal, which is only mentioned by Buf-
fon as having a strong smell of musk, and as being,
on account of that quality, distinguished by most
travellers under the name of musk ox, is consider-
ed by Mr. Pennant, with sufficient propriety, it
would appear, as a separate species.
The horns of the musk ox seem almost to join
at the base ; as they rise, they bend inwards and
downwards for a great part of their length ;
but near their termination, turn outwards. Near
the base, the horn measures two feet round : it
tapers towards its extremity, and is sharp at the
point. Measured along the curvature, its length
is only two feet. The head and body of this ani-
mal are covered all over with dark red silky hairs,
which are so long as to trail on the ground, and
hide the proportions of its shape. Its shoulders
rise in a lump ; and its legs and tail are very
short ; it is not so tall as a deer ; but its body is
more bulky.
The following more accurate description of a
cow of this species we borrow from Mr. Pennant,
who formed it from a complete skin, which he was
lucky enough to obtain : the nostrils are long and
open ; the two middle cutting teeth broad and sharp-*
edged ; the three on each side of these small and
truncated. The lips are covered with short white
hairs on the fore part, and with pale brown hairs
on the sides. The hair extending down the middle
of the forehead is long and erect ; that on the
cheeks and the throat long and pendulous, so as to
form a long beard. On the neck, the sides, and
the rump, the hair depends in the same manner,
and reaches nearly to the ground. Between the
■binder part of the head and the shoulders there
MUSK OX.
312
is a thick upright mane of very long, soft hair.
Between the bases of the two horns the hair is
partly white, and partly of a light rust colour;
the mane, which extends to the middle of the back*
but becomes gradually narrower towards that
part, is a reddish dun. On the middle of the
back is a large roundish bed of hairs, only three
inches in length, and entirely white upon the
surface ; but near the roots of a pale brown co-
lour. The hairs upon the other parts of the body
are entirely black. The black hair is the longest*
measuring not less than seventeen inches. That
between the horns, with the mane running to the
middle of the back, is finer and softer than any
human hair ; and the white bed on the middle of
the back is almost of the same nature as wool.
Under the hair, all over the ’
is covered with ash coloured
sitely fine.
The length of the hide, from the nose to the
tail, is about six feet four inches. The head alone
measures fourteen inches. The" legs appear to be
little more than a foot long. The horns are pla-
ced exactly on the sides of the head ; they are
of a whitish colour ; the space between them is
nine inches ; the length of the horn is thirteen
inches and a half ; at the base it is eight inches
and a half round ; it is bent the same way as that
of the bull. The ears are three inches long, and
stand erect ; they are slender and even, sharp at
the points, but broad in the middle ; they are
covered with a thick lining of dusky hair, mark-
ed with a white stripe. The hoofs are short,
broad, and black ; the false hoofs large in pro-
portion to these. The tail is a mere stump, three
inches long, and concealed by very long hair.
These animals are confined within a not very
extensive tract in North America. They appear
MUSK OX.
S13
little farther south than in the country between
Churchill river and the river of Seals, on the west
side of Hudson’s Bay ; from thence they inhabit*
to the latitude of 73° north, beyond which the
human inhabitants of those regions have not pene
trated. They are most numerous between the
latitudes of 66° and 73°. They are also found in
the land of the Cris or Cristinaux and the Assim-
poels, as well as among the Attimospiquay, a na-
tion supposed to inhabit about the head of the
river of Seals, probably at no great distance from
the South Sea ; and it appears that they extend
southward, even to the provinces of Quivera and
Cibola. Some skulls of animals of this species have
been found on the mossy plains near the mouth of
the Oby, near Siberia ; but as the species is not
known to inhabit thai country at present, it has been
conjectured that the carcases to which these
skulls belonged, may have been floated on masses
of ice from America ; or the species may have
been once common to both Asia and America.
These animals seldom visit tracts of wood> but
delight in rocky barren mountains. They run
swiftly, and display great dexterity in climbing
rocks.
They &re shot by the Indians for their flesh and
skins. The flesh tastes strongly of musk ; and
the heart particularly is so much infected as to be
scarce eatable. The rest of the body, however,
is very wholesome food. The Indians use the
skins as blankets ; they also dispose of both the
flesh and skins at the forts of the Europeans ;
bringing them down every winter in considerable
quantities. The hair is so amazingly fine, that
stockings have been made of it finer than silk.
VOL. II. s s
$ 1 4* > ARNEE* AND CAPE BUFFALO.
Arnee.
Tills is an Indian species*, known chiefly from
its vast horns* which are sometimes seen in,, mu-
seums* and from Indian paintings* in which it is
occasionally represented.
In the work of Mr. Kerr* it is said to have
been met with by a British officer in the woods
above Bengal* and to have been about fourteen
feet high* which is to be understood of the mea-
sure from the hoofs to the top of the horns. It
is said to partake of the form of the horse* the bull*
and the deer* and to be a very bold and daring ani-
mal. Mr. Kerr in his publication adds a figure of
this species from an Indian painting. In this paint-
ing the animal appears* in proportion to the human
figures standing near* to ne at least eight feet
high at the shoulders. It is of a black colour*
quite smooth* and without either protuberance or
mane. Horns of the animal exist in the British*
and other museums.
Cape buffalo.
The savage disposition of this animal renders
it well known about the Cape of Good Hope;
and in the several other parts of Africa where it
is found. It is very large and enormously strong.
The fore parts of the body are covered with long,
coarse* and black hair. The horns are thick,
and rugged at the base* sometimes measuring
three feet in length* and lying so flat as to cover
almost all the top of the head. The ea*s are
large and slouching. The body and limbs are
very thick and muscular ,* and the animal is
above eight feet long* and six in height. The head
CAPE BUFFALO. 315
hangs down^ and bears a most fierce and malevo-
lent aspect.
In the plains of Caffraria the buffaloes are so
common that it is by no means unusual to see a
hundred and fifty,, or two hundred of them in a
herd. They generally retire to the thickets and
woods in the day time., and at night go out into
the plains to graze.
Treacherous in the extreme,, they frequently
conceal themselves among the trees, and there
^tand lurking till some unfortunate passenger
comes by, when the animal at once rushes out into
the road, and attacks the traveller, who has no
chance to escape but by climbing up a tree, if he
is fortunate enough to be near one. Flight is of
no avail, he is speedily overtaken by the furious
beast, who, not contented with throwing him
down and killing him, stands over him even for a
long time afterwards, trampling him with his
hoofs, and crushing him with his knees ; and not
only mangles and tears the body to pieces with his
horns and teeth, but likewise strips off the skin,
by licking it with his tongue. Nor does he per-
form all this at once, but often retires to some
distance from the body, and returns with savage
ferocity to gratify afresh his cruel inclination.
As Professor Thunberg was travelling in Caf-
fraria, he and his companions had just entered a
wood, when they discovered a large old male
buffalo, lying quite alone, in a spot that, for the
space of a few square j^ards, was free from bushes.
The animal no sooner observed the guide, who
went first, than, with a horrible roar, he rushed
upon him. The fellow turned his horse short
round behind a large tree, and the buffalo rushed
straight forwards to the next man, and gored his
horse so dreadfully in the belly that it died soon
aftefi. These two clirqbed into trees, and the fu-
316
CAPE BUFFALO. ■
FI oils animal made his way towards the rest, of
whom the Professor was one,, who were ap?-
proaching, but at some distance. A horse with-
out a rider was in the front ; as soon as the buf^
falo saw him he became more outrageous than
before, and attacked him with such fury, that
he not only drove his horns into the horse’s breast,
but even out again through the very saddle.
This horse was thrown to the ground with such
excessive violence, that he instantly died, and
many of his bones were broken. Just at this mo-
ment the Professor happened to come up, but
from the narrowness of the path having no room
to turn round, he was glad to abandon his horse,
and take refuge in a tolerably high tree. The
buffalo, however, had finished ; for after the des-^
truction of the second horse, he turned suddenly
round, and galloped away.
Some time after this, the Professor and his party
espied an extremely large herd of buffaloes grazing
on a, plain. Being now sufficiently apprized of the
disposition of these animals, and knowing that they
would not attack any person in the open plains,
they approached within forty paces, and fired
amongst them. The whole troop, notwithstanding
the individual intrepidity of the animals, surprised
by the sudden flash and report, turned about, and
made off towards the woods. The wounded buffa-
loes separated from the rest of the herd from
inability to keep pace with them. Amongst these
was*an old bull buffalo, which ran with fury
towards the party. They knew that, from the si-
tuation of the eyes of these animals, they could see
in scarcely any other direction than straight for-
ward ; and that in an open plain, if a man that was
pursued darted out of the course, and threw himself
flat on the ground, they would gallop off to a con?
siderable distance before they missed him* These
CAFE BUFFALO,
31T
circumstances prevented their suffering any material
alarm. The animal, from this contrivance, passed
close by them, and fell before he appeared to have
discovered his error. Such, however, was his
strength, that notwithstanding the ball had entered
his chest, and penetrated through the greatest part
pf his body, he ran at fail speed several hundred
paces before he fell.
The Cape buffalo is frequently bunted, both by
Europeans, and by the natives of South Africa.
In Caffraria he is generally killed by means of
javelins, which the inhabitants use with considera-
ble dexterity. When a Caffre has discovered the
place where several buffaloes are collected together,
he blows a pipe, made of the thigh bone of a sheep,
which is heard at a great distance. The moment
his comrades hear this notice they run up to the
spot, and surrounding the animals, which they take
care to approach by degrees, lest they should alarm
them, throw their javelins at them. This is gene-
rally done with so sure an aim that out of eight or
twelve, it is very rarely that a single one escapes.
It sometimes happens, however, that while the
buffaloes are running oft', some one of the hunters
who stands in the way is tossed and killed ; but
this is a circumstance not much regarded by the
Caftrarians. When the chase is ended, each one cuts
off and takes away his share of the game.
Some Europeans at the Cape once chased a buf-
falo, and having driven him into a narrow place, he
turned round, and instantly pushed at one of his
pursuers, who had on a red waistcoat. The man,
to save his life, ran to the water, plunged in, and
swam off ; the animal followed him so closely that
the poor fellow had no alternative but that of
diving. He dipped overhead, and the buffalo,
losing sight of him, swam on towards the opposite
CAPE BUFFALO,
,118
shore,, three miles distant, and, as was supposed*
would have reached it, had he not been shot by a
gun from a ship lying at a little distance. The skin
was presented to the governor of the Cape/ who had
it stuffed, and placed it among his collection of
curiosities.
Like the hog, this animal is fond of wallowing in
the mire. His flesh is lean, but juicy, and of a
high flavour. The hide is so thick and tough,
that targets, musket-proof, are formed of it ; and
even while the animal is alive, it is said to be in
many parts impenetrable to a leaden musket-hall ;
halls hardened with a mixture of tin, are, there-
fore, always used, and even these are often flattened
by the resistance. Of the skin, the strongest and
best thongs for harness are made. The Hottentots,
who never put themselves to any great trouble in
dressing their victuals, cut the buffalo’s flesh into
slices, and then smoke, and at the same time half
broil it, over a few coals. They also frequently
eat it in a state of putrefaction. They dress the
bides by stretching them on the ground with stakes,
afterwards strewing them over with warm ashes,
and then with a knife scraping off the hair.
HORSE TRIBE.
The animals of this tribe perform various and
essential services to mankind. All the species, ex-
cept one, have single hoofs ; this, however, which
is an inhabitant of the mountains of South America,
has divided hoofs, as in the several kinds of cattle.
lEL-TUM)
COMMON HORSE,
319
They all fight by biting, and kicking with their
hind feet ; and they have the singular property of
breathing only through their nostrils.
They are gregarious, and in a wild state inhabit
the most retired deserts. Of the six species now
known, only one has been discovered as a native of
the new continent, the rest being confined to Africa
and Asia.
The generic characters of the horse are six
parallel front teeth in the upper, and six in the
lower jaw, the latter somewhat projecting. There
is also one canine tooth on each side, in both jaws,
remote from the rest.
Common horse.
The horse is known among most nations in the
world, in a domestic state. In gracefulness of
form and dignity of carriage, he appears superior
to every other quadruped. Among all the inferior
animals, man has found no other servant equally
manageable and useful with the horse. He is
lively and high spirited, yet gentle and tractable ;
vigorous and active ; keen and ardent in his exer-
tions, yet firm and persevering. lie seems equally
qualified for all the different purposes for which man
can employ his services ; lie submits peaceably to the
draught ; rejoices in the race ; in hunting, seems
to catch the eagerness of his rider, and disdains
every obstacle ; on the road, proceeds cheerfully*
and seems to acquire for his master the attachment
of a companion ; in war, he learns to perform every
evolution with the utmost dexterity, and displays
a degree of ardour for battle which the courage
even of the bravest soldier cannot exceed. He is
liable to several diseases, though not to such a
variety as his master. To some of these he would,
|uo doubt, be naturally subject in any state ; other*
eOMMON HORSE.
of them are occasioned by our wanton abuse of
this noble animal ; and others, perhaps the greater
number, he owes to our ill-directed fondness and
care. He feeds upon grass and grain ; fights with
his hoofs and teeth ; defends himself from flies
with his tail. The skin of this animal is used for
collars and harness, and other similar purposes ;
and the hair for chair bottoms, floor cloths, and
fishing lines. The flesh is eaten by some rude
nations, among whom the animal abounds ; the
milk of the mare is also drunk ; and the Kalmuks
and Mongals prepare from it a spirit of considera-
ble strength. The period of gestation is two hun-
dred and ninety days. The mare suckles her
foal with fondness, and defends it from injury.
The young horse, or mare, does not acquire the
canine teeth till the age of five years. The Voice
of this animal is peculiar ; we call it neighing.
Horses are known to live, when their days are not
shortened by ill usage, commonly to the age of
five and twenty or thirty years ; and sometimes to
forty or fifty : such as are remarkably large sel-
dom live so long as those of a moderate size.
The horse, like the other tame animals, has, no
doubt, been originally domesticated by human art.
Wild horses are still found in various parts
of the world. But this species of animals have
been so long known in a domestic state, and their
useful qualities have caused them to be diffused
so generally over the globe, that it is impossible to
discover, with any degree of certainty, of what
country they were originally natives. Wild horses
are found in the country lying around the lake
Aral ; on the river Torn, in the southern part of
Siberia ; in the great Mongalian deserts ; and
among the Kalkas, north-west of China. These
horses are smaller than the domestic ; their hair,
particularly in winter, is very thick, and of a mouse
COMMON HORSE,
321
colour. Their heads are larger, in proportion
to their bodies, than those of the tame horses ;
and their foreheads remarkably arched. They
herd together in large companies, and often
gather round the horses of the Mungals and
Kalkas, while grazingin the fields, and carry them
olf among them. They are observed to be very
watchful of their common safety. While the herd
is feeding, one of their number is placed as senti-
nel on an eminence ; when danger of any kind ap-
proaches, he warns his fellows by neighing, and
they all betake themselves to flight with the ut-
most velocity. Yet the Kalmuks frequently sur-
prise them, ride in among the herds, on very fleet
tame horses, and kill them with broad lances.
Hawks are also used in taking the wild horses ;
those birds are taught to fix on the forehead of
the quadruped, where they tease and distress it in
such a manner, as to prevent it from es^ping its
pursuer.
In the wilds of xlfriea too, the horse is said to
be found in a state of nature. In the.couutry ad-
joining to the Cape of Good Hope, numbers of
wild horses are found. Their size is small, their
dispositions vicious ; and no art, we are told, can
succeed in taming them. The negroes kill them
for eating.
In the deserts on each side of the river Don,
particularly towards the Pal us Ma?otis and the
town of Backmut, there are a race of wild horses,
which are known to be the progeny of the Russian
horses that were turned loose from the siege of
Asoph in the year 1697, for want of forage. The
Cossacks chase and kill these for their skins.
When they happen to take a young one, it is do-
mesticated by coupling it, for a few months, with
a tame horse. These arc much stronger than the
tame horses of the country. The horses of the
T t
COMMON lidliSK.,
Tartars copulate and breed with the wild horses,
which carry them off : the offspring produced by
this intermixture are distinguishable by their co-
lours. In Spanish America; there are vast herds
of wild horses. But they are known to have been
originally introduced by the Spaniards, when they
first conquered that country. Being suffered to
run about in those extensi ve and unappropriated
fields and forestsi without restraint or culture,
they have become strangers: to man, and have mul-
tiplied so amazingly, that they are now spread
overall the south of the American continent, nearly
to the (.Straits' of Magellan. The inhabitants of
those regions are not without arts for taking them.
When taken, they are easily famed ; and though
suffered to return to their former state of freedom,
they never afterwards forget their masters. An-
tient authors mention wild* horses as inhabitants'
of many^iUier countries. Herodotus speaks of a
race of white wild horses that were found on the
banks of the river Hypanis in Scythia, and men-
tions another* tribe in the north of Thrace; whose
hair was five inches long all over the body. Strabo
speaks of wild horses on the Alps, and in Spain.
Cardan, who visited Scotland in the minority of
queen Mary, and had the honour of curing Hamil-
ton, archbishop of St. Andrew’s, of a dangerous
disease, relates, that wild horses then abounded in
his country, and in the Orkney isles. And, in-
deed, we are told, that in the Highlands of Scot-
land, many of that small breed of horses/known
in the low countries by the name of shelties, still
run about, almost wild, among the hills, in a state
very little different from that of the wild horses in
Smith America. It is worth notice, that the fa-
bulous records in which the earlier history of an-
tient Greece is preserved/ represent horses as hav-
ing been first domesticated by the inhabitants of
COMMON HORSE. 323
Thessaly; a country? bordering * on Thrace. The
fable of the Centaurs is well known. From every
fact that antient authors have preserved, or mo-
dern travellers relate concerning the horse in a wild
state, this species of animals appear to have been
destined by nature for inhabitants, not merely of
one or two different tracts of country, but of a
considerable part of the globe. An animal so
useful and so friendly to man, is happily qualified
to be his servant and companion in many varieties
of climate, and through a great diversity of lo&al
circumstances. :
But of all countries in the world, where the
horse runs wild, Arabia produces the most beau-
tiful breed, the most generous, swift, and perse-
vering, They are said to be found, though not
in great numbers, in the deserts of that coun-
try ; and the natives use every stratagenC to take
them. Although they are active and^fceautiful,
yet they are not so large as those that are bred up
tame ; they are of a brown colour, their mane and
tail very short, and the hair blacl| and tufted.
Their swiftness is incredible ; the attempt to pur-
sue them in the usual manner of; the chase, with
dogs, would be entirely fruitless. Such is the
rapidity of their flights t hat .. they are instantly out
of view, and the dogs themselves give up the vain
pursuit. The only method, therefore, of taking
them is by traps, hidden in the sand, which en-
tangling their feet, the hunter at length comes
upr and either kills them or carries them home
alive. If the horse be young, he is considered
among the Arabians as a very great delicacy ; and
they feast upon him while any part is found, re-
maining ; but if, from his shape or vigour, he
promises to be serviceable in his more noble capa-
city; they take the usual methods of faming him;
3?A
COMMON HORSE.
by fatigue and hunger, and he soon becomes an
useful domestic animal.
The usual manner of trying their swiftness, is by
hunting the ostrich ; the horse is the only animal
whose speed is comparable to that of this creature,
which is found in the sandy plains, with which
those countries abound. The instant the ostrich
perceives itself aimed at, it makes to the mountains,
while the horseman pursues with all the swiftness
possible, and endeavours to cut off its retreat.
The chase then continues along the plain, while the
ostrich makes use of both legs and wings to assist
its motion. However, a horse of the first speed
is able to out-run it ; so that the poor animal is
then obliged to have recourse to art to elude the
hqnter, by frequently turning : at length, finding
all escape hopeless, it hides it head wherever it
can, and suffers itself to be tamely taken. If the
horse, inUt trial of this kind, shows great speed,
and is not readily tired, his price becomes propor-
tionably great, and there are some horses valued at
a thousand dhcats.
But the horses thus caught, or trained in this
manner, are at present but very few ; the value
of Arabian horses, over all the world, has, in a
great measure, thinned the deserts of the wild
breed ; and there are very few to be found in
those countries, except such as are tame. The
Arabians, as we are told by historians, first be-
gan the management of, horses in the time of
Sheque Ismael. Before that, they wandered wild
along the face of the country, neglected and use-
less ; but the native then first began to tame their
fierceness, and to improve their beauty, ; so that
at present they possess a race of the most beautiful
horses in the world, w ith which they drive a trade,
and furnished the stables of princes at immense
prices.
COMMON HORSE.
325
<f There is scarce an Arabian,” says Buffon,
“ how poor soever, but is provided with his horse.
They, in general make use of mares in their or-
dinary excursions ; experience having taught them
that they support fatigue, thirst, and hunger, bet-
ter than the horses are found to do. They are also
less vicious, of a gentler nature, and are not so apt
to neigh They are more harmless also among
themselves, not so apt to kick or hurt each other,
hut remain whole days together without the least
mischief The Turks, on the contrary, are not
fond of mares ; and the Arabians sell them such
horses as they do not choose to keep for stallions
at home. They preserve the pedigree of their
horses with great care, and for several ages back.
They know their alliances and all their genealogy ;
they distinguish the races" by different names, and
divide them into three classes. The first is that
of the nobles, the antient breed, and unadulterated
on either side : the second is that of the antient
race, but adulterated ; and the third is that of
tiie common and inferior kind : the last they sell
at a low price ; but those of the first class, and
even of the second, amongst which are found
horses of equal value to the former, are sold ex-
tremely dear. They know, by long experience,
the race of a horse by his appearance ; they can
tell the name, the surname, the colour, and the
marks properly belonging to each. When they
are not possessed of stallions of the noble race
themselves, for their mares, they borrow from
their neighbours, paying a proper price as with
us, and receive a written attestation of the whole.
In this attestation is contained the name of the
horse and the mare, and their respective genealo-
gies. When the mare has produced her foal, new
witnesses are called, and a new attestation signed,
in which are described the marks of the foal, and
COMMON HORSE.
the dat noted wiieir it was brought forth. These
attestations increase the value of the horse ; and
they are given to the person who buys him. The
most ordinary mare of this race sells for five hun-
dred crowns ; there are many that sell for a thou-
sand ; and some of the very hnest for fourteen or
fifteen hundred pounds. As the Arabians have
no other house but, a tent to live in, this also serves
them fbr a stable ; so that the mare, the foal, the
husband, the wife, and the children, lie all toge-
ther indiscriminately * the little children are often
seen upon the. body or the neck of the mare, while
these continue inoffensive and harmless, permitting
them thus- to play with and caress them without
tmy injury. The Arabians never beat their horses :
they treat them gently; they speak to them, and
ieem to hold a discourse ; they use them as friends ;
they never attempt to increase their speed by the
whip, nor spur them but in case’s of necessity.
However, when this happens, they set off with
amazing swiftness ; they leap over obstacles with
as much agility as a buck ; and, if the rider hap-
pens to fall, they are so manageable that they
stand still in the midst of their most rapid career.
The Arabian horses are of a middle size, easy in
their motions, and rather inclined to leanness than
fat. They are regularly dressed every morning
and evening, and with such care, that not the
smallest roughness is left upon their skins. They
wash the legs, the" mane- and the tail, which they
never cut ; and which they seldom comb, lest they
should thin the hair. They give them nothing
to eat during the day ; they only give them to drink
once or twice ; and at sun-set they hang* a bag to
their heads, in which there is about half a bushel
of clean barley. They continue eating the whole
night, and the bag is again taken away the next
morning. They are turned out to pasture in the
COMMON K-OJtSE;.,
M 7
beginning of March, when the grass 1*3 pretty high,
anti at which time the mares are given to the
stallion. When the spring is past, they take them
again from pasture, and, they get neither grass
nor hay during the rest of the year; barley is
their only food, except now and then a little straw.
The mane of the foal is always clipped when about
a year or eighteen months old, in order to make
it stronger and thicker. They begin to break
them at two years old3 or two years and half at
farthest; they never saddle or bridle them till at
that age ; and then they are always kept ready-
saddled at the door of the tent, from morning till
sun-set, in order to be prepared against any sur-
prise. They at present seem sensible of the great
advantage their horses are to the country ; there
is a law, therefore, that prohibits the exportation
of the mares, and such stallions as are brought into
England are generally purchased on the eastern
shores of Africa, and coiperound to us by the Cape
of Good Hope. They are in general less in stature
than our own; being not above fourteen, or four-
teen hands and a half high ; Their motions are
much more graceful and swifter than of our own
horses ; but, nevertheless, their speed is far from
being equal ; they run higher from the ground ;
their stroke is not so long and close ; and they are
far inferior in bottom] Still, however, they must
be considered as the first and finest breed in the
world; and that from which all others have de-
rived their particular qualifications. It is even
probable that Arabia is the original country of
horses ; since there, instead of crossing the breed,
they take every precaution to keep it entire. In
other countries they must continually change the
races, or their hordes would soon degenerate ; but
there the same blood has past down through a long
328
COMMON HORSE.
succession, without any diminution either of force
or beauty.'"
The race of Arabian horses has spread itself
into Barbary, among; the Moors, and has even ex-
tended across that extensive continent to the western
shores of Africa. Among the negroes of Gambia
and Senegal, the chiefs of the country are possessed
of horses ; which, though little, are very beautiful,,
and extremely manageable. Instead of barley,
they are fed in those countries with maize, bruised
and reduced into meal, and mixed up with milk
when they design to fatten them. These are con-
sidered as next to the Arabian horses, both for
swiftness and beauty ; but they are rather still
smaller than the former. The Italians have a
peculiar sport, in which horses of this breed run
against each other. They have no riders, but
saddles so formed as to flap against the horses'
sides as they move, and thus to spur them forward.
They are set to run in a kind of railed walk, about
a mile long, out of which they never attempt to
escape ; but, when they once set forward, they
never stop, although the walk from one end to
the other is covered with a crowd of spectators,
which opens and gives way as the horses approach.
Our horses would scarcely, in this manner, face a
crowd, and continue their speed, without a rider,
through the midst of a multitude ; and, indeed,
it is a little surprising how in such a place, the
horses ■ find their own \yay. However, what our
English horses may want in sagacity, they make
up by their swiftness ; and it has been found upon
computation, that their speed is nearly one fourth
greater, even carrying a rider, than that of the
swiftest barb without one.
The Arabian breed has been diffused into Egypt
as well as Barbary, and into Persia also ; where.
COMMON horse: 3*59
as we are fold by Marcus Paulas, there are studg
of ten thousand white mares all together, very fleet,
and with the hoof so hard, that shoeing is unne-
cessary. In these countries, they in general give
their horses the same treatment that they give
in Arabia, except that they litter them upon a bed
of their own dung, dried in the sun, and then
reduced to powder. When this-, which is spread
under the horse about five inches thick, is moisten-
ed, they dry it again, and spread it as before. The
horses of these countries a good deal resemble
each other. They are usually of a slender make,
their legs fine, bony, and far apart ; a thin mane,
a fine crest ; a beautiful head : the ear small and
well pointed; the shoulder thin ; the side rounded,
without any unsightly prominence ; the croup is
a little of the longest, and the tail is generally set
high. The race of horses, however, is much de-
generated in Numidia ; the natives having been
discouraged from keeping the breed up by the
Turks, who seize upon all the good horses, with-
out paying the owners the smallest gratuity for
their care in bringing them lip. The Tingitanians
and Egyptians have now, therefore, the fame of
rearing the finest horses, both for size and beauty*
The smallest of these last are usually sixteen hands
high ; and all of them shaped, as they express it,
with the elegance of an antelope.
Next to the barb, travellers generally rank the
Spanish genette. These horses, like the former,
are little, but extremely swift and beautiful.
The head is something of the largest ; the mane
thick ; the ears long, but well pointed ; the eyes
filled with fire ; the shoulder thickish, and the
breast full and large. The croup round and
large ; the legs beautiful, and without hair ; the
pastern a little of the longest, as in the barb, and
the hoof rather too high. Nevertheless, they move
VOL IIt ¥ U
3S0 COMMON HORSE.
with great ease, and carry themselves extremely
well. Their most usual colour is black, or a dark
bay. They seldom or never have white legs, or
white snip. The Spaniards, who have a ground-
less aversion to these marks, never breed from such
as have them. They are all branded on the but-
tock with the owner's name ; and those of the
province of Andalusia pass for the best. These
are said to possess courage, obedience, grace, and
ipirit, in a greater degree than even the barb ;
and, for this reason, they have been preferred as
war-horses to those of any other country.
The Italian horses were once more beautiful
than they are at present, for they have greatly neg-
lected the breed. Nevertheless, there are still
found some beautiful horses among them, particu-
larly among the Neapolitans, who chiefly use them
for the draught. In general, they have large
heads and thick necks. They are also restive, and
Consequently unmanageable. These faults, how-
ever, are recompensed by the largeness of their size,
by their spirit, and the beauty of their motion.
They are excellent for show, and have a peculiar
aptitude to prance.
The Danish horses are of such an excellent size,
and so strong a make, that they are preferred to
all others for the draught. There are some
of them perfectly well shaped ; but this is but sel-
dom seen ; for in general they are found to have a
thick neck, heavy shoulders, long and hollow back,
and a narrow croup : however, they all move well,
and are found excellent both for parade and war.
They are of all colours, and often of whimsical
ones, some being streaked like the tiger, or mottled
like the leopard.
The German horses are originally from Arabian
and Barbary stocks ; nevertheless, they appear to
be small and ill shaped : it is said also, that
COMMON HORSE.
SSI
are weak and washy, with tender hoofs. The
Hungarian horses, on the other hand, are excel-
lent for the draught, as well as the saddle. The
Hussars, who use them in war, usually slit their
nostrils ; which is done, as it is said, to prevent
their neighing, hut, perhaps, without any real
foundation.
The Dutch breed is good for the draught, and
is generally used for that purpose over Europe :
the best come from the province of Friezland.
The Flanders horses are much inferior to the for-
mer ; they have most commonly large heads, flat
feet, and swollen legs ; which are an essential
blemish in horses of this kind.
The French horses are of various kind ; but
they have few that are good. The best horses
of that country come from Limosin ; they have
a strong resemblance to the barb, and, like them,
are excellent for the chase ; but they are slow
in coming to perfection ; they are to be carefully
treated while young, and must not be backed till
they are eight years old. Normandy furnishes
the next best ; which, though not so good for the
chase, are yet better for war. In general, the
French horses have the fault of being heavy
shouldered, which is opposite to the fault of the
barb, which is too thin in the shoulder, and is con-
sequently, apt to be shoulder-slipt.
Having mentioned the horses most usually known
in Europe, we pass onto those of more distant coun-
tries, of whose horses we can only judge by re-
port. We mentioned the wild horses of America;
Such as are tame, if we may credit the latest re-
ports, are admirable. Great numbers of these are
bred up to the chase, and are chiefly kept for this
purpose, particularly at Quito. The hunters, as
UHca informs us, are divided into two classes ;
one part on foot, the other on horseback : the
33$, COMMON HORSE.
business of the footmen is to rouse the deer ; and
that of the horsemen, to hunt it down. They all,
at break of day, repair to the place appointed,
which is generally on the summit of a hill, with
every man his greyhound. The horsemen place
themselves on the highest peaks ; whilst those on
foot range the precipices, making an hideous
noise, in order (o start the deer. Thus the com-
pany extend themselves three or four leagues, or
more, according to their numbers. On starting
any game, the horse which first perceives it sets oft*,
and the rider, being unable to guide or stop him,
pursues the chase, sometimes down such a steep
slope, that a man on foot, with the greatest care
could hardly keep his legs; from thence he flies
up a dangerous ascent ; or along the side of a
mountain, so that a person, not used to this exer-
cise, would think it much safer to throw himself
out of the saddle, than commit his life to the pre-
cipitate ardour of his horse. The other horses
which join in the chase, do not wait for the riders
to animate them ; they set forward immediately
upon seeing another at full speed ; and it becomes
prudent in the rider to give them their way, and
at the same time to let them feel the spur, to
carry him over the precipices. These horses are
backed and exercised to this method of hunting ;
and their usual pace is trotting.
There are said to he very good horses in the
Islands of the Archipelago. Those of Crete were
in great reputation among the ancients, for their
swiftness and force ; however, at present they
are hut little used, even in the country itself*
because of the unevenness of the ground, which
is there very rocky and mountainous. The original
horses of Morocco are much smaller than the Ara-
bian breed ,* however, they are very swift and
yigorous. In Turkey there are to be found
COMMON HORSJS.
338
horses of almost all races : Arabians, Tartars,
Hungarians, and those natural to the place The
latter are very beautiful and elegant ; they have
a great deal of fire, swiftness, and management ;
but they are not able to support fatigue ; they eat
little ; they are easily heated ; and they have skins
so sensible, that they can scarcely bear the rubbing
pf the stirrup. The Persian horses are, in general*
the most beautiful and most valuable of ail the East.
The pastures in the plains of Media, Persepoiis,
Ardebil, and Dei-bent, are excellent for the purpose
of rearing them ; and there were bred in those
places vast numbers, by order of the government
of Persia, while that country was under any go-
vernment. Pietro della Yaile prefers the horses of
Persia to those of Italy ; and informs us, that they
are in general of a middle size ; and although
some are found even of the smallest stature, yet
that does not impair their beauty or their strength ;
yet, in some places, they are of a very good size,
and as large as the English saddle horses are gene-
rally found to be : they have all a thin head, a
fine crest, a narrow breast, small ears well placed,
the legs fine, the hoof hard, and the croup beauti-
ful ; thpy are docile, spirited, nimble, hardy, com*
rageous, and capable of supporting a very great
fatigue ; they run very swiftly, without being
easily fatigued ; they are strong and easy, being
only supplied with barley and chopped straw ; they
lire put to grass only for six weeks in the spring;
they have always the tail at full length, and there
is no such thing as geldings among the number ;
they are defended from the air, as in England, by
body-clothes ; they attend them with the most
punctual exactness; and they are rid generally in
a snaffle, without spurs. Great numbers of these
aye every year transported into Turkey, hut chiefly
into the East Indies ; however, after all, travellers
o’M COMMON HORSE.
agree that they are not to be compared to the
Arabian horses, either for courage, force, or beau-
ty ; and that the latter are eagerly sought, even in
Persia.
The horses of India are of a very indifferent
kind, being weak and washy. Those which are
used by the grandees of the country, come from
Persia and Arabia ; they are fed with a small
quantity of hay during the day ; and at night they
have boiled peas, mixed with sugar and butter,
instead of oats or barley : this nourishment sup-
ports them, and gives them strength ; otherwise,
they would soon sink and degenerate. Those na-
turally belonging to the country, are very siiiall
and vicious. Some are so very little, that Ta-
verner reports, that the young Mogul prince, at
the age of seven or eight, rode one of those little
horses, that was not much larger than a grey-
hound ; and some years since, one of these was
brought over into this country, as a present to the
queen, that measured no more than nine hands
high ; and was not much larger than a common
mastiff. It would seem, that climates excessively
hot, are unfavourable to this animal. In this man-
ner, the horses of the Gold-coast, and of Guinea,
are extremely little, but very manageable. It is
a common exercise with the grandees of that coun-
try, who are excellent horsemen, to dart out their
lances before them upon full gallop, and to catch
them again before they come to the ground. They
have a sport also on horse-back, that requires great
dexterity in the rider, and a great share of activity
in the horse : they strike off a ball, with a battle-
dore, while they are upon a full gallop, and pur-
suing it, strike it again before it comes to the
ground ; and this they continue for a mile together,
striking sometimes to the right, and sometimes to
the left, with amazing speed and agility.
COMMON HORSE,
$35
The horses of China are as indifferent as those
of India : they are weak, little, ill-shaped, and
cowardly. Those of Corea are not above three
feet high ; almost all the breed there are made
geldings, and are so timorous, thatthey can be ren-
dered no way serviceable in war ; so that it may be
said, that the Tartar horses were properly the con-
querors of China. These, indeed, are very service^
able in war ; and although but of a middling size,
yet they are surprisingly patient, vigorous, swift,
and bold ; their hoofs are extremely hard, though
rather too narrow ; their heads are .fine, but ra-
ther too little ; the neck is long and stiff ; the
legs of the longest ; and yet, with all these faults,
they are found to be an excellent breed. The
Tartars live with their horses pretty much in the
same manner as the Arabians do ; they begin to
back them the age of seven or eight months,
placing their children upon them, who manage
them even at that early age. By these means they
break them by little and little, till at last, about
the age of six or seven years, they are capable
of enduring amazing hardships. Thus they have
been known to march two or three days without
once stopping ; to continue five or six without
eating any thing except a handful of grass at every
eight hours ; and, besides, to remain without drink-
ing for four and twenty hours. These horses,
which are so vigorous in their own country, lose
all their strength when they are brought into
China or the Indies ; but they thrive pretty well
in Persia and Turkey. The race of little Tartars,
towards the north, have also a breed of little horses,
which they set such a value upon, that it is for-
bidden to sell them to strangers : these horses have
the very same qualites with those of the larger
kind ; which they probably derive from a similar
treatment. There are also very fine horses in Cir-
336 COMM'bK HORSE*
cassia and Mingrelia. There are sonic greatly
esteemed in the Ukraine, in Walachia, Poland,
and Sweden ; but we have no particular accounts
of their excellencies or defects.
In Norway, where the reads are most of them
impassable for carriages, the horses, which are
nearly all stallions, are remarkably sure-footed,
they skip along over the stones, and are always*
full of spirit. Pontoppidaa says, when they go up
and down a steep cliff, on stones like steps, they
first gently tread with one foot, to try if the ston®
be firm ; and in this they must be left entirely
to their own management, or the best rider in the
world would run the risk of breaking his neck.
When they have to descend steep and slippery
places, and such frequently occur, they, in a
surprising manner, like the asses of the Alps.,
draw their hind legs together under their bodies*
and thus slide down. They exhibit much courage
when they contend, as they are often under the
necessity of doing, with the wolves and bears, but
particularly with the latter. When the horse
perceives any of these animals near him, and has
a mare or gelding with him, he first puts these
behind out of the way, and then furiously attacks
his enemy with his fore legs, which lie uses so
expertly as generally to come off the conqueror.
Sometimes, however, the bear, who has twice the
strength of his adversary, gets the advantage, par-
ticularly if the horse makes an attempt, by turning
round, to kick him with his hind legs ; for the bear
then instantly closes upon him, and keeps such
firm hold, as scarcely by any means whatever to be
shaken off : the horse in this case gallops away
with his enemy, till he fails dow n and expires from
loss of blood.
There are few countries that can boast a breed
of horses so excellent as our own. The English
$
COMMON H.ORSEo 387
hunters are allowed to be among the noblest, most
elegant, and useful animals in the world. Whilst
the French, and many other European nations,
seem only attentive to spirit and parade, we train
ours principally for strength and dispatch. Theirs,
however., have the advantage of never coming
down before, as ours do, because, in breaking*,
they put them more on their haunches, while we,
perhaps, throw them too much forward. With
unwearied attention, however, to the breed, and
repeated trials of all the best horses in different
parts of the world, ours are now become capable
of performing what no others can. Among our
racers we have had one (Childers) which has been
known to pass over eighty-two feet and a half in a se-
cond of time, a degree of fleetness perhaps unequal-
led by any other horse. In the year 1745, the post-
master of Stretton rode, on different horses, along
the road to and from London, no less than two
hundred and fifteen miles in eleven hours and a
half, a rate of above eighteen miles an hour. And
in July, .1788, a horse belonging to a gentleman
of Biiliter-square, London, was trotted for a
wager, thirty miles in an hour and twenty-five
minutes, which is at the rate of more than twenty-
one miles an hour. In London, there have been
instances of a single horse drawing, for a short
space, the weight of three tons ; and some of the
pack horses of the north, usually carry burdens
weighing upwards of four hundred pounds ; but
the most remarkable proof of the strength of the
British horses, is in our mill-horses, some of which
have been known to carry, at one load, thirteen
measures of corn, that in the whole would amount
to more than nine hundred pounds in weight.
Though endowed with vast strength, and great
powers of body, such is the disposition of the
liorse, that it rarely exerts cither to its master5©
yoiu ii. " x x
COMMON
338
prejudice : on the contrary, it will endure fatiguel,
even to death, for our benefit. Providence seems
to have implanted in him a benevolent disposition*
and a fear of the human race, with, at the same
time, a certain consciousness of the services we can
render him. We have, however, one instance of
recollection of injury, and an attempt to revenge it.
This is inserted in a work of D. Rolle, Esq. of
Torririgton, in Devonshire : — A Bayonet, one of
whose hunters had never tired in the longest chase,
once encouraged the cruel thought of attempting
completely to fatigue him. After a long chase,
therefore, he dined, and again mounting, rode
hirn furiously among the hills. "When brought
to the stable, his strength appeared exhausted,
and he was scarcely able to walk. The groom,
possessed of more feeling than his brutal master,
could not refrain from tears, at the sight of so
noble an animal thus sunk down. The Baronet,
some time after, entered the stable, and the horse
made a furious spring upon him, and had not the
groom interfered, would soon have put it out of
his power ever again to misuse his animals.
The barbarous custom of docking the tails,
and cutting the ears of horses, is in this country
very prevalent. The former, principally with
waggon horses, under the pretence that a bushy
tail collects the dirt of the roads ; and the latter,
from the idea that they are rendered more elegant
in their appearance. Thus, from ideal necessity,
we deprive them of two parts of their body prin-
cipally instrumental, not only to their own case
and comfort, but in their utility to us. By taking
away their ears, the funnels are destroyed which
they always direct to the place from whence any
sound is heard, and they are thus rendered nearly
deaf. And in the loss of their tail, they find even
a still greater in convenience. During summer.
COMMON HORSE, 339
they are perpetually teased with swarms of insects*
that either attempt to suck their blood* or to
deposit their eggs in the rectum, which they
have now no means of lashing off ; and in winter
they are deprived of a necessary protection against
the cold.
But of alt others* the custom that we have
adopted* for it is found in no other nation than
this* of nicking them* is the most useless and absurd.
It is an affecting sight to go into the stable of
some eminent horse-dealer* and there behold a
range of fine and beautiful steeds with their tails
cut and slashed* tied up by pulleys to give them
force* suffering such torture that they sometimes
never recover the savage gashes they have received ;
and for what is all this done ?■ — that they may hold
their tails somewhat higher than they otherwise
would* and be for ever after deprived of the power
of moving the joints of them as a defence against
flies 1
In the history of the Academy of Sciences at
Paris* a mode is laid down by which horses may
at any time be stopped* when they become so unruly
as to run away. This is founded on the principle
of their always standing still when suddenly deprived
of sight. M. Dalesme has there shewn a very easy
manner of disposing two lines* which let fall at
once upon the eyes of each of two coach horses
a piece of leather* so as immediately to hinder them
from seeing. These cords may he pulled from
within the carriage. This appears capable of
being improved into an useful preventive to the
fatal accidents which sometimes occur from unruly
or highly fed horses.
540
WILD MULE.
WILD MULE.
In its size and general appearance,, this animal
nearly resembles the common mule, the progeny of
the horse and the ass. Its head is rather large
in proportion to the body ; its forehead is fiat, and
becomes narrower towards the extremity of the
nose. Its ears are considerably longer than those
of the horse ; they stand erect ; and are lined with
a thick coat of whitish curling hair. In both jaws
it has only thirty-eight teeth ; whereas the common
horse is possessed of forty. Its neck is slender
and firm, not loose and soft. The breast swells
forward, and is sharp. The limbs are long and
finely shaped ; the thighs thin like the common
mule's. There is an oval callus within the fore
legs ; but none on the hinder legs. The hoofs
are oblong, smdoth, and black. The tail resembles
that of a cow ; it is slender ; for one half of its
length bare, and covered on the other with long
ash-coloured hairs.
This animal changes its coat with the season.
In winter, its hair is about two inches long, soft,
like that of a camel, waved on the back, and, on
the superficies, of a grcy-colour, but under that of
a brownish ash-colour. In summer, the hair is
much shorter, beautifully smooth, and marked all
over the body with beautiful round spots. The
extremity of the nose is, at this time, white ; and
from that part, up the front, the colour is nearly
tawny. The buttocks, the inside of the limbs, and
the under part of the belly, are white. A blackish
line extends from the mane, along the ridge of the
back, to the tail : this line becomes broader upon
the loins, and narrower again as it approaches the
tail. The upper part of the body is now of a light
yellowish grey colour, — paler towards the sides.
WILD MULE.
341
The body of this animal, between the tip of the
nose and the base of the tail, is six feet and a half
long ; the trunk of the tail measures one foot four
inches ; the hairs depend about eight inches beyond
the extremity of the trunk. The height of the
animal is about three feet nine inches.
The wild mule, the Hemionos, or half-ass of
Aristotle, is mentioned by that philosopher to have
been found, in antient times, in Syria. Pliny in-
forms us, on the authority of Theophrastus, that
it was then found likewise in Capadocia. This
animal is no longer found in these countries ; but
it is now known for an inhabitant of the deserts
between the rivers Onow and Argun, in the.
most southern parts of Siberia : of the extensive
plains and deserts of western Tartary, and of the
celebrated sandy desert of Gobi, which reaches to
India.
These animals shun tracts of wood, and lofty,
snowy mountains. They are not numerous in Si-
beria : those which are there met with seem to be
only stragglers, that have originally wandered
from the large herds which are found to the south of
the Russian dominions. In Tartary, they frequent
chiefly the country lying around the lake Taric-
noor ; a salt lake, which becomes sometimes dry.
They live in separate parties, each of which,
consisting of mares and colts, with an old male at
their head, is seldom above twenty, and frequently
under that number. The period of their copula-
tion is about the middle or end of August. They
produce only one foal at a time ; at least, the in-
stances in which a female has more, are very rare.
In its third year, the animal attains its full growth,
with the due proportions of form, and the colours
which distinguish it during the rest of life. When
the young have reached this age, the elder mules
expel them from their society, and. they associate
342
ASS,
with new parties of their own age. The wild
mules usually carry their heads drooping, and on
a level with their bodies ; but in running they
raise the head and erect the tail. They neigh in
a deeper tone, and with a louder voice than the
horse.
ASS.
The horse and the ass, though nearly approach-
ing in form, are of two distinct kinds, different in
their natures, and were there but one of each kind,
both races would probably be extinguished. Their
shapes and their habits may, indeed, be very nearly
alike; but there is something in every animal, besides
its conformation or way of life, that determines its
specific nature. Thus there is much greater resem-
blance between the horse and the ass, than between
the sheep and the goat ; and yet the latter produces
an animal that is by no means barren, but which
quickly reproduces an offspring resembling the
sheep ; while the mule of the former is marked
with almost certain sterility. The goat and the
sheep may be therefore said to be of one kind,
although so much unlike in figure ; while the
horse and the ass are perfectly distinct, though so
closely resembling.
The wild ass lias, by some writers, been con-*
founded with the zebra, but very improperly, for
they are of a very different species. The wild ass
is not streaked like the zebra, nor is his shape so
beautiful ; his figure is pretty much the same as
that of the common ass, except that he is of a
brighter colour, and lias a wdiite list running from
his head to his tail. This animal is found wild
in many islands of the Archipelago, particularly
in that of Cerigo. There are many wild asses
in the deserts of Lybia and Numidia, that run
ASS.
MS
with such amazing swiftness, that scarce even the
coursers of the country can overtake them. When
they see a man, they set up a horrid braying, and
stop short all together, till he approaches near
them ; they then, as if by common consent, fly off
with great speed ; and it is upon such occasions
that they generally fall into the traps which are pre-
viously prepared to catch them. The natives take
them chiefly upon the account of their flesh, which
they esteem as delicious eating ; and for their skies,
of which that kind of leather is raade which is
called shagreen.
Olearius relates, that the monarch of Persia
invited him on a certain day, to be present at an
entertainment of a very peculiar nature, which was
exhibited in a small building near the palace, re-
sembling a theatre. After a collation of fruits
and sweetmeats, more than thirty of these wild
asses were driven into the area, among which the
monarch discharged several shot, and some arrows,
and in which he was imitated by some of the rest
of his attendants. The asses finding themselves
wounded, and no way of escaping, instantly began
to attack each other, biting with great fierceness,
and braying terribly. In this manner they con-
tinued their mutual animosity, while the arrows
were poured in from above, until they were all
killed ; upon which they were ordered to be taken
and sent to the king's kitchen at Ispahan. The
Persians esteem the flesh of this animal so highly,
that its delicacy is even become a proverb among
them. What may be the taste, of the wild ass’s
flesh we are unable to say ; but certain it is, that
the flesh of the tame ass is the worst that can be
obtained, being drier, more tough, and more dis-
agreeable than horse flesh. Galen even says, that
it is very unwholesome. Yet we should not judge
hastily upon the different tastes of different people*
in the preference they give to certain meats. The
climate produces very great changes in the tender-*
ness and the savour of several viands : that beef,
for instance, which is so juicy and good in England,
is extremely tough and dry when killed under the
line ; on the contrary, that pork, which is w ith
us so unpalatable in summer, in the warmer lati-
tudes, where it is always hotter than here, is the
finest eating they have, and much preferable to any
hog’s flesh in Europe.
The ass, like the horse, was originally imported
into America by the Spaniards, and afterwards by
other nations. That country seems to have been
peculiarly favourable to this race of animals ;
and where they have run wild, they have multi-
plied in such numbers, that in some places they
are become a nuisance. In the kingdom of
Quito, the owners of the grounds where they are
bred, suffer all persons to take away as many as
they can, on paying a small acknowledgment, in
proportion to the number of days their sport
lasts. They catch them in the following maimer.
A number of persons go on horseback, and are at-
tended by Indians on foot : when arrived at the
proper places, they form a circle in order to drive
them into some valley ; where, at full speed, they
throw the noose and endeavour to halter them.
Those creatures, finding themselves enclosed, make
very furious efforts to escape ; and, if only one
forces his way through, they all follow with an
irresistible impetuosity. However, when noosed,
the hunters throw them down, and secure them
with fetters, and thus leave them till the chase is
over. Then, in order to bring them away with
greater facility, they pair them with tame beasts?
of the same kind ; but this is not easily performed,
for they are so remarkably fierce, that they often
hurt the persons who undertake to manage them.
345
MS,
They bate all tbe swiftness of horses, and neither
declivities nor precipices can retard their career.
When attacked, they defend themselves with their
heels and mouth with such activity, that, without
slackening their pace, they often maim their pur-
suers. But the most remarkable property in these
creatures is, that after carrying their first load,
their celerity leaves them, their dangerous ferocity
is lost, and they soon contract the stupid look and
dulness peculiar to the asinine species. It is also
observable, that these creatures will not permit
a horse to live among them. They always feed
together ; and, if a horse happens to stray into the
place where they graze, they all fall upon him ;
and, without giving him the liberty of flying,
they bite and kick him till they leave him dead
upon the spot.
Such is this animal in its natural state, swift,
fierce, and formidable ; but, in this state of tame-
ness, the ass presents a very different picture ; the
moment his native liberty is repressed, he seems
entirely to give up all claims to freedom ; and he
assumes a patience and submission even humbler
than his situation. He is, in a state of tameness,
the most gentle and quiet of all animals^ He
suffers with constancy, and, perhaps, with courage,
all the ill-treatment that cruelty and caprice are
pleased to inflict. He is temperate with regard
to the quantity and the quality of his provision.
He is contented with the most neglected weeds ;
and makes his humble repast upon what the horse
and other animals leave behind. If he gives the
preference to any vegetable, it is to the plantain j
for which he is often seen to neglect every other
herb in the pasture : but he is chiefly delicate with
respect to his water ; he drinks only at the clearest
brooks, and chiefly those to which he has beea
accustomed. He drinks as soberly as he eats %
to u it* y j
34#
and never, like the horse, dips his nose into the
stream. As he is seldom saddled, he frequently
rolls himself upon the grass ; and lies down, for
this purpose, as often as he has an opportunity,
without minding what becomes of his burden.
He never rolls, like the horse, in the mud ; he
even ferars to wet his feet ; and turns cut of his
way to avoid the dirty parts of a road.
When very young, the ass is sprightly, and tole-
rably handsome ; but he soon loses these qualifi-
cations, either by age or bad treatment, and he
becomes slow, stupid, and headstrong. He seems
to show no ardour, except for the female, having
been often known to die after the covering. The
she-ass is very fond of her young ; and we are as-
sured that she will cross fire and water to prefect
and rejoin it. This animal is sometimes not less
attached to his owner ; by whom he is too often
abused. He scents him at a distance, and dis-
tinguishes him from others in a crowd ; he knows
the ways he has passed, and the places where he in-
habits.
When over-loaded, the ass shows the injustice
of his master, by hanging down bis head and low-
ering his ears ; when he is too hard pressed, he
opens his mouth and draws back his lips in a very
disagreeable manner. If his eyes are covered, he
will not stir a step ; and, if lie is laid down in
such a manner, that one eye is covered with the
grass, while the other is hidden with a stone, or
w hatever is next at hand, he will continue fixed in
the same situation, and will not so much as attempt
to rise to free himself from those slight impedi-
ments. He walks, trots, and gallops like a horse ;
but, although he sets out very freely at first, yet
he is soon tired ; and then no beatingwill make
him mend his pace. It is in vain that his unmer-
ciful rider exerts his whip or his cudgel ; the
poor little animal bears it all with patience, and
without a groan ; and, conscious of his own imbe-
cility, does not oiler even to move.
Notwithstanding the stupid heaviness of his air,
he may be educated with as much ease as any
other animal ; and several have been brought up
to perform, and exhibited as a show. In general,
however, the poor animal is entirely neglected.
Man despises this humble useful creature, whose
efforts are exerted to please him, and whose ser-
vices are too cheaply purchased. The horse is the
only favourite, and upon him alone all expense and
labour are bestowed. He is fed, attended, and
stabled, while the ass is abandoned to the cruelty
of the lowest rustics, or even to the sport of chil-
dren, and, instead of gaining by the lessons he
receives, is always a loser. He is conducted along
by blows ; be is insulted by unnecessary stripes ;
he is overloaded by the lazy ; and, being generally
the property of the poor, he shares with them in
their wants, and their distresses. Thus this faith-
ful animal, which, were there no horses, would be
the first of the quadruped kind in our esteem, is
now considered as nothing ; his properties and
qualifications being found in a higher degree else-
where, he is entirely disregarded ; and, from being
the second, he is degraded into one of the most
useless of the domestic quadrupeds.
For this reason, very little care has been taken
to improve the breed ; it is suffered to degenerate ;
and it is probable, that of all other animals this
alone is rendered feebler and more diminutive, by
being in a state of domestic servitude. The horse,
the cow, and the sheep, are rendered larger by the
assiduity of man ; the ass is suffered to dwindle
every generation, and particularly in England,
where, some have asserted, it is probable that, but
for the medicinal qualities of its milk, the whole
348
ASS*
species would have ere now been extinguished*
Nevertheless, we have good reasons to believe
that, were the same care bestowed on the ass that
is spent upon the horse, were the same industry
used in crossing the breed and improving it, we
should see the ass become, from his present mean
state, a very portly and serviceable animal ; w.e
should find him rival the horse in some of his per-
fections, and exceed him in others. The ass, bulk
for bulk, is stronger than the horse ; is more sure-
footed ; and, though more slow in his motions,
he is much less apt to start out of the way.
An old man, who a few years ago sold vegetables
in London, used in his employment an ass, which
conveyed his baskets from door to door. Frequent-
ly he gave the poor industrious creature a hand-
ful of hay, or some pieces of bread, or greens,
by way of refreshment and reward. The old
pan had no need of any goad for the animal, and
seldom indeed had he to lift up his hand to drive
it on. His kind treatment was one day remarked
to him, and he was asked whether his beast was
apt to be stubborn. Ah ! Master,*’ he replied
it is of no use to be cruel, and as for stubborn-
ness I cannot complain, for he is ready to do any
thing, and to go any where. I bred him myself.
He is sometimes skittish and playful, and once run
ay^ay from me ; you will hardly believe it, but
there were more than fifty people after him, at-
tempting in vain to stop him ; yet he turned back
of himself, and never stopped till he ran his head
kindly into my bosom/*
The Spaniards, of all people in Europe, seem
alone to be acquainted with the value of the ass.
They take all proper precautions to improve the
breed ; and Goldsmith saw a jack-ass, from that
country, above fifteen hands high. This animal,
fpiyeyer, seems originally a native of Arabia, At
ASS,
849
warm climate is known to produce the largest and
the best ; their size and spirit decline in prop or-
tion as they advance into colder regions.
Though now so common in all parts of England,
the ass was entirely lost amongst us during the reign
of queen Elizabeth. Holingshed informs us that
our land did yield no asses. However, there are
accounts of their being common in England before
that time. In Sweden, they are at present a sort
of rarity ; nor does it appear by the last history of
Norway, that they have yet reached that country.
It is in the hotter climates alone that we are to
look for the original of this serviceable creature.
In Guinea, they are larger and more beautiful than
even the horses of the same country. In Persia
they have two kinds ; one of which is used for
burdens, being slow and heavy ; the other, which
is kept for the saddle, being smooth, stately, and
nimble. They are managed as horses, only that
the rider sits nearer the crupper, and they are
taught to amble like them. They generally cleave
their nostrils to give them more room for breath-
ing, and many of these are sold for forty or fifty
pounds.
The ass is a much more hardy animal than the
horse, and liable to fewer diseases. Of all animals
covered with hair, he is the least subject to vermin,
for he has no lice, probably owing to the dryness and
hardness of his skin. Like the horse, he is three
or four years in coming to perfection ; he lives till
twenty or twenty-five ; sleeps much less than the
fiorse ; and never lies down for that purpose, un-
less very much tired. The she-ass goes above
eleven months with young, and never brings forth
more than one at a time. The mule may be en-
gendered either between a horse and a she-ass, or
between a jack-ass and a mare. The latter breed
If every way preferable, being larger, stronger.
and better shaped. It is not yet well known whe-
ther the animal called the Gimerro be one of these
kinds ; or, as is asserted, bred between the ass and
the bull. While naturalists affirm the impossi-
bility of this mixture, the . natives of the Alpine
countries, where this animal is bred, as strongly
insist upon its reality. The common mule is very
healthy, and will live above thirty years, being
found very serviceable in carrying burdens, par-
ticularly in mountainous and stony places, where!
horses are not so sure-footed. The size and
strength of our asses is at present greatly im-
proved by the importation of Spanish jack-asses ;
and it is probable we may come in time, to equal
the Spaniards in breeding them, where it is not un-
■ common to give fifty or sixty guineas for a mule;
and* indeed, in some mountainous countries, the in-
habitants cannot well do without them. Their man-
ner of going' down the precipices of the Alps, or the
Andes, is very extraordinary ; and with it we will
conclude their history. In these passages, on one
side are steep eminences, and on the other fright-
ful abysses ; and, as they generally follow the di-
rection of the mountain, the road, instead of lying
in a level, forms at every little distance steep de-
clivities, of several hundred yards downward.
These can only be descended by mules ; and
the animal itself seems sensible of the danger,
and the caution that is to be used in such descents.
When they come to the edge of one of these des-
cents, they stop, without being checked by the
rider ; and if lie inadvertently attempt to spur
them on, they continue immoveable. They seem
all this time ruminating on the danger that lies be-
fore them, and preparing themselves for the en-
counter. They not only attentively view the road,
but tremble and snort at the danger. Having
prepared for the descent, they place their fore feet
aBBlRA
ZEBRA. .
SSI
in posture as if they were stopping1 themselves ;
they then also pot their hinder feet together, hot
a little forward, as if they were going to lie down.
In this attitude, having taken as it were a survey
of the road, they slide down with the swiftness of
a meteor. In the mean time, all the rider has to
do is to keep himself fast on the saddle, without
checking the rein, for the least motion is sufficient
to disorder the equilibrium of the mule ; in which
case, they both unavoidably perish. But their
address, in this rapid descent, is truly wonderful ;
for, in their swiftest motion, when they seem to
have lost all government of themselves, they fol-
low exactly the different windings of the road, as
if they had previously settled in their minds the
route they were to follow, and taken every pre-
caution for their safety. In this journey, the na-
tives, who are placed along the sides of the moun -
tains, and hold by the roots of the trees, animate
the beast with shouts, and encourage him to per-
severance. Some mules, after being long used to
these journeys, acquire a kind of reputation for
their safety and skill ; and their value rises in pro-
portion to their fame.
Zebra.
There are three animals of the horse kind
which have been more observed than any other.
The horse, which is one of the most stately and cou-
rageous ; the ass^ which is one of the most patient
and humble ; and the zebra, which is one of the
most beautiful, but at the same time one of the
wildest animals in nature. Nothing can exceed
the delicate regularity of this creature’s colour,
or the lustrous smoothness of its skin ; but, on the
other hand, nothing can be more timid or more
wntameable.
sm
Sebra.
It is chiefly a native of the southern parts of
Africa ; and there are whole herds of them often
seen feeding in those extensive plains that lie to-
wards the Cape of Good Hope. However, their
watchfulness is such, that they will suffer nothing
to come near them, and their swiftness so great
that they readily leave every pursuer far behind.
The zebra, in shape, rather resembles the mule,
than the horse or the ass. It is rather less than
the former, and yet larger than the latter. Its
ears are not so long as those of the ass, and yet not
so small as in the horse kind. Like the ass, its
head is large, its back straight, its legs finely
placed, and its tail tufted at the end ; like the
horse, its skin is smooth and close, and its hind
quarters round and fleshy. But its greatest beauty
lies in the amazing regularity and elegance of its
colours. In the male, they are white and brown ;
In the female, white and black. These colours
are disposed in alternate stripes over the whole
body, and with such exactness and symmetry, that
one would think nature had employed the rule and
compass to paint them. These stripes, which,
like so many ribbands, are laid all over its body,
are narrow, parallel, and exactly separated from
each other. It is not here, as in other party-co-
loured animals, where the tints are blended into
each other ; every stripe here is perfectly distinct,
and preserves its colour round the body, or the
limb, without any diminution. In this manner are
the head, the body, the thighs, the legs, and even
the tail and the ears beautifully streaked, so that
at a little distance, one would be apt to suppose
that the animal was dressed out by art, and not thus
admirably adorned by nature.
In the male zebra, the head is striped with fine
hands of black and white, which in a manner cen-
tre in the forehead. The ears are variegated with
ZEBRA.
353
a white and dusky brown. The neck has broad
stripes of the same dark brown running round it*
leaving narrow white stripes between. The body
is striped also across the back with broad bands*
leaving narrower spaces of white between them*
and ending in points at the sides of the belly, which
is white, except a black line pectinated on each
side, reaching from between the fore legs, along
the middle of the belly, two thirds of its length.
There is a line of separation between the trunk of
the body, and the hinder quarters, on each side ;
behind which, on the rump, is a plat of narrow
stripes, joined together, by a stripe down the mid-
dle, to the end of the tail. The colours are diffe-
rent in the female ; and in none the stripes seem
entirely to agree jn form, but in all they are equal-
ly distinct ; the liair equally smooth and fine ; the
white shining and unmixed ; and the black, or
brown, thick and lustrous.
Such is the beauty of this creature, that it seems
by nature fitted to satisfy the pride and the plea-
sure of man : and formed to be taken into his ser-
vice. Hitherto, however, it appears to have dis-
dained servitude, and neither force nor kindness
have been able in any considerable instance to wean
it from its native independence and ferocity. But
this wildness might, perhaps, in time, be sur-
mounted ; and, it is probable, the horse and the
ass, when first taken from the forest, were equally
obstinate, fierce, and unmanageable. M. Buffon
informs us, that the zebra, from which he took
his description, could never be entirely mastered*
notwithstanding all the efforts which were tried to
tame it. They continued, indeed, to mount it,
but then with such precautions as evidently show-
ed its fierceness, for two men were obliged to hold
the reins while the third ventured upon its back ;
and even then it attempted to kick whenever it
FOE, II, % Z
354
Z£BRA,
perceived any person approaching. That which
was kept in the queen's irianegerie, at Buckingham
Gate, was even more vicious than the former ;
and the keeper who shewed it, took care to inform
the spectators of its ungovernable nature. Upon
Goldsmith's attempting to approach, it seemed
quite terrified, and was preparing to kick, ap-
pearing as wild as if just caught, although taken
extremely young, and used with the utmost indul-
gence. Yet still it is most probable that this
animal, by time and assiduity, could be brought
under subjection. As it resembles the horse in
form, without all doubt it has a similitude of
nature, and only requires the efforts of an indus-
trious and skilful nation, to be added to the num-
ber of our domestics. It is not now known, what
were the pains and dangers which were first un-
dergone to reclaim the breed of horses from savage
ferocity ; these, no doubt, made an equal opposi-
tion ; but, by being opposed by an industrious
and enterprising race of mankind, their spirit was
at last subdued, and their freedom restrained. It
is otherwise with regard to the zebra ; it is the
native of countries where the human inhabitants
are but little raised above the quadruped. The
natives of Angola, or Caffraria, have no other idea
of advantage from horses but as they are good for
food ; neither the fine stature of the Arabian
courser, nor the delicate colourings of the zebra,
have any allurements to a race of people who only
consider the quantity of flesh, and not its confor-
mation. The delicacy of the zebra's shape, or the
painted elegance of its form, are no more regarded
by such, than by tbe lion that makes it his prey.
For this reason, therefore, the zebra may hitherto
have continued wild, because it is the native of a
country where there have been no successive efforts
pade to reclaim it. All pursuits that have been
ZEBIIA.
355
hitherto instituted against it, were rather against
its life than its liberty ; the animal has thus been long
taught to consider man as its most mortal enemy ;
and it is not to be wondered that it refuses to yield
obedience where it has so seldom experienced
mercy.
It is very likely., therefore., as a more civilized
people are now placed at the cape of Good Hope*
which is the chief place where this animal is found*
that we may have them tamed and rendered ser-
viceable. Nor is this extraordinary beauty the
only motive we have for wishing this animal among
the number of our dependents : its swiftness is
said to surpass that of all others ; so that the speed
of a zebra is become a proverb among the Spa-
niards and Portuguese. It stands better upon its
legs also than the horse ; and is consequently
stronger in proportion. Thus* if by proper care*
we improved the breed* as we have in other in-
stances* we should probably* in time to come* have
a race as large as the horse* as fleet* as strong* and
much more beautiful.
A beautiful male zebra* at Exeter Change* Lon-
don* appeared to have entirely lost his native wild-
ness* and was so gentle as to suffer a child of six
years old to sit quietly on his back* without ex-
hibiting the least signs of displeasure. He was
familiar even with strangers* and received those
kind of caresses that are usually given to the horse*
with evident satisfaction.
This animal* which is neither to be found in
Europe* Asia* or America* is nevertheless very easily
fed. One which came over into England some years
ago* would eat almost any thing, such as bread*
meat* and tobacco ; another subsisted entirely upon
bay. As it so nearly resembles the horse and the
ass in structure, so it probably brings forth an-
nually as they do, The noise they make is neither
S56
QUAGGA.
like that of a horse nor an ass, but more resembling
the confused barking of a mastiff dog. In the
two which Goldsmith saw, there was a circum-
stance that seems to have escaped naturalists ;
which is, that the skin hangs loose below the jaw
upon the neck, in a kind of dewlap, which takes
away much from the general beauty. But whe-
ther this be a natural or accidental blemish., he
would not take upon him to determine.
These animals are often sent as presents to the princes
of the east. We are told, that one of the governors
of Batavia gave a zebra, which had been sent to him
from Africa, to the ernperor of Japan, for which
he received, as an equivalent for the company, a
present to the value of sixty thousand crowns.
Teller also relates, that the Great Mogul gave
two thousand ducats for one of them. And it is
frequent with the African ambassadors to the
court of Constantinople, to bring some of these
animals with them, as presents for the Grand
Signior.
In some parts about the Cape of Good Hope,
there are many zebras ; and a penalty of fifty rix-
dollars is inflicted on any person who shoots one
of them. Whenever any of them happen to be
caught alive, they are ordered to be sent to the
governor.
Quagga,
The quagga nearly resembles the zebra. It is
of the same size ; but its ears are shorter than
that animal’s ; and it has no stripes on its fore
legs, loins, or hinder parts. The flanks are spotted;
the rump uniformly coloured ; and the belly, legs,
and thighs are of a ferruginous white.
A tame quagga, which Dr. Sparrman saw at the
Cape, was so pleased with the familiarity of man-
iPJO-H© © (QT\TA(&<&&
CLOVEN-FOOTED HORSE.
357
kind, that, instead of shunning those who approach-
ed it, it came up to receive their caresses. The
quagga is much more tractable than the zebra,
and is even yoked by the colonists at the Cape, in
teams, with horses. It is remarkable of this ani-
mal, likewise, that notwithstanding its being of a
mi!d character, it is an overmatch for the hysena ;
pursues that fierce creature whenever it makes its
appearance ; and protects the horses with whom
it associates from the hyrena’s violence, from which
they would otherwise suffer. The quagga is, like
the zebra, a social animal, but never associates
with the zebra,
Cloyen-footed horse.
The very name of this species, seems to imply
a kind of equivocal and anomalous being ; one of
the most prominent characters of the present genus
being a simple, or undivided hoof. Indeed, ix
only a single specimen of this animal had been
described, we might have hesitated as to admitting
it otherwise than as an accidental variety.
The cloven-footed horse is a native of South
America, and was first described by Molina, in
his Natural History of Chili. In its general ap-
pearance, size, colour, and many other particulars,
both external and internal, it resembles the ass ; but
has the voice and ears of a horse, and has no cross,,
or transverse bands over the shoulders. It is very
wild, strong, and swift, and is found in the rocky
regions of the Andes, or Cordilleras of Peru and
Chili. The hoofs are divided like those of rumi-
nant animals.
It is singular that this curious species, which
seems as it were to form a kind of link between the
cloven-hoofed and whole-hoofed tribes, should have
S58 HIPPOPOTAMUS TRIBE.
so long remained unknown to the naturalists of
Europe.
HIPPOPOTAMUS TRIBE.
Only one species has hitherto been discovered
as belonging to this tribe. This has four front
teeth in each jaw ; the upper ones standing distant
by pairs, the lower prominent, and the two middle
ones the longest. The canine teeth are solitary ;
those of the lower jaw extremely large, curved,
aitd cut obliquely at the ends. The feet are each
armed at the margin with four hoofs.
Hippopotamus.
The hippopotamus is a very large animal, ex-
ceeding even the rhinoceros in size. He is some-
times not less than seventeen feet long, and gene-
nerally about seven feet in height. His head is of
an enormous size ; his mouth amazingly wide ;
the jaws are armed, each with four cutting teeth,
and two tusks. The teeth in the lower jaw; are
straight, and point forwards almost horizontal ;
the two middlemost longer than those on the sides ;
those in the upper jaw are disposed at regular
distances from each other. The tusks in the up-
per jaw are short ; those in the lower very long,
and truncated obliquely. A tooth is sometimes
twenty-seven inches long’, and weighs six pounds
nine ounces. In figure, the hippopotamus resem-
bles an ox more nearly than any other common
TFHT/i-Tl (p)
HIPPOPOTAMUS.
359-
animal. His eyes and nostrils are disproportion-
ately small. His ears are small, pointed, and
covered within with a thick lining of short, fine
hairs. A few slender tufts of hair are scattered
over the lips. The body is thinly covered with
hair, at first sight scarcely discernible. It appears
mouse-coloured at coming out of the water, but
when dry of an obscure brown. On the neck,
the hair is thicker than on the rest of the body,
hut not so thick as to form a mane. The tail is
almost bare, and about a foot in length. The
legs are short and thick ; the hoofs divided into
four separate parts. Though an amphibious ani-
mal, the hippopotamus has no membranes connect-
ing the divisions of the hoofs.
Africa seems to be the only division of the
globe inhabited by this species. The Nile, the
Niger, the Gambia, the Zaira, are the chief rivers
in which they have been discovered. But they are
observed through all the other considerable-rivers,
and the lakes of the African continent. From the
information of the Jesuits,, and of Bruce, a later
and more accurate observer, we learn that they
abound in all the lakes and rivers of Abyssinia,
- Nubia, and Upper Egypt. Cultivation has ex*
pelled them from Lower Egypt. Sparrman repre-
sents them as not less numerous in the southern
parts of Africa. It had been imagined, that
hippopotami never ventured into the ocean, and
scarce ever descended so low as to the mouths of
rivers ; but this philosophical traveller relates,
that he actually observed several hippopotami its
salt water, at the mouths of the rivers Krotnme
and Camtour ; and in the district of Krakekama,
saw on the sea-beach, evident traces of one of these
animals that had come out of sea, but instantly
retired back : he was -also informed by a captain
Burtz, that on the eastern coast of Africa he had
HIPPOPOTAMUS.
360
often seen hippopotami raise their heads above the
surface of the sea, to breathe and neigh. In
Guinea, the rivers, lakes, and marshy grounds*
afford numbers of hippopotami.
The Behemoth of Job is understood to have been
no other but the hippopotamus ; his strength, his
size, and his manners, are beautifully alluded to by
the writer of that sublime book.
The manners of this species are pretty well known.
Their awful size has attracted attention. They are
said to be polygamous, and the females much more
numerous than the males. The female brings forth
her young on land, but suckles it under water.
The calf is but of a very moderate size for some
time after birth. One caught by Dr. Sparrman,
which was supposed to be about a fortnight or
three weeks old, measured three feet and a half in
length, and two feet in height. It is suckled by
the mother, and remains for a while under her
protection ; how long we know not. When
caught, this calf uttered a squeaking noise, like
a scared, or wounded hog. The voice of the
adult animal is a neighing sound, which some
describe as having a perfect resemblance to the
neighing of a horse, ; while others represent it as a
loud sonorous noise, between the bellowing of an
ox, and the roaring of an elephant.
Although an inhabitant of the waters, the hip-
popotamus is well known to breathe air like land
animals. On land he finds the chief part of his
food. He may, perhaps, occasionally feed on
aquatic plants ; but he very often leaves the waters,
and commits wide devastations through all the adja-
cent cultivated fields. On the banks of the Nile, be
often defeats the hopes of the husbandman ; even
a large field of corn or clover is soon entirely
despoiled of verdure by his capacious jaws. In
the south of Africa, he commits similar ravages.
HIPPOPOTAMUS.
mi
Not only grass, but bougbs and roots of trees and
shrubs are articles of his ordinary food. In cul-
tivated tracts, it is commonly in the night that the
hippopotamus leaves his retreats in the rivers, and
wanders into the fields. He descends to the bottom
of the deepest river, and walks along it with the
same slow, stately pace, as if on land, and breath-
ing the open air. But he cannot continue under
water beyond a certain length of time. He must
ascend at intervals to the^ surface to discharge the,
contents of his lungs, and draw in fresh air. He
appears at times in the sea, and is seen going out
with the tide ; but it appears probable, that sea-
water does not serve him to drink; for Sparrman
relates, that a hippopotamus, who, having been
disturbed in the rivers, bad taken refuge in the
sea, was observed to come every night on shore to
drink water out of a neighbouring well, till he
•was at last shot. It has been pretended, that the
hippopotamus devours great quantities of fish ;
but it appears with the fullest evidence, both from
the relations of many travellers, and from the
structure of the stomach in specimens which have
been dissected, that he is nourished solely, or al-
most solely, on vegetable food. He walks with a
tardy pace ; and is capable of so little agility, that
even a hillock, or wall of a very moderate height,
preseuts to him an insurmountable barrier. Unless
when accidentally provoked or wounded, he is
never offensive. But, when his fury is provoked,
revenge is easily in his power. With his teeth he
easily breaks a boat in pieces ; or where the river
is not too deep, he will raise it on his back, and
overset it.
The Egyptians practise a very artful contrivance
for destroying this animal. On some place where
they expect an hippopotamus to pass, they throw a
large quantity of peas ; these the hungry animal
ii, S a
HIPPOPOTAMUS.*
S&2
gerly devours as soon as lie perceives them ; such a
quantity of dry food soon disposes him to drink ; and
the water swelling the peas in his belly,, bursts the
vessels/ and he falls dead on the shore. The Hot-
tentots sometimes practise the same stratagem.
But they more commonly either intercept the ani-
mal in pits dug in places through which lie has
been observed to pass, or shoot him with tin
balls.
The hippopotamus affords many articles of con-
siderable utility to human life. His flesh is a
wholesome, and not unpleasant food; The Hot-
tentots, the CafFrarians, and even the Dutch colo-
nists at the Cape, eat it with great eagerness. In
Egypt likewise this animal has been sought for his
flesh. Dr. Pocock saw it sold in the market.
The negroes of Angola, Congo, and of the whole
west cbast of Africa in general, though they vene-
rate this mighty inhabitant of the rivers as a deity,
yet scruple not to eat him. The flesh is said to be
tender. The fat is not so rancid and greasy as that
of most other animals. The gelatinous part of the
feet, when well- dressed, is a great delicacy. The
dried tongue of an hippopotamus is considered,
even at the Cape of Good Hope, as a rare and
savoury dish. Dr. Sparrman, on his return to
Europe, furnished the king of Sweden’s table with
one of these tongues, two feet eight inches in
length. The teeth of the hippopotamus are of a
harder and whiter substance than those of the
elephant. Dentists prefer them on account ©f these
qualities, even to ivory, for the replacing lost teeth
in the human jaw. The hide is rather thicker
than that of the rhinoceros. It is a sufficient load
for a camel. The inhabitants of the Cape make
excellent whips of it, which, after being used for
some time, become more pliable that! those made
the hide of the rhinoceros. The blood of this
TAP lit TRIBE,' SGS
animal is said to be used by the Indian painters as
one of their colours,,
Belon speaks of a tame hippopotamus as an animal
of a very mild and gentle character : and Sparrman
is of opinion, that a calf of this species might be
brought up tame> without much difficulty ; and
that thus the curiosity of Europeans might once
more be gratified with a sight of Jiving specimens,
as were the Romans at the games of Scaurus.
A Dutch colonist, Sp airman tells, fancied he
had found the os petrosum of the hippopotamus
reduced to powder, and taken in small quantities,
an excellent remedy in cases of convulsion, parti-
cularly in children.
TAPIR TRIBE.
The tapir tribe, of which but one species is at
present discovered, has ten front teeth in both jaws,
the canine teeth single, and i-nc-urvated ; five,
grinders in both jaws, on each side ; very broad
feet, with three hoofs, and a false hoof on the fore
feet.
Tapir.
The tapir is shaped somewhat: like a hog, and of
the size of a heifer ha] fa year ©M. When young.
Iris body is speckled with white ; after he is full
grown, it changes to a dusky colour. The nose bears
some resemblance to the proboscis of an elephant,,
and serves the same purposes ; extending far be-
yond the lower jaw, and being susceptible of cou^
TAEIE*
S64
traction or dilation at the pleasure of the animal «
its sides are furrowed in a singular manner. Only
the male, however, it is said, is armed with this
proboscis ; the snout of the female, it seems, is not
prominent, nor her upper jaw prolonged beyond
the lower. The extremities of both jaws are
pointed ; each contains ten cutting teeth, and as
many grinders. The ears aie erect, oval, and bor-
dered with white. The eyes are small ; the back
arched ; the legs short ; the tail bare, and of a
yery diminutive size. The hair over the body is
short, like that of a horse. A bristly mane, the
hair of which is an inch and a half in length, runs
along the neck.
South America is the native country of the tapir.
He inhabits along the eastern side of the Dutch,
Fortugueze, and Spanish dominions in that part of
America. He is one of the largest quadrupeds
of the new world. Marshes, and solitary woods,
bordering on some lake or river, are his favourite
retreats. In the heat of the day he conceals him-
self in the gloom of the forest, or under water ; for,
like the hippopotamus, he is, in some measure,
amphibious, swims well, or dives and walks at his
ease on the bottom. If roused from the forest, he
retreats for security to the water. At night he
wanders abroad in search of food. He lives on
gr^ss, sugar-canes, and fruits. His voice is a
hissing whistling noise ; be is a salacious, slow,
and sluggish animal. He is an object of pursuit
to the Indian hunters. His skin often resists an
arrow, or musket* ball ; and when liarrassed by
dogs, he forgets his natural mildness, turns upon
them, and often tears their skin, or mutilates their
limbs. Yet his skin is sometimes penetrated by
the poisoned arrows of the Indians ; and numbers
pf dogs will overpower him, although a, part fail
|u the attack * ' *
H©0 TRIBE*
365
He is capable of domestication. In Guiana, the
tapir is sometimes introduced into the farm yard.
When gently treated, he, like other naturally radd
animals, contracts great familiarity with man,
distinguishes his master, discovers affection to the
hand that feeds him, and will slip his nose into
the pockets of people who approach hiia^ in search
of food.
The thickness, and the close texture of his skin,
render it an article of considerable value. His
flesh is eaten by the native Americans, but not a
very delicate species of food. The legs, if roasted
for four and twenty hours, become, it is said, not
disagreable even to the palate of an European.
The Indians use the skin chiefly for bucklers.
HOG TRIBE. '
The manners of these animals are in general
filthy and disgusting. They are fond of wallowing
in the mire, and feed almost indifferently on animal
and vegetable food, devouring even the most cor-
rupted carcases. With their strong tendinous
snout they dig up the earth in search of roots
and other aliment hidden under the surface.
They are exceedingly prolific. — The male is
named the boar, the female sow, and the young
ones are called pigs.
In the upper jaw there are four front teeth, the
points of which converge : and, usually, six in the
lower jaw, which project. The canine teeth, or
tusks, are two in each jaw ; those above short,
while, these below are long, and extend out of the
365
COMMON H.OG.
mouth. The snout is prominent, moveable, and has
the appearance of having been cutoff, or truncated.
The feet are cloven.
Common hog.
The wild boar, the stock or original of the
domestic hog, is smaller than the tame hog, and
does not vary in his colour as those of the do-
mestic kind do, but is always found of an iron
grey, inclining to black ; his snout is much longer
than that of the tame hog, and the ears are shorter,
rounder, and black; of which colour are also
the feet and the tail. He roots the ground in a
different manner from the common hog ; for as
this turns up the earth in little spots here and
there, so the wild boar ploughs it up like a fur-
row, and does irreparable damage in the culti-
vated lands of the fanner. The tusks also of this
animal are larger than in the tame breed, some ot
them being seen almost a foot long. These, as is
well known, grow from both the upper and under
jaw, bend upwards circularly, and are exceedingly
sharp at the points. They differ from the tusks of
the elephant in this, that they never fall ; and it
is remarkable of all the hog kind, that they never
shed their teeth, as other animals are said to do.
The tusks of the lower jaw are always the most
to be dreaded, and are found to give very terrible
wounds.
The wild boar can properly be called neither a
solitary nor a gregarious animal. The three first
years the whole litter follows the sow, and the
family lives in a herd together. They are then
called beasts of company, and unite their common
forces against the invasions of the wolf, or the
more formidable beasts of prey. Upon this their
principal safety while young depends, for when at-
■WTE JDjXD-1B -mm*
common hog: 367
tacked, they give each other mutual assistance,
calling to each other with a very loud and fierce
note ; the strongest face the danger ; they form a
ring, and the weakest fall into, the centre. In this-
position few ravenous beasts dare venture to attack
them, but pursue the chase where there is less re-
sistance and danger. However, when the wild boar
is come to a state of maturity, and when conscious of
his own superior strength, he then walks the forest
alone and fearless. At that time he dreads no single
creature, nor does he turn out of his way even for
man himself. He does not seek danger, and he
does not much seem to avoid it.
Th is animal is. therefore seldom attacked, but
at a disadvantage, either by numbers, or when
found sleeping by moonlight. The hunting the
wild boar is one of the principal amusements of
the nobility in 'those countries where it is to be
found. The dogs provided for this sport are of the
slow heavy kind. Those used for hunting the
stag, or the roebuck, would be very improper, as
they would too soon come up with their prey ; and,
instead of a chase, would only furnish out an en-
gagement. A small "mastiff is therefore chosen ;
nor are the hunters much mindful of the goodness „
of their nose, as^ the wild boar leaves so strong a
scent, that it is impossible for them to mistake its
course. They never hunt any but the largest and
the oldest, which are known by their tracks.
When the boar is rear’d, as is the expression for
driving him from his covert, he goes slowly and
uniformly forward, not much afraid, nor very far
before his pursuers. At the end of every half
mile, or thereabouts, he turns round, stops till the
hounds come up, and offers to attack them. These,
on the other hand, knowing their danger, keep off,
and bay him at a distance. After they have for
COMMON HOC?,
mn
awhile gazed upon each , other with mutual aniU
roosity, the boar again slowly goes on his course*
and the dogs renew their pursuit. In this man-
ner the charge is sustained, and the chase con-
tinues till the boar is quite tired, and refuses to
go any farther. The dogs then attempt to dose
in upon him from behind ; those which are young,
fierce, and unaccustomed to the chase, are gene-
rally the foremost, and often lose their lives by their
ardour. Those which are older and better trained,
are content to wait until the hunters come up, who
strike at him with their spears, and, after several
blows, dispatch or disable him. The instant the
animal is killed, they cut off the testicles, which
would otherwise give a tainttothe whole flesh ; and
the huntsmen celebrate the victory with their horns.
The domestic hog is, generally speaking, a very
harmless creature, and preys on no animals but
either dead ones, or such as are incapable of re*
sistance. He lives mostly on vegetables, yet can
devour the most putrid carcases. We, however,
generally conceive him to be much more indelicate
than he really is. He selects, at least, the plants
©f his choice, with equal sagacity and niceness,
and is never poisoned, like some other animals, by
mistaking noxious for wholesome food. Selfish,
indocile, and rapacious, as many think him, no
animal has greater sympathy for those of his own
kind. The moment one of them gives the signal -
©f distress, all within hearing rush to its assist-
ance. They have been known to gather round a
dog that teased them, and kill him on the spot.
Inclose a male and female in a sty when jroung,
and the female will decline from the instant her
companion is removed, and will probably die of a
broken heart. This animal is well adapted to the
mode of life to which it is destined. Having to
COMMON H OG,
dm
gain a subsistence principally by turning up the
earth with its nose ; we find that the neck is strong
and brawny ; the eyes small,, and placed high in
the head ; the snout long; the nose callous and
tough ; and the power of smelling peculiarly acute.
The external form is, indeed, very unwieldy, but by
the strength of his tendons the wild boar is enabled
to fly from the hunters with surprizing agility.
The back toe on the feet of this animal prevents its
slipping while it descends steep declivities.
in Minorca the hog is converted into a beast of
draught ; a cow, a sow, and two young horses,
have been seen in that island yoked together, and
of the four the sow drew the best. The ass and
the hog are here common helpmates, and are fre-
quently yoked together to plow the land. In some
parts of Italy, swine are used in hunting for truffles**
which grow some inches deep in the ground. A
cord being tied round the hind leg of one of the
animals, the beast is driven into the pastures, and
we are told that whenever it stops and begins
to root with its nose, truffles are always to be
found.
In proof that these animals are not destitute of
sagacity, it would perhaps be unnecessary to recite
any other accounts than those of the various
f,<r learned pigs" which have at different times been
exhibited in this country. The following isy how-
ever, an instance more surprising than, perhaps, any
even of these : — A gamekeeper of Sir Henry Mild-
may (named Tupor,) actually broke a black sow
to find game, and to back, and stand. Slut, which
was the name he gave her, was rendered as staunch
as any pointer. After Sir Henry's death, this pig-
pointer was sold by auction for a very considerable
sum of money ; but possibly the secret of breaking
swine to the held expired with the inventor.
The hog is one of those animals that are dooip^
'VOL. II. 3 B
370
COMMON HOG.
ed to clear the earth of refuse and filth ; and that
convert the most nauseous offali into the richest
nutriment in its flesh. It has not altogether been
unaptly compared to a miser, who is useless and
rapacious in his life, but at his death becomes of
public use, by the very effects of his sordid man-
ners. During his life he renders little service to
mankind, except in removing that filth which other
animals reject.
The extreme thickness of his hide and fat ren-
ders the hog almost insensible to ill-treatment, and
instances have even occured of mice eating their
way into the fat on the back of one of these animals
without incommoding the creature. Although
naturally inoffensive, he possesses powers which,
when called into action, render him a very formi-
dable enemy. He is, however, stupid, inactive,
and drowsy ; and nothing but the calls of appetite
interrupts his repose, to which he always returns as
soon as this is satiated.
The senses of smelling and taste are enjoyed by
these animals in great perfection. Wind seems t®
have great influence on them, for when it blows
violently they seem much agitated, and run to-
wards the sty, sometimes screaming in a most vio-
lent manner. Naturalists have also remarked, that
on the approach of bad weather, they will bring
straw to the sty, as if to guard against its effects.
The country people in some parts of England have
% singular adage that pigs can see the wind/5
The female goes four months with young, and
has very numerous litters, sometimes so many as
twenty at a time. These animals live to a consi-
derable age, even to twenty- five or thirty years.
The flesh, though very nutritious, from not being
so digestible as some other kinds of animal food,
is supposed to be unwholesome to persons who lead
sedentary lives.
COMMON HOG. §7 1
In the island of Sumatra there is a variety of this
species that frequents the impenetrable bushes and
marshes of the sea-coast. These animals live on
crabs and roots ; they associate in herds, are of a
grey colour, and smaller than the English swine.
At certain periods of the year, they swim in herds
consisting of sometimes a thousand, from o*ne side
of the river Siak to the other, at its mouth, which
is three or four miles broad, and again return at
stated times. This kind of passage also takes
place in the small islands, by their swimming from
one to the other. On these occasions they are
hunted by a tribe of the Malays, distinct from all
the others of the island, who live on the coasts of
the kingdom of Siak, called Salettians.
These men are said to smell the swine long be-
fore they see them, and when they do this, they im-
mediately prepare their boats. They then send out
their dogs, which are trained to this kind of hunt-
ing, along the strand, where, by their barking,
they prevent the swine from coming ashore, and
concealing themselves among the bushes. During
the passage the boars precede, and are followed by
the females and the young, all in regular rows, each
resting its snout on the rump of the preceding one*
Swimming thus in close rows, they form a singular
appearance.
The Salettians, men and women, meet them in
their small flat boats. The former row, and throw
large mats, made of the long leaves of the Panda-
mus odoratissima interwoven through each other,
before the leader of each row of swine, which still
continues to swim with great strength ; but, soon
pushing their feet into the mats, they get so entangled
as to be able either no longer to move them, or only
to move them very slowly. The rest are, however,
neither alarmed nor disconcerted, but k$ep close t©
each other, none of them leaving the position in
ETHIOPIAN HOG.
372
which they were placed. The men then row to-
wards them in a lateral direction, and the women,
armed with long javelins, stab as many of the swine
as they can reach. For those beyond their reach
they are furnished with smaller spears, about six
feet in length, which they are able to throw to the
distance of thirty or forty feet with pretty sure
aim. As it is impossible, for them to throw mats
before all the rows, the rest of these animals swim
.off in regular order, to the places for which they
set out, ,and for this time escape the danger; As
the dead swine are found floating around in great
numbers, they are picked up and put into larger
boats, which follow for that purpose.
Some of these swine they sell to the Chinese
traders who visit the island ; and of the rest
they preserve in general only the skins and fat.
The latter, after being melted, they sell to the
Maki Chinese ; and it is used by the common
people instead of butter, as long as it is not ran-
cid, and also for burning in lamps., instead of cocoa*
$211 1 oil.
Ethiopian hog.
This animal is much allied, in its general ap*
pearante, to the common hog ; but is particularly
distinguished from it by a pair of large semicircular
lobes or wattles placed beneath the eyes. The
snout is also much broader, and very strong and
callous. — It is a native of the hotter parts of Af-
rica, and is a very fierce and dangerous animal.
It resides principally in subterraneous recesses,
w hich it digs with its nose and hoofs ; and, when
attacked or pursued, it rushes on its adversary
w ith great force, striking, like the common boar,
w ith its tusks, which are capable of inflicting the
$nosi tremendous wounds.
jm T3HEE. (D1PMH - IHL <D> <6-
ETHIOPIAN HOG. STS
These creatures inhabit the wildest, most uncul-
tivated, and hottest parts of Africa, from Senegal
to Congo, and they are also found on the island
of Madagascar. The natives carefully avoid their
retreats, since, from their savage nature, they often
rush upon them unawares, and gore them with
their tusks.
A boar of this species was, in 1765, sent by
the governor of the Cape of Good Hope to the
prince of Orange. From confinement and atten-
tion he became mild and gentle, except when
offended ; in which case, even those persons to
whose care he was entrusted were afraid of him.
In general, however, when the door of his cage
was opened, he earns out in perfect good humour,
gaily frisked about in search of food, and greedily
devoured whatever was given him. Fie was one
day left alone in the court-yard for a few minutes,
and on the return of the keeper was found busily
digging into the earth, where, notwithstanding the
cemented bricks of the pavement, he had made
an amazing large hole, with a view, as was after-
wards discovered, of reaching a common sewer
that passed at a considerable depth below. It w as
not without much trouble, and the assistance of
several men, that his labour could be interrupted.
They, at length, however, forced him into his cage,
but he expressed great resentment, and uttered a
sharp and mournful noise.
His motions were altogether much more agile
and neat than those of the common hog. He w ould
allow himself to be stroked, and even seemed de-
lighted with rough friction. When provoked, or
rudely pushed, he always retired backward, keep-
ing his face towards his assailant, and shaking his
head, or forcibly striking with it. When, after
long confinement, he was set at liberty for a little
while, he was vety gay, and k«*ped about in an
§7£ ETHIOPIAN HOC.
entertaining manner. On these occasions he would,
with his tail erect, sometimes pursue the fallow-
deer and other animals.
His food was principally grain and roots ; and of
the former he preferred barley and the European
wheat. He was so fond of rye-bread, that he
would run after any person who had a piece of it in
his hand. In the acts of eating and drinking he al-
ways supported himself on the knees of his fore
feet ; and would often rest in this position. His
eyes were so situated as to prevent his seeing
around him, being interrupted by the wattles and
prominences of his face ; but, in, compensation for
this defect, his senses of smelling and hearing w ere
wonderfully acute.
Dr. Sparrman, when he was in Africa, pursued
several pigs with the old sows, with the intention
of shooting one of them, but though he failed in
this object, their chace afforded him singular plea-
sure. The heads of the females, which had before
appeared of a tolerable size, seemed, on a sudden,
to have grown larger and more shapeless than they
were. This momentary and wonderful change, as-
tonished him so much the more, as riding hard
over a countiw full of bushes and pits, he had been
prevented from giving sufficient attention to the
manner in which it was brought about. The
whole of the mystery, however, consisted in this :
each of the old ones, during its flight, had taken a
pig in its mouth ; a circumstance that also explain-
ed to him another subject of his surprize, which
was, that all the pigs which he had just before
been chasing along with the old ones, had vanish-
ed on a sudden. But in this action we And a kind
of unanimity among these animals, in which they
resemble the tame species, and which they have in
a. greater degree than many others. It is likewise
very astonishing, that the pigs should be carried
I
TP3&(GA20r
CAFE VERD K 0G, ANB RABYR0US3A. STS
about in this manner between such large tusks as
those of their mother, without being hurt, or cry-
ing: out in the least. He was twice afterwards
witness to the same circumstance.
The flesh is very good, and not unlike that of the
German wild boar.
Cape Verd hog.
This animal is of the size of a common hog*
and peculiar to Africa. The species are diffused
through the tract of country between Cape Verd
and the Cape of Good Hope. The head is long ;
the nose slender. The tusks are large, hard as
ivory, and in the upper jaw, thick and truncated
obliquely. The ears are narrow, erect, and pointed.
The tail is slender, and terminates in a tuft, reach-
ing down to the highest joint of the leg. Each
jaw is furnished with twelve grinding teeth. The
body is covered all over with long, fine bristles.
This species has been, by some naturalists,
confounded with that immediately preceding.
But the form of the head, the structure of the
mouth, and the manner in which the body is co-
vered, establish a sufficient distinction between
them.
/
Babyroussa.
The babyroussa is of the size of a common
bog, which it somewhat resembles ; however, it
is of /a more slender form ; but what chiefly dis-?
tinguishes it, is the size and the shape of its tusks.
Each jaw is furnished with two. Those in the inferior
jaw rise eight inches out of their sockets, towards
the eyes. The sockets of those above are placed
on the outside*of the jaw ; and the tusks rise twelve
inches out of them ; they bend like horns, till their
MEXICAN HOG,
STS
points nearly touch the forehead. The ears are
small,, erect; and pointed. A few weak bristles
cover the back ; the rest of the body is covered
with a sort of soft wool. The tail is long, often
twisted; and terminates in a point.
The babyroussa is found in the islands of Java-
Celebes; and Boero in the East. 'A few individuals
are often diffused through" the other islands of the
Indian Ocean. The species are naturally grega-
rious. Their sense of smelling is extremely acute.
Plants; and leaves of trees are their favourite food.
They grunt like our common hogs. They are not
unsusceptible of domestication. To escape from
& pursuer; they often rush into the sea, and swim to
a distance; or conceal themselves by diving. They
even swim occasionally from isle to isle. A baby-
roussa is often seen to rest its head in a fores t, by
hooking its upper tusks on some bough. None
of these animals ever commit any devastations in
gardens.
Mexican ho g.
This animal bears an imperfect resemblance to
the common hog; but is smaller and more compact.
Its body is about three feet in length. Its mouth
is furnished with four cutting teeth in the upper
jaw, with six in the lower, and with two tusks in
each. Its head is not of such a taper, wedge-like
form, as that of the common hog. Its ears are
short, erect, and pointed. Its eyes are neither sunk
nor prominent. The bristles covering its body,
are long and stiff. They resemble, indeed, rather
the quills of the porcupine, than the bristles of the
hog. On the neck and back they are longer than
on the sides. The belly is almost entirely bare.
A band of white extends between the shoulders and
the breast. There is no tail to protect the binder
MEXICAN HO©.
377
parts. A gland on the back from which there
constantly distils a wheyish, fetid liquor,, is the
most remarkable peculiarity of this species. The
first Europeans who became acquainted with this
an i rn ah fancied this gland the navel, preposterous-
ly disposed bv nature on the back, instead of the
belly.
The manners of the Mexican hog are not very-
different from those of the hogs of Asia and Europe;
Mexico, and all the warm climates of South Ameri-
ca, possess numerous herds of this species. Their
instincts and arms for offence and defence, are
much the same as those of our hog. They seem
more social in their dispositions. They are gene-
rally found associating together in parties. Though
only an individual be singled out, the whole body
joins with generous valour against an enemy. They
grunt with a stronger and harsher voice than the
hogs of Asia or Europe ; but are scarce ever
prompted by fear or rage, to squeak in the same
wild tone. Forests are their favourite haunts;
they resort not, like our domestic hog, or wild boar,
to marshes and mires. Fruits, seeds, and roots,
are their favourite food. They eat also serpents,
toads, and lizards ; and display great dexterity^
in tearing off the skin of those reptiles with their
feet.
Their (economy has not been very minutefy
studied by naturalists. A number of young ones
are produced at a birth ; and the mother treats
them with the tenderness and solicitous care of a
parent. Although .existing chiefly in a wild state,
they are susceptible of domestication ; but no pains
can overcome their natural stupidity and indocility.
The beasts of prey, not less than man, are hostile to
this species. The American leopard, or Jaguar,
one of their most formidable enemies, often falls
amid a herd, after destroying the greatest pari of
vote II, 3 €
378
CETACEOUS ANIMALS.
them ; weary with slaughter, and rather exhausted
by his own exertions than overcome by theirs. If
killed in full health, the flesh of the animal is
agreeable food ; provided the gland on the back
be cut off, and the liquor which it secretes, care-
fully washed from the carcase at the instant of
death.
There are probably several varieties of this spe-
cies, distinguished by diversities of colour and
size.
This animal constantly refuses to copulate with
our European swine.
CETACEOUS ANIMALS.
The cete, consisting of four tribes of animals,
which live altogether in water, constitute Linnaeus's
seventh order of Mammalia. They inhabit chiefly
the seas of the polar regions, and many of the spe-
cies are of huge size. From their external shape,
ntnd habits, they seem nearly allied to the fish, yet
they arrange with great propriety as an appendix
to the four footed animals. It is true that they
reside in the same element with the scaly tribes,
and are, like them, endowed with progressive
powers of motion in that element, yet in their inter-
nal structure they entirely agree with the qua-
drupeds.
Like the land animals, they breathe air by means
of lungs i this compels them frequently to rise to
the surface of the water to respire ; and on this
account it is that they always sleep on the surface.
Their nostrils are open, and situated on the sum-
CETACEOUS ANIMALS* 379
suit of the head, which enables them to draw in the
air without raising the mouth, and consequently
the head out of water. These nostrils also serve
them in expelling the superfluous water which they
take in at the mouth every time they attempt to
swallow their prey. They have also warm red
blood ; and they produce and suckle their young
in the same manner as the land animals. Their
flesh is red, and bears a great resemblance to that
of the horse : some of it is very firm ; and about
the breast and belly it is mixed with tendons.
They likewise resemble the quadrupeds in having
moveable eye-lids, and true bones ; and in their
power of uttering loud and bellowing sounds, a
faculty altogether denied to the scaly tribes.
The cetaceous animals have a smooth skin, not
covered with hair. Their feet are very short ;
those in the fore part of the body being formed like
fins, and the hind ones united into an horizontal
tail. The substance of the latter is so firm and
compact, that the vessels will retain their dilated
state even when cut across.
The fat of this order of animals is what we ge-
nerally term blubber : this is afterwards, by boil-
ing, manufactured into oil. It does not coagulate
in our atmosphere, and is probably the most fluid
of all animal fats. It is found principally on the
outside of the muscles, immediately under the
skin, and is in considerable quantity. ’The blubber
appears principally to be of use in poising their
bodies ; it also keeps off the immediate contact of
the water with the flesh, the continued cold of
which might chill the blood ; and in this respect
it serves a purpose similar to that of clothing to
fhe human ra^o.
380
NARWHAL TRIBE.
NARWHAL TRIBE.
This genus of animals is distinguished by the
having one tooth., and sometimes two teeth projects
ing' from the upper jaw, long, straight, and spiral.
It has a spiracle or breathing place on the top of
its head. There am but two species hitherto dis-
covered belonging to this genus, and one of these
is somewhat obscure.
Narwhal, or sea unicorn.
The narwhal is about twenty feet long% from
the mouth to the tail, of a more slender make than
the common Greenland whale ; and its fat is in less
abundance. It inhabits the seas of Iceland and
Greenland, and the northern part of Davis's straits,
and is seen in the same northerly regions with the
rest of the cetaceous tribes. Nature has, however,
distinguished it from every other kind of whale,
by that formidable weapon in the form of a toothy
Which projects from its upper jaw. Amongst all
that variety of armour which she has conferred
upon her different tribes in the animal kingdom,
she has, perhaps, contrived no instrument of de-
struction so dreadful as the horn of the narwhal.
This extraordinary instrument generally springs
from the upper jaw on the left side ; into the
socket of which it reaches a foot and a half. It is
striated, and twisted in spires, as we sometimes see
a bar of iron ; its length is from seven to eight
feet, and of the thickness of a man’s arm : it is
of a white colour, harder and heavier than ivory.
From the size of this weapon, most naturalists
consider it as an horn., rather than a tooth ; but it
X-AKW3HIAI4
. ‘ • .
NARWHAL,
381
resembles! in every respect the tusks of a boar, or
an elephant ; it rises like them* from a socket in
the jaw ; it is of the same strong substance* and
possesses the same solidity. Willoughby regards
it as the only real example of an unicorn afforded
by nature ; and after a minute examination of all
the substances that are imposed upon the public,
for the horns of the unicorn* he pronounces them
impositions on the credulity of mankind.
This naturalist had the greater merit in making
a discovery of this nature* because in his time the
capture of whales was not very frequent* and the
means of detection were proportionably few7 in
number. The tooth of the narwhal about a cen-
tury ago was universally ascribed to some land
animal : it had often been dug up among fossil
substances* and from that circumstance it was
naturally bestowed upon a terrestrial owner. Pliny
had long ago described an animal resembling a
horse* with a single horn spring from tbe middle
of its forehead. Upon this animal* wdiieh a far-
ther knowledge of nature has proved to be ficti-
tious* the tooth of the narwhal wfas unanimously
conferred; and the finding of so precious a regain,
was considered as a fortunate incident* that af-
forded a strong testimony of the veracity of that
historian.
But it was not the curiosity of mankind alone,
nor the rareness of the object* and the singularity
of its form, that brought the narwhal’s tooth into
such high repute in the different countries of
Europe. A medicine was prepared from it, w hich
was long given out by the quacks as an infallible
specific against poison* and malignant fevers.
At length* however* these frauds were detected
and exposed by one of the privy counsellors, who
had a concern in the whale fishery, and received
by the return of his own vessels a number of those
38 3
KARWHAL.
teeth, some of which were of the enormous length
of three yards.
The error of supposing this armour of the
narwhal a horn, has led some writers to suppose,
that as among quadrupeds the female was often
found without horns, so these instruments of de-
fence were onfy to be found in the male. This,
however, has often been contradicted by actual ex-
perience ; both sexes are found armed in this man-
ner ; and in all the varieties of the horn, whether
wreathed or smooth, bended or straight, it is uni-
formly strong, sharp, and deeply fixed. There ean
be no doubt, but that an instrument of this nature
is intended for the defence of the animal on which
it is bestowed. It is thus that the narwhal uses it ;
whenever it is urged to employ this terrible instru-
ment, it is said that it drives directly forward
against its enemy, and pierces him through.
Rut notwithstanding this implement of war, and
its amazing velocity and strength, the narwhal is
one of the most harmless and peaceable inhabi-
tants of the ocean. It wants teeth for chewing,
and a throat for swallowing any bulky prey : of
consequence it commits hostility against no ani-
mal ; but is constantly seen sporting inoffensively
among the great monsters of the deep, never at-
tempting to injure any of them. It is called by
the Greenlanders the forerunner of the whale ; for
wherever it is seen, that fish seldom fails soon to
appear. The manners of these two species nearly
Tesemble each other ; the food of both is those
insects which we shall hereafter describe; and both
are peaceable and innocent, though qualified by
their strength or their arms to spread general des-
truction.
So little does this fish avail itself of those im-
plements with which nature has provided it, that
they appear rather an impediment, than a means
8RPRI0US NARWHAL. ~r S8S
©f defence. It is at no pains to keep them in re-
pair for action ; but on the contrary, the tooth
is constantly seen covered with weeds, slime, and
all the filth of the sea. In one instance, they evi-
dently operate to the destruction of the owners ;
for the narwhals being gregarious animals, they
are no sooner attacked by a fishing vessel, than
they crowd together in such a manner, that they are
mutually embarrassed by their tusks, and are pre-
vented from sinking to the bottom. In this situa-
tion the harpooners seldom fail of striking one 0*
two of those that are longest detained upon the
surface of the water ; and the quantity of the oil
which they produce renders their capture an object
©f very considerable emolument.
Spurious narwhal.
A species most allied to the narwhal, but not,
perhaps, strictly speaking, of the same genus : no
teeth in the mouth ; but from the extremity of the
upper mandible project two minute, conic, obtuse,
teeth, a little curved at the tip, weak, and not
above an inch long : body elongated, cylindric,
black. Besides the pectoral fins, and horizontal tail,
is also a minute dorsal fin. It must be numbered
among the rarest of the whales. Its flesh and oil
are considered as very purgative : inhabits the
main ocean, seldom coming towards the shore :
feeds on the loligo : has a spiracle like other whales*
Both flesh and oil are eaten, but not without ap-
prehension, for the reason before mentioned : gene-
rally found dead, being very seldom taken living.
y The above is the description of Fahricius, in his
Fauna Groenlandica, and the animals seems to have
been described by no other author.
WHALE TRIBE. '
WHALE TRIBE,
Most of the species of this tribe are sixty feet
and upwards in length,, and none of them under
twenty. Their skin is in general black, or brown ;
very thick, and altogether without hair : it is often
observed to have marine plants and shell-fish adher-
ing to it. Some of the whales inhabit the northern,
and some the southern ocean : and one or two of
the species are found in both. The females generally
produce but one young one at a time.
The external conformation of the fishes of this
genus, no less than their size, serves to characterise
them among the other inhabitants of the deep.
They are covered with a dark coloured cinereous
skin ; they are* moved, commonly against the
wind, and with vast rapidity by means of a hori-
zontal tail, aided by three fins ; two pectoral, and
one back fin ; but in some species, the last is want-
ing. The head is commonly extremely large, in
proportion to the size of the body, being in some
equal to a third of the size of the fish. The ani-
mal is directed to its prey by two small eyes, fur-
nished with eye-lids, and not -superior in size to
those of an ox. As the cetaceous tribes all
breathe by means of lungs, they have no branchiae
nor external apparatus for that purpose. In the
middle of the head, there is one, sometimes two
orifices, through which they spout water to a vast
height, and with a great noise. With these ori-
fices raised above the surface, the whales sleep and
breathe, gently moving their fins, to keep them
poised upon the summit of the water. When im-
mersed below the surface, or while devouring their
food, water unavoidably rushes into the throat and
WHALE TRIBE.
386
Sung3, and is, in this manner, ejected every time
they rise for a supply of air. If the animal be
wounded, it spouts the air and water with a vio-
lence sufficient to overset a ship ; and the noise it
occasions, is heard like the discharge of cannon*
at the distance of some miles.
Animals of such enormous strength and magni-
tude, we might imagine, would spread terror and
devastation all around them, and make an indis-
criminate slaughter of the inferior tribes. No
creature, however, is. less voracious than the com-
mon whale : almost* no animal substance is ever
found in its stomach ; it feeds, as some allege,
upon different insects that float on the surface ;
according to others, upon the medusa or sea-blub-
ber. Its food, we are certain must be extremely
minute, for the capacity of its throat does not ex-
ceed four inches, a size beyond all proportion,
smaller than that of other animals.
The small quantity of food that suffices the
whale, may justly surprize us, when we consider
their size, and the numbers of these animals that
often herd together. Had their voracity been pro-
portioned to their bulk and numbers, the ocean
itself would hardly have afforded a sufficient sup-
ply. The insects upon which they feed are black,
and about the size of a bean : they are of a round
form, like snails in their shells, and are seen floating
in clusters together upon the waves. These the
whale sucks up in great numbers, and bruises
them with the barbs or pipes with which its mouth
is internally covered. Nourished with this food, it
becomes the fattest of all animals, whether terres-
trial or aquatic.
To a slender appetite, the whale adds peace-
able and harmless manners : it pursues no other
fish, but leads an easy and indolept life on the
bosom of the waves, and is inoffensive, proportion-
VOL II, 3 i>
WHALE .TRIBE';
:m6
ed;to its ability to do mischief. Among land an!**’
mats, we have had occasion to- observe, that
, sovereignty does not always follow strength or
size': the elephant, and camel fly before/, the tygdr
and the lion ; while the eagle possesses a .decided
superiority over the vulture and the ostrich. The
same law obtains among* the inhabitants of the
ocean ; where the whale., if he holds the sceptre,
holds it by a precarious tenure, for it may easily
be wrested from him by his subjects. There is a
strong analogy between his manners and those of
the elephant : both are the strongest and largest
animals in their respective elements ; neither offers
injury ; and each is terrible when provoked to
resentment.
The common whale, whatever honours vulgar
prejudices may have conferred upon it, has no pre-
tensions to the sovereignty of the ocean : on the
contrary, as it is a peaceable and inoffensive animal,
it has many enemies disposed to take advantage of
its disposition, and inaptitude for combat. There
is a small animal of the testaceous kind, called the
whale-louse, that sticks to its body, as we see shells
stick to the foul bottom of a ship. This creature
insinuates itself chiefly under the fins ; and, in
defiance of all the efforts of the whale, it still
keeps its hold, and lives upon the fat, which it is
provided with instruments to extract. The fisher-
men, however, often witness the encounters of
the whale with a much more terrible enemy. At
the sight of the sword-fish, this largest of animals
is seen agitated in an extraordinary manner, and
leaping from the water as if with fear. Wherever
it appears,- the whale perceives it at a distance,
and flies from it in the opposite direction. The
whale Jxas no instrument of defence except the tail :
with that it endeavours i© strike the enemy ; and
a single blow taking place* would effectually de-
WHALE TRIBE.
387
stroy the adversary : but the sword-fish is as active
as the other is strong, and easily avoids the stroke '
then bounding* into the air, it falls upon its subjar
cent enemy, and endeavours, not to pierce with
its pointed beak, but to , cut with its edge,£. The
sea all about is seen dyed with blood, proceeding
from the wounds of the whale ; while the enormous
animal vainly endeavours to reach its invader, and
strikes with its tail against the surface of the water,
making* a report at each blow louder than the
noise of a cannon.
4 still more fatal enemy of the whale, is an ani-
mal of its own order, called by. « the fishermen of
New England, the killer. Of ferocious habits,
and furnished with strong, sharp teeth, these
animals, when they surround a whale, seldom allow
it to come off with life. They tear and mangle
its flesh on ail sides, till fatigued with /fighting,
and overcome with wounds, it falls a prey at last. to
their fury ; and after it expires, the tongue is ex-
tracted, the only part which they devour.
By the constant hostilities of these various ani-
mals, the race of whales has probably been gradu-
ally diminish iog in number for several ages. From
the largeness of their size they cannot easily be
concealed from their destroyers ; and as they are
distinguished by sterility among the finny tribes,
their destruction cannot soon be repaired : but of
all the causes of the waste and diminution of this
order of fishes, the interference of man has operated
by far the most powerfully. His hostilities have
been incomparably more fatal than those of all the
rest of their enemies • and a greater number is pro-
bably destroyed in a season by the ingenuity of the
fishermen, than is devoured by the rapacious ani-
mals in an age.
The inhospitable shores of Spitzbergcn were
found to be the gre$.fc resort of the whales * ap4
388 WHALE TRIBE*
for more than three centuries, notwisfanding the
coldness of the climate, and the terrors of the icy
sea, a great number of European ships have annu-
ally frequented those deary abodes, and at length
thinned the number of their inhabitants.
The whale fishery was carried on, for the sake
of the oil, long before the use of whale»bone was
discovered. The substance which has obtained
that name, adheres to the upper jp,w ; and is form-
ed of thin parallel laminae, some of the longest
four yards in length. Of these there are about
seven hundred in all : about two thirds of that
number are of a length fit for use, the rest being
too short. The oil is extracted from different parts
of the body ; the tongue alone of some fish yielding
from five to six barrels.
As early as the beginning of the fourteenth
pentury, the Biscayneers were in possession of a
very considerable trade to the coast of Greenland :
they long enjoyed the profits of a lucrative traffic
in train oil and whale-bone, before the English
attempted to obtain any share of that commerce.
What probably first gave them an idea of the
advantages to be reaped from it, was the accident
of one of their ships bringing a cargo of whale-
bone and train oil from the bay of St. Laurence,
part of the burden of two large Biscayan ships
that had been wrecked there about the year 1594.
A few years after that period, the town of Hull
had the honour of first attempting that profitable
branch of trade. At present it seems to be on the
decline, the number of fish being greatly reduced
by their constant capture for such a vast length of
time. It is now said that the fishers, from a defect
of whales, apply themselves to seal fishery, from
which animals they also extract an oil, and turn
the skins to good account. This trade, however,
Will not probably be of any long continuance,, for
WHALE TRIBE,
389
these shy and timid creatures will soon be induced
to quit those shores by being perpetually harrassed.
We are informed too, that the natives of Green-
land already begin to suffer from the scarcity of
seals in their seas. The flesh of these animals
constitutes their principal subsistence : and should
they be at last extirpated, or desert the coast, that
miserable people would be in danger of perishing
through want.
Before the year 1598, the whale seems never to
have been taken on our coasts, but when it was
accidentally driven ashore. It was then deemed a
royal fish, and the king and queen divided the spoil
between them ; the king asserting his right to the
head, and her majesty by prerogative entitled to the
tail. A total revolution in the fashion of eatables,,
and the great quantity of these fish that are now im-
ported, has rendered this prerogative of royalty of
less importance, and even ludicrous : formerly, how-
ever, the whale, as well as the porpoise, and dol-
phin, was probably a dish served at the royal
board ; and from its magnitude it must have held
a very respectable station there. Such dainties
continued in vogue so late as the reign of Henry
VOL ; for, in a household book of that prince, it
is ordered, that if a porpoise should be too big
for a horse load, allowance should be made to the
purveyor. Even in the reign of queen Elizabeth,
we find directions for The dressing and serving up
of the dolphin with porpoise sauce ; a composition
of vinegar, crumbs of bread, and sugar.
The flesh of the whale has always made a part
of the food of some savage nations. The natives
of Greenland, as well as the barbarous tribes that
inhabit the vicinity of the south pole, eat the flesh
prepared in various ways, and drink the oil, which
is with them a first rate delicacy. The finding of a
whale is an adyenture considered among the most
890
whale tribe.
fortunate circumstances of their wretched liveg.
They make their abode beside it ; and seldom remove
till they have left nothing but the bones. In the
days of Willoughby, the eating whale was growing
into disuse in England ; and at present the Dutch
sailor^, as well as our own, will not taste it except
in cases of urgent necessity ; it is said, however,
that the French seamen frequently dress. and use it
as their ordinary food at sea. The wretched inha-
bitants of the island of Feroe, who live one half
of the year on salted gulls, are also, we are told,
very fond of salted whales flesh ; the fat of the
head, after being well seasoned, they hang up in
the chimney, and eat like bacon.
The internal structure of the whale, we have
already remarked, resembles almost in every respect
that of quadrupeds : like them they possess lungs,
a bilocular heart, a diaphragm and urinary blad»
der.
As the cetaceous fishes resemble terrestrial ani-
mals in their conformation, so they are also dis-
tinguished by similar appetites and manners :
among them the act of copulation is said to be per-
formed more humano , and the female once in two
years feels the access of desire. In the inferior
tribes of fish, we can discern hardly any thing like
pairing between the males and females, and have no
vestiges of conjugal fidelity. The mutual attach-
ment of the whales, however, exceeds whatever we
are told of the constancy of birds..
Whenever a pair of whales are attacked by the
fishers, they mutually assist, it is asserted, in the
defence of each other ; and wheb one is wounded
the other still attends, lending every aid in its
power ; and no motives of fear, or self preservation,
can urge it to desert its associate. An instance
is recorded of one, which, after maintaining an ob-
stinate conflict in defence of its companion, that
•WHALE .TEHEE,
S 91
had been struck bj a harpoon, and on seeing rit
expire under the wounds it had received, stretched
itself upon the dying fish and yielded up its breath
at the same instant.
■ The period of gestation among the cetaceous
fishes is said to be nine or ten months ; the female
commonly produces one, and never above two
young. During the time of her pregnancy, and
particularly at the birth of her offspring, she is
uncommonly fat. The embryo, it is said, when
first perceptible, is about seventeen inches long ;
and the cub, when excluded, is of a black colour,
and ten feet in length. The two breasts of the
whale' are hid within the belly ; but when she
suckles her young, she can produce them at plea-
sure, when they are protuberant about two feet
before her body. The teats resemble those of a
cow ; w hile the colour of the breasts, in some is
white, in others speckled ; in all they are filled,
with a large quantity of milk, resembling that of
land animals.
From what has been said concerning the pro-
creation of whales, it appears, that these animals,
in fecundity, are far inferior to .the rest of the in-
habitants of -the deep. Nothing, however, can
exceed their cayeand tenderness 'for their offspring,
when produced. The female whale carries her
cub with her wherever she goes ; and when pur-
sued by the fishermen, she keeps it supported be-
tween her fins. Even when wounded, she still
clasps her young one ; and when forced to plunge
into the deep to avoid the strokes of her pursuers,
she carries it down along with her ; but rises
sooner than usual, to allow it time for respiration.
It is, however, but for a short period, that the
young whales stand in need of this parental assist-
ance : their growth is so, remarkably rapid, that
it may occasion some doubt concerning the accounts
392
COMMON' WHALE*
that are given of their extraordinary longevity.
The cubs continue at the breast of the mother only
fur a year, during which period they attain to a con-
siderable size, and are called short-heads by the
sailors. The mother, at the end of that period;
is extremely lean and emaciated, while her cub is
so large and fat, that it frequently yields above
fifty barrels of blubber. The next year after they
have left the breast, they are called stunts ; be-
cause they decrease in their fatness, and yield
scarcely an half of the produce that is obtained
from them when suckling. After two years, the
young whales are called skull fish ; and though
for awhile they continue of an inferior size, there
is no mark by which their age can be ascer-
tained.
Though the whales are gregarious animals, yet
every individual propagates only with those of its
own kind ; and without mixture of breed, they
transmit an unpolluted race to posterity. When
they are seen in shoak of different kinds together,
or making their migrations in large companies,
from one ocean to another, their object probabl}*
is security and mutual defence. Hardly any in-
stinct less powerful than that of self preservation,
from the attacks of smaller but more powerful fishes,
could induce them to an union, by which the scar-
city of food must be so greatly increased.
Common whale.
This is the largest animal known, if the kra-
ken and sea-serpent be supposed fabulous. In the
north sea, where it is most frequently taken, it
measures about sixty feet in length ; and there is
reason to believe that before the fishery had
committed such vast depredations, there were
many of this species seen of a far superior size.
COMMON WHALE,
393
In the warmer latitudes, where they are less fre-
quently taken, and consequently have time to gain
their full size, they are still seen of the immense
size of an hundred feet.
Though the antients were acquainted with this
species of whale, yet it does not appear that they
knew its uses, or practised the fishing of it,
Aristotle has described it by the name of the
bearded whale, from those hairs or strainers that
surround the mouth to prevent the escape of its
food, when the animal discharges the water from
its mouth. Pliny has given it the name of mus«
cuius, probably for the same reason.
It has already been remarked, that the food of
this species is the medusa or sea-blubber ; and it
is probably the necessity of procuring this food
that confines the animal in its residence to the arc-
tic circle. Few of them are ever seen so far south
as the British shores, though the antients mention
a large kind that obtained its name from frequent-
ing our coasts.
The head of the common whale is equal to one
third of the size of its body : the fistulas, or twq
orifices for spouting out the water are placed in
the middle. This species has no teeth : in their
room are situated the black horny laminae, called
whale-bone, so tong used in the ladies" stays, in the
construction of umbrellas, and for various other
purposes. These laminae give off a part of their
substance, which constitutes those bristles that sur-
round the mouth, the supposed use of which has
already been described. Closely confined by these
bristles lies the tongue, the tenderest part of the
auimal, which was formerly salted up as a great
delicacy.
About four yards distant from each other appear
the eyes, externally not larger than those of an ox,
VOL, II. 3 E
394
COMMON WHALE.'
but constituting a pretty large ball within. Thia
picturesque visage is rendered tremendous by the
large opening of the mouth, which, when the jaws
are extended, is no less than eighteen feet wide.
On the back of this animal there is no fin : but
the two lateral ones are exceedingly large ; and
with them, as we have seen, it supports its young.
The tail is broad, semilunar, and horizontal ; it is
of such vast strength, that by a stroke of it upon
the surface, the water is so much agitated as to
overset a boat if it is near. The penis is included
in a strong sheath, and is seven feet in length.
The colour of whales varies very much ; the
back being in some red, and the belly generally
white. Some are marbled with black and white,
while others are entirely black, and some white.
Their skin is smooth and slippery, and their colours
in the water are extremely beautiful. In the belly
of one described by Rondeletius there was found
no kind of fish only a sort of mucus, foam, water,
and sea weed.
To the Greenlanders, as well as to the natives of
more southern climates, the whale is an animal of
essential importance ; and these people spend much
time in fishing for it. When they set out on their
whale-catching expeditions, they dress themselves
in their best apparel, fancying, that if they are not
cleanly and neatly clad, the whale, who detests a
slovenly and dirty garb, would immediately avoid
them. In this manner about fifty persons, men and
women, set out together in one of their large boats.
The women carry along with them their needles
and other implements to mend their husband's
clothes, in case they should be torn, and to mend
the boat, if it happen to receive any damage.
When the men discover a whale, they strike it with
their harpoons, to which are fastened lines or
FIN FISH.
393
straps, two or three fathoms long, made of seal
skin, having at the end a bag of a whole seal’s
skin, blown up. The huge animal, by means of
the inflated bag, is, in some degree, compelled to
keep near the surface of the water. When he is
fatigued and rise$, the men attack him with their
spears till he is killed. They now put on their
spring jackets (made all in one piece of a dressed
seal's skin), with their boots, gloves, and caps,
which are laced so tightly to each other, that no
water can penetrate them. In this garb they
plunge into the sea, and begin to slice off the fat all
round the animal's body, even from those parts
that are underwater : for their jackets being full
of air, the men do not sink, and they have means
of keeping themselves upright in the sea. They
have sometimes been known so daring as, while
the whale was still alive, to mount on his back and
kill him from thence.
Fin fish.
This species is distinguished from the common
whale by the fin upon the back, placed low, and
near the tail. It is sometimes found in the British,
but is more frequent in those tracts of the northern
ocean, where the w'hale fishery is carried on. It is,
however, a booty which the fishermen seldom
choose to pursue : the whale-bone adhering to
its upper jaw is short and knotty, and therefore
of very little value : the blubber also yielded by
this species is very inconsiderable in quantity ; and
these circumstances, added to its extreme fierceness
and agility, render the capture both difficult and
dangerous ; our seamen generally neglect it.
But meagre as this animal may seem to those
whose object is the procuring of oil, it is held in
great esteem by the miserable Greenlanders ; fqr
396
PIKE-HEADED WHALE.
its flesh affords them a food, which to men so poor-
ly supplied, is very agreeable.
This fish is generally of the same length with
the common whale, but of a much more slender
conformation. The lips are brown like a twisted
rope : the spout-hole is as it were split in the top
of its head, through which it blows water with
much more violence, and to a greater height, than
the common kind. The fishers are not fond of
seeing it ; for on its appearance the others retire
from those seas. It is impossible to determine
whether this species be the same with the physalos
and physeter of the ancient writers, so vague are
the terms in which they speak of that fish.. If
that particular name was assigned it from its facul-
ty of spouting water, or blowing, the habit is not
peculiar to any one species, but common to all the
whale kind. It would appear from the name
given it by Linnaeus, that he believed this to be the
animal spoken of by these w riters.
Pike-headed whale.
This species measures fifty feet, or more in
length, and is found both in the northern and
southern ocean. It is of a moderately slender form,
somewhat thick on the fore parts ; and its colour
is black above, and white beneath ; the upper
part of the belly is marked by numerous longitudi-
nal plaits, or wrinkles, the insides of which are of
a red colour. The head is moderately large, and
of a gradually tapering form, yet ending in a
somewhat broad, or obtuse tip. It has a double
spiracle, or blow-pipe on the head, the holes of
which are approximated, and which it can close
in such a manner, by a common operculum, as to
appear single : before the nostrils on the head are
three rows of circular covexities ; the lower jaw
PIKE-HEADED WHALE.
397
is rather narrower than the upper ; the eves are
situated beyond the spiracle, on each side the head ;
in the upper jaw are very numerous laminae of
whale-bone, not above a foot in length ; and in
the lower jaw is a cavity to receive them; the
tongue is large, fat, wrinkled, and liver-coloured,
and from this towards the throat hangs a loose
skin, like an operculum. The pectoral fins are
large, entire on the posterior edge, but round-ere-
nated on the anterior. The dorsal fin is of a fatty
cartilaginous substance, and is situated on the hind
part of the back, above the vent, and is nearly per-
pendicular. Behind the dorsal fin runs a carina,
or sharp edge, as far as the tail, which is slightly
divided into two somewhat pointed lobes. This
species lives principally on a small species of sal-
mon, called salmo arcticus, as well as on the argo-
nauta arctica and the ammodytcs tobianus, or launce.
When in the act of opening its mouth, it dilates
the abdominal plaits or furrows, which lie in pairs,
and on account of the colour of their internal sur-
face, present, at this juncture, a highly beautiful
spectacle ; the fore part of the belly appearing as
if elegantly striped with red. This species blows
less violently than others ; and is often observed
stationary, as it were, or as if sleeping on the sur-
face, sometimes lying on one side, and sometimes
striking out of the water, and flapping itself with
its fins, as if to clear them from barnacles, &c. which
occasionally adhere to them. It is a very timid
animal, and always swims away from the physeter
microps, or high-finned cachalot, which is its
general enemy. Its flesh and oil are used like
those of other whales ; and from the skinny flap at
the root of the tongue, as well as from the intestines*
are prepared windows by the Greenlanders*
398
BUNCHED WHALE, &C.
Bunched whale.
This species is a native of the northern seas,
and is said to be of the same general form with
the great whale, but of smaller size, and to have
the back furnished with one or more tubercles :
the variety with a single tubercle is found about
the coasts of New England ; the other, which has
six tubercles along the back, is supposed to occur
about the coasts of Greenland ; but neither seem
very accurately known : their whale-bone is said to
be of a pale or whitish colour.
Under-jawed whale.
This is a native of the northern seas, and seems
much allied to the pike-headed whale, but grows
to a much larger size, having been found, it is
said, of the length of seventy* eight feet, measuring
thirty-live feet in girth ; the head is large ; the
mouth very w ide ; the lower lip much broader
than the upper, and semicircularly turned at its ex-
tremity, while the upper is somewhat sharp or point-
ed at the tip. The laminas of whale-bone are black,
and short in proportion to the size of the animal,
the longest not measuring more than three feet ;
the spiracle is double, and placed on the front ;
the belly is marked by plaits or furrows, as in the
balsena hoops, and oil the lower parts of the back is
a fatty fin. The colour of this species is black
above, and white beneath. In the year 1692 a
specimen was taken on the coast of Scotland. Its
dimensions were as above described ; the tongue
measured fifteen feet and a half in length, and the
two spout-holes on the forehead were of a pyra-
midal form ; the pectoral fins ten feet long, and
the tail eighteen feet broad.
ROSTRATED WHALE.
399
Rostrated whale.
This is by far tlie most elegant in its appear-
ance of all the whalebone whales. It is rarely
known to attain the length of twenty- five feet.
The head* upper part of the back,, fins*. and tail*
are of a dark or bluish brown ; but the sides and
abdomen are of a beautiful white* with a very
slight tinge of pale rose or flesh colour* and are
marked* for more than half the length of the ani-
mal* by very numerous longitudinal plaits* or fur-
rows ; the ears are small* as is also the head* and
the snout is much more elongated than in any other
species* gradually tapering to the extremity, which
is slightly pointed ; the back fin is small and
situated at no great distance from the tail : the
pectoral fins are small and narrow ; and the tail is
divided into two longish and pointed lobes . The
whole animal has an elegant fish-like form* and
has none of that uncouth appearance which pre^
vails in the larger species.
CACHALOT TRIBE.
The fishes of this genus are not of such enor-
mous size as those last described : they are* when
full grown* from fifty to sixty feet long* and six-
teen feet in thickness. Their heads are still more
disproportioned to the size of the body* than that
of the common whale : in the latter animal it is
equal to a third of the body ; in the former it
constitutes an half. The cachalots are distinguish*
400
CACHALOT TRIBE.
ed from all the other cetaceous tribes, by having
sharp arcuated teeth in the lower jaw : their bo-
dies being- more slender, they are more active than
the Greenland whale ; are capable of remaining
longer at the bottom ; and yield a smaller quan-
tity of oil. The tongue is commonly small, but
the mouth 'and throat are so capacious, that the
animal could easily swallow an ox. The teeth are
about seven inches long, exceedingly thick and
hard ; they enter, when the mouth is shut, into a
number of cavities in the upper jaw, prepared for
their reception.
This formidable conformation of the mouth and
throat seems to indicate an extraordinary degree of
voracity in these animals. The history of the
cachalot corresponds to these appearances : for
while the stomach of the whale is seen to con-
tain hardly any thing but froth, that of the cacha-
lot is crammed with a variety of different kinds of
fishes ; some half digested,, others whole ; some
small, others eight or nine feet long. The cacha-
lot, therefore, is probably one of the most rapa-
cious fishes of the deep : and is as destructive
among the lesser tribes, as the whale is harmless.
But it is not to the smaller fishes alone, that this
animal is formidable ; among these the contest is
soon ended, for it can devour thousands at one
swallow ; it pursues and terrifies those of its own
order, the dolphin, and the porpesse to such a de-
gree, that they are frequently driven ashore in en-
deavouring to escape.
Of the cachalot there are no less than seven va-
rieties : that of a black colour, with two fins ;
the cachalot with a white back, and the same
number of fins ; the species with its spout-
nole in the neck ; that with the spout near the
mouth ; that with three fins, and sharp pointed
teeth ; that with three fins, and sharp edged teeth ;
CACHALOT TRIBE,
401
End, lastly, the cachalot with three fins, and flat
teeth. All these were indiscriminately termed sper-
maceti whales, till Mr. Pennant borrowed that
name from the French, by which they are now
distinguished.
From the smallness of its size, as well as its
fierceness and agility, the capture of the cachalot
would seldom be attempted by the fishers, were it
not for the sake of those valuable medicines, sper-
maceti and ambergris, which these animals have
been found to contain. The various purposes to
which these substances are applied, both as drugs
and articles of luxury, have rendered the cachalot,
which supplies them, a fish in great request, and
its capture the most advantageous object in the
Greenland trade.
Spermaceti is the name erroneously given to
that substance which is found in the head of the ca-
chalot, and which is by no means the semen, but the
brain of the animal. Goldsmith gives the follow-
ing account of the method by which it is extracted.
The outward skin of the head being taken off, a
covering of fat appears, about three inches thick ;
and under that, instead of a bony skull, the animal
has only another thick skin, that serves for a cover-
ing and defence of the braip. The first cavity, or
chamber of the brain, is filled with that spermaceti
which is supposed of the greatest purity, and is of
the highest value. From this cavity there is gene-
rally drawn about seven barrels of the clearest
spermaceti, that, thrown upon the water, coagu-
lates like cheese. Below this there is another
chamber, just over the gullet, which is about
seven feet high, ; and this also contains the drug,
but of less value. It is distributed in this ca-
vity, like honey in a hive, in small cells, separated
from each other by a membrane like the inner skin
©f an egg. In proportion as the oily substance iff
TOL II. 3 F
4(32
CACHALOT TRIBE.
drawn away from this part, it fills anew from every
part of the body ; and from this is generally ob-
tained about nine barrels of oil. Besides this., the
spinal marrow* which is about as thick as a man's
thigh, and reaches all along the back-bone to the
tail, where it is no thicker than one's finger, affords
no inconsiderable quantity.
Formerly the spermaceti was obtained, but in
small quantities, and was sold at a very high
price, from the supposition of its great efficacy as
a medicine. Though it still enters into the com-
positions of the apothecary, yet it is rather to give
a consistency to his medicines than to add to their
virtue ; and since the art of converting the whole
oil of the cachalot into spermaceti by boiling has
been discovered, the article has decreased rapidly
in its value. It has now fallen below the price of
wax, and is used instead of it for candles.
Ambergris is the other medicine, for which
mankind, are indebted to the cachalot ; and this
substance, rather than the former, should have ob-
tained the name of spermaceti, because it is found
io the place where the seminal vessels of other
animals are commonly situated. For a long time
the world was taught to believe, that ambergris
was a substance to be found only in small quantities
upon the surface of the water. The trade in
these articles was originally in the hands of men
of obscure and suspicious characters ; and this
was one of the arts by which they endeavoured to
add to the mysterious nature, and value of the
commodity. Time, which reveals the secrets of
the mercenary, has at last discovered that this me-
dicine is the produce of the cetaceous fishes.^
Among the intestines of the cachalot is found a
bag three or four feet long, filled with liquor of
a yellowish colour, and thinner than oil ; and in
Hlris fluid, the ambergris is seen floating in round
1MI T -MEAmTO -(fl A (fllHT ATT/ifrft ^
BLUNT-HEADED CACHALOT. 403
lumps* from one to twenty pounds weight* and
never above four in the same fish. These balls of
ambergris* the purposes of which* in medicine and
perfumes* are so well known* are not indiscrimi-
nately found in every fish : it is only the oldest and
strongest that yield it in any considerable quantity,
Blunt-headed cachalot.
This species sometimes visits the coasts of Bri-
tain : a dead one was cast ashore near Edinburgh
in the year 1769* which measured fifty-four feet*
from the mouth to the tail ; and its greatest cir-
cumference was thirty feet.
The head of this animal is of an enormous size*
far exceeding the proportions of the whale. The
upper jaw projects five feet beyond the lower ; and
its length is about fifteen feet* the other being only
ten. Near the snout* which is quite blunt* and
near nine feet high* is placed that orifice peculiar
to the cetaceous order* by which they spout the
water. The lower jaw is armed with forty-six
teeth* all pointing outward to meet the sockets*
where they enter into the upper. The teeth are
about seven inches in circumference at the bottom*
sharpening as you approach the top ; they are all
bent* and like the teeth of the other cetaceous fishes*
they are white* and polished like ivory. Far back*
and towards the hind part of its monstrous head*
are placed the eyes* which are very small in pro-
portion to the size of the animal whose motions
they are intended to direct. The back fin of this
species is wanting* and in its place there is found
a large protuberance : the two pectoral fins are
placed hard sby the corners of the mouth* and are
about three feet long. The penis is seven feet and
a half ; the tail bifurcated* and fourteen feet from
tip to tip. Such are the monstrous dimensions of
404 SMALL, AND SMALL-EYED CACHALOT.
this unshapely animal. In its great outlines we
still recognize the general characters of the order ;
and though inferior in size to the whale, it is far
more tremendous in its aspect, and fiercer in its
manners.
Small cachalot.
This fish is described by Sibbald, who mentions
a shoal consisting of an hundred and two that was
cast on shore at the same time upon the Orkney
isles. According to that writer, it wanted the
spout-holes, that are reckoned characteristic of
this order of fishes ; it is probable, however, that
what he has described as nostrils, was this opening,
which nature, as we have already seen, has destined
for a different purpose.
This species is far inferior in size, to that above
described ; the largest of that great number just
mentioned did not exceed twenty-four feet in
length. Its head is round, and the shape of the
teeth the reverse of those of the blunt-headed kind.
They are smaller at the back than* at the top,
where they are quite flat, marked with concentric
lines. Their bottomis pierced with a small orifice,
bearing no resemblance to the large cavity, de-
scribed In the former species. The back fin is
wanting ; instead of it is a rough knotty kind of
space.
Small-eyed cachalot.
fv "
This is of equal, and sometimes even superior
size to the first described species, and is a native of
the northern seas. The head is very large, and
nearly half the length of the body ; the eyes extreme-
ly small, and the snout slightly obtuse ; on the
back is a long, and somewhat upright, narrow*
HIGH-FINNED CACHALOT* &C. 405
and pointed fin. This species swims swiftly* and
is said to be a great enemy to the porpesse* which
it pursues and preys upon. Its colour is black
above* and white beneath. Some of the supposed
varieties of this whale* are said to* be grown to the
length of eighty or an hundred feet. The teeth
are of a more curved form than the rest of the
genus.
A variety is mentioned by Brisson* in which the
teeth are straight* or nearly so.
High-finned cachalot.
This is particularly distinguished by the great
length and narrow form of its dorsal fin* which is
placed almost upright on the back* it is said by
some authors to appear at a distance like the mast
of a ship ; the animal growing* if we may believe
report* to the length of an hundred feet. In its
general appearance* it is said much to resemble
the former species* of which it may* perhaps* be
a variety* rather than truely distinct* but so much
obscurity still prevails with respect to the cetaceous
animals, that this point must be considered as very
doubtful.
DOLPHIN TRIBE.
These animals inhabit various seas* being occa-
sionally found both in hot and cold climates. They
are much smaller than the whales* the largest spe«
cies* which is the grampus* seldom exceeding
twenty or five and twenty feet in length* The co*
406 roRPEftSE.'
lour of three of the species is black on the upper,
and white on the under parts ; that of the remaining
one is entirely white. They are often seen in shoals
of ftom five or six,, to twenty and upwards,, gam -
holing about the ocean. Their food consists .al-
most wholly of fish., and principally of mackerel
and herrings.
They have teeth io both their jaws ; and their
spiracle or breathing hole is on the anterior and
tipper part of the head. Their tails,, as in the other
animals of this order., are horizontal/ contrary to
the position of the tails of fish, which are always
upright.
Porpesse.
The porpesse is well known in all the European
seas. In its general form it very much resembles
the dolphin ; it is., however, somewhat less in size,,
and has a snout both much broader and shorter.
It is generally from six to seven feet in length ;
thick in the fore parts, and gradually tapering
towards the tail. The colour is either a bluish
black, or a very dark brown above, and nearly
white beneath.
These animals live chiefly on the smaller fish,
such as mackerel and herrings, which they pursue
with much eagerness. They also root about the
shores with their snout, in quest of food, in the
manner of the hog ; and Mr. Ray says that in the
stomach of one that he dissected he found several
sand-eels. They are often seen to gambcl on the
surface of the ocean, which is always looked upon
as a sure sign of foul weather. They occasionally
congregate in vast numbers.
In the river St. Lawrence, in Canada, these ani-
mals are very numerous; and, as they generally
frequent the shoal water there, in search of prey*
BjEIiTET&A THU-11^
T©TRTESSEi
' PORPESSE. 407
the natives adopt the following method of catching
them. When the fishing season arrives, the peo-
ple collect together a great number of sallow twigs,
or slender branches of other trees, and stick them
pretty firmly into the sand-banks of the river,
which at low water are left dry : this is done on
the side towards the river, forming a long line of
twigs at moderate distances, which at the upper
end is connected with the shore, an opening being
left at the lower end that they may enter. As the
tide rises, it covers the twigs, so as to keep them
out of sight : the porpesse, in quest of his prey,
gets within the line, where he continues his chase
till he finds, by the ebbing of the tide, that it is
time to retire into deeper water. He now makes
towards the river, but the twigs being then in part
above water, and ail agitated by the current, he
no sooner sees them shaking about than he takes
fright, and retreats backwards as far as he cam
from this tremendous rampart. The tide stilt
continuing to ebb, he returns time after time ; but,
never being able to overcome his dread of these
terrific twigs, he rolls about pntil he is deserted
entirely by the water ; when those who placed the
snare rush out in numbers, properly armed, and
in this defenceless state overpower him with ease*
In this manner more than a hundred of these huge
creatures (one of which will yi^ld about a hogs-
head of oil) have been killed at one tide.
The porpesse was once considered as a sump-
tuous article of food, and is said to have been
occasionally introduced at the tables of the old
English nobility. It was eaten with a sauce com-
posed of sugar, vinegar, and crumbs of fine bread.
It is, howeyer, now generally neglected, even by the
sailors.
In America the skin of this animal is tanned and
dressed with considerable care, At first it is ex-
m
DOLPHIN,
tremely tender,, and near an inch thick, but it is
shaved down till it becomes somewhat transparent.
It is made into waistcoats and breeches by the in-
habitants ; and is said also to make an excellent
covering for carriages,
DOLPHIN.
The body of the dolphin is oblong and roundish,
and the snout narrow and sharp-pointed, with a
broad transverse band, or projection of the skin on
its upper part. It is longer and more slender than
the porpesse, measuring nine or ten feet in length,
and about two in diameter. The body is black
above and white below. The mouth is very wide,
reaching almost to the thorax, and contains forty
teeth ; twenty-one in the upper, and nineteen in the
under jaw : when the mouth is shut, the teeth lock
into each other.
This animal inhabits the European and Pacific
Oceans, where it swims with great velocity, and
preys on fish ; and it is sometimes seen adhering to
whales when they leap out of the water. A shoal
of dolphins will frequently attend the course of a
ship for the scraps that are throw n overboard, or the
barnacles adhering to their sides. Sir Hans Sloane
was informed by some who had sailed in the Guinea
ships, that the same shoal of dolphins has attended
them for many hundred leagues, between the coast
of Guinea and Barbadoes. And sir Richard Haw-
kins had them follow his ships above a thousand
leagues ; he knew them to be the same by the
marks in their bodies made by being struck with
irons from the vessels. — Their motion, when they
swim behind or alongside of a ship, is not very quick,
affording frequent opportunities of being struck with
harpoorfs. Some of them are caught by means of a
line and hook baited with pieces of fish or garbage-
DOLPHIN.
409
They are fond of swimming’ round casks or logs of
wood that they find driving in the sea. — In the
ailing of the French fleet to Egypt, in the year 1798,
several dolphins were occasionally observed under
the bows of the vessels. Their motions, says M.
Denon, somewhat resembled the undulating mo-
tion of a ship. They sprang forward in this man-
ner sometimes to tlie distance of twenty feet and
upwards.
The dolphin was in great repute among the an-
iients, and both philosophers and historians seem
to have contended who should relate the greatest
absurdities concerning it. It was consecrated to
the gods, was celebrated for its love to the human
race, and was honoured with the title of the Sacred
Fish,
Kind gen’rous dolphins love the rocky shore,
Where broken waves with fruitless anger roar.
But though to sounding shores they curious come,
Yet dolphins count the boundless sea there home.
Nay, should these favourites forsake the main,
Neptune would grieve his melancholy reign.
The calmest stillest, seas, when left by them,
Would rueful frown, and all unjoyous seem.
But when the darlings frisk in wanton play,
The waters smile, and ev’ry wave looks gay.
In all cases of shipwreck the dolphin was be*
lieved to be in waiting to rescue and carry on
shore the unfortunate mariners.— Ar ion, the mu-
sician, when thrown overboard by the pirates, is
said to have been indebted for his life to this
animal.
But, past belief, a dolphin’s arched back,
Preserved Arion from his destined wrack ;
Secure he sits, and with harmonious strains,
Requites the bearer for his friendly pains.
VOL. II. 3 G
410
GRAMPUS.
How these absurd tales originated, it is impos-
sible even to conjecture, for the dolphins certainly
exhibit no marks of peculiar attachment to man-
kind. If they attend on the vessels navigating the
ocean, it is in expectation of plunder, and not of
rendering assistance in cases of distress. By the
seamen of the present day they are held rather in
abhorrence than esteem, for their frolics on the
surface of the water are almost the sure signs of an ap-
proaching gale.
The painters both of anticnt and modern times
have invariably depicted the dolphin with its back
greatly ineurvated. This crooked form, however*
is never assumed by the animals, except in the act
of leaping out of the water. Dolphins are said to
change their colour before (hey die, and again after
they are dead.
Their Mesh was formerly in great esteem ; it
is, however, very dry and insipid : the best parts
are those near the head. It is seldom eaten now,
but when the animals that ane taken happen to
young and tender.
Grampus.-
The grampus is from twenty to twenty-five feet-
in length, of. a very ferocious disposition, and
feeds on the larger fishes, and even on tfie dolphin
and porpesse. It is said, also, to attack other
whales, and to devour seals, which it occasionally
finds sleeping on the rocks ; dislodging them by
means of its back fin, and precipitating' them into
the water. In its general form and colour it re-
sembles the rest of its bribe ; but the lower jaw is
much wider than the uppeiyand the body in pro-
portion somewhat broader and moi'e deep. The
kick fin Wn dimes measures six feet in length-
<&MAZMErU$
GftAMPUS. 411
It is found in the Mediterranean sea,, as well as in
both the northern and southern oceans.
This animal is a decided enemy to the whales ;
great flocks of them attack the largest of these,
fastening round them like so many bull dogs,
making them roar out with pain, and frequently
killing and devouring them.
From their vast agility they are not often caught.
They seldom remain a moment above water ; but
their eager pursuits sometimes throw them off* their
guard, and allure them into the shallow waters.
In this case the hungty animal continues to flounder
about, till either knocked on the head by those
who happen to observe it, or till the tide comes
seasonably to its "relief. In one of the poems of
Waller, a story (founded in fact) is recorded, of
the parental affection of these animals. A grampus
and her cub had got into an atm of the sea, where,
by the desertion of the tide, they were inclosed on
every side. The men on shore saw their situation,
and ran down upon them with such weapons as
they could at the moment collect. The poor ani-
mals were soon wounded in several places, so that
all the immediately surrounding water was stained
with their blood. They made many efforts to escape,
and the old one, by superior strength, forced itself
over the shallow into a deep of the ocean. But,
though in safety herself, she would not leave her
young one’ in the hands of assassins. She3 there-
fore, again rushed in ; and seemed resolved, since
she could not prevent, at least to share the fate of
her offspring. The story concludes with poetical
justice ; for the tide coming in, conveyed them
both off in triumph*
fclDENT DOLPHIN, &€-,
m
Bident dolphin.
*V
This is introduced by Mr. Hunter into the
Philosophical Transactions, and is the bottle-nosed
whale of Dale. It has the general appearance of
the dolphin, but has a much shorter snout, the front
bulging out very much above, and has only two
teeth, which are situated in front of the upper jaw.
The specimen mentioned by Mr. Hunter measured
twenty-one feet in length. The pectoral and back
fins are small, and the latter placed pretty low oo
the back.
Narrow-snouted dolphin.
Known only from the head, or bones of the jaws.
Supposed to inhabit the Indian seas. The jaws are
extremely narrow in proportion to their length,
which is about two feet ; the teeth are small, not
numerous, distant, and shaped somewhat like the
molaresof quadrupeds.
Beluga.
This is a species which appears to have been
not very distinctly known till within a few years
past. It is a native of the northern seas, and, like
the porpesse, sometimes enters into rivers. It has
been well described both by Fabricius and Pallas.
It is of a more elegant appearance than the rest of
this tribe, and when full grown is entirely milk-
white, in some specimens tinged very slightly with
rose-colour, and in others with blueish. It mea-
sures from twelve to eighteen feet in length, and
sometimes even more, and preys upon all kinds of
middle-sized fish ; as herrings, cod, flatfish, &c.
&e. It is a gregarious species, and is often ob*
BELUGA.
41$
served swimming in large shoals, the young ac-
companying their parents, and the whole forming
a beautiful spectacle, from the unusual colour.
They are also observed to follow boats for a con-
siderable time together. The head of this species
is rather small than large ; and is joined to the
body by a kind of almost imperceptible neck, or
contracted part ; the spiracle is situated on the top
of the head, and is internally double ; the eyes are
very small, blueish, and the opening of the moqth
by no means wide : the teeth are rather blunt, small,
not very numerous, being about ten on each side,
in both jaws ; the auditory passages are situated
a little beyond the eyes ; the body is fish-shaped,
thick in the middle, and tapering towards the tail,
which is slightly lobed, or divided ; the back has
a kind of longitudinal ridge on the lower part,
as in the great whale. The pectoral fins are thick
and fatty, and are marked at the edge into five
slight divisions ; they contain the bones of the
five fingers, which may be easily felt within the
fin ; there is no back fin. The shin on every part
is smooth and slippery, and the animal is generally
very fat.
When this animal swims, says Dr. Pallas, it bends
the tail inwards in the manner of a craw-fish, by
which means it possesses the power of swimming
extremely fast, by the alternate incurvation and
extension of that part. It has so great a general af-
finity with the seals, that the Samoids consider it as
a kind of aquatic quadruped. It produces only one
young at a birth, which is at first of a blue tinge,
and sometimes grey, or even blackish ; acquiring
as it advances in age the pure milk-white colour.
END OF THE SECOND VOLUME.
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ADDENDA.
'Anecdotes and descriptions * chiefly illustra «
live of the manners of the most remarkable ani*
mals, collected from various ^respectable autho-
rities.
Monkeys.
DU. Buchanan* in his travels through India, in-
forms us of some curious particulars concerning
the veneration in which monkeys are held by the
inhabitants of that country.
The monkeys in India are extremely destructive*
not only plundering the gardens* but in some in-
stances attacking the houses of the inhabitants.
At Mail-cotay the roofs are covered with thorns*
to prevent these troublesome animals from tearing
up the tiles., and casting them at the heads of the
people who are traversing the streets. Yet such is
the blindness of these idolaters* that the very person
who applauds his Guru for having ground the Jainas*
an hetorodox people* with their priests* in an oil
mill* because they would not listen to his instruction,
will shudder with horror when he contemplates the
murder of a monkey.
The monkeys are not only defended by popular
superstition* but they are under the immediate pro-
tection of the Daseris* a kind of religious mendi-
cants, w ho assemble round any person guilty of their
death* and allow him no rest* until he bestows on
the animal a funeral* that w ill cost him from one bun-
416
RHINOCEROS,
dred to two hundred fanams, according to the num-
ber of Daseris that have assembled on the oc-
casion.
The proprietors of the gardens used formerly
to hire a particular class of men, who took these
animals in nets, and then by stealth conveyed them
into the gardens of some distant village ; but as
thp people there had recourse to the same expe-^
die fit, ad parties have become tired of this practice.
After all, the intelligent traveller delivers it as his
opinion, that if government ordered the extirpation
of the monkeys, the inhabitants would secretly rejoice,
though for decency's sake they might raise an ex-
traordinary clamour.
Some species of monkeys are said to paint their
faces of a red colour, by rubbing them against the
fruit of a certain tree, which, from that circumstance,
has taken the name of the monkey's face tree.
The inhabitants of Java pretend to a fellow feeling
for one species of monkey which they call wow-wow,
they having a tradition, that their ancestors originally
sprung from that species of ape.
Rhinoceros
Vaillant, in his second travels in Africa, gives m
the following curious and animated description of the
hunt of two of these animals.
In the midst of this immense menagery, the va-
riety of which kept me in a continual state of en-
chantment, I was surprised not to find that pro-
digious number of rhinoceroses which had been
mentioned to me by the people of Haripashorde.
One day, however, Klaas, who was always con-
cerned in every matter of importance, and the first
to communicate agreeable intelligence, came in great
haste to my tent to inform me, that lie had observed,
at some distance from my camp, two of these am*
RHINOCEROS, 4 It
I
mate, standing quietly, close to each other, in the
middle of the plain ; and that I had it in my power
to enjoy the pleasure of the finest hunt I had ever
yet experienced.
The hunt indeed promised to be amusing ; hut,
independently of danger, I foresaw that it was likely
to be attended with difficulties. To attack two such
formidable enemies, it was necessary to use great
precautions, and that we should approach them in
such a manner, as that they might neither see nor
smell us, which is always very difficult. I at first
proposed to form a ring, which should surround
them on all sides; and to advance upon them,
gradually contracting a circle so as to unite the mo-
ment we were about to commence our attack ; but
the savages assured me that, with these animals, this
plan was impracticable. I gave myself up, there-
fore, entirely to their directions ; and we set out
armed alike, with a good fusee, and with the neces*
sary courage. All my hunters wished to be of the
party, and each proposed to display the greatest
prowess. I caused two of my strongest dogs to be
led in a leash, in order that they might be let loose
on the rhinoceroses in case it would be found neces-
sary. We were obliged to make a long circuit to
gam the lee side of them, lest they should smell us,
aiong a river, the course of which we followed un-
der cover of the large trees that grew on its banks,
when Klaas soon made us observe the two animals,
at about the distance of a quarter of a league in the
plain.
As one of them was much larger than the other,
I supposed them to be a male and a female. Motion-
less by the side of each other, they were still in the
same posture in which Klaas had first seen them,
but they stood with their noses to the wind, and
consequently presented to us their rumps. It is the
custom of these animals, when thus at rest, to place
Vol 2 3 h
418
RHINOCEROS.
themselves in the direction of the wind., in order that
they may discover by their smell what enemies they
have to dread. Prom time to time, however, they
move their heads round to take a look behind them ;
but it is only a look, and they soon return to their
former position.
We had already deliberated on the disposition to
be made for commencing the attack, and I was
giving some orders to my company, when Jonker,
one of my Hottentots, requested that I would per-
mit him to attack the two animals alone, as a
bekruyper.
My readers will here recollect, that, when I
foolishly attempted to cross the elephant’s river near
its mouth, on the trunk of a tree, Jonker was one
of the swimmers who saved my life ; and that in
return, at the desire of my companions, 1 raised
him to the rank of hunter. At that time he wa*
entirely a novice in this exercise ; but I have al-
ready remarked, that he afterwards became a most
excellent shot, and surpassed all the rest of my
hunters, particularly in the art of creeping.
I have before observed that hunting in Africa has
no resemblance to that in Europe ; that to get within
reach of certain wild animals, we must approach
them without being perceived ; and that it is im-
possible to get near them but by creeping on the
belly. Those who have acquired this art are called
bekruypers ; and it was in this quality that Jonker
asked leave to attack alone the two rhinoceroses,
assuring me that he would acquit himself to my
satisfaction.
As his design would not prevent the execution of
our plan ; and as, in case his particular attack should
not succeed, it would not impede our general one,
I granted this request. He then stripped liimsell
naked, and, taking his fusee, proceeded towards thg
animals, creeping on his belly like a serpent.
RHINOCEROS.
419
In the mean time I pointed out to my hunters
the different posts they were to occupy. They re-
paired to them by circuitous ways, each accompa-
nied by two men. As for me,, I remained on the
spot where I was, with two Hottentots, one of whom
held my horse, and the other my dogs ; but, to
avoid being seen, we posted ourselves behind a
bush.
In my hand I held a glass, which had often ena-
bled me to see the operation of stage machinery,
and the effect of our theatrical decorations. How
changed the scene ! At this moment it brought be-
fore me two hideous monsters, which at times turned
towards me their frightful heads. Their movements,
which indicated fear and observation, soon became
more frequent, and I was apprehensive they had
heard the agitation of my dogs, who, having dis-
covered them, made efforts to escape from the keeper,
and rush upon them.
Jonker still kept slowly advancing, but with his eyes
fixed on the two animals. If he saw them turn their
heads, he stopped and remained motionless. One
would have taken him for a large stone ; and indeed,
in this respect, I myself was deceived.
He continued creeping, with various interrup-
tions, for more than an hour. At length I saw him
proceed towards a large bush of euphorbia, which
was only two hundred paces from the animals.
Being certain, when he reached it, that he could
conceal himself there without being seen, he rose
up ; and, casting his eyes every where around, to
see whether his comrades had arrived at their posts,
he made preparations for firing.
During the time he was creeping along, I had
followed him with my eye ,* and, in proportion as
he advanced, I felt my heart beat with an involun-
tary palpitation. This palpitation, however, in-
creased, when I saw him so near the animals, and
420 RHINOCEROS.
just upon the point of firing at one of them. What
would 1 not have given at that moment to have
been in the place of Jonker, or at least by his side,
that I might have brought down also one of these
savage monsters? I waited with the utmost impa-
tience for the report of the gun, and I could not
conceive what prevented him from firing ; but the
Hottentot who stood near me, and who was able by the
bare sight to distinguish him as perfectly as I could
with my glass, informed me of his design. He told
me, that Jonker did not fire, because lie was wait-
ing till one of the rhinoceroses should turn round,
that lie might, if possible, take aim at its head ; and
that on the first motion they made, I should hear the
report.
Presently the largest of the two having looked
behind, was immediately fired at. Being wounded,
he sent forth a horrid cry ; and, followed by the
female, ran furiously towards the place from which
the noise had proceeded. I found my heart now
agitated by the most violent emotion, and my fear
was carried to its utmost extent. A cold sweat
diffused itself over my whole body ; and my heart
beat with such force, as to prevent me from breath-
ing. I expected to see the two monsters tear up
the bush, tread the unfortunate Jonker under their
feet, and rend him to pieces ; but he had thrown
himself down with his belly on the ground ; and this
stratagem succeeded. They passed close by his
side without perceiving him, and came straight to-
wards me.
My fear now gave place to joy, and I prepared
to receive them ; but my dogs, animated by the re-
port they had hefard, became so restless on their ap-
proach, that, being unable to check them, I ordered
them to be let loose, and encouraged them to the
attack.
When the animals saw this, 4h@y instantly turned
RHINOCEROS.
421
aside, and proceeded towards another of the hun-
ters placed in ambush, from whom they received a
third fire. My dogs, on the other hand; ' harassed
them prodigiously, which still increased their rage.
They kicked at them in the most terrible manner ;
ploughed up the plain with their horns ; and, dig-
ging furrows in it seven or eight inches in depth*
threw around them a shower of pebbles and stones.
During this time, we all kept approaching, in or-
der to surround th^m more closely, and to unite
against them our forces. The multitude of enemies
by which they found themselves enclosed rendered
them completely furious. The male, however, sud-
denly stopped ; and, turning round to attack the
dogs, endeavoured to rip up their bellies with his
horns ; and, while he was engaged in pursuing them,
the female quitted him, and made her escape.
I was highly pleased at her flight, which I con-
sidered as a fortunate circumstance; for it is cer-
tain that, notwithstanding our number, and our arms,
we should have been much embarrassed by two so
formidable adversaries. I must even confess, that,
without the assistance of my dogs, we should not have
been able to combat, but with great hazard and
danger, the one that remained. The bloody traces
which he left wherever he went, announced that he
had received more than one wound ; but, reduced
to despair, he only defended himself with the greater
obstinacy.
After a fruitless attack, which continued for some
time, he began to retreat ; and seemed as if de-
sirous of gaining some bushes, apparently with a
view of finding shelter, and to pretent his being
harassed but in front. I guessed his stratagem ;
and, in order to disappoint him, I rushed towards
the bushes, and made a sign to the two hunters who
were nearest me to advance thither also. He was only
thirty paces from us, when we took possession ; ac«
422
RHINOCEROS,
cordingly .we all, at the same time, presented our
pieces, and, discharging our three shots, he instantly
fell, and was never after able to rise.
I beheld his fall with the utmost satisfaction : as
a hunter, and a naturalist, it afforded me a double
triumph.
Though mortally wounded, the animal still con-
tinued to defend himself when lying on the ground,
as he had done when on his legs. With his feet he
threw around him heaps of stones ; and neither we
nor our dogs durst venture to approach him. I wished
to put an end to his torments, by firing one more ball,
and was making preparations for the purpose, when
my people entreated me to desist. As I could not
ascribe their request to sentiments of pity, I was at
a loss to conceive what could be their motive.
I have already said, that all the savage tribes, and
even the people at the Cape, and in the colonies,
set a high value on the dried blood of the rhinoce-
ros, to which they ascribe great virtues in the cure
of certain disorders, and which they consider in par-
ticular as a sovereign remedy for obstructions. The
reader will recollect, that when Swanepoel, intox-
icated by Pinar, fell under the wheels of my carriage,
and had one of his ribs broken, he asked me for the
blood of the rhinoceros ; but as none of it could be
had, he drank some brandy in its stead. Nature
alone effected a cure ; but he ascribed it to the
liquor, and acknowledged that this remedy, equally
proper, he said, for the sick and the sound, was
preferable to the other. His companions, however,
had retained their prepossession ; and they were de-
termined to have a* store of rhinoceros’ blood. The
animal had lost a great deal by his wounds. It was
with much regret that they saw the earth moistened
with it around him, and they were apprehensive
that a new wound would increase that loss.
Scarcely had the animal breathed his last, when.
ELEPHANT.
433
both old and new Hottentots all approached with
eagerness, in order to collect the blood. With that
view, they cut open its belly,, and took out the blad-
der, which they emptied. One of them then applied
the mouth of it to one of the wounds, while the
rest shook a leg of the animal to make the blood
flow more readily. In a little time, to their great
joy, the bladder was filled ; and I am persuaded,
that with what was lost, they might have filled
twenty. I had approached the body also, but with
a different design ; for my intention was only 4o
measure and examine it. The savages of the horde,
accustomed to see such animals very bften, assured
me that it was one of the largest of its species. I,
however, did not believe them ; and what induced
me to doubt their information was, that its principal
born was only (in French measure) nineteen in-
ches three lines in length ; and I had seen horns
much longer in the possession of some of the Dutch
planters. The height of the animal was seven feet
five inches, and its length from the snout to the root
of the tail eleven feet six inches.
Elephant
The elephant, which is, perhaps, the mildest of
all large animals, appears, when provoked, to be
more prone to resentment than others of the most
ferocious disposition. An instance of his vindic-
tive spirit occurred to some Dutch boors, who tra-
velled to the eastward in search of the place where
the Grosvenor Indiaman was cast away, which
is remarkable in this respect, and the authenticity
of which cannot be called in question. This
animal, after having received into his body several
large musket balls, and twice fallen on the ground,
crept with difficulty into a thick thorny coppice.
Conceiving him to be done for,” says Jacob Van
424
ELEPHANT.
Reenen, <f Tjaart Yander Walt, Lodewyck Prins,
and Ignatius Mulder, rode up to the thicket ; when
rushing furiously out of his hiding place, he
lashed his proboscis round the body of Prins, who
was on horseback, dragged him off to the ground,
and trod him to death ; then driving one of his
tusks into his body, he threw him to the height of
thirty feet into the air. The other two dismounting,
hid themselves in the thicket. The elephant look^
ing round him, and perceiving only the horse of
Yander Walt, began to follow it, but, presently
turning about, walked up to the spot where the
corpse of Prins was lying. At this instant our
whole party renewed the attack, when, after receiv-
ing several bullets, he again escaped into the thicket.
Thinking that we should now see no more of him,
we began to dig a grave for our unfortunate com-
panion, when the elephant again rushed furiously
upon us, drove the, whole party away, and remained
triumphant over the dead body. At the distance
of an hundred paces, Tjaart Yander Walt put a
bullet into bis carcase, after which we all fired,
when, having staggered for some time, he fell to the
ground, and was put to death by the Hottentots.”
These natives pretend to say, that whenever an
elephant is provoked to kill his enemy, he tears the
carcase in pieces, and devours it : at least, such is
their conclusion, as no vestige of the remains is
ever found on the spot. Perhaps it is more con-
sistent to suppose, that he carries it away to some
place of concealment. It is a common observation
that, numerous as these animals are in many parts
of Southern Africa, neither the tusks nor any part
of their skeletons are ever found above ground,
which has led to the conclusion, that the elephants
must bury , their dead. Vander Kemp is inclined
to believe the fact to be true. One of his party
bavin g shot an elephant, they went the following
elephant
425
morning with a view of taking out its tusks, when
they found from fifteen to twenty of these animals
busily employed in removing the dead corpse with
their snouts.
At Hejiiru, says Dr. Buchanan, I went into the
forests about three cdsses/ to a small tank, farther
than which the natives rarely venture, and to which
they do not go, without being much alarmed by
wild elephants. In this forest these animals are
certainly more numerous than either in Chittagony
or Pegu. I have never seen any where so many
traces of them. The natives, when they meet an
elephant in the day time, hide themselves , in the
grass, or behind bushes, and the animal does not
search after them ; but were he to see them even at
a distance, he would run at them, and put them to
death. It is stragglers only from the herds, that in
the day time frequent the outer parts of the forest.
The herds that at night destroy the crops, retire
with the dawn of day into the recesses of the fo-
rest ; and thither the natives do not venture, as
they could not hide themselves from a number.
It is said that at the above-mentioned tank there
was formerly a village ; but that both it and several
others on the skirt of the forest have lately been
withdrawn, owing to an increased number of ele-
phants, and to the smaller means of resistance which
a decreased population allows. The forest is free
from underwood or creepers ; but the whole ground
is covered with long grass, often as high as
a man’s head. This makes walking rather disagree-
able and dangerous, as one is liable always to stum-
ble over rotten trunks, to rouse a tiger, or to tread
on a snake. These latter are said to be found of
great dimensions, and have been seen as tlvick as
the body of a middle-sized man. Their length does
not exceed seven cubits
The Cad Curubaru are a rude tribe of Karnata,
Vol. ii. 3 i
DOG.
m
who arc exceedingly poor and wretched. They
'watch' the fields at night, to keep off elephants and
wild hogs. Their manner of driving away the
elephant is by running against him by a burning
torch made of bamboos. The animal sometimes
turns and waits till the Curubaru comes close up ;
but these poor people, taught by experience, push
boldly on, and dash their torches against the ele-
phant’s head, who never fails to take immediate
flight. Should their courage fail, and should they
attempt to run away, the elephant would imme-
diately pursue and put them to death. The Curubaru
have no means of killing so large an animal, and on
meeting one in the day time, are as much alarmed
as any other of the inhabitants. These poor people
frequently suffer from tigers, against which their
wretched huts are a poor defence : and when this
wild beast is urged by hunger, he is regardless of their
burning torches.
The cutari rice is that most commonly cultivated
in this part of India, as it is less liable than the
others to be injured by the herds of wild elephants ;
for these animals though they eat rice, do not
kill that kind when they tread on it.
Vaillant informs us, that there exists in some
part of Africa, either a variety or species of the
elephant, of which the male has no tusks. They
are called by the Hottentots poes-kops, and are
much more dreaded than other elephants. The
same author assures us, that the feet of an elephant,
when roasted on the embers, are esteemed rare and
delicious morsels
Dog
The following anecdotes illustrate the character
of the dog, and appear strongly to inculcate the
belief of a merciful providence occasionally inter-
no&, 427
posing, almost miraculously, for the protection of the
innocent.
Mr. Johnson, a traveller from Manchester, on
his rout through Scotland, on horseback, was be-
nighted ; and passing a small public house on the
road, he thought it better to take up his lodging
there if possible, than to proceed further that night
On entering the house, he found only an old wo-
man, who, to his inquiries, answered, that she would
accomodate him with a bed, and provide for the
horse in a small shed, if he would assist her in
giving him hay, &c., as there was no other person
then in the house. This was agreed to by Mr.
* Johnson, who, after taking a little refreshment, was
shewn by the old woman to his bed-room.
A large Dane dog, which accompanied him on his
journey, offered to go up to the room along with him,
which the old woman strongly objected to ; but Mr.
Johnson firm./ persisted in having him admit-
ted. The dog, on his entrance, began to growl,
and was very unruly. His master attempted to
quiet him in vain — he kept growling and looking
angrily under the bed, which induced Mr. Johnson
to look likewise, when, to his great astonishment, he
saw a man concealed at the further end. Oil en-
couraging the dog, he sprung immediately at the
man, while Mr. Johnson seized his pistols, and
presenting one to the man, who had a large knife in
his hand, and was struggling with the dog, swore
that he would instantly shoot him, if he made further
resistance. The man then submitted to be bound,
and acknowledged his intention was to rob and
murder Mr. Johnson, which was thus providen-
tially prevented by the wonderful sagacity of hig
faithful dog. Mr. Johnson after properly fastening
the man, and securing the door, went (accompanied
by his dog) to the shed where his horse was left,
which he instantly mounted, and escaped without
428
BOG,
injury to the next town, where he gave the minister
of justice a full account of the horrid attempt, who
had the culprit taken up and punished for the villany*
A favourite dog, belonging to an English noble-
man, had fallen into disgrace, from an incorrigible
habit of annoying the flocks of the neighbouring
farmers. One of these having in vain driven the
depredator from his premises, came at length to the
offender’s master, with a dead lamb under his arm.
the victim of the last night’s plunder. The noble?
man, being extremely angry at the dog’s transgres
sion, rang the bell for his servant, and ordered him
to be immediately hanged, or some other way dis-
posed of, so that, on his return from a journey hc-
was about to undertake, he might never see him
again. He then left the apartment, and the fate of
the dog was for a few hours suspended. The inter-
val, though short, was not thrown away. The con-
demned animal was too much an adept in the tones
of his master’s voice, to believe there was any hope
left for a reversion of his sentence. He therefore
adopted the only alternative between life and death,
by making his escape. In the course of the even-
ing, while the same servant was waiting at table, his
lordship demanded if his order had been obeyed
respecting the dog. " After an hour’s search, he is
no where to be found, my lord,” replied the servant.
The rest of the domestics were questioned, and their
answers similar. The general conclusion for some
days was, that the dog, conscious of being in disgrace,
had hid himself in the house of a tenant, or some
other person who knew him. A month, however,
passed without any thing being heard respecting
him ; it was therefore thought be had fallen into the
hands of his late accuser, the farmer, and been
hanged for his transgressions.
About a year after, while his lordship was jour-
neying into Scotland, attended only by one servant.
OOG.
429
a severe storm drove him to shelter in a hovel be-
longing to a public-house, situated at some distance
from the road, upon a heath. The tempest con-
tinuing, threatening rather to increase than abate,
the night coming on, and there being no house
suitable to the accommodation of such a guest, his
lordship was at length induced to dismount, and go
into the little inn adjoining the shed. On his
entrance, an air of surprise and consternation marked
the features and conduct of the inn-holder and his
wife. Confused and incoherent answers were made
to common questions ; and, soon after, a whispering
took place between the two forementioned persons.
At length, however the guest was shewn into a small
parlour, a faggot was thrown on the fire, and such
refreshments as the house afforded were preparing,
there being no appearance whatever of more favour-
able weather allowing them to depart.
As the servant-maid was spreading the cloth,
a visible tremor shook her frame, so that it was not
without difficulty she performed her office. His
lordship noticed a certain strangeness in the whole
group ; but remembering to have heard bis servant
mention the words, “ my lord,” as he alighted from
his horse, he naturally imputed this to their having
unexpectedly a guest in their house above the rank
of those whom they were accustomed to entertain.
The awkwardness of intended respect in such cases,
and from such persons, will often produce these
embarrassments. His lordship having now made up
his mind to remain that night, supper was served ;
when a most unexpected visitor made his appear- s
a nee. “ Good heavens !” exclaimed his lordship,
“ is it possible I should find my poor dog alive, and
in this place ? How wonderful ! how welcome V0
He stretched forth his hand to caress his long lost
favourite ; but the dog, after rooking earnestly at
his antient master, shrunk from Dim, and kept aloof.
fcOG.
430
and took the first opportunity of the door being
opened to leave the room ; but still took his station
on the other side of the door, as if watching some
expected event.
Of the dog’s history from the time of his elope-
ment, little more resulted from inquiry, than that he
had one day followed some drovers who came to
refresh themselves and their cattle ; and that, appear-
ing to be foot-sore with travel, and unable to pro-
ceed with his companions, he staid in the house, and
had remained there ever since. This account was
obtained from the hostler, who added, he was as
harmless a creature as any betwixt Scotland and
Ireland. His lordship, intending to rise early in
the morning, to make up the time thus sacrificed to
the night, which was still stormy, ordered the ser-
vant to shew him to his chamber. As he passed the
common room, which communicated with the par-
lour, he noticed the inn-keeper and his wife in earnest
discourse with three men, muffled up in horsemen’s
coats, who seemed to have just come from buffeting
the tempest, and not to be a little anxious to
counteract its effects ; for both the landlord and his
wife were filling their glasses with spirits. His
lordship, on going to his chamber after the maid
and his own servant, heard a fierce growl, as from
the top of the stairs. Here is the dog again, my
lord,” exclaimed the servant. He is often cross
and churlish to strangers,” observed the maid, yet
he never bites.” As they came nearer the door, his
growl increased to a furious bark ; but upon the
maid speaking to him sharply, he suffered her to
enter the chamber, and the servant stepped back to
hold the light to his lord. * On his old master
advancing towards the chamber, the dog drew hack,
and stood with a determined air of opposition, as
to guard the entrance. His lordship then called the.
dog by his name ; and on repeating some terms of
»og„ 43t
fondness, which in past times he had familiarly been
accustomed to, he licked the hand from whose eh*
dearments he had so long’ been estranged. But he
still held firm to his purpose, and endeavoured to
oppose his master’s passing to the chamber. Yet
the servant was suffered, without further disputing
the point, to go out ; not, however, without another
growl, though one rather of anger than of resist-
ance, and which accompanied her with increased
fierceness all the way down stairs, which she descended
with the same strange kind of hurry and confusion
that had marked her behaviour ever since his lord-
ship’s arrival. His lordship was prevented from
dwelling long on this circumstance, by ah attention to
the dog, who, without being solicited further, went
a few paces from the threshold of the door, at which
fee kept guard : and after caressing his lordship,
and using every gentle art of affectionate persuasion,
(speech alone left out,) went down one of the stairs*
as if to persuade his lordship to accompany him.
His lordship had his foot upon the threshold, when
the dog caught the skirt of his coat between his teeth)
and tugged it with great violence, yet with every
token of love and terror ; for he now appeared to^
partake the general confusion of the family. Tim
poor animal again renewed his fondling, rubbed
his face softly along his master’s side, sought the
patting hand, raised his soliciting feet, and during
the use of these endearing ways, he whined and trem-
bled to a degree, that could not escape the attention
both of the master and the servant.
I should suspect,” said his lordship, were I apt
to credit omens, from a connection betwixt the de-
portment of the people of this inn, and the unac-
countable solicitude of the dog, that there ig some-
thing wrong about this house.” “I have long
been of the same opinion,” observed the servant,
u and wish, your honour, we had been wet to the
Doa.
432
skin in proceeding rather th$n to have stopped
here.”
** It is too late to talk of wishes/* rejoined his
lordship., neither can we set off now, were I dis-
posed, for the hurricane is more furious than ever.
Let us therefore make the best of it. In what part
of the house do you sleep ?” “ Close at the head of
your lordship’s bed/’ answered the domestic, c'c, in a
little closet, slip-side of a room by the stairs — there,
my lord,” added the servant, pointing to a small door
on the right.
“ Then go to bed, we are not wholly without means
of defence, you know ; and whichever of us shall
be first alarmed may apprize the other. At the
same time, all this may be nothing more than the
work of our own fancies.”
The anxiety of the dog, during this conversation,
cannot be expressed. On the servant leaving the
room, the dog ran hastily to the door, as if in hopes
his lordship would follow ; and looking as if to en-
tice him so to do. Upon his lordship’s advancing
a few steps, the vigilant creature leaped up with
every sign of satisfaction ; but when he found these
steps were directed only to close the door, his de-
fection was depicted in a manner no less lively than
had been his joy.
It is scarcely possible not to be impressed by these
unaccountable circumstances, yet his lordship was
almost ashamed of yielding to the apprehensions
they inspired ; and, finding all quiet, both above and
below, except the noise of the wind and rain, and
finding that no caresses could draw the dog from
the part of the room he had chosen, his lordship
made a bed for the poor fellow with one of the mats*
and then sought repose himself. Neither his dog,
however, nor the master, could rest. The former
rose often, and paced about the room : sometimes
he came close to the bed curtains, and sometime®
433
DO Q,
whined piteously, although the hand of reconcilia-
tion was put forth to sooth him. In the course of
an hour after this, his lordship, wearied with con-
jecture, fell asleep ; but he was soon aroused by his »
four-footed friend, whom he heard scratching vio-
lently at the closet door ; an action which was ac-
companied by the gnashing of the dog’s teeth, inter-
mixed with the most furious growiings. His lord-
ship, who had laid himself down in his clothes, and
literally resting on his arms, his brace of pistols being
under his pillow, now sprung from the bed. The
rain had ceased, and the wind abated, from which
circumstances he hoped to hear better what was
passing. But nothing, for an instant, appeased the
rage of the dog, who, finding his paws unable to
force a passage into the closet, put his teeth to a
small aperture at the bottom, and attempted to
gnaw away the obstruction. There could be no
longer a doubt that the cause of the mischief, ot
danger, whatsoever it might be, lay in that Closet.
Yet there appeared some risk in opening it * more
particularly when on trying to force the lock, it was
found to be secured by some fastening on the inside.
A knocking was now heard at the chamber door,
through the key-hole of which a voice exclaimed,
f<r For God’s sake, my lord, let me in !” His lordship,
knowing this to proceed from his servant, advanced
armed, and admitted him. Cf All seems quiet, my
lord, below stairs and above,” said the man, <c for I
have never closed my eyes. For heaven’s sake,
what can .be the matter with the dog, to make such
a dismal barking That I am resolved to know/*
said his lordship, furiously pushing the closet door.
No sooner was it burst open, than the dog with
inconceivable rapidity, rushed in> and was followed
|)oth by the master and the man. The candle had
gone out in the bustle, and the extreme darkness
of the night prevented them from seeing any object
Vol. ii. 3 k
434
DOG,
whatever. But a hustling sort of noise was heard
at the further end of the closet. His lordship then
fired one of his pistols by way of alarm. A piercing
cry,, ending in a loud groan, immediately came
from the dog. “ Great God 1’* exclaimed his lord-
ship, I have surely destroyed my defender/’ He
ran out for a light, and snatched a candle from the
inn-holder, who came, in apparent consternation,
as if to inquire into the alarm of the family. Others
of the house now entered the room ; but without
paying attention to their questions, his lordship ran
towards the closet to look for his dog. “ The door
is open ! the door is open !” As his lordship was re-
entering ike closet, he was met by his servant, who,
with every mark of almost speechless consternation
in his voice and countenance, exclaimed, " O my
lord ! my lord ! I have seen such shocking sights,”
and, without being able to finish his sentence, he
sunk on the floor. Before his master could explore
the cause of this, or succeed in raising up his fallen
domestic, the poor dog came limping from the closet,
while a bloody track marked his path. He gained,
with great difficulty, the place where his lordship
stood aghast, and fell at his master’s feet. Every
demonstration of grief ensued ; but the dog, unmind-
ful of his wounds, kept his eyes still intent upon the
closet door ; and denoted that the whole of the
mystery was not yet developed.
Seizing the other pistol from the servant who had
fallen into a swoon, his lordsdip now re-entered
the closet. The wounded dog crawled after him,
when, on examining every part, he perceived, in
one corner, an opening into the inn-yard, by a
kind of trap-door, to which some broken steps
descended. The dog seated himself on the steps ;
but there was nothing to be seen but a cqmmo^r
sack. Nor was any thing visible upon the floor,
except some drops of blood, part of which were
435
DOG
evidently those which had issued from the wound
of the dog himself, and part must have been of long
standing, as they were dried into the boards. His
lordship went back into the bed-chambcr, but the
dog remained in the closet. On his return, the dog *
met him, breathing hard, as if from violent exer-
cise, and he followed his master into the cham-
ber.
The state of the man-servant, upon whom feat
had operated so as to continue him in a succession
of swoons, now claimed his lordship's attention ;
and, while these vyere administered, the dog again
left the chamber. A short time after this, he was
heard to bark alpud, then crying, accompanied by a
noise, as if something heavy was drawn along the
floor. On going once more into the closet, his
lordship found the dog trying to bring forward the
sack which had been seen lying on the steps near
the trap-door. The animal renewed his exertions
at the sight of his master ; but again exhausted
both by labour and loss of blood, he rested his head
and his feet on the mouth of the sack.
Excited by this new mystery, his lordship now
assisted the poor dog in his labour, and, though
that labour was not light, curiosity and the appre-
hension of discovering something extraordinary on
the part of his lordship, and unabating perseverance
on that of the dog, to accomplish his purpose, gave
them strength to bring at length the sack from the
closet to the chamber. The servant was somewhat
restored to himself, as the sack was dragged into
the room ; but every person, who in the beginning
of the alarm had rushed into the apartment, had now
disappeared.
The opening of the sack surpassed all that human
language can convey of human horror.
As his lordship loosed the cord which fastened
Ihe sack's mouth, the dog fixed his eyes on it, stood
4S6
doo.
over it with wild and trembling eagerness, as if ready
to seize and devour the contents.
The contents appeared, and the extreme of horror
was displayed. A human body, as if murdered in
bed, being covered only with a bloody shirt ; and
that clotted, and still damp, as if recently shed ;
the head severed from the shoulders, and the other
members mangled and separated, so as to make the
trunk and extremities lie in the sack, was now ex-
posed to view.
The dog smelt the blood ; and, after surveying the
corpse, looked piteously at his master, and licked his
hand, as if grateful the mysterious murder was disco*
vered. It was proved, that a traveller had really been
murdered two nights before his lordship's arrival at
that haunt of infamy ; and that the offence was com*
mitted in the very chamber, and probably in the very
bed, wherein his jordship had slept ; and which, but
for the warnings of his faithful friend, must have been
fatal to himself.
The maid-servant was an accomplice in the guilt ;
and the ruffian travellers, who were confederating
with the inn-holder and his wife, were the murderers
of the bloody remains that had been just emptied
from the sack, whose intent it was to have buried
(hem that night in a pit, which their guilty hands
had dug in an adjacent field belonging to the inn
holder, whose intention it likewise was to have mur-
dered the nobleman, which was providentially pre-
vented by the wonderful sagacity of the dog. The
inn-keeper and his wife were taken up, and punished
according to their deserts ; and the nobleman was
so affected at his miraculous escape, that he bound
up the wounds of the faithful dog with the greatest
care, and the balm of love and friendship were infused.
The master's hour of contrition was now come : he was
sorry he had ever neglected so invaluable a friend ; and,
as the only peace-offering, in his power, departed
‘ > ' . . . • • v ' - ' . . , . . . i . • * '
DOG.
437
with this faithful companion from the house of blood*
to that mansion which the latter had formerly left in
disgrace ; where the caresses of a grateful family*
and an uninterrupted state of tranquillity, meliorated
with every indulgence they could bestow, was regu-
larly continued as long as he lived.
The servants of a gentleman, who had a house
near the river’s side, opposite to a little island, in
the river Thames (which is said from this circum-
stance to have been named the Isle of Dogs,) ob-
served that a dog came constantly every day to
them to be fed ; and, as soon as his wants were sa-
tisfied, took to the water and swam away. On re-
lating this to their master, the gentleman desired
them to take a boat and follow the dog, the next
time he came They did so, and the dog at their
landing expressed great pleasure, and made use of
all the means in his power to invite them to follow
him, which they continued to do, till he stopped
and scratched with his foot upon the ground ; and
from that spot he would not move. Either that
day or the next they dug up the earth in the place,
and found the body of a man ; but it was impossible
to discover who it was • and after every requisite
step had been taken to find out the murderer, the
corpse was buried, and the dog discontinued his
visits to the island. The gentleman, pleased with >
a creature which had shewn such uncommon sa-
gacity and attachment to his former master, caressed
him greatly, and made him the frequent companion
of his walks.
When he had been in possession of the faithful
animal for some time, he was going to take a boat at
one of the stairs in London, when the dog, which
had never before been known to do such a thing, seized
one of the watermen. The gentleman immediately
thought that this fellow was the murderer of the
dogs master, and taxed him with it; and he di-
%S% SHIN-NAI, AND MON,
reetly confessed it ; on which he was taKen into cii3»-
tody, and soon after hanged for the crime.
Shin-nai .
It is said,, that in the great forests round Savanna-
dnrga. there is a small animal called the shin-nai,
or red dog, which fastens itself by surprise on the
neck of the tiger, and kills him. On this account
the tiger is not so common in these large forests, as
in smaller woods. The shin-nai is quite distinct
from the wild dog, which is said to be very common
here, to grow to a large size, and to be very destruc-
tive to sheep. By this wild dog the natives proba-
bly mean the wolf. Dr. Buchanan saw native draw-
ings of the shin-nai, which appear to presentan animal
isot yet described
JblON.
Mr. Barrow relates the following story in his
account of that journey in the south of Africa, in
which the city of Lectakoo was discovered.
One of the Hottentots (of Mr. Kicherer’s com-
pany) was still smarting under the recent wounds
received from a lion, which he had the misfortune
to encounter, and from whose voracious fangs his
escape was little less than miraculous. Having
observed the fresh traces of a lion’s paws leading to
the kraal where his master’s sheep were pent np
by night, the Hottentot had placed what the Dutch
call a stell-roer or trap-gun in the passage leading into
the kraal, with a view to destroy the nightly de-
spoiler. The following* morning, on going to the
spot, he found the gun discharged, and, from the
quantity of blood sprinkled on the ground, con-
cluded that the contents must have been lodged in
the body of the animal. Following the traces of
&XEN*
439
the blood on the ground, he incautiously approached
too near to a neighbouring thicket, out of which,
before he had time to present his musket, the
wounded lion burst forth, and, pouncing upon the
poor Hottentot, laid him flat on the ground with a
single pat of his paw. The royal brute bestrode the
Hottentot with great composure ; and, as if conscious
of having obtained his enemy within his clutches,
seemed determined to prolong the sweet delight of
revelling in his revenge. According to the poor
fellow’s statement, he pawed him just as a kitten is
wont to play with a mouse ; and that whenever he
attempted to stir, he was sure to receive what the
lion might consider a gentle tap, but which, however,
generally carried away with it a piece of flesh. Both
his arms had been lacerated in a shocking manner by
this lion’s play, with which he continued to amuse
himself, and torment his vanquished enemy, for a
considerable length of time, without the least appa-
rent intention of speedily making a meal of him.
The master of the Hottentot having by accident dis-
covered the traces of blood, followed him to the scene
of action, and, casting his eyes on the spot, saw
with terror the critical situation of his Hottentot.
He possessed, however, sufficient presence of mind
to level his piece ; and, taking a cool and steady aim>
he shot the lion dead upon the Hottentot, the skin of
which he carried with him, as a trophy of one of the
most fortunate hut critical shots that perhaps was
ever made, as, had he missed his aim, his own fate
was involved in that of the Hottentot.
The following anecdotes of their qualities in the
African desert are delivered on the authority of
Yaiilant.
A heavy fall of rain, which happily took place
44©
oxen.
during the night, revived my hopes ; but, heavy
it was, it appeared to me, at the time, as if it could
be of no service to my cattle ; for what relief were
they likely to derive from water which disappeared
as soon as it fell, and was instantly lost in the sand ?
They nevertheless found means to drink of this rain,
which I thought would be useless to them, by a
method, the possibility of which I could never have
suspected, and which afforded me a new opportu-
nity of admiring the sagacity of animal instinct.
The water, as it fell upon them, formed itself into
drops, which, uniting, ran down their sides in small
streams. On the commencement of the storm they
had assembled in groups ; and, in this position,
thronged one against the other, licked and collected
each from the body of its neighbour the streamlets ot
rain as it trickled down. My cattle, by this unexpec-
ted supply, having quenched their thirst, and being
at the same time refreshed, recovered their strength :
but what increased my astonishment was, that the
two I had left on the road, worn out and expiring,
had been also revived, and doubtless in the same
manner ; for they both joined my camp in the night ;
and Klaas, who always took delight in being the
first' to communicate agreeable intelligence, came to
me at day-break, elated with joy, to inform me of the
circumstance.
The same author, who had abundant opportunities
to obtain information upon the subject, assures us
from experience, that there is no cloven-footed animal
in which (he vital powers are more slowly renovated
than in the ox. Having no cutting teeth in the
upper jaw, it can pluck up the grass only with its
lips, which, being, thick, will not allow it to crop the
short and succulent blades of the young shoots. If
fatigue does not leave it sufficient strengthtoruminate,
when it meets with forage of indifferent quality, its
stomach, for want of this second and necessary mas-
BUFFALO.
441
tichtion, has to exercise its digestive faculty on imper-
fectly comminuted grass, incapable of affording due
nourishment.
The number of wild oxen in South America, says
a late traveller iri that country, is so great, that every
year one hundred thousand are killed solely for the
sake of their hides. About twenty hunters on horse-
back proceed to the spot where these animals are
known to herd, having in their hands a long stick,
shod with iron, very sharp, with which they strike
the ox that they pursue on one of the hind legs, and
they make the blow so adroitly, that thev almost
always cut the sinews in two above the joint : the
animal soon afterwards falls, and cannot rise again.
The hunters, instead of stopping, pursue the other
oxen at full gallbp, with the reins loose, striking in
the same manner, all which they overtake : thus
eighteen or twenty men will easily fell seven or eight
hundred oxen in one hour. When they are tired
of the exercise, they dismount to rest, and afterwards,
without danger, knock on the head the oxen which
they have wotinded. After taking the skin, and some-
times the torigtle arid suet, they leave the rest for the
birds of prey.
Buffalo.
The w oods and thickets being well stocked with buf-
faloes, whose flesh is savoury and good, and hides parti-
cularly valuable to the boors, as being the best as id
toughestfor traces, and other waggon furniture, a party
went out with a full determination to spend the day in.
the chase after these huge animals. They presently
started a whole herd ; and, at the first volley, succeed-
ed in bringing down a large cow. The herd disper-
sing in every direction, three of an enormous size
were observed to rush into a thicket close to the spot
where the waggons and tents were placed. Daniel!
Vol.'ll. ‘ ‘ 3 ii
442 HIPPOPOTAMUS.
the secretary, and Schultz the overseer of the wag-
gons, having marked the exact spot where they had
retreated for shelter ; and, thinking the opportunity
too favourable to allow them to escape, nept close to
the thicket with their dogs and their muskets. Schultz
having the same day shot an ostrich, had ornamented
his hat with its bowing plumes. Elated with the
hope of success, he hastened, without stopping*
towards the opening into which the animals had re-
tired ; when suddenly, and quite unexpectedly to him*
a huge bull buffalo came rushing out of the thicket ;
and, eyeing for a moment the w hite plume waving in
his hat, bolted directly towards him. Schultz, petri-
fied with fear, remained motionless on the spot ; and
the buffalo, taking him up on the points of his horns*
tossed him over his head many feet into the air, from
whence he fell a mong the branches of a thorny mimo-
sa. Daniell, having observed the fate of his compa-
nion, had just time enough to escape a similar fate by
climbing into a tree. The buffalo, being baited by
the dogs, and observing the whole party coming up*
thought fit to retire. Poor Schultz returned to the
waggons, bloody, pale, and almost lifeless, with ter-
ror ; persisting, however, that he was not in the
least hurt, or intimidated, bv what had happened ;
but while he was speaking, he fainted, and it was
several days before he recovered from the effects of his
wound and his fright. This, says Mr. Trutter, was
the last attempt he made to be thought a sportsman,
having now learned by experience, that it was not
the province of every one to turn buffalo hunter.
Hippopotamus
As this animal has been rarely seen by any Euro-
pean traveller, the following anecdotes by Vaillant
may not be deemed uninteresting. The old man
(a Nimiqua chief) had not quitted ^ me a moment ^
HIPPOPOTAMUS
443
and I availed myself of his company to obtain all the
information he could give respecting the country.
He, on his part, did not let £lip the opportunity of
speaking to me of his troubles. He was not far from
the river, where hippopotami abounded ; and he and
his companions would have been very glad to procure
some occasionally for food : but, although they had
digged holes, and set traps for them along the
shore, they had never been able to catch more than
three during the two years he had dwelt there. The
creatures, he said, were too cunning for them *r
though he had no doubt but I, with my fusees, of
the effects of which he had heard, might have as
many as I pleased.
Such an observation was an indirect request For me
to render the horde a service. It gave me an oppor-
tunity of making myself friends ; and, had not the
distress of my situation imposed this on me as a mat-
ter of necessity, I would have done it from humanity,
to serve these poor savages
I resolved therefore to set off the next day in the
afternoon, spend the night near the river, and begin
the chase the following morning at the peep of dawn
I took with me all my hunters. A party of the horde
followed, with some pack^oxen for carrying the fruits
of our sport ; and at day-break all my people were
in motion.
Half of our company passed the river by swimming,
while the other half remained on my side. When
the swimmers had gained the opposite bank, they
separated into two parties, one of which went a cer-
tain way up the river, and the other down. We did
the same on my side. The four parties thus included
a part of the river three quarters of a league in extent.
I remained alone in the centre of those who were to
beat for the game.
At an appointed signal, all were ordered to set out
from their posts, and advance slowly towards me,
HIPPOPOTAMUS,
44j4'
gome shouting aloud, others occasionally firing their
pieces, in order to drive towards me the hippopotami
that might be in that part of the river. They found
eight ; and all the parties being assembled at the
common centre, patience and address only were want-
ing to our purpose.
In a short time we had wounded several. Two
were even killed ; and the people of the horde were
enraptured with joy. But some of them going into
the river to draw the dead ones ashore, one of the
swimmers received a stroke from the. snout of one of
the wounded hippopotami, and one had his thigh rip-
ped up by the tusk of another. These accidents
made me fear something worse ; wherefore I recalled
ai! my people ; and, to the great regret of the
Nirniquas, put an end to a hunt, which had every
prospect of being more productive, but which could
not be continued without great risk.
The remainder of the day, and part of the next
morning, were employed in cutting up the animals we
had k iiedy and loading our oxen with them. The
smell that issued from them, carried to a distance by
the winds, drew to the place numbers of hawks and
vultures, 'which followed us for a long time, sailing
over our heads.
The vultures appeared to me of a new and unknown
species. But I attempted to shoot some of them in
vain ; for they kept themselves always out of gun-
shot, and the report of my fusee did nothing but
drive them off without return.
Our arrival at the horde was welcomed with great
joy, and this joy was unbounded when it was known,
that except a few pieces for my people, I meant to
give up the whole of the two animals to the kraal. The
chief, as a testimony of their gratitude, requested me,
in the name of the whole, to accept a fat ox.
FINIS.
BRIGHTLY AND CO. HUNTERS, BUNGATo
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