Citation
Five hundred fascinating animal stories

Material Information

Title:
Five hundred fascinating animal stories with numerous colored plates, illustrating the nature, habits, manners and customs of animals, birds, fishes, reptiles, insects, etc., etc., ect.
Creator:
Miles, Alfred H ( Alfred Henry ), 1848-1929 ( Editor )
Christian Herald (Firm) ( publisher )
Place of Publication:
New York
Publisher:
Christian Herald
Publication Date:
Language:
English
Physical Description:
xii, 385 p., [20] leaves of plates : ill. (some col.) ; 21 cm.

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Children -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Zoology -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Animal behavior -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Natural history -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Children's stories ( lcsh )
Children's stories -- 1907 ( lcsh )
Bldn -- 1907
Genre:
Children's stories
novel ( marcgt )
Spatial Coverage:
United States -- New York -- New York
Target Audience:
juvenile ( marctarget )

Notes

General Note:
Includes index.
General Note:
"Copyright 1895 by Dodd, Mead and Company as 'Natural history in anecdote'..."
General Note:
Frontispiece and plates printed in colors ; Title page printed in red and black.
Statement of Responsibility:
arranged and edited by Alfred H. Miles.

Record Information

Source Institution:
University of Florida
Holding Location:
University of Florida
Rights Management:
This item is presumed to be in the public domain. The University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries respect the intellectual property rights of others and do not claim any copyright interest in this item. Users of this work have responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions may require permission of the copyright holder. The Smathers Libraries would like to learn more about this item and invite individuals or organizations to contact The Department of Special and Area Studies Collections (special@uflib.ufl.edu) with any additional information they can provide.
Resource Identifier:
026875469 ( ALEPH )
ALH4695 ( NOTIS )
04088447 ( OCLC )
07034598 ( LCCN )

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This item has the following downloads:

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Full Text








2S Eee RUN RN ORT ROM 8 0d

PRIVATE LIBRAP®
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DR. oe WIL = 1S |
Mihi les
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Plate No. 19





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Five Hundred

FASCINATING

Animal Stories
oS er TT

WITH NUMEROUS
~COLORED PLATES

ILLUSTRATING THE NATURE, HABITS, MANNERS
AND CUSTOMS OF ANIMALS, BIRDS, FISHES,
REPTILES, INSECTS, ETC,, ETC,, ETC,

ARRANGED AND EDITED BY

ALFRED H. MILES

ee}

NEW YORK
tHE CHRISTIAN HERALD
_LOUIS KLOPSCH, PROPRIETOR
BIBLE HOUSE.



CorpyrRIGHT, 1895
BY

Dopp, MEAD AND COMPANY
AS
“NATURAL History In ANECDOTE”

ALL RiGgHTs RESERVED

CopyRIGHT 1907
BY
Louis KiopscH
New York



PREFACE,

Illustrations are like windows to the house of knowledge.
They let light in upon the understanding and they facilitate
the outlook upon truth and beauty. To illustrate is to help
one sense by the use of another, to reason by analogy and
to teach the unknown by the known. When definition fails,
illustration often carries conviction, and the most successful
teachers are those who make the best use of sound and
telling illustrations. How many lessons would have been
wholly forgotten by us, but for the illustrations which made
their meanings clear and left their truths for ever in our
minds ?

The book of nature is full of illustrations which help the
understanding of the book of life, and no illustrations are
more valuable and fascinating, whether as revelations of the
order and habits of nature herself, or as parallels and para-
bles, full of suggestive application to the social and moral
life of humanity, than those afforded by the study of Nat-
ural History.

To gather into a convenient volume Illustrative Anecdotes
of Natural History, which shall throw light upon the study
of Animal Life, for those pursuing it for its own sake, and
help to the understanding of Nature herself is the primary
object of this work, while it is hoped that it may serve a



VI PREFACE.

secondary purpose of no small utility, in suggesting social
and moral parallels.

With a view to its first purpose the illustrations are classi-
fied in order as those of Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Fishes,
- etc., etc., and as much knowledge of Natural History as
can be conveyed in anecdote form has been attempted. The
book will thus, it is hoped, be a valuable aid to the teacher
. of Natural History, as a manual of illustrations for his les-
sons, as well as full of interest to the general reader, who
may not wish to devote the time necessary to more exhaus-
tive scientitic study.

A. H. M.



EIST OF COLORED PLATES.



ANIMALS.
Plate x. Gorilla. Ourang-Outang.
Plate 2. Galago. Aye Aye.
Plate 3. Lion. Cueerah.
Plate 4. Aard Vark. Blotched Gea.
net.
Plate 5. Jaguar. Cacomixle.
Plate 7. Fox Terriers, Puppies.
Plate 8. Polar Bear. Ermine.
late 9g. eee Camel.
Plate xo. Elephant. Giraffe.
Plate rz. Zebra. Bison.
Plate 12. Beaver. Alpine Hare.
Plate 13. Tatou. Kangaroo.

BIRDS.

Plate 14. Sepoy Finch. Red-Headed
Bunting. Chinese Bulbul. Canary
Bird. Brazilian Tanager. Bell Bird.
Orchard Oriole. Blue Bullfinch.
java Grosbeak. Nightingale,

Plate xs. Emen Wren. Stitch Bird.
Araguira. Whistling Thrush. Pas-
tor. Parrot Finch. Swallow Dicae-
cum. Golden Oriole. Rosebreasted
Grosbeak. Painted Bunting.

Plate 16. Kinglet. Scarlet Finch.
Brown Thrasher. Mariposa. Huia.
Madagascar Grosbeak. Crested
Sparaetes. Mino Bird. Maryland
Yellow Throat, Purple-breasted
Chatterer.

Plate 17. Shaft-tailed Bunting. Lin-

net. Piping Crow-strike. Pine
Grosbeak. Audubon’s Warbler.
Thrush. Amandava. Yellow-head.
Crested Malimbus. Saddle-back.

FISHES.

Plate 18. Spanish Mackerel. Mack-
erel. Weakfish. Herring. Bluefish.
Codfish. Crab. Porgy. Eel. White-
fish.

Plate 19. Butterfish. Catfish. Gold:

fish. Blackfish. Shad. Lobster.
Sea-robin. Sea-bass. Swordfish.
Perch.

Plate 20. Carp. Yellow Perch. Sar-
dine. Sawfish. Salmon. Sunfish
Brook Trout. Blowfish. Striped
Bass. Moonfish.



CONTE NAS

INTRODUCTION

Science, r

The Kingdoms of Nature, 1
Zoology, 2

Classification, 2

Class IL—Miammalia

ORDER I
PRIMATES

SuB-ORDER I
MAN-SHAPED ANIMALS

The Ape Family, 3
The Gorilla, 4
Ancestors of the Gorilla, 4
AGorilla Hunt, 5
Du Chaillu’s First Gorilla, 7
A Young Gorilla, 9
Gorilla Superstitions, 10
The Chimpanzee, 11
Docility and Sagacity of Chimpanzee, 11
The Orang-Utan, 12
Habits of Orang-Utan, 12
Walk of Orang-Utan, 13
Strength of Orang-Utan, 14
Docility of Orang-Utan, 14
Orang-Utan’s Intelligence, 15

ff «Affection, 15
The Maternal Instinct, 16
Gibbons, or Long-Armed Apes, 17
Monkeys, 18
The Sacred Monkeys, 18
Long-nosed Monkey, 19
Cheek-pouched Monkeys, 19
The Baboon, 1g
Arabiar, Babéon, 20
Baboon’s Imitative Faculty, 20



The Chackma Baboon, 2
Baboon’s Utility, 21
The Tame Baboon, 22
Baboon’s Cunning, 22

oe Loyalty, 24
Intelligence, 24
The Bonnet Monkey, 25
Indian Monkeys, ,25
The Monkey Outdone, 27
The Monkey Aroused, 29
Monkey’s Affection, 30
American Monkeys, 30
The Capuchin Monkey, 30
The Spider Monkeys, 30
The Howling Monkeys, 31
The Bearded Saki, 31
The Douroucouli, 32
The Marmosets, 32

6c

Sus-OrDEr II
THE LEMURS
The Tarsier, 33
The Aye-Aye, 33

ORDER II
WING-HANDED ANIMALS
Bats, 35
The Common English Bats, 36
The Vampire Bat, 36
A Traveller’s Experience, 37
Megaderma Lyra, 38
ORDER III
INSECT-EATING ANIMALS
The Hedgehog, 39
The Mole, 4o
An Enterprising Mole, 41
The Use of the Mole, 41
The Shrew, 42





V3II

ORDER IV
FLESH-EATING ANIMALS
SuB-ORDER I

THE FISSIPEDIA

Animals of the Cat Kind, 43
The Lion, 44 -
Lion’s Character, 44
Attitude towards Man, 45
The Better. Part of Valour, 46
Lion’s Strength, 47
“Affection, 48:
‘* Docility, 48
Androcles, 49
A Lion Hunt, 50
A Thnilling Experience, 52
Attacked by a Lion, 53
A Night Surprise, 55
A Lion Outwitted, 56
Old Instincts and New Opportunities, 56
The Tiger, 57
Tigers’ Ravages, 58
An Intrepid Hunter, 60
The Leopard, 61
Leopard’s Tenacity of Life, 6z
Hunters Hunted, 63
The Jaguar, 64 .
Jaguar’s Strength, 65
A Night of Horror, 65
The Puma, 67
Puma’s Ferocity, 67
Animals and Men, 68
The Ocelot, 69
The Clouded Tiger, 70
The Serval, 70
Common Wild Cat, 70
Domestic Cat, 71
Cat Superstitions, 71
Cat as a Hunter, 72
Cat and Her Young, 72
Cat as a Foster Mother, 73
Cat as a Traveller, 74
Cat asa Sportsman, 75
Cat’s Intelligence, 75
The Lynx, 76
The Chetah as Huntsman, 78
The.Civits, 79
The Ichneumon, 79
Dormant Instinct, 80
The Aard Wolf, 80
The Hyzna, 80
Striped Hyzena, 82
Spotted Hyzna, 82
A Narrow Escape, 83
Animals of the Dog Kind, 84
The Wolf, 84
The Fox, 85
The Jackal, 86
Wolf’s Mode of Attack, 86

CONTENTS

Wolf's Cunning, 87
« Cowardice, 88
Hunted by Wolves, 88
A Terrible Alternative, 89
A Marvellous Escape, 89
Tame Wolves,
The Cunning of the Fox, go
The Fox as a Hunter, gt
A Fox Hunt, 92
The Arctic Fox, 93
Wild Dogs, 93
The Dog, 94
Dog’s Understanding, 95
“© Serise of Locality, 97
Dog Friendships and Eximities, 99
‘“« Language, 100
Dog’s Intelligence, 101
‘« Mistakes, 104
Eskimo Dogs, 104
A Hard Lot, 106
Newfoundland Dog, 107

y Newfoundland’s Generosity, 108

Perception of Dan
ger, 109
se Sense of Right and
Wrong, 111

ce

Fidelity, 112
Newfoundland under Training, 112
The Sheep Dog, 114
Sheep Dog’s Sagacity, 115

sf Fidelity, 117
The St. Bernard, 119
St. Bernard at Work, I2I
The Greyhound, 122
Greyhound’s Affection, 123
The Lurcher, 124
The Bloodhound, 125
Scent of the Bloodhound, 126
The Stag Hound, 127
A Stag Hunt, 127
The Fox Hound, 128
Fox Hound’s Tenacity, 128
The Harrier, 129
The Beagle, 129
The Dalmatian Dog, 130
The Turnspit, 130
Turnspit’s Sagacity, 130
The Pointer, 130
Pointer’s Intelligence, 131
The Setter, 132
Pointers and Setters, 132
Sagacity of the Setter, 133
The Spaniel, 134
Blenheim Spaniel and Cats, 135
Water Spaniel as a Witness, 135
The Terrier, 136
The Mastiff, 136
Fidelity of the Mastiff, 136
Intelligence of the Mastiff, 137
The Mastiff as Protector, 137



CONTENTS ix

The Bull Dog, 138

The Poodle, 139

The Shoe-black’s Poodle, 139
Weasels, Otters, and Badgers, 140
The Polecat, 140

The Weasel. 140

Weasel and Kite, 141

The Common Otter, 141

The Badger, 142

The Ratel and the Skunk, 143
The Skunk, 144

The Raccoon and the Coati, 145
The Bear, 145

The Polar Bear, 146

The Black Bear, 147

Docility of the Bear, 148

The Grizzly Bear, 149

The Brown Bear, 151

Bruin and the Honey, 151

The Malayan Bear, 151

SuB-ORDER II
THE PINNIPEDIA
Sea Lions, 152
Sea Bears, 153
The Walrus, 154
The Common Seal, 155
The Seal’s Docility, 156

ORDER V
WHALES AND DOLPHINS
The Right Whale, 158
The Sperm Whale, 159
The Dolphin, 159
The White Whale, 160
The Narwhal, 160
The Porpoise, 161
The Grampus, 161

ORDER VI
The Sea Cow, 162

ORDER VII

HOOFED ANIMALS
The Horse, 162
The Arabian Horse, 163
Affection for his Owner, 165
The Domestic Horse, 166
The Structure of a Horse, 167
The Horse’s Speed, 169
The Horse’s Endurance, 170
The Horse’s Memory, 171
The Force of Habit, 172
Intelligence of the Horse, 174
Horse-Play, 176
Horses and Dogs, 177
The Ass, 178
Sagacity of the Ass, 180
Instinct of the Ass, 181

\

The Trained Ass, 182

The Mule and the Hinny, 183

The Zebra, 183

The ‘Tapir, 183

The Rhinoceros, 184

Rhinoceros Hunting, 186

The Tame Rhinoceros, 187

The Hippopotamus, 188

The Haunt of the Hippopotami, 189
The Pig Family, 190

The Boar, 190

The Common Hog, 191

The Babiroussa, 192

The Peccary, 192

The Camel and the Dromedary, 192
Strength and Endurance of the Camel,

193
The Camel and his Master, 194
Camel Riding, 195
A Camel's Revenge, 195
The Terrors of the Desert, 196
The Llama, 198
The Deer, 198
The Red Deer, 199
A Stag Hunt, 200
The Tame Stag, 2or
The Reindeer, 201
The Moose or Elk, 204
The Fallow Deer and the Roebuck, 204
The Giraffe, 205
The History of the Giraffe, 205
Hollow-Horned Ruminants, 206
The Bull, the Bison and the Buffalo,

207

The Bull, the Ox, the Cow, 207
The Bull, 208

The Brahmin Bull, 209

The Ox, 209

The Cow, 210

The Pride of a Cow, 210

The Bison, 211

Hunting the Bison, 212

The Buffalo, 213

Hunting the Indian Buffalo, 213
The Cape Buffalo, 214

Hunting the Cape Buffalo, 215
The Zebu, 216

The Yak, 216

The Antelopes, 216

The Gazelle, 217

The Sheep and the Goat, 217
The Intelligence of the Sheep, 218
Animals and Music, 218

ORDER VIIt

The Elephant, 219

The Wild Elephant, 220
Elephant Herds, 221
Elephant Friendships, 223



x

Sagacity of the Elephant, 224

A Centenarian Elephant, 224
An Elephant Nurse, 225
Intelligence of the Elephant, 225

ORDER IX
The Conies, 226

ORDER X
THE RODENTS: ANIMALS THAT
GNAW

Rats and Mice, 227
The Rat Family, 227
The Hamster, 228
Swarms of Rats, 228
Invaded by Rats, 229
Migrations of Rats, 230
The Intelligence of Rats, 231
Saved by a Rat, 231 |
The Mouse, 232
The Harvest Mouse, 233
The Field Mouse, 233
The Dormouse, 233
The Jerboas, 234
The Beaver, 234
The European Beaver, 234
The American Beaver, 235
The Squirrel, 237
The Squirrel at Home, 238
Tame Squirrels, 239
The Marmot, the Bobak, the Prairie
Dog, 240
The Chinchilla, 240
The Porcupine, 240
The Guinea Pig, 241
Hares and Rabbits, 241
The Common Hare, 241
~ Intelligence of the Hare, 242
A Hunted Hare, 243
Tame Hares, 244
The Common Rabbit, 245

ORDER XI

TOOTHLESS ANIMALS

The Sloth, 245

The Paagolin, 246

The Armadillo, 246
The Cape Ant-Bear, 246
The Ant-Eater, 247

ORDER XII

POUCHED ANIMALS

The Opossum, 247
The Kangaroo, 247
Kangaroo Hunting, 248



CONTENTS

ORDER XIII
MONOTREMATA

The Duck-billed Platypus, 249
The Australian Hedgehog, 249

Class II.—Aves
Classification, 250 |

ORDER I

PERCHING BIRDS

The Thrushes, 251

The Common Thrush, 251

The Missel Thrush, 252

The Blackbird, 252

The Mocking Bird, 254

‘Lhe Tailor Bird, 255

The Golden Crested Wren, 255

The Migration of Birds, 255

The Willow Wren, 256

The Common Wren, 256

A Wren’s Music Lesson, 257

The House Wren, 257

The Nightingale, 258

Song of the Nightingale, 258

The Robin Redbreast, 259

Intelligence of the Robin, 260

The Titmouse, 260

The Golden Oriole, 261

The Shrike, 262

The Jays, 262

The Blue Jay, 263

The Magpie, 264

Mischievous Habits of the Magpie, 264

The Raven, 266

Unnatural Parents, 267

The Tame Raven, 268

The Raven and the Dog, 269

The Rook, 270

The Carrion Crow, 270

The Jackdaw, 271

The Chough, 271

The Bird of Paradise, 271

Hunting the Bird of Paradise, 272

The Tanagers, 273

The Tanager, 273

The Swallow, 273

Swallows in Council, 274

The House Martin, 274

The Sand Martin, 275

The Chaffinch. The Goldfinch. The
Greenfinch, 275

The Linnet, 276

The Canary, 276

The Tame Canary, 27;

The Crossbill, 277

The Bunting, 277

The Starling, 278

The Common Starling, 278



CONTENTS XY

The Weaver Bird, 278

The Lark, 279

Maternal Instinct of the Lark, 280
The Lark and the Hawk, 281

The Wagtails and Pipits, 281

The Ant-Eaters, 282

The King Bird, 282

The Chatterers, 282

The Lyre Bird, 283

ORDER II

CLIMBERS AND GAPERS
The Woodpecker, 284
The Wryneck, 284
The Cuckoo, 284
The Cuckoo and the Hedge-Sparrow,
285
The Cuckoo and the Thrush, 286
The Trogons, 287
The Kingfishers, 287
The Hornbill, 287
Thé Goat-Suckers, 288
The Whip-poor-Will, 288
The Chuck-Will’s-Widow, 288
The Swifts, 289
The Humming Bird, 289

ORDER III
THE PARROTS

Intelligence of the Parrot, 290
Famous Parrots, 291

The Grey Parrot, 292

Parrot Talk, 293

ORDER IV
PIGEONS
Carrier Pigeons, 294
Pigeons on the Wing, 295
ORDER V
FOWLS

The Peacock, 297

The Pheasant, 298

The Partridge, 299

The Wild Turkey, 300

The Domestic Turkey, 300
Sagacity of the Turkey, 300
Sitting Turkey Cocks, 301
Domestic Fowls, 302

The Common Hen, 303

ORDER VI
The Hoazin, 304
ORDER VII
BIRDS OF PREY

The Eagle, 305
Eagle Shouting, 305

?

White-Headed Eagle, 306

The Vultures, 307

The Condor, 308

The King of the Vultures, 308

A Feast of Vultures, 309

The Secretary Bird, 310

The Kite. The Osprey. The Buzzard,
3IL

The Falcon, 311

The Sparrow-Hawk, 312

The Owl, 313

ORDER VIII
WADING BIRDS

The Cranes, 314

The Heron, 314

The Bittern, 315

The Stork, 315

Jealousy of the Stork, 315
A Stork’s Revenge, 316

ORDER IX
THE GEESE

Gratitude of the Goose, 316

A Wild Goose Chase, 317

Goose Friendships, 317

The Goose and the Dog, 318
Maternal Instinct of the Goose, 318
The Duck, 319

The Swan, 319

Maternal Instinct of the Swan, 320
Intelligence of the Swan, 320

The Swan and the Fawn, 32

The Common Sea-Gull, 321

A Tame Sea-Gull, 321

Mother Carey's Chicken, 322
Catching the Stormy Petrel, 322
The Cormorant, 323

The Albatross, 324

The Pelican, 325

A Tame Pelican, 325

The Penguin, 326

The Puffin, 327

ORDER X
THE OSTRICHES
The Ostrich and its Young, 321
The Rhea. The Cassowary, The Emu,
329
Vertebrata
Class III.—Reptilia

ORDER I

The Tortoise and the Turtle, 337
The Elephant Tortoise, 332
The Turtle, 333



xii z CONTENTS

ORDER II

The Crocodile, 334°
The Alligator, 335
A Tame Alligator, 336

ORDER III
Hatteria Punctata, 337

ORDER IV

The Lizards, 337

The Chameleon, 337

The Iguana, 338

The Common Lizard, 338
The Monitor, 339

ORDER V

Snakes, 339

The Viper, 340

The Viper and its Young, 340

The Rattlesnake, 341

The Sting of the Rattlesnake, 341

The Black Snake and the Rattlesnake,

342°
The Cobra, 342
Snake Charming, 343
The Cobra as Companion of the Bath,

344
A Night with a Cobra, 345
An Unpleasant Bedfellow, 345
The Boa Constrictor, 346
The Boa and its Prey, 346
The Boa’s Appetite, 347
A Terrible Boa, 348
A Narrow Escape, 348

Vertebrata

Olass IV.—Batrachia

The Batrachia, 350

The Common Toad, 351
Tame Toads, 351

The Common Frog, 352
Ingenuity of the Frog, 352
The Tree Frog, 353

Vertebrata
Class V.—Pisces

Fishes, 354

The Sticklebacks, 354

The Stickleback and the Leech, 355
The Mackerel, 356

The Sword Fish, 356

The Cod, 357

The Salmon, 358

The Pike, 358

The Herring, 360

The Flying Fish, 360

The Eel, 361

The Gymnotus, 362
Catching the Gymnotus, 362
The Torpedo, 365

The Shark, 366

The White Shark, 366
Sharks in the South Seas, 367
The Rays, 368

Ray Catching, 369



NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE. |

INTRODUCTION.

Science. Science is classified truth. Menstudy the heavenly
bodies, note their characteristics, observe their movements, and
define their relationships; and having verified their deduc-
tions by repeated experiments, arrange the truths they have
discovered into systems, and by classifying their knowledge
reduce it to a science: this science they call Astronomy.
Astronomy is thus the classified arrangement of all known
truths concerning the heavenly bodies. Geology, similarly, is
the classified arrangement of all known truths concerning the
material structure of the Earth.
The Kingdoms The Natural World has been variously divided

of Nature. for the purposes of study. Linnzeus divided
it into three kingdoms; (I) the Mineral kingdom (II) the
Vegetable kingdom and (III) the Animal kingdom, thus
naming the three kingdoms in the order of their natural
geneses. The Mineral kingdom comprises the snorganic forms
of nature,—those which have no organism and which can
only increase by external addition. The Vegetable and
Animal kingdoms comprise the organic life of nature,—those
forms which are provided with means for promoting their
own development and propagating species. The Vegetable
kingdom, while easily distinguishable from the Mineral
kingdom is in some of its forms so similar to the lower
forms of animal life as to suggest relationship between the.
two; while the Animal kingdom, beginning with the lower
forms which approximate so closely to vegetable forms,

x i



2 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

embraces the whole range of animal life and reaches its
highest order in man. The science which treats of organic
life as a whole is called Biology, while its two departments
are separately known as Botany and Zoology. Natural
History is a general term popularly applied to the study of
Zoology.

Zoology. Zoology is the science of animal life. It deals
with the origin of species, and the evolution of the varied
forms of animated nature, and treats of the structure, habits,
and environment of all living creatures. Scientifically speak-
ing, Zoology is the classified arrangement of all known truths
concerning all animal organisms.

Classification. For convenience in study the Animal king-
dom is divided into seven Sub-kingdoms, each of which is further
divided into classes. These Sub-kingdoms are known as: I
Vertebrata, II Arthropoda, ITI Mollusca, ITV Echinodermata,
V Vermes, VI Cuelenterata, and VII Protozoa. Sub-kingdom I,
Vertebrata, includes all animals distinguished by the possession
of Vertebre or back-bones, and its classes are 1 Mammalia:—
animals that suckle their young; II Aves:—Birds; III
Repitlia:—Reptiles; IV Batrachia:—Frogs, Toads, etc.; and V
Pisces:—Fishes. Sub-kingdom II, Arthropoda, includes the
Insect families, etc., which it also divides into classes. Sub-king-
dom III, Mollusca, animals of the cuttle-fish order, including
limpets, oysters, and slugs. Sub-kingdom IV, Echinodermata,
a large number of marine animals, such as the star-fish
and the sea-urchin. Sub-kingdom V, Vermes, the various
classes of worms. Sub-kingdom VI, Coelenterata, corals and
sponges, etc. etc, and Sub-kingdom VII, Protozoa,
protoplasms and the lowest forms of animal life. This
volume is devoted to the illustration of the first of these
sub-kingdoms, the Vertebrata, with its five classes, Mamma-
lia, Aves, Reptilia, Batrachia and Pisces.



THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.
SUB-KINGDOM I—VERTEBRATA.

CLASS I—MAMMALTIA.

The most perfect of all animals is man, for
besides having a marvellous animal organism
he possesses reason, which so far transcends
the highest instincts of other animals, that it places him in
a category by himself.

SUB ORDER 1. Next to man it is convenient to deal

Man-shaped with man-shaped animals, (enthropotdea)—

Animale. those animals which most resemble him in
external appearance and internal organism. This brings us
to the order called Quadrumana or four-handed animals
which include Lemurs and their allied forms, and manlike
monkeys. Monkeys are divided into five families, one at
least of which has to be further divided into sub-families to
‘accommodate its variety. These families are: I The Apes;

II The Sacred Monkeys; ITI The Cheek-pouched Monkeys;
IV The Cebidae, with its several sub-families, and V The
Marmosets. The first three of these families inhabit the old
world, the last two belong to the new.

The Ape The family of the Apes includes the Gorilla,
Family. the Chimpanzee, the Orang-utan or mias, the

Gibbons or long-armed Apes, and the Siamang; of these the
Gorilla and the Chimpanzee belong to the West of Africa,
the Orang-utan to Borneo, the Gibbons to Assam, the Malay
3

ORDER I.
PRIMATES.



THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.
SUB-KINGDOM I—VERTEBRATA.

CLASS I—MAMMALTIA.

The most perfect of all animals is man, for
besides having a marvellous animal organism
he possesses reason, which so far transcends
the highest instincts of other animals, that it places him in
a category by himself.

SUB ORDER 1. Next to man it is convenient to deal

Man-shaped with man-shaped animals, (enthropotdea)—

Animale. those animals which most resemble him in
external appearance and internal organism. This brings us
to the order called Quadrumana or four-handed animals
which include Lemurs and their allied forms, and manlike
monkeys. Monkeys are divided into five families, one at
least of which has to be further divided into sub-families to
‘accommodate its variety. These families are: I The Apes;

II The Sacred Monkeys; ITI The Cheek-pouched Monkeys;
IV The Cebidae, with its several sub-families, and V The
Marmosets. The first three of these families inhabit the old
world, the last two belong to the new.

The Ape The family of the Apes includes the Gorilla,
Family. the Chimpanzee, the Orang-utan or mias, the

Gibbons or long-armed Apes, and the Siamang; of these the
Gorilla and the Chimpanzee belong to the West of Africa,
the Orang-utan to Borneo, the Gibbons to Assam, the Malay
3

ORDER I.
PRIMATES.



4 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

Peninsula, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Cambodia and Hainan,
and the Siamang to Java and Sumatra.

The Gorilla, The gorilla is the largest of the ape family,
and sometimes attains to the height of six feet. It is also
the fiercest, if not the strongest, of man-shaped animals. It
belongs to the genus Troglodytes of which the chimpanzee is
the only other species, and it inhabits a somewhat limited
range of Equatorial Africa, where it makes for itself nests
of sticks and foliage, among the lower branches of trees,
and lives upon berries, nuts and fruits. Though apparently
a vegetarian the gorilla has enormous physical strength. His
arms bear much the same proportion to the size of his body
as those of man do relatively, but his lower limbs are shorter,
and have no calves, the leg growing thicker from the knee
downwards. The hands are broad, thick, and of great
length of palm, and are remarkable for their strength; the
feet, broader than those of man, and more like hands, are
very large and of great power. The gorilla uses his handg
when walking or running, but as his arms are longer than
those of other apes, and his legs shorter he stoops less than
they do in moving from place to place. The gorilla herds
in small companies, or rather families, one adult male being
the husband and father of the band. The females are much
smaller than the males.

The Ancestors he gorilla, though: rediscovered in recent
ofthe years, was apparently known to the ancients.
Boule: Hanno, a Carthaginian admiral who flourished

some five or six hundred years B.C., once sailed from
Carthage with a fleet of sixty vessels and a company of
30,000 persons, under instructions to proceed past the Pillars
of Hercules (the Straits of Gibraltar), with a view to planting
colonies on the western coast of Africa. In the course of
their travels they discovered several islands inhabited by
wild creatures with hairy bodies. “There were,” says the
ancient navigator, “many more females than males, all equally



THE GORILLA. 5

covered with hair on all parts of the body. The interpreters
called them gorillas, On pursuing them, we could not suc-
ceed in taking a single male, they all escaped with astonishing
swiftness, and threw stones at us; but we took three females,
who defended themselves with so much violence, that we
were obliged to kill them; but we brought their skins,
stuffed with straw, to Carthage.” Professor Owen remarks
upon this that “though such creatures would suggest to
Hanno and his crew no other idea of their nature than
that of a kind of human being, yet the climbing faculty,
the hairy body, and the skinning of the dead specimens
strongly suggest that they were great apes. The fact that
apes somewhat resembling the negroes, of human size and
with hairy bodies, still exist on the west coast of Africa
renders it highly probable that such were the creatures which
Hanno saw, captured, and called ‘gorullai’.”

A Gorilla Hunt. Paul du Chaillu, in his “Stories of the Gorilla
Country,” gives a graphic description of his first sight of these
“wild men of the woods.” He was inspecting the ruins of
a native village with a party of Africans, when they discovered
footprints which the natives immediately recognised as those
of the gorilla. “It was,” says he, “ the first time I had
seen the footprints of these wild men of the woods, and I
cannot tell you how I felt. Here was I now, it seemed, on
the point of meeting, face to face, that monster, of whose
ferocity, strength and cunning, the natives had told me so
much, and which no man before had hunted. By the
tracks it was easy to know that there must have been
several gorillas in company. We prepared at once to follow
them. My men were remarkably silent, for they were
going on an expedition of more than usual risk; for the
male gorilla is literally the king of the forest—the king of the
equatorial regions. He and the crested lion of Mount Atlas
are the two fiercest and strongest beasts of that continent.
The lion of South Africa cannot be compared with either



6 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

for strength or courage. As we left the camp, the men and
women left behind crowded together, with fear written on
their faces. Miengai, Ngolai, and Makinda set out for the
hunt in one party; myself and Yeava formed another. We
determined to keep near each other, so that in case of
trouble we might be at hand to help ome another. For the
rest silence and a sure aim were the only cautions to be
given. I confess that I was never more excited In my
life. For years I had heard of the terrible roar of the
gorilla, of its vast strength, of its fierce courage when only
wounded. I knew that we were about to pit ourselves
against an animal which even the enormous leopards of the
mountains fear, which the elephants let alone and which
perhaps has driven away the lion out of his territory; for the
king of beasts, so numerous elsewhere in Africa, is not met with
in the land of the gorilla. We descended a hill, crossed a
stream on a fallen log, crept under the trees, and presently
approached some huge boulders of granite. In the stream
we had crossed we could see plainly that the animals had
just crossed it, for the water was still disturbed. Along side
of the granite blocks lay an immense dead tree, and about
this the gorillas were likely to be. Our approach was very
cautious. With guns cocked and ready we advanced through
the dense wood, which cast a gloom even at mid-day over
the whole scene. I looked at my men and saw that they
were even more excited than myself. Slowly we pressed on
through the dense bush, dreading almost to breathe for fear
of alarming the beasts. Makinda was to go to the right of
the rock, while I took the left. Unfortunately he and his
party circled it at too great a distance. The watchful
animals saw him. Suddenly I was startled by a strange, dis-
cordant, half human cry, and beheld four young and half-grown
gorillas running towards the deep forest. I was not ready.
We fired but hit nothing. Then we rushed on in pursuit;
but they knew the woods better than we. Once I caught



THE GORILLA. y

a glimpse of one of the animals again; but an intervening
tree spoiled my mark, and I did not fire. We pursued
them till we were exhausted, but in vain. I protest I felt
almost like a murderer when I saw the.gorilla this first time.
As they ran on their hind legs with their heads down, their
bodies inclined forward, their whole appearance was that of
hairy men running for their lives. Add to this their cry, so
awful yet with something human in its discordance, and you
will cease to wonder that the natives have the wildest
superstitions about these ‘wild men of the woods.’”

Du Chaillus In his “Explorations and Adventures in Equa-
First Gorilla. torial Africa” du Chaillu gives an equally
thrilling account of the capture of his first gorilla. He says:
“We started early, and pushed through the most dense and
impenetrable part of the forest; in hopes to find the very
home of the beast I so much wished to shoot. Hour
after hour we travelled and yet no signs of gorillas. Only
the everlasting, little, chattering monkeys—and not many of
these—and occasionally birds. Suddenly Miengai uttered a
little cluck with his tongue which is the native way of
showing that something is stirring and that a sharp look-
out is necessary. And presently I noticed, ahead of us
seemingly, a noise as of some one breaking down branches
or twigs of trees. This was a gorilla—I knew at once by
the eager satisfied looks of the men. We walked with
the greatest care making no noise at all. Suddenly, as we
were yet creeping along, in a silence which made a heavy
breath seem loud and distinct, the woods were at once
filled with the tremendous barking roar of the gorilla. Then
the underbrush swayed rapidly just ahead, and presently
before us stood an immense male gorilla. He had gone
through the jungle on all fours; but when he saw our party
he erected himself and looked us boldly in the face. He
stood about a dozen yards from us, and was a sight I
think I shall never forget. Nearly six feet high (he proved



8 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

four inches shorter),. with immense body, huge chest, and
great muscular arms, with fiercely glaring, large, deep gray
eyes, and a hellish expression of face, which seemed to me
like some nightmare vision: thus stood before us this king of
the African forest. He was not afraid of us. He stood
there and beat his breast with his huge fists till it resounded
like an immense bass-drum, which is the gorillas’ mode of
offering defiance; meantime giving vent to roar after roar.
The roar of the gorilla is the most singular and awful noise
heard in these African woods. It begins with a sharp dark,
like an angry dog, then glides into a deep bass roll, which
literally and closely zesembles the roll of distant thunder
along the sky. So deep is it that it seems to proceed
less from the mouth and throat than from the deep chest
and vast paunch. His eyes began to flash fiercer fire as
we stood motionless on the defensive, and the crest of short
hair which stands on his forehead began to twitch rapidly
up and down, while his powerful fangs were shown as he
again sent forth his thunderous roar. He advanced a few
steps—then stopped to utter that hideous roar again—
advanced again, and finally stopped when at a distance of
about six yards from us. And here, just as he began another
of his roars, beating his breast with rage, we fired, and
killed him, With a groan which had something terribly
human in it, and yet was full of brutishness, he fell forward
on his face. The body shook convulsively for a few minutes,
the limbs moved about in a struggling way, and then all
was quiet: death had done its work, and I had leisure to
examine the huge body. It proved to be five feet eight
inches high, and the muscular development of the arms and
breast showed what immense strength it had possessed.” A
smaller gorilla, shot by M. du Chaillu on another occasion,
measured five feet six inches in height, fifty inches round
the chest, and his arms had a spread of seven feet two inches



THE GORILLA, 9

A Young A young gorilla which some natives succeeded

Gorilla. in capturing for M. du Chaillu, and which he
named “Fighting Joe,” forms the subject of one of his most
interesting chapters. The young cub was caught by the adroit
use of a cloth which one of the natives managed to throw
over his head, but not until he had severely bitten one of
his captors in the hand and taken a mouthful out of the
leg of another. He was about three years old, three feet
six inches in height and of great strength. A cage was
made for him, from which he twice escaped, on each occasion
being recaptured by the use of fishing nets. On his first
escape he concealed himself under the bed in M. du Chaillu’s
house. “Running in,” says the writer, “to get one of my guns,
I was startled by an angry growl. It was master Joe; there
was no mistake about it; I knew his growl too well. I
cleared out faster than I came in. I instantly shut the
windows and called in my people to guard the door. When
Joe saw the crowd of black faces he became furious, and
with his eyes glaring, and every sign of rage in his face and
body, he got out from beneath the bed. He was about to
make a rush at all of us. He was not afraid. A stampede ot
my men took place, I shut the door quickly (from outside)
and left Joe master of the premises.” While the men
outside were devising means for his recapture, the young
gorilla carefully inspected the furniture and M. du Chaillu
became apprehensive for the safety of his clock, the ticking of
which was likely to attract unwelcome attention. However,
by means of a net dexterously thrown over him, he was
secured once more and carried back to his cage, which in
the meantime had been repaired, the full strength of four
men being required for the purpose. On his second escape
he made for the woods and took refuge in a large clump of
trees. “This we surrounded,” says M. du Chaillu. “He
did not ascend a tree, but stood defiantly at the border of
the wood. About one hundred and fifty of us surrounded



10 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

him. As we moved up he began to yell, and made a dash
upon a poor fellow who was in advance. The fellow ran
and tumbled down in affright. By his fall he escaped the
tender mercies of Joe’s teeth; but he also detained the
little rascal long enough for the nets to be thrown over him.”
But Joe was a child of nature and could not live with the
chain of civilisation around his neck, and he died somewhat
suddenly some ten days afterwards and finally found his
way to the British museum.

Gorilla According to du Chaillu, the natives entertain
Superstitions. many superstitions about the gorilla, among the
commonest of which is the belief that some gorillas are
inhabited by human spirits. In his “Stories of the Gorilla
Country” he gives an interesting illustration of this. “In the
evening,” he says, “the men told stories about gorillas. ‘I re-
member,’ said one, ‘my father told me he once went out to
the forest, when just in his path he meta great gorilla. My
father had his spear in his hand. When the gorilla saw
the spear he began to roar; then my father was terrified
and dropped the spear. When the gorilla saw that my
father had dropped the spear he was pleased. He looked
at him, and then left him and went into the thick forest.
Then my father was glad and went on his way.’ Here all
shouted: ‘Yes! so we must do when we meet the gorilla. Drop
the spear; that appeases him.’ Next Gambo spoke. ‘Several
dry seasons ago, a man suddenly disappeared from ray
village after an angry quarrel. Some time after an Asbira
of that village was out in the forest. He met a very large
gorilla, That gorilla was the man who had disappeared;
he had turned into a gorilla. He jumped upon the poor
Ashira and bit a piece out of his arm; then he let him go.
Then the man came back with the bleeding arm. He told
me this, I hope we shall not meet such gorillas.’ Chorus:
‘No; we shall not meet such wicked gorillas.’ “I myseif,”
says du Chaillu, “afterwards met that man in the Ashira



THE CHIMPANZEE. 11

country. I saw his maimed arm and he repeated the same story.”
Then one of the men spoke up: ‘If we kill a gorilla to-morrow,
I should like to have a part of the brain for a fetich.
Nothing makes a man so brave as to have a fetich of
gorilla’s brain. That gives a man a strong heart.’ Chorus (of
those who remained awake) ‘Yes; that gives a man a strong
heart.’” A fetich of the brain of the gorilla is said also to
help its owner in love as well’ as war. es

The Chimpanzee. The chimpanzee is a near neighbour of
the gorilla in Equatorial Africa though he appears to have
a more extended range. He is found in Sierra Leone and
in the country lying to the north of the river Congo, and
according to native accounts is gregarious in his habits,
travelling in formidable companies, who carry sticks and
make effective use of them. They are said to reach
maturity at nine or ten years of age and to attain a height
of from four to five feet. Like the gorillas they have
immensely powerful limbs, and have been known without
apparent effort to break off branches of trees which a man
would have been powerless to bend.
The Docility The chimpanzee differs from the gorilla in
es his amenability to civilisation. The gorilla,
Chimpanzee. however young, seems incapable of being tamed ;
while the chimpanzee in its infancy and youth at least has
often been domesticated, though like most other apes, as it
approaches maturity, it needs to be kept under strong control.
Captain Brown in his “ Habits and Characteristics of Animals
and Birds” gives the following illustration of the docility
and sagacity of the chimpanzee. He says: “M. de Grandpré
saw, on board of a vessel, a female chimpanzee, which
exhibited wonderful proofs of intelligence. She had learnt
to heat the oven; she took great care not to let any of the
coals fall out, which might have done mischief in the ship;
and she was very accurate in observing when the oven was
heated to the preper degree, of which she immediately



i2 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

apprized the baker, who, relying with perfect confidence
upon her information, carried his dough to the oven as soon
as the chimpanzee came to fetch him. This animal performed
all the business of a sailor, spliced ropes, handled the sails,
and assisted at unfurling them; and she was, in fact considered
by the sailors ag one of themselves. The vessel was bound
for America; but the poor animal did not live to see that
country, having fallen a victim to the brutality of the first
mate, who inflicted very cruel chastisement upon her, which
she had not deserved. She endured it with the greatest
patience, only holding out her hands in a suppliant attitude,
in order to break the force of the blows she received. But
from that moment she steadily refused to take any food,
and died on the fifth day from grief and hunger. She was
lamented by every person on board, not insensible to the
feelings of humanity, who knew the circumstances of her
fate.”

The The orang-utan is one of the largest of the
Grang-utan. ape species and until the discovery of the
gorilla was supposed to be the largest. It is said sometimes
to attain to the height of six feet, and some travellers’ tales
credit it with even greater height. The orang is possessed
of great strength but is of a docile disposition when brought
under civilisation, and even in a wild state is often quiet
and peaceable except when attacked. It inhabits country
that is low, level, and swampy, and that is at the same
time covered with lofty virgin forests. It belongs to the
genus Simia of which it is the single species.

The Habits Lhe following account of the orang is given

ofthe by Mr. Brooke of Sarawak. “On the habits of
Orang-uten. the orangs, as far as I have been able to observe
them, I may remark that they are as dull and as slothful
as can well be conceived, and on no occasion, when
pursuing them, did they move so fast as to preclude my
keeping pace with them easily through a moderately clear





THE ORANG-UTAN. 13

forest; and even when obstructions below (such as wading
up to the neck) allowed them to get away some distance,
they were sure to stop and allow us to come up. I never
observed the slightest attempt at defence; and the wood,
which sometimes rattled about our ears, was broken by
their weight, and not thrown, as some persons represent.
If pushed to extremity, however, the pappan could not be
otherwise than formidable; and one unfortunate man, who
with a party was trying to catch one alive, lost two of his
fingers, besides being severely bitten on the face, whilst the
animal finally beat off his pursuers and escaped. When
hunters wish to catch an adult, they cut down a circle of
trees round the one on which he is seated, and then fell
that also, and close before he can recover himself, and
endeavour to bind him. The rude hut which they are
stated to build in the trees would be more properly called
a seat, or nest, for it has no roof or cover ofany sort. The
facility with which they form this seat is curious; and I had
an opportunity of seeing a wounded female weave the
branches together, and seat herself in a minute. She after-
wards received our fire without moving, and expired in her
lofty abode, whence it cost us much trouble to dislodge her.
The adult male I killed was seated lazily on a tree; and
when approached only took the trouble to interpose the
trunk between us, peeping at me and dodging as I dodged.
I hit him on the wrist, and he was afterwards despatched.”
The Walk In locomotion the orang disdains the earth
ofthe and perambulates the vernal terraces of the
Orang-utan forest trees. “It is a singular sight,” says Mr.
Wallace, “to watch a mias (orang-utan) making his way
leisurely through a forest. He walks deliberately along some
of the larger branches in the semi-erect attitude which the
great length of his arms and the shortness of his legs cause
him naturally to assume, and seems always to choose those
branches which intermingle with an adjoining tree, on



ig NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

approaching which he stretches out his long arms, and
seizing the opposing boughs, grasps them together with
both hands, seems to try their strength, and then deliber-
ately swings himself across to the next branch on which he
walks along as before. He never jumps or springs, or even
appears to hurry himself, and yet manages to get along
almost as quickly as a person can run through the forest
beneath.”
ThoeStrength “The Dyaks,” says Mr. Wallace, “all declare
ofthe that the mias is never attacked by any animal in
Orang-utan. the forest, with two rare exceptions; and the
accounts received of these are so curious that I give them
nearly in the words of my informants, old Dyak Chiefs, who
had lived all their lives in the places where the animal is most
abundant. The first of whom I enquired said, ‘No animal is
strong enough to hurt the mias, and the only creature he ever
fights with is the crocodile. When there is no fruit in the
jungle he goes to seek food on the banks of the river where
there are plenty of young shoots that he likes, and fruits that
grow close to the water. Then the crocodile sometimes tries
to seize him, but the mias gets upon him and beats him with
his hands and feet, and tears and kills him.’ He added that he
had once seen such a fight and that he believed that the mias
is always the victor. My next informant was Orang Kayo
or chief of the Balow Dyaks on the Simunjou River. He
said the mias has no enemies, no animals dare attack it
but the crocodile and the python. He always kills the
crocodile by main strength, standing upon it, and pulling open
its. jaws and ripping up its throat. If a python attacks a
mias he seizes it with his hands and then bites it, and
soon kills it. The mias is very strong; there is no animal
in the jungle so strong as he.”
The Docility Buffon thus describes an orang-utan that he
ofthe saw: “His aspect was melancholy, his de-
Orang-utan. nortment grave, his movements regular, and



THE ORANG-UTAN. 15

nis disposition gentle. Unlike the baboon or the monkey,
who are fond of mischief, and only obedient through fear,
a look kept him in awe; while the other animals could |
not be brought to obey without blows. He would present
his hand to conduct the people who came to visit him, and
walk as gravely along with them as if he had formed a part
of the company. I have seen him sit down at table, when
he would unfold his towel, wipe his lips, use a spoon or a
fork to carry his victuals to his mouth, pour his liquor into
a glass, and make it touch that of a person who drank along
with him. When invited to take tea, he would bring a cup
and saucer, place them on the table, put in sugar, pour out the
tea, and allow it to cool before he drank it. All this I have seen
him perform without any other instigation than the signs or the
command of his master, and often even of his own accord.”
The Orang-utan's M. de la Bosse thus describes two young
Intelligence. orang-utans, male and female. “We had
these animals with us on shipboard. They ate at the same
table with us. When they wanted anything, they, by
certain signs, acquainted the cabin boy with their wishes;
and if he did not bring it, they sometimes flew into a rage
at him, bit him in the arm, and not unfrequently threw him
down. The male fell sick during the voyage, and submitted
to be treated like a human patient. The disease being of
an inflammatory nature, the surgeon bled him twice in the
right arm; and when he afterwards felt himself indisposed,
he used to hold out his arm to be bled, because he recol-
lected that he found himself benefited by that operation on
a former occasion.”
The Orang-utan’s Dr. Tyson in describing one of the earliest
Affection. —_ specimens of the orang brought to London, says
that it conceived a great affection for those with whom travel
had made it familiar, frequently embracing them with the
greatest tenderness, A female orang belonging to a Dutch
menagerie showed the greatest affection for her attendants,



16 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

giving unmistakable signs of her delight in their company
and distress in their absence. She would often take the
hay from her bed and spread it at her side and with anxious
and obvious signs invite her keeper to sit beside her. M.
Palavicini credited a pair of orangs which he had in his
possession in 1759 with the still more remarkable quality
in animals of bashfulness, It is said that the female would
shrink from the too persistent gaze of a spectator, and throw
herself into the arms of the male, hiding her face in his
bosom.
The Maternal) In his “Marvels and Mysteries of Instinct,”
Instinct. Mr. Garrett gives the following instance of
maternal affection. “A gentleman was out with a party of
men in Sumatra, when in some trees removed from a dense
forest a female orang-utan, with a young one in its arms,
was discovered, and the pursuit commenced. In the ardour
of the moment, and excited by the hope of possessing an
animal so rare, the gentleman forgot everything but the prize
before him, and urged on his men by the promise of a
reward, should their exertions be successful. Thus stimulated
they followed up the chase; the animal, encumbered by her
young one, making prodigious efforts to gain the dense and
intricate recesses of the wood, springing from tree to tree,
and endeavouring by every means to elude her pursuers.
Several shots were fired, and at length one took fatal effect,
the ball penetrating the right side of the chest. Feeling
herself mortally wounded, and with the blood gushing from
her mouth, she from that moment took no care of herself,
but with a mother’s feelings summoned up all her dying
energies to save her young one. She threw it onwards over
the tops of the trees, and from one branch to another,
taking the most desperate leaps after it herself, and again
facilitating its progress until, the intricacy of the forest being
nearly gained, its chances of success were sure. All this time
the blood was flowing: but her efforts had been unabated,



THE GIBBONS. RY

and it was only when her young one was on the point of
attaining to a place of safety that she rested on one of the
topmost branches of a gigantic tree. True to her ruling
passion, even in death, she turned for a moment to gaze
after her young one, reeled, and fell head foremost to the
ground. The sight was so touching that it called forth the
sympathy of the whole party. The eagerness of the chase
subsided; and so deep an impression did the maternal
tenderness and unexpected self-devotion of the poor orang
make on the gentleman alluded to, whose heart was indeed
formed in ‘nature’s gentlest mould,’ that he expressed the
utmost remorse and pity, declaring that he would not go
through the same scene again for all the world; nor did the
tragical death of the animal cease to haunt his mind for
many weeks, and he never afterwards recurred to it but with
feelings of emotion. The preserved skin is now in the
Museum of the Zoological Society.”
Gibbons or Long The gibbons belong to the genus Heaps
Armed Apes. of which there are several species. They are
characterised by the ability to walk almost erect, hence the
name Hylobates. They live in the tops of trees, in large
companies and possess marvellous powers of locomotion,
swinging themselves from tree to tree with such rapidity as
to baffle all pursuit. When on the ground they balance
themselves in walking by holding their hands above their
heads. The adult gibbon is about three feet in height
and has a reach of arms of about six feet. The gibbon is
tractable and capable of strong affection towards those who
show it kindness. One of the Hoolock species petted by
Dr. Burrough, became companionable and would sit at his
master’s breakfast-table, eat eggs and chicken, and drink tea
and coffee with great propriety. Fruit was his favourite
food, but insects were especially palatable to him and he
was an expert in catching flies. The siamang differs from
the other species of long-armed apes in the formation of its

2



18 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

feet and in several other characteristics. It is, however,
similar to the Hoolock in its amenity to kindness and its
affection for its master, when brought under the influence of
kindly treatment. The gibbons have great strength in their lower
limbs, whereby they are enabled to leap surprising distances.
M. Duvaneel said he once saw one of these animals clear
a space of forty feet, from the branch of a tree. Mr. George
Bennet, in his “Wanderings,” describes the action of a
siamang that belonged to him, which having managed to free
himself of his tether, proceeded to embrace the legs of
the Malays whom he came across, until he discovered his
former master, whereupon he climbed into the Malay’s arms
and hugged him with the tenderest affection.

Monkeys. Monkeys differ from the apes we have dealt with in
the important characteristic, among others, of possessing tails.
These vary in length from inches to feet, in some cases being
considerably longer than the body and in others little more
than stumps. They vary also in form, some being completely
covered with hair, and others only partially so; some
apparently useful only as ornaments, others being prehensile,
that is capable of grasp, and giving their owners almost
the advantage of a fifth limb.

The Sacred The Sacred Monkeys (Semnopithecide) in-

Monkeys. clude two genera and a large number of species.
Among these are the species which bear the name of
Hanuman, a Hindoo divinity, and are worshipped in his
honour. The protection these monkeys receive on account
of the superstitions prevalent concerning them, leads to their
large increase in numbers and to many inconveniences
arising therefrom. It is said that if a traveller should be
unfortunate enough to offend one of these animals he is
likely enough to be followed by the whole party howling in
a most hideous and discordant manner, and pelting him
with any missiles upon which they can lay their hands.
There are eighteen species of the Semnopithecus, all of which



1 (ON 91d

\

GORILLA
(Trogigy vtes €

‘AMOLSIH IWANLVN SATUN







MONKEYS, 19

are found in the East. Of these the Entellus is one of the
best known species. It is very susceptible to cold, and
cannot live long in Europe.

The Long-nosed The Long-nosed Monkey (Semnopithecus

Monkey. Larvatus) belongs to this family and is
distinguished, as its name implies, by the length of its
proboscis. This animal is described by Wallace as about
the size of a child of three years of age, while possessing a
nose considerably longer than that of any human adult.
From the head to the tip of the tail the proboscis monkey
Measures about four feet and a half. It is sometimes called
the Kahau from its cry which resembles the sound of that
word. It is said to hold its nose when leaping to protect
it from being injured by the branches of trees. The second
genus of this family, of which there are numerous species,
belongs to Africa.

Cheek-pouched The Cheek-pouched Monkeys form the

Monkeys. third family of the quadrumana. They include
seven genera, and sixty or seventy species, of which five
genera belong to Africa and two to Asia and to the Malay
Islands. Among the better known of these species is the
Talapoin of West Africa; the Diana monkey and the Mona
(Africa); the little White-nosed monkey (Guinea); the Grivet
(Nubia and Abyssinia); the Green monkey (Cape de Verds) :
the Patas (Senegal); the Malbrouck monkey ; and the Vervet
monkey (South Africa). The Green monkey and the Vervet
monkey are those most commonly seen in England. One of
the best known members of this family is the Baboon.

The Baboon. The baboon is found in many parts of Africa,
and one of its species in Arabia. It is of the genus
" cynocephalus, and some of its species attain to considerable
size; the head and face of one species resembling those
of a dog, it is sometimes called the dog-faced baboon.
The baboon herds in large numbers, and is said to make
apparently organized attacks upon villages during the



20 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

absence of the peasants in harvest time, placing sentiaels
on the look out, to apprise them of danger, while they visit
the houses and take possession of all the food they can find.
They are cunning and powerful, and formidable in combat,
but, greedy in habit, they eat to excess, and when gorged to
satiety fall an easy prey, to their enemies. In their wild state
they feed on berries and bulbous roots, but when proximity
to civilisation gives them wider opportunity, they show their
appreciation of a more varied menu. Among the more
familiar species of the baboon are the Chackma, the Drill,
the Mandrili, the Anubis, the Babouin, and the Sphinx, all of
which belong to the West of Africa.

The The Arabian baboon is an animal with a
Arabien history. It was worshipped by the Egyptians,
Baboon. who embalmed its body after death and set

apart portions of their cemeteries for its use. Sacred to
Thoth, the Egyptian Hermes, the God of letters, the baboon
sometimes represents that deity in Egyptian sculptures, where’
it is usually figured in a sitting posture, the attitude in
which its body was generally embalmed. The baboon was
also held as emblematic of the Moon, and honoured sym-
bolically in other connections. It is commonly represented
in judgment scenes of the dead with a pair of scales in
front of it, Thoth being supposed to exercise important
duties in the final judgment of men. The baboon was
held especially sacred at Hermopolis. According to Sir
J. G. Wilkinson the Egyptians trained baboons to useful
offices, making them torch-bearers at their feasts and festivals.

The Like others of the monkey tribes the baboon
Imitative shows an extraordinary faculty for imitation.
Faculty a 4 ri Dei At 2
ofthe Captain Browne in his “Characteristics of Ani-
Baboon. mals” says: “The following circumstance is truly

characteristic of the imitative powers of the baboon:—
The army of Alexander the Great marched in complete battle-
array into a country inhabited by great numbers of baboons,



THE BABOON. 21

and encamped there for the night. The next morning, when
the army was about to proceed on its march, the soldiers
saw, at some distance, an enormous number of baboons,
drawn up in rank and file, like a small army, with such
regularity, that the Macedonians, who could have no idea
of such a manceuvre, imagined at first that it was the enemy
drawn up to receive them.”

The The chackma lives among the mountains of
Chackma the Cape of Good Hope, where he attains about
Baboon. the size of an English mastiff and even greater

strength. He descends to the plains on foraging expeditions,
and, when not attacked, will usually make off on the approach
of danger, but if aroused to anger can both show and use
his teeth, and is far superior to the average English boy in
throwing stones.
The Baboon’s Le Vaillant gives an interesting account of
Utility. a chackma baboon which accompanied him
through South Africa, and which bore the name of Kees.
He says: “I made him my taster. Whenever we found fruits
or roots, with which my Hottentots were unacquainted, we
did not touch them till Kees had tasted them. If he threw
them away, we concluded that they were either of a dis-
agreeable flavour, or of a pernicious quality, and left them
untasted. The monkey possesses a peculiar property, wherein
he differs greatly from other animals, and resembles man,—
namely, that he is by nature equally gluttonous and inquisitive.
Without necessity, and without appetite, he tastes every
thing that falls in his way, or that is given to him. But
Kees had a still more valuable quality,—he was an excellent
sentinel; for, whether by day or night, he immediately sprang
up on the slightest appearance of danger. By his cry, and
the symptoms of fear which he exhibited, we were always
apprized of the approach of an enemy, even though the dogs
perceived nothing of it. The latter, at length, learned to rely
upon him with such confidence, that they slept on in per-



22 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

fect tranquillity, I often took Kees with me when I went
hunting; and when he saw me preparing for sport, he
exhibited the most lively demonstrations of joy. On the way,
he would climb into the trees to look for gum, of which he
was very fond. Sometimes he discovered to me honey,
deposited in the clefts of rocks, or hollow trees. But, if he
happened to have met with neither honey nor gum, and
his appetite had become sharp by his running about, I always
witnessed a very ludicrous scene. In those cases, he looked
for roots, which he ate with great greediness, especially a
particular kind, which, to his cost, I also found to be very
well tasted and refreshing, and therefore insisted upon sharing
with him. In order to draw these roots out of the ground,
he employed a very ingenious method, which afforded me
much amusement. He laid hold of the herbage with his
teeth, stemmed his fore feet against the ground, and drew
back his head, which gradually pulled out the root. But if
this expedient, for which he employed his whole strength,
did not succeed, he laid hold of the leaves as before, as
close to the ground as possible, and then threw himself
heels over head, which gave such a concussion to the root,
that it never failed to come out.
The Tame “Serpents excepted, there were no animals of
; Baboon. whom Kees stood in such great dread as of his
own species,—perhaps owing to a consciousness of loss of ©
natural capacity. Sometimes he heard the cry of other
apes among the mountains, and, terrified as he was, he
yet answered them. But, if they approached nearer, and
he saw any of them, he fled, with a hideous cry, crept
between our legs, and trembled over his whole body. It was
very difficult to compose him, and it required some time
before he recovered from his fright.
The Cunning “Like all other animals, Kees was addicted to
ofthe stealing. He understood admirably well how
Baboon. to loose the strings of a basket, in order to take



THE BABOON. 23

victuals out of it, especially milk, of which he was very fond.
My people chastised him for these thefts; but that did not
make him amend his conduct. I myself sometimes whipped
him; but then he ran away, and did not return again to the
tent until it grew dark. Once, as I was about to dine, and
had put the beans, which I had boiled for myself, upon a
plate, I heard the voice of a bird with which I was not
acquainted. I left my dinner standing, seized my gun, and
ran out of the tent. After the space of about a quarter of
an hour I returned, with the bird in my hand, but, to my
astonishment, found not a single bean upon the plate. Kees
had stolen them all, and taken himself out of the way.
When he had committed any trespass of this kind, he used
always, about the time when I drank tea, to return quietly,
and seat himself in his usual place, with every appearance
of innocence, as if nothing had happened; but this evening
he did not let himself be seen. And, on the following day,
also, he was not seen by any of us; and, in consequence,
I began to grow seriously uneasy about him, and apprehen-
sive that he might be lost for ever. But, on the third day,
one of my people, who had been to fetch water, informed
me that he had seen Kees in the neighbourhood, but that,
as soon as the animal espied him, he had concealed himself
again. I immediately went out and beat the whole neigh-
bourhood with my dogs. All at once, I heard a cry, like
that which Kees used to make, when I returned from my
shooting, and had not taken him with me. I looked about,
and at length espied him, endeavouring to hide himself
behind the large branches of a tree. I now called to him
in a friendly tone of voice, and made motions to him to come
down to me. But he could not trust me, and I was obliged
to climb up the tree to fetch him. He did not attempt to fly,
and we returned together to my quarters; here he expected
to receive his punishment; but I did nothing, as it would
have been of no use.



24 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

The Goyalty sD Officer, wishing to put the fidelity of my
ofthe baboon to the test, pretended to strike me. At
Baboon. this he flew in a violent rage, and, from that time,
could never endure the sight of the officer. If he only saw
him at a distance he began to cry, and make all kinds of
grimaces, which evidently showed that he wished to revenge
the insult that had been done to me; he ground his teeth;
and endeavoured, with all his might, to fly at his face, but
that was out of his power, as he was chained down. The
offender several times endeavoured, in vain, to conciliate
him, by offering him dainties, but he remained long im-
placable.
The “When any eatables were pilfered, at my quar-
Pie ters, the fault was always laid upon Kees; and rarely
Baboon, was the accusation unfounded. For a time the
eggs, which a hen laid me, were constantly stolen, and
I wished to ascertain whether I had to attribute this loss also
to him. For this purpose I went one morning to watch him,
and waited till the hen announced, by her cackling, that she
had laid an egg. Kees was sitting upon my vehicle; but,
the moment he heard the hen’s voice, he leapt down, and
was running to fetch the egg. When he saw me, he suddenly
stopped, and affected a careless posture, swaying himself
backwards upon his hind legs, and assuming a very innocent
look; in short, he employed all his art to deceive me with
respect to his design. His hypocritical manceuvres only con-
firmed my suspicions, and, in order, in my turn, to deceive
him, I pretended not to attend to him, and turned my back
to the bush where the hen was cackling, upon which he
immediately sprang to the place. I ran after him, and came
up to him at the moment when he had broken the egg and
was swallowing it. Having caught the thief in the fact, I
gave him a good beating upon the spot, but this severe
chastisement did not prevent his soon stealing fresh-laid eggs
again. As I was convinced that I should never be able to



THE BABOON. 25

break Kees off his natural vices, and that, unless I chained
him up every moming, I should never get an egg, I endea-
voured to accomplish my purpose in another manner; I
trained one of my dogs, as soon as the hen cackled, to run
t, the nest, and bring me the egg, without breaking it. In
a few days, the dog had learned his lesson; but Kees, as
soon as he heard the hen cackle, ran with him to the nest.
A contest now took place between them, who should have
the egg; often the dog was foiled, although he was the
stronger of the two. If he gained the victory, he ran joyfully
to me with the egg, and put it into my hand. Kees, never-
theless, followed him, and did not cease to grumble and make
threatening grimaces at him, till he saw me take the ege,—
as if he was comforted for the loss of his booty by his
adversary’s not retaining it for himself. If Kees had got hold
of the egg, he endeavoured to run with it to a tree, where,
having devoured it, he threw down the shells upon his
adversary, as if to make game of him. Kees was always the
first awake in the morning, and, when it was the proper time,
he awoke the dogs, who were accustomed to his voice, and,
in general, obeyed, without hesitation, the slightest motions
by which he communicated his orders to them, immediately
taking their posts about the tent and carriage, as he directed
them.”

The Bonnet The bonnet monkey is of the genus macacus,

Monkey. and is to be found in many parts of India. It
is characterized by a bonnet, or cap of hair, which radiates
from the centre of the crown. It is known as the Macacus
Radiatus. Other species of the genus macacus are the
Rhesus monkey, the Wanderoo, the Barbary Ape or Magot,
and the Macague.

Indian Monkeys. Many stories are told of the audacity of
the Indian monkeys in which those of the genus macacus
come in for more than honourable mention. Whether in
their native haunts, or in European menageries, they are an



26 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

endless source of amusement and not unfrequently one of
annoyance. In their free state, they tax the ingenuity of
native and European alike by their mischievous habits and
thievish propensities. They climb upon the tops of the
Bazaars and the slightest relapse from vigilance on the part of
the shopkeepers is sure to be followed by the loss or spoliation
of their wares. A common defence against these unwelcome
intruders is to cover the roofs with a certain prickly shrub,
the thorns of which command respect even from monkeys.
Mrs. Bowdich says: “In some places they are even fed,
encouraged, and allowed to live on the roofs of houses; ”
but this would be where the goods of the householder were
beyond their reach. “If a man wishes to revenge himself
for any injury committed upon him,” says Mrs. Bowdich,
“he has only to sprinkle some rice or corn upon the top
of his enemy’s house or granary just before the rain sets in,
and the monkeys will assemble upon it, eat all they can
find outside, and then pull off the tiles to get at that which
has fallen through the crevices. This, of course, gives
access to the torrents which fall in such countries, and
house, furniture and stores are all ruined.” Quoting from
another writer, Mrs. Bowdich gives an amusing description
of the way in which one of these monkeys watched his
opportunity for making his descent upon a sweet-stuff shop.
Taking up a position opposite the shop, “he pretended to be
asleep, but every now and then softly raised his head to
look at the tempting piles and the owner of them, who sat
smoking his pipe without symptoms even of a doze. In
half an hour the monkey got up, as if he were just awake,
yawned, stretched himself, and took another position a few
yards off, where he pretended to play with his tail, occa-
sionally looking over his shoulder at the coveted delicacies. ,
At length the shopman gave signs of activity, and the
monkey was on the alert; the man went to his back room,
the monkey cleared the street at one bound, and in an



THE INDIAN MONKEYS. 27

instant stuffed his pouches full of the delicious morsels. He
had, however, overlooked some hornets, which were regaling
themselves at the same time. They resented his disturbance,
and the tormented monkey, in his hurry to escape, came upon
a thorn-covered roof, where he lay stung, torn, and bleeding
He spurted the stolen bonbons from his pouches and barked
hoarsely looking the picture of misery. The noise of the
tiles which he had dislodged in his retreat brought out the
inhabitants, and among them the vendor of the sweets, with
his turban unwound, and streaming two yards behind him.
All joined in laughing at the wretched monkey; but their
religious reverence for him induced them to go to his
assistance: they picked out his thorns and he limped away
to the woods quite crestfallen.”

The Monkey The writer, from whom Mrs. Bowdich quoted

Outdone. the above story, gives a graphic account of the
success of a stratagem he employed to rid himself of the
unwelcome visits of his monkey friends. “ Although,” says
he, “a good deal shyer of me than they were of the natives,
I found no difficulty in getting within a few yards of them;
and when I lay still among the brushwood they gambolled
round me with as much freedom as if I had been one of
themselves. This happy understanding, however, did not
last long, and we soon began to urge war upon each other.
The casus belli was a field of sugar-cane which I had
planted on the newly cleared jungle.

“Every beast of the field seemed leagued against this
devoted patch of sugar-cane. The wild elephants came and
browzed in it; the jungle hogs rooted it up, and munched
it at their leisure; the jackals gnawed the stalks into squash;
and the wild deer ate the tops of the young plants. Against
all these marauders there was an obvious remedy,—to build
a stout fence round the cane-field. This was done accord-
ingly; and a deep trench dug ouiside, that even the wild
elephant did not deem it prudent to cross, The wild hogs



2% NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

came and inspected the trench and the palisades beyond.
A bristly old tusker was observed taking a survey of the
defences; but, after mature deliberation, he gave two short
grunts, the porcine (language), I imagined, for ‘No go,’ and
took himself off at a round trot, to pay a visit to my neigh-
bour Ram Chunder, and inquire how his little plot of sweet
yams was coming on. The jackals sniffed at every crevice,
and determined to wait a bit; but the monkeys laughed the
whole entrenchment to scorn. Day after day was I doomed
to behold my canes devoured as fast as they ripened, by
troops of jubilant monkeys. It was of no use attempting to
drive them away. When disturbed, they merely retreated
to the nearest tree, dragging whole stalks of sugar-cane along
with them, and then spurted the chewed fragments in my
face, as I looked up at them. This was adding insult to
injury; and I positively began to grow bloodthirsty at the
idea of being outwitted by monkeys. The case between us
might have been stated in this way. ‘I have, at much
trouble and expense, cleared and cultivated this jungle land,’
said I. ‘More fool you,’ said the monkeys. ‘I have
planted and watched over these sugar-canes.’ ‘Watched!
Ah, ah! so have we, for the matter of that” ‘But surely
I have a right to reap what I sowed.’ ‘Don’t see it,’ said
the monkeys; ‘the jungle, by rights prescriptive and indefeas-
ible, is ours, and has been so ever since the days of Ram
Hanuman of the long tail. If you cultivate the jungle with-
out our consent, you must look to the consequences. [If you
don’t like our customs, you may get about your business.
We don’t want you.’ I kept brooding over this mortifying
view of the matter, until one morning I hatched revenge in
a practicable shape. A tree, with about a score of monkeys
on it, was cut down, and half a dozen of the youngest were
caught as they attempted to escape. A large pot of ghow
(treacle) was then mixed with as much tarter emetic as could
be spared from the medicine chest, and the young hopefuls



THE INDIAN MONKEYS. 29

after being carefully painted over with the compound, were
allowed to return to their distressed relatives, who, as soon
as they arrived, gathered round them and commenced licking
them with the greatest assiduity. The results I had anticipated
were not long in making their appearance. A more melan-
choly sight it was impossible to behold; but so efficacious
was this treatment, that for more than two years I hardly
ever saw a monkey in the neighbourhood.”
The Monkey Tavernier was once travelling from Agra to
Aroused. Surat with the English president, when passing
within a few miles of Amenabad through a forest of mangoes,
they experienced the danger of provoking such companies. He
says. “We saw a vast number of very large apes, male and
female, many of the latter having their young in their arms. We
were each of us in our coaches; and the English president
stopped his to tell me that he had a very fine new gun; and
knowing that I was a good marksman, desired me to try it,
by shooting one of the apes. One of my servants, who was
a native of the country, made a sign to me not to do it;
and I did all that was in my power to dissuade the gentle-
man from his design, but to no purpose; for he immediately
levelled his piece, and shot a she ape, who fell through the
branches of the tree on which she was sitting, her young ones
tumbling at the same time out of her arms on the ground.
We presently saw that happen which my servant apprehended;
for all the apes, to the number of sixty, came immediately
down from the trees, and attacked the president’s coach with
such fury that they must infallibly have destroyed him if
all who were present had not flown to his relief, and by
drawing up the windows, and posting all the servants about
the coach, protected him from their resentment.” That
diplomacy is better than war in dealing with bands of mon-~
keys is shown by comparing the results of the foregoing
experiences.



je NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

The Monkeys) That monkeys are capable of very poignant

Affection. feeling is shown by the following pathetic story.
Mr. Forbes, in his “Oriental Memoirs,” says :—“On a shoot-
ing party one of my friends killed a female monkey, and
carried it to his tent, which was soon surrounded by forty or
fifty of the tribe, who made a great noise, and in a menacing
posture advanced towards it. On presenting his fowling-piece
they retreated, but one stood his ground, chattering and
menacing in a furious manner. He at length came close to
the. tent door, and finding that his threatenings were of no
avail, began a lamentable moaning, and by every expression
of grief and supplication seemed to beg the body of the
deceased. On this it was given to him. He took it up in
his arms, eagerly pressed it to his bosom, and carried it off
in a sort of triumph to his expecting companions. The artless
behaviour of this poor animal wrought so powerfully on the
sportsmen that they resolved never more to level a gun at
one of the monkey tribe.”

American To visit the family of the Cebidz we have to

Monkeys. cross the Atlantic Ocean, and here we find
characteristics with which the monkeys of the East are un-
familiar, while we miss others which are common to the
monkeys of the old world. In passing from East to West
we lose the cheek-pouch characteristic and we find that of
the prehensile tail. There are more than eighty species in
the family of the Cebidz, divided into ten genera and grouped
in four sub-families. The first of the sub-families includes
the monkeys with prehensile tails.
The Capuchin The capuchins belong to the genus Cebus

Monkey. which includes the majority of American monkeys.
There are a number of species of which the Brown Capuchin
(Brazil), the Wheeper Capuchin (Brazil), and the White-throated
Capuchin (Central America) are the best known.

The Spider The Spider Monkey is of the genus Aseles and

Monkeys. is one of the best known of the Cebidz family.



THE AMERICAN MONKEYS. 3h

In it the prehensile tail reaches its perfection. It is a
remarkably sensitive organ, answering the purpose, as the Rev.
J. G. Wood puts it, of “a fifth hand,” being capable of use
“for any purpose to which the hand could be applied,” and
for hooking out objects from places “where a hand could
not be inserted.” According to Mr. Wood they wrap their
tails about them to protect themselves from cold, to which
they are very sensitive, and hold on by them to the branches
of trees with such tenacity that they remain suspended after
death. The prehensile part of the tail is naked and of
extreme sensibility. The tail is also used to preserve balance
when walking erect, for which purpose it is thrown up and
curled over. The appearance of these monkeys, as they leap
from branch to branch in their native woods, swinging by
their tails, and often hanging on to those of each other, until
a living bridge is formed from tree to tree, is exceedingly
picturesque.
The Howling The Howling Monkeys form the single genus
Monkeys. of the second sub-family of the Cebidz—the
genus Mycetes. There are a number of species, popularly
known as the “Golden Howler,” the “Black Howler,” &c. &c.
They are chiefly characteristic for the attribute to which they
owe their name, The howl is a loud mournful cry which
can be heard at a great distance, and is said by Wallace to
proceed from the leader of the band who howls for the whole
company. These animals are larger and more clumsy than
the spider monkeys and therefore less agile; they have powerful,
prehensile tails. The “Howler ”is much prized by the Indians
as an article of food.
The Beardea The third sub-family of the Cebidz includes
Seki. some dozen species which inhabit the forests of
Equatorial America. They are of the genus Pithecia, and
some species have broad beards and bushy tails. The head
of the Bearded Saki (Pethecta Satanas) has a singularly
human appearance.



32 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

The The fourth sub-family of the Cebide includes
Douroucoull. several genera and a number of species, of these
the Douroucouli (Wyctipithecus felinus) is one of the most
interesting. It is a small monkey, measuring only thirteen
inches, apart from its tail, which is eighteen inches long:
It is catlike in some of its habits, sleeping during the day,
and prowling about at night in search of food, which it
finds in fruits, insects and small birds. It has a catlike
mew, though it often makes a louder cry more resembling
the noise of the jaguar.

The Marmosets. The fifth family of the quadrumana com-
prises the marmosets, of which there are two genera—the
Hapale and the Midas. These are very small, measuring
about eight inches without the tail, which is eleven inches
long. The marmoset is one of the prettiest of the monkeys,
and, though at first shy, soon becomes playful and affection-
ate. Marmosets are one of the few species that breed in
confinement. Sir William Jardine describes a marmoset who
gave birth to three offspring in Paris. One of these, for
some reason, displeased her, and she killed it, but upon the
others beginning to suck the maternal instinct awoke, and
she became as affectionate as she was before careless. “The
male seemed more affectionate and careful of them than the
mother, and assisted in the charge. The young generally |
keep upon the back or under the belly of the female, and
Cuvier observed, that when the female was tired of carrying
them, she would approach the male with a shrill cry, who
immediately relieved her with his hands, placing them upon
his back, or under his belly, where they held themselves
and were catried about until they became restless for milk,
when they were given over to the mother who, in her turn,
would again endeavour to get rid of them.”
SUB-ORDER I. The lemurs and their allied forms make up
The Lemurs. the remaining families of the quadrumana.
These are three. The Lemuride, of which there are many



THE LEMURS. 33

species, most of which belong to Madagascar, others to Africa,
Asia, and the Indian Archipelago; the Zarside, which hail from
Sumatra and Borneo; and the Chiromytde, of which the aye-
aye is the representative. The Lemuride are divided into
four sub-families by Professor Mivart. I, the Indri; II, the
true Lemurs; III, the slow Lemurs and IV, the Galagos.
The lemur is nocturnal in its habits and noiseless in its
movements. Some of its species much resemble the cat in
appearance though its four hands unmistakably demonstrate
its order. Sir William Jones describes a Slow Lemur (Wycticebus
tardigradus), which he had in his possession, as “gentle ex-
cept in the cold season, when his temper seemed wholly
changed.” This animal expressed great resentment when
disturbed unseasonably. From half an hour after sunrise to
half an hour before sunset he slept without any intermission,
rolled up like a hedgehog: and as soon as he awoke he
began to prepare himself for the occupations of his approach-
ing day, licking and dressing himself like a cat—an operation —
which the flexibility of his neck and limbs enabled him to
perform very completely. He was then ready for a slight
breakfast, after which he commonly took a short nap; but
when the sun was quite set he recovered all his vivacity.
“ Generally he was not voracious, but of grasshoppers he never
could have enough; and passed the whole night during the
hot season in prowling for them. He used all his paws
indifferently as hands.” Mrs. Bowdich tells of one of these
animals, procured by Mr. Baird at Prince of Wales Island,
who shared a cage with a dog to whom he became greatly
attached, while nothing could reconcile him to a cat, which
constantly jumped over his back, causing him great annoyance.
The Tarsier. The tarsier (Tarsius spectrum) is a small, kitten-
faced animal with long hind legs, which enable it to leap
like a frog. It is nocturnal in habit, and is found in Sumatra,
Borneo, and elsewhere. ©

The Aye-Aye. The aye-aye (Chiromys madagascariensis) is

3



34 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECBOTE.

a remarkable little animal resembling, as Professor Owen says,
in size and shape the domestic cat, its head and ears being
larger, and its hind legs and tail longer than those of the
cat. Dr. Sandwich, writing of one he had in his possession,
says:—“The thick sticks I put into his cage were bored in
all directions by a large and destructive grub, called the
montouk. Just at sunset the aye-aye crept from under his
blanket, yawned, stretched and betook himself to his tree.
Presently he came to one of the worm-eaten branches, which
he began to examine most attentively, and bending forward
his ears, and applying his nose close to the bark, he rapidly
tapped the surface with the curious second digit, as a wood-
pecker taps a tree, though with much less noise, from time
to time inserting the end of the slender finger into the
worm-holes as a surgeon would a probe. At length he came
to a part of the branch which evidently gave out an inter-
esting sound, for he began to tear it with his strong teeth.
He rapidly stripped off the bark, cut into the wood, and
exposed the nest of a grub which he daintily picked out of
its bed, with the slender, tapping finger, and conveyed the
luscious morsel to his mouth. But I was yet to learn another
peculiarity. I gave him water to drink in a saucer, on which
he stretched out his hand, dipped a finger into it and drew
it obliquely through his open mouth. After a while he lapped
like a cat, but his first mode of drinking appeared to me to
be his way of reaching water in the deep clefts of trees.”
ORDER If, fhe animals which most nearly resemble the
Wing-Handea four-handed animals or quadrumana are the
Animals. wing-handed animals,—the bats or Chetvoptera.
These aré of singular appearence and interesting habit. “If,”
says the Rev. J. G. Wood, “the fingers of a man were to be
drawn out like wire to about four feet in length, a thin
membrane to extend from finger to finger, and another
membrane to fall from the little finger to the ankles, he
would make a very tolerable imitation of a bat.”—Of course,





(Otolicnus galago )



AYE -AYE ;
(Cheiromys madagascariensis)

SSHTIN Z ON Peg

“AMOLSIH TWANLVN



THE BATS. 35

it should be added, making allowance for proportion, the
full grown male bat, of the largest species, rarely exceeding
twelve inches in height from head to foot. Bats’ wings are
highly nervous and sensitive, so much so as to render their
owners almost independent of sight. Besides being “well
adapted for flight,” says Dr. Percival Wright, “they are still
capable in a small measure of seizing, differing thus from
the anterior limbs of Birds.”

Bats. Dr. Dobson divides the order Chetroptera into
two sub-orders: I, The Great Bats and II, The Smaller Bats.
Of these there are numerous genera and a large number of
species. THE GreaT Bats abound in the tropical and sub-
tropical regions of the East, where they live on fruit, and
from this circumstance are classified as “fruit-eating bats,”
though they are sometimes called “ flying-foxes.” The largest
of these inhabit Sumatra and Java, living in large companies,
sleeping by day and foraging by night. A large tree serves
them for a sleeping-chamber, where, suspending themselves
head downwards from the branches, they wrap their wings
about them in lieu of blankets and sleep out the sunshine.
After sunset they gradually awake and proceed to ravage
any fruit preserves which may be within reach, committing
serious depredations while the owners outsleep the moon.
According to Mr. Francis Day, “they do very great injury
to cocoa-nut plantations and mangoe gardens.” “Their
habits,” says Mr. Day, “are very intemperate, and they often
pass the night drinking the toddy from the chatties in the
cocoa-nut trees, which results either in their returning home
in the early morning in a state of extreme and riotous
intoxication, or in being found the next day at the foot of
the trees, sleeping off the effects of their midnight debauch.”
Tur SMALLER Bats include several families, numerous genera,
and a large number of species to be found in almost all
parts of the world. These bats are chiefly insect-eaters,
though included among them are the vampire bats and the



36 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

Megaderma lyra which have the reputation of being cannibalistic.
The various families are “The Horseshoe Bats,” ‘‘ The
Nycteridz,” ‘‘The Vespertilionide,” ‘‘The Emballonuridz,”
and ‘‘The Phyllostomida.”
The The common English bats belong to the
Common Vespertilionide. The Pipistrelle feeds upon
Hnglish Bats. insects but will eat flesh if opportunity serves,
jIn his ‘‘ Natural History of Selbourne,” Mr. White describes
a tame bat which he saw, which would take flies out of a
person’s hand. “If you gave it anything to eat,” he says,
“it brought its wings round before the mouth, hovering and
hiding its head in the manner of birds of prey when they
feed. The adroitness it showed in shearing off the wings
of the flies, which were always rejected, pleased me much.
Insects seemed to be most acceptable, though it did not
refuse raw flesh when offered; so that the notion that bats
go down chimneys and gnaw men’s bacon seems no improbable
story.” The Long-eared Bat, Plecofus auritus, is also common
in England. ‘Its ears,” says Mr. Wood, ‘‘are about an inch
and a half in length and have a fold in them reaching almost
to the lips,” hence its name. ‘‘It is very easily tamed.”
The Vampire Bat which belongs to South

The
Vampire America has been invested with a halo of romance
Bat. by the stories which have been told about its
sanguinary character, ‘‘It lives,” says the Rev. J. G. Wood,

“fon the blood of animals, and sucks usually while its victim
sleeps. The extremities, where the blood flows freely, as the
toe of a man, the ears of a horse, or the combs and wattles
of fowls, are its favorite spots. When it has selected a
subject, on which it intends to feed, it watches until the
animal is fairly asleep. It then carefully fans its victim with
its wings while it bites a little hole in the ear or shoulder,
and through this small aperture, into which a pin’s head
would scarcely pass, it contrives to abstract sufficient blood
to make a very ample meal. The wound is so small, and



THE BATS. 37

the bat manages so adroitly, that the victim does not discover
that anything has happened until the morning, when a pool
of blood betrays the visit of the vampire. “The Vampire
Bat,” says Professor Darwin, “is often the cause of much
trouble by biting the horses on their withers. The injury
is not so much owing to the loss of blood, as to the inflammation
which the pressure of the saddle afterwards produces. The
whole circumstance has lately been doubted in England. I
was therefore fortunate in being present when one was actually
caught on a horse’s back. We were bivouacking late one
evening, near Coquimbo, in Chili, when my servant, noticing
that one of the horses was very restive, went to see what was
the matter, and fancying he could distinguish something,
suddenly put his hand on the beast’s withers, and secured
the vampire. In the morning the spot where the bite had
been inflicted was easily distinguished by its being slightly
swoilen and bloody. The third day afterwards we rode the
horse without any ill effects.”

A Traveller's Captain Steadman, in his “ Narrative of a Five
Uxperience. Years’ Expedition against the Revolted Negroes
_ of Strinam,” relates, that on waking about four o’clock one
morning in his hammock, he was extremely alarmed at finding
himself weltering in congealed blood, and without feeling any
pain whatever. “The mystery was,” continues Captain Stead-
man, “that I had been bitten by the Vampyre or Spectre of
Guiana, which is also called the Mying Dog of New Spain,
and by the Spaniards, Perrovolador. This is no other than
a bat of monstrous size, that sucks the blood from men and
cattle while they are fast asleep, even sometimes till they die;
and as the manner in which they proceed is truly wonderful,
I shall endeavour to give a distinct account of it. Knowing,
by instinct, that the person they intend to attack is in a
sound slumber, they generally alight near the feet, where,
while the creature continues fanning with his enormous wings,
which keeps one cool, he bites a piece out of the tip of the



38 WATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

great toe, so very small, indeed, that the head of a pin could
scarcely be received into the wound, which is consequently
net painful; yet through this orifice he continues to suck the
blood until he is obliged to disgorge. Cattle they generally
bite in the ear, but always in places where the blood flows
spontaneously.”
Megaderma The Vampire Bat of South America has long
iyra. been credited with sanguinivorous habits, and
until recently was supposed to be the only bat having such
propensities. Mr. Edward Blyth has, however, shown that
the Megaderma Lyra of Asia will sometimes prey upon the
smaller species of bat with which it comes in contact. Mr.
Blyth, one evening, observed a rather large bat of this species
enter an outhouse, whereupon he procured a light, closed
the door to prevent escape and then proceeded to catch
the intruder. In the chase the bat dropped what Mr. Blyth
at first took to be a young one, but which proved to be
a small Vespertilio Bat, “feeble from loss of blood, which
it was evident the Megaderma had been sucking from a
large, and still bleeding, wound under and behind the ear.”
As the Megaderma had not alighted while in the outhouse,
Mr. Blyth concluded “that it sucked the vital current from
its victim as it flew, having probably seized it on the wing,
and that it was seeking a quiet nook where it might devour
the body at leisure.” Having caught the Megaderma Mr.
Blyth kept both specimens until the next day, and having
examined each separately put them both into a cage, where-
upon the Megaderma attacked the smaller bat “with the
ferocity of a tiger”; finding it impossible to escape the cage
“it hung by the hind legs to one side of its prison, and afte:
sucking the victim till no more blood was left commenced
devouring it, and soon left nothing but the head and some
portions of the limbs.” “The voidings observed shortly
afterwards in its cage,” says Mr. Blyth, “resembled clotted
blood, which will explain the statement of Steadman and



INSECT-EATING ANIMALS. 39

others concerning masses of congealed blood being observed
near a patient who has been attacked by a South American
vampire.”
ORDER It. ‘Jnsect-eating animals (Jnsectivore) include
Insect-Hating several families, of which the hedgehogs, the
Animals. moles and the shrews, are the best known genera.
The Colugo is perhaps the most singular member of the
order. According to some writers his proper place is among
the lemurs, and except that his feet are adorned with
claws instead of nails, it is easy to understand why he
might be classed with the quadrumana. The Colugo is
covered from head to foot by a furry membrane, resembling
an overcoat open in front and ending in a three cornered
flap at the tail.
Tho The family of the hedgehog contains two genera
Hedgehog. and a number of species. Its length is from six
to ten inches; the head, back, and sides being covered with
short spines, the under parts with soft hair. It lives in
thickets, and subsists on fruits, roots, and insects. During the
winter, it lies imbedded in moss, or dried leaves, in a state of
torpidity. It inhabits Europe, Asia and Africa. It is valuable
in the garden for destroying the insects, and in the kitchen
for the extermination of cockroaches, beetles and other house-
hold pests. For defence, it rolls itself into a ball in such a
manner as to present its prickly spines on all sides. In this
condition it can suffer considerable violence without injury.
Mr. Bell mentions a hedgehog that was in the habit of
running to the edge of an area wall twelve or fourteen feet
high, and without a moment’s pause, leap over, contracting
into a ball as he fell, and in this form reaching the ground,
where it quietly unfolded itself as if nothing had happened
and ran on its way. It is nocturnal in its habits and in its
natural state lives in pairs. It is easily tamed. A hedgehog
has been trained to serve as a turnspit “as well,” says Captain
Brown, “in all respects as the dog of that denomination. In



40 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

a wild state it has been known to attack and kill a leveret.
In attacking a snake it will roll itself up between its bites and
thus protect itself against retaliation.

The Mole. The family of the Talpide to which the mole
belongs is a large and interesting one. The common mole
“when at rest,” says the author of “ Tales of Animals,” “bears
more resemblance to a small stuffed sack than to a living
animal, its head being entirely destitute of external ears, and
elongated nearly to a point, and its eyes so extremely small
and completely hidden by the fur, that it would not be sur-
prising should a casual observer conclude it to be blind. This
apparently shapeless mass is endowed with great activity and
a surprising degree of strength, and is excellently suited for
deriving enjoyment from the peculiar life it is designed to lead.
It is found abundantly in Europe and North America, from
Canada to Virginia; often living at no great distance from
water-courses, or in dykes thrown up to protect meadows
from inundation. The mole burrows with great quickness,
and travels under ground with much celerity; nothing can be
better constructed for this purpose than its broad and strong
hands, or fore paws, armed with long and powerful claws,
which are very sharp at their extremities, and slightly curved
on the inside. Numerous galleries, communicating with each
other, enable the mole to travel in various directions, without
coming to the surface, which they appear to do very rarely,
unless their progress is impeded by a piece of ground so hard
as to defy their strength and perseverance. The depth of
their burrows depends very materially on the character of
the soil, and the situation of the place; sometimes running
for a great distance, at a depth of from one to three inches,
and sometimes much deeper. Moles are most active early
in the morning, at midday, and in the evening; after rains
they are particularly busy in repairing their damaged galleries;
and in jong continued wet weather we find that they seek
the high grounds for security.”



THE MOLE. qy

An Enterprising Though as Captain Brown points out nothing
Mole. is more fatal to the mole than excessive rain,
which fills their subterranean galleries with water; the follow-
ing statement made by Mr. A. Bruce in the Linnzan Trans-
actions, shows that the animal is not without enterprise on
the water :—“On visiting the Loch of Clunie, which I often
did, I observed in it a small island at the distance of one
hundred and eighty yards from the nearest land, measured
to be so upon the ice. Upon the island, the Earl of Airly,
the proprietor, has a castle and small shrubbery. I remarked
frequently the appearance of fresh mole casts, or hills. I for
some time took them for those of the water mouse, and one
day asked the gardener if it was so. No, said he, it was
the mole; and that he had caught one or two lately. Five
or six years ago, he caught two in traps; and for two years
after this he had observed none. But, about four years ago,
coming ashore one summer’s evening in the dusk, with the
Earl of Airly’s butler, they saw at a short distance, upon the
smooth water, some animal paddling towards the island. They
soon closed with this feeble passenger, and found it to be
the common mole, led by a most astonishing instinct from
the castle hill, the nearest point of land, to take possession
of this desert island. It had been, at the time of my visit,
for the space of two years quite free from any subterraneous
inhabitant; but the mole has, for more than a year past,
made its appearance again, and its operations I have since
been witness to.”
The Use of Lhe use of the mole is often said to be far
the Mole. outweighed by the mischief he perpetrates, the
truth appearing to be that like many other animals, in his
own place he is valuable, out of it he is a source of danger.
Both conditions are illustrated by the following, which I quote
from Mrs. Bowdich’s “Anecdotes of Animals.”
“A French naturalist of the name of Henri Lecourt devoted
a great part of his life to the study of the habits and struc-



42 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

ture of moles; and he tells us that they will run as fast asa
horse will gallop. By his observations he rendered essential
service to a large district in France; for he discovered that
numbers of moles had undermined the banks of a canal, and
that unless means were taken to prevent the catastrophe,
these banks would give way, and inundation would ensue.
By his ingenious contrivances and accurate knowledge of their
habits, he contrived to extirpate them before the occurrence
of further mischief. Moles, however, are said to be excellent
drainers of land; and Mr. Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, used
to declare that if a hundred men and horses were employed
to dress a pasture farm of 1500 or 2000 acres, they would
not do it as effectually as moles would do, if left to them-
selves.”

The Shrew. The shrew family is a large one and widely
distributed over the surface of the earth. The common shrew
(Sorex vulgaris) is that best known in England. It resembles
the mouse in general form and varies in size and colour, its usual
length, including the tail being about four and a half inches.
Its body is moderately full, its neck short, its head tapering
to a pointed snout, the fore-feet small, the hind-feet larger
and the tail shorter than the body. The shrew is generally
found either in burrows, or among heaps of stones, or in
holes made by other animals; near dung heaps or hayricks,
they are more numerous than elsewhere. Insects are their
principal subsistence, but they seem no less fond of grain,
and show a pig’s predilection for filth of various sorts, Its
principal enemies are the Kestrel and the Bam Owl. A
superstition to the effect that if the shrew should rin over
the legs of a cow or a horse while reposing on the grass it
causes lameness, is also responsible for the destruction of many
by ignorant country folk. One species of the shrew enjoys
the reputation of being the smallest living mammel; it is but
an inch and a half long with a tail of an inch in length.
The water shrew is somewhat larger than the common shrew



Plate No. 3 MILES’ NATURAL HISTORY.

LION
(Felis leo)







FLESH-EATING ANIMALS. 43

attaining to a length of five and a half inches including the
tail. The water shrew colonises on the banks of rivers.
ORDER Iv, The order of flesh-eating animals (ca nivora)
Flesh-eating includes a large number of species among which
Animals. are the lion, the tiger and the leopard, as
well as the cat and the dog. The two sub-orders into
which this order is divided are: I, The Fissipedia, and II, The
Pinnipedia. The Fissipedia are again divided into ten fami-
lies; lions, cats, dogs, hyenas, weasels, and bears being the
most important members. The Pinnipedia includes the seal,
the sea lion, the walrus and their allies.
Animals of the cat kind are distinguished
SUB-ORDER I. 2 ‘ 2
The Fissipedia. PY their sharp and formidable claws, which
Animals of the they can hide or extend at pleasure. They
Cat Kind. are remarkable for their rapacity, subsisting
entirely on the flesh and blood of other animals. The dog,
wolf, and bear, are sometimes known to live on vegetables,
or farinaceous food; but the lion, the tiger, the leopard, and
other animals of this class, devour nothing but flesh, and
would starve upon. any other provision. They lead a solitary,
ravenous life, uniting neither for mutual defence, like vegetable
feeders, nor for mutual support, like those of the dog kind.
The first of the class is the lion, distinguished from all the
rest by his strength, his magnitude, and his mane. The
second is the tiger, rather longer than the lion, but not so
tall, and known by the streaks and vivid beauty of its skin;
here we may also mention the puma, which is sometimes
called a panther, or colloquially a “painter”, otherwise a
couguar, or American lion, which is of a tawny colour. The
next is the leopard, sometimes called a panther, and the next
the jaguar, followed by the ounce, not so large as any of the
former, spotted like them, but distinguished by the cream-
coloured ground of its hair, and a tail so long as to exceed
the length of its body. The next is the catamountain, or
tiger-cat, less than the ounce, but differing particularly in



44 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

having a shorter tail, and being streaked down the back like
a tiger. The next is the lynx, of the size of a fox, with its
body streaked, and the tips of its ears tufted with black.
Then comes the Persian lynx, not so large as the lynx, nor
mottled like it, but with longer ears, tipped also with black,
and the serval, shaped and streaked like the lynx, but not
having the tips of its ears tufted. Lastly, the cat, wild and
tame, with all its varieties; less than any of the former, but
like them insidious, rapacious, and cruel.

The Lion. The lion is known as the King of Beasts;
though modern travellers have done much to rob him of
the homage that he once received. Like a human being
who has been too much lionized, he suffers from the detrac-
tions which are excited by his pre-eminence. He is found
chiefly in India and Africa, though he once had a more
extended range. He was well known to the Greeks, and
appears in both their poetry and history. Homer celebrates
him, and according to Herodotus he exploited himself by
attacking the camels of the army of Xerxes. His noble
appearance is said to be responsible for the popular ideal of
his character, which travellers and naturalists declare to be
minus the magnanimous and generous qualities with which
it was at one time credited.

The Lion’s In judging of the lion’s character it is import-

Character. ant to remember that he belongs to the cat family,
and that his virtues and vices are naturally of the cat kind.
“The lion seldom runs,” says the author of “ Tales of Animals.”
“He either walks or creeps, or, for a short distance, advances
rapidly by great bounds. It is evident, therefore, that he
must seize. his prey by stealth; that he is not fitted for an
open attack; and that his character is necessarily that of
great power, united to considerable skill and cunning in its
exercise.” Again, the lion, as well as others of the cat
tribe, takes his prey at night; and it is necessary, therefore,
that he should have peculiar organs of vision. In all those



THE LION. 4$§

animals which seek their food in the dark, the eye is usually
of a large size, to admit a great number of rays. This
peculiar kind of eye, therefore, is necessary to the Lion to
perceive his prey, and he creeps towards it with a certainty
which nothing but this distinct nocturnal vision. could give.”
Men who hunt the lion in the daytime, when he is usually
sleeping off the effects of a hearty meal, and who awaken
him in a surprised and dazed condition when his cat-like eyes
cannot bear the blaze of the sun, ought not to be surprised
if he tries to postpone fighting until a more convenient season.
Nor can he be said to be less noble because he only fights
when it is necessary to procure food, to protect his young,
and to defend himself. A veritable Ulysses among the
beasts he is ready to fight if needs be, but unless urged by
hunger, or attacked by the hunter, he does not seem to bear
any particular malice against mankind.

The Lion's “it is singular,” says Sparrman, “that the lion,

Attitude which, according to many, always kills his prey
towards Man. immediately if it belongs to the brute creation,
is reported, frequently, although provoked, to content himself
with merely wounding the human species; or, at least, to wait
some time before he gives the fatal blow to the unhappy
victim he has got under him. A farmer, who the year
before had the misfortune to be a spectator of a lion seizing
two of his oxen, at the very instant he had taken them out
of the waggon, told me that they immediately fell down
dead upon the spot, close to each other; though, upon
examining the carcasses afterwards, it appeared that their
backs only had been broken. In several places through
which I passed, they mentioned to me by name a father
and his two sons, who were said to be still living, and who,
being on foot near a river on their estate, in search of a
lion, this latter had rushed out upon them, and thrown one
of them under his feet. The two others, however, had time
enough to shoot the lion dead upon the spot, which had



4d NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

lain almost across the youth, so nearly and dearly related
to them, without having done him any particular hurt. I
myself saw, near the upper part of Duyvenhoek River, an
elderly Hottentot who, at that time (his wounds being still
open), bore under one eye, and underneath his cheek bone
the ghastly marks of the bite of a lion, which did not think
it worth his while to give him any other chastisement for
having, together with his master (whom I also knew), and
several other Christians, hunted him with great intrepidity,
though without success. The conversation ran everywhere
in this part of the country upon one Bota, a farmer and
captain in the militia, who had lain for sometime under a
lion, and had received several bruises from the beast, having
been at the same time a good deal bitten by him in one
arm, as a token to remember him by; but, upon the whole,
had, in a manner, had his life given him by this noble animal.
The man was said then to be living in the district of Artaquas-
kloof.”
Discretion the He following seems to show a curious power
better part of of reasoning on the part of the lion. “Diederik
Valour. Muller, one of the most intrepid and successful
of modern lion-hunters in South Africa, had,” says Sir
William Jardine, “been out alone hunting in the wilds, when
he came suddently upon a lion, which, instead of giving way,
seemed disposed, from the angry attitude he assumed, to
dispute with him the dominion of the desert. Diederik
instantly alighted, and confident of his unerring aim levelled
his gun at the forehead of the lion, who was couched in the
act to spring, within fifteen paces of him; but at the moment
the hunter. fired, his horse, whose bridle was round his
arm, started back and caused him to miss. The lion, bounded
forward, but stopped within a few paces, confronting Diederik
who stood defenceless, his gun discharged, and his horse
running off. The man and the beast stood looking at each
ether in the face for a short space. At length the lion



THE LION. 47

moved backward as if to go away. Diederik began to load
his gun, the lion looked over his shoulder, growled, and
returned. Diederik stood still, The lion again moved cau-
tiously off, and the Boer proceeded to load and ram down
his bullet. The lion again looked back and growled angrily;
and this occurred repeatedly, until the animal had got off
to some distance when he took fairly to his heels and
bounded away.”
The Strength Whatever may be said of the lion’s courage,
‘ofthe = there can be no doubt as to his strength. Burchell
Lion. thus describes an encounter with a lion. “The
day was exceedingly pleasant and not a cloud was to be seen.
For a mile or two we travelled along the banks of the river,
which in this part abounded in late mat-rushes. The dogs
seemed much to enjoy prowling about and examining every
rushy place, and at last met with some object among the
rushes which caused them to set up a most vehement and
determined barking. We explored the spot with caution as
we suspected, from the peculiar tone of the bark, that it was
what it proved to be—lions. Having encouraged the dogs to
drive them out, a task which they performed with great:
willingness, we had a full view of an enormous black-maned
lion and lioness. The latter was seen only for a minute, as
she made her escape up the river under concealment of the
rushes; but the lion came steadily forward, and stood still
and looked at us. At this moment we felt our situation not
free from danger, as the animal seemed preparing to spring
upon us, and we were standing on the bank, at a distance
of only a few yards from him, most of us being on foot,
and unarmed, without any visible possibility of escaping. At
this instant the dogs boldly flew in between us and the lion,
and surrounding him, kept him at bay by their violent and
resolute barking. The lion, conscious of his strength, remained
unmoved at their noisy attempts and kept his head turned
towards us. At one moment, the dogs perceiving his eye



48 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

thus engaged, had advanced close to his feet, and seemed
as if they would actually seize hold of him; but they paid
dearly for their imprudence, for, without discomposing the
majestic and steady attitude in which he stood fixed, he
merely moved his paw, and the next instant I beheld two
lying dead. In doing this he made so little exertion, that it
was scarcely perceptible by what means they had been killed.
We fired upon him, and one of the balls went through his
side, just between the short ribs, but the animal still remained
standing in the same position. We had now no doubt that
he would spring upon us, but happily we were mistaken and
were not sorry to see him move slowly away.”

The Lion’s Many instances are on record of strong

Affection. attachments formed by the lion for his keeper,
and for dogs or other animals which have been associated
with him. a little dog, which had been thrown into a lion’s den that
he might be devoured, was not only spared by the noble
animal, but became his companion and favourite. In a
moment of irritation caused by long hunger, the dog, having
snapped at the first morsels of food, received a blow from
the lion which proved fatal. From that time the lion
pined away, refused his food, and at length died, apparently
of melancholy.

The Lion’s A carpenter was employed some years ago to

Docility. do some repairs to the cage of a lion at a
menagerie at Brussels. When the workman saw the lion
he drew back in terror. The keeper, on this, entered the
cage and led the animal to the upper part of it, while the
lower was refitting. He there amused himself for some time
playing with the lion, and being wearied he fell asleep.
The carpenter, having finished his work, called the keeper
to inspect what he had done, but the keeper made no
answer. Having repeatedly called in vain he became alarmed
and proceeded to the upper part of the cage, where, looking



THE LION. 49

through the bars, he saw the lion and the keeper lying side
by side, and immediately uttered a loud cry. The lion
started up and stared at the carpenter with an eye of fury, and
then, placing his paw on the breast of his keeper, lay down
to sleep again. The carpenter, terrified at what he saw, ran
off to secure help, whereupon some of the attendants suc-
ceeded in arousing the keeper who, far from being disconcerted
by the circumstances, took the paw of the lion and shook
it gently in token of regard and the animal quietly returned
with him to his former residence. M. Felix, the keeper of
the animals at Paris, had charge of a lion which refused
food, and became sullen and mopish during the temporary
absence of M. Felix through illness, but who regained his
spirits and showed every demonstration of joy upon the
reappearance of M. Felix at his post of duty.
The Story of With so many authentic instances which can
Androcles. be cited of the amenability of the lion to kindly
influences, the story of Androcles and the lion does not seem so
improbable as it has been sometimes thought. The following
is the story :—In the days of ancient Rome, a Roman governor
treated one of his slaves or subjects, called Androcles, so
cruelly that he ran away. To escape pursuit he fled to a
desert and crept into a cave. What was his horror to find
that this cave was a lion’s den, and to see a large lion
approach him! He expected instantly to be destroyed; but
the lion, approaching Androcles, held up his paw or foot
with a supplicating air. Androcles examined the lion’s paw,
and found a thorn in it which he drew out, and the lion,
apparently relieved, fawned upon his benefactor as a dog
does upon his master. After some time Androcles ventured
back to the place where he lived before. He was discovered,
taken up as a runaway slave, and condemned to be the prey
of a wild beast. He was accordingly thrown into a place
where a large lion, recently caught, was let in upon him.
The lion came bounding toward Androcles, and the spec-

4



§0 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

tators expected to see the man instantly torn in pieces. What
was their astonishment to see the lion approach him, and
fawn before him like a dog who had found his master! It
was the lion Androcles had met in the desert, and the
grateful animal would not rend his benefactor.

A Lion Hunt. Livingstone came to very close quarters with
a lion on one occasion, the circumstances of which he thus
narrates. “The Bakatla of the village Mabotsa, were much
troubled by lions, which leaped into the cattle-pens by night
and destroyed their cows. They even attacked the herds in
open day. This was so unusual an occurrence that the people
believed that they were bewitched, ‘given’ as they said,
into the power of the lions by a neighbouring tribe. They
went once to attack the animals, but being rather a cowardly
people compared to Bechuanas in general on such occasions,
they returned without killing any. It is well known that if
one in a troop of lions is killed, the others take the hint
and leave that part of the country. So the next time the
herds were attacked, I went with the people in order to
encourage them to rid themselves of the annoyance by
destroying one of the marauders. We found the lions on
a small hill, about a quarter of a mile in length and covered
with trees. A circle of men was formed round it, and they
gradually closed up, ascending pretty near to each other.
Being down below on the plain with a native schoolmaster,
named Mebalwe, I saw one of the lions sitting upon a
piece of rock, within the now closed circle of men. Mebalwe
fired at him before I could, and the ball struck the rock
upon which the animal was sitting. He bit at the spot struck,
as a dog-does at a stick or a stone thrown at him, then,
leaping away, broke through the opening circle and escaped
unhurt. When the circle was reformed we saw two other
lions in it, but we were afraid to fire lest we should strike
the men; and they allowed the beasts to burst through also.
If the Bakatla had acted according to the custom of the



THE LION.

country, they would have speared the lions in their attempt
to get out. Seeing that we could not get them to kill one
of the lions, we bent our footsteps towards the village; in
going round the end of the hill, however, I saw one of the
beasts sitting on a piece of rock,#as before, but this time he
had a little bush in front. Being about thirty yards off, I
took a good aim at his body through the bush, and fired
both barrels into in. The men then called out: ‘He is shot!
He is shot!’ Others cried: ‘He has been shot by another
man, too; let us goto him.’ I did not see anyone else shoot
at him, but I saw the lion’s tail erected in anger behind the
bush, and turning to the people, said: ‘Stop a little till I load
again.’ When in the act of ramming down the bullets I heard
a shout. Starting, and looking half round, I saw the lion just
in the act of springing upon me. I was upon a little height.
He caught my shoulder as he sprang and we both came
to the ground below together. Growling horribly, close to my
ear, he shook me as a terrier dog does a rat. The shock
produced a stupor, similar to that which seems to be felt by

- a mouse after the first shake of a cat. It caused a sort of

dreaminess, in which there was no sense of pain or feeling
of terror, though quite conscious of all that was happening.
It was like what patients partially under the influence
of chloroform describe, who see all the operation but feel
not the knife. This singular condition was not the result of
any mental process. The shake annihilated fear, and allowed
no sense of horror in looking round at the beast. This
peculiar state is probably produced in all animals killed by
the carnivora; and, if so, is a merciful provision by our
benevolent Creator for lessening the pain of death. Turing
round to relieve myself of the weight, as he had one paw
on the back of my head, I saw his eyes directed to Mebalwe,
who was trying to shoot him at a distance of ten or fifteen
yards, His gun, a flint one, missed fire in both barrels.
The lion immediately left me and attacking Mebalwe bit his



52 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

thigh. Another man, whose life I had saved before, afte
he had been tossed by a buffalo, attempted to spear the
lion while he was biting Mebalwe. He left Mebdlwe and
caught this man by the shoulder; but at that moment the
bullets he had received took effect, and he fell down dead.
The whole was the work of a few moments, and must have
been his paroxysm of dying rage. In order to take out the
charm from him, the Bakatla, on the following day, made a
huge bonfire over the carcass, which was declared to be
the largest lion they had ever seen. Besides crunching the
bone into splinters, he left eleven teeth wounds on the upper
part of my arm. A wound from this animal’s tooth resembles
a gunshot wound. It is generally followed by a great deal
of sloughing and discharge, and pains are felt in the part
periodically ever after. I had on a tartan jacket on the
occasion, and I believe that it wiped off all the virus from
the teeth that pierced the flesh; for my two companions in
this affray have both suffered from the peculiar pains, while
I have escaped with only the inconvenience of a false joint in
my limb.”

A Thrilling Professor Lichtenstein, in his “Travels” gives a
Experience. thrilling story of a Boer’s adventure with a lion,
which he had from the lips of the Boer himself. “It is now,”
said the colonist, “more than two years since, in the very
place where we siand, I ventured to take one of the most
daring shots that ever was hazarded. My wife was sitting
within the house near the door, the children were playing
about her, and I was without, near the house, busied in
doing something to a waggon, when suddenly, though it
was mid-day, an enormous lion appeared, came up and laid

‘himself quietly down in the shade upon the very threshold
of the door. My wife, either frozen with fear, or aware of
the danger of attempting to fly, remained motionless in her
place, while the children took refuge in her arms. The cry
they uttered attracted my attention, and I hastened towards



THE LION. 33

the door, but my astonishment may well be conceived when
I found the entrance to it barred in such away. Although
the animal had not seen me, unarmed as I was escape
seemed impossible, yet I glided gently, scarcely knowing what
I meant to do, to the side of the house, up to the window
of my chamber, where I knew my loaded gun was standing.
By a most happy chance, I had set it into the corner close
by the window, so that I could reach it with my hand; for,
as you may perceive, the opening is too small to admit of
my having got in, and still more fortunately, the door of the
room was open, so that I could see the whole danger of
the scene. The lion was beginning to move. There was
no longer any time io think; I called softly to the mother
not to be alarmed, and invoking the name of the Lord,
fired my piece. The ball passed directly over the hair of
my boy’s head and lodged in the forehead of the lion,
immediately above his eyes and stretched him on the ground,
so that he never stirred more.” “Indeed,” says Professor
Lichtenstein, “we all shuddered as we listened to this relation.
Never, as he himself observed, was a more daring attempt
hazarded. Had he failed in his aim, mother and children
were all inevitably lost; if the boy had moved he had been
struck; the least turn in the lion and the shot had not been
mortal to him; and to consummate the whole, the head of the
creature was in some sort protected by the door-post.”
Attacked by In Phillips’s “Researches in South Africa,” the
a Lion. following account is given of the adventures of
a traveller which we quote from Jardine’s Naturalists’ Library
collated with other versions. “Our waggons, which were
obliged to take a circuifous route, arrived at last, and we
pitched our tent a musket-shot from the kraal, and, after
having arranged everything, went to rest, but were soon
disturbed; for, about midnight the cattle and horses, which
were standing between the waggons, began to start and
run, and one of the drivers to shout, on which every one



54 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

ran out of the tent with his gun. About thirty paces from
the tent stood a lion, which, on seeing us, walked very
deliberately about thirty paces farther, behind a small thorn-
bush, carrying something with him, which I took to be a
young ox. We fired more than sixty shots at that bush,
without perceiving any movement. The south-east wind blew
strong, the sky was clear, and the moon shone very bright,
so that we could perceive everything at that distance. After
the cattle had been quieted again, and I had looked over
everything, I missed the sentry from before the tent, Jan
Smit, from Antwerp. We called as loudly as possible, but
in vain; nobody answered, from which I concluded that the
lion had carried him off. Three or four men then advanced
very cautiously to the bush, which stood right opposite the
door of the tent, to see if they could discover anything of
the man, but returned helter-skelter; for the lion, who was
there still, rose up, and began to roar. They found there
the musket of the sentry, which was cocked, and also his cap
and shoes. We fired again about a hundred shots at the
bush, without perceiving anything of the lion, from which
we concluded that he was killed, or had run away. This
induced the marksman of our company to go and see if he
was still there or not, taking with him a firebrand. As soon
as he approached the bush, the lion roared terribly, and
leapt at him; on which he threw the firebrand at him, and
the other people having fired about ten shots at him, he
retired directly to his former place behind that bush. The
firebrand which he had thrown at the lion had fallen in the
midst of the bush, and, favoured by the strong south-east
wind, it began to burn with a great flame, so that we could
see very clearly into and through it. We continued our firing
into it until the night passed away, and the day began to
break, when seven men were posted on the farthest waggons

to watch him, and to take aim at him if he should come —
out. At last, before it became quite light, he walked up the



THE LION. 55

hill, with the man in his mouth, when about forty shots were
fired without hitting him, although some were very near.
Every time this happened, he turned round towards the tent,
and came roaring towards us; and, I am of opinion, that if
he had been hit, he would have rushed on the people and
the tent. When it became broad daylight, we perceived, by
the blood, and a piece of the clothes of the man, that the
lion had taken him away.” “For the satisfaction of the
curious,” says Sir William Jardine, “it may be mentioned, that
he was followed, and killed in the forenoon, over the mangled
remains of the unfortunate sentinel.”

A Night Mr. Gordon Cumming gives an even more thrilling

Surprise. account of a similar adventure of his experience.
He says:—“ About three hours after the sun went down, I
called to my men to come and take their coffee and supper
which was ready for them at my fire; and after supper, three
of them returned before their comrades to their own fireside
and lay down.... In a few minutes an ox came out by the
gate of the kraal and walked round the back of it. Hen-
drick got up and drove him again and then went back to
his fireside and lay down. Hendrick and Ruyter lay on one
side of the fire under one blanket and John Stofolus lay on
the other.... Suddenly the appalling and murderous voice
of an angry bloodthirsty lion, within a few yards of us, burst
upon my ear, followed by the shrieking of the Hottentots.
Again and again the murderous roar of the attack was re-
peated. We heard John and Ruyter shriek, ‘the Lion! the
Lion!...’ Next instant John Stofolus rushed into the midst
of us almost speechless with fear and terror, and eyes bursting
from their sockets, and shrieked out, ‘the lion! the lion.
He has got Hendrick, he dragged him away from the fire
beside me. I struck him with the burning brands upon his
head, but he would not let go his hold. Hendrick is dead!
O God! Hendrick is dead! Let us take fire and seek
him....’ It appeared that when the unfortunate Hendrick



56 NATURAL HISTORY iN ANECDOTE.

rose to drive in the ox, the lion had watched him to his
fireside, and he had scarcely lain down, when the brute sprang
upon him and Ruyter (for both lay under one blanket) with
his appalling murderous roar, and roaring as he lay, grappled
him with his fearful claws and kept biting him on-the breast
and shoulder, all the while feeling for his neck; having got
hold of which, he at once dragged him away backwards
round the bush into the dense shade.... The next morning,
just as the day began to dawn we heard the lion dragging
something up the river side under cover of the bank. We
drove the cattle out of the kraal and then proceeded to
inspect the scene of the night’s awful tragedy. In the hollow
where the lion had lain, consuming his prey, we found one
leg of the unfortunate Hendrick, bitten off below the knee,
the shoe still on the foot, the grass and bushes were all
stained with his blood, and fragments of his pea-coat lay
around. Hendrick was by far the best man I had about
my waggons...his loss to us all was very serious.”

A Lion In the southern part of Africa, where the Hot-

Gutwitted. tentots live, lions were very common, and the
adventures of the inhabitants with them very frequent.
One evening a Hottentot saw that he was pursued by a lion.
He was very much alarmed, and devised the following means
of escape. He went to the edge of a precipice, and placed
himself a little below it. He then put his cloak and hat on
a stick, and elevated them over his head, giving them a
gentle motion. The lion came crouching along, and, mistaking
the cloak and hat for the man, as the Hettentot intended
he should do, he sprang upon them with a swift leap, and,
passing over the head of the Hottentot, was plunged head-
long down the precipice.
Old Instincts In the “Miscellany of Natural History,” from

and new which several of these anecdotes are taken there
nef a See ae ate story illustrating the way in which old
instincts will show themselves in the presence of new



THE TIGER. 57
opportunities. On the evening of the 2zoth October 1816, a
lioness made her escape from a travelling menagerie which was
drawn up on the road-side, about seven miles from the town
of Salisbury. It was about eight o’clock, and quite dark, and
the Exeter mail was passing when the animal suddenly darted
forward, and springing at the throat of the off-leader, fastened
the talons of her fore-feet on each side of the neck, close to the
horse’s head, while those of the hind-feet were forced into the chest.
In this situation she hung, while the blood streamed from the
agonized creature, as if a vein had been opened by a lancet.
It may be easily supposed, that the alarm excited by this
encounter, was very great. Two inside passengers instantly
dashed out of the coach and fled to a house on the road~-
side. The keeper of the caravan came, and immediately set
a large Newfoundland dog on the animal. The lioness, on
finding herself seized by the leg, quitted the horse, and
turned upon the dog, which the spectators expected would
very soon become the victim of her fury; but she was
contented with giving him only a slight punishment, and
on hearing the voice of her keeper, retired under a
neighbouring straw rick, and gently allowed herself to be
secured. “This anecdote,” says the writer, “is remarkably
characteristic, the moment that the animal found herself at
liberty, and an object of prey presented itself, all her original
propensities, hitherto restrained, were instantly called into
action; but no sooner did the voice of her keeper reach her
ears, than the force of long habit prevailed, she became
calm, and allowed herself to be bound, and led again to
her den.”

The Tiger. The tiger is one of the most beautiful, but at
the same time one of the most rapacious and destructive of
the whole animal race. It is found in the warm climates of
the East, especially in India and Siam. It so much resembles
the cat, as almost to induce us to consider the latter a tiger
in miniature. It lurks generally near a fountain, or on the



58 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

brink of a river, to surprise such animals as come to quench
their thirst; and like the lion bounds upon its prey, easily
making a spring of twenty feet and upwards. When it has
killed one animal it often attacks others, swallowing their
blood for which it has an insatiable thirst in large draughts ;
for even when satisfied with food, it is not satiated with
slaughter. The tiger is said by some to prefer human flesh
to that of any other animal; and it is certain, that it does
not, like many other beasts of prey, shun the presence of
man, but has been even known on more than one occasion
to spring upon a hunting party when seated at their refresh-
ment, and carry off one of the number, rushing through the
shrubs into the forest, and devouring the unfortunate victim
at its leisure. The strength as well as the agility of this animal
is remarkable; it carries off a deer with the greatest ease.
The tiger is omamented with long streaks across its body.
The ground colour is yellow, very deep on the back, but
growing lighter towards the belly, where it softens to white,
as it does also on the throat and the inside of the legs. The
bars which cross the body from the back to the belly are of
the most beautiful black, and the skin altogether is so extremely
fine and glossy, that it is much esteemed, and sold at a high
price in all the eastern countries, especially China. “The
colouring of the tiger,” says the Rev. J. G. Wood,” isa good
instance of the manner in which animals are protected by
the similarity of their external appearance to the particular
locality in which they reside. The stripes on the tiger’s skin
so exactly assimilate with the long jungle grass amongst which
it lives, that it is impossible for unpractised eyes to discern
the animal at all, even when a considerable portion of its
body is exposed.”
Ravages The ravages committed by tigers have often
Committed led to the organisation of hunting parties formed
by Tigers. ith a view to exterminate the more aggressive
of the enemy. The following narrative of a tiger excursion



Plate No. 4 MILES’ NATURAL HISTORY.






AARD VARK
(Orycteropus capensis) ae

BLOTCHED GENETT
(Genetta vulgaris)



THE TIGER. 59

at Doongal is from the “East India Government Gazette.”

“There were five tigers killed by the party, besides one
bear killed, and another wounded; a wolf, a hyzena, a panther,
a leopard, and some immense rock and cobra capella snakes.
Among the occurrences during the excursion, some were of a
peculiar and pathetic nature. The first happened to a poor
Bunnia, or dealer, of the village of Doongal, who had been
to the city of Hydrabad, to collect some money, and who
was returning, after having gathered together a small sum,
when on the way, a little beyond the cantonment of Secun-
derabad, he saw an armed Peon seated, and apparently a
traveller in the same direction. After mutual inquiries, the
Peon told the Bunnia he was going to the same place; and,
as the Bunnia was glad to have somebody to accompany
him, he gave him a part of his victuals; and, on their way,
they mutually related their histories. The Bunnia innocently
mentioned the object of his visit to the city, and the fact
of his returning with the money he had collected; this im-
mediately raised the avarice of the Pzeon, who decided in
his mind to kill the poor Bunnia in a suitable place, and
strip him of his money. They proceeded together, with this
design in the mind of the Pzeon, until they came to a place
where the ravages of the tiger were notorious, and he prepared
to kill the Bunnia; and while he was struggling with him,
and in the act of drawing his sword to slay him, a tiger
sprang upon the Peon, and carried him off, leaving his shield
and sword, which the Bunnia carried to Doongal, as trophies
of retributive justice in his favour. The next victim was the
wife of a Bunjarra. They were resting under a tree, when a
tiger sprang up, and seized the woman by the head. The
husband, from mere impulse to save his wife, held her by the
legs; and a struggle ensued between the tiger pulling her by
the head, and the man by the legs, until the issue, which
could not be doubted, when the tiger carried off the woman.
The man seemed to be rather partial to his wife, and devoted



60 WATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

himself to revenge her death,—forsook his cattle and prop-
erty,—resigned them to his brother, and offered his services
to be of the tiger-killing party, and strayed about the jungles,
until he was heard of no more.”

“A camel driver, who had been just married, was bringing
home his bride, when a tiger followed, and kept them in view
a great part of the road, for an opportunity to seize one of
them. The bride having occasion to alight, was immediately
pounced upon by the ferocious beast, and he scampered away
with her in his mouth. A shepherd was taken by a young
tiger, which was followed by the mother, a large tigress, and
devoured at a distance of two miles; and a Bunnia, or
dealer, from Bolarum, was seized returning from a fair. A
woman, with an infant about a year old, was captured by a
tiger; and the infant was found by the Puttal, or head of the
village, who brought it to his house. Some of the Company’s
elephants that were going for forage were chased by a tiger,
which was kept off by a spearman; and a comical chase of
chem was made up to Doongal, the elephants running before
the tiger, until they entered the village. It is said the lives
lost by these tigers amounted to about three hundred per-
sons in one year, within the range of seven villages; and
the destruction of cattle, sheep, and goats, was said to be
immense.”

An Intrepid Captain Brown in his “Natural History of

Hunter. Animals” tells a thrilling story of an adventure of
Lieutenant Collet, of the Bombay army, who having heard
that a very large tiger had destroyed seven inhabitants of an
adjacent village, resolved, with another officer, to attempt the
destruction of the monster. Having ordered seven elephants,
they went in quest of the animal, which they found sleeping
beneath a bush. Roused by the noise of the elephants, he
made a furious charge upon them, and Lieutenant Collet’s
elephant received him on her shoulder, the cther six having

_tumed about, and run off, notwithstanding the exertions of



THE LEOPARD, 61

their riders. The elephant shook off the tiger, and Lieutenant
Collet having fired two balls at him, he fell; but, again
recovering himself, he made a spring at the lieutenant. Having
missed his’ object, he seized the elephant by the hind leg,
and, having received a kick from her, and another ball, he
let go his hold, and fell a second time. Supposing that
he was now disabled, Collet very rashly dismounted, with the
resolution of killing him with his pistols; but the tiger, who
had only been crouching to take another spring, flew upon
the lieutenant, and caught him in his mouth. The strength
and intrepidity of the lieutenant, however, did not forsake
him: he immediately fired his pistol] into the tiger’s body,
and, finding that this had no effect, disengaged his arms with
all his force, and, directing the other pistol to his heart, he
at last destroyed him, after receiving twenty-five severe
wounds.

The The Leopard, who is also known as the panther,

Leopard. belongs to Asia and Africa. He is distinguished
by the beauty of his coat which is of a rich fawn colour,
graduating to white underneath his belly. It is covered with
spots or clusters of marks which resemble the form of a rose.
He is an agile climber and a terror to goats, sheep, monkeys
and all lesser animals, but shows no special hostility to man
unless attacked or cornered.

re ‘Like other members of the cat family the Leopard

Leopard’s Shows remarkable tenacity of life. Whether like
ce eae cf the domestic cat he has nine lives or not, he

certainly takes a great deal of killing.

The following account is from the pen of an eye-witness
quoted from Captain Brown’s “ Natural History of Animals”.
—“I was at Jaffna, at the northern extremity of the Island
of Ceylon, in the beginning of the year 1819, when, one
moming, my servant called me an hour or two before my
usual time, with ‘Master, master! people sent for master’s
dogs—tiger in the town!’ There are no real tigers in Ceylon;



62 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

but leopards or panthers are always called so, and by our:
selves as well as by the natives. This turned out to be a
panther. My gun chanced not to be put together; and, while
my servant was doing it, the collector and two medical men,
who had recently arrived, in consequence of the cholera
morbus having just then reached Ceylon from the Continent,
came to my door, the former armed with a fowling-piece, and
the two latter with remarkably blunt hog-spears. They insisted
upon setting off, without waiting for my gun,—a proceeding
not much to my taste. The tiger (I must continue to call
him so) had taken refuge in a hut, the roof of which, like
those of Ceylon huts in general, spread to the ground like
an umbrella; the only aperture into it was a small door,
about four feet high. The collector wanted to get the tiger
out at once. I begged to wait for my gun; but no—the
fowling-piece, (loaded with ball, of course,) and the two hog-
spears, were quite enough. I got a hedge-stake, and awaited
my fate, from very shame. At this moment, to my great
delight, there arrived from the fort an English officer, two
artillery-men, and a Malay captain; and a pretty figure we
should have cut without them, as the event will show. I
was now quite ready to attack, and my gun came a minute
afterwards. The whole scene which follows took place within
an enclosure, about twenty feet square, formed, on three sides,
by a strong fence of palmyra leaves, and on the fourth by
the hut. At the door of this, the two artillery-men planted
themselves: and the Malay captain got at the top, to frighten
the tiger out, by worrying it—an easy operation, as the huts
there are covered with cocoa-nut leaves. One of the artillery-
men wanted to go in to the tiger, but we would not suffer
it. At last the beast sprang. This man received him on his
bayonet, which he thrust apparently down his throat, firing
his piece at the same moment. The bayonet broke off short,
leaving less than three inches on the musket; the rest remained
in the animal, but was invisible to us. The shot probably



THE LEOPARD. 63

went through his cheek, for it certainly did not seriously
injure him, as he instantly rose upon his legs, with a loud
roar, and placed his paws upon the soldier’s breast. At this
moment, the animal appeared to me to about reach the centre
of the man’s face; but I had scarcely time to observe this,
when the tiger, stooping his head, seized the soldier’s arm
in his mouth, turned him half round staggering, threw him
over on his back, and fell upon him. Our dread now was,
that, if we fired upon the tiger, we might killthe man. For
a moment, there was a pause, when his comrade attacked
the beast exactly in the same manner as the gallant fellow
himself had done. He struck his bayonet into his head; the
tiger rose at him—he fired; and this time the ball took effect,
and in the head. The animal staggered backwards, and we
all poured in our fire. He still kicked and writhed; when
the gentlemen with the hog-spears advanced, and fixed him,
while he was finished by some natives beating him on the
head with hedge-stakes. The brave artilleryman was, after
all, but slightly hurt: He claimed the skin, which was very
cheerfully given to him. There was, however, a cry among
the natives, that the head should be cut off: it was; and,
in so doing, the knife came directly across the bayonet. The
animal measured little less than four feet, from the root of
the tail to the muzzle. There was no tradition of a tiger
having been in Jaffna before. Indeed, this one must have
either come a distance of almost twenty miles, or have swam
across an arm of the sea nearly two miles in breadth; for
Jaffna stands on a peninsula, on which there is no jungle
of any magnitude.”

Hunters Captain Brown gives a thrilling story of an

Hunted. adventure which befell two Boers in South
Africa in 1822. They were returning from a hunting excur-
sion, when they unexpectedly fell in with a leopard in a
mountain ravine, and immediately gave chase to him. The
animal at first endeavoured to escape, by clambering up a



64 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

precipice, but, being hotly pressed, and slightly wounded by
a musket-ball, he turned upon his pursuers, with that frantic
ferocity, which, on such emergencies, he frequently displays,
and, springing upon the man who had fired at him, tore him
from his horse to the ground, biting him at the same time
very severely on the shoulder, and tearing his face and arms
with his claws. The other hunter, seeing the danger of his
comrade, sprang from his horse, and attempted to shoot the
leopard through the head; but, whether owing to trepidation,
or the fear of wounding his friend, or the sudden motions
of the animal, he unfortunately missed his aim. The leopard,
abandoning his prostrate enemy darted with redoubled fury
upon this second antagonist; and so fierce and sudden was
his onset, that before the Boer could stab him with his hunt-
ing-knife, he had struck him in the face with his claws, and
torn the scalp over his forehead. In this frightful condition,
the hunter grappled with the raging beast, and, struggling for
life, they rolled together down a steep declivity. All this
passed so rapidly that the other man had scarcely time to
recover from the confusion into which his feline foe had
thrown him, to seize his gun and rush forward to aid his
comrade, when he beheld them rolling together down the
steep bank, in mortal conflict. In a few moments he was at
the bottom with them, but too late to save the life of his
friend, who had so gallantly defended him. The leopard
had torn open the jugular vein, and so dreadfully mangled
the throat of the unfortunate man, that his death was inevit-
able; and his comrade had only the melancholy satisfaction
of completing the destruction of the savage beast, which
was already much exhausted by several deep wounds it
had received in the breast, from the desperate knife of the
expiring huntsman.”

The Jaguar. The Jaguar, otherwise known as the American
Leopard, belongs to the forests of South America, and has many
points of difference from as well as some of similarity with



THE JAGUAR. 05

the Leopard of Asia. Though ferocious in his wild state, he
is amenable to civilizing influences and becomes mild and
tame in captivity. He is an excellent swimmer and an expert
climber, ascending to the tops of high branchless trees by
fixing his claws in the trunks. It is said that he can hunt
in the trees almost as well as he can upon the ground, and
that hence he becomes a formidable enemy to the monkeys.
He is also a clever fisherman, his method being that of
dropping saliva on to the surface of the water, and upon the
approach of a fish, by a dexterous stroke of his paw knock-
ing it out of the water on to the bank. D’Azara, says: “ He
is a very ferocious animal causing great destruction among
horses and asses. He is extremely fond of eggs, and goes to
the shores frequented by turtles, and digs their eggs out of
the sand.”
The Strength The strength of the Jaguar is very great, and
of the Jaguar. as he can climb, swim, and leap a great distance,
he is almost equally formidable in three elements. He is said
to attack the alligator and to banquet with evident relish off
his victim. D’Azara says that on one occasion he found a
Jaguar feasting upon a horse which it had killed. The Jaguar
fled at his approach, whereupon he had the body of the
horse dragged to within a musket shot of a tree in which he
purposed watching for the Jaguar’s return. While temporarily
absent he left a man to keep watch, and while he was away the
jaguar reappeared from the opposite side of a river which was
both deep and broad. Having crossed the river the animal
approached, and seizing the body of the horse with his teeth
dragged it some sixty paces to the water side, plunged in
with it, swam across the river, pulled it out upon the other
side, and carried it into a neighbouring wood.
A Night of Mrs. Bowdich tells a story of two early settlers
Horror. jin the Western States of America, a man and
his wife, who closed their wooden hut, and went to pay a
visit at. a distance, leaving a freshly-killed piece of venison

5



66 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

hanging inside. “The gable end of this house was not
boarded up as high as the roof, but a large aperture was
left for light and air. By taking an enormous leap, a hungry
jaguar, attracted by the smell of the venison, had entered
the hut and devoured part of it. He was disturbed by the
return of the owners, and took his departure. The venison
was removed. The husband went away the night after to a
distance, and left his wife alone in the hut. She had not
been long in bed before she heard the jaguar leap in at the
open gable. There was no door between her room and
that in which he had entered, and she knew not how to
protect herself. She, however, screamed as loudly as she
could, and made all the violent noises she could think of,
which served to frighten him away at that time; but she
knew he would come again, and she must be prepared for
him. She tried to make a large fire, but the wood was
expended. She thought of rolling herself up in the bed-
clothes, but these would be torn off. The idea of getting
under the low bedstead suggested itself, but she felt sure
a paw would be stretched forth which would drag her out.
Her husband had taken all their firearms. At last, as she
heard the jaguar scrambling up the end of the house, in
despair she got into a large store chest, the lid of which
closed with a spring. Scarcely was she within it, and had
dragged the lid down, inserting her fingers between it and
the side of the chest, when the jaguar discovered where she
was. He smelt round the chest, tried to get his head in
. through the crack, but fortunately he could not raise the lid.
He found her fingers and began to lick them; she felt
them bleed, but did not dare.to move them for fear she
should be suffocated. At length the jaguar leaped on to the
lid, and his weight pressing down the lid, fractured her
fingers. Still she could not move. He smelt round again,
he pulled, he leaped on and off, till at last getting tired of
his vain efforts, he went away. The poor woman lay there



THE PUMA, 67

til] daybreak, and then only feeling safe from her enemy,
she went as fast as her strength would let her to her nearest
neighbour’s a distance of two miles, where she procured
help for her wounded fingers, which were long in getting
well. On his return, her husband found a male and female
jaguar with their cubs, in the forest close by, and all were
destroyed.”

The Puma. The Puma, or American lion, is known by
several names. It is sometimes called a panther, or collo-
quially a “painter”, and sometimes a cougar. It resembles
the lioness somewhat in appearance, especially about the
head, though it is smaller and less powerful. Its length
varies from four feet to four feet and a half, and its
colour is that of the fox, graduating in parts to white. Like
the lion it inhabits plains rather than forests;—in the marshy
districts, and on the borders of rivers in the south, and in
the swamps and prairies of the northern districts. It liveson
such wild and domestic animals as come within its reach,
lying at full length upon the lower branches of trees, and
dropping upon its victims as they pass beneath. Deer and
cattle of all kinds it attacks, and, not content with killing
enough for immediate purposes, destroys large numbers, suck-
ing small quantities of blood from each. According to Sir
William Jardine it is exceedingly destructive among sheep
and has been known to kill fifty in one night. The Pumais,-
however, easily tamed and becomes very docile under kindly
treatment. Edward Kean kept a tame one which followed
him about like a dog and was as playful as a kitten.

The Puma’s “Molina and D’Azara say,” says Sir William

Ferocity. Jardine, “that the puma will flee from men, and
that its timidity renders its pursuit generally free from dan-
ger.” The following incident given by Sir William Jardine
and at greater length by Captain Brown, shows that this is
not always the case. According to these accounts, two
hunters visited the Katskills in pursuit of game, each armed



68 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

with a gun and accompanied by a dog. They agreed to
follow contrary directions round the base of a hill, and to
join each other immediately upon hearing the report of a
gun. Shortly after parting, one of the friends heard the gun
of his comrade and hastening to his assistance came first
upon the body of his friend’s dog, tom and lacerated; proceed-
ing further, his attention was attracted by the growl of a
wild animal, and looking up, he discovered a large puma
crouching over the body of his friend, upon the branch of a
tree. The animal glared at him, and he, knowing the rapi-
dity of the Puma’s movements, immediately raised his gun
and fired, whereupon the puma rolled over on to the ground
with his prey. The dog flew at the infuriated beast, but one
blow from the puma’s paw silenced him for ever. Seeing
that his comrade was dead the hunter left the scene in
search of assistance, upon securing which, he returned to
find the puma dead, beside the two dogs and the hunter whom
he had killed.
Animals and Captain Head, in his “Journey Across the Pam-
Men. pas” says:—“ The fear which all wild animals in
America have of man is very singularly seen in the Pampas.
I often rode towards the ostriches and zamas, crouching under
the opposite side of my horse’s neck; but I always found
that, although they would allow my loose horse to approach
them, they, even when young, ran from me, though little of
my figure was visible; and when I saw them all enjoying
themselves in such full liberty, it was at first not pleasing to
observe that one’s appearance was everywhere a signal to
them that they should fly from their enemy. Yet it is by
this fear ‘that man hath dominion over the beasts of the
field,’ and there is no animal in South America that does
not acknowledge this instinctive feeling. As a singular proof
of the above, and of the difference between the wild beasts
of America and of the old world, I will venture to relate a
circumstance which a man sincerely assrred me had happened



THE OCELOT. og

to him in South America:—He was trying to shoot some
wild ducks, and, in order to approach them unperceived, he
put the corner of his poncho (which is a sort of long narrow
blanket) over his head, and crawling along the ground upon
his hands and knees, the poncho not only covered his body,
but trailed along the ground behind him. As he was thus
creeping by a large bush of reeds, he heard a loud, sudden
noise, between a bark and a roar: he felt something heavy
strike his feet, and, instantly jumping up, he saw, to his
astonishment, a large puma actually standing on his poncho;
and, perhaps, the animal was equally astonished to find
himself in the immediate presence of so athletica man. The
man told me he was unwilling to fire, as his gun was loaded
with very small shot; and he therefore remained motionless,
the puma standing on his poncho for many seconds; at last
the creature turned his head, and walking very slowly away
about ten yards, he stopped, and turned again: the man still
maintained his ground, upon which the puma tacitly acknow-
ledged his supremacy, and walked off.”

The Ocelot. The Ocelot is a native of South America and
one of the most beautiful of the Cat family. It is smaller
than the Leopard, attaining to about three feet in length, and
eighteen inches in height. Its colour is grey, tinged with
fawn and the body and legs are covered with longitudinal
chainlike stripes broken into patches of some inches. Its
habits are like those of its near relations, the Leopard and
the Jaguar, though its appetite for blood makes it perhaps
even more destructive. It will suck blood with the greatest
avidity and frequently leave a carcase otherwise untouched
in order to pursue other animals for the sake of more blood.
When tame the Ocelot is remarkably playful, climbing up
the legs and nestling in the arms of its benefactors. It is
apt to be dangerous in a poultry yard but will keep good
friends with a house dog, and play, somewhat roughly, per-
haps, but without malice, with children.



7° NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

Tho Clouded} This animal belongs to Sumatra where it lives

Tiger. upon the forest birds. Like the Ocelot it is
exceedingly playful when tame, seeking the notice and return-
ing the caresses of all who encourage it.

The Serva “The Serval,” says Captain Brown, “is somewhat
larger than the ordinary wild cat. Its genera! colour is a
pale fulvous yellow. It resides on trees, where it makes a
bed, and breeds its young. It seldom appears on the ground,
living principally on birds, squirrels, and small animals; it is
extremely agile, and leaps, with great rapidity, from one branch
to another. The serval never assaults man, but rather endea-
yours to avoid him; if, however, it is compelled to attack,
it darts furiously on its antagonist, and bites and tears, like
the rest of the cat kind.”

The Common The common wild cat is one of the few wild

Wild Cat. animals still to be found in the British Isles. Up
sill recent years these cats were observed among the woody
‘mountainous districts of Cumberland and Westmoreland and in
the wild parts of Scotland and Ireland, though as the land
ig brought more and more under cultivation they decrease
in numbers, failing suitable asylum. They abound in the
forests of Germany and Russia, where they live in the hollows
of trees and caves of rocks, and feed on birds, squirrels,
hares and rabbits, and will even attack young lambs and fawns.
The wild cat is not to be confused with the domestic cat
which has relapsed into a wild state. “In the form and
shape of the tail,” says Sir William Jardine, “this animal
somewhat resembles the Lynx. The fur is very thick, woolly
and long. The general colour is a greyish yellow, in some
specimens inclining much to a shade of bluish grey.”—*“ They
spring,” says Mrs. Bowdich, “furiously upon whoever approaches,
and utter unearthly cries. Mr. St. John, when walking up to
his knees in heather over broken ground, came suddenly
upon a wild cat. She rushed out between his legs, every
hair standing up. He cut a good-sized stick; and three Skye



THE CAT. 5%

terriers gave chase till she took refuge in a corner, spitting
and growling. On trying to dislodge her, she flew at Mr
St. John’s face, over the dogs’ heads; but he struck her while
in the air, and she fell among the dogs, who soon despatched
her, even though it has been said that a wild cat has twelve
instead of nine lives. If one of these animals is taken, those
in the neighbourhood are sure to be also secured, as they
will all, after the manner of foxes, assemble round the body
of their relative.”

The Domestic The origin of the domestic cat is difficult to

Cat determine. Cats were numerous in Egypt from
an. early date, and are said to be native to Syria. Accord-
ing to Professor Rolleston the cat was not domesticated any-
where, except in Epypt, before the Christian Era. Few
animals are more familiar to the general reader, and few
therefore, need less description. The “Tabby” is perhaps
the commonest, though black, white, and tortoise-shell varieties
abound. The Angora or Angola cat, the Persian cat, and the
Manx cat, which latter is deficient in the useful and orna-
mental embellishment of a tail, are also well known.

Cat There are many superstitions concerning the
Superstitions. cat, the black variety coming in for the larger
share of popular suspicion. To steal one and bury it alive
was at one time regarded as a specific against cattle desease
in the Irish Highlands, while, according to Captain Brown, it
was the practice for families in Scotland to tie up their cats
on Hallowe’en to prevent their use for equestrian purposes by
witches during the night. “They have always been regarded
as attendants upon witches,” says Mrs. Bowdich, “and witches
themselves have been said to borrow their shapes when on
their mysterious expeditions. I was once told that Lord
Cochrane was accompanied by a favourite black cat in a
cruise through the northern seas. The weather had been
most unpropitious; no day had passed without some untoward
circumstance; and the sailors were not slow in attributing the



72 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

whole to the influence of the black cat on board. This came
to Lord Cochrane’s ears, and knowing that any attempt to
reason his men out of so absurd a notion was perfectly use-
less, he offered to sacrifice this object of his regard, and have
her thrown overboard. This, however, far from creating any
satisfaction, only alarmed the men still more. They were.
sure that the tempests she would then raise would be much
worse than any they had yet encountered; and they implored
his lordship to let her remain unmolested. ‘There was no
help, and they could only hope, if she were not affronted,
they might at the end of their time reach England in
safety.’”

The Catas “The cat,” says the Rev. J. G. Wood, “is fami-

® Hunter. J|jarly known to us as a persevering mouse-hunter.
So strong, indeed, is the passion for hunting in the breast
of the cat, that she sometimes disdains mice, ‘and such
small deer,’ and trespasses on warrens or preserves. A large
tabby cat, residing at no great distance from White Horse
Vale, was accustomed to go out poaching in the preserves
of a neighbouring nobleman, and so expert was she at this
illegal sport that she constantly returned bearing in her
mouth a leveret or a partridge, which she insisted on present-
ing to her mistress, who in vain endeavoured to check her
marauding propensities.. These exploits, however, brought
their own punishment; for one day, when in the act of
seizing a leveret, she found herself caught in a vermin trap,
which deprived her of one of her hind legs. This mis-
,ortune did not damp her enthusiasm for hunting, as,
although the loss of a leg prevented her from chasing hares,
and suchlike animals, she would still bring in an occa-
sional zat.”

The Oat and “A cat, which had a numerous litter of kittens,”
her Young. says Captain Brown, “one sunny day encouraged’
her little ones to frolic in the vernal beams of noon, about
the stable door, where she was domiciled. While she was



THE CAT. 73

joining them in a thousand tricks and gambols, a large hawk,
who was sailing above the barn-yard, in a moment darted
upon one of the kittens, and would have as quickly bore
it off, but for the courageous mother, who, seeing the danger
of her offspring, sprang on the common enemy, who, to
defend itself, let fall the prize. The battle presently became
severe to both parties. The hawk, by the power of his wings,
the sharpness of his talons, and the strength of his beak,
had for a while the advantage, cruelly lacerating the poor
cat, and had actually deprived her of one eye in the con-
flict; but puss, no way daunted at the accident, strove, with
all her cunning and agility, for her kittens, till she had broken
the wing of her adversary. In this state, she got him more
within the power of her claws, and availing herself of this
advantage, by an instantaneous exertion, she laid the hawk
motionless beneath her feet; and, as if exulting in the victory,
tore the head off the vanquished tyrant. This accomplished,
disregarding the loss of her eye, she ran to the bleeding
kitten, licked the wounds made by the hawk’s talons in its
tender sides, and purred whilst she caressed her liberated
offspring.”

The Cat asa Lhe female cat seems to be in a special sense
Foster a bom mother. She is assiduous in the care of
Mother. her own young and singularly ready to extend

the benefits of motherhood even to alien offspring. Instances

are on record in which cats have reared squirrels, dogs, lev-
erets, rats, ducks, chickens, and even small birds. These have
usually occurred at times when the cats have been deprived
of their own young. Mr. T. Foggitt says: “A cat belonging
to the Albert Dock Warehouse, Liverpool, gave birth to six
kittens. It was deemed necessary to destroy four of them,
and they were accordingly drowned. The remaining two
were placed, along with their mother, in some loose cotton,
collected for the purpose in a box, in one of the warehouse
rooms. On removing the box a few mornings after, to give



74 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

puss her usual breakfast, great curiosity was excited on seeing
a third added to the number; and the astonishment was still
greater when the third was discovered to be a young rat
which the cat had taken from its nest in the night-time, and
brought home as a companion to the kittens she was then
nursing. The young rat was very lively, and was treated by
the cat with the same attention and care as if it were one
of her own offspring.”
The Catasa The distances that cats will travel, finding
Traveller. their way with unerring instinct many miles across
country of which there seems no reason to suppose them to have
had previous knowledge is very remarkable. Mrs. Bowdich
records the case of a cat who disliking her new home,
returned to her old one, in doing which, she had to cross
two rivers, one of them about eighty feet broad and two feet
and a half deep, running strong; the other wider and more
rapid, but less deep. Cats are said to have found their way from
Edinburgh to Glasgow, and one to the writer's knowledge
returned from Dover to Canterbury after being carried from
thence by rail. Captain Brown gives the following remark-
able instance. In June, 1825, a farmer, residing in the neigh-
bourhood of Ross, sent a load of grain to Gloucester, a
distance of about sixteen miles. The waggoners loaded in
the evening, and started early in the morning. On unload-
ing at Gloucester, a favourite cat, belonging to the farmer,.
was found among the sacks, with two kittens of very recent
birth. The waggoner very humanely placed puss and her
young in a hay-loft, where he expected they would remain
in safety, until he should be ready to depart for home. On
his return to the loft shortly afterwards, neither cat nor kittens
were to be found, and he reluctantly left town without them.
Next morning the cat entered the kitchen of her master’s house
with one kitten in her mouth. It was dead; but she placed
it before the fire, and without seeking food, o indulging,
for a moment, in the genial warmth of stic her dome hearth



THE CAT. 75

disappeared again. In a short time she returned with the
other kitten, laid it down by the first, stretched herself
beside them, and instantly expired! The poor creature could
have carried but one at a time, and, consequently, must have
travelled three times over the whole line of her journey, and
performed forty-eight miles in less than twelve hours.

The Cat as The favourite food of the cat is fish, which

Sportsman. curiously enough inhabits an element to which the
cathasagreataversion. Thereare, however, numerous instances
on record of cats which have overcome their natural anti-
pathy to water in order to gratify their natural taste for fish.
An extraordinary case of this kind is recorded in the Plymouth
Journal, June, 1828:—“There is now at the battery on the
Devil’s Point, a cat, which is an expert catcher of the finny
tribe, being in the constant habit of diving into the sea, and
bringing up the fish alive in her mouth, and depositing them
in the guard-room, for the use of the soldiers. She is now
seven years old, and has long been a useful caterer. It is
supposed that her pursuit of the water-rats first taught her to
venture into the water, to which it is well known puss has a
natural aversion. She is as fond of the water as a New-
foundland dog, and takes her regular peregrinations along the
rocks at its edge, looking out for her prey, ready to dive for
them at a moment’s notice.”

Mr. Beverley R. Morris says: “When living in Worcester
many years ago, I remember frequently seeing the cat of
a near neighbour of ours bring fish, mostly eels, into the
house, which it used to catch in a pond not far off. This
was an almost everyday occurrence.”

The Cat's | Many remarkable illustrations might be given
Intelligence. of the sagacity and intelligence of the cat. A
lady had for many years been the possessor of a cat and a
canary bird, who became the closest friends, never bearing
any lengthy separation from each other, and spending their
whole time in each other’s society. One summer day the



76 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

lady was sittimg working in her drawing-room, and the cat
and bird were a short distance off. Suddenly, without a
moment’s deliberation, the cat, to the great astonishment of
the lady, uttered a loud growl, and then, seizing her little
playmate in her mouth, darted off with it to a place of safety.
A strange cat had entered the room and the friendly one had
adopted this plan of saving the bird from the enemy. A
still more remarkable illustration of the intelligence of a cat
is given by De la Croix as follows: “I once saw,” says he,
“a lecturer upon experimental philosophy place a cat under
the glass receiver of an air-pump, for the purpose of demon-
strating that very certain fact, that life cannot be supported
without air and respiration. The lecturer had already made
several strokes with the piston, in order to exhaust the receiver
of its air, when the animal, who began to feel herself very
uncomfortable in the rarefied atmosphere, was fortunate enough
to discover the source from which her uneasiness proceeded.
She placed her paw upon the hole through which the air
escaped, and thus prevented any more from passing out of
the receiver. All the exertions of the philosopher were now
unavailing ; in vain he drew the piston; the cat’s paw effect-
ually prevented its operation. Hoping to effect his purpose,
he let air again into the receiver, which, as soon as the cat
perceived, she withdrew her paw from the aperture; but
whenever he attempted to exhaust the receiver, she applied
her paw as before. All the spectators clapped their hands
in admiration of the wonderful sagacity of the animal, and the
lecturer found himself under the necessity of liberating her,
and substituting in her place another, that possessed less pene-
tration, and enabled him to exhibit the cruel experiment.”
The Lynx, The several species of the Lynx belong to the
genus Lyncus, the principle varieties of which are the Canada
Lynx, and the European Lynx. The Lynx has short legs,
and is generally about the size of a fox, attaining often to
three feet in length Jt preys upon small quadripeds and



THE CHETAH. 77

birds, in the pursuit of which it is an expert climber. The
Canada Lynx preys largely upon the American hare, which
it is well qualified to hunt: The Lynx is distinguished by a
peculiar gait, for unlike other animals, it bounds with, and
alights upon, all four feet at once. The ears are erect, and
tipped with a long pencil of black hair. The fur which is
long and thick is of a pale grey colour, with a reddish tinge,
marked with dusky spots on the upper part of the body. The
under parts are white. The European Lynx feeds upon
small animals and birds. The fur of the lynx is valuable, on
account of its great softness and warmth, and is in consequence an
extensive article of commerce. It inhabits the northem parts
of Europe, Asia, and America; and prefers cold or temperate
climates, differing in this respect from most of the cat tribe.
The Chetah. The Chetah or Hunting Leopard is the one
species of the genus Cyncelurus. It is a handsome animal
and capable of considerable training. According to Mr. Benet’s
description it is “intermediate in size between the leopard
and the hound, more slender in its body, more elevated in
its legs, and less flattened on the fore part of its head than the
leopard, while deficient in the peculiarly graceful and lengthened
form, both of head and body, which characterizes the hound.”
“The ground colour of the Chetah is a bright yellowish fawn
above, and nearly pure white beneath; covered above, and
on the sides, by innumerable closely approximating spots,
from half an inch to an inch in diameter, which are intensely
black, and do not, as in the leopard and other spotted cats,
form roses with a lighter centre, but are full and complete.”
The Chetah is found in India and Africa but it is only in
India that it is trained for hunting purposes. Sir William
Jardine says: “the employment of the hunting leopard may
be compared to the sport of falconry. The natural instinct
teaches them to pursue the game, the reward of a portion
of it, or of the blood, induces them to give it up, and again
subject themselves to their master.”



73 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

The Chetah Lhe practice of employing animals to huni

a8 a animals is of very early origin, and the docility
Huntsman. of the Chetah early marked him out as a suitable
ally in the chase. Chetahs are so gentle that they can be
led about in a leash like greyhounds. The following descrip-
tion of a hunt is from “The Naturalist’s Library”. “Just
before we reached our ground, the shuter suwars (camel
courier), who always moved on our flanks in search of game,
reported a herd of antelopes, about a mile out of the line of
march, and the Chetahs being at hand, we went in pursuit
of them. The leopards are each accommodated with a flat-
topped cart, without sides, drawn by two bullocks, and each
animal has two attendants. They are loosely bound by a
collar and rope to the back of the vehicle, and are also held
by the keeper by a strap round the loins. A leathermn hood
covers the eyes. On entering from a cotton field, we came
in sight of four antelopes, and my driver managed to get
within a hundred yards of them before they took alarm.
The Chetah was quickly wnhooded and loosed from his
bonds; and, as soon as he viewed the deer, he dropped
quietly off the cart on the opposite side to that on which they
stood, and approached them at a slow crouching canter,
masking himself by every bush, and inequality, which lay in
his way. As soon, however, as the deer began to show alarm,
he quickened his pace and was in the midst of them in a
few bounds. He singled out a doe, and ran it close for
about 200 yards, when he reached it with a blow of his
paw, rolled it over, and in an instant was sucking the life
blood from its throat.” “As soon as the deer is pulled,”
says the same account, “a keeper runs up, hoods the Chetah,
cuts the victim’s throat, and securing some of the blood in
a wooden ladle, thrusts it under the leopard’s nose. The
antelope is then dragged away and placed in a receptacle
under the hatchery, while the Chetah is rewarded with a leg
for his pains.”



GON eid

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c
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te
iS
S
rt
es
nH
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oO
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CACOMIXLE
(Bassaris astuta ) i
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THE ICHNEUMON. "79

The Civits. The family Viverride includes a large number
of species of small carnivorous animals of which the Civits
and the Ichneumons are the best known. They belong
chiefly to Africa and South Asia, but some are found in
the south of Europe. The African Civit hails from Gaboon
and Abyssinia and the Asiatic variety from Bengal, Nepaul,
China and Formosa. It is from these animals that we get
the fatty substance, used in perfumery and known as
civit. Of this Mr. Piesse says: “In is pure state, civit
has to nearly all persons a most disgusting odour, but when
diluted to an infinitesimal portion its perfume its agreeable.
The Genet, and the Paradoxure are other genera of this
family.”

The Ichneumon. The Ichneumon numbers some fifteen genera,
and sixty species. The best known of these is the grey
Ichneumon which comes from India or adjacent countries.
Naturally savage it soon becomes tame under kindly treat-
ment. It seems to have a natural enmity towards serpents,
which it attacks and destroys. The Mahrattas say that it
neutralizes the effects of snake bites by eating the root of
the monguswail. Captain Brown records an experiment in
- which the ichneumon was placed in a room with a poisonous
serpent which it tried to avoid. On the two being removed
to the open air, the ichneumon is said to have immediately
darted at the serpent and destroyed it, afterwards retiring
to the wood and eating a portion of the plant said to be
an antidote to the serpent’s venom. The Ichneumon is
about the size of the domestic cat and of a dark silver
grey colour. The Egyptian Ichneumon much resembles the
cat in its habits and manners and is so deadly a foe to
reptiles and vermin, that it is domesticated with a view to
their destruction. It is remarkably quick in its movements,
darting with unerring aim at the head of the reptile it
attacks. It displays also the cat’s patience in watching for
its prey. It has a great liking for crocodile’s eggs and with



Full Text


2S Eee RUN RN ORT ROM 8 0d

PRIVATE LIBRAP®
ey

DR. oe WIL = 1S |
Mihi les
-: ti )77) :







Plate No. 19





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eee








UA
tf


Five Hundred

FASCINATING

Animal Stories
oS er TT

WITH NUMEROUS
~COLORED PLATES

ILLUSTRATING THE NATURE, HABITS, MANNERS
AND CUSTOMS OF ANIMALS, BIRDS, FISHES,
REPTILES, INSECTS, ETC,, ETC,, ETC,

ARRANGED AND EDITED BY

ALFRED H. MILES

ee}

NEW YORK
tHE CHRISTIAN HERALD
_LOUIS KLOPSCH, PROPRIETOR
BIBLE HOUSE.
CorpyrRIGHT, 1895
BY

Dopp, MEAD AND COMPANY
AS
“NATURAL History In ANECDOTE”

ALL RiGgHTs RESERVED

CopyRIGHT 1907
BY
Louis KiopscH
New York
PREFACE,

Illustrations are like windows to the house of knowledge.
They let light in upon the understanding and they facilitate
the outlook upon truth and beauty. To illustrate is to help
one sense by the use of another, to reason by analogy and
to teach the unknown by the known. When definition fails,
illustration often carries conviction, and the most successful
teachers are those who make the best use of sound and
telling illustrations. How many lessons would have been
wholly forgotten by us, but for the illustrations which made
their meanings clear and left their truths for ever in our
minds ?

The book of nature is full of illustrations which help the
understanding of the book of life, and no illustrations are
more valuable and fascinating, whether as revelations of the
order and habits of nature herself, or as parallels and para-
bles, full of suggestive application to the social and moral
life of humanity, than those afforded by the study of Nat-
ural History.

To gather into a convenient volume Illustrative Anecdotes
of Natural History, which shall throw light upon the study
of Animal Life, for those pursuing it for its own sake, and
help to the understanding of Nature herself is the primary
object of this work, while it is hoped that it may serve a
VI PREFACE.

secondary purpose of no small utility, in suggesting social
and moral parallels.

With a view to its first purpose the illustrations are classi-
fied in order as those of Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Fishes,
- etc., etc., and as much knowledge of Natural History as
can be conveyed in anecdote form has been attempted. The
book will thus, it is hoped, be a valuable aid to the teacher
. of Natural History, as a manual of illustrations for his les-
sons, as well as full of interest to the general reader, who
may not wish to devote the time necessary to more exhaus-
tive scientitic study.

A. H. M.
EIST OF COLORED PLATES.



ANIMALS.
Plate x. Gorilla. Ourang-Outang.
Plate 2. Galago. Aye Aye.
Plate 3. Lion. Cueerah.
Plate 4. Aard Vark. Blotched Gea.
net.
Plate 5. Jaguar. Cacomixle.
Plate 7. Fox Terriers, Puppies.
Plate 8. Polar Bear. Ermine.
late 9g. eee Camel.
Plate xo. Elephant. Giraffe.
Plate rz. Zebra. Bison.
Plate 12. Beaver. Alpine Hare.
Plate 13. Tatou. Kangaroo.

BIRDS.

Plate 14. Sepoy Finch. Red-Headed
Bunting. Chinese Bulbul. Canary
Bird. Brazilian Tanager. Bell Bird.
Orchard Oriole. Blue Bullfinch.
java Grosbeak. Nightingale,

Plate xs. Emen Wren. Stitch Bird.
Araguira. Whistling Thrush. Pas-
tor. Parrot Finch. Swallow Dicae-
cum. Golden Oriole. Rosebreasted
Grosbeak. Painted Bunting.

Plate 16. Kinglet. Scarlet Finch.
Brown Thrasher. Mariposa. Huia.
Madagascar Grosbeak. Crested
Sparaetes. Mino Bird. Maryland
Yellow Throat, Purple-breasted
Chatterer.

Plate 17. Shaft-tailed Bunting. Lin-

net. Piping Crow-strike. Pine
Grosbeak. Audubon’s Warbler.
Thrush. Amandava. Yellow-head.
Crested Malimbus. Saddle-back.

FISHES.

Plate 18. Spanish Mackerel. Mack-
erel. Weakfish. Herring. Bluefish.
Codfish. Crab. Porgy. Eel. White-
fish.

Plate 19. Butterfish. Catfish. Gold:

fish. Blackfish. Shad. Lobster.
Sea-robin. Sea-bass. Swordfish.
Perch.

Plate 20. Carp. Yellow Perch. Sar-
dine. Sawfish. Salmon. Sunfish
Brook Trout. Blowfish. Striped
Bass. Moonfish.
CONTE NAS

INTRODUCTION

Science, r

The Kingdoms of Nature, 1
Zoology, 2

Classification, 2

Class IL—Miammalia

ORDER I
PRIMATES

SuB-ORDER I
MAN-SHAPED ANIMALS

The Ape Family, 3
The Gorilla, 4
Ancestors of the Gorilla, 4
AGorilla Hunt, 5
Du Chaillu’s First Gorilla, 7
A Young Gorilla, 9
Gorilla Superstitions, 10
The Chimpanzee, 11
Docility and Sagacity of Chimpanzee, 11
The Orang-Utan, 12
Habits of Orang-Utan, 12
Walk of Orang-Utan, 13
Strength of Orang-Utan, 14
Docility of Orang-Utan, 14
Orang-Utan’s Intelligence, 15

ff «Affection, 15
The Maternal Instinct, 16
Gibbons, or Long-Armed Apes, 17
Monkeys, 18
The Sacred Monkeys, 18
Long-nosed Monkey, 19
Cheek-pouched Monkeys, 19
The Baboon, 1g
Arabiar, Babéon, 20
Baboon’s Imitative Faculty, 20



The Chackma Baboon, 2
Baboon’s Utility, 21
The Tame Baboon, 22
Baboon’s Cunning, 22

oe Loyalty, 24
Intelligence, 24
The Bonnet Monkey, 25
Indian Monkeys, ,25
The Monkey Outdone, 27
The Monkey Aroused, 29
Monkey’s Affection, 30
American Monkeys, 30
The Capuchin Monkey, 30
The Spider Monkeys, 30
The Howling Monkeys, 31
The Bearded Saki, 31
The Douroucouli, 32
The Marmosets, 32

6c

Sus-OrDEr II
THE LEMURS
The Tarsier, 33
The Aye-Aye, 33

ORDER II
WING-HANDED ANIMALS
Bats, 35
The Common English Bats, 36
The Vampire Bat, 36
A Traveller’s Experience, 37
Megaderma Lyra, 38
ORDER III
INSECT-EATING ANIMALS
The Hedgehog, 39
The Mole, 4o
An Enterprising Mole, 41
The Use of the Mole, 41
The Shrew, 42


V3II

ORDER IV
FLESH-EATING ANIMALS
SuB-ORDER I

THE FISSIPEDIA

Animals of the Cat Kind, 43
The Lion, 44 -
Lion’s Character, 44
Attitude towards Man, 45
The Better. Part of Valour, 46
Lion’s Strength, 47
“Affection, 48:
‘* Docility, 48
Androcles, 49
A Lion Hunt, 50
A Thnilling Experience, 52
Attacked by a Lion, 53
A Night Surprise, 55
A Lion Outwitted, 56
Old Instincts and New Opportunities, 56
The Tiger, 57
Tigers’ Ravages, 58
An Intrepid Hunter, 60
The Leopard, 61
Leopard’s Tenacity of Life, 6z
Hunters Hunted, 63
The Jaguar, 64 .
Jaguar’s Strength, 65
A Night of Horror, 65
The Puma, 67
Puma’s Ferocity, 67
Animals and Men, 68
The Ocelot, 69
The Clouded Tiger, 70
The Serval, 70
Common Wild Cat, 70
Domestic Cat, 71
Cat Superstitions, 71
Cat as a Hunter, 72
Cat and Her Young, 72
Cat as a Foster Mother, 73
Cat as a Traveller, 74
Cat asa Sportsman, 75
Cat’s Intelligence, 75
The Lynx, 76
The Chetah as Huntsman, 78
The.Civits, 79
The Ichneumon, 79
Dormant Instinct, 80
The Aard Wolf, 80
The Hyzna, 80
Striped Hyzena, 82
Spotted Hyzna, 82
A Narrow Escape, 83
Animals of the Dog Kind, 84
The Wolf, 84
The Fox, 85
The Jackal, 86
Wolf’s Mode of Attack, 86

CONTENTS

Wolf's Cunning, 87
« Cowardice, 88
Hunted by Wolves, 88
A Terrible Alternative, 89
A Marvellous Escape, 89
Tame Wolves,
The Cunning of the Fox, go
The Fox as a Hunter, gt
A Fox Hunt, 92
The Arctic Fox, 93
Wild Dogs, 93
The Dog, 94
Dog’s Understanding, 95
“© Serise of Locality, 97
Dog Friendships and Eximities, 99
‘“« Language, 100
Dog’s Intelligence, 101
‘« Mistakes, 104
Eskimo Dogs, 104
A Hard Lot, 106
Newfoundland Dog, 107

y Newfoundland’s Generosity, 108

Perception of Dan
ger, 109
se Sense of Right and
Wrong, 111

ce

Fidelity, 112
Newfoundland under Training, 112
The Sheep Dog, 114
Sheep Dog’s Sagacity, 115

sf Fidelity, 117
The St. Bernard, 119
St. Bernard at Work, I2I
The Greyhound, 122
Greyhound’s Affection, 123
The Lurcher, 124
The Bloodhound, 125
Scent of the Bloodhound, 126
The Stag Hound, 127
A Stag Hunt, 127
The Fox Hound, 128
Fox Hound’s Tenacity, 128
The Harrier, 129
The Beagle, 129
The Dalmatian Dog, 130
The Turnspit, 130
Turnspit’s Sagacity, 130
The Pointer, 130
Pointer’s Intelligence, 131
The Setter, 132
Pointers and Setters, 132
Sagacity of the Setter, 133
The Spaniel, 134
Blenheim Spaniel and Cats, 135
Water Spaniel as a Witness, 135
The Terrier, 136
The Mastiff, 136
Fidelity of the Mastiff, 136
Intelligence of the Mastiff, 137
The Mastiff as Protector, 137
CONTENTS ix

The Bull Dog, 138

The Poodle, 139

The Shoe-black’s Poodle, 139
Weasels, Otters, and Badgers, 140
The Polecat, 140

The Weasel. 140

Weasel and Kite, 141

The Common Otter, 141

The Badger, 142

The Ratel and the Skunk, 143
The Skunk, 144

The Raccoon and the Coati, 145
The Bear, 145

The Polar Bear, 146

The Black Bear, 147

Docility of the Bear, 148

The Grizzly Bear, 149

The Brown Bear, 151

Bruin and the Honey, 151

The Malayan Bear, 151

SuB-ORDER II
THE PINNIPEDIA
Sea Lions, 152
Sea Bears, 153
The Walrus, 154
The Common Seal, 155
The Seal’s Docility, 156

ORDER V
WHALES AND DOLPHINS
The Right Whale, 158
The Sperm Whale, 159
The Dolphin, 159
The White Whale, 160
The Narwhal, 160
The Porpoise, 161
The Grampus, 161

ORDER VI
The Sea Cow, 162

ORDER VII

HOOFED ANIMALS
The Horse, 162
The Arabian Horse, 163
Affection for his Owner, 165
The Domestic Horse, 166
The Structure of a Horse, 167
The Horse’s Speed, 169
The Horse’s Endurance, 170
The Horse’s Memory, 171
The Force of Habit, 172
Intelligence of the Horse, 174
Horse-Play, 176
Horses and Dogs, 177
The Ass, 178
Sagacity of the Ass, 180
Instinct of the Ass, 181

\

The Trained Ass, 182

The Mule and the Hinny, 183

The Zebra, 183

The ‘Tapir, 183

The Rhinoceros, 184

Rhinoceros Hunting, 186

The Tame Rhinoceros, 187

The Hippopotamus, 188

The Haunt of the Hippopotami, 189
The Pig Family, 190

The Boar, 190

The Common Hog, 191

The Babiroussa, 192

The Peccary, 192

The Camel and the Dromedary, 192
Strength and Endurance of the Camel,

193
The Camel and his Master, 194
Camel Riding, 195
A Camel's Revenge, 195
The Terrors of the Desert, 196
The Llama, 198
The Deer, 198
The Red Deer, 199
A Stag Hunt, 200
The Tame Stag, 2or
The Reindeer, 201
The Moose or Elk, 204
The Fallow Deer and the Roebuck, 204
The Giraffe, 205
The History of the Giraffe, 205
Hollow-Horned Ruminants, 206
The Bull, the Bison and the Buffalo,

207

The Bull, the Ox, the Cow, 207
The Bull, 208

The Brahmin Bull, 209

The Ox, 209

The Cow, 210

The Pride of a Cow, 210

The Bison, 211

Hunting the Bison, 212

The Buffalo, 213

Hunting the Indian Buffalo, 213
The Cape Buffalo, 214

Hunting the Cape Buffalo, 215
The Zebu, 216

The Yak, 216

The Antelopes, 216

The Gazelle, 217

The Sheep and the Goat, 217
The Intelligence of the Sheep, 218
Animals and Music, 218

ORDER VIIt

The Elephant, 219

The Wild Elephant, 220
Elephant Herds, 221
Elephant Friendships, 223
x

Sagacity of the Elephant, 224

A Centenarian Elephant, 224
An Elephant Nurse, 225
Intelligence of the Elephant, 225

ORDER IX
The Conies, 226

ORDER X
THE RODENTS: ANIMALS THAT
GNAW

Rats and Mice, 227
The Rat Family, 227
The Hamster, 228
Swarms of Rats, 228
Invaded by Rats, 229
Migrations of Rats, 230
The Intelligence of Rats, 231
Saved by a Rat, 231 |
The Mouse, 232
The Harvest Mouse, 233
The Field Mouse, 233
The Dormouse, 233
The Jerboas, 234
The Beaver, 234
The European Beaver, 234
The American Beaver, 235
The Squirrel, 237
The Squirrel at Home, 238
Tame Squirrels, 239
The Marmot, the Bobak, the Prairie
Dog, 240
The Chinchilla, 240
The Porcupine, 240
The Guinea Pig, 241
Hares and Rabbits, 241
The Common Hare, 241
~ Intelligence of the Hare, 242
A Hunted Hare, 243
Tame Hares, 244
The Common Rabbit, 245

ORDER XI

TOOTHLESS ANIMALS

The Sloth, 245

The Paagolin, 246

The Armadillo, 246
The Cape Ant-Bear, 246
The Ant-Eater, 247

ORDER XII

POUCHED ANIMALS

The Opossum, 247
The Kangaroo, 247
Kangaroo Hunting, 248



CONTENTS

ORDER XIII
MONOTREMATA

The Duck-billed Platypus, 249
The Australian Hedgehog, 249

Class II.—Aves
Classification, 250 |

ORDER I

PERCHING BIRDS

The Thrushes, 251

The Common Thrush, 251

The Missel Thrush, 252

The Blackbird, 252

The Mocking Bird, 254

‘Lhe Tailor Bird, 255

The Golden Crested Wren, 255

The Migration of Birds, 255

The Willow Wren, 256

The Common Wren, 256

A Wren’s Music Lesson, 257

The House Wren, 257

The Nightingale, 258

Song of the Nightingale, 258

The Robin Redbreast, 259

Intelligence of the Robin, 260

The Titmouse, 260

The Golden Oriole, 261

The Shrike, 262

The Jays, 262

The Blue Jay, 263

The Magpie, 264

Mischievous Habits of the Magpie, 264

The Raven, 266

Unnatural Parents, 267

The Tame Raven, 268

The Raven and the Dog, 269

The Rook, 270

The Carrion Crow, 270

The Jackdaw, 271

The Chough, 271

The Bird of Paradise, 271

Hunting the Bird of Paradise, 272

The Tanagers, 273

The Tanager, 273

The Swallow, 273

Swallows in Council, 274

The House Martin, 274

The Sand Martin, 275

The Chaffinch. The Goldfinch. The
Greenfinch, 275

The Linnet, 276

The Canary, 276

The Tame Canary, 27;

The Crossbill, 277

The Bunting, 277

The Starling, 278

The Common Starling, 278
CONTENTS XY

The Weaver Bird, 278

The Lark, 279

Maternal Instinct of the Lark, 280
The Lark and the Hawk, 281

The Wagtails and Pipits, 281

The Ant-Eaters, 282

The King Bird, 282

The Chatterers, 282

The Lyre Bird, 283

ORDER II

CLIMBERS AND GAPERS
The Woodpecker, 284
The Wryneck, 284
The Cuckoo, 284
The Cuckoo and the Hedge-Sparrow,
285
The Cuckoo and the Thrush, 286
The Trogons, 287
The Kingfishers, 287
The Hornbill, 287
Thé Goat-Suckers, 288
The Whip-poor-Will, 288
The Chuck-Will’s-Widow, 288
The Swifts, 289
The Humming Bird, 289

ORDER III
THE PARROTS

Intelligence of the Parrot, 290
Famous Parrots, 291

The Grey Parrot, 292

Parrot Talk, 293

ORDER IV
PIGEONS
Carrier Pigeons, 294
Pigeons on the Wing, 295
ORDER V
FOWLS

The Peacock, 297

The Pheasant, 298

The Partridge, 299

The Wild Turkey, 300

The Domestic Turkey, 300
Sagacity of the Turkey, 300
Sitting Turkey Cocks, 301
Domestic Fowls, 302

The Common Hen, 303

ORDER VI
The Hoazin, 304
ORDER VII
BIRDS OF PREY

The Eagle, 305
Eagle Shouting, 305

?

White-Headed Eagle, 306

The Vultures, 307

The Condor, 308

The King of the Vultures, 308

A Feast of Vultures, 309

The Secretary Bird, 310

The Kite. The Osprey. The Buzzard,
3IL

The Falcon, 311

The Sparrow-Hawk, 312

The Owl, 313

ORDER VIII
WADING BIRDS

The Cranes, 314

The Heron, 314

The Bittern, 315

The Stork, 315

Jealousy of the Stork, 315
A Stork’s Revenge, 316

ORDER IX
THE GEESE

Gratitude of the Goose, 316

A Wild Goose Chase, 317

Goose Friendships, 317

The Goose and the Dog, 318
Maternal Instinct of the Goose, 318
The Duck, 319

The Swan, 319

Maternal Instinct of the Swan, 320
Intelligence of the Swan, 320

The Swan and the Fawn, 32

The Common Sea-Gull, 321

A Tame Sea-Gull, 321

Mother Carey's Chicken, 322
Catching the Stormy Petrel, 322
The Cormorant, 323

The Albatross, 324

The Pelican, 325

A Tame Pelican, 325

The Penguin, 326

The Puffin, 327

ORDER X
THE OSTRICHES
The Ostrich and its Young, 321
The Rhea. The Cassowary, The Emu,
329
Vertebrata
Class III.—Reptilia

ORDER I

The Tortoise and the Turtle, 337
The Elephant Tortoise, 332
The Turtle, 333
xii z CONTENTS

ORDER II

The Crocodile, 334°
The Alligator, 335
A Tame Alligator, 336

ORDER III
Hatteria Punctata, 337

ORDER IV

The Lizards, 337

The Chameleon, 337

The Iguana, 338

The Common Lizard, 338
The Monitor, 339

ORDER V

Snakes, 339

The Viper, 340

The Viper and its Young, 340

The Rattlesnake, 341

The Sting of the Rattlesnake, 341

The Black Snake and the Rattlesnake,

342°
The Cobra, 342
Snake Charming, 343
The Cobra as Companion of the Bath,

344
A Night with a Cobra, 345
An Unpleasant Bedfellow, 345
The Boa Constrictor, 346
The Boa and its Prey, 346
The Boa’s Appetite, 347
A Terrible Boa, 348
A Narrow Escape, 348

Vertebrata

Olass IV.—Batrachia

The Batrachia, 350

The Common Toad, 351
Tame Toads, 351

The Common Frog, 352
Ingenuity of the Frog, 352
The Tree Frog, 353

Vertebrata
Class V.—Pisces

Fishes, 354

The Sticklebacks, 354

The Stickleback and the Leech, 355
The Mackerel, 356

The Sword Fish, 356

The Cod, 357

The Salmon, 358

The Pike, 358

The Herring, 360

The Flying Fish, 360

The Eel, 361

The Gymnotus, 362
Catching the Gymnotus, 362
The Torpedo, 365

The Shark, 366

The White Shark, 366
Sharks in the South Seas, 367
The Rays, 368

Ray Catching, 369
NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE. |

INTRODUCTION.

Science. Science is classified truth. Menstudy the heavenly
bodies, note their characteristics, observe their movements, and
define their relationships; and having verified their deduc-
tions by repeated experiments, arrange the truths they have
discovered into systems, and by classifying their knowledge
reduce it to a science: this science they call Astronomy.
Astronomy is thus the classified arrangement of all known
truths concerning the heavenly bodies. Geology, similarly, is
the classified arrangement of all known truths concerning the
material structure of the Earth.
The Kingdoms The Natural World has been variously divided

of Nature. for the purposes of study. Linnzeus divided
it into three kingdoms; (I) the Mineral kingdom (II) the
Vegetable kingdom and (III) the Animal kingdom, thus
naming the three kingdoms in the order of their natural
geneses. The Mineral kingdom comprises the snorganic forms
of nature,—those which have no organism and which can
only increase by external addition. The Vegetable and
Animal kingdoms comprise the organic life of nature,—those
forms which are provided with means for promoting their
own development and propagating species. The Vegetable
kingdom, while easily distinguishable from the Mineral
kingdom is in some of its forms so similar to the lower
forms of animal life as to suggest relationship between the.
two; while the Animal kingdom, beginning with the lower
forms which approximate so closely to vegetable forms,

x i
2 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

embraces the whole range of animal life and reaches its
highest order in man. The science which treats of organic
life as a whole is called Biology, while its two departments
are separately known as Botany and Zoology. Natural
History is a general term popularly applied to the study of
Zoology.

Zoology. Zoology is the science of animal life. It deals
with the origin of species, and the evolution of the varied
forms of animated nature, and treats of the structure, habits,
and environment of all living creatures. Scientifically speak-
ing, Zoology is the classified arrangement of all known truths
concerning all animal organisms.

Classification. For convenience in study the Animal king-
dom is divided into seven Sub-kingdoms, each of which is further
divided into classes. These Sub-kingdoms are known as: I
Vertebrata, II Arthropoda, ITI Mollusca, ITV Echinodermata,
V Vermes, VI Cuelenterata, and VII Protozoa. Sub-kingdom I,
Vertebrata, includes all animals distinguished by the possession
of Vertebre or back-bones, and its classes are 1 Mammalia:—
animals that suckle their young; II Aves:—Birds; III
Repitlia:—Reptiles; IV Batrachia:—Frogs, Toads, etc.; and V
Pisces:—Fishes. Sub-kingdom II, Arthropoda, includes the
Insect families, etc., which it also divides into classes. Sub-king-
dom III, Mollusca, animals of the cuttle-fish order, including
limpets, oysters, and slugs. Sub-kingdom IV, Echinodermata,
a large number of marine animals, such as the star-fish
and the sea-urchin. Sub-kingdom V, Vermes, the various
classes of worms. Sub-kingdom VI, Coelenterata, corals and
sponges, etc. etc, and Sub-kingdom VII, Protozoa,
protoplasms and the lowest forms of animal life. This
volume is devoted to the illustration of the first of these
sub-kingdoms, the Vertebrata, with its five classes, Mamma-
lia, Aves, Reptilia, Batrachia and Pisces.
THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.
SUB-KINGDOM I—VERTEBRATA.

CLASS I—MAMMALTIA.

The most perfect of all animals is man, for
besides having a marvellous animal organism
he possesses reason, which so far transcends
the highest instincts of other animals, that it places him in
a category by himself.

SUB ORDER 1. Next to man it is convenient to deal

Man-shaped with man-shaped animals, (enthropotdea)—

Animale. those animals which most resemble him in
external appearance and internal organism. This brings us
to the order called Quadrumana or four-handed animals
which include Lemurs and their allied forms, and manlike
monkeys. Monkeys are divided into five families, one at
least of which has to be further divided into sub-families to
‘accommodate its variety. These families are: I The Apes;

II The Sacred Monkeys; ITI The Cheek-pouched Monkeys;
IV The Cebidae, with its several sub-families, and V The
Marmosets. The first three of these families inhabit the old
world, the last two belong to the new.

The Ape The family of the Apes includes the Gorilla,
Family. the Chimpanzee, the Orang-utan or mias, the

Gibbons or long-armed Apes, and the Siamang; of these the
Gorilla and the Chimpanzee belong to the West of Africa,
the Orang-utan to Borneo, the Gibbons to Assam, the Malay
3

ORDER I.
PRIMATES.
4 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

Peninsula, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Cambodia and Hainan,
and the Siamang to Java and Sumatra.

The Gorilla, The gorilla is the largest of the ape family,
and sometimes attains to the height of six feet. It is also
the fiercest, if not the strongest, of man-shaped animals. It
belongs to the genus Troglodytes of which the chimpanzee is
the only other species, and it inhabits a somewhat limited
range of Equatorial Africa, where it makes for itself nests
of sticks and foliage, among the lower branches of trees,
and lives upon berries, nuts and fruits. Though apparently
a vegetarian the gorilla has enormous physical strength. His
arms bear much the same proportion to the size of his body
as those of man do relatively, but his lower limbs are shorter,
and have no calves, the leg growing thicker from the knee
downwards. The hands are broad, thick, and of great
length of palm, and are remarkable for their strength; the
feet, broader than those of man, and more like hands, are
very large and of great power. The gorilla uses his handg
when walking or running, but as his arms are longer than
those of other apes, and his legs shorter he stoops less than
they do in moving from place to place. The gorilla herds
in small companies, or rather families, one adult male being
the husband and father of the band. The females are much
smaller than the males.

The Ancestors he gorilla, though: rediscovered in recent
ofthe years, was apparently known to the ancients.
Boule: Hanno, a Carthaginian admiral who flourished

some five or six hundred years B.C., once sailed from
Carthage with a fleet of sixty vessels and a company of
30,000 persons, under instructions to proceed past the Pillars
of Hercules (the Straits of Gibraltar), with a view to planting
colonies on the western coast of Africa. In the course of
their travels they discovered several islands inhabited by
wild creatures with hairy bodies. “There were,” says the
ancient navigator, “many more females than males, all equally
THE GORILLA. 5

covered with hair on all parts of the body. The interpreters
called them gorillas, On pursuing them, we could not suc-
ceed in taking a single male, they all escaped with astonishing
swiftness, and threw stones at us; but we took three females,
who defended themselves with so much violence, that we
were obliged to kill them; but we brought their skins,
stuffed with straw, to Carthage.” Professor Owen remarks
upon this that “though such creatures would suggest to
Hanno and his crew no other idea of their nature than
that of a kind of human being, yet the climbing faculty,
the hairy body, and the skinning of the dead specimens
strongly suggest that they were great apes. The fact that
apes somewhat resembling the negroes, of human size and
with hairy bodies, still exist on the west coast of Africa
renders it highly probable that such were the creatures which
Hanno saw, captured, and called ‘gorullai’.”

A Gorilla Hunt. Paul du Chaillu, in his “Stories of the Gorilla
Country,” gives a graphic description of his first sight of these
“wild men of the woods.” He was inspecting the ruins of
a native village with a party of Africans, when they discovered
footprints which the natives immediately recognised as those
of the gorilla. “It was,” says he, “ the first time I had
seen the footprints of these wild men of the woods, and I
cannot tell you how I felt. Here was I now, it seemed, on
the point of meeting, face to face, that monster, of whose
ferocity, strength and cunning, the natives had told me so
much, and which no man before had hunted. By the
tracks it was easy to know that there must have been
several gorillas in company. We prepared at once to follow
them. My men were remarkably silent, for they were
going on an expedition of more than usual risk; for the
male gorilla is literally the king of the forest—the king of the
equatorial regions. He and the crested lion of Mount Atlas
are the two fiercest and strongest beasts of that continent.
The lion of South Africa cannot be compared with either
6 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

for strength or courage. As we left the camp, the men and
women left behind crowded together, with fear written on
their faces. Miengai, Ngolai, and Makinda set out for the
hunt in one party; myself and Yeava formed another. We
determined to keep near each other, so that in case of
trouble we might be at hand to help ome another. For the
rest silence and a sure aim were the only cautions to be
given. I confess that I was never more excited In my
life. For years I had heard of the terrible roar of the
gorilla, of its vast strength, of its fierce courage when only
wounded. I knew that we were about to pit ourselves
against an animal which even the enormous leopards of the
mountains fear, which the elephants let alone and which
perhaps has driven away the lion out of his territory; for the
king of beasts, so numerous elsewhere in Africa, is not met with
in the land of the gorilla. We descended a hill, crossed a
stream on a fallen log, crept under the trees, and presently
approached some huge boulders of granite. In the stream
we had crossed we could see plainly that the animals had
just crossed it, for the water was still disturbed. Along side
of the granite blocks lay an immense dead tree, and about
this the gorillas were likely to be. Our approach was very
cautious. With guns cocked and ready we advanced through
the dense wood, which cast a gloom even at mid-day over
the whole scene. I looked at my men and saw that they
were even more excited than myself. Slowly we pressed on
through the dense bush, dreading almost to breathe for fear
of alarming the beasts. Makinda was to go to the right of
the rock, while I took the left. Unfortunately he and his
party circled it at too great a distance. The watchful
animals saw him. Suddenly I was startled by a strange, dis-
cordant, half human cry, and beheld four young and half-grown
gorillas running towards the deep forest. I was not ready.
We fired but hit nothing. Then we rushed on in pursuit;
but they knew the woods better than we. Once I caught
THE GORILLA. y

a glimpse of one of the animals again; but an intervening
tree spoiled my mark, and I did not fire. We pursued
them till we were exhausted, but in vain. I protest I felt
almost like a murderer when I saw the.gorilla this first time.
As they ran on their hind legs with their heads down, their
bodies inclined forward, their whole appearance was that of
hairy men running for their lives. Add to this their cry, so
awful yet with something human in its discordance, and you
will cease to wonder that the natives have the wildest
superstitions about these ‘wild men of the woods.’”

Du Chaillus In his “Explorations and Adventures in Equa-
First Gorilla. torial Africa” du Chaillu gives an equally
thrilling account of the capture of his first gorilla. He says:
“We started early, and pushed through the most dense and
impenetrable part of the forest; in hopes to find the very
home of the beast I so much wished to shoot. Hour
after hour we travelled and yet no signs of gorillas. Only
the everlasting, little, chattering monkeys—and not many of
these—and occasionally birds. Suddenly Miengai uttered a
little cluck with his tongue which is the native way of
showing that something is stirring and that a sharp look-
out is necessary. And presently I noticed, ahead of us
seemingly, a noise as of some one breaking down branches
or twigs of trees. This was a gorilla—I knew at once by
the eager satisfied looks of the men. We walked with
the greatest care making no noise at all. Suddenly, as we
were yet creeping along, in a silence which made a heavy
breath seem loud and distinct, the woods were at once
filled with the tremendous barking roar of the gorilla. Then
the underbrush swayed rapidly just ahead, and presently
before us stood an immense male gorilla. He had gone
through the jungle on all fours; but when he saw our party
he erected himself and looked us boldly in the face. He
stood about a dozen yards from us, and was a sight I
think I shall never forget. Nearly six feet high (he proved
8 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

four inches shorter),. with immense body, huge chest, and
great muscular arms, with fiercely glaring, large, deep gray
eyes, and a hellish expression of face, which seemed to me
like some nightmare vision: thus stood before us this king of
the African forest. He was not afraid of us. He stood
there and beat his breast with his huge fists till it resounded
like an immense bass-drum, which is the gorillas’ mode of
offering defiance; meantime giving vent to roar after roar.
The roar of the gorilla is the most singular and awful noise
heard in these African woods. It begins with a sharp dark,
like an angry dog, then glides into a deep bass roll, which
literally and closely zesembles the roll of distant thunder
along the sky. So deep is it that it seems to proceed
less from the mouth and throat than from the deep chest
and vast paunch. His eyes began to flash fiercer fire as
we stood motionless on the defensive, and the crest of short
hair which stands on his forehead began to twitch rapidly
up and down, while his powerful fangs were shown as he
again sent forth his thunderous roar. He advanced a few
steps—then stopped to utter that hideous roar again—
advanced again, and finally stopped when at a distance of
about six yards from us. And here, just as he began another
of his roars, beating his breast with rage, we fired, and
killed him, With a groan which had something terribly
human in it, and yet was full of brutishness, he fell forward
on his face. The body shook convulsively for a few minutes,
the limbs moved about in a struggling way, and then all
was quiet: death had done its work, and I had leisure to
examine the huge body. It proved to be five feet eight
inches high, and the muscular development of the arms and
breast showed what immense strength it had possessed.” A
smaller gorilla, shot by M. du Chaillu on another occasion,
measured five feet six inches in height, fifty inches round
the chest, and his arms had a spread of seven feet two inches
THE GORILLA, 9

A Young A young gorilla which some natives succeeded

Gorilla. in capturing for M. du Chaillu, and which he
named “Fighting Joe,” forms the subject of one of his most
interesting chapters. The young cub was caught by the adroit
use of a cloth which one of the natives managed to throw
over his head, but not until he had severely bitten one of
his captors in the hand and taken a mouthful out of the
leg of another. He was about three years old, three feet
six inches in height and of great strength. A cage was
made for him, from which he twice escaped, on each occasion
being recaptured by the use of fishing nets. On his first
escape he concealed himself under the bed in M. du Chaillu’s
house. “Running in,” says the writer, “to get one of my guns,
I was startled by an angry growl. It was master Joe; there
was no mistake about it; I knew his growl too well. I
cleared out faster than I came in. I instantly shut the
windows and called in my people to guard the door. When
Joe saw the crowd of black faces he became furious, and
with his eyes glaring, and every sign of rage in his face and
body, he got out from beneath the bed. He was about to
make a rush at all of us. He was not afraid. A stampede ot
my men took place, I shut the door quickly (from outside)
and left Joe master of the premises.” While the men
outside were devising means for his recapture, the young
gorilla carefully inspected the furniture and M. du Chaillu
became apprehensive for the safety of his clock, the ticking of
which was likely to attract unwelcome attention. However,
by means of a net dexterously thrown over him, he was
secured once more and carried back to his cage, which in
the meantime had been repaired, the full strength of four
men being required for the purpose. On his second escape
he made for the woods and took refuge in a large clump of
trees. “This we surrounded,” says M. du Chaillu. “He
did not ascend a tree, but stood defiantly at the border of
the wood. About one hundred and fifty of us surrounded
10 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

him. As we moved up he began to yell, and made a dash
upon a poor fellow who was in advance. The fellow ran
and tumbled down in affright. By his fall he escaped the
tender mercies of Joe’s teeth; but he also detained the
little rascal long enough for the nets to be thrown over him.”
But Joe was a child of nature and could not live with the
chain of civilisation around his neck, and he died somewhat
suddenly some ten days afterwards and finally found his
way to the British museum.

Gorilla According to du Chaillu, the natives entertain
Superstitions. many superstitions about the gorilla, among the
commonest of which is the belief that some gorillas are
inhabited by human spirits. In his “Stories of the Gorilla
Country” he gives an interesting illustration of this. “In the
evening,” he says, “the men told stories about gorillas. ‘I re-
member,’ said one, ‘my father told me he once went out to
the forest, when just in his path he meta great gorilla. My
father had his spear in his hand. When the gorilla saw
the spear he began to roar; then my father was terrified
and dropped the spear. When the gorilla saw that my
father had dropped the spear he was pleased. He looked
at him, and then left him and went into the thick forest.
Then my father was glad and went on his way.’ Here all
shouted: ‘Yes! so we must do when we meet the gorilla. Drop
the spear; that appeases him.’ Next Gambo spoke. ‘Several
dry seasons ago, a man suddenly disappeared from ray
village after an angry quarrel. Some time after an Asbira
of that village was out in the forest. He met a very large
gorilla, That gorilla was the man who had disappeared;
he had turned into a gorilla. He jumped upon the poor
Ashira and bit a piece out of his arm; then he let him go.
Then the man came back with the bleeding arm. He told
me this, I hope we shall not meet such gorillas.’ Chorus:
‘No; we shall not meet such wicked gorillas.’ “I myseif,”
says du Chaillu, “afterwards met that man in the Ashira
THE CHIMPANZEE. 11

country. I saw his maimed arm and he repeated the same story.”
Then one of the men spoke up: ‘If we kill a gorilla to-morrow,
I should like to have a part of the brain for a fetich.
Nothing makes a man so brave as to have a fetich of
gorilla’s brain. That gives a man a strong heart.’ Chorus (of
those who remained awake) ‘Yes; that gives a man a strong
heart.’” A fetich of the brain of the gorilla is said also to
help its owner in love as well’ as war. es

The Chimpanzee. The chimpanzee is a near neighbour of
the gorilla in Equatorial Africa though he appears to have
a more extended range. He is found in Sierra Leone and
in the country lying to the north of the river Congo, and
according to native accounts is gregarious in his habits,
travelling in formidable companies, who carry sticks and
make effective use of them. They are said to reach
maturity at nine or ten years of age and to attain a height
of from four to five feet. Like the gorillas they have
immensely powerful limbs, and have been known without
apparent effort to break off branches of trees which a man
would have been powerless to bend.
The Docility The chimpanzee differs from the gorilla in
es his amenability to civilisation. The gorilla,
Chimpanzee. however young, seems incapable of being tamed ;
while the chimpanzee in its infancy and youth at least has
often been domesticated, though like most other apes, as it
approaches maturity, it needs to be kept under strong control.
Captain Brown in his “ Habits and Characteristics of Animals
and Birds” gives the following illustration of the docility
and sagacity of the chimpanzee. He says: “M. de Grandpré
saw, on board of a vessel, a female chimpanzee, which
exhibited wonderful proofs of intelligence. She had learnt
to heat the oven; she took great care not to let any of the
coals fall out, which might have done mischief in the ship;
and she was very accurate in observing when the oven was
heated to the preper degree, of which she immediately
i2 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

apprized the baker, who, relying with perfect confidence
upon her information, carried his dough to the oven as soon
as the chimpanzee came to fetch him. This animal performed
all the business of a sailor, spliced ropes, handled the sails,
and assisted at unfurling them; and she was, in fact considered
by the sailors ag one of themselves. The vessel was bound
for America; but the poor animal did not live to see that
country, having fallen a victim to the brutality of the first
mate, who inflicted very cruel chastisement upon her, which
she had not deserved. She endured it with the greatest
patience, only holding out her hands in a suppliant attitude,
in order to break the force of the blows she received. But
from that moment she steadily refused to take any food,
and died on the fifth day from grief and hunger. She was
lamented by every person on board, not insensible to the
feelings of humanity, who knew the circumstances of her
fate.”

The The orang-utan is one of the largest of the
Grang-utan. ape species and until the discovery of the
gorilla was supposed to be the largest. It is said sometimes
to attain to the height of six feet, and some travellers’ tales
credit it with even greater height. The orang is possessed
of great strength but is of a docile disposition when brought
under civilisation, and even in a wild state is often quiet
and peaceable except when attacked. It inhabits country
that is low, level, and swampy, and that is at the same
time covered with lofty virgin forests. It belongs to the
genus Simia of which it is the single species.

The Habits Lhe following account of the orang is given

ofthe by Mr. Brooke of Sarawak. “On the habits of
Orang-uten. the orangs, as far as I have been able to observe
them, I may remark that they are as dull and as slothful
as can well be conceived, and on no occasion, when
pursuing them, did they move so fast as to preclude my
keeping pace with them easily through a moderately clear


THE ORANG-UTAN. 13

forest; and even when obstructions below (such as wading
up to the neck) allowed them to get away some distance,
they were sure to stop and allow us to come up. I never
observed the slightest attempt at defence; and the wood,
which sometimes rattled about our ears, was broken by
their weight, and not thrown, as some persons represent.
If pushed to extremity, however, the pappan could not be
otherwise than formidable; and one unfortunate man, who
with a party was trying to catch one alive, lost two of his
fingers, besides being severely bitten on the face, whilst the
animal finally beat off his pursuers and escaped. When
hunters wish to catch an adult, they cut down a circle of
trees round the one on which he is seated, and then fell
that also, and close before he can recover himself, and
endeavour to bind him. The rude hut which they are
stated to build in the trees would be more properly called
a seat, or nest, for it has no roof or cover ofany sort. The
facility with which they form this seat is curious; and I had
an opportunity of seeing a wounded female weave the
branches together, and seat herself in a minute. She after-
wards received our fire without moving, and expired in her
lofty abode, whence it cost us much trouble to dislodge her.
The adult male I killed was seated lazily on a tree; and
when approached only took the trouble to interpose the
trunk between us, peeping at me and dodging as I dodged.
I hit him on the wrist, and he was afterwards despatched.”
The Walk In locomotion the orang disdains the earth
ofthe and perambulates the vernal terraces of the
Orang-utan forest trees. “It is a singular sight,” says Mr.
Wallace, “to watch a mias (orang-utan) making his way
leisurely through a forest. He walks deliberately along some
of the larger branches in the semi-erect attitude which the
great length of his arms and the shortness of his legs cause
him naturally to assume, and seems always to choose those
branches which intermingle with an adjoining tree, on
ig NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

approaching which he stretches out his long arms, and
seizing the opposing boughs, grasps them together with
both hands, seems to try their strength, and then deliber-
ately swings himself across to the next branch on which he
walks along as before. He never jumps or springs, or even
appears to hurry himself, and yet manages to get along
almost as quickly as a person can run through the forest
beneath.”
ThoeStrength “The Dyaks,” says Mr. Wallace, “all declare
ofthe that the mias is never attacked by any animal in
Orang-utan. the forest, with two rare exceptions; and the
accounts received of these are so curious that I give them
nearly in the words of my informants, old Dyak Chiefs, who
had lived all their lives in the places where the animal is most
abundant. The first of whom I enquired said, ‘No animal is
strong enough to hurt the mias, and the only creature he ever
fights with is the crocodile. When there is no fruit in the
jungle he goes to seek food on the banks of the river where
there are plenty of young shoots that he likes, and fruits that
grow close to the water. Then the crocodile sometimes tries
to seize him, but the mias gets upon him and beats him with
his hands and feet, and tears and kills him.’ He added that he
had once seen such a fight and that he believed that the mias
is always the victor. My next informant was Orang Kayo
or chief of the Balow Dyaks on the Simunjou River. He
said the mias has no enemies, no animals dare attack it
but the crocodile and the python. He always kills the
crocodile by main strength, standing upon it, and pulling open
its. jaws and ripping up its throat. If a python attacks a
mias he seizes it with his hands and then bites it, and
soon kills it. The mias is very strong; there is no animal
in the jungle so strong as he.”
The Docility Buffon thus describes an orang-utan that he
ofthe saw: “His aspect was melancholy, his de-
Orang-utan. nortment grave, his movements regular, and
THE ORANG-UTAN. 15

nis disposition gentle. Unlike the baboon or the monkey,
who are fond of mischief, and only obedient through fear,
a look kept him in awe; while the other animals could |
not be brought to obey without blows. He would present
his hand to conduct the people who came to visit him, and
walk as gravely along with them as if he had formed a part
of the company. I have seen him sit down at table, when
he would unfold his towel, wipe his lips, use a spoon or a
fork to carry his victuals to his mouth, pour his liquor into
a glass, and make it touch that of a person who drank along
with him. When invited to take tea, he would bring a cup
and saucer, place them on the table, put in sugar, pour out the
tea, and allow it to cool before he drank it. All this I have seen
him perform without any other instigation than the signs or the
command of his master, and often even of his own accord.”
The Orang-utan's M. de la Bosse thus describes two young
Intelligence. orang-utans, male and female. “We had
these animals with us on shipboard. They ate at the same
table with us. When they wanted anything, they, by
certain signs, acquainted the cabin boy with their wishes;
and if he did not bring it, they sometimes flew into a rage
at him, bit him in the arm, and not unfrequently threw him
down. The male fell sick during the voyage, and submitted
to be treated like a human patient. The disease being of
an inflammatory nature, the surgeon bled him twice in the
right arm; and when he afterwards felt himself indisposed,
he used to hold out his arm to be bled, because he recol-
lected that he found himself benefited by that operation on
a former occasion.”
The Orang-utan’s Dr. Tyson in describing one of the earliest
Affection. —_ specimens of the orang brought to London, says
that it conceived a great affection for those with whom travel
had made it familiar, frequently embracing them with the
greatest tenderness, A female orang belonging to a Dutch
menagerie showed the greatest affection for her attendants,
16 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

giving unmistakable signs of her delight in their company
and distress in their absence. She would often take the
hay from her bed and spread it at her side and with anxious
and obvious signs invite her keeper to sit beside her. M.
Palavicini credited a pair of orangs which he had in his
possession in 1759 with the still more remarkable quality
in animals of bashfulness, It is said that the female would
shrink from the too persistent gaze of a spectator, and throw
herself into the arms of the male, hiding her face in his
bosom.
The Maternal) In his “Marvels and Mysteries of Instinct,”
Instinct. Mr. Garrett gives the following instance of
maternal affection. “A gentleman was out with a party of
men in Sumatra, when in some trees removed from a dense
forest a female orang-utan, with a young one in its arms,
was discovered, and the pursuit commenced. In the ardour
of the moment, and excited by the hope of possessing an
animal so rare, the gentleman forgot everything but the prize
before him, and urged on his men by the promise of a
reward, should their exertions be successful. Thus stimulated
they followed up the chase; the animal, encumbered by her
young one, making prodigious efforts to gain the dense and
intricate recesses of the wood, springing from tree to tree,
and endeavouring by every means to elude her pursuers.
Several shots were fired, and at length one took fatal effect,
the ball penetrating the right side of the chest. Feeling
herself mortally wounded, and with the blood gushing from
her mouth, she from that moment took no care of herself,
but with a mother’s feelings summoned up all her dying
energies to save her young one. She threw it onwards over
the tops of the trees, and from one branch to another,
taking the most desperate leaps after it herself, and again
facilitating its progress until, the intricacy of the forest being
nearly gained, its chances of success were sure. All this time
the blood was flowing: but her efforts had been unabated,
THE GIBBONS. RY

and it was only when her young one was on the point of
attaining to a place of safety that she rested on one of the
topmost branches of a gigantic tree. True to her ruling
passion, even in death, she turned for a moment to gaze
after her young one, reeled, and fell head foremost to the
ground. The sight was so touching that it called forth the
sympathy of the whole party. The eagerness of the chase
subsided; and so deep an impression did the maternal
tenderness and unexpected self-devotion of the poor orang
make on the gentleman alluded to, whose heart was indeed
formed in ‘nature’s gentlest mould,’ that he expressed the
utmost remorse and pity, declaring that he would not go
through the same scene again for all the world; nor did the
tragical death of the animal cease to haunt his mind for
many weeks, and he never afterwards recurred to it but with
feelings of emotion. The preserved skin is now in the
Museum of the Zoological Society.”
Gibbons or Long The gibbons belong to the genus Heaps
Armed Apes. of which there are several species. They are
characterised by the ability to walk almost erect, hence the
name Hylobates. They live in the tops of trees, in large
companies and possess marvellous powers of locomotion,
swinging themselves from tree to tree with such rapidity as
to baffle all pursuit. When on the ground they balance
themselves in walking by holding their hands above their
heads. The adult gibbon is about three feet in height
and has a reach of arms of about six feet. The gibbon is
tractable and capable of strong affection towards those who
show it kindness. One of the Hoolock species petted by
Dr. Burrough, became companionable and would sit at his
master’s breakfast-table, eat eggs and chicken, and drink tea
and coffee with great propriety. Fruit was his favourite
food, but insects were especially palatable to him and he
was an expert in catching flies. The siamang differs from
the other species of long-armed apes in the formation of its

2
18 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

feet and in several other characteristics. It is, however,
similar to the Hoolock in its amenity to kindness and its
affection for its master, when brought under the influence of
kindly treatment. The gibbons have great strength in their lower
limbs, whereby they are enabled to leap surprising distances.
M. Duvaneel said he once saw one of these animals clear
a space of forty feet, from the branch of a tree. Mr. George
Bennet, in his “Wanderings,” describes the action of a
siamang that belonged to him, which having managed to free
himself of his tether, proceeded to embrace the legs of
the Malays whom he came across, until he discovered his
former master, whereupon he climbed into the Malay’s arms
and hugged him with the tenderest affection.

Monkeys. Monkeys differ from the apes we have dealt with in
the important characteristic, among others, of possessing tails.
These vary in length from inches to feet, in some cases being
considerably longer than the body and in others little more
than stumps. They vary also in form, some being completely
covered with hair, and others only partially so; some
apparently useful only as ornaments, others being prehensile,
that is capable of grasp, and giving their owners almost
the advantage of a fifth limb.

The Sacred The Sacred Monkeys (Semnopithecide) in-

Monkeys. clude two genera and a large number of species.
Among these are the species which bear the name of
Hanuman, a Hindoo divinity, and are worshipped in his
honour. The protection these monkeys receive on account
of the superstitions prevalent concerning them, leads to their
large increase in numbers and to many inconveniences
arising therefrom. It is said that if a traveller should be
unfortunate enough to offend one of these animals he is
likely enough to be followed by the whole party howling in
a most hideous and discordant manner, and pelting him
with any missiles upon which they can lay their hands.
There are eighteen species of the Semnopithecus, all of which
1 (ON 91d

\

GORILLA
(Trogigy vtes €

‘AMOLSIH IWANLVN SATUN




MONKEYS, 19

are found in the East. Of these the Entellus is one of the
best known species. It is very susceptible to cold, and
cannot live long in Europe.

The Long-nosed The Long-nosed Monkey (Semnopithecus

Monkey. Larvatus) belongs to this family and is
distinguished, as its name implies, by the length of its
proboscis. This animal is described by Wallace as about
the size of a child of three years of age, while possessing a
nose considerably longer than that of any human adult.
From the head to the tip of the tail the proboscis monkey
Measures about four feet and a half. It is sometimes called
the Kahau from its cry which resembles the sound of that
word. It is said to hold its nose when leaping to protect
it from being injured by the branches of trees. The second
genus of this family, of which there are numerous species,
belongs to Africa.

Cheek-pouched The Cheek-pouched Monkeys form the

Monkeys. third family of the quadrumana. They include
seven genera, and sixty or seventy species, of which five
genera belong to Africa and two to Asia and to the Malay
Islands. Among the better known of these species is the
Talapoin of West Africa; the Diana monkey and the Mona
(Africa); the little White-nosed monkey (Guinea); the Grivet
(Nubia and Abyssinia); the Green monkey (Cape de Verds) :
the Patas (Senegal); the Malbrouck monkey ; and the Vervet
monkey (South Africa). The Green monkey and the Vervet
monkey are those most commonly seen in England. One of
the best known members of this family is the Baboon.

The Baboon. The baboon is found in many parts of Africa,
and one of its species in Arabia. It is of the genus
" cynocephalus, and some of its species attain to considerable
size; the head and face of one species resembling those
of a dog, it is sometimes called the dog-faced baboon.
The baboon herds in large numbers, and is said to make
apparently organized attacks upon villages during the
20 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

absence of the peasants in harvest time, placing sentiaels
on the look out, to apprise them of danger, while they visit
the houses and take possession of all the food they can find.
They are cunning and powerful, and formidable in combat,
but, greedy in habit, they eat to excess, and when gorged to
satiety fall an easy prey, to their enemies. In their wild state
they feed on berries and bulbous roots, but when proximity
to civilisation gives them wider opportunity, they show their
appreciation of a more varied menu. Among the more
familiar species of the baboon are the Chackma, the Drill,
the Mandrili, the Anubis, the Babouin, and the Sphinx, all of
which belong to the West of Africa.

The The Arabian baboon is an animal with a
Arabien history. It was worshipped by the Egyptians,
Baboon. who embalmed its body after death and set

apart portions of their cemeteries for its use. Sacred to
Thoth, the Egyptian Hermes, the God of letters, the baboon
sometimes represents that deity in Egyptian sculptures, where’
it is usually figured in a sitting posture, the attitude in
which its body was generally embalmed. The baboon was
also held as emblematic of the Moon, and honoured sym-
bolically in other connections. It is commonly represented
in judgment scenes of the dead with a pair of scales in
front of it, Thoth being supposed to exercise important
duties in the final judgment of men. The baboon was
held especially sacred at Hermopolis. According to Sir
J. G. Wilkinson the Egyptians trained baboons to useful
offices, making them torch-bearers at their feasts and festivals.

The Like others of the monkey tribes the baboon
Imitative shows an extraordinary faculty for imitation.
Faculty a 4 ri Dei At 2
ofthe Captain Browne in his “Characteristics of Ani-
Baboon. mals” says: “The following circumstance is truly

characteristic of the imitative powers of the baboon:—
The army of Alexander the Great marched in complete battle-
array into a country inhabited by great numbers of baboons,
THE BABOON. 21

and encamped there for the night. The next morning, when
the army was about to proceed on its march, the soldiers
saw, at some distance, an enormous number of baboons,
drawn up in rank and file, like a small army, with such
regularity, that the Macedonians, who could have no idea
of such a manceuvre, imagined at first that it was the enemy
drawn up to receive them.”

The The chackma lives among the mountains of
Chackma the Cape of Good Hope, where he attains about
Baboon. the size of an English mastiff and even greater

strength. He descends to the plains on foraging expeditions,
and, when not attacked, will usually make off on the approach
of danger, but if aroused to anger can both show and use
his teeth, and is far superior to the average English boy in
throwing stones.
The Baboon’s Le Vaillant gives an interesting account of
Utility. a chackma baboon which accompanied him
through South Africa, and which bore the name of Kees.
He says: “I made him my taster. Whenever we found fruits
or roots, with which my Hottentots were unacquainted, we
did not touch them till Kees had tasted them. If he threw
them away, we concluded that they were either of a dis-
agreeable flavour, or of a pernicious quality, and left them
untasted. The monkey possesses a peculiar property, wherein
he differs greatly from other animals, and resembles man,—
namely, that he is by nature equally gluttonous and inquisitive.
Without necessity, and without appetite, he tastes every
thing that falls in his way, or that is given to him. But
Kees had a still more valuable quality,—he was an excellent
sentinel; for, whether by day or night, he immediately sprang
up on the slightest appearance of danger. By his cry, and
the symptoms of fear which he exhibited, we were always
apprized of the approach of an enemy, even though the dogs
perceived nothing of it. The latter, at length, learned to rely
upon him with such confidence, that they slept on in per-
22 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

fect tranquillity, I often took Kees with me when I went
hunting; and when he saw me preparing for sport, he
exhibited the most lively demonstrations of joy. On the way,
he would climb into the trees to look for gum, of which he
was very fond. Sometimes he discovered to me honey,
deposited in the clefts of rocks, or hollow trees. But, if he
happened to have met with neither honey nor gum, and
his appetite had become sharp by his running about, I always
witnessed a very ludicrous scene. In those cases, he looked
for roots, which he ate with great greediness, especially a
particular kind, which, to his cost, I also found to be very
well tasted and refreshing, and therefore insisted upon sharing
with him. In order to draw these roots out of the ground,
he employed a very ingenious method, which afforded me
much amusement. He laid hold of the herbage with his
teeth, stemmed his fore feet against the ground, and drew
back his head, which gradually pulled out the root. But if
this expedient, for which he employed his whole strength,
did not succeed, he laid hold of the leaves as before, as
close to the ground as possible, and then threw himself
heels over head, which gave such a concussion to the root,
that it never failed to come out.
The Tame “Serpents excepted, there were no animals of
; Baboon. whom Kees stood in such great dread as of his
own species,—perhaps owing to a consciousness of loss of ©
natural capacity. Sometimes he heard the cry of other
apes among the mountains, and, terrified as he was, he
yet answered them. But, if they approached nearer, and
he saw any of them, he fled, with a hideous cry, crept
between our legs, and trembled over his whole body. It was
very difficult to compose him, and it required some time
before he recovered from his fright.
The Cunning “Like all other animals, Kees was addicted to
ofthe stealing. He understood admirably well how
Baboon. to loose the strings of a basket, in order to take
THE BABOON. 23

victuals out of it, especially milk, of which he was very fond.
My people chastised him for these thefts; but that did not
make him amend his conduct. I myself sometimes whipped
him; but then he ran away, and did not return again to the
tent until it grew dark. Once, as I was about to dine, and
had put the beans, which I had boiled for myself, upon a
plate, I heard the voice of a bird with which I was not
acquainted. I left my dinner standing, seized my gun, and
ran out of the tent. After the space of about a quarter of
an hour I returned, with the bird in my hand, but, to my
astonishment, found not a single bean upon the plate. Kees
had stolen them all, and taken himself out of the way.
When he had committed any trespass of this kind, he used
always, about the time when I drank tea, to return quietly,
and seat himself in his usual place, with every appearance
of innocence, as if nothing had happened; but this evening
he did not let himself be seen. And, on the following day,
also, he was not seen by any of us; and, in consequence,
I began to grow seriously uneasy about him, and apprehen-
sive that he might be lost for ever. But, on the third day,
one of my people, who had been to fetch water, informed
me that he had seen Kees in the neighbourhood, but that,
as soon as the animal espied him, he had concealed himself
again. I immediately went out and beat the whole neigh-
bourhood with my dogs. All at once, I heard a cry, like
that which Kees used to make, when I returned from my
shooting, and had not taken him with me. I looked about,
and at length espied him, endeavouring to hide himself
behind the large branches of a tree. I now called to him
in a friendly tone of voice, and made motions to him to come
down to me. But he could not trust me, and I was obliged
to climb up the tree to fetch him. He did not attempt to fly,
and we returned together to my quarters; here he expected
to receive his punishment; but I did nothing, as it would
have been of no use.
24 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

The Goyalty sD Officer, wishing to put the fidelity of my
ofthe baboon to the test, pretended to strike me. At
Baboon. this he flew in a violent rage, and, from that time,
could never endure the sight of the officer. If he only saw
him at a distance he began to cry, and make all kinds of
grimaces, which evidently showed that he wished to revenge
the insult that had been done to me; he ground his teeth;
and endeavoured, with all his might, to fly at his face, but
that was out of his power, as he was chained down. The
offender several times endeavoured, in vain, to conciliate
him, by offering him dainties, but he remained long im-
placable.
The “When any eatables were pilfered, at my quar-
Pie ters, the fault was always laid upon Kees; and rarely
Baboon, was the accusation unfounded. For a time the
eggs, which a hen laid me, were constantly stolen, and
I wished to ascertain whether I had to attribute this loss also
to him. For this purpose I went one morning to watch him,
and waited till the hen announced, by her cackling, that she
had laid an egg. Kees was sitting upon my vehicle; but,
the moment he heard the hen’s voice, he leapt down, and
was running to fetch the egg. When he saw me, he suddenly
stopped, and affected a careless posture, swaying himself
backwards upon his hind legs, and assuming a very innocent
look; in short, he employed all his art to deceive me with
respect to his design. His hypocritical manceuvres only con-
firmed my suspicions, and, in order, in my turn, to deceive
him, I pretended not to attend to him, and turned my back
to the bush where the hen was cackling, upon which he
immediately sprang to the place. I ran after him, and came
up to him at the moment when he had broken the egg and
was swallowing it. Having caught the thief in the fact, I
gave him a good beating upon the spot, but this severe
chastisement did not prevent his soon stealing fresh-laid eggs
again. As I was convinced that I should never be able to
THE BABOON. 25

break Kees off his natural vices, and that, unless I chained
him up every moming, I should never get an egg, I endea-
voured to accomplish my purpose in another manner; I
trained one of my dogs, as soon as the hen cackled, to run
t, the nest, and bring me the egg, without breaking it. In
a few days, the dog had learned his lesson; but Kees, as
soon as he heard the hen cackle, ran with him to the nest.
A contest now took place between them, who should have
the egg; often the dog was foiled, although he was the
stronger of the two. If he gained the victory, he ran joyfully
to me with the egg, and put it into my hand. Kees, never-
theless, followed him, and did not cease to grumble and make
threatening grimaces at him, till he saw me take the ege,—
as if he was comforted for the loss of his booty by his
adversary’s not retaining it for himself. If Kees had got hold
of the egg, he endeavoured to run with it to a tree, where,
having devoured it, he threw down the shells upon his
adversary, as if to make game of him. Kees was always the
first awake in the morning, and, when it was the proper time,
he awoke the dogs, who were accustomed to his voice, and,
in general, obeyed, without hesitation, the slightest motions
by which he communicated his orders to them, immediately
taking their posts about the tent and carriage, as he directed
them.”

The Bonnet The bonnet monkey is of the genus macacus,

Monkey. and is to be found in many parts of India. It
is characterized by a bonnet, or cap of hair, which radiates
from the centre of the crown. It is known as the Macacus
Radiatus. Other species of the genus macacus are the
Rhesus monkey, the Wanderoo, the Barbary Ape or Magot,
and the Macague.

Indian Monkeys. Many stories are told of the audacity of
the Indian monkeys in which those of the genus macacus
come in for more than honourable mention. Whether in
their native haunts, or in European menageries, they are an
26 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

endless source of amusement and not unfrequently one of
annoyance. In their free state, they tax the ingenuity of
native and European alike by their mischievous habits and
thievish propensities. They climb upon the tops of the
Bazaars and the slightest relapse from vigilance on the part of
the shopkeepers is sure to be followed by the loss or spoliation
of their wares. A common defence against these unwelcome
intruders is to cover the roofs with a certain prickly shrub,
the thorns of which command respect even from monkeys.
Mrs. Bowdich says: “In some places they are even fed,
encouraged, and allowed to live on the roofs of houses; ”
but this would be where the goods of the householder were
beyond their reach. “If a man wishes to revenge himself
for any injury committed upon him,” says Mrs. Bowdich,
“he has only to sprinkle some rice or corn upon the top
of his enemy’s house or granary just before the rain sets in,
and the monkeys will assemble upon it, eat all they can
find outside, and then pull off the tiles to get at that which
has fallen through the crevices. This, of course, gives
access to the torrents which fall in such countries, and
house, furniture and stores are all ruined.” Quoting from
another writer, Mrs. Bowdich gives an amusing description
of the way in which one of these monkeys watched his
opportunity for making his descent upon a sweet-stuff shop.
Taking up a position opposite the shop, “he pretended to be
asleep, but every now and then softly raised his head to
look at the tempting piles and the owner of them, who sat
smoking his pipe without symptoms even of a doze. In
half an hour the monkey got up, as if he were just awake,
yawned, stretched himself, and took another position a few
yards off, where he pretended to play with his tail, occa-
sionally looking over his shoulder at the coveted delicacies. ,
At length the shopman gave signs of activity, and the
monkey was on the alert; the man went to his back room,
the monkey cleared the street at one bound, and in an
THE INDIAN MONKEYS. 27

instant stuffed his pouches full of the delicious morsels. He
had, however, overlooked some hornets, which were regaling
themselves at the same time. They resented his disturbance,
and the tormented monkey, in his hurry to escape, came upon
a thorn-covered roof, where he lay stung, torn, and bleeding
He spurted the stolen bonbons from his pouches and barked
hoarsely looking the picture of misery. The noise of the
tiles which he had dislodged in his retreat brought out the
inhabitants, and among them the vendor of the sweets, with
his turban unwound, and streaming two yards behind him.
All joined in laughing at the wretched monkey; but their
religious reverence for him induced them to go to his
assistance: they picked out his thorns and he limped away
to the woods quite crestfallen.”

The Monkey The writer, from whom Mrs. Bowdich quoted

Outdone. the above story, gives a graphic account of the
success of a stratagem he employed to rid himself of the
unwelcome visits of his monkey friends. “ Although,” says
he, “a good deal shyer of me than they were of the natives,
I found no difficulty in getting within a few yards of them;
and when I lay still among the brushwood they gambolled
round me with as much freedom as if I had been one of
themselves. This happy understanding, however, did not
last long, and we soon began to urge war upon each other.
The casus belli was a field of sugar-cane which I had
planted on the newly cleared jungle.

“Every beast of the field seemed leagued against this
devoted patch of sugar-cane. The wild elephants came and
browzed in it; the jungle hogs rooted it up, and munched
it at their leisure; the jackals gnawed the stalks into squash;
and the wild deer ate the tops of the young plants. Against
all these marauders there was an obvious remedy,—to build
a stout fence round the cane-field. This was done accord-
ingly; and a deep trench dug ouiside, that even the wild
elephant did not deem it prudent to cross, The wild hogs
2% NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

came and inspected the trench and the palisades beyond.
A bristly old tusker was observed taking a survey of the
defences; but, after mature deliberation, he gave two short
grunts, the porcine (language), I imagined, for ‘No go,’ and
took himself off at a round trot, to pay a visit to my neigh-
bour Ram Chunder, and inquire how his little plot of sweet
yams was coming on. The jackals sniffed at every crevice,
and determined to wait a bit; but the monkeys laughed the
whole entrenchment to scorn. Day after day was I doomed
to behold my canes devoured as fast as they ripened, by
troops of jubilant monkeys. It was of no use attempting to
drive them away. When disturbed, they merely retreated
to the nearest tree, dragging whole stalks of sugar-cane along
with them, and then spurted the chewed fragments in my
face, as I looked up at them. This was adding insult to
injury; and I positively began to grow bloodthirsty at the
idea of being outwitted by monkeys. The case between us
might have been stated in this way. ‘I have, at much
trouble and expense, cleared and cultivated this jungle land,’
said I. ‘More fool you,’ said the monkeys. ‘I have
planted and watched over these sugar-canes.’ ‘Watched!
Ah, ah! so have we, for the matter of that” ‘But surely
I have a right to reap what I sowed.’ ‘Don’t see it,’ said
the monkeys; ‘the jungle, by rights prescriptive and indefeas-
ible, is ours, and has been so ever since the days of Ram
Hanuman of the long tail. If you cultivate the jungle with-
out our consent, you must look to the consequences. [If you
don’t like our customs, you may get about your business.
We don’t want you.’ I kept brooding over this mortifying
view of the matter, until one morning I hatched revenge in
a practicable shape. A tree, with about a score of monkeys
on it, was cut down, and half a dozen of the youngest were
caught as they attempted to escape. A large pot of ghow
(treacle) was then mixed with as much tarter emetic as could
be spared from the medicine chest, and the young hopefuls
THE INDIAN MONKEYS. 29

after being carefully painted over with the compound, were
allowed to return to their distressed relatives, who, as soon
as they arrived, gathered round them and commenced licking
them with the greatest assiduity. The results I had anticipated
were not long in making their appearance. A more melan-
choly sight it was impossible to behold; but so efficacious
was this treatment, that for more than two years I hardly
ever saw a monkey in the neighbourhood.”
The Monkey Tavernier was once travelling from Agra to
Aroused. Surat with the English president, when passing
within a few miles of Amenabad through a forest of mangoes,
they experienced the danger of provoking such companies. He
says. “We saw a vast number of very large apes, male and
female, many of the latter having their young in their arms. We
were each of us in our coaches; and the English president
stopped his to tell me that he had a very fine new gun; and
knowing that I was a good marksman, desired me to try it,
by shooting one of the apes. One of my servants, who was
a native of the country, made a sign to me not to do it;
and I did all that was in my power to dissuade the gentle-
man from his design, but to no purpose; for he immediately
levelled his piece, and shot a she ape, who fell through the
branches of the tree on which she was sitting, her young ones
tumbling at the same time out of her arms on the ground.
We presently saw that happen which my servant apprehended;
for all the apes, to the number of sixty, came immediately
down from the trees, and attacked the president’s coach with
such fury that they must infallibly have destroyed him if
all who were present had not flown to his relief, and by
drawing up the windows, and posting all the servants about
the coach, protected him from their resentment.” That
diplomacy is better than war in dealing with bands of mon-~
keys is shown by comparing the results of the foregoing
experiences.
je NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

The Monkeys) That monkeys are capable of very poignant

Affection. feeling is shown by the following pathetic story.
Mr. Forbes, in his “Oriental Memoirs,” says :—“On a shoot-
ing party one of my friends killed a female monkey, and
carried it to his tent, which was soon surrounded by forty or
fifty of the tribe, who made a great noise, and in a menacing
posture advanced towards it. On presenting his fowling-piece
they retreated, but one stood his ground, chattering and
menacing in a furious manner. He at length came close to
the. tent door, and finding that his threatenings were of no
avail, began a lamentable moaning, and by every expression
of grief and supplication seemed to beg the body of the
deceased. On this it was given to him. He took it up in
his arms, eagerly pressed it to his bosom, and carried it off
in a sort of triumph to his expecting companions. The artless
behaviour of this poor animal wrought so powerfully on the
sportsmen that they resolved never more to level a gun at
one of the monkey tribe.”

American To visit the family of the Cebidz we have to

Monkeys. cross the Atlantic Ocean, and here we find
characteristics with which the monkeys of the East are un-
familiar, while we miss others which are common to the
monkeys of the old world. In passing from East to West
we lose the cheek-pouch characteristic and we find that of
the prehensile tail. There are more than eighty species in
the family of the Cebidz, divided into ten genera and grouped
in four sub-families. The first of the sub-families includes
the monkeys with prehensile tails.
The Capuchin The capuchins belong to the genus Cebus

Monkey. which includes the majority of American monkeys.
There are a number of species of which the Brown Capuchin
(Brazil), the Wheeper Capuchin (Brazil), and the White-throated
Capuchin (Central America) are the best known.

The Spider The Spider Monkey is of the genus Aseles and

Monkeys. is one of the best known of the Cebidz family.
THE AMERICAN MONKEYS. 3h

In it the prehensile tail reaches its perfection. It is a
remarkably sensitive organ, answering the purpose, as the Rev.
J. G. Wood puts it, of “a fifth hand,” being capable of use
“for any purpose to which the hand could be applied,” and
for hooking out objects from places “where a hand could
not be inserted.” According to Mr. Wood they wrap their
tails about them to protect themselves from cold, to which
they are very sensitive, and hold on by them to the branches
of trees with such tenacity that they remain suspended after
death. The prehensile part of the tail is naked and of
extreme sensibility. The tail is also used to preserve balance
when walking erect, for which purpose it is thrown up and
curled over. The appearance of these monkeys, as they leap
from branch to branch in their native woods, swinging by
their tails, and often hanging on to those of each other, until
a living bridge is formed from tree to tree, is exceedingly
picturesque.
The Howling The Howling Monkeys form the single genus
Monkeys. of the second sub-family of the Cebidz—the
genus Mycetes. There are a number of species, popularly
known as the “Golden Howler,” the “Black Howler,” &c. &c.
They are chiefly characteristic for the attribute to which they
owe their name, The howl is a loud mournful cry which
can be heard at a great distance, and is said by Wallace to
proceed from the leader of the band who howls for the whole
company. These animals are larger and more clumsy than
the spider monkeys and therefore less agile; they have powerful,
prehensile tails. The “Howler ”is much prized by the Indians
as an article of food.
The Beardea The third sub-family of the Cebidz includes
Seki. some dozen species which inhabit the forests of
Equatorial America. They are of the genus Pithecia, and
some species have broad beards and bushy tails. The head
of the Bearded Saki (Pethecta Satanas) has a singularly
human appearance.
32 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

The The fourth sub-family of the Cebide includes
Douroucoull. several genera and a number of species, of these
the Douroucouli (Wyctipithecus felinus) is one of the most
interesting. It is a small monkey, measuring only thirteen
inches, apart from its tail, which is eighteen inches long:
It is catlike in some of its habits, sleeping during the day,
and prowling about at night in search of food, which it
finds in fruits, insects and small birds. It has a catlike
mew, though it often makes a louder cry more resembling
the noise of the jaguar.

The Marmosets. The fifth family of the quadrumana com-
prises the marmosets, of which there are two genera—the
Hapale and the Midas. These are very small, measuring
about eight inches without the tail, which is eleven inches
long. The marmoset is one of the prettiest of the monkeys,
and, though at first shy, soon becomes playful and affection-
ate. Marmosets are one of the few species that breed in
confinement. Sir William Jardine describes a marmoset who
gave birth to three offspring in Paris. One of these, for
some reason, displeased her, and she killed it, but upon the
others beginning to suck the maternal instinct awoke, and
she became as affectionate as she was before careless. “The
male seemed more affectionate and careful of them than the
mother, and assisted in the charge. The young generally |
keep upon the back or under the belly of the female, and
Cuvier observed, that when the female was tired of carrying
them, she would approach the male with a shrill cry, who
immediately relieved her with his hands, placing them upon
his back, or under his belly, where they held themselves
and were catried about until they became restless for milk,
when they were given over to the mother who, in her turn,
would again endeavour to get rid of them.”
SUB-ORDER I. The lemurs and their allied forms make up
The Lemurs. the remaining families of the quadrumana.
These are three. The Lemuride, of which there are many
THE LEMURS. 33

species, most of which belong to Madagascar, others to Africa,
Asia, and the Indian Archipelago; the Zarside, which hail from
Sumatra and Borneo; and the Chiromytde, of which the aye-
aye is the representative. The Lemuride are divided into
four sub-families by Professor Mivart. I, the Indri; II, the
true Lemurs; III, the slow Lemurs and IV, the Galagos.
The lemur is nocturnal in its habits and noiseless in its
movements. Some of its species much resemble the cat in
appearance though its four hands unmistakably demonstrate
its order. Sir William Jones describes a Slow Lemur (Wycticebus
tardigradus), which he had in his possession, as “gentle ex-
cept in the cold season, when his temper seemed wholly
changed.” This animal expressed great resentment when
disturbed unseasonably. From half an hour after sunrise to
half an hour before sunset he slept without any intermission,
rolled up like a hedgehog: and as soon as he awoke he
began to prepare himself for the occupations of his approach-
ing day, licking and dressing himself like a cat—an operation —
which the flexibility of his neck and limbs enabled him to
perform very completely. He was then ready for a slight
breakfast, after which he commonly took a short nap; but
when the sun was quite set he recovered all his vivacity.
“ Generally he was not voracious, but of grasshoppers he never
could have enough; and passed the whole night during the
hot season in prowling for them. He used all his paws
indifferently as hands.” Mrs. Bowdich tells of one of these
animals, procured by Mr. Baird at Prince of Wales Island,
who shared a cage with a dog to whom he became greatly
attached, while nothing could reconcile him to a cat, which
constantly jumped over his back, causing him great annoyance.
The Tarsier. The tarsier (Tarsius spectrum) is a small, kitten-
faced animal with long hind legs, which enable it to leap
like a frog. It is nocturnal in habit, and is found in Sumatra,
Borneo, and elsewhere. ©

The Aye-Aye. The aye-aye (Chiromys madagascariensis) is

3
34 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECBOTE.

a remarkable little animal resembling, as Professor Owen says,
in size and shape the domestic cat, its head and ears being
larger, and its hind legs and tail longer than those of the
cat. Dr. Sandwich, writing of one he had in his possession,
says:—“The thick sticks I put into his cage were bored in
all directions by a large and destructive grub, called the
montouk. Just at sunset the aye-aye crept from under his
blanket, yawned, stretched and betook himself to his tree.
Presently he came to one of the worm-eaten branches, which
he began to examine most attentively, and bending forward
his ears, and applying his nose close to the bark, he rapidly
tapped the surface with the curious second digit, as a wood-
pecker taps a tree, though with much less noise, from time
to time inserting the end of the slender finger into the
worm-holes as a surgeon would a probe. At length he came
to a part of the branch which evidently gave out an inter-
esting sound, for he began to tear it with his strong teeth.
He rapidly stripped off the bark, cut into the wood, and
exposed the nest of a grub which he daintily picked out of
its bed, with the slender, tapping finger, and conveyed the
luscious morsel to his mouth. But I was yet to learn another
peculiarity. I gave him water to drink in a saucer, on which
he stretched out his hand, dipped a finger into it and drew
it obliquely through his open mouth. After a while he lapped
like a cat, but his first mode of drinking appeared to me to
be his way of reaching water in the deep clefts of trees.”
ORDER If, fhe animals which most nearly resemble the
Wing-Handea four-handed animals or quadrumana are the
Animals. wing-handed animals,—the bats or Chetvoptera.
These aré of singular appearence and interesting habit. “If,”
says the Rev. J. G. Wood, “the fingers of a man were to be
drawn out like wire to about four feet in length, a thin
membrane to extend from finger to finger, and another
membrane to fall from the little finger to the ankles, he
would make a very tolerable imitation of a bat.”—Of course,


(Otolicnus galago )



AYE -AYE ;
(Cheiromys madagascariensis)

SSHTIN Z ON Peg

“AMOLSIH TWANLVN
THE BATS. 35

it should be added, making allowance for proportion, the
full grown male bat, of the largest species, rarely exceeding
twelve inches in height from head to foot. Bats’ wings are
highly nervous and sensitive, so much so as to render their
owners almost independent of sight. Besides being “well
adapted for flight,” says Dr. Percival Wright, “they are still
capable in a small measure of seizing, differing thus from
the anterior limbs of Birds.”

Bats. Dr. Dobson divides the order Chetroptera into
two sub-orders: I, The Great Bats and II, The Smaller Bats.
Of these there are numerous genera and a large number of
species. THE GreaT Bats abound in the tropical and sub-
tropical regions of the East, where they live on fruit, and
from this circumstance are classified as “fruit-eating bats,”
though they are sometimes called “ flying-foxes.” The largest
of these inhabit Sumatra and Java, living in large companies,
sleeping by day and foraging by night. A large tree serves
them for a sleeping-chamber, where, suspending themselves
head downwards from the branches, they wrap their wings
about them in lieu of blankets and sleep out the sunshine.
After sunset they gradually awake and proceed to ravage
any fruit preserves which may be within reach, committing
serious depredations while the owners outsleep the moon.
According to Mr. Francis Day, “they do very great injury
to cocoa-nut plantations and mangoe gardens.” “Their
habits,” says Mr. Day, “are very intemperate, and they often
pass the night drinking the toddy from the chatties in the
cocoa-nut trees, which results either in their returning home
in the early morning in a state of extreme and riotous
intoxication, or in being found the next day at the foot of
the trees, sleeping off the effects of their midnight debauch.”
Tur SMALLER Bats include several families, numerous genera,
and a large number of species to be found in almost all
parts of the world. These bats are chiefly insect-eaters,
though included among them are the vampire bats and the
36 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

Megaderma lyra which have the reputation of being cannibalistic.
The various families are “The Horseshoe Bats,” ‘‘ The
Nycteridz,” ‘‘The Vespertilionide,” ‘‘The Emballonuridz,”
and ‘‘The Phyllostomida.”
The The common English bats belong to the
Common Vespertilionide. The Pipistrelle feeds upon
Hnglish Bats. insects but will eat flesh if opportunity serves,
jIn his ‘‘ Natural History of Selbourne,” Mr. White describes
a tame bat which he saw, which would take flies out of a
person’s hand. “If you gave it anything to eat,” he says,
“it brought its wings round before the mouth, hovering and
hiding its head in the manner of birds of prey when they
feed. The adroitness it showed in shearing off the wings
of the flies, which were always rejected, pleased me much.
Insects seemed to be most acceptable, though it did not
refuse raw flesh when offered; so that the notion that bats
go down chimneys and gnaw men’s bacon seems no improbable
story.” The Long-eared Bat, Plecofus auritus, is also common
in England. ‘Its ears,” says Mr. Wood, ‘‘are about an inch
and a half in length and have a fold in them reaching almost
to the lips,” hence its name. ‘‘It is very easily tamed.”
The Vampire Bat which belongs to South

The
Vampire America has been invested with a halo of romance
Bat. by the stories which have been told about its
sanguinary character, ‘‘It lives,” says the Rev. J. G. Wood,

“fon the blood of animals, and sucks usually while its victim
sleeps. The extremities, where the blood flows freely, as the
toe of a man, the ears of a horse, or the combs and wattles
of fowls, are its favorite spots. When it has selected a
subject, on which it intends to feed, it watches until the
animal is fairly asleep. It then carefully fans its victim with
its wings while it bites a little hole in the ear or shoulder,
and through this small aperture, into which a pin’s head
would scarcely pass, it contrives to abstract sufficient blood
to make a very ample meal. The wound is so small, and
THE BATS. 37

the bat manages so adroitly, that the victim does not discover
that anything has happened until the morning, when a pool
of blood betrays the visit of the vampire. “The Vampire
Bat,” says Professor Darwin, “is often the cause of much
trouble by biting the horses on their withers. The injury
is not so much owing to the loss of blood, as to the inflammation
which the pressure of the saddle afterwards produces. The
whole circumstance has lately been doubted in England. I
was therefore fortunate in being present when one was actually
caught on a horse’s back. We were bivouacking late one
evening, near Coquimbo, in Chili, when my servant, noticing
that one of the horses was very restive, went to see what was
the matter, and fancying he could distinguish something,
suddenly put his hand on the beast’s withers, and secured
the vampire. In the morning the spot where the bite had
been inflicted was easily distinguished by its being slightly
swoilen and bloody. The third day afterwards we rode the
horse without any ill effects.”

A Traveller's Captain Steadman, in his “ Narrative of a Five
Uxperience. Years’ Expedition against the Revolted Negroes
_ of Strinam,” relates, that on waking about four o’clock one
morning in his hammock, he was extremely alarmed at finding
himself weltering in congealed blood, and without feeling any
pain whatever. “The mystery was,” continues Captain Stead-
man, “that I had been bitten by the Vampyre or Spectre of
Guiana, which is also called the Mying Dog of New Spain,
and by the Spaniards, Perrovolador. This is no other than
a bat of monstrous size, that sucks the blood from men and
cattle while they are fast asleep, even sometimes till they die;
and as the manner in which they proceed is truly wonderful,
I shall endeavour to give a distinct account of it. Knowing,
by instinct, that the person they intend to attack is in a
sound slumber, they generally alight near the feet, where,
while the creature continues fanning with his enormous wings,
which keeps one cool, he bites a piece out of the tip of the
38 WATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

great toe, so very small, indeed, that the head of a pin could
scarcely be received into the wound, which is consequently
net painful; yet through this orifice he continues to suck the
blood until he is obliged to disgorge. Cattle they generally
bite in the ear, but always in places where the blood flows
spontaneously.”
Megaderma The Vampire Bat of South America has long
iyra. been credited with sanguinivorous habits, and
until recently was supposed to be the only bat having such
propensities. Mr. Edward Blyth has, however, shown that
the Megaderma Lyra of Asia will sometimes prey upon the
smaller species of bat with which it comes in contact. Mr.
Blyth, one evening, observed a rather large bat of this species
enter an outhouse, whereupon he procured a light, closed
the door to prevent escape and then proceeded to catch
the intruder. In the chase the bat dropped what Mr. Blyth
at first took to be a young one, but which proved to be
a small Vespertilio Bat, “feeble from loss of blood, which
it was evident the Megaderma had been sucking from a
large, and still bleeding, wound under and behind the ear.”
As the Megaderma had not alighted while in the outhouse,
Mr. Blyth concluded “that it sucked the vital current from
its victim as it flew, having probably seized it on the wing,
and that it was seeking a quiet nook where it might devour
the body at leisure.” Having caught the Megaderma Mr.
Blyth kept both specimens until the next day, and having
examined each separately put them both into a cage, where-
upon the Megaderma attacked the smaller bat “with the
ferocity of a tiger”; finding it impossible to escape the cage
“it hung by the hind legs to one side of its prison, and afte:
sucking the victim till no more blood was left commenced
devouring it, and soon left nothing but the head and some
portions of the limbs.” “The voidings observed shortly
afterwards in its cage,” says Mr. Blyth, “resembled clotted
blood, which will explain the statement of Steadman and
INSECT-EATING ANIMALS. 39

others concerning masses of congealed blood being observed
near a patient who has been attacked by a South American
vampire.”
ORDER It. ‘Jnsect-eating animals (Jnsectivore) include
Insect-Hating several families, of which the hedgehogs, the
Animals. moles and the shrews, are the best known genera.
The Colugo is perhaps the most singular member of the
order. According to some writers his proper place is among
the lemurs, and except that his feet are adorned with
claws instead of nails, it is easy to understand why he
might be classed with the quadrumana. The Colugo is
covered from head to foot by a furry membrane, resembling
an overcoat open in front and ending in a three cornered
flap at the tail.
Tho The family of the hedgehog contains two genera
Hedgehog. and a number of species. Its length is from six
to ten inches; the head, back, and sides being covered with
short spines, the under parts with soft hair. It lives in
thickets, and subsists on fruits, roots, and insects. During the
winter, it lies imbedded in moss, or dried leaves, in a state of
torpidity. It inhabits Europe, Asia and Africa. It is valuable
in the garden for destroying the insects, and in the kitchen
for the extermination of cockroaches, beetles and other house-
hold pests. For defence, it rolls itself into a ball in such a
manner as to present its prickly spines on all sides. In this
condition it can suffer considerable violence without injury.
Mr. Bell mentions a hedgehog that was in the habit of
running to the edge of an area wall twelve or fourteen feet
high, and without a moment’s pause, leap over, contracting
into a ball as he fell, and in this form reaching the ground,
where it quietly unfolded itself as if nothing had happened
and ran on its way. It is nocturnal in its habits and in its
natural state lives in pairs. It is easily tamed. A hedgehog
has been trained to serve as a turnspit “as well,” says Captain
Brown, “in all respects as the dog of that denomination. In
40 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

a wild state it has been known to attack and kill a leveret.
In attacking a snake it will roll itself up between its bites and
thus protect itself against retaliation.

The Mole. The family of the Talpide to which the mole
belongs is a large and interesting one. The common mole
“when at rest,” says the author of “ Tales of Animals,” “bears
more resemblance to a small stuffed sack than to a living
animal, its head being entirely destitute of external ears, and
elongated nearly to a point, and its eyes so extremely small
and completely hidden by the fur, that it would not be sur-
prising should a casual observer conclude it to be blind. This
apparently shapeless mass is endowed with great activity and
a surprising degree of strength, and is excellently suited for
deriving enjoyment from the peculiar life it is designed to lead.
It is found abundantly in Europe and North America, from
Canada to Virginia; often living at no great distance from
water-courses, or in dykes thrown up to protect meadows
from inundation. The mole burrows with great quickness,
and travels under ground with much celerity; nothing can be
better constructed for this purpose than its broad and strong
hands, or fore paws, armed with long and powerful claws,
which are very sharp at their extremities, and slightly curved
on the inside. Numerous galleries, communicating with each
other, enable the mole to travel in various directions, without
coming to the surface, which they appear to do very rarely,
unless their progress is impeded by a piece of ground so hard
as to defy their strength and perseverance. The depth of
their burrows depends very materially on the character of
the soil, and the situation of the place; sometimes running
for a great distance, at a depth of from one to three inches,
and sometimes much deeper. Moles are most active early
in the morning, at midday, and in the evening; after rains
they are particularly busy in repairing their damaged galleries;
and in jong continued wet weather we find that they seek
the high grounds for security.”
THE MOLE. qy

An Enterprising Though as Captain Brown points out nothing
Mole. is more fatal to the mole than excessive rain,
which fills their subterranean galleries with water; the follow-
ing statement made by Mr. A. Bruce in the Linnzan Trans-
actions, shows that the animal is not without enterprise on
the water :—“On visiting the Loch of Clunie, which I often
did, I observed in it a small island at the distance of one
hundred and eighty yards from the nearest land, measured
to be so upon the ice. Upon the island, the Earl of Airly,
the proprietor, has a castle and small shrubbery. I remarked
frequently the appearance of fresh mole casts, or hills. I for
some time took them for those of the water mouse, and one
day asked the gardener if it was so. No, said he, it was
the mole; and that he had caught one or two lately. Five
or six years ago, he caught two in traps; and for two years
after this he had observed none. But, about four years ago,
coming ashore one summer’s evening in the dusk, with the
Earl of Airly’s butler, they saw at a short distance, upon the
smooth water, some animal paddling towards the island. They
soon closed with this feeble passenger, and found it to be
the common mole, led by a most astonishing instinct from
the castle hill, the nearest point of land, to take possession
of this desert island. It had been, at the time of my visit,
for the space of two years quite free from any subterraneous
inhabitant; but the mole has, for more than a year past,
made its appearance again, and its operations I have since
been witness to.”
The Use of Lhe use of the mole is often said to be far
the Mole. outweighed by the mischief he perpetrates, the
truth appearing to be that like many other animals, in his
own place he is valuable, out of it he is a source of danger.
Both conditions are illustrated by the following, which I quote
from Mrs. Bowdich’s “Anecdotes of Animals.”
“A French naturalist of the name of Henri Lecourt devoted
a great part of his life to the study of the habits and struc-
42 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

ture of moles; and he tells us that they will run as fast asa
horse will gallop. By his observations he rendered essential
service to a large district in France; for he discovered that
numbers of moles had undermined the banks of a canal, and
that unless means were taken to prevent the catastrophe,
these banks would give way, and inundation would ensue.
By his ingenious contrivances and accurate knowledge of their
habits, he contrived to extirpate them before the occurrence
of further mischief. Moles, however, are said to be excellent
drainers of land; and Mr. Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, used
to declare that if a hundred men and horses were employed
to dress a pasture farm of 1500 or 2000 acres, they would
not do it as effectually as moles would do, if left to them-
selves.”

The Shrew. The shrew family is a large one and widely
distributed over the surface of the earth. The common shrew
(Sorex vulgaris) is that best known in England. It resembles
the mouse in general form and varies in size and colour, its usual
length, including the tail being about four and a half inches.
Its body is moderately full, its neck short, its head tapering
to a pointed snout, the fore-feet small, the hind-feet larger
and the tail shorter than the body. The shrew is generally
found either in burrows, or among heaps of stones, or in
holes made by other animals; near dung heaps or hayricks,
they are more numerous than elsewhere. Insects are their
principal subsistence, but they seem no less fond of grain,
and show a pig’s predilection for filth of various sorts, Its
principal enemies are the Kestrel and the Bam Owl. A
superstition to the effect that if the shrew should rin over
the legs of a cow or a horse while reposing on the grass it
causes lameness, is also responsible for the destruction of many
by ignorant country folk. One species of the shrew enjoys
the reputation of being the smallest living mammel; it is but
an inch and a half long with a tail of an inch in length.
The water shrew is somewhat larger than the common shrew
Plate No. 3 MILES’ NATURAL HISTORY.

LION
(Felis leo)




FLESH-EATING ANIMALS. 43

attaining to a length of five and a half inches including the
tail. The water shrew colonises on the banks of rivers.
ORDER Iv, The order of flesh-eating animals (ca nivora)
Flesh-eating includes a large number of species among which
Animals. are the lion, the tiger and the leopard, as
well as the cat and the dog. The two sub-orders into
which this order is divided are: I, The Fissipedia, and II, The
Pinnipedia. The Fissipedia are again divided into ten fami-
lies; lions, cats, dogs, hyenas, weasels, and bears being the
most important members. The Pinnipedia includes the seal,
the sea lion, the walrus and their allies.
Animals of the cat kind are distinguished
SUB-ORDER I. 2 ‘ 2
The Fissipedia. PY their sharp and formidable claws, which
Animals of the they can hide or extend at pleasure. They
Cat Kind. are remarkable for their rapacity, subsisting
entirely on the flesh and blood of other animals. The dog,
wolf, and bear, are sometimes known to live on vegetables,
or farinaceous food; but the lion, the tiger, the leopard, and
other animals of this class, devour nothing but flesh, and
would starve upon. any other provision. They lead a solitary,
ravenous life, uniting neither for mutual defence, like vegetable
feeders, nor for mutual support, like those of the dog kind.
The first of the class is the lion, distinguished from all the
rest by his strength, his magnitude, and his mane. The
second is the tiger, rather longer than the lion, but not so
tall, and known by the streaks and vivid beauty of its skin;
here we may also mention the puma, which is sometimes
called a panther, or colloquially a “painter”, otherwise a
couguar, or American lion, which is of a tawny colour. The
next is the leopard, sometimes called a panther, and the next
the jaguar, followed by the ounce, not so large as any of the
former, spotted like them, but distinguished by the cream-
coloured ground of its hair, and a tail so long as to exceed
the length of its body. The next is the catamountain, or
tiger-cat, less than the ounce, but differing particularly in
44 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

having a shorter tail, and being streaked down the back like
a tiger. The next is the lynx, of the size of a fox, with its
body streaked, and the tips of its ears tufted with black.
Then comes the Persian lynx, not so large as the lynx, nor
mottled like it, but with longer ears, tipped also with black,
and the serval, shaped and streaked like the lynx, but not
having the tips of its ears tufted. Lastly, the cat, wild and
tame, with all its varieties; less than any of the former, but
like them insidious, rapacious, and cruel.

The Lion. The lion is known as the King of Beasts;
though modern travellers have done much to rob him of
the homage that he once received. Like a human being
who has been too much lionized, he suffers from the detrac-
tions which are excited by his pre-eminence. He is found
chiefly in India and Africa, though he once had a more
extended range. He was well known to the Greeks, and
appears in both their poetry and history. Homer celebrates
him, and according to Herodotus he exploited himself by
attacking the camels of the army of Xerxes. His noble
appearance is said to be responsible for the popular ideal of
his character, which travellers and naturalists declare to be
minus the magnanimous and generous qualities with which
it was at one time credited.

The Lion’s In judging of the lion’s character it is import-

Character. ant to remember that he belongs to the cat family,
and that his virtues and vices are naturally of the cat kind.
“The lion seldom runs,” says the author of “ Tales of Animals.”
“He either walks or creeps, or, for a short distance, advances
rapidly by great bounds. It is evident, therefore, that he
must seize. his prey by stealth; that he is not fitted for an
open attack; and that his character is necessarily that of
great power, united to considerable skill and cunning in its
exercise.” Again, the lion, as well as others of the cat
tribe, takes his prey at night; and it is necessary, therefore,
that he should have peculiar organs of vision. In all those
THE LION. 4$§

animals which seek their food in the dark, the eye is usually
of a large size, to admit a great number of rays. This
peculiar kind of eye, therefore, is necessary to the Lion to
perceive his prey, and he creeps towards it with a certainty
which nothing but this distinct nocturnal vision. could give.”
Men who hunt the lion in the daytime, when he is usually
sleeping off the effects of a hearty meal, and who awaken
him in a surprised and dazed condition when his cat-like eyes
cannot bear the blaze of the sun, ought not to be surprised
if he tries to postpone fighting until a more convenient season.
Nor can he be said to be less noble because he only fights
when it is necessary to procure food, to protect his young,
and to defend himself. A veritable Ulysses among the
beasts he is ready to fight if needs be, but unless urged by
hunger, or attacked by the hunter, he does not seem to bear
any particular malice against mankind.

The Lion's “it is singular,” says Sparrman, “that the lion,

Attitude which, according to many, always kills his prey
towards Man. immediately if it belongs to the brute creation,
is reported, frequently, although provoked, to content himself
with merely wounding the human species; or, at least, to wait
some time before he gives the fatal blow to the unhappy
victim he has got under him. A farmer, who the year
before had the misfortune to be a spectator of a lion seizing
two of his oxen, at the very instant he had taken them out
of the waggon, told me that they immediately fell down
dead upon the spot, close to each other; though, upon
examining the carcasses afterwards, it appeared that their
backs only had been broken. In several places through
which I passed, they mentioned to me by name a father
and his two sons, who were said to be still living, and who,
being on foot near a river on their estate, in search of a
lion, this latter had rushed out upon them, and thrown one
of them under his feet. The two others, however, had time
enough to shoot the lion dead upon the spot, which had
4d NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

lain almost across the youth, so nearly and dearly related
to them, without having done him any particular hurt. I
myself saw, near the upper part of Duyvenhoek River, an
elderly Hottentot who, at that time (his wounds being still
open), bore under one eye, and underneath his cheek bone
the ghastly marks of the bite of a lion, which did not think
it worth his while to give him any other chastisement for
having, together with his master (whom I also knew), and
several other Christians, hunted him with great intrepidity,
though without success. The conversation ran everywhere
in this part of the country upon one Bota, a farmer and
captain in the militia, who had lain for sometime under a
lion, and had received several bruises from the beast, having
been at the same time a good deal bitten by him in one
arm, as a token to remember him by; but, upon the whole,
had, in a manner, had his life given him by this noble animal.
The man was said then to be living in the district of Artaquas-
kloof.”
Discretion the He following seems to show a curious power
better part of of reasoning on the part of the lion. “Diederik
Valour. Muller, one of the most intrepid and successful
of modern lion-hunters in South Africa, had,” says Sir
William Jardine, “been out alone hunting in the wilds, when
he came suddently upon a lion, which, instead of giving way,
seemed disposed, from the angry attitude he assumed, to
dispute with him the dominion of the desert. Diederik
instantly alighted, and confident of his unerring aim levelled
his gun at the forehead of the lion, who was couched in the
act to spring, within fifteen paces of him; but at the moment
the hunter. fired, his horse, whose bridle was round his
arm, started back and caused him to miss. The lion, bounded
forward, but stopped within a few paces, confronting Diederik
who stood defenceless, his gun discharged, and his horse
running off. The man and the beast stood looking at each
ether in the face for a short space. At length the lion
THE LION. 47

moved backward as if to go away. Diederik began to load
his gun, the lion looked over his shoulder, growled, and
returned. Diederik stood still, The lion again moved cau-
tiously off, and the Boer proceeded to load and ram down
his bullet. The lion again looked back and growled angrily;
and this occurred repeatedly, until the animal had got off
to some distance when he took fairly to his heels and
bounded away.”
The Strength Whatever may be said of the lion’s courage,
‘ofthe = there can be no doubt as to his strength. Burchell
Lion. thus describes an encounter with a lion. “The
day was exceedingly pleasant and not a cloud was to be seen.
For a mile or two we travelled along the banks of the river,
which in this part abounded in late mat-rushes. The dogs
seemed much to enjoy prowling about and examining every
rushy place, and at last met with some object among the
rushes which caused them to set up a most vehement and
determined barking. We explored the spot with caution as
we suspected, from the peculiar tone of the bark, that it was
what it proved to be—lions. Having encouraged the dogs to
drive them out, a task which they performed with great:
willingness, we had a full view of an enormous black-maned
lion and lioness. The latter was seen only for a minute, as
she made her escape up the river under concealment of the
rushes; but the lion came steadily forward, and stood still
and looked at us. At this moment we felt our situation not
free from danger, as the animal seemed preparing to spring
upon us, and we were standing on the bank, at a distance
of only a few yards from him, most of us being on foot,
and unarmed, without any visible possibility of escaping. At
this instant the dogs boldly flew in between us and the lion,
and surrounding him, kept him at bay by their violent and
resolute barking. The lion, conscious of his strength, remained
unmoved at their noisy attempts and kept his head turned
towards us. At one moment, the dogs perceiving his eye
48 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

thus engaged, had advanced close to his feet, and seemed
as if they would actually seize hold of him; but they paid
dearly for their imprudence, for, without discomposing the
majestic and steady attitude in which he stood fixed, he
merely moved his paw, and the next instant I beheld two
lying dead. In doing this he made so little exertion, that it
was scarcely perceptible by what means they had been killed.
We fired upon him, and one of the balls went through his
side, just between the short ribs, but the animal still remained
standing in the same position. We had now no doubt that
he would spring upon us, but happily we were mistaken and
were not sorry to see him move slowly away.”

The Lion’s Many instances are on record of strong

Affection. attachments formed by the lion for his keeper,
and for dogs or other animals which have been associated
with him. a little dog, which had been thrown into a lion’s den that
he might be devoured, was not only spared by the noble
animal, but became his companion and favourite. In a
moment of irritation caused by long hunger, the dog, having
snapped at the first morsels of food, received a blow from
the lion which proved fatal. From that time the lion
pined away, refused his food, and at length died, apparently
of melancholy.

The Lion’s A carpenter was employed some years ago to

Docility. do some repairs to the cage of a lion at a
menagerie at Brussels. When the workman saw the lion
he drew back in terror. The keeper, on this, entered the
cage and led the animal to the upper part of it, while the
lower was refitting. He there amused himself for some time
playing with the lion, and being wearied he fell asleep.
The carpenter, having finished his work, called the keeper
to inspect what he had done, but the keeper made no
answer. Having repeatedly called in vain he became alarmed
and proceeded to the upper part of the cage, where, looking
THE LION. 49

through the bars, he saw the lion and the keeper lying side
by side, and immediately uttered a loud cry. The lion
started up and stared at the carpenter with an eye of fury, and
then, placing his paw on the breast of his keeper, lay down
to sleep again. The carpenter, terrified at what he saw, ran
off to secure help, whereupon some of the attendants suc-
ceeded in arousing the keeper who, far from being disconcerted
by the circumstances, took the paw of the lion and shook
it gently in token of regard and the animal quietly returned
with him to his former residence. M. Felix, the keeper of
the animals at Paris, had charge of a lion which refused
food, and became sullen and mopish during the temporary
absence of M. Felix through illness, but who regained his
spirits and showed every demonstration of joy upon the
reappearance of M. Felix at his post of duty.
The Story of With so many authentic instances which can
Androcles. be cited of the amenability of the lion to kindly
influences, the story of Androcles and the lion does not seem so
improbable as it has been sometimes thought. The following
is the story :—In the days of ancient Rome, a Roman governor
treated one of his slaves or subjects, called Androcles, so
cruelly that he ran away. To escape pursuit he fled to a
desert and crept into a cave. What was his horror to find
that this cave was a lion’s den, and to see a large lion
approach him! He expected instantly to be destroyed; but
the lion, approaching Androcles, held up his paw or foot
with a supplicating air. Androcles examined the lion’s paw,
and found a thorn in it which he drew out, and the lion,
apparently relieved, fawned upon his benefactor as a dog
does upon his master. After some time Androcles ventured
back to the place where he lived before. He was discovered,
taken up as a runaway slave, and condemned to be the prey
of a wild beast. He was accordingly thrown into a place
where a large lion, recently caught, was let in upon him.
The lion came bounding toward Androcles, and the spec-

4
§0 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

tators expected to see the man instantly torn in pieces. What
was their astonishment to see the lion approach him, and
fawn before him like a dog who had found his master! It
was the lion Androcles had met in the desert, and the
grateful animal would not rend his benefactor.

A Lion Hunt. Livingstone came to very close quarters with
a lion on one occasion, the circumstances of which he thus
narrates. “The Bakatla of the village Mabotsa, were much
troubled by lions, which leaped into the cattle-pens by night
and destroyed their cows. They even attacked the herds in
open day. This was so unusual an occurrence that the people
believed that they were bewitched, ‘given’ as they said,
into the power of the lions by a neighbouring tribe. They
went once to attack the animals, but being rather a cowardly
people compared to Bechuanas in general on such occasions,
they returned without killing any. It is well known that if
one in a troop of lions is killed, the others take the hint
and leave that part of the country. So the next time the
herds were attacked, I went with the people in order to
encourage them to rid themselves of the annoyance by
destroying one of the marauders. We found the lions on
a small hill, about a quarter of a mile in length and covered
with trees. A circle of men was formed round it, and they
gradually closed up, ascending pretty near to each other.
Being down below on the plain with a native schoolmaster,
named Mebalwe, I saw one of the lions sitting upon a
piece of rock, within the now closed circle of men. Mebalwe
fired at him before I could, and the ball struck the rock
upon which the animal was sitting. He bit at the spot struck,
as a dog-does at a stick or a stone thrown at him, then,
leaping away, broke through the opening circle and escaped
unhurt. When the circle was reformed we saw two other
lions in it, but we were afraid to fire lest we should strike
the men; and they allowed the beasts to burst through also.
If the Bakatla had acted according to the custom of the
THE LION.

country, they would have speared the lions in their attempt
to get out. Seeing that we could not get them to kill one
of the lions, we bent our footsteps towards the village; in
going round the end of the hill, however, I saw one of the
beasts sitting on a piece of rock,#as before, but this time he
had a little bush in front. Being about thirty yards off, I
took a good aim at his body through the bush, and fired
both barrels into in. The men then called out: ‘He is shot!
He is shot!’ Others cried: ‘He has been shot by another
man, too; let us goto him.’ I did not see anyone else shoot
at him, but I saw the lion’s tail erected in anger behind the
bush, and turning to the people, said: ‘Stop a little till I load
again.’ When in the act of ramming down the bullets I heard
a shout. Starting, and looking half round, I saw the lion just
in the act of springing upon me. I was upon a little height.
He caught my shoulder as he sprang and we both came
to the ground below together. Growling horribly, close to my
ear, he shook me as a terrier dog does a rat. The shock
produced a stupor, similar to that which seems to be felt by

- a mouse after the first shake of a cat. It caused a sort of

dreaminess, in which there was no sense of pain or feeling
of terror, though quite conscious of all that was happening.
It was like what patients partially under the influence
of chloroform describe, who see all the operation but feel
not the knife. This singular condition was not the result of
any mental process. The shake annihilated fear, and allowed
no sense of horror in looking round at the beast. This
peculiar state is probably produced in all animals killed by
the carnivora; and, if so, is a merciful provision by our
benevolent Creator for lessening the pain of death. Turing
round to relieve myself of the weight, as he had one paw
on the back of my head, I saw his eyes directed to Mebalwe,
who was trying to shoot him at a distance of ten or fifteen
yards, His gun, a flint one, missed fire in both barrels.
The lion immediately left me and attacking Mebalwe bit his
52 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

thigh. Another man, whose life I had saved before, afte
he had been tossed by a buffalo, attempted to spear the
lion while he was biting Mebalwe. He left Mebdlwe and
caught this man by the shoulder; but at that moment the
bullets he had received took effect, and he fell down dead.
The whole was the work of a few moments, and must have
been his paroxysm of dying rage. In order to take out the
charm from him, the Bakatla, on the following day, made a
huge bonfire over the carcass, which was declared to be
the largest lion they had ever seen. Besides crunching the
bone into splinters, he left eleven teeth wounds on the upper
part of my arm. A wound from this animal’s tooth resembles
a gunshot wound. It is generally followed by a great deal
of sloughing and discharge, and pains are felt in the part
periodically ever after. I had on a tartan jacket on the
occasion, and I believe that it wiped off all the virus from
the teeth that pierced the flesh; for my two companions in
this affray have both suffered from the peculiar pains, while
I have escaped with only the inconvenience of a false joint in
my limb.”

A Thrilling Professor Lichtenstein, in his “Travels” gives a
Experience. thrilling story of a Boer’s adventure with a lion,
which he had from the lips of the Boer himself. “It is now,”
said the colonist, “more than two years since, in the very
place where we siand, I ventured to take one of the most
daring shots that ever was hazarded. My wife was sitting
within the house near the door, the children were playing
about her, and I was without, near the house, busied in
doing something to a waggon, when suddenly, though it
was mid-day, an enormous lion appeared, came up and laid

‘himself quietly down in the shade upon the very threshold
of the door. My wife, either frozen with fear, or aware of
the danger of attempting to fly, remained motionless in her
place, while the children took refuge in her arms. The cry
they uttered attracted my attention, and I hastened towards
THE LION. 33

the door, but my astonishment may well be conceived when
I found the entrance to it barred in such away. Although
the animal had not seen me, unarmed as I was escape
seemed impossible, yet I glided gently, scarcely knowing what
I meant to do, to the side of the house, up to the window
of my chamber, where I knew my loaded gun was standing.
By a most happy chance, I had set it into the corner close
by the window, so that I could reach it with my hand; for,
as you may perceive, the opening is too small to admit of
my having got in, and still more fortunately, the door of the
room was open, so that I could see the whole danger of
the scene. The lion was beginning to move. There was
no longer any time io think; I called softly to the mother
not to be alarmed, and invoking the name of the Lord,
fired my piece. The ball passed directly over the hair of
my boy’s head and lodged in the forehead of the lion,
immediately above his eyes and stretched him on the ground,
so that he never stirred more.” “Indeed,” says Professor
Lichtenstein, “we all shuddered as we listened to this relation.
Never, as he himself observed, was a more daring attempt
hazarded. Had he failed in his aim, mother and children
were all inevitably lost; if the boy had moved he had been
struck; the least turn in the lion and the shot had not been
mortal to him; and to consummate the whole, the head of the
creature was in some sort protected by the door-post.”
Attacked by In Phillips’s “Researches in South Africa,” the
a Lion. following account is given of the adventures of
a traveller which we quote from Jardine’s Naturalists’ Library
collated with other versions. “Our waggons, which were
obliged to take a circuifous route, arrived at last, and we
pitched our tent a musket-shot from the kraal, and, after
having arranged everything, went to rest, but were soon
disturbed; for, about midnight the cattle and horses, which
were standing between the waggons, began to start and
run, and one of the drivers to shout, on which every one
54 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

ran out of the tent with his gun. About thirty paces from
the tent stood a lion, which, on seeing us, walked very
deliberately about thirty paces farther, behind a small thorn-
bush, carrying something with him, which I took to be a
young ox. We fired more than sixty shots at that bush,
without perceiving any movement. The south-east wind blew
strong, the sky was clear, and the moon shone very bright,
so that we could perceive everything at that distance. After
the cattle had been quieted again, and I had looked over
everything, I missed the sentry from before the tent, Jan
Smit, from Antwerp. We called as loudly as possible, but
in vain; nobody answered, from which I concluded that the
lion had carried him off. Three or four men then advanced
very cautiously to the bush, which stood right opposite the
door of the tent, to see if they could discover anything of
the man, but returned helter-skelter; for the lion, who was
there still, rose up, and began to roar. They found there
the musket of the sentry, which was cocked, and also his cap
and shoes. We fired again about a hundred shots at the
bush, without perceiving anything of the lion, from which
we concluded that he was killed, or had run away. This
induced the marksman of our company to go and see if he
was still there or not, taking with him a firebrand. As soon
as he approached the bush, the lion roared terribly, and
leapt at him; on which he threw the firebrand at him, and
the other people having fired about ten shots at him, he
retired directly to his former place behind that bush. The
firebrand which he had thrown at the lion had fallen in the
midst of the bush, and, favoured by the strong south-east
wind, it began to burn with a great flame, so that we could
see very clearly into and through it. We continued our firing
into it until the night passed away, and the day began to
break, when seven men were posted on the farthest waggons

to watch him, and to take aim at him if he should come —
out. At last, before it became quite light, he walked up the
THE LION. 55

hill, with the man in his mouth, when about forty shots were
fired without hitting him, although some were very near.
Every time this happened, he turned round towards the tent,
and came roaring towards us; and, I am of opinion, that if
he had been hit, he would have rushed on the people and
the tent. When it became broad daylight, we perceived, by
the blood, and a piece of the clothes of the man, that the
lion had taken him away.” “For the satisfaction of the
curious,” says Sir William Jardine, “it may be mentioned, that
he was followed, and killed in the forenoon, over the mangled
remains of the unfortunate sentinel.”

A Night Mr. Gordon Cumming gives an even more thrilling

Surprise. account of a similar adventure of his experience.
He says:—“ About three hours after the sun went down, I
called to my men to come and take their coffee and supper
which was ready for them at my fire; and after supper, three
of them returned before their comrades to their own fireside
and lay down.... In a few minutes an ox came out by the
gate of the kraal and walked round the back of it. Hen-
drick got up and drove him again and then went back to
his fireside and lay down. Hendrick and Ruyter lay on one
side of the fire under one blanket and John Stofolus lay on
the other.... Suddenly the appalling and murderous voice
of an angry bloodthirsty lion, within a few yards of us, burst
upon my ear, followed by the shrieking of the Hottentots.
Again and again the murderous roar of the attack was re-
peated. We heard John and Ruyter shriek, ‘the Lion! the
Lion!...’ Next instant John Stofolus rushed into the midst
of us almost speechless with fear and terror, and eyes bursting
from their sockets, and shrieked out, ‘the lion! the lion.
He has got Hendrick, he dragged him away from the fire
beside me. I struck him with the burning brands upon his
head, but he would not let go his hold. Hendrick is dead!
O God! Hendrick is dead! Let us take fire and seek
him....’ It appeared that when the unfortunate Hendrick
56 NATURAL HISTORY iN ANECDOTE.

rose to drive in the ox, the lion had watched him to his
fireside, and he had scarcely lain down, when the brute sprang
upon him and Ruyter (for both lay under one blanket) with
his appalling murderous roar, and roaring as he lay, grappled
him with his fearful claws and kept biting him on-the breast
and shoulder, all the while feeling for his neck; having got
hold of which, he at once dragged him away backwards
round the bush into the dense shade.... The next morning,
just as the day began to dawn we heard the lion dragging
something up the river side under cover of the bank. We
drove the cattle out of the kraal and then proceeded to
inspect the scene of the night’s awful tragedy. In the hollow
where the lion had lain, consuming his prey, we found one
leg of the unfortunate Hendrick, bitten off below the knee,
the shoe still on the foot, the grass and bushes were all
stained with his blood, and fragments of his pea-coat lay
around. Hendrick was by far the best man I had about
my waggons...his loss to us all was very serious.”

A Lion In the southern part of Africa, where the Hot-

Gutwitted. tentots live, lions were very common, and the
adventures of the inhabitants with them very frequent.
One evening a Hottentot saw that he was pursued by a lion.
He was very much alarmed, and devised the following means
of escape. He went to the edge of a precipice, and placed
himself a little below it. He then put his cloak and hat on
a stick, and elevated them over his head, giving them a
gentle motion. The lion came crouching along, and, mistaking
the cloak and hat for the man, as the Hettentot intended
he should do, he sprang upon them with a swift leap, and,
passing over the head of the Hottentot, was plunged head-
long down the precipice.
Old Instincts In the “Miscellany of Natural History,” from

and new which several of these anecdotes are taken there
nef a See ae ate story illustrating the way in which old
instincts will show themselves in the presence of new
THE TIGER. 57
opportunities. On the evening of the 2zoth October 1816, a
lioness made her escape from a travelling menagerie which was
drawn up on the road-side, about seven miles from the town
of Salisbury. It was about eight o’clock, and quite dark, and
the Exeter mail was passing when the animal suddenly darted
forward, and springing at the throat of the off-leader, fastened
the talons of her fore-feet on each side of the neck, close to the
horse’s head, while those of the hind-feet were forced into the chest.
In this situation she hung, while the blood streamed from the
agonized creature, as if a vein had been opened by a lancet.
It may be easily supposed, that the alarm excited by this
encounter, was very great. Two inside passengers instantly
dashed out of the coach and fled to a house on the road~-
side. The keeper of the caravan came, and immediately set
a large Newfoundland dog on the animal. The lioness, on
finding herself seized by the leg, quitted the horse, and
turned upon the dog, which the spectators expected would
very soon become the victim of her fury; but she was
contented with giving him only a slight punishment, and
on hearing the voice of her keeper, retired under a
neighbouring straw rick, and gently allowed herself to be
secured. “This anecdote,” says the writer, “is remarkably
characteristic, the moment that the animal found herself at
liberty, and an object of prey presented itself, all her original
propensities, hitherto restrained, were instantly called into
action; but no sooner did the voice of her keeper reach her
ears, than the force of long habit prevailed, she became
calm, and allowed herself to be bound, and led again to
her den.”

The Tiger. The tiger is one of the most beautiful, but at
the same time one of the most rapacious and destructive of
the whole animal race. It is found in the warm climates of
the East, especially in India and Siam. It so much resembles
the cat, as almost to induce us to consider the latter a tiger
in miniature. It lurks generally near a fountain, or on the
58 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

brink of a river, to surprise such animals as come to quench
their thirst; and like the lion bounds upon its prey, easily
making a spring of twenty feet and upwards. When it has
killed one animal it often attacks others, swallowing their
blood for which it has an insatiable thirst in large draughts ;
for even when satisfied with food, it is not satiated with
slaughter. The tiger is said by some to prefer human flesh
to that of any other animal; and it is certain, that it does
not, like many other beasts of prey, shun the presence of
man, but has been even known on more than one occasion
to spring upon a hunting party when seated at their refresh-
ment, and carry off one of the number, rushing through the
shrubs into the forest, and devouring the unfortunate victim
at its leisure. The strength as well as the agility of this animal
is remarkable; it carries off a deer with the greatest ease.
The tiger is omamented with long streaks across its body.
The ground colour is yellow, very deep on the back, but
growing lighter towards the belly, where it softens to white,
as it does also on the throat and the inside of the legs. The
bars which cross the body from the back to the belly are of
the most beautiful black, and the skin altogether is so extremely
fine and glossy, that it is much esteemed, and sold at a high
price in all the eastern countries, especially China. “The
colouring of the tiger,” says the Rev. J. G. Wood,” isa good
instance of the manner in which animals are protected by
the similarity of their external appearance to the particular
locality in which they reside. The stripes on the tiger’s skin
so exactly assimilate with the long jungle grass amongst which
it lives, that it is impossible for unpractised eyes to discern
the animal at all, even when a considerable portion of its
body is exposed.”
Ravages The ravages committed by tigers have often
Committed led to the organisation of hunting parties formed
by Tigers. ith a view to exterminate the more aggressive
of the enemy. The following narrative of a tiger excursion
Plate No. 4 MILES’ NATURAL HISTORY.






AARD VARK
(Orycteropus capensis) ae

BLOTCHED GENETT
(Genetta vulgaris)
THE TIGER. 59

at Doongal is from the “East India Government Gazette.”

“There were five tigers killed by the party, besides one
bear killed, and another wounded; a wolf, a hyzena, a panther,
a leopard, and some immense rock and cobra capella snakes.
Among the occurrences during the excursion, some were of a
peculiar and pathetic nature. The first happened to a poor
Bunnia, or dealer, of the village of Doongal, who had been
to the city of Hydrabad, to collect some money, and who
was returning, after having gathered together a small sum,
when on the way, a little beyond the cantonment of Secun-
derabad, he saw an armed Peon seated, and apparently a
traveller in the same direction. After mutual inquiries, the
Peon told the Bunnia he was going to the same place; and,
as the Bunnia was glad to have somebody to accompany
him, he gave him a part of his victuals; and, on their way,
they mutually related their histories. The Bunnia innocently
mentioned the object of his visit to the city, and the fact
of his returning with the money he had collected; this im-
mediately raised the avarice of the Pzeon, who decided in
his mind to kill the poor Bunnia in a suitable place, and
strip him of his money. They proceeded together, with this
design in the mind of the Pzeon, until they came to a place
where the ravages of the tiger were notorious, and he prepared
to kill the Bunnia; and while he was struggling with him,
and in the act of drawing his sword to slay him, a tiger
sprang upon the Peon, and carried him off, leaving his shield
and sword, which the Bunnia carried to Doongal, as trophies
of retributive justice in his favour. The next victim was the
wife of a Bunjarra. They were resting under a tree, when a
tiger sprang up, and seized the woman by the head. The
husband, from mere impulse to save his wife, held her by the
legs; and a struggle ensued between the tiger pulling her by
the head, and the man by the legs, until the issue, which
could not be doubted, when the tiger carried off the woman.
The man seemed to be rather partial to his wife, and devoted
60 WATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

himself to revenge her death,—forsook his cattle and prop-
erty,—resigned them to his brother, and offered his services
to be of the tiger-killing party, and strayed about the jungles,
until he was heard of no more.”

“A camel driver, who had been just married, was bringing
home his bride, when a tiger followed, and kept them in view
a great part of the road, for an opportunity to seize one of
them. The bride having occasion to alight, was immediately
pounced upon by the ferocious beast, and he scampered away
with her in his mouth. A shepherd was taken by a young
tiger, which was followed by the mother, a large tigress, and
devoured at a distance of two miles; and a Bunnia, or
dealer, from Bolarum, was seized returning from a fair. A
woman, with an infant about a year old, was captured by a
tiger; and the infant was found by the Puttal, or head of the
village, who brought it to his house. Some of the Company’s
elephants that were going for forage were chased by a tiger,
which was kept off by a spearman; and a comical chase of
chem was made up to Doongal, the elephants running before
the tiger, until they entered the village. It is said the lives
lost by these tigers amounted to about three hundred per-
sons in one year, within the range of seven villages; and
the destruction of cattle, sheep, and goats, was said to be
immense.”

An Intrepid Captain Brown in his “Natural History of

Hunter. Animals” tells a thrilling story of an adventure of
Lieutenant Collet, of the Bombay army, who having heard
that a very large tiger had destroyed seven inhabitants of an
adjacent village, resolved, with another officer, to attempt the
destruction of the monster. Having ordered seven elephants,
they went in quest of the animal, which they found sleeping
beneath a bush. Roused by the noise of the elephants, he
made a furious charge upon them, and Lieutenant Collet’s
elephant received him on her shoulder, the cther six having

_tumed about, and run off, notwithstanding the exertions of
THE LEOPARD, 61

their riders. The elephant shook off the tiger, and Lieutenant
Collet having fired two balls at him, he fell; but, again
recovering himself, he made a spring at the lieutenant. Having
missed his’ object, he seized the elephant by the hind leg,
and, having received a kick from her, and another ball, he
let go his hold, and fell a second time. Supposing that
he was now disabled, Collet very rashly dismounted, with the
resolution of killing him with his pistols; but the tiger, who
had only been crouching to take another spring, flew upon
the lieutenant, and caught him in his mouth. The strength
and intrepidity of the lieutenant, however, did not forsake
him: he immediately fired his pistol] into the tiger’s body,
and, finding that this had no effect, disengaged his arms with
all his force, and, directing the other pistol to his heart, he
at last destroyed him, after receiving twenty-five severe
wounds.

The The Leopard, who is also known as the panther,

Leopard. belongs to Asia and Africa. He is distinguished
by the beauty of his coat which is of a rich fawn colour,
graduating to white underneath his belly. It is covered with
spots or clusters of marks which resemble the form of a rose.
He is an agile climber and a terror to goats, sheep, monkeys
and all lesser animals, but shows no special hostility to man
unless attacked or cornered.

re ‘Like other members of the cat family the Leopard

Leopard’s Shows remarkable tenacity of life. Whether like
ce eae cf the domestic cat he has nine lives or not, he

certainly takes a great deal of killing.

The following account is from the pen of an eye-witness
quoted from Captain Brown’s “ Natural History of Animals”.
—“I was at Jaffna, at the northern extremity of the Island
of Ceylon, in the beginning of the year 1819, when, one
moming, my servant called me an hour or two before my
usual time, with ‘Master, master! people sent for master’s
dogs—tiger in the town!’ There are no real tigers in Ceylon;
62 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

but leopards or panthers are always called so, and by our:
selves as well as by the natives. This turned out to be a
panther. My gun chanced not to be put together; and, while
my servant was doing it, the collector and two medical men,
who had recently arrived, in consequence of the cholera
morbus having just then reached Ceylon from the Continent,
came to my door, the former armed with a fowling-piece, and
the two latter with remarkably blunt hog-spears. They insisted
upon setting off, without waiting for my gun,—a proceeding
not much to my taste. The tiger (I must continue to call
him so) had taken refuge in a hut, the roof of which, like
those of Ceylon huts in general, spread to the ground like
an umbrella; the only aperture into it was a small door,
about four feet high. The collector wanted to get the tiger
out at once. I begged to wait for my gun; but no—the
fowling-piece, (loaded with ball, of course,) and the two hog-
spears, were quite enough. I got a hedge-stake, and awaited
my fate, from very shame. At this moment, to my great
delight, there arrived from the fort an English officer, two
artillery-men, and a Malay captain; and a pretty figure we
should have cut without them, as the event will show. I
was now quite ready to attack, and my gun came a minute
afterwards. The whole scene which follows took place within
an enclosure, about twenty feet square, formed, on three sides,
by a strong fence of palmyra leaves, and on the fourth by
the hut. At the door of this, the two artillery-men planted
themselves: and the Malay captain got at the top, to frighten
the tiger out, by worrying it—an easy operation, as the huts
there are covered with cocoa-nut leaves. One of the artillery-
men wanted to go in to the tiger, but we would not suffer
it. At last the beast sprang. This man received him on his
bayonet, which he thrust apparently down his throat, firing
his piece at the same moment. The bayonet broke off short,
leaving less than three inches on the musket; the rest remained
in the animal, but was invisible to us. The shot probably
THE LEOPARD. 63

went through his cheek, for it certainly did not seriously
injure him, as he instantly rose upon his legs, with a loud
roar, and placed his paws upon the soldier’s breast. At this
moment, the animal appeared to me to about reach the centre
of the man’s face; but I had scarcely time to observe this,
when the tiger, stooping his head, seized the soldier’s arm
in his mouth, turned him half round staggering, threw him
over on his back, and fell upon him. Our dread now was,
that, if we fired upon the tiger, we might killthe man. For
a moment, there was a pause, when his comrade attacked
the beast exactly in the same manner as the gallant fellow
himself had done. He struck his bayonet into his head; the
tiger rose at him—he fired; and this time the ball took effect,
and in the head. The animal staggered backwards, and we
all poured in our fire. He still kicked and writhed; when
the gentlemen with the hog-spears advanced, and fixed him,
while he was finished by some natives beating him on the
head with hedge-stakes. The brave artilleryman was, after
all, but slightly hurt: He claimed the skin, which was very
cheerfully given to him. There was, however, a cry among
the natives, that the head should be cut off: it was; and,
in so doing, the knife came directly across the bayonet. The
animal measured little less than four feet, from the root of
the tail to the muzzle. There was no tradition of a tiger
having been in Jaffna before. Indeed, this one must have
either come a distance of almost twenty miles, or have swam
across an arm of the sea nearly two miles in breadth; for
Jaffna stands on a peninsula, on which there is no jungle
of any magnitude.”

Hunters Captain Brown gives a thrilling story of an

Hunted. adventure which befell two Boers in South
Africa in 1822. They were returning from a hunting excur-
sion, when they unexpectedly fell in with a leopard in a
mountain ravine, and immediately gave chase to him. The
animal at first endeavoured to escape, by clambering up a
64 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

precipice, but, being hotly pressed, and slightly wounded by
a musket-ball, he turned upon his pursuers, with that frantic
ferocity, which, on such emergencies, he frequently displays,
and, springing upon the man who had fired at him, tore him
from his horse to the ground, biting him at the same time
very severely on the shoulder, and tearing his face and arms
with his claws. The other hunter, seeing the danger of his
comrade, sprang from his horse, and attempted to shoot the
leopard through the head; but, whether owing to trepidation,
or the fear of wounding his friend, or the sudden motions
of the animal, he unfortunately missed his aim. The leopard,
abandoning his prostrate enemy darted with redoubled fury
upon this second antagonist; and so fierce and sudden was
his onset, that before the Boer could stab him with his hunt-
ing-knife, he had struck him in the face with his claws, and
torn the scalp over his forehead. In this frightful condition,
the hunter grappled with the raging beast, and, struggling for
life, they rolled together down a steep declivity. All this
passed so rapidly that the other man had scarcely time to
recover from the confusion into which his feline foe had
thrown him, to seize his gun and rush forward to aid his
comrade, when he beheld them rolling together down the
steep bank, in mortal conflict. In a few moments he was at
the bottom with them, but too late to save the life of his
friend, who had so gallantly defended him. The leopard
had torn open the jugular vein, and so dreadfully mangled
the throat of the unfortunate man, that his death was inevit-
able; and his comrade had only the melancholy satisfaction
of completing the destruction of the savage beast, which
was already much exhausted by several deep wounds it
had received in the breast, from the desperate knife of the
expiring huntsman.”

The Jaguar. The Jaguar, otherwise known as the American
Leopard, belongs to the forests of South America, and has many
points of difference from as well as some of similarity with
THE JAGUAR. 05

the Leopard of Asia. Though ferocious in his wild state, he
is amenable to civilizing influences and becomes mild and
tame in captivity. He is an excellent swimmer and an expert
climber, ascending to the tops of high branchless trees by
fixing his claws in the trunks. It is said that he can hunt
in the trees almost as well as he can upon the ground, and
that hence he becomes a formidable enemy to the monkeys.
He is also a clever fisherman, his method being that of
dropping saliva on to the surface of the water, and upon the
approach of a fish, by a dexterous stroke of his paw knock-
ing it out of the water on to the bank. D’Azara, says: “ He
is a very ferocious animal causing great destruction among
horses and asses. He is extremely fond of eggs, and goes to
the shores frequented by turtles, and digs their eggs out of
the sand.”
The Strength The strength of the Jaguar is very great, and
of the Jaguar. as he can climb, swim, and leap a great distance,
he is almost equally formidable in three elements. He is said
to attack the alligator and to banquet with evident relish off
his victim. D’Azara says that on one occasion he found a
Jaguar feasting upon a horse which it had killed. The Jaguar
fled at his approach, whereupon he had the body of the
horse dragged to within a musket shot of a tree in which he
purposed watching for the Jaguar’s return. While temporarily
absent he left a man to keep watch, and while he was away the
jaguar reappeared from the opposite side of a river which was
both deep and broad. Having crossed the river the animal
approached, and seizing the body of the horse with his teeth
dragged it some sixty paces to the water side, plunged in
with it, swam across the river, pulled it out upon the other
side, and carried it into a neighbouring wood.
A Night of Mrs. Bowdich tells a story of two early settlers
Horror. jin the Western States of America, a man and
his wife, who closed their wooden hut, and went to pay a
visit at. a distance, leaving a freshly-killed piece of venison

5
66 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

hanging inside. “The gable end of this house was not
boarded up as high as the roof, but a large aperture was
left for light and air. By taking an enormous leap, a hungry
jaguar, attracted by the smell of the venison, had entered
the hut and devoured part of it. He was disturbed by the
return of the owners, and took his departure. The venison
was removed. The husband went away the night after to a
distance, and left his wife alone in the hut. She had not
been long in bed before she heard the jaguar leap in at the
open gable. There was no door between her room and
that in which he had entered, and she knew not how to
protect herself. She, however, screamed as loudly as she
could, and made all the violent noises she could think of,
which served to frighten him away at that time; but she
knew he would come again, and she must be prepared for
him. She tried to make a large fire, but the wood was
expended. She thought of rolling herself up in the bed-
clothes, but these would be torn off. The idea of getting
under the low bedstead suggested itself, but she felt sure
a paw would be stretched forth which would drag her out.
Her husband had taken all their firearms. At last, as she
heard the jaguar scrambling up the end of the house, in
despair she got into a large store chest, the lid of which
closed with a spring. Scarcely was she within it, and had
dragged the lid down, inserting her fingers between it and
the side of the chest, when the jaguar discovered where she
was. He smelt round the chest, tried to get his head in
. through the crack, but fortunately he could not raise the lid.
He found her fingers and began to lick them; she felt
them bleed, but did not dare.to move them for fear she
should be suffocated. At length the jaguar leaped on to the
lid, and his weight pressing down the lid, fractured her
fingers. Still she could not move. He smelt round again,
he pulled, he leaped on and off, till at last getting tired of
his vain efforts, he went away. The poor woman lay there
THE PUMA, 67

til] daybreak, and then only feeling safe from her enemy,
she went as fast as her strength would let her to her nearest
neighbour’s a distance of two miles, where she procured
help for her wounded fingers, which were long in getting
well. On his return, her husband found a male and female
jaguar with their cubs, in the forest close by, and all were
destroyed.”

The Puma. The Puma, or American lion, is known by
several names. It is sometimes called a panther, or collo-
quially a “painter”, and sometimes a cougar. It resembles
the lioness somewhat in appearance, especially about the
head, though it is smaller and less powerful. Its length
varies from four feet to four feet and a half, and its
colour is that of the fox, graduating in parts to white. Like
the lion it inhabits plains rather than forests;—in the marshy
districts, and on the borders of rivers in the south, and in
the swamps and prairies of the northern districts. It liveson
such wild and domestic animals as come within its reach,
lying at full length upon the lower branches of trees, and
dropping upon its victims as they pass beneath. Deer and
cattle of all kinds it attacks, and, not content with killing
enough for immediate purposes, destroys large numbers, suck-
ing small quantities of blood from each. According to Sir
William Jardine it is exceedingly destructive among sheep
and has been known to kill fifty in one night. The Pumais,-
however, easily tamed and becomes very docile under kindly
treatment. Edward Kean kept a tame one which followed
him about like a dog and was as playful as a kitten.

The Puma’s “Molina and D’Azara say,” says Sir William

Ferocity. Jardine, “that the puma will flee from men, and
that its timidity renders its pursuit generally free from dan-
ger.” The following incident given by Sir William Jardine
and at greater length by Captain Brown, shows that this is
not always the case. According to these accounts, two
hunters visited the Katskills in pursuit of game, each armed
68 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

with a gun and accompanied by a dog. They agreed to
follow contrary directions round the base of a hill, and to
join each other immediately upon hearing the report of a
gun. Shortly after parting, one of the friends heard the gun
of his comrade and hastening to his assistance came first
upon the body of his friend’s dog, tom and lacerated; proceed-
ing further, his attention was attracted by the growl of a
wild animal, and looking up, he discovered a large puma
crouching over the body of his friend, upon the branch of a
tree. The animal glared at him, and he, knowing the rapi-
dity of the Puma’s movements, immediately raised his gun
and fired, whereupon the puma rolled over on to the ground
with his prey. The dog flew at the infuriated beast, but one
blow from the puma’s paw silenced him for ever. Seeing
that his comrade was dead the hunter left the scene in
search of assistance, upon securing which, he returned to
find the puma dead, beside the two dogs and the hunter whom
he had killed.
Animals and Captain Head, in his “Journey Across the Pam-
Men. pas” says:—“ The fear which all wild animals in
America have of man is very singularly seen in the Pampas.
I often rode towards the ostriches and zamas, crouching under
the opposite side of my horse’s neck; but I always found
that, although they would allow my loose horse to approach
them, they, even when young, ran from me, though little of
my figure was visible; and when I saw them all enjoying
themselves in such full liberty, it was at first not pleasing to
observe that one’s appearance was everywhere a signal to
them that they should fly from their enemy. Yet it is by
this fear ‘that man hath dominion over the beasts of the
field,’ and there is no animal in South America that does
not acknowledge this instinctive feeling. As a singular proof
of the above, and of the difference between the wild beasts
of America and of the old world, I will venture to relate a
circumstance which a man sincerely assrred me had happened
THE OCELOT. og

to him in South America:—He was trying to shoot some
wild ducks, and, in order to approach them unperceived, he
put the corner of his poncho (which is a sort of long narrow
blanket) over his head, and crawling along the ground upon
his hands and knees, the poncho not only covered his body,
but trailed along the ground behind him. As he was thus
creeping by a large bush of reeds, he heard a loud, sudden
noise, between a bark and a roar: he felt something heavy
strike his feet, and, instantly jumping up, he saw, to his
astonishment, a large puma actually standing on his poncho;
and, perhaps, the animal was equally astonished to find
himself in the immediate presence of so athletica man. The
man told me he was unwilling to fire, as his gun was loaded
with very small shot; and he therefore remained motionless,
the puma standing on his poncho for many seconds; at last
the creature turned his head, and walking very slowly away
about ten yards, he stopped, and turned again: the man still
maintained his ground, upon which the puma tacitly acknow-
ledged his supremacy, and walked off.”

The Ocelot. The Ocelot is a native of South America and
one of the most beautiful of the Cat family. It is smaller
than the Leopard, attaining to about three feet in length, and
eighteen inches in height. Its colour is grey, tinged with
fawn and the body and legs are covered with longitudinal
chainlike stripes broken into patches of some inches. Its
habits are like those of its near relations, the Leopard and
the Jaguar, though its appetite for blood makes it perhaps
even more destructive. It will suck blood with the greatest
avidity and frequently leave a carcase otherwise untouched
in order to pursue other animals for the sake of more blood.
When tame the Ocelot is remarkably playful, climbing up
the legs and nestling in the arms of its benefactors. It is
apt to be dangerous in a poultry yard but will keep good
friends with a house dog, and play, somewhat roughly, per-
haps, but without malice, with children.
7° NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

Tho Clouded} This animal belongs to Sumatra where it lives

Tiger. upon the forest birds. Like the Ocelot it is
exceedingly playful when tame, seeking the notice and return-
ing the caresses of all who encourage it.

The Serva “The Serval,” says Captain Brown, “is somewhat
larger than the ordinary wild cat. Its genera! colour is a
pale fulvous yellow. It resides on trees, where it makes a
bed, and breeds its young. It seldom appears on the ground,
living principally on birds, squirrels, and small animals; it is
extremely agile, and leaps, with great rapidity, from one branch
to another. The serval never assaults man, but rather endea-
yours to avoid him; if, however, it is compelled to attack,
it darts furiously on its antagonist, and bites and tears, like
the rest of the cat kind.”

The Common The common wild cat is one of the few wild

Wild Cat. animals still to be found in the British Isles. Up
sill recent years these cats were observed among the woody
‘mountainous districts of Cumberland and Westmoreland and in
the wild parts of Scotland and Ireland, though as the land
ig brought more and more under cultivation they decrease
in numbers, failing suitable asylum. They abound in the
forests of Germany and Russia, where they live in the hollows
of trees and caves of rocks, and feed on birds, squirrels,
hares and rabbits, and will even attack young lambs and fawns.
The wild cat is not to be confused with the domestic cat
which has relapsed into a wild state. “In the form and
shape of the tail,” says Sir William Jardine, “this animal
somewhat resembles the Lynx. The fur is very thick, woolly
and long. The general colour is a greyish yellow, in some
specimens inclining much to a shade of bluish grey.”—*“ They
spring,” says Mrs. Bowdich, “furiously upon whoever approaches,
and utter unearthly cries. Mr. St. John, when walking up to
his knees in heather over broken ground, came suddenly
upon a wild cat. She rushed out between his legs, every
hair standing up. He cut a good-sized stick; and three Skye
THE CAT. 5%

terriers gave chase till she took refuge in a corner, spitting
and growling. On trying to dislodge her, she flew at Mr
St. John’s face, over the dogs’ heads; but he struck her while
in the air, and she fell among the dogs, who soon despatched
her, even though it has been said that a wild cat has twelve
instead of nine lives. If one of these animals is taken, those
in the neighbourhood are sure to be also secured, as they
will all, after the manner of foxes, assemble round the body
of their relative.”

The Domestic The origin of the domestic cat is difficult to

Cat determine. Cats were numerous in Egypt from
an. early date, and are said to be native to Syria. Accord-
ing to Professor Rolleston the cat was not domesticated any-
where, except in Epypt, before the Christian Era. Few
animals are more familiar to the general reader, and few
therefore, need less description. The “Tabby” is perhaps
the commonest, though black, white, and tortoise-shell varieties
abound. The Angora or Angola cat, the Persian cat, and the
Manx cat, which latter is deficient in the useful and orna-
mental embellishment of a tail, are also well known.

Cat There are many superstitions concerning the
Superstitions. cat, the black variety coming in for the larger
share of popular suspicion. To steal one and bury it alive
was at one time regarded as a specific against cattle desease
in the Irish Highlands, while, according to Captain Brown, it
was the practice for families in Scotland to tie up their cats
on Hallowe’en to prevent their use for equestrian purposes by
witches during the night. “They have always been regarded
as attendants upon witches,” says Mrs. Bowdich, “and witches
themselves have been said to borrow their shapes when on
their mysterious expeditions. I was once told that Lord
Cochrane was accompanied by a favourite black cat in a
cruise through the northern seas. The weather had been
most unpropitious; no day had passed without some untoward
circumstance; and the sailors were not slow in attributing the
72 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

whole to the influence of the black cat on board. This came
to Lord Cochrane’s ears, and knowing that any attempt to
reason his men out of so absurd a notion was perfectly use-
less, he offered to sacrifice this object of his regard, and have
her thrown overboard. This, however, far from creating any
satisfaction, only alarmed the men still more. They were.
sure that the tempests she would then raise would be much
worse than any they had yet encountered; and they implored
his lordship to let her remain unmolested. ‘There was no
help, and they could only hope, if she were not affronted,
they might at the end of their time reach England in
safety.’”

The Catas “The cat,” says the Rev. J. G. Wood, “is fami-

® Hunter. J|jarly known to us as a persevering mouse-hunter.
So strong, indeed, is the passion for hunting in the breast
of the cat, that she sometimes disdains mice, ‘and such
small deer,’ and trespasses on warrens or preserves. A large
tabby cat, residing at no great distance from White Horse
Vale, was accustomed to go out poaching in the preserves
of a neighbouring nobleman, and so expert was she at this
illegal sport that she constantly returned bearing in her
mouth a leveret or a partridge, which she insisted on present-
ing to her mistress, who in vain endeavoured to check her
marauding propensities.. These exploits, however, brought
their own punishment; for one day, when in the act of
seizing a leveret, she found herself caught in a vermin trap,
which deprived her of one of her hind legs. This mis-
,ortune did not damp her enthusiasm for hunting, as,
although the loss of a leg prevented her from chasing hares,
and suchlike animals, she would still bring in an occa-
sional zat.”

The Oat and “A cat, which had a numerous litter of kittens,”
her Young. says Captain Brown, “one sunny day encouraged’
her little ones to frolic in the vernal beams of noon, about
the stable door, where she was domiciled. While she was
THE CAT. 73

joining them in a thousand tricks and gambols, a large hawk,
who was sailing above the barn-yard, in a moment darted
upon one of the kittens, and would have as quickly bore
it off, but for the courageous mother, who, seeing the danger
of her offspring, sprang on the common enemy, who, to
defend itself, let fall the prize. The battle presently became
severe to both parties. The hawk, by the power of his wings,
the sharpness of his talons, and the strength of his beak,
had for a while the advantage, cruelly lacerating the poor
cat, and had actually deprived her of one eye in the con-
flict; but puss, no way daunted at the accident, strove, with
all her cunning and agility, for her kittens, till she had broken
the wing of her adversary. In this state, she got him more
within the power of her claws, and availing herself of this
advantage, by an instantaneous exertion, she laid the hawk
motionless beneath her feet; and, as if exulting in the victory,
tore the head off the vanquished tyrant. This accomplished,
disregarding the loss of her eye, she ran to the bleeding
kitten, licked the wounds made by the hawk’s talons in its
tender sides, and purred whilst she caressed her liberated
offspring.”

The Cat asa Lhe female cat seems to be in a special sense
Foster a bom mother. She is assiduous in the care of
Mother. her own young and singularly ready to extend

the benefits of motherhood even to alien offspring. Instances

are on record in which cats have reared squirrels, dogs, lev-
erets, rats, ducks, chickens, and even small birds. These have
usually occurred at times when the cats have been deprived
of their own young. Mr. T. Foggitt says: “A cat belonging
to the Albert Dock Warehouse, Liverpool, gave birth to six
kittens. It was deemed necessary to destroy four of them,
and they were accordingly drowned. The remaining two
were placed, along with their mother, in some loose cotton,
collected for the purpose in a box, in one of the warehouse
rooms. On removing the box a few mornings after, to give
74 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

puss her usual breakfast, great curiosity was excited on seeing
a third added to the number; and the astonishment was still
greater when the third was discovered to be a young rat
which the cat had taken from its nest in the night-time, and
brought home as a companion to the kittens she was then
nursing. The young rat was very lively, and was treated by
the cat with the same attention and care as if it were one
of her own offspring.”
The Catasa The distances that cats will travel, finding
Traveller. their way with unerring instinct many miles across
country of which there seems no reason to suppose them to have
had previous knowledge is very remarkable. Mrs. Bowdich
records the case of a cat who disliking her new home,
returned to her old one, in doing which, she had to cross
two rivers, one of them about eighty feet broad and two feet
and a half deep, running strong; the other wider and more
rapid, but less deep. Cats are said to have found their way from
Edinburgh to Glasgow, and one to the writer's knowledge
returned from Dover to Canterbury after being carried from
thence by rail. Captain Brown gives the following remark-
able instance. In June, 1825, a farmer, residing in the neigh-
bourhood of Ross, sent a load of grain to Gloucester, a
distance of about sixteen miles. The waggoners loaded in
the evening, and started early in the morning. On unload-
ing at Gloucester, a favourite cat, belonging to the farmer,.
was found among the sacks, with two kittens of very recent
birth. The waggoner very humanely placed puss and her
young in a hay-loft, where he expected they would remain
in safety, until he should be ready to depart for home. On
his return to the loft shortly afterwards, neither cat nor kittens
were to be found, and he reluctantly left town without them.
Next morning the cat entered the kitchen of her master’s house
with one kitten in her mouth. It was dead; but she placed
it before the fire, and without seeking food, o indulging,
for a moment, in the genial warmth of stic her dome hearth
THE CAT. 75

disappeared again. In a short time she returned with the
other kitten, laid it down by the first, stretched herself
beside them, and instantly expired! The poor creature could
have carried but one at a time, and, consequently, must have
travelled three times over the whole line of her journey, and
performed forty-eight miles in less than twelve hours.

The Cat as The favourite food of the cat is fish, which

Sportsman. curiously enough inhabits an element to which the
cathasagreataversion. Thereare, however, numerous instances
on record of cats which have overcome their natural anti-
pathy to water in order to gratify their natural taste for fish.
An extraordinary case of this kind is recorded in the Plymouth
Journal, June, 1828:—“There is now at the battery on the
Devil’s Point, a cat, which is an expert catcher of the finny
tribe, being in the constant habit of diving into the sea, and
bringing up the fish alive in her mouth, and depositing them
in the guard-room, for the use of the soldiers. She is now
seven years old, and has long been a useful caterer. It is
supposed that her pursuit of the water-rats first taught her to
venture into the water, to which it is well known puss has a
natural aversion. She is as fond of the water as a New-
foundland dog, and takes her regular peregrinations along the
rocks at its edge, looking out for her prey, ready to dive for
them at a moment’s notice.”

Mr. Beverley R. Morris says: “When living in Worcester
many years ago, I remember frequently seeing the cat of
a near neighbour of ours bring fish, mostly eels, into the
house, which it used to catch in a pond not far off. This
was an almost everyday occurrence.”

The Cat's | Many remarkable illustrations might be given
Intelligence. of the sagacity and intelligence of the cat. A
lady had for many years been the possessor of a cat and a
canary bird, who became the closest friends, never bearing
any lengthy separation from each other, and spending their
whole time in each other’s society. One summer day the
76 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

lady was sittimg working in her drawing-room, and the cat
and bird were a short distance off. Suddenly, without a
moment’s deliberation, the cat, to the great astonishment of
the lady, uttered a loud growl, and then, seizing her little
playmate in her mouth, darted off with it to a place of safety.
A strange cat had entered the room and the friendly one had
adopted this plan of saving the bird from the enemy. A
still more remarkable illustration of the intelligence of a cat
is given by De la Croix as follows: “I once saw,” says he,
“a lecturer upon experimental philosophy place a cat under
the glass receiver of an air-pump, for the purpose of demon-
strating that very certain fact, that life cannot be supported
without air and respiration. The lecturer had already made
several strokes with the piston, in order to exhaust the receiver
of its air, when the animal, who began to feel herself very
uncomfortable in the rarefied atmosphere, was fortunate enough
to discover the source from which her uneasiness proceeded.
She placed her paw upon the hole through which the air
escaped, and thus prevented any more from passing out of
the receiver. All the exertions of the philosopher were now
unavailing ; in vain he drew the piston; the cat’s paw effect-
ually prevented its operation. Hoping to effect his purpose,
he let air again into the receiver, which, as soon as the cat
perceived, she withdrew her paw from the aperture; but
whenever he attempted to exhaust the receiver, she applied
her paw as before. All the spectators clapped their hands
in admiration of the wonderful sagacity of the animal, and the
lecturer found himself under the necessity of liberating her,
and substituting in her place another, that possessed less pene-
tration, and enabled him to exhibit the cruel experiment.”
The Lynx, The several species of the Lynx belong to the
genus Lyncus, the principle varieties of which are the Canada
Lynx, and the European Lynx. The Lynx has short legs,
and is generally about the size of a fox, attaining often to
three feet in length Jt preys upon small quadripeds and
THE CHETAH. 77

birds, in the pursuit of which it is an expert climber. The
Canada Lynx preys largely upon the American hare, which
it is well qualified to hunt: The Lynx is distinguished by a
peculiar gait, for unlike other animals, it bounds with, and
alights upon, all four feet at once. The ears are erect, and
tipped with a long pencil of black hair. The fur which is
long and thick is of a pale grey colour, with a reddish tinge,
marked with dusky spots on the upper part of the body. The
under parts are white. The European Lynx feeds upon
small animals and birds. The fur of the lynx is valuable, on
account of its great softness and warmth, and is in consequence an
extensive article of commerce. It inhabits the northem parts
of Europe, Asia, and America; and prefers cold or temperate
climates, differing in this respect from most of the cat tribe.
The Chetah. The Chetah or Hunting Leopard is the one
species of the genus Cyncelurus. It is a handsome animal
and capable of considerable training. According to Mr. Benet’s
description it is “intermediate in size between the leopard
and the hound, more slender in its body, more elevated in
its legs, and less flattened on the fore part of its head than the
leopard, while deficient in the peculiarly graceful and lengthened
form, both of head and body, which characterizes the hound.”
“The ground colour of the Chetah is a bright yellowish fawn
above, and nearly pure white beneath; covered above, and
on the sides, by innumerable closely approximating spots,
from half an inch to an inch in diameter, which are intensely
black, and do not, as in the leopard and other spotted cats,
form roses with a lighter centre, but are full and complete.”
The Chetah is found in India and Africa but it is only in
India that it is trained for hunting purposes. Sir William
Jardine says: “the employment of the hunting leopard may
be compared to the sport of falconry. The natural instinct
teaches them to pursue the game, the reward of a portion
of it, or of the blood, induces them to give it up, and again
subject themselves to their master.”
73 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

The Chetah Lhe practice of employing animals to huni

a8 a animals is of very early origin, and the docility
Huntsman. of the Chetah early marked him out as a suitable
ally in the chase. Chetahs are so gentle that they can be
led about in a leash like greyhounds. The following descrip-
tion of a hunt is from “The Naturalist’s Library”. “Just
before we reached our ground, the shuter suwars (camel
courier), who always moved on our flanks in search of game,
reported a herd of antelopes, about a mile out of the line of
march, and the Chetahs being at hand, we went in pursuit
of them. The leopards are each accommodated with a flat-
topped cart, without sides, drawn by two bullocks, and each
animal has two attendants. They are loosely bound by a
collar and rope to the back of the vehicle, and are also held
by the keeper by a strap round the loins. A leathermn hood
covers the eyes. On entering from a cotton field, we came
in sight of four antelopes, and my driver managed to get
within a hundred yards of them before they took alarm.
The Chetah was quickly wnhooded and loosed from his
bonds; and, as soon as he viewed the deer, he dropped
quietly off the cart on the opposite side to that on which they
stood, and approached them at a slow crouching canter,
masking himself by every bush, and inequality, which lay in
his way. As soon, however, as the deer began to show alarm,
he quickened his pace and was in the midst of them in a
few bounds. He singled out a doe, and ran it close for
about 200 yards, when he reached it with a blow of his
paw, rolled it over, and in an instant was sucking the life
blood from its throat.” “As soon as the deer is pulled,”
says the same account, “a keeper runs up, hoods the Chetah,
cuts the victim’s throat, and securing some of the blood in
a wooden ladle, thrusts it under the leopard’s nose. The
antelope is then dragged away and placed in a receptacle
under the hatchery, while the Chetah is rewarded with a leg
for his pains.”
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THE ICHNEUMON. "79

The Civits. The family Viverride includes a large number
of species of small carnivorous animals of which the Civits
and the Ichneumons are the best known. They belong
chiefly to Africa and South Asia, but some are found in
the south of Europe. The African Civit hails from Gaboon
and Abyssinia and the Asiatic variety from Bengal, Nepaul,
China and Formosa. It is from these animals that we get
the fatty substance, used in perfumery and known as
civit. Of this Mr. Piesse says: “In is pure state, civit
has to nearly all persons a most disgusting odour, but when
diluted to an infinitesimal portion its perfume its agreeable.
The Genet, and the Paradoxure are other genera of this
family.”

The Ichneumon. The Ichneumon numbers some fifteen genera,
and sixty species. The best known of these is the grey
Ichneumon which comes from India or adjacent countries.
Naturally savage it soon becomes tame under kindly treat-
ment. It seems to have a natural enmity towards serpents,
which it attacks and destroys. The Mahrattas say that it
neutralizes the effects of snake bites by eating the root of
the monguswail. Captain Brown records an experiment in
- which the ichneumon was placed in a room with a poisonous
serpent which it tried to avoid. On the two being removed
to the open air, the ichneumon is said to have immediately
darted at the serpent and destroyed it, afterwards retiring
to the wood and eating a portion of the plant said to be
an antidote to the serpent’s venom. The Ichneumon is
about the size of the domestic cat and of a dark silver
grey colour. The Egyptian Ichneumon much resembles the
cat in its habits and manners and is so deadly a foe to
reptiles and vermin, that it is domesticated with a view to
their destruction. It is remarkably quick in its movements,
darting with unerring aim at the head of the reptile it
attacks. It displays also the cat’s patience in watching for
its prey. It has a great liking for crocodile’s eggs and with
80 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

remarkable instinct unearths them from the banks of rivers
where they have been deposited.
Dormant Though perfectly tame in captivity, the natural
Instinet. instincts of the ichneumon are only dormant, as
the following illustration will show. M. d’Obsonville says, in his
“Essay on the Nature of Various Animals”, “I had an ichneu-
mon very young, which I brought up. I fed it at first with
milk, and afterwards with baked meat, mixed with rice. It
soon became even tamer than a cat; for it came when called,
and followed me, though at liberty, into the country. One
day I brought to him a small water serpent alive, being
desirous to know how far his instinct would carry him, against
a being with which he was hitherto totally unacquainted. His
first emotion seemed to be astonishment, mixed with anger:
for his hair became erect; but in an instant after, he slipped
behind the reptile, and, with remarkable swiftness and agility,
leaped upon its head, seized it, and crushed it between his
teeth. This essay, and new aliment, seemed to have awakened
in him his innate and destructive voracity, which, till then,
had given way to the gentleness he had acquired from his
education. I had about my house several curious kinds of
fowls, among which he had been brought up, and which, till
then, he had suffered to go and come unmolested and unre-
garded; but, a few days after, when he found himself alone,
he strangled them every one, eat a little, and, as it appeared,
drank the blood of two.”
The Aard The Aard Wolf of South Africa, is the sole
Wolf. genus and species of the Protelidz family. It
much resembles the hyzena in appearance and habit, and
feeds on carrion and white ants.
The Hyene. Lhe Hyzna, though long treated as a member
of the dog family, is now separately classified as the
Hyeenide, a tamily of one genus and three species, all of
which are found in Africa. The Hyzena is also found in
Egypt, Arabia, Persia and other parts of Asia. He has
THE HYANA. Bx

immensely powerful teeth with which he can crush the bones
of his victims, apparently eating bones and flesh with impu-
nity. He is nocturnal in his habits, living in caves and
hollows in the day time and prowling about at night in search
of prey. Speaking of the Barbary hyena Bruce says:—“ He
seems to be stupid or senseless in the day, or at the appear-
ance of strong light, unless when pursued by hunters. I have
locked up a goat, a kid, and a lamb, with him all day when
he was fasting, and found them in the evening alive and
unhurt.” The principle varieties are the striped Hyzena, and
the spotted Hyzna. Bruce speaking of the former says, “he
is brutish, indolent, slovenly and impudent and seems to
possess much the manners of the wolf. His courage appears
to proceed from an insatiable appetite, and has nothing of
the brave or generous in it, and he dies oftener flying than fight-
ing.” The cry of the hyzna, sometimes called a laugh,
begins with a moan and ends with a demoniacal shriek which
has been variously described by travellers but which all agree
in calling hideous and disgusting. In size he resembles a
large mastiff, but the formation of his neck and jaws give
him a power far beyond that of other animals of his size.
Whatever fear he may have of man, he has none of other
animals and will even face the lion. Bruce speaks of his
special liking for the flesh of the dog and of the dog’s reluc-
tance to face him. “My greyhounds, accustomed to fasten
upon the wild boar, would not venture to engage with him.
On the contrary, there was not a journey I made that he
did not kill several of my greyhounds, and once or twice
robbed me of my whole stock: he would seek and seize
them in the servants’ tents where they were tied, and en-
deavour to carry them away before the very people that were
guarding them.” His coat is covered with long coarse hairs
of a dirty grey colour, which form a mane the length of his
back, his sides being striped or spotted, according to the
species. The hyzena for all his repulsiveness serves a useful
6
82 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

purpose, as a scavenger, devouring all the offal which comes
in its way, including the dead of his own species which no
other animal will touch. The hyzna can be tamed and
taught to follow its master and to hunt other animals.
The Striped Bruce tells the following story of the impudence
Hyena. of the striped hyena. “One night in Maitsha,
being very intent on observation, I heard something pass
behind me towards the bed, but upon looking round could
perceive nothing. Having finished what I was then about, I
went out of my tent, resolving directly to return, which I
immediately did, when I perceived large blue eyes glaring at
me in the dark. I called upon my servant with a light; and
there was the hyena standing nigh the head of the bed, with
two or three large bunches of candles in his mouth. To have
fired at him, I was in danger of breaking my quadrant or
other furniture; and he seemed, by keeping the candles steadily
in his mouth, to wish for no other prey at that time. As his
mouth was full, and he had no claws to tear with, I was not
afraid of him, but with a pike struck him as near the heart
as I could judge. It was not till then he showed any sign
of fierceness; but, upon feeling his wound, he let drop the
candles, and endeavoured to run up the shaft of the spear
to arrive at me; so that, in self-defence, I was obliged to draw
out a pistol from my girdle and shoot him, and nearly at the
same time my servant cleft his skull with a battle-axe. Ina
word, the hyzna was the plague of our lives, the terror of
our night-walks, the destruction of our mules and asses, which
above all others are his favourite food.”
The Spotted The spotted hyena belongs to South Africa
Hyens and seems to possess more daring than his cousin
of Abyssinia, and to show a greater preference for human
food. According to Mr. Stepstone, the Mambookies build
their houses in the form of a beehive from eighteen to twenty
feet in diameter, placing a raised platform at the back and
leaving the front-area for the accommodation of the calves —
2

THE HY AINA. 3
at night. Thus the animals are nearest to the door, notwith-
standing which the hyzena will “pass by the calves and take
the children from under the mother’s kaross; and this in such
a gentle and cautious manner, that the poor parent is uncon-
scious of her loss, until the cries of her little innocent have
reached her from without, when it has been a close prisoner
in the jaws of the monster.” Many years ago, when animals
were kept at the Tower of London, the den of a spotted
hyena required some repair. “The carpenter,” says Mrs.
Bowdich, “nailed a thick oaken plank upon the floor, about
seven feet long, putting at least a dozen nails into it, each
longer than his middle finger. At one end of this piece of
wood there was a small projection, and not having a proper
chisel with him by which he might remove it, the man
retumed to his shop to*fetch one. While he was absent some
persons came to see the animals, and the hyzena was let
down by the keeper into the part of the den in which the
carpenter had been at work. Directly the beast saw the
projecting piece of wood he seized it with his teeth, tore the
plank up, and drew out every nail with the utmost ease;
which action will give a good idea of the muscular strength
of this creature.”

A Nerrow ‘Sparrman tells an amusing story of the daring

Meeape. and the fright of a hyena, as follows: “One
night, at a feast near the Cape, a trumpeter who had made
himself drunk with liquor was carried out of doors and laid
on the grass, in order that the air might both cool and
sober him. The scent of the man soon attracted a spotted
hyzena, which threw him on his back, and carried him away
towards Table Mountain. The hyzena doubtless supposed
that the senseless drunkard was a corpse, and consequently
a fair prize. In the meantime the musician awoke, and
was at once sufficiently sensible to know the danger of his
situation, and to sound the alarm with his trumpet, which
he fortunately carried at his side. The hyzena, as it may be
84 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

imagined, was greatly frightened in its tum, and immediately
ran away, leaving the trumpeter, it is to be hoped, ‘a wisc1
man’ for his extraordinary ride. It is remarkable that the
soldier was not seriously injured by the hyzena, for the teeth
of the animal were fortunately fastened in the coat and not
in the flesh of the man.”

Animals of Animals of the dog kind, are neither so
the Dog Kind. numerous, nor, in general, so ferocious as those
of the panther or cat kind. The principal species are the
wolf, the jackal, the fox, and the dog. This class may be
principally distinguished by their claws, which have no sheath
like those of the cat kind, but are placed at the point of
each toe, without the capability of being stretched forward
or drawn back. The nose, as well as the jaw, of all the
dog kind, is longer than in the cat; the body in proportion
more strongly made, and covered with hair instead of fur.
They also far exceed the other kind in the sense of smell,
the olfactory nerves being diffused upon a very extensive
membrane within the skull, which accounts for their sur-
prising acuteness in this sense.

The Wolf. The Wolf is about three feet and a half long,
and about two feet and a half high, larger than our great
breed of mastiffs, which are seldom more than three feet by
two. He bears a great resemblance to the dog, but is much
stronger, and the length of his hair contributes still more to
his robust appearance. The feature which principally distin-
guishes the visage of the wolf from that of the dog, is the
eye, which opens slantingly upwards in the same direction
with the nose; whereas, in the dog, it opens more at right
angles with the nose, as in man. The colour of the eyeballs
in the wolf, is a fiery green, giving his visage a fierce and
formidable air. He generally hides by day in the thickest
coverts, and only ventures out at night; when, sallying forth
over the country, he keeps peering round the villages, and
carries off such animals as are not under protection—attacks
ANIMALS OF THE DOG KIND. 85

the sheep-fold, scratches up and undermines the thresholds
of doors where the sheep are housed, enters furiously, and
destroys all before he begins to fix upon and carry off his
prey. The wolf has great strength, particularly in his foreparts,
and the muscles of his neck and jaws. He carries off a sheep
in his mouth without letting it touch the ground, and mns with
it much faster than the shepherds who pursue him; so that no-
thing but the dogs can overtake and oblige him to quit his prey.
Notwithstanding his great strength, cunning, and agility, the
wolf being the declared enemy of man, is often hard pressed
for subsistence; he has always a gaunt and starved appearance,
and, indeed, often dies of hunger. He has been hunted
down, and is now rarely to be found in civilized countries.

The Fox. The Fox is of a much more slender make than
the wolf, and not nearly so large, being little more than two
feet long. The tail is longer and more bushy, the nose
smaller, approaching nearer to that of the greyhound, and its
hair softer. Its eyes, however, are obliquely set, like those
of the wolf. The fox has long been famous for cunning;
he is patient and prudent, and gains by address what is
denied to his courage or strength. He is most destructive
to poultry. When he gets into a farm-yard, he begins by
levelling all the poultry without remorse, and carrying off a
part of the spoil, he hides it at some convenient distance.
Returning, he carries off another fowl, which he hides in like
manner, but not in the same place; and this he repeats several
times, until the approach of day, or the noise of the domestics,
warms him to retire to his hole. He often destroys a large
quantity of game, seizing the partridge and quail while sitting
on their nests. He even eats rats, mice, serpents, toads,
and lizards. In vain does the hedge-hog roll itself up into
a ball to oppose him; he teases it until it is obliged to appear
uncovered, and then devours it. Besides the common Fox
(Vulpes Vulgaris), there are numerous varieties, of which the
Tahaleb or Egyptian Fox and the Fennec (Feneca Zaarensis)
86 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

of North Africa, the Kit Fox, the Red, the Grey and the
Silver Fox of North America, and the Arctic Fox (Leucocyon
lagopus) are the best known.

The Jackal. The Jackal, one of the most common of wild
animals in the East, is about the size of the fox, but
in shape it more nearly resembles the wolf. Its colour is a
bright yellow, or sorrel. Its cry is a howl, mixed with barking,
and a lamentation resembling that of human distress. The
jackal may be considered as the vulture of the quadruped
kind; the most putrid substances that once had life, are
greedily devoured. Like the hyzena, the jackals scratch up
with their feet the new-made grave, and devour the contents,
however decomposed. While at this dreary work, they make
a mournful cry, like that of children under chastisement, and
having thus dug up the body, they amicably share it. In
countries, therefore, where they abound, the people are obliged
to beat the earth over the grave, and mix it with thorns, to
prevent the jackals from scraping it away. The jackal never.
goes alone, but always in packs of forty or fifty together.
They watch the burying-grounds, follow armies, and keep in
the rear of caravans. The jackal, after having tired down its
prey, is often deprived of the spoil by the lion, the panther,
or the tiger, whose appetites are superior to their swiftness;
these attend its call, and devour the prey which it has run
down by its unceasing perseverance; and this circumstance
has given rise to the erroneous opinion, that the jackal is the
lion’s provider. The jackal is found in some parts of Europe
and abounds in most parts of Asia. Those of the warmest
climates are the largest, and their colour is rather of a reddish
brown than of that beautiful yellow by which the smaller
jackals are distinguished. Like the Fox it forms burrows in
the earth and emits an offensive odour.

The Wolfs “ Lhe Wolf,” says Professor Duncari in “ Cassell’s

Mode of Natural History”, “ usually lives in solitary places
Attack. in mountains; but in Spain he is said sometimes
THE WOLF. 87

to make his lair in com-fields, in close proximity to inhabi-
tated dwellings. Here he lives with his wife and family,
usually cache during the day, and issuing forth at night to
take his prey. During the warmer periods of the year wolves,
as a rule, hunt each one for himself, but in winter they often
unite into great packs, and pursue their prey over the snow
at a rapid pace and with indomitable perseverance. Swift
and untiring must be the animal which, on an open plain,
can escape from them; even the horse, perfectly constructed
as he is for rapid running, is almost certain to succumb,
unless he can reach a village before his pace begins to flag.
They never spring upon an animal from an ambush—the
nearest approach ever made to such a mode of attack being
their practice of attacking sheepfolds by leaping into the
midst of the flock and killing right and left; when they
reach their prey, too, the first onslaught is made with their
teeth, and never by a blow of the paw. Thus, a wolf’s
attack—like that of all members of the genus Canis—is
entirely different from a cat’s. The cat lies in ambush all
alone, springs upon the passing prey, which if he misses he
scarcely ever pursues, and kills by a blow of the paw. The
dog and wolf attack openly, sometimes alone, but oftener in
company, pursue their prey with unflagging energy until it
falls a victim, and give the death-wound at once with their
teeth.”
The Wolfs That the wolf sometimes employs cunning as
Cunning well as savagery in seeking his prey is shown by
the following story from “Broke’s Travels in the North of
Sweden”: “I observed, on setting out from Sormjole, the last
post, that the peasant who drove my sledge was armed with
a cutlass; and, on inquiring the reason, was told that, the
day preceding, while he was passing in his sledge the part
of the forest we were then in, he had encountered a wolf,
which was so-daring, that it actually sprang over the hinder
part of the sledge he was driving, and attempted to carry off
88 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

a small dog which was sitting behind him. During my journey
from Tornea to Stockholm, I heard everywhere of the ravages
committed by wolves, not upon the human species or the
cattle, but chiefly upon the peasants’ dogs, considerable num-
bers of which had been devoured. I was told that these
were the favourite prey of this animal; and that, in order to
seize upon them with the greater ease, it puts itself into a
crouching posture, and begins to play several antic tricks, to
attract the attention of the poor dog, which, caught by these
seeming demonstrations of friendship, and fancying it to be
one of his own species, from the similarity, advances towards
it to join in the gambols, and is carried off by its treacherous
enemy. Several peasants that I conversed with mentioned
their having been eye-witnesses of this circumstance.”
The Wolps Mr. Lloyd in his “Field Sports in the North
Cowardice. of Europe” gives a remarkable illustration of
the cowardice of the wolf when caught in a trap. “A
peasant near St. Petersburg,” says Mr. Lloyd, “when one
day in his sledge, was pursued by eleven of these ferocious
animals. At this time he was only about two miles from
home, towards which he urged his horse at the very top of
his speed. At the entrance to his residence was a gate, which
happened to be closed at the time; but the horse dashed
this open, and thus himself and his master found refuge
within the court-yard. They were followed, however, by
nine out of the eleven wolves; but, very fortunately, at the
instant these had entered the enclosure, the gate swung back
on its hinges, and thus they were caught asin a trap. From
being the most voracious of animals, the nature of these
beasts—now that they found escape impossible—became com-
pletely changed: so far, indeed, from offering molestation to
any one, they slunk into holes and comers, and allowed
themselves to be slaughtered almost without making resistance.”
Hunted by Many terrible stories are told of the depreda-
Wolves. tions caused by packs of wolves, especially in
THE WOLF. 89

Russia, and of the desperate adventures travellers have met
with when attacked by them. The story of the Russian
peasant, who, to save his master’s family, leaped out of the
sledge and faced the pack alone, thus delaying the wolves
by his own self-sacrifice, while the sledge proceeded on its
journey, is one of these. In contrast to this is the story of
the Russian woman, given by Mr. Lloyd in the work already
quoted.
A Terrible A woman, accompanied by three of her children,
Alternative. was one day in a sledge, when they were pur-
sued by a number of wolves. She put the horse into a
gallop, and drove towards her home with the utmost speed.
She was not far from it; but the ferocious animals gained
upon her, and were on the point of rushing on to the sledge.
For the preservation of her own life and that of the remaining
children, the poor, frantic creature cast one of them to her
bloodthirsty pursuers. This stopped their career for a moment;
but, after devouring the poor child, they renewed the pursuit,
and a second time came up with the vehicle. The mother,
driven to desperation, resorted to the same horrible expedient,
and threw another of her offspring to her ferocious assailants.
The third child was also sacrificed in the same way, and
soon after the wretched being reached her home in safety.
Here she related what had happened, and endeavoured to
palliate her own conduct by describing the dreadful alterna-
tive to which she had been reduced. A peasant, however,
who was among the bystanders, and heard the recital, took
up an axe, and with one blow cleft her skull in two, saying
at the same time, “that a mother who could thus sacrifice
her children for the preservation of her own life, was no
longer fit to live.” The man was committed to prison, but
the Emperor subsequently granted him a pardon.
A Marvellous Equally terrible and more marvellous is the
Escape. story of the adventure of a Russian family which
took place as recently as the winter of 1894—5. A peasant
go NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

was riding in a sleigh in company with his wife and child,
when he became aware that they were being pursued by
wolves. He urged the horses to their utmost speed but it
soon became evident that the wolves would overtake them
before they could reach a place of safety. Urged to des-
peration, the peasant ordered his wife to throw the child to
the wolves, hoping thereby to gain time and thus escape.
The wife refused to part with her little one, whereupon an
altercation ensued, during which the peasant tried to drag
the child from her arms with a view to throwing it to the
wolves himself. In the struggle both mother and child fell
from the vehicle, and with a lightened load the horses
dashed forward at an even greater speed. For some ap-
parently unaccountable reason, however, the wolves took no
notice of the mother and child and continued to pursue the
sleigh, possibly anticipating the larger meal that the horses
would supply. In this they were not disappointed, for they
succeeded in overtaking the sleigh, and the peasant and the
horses fell victims to their ravage. In the meantime the mother
and child found their way to a farm house where they were
sheltered until danger was past.
Tame Notwithstanding his natural fierceness, the
Wolves. wolf becomes tame under kindly treatment, and
shows much affection for those who cherish him. Instances
are common in which wolves have remembered their bene-
factors, after years of absence, and have shown every demon-
stration of joy on recognition. They have even been har-
nessed and taught to draw carriages and to fulfil other useful
offices. With wolves, as with many other animals, hunger
and thirst are apparently the principal causes of savagery
and the struggle for existence the main cause of rapacity and
cruelty.
The Cunning The cunning of the fox is proverbial and if
of the Fox. only one half of the stories told about him are
true, there are quite sufficient to invest him with a degree of
THE FOX. ok

artfulness which is apparently unique. The extraordinary
way in which he will feign himself dead, whether when
hunting or being hunted, is a proof of this, as are also the
various tricks he will resort to, to throw his pursuers off the
scent. Captain Brown tells a story of a fox who leapt a
high wall and crouched under it on the further side until
the hounds had passed over, and then quietly returned, giving
them the slip. Another fox who suddenly baffled two blood
hounds who were in hot pursuit, was discovered lying full
length upon a log of wood from which at first it was difficult
to distinguish him. When feigning death he is said some-
times to hold his breath and hang out his tongue. He will
sometimes baffle his pursuers by hanging on to a branch of
a tree.
The Foxess Mr. St. John tells the following story of the
Hunter. fox as a hunter:—‘Just after it was daylight
I saw a large fox come very quietly along the edge of the
plantation. He looked with great care over the turf wall
ato the field, and seemed to long very much to get hold of
some of the hares that were feeding in it, but apparently
knew that he had no chance of catching one by dint of
running. After considering a short time, he seemed to have
formed his plans, examined the different gaps in the wall,
fixed upon one which appeared to be most frequented, and
laid himself down close to it in an attitude like that ofa cat
at a mouse hole. In the meantime I watched all his plans.
He then with great care and silence scraped a small hollow
in the ground, throwing up the sand as a kind of screen.
Every now and then, however, he stopped to listen, and
sometimes to take a most cautious peep into the field. When
he had done this, he laid himself down in a convenient
posture for springing on his prey, and remained perfectly
motionless, with the exception of an occasional reconnoitre
ef the feeding hares. When the sun began to rise, they
came, one by one, from the field to the plantation: three
g2 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

had already come without passing by his ambush, one within
twenty yards of nim; but he made no movement beyond
crouching still more flatly to the ground. Presently two came
directly towards him, and though he did not venture to look
up, I saw, by an involuntary motion of his ear, that those
quick organs had already warned him of their approach,
The two hares came through the gap together and the fox,
springing with the quickness of lightning, caught one and
killed her immediately; he then lifted up his booty and was
carrying it off, when my rifle-ball stopped his course.”

A Fox Hunt. Captain Brown tells an amusing story of the
resource shown by a fox who was hard pressed near
Tamary, Ireland, which is as follows. “After a short chase,
Reynard disappeared, having cunningly mounted a turf stack,
on the top of which he lay down flat. Finding himself, at
last, perceived by one of the hounds, he left his retreat,
closely pursued by the pack, ran up a stone wall, from which
he sprang on the roof of an adjoining cabin, and mounted
to the chimney-top. From that elevated situation he looked
all around him, as if carefully reconnoitring the coming
enemy. A cunning old hound approached, and, having
gained the summit of the roof, had already seized the fox
in imagination, when, lo! Reynard dropped down the chimney,
like a fallen star into a draw-well. The dog looked wist-
fully down the dark opening, but dared not pursue the fugitive.
Meantime, whilst the hound was eagerly inspecting the
smoky orifice of the chimney, Reynard, half enrobed in soot,
had fallen into the lap of an old woman, who, surrounded
by a number of children, was gravely smoking her pipe, not
at all expecting the entrance of this abrupt visitor. ‘ Emiladh
deouil!’ said the affrighted female, as she threw from her
the black and red quadruped: Reynard grinned, growled,
and showed his fangs; and when the sportsmen, who had
secured the door, entered, they found him in possession of
the kitchen, the old woman and the children having retired,
WILD DOGS. 93

in terror of the invader, to a corner of the room. The fox
was taken alive.”
The Arctic The Arctic Fox which is of a beautiful white
Fox. colour is found, according to Captain James Ross,
in the highest northern latitudes, even in the winter. In the
late autumn the younger generation make their way south
and congregate in the neighbourhood of Hudson’s Bay,
returning north in the early spring of the following year. They
are gregarious, living in companies in burrows in sandy places.
Wild Dogs. Wild dogs abound in various parts of the world,
of which the Dingos of Australia, the Dholes of India and
the Aguaras of South America are examples. The wild dogs
of the East are familiar to all readers of Eastern travels. A
writer in the Times newspaper describes the dogs of Con-
stantinople, as “omnipresent, lawless, yet perfectly harmless
dogs,” which perform valuable but ill requited service as
scavengers of the city. He says:—“In shape, in counte-
nance, in language, in their bandy legs, pointed noses, pricked
up ears, dirty yellow coats, and bushy tails, they could be
hunted as foxes in Gloucestershire. They are,” he continues,
“up and doing from sunset to sunrise, and enjoy the refresh-
ment of well-earned, profound sleep almost throughout the
day. They are not only homeless and masterless but have
also a sovereign contempt for bed orshelter. There is a time
it would seem, when sleep comes upon them—all of them—
like sudden death; when all squat down, coil themselves up,
nose to tail, wherever they chance to be—on the footpath,
in the carriage way, in the gutter—and there lie in the
sunshine, in the pelting rain, yellow bundles, hardly distin-
guishable from the mud. The Constantinople dog never
learns to wag his tail; he never makes up, never looks up
to a human being, never encourages or even notices men’s
advances. He is not exactly sullen, or cowed, or mistrust-
ful; he is simply cold and distant as an Englishman is said
to be when not introduced.”
94 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

“The Dingo, the wild dog of Australia,” says Mrs. Bowdich
“roams in packs through that vast country; has a broad
head; fierce oblique eyes; acute muzzle; short, pointed,
erect ears; tail bushy, and never raised to more than a
horizontal position. He does not bark, but howls fearfully; is
extremely sagacious, and has a remarkable power of bearing
pain. When beaten so severely as to be left for dead,
he has been seen to get up and run away. A man pro-
ceeded to skin one, not doubting that life was extinct,
and after proceeding a little way with the operation, he
left the hut to sharpen his knife. When he returned, the
poor animal was sitting up, with the loose skin hanging over
one side of his face.” The Dhole of India, similarly hunts in
packs, attacking and destroying even the tiger. Their sense
of smell is very acute, their bark similar to that of a hound,
their colour red or sandy. They have long heads, oblique
eyes, long erect ears; and very powerful limbs. The Aguaras
of South America, says Mrs. Bowdich, resemble foxes. “They
are silent if not dumb, and appear to congregate in families
rather than packs. They have a peculiar propensity to steal
and secrete without any apparent object in so doing.”

The Dog. The dog divides with the horse the honour of
being the most intimate and devoted of the servants of
mankind. “His origin,” says Mr. Jesse “is lost in antiquity.
We find him occupying a place in the earliest pagan worship;
his name has been given to one of the first-mentioned stars
of the heavens, and his effigy may be seen in some of the
most ancient works of art. Pliny was of opinion that there
was no domestic animal without its unsubdued counterpart,
and dogs are known to exist absolutely wild in various parts
of the old and new world.” Whether the dog of civilization
is a descendant of these wild dogs, or whether the wild dog
is the progeny of domestic varieties relapsed into a condition
of savagery, and whether both are descended from the wolf
and the jackal has often been discussed. Certain it is that
DOMESTIC DOGS. 95

many of the species which now obtain are in certain charac-
teristics at least the result of artificial breeding. In its do-
mestic state, the dog is remarkable for its usefulness, obedience,
and attachment to its master; and the great variety of breeds
that are trained and educated for our benefit or amusement,
are almost too numerous to be mentioned. The principal
are, the greyhound, noted for his speed; the Newfoundland
dog, remarkable for his size, sagacity, and benevolence; the
shepherd’s dog, perhaps the most useful of all; the spamsel, the
barbel, and the setter, useful in hunting; the poznier, the
staunchest of all dogs; the Dalmatian or coach-dog, with a
skin beautifully spotted; the derrfer, useful for destroying ver-
min; the 4lood-hound, formerly used for tracing criminals; the
harrier, beagle, and foxhound, distinguished for their quick
sense of smell; and the dul/-dog, and mastiff, which are our
watch-dogs.

The Dog's Un- Many marvellous instances are on record of the
derstanding. dog’s capacity for understanding not only the
direct commands of his master, to which of course he may
be easily trained, but also, sometimes, the drift of conver-
sations in which his master may engage.

The Rev. James Simpson of Edinburgh had a fine New-
foundland dog of which some good stories are told. On one
occasion, however, Mr. Simpson happening to remark to a
friend in the dog’s hearing that, as he was about to change
his residence, he would have to part with his dog, the dog
took the hint, left the house and was never heard of again.
Sheep dogs have been known to take very apparent interest
in conversations upon the subject of their profession, and to
anticipate the word ot command by their perception of the
drift of the remarks. Mr. St. John, in his “ Highland Sports”,
gives a remarkable illustration of the way in which a shepherd’s
dog understood the conversation of his master :—“ A shepherd
once, to prove the quickness of his dog, who was lying before
the fire in the house where we were talking, said to me, in the
96 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

middle of a sentence concerning something else, ‘I’m think-
ing, sir, the cow is in the potatoes.’ Though he purposely
laid no stress on these words, and said them in a quiet,
unconcerned tone of voice, the dog, who appeared to be
asleep, immediately jumped up, and leaping through the
open window, scrambled up the turf roof of the house, from
which he could see the potato field. He then (not seeing
the cow there) ran and looked into the byre, where she was,
and finding that all was right, came back to the house.
After a short time the shepherd said the same words again,
and the dog repeated his look-out; but on the false alarm
being a third time given, the dog got up, and wagging his
tail, looked his master in the face with so comical an expres-
sion of interrogation, that we could not help laughing aloud
at him, on which, with a slight growl, he laid himself down
in his warm corner, with an offended air, as if determined
not to be made a fool of again.”

The well known story of Sir Walter Scott’s dog, supplied
by him to Captain Brown, is another illustration. “The
wisest dog I ever had,” said Sir Walter, “was what is called
the bull-dog terrier. I taught him to understand a great
many words, insomuch that I am positive that the commu-
nication betwixt the canine species and ourselves might be
greatly enlarged. Camp once bit the baker, who was bring-
ing bread to the family. I beat him, and explained the
enormity of his offence; after which, to the last moment of
his life, he neve: heard the least allusion to the story, in
whatever voice or tone it was mentioned, without getting up
and retiring into the darkest corner of the room, with great
appearance of distress. Then if you said, ‘the baker was
well paid,’ or, ‘the baker was not hurt after all,’ Camp came
forth from his hiding-place, capered, and barked, and rejoiced.
When he was unable, towards the end of his life, to attend
me when on horseback, he used to watch for my return,
and the servant would tell him ‘his master was coming down
IHE DOG’S SENSE OF LOCALITY. 97

the hill, or through the moor,’ and although he did not use
any gesture to explain his meaning, Camp was never known
to mistake him, but either went out at the front to go up
the hill, or at the back to get down to the moor-side. He
certainly had a singular knowledge of spoken language.”

One of the. most remarkable illustrations of the dog’s
capacity for understanding is probably that given by Mrs.
Bowdich, as follows:

“Professor Owen was walking with a friend, by the side
of a river, near its mouth, on the coast of Cornwall, and
picked up a small piece of sea-weed. It was covered with
minute animals; and Mr. Owen observed to his companion,
throwing the weed into the water, ‘If this small piece affords
so many treasures, how microscopically rich the whole plant
must be! I should much like to have one.’ The gentle-
men walked on, but hearing a splashing in the water, turned
round, and saw it violently agitated. ‘It is Lion!’ both
exclaimed; ‘what can he be about? He was walking quietly
enough by our side a minute ago.’ At one moment they
saw his tail above the water, then his head raised for a
breath of air, then the surrounding element shook again,
and at last he came ashore, panting from his exertions, and
laid a whole plant of the identical weed at Mr. Owen’s feet.
After this proof of intelligence, it will not be wondered at,
that when Lion was joyfully expecting to accompany his
master and his guest on an excursion, and was told to go
and take care of and comfort Mrs. Owen, who was ill, he
should immediately return to the drawing-room and lay him-
self by her side, which he never left during the absence of
his owner, his countenance alone betraying his disappoint-
ment, and that only for a few minutes.”
The Dog’s Sense Dogs have a remarkable sense of locality,

of Locality. and will find their way to a spot they have
once visited with an umerring instinct under circumstances
which make it impossible for them to rely entirely upon their

7
98 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

sense of scent. Some of the stories told of the extraordinary
journeys made by dogs, apparently without anything to guide
them but their natural instinct, seem almost incredible.

Captain Brown tells a story of a gentleman of Glasgow, who
was unfortunately drowned in the river Oder while bathing
during a continental tour. A Newfoundland dog, who was his
travelling companion, made every effort to save him, but
failing to do so, found his way either to Frankfort, or Ham-
burgh, where he went on board a vessel bound for England,
from which he landed somewhere on the coast, finding his
way ultimately to the person from whom he had been origin-
ally purchased, and who lived near Holyrood palace.

Another dog who, on arriving in England from Newfound-
land, was given to a gentleman in London, was sent by him
to a friend in Scotland, by water. The dog, however, made
his escape and found his way back to his old master at Fish
Street Hill, London, though as Mr. Jesse puts it “in so
exhausted a state that he could only express his joy at seeing
his master and then die.”

This instinct seems to be common to many varieties of
dogs. Captain Brown tells of a Dalmatian or coach-dog
which Lord Maynard lost in France, and which he found
at his house on his return to England, though how it
had got there he never could trace. It is not necessary,
says Captain Brown, that the dog shall have previously
travelled the ground by which it returns. A person who
went by sea from Aberdeen to Leith, lost his dog at the
latter place, and found it on his return at Aberdeen. It must
have travelled over a country unknown to it, and have crossed
the firths of Forth and Tay.

Illustrations might easily be multiplied. Mr. Jesse tells of
a dog which was presented to the Captain of a collier by a
gentleman residing at Wivenhoe in Essex and which on being
landed at Sunderland found its way back to its old master,
and also of a spaniel belonging to Colonel Hardy which after
DOG FRIENDSHIPS AND ENMITIES, 99

accompanying him from Essex to Bath in a post chaise, found
its way back through London, a distance of 140 miles in
three days.

Perhaps a more remarkable instance is that recorded of his
dog by M. d’Obsdaville. This animal accompanied his master
and a friend from Pondicherry to Bengalore, a distance of
more than nine hundred miles. M. D’Obsonville says, “Our
journey occupied nearly three weeks; and we had to traverse
plains and mountains, and to ford rivers, and go along by-
paths. The animal, which had certainly never been in that
country before, lost us at Bengalore, and immediately returned
to Pondicherry. He went directly to the house of my friend,
M. Beglier, then commandant of artillery, and with whom I
had generally lived. Now, the difficulty is not so much to
know how the dog subsisted on the road (for he was very
strong, and able to procure himself food), but how he should
so well have found his way after an interval of more than a
month! This was an effort of memory greatly superior to
that which the human race is capable of exerting.”

Dog Friendships That dogs make very strong friendships

and Enmities. among themselves is attested by many an
affecting story. A Radnorshire lady, who married and went
to reside in Yorkshire, afterwards paid a visit to her old
home where her father, before her marriage, had kept two or
three sheep-dogs of whom she was very fond. Having retired
from business, her father had disposed of all but one dog,
and upon her arrival this one met the lady with every
demonstration of delight and, that same night, went a distance
of seven miles to a farmhouse where one of the other dogs
who had become blind, then lived. In the morning when
the lady went to the door she saw not only the dog which
had given her such a glad reception on the previous day, but
' also the old blind one, which had evidently been brought
by the other dog to welcome her. When the second night
came the old blind dog was taken back to its home by the
100 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

same dog, which afterwards returned, having travelled a dis-
tance of twenty-eight miles to give pleasure to his old blind
friend.

Instances might easily be multiplied but we must con-
tent ourselves with one of a very different character from
Colonel Hamilton Smith’s “Cyclopedia of Natural History.”
“In the neighbourhood of Cupar, in the county of Fife, there
lived two dogs, mortal enemies to each other, and who always
fought desperately whenever they met. Capt. R was the
master of one of them, and the other belonged to a neigh-
bouring farmer. Capt. R——’s dog was in the practice of
going messages, and even of bringing butchers’ meat and
other articles from Cupar. One day, while returning, charged
with a basket containing some pieces of mutton, he was
attacked by some of the curs of the town, who, no doubt,
thought the prize worth contending for. The assault was
fierce, and of some duration; but the messenger, after doing
his utmost, was at last overpowered and compelled to yield
up the basket, though not before he had secured a part of
its contents. The piece saved from the wreck he ran off
with, at full speed, to the quarters of his old enemy, at
whose feet he laid it down, stretching himself beside it till
he had eaten it up. A few snuffs, a few whispers in the ear,
and other dog-like courtesies, were then exchanged; after
which they both set off together for Cupar, where they
vorried almost every dog in the town; and, what is more
emarkable, they never afterwards quarrelled, but were always
on friendly terms.” This story also illustrates another char-
acteristic of the dog family. Dogs combine for purposes. of
offence and defence. Cats stand or fall alone.

Dog The foregoing is also a proof of the faculty by
Language. which animals can communicate their ideas to
each other which in dogs is particularly remarkable. There
are many curious anecdotes recorded, illustrative of this
faculty. “At Horton, England, about the year 1818, a gentle-


THE DOG’S INTELLIGENCE. BOI

man from London took possession of a house, the former
tenant of which had moved to a farm about half a mile off.
The new inmate brought with him a large French poodle
dog, to take the duty of watchman, in the place of a fine
Newfoundland dog, which went away with his master; but
a puppy of the same breed was left behind, and he was
instantly persecuted by the poodle. As the puppy grew up,
the persecution still continued. At length, he was one day
missing for some hours; but he did not come back alone;
he returned with his old friend, the large house-dog, to
whom he had made a communication; and in an instant
the two fell upon the unhappy poodle, and killed him before
he could be rescued from their fury. In this case, the
injuries of the young dog must have been made known to
his friend; a plan of revenge concerted; and the determina-
tion to carry that plan into effect formed and executed with
equal promptitude. The following story, which illustrates,
even in a more singular manner, the communication of ideas
between dogs, was told by a clergyman, as an authentic
anecdote. A surgeon of Leeds found a little spaniel who
had been lamed. He carried the poor animal home, ban-
daged up his leg, and, after two or three days, turned him
out. The dog returned to the surgeon’s house every mom-
ing, till his leg was perfectly well. At the end of several
months, the spaniel again presented himself, in company with
another dog, who had also been lamed; and he intimated,
as well as piteous and intelligent looks could intimate, that
he desired the same kind assistance to be rendered to his
friend, as had been bestowed upon himself. A similar cir-
cumstance is stated to have occurred to Moraut, a celebrated
French surgeon.”

The Dog’s Many instances have been chronicled of the
Intelligence. actions of dogs, which seem clearly the result
of a process of reasoning. Mr. Jesse tells of a dog who was
sent to fetch two hats which had been left lying upon the
102 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

grass. After several unsuccessful attempts to carry the twu
together in his mouth, he laid them on the ground, placed
the smaller within the larger, pressed it down with his foot,
and then easily carried them to his master. Instances are
recorded of dogs who while always ready to perform a
useful service, absolutely refused to act for the amusement
of on-lookers or to discharge unnecessary duties. Thus a
dog who would go into the water to retrieve a wild duck
would refuse to fetch anything that had been thrown in for
the purpose of displaying his agility, and another who was
accustomed to ring the servants’ bell at the bidding of his mistress
refused to do so when told while the servant was in the
room, and if repeatedly commanded to do so, would lay
hold of the servant’s coat and attempt to drag him to his
mistress. These illustrations seem to show a power of dis-
crimination not usually credited to animals. Of the intelligence
shown by dogs which have been trained, the following story
from the “Percy Anecdotes” is at once a remarkable and an
amusing illustration. “One day, when Dumont, a tradesman
of the Rue St. Denis, was walking in the Boulevard St. An-
toine with a friend, he offered to lay a wager with the latter,
that if he were to hide a six-livre piece in the dust, his dog
would discover and bring it to him. The wager was accepted,
and the piece of money secreted, after being carefully
marked. When the two had proceeded some distance from
the spot, M. Dumont called to his dog that he had lost
something, and ordered him to seek it. Caniche immediately
turned back, and his master and his companion pursued
their walk to the Rue St. Denis. Meanwhile a traveller,
who happened to be just then returning in a small chaise
from Vincennes, perceived the piece of money, which his
horse had kicked from its hiding-place; he alighted, took it
up, and drove to his inn, in the Rue Pont-aux-Choux.
Caniche had just reached the spot in search of the lost
piece when the stranger picked it up. He followed the
THE DOG’S INTELLIGENCE, 103

chaise, went into the inn, and stuck close to the traveller.
Having scented out the coin which he had been ordered
to bring back in the pocket of the latter, he leaped up
incessantly at and about him. The traveller, supposing him
to be some dog that had been lost or left behind by his
master, regarded his different movements as marks of fond-
ness; and as the animal was handsome, he determined to
keep him. He gave him a good supper, and on retiring
to bed took him with him to his chamber. No sooner had
he pulled off his breeches, than they were seized by the
dog; the owner conceiving that he wanted to play with
them, took them away again. The animal began to bark
at the door, which the traveller opened, under the idea
that the dog wanted to go out. Caniche snatched up the
breeches, and away he flew. The traveller posted after
him with his night-cap on, and literally sans culottes, Anxiety
for the fate of a purse full of gold Napoleons, of forty
francs each, which was in one of the pockets, gave redoubled
velocity to his steps. Caniche ran full speed to his master’s
house, where the stranger arrived a moment afterwards
breathless and enraged. He accused the dog of robbing him.
‘Sir,’ said the master, ‘my dog is a very faithful creature;
and if he has run away with your breeches, it is because
you have in them money which does not belong to you.’
The traveller became still more exasperated. ‘Compose your-
self, sir,’ rejoined the other, smiling; ‘without doubt there
is in your purse a six-livre piece, with such and such
marks, which you have picked up in the Boulevard St. Antoine,
and which I threw down there with the firm conviction that
my dog would bring it back again. This is the cause of
the robbery which he has committed upon you.’ The
stranger’s rage now yielded to astonishment; he delivered
the six-livre piece to the owner, and could not forbear
caressing the dog which had given him so much uneasiness,
and such an unpleasant chase.”
104 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

Dogs’ That dogs sometimes make mistakes in the
Mistakes. exercise of their intelligence, with somewhat lu-
dicrous results, is of course true. A dog once accompanied
a gentleman’s servant to a tailor’s with a coat of his master’s
which needed repair. Having his suspicions with regard to
the transaction, the dog watched his opportunity, seized the
coat from the counter and carried it back with evident satis-
faction to his master. Another dog caused great amusement
at a swimming match by insisting upon the rescue of one of the
competitors. Dogs have also been known to. cause both
amusement and consternation by leaping upon the stage to
rescue the defenceless characters of the melodrama from the
hands of the heavy villain of the play. The story of the dog who
failed to recognise his master who had been bathing, and who
therefore refused to allow him to have his clothes, is pro-
bably apochryphal, but if true is another illustration of the
awkwardness of dogs’ mistakes.
The Eskimo Colonel Hamilton Smith in his classification of
Dog. dogs begins with those which belong nearest to
the arctic circle, and it will be convenient to follow his order
in so far as space will allow. Speaking of the Eskimo
dog Captain Lyon says:—“Having myself possessed during
our hard winter a team of eleven fine dogs, I was enabled
to become better acquainted with their good qualities than
could possibly have been the case by the casual visits of the
Esquimaux to the ships. The form of the Esquimaux dog
is very similar to that of our shepherd’s dog in England, but
it is more muscular and broad-chested, owing to the constant
and severe work to which he is brought up. His ears are
pointed, and the aspect of the head is somewhat savage.
In size a fine dog about the height of the Newfoundland
breed, but broad like a mastiff in every part except the nose.
The hair of the coat is in summer, as well as in winter, very
Jong, but during the cold season a soft, downy under-covering
is found, which does not appear in warm weather. Young
THE ESKIMO DOG. ; 105

dogs are put into harness as soon as they can walk, and
being tied up, soon acquire a habit of pulling, in their attempts
to recover their liberty, or to roam in quest of their mother.
When about two months old, they are put into the sledge
with the grown dogs, and sometimes eight or ten little ones
are under the charge of some steady old animal, where, with
frequent and sometimes severe beatings, they soon receive a
competent education. Every dog is distinguished by a partic-
ular name, and the angry repetition of it has an effect as
instantaneous as an application of the whip, which instrument
is of an immense length, having a lash from eighteen to
twenty-four feet, while the handle is one foot only; with this,
by throwing it on one side or the other of the leader, and
repeating certain words, the animals are guided or stopped.
When the sledge is stopped they are all taught to lie down,
by throwing the whip gently over their backs, and they will
remain in this position even for hours, until their master
returns to them. A walrus is frequently drawn along by three
or four of these dogs, and seals are sometimes carried home
in the same manner, though I have in some instances seen
a dog bring home the greater part of a seal in panniers
placed across his back. Cold has very little effect on them;
for although the dogs at the huts slept within the snow pas-
sages, mine at the ships had no shelter, but lay alongside,
with the thermometer at 42° and 44°, and with as little
concern as if the weather had been mild. I found, by several
experiments, that three of my dogs could draw me on a
sledge, weighing one hundred pounds, at the rate of one mile
in six minutes; and as a proof of the strength of a well-grown
dog, my leader drew one hundred and ninety-six pounds
singly, and to the same distance, in eight minutes. At another
time seven of my dogs ran a mile in four minutes, drawing
a heavy sledge full of men. Afterwards, in carrying stores
to the Fury, one mile distant, nine dogs drew one thousand
six hundred and eleven pounds in the space of nine minutes.
106 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

When the dogs slackened their pace, the sight of a seal or
bird was sufficient to put them instantly to their full speed;
and even though: none of these might be seen on the ice,
the cry of ‘a seal!’—‘a bear!’—or ‘a bird!’ &c., was
enough to give play to the legs and voices of the whole pack.
The voice and long whip answer all the purposes of reins,
and the dogs can be made to turn a corner as dexterously
as horses, though not in such an orderly manner, since they
are constantly fighting; and I do not recollect to have seen
one receive a flogging without instantly wreaking his passion
on the ears of his neighbours. The cries of the men are
not more melodious than those of the animals; and their
wild looks and gestures when animated, give them an appear-
ance of devils driving wolves before them. Our dogs had
eaten nothing for forty-eight hours, and could not have gone
over less than seventy miles of ground; yet they retuned,
to all appearance, as fresh and active as when they first
set out.”

A Hard Bot. The unhappy condition of the Eskimo dogs
under native treatment is pathetically referred to in “Cassell’s
Natural History,” edited by Professor Duncan. The writer
says “the horrible savagery of those poor wretches can hardly
be wondered at; they live in a country where there is hardly
a chance for them in any independent foraging expedition;
they are half-starved by their masters, being fed chiefly on
frozen walrus hides in the winter, and allowed to shift for
themselves in the summer when their services are not required,
and are in so perennial and acute a state of hunger that
they are ready at any time to eat their own hamess if
allowed to do so. It is generally stated that they are per-
fectly insensible to kindness, and only to be kept in order
by a liberal application of the lash, or even of a more
formidable weapon; for the Eskimo, if their dogs are re-
fractory, do not scruple to beat them about the head with
a hammer, or anything else of sufficient hardness which
THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 107

happens to be at hand. They will even beat the poor
brutes in this horrible manner until they are actually stunned.
Notwithstanding the absolute dependence of the Eskimo on
their dogs, little or no care is taken of them; they receive
nothing in any degree approaching petting, and spend all
their time in the open air. The chief use of the Eskimo
dog is to draw the sledges, which are the only possible
conveyances in that frozen land. In all the Arctic expedi-
tions which have been sent out at various times, a good
supply of sledge dogs has been one of the greatest destderata,
as without them it would be absolutely impossible to proceed
far. No other animal would answer the purpose, both horses
and cattle being quite useless in journeys over ice and snow,
amongst which the pack of light, active dogs make their
way with wonderful ease and safety.” The Siberian dogs
render equally valuable services to their masters with about
an equal measure of appreciation.
The Newfound- The dog known as the Newfoundland dog
land Dog. jig one of the handsomest and best beloved
of the dog family. He is distinct from the Labrador dog,
which is more slender in make, has a sharper muzzle and
is generally “black in colour with a tawny nose and a rusty
spot over each eye”. The Labrador dog and the Eskimo
have been credited with the parentage of the Newfoundland
species. At home the Newfoundland is made useful for the
purpose of drawing loads, being harnessed to small carts
and sleighs for carrying wood and other commodities.
Abroad like the prophet who “is not without honour save
in his own country”, he has been found capable and worthy of
much more honourable service, and his fidelity and sagacity
have won for him universal esteem. He is an expert swimmer,
his feet being webbed and so peculiarly adapted for the
exercise. He takes to the water as though it were his natural
element, and has so often carried the line to sinking ships,
and rescued versons about to drown that such incidents
108 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

have become quite common. The tribute paid to him by
Sir Edwin Landseer, when he named his famous picture of
him “a distinguished member of the humane society”, was
no more poetical than just. Volumes might be filled with
stories of his intelligence and prowess, and it is difficult within
present limits to select a due variety of characteristic anecdotes.
The Newfound- One of the most marked characteristics of
land’s Generosity. the Newfoundland dog is his generosity toa
fallen foe. His temper is said to be uncertain, though this
has been questioned by some who have had large experience
of him under varying circumstances. Be this as it may,
there are many stories told to his honour of his generosity
to his enemies in the moment of victory. A Newfoundland
dog, who had for some time treated with becoming dignity
the impudence of some mongrels who were amusing them-
selves by snapping and snarling at his heels, suddenly turned
and sent the crowd of persecutors flying in all directions,
except the ringleader, who fell sprawling in the middle of
the street, where he was about to receive the punishment he
deserved when a cable car came dashing down the hill, right
upon the dogs. The big dog saw the danger at once and
sprang aside, but his enemy remained upon his back, too
terrified to notice anything. The Newfoundland took in the
situation, in a moment sprang back in front of the car, seized
the cur in his teeth, and snatched him, still whining and
begging for mercy, out of the very jaws of death. Laying
him in the gutter, he gave a good-natured wag or two of his
tail and went his way. Another Newfoundland much bothered
by a small cur who was for ever barking at his heels, but
who treated his assailant with sublime indifference, was on
one occasion aroused to adopt drastic measures by receiving
a bite on his leg. Seizing the cur by the loose skin of his
back he carried him down to the quay of Cork and after
letting him dangle over the water for a little while, dropped
him into it. After watchmg the animal struggle with the
THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 209

water unti] nearly exhausted, the Newfoundland plunged in
and rescued him. Mr. Jesse gives a fine illustration of this
canine chivalry, witnessed at Donaghadee. “The one dog
in this case was also a Newfoundland, and the other was a
~ mastiff. They were both powerful dogs; and though each
was good-natured when alone, they were very much in the
habit of fighting when they met. One day they had a fierce
and prolonged battle on the pier, from the point of which
they both fell into the sea; and as the pier was long and
steep, they had no means of escape but by swimming a con-
siderable distance. Throwing water upon fighting dogs is an
approved means of putting an end to their hostilities; and
it is natural to suppose that two combatants of the same
species tumbling themselves into the sea would have the same
effect. It had; and each began to make for the land as best
he could. The Newfoundland being an excellent swimmer,
very speedily gained the pier, on which he stood shaking
himself; but at the same time watching the motions of his
late antagonist, which, being no swimmer, was struggling
exhausted in the water, and just about to sink. In dashed
the Newfoundland dog, took the other gently by the collar,
kept his head above water, and brought him safely on shore.
There was a peculiar kind of recognition between the two
animals; they never fought again; they were always together:
and when the Newfoundland dog had been accidentally
killed by the passage of a stone waggon on the railway over
him, the other languished and evidently lamented for a
long time.”

The New- The quickness with which the Newfoundland
Senate will realise the danger of a situation and the

of Danger. promptitude with which he will devise a remedy,
make him in some cases a more valuable friend in need
than a man could be. Human aid would have probably
been too slow in the following case related by Mr. Jesse.
“In the city of Worchester, one of the principal streets
110 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

leads by a gentle declivity to the river Severn, One day a
child, in crossing the street, fell down in the middle of it
and a horse and cart, which was descending the hill, would
have passed over it, had not a Newfoundland dog rushed
to the rescue of the child, caught it up in his mouth, and
conveyed it in safety to the foot pavement.”

The promptitude with which he will leap into the water to
save the drowning, without waiting for any word of command,
is another illustration of this faculty. Another case related by
Mr. Jesse may be quoted. “In the year 1841, as a labourer,
named Rake, in the parish of Botley, near Southampton,
was at work in a gravel-pit, the top stratum gave way, and
he was buried up to his neck by the great quantity of gravel
which fell upon him. He was at the same time so much
hurt, two of his ribs being broken, that he found it impos-
sible to make any attempt to extricate himself from his
perilous situation. Indeed, nothing could be more fearful
than the prospect before him. No one was within hearing
of his cries, nor was any one likely to come near the spot.
He must almost inevitably have perished, had it not been
for a Newfoundland dog belonging to his employer. This
animal had been watching the man at his work for some
days, as if he had been aware that his assistance would be
required; for no particular attachment to each other had
been exhibited on either side. As soon, however, as the
accident occurred, the dog jumped into the pit, and com-
menced removing the gravel with his paws; and this he did
in so vigorous and expeditious a manner, that the poor man
was at length able to liberate himself, though with extreme
difficulty. What an example of kindness, sensibility, and I
may add reason, does this instance afford us!”

Mr. Youatt gives a remarkable illustration, also quoted by
Mr. Jesse, of a Newfoundland’s apparent perception of danger
of quite another sort. Finding it inconvenient to keep this
animal Mr. Youatt had given it to a friend, and four years passec
tHE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. Lis

before the dog saw his late owner again, when they met
quite by chance, the two masters and the dog, on a lonely
road between Wandsworth and Kingston. The dog showed
every sign of pleasure at meeting his old master, but when
they parted faithfully followed the new. Mr. Youatt had
not proceeded far, however, when he discovered that the dog
had rejoined him and was walking at his side, growling and
showing every sign of anger. Looking ahead he discovered
two men approaching him stealthily from behind the bushes
that skirted the road. “I can scarcely say,” says Mr. Youatt,
“what I felt; for presently one of the scoundrels emerged
from the bushes, not twenty yards from me; but he no
sooner saw my companion, and heard his growling, the
loudness and depth of which were fearfully increasing, than
he retreated, and I saw no more of him or of his associate.
My gallant defender accompanied me to the direction-post
at the bottom of the hill, and there, with many a mutual
and honest greeting, we parted, and he bounded away to
overtake his rightful owner. We never met again; but I
need not say that I often thought of him with admiration
and gratitude.”

The Newfound. 4 number of well authenticated stories, seem
land’s Sense of to indicate a certain sense of right and wrong
Right and Wrong. ag characteristic of the more intelligent dogs;
of course the idea of right and wrong being in the case of
animals as in the case of men, largely a matter of education.
The Newfoundland dog belonging to the Rev. J. Simpson of
Potterow Church, Edinburgh, already referred to, on one
occasion detained a party of friends which had been enter-
tained by the servants during their master’s absence at church,
by stationing himself in front of the hall door and preventing
their egress until the rev. gentleman’s return. Another New-
foundland dog who belonged to a grocer, and who had seen
a porter hide money behind a heap of rubbish in a stable,—
money which he had surreptitiously abstracted from the till, -—
112 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

followed an apprentice into the stable on the first opportunity,
and scratching away the rubbish exposed the money to view,
thus leading to the detection of the thief. It is of course
easy to claim too much for actions apparently so intelligent
and in estimating them coincidence has to be allowed for;
but they are far too numerous to be ignored in estimating
canine character. An instance is recorded of a quiet docile
dog who refused to allow a visitor to leave a stable, when
it was discovered that the man had secreted a bridle in his
pocket.
The Newfound- Many illustrations might be given of the
land’s Fidelity. fidelity which the Newfoundland shows in
common with other dogs, but one or two must suffice. A
story is told of a dog who picked up a coin which his
master had dropped from his purse, and which he kept in
his mouth all day, refusing food until his master’s return
in the evening, when he laid it at his feet, and then attacked
his dinner voraciously; another of a dog who on being sent
home by his master with a key which he had inadvertently
taken with him, was attacked by a dog belonging to a butcher,
but who declined the combat until he had delivered the
key, but immediately returned and attacking the butcher’s
dog killed him. In the first case the dog suffered the natural
pangs of hunger rather than hazard his master’s property, and
in the second he postponed the gratification of his natural
feeling of revenge until after the execution of his duty.

The Newfound. Lhe tricks to which dogs can be trained,
land under though often amusing enough, have not the
Training. interest which attaches to the natural display

of their faculties, and yet of course there is plenty of scope

for the trained dog to supplement his culture by the exercise
of his natural gifts, and this he often does. Perhaps one of
the most remarkable of trained Newfoundland dogs, was the
one possessed by Mr. McIntyre of Regent Bridge, Edinburgh.
This dog was trained to perform all kinds of tricks. He
THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 113

would pick his master’s hat out from a number of others
of the same kind, or indeed almost any article of his master’s
from a group of similar articles. He would ring the bell to
summon the servants, and if there was no bell rope in the
room, find and use the hand bell with equal facility. A
comb was hidden on the top of a mantel-piece in the room,
and the dog required to bring it, which he almost immediately
did, although in the search he found a number of articles
also belonging to his master, purposely strewed around, all of
which he passed over, and brought the identical comb which
he was required to find, fully proving that he was not guided
by the sense of smell, but that he perfectly understood what
was spoken to him. One evening some gentlemen being
in company, one of them accidentally dropped a shilling on
the floor, which, after the most careful search, could not be
found. Mr. M. seeing his dog sitting in a corner, and looking
as if quite unconscious of what was passing, said to him,
“Dandie, find us the shilling and you shall have a biscuit.”
The dog immediately jumped upon the table and laid down
the shilling, which he had previously picked up without
having been perceived. Mr. M. having one evening supped
with a friend, on his return home could not find his boot-
jack in the place where it usually lay. He then said to his
dog, “Dandie, I cannot find my boot-jack,—search for it.”
The faithful animal, quite sensible of what had been said
to him, scratched at the room-door, which his master
opened. Dandie proceeded to a very distant part of the
house, and returned carrying in his mouth the boot-jack,
which Mr. M. then recollected to have left that morning
under a sofa. A number of gentlemen, well acquainted
with Dandie, were daily in the habit of giving him a penny
which he took to a baker’s shop and purchased bread for
himself. One of these gentlemen, who lived in James’ Square,
when passing was accosted by Dandie, in expectation of his
usual present. Mr. T. said to him, “I have not a penny
8
114 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

with me to-day, but I have one at home.” Having returned
to ‘his house some time after, he heard a noise at the door,
which was opened by the servant, when in sprang Dandie
to receive his penny. In a frolic Mr. T. gave him a bad
one, which he, as usual, carried to the baker, who refused
to take the bad coin. He immediately returned to Mr. T.’s,
scratched at the door, and when the servant opened it,
laid the penny down at her feet, and walked off, seemingly
with the greatest contempt. Although Dandie, in general,
made an immediate purchase of bread with the money
which he received, the following circumstance clearly demon-
strates that he possessed more prudent foresight than many
who are reckoned rational beings. One Sunday, when it
was very unlikely that he could have received a present of
money, Dandie was observed to bring home a loaf. Mr. M.
being somewhat surprised at this, desired the servant to
search the room to see if any money could be found. While
she was engaged in this task, the dog seemed quite uncon-
cerned till she approached the bed, when he ran to her,
and gently drew her back from it. Mr. M. then secured
the dog, which kept struggling and growling while the servant
went under the bed, where she found seven pence halfpenny
under a bit of cloth. From that time he never could endure
the girl, and was frequently observed to hide his Money ina
comer of a saw-pit, under the dust. When Mr. M. had
company, if he desired the dog to see any one of the
gentlemen home, he would walk with him till he reached his
home, and then return to his master, how great soever the
distance might be. Many other stories are told about Dandie
but these must suffice. Of their authenticity there seems
little doubt; they were recorded by Captain Brown during
the lifetime of Dandie and his master.
The The shepherd’s dog (canis domesticus) rivals if
Sheep Dog. not surpasses most other dogs in intelligence,
though his intelligence is less general and more particular

»
THE SHEEP DOG. 115

than that of other dogs, #¢, more special to his own pro-
fession and probably more due to training and culture. The
principle of heredity operates conspicuously in the case of
dogs, and shepherding being one of the oldest occupations of
man, the shepherd’s dog has probably been under culture for
a longer period than any other,—hence his proficiency in his
work. Buffon credited him with being “the parent stock of
the whole species”, and Colonel Smith with civilisation at a
very early period. “The sheep dog,” says Colonel Smith, “is
seldom two feet high, but his make is muscular; the nose
rather pointed; the ears erect; and the colour of the hair
black and fulvous; the fur is rather long and rough. In great
Britain, and more particularly in Scotland, the colours are
more mixed with shades of brown, and the ears are often
drooping at the tips. The sheep dog is not to be confused
with the drover or cattle dog, which is larger and still more
. rugged in coat, as well as manners. -

The The sheep dog is credited with so many stories
Sheep Dog’s of skill and sagacity, that those unacquainted

Sagacity. with his habits and achievements can scarcely
believe the record. He has been known to rival the St. Bernard
in tracking both men and sheep who have become buried in
the snow, the mastiff in defending his master’s property and
the Newfoundland in procuring assistance he was unable to
render himself. But it is in the pursuit of his special duties
that he displays the most remarkable powers; and many
illustrations might be given of his extraordinary skill and
fidelity. Happily for him he found in the Ettrick Shepherd
an historian as well acquainted with his prowess as he was
able to record its exercise; from whose writings we are able
to quote several remarkable illustrations.

“My dog Sirrah,” says he, “was, beyond all comparison,
the best dog I ever saw: he was of a surly and unsocial
temper,—disdaining all flattery, he refused to be caressed;
but his attention to my commands and interests will never
116 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

again, perhaps, be equalled by any of the caninerace. Well
as I knew him, he often astonished me; for, when hard
pressed in accomplishing the task that he was put to, he haa
expedients of the moment that bespoke a great share of the
reasoning faculty.

“ About seven hundred lambs, which were once under my
care at weaning time, broke up at midnight, and scampered
off in three divisions across the hills, in spite of all that 1
and an assistant lad could do to keep them together. ‘Sir-
rah, my man!’ said I, in great affliction, ‘they are awa’.’ The
night was so dark that I could not see Sirrah, but the faith-
ful animal heard my words—words such as of all others were
sure to set him most on the alert; and without much ado he
silently set off in search of the recreant flock. Meanwhile I
and my companion did not fail to do all in our power to
recover our lost charge. We spent the whole night in scour-
ing the hills for miles around, but of neither the lambs nor
Sirrah could we obtain the slightest trace. It was the most
extraordinary circumstance that had occurred in my pastoral
life. We had nothing for it (day having dawned), but to re-
turn to our master, and inform him that we had lost his
whole flock of lambs, and knew not what had become of
them. On our way home, however, we discovered a body
of lambs at the bottom of a deep ravine, called the Flesh
Cleuch, and the indefatigable Sirrah standing in front of them,
looking all around for some relief, but still standing true to
his charge. The sun was then up; and when we first came
in view of them, we concluded that it was one of the divi-
sions which Sirrah had been unable to manage until he came
to that commanding situation. But what was our astonish-
ment, when we discovered by degrees that not one lamb of
the whole flock was wanting! How he had got all the divi-
sions collected in the dark, is beyond my comprehension.
The charge was left entirely to himself, from midnight until
the rising of the sun; and if all the shepherds in the forest
THE SHEEP DOG. 1357

had been there to have assisted him, they could not have
effected it with greater propriety. All that I can farther say
is, that I never felt so grateful to any creature below the sun,
as I did to my honest Sirrah that morning.”
The “The late Mr. Steel, flesher in Peebles,” says
Sheep-dog’s James Hogg, “had a bitch whose feats in taking
Fidelity. sheep from the neighbouring farms into the Flesh-
market at Peebles, form innumerable anecdotes in that vici-
nity, all similar to one another. But there is one instance
related of her, that combines so much sagacity with natural
affection, that I do not think the history of the animal creation
furnishes such another. Mr. Steel had such an implicit
dependence on the attention of this animal to his orders,
that, whenever he put a lot of sheep before her, he took a
pride in leaving them to herself, and either remained to take
a glass with the farmer of whom he had made the purchase,
or took another road to look after bargains or other business.
But one time he chanced to commit a drove to her charge
at a place called Willenslee, without attending to her condi-
tion as he ought to have done. This farm is five miles from
Peebles, over wild hills, and there is no regularly defined
path to it. Whether Mr. Steel remained behind, or chose
another road, I know not; but, on coming home late in the
evening, he was astonished at hearing that his faithful animal
had not made her appearance with the flock. He and his
son, or servant, instantly prepared to set out by different
paths in search of her; but, on their going out to the street,
there was she coming with the drove, not one missing; and
marvellous to relate, she was carrying a young pup in her
mouth! She had been taken in travail on those hills; and
how the poor beast had contrived to manage the drove in
her state of suffering is beyond human calculation, for her
road lay through sheep the whole way. Her master’s heart
smote him when he saw what she had suffered and effected:
but she was nothing daunted; and having deposited her young
118 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

one in a place of safety, she again set out full speed to the
hills, and brought another and another, till she removed her
whole litter one by one; but the last one was dead. The
stories related of the dogs of sheep-stealers, he continues, are
fairly beyond all credibility. I cannot attach credit to some
of them without believing the animals to have been devils
incarnate, come to the earth for the destruction both of the
souls and bodies of men. I cannot mention names, for the
sake of families that still remain in the country; but there
have been sundry men executed, who belonged to this dis-
trict of the kingdom, for that heinous crime, in my own days;
and others have absconded, just in time to save their necks.
There was not one of these to whom I allude who did not
acknowledge his dog to be the greatest aggressor. One young
man in particular, who was, I believe, overtaken by justice
for his first offence, stated, that after he had folded the sheep
by moonlight, and selected his number from the flock of a
former master, he took them out, and set away with them
towards Edinburgh. But before he had got them quite off
the farm, his conscience smote him, as he said (but more
likely a dread of that which soon followed), and he quitted
the sheep, letting them go again to the hill. He called his
dog off them; and mounting his pony, he rode away. At
that time he said his dog was capering and playing around
him, as if glad of having got free of a troublesome business;
and he regarded him no more, till, after having rode about
three miles, he thought again and again that he heard something
coming up behind him. Halting, at length, to ascertain what
it was, in a few minutes up came his dog with the stolen
animals, driving them at a furious rate to keep up with his
master. The sheep were all smoking, and hanging out their
tongues, and their guide was fully warm as they. The
young man was now exceedingly troubled, for the sheep
having been brought so far from home, he dreaded there
would be a pursuit, and he could not get them home again
THE ST. BERNARD DOG. 1X9Q

before day. Resolving, at all events, to keep his hands clear
of them, he corrected his dog in great wrath, left the sheep
once more, and taking colley with him, rode off a second
time. He had not ridden above a mile, till he perceived that
his assistant had again given him the slip; and suspecting
' for what purpose, he was terribly alarmed as well as chagrined;
for daylight now approached, and he durst not make a noise
calling on his dog, for fear of alarming the neighbourhood,
in a place where they were both well known. He resolved
therefore to abandon the animal to himself, and take a road
across the country which he was sure the other did not know,
and could not follow. He took that road; but being on
horseback, he could not get across the enclosed fields. He
at length came to a gate, which he shut behind him, and
went about half a mile farther, by a zigzag course, to a
farm-house where both his sister and sweetheart lived; and
at that place he remained until after breakfast time. The
people of this house were all examined on the trial, and no
one had either seen the sheep or heard them mentioned, save
one man, who came up to the aggressor as he was standing
at the stable-door, and told him that his dog had the sheep
safe enough down at the Crooked Yett, and he needed not
hurry himself. He answered, that the sheep were not his—
they were young Mr. Thomson’s, who had left them to his
charge, and he was in search of a man to drive them, which
made him come off his road.” The fidelity of this animal
cost his master his life.

The St. The St. Bernard Dog always honoured for
Bernard Dog. his work’s sake, resembles the Newfoundland in
form, hair, colour, and size. “There is another race,” says
Colonel Smith, “trained to the same service, with close
short hair, and more or less marked with grey, liver colour
and black clouds.” Bass, a famous St. Bernard, the property
of Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, is thus described by him in
a letter to Mr. W. H. Lizars printed in Vol. XIX of “The
120 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

Naturalist’s Library ”:—“My St. Bemard was brought home
direct from the Great St. Bernard, when he was a puppy
of about four or five months. His bark is tremendous;
so loud, indeed, that I have often distinguished it nearly
a mile off. He had been missing for some time, when,
to my great joy, one of the letter-carriers brought him back ;
and the man’s account was, that in going along a certain
street, he heard his bark from the inside of a yard, and
knew it immediately. He knocked at the gate, and said to
the owner of the premises, ‘You have got Sir Thomas
Lauder’s big dog.’ The man denied it. ‘But I know you
have,’ continued the letter-carrier; ‘I can swear that I heard
the bark of Sir Thomas’s big dog; for there is no dog in or
about all Edinburgh that has such a bark.’ At last, with
great reluctance, the man gave up the dog to the letter-carrier,
who brought him home here. But though Bass’s bark is so
terrific, he is the best-natured and most playful dog I ever
saw; so much so, indeed, that the small King Charles’s
spaniel, Raith, used to tyrannize over him for many months
after he came here from abroad. I have seen the little
creature run furiously at the great animal when gnawing a
bone, who instantly turned himself submissively over on his
back, with all his legs in the air, whilst Raith, seizing the
bone, would make the most absurd and unavailing attempts
to bestride the enormous head of his subdued companion,
with the most ludicrous affectation of the terrible growling,
that might bespeak the loftiest description of dog-indignation.
When a dog attacks Bass in the street or road, he runs away
rather than quarrel; but when compelled to fight by any
perseverance in the attacking party, he throws his enemy
down in a moment, and then, without biting him, he lays his
whole immense bulk down upon him, till he nearly smothers
him. He took a particular fancy for one of the postmen who
deliver letters here, whose duty it was, besides delivering
letters, to carry a letter bag from one receiving-house to
THE ST. BERNARD DOG. 421

another, and this bag he used to give Bass to carry. Bass
always followed that man through all the villas in this neigh-
bourhood where he had deliveries to make, and he invariably
parted with him opposite to the gate of the Convent of St.
Margaret’s, and returned home. When our gate was shut
here to prevent his following the postman, the dog always
leaped a high wall to get after him. One day when the
postman was ill, or detained by some accidental circumstance,
he sent a man in his place. Bass went up to the man, curi-
ously scanning his face, whilst the man rather retired from
the dog, by no means liking his appearance. But as the
man left the place, Bass followed him, showing strong symp-
toms that he was determined to have the post-bag. The
man did all he could to keep possession of it. But at length
Bass seeing that he had no chance of getting possession of
the bag by civil entreaty, raised himself up on his hind-legs,
and putting a great forepaw on each of the man’s shoulders,
he laid him flat on his back in the road, and quietly picking
up the bag, he proceeded peaceably on his wonted way.
The man, much dismayed, arose and followed the dog,
making every now and then an ineffectual attempt to coax
him to give up the bag. At the first house he came to, he
told his fears, and the dilemma he was in; but the people
comforted him, by telling him that the dog always carried
the bag. Bass walked with the man to all the houses at
which he delivered letters, and along the road till he came
to the gate of St. Margaret’s, where he dropped the bag and
returned home.”
The St. Bernard “The convent of the Great St. Bernard is
at Work. situated near the top of the mountain known
by that name, near one of the most dangerous passages of
the Alps, between Switzerland and Savoy. In these regions
the traveller is often overtaken by the most severe weather,
even after days of cloudless beauty, when the glaciers glitter
in the sunshine, and the pink flowers of the rhododendron
122 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

appear as if they were never to be sullied by the tempest.
But a storm suddenly comes on; the roads are rendered
impassable by drifts of snow; the avalanches, which are huge
Joosened masses of snow or ice, are swept into the valleys,
carrying trees and crags of rock before them. Benumbed
with cold, weary in the search for a lost track, his senses
yielding to the stupifying influence of frost which betrays the
exhausted sufferer into a deep sleep, the unhappy man sinks
upon the ground, and the snow-drift covers him from human
sight. It is then that the keen scent and the exquisite
docility of these admirable dogs are called into action.
Though the perishing man lie ten or even twelve feet beneath
the snow, the delicacy of smell with which they can trace
him offers a chance of escape. They scratch away the snow
with their feet; they set up a continued hoarse and solemn
bark, which brings the monks and labourers of the convent
to their assistance. To provide for the chance that the dogs,
without human help, may succeed in discovering the unfortu-
nate traveller, one of them has a flask of spirits round his
neck, to which the fainting man may apply for support; and
another has a cloak to cover him. These wonderful exertions
are often successful; and even where they fail of restoring
him who has perished, the dogs discover the body, so that
it may be secured for the recognition of friends; and such
is the effect of the temperature, that the dead features gener-
ally preserve their firmness for the space of two years.” One
of these dogs is said to have saved as many as forty lives
and finally to have fallen a victim to an avalanche.

The Greyhound. The Greyhound is characterised by elegance
of form and grace of movement; he has also great powers
of speed and endurance, is mild and affectionate in disposition
and sagacious in matters other than those connected with
the chase. “The narrow, sharp head, the light half hanging
ears, the long neck, the arched back, the slender yet sinewy
‘imbs, the deep chest, showing the high development of the
THE GREYHOUND. 123

breathing organs, and the elevated hind quarters, says Mrs.
Bowdich, all shadow forth the peculiar qualities of these
dogs. Their coat has been adapted to the climate in which
they originally lived: here it is smooth; but becomes more
shaggy as they are from colder regions.” “The Scotch
Greyhound (Canis Scottcus),” she continues, * generally white,
with black clouds, is said to be the most intellectual! of all,
and formerly to have had so good a scent as to be employed
as a bloodhound. Maida, whose name is immortalized as
the favourite of Sir Walter Scott, was a Scottish greyhound.
The Irish is the largest of all the western breeds, and is
supposed to owe this distinction to mingling with the great
Danish dog. To it Ireland owes the extirpation of wolves,
though it now scarcely exists itself but in name.”

The greyhound is now principally bred for sporting purposes,
coursing being the favourite amusement. The great speed and
endurance of the dog is shown in this pastime. Mr. Jesse records
several instances of dogs who have died from exhaustion
rather than give up the chase, in one of which it is stated
that two dogs and a hare were found dead within a
few yards of each other after a run of several miles. Mr.
Daniel in his rural sports gives an instance in which a
brace of greyhounds chased a hare a distance of four
miles in twelve minutes.

The Greyhound’s Washington Irving tells the following story

Affection. of a greyhound’s affection for his master. “An
officer named St. Leger, who was imprisoned in Vincennes
(near Paris) during the wars of St. Bartholomew, wished to
keep with him a greyhound that he had brought up, and
which was much attached to him; but they harshly refused
him this innocent pleasure, and sent away the greyhound to
his house in the Rue des Lions Saint Paul. The next day
the greyhound returned alone to Vincennes, and began to
bark under the windows of the tower, where the officer was
confined. St. Leger approached, looked through the bars,
124 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

and was delighted again to see his faithful hound, who
began to jump and play a thousand gambols to show her
joy. He threw a piece of bread to the animal, who ate it
with great good will; and, in spite of the immense wall
which separated them, they breakfasted together like two
friends. This friendly visit was not the last. Abandoned
by his relations, who believed him dead, the unfortunate
prisoner received the visits of his greyhound only, during
four years’ confinement. Whatever weather it might be, in
spite of rain or snow, the faithful animal did not fail a
single day to pay her accustomed visit. Six months after
his release from prison St. Leger died. The faithful grey-
hound would no longer remain in the house; but on the
day after the funeral returned to the castle of Vincennes,
and it is supposed she was actuated by a motive of gratitude.
A jailor of the outer court had always shown great kindness
to this dog, which was as handsome as affectionate. Contrary
to the custom of people of that class, this man had been
touched by her attachment and beauty, so that he facilitated
her approach to see her master, and also insured her a safe
retreat. Penetrated with gratitude for this service, the grey-
hound remained the rest of her life near the benevolent
jailor. It was remarked, that even while testifying her zeal
and gratitude for her second master, one could easily see
that her heart was with the first. Like those who, having
lost a parent, a brother, or a friend, come from afar to seek
consolation by viewing the place which they inhabited, this
affectionate animal repaired frequently to the tower where
St. Leger had been imprisoned, and would contemplate for
hours together the gloomy window from which her dear
master had so often smiled to her, and where they had so
frequently breakfasted together.”

The Lurecher. “The rough, large-boned, ill-looking Lurcher,”
says Mrs. Bowdich, “is said to have descended from the
rough greyhound and the shepherd’s dog. It is now rare;
THE BLOODHOUND. 125

but there are some of its sinister-looking mongrel progeny
still to be seen. They always bear the reputation of being
poachers’ dogs, and are deeply attached to their owners. |
They have a fine scent; and a man confessed to Mr. Bewick,
that he could, with a pair of lurchers, procure as many
rabbits as he pleased. They never give tongue, but set
about their work silently and cautiously, and hunt hares
and partridges, driving the latter into the nets of the unlaw-
ful sportsmen.” He is a dog to whom a bad name has
been given, and who has found a bad name but one step
from hanging.
The Blood- The Bloodhound (Cents Sanguinarius) whether
hound. because less needed now than formally or not,
is less cultivated and is therefore more rare. Mr. Bell’s
description of the breed is as follows:—“ They stand twenty-
eight inches high at the shoulder; the muzzle broad and
full; the upper lip large and pendulous; the vertex of the
head protuberant; the expression stern, thoughtful, and noble;
the breast broad; the limbs strong and muscular; and the
original colour a deep tan, with large black clouds. They
are silent when following their scent; and in this respect
differ from other hounds, who are generally gifted with fine
deep voices. Numbers, under the name of sleuth-hounds,
used to be kept on the Borders; and kings and troopers,
perhaps equally marauders, have in olden times found it
difficult to evade them. The noble Bruce had several nar-
row escapes from them; and the only sure way to destroy
their scent was to spill blood upon the track. In all the
common routine of life they are good-natured and intelli-
gent, and make excellent watch-dogs. A story is related of
a nobleman, who, to make a trial whether a young hound
was well instructed, desired one of his servants to walk to
a town four miles off, and then to a market town three
miles from thence. The dog, without seeing the man he
was to pursue, followed him by the scent to the above-
£26 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

mentioned places, notwithstanding the multitude of market-
people that went along the same road, and of travellers that
had occasion to come; and when the bloodhound came to
the market town, he passed through the streets without
taking notice of any of the people there, and ceased not
till he had gone to the house where the man he sought
rested himself, and where he found him in an upper room,
to the wonder of those who had accompanied him in this
pursuit.”

The sceny 4 Strong characteristic of the Bloodhound is

ofthe of course his remarkable scent for blood.

Bloodhound. «Bjoodhounds,” says Bingley, “were formerly
used in certain districts lying between England and Scot-
land, that were much infested by robbers and murderers,
and a tax was laid on the inhabitants for keeping and
maintaining a certain number of these animals. Some few
are yet kept in the northern parts of the kingdom, and in
the lodges of the royal forests, where they are used in pur-
suit of deer that have been previously wounded. They are
also sometimes employed in discovering deer-stealers, whom
they infallibly trace by the blood that issues from the wounds
of their victims. A very extraordinary instance of this
occurred in the New Forest, in the year 1810, and was
related to me by the Right Hon. G. H. Rose. A person,
in getting over a stile into a field near the Forest, remarked
that there was blood upon it. Immediately afterwards he
recollected that some deer had been killed, and several
sheep stolen in the neighbourhood; and that this might
possibly be the blood of one that had been killed in the
preceding night. The man went to the nearest lodge to
give information; but the keeper being from home, he was
under the necessity of going to Rhinefield Lodge, which
was at a considerable distance. Toomer, the under-keeper,
went with him to the place, accompanied by a bloodhound.
The dog, when brought to the spot, was laid on the scent;
THE STAG-DOG. 127

and after following for about a mile the track which the
depredator had taken, he came at last to a heap of furze
fagots belonging to the family of a cottager. The woman
of the house attempted to drive the dog away, but was pre-
vented; and on the fagots being removed a hole was dis-
covered in the ground, which contained the body of a
sheep that had recently been killed, and also a considerable
quantity of salted meat. The circumstance which renders
this account the more remarkable is, that the dog was not
brought to the scent until more than sixteen hours had
elapsed after the man had carried away the sheep.”
The Stag. “The stag hound,” says Colonel Smith, “was a

Hound. large stately animal, equal or little less than the
blood hound, and originally, like that race, slow, sure, cautious
and steady.” “The modern hound is perhaps still handsomer,
though somewhat smaller; and the breed having been crossed
with the fox hound is now much faster.” The stag hunt
having declined in public favour they have ceased to be bred
in packs for hunting purposes.

ABStag- “Many years since,” says Captain Brown, “a very

Hunt. large stag was turned out of Whinfield Park in the
county of Westmoreland, and was pursued by the hounds
till, by accident or fatigue, the whole pack was thrown out
with the exception of two dogs which continued the chase.
Its length is uncertain, but the chase was seen at Red Kirk
near Annan in Scotland, distant by the post road about forty-
six miles. The stag returned to the park from which he had
set out, so that considering the circuitous route which it
pursued, it is supposed to have run over not less than one
hundred and twenty miles. It was its greatest and last
achievement, for it leapt the wall of the park and immedi-
ately expired; the hounds were also found dead at no great
distance from the wall which they had been unable to leap.
An inscription was placed on a tree in the park, in memory
of the animals, and the horns of the stag, the largest ever
128 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

seen in that part of the country, were placed over it.”
The Fox. “In giving a description of the various breecs of
Hound. dogs,” says Mr. Jesse, “everyone must be aware,
that by crossing and recrossing them many of those we now
see have but little claim to originality. The fox-hound, the old
Irish wolf-dog, and the Colley or shepherd’s dog, may per-
haps be considered as possessing the greatest purity of blood.”
Mr. Jesse then refers to a picture of a pack of hounds in
Wilkinson’s “ Manners and Customs of the Egyptians, ” a picture
which was copied from a painting found in one of the tombs
of the Pharaohs, in which “every individual hound is cha-
racteristic of the present breed.” If this be so, as Mr. Jesse
says, “this breed must be considered of a much more ancient
date than is generally supposed.” The Fox-hound is des-
cribed by Colonel Smith as “somewhat lower at the shoulders
and more slenderly built” than the stag-hound. His colour
is “white, but commonly marked with larger clouds of black
and tan, one on each side the head, covering the ears, the
same on each flank and one at the root of the tail.” The
Fox-hound has great strength and endurance, and will run
ten hours in pursuit of the fox.
The Fox-hound’s Many extraordinary stories are told of the
Tenacity. Fox-hound’s ardour for sport. According to
Mr. Jesse, a bitch was on one occasion taken in labour while
in the hunting field, and after giving birth to a pup took it
in ‘its mouth and pursued the chase. Another bitch, whose
eye had been struck from the socket accidentally by the lash
of the whipper-in who did not believe her challenge, pursued
the fox alone for a great distance with her eye pendant, until
the rest of the pack came up and the fox was killed. Per-
haps one of the most remarkable instances of tenacity of
purpose in an animal is that quoted by Mr. Jesse from the
supplement to Mr. Daniel’s “Rural Sports.” “The circum-
stance took place in the year 1808, in the counties of
Inverness and Perth, and perhaps surpasses any length of
THE HARRIER AND THE BEAGLE. HBO

pursuit known in the annals of hunting. On the 8th of June
in that year, a fox and hound were seen near Dunkeld in
Perthshire, on the high road, proceeding at a slow trotting
pace. The dog was about fifty yards behind the fox, and
each was so fatigued as not to gain on the other. A coun-
tryman very easily caught the fox, and both it and the dog
were taken to a gentleman’s house in the neighbourhood,
where the fox died. It was afterwards ascertained that the
hound belonged to the Duke of Gordon, and that the fox
was started on the morning of the 4th of June, on the top
of those hills called Monaliadh, which separate Badenoch
from Fort Augustus. From this it appeared that the chase
fasted four days, and that the distance traversed from the
place where the fox was unkennelled to the spot where
it was caught, without making. any allowances for doubles,
crosses, etc. and as the crow flies, exceeded seventy
miles.”
The Harrier. “The Harrier,” says Colonel Smith, “so called
from being usually applied to hare hunting is smaller than
the fox-hound, not exceeding eighteen inches at the shoulder.
It is entirely an artificial breed and is often confounded with
the beagle.”
The Beagle. The Beagle is called by Mr. Jesse, “a Fox-
hound in miniature,” and he adds nothing can well be more
perfect than the shape of these small dogs. “In Queen Eli-
zabeth’s reign,” says Colonel Smith, “the fanciers bred a race
so small, that a complete cry of them could be carried out
to the field in a pair of panniers. That princess had little
singing beagles which could be placed in a man’s glove! At
present they are about twelve or fourteen inches at the
shoulders, stout and compact in make, with long ears, and
either marked with a bright streak or spot of white about
the neck on a dark brown coat, or white with spots like a
harrier, of black and red. They are slow but persevering.
and are sufficiently sure of killing their game.”

9
130 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

The Dalmatian Colonel Smith places the Dalmatian dog
Dog. with the hounds on the ground of similarity
of general structure. Elegant in form and beautiful in mak-
ing it is said to be less keen in scent and less sagacious than
other dogs. Sagacious or not, it was one of these dogs that
Lord Maynard found awaiting him at his house in England
after having lost him in France.
The Turnspit. “The Turnspit,” says Captain Brown, “derived its
name from the service in which it was engaged before the
invention of machinery to do the same work, and, what is
remarkable, now that the office is extinct, so also has nearly
become the species which used to perform it.” “I have now
in my kitchen,” said the Duke de Laincourt, to M. Descartes,
“two turnspits which take their turns regularly every other
day in the wheel: one of them, not liking his employment,
hid himself on the day he should have wrought, when his
companion was forced to mount the wheel in his stead; but
crying and wagging his tail, he intimated that those in atten-
dance should first follow him. He immediately conducted
them to a garret, where he dislodged the idle dog, and killed
him immediately.” Another instance is recorded by Captain
Brown as follows: “When the cook had prepared the meat
for roasting, he found that the dog which should have wrought
the spit had disappeared. He attempted to employ another,
but it bit his leg and fled. Soon after, however, the refrac-
tory dog entered the kitchen driving before him the truant
turnspit, which immediately of its own accord went into the
wheel.” It is easy to see from these stories that the occupa-
tion was not a popular one and it is well that it is no longer
@ mecessary one.
The Pointer. The pointer (Canis avicularis) as resembling
the race of hounds, more than any other of the shooting or
gun dogs is placed next to them in the classification of
Colonel Smith, who says: “In their present qualities of
standing fixed and pointing to game, we see the result of a
THE POINTER. 131

long course of severe training; and it is a curious fact, that
by a succession of generations having been constantly edu-
cated to this purpose, it has become almost innate, and young
dogs of the true breed point with scarcely any instruction :
this habit is so firm in some that the late Mr. Gilpin is
reported to have painted a brace of pointers while in the
act, and that they stood an hour and a quarter without
moving.” A smooth dog, resembling the fox-hound in his
markings, though sometimes entirely black, the pointer is used
by sportsmen to point them to the spot where the game is
to be found. “It ranges the fields,” says Mr. Wood, “until
it scents the hare or partridge lying close on the ground.
It then remains still as if carved in stone, every limb fixed,
and the tail pointing straight behind it. In this attitude it
remains until the gun is discharged, reloaded, and the sports-
man has reached the place where the bird sprang.”
The Pointeras The pointer is a keen sportsman and will
8 Sportsman. “point” without tiring while worthily supported
by the gun, but many stories are told of his disgust at a bad
shot and his refusal to “point” for unskilful sportsmen. The
following amusing story is told by Captain Brown and is
quoted as follows by Mr. Jesse: “A gentleman, on his
requesting the loan of a pointer-dog from a friend, was
informed by him that the dog would behave very well so
long as he could kill his birds; but if he frequently missed
them, it would run home and leave him. The dog was sent,
and the following day was fixed for trial; but, unfortunately,
hig new master was a remarkably bad shot. Bird after bird
rose and was fired at, but still pursued its flight untouched,
till, at last, the pointer became careless, and often missed
his game. As if seemingly willing, however, to give one
chance more, he made a dead stop at a fern-bush, with his
nose pointed downward, the fore-foot bent, and his tail straight
and steady. In this position he remained firm till the sports-
man was clese to him. with both barrels cocked, then mov-
132 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

ing steadily forward for a few paces, he at last stood still
near a bunch of heather, the tail expressing the anxiety of
the mird by moving regularly backwards and forwards. At
last, out sprang a fine old blackcock. Bang, bang, went both
barrels, but the bird escaped unhurt. The patience of the
dog was now quite exhausted; and, instead of dropping to
charge, he turned boldly round, placed his tail between his
legs, gave one howl, long and loud, and set off as fast as he
could to his own home.” The pointer has been known to
lie down without bidding beside game which has been dropped
from a bag, after a long day’s shooting, and watch it faith-
fully until relieved on the following day, when the missing
birds were searched for and found.

The Setter, The Setter (Canis Index) divides with the
pointer the duty of attending the sportsman on his shooting
expeditions. According to Captain Brown he was “ originally
derived from a cross between the Spanish pointer and the
large water spaniel and was justly celebrated for his fine
scent.” Many crossings have considerably varied the breed,
of which the Irish is now considered purer than the English
and Scotch breeds. “In figure,” says Colonel Smith, ‘ they
participate of the pointer and the Spaniel, though larger
than the latter. In England they are white, or white with
black or brown marks.” They are intelligent, affectionate
and docile, and often show great sagacity outside the domain
of sport.
The Scent of Col. Hutchinson says, “I was partridge -shooting

the Setter. the season before last with an intimate friend.
The air was soft, and there was a good breeze. We came
upon a large turnip-field, deeply trenched on account of its

damp situation. A white setter, that habitually carried a
lofty head, drew for awhile, and then came toa point. We
got up to her. She led us across some ridges, when her
companion, a jealous dog (a pointer), which had at first
backed correctly, most improperly pushed on in front, but,
THE SE1'TER. 133

not ¢ ‘mg able to acknowledge the scent, went off, clearly
imagining the bitch was in error. She, however, held on,
and in beautiful style brought us up direct to a covey. My
friend and I agreed that she must have been but little, if at
all, less than one hundred yards off when she first winded
the birds; and it was clear to us that they could not have
been running, for the breeze came directly across the furrows,
and she had led us in the wind’s eye. We thought the
point the more remarkable, as it is generally supposed that
the strong smell of turnips diminishes a dog’s power of
scenting birds.”
The Setters Mr. Huet tells the following story of the sagacity
Sagacity. of the setter. “The gamekeeper had, on one of
the short days of December, shot at and wounded a deer.
Hoping to run him down before night, he instantly put the
dog upon the track, which followed it at full speed, and soon
was out of sight. At length it grew dark, and the gamekeeper
returned home, thinking he should find the setter arrived
there before him; but he was disappointed, and became ap-
prehensive that his dog might have lost himself, or fallen a
prey to some ravenous animal. The next morning, however,
we were all greatly rejoiced to see him come running into
the yard, whence he directly hastened to the door of my
apartment, and, on being admitted, ran, with gestures expres-
sive of solicitude and eagerness, to a corner of the room
where guns were placed. We understood the hint, and, taking
the guns, followed him. He led us not by the road which
he himself had taken out of the wood, but by beaten paths
half round it, and then by several wood-cutters’ tracks in
different directions, to a thicket, where, following him a few
paces, we found the deer which he had killed. The dog
seems to have rightly judged that we should have been obliged
to make our way with much difficulty through almost the.
whole length of the wood, in order to come to the deer in a
straight direction, and he therefore led us a circuitous but
134 NATURAL HIS/(ORY IN ANECDOTE.

open and convenient road. Between the legs of the deer,
which he had guarded during the night against the beasts of
prey that might otherwise have seized upon it, he had
scratched a hole in the snow, and filled it with dry leaves
for his bed. The extraordinary sagacity which he had dis-
played upon this occasion rendered him doubly valuable to
us, and it therefore caused us very serious regret when, in
the ensuing summer, the poor animal went mad, possibly in
consequence of his exposure to the severe frost of that night,
and it became necessary for the gamekeeper to shoot him,
which he could not do without shedding tears. He said he
would willingly have given his best cow to save him; and I
confess myself that I would not have hesitated to part with
my best horse upon the same terms.”

The Spaniel. There are many varieties of the Spaniel of which
the Water Spaniel, the King Charles Spaniel, the Blenheim
and the Maltese Spaniels are the best known. The Water
Spaniels figure on some of the later monuments of Rome
and so prove their antiquity. Colonel Smith describes the
Spaniel as a small setter, with silky hair and fine long vil-
lous ears; black, brown pied, liver coloured, white and black-
and-white, the water spaniel differing from the other species
chiefly in his readiness to hunt and swim in the water and
the hair being somewhat harder to the touch. The spaniel
has a great affection for his master and is never tired of
testifying his appreciation of his kindness. Colonel Smith
mentions a dog allied to the spaniel race, who at the time
of his writing (April 1840) had been lying on the grave of
his mistress for three days, refusing all food, and was on that
day being forcibly removed. Spaniels are often very intel-
ligent, displaying the same sagacity as other and larger dogs
and in the same way. Mr. Jesse mentions a King Charles
spaniel who was locked by his master in a room in Vere
St. Clare Market, one afternoon about half past five, while he
went with his family to Drury Lane theatre. About eight
THE SPANIEL. 135

o'clock in the evening the dog escaped his confinement and
found his way to the theatre where he discovered his master
in the midst of the pit, though it was crowded at the time.
The Blenheim spaniel is similar to the King Charles breed,
though somewhat different in its markings, fuller about the
muzzle and shorter in the back. Blenheims have been known
to show great intelligence and affection. A story is told of
one who upon being attacked by two cats, obtained the
assistance of a third cat, waylaid his enemies one at a time
and, with the assistance of his friend, taught them better
manners. The Maltese dog is another favourite species, much
admired and petted by ladies.
The Sagacity C@ptain Brown gives the following from a letter
of the Water written by a gentleman at Dijon in France, to
Spaniel his friend in London, dated August 15, 1764:
“Since my arrival here a man has been broken on the
wheel, with no other proof to condemn him than that of a
water-spaniel. The circumstances attending it being so very
singular and striking, I beg leave to communicate them to
you. A farmer, who had been to receive a sum of money,
was waylaid, robbed, and murdered, by two villains. The
farmer’s dog returned with all speed to the house of the
person who had paid the money, and expressed such amazing
anxiety that he would follow him, pulling him several times
by the sleeve and skirt of the coat, that, at length, the gen-
tleman yielded to his importunity. The dog led him to the
field, a little from the roadside, where the body lay. From
thence the gentleman went to a public-house, in order to
alarm the country. The moment he entered, (as the two
villains were there drinking), the dog seized the murderer by
the throat, and the other made his escape. This man lay
in prison three months, during which time they visited him
once a-week with the spaniel, and though they made him
change his clothes with other prisoners, and always stand in
the midst of a crowd, yet did the animal always find him
136 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

out, and fly at him. On the day of trial, when the prisoner
was at the bar, the dog was let loose in the court-house, and
in the midst of some hundreds he found him out (though
dressed entirely in new clothes), and would have torn him
to pieces had he been allowed; in consequence of which he
was condemned, and at the place of execution he confessed
the fact.”

The Terrier. There are many varieties of terrier including
numerous celebrated breeds. The English, Scotch, Skye, Bull
and Fox terriers being the best known. Innumerable stories
of the intelligence and sagacity of the various breeds might
be told if space permitted, but it must suffice to say that for
sportsmanlike qualities, for general intelligence and sagacity,
and for affection for his master, the terrier of whatever breed
will hold his own against any other dog. Dogs are said to
have natural antipathies, and that of the Bull-dog for the
buli is an obvious illustration. An equal antipathy is shown
by the English terrier for the rat and by the Fox-terrier
for the cat, though the latter is perhaps as much a matter
of education as of nature. Terriers are, however, among the
best known of dogs and therefore need the less description. -

The Mastiff. The Mastiff is said to be of an original breed
indigenous to England, whence some were exported to Italy in
the days of the Roman emperors. The breed has since been
crossed by stag and blood hounds and the present is a
magnificent animal of great power and noble character. The
ancient breed was brindled yellow and black, the present is
usually deeper or lighter buff with dark muzzle and ears.
The mastiff is sometimes twenty-nine or thirty inches in
height at the shoulder.

The Mastif’s The Mastiff is the best of watch dogs, for he

Fidelity. brings an intelligence to bear upon his duty
which is in the highest degree surprising. He has been
known to walk by the side of an intending thief “for-
bidding his laying hands upon any article, yet abstaining -
THE MASTIFF. 137

from doing him any bodily harm, and suffering his escape
over the walls,” but leaving his master’s property intact. A
mastiff who had been left by his master, who was a sweep,
in charge of his bag of soot in a narrow street in Southampton,
refused to leave it either for coaxings or threats, and rather
than desert his duty allowed himself to be run over and killed.
The Mastiffs ne mastiff has a powerful scent, and remark-
Discrimina- able skill in discovering the lost property of his
or master. Captain Brown gives the following ex-
tract from a letter from St. Germains: “An English gentle-
man some time ago came to our Vauxhall with a large
mastiff, which was refused admittance, and the gentleman
left him in the care of the body-guards, who are placed there.
The Englishman, some time after he had entered, returned
to the gate and informed the guards that he had lost his
watch, telling the sergeant, that if he would permit him to
take in the dog, he would soon discover the thief. His
request being granted, the gentleman made motions to the
dog of what he had lost, which immediately ran about
amongst the company, and traversed the gardens, till at last
he laid hold of a man. The gentleman insisted that this
person had got his watch; and on being searched, not only
his watch, but six others, were discovered in his pockets.
What is more remarkable, the dog possessed such a perfec-
tion of instinct as to take his master’s watch from the other
six, and carry it to him.”
The Mastife Mr. Jesse gives the following story which he
as Protector. reprinted from a contemporary newspaper:

“A most extraordinary circumstance has just occurred at
the Hawick toll-bar, which is kept by two old women. It
appears that they had a sum of money in the house, and
were extremely alarmed lest they should be robbed of it.
Their fears prevailed to such an extent, that, when a carrier
whom they knew was passing by, they urgently requested him
to remain with them all night, which, however, his duties
138 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

would not permit him to do; but, in consideration of the
alarm of the women, he consented to leave with them a
large mastiff dog. In the night the women were disturbed
by the uneasiness of the dog, and heard a noise apparently
like an attempt to force an entrance into the premises, upon
which they escaped by the back-door, and ran to a neigh-
bouring house, which happened to be a blacksmith’s shop.
- They knocked ‘at the door, and were answered from within
by the smith’s wife. She said her husband was absent, but
that she was willing to accompany the terrified women to
their home. On reaching the house, they heard a savage
but half-stifled growling from the dog. On entering they saw
the body of a man hanging half in and half out of their
little window, whom the dog had seized by the throat, and
was still worrying. On examination, the man proved to be
their neighbour the blacksmith, dreadfully torn about the throat,
and quite dead.”
fhe Bull- The Bull-dog (Canis Anglicus), is said to be
Dog. an original English breed, and Colonel Smith
suggests that this dog rather than the mastiff was the one
which flourished in England in Roman times. Not indeed
the breed as it at present exists, but “one little inferior to
the mastiff,” “but with the peculiar features of the bull form
more strongly marked.” “The bull-dog,” says Colonel Smith,
“difters from all others, even from the mastiff, in giving no
warning of his attack by his barking, he grapples his oppo-
nents without in the least estimating their comparative weight
and powers. We have seen one pinning an American Bison
and holding his nose down till the animal gradually brought
forward its hind feet and crushing the dog to death tore his
muzzle out of the fangs, most dreadfully mangled. We have
known another halloced on to attack a disabled eagle; the
bird unable to escape, threw himself on the back, and as the
dog sprang at his throat, struck him with his claws, one of
which penetrating the skull, killed him instantly, and caused
THE BULL-DOG. 139

his master the loss of a valued animal and one hundred
dollars in the wager.” “The bull-dog is possessed of less
sagacity and less attachment than any of the hound tribe;
he is therefore less favoured, and more rarely bred with
care, excepting by professed amateurs of sports and feelings
little creditable to humanity. He is of moderate size, but
entirely moulded for strength and elasticity.” He never
leaves his hold, when once he has got it, while life lasts,
hence he has become the type of obstinate pertinacity; and
unflinching courage.

The Poodle The Poodle dog while possessing many natural

Dog. qualities which endear it to its owner, is capable
of great cultivation and is for this reason much affected by
those who train dogs for public performances. Of the clever
tricks the poodle has been trained to perform many stories
are told, among which the following from M., Blaze’s “ His-
tory of the Dog,” as quoted in Mr. Jesse’s “Anecdotes of
Dogs,” is one of the most amusing.

“A shoe-black on the Pont Neuf at Paris had a poodle
dog, whose sagacity brought no small profit to his master.
If the dog saw a person with well-polished boots go across
the bridge, he contrived to dirty them, by having first rolled
himself in the mud of the Seine. His master was then
employed to clean them. An English gentleman, who had
suffered more than once from the annoyance of having his
boots dirtied by a dog, was at last induced to watch his
proceedings, and thus detected the tricks he was playing for
his master’s benefit. He was so much pleased with the
animal’s sagacity, that he purchased him at a high price and
conveyed him to London. On arriving there, he was con-
fined to the house till he appeared perfectly satisfied with
his new master and his new situation. He at last, however,
contrived to escape, and made his way back to Paris, where
he rejoined his old master, and resumed his former occu-
pation.”
140 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

Weasels, We come next to the family of the Mustelidz

Otters and which includes Weasels, Otters and Badgers, which

Badgers. we take as the heads of the three sub-families
into which it is divided. The first of these includes the
Pine Marten, occasionally found in Ireland and Scotland but more
commonly in different parts of Europe; the Sable, which belongs
to northern Europe and Asia; the American Sable, which
supplies the English market with hundreds of thousands of
skins annually; the Ermine or Stoat, still to be found in
Great-Britain and familiar in the northern parts of Europe,
Africa and America; the Weasel which has much the same
locale as the Ermine; the Ferret which hails from Africa and
which is cultivated in England for its use in the destruction
of vermin; and the Glutton (Gulo Juscus) which is found
principally in North America. The Polecat is also a member
of this family. It is about seventeen inches long and in form
resembles the weasel. Its colour is deep chocolate. It
generally lives in the neighbourhood of houses on hares,
rabbits, and birds. When pinched for food it will also
catch and eat fish. It is remarkable for an insufferably
fetid odour.

The Weasel. The weasel though thought by some to be
incapable of domestication has, like most other animals who
have had the chance, shown itselt amenable to kindly treat-
ment. Mdlle. de Laistre possessed one which she kept in
her chamber, dispelling its strong odours by perfumes. This
weasel displayed towards her extravagant evidence of affection.
“Tf the servant sets it at liberty before I am up in the
morning,” she writes, “after a thousand gambols, it comes into
my bed, and reposes in my hand or on my bosom. If I
am up before it is let out, it will fly to me in rapture, and
spend half an hour in caressing me. The curiosity of this
little pet is unbounded, for it is impossible to open a drawer
or box, without its roving through every part of it; if even
a piece of paper or a book is looked at, it will also examine
WEASELS, OTTERS AND BADGERS. K4i

it with attention.” This weasel lived on friendly terms with
both a cat and a dog who shared his mistress’ favours. That
the weasel can defend himself when attacked is shown
by the following incident told by Mr. Bell: “ As a gentleman
was riding over his grounds, he saw, at a short distance from
him, a kite pounce on some object on the ground, and rise
with it in his talons. In a few moments, however, the kite
began to show signs of great uneasiness, rising rapidly in the
air, or as quickly falling, and wheeling irregularly round, whilst
evidently endeavouring to free himself from some obnoxious
thing with his feet. After a short but sharp contest, the
kite fell suddenly to the earth. The gentleman instantly rode
up to the spot, when a weasel ran away from the kite, ap-
parently unhurt, leaving the bird dead, with a hole eaten
through the skin under the wing, and the large blood-vessels
of the part torn through.” The length of the common weasel
is about eight inches.
The Common There are several genera of Otters. The common
Otter. otter (Lutra vulgaris) is known throughout Europe
and is not uncommon in Great Britain. The otter lives
on fish, for the hunting of which he is admirably fitted. He
is web-footed and has a body of great flexibility and short
but remarkably muscular legs. The Otter was looked upon
as a friend by the peasants living near salmon preserves years
ago, for after landing his prey he was content with but a
small portion for himself, and left the rest which the peasants
readily appropriated.

“Otters,” says Mr. St. John, “are very affectionate animals;
the young anxiously seek their mother if she should be killed;
and if the young are injured, the parent hovers near them till
she is herself destroyed. If one of a pair be killed, the one that
is left will hunt for its mate with untiring perseverance; and if
one be caught in a trap, its companion will run round and round,
endeavouring to set it free, on which occasions, though so quiet
at other times, they make a snorting and blowing like a horse.”
142 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

“A labourer going to his work, soon after five o’clock in
the morning, saw a number of animals coming towards him,
and stood quietly by the hedge till they came alongside of
him. He then perceived four old otters, probably dams,
and about twenty young ones. He took a stick out of the
hedge and killed one. Directly it began to squeak, all the
four old ones turned back, and stood till the other young
ones had escaped through the hedge, and then went quietly
themselves. Several families were thus journeying together,
and probably they had left their former abode from not
finding a sufficiency of food.” Otters have often been tamed
and taught to catch fish for their masters. Captain Brown
tells of an otter which was caught when young and trained
by James Campbell nearInverness. “It was frequently employed
in catching fish, and would, sometimes, take eight or ten
salmon in a day. If not prevented, it always made an
attempt to break the fish behind the anal fin, which is next
the tail; and, as soon as one was taken away, it always
dived in pursuit of more. It was equally dexterous at sea
fishing, and took great numbers of young cod, and other
fish, there. When tired, it would refuse to fish any longer,
and was then rewarded with as much as it could devour.
Having satisfied its appetite, it always coiled itself round,
and fell asleep: in which state it was generally carried home.”
Professor Steller says that on killing and skinning a female
otter, which he found at a place at which he had deprived
her of her young eight days previously, he found her quite
wasted away from grief at the loss of her progeny.

The Badger. There are several varieties of Badger, the
Indian and the American being the most important, re-
spectively of the eastern and western worlds. The common
badger (Méeles taxus), which is found in different parts of
England, feeds upon roots, bulbs, fruits, and all kinds of
vegetables, as well as small animals, snails and worms. He
has also a great fancy for eggs. He lives in burrows, which ©
THE RATEL AND THE SKUNK. 143

form passages having a central chamber and various anti-
chambers, which he makes in sandy and gravelly soil. He
is nocturnal in his habits. “When pursued,” says Mrs. Bowdich,
“he constantly impedes the progress of his enemies by throw-
ing the soil behind him, so as to &ill up the passages, while
he escapes to the surface.” He is a formidable opponent
to his enemies, as his skin is so tough and his bite so severe,
and he displays much sagacity in avoiding traps and escap-
ing confinement. Mr. St. John placed one in a paved court
for security, but before the next morming hevhad displaced
a stone and burrowed his way out under the wall. Captain
Brown tells an affecting story of the feeling of a badger for
its mate. “Two persons in France killed a badger and
proceeded to drag it towards a neighbouring village. They
had not proceeded far when they heard the cry of an
animal in seeming distress, and stopped to- listen, when
another badger approached them slowly. They at first
threw stones at it; notwithstanding which, it drew near,
came up to the dead animal, began to lick it, and con-
tinued its mournful cry. The men, surprised at this, desisted
from offering any further injury to it, and again drew the
dead one along as before; when the living badger, deter-
mined not to quit its companion, lay down on it, taking it
gently by one ear, and in that manner was drawn into the
midst of the village; nor could dogs, boys, or men induce
it to quit its situation: and to their shame be it said, they
had the inhumanity to kill the poor animal, and afterwards
to burn it, declaring it could be no other than a witch.”
The Ratel lhe Ratel (Mélhivora capensis) of South and
andthe East Africa and the Skunk of Canada belong
Skunk. to this family. The Ratel is a small animal
standing from ten to twelve inches high, with a very tough
skin, which is so loose that, to quote Sparrman, “ If anybody
catches hold of the Ratel by the hind part of his neck, he
is able to turn round, as it were, in his skin, and bite the
144 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

arm of the person that seizes him.” Dog-like in shape,
the back and head are covered with a coat of lighter
colour than that of the sides and under part of the body,
giving it the appearance of a garment. The Ratel is the
natural enemy of the Bees, his thick skin rendering him im-
pervious to their attack, and he is said to show great saga-
city in tracing their nests, watching at sundown, with his
eyes shaded by his paws, the homeward flight of the honey
makers and then following them to plunder and destroy.
The Skunk is famous for its offensive smell, which according
to Sir John Richardson is emitted by a deep yellow fluid
which it discharges, and which is so strong that it retains
its disgusting odour for many days. It is about eighteen
inches in length, has short legs and a body that is broad
and flat. It lives upon poultry and eggs, small quadrupeds,
young birds, and wild fruits. Godman says: “ Pedestrians,
called by business or pleasure to ramble through the country
during the morning or evening twilight, occasionally see a
small and pretty animal a short distance before them in the
path, scampering forward without appearing much alarmed,
and advancing in a zigzag or somewhat serpentine direction.
Experienced persons generally delay long enough to allow
this unwelcome traveller to withdraw from the path; but it
often happens that a view of the animal arouses the ardour

.. of the observer, who, in his fondness for sport, thinks not of

any result but that of securing a prize. It would be more
" prudent to rest content with pelting this quadruped from a
safe distance, or to drive it away by shouting loudly; but
almost all inexperienced persons, the first time such an oppor-
tunity occurs, rush forward with intent to run the animal
down. This appears to be an easy task; in a few moments
it is almost overtaken; a few more strides and the victim may
be grasped by its long and waving tail—but the tail is now
suddenly curled over the back, its pace is slackened, and in
one instant the condition of things is entirely reversed;—the
Pages
(145-146
Missing -

From
Original
THE BEAR, 14)

paw, and deliberately retired. After having eaten the piece
he had carried away with him, he returned. The noose,
with another piece of kreng, having been replaced, he pushed
the rope aside, and again walked triumphantly off with the
bait. A third time the noose was laid; but, excited to caution
by the evident observations of the bear, the sailors buried
the rope beneath the snow, and laid the bait in a deep
hole dug in the centre. The animal once more approached,
and the sailors were assured of their success. But Bruin,
more sagacious than they expected, after snuffing about the
place for a few moments, scraped the snow away with his
paw, threw the rope aside, and again escaped unhurt with
his prize.”

The polar bear displays a great love for its young and
many pathetic stories are told of its rage and grief at
the loss of them. The following is from Captain Brown’s
“ Anecdotes of Animals.” “A Greenland bear, with two cubs
under her protection, was pursued across a field of ice by a
party of armed sailors. At first, she seemed to urge the
young ones to increase their speed, by running before them,
turning round, and manifesting, by a peculiar action and
voice, her anxiety for their progress; but, finding her pursuers
gaining upon them, she carried, or pushed, or pitched them
alternately forward, until she effected their escape. In throwing
them before her, the little creatures are said to have placed
themselves across her path to receive the impulse, and, when
projected some yards in advance, they ran onwards, until
she overtook them, when they alternately adjusted themselves
for another throw.”

The Black The Black Bear (Ursus Americanus) is about

Bear. four and a half feet long and three feet high.
He has long feet terminating in five claws each. His body
is short with longish legs, and he has a large head, with small
eyes, and a sharp nose. He has long, soft and woolly hair.
His food is chiefly fruit, such as acorns, chestnuts, grapes,
148 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

and com; but when hungry he will feed on flesh, and attack
other animals with courage and fierceness. He climbs trees,
and uses his paws like hands. In winter he retires to his
den, which is usually a hollow in some decayed tree, where
he hybernates until spring. Though of a wild disposition,
he can be tamed, and taught various tricks, in which he
displays a good deal of sagacity and docility. The following
story is quoted by Captain Brown from Captains Lewis’ and
Clarke’s travels to the source of the Missouri, as a striking
instance of the astonishing physical powers of the bear.
“One evening, the men in the hindmost of the canoes, discov-
ered a large bear lying in the open grounds, about three
hundred paces from the river. Six of them, all good hunters,
set out to attack him; and, concealing themselves by a small
eminence, came unperceived within forty paces of him. Four
of them now fired, and each lodged a ball in his body, two
of them directly through the lungs. The enraged animal
sprang up, and ran open-mouthed at them. As he came
near, the two hunters who had reserved their fire, gave him
two wounds, one of which, breaking his shoulder, retarded
his motion for a moment; but, before they could reload, he
was so near, that they were obliged to run to the river, and,
when they reached it, he had almost overtaken them. Two
jumped into the canoe; the other four separated, and, con-
cealing themselves in the willows, fired as fast as each could
load. They struck him several times, which only exasperated
him; and he at last pursued two of them so closely, that
they leaped down a perpendicular bank of twenty feet into
the river. The bear sprang after them, and was within a
few feet of the hindmost, when one of the hunters from the
shore shot him in the head, and killed him. They dragged
him to the banks of the river, and found that eight bails
had passed through his body.”

Of his docility Mrs. Bowdich gives the following amusing,
if, at the time, alarming illustration. “A young English officer,
THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 149

who was stationed at a lone fortress in Canada, amused
himself by taming a bear of this species. He taught him
‘to fetch and carry, to follow him like a dog, and to wait
patiently at meal times for his share. The bear accompanied
him when he returned to England, and became a great
avourite with the passengers and the ship’s company. Bruin,
however, especially attached himself to a little girl about
four years old, the daughter of one of the ladies on board,
who romped with him as she would with a dog. In one of
these games of play, he seized her with one fore-paw, and
with the other clambered and clung to the rigging, till he
lodged her and himself in the main-top, where, regardless
of her cries and the agony of her mother, he tried to
continue his romp. It would not do to pursue the pair, for
fear the bear should drop the child; and his master, knowing
how fond he was of sugar, had some mattresses placed
round the mast in case the child should fall, and then
strewed a quantity of sugar on the deck; he called Bruin,
and pointed to it, who, after a moment’s hesitation, came
down as he went up, bringing the child in safety. He was,
of course, deprived of his liberty during the rest of his voyage.”
The black bear is hunted for the sake of his skin, many
thousands of skins being sent to Europe every year.
The Grissly The Grizzly Bear is an enormous animal, accord-
Bear. ing to the measurement of Captains Lewis and
Clarke of one they killed, nine feet from nose to tail, though
they claim to have seen one of even larger size. It is said
to attain to a weight of 800 pounds. The fore-foot of
the animal already referred to exceeded nine inches in
length, the hind foot being eleven inches and three quar-
ters, exclusive of the talons, the breadth of the hind foot
being seven inches. The Grizzly does not climb trees, like
the brown and the black bear. He is ferocious when hungry,
and when attacked, and the female will die hard in the
defence of her young. Such is his strength that he can
150 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

master a bison, and drag him to his retreat. He is by far
the most dangerous brute of North America. He unhesi-
tatingly pursues both men and animals; but, though he feeds
on flesh, he is capable of subsisting upon roots and fruits.
He is very tenacious of life, and will pursue his enemy after
having received repeated mortal wounds. He is found in
the eastern vicinity of the Rocky Mountains. Though the
Grizzly will sometimes move off on the approach of the
traveller, without showing fight, he will at other times attack
him with great ferocity. A man named Nathan Rogers who
lived on a ranch in the mountains about a mile above
West Point, near the North Fork of the Mokelumne, once
had a terrific encounter with a grizzly bear. He was out
shooting small game when he was suddenly confronted by
an enormous animal. He fired his only shot into the breast
of the bear and then awaited his attack. The fight was
fast and furious, and though in the end the grizzly was killed,
the man only survived in a terrible condition. Conscious
that he must soon have help or perish, he summoned all
his resolution and staggered along, and managed to reach
a spring in sight of a house, when his endurance gave way,
and he fell in a dead faint by the water’s edge. Fortunately
he was soon discovered by his son, a lad of some twelve
years, who immediately gave the alarm. In addition to his
horrible wounds, the shock to his system was a terrible
one. His left arm, literally mangled and torn to shreds,
had to be amputated at the shoulder. His left clavicle and
scapula were fractured, and the three lower ribs on the right
side broken, The flesh and muscles on his back were so
broken and abraded that the vertebrze were actually visible
in places; while, his lower limbs were literally seamed and
furrowed by the crooked claws of the bear’s hind feet. The
left side of the bear was literally torn to pieces, there being
no less than twenty-two knife-wounds, nearly every one of
which reached to a vital point. Some idea of his size
THE BROWN BEAR, T5i

can be obtained when we state that one of his fore-paws just
covered an ordinary dinner plate.

The The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) was the bear
Brown Bear. of the British Isles, so long as the British
Isles boasted of a bear. This was the baited bear of the
Royal sports, and of the common Bear garden. His last
appearance in Great-Britain in a wild state, however, dates
back more than 800 years. In size, shape, and habits he
much resembles the black bear of America. Like the Malayan
bear he is very fond of honey as the following amusing story
as told by Mrs Bowdich will show:

“A countryman in Russia, when seeking honey, climbed a
very high tree, the trunk of which was hollow; and finding
there was a large quantity of comb in it, he descended, and
stuck fast in the tenacious substance there deposited. He
was so far distant from home, that his voice could not be
heard, and he remained two days in this situation, relieving
his hunger with the honey. He began to despair of ever
being extricated, when a bear, who, like himself, came for
the sake of the honey, slid down the hollow, hind-part fore-
most. The man, in spite of his alarm, seized hold of him;
and the bear, also in a great fright, clambered out as fast as
he could, dragging the man up with him, and when clear of
his tail-bearer, made off as fast as possible.”

The The Malayan Bear is about four feet long and
Malayan Bear. two feet high. It has a long tongue which
serves it well in extracting honey from the honey combs in
the hollow trunks of trees. Other bears are the Syrian Bear
of Western Asia, the Spectacled Bear of South America and
Peru and the Sloth Bear of India and the Mahratta country.
SUB-ORDER IJ, We come now to the second sub-order of the

The Carnivora or flesh-eating animals, the sub-order

Pinnipedis. which includes the Seal and the Walrus. These
in the form of their skulls and in other ways show evident rela-
tionship to the bear, and so appropriately follow him in classifica-
152 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

tior. The family of the Otaride, includes the Eared Seals,
the Northern Sea Lion and the Northern Sea Bear. The Eared
Seal is distinguished from the true seal, as his name implies
by the possession of external ears.

Sea Lions. Mr. Theodore Lyman, who had excellent op-
portunities of observing the habits of the Sea Lions on the
Seal Rocks of San Francisco, furnished Mr. Allen with a
graphic account of their movements, from which we quote the
following: “As they approach to effect a landing, the head
only appears decidedly above water. This is their familiar
element and they swim with great speed and ease, quite
unmindful of the heavy surf, and of the breakers on the
ledges. In landing they are apt to take advantage of a
heavy wave which helps them to get the forward flippers on
terra firma, As the wave retreats they begin to struggle up
the steep rocks, twisting the body from side to side, with a
clumsy worm-like motion, and thus alternately work their
flippers into positions, where they may force the body a
little onward. At such times they have a general appearance
of sprawling over the ground. It is quite astonishing to see
how they will go up surfaces having even a greater inclina-
tion than 45° and where a man would have to creep with
much exertion. In their onward path they are accompanied
by the loud barking of all the seals they pass; and these
cries may be heard a great distance. They play among
themselves continually by rolling on each other and feigning
to bite; often too, they will amuse themselves by pushing off
those that are trying to land. All this is done in a very cum-
brous manner, and is accompanied by incessant barking. As
they issue from the water their fur is dark and shining; but as
it dries, it becomes of a yellowish brown. Then they appear
to feel either too dry or too hot, for they move to the nearest point
from which they may tumble into the sea. I saw many roll off
a ledge at least twenty feet high, and fall like so many huge
brown sacks into the water, dashing up showers of spray.”
THE SEA BEAR. 153

Sea Bears. The Northern Sea Bear is otherwise known
as the Northern Fur Seal. Captain Charles Bryant gives a
very interesting account of these singular animals, in which
he describes them as approaching and taking possession oi
the shores of St. Paul’s Island near the coast of Alaska, aboui
the middle, or towards the end of April, when the snow has
melted and the drift ice from the north has all passed. A
few old male seals first make their appearance and reconnoitre
for two or three days, afterwards climbing the slopes and
taking possession of the rookeries, each male reserving about a
square rod for himself and his wives. The scouts then
return and younger male seals soon begin to arrive in small
detachments, but are prevented from landing by their elders
and are so forced to remain in the water or go to the upland
above. By the middle of June all the males have arrived,
and having adjusted their differences and divided the rock-
erties between them, await the arrival of the females. “These
appear in small numbers at first but increase as the season
advances, till the middle of July; when the rookeries are all
full, the females often overlapping each other. The bachelor
seals swim all day along the shore, escorting and driving the
females on to the rocks as fast as they arrive. As soon as
a female reaches the shore, the nearest male goes down to
meet her, making meanwhile a noise like the clucking of a
hen to her chickens. He bows to her, and coaxes her
until he gets between her and the water so that she cannot
escape him. Then his manner changes, and with a harsh
growl he drives her to a place in his harem. This continues
until the lower row of harems is nearly full. Then the males
higher up select the time when their more fortunate neigh-
bours are off their guard to steal their wives. This they do
by taking them in their mouths and lifting them over the
heads of the other females, and carefully placing them in
their own harem carrying them as carefully as cats do their
kittens Those still higher up pursue the same method until
154 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

the whole space is occupied. Frequently a struggle ensues
between two males for the possession of the same female,
and both seizing her at once, pull her in two, or terribly
lacerate her with their teeth. When the space is all filled,
the old male walks around complacently reviewing his family,
scolding those who crowd or disturb the others, and fiercely
driving off all intruders. This surveillance always keeps him
actively occupied.” After the birth of their young which
takes place towards the end of July, the old males who have
been four months without food, go to some distance from
the shore to feed, teaching the young to swim on their
return, “By the last of October the seals begin to leave the
islands in small companies. The males going last and by
themselves.”

The Walrus. The Walrus (Zrichechus rosmarus) is a large and
unwieldy creature. It bears a stronger resemblance to the
seal than to any other quadruped, but it is distinguished by
the proportions of its body and its elephant-like tusks. Vast
herds formerly frequented the shores of the islands scattered
between America and Asia, the coasts of Davis’s Straits and
those of Hudson’s Bay. They have been found as far south
as the Magdalen Islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Now
they are not met with in great numbers, except on the shores
of Spitzbergen and the remotest northern borders of America.
They attain to a very large size. The head is oval, short,
small, and fiat in front, having the eyes set in deep sockets
so ag to be moved forwards, or retracted at pleasure. On
land the Walrus is a slow and clumsy animal, but in the
water its motions are sufficiently quick and easy. When
attacked, the Walrus is both fierce and formidable, and ifin
company with its young, becomes very furious, attempting to
destroy its enemies by rising and hooking its tusks over
the sides of the boat, in order to sink it.

Captain Cook thus describes a herd of walruses he met
with off the north coast of America. He says: “They lie
THE SEAL, 155

in herds of many hundreds upon the ice, huddling over one
another, like swine; and roar or bray so very loud, that in
the night, or in foggy weather, they gave us notice of the
ice, before we could see it. We never found the whole herd
asleep, some being always upon the watch. These, on the
approach of the boat, would awake those next to them; and
the alarm being thus gradually communicated, the whole herd
would be awake presently. But they were seldom in a hurry
to get away, till after they had been once fired at. They
then would tumble over one another into the sea, in the
‘utmost confusion; and, if we did not, at the first discharge,
kill those we fired at, we generally lost them, though mortally
wounded. They did not appear to us to be that dangerous
animal which some authors have described, not even when
attacked. They are more so in appearance than reality.
Vast numbers of them would follow, and come close up to
the oars; but the flash of the musket in the pan, or even the
bare pointing of one at them, would send them down in an
instant. The female will defend her young to the very last,
at the expense of her own life, whether in the water or upon
the ice. Noi will the young one quit the dam, though she
be dead; so that, if one is killed, the other is certain prey.
The dam, when in the water, holds the young one between
her fore arms.”
The Common ‘The True Seals are divided by Dr. Gray into
Seal. thirteen genera with eighteen species, of which
the Common Seal, the Ringed Seal, the Harp Seal, the Grey
Seal, the Sea Leopard, the Sea Elephant, and the Bladder-
nose Hooded Seal are the best known. The common seal
has a round head which in front bears some resemblance to
that of the otter. Its average length is about five feet and
its general colour of a yellowish gray, varied or spotted with
brown or blackish in different degrees, according to the age
of the animal. The Common Seal frequents the sea-coasts
perhaps throughout the world, but is most numerous in high
156 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

northern latitudes, and furnishes the inhabitants of those frigid
regions with nearly all their necessaries and luxuries. Enor-
mous numbers are caught annually for the sake of their skins
and oil. The Harp Seal frequents the coast of Newfoundland
and is so named from the harp-shaped band which marks the
backs of the males. The Sea Elephant is the largest of the
seals. It is said to attain to the length of twenty-five to
thirty feet, and a circumference of fifteen to eighteen feet.
It belongs to the Antarctic sea.

“Seals when taken young,” says Captain Brown, “are
capable of being completely domesticated, will answer to
their name, and follow their master from place to place. In
January, 1819, a gentleman, in the neighbourhood of Burnt-
island, county of Fife, in Scotland, completely succeeded in
taming a seal. Its singularities attracted the curiosity of
strangers daily. It appeared to possess all the sagacity of a
dog, lived in its master’s house, and ate from his hand. In
his fishing excursions, this gentleman generally took it with
him, when it afforded no small entertainment. If thrown into
the water, it would follow for miles the track of the boat;
and although thrust back by the oars, it never relinquished
its purpose. Indeed, it struggled so hard to regain its seat,
that one would imagine its fondness for its master had entirely
overcome the natural predilection for its native element.”

The Seals Notwithstanding the absence of external ears

Docility. the common seal has a remarkable sense of hear-
ing and a keen taste for sweet sounds. Seals have been
known to follow a vessel, for miles, upon the deck of which
a violin or a flute has been played. To quote Sir Walter
Scott:

“Rude Heiskar’s seals, through surges dark,
Will long pursue the minstrel’s bark.”

They are also easily tamed, when they are found to be
exceedingly affectionate to those who treat them kindly. Some
years ago a fammer, residing on the east coast of Scotland,
THE SEAL. 157

close to the sea-shore, obtained a young seal for the amuse-
ment of his children, who soon became exceedingly fond
of it. Some time after, the farmer, having had a bad year
for his crops, was told by an old woman in the village that
he would never prosper as long as he kept that seal on his
ground. The foolish man giving heed to the superstition sent
away the seal in a boat some distance from land. Towards
evening, as the children were sitting on the sea-shore, what
was their joy on beholding their seal rising out of the water,
and making its way straight back to them again. For some
months they were allowed to retain their pet; but as the
farmer’s prospects did not brighten, he again determined to
get rid of it, and for that purpose, hearing of a ship that
was soon to sail for the Baltic, took the little seal, and gave
it in charge to some sailors, begging them to keep it in the
hold of the ship till they arrived at their destination, and
then to throw it into the sea. This was accordingly done,
but the faithful seal was not to be daunted; ere long, it
reappeared, to the great delight of the children, who begged
their father never to send it away again. The farmer gave
a doubtful assent, for a suspicion still lurked in his mind,
owing to the superstitious words of the old woman, that the
presence of the seal had an evil effect upon his crops; and
with these ideas preying upon his mind, the farmer conceived
the cruel thought of putting out the seal’s eyes with a view
of preventing it from finding its way back, and again sending
it away to sea. Unknown to his children, he carried this
barbarous plan into execution; and they only discovered the
loss of their favourite too late to aid in its recall, as the ship
in which it had been placed had already sailed for Norway.
Some days after the departure of the vessel, a fearful storm
arose. The farmer and his family were glad enough to close
up their shutters, and shut out as much as possible the
wailings of the wind, as it swept in furious gusts round the
house. They had scarcely retired to rest, when a faint and
158 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

plaintive sry struck upon their ears—and repeated again it
seemed to be—during the momentary lulls of the storm. The
farmer continued to listen, but hearing nothing more, he
descended to the front door and opened it; a dark object
lay before him, on the very threshold, and stooping down
to touch it, what was his astonishment to behold the poor
blind, devoted little seal, apparently dead. The farmer was
greatly touched ; he took up the little body gently and carried
it into the kitchen, and used every effort to restore it to
life but in vain.
ORDER Vv. This order is divided into two sub-orders, the
Whales and one characterised by the possession of teeth, and
Dolphins. the other being toothless.
The Right The Right Whale when fully grown, attains to
Whale. from fifty to sixty-five feet in length, and to from
thirty to forty feet in circumference. It is thickest behind the
fins. When the mouth is open, it presents a cavity as large as a
room, and capable of containing a boat full of men. Its
tongue is said to be as large as a stout feather-bed. The
tail is a powerful instrument of motion and defence: it is
only five or six feet long, but its motions are rapid, and its
strength immense. The eyes are situated in the sides of the
head; they are very small, being little larger than those of
an ox. The whale has no external ear, but there is a small
orifice under the skin for the admission of sound. On the
most elevated part of the head are two blow holes six or
eight inches in length. The mouth, instead of teeth, has
two rows of whalebone, each of which contains more than
three hundred lamine, the longest of which are about ten
or eleven feet. A large whale sometimes contains a ton and
a half of whalebone. The colour of the old whale is gray
and white, that of the young ones a sort of bluish black.
Immediately beneath the skin lies the blubber, or fat; its
thickness round the body is eight or ten or twenty inches,
varying in different parts: the lips are composed almost
THE WHALE, 159

entirely of blubber. A large whale yields about twenty tons
of oil, which is expressed from the blubber. It is for this
and the whalebone that this animal is deemed so valuable,
and for which it is so much sought by whalefishers. The
sense of seeing in the whale is very acute. Under the
surface of the water they discover one another at an amazing
distance. They have no voice, but in breathing or blowing
they make a loud noise.

The usual rate at which whales swim seldom exceeds four
miles an hour, but for a few minutes at a time they are
capable of darting through the water with amazing velocity,
and of ascending with such rapidity as to leap above the
surface. This feat they perform as an amusement, apparenily
to the high admiration of distant spectators. Sometimes they
throw themselves in a perpendicular posture, with the head
downwards, and rearing their tails on high, beat the water
with awful violence. Sometimes they shake their tails in the
air, which, cracking like a whip, resound to the distance of
two or three miles. The flesh of the whale, though it would
be rejected by the dainty palates of refined nations, is eaten
with much relish by the Eskimo, and the inhabitants
along the coasts of Hudson’s Bay and Davis’s Straits, who
esteem it a staple article of subsistence.

Other whales of this sub-order are the common Fin Whale,
which is said to reach eighty feet in length, the lesser Fin
Whale and the Humpback Whale. In these, the yield of
whalebone and oil is so small that they are not thought
worth the trouble of catching.

The Sperm The Sperm Whale rarely exceeds sixty feet in

Whale. length and lives in warm regions, such as the
Indian Ocean; rarely, if ever, visiting Arctic or European seas.
Its yield of oil is said to be less than that of the Greenland
whale but it is of a finer quality. Ambergris is also produced
from the body of the sperm whale.

TheDolphin This is a lar creature, so like the porpoise
160 NATORAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

that he has been often confounded with it. He is, however,
much larger, sometimes measuring from twenty to twenty-five
feet in length. The body is roundish, growing gradually less
towards the tail; the nose is long and pointed, the skin
smooth, the back black or dusky blue, becoming white towards
the belly. He is entirely destitute of gills, or any similar
aperture, but respires and also spouts water through a pipe
of semi-circular form placed on the upper part of the head.
There are several varieties of dolphins, including the Long-
nosed Dolphins of the rivers of Asia and South America and
the Classical Dolphin of the Mediterranean (Delphinus delphis)
The former are separately classified, and the family of the
latter includes the White Whale, the Narwhal, the Common
Porpoise and the Grampus. The dolphin is gregarious in its
habits, herding and travelling in large shoals. It may some-
times be seen sporting in the bays and rivers of New York
and is always a pretty sight.
The white Lhe White Whale (Beluga catodon) is the whale
Whale which Dr. R. Brown calls she whale of Green-
land. It is the whale which the Greenlander and the Eskimo
find so valuable for its oil and flesh, the latter of which they
dry for winter use. They are sometimes called sea pigs, from
a fancied resemblance they bear to the pig when floun-
dering in the sea, and sometimes sea canaries, on account
of their peculiar whistle, which resembles that of a bird.
The Nerwhal. The narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is found
frequently in company with the white whale, and inhabits
much the same geographical area. It is distinguished by the
possession of a tusk, the aim and purpose of which has been
much debated. “It has been supposed to use it,” says Dr.
Brown, “to stir up its food from the bottom, but in such a
case the female would be sadly at aloss. Fabricius thought
that it was to keep the holes open in the ice during the
winter; and the following occurrence seems to support this
view. In April, 1860, a Greenlander was travelling along the
THE PORPOISE. 165

ice in the vicinity of Christianshaab, and discovered one of
those open spaces in the ice, which, even in the most severe
winters, remain open. In this hole hundreds of narwhals
end white whales were protruding their heads to breathe,
no other place presenting itself for miles around. It was
described to me as an Arctic ‘Black Hole of Calcutta’ in
the eagerness of the animals to keep at the place.” “ Neither
the narwhal nor the white whale,” he continues, are timid
animals, but will approach close to, and gambol for hours in
the immediate vicinity of the ship.” The oil is highly es-
teemed, and the flesh is very palatable. The skin of the
narwhal boiled to a jelly is looked upon, and justly so, as
one of the prime dainties of a Greenlander.
TheCommon The Porpoise resembles the dolphin in general

Porpoise. appearance. Its length, from the tip of the snout
to the end of the tail, is from five to eight feet; and the
width about two feet and a half. The figure of the whole
body is conical; the colour of the back is deep blue, inclining
to shining black; the sides are gray, and the belly white.
When the flesh is cut up, it looks very much like pork; but,
although it was once considered a sumptuous article of food,
and is said to have been occasionally introduced at the tables
of the old English nobility, it certainly has a disagreeable
flavour. Their motion in the water is a kind of circular
leap; they dive deep, but soon again rise up in order
to breathe. They are seen in nearly all seas, where they
sport with great activity, chiefly on the approach of a
squall.

The The Grampus (Orca Gladiator) is the natural

Grampus. enemy of the whale and the seal, who hold ~
him in mortal terror. His swallow is so great that he can
take a porpoise or a seal whole, and has heen known to
swallow severalin succession. The whale escapes him by getting
among the ice, whither it is said the grampus will not fol-
low him.
162 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

ORDER VI, The Sea Cow is an aquatic vegetarian who
The Sea _ lives on the coast. Of the three genera which
Cow. constitute the family Maenatide one is now said
to be extinct. The genus Manatus contains two species, one
belonging to South America and the other to the West Coast
of Africa. The Dugong (Halicore Dugong) which attains to

a length of nine or ten feet at maturity produces oil having

_ similar medicinal properties to that obtained from the Cod’s

liver. It inhabits the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the neigh-

bourhood of the Malay Islands and the North and East
coasts of Australia.

ORDER Vil, The order of hoofed animals includes a
Hoofed number of well known species, of which the
Animals. Horse, the Ass, the Ox and the Sheep among

the tame, and the Rhinoceros, the Hippopotamus, the Boar and
‘the Bison among the wild are familiar examples. The order
is divided into two sub-orders and these into numerous
families. The sub-orders are, I, The Perissodactyla, which
includes three families of animals characterised by an odd
number of toes in their hind feet, the horse having one, and
the Rhinoceros three. II, The Artiodactyla which includes
seven families of animals all having an even number of
70es.

The Horse. The horse stands first among the hoofed ani-
mals, as the friend and servant of man. He has a history
which is full of interest but which it is quite impossible to
give within the limits of our present opportunity. He is
mentioned in both classical and Biblical history at an early
period, but there is reason to believe that he flourished in pre-
historic times. He was used by the Greeks in their public
games, the chariot race being one of their most popular forms
of entertainment; he was also employed by them for the
purposes of war, of which the writings of Homer and other
classical authors give abundant proof. First used apparently
to draw the chariot only, the adaptation of the means to the
THE HORSE. 103

end soon suggested to man the propriety of mounting his
back, and from the throne he thus acquired man has since
conquered the whole world. Man’s first appearance on horse-
back doubtless suggested the fable of the Centaur; those
unaccustomed to the sight imagining that they beheld a monster,
half man and half horse, as it is said the aborigines of
America did when they first saw Spanish equestrians. The
Egyptians are said to have been the first to cultivate the
horse, and the Persians the first to use him in battle.

Arabian The beauty, strength and speed of the Arabian

Horses. horse are well known, and the affection which
subsists between him and his master is the basis of many
a pathetic story. These horses are generally of a brown colour;
the mane and tail being short, and the hair black and
tufted. The Arabs for the most part use the mares in their
ordinary excursions, as they are less vicious than the males,
and are more capable of sustaining abstinence and fatigue.

The Arab often shares his tent with his mare, the husband,
the wife, the child, the mare, and the foal, lying together
indiscriminately; and the youngest branches of the family
embracing the neck, or reposing on the body, of the mare,
without any idea of fear or danger.

St. Pierre in his “Studies of Nature” tells a pretty story of
the Arab’s affection for his horse: “The whole stock of a
poor Arabian of the desert consisted of a beautiful mare;
this the French consul at Said offered to purchase, with an
intention to send her to Louis XIV. The Arab, pressed
by want, hesitated a long time, but at length consented, on
condition of receiving a very considerable sum of money,
which he named. The consul wrote to France for permission
to close the bargain; and, having obtained it, sent the
information to the Arab. The man, so indigent as to possess
only a miserable covering for his body, arrived with his
magnificent courser; he dismounted, and first looking at the
gold, then steadfastly at his mare, heaved a sigh. ‘To
164 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

whom is it,’ exclaimed he, ‘that I am going to yield thee
up? To Europeans! who will tie thee close, who will beat
thee, who will render thee miserable! Return with me, my
beauty, my jewel! and rejoice the hearts of my children.’
As he pronounced the last words, he sprang upon her back,
and was out of sight almost in a moment.” This story
forms the subject of the well known ballad by the Hon.
Mrs. Norton, entitled “The Arab’s farewell to his steed.”
Clarke thus describes the way in which the Arab will address
a horse:—“Ibrahim went frequently to Rama to inquire
news of the mare whom he dearly loved; he would embrace
her, wipe her eyes with his handkerchief, would rub her
with his shirt sleeves, would give her a thousand benedictions
during whole hours that he would remain talking to her.
‘My eyes! my soul! my heart! he would say, ‘must I be
so unfortunate as to have thee sold to somany masters, and
not keep thee myself? I am poor, my antelope! I brought
thee up in my dwelling as a child; I did never beat nor
chide thee——” Arabs have been known to refuse enormous
sums for horses, though actually themselves in a condition of
extreme want. That the horse can reciprocate the kindness
shown to him is proved by many astory of his fidelity. Chateau-
briand says, “When I was at Jerusalem the feats of one of
these steeds made a great noise. The Bedouin to whom
the animal, a mare, belonged, being pursued by the govern-
or’s guards, rushed with her from the top of the hills that
overlooked Jericho. The mare scoured at full gallop down
an almost perpendicular declivity without stumbling, and left
the soldiers lost in admiration and astonishment. The poor
creature, however, dropped down dead on entering Jericho,
and the Bedouin, who would not quit her, was taken,
weeping over the body of his faithful companion.”
More romantic is the story told by M. de Lamartine, thus
quoted by Mrs. Bowdich. “An Arab chief and the tribe to
which he belonged attacked a caravan in the night, and were
THE ARABIAN HORSE. 165

returning with their plunder, when some horsemen belonging
to the Pasha of Acre surrounded them, killed several, and
bound the rest with cords. Among the latter was the chief
Abou el Marek, who was carried to Acre, and, bound hand
and foot, laid at the entrance of their tent during the night.
Kept awake by the pain of his wounds he heard his horse,
who was picketed at a distance from him, neigh. Wishing
to caress him, perhaps for the last time, he dragged himself
up to him, and said, ‘Poor friend! what will you do among
the Turks? You will be shut up under the roof of a khan,
with the horses of a Pasha or an Aga. No longer will the
women and children of the tent bring you barley, camel’s
milk, or dhourra, in the hollow of their hands; no longer
will you gallop free as the wind in the desert; no longer will
you cleave the waters with your breast, and lave your sides,
as pure as the foam from your lips. If I am to bea slave,
at least you may go free. Return to our tent, tell my wife
that Abou el Marek will return no more; but put your head
still into the folds of the tent, and lick the hands of my
beloved children.’ With these words, as his hands were
tied, the chief with his teeth undid the fetters which held
the courser bound, and set him at liberty; but the noble
animal, on recovering his freedom, instead of galloping away
to the desert, bent his head over his master, and seeing him
in fetters and on the ground, took his clothes gently between
his teeth, lifted him up, and set off at full speed towards
home. Without resting he made straight for the distant
but well-known tent in the mountains of Arabia. He arrived
there in safety, laid his master down at the feet of his wife
and children, and immediately dropped down dead with
fatigue. The whole tribe mourmed him, the poets celebrated
his fidelity, and his name is still constantly in the mouths
of the Arabs of Jericho.”

For the sake of the beautiful moral it contains the follow-
ing story is well worth adding. In the tribe of Negde there
166 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

was a mare of great reputation for beauty and swiftness,
which a member of another tribe named Daber desired to
possess. Having failed to obtain her by offering all he was
worth, he sought to effect his object by stratagem. Disguised
as a lame beggar he waited by a roadside, knowing that
Nabee, the owner of the horse, would shortly pass that way.
As soon as Nabee appeared, Daber cried out to him, begging
assistance and pretending to be too weak to rise. Nabee
thereupon dismounted from the mare, and helped the beggar
to mount her. The moment he was mounted Daber declared
himself and made off. Nabee called to him to stop, and on
his turning round said to him, “Thou hast my mare, since
it pleased God I wish you success but I conjure thee tell no
one how thou hast come by her.” “Why not?” said Daber.
“Lest others should refrain from charity because I have been
duped,” said Nabee, whereupon Daber dismounted and
returned the mare.
The Domestic The Horse has only to be known to be loved,
Horse. and has only to be loved to become the most
tractable, patient, and useful of animals. “In the domestic
horse,” says Colonel Smith, “we behold an animal equally
strong and beautiful, endowed with great docility and no less
fire; with size and endurance joined to sobriety, speed, and
patience; clean, companionable, emulous, even generous; for-
bearing, yet impetuous; with faculties susceptible of very
considerable education, and perceptions which catch the
spirit of man’s intentions, lending his powers with the utmost
readiness, and restraining them with as ready a compliance:
saddled or in harness, labouring willingly, enjoying the sports
of the field and exulting in the tumult of the battle; used
by mankind in the most laudable and necessary operations,
and often the unconscious instrument of the most sanguinary
passions; applauded, cherished, then neglected, and ultimately
abandoned to the authority of bipeds who often show little
superiority of reason and much less of temper.” “One who,
THE DOMESTIC HORSE. * 167

like ourselves,” continues Colonel Smith, “has repeatedly
owed life to the exertions of his horse, in meeting a hostile
shock, in swimming across streams, and in passing on the
edge of elevated precipices, will feel with us, when con-
templating the qualities of this most valuable animal, emo-
tions of gratitude and affection which others may not so
readily appreciate.”
The Struc. “Lhe beauty of the form of the horse has often
ture ofa been commented upon, his structure is thus admir-
Horse. ably described by a writer in “Cassell’s Magazine
of Art”: “ His nature is eminently courageous, without ferocity,
generous, docile, intelligent, and, if allowed to be so, almost
as affectionate as the dog. In his structure, the ruling charac-
teristic may be said in one word to consist in obliquity—all
the leading bones in his frame are set obliquely, or nearly
so, and not at right angles. His head is set on with a subtle
curve of the last few vertebrae of the neck, which at the
shoulders, take another subtle curve before they become the
dorsal vertebrae, or backbone; which end, in their turn, with
another curve, forming the tail. His shoulders slope back
more than those of other quadrupeds, the scapula, or shoul-
der-blade, being oblique to the humerus, which, in its tum,
is oblique to the radius, or upper part of the fore-leg. So,
again, in the hind-quarters, the haunch is set obliquely to the
true thigh, the thigh, at the stifle joint, to the upper bone
of the hind-leg, which at the hock makes another angle.
The fore and hind quarters form so large a portion of the
entire length that a horse, though a lengthy animal from the
front of the chest to the back of the haunch, is, compara-
tively, very short in the actual back or ‘saddle-place.’ Then
his hocks are much bent, and his pastern joints are rather
long, and again are set at an angle, succeeded by a slightly
different angle in the firm but expanding hoof, thus com-
pleting the beautiful mechanism, which preserves the limbs
from jar, and ensures elasticity in every part of an animal
168 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

destined to carry weight and to undergo rapid and continued
axertion—a combination not existing in any other quadruped
to anything like the same degree, and fitting him precisely
for the purposes for which he was given to man. At present
we have said nothing about his head, every part of which is
equally characteristic. His well-shaped, delicate ears are
capable of being moved separately in every direction, and
every movement is full of meaning and in sympathy with
the eye. The eye is prominent, full, and large, and placed
laterally, so that he can see behind him without turning his
head, his heels being his principal weapon of defence; his
nostrils are large, open and flexible, and his lips fleshy,
though thin, and exquisitely mobile and sensitive. The large,
open nostril is essential to him, as a horse breathes solely
and entirely through it, being physically incapable of breath-
ing through his mouth, as a valve in the throat actually
precludes him from so doing; hence the mouth of a horse,
without a bridle in it, is opened only for purposes of eating
or biting, but never from excitement or from exhaustion, like
that of most other quadrupeds, except the deer species. The
lips are, perhaps, even more characteristic; they are his
hands as well as part of his mouth, and the horse and
others of his family alone use them in this way. The ox,
the sheep, the goat, the deer, the giraffe above all, and, in
fact, we believe all graminivorous animals except the horse,
either bite their food directly with the teeth, or grasp and
gather it with the tongue, which is prehensile, and gifted
with more or less power of prolongation; but the horse’s
tongue has no such function, and, therefore, no such powers,
as these services are all performed in his case by the lips :
and no horseman, who has let a favourite horse pick up
small articles of food from the palm of his hand, can have
failed to be struck with the extreme mobility, and also the
sensibility and delicacy of touch, with which the lips are
endowed,”
THE DOMESTIC HORSE, 169

The Horse's The quality of speed for which the horse is
Speed. so justly esteemed has been the subject of ex-
tensive culture in which the Arabian horse has contributed
no mean share. “Some of the horses first brought from
Arabia having been by no means celebrated,” says Captain
Brown, “the breed had fallen into disrepute, till the descendants
of one procured by Mr. Darley from the deserts, and on
that account called the Darley Arabian, having borne away
the palm for fleetness from all others, turned the tide of
fashion in favour of that breed. Yet it is only the progeny
of the Arabian horses that excels. The English race-horses
are equal, if not superior, to all other coursers. As the ex-
traordinary swiftness of the horse has been most signally
displayed in the English race-course, and can also be there
most precisely measured, we cannot omit the notice of some
of the most remarkable of our racers. The most celebrated
of these—and indeed the fleetest horse that ever was bred
in the world—was Flying Childers, got by the Darley Arabian.
What Achilles was among warriors, and Cesar among con-
querors, such was Childers among horses, without an equal
and without a rival. He ran against the most famous horses
of his age, and was always victorious. He has been known
to move at the rate of nearly a mile in the minute. Next
to Childers, in fame and fleetness, is Eclipse, so called from
having been foaled during the great eclipse of 1764. This
horse likewise was never beaten: one contemporary rival alone
was supposed to exist, Mr. Shaftoe’s horse Goldfinder, but
Goldfinder broke down the October before the proposed
competition. Eclipse’s rate of going was 47 feet in the second.
Childers had a rate of 49. One hundred to one were offered
on Eclipse against the most famous racers of his day. Mr.
O’Kelly purchased him for sixteen hundred and fifty guineas,
and cleared by him twenty-five thousand pounds. He had
a vast stride,—never horse threw his haunches below him
with more vigour or effect; and his hind legs were so spread
170 NATURAL ' HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

in his gallop, that 2 wheelbarrow might have been drives
between them. King Herod, another famous horse, which
was generally, though not like Eclipse uniformly, successful, is
chiefly celebrated for his progeny; his immediate descendants
having gained to their owners above two hundred thousand
pounds.”

he Horse's Many marvellous stories are told of the en-
Endurance. durance of the horse. Sir John Malcolm says,
*Small parties of Toorkomans, who ventured several hundred
miles into Persia, used both to advance and retreat at the
average of nearly one hundred miles a day. They train
their horses for these expeditions as we should do for a race,
and describe him when in a condition for a foray by saying
that his flesh is marble. When I was in Persia, a horseman
mounted upon a Toorkoman horse, brought a packet of letters
from Shiraz to Teherary, which is a distance of five hundred
miles, within six days.” Almost equally remarkable records
are held by English horses, but the invention of the loco-
motive has done away with the necessity for such trying
expeditions in civilized countries, and the horse is trained
more for speed and strength than for such long distance
efforts. M. de Pages in his travels round the world, tells a
remarkable story of the endurance of the horse when out of
his natural element; he says, “I should have found it diffi-
cult to give it credit had it not happened at this place
(the Cape of Good Hope) the evening before my arrival;
and if, besides the public notoriety of the fact, I had not
been an eyewitness of those vehement emotions of sympathy,
blended with admiration, which it had justly excited in the
mind of every individual at the Cape. A violent gale of
wind setting in from north and north west, a vessel in the
road dragged her anchors, was forced on the rocks and
bulged; and, while the greater part of the crew fell an im-
mediate sacrifice to the waves, the remainder were seen from
She shore struggling for their lives, by clinging to the different
THE DOMESTIC HORSE. 171

pieces of the wreck. The sea ran dreadfully high, and broke
over the sailors with such amazing fury, that no boat what-
ever could venture off to their assistance. Meanwhile a
planter, considerably advanced in life, had come from his
farm to be a spectator of the shipwreck; his heart was melted
at the sight of the unhappy seamen, and knowing the bold
and enterprising spirit of his horse, and his particular excel-
lence as a swimmer, he instantly determined to make a des-
perate effort for their deliverance. He alighted and blew a
little brandy into his horse’s nostrils, and again seating himself
in the saddle, he instantly pushed into the midst of the
breakers. At first both disappeared, but it was not long
before they floated on the surface, and swam up to the
wreck; when taking with him two men, each of whom held
by one of his boots, he brought them safe to shore. This
perilous expedition he repeated no seldomer than seven times,
and saved fourteen lives; but, on his return the eighth time,
his horse being much fatigued, and meeting a most formid-
able wave, he lost his balance and was overwhelmed in a
moment. The horse swam safely to land, but his gallant
rider was no more!”
The Horse's Many remarkable instances are recorded of the
Memory. exercise of the faculty of memory by horses.
Colonel Smith mentions an instance of a horse which he
had used for two years while in the army abroad, and
which some years later made himself known to his old
master with every demonstration of pleasure, though harnessed
to a mail coach. “That the horse remembers the scenes
and transactions of past times,” says Captain Brown, “is
proved from every day’s experience. It enters familiarly
into its usual abode; inclines to stop at its ordinary halting-
place; prefers a journey which it has formerly taken, and
falls readily into an occupation to which it has been accus-
tomed sieks the fields in which it has formerly pastured,
and has been known long afterwards to repair te the scenes
172 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

of its earlier days. A horse belonging to a gentleman of
Taunton strayed from a field at Corfe, three miles distant
from thence. After a long and troublesome search, he was
discovered on a farm at Branscombe, in Devon, a distance
of twenty-three miles, being the place where he was foaled,
although it is certain that the animal had not been there
for ten years, during the whole of which time he had been
in the possession of the gentleman who then owned him.”
Horses seem to have a similar sense of locality to that for
which dogs are so famous. A horse will find its way home
when its master cannot see a yard before him, instances
being recorded of parties lost in the snow which covered
all tracks, who only saved their lives by letting a horse
loose and following him. Captain Brown gives two
instances of horses who on becoming ill, found their way
to the veterinary surgeon, who had previously treated them,
entirely of their own accord. Instances are recorded also
of Cavalry horses, who, on hearing thunder while out grazing,
have mistaken it for the sound of cannon and who with
great excitement have formed themselves into line and
“presented the front of a field of war”. Old Hunters who
have become coach horses have been known upon hearing
the hounds, at the moment of “changing” to dash after
them with their harness on their backs and riderless and
guideless follow the hunt for hours. These are instances of
the ruling passion strong in after life, or perhaps more
correctly speaking of the force of habit, of which there are
countless illustrations. Kosciusko had a horse which he
once lent to a young man whom he employed upon a
commission, but who on his return declared that he would
never use the horse again unless also supplied with his master’s
purse; for said he, “as soon as a poor man on the road
takes off his hat and asks charity the animal immediately
stands still, and will not stir until something is bestowed .
upon the petitioner; and as I had no money about me I
THE DOMESTIC HORSE. 173

had to feign giving, in order to satisfy the horse and induce
him to proceed.” Such loyalty to habit, however interesting,
is not always convenient, as the following, which I quote
from “Anecdotes in Natural History” by the Rev. F. O.
Morris will show.

“Towards the close of last century, when volunteers were
first embodied in the different towns, an extensive line o.
turnpike road was in progress of construction in a part of the
north. The clerk to the trustees upon this line used to send
one of his assistants to ride along occasionally, to see that
the contractors, who were at work in a great many places,
were doing their work properly. The assistant, on these
journeys, rode a horse which had for a long time carried a
field officer, and, though aged, still possessed a great deal of
spirit. One day, as he was passing near a town of considerable
size which lay on the line of road, the volunteers were at
drill on the common; and the instant the horse heard the
drum he leaped the fence, and was speedily at that post in
front of the volunteers which would have been occupied by
the commanding officer of a regiment on parade or at drill;
nor could the rider by any means get him off the ground
until the volunteers retired to the town. As long as they kept
the field the horse took the proper place of a commanding
officer in all their manoeuvres, and he marched at the head
of the corps into the town, prancing in military style as
cleverly as his stiffened legs would allow him, to the great
amusement of the volunteers and spectators, and to the ne
small annoyance of the clerk.”

Perhaps no more amusing illustration of this force of habiy
could be found than that cited by Captain Brown ofa Scotch
lawyer who purchased a horse at Smithfield upon which tc
make a journey north. The horse was a handsome one and
started well, but on reaching Finchley common, at a place
where the road ran down a slight eminence, and up another,
the lawyer met a clergyman driving a one horse chaise.
174 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

“There was nobody within sight, and the horse by his
manceuvre instanily discovered the profession of his former
owner. Instead of pursuing his journey he laid his counter
close up to the chaise and stopped it, having no doubt but his
rider would embrace so fair an opportunity of exercising his
profession. The clergyman seemed of the same opinion,
produced his purse unasked, and assured the astonished
lawyer, that it was quite unnecessary to draw his pistol as he
did not intend to offer any resistance. The traveller rallied
his horse, and with many apologies to the gentleman he had
so innocently and unwillingly affrighted, pursued his journey.
The horse next made the same suspicious approuch to a
coach, from the windows of which a blunderbuss was levelled
with denunciations of death and destruction to the hapless
and perplexed rider. In short, after his life had been once
or twice endangered by the suspicions to which the conduct
of his horse gave rise, and his liberty as often threatened by
the peace-officers, who were disposed to apprehend him as
a notorious highwayman, the former owner of the horse, he
was obliged to part with the inauspicious animal for a trifle,
and to purchase at a large price one less beautiful, but not
accustomed to such dangerous habits.”

The Horses Of the larger quadrupeds the horse is said to
Intelligence. he only second in intelligence to the Elephant,
and many proofs could be given of the high standard of
intelligence to which he sometimes attains. The Rev. F.O.
Morris says,—“ We knew a blind coach-horse that ran one
of the stages on the great north road for several years, and
so perfectly was he acquainted with all the stables, halting-
places, and other matters, that he was never found to commit
a blunder. He could never be driven past his own stable;
and at the sound of the coming coach he would turn out, of
his own accord, into the stable-yard. So accurate was his
knowledge of time, that though half-a-dozen coaches halted
at the same inn daily, he was never known to stir till the
THE DOMESTIC HORSE. 475

sound of his own coach, the “ten o’clock” was heard in the
distance.” The intelligence of this horse was somewhat cir-
cumscribed but it was perfect within its limits. Colonel Smith,
as already quoted, says, “ Bipeds who exercise authority over
horses, often show little superiority of reason, and much less
of temper.” The way in which horses have preserved mas-
ters who have rendered themselves incapable of taking care
of themselves is proof of this. A horse has been known to
poke his nose in at a tavern door and shake his master by
the shoulder, when he has been lingering too long over his
potations. Another horse whose master from a similar cause
was unable to keep his seat watched by his side in the road
all night, and on being discovered by some labourers in the
early morning vigorously resented their attempts to awaken
‘him. Professor Kruger of Halle says, “A friend of mine was
one dark night riding home through a wood, and had the
misfortune to strike his head against the branch of a tree, and
fell from his horse, stunned by the blow. The horse imme-
diately returned to the house which they had left, about a
mile distant. He found the door closed, and the family gone
to bed. He pawed at the door till one of them, hearing the
noise, arose and opened it, and to his surprise saw the horse
of his friend. No sooner was the door opened than the
horse turned round, and the man, suspecting there was
something wrong, followed the animal, which led him directly
to the spot where his master lay on the ground in a faint.”
A pony has been known to leap into a canal and save
the life of a child in danger of drowning, and a cart horse
to lift a child out of the road and place it carefully on the
side walk before proceeding with his load. A remarkable
illustration of the intelligence of the horse under circumstances
in which most human beings would have lost all presence of
mind, is quoted by Captain Brown. “In the month of April,
1794, owing to a strong wind blowing contrary to the current
of the river, the island Kroutsand, surrounded by the two
176 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

branches of the Elbe, became entirely covered with water,
to the great alarm of the horses, which, with some foals, had
been grazing on it. They set up a loud neighing, and col-
lected themselves together within a small space. To save
the foals that were now standing up to their bellies in water
seemed to be the object of their consultation. They adopted
a method at once ingenious and effective. Each foal was
arranged between horses, who pressed their sides together so
as to keep them wedged up, and entirely free from injury
from the water. They retained this position for six hours,
nor did they relinquish their burden till the tide having ebbed
and the water subsided, the foals were placed out of danger.”

Horse Play. Horse-play is a term which conveys the idea
of rough if not brutal romping, and yet the horse can be
gentle in its friendships and considerate in its dealings with
weaker animals, and with children to a remarkable degree.
White in his “Natural History of Selborne”, tells of a curious
friendship between a horse and a hen. “These two incon-
gruous animals spent much of their time together in a lonely
orchard, where they saw no creature but each other. By
degrees an apparent regard began to take place between the
two sequestered individuals; the fowl would approach the
horse with notes of complacency, rubbing herself quietly
against his legs, while the horse would look down with satis-
faction, and move with the greatest caution and circumspec-
tion, lest he should trample on his diminutive companion.”
A similar friendship is recorded as between a horse and a
sheep, whom circumstances threw much in company. Both
gregarious animals and both failing of companionships of their
own kind, they found solace in their loneliness in a beautiful
if curious friendship. The gentleness of horses in dealing
with children has often been remarked, even when within the
confined limits of a stable they will use the utmost circumspec-
tion as to movements lest they should inadvertently tread upon
their playfellows. Mr. Morris tells of a plough horse who
THE DOMESTIC HORSE. 177

was too tall for his little master to mount and who used to
put his head down to the ground and allow the boy to
bestride his neck and then by gently elevating his head help
him to slide on to his back. Horses have been known to
allow liberties to children that they would not allow to their
elders, a remarkable illustration of which is given by Cap-
tain Brown. A hunter who always violently resented any
attempt on the part of his grooms to trim his fetlocks, was
once the subject of conversation in his master’s house, when
the master defied any man “to perform the operation singly.”
On the following day when passing through the stable-yard
he was astonished and alarmed at seeing his youngest child,
who had been an unnoticed listener to the conversation the
night before, with a pair of scissors, clipping the fetlocks of
the horse’s hind legs, the horse watching the operation with
evident satisfaction. It is, however, as between horses and
dogs that the truest affinity appears to exist of animals of
different families, and numerous anecdotes are told in illus-
tration of these friendships. Captain Brown gives the follow-
ing: “Doctor Smith, a practising physician in Dublin, had no
other servant to take charge of his horse while at a patient’s
door, than a large Newfoundland dog; and between the two
animals, a very good understanding subsisted. When he
wished to pass to another patient without remounting, he
needed but to give a signal to the pair, who followed him
in the most perfect good order. The dog also led the horse
to the water, and would give him a signal to leap over a stream.
While performing this on one occasion, the dog lost hold of
the reins, when the horse, having cleared the leap, trotted
back to the dog, who resumed the reins.”

“A gentleman in Bristol had a greyhound which slept in
the same stable, and contracted a very great intimacy with
a fine hunter. When the dog was taken out the horse
neighed wistfully after him; he welcomed him home with a
neigh; the greyhound ran up to the horse and licked him .

1%
178 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

the horse, in return, scratched the greyhound’s back with his
teeth. On one occasion, when the groom had the pair out
for exercise, a large dog attacked the greyhound, bore him
to the ground, and seemed likely to worry him, when the
horse threw back his ears, rushed forward, seized the strange
_ dog by the back and flung him to a distance which the
animal did not deem it prudent to make less.”

The horse’s sympathy with his own kind must, however,
not pass without mention. Horses have been known to
masticate food for their toothless companions, an instance
being recorded by M. de Boussanelle, a cavalry officer, of a
horse belonging to his company who was fed for two months
in this way by the horses stationed on either side of him.
Whether the horses in the following case were actuated by
sympathy or fear, the story deserves to be retold for its
extreme pathos. When Sir John Moore’s soldiers embarked
after the battle of Corunna, orders were given that the troop
horses should be shot, rather than that they should fall into
the hands of the enemy. “These horses,” says Colonel Smith,
“witnessing their companions fall one after another, stood
trembling with fear, and by their piteous looks seemed to
implore mercy from the men who had been their riders, until
the duty imposed upon the dragoons who had been intrusted
with the execution of the order became unbearable, and the
men tumed away from the task with scalding tears: hence
the French obtained a considerable number unhurt, and
among them several belonging to officers who, rather than
destroy them, had left their faithful chargers with billets
attached recommending them to the kindness of the enemy.”

The Ass, The ass is an animal which seems to pe more
than ordinarily affected by its surroundings and treatment.
In eastern countries where it is well cared for, and employed
in the service of the rich, it rises to the occasion and becomes
‘both graceful and spirited in action and elegant and refined
in appearance: in the west where it is discarded for the sake
THE ASS, 17g

of the horse, and used almost solely as a beast of heavy
burden, often suffering great cruelty and hardship, it seems to
lose spirit and become dull and obstinate, as people do who,
crushed by hard circumstances, lose hope. The ass has an
ancient and honourable history which dates back apparently
as far as that of the horse. He is mentioned alike by sacred
and profane writers, Job and Homer making flattering reference
to him. In Syria and Persia, where he is cultivated, he attains
to a much larger size than in the west, where he may
be described as about two-thirds the size of the horse. In
ancient times these animals fetched very large sums, sums
which in our day would be considered very large for a horse, a
stallion mentioned by Pliny realising a sum exceeding £3000.
“No domestic animal,” says Colonel Smith, “in proportion
to its bulk, can carry a greater weight, or continue to labour
longer without sustenance. The ass is emphatically the poor
man’s horse in every country; and if care were taken of the
breed, and well selected animals imported from Arabia, a
very useful and handsome race might be reared.” Though
the ordinary ass is slow and obstinate, his eastern cousin is
both fleet and obedient, and remarkable feats have been
performed by half breeds. A half-pred, Spanish and English,
of twelve and a half hands high, belonging to Mr. Wilson of
Ipswich, drew a light gig from Ipswich to London and back
again, a distance of 140 miles, in two days. He is said to
have maintained a pace little short of that of a good gig
horse and to have performed the whole journey with ease,
finishing it without whip, at the rate of seven miles an hour.
Though patient above most animals, the ass will sometimes
turn like the proverbial worm, and instances are known
in which he has adopted the offensive with effect. Some
years ago, a bull dog which had been set on to an ass, was
caught by the latter in his teeth, carried to the river Derwent
and held under water until he was drowned. Donkeys have
often been known after enduring great provocation from boys
180 ° NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

to turn on their assailants and put them to speedy and
anxious flight.

The Sagacity Duli though he appears to be, the ass show

of the Ass. himself on occasion to be possessed of no little
invention in matters that concern his liberty and comfort.
His aptitude for lifting latches and drawing bolts has often
been observed. Mr. Fuller describes the actions of an ass
he saw, who put his head sideways between the bars of
a gate and turning it into its normal position lifted the
gate over the latch and pushed it forward, withdrawing his
head after he had opened the gate and proceeding to enjoy
the dainties of the field into which he had thus effected an
entrance. A still more remarkable instance is given by Mr.
East who says: “While living on the Sussex coast, I had
myself a very fine donkey, which was a remarkably docile
and knowing animal. He was the constant companion of my
children in their rambles on the downs, and on those occa-
sions seemed to think he had a right to share in all the
eatables and drinkables, and would do so most readily,
whether cakes, apples, oranges, sweetmeats, milk, or even
tea; ginger-beer being the only exception. With this he was
thoroughly disgusted, in consequence of the cork, which had
been expelled from the bottle with the usual loud report,
having struck him on the nose. This he never forgot; but
would quickly march off whenever a ginger-beer bottle was
produced. But his cleverness and cunning were more especi-
ally shown in the following incident :—His lodging-place at
night was a small, open shed, whence he had free access to
a yard; but not, of course, to the kitchen-garden which
adjoined it. The latter was separated from the yard by a
wall and door, fastened securely, as we imagined, by two
bolts and an ordinary latch. We were, however, surprised to
find that the door had been unfastened during the night,
while the footprints of the donkey on the garden walks and
beds too plainly told who had been the trespasser. Still we
THE ASS. w81

could hardly suppose he could have drawn the bolts and
let himself in, especially as the upper bolt was fixed at a
considerable height. This, however, proved to have been the
case; for my bedroom overlooking the yard and garden, I
one night watched at the window, and distinctly saw master
donkey, reared on his hind legs, unfastening the upper bolt
with his nose or mouth. He then withdrew the lower one,
lifted the latch, and walked quietly into the garden. In a
few minutes I further observed him returning to his shed with
a large bunch of carrots, which he deposited in his shed, and
then went back—not, certainly, to bolt, but to latch the
door; after which he leisurely set about munching his slily
acquired booty. Before putting a final stop to these proceed-
ings, I gave several of my neighbours, who were incredulous
upon the subject, an opportunity of witnessing them. And
at these times his sagacity was further evinced by the fact
that he would never commence his operations until after the
light had been extinguished at the bedroom window.”
ThoInstincs The sense of locality so conspicuous in the
of the Ass. dog, the cat and the horse is also possessed in
a remarkable degree by the ass, as the following story told
by Captain Brown will show. “In 1816, an ass belonging
to Captain Dundas was shipped on board the Ister, bound
from Gibraltar to Malta. The vessel struck on a sand-bank
off the Point de Gat, and the ass was thrown overboard into
a sea which was so stormy that a boat that soon after left
the ship was lost. In the course of a few days, when the
gates of Gibraltar were opened in the morning, the guard
was surprised by the same ass which had so recently been
removed, presenting itself for admittance. On entering, it
proceeded immediately to the stable which it had formerly
occupied, The ass had not only swum to the shore, but
found its own way from. Point de Gat to Gibraltar, a distance
of more than two hundred miles, through a mountainous and
intricate country intersected by streams, which it had never
182 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

passed before—but which it had now crossed so expeditiously
that it must have gone by a route leading the most directly
to Gibraltar.”
The Trainea The ass like many other animals is capable
Ass. of being trained to perform many tricks, advan-
tage of which seems to have been taken long before our time,
as the following quoted by Captain Brown will show. John
Leo, in a book printed as early as 1556, says, “when the
Mahometan worship was over, the common people of Cairo
resorted to the foot of the suburbs called Bed-Elloch to see
the exhibition of stage-players and mountebanks, who teach
camels, asses, and dogs to dance. The dancing of the ass
is diverting enough; for after he has frisked and capered
about, his master tells him, that the Soldan, meaning to build
a great palace, intends to employ all the asses in carrying
mortar, stones, and other materials; upon which the ass falls
down with his heels upwards, closing his eyes, and extending
his chest, as if he were dead. This done, the master begs
some assistance of the company, to make up the loss of the
cead ass; and having got all he can, he gives them to know
thst truly his ass is not dead, but only being sensible of his
master’s necessity, played that trick to procure some pro-
vender. He then commands the ass to rise, who still lies in
the same posture, notwithstanding all the blows he can give
him, till at last he proclaims, by virtue of an edict of the
Soldan, all are bound to ride out next day upon the come-
liest asses they can find, in order to see a triumphal show,
and to entertain their asses with oats and Nile water. These
words are no sooner pronounced, than the ass starts up,
prances, and leaps for joy. The master then declares, that
his ass has been pitched upon by the warden of his street,
to carry his deformed and ugly wife; upon which the ass
lowers his ears, and limps with one of his legs, as if he were
lame. The master, alleging that his ass admires handsome
women, commands him to single out the prettiest lady in
THE MULE AND THE HINNY. 183

the company; and accordingly, he makes his choice by going
round, and touching one of the prettiest with his head, to
the great amusement of the company.”
TheMuleana The Mule and the Hinny, are the off-spring
the Hinny. of the ass and the horse and combine to some
extent the qualities of both. The mule has the sure-footed-
ness of the ass, and the size and appearance of the horse.
His history dates back to classical and Biblical times, and
mention is made of him both in the Iliad and in the Bible.
In the East he is still trained to useful service, and in Eng-
land he is used in tramways and road cars. The Spanish
mules are trained to understand the calls of their driver who
directs their course by shouting from the box.

The Zebra. The Zebra resembles the horse in shape, and
in size stands half way between the horse and the ass.
He belongs to Central Africa, and hitherto has resisted all
attempts to tame him for practical use. He is a beautiful
animal, handsomely marked with black and white stripes
all over the body, and black and white rings round the legs.
Burchell’s Zebra which belongs to the Cape of Good Hope,
is similar, but has white legs. The Quagga of Southern Africa
has a brown coat striped with black, a white waistcoat, and
white stockings. Zebras have been half tamed, when kept in
menageries, but lack the instinctive docility of the horse.

The Tapir. The next family we have to deal with is the
family of the Zapiride, in which there are two genera and
six species. The Tapir is a large and powerful animal
standing from five to six feet in height and inhabiting the
warmer regions of South America. It is nocturnal in its
habits and feeds on water-melons, gourds, and other fruits
and vegetables. It frequents the water and can remain below
the surface for a long time. Its hide is very thick and its
senses of sight, hearing, and smell very acute. Its most
characteristic feature is as hort mobile probos-cis which enables
it to seize hold of boughs and fruits when in search of food.
184 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

The Rev. J. G. Wood says, “Its disposition is gentle, but
when annoyed, it sometimes rushes at its antagonist, and
defends itself vigorously with its powerful teeth. The jaguar
frequently springs on it, but it is often dislodged by the
activity of the Tapir, who rushes through the bushes imme-
diately that it feels the claws of its enemy, and endeavours
to brush him off against the thick branches.” The Tapir is
easily tamed and even domesticated, though it must be
admitted it makes a somewhat huge pet. It is intelligent
and in its own way shows appreciation of kindness and
attachment to its owner. This family has sometimes been
regarded as a link between the Elephant and the Rhinoceros,
but in the classification here followed the Elephant forms a
separate order; the Tapir and the Rhinoceros complete.
the sub-order of Perissodactyla or odd-toed, hoofed animals.
The Indian Tapir is somewhat larger than his American
cousin and is distinguished by the greyish-white colour of
his hind quarters, which gives him the appearance of bearing
a white horse cloth on his loins.

The The Rhinoceros is found in both Asia and
Rhinoceros. Africa, and is classified by Dr. Gray in four
genera. Of these the Indian Rhinoceros, the Rhinoceros of
Sumatra, and the Mahoohoo of South and Central Africa
are representatives. Mr. Gordon Cumming says, “There are
four varieties in South Africa, distinguished by the Bechuanas
by the names of the Borélé or black rhinoceros, the Keitloa
or two-horned black rhinoceros, the Muchocho or common
white rhinoceros and the Kobaoba or long-horned white
thinoceros. Both varieties of the black rhinoceros are
extremely fierce and dangerous, and rush headlong and:
unprovoked upon any object which attracts their attention.
Their horns are much shorter than those of the other varieties,
seldom exceeding eighteen inches in length. They are finely
polished with constant rubbing against trees. The skull is
remarkably formed, its most striking feature being the
THE RHINOCEROS, 165

tremendous thick ossification in which it ends above the
nostrils. It is on this mass that the horn is supported.
The horns are not connected with the skull, being attached
merely by the skin, and they may thus be separated from
the head by a sharp knife. They are hard and perfectly
solid throughout. The eyes of the rhinoceros are small and
sparkling and do not readily observe the hunter, provided
he keep to leeward of them. The skin is extremely thick,
and only to be penetrated by bullets hardened with solder.”
“During the day the rhinoceros will be found lying asleep
or standing indolently in some retired part of the forest, or
under the base of the mountains, sheltered from the power
of the sun by some friendly grove of umbrella-topped
mimosas. In the evening they commence their nightly ramble,
and wander over a great extent of country.” “The black
rhinoceros is subject to paroxysms of unprovoked fury, often
ploughing up the ground for several yards with its horns, and
assaulting large bushes in the most violent manner.” “The
rhinoceros is supposed by many, and by myself among the
rest, to be the animal alluded to by Job, Chap. xxxrx, verses
10 and 11, where it is written: ‘Canst thou bind the unicorn
with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys
after thee? Wilt thou trust him because his strength is
great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?” “All the four
varieties delight to roll and wallow in mud, with which thei
rugged hides are generally encrusted. Both varieties of the
black rhinoceros are much smaller and more active than the
white, and are so swift that a horse with a rider on his
back can rarely overtake them. The two varieties of the
white rhinoceros are so similar in habits, that the description
of one will serve for both; the principal difference consisting
in the length and set of the anterior hor; that of the
muchocho averaging from two to three feet in length, and
pointing backwards; while the horn of the Kobaoba often
exceeds four feet in length, and inclines forward from the
186 WATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

nose at an angle of 45°. The posterior horn of either specicu
seldom exceeds six or seven inches in length. Both these
varieties attain an enormous size, being the animals next in
magnitude to the elephant. They feed solely on grass, carry
much fat, and their flesh is excellent, being preferable
to beef.”
Rhinoceros Mr. Gordon Cumming gives several graphic
Hunting. descriptions of his experiences with the rhinoceros,
in his “Hunting Adventures in South Africa”, from which
work the foregoing description of the several species is taken.
On one occasion after following a huge white rhinoceros,
which, however, escaped him, he says, “I found myself on the
banks of the stream beside which my waggons were out-
spanned. Following along its margin, I presently beheld a
bull of the borélé, or black rhinoceros, standing within a
hundred yards of me. Dismounting from my horse, I secured
him to a tree, and then stalked within twenty yards of the
huge beast, under cover of a large strong bush. Borélé,
hearing me advance, came on to see what it was, and suddenly
protruded his horny nose within twenty yards of me. Knowing
well that a front shot would not prove deadly, I sprang to
my feet and ran behind the bush. Upon this the villain
charged, blowing loudly, and chased me round the bush.
Had his activity been equal to his ugliness my wanderings
would have terminated here, but by my superiority I had
the advantage in the turn. After standing a short time eyeing
me through the bush... he wheeled about, leaving me master
of the field.” This was not the only nor even the narrowest
escape experienced by Mr. Gordon Cumming when hunting
this enormous beast. On another occasion he says :—“ Having
proceeded about two miles with large herds of game on every
side, I observed a crusty looking old bull borélé or black
thinoceros, cocking his ears one hundred yards in advance.
re had not observed us; and soon after he walked slowly
towards us, and stood broadside, eating some wait-a-bit
THE RHINOCEROS, 187

thorns within fifty yards of me. I fired from my saddle,
and sent a bullet in behind his shoulder, upon which he
rushed forward about one hundred yards in tremendous
consternation, blowing like a grampus, and then stood looking
about him. Presently he made off. I followed, but found
it hard to come up with him. The chase led through a
large herd of wildebeests, zebras, and springboks, which gazed
at us in utter amazement. At length I fired my second
barrel, but my horse was fidgety, and I missed. I continued
riding alongside of him, expecting in my ignorance, that at
length he would come to bay, which rhinoceroses never do;
when suddenly he fell flat on his broadside on the ground,
but, recovering his feet resumed his course as if nothing
had happened. Becoming at last annoyed at the length of
the chase, as I wished to keep my horse fresh for the elephants,
and being indifferent whether I got the rhinoceros or not, I
determined to bring matters to a crisis, so spurring my horse,
I dashed ahead, and rode right in his path. Upon this the
hideous monster instantly charged me in the most resolute
manner, blowing loudly through his nostrils; and although
I quickly wheeled about to my left, he followed me at such
a furious pace for several hundred yards, with his horrid
horny snout within a few yards of my horse’s tail, that my
little bushman, who was looking on in great alarm, thought
his master’s destruction inevitable. It was certainly a very
near thing; my horse was extremely afraid and exerted his
utmost energies on the occasion. The rhinoceros, however,
wheeled about and continued his former course, and I, being
perfectly satisfied with the interview which I had already
enjoyed with him, had no desire to cultivate his acquaint-
ance any further, and accordingly made for the camp.”
The Tame Some species of the rhinoceros, if not all, seem
Hhinoceros. to be tamable. The Indian variety distinguished
by the thick folds of heavy garment-like skin, which hang
from his shoulders, haun*hes and thighs, has been trained
?
188 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

to exercise the same quiet patience which distinguishes
the elephant. The paroxysms of rage which Mr. Gordon
Cumming describes the African variety as venting upon a
harmless bush, or employing in tearing up the earth, have
been known to seize those specimens which have been im-
ported into England, as the following account of the rhino-
ceros, exhibited at Exeter Change, published in the “ Philoso-
phical Transactions for 1822,” will show. “This animal about
a month after it came, endeavoured to kill the keeper, and
nearly succeeded. It ran at him with the greatest impetuosity, -
but, fortunately, the horn passed between his thighs, and
threw the keeper on its head; the horn came against a
wooden partition, into which the animal forced it to such a
depth as to be unable for a minute to withdraw it, and,
during this interval, the man escaped. Frequently, (more
especially in the middle of the night), fits of frenzy came
on; and, while these lasted, nothing could control its rage,
the rhinoceros running with great swiftness round the den,
playing all kinds of antics, making hideous noises, knocking
everything to pieces, disturbing the whole neighbourhood,
and then, all at once, becoming quiet. While the fit was
on, even the keeper durst not make his approach. The
animal fell upon its knee to enable the horn to be borne
upon any object. It was quick in all its motions, ate vora-
ciously all kinds of vegetables, appearing to have no selection.
They fed it on branches of willow. Three years’ confinement
made no alteration in its habits.” The rhinoceros is said
to live for a hundred years.

The Hippo. The Hippopotamus introduces the second sub-

potamus. order of the hoofed animals, the Artiodactyla,
animals having an even number of toes. There is but
one genus of the Hippopotamus and two species, the Hippo-
potamus of the great rivers of Southern Africa, and the Liberian
Hippopotamus of the West. The Hippotamus is gregarious,
‘congregating in the deep shady, pools and on the sandy

'
{

\


MILES’ NATURAL HISTORY.





INDIAN RHINOCEROS
(Rhinoceros unicornis)



(Camelus dromedarius)
THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 189

banks of the shallow rivers of its native land. It attains to
ten or eleven feet in length, and to five feet, or more, in
height, being the next largest animal to the rhinoceros and
the elephant. He is a powerful beast and has been known
to attack and capsize boats, though when hunted he usually
sinks to the bottom of the river where he is able to remain
five or six minutes without rising to the surface for breath.
The form of his head enables him to lift his eyes and his nostrils
above the water at the same time without exposing more than
a slight portion of his head. Thus, while taking in breath
to sustain him while out of the reach of his enemies, he can
watch their movements and determine his course below. His
hide is very thick and strong and is, therefore, very useful
for a variety of purposes, while his tusks furnish the dentist
with the material to supply human deficiencies.
The Haunt Mr. Gordon Cumming gives the following
ofthe _ vivid description of the haunt of the Hippopotami.
Hippopotami. «The next day I rode down the river to seek
sea-cows, taking as usual my double-barrelled rifles. We had
proceeded about two miles when we came upon some most
thoroughly beaten, old established hippopotamus paths, and
presently, in a broad, long, deep, and shaded pool of the
river, we heard the sea-cows bellowing. There I beheld
one of the most wondrous and interesting sights that a
sportsman can be blessed with. I at once knew that there
must be an immense herd of them, for the voices came from
the different parts of the pool; so creeping in through the
bushes to obtain an inspection, a large sandy Island
appeared at the neck of the pool, on which stood several
large shady trees. The neck of the pool was very wide and
shallow, with rocks and large stones; below, it was deep and
still. On a sandy promontory of this Island stood about
thirty cows and calves, whilst in the pool opposite, and a
little below them, stood about twenty more sea-cows, with
their heads and backs above \vater. About fifty yards further

}
igo WATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

down the river again, showing out their heads, were eight or
ten immense fellows, which I think were all bulls; and about
one hundred yards below these in the middle of the stream
stood another herd of about eight or ten cows with calves
and two huge bulls. The sea-cows lay close together like
pigs; a favourite position was to rest their heads on their
comrade’s sterns and sides. The herds were attended by
an immense number of the invariable rhinoceros birds, which
on observing me did their best to spread alarm throughout
the hippopotami. I was resolved io select, if possible, a first-
rate old bull out of this vast herd, and I accordingly
delayed firing for nearly two hours, continually running up
and down behind the thick thorny cover, attentively studying
the heads. At length I determined to go close in and select
the best head out of the eight or ten bulls which lay below
the cows. I accordingly left the cover, and walked slowly
forward in full view of the whole herd to the water’s edge,
where I lay down on my belly and studied the heads of
these bulls. The cows on seeing me splashed into the water
and kept up a continual snorting and blowing till night set
in. After selecting for a few minutes I fired my first shot
at a splendid bull and sent the ball in a little behind the
eye. He was at once incapacitated, and kept plunging and
swimming round and round, wearing away down the pool,
until I finished him with two more shots.”

The Pig Pigs, hogs and peccaries form the next family

Family. with which we have to deal. The Wild Boar
which we may take first, is famous in classic history and
European legends, and is celebrated both by ancient and
modern poets. He is, or was common to Europe, Asia and
Africa, and whether in the hunt or the banquet has always
been highly esteemed. The boar hunt is an exciting chase,
having all the elements of danger necessary to give it zest.
Boars have been known to kill not only dogs, but horses
and men with their powerful ‘asks, turning and rending them

4

{
THE BOAR. 191

with great strength and ferocity. When in a wild state the
boar ig a dangerous and inconvenient neighbour, for he com-
mits serious depredations upon the property of the peasan.
and the farmer. Bruce in his travels gives an illustration of
this. He says: “We pitched our tent in a smal! plain by the
banks of a quick clear running stream; the spot is called
Mai-Shum. A peasant had made a very neat little garden,
on both sides of the rivulet, in which he had sown abundance
of onions and garlic, and he had a species of pumpkin which
I thought was little inferior to a melon. This man guessed
by our arms and our horses that we were hunters, and he
brought us a present of the fruits of his garden, and begged
our assistance against a number of wild boars, which carried
havoc and desolation through all his labours, marks of which
were, indeed, too visible everywhere.—Amongst us all we
killed five boars, all large ones, in the space of about two
hours; one of which measured six feet nine inches; and
though he ran at an amazing speed near two miles, so as to
be with difficulty overtaken by the horse, and was struck
through and through with two heavy lances loaded at the
end with iron, no person dared to come near him on foot,
and he defended himself above half an hour, till having no
other arms left, I shot him with a horse-pistol.” The tusks
of the wild boar are often a foot in length and his hide is
so tough that small bullets have been found between the skin
and the flesh of captured specimens.
The Common Authorities differ as to whether the domestic
Hog. pig is derived from the wild species or not, but
certain it is that the domestic hog under suitable circumstances,
‘betrays wild instincts. Hogs have been known to hunt
rabbits and poultry and attack lambs when temporarily free
from restraint, and instances have been recorded in which
the hog has attacked and killed its keeper. The hog grows to
agreat size, the measurements of one belonging to Mr. Lunton
of Bodmain some years ago being nine feet in length and
192 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

seven feet five inches in girth. Its weight was eight hundred
and fifteen pounds. These limits have, however, often been
exceeded, a hog bred in Cheshire measuring nine feet eight
inches including tail, and standing four feet six inches in
height. This animal weighed 1,215 pounds when killed.
Hampshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, and Yorkshire have all fine
breeds which supply the larders of-the United Kingdom with
prime bacon. The sucking pig has been deemed a dainty
dish even from Roman times. The babiroussa belongs to
Bouru and Celebes, and is gregarious. Its habits are similar
to those of the wild hog, which the male rivals and even
surpasses in size. It has tusks attached to both the upper
and the lower jaw, which bend backwards with a graceful curve.

The Peceary. The Peccary belongs to South America where
it is indigenous. There are two species, the Collared Peccary
and the White-lipped Peccary. The collared peccary is a
timid, inoffensive animal about three feet long, and distin-
guished by white bands which traverse the shoulders and
meet at the neck. They associate in pairs or small families
and live in holes and hollows. The white-lipped peccary
herds in large numbers, migrating apparently in regular order
in companies sometimes a thousand strong. , These animals
are very fierce when attacked, and the hunter has little chance
of escaping them unless he can find shelter in a friendly
tree. Many stories are told of hunters who have sought
such asylum, and who have been kept treed many hours.
by peccaries who, regardless of the mortality of their com-
rades, have lingered round the trunk.

The Camel and The history of the Camel carries us back
the Dromedary. to the age of the great patriarchs, and gives
‘him some claim to be regarded as a patriarch himself. He
belongs to Egypt and Arabia, where he is indispensable to the
desert ranger, and where no longer found in a wild state,
he takes rank as a domestic animal. His uses are several.
As a beast of burden he is invaluable, while the milk of the
THE CAMEL. 193

female serves as an article of food, the surplus wool of his
body as a material for rough woven cloth and his dung as
excellent fuel. He is said by some to be docile and affectionate
and by others to be dull and stupid, though harbouring the
spirit of revenge. Probably like many other animals he will
be found to reciprocate the treatment he receives in kindness
as well as in cruelty. Some confusion exists in the popular
mind as to distinctions between the Camel and the Dromedary,
the number of the humps being said to differentiate the two.
With regard to this Mr. Palgrave in his “ Travels in Central and
Eastern Arabia”, says:—“The camel and the dromedary in
Arabia are the same identical genus and creature, excepting
that the dromedary is a high-bred camel, and the camel
a low-bred dromedary; exactly the distinction which exists
between a race-horse and a hack; both are horses, but the
one of blood and the other not. The dromedary is the race
horse of this species, thin, elegant, (or comparatively so) fine
haired, light of step, easy of pace, and much more enduring
of thirst than the woolly, thick-built, heavy-footed, ungainly
and jolting camel. But both and each of them have only
one hump, placed immediately behind their shoulders, where
it serves as a fixing point for the saddle or burden. For
the two humped beast—it exists, indeed, but it is neither an
Arab dromedary nor camel; it belongs to the Persian breed
called by the Arabs ‘Bakhtee’ or Bactrian.”
The Strength Tike all animals in their native lands the camel
and : : .
Endurance Shows remarkable adaptation to his environment.
of the Camel. Water is scarce in the desert, so the ship of the
desert, as he has been poetically called, is provided with a
capacity for the storage of the precious fluid and is able to
take in a several days’ supply at one time. The camel is
said to drink “fifty, sixty, or even a hundred pounds’ weight”
of water at one time, and then to go for three or four days
without a fresh supply. Again food is scarce in the desert,
and the herbage of a very coarse kind, but the camel is able

13
194 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

to do with remarkably little food, if his size and the weight
of his burden are taken into consideration, and he will browse
contentedly upon such food as he finds by the wayside,
supplemented by “a cake of barley, a few dates, or beans”
from the hands of his master. “They are particularly fond,”
says a writer in “Tales of Animals”, “of those vegetable
productions, which other animals would never touch, such
as plants which are like spears and daggers, in comparison
with the needles of the thistle, and which often pierce the
incautious traveller’s boot.” A camel can be purchased in
Egypt for from thirty to fifty dollars, though the high bred
dromedary will fetch a very much larger sum. The camel
will carry from five hundred to eight hundred pounds’ weight,
but will not stir if loaded beyond his strength. He travels
at a uniform rate of three miles an hour, but will keep on
at that rate for ten or twelve hours. The dromedary attains
to a speed which the Arab compares to the speed of the
wind.

The Came: Mr. Macfarlane says, “I have been told that
and his the Arabs will kiss their Camels in gratitude and
Master. affection, after a journey across the desert. I

never saw the Turks either of Asia-~-Minor or Roumelia, carry
their kindness so far as this; but I have frequently seen them
pat their Camels when the day’s work was done, and talk to them
on their journey, as if to cheer them. The Camels appeared
to me quite as sensible to favour and gentle treatment as a
good bred horse is. I have seen them curve and twist their
long lithe necks as their driver approached, and often put
down their tranquil heads towards his shoulder. Near
Smyra, and at Magnesia and Sardes, I have occasionally
seen a Camel follow his master like a pet dog, and go down
on his knees before him, as if inviting him to mount. I
neve: saw a Turk ill use the useful, gentle, amiable quadruped.
But I have frequently seen him give it a portion of his own
dinner, when, in unfavourable places, it had nothing but
THE CAMEL, 195

chopped straw to eat. I have sometimes seen the drivers
on a hot day, or in passing a dry district, spirt a little
water in the Camel’s nostrils; they pretend it refreshes them.”

Camel Riding. Camel riding is evidently an exercise which
needs getting used to. Mrs. Bowdich says: “High saddles
are placed on their backs; and it requires either to be used
to them, or to be particularly careful, not to be half-killed
at starting. The rider places himself in the saddle while
the animals are kneeling; and when they raise their hind-
legs, which they do first of all, they send the unprepared
traveller forwards, and his breath is almost taken out of him
by the blow which he receives upon his chest; then as they
get upon their fore-legs they throw him back, so as to
andanger his spine. Their pace is at first very disagreeable,
being so long and slouching.”

Captain Riley describes his experiences as follows: “They
placed me on the largest Camel I had yet seen, which was
nine or ten feet in height. The Camels were now all
kneeling or lying down, and mine among the rest. I thought
IT had taken a good hold, to steady myself while he was
rising; yet his motion was so heavy, and my strength so far
exhausted, that I could not possibly hold on, and tumbled
off over his tail. Turning entirely over, I came down upon
my feet, which prevented my receiving any material injury,
though the shock to my frame was very severe.”

A Camel's Mr. Palgrave who combats the idea of the

Revenge. camel’s docility, unless stupidity may be taken
as its synonym, gives a painful illustration of the savagery to
which the camel may be provoked by cruel treatment, though
we doubt if the elephant who is proverbial for his docility
would stand the brutality to which the camel is sometimes
treated. “A lad of about fourteen, had conducted a large
camel laden with wood from one village to another, half an
hour’s distance or so. As the animal loitered or tumed out
of the way, its conductor struck it repeatedly, and harder
196 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE

than it seems to have thought he had any right to do, but
not finding the occasion favourable for taking immediate
quits, it ‘bode its time’, nor was that time long in coming.
A few days later the same lad had to re-conduct the beast,
but unladen, to his own village. When they were about
half way on the road, and at some distance from any
habitation, the camel suddenly stopped, looked deliberately
round in every direction, to assure itself that no one was in
sight, made a step forward, seized the unlucky boy’s head
in his monstrous mouth, and lifting him up in the air, flung
him down again upon the earth with the upper part of his
skull completely torn off, and his brains scattered on the
ground. Having thus satisfied his revenge, the brute quietly
resumed his pace towards the village as though nothing
were the matter, till some men, who had observed the whole,
though unfortunately at too great a distance to be able to
afford timely help, came up and killed it.”

The Terrors Terrible stories are told of the sufferings some-
of the Desert. times experienced by camels and Arabs alike
on desert journeys. Burckhardt gives the following narrative
which is quoted by Captain Brown. “In the month of
August, a small caravan prepared to set out from Berber to
Daraou. They consisted of five merchants and about thirty
slaves, with a proportionate number of camels. Afraid of
the robber Naym, who at that time was in the habit of way-
laying travellers about the wells of Nedjeym, and who had
constant intelligence of the departure of every caravan from
Berber, they determined to take a more easterly road, by
the well of Owareyk. They had hired an Ababde guide, who
conducted them in safety to that place, but who lost his way
from thence northward, the route being little frequented.
After five days’ march in the mountains, their stock of water
was exhausted, nor did they know where they were. They
resolved, therefore, to direct their course towards the setting
sun, hoping thus to reach the Nile. After experiencing two
THE CAMEL, 197

days’ thirst, fifteen slaves and one of the merchants died;
another of them, an Ababde, who had ten camels with him,
thinking that the animals might know better than their mas-
ters where water was to be found, desired his comrades to
tie him fast upon the saddle of his strongest camel, that he
might not fall down from weakness, and thus he parted from
them, permitting his camels to take their own way; but
neither the man nor his camels were ever heard of afterwards.
On the eighth day after leaving Owareyk, the survivors came
in sight of the mountains of Shigre, which they immediately
recognized; but their strength was quite exhausted, and
neither men nor beasts were able to move any farther.
Lying down under a rock, they sent two of their servants,
with the two strongest remaining camels, in search of water.
Before these two men could reach the mountain, one of them
dropped off his camel, deprived of speech, and able only to
move his hands to his comrade as a sign that he desired to
be left to his fate. The survivor then continued his route;
but such was the effect of thirst upon him, that his eyes grew
dim, and he lost the road, though he had often travelled
over it before, and had been perfectly acquainted with it.
Having wandered about for a long time, he alighted under
the shade of a tree, and tied the camel to one of its
branches: the beast, however, smelt the water, (as the Arabs
express it) and, wearied as it was, broke its halter, and set
off galloping in the direction of the spring, which, as after-
wards appeared, was at half an hour’s distance. The man,
well understanding the camel’s action, endeavoured to follow
its footsteps, but could only move a few yards; he fell ex-
hausted on the ground, and was about to breathe his last,
when Providence led that way from a neighbouring encamp-
ment, a Bisharye Bedouin, who, by throwing water upon
the man’s face, restored him to his senses. They then
went hastily together to the water, filled the skins, and,
returning to the caravan, had the good fortune to find the
198 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

sufferers still alive. The Bisharye received a slave for his
trouble.”

The Liama. The Llamas are classified as members of the
Camel Family of which they are the second genus. The
Vicuna (Llama vicugna) of the Peruvian Andes is one of
these. It is a very beautiful animal, combining, as Professor
Cunningnam points out, to some extent the characteristics of
the camel, the deer and the goat. Its neck is long and slender
and carried with a graceful curve, and its legs are slight and
elegant, its wool fine and silky. It is a timid animal and
very wary of the approach of danger, seeking safety in flight,
though often falling a victim to the rapacity of the puma,
or the necessities of the Patagonian Indians, who eat its flesh
and clothe themselves in its skin. The Llama, (Llama
peruana) and the Alpaca (Llama pacos) are other species of
this family. The former is used by the Peruvians as a beast
of burden, as it will carry from a hundred-weight to a hundred
weight and a half for fifteen or twenty miles a day. Accord-
ing to Mrs. Bowdich, at one time 300,000 of these animals
were employed in carrying metal over the rugged mountain
passes for the Potosi mines alone. Like the camel, it refuses
to stir when overloaded, and continues to move at a slow
uniform pace throughout the day. Like camels also, they are
apt to fight among themselves, when the wool flies in an
absurd way, and if not separated, they do each other serious
injury. When offended with their driver they spit in his face,
their saliva being particularly unpleasant. The Alpaca which
is also domesticated is useful for its fleece.

The Deer. There are two families of Deer; that of the
Mouse deer with its mouse-shaped head, and without horns,
and that of the deer proper of which there are more than
fifty species. There are five species of the mouse deer,
genus Zragulus, all of which belong to Asia. They are found
in Java, Penang, Sumatra, Borneo, Cambodia and Siam.
The Indian Chevrotain (Zreguius meminnza) is spotted. It
THE Di GR. 19g

belongs to Ceylon, though it is sad to be common to the
forests of all parts of southern India. Mrs. Bowdich says:
“The smallest of the deer species lives in Ceylon; a lovely
delicate creature, with lustrous eyes and of exquisite form.
When full grown it is only ten inches high, fourteen long,
and weighs about five pounds. Its throat, head and neck are
all white; its body is grey, striped with black, and spotted
at equal distances with yellow. Although very timid it is to
be tamed; but if angry it kicks out its little hind legs and
slender pointed hoofs with great violence. One which was
domesticated, was placed on a dinner table, where it ran
about and nibbled fruit from the dishes, answered to its
name and returned the caresses which were bestowed upon
it.” The deer proper, genus cervus, is found all over Europe,
Asia and America, one or two species belonging to the Medi-
terranean coasts of Africa. Of these the Red Deer, the
Reindeer, the Moose or Elk, the Fallow Deer and the Roe
buck are the better known species, all of which chew the
cud, have a divided hoof, and shed their horns annually.
The Read The Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) is still found
Deer. in Scotland as well as in the forests of Europe
and Asia and is commonly hunted for sport. The stag is a
timid and apparently highly sensitive animal, but when brought
to bay has often shown a strength and courage which has
cost its hunters dear. It is one of the most beautiful animals
in nature, and combines with its beauty powers of speed and
endurance which are little short of the marvellous. Full grown
it measures four feet six inches in height at the shoulders,
and about five feet six inches in length. The hunting of the
stag in England has been a royal sport for centuries, though
owing to altered conditions it has fallen into disrepute of late
years. The overcrowded state of the country near London,
and the half tame character of the royal stags have rendered
the performances of the Windsor stag hounds an exhibition
more honoured in the breach than in the observance. It
200 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

would be difficult indeed to find anything noble or enobling
in the following account of a stag hunt quoted by Captain
Brown with deprecation, from the pages of “The Sporting
Magazine.”

A Stag “On Monday Nov. 20, 1820, the royal hounds met

Hunt. at Stoke Common, Bucks, where a remarkably fine
deer was turned out. The field was extremely numerous.
The deer, at starting, showed great sport, taking, at full
speed, through the enclosures, making towards Slough, and
afterwards for Datchet, where he crossed the Thames, and
then took to the right, and again crossed the river. The
deer proceeded up a lane at the back of Eton College, run-
ning with great swiftness into the yard of Mr. Castles, pork
butcher. He boldly proceeded through the house into the
street, with a cur-dog at his heels; and crossing Windsor
Bridge, to the bottom of Thames-street, actually ran up the
Hundred Steps, a steep and winding ascent to the Castle. On
his reaching the top, he made a pause, and then returned into
Thames-street, many of the sportsmen having rode round into
the Castle, with the object of heading him as he came up the
steps. The stag crossed Windsor Bridge again with great
swiftness, and passed down Eton, entered the shop of Mr.
Levy, an orange merchant, making his way in different parts
of the house, till he got into the kitchen, where he remained
some time: a great crowd was collected round the house.
On his leaving the kitchen, he passed through the back way
into gardens. At this time, many hundreds of persons joined
in the chase. This excellent deer, after having performed
these extraordinary feats, and afforded a charming day’s spcrt,
was at last taken in attempting to leap over the high wall
between Eton College and the Fifteen-arch Bridge.” In the
open country and in the olden time a stag hunt was, of
course, a very different thing, though the hunting of so sen-
sitive and so timid an animal as the stag could never be
other than a cruel pastime. Of the speed and endurance of
THE STAG. 201

the stag a remarkable illustration will be found on page 127.
Many years ago the Duke of Cumberland thought to make
trial of a stag’s courage by placing him in an enclosure with
an ounce, or hunting tiger, on Newmarket Heath. The
enclosure was made by a net-work of about fifteen feet high,
and the contest took place in the presence of some thousands
of spectators. On seeing the stag, the ounce crouched down
and prepared to spring, but the stag kept such a steady
front that the ounce, turn as he would, was out-manceuvred
by the stag and could not get a chance of tuming his flank.
After a long time the ounce was goaded to the attack by the
order of the Duke, whereupon it leapt, not upon the stag
but over the enclosure and among the people, immediately
crossing the road and entering the wood opposite, where it
fastened upon the haunches of a fallow deer.
The Tame Stags have been tamed and brought largely
Steg. under control but they are said to be uncertain
in their temper, probably from their timidity. Many years
ago Lord Oxford trained four red deer stags to draw a
phaeton, and Captain Brown tells an amusing story of an
adventure which befell him while driving his unique team in
the neighbourhood of Newmarket. It happened that as they
were proceeding on the road to Newmarket they heard the
cry of a pack of hounds and immediately the four stags
made off at the top of their speed, followed by the hounds
who had sighted them or scented them from a distance.
The animals were quite beyond control, but on reaching
Newmarket, they ran into the yard of the Ram Inn where
Lord Oxford had been accustomed to take them, and they
were safely housed in a barn when the pack of hounds
came up. Stags have also been trained to play tricks of
various kinds. A tame stag at one time marched with a
Newfoundland dog, with the band of the 42nd Highlanders.
The Reindeer. The Reindeer belongs to the north of Europe
Asia and America, where he is the chief source of comfort
202 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

and wealth of the natives. In Lapland, as the author of
“Tales of Animals” puts it, he supplies the place of the horse,
the cow, the sheep, and the goat. “ Alive and dead, the rein-
deer is equally subservient to their wants. When he ceases
to exist, spoons are made of his bones, glue of his horns,
bowstrings and thread of his tendons, clothing of his skin,
and his flesh becomes a savoury food. During his life, his
milk is converted into cheese, and he is employed to convey
his owner over the snowy wastes of his native country. Such
is the swiftness of the reindeer that two of them, yoked in
a sledge, will travel a hundred and twelve English miles in
a day.” The reindeer will draw about 300 lbs. weight, though
250 Ibs. is a sufficient average load. His ordinary pace is
said to be about ten miles an hour and his powers of endur-
ance are very great. His pace for a short distance is thus
given by Pictet, who took the measurements and tested the
speed of three animals yoked to light sledges. “The first
deer performed 3089 feet, 9 inches, in two minutes, being
at the rate of nearly 19 English miles in an hour, and thus
accomplishing 25 feet, 9 inches, in every second. The second
did the same in three minutes; and the third and last deer,
in three minutes and twenty-six seconds. The ground in this
race. was nearly level.” The reindeer is gregarious in its
wild state, and retains its social instinct when in a state of
domestication. When travelling, the hindmost animals follow
their leader with dogged persistency, even though the leader
may make a circuit which the followers might avoid by taking
a direct cut. Nor will they accept the guidance of their drivers
in such cases and if dragged out of their course by main force
will return to it as soon as the force is removed. In his own
way, however, the reindeer will follow unerringly though his
leader may be out of sight, moving along with his nose close to
the ground and tracing the way by his scent, which is very keen.
The reindeer is much troubled in the summer time by the
attacks of stall flies. De Broke says, “The poor animal is thus
THE REINDEER. 203

tormented to such a degree, that the Laplander, if he were
to remain in the forests during the months of June, July, and
August, would run the risk of losing the greater part of his
herd, either by actual sickness, or from the deer fleeing of their
own accord to mountainous situations to escape the gad-fly.
From these causes, the Laplander is driven from the forests to
the mountains that overhang the Norway and Lapland coasts,
the elevated situations of which, and the cool breezes from
the Ocean, are unfavourable to the existence of these trouble-
some insects, which, though found on the coast, are in far
less considerable numbers there, and do not quit the valleys;
so that the deer, by ascending the highlands, can avoid
them.” Reindeer are extremely. timid when hunted, but if
the hunter can get sufficiently near to strike panic into a herd
they seem to lose all sense but that of fear, and are easily
captured in numbers. Writing of the North American Rein-
deer, Sir John Richardson says:—“The Chippewayans, the
Copper Indians, the Dog-ribs, and Hare Indians of the Great
Bear Lake, would be totally unable to inhabit their barren
grounds, were it not for the immense herds of this deer that
exist there. Of the caribou horns they form their fish spears
and hooks; the hide, dressed with the fur on, is excellent
for winter clothing, and supplies the place both of blanket
and feather bed to the inhabitants of these arctic wilds.”
Captain Franklin gives the following description of the man-
ner in which the Dog-rib Indians kill the reindeer. “The
hunters go in pairs, the foremost man carrying in one hand
the horns and part of the skin of the head of a deer, and
in the other a small bundle of twigs, against which he, from
time to time, rubs the horns, imitating the gestures peculiar
to the animal. His comrade follows, treading exactly in his
footsteps, and holding the guns of both in a horizontal posi-
tion, so that the muzzles project under the arms of him who
carries the head. Both hunters have a fillet of white skin
round their foreheads, and the foremost has a strip of the
204 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

same round his wrists. They approach the herd by degrees,
raising their legs very slowly, but setting them down somewhat
suddenly, after the manner of a deer, and always taking care
to lift their right or left feet simultaneously. If any of the
herd leave off feeding to gaze upon this extraordinary phe-
nomenon, it instantly stops, and the head begins to play its
part by licking its shoulders, and performing other necessary
movements. In this way the hunters attain the very centre
of the herd without exciting suspicion, and have leisure to
single out the fattest. The hindmost man then pushes for-
ward his comrade’s gun, the head is dropped, and they both
fire nearly at the same instant.”
The Moose The Moose or Elk is the largest of the Deer
or Elk. kind, and often attains to and even exceeds the
size and bulk of the largest horses. He is less graceful
than other members of his family, having a short thick neck,
necessary perhaps to sustain his huge antlers, which some-
times reach five feet in length and weigh as much as sixty
pounds. He escapes the torment of insects by taking to the
water, in which he is an expert swimmer. Like the other
animals of the Deer kind he sheds his horns annually. Year
by year these huge growths increase in breadth and in the
number of branches they bear, until there are sometimes as
many as twenty on each horn. He is docile and easily
tamed, and has been broken to run in harness. The Elk
occupies much the same geographical area as the reindeer,
though not travelling so far north.
The Fallow Lhe Fallow Deer (Dama vulgaris) is smaller
Deer and the than the stag, but similar to it in colour, form,
Roebuck. and habit. It is this species which is domesti-
cated and kept in the parks of the wealthy in England.
Fallow Deer often quarrel among themselves over rights of
pasturage, the herd dividing into two and engaging in a pitched
battle for the possession of the disputed land. The Roebuck
is smaller than the Fallow Deer, his height being about two
THE GIRAFFE. 205

feet six inches and his length three feet. He is less sociable
than other species of his kind, living alone with his family
and not in herds like the Fallow Deer. He is found in Scot-
land and in the northern parts of Europe.

The Giraffe. The Giraffe (Camelopardahs giraffa) belongs
to Abyssinia, Nubia and South-Africa. It is the tallest otf
living animals, attaining to the height of eighteen feet. Its
body has some similarity to that of the camel in form, and
its head, which surmounts a neck seven feet long and bears
two horns six inches long, resembles generally that of a horse.
Its tongue, which can be extended seventeen inches, is very
mobile and can be so tapered as to enter a small ring. It
is used in tearing off the foliage of the trees upon which the
animal feeds. Its neck, but for its length, is like that of the
stag, and its legs are slender. The hide is spotted like that
of the leopard and when young is of a light red colour, which
becomes deeper with age, that of the female becoming a
yellow brown and that of the male a dark brown approaching
to black. In repose it lies on its side, resting its head on
its hind quarters. Though only living in a wild state, the
Giraffe is a mild and docile animal, only fighting in self-
defence, and then making powerful use of its heels. The
lion is its great enemy and if it succeeds in leaping upon its
back there is not much chance for the giraffe, which usually
runs until it drops from exhaustion. A blow from the heel
of the Giraffe in the right place would probably kill any of
its enemies, and even the lion has been known to pay dearly
for coming within its reach.

The History The Giraffe was known to the ancients, though,
of the Giraffe. like the gorilla, it has been re-discovered in
recent years. Le Vaillant saw and described the giraffe, but
he was credited with having invented it, and it was not
until a live specimen of it was brought to Paris that his
credibility was established. Mrs. Bowdich, who happened to
be in Paris at the time this animal arrived, gives an amusing
206 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

description of its triumphal march from Bordeaux to the Capital
“ A deputation from each large town through which she passed,”
says Mrs. Bowdich, “formed of the municipal authorities,
met her; and one of the most learned savants went all the
way from the Jardin des Plantes, to accompany her on
her march. ‘La giraffe,’ however, did not appreciate these
honours, and was often impatient under the etiquette imposed
on her. On one occasion she broke loose from her cavalcade,
keeper and all, and dashing among the horsemen, scattered
them right and left, some on and some off their steeds. A
dignified mayor lay in the dust, and by his side rolled the
painstaking savant who had performed so long a journey in
her service. The enthusiasm did not abate when she reached
her destination. Thirteen thousand more than the usual
weekly number passed over the Pont d’Austerlitz alone; and
as the public curiosity did not but increase for six weeks,
steps were obliged to be taken to prevent the multitude from
pressing upon her. Her love for roses was very great; and
she eagerly snatched them from those who carried or wore
them, to their great astonishment; for few could calculate on
the distance which she could reach.” Mr. Gordon Cumming
describes a herd of ten giraffes which he saw moving together
along an African valley, forming an imposing spectacle.
Hollow- We come now to a family of great importance
Hornea to the human race, the family which includes
Buminante. among its members the Ox and the Sheep.
These are grouped as hollow-horned ruminants, this one
touch of nature making the whole family kin. The hollow-
horned ruminants are divided into numerous sub-families,
of which the Ox, the Antelope, the Sheep, and the Goat are
the best known representatives. The horn by which the
family is characterised, comprises a hollow horny sheath which
covers a bony core, and which, except in one case, unlike
the horns of the stag, which are shed annually, is permanent
Sir Victor Brooke divides the family of the Bovide inte
THE BULL. 207

thirteen sub-families. I Bovine, II Tragelaphine, III Orygine,
IV Hippotragine, V Gazellinz, VI Antilocaprinz, VII Cer-
vicaprinz, VIIT Cephalophinz, IX Alcephaline, X Budorcine,
XI Rupicaprine, XII Nemorhedine, XIII Caprine.
ae ies The sub-family Bovinze includes the Bull, the
ang Bison, and the Buffalo. The antiquity of the
The Buffalo. ruminants shrouds their origin in obscurity. They
are of frequent mention in the sacred writings as belonging
to the earliest historic period, and as living in a state of
domestication in all times. The Bull has a very wide geo-
graphical area, and is found in most parts of the world. In
England, as the Rev. J. G. Wood puts it, there are almost
as many breeds as counties, and they are generally distin-
guished by the length or shape of their horns. The “long-
homed” breed belong to Lancashire, the “short-horned”
to Durham, the “middle-horned” to Devonshire, besides
which there is the “polled”, a hornless breed. Of the Bison
there are two species, one belonging to Poland and the Cau-
casus, and the other to North America. The Buffalo belongs
to the south of Europe, to India, and to North Africa,
the Cape Buffalo inhabiting the south of “the dark conti-
nent.”
The Bull. Few animals show as much difference of dis-
The Ox. position in the male and female as the Bull
The Cow. and the Cow. The Bull is often excited to un-
governable fury, is generally unsafe and often dangerous.
These characteristics have doubtless marked him out as the
object of sport in the Roman Amphitheatre and the Spanish
Bull fight. The Cow, on the other hand, displays a gentle
and docile disposition, is placid, mild, and obedient to the
will of those who govern it. The Bull is kept mainly for the
purposes of breeding, being too uncertain for use as a beast
of burden or for other employment. The Ox which is the
subdued offspring of the Bull and the Cow, is much more
amenable to control and therefore a much more useful
208 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

servant to man. The Cow is invaluable for the milk it sup-
plies, upon which mankind is dependent for butter and for
cheese.

The Bull. The Bull is a handsome animal and of great
strength, especially about the head and neck. Its fierceness
has often been turned to account by the farmer, for it is an
excellent animal to dispute a right of way, the force of its
arguments usually bearing down all opposition. It has been
known also to use its strength for the protection of other
animals. “Two robbers,” says the author of “Domestic Animals
and their Treatment,” “took a pig, weighing fourteen stone, out
of its sty, and drove it along a lane leading towards Rother-
ham. On coming to a lonely path across the fields they
thought it would be better to kill the pig at once in this
quiet place, where no one would be likely to hear the cries
of the animal. One of the robbers accordingly took a knife
out of his pocket, and commenced cutting the pig’s throat.
The poor pig struggled violently, and managed to escape
from his hands, running squealing into the next field, with
a fearful gash in his throat. The men ran after the pig, but
found in the field a bull grazing, who seemed at once to
understand the state of the case, and took upon himself the
championship of the wounded animal. The bull ran furiously
at the robbers, who fled for their lives, and only just managed
to escape a toss from his horns. They lingered outside the
fence, however, hoping that an opportunity would still offer
of their catching the pig; but the pig wisely kept close to
his new friend, and the men at last were under the mortify-
ing necessity of going home without their booty. These men
were afterwards convicted of stealing sheep and corn, when
one of them confessed this affair of the pig, and thus ex-
plained what had been a great mystery to the owner, namely,
how it was that his pig came to be in a field at some dis-
tance from the sty, with his throat partly cut, and keeping
close company with the bull.” Mr. Byam’s “ Central America”
THE BULL. 209

affords another illustration: “A bull had gored so many cattle
that he was lassoed, and his horns blunted at the tips to
prevent further mischief. A few weeks after, a panther (jaguar)
killed a cow; and from the tom condition of the bull’s head
and neck, and the trampled state of the ground, he had
evidently done battle for the cow. He was secured, his wounds
plastered up, his horns made sharp again, and turned out
into the savannah. The wild dogs and vultures having been
kept from the body of the cow during the day, the panther
returned to his feast at night, and a furious engagement took
place between him and the bull; for the former was found
dead close by the cow the next morning, pierced through
and through. The bull returned again and again to him with
fury, and was himself again wounded; but his gashes were
sown up, and he remained so fierce that his horns were
obliged to be re-blunted.”
The Brahmin The Brahmin Bull of India, is a sleek, tame
Bull animal of a different species to the ordinary
working ox. He is protected as sacred and allowed more
liberty than is sometimes either convenient or pleasant, as he
is apt to become obtrusive and his devotees fear to check
or thwart him. Sacred as he is he does not believe in the
eighth commandment and so helps himself without scruple to the
wares of the fruiterer and the gardener’s preserves.

The Ox. The Ox is one of the most useful creatures of
the animal world. It is used as a beast of burden and employed
to draw waggons and to drag the plough in England, and in
a variety of useful labours abroad. “Every part of the Ox
is of value,” says the Rev. J. G. Wood. “We eat his flesh,
we wear shoes soled with his skin, our candles are made
from his fat, our tables are joined with glue made from his
hoofs, his hair is mixed with the mortar of our walls, his
horns are made into combs, knife-handles, drinking-cups, etc.,
etc., his bones are used as a cheap substitute for Ivory, and
the fragments ground and scattered over the fields as manure,

14
210 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

and soup is made from his tail.” The value of the Ox ia
drawing waggons abroad may be gathered from the following
quotation from Mr. Gordon Cumming’s “Hunting Adventures
in South Africa.” “They (the oxen) are expected, unguided
by reins, to hold the rare-trodden roads, which occur through-
out the remoter parts of the Colony, either by day or night;
and so well trained are these sagacious animals, that it is
not uncommon to meet with a pair of fore-oxen which will,
of their own accord, hold the “spoor” or track of a single
waggon, which has perhaps crossed a plain six months pre-
viously.”

The Cow. The Cow after supplying enormous quantities
of milk during life is almost as valuable as the Ox when
dead. It is from the Cow moreover that we get the lymph
used in vaccination, which has proved such a wonderful
safeguard against small-pox. In its quiet way the Cow some-
times shows sagacity. Mr. Bell gives us the following illustra-
tion:--“A cow which was feeding tranquilly in a pasture, the
gate of which was open to the road, was much annoyed by
a mischievous boy who amused himself by throwing stones
at the peaceful animal, which, after bearing with his impertinence
for some time, at length went up to him, hooked the end
of her horn into his clothes, and-lifting him from the ground,
carried him out of the field and laid him down in the road.
She then calmly returned to her pasture, leaving him quit
with a severe fright and a torn garment.” Cows have been
taught to graze close to forbidden crops without yielding to
the temptation to eat them..

The Pride A writer in Frank Leslie’s popular monthly gives

ofa Cow. an amusing instance of vanity as shown by a
cow. This cow, he was told, claimed precedence in all casés;
she always went ahead of the herd and claimed the best piece
of pasture as her exclusive domain. So far did she carry
het pretensions, that if any of the other cows entered the
stable before her, she would refuse to follow. Anxious to


GIRAFFE
(Camelopardalis giraffa)





ASIATIC ELEPHANT
(Elepnas Indicus)

Ol ‘ON 938d

SATIN

“AUOLSIH TVANLVN
THE BISON. Bus

see this with his own eyes, he desired to be taken to her
stable at evening. The man, instructed how to act, drove in
some of the other cows. The white cow drew up; not only
did she refuse to advance, in spite of all encouraging words,
but her whole frame swelled with anger and offended dignity.
She kept lowing continually. At last the cows within, as
though conscious that they had forgotten their place, began
to come out, and as they were driven out, the proud white
cow, with an evident air of gratified pride, strode in in silence.
It is almost impossible to convey the impression produced
by this exhibition of downright pride, Hidalgo pride, in what
many would call a dumb brute.

The Bison. The American Bison is a formidable animal
when engaged alone, and when charging in a pack simply
irresistible. He is about the size of an ox, one measured
by Sir J. Richardson being eight feet six inches in length,
without his tail, and more than six feet in height at his fore-.
quarters. He has an enormous head, surmounted by a huge
hump on his shoulder which is covered in winter with shagey
mane-like hair. His hinder quarters are comparatively thin
and small, and his colour is a dark brown approaching to black,
Sharp piercing eyes and short powerful horns give him a fierce
appearance and dangerous powers. He has enormous strength
in his head and neck. The Bison is gregarious, associating
in herds many hundreds strong. These herds have been
greatly reduced during late years, but a herd seen by Captains
Lewis and Clerk was numbered by them at not less than
twenty thousand. “Such was the multitude of these animals,
that, although the river, including an island over which they
passed, was a mile in breadth, the herd stretched as thick as
they could swim completely from one side to the other.” When
they join in a stampede, they are said to rush over the plains
like a cataract, with a noise resembling that of thunder. Captain
Brown says, “Bison generally prefer the open plains, and
do not resort to woods, except when attacked; they seldom
212 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

attempt to defend themselves, but almost invariably take to
flight. They are extremely fleet, and their sense of smell is
so acute, that they discover an enemy at a great distance,
so that it is difficult to get near them. They are frequently
hunted by the natives, who live principally on their flesh.
When the hunters kill an old dam, they pay no attention
to the calf, as it is sure to remain by its dead mother.
Instances have been known of a mother entering the town
of Cincinnati, followed by its calves. Many of them fall
victims to wolves and grizzly bears. Their beef is of an
excellent quality, and of a very superior flavour.”
Hunting the Hunting the Bison is both a popular sport
Bison. and a lucrative commercial enterprise. The
Indians hunt them for their skins, which they sell as “Buffalo
robes,” the Bison being commonly called a Buffalo by them,
as well as for food. The Rev. J. G. Wood says, “The
hunters take advantage of the gregarious instincts of this
animal, and hunt them when they are collected together in
their vast herds, which blacken the face of the prairie for
miles. Sometimes they form in line, and drive the herd to
the edge of some tall cliff, over which they fall in hundreds,
those behind pushing on those in the van; or sometimes
they form a large circle, driving the animals into a helpless
and leaderless mass, into which the hunters spring, leaving
their horses, and treading with the skill of rope-dancers on
the backs of the bewildered bisons, whom they slaughter as
they pass, stepping from one to the other, and driving the
sharp blade of their spear through the spine of the animal
whose back they have just quitted. When only wounded
the Bison is a most dangerous antagonist, and rushes on its
enemy with the most determined ferocity.”

The Eastern Bison lives in the forests of Bialowesha in
Lithuania under the protection of the Czar of Russia. The
numbers are much smaller than those of North-America but
they are said to be more fierce.
Plate No. 11 MILES’ NATURAL HISTORY.



(Equus zebra)



(Bison Anericanus
THE BUFFALO. 213

The Buffalo. The Buffalo, which must not be confused with
the Bison, is similar in appearance to an ox, which it often
exceeds in size. It has no hump on its shoulder as the
Bison has, but it has much longer horns, horns that often
measure three feet in length, and is much fiercer in their use.
The Indian Buffalo will attack the hunter when it is brought to
bay, and unless the hunter can despatch him as he approaches,
there is no chance for him at close quarters. These Buffaloes,
however, may be tamed and are often trained to and employed
in useful service.

Hunting the C@Ptain Brown gives the following account of
Indian a Buffalo hunt which took place at Keshennagar,
Buffalo. in Hindostan, when four gentlemen on horseback

chased a herd of seven buffaloes and a calf for a long distance.

« After having followed them three miles, the young one separated

from the herd, and joined some tame cattle belonging to a

neighbouring village. It was killed by the party, who after-

wards continued the pursuit of the old ones, when they
were overtaken in a high grass jungle four miles farther off.

They were quickly driven from this place, and closely followed

for more than six miles over a plain: at length the party

succeeded in separating one buffalo from the herd. Here
the encounter began. After receiving several wounds, he
still continued his flight; he suddenly halted, and kept his
pursuers at bay; after a short interval he again fled, and was
pursued and wounded as before, carrying the spears sticking
in his back and sides for several hundred yards. Lieutenant

White, of the 15th Native Infantry, rode up very close to

him, threw his spear, and wounded the animal in the loins.

His horse being much exhausted, was unable to wheel round

before the buffalo turned about and charged with such vigour,

that both horse and rider were overthrown, and lay many yards
distant. Fortunately, the lieutenant received no material injury ;
and when the animal approached he had the presence of
mind to lie flat on his back. The beast approached, but
at4 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

stood at his feet, without offering any violence. The othe:
sportsmen called repeatedly to their companion to arise and
escape. For some time, however, he disregarded the advice,
fearful of the consequences; at length, in compliance with
their entreaty, he arose; the buffalo instantly rushed forward,
but Mr. White escaped by throwing himself down; while the
enraged beast, missing his aim, fell on the ground, his horns
grazing Mr. White’s back, as he passed over him. After this
lucky escape, he seized the favourable opportunity, and
regained his horse. The buffalo then took refuge in a tank;
and when his former opponent joined his companions, who
were standing upon the bank, the animal issued forth, and
selecting Lieutenant White for the object of its vengeance,
pursued him to a considerable distance. The animal was
now rendered quite furious, and attacked everything within
his reach, such as cows and dogs. Unfortunately, an old
woman retuming from market passed, and became the vic-
tim of his rage; she was taken up without any appearance
of life, having her arms broken, and many wounds. The
cavalry being, from fatigue, Aers de combat, could not renew
the attack: and the buffaloes, whose system was retreat, having
gained a victory, now continued their course without mol-
estation. ”

The Capo The Cape Buffalo is the fiercest of the Bull

Buffalo. family. He will charge a lion or a tiger and
often come off victor in the strife. According to Mr. Pringle
he is considerably larger than the domestic ox; the bony
pad on his forehead making a complete helmet, and it is im-
possible to pierce him with bullets which have not been
hardened by tin. He is said to be fierce, treacherous, and
savage; and even when not provoked, to attack any man who
strays near his haunts, skulking in the jungle when he sees
him approach, and then suddenly rushing out upon him.
Having tossed his enemy to his heart’s content or thrown him
down, he will trample and gore him, tearing off hia skin with
THE CAPE BUFFALO. 2i%

his tongue, until he is shockingly mutilated. He is one of
the few animals which seem to cherish the spirit of revenge.
Hunting the Mr. Pringle gives the following description of
Cape Buffalo. a Cape Buffalo hunt. “A party of boers had
gone out to hunt a herd of buffaloes which were grazing on
a piece of marshy ground. As they could not get within shot
of the game without crossing part of the marsh, which was
not safe for the horses, they agreed to leave them in charge
of the Hottentots, and advance on foot, thinking that if any
of the buffaloes should turn upon them, it would be easy to
escape by retreating across the quagmire, which, though
passable for man, would not support the weight of a heavy
quadruped. They advanced accordingly, and, under a covert
of the bushes, approached the game with such advantage that
the first volley brought down three of the fattest of the herd,
and so severely wounded the great bull leader that he dropped
on his knees, bellowing furiously. Thinking him mortally
wounded, the foremost of the huntsmen issued from the covert,
and began reloading his musket as he advanced to give him
a finishing shot. But no sooner did the infuriated animal
see his foe in front of him, than he sprang up and rushed
headlong upon him. The man, throwing down his heavy
gun, fled towards the quagmire; but the beast was so close
upon him that he despaired of escaping in that direction,
and turning suddenly round a clump of copsewood, began
to climb an old mimosa tree which stood at one side of it.
The raging beast, however, was too quick for him. Bound-
ing forward with a roar which my informant described as
being one of the most frightful sounds he ever heard, he
caught the unfortunate man with his terrible horns just as
he had nearly escaped his reach, and tossed him into the
air with such force that the body fell, dreadfully mangled,
into a cleft of the tree. The buffalo ran round the tree once
or twice, apparently looking for the man, until, weakened
with loss of blood, he again sank on his knees. The rest
216 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

of the party, recovering from their confusion, then came up
and despatched him, though too late to save their comrade,
whose body was hanging in the tree quite dead.”

The Zebu. The Zebu is found in India, China, Arabia,
Persia and Africa. It is of about the same size as a cow,
but is distinguished by the possession of a hump upon its
shoulders, giving it some resemblance to the Bison. It is used
both for riding and driving in India, where it admirably serves
the purposes of a horse, travelling at the rate of six miles an
hour for many hours at a stretch and leaping obstacles with
the facility of a practised hunter. It is also used for plough-
ing land and threshing corn.

The Yek. The Yak belongs to Western Thibet. It is of
singular appearance, having the head of a bull and the hump
of a Bison, and being covered with long hair reaching almost
to the ground. In a wild state it is savage and dangerous,
but it is brought under cultivation by the Tartars, who use
it as a beast of burden and make ropes and garments from
its hair. The female yields rich milk from which excellent
butter is made; butter which is stored in bladders from which
the air is excluded. It is then carried to market by the faithful
animal which has produced it.

The Antelopes. The Antelopes are numerous in kind and
various in form, too numerous and various to be separately
described. The Eland, the largest and heaviest of the
species, belongs to South Africa; the Bosch-bok, to South and
Central Africa, the Harnessed Antelope to West Africa; and
the Nylghau to India. The Leucoryx and the Addax are
found in North Africa, the Equine Antelopes in tropical Africa
and the Cape. The Pallah herds in South Africa. The
Prong-horned Antelope belongs to North America, inhabiting the
Rocky Mountains and the districts both north and south. The
Bay Antelope is found on the Gold Coast, the Four-horned
Antelope in India. The Gnu or Wildebeest belongs to South
Africa and the Chamois and the Izard to the Pyrenees.
THE SHEEP AND THE GOAT. 2"

The Gazelle, The Gazelle, of which there are numerous species,
belongs to Syria, Egypt and Algeria. It is a beautiful animal,
resembling a roebuck, but more delicately and finely limbed,
with hair equally short, but finer and more glossy. It hasa
small tuft of hair on each of its fore limbs. Of all animals
in the world, gazelles are said to have the most beautiful
eyes—extremely brilliant, and yet meek and expressive. Their
swiftness is equal to that of the roe; they do not, however,
bound forward like the roe, but run along in an even unin-
terrupted course. Most of them are brown upon the back,
white under the belly with a black stripe separating these
colours. Their horns are annulated or ringed round.

The Sheep The sheep, so useful to man, furnishing him
and the Goat. with both food and clothing, is one of the most
defenceless and inoffensive of all animals. The goat is more
hardy, more playful, lively, and vagrant than the sheep. It
delights in climbing precipices, for which nature has fitted
it, by giving it hoofs hollow underneath, with sharp edges,
so that it walks securely on narrow ridges. Both animals have
been known from the earliest times, and are frequently men-
tioned in the Sacred Writings. Of the different kinds of sheep,
the common sheep, the long-tailed sheep and the Wallachian
sheep are typical varieties. The common sheep provides us
with our chief supplies of wool. The wool of the Spanish
sheep (the merino) is finer in quality, but much less in quan-
tity. The long-tailed sheep belongs to Syria and Egypt, and
the Wallachian sheep to Crete, Wallachia, Hungary, and
Western Asia. This last has long horns, and its wool is
mixed with hair. The musk sheep of Arctic America resembles
the yak somewhat in appearance, though minus the hump and
with horns more resembling those of the buffalo. It is some-
times called the musk ox. The goat is not much used in
England, but it is practically the cow of Syria and Switzerland.
The Cashmir goat produces the fine wool so much valued for
shawl material; the kid, the materials so largely used by the
228 NATURAL AISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

glove makers. The ibex belongs to the Carpathians, the
Pyrenees, and the Savoy Alps, though it is now but rarely
found in places where it was once abundant.
The Intellig. “tt. W. H. G. Kingston tells an interesting
ence of the story of a ewe, bred in the neighbourhood of
Sheep. Edinburgh who was driven into Perthshire, a
distance of upwards of a hundred miles, to a place where
she became the mother of a lamb. Not liking her new
quarters, she evidently determined to revisit the old, and set
off with that purpose, taking her lamb with her. Arrived at
Stirling she found the place alive with the excitement of an
annual fair. Not deeming it prudent to increase the excite-
ment she rested on the north side of the town throughout
the day, where she was noticed by many people, but molested
by none. Early the following morning she crossed the town
and proceeded on her journey. Arrived at the toll bar of
St. Ninians, she was stopped by the toll keeper who supposed
her to be a stray sheep. Unable to get through the gate,
she tumed back, made a circuitous detour and reached her
old home after a journey of nine days. Her former owner
rewarded her by repurchasing her and allowing her to remain
on his farm until her death, which occurred at the mature age
of seventeen years. The sense of locality noticed in the cat,
the dog, the horse, and other animals is here seen to be
characteristic of the sheep. Mr. Kingston tells another story
of a ewe who, unable to extricate a lamb which had become
entangled in a hedge, made her way through several hedges
into a neighbouring field and fetched a ram to its assistance,
thus effecting its liberation. Sheep have also been known to
seek and secure the assistance of cattle when in difficulty.
Sheep and Haydn the composer tells a pretty story of the
Music. power of music over the mountain sheep in the
neighbourhood of Lago Maggiore in Lombardy. “Having
reached the middle of the ascent by daybreak,” he says, “we
stopped to contemplate the Borromean Isles, which were
THE BLEPHANT, 216

displayed under our feet, when we were surrounded by a
flock of sheep, which were leaving their fold to go to pasture.
One of our party, who was no bad performer on the flute,
and who always carried the instrument with him, took it out
of his pocket. ‘I am going,’ said he, ‘to turn Corydon;
let us see whether Virgil’s sheep will recognise their pastor.’
He began to play. The sheep and goats, which were follow-
ing one another towards the mountain with their heads
hanging down, raised them at the first sound of the flute,
and all, with a general and hasty movement, turned to the
side from whence the agreeable noise proceeded. They grad-
vally flocked round the musician, and listened with motionless
attention. He ceased playing, and the sheep did not stir.
The shepherd with his staff now obliged them to move on;
but no sooner did the fluter begin again than his innocent
auditors again returned tohim. The shepherd, out of patience,
pelted them with clods of earth; but not one of them would
move. The fiuter played with additional skill; the shepherd
fell into a passion, whistled, scolded, and pelted the poor
creatures with stones. Such as were hit by them began to
march, but the others still refused to stir. At last the shep-
herd was forced to entreat our Orpheus to stop his magic
sounds; the sheep then moved off, but continued to stop at
a distance as often as our friend resumed the agreeable
instrument. As music was our continual employment, we
were delighted with our adventure; we reasoned upon it the
whole day, and concluded that physical pleasure is the basis
of all interest in music.”
ORDER VitI. Of the elephant there is now but one genus
fhe Hlephant. and two species; respectively the Indian and
the African varieties. At least fourteen species are known to
be extinct.

The elephant is the largest of the quadrupeds; his height
is from eight to fourteen feet; hie length is ten to fifteen
feet. His form resembles that of a hog; his eyes are small
220 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

and lively; his ears are broad, long, and pendulous. He has
two large tusks, and a trunk or proboscis at the extremity
of the nose, which he uses to take his food with, and, in
case of necessity, for attack or defence. His legs are thick
and long, and his feet are divided into five rounded toes.
His colour is a dark ash brown. There are elephants,
however, of a white or cream colour. The African is dis-
tinguished from the Indian variety by the size of its ears,
which in the African species are very large. Dr. Livingstone
gave the measurement of the ears of a female he killed, as
four feet five inches in depth and four feet in horizontal
breadth, and said he had seen a native creep under one so
as to be completely covered from the rain. The ear of the
Indian variety is not more than a third of this size. Gen-
erally the elephants of Africa and especially those of the
south are larger than those of India. The most striking
characteristic of the elephant is his trunk. “In this,” says the
Rev. J. G. Wood, “there are about forty thousand muscles,
enabling the elephant to shorten, lengthen, coil up, or move
in any direction this most extraordinary organ. The trunk is
pierced throughout its length by two canals, through which
liquids can be drawn by suction. If the elephant wishes
to drink, after drawing the liquid into its trunk, it inserts
the end of its proboscis into its mouth, and discharges the
contents down its throat; but if it merely wishes to wash
itself or play, it blows the contained liquid from the trunk
with great violence. Through the trunk the curious trumpet-
like voice of the elephant is produced. At the extremity is
a finger-like appendage, with which it can pick up small ob-
jects.” The elephant is thirty years old before he attains
maturity. He lives on foliage, herbs, and fruits, having a spe-
cial taste for those which are sweet.

The wila The elephant is naturally a quiet and inoffensive

Elephant. animal, and being gifted with an unusually keen
scent and sense of hearing, will usually decamp on the approach
THE WILD ELEPHANT. 221

of danger. If wounded, however, he will sometimes turn upon
his aggressor with terrible vengeance. Mr. Burchell, the South
African traveller, gives a painful illustration of this. He says:—
“Carl Krieger was a fearless hunter, and being an excellent
marksman, often ventured into the most dangerous situations.
One day having, with his party, pursued an elephant which
he had wounded, the irritated animal suddenly turned round,
and singling out from the rest the person by whom he had
been injured, seized him with his trunk, and lifting his wretched
victim high in the air, dashed him with dreadful force
to the ground. His companions, struck with horror, fled
precipitately from the fatal scene, unable to look back upon
the rest of the dreadful tragedy; but on the following day
they repaired to the spot, where they collected the few bones
that could be found, and buried them. The enraged animal
had not only literally trampled Krieger’s body to pieces, but
did not feel its vengeance satisfied till it had pounded the
very flesh and bones into the dust, so that nothing of the
unfortunate man remained excepting a few of the latter,
which made most resistance from their size.” Another ele-
phant seized a soldier of the Royal African Corps, threw him
down, brought his four feet together and stamped upon him
until he was dead; then seizing the body with his trunk,
threw it into the jungle.

Hlephant Major Skinner in a communication made to

Herds. Sir E. Tennant gives the following graphic descrip-
tion of the actions of a herd of elephants he watched on one
occasion in the north of Ceylon. Knowing that from the
scarcety of water at that time and place a large herd of
elephants which he knew to be in the neighbourhood must
visit a certain pool during the night he made his preparations
accordingly. He says:—“ Having ordered the fires of my
camp to be extinguished at an early hour, and all my fol-
lowers to retire to rest, I took up my post of observation on
an overhanging bough; but I had to remain for upwards of
222 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

two hours before anything was to be seen or heard of the
elephants, although I knew they were within 500 yards of
me. At length, about the distance of 300 yards from the
- water, an unusually large elephant issued from the dense cover,
and advanced cautiously across the open ground to within
100 yards of the tank, where he stood perfectly motionless.
So quiet had the elephants become (although they had been
roaring and breaking the jungle throughout the day and
evening) that not a movement was now to be heard. The
huge vidette remained in his position, still as a rock, for a
few minutes, and then made three successive stealthy advances
of several yards (halting for some minutes between each, with
ears bent forward to catch the slightest sound), and in this
way he moved slowly up to the water’s edge. Still he did
not venture to quench his thirst; for though his forefeet were
partially in the tank, and his vast body was reflected clear
in the water, he remained for some minutes listening in per-
fect stillness. Not a motion could be perceived in himself
or his shadow. He returned cautiously and slowly to the
position he had at first taken up on emerging from the forest.
Here in a little while he was joined by five others, with which
he again proceeded as cautiously but less slowly than before,
to within a few yards of the tank, and then posted his patrols.
He then re-entered the forest and collected around him the
whole herd, which must have amounted to between eighty
and a hundred individuals, led them across the open ground
with the most extraordinary composure and quietness till he
joined the advance guard, when he left them for a moment
and repeated his former reconnaissance at the edge of the
tank. After which and having apparently satisfied himself
that all was safe, he returned and obviously gave the order
to advance, for in a moment the whole herd rushed into the
water with a degree of unreserved confidence, so opposite to
the caution and timidity which had marked their previous
movements, that nothing will ever persuade me that there was
THE TAME ELEPHANT. 223

not rational and preconcerted co-operation throughout the
whole party, and a degree of responsible authority exercised
by the patriarch leader.

“When the poor animals had gained possession of the tank
(the leader being the last to enter), they seemed to abandon
themselves to enjoyment without restraint or apprehension
of danger. Such a mass of animal life I had never before
seen huddled together in so narrow a space. It seemed to
me as if they would have nearly drunk the tank dry. I
watched them with great interest until they had satisfied
themselves as well in bathing as in drinking, when I tried
how small a noise would apprise them of the proximity of
unwelcome neighbours. I had but to break a little twig, and
the solid mass instantly took flight like a herd of frightened
deer, each of the smaller calves being apparently shouldered
and carried along between two of the older ones. In drink-
ing, the elephant, like the camel, although preferring water
pure, shows no decided aversion to it when discoloured with
mud; and the eagerness with which he precipitates himself
into the tanks and streams attests his exquisite enjoyment of
the fresh coolness, which to him is the chief attraction. In
crossing deep rivers, although his rotundity and buoyancy
enable him to swim with a less immersion than other quad-
rupeds, he generally prefers to sink till no part of his huge
body is visible except the lip of his trunk through which he
breathes, moving beneath the surface, and only now and
then raising his head to look that he is keeping the proper
direction.”

Wlephant The affection shown by elephants for each
Friendships. other has often had pathetic illustration. Two
elephants, male and female, which had been brought separately
to Paris, were placed in adjoining apartments divided by a
portcullis.° The male soon discovered that this was fastened
by a bolt well within his reach, and hastily withdrawing it rushed
ints tbe other apartment. The meeting is described ag in-
224 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

describable. Their cries of joy, says Mrs. Bowdich, shook
the whole building, and they blew air from their trunks
resembling the blasts from smiths’ bellows. The female moved
her ears with great rapidity, and entwined her trunk round
the body of the male. The male encircled her with his
trunk and shed tears.

The The sagacity of the elephant has been said
Hlephant’s sometimes to equal that. of the dog. A striking
Sagacity. illustration of it is related in Pettit’s work on the

Tinnevelly Missions. “While the large chapel at Nagercoil
was building the missionaries obtained the loan of a trained
elephant for drawing the larger timber used in its erection.
The late Mrs. Mault kindly saw the animal regularly fed,
lest the food should be stolen by the attendant. One day
the allowance of rice seemed very deficient in quantity, and
the good lady expostulated on the subject with the keeper.
Raising his hands to heaven, the man loudly, and with great
apparent earnestness and sincerity, repudiated the idea of
his having taken any of the rice. ‘Do you think, madam,
that I would rob my child? No, never! no more than I
would deprive my own children of their daily food.’ While
he was speaking and gesticulating, the intelligent creature,
slyly extending his trunk, unfastened the man’s waist-cloth,
spilling the missing rice, which had been concealed in a corner
of the cloth, and exposing the dishonesty of the attendant.”
Some years ago there was an elephant who was

Centenarian known to be a hundred years old, named Soup-
Blephant. ramany, or Old Soup as he was called, who
lived upon the banks of the Ganges near the city of Cawn-
pore. On one occasion Old Soup was engaged with a num-
ber of other elephants and a party of soldiers, under the
direction of Major Daly, in loading a ship with bags of rice.
While the work was proceeding one of the elephants began
to throw the bags into the river, and it was found that the
animal had gone mad. Having killed his keeper the elephant
THE TAME ELEPHANT. 225

started in pursuit of the major’s children who with their
nurses had been watching the elephants at work. Old Soup
seemed to realize the situation at once. He dashed in be-
tween the mad elephant and the children and engaged the
infuriated beast in mortal combat. The fight lasted for an
hour and a half and when the mad elephant lay dying on
the ground it was found that Old Soup had many wounds
to remind him of the fray, his ears were badly tor, his
head was bruised, and one of his tusks was broken off short.
An Blephant Elephants are most affectionate animals and

Nurse. can be trusted even to take care of children.
Old Soup whose gallant fight recorded above gained him
great fame, became the daily guardian of Major Daly’s
children, whom he had so heroically rescued. He would
accompany them down to the riverside when they went
fishing, and could himself hold a rod and line, which the
children baited for him, watching the float and landing the
fish as skilfully as an accomplished angler.

The As we have seen in the case of a dog and
Elephant’s that of a monkey, animals sometimes rise to
Intelligence. the intelligence of willingly submitting to pain-

ful surgical treatment in view of cure. Mr. Kingston tells
of an elephant, which had been severely wounded, and which
used to go alone to the hospital and extend itself so that
the surgeon could easily reach the injured part. Mr. Kingston
says: “Though the pain the animal suffered, was so severe
that he often uttered the most plaintive groans, he never
interrupted the operation, but exhibited every token of sub-
mission to the surgeon till his cure was effected.” Another
instance given by Mr. Kingston is even more remarkable if
only for its analogy to human conduct. A young elephant
had a severe wound in its head, which it had gained on
the battle-field. “Nothing could induce it to allow the
injury to be attended to. At length by certain signs and
words, the keeper explained to the mother what was wanted.

15
226 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

The sagacious animal immediately seized the young one with
her trunk, and though it groaned with agony, held it to the
ground, while the surgeon was thus enabled to dress the
wound. Day after day she continued to act in the same
way till the wound was perfectly healed.” There is surely
no stronger proof of intelligence than that afforded when
present suffering is willingly endured for the sake of future
good.
ORDER IX. The Coney is a small animal, but it is an
The Coney. animal of distinction. It has been classed with
the Rodents and with the Pachyderms but its characteristics
are so unique that it is thought better to give it a separate
order, and this is placed between the Elephants and the
Rodents. The coney resembles the rabbit in size and general
form, perhaps more than any other animal. There are a
number of species belonging to one genus, the genus Hyrax:
In Psalm crv, 18, the writer says the rocks are a refuge for
the conies, and Agur puts the coney with three other animals
which are both little and wise. “The conies are but a feeble
folk, yet they make their houses in the rocks (Proverbs xxx,
26). This description applies to the Syrian Hyrax of our day
as truly as it did to that of the Psalmists time. The coney
is found all over Africa. According to Dr. Kirk it lives
in colonies at Mozambique, where it is often trapped and
eaten.
ORDER X. ae Rodents are more numerous and various
The Rodents: than any other class of mammals: There are
Animals said to be 800 or more varieties. These are
that Gnaw. divided into two sub-orders: I, The Simplici-
dentati and, II, the Duplicidentati. Those of the first sub-
order have two incisor teeth in the upper jaw; those of the
second have four. The Simplicidentati include mice, rats,
jerboas, beavers, squirrels, chinchillas, porcupines, guinea
pigs, &c.; the Duplicidentati includes the numerous varieties of
hares and rabbits.
RATS AND MICE. 22"

Rats and There are more than 300 varieties of rats and
Mice. mice, and they are found almost everywhere.
The rat is an irrepressible stowaway, and following toothsome
cargoes on board ship has made his way nearly all over the
world. This may be said, in a less degree, of the mouse.
The better known varieties of rats are the Brown Rat, the
Black Rat, the Water Rat, the Beaver Rat, the Musk Rat,
the Lemming, the Pouched Rat, &c., &c. The principal
varieties of the mouse are, the House Mouse, the Fieldmouse,
the Harvest Mouse, the African Mouse and the Dormouse.
The Rat The brown rat is the species common in
Family. England, and best known throughout the world.

It is said to have travelled from Persia to England less than
two hundred years ago and to have spread from thence to
other countries visited by English ships. It measures about
nine inches, and is of a light brown colour. It multiplies
very fast and once colonised is very difficult of extermination.
It is larger and stronger than the black rat which it found
in England when it came and which it has almost entirely
destroyed and replaced. The brown rat is often mistaken
for the water rat as it will take to the water on occasion
and is often found in ditches and watery places. The water
rat is common to central and northern Europe and is well
known in England and Scotland. It differs little from the
brown rat in appearance, and inhabits the banks of rivers
and ponds. The black rat is of a deep iron grey, or nearly
black. It is about seven inches long and in other respects
bears a close resemblance to the brown rat. The beaver
rat is a native of America and measures about fourteen
inches exclusive of tail. It resembles the beaver in form, is
fond of the water and swims well. At the approach of winter
it builds itself little dome-topped houses, in which it hibernates
in families. In the spring its flesh is good eating, but later
it acquires a musk-like flavour which is disagreeable. It is
easily tamed when young. The Muskovy musk rat is about
228 NATCGRAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

the size of the common rat; it has a long and slender
nose; no external ears; and very small eyes; the tail is
compressed sideways, and its hind feet are webbed; it is of
a dusky colour; the belly is of a light ash. It is a native of
Lapland and Russia, in the former of which countries it is
called the Desman; it frequents the banks of rivers, and feeds
on small fish, The Hudson’s Bay lemming is covered by
very fine soft and long hair of an ash colour. In winter it is
white. The limbs are quite short and the fore feet being
formed for burrowing, are very strong. The Lapland lemming
resembles the preceding and is remarkable for its extensive
migrations. When a severe winter is approaching, the lem-
mings migrate southward, and move in a straightforward
direction with such inflexible regularity, that, sooner than
deviate from it, they will perish in attempting to pass, over
any obstacle which they may find in their way. The pouched
rat belongs to America and is found in Florida, Georgia, and
Missouri. It is brown in colour and lives in burrows under
ground. The cheek pouches are external and are said to
be used for the purpose of carrying food and also of removing
sand loosened in the process of burrowing.
The The hamster is a curious little rat-like animal
Hamster. of the thrifty kind, that lays up store in the
summer for winter use. It lives in burrows which it connects
with various apartments, used as storehouses for food. On
the approach of the cold weather it closes the entrance to
jits burrow, and makes a nest of straw in which it sleeps,
becoming torpid in extreme cold.
Bwarms of The rapidity with which rats multiply, makes
Rats. them troublesome and unpleasant neighbours. In
the vicinity of the horse slaughter-houses at Montfaucon,
near Paris, some years ago, they had become so numerous
that the proposal to remove the slaughter houses was
opposed on the ground of the danger that would accrue to
the inhabitants from the rats being deprived of their means
THE RAT. 229

of subsistence. It was said that the carcases of thirty-five
horses, if left unprotected, would be eaten by these rats in
one night, the bones being picked clean. On one occasion,
the carcases of three horses were placed in a high walled
enclosure, small holes having been made in the walls for the
admission of the rats, and subsequently stopped up. Several
men armed with torches and sticks, then entered the yard,
which was so full of rats that they could strike right and
left without aim and yet be sure of destroying them. Two
thousand six hundred and fifty rats fell victims to this expe-
riment in one night. At the end of a month, the experiment
having been several times repeated, sixteen thousand and
fifty rats had been killed. The danger accruing from the
burrowing of such enormous quantities of rats is by no means
slight.
Invaded by ‘The story of Bishop Hatto and the invasion
Rats. of the “Mdausethurm” on the Rhine by rats, is
well known if not entirely authentic. Some idea of what it would
be to be invaded by rats, may be gathered from Mrs.
Bowdich’s graphic account of her own painful experiences.
“When living in Cape Coast Castle, I used to see the rats
come in troops past my door, walking over my black boys
as they lay there, and who only tumed themselves over to
present the other sides of their faces and bodies when the
rats returned, and thought it a good joke. The fiercest
encounter which I ever had with them was during one of
those terrific storms which are more furious between the
tropics than elsewhere. I was then, however, under the
Equator, in a native hut, and heard an exceeding rustling
and movement all around me. To my terror I perceived
that these proceeded from a number of rats running up and‘
down the sides of the room in which I was to pass the night,
and who shortly began to run over me, they being disturbed
by the torrents of rain which were then falling. The only
weapon I could find was a shoe, and curling myself into a
230 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

large arm-chair taken out of a French vessel, and covered
with blue satin damask, I sat prepared for my enemies, whom
I dreaded much more than the lightning, which was flashing
across the iron bars laid upon the floor. I felt that the silk
of my place of refuge was some sort of protection against
this; but my own arm could alone save me from my four-
footed foes. Presently my husband came in, and saluted me
with a shout of laughter, which, however, abated when he
saw my antagonists. The storm lulled for a while, and the
rats retreated. We then crept within the curtains of bamboo
cloth which encircled a rude imitation of a fourpost bedstead,
but I kept possession of my shoe. Weary with watching, I
closed my eyes, but was awakened by a tremendous flash of
lightning, immediately followed by awful thunder and a
tumultuous rush of rats. Some of them scrambled up the
outside of the curtains; but, arms in hand, I sat up, and
directed by the noise, I hurled the invaders to the ground,
till at length resistance and the passing away of the storm
allowed me to sleep in peace.” This was the brown rat so
farniliar all over the world.

Migrations The habit of rats to migrate in numbers, ap-

of Rats. parently well ordered, and under leadership, has
often been noticed, and the way in which they will leave a
burning house or a sinking ship has often beenrecorded. These
companies will as a rule pass on their own way, and mind
their own business if unmolested, but instances are recorded
of their attacking and severely biting those who have opposed
their progress. The Rev. Mr. Ferryman, who resided at Quorn
in Leicestershire and who made somewhat of a study of rats,
was walking in a meadow one evening when he observed a
large number of rats in the act of migrating from one place
to another. He stood perfectly still, and the whole assem-
blage passed close to him. His astonishment, however, was
great when he saw amongst the number an old, blind rat,
which held ong end of s piece of stick in its mouth while
THE RAT. 331

another rat had hold of the other end of it, and thus con-
ducted its blind companion.
‘The Some remarkable illustrations of the intelligence
Intelligence of rats have been recorded from time to time.
of Rats. The following which occurred recently seems to
show both thought and reason. A Burley rat found a dead
hen in a field, one evening, and departed to inform his
brethren of the discovery, when a gentleman, who afterwards
reported the incident to the Leeds Evening Post—removed
the prize, which the speedy return of half-a-dozen rats was
too late to secure. The first rat plainly evinced his dis-
appointment, but his friends suspected him of hoaxing them,
turned upon him suddenly, and in a few moments he was
as dead as the chicken which had disappeared, and was left
lying on almost the same spot which it had occupied. Captain
Brown tells the following story of the ingenuity of the rat in
self-preservation. “ During the great flood of September, the ath,
1829, when the river Tyne was at its height, a number of
people were assembled on its margin. A swan at last appeared,
having a black spot on its plumage, which the spectators were
surprised to find, on a nearer approach, was a live rat. It
is probable it had been borne from its domicile on some hay
rick, and, observing the swan, had made for it as an ark of
safety. When the swan reached the land, the rat leapt from
its back, and scampered away.
Saved bya Perhaps no better example of the intelligence
Rat. of the rat could be given than that afforded by
the incident quoted by Jesse from Mr. Ferryman. Mr. Ferry-
man records that he had an old friend, a clergyman, of
retired and studious habits. When sitting in his room one
day, he saw an English rat come out of a hole at the bottom
of the wainscot; and threw it a piece of bread. In process
of time, he so familiarised the animal, that it became per-
fectly tame, ran about him, was his constant companion, and
appeared much attached to him. He was in the habit of
2327 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

reading in bed at night; and was on one occasion awoke
by feeling a sharp bite on his cheek, when he discovered
the curtains of his bed to be on fire. He made his escape,
but his house was burnt down, and he saw no more of his
rat. He was, however, convinced, and remained so for the
rest of his life, that his old companion had saved him from
being burnt to death, by biting his cheek; and thus making
him aware of his danger.

The Mouse. The mouse is a much more popular animal
than the rat, though taking its size and numbers into account
it is scarcely less destructive. No one weeps when the rat
suffers capital punishment, but many a tear has been shed
over a “dear little mouse”. The house mouse is too well
known to need description. Like rats, mice appear to act in
companies, either under leadership or by common consent,
Mrs. Bowdich describes a number of mice which she observed
during an illness frequently emerge from her bed-room closet
and gravely form themselves into a circle and apparently
hold a council. That they frequently combine to effect
purposes which they are unable to accomplish singly is well
known. Mrs. Bowdich describes an attempt made by a
combined force of mice to get possession of the dainties
provided for her as she approached convalescence. These
were placed under tin covers upon a chest of drawers, and
the mice were evidently of opinion that if they could only
climb to the top of these covers they would find them open
like a basin, and so effect an entry. Unable to gain a footing
on the smooth metal sides, “they mounted upon each other’s
shoulders and so accomplished the feat”, though like arctic
explorers they failed to find an open sea and were compelled
to return with disappointment. An organised attempt to
remove a cover from the bottom, when, on one occasion, it
had not been firmly set down, resulted in an accident similar
to those incident to human engineering, for the cover slipped
and many tiny hands were severely pinched. After this
THE MOUSE. 233

they abandoned their attempts though a single mouse would
occasionally reconnoitre the scene, apparently unsatisfied with
the defeat. Mice, like many other animals, are said to be
much affected by music.

The The harvest mouse is a most interesting little
Harvest creature; whose habits are thus described by
Mouse. White of Selbome:—“ They build their nest amidst

the straws of the corn above the ground, and sometimes in
thistles. They breed as many as eight at a litter, in a little
round nest composed of the blades of grass or wheat. One of
these I procured this autumn, most artificially plaited, and
composed of the blades of wheat, perfectly round, and about
the size of a cricket ball, with the aperture so ingeniously
closed that there is no discovering to what part it belonged.
It was so compact and well filled that it would roll across
the table without being discomposed, though it contained
eight little 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 different places for that purpose, adjusting them
again when the business is over; but she could not possibly
be contained, herself, in the ball with her young, which more-
over would be daily increasing in bulk. This procreant
cradle—an elegant instance of the efforts of instinct—was found
in a wheat field, suspended in the head of a thistle.”
The Field There are two kinds of field mice, the long-
Mouse. tailed and the short-tailed varieties. The long-
tailed field mouse is the mouse immortalised by Burns, and
is found throughout Europe. The short-tailed variety occupies
much the same geographical area, though it probably extends
further. The latter are very destructive, and have sometimes
increased to such an extent, that organised efforts have had
to be made to exterminate it.
The The common dormouse, and the greater dor-
Dormouss. mouse are the principal varieties of this interesting
234 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

little animal. They resemble the squirrel in appearance as
well as in some of their habits. They live in trees, where
they construct nests, on nuts, acorns, fruits, insects, birds and
eggs, and squirrel-like rest upon their hindquarters when
eating, holding their food between their forepaws. They
lay up store for the winter and become torpid in the cold
weather, rolling themselves into a ball, in which condition
they may be handled without disturbance or injury. The
common dormouse is found all over Europe, the greater
dormouse occupying a still more extended area.

The Jerboa. The Jerboa is a curious little animal with the
body of a mouse and hind legs which resemble those of the
kangaroo in appearance. There are several varieties, one
belonging to Southern Russia, one to the deserts of Egypt,
Nubia, Arabia, Barbary and Tartary, and one to North
America. They live in burrows which they construct with
great care and industry. They are naturally timid and make
for their holes on the slightest disturbance, leaping kangaroo
fashion sometimes as high as five feet, and so swiftly as to
be very difficult of capture. They have very long tails.

The Beaver. There are two species of the beaver, the
European beaver, and the American beaver. The former is
most numerous in Siberia, Tartary, and the Caucasus but is
also occasionally found in Central Europe. The American
beaver is found throughout North America where it is eagerly
hunted for the sake of its fur.

The European The following anonymous paragraph cut from

Beaver. a newspaper, but likely enough quoted from some
standard Natural History, perhaps that of Messrs. Cassell
and Co., throws some light upon the present condition of the
European beaver.

“There are still some naturalists who assert that the beaver
has ceased to exist in France. This, however, is a mistake ‘
an animal of that species was caught a short time ago in the
Hérault, and is now being exhibited at Montpelier. Beavers
THE BEAVER. #35

do not live in Europe in large companies or herds as they
do in America, but only in solitude, and in this state they
haunt secondary rivers, such as the Gard and the Gardon.
There are a few on the banks and islands of the Rhone,
but as these creatures are averse to noise, the splashing of
the steamers plying to and fro has driven most of them away.
They give a decided preference to such streams as are over-
shadowed by the willow, of the bark of which they are ex-
ceedingly fond. The beaver is also to be found as far north
as the Saone, in those valleys where there is peat-ground.
It lives in Spain, in Italy, and in Greece, but always solitary
and fugitive. This curious animal is not only called Castor
Americanus, but also Castor Gallicus, and not without reason,
since the fossil remains of the genus are sufficient to attest
their having been very numerous in France at some remote
period. The little stream of the Biévre derives its name
from its having been the habitat of these creatures; its
resemblance to the English name beaver need hardly be
alluded to. In Europe this amphibious animal does not build
those substantial and commodious dwellings which have ren-
dered it so celebrated, because the rapacity and spirit of
destruction so common in man have made it suspicious and
cautious.”
The American Writing of the American Beaver Dr. Godman
Beaver. says:—“Beavers are not particular in the site
they select for the establishment of their dwellings, but if in
a lake or pond, where a dam is not required, they are careful
to build where the water is sufficiently deep. In standing
waters, however, they have not the advantage afforded by a
current for the transportation of their supplies of wood, which,
when they build on a running stream, is always cut higher
up than the place of their residence, and floated down. The
materials used for the construction of their dams are the
trunks and branches of small birch, mulberry, willow, and
poplar trees. They begin to cut down their timber for build-
236 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

ing early in the summer, but their edifices are not commenced
until about the middle or latter part of August, and are not
completed until the beginning of the cold season. The strength
of their teeth, and their perseverance in this work, may be
fairly estimated by the size of the trees they cut down. Dr.
Best informs us, that he has seen a mulberry tree, eight
inches in diameter, which had been gnawed down by the
beaver. The figure of the dam varies according to circum-
stances. Should the current be very gentle, the dam is carried
nearly straight across; but when the stream is swiftly flowing,
it is uniformly made with a considerable curve, having the
convex part opposed to the current. Along with the trunks
and branches of trees they intermingle mud and stones, to
give greater security; and when dams have been long undis-
turbed and frequently repaired, they acquire great solidity,
and their power of resisting the pressure of water and
ice is greatly increased by the trees occasionally taking
root, and eventually growing up into something of a regular
hedge.

“The dwellings of the beaver are formed of the same
materials as their dams, and are very rude, though strong, and
adapted in size to the number of their inhabitants. These
are seldom more than four old and six or eight young ones.
Double that number have been occasionally found in one of
the lodges, though this is by no means a very common
circumstance, When building their houses, they place most
of the wood crosswise, and nearly horizontally, observing no
other order than that of leaving a cavity in the middle.
Branches which project inward are cut off with their teeth,
and thrown among the rest. The houses are by no means
built of sticks first and then plastered, but all the materials,
sticks, mud, and stones, if the latter can be procured, are
mixed up together, and this composition is employed from
the foundation to the summit. The mud is obtained from the
adjacent banks or bottom of the stream or pond near the
THE SQUIRREL. 237

door of the hut. Mud and stones the beaver always carries
by holding them between his fore paws and throat.

“Their work is all performed at night, and with much
expedition. As soon as any part of the material is placed
where it is intended to remain, they turn round and give it
a smart blow with the tail. The same sort of blow is struck
by them upon the surface of the water when they are in the
act of diving. The outside of the hut is covered or plastered
with mud late in the autumn, and after frost has begun to
appear. By freezing it soon becomes almost as hard as stone,
and effectually excludes their great enemy, the wolverine,
during the winter.”

The Squirrel, The family of the Squirrel is a very large one
and with it are included the marmots, the prairie dogs, and
the anomalures, the latter of which form a sub-family. The
common squirrel, the variety familiar in England, is a pretty
little creature with its bright piercing eyes, and knowing look,
and its graceful bushy tail. It is one of the most agile of
animals, ascending and descending trees with the rapidity of
a flash and so sensitive, that it is said that if the tree upon
which its nests is only touched at the bottom it takes alarm
and seeks safety on another tree. It builds its nests in the
forks of branches of trees,—of moss, twigs, and dried leaves,
—and leaps great distances from tree to tree. The ground
squirrel is characterised by fine longitudinal black bands on
its back, which form a very pretty marking. It belongs
chiefly to North America. “It lives in villages under ground,”
says an American writer, “and plunders the farmers worse
than the gopher. Every two months the ground squirrel
breeds and neither State premiums nor strychnine diminishes
its numbers. It levies an assessment of thirty per cent.
on the profits of a wheat crop in many sections.”

The flying squirrel, also common in the United States, has
a membranous skin which extends from the fore limbs along
the body to the hind limbs by which its body is buoyed up


238 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

as it descends obliquely through the air from the tree to
the ground, the tail operating as a rudder. One species
of the flying squirrel is found in Europe and several in
India. ;
The Squirrel Mr. Head gives a graphic description of his expe-
at Home. yjiences with a squirrel in the Canadian woods.
He says:—“I was waiting the approach of a large flock of
- wild fowl, but a littie villain of a squirrel on the bough ofa
, tree close to me, seemed to have determined that even now
I should not rest in quiet, for he sputtered and chattered
with so much vehemence, that he attracted the attention of
my dog, whom I could scarcely control. The vagrant inattention
of my dog was truly mortifying; he kept his eyes fixed upon
the squirrel, now so noisy as to be quite intolerable. With
my hand, I made a motion to threaten him, but the little
beast actually set up his back, and defied me, becoming even
more passionate and noisy than before, till all of a sudden,
as if absolutely on purpose to alarm the game, down he let
himself drop, plump at once within a couple of yards of
Rover’s nose. This was too much for any four-footed animal
‘o bear, so he gave a bounce and sprang at the impertinent
squirrel, who, in one second, was safe out of his reach, cock-
ing his tail, and showing his teeth on the identical bough
where he had sat before. Away flew all the wild fowl, and
my sport was completely marred. My gun went involuntarily
to my shoulder to shoot the squirrel. At the same moment,
I felt I was about to commit an act of sheer revenge, on a
little courageous animal which deserved a better fate. As if
aware of my hesitation, he nodded his head with rage, and
stamped his fore paws on the tree: while in his chirruping,
there was an intonation of sound, which seemed addressed
to an enemy for whom he had an utter contempt. What
business, I could fancy he said, had I there, trespassing on
his domain, and frightening his wife and little family, for
whom he was ready to lay down his life? There he would
THE SQUIRREL, 239

sit in spite of me, and make my ears ring with the sound
of his war whoop, till the spring of life should cease to bubble
in his little heart.”
Tame Captain Brown tells of a gentleman who had a
Squirrels. tame squirrel, who used to run up his legs and
enter his pocket when he saw him preparing to go out.
From this safe retreat the squirrel often poked his head and
peeped at the people as they passed, but never ventured to
emerge until the crowded thoroughfares were passed. When
they reached the outskirts of the city, however, the squirrel
leaped to the ground, ran along the road, ascended trees and
hedges, with the quickness of lightning, and nibbled at the
leaves and bark. If the gentleman walked on, it would
descend, scamper after him, and again enter his pocket. On
hearing a carriage or cart, it became much alarmed, and always
hid itself till it had passed by. This gentleman had a dog,
between which and the squirrel a certain enmity existed.
Whenever the dog lay asleep, the squirrel would show its
teasing disposition, by rapidly descending from its box, scampering
- over the dog’s body, and quickly mounting to its box again.
Another squirrel who frequented his master’s pocket, on
one occasion rendered important service. One evening,
as was his practice, when his master’s coat was taken
off and hung behind a door, the squirrel ran up the door
and took up his quarters in the familiar pocket, carrying with
him a supply of tow with which to make himself comfortable
for the night. After all the family had retired to rest, a
burglar made his appearance, effected an entrance, and
proceeded to examine the pockets of the coat hanging to the
door. Putting his hand rather unceremoniously into the
squirrel’s bedroom the robber received such a sharp and
unexpected bite that he could not forbear to cry out and
the master of the house, aroused by the unusual sound,
entered the room, armed with a poker, just in time to secure
ihe thief as he was escaping through the windew.
240 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

FIRS UMeeet: Marmots are found in the northern parts cf
The Bobak. both the old and the new worlds. The Bobak
The Prairie belongs to southern Russia, the Prairie Dog to
ass North America and the Woodchuck to Canada.
The marmot is easily tamed and is familiar to many from
being made the companion of itinerant Savoyards who exhibit
them when asking alms. The Bobak is also readily amen-
able to kindness. All these animals live in burrows and are
exceedingly interesting in their habits. The anomalure is a
squirrel with a membranous skin resembling to some extent
that of the flying squirrels and used by it for the same pur-
pose. It belongs to Fernando Po.
The The Chinchilla is about nine inches long, its
Chinchilla. tail being about five inches. Its eyes are full,
like those of the rabbit, its hind legs are long, its fore ones
short. It sits upon its haunches, and takes its food in its
fore paws. It is found in Chili and Peru, and inhabits the
open country, living in burrows, and subsisting on the roots
of bulbous plants, which are abundant in those regions.
Great numbers of them are killed for their skins, which furnish
the most delicate and beautiful of furs. The Alpine Viscacha
and the Viscacha of the Pampas, are included in the same
family.
The The Porcupine is found throughout Africa and
Poreupine. southern Asia and also in the south of Europe.
“Less completely covered with weapons of defence than the
hedgehog,” says Captain Brown, “the porcupine possesses
them in greater strength, for its formidable quills are capable
of inflicting severe wounds. When irritated or in danger it
raises its quills on its back; but it is though fretful, not fierce
in disposition but easily tamed.” When comered the por-
cupine turns its back to its assailant, who usually wounds
himself by coming in contact with the quills. The porcupine
lives in burrows by itself; it is a lonely animal. The Cavies
and the Agouti of America are classified with this family.
HARES AND RABBITS. 241

Among the former is the Capybara, the largest of the rodents,
an animal which attains to from three to four feet in length.
It belongs to Brazil, Guinea, and Paraguay. The Canadian
porcupine, and the Brazilian porcupine, are tree porcupines
and are only found in America.
The Guinea The Guinea Pig (Cavta Cobaya) is said to be
Pig. the domestic form of the Cavia Aperea of Brazil
and Peru. It derives its name from its supposed place of
origin, as it was said to have been first introduced into England
from Guinea. It is tailless, but clean and neat in ap-
pearance, being marked with black, white, and orange colours.
It is said to lack intelligence and to be destitute of attach-
ment, suffering its young to be destroyed without resistance.
Perhaps this is due to the fact that it has so many; it breeds
at intervals of two months and produces from three to twelve
young ones at a birth.
Hares and We come now to the second sub-order of the
Rabbits. Rodents or animals that gnaw, the Duphicidentati,
the rodents having four incisor teeth in the upper jaw. This
brings us to the Hares and Rabbits, of which there are nu-
merous species, the Common Hare, the Irish or Mountain
Hare and the Common Rabbit being the best known. The
Irish or Mountain Hare is somewhat larger than the common
hare and changes from brown to white in the winter. The
Sardinian, the Egyptian, the Polar, and the Sage hares are
other varieties.
The The Common Hare is a familiar animal and
Common needs no description. It is found throughout
Hare: Europe and is well known in England. The
hare hides during the day under cover of low foliage, ferns,
and the undergrowth of preserves, in spots known as ‘forms’.
Its habit of making a definite track from its form to its feeding
grounds and of always following its own track makes it an
easy sacrifice to those who know its ways. It is exceedingly
swift in its movements, and it is well that it is so, for its
16
242 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

only safety is in flight and in the sagacity and cunning it
shows in eluding its pursuers. Many illustrations of the latter
have been recorded. Fouilloux mentions a hare which he
saw start from its form at the sound of a hunter’s hom,
run towards a pool of water at a considerable distance, plunge
in and swim to some rushes in the middle, and there lay down
and conceal itself from the pursuit of the dogs. Another
hare, when closely pressed passed under a gate, the dogs
leaping over it. The hare quickly perceived the advantage
it had gained by this, and so doubled, returning under the
gate, the dogs following over it as before. This was repeated
several times until taking advantage of the exhaustion of the
dogs the hare escaped. The hare will often run perfectly
straight while in view of the hounds, but immediately on
gaining the slightest cover will double, and redouble with
astonishing rapidity, apparently to confuse the scent.
The following anecdote seems to show remark-
Intelligence able intelligence on the part of a hare. It is
ofthe from a statement made by Mr. Yarrell in the
“Magazine of Natural History” :—“A harbour
of great extent on our southern coast has an island near the
middle, of considerable size, the nearest point of which is a
mile distant from the mainland at high water, and with which
point there is frequent communication by a ferry. Early one
morning in spring two hares were observed to come down
from the hills of the mainland towards the seaside, one of
which from time to time left its companion, and proceeding
to the very edge of the water, stopped there a minute or
two, and then returned to its mate. The tide was rising,
and after waiting some time, one of them, exactly at high
water, took to the sea, and swam rapidly over, in a straight
line, to the opposite projecting point of land. The observer
on this occasion, who was near the spot, but remained
unperceived by the hares, had no doubt that they were of
different sexes, and that it was the male—like another Lean-
‘Plate No. 12 MILES’ NATURAL HISTORY.



BEAVER.
(Castor canadensis)

RRA
WEAN

SRG



ALPINE HAR
(Lepus variabilis)
HARES AND RABBITS. 243

der—which swam across the water, as he had probably done
many times before. It was remarkable that the hares had
remained on the shore nearly half an hour, one of them
occasionally examining, as it would seem, the state of the
current, and ultimately taking to the sea at that precise period
of the tide called slack water, when the passage across could
be effected without being carried by the force of the stream
either above or below the desired point of landing. The
other hare then cantered back to the hills.”
AHuntea The following story of a hunted hare is from
Hare. “The Annals of Sporting,” for May 1822:—*Two
years ago, a doe hare produced two young ones in a field
adjoining my cottage; and the three were occasionally seen,
during the summer, near the same spot. But the leverets
were, I have reason to believe, killed at the latter end of
September of the same year; the old doe hare was also
coursed, and making directly for my cottage, entered the
garden, and there blinked the dogs. I repeatedly afterwards
saw her sitting, sometimes in the garden, (which is one
hundred and ten yards by forty-three,) but more frequently
in the garden-hedge. She was repeatedly seen by greyhounds
when she sat at some distance, but uniformly made for the
garden, and never failed to find security. About the end of
the following January, puss was no longer to be seen about
the garden, as she had probably retired to some distance
with a male companion. One day, in February, I heard the
hounds, and shortly afterwards observed a hare making towards
the garden, which it entered at a place well known, and left
not the least doubt on my mind, that it was my old acquaintance,
which, in my family, was distinguished by the name of Kitty.
The harriers shortly afterwards came in sight, followed Kitty,
and drove her from the garden. I became alarmed for the
safety of my poor hare, and heartily wished the dogs might
come to an irrecoverable fault. The hare burst away with
the fleetness of the wind, and was followed breast high, by
244 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

her fierce and eager pursuers. In about twenty minutes I
observed Kitty return towards the garden, apparently much
exhausted, and very dirty. She took shelter beneath a small
heap of sticks, which lay at no great distance from the
kitchen door. No time was to be lost, as, by the cry of
the hounds, I was persuaded they were nearly in sight. I
took a fishing-net, and, with the assistance of the servant,
covered poor Kitty, caught her, and conveyed the little,
panting, trembling creature into the house. The harriers
were soon at the spot, but no hare was to be found. I am
not aware that I ever felt greater pleasure than in thus saving
poor Kitty from her merciless pursuers. Towards evening I
gave Kitty her liberty; I turned her out in the garden, and
saw her not again for some time. In the course of the
following summer, however, I saw a hare several times, which
I took to be my old friend; and, in the latter end of October,
Kitty was again observed in the garden. Henceforward she
was occasionally seen as on the preceding winter. One
morning, in January, when I was absent, a gun was fired near
my cottage; Kitty was heard to scream, but, nevertheless,
entered the garden vigorously. The matter was related to
me on my return home; and I was willing to hope that Kitty
would survive. However, I had some doubt on the subject;
and, the next morning, as soon as light permitted, I explored
the garden, and found that my poor unfortunate favourite
had expired; she was stretched beneath a large goose-
berry tree; and I could not help very much regretting her
death.”

- Pame Hares, Though exceedingly timid creatures hares are
readily tamed, and have often become as domesticated
as cats and dogs. Cowper’s experiments with hares will natu-
rally occur to the reader, besides which there are cases
recorded where tame hares have been associated in domesti-
city with cats and even sporting dogs. One possessed by
Mr. A. S. Moffat was thus domiciled and would feed from
ICOTHLESS ANIMALS. 245

the same plate with a cat and a dog. This hare would knock

a book out of its master’s hand to secure his attention.

The Common The Common Rabbit is found all over the

Rabbit. British Isles, as well as in France and Spain;
and in the north of Africa where it is indigenous. It is
smaller than the hare and lives in burrows, in large num-
bers, completely honey-combing sand hills which are covered
with grass and vegetation. Before producing her young, the
female forms a separate burrow where she conceals them
after birth. This is done to protect them from the male
who destroys, if he discovers them. The young are bom
blind and gain their sight after ten days. They are a month
old before they are allowed to leave the burrow.

ORDER XI, Curiously enough this order, though de-
Toothless DOminated toothless, includes several animals
Animals. which have well developed dental arrange-

ments. In these, however, the teeth are not found in the

front of the jaw, and those which are found are elementary
and simple. Several families are classified with this order, of
which the Sloth, the Pangolin, the Armadillo, the Cape Ant-

Bear, and the Ant-Eater are the best known representatives.

The Sloth. The Sloth belongs to South America. “In its

wild state,” says Waterton, “the Sloth spends its whole life in

the trees, and never leaves them but through force or acci-
dent, and, what is more extraordinary, not upon the branches,
like the squirrel and monkey, but under them. He moves
suspended from the branch, he rests suspended from the
branch, and he s/eeps suspended from the branch.” “In fact,”
says the Rev. J. G. Wood, “as Sydney Smith observes, he

passes a life of suspense, like a curate distantly related to a

Bishop. To render it fit for this singular mode of life, its

{ong and powerful arms are furnished with strong curved

claws, which hook round the branches, and keep the animal

suspended without any effort. When on the ground, these
claws are very inconvenient, and it can barely shuffle
246 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

along; but when it is in its native element, it moves with
exceeding rapidity, particularly in a gale of wind, when it
~ passes from branch to branch, and from tree to tree, with
an activity which its movements on the ground by no means
portend.”
The There are two species of the Pangolin, or

Pangolin. Manis, the long-tailed and the short-tailed, the
former being a native of Africa and the latter of the East Indies.
The long-tailed manis measures about five feet inclusive of
the tail which is about three feet long, the short-tailed manis
about four feet in all. All the upper parts of its body are
closely covered with scales of different sizes, which, as they
are ‘attached to the skin only by the lower extremity, it can
erect at pleasure, opposing to its adversary a formidable row
of offensive weapons. They are sharp at the point, and so
hard as, on collision, to strike fire like a flint. The moment
it perceives the approach of an enemy, it rolls itself up like
a hedgehog, by which means it covers all the weaker parts
of its body. The Pangolins live on ants, which they catch
by thrusting their long slender tongues into the midst of their
prey, their tongues being covered by a gummy saliva to which
the ants adhere.

The The Armadillo is a native of South America,

Armadillo. in which country there are several varieties. They
are all covered with a strong crust or shell, resembling, as
the Rev. J. G. Wood puts it, “the modified plate armour” worn
by men in the 16th century. They eat vegetables and insects,
and do good work as scavengers. They burrow with great
rapidity and when rolled up, after the manner of the hedgehog,
are invulnerable to their ordinary enemies.

The Cape The Cape Ant-Bear belongs to the Cape of

Ant-Bear. Good Hope. It differs from the ant-eaters of the
western world in many ways, being a hairy animal without
scales, its head resembling that of the deer kind, having long
ears but no horns, The length of its body which is covered
POUCHED ANIMALS. 247

with bristles is about four feet, and its feet which are short,

are furnished with strong claws which enable it to excavate

the cavities in which it lives.
The Ant- The true Ant-Eater is found in the South
Hater. American tropics. The Great Ant-Eater belongs
to La Plata, the Little Ant-Eater to the Brazils. The Great

Ant-Eater is four feet in length, without its tail, which is

two feet six inches long. The true ant-eater like the Pan-

golin already described inserts its long tongue into the nest
of the ant, catching its little victims in large numbers by
the sticky mucus which covers its tongue.

ORDER XII. Of the several families classed in this order
Pouchea the opossums and the kangaroos are the most
Animals. familiar. The Dasyures of Tasmania and the

Bandicoots of Australia and New Guinea also belong to this

order, as do the many varieties of the Phalanger of Australasia

and those of the Wombat of Tasmania. The pouch is one
of the most remarkable provisions of Nature, the young of
the pouched animals being small and of imperfect form at
birth and requiring the protection of the pouch for their
sustenance and development.
The The common Opossum, which is a native of
Opossum. Virginia, is about the size of a badger. It is
provided with a pouch, in which it carries its young, and
into which they leap on the approach of danger. Its covering
is a coat of long fur, of a dingy white colour. It feeds upon
fish, birds, insects, and reptiles. Its tailis very muscular, and
by this it hangs from the branches of trees and, watching its
prey, lets itself fall upon its victims with great precision.

Its hind feet are formed something like hands, by which it is

enabled to climb with wonderful facility. The opossum when

caught often simulates death so admirably that he deceives
his captors and ultimately escapes them.

athe The Kangaroo belongs to Australia and New

Kangaroo. Guinea. The length of its body is from four to
248 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

five feet six inches; its fore legs are very short; its hind ones
very long. Its tail is from three to four feet in length, and its
strength is such, that a stroke of it will break a man’s leg.
The Kangaroo moves by great leaps or bounds of from twelve
to twenty feet. It is covered with a short soft fur, of a reddish
ash-colour. It feeds on vegetables, and has a pouch for its
young, like the opossum. Mr. Cunningham says: “The
Kangaroos make no use of the short fore legs, except in
grazing. When chased, they hop upon their hind legs, bound-
ing onward at a most amazing rate, the tail wagging up and
down as they leap, and serving them for a balance. They
will bound over gulleys and deep declivities, and fly right
over the tops of low brush wood.” There are several varieties
of this animal; one of which, called the Rat Kangaroo, is
only the size of a rabbit; another, called the Tree Kangaroo,
can hop about on trees in an extraordinary manner and is
furnished with curved claws, on its fore paws, similar to those
of the sloth, by which he can lay hold of the branches.
Kangaroo Kangaroo hunting is a favourite Australian sport.
Hunting. It is not unattended with danger either to dogs
or men, the sharp claws and powerful hind legs of the anima!
making it a formidable enemy at close quarters. Dawson in his
“Present State of Australia” says: “A full-sized ‘wool man’
at bay always sits on his haunches, and when he rises to
move forward, he stands four, or four and a half feet high.
In this manner, he will, when pressed, meet a man, and hug
and scratch him, if not.to death, in such a way that he does
not soon forget it. When hard pressed, and near to water,
the kangaroo always takes it; if it be deep water, and the
dogs follow him, one or the other is almost sure to be drowned.
If a single dog, the kangaroo is nearly certain to come off
victorious, by taking his assailant in his fore arms, and holding
him under water till he is dead; but, if he has two dogs
opposed to him, he is not left at liberty to hold either of
his opponents long enough under water to drown him, and
MONOTREMATA, 249

he generally himself falls a sacrifice, after a long and hard
struggle. Notwithstanding the courage and ferocity of the
kangaroo, when pressed, he is otherwise extremely timid, and
more easily domesticated than any wild animal with which I
am acquainted. The smaller ones are frequently quite as
swift as a hare; and I have sometimes seen them outstrip
the fleetest dogs.” Young and inexperienced dogs are almost
sure to fall victims to the sharp claw and powerful hind leg
of the kangaroo, with one stroke of which he will rip the dog
open and let his entrails out.
ORDER XIII, The order Monotremata includes two fami-
Monotremata. lies, the Orntthorhynchide and the Echidni-
dz, both of which belong to Australia. The Duck-billed
Platypus belongs to the former, the Australian Hedgehog to
the latter family. (

The The Duck-billed Platypus is one if the most
Duck-billed singular of animals. “When it was first introduced
Platypus. into Europe,” says Mr. Wood, “it was fully believed

to be the manufacture of some impostor, who with much
ingenuity had fixed the beak of a duck into the head of
some unknown animal. It will, however, be seen by
examining the skull of the animal, that this duck-like beak
is caused by a prolongation of some of the bones of the
head.” The Platypus lives on the banks of rivers in burrows
which it forms, and feeds on water insects and small shell
fish, It is web-footed but its feet are so constructed that it
can fold back the web when it wants to burrow, and unfold
it when it wants to swim. The hind feet of the male are
armed with a sharp spur.

The The Australian Hedgehog is about a foot long.
Australian Jt lives in burrows and feeds on insects, has a long
Hedgehog. tonoue but no teeth. It has spines from which

circumstance it is called a hedgehog after its English name-
sake, though its spines are almost hidden by its hair. It is
said to be a dull, unintelligent animal.
THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.
SUB-KINGDOM VERTEBRATA.
CLASS U—AVES,

Classification. The Birds are distinguished from the Mammals
by many obvious characteristics, chief among which are their
bodily form, their feathery covering and their manner of
producing their young by means of eggs. The Birds form
the second class of the sub-kingdom Vertebrata and according
to the classification followed in this work are divided into ten
orders. These orders are, I Passeres: birds characterised by
the habit of perching; II Picariz: birds that climb, etc.
III Psittacini: the Parrots; IV Columbe: the Doves; V
Gallinze: the Fowls; VI Opisthocomi: the Hoazin of Brazil
and Guinea; VII Accipitres: the Birds of Prey; VIII Gralla-
tores: the birds that wade; [X Anseres: the Birds that swim;
X Struthiones: the Ostrich, the Emu, etc., etc.

ORDER I. The species of this order are very numerous, and

Perching have been variously divided by different authorities.

Birds. Mr. Wallace forms them into five groups, which
classification we shall find it convenient to follow. These
five groups are: I The Thrushes and Thrush-like perching
birds; II The Tanagers and similar kinds ; III The Starlings
and allied species; IV The Ant-eaters, etc., and V The Lyre
Birds, and the Scrub Birds of Australia. The first group
includes many well known feathered favourites: the Thrush;
the Blackbird; the Mocking Bird; the Tailor Bird ; the
Wren; the Robin; the Nightingale; the Titmouse; the

259
Plate No. 13 MILES’ NATURAL HISTORY.






TATOU
(Priodonta gigas)

KANGAROO
(Macropodida)
PERCHING BIRDS. 25%

Golden Oriole; the Jay; the Magpie; the Raven; the Rook;
the Carrion Crow; the Jackdaw; the Chough; and the Bird
of Paradise. The second group includes the Swallow; the
Martin; the Goldfinch; the Linnet; the Canary; the Bull-
finch; the Bunting and many others. The third group con-
tains the Starlings; the Weaver Bird; the Lark; the Wagtail,
and the Pipits; the fourth group, the King Bird of North
America; the Manakins of Guinea; the Chatterers of South
America; the Bell Bird of Brazil, and the Umbrella Bird of
the Amazon. The fifth group contains the Lyre Birds and
‘the Scrub Birds of Australia. <
The The order of Thrush-like perching birds is a
Thrush. very large one, including nearly three thousand
known varieties. Of these it will be impossible, within present
limits, to even mention a very large number, and we shail
content ourselves with dealing with a few of the better known
species.
fhe Common The Thrush is one of the most popular of
Thrush. English native birds, as its song is one of the
most beautiful of those of the bird kind. It is a herald of
the English spring and summer, beginning to sing at the end
of January and continuing until July. It builds its nest na
hedge or bush, and, as it breeds early in the year, lines it
with a plaster of mud to protect its young from the cold winds.
It is a bold bird and will vigorously defend its nest from the
attacks of larger birds. It feeds on insects, snails and worms.
“Watch an old thrush,” says Dr. Stanley, “pounce down
on a lawn, moistened with dew and rain. At first he stands
motionless, apparently thinking of nothing at all, his eye
vacant, or with an unmeaning gaze. Suddenly he cocks his
ear on one side, makes a glancing sort of dart with his head
and neck, gives perhaps one or two hops, and then stops,
again listening attentively, and his eye glistening with atten-
tion and animation; his beak almost touches the ground,—
he draws back his head as if to make a determined peck.
252 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

Again he pauses; listens again; hops, perhaps once or twice,
scarcely moving his position, and pecks smartly on the sod;
then is once more motionless as a stuffed bird. But he knows
well what he is about; for, after another moment’s pause,
having ascertained that all is right, he pecks away with might
and main, and soon draws out a fine worm, which his fine
sense of hearing had informed him was not far off, and which
his hops and previous peckings had attracted to the surface,
to escape the approach of what the poor worm thought might
be his underground enemy, the mole.”
The Missel The Missel Thrush, so called from its fondness
Thrush. for the mistletoe, is larger than the common or
song thrush, less melodious and not so common in England,
but well known upon the continent of Europe. Like the
song thrush it finds a determined enemy in the magpie,
against which it often defends itself with success. It is, how-
ever, unable to withstand a combined attack. Gilbert White
says: “The Missel-thrush is, while breeding, fierce and pugna-
cious, driving such birds as approach its nest with great fury
to a distance. The Welsh call it “pen y Ilwyn,” the head
or master of the coppice. He suffers no magpie, jay, or
blackbird, to enter the garden where he haunts; and is, for
the time, a good guard to the new-sown legumens. In general,
he is very successful in the defence of his family; but once
I observed in my garden, that several magpies came deter-
mined to storm the nest of a missel-thrush: the dams defended
their mansion with great vigour, and fought resolutely pro aris
et focts ; but numbers at last prevailed, they tore the nest to
pieces, and swallowed the young alive.”
The The Blackbird is another of the most cherished
Blackbird. of English song birds. It is one of the earliest
to wake the morning with a song. Its habits are similar te
those of the Thrush ; it builds its nest in bushes, in shrubberies
and gardens, safe from the sight, but close to the haunts of
man. It lines its nest with a plaster of mud which it covers
THE THRUSH—THE BLACKBIRD. 253

over with dry grass, and is exemplary in the care of its young.
It has a black coat as its name implies, and an orange
tawny bill. The blackbird has to some extent the power
of the mocking bird, of imitating the sounds it hears,—such
as the chuckling of a hen, the song of the nightingale, the
caw of the crow. In the “Magazine of Natural History” of
September 1831, Mr. Bouchier of Wold Rectory, near North-
ampton, says: “Within half a mile of my residence there is
a blackbird which crows constantly, and as accurately as the
common cock, and nearly as loud; as it may, on a still day,
be heard at the distance of several hundred yards. When
first told of the circumstance, I conjectured that it must have
been the work of a cock pheasant, concealed in a neighbour-
ing brake; but, on the assurance that it was nothing more or
less than a common blackbird, I determined to ascertain the
fact with my own eyes and ears; and this day I had the
gratification of getting close to it, seated on the top bough
of an ash tree, and pursuing with unceasing zeal its unusual
note. The resemblance to the crow of the domestic cock
is so perfect, that more than one in the distance were an-
swering it. It occasionally indulged in its usual song; but
only: for a second or two; resuming its more favourite note;
and once or twice it commenced with crowing, and broke off
in the middle into its natural whistle. In what way this
bird has acquired its present propensity I am unable to say,
except that as its usual haunt is near a mill where poultry
are kept, it may have learned the note from the common
fowl.”

The Blackbird of America resembles his English cousin in
most particulars. He is often seen following the plough,
looking for worms in the fresh furrows, and frequently, like the
crow, stealing the planted maize or Indian corn from the hill.
In the autumn the American Blackbirds gather in vast flocks,
and sometimes produce a roar like the rush of a waterfall
by their flight.
254 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

whe The Mocking Bird is a native of America and
Mocking many stories are told of its wonderful powers
Bird. of mimicry. The following description is furnished

by Wilson: “The plumage of the Mocking Bird, though
none of the homeliest, has nothing gaudy or brilliant in it,
and, had he nothing else to recommend him, would scarcely
entitle him to notice; but his figure is well proportioned, and
even handsome. The ease, elegance, and rapidity of his
movements, the animation of his eye, and the intelligence
he displays in listening, and laying up lessons from almost
every species of the feathered creation within his hearing,
are really surprising, and mark the peculiarity of his genius.
In his native groves, mounted upon the top of a tall bush
or half grown tree, in the dawn of a dewy morning, while
the woods are already vocal with a multitude of warblers,
his admirable song rises pre-eminent over every competitor.
The ear can listen to his music alone, to which that of all
the others seems a mere accompaniment. Neither is this
strain altogether imitative. His own native notes, which are
easily distinguishable by such as are acquainted with those
of our various song birds, are bold and full, and varied
seemingly beyond all limits. They consist of short expres-
sions of two, three, or at the most five or six syllables, generally
interspersed with imitations, and all of them uttered with
great emphasis and rapidity, and continued with undiminished
ardour for half an hour, or an hour, ata time. His expanded
wings and tail, glistening with white, and the buoyant gaiety
of his action, arresting the eye, as his song most irresistibly
does the ear, he sweeps round with enthusiastic ecstasy and
mounts and descends as his song swells or dies away. ‘He
bounds aloft with the celerity of an arrow, as if to recover
or recall his very soul, which expired in the last elevated
strain.’ He often deceives the sportsman, and sends him in
search of birds that/are not perhaps within miles of him, but
whose notes he exactly imitates: even birds themselves are
THE MOCKING BIRD—-THE WREN. 255

frequently imposed upon by this admirable mimic, and are
decoyed by the fancied calls of their mates, or dive with
precipitation into the depth of thickets at the scream of what
they suppose to be the sparrow-hawk.”
The Tailor The Tailor Bird is a small bird of no very
Bird. remarkable appearance, but it is singular from
its habit of sewing leaves together in forming its nest. This it
does by using its beak as a needle, and certain vegetable fibres
as thread, and sewing the edges of leaves together in the form
of a pocket, in which it deposits its eggs and rears its young.
The Golden The Golden Crested Wren is the smallest
Crested Wren. of British Birds, and it is one of the most
beautiful, acccording to Mrs. Bowdich it only weighs eighty
grains. It is peculiar among British birds for suspending its
nest to the boughsoftrees. Its nestisan elegant structure, some-
times open at the top, sometimes covered with a dome, having
an entrance at the side. It is a tame bird, and often visits
country gardens where it may be distinguished by its green and
yellow coat with white facings, and its golden crest. Captain
Brown says: “its song is weak and intermittent, yet sweet as
that which fancy attributes to the fairy on the moonlight hill.”
The Captain Brown, quoting from “Selby’s Omitho-
Migration logy”, gives an interesting account of the way in
of Birds. which our native birds are reinforced from other
countries.“ On the 24th and 25th of October, 1822,” says Mr.
Selby, “after a very severe gale, with thick fog, from the
North East, (but veering, towards its conclusion, to the east
and south of east,) thousands of these birds were seen to
arrive upon the sea-shore and sand-banks of the Northum-
brian coast; many of them so fatigued by the length of
their flight, or perhaps by the unfavourable shift of wind, as
to be unable to rise again from the ground, and great num-
bers were in consequence caught or destroyed. This flight
must have been immensely numerous, as its extent was traced
through the whole length of the coasts of Northumberland
256 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

and Durham. There appears little doubt of this having
been a migration from the more northerm provinces of Europe
(probably furnished by the pine forests of Norway, Sweden,
&c.), from the circumstance of its arrival being simultaneous
with that of large flights of the woodcock, fieldfare, and
redwing. Although I had never before witnessed the actual
arrival of the gold-crested regulus, I had long felt convinced,
from the great and sudden increase of the species, during
the autumnal and hyemal months that our indigenous birds
must be augmented by a body of strangers making these
shores their winter’s resort.—A more extraordinary circumstance
in the economy of this bird took place during the same
winter, véz., the total disappearance of the whole, natives as
well as strangers, throughout Scotland and the north of
England. This happened towards the conclusion of the
month of January 1823, and a few days previous to the long-
continued snow-storm so severely felt throughout the northern
counties of England, and along the eastern parts of Scotland.
The range and point of this migration are unascertained, but
it must probably have been a distant one, from the fact of
not a single pair having returned to breed, or pass the
succeeding summer, in the situations they had been known
always to frequent. Nor was one of the species to be seen
till the following October, or about the usual time, as I have
above stated, for our receiving an annual accession of strang-
ers to our own indigenous birds.”

The The Willow Wren is a summer visitor to the
Willow British Isles. He arrives about the end of March
Wren. ‘and Jeaves in the month of September. He is

an active little bird, an expert fly-catcher and an agreeable
singer. His coat is of a greenish yellow-brown, his waistcoat
is white tinged with yellow.

The The Common Wren is indigenous to Great
Sommon Britain. It builds its nest under the shelter of
Wren. thatched eaves, in out-of-the-way and unusual
THE WREN. 257

places. It is a plain homely looking little bird of a pale
chestnut brown colour. Captain Brown gives the following
interesting description of a wren’s music lesson.

A Wren’s “A pair of wrens,” says Captain Brown, “ built
Music Lesson. their nest in a box, so situated that the family on
the grounds had an opportunity of observing the mother’s care
in instructing her young ones to sing. She seated herself on
one side of the opening of the box, facing her young, and
commenced by singing over all her notes very slowly and
distinctly. One of the little ones then attempted to imitate
her. After chirping rather inharmoniously a few notes, its
pipe failed, and it went off the tune. The mother immedi-
ately took up the tune where the young one had failed, and
distinctly finished the remaining part. The young one made
a second attempt, commencing where it had left off, and con-
tinuing for a few notes with tolerable distinctness, when it again
lost the notes; the mother began again where it ceased, and
went through with the air. The young one again resumed
the tune and completed it. When this was done, the mother
again sung over the whole of her song with great precision;
and then another of the young attempted to follow it, who
likewise was incapable of going through with the tune, but the
parent treated it as she had done the first bird; and so on
with the third and fourth. It sometimes happened that the
little one would lose the tune, even three or four times in
making the attempt; in which case the mother uniformly
commenced where it had ceased, and always sung to the end
of the tune; and when each had completed the trial, she
always sung over the whole song. Sometimes two of them
commenced the strain together, in which case she pursued
the same conduct towards them, as she had done when one
sung. This was repeated at intervals every day, while they
vemained in their nest.”

The The American House Wren is described by
House Wren. Audubon as a cheery familiar little bird, resem-

17
258 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

bling the common wren in many of his habits, if not indeed
identical with it.

Wilson says, “in the month of June a mower hung un his
coat, under a shed, near the barn, and two or three days
elapsed before he had occasion to put it on again, when
thrusting his arm up the sleeve, he found it completely filled
with some rubbish, as he called it, and on extracting the
whole mass, found it to be the nest of a wren completely
finished, and lined with a large quantity of feathers. In his
retreat, he was followed by the forlorn little proprietors, who
scolded him with great vehemence for thus ruining the whole
economy of their household affairs.” Wilson also tells a
very pretty story of a pair of wrens who built their nest
upon a window sill, one of whom, the female, venturing to
enter the room was devoured by a cat. The male bird
showed much uneasiness when he missed his mate, but
after a time disappeared for two days, returning with a new
wife, and with her help removing the two eggs left by her
predecessor to a new nest in a more secure position.

The The Nightingale and the Sky-Lark, may perhaps
Nightingale. he said to divide honours in the sphere of feathered
song. Both have entranced innumerable auditors and both
have won noble tributes from poets’ pens, Both, moreover,
are plain birds. The nightingale is of a tawny colour on the
head and back, and of a greyish white on the throat and
under parts. It has a full large eye of great brightness. It
is one of the largest of the song birds, measuring seven inches
in length. The nightingale is found in Yorkshire but not in
Lancashire, also in Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Dorsetshire, Somer-
setshire and East Devonshire, but not in Cornwall. It belongs
to France, Germany, Poland, Italy, and Palestine.

"he "The Nightingale’s song,” says the author of
Wighingale’s “ Tales of Animals,” unites strength and sweetness,

Song. in a most wonderful degree, as its notes may be
heard on a calm evening at the distance of half a mile.
THE NIGHTINGALE. 259

fhe most consummate musician might listen with delight to
its song, whatever might be his peculiar taste, as it can at
one moment thrill the heart with joy and at another melt it
to sober sadness, by the laughing and sighing modulations
which follow each other in rapid succession through the
melody, which is seldom interrupted by a pause. As if
conscious of its unrivalled powers, it does not join the some-
times discordant concert of the other songsters, but waits on
some solitary twig till the blackbird and thrush have uttered
their evening call, till the stock and ring doves have lulled
each other to rest, and then it displays at full its melodious
fancies.” The following is an attempt made by a well-known
naturalist to reduce the song to writing:

“Tiuu tiuu tiuu tiuu—Spe tiuu zqua—Ti0 tid tid tio tio tio
tio tix—Qutio qutio qutio qutio—Zquo zquo zquo zquo—
Tzii izii tzti tzii tai tzii tzii tzii tz tzi—Quorror tiu zqua
pipiquisi—Zozozoz0z0z0z0z0z020z020 zirrhading!” &c. &c.

Quaint old Izaac Walton says: “ But the nightingale, another
of my airy creatures, breathes such sweet, loud music out of
her instrumental throat, that it might make mankind to think
that miracles are not ceased. He that at midnight, when the
very labourer sleeps securely, should hear, as I have very
often, the clear airs, the sweet descents, the natural rising
and falling, the doubling and redoubling of her voice, might
well be lifted above earth, and say, ‘Lord, what music hast
thou provided for the saints in Heaven, when thou affordest
bad men such music on earth!’”

Tho Robin The Robin Redbreast is a prime favourite in

Redbreast. English cottage homes. Its appearance on the
window sill at the approach of winter is an irresistible appeal
to human sympathy and seldom fails of a hearty response.
Captain Brown mentions a robin which, during a severe storm,
came to the window of the room where his father sat, upon
which his father opened the window, to give it some crumbs.
“Instead of flying away, the robin hopped into the room,
260 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

and picked the crumbs from the floor. His father, being
very fond of animals, took great pleasure in taming this bird,
and so completely succeeded, that it would pick small pieces
of raw flesh and worms from his hand, sat on the table at
which he wrote, and, when the day was very cold, perched
upon the fender. When a stranger entered, it flew to the
top of a door, where it perched every night. The window
was frequently opened to admit air, but the robin never
offered to go away. As the spring advanced, and the weather
became fine, it flew away every morning, and returned every
evening, till the time of incubation arrived, and it then flew
away altogether. At the next fall of the year it again asked
for admittance, and behaved exactly in the same manner as
before. It did this a third time, but when it flew away the
ensuing spring, it was never seen again.” Robins have been
known to build their nests in queer places. Mrs. Bowdich
tells of one which attached its nest to the Bible of the parish
church of Hampton, Warwickshire, and of others which built
theirs on the reading desk of a church in Wiltshire and
deposited six eggs in it.
The Intelligence The Robin is an intelligent little bird and

of the Robin. some pretty stories are told of its sagacity.
Mrs. Bowdich mentions a gardener who was in the service
of a friend of hers, who having made a pet of a robin, was
one day much struck with the uneasiness of his little friend,
and concluding that he wanted assistance followed him to
his nest, which occupied a flower pot, when he discovered
that a snake had coiled itself round the little home. Happily
the gardener was in time to save the birds though at the
snake’s expense. In “The Gardener's Chronicle” there isa
story, quoted by Mrs. Bowdich, of a robin which having been
caught young and kept with a nightingale, learned the night-
ingale’s song so perfectly as to be indistinguishable in ver-
formance.

The Titmouse. There are several varieties of the Titmouse;
THE ROBIN--THE TITIMOUSE. 261

the Blue Titmouse, the Great Titmouse, and the Long-tailed
Titmouse are some of these. The Blue Titmouse, sometimes
called a Tomtit, is a plucky little bird and resists capture
with such vigour that according to the Rev. J. G. Wood it has
become known to rustic boys by the name of “Billybiter.”
“The angry hiss of the female,” says Mr. Wood, “has fre-
quently caused an intruding hand to be rapidly withdrawn, for
the sound is so exceedingly like the hiss of an irritated snake,
and the little beak is so sharp, that few have the courage to
proceed with their investigations. A pair of these birds built
their nest in the coping of the Great Western Railway, at
the Shrivenham station, not two feet from the fiery and
noisy engines, which were constantly passing. The men re-
spected the courage of the little birds, and the whole brood
was hatched, and suffered to fly at liberty.”

The Great Titmouse is found in various parts of Europe.
According to Mrs. Bowdich it is sufficiently pliable to roll
itself up in a ball, and is strong enough to crack a hazel nut.
She says, “It will plant itself at the door of a hive, and tap
loudly on the edge; which signal is answered by a sentinel
bee who is immediately snapped up, taken to the bough of
a tree where he is beaten to death, and then loses his head
and thorax; the rest of him being unworthy of the appetite
of his captor.” The Long-tailed Titmouse is famous for the
beauty, security and warmth of its nest.

The Golden The Golden Oriole deserves mention if only

Oriole. for its beautiful name; it has, however, other
claims to attention. It is found in Europe and Australia and
visits England occasionally during the summer, but is not
found in America. The male is a very handsome bird of a
golden yellow colour, with wings and tail of black, the
feathers of the latter ending in yellow. It lives on fruit and
berries, and, failing these, insects, and inhabits thickets and
wooded spots adjacent to orchards, upon which it commits
serious depredations.
262 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

The Bhrike. There are several species of Shrikes, the
Thick-headed Shrike, the Great Shrike, and the Red-backed
Shrike being among these. The Great Shrike belongs to both
Europe and America. In appearance it resembles the
Mocking Bird for which it is sometimes mistaken. It
preys upon mice, frogs, birds, grasshoppers and large insects,
killing and then impaling them upon thorns until such time
as it chooses to eat them. Its rapacity has earned for
it the name of “the Butcher Bird.” According to Mr.
Bell these birds are kept tame in the houses in Russia. One
in his possession was furnished with a sharply pointed stick
for a perch, on the end of which it spitted any bird or animal
it caught. The Shrike believes in a well filled larder, and
does not proceed to eat his game until he has a good stock.
He is also known as the “ Nine-killer” in America, from his
supposed preference for spitting that number at a forage.

The Jay. We now come to the family of the Corvide,
the crow family, which includes the Jays, the Magpies and
the Choughs. The Common Jay is indigenous in England
where it secludes itself in woody fastnesses, rarely exposing
itself in open country. It is a handsome bird about thirteen
inches long, with beautiful blue markings on its wings, but
is so shy that it is difficult to get a sight of it when at
liberty. Taken young it may be easily tamed, when it becomes
an amusing, if mischievous pet. It has considerable powers
of mimicry and can imitate the common sounds it hears with
wonderful exactness. The bleat of the lamb, the mew of the
cat, the neigh of the horse and the cries of other birds give
exercise to this faculty, and Bewick says: “We have heard
one imitate the sound made by the action of a saw, so exactly,
that though it was on a Sunday, we could hardly be persuaded
that the person who kept it had not a carpenter at work in
the house.” Like many other birds it becomes bold in the
care and protection of its young. Knapp in his “Journals
of a Naturalist” says:
THE J2YÂ¥. 263

“This bird is always extremely timid, when its own interest
or safety is solely concerned; but no sooner does its hungry
brood clamour for supply, than it loses all its wary character,
and becomes a bold and impudent thief. At this period it
will visit our gardens, which it rarely approaches at other
times, plunder them of every raspberry, cherry, or bean, that
it can obtain, and will not cease from rapine as long as any of
the brood or the crop remains. We see all the nestlings
approach, and, settling near some meditated scene of plunder,
quietly await a summons to commence. A parent bird
from some tree, surveys the ground, then descends upon
the cherry, or into the rows, immediately announces a dis-
covery, by a low but particular call, and all the family flock
into the banquet, which having finished by repeated visits,
the old birds return to the woods, with all their chattering
children, and become the same wild, cautious creatures they
were before.”

The Blue Wilson gives the following description of the

Jay. Blue Jay: “This elegant bird, peculiar to North
America, is distinguished as a kind of beau among the
feathered tenants of the woods, by the brilliancy of his dress;
and like most other coxcombs, makes himself still more
conspicuous by his loquacity, and the oddness of his tones
and gestures. Of all birds he is the most bitter enemy to
the owl. No sooner has he discovered the retreat of one
of these, than he calls the whole feathered fraternity to
his assistance, who surround the glimmering recluse, and
attack him from all sides, raising such a shout as may be
heard on a still day more than half a mile off. The owl
at length, forced to betake himself to flight, is followed by his
whole train of persecutors, until driven beyond the boundaries
of their jurisdiction. But the blue jay himself is not guiltless
of similar depredations as the owl and becomes in his
turn the very tyrant he detested, and he is sometimes attacked
with such spirit as to be under the necessity of making a
204 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

speedy retreat. The blue jay is not only bold and vociferous,
but possesses a considerable talent for mimicry, and seems
to enjoy great satisfaction in mocking and teasing other birds,
particularly the little hawk, imitating his cry whenever he
sees him, and squeaking out as if caught; this soon brings
a number of his own tribe around him, who all join in the
frolic, darting about the hawk, and feigning the cries of a
bird sorely wounded, and already in the clutches of its
devourer; while others lie concealed in bushes, ready to
second their associates in the attack. But this ludicrous farce
often terminates tragically. The hawk, singling out one of
the most insolent and provoking, swoops upon him in an
unguarded moment, and offers him up a sacrifice to his
hunger and resentment. In an instant the tune is changed,
all their buffoonery vanishes, and loud and incessant screams
proclaim their disaster. Whenever the jay has had the
advantage of education from man, he has not only shown
himself an apt scholar, but his suavity of manners seems
equalled only by his art and contrivances, though it must
be confessed that his itch for thieving keeps pace with all
his other acquirements.”
_ The The Magpie is an ancient bird and is men-
Magpie. tioned by Plutarch and other early writers. It
is indigenous in England and shows great industry and in-
genuity in the construction of its nest, which it lines with
mud plaster and covers with thorns, building upon high
trees and in secluded spots. It feeds upon both animal and
vegetable food, attacking birds, young ducks and chickens,
as well as mice and even rats, and regaling itself on both
fruit and grain. It attains to a length of about eighteen
inches and is a handsome bird, though captivity does not
improve its appearance.
The Magpie’s The mischievous habits of the magpie have
Mischief. won for it the name of “the Monkey of the
Birds,” the Raven as Mr. Wood puts it being “the ornitho-
THE MAGPIE. 265

logical baboon.” Its mischief is displayed in many ways;
in the wanton destruction of articles and in their crafty
secretion, as well as in the thievish appropriation of edible
dainties. Mr. Wood tells of a Wiltshire magpie which “ found
a malicious enjoyment in pecking the unprotected ankles of
little boys not yet arrived at manly habiliments, and was
such a terror to the female servants that they were forced
to pass his lurking-place armed with a broom. One of the
servants having neglected this precaution, was actually found
sitting down on the stones to protect her ankles, the magpie
triumphantly pacing round her, until aid was brought, and
the bird driven away.”. Mrs. Bowdich quotes the following
from Mr. Ranson: *A magpie, kept by a branch of our
family, was noted for his powers of imitation. He could
whistle tunes, imitate hens and ducks, and speak very plainly.
Seated upon a toll-bar gate, he would shout ‘Gate, ahoy!’
so distinctly, as to draw out the keeper, who was generally
saluted by a loud laugh when he answered the call. When
the keeper’s wife was making pastry, he would practise the
same manceuvre, and if the trick were not detected, and the
woman rushed out to open the gate, the magpie darted into
the house, and speedily made his exit with his bill full of
paste; and he, in great glee, would chatter about it for some
time afterwards. He would perch upon the backs of chairs,
say he was hungry, or inform the juniors of the family it
was time to go to school. He was allowed to run about,
but was never out of mischief, and had a constant propensity
to pilfer and hide small articles.” Of the serious conse-
quences sometimes attending this habit of secreting things, the
following story from Lady Morgan’s “Italy” is a painful
illustration.—“ A noble lady of Florence, resided in a house
which stands still opposite the lofty Doric column which was
raised to commemorate the defeat of Pietro Strozzi, and the
taking of Sienna, by the tyrannic conqueror of both. Cosmo,
‘the First, lost a valuable pearl necklace, and one of her
266 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

waiting-women, (a very young girl) was accused of the theft
Having solemnly denied the fact, she was put to the torture,
which was then @ plaisir at Florence. Unable to support
its terrible infliction, she acknowledged that ‘she was guilty,’
and, without further trial, was hung. Shortly after, Florence
was visited by a tremendous storm; a thunder-bolt fell on
the figure of Justice, and split the scales, one of which fell
to the earth, and with it fell the ruins of a magpie’s nest,
containing the pearl necklace. Those scales are still the
haunts of birds, and I never saw them hovering round them,
without thinking of those ‘good old times,’ when innocent
women could be first tortured, and then hung on suspicion.”

The The Raven is a large bird, indeed the largest

Raven. of the British crows, attaining to a length of two
feet two inches, and having a stretch of wing of four feet eight
inches, in width. It is an historic bird, being mentioned
by Pliny who records that a tame one kept in the Temple
of Castor, was taught by a tailor whom it used to visit, to
pronounce the name of the Emperor Tiberius and of the
other members of the Royal family. The fame of the bird
brought the tailor riches, but excited the jealousy of his
neighbours, one of whom killed the bird. The record states
that the offender was punished and the bird accorded a mag-
nificent funeral. The Raven builds its nest in high trees and
among inaccessible and precipitous rocks, especially in the
Hebrides, and lives on carrion, not disdaining fruit and grain.
Like many other birds who afterwards show little concern
for their young the Raven is assiduous in its attentions during
the period of incubation. The following is from White’s
“Natural History of Selborne”:

“In the centre of a grove near Selborme, there stood an
oak, which though shapely and tall on the whole, bulged out
into a large excrescence near the middle of the stem. On
the tree a pair of ravens had fixed their residence for such
a series of years, that the oak was distinguished by the name


Rose-breasted



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Parrot Finch.



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\
THE RAVEN. 267

of the ‘raven tree.’ Many were the attempts of the neigh-
bouring youths to get at this eyrie; the difficulty whetted
their inclinations, and each was ambitious of surmounting
the arduous task; but, when they arrived at the swelling, it
jutted out so much in their way, and was so far beyond
their grasp, that the boldest lads were deterred, and acknow-
ledged the undertaking to be too hazardous. Thus the ravens
continued to build nest after nest, in perfect security, till the
fatal day arrived on which the wood was to be levelled.
This was in the month of February, when these birds usually
sit. The saw was applied to the trunk, the wedges were
inserted in the opening, the woods echoed to the heavy
blows of the beetle or mallet, the tree nodded to its fall;
but the dam persisted to sit. At last, when it gave way, the
bird was flung from her nest; and though her maternal affec-
tion deserved a better fate, was whipped down by the twigs,
which brought her dead to the ground.” Ravens are said
to pair for life and to live for a hundred years.

Unnatural Though models of conjugal fidelity, Ravens

Parents. are gaid to be very unnatural parents, often
showing not only indifference but cruelty to their young.
Mr. Morris in his “ Anecdotes of Natural History” tells an
interesting story of a family of ravens whose mother came
to an untimely death. “For a time the surviving parent
hovered about the nest, uttering loud and menacing croakings
whenever anybody approached. At length, however, he
disappeared, and absented himself for two or three days,
and then returned with another mate, when a strange scene
occurred. The poor half-starved nestlings were attacked
without mercy by the step-mother, who, after severely
wounding, precipitated them from the nest; two, however,
were found at the foot of the tree with signs of life, and
with great care and attention reared at the rectory, about
half a mile distant, and after being slightly pinioned, were
allowed their liberty; but they seldom quitted the lawn or
268 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

offices, roosting in a tree in the shrubbery. Here, however,
they were soon discovered by their unnatural parents, who
for a long time used to come at early dawn and pounce
upon them with fierce cries.” In this case it was the step-
mother and not the mother that treated the young ravens so
unkindly, and the father may be charitably credited with
acting under the influence of his second wife. That the
Raven drives its young out of its nest as soon as they are
able to provide for themselves is true, but why they should
pursue them after they have become independent is not clear.
This habit of the ravens, as Mr. Morris points out, may be
referred to in the following quotations: “He giveth to the
beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry” (Psalm
CXLVI. 9). “Who provideth for the raven his food? when
his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat”
Gob XxXVIII. 41).
The Tame The Raven may be easily tamed, and in pri-
Raven. vate life is always an amusement, if sometimes
an annoyance. Like all birds which are capable of imitating
sounds and which learn words and phrases it will often
“speak its lines,” with startling appropriateness as to time
and place. Captain Brown tells a good story of a Raven
which belonged to a gentleman who resided on the borders
of the New Forest in Hampshire. On one occasion a
traveller who was passing through the forest was startled
by the frequent repetition of the words: “Fair play, gentle-
men! fair play! for God’s sake, gentlemen, fair play!” and
upon tracing the source of the sound discovered the tame
raven defending himself from the attacks of two of his own
species. It is needless to say that the traveller rescued the
“centleman” from the two “ruffians” who molested him.
Captain Brown also tells of a tame raven who was an
expert rat-catcher and whose method was to place a meat
bone in front of a rat hole and to stand on a ledge above
the hole, pouncing on the rat as soon as he emerged from
THE RAVEN. 269

ais retreat. In this way he captured as many as six im a
fore-noon.

The Raven Dr. Stanley tells the following story of a
and the Dog. Raven and a Dog: “A strong attachment
was once formed between a raven and a large otter-dog.
The raven had been taken when young, and reared in
a stable-yard, where the dog was kept chained up. A
friendship soon commenced, which, increasing from little to
more, in time ripened into a most extraordinary degree of
intimacy. At first the bird was satisfied with hopping about
in the vicinity of the kennel, and occasionally pecking a hasty
morsel from the dog’s feeding-pan when the latter had finished
his meal. Finding, however, no interruption on the part of
his friend, the raven soon became a constant attendant at
meal times, and, taking up his position on the edge of the
dish, acted the part of a regular guest and partaker of the
dog’s dinner, which consisted usually of meal and milk, with
occasional scraps of offal meat, a piece of which the bird
would often snatch up, almost from the very mouth of the
dog, and hasten beyond the reach of his chain, as if to
tantalise his four-footed friend; and then hopping towards
him, would play about, and hang it close to his nose; and
then as speedily, at the moment the dog was preparing to
snap it up, would dart off beyond the reach of the chain
At other times he would hide the piece of meat under a
‘stone, and then coming back, with a cunning look, would
perch upon the dog’s head. It was observed, however, that
he always ended his pranks by either sharing or giving up
the whole piece to his friend the dog. By some accident the
raven had fallen into a tub of water, and, either weakened
by struggling, or unable to get out owing to its feathers being
soaked with water, it was nearly drowned. The dog (whether
the same dog or another does not appear), chained at a short
distance, saw the poor bird’s danger, and dragging his heavy
kennel towards it, reached his head over the side of the tub,
270 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

and taking the drowning raven up in his mouth, laid him
gently on the ground, when he soon recovered.”

The Rook. The Rook which is often confused with the
Carrion Crow is found in many parts of Europe and is
abundant in England, where it is common to see groups of
trees near gentlemen’s houses given up to their occupancy.
Here they build. their nests, rear their young, keep up an
incessant cawing, quarrel and make peace as do all other
large communities. If a new-comer appears among them,
he is generally received in a very rough manner. At New-
castle, a pair of rooks attempted to introduce themselves
into a rookery, but were so rudely treated, that, in high
dudgeon, they ascended to the steeple of one of the public
buildings, and built their nest on the vane. Here they lived
for several successive seasons, turning about with every change
of wind, and regardless of the busy scene in the town beneath.
The rook is gregarious, in which particular it differs from
the Carrion Crow which lives in pairs. Further differences
are found in the feathering of the head and neck of these
birds, that of the crow being much more completely covered
than that of the rook. The croak of the crow is, moreover,
much harsher than the caw of the rook. Like most, if not
all other birds and animals, the rook serves a useful purpose in
nature, in checking the multiplication of the worms and insects
which prey upon the crops; and doubtless were he able to
argue the question he would contend that helping the farmer
to produce his harvest he has a right to a share in it.
It is only when the rook in his turn gets too numerous that
he needs a similar check.

The Carrion The Carrion Crow resembles the raven in ap-

Crow. pearance, but is about one third smaller in size.
{t lives in pairs and is said to be a model of conjugal fidelity
and parental care. Omnivorous in habit it appropriates all
kinds of food: insects, grain, eggs, fruit, nuts, mice, ducklings
and chickens, as well as such dead meat as may offer oppor-
THE ROOK—THE CROW. 271

tunity. Captain Brown quoting from a Scotch newspaper tells
of a crow which made an attempt to carry off one of a
brood of fourteen chickens, but which on being disturbed,
dropped its prey and made its escape, returning some time
after with thirteen other crows and carrying off the whole
brood.

The Jackdaw. The Jackdaw, measures about fourteen inches,
and is thus the smallest of the birds of its kind. It builds
in old ruins, church towers, and rocky eminences, in which
particular it differs from the rooks and the crows, who select
the topmost branches of trees for this purpose. Like its near
relatives with whom we have been dealing, it is thievish and
secretive in its habits, showing a preference, in its appropriations,
‘for bright objects such as silver spoons and gold rings. These
habits and their terrible consequences have been immortalized
by the history and fate of the “Jackdaw of Rheims.”

The Chough. The Chough frequents the western sea coasts
of England, the north, south, and west of Ireland and the
Isle of Man, and the borders of the snow line or Alpine
ranges on the continent of Europe. It nests in the cavities
of high cliffs and attains a length of seventeen inches; its
beak and legs are of a brilliant red. When tamed it shows
the same qualities of curiosity and secretiveness which char-
acterise the other birds of its kind.

The The Bird of Paradise is one of the most beautiful
Bird of of living birds. Mr. Wallace thus describes the
Paradise. Pyradisea apoda which is the largest species

known: “The body, wings, and tail are of a rich coffee
brown, which deepens on the breast to a blackish-violet or
purple brown. The whole top of the head and neck is of
an exceedingly delicate straw-yellow, the feathers being short
and close set, so as to resemble plush or velvet; the lower
part of the throat up to the eye is clothed with scaly
feathers of an emerald green colour, and with a rich metallic
gloss, and velvety plumes of a still deeper green, extend in
272 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

a band across the forehead and chin as far as the eye,
which is bright yellow. The beak is pale lead blue, and the
feet which are rather large and very strong and well formed,
are a pale ashy pink. The two middle feathers of the tail
have no webs, except a very small one at the base and at
the extreme tip, forming wire-like cirri, which spread out
in an elegant double curve, and vary from twenty-four to
thirty-four inches long. From each side of the body beneath
the wings, springs a dense tuft of long and delicate plumes,
sometimes two feet in length, of the most intense golden
orange colour, and very glossy, but changing towards the tips
into a pale brown. This tuft of plumage can be elevated
and spread out at pleasure so as almost to conceal the body
of the bird. These splendid ornaments are entirely confined
to the male sex; the female is a very plain and ordinary
looking bird. The male is generally seventeen or eighteen
inches from the beak to the tip of the tail.”

Hunting the In catching the Bird of Paradise, the natives
Bird of | take advantage of the apparent vanity of their
Paradise. victims. “In May when they are in full

plumage,” says Mr. Wallace, “the males assemble early in the
morning to exhibit themselves in a most singular manner.
This habit enables the natives to obtain specimens with
comparative ease. As soon as they find that the birds have
fixed upon a tree upon which to assemble, they build a
little shelter of palm leaves in a convenient place among the
branches, and the hunter ensconces himself in it before
daylight, armed with his bow and a number of arrows ter-
minating in a round nob. A boy waits at the foot of the tree,
and when the birds come at sunrise, and a sufficient num-
ber have assembled, and have begun to dance, the hunter
shoots with his blunt arrow so strongly as to stun the bird,
which drops down, and is secured and killed by the boy,
without its plumage being injured by a drop of blood. The
rest take no notice, and fall one after another till some of
THE SWALLOW. 273

them take the alarm.” The Bird of Paradise is found in
New Guinea and the Papuan Islands.
The Following Mr. Wallace’s order we come now

Tanagers. to the second class of the perching birds, the
Tanagroid perchers, with the more important species of
which we will now proceed to deal.

The Tanagers are found in America and the West

Tanager. [Indian Islands. Wilson, the American ornitholo-
gist, describing the scarlet Tanager, says: “Among all other
birds that inhabit our woods, there is none that strikes the
eye of the stranger or even a native with so much brilliancy
as this. Seen among the green leaves, with the light falling
strongly on his plumage, he really appears beautiful. If he
has little melody in his notes to charm us, he has nothing
in them to disgust. His manners are modest, easy and in-
offensive ; he commits no depredations on the property of the
husbandman, but rather benefits him by the daily destruction
in spring of many noxious insects; and when winter ap-
proaches he is no plundering dependant, but seeks in a distant
country for that sustenance which the severity of the season
denies to his industry in this. He is a striking ornament to
our rural scenery and none of the meanest of our rural song-
sters.” Its body is scarlet and its wings and tail are black.
One species of the Tanager is known as the Organist Tanager
from the richness of its tones.

The Swallow. Though only a summer friend the swallow is
among the most popular of birds in England. It arrives
in April and is always sure of a hearty welcome, and when
it leaves in September for its long journey across the sea no
one would withhold from it a “God speed”. The swallow
builds under the eaves of houses, always selecting dry and
sheltered spots. Its flight is very rapid, and is a pretty sight
to watch as it skims over the surface of the water, sometimes
striking it with its wings as it darts hither and thither, snapping
at the flies and insects which come within its reach. The

18
274 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

marvellous flights of these birds when they migrate are among
the many wonderful things of nature. Humboldt states that
he saw a swallow alight on the rigging of his vessel when it
was one hundred and twenty miles from land. How such
tiny creatures can sustain such extended flights it is difficult
to understand.
Swallows in Swallows seem to understand the principle of
Council. co-operation and what the family is unable to
do for itself the community seems always ready to undertake for
it. Captain Brown tells of a pair of swallows who returning to
their last year’s nest found it occupied by a robust English
sparrow. The sparrow declined to give up the nest and the
swallows were not strong enough to eject it, whereupon a
council was called, as a result of which a large army of swallows
proceeded to close up the entrance to the nest with clay,
“leaving the sparrow to perish in the garrison it had so
gallantly defended.” This happened at Strathendry, Bleachfield,
in Fifeshire, on the banks of the Leven, and was witnessed
by Mr. Gavan Inglis. But not only do the swallows co-
operate for the purposes of war; Mr. Inglis was a witness
of another effort of combination. It happened that a pair
of swallows had built a nest in the corner of one of his windows,
in which they had hatched five offspring. The parent birds fell
victims to a sportsman’s gun and Mr. Inglis contemplated an
attempt to rear the family himself. This, however, proved
unnecessary. In a very short time a number of swallows
came and inspected the bereaved dwelling, apparently noting
the condition of the house as well as the brood. A supply
of food was immediately brought, and the next morning the
kindly offices were renewed and thenceforward continued
until the young were able to provide for themselves. Remark-
able as these incidents are they are not singular, for both
have been known to occur more than once.
The House The House Martin is characterized by a white
Martin. gpot above his tail which adds to the prettiness


a 2.
~ Brown Thrasher

F



Purple-breasted Chatterer



Mino Bird.





Madseascer Gros bak.



ON 81g

91

“AMOLSIH TVANLVN SHIN
THE FINCHES. 275

of his appearance in flight. The summer residence of this
agreeable bird is universally among the habitations of man,
who, having no interest in its destruction, and deriving
censiderable advantage as well as amusement from its
company, is generally its friend and protector.

The Martin inhabits America as well as Europe, and isa
particular favourite wherever it takes up his abode. “I never
knew but one man,” says Wilson, “who disliked the Martins,
and would not permit them to settle about his house: this
was a penurious, close-fisted German, who hated them, be-
cause, as he said, ‘they eat his peas.’ I told him he cer-
tainly must be mistaken, as I never knew an instance of
Martins eating peas; but he replied with coolness, ‘that he had
many times seen them himself é/aying near the hive, and going
schuip schnap,’ by which I understood that it was his bees that
were the sufferers; and the charge could not be denied.”

The Sand The Sand Martin is the smallest of the British

Martin. swallows and it is the first to arrive. It bores
horizontal holes two or three feet deep into the sides of
sand-pits, at the end of which it builds its nest of grass
and feathers.

The Chafinch, the Finches are beautiful and interesting
The Goldfinch. birds. The Chaffinch is famous for the vivacity
The Greenfinch. of its song and the beauty of its nest. * The
forks of a thorn, or wild crab tree,” says Mr. Wood, “are
favourite places for the nest, which is composed of mosses,
hair, wool and feathers, covered on the exterior with lichens
and mosses so exactly resembling the bough on which the
nest is placed that the eye is often deceived by its appear-
ance.” The Goldfinch is a favourite pet, and is capable of
being trained to perform tricks. It has been called the
Thistlefinch from its use of the down of the thistle in the
construction of its nest. It is bright of appearance, cheery
of song, and affectionate of disposition. The Greenfinch has
a coat of rich olive green, and a waistcoat of greyish-yellow.
276 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

The Linnet. The Linnet is a homely looking little brown
bird with a sweet melodious voice. It frequents commons
and waste lands, where it builds its nest under the cover
of friendly furze bushes, or nearer the habitations of man, in
thick-set hedges. The Linnet is the natural laureate of the
English cottage home.

The -The Canary, as its name implies, comes from
Canary. the Canary Islands, but it has been so crossed
in breeding that it differs very considerably from its original
ancestors. Buffon says:—“ If the nightingale is the chauntress
of the woods, the canary is the musician of the chamber;
the first owes all to nature, the second something to art.
With less strength of organ, less compass of voice, and less
variety of note, the canary has a better ear, greater facility
of imitation, and a more retentive memory; and as the
difference of genius, especially among the lower animals,
depends in a great measure on the perfection of their senses,
the canary, whose organ of hearing is more susceptible of
receiving foreign impressions, becomes more social, tame, and
familiar; is capable of gratitude and even attachment; its
caresses are endearing, its little humours innocent, and its
anger neither hurts nor offends. Its education is easy; we
hear it with pleasure, because we are able to instruct it. It
leaves the melody of its own natural note, to listen to the
melody of our voices and instruments. It applauds, it
accompanies us, and repays the pleasure it receives with
interest; while the nightingale, more proud of its talent, seems
desirous of preserving it in all its purity, at least it appears
to attach very little value to ours and it is with great difi-
culty it can be taught any of our airs. The canary can speak
and whistle; the nightingale despises our words, as well as
our airs, and never fails to return to its own wild-wood
notes. Its pipe is a masterpiece of nature, which human
art can neither alter nor improve; while that of the canary
is a model of more pliant materials, which we can mould
THE CANARY. 297

at pleasure; and therefore it contributes in a much greater
degree to the comforts of society. It sings at all seasons,
cheers us in the dullest weather, and adds to our happiness,
by amusing the young, and delighting the recluse, charming
the tediousness of the cloister, and gladdening the soul of
the innocent and captive.”

The Tame ‘The canary is easily tamed, and has been taught

Cansry. to perform many little tricks, indeed groups of
them have been trained to act little plays, firing cannons and
driving coaches. The canary shows a humane disposition,
has been known to foster the young of other birds, to make
friends with other pets, even cats; to show great affection for
its master and to die of grief on the loss of its mate. Dr.
Darwin tells of “a canary bird which always fainted away
when its cage was cleaned. Having desired to see the
experiment,” says Dr. Darwin, “the cage was taken from the
ceiling, and the bottom drawn out. The bird began to tremble,
and turned quite white about the root of the bill; he then
opened his mouth as if for breath, and respired quickly ;
stood up straighter on his perch, hung his wing, spread his
tail, closed his eyes, and appeared quite stiff for half an hour,
till at length, with trembling and deep respirations, he came
gradually to himself.”

The The Crossbill must be mentioned for the sake

Grossbill of the peculiarity indicated by its name. The
points of the beak instead of being straight and meeting in
a common point, “curve to the right and left and always in
opposite directions.” They therefore cross each other and
present a unique appearance. It is found in the North of
Europe, and in the great pine forests of Germany.

The There are several kinds of Bunting; the Eng- |

Bunting. lish Bunting common to wayside hedges, and
familiar from its habit of flitting in front of the traveller, and
the Snow Bunting of the northern regions, which turns white
on the approach of snow.
276 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

The We come now to the third division of the
Starlings. Passeres or perching birds, to which Mr. Wallace
attaches the name of the starlings. “The starlings or Sturvs-
da,” says Dr. Percival Wright, “are a well marked old-world
group. No species of the family are found in Australia.”
Tho The Common Starling is a bird of passage,
Common arriving in England about the beginning of March
Sterling and leaving some time in October. Knapp says:—
“There is something singularly curious and mysterious in
the conduct of these birds previously to their nightly retire-
ment, by the variety and intricacy of the evolutions they
execute at that time. They will form themselves, perhaps,
into a triangle, then shoot into a long, pear-shaped figure,
expand like a sheet, wheel into a ball, as Pliny observes,
each individual striving to get into the centre, etc., with a
promptitude more like parade movements than the actions of
birds. As the breeding season advances, these prodigious
flights divide, and finally separate into pairs, and form their
summer settlements.” The Starling is a handsome bird and
usually nests in old buildings, though it has a preference for
a dove-cote if it can gain admission. It is a peaceable
bird and for all its military evolutions does not seem to war
with other species. Its domestic character is also good.
The Weaver Lhe Weaver birds which are included in this
Bird. = division, are a very interesting species. They
belong to Africa, where they hang their nests upon trees,
those of the sociable weaver birds giving the trees the
appearance of partially thatched wall-less structures. Le Vaillant
thus describes his experience of the sociable weaver bird: he
says:—“TI observed, on the way, a tree with an enormous nest
of these birds, to which I have given the appellation of
republicans; and as soon as I arrived at my camp, I dis-
patched a few men with a wagon to bring it to me, that
I might open the hive and examine its structure in its minutest
parts. When it arrived, I cut it to pieces with a hatchet
THE LARK. 27g

and saw that the chief portion of the structure consisted of
a mass of Buckmans grass, without any mixture, but so
compactly and firmly basketed together, as to be impenetrable
to the rain. This is the commencement of the structure;
and each bird builds its particular nest under this canopy,
the upper surface remaining void without, however, being
useless; for, as it has a projecting rim and is a little inclined,
it serves to let the rain water run off and preserve each little
dwelling from the rain. Figure to yourself a huge, irregular,
sloping roof, all the eaves of which are completely covered
with nests crowded one against another, and you will have
a tolerably accurate idea of these singular edifices. Each
individual nest is three or four inches in diameter, which is
sufficient for the bird. But as they are all in contact with
one another around the eaves, they appear to the eye to
form one building and are distinguishable from each other
only by a little external aperture which serves as an entrance
to the nest; and even this is sometimes common to three
different nests, one of which is situated at the bottom and the
other two at the sides.” One of these structures examined
by Patterson contained three hundred and twenty inhabited
cells.

The Lark. The skylark is common all over Europe and is
an especial favourite in the British Isles. It builds its nest
on the ground among growing corn or high grass, and shows
especial care for its young. Its song is perhaps the most
joyous and inspiriting of those of English birds. Captain
Brown quotes the following interesting particulars of its song
from a communication made by Mr. J. Main to the “Magazine
of Natural History :” “His joyous matins and heavenward
flight have been aptly compared to hymns and acts of adoration
and praise. No bird sings with more method: there is an
overture performed vivace crescendo, while the singer ascends;
when at the full height, the song becomes moderato, ane
distinctly divided into short passages, each repeated three or
280 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

four times over, like a fantasia, in the same key and time.
If there be any wind, he rises perpendicularly by bounds,
and afterwards poises himself with breast opposed to it. If
calm, he ascends in spiral circles; in horizontal circles during
the principal part of his song, and zigzagly downwards during
the performance of the finale. Sometimes, after descending
about half way, he ceases to sing, and drops with the velocity
of an arrow to the ground. Those acquainted with the song
of the skylark can tell without looking at them whether the
birds be ascending or stationary in the air, or on their
descent; so different is the style of the song in each case.
In the first, there is an expression of ardent impatience; in
the second, an @endanfe composure, in which rests of a bar
at a time frequently occur; and in the last, a gra#uated
sinking of the strains.”
ie Mrs. Bowdich quoting from “The Naturalist”
Maternal gives the following pretty story of the maternal
Instinct of instinct of the Lark:—“The other day, some
the Lark. nowers shaved off the upper part of the nest of
a skylark, without injuring the female, who was sitting on
her young: still she did not fly away; and the mowers
levelled the grass all round her, without her taking any notice
of their proceedings. The son of the owner of the crop
witnessed this, and, about an hour afterwards, went to see
if she were safe; when, to his great surprise, he found that
she had actually constructed a dome of dry grass over the
nest during the interval, leaving an aperture on one side for
ingress and egress; thus endeavouring to secure a continuance
of the shelter previously supplied by the long grass.” Buffon
tells a remarkable story of the self-sacrifice of a young lark
who took upon itself the duties of a foster mother. He
says:—*“ A young hen bird was brought to me in the month
of May, which was not able to feed without assistance. I
caused her to be educated, and she was hardly fledged when
I received from another place a nest of three or four unfledged
THE WAGTAILS AND THE PIPITS. 281

skylarks. She took a strong liking to these new-comers,
which were scarcely younger than herself; she tended them
night and day, cherished them beneath her wings, and fed
them with her bill. Nothing could interrupt her tender offices.
If the young ones were tom from her, she flew to them as
soon as she was liberated, and would not think of effecting
her own escape, which she might have done a hundred times.
Her affection grew upon her; she neglected food and drink;
she now required the same support as her adopted offspring,
and expired at last consumed with maternal anxiety. None
of the young ones survived her. They died one after another;
so essential were her cares, which were equally tender and
judicious.”

The terk | The Lark when pursued by the Hawk has
andthe been known to seek refuge under the protection
Hawk. of man, as the following quoted by Captain Brown

from Bell’s “ Weekly Messenger” will show. “On Wednesday,
the 6th of October, 1805, as a gentleman was sitting on the
rocks at the end of Collercot’s sands, near Tynemouth, North-
_ umberland, dressing himself after bathing, he perceived a
hawk in the air, in close pursuit of, and nearly within reach
of a lark. To save the little fugitive, he shouted and clapped
his hands, when immediately the lark descended, and alighted
on his knee, nor did it offer to leave him, when taken into
the hand, but seemed confident of that protection, which it
found. The hawk sailed about for some time. The gentleman,
after taking the lark nearly to Tynemouth, restored it to its
former liberty.”
The Wagtails The Wagtails, of which family the Pied Wag-
and Pipits. tail is the most familiar, derives its name from
its habit of wagging its tail. As Mr. Wood says, “it settles
on the ground and wags its tail; it rums a few paces and
wags its tail again; pecks an insect, and again its tail vibrates.”
It frequents sandbanks and the margins of rivers where it
finds its food. It is found in England throughout the year,
282 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

migrating to the southern counties in the early winter. The
Pipits, of which “The Meadow Pipit” and the Tree Pipit
are the best known varieties, are found all over the British
Isles as well as in many parts of Europe.
The Ant- The fourth division of the perching birds desig-
Haters. pated by Mr. Wallace, the Ant-Eaters, includes
a large number of American varieties, which space forbids
us even to enumerate. One or two must suffice.
The King The King Bird or Tyrant Fly-catcher of North
Bird. America is small, but of a fearless disposition,
attacking hawks, crows, and other larger birds, and generally
having the best of the battle. The upper part of its body
is black and the lower of a delicate white. Its song is a
shrill twittering “resembling the jingling of a bunch of keys.”
It belongs to the family of the Tyrant Shrikes or Tyrannide.
It is during the time of incubation that it shows so much
ferocity. Wilson says, “I have seen the red-headed wood-
pecker while clinging on a rail of the fence, amuse himself
with the violence of the king bird, and play ‘bo-peep’ with
him round the rail, while the latter, highly irritated, made
every attempt, as he swept from side to side, to strike him,
but in vain. All his turbulence subsides as soon as his young
are able to shift for themselves, and he is then as mild and
peaceable as any other bird.”
The The Chatterers, or Cotingide include among
Ghatterers. them, the Cock of the Rock, one of the most
beautiful of South-American birds. Resembling a pigeon in
size, its head is sufficiently like that of the farm-yard cock
to account for its name, which is also made to indicate the
nature of its haunts. Its coat is a warm saffron yellow and
its crest resembles a fan. Siz Robert Schomburgh says:
“While traversing the Kikiritze mountains in Guiana, we
saw a number of that most beautiful bird, the cock-of-the-
rock, or Rock Manakin (rupicola elegans), and I had an op-
portunity of witnessing an exhibition of some of its very




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“KAOLSIH TVANLVN .SHTIN
CLIMBING BIRDS. 283

singular antics, of which I had heard stories from the Indians,
but had hitherto disbelieved them. Hearing the twittering
noise so peculiar to the Rupzcola, I cautiously stole near, with
two of my guides, towards a spot secluded from the path
from four to five feet in diameter, and which appeared to
have been cleared of every blade of grass, and smoothed as
by human hands. There we saw a cock-of-the-rock, capering
to the apparent delight of several others, now spreading its
wings, throwing up its head, or opening its tail like a fan;
now strutting about, and scratching the ground, all accom-
panied by a hopping gait, until tired, when it gabbled some
kind of note, and another relieved it. Thus three of them
successively took the field, and then with self-approbation
withdrew to rest on one of the low branches near the scene
of action. We had counted ten cocks and two hens of the
party, when the crackling of some wood, on which I had
unfortunately placed my foot, alarmed and dispersed this
dancing party.” The Bell Bird of Brazil; the Umbrella Bird
of the Amazons, the Broadbills, the Plant cutters, the Oven
bird, and the Ant-Thrushes are all included in this group.
The Lyre | Lhe Lyre Bird, which according to the classifi-
Bird. cation we are following, with the scrub bird,
forms the fifth group of the perching birds, belongs to Australia.
The Lyre Bird has been so often depicted in illustrations that
its form is familiar to most people. The tail of the male
bird which is composed of three different kinds of feathers
so beautifully resembles the Lyre that there could be no
hesitation in giving the bird itsname. Since its discovery this
bird has been so hunted as to considerably reduce its num-
bers, and the tail feathers which at one time could be pur-
chased at a low price, have become rare and costly.
ORDER 1. This order includes some widely different spe-
Climbers ana cies and is made up of Scansores, Climbers and
Gapers. fissivostves, Gapers. A few of the better known
species are all that we can mention.
284 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

The Wood- The green Woodpecker is the variety best
pecker. known in England, where it inhabits the woods
and feeds upon the insects it finds in the bark of trees.
Audubon writing of the “Ivory-billed” variety says:—“The
birds pay great regard to the particular situation of the tree,
and the inclination of its trunk; first, because they prefer
retirement, and again, because they are anxious to secure the
aperture against the access of water during beating rains. To
prevent such a calamity the hole is generally dug immediately
under the junction of a large branch with the trunk. It is
first bored horizontally for a few inches, then directly down-
wards, and not in a spiral manner as some people have
imagined. According to. circumstances, this cavity is more or
less deep, being sometimes more than ten inches, whilst at
other times it reaches three feet downwards into the core of
the tree. The average diameter of the different nests which
I have examined was about seven inches within, although
the entrance, which is perfectly round, is only just large
enough to admit the bird.” Wilson declares that during the
excavation of its nest, which occupies several days, the wood-
pecker will often carry the chips and strew them ata distance
to divert suspicion. Audubon describing the Red-headed
Woodpecker says:—“ With the exception of the mocking
bird, I know no species so gay and frolicsome. Their whole
life is one of pleasure.”
The This bird which was known to the Greeks, and

Wryneck. described by Aristotle, forms with its allied species
a connecting link between the Woodpecker and the Cuckoo.
It feeds on caterpillars and insects which it catches with its
long sticky tongue, with such rapidity of movement that the
eye cannot follow it.

The Ouckoo. The Cuckoo is always welcomed in England
as the harbinger of Spring. Its cry is one of the most easily
distinguished of bird songs, and is the nearest approach te
a definite musical interval produced by any bird. The habit
THE CUCKOO. 285

of the cuckoo of laying its eggs in the nests of other birds,
has given rise to much speculation, ancient and modern, and
now, though the fact remains, a sufficiently satisfactory
reason seems as remote as ever. The nest of the Hedge-
sparrow seems to be the one most often selected, though that
of the wagtail is sometimes chosen. The consequences to
the young of the native bird, are somewhat serious as the
following will show.
The eancean Dr. Jenner, the discoverer of vaccination
end the says:—“On the 18th of June, 1787, I exam-
Hedge-Sparrow: ined the nest of a hedge-sparrow (Accentor
modularis), which then contained a cuckoo and three hedge-
sparrows’ eggs. On inspecting it the day following, the bird
had hatched; but the nest then contained only a young
cuckoo and one hedge-sparrow. The nest was placed so near
the extremity of a hedge, that I could distinctly see what was
going forward in it; and, to my great astonishment, I saw
the young cuckoo, though so lately hatched, in the act of
turning out the young hedge-sparrow. The mode of accom-
plishing this was very curious; the little animal, with the
assistance of its rump and wings, contrived to get the bird
upon its back, and making a lodgment for its burthen by
elevating its elbows, clambered backwards with it up the side
of the nest till it reached the top, where, resting for a moment,
it threw off its load with a jerk, and quite disengaged it from
the nest. It remained in this situation for a short time,
feeling about with the extremities of its wings, as if to be
convinced whether the business was properly executed, and
then dropped into the nest again. I afterwards put in an
egg, and this, by a similar process, was conveyed to the edge
of the nest and thrown out. These experiments I have since
repeated several times, in different nests, and have always
found the young cuckoo disposed to act in the same manner.
“Tt sometimes happens that two cuckoos’ eggs are depostted
in the same nest, and then the young produced from one of
286 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

them must inevitably perish. Two cuckoos and one hedge-
sparrow were hatched in the same nest, and one hedge-
sparrow’s egg remained unhatched. In a few hours afterwards
a contest began between the cuckoos for the possession of the
nest, which continued undetermined till the next afternoon,
when one of them, which was somewhat superior in size,
turned out the other, together with the young hedge-sparrow
and the unhatched egg. The combatants alternately appeared
to have the advantage, as each carried the other several times
to the top of the nest, and then sunk down again, oppressed
by the weight of the burthen; till at length, after various
efforts, the strongest prevailed, and was afterwards brotight
up by the hedge-sparrow.” Jenner’s experiences have been
corroborated by repeated experiments since. Colonel Montague
carried a hedge-sparrow’s nest, so inhabited, into his house
where he could watch it at leisure and where he saw the
young cuckoo frequently oust the baby hedge-sparrow in
the manner described. The cuckoo feeds on caterpillars, and
insects, It may be tamed, but as a rule does not live long
in confinement. Its note is heard from April to June.
ee That the cuckoo is scarcely an amiable bird
Guckeo would appear from the following incident recorded
and the by Dr. Stanley: “A young thrush, just able to
mhrush. feed itself, was placed in a cage. A short time
after, a young cuckoo, which could not feed itself, was placed
in the same cage,'and fed by the owner. At length it was
observed that the thrush fed it; the cuckoo opening its
mouth, and sitting on the upper perch, and making the thrush
hop down to fetch its food. One day, while thus expecting
its supply, a worm was put into the cage, and the thrush
could not resist the temptation of eating it, upon which the
cuckoo descended, attacked the thrush with fury, and literally
tore out one of its eyes, and then hopped back. Although
so lacerated, the poor thrush meekly took up some food, and
continued to do so till the cuckoo was full grown.”
THE KINGFISHER, 287

Fhe The Trogons are among the most gorgeous of
frogons. living birds; the brilliance of their plumage defy-
ing verbal description. Their main colour is “a metallic golden
green, boldly contrasted with scarlet, black, and brown.”
“The Resplendent Trogon,” says Mr. Wood, “is the most gor-
geous of all this gorgeous family. Its long and gracefully
curved tail is nearly three feet long, and the whole of the
upper surface, and the throat, are a glowing green; the breast
and under parts are bright crimson; the middle feathers of
the tail black, and the outer feathers white.” These birds
are natives of Mexico.
The The Kingfishers are a wide-spread family, being
Kingfisher. found all over the world. There are numerous
varieties, of which the Common Kingfisher and the Laughing
Kingfisher are all that we can notice. The Common King-
fisher is indigenous in England where it usually lives on the
banks of rivers and streams, feeding upon fish and insects.
It makes burrows or holes in the banks, where it lays its eggs
and rears its young; fishing from the low branches of trees
which overspread the water. When the fish is caught it is
beaten to death against some hard substance and then
swallowed whole, head foremost. The Common Kingfisher
is somewhat larger than the lark, and has a beautiful metallic
coat which shimmers with a very pleasing effect as it darts
among the greenery of the river bank or flies along the
surface of the water. The Laughing Kingfisher belongs to
Australia and is so named from its peculiar cry. It is one of
the largest species of its kind. Other species belong to the
Moluccas and New Guinea, and a few to America.
The The Hornbill is famous for the size and shape
Hornbill. of its bill, which is very large. There are several
varieties, African and Indian. They live mostly on fruit,
though some are said to eat reptiles. They have some very
curious habits. Myr. Wallace describes the habit of the male
Hernbill of shutting up the female during the period of
288 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

incubation and feeding her through a small hole left open for
the purpose.

The Goat- The goat-sucker is so called from the belief

Suckers. long entertained that it was in the habit of sucking
the teat of the goat. There are several varieties and they are
remarkable for the strangeness of their cries. The Goat-sucker
has sometimes been called the Night-jar from its discordant
note, it is also known as the Fern Owl. Mr. Wood says:—“ It
may be seen at the approach of evening silently wheeling
round the trees, capturing the nocturnal moths and beetles;
then occasionally settling and uttering its jarring cry. When
flying the bird sometimes makes its wings meet over its back,
and brings them together with a smart snap. It arrives in
England in the beginning of May and leaves in December.
The Whip-poor-will and the Chuck-will’s-widow both belong
to this family.”

The Whip- The Whip-poor-will, which is peculiar to America,

poor-Will. is celebrated for its singular melody, which is
heard in spring to issue at night from the woods and glens
of all parts of the country. It is a rapid warbling repetition
of the name given to the bird, and is so distinctly pronounced,
as to seem like the voice of a human being. It is a solitary
bird, remaining silent and sequestered during the day, but at
night it often approaches a dwelling, and pours forth its
song upon the door-step, or a neighbouring tree.
Chuck-Wills- This bird, also peculiar to America, is about

Widow. a foot in length, resembling in colour, form, and

habits, the whip-poor-will. It is a solitary bird, frequenting
glens and hollows, and seldom making its appearance during
the day. Its song, which is uttered, like that of the whip-
poor-will, at night, is a constant repetition of the sound,
chuck-will’s-widow, very distinctly articulated. It is common
in Georgia, and is regarded by the Creek Indians with super-
stitious awe. It is very seldom seen in the Middle or Eastern
States; “but I recollect once,” saysan American writer, “to have
THE SWIFT—THE HUMMING BIRD. 289

known a whole village in New England in terror and amaze-
ment at hearing one of them singing its strange song on
the edge of aswamp. The superstitious part of the inhabitants
considered it a prediction of some evil that was to befall a
widow of the parish; but there was a diversity of opinion as
to who the hapless Chuck-will’s-widow might be.”

The The Swift, so called from the remarkable speed

Swift. of his flight, is also known as “Jack screamer”
from the shrillness of his voice. He winters in Africa and
arrives in England about May, remaining until about the
middle of August. He builds his nest under the eaves of
houses and frequents steeples and other lofty edifices,
forming his nest of grasses and feathers. The esculent swift,
so called from the fact that its nests are edible, builds at
the sides of almost inaccessible cliffs, a habit which renders
the collection of these singular dainties very dangerous. The
nests are formed of mucilaginous sea-weeds and have the
appearance of isinglass. They are considered great delicacies
in China, where they are found. They abound in Java. The
swifts resemble the swallows in several particulars and have
often been classed with them, there are, however, important
differences which separate them.
TheHumming ‘There are hundreds of kinds of Humming Birds,

Bird. nearly all of them natives of America, where
they frequent the gardens, and sip the honey from the
honeysuckle and other plants, like the hive and humble bee.
The humming bird is several times larger than the latter, but flies
so swiftly as almost to elude the sight. Its wings, when it is
balancing over the flower, produce a humming sound, from which
it takes its name. It is the smallest of the feathered race, and
is one of the most beautiful in the elegance of its form, and
the glossy ‘brilliancy of its delicate plumage. Small as it is,
however, it is exceedingly courageous, and has violent passions.
The length of this bird is three inches; it lives partly on
honey obtained from flowers, but devours also great quan-

19
2e0 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

tities of very small insects. The general colour is a rich
golden green on the upper parts; the breast and neck are
of a dusky white. Its nest is very small, and is elegantly
lined with the down of the mullein. It is covered on the
outside with moss, to imitate the colour of the limb on which
it is built.

ORDERIII. The parrots never fail to interest, on account
The Parrots. of their beauty of form and colour, and theiz
aptitude forimitating common sounds. There are some hundreds
of species, belonging to different parts of the world, the
Cockatoos to Australia, the Macaws to America, and many
varieties to Africa. The Macaws and some other kinds
are among the most gorgeous of living birds and whether
seen in their native wilds or in the aviaries of civilisation
never fail to excite admiration. The Cockatoo is distinguished
from the true parrot by its crest ; other species are differentiated
by habit, size, colour, and form. The better known of these
are, the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, the Ground parrot, the
Macaw, the Grey parrot, the Green parrot, the Parrakeets
and the Love-birds.

The Parrot’s Many stories are told of the remarkable powers
Intelligence. of individual parrots and the singular appropri-
ateness of their remarks on particular occasions. These are
often so startling as to arouse suspicion of their authenticity,
and yet a moment’s reflection will show that coincidence
plays a large part in these demonstrations, and that many of
the most astonishing examples of felicitous interjection, or
repartee, are due to this, and not to any special gift of
intelligence on the part of the bird. An ordinary parrot with
half a dozen phrases which it is constantly repeating, will in
the nature of things, often use them in singularly felicitous
connection with current conversation. No notice is taken of
the many instances in which the phrase is inappropriate and
yet a few cases of remarkable fitness are held to demonstrate
extraordinary intelligence. Teach a parrot such a simple

¢
THE PARROTS. 291

rejoinder as “not I!” and the bird using it in answer to all
sorts of questions, will often use it with apparent intelligence,
but a doll might be made to show equal wit. That parrots
are taught to give certain answers to certain questions is of
course true, but in these cases the questions suggest the answers
and all the intelligence is shown by the interrogator. Those
birds which have lived many years and acquired many phrases,
will naturally, from the extent of their repertoire, the more often
surprise their hearers; but that they show any greater intelli-
gence may perhaps be doubted. That some of the parrots,
and especially the Love-birds, show great feeling for each
other and attachment to their owners is well known, but the
claim sometimes made that they show greater intelligence
than any other birds may be very safely disputed. The term
“ parrot-like,” as applied to the repetition of lessons by rote
which are not understood by those repeating them, involves
no injustice to the parrot.

Famous There have been many famous parrots who

Parrots. have played their part in history if they have
not rivalled the geese that saved Rome. The Emperor Basilius
Macedo was induced by a Parrot, who cast a gloom over
the guests at a banquet by continually calling out, “Alas,
alas! poor Prince Leo”, to liberate his son whom he had
confined on suspicion of treason. The Emperor observed the
gloom of his guests and urged them to the pleasures of the
table, when one of them is said to have responded, “How
should we eat, Sire, when we are thus reproached by this
bird of our want of duty to your family? The brute animal
is mindful of its Lord; and we that have reason, have neg-
lected to supplicate your Majesty in behalf of the prince, whom
we all believe to be innocent, and to suffer under calumny.”
Whether. the bird had been purposely taught this phrase, or
had merely acquired it by hearing its frequent repetition does
mot appear. The following memorial which appeared in the
London papers in October 1822 is quoted from the “Percy
292 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

Anecdotes.” “A few days ago, died, in Half Moon Steet,
Piccadilly, the celebrated parrot of Colonel O’Kelly. This
singular bird sang a number of songs in perfect time and
tune. She could express her wants articulately, and give hex
orders in a manner nearly approaching to rationality. Her
age was not known; it was, however, more than thirty years,
for previous to that period, Colonel O’Kelly bought her at
Bristol for one hundred guineas. The Colonel was repeatedly
offered five hundred guineas a year for the bird, by persons
who wished to make a public exhibition of her; but this, out
of tenderness to the favourite, he constantly refused. She
could not only repeat a great number of sentences, but answer
questions put to her. When singing, she beat time with all
the appearance of science; and so accurate was her judgment
that if by chance she mistook a note, she would revert to
the bar where the mistake was made, correct herself, and still
beating regular time, go through the whole with wonderful
exactness.” A Grey parrot is said to have been sold in 1500,
for a hundred guineas, to a Lord; High Cardinal at Rome, on
account of its ability to repeat, without error, the Apostles’
Creed.

The Grey § The Grey Parrot though less attractive in colour

Parrot. than other species, is perhaps the most popular
of the parrot family on account of its superior accomplishments
as an imitator of familiar sounds. Mr. Jesse secured from
a lady friend a description of the performances of a grey
parrot which resided at Hampton Court, from which we
quote the following: “Her laugh is quite extraordinary, and
it is impossible not to help joining in it, more especially
when in the midst of it she cries out, ‘Don’t make me
laugh so; I shall die, I shall die!’ and then continues
laughing more violently than before. Her crying and sob-
bing are curious; and if you say, ‘Poor Poll, what is the
matter?’ she says, ‘So bad, so bad; got such a cold;’ and
after crying some time, will gradually cease, and making
THE GREY PARROT. 293

a noise like drawing a long breath, say, ‘Better now,’ and
begins to laugh.” “If any one happens to cough or sneeze,
she says, ‘what a bad cold.’ She calls the cat very plainly,
saying, ‘puss, puss,’ and then answers ‘mew’; but the most
amusing part is, that whenever I want to make her call it,
and to that purpose say, ‘puss, puss’, myself she always
answers, ‘mew’, till I begin mewing; and then she begins
calling ‘puss’, as quickly as possible. She imitates every kind
of noise, and barks so naturally, that I have known her to
set all the dogs on the parade of Hampton Court barking,
and the consternation I have seen her cause in a party of
cocks and hens, by her crowing and chuckling, has been the
most ludicrous thing possible. She sings just like a child and
I have more than once thought it was a human being; and
it is most ludicrous to hear her make what one would call
a false note and then say, ‘oh la! and burst out laughing
at herself, beginning again in quite another key. She is very
fond of singing ‘Buy a Broom’, which she says quite plainly,
but if we say, with a view to make her repeat it, ‘Buy a
Broom’, she always says ‘Buy a Brush’, and then laughs as
a child might do when mischievous. She often performs a
kind of exercise which I do not know how to describe,
except by saying that it is like the lance exercise. She puts
her claw behind her, first on one side and then on the other,
then in front, and round over her head; and whilst doing so,
keeps saying, ‘Come on, come on!’ and when finished she
says ‘Bravo, beautiful,’ and draws herself up.”

Parrot To deny the parrot the understanding of what

Talk. it says, is to relieve it of the responsibility of
using bad language, and offering unsound advice, and this
it surely needs. A gentleman who was in the habit of
kissing his parrot and then kissing his wife, before leaving
home in the morning, taught the bird to say, on being kissed,
“Now kiss the missus,” with the result that most of the
gentlemen visitors who took any notice of the parrot were
294 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

recommended to salute the lady of the house. Anothe:
parrot whose cage occupied a window close to a fashionable
church continually accosted the passers-by, by calling out
“That’s right! Go to church, keep up appearances.” Such
cemarks must often be very embarrassing, as must have
been the words and actions of a parrot who frequently
called out “Who kissed the pretty girl?’ and then gave
a perfect imitation of the sound of several kisses in suc-
cession. Perhaps no more aggravating use was ever made
of a parrot’s powers than that witnessed by Buffon, whe
says, “I have seen a parrot very ridiculously employed,
belonging to a distiller who had suffered pretty severely in
his circumstances from an informer who lived opposite him.
This bird was taught to pronounce the ninth commandment,
-—'Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour,’ with
a very clear, loud, articulate voice. The bird was generally
placed in a cage over against the informer’s house, and delighted
the whole neighbourhood with its persevering exhortations.”
ORDER Iv. There are many varieties of pigeons, some
Pigeons. being peculiar to certain districts, and others
covering a much more extended geographical area. Mr.
Darwin divides the British varieties into four groups: I. The
English carrier; the Runt, and the Barb. II. The Fantail;
the African owl; the Short-faced Tumbler; the Indian Frill-
back; and the Jacobin. III. The English Pouter, and IV. The
Dove-cote pigeon; the Swallow; the Spot; the Nun; the
English Frill-back; the Laugher, and the Trumpeter. The
Passenger pigeon of America, the Nicobar pigeon of the
Philippine Islands, the Great-crowned pigeon of New Guinea
and the Hook-billed ground pigeon of Samoa are other im-
portant species.
Carrier In the “Percy Anecdotes” there is a brief history
Pigeons. of the use of carrier pigeons, which we quote as
follows :—-“ The first mention we find made of the employment
of pigeons as letter carriers is by Ovid, in his ‘Metamor-
PIGEONS. 298

pheses’, who tells us that Taurosthenes, by a pigeon stained
with purple, gave notice of his having been victor at the
Olympic games on the very same day to his father at Atgina.
Pliny informs us that during the siege of Modena by Marc
Antony, pigeons were employed by Brutus to keep up a cor-
respondence with the besieged. When the city of Ptolemais,
in Syria, was invested by the French and Venetians, and it
was ready to fall into their hands, they observed a pigeon
flying over them, and immediately conjectured that it was
charged with letters to the garrison. On this, the whole army
raising a loud shout, so confounded the poor aérial post that
it fell to the ground, and on being seized, a letter was found
under its wings, from the sultan, in which he assured the
garrison that ‘he would be with them in three days, with an
army sufficient to raise the siege.’ For this letter the besiegers
substituted another to this purpose, ‘that the garrison must
see to their own safety, for the sultan had such other affairs
pressing him that it was impossible for him to come to their
succour ;’ and with this false intelligence they let the pigeon
free to pursue his course. The garrison, deprived by this
decree of all hope of relief, immediately surrendered. The
sultan appeared on the third day, as promised, with a power-
ful army, and was not a little mortified to find the city already
in the hands of the Christians. Carrier pigeons were again
employed, but with better success, at the siege of Leyden, in
1675. The garrison were, by means of the information thus
conveyed to them, induced to stand out, till the enemy,
despairing of reducing the place, withdrew. On the siege
being raised, the Prince of Orange ordered that the pigeons
who had rendered such essential service should be maintained
at the public expense, and that at their death they should be
embalmed and preserved in the town house, as a perpetual
token of gratitude.”

Pigeons on Pigeons are said to travel as fast as 2,200 yards

the Wing. per minute and to sustain flight for hundreds of
296 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

miles at a stretch. The extraordinary manner in which they
will find their way almost incredible distances has suggested
all kinds of speculation as to the instinct or sense which
guides them. A well known pigeon fancier, interviewed by a
writer who published the results of the interview in “Chums”
(Cassell & Co.) says, “The popular notion that carrier pigeons
are guided by some ‘direction sense,’ or blind instinct, is
quite as absurd as the French belief that they follow certain
electrical currents. I have had to do with pigeons for over
twenty years,” he continued, “and I am open to demonstrate
to anyone that in flight they are guided by sight alone. Of
course, some pigeons are more sagacious, cleverer than others;
but the fact remains, and everything tends to prove it. For
example, no carrier-pigeon can find its way over a strange
country: it often gets lost in a fog; and again, until taught
by experience, it is often led astray by colours and objects
which appear to be familiar. Quite recently, when I was
trying some young birds, I had an instance of how easily
they may be led astray. Close to my residence is a large
red-brick building, which, to an old bird, would prove a good
landmark miles away. In this case, however, the birds had
not been tried before, although, of course, they had been let
loose and had circled round the loft for several weeks. I
took five birds with me some half-mile distant from home;
and, letting them loose separately from the box, was rather
surprised to see four out of the five, after circling round,
fly off in an entirely opposite direction to that in which they
should have gone. I soon solved the mystery, however, for,
watching the birds, I saw they were making for another
red-brick building, which showed up clearly in the sunlight.
Arriving there, each one evidently discovered its mistake,
and, after flying back to the starting-point, found their where-
abouts, and made for home—not in a straight line, however,
for young birds invariably take a crooked, tortuous path, as
though feeling their way. If pigeons are let loose on water
FOWLS. 297

(from a boat in a lake or wide river), they always make for
the nearest land first; then, circling round, widening their
circle and rising higher at the same time, they keep the
starting-point in view until they sight some familiar object, in
which direction they travel. If a bird is dull, or ‘stupid,’ as
we term it, and has been tried from various points of the
compass, it often happens that, when taken to a distance
(say thirty or forty miles), the time occupied in reaching the
loft is three of four times longer than was expected; but,
take it there next day, and the journey will be done quicker
than a mile a minute. Why is that? Well, the birds get
confused; some object which it may have seen on a former
journey, may possibly stand out boldly; and, flying at once
toward this, the bird may find itself just as far from finding
the ‘lay of the land.” Thus it may go from one familiar
point to another before ‘striking’ for home. That is the
reason why, in training a bird for a match, we take it only
in the direction from which it will have to fly, increase the
distance gradually, until the bird is familiar with the path
it must travel and recognises each landmark as soon as it
comes in sight.”
ORDER Vv. Im this order (Galline) the Grouse, the Ptar-
Fowls. migan, the Quail, the Peacock, the Pheasant, the
Jungle Fowl, the Guinea Fowl, and the Wild Turkey are
included; as well as our Domestic Fowls to the forms of which
they more or less closely approximate. The Black Grouse,
and the Red Grouse are found throughout Great Britain; the
Prairie Grouse in North America. The Ptarmigan is found in
Scotland and in the North of the continent of Europe; it
changes colour with the seasons, becoming snow-white in winter.
The Quail is found in many parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa; it
visits England in the early summer and leaves about October
for Africa, where it winters.
The The Peacock has been famous in the East from
Peacock. before the days of Solomon and the Queen of
298 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

Sheba, and has been much affected in England in more
recent years, on account of its beauty, as an adornment of
English lawns, and as a royal dainty upon the festive board.
It may be said still to keep its place as an ornament of the
park, but it is no longer the choice of the epicure and seldom
appears at the feast. It is said to have come originally from
Persia and has doubtless reached the west from India where
it still abounds. Colonel Williamson says that he has seen,
in the passes of the Jungletery district, as many as twelve
or fifteen hundred pea-fowls of various sizes within sight of
one spot. “The gorgeous plumes that adorn the Peacock, ”
says Mr. Wood, “do not compose the tail, as many suppose,
but are only the tail-coverts. The tail feathers themselves are
short and rigid, and serve to keep the train spread, as may
be seen when the bird walks about in all the majesty of his
expanded plumage. Although pea-fowl seek their food on
the ground, they invariably roost on some elevated situation,
such as a high branch, or the roof of a barn or haystack.”
The peacock is swift of foot, but heavy on the wing, and
remains ordinarily on the ground, where it finds its food. It
has a harsh voice. The peahen is a plain, homely looking
bird, lacking the gorgeous tail which adorns her lord and
master. Guillim, an old writer quoted by Captain Brown, says:
“The Peacock is so proud, that when he erecteth his fan of
plumes, he admireth himself. He displayeth his plumes against
the rays of the sun, that they may glister the more gloriously:
and he loseth this beautiful train yearly with the fall of the
leaf; at which time he becometh bashful, and secketh corners,
where he may be secret from the sight of men, until the spring of
the year, when his train beginneth to be renewed. And such
is the quality of many dames, who being painted and richly
attired, cannot keep within doors; but being undressed, and
in their own hue, they are loath any man should see them.”
The There are several varieties of the Pheasant, of
Pheasant. which the Peacock Pheasant of Burmah, the
THE PHEASANT—-THE PARTRIDGE. 299

Argus Pheasant of Malacca, the Golden Pheasant of China,
and the Common Pheasant are the better known species.
The Common Pheasant is a native of the British Isles, where
it is cultivated and preserved. Under some circumstances
the cock pheasant displays considerable pugnacity and a
story is told of a young lady who when walking near Stirl-
ing was attacked by one which, “with spurs and beak began
a furious assault. Seeing no escape from the enraged bird,
she seized her adversary, and carried him home. He was,
however, soon released, and when the door was opened, he
went out without any sign of fear, and, with a deliberate
step, paced backwards and forwards in front of the house,
and manifested an inclination to join the fowls in the poultry
yard. The only way to account for this assault is, that the
lady wore a scarlet mantle, to which the pheasant may have
had such an antipathy as the turkey cock manifests to that
colour; an antipathy evinced by many other birds, and
various quadrupeds; and the cause of which is to us a
mystery.”
The The partridge is an interesting bird and shows
Partridge. preat intelligence in the care of its young. Mr.
Jesse mentions an instance quoted by Mr. Wood. “A gentle-
man who was overlooking his ploughman, saw a partridge run
from her nest, almost crushed by the horses’ hoofs. Being
certain that the next furrow must bury the eggs and nest,
he watched for the return of the plough, when to his great
astonishment, the nest, previously containing twenty-one eggs,
was vacant. After a search, he found the bird sitting upon
the eggs under a hedge, nearly forty yards from the nest,
to which place she and her mate had removed the whole
number in less than twenty minutes.” Mr. Markwick relates,
that “as he was once hunting with a young pointer, the dog
ran on a brood of very small partridges. The old bird
cried, fluttered, and ran trembling along just before the dog’s
nose, till she had drawn him to a considerable distance;
300 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

when she took wing and flew farther off, but not out of the
field. On this the dog returned nearly to the place where
the young ones lay concealed in the grass; which the old
bird no sooner perceived, than she flew back again, settled
just before the dog’s nose, and a second time acted the
same part, rolling and tumbling about till she drew off his
attention from the brood, and thus succeeded in preserving
them.”
The Wila The Wild Turkey was at one time common in
Turkey. ali parts- of America, but it is fast diminishing,
and is now seldom found except in the western territories.
It is often larger than the domestic turkey; it is gregarious
and feeds on grain, seeds, and fruits. It is the original stock
of the domestic turkey. Mr. Lucien Bonaparte has given a
long and interesting account of this bird. He says they
sometimes fly across broad rivers, ascending the tallest trees
on one side, and the whole flock starting together. Some
of the younger and weaker birds sometimes fall into the
water and either paddle to the shore or are drowned.
The Domestic The Wild Turkey was first carried to Europe
Turkey. and other parts of the eastern continent and
domesticated in the 16th century. It is now extensively
diffused over the world, and its flesh is ranked among the
most delicious poultry. The cock is a noisy fellow, strutting
about, and displaying his plumage with great ostentation ; he
is also very quarrelsome. The hen seems to possess a more
modest and retiring disposition, wandering about the fields
with a melancholy and dejected air, occasionally uttering a
short plaintive note. She is exceedingly attached to her
young, but leads them away from danger without ever
attempting to defend them by repelling an attack.
The Sagacityof Of the sagacity of the Turkey Audubon
the Turkey. says: “While at Henderson, on the Ohio, I
had a fine male turkey, which had been reared from its
earliest youth under my care. It became so tame that it
THE TURKEY. 301

would follow any person who called it, and was the favourite
of the little village. Yet it would never roost with the tame
turkeys; but regularly betook itself at night to the roof of
the house, where it remained till dawn. When two years
old it began to fly to the woods, where it remained for a
considerable part of the day, and returned to the enclosure
as night approached. It continued this practice until the
following spring, when I saw it several times fly from its
roosting-place to the top of a high cotton-tree on the bank
of the Ohio, from which, after resting a little, it would sail
to the opposite shore, the river being there nearly half a
mile wide, and return towards night. One morning I saw it
fly off, at a very early hour, to the woods in another direction,
and took no particular notice of the circumstance. Several
days elapsed, but the bird did not return. I was going
towards some lakes near Green River, to shoot, when, having
walked about five miles, I saw a fine large gobbler cross the
path before me, moving leisurely along. Turkeys being then
in prime condition for the table, I ordered my dog to chase
it and put it up. The animal went off with great rapidity,
and as it approached the turkey, I saw, with great surprise,
that the latter paid little attention. Juno was on the point
of seizing it, when she suddenly stopped, and tumed her
head towards me. I hastened to them; but you may easily
conceive my surprise when I saw my own favourite bird,
and discovered that it had recognised the dog, and would
not fly from it, although the sight of a strange dog would
have caused it to run off at once. A friend of mine, being
in search of a wounded deer, took the bird on his saddle
before him, and carried it home for me. The following
spring it was accidentally shot, having been taken for a wild
bird, and brought to me, on being recognised by the red
ribband which it had round its neck.”

Sitting The male Turkey is said to be but an indifferent
Turkey Oocks. father, but there are some curious illustrations
302 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

en record of his displaying maternal instincts. Captain Brown
tells of a cock Turkey near Abingdon who manifested a
desire to sit and was allowed to experiment with thirteen eggs,
from which in three weeks he hatched twelve fine chickens.
A precisely similar incident occurred many years ago in
Sweden, according to the same authority.

Domestic The Domestic Fowls are too well known to need

Hows: description here. They are said to have descended
from the Java species and have long been the subjects of
systematic and careful culture. John Guillim who wrote in 1677
and whose quaint description of the peacock we have already
quoted, says: “As some account the eagle the queen, and
the swallow or wagtail the lady, so may I term this (the cock)
the knight amongst birds, being both of noble courage, and also
prepared evermore to the battel, having his comb for an helmet,
his sharp and hooked bill fora faulchion or court-lax, to slash
and wound his enemy: and as a compleat soldier armed cap-
a-pe, he hath his legs armed with spurs, giving example to
the valiant soldier to expell danger by fight, and not by flight.
The cock croweth when he is victor and giveth a testimony
of his conquest. If he be vanquished, he shunneth the light,
and society of men.” The cock is a courageous bird and ir
fighting with his own kind or in the defence of his family will
show great gallantry and endurance. Buffon thus describes
an encounter of which he was an observer. He says: “I have
just witnessed a curious scene. A sparrow hawk alighted
in a populous court-yard; when a young cock, of this year’s
hatching, instantly darted at him, and threw him on his back.
In this situation, the hawk defending himself with his talons
and his bill, intimidated the hens and turkeys, which streamed
tumultuously around him. After having a little recovered
himself, he rose and was taking wing; when the cock rushed
upon him a second time, upset him, and held him down so
long, that he was easily caught by a person who witnessed
the conflict.” The cock is said to show many of the quali-
DOMESTIC FOWLS. 393

ties which belong to knighthood. He is jealous, and has been
known to kill a hen which has hatched a foreign brood; and
he is chivalrous both in the treatment of his hens and in
their defence against their enemies. He has a sense of justice
too, which he does not hesitate to assert on occasion. Mrs.
Bowdich says: “On one occasion I saw a cock pursue a
hen round the poultry-yard; and, as she had a worm in her
bill, I at first thought he was so acting from a greedy desire
to have the delicious morsel; but when he at last caught
her, he gave her a knock on the head with his beak, and,
taking up the worm which she had dropped, brought it to
another hen, who stood witnessing the affray in mute expec-
tation. A further knowledge of the habits of these birds has
made me feel sure she had purloined the worm from the
other, and the cock had restored it to its rightful owner.”
Though natural fighters, cocks sometimes form friendships
for each other, and Captain Brown records an instance of
two game cocks, belonging to the same owner, who obsti-
nately declined combat though all means were tried to excite
mutual animosity. These same birds when placed in the ring
with other cocks fought furiously, and in both cases destroyed
their antagonists.
The Common ‘The hen gathering her chickens under her wings
Hen, js a favourite type of motherhood, and it cannot
be denied that in many ways the hen shows herself a modei
parent. The care she will expend upon her brood, or upon
a brood of ducks which she may have hatched, is well known,
and the courage she will show in their defence is well attested.
The following from the “Percy Anecdotes” is an illustration
of this: “In June, 1820, a contest of rather an unusual
nature took place in the house of Mr. Collins, at Naul in
Ireland. The parties concerned were, a hen of the game
species, and a rat of the middle size. The hen, in an acci-
dental perambulation round a spacious room, accompanied
by an only chicken, the sole surviving offspring of a numerous
304 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

brood, was roused to madness by an unprovoked attack made
by a voracious rat, on her unsuspecting companion. The
shrieks of the beloved captive, while dragged away by the
enemy, excited every maternal feeling in the affectionate bosom
of the feathered dame: she flew at the corner whence the
alarm arose, seized the lurking enemy by the neck, writhed
him about the room, put out one of his eyes in the engage-
ment, and so fatigued her opponent by repeated attacks of
spur and bill, that in the space of twelve minutes, during
which time the conflict lasted, she put a final period to the
invader’s existence ; nimbly turned round, in wild but triumph-
ant distraction, to her palpitating nestling, and hugged it
in her victorious bosom.” In this same work there is a story
of a hen, near Exeter, which devoted itself with much assiduity
and success to catching mice. Hens often take to other
animals and have been known to show great attachment to
kittens, and to dogs, instances being recorded of hens living
in dogs’ kennels and laying their eggs there under canine
protection. The concern shown by hens, when the ducks
they may have hatched take to the water, is very amusing.
Captain Brown gives an instance of a hen which had
become used to this phenomena, from having been employed
in hatching successive broods of ducks, and which showed
equal concern when a brood of her own chickens avoided
the watery element.

ORDER VI. The Hoazin is the only bird of this order.
‘The Hoazin. It belongs to Brazil and Guiana and is nearly
as large as the peacock. It has been variously classified but,
differing in important characteristics from any other bird, it
is deemed best to place it in an order by itself.

ORDER VII. This order includes the Vultures, Condors,
Birds of Prey. Eagles, Kites, Falcons, Goshawks, Sparrow-
hawks, Buzzards, Kestrals, Owls, &c., &c. Interesting as many
of these birds are the briefest possible mention is all that
we can give of some of them.
BIRDS OF PREY. 305

The Hagle. Whatever may be said of the claims of other
birds, the Eagle is traditionally the king of the air, as the
lion is king of the forest. There are a large number of
species of which the Golden Eagle, the Spotted Eagle, the
Imperial Eagle and the White-headed Sea Eagle are among
the best known varieties. The Golden Eagle belongs to
Europe and America, and is sometimes found in Scotland
and Ireland. It lives upon smaller-birds and animals: hares,
young lambs and deer, grouse, plovers, &c., &c. Though the
' eagle has often attacked children the stories of its carrying
them away are generally discredited. Eagles often hunt in
pairs and show great ferocity and determination in attacking
their prey.

Eagle Mr. St. John gives the following description of

Shooting. a shooting expedition in which he bagged a
pair of splendid birds. “On a very dark morning I sallied
out with Malcolm to take a shot at the eagles, and at last
I was ensconced in a hiding-place (near the dead body ofa
sheep) which gave me hardly room to stand, sit, or lie. It
was scarcely grey dawn when a bird with a slow, flapping
flight passed, and alighted out of sight, but near, for I
heard him strike the ground, and my heart beat faster.
What was my disappointment, when his low, crowing croak
announced a raven; he hopped and walked suspiciously
round the sheep, till, supposing the coast clear, he hopped
upon the carcase, and began with his cut and thrust beak
to dig at the meat. Another raven soon joined him, and
then two more, who, after a kind of parley, were admitted
to their share of the banquet. They suddenly set up a
croak of alarm, stopped feeding, and all turned their knowing
eyes in one direction. At that moment I heard a sharp
scream, but very distant. The black party heard it too,
and instantly darted off, alighting again at a little distance.
Next came a rushing noise, and the monarch of the clouds
lighted at omce on the sheep. He quietly folded up his

20
306 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

wings, and, throwing back his magnificent head, looked
round at the ravens, as if wondering at their impudence in
approaching his breakfast; they kept a respectful silence,
and hopped further away. The royal bird then tured his
head in my direction, his bright eye that instant catching
mine, as it glanced along the barrel of my gun. He rose, I
drew the trigger, and he fell quite dead six yards from the
sheep. As one eagle is always followed by a second, I
remained quiet, in hopes that his mate was not within
hearing of my shot. I had not waited many minutes when
I saw the other eagle skimming low over the brow of the
hill towards me. She did not alight at once, but her eye
catching the dead. body of her mate, she wheeled up into
the air. I thought she was lost to me, when presently I
heard her wings brush close over my head, and she wheeled
round and round the dead bird, turning her head downwards
to make out what had happened. At times she stooped so
low that I could see the sparkle of her eye, and hear her
low, complaining cry. I watched the time when she turned
up her wing towards me, and dropped her actually on the
body of the other. She rose to her feet, and stood gazing
at me with a reproachful look, and would have done battle,
but death was busy with her, and as I was loading in haste
she reeled, and fell perfectly dead.”
The The white-headed or bald eagle, is a native of
White-Headed North America, and feeds equally on the produce
eee of the sea and of the land, but is particularly fond
of fish. “In procuring these,” says Wilson, “he displays in a very
singular manner the genius and energy of his character, which
is fierce, contemplative, daring and tyrannical, attributes not
exerted but on particular occasions, but when put forth overwhelm-
ing all opposition.” “Elevated,” says Wilson, in his “ American
Omithology,” “on the high dead limb of some gigantic tree,
that commands a high view of the neighbouring shore and
ocean, he seems calmly to contemplate the motions of the
THE EAGLE. 307

various feathered tribes that pursue their busy avocations
below; the snow-white gulls, slowly winnowing the air; the
busy tringze, coursing along the sands; trains of ducks stream-
ing over the surface; silent and watchful cranes, intent and
wading; clamorous crows; and all the winged multitude that
subsist by the bounty of this vast liquid magazine of nature.
High over all these hovers one, whose action instantly arrests
all attention. By his wide curvature of wing, and sudden
suspension in the air, he knows him to be the fish-hawk,
settling over some devoted victim of the deep. His eye
kindles at the sight, and balancing himself with half-opened
wings on the branch, he watches the result. Down, rapid
as an arrow from heaven, descends the distant object of his
attention, the roar of its wings reaching the ear as it dis-
appears in the deep, making the surges foam around! At
this moment the looks of the eagle are all ardour; and level-
ling his neck for flight, he sees the fish-hawk once more emerge,
struggling with his prey, and mounting into the air with
screams of exultation. This is the signal for the eagle, who,
launching in the air, instantly gives chase, and soon gains on
the fish-hawk; each exerts his utmost power to mount above
the other, displaying in these rencontres the most elegant
and sublime aérial evolutions. The unencumbered eagle
rapidly advances, and is just on the point of reaching his
opponent, when with a sudden scream, probably of despair
and honest execration, the latter drops his fish; the eagle
poising himself for a moment, as if to take a more certain
aim, descends like a whirlwind, snatches it in his grasp ere
it reaches the water, and bears his ill-gotten booty silently
away into the woods.”

The Vulture. The Vultures have been sometimes called the
Hyeenas of the feathered world, and judged by their habits,
they certainly justify the term. As scavengers they serve
a useful purpose in Eastern lands and deserve the protec-
tion they are said to receive from the natives. The Griffin
308 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

Vulture of Europe, Turkey, Persia and Africa, the Egyptian
Vulture of the Nile country, and the Condor, or American
Vulture, are the best known varieties.

The Condor. ‘The American Condor is the largest of the
birds of prey, and is said to partake of the ferocity of the
Eagle and the filthiness of the Vulture. “Two of these birds,
acting in concert,” says an American writer, “will frequently
attack a puma,. a Ilama, a calf, or even a full-grown cow.
They will pursue the poor animal with unwearied pertinacity,
lacerating it incessantly with their beaks and talons, until it
falls exhausted with fatigue and loss of blood. Then, having
first seized upon its tongue, they proceed to tear out its eyes,
and commence their feast with these favourite morsels. The
intestines form the second course of their banquet, which is
usually continued until the birds have gorged themselves so
fully as to render themselves incapable of using their wings
in flight.” This bird is said to measure from three and a
half to four feet from head to tail.

The King of ‘This bird which is the handsomest of its tribe
the Vultures. js called the King of the vultures, because of the
royal honours it receives from common vultures. Mr. Byam
says in his “Central America,” “One day, having lost a mule
by death, he was dragged up to a small hill, not far off,
where I knew, in an hour or two, he would be safely buried
in vulture-sepulture. I was standing on a hillock, about a
hundred yards off, with a gun in my hand, watching the
surprising distance that a vulture descries his prey from, and
the gathering of so many from all parts, up and down wind,
where none had been seen before, and that in a very short
space of time. Hearing a loud, whirring noise over my head,
I looked up, and saw a fine large bird, with outstretched
and seemingly motionless wings, sailing towards the carcase
that had already been partially demolished. I would not fire
at the bird; for I had a presentiment that it was his majesty
of the vultures; but beckoned to an Indian to come up the
THE VULTURE. 30g

hill—and, showing him the bird that had just alighted, he
said, ‘the King of the vultures; you will see how he is
adored.’ Directly the fine-looking bird approached the car-
case, the oz polloi of the vultures retired to a short distance;
some flew off, and perched on some contiguous branch;
while by far the greatest number remained, acting the courtier,
by forming a most respectful and well-kept ring around him.
His majesty, without any signs of acknowledgment for such
great civility, proceeded to make a most gluttonous meal;
but, during the whole time he was employed, not a single
envious bird attempted to intrude upon him at his repast,
until he had finished, and taken his departure with a heavier
wing and slower flight than on his arrival; but when he had
taken his perch on a high tree, not far off, his dirty, ravenous
subjects, increased in number during his repast, ventured to
discuss the somewhat diminished carcase; for the royal appe-
tite was certainly very fine. I have since beheld the above
scene acted many times, but always with great interest.”

A Feast of Wilson gives the following account of the Black

Vultures. Vulture of America. “February 21st, 1809. Went
out to Hampstead this forenoon. A horse had dropped
down in the street, in convulsions; and dying, it was dragged
out to Hampstead, and skinned. I ventured cautiously within
thirty yards of the carcase, where three or four dogs, and
twenty or thirty vultures, were busily tearing and devouring.
Seeing them take no notice, I ventured nearer, till I was
within ten yards, and sat down on the bank. Still they paid
little attention to me. The dogs being sometimes accidentally
flapped with the wings of the vultures, would growl and snap
at them, which would occasion them to spring up for a
moment, but they immediately gathered in again. I remarked
the vultures frequently attack each other, fighting with their
claws or heels, striking like a cock, with open wings, and
fixing their claws in each other’s heads. The females, and
I believe the males likewise, made a hissing sound with open
310 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

mouth, exactly resembling that produced by thrusting a red
hot poker into water; and frequently a snuffing like a dog
clearing his nostrils, as I suppose they were theirs. On
observing that they did not heed me, I stole so close that
my feet were within one yard of the horse’s legs, and I
again sat down. They all slid aloof a few feet; but seeing
me quiet, they soon returned as before. As they were often
disturbed by the dogs, I ordered the latter home: my voice
gave no alarm to the vultures. As soon as the dogs departed,
the vultures crowded in such numbers, that I counted at one
time thirty-seven on and around the carcase, with several
within; so that scarcely an inch of it was visible. Sometimes
one would come out with a large piece of the entrails, which
in a moment was surrounded by several others, who tore it
in fragments, and it soon disappeared. They kept up the
hissing occasionally. Some of them having their whole legs
and heads covered with blood, presented a most savage
aspect. Sometimes I observed them stretching their neck
along the ground, as if to press the food downwards.”
The Secretary The Secretary Bird, so called from the possession
Bird. of feathers thought to resemble pens behind the
ear, feeds on snakes and other reptiles. Le Vaillant, who
in dissecting one of these birds, found in his crop eleven
large lizards, three serpents each a yard in length, eleven
small tortoises and a great quantity of locusts and other
insects, once witnessed a contest thus referred in the “Percy
Anecdotes” :

“When the secretary approaches a serpent, it always carries
the point of one of its wings forward, in order to parry off
its venomous bites; sometimes it finds an opportunity of
spurning and treading upon its antagonist; or else, of taking
him upon its pinions, and throwing him into the air. When
by this system it has, at length, wearied out its adversary,
and rendered him almost senseless, it kills and swallows him
at leisure. On the occasion which Vaillant mentions, the
THE FALCON. gir

battle was obstinate, and conducted with equal address on
both sides. The serpent, feeling at last his inferiority,
endeavoured to regain his hole; while the bird apparently
guessing his design, stopped him on a sudden, and cut off
his retreat by placing herself before him at a single leap.
On whatever side the reptile endeavoured to make his escape,
the enemy still appeared before him. Rendered desperate, the
serpent resolved on a last effort. He erected himself boldly
to intimidate the bird, and hissing dreadfully, displayed his
menacing throat, inflamed eyes, and a head swollen with rage
and venom. The bird seemed intimidated for a moment,
but soon returned to the charge; and covering her body with
one of her wings as a buckler, struck her enemy with the
bony protuberance of the other. M. Vaillant saw the serpent
at last stagger and fall; the conqueror then fell upon him
to despatch him, and with one stroke of her beak laid open
his skull.”

Tho Kite. The Kite is common in Europe and is some-
Tho Osprey. timesseen in Scotland. It is a bird of the Hawk
The Buzzard. jing and may easily be distinguished from other
birds of prey by its forked tail and the slow and circular
eddies it describes in the air whenever it spies its prey.
It measures about two feet in length. The Osprey is common
in Europe and America. It feeds principally upon fish, in
pursuit of which it frequents the sea coast and the borders
of lakes and rivers. It is about two feet in length. The
common Buzzard is rather smaller, measuring twenty or twenty-
two inches. It nests on high trees and watches on overhanging
branches for any prey that may pass beneath. The Marsh
Harrier which measures twenty-one to twenty-three inches
is a formidable foe to moles and mice, rabbits and reptiles.

The Falcon, The Peregrine Falcon so famous in the days
of Falconry is a fearless bird and does not hesitate to attack
those of much larger size. For this reason it was often
employed in hunting the Heron. “In this contest,” says
312 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

Mr. Wood, “the Falcon was almost always victorious, and
after it had attained a sufficient altitude, it swept, or ‘stooped’,
as the phrase was, upon the Heron. When the Falcon had
closed with its prey, they both came to the ground together.
Sometimes, however, the wary Heron contrived to receive
its enemy on the point of its sharp beak, and transfixed
it by its own impetus.” This bird is from fifteen to eighteen
inches in length. Mr. Selby in his “Omithology” says, “In
daring disposition, this bird equals most of its congeners. I
may be allowed to add the following instance, as having
happened under my own observation, and as exemplifying
not only its determined perseverance in pursuit of its prey,
when under the pressure of hunger, but as arguing also an
unexpected degree of foresight:—In exercising my dogs upon
the moors, previous to the commencement of the shooting-
season, I observed a large bird of the hawk genus, hovering
at a distance, which, upon approaching, I knew to be a
Peregrine Falcon. Its attention was now drawn towards the
dogs, and it accompanied them, whilst they beat the surrounding
ground. Upon their having found, and sprung a brood of
grouse, the falcon immediately gave chase, and struck a
young bird, before they had proceeded far upon wing. My
shouts and rapid advance, prevented it from securing its
prey. The issue of this attempt, however, did not deter the
falcon from watching our subsequent movements, and another
opportunity soon offering, it again gave chase, and struck
down two birds, by two rapidly repeated blows, one of
which it secured, and bore off in triumph.”

The The Sparrow-hawk which measures from twelve
Sparrow to fifteen inches long is a terror to smaller
Hawk. birds, showing great pertinacity in their pursuit.

Mr. St. John says that one pursued a pigeon through his
“drawing-room window, and out at the other end of the
house through another window, and never slackened its
pursuit, notwithstanding the clattering of the broken glass of
THE SPARROW-HAWK—THE OWL. 313

the two windows as tney passed through,” and that on
another occasion he found “a sparrow hawk deliberately
standing on a, very large pouter pigeon on the drawing-room
floor, and plucking it, having entered in pursuit of the
unfortunate bird through an open window, and killed him
in the room.” White says, in his “Natural History of
Selborne,” “About the tenth of July, a pair of sparrow-hawks
bred in an old crow’s nest on a low beech in Selborne-
hanger; and as their brood, which was numerous, began to
grow up, they became so daring and ravenous, that they
were a terror to all the dames in the village that had chickens
or ducklings under their care. A boy climbed the tree, and
found the young so fledged that they all escaped from him;
but discovered that a good house had been kept; the larder
was well stored with provisions; for he brought down a
young blackbird, jay, and house martin, all clean picked, and
some half devoured. The old birds had been observed to
make sad havec for some days among the new flown swallows
and martins, which, being but lately out of their nests, had
not acquired those powers and command of wing that enable
them when more mature to set enemies at defiance.”

The Owl Great interest attaches to the owl from the sin-
gularity of its appearance and habits. There are many
varieties, the Common Bam Owl; the Long-eared Owl; the
Great Eagle Owl; and the American Horned Owl being some
of these. The Barn Owl measures about twelve inches in
length. This bird does great service in the destruction of
mice, rats, and other vermin, and it is the nemesis of fate
that it is destroyed by those it serves. Its movements are
noiseless, the peculiar form of the feathers of its wings enabling
it to fly without making any sound, and so surprise its prey.
“Its method of devouring a mouse,” says Mr. Wood, “is quite
different from the mode in which it eats a bird. Ifa mouse
is given to an owl, the bird seizes it across the back, and
gives it one or two smart bites, much as a terrier handles a
314 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

rat. The mouse is then jerked upwards, and caught again
head downwards. A second jerk sends the mouse half down
the owl’s throat, while its tail remains sticking out of the
side of its bill, where it is rolled about as if the owl were
smoking. After some time has been spent in this:amusement,
another jerk causes the mouse to disappear altogether, and
the owl looks very happy and contented. But if a small
bird is presented to it, the owl tears it up and devours it
piecemeal.” The great Eagle Owl which measures two feet
and upwards will attack hares, rabbits, and young fawns.
ORDER VIII. The order of wading birds includes many
Wading Birds. that we can do no more than mention :—the
Moor Hen; the Woodcock; the Snipe; the Water pheasant;
the Plover; the Lapwing; the Crane; the Heron; the Stork;
and the Flamingo are the more familiar birds of the order,
which however includes the Crakes; the Coots; the Curlews;
the Bustards; the Sandpipers, and others.

The Cranes. The Cranes belong to Africa and Southern Asia,
but migrate from clime to clime as the seasons change. The
flight of the Cranes, like that of some other birds, is a compact
and well ordered progression. They fly high and commonly
at night, apparently under the direction of a leader whose
course they follow and whose calls they obey. There are
several varieties, the Common Crane, the Numidian Crane,
and the Balearic Crane being the better known of these.
The Heron, The Heron is an expert fisherman and has
all the necessary patience for the pursuit of his sport. He
will stand motionless for hours at the water side, waiting his
opportunity, and then dart with unerring aim at the unsuspect-
ing fish and secure his meal. The bill ofthe heron is a
powerful weapon, and as we remarked when dealing with the
falcons, formerly used in hunting the heron, it will sometimes
transfix the Falcon by throwing its head back and receiving
its enemy on the point. Captain Brown gives an illustration
which shows that the Heron’s bill may be as effective in
WADING BIRDS. 315

other cases. “A gentleman being on a shooting excursion,
accompanied by a small spaniel, observed a heron wading
a little above a waterfall. He fired—wounded it—and sent
his dog into the stream to bring it to land. As soon as the
dog had come within its reach, the heron drew back its
head, and with all its force, struck him in the ribs with its
bill. The gentleman again fired, and killed the heron; but
it had well revenged itself: both dog and heron floated dead
together, down the foaming waterfall.” The Heron nests on
the tops of high trees and lives in companies.
The Bittern. The Bittern is remarkable for its loud booming
cry which has some resemblance to the bellowing of a bull,
and for its spiral flight which it pursues to a great altitude
The Stork. Storks are found in different parts of Europe,
Asia and Africa. In Holland, and in some other countries,
they live in a state of semi-domestication, encouraged by the
people, and building nests upon the roofs of their houses.
They feed on rats, mice, frogs, and other vermin, and
render the Hollander good service by keeping down the
numbers of such pests. In the East they act as scavengers,
and for this reason are as much encouraged by the people.
“A recent visitor to Constantinople,” says Mr.