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 Animals of the world. 
 
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THE ANIMALS OF THE WORLD. 
 
 BREHM'S 
 
 LIFE OF ANIMALS. 
 
 A COMPLETE NATURAL HISTORY FOR POPULAR HOME 
 INSTRUCTION AND FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS 
 
 BY 
 
 DR. ALFRED EDMUND BREHM. 
 
 COPIOUSLY ILLUSTRATED WITH WOOD CUTS AND COLOR-PLATES BY FR. SPECHT, W. KUHNERT, 
 
 G. MUTZEL, R. KRETSCHMER, W. CAMPHAUSEN, L. BECKMANN, E. SCHMIDT, 
 
 C. F. DEIKER, P. MEYERHEIM, ETC., ETC. 
 
 MAMMALIA. 
 
 BROUGHT DOWN AND ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE USE OF ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 Translated from the Third German Edition as edited by Prof. Dr. Pechuel-Loesche and Dr. William Haacke, 
 
 and revised and abridged by Prof. Richard Schmidtlein. 
 
 CHICAGO : 
 
 A. N. MARQUIS & COMPANY. 
 1895. 
 
Copyright 1894 by A. N. Marquis & Co., Chicago. 
 Copyright 1895 by A. N. Marquis & Co., Chicago 
 
INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 
 
 REHM'S immortal book, " Life of Animals," is one of the most 
 fascinating works ever written upon natural history. The author 
 devoted his life to a study of animate nature, seeking out the 
 creatures in their wild state and making most intimate acquaint- 
 ance with their habits, traits and characteristics. Many years 
 were spent by him in the great forests, where he seemed to court 
 danger in order that he might arrive at knowledge of the truth. 
 The results of his studies and observations are shown in this mas- 
 terly production, which, while detailing all the facts essential to 
 scientific knowledge, clothes his narrative in descriptive details that 
 hold the attention of old and young as strongly as the most thrill- 
 ing romances. 
 
 The new and revised edition of this work, carefully corrected 
 and brought down by the scholarly Dr. William Haacke and Pro- 
 fessor Pechuel-Loesche, the latter no less distinguished as an ex- 
 
 ^__„____^_ plorer than as a naturalist, has passed under the hands of Richard 
 
 j^Jl^^^^ ^lgBJ^^^^^IP^ ^ Schmidtlein, the celebrated German naturalist and author, who has 
 
 preserved in it all the rich and splendid material of the original, 
 but has omitted details and descriptions of a strictly scientific nature, the object being to furnish a 
 book for popular home instruction and for the use of schools. Professor Schmidtlein, in his scholarly 
 and entertaining revision, made such changes as the progress of modern science demanded and per- 
 fected his work in a manner to call forth the highest praise from critics everywhere. 
 
 The present edition has been translated from the German by linguists of distinction who have in 
 the happiest manner transferred to the English tongue the rich, exuberant and fascinating style of the 
 original ; while competent scholars have carefully revised the translation, making only such changes 
 as were calculated to bring it closer to the mind of the English reader. These changes are either inclosed 
 in brackets, or are set in smaller type than the body of the work. The short sketches introduced under the 
 pictures, independent of the text, are also the work of the American editors. This edition is, therefore, 
 practically a complete work brought down to date, containing substantially all the matter to be found in 
 Brehm's "Life of Animals," adapted t® meet and reach the popular taste, and rendered into Enj;lish in such 
 manner as to make it clear and intelligible to every one, the child as well as the adult, only those 
 animals being omitted which are little known and of interest to none but specialists. 
 
 The book is designed to meet in the highest degree a great popular need, technical terms and 
 long scientific descriptions being avoided, whenever possible, and it is invaluable as a work of reference 
 and of study. It not only contains narratives of Brehm's exciting personal experiences and observa- 
 tions in forest and field, but also those of all other leading naturalists and explorers of the world, 
 whose intimate touch with animate nature inspired them to speak in words that glow with interest and 
 that thrill the reader. 
 
 A most attractive feature of the present work is the superb illustrations, which include, with few 
 exceptions, all that are contained in Brehm's complete work, and also numerous additions designed and 
 executed at great expense and including the best efforts of the greatest artists in delineation of animal 
 life. The work of these distinguished artists, supplemented with faithful mechanical reproductions, has 
 resulted in the presentation of the various animals precisely as they appear in a state of nature, the 
 figures being of a size to enable the student to obtain a most accurate knowledge of each creature, 
 while parents and teachers can be assured that nothing is exaggerated, but that every detail is given 
 with absolute fidelity. Too frequently it is the case that children are shown mere caricatures of beasts 
 
iv INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 
 
 and birds, executed without artistic sense and in entire ignorance of the structure of the animals. The 
 pictures in this work are faultless, all of them having been reproduced from living subjects and showmg 
 the hand of the master in every line. No such extended and comprehensive system of illustration of 
 animals was ever before undertaken and this feature of the work alone must make it invaluable to» 
 every one who seeks acquaintance with those creatures, which, while they cannot speak, are so closely 
 connected with the life of Man, contributing in some part at least to his support, his enjoyment and 
 his amusement. 
 
 Interest in natural history is e'xtending, as Man's scope of vision enlarges and he grasps more 
 firmly the thought that the lower animals enter so closely into his own life and form so important a 
 part in the great economy of nature. The great Scheitlin, as quoted by Brehm, has truly said, "The 
 brute's fate is like ours. It is oftentimes made to share Man's fate, or Man shares its fate ; it perishes 
 with him in fire and water and battle. It is a pity that Man forgets that the higher animals, at least, 
 know the difference between treatment that is good and treatment that is bad." Man is greatly in 
 debt to the humbler creatures, which supply them with their flesh for food, their hide, their hair and 
 their horns. It has been truthfully claimed that Man could not live in comfort if deprived of the serv- 
 ice rendered by animals in life or death. They supply meat, milk, fat, perfumery, drugs, fur, wool, 
 feathers, ivory, bone and a thousand other useful and ornamental commodities. They are companions, 
 as the Dog, the Monkey and certain birds ; beasts of burden, as the Horse, Ass, Ox, Camel, Llama, 
 and afford endless sport and diversion for hunters, who, unfortunately', are too foequently cruel and 
 make unnecessary slaughter of the defenseless. The student finds in the successive steps of animal 
 life order and arrangement and takes delight in classifying the creatures according to their station, ob- 
 serving the points of difference, and determining the uses and adaptations of the individuals to their 
 environment. 
 
 Extending the thought of imparting facts to the youthful mind, it might be shown that seven ver- 
 tebrae usually form the neck of the vertebrate aninjals, whether it be the Giraffe or the Mole ; but that 
 in the tail they vary from four to forty-six. It might also be shown that the muscles of animals se* 
 the bones in motion, and that these muscles form meat, which in certain animals is the food of Man 
 It is interesting to note that Man alone of all the mammals walks erect ; that the flight of swift birds 
 is far more rapid than that of the most fleet mammal ; and that the Bat cannot really fly because birds 
 alone can do this, but that they flutter in the air. Men who have not been taught to swim, the Man- 
 like Apes and the Baboons, are the only mammals which are unable to sustain themselves in water ; 
 while the Whale and the Sea-Lion, the Dugong and the Manatee, spend their entire lives in the sea. 
 Take the eye of the animal, which is the most expressive part of its face, and there can be seen in it 
 in many cases the character of its individual possessor, as the wicked eye of the Snake, the piercing 
 eye of the Eagle ; this being especially true among mammals, as the dull eye of the Cow, the mild 
 one of the Gazelle, the stupid ones of a Sheep, the false ones of a Wolf, etc. 
 
 Characteristics, traits, etc., are thus observable in all the creatures, from the highest to the lowest, 
 and may be pointed out, emphasized and indelibly impressed upon the mind of the young, especially 
 by aid of the incomparable pictures contained in this work. The advanced- reader and student will 
 discover a complete and perfect system, extending from the highest Ape to the lowest creature, each 
 in its place and every one well defined and accurately described. 
 
 It will be seen that the creatures are distributed all over the world and that America contains a 
 larger variety and more interesting types, especially of higher animals, than the other portions of the 
 globe. In the northern part are the Bison, the Prairie Dog and the Opossum, while in the southern 
 portion are prehenSile-tailed Monkeys, Vampires, Peccaries, Llamas, Alpacas and various Edentata, that 
 are peculiar to these localities. In the representation of the various belts of earth the division made by 
 Wallace is followed in this work. It will be seen that, as a rule, the color of an animal corresponds 
 closely with its surroundings ; that the majority of mammals live in flocks, each having a leader that 
 may be male or female ; that when awake most animals are employed in search for food ; that Birds 
 eat more than mammals and that the former are much more active than the latter. 
 
 The comprehensiveness and interest of the work must be discovered in a perusal of its pages as 
 only brief and disconnected references have here been made as to its scope and general value ' It 
 covers a field not hitherto occupied in this country, embracing as it does the most thorough informa- 
 tion with most graphic narrative, the whole embellished by artistic illustrations which so faithfully por- 
 tray the lineaments of the animals as almost to make unnecessary the work of verbal description Such 
 a work as this, within the mental grasp of all,, must enter the home and the school and result in a 
 wide dissemination of additional knowledge concerning the beasts of the field, the birds of the air 
 and all manner of creeping things. 
 
THE LIFE OF ANIMALS. 
 
 PRELIMINARY NOTES ON MAMMALS. 
 
 However superficially the student or reader may 
 examine any subject, the necessity for some system 
 in the arrangement of the facts will at once be ap- 
 parent. This is especially true in connection with 
 investigation into the truths of nature, and more par- 
 ticularly those connected with our globe. The most 
 casual observer sees that the various natural objects, 
 each different from the other, align themselves into 
 larger and smaller groups having some one or more 
 characteristics in common. The systematic arrange- 
 ment of these classes, the division of them into 
 smaller groups, the proper classification of names 
 for these segregated assemblages of things, and the 
 orderly presentation of the facts in regard to these 
 divisions and the units of which they are composed, 
 constitutes, in broadly generalized terms, natural 
 science. 
 
 In arranging the facts of nature that plan is best 
 which is simplest: and science has begun its work of 
 classifying the things on our globe by dividing them 
 into three primary groups called the Animal, Vege- 
 table and Mineral Kingdoms. Then, taking up the 
 classification of the Animal Kingdom and looking for 
 the first and most obvious division, it is found that 
 one large group of animals is made up of species 
 widely variant in other respects but agreeing in the 
 fact that each is possessed of what is popularly 
 known as a " backbone," consisting of a number of 
 segments of bone or cartilage jointed together, which 
 have been given the scientific name of " vertebrae," 
 the whole column of jointed segments being called 
 the " vertebral column." Therefore the Animal King- 
 dom has been scientifically divided into two sub- 
 kingdoms, known respectively as the Vertebrates 
 {Vertebrata) and, Invertebrates {Invertebrata), the 
 latter class including insects, mollusks, cephalo- 
 pods, worms, snails, animalcules, protozoa and other 
 classes of animals. 
 
 The Vertebrates have several characteristics in 
 common besides the mere possession of a backbone. 
 Piercing the structure of the backbone is what is 
 known as the vertebral canal, enclosed by arches 
 of bone or cartilage forming part of the vertebrae, 
 this canal being the receptacle in which is stretched, 
 like a rope, the substance formed of nerve-tissue 
 which is popularly known as the spinal marrow or 
 spinal cord, and which is the main portion of the 
 nervous system of the animal. On the under side 
 of the backbone are placed the heart, the lungs and 
 the stomach and other organs of digestion. The 
 two jaws of Vertebrates are placed one above the 
 other instead of being right and left, as is the case 
 in insects, No vertebrate animal has more than four 
 legs, while some of the invertebrates have a very 
 large number. There are other physical character- 
 istics common to all, or nearly all. Vertebrates, but 
 their consideration involves technical explanations 
 which would be out of place here. 
 
 Since Lamarck in 1797 suggested the division of 
 the Animal Kingdom into the two sub-kingdoms of 
 animals with and without backbones, this division 
 has been generally accepted. In the subdivision of 
 the Vertebrates there are usually recognized five 
 classes: the Mammals {Mammalia); the Birds {Aves)\ 
 the Reptiles (Reptilia); the Amphibious Animals, 
 like the Frog, Newt, etc. {Amphibia), and the Fishes 
 {Pisces). 
 
 The Mammals, which form Class I. among the 
 Vertebrates, represent the highest forms of life on 
 our globe. Some have a much higher organization 
 than others, but still, from the highest to the lowest, 
 they have many characteristics in common. The 
 primary distinction upon which the class Mammalia 
 is founded, is the secretion in the glands ' of the 
 female of a fluid for the nourishment of her young 
 during the earliest period of infancy. In nearly all 
 of the animals of this class the fluid secreted is milk, 
 and the mammary glands are directly suckled by the 
 young, which are born alive and in a more or less 
 developed condition. I/i the lowest order of Mam- 
 mals, however, — the egg-laying Monotremes, — the 
 newborn, scarcely vitalized offspring is placed in a 
 pouch and there sustained by a nutritive perspira- 
 tion emitted from sweat-glands. In the order next 
 above them — the Marsupials — the development of 
 the animal at birth is only slightly more mature than 
 that of the Monotremes, and the pouch for maturing 
 the young places the infant in direct connection 
 with the mamma of the mother, which thus sup- 
 plies it with the milk needed to bring it to full 
 life and vigor. 
 
 Mammals, besides being nurtured on mother's 
 milk in their infancy, are also characterized by the 
 possession of warm, red blood, circulated through 
 the system by means of veins and arteries leading 
 from a four-chambered heart. Every animal of the 
 mammalian class agrees with the other in possess- 
 ing a diaphragm membrane, or pleura, separating 
 the cavity of the chest from that of the abdomen. 
 For further statement of the general characteristics 
 of Mammals we quote from the introduction to the 
 German edition of Brehm's work, which says: "The 
 skull is separable from the vertebral column, or 
 backbone, in all Mammals; the upper jaw forms part 
 of the skull, and the teeth, though varying consider- 
 ably in number and shape, show that in common 
 they are in all species inserted in sockets. Seven 
 vertebrae usually go to form the neck, be it long, as 
 in the Giraffe, or short, as in the Mole. The chest 
 or thorax part of the vertebral column (known as 
 dorsal or thoracic vertebrae), consists of from ten to 
 twenty-four vertebrae; the lumbar vertebrae, or these 
 in the middle of the Isack, number from two to nine, 
 the sacrum has from one to nine and the tail from 
 four to forty-six. Ribs may be attached to differ- 
 ent vertebrae; but in speaking of ribs we usually 
 
VI 
 
 THE LIFE OF ANIMALS. 
 
 mean the flat, curved bones attached in the back to 
 the dorsal or thoracic vertebra, and in front to the 
 sternum or breast-bone and enclosing the chest 
 cavity. The number of the true ribs reaching the 
 sternum and of the false ones, which are either at- 
 tached to it by cartilage or are not joined to the 
 breast-bone at all, is subject to a great many varia- 
 tions. In the skeletons of the Mammals there is 
 great diversity in the structure of the limbs, and in 
 some Whales the hinder pair are totally lacking or 
 the bony skeleton of the animal only reveals two 
 stunted rudiments. In the fore-limbs the shoulders 
 and the hand show the greatest variety; the clavicle 
 (or collar-bone) may be very strong or it may be 
 lacking; the fingers and toes may be all there, or 
 may be stunted, according as the hands and feet 
 become paws, hoofs or fins; the usual number of the 
 fingers — five — may decrease to one. The bones of 
 the leg are also variously developed. 
 
 "The bones of the skeleton are set in motion by 
 muscles, which in some animals are for us the most 
 important part, as they form our daily food. These 
 muscles, which in plain, every-day speech, we call 
 " flesh," are attached to the bones and move them in 
 different directions. It may be sufficient to say 
 that the muscles are developed in close accordance 
 with the. requirements of the skeleton of the ani- 
 mal and the mode of life, which latter is closely 
 allied to its form and general structure. 
 
 "The organs of digestion are very similar, yet 
 they show some variations in their structure. The 
 mouth is always furnished with soft, fleshy lips, 
 plentifully supplied with nerves; the teeth reach 
 their highest development in the Mammals, and are 
 of great importance to the mode of life of the ani- 
 mal, and of special importance to naturalists in its 
 scientific classification. 
 
 "The mouth is connected with the oesophagus (or 
 gullet), which never shows such a dilatation as in 
 birds. The stomach is always more or less thin- 
 walled, and may be simple or show as many as 
 three compartments. Its arrangement is quite pe- 
 culiar in those animals which, when time permits, 
 comfortably ruminate their food and then send it to 
 the digestive organs past the first storage receptacle. 
 
 "The chest cavity is completely closed by the 
 diaphragm; the lungs are suspended in it and do 
 not communicate with any special air cavities. The 
 trachea, or windpipe, usually divides into two 
 branches, and has only one larynx, which lies at the 
 upper end of the windpipe and is formed by a vary- 
 ing number of cartilages. A few Mammals have 
 peculiar cavities connected with the larynx, but the 
 vocal chords are lacking only in the Whales. 
 
 "The brain and nerves are variously developed. 
 The former always fills its cavity in the skull, but 
 this cavity may be very small, and the amount of 
 brain is then accordingly slight. In no other Mam- 
 mal does the brain so greatly exceed the spinal cord 
 in bulk and weight as in Man, and in no other ani- 
 mal is the cerebrum (or the higher and front portion 
 of the brain) so developed. This alone shows the 
 structural superiority of Man to all other animals. 
 The organs of sense are similar in all Mammals, the 
 Whale alone showing a marked deviation from the 
 general rule, for although it possesses a n-ose its 
 sense of smell is certainly very deficient. The 
 organs of hearing are usually perfect, and the ear 
 shows three labyrinths. The sense of vision is not, 
 in Mammals, so greatly superior to the other senses, 
 as is the case with birds; the eyes are always two in 
 
 number, usually small in size and never automat- 
 ically adjustable, as with birds. The sense of taste 
 is acute in Mammals, as may be concluded from 
 the muscular tongue well supplied with nerves. 
 The sense of touch is highly developed and may 
 have its seat in the nose, in the hands, or in hairs on 
 the lips. Nearly all parts of the body are sensitive. 
 
 "As a bodily covering hair prevails; yet the coat 
 may consist of scales, bristles, horny shields, horny 
 callosities or simply the skin, which in such cases 
 may have its outer layer developed so as to furnish 
 the requisite protection. The nails may be flat and 
 thin, round and thick, straight or curved, blunt or 
 sharp, and may be nails proper or developed into 
 claws or hoofs." 
 
 The variety in the life of the Mammals is very 
 great, although with most species eating and sleep- 
 ing comprise the daily history of their lives. Yet 
 the lively Monkeys in Africa, the still more odd 
 swinging, prehensile-tailed Monkeys of South Amer- 
 ica, the flitting Bats, the night-prowling beasts of 
 prey, the diving Seals, the leaping Squirrels, the noble 
 Horse, fleet Antelope and other animals lead lives 
 which are peculiarly their own, differing greatly 
 from those of other creatures and affording a most 
 interesting subject of observation. As a rule all the 
 senses, except that of sight, (in which the birds 
 excel) are more completely developed in the Mam- 
 mals than in any other class of animals. The vocal 
 expression of mammals is sometimes remarkable for 
 its volume but very seldom for its beauty, that of 
 Man alone being really musical and superior to 
 the voice of birds. The sounds made by different 
 animals are quite varied, as is illustrated by a com- 
 parison of the mewing of Cats, the barking of 
 Dogs, the lowing of Oxen and braying of Asses 
 with the dismal howls of the Jackal and Coyote and 
 the deafening noises of the Howler Monkeys. 
 
 The varied uses to which the tail is put forms an 
 interesting subject of observation. In Man, the 
 Man-shaped Apes and some varieties of the Sloth, 
 the coccyx, or vertebrae forming the rudimentary tail, 
 curves forward and does not project externally. In 
 the other Mammals it varies from an invisible stump 
 to a most extensive adornment. By most long- 
 tailed animals, the member is used as a weapon of 
 defense against winged tormentors, and Cattle, 
 which are especially subject to annoyance from 
 Flies and Gnats, have a tail which is tufted at the 
 end in such a manner as to afford an effective brush 
 with which to fight these insects. Many South 
 American Monkeys, some of the Marsupials, and 
 other animals, have prehensile tails by means of 
 which they can sustain fheir entire weight. To the 
 Bats, and also to the Mammals having a membrane- 
 ous formation which enables them to flutter through 
 the air, such as the Taguan, the Assapan and some 
 of the pouched animals, the tail serves as a rudder 
 to steer its wearer while progressing through the air. 
 Others have the tail slo developed as to use it as an 
 organ of touch, while the Kangaroo utilizes its tail as 
 a third leg, which forms, with the others, a tripod 
 upon which it supports its body when at rest. 
 Some tails, like those of Rats, are nearly or quite bare 
 of hair and are covered with scales, some have a 
 covering of short hair, others are bushy. Some 
 bushy tails, like those of the Squirrel, are what is 
 called distichous, that is, they are arranged or parted 
 into two rows of long hairs and make a pretty or- 
 nament, while the tail of the Great Ant-eater is 
 draped into a long mane. 
 
THE LIFE OF ANIMALS. 
 
 Vll 
 
 In the classification of animals into species the 
 tail is often useful, and the character of the animal's 
 coat, especially if it be composed of spines or horny- 
 shields, or presents other peculiarities, also serves, 
 quite often, to give a name to its wearer. The num- 
 ber, character and arrangement of the teeth, or what 
 .is called the dentition, is the most useful of all in 
 making a scientific arrangement of the different ani- 
 mals into the various subdivisions. The teeth of an 
 animal are so perfectly adapted to its mode of life 
 that they especially serve to characterize it, and 
 since the imperishable nature of their tissues pre- 
 serves teeth for an indefinite time, they are particu- 
 larly useful in affording an idea of the characters, 
 habits and affinities of extinct species of animals. 
 
 The number of species of Mammals which now 
 live and have their being on earth is about two 
 thousand, but this forms only a small minority of the 
 aggregate number of species which inhabited the 
 globe at earlier periods of its history. The study of 
 fossil Mammals has revealed the fact that many 
 animals of strange forms and characteristics for- 
 merly lived on this earth. Some were closely re- 
 lated to living species and genera, some are espe- 
 cially interesting because they furnish a connecting 
 link between existing forms of animal life and 
 structure, and some of the animals now living, like 
 the Elephants, now represent, by a few species, 
 families or orders of which many species are ex-* 
 tinct. In its more "extended form natural history 
 includes the study of these fossil genera, and an 
 elaborate system of classification has been created 
 in recent years, as a supplement to the investigations 
 and theories expounded by Darwin, which begins at 
 Protozoa and ascends to Man, including all the ex- 
 tinct genera of which anything is known. This, how- 
 ever, is a classification involving so much of a tech- 
 nical character and for its proper appreciation re- 
 quiring so great a degree of knowledge of compara- 
 tive anatomy, that it is obviously not adapted for 
 use in treating of zoology from a popular stand- 
 point. Therefore other systems of classification 
 are used, and that followed by Brehm in this work 
 divides the class Mammalia into fifteen main groups 
 or orders as follows: 
 
 1. Apes and Monkeys {Pitheci). 
 
 2. Half-Monkeys or Lemuroids {Prosimii). 
 
 3. Wing-handed Animals, or Bats {Chiropter-a) . 
 
 4. Beasts of Prey {Camivora). 
 
 5. Seals or Fin-footed Animals {Pinnipedia) 
 
 6. Insect-eating Animals {Insectivora) . 
 
 7. Rodents or Gnawing Animals {Rodentia). 
 
 8. Toothless Animals \Ede?itata). 
 
 9. Proboscis Animals or Elephants {Proboscidea). 
 
 10. Odd-toed Animals {Perissodactyta) . 
 
 11. Cloven-hoofed Animals {Artiodactyla) . 
 
 12. Sea Cows {Sirenia). 
 
 13. Whales {Cetacea). 
 
 14. Pouched Animals {Marsupialid) . 
 
 15. Egg-laying Mammals {Monotrematd). 
 
 This is a very convenient classification, agreeing 
 in the main with the arrangement generally in use 
 in the study of zoology, although frequently the 
 tenth and eleventh of these orders are regarded as 
 suborders of an order named the Hoofed Animals 
 {Uiigulata). 
 
 Every scientific classification of the Mammals be- 
 gins or ends with Man, for, zoologically speaking, 
 the human being is only a Mammal: that is, a warm- 
 blooded Vertebrate, with a four chambered-heart, 
 nurtured in his infancy on mother's milk; and the 
 
 anatomical differences which separate him from the 
 higher orders of Apes are less marked than those 
 which differentiate the latter from the South Ameri- 
 can monkeys. The first order in the classification 
 of Linnaeus was called Primates, and included Man, 
 all the Apes and Monkeys, the Lemurs and the 
 Bats. Later zoologists by common consent ex- 
 cluded the Bats and made them a distinct order, 
 and afterward the same was done with the Lemurs, 
 but many still classify Man and all the Monkeys 
 together in the order of Primates, dividing them into 
 five families: First, Men i^Hominidm) containing as a 
 single genus Man {Homo); second, the Man-like 
 Apes {Simiidcz); third, the remaining Old World 
 Monkeys {Cercopithicidce); fourth, the American 
 Monkeys except the Marmosets {Cebidce), and fifth, 
 the Marmosets {Hapalidce). 
 
 The anatomical distinctions between Man and the 
 nearest Apes are, principally, the greater size of the 
 brain and brain cavity, as compared with the facial 
 portion of the skull; the smaller development of the 
 canine teeth of the male; the more complete adapta- 
 tion of the structure of the vertebral column to the 
 vertical position, Man being the only Mammal who 
 habitually walks erect; the greater length of the 
 lower as compared with the upper extremities; and 
 the greater length of the hallux, or great toe, with 
 the almost complete absence of the power of bring- 
 ing it into opposition with the other toes. 
 
 Of course the mental difference between Man and 
 the highest of the lower animals is so great as to be 
 immeasurable, although the latter also have many 
 traits which may compare favorably with those of 
 human-kind. The devoted love of the mothers of 
 most species is a trait which they share with human- 
 ity, and in their lives and daily doings they are also 
 subject to many of the same physical conditions as 
 mankind. Like us they are born, live and die; are 
 subject to disease, to pain, to sorrow, and are capa- 
 ble of affection, sympathy and joy. Until they be- 
 come old and weary of life's struggle most species 
 of them find pleasure in association with their kind, 
 although, like Man, they have their quarrels and their 
 bickerings. 
 
 The various orders are divided into more or less 
 numerous families, these families into genera and 
 each genus contains one or more species. Science 
 has for convenience adopted a system of double 
 names to describe each species of animals. Thus, 
 the Tiger, which belongs to the Fourth Order or 
 Beasts of Prey {Carnivora) is a member of the Cat 
 Family {Felidcs) and of the genus of the Cats Proper 
 {Felis) and the species Tiger ( Tigris) the scientific 
 name including both the generic and the specific 
 designations, thus: Felis tigris. 
 
 Dr. Brehm, in the great work to which these re- 
 marks are prefaced by way of explanatory intro- 
 duction, has excluded Man from his consideration of 
 the Natural History of Mammals. The book deals 
 with the facts that pertain to the lives of the animals 
 rather than with the anatomical details, only giving 
 so much of the latter as is necessary to a complete 
 portrait and biography. In the field of descriptive 
 zoology the work is unique, and brings the various 
 animals nearer to human comprehension and human 
 sympathy than is possible by any other method of 
 treatment; and for this reason this English transla- 
 tion of the work must be regarded as a valuable 
 acquisition to the resources of the American student 
 of zoology. 
 
 J. W. L. 
 
Zhc U^cs> anb /iBonkeige. 
 
 FIRST ORDER: Pitheci. 
 
 AGLER calls the 
 Apes trans- 
 formed Men, 
 thereby but giving 
 utterance to the opinion 
 of all nations, ancient as 
 well as modern, which 
 have had anything to do 
 with these strange creatures. 
 Pretty nearly the reverse of 
 his words would correspond to 
 the scientific opinion of to-day ; 
 which is that it is not the Apes 
 that are transformed Men, but that 
 the latter are more perfectly devel^ 
 oped cousins of the former. 
 The Egyptians and Hindoos seem 
 to have been the only people among 
 the ancients who exhibited any affection 
 for this animal. The old Egyptians chis- 
 eled the likeness of the Ape in indestructi- 
 ble porphyry and modeled the images of their 
 gods in its similitude, and the ancient Hindoos 
 inaugurated the practice, which their descendants 
 ' still follow, of building houses and temples for the 
 Monkeys. Solomon imported Monkeys from 
 Ophir, and the Romans kept them as pets, dissected 
 them in anatomical studies, and matched them against 
 wild beasts, but never established very friendly relations 
 with them, and, like Solomon, never thought them to 
 "be anything else than animals. The Arabians go a little 
 further : they think them Men who, for their sins, have been 
 condemned by Allah to bear the form of Apes, their outward 
 appearance seeming to them to be a curious blending of devil 
 and Man. 
 
 Our own manner of thinking is not very different from that of 
 the Arabians. Instead of recognizing them as our next of kin we 
 only see in them caricatures of ourselves, and condemn them without 
 mercy, finding only those kinds attractive that show the least likeness 
 to a human being, while those in which the likeness is more distinct 
 excite our disgust. Our aversion to the Apes is based as well on their 
 physical as their mental traits. They resemble Men both too much and too 
 little. While the human body shows perfect harmony, that of the Ape often 
 seems a repulsive caricature. A single look at the skeletons of a Man and 
 an Ape shows us the difference in their respective structures, though this 
 difference is only conditional. At any rate it is wrong to term the Apes ill- 
 shaped, as people usually do. There are beautiful Apes, and there are very ugly 
 ones ; the same is true of Men, for an Eskimo, a Bushman or a native of New Holland 
 is by no means a model for a statue of Apollo. Apes taken by themselves are very well 
 endowed animals ; it is only when compared with the highest developed Men that they appear to be 
 caricatures of the superior being. 
 
 The size of the Apes differs within rather wide boundaries, the Gorilla being as large as a well-grown 
 
2 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 Man, while the Silky Monkey is not larger than a 
 Squirrel. The shape of the body differs very much, 
 also, as the names, "Man-shaped Apes" and "Dog- 
 shaped Monkeys," indicate better than would any 
 long descriptions. There are bulky and slender 
 Apes. They may be clumsy or graceful ; most of 
 them have long tails, some have short ones, and 
 some none at all. Their growth of hair is varied : 
 in some it is scant, in others plentiful, bein^ mainly 
 of a neutral tint, but sometimes the coloring is 
 bright and pleasing. There are even some white 
 ones. In Siam, the country of the white Elephant, 
 where albinos from the animal world seem to be the 
 fashion, beautiful white monkeys are prized as pets. 
 Anatomical There is greater similarity in the ana- 
 Structure tomical structure of the different kinds 
 of Apes. Qf Apes than would be supposed from 
 their outward appearance. The skeleton has seven 
 cervical vertebras, from twelve to sixteen dorsal, four 
 to nine lumbar, two to five sacral, and three lo thirty- 
 three caudal (going to form the tail); the clavicle is 
 strong ; the bones of the forearm are separate and 
 mobile, the wrist-bones are long, while the finger 
 bones seem stunted in their growth. The feet are 
 supplied with a thumb. The shape of the skull 
 differs very much, according to the greater or lesser 
 prominence of the jaws, and the size of the brain. 
 The arches of the eyebrows are strong and promi- 
 nent. The teeth are composed of all the different 
 kinds : two incisors, one canine, sometimes as large 
 as that of a beast of prey, two or three pre-molars 
 and three grinders or molars form each side of a 
 jaw. Among the muscles, those of the hand attract 
 our attention, as, in comparison with those of a hu- 
 man hand, they seem to be so much simpler. The 
 larynx is not capable of producing sounds that might 
 constitute articulate speech, in our sense of the word ; 
 but the well-developed glands of the trachea sfeem to 
 favor the production of shrill, howling sounds. 
 
 Special mention must be accorded the cheek 
 pouches, that distinguish certain Apes. These open 
 from the cheeks by a small aperture near the corner 
 of the mouth and serve to store away food. They are 
 most highly developed in the Guenons, Macaques 
 and Baboons ; they are entirely lacking in the Man- 
 shaped Apes and in all the New World Monkeys. 
 The Ape Sometimes the Apes are called Quad- 
 Compared nimaTia, a distinction being made be- 
 w'lth Man. tween them and Man. But science de- 
 clares that the difference in the structure of the 
 hands and feet of Men and Apes is, though remark- 
 able, by no means fundamental. In a careful com- 
 parison of the two it will be seen that their structure 
 is essentially similar. The thumb put in apposition 
 to the other fingers or toes is found in Man only in 
 the hand, in the Arctopitheci only in the feet, while 
 the rest of the Apes have it in both hands and feet. 
 We are far from denying the difference of hands and 
 feet in Man and the Apes, but we insist on this differ- 
 ence not being sufficient to be counted as a distinctive 
 cause for differentiating the two. 
 
 In spite of the great resemblance between Man 
 and Ape, there are characteristic differences between 
 them ; but no greater weight should be attached to 
 this fact than is usually given to the comparison of 
 other mammals. The lean body covered with hair, 
 the thin legs devoid of call ; the long tail possessed 
 by many, the callosities on the hinder quarters dis- 
 tinctive of certain species, and above all the head 
 with its small, receding skull, and the thin lips, are 
 distinctive features of the Apes. 
 
 Oken describes the Apes in comparison with Man 
 in the following terms: "The Apes resemble Man 
 in all bad moral traits ; they are malicious, treach- 
 erous, thievish and indecent ; they learn a number 
 of tricks, but are disobedient and often spoil their 
 performances, behaving like awkward clowns. 
 There is not a single virtue that could be ascribed 
 to the Apes, and still less any use to which they 
 might be put. They have been trained to stand 
 guard, to wait on the table, to fetch and carry, but 
 they do these things only in the intervals of foolish 
 spells. They represent only the bad side of Man, in 
 regard to his physical as well as his moral nature." 
 
 There is no denying that this description is, in the 
 main, correct. Still we wish to give justice fair play, 
 even in dealing with Apes, and therefore let us not 
 forget to mention their really good traits. We can- 
 not judge of their intellectual qualities in the aggre- 
 gate, for the reason that the different species show 
 so many contradictory features. 
 Nature, Habits We must concede that the Apes are 
 and malicious, cunning, choleric, vindictive, 
 
 Intelligence, sensual, quarrelsome, irritable and peev- 
 ish ; on the other hand, we must take into account 
 their cleverness, their good humor, their gentleness, 
 their trust in, and kindness to Man, their amusing 
 social qualities, their cheering earnestness, their 
 courage and their readiness to stand by each other 
 in case of need, even against superior enemies, and 
 their inclination to play and tease. In one respect 
 they even rise to greatness, and that is in their love 
 for their offspring, their pity for the weak and de- 
 fenseless, not only of their own family and kind, but 
 even of other animals. 
 
 The intellectual development of which Apes are 
 capable does not place them so high above all other 
 species of lower mammals, neither does it place them 
 so much below the level of Man, as is usually as- 
 serted. The possession of a hand places the Ape in 
 so much more advantageous a position from a me- 
 chanical point of view than all other animals, that 
 his accomplishments seem greater than they are. 
 He is quick to learn, and the impulse to imitate 
 everything, that is so strong in most of his kind, 
 makes it easy for him to be taught certain tricks. 
 After short practice he is able to do a great many 
 things that can with difficulty be taught a Dog. But 
 it must be mentioned that he always performs his 
 tasks with a certain resistance, and never of his own 
 accord, or with enjoyment. It is not hard to ac- 
 custom an Ape to do certain things, but he will 
 never be as conscientious and painstaking about it 
 as a well-trained Dog. But it has taken several 
 thousand years of breeding, cultivation and teach- 
 ing to bring the Dog up to his present capabilities ; 
 while the Apes have had no opportunity of learning 
 from Man. The capabilities of Apes will be seen 
 in the course of this chapter, and will tend to prove 
 that they are the cleverest among animals. Their 
 memory is excellent, and they profit by experience. 
 They have a surprising talent for dissimulation, 
 know how to escape dangers and how to take good 
 care of their own interests. There can also be no 
 denying that they are affectionate. They are capable 
 of becoming attached to people, are grateful and 
 show a certain amount of good-will to those who 
 have done them a kindness. 
 
 It is remarkable, that in spite of their good sense, 
 all Apes may sometimes be deceived in the silliest 
 manner, their passions often getting the upper hand 
 of their prudence. Once their passions are aroused 
 

 
 
 THE GOBILIiA. This king of the African forests is tound only in the deepest fastnesses of Equatorial Africa (15 degrees north and 
 
 15 degrees south of the equator) and no adult of this family has been held in captivity, its great strength and ferocity preventing its capture 
 alive. Several young Gorillas have been taken but did not long survive contact vfith Man. The artist presents the animal as it is seen in its 
 native forest with its terrible face, huge canine teeth, broad shoulders, great chest and immense hands, intently alert that no enemy may 
 surprise it, and prepared tor any emergency. Unarmed Man, the Leopard and the Crocodile are no match for this formidable creature, before 
 which even the Lion might tremble. (Gorilla gini.) 
 
 (3) 
 
THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 they give no heed to anything and utterly forget 
 safety in their eagerness to gratify their greedy ap- 
 petites. In this way the cleverest Apes are gov- 
 erned by their passions precisely as many people 
 are. , It is doubtful whether this gives us a right to 
 -underrate their intellect. 
 
 Where Apes In former periods of the world the 
 are Apes inhabited a larger portion of the 
 
 Found. globe than they do at present. Now 
 they are limited to the warm countries, a hot climate 
 seeming to be a condition essential to them. Bab- 
 oons are sometimes found rather high in mountains 
 and appear to endure a lower temperature than is 
 generally supposed ; but nearly all the rest of the 
 Apes are extremely sensitive to cold. Each conti- 
 nent possesses its own species, though Asia and 
 Africa have one in common. In Europe there is 
 ■only one kind, and that is limited to one troop which 
 lives on the Rocks of Gibraltar, under the protection 
 of the garrison. Australia has no Apes. Gibraltar is 
 not the highest northern point where Apes are found, 
 for a Japanese Macaque probably extends his wan- 
 derings as far as the 37th degree of north latitude. 
 To the south the Apes go as far as the 35th degree, 
 -but only in the Old World. In America they oc- 
 cupy a belt of land extending as far north as Chi- 
 huahua in Mexico, and as far south as Catamasca in 
 the Argentine Republic, inhabiting besides Mexico 
 the Central American states and portions of all the 
 countries of South America except Uruguay. 
 
 The home of an individual species is usually 
 within rather narrow boundaries, though it hap- 
 pens that there are corresponding varieties in two 
 countries that are far apart on the same continent. 
 
 Most of the Apes live in forests, but a few are 
 sometimes found on rocky mountains. Their ex- 
 tremities are adapted to climbing, and trees are 
 naturally their favorite haunts ; the mountain Apes, 
 however, climb trees only when compelled to do so. 
 
 Agility and Apes are doubtless the liveliest and 
 
 Predatory most agile of all mammals. While on 
 Traits. their hunt for food, they do not know 
 repose. The variety of their diet alone would call 
 .for great activity in the search, for almost every 
 thing eatable comes handy to them. Fruit, onions, 
 ■roots, seeds, nuts, buds, leaves and juicy plants form 
 itheir staple food ; eggs and young birds are dainties 
 inot to be despised. So there is always something 
 to be caught, or plucked, something to be smelled 
 ■or tasted, enjoyed or thrown away. Such investiga- 
 tions require a great deal of moving about. Their 
 ideas as to personal property are extremely hazy. 
 " We do the sowing, the Monkeys see to the reap- 
 ing," is a common saying among the Bedouins of 
 East Soudan. Fields and gardens are regarded by 
 -them as extremely agreeable places of rest, and are 
 pillaged to the utmost. Each Monkey destroys ten 
 times more than he eats. Neither locks nor bolts, 
 fences nor walls, can keep these thieves out. They 
 force the locks and climb the walls, and what cannot 
 be eaten is taken away, including gold and jewelry. 
 One must have seen a pillaging band of Monkeys to 
 understand how a farmer can half die with rage over 
 their visits, or, rather, visitations. To an onlooker a 
 troop showing themselves at the climax of their 
 agility during such a raid presents, indeed, a very 
 interesting spectacle. They run, jump, climb, swing 
 themselves, and, in case of necessity, swim. The 
 feats performed on trees are incredible. Only the 
 Man-shaped Apes and the Baboons are clumsy ; all 
 the others are perfect clowns ; they seem nearly able 
 
 to fly ; jumps of twenty-five or thirty feet are child s 
 play to them. From the top of a tree they will jump 
 down a distance of thirty-five feet, sei?e the end of a 
 branch, which will go down with their weight ; at its 
 rebound they will give themselves a mighty impulse, 
 and using the tail or their hind limbs as a rudder, go 
 flying through the air like an arrow. The minute 
 they land somewhere, they go on, paying as little 
 heed to the sharpest of thorns as if they were dis- 
 porting themselves on smooth parterre. A tree is to 
 them a most comfortable pathway. They climb up 
 and down, under a branch or over it ; if they are 
 thrown into a tree, they seize the first twig they can 
 find, patiently wait till it is at rest, and then climb up 
 on it, as if they were on terra firma. If the branch 
 breaks, they take another ; if this also breaks, a third 
 one does for them, and if they have a fall they are 
 not disconcerted in the least. If they cannot reach 
 a thing with their hands they use their feet, and the 
 Broad Noses (American Monkeys) have recourse to 
 their tails. The tail is always used as a rudder in 
 long jumps, and serves a variety of other purposes 
 besides, sometimes forming a ladder for another 
 Monkey. With the American Monkeys the tail may 
 be considered as the fifth, nay, the first hand. The 
 Monkey may twist it around the bough of a tree and 
 rock to and fro on it ; he may use it to get food out 
 of narrow holes and crevices ; he uses it as a ladder, 
 and lastly, this useful member serves its owner as a 
 hammock for an after-dinner nap. 
 
 Climbing Climbing is the only movement that 
 and shows off the agility and gracefulness 
 
 Walking. of the Apes. Even the Man-shaped 
 Apes are wonderful in this respect, though their 
 climbing is more after human fashion. Their walk 
 is always more or less clumsy. The Guenons, Ma- 
 caques and Marmosets walk upright best of all; the 
 first mentioned can run thus for a short time and so 
 fast that an ordinary Dog can not overtake them; 
 but 'the Baboons hobble along in the funniest sort 
 of way. The walking of the Man-shaped Apes is 
 hardly deserving of that name. While the Baboons 
 walk on the soles of their feet, the Man-shaped Apes 
 lean on, the knuckles of their hands, and bend their 
 bodies over in such a way that the feet practically 
 have their position between the hands. 
 
 Apes in Some kinds are excellent swimmers, 
 the others sink in water like a piece of lead. 
 
 Water. Among the first are the Guenons, of which 
 Brehm saw several specimens crossing the Blue Nile 
 with the greatest ease ; among the last are probably 
 the Baboons and the Howlers. Those which cannot 
 swim are remarkably afraid of water. A family of 
 Howlers was once found on a tree, isolated by an 
 inundation. They were half starved, yet did not dare 
 start out for the nearest tree, that was barely sixty 
 feet distant. Ulloa, a writer on Brazilian animals, 
 has invented a pretty little bridge for the poor 
 Monkeys that cannot swim and it would be of great 
 service to them, if only they would use it. He tells 
 us that each Howler grasps another's tail, the whole 
 band forming a chain. The Monkey at one end 
 holds fast to the top of a tree on one shore, and 
 through the combined efforts of all, the chain is 
 swung back and forth till the last Monkey at the 
 other end is in a position to seize the branch of a 
 tree on the other shore. On this artificial bridge the 
 younger and weaker ones cross first, and then the 
 first Monkey draws the others after him. Prince; 
 Wied, a very conscientious observer, gives this story 
 its right name, calling it " a funny fable." 
 
THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 ■Social Life The social 
 of life of the 
 Apes. Apes is a 
 very attractive one for 
 •every observer. There 
 are but few kinds which 
 live singly; the majority 
 prefer to live in small 
 troops or bands. Each 
 of these latter selects a 
 permanent home of 
 greater or less extent. 
 The choice as a rule 
 falls on a country that 
 seems favorable in all 
 respects. There must 
 'be something to eat, or 
 ■else they emigrate. In 
 a poor country, forests 
 near human dwellings 
 ■seem to be regarded as 
 paradisaical ; the for- 
 bidden tree does not 
 trouble the Ape's con- 
 science, so long as the 
 apples on it are tooth- 
 some. Plantations o f 
 sweet corn and sugar- 
 cane, fields of onions, 
 ■orchards and banana 
 trees are preferable to 
 anything else ; villages 
 also are liked, where 
 anybody chastising the 
 robbers has to dread the 
 superstition of the in- 
 habitants. As soon as 
 the band has come to a 
 •conclusion about a place 
 ■of habitation, the real 
 life of the Monkeys be- 
 gins, with all its joys and 
 sorrows, its quarrels and 
 its cares. The oldest 
 and strongest male is 
 made the chief , this 
 •dignity is not conferred 
 by universal suffrage, 
 "but by long and hard 
 fights with the other 
 aspirants, that is, with 
 all the old males. The 
 longest teeth and the 
 strongest arm prevail. 
 Whoever does not sub- 
 ject himself good-nat- 
 uredly, is brought to his 
 senses by a few cuffs, 
 bites and scratches, and 
 •the crown is to the 
 strong ; in his teeth is 
 wisdom. 
 
 The language of Apes is by no means a poor one, 
 for each Ape has the most varied sounds for his dif- 
 fering emotions. Man soon learns to recognize the 
 significance of these sounds. 
 
 The cry of terror, which also includes an invitation 
 ■to flee, is especially expressive ; it is hard to de- 
 scribe, and still harder to imitate ; one can only say 
 that it consists of a succession of short, vibrating 
 and inharmonious gurgling sounds, whose meaning 
 
 A FAMILY OF GORILLAS. This picture represents a famil-y ot Gorillas, the month or two old baby 
 
 in the foreground, at the ieet of its watchful mother, while the ever-alert father is keeping: guard from a perch of 
 strong vines. The mother's face is placid, because she knows the father's ear is never closed and that his mighty arm 
 will protect her and the helpless little one, whose dreamy face expresses entire satisfaction. It is a most graphic and 
 faithful delineation of a hte-like scene in the great hot forest in Equatorial Africa, and portrays in pleasing measure 
 the home life of these creatures so greatly resembling Man. Fierce and intractable as is the Gorilla, he is kind to his 
 wife and children, protecting them from all enemies and careful in providing for their comforts. {Gorilla gini.) 
 
 the Monkey makes still clearer by grimaces. As 
 
 soon as this note of alarm is sounded, the whole 
 
 band starts to flee ; the mothers call their children, 
 
 and holding them fast, hurry on to the next tree or 
 
 rock. It is only when the chief recovers his spirits 
 
 that the band gathers again and returns. 
 
 Courage and The Apes undeniably have courage. 
 
 Fighting The stronger ones boldly resist the ter- 
 
 Qualities. rible beasts of prey and Man, and are 
 
6 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 not deterred from fights whose outcome is more than 
 doubtful from the beginning. Even the graceful 
 Guenons fight, when driven to it. The large sized 
 Man-shaped Apes and the Baboons are endowed 
 with fearful weapons in their teeth, and no native 
 will dream of attacking them without fire-arms. 
 Against the Gorilla even fire-arms avail but little in 
 a great many cases. At any rate the fury of the 
 Apes, which redoubles their strength, and their agil- 
 ity that frequently prevents their opponents from 
 striking them^ decisive blow, are greatly to be 
 feared. They fight with their hands and teeth, 
 striking, scratching and biting. A great many sto- 
 ries about their other modes of defense have been 
 disproved by careful observation. " It is said," re- 
 marks Pechuel-Loesche) " that the Apes defend 
 themselves with broken branches ; and it is gener- 
 ally conceded that they throw stones, fruit and 
 pieces of wood at their enemies, but this belief is 
 based on inaccurate observations. The people who 
 spread it probably saw only what they were pre- 
 pared to see, not what really happened. Apes often 
 break a dry branch in play, jumping on it, but they 
 do not throw it at people standing below ; neither 
 do they throw fruit or other things they may hap- 
 pen to be holding, though they might drop it in 
 their confusion when frightened. Neither do Bab- 
 oons ever throw stones at their pursuers. Pieces 
 of rock may crumble and fall down from the place 
 where they sit, but that is all ; the active animals 
 are forever rolling stones from their places, look- 
 ing for insects under them." 
 
 Conduct In captivity nearly all Apes live in har- 
 in mony together ; still a certain relation of 
 
 Captivity, dependence soon forms itself, just as in a 
 troop in the wild state. The strongest Ape maintains 
 his authority and torments the .weaker ones until 
 they recognize it. To be tenderly considerate of the 
 feelings of others is not in an Ape's character, though 
 it is true that the stronger kinds, male as well as 
 female, always protect the weaker ones ; and strong 
 females often go so far as to show a liking towards 
 human babies or small, young animals, that they can 
 carry in their arms. Badly as Apes treat other 
 animals, they show kindness to their young and to 
 children, naturally preferring their , own to any 
 others ; this fondness has become proverbial. 
 
 mother Ape The female Ape usually has one young 
 and one at a birth ; a few kinds have two. 
 Child. "phe baby Ape is always an ugly little 
 being, with arms and legs looking twice as long 
 proportionately as its parents', and with a face so 
 wrinkled and furrowed that it looks like that of an 
 old man rather than of a child. This little monster 
 is the mother's pet in a still higher degree than is 
 the case with a human mother ; she fondles it and 
 takes care of it in a manner not only touching but 
 bordering on the ridiculous. Soon after its birth the 
 young Ape attaches itself to its mother, putting both 
 arms around her neck and both legs around her hips, 
 so as not to interfere with her in running. When it 
 gets a little older, it sometimes jumps on the mother's 
 back in times of danger. In the beginning the little 
 Ape is naturally devoid of all sentiment, not appre- 
 ciating the tenderness the mother bestows on it. 
 She is forever playing with it ; she licks its body, 
 she hugs it, she holds it in both hands as if she 
 were admiring it, and rocks it to sleep in her arms. 
 Pliny asserts that Apes sometimes hug their little 
 ones so close as to strangle them, but his statement 
 has not been verified by modern observers. In a 
 
 short time the young Ape begins to be mdependent 
 and longs for a little freedom, which is granted it. 
 The mother lets it play and romp with other little 
 ones, but she does not take her eyes off from it, 
 following its every step and permitting only as much 
 freedom as she deems proper. At the least danger 
 she utters her sound of warning, inviting the little 
 one to take refuge on her breast. If it is disobedient 
 she slaps it, sometimes giving it a box on the ears. 
 But she seldom has to resort to this, for an Ape- 
 child is very obedient and might serve as a model 
 for many a human child. In captivity I have oftent 
 seen Apes divide everything with their offspring; 
 and the death of a young one Is frequently followed 
 by the death of its mother, she dying of a broken 
 heart. When a mother dies, leaving a child, the 
 orphan is regularly adopted by some member of the 
 troop, either male or female. The solicitude be- 
 stowed upon an adopted child is nearly as great as 
 that of a mother Ape for her own offspring ; al- 
 though, when an Ape takes care of other animals, 
 as it sometimes does, it is quite different. It will look 
 after the adopted animal, cleaning and caring for it, 
 but usually giving it nothing to eat ; on the contrary, 
 the food destined for the. orphan is, without a scru- 
 ple, devoured by its nurse.who meanwhile holds the 
 hungry little beast at arm's length. 
 
 H/laturity, It is not known how many years are 
 Health and Ape requires for its growth. The Gue- 
 Longeuity. nons and the American Monkeys prob- 
 ably need no more than three or four years, while 
 the Baboons might need from eight to twelve. In 
 the wild state Monkeys seem to be subject to few 
 diseases. At least we do not know anything about 
 epizootics that are said to have occurred among' 
 them. It is also uncertain how long they live, but 
 we may accept forty years as about the average life 
 of the larger species, such as the Gorilla and Chim- 
 panzee. [In North America] as well as Europe those 
 in captivity suffer from the severity of the climate. 
 Cold depresses them physically and mentally, and, 
 as a rule, they soon die of consumption. A sick Ape 
 is a spectacle that would move a heart of stone. 
 The poor fellow, but recently so full of fun, sits- 
 miserable and sad, with a plaintive, really human 
 look. The nearer he approaches death, the gentler 
 he gets ; the animal side of his nature is lost, and the 
 spiritual side shines brighter. He is grateful for 
 every little help, soon looks on the physician as his 
 benefactor, willingly takes medicines, and even sub- 
 mits to surgical operations without resistance. Apes 
 that otherwise seem quite healthy, often get a disease 
 of the tail, the end of which ulcerates and becomes 
 gangrenous and the tail is lost by degrees. 
 Monlieys as I do not know whether I may advise 
 Domestic people to keep Monkeys as pets. The- 
 Pets. merry animals give much pleasure, but 
 also a great deal of annoyance. One must always 
 be prepared for all kinds of pranks, but if he does 
 not wish to study the intellectual resources of the- 
 animals he will soon grow very tired of them. The 
 larger kinds sometimes become dangerous, for they" 
 bite and scratch furiously. It is not wise to give 
 a Monkey the freedom of the whole house, for his- 
 active spirit requires constant occupation, and when 
 he is not provided with it he finds employment for 
 himself, which, as a rule, does not turn out to be 
 very profitable to his master. Some kinds are hot- 
 to be tolerated on account of their indecent behavior. 
 The life of the tame Apes, which comprised severaji 
 Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Guenons and others, at the: 
 
THE GOBILLA AND THE LEOFABD. The great strength of the Gorilla is clearly brought out in the above masterly illustration, which flepicts 
 
 the manner in which it attacks the Leopard. This treacherous animal dare not assail an adult Gorilla, but will prowl around the home of the latter, and, 
 iivhen an opportunity offers, seize and run off with a young one of the family. Being more fleet of foot than the Gorilla he easily escapes with his victim. In 
 this case the Gorilla has come up with the predatory wretch and is making short work of him. The mother with her darling pressed close to her breast is an 
 •interested spectator, from her perch on the tree-bough, of the deadly struggle beneath. 
 
 (7) 
 
8 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 station of the Loango exploring party, is described 
 by Pechuel-Loesche as follows : " Our Apes used to 
 select some animal or thing and become sincerely 
 attached to it. In this way several of the strangest 
 friendships came about. It is generally known that 
 Apes adopt young animals, care for them and cling 
 to them even when they are dead. When our large 
 collie, ' Trina,' gave birth to pups, and these became 
 infested with fleas, we put the puppies in a cage with 
 the Apes, where they were received with open arms 
 carefully and tenderly cleaned and caressed, while 
 the old Dog was sitting outside and attentively look- 
 ing on. But there was always great trouble when 
 we went to fetch the pups ; they evidently had been 
 distributed with a view to keeping them. 
 
 " Our mischievous Dog-faced Monkey struck up 
 a friendship with the Gorilla and the tyrant of the 
 yard, the smooth-coated Billy Goat, Mfuka. The 
 Baboon, Jack, had selected a fat little Pig for his 
 particular friend and performed the strangest eques- 
 trian feats on its back ; later, a Dog took the place of 
 the merry little Pig, and they played together in the 
 drollest way. Forbidding Isabella had taken a lik- 
 ing to a parrot; but when she one day started to 
 pluck out his scarlet tail-feathers, one by one, this 
 remarkable friendship came to an end." 
 
 Taking into consideration the bad habits of the 
 Ape and the tricks he plays, his usefulness counts 
 as nothing. It is very easy to teach him ; you show 
 him what is required of him and beat him till he does 
 it himself ; that is all that is necessary ! In an hour 
 
 or two he will know how to do a thing, but he has to- 
 be kept in practice, for he soon forgets. His feed- 
 ing is no trouble, for he eats anything Man eats. 
 
 In their native countries, in places that are not 
 very fertile but more or less thickly settled, the 
 harm done by the Apes more than outweighs their 
 usefulness. The flesh of some kinds is eaten, and 
 the skins of some of the others are used for various, 
 purposes, but this little profit is as nothing com- 
 pared with the damage they cause in the fields and 
 orchards, and it is hard to understand how the Hin- 
 doos can think them sacred and care for them as if 
 they were demi-gods. 
 Classification We divide the Apes into three classes : 
 of The Narrow-nosed {Catarrkini) , the 
 
 Apes. Broad-nosed {Platyrrhini) , and the; 
 Marmosets {Arctopithecini) . The first two have 
 nails on their fingers and toes ; the Marmosets have 
 nails only on the thumbs of their hind limbs, while 
 their other fingers and toes are provided with claws. 
 The Narrow-nosed and Broad-nosed are distin- 
 guished by peculiarities existing in their nasal septa- 
 and their teeth. The former have a narrow nasal 
 bone, the latter a broad one, their nostrils being 
 placed on the side. The Narrow-nosed are found 
 only in the; Eastern hemisphere. They are " Old 
 World Apes," and are restricted, except a single 
 species, the Barbary Ape, to Asia and Africa and 
 the great islands of these continents. The two> 
 others are limited to Mexico and Central and South. 
 America. 
 
 ^be 1Flartow*flo6eb Hpes. 
 
 FIRST FAMILY: Catarrhini. 
 
 The Narrow-nosed Apes resemble Man in the ar- 
 rangement of their teeth and the structure of the 
 nose. Their upper jaw shows a gap between the 
 ' incisors and canines, for the accommodation of the 
 lower canine tooth, which is very strong. Not one 
 of the representatives of this class has a prehen- 
 sile tail. They are subdivided into two groups, the 
 Man-shaped Apes {Anthropomorpha), and the Dog- 
 shaped Monkeys {Cynopithecini) . The former step- 
 only on the extreme outer edge of the feet, the lat- 
 ter on the entire sole. The Man-shaped Apes lack 
 a tail and cheek-pouches, and very few of them have 
 the callosities on their hinder quarters, that are al- 
 ways possessed by the Dog-shaped Monkeys, which 
 also, as a rule, often have cheek-pouches and a tail. 
 
 THE MAN-SHAPED APES. 
 
 The Man-shaped Apes {Anthropomorpha) form 
 the highest developed group of Apes, which in the 
 structure of their skeleton, and also in the formation 
 and position of the eyes and ears, come nearest to 
 Man. Their arms are longer than his, while their 
 legs are shorter. The tail is lacking. The face and 
 toes are not covered with hair. Of the four known 
 species, two, the Gorilla and Chimpanzee, inhabit 
 Africa; the Orang-utan and Gibbon, the southeast 
 of Asia. 
 
 Hanno Over two thousand years ago the Car- 
 and the thagenians sent out a fleet with a view 
 "Wild Men." of founding colonies on the western 
 coast of Africa. Thousands of men and women, 
 well provided with provisions and household articles, 
 found room on sixty large ships. The commander of 
 the fleet was Hanno, who left a description of his 
 journey in a well-known work, the " Periplus Han- 
 nonis." They founded seven colonies in the course 
 of their voyage, but were obliged from a lack of pro- 
 visions to return sooner than they expected. Still, 
 when this happened, the bold seafarers had gone a 
 little farther than Sierra Leone. A description that 
 is of importance to us may be found in Hanno's- 
 work. It says : " On the third day after our depart- 
 ure from that place, we crossed the Fiery Rivers and 
 came to a bay, called the Southern Horn. In the 
 background there was an island with a lake, in which 
 a smaller island rose to view, peopled with wild men. 
 The greater part of the crowd were women, who had 
 a body all covered with hair, and the interpreters 
 called them 'Gorillas.' We could not catch the 
 men when we started to pursue them ; they escaped 
 us easily, as they climbed over precipices and threw 
 rocks at us. We caught three of the women, but 
 could not keep them prisoners as they bit and 
 scratched us ; so we had to kill them. We slew 
 
THE MAN-SHAPED APES— GORILLA. 
 
 9- 
 
 FACE OF A CHIUFAHZEE. This is an excellent picture of the Chimpanzee, displaying to the greatest 
 
 advantage the immense frontal ridge above the eye as well as the great ears for which it is noted. The large, 
 slit-like mouth with the extended lower lip, the length of the upper lip, the misshapen nose and the deep-set eyes, 
 are all brought out with the most faithful exactitude. 
 
 them and conveyed the skins to Carthage." Pliny 
 tells us that these skins were kept in the temple of 
 Juno, in the fatter city. 
 
 There is* scarcely any doubt that Hanno, in speak- 
 ing of wild men covered with hair, 
 can only mean a Man-shaped Ape, 
 and though he might have had 
 the Chimpanzee in view, it is now 
 known that the greatest of the 
 Apes is the Gorilla. 
 
 THE GORILLA. 
 
 The Gorilla, Njina, or in the 
 language of the natives, Mpungo, 
 {^Gorilla gina), the sole represent- 
 ative of the family of the Gorillas, 
 is scarcely smaller but a great deal 
 broader in the shoulders than a 
 full-grown Man. The height of 
 the male reaches on an average 
 from sixty to seventy-two inches ; 
 the width of the shoulders thirty- 
 eight inches. The females are 
 smaller. The length and strength 
 of the trunk and the upper ex- 
 tremities, the large size of the 
 hands and. feet, the middle fingers 
 and toes of which are joined by 
 membranes, form the most prom- 
 inent, characteristics. The most 
 striking features in the large head, 
 which because of the shortness of 
 the neck and its powerful muscles 
 seems to be set immediately on 
 the trunk, are the prominent 
 arches of the eyebrows, the eyes 
 lying deep in their sockets, the 
 broad, flat nose, and the large 
 
 mouth, bounded by thick 
 lips and provided with a 
 fearful set of teeth. The 
 hair is rather long, shaggy^ 
 of dark colors, gray, brown 
 or reddish. The face is 
 left free from hair to the 
 eyebrows, as also the ears 
 and the hands and feet 
 laterally and at the extrem- 
 ities. 
 
 It is still impossible to 
 determine the native coun- 
 try of the Gorilla exactly. 
 It seems to be found only 
 in a relatively limited part 
 of western Africa, or, more 
 definitely speaking, in 
 Lower Guinea. It has been 
 seen on the coast between 
 the equator and the fifth 
 parallel of south latitude, 
 and in the western parts of 
 the adjoining mountains. 
 As it always lives in 
 woods, it is not probable 
 that it would be found to 
 the south as far as the 
 Congo or beyond the 
 mountains to the east, 
 though it might go to the 
 north of the Ogowe and the 
 Gaboon country, at least as 
 far as Cameroon, as that part of the continent has 
 more rain, and, in consequence, abounds in woodts. 
 It is possible that ' the Gorilla also lives in those 
 parts of Upper Guinea that are equally favored. 
 
 PBOFILE OF A CHIMFANZEE. This picture shows to good advantage the large and slit- 
 like mouth, the mild and gentle eye and the quaintly shaped nose that are peculiarities of the Chim- 
 panzee. While decidedly unattractive there is absent the ferocity that marks the countenance of the 
 Gorilla. And indeed the Chimpanzee has a disposition that is gentle and kind except when it has suf- 
 fered from privation or age and infirmity overcome it. 
 
THE OOBILIA. The artist here shows the Gorilla in his native forest and one cannot but be startled at the wonderfully human-like face. The 
 
 great Ape is in a striking pose, being at rest, yet alert, as the keen, hazel eyes plainly show. The large nostrilsare wide open, the wide mouth firmly closed 
 and the chin is resting upon the back of the huge muscular right hand that in turn lays upon the left fore-arm extended across the breast. At the first ap^ 
 proach of danger all would be changed ; the hair of the forehead and head would become erect and vibrate rapidly and its huge bellowings and violent beating 
 of the chest would send awe if not terror to the bravest of Men. 
 
 do) 
 
OBANO-UTAIf. The naturalists have given the name Satyr to this animal because of its resemblance to man and beast, the face, head, ears, beard and 
 
 -whiskers, the long arms and large hands all being wonderfully like those of a human being; while the shaggy coat of hair suggests the brute. It is not strange 
 ■that the superstitious natives should think the Orang-utan a human being gone wild. The picture represents this Ape at rest in its forest home, one hand 
 lightly holding to a vine, while the fingers of the left are laid upon the forehead. The great strength of the hands and arms, as well as of the broad shoulders, 
 are distinctly shown and the face recalls that of human beings one has frequently seen. {Piihecus satynts.) 
 
 (II) 
 
12 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 The Account Among the numerous accounts of the 
 of Gorilla, where truth seems to be plen- 
 
 Du Chaillu. tifully mingled with exaggeration and 
 tales of natives, the descriptions of Du Chaillu have 
 in their time made a great deal of stir. I would 
 have used his works extensively, if they had not at 
 the first perusal aroused a feeling of distrust. I am 
 decidedly of the opinion that Du Chaillu's glowing 
 descriptions are a wonderful blending of truth and 
 fiction. Other travelers who have explored those 
 parts and entered into communication with the 
 natives have arrived at the same conclusion. Like 
 his predecessors, Du Chaillu bases his narrative on 
 hearsay, though he gives it the interest of a personal 
 experience. So I will give here only a few words of 
 Du Chaillu, in relation to a young Gorilla that came 
 into his possession, though his observations were 
 by no means confirmed by later and better ones : 
 
 " On the fourth of May several young Negroes, 
 whom I had sent out for a hunt, brought home a 
 young, living Gorilla. I cannot do justice in words 
 to the emotions that overwhelmed me, when the lit- 
 tle monster was brought into the village. The Ape 
 was about two or three years old and twenty-four 
 inches high, but as ferocious and obstinate as any 
 full-grown brother of his might be. My hunters had 
 caught it in the country between Rembo and Cape 
 St. Catherine. According to their story, the hunters, 
 five of them, had been noiselessly creeping through 
 a wood near a settlement, when suddenly they heard 
 a growl, which they at once recognized as the call of 
 a young Gorilla for its mother, and they decided to 
 follow the sound. Their guns in their hands, the 
 brave fellows crept on towards a gloomy place in 
 the forest, thick with underbrush. They knew that 
 the mother must be near, and expected the dreaded 
 •father to be not far away, but decided to try to get 
 the young Ape alive at any risk. As they ap- 
 proached a sight new even to them met their eyes. 
 The little one sat near its mother, plucking berries, 
 and the old one was eating of the same fruit. My 
 hunters got ready to fire immediately, and were 
 barely in time ; for the mother caught sight of them 
 when they were lifting their guns. Fortunately 
 they killed her with the first volley. The little one, 
 frightened by the report of the guns, ran towards its 
 mother, hugged her close and hid its face. The 
 hunters hurried forward, but it then left the mother, 
 ran to a small tree and climbing it with the greatest 
 agility sat down on one of the branches and roared 
 at its pursuers. But the Negroes did not get scared, 
 nor were they afraid of being bitten by the furious 
 little beast. So they cut down the tree, and as it 
 fell they quickly threw a cloth over the head of the 
 little fellow, and in that way were able to master it. 
 Still the little Ape, who as far as age went was but a 
 young child, showed itself to be amazingly strong 
 and anything but good-natured ; so that the men 
 could not lead it, but had to put its head between 
 the prongs of a pitchfork, and thus force it to be 
 quiet. In this way he entered thd village, and the 
 news spread like wild-fire. As the prisoner was be- 
 ing lifted out of the boat, in which it had come part 
 of the way, it roared and barked and stared wildly 
 around, as if it was assuring us that it would take 
 its revenge as soon as it could get a chance. , I 
 saw that the fork had wounded its neck, and there- 
 fore ordered a cage to be prepared for it. In two 
 hours we had built it a strong cage of bamboo, in 
 which we could observe it in security. It was a 
 young male, independent enough to shift for him- 
 
 self, endowed with extraordinary strength for hi» 
 age! His face and hands were black ; the eyes lay 
 not quite so deep in their sockets as with the older- 
 ones ; the body was thinner; the hair on the arms- 
 longer. The hair of the eyebrows and of the arms- 
 was of a reddish-brown color ; the upper lip was- 
 covered with short hair, the lower one with a slight 
 beard ; light gray hair getting darker towards the 
 shoulders covered his neck and back. I never saw- 
 so ill-natured an animal as this Ape. He raged at 
 everybody who approached him, bit at the bamboo 
 palings, looked around with ferocious eyes and 
 showed his viciousness and ill-nature at every op- 
 portunity." , 1 /- 11 
 
 iater Lately our information about the Gorilla 
 Account of has been vastly increased. German ex- 
 
 Gorillas. plorers, members of the Gussfeldt Loango- 
 expedition, have succeeded twice in capturing live 
 young Gorillas, in 1876 and 1883, and forwarded 
 them to Europe, where, under the care of Director 
 Hermes, they lived long enough in the Berlin Aqtjia- 
 rium to enable scientists to settle a few complicated 
 questions. Furthermore Hugo von Koppenfels, a- 
 passionate hunter, has made several *voyages to the 
 Gaboon and Ogowe country within the last decade, 
 with a view of finding the Gorillas in their native 
 forests. So far Koppenfels has been the only Euror 
 pean who can prove that he has observed Gorillas- 
 in the wilderness and killed them. He confirms- 
 many accounts that others have reported from hear- 
 say, and completes them from his own stock of ex- 
 perience : 
 
 " As incredible as it may seem, I can affirm that 
 even of the hunting tribes, hardly a third have ever 
 met a Gorilla in the forests. The Gorilla — with the 
 exception of old, hypochondriac males — lives with 
 his family, and roams from place to place, as the 
 demand for food impels him. He spends the night 
 where he happens to be at the approach of darkness, 
 
 " This means that he builds a new nest every even- 
 ing, and for this purpose selects strong young trees^ 
 having a circumference not over twelve inches. The 
 nest is built somewhat like a Stork's, out of green 
 twigs, in the embranchment of stronger boughs, at 
 a height of fifteen to eighteen feet. It is used by 
 the young ones, and if these still stand in need 
 of warmth, also by the mother, while the father 
 crouches down at the foot of the tree, his back, 
 against the trunk, and in this way protects his fam- 
 ily from Leopards. In the dry season, when food! 
 and water begin to fail him in the inner depth of 
 the woods, he makes raids on the plantations of the 
 natives, where he, Ape-like, causes troublesome dev- 
 astations. 
 
 " If let alone, the Gorilla does not attack Men, but 
 rather ayoids them. If he is taken by surprise, he 
 rises, utters a series of short half roaring, half grunt- 
 ing noises, that cannot be described ; beats his gigan- 
 tic chest with his huge fists and shows his teeth witb 
 an exceedingly ferocious expression on his face^ 
 while the hair on his head and on the nape of his- 
 neck stands vibratingly erect. An old Gorilla in a. 
 rage is a sight to inspire terror. Yet, if one does not 
 irritate him and beats a cautious retreat before his- 
 fury has reached its height, I do not think he would 
 attack anybody. But if one should have the mis- 
 fortune to wound him slightly, then I, who it is true 
 have not been in such a terrible plight, am positive 
 that he would turn on the hunter, who is lost if he 
 has not a second ball ready. Flight is impossible, as 
 is a defence with any weapon but fire-arms." 
 
FAMILY OF CHIMPANZEES. The great artist here represents a charming scene in the home lile of the Chimpanzee. After 
 
 having fed, the family— father, mother and child— are thirsty, and they have come to a cool and sparkling spring in the great African forest, far 
 away from the Man-hunter, who seeks their lives. But there are Leopards and Crocodiles that are to be dreaded, and while the father slakes- 
 his thirst, the mother, with her head thrown slightly back, shades her eyes with her large hand that she may more clearly discern a possible 
 approaching enemy. The baby impatiently observes the movements of its father, because it, too, is thirsty, and it and the mother must wait 
 until the father is fully satisfied. When he is done he will, in turn, take the place of sentinel while they drink. 
 
 (13) 
 
H 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 Koppenfels' H. von Koppenfels killed his first Go- 
 Gorilla rilla Christmas, 1874. He had taken 
 Hunts. jjjs position near an Iba tree, whose 
 fruit is very much liked by that animal. " I had 
 waited in vain for about an hour. Night was com- 
 ing on ; the Mosquitoes began to annoy me and I 
 was just going to quit, when I heard the sound of 
 breaking twigs near the Iba tree. Peeping from be- 
 hind my tree, I saw a whole family of Gorillas, consist- 
 ing of the parents and two children. Taking human 
 growth as the standard, these latter might have been 
 six years old and one year old, respectively. The 
 solicitude of the mother for the baby was touching, 
 while the father seemingly cared for nothing but the 
 gratification of his own appetite. The best fruit 
 within reach seemed to have been consumed, for the 
 female climbed up the tree and shook it, to make the 
 ripe berries fall to the ground. 
 
 " At this time the male, his mouth still full, started 
 for the river flowing near, evidently to get a drink. 
 I did not take my eyes off him, for the stories of 
 Du Chaillu and the fairy-tales of the natives had 
 combined to throw me into a state of great agitation, 
 when. I first caught sight of the animals. But this 
 gave way to a sudden calm, when the Gorilla, on his 
 way to the river, seemed to grow distrustful and 
 turning round, made for the tree that concealed 
 me. It was too late — I kept track of his every 
 movement, and had my gun in readiness. A few 
 moments sufficed to take aim and shoot. Before 
 the smoke cleared away I had put another cartridge 
 in my gun, anticipating an attack. My black com- 
 panion stood trembling behind me, another gun in 
 hand. The expected attack did not occur. The 
 male Gorilla had fallen on his face, dead. The 
 young ones, giving one scream, fled into the thicket; 
 the mother jumped down from a considerable height 
 and followed them. I was so excited that I forgot 
 to shoot her. So my hunting luck had, at the same 
 time that the Christmas candles were being lighted 
 in Germany, given me, too, a magnificent present." 
 
 Not long after this Koppenfels shot, at a chance 
 meeting, the strongest Gorilla it ever was his good 
 fortune to kill. Accompanied by his servants he 
 had followed a narrow trail in the woods. " Sud- 
 denly the Galloa nearest me screamed : ' Take care, 
 master, a large Gorilla ! ' and the cowards threw 
 down the things they were carrying and took to their 
 heels. I started at the cry, and just then a terrible 
 growl coming from the side attracted my notice, 
 and I saw barely fifteen paces away a gigantic mass 
 standing erect. It was the largest Gorilla I had ever 
 seen and the only one which ever stood awaiting me. 
 If he had profited by my confusion, I would have 
 been lost. I did not wait, though, to see how long 
 our staring at each other might last. As I lifted my 
 gun his roaring took on more of a barking sound ; he 
 beat his chest quicker, the shaggy hair on his head 
 raised itself with a vibrating motion, and it seemed 
 that my terrible opponent was going to attack me. 
 If I had retreated in time, I am fully convinced 
 that the Gorilla would not have approached me, 
 but such was not my intention. Mastering my agi- 
 tation, I took a steady aim at his heart, and pulled 
 the trigger. The animal jumped high up, and spread- 
 ing his arms, fell on his face. He had seized in fall- 
 ing, a liana, two inches in circumference, and so pow- 
 erful was his grasp that he tore it down along with 
 dry and green branches from the tree. His weight 
 seemed to be about four hundred pounds, and he was 
 six feet high." 
 
 H. von Koppenfels' plain, unvarnished tales, based 
 as they are on personal experience, give us a more 
 correct'idea of this curious inhabitant of the forests, 
 and do away with a great deal of the terror with 
 which he has inspired us. To use the words of R. 
 Burton : " He is only a poor devil of a Monkey, and 
 not a fiendish freak of the imagination— half man, 
 half beast." 
 
 The Gorilla The attempt to import young Gorillas 
 in to Europe had always been unsuccess- 
 
 Captiuity. fui^ until the members of the German 
 Loango exploring party tried it. Falkenstein, their 
 physician and zoologist, by a lucky chance got hold 
 of a young Gorilla, that was studied first in Africa 
 and then in the Berlin Aquarium. 
 
 Director Hermes mentions the growth and further 
 development of this Gorilla at great length in a lec- 
 ture delivered at the meeting of German natural- 
 ists and physicians in Hamburg: "The Aquarium 
 of Berlin has always set great value on the posses- 
 sion of Anthropomorphous Apes. During the last 
 few years it has been able to procure specimens of 
 all of the four species — the Gibbon, Chimpanzee, 
 the Orang-utan and the Gorilla. In this way I had 
 the best of opportunities to study them in captivity 
 and compare them with each other. . 
 
 " The chief among all the Anthropomorpha is the 
 Gorilla. It seems as if he was born with a patent of 
 nobility among Apes. Our Gorilla, about two years 
 old, is nearly twenty-eight inches high. His body 
 is covered with gray, silky hair, the head alone hav- 
 ing a reddish color. His thick-set, robust shape, his 
 muscular arms, his smooth, shining black face with 
 well-shaped ears, his large, black, clever eyes — all 
 strike one as exceedingly hurnan. If his nose was 
 not so broad he would look like a Negro boy. 
 What serves to heighten this impression is his awk- 
 wardness ; all his. movements seem, those of an un- 
 gainly boy rather: than an Ape.. When he sits there 
 like a Chinese pagoda, his gaze directed upon the 
 spectators, and suddenly with a bright nod claps his 
 hands, he has conquered all hearts at a stroke. He 
 likes company, makes a difference between young 
 and old, male and female. He is kind to little chil- 
 dren, likes to kiss them, and allows them liberties, 
 without taking advantage of his superior strength. 
 Older children he does not treat so well, although 
 he likes to play with them, to race around tables and 
 chairs which he frequently upsets, playfully slaps 
 their faces sometimes, and also thinks nothing of 
 trying his teeth on their legs. He is fond of ladies, 
 likes to sit in their laps and hug them, or sit still, 
 with his head on their shoulders. He also likes 
 to play in the common cage, but conductf him- 
 self there as an unconditional autocrat. Even the 
 Chimpanzee has to obey him, though the Gorilla 
 treats him more as an equal, selecting him as 
 his only playfellow and sometimes bestowing rather 
 rough caresses on him, while he pays no attention 
 to the smaller fry. Sometimes he gets hold of 
 the Chimpanzee and rolls on the floor with him. 
 If the Chimpanzee escapes, the Gorilla falls to 
 the floor, on his hands, like an awkward boy. 
 His gait resembles that of the Chimpanzee : they 
 both walk on the soles of their feet, supporting 
 themselves on the back of the hands. But the 
 Gorilla turns his toes out more, and holds his 
 head higher, producing the impression that he 
 belong to a better class of society. When he is 
 in good humor— which is nearly always the case 
 — he sticks out his red tongue, which in that 
 
HIMP WZEL AT SGHOO^ *^*''" ^^"^ most amiable and accomplished young Chimpanzees that enlivened the famous zoology 
 
 leal garden at Stuttgart for some years, and performed a number of delightful pranks, which made them favorites with everybody. The picture represents them 
 at school the master examining the work of one of the pupils who is, unlike some school-boys, anxious to resume the task. The smaller sketch shows them 
 at dinner' and proves how cleverly they have mastered the accomplishments of eating and drinking like Girls and Boys. They were amiable, playful, knew 
 scores of entertaining tricks, would sit in chairs, sleep In beds and walk around like human beings. 
 
 (i5) 
 
16 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 iblack face of his, forcibly reminds one of a negro 
 boy. 
 
 " His manner of life is just as human as his ap- 
 pearance. At about eight o'clock in the morning he 
 wakes up, yawns, scratches himself in various places 
 .and remains sleepy and apathetic till his glass of 
 ■morning milk is brought. That rouses him. He 
 .gets up, peers around to see whether he cannot find 
 •isomething to destroy in the room, looks out of the 
 window, claps his hands, and if he has no better 
 .company, tries to play with the keeper. The latter 
 must always be with him. The moment he is left 
 ^lone, he screanis. At nine o'clock he is washed, a 
 ■process in which he finds much pleasure, and ex- 
 presses his satisfaction in grunts. Living with his 
 keeper, he gets his meals at corresponding times 
 -with him. For luncheon he eats a couple of Frank- 
 furt or Vienna sausages, or a sandwich with cheese, 
 ..or smoked beef. His favorite drink is Weiss beer, 
 ,and he looks remarkably funny when he tries to 
 hold the large glas,s with his short, thick fingers and 
 one foot. At one o'clock the keeper's wife brings 
 in dinner. While he. was living in my house, last 
 summer, he was evidently yearning for this hour. 
 He always ran to open the door himself, when he 
 heard the bell. As soon as the woman came in, he 
 would investigate the dishes and sometimes help 
 himself to a little of soihe dainty. She would punish 
 jhim with a slap, and then he would behave and sit 
 xjuietly. The first course is a cup of bouillon, which 
 is emptied to. the last drop. Then comes a dish of 
 ;j-ice or vegetables, preferably potatoes, carrots or 
 parsnips, cooked with meat. The woman insists on 
 Jiis eating properly,, and he can handle a spoon quite 
 ■well, but the minute he thinks he can do so unob- 
 served, he puts his mouth in "the dish. He likes a 
 niece of roast fowl best at the end of his meal. At 
 the conclusion of dinner he takes a nap of an hour 
 or an hour arid a half, and is then ready for new 
 pranks. In the course of the afterfloon he gets some 
 fruit, while his evening meal consists of milk or tea 
 •with bread and butter. At nine o'clock he goes to 
 bed. He has; a . nice mattress and covers himself 
 -with a blanket. The keepei: stays with him till he is 
 .asleep, which, does not take long. He likes best to 
 sleep in the sime bed, with- the keeper, hugging him 
 ^nd putting his head on some part of his body. He 
 sleeps all night through and does not awaken until 
 eight in the 'morning. . A glass house in connection 
 with a little conservatory adapted for palms, has 
 been built specially for him, to take the place of the 
 xiamp atmosphere of his tropical home. In this way 
 I hope that aided by his robust nature, our Gorilla 
 will be spared us and will long be the greatest orna- 
 ment of our Aquarium, an honor to Germany, a joy 
 to humanity, a glory to science." 
 
 This Gorilla died on the 13th of November, 1877, 
 after having been watched for nine months in Africa 
 ^nd for fifteen months in Berlin, and having success- 
 fully made a trip to England. The second Gorilla 
 was taken to Europe by Pechuel-Loesche, the former 
 companion of Falkenstein, who arrived with him in 
 1883, on his return from the Congo, and was also 
 presented to the Berlin Aquarium. He lived under 
 the care of Director Hermes for fourteen months 
 land died of the same disease as the first Gorilla. 
 It is a notable fact that neither of the animals suf- 
 fered from sea-sickness. 
 
 All other attempts to take living Gorillas to Europe 
 land to keep them there, have been unsuccessful; [nor 
 Jias one ever been brought to America.] 
 
 THE CHIMPANZEE. 
 
 Let us now consider the second species of the 
 Anthropomorpha, the Chimpanzee {Simia troglodytes). 
 He is considerably smaller than the Gorilla ; old 
 males reach a height of sixty-four inches ; females, 
 forty-eight inches. The skull is flatter, the arches of 
 the eyebrows not so prominent and the expression 
 of the face with its large,, clear eyes a great deal 
 gentler. The nose is flat, the upper lip long, arched 
 and wrinkled ; the lower lip, prominent. Both lips 
 are exceedingly mobile and may be projected so as 
 to produce a snout-like impression. The ears are 
 larger and less human than those of the Gorilla. 
 The arms are long, reaching a little below the knee, 
 and possess great muscular power. The thumb in 
 the hands is thin and short ; the' fingers are long, the 
 middle finger being the longest. In the feet the 
 large toe is separated from the others by a deep 
 incision ; and the sole is flat. The hair of the Chim- 
 panzee is smooth, that on the head usually showing a 
 parting ; it is long on the back part of the head, on 
 the cheeks, the back, arms and legs ; and shorter on 
 the other parts of the body. The color usually is 
 black ; but in some specimens is a dull, reddish- 
 brown. The lower part of the face has short, whitish 
 hair. Chimpanzees walk on all fours, resting them- 
 selves on the calloused backs of their hands. The 
 toes of the feet are sometimes drawn in when walk- 
 ing. There is a strong inclination in this species to 
 show remarkably varying individual types which has 
 led to controversies as to whether there were not 
 several different species. 
 The Chimpanzee As a proof that the Chimpanzee was 
 Long and known tO the ancients, mention is 
 
 Well-Known. usually made of the famous mosaic 
 picture, which once adorned the temple pf^Fortuna 
 in Praeneste, [and which is still preserved in the 
 Barberini Palace at that place, now the town of 
 Palestrina in Italy.] This mosaic represents, among 
 many other animals of the Upper Nile country, what 
 is believed to have been the Chimpanzee. This 
 Ape is often mentioned by the authors of the past 
 few centuries, mostly under the name of " Inseigo " 
 or " Nschiego," a name he still bears in Central 
 Africa. A young Chimpanzee was taken to Eu- 
 rope in the beginning of the seventeenth century, 
 dissected by Tulpius and Tyson and described by 
 Dapper. He has been taken there repeatedly since 
 and is a not infrequent feature on the European 
 animal market. [Several have been brought to the 
 United States and placed in museums and menag- 
 eries. ] 
 
 Formerly he was supposed to inhabit, exclusively, 
 Upper and Lower Guinea and the country back of 
 it, ranging from Sierra Leone to the Congo. He 
 lives in the forests on the rivers of the coast and in 
 the mountains. H. von Koppenfels has hunted him 
 in the Gaboon and Ogowe country. To the south 
 he was frequently seen by the German Loango ex- 
 pedition near the Congo. German explorers have 
 established the fact that he is found in central Af- 
 rica, deep in the region of the lakes, probably going 
 as far as the oil-palm and the gray Parrot. Heuglin 
 says : " In the thick foliage of the forests growing 
 along banks of rivers in the country of the Niam- 
 Niam the Mban (more correctly Baam) has made 
 its home, an Ape the size of a Man and of a savage 
 character, fearlessly turning on his pursuers. He 
 lives with his family and builds large nests in the 
 trees, making them water-tight and proof against 
 
FEMALE ORANG-UTAN AND CHILD. The artist here presents a home-scene in the life of the Orang-utan, a mother resting upon 
 
 a tree-branch while her grotesque-looking child plays with her long fore-arm. These interesting animals are found in the islands of Borneo and 
 Sumatra, and are sluggish creatures, who spend their lives in the trees, but are capable of greatest activity when pursued by enemies, their arms, 
 ^hich are much longer, proportionally, than those of the Chimpanzee, enable them to swing prodigious distances through the air. The enor- 
 iBious length of jaws of the animal is shown in the face of the baby The striking resemblance to Man is more apparent in the benevolent 
 rface of the mother and explains why the name, satyr, " Wild man of the woods," is applied to the Orang-utan. (Pithecus satyrus.) 
 
 (17) 
 
18 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 istio 
 Traits. 
 
 the rain. His hair is olive-black, his face hairless 
 and flesh-colored, and his buttocks white." 
 
 Character- Savage, who made his observations in 
 Lower Guinea, writes : " We cannot say- 
 that the Chimpanzee is a gregarious 
 animal, as there are seldom more than five, or, at the 
 utmost, ten living together. Relying upon trust- 
 worthy reports, I may say, though, that they some- 
 times gather in greater numbers for play. One of 
 my narrators claims to have seen at one time about 
 fifty of them which had assembled on trees and 
 amused themselves with screaming and drumming 
 on the tree-trunks. They avoid human habitations 
 as much as they can. Their dwellings, which are 
 more nest-like than hut-like, they build on trees, not 
 at a great height from the ground. They break and 
 twist and cross larger and smaller branches, and sup- 
 port the whole on an embranchment, or on a strong 
 bough. Sometimes you find such a nest at the end 
 of a bough, twenty or thirty feet from the ground, but 
 I have seen some that could not be less than forty 
 feet high. They do not care for a permanent home, 
 but change abiding places often in looking for food 
 or for other reasons. We frequently saw them in the 
 mountains, probably because the valleys, more favor- 
 able to the agriculture of the natives, lacked the 
 trees necessary for their nest-building. Two or more 
 nests are rarely seen in the same tree or even in the 
 same neighborhood, though five were once found 
 together. Nests, properly so-called, consisting of 
 interwoven branches, as Du Chaillu describes, have 
 not been seen by any of the other narrators." 
 
 When in repose the Chimpanzee in the wild state 
 usually assumes a sitting posture. He is often seen 
 standing or wa,lking, but the minute he is detected, 
 drops on all fours and flees. As may be supposed 
 from his nest building, the Chimpanzee is an adept 
 at climbing. In his play he swings himself from tree 
 to tree and jumps with amazing agility. His food 
 probably is the same as that of the Gorilla, — fruits, 
 nuts, buds and, perhaps, roots, forming the staple 
 articles of diet. 
 The Chimpan- The Chimpanzee is made a captive 
 zee in oftener than the other Man-like Apes, 
 Captivity, but unfortunately does not live over 
 two or three years in that state, although it is said 
 that in west Africa he has lived over twenty years 
 in captivity. Captive Chimpanzees under obser- 
 vation have so far always shown themselves gentle, 
 clever and amiable. Degrandpre saw on a ship a 
 female which performed various tasks. Buffon re- 
 lates that his Chimpanzee had a sad and serious look, 
 and moved about in a dignified manner. He had not 
 a single one of the nasty qualities of the Baboons, 
 neither was he so playful as the Guenons. He was 
 very obedient, shook hands with people, ate at the 
 table, used his napkin, poured out \yine for himself, 
 got a cup and saucer when he wanted tea, put in 
 the sugar and always waited for the tea to get cold. 
 He never harmed any one, but had a very modest, 
 gentle bearing, and delighted in being petted. 
 
 Out of all the numerous stories about the Chim- 
 panzee we select here the accounts of the celebrated 
 Sainter of animals, Fr. Specht, concerning one in 
 fill's Zoological Garden in Stuttgart. This Chim- 
 panzee, as Specht afiirms, could laugh like a human 
 being : " I took notice of this, for no other animal 
 <can show its joy by loud laughter. When I would 
 take this sympathetic fellow under the arms, throw 
 him in the air and catch him, the cage rang with 
 his merry peals of laughter. One day I brought a 
 
 piece of chalk along, and sat down on a chair. In 
 a moment he was sitting on my knees awaiting 
 further developments. I put the chalk in his hand, 
 and leading it, drew several figures on the wall, 
 when I let go of his hand, he started to shade the 
 drawings with such diligence that they soon dis- 
 appeared, to the great amusement of the spectators. 
 There are now two Chimpanzees in the Stuttgart 
 Zoological Garden, which are the closest of friends. 
 The female had been there before, and when the 
 male arrived his box was put over night in her warm, 
 roomy cage, the presentation being intended for the 
 morrow. When the box, which, by the way, had 
 been upholstered, was opened and the male got out, 
 they both stood on their hind legs for a few minutes 
 earnestly gazing at each other. Then they flew into 
 each other's embrace and exchanged hearty and re- 
 peated kisses ; and the female brought her blanket, 
 spread it on the floor, sat down on it and by gestures 
 invited the male to do likewise. It makes a charm- 
 ing picture to see these two taking their meals at 
 a table. They both use spoons and do not \n the 
 least interfere with each other. The female has the 
 peculiarity of cautiously taking the male's glass and 
 drinking a goodly portion out of that, too, after 
 which she returns it. She evidently does not want 
 him to drink too much. Both these animals laugh 
 heartily when at play. 
 
 I u n I •' The same fate has befallen Chimpanzees 
 Hir. Lrowiey bought to the United States as was met by 
 Noni Vn t thosc taken to Europe. All will readily 
 new lorn. ^.^^.^jj ^^^ ^^^^ attractive fellow, " Mr. Crow- 
 ley," so long the chief object of admiration in the museum of 
 Central Park, New York. This Chimpanzee was greatly at- 
 tached to his keeper and displayed a readiness and agility in 
 performing amusing tricks that won the attention of every one. 
 He acquired a number of accomplishments in the way of eating 
 and drinking, and displayed, until the ravages of disease spoiled 
 his temper, a mildness of disposition that charmed his daily 
 visitors. " Mr. Crowley " had two attacks of pneumonia before 
 his final, fatal illness, consumption, that nearly certain enemy 
 of all Apes in captivity. "Miss Kitty," a less amiable, ana, 
 therefore, less attractive Chimpanzee, was his companion for 
 awhile, but she, too, shared the same fate as the idolized " Mr. 
 Crowley." _ Two Chimpanzees which kept house in a cage in 
 the zoological gardens at Cincinnati were very accomplished. 
 They would sit comfortably eating together in a manner similar 
 to that of the Apes of the Stuttgart Museum as illusti^Lted on 
 page 15. They would also disport themselves for quite long 
 periods by rocking themselves in chairs, human fashion, but 
 would then show their Ape nature by clambering over the backs 
 of the chairs with great agility, besides performing many other 
 tricks which made them the great attraction of the pleasant 
 and well-stocked zoological gardens in which they were kept 
 Death severed the pair. Barnum, the American showman, had 
 two Chimpanzees, "Nip" and"Tuck," on exhibition in various 
 towns and cities in this country, but they did not display the 
 intelligence shown by " Mr. Crowley;" nor did they liv'e for a 
 great while." Perhaps their narrow quarters in a cage and con- 
 , stant traveling combined to sour their tempers and limit their 
 capacity for learning. Other attempts to mtroduce the' Chim- 
 panzee into this country have not been encouraging, lack of 
 understanding of the habits of the animal being in some meas- 
 ure the cause ; but it is a fact that this Ape does much bfetter in 
 warmer and drier climates like Paris than in that of England 
 and the colder parts of the continent of Europe and the north- 
 ern states of this country. The experiment of keeping one has 
 not been tried in the South, which is to be deplored, lor there 
 are doubtless cities in the southern states where the climatic 
 conditions would prove to be especially favorable for keeping 
 Apes much longer than is possible in the more northern zoo- 
 logical collections, which have never been able to keep speci- 
 mens of the anthropomorphous Apes for any extended period. 
 
 THE ORANG-UTAN. 
 
 The most important Asiatic Man-like Ape is the 
 Orang-utan (Man of the Woods), sometimes incor- 
 rectly called Orang-Utang, and named Mias or 
 Majas in Borneo {Pithecus satyrus). He is distin- 
 guished by his disproportionately long arms, reach- 
 
YOUNG OEANG-TJTAN. The baby-like face of the young Orang is clearly brought out in this picture which is ar> exact reproduction from life. 
 
 "The expression is older than a child's, but the features are nearly identical, there being the round, prominent forehead, full, clear and fearless eyes and large 
 3nouth and ears characteristic of the human child, and the wisp of straw held in the mouth and fingers show that like the human creature it is fond of play. 
 This Orang has its own snug bed and sleeps restfuUy beneath the covers, drinks from its own cup, runs and jumps, plays all kinds of mad pranks and enjoys 
 aife fully as much as mother's own baby in any one of ten thousand happy homes. {PHhecus satyrus.) 
 
 (19) 
 
20 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 ing as far as his ankle joint, and by his conically 
 shaped head and protruding jaws. He has only 
 twelve rib-supporting vertebrae. The skull of a 
 young Orang-utan resembles that of a human child 
 to a high degree ; but as it grows older, the bestial 
 nature is developed and this likeness almost entirely 
 disappears. 
 
 Physical The largest male Orang-utan killed by 
 Character- Wallace was four feet two inches high, 
 istics. but he could spread his arms to the 
 width of six feet two mches. The face was thirteen 
 inches wide, and the circumference of the body was 
 four feet. The abdomen of the Orang-utan pro- 
 trudes and the hips are very wide ; the neck is short 
 and wrinkled in front, for the animal has a large 
 pouch at his throat, which can be inflated ; the nails 
 are frequently lacking on the thumbs of the feet. 
 The lips have a very unsightly appearance, for they 
 are not only wrinkled, but also greatly swollen ; the 
 nose is pressed flat ; the eyes and ears are small but 
 resemble those of a human being. The canines are 
 the most formidable among the teeth, and the lower 
 jaw is longer than the upper. The hair is scanty on 
 the back, and breast, but is long and plentiful on 
 the sides'of the body. In the face it grows beard- 
 like, and on the upper lip, on the chin, on the skull 
 and on the fore-arms its position is upwards. The 
 face and palms of the hands are bare, the breast and 
 fingers nearly so. The color is usually red, some- 
 times merging into brown, darker on the breast and 
 back and lighter in the beard. The bare parts look 
 bluish or slate-gray. Old males are distinguished 
 from females by their larger size, longer and thicker 
 hair, thicker beard and peculiar callosities on the 
 cheeks, spreading from the eyes to the ears and 
 upper jaw> and giving the face a hideous aspect. 
 The young Apes have no beard, but their hair is 
 darker and longer. 
 Early Accounts The Orang-utan has been known for 
 of the a very long time. Pliny avers that 
 
 Orang. there were Satyrs on the East-Indian 
 
 mountains, "very ferocious animals with human 
 faces, sometimes walking upright, sometimes on all 
 fours, and so agile that they could be captured only 
 in old age or when sick." His story goes on down 
 to our own times, receiving new additions every cen- 
 tury, until one nearly forgets that they are animals 
 concerning which the stories are told. They get to 
 be treated like wild Men. Exaggerations of all 
 kinds disfigure the truth. Bontius, a physician liv- 
 ing in the seventeenth century, speaks of his own 
 experience. He says he has seen "the dwellers of 
 the woods" several times, males as well as females. 
 They sometimes walked erect and behaved like hu- 
 man beings. One female in particular aroused his 
 wonder. She was ashamed when strangers looked 
 at her and covered her face with her hands ; she 
 would sigh and weep and do everything exactly like 
 a human being ; she only lacked speech. The Japa- 
 nese afifirm that Apes could talk very well if they 
 were so inclined, but they are dumb through fear of 
 being made to work. It is almost needless to state 
 that in all these stories the Orang-utans walk erect, 
 though it is sometimes added that they are also 
 " able " to go on all fours. In reality the narrators 
 of all these fables are innocent of deception, only 
 repeating what they heard from the natives. 
 
 Wallace's Owing to the excellent observations of 
 
 Account of Wallace, we know more about the life 
 
 the Orang. jn a natural state of the Orang-utan than 
 
 of any other of the Man-shaped Apes. This traveler 
 
 had the best of opportunities to become acquamted 
 with the animal and to compare his experiences with 
 the tales of the natives. Some of his predecessors, 
 especially Owen, Kessel and Brooke had tried to 
 get at the truth, and his accounts in the main go to 
 prove their statements. , , ^ , . 
 
 "We know," he says, "that the Orang-utan is a 
 native of Sumatra and Borneo, and, we have cause 
 to think, is limited to these two islands. But he 
 seems to be much more frequent in the latter than 
 in the former. He is found in extensive tracts of 
 land in the southwest and southeast, northwest and 
 northeast coasts, but occurs exclusively in marshy, 
 low-lying woods. In Sadong he is only found in 
 the plains covered with virgin forests and crossed 
 by many rivers. Isolated mountains, inhabited by 
 Dyaks and planted with' fruit trees, rise here, and 
 form a point of attraction for the Mias. They often 
 visit them on account of the fruits, but always retire 
 at night into their bogs. In all those parts of the 
 country where the surface riseS and is dry, the 
 Orang-utan does not appear. An extensive plain of 
 uninterrupted and level virgin forest seems a condi- 
 tion essential to the welfare of this Ape. These for- 
 ests offer to him a field for as unimpeded progress- 
 as a prairie to an Indian or the desert to an Arab. 
 He goes frorn tree-top to tree-top without ever alight- 
 ing on the ground. A high and dry country, with. 
 the trees cleared away in places and the ground cov- 
 ered by underbush, may be better adapted for Men, 
 but not for this Ape with its peculiar mode of loco- 
 motion. 
 
 " It is an attractive and strange spectacle to see a 
 Mias (Orang-utan) easily making his way through 
 the forest. Without hurry he goes alpng one of the 
 lai'ger boughs, in a semi-erect position, which the 
 length of his arms and the shortness of his legs ren- 
 der obligatory; he does not use his soles, but walks 
 on his knuckles, like so hiany of his cousins. He 
 always seems to select trees whose branches inter- 
 weave ; he stretches out his long arms, seizes the 
 branches with both hands, seemingly trying their 
 strength, and then deliberately launches himself for- 
 ward upon the next tree, where he goes through the 
 same performance. He never hops or jumps, or 
 seems in the least to hurry, yet he proceeds on his- 
 way as quickly as anybody could run .underneath." 
 In another place Wallace says he thinks the Mia& 
 could easily cover a distance of five or six miles an 
 hour. "His long, powerful arms are of the greatest 
 use to him ; they enable him to climb the highest- 
 trees with ease, to pluck fruits and young leaves 
 of thin branches that would not hold his weight, 
 and to gather leaves and twigs for his nest." An 
 Orang-utan wounded by this explorer revealed to- 
 him the manner of building a nest. " As soon as I 
 had shot," says Wallace, " the Mias climbed to the 
 top of the tree. He started to break off branches- 
 and put them down crosswise. The place had been 
 admirably selected. With surprising quickness he 
 reached out in every direction with his unwounded 
 arm, breaking strong branches and crossing them, 
 so that in a few minutes he had formed a close 
 wall of foliage, which effectually concealed hiniL 
 from my sight. A similar nest is used by Orangs- 
 for their night's rest, but this is usually built on- 
 smaller trees farther down, as a rule not higher than 
 thirty to sixty feet ; probably because it is not here 
 so much exposed to the winds. It is said that the 
 Mias builds a new nest every night, but I think this^ 
 improbable, for, if such were the case, the remains- 
 
THE MAN-SHAPED APES— ORANG-UTAN. 
 
 21 
 
 
 
 WHITE-HANDED GIBBONS— These active and pretty animals are 
 found in Terrasserim, southwest of Burmah. and are noted for their loud 
 voices. Troops of them will get together in the deep forests and fill the 
 air with their not unmusical cries, for hours at a time. A white band of hair 
 encircles the entire face and the body is black, dark-brown or ochre-brown. 
 These interesting creatures drink water from the palms of their hands, are 
 readily tamed in India but do not long survive foreign captivity. The artist 
 represents them in the picture mounted on a favorite tree, suspiciously 
 regarding some approaching object. {Hylobates lar.) 
 
 of these nests would be oftener found. The Dyaks 
 claim that in wet weather the Mias covers him- 
 self with pandanus leaves or large ferns. Perhaps 
 this is the origin of the belief that the Orang-utan 
 builds a hut in the trees in which to live. 
 
 " The Orang-utan leaves his bed when the sun is 
 well above the horizon and has dried the dew on the 
 leaves. During the day he eats, but seldom visits 
 the same tree two days in succession. As far as I 
 could determine he feeds almost exclusively on fruit, 
 but occasionally on leaves and buds. In very rare 
 cases he descends to the ground ; probably only 
 when, driven by hunger, he looks for juicy young 
 leaves on the banks of a river ; or when in exceed- 
 
 Ji 1 II ill vater, 
 
 ;h is usually supplied him suiificiently in the 
 ows of leaves. Only once I saw two half- 
 vn Orangs on the ground in a dry hole. 
 y were standing erect, holding each other's 
 s and playing. This Ape never walks up- 
 t, unless he holds to the branches of trees, 
 attacked. Pictures that represent him walk- 
 with the help of a stick are pure inventions. 
 They do not seem to fear Men very much, 
 rly all of those I observed stared at me for 
 w minutes and t^hen deliberately repaired to 
 1 ;e in the neighborhood. It frequently hap- 
 pened when I saw one, that I had to go a thou- 
 sand paces or more after my gun ; nevertheless I 
 would find him on the same tree upon my return, 
 or within a hundred feet of the spot where I 
 had first seen him. I never saw two full-grown 
 Orangs together, though males as well as females 
 sometimes are accompanied by half-grown young 
 ones. 
 
 "All the Dyak chiefs, who had spent theii 
 lives in a country where the Orang abounds- 
 assured me that no animal was strong enough to 
 hurt one, and the only animal he fights with is the 
 Crocodile. When the Orang runs short of fruit, he 
 descends to the river banks to look for young shoots 
 and fruit. Then the Crocodile tries to seize him, but 
 the Orang jumps on it, beats it with hands and feet 
 and kills it. 
 
 " Rarely does it happen that an Orang fights with 
 a human being. One day several Dyaks came to 
 tell me that one of these animals had nearly killed 
 a companion. His house was standing on the bank 
 of the river, and he saw an Orang-utan making a 
 meal of the young leaves of a palm. He frightened 
 him, and the Ape beat a retreat into the woods. A 
 
22 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 number of Men armed with spears and hatchets ran 
 to cut off his retreat, and the foremost Man tried to 
 spear the animal, but the Mias seized him and buried 
 its teeth in the muscles over the elbow, tearing the 
 flesh into shreds. If the others had not come to the 
 rescue, he would have fared still worse, but they suc- 
 ceeded in killing the plucky beast. The wounded 
 Man was sick for a long time, and never recovered 
 the complete use of his arm." The truth of this 
 story was proven by Wallace, who on the following 
 day, visited the field of battle, and cut off the head 
 of the Orang-utan, for an addition to his collection. 
 
 The Orang- To complete this picture so excellently 
 Utan in represented by Wallace, we will draw 
 
 Captivity, on several of the older reports. For 
 the first correct observations we are indebted to the 
 Dutchman, Vosmaern, who was in possession of a 
 tame female. She was a good-natured animal and 
 never proved herself false or malicious! One could 
 without fear put his hand into her mouth. Her usual 
 expression was that of sadness and melancholy. She 
 Uked all human beings without distinction of sex, 
 but preferred those who took care of her. Her 
 owner kept her chained, which at times made her 
 desperate ; she would throw herself on the floor, 
 scream pitifully and tear all the blankets that were 
 given to her. Once she was let loose, and imme- 
 diately made her escape to the roof, where she 
 climbed about with such agility that four persons 
 spent an hour in trying to recapture her. On this 
 same excursion she laid her hands on a bottle of 
 Malaga wine, drew the cork and made haste to ap- 
 propriate the contents, afterwards placing the bottle 
 in its former position. She ate everything that was 
 given to her, but preferred fruit and juicy plants to 
 other food. She also liked boiled or fried meat and 
 fish. Insects she did not hunt for, and a Sparrow 
 that was offered her caused her great fright; still she 
 finally killed it with a bite, pulled out a few feathers, 
 tasted the meat and threw it away. Raw eggs she 
 ate with pleasure, but strawberries seemed to de- 
 light her most. Her usual beverage was water, but 
 she liked all kinds of wine, and especially Malaga. 
 After drinking she would wipe hei- mouth with her 
 hand, and she used tooth-picks in the same manner 
 that human beings do. She was an accomplished 
 thief and stole candy out of people's pockets in a 
 masterly way. Before going to sleep she always 
 made great preparations. She shook the hay and 
 spread it fresh, put a bundle under her head and 
 carefully covered herself ; she disliked to sleep 
 alone, for she dreaded solitude. Sometimes she 
 took a nap in the day-time, but never a long one. 
 She had been given some clothing, and this she 
 alternately wrapped around her body and her head, 
 without reference to the temperature of the room. 
 When she saw the lock on her chain opened with a 
 key, she got a little piece of wood and kept turning 
 it in the lock. Once she was given a Kitten. 
 While she was smelling it. Pussy scratched her arm. 
 Then she threw it away and never had anything 
 more to do with Cats. She could untie the most 
 complicated knots with her fingers or her teeth, and 
 this seemed to afford her such pleasure, that she 
 always untied people's shoes when she had a 
 chance. Her hands were exceedingly strong and 
 she could lift the heaviest burdens. She used her 
 feet with the same dexterity as her hands. When 
 she could not reach an article with her hands, she 
 threw herself on her back and got at it with her 
 feet. She never screamed unless left alone. At 
 
 first her screams resembled the howlmg of a Dog; 
 She soon, fell a prey to consumption. 
 
 An Orang. Another description comes to us from 
 Utan on a careful observer, who had an Orang- 
 
 Shipboard. utan on a ship for three months. As 
 long as the ship was cruising in Asiatic waters, the 
 animal lived on deck, selecting a sheltered place for 
 the night. During the day-time he always was in 
 the best of humor, played around with little Monk- 
 eys that were on board, or disported himself in the 
 rigging. Gymnastics and climbing seemed to af- 
 ford hTm especial pleasure, for he would practice on 
 different masts and cables. His agility and mus- 
 cular power were astonishing. Captain Smitt, the 
 observer, had taken a few hundred cocoa-nuts 
 along, the Orang daily receiving two. He was 
 very expert in destroying the tough outer covering 
 of the nuts with his teeth, though it was two inches 
 thick and the sailors had to use a hatchet for the 
 task. He would insert his formidable teeth into the 
 tapering end of the nut, as the shell is very uneven 
 there ; then he would seize it with the right foot and 
 in this way tear the tough covering to pieces. Then 
 he would pierce one of the natural apertures of the 
 nut with his finger, drink the milk, break the shell 
 on some hard object and eat the kernel. 
 
 Besides the cocoa-nuts he liked salt meat, flour, 
 tapioca, etc., and resorted to a great many tricks to 
 get the greatest possible amount of meat at every 
 meal. What he once procured he never released 
 even though he was beaten for his obstinacy. The 
 flour he daily received in the kitchen, and when the 
 cook was 'absent, he never failed to open the flour- 
 bin, take out a good handful and then wipe his hand 
 on his head, so that he often appeared on deck pow- 
 dered. Every Tuesday and Friday he unfailingly 
 made the sailors a visit when the dinner-bell rang, 
 for on these days they had tapioca with sugar and 
 cinnamon. Just as regularly he would make his ap- 
 pearance in the cabin at two o'clock, to get his share 
 of the meal served at that hour. He was very quiet 
 at meals, and, unlike other Apes, clean, though he 
 never could be taught the proper use of the spoon. 
 He put his plate to his mouth and simply drank the 
 soup, without spilling a drop. He was very fond of 
 spirits, and always received a glass of wine at dinner, 
 which he emptied in a peculiar manner. He could 
 project his lower lip in such a way as to form a cup 
 three inches long and nearly as wide, and capable 
 of holding a tumblerful of water. Into this curious 
 cup he poured the wine, and never drank otherwise. 
 After having carefully smelled of the wine, he pro- 
 jected his lip, poured the liquid in, and then pro- 
 ceeded to suck it in between his teeth, deliberately 
 and slowly, as if he intended to make the pleasure 
 as lasting as possible. Then he reached out his 
 glass for more. He never broke a dish, thereby dif- 
 fering from the other Apes, who, as everybody 
 knows, usually break everything. 
 
 He was never heard to make but two different 
 sounds ; a feeble, piping one, designed to express 
 agitation, and a dreadful roar, resembling the lowing 
 of a Cow, and denoting fear. Once he uttered the 
 latter at sight of a Whale swimming near the vessel, 
 and again when he caught sight of several Water- 
 Snakes that his owner brought from Java. The ex- 
 pression of his face never changed. Unfortunately 
 an accident, resulting from his love of liquor, ended 
 his life before he reached Germany, which was his 
 destination. He stole a bottle of rum, nearly emp- 
 tied it, became sick and died on the fourteenth day. 
 
THE MAN-SHAPED APES— GIBBON. 
 
 23 
 
 THE GIBBON..^ 
 
 No other Apes show such a development of the 
 upper extremities as the Gibbons or Long-armed 
 Apes {Hylobates). They perfectly justify their 
 name, for when they stand erect their fingers touch 
 the ground. This one trait would suffice to distin- 
 guish the Long-armed Apes from all others of their 
 class. 
 
 The Gibbons form the most numerous tribe of the 
 Man-shaped Apes, there being about seven different 
 kinds of these animals. They are all inhabitants of 
 Asia, being found in East 
 India and the adjoining 
 great islands of Sumatra, 
 Java and Borneo. They 
 attain a considerable size, 
 though none of them ex- 
 ceed three feet four 
 inches in height. The 
 body appears very slen- 
 der in spite of the highly 
 developed chest, for the 
 hips, are very harrow, re- 
 ■ ttimdMg-one of a Grey- 
 hbiirid(. the lower extrem- 
 ities are very much longer 
 than the upper, and the 
 elongated hands in some 
 species show the forefin- 
 ger to be connected with 
 the middle finger by 
 means of a membrane. 
 The head is small and 
 egg-shaped, the face very 
 human, the callosities on 
 the hind quarters are 
 small and the tail not vis- 
 ible. Their fur is plenti- 
 ful and sometimes silky ;, 
 the coloring may be 
 black, brown, brownish- 
 gray or cream. All the 
 Gibbons are gifted with 
 an exceedingly strong 
 voice, which they use a 
 great deal in the morning 
 hours. 
 
 Leading The most 
 
 Varieties of remarkable 
 
 the Gibbon, of the Long- 
 armed Apes are : the Sia- 
 mang {Hylobates syndac- 
 tylus), the Hoolock 
 
 i Hylobates hoolock), the 
 .ar or White-h a n d e d 
 Gibbon {Hylobates lar), the Ungko {Hylobates raf- 
 flesii) and the Wau-wau or Oa {Hylobates variegatus). 
 The largest of the tribe is the Siamang, which pos- 
 sesses a soft black coat of fur, and a pouch at the 
 throat, which he inflates in screaming, to strengthen 
 his voice. His native country is Sumatra. The Hoo- 
 look, a trifle smaller than the Siamang, is usually 
 black with the exception of a white band on the 
 forehead ; although there are several lighter kinds. 
 He has no pouch, and inhabits India. The Ungko, 
 which has his home in Sumatra and is a rarer animal, 
 shows still greater varieties of coloring. He, as well 
 as the Siamang, is found sometimes as high as three 
 thousand feet above sea-level in the mountain-forests. 
 The Wau-wau has a face of a bluish-black hue, the 
 
 THE WAU-WAU. Native of the great Asiatic islands, and is also 
 
 known as the Silvery Gibbon, from the coloring of its fur. It is among the 
 most agile of all its group and can easily swing through the air from tree- 
 branch to tree-branch, a distance of fifty feet or more. The depth of the chin 
 and the two prominent ridges on the forehead give to the face a rather unpleas- 
 ant appearance, but in captivity the animal is amiable and readily attaches 
 itself to its master. {Hylobates variegatus.) 
 
 Astonishing 
 
 Agility of 
 
 Gibbons. 
 
 head, the breast, and the inner sides of the arms and 
 legs being dark brown, the rest of the body lighter. 
 He inhabits the Malay Peninsula, together with the 
 Lar, but is also found in Sumatra and Borneo. The 
 frame of the Long-armed Apes is especially adapted 
 for climbing. They are possessed of every qualifica- 
 tion necessary for rapid, protracted and agile climb- 
 ing and jumping. The large chest is endowed with 
 capacious lungs, which dp not tire or give out when 
 the blood circulates faster during active exercise, 
 the strong lower extremities give the necessary im- 
 petus for long leaps, the long arms lend security in 
 
 the seizing of a branch 
 destined to be the next 
 point of support, and 
 which might easily be 
 missed with shorter arms. 
 How long these arms are 
 proportionately is best 
 seen by comparison with 
 Man. The latter, extend- 
 ing his arms, takes in a 
 width equal to his length; 
 the Gibbon, double his 
 length. A Man standing 
 erect, touches the middle 
 of his thigh ; a Gibbon, 
 his ankle-joint. Of 
 course these arms are no 
 fit instruments for walk- 
 ing ; they are only in- 
 tended for climbing. 
 Therefore, the walk of a 
 Long-armed Ape is but 
 an awkward balancing of 
 the hind legs, a clumsy 
 waddling, while its move- 
 ments in climbing and 
 dancing among the 
 branches are full of life 
 and grace, seemingly 
 knowing no bounds and 
 ignoring the laws of grav- 
 ity. On the ground the 
 Gibbons are slow and ex- 
 tremely clumsy. There 
 they are awkward and 
 out of place ; in the trees 
 they are swift as birdst 
 All narrators are unani- 
 mous in their admiration 
 of the climbing accom- 
 plishments of the Long- 
 armed Apes, in which 
 they excel every other 
 species. 
 Duvaucel relates with what incredible 
 rapidity and assurance the Wau-wau 
 climbs a bamboo-cane, a tree top or a 
 branch, swings to and fro on it, and then flings him- 
 self through space, covering distances of forty to fifty 
 feet with the greatest ease, flying like an arrow or a 
 bird. It looks as if the consciousness of this incom- 
 parable agility gives him great pleasure, for he takes 
 immense leaps that he could easily avoid ; sometimes 
 changing his direction in the air, hanging on to the 
 nearest branch and throwing himself forward again. 
 It really produces the impression of magic, as if he 
 could fly without wings, and lived more in the air 
 than in the trees. What could such a being do on 
 the ground ? He is a stranger there, and only visits 
 
24 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 it to allay his thirst. His home is in the air, where 
 he enjoys peace and security, easily escapes every 
 enemy and, of a verity, lives and luxuriates in the 
 enjoyment of motion. 
 The Natural Study of these animals in the wild state 
 Traits is extremely difficult, as they are very 
 
 of Gibbons, shy and seldom leave the depths of 
 their native forests. Only a good telescope — an in- 
 strument indispensable to the observer of all of the 
 more timid ani- ^ _^ 
 
 mals-enables one 
 to see a little of 
 their life. In this 
 way it has been 
 discovered that 
 the mothers carry 
 their little ones to 
 the river, where, 
 in spite of great 
 screaming, they 
 proceed to wash 
 and afterwards 
 •dry them, taking 
 as much pains in 
 the whole process 
 as we might de- 
 sire to be lavished 
 on some human 
 children. 
 
 At sunrise and 
 sunset they usual- 
 ly join their loud 
 voices in such a 
 concert as to 
 deafen a near- 
 by observer, and 
 frighten any one 
 not used to this 
 curious music. 
 They are the 
 alarm clocks of 
 the Malay moun- 
 taineers, and the 
 
 greatest annoy- UESINE COLOBUS and black COIOBUS. These monkeys are found in the deep woods ^^ brOUghta 
 
 ance of the town of Africa. The Bear-Uke appearance gave to the Ursine Colobus its name. The cheek bones and isiamang nearly 
 
 inhabitants, chin are covered with long; white hair which stands outward or downward as shown in the picture. aS far aS EuropC 
 
 whose suburban ^' '^ ^^^^ timid and flees at the approach of Man. The Black Colobus, like the Ursine, has stunted and SaVS that in 
 
 !•£ it. thumbs and the fur is thick, long and black. (See chapter on " Dog-shaped Monkeys.") u i a- u_ 
 
 summer life they ^ '. f e. ^ y i ^ short time he 
 
 manage to spoil. It is said that their cries are heard made his way into the affections of all his fellow- 
 
 a mile away. Captive Long-armed Apes both with travelers. He died before they reached England 
 
 and without the cheek-pouches have been heard to and was mourned by the entire crew. Gibbons 
 
 of a Turkey. He made cries denoting joy as well 
 as anger. The female Ungko in London sometimes 
 cried in a peculiarly harmonious manner. She began, 
 with E, ascending and descending a full octave m 
 chromatics. In ascending the notes became slower 
 and slower ; in descending they followed m quick 
 succession, the finale being a piercing yell. The 
 regularity, assurance and rapidity of this perform- 
 ance invariably excited the enthusiastic admiration 
 
 of the audience. 
 Opinions of ob- 
 servers as to the 
 intellectual quali- 
 ties of the Long- 
 armed Apes are 
 divided. Duvau- 
 cel calls the 
 Siamang slow, 
 stupid, awkward, 
 lazy, cowardly 
 and uninteresting, 
 indifferent toward 
 his keepers, and 
 incapable of af- 
 fection as well as 
 revenge. Forbes, 
 on the contrary, 
 praises his tame- 
 ness and familiar- 
 ity: "The pretty, 
 caressing way he 
 had of encircling 
 my neck with his 
 long arms and 
 leaning his head 
 on my breast, 
 emitting a satis- 
 fied little grunt, 
 was very prepos- 
 sessing." , B e n - 
 nett also judges 
 him in a more 
 favorable light. 
 
 utter very loud shrieks. 
 
 Bennett, a careful observer, had a living Siamang 
 in his possession, and noticed that when he was 
 excited he projected his lips like a funnel, inflated 
 his pouches and made a sound resembling the gobble 
 
 are rarely seen in captivity, even in their native 
 country. They cannot bear the loss of freedom, 
 and when deprived of it they constantly long for 
 their native forests and their plays and become more 
 and more quiet and sad, until finally they die. 
 
W/:<JtrLei:^. * 
 
 BABOONS, 
 
^be inarrow:*ino0eb Hpea— (tontfnue^♦ 
 
 THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS. 
 
 The second group of the Narrow-nosed Apes consists of the Dog- 
 shaped Monkeys {Cynopithecini) . Their distinguishing features are the 
 forward projection of the snout especially noticeable in the lower tribes, 
 tjie shorter arms, the frequent occurrence of a tail and cheek-pouches, 
 and the regular existence of callosities on the hinder quarters. In other 
 respects they show a great variety of structure, ranging from the elon- 
 gated shape of the Slender Monkeys to the bulky form of the Baboons. 
 Where Dog- They are natives of the warm countries of the Old World, 
 Shaped especially India, from the Himalaya Mountains south. 
 Monkeys Live. Cochin China, the Malay Archipelago, Southern Arabia 
 and the whole of Africa, with the exception of the Eastern Sahara 
 country. They are the most actiye of their family, clever, but in the 
 majority of cases malicious and indecent. They do a great deal of 
 damage, plundering plantations and orchards in the boldest manner, and 
 sometimes exciting general fear by their malicious propensities. By the 
 people of some of the countries which they inhabit they are looked upon 
 with the- greatest contempt, while among others religious superstition 
 invests them with the attributes of sanctity. 
 
 SLENDER OR SACRED MONKEYS. 
 
 Among the Dog-shaped Monkeys we will first turn to the Slender or 
 
 THE FBIAMUS 
 MONKEY. — A native of 
 
 Ceylon, very active and intel- 
 ligent, and Is aboutsixteen _ , ,, - , , r- -.r \ i • i .1 • ■ i- . 
 
 inches long, with a tail twen- Sacred Monkeys \Semnopithecus) , which are, as their name indicates, 
 
 ty inches in length. ^Hs color glightly built, and are endowed with long, fine extremities and a very 
 
 of brown, and'its lips, chin long tail, a Small, high head, a face devoid of hair, and a short snout, pro- 
 
 and whiskers are nearly pure white. This ani- .^^ided with Small cheek-pouches. Their callosities are Very small. The 
 
 mal makes prodigious swings through the air , . , , • ...,,.,„ 
 
 and easily escapes . pursuit. ( Semnojiithecus last molar tooth in the lower jaw IS furnished With hve cusps. 
 ""'"''•^ ■ skeleton in its slenderness reminds one of that of the Gibbons. 
 
 The 
 The 
 
 hands have long fingers, but the thumbs are short or very little developed, and not adapted for grasping. 
 The hair is wonderfully fine, its coloring agreeable, and in one tribe peculiar; and the, hair of the head 
 is sometimes considerably longer than that of the body. 
 
 They are found in the southern part of the continent of Asia, Ceylon and the islands of the Indian 
 Ocean. Here they live in more or less numerous troops in the forests, preferring the banks of a river or 
 the neighborhood of villages or plantations, and being universally protected by the natives they lead an 
 exceedingly enjoyable life. 
 
 The foremost place among the Slender or Sacred Monkeys belongs to the Hoonuman, or Hulman, the 
 Sacred Monkey of the Hindoos {Semnopithecus entellus), which is the most common of all the Ape species 
 
 (25) 
 
^6 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 in the greater portion of India. He continues to 
 •spread, as he is not only protected and petted, but is 
 also imported into various parts of that country in 
 order to perpetuate his species. His length is from 
 -three to four feet, and his tail is as long, or even 
 longer, than this. The fur is cream-colored and the 
 naked parts have a dark violet tint. The face, hands 
 .and feet — as much of them as is covered with hair — 
 and a stiff crest of hair over the eyes, are black, 
 <while the short beard is creamy. 
 
 The Hoonuman The Hoonuman occupies a very high 
 in Hindoo place among the innumerable deities 
 Myttiology. of the Hindoos, and has enjoyed this 
 honor since time immemorial. Tradition holds that 
 the giant Rama carried off 
 Sita, the wife of Thri-Rama, 
 and brought her to the 
 Island of Ceylon; but a 
 Monkey rescued the lady 
 , and brought her back to her 
 husband, and ever since he 
 has been considered a hero. 
 ' There are , a great many 
 ■stories afloat concerning his 
 : remarkable intellect and his 
 .swiftness. For one of their 
 most valued fruits, the man- 
 go, the Hindoos are in- 
 ■deljted to him, as he stole 
 it from the giant's garden. 
 For this theft he was con- 
 *demned to be burned alive 
 — we are not informed by 
 whom — but he extinguished 
 the fire, badly burning his 
 hands and face, which have 
 ever since been black. 
 These are the reasons as- 
 signed by the Brahmins for 
 .adoring him. 
 
 Hoonuman This Monkey 
 Protected by has been stud- 
 Natives. Jed for a great 
 many years in his native 
 rcountry, and that is the rea- 
 son why we came to make 
 ills acquaintance so late. 
 £very person who visited 
 India thought that so com- 
 mon an animal must cer- 
 tainly have been often taken 
 to Europe[or America],and 
 therefore each one neg- 
 lected to stuff him and send 
 him over. Besides, it is 
 ■dangerous to kill this sacred 
 animal ; for only the Mah- 
 jrattas, among Hindoos, hold 
 ;it in low esteem ; all the 
 other Hindoos caring for and protecting it wherever 
 they can. An European who dares attack a Hoonu- 
 man imperils his life, if he is the only foreigner in a 
 Hindoo crowd, for the Monkey is sacred. A reign- 
 ing family boasts descent from it, and its members 
 style themselves " Tailed Ranas," as they maintain 
 that their ancestor was endowed with this, to us, 
 seemingly unnecessary appendage. 
 A High-Ptieed A Portuguese viceroy of India, Cori- 
 Monhey's stantino de Braganza, had in his pos- 
 Tooth. session a Monkey's tooth, taken in 
 war from the treasures of a prince of Ceylon ; and a 
 
 BUSENG OE NEGBO MONKEY." — Lives in large troops in 
 the forests of Java and is hunted vigorously by the natives for its 
 beautiful, long and silky black fur, which is used by the armies of 
 Europe for decorating purposes. The Budengs build rude nests in 
 the tops of the trees and live upon fruits and buds. The mop of 
 hair surrounding the face gives them a peculiar expression. The 
 care and affection of the mother for her young is shown by the art- 
 ist in the picture. The length of a full-grown Budeng is about five 
 feet, the tail coming in for more than half of the measurement. 
 {Semnopiihecus maurus.) 
 
 special embassy of the king of Pegu came to offer 
 him soo,ooo cruzados for the valuable jewel. So 
 hich a price was probably never before or since 
 offered for a tooth. The more astonishing is it to 
 know that the Europeans did not accept it The 
 viceroy held a meeting of his counselors ; the lay- 
 members of the council tried to persuade him to 
 accept so great a sum, but a priest protested against 
 it He claimed that such a barter would promote 
 heathen superstition, and his opinion prevailed. 
 This might have been of no importance to us, if 
 the tooth had not been destroyed on this occasion 
 and thereby lost a valuable clue to Indian theology 
 and to natural science. This one tooth might have 
 
 served very well for the 
 classification of the Monkey 
 to which it once belonged. , 
 Hindoo. Vener- The sacred an- 
 ation for the imal is held in 
 Hoonuman. as high esteem 
 to-day as in by-gone times. 
 The Hindoos complacently 
 look on when the impudent 
 fellows plunder their gar- 
 dens and rob their homes 
 and regard with disfavor 
 every one who dares to in- 
 sult a Monkey. Tavernier 
 relates how a young Dutch- 
 man, recently, arrived from 
 Europe, shot one of these 
 animals from a window; 
 whereupon there was a 
 frightful commotion among 
 the natives, which was with 
 the greatest, difificulty 
 allayed. The servants at 
 once handed in their res- 
 ignations, being fully con- 
 vinced that the foreigner 
 would be killed and they 
 probably along with him. 
 Duvaucel also says that in 
 the beginning it was very 
 hard for him to kill one of 
 these Monkeys, as the na- 
 tives always contrived to 
 prevent it. Forbes assures 
 us that in Duboy there are 
 as many Monkeys as there 
 are people. These creat- 
 ures inhabit the top story of 
 the houses and make life a 
 burden to foreigners. When 
 a native has a grudge 
 against his neighbor, he puts 
 some rice or corn on his en- 
 emy's roof, selecting the ap- 
 proach of the rainy season, 
 when it is incumbent on every landlord to repair his 
 housetop. As soon as the Monkeys see the prepared 
 food, they not only eat what is within easy reach, 
 but also tear up the tiles to get at the grains that 
 have fallen into the crevices. As at this time of the 
 year the roofers are in great demand, it is next to 
 impossible to procure one, so the house stands open 
 to the rain and the furniture is spoiled. 
 
 Hospital Not only the well Monkeys but also 
 
 for Sich the sick ones are cared for in that coun- 
 
 Monl<eya. try. Tavernier found a hospital for 
 
 Monkeys, Oxen, Cows, etc., in Ahmadabad. All the 
 
THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS—SLENDER OR SACRED. 
 
 2,7 
 
 balconies are strewn from time to time with rice, 
 millet, dates, fruits and sugar-cane — all for the 
 Monkeys. These latter are so bold that they not 
 only pillage the gardens, but sometimes enter the 
 houses at meal-time and take the food out of peo- 
 ple's hand^. A missionary declared that only by 
 constant watchfulness was he able to protect his 
 clothing and other JDclongings from these thieves. 
 It is very probable that the sacred character of the 
 
 The Budeng or This group has yet other remarkable 
 Negro Monkey rnembers. The Budeng or Negro- 
 of Java. Monkey of the Javanese {Semno- 
 pithecus maurus) is a beautiful animal. In mature 
 age he is black and glossy, his face and hands being- 
 like velvet, his back like silk.. The head is covered 
 by a peculiar cap of hair falling on the forehead and 
 encircling the cheeks. New-born Monkeys of this 
 species are of a cream color, and only the ends o£ 
 
 
 I 
 
 HOONUMAN MONKEYS, The most 
 
 sacred of all the sacred Monkeys of India. 
 Here are portrayed a troop of Hoonumans in 
 their arboreal home in the hot lowlands of the 
 upper Ganges. The full-grown Hoonuman is 
 from three to four feet in length, with a tail 
 still longer than the body. It is a handsome 
 creature, the fur being cream-colored, except 
 parts of the heacj^and the extremities of the 
 
 Monkeys is connected in some way with the belief in 
 the transmigration of souls. It seems that the Hin- 
 doos think that after death their souls, as well as 
 that of their king, enter the body of some Monkey. 
 Notwithstanding their impudence these animals are 
 attractive and handsome creatures. The missionary, 
 John, says that he never saw more beautiful Monk- 
 eys than the Hoonumans. Their friendliness towards 
 each other and their enormous leaps attract the atten- 
 tion of every observer. 
 
 limbs, which are black, while the bare portions- 
 are of a deep violet hue. It is protected on 
 account of its supposed sanctity, for the na- 
 tives dare not molest it. It is one of the great- 
 est thieves in the world, robbing shops, houses 
 and fields and standing in no dread of Man, 
 whom it seems to regard as a sort of servant 
 to provide for its greedy wants. (Semnofiihe- 
 cus entellus.) 
 
 the hairs on the lower part of the back, the upper 
 part of the tail and its tuft take a darker tinge. 
 Soon the dark color begins to spread, and in a few 
 months the hands, the head and the tuft of the tail 
 are black, and then the whole coat gradually as- 
 sumes the color of mature age. The length of this 
 handsome creature is about five feet, the tail coming 
 in for more than half of this measurement. 
 
 " The Budeng," says Horsfield, " is found in con- 
 siderable numbers in the extensive forests of Java, 
 
-28 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 •One sees whole companies on the tree-tops, a single 
 troop sometimes numbering more than fifty. It is 
 best to study these troops at a distance. At the 
 approach of Man they raise a terrible noise, jump- 
 ing furiously from branch to branch, thereby often 
 breaking strong boughs, which, they throw down at 
 -the pursuer." (?) 
 
 TheBudeng A captive Budeng is a quiet, gentle, 
 in patient creature. In Antwerp a Bu- 
 
 Captiuity. deng lived among Macaques and other 
 little Monkeys, which were forever teasing and tor- 
 menting him, and he never thought of retaliating. 
 The scene was very grotesque when a Guenon, 
 barely a year old, compelled the big Monkey to 
 attend him, and brought him to order by pitilessly 
 •boxing his ears and pinching him. One cannot 
 -doubt that good-nature is the essential quality of 
 the Budeng mind, and very nearly misses that spirit 
 of mischief and malice that appertains to all others 
 of the Monkey tribe. The Budeng also seems to 
 -suffer much from a foreign climate. In captivity 
 abroad he enjoys every glimpse of the sun, and is 
 happy when he can bask but for a few moments in 
 the rays of that life-giving orb, whose glow bestows 
 -on his native country all the splendor of the tropics. 
 
 The Long-Nosed There is another tribe that is now 
 Monkey of separated from the Slender Monkeys 
 Borneo. proper, the Long-nosed or Proboscis 
 Monkey, or Kahau (Nasalis larvatus). In general 
 this Monkey has the structure of the Slender or Sa- 
 cred Monkeys ; but the long nose, which is movable 
 4n every direction and capable of being projected 
 or drawn in, lends his countenance a highly peculiar 
 aspect. The body is slender, the tail very long, the 
 extremities are -nearly of equal length, the cheek- 
 |)ouches are lacking. The nose forms a hook-like 
 projection over the upper lip, is rather broad in its 
 middle part, pointed at the end and shows a slight 
 furrow in the median line ; the nostrils are very 
 large and can be considerably dilated. In the young 
 animal this organ is small and blunt, and reaches its 
 ■full size only in the adult Monkey. According to C. 
 Bock, it is a peculiarity distinguishing only the adult 
 iinale, and lacking in the female. The fur is thick 
 ■and soft ; the hair is short on the parting, longer on 
 the back of the head and sides of the face, and on 
 the neck it goes to form a collar. The color of this 
 Monkey is red. The extreme length of the Long- 
 nosed Monkey is five feet. The females are smaller, 
 but are said to be capable of reproduction before 
 they have attained their complete growth. They 
 live in bands in Borneb. Their life in the wild state 
 is very little known. According to Wurmb, they 
 assemble together in large troops at mornings and 
 evenings and howl, the cry bearing some resem- 
 blance to the word " Kahau," whence they derive 
 their name. Although at first glance the Kahau's 
 nose looks like a burlesque of the same organ in 
 Man, the real resemblance is slight, for the nostrils 
 are at the extremity of the nose. 
 
 THE THUMBLESS MONKEYS. 
 
 The African relatives of the Slender Monkeys, the 
 Thumbless Monkeys {Colobus), are striking animals, 
 distinguished by their peculiar color, and queer but 
 beautiful manes. India shows more life and color 
 than arid Africa, and so the Slender Monkeys are of 
 a lighter and brighter hue than the Thumbless Monk- 
 eys, though one cannot say that the latter are less 
 pleasing to the eye than the former. On the whole, 
 
 the differences between the two groups are but slights * 
 The Thumbless Monkeys are mainly distinguished 
 from the Slender Monkeys in having the thumbs on 
 the two fore-limbs docked or stunted. The body is 
 slender and graceful, the snout is short, the tail very :'. .,/■ 
 long and the limbs also long and slight ; the cheek- : -V 
 pouches are lacking. 
 
 Guereza, Among these animals we ought to con- • 
 
 Handsomest sider the Guereza. {CoMus guereza) first. , 
 
 of Monkeys. He is indisputably the handsomest of 
 all Monkeys. His color is exceedingly pretty, and 
 his hair as peculiar and, at the same time, striking in 
 appearance as that of any other animal in the Monkey- 
 family. The merit of discovery of this beautiful crea. 
 ture belongs to the distinguished German, Ruppeli, 
 who found it on his Abyssinian tour, in the province 
 of Godsham, and gave it, for a scientific name, 
 that employed by the natives. This Monkey was 
 previously very little known. Hiob Ludolf mea- 
 tioned it in his valuable work on Ethiopia. Ruppeli 
 saw a living Guereza and so could write about it from - 
 his own experience. After him several other natural- 
 ists have observed it. I found the skin of a Guereza 
 on the lov/er White Nile, in the possession of a Has- 
 sanie, who used it as a tobacco-pouch, and who told 
 me that farther south the Guereza was by no means 
 a rarity. Heuglin also saw it frequently in Abyssiniai'f 
 and along the White Nile, and had reliable reports 
 concerning the Monkey's existence in quite different 
 parts of Central Africa ; hence we may conclude that . 
 the animal ranges over a larger area than is com- 
 monly supposed. Thompson found it in the Massai 
 country, and, according to Johnston, Hans Meyer 
 saw it on the Kilima Njaro, at a height of three ," 
 thousand feet above sea level, and also farther to 
 the south in the Kahe country. 
 
 The Guereza is indeed a magnificent animal. On 
 a beautiful black velvet body, a white head-band, a 
 white neck, chin, throat, belt or mane, and tail-tuft , 
 stand out in magnificent relief. But each white hair 
 has also brown ringlets on it, and this produces a 
 silver-gray impression of the whole. The mane, if I 
 may so call his side-belt, hangs on both sides like a 
 beautiful Bedouin cape and serves as an indescribably 
 handsome adornment. 
 
 Hunting The hunting of the Guereza is attended 
 tiie with a great many diiificulties. He is nearly ' 
 
 Guereza. secure from all dangers in his favorite 
 haunts, the tops of high trees. A rifle in the hands 
 of a native is a comparatively harmless thing, and 
 it is lucky that such is the case ; for if the Abys- 
 sinians knew how to handle a rifle, they probably 
 would have already exterminated this fine animal. 
 In former times he was much persecuted, for a 
 shield covered with a Guereza skin was a thing,,, 
 much valued and consequently much sought after. 
 The shields of the Abyssinians and of the other East 
 African tribes were of oblong shape and were made - i 
 of the hides of Antelopes or Hippopotami ; and .i 
 these were covered with the side and back skin of 
 the Guereza and in this way showed the entire mane 
 as their chief ornament. ^ ; 
 
 In Gondar, the capital of Abyssinia, a Guereza 
 skin used to command the price of one dollar, a 
 sum which might have bought half a dozen fat 
 sheep. Now their value has fallen, for fortunately . 
 the shields are no longer in use. I say fortunately, ■ 
 for in this way the attractive creature will be spared 
 and escape the mania of persecution, which man 
 everywhere exhibits against " his first-born brothers." 
 So far as I know living Guerezas have only twice 
 
rnwn wnsirTi MftWKEYS These grotesque looking Monkeys are natives of Borneo, and are sometimes called the Proboscis Monkeys, the organ 
 
 LONG-NOSED MONKEYS. /™f^ ^roiesq ^ direction. This illustration is taken from life and shows them as they appear in the 
 
 ^rom which th^ ---^'^^"^^f •^^^"^'"^^S^^ °fl„'^^^^ well as in their native forests. In their wild state, troops of these Monkeys 
 
 .oolog,cal gardens m B^'-^^^'J^^^^^a^P^'J^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ are'apparently following the same custom. (Nasaiis larvatus.) 
 
 assemble together mornings s 
 
 (29) 
 
30 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 been taken to Europe [and none have ever reached 
 America]. 
 
 Other Further members of this group, of which 
 Thumbless there are eleven in all, are the Ursine 
 Monkeys. Colobus ( Colobus ursinus) and the Black 
 Colobus ( Colobus Sataruis). The first differs from the 
 Guereza in the absence of the white mane, in longer 
 hair and a nearly tuftless tail. He is a native of 
 Upper Guinea and Fernando Po. The Black Colo- 
 bus is uniformly black and is confined mainly to 
 Fernando Po. 
 
 THE GUENONS. 
 
 Africa harbors not only the largest, the cleverest, 
 and the ugliest of the Apes of the Old World, but 
 also the most beautiful and the most sympathetic. 
 To the latter undoubtedly belong the Guenons. 
 {Cercopithecus) . We see 
 this or that member of the 
 family in every zoological 
 garden, in every wander- 
 ing collection of Monk- 
 eys and frequently as 
 merry companions of 
 people who are fond of 
 animal pets. 
 
 Home Habits The native 
 and Charaoteris- country of 
 tics of Guenons. this group 
 is the torrid zone of Af- 
 rica, but they are never 
 found on the islands of 
 this continent. Wherever 
 there are virgin forests, 
 the Guenons are sure" to 
 be found in great num- 
 bers. Several species are 
 found as well in the east 
 as the west and the cen- 
 ter of the continent, but 
 the majority come from 
 the west; although a 
 great many have their 
 home in Abyssinia and 
 the Upper Nile country. 
 
 They are small, grace- 
 ful creatures, have short, 
 fine hands with long 
 thumbs, a long tail devoid 
 of tuft, capacious cheek- 
 pouches and large callos- 
 ities. Their coloring is 
 usually bright. There are 
 about twenty different 
 kinds in this group. In 
 as far north as the i6th 
 
 SIANA MONKEYS. These handsome creatures are found on the 
 
 Guinea coast, the banks of the Congo and the Island of Fernando Po. They 
 are named for Diana, goddess of the moon, because of the white crescent on 
 the forehead. Little is known of the Diana Monkey in its wild state, on account 
 of its great agility and its fear of Man, but it is frequently seen and studied in 
 captivity, where the disposition varies greatly, some of the species being gay 
 and amiable, while others are cross andi sullen. ( Cerco^ithecus diana.) 
 
 the Nile country they go 
 degree of latitude ; in the 
 west and east they are found nearly as far as the sea- 
 shore. They always prefer damp woods, traversed 
 by rivers, to the dry, mountainous regions. They 
 also show a decided predilection for the neighbor- 
 hood of cultivated fields. One may unfailingly count 
 on finding Guenons where there are Parrots, and 
 may also look for the latter when these little Monk- 
 £)'s are around. 
 
 l\/lerry and The Guenons are among the most 
 Sociable Traits sociable, lively, merry and good- 
 of Guenons. humored of the Monkeys. They 
 nearly always live in rather large troops ; single fam- 
 ilies being seldom encountered. It is really amus- 
 ing to fall in with a troop of these animals in a for- 
 est. The life, the noise, the fights, the quarrels, the 
 
 lumping and running, thievmg and pilfermg the 
 faces and contortions are a sight to see. They have 
 a government of their own, and the strongest of 
 their own kind is the 9nly master they acknowledge ; 
 no right is lawful but the one pertammg to the old 
 Monkey patriarch, by virtue of his sharp teeth and 
 strong hands. There is no danger from which they 
 deem escape impossible. They make the best of 
 every situation, never fear hunger or privation, and 
 spend their life in perennial contentment and joy. 
 They are possessed of an unlimited carelessness and 
 a grotesque seriousness. No goal seems out of their 
 reach, no tree-top too high for them and no treasure 
 is secure in their presence, for they recognize no 
 right of property. It is, therefore, not astonishing 
 that the natives of East Soudan should refer to them 
 with the greatest scorn and anger ; neither is it sur- 
 
 prising that outsiders 
 think them the most 
 amusing little creatures 
 in the world. 
 
 It is impossible to miss 
 a troop of Guenons in the 
 forest. Even if one 
 should not hear the vary- 
 ing call of the chief, he 
 soon detects the noise 
 produced by the running 
 and jumping society in 
 the trees, and if one 
 should escape that, he is 
 sure to see them run, 
 jump, bask in the sun and 
 seek each other's fleas, 
 for they never so much 
 as think of hiding them- 
 selves. They are not met 
 with on the ground unless 
 something to eat is to be 
 found there ; they live in 
 the trees and make their 
 way from one branch to 
 the other. Should their 
 road lead through the 
 thickest and sharpest of 
 thorns, it is a matter of 
 perfect indifference to 
 them. 
 
 Guenons It is very 
 on a Stealing interesting 
 Expedition, to the ob- 
 server to watch a troop 
 bent on a stealing expe- 
 dition. The boldness with 
 "which they proceed always charmed me as much 
 as it disgusted the natives. An old, experienced 
 male Monkey assumes the leadership and shows the 
 way to the corn-field ; the females with children 
 carry them upon their backs, the little ones hooking 
 their diminutive tails around the tails of their par- 
 ents. In the beginning a great deal of caution is ob- 
 served, and they use the tree-tops as far as possible. 
 The old gentleman is always first, and the crowd fol' 
 lows step by step, selecting not only the same trees, 
 but even the same branches as he. From time to 
 time the wise leader climbs to the extreme top of a 
 tree and surveys the neighborhood. If the sight 
 that meets his eye is favorable, he utters a few assur- 
 ing, gurgling sounds , if not, he gives a note of alarm. 
 The Monkeys alight from the tree nearest the chosen 
 field and scamper to their paradise. The activity 
 
GUEBEZA MONKEYS. The most beautiful type of all the Monkey tribes and are natives of Abyssinia. Nature has given the Guerezas a most 
 
 magnificent covering of soft and beautiful fur, the black and white markings of «rhich as well as the black tail with white tuft are faithfully brought out in this 
 picture. This pair of strikingly handsome Guerezas are represented securely perched in their forest home, where most of their time is spent, and where 
 they are able to enjoy practical security from the natives, who are poor marksmen. (Colotus gtieresa.) 
 
 (31) 
 
32 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 they display on their arrival is unparalleled. Rap- 
 idly they go to work, tear off ears of corn or durra, 
 shell them and fill their cheek-pouches to the utmost. 
 Then they begin to be more fastidious in their choice. 
 All the ears and cobs are first carefully smelled, and if 
 they dd not come up to their standard, which happens 
 rather often, they are thrown away, and the waste- 
 fulness that is a characteristic of all Monkeys is ex- 
 ercised to the highest degree. It may be estimated 
 that out of ten ears one is eaten. As a rule, they 
 take but a few grains from each ear and throw the 
 remainder away. This is just what excites the wrath 
 of the natives. If they feel themselves secure, the 
 mothers let their children play with each other, with- 
 out relaxing the extreme watchfulness they are ac- 
 customed to bestow upon their pets ; not one thinks 
 of looking out for danger that might befall the 
 whole band, for all place implic:t confidence in their 
 leader. From time to time he stops in his meal, 
 stands upright like a man, and surveys the ground. 
 After each of these inspections one hears his as- ' 
 suring, gurgling sounds, if he has seen nothing that 
 threatens. If he scents danger, he utters an inde- 
 scribable, trembling note of warning. Immediately 
 his subjects rally, each mother snatches up her child, 
 and every one tries to grasp as much as he can in 
 a hurry. I have seen a single Monkey bearing 
 as many as five large ears of corn along, two being 
 held in the right fore-arm and the others in the 
 hands and feet, and the corn touching the ground 
 as the Monkey ran along. If the danger becomes 
 pressing, the load is thrown down with a wry face, 
 though the last ear is kept until the pursuer is very 
 near and they need both hands and feet for climbing. 
 
 Boldness Their way lies to the nearest tree. I 
 of the have seen them climb up an isolated 
 
 Guenons. tree, and then descend from it and pro- 
 ceed on their way upon the ground when I pressed 
 them hard. Once they reach the forest they are 
 secure from all pursuit, for their agility in climbing 
 is nearly as great as that of the Long-armed Apes. 
 There seems to be no obstacle that can stop them ; 
 not even thorns and hedges, nor long distances be- 
 tween trees. They are equal to anything. It is very 
 astonishing, for we do not know of a single ani- 
 mal in our own temperate climate that could do 
 anything approximating the feats which they easily 
 perform. The leader is always in front, making the 
 whole troop slacken or increase speed by his gur- 
 gling sounds. Fleeing Monkeys never show the 
 slightest fear or discomfiture ; and their presence 
 of mind is really remarkable. One might say with- 
 out exaggeration, that if they wish it, danger does 
 not exist for them. Only Man with his long range 
 rifles can overcome them ; escape from beasts of 
 prey is easy, and they know how to defend them- 
 selves from birds of prey. 
 
 Hunting In East Soudan the Guenons are not 
 the hunted, but are caught in traps, consist- 
 
 Guenon. jng 6f nets enclosing some dainty food. 
 The Monkeys try to take the bait and entangle 
 themselves in the nets, so that they cannot get away. 
 Europeans have no difficulty in shooting them, as' 
 they think of flight only after a number of their 
 troop have been killed. They fear Men very little, 
 or not at all. I have often seen them look very 
 coolly at people on foot or on horseback, and at 
 Horses or Camels, while they would utter their cry 
 of danger as soon as a Dog came in sight. 
 
 I experienced what a great many others do on 
 a Monkey hunt, and became thoroughly disgusted 
 
 with it. I once shot a Guenon that was looking at 
 me ; it fell off the tree and sat on the ground, calmly, 
 almost humanly wiping the blood from its face with 
 one hand, and the impression it made on me was so 
 painful that I ran towards it and stabbed it twice 
 with my hunting-knife, to relieve it from its suffer- 
 ing. Since then I never have shot another small 
 Monkey, and advise nobody else to do so, unless it 
 be-for scientific research. I felt as if I had murdered 
 a human being, and the face of the dying Monkey 
 has haunted me ever since. 
 
 Guenons These Monkeys have little to fear 
 
 Dread Nothing from beasts of prey. They are- 
 
 but Reptiles, much too quick for them ; only the 
 Leopard can sometimes overtake an incautious- 
 young Monkey. As to birds of prey, the Monk- 
 eys ward them off by their united efforts.^ 
 
 They have a great horror of everything that 
 creeps, and especially of Snakes. I have forgotten 
 to mention that these Monkeys ruthlessly destroy 
 all birds' nests and are passionately fond of eggs- 
 and young birds. When they purpose robbing the 
 nest of one of those birds that breed in caverns or 
 hollows, they proceed with the utmost caution, for , 
 Snakes are extremely likely to sleep in such a nest. 
 I have often seen them carefully investigate a hollow- 
 tree, to see if a Snake was, perchance, in hiding there. 
 
 First, they looked in as far as possible, then they 
 listened, and then hesitatingly put in an arm. A 
 Monkey never yet made a bold plunge in such a. 
 case, but he inserts his arm by degrees, all the time 
 watching and listening, and dreading the appearance 
 of a Serpent. 
 
 The time of reproduction seems not to be limited 
 to a particular season with the Guenons. In every 
 troop one sees infants at the breast, children and 
 half-grown Monkeys no longer in need of maternal- 
 supervision. -Guenons reproduce well and thrive ia 
 zoological gardens [in Europe or America] if they . 
 are well taken care of, though they are not as hardy 
 as the Macaques and Baboons. 
 
 The Guenon During my stay in Africa, which lasted 
 in several years, I always kept a great 
 
 Captivity, many MOnkeys, and among them sev- 
 eral Guenons ; and I may say that every one of then% 
 had an individuality of its own, and was an attract- 
 ive and interesting object for investigation. One 
 Monkey would be quarrelsome and bite at every 
 provocation ; a second would be gentle and tame ;. 
 a third might be peevish, a fqurth always cheerful. 
 One had a quiet and harmless disposition, while 
 another was cunning, scheming and forever plotting- 
 some nasty tricks. But they all had this in common,. 
 that, they liked to play practical jokes on larger ani- 
 mals, while they protected and cared for little ones> 
 They knew how to make the most of every situa- 
 tion. Daily they gave me proofs of good commort 
 sense and of cunning reflection, but also of great 
 good-nature and the tenderest solicitude for weak 
 or helpless animals, and several of them gained 
 my sincere affection. Several groups among the 
 Guenons are very sympathetic. 
 
 The Green One of the best known species, ranging 
 Monkey of from' Abyssinia to the sources of the 
 Abyssinia. Nile, is the Green Monkey {Cercopith- 
 ecus sabaeus) , called Abulandj by the Arabs and by 
 others the Beautiful Haired. He is four feet long,, 
 the tail being more than half of this length. Thp- 
 hair on the upper part of the body is of a gray-green- 
 tint ; the arms, legs and tail are gray ; the short 
 beard and the under and inner surface of the legs are 
 
6BEEN MOITKEYS. The artist has put life and action into the above picture, which shows a troop of Green Monkeys fleeing from a 
 
 field of grain they have been robbing, a species of thievery of whfch these monkeys are very fond. The knave in the foreground has an ear of 
 corn in his left foot as well as in his left hand, and while making rapid progress is tenaciously holding on to his booty. Just behind him a mother 
 is reaching out for her young one ; and on the fence an old male stands guard, while the other members of the troop are escaping for their lives. 
 The Green Monkeys are natives of Senegal and jealously protect their territory from other monkeys. Some of this family are said to have been 
 brought over to the Island of St. Kitts, where they thrive, bemg the only Old World Monkeys living in a wild state in America. They are also 
 sometimes called Beautiful Haired Monkeys, because df the delicate marking of each separate hair of their fur. The under portion of the body 
 and limbs is nearly white, the outer part of the limbs is of a grayish shading, while the hair on the side of the face is a golden yellow. Manj^ 
 Green Monkeys have been taken to Europe and brought to the United States. {Cercopithecus sabaeus.) 
 
 (33) 
 
34 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 ■whitish ; the nose, mouth and eyebrows are black, 
 while the face is of a light brown color. 
 
 The Diana Among the prettiest and most grace- 
 Monhey of ful of the Guenons is the Diana 
 
 Western Africa. Monkey ( Cercopithecus diana) whose 
 color is slate-gray, merging into auburn on the back, 
 •while the under surface of the body and the beard 
 are pure white. He is a native of Western Africa. 
 The name is due to a crescent-shaped white band of 
 long hair stretching across the forehead. The length 
 of its body is about eighteen inches, while its tail 
 is longer. It is found in Guinea and Fernando Po. 
 
 The Blue-Faced The Blue-faced Guenon {Cercopith- 
 Guenon of ecus cephus), called Muido by the na- 
 VJest Africa, tives of Loango, is an inhabitant of 
 ■western Africa. He is of the same size as the Green 
 Monkey, but his coloring is more vivid and pleasing. 
 The back, upper part of the head and neck and the 
 outer sides of the limbs are of an olive-green tint, 
 here and there showing a golden gleam, while the 
 under surface of the body and the inner side of the 
 
 BED, OR PAT AS MONKEY. Native of West Africa, and its color is mainly a delicate yellowish red and 
 
 its face is decidedly humanlike. It has a mustache and full whiskers and Is a very pretty animal. Bruce, who 
 studied it in its wild state, declares that a troop of Red Monkeys watched, from their home in the trees, while his 
 boats were passing up the river, and that they finally became enraged and pelted the voyagers with bits of wood. 
 He adds that when fired at they uttered the most frightful cries but continued the fight, even after several of their 
 comrades were slain. ^Cercopithecus ruder.) 
 
 limbs are bluish-gray. The face is of a beautiful 
 blue, showing a white spot on the upper lip, and en- 
 circled by a beard of flaming yellow, separated from 
 the olive hair on the head by a black stripe. The 
 tail is red from the tip nearly to its root. Robust, 
 healthy Monkeys of this tribe, without distinction 
 of sex, show this striking variety of color in as 
 perfect a manner as if they had been painted or 
 stained. 
 
 They are plentifully found in Lower Guinea, and 
 south from Yumba to the Congo, and are more 
 numerous than any other species. Their favorite 
 haunts are the forests along the coast and deeper 
 in the continent in the damp forests of the moun- 
 tains. 
 
 The Blue-Faced Pechuel-Loesche, who studied this 
 Guenon species, as well as a great many 
 
 Domesticated, others bpth in the wild state and in 
 captivity, gives it as his opinion, that no other 
 
 species of Guenon is so well fitted for domestication. 
 " One Guenon that we called by the native name foi 
 the whole species, Muido, a female, lived in my pos- 
 session for five years. She was very young when I 
 got her, and I took good care to keep her in perfect 
 health. In this Monkey I distinctly saw what an 
 effect experienced care and kind treatment, prac- 
 ticed from earliest youth, have on the Monkey 
 mind and how much ill-nature may be traced to 
 thoughtless teasing and rude jokes. One would have 
 much less cause for complaint of the malice and vio- 
 lence of Monkeys, if they were properly cared for 
 during their childhood. 
 
 " Our Monkey, whose childhood had been care- 
 fully guarded from all pernicious influences, had the 
 freedom of the whole house in Europe. She roamed 
 through all rooms and went over tables and cup- 
 boards, but so cautiously that she never broke any- 
 thing. She climbed out of the windows, performed 
 gymnastics on the porch, ran over the whole roof, 
 and was free to go into the yard and the garden. 
 
 She followed us like a dog 
 on our walks in the woods 
 and meadows, catching 
 Spiders, Butterflies and 
 Grasshoppers (her favorite 
 kinds of diet), and'romped 
 to her heart's content. Her 
 health was evidently much 
 benefited by it, and her con- 
 stitution became so hardy 
 that she could roll about in 
 freshly fallen snow without 
 catching cold. On our walks 
 she liked to invite atten- 
 tion to herself, and she had 
 her likes and dislikes. She 
 never harmed anybody, but 
 delighted to hide in hedges 
 at the approach of some un- 
 suspecting farmer, and then 
 suddenly appear and startle 
 him. She was fond of little 
 Dogs, but avoided large 
 ones ; yet, if they growled 
 at her, she fearlessly jumped 
 on their backs, boxed their 
 ears, and bit and scratched 
 to such good purpose that 
 they hurriedly made their 
 escape. She did not fear 
 Frogs or Lizards, neither 
 If she soiled her hands, she 
 tried to clean them, and if she did not succeed, came 
 to us with a human-like request to perform that 
 office for her. 
 
 " The only thing we could not teach 
 her was to be clean about the 
 house. In everything else she was 
 obedient; she went to sleep in her basket, closed 
 the door of her cage herself, and even when too 
 noisy, would quiet down at a single 'hush!' from 
 us. She was fond of playing with dolls, balls, corks, 
 little pieces of wood, etc. For a long time, she 
 always took one little stick into her basket for the 
 night, putting others carefully away under cup- 
 boards, in the draperies, etc., and regarding- them 
 as her personal property, which nobody had any 
 right to touch. She used her roomy cheek-pouches 
 as a store-room for a great many trinkets. For 
 several little articles she showed a great predilection. 
 
 did she torment them. 
 
 Amusing Traits 
 
 of the Blue- 
 Faced Guenon. 
 
THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS— GUENONS. 
 
 35 
 
 and if we missed them, we knew where they 
 could be found. My wife early began the practice 
 of emptying Muido's cheek-pouches every night. 
 At the beginning, the Monkey resisted these opera- 
 tions but k was not long till she learned to dis- 
 gorge these hidden treasures herself, as soon as 
 my wife took her in her lap. Little stones, peas, 
 coins, beans, nails, corks, thimbles, glass-stoppers 
 and other things were brought to light, and the 
 articles we did not immediately need we gave back, 
 for she never lost anything. She took a great deal 
 of pleasure in looking at pictures, especially colored 
 ones, and attentively watched me turn the leaves. 
 She would swoop down quick as a flash on the 
 
 SOOTY MANGABEY. This Monkey received its name from its color, and ttie mistaken notion that it 
 
 came from Madagascar, where there are no true Monkeys It is a native ot west Africa and, like all the class it 
 represents, has the upper eyelid white, in strong contrast with its sooty color. This Mangabey is easily tamed, 
 and being the finest acrobat in the world, affords endless amusement to those who have the good fortune to observe 
 it Besides it has a fashion of raising its upper lip and showing its teeth, at the same time twistmg its face into 
 the most quaint of grimaces. It is fond of carrying its tail in the manner indicated in the picture, and also of sit- 
 ■ting with its eyelids half closed, in the most affected manner possible. {Cercopithecus fuhgtmsus.) 
 
 picture of a Spider or Grasshopper, but soon canie 
 to know that they were not edible. She would 
 not show any fear at the pictures of Snakes, but 
 knew them for what they were, as we could see by 
 the expression of her face and voice. 
 
 " Her food consisted of everything that came on 
 our table, except milk and sandwiches, for which she 
 had a decided contempt. She also liked ink and she 
 ■would take the pen out of the inkstand, lick it and 
 carefully put it aside ; then she would dip her finger 
 into the ink and lick that until she was satisfied. 
 She was fond of wine and beer, but never drank too 
 much, and gave the preference to beer-foam. Fruits 
 of all kinds were welcome, especially currants, straw- 
 
 berries and gooseberries. She did not care for eggs, 
 and never destroyed a nest. A couple of little birds 
 had their nest on our porch, and she was on quite 
 intimate terms with them, as well as with several 
 others, among which was a Woodpecker, to which 
 we threw crumbs every day, so as to entice it into 
 the room. Her day's work always began at the 
 breakfast-table. As soon as she awoke she threw 
 aside the warm blankets, and hurried to the table, 
 to be in time for the lighting of the lamp under 
 the coffee-pot, and she always received the lighted 
 match and extinguished it with her hands. Then 
 she would warm herself before the coffee-pot, and 
 look at the blue flame of the alcohol, whose flicker- 
 ing fascinated her just as 
 much as the boiling and 
 singing of the water. Af- 
 ter breakfast her mistress 
 brushed her from head to 
 foot, and this operation 
 was so thoroughly agreea- 
 ble to her that she took 
 all the necessary positions 
 herself. The daily bath- 
 ing of the face was liked 
 much less, and the weekly 
 bath, with its soap and 
 scrubbing, was held in 
 detestation. 
 
 Muido's Judg. "She was 
 ment of invariably 
 Human Nature, affected 
 with predilection or antip- 
 athy on first meeting a 
 stranger, never changing 
 the attitude thus assumed, 
 and she always recognized 
 him at subsequent meet- 
 ings. Those that she liked 
 she invited to play with 
 her by gestures, sounds, or 
 by touching their clothing; 
 she would sit in their 
 laps and take delight in 
 being petted. Those that 
 she disliked she treated 
 with indifference ; if they 
 persisted in occupying 
 themselves with her, she 
 at first declined their at- 
 tentions by violent gest- 
 ures ; if that was not suf- 
 ficient, she would lie 
 down, open her mouth 
 wide, show her teeth, 
 grunt and assume threat- 
 ening positions. Then it 
 became necessary to clieck her, lest she go farther 
 and bite. It seemed that she formed her opinion 
 of people from their appearance ; a kindly face, a 
 pleasant voice, calm, aristocratic manners, gained her 
 heart forthwith ; violent gestures, cold looks and a 
 loud, harsh voice were repulsive to her. As to chil- 
 dren, she liked them all without exception. She 
 romped and played with them, and when they be- 
 came too wild she quietly retired. She never bit or 
 scratched a single child ; they were all as personal 
 friends to her. 
 
 " Her affection for my wife was really touching. 
 She regarded herself as my wife's natural protector, 
 and whoever approached the latter or shook hands 
 
36 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 with her always found the little Monkey ready to 
 defend her in case of need, sitting on her shoulder 
 or in her lap. Once her mistress was very sick, and 
 the animal became sad and melancholy and would 
 sit for hours at the door of the sick-room, demand- 
 ing admission. After several weeks she was let in, 
 when she immediately jumped on the bed, put her 
 arms around my wife's neck, uttering a plaintive little 
 sound, and could not be taken away again. 
 Muido's Vocal " This little Monkey had a very wide 
 Accomplish- range of vocal sounds. We. distm- 
 ments. guished thirteen different sounds, or 
 groups of sounds, that she could utter, ranging from 
 a low, musical chirping or purring, expressive "* 
 
 of 
 
 BONNET MONKEY. Found m the hot regions of A^..^ .i. 1 .\!i.'- ..Mil i, u.i.te co.iinionincapt.\.ty, its 
 
 amusing tricks making it very popular in museums and zoological gardens. It has very large cheek-pouches and 
 stows away in them the greatest possible number of nuts. It is fond of hugging and nursing other animals and of 
 searching their bodies for vermin. Its color is an olive-gray and the hair of the head is parted in the middle. (Maca- 
 cus sinicus.) 
 
 contentment or of a request for some favor, to the 
 yelling and shrieking of anger ; from a softly uttered 
 'took took,' when she was alone in a dark room, 
 and slightly nervous, to a loud 'teck' that came 
 with a violent fright. There were all kinds of cry- 
 ing, gurgling, screaming, grunting, each expressing 
 different stages and kinds of excitement. The most 
 wonderful of all was what we used to call her ' greet- 
 ing to the sun.' When the sun shone bright in the 
 morning, she would look up a specially luminous 
 spot on the table or on the floor, make strange 
 gestures, lift her arms with a slightly swinging mo- 
 tion, and then, addressing the sun, would give us in 
 a loud, deep tone something like the greater half of 
 a chromatic scale, always ending with a deep, long- 
 
 drawn ' o.' They were the strangest of sounds and 
 I never heard the like from any other Monkey. 
 [Other well-known members of the Guenon group 
 are the Mona, Talapoin and Red-bellied Monkeys, , 
 all of which are distinguished for the beauty of their 
 fur and their striking appearance.] 
 MACAQUES. 
 
 A great variety of Monkeys are comprised in the 
 genus Macaque {Macacus) in Western Africa, but 
 scientifically speaking there are only a few kinds 
 having a right to this name, and they, with one ex- 
 ception, inhabit southeastern Asia. In general the 
 Macaques have the following distinguishing traits ; 
 
 they are of sturdy build ; 
 the limbs are of moderate 
 length ; the snout pro- 
 jects about as much as 
 that of the Guenons; and 
 the tail may be as long 
 as the body, or quite 
 stunted. The cheek- 
 pouches and callosities- 
 are well developed. A 
 further peculiarity of 
 these animals is, that the 
 hair on the head of some 
 shows a decided parting, 
 while in others it assumes 
 the shape of a huge wig, 
 and the beard, lacking in 
 some, is of unrivalled 
 growth in others. 
 
 In former ages they 
 ranged over a great part 
 of Europe, and even now 
 they go farther north 
 thanother'Monkeys. The 
 short-tailed species in" 
 habit the north of Africa, 
 China and Japan ; the 
 long-tailed breeds are na- 
 tives of the East Indies. 
 They resemble both the 
 Guenons and the Bab- 
 oons, and live sometimes 
 in forests like the former, 
 sometimes on rocks like 
 the latter. As to charac- 
 ter, they seem to possess 
 the impudence of both ; 
 in youth they are playful 
 and good-natured like 
 the Guenons ; in old age 
 they are crabbed and 
 cross like the Baboons. 
 The best known of this group is the 
 Common Macaque or Monjet {Maca- 
 cus cynomolgus), a native of Java. He 
 attains a length of three and a half feet, the tail 
 being about twenty inches long. Xhe hair on the 
 head of the male is pressed down flat, while that of 
 the female forms a crest. Their color is brownish- 
 green in the upper part, grayish-white in the lower ; 
 the hands, feet and tail are black. This animal is a 
 native of eastern Asia, especially of the great Sunda 
 Islands. Nearly every ship that reaches Europe 
 from the East Indies has a number of these Monk- 
 eys on board, as they can be purchased very reason- 
 ably from the natives [and many of them find their 
 way to America]. The Monkey cages in zoological 
 
 The Common 
 
 Macaque of 
 
 Java. 
 
COMMON MACAQUE. This picture illustrates in a striking manner the impudence that is so strong a characteristic of the Common 
 
 Macaques as of many other species of Monkeys. The Crocodiles shown in the stream are the most feared of all the enemies of the Monkey 
 tribes. But the mischievous troop in the trees know that they are beyond the reach of the reptiles, and they are having some fun with them— 
 the oldest and boldest males just out of reach, the others at safer distance, but all evidently deriding their aquatic enemies with chattering glee. 
 The Common Macaques are natives of Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Celebes and Batchian. They are great thieves, going out in large parties for the-' 
 purpose of robbing fields of grain. They have very large shoulders and are clumsy animals. (Macacus cynomolgus.) 
 
 (37) 
 
S8 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 gardens are, therefore, mainly dependent on tKis 
 species for representing the group. He resembles 
 the Guenon in shape as well as behavior. He is easy 
 to feed in captivity, capable of reproduction, and 
 is often used in Monkey theatres, being easily in- 
 structed and of a cheerful disposition ; generally 
 playing the part of waiter or servant of some kind. 
 The Bhunder, The Bhunder or Rhesus Monkey, also 
 an Indian' called the Markat {Macacus rhesus), is 
 Macaque, gaid to be held sacred in his native 
 country. Captain Johnson says : " A man on whose 
 veracity I can rely, tells me that the reverence shown 
 this Monkey is nearly as great as that which the 
 Hoonuman {Semnopithecus entellus) inspires. The 
 natives of Baka leave one-tenth of their harvests 
 piled in heaps for the Monkeys, which come down 
 
 impression on them, and if one does them real injury, 
 he endangers his own life. ^ , „ , , ... 
 
 I ndu Barker's The story of Lady Barkers great din- 
 \east ner in Simla, shows how pecuharly civ- 
 Demolished. iHzed pleasures may sometimes run 
 their course in India. Lady Barker had everything 
 prepared for the reception of a great number of 
 guests She had herself decorated the table with 
 flowers, and the choicest delicacies to be found in 
 India and Europe were disposed about the table. 
 When the time for dinner drew near, she retired to 
 dress, while the servants, instead of watching the 
 rooms, amused themselves more congenially. When 
 she again descended, and went to cast a last glance 
 at her work of art, she found the dining-room full 
 of guests, but unfortunately not of the expected 
 
 
 BHUNSEB, OR RHESUS KONKEY, This picture presents a. very contented tamily of Bhunder or Rhesus Monkeys, which are 
 
 natives of British India, where, in many localities, they are held in greatest reverence. On account of the protection thus afforded they are out- 
 rageous thieves and have not the slightest fear of Man. The mothers are at great pains to teach their young how to steal successfully and the 
 pupils are. very apt indeed. The Bhunders, like the Sacred Monkeys, often crowd into villages, where nothing that is edible is safe from their 
 pilfering fingers. When detected they escape punishment, because the poor natives dare not whip a creature that, in their belief, is favored of 
 theirgods. (Macacus rhesus.) 
 
 from the hills in a large body and gather their 
 tribute." 
 
 Every Hindoo willingly gives his share, and 
 hereby shows a gentleness of spirit and goodness 
 of heart which, though bordering on the ridiculous, 
 does him so much honor, that we might well con- 
 form ourselves to his standard. Neither can I see 
 anything grotesque in their protection of the ani- 
 mals from foreigners ; I have always thought it but 
 just that men should protect animals. Of course the 
 Hindoos go too far in this. It is hard for a foreigner 
 to live with these Monkeys without waging war on 
 them. It is scarcely possible to have a plantation or 
 a garden ; for the protected rascals devastate it in 
 the most relentless manner. If one puts out guards, 
 ^hey are of no avail, for driven away from one side, 
 the Monkeys make their appearance at the other ; 
 Jjurning fires, scare-crows and such things make no 
 
 kind. A band of Monkeys had effected an entrance 
 through the windows and were hugely enjoying 
 themselves at the table. One may imagine the feel- 
 ings of the hostess, who could offer her guests noth- 
 ing but the soiled remiiants of a splendid feast. 
 It was probably the same troop of Monkeys that 
 played another trick on Lady Barker. Her Lap-Dog, 
 " Fury," waged a continuous war on the creatures 
 and never missed an opportunity to drive them away. 
 Out of revenge one of the unbidden guests took the 
 poor thing along to its tree-top. There the pitifully- 
 howling little Dog went from hand to hand, shaken 
 and tormented by all the Monkeys, and, at last, was 
 dropped into a precipice. So " Fury " met with an 
 untimely death, and the Monkeys were avenged. 
 
 The Bhunder reaches a length of about twenty 
 inches, its tail measuring ten inches. He is of strong, 
 sturdy build ; the color of the fur is greenish or 
 
THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS— MACAQUES. 
 
 m 
 
 gray in the upper part, with a yellowish tinge over forehead up and down, puts the snout forward, and 
 the hips and buttocks ; the lower part is white, the presses the lips together in such a way as to form a 
 tail greenish above, gray below. The face, ears and small and perfectly round hole. The Magot inhab- 
 its mountainous regions, 
 and is as much at home on 
 rocks as on trees. It i3- 
 said that it feeds on in* 
 sects and worms like the 
 Baboon, and therefore 
 keeps lifting up stones, 
 which occasionally roll 
 down hill and endanger the 
 '-^*^^^^^'^i^iH^^l^HK'i''>S?SP^HI V^P^^^^^^^*^ Wl'-'ii^^^^^^ safety of passers-by. It is 
 
 TTM^mm^K^mS^X^M^^m-^^mUmmM^ ) $ JW^!M^ also thought to be very 
 
 /■^5 V'^^'i^R^HHw^^a^SH^^P }yi^^m^^^^mMkl^^^^^'''^'^^^^'' fond of Scorpions ; ver/ 
 //fl9Hi^mmmmmSsmmB^^^^K. la vmSfm 'vil^afch^'t-. .: ' ^12. a-droltly twisting off thelf 
 
 poisonous tails, and then 
 eating the bodies. But it 
 is also satisfied with small- 
 er insects and worms, and 
 the smaller the game the 
 more zealously it is hunted, 
 and the more voraciously* 
 it is eaten. The prey is 
 I gg^liSil'' _^^S!MS:."^>'t?bL^?MFMiMlfiiii'^^'Jiffl? ^.Figf^- "^ ' S^^ ' iV" JWiiti carefully taken up, gazed 
 
 upon with a satisfied 
 chuckle, and speedily de- 
 voured. 
 The Troop of The Magot 
 Magotsat is the only 
 Gibraltar. Monkey 
 that inhabits Europe in a 
 wild state. I was told 
 
 PIG-TAILED MACAQUES. Natives of Sumatra, Borneo, and the Malay Peninsula, and are called Bruh, or ,,,u_„ T ,,;c;torl +1if» or>iitK 
 
 "Climbers of Palms," by the natives, on account of their fondness for the fruit of these trees. They are harmless and wiicn j. visilcu uic suulii 
 
 easily domesticated. The artist has sketched them with their favorite food, the hand of one of the animals resting of Spain, that the band of 
 
 comfortably upon it. (Macacus n^mesMnus.) ^^^^^ MonkeyS at Gibral- 
 
 hands are of a light copper color ; the callosities of 
 a vivid red. The female lets her tail hang down, 
 while the male curves his laterally and inwardly. 
 The Magot, or The most important of all Macaques in 
 
 "Barbary a certain respect is the Magot, Barbary 
 Ape." Ape, or Tailless Ape (Macacus syl- 
 vanus, or Inuus ecatidatus) the only Monkey living in 
 the wild state in Europe. As he possesses no tail, 
 he has lately been considered as a representative of 
 a different species, but usually he is known as the 
 Turkish or Barbary Ape. .His frame is slight, his 
 limbs slender, his fur and beard thick. The wrin- 
 kled face, the ears, hands and feet are flesh-colored, 
 the callosities bright red and the body is of a red- 
 dish-olive hue. The under surface of the body and 
 the inner sides of the limbs are lighter and grayish. 
 The length of a Magot is about thirty inches. 
 
 There is no doubt that this Monkey was^known 
 to the ancient Greeks under the name of Pithecus. 
 Pliny tells us that it imitated everything, could be 
 taught to play certain games, liked to be petted, 
 and propagated in captivity, etc. 
 
 The Magot is a native of northwestern Africa. 
 It would appear that the animal lives gregariously, 
 in large troops, following the leadership of old, ex- 
 perienced males. It is very clever, cunning and 
 scheming, agile and strong, and, in case of emer- 
 gency, defends itself excellently with its splendid 
 set of teeth. When the creature is excited it dis- 
 torts its face more than any other Monkey, moving 
 the lips in all directions and chattering with the 
 teeth. When it is frightened it utters a short, loud 
 scream. Desire and delight, horror and anger, are 
 only shown by grimaces and chattering of teeth. 
 When it is angry, it moves the wrinkled skin on the 
 
 tar was rather numerous, but did not often show 
 itself. One could see the animals looking for in- 
 
 
 BLACK BABOOIT. This picture presents the Black Baboon when 
 
 in motion upon the ground and shows its Dog-like action, a characteristic 
 of its family. The thumbs spread out when it is walking or running and the 
 crest and stubby tail are shaken when it is angered. l^Cynocefhalus niger.) 
 
 sects under stones, from the fortress, if he had a 
 good telescope or field glass. They hardly ever 
 
40 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 came into the gardens. Even the Spaniards do not 
 know whether the animals originally were natives of 
 Europe, or whether they were imported from Africa. 
 A. G. Smith's account of his personal experiences 
 ,jn this respect is very interesting. In the first place, 
 he says that the existence of Monkeys in Europe 
 had so often been doubted, treated as a silly story 
 .and denied by captains of ships frequenting Gibral- 
 tar, that he himself had lost all confidence in the 
 reports. But he came to know better, when one day 
 he made the ascent of the rock, to the flag-pole, to 
 .enjoy the magnificent view. The sentinel guard of 
 the flag, in the course of conversation, chanced to 
 remark that "the Monkeys were moving." This led 
 to a careful questioning about them and he learned 
 the following particulars : 
 
 HAG-OT, BARBABY, OK TAILLESS APE. This is the only member of the Monkey family that lives in 
 
 Europe in the wild state, a colony of them being dwellers upon the Rock of Gibraltar. It is about the size of a Setter 
 Dog and a very frail animal. It is also found in the Barbary States, always living in the hilly or mountainous coun- 
 try. In the Atlas Mountains these Monkeys are known as great thieves, making raids upon fields of grain, where they 
 destroy far more than they eat or take away with them. {Inuus ecaudatus.) 
 
 " The Monkeys gained a foothold on these rocks 
 a great many centuries ago ; how and when they 
 .crossed the water is not easily determined, and the 
 Moorish story that to this day they pass to and fro 
 between Gibraltar and Morocco, through a sub- 
 marine passage, is a little too much for the credulity 
 of any one. It is a fact, though, that they live upon 
 ±he rocky elevation, although greatly reduced in 
 numbers. For a long time there were but four of 
 them. They are seldom seen, except when the wind 
 changes and they move to other quarters. They 
 ;are not very hardy animals and dread every change 
 of temperature, especially the shifting of the wind 
 from east to west and vice versa, and try to shelter 
 themselves from it behind the rocks. They are 
 active to a degree and preferably dwell on steep, 
 
 rocky walls, where they are the sole occupants of 
 the many holes and uneven places m the loose 
 ground It does not seem that they have to work 
 very hard for their living, for they look quite sleek 
 and well-fed. They are commonly supposed to be 
 very shy and to flee at the slightest noise ; but the 
 sentinel denied this, and showed me a few rocks 
 from which they had stared at him that very morn- 
 ing without being in the least disconcerted by his 
 English uniform and soldierly gaze. They remained 
 for quite a little while at the distance of twenty or 
 thirty yards and then retired very deliberately. Yet, 
 as one sees them so little, chiefly when they are 
 moving, it may be concluded that they ar-e of a shy, 
 unsociable nature, for nobody ever pursues them ; 
 they are carefully guarded from all intruders." 
 
 Posselt's Account A year 
 X^ of Gibraltar later Pos- 
 
 Monheys. gelt says 
 about the same Monk- 
 eys: "On my passage 
 from Cadiz to Gibraltar 
 I had inquired after the 
 Monkeys and an English- 
 man residing in Cadiz 
 told me there were not 
 any. Arrived in town, I 
 learned that there were 
 from three to fifteen 
 Monkeys yet in exist- 
 ence; nobody knew the 
 exact number, as they 
 were shy and kept to 
 the steepest and most 
 inaccessible parts of the 
 rocks. Without a guide,- 
 I slowly ascended the 
 main road leading to the 
 signal station, and after 
 having gone about two- 
 thirds of the way, I took 
 to the left and made for 
 the highest point on the 
 northern peak. The mag- 
 nificent view that spread 
 out before my eyes 
 quite engrossed my atten- 
 tion, and I forgot all 
 about the Monkeys, until 
 a sound resembling the 
 distant yelping of a little 
 Dog startled me. About 
 two hundred paces in 
 front of me was the first 
 battery with its huge can- 
 non pointing at Spain. On the brick platform of 
 the battery an animal, about the size of a . Scotch 
 Terrier, was slowly running away from me, and froiP 
 it the sound had come. I stopped and saw tha- 
 it was a Monkey which had probably been standing 
 guard ; for on the farther end of the platform, nearer 
 the Mediterranean, two others were lying, lazily 
 basking in the sunshine. Step .by step I cautiously 
 approached the interesting group, which drew to- 
 gether and attentively looked at me. At a distance 
 of about one hundred paces I stopped, and they 
 soon regained their composure. They resumed their 
 former occupation, and then started to play. They 
 hugged each other, ran around, and, sometimes, one 
 would enter the mouth of a cannon and come out 
 again. In a word, they seemed thoroughly tame, 
 
THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS— BABOON. 
 
 41 
 
 and bent on enjoying the beautiful, warm sunshine." 
 The Tribe My brother requested the com- 
 
 tufrtmVt "^T^^' ^^*^^ ^""'^'^^^ himself to 
 Government set us right in regard to these 
 
 Monkeys and we received the following report from 
 him : " The number of Monkeys at present inhabit- 
 ing our mountain is eleven. As we have found that 
 they have no trouble in finding sufficient nourish- 
 inent on the rocks, we do not feed them, but leave 
 them entirely alone. The guard of the signals as 
 well as the detectives watch over them, and see that 
 they are in no way molested or hunted. The guard 
 
 of them, but last summer I saw as many as twenty- 
 five together, and I think that we may safely claim 
 as many as thirty. At this season they are not fre- 
 quently seen, for food and water can be found in 
 plenty on the top of the hills. During the hot 
 summer lack of provision compels them to come 
 farther down, and then they cause considerable 
 damage in the gardens. In June or July of last year 
 there were about half a dozen young ones. The 
 adult male is of considerable size, being about three 
 feet high ; the largest females are also of good size, 
 but more slenderly built, and not so strong. The 
 
 ??*!• 
 »•*•> 
 
 COMMON BABOOIT. The group of animals here depicted are often seen in captivity in Europe and the United States They are true 
 
 Dog-headed Baboons, and their home is in the West Coast of Africa, Abyssinia and the Nile farther northward, and in eastsjn Equatorial 
 AJrica. Ihey are large, and have hair of a uniform yellowish olive-green. This species is very strong and fierce when attacked, but the young 
 are amiable and full of pleasing tricks. The playfulness of the little one is indicated in the picture, as well as the teasing propensities of thost 
 that are older. (Cynocei>halus babuin.) 
 
 keeps an account of them and as they always . keep 
 together, he is soon made aware of an increase or a 
 death in the family. 
 
 "Nobody knows how and when they got on the 
 rocks, and the most divergent opinipns prevail about 
 it. Six or seven years ago their number was re- 
 duced to three ; then Sir William Codrington, fear- 
 ing they might die out, imported three or four from 
 Tangier, and since then they have increased to the 
 number named." 
 
 Lately this number has more than doubled itself. 
 We wrote a letter of inquiry, addressed to some 
 officer of the English garrison of Gibraltar, and 
 Captain C. S. Shepard was kind enough to answer 
 us, on the i8th of March, 1889, as follows : 
 
 " It is hard to determine exactly the number of 
 our Monkeys. Day before yesterday I saw a dozen 
 
 strongest male usually keeps a little aloof from the 
 band." According to these latest reports we may 
 rest assured that Europe's last Monkeys are not 
 going to die out just yet. 
 
 THE BABOONS. 
 
 The Baboons {Cynocephalus) are one of the rtiost 
 remarkable groups of the Monkey family, but are 
 by no means an attractive or pleasing one. We find 
 its members to be the ugliest, rudest, coarsest and 
 most repulsive representatives of the Monkey tribe. 
 We may say that the Baboon stands in the lowest 
 degree of development of the entire Monkey world. 
 All the nobler shapes are effaced, and all the nobler 
 qualities of the mind are drowned in the grossest 
 passions. 
 
42 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 Like Aristotle, we call the Baboons Dog-headed 
 Monkeys, for the shape of their heads resembles that 
 of a rude, fierce Dog more than it does that of Man. 
 In reality the resemblance between the two animals 
 is but a superficial and unsatisfactory one, the head 
 of a Baboon being as much a caricature of a Dog's 
 head as the head of a Gorilla is a caricature of a 
 Man's. But in comparison with the other Monkeys 
 his snout is peculiar, and, therefore, we may safely 
 leave the designation which old Aristotle gave to 
 these animals. 
 
 Physical The Dog-headed Monkeys are the 
 Characteristics largest in size, after the Man-shaped 
 
 of Baboons. Apes. The body is of a strong, bulky 
 make and the muscular power is enormous. The 
 thick head is provided with a large, long muzzle 
 abruptly cut off at its end, often swollen or furrowed, 
 and endowed with a prominent, blunt nose ; the 
 teeth resemble those of a beast of prey on account 
 of the formidable ca- 
 nines, which on their 
 inner side are fur- 
 nished with sharp 
 edges. The lips are 
 very mobile, the ears 
 small, the eyes lie 
 deep in their sockets 
 and their expression 
 fully reflects the 
 Monkey's character 
 in its true light ; it is 
 cunning and brutal 
 to the extreme. The 
 limbs are short and 
 stout, the fore-paws 
 having five toes ; the 
 tail may be long or 
 short, smooth-coated 
 or provided with a 
 tuft; the cheek- 
 pouches are large, the 
 callosities are hid- 
 eous and of an enor- 
 mous size, and of a 
 very vivid color. The 
 long hair is some- 
 times developed into 
 a mane and is gener- 
 ally of an undefined 
 earthy or rocky color: 
 gray, gray-green, yel- 
 low or brownish-green. 
 
 Homes and The Baboons are found widely spread 
 
 Habits of about in Africa, Arabia and India. Dif- 
 Baboons. ferent countries possess their individual 
 species, but they may be common to several tracts 
 of country. 
 
 The Baboons are, in the main, mountain Monkeys, 
 but undoubtedly several kinds also live in forests 
 and are better tree-climbers than one might suppose, 
 seeing them in a country devoid of trees. In the 
 mountains they go as high as 9,000 to 13,000 feet 
 above the sea-level, sometimes reaching the snow- 
 region ; but they seem to give the preference to 
 countries having an elevation of 3,000 to 4,000 feet. 
 The oldest travelers assure us that mountainous 
 regions are their true home. 
 
 The food of the Baboons consists principally of 
 onions, tubers, grass, fruit, eggs and insects of all 
 kinds. But we may safely assume that these strong 
 and agile fellows are not satisfied with small fry. 
 
 CHACMA BABOON. Is very large, being about the size of an English Mastiff, and 
 
 is possessed of great strength. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, where its ferocity 
 brings terror to the Dogs, whom it does not hesitate to attack and frequently kill. It lives 
 in hilly places, and when not engaged in making forays upon a neighboring field, passes 
 much of its time sleeping in its hiding-place in the rocks. (Cynocefhalus porcarius.) 
 
 and in their greed of animal food also attack larger 
 animals. According to Fisher, the Baboons in east 
 Africa not only steal chickens, but kill the small 
 Antelopes and even the larger Bosch-boks. In 
 plantations, and especially vmeyards. Baboons cause 
 the greatest.damage ; they are even said to under- 
 take their raids in an orderly, deliberate, and nearly 
 
 military manner. • 
 
 More than any other Monkeys, Baboons show, 
 by their gait, that they are reaMy quadrupeds. 
 The whole frame is adapted for progression on all 
 fours. They resemble awkward Dogs in their gait, 
 and even when they do stand erect they like to lean 
 on one haiia. When not hurried their walk is slow 
 and lumbering ; as soon as they are pursued, they 
 fall into a singular sort of gallop, which includes 
 the most peculiar movements of the body. Their 
 walk is distinguished by a certain bold swagger, 
 that has to be seen to be appreciated. 
 
 Moral Their moral 
 Traits of traits do not 
 Baboons, contradict 
 their exterior in the 
 least. We will begin 
 a description of them 
 in Scheitlin's words : 
 "The Baboons are all 
 more or less bad fel- 
 lows, always savage, 
 fierce, impudent and 
 malicious; the muz- 
 zle is a coarse imita- 
 tion of a Dog's, the 
 face a distortion of 
 a Dog's face. The 
 look is cunning, the 
 mind wicked. They 
 are more open to in- 
 struction than the 
 smaller Monkeys and 
 have more common 
 sense. Their imita- 
 tive nature seems 
 such, that they barely 
 escape being human. 
 They easily perceive 
 traps and dangers, 
 and defend them- 
 selves with courage 
 and bravery. As bad 
 as they may be, they 
 still are capable of being tamed in youth ; but when 
 they become old, their gentle nature disappears, 
 and they become disobedient ; they grin, scratch 
 and bite. Education does not go deep enough with 
 them. It is said that in the wild state they are more 
 clever ; while in captivity they are gentler. Their 
 family name is 'Dog-headed Monkeys ; if they only 
 had the Dog's soul along with his head ! " 
 
 One cannot contradict Scheitlin ; the picture he 
 draws is correct. The mind of the Baboon seems 
 to be the Monkey mind in its highest development, 
 but more in the bad than the good sense. We caji- • 
 not deny that they have a few excellent qualities ; 
 they are very fond of each other and their children ; 
 they also become attached to their keeper and make 
 themselves useful to him. But these good qualities 
 are in no way sufficient to counterbalance their bad 
 habits and passions. Cunning and malice are com- 
 mon traits of all Baboons, and a blind rage is their 
 chief characteristic. Their anger is as easily aroused 
 
THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS— BABOON. 
 
 43 
 
 as a straw fire is kindled ; but it passes away by no 
 means as quickly. A single word, a mocking smile, 
 €ven a cross look, will sometimes throw the Bab- 
 oon into a rage, in which he loses all self-control. 
 Therefore these animals are always dangerous, as 
 their brutality may break out at any moment. As 
 enemies they are really terrible. 
 
 Baboons The Baboons shun Man, but in case of 
 and their necessity they enter into combat with 
 Enemies. hjm as they do with a beast of prey. 
 The Leopard seems to be their chief enemy, though 
 he oftener attacks the little ones, having reasons for 
 considering whether his fangs and claws are strong 
 enough to cope with the teeth and hands of an adult 
 
 SACBED BABOON, OB HAMASBYAS. The sacred Ape of the Egyptians. Native of Abyssinia, and a 
 
 most extraordinary looking animal, with its curious adornment of hair, the head, neck, shoulders and all the fore 
 parts of the body being covered with a long and shaggy coat ; that of the back of the head and neck being more than 
 a foot in length. It is about the size of a Pointer Dog and the jaws are possessed of great strength. (Cynocephalus 
 hamadryas.) 
 
 Baboon. Dogs, as a rule, cannot successfully fight 
 with the Baboons, and yet these noble and brave 
 animals know of no greater treat than a Baboon- 
 hunt. With the exception of the Dog, the Leopard 
 and the Lion, the Baboon has no enemies that 
 are very dangerous to him; still it is to be sup- 
 posed that his tribe have had some very disagree- 
 able experiences in connection with the poisonous 
 tooth of Serpents. A Baboon never rolls away a stone 
 or iovestigates a bush without first making sure that 
 no Snake is lurking there. Scorpions they do not 
 fear, as they break off their poisonous tails with great 
 skill and they enjoy eating these animals as much as 
 they do insects or Spiders. 
 
 The usefulness of the Baboons is very slight. 
 They ajre taught a great many tricks, and in South 
 
 Africa they are said to be made use of in searching 
 for water in the desert. They are tamed and taken 
 along into those arid regions, where even the Bush- 
 men only know how to get water by drops. When 
 the supply of the liquid is running low, the Baboon 
 is given some food containing salt and a few hours 
 later he is turned loose at the end of a line. The 
 poor animal, crazed with thirst, runs hither and 
 thither, sniffs the air, tears out plants and examines 
 them, and finally either finds a place at which to 
 begin digging for hidden water, or hurries forward to 
 where he is sure of finding a running stream. 
 
 The first animal that we will consider in connec- 
 tion with this group, is a Monkey that by some is 
 _- counted among the Bab- 
 
 oons, by others among the 
 Macaques. In his habits 
 he is a true Baboon, 
 but in his structure he dif- 
 fers from it considerably, 
 and this is what gave rise 
 to the difference of opin- 
 ion among naturalists. 
 We must consider him as 
 a connecting link, possess- 
 ing the peculiarities of 
 both species. Those who 
 count him among the Mac- 
 aques cannot be accused 
 of error ; while those who 
 believe him to be a Baboon 
 are also in the right. 
 The Black The Black Bab- 
 Baboon oon ( Cynocepha- 
 Described. lus niger) dif- 
 fers from the others in 
 having only the rudi- 
 ment of- a tail and also in 
 his muzzle. His snout is 
 broad, flat, and short, and 
 the nose does not project 
 over the upper lip. Baboon- 
 fashion, but ends about 
 half way back on the up- 
 per part of the shout. For 
 these reasons this Monkey 
 is considered the repre- 
 sentative of a special kind, 
 the' Dog-headed Monkeys 
 proper {Cynocephalus). 
 Face and buttocks are de- 
 void of fur, while the rest 
 of the body is covered by 
 long, woolly hair, which is 
 the longest on the head, 
 and so arranged as to form a crest. The color of 
 the fur and face is black, while the callosities are 
 red. In size this Monkey is inferior to all his rela- 
 tives. His length is only about twenty-five inches, 
 the tail bieing a little over an inch long. 
 
 He is a native of the Celebes, and though he is 
 found there in numbers, his life in the wild state is 
 very little known. 
 
 Lately he has been shipped to Europe [and Amer- 
 ica] and has lived for a considerable time in cap- 
 tivity. The Black Baboon which I saw in the 
 Amsterdam Zoological Garden seemed to enjoy life 
 very much. He was daily brought over to the Gue- 
 nons ; if these latter had been timid creatures, the 
 imperious and haughty black Monkey would have 
 tyrannized over them, but the agile crowd of Guenons 
 
44 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 was too quick for him. He seemed to be on 
 friendly terms with the Macaques, and sustained 
 very amicable relations with a female Baboon ; at 
 least, he was very attentive to the beauty, and, in 
 return, allowed her to look over his fur. 
 
 According to Brockmann, no other Monkey is so 
 eligible to membership in a Monkey theatre as the 
 Black Baboon. He learns his part in play, retains 
 what he has learned, and "works" with real pleas- 
 ure. Yet he is not a regular member of the stage, 
 as he is a rare and expensive Monkey, especially if 
 one considers his frail health when in captivity. 
 
 The Common Among the Baboons proper, the 
 Baboon, Chacma, Common Baboon ( Cynocepnalus bab- 
 
 and Sphinx. uin) is the best known to me, though 
 only in captivity. He is not easily taken for the 
 Black Baboon, nor for other Monkeys that are pro- 
 
 GELADA BABOON. With its immense mane, great canines and fierce eye this animal pre- 
 sents a formidable appearance, and its looks do not belie its character. Sometimes a troop of these 
 creatures encounters a body of Hamadryas when on a marauding expedition, and engage in desperate 
 battle. The legs of the Gelada are black and the mane is a pale brown. ( Cynocephalus gelada.) 
 
 vided with manes ; but he closely resembles the 
 Chacma {Cyiwcephalus porcarius) inhabiting South 
 Africa, and the Sphinx ( Cynocepkalus sphinx) inhab- 
 iting western Africa. His smooth, even coat of fur 
 is of a yellowish olive-green color, every individual 
 hair being alternately dark and yellow, the under 
 part of the body is lighter, and the cheeks are whit- 
 ish. The face and ears assume a gray tint, the upper 
 eyelids are white, the hands brownish-gray ; the eyes 
 light brown. Adult males reach a shoulder height 
 of twenty-five to thirty inches, and counting from 
 the tip of nose to the end of tail are four feet, 
 eight inches long. We must not forget, though, 
 that the relatively thin tail comes in for one-third 
 of this length. The Chacma is considerably larger, 
 clumsier of motion and darker of hue, while the 
 
 Sphinx is smaller but of decidedly stronger frame ;■ 
 his muzzle is shorter and shows a peculiar thicken- 
 ing of the cheek-bones, and his hair has dark-gray 
 and reddish brown ringlets. 
 
 The mode of life and behavior of these three 
 Monkeys are very similar, and I therefore will speak 
 only of the Common Baboon. 
 
 This Baboon is a native of the same belt of land 
 as the Hamadryas, but penetrates farther into the 
 centre of Africa. He inhabits Abyssinia, Kordofati 
 and other countries of central Africa and he is 
 found in troops. He is also common in German 
 Eastern Africa, according to Bohm and Reichard, 
 and goes as far to the southwest of Lake Tangan- 
 yika as the Upper Lualaba, if there is no case of mis- 
 taken identity in these reports. 
 
 In his movements and his gait the Common Bab- 
 oon is typical of all the Baboons ; but his character 
 is rather better. He is a very clever animal, and, 
 when caught young, soon gets accustomed to his 
 keeper, is easily trained to perform certain duties, 
 and clings to his master, even in spite of bad treat- 
 ment. The female is of a gentler and more amiable 
 disposition than the male, which often turns upon 
 his keeper, while she lives with him on the inost 
 amicable terms. 
 
 Story of The first Common Baboon that came 
 "Perm," a into my possession was named "Perro." 
 Captive Baboon, pje was a good-looking, pleasant 
 Monkey and grew to like me after a short interval 
 of three days. I made him guard 
 our doors, chaining him to the yard 
 gate. He soon selected a favor- 
 ite spot, from which he watched 
 the gate with extreme vigilance. 
 Only we, or our friends, were given 
 free access to the place ; strangers 
 were obstinately denied admission. 
 When the latter were suffered to go 
 in he would get very angry and he 
 always had to be held back until 
 the person had passed and gone 
 beyond his reach. At every oppor- 
 tunity he showed himself to be a 
 Baboon, from the top of his head 
 to the sole of his feet, with all the 
 characteristics, habits and nasty 
 traits of his kind. When in a rage, 
 he raised his tail, and stood on both 
 feet and one hand ; with the other 
 hand he would beat the ground, 
 reminding one of an angry Man 
 bringing his hand down violently 
 on the table, only that he did not 
 make a fist of it. With flashing 
 eyes and a loud yell he would then rush at his 
 opponent. Not infrequently he would, with con- 
 summate art, take on a kindly look, smack his 
 lips, something always intended as a token o£ 
 friendship, and put out his arms towards one to 
 whom he owed a grudge. If the intended victim 
 would then approach him, he quickly seized his 
 hand, drew it towards him and bit and scratched it. 
 He was friendly to all our -Other animal pets, except 
 the Ostriches, but these were really to blame for 
 the enmity existing between him and them. When 
 Perro's services as guard were not in demand, he 
 would usually sit on the wall, holding a piece of 
 straw matting over his head, as an umbrella. He 
 took no special care of his long tail, simply letting 
 it hang down the wall. Ostriches have a bad habit 
 
 ^.'3.4.^.*'^'' 
 
THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS— BABOON. 
 
 45 
 
 of snapping at everything that is not nailed or glued 
 to a spot, and so it often happened that one of the 
 birds would waddle up to Perro, reach out for the 
 hanging tail with its stupid head and snap it. In an 
 instant the straw-matting was thrown away with a 
 yell, and the Ostrich taken round its neck and given 
 a thorough shaking. The Monkey often could not 
 master his rage for a quarter of an hour after such 
 an occurrence. It was not very wonderful that he 
 administered a cuff or a blow to the birds whenever 
 he had the slightest chance. 
 Fondness of All our Baboons had, in common with 
 Baboons for the natives, a passionate fondness for 
 Strong Drink. Merisa, a kind of beer, manufactured 
 from the grain of the durra or dohhen. They were 
 
 "'^1 
 
 c?'^. 
 
 HANDBILL. This is a native of the Gold Coast and inland regions o£ Africa, and is noted for 
 
 huge callosities upon its cheeks, caused by swellings of the bones. The skin here is ribbed and has 
 ridges that are alternately light blue, scarlet and deep purple in color. The male is five feet high when 
 standing. The hair of the body is a black and olive-green above and silvery gray beneath. The Man- 
 drill is frequently seen in captivity in this country as well as in Europe. In old age the animal is very 
 brutal, and, in fact, under most favorable conditions it is very treacherous and likely for no cause to 
 assail the hand that feeds it. ( Cynocephalus mormon.') 
 
 often drunk and in this way proved to me that the 
 Soudanese had told me the truth about the way Bab- 
 oons are captured. My Monkeys also drank red 
 wine, but whisky they scorned. Once we poured a 
 little wineglassful of this liquor into their mouths by 
 force. They had already been drinking some Me- 
 risa, and the effect of the combination soon showed 
 itself. They became completely drunk, made the 
 most fearful faces, and were boisterous and brutal ; 
 in a word, they presented a degrading caricature of 
 a brutish, drunken Man. The effects of the de- 
 bauch on the following morning were most dis- 
 tressing,[showing that with Baboons as with Men, 
 strong drink is in the highest degree demoralizing 
 and harmful ]. 
 
 Great Courage Among my pets was a tame Lioness, 
 of the ;vho made the Guenons rather nervous. 
 Baboons. b^t did not strike terror to the hearts 
 of the courageous Baboons. They used to flee at 
 her approach, but when she really seemed to be 
 about to attack one of them, they stood their ground 
 fairly well. I have often observed them as they 
 acted in this way. My Baboons turned to flee be- 
 fore the Dogs, which I would set upon them ; but if 
 a Dog chanced to grab a Baboon, the latter would 
 turn round and courageously rout the former. The 
 Monkey would bite, scratch and slap the Dog's face 
 so energetically that the whipped brute would take 
 to his heels with a howl. More ludicrous still 
 seemed the terror of the Baboons of everything 
 creeping, and of Frogs. The sight of an innocent 
 Lizard or a harmless little Frog would bring them 
 to despair, and they would climb as high as their 
 ropes would permit, clinging to walls and posts in a 
 regular fit of fright. At the same time their curi- 
 osity was such that they had to take a closer look 
 at the objects of their alarm. Several times I brought 
 them poisonous Snakes in tin boxes. They knew 
 perfectly well how dangerous the 
 inmates of these boxes were, but 
 could not resist the temptation of 
 opening them, and then seemed 
 fairly to revel in their own trepi- 
 dation. 
 
 "Atile," a I took another mem- 
 Tamed Baboon ber of this family 
 in Germany, along with me to 
 Germany. It was remarkably clev- 
 er, but also exceedingly mischiev- 
 ous; Our Dog had tyrannized 
 over us all his life, and had be- 
 come so sulky in old age that he 
 lived in peace with nobody, and 
 when he had to be punished he 
 snapped even at me. But in Atile 
 — that was my Baboon's name — 
 he found more than a match. 
 Atile thought it great fun to pro- 
 voke the poor Dog on all occa- 
 sions. When he was taking his 
 nap in the yard, stretched at full 
 length on the grass, the mischiev- 
 ous Monkey would softly creep 
 up to him, get hold of his tail, and 
 arouse him from his slumbers by 
 a sudden pull at that esteemed 
 member. The Dog would jump 
 up in a rage and with a growl and 
 bark rush at the Monkey. She (it 
 was a female) would calmly await 
 him, beating the ground with her 
 hand. Greatly to his anger he never could get at 
 her, for when he was near enough for biting, she 
 would jump over him and was again pulling his tail. 
 She would drive him perfectly insane through these 
 repeated insults, but he always had to sneak away 
 in the end, his tail between his legs. 
 Atlle's Clever- Her cleverness was really remarkable. 
 ness and She stole in a masterly way ; opened 
 Affection, ^nd shut doors and could untie intri- 
 cate knots, when she thought it worth her while. 
 Boxes she always opened and cleared of their con- 
 tents. We sometimes frightened her by putting a 
 little heap of powder before her on the floor, and 
 setting it on fire. She would give a shriek, when she 
 saw the flame leap up, and then jump as far back as 
 
46 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 her chain would permit. But she did not suffer us 
 to practice this joke many times. After awhile she 
 was shrewd enough to take the burning tinder and 
 extinguish it with her hands before it had reached 
 the powder, after which she made a meal of the 
 whole. 
 
 Her affection for me was boundless. I could ill- 
 treat her and still she would show no resentment. 
 It seemed that she considered me perfectly innocent 
 of all the evil that befell her. When I had to chas- 
 tise her, she never flew into a rage at me, but di- 
 rected her wrath against the other people present, 
 thinking, no doubt, that they were the cause of her 
 punishment. She preferred me to all her friends, 
 and at my approach would turn against those whom 
 she had just been caressing. 
 
 She felt flattered at kind words, while laughter 
 was revolting to her, especially when she thought 
 she herself had provoked it. She responded to 
 every call, and I could take her out on long walks 
 without a chain. She followed me like a Dog, 
 though she was fond of making little trips first to 
 one side and then the other, extending them as far 
 as she pleased, but never going very far from me. 
 
 The Hamadryas The Baboon which in virtue of his 
 or Sacred shape, of his great sense, and also. 
 Baboon. perhaps, of his unlovely character, 
 played such a prominent part with the ancient 
 Egyptians, is called the Hamad^-yas or Sacred Bab- 
 oon (^Cynocephalus hamadryas). How he came by 
 the honor of bearing the name of a Greek nymph 
 is a mystery to me, for surely his bearing shows 
 nothing that is womanly. The ancients certainly 
 did not bestow this name on him. Herodotus, Plu- 
 tarch and Pliny call him Cynocephalus, Strabonius 
 calls him Cebus, Juvenal gives him the name of 
 Cercopithecus, Agatharchides that of Sphinx. The 
 modern Abyssinians term him Hebe, the Arabians 
 style him Robah, and in Egypt he is known as 
 Khird. Among all these names there is not one 
 that would recall a nymph, unless it be "Sphinx." 
 
 The Hamadryas The reverence accorded to the Ha- 
 
 Reuerenced in madryas by the ancient Egyptians 
 
 Ancient Egypt, has been depicted by Dumichen. 
 In all Egyptian antiquities and remains, this Baboon 
 appears as chief of the Monkey tribe. Hieroglyphs 
 often represent Monkeys, but the adult male of the 
 Hamadryas is the only one that is shown sitting on 
 an altar, adored by men. In some pictures he is 
 shown as a judge of the good and bad actions of 
 mankind ; he is holding a pair of trembling scales 
 and attentively looking at them. The deity which 
 he represented occupies a very prominent place in 
 all the pictures. Probably the deification of the 
 Hamadryas had the same origin as that of the 
 Crocodile, namely — fear ; for even then there were 
 people who feared their god, rather than loved him. 
 
 It is remarkable that the Egyptians were not the 
 only ones to revere this Monkey. All the inhabit- 
 ants of the plains of Central Africa, as well as a 
 great many Abyssinians, wear their hair combed' and 
 parted like the Hamadryas, and if they did not take 
 the fashion from him, they did from statues of him. 
 The Hamadryas is no longer held in particular 
 esteem throughout those countries. The damage 
 he does is too great to allow of any friendship be- 
 tween him and Man. In Egypt he is no longer 
 found in a wild state. I did not meet the Hama- 
 dryas wild on my first African tour, but later I fre- 
 quently saw him during my short stay- in Abyssinia, 
 and can speak about him from personal experience. 
 
 Home and The Hamadryas inhabits the whole 
 Characteristics of coast of Abyssinia and^ of southern 
 the Hamadryas. Nubia. The greater the abundance 
 of plants in the mountains, the more he seems to 
 appreciate the locality. The vicinity of water is a 
 condition essential to the welfare of a troop of 
 these Baboons. Sometimes a few troops descend 
 from the higher mountains to the lower hills of 
 Samchara or the strip of desert on the coast, but 
 the great mass always stays in the high mountains. 
 Every troop has its own territory, one and one-half 
 to two miles in diameter. Small troops are more 
 rarely met with than large ones. Once only did 
 I see a troop of from fifteen to twenty ; at all other 
 times they were in flocks numbering at least one 
 hundred and fifty head, and among them were ten 
 to fifteen adult males (real monsters of large size 
 and possessing teeth superior to those of the Leop- 
 ard, both in point of strength and length); double 
 this number were adult females. The remainder were 
 young and half-grown animals of both sexes. Old 
 males are distinguished by their huge size and a long, 
 cape-like mane. The hair of the mane of a middle- 
 aged male that I killed measured eleven inches. 
 The females have shorter hair and are of a darker 
 brown color. The young animals resemble the 
 mother. Every individual hair of the body is alter- 
 nately greenish brown and yellow in tint, a blend- 
 ing of colors resulting which is hard to describe, 
 but looks very much like dried grass. The sides of 
 the head and the hinder limbs are always lighter, 
 usually merging into ash-gray. The callosities are 
 flaming red and the face devoid of hair and of a 
 dirty flesh color. The older a male gets, the lighter 
 is his mane. In my opinion there are two species 
 of this Baboon ; the smaller kind, inhabiting Asia, 
 provided with a gray mane, and the larger, found 
 in Africa, whose mane remains a greenish blue gray, 
 even in old age. The length of the adult male is 
 about three feet, estimating the tufted tail to be 
 eight or ten inches. 
 
 In the early morning hours, or when it is raining, 
 one can find an entire troop in its sleeping places, 
 which, in fact, are only holes of a larger or smaller 
 size in inaccessible recesses of rocky walls. They 
 are huddled together, the younger and smaller ones 
 creeping close to their mothers and sometimes also 
 their fathers. In favorable weather the troop leaves 
 these rocks during the forenoon, and roams slowly 
 about pulling out plants, whose roots seem to form 
 their principal food, and rolling every stone from its 
 place, to get at the insects. Worms and Snails that 
 ai-e hidden beneath, and that are esteemed special 
 dainties. As soon as breakfast is over, they all re- 
 turn to the crest of the mountain. The males then 
 sit on stones, grave and dignified, their backs turned 
 to the wind ; while the females look after the play- 
 ing and romping young ones. Late in the afternoon 
 the troop goes to the nearest river or lake to drink. 
 After this they look out for another meal, and then 
 retire to a suitable place for the night. If the lo- 
 cality is especially favorable, one can count on see- 
 ing the Baboons return to it every evening, if they 
 are not disturbed in any way. Fields of durra in 
 the vicinity of their abodes are counted as special 
 attractions by them, and have to be carefully guarded 
 if the owners expect a harvest ; else the impudent 
 robbers would go day after day, devastate a great 
 deal more than they could consume, and finally ruin 
 the entire field. 
 
THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS— BABOON. 
 
 47 
 
 Hamadryas When a troop of these Baboons are 
 Watohing for sitting still, they all keep perfectly 
 Enemies. silent until something happens. The 
 approach of a Man or herd of cattle, when perceived 
 by one of them, is noted by a queer sound, which 
 may best be compared to the barking of certain 
 Dogs, and probably is uttered only with a view of 
 attracting the attention of the troop. At the dan- 
 gerously near approach of Man or of a beast of 
 prey, entirely different and varying sounds are made 
 by the members of the colony. The babel of voices 
 in an excited band of Hamadryas is most iitly com- 
 pared to the grunting and squeaking of a large 
 number of Pigs. There are also a few deep sounds, 
 reminding one of the roaring of a Leopard, or the 
 low grumble of an Ox. The Monkeys roar, growl, 
 bark, shriek, grunt and squeal in chorus. All the 
 
 DBILL. The Drill has prominent cheek bones and ridges above, the same as the Mandrill, but the vivid color- 
 ing is lacking. It is smaller than the Mandrill and its hair is greener, vfhile underneath it is whiter and more silvery. 
 The whiskers which are heavy are brushed back and the small beard is orange colored. It is a native of the coast ot 
 Guinea and its habits are similar to those of the Mandrill which it so closely resembles, 
 tivity in the United States as well as in Europe. ( Cynocephalus leucophaeus.) 
 
 fighting males come to the edge of the rock and 
 attentively look down to acquaint themselves with 
 the danger ; the young ones seek the protection of 
 the older ones ; the little ones cling to their moth- 
 ers' breasts or jump on their backs, and then the 
 whole band gets in motion, and hurries along, run- 
 ning and hopping on all fours. 
 
 A native does not frighten the Hamadryas. He 
 goes past them and drinks out of the same river 
 with them, but a white Man arouses their suspicion, 
 though one cannot exactly say that they flee before 
 him. More, even, than other Monkeys these Bab- 
 oons have a confidence and hopefulness which never 
 despairs of finding a way of escape when danger is 
 most imminent. It is entirely different when they 
 
 see a Dog or a Leopard. Then the old males raise 
 their terrible roaring noise, beat the earth with one 
 fore-paw, show their teeth, and with flashing eyes 
 gaze down from the rock, ready to rush at the enemy. 
 Brehm's First The first troop I met was just rest- 
 Experience with ing from a morning's wanderings. 
 Hamadryas. The Monkeys were sitting on the 
 crest of a mountain, the ascent to which was very 
 steep on both sides. I had seen the large forms 
 of the males at a great distance, but had thought 
 them to be pieces of rock, for these Monkeys, in 
 repose, present an impassive appearance. A re- 
 peated bark told me the truth. All the heads 
 turned to look at our party. , Only the young ones 
 went on playing, and several females did not im- 
 mediately give up their occupation, which consisted 
 of carefully looking over the fur of one of the old 
 
 gentlemen. Probably 
 matters would not have 
 gone any farther, if we 
 had not had two Dogs 
 along, beautiful, slender 
 greyhounds, accustomed 
 to hunt the Hyena and 
 the Wolf. They an- 
 swered the Monkey-cries 
 by a loud bark, and im- 
 mediately a commotion 
 ensued among the Bab- 
 oons. They seemed to 
 know of a better and 
 more secure abode, and 
 slowly filed along the 
 mountain-crest, till they 
 disappeared from view. 
 But at the next bending 
 of the valley we saw the 
 whole troop, all in a row, 
 hanging on to a seem- 
 ingly vertical wall of rock 
 in a manner which I have 
 been unable to solve to 
 this day. This scene 
 seemed too inviting to 
 be left undisturbed. The 
 pity that stirs the heart 
 of every one who hunts 
 small Monkeys because 
 of their human-like ap- 
 pearance did not trouble 
 us in the slightest, for 
 the Hamadryas look like 
 furious beasts of prey. 
 Unfortunately the rock 
 was too high for our bul- 
 lets to reach them, but 
 disturb them. The effect 
 of the first shot was indescribable. A deafening 
 roaring, howling, barking and shrieking immediately 
 followed ; then the entire line began to move, as 
 easily and securely as if the animals were on level 
 ground. We could not understand how they obtained 
 a foothold. But it would seem that a narrow edge 
 of stone is considered safe and comfortable travel- 
 ing ground by them. We fired about six shots in 
 all ; but we were unable to take good aim, because 
 our surprise at the situation had robbed us of our 
 equanimity. 
 
 Still our bullets were aimed well enough to in- 
 crease the excitement of the creatures to a demon- 
 stration of terror. It was extremely ludicrous to 
 
 It is sometimes seen in cap- 
 
 we determined to at least 
 
48 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 see how, after every shot, the entire troop clung to 
 the rock as if they thought the report alone was 
 enough to precipitate them into the abyss. I believe 
 that none of them was hurt. Still it seemed that 
 fright had deprived them of their customary cool- 
 ness and presence of mind, and at the next bend of 
 the road we met the troop traversing the valley, 
 trying to gain the opposite heights. A number had 
 already succeeded in crossing, but the main portion 
 were yet behind. Our Dogs were first startled at 
 the spectacle, but then with a joyous bark rushed at 
 the enemy. The scene we now beheld was a rare 
 one. As soon as the Dogs made their attack all the 
 adult males hurried forward, formed a circle around 
 the Dogs, roared and showed their teeth, beat the 
 earth with their fore-paws, and regarded their ad- 
 versaries with such flashing, furious eyes, that the 
 horrified animals shrank back and tried to gain our 
 protection. We encouraged them to again proceed 
 against the enemy, but when we succeeded in reviv- 
 
 failed to take effect in 
 
 the head or 
 for how- 
 
 had no effect at all : 
 wounded place with 
 
 they 
 their 
 
 WANDEROO. This strange looking creature, which is very cunning and active, has soft and dull 
 
 eyes and a long, black muzzle, which peer out from a great ruff, and beard of gray or white color. The 
 body and tail are a deep black. The Wanderoo lives along the Malabar coast, and has been introduced 
 into Ceylon. It is easily domesticated, but does not long survive a residence in temperate climates. iCyno- 
 cephalus silenus.) 
 
 ing their bravery, the aspect of things had changed, 
 for the greater part of the Baboons had gone. Only 
 a few of them were yet in the valley, and among 
 them a half-grown Hamadryas, With a shriek it 
 fled to the rock, and here our Dogs laid siege to it. 
 We flattered ourselves that we would be able to cap- 
 ture the animal, but it was not to be Proudly, 
 slowly and with much dignity, paying not the 
 slightest attention to us, one of the strongest males 
 made his appearance, and, casting looks at the 
 Dogs, the meaning of which these latter were at no 
 loss to understand, he ascended the rock, coaxed the 
 young one to him, and with it made his way back, 
 walking close to the Dogs, which were so dumb- 
 founded that they let him completely alone. The 
 courageous deed of the patriarch made such an im- 
 pression on us that we forbore to hinder his re- 
 treat, though we might easily have shot him. 
 
 Tenacity, Boldness On other hunts I made a closer 
 
 and Fierceness of acquaintance of the Hamadryas, 
 Hamadryas. and learned of the wonderful te- 
 nacity with which they cling to life. If in shoot- 
 
 ing our bullets , , , 
 
 in the heart, they were always lost to us, 
 
 ever badly wounded they were stdl strong^ enough 
 
 to escape. Small shot ' - '' -' -"■--'- 
 
 would simply rub the 
 
 hands and proceed on their way. 
 
 Since I have seen the animals in the wild state, I 
 do not think it at all improbable that they would, in 
 case of danger, attack a Man, unprovided with fire- 
 arms, as the Arabs and Abyssinians, and several good 
 observers, notably Ruppell and Schimper tell us. No 
 experience of my own goes to prove this fact, but 
 we have seen that even from well-armed people the 
 Hamadryas beat a by no means hasty retreat, and 
 which is accomplished under a very formidable 
 showing of teeth and a loud roaring. Schimper told 
 me that the Hamadryas not only attacked but easily 
 killed Man, and that old males were known, with- 
 out any provocation, to have killed young women 
 gathering wood. Ruppell also says that this hideous 
 looking Monkey must be 
 counted among the most dan- 
 gerous enemies of mankind. 
 The Gelada, In the immediate 
 Giant of the neighborhood of 
 Baboon Family, the Hamadryas, 
 we find the Gelada of the Abys- 
 sinians, ( Cynocephalus gelada), 
 the giant of the Baboon family, 
 though his discoverer, Ruppell, 
 denies his great size. Schimper, 
 who lived in Abyssinia for over 
 thirty years, and also Heuglin, 
 both agree in telling us that the 
 Gelada sometimes reached a 
 man's height. He is easily dis- 
 tinguished from the Hamadryas 
 at the first glance. The rich, fur, 
 longest oh the neck and back, 
 forms a cape and is of a black- 
 brown color, the hair in the face 
 and on the throat being of the 
 same hue ; while the mane and 
 the long tuft of the tail are 
 yellowish-brown. There are two 
 triangular places, devoid of hair, 
 on the neck and chin, their 
 points touching thus present 
 the form of an hour-glass ; 
 they are framed in gray and white hair. Unlike the 
 Hamadryas the Gelada's callosities are very small, 
 completely separated and of grayish-black hue. 
 
 MANDRILLS AND DRILLS. 
 
 Not without cause the most monstrous of all 
 Baboons is separated from the others, for he differs 
 considerably from them. The body has a similar 
 structure, but the head is disproportionately large ; 
 the small eyes are placed close together, and are 
 surmounted by projecting ridges ; on both sides of 
 the nose is a large, prominent, furrowed, and as it 
 were swollen projection. The limbs are powerful, 
 the tail a short stub, standing upright ; the callosi- 
 ties cover the entire buttocks. The fur is peculiar, 
 and the chin is provided, at least in one species, 
 with a pointed, vividly colored beard. Both the 
 Baboons hereafter to be described, are natives of 
 western Africa, and have frequently been brought 
 over living to Europe[and taken to America] dilring 
 the last three huhdred years. 
 
THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS— MANDRILL AND DRILL. 
 
 49 
 
 The Mandrill, With the right that we call the Gue- 
 Ugliest of the reza the most beautiful of Monkeys, 
 Monkey Tribe, ^e may also call the Mandrill {Cyno- 
 cephalus mormon) the ugliest. In mature age he is 
 a hideous beast in every respect, and his moral 
 nature completely harmonizes with his physical 
 characteristics. The body is very strong, bordering 
 on clumsiness, the head is horrid, the teeth are for- 
 midable, the fur is rough, the color of the hairless 
 spots vivid and- repulsive. Every hair is black and 
 olive green, giving the fur on the upper part of the 
 body the appearance of a dark brown tinge, washed 
 over with green ; on the breast the hair is yellowish, 
 lower down whitish, on the sides light brown ; the 
 beard is of a lemon yellow ; the hands and ears are 
 
 They are said to live in troops in the mountain for- 
 ests, partly on rocks, partly in trees, and to often 
 visit and devastate adjoining fields of grain. They 
 are also said to enter the villages in the absence of 
 the Men, and ill-treat the Women and Children. 
 The natives fear the Mandrill more than the Lion, 
 never enter into a fight with him, and shun the 
 woods where this Monkey lives, except when a large- 
 and well-armed number of them engage in a regular 
 crusade against him. 
 
 Fierceness and A young Mandrill is a lovely 
 
 Ill-nature of the little creature ; in the common 
 
 Mandrill. Monkey cage he is the comedian, 
 
 always ready for merry pranks, always in good 
 
 humor, and in spite of his unlimited impudence by 
 
 
 
 RED HOWLEBS. Like the other members of this numerous family these Monkeys possess extraordinary voices, the great traveler 
 
 Waterton saying of them, " Nothing can sound more dreadful than their nocturnal noises. You would suppose that one-half the wild beasts 
 of the forest were collecting for a work of carnage." This animal inhabits the tallest trees. The artist has faithfully portrayed these 
 interesting creatures in the very act of sending forth their discordant yells, in which they excel the noisiest of the Gibbons. The Red Howler, 
 like its Black cousin, is rather sluggish for a Monkey. See page 52. (Mycetes seniculus:) 
 
 black, the nose and the immediate surroundings ver- 
 milion, the swellings on both its sides a bright blue, 
 while the furrows in them are black. The callosities 
 are blue and red. The usual height attained by 
 males is a little over three feet. 
 The Drill, Similar to His cousin, the Drill ( Cynocepha- 
 but Smaller than lus kucophaeus) , is a trifle smaller, 
 the Mandrill. his fur is brown above, whitish 
 below, the beard dull white, the face black, the 
 hands and feet are a copper brown. 
 
 It is astonishing that we do not know anything 
 about the life in the wild state of these two Monk- 
 eys, specimens of which have so often been cap- 
 tured. Both species are natives of Upper Guinea. 
 
 no means repulsive. But all this changes very early, 
 much earlier than with the other Baboons, and in a 
 very few years the Mandrill reveals all the repul- 
 siveness of his hideous nature. An English author 
 says that the anger of other Monkeys compared to 
 the rage of the Mandrills is but as a zephyr to a tor- 
 nado carrying everything before it. His passions 
 know no bounds. He rushes at his enemy, like one 
 possessed, his eyes reflecting a demoniacal rage. 
 One thought has hold of his brain : to tear his oppo- 
 nent to pieces, and he heeds neither whip nor knife. 
 His mode of attack strikes one not as courageous, 
 but as insane. No animal is more dangerous to a 
 keeper than an angry Mandrill. Lions and Tigers 
 
50 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 are as Lambs compared to him, for they have com- 
 mon sense and adapt themselves to circumstances. 
 The Hamadryas and other Baboons are but timid 
 beginners in wrath, as measured by this ugly brute. 
 
 Doings of Pechuel-Loesche writes about the Man- 
 Three Captive drills that he observed for years in 
 
 Mandrills. Chinchocho: " We kept three Mandrills 
 in our yard, tied with ropes to the poles supporting 
 their house ; they did not attempt to escape, pro- 
 vided they had sufficient exercise. They were true 
 Baboons — cunning, ill-mannered, full of mischief, and 
 well aware that they amused us by their pranks. 
 Yet the character of the three was different. Pavy, 
 a male, was amiable, affectionate and wheedling. 
 Jack, a weak female, was a perfect humorist, and 
 played with everybody but ladies, whom she hated. 
 She was not very affectionate. Isabella was a very 
 strong female, and she was presented to us because 
 her wickedness made her unbearable at the trading 
 post where she formerly lived. She furiously 
 attacked people of every size, color and sex. It 
 took us a long time, and required a great deal of 
 kind treatment to persuade her that at least we 
 Europeans were not her enemies. Her character 
 was utterly spoiled. She accepted everything that 
 pleased her, but was grateful for nothing. 
 
 " Pavy and Jack were like good watch-Dogs. 
 They used to sit on the roofs of their high houses, 
 scan the neighborhood, and apprise us of approach- 
 ing visitors or of any extraordinary occurrence. On 
 our walks we always tried to collect special dainties 
 for our animal pets, such as fruit, sweet plants, 
 leaves. Beetles or Grasshoppers. These two Man- 
 drills, therefore, always watched for us, and greeted 
 our return by crowing and executing the most daring 
 jumps. When we called out to them they tried to 
 surpass themselves. At the same time a Black 
 Monkey would begin his peculiar sermon, and then 
 all the other animals would raise their voices, includ- 
 ing a Chimpanzee, whose vocal organs are so dis- 
 
 agreeable to the ear. Sometimes the din greeting us 
 was positively deafening. 
 Fondness of " It was new to me that Baboons se- 
 Mandrills lected inanimate objects for toys and 
 for Toys. took them to bed as children will take 
 their dolls. Isabella put great value on a little tin 
 can, and Pavy on a little piece of wood, that he 
 would play 'toss' and 'catch' with. Once it flew 
 beyond his reach and Jack caught it. Immediately 
 a fierce enmity sprang up between the two ; but 
 as the length of their ropes did not allow of a fight, 
 they had to content themselves with chiding each 
 other and making fearful faces. I returned the 
 piece of wood to Pavy but the animosity contin- 
 ued. Jack had been seized with a passion for my 
 insulated thermometer, and whenever she was let 
 loose, tried to steal it. She evidently liked the lus- 
 tre of the glass. She was so careful of it, however, 
 that she did not break it, even when she had suc- 
 ceeded in taking it along with her on a walk over 
 roofs and trees, and we had to coax her to give it 
 back." 
 
 The Wanderoo, Another Monkey that is sometimes 
 a Handsome counted among the Macaques is the 
 Monkey. beautiful Wanderoo or Nilbhandar 
 {Cynocephalus silenus). It has a slim body, a rich 
 beard, enveloping the whole face, and a tufted tail 
 of moderate size. The fur on the upper part of 
 the body is of a lustrous black color ; it is brown- 
 ish-gray on the under part of the body, and the 
 mane is white. The good-natured eyes are brown. 
 This Monkey does not exceed three feet in length. 
 An erroneous opinion as to the native country 
 of this Monkey has prevailed until lately, Ceylon 
 having been considered as its home. According 
 to the latest investigations the animal is a. native 
 of Malabar, and is found in troops of from fifteen 
 to twenty, exclusively in the high forests, ranging 
 from the 14th degree of. northern latitude to Cape 
 Comorin. 
 
 Hmerican or Broab*floseb ^onke^8» 
 
 SECOND FAMILY: Platyrrhini. 
 
 The difference between the products of the 
 tropics of the Old World and those of South Amer- 
 ica is, as a rule, marked and striking. Everything 
 in South America combines to produce the impres- 
 sion of fairyland ; the rich variety of nature charms 
 us and makes us forget the attractive features of the 
 other half of the globe. 
 
 General View This impression of contrast is felt, 
 of American to a certain degree, when compari- 
 Monkeys. gon is made between the Monkeys 
 of the Old and New Worlds. The American or 
 Broad-nosed Monkeys {Platyrrhini) are peculiar 
 animals, but they are not beautiful ; at least, not the 
 majority of them. They are duller and more indo- 
 lent than the Old World Monkeys, and also much 
 more harmless and good-natured ; which means that 
 they are not really Monkeys. We are too much 
 
 sfccustomed to look for a merry, mischievous dispo- 
 sition in a Monkey, and to think of Monkey nature 
 as bold, impudent and good-for-nothing. 
 
 The structure of body, limbs and teeth in the 
 American Monkeys differs from that of their Eastern 
 cousins. _ Their body and limbs are as a rule slim. 
 The tail is never lacking, and in only a few rare in- 
 stances stunted ; generally it is used as a fifth hand, 
 as the end may be rolled up by a few strong muscles 
 and it may therefore be used for grasping and hold- 
 ing. The thumb in the hands cannot be opposed to 
 the fingers to the same degree as in the feet. In- 
 stead of thirty-two teeth, there are thirty-six, each 
 side being furnished with six molars. Cheek- 
 pouches and callosities are never found. The 
 partition between the nostrils is broad. No single 
 member of this family attains a large Monkey-size 
 
THE AMERICAN MONKEYS. 
 
 51 
 
 
 and none of them has a projecting muzzle. Their 
 ■coloring is manifold, but never so bright and vivid 
 as that of some of the Old World Monkeys. 
 Where Monkeys Their native country is South Amer- 
 Liue in ica, Central America and Mexico. 
 
 America. To the north they are bounded by 
 about the twenty-ninth degree of north latitude [as 
 far north as Chihuahua, in Mexico], to the west oy 
 the Cordilleras, [Sierra Madre and Andes Mount- 
 ains] to the east by the Atlantic Ocean and to the 
 south by the twenty-eighth degree of south latitude 
 [line of Catamaica, in the Argentine Republic]. 
 
 All the Broad-nosed Monkeys are essentially tree- 
 climbers, and the virgin forests are therefore mainly 
 their home. Marshy regions are preferred by them 
 to dry localities. They leave the trees only in case 
 of necessity, for they do ^.*j. 
 
 not even drink like other 
 animals ; they climb to the 
 water on boughs and 
 branches overhanging it 
 and drink without leaving 
 them. It is quite possi- 
 ble that some of these 
 Monkeys travel distances 
 of hundreds of miles, 
 without touching the 
 ground. The trees supply 
 them with everything they 
 need to eat, their food 
 being mainly vegetable, 
 though they also eat in- 
 .sects. Spiders, eggs, young 
 birds and honey. Few of 
 them are guilty of devas- 
 tating plantations. 
 
 Most species are active 
 in the daytime, some come 
 •out in the gloaming, and 
 .some are awake only in the 
 might. They are lively and 
 active, with the exception 
 •of several exceedingly lazy 
 .species, representing, as it 
 were, the American coun- 
 terparts of the Orang-utans 
 of the Old World. 
 
 Great Value They are all 
 of the excellent 
 Monltey's Tail, climbers and 
 know how to make very 
 :good use of their tails. 
 This tail is an indispensa- 
 ble all-in-all to some of 
 them, their clumsiness be- 
 ing such that they would 
 
 be helpless without its useful aid. In nearly every 
 posture, even in deepest slumber, the Monkey twmes 
 his tail round something, even though it be only one 
 of his own limbs. The muscular power of the tail 
 exceeds that of the limbs, and the discriminatmg 
 sense of touch with which the tail-end is endowed, 
 enables them to put this remarkable gift of nature 
 to the most varied uses and often serves them as a 
 substitute for the greater quickness of mmd and 
 body possessed by their trans-Atlantic cousins. 
 Yet the real tree-climbing Monkeys of the Old 
 World are decidedly their superiors in climbing and 
 jumping abilities. The walk of the American Monk- 
 eys is always clumsy and tottering and is performed 
 ■on all fours. 
 
 The maternal instinct in the females of these spe- 
 cies is as sublime as that of the Old World Monk- 
 eys. They have one and sometimes two young ones 
 at a birth, and love, pet and protect their children 
 with a solicitude and tenderness which cannot fail to 
 win for them our admiration. 
 
 American The American Monkeys do very little. 
 Monkeys Harm- if any, damage to Man. And the vast, 
 
 less to Man. productive forests that form their home 
 provide for them so generously that they stand in 
 no need of help from him. A few of the American 
 species sometimes make raids on plantations, but 
 the little they eat and spoil is remarkably small in 
 proportion to the robberies of the Old World Monk- 
 eys. They are hunted for their flesh and their fur. 
 Many a traveler has had to subsist on Monkey 
 
 BLACK HOWLER MONKEYS. Found in Guatemala and have prehensile tails but no cheek-pouches or 
 
 callosities, as the Old World Monkeys. The Black Howlers are one of ten species, which extend from Guatemala to 
 Paraeuay ' and this species is found in the mountains as high as six thousand feet. Like all of the Howlers it has 
 an unearthly yell which can be heard at a distance of two miles, the great sounds being increased by a peculiar for- 
 mation of the hyoid bone of the throat. They are the largest of the New World Monkeys, and the Indians are very 
 fond of their meat. (Mycstes niger.) 
 
 roasts for weeks at a time, and did not find them 
 bad fare. To the natives the Monkey is a very im- 
 portant animal, for its meat forms a great part of 
 their food. They use bows and arrows on their 
 Monkey hunts, usually steeping the arrow-heads in 
 very strong poison. When a Monkey has been shot 
 by them and feels that he is wounded he tries to 
 pull the arrow out, but as the cunning natives take 
 the precaution to cut the arrow-stem half-way 
 through, before using it, the head usually breaks off 
 in the wound. 
 How Indians The Indians also use bows and arrows 
 Capture and to hunt Monkeys that they wish to 
 Tame Monkeys, keep captive. Schomburgk tells us 
 that the Arekunas, when they wish to tame an old, 
 
52 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 suiky Monkey, steep the arrow in weak Urari 
 When he falls down unconscious from the 
 
 poison 
 
 agerie in the United States. There are some very 
 fine specimens in Lincoln Park, Chicago, and in 
 Central Park, New York City]. The Capuchins are 
 the species most frequently seen in the European 
 animal markets ; the Spider Monkeys are rarer, and 
 the Saimaris one hardly ever meets. Very few liv- 
 ing Howlers have been brought to Europe. 
 
 The Broad-nosed or American Monkeys are di- 
 vided into two groups : those whose tails are pre- 
 hensile, the Cebidae, and those whose tails are not 
 prehensile, the Pithecidae. 
 
 THE HOWLERS. 
 
 Chief among the Cebidas is the Howler {Mycetes). 
 The head of this animal is high and of pyramidal 
 shape and the muzzle projects forward. The thumbs 
 are thin. The chin is adorned with a beard. A re- 
 markable peculiarity of the Howlers is their hyoid 
 bone, or the bone in the neck from which the mus- 
 cles of the tongue arise. Alexander von Humboldt 
 was the first naturalist to dissect the Howler, and he 
 says : 
 Where Howlers "The other American Monkeys, 
 get their whose voice is piping like a Spar- 
 
 Strong Voice, row's, have a plain, thin hyoid bone ; 
 but in this species the tongue rests on an extensive 
 bony drum. Their upper larynx has six pockets 
 which reflect the voice ; two of these pockets are 
 shaped like a pigeon's nest and resemble a bird's 
 larynx. The plaintive sound peculiar to the Howlers 
 is produced by the air forcibly streaming into the 
 bony drum. If one considers the size of this drum, 
 he is no longer astonished at the strength of the 
 
 MIBIKI SPIDER MONKEY. It is only in South America that 
 
 Monkeys are found whose tails are prehensile, or capable of grasping the 
 objects about which they coil. The Spider Monkeys are especially gifted in 
 'this way, a particularly interesting family of these being the Miriki. They 
 live in Southeastern Brazil, have' fur of a wooUytexture, rising to a tuft on 
 the end and a beard surrounds the face. They have very long tails, and one 
 of their wa^s of using them is well brought to view by the Monkey in the 
 background of this picture. {Ateles hypoxanthus.) 
 
 effect of the poison they suck 
 bury him up to the neck, 
 and make him swallow 
 some garth containing salt- 
 petre or some juice of the 
 sugar-cane. When the 
 Monkey which has been 
 sickene,4. by this treatment 
 begins t-6 regain conscious- 
 ness, they dig him out and 
 swathe him in bandages 
 In these bandages he is 
 kept for several days, and 
 the only beverage he re- 
 ceives is sugar-cane juice, 
 while all his food is sea- 
 soned with saltpeter and 
 plenty of red pepper. If 
 this treatment does not 
 tame him, he is smoked 
 for some time — "like a 
 ham." Soon his rage be- 
 gins to abate, his counte- 
 nance becomes placid and 
 he is given milder treat- 
 ment. The bandages are 
 taken away and after such 
 a cure the most aggressive 
 Monkey forgets that he 
 ever lived wild in a forest. 
 
 Few American Monkeys 
 [although they may be seen 
 
 COAITA SPIDER MONKEY. The artist has caught two Coaitas in attitudes that tell more strongly 
 
 than words how the family came to get the name of Spiders ; for how nearly like large Spiders do they look as they 
 hang with extended limbs from the tree-branch. The Coaita, which is found in Surinam and Brazil, is large for 
 Its group, although exceedingly slender. (Ateles paniscus.) 
 
 are taken to Europe 
 in any museum or men- 
 
 voices of these animals, which have earned for them 
 a perfect right to the name of Howlers." 
 
THE AMERICAN MONKEYS-HOWLER. 
 
 53 
 
 Where the 
 
 Howler is 
 
 Found. 
 
 The tail of the Howler is very long ; its end is 
 bare on the under side, abundantly supplied with 
 nerves and blood vessels of very strong muscular 
 power, and therefore perfectly adapted to prehen- 
 sile use. 
 
 The Howlers are widely spread over 
 all parts of South America. Thick, 
 damp, virgin forests are their preferred 
 haunts ; they are only found in the prairies where, 
 m close proximity to water, isolated groups of trees 
 have m course of time developed into small woods. 
 They shun dry parts of the country, but do not 
 avoid the cooler regions if food and water are plen- 
 tiful. 
 
 The Aluate or Red Howler {Mycetes seniculus), 
 
 has a fur of auburn color, merging into golden yel- 
 low on the back ; the hair is short and somewhat 
 
 stiff. The average length 
 
 of the male Red Howler 
 
 is about four feet two 
 
 inches, counting the tail 
 
 as from twenty-five to 
 
 thirty inches. The female 
 
 is smaller and darker. 
 
 This family of Monkeys 
 
 is found in nearly all the 
 
 eastern portion of South 
 
 America. 
 
 The Caraya or Black 
 
 Howler {Mycetes niger), 
 
 lias much longer hair, of 
 
 a uniform black color, 
 
 reddish on the sides, and 
 
 the under part of the body 
 
 assuming a yellowish 
 
 tinge, in the female. Its 
 
 extreme length is four 
 
 feet, one-half of which 
 
 belongs to the tail. It 
 
 inhabits Paraguay. 
 
 Travelers' The Howler 
 
 Accounts of Monkey is an 
 
 Howlers, animal that, 
 
 since the earliest histor-, 
 
 ical time, has been par- 
 tially known to travelers, 
 
 and many fictions' have 
 
 been circulated concern- 
 ing its habits and charac- 
 teristics. Some of these 
 are to this day believed 
 
 by the unobserving whites 
 and the Indians resident 
 in the country inhabited 
 by this creature; but we 
 pay no attention to these 
 doubtful stories, and recount only what is proven. 
 
 Schomburgk says : " For some time after my 
 arrival I had, at sunset and sunrise, heard the fear- 
 ful howling of the Monkeys in the neighboring vir- 
 gin forest, but had never succeeded in seeing them 
 on my walks. One morning I set out after breakfast, 
 provided with my gun, and a dismal howl just then 
 resounding made me eager to kill some of these noisy 
 disturbers. I hurried on through thick and thin, 
 and after prolonged efforts succeeded in approaching 
 a whole troop, unperceived. There they were, right 
 before me, in a high tree, and the concert they gave 
 might have led people to believe that all the animals 
 in the forest were engaged in deadly combat. Yet 
 I cannot deny that there was some kind of harmony 
 
 in the uproar, for sometimes the whole troop would 
 pause, and then one of the singers would begin, and 
 the dreadful howling would start afresh. The bony 
 drum on the hyoid bone, which gives their voices 
 such exceeding strength, could be seen moving up 
 and down. For a few moments the sounds would 
 resemble the grunting of a Pig; the next instant 
 they would simulate the roar of the Jaguar rushing 
 upon his prey, and then again came sounds like the 
 deep and terrible snarl of the same animal, when, 
 besieged from all sides, it recognizes its dangerous 
 position. The dismal troop also had its ludicrous 
 features, and the most confirmed misanthrope would 
 have smiled if he had seen the grave and serious 
 faces of the long-bearded vocalists. I had been told 
 that every band had its leader, which differed from 
 all the deep basso voices, not only in his shrill tenor 
 
 CHAMECK SPIDEE MONKEY. Belongs to the large family of Spider or Thumbless Monkeys, corre- 
 sponding to the Colobus of Africa, but the Chameck has the thumb slightly "projecting, consisting of but a 
 single joint, without a nail. It is found in great numbers in Brazil, and is nearly black in color, the face and ears 
 being a deep brown. (Ateles pentadactyl-us.) 
 
 but also because of his slim figure. I can corrobo- 
 rate the first statement, but for a slim, graceful figure 
 I looked in vain. On an adjoining tree I saw two 
 silent Monkeys, which I took to be sentinels ; but 
 they certainly were bad ones, for I stood in the im- 
 mediate neighborhood unobserved." 
 
 This description shows us sufficiently that the 
 Howlers are highly peculiar animals. One can say 
 without exaggeration that their whole life is a chain 
 of peculiarities and richly repays observation ; on 
 the other hand it must be acknowledged that the 
 Indians are pardonable in regarding the Howlers as 
 melancholy and uninteresting, and as deserving of 
 contempt. It is not even difficult to account for the 
 calumnies that have been uttered against them when 
 
54 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 one "realizes that the poor animals, neither in the 
 
 wild state nor in captivity, show any graceful feature 
 
 or anything to enliven the monotony of their lives. 
 
 General During the day the highest trees in the 
 
 Traits of forests are the favorite haunts of the 
 
 Howlers. Howlers ; in the gloaming they retire 
 
 to the lower trees, whose foliage is made thicker by 
 
 creepers, and here they sleep. Slowly they climb 
 
 from branch to branch, selecting leaves and buds, 
 
 jumps 
 
 GOLD-FACED MONKEY. This is a singular appearing animal, with its project- 
 ing crest of hair, its long-haired tail and strikingly marked coloring. It has a wide range in 
 South America and its home is deep in the forests. In the trees it is swift in its movements, 
 constantly using its prehensile tail in traveling. {Ateles bartkttii.) 
 
 slowly they pluck them and slowly they eat. When 
 they are satisfied, they crouch down on a bough, and 
 sit there without moving, looking very much like 
 old Men asleep ; or they stretch themselves at full 
 length on a bough, let their limbs hang down rigidly 
 from both sides and only hold on to the tree with 
 their tails. What one does, the other slowly and 
 unconsciously does, also. 
 
 Kappler's Account Kappler, in speaking of the Red 
 of the Howlers in Guiana, says: "They live 
 
 Red Howler, jn small troops, composed of about 
 ten individuals, always comprising one old male, 
 who occupies a higher seat in the trees and conducts 
 the concerts. Whenever I had the opportunity of 
 observing the Howlers closely, an old male was sit- 
 ting high up in the tree, holding himself on the tree 
 with his fore-paws and tail, while other males, fe- 
 males and young ones, were grouped lower down in 
 different positions. The old male would begin with 
 a " Rochu," repeated five or six times and running 
 into a roar, which would be taken up by all the 
 
 others ■ and so loud were the cries that one was 
 nearly deafened by them. The noise could be heard 
 at a distance of two miles. The roaring of the 
 Tigers which so terrified Pichegru and his friends 
 on their flight from Cayenne to Surinam, probably 
 was nothing but a concert given by Howlers, for 
 the uproar they make may well frighten any one 
 who hears it for the first time and does not know 
 that it is created by these harmless Monkeys. 
 Why these animals should howl so I really do not 
 know. In Guiana it is believed that they howl 
 only at the rise of the tide ; but this is not correct, 
 as they will sometimes howl at any hour of the 
 dav. The Howler is lazy and melancholy; he 
 nly when pursued ; ordinarily he deliber- 
 climbs about, always holding fast to some 
 obje'ct with his tail. Captured young, he becomes 
 tame and plays with Cats and Dogs, but is usually 
 sad If a person he has taken a fancy to leaves 
 him. his cries become a nuisance. Howlers emit 
 a peculiar, ill-smelling odor, by which one 
 traveling through the forests they inhabit 
 can easily detect their proximity. The 
 females never give birth to more than one 
 young one at a time. Their chief enemy- 
 is the Eagle. 
 
 How the When Howlers are shot at 
 Howler Acts they make their escape as 
 When Hunted, quickly as possible. It is 
 an amusing sight when, in its fright, a half- 
 grown young one jumps on the back of an 
 old male in order to escape with greater 
 celerity, but is brought down by a sharp 
 box on his ears, and thus taught that the 
 service he covets does not belong to the 
 duties of a father of a family. 
 
 In a great part of Paraguay the Howl- 
 ers are hunted by the Indians ; their fur is 
 popular and their meat is a favorite food 
 with the natives. 
 
 Howlers Howlers are seldom tamed, 
 in and their domestication is 
 
 Captiuity. very difficult. Rengger saw 
 only two in captivity that were over a year 
 old. They were fed leaves and preferred 
 them to any other kind of food. They 
 seemed very dull animals, paid no more 
 attention to their keeper than to anybody 
 else, and could not be taught to do any- 
 thing. Wied relates of other tame Howl- 
 they became so attached to their owner 
 that they always cried when he left them but for a 
 moment. Yet their laziness, sadness and disagree- 
 able voice made them repulsive, even to him. 
 
 THE SPIDER MONKEYS. 
 
 An exceedingly slim body and long, thin, sprawl- 
 ing limbs distinguish the Spider Monkeys {Ateles). 
 The naturalist who first called them by this title found 
 a most appropriate name, and one which naturally 
 comes to every one who sees them. The head of 
 the Spider Monkey is small, the face beardless and 
 the thumb on the fore-paw lacking or rudimentary. 
 
 They are natives of South America, ranging to 
 the twenty-fifth degree of southern latitude (as far 
 south as Ascencion). They live only on the higher 
 branches of the tallest trees. 
 
 Spider H/lonheys The lives of the different species of 
 in Their Spider Monkeys seem to be very 
 
 Natiue Forests, similar, and exceedingly rnonoto- 
 nous. Tschudi, agreeing with many other observers, 
 
 ers. 
 
 that 
 
THE AMERICAN MONKEYS—SPIDER. 
 
 00 
 
 says : " They live in troops of ten or twelve ; some- 
 times they are found in couples, and not infrequently 
 singly. The presence of troops of these Monkeys 
 is easily detected by the noise they make in bending 
 branches when they are climbing. When one of 
 them is wounded he gives a loud yell and tries to 
 escape. When mothers are shot the very young 
 ones do not leave them, but remain with them even 
 after they are quite dead and stiff, persistently cling- 
 ing to and petting the lifeless bodies. Spider Monk- 
 eys are easily tamed, are good-natured and affec- 
 tionate, but do not bear captivity well. They are 
 subject to skin diseases and diarrhea, and when sick 
 are extremely miserable." The different species are 
 very similai to each other. 
 Various Kinds There are two species which 
 of Spider are found quite frequently 
 Monlieys. in Guiana; the Coaita {Ateles 
 paniscus), and the Marimonda or Aru 
 {Ateles belzebutli). The first named is one 
 of the largest of his tribe ; his length is 
 four feet, two inches, the tail taking more 
 than half of this length ; and his shoulder 
 height is about seventeen inches. The fur 
 is harsh, longest on the sides, and forms 
 a crest on the forehead, and is of a deep 
 black. Only the face shows a reddish 
 tinge. Bright brown eyes give the good- 
 natured face a sympathetic look. 
 
 The only representative of the Spider 
 Monkeys in Quito, Panama and Peru is 
 the ChdL.va&ck {Ateles pentadactylus). His 
 fur is long and deep black in color and 
 his thumb rudimental. 
 
 The Miriki {Ateles hypoxanthus) , best 
 described by Max, prince of Wied, inhab- 
 its Brazil. He is about four feet, four 
 inches long, with a strong body, a small 
 head, long limbs and thick, nearly woolly 
 fur. As a rule the fur is of a dull yellow 
 color, the inner sides of the limbs being 
 lighter. The face, devoid of fur, is brown 
 in youth and dark gray in old age. The 
 thumb on the fore-paw consists of a short 
 stub, devoid of mil. 
 
 The best-looking of all Spider Monkeys 
 probably is the Gold-faced Monkey, which 
 was discovered in Eastern Peru by Bart- 
 lett, Jr., and called Ateles Bartlettii in his 
 honor. The long, soft, thick fur is deep 
 black on the upper and outer parts of the 
 body; the hands and the parts of the face 
 that are not covered with hair are brown- 
 black. The forehead shows a band of 
 golden yellow, the whiskers are whitish 
 and the lower part of the body and the 
 inner side of the limbs are brownish yel- 
 low. The size of this magnificent creat- 
 ure is about the same as that of the other 
 Monkeys of this tribe. 
 
 Life of the The life of the Spider 
 
 Spider Monheys Monkeys has been de- 
 Described. scribed by Humboldt, 
 Prince Max von Wied and Schomburgk. 
 In Guiana they are found only in the depth of the for- 
 ests and never at a greater elevation than i,6oo feet ; 
 and they shun cold forests on the heights. As a 
 rule they are found in troops of six, more rarely in 
 couples or singly, and still more seldom in greater 
 numbers. Each of these troops quietly goes on its 
 way without heeding other harmless creatures. In 
 
 comparison with the miserable hobbling of the 
 Howlers their movements may be called quick. 
 The considerable length of the limbs is conducive 
 to agility in climbing and jumping. Their arms are 
 so long and, therefore, admit of such rapid progres- 
 sion, that the hunter must move quickly if he wants- 
 to keep up with them. They are quite agile when in 
 the tree-tops. They climb well and at times take 
 small leaps, but in every movement they throw their 
 long limbs about in the queerest sort of manner. 
 The tail is usually sent out first, to feel for a place of 
 support, before the Monkey decides to leave the 
 branch upon which he is sitting. Sometimes one 
 finds whole troops hanging to branches by their tails 
 
 HUMBOLDT'S LAGOTHBIX MONKEY. Was discovered by Humboldt up the 
 
 river Orinoco. It has fur like a hare, hence its name of Lagothrix, and its face is remark- 
 ably like that of a Negro. It has no howling apparatus, but has a long, prehensile tail. The 
 Lagothrix inhabits the dense forests, feeding on fruits and buds, chiefly, and lives in 
 troops. {Lagothrix humboldtii.) 
 
 only and forming the most striking groups. Not 
 infrequently the whole family lazily lies on boughs, 
 basking in the sun, with their hands on their backs 
 and their eyes turned upwards. On the ground they 
 hobble along so very heavily that it makes one feel 
 quite nervous to look at them. The long tail, which 
 they move despairingly to and fro in the endeavor 
 
56 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 to balance themselves, increases the ungainliness of 
 their movements. European observers have never 
 seen Spider Monkeys on the ground, and Prince 
 Wied says that when in good health they never 
 come to the ground, except when they cannot get to 
 the water on low branches. They are hunted very 
 much, for the Portuguese utilize their fur and the 
 Indians prefer their meat to that of any other game. 
 These animals are seldom seen in captivity. One 
 cannot help liking them, for they show neither mis- 
 chievousness nor malice, and their anger, though 
 quickly aroused, is soon spent. They are amusing 
 on account of their queer attitudes and contortions. 
 They are very susceptible to kind treatment and 
 acknowledge it by caresses. 
 
 THE CAPUCHINS. 
 
 The Capuchins ( Cebus) differ from the American 
 Monkeys described in the preceding pages in hav- 
 ing a tail which is completely covered with hair, 
 and is not capable of grasping anything, or, strictly 
 speaking, is not prehensile, although it may be curled 
 around a branch. 
 
 While the Monkey tribes we have just considered 
 are rarely met with in the zoological gardens in 
 Europe, a Capuchin is found in nearly every one of 
 them. The arms of these creatures are of moderate 
 size and the hands are always provided with five fin- 
 gers. A more or less developed beard adorns the 
 face and the fur is short and thick. 
 
 Capuchins the The Capuchins are sometimes 
 Liueliest of called the Guenons of America. 
 American Monlteys. Jhey much resemble those merry 
 creatures, though more in their behavior than their 
 physical characteristics. They are real Monkeys, 
 that is, they are lively, docile, mischievous, curious 
 and capricious animals. This is why they are so 
 much more frequently kept as pets, and tamed ones 
 so often taken to Europe. They also bear the 
 name of Weeper Monkeys, and are indebted for it 
 to their gentle, whining voice. Yet this voice is 
 only heard when they are in good humor. The 
 slightest excitement makes them utter abominable 
 shrieks. They live exclusively in trees and are 
 completely at home there. They inhabit all the 
 larger forest regions of the southern portions of 
 South America in rather numerous troops, often 
 mingling with kindred tribes. 
 
 In captivity the Capuchins show all the qualities 
 of the Guenons, besides several peculiar to them- 
 selves only. Notwithstanding their uncleanliness, 
 extraordinary even among Monkeys, they are great 
 favorites with the Indians and are frequently tamed 
 by them. Like the Baboons, they are fond of nar- 
 cotics and spirits. Schomburgk says that when one 
 blows tobacco-smoke into a Capuchin's face, he 
 rapturously closes his eyes and rubs his whole body 
 with satisfaction. Tea, coffee, whisky and other 
 stimulating drinks produce a similar effect on him. 
 The Cai, The best known of all the Capuchins 
 Its Home probably is the Cai or Sai i^Cebus 
 
 and Habits, capucinus). Cai, in the language of 
 the natives, means " dweller of the woods." The 
 Cai belongs to the largest kinds of Capuchins and 
 attains a length of twenty inches. In earliest youth 
 he is distinguished by a wrinkled, flesh-colored fore- 
 head, devoid of hair. His coloring is a dark or light 
 brown ; the hairy temples, the whiskers, throat and 
 breast, and the upper limbs are light brown. He is 
 a native of Southern Brazil, and is widely spread 
 from Bahia to Colombia. He prefers forests with- 
 
 out underbrush, and spends the greater part of his 
 life on trees, coming to the ground only to drmk or 
 to visit maize-fields. He has no permanent home. , 
 In the day-time he roams from tree to tree, at night 
 he sleeps on an embranchment. Usually he is found 
 in families of from five to ten, the females outnum- 
 bering the males. A solitary old male is sometimes 
 met with. It is very difficult to study this animal in 
 its wild state, as it is very shy. Rengger says that 
 he was only able to observe them a few times by 
 chance. Once his attention was aroused 'by a few 
 agreeable, flute-like sounds. He looked up and saw, 
 approaching him, an old male, followed by twelve or 
 thirteen other Monkeys of both sexes. Three of the 
 females were carrying young ones, either on their 
 backs or under their arms. One of the Monkeys 
 suddenly caught sight of an orange tree, bearing ripe 
 fruit, and quickly uttered a few peculiar sounds. In 
 a few moments the entire troop was gathered around 
 the tree, plucking and eating so rapidly that the tree 
 was soon bare of fruit. Then the stronger Monkeys 
 tried to rob the weaker ones of their share of the 
 booty, vigorously pulling their hair, the assailants 
 making wry faces and showing their teeth in a spite- 
 ful way during the contention. Several of the party 
 busily searched a dead part of the tree, breaking off 
 the bark and eating the insects hidden beneath it. 
 When they had had enough to eat they laid down on 
 a horizontal branch, in the position assumed by the 
 Howlers, as described on a preceding page, and 
 rested. The young ones played around, and showed 
 themselves quite agile. They swung by the. tails 
 of the elders, and climbed up on them as on ropes. 
 
 The young Cai is often caught and tamed. When 
 older it caniiot get used to captivity, but becomes 
 mopish, refuses food, and usually dies in a few weeks. 
 On the other hand, while quite young it will soon 
 forget its freedom, become attached to people, and 
 like many other Monkeys will partake of their food 
 and drink. Of the senses of this animal, that of 
 feeling is most acute ; the others are dull. It is 
 shortsighted and cannot see at all by night. It does 
 not hear well, and for this reason can be easily sur- 
 prised. The sense of smell is still more defective, 
 and often deludes it into attempting to eat what 
 its taste tells it is not fit for food. 
 
 Expressive The cry of the Cai changes according 
 
 Cries of the to its emotions. Most frequently it ut- 
 ^"'- ters a flute-like sound, which seems to 
 denote weariness. If it desires anything it groans ; 
 wonder and embarrassment are expressed by a half- 
 whistling note ; when angry it cries in a deep, rough 
 voice : " hee ! hee ! " When in fear or in pain it 
 shrieks ; when pleased it giggles. 
 
 It not infrequently happens that Capuchins in cap- 
 tivity give birth to young ones, and then their care 
 of them seems still more tender than when in the 
 wild state. The mother plays with her child all day, 
 allows nobody to touch it, shows it only to people 
 of whom she is fond, and courageously defends it 
 from everybody else. 
 
 The Cai is very sensitive to cold and damp and 
 will never go into the water of its own accord. In 
 captivity it is subject to many diseases, especially 
 colds in the head and coughs, and it often suffers 
 from consumption. According to Rengger, it attains 
 the age of about fifteen years in the wild state. 
 
 The Cai The intelligence of the Cai is worthy of 
 
 easily notice. From the very first few days 
 
 Domesticated, of its captivity it learns to know its 
 
 master and keeper, looks to him for food, warmth, 
 
THE AMERICAN MONKEYS— CAPUCHIN. 
 
 57 
 
 protection and help and places implicit trust in him. 
 It is pleased when the keeper plays with it, forgives 
 him for teasing it, and when it has not seen him 
 for a while, shows great pleasure at his return. 
 It gets to be so devoted to its keeper that it en- 
 tirely forgets its past freedom and becomes alrriost 
 ■wholly a domestic animal. It not only becomes 
 attached to people, but also to the domestic animals 
 with which it is brought up. It is no uncommon 
 thing in Paraguay to rear the Cai in companionship 
 with a Dog, which it utilizes as a Horse. When 
 they are separated, it screams ; at the reappearance 
 of the Dog it overwhelms it with caresses. Its love 
 is so great that it is even capable of self-sacrifice, 
 for if its Dog friend becomes engaged in a fight the 
 Cai helps it with great zeal. 
 
 The Cai is entirely different when it is ill-treated. 
 When it thinks itself strong enough, it opposes force 
 
 even tries to make others give in to it, either by 
 caresses or by threats. This retards its learning 
 very much, for it acquires only so much as it deems 
 profitable to itself, such as opening boxes, searching 
 its master's pockets, etc. 
 
 The Apella The Apella or Brown Capuchin ( Cedus 
 or Brown apella) is a native of Guiana. Its col- 
 Capuchin. oring varies so much that it is hard to 
 describe. The fur is glossy and some hairs stand 
 straight up over the forehead and on both sides of 
 the head, so as to form a crest. The face and 
 throat are lighter than the body, while the back, tail 
 and legs merge into black. The size of this Monkey 
 is about the same as that of the Cai. 
 
 Schomburgk describes the life of the Apella in the 
 wild state at greater length than other naturalists. 
 
 " Closely concealed behind a tree," he relates, 
 "we awaited the troop of Monkeys. A vanguard 
 
 ^ ^^fiS 
 
 CAI WEEPER CCAPDCHIIT) MONKEYS The artist presents a family of Cai Capucfiins— father, mother and child— as seen 
 
 in the open woods of Brazil and Colombia The sorrowful expression of then faces is clearly shown. " The Weepers " live altogether in the 
 trees, leaving them only for the purpose of obtaining water or to raid grain fields. They feed upon fruits, vegetables and insects. They are 
 very timid but are frequently captured and are often-seen in zoological gardens and museums of the United States. (Cedus capucinus.) 
 
 to force, and tries to bite those who offer it insult. 
 If it fears its opponent, it resorts to dissimulation, 
 and takes revenge as soon as the intended victim is 
 off its guard. 
 
 The Cai is very fond of good things to eat, and 
 soon becomes an adept at stealing. When caught 
 in the act of theft it cries out with fear, before it is 
 even touched ; but if not' detected, it looks very in- 
 nocent and unconcerned. Small articles are hidden 
 in the mouth, when it is disturbed, and are after- 
 wards eaten at leisure. Its covetousness is very 
 great. What it once gets, it does not give up, except 
 to its master, when it happens to like him very much. 
 Besides these qualities, it possesses a high degree of 
 curiosity and destructiveness. 
 
 The Cai is very independent and subjects itself to 
 a higher will than its own with great reluctance. It 
 
 came first, then followed the main body, and a 
 quarter of an hour later the rearguard came into 
 view. I regret to say that I precipitated this latter 
 into disorderly flight by bursting into a laugh at 
 their peculiar antics. The weaker ones complained 
 and whistled, and cast angry glances at the stronger, 
 which bit and cuffed them when they were in their 
 way. The young ones seemed perfectly glued to 
 the backs of their mothers, and made the most pre- 
 cociously wise little faces imaginable, while the elder 
 ones searched every leaf and every little crevice, 
 on their way, for insects, with the utmost gravity. 
 From four to five hundred Monkeys might have hur- 
 ried on through the foliage above us (they travel 
 from tree to tree and do not seem to know any other 
 mode of progression), and they made such ludicrous 
 faces that I could not restrain myself and laughed 
 
Ob 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 heartily. The Monkeys in the trees immediately 
 over us stopped for a moment as if struck by light- 
 ning ; then they gave a shriek, which was re-echoed 
 from all sides, and redoubling their speed the troop 
 disappeared from view with a few mighty jumps." 
 The Apella as The Apella is often shipped to 
 Organ-Grinder's Europe [and the United States, and 
 Assistant. jg ^ familiar figure in zoological 
 
 gardens]. Organ-grinders make use of this Monkey, 
 as well as of the Guenon, to move people's hearts 
 and purses. While some once popular tune is being 
 ground out of the none too melodious instrument the 
 little beggar, loosed from his leading-cord, clambers 
 up door-steps, or climbs with wonderful agility to 
 the window-sills of adjacent houses to peer through 
 the panes. Some child is sure to see him, and then 
 a gleeful time ensues both for the child and the 
 
 A GKOUP OF CAPUCHINS. The artist here presents four of the eighteen species of Capuchin Monk- 
 eys, which differ chiefly in their coloring. These Monkeys are eagerly hunted in many parts of South America 
 for their flesh. (i. White-Bearded Capuchin — Cebus leiicogenys. 2. Apella, or Brown Capuchin — Cebus 
 ■ apella. 3. VVhite-Faced Capuchin— C<!^MJ /2j'/o/«w«j. 4. Green Capuchin— Cci>«J ctoaccMj.) 
 
 Monkey, and upon the latter candy and pastry are 
 lavished in profuse supply. Oh, if he only had 
 cheek-pouches ! Besides toothsome dainties for 
 himself the Monkey receives many small coins for 
 his master, to whom he presently returns with them. 
 Having levied their customary tribute the pair. 
 Monkey and Man, move on their way rejoicing, to 
 repeat the same performance a few doors away. 
 Monkeys with The second family of the Broad- 
 Non-Prehensile nosed Monkeys, the Pithecidce, or 
 Taiis. the non-prehensile tailed group, is 
 
 composed in greatest part of small or medium- 
 sized Monkeys whose tails are covered with hair to 
 the tip and are incapable of grasping or holding 
 anything. 
 
 The Pithecia have a short, stout fra;me, and the 
 clumsiness of their appearance is mcreased by. their 
 long loose hair, and their bushy tail, the hair cover- 
 ing of which is usually longest at the tip. The hair 
 on their head shows a decided parting, and the chia 
 and cheeks are covered with a full beard. 
 
 There are but few families in this group of Monk- 
 eys, and they are natives of the northern part of 
 South America. They inhabit high, dry forests 
 that are free from underbrush, and keep aloof from 
 other Monkeys. Tschudi tells us that " their activ- 
 ity begins after sunset and lasts till dawn ; during 
 the day they sleep, and are hard to hunt, as they do- 
 not betray themselves by any noise. They are 
 easily tamed, but stay morose and mopish in cap- , 
 tivity, and are very lazy when awake in the day- 
 time." Schomburgk says that " wherever the foliage 
 on the banks of the river was 
 thick, troops of Monkeys 
 gathered on the branches, 
 and the Pithecia seemed the 
 most numerous. Their long 
 hair, beautifully parted, their 
 magnificent beards and 
 whiskers, and their bushy 
 tails, gave the clever-looking 
 animals a prepossessing but 
 extremely ludicrous aspect. 
 Description The most com- 
 0/ the mon group of 
 Cuxio. this. tribe inhab- 
 its the extensive forests on 
 the upper Maranon and Ori- 
 noco rivers. The Indians call 
 it Cuxio (^Pithecia satanas), 
 and it is twenty inches long, 
 the tail being of equal length. 
 The head is perfectly round 
 and covered with a kind of a 
 cap, consisting of not very 
 long, thick hair, radiating 
 from a common center, and 
 parted in front. Kappler 
 says that •' no dandy could 
 be more careful of his hair 
 and beard than this beautiful 
 animal." The upper part of 
 his body is thickly covered 
 with hair, while in the lower 
 part it is more scanty. The 
 general color of the adult 
 Monkeys is black, speckled 
 with rust-colored hairs ; the 
 young are. grayish-brown. 
 He lives in small families, 
 consisting of from four to six 
 members, and seldom bears captivity well. 
 
 The White A second and well-known member of 
 Headed Salii this group, the White-headed Saki 
 of Guiana. (^Pithecia leucocephala) , shows so many 
 varieties, according to age and sex, that it is known 
 under several different names. It lives in Guiana, in 
 troops of from six to ten, prefers shrubs to high 
 trees, and impresses one as a rather lazy creature. 
 The food of this animal consists chiefly of berries, 
 fruit and honey. The female brings forth but one 
 young one at a birth, and carries it around on her 
 back until it has become strong and independent of 
 restraint. Kappler corroborates these statements, 
 and adds that this Monkey is easily tamed, but is 
 listless and timid in captivity. 
 
THE AMERICAN MONKEYS— CALLITHRIX. 
 
 59 
 
 The Black- The life of the Black-headed Saki 
 
 Headed Sahi, {Brachyurus melanocephalus) is very lit- 
 
 or Cacajao. tie known, though the many names by 
 
 which it is called would indicate that it is frequently 
 
 GUXIO MONXEY, This remarkable looking animal exhibits a very 
 
 hairy tail and an immense beard. It is extremely careful of the latter and 
 so fearful of wetting it that it dips water up in its hand when it drinks. The 
 Cuxib is chiefly nocturnal in habits and is found in Brazil. When angry it 
 grinds its teeth in a savage manner. {Pithecia satan-as.) 
 
 encountered by the natives. Besides the preceding 
 names, this Monkey is also called Cacajao, Chucuto, 
 Chucuzo, Caruari, Mono-feo or Ugly 
 Monkey, and Mono-Rabon or Short- 
 Tail. The last name has been lately 
 universally adopted; for the Cacajao, 
 with a few other species having short, 
 bushy tails, have been separated from 
 the Pithecia, under the common fam- 
 ily name of Short-tailed Monkeys 
 {^Brachyurus^ . 
 
 This Saki measures from twenty 
 to twenty-seven inches in length, in- 
 cluding the tail. Its thick, shining 
 fur is longer on the shoulders and 
 sides, and scantier on the under part 
 of the body. The short, thin tail has 
 a tuft on its tip. The fingers are 
 exceedingly long and strong. Its 
 color is grayish-yellow on the back 
 and a rusty hue lower down. The 
 hair of the head and fore-arms is 
 shining black. In captivity it is 
 greedy and obtuse, but not fierce. 
 It trembles with fear at sight of a 
 Crocodile or a Snake. This Monkey 
 is a native of the northwest of Bra- 
 zil, but does not seem to be very 
 numerous. But a single living speci- 
 men has ever been brought to Europe 
 [although a number of live Short-tailed Saki Monk 
 eys have been taken to the United States]. 
 
 THE CALLITHRIX. 
 
 Another genus of American Monkeys, called Cal- 
 lithrix, is distinguished by a slim body, on slim 
 limbs, a long, thin tail, a round head with a beard- 
 less face and a short muzzle ; bright eyes and large 
 ears ; and the hands and feet each have five toes or 
 fingers. 
 
 The Callithrices inhabit the quiet forests of South 
 America in small troops, and their presence is easily 
 determined on account of their loud voices, which 
 they are fond of using. In point of strength and 
 loudness of voice they -come next to the Howlers, 
 and they betray themselves to the hunter at a great 
 distance. The tenderness and agreeable flavor of 
 their flesh cause them to be hunted vigorously by 
 the natives. Their disposition is exceedingly gen- 
 tle, and in captivity they become tame and affec- 
 tionate to an extraordinary degree. 
 
 The Widow One of the most attractive members of 
 
 Monkey and this group is the Widow Monkey ( Cal- 
 
 its Beauties. Ufhrix lugens). Its length is about thir- 
 ty-five inches, more than half of this belonging to 
 the tail. According to Alexander von Humboldt, 
 this little animalhas fine, lustrous, black hair, a blu- 
 ish white face, and small and well-formdd ears. The 
 neck shows a white collar, about one, inch in width ; 
 the feet are black ; the hands white on the back and 
 black on the palms. The missionaries have com- 
 pared the white parts to the veil, collar and gloves 
 worn by widows in South America, and this has 
 given the name to the animal. 
 
 THE CHRYSOTHRIX. 
 
 We may consider the Saimaris ( Chrysothrix) as the 
 connecting link between the Monkeys with and 
 those without prehensile tails. They have slender 
 bodies, with long limbs, large heads, high foreheads, 
 short faces, very large eyes standing close together, 
 plain, large ears, and fur consisting of peculiar 
 ringlets. As with the Callithrix, the tail is round and 
 
 THE HAIRY SAKI. Has hair of a speckled gray color, which is very long, hanging over 
 
 the head and half hiding the sad little face. This long hair extends all over the body and out to the 
 end of the tnil. It is a nocturnal animal, timid and retiring, and does not live long after being cap- 
 tured. {Pithecia hirsuta.) 
 
 slender, and they have many peculiarities that are 
 common to the non-prehensile-tailed group. 
 
60 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 The Lively The best known member of this 
 Squirrel Monkey group is the Squirrel- Monkey, 
 
 of Guiana. sometimes called the Golden-haired 
 Monkey {Chrysothrix sciiirea) , distinguished as much 
 by a graceful body and agreeable color as by a 
 merry, cheerful disposition. He may be counted 
 one of the best looking of all the American Monk- 
 eys. The tail is very long ; the body yellow above 
 and whitish below. Sometimes the creature is gray 
 with golden yellow limbs, or the head may be coal 
 black. The length, tail included, averages about 
 thirty- two inches. 
 
 This attractive little creature is a native of Gui- 
 ana, and prefers the banks of rivers, which he haunts 
 in large numbers. He does not inhabit high trees, 
 but is found in the shrubs on the edges of the forest 
 
 purchase, and is thus able to speak with mtmiate 
 knowledge concerning their habits and traits. Ac- 
 cording to him they are called Acalimas and Cabu- 
 anamas by the natives. He says: "Ihe little 
 Monkeys are very cheerful and always active, ex- 
 cept that they sometimes take a nap during the 
 day They are very easily affected by changes 
 of weather and dislike the cold. I always selected 
 those that were quite young for my collection, and 
 soon taught them to like bread, milk and ripe ba- 
 nanas. In the beginning I let them run at large in 
 the room. They would sometimes suck their thumbs 
 for hours, like babies. The dainty, white little 
 face, black mouth, large bright eyes and engaging 
 manners always produced a favorable impression on 
 
 everybody. They are not 
 
 WHITE-HEADED SAKI M0KKE7. A peculiarity of the"Saki" is that it strongly resembles Man in 
 
 the face, as the artist has clearly shown. Its white head and yellowish-brown body give it a striking appearance. The 
 short and bushy tail is not prehensile. The creature is dull, quiet and rather stupid, and is easily made content in 
 captivity. Its life is spent in the trees and it feeds principally upon fruits. (Pithecia leucocephala.) 
 
 like the Capuchins and sometimes may be seen in 
 company with a troop of those animals. The 
 Squirrel Monkey is very active throughout the en- 
 tire day, but at night he retires to the crowns of 
 palms, where he finds a secure asylum for rest and 
 sleep. He is very timid, never stirs at night, and 
 flees at the slightest alarm by day. When fright- 
 ened from any cause the troop moves in long rows, 
 under the guidance of an old Monkey, which usually 
 succeeds in leading them out of danger. 
 
 How Squirrel Kappler, during his twenty-six years' 
 
 Monkeys Act stay in Guiana, always contrived to 
 
 in Captivity, keep three of these Monkeys in cap- 
 tivity, supplying each vacancy by death with a new 
 
 so mischievous as other 
 Monkeys; they easily 
 show anger but soon for- 
 get it. Except under 
 provocation they never 
 bite, and when kindly 
 treated are the merriest 
 little creatures in the 
 world. Sometimes they 
 steal a ride upon the 
 backs of the Pigs which 
 roam in the savannas. 
 Every evening at five 
 o'clock they were let 
 loose in the yard and 
 wildly romped and 
 played around until dusk, 
 when they would come in 
 of their own accord to be 
 locked up in their cage. 
 They were fond of in- 
 sects, but did not know 
 how to distinguish be- 
 tween those that were 
 poisonous and those that 
 were harmless. Igno- 
 rance on this point caused 
 three of mine to lose 
 their lives. They are not 
 docile, and are intellect- 
 ually far below the Capu- 
 chin. When they are 
 comfortable, they purr 
 like Kittens ; when an- 
 gry, their cries remind 
 one of a Magpie. Most 
 of them were brought to 
 me from the sea-shore, 
 where they jump around 
 on the Awarra palms, 
 which are quite full of 
 thorns, sharp as needles 
 and three inches long. The Indians shoot the moth- 
 ers while bearing their little ones upon their backs, 
 or they shake the young from the trees, where their 
 dams have left them for a time that is intended to be 
 brief. Rarely is one able to procure a male ; nearly 
 all that were brought to me were females." 
 
 THE OWL MONKEYS. 
 
 Azara was the first naturalist who introduced to 
 the world the Owl Monkey {Nyciipithecus), which 
 is a most remarkable animal. A little later, Hum- 
 boldt described it ; after him Rengger, Schomburgk 
 and, finally, Bates gave interesting accounts of its 
 habits and traits. To a certain extent the Owl 
 
THE AMERICAN MONKEYS—OWL. 
 
 61 
 
 Monkey is the connecting link between the Monk- 
 eys proper and the Half-Monkeys or Lemurs, being 
 nocturnal in its habits like the latter and resembling 
 them in many respects. The head and the expres- 
 sion of the face enable one to distinguish between 
 them and all the preceding Monkeys at a glance. 
 
 
 
 SHOET-TAILED MONKEY. This strange looking Monkey has 
 
 ils home in the forests of the Upper Amazon, which are inundated 
 through the greater part of the year, and from these trees it never de- 
 scends to the ground. It does not show much activity in swinging or 
 jumping, but runs very nimbly up and down the branches. It is of great 
 interest to naturalists because of its having thirty-six teeth, instead of 
 thirty-two, the number possessed by most of the Monkeys, as well as by 
 Man. {Brachyums calvus.) 
 
 The small, round head has large, owl-like eyes ; 
 the muzzle projects forward but little and is broad 
 and large; the nostrils open in a downward direc- 
 tion ; the ears are small. The hair of the creature is 
 soft and fluffy, and the bushy tail exceeds the body 
 in length. The nails of the fingers and toes are com- 
 pressed from side to side and curved, suggesting 
 somewhat the idea of claws. 
 
 About the The Mirikina {NycHpithecus trivergatus) is 
 Mirikina only fifteen inches long, but his tail 
 Monkey, measures twenty inches. This animal is 
 thickly clothed with gray or brown fur, while the tip 
 of the tail is black. The forehead is decorated with 
 three black, parallel stripes and a wide, yellowish 
 stripe runs from the neck to the root of the tail. 
 
 The Mirikina ranges over the eastern portion of 
 the warmer parts of South America. Rengger asserts 
 that in Paraguay he is found only on the right side 
 of the river, as far as the twenty-fifth degree of 
 southern latitude. " He spends his life in trees, 
 commencing his hunt for food at night, and retiring 
 early in the morning to a hole in a tree-trunk, where 
 he sleeps through the day." 
 
 The servants of this naturalist while gathering 
 wood once found a couple of these little Monkeys 
 asleep. The frightened animals tried to escape, but 
 were so dazzled with the sunlight that they could 
 
 not climb or jump well. They were easily caught, 
 though they made good use of their sharp teeth. 
 Their bed consisted of leaves, covered with moss, 
 and we may, therefore, conclude that they retire to 
 the same place every morning. Rengger says that 
 they are always found in couples, while Bates asserts 
 that they are also met with in greater numbers. 
 
 The Mirikina A Mirikina caught young is easily 
 in a tamed, while an old one always re- 
 
 Captiue State, tains its fierce and wild nature. 
 They easily bear captivity when well taken care of. 
 Negligence and uncleanness kill them. They should 
 be kept in a spacious cage, or in a room, but not 
 chained up, as they entangle themselves easily in 
 ropes. When captive, they remain all day long in 
 the darkest corner of their place of abode and sleep, 
 sitting with their legs drawn up, the body bent for- 
 ward, and the face hidden in their crossed arms. 
 When one arouses them and does not keep them 
 awake by petting, they go right back to sleep. On 
 bright days they can distinguish no object, and their 
 pupils are very small. When they are brought out 
 of darkness into sudden light, their gestures and 
 
 lOVELT-HAIBED MONKEY. This really beautiful creature is 
 
 scarcely larger than a Squirrel, and a native of Guiana. The tail is long 
 and bushy, but not prehensile. It is somewhat nocturnal in its habits and 
 feeds upon insects. The head is quite humanlike and the animal is very 
 affectionate in disposition. In captivity it soon comes to know its friends 
 and to distinguish them from strangers. It has a pleasing habit of turn- 
 ing its head to one side when spoken to, as though listening attentively to 
 what is said. {CaiUihrix personata.) 
 
 plaintive sounds indicate that it is painful to them, 
 but as soon as evening draws near, they awake, the 
 pupil dilates gradually and finally the iris is hardly 
 perceptible. Their eyes flash like a Cat's or an 
 Owl's and they begin to walk around their cage and 
 look for food. Their movements seem easy, though 
 
62 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 not graceful, for the hind limbs are the longest. 
 They climb and jump to perfection. On their noc- 
 turnal wanderings they easily succeed in capturing 
 sleeping birds. Insects are also welcome and caught 
 very dexterously. From time to time they utter a 
 hollow, loud sound, which has been likened by 
 
 SQUIBBEL lUONSETS. Here are two of these merry and lively 
 
 little creatures iperched in a palm tree, the fruit of which one of them holds in 
 his hands. They are exceedingly timid, fleeing at the slightest alarm, and in 
 this picture they are depicted as preparing to take flight from real or fancied 
 da^er. {Chrysoihrix sciurea.) 
 
 travelers to the distant call of a Jaguar. They ex- 
 press anger by a repeated " grr, grr, grr, grr." 
 
 Z\ic flDarmoset0. 
 
 THIRD FAMILY: Arctopitheci. 
 
 Several naturalists see in the Marmosets only a 
 variety of the preceding genus and class the two 
 together : but we think that their distinguishing 
 features are marked enough for us to treat them as 
 two distinct groups. 
 
 The Marmoset has a round head, a short flat face, 
 small eyes, large ears, sometimes adorned with tufts, 
 a slim body and short limbs, a bushy tail and silky 
 fur. The claws on the fingers and toes are small 
 and narrow, except those of the thumb-toes, which 
 are broad and nail-like. The claw-like hands, whose 
 thumbs cannot be opposed to the other fingers — this 
 peculiarity is not noticeable in the feet — have really 
 become paws in this genus, and the feet only are 
 similar to those of other Monkeys. 
 Haunts and The Marmosets have a very wide 
 
 Habits of range, being found in Mexico, Central 
 
 Marmosets. America and South America to the 
 southern limits of Brazil. They occur in greater 
 variety and numbers in Brazil, Guiana and Peru, 
 Mexico affording but two kinds. How high they 
 ascend the mountains has not been determined ; 
 
 Schomburgk saw them at an elevation of i,6oo feet, 
 but it is believed they inhabit much greater altitudes 
 in the Andes range. 
 
 All Marmosets are arboreal or tree-livmg, m the 
 true sense of the word. They inhabit not only the 
 damp, stately forests of the coast and the valleys, 
 but also the stunted, bushlike woods in the inner 
 parts of the continent. In their traits and habits 
 they resemble Squirrels as much as they do Monk- 
 eys. They never sit erect as Monkeys frequently 
 do but roam from tree to tree on the thick boughs, 
 using their claws exactly like Squirrels. They have 
 never been seen to go erect, and in walking they 
 place the sole of the foot flat upon the ground. 
 Still, in eating, they will often raise their bodies, 
 like the Squirrel, when bearing food to their mouths. 
 
 Special Traits I" other respects they also resemble 
 of the the Squirrels very much ; possessing 
 
 Marmosets. the same restlessness and the same 
 shyness and timidity. The little head of the Mar- 
 moset never rests, even for a moment, and the glance 
 of the dark eyes wanders hurriedly from one object 
 to another and seemingly with little understanding, 
 the animal evidently thinking of something else all 
 the time. I do not wish it understood that I thus 
 credit the Marmosets with great ideas ; on the con- 
 
 SILKY TAMARIN. The Silky Tamarins are noteworthy for the 
 
 beauty of their fur. Their hair is soft, long and of a chestnut color, 
 and forms into two tufts over the ears ; while the tail is long and bushy. 
 They inhabit Brazil, and are about the size of a common Squirrel. 
 (Haiiale Rosalia.) 
 
 trary, I believe them to be the dullest of all Monk- 
 eys, creatures with decidedly limited intellect, whose 
 thinking capabilities are probably not any greater 
 than those of the Squirrel. Timid, distrustful, re- 
 served, petty and forgetful, the Marmoset seems 
 to act unconsciously and to be carried away by mo- 
 
THE AMERICAN MONKEYS— MARMOSET. 
 
 63 
 
 mentary feelings. He has all the qualities of a cow- 
 ard : the plaintive voice, the evident incapacity or 
 -unwillingness to give in to necessity, the complain- 
 ing resignation, the morbid fancy that the actions of 
 all other creatures 
 in some way relate 
 to him, the constant 
 attitudes of either 
 ■ostentatiously 
 showing off or 
 shrinking from ob- 
 servation, the incon- 
 stancy in his expres- 
 s i o n s , movements 
 and actions. 
 
 Fruit, seeds, leaves 
 and buds form the 
 principal part of the 
 food of the Marmo- 
 sets, but they also 
 hunt insects. Spi- 
 ders, etc., with the 
 greatest zeal, and 
 eat them with evi- 
 dent relish. Indeed, 
 one might say that 
 they are animal 
 feeders more than 
 any other Monkeys, 
 preferring this to 
 vegetable food. 
 
 7he Three We rec- 
 
 Groups of ognize 
 
 Marmosets, three 
 distinct groups as 
 belonging to the 
 family Hapale : the 
 Lion-like Monkey 
 {Hapale leonind), 
 having face and ears 
 devoid of hair, a 
 tufted tail, and a 
 mane on the head, 
 neck and shoulders; 
 the Tamarins, to 
 which belongs the 
 Silver Monkey 
 {Hapale Argentata), 
 having a longer tail, 
 but no mane, and 
 the Silky Monkey 
 {Hapale pygmcBo) 
 having tufts on its 
 ears. 
 
 The most common 
 member of the last 
 named group is the 
 Saguin Ouistiti or 
 Common Marmoset 
 {Hapale jacchus). It 
 is about ten inches 
 in length and is 
 clothed with soft, 
 long hair. The col- 
 oring is black, white 
 and russet, each 
 hair being black at 
 its root, and then 
 
 tuft over each ear stand out in bold relief against 
 the brown face. 
 
 In captivity they subsist on fruit, vegetables, in- 
 sects, Snails and meat, and soon get familiar with 
 
 NIGHT MONKEYS. The picture represents Night Monkeys of South America, one of which has just seized a lit- 
 tle bird and it regards with disfavor the too near approach of its companion and evidently declines to share the toothsome 
 morsel in its possession with the intruder. The entire family of Night Monkeys are noted for their small, round heads, 
 large eyes and long tails. Those indicated in the picture are sometimes called " Three-striped Owl Monkeys," on account 
 of the three divergent black stripes on their forehead and face. They feed upon small birds, insects and fruits, are strictly 
 nocturnal and have very powerful voices. (Nyctifithecus Mvirgatus.) 
 
 alternately russet, black and white. The tail is black, 
 showing about twenty white ringlets and a white tip. 
 A whitish spot on the forehead, and a pure white 
 
 those who take constant care of them. They show 
 themselves distrustful and irritable towards stran- 
 gers and are capricious like naughty children 
 
64 
 
 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 
 
 When angered they utter a few whistling sounds. 
 Everything unfamiliar excites them strongly. They 
 are so timid that the sight of a flying Wasp throws 
 them into great excitement When adult animals are 
 
 received. 
 
 Pallas' Description 
 
 of the Common 
 
 Marmoset. 
 
 
 COMMON MABMOSETS. These gentle little creatures belong to 
 
 the same family shown in the preceding illustration, and are found in the 
 tropical forests of Brazil. Their movements are so swift that it is diffi- 
 cult for the human eye to follow them as they travel through the branches of 
 their native trees. Their size is about that of the common gray Squirrel. 
 
 made captive, they scream at the approach of every 
 one, and it is a long time before they allow any one 
 to touch them. Having been once tamed they soon 
 become good friends with people 
 and with other domestic animals, 
 especially Cats, with which they . 
 like to play and to sleep, the lat- 
 ter probably because of the 
 warmth afforded. They are for- 
 ever protecting themselves against 
 the cold, carrying all the cotton 
 and rags they can get hold of to a 
 corner of their cage, and covering 
 themselves with it. A pretty sight 
 is afforded when the little animal, 
 lying on its bed, is approached by 
 the keeper, bearing some sweet 
 morsel, for which it extends its 
 dainty head forward. 
 
 It has frequently happened that 
 Ouistitis have been born in cap- 
 tivity, in Europe [as well as in the 
 United States ],and once, even in 
 St. Petersburg though under very 
 unfavorable conditions. The ani- 
 mals were kept in unheated rooms, 
 even on cool days in Spring and Autumn, and were 
 given no liberty at all, still they gave birth to young 
 
 ones three times in two years and succeeded in rear- 
 ing them, notwithstanding the small amount of care 
 
 they - - 
 
 We are indebted for their history 
 to the naturalist Pallas, who says : 
 "The Ouistiti, like all the other 
 little, long-tailed American Monkeys, is_ much less 
 Monkey than those belonging to families whose 
 members attain larger size. It is quick and agile, 
 but when in a state of contentment it may sit in the 
 sun for hours without moving. It can climb with 
 dexterity, but does so with a peculiar phlegmatic 
 pomposity. Sometimes it hangs from a bough by 
 its fore-paws, and stretches itself, like a sleepy 
 human being. Ouistitis like to remain in the warm 
 sunshine searching each other's fur for vermin, 
 Monkey-fashion, purring and cooing the while. 
 With a similar cooing sound they retire on the 
 stroke of six and are not seen nor heard again till 
 six or seven the next morning. They are active and 
 rather noisy in the day-time. Besides these cooing 
 intonations they sometimes utter the combination of 
 sharp whistling sounds represented by their name, 
 " Ouistiti," quite distinctly, especially when food is 
 in sight. 
 
 Many Types Besides the Ouistiti, naturalists have 
 of the found over thirty distinct species of 
 
 Marmosets. Marmosets, differing greatly in size, 
 color and general appearance, but all having the 
 physical characteristics of the genus Hapale. Among 
 them is the Hapale penicilata which is about the same 
 size and nearly as common as the Ouistiti. 
 
 The Pinche (^Hapale oediptcs), belonging to the" 
 Tamarins, bears captivity still less than the Common 
 Marmosets. These small, pretty animals are remark- 
 able for their voices, which might be mistaken for a 
 bird's, when the Monkey utters its long, flute-like 
 notes. 
 
 The Golden Marmoset {Hapale chrysoleucus) is also 
 a small animal, taking its name from its bright yel- 
 low fur. The other families of the genus Hapale 
 are all small creatures with the same general char- 
 acteristics as those we have described, differing 
 somewhat in the color and distribution of their furs 
 
 FINCHE UOBMOSET. Distinguished for its large white tuft, which falls gracefully over and 
 
 behind the ears. The throat, chest, abdomen and arms are also white, the rest of the body being a gray- 
 ish brown. The voice of the Pinche is very soit and sweet, varying with the different moods of the 
 animal. It is a most delicate creature and does not live long in captivity. Its home is in the tropical 
 regions of South America. {Hapale cedipus). 
 
 and only designated by their scientific names, which 
 rest only on slight variations. 
 
^be Dalfsfllbonhei^e or Xemuroi^e, 
 
 SECOND ORDER: Prosimii. 
 
 H E majority of naturalists 
 have classified the Lem- 
 uroids with the Monkeys ; 
 but we see in them an en- 
 tirely distinct order and ac- 
 cordingly here class them 
 separately. In reality they 
 bear but little resemblance 
 to Monkeys. Their ana- 
 tomical structure is entirely 
 different, and their teeth do 
 not correspond with the 
 teeth of the Monkeys in any 
 particular. The name of Quadrumana (four-handed), 
 is a great deal more appropriately used in connection 
 with Lemuroids than with the Monkeys, as the dif- 
 ference between the hand and foot in the former is 
 very slight. One may take these animails to be the 
 connecting link between Monkeys and the Marsu- 
 pialia (pouched animals), imagining them to be suc- 
 cessors of a genus of unknown animals of the same 
 family as the Opossum ; but they are not Monkeys. 
 Distinctive A generic picture of the Lefnuroids 
 Features of is not easily drawn. They differ 
 Lemuroids. widely in size and shape, teeth and 
 skeleton. Some are as big as a 
 large Cat, others as small as a 
 Mouse. Most species have slim 
 bodies ; some are extremely thin. 
 The muzzle of some reminds one of 
 a Dog or Fox, while that of others 
 may be Owl-like. The hind limbs 
 are usually longer, and often con- 
 siderably longer than the fore- 
 limbs. In some groups the ankle- 
 bones are relatively short ; but in 
 some they are rather long. The 
 tail may be longer than the body 
 or may scarcely be visible ; it may 
 be bushy or partly devoid of hair. 
 Large eyes adapted for use at night, well-developed 
 ears and a soft, thick, usually woolly fur, character- 
 ize the Lemuroids externally as nocturnal animals. 
 The skull is round in the back ; the muzzle is narrow 
 and short, and the orbits are large and close to- 
 gether, and have a projecting rim, high in the upper 
 part, which does not surround the whole of the orbit 
 but merges into the temple sideways. 
 Tfie Homes The Lemuroids live in 
 
 and young leayes form the food of some kinds, 
 while others subsist on insects, small vertebrata and 
 vegetable matter. In captivity they soon become 
 accustomed to all kinds of food. 
 
 ^be Xemure. 
 
 FIRST FAMILY: Lemdrid^. 
 
 The Romans applied the name Lemur to the souls 
 of the dead, the good among whom protected the 
 house and family from evil, while the wicked ones 
 wandered about as evil spirits and worried poor 
 mortals. Science also has its Lemurs, but these are 
 by no means ghosts although they stealthily roam 
 about at night, being creatures of flesh and blood 
 and of a more or less prepossessing appearance. 
 They are the center of the class of animals we pro- 
 pose to deal with, the family of Half-Monkeys, 
 which comprises a number of groups of widely dif- 
 fering characteristics. 
 
 Habits The Lemurs possess all the peculiarities of 
 of the the Lemuroids, the two other groups of 
 Lemurs. Half-Monkeys difEering from them mainly 
 in their teeth, structure of hands and feet, and fur. 
 
 of the 
 Lemuroids. 
 
 Africa, espe- 
 cially in Madagascar and the adjoining 
 islands; but they are also found, al- 
 though in much smaller numbers, in India and the 
 South Asiatic islands. They all lead arboreal lives, 
 some of them hardly ever coming to the ground. 
 Some are remarkably quick and agile, while others 
 are slow and deliberate and glide about as noiselessly 
 as ghosts. Some are active and feed in the day-time, 
 but the majority awake at sunset, and the dawn of 
 day finds them already sound asleep. Fruit, buds 
 
 •)ewlj;t(.[JAHKMhi\0T 
 
 THE VARI, OR EUFFED LEMUR. This member of the Lemur 
 
 family is especially peculiar because of the striking contrast shown in the 
 black and white of its long fur, which is faithfully reproduced in the picture. 
 The graceful limbs, the long, furry tail and pointed muzzle general to the 
 Maki family of Lemurs of which the Vari is a member, are also well shown. 
 {Lemttr varius.) 
 
 The Lemurs (Lemuridcs) are natives of Madagas- 
 car and the adjacent islands, of the whole continent 
 of Africa, and a few species are scattered over India 
 and the islands of southern Asia. They all inhabit 
 forests, preferring the impenetrable virgin woods, 
 
 (6S) 
 
66 
 
 THE HALF-MONKEYS OR LEMUROIDS. 
 
 rich in fruits and insects. They do not exactly shun 
 Man, neither do they seek him. Nocturnal in their 
 habits to a greater or less degree, they seek the 
 darkest parts of a forest, crouch or roll themselves 
 together and sleep a great deal. Their attitudes in 
 sleep are very peculiar. Either they sit holding 
 themselves with their hands, the head buried in the 
 arms, and the tail rolled about the head and shoul- 
 ders ; or else two or more will huddle close together. 
 Sometimes two^Lemurs will roll themselves together 
 in a ball-like mass, with their tails curled around 
 each other. If one disturbs such a ball of fur, two 
 
 SHOBT-TAILES INDBIS LEMUR, The characteristics of this animal as it appeals in its 
 
 native Madagascan forest, are admirably depicted in this picture. The contrasts of light and dark in 
 its fur, the stumpy tail from which it derives its name; the methods of grasping and climbing aided by 
 the remarkable thumb, as well as the keen vision, are all brought out. The Squirrel-like attitude of the 
 animal in sitting posture, as shown by the figure in the background, is another strong characteristic 
 of this type of the Lemur family. {.Lichanotus irevicaudatus .) 
 
 heads suddenly make their appearance and stare at 
 the intruder with large, displeased eyes. 
 
 The sleep of the Lemurs is very light. The hum- 
 ming of a Fly or the noise of a creeping Beetle is 
 sufficient often to rouse many of them, when they 
 prick up their ears and the large eyes look dreamily 
 around ; but only for a moment. They are ex- 
 tremely sensitive to light, more so than any other 
 animals of the family of mammals. They seem to 
 be as dead creatures in the day-time. In their wild 
 state Lemurs awake only at dusk ; but this is only 
 partially true of those in captivity. 
 
 When in their forest homes they rouse themselves 
 after sunset, clean their fur, exercise their usually 
 rather loud and disagreeable voices, and then set 
 out The activity they display varies much m dif- 
 ferent species. The majority exert themselves m 
 the first place to justify their spectral name, and 
 raise a disturbance that strikes terror to the heart of 
 a new-comer, who must attribute the indescribable 
 noise to the " powers of darkness," though it slightly 
 reminds one of the roar of dangerous beasts of prey, 
 such as the Lion. . , ,., 
 
 Some species, on the other hand, are entirely dif- 
 ferent in their actions and temper- 
 ament. Stealthily and noiselessly 
 they creep from branch to branch; 
 their large, round eyes gleam in 
 the darkness like fiery balls, and 
 their movements are so deliberate 
 and noiseless that not the slight- 
 est sound betrays them, even to an 
 interested listener. 
 
 The Stealthy Alas ! for the sleep- 
 Habits of ing bird that has 
 Some Lemurs, attracted the no- 
 tice of those fiery eyes. No In- 
 dian on the war-path moves with 
 stealthier tread ; no bloodthirsty 
 savage approaches with deadlier 
 purpose than does the Loris, 
 stealth'iest of Lemurs, when creep- 
 ing to his sleeping prey. Without 
 noise, nearly without visible move- 
 ment, paw after paw is lifted till he 
 has reached his victim. Then the 
 hand is raised with equal silence 
 till it nearly touches the bird, when 
 with one movement, too quick for 
 the eye to follow it, he has seized 
 the poor thing, which is strangled 
 before it regains consciousness. 
 Nothing can equal the avidity 
 with which the harmless looking. 
 Loris devours his prey after th^ 
 murder is accomplished. Like tlje 
 sleeping bird, the young ones, or 
 the eggs, are lost if once the Loris 
 discovers them. 
 
 All species belonging to this 
 group move slowly and assure 
 themselves of a safe hold upon a 
 succeeding branch before relin- 
 quishing the one that supports 
 them. A uniform and rather high 
 temperature is a necessity to them; 
 cold makes them peevish and 
 brings on illness. 
 
 Their intellectual faculties are 
 slight ; but a few species present a 
 noteworthy exception to this rule. 
 They are all shy and timid, though they defend 
 themselves courageously when attacked. When 
 they become accustomed to people they are good- 
 natured and gentle, but rarely lose their timidity. 
 A few species bear the loss of their freedom very 
 resignedly ; they may even be trained to render 
 certain services to Man, such as hunting other ani- 
 mals. The tailless species usually retain their quiet, 
 melancholy temper, dislike of being disturbed, and 
 they scarcely ever learn to discriminate between 
 their keeper and other people, or show any gratitude 
 for any kindness extended to them. 
 
THE LEMURS— INDRIS. 
 
 ()< 
 
 a _ 
 
 THE INDRIS. 
 
 The largest and most highly developed of all 
 Lemurs are the Indris {Lichanotus) or, as they are 
 called in Madagascar, Babacoto. There are two 
 kinds, the short-tailed Lemur {Lichanotus brevicau- 
 datus) being the better known. They attain a length 
 of about thirty-five inches, 
 inclusive of the tail, which 
 measures but one inch. The 
 medium-sized head shows 
 pointed muzzle, small eyes 
 and small ears nearly hidden 
 in the fur. The body and 
 limbs are clothed in a thick, 
 woolly fur; the forehead, 
 throat, chest, tail, ankles and 
 sides being white and the 
 remainder of the body black 
 and brown. 
 
 ■ Sonnerat, who made the 
 Babacoto known to the 
 world, says that he is, like 
 his relatives — the Monkeys — 
 a very good climber, that he 
 sits erect, like a Squirrel, 
 when eating, and carries his 
 food, consisting chiefly of 
 
 Dog, used for hunting purposes by the natives of 
 the southern part of Madagascar. 
 
 "In certain parts of Madagascar," says Pollen, "the 
 Babacoto is trained for bird-hunts. He is said to be 
 as serviceable as the best of Dogs ; for, though he is 
 a vegetable feeder, he by no means despises small 
 
 THE CAT-IIEE LEMUB. In spite of the fox-like muzzle this 
 
 picture shows ample justification for a name that compares this creature to 
 a Cat. The tail in alternate rings of black and white is the most prom- 
 inent feature, not only because of its peculiar marking but also by reason 
 of its length and bushy fur. the position shown in the picture displays 
 to advantage the symmetrical and well formed limbs that give the animal 
 the agility it displays in its nightly wanderings. (Lemur catta.) 
 
 fruits, to his mouth with his hands. His voice is 
 of a melancholy, wailing cadence, resembling that 
 of a crying child. He is gentle and good-natured, 
 and numbers of his family are trained, and, like the 
 
 MONGOOSE LEMUR, Has a remarkable, bushy tail that is longer 
 
 than its body, and is reddish gray in color. It lives chiefly upon fruits and 
 seeks food in the darkness of the night. The head is long and the forehead 
 flat. It makes a very fine pet, doing well in captivity. (Lemur mongoz.) 
 
 birds, and catches them with the greatest dexterity, 
 their brains being esteemed a choice dainty by him." 
 No Babacoto has been brought to Europe alive, 
 which is very astonishing. Being more or less of a 
 domestic animal in Madagascar, neither his capture 
 nor his lj:eeping can be attended with difficulties. 
 
 THE MAKIS. 
 
 The name of Maki belongs to the most numerous 
 family of the Lemurs, and this designation repre- 
 sents the peculiar cry they give forth. The Makis 
 have a decidedly Fox-like muzzle, with moderately 
 large eyes and ears, well formed limbs of nearly 
 equal length, the hands and feet showing a few 
 scattered hairs on their backs ; a tail longer than the 
 body, and a soft fur of fine, and sometimes woolly, 
 texture. 
 
 This group shows many varieties, but modern re- 
 search has revealed the fact that many so-called 
 varieties are not distinct species, the difference in 
 appearance being based on sex, age, etc. The best- 
 known of the Makis is the Vari, or Ruffed Lemur 
 [Lemur varius), distinguished by a black and white 
 fur, the spots of the two colors being differently dis- 
 tributed in every specimen. The Vari is one of the 
 largest of the Makis, equaling in size a large Cat. 
 
 The Catta [Lemur catta) is distinguished by his 
 graceful figure and his long tail, showing alternately 
 black and white ringlets. His principal color is 
 gray, the face, ears and under part of the body 
 being whitish. Other kinds that we often see in 
 zoological gardens, are the Mongoose [Lemur ?no?i- 
 goz) and the Macaco or Black Maki [Lemur macaco). 
 In the last named species the male is nearly pure 
 black ; while the female is of a lighter or darker 
 
68 
 
 THE HALF-MONKEYS OR LEMUROIDS. 
 
 rusty red, and for a long time was considered a dis- 
 tinct species. 
 
 Pollen's Pollen was the first to give us a clear 
 
 Account of the and instructive picture of the Makis 
 Mahis. in their wild state. They all inhabit 
 
 the forests of Madagascar, sleeping by day and 
 seeking their food at night in a lively and noisy 
 manner. They live in troops numbering from six 
 to twelve, and wander from one part of the forest to 
 another in search of dates. As soon as the sun sets 
 one may hear their loud wails. They are extremely 
 agile and take considerable leaps with great ease. 
 When pursued by Dogs, they mount to the top of a 
 tree, fix their eyes on the enemy, wag their tails and 
 grunt. But as soon as they perceive the hunter, 
 they make for the depths of the wood. 
 
 MACACO, OK BLACK LEMITB, Although called the Black Lemur, it is only the male specimen of the 
 
 Macaco that is accurately described by this name, the female being of a light hue or russet color. It will be easily 
 seen, therefore, that the figure in the foreground is the male and the other the female of this species. The picture also 
 depicts the dog-like muzzle and long, hairy tail that are prominent in this family. {Lemur Macaco.) • 
 
 Their intellectual capacities are not any higher 
 than those of other Lemurs. Still they are usually 
 gentle and prepossessing. 
 IHakis in the Several specimens have been shipped 
 Captive to Europe [and America] and have with- 
 State. stood the strain of captivity for long 
 periods of time. One Vari, for instance, lived nine- 
 teen years in Paris. Usually they become tame and 
 familiar in a short time. They either employ their 
 hands in bearing food to their mouths, or they take 
 it up with their mouths without the aid of the hands. 
 When contented they purr, and in this manner often 
 sing themselves to sleep. 
 
 Buffon had a male Maki in his possession, which 
 delighted him as much by its graceful agility as it 
 annoyed him by its uncleanliness and mischievous 
 disposition. It was extremely sensitive to cold and 
 damp and in winter always kept near the fire, some- 
 
 times standing upright in order to secure greater 
 warmth from the flame. 
 
 The Maki which lived in Pans was also very partial 
 to the fire. The poor, chilly southerner held not 
 only its hands but also its face so near to the blaze 
 that more than once its mustache was scorched. It 
 was cleanly in its habits and took very good care 
 not to soil its glossy fur. Its liveliness was only 
 equalled by its curiosity. Everything was investi- 
 gated by it, and in consequence it was forever spoil- 
 ing, dropping or spilling something. The creature 
 was kind to all who petted it and would sometimes 
 jump into the lap of a stranger. 
 
 THE LORIS. 
 
 While all the Makis show a lively, active disposi- 
 tion, the Loris {Stenpps) 
 are distinguished by the 
 opposite qualities. One 
 might call them the 
 Sloths of their class. 
 They are small, graceful 
 animals, devoid of tail, 
 having a large, round 
 head and slender limbs, 
 the hinder ones being a 
 little longer than the 
 fore-legs. The muzzle is 
 pointed, but short; the 
 eyes are very large and 
 placed close together. 
 The index finger is very 
 much shortened, the 
 third finger very long 
 and the last finger shows 
 a long and shairp claw. 
 
 There are but few va- 
 rieties of Loris, and they 
 are natives of India. The 
 habits and traits of this 
 animal in a wild state are 
 nearly totally unknown. 
 A very dainty little 
 animal is the Slender 
 Loris {Stenops gracilis), 
 which is barely as large 
 as a Squirrel, being but 
 ten inches long. It has 
 large eyes, a pointed 
 muzzle, a long fur, which 
 is like plush to the touch, 
 and is of a reddish 
 brown above and gray or 
 dull yellow below. Around the hazel eyes the fur 
 takes a darker hue, contrasting with the light muzzle. 
 This pretty little creature, named Tevangu and 
 Una Happolava by the natives, inhabits the south 
 of India and Ceylon. It sleeps all day in hollow 
 tree trunks and makes its appearance in the evening. 
 It has never been observed in its wild state. 
 Habits of a To my great surprise and joy I iound 
 Captiue a living Slender Loris in the precincts 
 Slender Loris. Qf g, wandering zoological garden. The 
 delicate creature had come to Europe with three 
 others about four years before, and had borne no( 
 only the voyage to Europe but the captivity of the 
 colder climate. I purchased the animal at a high 
 price, in order to have a picture of the species from 
 nature and to study it, and gave it the best of care. 
 In the day-time the Slender Loris lies or rather 
 hangs from a perch in its cage and sleeps, without 
 
THE LEMURS— LORIS. 
 
 69 
 
 being in the least disturbed by its surroundings. At 
 sunset it awakes, stretches itself and noiselessly 
 walks to and fro in its cage. It is very agile, but 
 always makes sure before moving that the next 
 branch is capable of sustaining its weight ; some- 
 times stretching its limbs beyond seeming possi- 
 
 THE GRAY OB GENTLE LEMUR. This animal is a native of 
 
 Madagascar, and has an amiable disposition. The tail and body are nearly 
 of equal length, each being about fifteen inches. The prevailing color is 
 gray, and the prominent eyes are soft and pleasing in expression. Its habits 
 are nocturnal, and in captivity it is prone to seek the dark portion of its 
 cage by day, but it is a most grateful little creature and one of the most pop- 
 ular pets of the entire family. (Hapalemur grissus.) 
 
 bilities. Sometimes it moves its head to and fro 
 with wonderful rapidity. The eyes literally gleam 
 like living coals in the dusk, and, being very close 
 together and only separated by a pale streak, they 
 make a peculiar impression. 
 
 When very angry, the Slender Loris vents its feel- 
 ings in a deep snore, but it is by no means easy to 
 disturb its equanimity. It likes to be petted, some- 
 times closing its eyes with evident pleasure when it 
 is being caressed. 
 
 The principal food of this animal is bread soaked 
 m milk. Fruit, meat and eggs it disdains to touch. 
 This Loris of mine never has been tempted by liv- 
 ing birds, but is very fond of insects and worms ; 
 yet it is so lazy and awkward that it does not catch 
 
 them itself, and it requires the keeper to hold them 
 while it eats. 
 
 The Slow The Slow Loris, Sharmindi Billi, oi 
 Loris or Bashful Billy {Stenops tardigradus) , is 
 Bashful Billy, better known than its slender cousin, 
 perhaps because it occupies a wider area of country. 
 It IS a native of India, ranging as far west as the 
 lower Brahmapootra. The animal has never been 
 found in the Himalayas, but inhabits Assam and all 
 the country to the south and southeast of it, as well 
 as Sumatra, Java and Borneo. It is larger than the 
 Slender Loris and shows a greater variety of color- 
 mg The usual tint is a light or dark silver-gray, 
 sometimes with a reddish tinge ; a chestnut stripe 
 runs the whole length of the spine, frequently ending 
 
 PORK-CROWNED LEKUR. This animal is very abundant in 
 
 the forests on the west side of Madagascar, and is found in less numbers on 
 the eastern side of the island. Its home is in hollow trees and it finds pleas- 
 ure in being near to Bees, whose honey it does not hesitate to steal. It utters 
 a sharp, piercing cry, very much like that of the Guinea-fowl. (Ckirogaleus 
 furcifer.) 
 
 at the ears ; in some cases it is prolonged by two 
 ribbons to the eyes, in others four ribbons extend 
 to the eyes and ears. The eyes are always sur- 
 rounded by brown rings. The bald parts of the nose 
 and soles are flesh colored. The length of the body 
 
70 
 
 THE HALF-MONKEYS OR LEMUROWS. 
 
 is about fifteen inches ; that of the tail, barely one 
 inch. 
 
 The Slow Loris is difficult to study in its wild 
 state, but we know that it lives with its family, 
 sleeps during the day in hollow trees, and goes on 
 its search for food at dusk. The animal has rarely 
 been seen in its wild state by Europeans. 
 
 In captivity Lorises are gentle, patient and mel- 
 ancholy. All day long they sit crouching down and 
 leaning their heads against their crossed arms. One 
 of them was once tied to a rope and it would repeat- 
 edly lift the fetter with a sad little gesture of seem- 
 ing complaint ; but it never tried to break its bonds. 
 At first it snapped several times at its keeper, but a 
 few light punishments sufficed to teach it self-re- 
 straint. When petted it would take the hand which 
 caressed it, press it to its breast and look up into 
 the sympathetic face with half-closed eyes. At 
 dusk it would rouse itself ; first looking around with 
 eyes yet full of sleep, rub them, and then begin to 
 wander about the cage. Ropes had been tied all 
 ahout and it would climb upon them. It was fond 
 of fruits and milk but had a special liking only for 
 birds and insects. When such game was proffered, 
 it would cautiously approach, as if on tiptoe, and at 
 about a foot's distance would stand up, softly stretch 
 its arm and then, with one movement, quick as 
 lightning, make a dash for its prey and strangle it. 
 
 The Slow Loris I have seen and observed but two 
 and its living Slow Lorises; the first, only by 
 
 Peculiar Traits, day, in the Zoological Garden at 
 Amsterdam. It was not quite so kindly a creature 
 as I had expected. Either it was annoyed by our 
 disturbing it, or else it was irritable by nature. In 
 any event it was highly indignant at our intrusion. 
 It spat like a Cat, and explained its meaning still 
 
 wreaking this revenge, it slowly retired sulking to 
 its corner. Its retreat was performed in a manner 
 
 THE SIiENDEK lOEIS.^-The -artist here shows the position of the Slender Loris at rest 
 when awalce, and also when asleep. It is curious to observe how in the first case it brings the hands 
 and feet nearly together and presses the body against the upper legs ; while in the other, the waking 
 position is partly assumed, but the face is pressed down behind the left arm, while the body is nearly 
 circular. (,Stenops gracilis ,) 
 
 further 
 offence 
 
 by trying to 
 it had been 
 
 bite the 
 guilty of 
 
 keeper's hand, an 
 before. Failing in 
 
 SLENDEB LORIS lEUUB. The stealthy character of this night- 
 prowling animal speaks in its features and the large gleaming eyes bode 
 danger to the sleeping bird it may choose for its prey. The long, slender 
 limbs account for the awkwardness of the animal when in a sittii^ posture, 
 as shown by the figure in the front of the picture, while the deliberation as 
 well as stealth of the animal are well shown by the other in the background. 
 iStenops gracilis.) 
 
 surprising to me, though I was familiar with Har- 
 vey's excellent drawing made thirty years ago. Fix- 
 ing its large eyes upon us, it went back, step by step, 
 and upwards on a nearly vertical pole. This means 
 that it occasionally climbs upwards, with the face 
 downwards. In my knowledge, no 
 other animal does that. When it ar- 
 rived at a point where two branches 
 diverged from the main pole it 
 stopped, and made the sketching 
 artist's task an easy one. 
 
 LARGE-EARED MARIS. 
 
 A well-known species of the 
 Half-Monkey tribe is the Large- 
 eared Maki or Galago, which older 
 travelers have frequently described. 
 Their sense of hearing is most 
 acute, as might be concluded from 
 their large, membranous ears. 
 The body of the Galago is slim, 
 but does not look so, for the coat 
 of fur is thick. The proportionally 
 large head shows abnormally devel- 
 oped ears that are -destitute of hair. 
 The large eyes are placed close to- 
 gether ; the limbs are of moderate 
 length ; the hands and feet are well 
 formed ; the index finger and sec- 
 ond toe, and in some the adjoining finger and toe, are 
 furnished with a claw : the others have flat nails. 
 
THE LEMURS— LARGE-EARED MAmS. 
 
 71 
 
 All the Galagos, which are inhabitants of Africa 
 and some of its islands, must be looked upon as 
 carnivorous, unlike the other Makis, for they eat 
 fruit but incidentally. To describe them, I will 
 draw on my own and Kersjen's experience : " The 
 Galagos are nocturnal animals, in the full sense of 
 the word : beings for whom the moon takes the place 
 of the sun, and for whoni day passes unnoticed, 
 for then these animals lie curled up and sleeping in 
 some hiding-place, their eyes shut to the hated sun- 
 light and their ears furled up to shut out all noise. 
 If they are rudely awakened, their eyes first assume 
 a dreamy, far off look, then the creatures gradually 
 regain consciousness and show their displeasure at 
 having been disturbed. After sunset they are alto- 
 gether different. As soon as the forest is enveloped 
 in darkness, the Galago wakes up, roused perhaps 
 by the -Coolness of the air ; the tail which has been 
 curled around his head is 
 rolled back, the eyes are 
 opened and his ears, which 
 have been so folded as to 
 completely cover the orifice 
 leading into the inner ear, 
 are unfurled. He licks and 
 cleans his fur, leaves his 
 hole and begins his ghost;- 
 ly work, which, when its 
 results are reviewed in the 
 day-time, is seen to con- 
 sist of nothing but murder 
 and robbery, marked not 
 only by insatiable thirst 
 for blood but also by a de- 
 gree of cruelty rarely to be 
 found in animals. With 
 all the characteristics of a 
 beast of prey. Lynx-eyed, 
 sharp of hearing like a Bat, 
 as acute in his sense of 
 smell as a Fox, and quite 
 as cunning though not so 
 clever as that animal, 
 agfle like a Monkey, in- 
 creasing the infallible pre- 
 cision of his attack by his 
 boldness, the Galago is a 
 formidable foe for all very 
 little animals, therein dif- 
 fering from all his rela- 
 tives." 
 
 These words narrate 
 nearly everything that is known about the life of 
 the Galagos in the wild state, and it will not be 
 easy to learn more, as they are extremely difficult 
 to observe in the night. 
 
 Accounts of Among the few known species of 
 
 the Common the Large-eared Makis, the' largest 
 Galago. of whom equals a Rabbit in size, the 
 
 smallest barely exceeding' the average Mouse, we 
 will first consider the Common Galago {Otolicnus 
 galago), a graceful animal, about the size of a Squir- 
 rel. His upper parts are gray," the under parts yel- 
 lowish-white ; the ears are flesh-colorfed and the eyes 
 brown. 
 
 This species of Galago is a native of a large part 
 of Africa. Adanson discovered him in Senegambia 
 and later travelers observed him in south Africa 
 and the Soudan. In this latter country I found him 
 myself, but always to the west of the White Nile 
 
 Their belief is that he was originally a Monkey, but 
 became degraded through his sleepine^^. We al- 
 ways found him in mimosa forests, usually in couples. 
 The animals we saw were sleeping on branches near 
 the trunk, and always awoke at the sound of our foot- 
 steps. When we came too near, they dexterously 
 climbed up the tree, never fleeing, but always sitting 
 down and watching us with a certain degree of con- 
 fidence as to their safety. They knew admirably, 
 how to avoid the many sharp thorns of the mimosas, 
 and they could leap considerable distances. We 
 were told that at night they were very agile, and 
 that then their eyes blazed " like living fire," to use 
 the expression of the natives. It is said that the 
 Common Galagos can be easily caught in traps ; and 
 during the day-time good climbers need only use 
 their ha,nds to n^ake the capture. The hunter only 
 has to shake the bough upon which the animal is 
 
 ^/hj3. 
 
 SLOW LOBIS LEHIUB. This peculiar animal, which is also known as "Bashful Billy," is chubby and 
 
 ponderous, as the picture shows, its large and heavy limbs making its movements so sluggish as to fully justify its 
 name of "Slow." The brown rings that always surround its large eyes are well brought out in the picture, and the 
 figure in the backgroupd shows the stumpy tail, scarcely an inch long. {Stenofs iardigradus.) 
 
 sitting to make the frightened creature cling to it in 
 fear of falling, and then it can be easily seized. 
 I believe myself that this mode of capturing Gal- 
 agos is a good one, for I have often caught young 
 Squirrels in this way. 
 
 The Comba, The Large-eared Maki, living in 
 His Traits and Zanzibar and called Comba by the 
 Uses. natives i^Otolicnus agisymbanus) , ex- 
 
 ceeds the Galago in size, his length being about 
 twelve inches, exclusive of the tail, which measures 
 ten inches. The prevailing color is yellowish or 
 brownish gray ; the large, nearly bald ears are gray. 
 Kersten tells us that the Comba is caught in a very 
 simple manner in Zanzibar. He is not hunted but 
 falls a victim to his "sweet tooth." Notwithstand- 
 ing his avidity for blood, it appears that he does not 
 despise sweet things ; on the contrary, he is as fond 
 of them as only Monkeys and a few rodents can 
 
 The natives know him well under the name of Tendj. . be. "When palm wine is being manufactured," so 
 
72 
 
 THE HALF-MONKEYS OR LEMUROWS. 
 
 the above-mentioned traveler tells us, "the Comba 
 not infrequently invites himself to partake of the 
 feast. He drinks and experiences the truth of the 
 saying, that an excess of spirits fogs the spirits. For 
 the wonderful liquid streaming from the palm's 
 crown is not only sweet, but also intoxicating, and 
 
 POTTO LEUTTB. This is a small animal, its body being only six 
 
 inches long, and as the picture shows, has a short, stumpy tail and very 
 small ears. Like other nocturnal animals its eyes are very prominent. 
 It inhabits the West Coast of Africa and lives on fruits. (,Perodiciiciis 
 potto.) 
 
 gets more so the longer it remains exposed to the 
 air. The thirsty guest loses consciousness, tumbles 
 down from the tree upon which his hold is usually 
 so secure, and lies on the ground, sleeping off the 
 effects of his debauch. The Negro who comes the 
 next morning to collect the palm wine that has 
 flown out, finds the still unconscious dreamer, and 
 either puts him in some improvised cage, or secures 
 him with a rope fastened around >the loins. The 
 next day he brings him to town and offers him to 
 some European, who regards the animal as a great 
 prize. In the course of time he abundantly repays 
 the trouble he gives while being tamed. In a room 
 which harbors a Comba, there is no comfortable 
 living for a Mouse. The room or ship he inhabits is 
 also sure to get rid of the troublesome Cockroaches. 
 We recollect with pleasure an experience we had on 
 a tedious journey. Our ship was infested with Cock- 
 roaches, and this made the occasional unpacking of 
 our trunks a necessity. As soon as the trunk was 
 opened, the odor of these insects would attract our 
 tame Comba. Though the time of day did not suit 
 him for exploits of this kind, he carefully examined 
 the contents of the trunk, and soon proved to us that 
 he knew very well what was expected of him. He 
 had ample scope for the display of his peculiar tal- 
 ents in looking after the disturbed army of Cock- 
 roaches. With surprising dexterity and lightning- 
 like rapidity he made. dashes at either a full-grown 
 
 larva, and while one hand held the 
 ;wing to his mouth, the other was 
 hunting new game. In this way he kept on search- 
 ing, working and eating till he completed his ta.sk." 
 
 Roach, or at a , 
 
 one he was chewing ^to 
 
 1 
 ing 
 
 SECOND FAMILY: Tarsid^. 
 
 Another little animal, the Tarsier, has, with just 
 cause, been made the representative of a distinct 
 species. It has a large, round head, set close on the 
 shoulders, a frog-like face, short fore-limbs and long 
 hinder paws, and a tail surpassing the body in 
 length. Its teeth resemble those of the Insectivora 
 or Insect-eating animals. The name Tarsier {Tar- 
 sidcs) is derived from the animal's very long tarsus, 
 or ankle-bones. By various naturalists it has been 
 classed with the Mice, with the Marsupialia, or 
 pouch-bearing animals, and with the Lemurs. Only 
 one, or, at most, two families belonging to this 
 group have yet been discovered, and these general 
 characteristics apply to both. 
 
 The Spectre Tarsier {Tarsius spectrum) attains a 
 length of about seventeen inches, including the tail 
 which is about ten inches long. The fur is brownish 
 
 ANGWANTIBO LEMUR. This is a small, symmetrical : 
 
 animal resembling the Potto in some respects but having smaller ' 
 hands and feet and only a rudimentary tail, and its ears are pro- 
 portionately larger than those of the Potto. It is found in Cala- 
 bar, on the West Coast of Africa, and is very rare. (Arctoceitcs 
 calabarensis,) 
 
 gray, the ears are bald and the eyes are proportion- 
 ately the largest of any mammal. Its finger-tips are 
 provided with pads. The Spectre Tarsier lives in 
 the Malay Archipelago and is by no means common. 
 
THE A YE- AVE. 
 
 73 
 
 The natives regard him as an enchanted animal and 
 stand in great awe of him. 
 
 Jagor tells us about his captive Tarsiers as follows: 
 " I had the opportunity of purchasing two Spectre 
 Tarsiers. I was assured in Luzon, that these 
 strange, pretty little animals' inhabited only Samar. 
 
 LITTLE OALACrO LEDITTB. THis little creature is a native 
 
 of Madagascar. Its well-formed liead and ears, long tail and sym- 
 metrical limbs, of which the hinder ones are the longest, are brought 
 out in the picture. It accumulates fat around its tail and in different 
 parts of its body upon which it subsists during the dry season, when 
 it coils itself up in a hole in a tree and practically hibernates. {Mi- 
 crocedus myoxinus.) 
 
 My first pet had to go hungry for some time, as he 
 scorned vegetable food, and I could not procure 
 Grasshoppers at once. He looked very funny when 
 I used to feed him. He would then stand on his 
 two long, thin legs and his tail, and turn his round 
 head, furnished with two huge yellow eyes, first one 
 way, then another, looking for all the world like a 
 lantern on a tripod. By degrees he would succeed 
 in focusing his eyes on the proffered object ; then 
 would stretch out his arms like a child, quickly seize 
 his prey and deliberately devour it. 
 
 In the daytime he was sleepy, dull and cross when 
 disturbed ; at dusk he awakened and his pupils di- 
 lated. At night he moved about noiselessly and 
 rapidly, and generally sideways. He was easily 
 tamed but died soon after I got him. A second pet 
 of the same group also lived but a short time. 
 
 THIRD FAMILY: LeptodacTyla. 
 
 About a hundred years ago the traveler Sonnerat 
 received two animals from the western coast of 
 Madagascar, animals of whose existence nobody 
 had as yet been aware. Even on the opposite coast 
 they were entirely unknown ; at least the natives 
 assured Sonnerat that they had never seen such crea- 
 tures. They exhibited great astonishment and their 
 exclamation, "Aye, Aye/" was the name the natu- 
 ralist chose for his newly-discovered animals. 
 
 The Aye-Aye brought to Europe by Sonnerat re- 
 mained for a long time the only known specimen, 
 and his description, dated 1782, was the only source 
 of information about the rare animal. Naturalists 
 had begun to think the species had died out, when 
 De Castelle proved the contrary in 1844. This trav- 
 eler had the opportunity of procuring a living young 
 Aye-Aye, which he did, and he destined it for the 
 Parisian Jardin des Plantes. Unfortunately the ani- 
 mal died before reaching Europe, but its skin and 
 skeleton came into the possession of the Parisian 
 Museum, and it was proved that it belonged to the 
 same family as Sonnerat's Aye-Aye. The two speci- 
 mens were the only ones known till 1862. Then the 
 Zoological Society of London received the glad 
 news that two " Barefingered Animals " {Leptodac- 
 tyla) — that was the name science had given them in 
 the meantime — had been caught in Madagascar and: 
 were on their way to Regent's Park. One of them 
 reached the Zoological Gardens alive, the other in 
 alcohol. Later a few more specimens followed, three 
 of which were purchased by the Berlin Museum. 
 
 LAB&E-EARED GALAGO LEMUR. This picture ac- 
 curately shows the characteristic features of this animal. The 
 great, hairless ears, the large eyes, the claw on the index finger, 
 the well-formed limbs that give him his great agility, as well as 
 the remarkably long tail, are all brought out with fidelity. {Oio- 
 licnus galago.) 
 
 Then it was that naturalists were enabled to prop- 
 erly classify the Aye-Aye and give it a fixed posi- 
 tion in their systems. 
 The Aye-Aye a Since the researches of Owen and 
 Distinct Group of Peters the Aye- Aye ( Chiromys mad- 
 tlie Half-Montieys. agascariensis) has been regarded as 
 forming a distinct group by itself among the Half- 
 Monkeys. 
 
74 
 
 THE HALF-MONKEYS OR LEMUROIDS. 
 
 I had the opportunity of observing the Aye- Aye 
 in London, though unfortunately but for a single 
 evening. Yet I saw that Sonnerat's description 
 requires not only additional details but correction. 
 I will, therefore, give here an account of my own 
 experiences and of what the keepers told me. 
 
 The animal really resembles no one mammal to 
 a noticeable extent. It reminds one a little of the 
 Galagos, but a naturalist would hardly think of 
 classifying it with them. The thick, broad head, 
 with its large ears, making it appear still wider ; 
 
 AYE-ATE. Thi3 animal, classed with the Lemurs, but differing in many respects 
 
 from all others of that order, is the most peculiar known to naturalists. The picture shows 
 many of its oddities— the long, sprawling fingers, all except the thumb having pointed claws 
 (the third finger being especially long), the loose straggling outer fur that covers a woolly 
 undercoat, the large, naked ears, the long bushy tail, and even the rat-like teeth, are vividly 
 portrayed. {Chiromys madagascariensis.) 
 
 the small, fixed, stirring, glowing eye, with a pupil 
 smaller than that of any nocturnal Monkey ; the 
 mouth, which, shows a certain likeness to a Parrot's 
 beak, the considerable size of the body and the long 
 tail, which, like the body, is clothed scantily with 
 long, stiff, bristle-like hair, and, lastly, the remark- 
 
 able hands with their slender middle fingers— all 
 these peculiarities give the animal so strange an 
 appearance that one vainly cudgels one's brains in 
 the effort to classify it with creatures resembling it. 
 Night !8 Day A cursory glance at the Aye- Aye is 
 to the sufficient to tell the naturalist that hq is 
 Aye-Aye. dealing with a nocturnal animal. The 
 Aye-Aye is more afraid of light than any mammal 
 of which I know anything. A Half-Monkey can be 
 awakened at least ; he gropes around, looks wonder- 
 ingly at the world in daylight, takes some interest 
 in a Beetle humming near by, even licks 
 and strokes his fur ; but when the Aye- 
 Aye has been awakened in the daytime 
 with a great deal of trouble, he seems 
 to be perfectly absent in spirit. Me- 
 chanically he drags himself back into 
 his dark corner, curls himself up, and 
 covers his face with his thick tail, which 
 he rolls around his head like a ring. 
 Every movement, every action of this 
 animal shows a laziness that is un- 
 equaled. Only in full darkness, long 
 after sunset, does he creep out, evi- 
 dently still laboring under the fear that 
 a glimmer of light might shine on him. 
 The light of a candle, which passes un- 
 noticed by all other nocturnal animals, 
 makes him beat a hasty retreat. 
 
 Personal If Sonnerat is correct in 
 Observations of his description, he must 
 the Aye-Aye. have had to deal with 
 an exceptionally sweet-tempered Aye- 
 Aye. The one I saw was anything but 
 good-natured ; on the contrary, he was 
 an irritable, unsympathetic fellow. 
 When he was approached, he spat like 
 a Cat ; when one held out one's hand 
 he made a dash for it, uttering the same 
 spiteful sound. 
 
 The only food the Aye-Aye in Lon- 
 don gets is new milk, with the boiled 
 and grated yelk of an egg stirred in. 
 A little dishful is sufficient for his daily 
 sustenance. He uses both his hands in 
 eating ; and with them he throws the 
 liquid into his mouth. So far he has 
 refused to eat meat. 
 
 These few facts I noted down in 1863, 
 and will now give the observations of 
 Pollen, dated 1868, as they afford a few 
 particulars about the Aye-Aye in his 
 wild state. He says : " This animal, so 
 interesting to science, has a predilec-^ 
 tion for the bamboo forests in the in- 
 ner parts of the large island. It feeds 
 on the pith of the bamboo and sugar- 
 cane, but also on Beetles and' theii 
 larvae. To get at the food, it gnaws an 
 aperture in the stem of the plant, inserts 
 its slender middle finger and scoops 
 out the pith or the insects it may con- 
 tain. Its sleepiness by day equals its 
 activity by night. From sundawn it 
 sleeps, hiding its head between its legs, and curl- 
 ing its tail around it. At night it climbs and jumps, 
 investigating all crevices and openings in old trees 
 in its search for food, and retires before daybreak. 
 Its cry is a loud grunt, and is frequently heard dur- 
 ing the night. 
 
Zhc MinQ*Danbe6 Hnimals. 
 
 THIRD ORDER: Chiroptera. 
 
 EFORE the setting of the sun 
 on any beautiful summer day, 
 some members of this re- 
 'markable order of animals 
 begin their weird activity. 
 Out of crevices and dark 
 hollows creeps the strange, 
 gloomy army of Bats, which 
 has been hidden during the 
 day as if it had reasons of its 
 own for shunning the light, 
 and sets out on its nightly 
 travels. As the darkness be- 
 comes more dense the num- 
 ber of these enigmatical beings increases until at 
 midnight all have emerged and are flying hither and 
 thither through the air. 
 
 Bats Inhabit The more closely we approach the tor- 
 Warm rid zone, the greater is the number of 
 Climates. Bats, and the richer their variety. The 
 South is the native country of the majority of Wing- 
 handed Animals. Even in Italy, Greece and Spain 
 the number of Bats is surprising. There, as even- 
 ing draws nigh, they come out of their nooks and 
 ■corners not by hundreds, 
 but by thousands. Out of |^H 
 ■every house, every old £z^ 
 stone wall, every rocky " 
 
 liollow they flutter, as if a ~~^ 
 ;great army was preparing 
 ior a parade, and the en- 
 tire horizon is literally 
 filled with them. The 
 jswarms of Bats one sees 
 in a hot country are aston- 
 ishing. It is extremely 
 interesting to spend an 
 evening outside the gates 
 •of a city in the Orient 
 where the Bats literally 
 ■darken the sky. One soon 
 'Ceases to count them, for - 
 in every direction multi- 
 tudes are flutteringthrough 
 the air. /Everywhere there 
 is a living and moving 
 mass flying through the 
 trees of gardens and 
 groves, fluttering over the 
 fields, some low, ' others at 
 
 Through the streets of the town, through houses and 
 rooms flits the moving train. Hundreds are con- 
 stantly appearing and disappearing and one is 
 ■always surrounded by a hovering swarm. 
 Ptincipal Characteris- The Wing-handed Animals are 
 tics oftfie Wing- mainly distinguished by their bod- 
 Handed Animals. \\y shape. Almost uniformly they 
 lave a " stocky " trunk, a short neck and a thick, ob- 
 long head, with a wide mouth. In general structure 
 
 they correspond nearest with the Monkeys, and, like 
 the latter, have two mammae, but are totally differ- 
 ent in every other respect. Their hands have to 
 serve them as wings and are therefore enormously 
 enlarged, while the trunk is of small size. Thus 
 they give the impression of great size, while in 
 reality they are among the smallest of mammals. 
 The interior structure likewise shows characteristic 
 peculiarities. The skeleton is light, but strong, the 
 bones never contain air cavities, like those of birds. 
 The formation of their hands is most peculiar, the 
 arm, the fore-arm and the fingers being greatly elon- 
 gated, especially the last three fingers, which exceed 
 the arm in length. This arrangement renders them 
 fit for the attachment of the flying membrane, but 
 incapable of other service. The thumb, which stands 
 outside the membrane^ resembles the fingers of other 
 mammals ; it is short, has two joints, and is furnished 
 with a strong claw, which is supposed to do duty 
 for the whole hand in climbing and when the ani- 
 mal suspends itself. The thigh-bones are much 
 shorter and weaker than the bones of the arm, the 
 bones of the hinder limb in general being much in- 
 ferior to those of the fore-limb. Their formation is 
 
 BABBASTELLE, OR PUG-DOG BAT. ^When the evening comes the Pug-Dog Bats flutter out in busy 
 
 search forsmall Butterflies, upon which errand those in the picture are bent, their sharp eyes looking eagerly about 
 for these insects. They live in various parts of Europe and are numerous in the country of the Alps, where they 
 iiover about the edges of forests. {Synoius bariastellus.) 
 
 a considerable height, regular ; the foot is divided into five toes, and these 
 
 have claws. A striking peculiarity pertains to the 
 foot ; a bone projecting from the heel and called 
 the " spur." This bone is found only in Bats, and 
 is used to stretch the membrane between the leg 
 and the tail. The breast muscles are exceedingly 
 strong, and possess one muscle that is lacking in 
 other mammals, this being inserted into the back 
 of the head on one side and into the hand on the 
 other, serving to stretch the wings. The teeth re- 
 
 (75) 
 
76 
 
 THE WING-HANDED ANIMALS. 
 
 semble those of the insect-eating animals, having all 
 the various kinds in closed rows ; but the number 
 and shape vary greatly. 
 Some Pronounced The most pronounced of all the 
 
 Peculiarities peculiarities is the skin, changing as 
 of Bats. i(. (Joes ^j^g whole shape of the body 
 as well as the expression of the face, sometimes 
 giving the latter a really monstrous appearance. The 
 wide open mouth contributes to the repulsiveness ; 
 but the excrescences of the skin on the ears and nose 
 really give the face its uncanny appearance and com- 
 plete its extreme ugliness. 
 
 " No other group of animals," says Blasius, "shows 
 such a development of the skin. I refer not only 
 to the flying membranes but also to the ear and nose. 
 The ears attain in all these families a striking growth. 
 Their length in some kinds is nearly equal to that 
 of the body ; in width some show an extension of 
 both ears into one. In some kinds the parts adjoin- 
 ing the nostrils and the crest of the nose show the 
 most abnormal growth, and the results are faces such 
 as we should be able to find nowhere else in the 
 world. The strange development of the skin in the 
 wings, ear and nose differs from that of all other 
 animals and seems to regulate the movements and 
 mode of living of the Bats, even in details." 
 
 Features A feature of the wings, which has but 
 
 of a lately been discovered, is a highly 
 
 Bat's Wings, elastic, or, rather, contractile layer of 
 
 skin. The outer layer is constantly kept pliable by 
 
 anointings with an oily liquid, secreted by glands 
 
 in the animal's face. The structure of the hair in 
 
 Bats is also remarkable, as each thread presents a 
 
 screw-like appearance under the microscope. The 
 
 purpose of this arrangement seems to be the better 
 
 retention of heat. 
 
 Tlie Senses of the The senses of Wing-handed Ani- 
 
 Wing-handed mals are excellent, but developed 
 Animals. very differently according to groups. 
 Some organs of sense show strange enlargements 
 and appendages. The sense of taste is probably 
 the least acute ; yet it cannot be called dull, judging 
 from the structure of the tongue, the softness of the 
 lips and the rich supply of nerves in both. Besides, 
 this sense has been experimented on and proved to 
 be acute. If one, for instance, puts a drop of water 
 in the open mouth of a sleeping Bat, it will immedi- 
 ately swallow it ; but if brandy, ink or some other ill- 
 tasting liquid be given, it will cast out the draught. 
 The eye is no less developed. In proportion to the 
 size of the body, it is small, but the pupil is capable 
 of considerable dilation. Some kinds have espe- 
 cially small eyes ; and Koch calls attention to the 
 fact that they are sometimes so hidden behind the 
 hair of the face that they cannot be used for the 
 purpose of seeing. These small-eyed animals are 
 such as one sometimes sees flying about in the day- 
 time, while the real, nocturnal Bats have larger eyes, 
 lying quite free and unobstructed. Yet the eye 
 may be destroyed without damaging its owner to 
 any great extent. The sense of sight is supple- 
 mented greatly by the sense of hearing, of smell 
 and of touch. Bats have frequently been blind- 
 folded by sticking a piece of court-plaster over their 
 eyes ; yet they flew about the room just as usual, 
 avoiding in a dexterous manner obstacles placed in 
 their path, such as strings stretched across the room, 
 etc. The sense of touch may have its seat in the 
 wings ; at least, this is the conclusion that has been 
 reached after long and frequent observations. The 
 senses of smell and hearing are very well developed. 
 
 The nose is perfect in all genuine Bats ; for not only 
 can the nostrils be dilated, narrowed or entirely 
 closed by special muscles, but the animals also pos- 
 sess large, leaf-like appendages, whose only use can 
 be that of increasing the sense of smell. The ear, 
 perfected in a similar nianner, consists of a large 
 shell, often extending to the corner of the mouth, 
 provided with leaf-like expansions and extremely 
 mobile. There is besides, a large flap, which may 
 vary in shape, and which, if a noise be too loud, may 
 be closed and thus spare its owner the pain of list- 
 ening ; while in very^light noises it serves to catch 
 and increase the volume of the sound waves. It is 
 doubtless true that the Bat may hear insects fly 
 within a limited area, and that it is guided, to some 
 extent, by the ear in its flight. If one cuts the leaf- 
 like appendages off, or the lobes or ear-flaps, the 
 Bat gets confused and knocks against obstacles. 
 
 The The intellect of the Bats is by no 
 
 Intelligence means as low as is commonly supposed, 
 of Bats. and the creature gives the lie to the 
 stupid expression of its face. The brain is large and 
 has some convolutions, which alone indicates that its 
 intelligence cannot be small. All Bats are distin- 
 guished by a rather high degree of memory and 
 some by the presence of reasoning powers. 
 
 Kolenati tells us that a Bat, hunting in an avenue 
 of linden trees, spared a female Butterfly, because 
 she attracted a great many males of her kind, thus 
 proving a lure for the game. If one tries to angle 
 for Bats by using Butterflies on hooks, his labor is 
 lost. They will approach and look at the hovering 
 insect, but soon discover the fine tackle, and leave 
 the temptation untouched, even if food is very 
 scarce and they are hungry. It has been demon- 
 strated frequently that Bats may be tamed and be- 
 come strongly attached to their masters. A number 
 of naturalists have trained their pets to take food 
 from their hands or search for it in a glass. My 
 brother tamed a Long-eared Bat to such a degree 
 that it followed him all over the house, and when 
 he offered it a Fly, it instantly hastened to sit in 
 his hand and take the morsel. The larger Bats are 
 really possessed of amiable, social qualities ; they 
 become very tame and in many ways prove them- 
 selves very sensible. 
 
 About Blasius says : " The capacity for, and the 
 
 the way special manner of, flying depends on the 
 Bats Fly. shape of the wings. Whoever has studied 
 Bats in nature, must have observed how the rapidity 
 and agility of certain species correspond to the 
 shapes of their wings. Those that have these mem- 
 bers longest and slenderest fly highest and bold- 
 est ; they can make the most varied and often sud- 
 den turnings, and are so confident that they will 
 brave storms and winds. As a rule the wing in fly- 
 ing describes but a small, acute angle, it being only 
 at sudden turns that it takes a wider scope, while 
 the flight is manifold and rapid with small wing- 
 movements and apparently little exertion. 
 
 "The Vespertilio and Rhinolophus are the poorest 
 flyers of all the Bats. Comparing them with others, 
 it will be found that their wings are the broadest and 
 shortest ; they describe a large, and in most cases, 
 obtuse angle. Their flight is fluttering, slow and un- 
 certain. Generally they fly low and in a straight 
 direction, without quick turns or side-movements. 
 Some seem to fairly skim the ground or water, fly- 
 ing but a few inches above it. 
 
 " It is not difficult to guess the genus from the 
 height and manner of flight and the size of the 
 
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BATS. 
 
 V7 
 
 animal; and one cannot err in determining the readi- 
 ness and manner of flight after looking at the con- 
 struction of the wings." 
 
 In general the flight of Wing-handed Animals is 
 by short stages rather than by sustained motion. It 
 
 the body. The strong breast muscles, the light 
 lower part of the body, the elongation of arms and 
 hands which sometimes reach three times the length 
 of the body,, and, lastly, the flying membrane itself, 
 are all conducive to this mode of locomotion. Soar- 
 
 THE KALONG BATS. This sketch from nature presents the 
 
 largest of the Dog-headed Bats in their sleeping-place in the forest^ 
 aroused from repose possibly by the artist while he studies them How 
 like a great cloak is the membrane drawn closely about them as they 
 hang from the long, twisted vine. From tip to tip 'l^^ ™"/%"? "^,f 'j 
 five feet as they fly. Their home is in Java Sumatra Benda ^nd Tmio^- 
 where they are very destructive to orchards, the fruit of which they de- 
 vour only at night. (Ptero-pus eduUs.) 
 
 is produced by a constant movement of the arms. 
 While the bird can soar, the Bat can only flutter 
 Its fluttering is greatly promoted by the structure of 
 
 ing IS impossible, for none of the bones of the Bat 
 are filled with air, the body does not contain the 
 large an cavities of the bird, and, which is the chief 
 reason, the Bat does not possess the strong feathers 
 that are used to give impulse and guide the course. 
 Its flight is a constant beating of the air and never 
 a long shooting or gliding about without motion of 
 the wings. In order to be able to stretch their mem- 
 brane and readily and quickly take to flight, all Bats 
 while in repose hook the claws of their hind paws 
 into some lofty place, and suspend themselves from 
 it, heads downward. 
 
 It must be said that their hands are not only used 
 in flying, but also in running on the level ground. 
 Their walk is not really so bad as one might be led 
 to suppose ; still, it is nothing but a wretched hob- 
 bling along. A few species make an exception to 
 this rule and run nearly as fast as a Rat. 
 Peculiar Habits All Bats sleep by day and fly about 
 and Character- at night. The majority make their 
 istics of Bats, appearance at dusk and retire to 
 their hiding places long before dawn ; some species 
 come out between three and five o'clock in the after- 
 noon and flicker merrily about in spite of the 
 brightest sunshine. 
 
78 
 
 THE WING-HANDED ANIMALS. 
 
 Every kind has its own hunting-grounds in for- 
 ests, orchards, avenues and streets, over stagnant or 
 slowly-flowing water surfaces, etc. It is rare that 
 Bats fly over open fields, for the simple reason that 
 there is no game for them. In the fertile South they 
 also haunt maize and rice fields, for these always 
 harbor a great many insects, which are their lawful 
 prey. Their hunting ground will not usually cover 
 an area greater than a thousand feet ; although some 
 larger species might perhaps go one mile, and the 
 prominent tropical species may fly over much greater 
 distances, as they have been known to travel from 
 one island to another several miles apart. 
 
 The Bats are gregarious, but only under certain 
 conditions. There are species that are hostile to, 
 and occasionally make a meal of each other. Blood- 
 sucking Vampires will attack Long-eared Bats for 
 the purpose of sucking their blood, and the latter 
 will avenge the wrong by eating their assailants. 
 
 THE KALOITG BAT. This picture shows the great Kalong stalking out upon the branch of a tree in 
 
 quest of fruit of which it is so fond, the position being that always assumed by the Slotli. The great " spurs " of the 
 creature are clearly sliown as well as its gentle eye and small ear. The Kalong is gregarious and always moves in 
 great swanns. (Plerofus edulis.) 
 
 The food of Bats consists of fruit, insects, small 
 vertebrata, and blood sucked from larger animals. 
 The Bats of Europe feed only on insects, especially 
 Night-butterflies, Beetles, Flies and Mosquitoes. 
 Their greed is exceptional, the larger ones devour- 
 ing with ease a dozen Beetles, and the smallest 
 ones eating several dozen Flies without having their 
 hunger satisfied. The more active they are, the 
 more food they require, and for this reason are ex- 
 ceedingly useful animals, meriting the favor of Man 
 for ridding the world of so many pests. Of course 
 such is not the case with Blood-sucking Bats, which 
 may do a great deal of harm, nor with Fruit-eating 
 Bats, which sometimes destroy orchards and vine- 
 yards. 
 
 Heuglin observed that African Bats followed 
 herds of Cattle in their search for food. He says : 
 "In the Bogos country there are a great many Cattle^ 
 and the herds will sometimes, in their search for 
 good pasturage and water, remain from home for 
 months. When we arrived at Keeren, all the horned 
 beasts had gone into the valleys of Barka and myr- 
 iads of Flies accompanied them. There were then 
 but few Bats around Keeren, but at the close of the 
 rainy season all the herds belonging to our Bogos. 
 were brought in and in their wake appeared incred- 
 ible numbers of insectivorous Bats. When the last 
 herd departed the Bats also disappeared. One 
 night in the beginning of October we camped out 
 on a plain, three miles from Keei^en, near the fenced- 
 in places destined for Cattle. The animals then be- 
 ing in the mountains, we saw but one or two Bats, 
 but on the following day when the herds had re- 
 turned, the number of Bats toward evening had sur- 
 prisingly increased." 
 
 It seems probable to me that all the Bats under- 
 take larger wanderings than is commonly supposed. 
 Warm Temperature A warm temperature is an 
 Essential to a essential condition to Bats, not 
 Bat's Existence. only because heat gives life to 
 insects, but because the Bats themselves dislike cold 
 weather. The number of Bats in warm climates is 
 due as much to the richer insect life there as to the 
 
 fact that the warmer at- 
 mosphere is conducive to 
 their greater development. 
 Most species stay in their 
 hiding-places when the 
 weather is cold, rainy or 
 windy ;. others do go out 
 on cold evenings, but for 
 a short time only. We 
 must also consider the cir- 
 cumstance that on cold 
 evenings their flying about 
 is to no purpose, as the 
 insects likewise keep in- 
 hiding ; and, besides, wind 
 makes flying very difficult 
 to all but the Narrow- 
 winged Bats. 
 
 On the approach of win- 
 ter all Bats which do nol 
 migrate fall into a mors 
 or less sound sleep. They 
 select for their hiding- 
 place nooks or corners 
 that are protected from the 
 outside cold, as caverns, 
 cellars, warm roofs, prefer- 
 ably places near chimneys,, 
 etc. Here one can find them in clusters, sometimes 
 numbering hundreds, suspended by their hind legs 
 and closely huddled together, in some cases differ- 
 ent species being represented, but only such as are 
 related to each other. It is very rare, indeed, that 
 one finds two species together, which, in their active 
 life, wage open war against each other. The heat of 
 their blood sinks with the outer temperature, some- 
 times as low as four, or even one degree Reaumur, 
 while the usual temperature is twenty-four degrees 
 Reaumur. If the outer air gets so cold that the ani- 
 mals can no longer withstand it, they awake from 
 their lethargy and begin to move about. Frequently 
 they freeze to death, especially in captivity, when 
 exposed to a very low temperature. While the cold 
 
FLYING DOGS, OR FRUIT-EATING BATS. 
 
 79 
 
 weather lasts they remain in their pendant attitude, 
 but on the warmer winter days some species awake 
 and fly about even in snow and thawing weather. 
 
 All Bats carry their young ones around with them 
 when they fly, even when the little ones can use 
 their wings fairly well and are able to temporarily 
 
 PIPISTEELLE BAT. -Out in the night ii 1 „ 
 
 tli^.LtJv, i'.i,iol.viiio. LuoJj !».js, looking for such- tiny insects as Gnats, 
 Midges and' other two-winged Flies, which form its food. This animal is 
 found all over the British islands, temperate Europe and central .^sia, and 
 is of great usefulness in ridding those countries of the numerous little insect 
 pests, (fes^erugo fi^istrellus.) 
 
 leave their mother's breast. I have myself found 
 young Bats hanging alone on trees in the virgin 
 African forests. The young ones reach their full 
 growth in from five to six weeks. 
 Strange Appear- The strange appearance and noctur- 
 ar]ce and Noctur- nal habits of the Bats have, since the 
 nal Habits. oldest times, given ample food for 
 superstition, and the harmless animals still have to 
 contend with the prejudice and antipathy of a large 
 majority of people. We will not repeat the innu- 
 merable stories that have been told, many of which 
 are still believed ; but we wish to emphasize the 
 claims of the Bats to consideration and good treat- 
 ment. In our temperate climes they are all very 
 useful, for they devour with great greed immense 
 swarms of harmful insects. The few frugivorous 
 Bats do not concern us in the least, neither do the 
 blood-sucking Vampires, which latter, by the way, 
 are not nearly so dangerous as they were once sup- 
 posed to be. We may consider the whole class as a 
 highly useful link in the chain of beings. 
 
 But Few The number of prehistoric Bats that 
 Prehistoric has come to our knowledge is exceed- 
 Bats. ingly small. Hair from these animals 
 has been found in amber, and their petrified bones 
 in stone quarries. There are about three hundred 
 different species now living. The infinitely great 
 difterences in shape, in spite of superficial resem- 
 blance, render classification difficult, even for natu- 
 ralists. 
 
 jfll^inQ 2>099, or 3fruit*ieatinQ Bate. 
 
 FIRST DIVISION : Pteropina. 
 
 The first grand division of the Bat family is 
 formed by the Flying Dogs or Fruit-eating Bats, 
 which may be again subdivided into two distinct 
 groups, the first being the Flying Dogs proper 
 {Pteropus), and the second group including the 
 Night-Dogs {Cynonycteris) . 
 
 AH members of this family of Bats are found in 
 the warmer countries of the Old World, especially 
 in southern Asia, central and south Africa and 
 Australia. Their large size is foundation for the 
 many foolish tales which make of them livingvmon- 
 sters. These harmless, good-natured animals have 
 actually borne the reputation of being formidable 
 Vampires, and people thought they saw in them 
 those hideous creations of the imagination which 
 attach themselves to sleeping human beings and 
 suck their heart's blood. 
 
 Fruit-eaters have, in the main, a Bat-like shape, 
 but their size is much larger than that of other 
 members, and their head is that of a good-look- 
 ing, sympathetic Dog or Fox ; this having earned 
 for them the name of Flying Dogs or Flying Foxes. 
 The membrane, and consequently also the formation 
 of the arms and legs, is similar to that of the other 
 Bats ; only that besides the thumb the index finger 
 has a claw-shaped nail. The nose has no appen- 
 dage, and the ears 'never show a flap. They are 
 easily distinguished by their peculiarities from the 
 remainder of the Bats. 
 
 SATTBENIOH'S BAT. A tiny creature, but two inches long. It 
 
 haunts church towers and other buildings in central Europe, and is 
 always to be found near rivers and other bodies of water, where it easiest 
 finds food at the gloaming and far into the night. As the artist repre- 
 sents it, it is an odd-looking and unhandsome animal, but useful because 
 it destroys hurtful insects. ( Vesfertili dauhentonii.) 
 
 Flying Dogs prefer dark woods for their haunts, 
 and by day tenant the trees in large numbers, hang- 
 ing in innumerable rows, wrapped up in their wings 
 
80 
 
 THE WING-HANDED ANIMALS. 
 
 as in a cloak. One may find hundreds of them in 
 hollow trees. They sometimes fly about during the 
 day in gloomy virgin forests, although activity prop- 
 erly begins for them at dusk. Their keen vision 
 and excellent scent direct them to trees possessing 
 particularly juicy and ripe fruit ; they come to it 
 singly at first, but presently the swarm collects in 
 large numbers and soon divests a tree of all its fruit. 
 They often make raids upon vineyards, where they 
 do great damage. They eat only the sweet, ripe fruit, 
 leaving what is less developed for the other fruit- 
 eating animals. Sometimes they undertake migra- 
 tions, flying from one island to another. They suck 
 the fruit dry, rather than eat it ; for they spit out the 
 dry pulp. When they make a raid on an orchard 
 they eat all through the night, making a noise that 
 
 - * *'ar 
 
 LONO-EAREB BAT. The picture presents these creatures, which are the common English Bat, although 
 
 found in middle Europe and parts of Asia, in their favorite haunt, a great barn, and the mighty ears are strongly 
 brought out in the flying and the crouching examples. These ears are nearly as long as the entire body. The manner 
 of sleeping is shown in the third animal, whose ears project far below the body although the head is well drawn up. 
 (Phcotus auritus.) 
 
 may be heard at a considerable distance. The re- 
 port of a gun does not disturb them, further than 
 sometimes to cause them to flutter to an adjoining 
 tree, where they resume their interrupted meal. 
 
 They scream a great deal, even when suspended, 
 motionless, from the trees. The voice has a pecu- 
 liar creaky or shrieking sound and sometimes they 
 hiss like Geese. 
 
 The female gives birth to one or two young ones 
 at a time, at intervals of a year. The infants attach 
 themselves to their mother's breast, and she carries 
 
 them about with her, bestowing upon them her ten- 
 
 derest care. , j -n , 
 
 In captivity these Bats may be tamed and will then 
 show a certain attachment for their keepers. 
 
 Because of their fruit-eating habits they do more 
 harm than good ; yet, in a country that is rich in 
 fruit their devastations ought not to weigh heavily 
 against them. Haacke finds that their flesh is deli- 
 cate, and tastes like that of Rabbits and Chickens. 
 Their fur is also sometimes used by the natives, 
 r/ie Kalong, The largest of the Fruit-eaters is the 
 Largest of' Kalong {Pteropus edulis), his body 
 Flying Dog Bats, being over fifteen inches long, while 
 his spread of wings may be four feet, eight inches. 
 His color is brown-black, the under parts assuming a 
 russet tinge, much lighter than the upper portion. 
 
 The Kalong is a na- 
 tive of the Indian is- 
 lands, especially Java, 
 Sumatra, Banda and 
 Timor ; living either in 
 large forests or in the 
 groves of fruit trees 
 which surround all the 
 Javanese villages. Oc- 
 casionally these Bats 
 cover the branches in 
 such numbers as to con- 
 ceal the bark. In the 
 evening they arouse 
 from their sleep and 
 flutter away, each flying 
 a little distance from 
 the other. 
 
 Rosenberg writes 
 from Sumatra : " The 
 Kalong is one of the 
 commonest of animals, 
 as well on the coast as 
 in the depths of the is- 
 land. These Bats live 
 gregariously and fly in 
 numerous flocks at sun- 
 set in search of food. 
 During my stay at Lu- 
 mut, a flock flew reg- 
 ularly by the little fort 
 every evening, return- 
 ing to its sleeping place 
 before sunrise. I once 
 fired a shot at a female 
 flying rather low; a 
 young one attached to 
 her breast fell down, 
 but before it could 
 reach the ground the 
 mother, which followed 
 it with lightning-like 
 rapidity, had caught it 
 in her teeth, rose again 
 
 in the air and hurried away with her little one." 
 
 The food of these Bats consists of all varieties of 
 fruits, especially figs and mangoes, and they often do 
 considerable mischief in the Javanese orchards. Yet 
 they by no means confine themselves to vegetable 
 food, for they also hunt insects and small vertebrata. 
 Shortt has, to his great surprise, seen them eating 
 fish. " During my stay in Conlieveram," says he, 
 " my attention was attracted by a little pond that 
 owed its existence to a recent shower of rain. It 
 swarmed with little fishes, playing in the water and 
 
THE SMOOTH-NOSED BATS. 
 
 !1 
 
 ;pumping on the surface. The presence of fish in 
 ponds that completely dry out and fill again during 
 a shower, was not new to me; but my curiosity was 
 aroused by a number of large creatures, flutter- 
 ing rather clumsily over the water, until they suc- 
 ceeded in catching a fish, when they retired to a 
 neighboring tree and devoured it. A closer investi- 
 gation proved them to be Kalongs." 
 
 The Kalongs are hunted not so much because of 
 the mischief they do, as for their flesh. In captivity 
 they are easily tamed and kept. In the wild state 
 they are very fastidious, eating only the juiciest of 
 fruits, but when captive they are remarkably unex- 
 acting, eating any fruit that is offered to them and 
 are also fond of meat. 
 
 Unfortunately they do not live long in captivity, 
 in spite of the best of care. They can be given 
 any privilege but the freedom of flying about. In 
 
 Old Flying Dogs of this genus attain a length of 
 seven inches, their expanse of wing being thirty to 
 thirty-five inches., 
 
 XTbe Smootb^1FlO0eb Bate. 
 
 SECOND DIVISION : Gymnorhina. 
 
 This division of the Bat family comprises the 
 Smooth-nosed Bats. The nose is smooth without 
 any excrescence of the skin ; but the inner part of 
 the ear shows one small leaf-like appendage. In 
 some species the ears are united by their inner mar- 
 gins over the crown of the head, in others this union 
 is wanting. The nostrils in some open above the 
 tip of the muzzle ; in others below it. The family 
 • extends all over the globe, with the exception of the 
 Arctic zone. The number of different species be- 
 
 
 NOCTULE BAT This sketch accurately portrays the Noctules in the foreground at rest, while one in the distance is flying high in 
 
 search of food Although nocturnal animals they start out upon their hunts long before the setting of the sun. Bold and fearless they soar high 
 and are so active in their flight that the Falcon cannot capture them. How like a Frog is the crouching Bat in the foreground of the picture. 
 
 {Vcsferugo nociula.) 
 
 consequence, sooner or later, abscesses form on their 
 -wings and finally cause their death. 
 
 Egyptian To the group Cynonycteris belpngs 
 
 Flying-Dog the Egyptian Flying Dog ( Cymnyctens 
 Bat. mgyptiacus) . It is spread all over 
 
 Egypt and Nubia and is a regular frequenter of 
 sycamore plantations. Some text-books say that it 
 spends its days in the vaults of the pyramids. This 
 is decidedly false, as it sleeps on trees like all its 
 relatives. 
 
 The specimens I procured died in a short time. 
 Other naturalists have been able to keep these Bats 
 longer, and to train them to be very tame and famil- 
 iar. Zelebor had a couple in Schoenbrunn, which he 
 had taught to come to him instantly when he offered 
 them a date, and which would submit to be stroked 
 and petted by strangers. 
 
 longing to this group is exceedingly large. The 
 majority keep together in great swarms, especially 
 during hibernation. One often finds hundreds and 
 even thousands in one building. Many species live 
 in perfect peace with each other and there are prob- 
 ably but very few of solitary habits. They are all 
 sensitive to cold and retire early in autumn into 
 their winter retreats, and do not make a reappear- 
 ance until late in spring. Few fly about before 
 dusk ; the majority come out at the gloaming and 
 remain only during the first hours of the night ; 
 at midnight they rest till the early hours of the 
 morning, when they again resume their activity. 
 Their flight is distinguished by strange zigzags, 
 which make it impossible for birds of prey to catch 
 them. Their attitude during sleep is the usual one ; 
 they run on the ground clumsily, but they climb 
 
82 
 
 THE WING-HANDED ANIMALS. 
 
 with agility and quickness. They eat insects, only, 
 and for the most part such as are very harmful to 
 Man. They make a loud, whistling, chirping sound. 
 
 The The Long-eared Bat {Plecotus auritus) 
 
 Long-Eared cannot be mistaken for any other, be- 
 
 Bat. cause of its long, large ears. It is 
 one of the largest European Bats, measuring about 
 four inches in length, its tail occupying about one 
 and one-half inches, and the expanse of its wings 
 being ten inches. The ears are more than two 
 inches long, traversed by many furrows, and they 
 curve backwards. The inner margin of each is 
 furnished with a tongue-like flap, and the entire 
 ear is very mobile. The fur is brownish-gray, and 
 the face is bordered with white hair. Young animals 
 are darker than old ones. 
 
 The Long-eared Bat is distributed all over Eu- 
 rope, south from the sixtieth degree of latitude ; 
 
 EGYPTIAN BHINOFOME. What queer-looking creatures are Iiere depicted, with their Hog- 
 like noses, great ears ajid long, Rat-like tails. They are African Bats and are found along the waters of 
 the Nile, being fond of low places, and diligent hunters for food. {Rhinopoma microphyllum.) 
 
 The Mouse- The Mouse-colored or Common Bat 
 Colored or Com- (Vespertilio murinus) inhabits all of 
 mor\ Bat. central Europe, beginning with Eng- 
 land Denmark and middle Russia, southern Europe, 
 northern Africa and the greatest part of Asia, up to 
 the Himalaya Mountains. This is one of the largest 
 of European Bats. It measures nearly five inches, 
 two being occupied by the tail, and the expanse of 
 its wings is fifteen inches. Its upper part is light 
 gray-brown, the lower a dingy white; young animals 
 
 being lighter gray. ^- u ■ r ^ ■ 
 
 The genus Vespertilio, which is found in 
 The Brown Bat ^^^^ hemispheres, has more species thaa 
 and its Beta- ^^^ other, there being forty-three of these 
 *'''®®' species known to naturalists. Its distin- 
 
 ffuishinff marks, besides its dentition, are the oval shape of the 
 lar of which the tragus is narrow and attenuated. The ear is 
 also greatly elongated, being as long as the head or longer;, 
 and the muzzle, which is narrow, is hairy in front. There are 
 four species of this genus found in the United States, one being 
 the Common Brown Bat ( Vespertilio sub- 
 ulatus), of the region east of the Rocky 
 Mountains. The other species, which, 
 seem to have no distinguishing English 
 names, are"^ the Vespertilio lucifugus, 
 which is found in nearly all wooded re- 
 gions of this country, including the Pa- 
 cific Coast states; the Vespertilio nitidus, 
 which is found in California and Texas, 
 and the Vespertilio evotis, having a more 
 northern range on the Pacific Coast and 
 being found in Oregon and Washington, 
 as well as in California. These species 
 live for the greater part in woods, but 
 some of them, especially of the Brown 
 Bat species, make their homes in caves 
 or in the roofs of houses and bams. 
 The Noctule The Noctule (Fa- 
 or Great perugo no c tula) is 
 ^«*- an early flying Bat 
 
 and is popularly known in Eng- 
 land as the " Great Bat." It is a 
 common animal in Europe and is 
 about four and one - half inches 
 long, with an expanse of wing of 
 fifteen inches. Its color is a red- 
 dish-brown, the ears and wings 
 being brownish-black. The wings 
 are long and narrow and its flight 
 is very rapid, resembling that of 
 a Swallow. 
 
 The Noctule is the strongest of 
 the European Bats. It comes out 
 earliest and flies highest. Not in- 
 
 and it has also been found in northern Africa, 
 western Asia and the East Indies. It is very 
 common, but lives singly, not in troops. It always 
 keeps in the neighborhood of human dwellings, 
 sleeping in summer as often in hollow trees as 
 behind window-shutters, and in winter it visits cel- 
 lars and basements as frequently as mines and quar- 
 ries. In the city it likes squares grown with trees 
 and shrubs, and, therefore, makes its appearance 
 nearly always in rooms overlooking gardens. 
 
 Long-eared Bats bear captivity better than most 
 of their relatives, and may live for months or even 
 years, with very careful treatment. For this reason 
 they are usually selected for the purpose of a study 
 of the family in general. They may become more or 
 . . Of the same genus is the American Large- 
 
 American eared Bat {Plecotits iiiacrotus) which bears 
 
 i-arge-tarea ^ strong resemblance to the European spe- 
 cies in many particulars. It has, however, 
 a distinguishing feature in the large size attained by the gland- 
 ular prominences at the side of the muzzle, which meet in the 
 center above and behind the nostrils. This Bat makes its home 
 in the southern and western parts of the United Slates, and on 
 the Pacific coast its range extends north to Vancouver. 
 
 frequently it is seen a few hours before sunset, dex- 
 terously eluding the pursuits of birds of prey. By 
 its sudden turnings it escapes nearly all attacks, and 
 not even the quick Falcon, which captures Swallows 
 on the wing, can harm it. 
 
 Sarotine Bats ?"^iStr> y^lP7"^K 'l ^''° represented 
 Found in Both United States by four species. One 
 
 Hemisoheres °^ these, the Serotine ( Vesperiigo serotinus} 
 ^ ' is remarkable as being the only species of 
 
 Bat found in both the Old and the New World, although the 
 American is smaller than the European animal. It is an ar- 
 boreal animal and is found in most of the wooded regions east 
 of the Mississippi. Other species, differing from the Serotine 
 principally in dentition are Vesperu^o hespertis, Vesperuga^ 
 georgianus and Vesperugo noctivagans. The general charac- 
 teristics of this genus are comparatively thick bodies, flat 
 broad heads and blunt muzzles, short legs, and ears which are 
 short, broad, triangular in shape and obtusely pointed 
 
 The Barbastelle A strange looking creature is the 
 
 orPug-Dog Barbastelle {Synotus barbastellus), 
 
 ^"*- called in Germany the Pug- Dog Bat. 
 
 The ears, united over the crown of the head, give to 
 
 the face a remarkable expression. The wings are 
 
 long and slender; the spur-bone at the heel shows 
 
LEAF-NOSED OR BLOOD-SUCKING BATS. 
 
 83. 
 
 a projecting, rounded fold of skin. The tail is a 
 little longer than the body. This creature measures 
 four and a half inches in length, with an expanse of 
 wing of ten inches. Its upper side is a dark brown, 
 nearly black; beneath it is a little lighter, being 
 grayish- brown. 
 Red or New York ^^^ suborder of Smooth-nosed Bats is rep- 
 fiat and Other ""esented in this country by several genera 
 Species ^ species pecuhar to America. The most 
 
 '^ ■ common in all the Atlantic Coast states is 
 
 the Red Bat or New York Bat {Atalapha noveboracensis), 
 which is a busy hunter of flying insects, which it follows so 
 persistently that it frequently flies into rooms in pursuit of its 
 favorite prey. It flies rather slowly but it can change the 
 direction of its flight very rapidly, and its movements in the air 
 are very graceful. Besides this species several others have 
 been observed and described, but so far the descriptions have 
 been principally technical, and little or nothing is known of 
 their habits, except that no North American species seem to be 
 harmful, but on the contrary, as they are all insect-eaters. 
 
 Their principal food consists of Butterflies, Bee- 
 tles, Mosquitoes, etc.; and the majority, probably, 
 also have blood-sucking propensities, attacking for 
 this purpose sleeping birds and mammals, including 
 Man. Though a great many facts have" come to 
 light pertaining to the blood-sucking habit, this pecul- 
 iar trait is still steeped in mystery. The probabil- 
 ities are that all Leaf-nosed Batfe are blood-suckers,: 
 but only under certain conditions. The stories about 
 them are very conflicting, and there is one species of 
 Leaf-nosed Bats which I can not positively connect 
 with any of the accounts. 
 
 The Spaniard Azara, who calls this Bat "Morde- 
 dor," which in English means simply "The Biter," 
 tells us among other things the following: "Some- 
 times they bite the combs of sleeping Chickens tO' 
 suck their blood, and, as a rule the Chickens after- 
 wards die, especially if the wound becomes inflamedr 
 
 VAMPIB> 1 r —Here is presented a strikingly faithful picture of the Vampire with its enormous wings, great ears, lofty nose appendage 
 and frightful gr •'rog-like shape of the body is also clearly shown, as it is fluttering forth at evening time from its sleeping-place in the great 
 
 forest. Monster as it seems to be, the Vampire would not harm anything larger than a night insect. It is not a blood-sucker, like so many of its 
 cousins, but is satisfied with the fruits and bugs it finds in its home in northern Brazil and Guiana. (Phyllostoma spectrum.) 
 
 a thing that nearly always happens. They bite 
 
 Horses, Donkeys, Mules and Cows in the sides, 
 shoulders or neck, for to these parts they can eas- 
 ily attach themselves. I have been bitten in the 
 toes four times, when sleeping in the open air. The 
 wounds which I received in this way, without any 
 pain, were round or oblong, and about one line in 
 diameter, while their depth was so slight that they 
 barely pierced the skin. They became visible 
 through their raised margins. The blood that flowed 
 from each bite would in my estimation amount to 
 an ounce and a half. In Horses and other animals 
 it might be three ounces, and I believe that their 
 wounds would have to be deeper because of their 
 thick skins." 
 
 OLeaf^inoseb or Bloot>*'Suc?iina Bate. 
 
 THIRD DIVISION: Istiophor.4.. 
 
 All sub-orders of this tribe are distinguished by 
 leaf-like complications of the nose, which may as- 
 sume the most varied shapes. 
 
 Blood-sucking Bats are distributed over all conti- 
 nents,' but are 'confined to the torrid and ;temperate 
 zones. Some are found hidden in the depths of great 
 woods, in hollow trees, or among the large leaves of 
 palm-trees or similar plants ; the majority conceal 
 themselves in rocky caverns, ruins and dark vaults 
 or in the roofs of houses. 
 
84 
 
 THE WING-HANDED ANIMALS. 
 
 Rengger adds to these words of Azara the follow- 
 ing: " A hundred times have I examined the wounds 
 of Horses, Mules and Oxen without being able to 
 determine how they were caused. The incision is 
 funnel-shaped, and has a diameter of a quarter of 
 an inch, sometimes a little more ; the depth is, ac- 
 cording to the part of the body, from one to two 
 lines. It never reaches through the skin to the mus- 
 cles. There is no impression of the teeth, as is the 
 case in wounds caused by a bite from any other ani- 
 mal ; but the margins present a soft swelling. I 
 cannot therefore think that the Leaf-nosed Bats 
 cause these wounds by a bite, which, by the way, 
 would awaken any animal. I think it probable that 
 they first deprive the skin of its sensibility by suck- 
 ing' as is done in the application of a cupping glass, 
 and when it is swollen, they make a small aperture 
 with their teeth. That it is impossible for a Bat to 
 suck and to move its wings at the same time is dem- 
 onstrated by the structure of the latter. I, at least, 
 always saw them seated upon the Horses, and this 
 
 The following night several of them found their way 
 into my hammock ; I seized a few that were crawl- 
 ing around on me and threw them against the wall. 
 At daybreak I found a wound in my hip, undoubt- 
 edly caused by the Bats. That was a little too 
 much for me, and I concluded to exterminate them. 
 I myself shot many of them that were hanging on 
 the planks of the roof and then had the negroes 
 mount ladders into the garret and kill a few hundred 
 old ones, together with the little Bats." 
 
 Hensel and Kappler have had similar experiences, 
 and it is safe to conclude that many Leaf-nosed 
 Bats are blood-suckers, that human beings are 
 rarely bitten by them, and that the mischief they 
 do varies with time and locality. 
 
 The The largest of the South American 
 
 Vampire Vampires proper is the Vampire Bat 
 
 Bat. {^Phyllostoma spectrum). Its length is 
 
 seven inches, its expanse of wing, according to 
 
 Bates, is twenty-eight inches. The head is long and 
 
 thick, the muzzle elongated ; the large ears stand out 
 
 
 GREATER HORSESHOE EAT. Whit a hideous face is that o£ this uncanny cieatuie, as the artist presents it, sallying forth towards 
 
 sunset on the lookout for food. It naturalists tell the truth this Old World Bat is a blood-sucker, and sleeping Chamois, Squirrels and other 
 animals should be on their guard. During the summer months it pursues insects up the mountains to a height greater than a mile. {Rhinolo- 
 phusferrujn-eguinum.) 
 
 necessitated the folding of their wings. The wound 
 in itself is not dangerous, but as four, five, six or 
 more Bats suck the same animal in one night, and 
 often repeat the performance for seveiral consecutive 
 nights, the animals are much weakened by the loss 
 of blood, especially as two or three ounces flow out 
 after each visit." 
 
 Other travelers besides Azara have been bitten by 
 the Bats , among whom was Bates, who lived eleven 
 years in Brazil. "The first night," he writes, "I slept 
 soundly and perceived nothing extraordinary. The 
 second night I was awakened at midnight by the 
 noise of Bats flying back and forth in my room. 
 They had extinguished my lamp, and when I relit 
 it, I saw that the room was full of them. The air 
 •seemed black with the swarm flying around in it. I 
 had recourse to a stick, and in a few minutes they 
 disappeared. When everything was quiet, they re- 
 appeared and again extinguished my light. I paid 
 jio further attention to them, and went to sleep. 
 
 the 
 
 sides and top of the head ; the leaf on 
 is small in proportion to the size of the 
 
 from 
 
 the nose 
 
 animal ; the soft, delicate fur is of a chestnut hue on 
 
 the back and yellowish brown beneath, and the 
 
 wings are brown. 
 
 The Vampire Bat inhabits northern Brazil and 
 Guiana, being found in the forests as well as in build- 
 ings. Bates says : " Nothing in animal physiognomy 
 can be more hideous than the countenance of this 
 creature when viewed from the front. The large, 
 leathery ears, the erect spear-shaped appendage on 
 the tip of the nose, the grinning features and the 
 glistening black eye, all combine to make up a fig- 
 ure that reminds one of some mocking imp of fable. 
 No wonder that imaginative people have ascribed 
 diabolical qualities to so ugly an animal. The Vam- 
 pire, however, is the most harmless of all Bats, and 
 its inoffensive character is well known to residents 
 on the banks of the Amazon." According to older 
 as well as modern observers, this much abused crea- 
 
LEAF-NOSED OR BLOOD-SUCKING BATS— HORSESHOE. 
 
 -S,) 
 
 ture is, although a Leaf-nosed Bat, by no means a 
 blood-sucker. It zealously hunts nocturnal insects 
 and does not disdain fruit. Waterton says : " In the 
 broad moonlight I could see the Vampire fly to the 
 trees and eat the ripe fruit. On its return from the 
 forest it frequently brought a round fruit the size of 
 a nutmeg into our yard, and when the Sawarri-nut 
 tree bloomed it searched for nuts growing there. 
 On moonlight nights I often saw Vampires flying 
 around the tops of these trees, and from time to 
 time a bud would fall into the water. This did not 
 happen without cause, for all the buds that I exam- 
 ined were fresh and sound. So I concluded that 
 they had been plucked by the Vampires, either for 
 the young fruit or for insects that were concealed in 
 them." 
 
 THE HORSESHOE BATS. 
 
 The representatives of this group in Europe are 
 called Horseshoe Bats. The appendage of the nose 
 covers the whole face from 
 the forehead to the tip of 
 the nose, and is the" most 
 remarkable feature in 
 these animals. The wings 
 are broad and relatively 
 short, and the flight in 
 consequence is far from 
 perfect. The fur of nearly 
 all the Horseshoe Bats is 
 light. 
 
 The Lesser There are, four 
 
 Horseshqe known Euro- 
 Bats. pean species 
 in this group, the most 
 common of them being 
 the Lesser Horseshoe Bat 
 {Rhinolophus hippocrepis). 
 It is one of the smallest 
 of the Bats, for its entire 
 length is only from two to 
 four inches, with an ex- 
 panse of wing of nine 
 inches. The fur is gray- 
 ish-white above and a lit- 
 tle lighter below. This 
 little Bat extends farther 
 north than any of its kin- 
 dred, inhabiting nearly all 
 of middle Europe, and is 
 also frequently seen in the 
 southern portions of that 
 continent. It is found in 
 the mountains, in localities 
 above the forest belt, and 
 is the most gregarious of all Horseshoe Bats. 
 
 Though it is less sensitive to changes of tempera- 
 ture and climate than are the generality of Bats, still 
 the Lesser Horseshoe Bat does not fly about m 
 rough or wet weather unless compelled to do so. It 
 always selects sheltered places for its habitation and 
 sometimes, for this purpose, descends caverns and 
 pits to a consideiiable depth. Its hibernation is of a 
 rather long duration, but seems to differ in length 
 according to circumstances. These Bats are among 
 the first to retreat to their winter quarters, as well 
 as among the last to leave their hiding-places. Some 
 go to sleep later and rouse themselves earlier in the 
 season than others, but this difference in the begin- 
 ning and end of their hibernation does not seem to 
 be due to the influence of age, but rather on account 
 
 of sex, as Koch found that the males generally as- 
 sumed a torpid state early in autumn, and that 
 females continued their sleep until late in the spring. 
 In the same way some will temporarily awaken at 
 times during their hibernation while others do not. 
 
 During the summer the Lesser Horseshoe Bats 
 delight in subterranean vaults, old and little fre- 
 quented cellars, rocky caverns, old mines, and unin- 
 habited houses. They are as gregarious then as in 
 winter, but never assemble in such large groups as 
 other Bats do; and they hang, not in clusters, but 
 side by side, and far enough apart so that no one of 
 the group touches another. When at rest this Bat 
 always suspends itself by its hind legs and envel- 
 opes itself either partially or entirely in its flying 
 membrane. During hibernation it wraps itself up 
 so closely as to resemble a mushroom more than a 
 Bat. In summer it is easily awakened so that one 
 cannot well catch it without a net even in broad day- 
 light, as the approach of Ma^ causes it to quickly 
 
 GBEATEB HORSESHOE BAT. The grotesque and unsightly nose, sharp teeth and huge ears ol this. 
 
 Bat are strikingly presented in this picture as the creature hangs in its peculiar sleeping posture from a tree- 
 branch. PartiaUy aroused it would seem to scent danger and be preparing for escape by flight. (Khinolophus fer- 
 
 arouse and fly away. When not asleep, it moves its 
 head to and fro with extreme rapidity, licks and 
 cleans itself and searches for the innumerable 
 parasites which infest its fur. In short, it belongs 
 to the liveliest, prettiest and most attractive of Eu- 
 ropean Bats, although it is clumsy and slow in 
 flight, and, as a rule, does not rise high above the 
 ground. Unfortunately it does not bear captivity. 
 Like most members of its family, this Bat is easily 
 excited, and when disturbed, or even when only 
 touched, is liable to a violent hemorrhage of the 
 hose, which often causes death. 
 
 The principal food of the Horseshoe Bats consists 
 of insects that have no hard parts to their bodies, 
 such as Flies, small Night-Butterflies, etc. They are 
 likewise genuine blood-suckers, as Kolenati's observa- 
 
s6 
 
 THE WING-HANDED ANIMALS. 
 
 tions show. This explorer one winter found forty- 
 five sleeping Bats in a cavern. They were, for the 
 imost part, Long-eared Bats and Lesser Horseshoe 
 Bats all of which he captured and placed in a spa- 
 •cious room, where they were left to settle down at 
 their own pleasure. A few days later the naturalist 
 ■wished to introduce his collection to a friend, and 
 found to his great surprise that six of the Horseshoe 
 Bats had been devoured, nothing being left of them 
 but the claws and the tips of their wings ; while one 
 had its head mutilated in a shocking manner. Nu- 
 merous blood spots, bloody muzzles and swollen 
 stomachs seemed to point out the Long-eared Bats 
 ■as the murderers, and when one of them was killed 
 and its stomach examined, every doubt on this score 
 ■was set at rest. The wings of the Long-eared Bats 
 
 WELWITSCH'S BAT, This Bat, first discovered by the late Dr. Welwitsch, is noteworthy for the bright 
 
 ■ and variegated coloring of its wings which near the body are brown dotted with black, and beyond this blackish 
 brown with curved lines of yellow dots, while bands of dark orange dotted with black follow the course of the forearm 
 and three of the fingers. It inhabits the vicinity of Angola. {Scotophiius welwitschii.) 
 
 showed fresh wounds near the body, whose margins 
 had a swollen appearance ; and these Bats were sus- 
 pended from the ceiling in clusters, while the Horse- 
 shoe Bats had retired singly to the darkest nooks and 
 corners. The conclusion from these facts is very 
 simple. The two species were not on friendly terms 
 and had given each other battle during the night. 
 While the Long-eared Bats were enjoying their first 
 sweet slumber, the Horseshoe Bats had come and 
 sucked their blood; the wounded Bats during the 
 regular interval of their nightly slurnbers had 
 .avenged themselves and devoured the culprits for 
 "their evil deeds. 
 
 An inhabitant of Grusia told the same naturalist 
 tthat his pigeons often received small wounds with 
 
 raised edges during the night, a thing he was at a 
 loss to explain ; Kolenati believes them to have 
 been caused by the Horseshoe Bat. Hence we 
 conclude that Europe also possesses genuine Vam- 
 pires, though they are rather harmless on the whole, 
 and do not inspire us with dread and horror. 
 The Greater The Greater Horseshoe Bat {Rhimlo- 
 Horseshoe phus ferrum-equinum) is still more corn- 
 Bat, mon. Its length is two inches, exclusive 
 of the tail, which measures nearly an inch and a half. 
 The wings have an expanse of thirteen inches. This 
 Bat inhabits the greater part of central and all of 
 southern Europe, and has been found in the Leb- 
 anon Mountains in Asia. In the mountains it is 
 seen in summer at an elevation of 6,000 feet or even 
 higher. Kolenati believes that it also is a blood- 
 
 sucker. One . sees, it at 
 night fluttering about in 
 deep valleys, trying to. at- 
 tach itself to Roe-bucks 
 and Chamois with this 
 purpose in view. It also 
 roams about among sleep- 
 ing Squirrels, and though 
 it has never been proven 
 guilty of sucking blood, 
 its actions are certainh/- 
 highly suspicion:?. 
 
 Other There are a ft^w 
 Groups other interesting 
 of Bats, groups among 
 the Bats. The Megader- 
 ma contain one species 
 which is said not only to 
 suck blood, but also to 
 feed upon small Frogs. 
 These Bats are distin- 
 guished by a triple ap- 
 pendage on the nose, by 
 large ears united by their 
 inner margins over the 
 forehead, and by a long 
 ear-flap. 
 The Lyre Bat {Megader- 
 ma lyrd), which may be considered one of the best 
 typical examples of this genus, owes its name to its 
 nasal appendage, which somewhat resembles a lyre. 
 Another group are the Rhinopoma. Their nasal 
 ornament is simple, consisting of one erect, lancet- 
 shaped leaf. The ears are also united over the fore- 
 head and of moderate size, while the tail is very 
 long for a Bat. 
 
 To this group belongs the Egyptian Rhinopome 
 {Rhinopoma microphyllum) . It is a very small ani-' 
 mal, whose most remarkable feature is its long, thin 
 tail. It consists of eleven vertebrae and reaches far 
 beyond the flying membrane. The creature is found 
 in Egypt in great numbers, especially in deserted 
 monuments and in artificial and natural caverns. 
 
^be Beasts of pvc^. 
 
 FOURTH ORDER: Carnivora. 
 
 30 CLASS of mammalia pre- 
 sents a greater variety of 
 forms than the Carnivora, 
 nearly all sizes being repre- 
 sented, from the smallest to 
 medium ; while in external 
 appearance there is infinite 
 variety. How many inter- 
 mediate connections are to 
 be found between the pow- 
 erful Lion and the tiny Wea- 
 sel, the graceful Cat, clumsy 
 Hyena, slender, dainty Civet 
 with its fine, sleek skin, the 
 ,-strong, rough Dog, lumbering Bear and agile Marten 
 — all these are members of one great family. One 
 •can but be astonished that they are united in one 
 group, living as they do, some on the ground, some 
 in the water and some on trees ! 
 
 General AH Beasts of Prey show in their phys- 
 Traits of ical endowments and mental capacities 
 Carnivora. considerable uniformity, notwithstand- 
 ing their superficial difference. Their modes of life, 
 their habits, their food, all more or 
 less similar, indicate that not only 
 the structure of their limbs, their 
 teeth and digestive organs, but also 
 that their rhinds and mental capac- 
 ity must, in some degree, be of the 
 same cast. Caricatures and repul- 
 sive peculiarities are entirely absent 
 in this class. 
 
 Their limbs are in harmonious re- 
 lation with each other and the body, 
 uniformly have four or five toes, 
 and are provided with strong claws, 
 which may be sharp or blunt, re- 
 tractile in their sheaths, or without 
 this covering. All the organs of 
 sense show a high degree of devel- 
 opment. The teeth are strong, 
 sharp, often pointed, the upper ones 
 fitting into or between those of the 
 lawer row, and all deeply fixed in 
 powerful jaws which are set in 
 motion by, huge muscles. . ., 
 
 The stomach is always simple in 
 structure; the intestines are of short 
 or medium length. Some species . 
 
 glands, secreting a liquid of a pungent odor, which 
 serves either as a defence against stronger animals, 
 or to attract weaker ones ; and which may be oily 
 and used to keep the skin pliable. 
 
 A close examination of the Carnivora will show 
 us the following general peculiarities of structure: 
 the skeleton is strong, in spite of its light, graceful 
 appearance ; the skull is elongated, its solid ridges 
 and crests and the strongly curved zygomatic arches 
 . affording ample room for the attachment of power- 
 
 ful muscles. The orbits are large, and the nasal 
 bones and cartilages are long, so that the organs of 
 sense have room for perfect development. The proc- 
 esses of the vertebrae are long, and those of the 
 lumbar region are often united ; but the number of 
 vertebrae forming the tail is subject to great varia- 
 tion. The structure of the limbs may also vary ac- 
 cording to the mode of life, but always shows a 
 combination of strength and mobility. 
 
 Many Carnivora have the nose lengthened into a 
 trunk and furnished with special cartilages and small 
 bones ; with these the trunk serves for digging up 
 earth. The limbs of some are short and thick ahd 
 these species are adapted for a subterranean life. In 
 others the limbs may be long, giving the capacity 
 for quick running, or they may be connected by 
 webs and enable the animal to live in the water. 
 The claws may be retractile, in which case they are 
 protected in walking, and may serve as excellent 
 weapons ; or else they are blunt and immovable, in 
 which event they serve only to protect the foot and 
 to dig up the ground. The canine teeth are as for- 
 midable as the grinding teeth, and may, therefore, 
 
 TH£ ROYAL TIGER. This pictureshows with .the stficWstfidelity the structure and mark- 
 
 inffs oJ this great feline. The' curved outline of the head'with its stripings and shadings, the muscular 
 limbs and the powerful padded paws, the ringed and tapering tail, and the soft and stealthy movement 
 of the Tiger wandering through the jungle are all revealed by a study of this illustration. (Fell's tigris.) 
 
 show peculiar 
 
 be used with equal effect in fighting and for the hold- 
 ing and tearing of prey. Large muscles and tendons 
 give strength and endurance, and are so arranged as 
 to permit of wide-sweeping, easy movements. 
 Development of ^^ addition to all this their senses are 
 Senses in acute to a high degree. In exceptional 
 Carnivora. cases one sense may be weak, but the 
 others are then sure to make up for the deficiei^cy 
 by special keenness. It cannot be said that any 
 one sense is a distinguishing feature of all alike ; for 
 some show a wonderful development of the sense of 
 
 ■(87) 
 
88 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 smell, others of the sense of hearing, others again of 
 the sight ; and in some the sense of touch plays an 
 important part. As a rule two of the senses are very 
 acute, being usually those of smell and hearing ; 
 more rarely hearing and sight. 
 
 The mental faculties are in harmony with the 
 physical structure. We find animals of wonderful 
 sagacity among the Carnivora and, therefore, it is 
 but natural that they should be adepts in all the arts 
 of cunning and dissimulation, for their destructive 
 and thievish natures call for this. Consciousness of 
 their strength also gives them a courage and bold- 
 ness such as other animals never attain. But these 
 very qualities have others behind them, which do 
 not show these animals in such favorable light. The 
 Cariiivora are accustomed to conquest, and their 
 imperiousness often degenerates into cruelty and an 
 unquenchable thirst for blood. 
 
 How Carnivora Differing mental and physical qualities 
 Live and in an animal indicate a certain mode of 
 Hunt. life in a given locality. But Carnivora 
 live and govern everywhere : on the level ground, in 
 the tree-tops, in the water, in the mountains and on 
 the plains. In this order of animals are included 
 some of perfectly diurnal and others of nocturnal 
 habits ; some looking for food at dusk, some in the 
 sunshine, and others in the dark of night. 
 
 Many live gregariously, others live singly ; some 
 attack their prey openly, but the majority stealthily 
 creep up and surprise it, no matter how strong they 
 may be, nor how weak l^heir victim. All carnivo- 
 rous animals habitually secrete thernselves in order 
 not to frighten away their destined prey, and few 
 are in haste to flee at the first signs of danger. The 
 more they like daylight, the livelier, the more socia- 
 ble and more cheerful they are ; the more nocturnal 
 their habits, the more they show themselves dis- 
 trustful, shy and sulky. 
 
 All Beasts of Prey are flesh-eaters ; and very few 
 of them eat fruit, grain or other vegetable food. 
 They are sometimes divided into flesh-eaters and 
 omnivorous animals, but these divisions do not bear 
 close scrutiny, for those classed as omnivorous pre- 
 fer a juicy piece of meat to anything else, just as do 
 
 the largest and most ferocious of the flesh-eaters. 
 All members of this order are downright murderers,, 
 whether they kill large or small animals, and even 
 those that are fond of vegetable food quickly rise t& 
 the occasion when murder is in view and animal 
 food is at stake. There is naturally as much differ- 
 ence in the methods pursued by carnivorous mam- 
 mals in their selection of food, or rather prey, as 
 there is in their bodily structure, the character of 
 their native country or their modes of life. Few 
 animals are secure from their attacks. The largest 
 and strongest Carnivora give mammals the ^prefer- 
 ence, although not disdaining other animals. Even 
 the Lion does not feed exclusively on mammals, 
 and the other Felidae are still less .fastidious. The 
 Dogs, which originally were genuine flesh-eaters, ex-' 
 tend their hunting still farther ; and among the 
 Civets and Weasels there are some which confine- 
 themselves to fish and similar food. The Bears are 
 the real omnivorous animals, devouring vegetable 
 food with as much enjoyment as flesh. 
 
 Sexes and Some of the Carnivora are supposed to 
 Young of maintain perfect marital relations ; but 
 Carnivora. none of them unite for life. Among- 
 some Felidse and Weasels, both sexes live in close 
 companionship, and may mutually assist in fepding- 
 and protecting their young ones; with the majority, 
 however, the father considers his children his lawful 
 prey and has to be driven away by the mother when 
 he discovers their lair. Under such circumstances 
 the rearing of the young devolves solely upon the 
 mother. The number of young at a birth varies 
 greatly, but is rarely as low as one. They are nearly 
 all born blind and very helpless, but develop rapidly. 
 The mother carefully instructs them in their craft,, 
 and accompanies them in their forays until they are 
 able to shift for themselves. In a few species the 
 mothers carry their young upon their backs or in 
 their arms in times of danger ; the remainder- take- 
 them away in their mouths. 
 
 Man wages open war upon nearly all Carnivora. 
 He has tried to tame and domesticate very few of 
 them, though one genus, the Dog, has come into- 
 friendlier relations with him than any other animal.. 
 
 ^be Cat ifamil^. 
 
 FIRST FAMILY: Felid^. 
 
 If asked to whom the place of honor among the 
 Beasts of Prey belongs, no Man would be long in 
 doubt as to the family he should name. The Lion 
 was crowned king of the beasts at a remote period 
 of time, and so we first turn to his tribe, which is 
 that of the Cats, or Felidae. 
 
 The Cats are the most perfect and typical mem- 
 bers of the family of Carnivora. No other group 
 presents the same symmetry of limb and body and 
 the same regularity of structure. Every part of the 
 body is lithe and graceful and this is why these ani- 
 mals are so pleasing to our aesthetic sense. We may 
 safely regard our domestic Cat as representative of 
 the entire family. 
 
 Physicat We may assume the structure of the 
 Features of body to be known ; the strong, yet 
 the Cat Family, graceful body, the round head set. 
 on a stout neck, the limbs of moderate length, the 
 long tail, and the soft fur corresponding in color to 
 the surrounding objects, are features with which 
 everybody is familiar. The weapons with which the 
 Felidae are endowed are perfect. The teeth are 
 formidable, the canines being large, strong, very lit- 
 tle curved and so perfectly adapted to life-destroy- 
 ing action that the small incisors are hardly notice- 
 able beside them. The tongue is thick and muscu- 
 lar, and is supplied with fine, horny thorns, whose- 
 points lie towards the throat. The teeth are not the 
 
THE CAT FAMILY. 
 
 89 
 
 only weapons possessed by the feline animals, their 
 claws being no less terrible instruments for seizing 
 their prey and speedily terminating its existence. 
 Their broad, rounded paws are proportionately 
 short ; for the last toe-joint is curved upwards. In 
 repose and in ordinary walking two tendons keep 
 the member in its upright position ; but when the 
 animal is angry and needs its claws, a strong flexor 
 muscle inserted below draws it down, stretches the 
 paw and makes it an effective weapon. This struct- 
 ure of the feet enables the Cats to walk without 
 leaving any traces of the claws, and the softness of 
 their step is due to pads upon their soles. The Cats 
 are both strong and agile and their every movement 
 displays vigor and lithesome grace. Nearly all 
 members of this family partake of the same physical 
 and moral traits, although some special group may 
 seem to have a particular advantage over the others. 
 
 force of their spring. They are also capable of car- 
 rying considerable burdens, and easily convey to a 
 convenient hiding place animals they have killed, 
 although their prey may be as large as themselves. 
 Acute Senses Of their senses those of hearing and 
 of the sight are the most acute. The ear 
 
 Cat Family. undoubtedly is their guide on their 
 hunting expeditions. They hear and determine the 
 nature of noises at great distances ; the softest foot- 
 fall or the slightest noise from crumbling sand is not 
 lost upon them, and- they are thus able to locate 
 prey that they cannot see. The sight is less keen, 
 though it cannot be termed weak. Probably they 
 are unable to see distant objects, but at short range 
 their eyes are excellent. The pupil is' round in the 
 larger species and dilates circularly when the animal 
 is in a state of excitement ; smaller species show an 
 elliptical pupil, capable of great dilation. In the 
 
 TWE ROYAL TIfiEB Here is presented a faithful portrayal of the scourge of Asia in his native jungle. The. flaming yellow hue that 
 
 fonns the gSund color in his coat is left to the imagination, but the dark stripings are accurately depicted. He sees his prey and israpidry 
 ao^LcMnlTt "or the uplifted tail in these animals is a signal of attack, and the who e expression ot the face m the picture is one of voracious 
 expe^tanc? Soon those sharp canine teeth and the yet sheathed claws will claim a life. The fierce nature and muscular structure of the Tiger 
 are well brought out. (Felis tigris.) 
 
 All Cats walk well, but slowly, cautiously and noise- 
 lessly; they run quickly and can jump distances 
 that exceed many times the length of their respect- 
 ive bodies. There are only a few of the larger 
 species that are unable to climb ; the majority being 
 greatly skilled in this accomplishment. Although 
 as a rule averse to water, they swim well, when 
 necessity compels ; at least, none of them can easily 
 be drowned. Each member of this family knows 
 how to curl up its handsome body and reduce its 
 
 daytime it shrinks to a narrow slit under the influ- 
 ence of the bright light; in darkness or when the 
 animal is excited, it assumes a nearly circular shape. 
 The sense coming nearest to that of sight in' keen- 
 ness is probably that of touch, which manifests 
 itself in sensibility to pain and other outward condi- 
 tions as well as in a discriminating faculty of feel- 
 ing. The most sensitive organs are the whiskers, 
 the eyebrows, and, in the Lynx, probably also the 
 ear-tufts. A Cat with its whiskers cut off is in a 
 
 compa'ss,'and all are experts in the use of their paws, very uncomfortable plight ; the poor thing is at a 
 The Iprc^e snecies can strike down animals larger complete loss to know how to act and shows utter 
 
 The large species can strike down animals larger 
 than themselves with one stroke of the paw and the 
 
 indecision and restlessness until the hairs have grown 
 
90 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 out again. The paws also seem endowed with an 
 exquisite sense of touch. The entire family of Cats 
 is very sensitive ; being susceptible to all external 
 impressions ; showing decided dissatisfaction under 
 disagreeable influences and a high degree of con- 
 tentment under agreeable ones. When one strokes 
 their fur they exhibit a great deal of pleasure ; 
 while if the fur is wet or subjected to similar repul- 
 sive impressions, they display great discomfort. 
 Their smell and taste are about equal in degree, 
 though perhaps taste may be somewhat the more 
 acute of these two senses. Most Cats appreciate 
 dainty morsels, in spite of their rough tongue. The 
 remarkable predilection of certain species for strong- 
 smelling plants, like valerian, admits only of the 
 conclusion-that the sense of smell is very deficient, 
 as all animals with a well-developed organ of smell 
 would shrink from them -with disgust ; while Cats 
 jump around these plants and act as though they 
 were intoxicated. 
 
 Mental En- As to intellect Cats are inferior to 
 dowmeni of the Dogs, but not to such an extent 
 Cat Tribe. as is commonly supposed. We 
 must not forget that when instituting a comparison 
 we always have in mind two species that can 
 scarcely be regarded as fair standards: on the one 
 hand the domestic Dog, systematically bred for 
 thousands of years, and on the other the neglected 
 and often ill-treated domestic Cat. The majority of 
 the Felidae show a higher development of the lower 
 instincts than of those that are noble and elevating ; 
 yet even our Pussy demonstrates that the Cat family 
 is capable of education and mental elevation. The 
 domestic Cat often furnishes instances of genuine 
 affection and great sagacity. Man usually takes no 
 pains to investigate its faculties, but yields to estab- 
 lished prejudice and seems incapable of independent 
 examination. The character of most species is a 
 blending of quiet deliberation, persevering cunning, 
 blood-thirstiness and foolhardiness. In their asso- 
 ciation with Man they soon lose many of the char- 
 acteristics of the wild state. They then acknowl- 
 edge human supremacy, are grateful to their owner, 
 and like to be petted and caressed. In a word, 
 they become perfectly tame, althpugh their deep- 
 rooted, natural faculties may break out at any mo- 
 ment. This is the principal reason why the Cats are 
 called false and malicious ; for not even the human 
 being who habitually torments and ill-treats animals 
 accords them the right of revolting now and then 
 against the yoke of slavery. 
 
 The Cats are well distributed throughout the New 
 and the Old World, except in Australia, where only 
 the domestic Cat is found, many of which have 
 there degenerated into the wild state. They inhabit 
 plains and mountains, arid localities and marshy dis- 
 tricts, forests and fields. 
 
 Food and The food of the feline family con- 
 Hunting Methods sists of all kinds of vertebrates, pref- 
 
 of Felines. erably mammals. Some show a pre- 
 dilection for birds, a few others are fond of Turtles, 
 and some even go fishing. All species pursue the 
 same methods when attacking their destined prey. 
 With stealthy footfall they creep over their hunting 
 ground, listening and looking in all directions. The 
 slightest noise makes them alert and incites them to 
 investigate its origin. They cautiously glide along 
 in a crouching position, always advancing against 
 the wind. When they think themselves near 
 enough, they take one or two leaps, fell their prey 
 by a blow in the neck with one of their fearful paws. 
 
 seize it with their teeth and bite it a few times. 
 Then they open their mouth slightly but without 
 letting go of the victim ; they watch whether any 
 sign of life remains, and then again close the teeth 
 upon it. Many of them utter a roar or a growl at 
 this time, which expresses greed and anger as much 
 as satisfaction, and the tip of the tail wags to and 
 fro. The majority have the cruel habit of torment- 
 ing their prey, seemingly giving it a little liberty, 
 sometimes even letting it run a short distance, but 
 only to pounce upon it at an opportune moment, 
 and then repeat the operation over and over, until 
 the animal dies of its wounds. The largest members 
 of the Cat family shun animals which offer great re- 
 sistance, only attacking such prey when experience 
 has taught them that they' can do so successfully. 
 The Lion, Tiger and Jaguar, at first acquaintance, 
 fear'M^n and avoid him in a most cowardly manner. 
 It is only when they have seen how easily he is con- 
 quered that some of them get to be his most formid- 
 able enemies. Though nearly all Felidae are good , 
 runners, yet most of them give up their intended 
 prey if they do not succeed in the first attempt. It 
 is only in secluded places that they will eat their 
 prey on the field of capture. Usually they bear 
 away the killed or mortally wounded animal to a 
 quiet hiding-place, where they devour it at their 
 leisure. 
 The Cat Kind As a rule the female gives birth to 
 and Its several cubs at a litter, but seldom to 
 Young. one only. Generally the number 
 varies between one and six ; although some species 
 are declared to have more than the latter number. 
 The father, as a rule, is indifferent or hostile to the 
 offspring, the responsibility and care resting upon 
 the mother. A feline mother with her young ones is 
 a very pleasing spectacle. Motherly tenderness and 
 solicitude are expressed in every gesture and in 
 every sound, the voice being gentle and soft to a 
 surprising degree. Her watchfulness is so unremit- 
 ting that one cannot doubt the absorbing love she 
 has for them. It is very gratifying to observe how 
 carefully she trains them from earliest youth in 
 habits of extreme cleanliness. She cleans, licks and 
 smooths their fur unceasingly, and will tolerate no 
 dirt near the lair. At the approach of a foe she de- 
 fends her offspring with utter disregard for her own 
 life, and at such times the mothers in all the larger 
 species are most formidable enemies. In many 
 species the dam must protect her little ones from 
 their father, who, if not prevented, will enter the lair 
 and devour them while in their stage of blindness. 
 This, probably, is the origin of the feline habit of 
 mothers hiding their little ones. When the latter 
 have grown somewhat older, the aspect changes, and 
 they have nothing more to fear from the father. 
 Then begins the merry childhood of the little ani- 
 mals, for they are full of fun and play. Their nature 
 is revealed in the first movements and emotions, 
 their play being nothing but a preparation for fhe 
 serious hunts of their adult life. Everything that 
 moyes attracts their notice ; no noise escapes them ; 
 the slightest rustle makes the little listeners prick up 
 their ears. The earliest delight of these young ones 
 is their mother's tail. They first watch it in its 
 movements, and soon the whole mischievous com- 
 pany tries to catch it. The mother is not in the least 
 disconcerted, but continues to express her moods by 
 the wagging of that member. In a few weeks the 
 little ones are able to indulge in the liveliest romps 
 and the mother joins them, no matter whether she be 
 
(91) 
 
92 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 a stately Lioness or one of our domestic Pussies. 
 Sometimes the whole family forms a single ball, and 
 each is intent upon seizing the tail of the other. As 
 they grow, the games become more serious. The lit- 
 tle ones learn that their tail is but a part of them- 
 selves and long to try their strength on something 
 else. Then the mother brings them small animals, 
 sometimes alert live ones, then those that are half- 
 expiring. These she turns loose, and the little fel- 
 lows practice upon them, in this way learning how to 
 pursue and handle their prey. Finally the mother 
 takes them along on her hiants, when they learn all 
 the tricks — the stealthy approach, the mastery of 
 their emotions, and the sudden attacks. When they 
 become completely independent of parental care 
 they leave their mother, or their parents, as the case 
 may be, a.nd for some time lead a solitary, roaming 
 life. 
 
 The harmful species are hunted zealously, and 
 
 there are men who find the keenest enjoyment in 
 
 the very danger of this sport. 
 
 Subdivisions The classification of the Felidse is very 
 
 of the difficult ; yet we think it proper to di- 
 
 Cat Species, yide them into the Cats proper (Felts) ; 
 the Lynxes (Ly?a:); the Cheetah (Cj/Ttaiiurus) and 
 the Foussa ( Cryptoproctd) of Madagascar. A typical 
 specimen of the first group is our domestic Cat and 
 its most highly developed members are the Lion 
 and Tiger. The Lynxes have a shorter tail and 
 longer limbs than the Cats proper and have hair tufts 
 on their long ears. The Cheetah has longer limbs 
 and the claws are not retractile. The last family, 
 the Foussa or Cryptoprocta, has a dentition differ- 
 ing from the other groups, hairless soles and other 
 peculiarities which place it among the distant rela- 
 tives of the Civets or Viverridae, and stamp it as a 
 being similar to the first original Cat, from whom 
 the others have descended. 
 
 THE CATS PROPER. 
 
 We will first consider the Cats proper {Felis), sepa- 
 rating the Old World species from those of Amer- 
 ica. The striped Cats will be treated in one class ; 
 the spotted ones and those which are of a uniform 
 color in another. 
 
 THE TIGER. 
 
 In the group of the striped. Cats the Tiger stands 
 out most prominent, for he :s, after the Lion, the 
 most perfect member of the whole family. He is 
 a genuine Cat, devoid of mane, but furnished with 
 large whisker-like tufts, and shows most distinct 
 stripes on hir fur. He is the most dreaded of all 
 the feline species, a foe against whom Man, even, is 
 almost powerless. No other beast of prey combines 
 such majestic beauty with so cruel a character ; no 
 other better demonstrates the truth of the fable, in 
 which the Mouse admires the Cat for its prettiness 
 and amiability. If fierceness were taken as a stand- 
 ard, he would be counted as first among all mam- 
 mals, for he has withstood the lord of creation as 
 no other animal has d nc. Instead of retreating as 
 the line of agriculture and civilization advances, he 
 finds himself attracted by human settlements, and 
 has in some instances forced Man to retreat. He 
 does not fight shy of populous localities like the 
 Lion, who scents danger in them, but boldly opposes 
 Man, not openly, to be suro, but as a stealthy, cun- 
 ning foe. His cruelty and Man-eating propensities 
 have been greatly exaggerated ; or, at least, depicted 
 in very glaring colors. 
 
 The The Royal Tiger {Felis tigris), also 
 magnificent called Bagh, Sher and Nahar by the 
 Royat Tiger. Hindoos, and Hariman by the Malays, 
 is a magnificent specimen of the Felidae, with a won- 
 derfully beautiful color. He is taller and more 
 slenderly built than the Lion. The entire length of 
 a full-grown male, counting from the nose to the tip 
 of the tail, is between nine and ten feet. The female 
 is about one foot, or one foot, four inches shorter. 
 The length of the tail varies from two and one- 
 half to nearly four feet. The height, at the shoulder, 
 is from three to three and one-half feet. The weight 
 of two female Tigers has been found to be two hun- 
 dred and sixteen and three hundred and. seventeen 
 pounds, respectively, while two males weighed three 
 hundred and twenty-six and three hundred and for- 
 ty-four pounds. The body is longer than that of 
 the Lion, while the head has a rounder shape ; the 
 tail is tuftless, and the hair short and smooth. The 
 female is smaller and her whiskers are inferior to 
 those of the male. All Tigers inhabiting northern 
 regions are clothed during the cold season in thicker 
 and longer hair than those which are natives of the 
 tropical valleys of India. The fur shows a harmo- 
 nious arrangement of colors, and a vivid contrast be- 
 tween the light flame-color of the groundwork and 
 the dark stripes. As in all the feline anin;ials the 
 tinge of the back is darker than that of the sides ; 
 the belly, the inner side of the limbs, the lips and 
 the lower parts of the cheeks are white. . The stripes 
 are differently interspaced in individual animals, and 
 run in a slightly slanting direction from the spine 
 backwards and downwards. The tail is lighter than 
 the back and also shows darker ringlets. The whisk- 
 ers are white. The large eyes have round pupils and 
 are of a yellowish-brown color. The young ones 
 show exactly the same disposition of color, except 
 that the ground tint is lighter. The Tiger,' however, 
 shows variations in his coloring ; the ground tint 
 may be dark or light, and in a few rare cases it is 
 black or white with dingy stripes. 
 
 So brilliantly adorned an animal would se6m to 
 be very conspicuous and easily detected by the very 
 animals it pursues ; but that is not the case. I have 
 already mentioned how the coloring of all animals, 
 and the Felidae in particular, harmonizes with sur- 
 rounding objects, and I need but recall the fact that 
 the Tiger usually takes up his abode in bushes, reeds 
 and high grass. Frequently even experienced sports- 
 men entirely overlook a Tiger, as well as other ani- 
 mals that are lying quite close to them. 
 
 Where the The range of the Tiger is wide, not 
 Tiger is being confined to the very warm parts 
 Found. of Asia, but extending over a portion 
 of that continent equal in area to the whole of 
 Europe. He inhabits the country between the 
 eighth degree of south and the fifty-third degree of 
 north latitude, being found, as far north as southeast- 
 ern Siberia, which has a much colder climate than 
 has that part of Europe which lies in the same' lati- 
 tude. His headquarters are India ; and thence he 
 spreads northward through China to the banks of 
 the Amoor and through Afghanistan and Persia to 
 the southern shore of the Caspian Sea. A few scat- 
 tered specimens may occasionally be found beyond 
 these boundaries, but certainly not westward to the 
 Caucasus or the Black Sea. On the Malay Islands 
 the Tiger does not live, except in Sumatra and Java, 
 and Ceylon is also free from his presence. 
 
 Jungles rich in reeds and bushes harbor the Tiger, 
 as well as stately forests, up to a certain altitude 
 
(Q3) 
 
94 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PR^Y. 
 
 above the sea-level. He does not ascend high 
 mountains, and even in the Himalayas he is not 
 found at a greater elevation than six thousand feet. 
 The banks of rivers thickly grown with reeds, impen- 
 etrable bamboo bushes and other thickets are his 
 favorite haunts. He is also fond of ruins, and not 
 infrequently as many as three or four are seen lying 
 on an old wall or on the roof of a deserted temple. 
 All observers agree that he habitually returns to 
 hiding places and lairs that have once been selected, 
 although others just as desirable may be in the 
 immediate neighborhood. Blanford writes : " Some 
 spot grown with high grass or reeds, on the bank of 
 a river or edge of a marsh, some thicket of bushes 
 among a dozen of similar kind, some special pile 
 of rocks among a hundred just like it, continues to 
 be the home of a Tiger for years, and when its in- 
 habitant is killed by a sportsman, another will soon 
 move into the deserted home." 
 
 Habits and The Tiger possesses the same habits 
 Characteristics and customs as all the Cats, but they 
 of Tigers. a,re proportioned to his great size. His 
 movements are as graceful as those of the smaller 
 felines, and he is possessed of wonderful agility and 
 great endurance. He glides noiselessly along, cov- 
 ering great distances in a short time ; he runs swiftly 
 at a gallop and swims excellently. His jumping 
 ability has been much overestimated. The foot- 
 marks left by him in the pursuit of game have been 
 measured and the greatest distance covered in a 
 single leap was about seventeen feet. He does not 
 climb trees, unless their trunk is inclined or very 
 gnarled ; and he is unable to ascend those that are 
 upright and have a smooth bark. But he sometimes 
 jumps on trees in play. Cat-like, and, tears the bark. 
 The Tiger cannot be said to have exclusively 
 nocturnal habits. Like all Cats he prowls around at 
 any hour of the day or night, but he prefers the 
 period just before or after sunset. He lies in wait 
 for prey chiefly at points where animals go to drink, 
 near roads or along paths through the wood. In 
 southeastern Siberia he nightly visits places where 
 salt is being made ; for he, like the native sports- 
 men, is well aware that Deer congregate there, 
 attracted by the product of the mines. Often he 
 encounters hunters intent on the same game as him- 
 self. No mammal enjoys immunity from his attacks, 
 except the strongest, like the Elephant, the Unicorn, 
 or the Buffalo. He is said, sometimes, to try his 
 strength on the latter, but usually, and especially if 
 the Buffalo be a male, he comes out worsted. There 
 also are a few reports to the effect that an old and 
 tried Wild Boar occasionally gets the better of him. 
 Now and then the Tiger may pick a quarrel with a 
 Bear, but his favorite game is Wild Boars, Deer and 
 Antelopes. When times are hard he eats any ani- 
 mal that comes along, whether it creeps, flies or 
 walks. The Bengal Tiger, during inundations, lives 
 upon fish. Turtles, Lizards and Crocodiles. Simson 
 found the stomach of a slain Tiger stuffed with 
 Grasshoppers.- He is said not to disdain Frogs; 
 and when, in northern regions, food is scarce in win- 
 ter, he goes Mouse-hunting. 
 The Tigera Thus all animals, large or small, have 
 Terror to good reason to be on their guard against 
 all Animals, the Tiger. As Crows, or the smaller ani- 
 mals, make a noise when pursued by a bird of prey, so 
 many animals in the tropics lift up their voices at 
 the approach of the Tiger. They know him from 
 experience, and realize what is in store for them 
 when he begins his hunt. Forsyth and others tell 
 
 us how useful Monkeys may be on a Tiger hunt. 
 "Once," Forsyth tells us, "I followed a Tiger 
 through a dried-out water-course, guided solely by 
 the conduct of numerous Hoonumans, which were 
 plucking fruit on the banks. When the Tiger was 
 passing under them, they fled to the highest trees, 
 shook the branches violently and screamed and chat- 
 tered so that one could hear them at a great dis- 
 tance. Each troop continued its noise until he was 
 out of sight, and then the next one sounded the 
 alarm ; after which the 'first troop of Monkeys de- 
 scended and complacently resumed their berry-eat- 
 ing. In this way I was kept informed as to the 
 precise whereabouts of the Tiger, and was able, at a 
 bend of the river, to cross it, run ahead of the brute 
 and lie in wait for him. Soon I saw him sneaking 
 along with great, swinging strides, his tail between 
 his legs, the very personification of a guilty mur- 
 derer. His conscience evidently smote , him, for he 
 guiltily looked around and up, as if imploring the 
 Monkeys to keep still and not betray his presence. 
 A bullet put an end to his career." 
 Tigers, though O" the whole the Tiger is not a coura- 
 Fierce, not geous animal. He is not only cautious 
 
 B/aye. and timid, but downright cowardly, 
 though exceedingly cunning. At a first meeting 
 with Man, the Tiger always seeks safety in flight. 
 Some Tigers are put out of countenance by noises 
 and gestures, and probably none resist a resolute 
 opponent. Some there are, who know by experience 
 that Man is their most easily conquered prey, and 
 these are very dangerous, as they then lie in wait 
 for unsuspecting victims. Under certain conditions 
 they are not only bold, but impudent. A few dis- 
 tricts are so infested with Tigers that communica- 
 tion between given points can only be had in safety 
 by means of large bodies of men, who protect them- 
 selves by night by building fires, of which thesje 
 animals have great fear. Tigers are known to have 
 carried away people in the neighborhood of villages 
 and even from between huts, and instances are re- 
 corded where they have compelled people to desert 
 their homes for places of greater security. Those 
 have most to fear whose occupation demands a rather 
 solitary outdoor life, as shepherds, mail-carriers, 
 wood-choppers and field laborers. The first named 
 are also in constant fear for their flocks. 
 
 Villages During the latter part of the '6o's : a 
 Terrorized by Man-eating Tiger had' taken up his 
 
 Tigers. abode in Maisur, and attained unenvi- 
 able notoriety under the name of Benkipur, terror^ 
 izing the neighborhood for miles and miles around, 
 until a bullet closed his career of cruelty. Forsyth 
 freed the central provinces of several Man-eaters, 
 of whose deeds he tells us. One of them had 
 stopped all communication on several roads, driven 
 away the inhabitants of several villages and com- 
 pelled others to live in fortified and closed houses. 
 This Tiger was said to have carried away over one 
 hundred people before Forsyth succeeded in killing 
 him. According to Fayrer, a Tiger in the same dis- 
 trict, during the years 1867, 1868 and 1869, carried 
 away respectively twenty-seven, thirty-four and for- 
 ty-seven people ; continuing his depredations until 
 he was killed by a spring gun. One Tigress drove 
 away the inhabitants of thirteen different localities, 
 and escaped all pursuit in the most cunning manner, 
 until an Englishman killed her. But because such 
 things happen it must not be concluded that they 
 are of common, every day occurrence. 
 
TIOEB ATTAGKIKG A BUFFALO. Watching by the spot where animals come to drink, the Tiger in the picture has had its stealth rewarded 
 
 by a victim. The Asiatic Buffalo is one of the most difficult prey with ^yhich the Tiger has to do, and under orjiinary conditions the Buffalo gets the better 
 of the Tiger that attacks it. In the instance shown in the picture, however, the Buffalo has been taken at a moment of hopeless disadvantage by its stealthy 
 assailant, and is evidently doomed. The method of the Tiger's attack is told in a graphic manner by this picture. 
 
 (95) 
 
96 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 We have an immense stock of information con- 
 cerning the life and habits of Tigers, owing to the 
 usually simple mode of hunting them. The number 
 of people addicted to this sport is very great, com- 
 prising even ladies, and the old, terrible stories have 
 lost much credence. It is no longer diiificult for 
 us to separate extraordinary from everyday occur- 
 rences. 
 
 The character and disposition of Tigers vary in 
 individuals, as might be expected ; yet, according to 
 the best authorities, there are in the main three 
 classes of Tigers: those* that kill forest animals, 
 those that carry away cattle, and Man-eaters. 
 
 The Game-Hunt- A Tiger of the first group shuns the 
 ing Tiger's dwellings of Man, for his real home 
 Habits. jg ijj |.jjg wilderness, where he prowls 
 
 around at all hours of the day and night. He natu- 
 rally leads more of a roaming life than the others 
 and follows his game from one part of the country to 
 another in the course of the seasons. To the sports- 
 man he proves a most welcome rival, but to the 
 agriculturist he is a good friend, as he drives away 
 Stags and Wild Boars, from whose depradations it is 
 so difficult to protect the fields. These game-killing 
 Tigers as a rule are more slender and agile than the 
 others, though they also boast among their numbers 
 some of more massive build. They are by far the 
 most numerous class of Tigers, and during the hot- 
 test and dryest season they gather near the water- 
 courses that have not given out. 
 
 The Cattle- Those Tigers that carry away cattle pre- 
 Stealing fer the neighborhood of villages and 
 Tigers. seek their prey among the herds that 
 are driven to pasturage, or among such stragglers as 
 may be left out for a' night. As owners of flocks 
 usually lock them up in secure places before dusk 
 the rapacious Tiger . accustoms himself to get his 
 food by broad daylight, usually in the latter part of 
 the afternoon. If he is not pursued, he frequents 
 but a few villages ; if threatened he extends his wan- 
 derings. In Maisur, in a stretch of country twenty- 
 five miles long and thirty-seven miles wide, eight 
 well-known Tigers at one time made their living in 
 this way. Of course they also kill Goats, Sheep, 
 Donkeys, Stags, Boars and other game if it crosses 
 their path. An exclusive robber of Cattle is found 
 only among the old, fat and lazy Tigers. Such 
 robbers select as their headquarters some locality 
 abundantly supplied with flesh and water. They 
 establish relations of mutual tolerance with the 
 human inhabitants of the village, and every four or 
 five days each Tiger seizes and bears to his lair an 
 unfortunate Cow or Bull. 
 
 We must not take our Cattle as a standard and 
 thereby measure the damage that is done. The 
 Hindoo never kills a Cow, and so there are in every 
 village a multitude of old, decrepit beasts that do 
 more harm than good, because they aid in spread- 
 ing the Cattle plague, and these are really best dis- 
 posed of as Tiger-food. Without the aX^ of Tigers 
 in destroying Boars and Deer, it would be utterly 
 impossible in certain districts to obtain good har- 
 vests. That is why agriculturists are not greatly 
 pleased, when a sportsman zealously hunts the 
 game-killing and modest Cattle-robbing Tigers, 
 for they serve them as field guards in a certain 
 way. Sanderson once killed a well-known, gigantic 
 Tiger, and the natives, surrounding the corpse, 
 unanimously mourned over his fate ; " He never did 
 us any harm; what a pity he is dead," they said. 
 
 The Mart- The Man-eater usually begins by carry- 
 Eating jng off Cattle, and loses his dread of Man 
 Tiger. by constant contact with shepherds. Of- 
 tener the Man-eater is a female than a male, prob- 
 ably because she has to care for her little ones; and 
 sometimes it is a wounded or crippled specimen, 
 which cannot support itself in the .usual way. Man 
 can be watched and attacked so much more easily 
 than any tame or wild animal, that a Tiger which 
 has once lost the fear of him accepts him as lawful 
 prey, wherever it can safely do so. This has led to 
 the belief that the Tiger prefers human flesh to any 
 other ; but this is refuted by many authentic ac- 
 counts, as also is the belief that the Man-eating 
 Tiger as a rule is a lean, half-starved creature. 
 
 Man-eating Tigers are said to predominate in 
 those parts of the country where herds of Cattle 
 are pastured at certain seasons of the year ; after' 
 their departure the Cattle-robbing beasts are com- 
 pelled from lack of other food to attack the natives.- 
 The Man-eater does not display any greater courage , 
 than other Tigers. He is as cowardly as he is cun- 
 ning and surprisingly impudent. Running from 
 armed Men, he only attacks those who are alone 
 and defenceless, fully appreciating as he does the 
 difference between the two. In consequence of his 
 Man-hunting habits he is better acquainted with the 
 ways of Men and is therefore much harder to be 
 reached by the sportsman than other Tigers. 
 
 Pleas on Sanderson says : " This dreadful plague 
 
 Behalf of of the timid and weaponless Hindoo is 
 
 the Tiger, becoming rare. Man-eating Tigers of 
 the worst character are now seldom heard of, and 
 when they are they are soon hunted down and killed.- 
 
 " It is a pity that the Tiger is doomed and is be- 
 ing exterminated in most unsportsmanlike manner. 
 The cause of this lies in the hue and cry, raised 
 mainly in England, over the mischief he does. This, 
 belief is without foundation. Let every Man-eating 
 Tiger be pursued and killed ; likewise slay the worst 
 among the Cattle-robbers; but ordinary Tigers are use- 
 ful, they are not dangerous and ought to be spared. 
 Distant be the day when there will be no more 
 Tigers." This explorer is superintendent of the 
 government department for the capture of Elephants 
 and his profession compels him to live in the wilder*. - 
 ness among wild beasts. He has an intimate knowl'' . , 
 edge of every portion of India, its needs and its 
 dangers, and is therefore a most competent judge. 
 His conclusions may well cause serious reflection, 
 especially as they are held by other trustworthy -ob- 
 servers. Sherwill says very positively : " The Ben- 
 gal Tiger is, on the whole, a harmless, timid animal, 
 only becoming dangerous when he is wounded. He 
 never molests Men, unless driven to bay, and Man-. , 
 eating TigSrs are not found at all in Bengal, except: .f; 
 in the marshy forests of the Ganges delta." Fayrer," '* 
 who appreciates the cruelty of the Tiger, declares 
 that accidents are no more frequent on a Tiger-hunt 
 than in the following of the Fox in England. 
 
 Thus it is shown that this generation has a differ- ~ 
 ent estimate of the Tiger than was held by our fore- 
 fathers. He is a beast of prey which, in many dis- : 
 tricts, at least of India, does more good than harm, 
 and only upon rare occasions does he become that 
 embodiment of terror which has given a formidable T 
 reputation to the whole species. 
 
 How the Rarely does the Tiger or the Lion hunt 
 Tiger Hunts prey in the manner that has been usu- 
 
 His Prey. ally accepted as correct ; that is, as if 
 he measured the distance, crouched down and reached 
 
^'TT „ . pv,;,ii„, nf Orleans and his nephew, Prince Henry, were entertained in 1889 by Lord Dufferin, Viceroy of India, 
 A TIGER HUNT.— When Prince Phillipe of 0;'^^=/'"^ '^'' the picture A Tigress, whose two cubs had been killed by the party, sprang out of 
 ^th a Tiger hunt, they met with the remarkable ^^^I^"'"^^ .^^°™^'^de;teroX slM down the side of the Elephant's head in time to save himself, and the 
 the jungle on the foremost Elephant. The Mahut (Elephant ^"J^^) df-^'^^^^^^ Fortunately the gun was simultaneously discharged, and the report 
 Infuriated beast grasped the Prince's gun as she ''''^'^t^.^ °" '''f^.'^'^f ^" /^ by the party. This picture, which was drawn from the account given by the 
 frightened the Tigress, who then made her escape and "*/ "f ' '^^^i3u„ ''^j^e Tiger, but rather as a valuable illustration of the animal's boldness, and 
 Prince himself, is not presented as representmg m detail the characteristics 
 also of an interesting mode of hunting it. ^^^ 
 
98 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 his victim at one huge bound. The chief success of 
 his attack lies in its surprise. An animal that is 
 close to him, he seizes immediately ; one that is far- 
 ther away he reaches by quick bounds ; he pursues 
 a fleeing one, and, if it be a large animal, he. tries to 
 tear the muscles and tendons of its hind legs by 
 furious blows of his paw. 
 
 The Tiger either drags his prey into a thicket 
 immediately or he waits for dusk ; and sometimes he 
 carries it a short distance. Sanderson saw an enor- 
 mous male Tiger carry an ox weighing about three 
 hundred and sixty pounds a distance of about three 
 hundred paces. When not disturbed the Tiger eats as 
 much as he can, which is nearly sixty pounds. He 
 usually begins with a hind leg ; seldom with a flank. 
 While eating, he interrupts his meal at intervals by 
 going for a copious drink of water. He is said to 
 sometimes wade into the water and dip his head in 
 as far as the eyes, lapping and gurgling as if he 
 wished to rinse his huge mouth. After a satis- 
 factory meal, he goes to sleep. He only arouses to 
 procure drink, and, in fact, he attends to his diges- 
 tion .with a great measure of enjoyment. In the 
 evening, generally between four and nine o'clock, he 
 returns to his prey, to eat what he has left, if he can 
 find it; for his table, like the Lion's, is, during his ab- 
 sence, spread for all kinds of hungry beggars, and 
 he not infrequently discovers that th6 latter have 
 made aAvay with the carcass, even to the bones. 
 
 He (pan endure hunger and thirst for a very long 
 period. Two Tigers were once hemmed in by nets, 
 in. ail' impenetrable thicket about one hundred paces 
 in diameter; they were wounded on the fifth day, 
 but were not killed until the tenth, and then with the 
 assistance of an Elephant. The weather was very 
 hot and they had been, besides, surrounded by fires, 
 and in all this time they had neither food nor water 
 and they suffered from their wounds ; yet, they re- 
 tained thteir strength to the last. 
 
 Methods of There are a great many devices for 
 Catching catching Tigers. All kinds of traps 
 
 ihe-Tiger.^ are set for them and pitfalls are very 
 efficient. Formerly pointed poles were placed inthe 
 center of the la,ttef, but an innocent human being 
 was impalfed on one of them and since that, time 
 their use has been interdicted, at least in the neigh- 
 borhood of Singapore. . Hasskarl writes me from 
 Java that large traps are made of tree-trunks, and 
 the bait is a young Kid, whose bleating attracts the 
 beast. After due caution the Tiger creeps into the 
 trap, tries to carry off the prey and thereby pulls a 
 string, which shuts the trap. H. O. Forbes tells us 
 that the natives of Sumatra make a hole in the fence 
 surrounding a village, and attach a spear above the 
 aperture so that when the Tiger crawls through he 
 detaches a spring, which forces the spear into his 
 body. In Assam, O. Flex tells us, automatic bows 
 with poisoned arrows are put in the Tiger's path, 
 near the place where he goes for water. Spring guns 
 are also used to good effect. Lately strychnia has 
 been employed very extensively, but it is said to 
 lose its efficacy when the meat, upon which it is 
 strewed begins to decompose. 
 
 The profits of a successful Tiger-hunter are not to 
 be despised. Besides receiving the bounty offered 
 for killing a Tiger, he can use nearly all parts of its 
 body, especially the fat, which amounts to from four 
 to six quarts, and which is believed by the natives 
 to cure rheumatism and certain diseases of Cattle. 
 In some localities the flesh is featen, and Jagor de- 
 clares that its taste' is not bad. In some countries 
 
 the teeth and claws, the fat and the liver are valued 
 more than the flesh and bones. The teeth are 
 counted by the Shicaris as precious charms which 
 render the wearer invulnerable against attacks of 
 other Tigers. The claws, framed in gold and silver, 
 are worn as ornaments by European and Asiatic 
 ladies. The skins are cured and sold to European 
 and Chinese merchants. The Khirgiz adorn their 
 arrow-cases with them. In Europe a Tiger skin, ac- 
 cording to Lomer, may be sold for as much as three 
 hundred dollars. 
 
 Tiger Kittens The Tiger seeks his mate at varying 
 and Their . seasons according to his locality, the 
 Training. breeding period beginning in the north- 
 ern regions late in the fall or early in the winter; in 
 the southern countries, like India, it is restricted to 
 no particular time. The Tigress gives birth to two 
 or three, sometimes four, and in rare cases five or 
 six cubs, having first selected for her lair some im- 
 penetrable spot, surrounded with thick vegetation. 
 The little ones are about half the size of our adult 
 domestic Cat and are charming little creatures, as 
 are all Kittens. ' During the first few weeks the 
 mother does not leave the young ones until she is 
 nearly famished ; but as soon as they are somewhat 
 older and require solid food, she begins to prowl 
 around for prey. 
 
 Sanderson says; "Little Tigers are extremely 
 pretty and very good-hatured. But if one wishes t» 
 tame them, they must be captured before they are 
 a month old, and have no knowledge of life in the 
 wilderness, or any dread of Man. They show a 
 great deal of affection for their owner, follow him 
 about, lie under his chair, and utter a peculiar, joy- 
 ous snort when he caresses them. As soon as they 
 taste m.ea.t, they do not want anything else to eat arid- 
 will turn up their little noses at milk. The belief 
 that a raw meat diet renders them wild is totally 
 unfounded, as my own experience with them has 
 shown. That is really the only food on which they 
 thrive, and if they have enough of it they, are very 
 tractable. At the age of four. months they are al- 
 ready quite strong and stately,. but they can be left 
 to run about for a much longer period. I kept a 
 couple of them at liberty until they were eight 
 months old. They used to play very nicely by 
 themselves and also with Men, and with a tame 
 Bear. My experience has taught me that Tigers 
 tamed in this manner are neither malicious nor blood- 
 thirsty, and are not at all subject to savage outbursts 
 if food is furnished in plentiful supply. I once had 
 one of considerable size which had accustomed him- 
 self to sleep in my bedroom. After I had fallea 
 asleep he would frequently jump upon my bed ; but 
 he never took it amiss when I gave him a few cuffs 
 and threw him down again." 
 
 Tigers are Of late Tigers have been trained to per- 
 
 Teachable but form certain tricks. The trainer enters- 
 
 Treacherous. ^ cage and causes them to go through, 
 a fixed programme, but it always remains a risk 
 attended with decided danger. The Tiger is a genu- 
 ine Cat, and shows affection for those who pet hiffl, 
 sometimes not only tolerating caresses but also re- 
 turning them. Still his friendship is always doubt- 
 ful, and he obeys in matters that are repugnant to his 
 nature only when he recognizes, and fears Man's- 
 authority. He never deserves full confidence ; it is 
 not so much his malice that is to be dreaded as 
 his consciousness of his own strength. He has as- 
 little malice or treachei'y as our own Pussy, but is 
 
THE CAT FAMILY— WILD CAT. 
 
 99 
 
 
 just as intolerant of bad usage, and rebels when he 
 does not like the treatment accorded him by Man. 
 Combat Between Indian princes still arrange combats 
 Tiger and between Tigers and other animals, 
 Elephant. especially the Elephant and Buffalo, 
 Tachard witnessed such a fight in Siam. Three 
 Elephants, whose heads were protected by a kind of 
 harness, were led into an enclosure, fenced in by 
 stakes. ' The Tiger was already there, but was held 
 by two ropes. He was. not very large, and when he 
 caught sight of the Elephants, looked about for a 
 hidipg place ; but the Elephants at once gave him a 
 few blows with their trunks, which sent him to the 
 floor in a dead faint. He was then untied, soon re- 
 gained consciousness and, with a roar, rushed at the 
 trunk of one of the Elephants, but the giant lifted 
 it high up and threw the Tiger into the air with his 
 tusks. He did not attempt another attack after this, 
 but ran back and forth 
 near the stakes and tried 
 to escape. The three 
 Elephants were then 
 pitted against him, and 
 they administered such 
 terrific blows that he 
 again fainted. If the 
 struggle had not ended 
 at this point the enraged 
 Elephants would have 
 killed him. 
 
 The ancients did not 
 know the Tiger until a 
 late period. The Bible 
 does not mention him, 
 and the Greeks speak 
 of him but little. Near- 
 chos, Alexander's gen- 
 eral, saw a Tiger-skin, 
 but not the animal itself, 
 although the Hindoos 
 informed him that it was 
 as big as the largest 
 Horse and was superior 
 to all other creatures in 
 swiftness, and strength. 
 Strabo is the first writer 
 who gives any detailed 
 account of him. The 
 Romans had no knowl- 
 edge of Tigers up to the 
 time of Varro. Claudius 
 had four of them in his 
 possession. Subse- 
 quently Tigers were of- 
 ten brought to Rome, and Heliogabalus had them 
 draw his chariot when performing as Bacchus. 
 Avitus gave, in an amphitheatre, the first perform- 
 ance in which Tigers were killed, five of the beasts 
 being slaughtered. 
 
 Description of The Royal Tiger has as few near kms- 
 the Clouded men as the Lion; his nearest relatives. 
 Tiger. one of which was the Tiger of the 
 
 Caverns that inhabited central Europe, all being ex- 
 tinct. One South Asiatic species, the Clouded Tiger 
 (Felts nedu/osa), approaches him nearest, having hke 
 him a long body set on strong, short limbs. The 
 head is small, the ears are rounded, and the soft fur 
 resembles the stripes of the Royal Tiger. The great- 
 est points of difference are its smaller size, the very 
 short limbs and the tail, which is as long as the body. 
 The ground color of his fur is a dingy, whitish-gray. 
 
 sometimes overlaid with a yellow or brownish tinge, 
 The lower parts are of a tan color. The head, feet 
 and abdomen are adorned with black, round or oblong 
 spots or stripes. The margins of the lips show a 
 black edge, and the ears are black with gray spots. 
 The length of the body is a little more than three 
 feet, and the tail measures a little less than the body. 
 The range of this animal is very extensive, embrac- 
 ing all southeastern Asia. 
 
 A few years ago the Clouded Tiger was a very 
 rare animal in collections and zoological gardens, 
 but is now more frequently met with. The natives of 
 Sumatra say that he is anything but ferocious and 
 lives only upon small mammals and birds. Among 
 the latter we must, unfortunately, include Chickens, 
 and the damage he does in poultry yards is consider- 
 able. A beautiful specimen of the Clouded Tiger 
 was attached to the London Zoological Garden, and 
 
 THE MABBLES CAT, This animal is a little larger than a large house Cat. The ground tint of the fur • 
 
 varies, but is usually of a brownish gray and merges into a black strip which extends along the entire back. On the 
 sides are dark spots, not so sharply defined as those of the Leopard, but still quite prominent. The Marbled Cat * 
 inhabits Assam, Burmah, the Malay Peninsula, Java, Sumatra and perhaps Borneo. (Felis marmoraia.) 
 
 the keeper treated it as he would a good-natured 
 Domestic Cat. 
 
 THE COMMON WILD CAT. 
 
 The Common Wild Cat {Felis cuius) is the only 
 one of the family that has not been quite exter- 
 minated in the Old World countries, like Germany. 
 For a long time it was thought to be the ancestor of 
 our Domestic Cat, but closer investigation does not 
 support this belief. The Wild Cat is considerably 
 larger than Pussy. It may be distinguished from 
 the latter at a glance by its thicker fur, its larger 
 whiskers, its ferocious look and its stronger teeth; 
 its head is thicker, and its tail is fuller and shorter, 
 does not taper toward the end, and is ringed in 
 gray and black. The throat shows a whitish-yellow 
 spot, and the soles of. the feet are black or dark. 
 
100 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 The Wild Cat attains a weight of sixteen or eight- 
 een pounds. Its height at the shoulders is about 
 sixteen inches ; its length from snout to tip of tail, 
 forty to forty-five inches, the tail measuring twelve 
 or thirteen inches. 
 
 The fur is long and thick, gray in the male, yel- 
 lowish gray in the female. The face is yellowish, 
 the ears are russet gray on the outside and yellowish 
 white on the inner side. Four black bands run from' 
 the forehead backward between the ears, and two of 
 them uniting run along the spine and the upper side 
 of the tail. From this band others of a rather faded 
 dark color proceed downwards, dying away on the 
 abdomen, which has a yellow color, dotted with 
 black spots. The eyes of the animal are yellow. 
 Where and How The Wild Cat inhabits all parts of 
 the Wild Cat Europe, with the exception of the 
 Lives. north, or more especially Scandinavia 
 
 and Russia. In Germany it inhabits all the wooded 
 mountains, though not in very large numbers. The 
 southeast of Europe is par- 
 ticularly well stocked with 
 it. In the lower parts of 
 the Alps it is very common. 
 It is also frequent in Spain 
 and France, and Great Brit- 
 ain has not yet quite exter- 
 minated it. Outside of Eu- 
 rope it has only been found 
 in Grusia, south of the Cau- 
 casus. Great, thick forests, 
 especially gloomy woods of 
 the pine and fir-tree, are its 
 favorite haunts. The more 
 deserted a district is, the 
 more devoted is the Wild 
 Cat to it. It prefers rocky 
 forests to all others, as 
 rocks afford so many places 
 of concealment. Besides it 
 lives in the holes made by 
 Badgers and Foxes, and in 
 hollow trees. 
 
 The Wild Cat lives in 
 company with others of its 
 kind only during the breed- 
 ing season and while its 
 young ones are dependent 
 on it. At all other times it 
 leads a solitary life. The 
 young separate from the 
 mother at an early age and 
 try hunting on their own 
 account. 
 
 The Wild Cat begins its 
 dowed with excellent organs of sense, cautious and 
 cunning, noiselessly creeping up to its prey and 
 patiently watching its opportunity, it is a dangerous 
 foe to small and moderate sized animals. It lies in 
 wait for the bird in its nest, the Hare on the ground, 
 the Squirrel on the tree. It kills larger animals by 
 jumping upon their backs and severing the carotid 
 artery with its sharp teeth. It also shows its genu- 
 ine feline nature by renouncing its intended prey, if 
 the first leap is unsuccessful. Fortunately its prin- 
 cipal nutriment consists of Mice of all kinds and 
 small birds. It is only occasionally that it seeks for 
 larger animals. Still, it is a fact that it attacks Fawns 
 and Roes, and is strong enough to cope with them. 
 It keeps watch by the banks of lakes and rivers for 
 fish and birds and catches them very adroitly. It 
 
 is extremely destructive in parks and game pre- 
 
 serves 
 
 Considering its size, the Wild Cat is a very dan- 
 gerous Beast of Prey, especially as it is guilty of the 
 bloodthirstiness that distinguishes all of its kindred. 
 For this reason hunters detest it and pursue it with- 
 out mercy. No sportsman gives it due credit for all 
 the Mice it kills. How many of them it destrdys- 
 may be seen from Tschudi's statement that the 
 remains of twenty-six Mice were found in the stom- 
 ach of one Cat. Zelebor examined several stomachs 
 of Cats of this species and found them to contain 
 the bones and hairs of Martens, Fitchets, Ermines^ 
 Weasels, Marmots, Rats, Mice, Squirrels and birds. 
 Small mammals, therefore, form its principal food, 
 and as Mice are the most frequent among these, we 
 are inclined to think that the good services of the 
 Wild Cat more than compensate for the mischief it 
 does. It exterminates more harmful than useful 
 animals, and if its attributes do not endear it to the 
 
 hunter, our woods profit by 
 
 its activity, 
 
 Hunting 
 
 the 
 Wild Cat. 
 
 The Wild Cat 
 is hunted with 
 
 COUMON WILD CAT.' This fierce European animal is thor- 
 
 oughly hated by its human neighbors, who often trap it, like the one in 
 the picture. Here we see the principal distinguishing features of this 
 Cat— the arrangement of its strong teeth, the long whiskers, the 
 stunted tail and the gray and black markings of its shaggy coat. (Felis 
 caius.) 
 
 activity at dusk. En- and even then to give 
 
 a considerable 
 amount of zeal. Zelebor 
 says: "It is the most diffi- 
 cult thing in the world to 
 draw a live Wild Cat from 
 the hollow of a tree. Two 
 or three of the strongest, 
 and boldest men, witli 
 hands protected by tough 
 gloves and a wrapping of 
 rags, will find both strength 
 and courage taxed to the* 
 utmost by the effort to drag" 
 one of these Cats from such 
 a retreat and put it in a 
 bag." I must confess that 
 the chances of success of 
 this method of hunting 
 these animals seems du- 
 bious to me, for all other 
 writers agree that to hunt a 
 grown Wild Cat is no joke. 
 Winckell advises sports- 
 men to proceed with cau- 
 tion, not to delay with the 
 second shot if the first 
 does not kill outright, to 
 approach the Cat only 
 when it has been complete- 
 ly disabled from moving,, 
 it a finishing stroke before 
 touching it. Wounded Wild Cats driven to bay are- 
 very dangerous. Tschudi says : " Take good aim, 
 hunter ! If the beast is only wounded, it curves its 
 back, lifts its tail straight up, and makes for the 
 sportsman with a vicious, hissing snort, and buries 
 its sharp claws in his flesh, preferably his breast, so 
 that it can hardly be torn away ; and such wounds 
 are extremely slow to heal. It has no fear of Dogs, 
 but will of its own accord, and before it sees the 
 hunter, often come down to them from a tree; and 
 the fight that ensues is fearful. The fierce animal 
 uses its claws to good purpose, always aiming at the 
 Dog's eyes, and fights with desperate energy until 
 the last spark of its tenacious life is extinguished." 
 We must carefully differentiate the Wild Cat 
 proper from stray domestic Cats that may have 
 
TTirwraTir-WTTn rAT AWD TOUMO. In the forests of Europe the Common Wild Cat makes its home. This is not the animal commonly known 
 
 Jf iMAl^i Wll-li^ai an J^ I hefn? reallv the Red Lynx. The European animal is a true Cat, larger than the domestic species and very fierce and 
 m Amenca as the W'ld Cat the Mter bemg reaUy ^f^f^J^J / .^ ^^^^^ .,^ „ith ^ tenderness and affection. Here is a family 
 
 ol Wild CaTs Sh'^'ts^l^rrhit tSk^^^^^^^^ The mother has iust returned with dinner for the Kittens, who are welcoming her with vora- 
 
 cious expectancy. (Felis cuius.) 
 
 (loi) 
 
102 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 degenerated in the woods. The latter are frequently 
 met with, but they never attain the size of the Wild 
 Cats, though greatly exceeding that of the domestic 
 Cat. They are as ferocious and dangerous as the 
 Wild Cat, and after several generations have been 
 born wild in the forest these animals come to resem- 
 ble their progenitor, the Egyptian Cat, in color and 
 marking, though always lacking the blunt tail, the 
 light spot at the throat and the dark soles of their 
 ancestor. The animal known as Wild Cat in America , 
 is very different from the European animal of that 
 name, and is in reality a Lynx. (See Red Lynx.) 
 
 THE EGYPTIAN CAT. 
 
 The next member of this group is the Egyptian 
 Cat {Felis mamculata). Ruppell discovered it in 
 Nubia, on the western bank of the Nile, in a desert 
 where rocky stretches of country alternated with 
 bushy tracts. Later writers have found it in Sou- 
 dan, in Abyssinia, in the innermost centre of Africa 
 and in Palestine. The length of its body is about 
 
 that the Egyptian Cat is more common in the 
 Niam-Niam country than in any other part of 
 Africa that has been fully explored, so that the cen- 
 ter of the continent might be considered the point 
 from which it spread. The Niam-Niam do not pos- 
 sess a domestic Cat, in the proper meaning of the 
 word, but their boys capture the Egyptian Cat and 
 wholly or partially tame it. At first they are tied in 
 the vicinity of the huts, and soon become com- 
 pletely at home in the house, where they make it 
 their business to catch the Mice which infest these 
 dwellings in great numbers. 
 
 Venerated Ebers in "An Egyptian Princess," 
 by the Ancient says : " The Cat was probably the 
 Egyptians. most sacred of all the sacred ani- 
 mals which the Egyptians regarded with veneration. 
 Herodotus says that when one of their houses was 
 on fire, the Egyptians first thought of saving the 
 Cat and then of putting out the fire, and when a Cat 
 died they cut off their own hair as a sign of mourn- 
 ing. When a person wittingly or unwittingly caused 
 
 u'- -f P'- 
 
 THE EGYPTIAN CAT. This picture has a familiar look, the resemblance to the hoysercat being so marked. Although still dis- 
 puted by some naturalists the great weight of authority shows the Egyptian Cat to be the progenitor of our domestic feline. The markings 
 of the fur in the Egyptian Cat are shown in the picture, and no differences from the house-cat are observable that cannot be accounted for by 
 the wild life led by the former. {Felis maniculata.) 
 
 twenty inches and its tail measures a little over ten 
 inches. These are not the exact dimensions of pur 
 domestic Cat, but they approximate them closely. 
 
 The arrangement of the colors of the fur is much 
 like that on some of our Cats. The mummies and 
 pictures on Egyptian monuments agree most closely 
 with this species, and evidently tend to prove that 
 this was the domestic Cat of the Egyptians. Per- 
 haps the priests imported it into Egypt from south- 
 ern Nubia. It probably extended thence to Arabia 
 and Syria, and later to Greece, Italy and the remain- 
 der of Europe, and in more modern times, emigrat- 
 ing Europeans spread it still farther. 
 
 The observations of Schweinfurth in the Niam- 
 Niam country ar£ of great weight as evidence that 
 the Egyptian Cat is the original stock from which 
 the race of our domestic Cats descended. He says 
 
 the death of one of these animals, he forfeited his 
 life. Diodorus himself saw a Roman citizen, who 
 had killed a Cat, put to death by a mob, though the 
 government, in its fear of Rome, tried its best to 
 pacify the people. Dead Cats were artistically em- 
 balmed, and of all mummified animals that are 
 found, the Cat, carefully swathed in linen bandages, 
 is the most common." 
 
 THE DOMESTIC CAT. 
 
 All researches point to the fact that the Cat was 
 first tamed by the Egyptians, and not by the Hin- 
 doos, or any northern people. The old Egyptian 
 monuments speak clearly in pictures, signs and 
 mummies, while the records of other nations do not 
 even give us food for conjecture. The very fact 
 that the mummies of both the domestic Cat and 
 
THE CAT FAMILY— DOMESTIC CAT. 
 
 103 
 
 the common Jungle Cat are found supports me in 
 my opmion, for this goes to prove that when Egypt 
 . -was m the meridian of its power, its inhabitants ex- 
 tensively caught and probably tamed the Jungle Cats. 
 Herodotus is the first Greek to mention the Cat, and 
 it is but slightly alluded to by even later Greek and 
 Roman writers. We may conclude, therefore, that 
 the animal spread very gradually from Egypt. Prob- 
 ably it first went East. We know, for instance, that 
 it was a favorite pet of the prophet Mohammed. 
 In northern Europe it was barely known before the 
 tenth century. The Codex of Laws in Wales con- 
 tains an ordinance fixing the price of domestic Cats 
 and penalties for their ill-treatment, mutilation and 
 killing. The law declared that a Cat doubled its 
 value the moment it caught its first Mouse ; that the 
 purchaser had a right to require that the Cat have 
 perfect eyes, ears and claws, to know how to catch 
 Mice, and, if a female Cat, 
 \o know how to bring 
 up her Kittens prop- 
 •erly. If the Cat failed to 
 meet any of these require- 
 ments, the purchaser had 
 ihe right to demand a re- 
 turn of one-third of the 
 purchase money. 
 
 This law is of great 
 Talue as furnishing proof 
 .that in those _ times do- 
 mestic Cats were held in 
 liigh estimation, and also 
 because we learn by plain 
 inference from it that the 
 Wild Cat cannot have 
 been the progenitor of the 
 domestic species, as Great 
 Britain was overrun with 
 Wild Cats, whose young 
 ones it would have been 
 easy to tame in unlimited 
 jiumbers. -f. 
 
 The Domestic According to 
 Cat Almost Tschudi, the 
 'Universal. Cat now in- 
 habits all parts of the 
 globe except the extreme 
 north and the highest alti- 
 tudes of the Andes, and 
 has established itself 
 wherever civilization, 
 progress and domestica- 
 tion have penetrated. But 
 
 notwithstanding the fact that it is an inmate of hu- 
 man habitations throughout the world, the Cat re- 
 serves to itself a large measure of independence and 
 only recognizes Man's authority when obedience suits 
 its inclination. The more it is petted, the greater 
 becomes its affection for the family; the more it is 
 left to its own devices the more its attachment is 
 directed toward the house in which it was reared 
 rather than to the people who live there. Man 
 always determines the degree of tameness and do- 
 mesticity of a Cat by his conduct towards it. _ When 
 neglected it is likely to take to' the woods in sum- 
 mer. Sometimes it becomes quite wild there, but 
 usually comes back at the approach of winter, accom- 
 panied by its Kittens if any have been born to it dur- 
 ing its vacation. It is often the case that after such 
 a sojourn in the woods the Cat shows little liking for 
 people, and this is especially noticeable in warm 
 
 countries. Rengger tells us that Cats live in a par« 
 ticularly independent state in Paraguay, although 
 Cats that have become really savage are seldom 
 seen in that country, and the localities abandoned 
 by white Men are also deserted by Cats. 
 Domestic Cat Our domestic Cat is an excellent speci- 
 Worthy men for the purpose of studying the 
 of Study, whole feline family, for it is accessible 
 to all. It is an exceedingly pretty, cleanly and 
 graceful creature. Its movements are stately and as 
 it walks with measured tread on its velvety paws, 
 with claws carefully retracted, its footfall is imper- 
 ceptible to the human ear. It is only when pursued 
 or suddenly frightened that it displays any precipi- 
 tate haste, and then it proceeds with a succession of 
 jumps which soon carry it to a place of safety, for it 
 profits by every advantageous nook or turn and can 
 climb to any height. With the help of its claws it 
 
 ik^:^5s= 
 
 THE SOUESIIC CAT. The animal in tlie picture is familiar to all, and the playful scene here depicted is 
 
 a very common one. The mother Cat watches with every indication of pleasure the merry gambols of her offspring. 
 The methods of a domestic Cat in training her young are much the same as those of the Lioness, the Tigress and 
 other larger members of the Cat family, and may therefore be observed with profit by the student. {Feiis maniculata 
 domestical 
 
 clambers up trees or walls easily, but on level ground 
 a Dog can overtake it without difficulty. However a 
 Cat is dropped, it will always alight on its paws, the 
 pads of which soften the violence of the fall. I have 
 never succeeded in. causing a Cat to fall on its back, 
 even when I have dropped it from close range over 
 a chair or table. As soon as I would let go it would 
 instantly turn over and stand on its feet quite un- 
 concerned. How it is able to accomplish this feat, 
 especially when the short distance is considered, is 
 quite a mystery to me. In falling long distances, it, 
 of course, regulates its position in alighting by means 
 of its tail. The Cat can also swim, but it practices 
 this accomplishment only when there is an urgent 
 need for it, and it probably never enters the water of 
 its own accord, as it even shows a great dislike of 
 rain; but there are exceptions, for Haacke knew a 
 Cat which was in the habit of jumping into a pond 
 
104 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 and catching Goldfishes. In sleeping, the Cat likes to 
 curl up in a soft, warm place, but cannot bear to be 
 covered. I have noticed that Cats show a decided 
 liking for hay as a bed, probably because the fra- 
 grance is agreeable to them After a nap on such a 
 bed their fur usually has a very pleasant odor. 
 
 Of the senses those of touch, sight and hearing are 
 the strongest in the Cat. The sense of smell is rather 
 dull, as anybody can see when the creature is offered 
 a favorite dainty in such manner as to prevent it 
 from using any other sense in the effort to deter- 
 mine what it is. If the whiskers are used, the result 
 is different, for they are very sensitive organs of 
 touch ; so are its paws, but in a less degree. The 
 eyes are excellent and capable of seeing by night as 
 well as by day. But the palm undoubtedly belongs 
 to its sense of hearing. Lenz tells us that he was 
 once sitting outdoors with a Kitten in his lap; sud- 
 denly it jumped backwards after a Mouse, which was 
 running unseen on a smooth stone pavement from 
 one bush to another and did not jnake a particle of 
 noise that a human ear could detect. He measured 
 the distance at which the Kitten had heard the 
 Mouse running behind it and it proved to be fully 
 fourteen yards. 
 
 Noteworthy The intellectual capacities of the Cat 
 Qualities are usually quite misunderstood. Peo- 
 
 of the Cat. pie consider it a treacherous, deceitful, 
 sly animal, that is not to be trusted. Many confess 
 to an unconquerable feeling of antipathy towards it. 
 As a rule it is compared with the Dog, which ought 
 never to be done; and as such comparison shows that 
 the Cat does not possess the Dog's good qualities, 
 the conclusion is frequently drawn that there is no 
 use of any further investigation. Even naturalists 
 are given to pronouncing prejudiced and one-sided 
 opinions against it. I have sympathetically studied 
 the Cat from my childhood, and therefore accept the 
 following description of Scheitlin's, which certainly 
 possesses the merits of originality, understanding 
 and just appreciation: "The Cat is an animal of a 
 high order of intelligence. Its bodily structure alone 
 indicates this. It is a pretty, diminutive Lion; a 
 ' Tiger on a small scale. It shows the most complete 
 symmetry in its form — no one part is too large or too 
 small. That its every detail is rounded and beauti- 
 ful is even shown by an examination of the skull, 
 which is more symmetrical than that of any other 
 animal. Its movements are undulating and graceful 
 to the extent that it seems to have no bones. We 
 value our Cats too slightly because we detest their 
 thievish propensities, fear their claws and love their 
 enemy, the Dog, and we are not able to show equal 
 friendship and admiration for these two opposite 
 natures. 
 
 " Let us examine the Cat's qualities. We are im- 
 pressed by its agility, yet its mind is as flexible as 
 its body. Its cleanliness of habit is as much a matter 
 of mental bias as physical choice, for it is constantly 
 licking and cleaning itself. Every hair of its fur 
 must be in perfect order ; it never forgets as much 
 as the tip of its tail. It has a discriminating sensi- 
 bility as to both color and sound, for it knows Man 
 by his dress and by his voice. It possesses an ex- 
 cellent understanding of locality and practices it, for 
 it prowls through an entire neighborhood, through 
 basements and garrets and over roofs and hay-sheds, 
 without bewilderment. It is an ideally local animal, 
 and if the family moves it either declines to accom- 
 pany them or, if carried to the new residence, returns 
 at the first opportunity to the old homestead; and it 
 
 is remarkable how unerringly it will find its way back, 
 even when carried away in a sack for a distance of 
 several miles." 
 
 The li/lother When the mother Cat gives birth to- 
 Cat and Kittens there are usually five or six 
 
 her Kittens, jn the litter, and they remain blind for 
 nine days. The mother selects for her young ones a- 
 secluded spot and hides them carefully, especially 
 from the Tom-Cat, which, if he found them, would 
 make a meal of them. 
 
 Young Kittens are beautiful little animals, and 
 their mother's love for them is unbounded. When- 
 ever she scents danger she carries them to some 
 place of safety, tenderly lifting them by compressing^ 
 the skin of their necks between her lips so gentljr 
 that the little Pussies scarcely feel it. During the 
 nursing period she leaves them only long enough to- 
 forage for food. Some Cats do not know how to- 
 take care of their first young ones and have to be 
 initiated into the duties of motherhood by Men or 
 by some old experienced Tabby. It is a proven fact 
 that all mother Cats learn how to care for Kittens- 
 better and better with each succeeding litter. 
 
 A Cat during the suckling period tolerates no Dog" 
 or strange Cat near her Kittens; even her owner is an 
 unwelcome visitor at such a time. At the same time- 
 she is particularly open to compassion for others. 
 There are many instances on record where Cats have 
 suckled and brought up young Puppies, Foxes, Rab- 
 bits, Hares, Squirrels, Rats and even Mice; I myself 
 have tried similar experiments successfully with my 
 Cats, when I was a boy. Once I brought a little 
 Squirrel yet blind to one of my Cats. Tenderly she 
 accepted the strange child among her own, and from 
 the first cared for it with motherly solicitude. The 
 Squirrel thrived beautifully, and after its step-brothers 
 had all been given away, it stayed and lived most 
 harmoniously with its foster mother, and she then 
 regarded it with redoubled affection. The relations 
 between them were as close and tender as possible. 
 They understood each other perfectly, though each- 
 talked in its own language, and the Squirrel would- 
 follow the Cat all over the house and into the garden. 
 
 Intelligence It is commonly thought that Cats are 
 and Affection incapable of being educated; but this- 
 of Cats. is an injustice. They are also capable 
 of constant affection, and I have personally known 
 some which moved with their owners from one house 
 to another and never thought of returning to their 
 former home. They were well treated, and there- 
 fore thought more of the people than of the house. 
 They will allow those they like, and especially chil- 
 dren, to take incredible liberties with them, nearly as 
 much, in fact, as Dogs will. Some Cats accompany 
 their owners in their walks, and I knew two Tom-j 
 Cats which usually followed the guests of their mis- 
 tress in the most polite manner. They would accom- 
 pany them for ten or fifteen minutes and then take 
 their leave with many an amiable purr, expressive of 
 their good will. Cats often strike up friendships 
 with other animals, and there are many instances- 
 where Dogs and Cats have become fast friends, in 
 spite of the familiar proverb. 
 
 Anecdotes There are a great many anecdotes illus- 
 About trating the intelligence of this excellent. 
 
 the Cat. animal. Once our Cat gave birth to four 
 charming little Kittens, >vhich she kept carefully 
 hidden in a hay-shed. Three or four weeks later she 
 came to my mother, coaxingly rubbed against her 
 dress, and seemed to call her to the door. Mother 
 followed her, and the Cat then joyfully ran across 
 
THE CAT FAMILY— DOMESTIC CAT 
 
 the yard to a hay-shed. Soon she appeared in the 
 door of the upper story carrying in her mouth a 
 Kitten, which she dropped down upon a bundle of 
 hay. Three other Kittens followed in like manner 
 and were made welcome and petted. It proved that 
 the Cat had no more milk to give her young ones, 
 and in her dilemma bethought herself of the people 
 who gave her food. 
 
 Pechuel-Loesche had a Cat which had struck up a 
 friendship with an old Parrot, and would always go 
 to it when the bird called its name: "Ichabod." 
 When the Parrot interrupted the Cat's slumbers by 
 biting its tail the latter never showed the least resent- 
 ment. The two friends were fond of sitting together 
 at the window, looking out at the passing sights. 
 
 In my native village a friend of mine lost a little 
 Robin Redbreast and in a few days his Cat brought 
 it back in its mouth unharmed. Thus it had not 
 only recognized the bird, but caught it with the 
 intention of pleasing its mastet. Therefore I also 
 believe the following story to be true: A Cat lived 
 on very good terms with a Canary bird and fre- 
 quently played with it. 
 One day it suddenly 
 rushed at it, took it in 
 its mouth and growling 
 climbed up on a desk. 
 The terrified owner, on 
 looking around, per- 
 ceived a strange Cat in 
 the room. Pussy had 
 distrusted her sister and 
 thought it best to res- 
 cue her friend from the 
 other Cat's clutches. 
 Great From all 
 
 Usefulness these ac- 
 
 ofthe Cat. counts we 
 must conclude that Cats 
 are deserving of the 
 friendship of Man, and 
 that the time has come 
 at last to correct the un- 
 just opinions and preju- 
 dices many people hold 
 against them. Besides, 
 the usefulness of Cats 
 ought to be taken more 
 into account. He who 
 has never lived in an 
 old, tumble-down house, 
 overrun with Rats and 
 
 will also wage war upon Rats. Young and inexpe- 
 rienced Cats catch and kill Shrews, but do not eat 
 them, as their powerful scent repels them; older Cats- 
 usually leave these odorous animals unmolested. 
 The Cat finds variety in its diet by hunting Lizards,- 
 Snakes and Frogs, May-Bugs and Grasshoppers. 
 The Cat exhibits as much perseverance as dexterity 
 in its hunting. Being a Beast of Prey at heart, it is- 
 also guilty of many little depredations. It destroys- 
 many an awkward young bird, attacks rather grown- 
 up Hares, catches a Partridge once in awhile, lies in- 
 wait for the very young Chickens in the yard, and- 
 under some circumstances goes fishing. The cook 
 is usually not on speating terms with it, for it prove* 
 its domesticity by visiting the pantry whenever it 
 has a chance. But the sum total of its usefulness- 
 by far exceeds all its peccadilloes. 
 
 Varieties The Domestic Cat (Felts maniculata do- 
 
 of the mestica) embraces but few differing. 
 
 Domestic Cat. species. The following colorings are' 
 
 the most common: black with a white star on the 
 
 breast; white, yellow and red; brown and striped;- 
 
 THE ANOOBA CAT, Although it is as tame and tractable as any others of the domestic Cats, the animal" 
 
 shown in the picture has such marked differences from the more common type as to be classed as a distinct variety. 
 The fur is just as soft as that of the common Cat, but is remarkably long, and the tail is bushy, and these characteris-- 
 tics are well brought out in the picture. (Felis maniculata domestica angorensis.) 
 
 Mice, does not know the 
 real value of a good Cat. But when one has lived 
 with this destructive plague for years and has seen 
 how powerless Man is against it, when one has 
 suffered day after day from some fresh mischief and 
 has become thoroughly enraged at the detestable 
 rodents, then he gradually comes to the conclusion 
 that the Cat is one of the most important domestic 
 animals, and deserves not only tolerance and care, 
 but love and gratitude. The mere presence of a Cat 
 in the house is sufficient to render the impudent 
 rodents ill-humored and inclined to desert the place. 
 The Beast of Prey pursuing them at every step, seiz- 
 ing them by the neck before they have become 
 aware of its presence, inspires them with a whole- 
 some terror; they prefer moving away from a locality 
 defended in this way, and even if they remam, the 
 Cat soon gains a victory over them. ^ , , n^. 
 
 Mice of all kinds, notably house and field Mice, 
 are the preferred game of the Cat, and most Cats 
 
 bluish gray; light gray with darker stripes, or tri-col- 
 ored, with white and yellow or yellow-brownish and 
 coal-black or gray spots. The bluish gray Cats are 
 rare, the light gray ones very common. The most 
 handsome Cats have dark gray or blackish brown 
 stripes like a Tiger. It is a peculiar fact that tri- 
 colored Cats, which in some localities are regarded 
 as witches, and for this reason slain, are nearly with- 
 out exception females. 
 The Angora The Angora Cat {Felis maniculata domes-' 
 Cat, a Distinct tica angorensis) is usually regarded as a. 
 Variety. quite distinct variety of the domestic 
 Cats. It is one of the most beautiful Cats, distin- 
 guished by its large size and long silky hair, which i& 
 either a pure white or assumes a yellowish, grayish- 
 or mixed tinge. The lips and soles are flesh-colored. 
 
 THE LION. 
 
 A single glance cast at the Lion and particularly 
 at the expression of his face, sufifices to make us- 
 
106 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 subscribe to the opinion held concerning him from 
 remotest times. The Lion is the king of all Beasts 
 of Prey, a ruler among quadrupeds. The classifying 
 naturalist calls him merely a Cat of a particularly 
 powerful build, yet the impression produced by the 
 magnificent animal induces even the most scientific 
 to give him a fitting place among his kindred. 
 
 Lions are easily distinguished from all other Felidse. 
 Their special peculiarities are: a strong, powerful 
 body, clothed in short, sleek hair of a uniform tint ; 
 a broad face with small eyes; a mane, resembling the 
 tippet of an emperor, adorning the shoulders of the 
 male ; and a tuft at the tip of the tail. In compari- 
 son with the other Felidae, the body of the Lion 
 seems short, the flanks retracted, and the whole body 
 produces an impression of power, but not of clum- 
 siness. Hidden in the tuft of the tail is a horny 
 nail, noticed by Aristotle, but denied by many mod- 
 ern naturalists. The eyes have a round pupil, the 
 whisker-hairs are arranged in from six to eight rows. 
 Above all else it is the mane which distinguishes 
 the male Lion and bestows upon him his proud, 
 kingly look. 
 
 The mane clothes the whole neck and the breast, 
 but varies so much, that, with or without just cause, 
 it has served as a basis to divide the Lion into a few 
 distinct kinds. I will give a short description of the 
 different species and leave the reader to judge for 
 himself whether these distinctions are justified. Let 
 us first consider the Barbary Lion, for it is he that 
 has, since time immemorial, retained the title of 
 " KiHg of Beasts " by his courage, strength, bravery, 
 nobility, generosity, gravity and calm demeanor. 
 The Lion The Barbary Lion {Felts leo barbarus) like 
 of all his kindred has a strong frame; and the 
 Barbary. front part of his body is much larger than 
 the liind part, because of the broad chest and re- 
 tracted flanks. The thick and nearly square head is 
 prolonged into a broad, blunt nmzzle; the ears are 
 rounded, the eyes are of medium size but full of fire, 
 the limbs are very strong, and the paws are the larg- 
 est among all FelidjE. The long tail ends in a short 
 thorn, which is covered with a fluffy tuft. The color 
 of this Lion is tawny, inclining to a reddish yellow 
 or dull brown hue, according as some hairs have 
 black tips or are quite black. The mane is very 
 thick. A male Lion may measure four feet in height 
 at the shoulder, and about eleven feet in length from 
 the nose to the tip of. the tail, the latter occupying 
 from five to six feet. Newborn Lions have a length 
 of about thirteen inches, but have no mane or tail- 
 tuft. They are clothed in woolly, grayish hair, which 
 3hows markings suggestive of those of the Ocelot to 
 an experienced observer. These brindlings are faint 
 during the first year, but are visible on the legs and 
 under portions for several years, especially in the 
 female Lions; and the exterior marks of adult age 
 ^ake their appearance during the third year. The 
 Lioness always resembles the young Lion to a greater 
 or less degree; her coat is either of the same length 
 on the breast as upon the remainder of the body, 
 or, at most, but a very little longer. The Barbary 
 Lion is confined to the Atlas country. 
 
 Other The Senegal Lion {Fe/is leo senegalensis) 
 Varieties has a lighter mane, very little developed 
 ofthe Lion, on the breast. The South African Lion 
 (Felis leo capensis), and probably also the Abyssinian 
 Lion, are distinguished by their huge size ; and they 
 have a dark mane. The Persian Lion {Felis leo per- 
 ^tcus) possesses a mane consisting of mixed brown 
 and black hair; and this animal extends over Persia 
 
 to India; he is still too little known for us to be able 
 to say whether he resembles more closely the Sene- 
 gal Lion or the Guzerat Lion, which is occasionally 
 maneless. 
 
 The Senegal Lion and the South African Lion 
 are distributed all over central and southern Africa, 
 from the western to the eastern coast, and as far 
 north as the 20th degree of northern latitude. They 
 are regularly met with on the banks of the Blue and 
 White Nile and in the Abyssinian forests; and in the ' 
 , deserts of central and southern Africa they are of 
 common occurrence. 
 
 The Guzerat Lion, known to the ancients, and im- 
 properly called the Maneless Lion {Felis leo guzerat- 
 ensis), was formerly supposed to be small and mane- 
 less, but both these conjectures have beeq proved to 
 be erroneous. He is of a dull tan color, the tail-tuft 
 and ears being darker. 
 
 Decrease in The time when six hundred Lions could 
 Numbers be brought together in one arena is 
 
 ofthe Lion, irremediably past. The King of Beasts 
 has since then retreated farther and farther before the 
 Lord of Creation. Man fights him with all his might 
 and will continue to steadily press him back and 
 ultimately exterminate him. The Lion of Barbary 
 formerly inhabited all Northeastern Africa, and was 
 nearly as common in Egypt as in Tunis, Fez or Mo- 
 rocco; the increase of population and the progress 
 of civilization drove him back farther and farther, 
 until nowadays he is rarely found in the valley of the 
 Lower Nile or on the southern coast of the Medi- 
 terranean. In Algeria and Morocco he is still no 
 rarity, and in Tunis and the oasis' of Fessan he is a 
 permanent feature. In Algeria the Lions are much 
 reduced in numbers ; the frequent wars between'the 
 French and the Arabs have driven them away, and 
 the French Lion-hunters, notably Jules Gerard, have 
 made sad havoc in their ranks. The conditions under 
 which the Lion of Senegal exists are more favorable. 
 The native of central Africa is not sufficiently well 
 armed to rise successfully against his worst tyrant 
 and tax-gatherer. Still even the Negro presses the 
 Lion into more remote regions. 
 The Lion's The Lion leads a solitary life, living with 
 
 Manner his mate only during the breeding' season. 
 of Living, ^t other times every Lion in northern 
 Africa has his own hunting district, although he does 
 not quarrel with others of his kind over such mat- 
 ters. In South Africa it often happens that several 
 Lions unite for a hunt upon a large scale. Living- 
 stone tells us that troops of six to eight Lions will 
 prowl around together. In extraordinary cases the 
 troops may be still more numerous. Selous, one of 
 the latest writers on the subject, also says: "In 
 central South Africa one more frequently meets four 
 or five Lions together than single specimens, and 
 troops of ten or twelve are not extraordinary." 
 
 The Lion does not inhabit virgin forests, but likes 
 an open landscape: jungles of grass, interspersed 
 with low, bushy forests, and prairies grown with 
 stunted shrubs and deserts, no matter whether they 
 are mountainous or level. In some secluded spot in 
 Soudan, usually in bushes, or in South Africa in the 
 high reeds growing on the banks of the temporarily 
 flowing rivers of that region, he selects a shallow 
 place as his den and uses it for a day or more, accord- 
 ing as the country is rich or poor, protected or open 
 to attacks. When dawn surprises him on his wan- 
 derings, he goes to sleep wherever he happens to be. 
 
 On the whole his habits are those of the entire 
 feline species; ,still he differs in many essentials. He 
 

 wp ATI m? THE BABBARY LION. A single glance at this head explains sufficiently why the animal tnat Dears u is ';'"'>=" 
 
 Power sl"gt°hs™!li^cfand1he air oTthe conqueror are depicted in the face, and its expression, and the bold and shaggy mane that < 
 
 o«ck gives to this head an especially imposing appearance. 
 
 (107) 
 
108 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 is lazier than the rest of the Cat family and avoids 
 extended journeys, trying to make life as easy as pos- 
 sible. Selous' experiences taught him that the South 
 African Lion prefers feasting off the game some 
 hunter has killed to exerting himself to capture his 
 own prey. This is why, in East Soudan, he regularly 
 follows nomadic tribes wherever they go. He goes 
 with them into the treeless plain and returns with 
 them to the forest; he regards them as his tributary 
 subjects and the taxes he levies on them are indeed 
 of the heaviest kind. His manner of life is noctur- 
 nal. He is seldom met with in daytime in the for- 
 est; probably only when sought for and disturbed 
 in his lair by Dogs. 
 
 He does not visit the vicinity of villages before 
 the third hour of night. The Arabs aver that "he 
 roars thrice to apprise all animals of his coming and 
 warn them to keep out of his way." Unfortunately 
 this good opinion is based upon rather imaginary 
 premises, for whenever I heard the roar of the Lion, 
 I was always sure to learn that he had previously 
 :slunk into the village and stolen an Ox or Cow. 
 •Other writers also concur with me, that he often 
 .comes "like a thief in the night." 
 
 Yet the Arabs are not wholly wrong, but only put 
 ,a wrong construction on facts. I have never believed 
 the roar to be a warning, but have been led to think 
 that its purpose is to disturb the whole locality, thus' 
 .causing the other animals to flee, and perhaps in 
 their confusion to run right into the fangs of either 
 the roaring Lion himself, or a hunting companion of 
 his. 
 Lion's Attack I am fully persuaded that when a Lion 
 
 on a Cattle breaks into a roar near an enclosure in 
 
 Enclosure, which Cattle are guarded, his sole pur- 
 pose is to render them so mad with fear that they 
 •will blindly try to break out. I will attempt to de- 
 scribe the Lion's attack upon such an enclosure. 
 
 At sunset the nomad has led his herd into the 
 ;Seriba (camp), closed in by a fence about nine feet 
 high and three wide, woven out of the thorny 
 branches of the mimosa: the most secure wall that 
 he can build. The Sheep bleatingly call their young 
 .ones; the Cows have been niilked and are at rest. 
 A pack of Dogs mounts guard. Gradually all noises 
 die away and the peace of night descends on the 
 scene. The Women and Children have gone to 
 ^leep, and the Men are returning from their work to 
 the huts. Bats come down from the trees and glide 
 over the camp like ghosts. Everything else is quiet 
 and in repose. Even the Dogs have ceased their 
 yelping, although still intent on their faithful watch 
 and keep. 
 
 Suddenly it seems as if the very earth quakes; a 
 Lion roars in closest proximity. He truly deserves 
 his name of "Essed," that is, "the causer of alarm," 
 for the greatest confusion reigns in the seriba. The 
 Sheep run against the thorny fence as if insane; the 
 Goats bleat loudly; the Cattle gather together with 
 moans; the Camels try to break all fetters in their 
 mad longing for flight, and the courageous Dogs, 
 which have been victorious in many a fight with 
 Leopards and Hyenas, howl loudly and plaintively 
 and seek the protection of their masters. With one 
 gigantic leap the powerful animal clears the wall and 
 selects his prey. One blow with his fearful paw fells 
 a young Ox, whose neck the Lion breaks with its 
 huge jaws. With a low growl the robber lies on his 
 prey; his eyes glow and his tail lashes the air. He 
 lets go of the dying animal, and 'again closes his 
 •teeth on it until it ceases to move. Then he beats 
 
 his retreat. He must go back over the wall, but 
 does not intend to leave his victim. All his strength 
 is taxed to take such a leap with the prey in his 
 mouth, but he succeeds. I have seen a Lion with a 
 two-year-old Ox clear a wall over six feet high. I 
 have also seen the deep impress the Ox left in the. 
 sand, when the Lion dropped it on the other side,: 
 previous to taking it up again. The Oxen in those: 
 countries are not as heavy as ours. Often one sees 
 the furrow which the animal had made when being, 
 dragged to the place at which he was devoured. 
 
 The Terrific The fact is well known that all animals 
 Roar which know the Lion will tremble at the 
 
 of the Lion, mere sound of his voice. Yet we must 
 not think that the Lion lets his roar re-echo through! 
 the wilderness at all times. His usual sounds are a 
 long-drawn tone, like the mewing of a giant Cat, and 
 a deep growl. When frightened he utters a short 
 "huff" or "wau." His real roar is uttered compara- 
 tively seldom, and many people who have visited 
 countries inhabited by Lions have never heard it. 
 The roar is characteristic of the whole animal, and 
 may appropriately be called the expression of his 
 power. It is the only one of its kind, and is sur- 
 passed in fullness of tone by the voice of no living 
 creature except the male Hippopotamus, according 
 to Pechuel-Loesche. The Arabs have a pertinenfe 
 expression for it: "raad," meaning "thunder." It 
 seems to come from the very depth of the chest and' 
 to strain it to the utmost. 
 
 The effect of the King's voice on his subjects 
 is indescribable. . The howling Hyena is stricken' 
 dumb, though not for long; the Leopard ceases to 
 grunt; the Monkeys utter a loud, gurgling sound and 
 mount to the highest tree-tops; the Antelopes rush 
 through the bushes in a mad flight; a bleating flock 
 becomes silent; the laden Camel trembles and list- 
 ens no longer to its driver's appeal, but throws load: 
 and rider off and seeks salvation in flight; the Horse; 
 rears, snorts and rushes back; the Dog unused to the 
 chase creeps up to his master with a wail. 
 
 The Lion The North African Lion, when within- the 
 
 in Search reach of a village, seeks nowhere else for 
 
 of Prey. prey. He is an unpleasant visitor and' 
 difficult to get rid of; the more so, as he is possessed 
 of a great deal of craft, Livingstone also says: 
 "When the Lion is too old to hunt, he frequents the" 
 villages in search of Goats, and if a Woman or Child - 
 crosses his path, he attacks it instead. The Lions- 
 which attacTc human beings are always old ones, ^nd 
 it is a common saying among the natives, when a 
 Lion has helped himself to a Goat in a village: 'His 
 teeth are used up; he will soon kill a human being.'" 
 
 In an attack on wild animals the Lion behaves 
 quite differently. He knows that they scent him 
 from afar and are fleet-footed enough to escape. 
 Therefore he lies in ambush for them or slinks up ■ 
 to them, sometimes with others of his own kind, 
 keeping well to leeward of the victims, and hunts 
 them not only at night but even in broad daylight;' 
 Still such day hunts are always the exception. Gen-/ 
 erally he awaits dusk at least before he sets out on 
 his prowlings. He follows wild herds as well as the 
 herds of Cattle, and like other Felidae he likes to lie 
 in wait in such places as water-courses in open ground • 
 where the animals of the wilderness come to drink. 
 
 According to Livingstone the Lion seizes his prey 
 usually in the neck, or in the flanks, where he is most 
 fond of beginning his meal. Selous corroborates the 
 statement that the Lion always begins devouring 
 his victim at the flanks and first eats the intestines 
 
aMn 
 
 
 THE BABBABT LION Seeking their prey in the afternoon or evening the Lion and Lioness spend the daytime sleeping in their lair. In the 
 
 picture they are represented as roused from their slumbers by the arrows of secreted foes, one of which has grazed the slcin of the Lioness who is depicted in 
 the act of roaring. Both are bewUdered as well as enraged, and will fall an easy victim to the shower of arrows and bullets that will follow. (Fehs Uo bar- 
 bams.) 
 
 (109) 
 
110 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 and inner organs. He has also seen Lions take these 
 parts and cover them with earth, doubtless to keep 
 them till the following night and to protect them 
 from the Vultures which are sure to put in an ap- 
 pearance during the day. Concerning their mode 
 of attack he says: "In my experience Lions attack 
 animals in the most varied manner; I have seen a 
 Horse, a young Elephant and two Antelopes killed 
 by bites in the throat; but I have also seen a Horse 
 and several Zebras killed by bites in the nape of the 
 neck. I suppose that Buffaloes sometimes meet 
 their deaths through dislocation of the vertebrae of 
 the neck, the Lion jumping on the shoulder, taking 
 the nose with his paw and giving it a sudden turn. 
 I have seen and shot a great many Buffaloes which 
 had escaped the Lion in time to save their lives, 
 after being terribly lacerated about the shoulders 
 and neck. 
 
 The Lion prefers large game, but in default of it 
 he accepts rather small fry with good grace. It is 
 said that he even eats Locusts. The aim of his hunt 
 is the capture of large prey always, as he is most 
 frequently found where there is much game, or nu- 
 merous herds of Cattle. He finds his principal food 
 among flocks of domestic animals, wild Zebras, An- 
 telopes and wild Boars. Under certain circumstances 
 he even eats animals he finds dead. Selous says: 
 "The South African Lion is often a very dirty feeder 
 and frequently gorges himself with the huge bodies 
 of Elephants in a state of decomposition and crawl- 
 ing, with worms in the tropic sun; night after night 
 he returns to the feast, until all is gone." Probably a 
 great many other animals help him, and rarely let the 
 opportunity slip of feasting at the King's table. The 
 cowardly, lazy Hyena and the whole gentis of Dogs 
 proper think it very convenient to let others do the 
 killing for them; and as soon as the Lion has left 
 they eat their fill and more. The King does not tol- 
 erate them, and it is said that serious quarrels occur 
 over this matter. 
 
 Lions Attack Man is very seldom attacked by the 
 Men Lion, and his tall form seems to in- 
 
 but Seldom, gpire the latter with fear. In Soudan 
 at least, where His Majesty is met with rather fre- 
 quently, scarcely any instances of Lions eating Men 
 are known. More frequently Man meets with an 
 untimely death in that country from attacks by 
 Crocodiles and even Hyenas than from Lions. In 
 South Africa the anecdotes about their attacking 
 Men are common, as they penetrate into camps, in 
 spite of fires, to carry away Cattle, or even human 
 beings sitting near the fire. Probably only semi- 
 starvation leads them to the camp fires, as it did that 
 strong Lioness with an empty stomach, of which 
 Selous says that notwithstanding fires, guards and 
 shots, she thrice came into the camp and attacked 
 a Horse and two natives close to the fire. Each 
 time her murderous attempts were frustrated, and 
 finally she was killed. " A hungry Lion is like a 
 devil " is a saying in South Africa ; and whether 
 old and debilitated or young and strong, by night 
 or by day, a famished Lion will attack Men, and if 
 such an experience teaches him what an easy prey 
 Man is, he is sure to wish again for such convenient 
 game. Real " Man-eaters " can hardly be developed 
 there though, as most of the South African natives 
 are not the people to stand much from a Lion. 
 
 Selous' Nobody has described the South Afri- 
 
 Description can Lion in plainer and more perti- 
 
 of the Lion, ngnt language than Selous : " It has 
 
 always appeared to me that the word 'majestic' is 
 
 singularly inapplicable to the Lion in the wild state, 
 as when seen by daylight he always has a stealthy, 
 furtive look that entirely does away with the idea of 
 majesty. To look majestic a Lion should hold his 
 head high. This he seldom does. When walking he 
 holds it low, lower than the line of his back, and it is 
 only when he first becomes aware of the presence of 
 Man that he sometimes raises his head and takes a 
 look at the intruder, usually lowering it immediately, 
 and trotting away with a growl. When at bay, stand- 
 ing with open mouth and glaring eyes, holding his 
 head low between his shoulders, and keeping up a 
 continuous low growling, twitching his tail the while 
 from side to side, no animal can look more unpleas- 
 ant than a Lion; but there is then nothing majestic 
 or noble in his appearance. If the Lion throws his- 
 tail twice or thrice vertically upward, it means ' look 
 out'; for this is the sign of an immediate attack. 
 Lions met in the daytime nearly always retreat be- 
 fore Man, even when they are disturbed in their meal, 
 and, consequently, hungry. Of course, when they are 
 attacked or wounded they reciprocate. In my ex- 
 perience Lions are more aggressive than any other 
 South African game I have ever met. As they are 
 more easily concealed and more rapid and agile in 
 their attack than Elephants, Unicorns or Buffaloes, 
 I consider them much more dangerous. Still Lions 
 show as much individuality as Man, and it is not to be 
 supposed that what one does, the next one is also 
 sure to dp. I think that nobody has a right to call 
 Lions cowards, because he has shot two or three 
 which happened to be such. There are more acci- 
 dents happening from encounters with Buffaloes, but 
 this is explained not by the fact that Buffaloes are 
 more dangerous, but because they are more fre- 
 quently met with. In the '70's one met fifty Buffa- 
 loes to a single Lion on a hunt." 
 
 The awe-inspiring presence of the Lion, his great 
 power and courage, have always been acknowledged, 
 and admired. Though this enthusiasm may at times 
 have been exaggerated and may have resulted in 
 ascribing properties to the Lion wbfch he does not 
 possess, still it is not without foundation. The most 
 prominent naturalists give the Lion credit for quali- 
 ties which in my opinion include nobility enough. 
 And, whoever has become more closely acquainted 
 with that animal ; whoever has, like myself, inti- 
 mately known a captive Lion for years, must think 
 as I do ; he must love and esteem it as much as a 
 human being can love and esteem any animal. 
 The Lioness A Lioness gives birth to from one to 
 and six cubs at once, the number usually 
 
 Her Cubs, being two or three. The little Lion-cubs 
 have their eyes open at birth and are about half the 
 size of a Cat. The Lioness treats them usually with 
 great tenderness and one can hardly imagine a more^ 
 beautiful spectacle than the mother with her cubs. 
 They play together like Kittens, and the mother 
 regards them gravely, but yet with infinite pleasure. 
 They may be seen thus in captivity, as a Lioness 
 often gives birth to a litter when a captive. In well 
 managed zoological gardens Lions are now bred as 
 carefully and as systematically as Dogs ; and even in- 
 circuses, where the animals have but little room and 
 often insufficient nourishment. Lions are born and 
 sometimes grow up. 
 
 Lion- cubs are at first rather clumsy. They learn 
 to walk in the second month of their life and their 
 play begins still later. At first they mew like Cats, 
 but later on their voice becomes fuller and stronger. 
 In their play they are at first awkward and clumsy, 
 
THE CAT FAMILY— LION. 
 
 Ill 
 
 but agility comes in time. Towards the close of the 
 first year they have attained the size of a strong Dog. 
 In the third year the mane begins to appear in the 
 male, but full growth and distinction of sex are only 
 completed in the sixth or seventh year. The age a 
 Lion attains is in proportion to the slow develop- 
 ment. There are cases on record where Lions have 
 lived to be seventy years old in captivity ; although 
 they lose much of their beauty and show signs of 
 decay rather early, in spite of the best of care. 
 
 He needs about eight pounds of fresh meat daily. 
 This will keep him in fine condition and he will 
 grow fat on it. 
 
 I have taken care of a Lioness for 
 two years. She became accustomed 
 to the household in a very short time 
 and enjoyed the freedom of the whole yard. She 
 soon followed me about ilke a Dog, caressed me at 
 every opportunity and annoyed me only by coming 
 to my bed in the night and awakening me with her 
 
 Experience 
 
 with a 
 
 Tame Lioness. 
 
 THTT STTWFOAL LION Although there are differences in the Lions found in various parts, they are so shght as to scarcely justify a 
 
 - ' .^ J- ^^''■^ Ti,» irin;5^A»l vrrrance is in the mane of the male, which is largest and darkest in the Barbary Lion. In the Senegal Lion the 
 scientific division. The principal variance is in t^iem^^^^^^^ o ^^e ' • ^,^^ .^ ^^^ ^.^^ ^.^ j^.^^^^^_ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^.^ p^^^ ^^^ 
 
 "eTboutt tlkrth^f ^eal'b^t a^^ --^s, which they would like to know more about before commencing. (Felis 
 
 ieo senegalensis.) 
 
 The Lion Lions captured young may become very 
 in tame if they receive mtelligent care. 1 hey 
 
 Captuity. know their keeper and become attached to 
 him in proportion to the attention he bestows on 
 them. One cannot imagine a more amiable creature 
 than a Lion tamed in this way, which has forgotten 
 his freedom, and I might say his Lionhood, and de- 
 votes himself to Man with his whole soul. With 
 good fpod a Lion will live in captivity for years. 
 
 caresses. A few weeks after her arrival she reigned 
 supreme in our yard. She teased and frightened all 
 the other animals in every imaginable way. The 
 only one that defied her successfully was a Marabou. 
 At their first meeting the bird went up to her and 
 gave her so thorough a lesson with its huge beak that 
 after a prolonged fight she had to give in. She 
 would often lie down like a Cat, and then jump on 
 one of us, like the Cat on a Mouse, her only intention 
 
112 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 being to be playful. She was not treacherous, and 
 even when she was punished, would, after a few min- 
 utes, come and want to be friends again. In Cairo 
 she forgot herself twice ; once she caught a Lamb, 
 and another time a little Negro Boy. Fortunately, I 
 was near to rescue him, and she never thought of 
 resisting me. I walked in the street leading her with 
 a line, and on my passage from Cairo to Triest I 
 brought her on deck daily to the great pleasure of all 
 passengers. I left her in Berlin and did not see her 
 for two years. Then I visited her and she recognized 
 me instantly. I have no reason to doubt the many 
 similar stories we hear about captive Lions. 
 
 Great Damage Nobody will be astonished at the fact 
 Done that the Africans seek to exterminate 
 
 by Lions. the Lion with all their might and 
 main. Yet, the dread of the Lion is not so great as 
 one ipight think. Even in regions where he lives he 
 is by no means met With daily. He is not forever 
 breaking into camps, but also seeks food in the wil- 
 derness. He makes himself actually useful to some 
 tribes by his hunting. The Bushmen owe him many 
 a juicy meal, and wherever a Lion has hunted they 
 search the country high and low, and often find the 
 remains of his meal, which are very welcome. They 
 sometimes go so far as to chase the Lion away from 
 his prey, so as to have more meat left for themselves. 
 North Africans also complain but little about the 
 Lion. They talk about his depredations, yet not 
 with rage at the loss of Cattle they have suffered 
 or expect to suffer, but take them as a dispensation of 
 Providence which has to be borne resignedly. Set- 
 tlers of European extraction set a different valuation 
 on property than the simple-minded Africans. Jules 
 Gerard has estimated that in the year 1855 about 
 thirty Lions which inhabited the province of Con- 
 stantine caused a damage of 135,000 marks. In the 
 years 1856 and 1857 the same writer tells us that sixty 
 Lions in Bona carried away ten thousand head of 
 Cattle of all sizes. In the centre of the continent the 
 damage is considerably slighter, as Cattle are bred 
 much more extensively than in the countries, where 
 agriculture prevails. 
 
 Methods In the Atlas country the Lion is hunted 
 
 of Hunting in various ways. If he molests a Bed- 
 the Lion, ouin camp, the Men surround the bushes 
 in which he has hidden and try to drive him out by 
 screams' and shots. When he finally appears, they 
 cripple him with so many bullets that he usually falls 
 down, though he sometimes mutilates or kills a few 
 of his pursuers before he dies. The Arabs some- 
 times dig a hole and then cover it well, leaving only 
 holes for shooting through, and then a freshly killed 
 Boar is thrown on it; or else they lie in ambush on 
 trees and shoot from these places of safety. In the 
 Atlas country Lions are also caught in pitfalls, which 
 are about ten yards deep and five yards wide. As 
 soon as the kingly animal falls into the pit, it is sur- 
 rounded by a crowd. Everybody screams at the top 
 of his voice, insults the Lion and throws stones at 
 it, until at last it is killed. When it is quite dead, 
 it is tied with ropes and hauled up with great diffi- 
 culty, for a full-grown Lion may weigh as much as 
 four hundred pounds. Every boy eats a piece of the 
 heart, for this is supposed to make him courageous. 
 The hairs of the mane are worn as charms, as they 
 are believed to protect their wearer from other Lions. 
 Ancient The Bible mentions the Lion in a great 
 
 Accounts of many places and the Hebrews have a 
 
 the Lion. number of names for him. The Greeks 
 
 and Romans give us lengthy reports of the kingly 
 
 animal, intermingling them with many fables. The 
 first fight with Lions was given by Scaevola, the 
 second by Sulla. He had one hundred Lions in the 
 arena, Pompey had six hundred and Julius Caesar at 
 least four hundred. Their capture was a difficult 
 feat, and mostly accomplished by means of pitfalls. 
 Under Claudius a shepherd found an easy method 
 of capturing Lions. He threw his coat over the 
 Lion's head, which so bewildered the animal that it 
 could easily be taken prisoner. This method was 
 afterwards repeatedly used in the circus. Marc An- 
 tony, after the battle of Pharsalus, drove through the 
 town with an actress in a chariot drawn by Lions. 
 Hanno, the great Carthagenian, was the first to drive 
 a tamed Lion. This was the cause of his exile, for 
 it gave rise to the belief that he who tamed a Lion 
 would surely attempt to reign over the people. 
 Adrian had often as many as one hundred Lions 
 killed at a single performance, and so had Marcus 
 Aurelius. In this way their numbers were so greatly 
 reduced that hunting them was prohibited in' Africa, 
 in order that there might be sufficient for the circus. 
 Still the hour of extermination of this noble animal 
 did not begin until the invention of firearms. 
 
 LEOPARDS AND PANTHERS. 
 
 Since Aristotle and Pliny naturalists have had dif- 
 ferences of opinion about three Old World Felidae, 
 regarding them either as varieties of the same spe- 
 cies, or as three distinct species. 
 
 Distinguishing The Leopard {Fe/is pardus) has the 
 Features of following distinguishing features: his 
 the Leopard, total length is about six feet, of 
 which the tail takes two feet or more. The head is 
 large and round, the snout projects but little, the 
 neck is very short; the limbs are of medium length 
 and the paws not very large. The ground color is a 
 pale reddish yellow which is darker oit the back, but 
 merges into yellowish-white at the throat and breast 
 and on the inner surface of the limbs. In this ground 
 color are strewn small, black, full circular spots, vary- 
 ing in size from that of a pea to that of a walnut. 
 Some of them unite to form bands, others lie in 
 irregular patches, and some form rings, enclosing a 
 darker tawny area. The markings of the lower and 
 inner surfaces of the limbs consist either of plain or 
 double spots. The outside of the ear is gray-black, 
 with a large whitish spot at the tip; the eye has a 
 greenish-yellow iris and a round pupil. Neither sex 
 nor old age influences the markings very much; but 
 some individual specimens are darker or even quite 
 black. One kind has a lustrous brownish-black skin 
 whose spots show only in the sun. It is called Gesela 
 in Abyssinia and is much hunted for its skin. 
 
 Characteristics The Panther {Felis panthera) is usu- 
 0/ the ally about seven feet long, including 
 
 Panther. the tail, which measures about three 
 feet. The head is of moderate size, the snout pro- 
 jects distinctly, the neck is short, the limbs are very 
 powerful in proportion to the body and the paws are 
 large. The ground color is a light, ochre yellow; on 
 the back it merges into a dark reddish yellow and 
 under the body and on the inner sides of the limbs it 
 fades into a yellowish white, like the Leopard's; but it 
 is much more vivid in tinge. The spots on the head 
 are smaller and less numerous. Besides the head, 
 only the nape and sides of the neck, and the throat, 
 chest and the upper parts of the limbs show distinct 
 spots. In the other parts of the body several spots 
 are grouped around a lighter centre. These group- 
 ings are larger in size than those of the Leopard. 
 
. ,„^x..Tft Here is a battle-royal between a South African Lion and Lioness and a Cape Buffalo, The latter is the 
 LIONS ATTACKING A BWrrALO.— Here is ^battle royal d ^ ^.^^^.^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^ ^^^^^^ ^^^.^^^j. ^^^„ „„^ ^ ^^^ 
 
 strongest and wildest animal oJ his species m Afnca and 1>'=^°™\7; f ^^jj, to conquer this powerful beast. In the picture the Lioness, who has led the 
 Buffal is -^ l^l'^-'y ;°^^;;'^^*°;;,^*^^^^ effect when the male Lion springs on his back, making the contest so 
 
 uneven that the Buffalo is certain to be vanquished. 
 
 (ns) 
 
114 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 T^he Long. The Long-tailed Panther {Felis varie- 
 Tailed gata), inhabiting Sumatra and Java, is 
 Panther. believed to be an entirely distinct spe- 
 cies. He has a small oblong head, a long neck, a 
 tail the length of which equals that of the ' body, 
 . and short, strong limbs endowed with powerful paws. 
 His spots are small and dark and are grouped very 
 '< closely together. Viewed obliquely the aninial's fur 
 presents a lustrous, blue-black appearance. In real- 
 ity the ground color is a dark clay yellow, and the 
 : spots are brownish yellow. 
 
 he The Black Panther {Felis me/as) differs 
 Blach from his kindred only in color; and ac- 
 Panther. cording to Rosenberg every inhabitant of 
 Java knows that he is found in the same litter with 
 the yellow animals. Sanderson believes them to 
 inhabit only thick, extensive forests, and not to be 
 found everywhere like their yellow kinsmen. Nearly 
 
 THE LEOFABS. This, fierce but beautifully formed and marked feline animal is here depicted with great 
 
 accuracy. The large, rounded hMd, the stout limbs of medium length ending in a Cat-like paw, the fur With spots that 
 ■ are small on the head, larger onthe breast and limbs and very large on the sides and back, the muscular development, 
 ' and even the undulating, stealthy, yet rapid motion of thi animal can all be accurately' discerned. (.Felis pardtts.) 
 
 every zoological garden now has Black Leopards, 
 and in some they are systematically bred. 
 
 Leopards and Hunters, merchants, etc., readily dis- 
 Panthers criminate between the smaller, bulk- 
 one Family. jer Leopard and the larger, more 
 slenderly-built Panther, but in zoology they both 
 belong to one group. The Panther and Leopard are 
 both FeMs pardus. In West .Africa 'they are called 
 " Ngo," in Persia " Palang," in India " Tschita," 
 " Adnara," " Honiga " and " Kerkal," and on the 
 Malay Peninsula they are termed " Harimau-bin- 
 tang." The size, the shape of the head, the slender 
 or bulky frame, the length of the tail, the ground 
 color and spots of the skin are subject to the great- 
 est variation. Some are yellow or reddish, others 
 light or dark brown; and black ones, whose spots 
 show only under a certain light, are known; and 
 even white specimens have come to light: The dif- 
 : f erence in the size is probably due to the difference 
 in age, locality and food. 
 
 Traits of It is as custonlary to speak of the 
 Leopards and Panther and Leopard as it is to speak 
 Panthers. of the Panther or Leopard. We will 
 call the African animal. Leopard; the Asiatic, Pan- 
 ther In their character and mode of life they agree 
 as much as is consistent with their varymg strength 
 and size. The former is content with smaller game 
 and smaller domestic animals; the latter enters the 
 ranks against larger game and Cattle of all kindsj 
 as well as human beings. It comes next to the 
 Tiger in point of rapacity, and in India is often con- 
 sidered more dangerous. We will probably hear 
 similar reports from Africa when that continent has 
 been more thoroughly explored. There is no doubt 
 but that there the size and other ieatutes, vary much. 
 The, Felis pardus is distributed over the whole of 
 Africa and all southern Asia. In the west he pen- 
 etrates much farther north than the Tiger, but in 
 
 the east he is confined 
 much more closely , to 
 the south. The Panther 
 extends from Persia, 
 Asia Minor and Arme- 
 nia to the Caucasus. In 
 southern Daghestan- his 
 numbers are much re- 
 duced, yet he is still a 
 permanent feature 
 there. At the western 
 inclination of the Cau- 
 casus to the Black Sea, 
 he is said to range still 
 farther north, but it has 
 not been established 
 how far. In central Asia 
 the middle and lower 
 Oxus are his northern 
 boundaries. Blanford 
 says he is not found in 
 the Punjab, nor in some 
 paj'ts of Siride. 
 
 These animals might 
 be called taciturn, for 
 ^their voices are not loud 
 and are seldom heard 
 In captivity they have 
 been heard to make 
 plaintive sounds, re- 
 minding one of a Cat's 
 cry. ', 3ometimes one 
 hears a hokrse' try ft-om 
 them in the wilderness, repeated three Or'foitf times. 
 Pechuel-Loesche. represents it by the spelling "Hura- 
 ak." = When frightened, or when attacking they utter 
 the same coughing sound, sonjetimes blended with 
 the indescribable growl of a ferocious Dog. . 
 
 Symmetry of' The Leopard or Panther is the most 
 Leopards beautiful of all the Cats. We look 
 and Panthers, upon the Lion as the Kingof Beasts. 
 The Tiger is considered, the most dangerous of this 
 cruel family; the Ocelot's skin shows a greater vari- 
 ety of color; but they are all much inferior to the 
 Leopard in synimetry of bodily' sti-ucture, in beauty 
 of coloring, in agility, vigor and gracefulness of 
 movement. He unites all the advantages which 
 other Cats possess singly. His velvet paw vies in 
 softness with our Pussy's, but hides a claw that com- 
 pares with the strongest. His teeth are proportion- 
 ately much stronger than those of his kingly kins- 
 man. He is an ideal Beast of Prey, combining beauty 
 with agility and vigor, and intrepidity with cunning. 
 
'::.T^7:^^^:i^S:^^e:i hi l^l^ZVXl Jey do fro. the .ound head and short neck to the tip of the Ion. tail. The 
 ^ouSstrs are hSfgood tim a characteristic of all Kittens whether they belong to Pussy or a stately Leopardess. iFel>s tardus.) 
 
 ("5) 
 
116 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 At a cursory glance we might deem the spotted 
 fur of the Leopard much too bright for a successful 
 life of rapine, in which the prey must be overpowered 
 by stealthy, unperceived movements. But even a 
 superficial consideration of the native country of 
 the animal dispels these ideas. Whoever has seen 
 his haunts personally, finds it only natural that so 
 brightly clothed an animal should disappear in their 
 vegetation and their rocks. These animals are found 
 in large numbers wherever there are extensive forests 
 with a dense growth of underbrush. They do not 
 like grassy plains, although they are frequently met 
 in other open places and in the plantations and fields 
 surrounding settlements. Mountains are a favorite 
 resort for them, for high elevations abound in game 
 and furnish excellent places of concealment. 
 
 The Leopard Notwithstanding his moderate size, the 
 a Terrible Leopard is a truly terrible foe to all an- 
 ^°^- imals and even to human beings, though 
 he avoids Man as long as possible. He is a master 
 in all athletic accomplishments, and craftier than 
 other Beasts of Prey; so that he catches even the 
 most wary or the fleetest of game. He climbs a 
 pole or tree as well as any Cat, and is quite as often 
 found on trees as on the level ground. In case of 
 necessity he can swim streams of considerable width. 
 It is only in movement that he shows his full beauty. 
 He is so full of lithe, easy gracefulness that one can 
 not fail to enjoy watching him, however one may hate 
 him for his cruelty. Nothing denotes the slightest 
 effort in his soft, rounded movements; his feet tread 
 as gently as if they carried the lightest of bodies, 
 and the Leopard delights the eye to an extent 
 equaled only by one other much smaller beast of 
 prey — the Genette. 
 
 Unfortunately his intellectual gifts do not harmo- 
 nize with his extremal beauty; at least, not according 
 to our standard. The Leopard is crafty, ill-natured, 
 ferocious, vindictive and by no means cowardly. In 
 Africa he is, like the Jaguar in America, sometimes 
 called Tiger, for this name is thought to designate 
 the embodiment of cruelty, and no other Cat is as 
 worthy of the name as he. He kills all the creatures 
 he can, be they large or small, aggressive or defense- 
 less. His principal food is probably furnished by 
 Antelopes, Jackals, Sheep and Goats, but he also 
 climbs after Monkeys and catches birds of all kinds. 
 Anything in the animal world serves him for prey 
 although, according to Pechuel-Loesche's observa- 
 tion, he also devours the fruit of the oil-palm. The 
 Baboons always have him at their heels. He pre- 
 vents these animals from becoming too numerous, as 
 may be seen in the mountains where the Leopard 
 does not range, the Dog-headed Monkeys being 
 found there in much larger numbers than elsewhere. 
 
 He is said to cause fearful slaughter in herds guarded 
 by enclosures, and will kill a dozen or more Sheep in 
 a single night. That is why the- herdsmen fear him 
 more than the other Carnivora, which stop with a 
 single victim. He is also an inveterate Chicken thief. 
 
 Exciting En- The Leopard gave me a personal proof 
 counter with a of his intrepidity. One day we were 
 Leopard. riding on horseback through a part of 
 the Bogos mountains. Suddenly we heard the bark- 
 ing of Baboons over our heads and decided to try 
 our guns on them. The servants were left in the 
 valley with the Mules, while we climbed the mount- 
 ain and, having selected a convenient spot, fired at 
 the Baboons. They were perched at a great eleva- 
 tion, and most of our shots failed to reach them. 
 Some of them did, though, and the victims either 
 
 fell or escaped wounded. A very old Baboon came 
 staggering down the mountain-wall, and we thought 
 we would surely find him dead in the valley. 
 
 Suddenly there was a terrible uproar among the 
 Monkeys and then sounds of tumult reached us from 
 the valley. All the male Baboons advanced to the 
 edge of their roc1s:s, grunted, growled and roared, 
 and furiously beat the earth with their fists. All eyes 
 looked downward and a few of the strongest males 
 started to climb down. We thought they were going 
 to attack us and reloaded our guns with a little more 
 haste. The noise'from below grew greater, our Dogs 
 barked, and at last we heard the words: "Help! 
 help! a Leopard!" We looked down and saw a Leop- 
 ard making straight for our servants. He seemed 
 occupied with something else on the way, but his 
 body concealed the object from our view. Then two 
 shots followed and all became quiet, except for the 
 barking of the Dogs. 
 
 Events had happened so quickly, that we did not 
 know what the matter could be. So we hurried down 
 at once, and found our servants staring at a bush in 
 every possible attitude. "There is the Leopard," 
 they cried. Cautiously I approached the bush, but 
 could see no trace of the beast. Then one of them 
 pointed to a particular spot, and I saw a dead Leop- 
 ard lying close before me. About ten paces farther 
 off lay a dead Baboon. 
 
 Now we had an explanation of everything. In 
 mounting we had probably passed quite close to the 
 Leopard. Then we had fired about ten shots, whose 
 report had been re-echoed by the rocks. Upon this, 
 the Leopard had rushed on the wounded, descending 
 Monkey, in spite of the Men he had seen and heard, 
 undeterred by the loud reports of the guns which 
 had frightened all the other animals, and heedless of 
 the broad daylight. Sitting on the Baboon as on a 
 Horse, he rode down into the valley, nothing daunted 
 by the shouts of the servants. The cook said that 
 he then, being " frightened to death," had seized one 
 of my guns and shot at random, the bullet luckily 
 piercing the Leopard through the chest. Then he 
 had killed the Baboon without being quite clear why 
 he had done so. Investigation brought to light the 
 fact that the Leopard had put his claws into the 
 Monkey's face, tearing deep holes in it, while he had 
 in some places let his hind paws drag. 
 
 Destruction In villages and cities lying • in the 
 
 Caused woods, the Leopard makes frequent 
 
 by Leopards, attacks upon dwellings. Before the 
 
 .very eyes of people he seizes upon his prey and 
 
 drags it away, paying no attention to the shouts and 
 
 noises of the spectators. Every domestic animal is 
 
 food for him. He is fond of Dogs, too, though they 
 
 object strongly, and resist being carried away. In 
 
 many localities the natives are compelled to build 
 
 strong stables for their domestic animals, so as to 
 
 protect them during the night. 
 
 When the female Leopard thinks her cubs are in 
 danger, she rushes at her foes in a mad rage. There 
 are also instances on record, where Leopards have 
 attacked people without any reason. In Abyssinia 
 such things happen every year, especially to children. 
 In Western Africa they also become dangerous to the 
 inhabitants at times. 
 
 Government statistics in India show that in the 
 decade from 1876 to 1886, 2,368 people were killed 
 by Panthers, the number killed in a single year 
 ranging frorn 194 to 300. It does not say how many 
 of these accidents were caused by wounded or irri- 
 tated beasts. Sanderson says that he knows of no 
 
THE BLACK PANTHER. This member of the Panther'species diffevs from the others principally in the dark hue of its fur and the consequent 
 
 indistinctness of its spots. It is a' restless hunter, killing not only mammals but also birds. The animal in the picture is represented in its native Sumatran 
 jungle, ready to seize an aquatic bird which has become aware, too late, of its enemy's stealthy approach. {Felts melas.) 
 
 (117) 
 
118 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 instance where a Panther had developed into a sys- 
 tematic Man-eater, like Tigers do; but in some parts 
 of India this complaint is made in regard to these 
 animals. Blanford writes that they occasionally get 
 into the habit of eating Men, and then are more ter- 
 rible than Tigers with the same propensities. 
 
 Difficulties The hunting of Leopards is attended 
 of Leopard with greater difficulties than the hunt- 
 Hunting. Jug of Tigers. They are much more 
 numerous than the latter, but they are harder to find, 
 for they are not so dependent on water or on partic- 
 ular localities; and they can hide themselves in a 
 
 l!H£ LONG TAILED PAHTHER. The merest glance at this picture shows that the animal it represents is 
 
 aptly named. It is spotted differently from other Panthers, and its head is less round and the neck proportionately 
 longer. It is one of the boldest and fiercest of the animals infesting the forests of Sumatra and Java, and its strong 
 limbs and muscular development make it an assailant to be feared.- (Pelis variegaia.) 
 
 marvelous way. All writers are agreed in ascribing 
 to them greater courage than the Tigers possess. 
 Sanderson relates the story of a Panther which, 
 hedged in by fences, jumped at the barriers, threw 
 them down, charged at a guard standing by, lacer- 
 ated his left arm, and was gone before anybody could 
 come to the rescue. He was pursued and found hid- 
 den in a bush. Once more he was surrounded by 
 nets, but obstinately refused to leave the thicket, in 
 spite of the clubs and stones thrown at him. The 
 pursuers were too excited to wait patiently, and San- 
 derson, accompanied by a band of armed Men, en- 
 tered the enclosure and made for the thicket. We 
 know that the Tiger is afraid of such a compact 
 body of Men; but this Panther suddenly rushed out 
 of the bush, threw down and badly hurt with his 
 claws the third Man to the left of Sanderson; the two 
 Men at his side and back fared equally badly, and 
 then the animal disappeared, without having been 
 touched by bullet or spear. Thus one Panther dis- 
 
 abled four of his pursuers in one day and himself ; 
 escaped unscathed. . ., t j r n 
 
 H/lother The breeding season of the Leopard falk 
 Leopard in the months preceding spring m the dif- 
 and Cubs, ferent latitudes that he inhabits. Captive : 
 females give birth to from three to five cubs at a lit- 
 ter. The little ones are blind for ten days after 
 birth, and are charming little animals, as well in ! 
 respect to their markings as in their conduct, and ' 
 they are as playful as Kittens. In the wild state, the : 
 mother hides them in caverns, under roots of large 
 trees, or in thick bushes. When they have attained 
 
 the size of a large Cat, 
 they accompany their 
 mother on her nigiitl.y • 
 hunts, and owing to the , 
 excellent training she' 
 gives them, they are 
 soon able to cater for 
 themselves. A nursing 
 Leopard is a plague to 
 the whole neighborhood. 
 Her depredations are ac- 
 complished with the ut- 
 most boldness, yet with 
 still greater caution thaa 
 usual, and it is seldom 
 that one can catch either 
 the mother or cubs. 
 The Leopard During my 
 in stay in Af- 
 
 Captiuity. fjca I kept 
 a male Leopard for a 
 long time, but I could 
 not make our mutual re- 
 lations friendly. When- 
 ever I approached the 
 cage he expressed his 
 dissatisfaction by grin- 
 ning, showing his teeth; 
 and sometimes hissing.,: 
 Whenever I approached., 
 an inch nearer than 
 usual, he would watch for 
 an unguarded moment 
 and try to give me a 
 blow with his paw. Like 
 all the other Beasts of 
 Prey which I kept, I had' 
 him fastened to an extra- 
 long chain, so I could 
 let him out of his cage once in a while. As soon as 
 he entered the yard, he began to act as if mad; he 
 jumped, stretched himself, hissed and looked wildly 
 around. The longer I made his chain the greater 
 was his rage. His eyes threatened danger and death 
 to all the rest of the animals. The Monkeys would 
 fly lip the walls, pillars and poles, and utter their 
 gurgling sound of terror; the GoStS" would bleat, 
 the Ostriches would run to and fro like creatures 
 possessed, and the Lion would gaze with a growl at 
 this raving Orlando Furioso. With all his might.' 
 and main the Leopard would try to break his chain, ■ 
 and I must confess that several times we were afraid 
 he would succeed. The most difficult task was to get 
 him back into his cage. He would not go of his' 
 own accord, and we could not compel him to do so. 
 Threats were of no avail; when we showed him the 
 whip, he showed us his jaws; when we shouted at him, 
 he hissed back; when we attempted to approach him 
 he crouched down ready for a jump. We had to. 
 
THE CAT FAMILY— OUNCE. 
 
 119 
 
 overcome his obstinacy without ill-treating him, for 
 he did not belong to me, and I had to be careful with 
 him. I dared not even use my whip, made of the 
 hide of a Hippopotamus; it was sufficient to cow all 
 the other animals, but it was not long enough to 
 •drive this one to the door of his cage. So I took a 
 
 THE OniTGE. The animal which is shown in this picture in an attitude characteristic of the stealthy move- 
 ments of the entire family, is especially distinguished from the Leopard and Panther by its thick coat which enables 
 it to live in cool and mountainous regions. The distinct markings of the spots, small on the head and larger and 
 ring-shaped on the body, are well brought out. It is sometimes called the Snow Leopard. (Felts uncia.) 
 
 new stable-brush and fastened it on a long pole; with 
 this he got his beating, but it did not have the desired 
 effect. Then I hit upon the plan of pouring water 
 over him, and as soon as a pail was emptied upon his 
 head or the hose was turned upon him he made for 
 his cage with all possible speed. Later on I only had 
 to show him the hose to 
 make him decamp. 
 
 The Romans frequently 
 used Leopards and Pan- 
 thers in their amphithea- 
 tres. The latter were then 
 plentiful in Asia Minor, 
 and Scaurus sent in one 
 hundred and fifty of the 
 spotted animals. Pompey 
 sent four hundred and. ten 
 and Augustus four hun- 
 dred and twenty. 
 
 THE OUNCE. OR SNOW 
 LEOPARD. 
 
 A large-sized Cat of cen- 
 tral Asia, the Ounce, prob- 
 ably comes nearest the 
 Leopard. The Ounce, or 
 Snow Leopard (Felts uncid), 
 attains nearly the same 
 size as the Leopard. The 
 
 that the animal is destined to live m colder regions 
 than the Leopard. He is indigenous to central Asia 
 as far as Siberia. A. Walter says: "He takes the 
 place of the Panther in the mountains of Turkestan, 
 and inhabits the Atlas and the South Siberian mount- 
 ains, southeastern Buchara, the Pamir, Cashmere 
 
 and the whole of Thibet." 
 In the Himalayas he feeds 
 on wild Sheep, wild Goats, 
 rodents and birds, and also 
 kills the smaller domestic 
 animals. He is said to at- 
 tack Horses, but has never 
 been known to attack 
 Man. 
 
 OTHER OLD WORLD 
 FELINES. 
 
 There are still a few 
 smaller Old World Felidae 
 which deserve to be men- 
 tioned in connection with 
 the preceding group. 
 
 The Viverrine Cat {Felis 
 viverrind) is of the same 
 size as the Wild Cat. It 
 has a gray ground color, 
 which may vary in inten- 
 sity, and is spotted with 
 black. It inhabits East 
 India, southern China and 
 the Malay Peninsula, liv- 
 ing chiefly near rivers and 
 swamps and feeding upon fish. It is said, also, to 
 attack rather large mammals, like Dogs and Sheep. 
 The majority of these Cats behave badly in captiv- 
 ity and are very difficult to tame. 
 
 Still smaller is the Leopard-Cat {Felis bengalensis), 
 whose size is that of our domestic Cat. It is spread 
 
 
 THE LEOPAED CAT. 
 
 j^^j^ jjjiui iiivj/ vjii. -Fierce, cruel and untamable, this Cat is a terror to small animals and birds in all 
 ground color of the skin parts of eastern Asia. It derives its name from the number and shape of its spots, although they are not so sharply 
 ^ whitish eray, the hairs defined as those of the Leopard. It is noted for its agility in climbing, and the picture shows it in the appropriate 
 
 , ..,° ,-^1 ^""^ "a,ii.j surroundings of its arboreal home- 
 tipped With light yellow; 
 
 the back, as usual in this class of felines, assumes a 
 darker tinge, the under part of the body a lighter 
 hue. The black spots are distinct; they are small 
 and full on the head, larger and ring-shaped on the 
 neck, and form large rings surrounding a dark cen- 
 ter on the body. The fur of the Ounce shows clearly 
 
 {Felis bengalensis.) 
 
 all over eastern Asia, and enjoys the reputation of 
 being a very agile climber and an intensely cruel and 
 ferocious animal. It is said to be tamable only in 
 rare instances. 
 
 We may regard the Serval (Felis serval) as a con- 
 necting link between Cats and Lynxes. He is of 
 
120 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 slender build, and the head is adorned with large, 
 wide ears, which give it the appearance of being 
 remarkably high. The fur is of a light tan color 
 with black bands on the back and spots on the sides. 
 It is a rather common Cat in South Africa, and is 
 also found in all grassy plains of the continent. Its 
 chief prey is smaller mammals, and especially poul- 
 try. When caught young it may be tamed by good 
 treatment, but adults usually retain their ferocity. 
 The fur is sold as "African Tiger-Cat," but does not 
 command a high price. 
 
 AMERICAN FELINE ANIMALS, 
 
 The next of kin to the Lion was formerly supposed 
 to be found among the New World Felidae, to which 
 we will now turn; but their slender body, shorter legs, 
 and small head devoid of beard and mane place the 
 
 
 
 
 ^♦s*?-^^*^ 
 
 THE SEBVAL. One of the vices of this African Cat is that it preys upon birds and is an accomplished Chicken 
 
 thief. It is therefore appropriately portrayed in the picture with a -bird as its victim. The characteristics of this Cat, the 
 slender body, black stripes and spots on the light (tan-colored) fur, and especially the large, long ears, are all well shown in 
 the illustration. {Felis servaL) 
 
 uniformly colored New World Felidae on a much 
 lower plane than the Old World Cats. 
 
 THE COUGAR, OR PUMA. 
 
 The best known species of the uniformly colored 
 American Felidae is the Cougar, Silvery Lion or 
 Puma {Felis, concolor), commonly called "Panther" 
 in the United States, and having different local names, 
 among which are those of " Tiger," "Catamount" and 
 " Mountain Lion." His length is about forty inches, 
 the tail measures about twenty-five inches, and the 
 shoulder height is about twenty-five inches. The 
 dense, short, soft fur is more abundant under the body 
 than on the back. The prevailing color is tan-brown, 
 darkest on the spine, whitish on the under parts. 
 Above and below the eye there is usually a white 
 
 spot. The head is gray and the tip of the tail is. 
 dark There is no difference in color between male 
 or female, but the cubs are totally different from their 
 parents. The tint of adult Pumas also varies with the 
 locality; those in South America are lighter, being- 
 nearly a silver-gray, while those confined to Mexico- 
 and the United States are of a dark tan color. 
 
 Home and The Puma is very widely spread. He 
 Haunts of the is found not only all over South Amer- 
 Puma. ica, from Patagonia to New Granada, 
 but he extends over Mexico into the United States 
 and as far as Canada. In some localities the animal 
 is very common, in others it had already been nearly 
 exterminated in the last century, when Azara fur- 
 nished the first good description of it. 
 
 The haunts of the Puma depend upon the nature 
 of the country. In sections well wooded he decid- 
 edly prefers forests to 
 plains; but his favorite 
 spots are edges of for- - 
 est and plains grown 
 with very high grass, 
 though he apparently ' 
 visits these latter only' 
 for hunting purposes; 
 at least, he always 
 makes for a forest, 
 when pursued by Men. 
 Still he is constantly 
 found in the pampas- 
 of Buenos Ayres, 
 where there are no for- 
 ests at all, and there 
 he hides very skill- 
 fully in the grass. He 
 seems to avoid banks 
 of streams and locali- 
 ties that are subject to • 
 inundations. Like 
 many of his family he 
 1 IS no particular den 
 lair. He spends 
 tl e day sleeping on 
 liees, in bushes or in 
 tl e high grass; in the' 
 "^ening and at night^ 
 ne goes forth to hunt. 
 He sometimes covers 
 great distances in a 
 single night, and' 
 sportsmen do not al-' 
 ways find him near the 
 place where he struck, 
 down his prey. 
 
 Every movement of 
 the Puma is full of grace and vigor; he is said to- 
 make leaps of eighteen feet and more. His sight is 
 keenest in the dusk and by night, though bright sun- 
 shine does not seem to dazzle him. His sense of 
 smell is deficient, and his hearing extremely acute. 
 He exhibits courage only in the direst necessity; 
 and as a rule he flees before Men and Dogs. 
 
 All smaller, weak mammals are his prey, 
 Deer, Sheep, young Calves, and Colts when 
 separated from their mothers. Even the fleet- 
 footed Monkeys have no immunity from his attacks, 
 for he holds sway in the trees as well as on the level 
 ground. Rengger once observed him hunting Monk- 
 eys. The flute-like tones of a few Capuchins had. 
 attracted the naturalist's attention, and he seized his 
 gun to kill a few of them. Suddenly the whole troop- 
 
 Prey 
 of the 
 Puma. 
 

 PUMA AIIACKINGf' AN AXT-BEAB. There is no more harmless creature than the Ant-Bear of South America, when let alone. But its fore- 
 feet are muscular and its claws are powerful and when a Puma attacks it they are used with such effect that the fierce feline is often severely wounded, 
 although generally succeeding in making a meal of the Ant-Bear. The Pnma is a very bloodthirsty animal, and, whether hungry or not, usually attacks 
 every animal that comes in its way. The savage character of its onslaught is well portrayed in the picture. (Feiis concolor.) 
 
 (121) 
 
122 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 of Monkeys broke into a croaking cry and came 
 rushing in his direction. Dexterously the animals 
 swung from branch to branch, from tree to tree, ex- 
 pressing, in plaintive cries, their great terror. A 
 Puma was pursuing them, leaping from tree to tree. 
 He slipped through the tortuous branches, wound 
 with creeping vines, with most incredible agility, 
 making his way out on boughs until they bent with 
 his weight, and then jumping to another tree. 
 
 When the Puma has seized his victim, he tears 
 open its neck, and laps its blood before he begins to 
 eat. He devours every part of a small animal; but 
 larger ones he eats only in part, usually the head, 
 neck and shoulders, and, according to Azara's obser- 
 vations, he covers up the remainder with straw or 
 sand. Frequently the slaughter of a single creature 
 
 THE COUGAB OK PUMA. This -vicious beast is an American animal ranging from Canada to Patagonia, 
 
 and in the United States is only found in forests or mountain fastnesses in the West and South. It is distinguished 
 from others of the Cat tribe by being of one color, with the exception, usually, of white spots above and below the 
 eyes. The picture represents a family row, evidently. The Puma in the background has captured a large bird and 
 the other wants it. There will be trouble. (Fclis concolor.) 
 
 good: An Englishman, hunting wild Ducks m the 
 pampas, was creeping along on the ground towards 
 some birds. He had wrapped his head and body in 
 a poncho, so as to escape the notice of the birds. 
 Suddenly he heard a short, hoarse roar, and nearly 
 simultaneously something touched him. Quickly he 
 threw down his covering and to his great surprise ' 
 beheld a Puma at arm's length. The animal was 
 just as much astonished as he. It gazed at the 
 sportsman for some moments, slowly retreated a few 
 steps, stopped again, and then made its escape in 
 huge bounds. 
 The Puma Pumas captured old sometimes reject all 
 in food and prefer starvation to the loss of 
 Captivity, liberty; when very young cubs are cap- 
 tured they soon become thoroughly tamed. Some 
 
 of them enjoy the liberty 
 housed 
 keep- 
 rub 
 then 
 m. 
 When petted, they purr 
 like Cats. Probably they 
 also do this when they 
 feel particularly comfort- 
 able. When displeased 
 they growl, but a roar 
 has never been heard 
 from them. 
 
 Two tame Pumas that I 
 took care of always 
 greeted their friends with 
 a shrill whistle, the like 
 of which I never heard 
 from any other Cat. 
 There is one drawback to 
 a tame Puma; when he 
 has greaf affection for 
 his master and likes to 
 play with him, he hides 
 at his approach and then 
 jumps on him unexpect^g 
 edly, as tame Lions are 
 also wont to do. One 
 may easily imagine how 
 uncomfortable such an 
 ill-timed caress may be-: 
 come. 
 
 The skin of the Puma 
 is only used in the north- 
 ern parts of America. In 
 some localities his flesh 
 is eaten and is said to be 
 very palatable, being ■ 
 similar in taste to that of 
 the Calf. 
 
 does not content this sanguinary animal, and thus he 
 becomes a dangerous enemy to owners of flocks. 
 He never carries his victim far from the place at 
 which he killed it He rarely attacks animals larger 
 than Sheep; Horses, Mules and Cows are secure 
 from his attacks, as well as Dogs; although he fre- 
 quently prowls close to houses. 
 
 Hunting Owing to his cruelty and the injury he 
 ttie does to the property of Man the Puma is 
 
 Puma. being energetically exterminated. There 
 is no great danger in hunting him if one is cautious, 
 for even a wounded Puma is not much to be feared. 
 
 Among the many stories illustrating the character 
 of this animal, the following seems to me to be very 
 
 THE YAGUARUNDI. 
 
 Description Nearest to the Puma stands the Yag 
 oftlie uarundi {Felis yaguarundi), a slender 
 
 Yaguarundi. creature nearly resembling a Marten in 
 his long body and tail. The head is small, the eye 
 moderately large, the ears rounded, the fur short, 
 dense and of blackish gray-brown color; each hair 
 is of a gray-black hue at its root, then black and the 
 tip is brown. The female is always lighter in tinge. 
 The size is much smaller than that of the Puma, for 
 the body is only twenty-two inches long; the length 
 of the tail is nearly thirteen inches and the shoulder 
 height fourteen inches. 
 
raSoSltrp:^!:" '^::::::r:':^:^tJ:r^^^^Z:n^^^---^ - K>ect.ca> .. ... abounds in SC. .r.....n ...r.. 
 ^seeming to know that its only reward would be a shock. (Felts onsa.) 
 
 (123) 
 
124 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 The Yaguarundi inhabits South America, between 
 Paraguay and Panama, and O. StoU has also found 
 him in southern Guatemala under the name of Gato 
 del Monte. 
 
 Usually the Yaguarundi lives in pairs in a given 
 strip of land, and undertakes short journeys from 
 these headquarters. Not infrequently he shares his 
 hunting grounds with other couples, contrary to 
 the habits of Felidse in general. Rengger's Dogs 
 once found six Yaguarundis in one hedge. He does 
 not attack Men, and hunting him is not fraught 
 with any danger. He scarcely ever defends himself 
 against Dogs and is also caught in traps. 
 
 Rengger kept several Yaguarundis that were capt- 
 ured young. They were as tame as the gentlest of 
 domestic Pussies, but their Poultry-stealing propen- 
 sities were such that he could not allow them the 
 freedom of the premises. 
 
 THE JAGUAR. 
 
 The Jaguar {Felis onza) is the largest, strongest 
 and most ill-famed of all New World Felidse. Every 
 traveler has had some new tale to tell about him, 
 although it seems that old accounts exaggerated his 
 ferocity. It is easily explained that many stories 
 were believed to be true that were only founded on 
 current gossip, for the animal was but little known. 
 
 The Jaguar shows more vigor than agility in his 
 frame, and his appearance is a little clumsy. The 
 body is not as long as that of the Leopard or Tiger, 
 and the limbs are proportionately shorter than theirs. 
 According to Rengger's statement a full-grown Jag- 
 uar measures fifty-eight inches from the tip of his 
 snout to the root of his tail, and the length of the 
 latter is twenty-seven inches. A. von Humboldt saw 
 several specimens which were as large as the Royal 
 Tiger. The average shoulder height is thirty-two 
 inches. The fur is short, thick, lustrous and soft, and 
 longer at the throat, on the breast and on the under 
 part than on the rest of the body. The ground color 
 as well as the spots are subject to great variations. 
 The majority have a tan colored body, except that the 
 inner side of the ears, the jaws, the throat, the under 
 part of the body and the inner side of the legs are 
 white. The fur is marked all over, either with small 
 black, circular, oblong, or irregularly shaped spots, 
 or with larger spots and rings edged around with 
 black or tan color, and having one or two black points 
 in the middle. On the inner side of the legs the 
 spots sometimes unite to form bands, and the end. 
 portion of the tail shows two or three full rings. All 
 varieties show a black spot at the corners of the 
 mouth. On the spine the spots merge into an irreg- 
 ular stripe, which divides in two on the buttocks. 
 More exact particulars can hardly be given, as no 
 two or three skins are. marked exactly alike. The 
 female shows a paler tint than the male, and her 
 spots are smaller and more dense. BJack Jaguars 
 are not a very great rarity. Their skins are so dark 
 thsvt the spots are hardly distinguishable. 
 
 The variety in size, ground color and markings 
 must be considerable, and rather uniform in essen- 
 tials, as many naturalists recognize several distinct 
 species. 
 
 Home and The name of " Jaguar " is taken from 
 Haunts of the the Guaran language, in which "Jaguar- 
 Jaguar. ette" signifies "body of a Dog." The 
 Spaniards call the animal "Tigre," the Portuguese 
 "Onca." The Jaguar extends from Buenos Ayres 
 and Paraguay all through South America to Mexico 
 and the southwestern part of the United States. 
 
 Probably he is most common in the temperate re- 
 gions of South America, and least frequently found 
 in the United States, where the encroachments of 
 civilization have driven him farther and farther into- 
 retirement. He inhabits the wooded banks of 
 streams, edges of marshy woods and marshes grown 
 with grass and reeds over six feet high. He is sel- , 
 dom seen in a field or in the center of large woods, \ 
 and then only when he transfers his abode from one i 
 locality to another. Where dawn surprises him he 
 lies down and spends the day. 
 
 The Jaguar In the morning dawn, or evening dusk, ' 
 Searching or in broad moonlight, the Jaguar sets 
 for Prey. forth on his travels, but never by day- 
 light, nor during very dark nights. All of the larger 
 kinds of vertebrates that he can get hold of he 
 preys upon. He is a formidable enemy in every 
 respect. His gait appears clumsy, but he moves 
 with the greatest ease and agility when circumstances 
 require it. His strength is exceedingly great for an 
 animal of his size, and may safely be compared to 
 that of the Lion and the Tiger. The senses are 
 acute and are of uniform development, except that 
 the smelling faculty is rather deficient, as is the case 
 with all Felidae ; and he seems perfectly endowed, 
 for a life of rapine. He is not fastidious in his feed- 
 ing. Azara found bristles of a Porcupine and Reng- 
 ger found parts of Rats in stomachs of Jaguars, so 
 that they evidently prey upon the smaller as well : 
 as the larger animals. The Jaguar lurks for birds 
 in the reeds, and very skillfully catches fish in the 
 water. A. von Humboldt says : " The Jaguar is the 
 most formidable foe of the Arrau-turtle, and follows ; 
 it to the place where it deposits its eggs on the 
 beach. In order to devour it more easily he turns 
 it over on its back. The Turtle is thus rendered 
 helpless, as it cannot regain its feet unassisted, and 
 as the Jaguar turns over many more. Turtles than he 
 can eat in one night the Indians often profit by his^ 
 industry. One cannot too much admire the dexter- 
 ity of the Jaguar's paw, with which he empties the 
 Turtle's shell, penetrating the double coat of. mail 
 with as much adroitness as if the tendons had been. ; 
 cut by a surgical instrument." 
 
 "An experienced sportsman," says Rengger, "can 
 often observe the Jaguar, especially along water- 
 courses where he may be seen creeping up to the 
 bank in search of Otters. From time to time he 
 stops and looks attentively around ; but I never saw 
 him follow the spoor of game guided by his scent, 
 his nose on the ground. The patience and circum- 
 spection with which he approaches a victim are- 
 incredible. His movements are sinuous, like those- 
 of a Snake, and he often keeps quite still for a few 
 minutes, or makes wide circuits to approach his prey 
 from anothe;- and rnore advantageous side. When 
 he succeeds in approaching near enough, he jumps- : 
 on his victim with one, or sometimes two bounds, 
 fells it to the ground, lacerates its neck, and carries- 
 the agonized animal into the thicket." 
 
 The Jaguar makes great ravages among herds- 
 and flocks. He especially preys upon young Cattle, 
 Horses and Mules. 
 
 Methods He catches his prey as well in the 
 of the Jaguar's water as on terra firma, but he does- 
 Attack. i-iQj- attack animals on trees, although 
 
 he climbs very well when pursued. A great many 
 stories, have been set afloat.about the way he catches 
 fish. Rengger gives us the following report : " I waS: 
 returning in my canoe from a T)uck hunt one sul- 
 try summer evening, when my Indian companions 
 
w^K.j^-- ^ m 
 
 JAGUAB ATTACKIITG A TAFIB. Here is a graphic scene in the South American forest. From a convenient ambush the Jaguar springs out 
 
 upon a Tapir, which has been enjoying herself with her young on the river banlc. Frequently when a Jaguar jumps on the back of a Tapir the attacked ani- 
 mal runs into a thicket with its bloodthirsty assailant, whose hold on the tough, thick hide is weak, and thus the Jaguar is often thrown off. In the case pre- 
 sented in the illustration the Tapir can dive with its young, and thus escape the Jaguar, which, like all other Cats, can do little damage in the water. 
 
 (12O 
 
1-26 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 perceived a Jaguar on the->bJmk of the river. We 
 approached him and hid ourselves so as to observe 
 what he was about. He had crouched down on a 
 little projection of the bank, where the current was 
 swift, and where a kind of fish called " Dorado " 
 was likely to be found. He did not take his eye off 
 the water, but sometimes bent forward a little, as if 
 he wanted to pry into the very depths of the water. 
 In about a quarter of an hour I saw him strike at 
 something with his paw, and then he threw a fish on 
 the ground. It will be seen, therefore, that he fishes 
 exactly like our domestic Cat. 
 
 When the Jaguar has killed a small animal he eats 
 it immediately, including the skin and bones ; but of 
 large prey, like Horses and Cows, he eats only a 
 part, without showing special partiality for any par- 
 ticular piece ; but he leaves the entrails of these ani- 
 mals untouched. After the meal he retires into the 
 forest, usually not over a mile from the place where 
 he has eaten, and goes to sleep. In the evening, or 
 on the following morning, he returns to his prey, 
 makes another meal from it and leaves the remainder 
 to Vultures. 
 
 It is Rengger's opinion that a Jaguar never eats 
 more than twice of an animal he has killed, and never 
 touches the carcasses of animals that are dead when 
 he finds them. He never kills more than one animal 
 at a single onslaught, and in this he distinguishes 
 himself greatly to his advantage, as compared with 
 other large Felidae. 
 
 Jaguars not A Jaguar which has not yet made 
 
 Usually Danger- the acquaintance of Man, avoids him 
 ous to Man. respectfully, and regards him curi- 
 ously at a distance. There is no instance on record 
 of a Jaguar having killed a Man in a forest. Only 
 those Jaguars living in populated districts, or near 
 rivers on which there is much navigation, lose their 
 fear of Man and attack him. Traditional stories are 
 current that Jaguars have been known to enter boats 
 tied to the bank at night and carry away meat or 
 Dogs, and even kill sailors ; but as a general thing it 
 is only imprudent people who lose their lives from 
 attacks of Jaguars, and cautious ones find it not dififi- 
 cult to save themselves from these animals. It is 
 a noticeable fact that the Jaguar differs from some 
 of the other large feline animals in having no fear 
 whatever of fire. 
 
 Sounds Made The much talked of "roar" of the 
 by the Jaguar cannot be a very impressive 
 
 Jaguar. sound. Former travelers have either 
 selected the word too carelessly, or else they have 
 mistaken the noises made by other animals for his. 
 The unrecognized sounds of a strange and unknown 
 environment also may have impressed them in too 
 high a measure. Modern travelers know nothing 
 about this roar. Like the Panther and Tiger, the 
 Jaguar is a silent animal ; it is not often that he 
 growls, grunts, howls, or utters a cry that would ap- 
 propriately befit a Cat of his size. 
 
 Habits and The Jaguar remains in one locality 
 
 Wanderings of as long as there is anything left for 
 the Jaguar. hJm to prey upon and he is not an- 
 noyed too much. When food becomes scarce, or 
 pursuit waxes hot, he leaves the neighborhood and 
 emigrates to other haunts. His journey is made dur- 
 ing the night. He goes through the most densely 
 populated localities and swims across the widest 
 rivers in his migration, daunted by nothing. 
 
 Rengger writes : " The yearly swelling of streams 
 and rivers drives the Jaguars away from the islands 
 and wooded shores, and causes them to come nearer 
 
 settlements ; as a consequence they do more mis- 
 chief during this season. If the inundation is great, 
 one may not infrequently see a Jaguar in a town or 
 a village situated" on the high bank of a river. His 
 appearance is not always attended by damage, for 
 the barking of the Dogs and thronging of people 
 bewilder the animal so much that he looks about for 
 a place of concealment. The wounds inflicted by a 
 Jaguar are always dangerous, not only because of 
 their depth, but also because of their character. 
 Neither his -teeth nor his claws are very sharp or 
 pointed, and so every wound combines bruising with 
 laceration." 
 
 The Female During the greater part of the year the 
 Jaguar and Jaguar, as Rengger's observations show, 
 her Cubs. Jives alone, and only in the months of 
 August and September do the two sexes seek each 
 other's companionship. A litter of young Jaguars 
 consists of two or sometimes three cubs, the mother 
 selecting the most impenetrable thicket of the forest 
 or a pit under a half uprooted tree for a den for her- 
 self and children. During the first days the mother 
 does not leave her young ones, unless it be for a 
 very short time, and when she believes them to be in 
 danger she carries them in her mouth into another 
 den. Her motherly love is said to be very great ; 
 she defends the young ones with a kind of frenzy, 
 and if one of them be killed or captured she pursues 
 their assailant for hours. 
 
 Young Jaguars are often brought up in households. 
 For this purpose they must be captured while they 
 still live on their mother's milk, for otherwise it is 
 too late to tame -them. They play with Cats and 
 Dogs and show a particular fondness for wooden 
 balls. Their movements are easy and lively. They 
 know their keeper perfectly and after a separation 
 show pleasure in seeing him again. As soon as they 
 become conscious of their power, which is about the 
 third year, they do not fail to use their strength to 
 the great inconvenience of their owner. It is use- 
 less to file off their canine and incisor teeth to the 
 roots and to cut their fangs from time to time, for 
 they are so strong that they can do a great deal of 
 mischief without these weapons. While they are 
 young they can be kept in check by blows, but later 
 it is very difficult to master them. Generosity and 
 gratitude are emotions unknown to the Jaguar ; he 
 shows no permanent attachment for his keeper, nor 
 for any animal that has been brought up with him, 
 and therefore there is great risk in keeping him out- 
 side of a cage after he is a year old. 
 
 Methods The Jaguar is constantly pursued 
 of Hunting the and hunted in all possible ways be- 
 Jaguar. cause of his harmfulness. ' In South 
 America the Indians use arrows poisoned with the 
 deadly Urari. Besides this method there is a much 
 bolder proceeding: the sportsman wraps his left arm 
 in a sheep-skin and procures a two-edged knife, 
 about two feet long. Accompanied by two or three 
 Dogs he then sets out in search of the Jaguar, 
 which, when found, attacks the Dogs. Then the 
 sportsman approaches and excites him by words or 
 gestures. The animal makes for the Man with wide- 
 open mouth, approaching on his hind legs like a 
 Bear. The hunter presents his protected arm to the 
 claws of the Jaguar, and, bending a little to the 
 right, thrusts the knife into his left side. 
 
 The natives of Paraguay attack the Jaguar on 
 horseback, using a lasso ; they throw it around his 
 neck and then gallop away dragging him behind 
 them and sometimes strangling him with the aid of 
 
OCELOT Ain) SLOTH. In the South American forests there is no more harmless animal than the Sloth, and none is fiercer than the Ocelot. The 
 
 Sloth derives its name from its slow, crawling movenaents when on the ground, due to the shape of its toes, but it seldom leaves the trees, where it can move 
 about with considerable rapidity. But it is no matcH for the agile, cruel, bloodthirsty Ocelot, to which it falls an easy prey when, as here shown, it is discov- 
 ered by the latter in its prowlings through the swampi' forests which are favorite haunts with both of these animals. 
 
 fi«) 
 
128 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 a second lasso, which is pulled in the opposite di- 
 rection. Sometimes he is caught in pitfalls or killed 
 with spring guns put near his prey. 
 
 The fur of the Jaguar is of slight value and is 
 seldom used in any way except as a rug. Von der 
 Steinen, who has tried Jaguar flesh, says that the first 
 animal was tough, but the second " tasted like roast 
 pork. The cutlets would have been excellent cooked 
 with red cabbage." Certain parts of the Jaguar's 
 body are used as medicines. 
 
 THE OCELOT. 
 
 _^ The Ocelot {Felis pardalis) is a smaller American 
 Cat. His length is about four feet, of which the tail 
 takes up about one foot and a half, and his height 
 at the shoulder is about twenty inches. The body 
 is proportionately strong, the head rather large, the 
 tapering tail moderately long, the ears short, broad 
 and rounded, the pupil of oblong, ovoid shape ; the 
 fur is thick, soft, lustrous and marked with bright, 
 well-harmonized colors. The general color is tawny 
 
 good as moonlight to him, in fact, he prefers those 
 that are stormy, as he can then slink into farmyards 
 unperceived and work destruction at his. own will. 
 In dark nights the farmer has need to lock his poul- 
 try yard with extra care, for if the Ocelot succeeds 
 in entering he will work fearful havoc. In the woods 
 his sustenance consists of birds, small mammals, 
 young Roes, Pigs, Monkeys, Rats, Mice, etc. 
 
 Ocelots live in couples within a circumscribed 
 territory. When the sportsman has seen one he 
 may look for the other in close proximity, but more 
 than two are never found in one locality. Male 
 and female do not go out for prey together, nor do 
 they help each other in the hunt or in an attack. 
 
 The Ocelot does comparatively little mischief to 
 Man ; he is too much afraid of Man and of his 
 Dogs to approach human dwellings. Only houses 
 that are very near woods receive an occasional visit 
 from this animal, and even then he has designs only 
 on the poultry ; he usually carries away about two 
 Chickens and eats them in the nearest bush. If his 
 
 first raid is successful, 
 he is likely to repeat 
 it for several succeed- 
 ing nights, until he is 
 captured or the pursuit 
 becomes too hot for 
 him. In Paraguay he 
 is hunted with Dogs or 
 caught in traps. He is 
 very shy and wary, and 
 on moonlight nights he 
 generally manages to 
 see the hunter and 
 make good his escape 
 before he himself is 
 
 THE FAMFAS CAT. This Cat is noted as having more clearly defined stripes than any other feline animal, 
 
 and these markings are accurately shown in the picture, which portrays the animal in its native home amid the cacti and 
 long grass of the South American plains. (Felis pajeros.') 
 
 or grayish brown above and yellowish white below. 
 A black stripe runs from the eyes to the ears. The 
 body shows bands and spots of black, and the tail 
 is ringed with black. The markings may vary greatly 
 in the different specimens. 
 
 The Ocelot is widely distributed. He is found in 
 the southern parts of North America and in South 
 America south to Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay. He 
 lives more in the deep, virgin forests than in the 
 vicinity of settlements, although he may also be met 
 with there. He is never foufid in the open country, 
 but only in the woods, in rocky or marshy situa- 
 tions. He does not seem to have a permanent den. 
 How the Ocelot During the day he sleeps in the most 
 Liues impenetrable part of the forest ; at 
 
 and Hunts. dusk, and particularly at night, he 
 :goes forth to prey. Dark or stormy nights are as 
 
 seen. 
 The Ways Young Oce- 
 of Tame lots are often 
 Ocelots, caught and 
 tamed, and are interest- 
 ing animals when in 
 captivity. They will 
 play with a little piece 
 of paper, an orange or 
 other trifle like young 
 Kittens. They soon 
 come to know their 
 keeper, will lick his 
 hands, lie down at his 
 feet and climb upon 
 him. They are very 
 susceptible to caresses 
 and purr whenever they 
 are petted, and never snow a treacherous disposition. 
 Captive Ocelots will live on very good terms with 
 Dogs and Cats, but cannot overcome their Chicken- 
 stealing propensities. Forgetful of all former casti- 
 gations, they will spring at a Hen at every opportu- 
 nity and then nothing can keep them from killing 
 the fowl. For this reason they are usually kept in a 
 cage or chained up. 
 
 THE PAMPAS CAT. 
 
 The Pampas Cat {Felis pajeros) possesses more 
 distinct stripes in the markings of its fur than any 
 other member of the Cat family. Its ground color 
 is a beautiful silvery gray, traversed by paler or 
 darker russet r^tripes. Each hair is gray at its root, 
 and then yellow, tipped- with silver-gray, or in the 
 stripes with a russet yellow. Along the spine black 
 
THE CAT FAMILY-^MARGUAY. 
 
 129 
 
 and dark red hair is mixed, and the tail shows from 
 tour to six dark rings near the tip. Though the 
 colors of the Pampas Cat are rather dull, the dis- 
 position of its markings makes it one of the pretti- 
 est members of the Cat tribe. Large Tom-Cats of 
 this species may attain a length of from forty-eight 
 to fifty inches, of which twelve belong to the tail. 
 
 ^/Jt^ 
 
 THE LONG-TAILED TIGER CAT 
 
 The Long-tailed Tiger Cat {Felis macrura) seems 
 to be more common than the two preceding species 
 in the Brazilian forests. Its dimensions are about 
 the same as those of a large domestic Cat, but its 
 paws are much stronger. Its length is forty inches, 
 inclusive of the tail, which measures twelve or thir- 
 teen inches; and its 
 
 ■ THE MAKGtJAY, OR TIGER CAT. This South American feline is rather smaller than the domestic Cat, 
 
 and has a soft and beautiful tan-colored fur, prettily striped and spotted, and a tail that is thickest at the end. It is 
 an arboreal animal, partial to birds as well as rodents and other small mammals. The Cat in the picture seems to 
 have a bird in view. {Felis tigrina.) 
 
 The Pampas Cat, as its name denotes, is indig- 
 enous to the pampas or plains of South America, 
 extending through Patagonia as far as the Straits 
 of Magellan, being especially abundant on the banks 
 of the Rio Negro. 
 
 THE MARGUAY. 
 
 Two other American species are the Marguay and 
 the Long-tg.iled Tiger Cat. The Marguay is called 
 Tiger-cat {Felis tigrtJtis) by nat- 
 uralists and in commerce; and 
 barely attains the size of our 
 domestic Cat. Its body length 
 is twenty inches, its tail length 
 twelve. Its beautiful, soft. Cat- 
 like fur has a pale, tawny color 
 on the upper portion of the 
 body, and is white with dark 
 spots below. The ears are 
 black interspersed with white 
 spots. The tail is bushier at 
 the tip than at its root. 
 
 This Cat resembles the Oce- 
 lot in its mode of life in all re- 
 spects. When taken young it 
 becomes a very docile and 
 affectionate animal, Waterson 
 brought up a young Marguay 
 in Guiana with great care. It 
 
 soon formed a strong attachment for him and fol- 
 lowed him about like a Dog. The house was over- 
 run with Rats and Mice, which had eaten holes in 
 thirty-two doors. The Marguay waged an incessant 
 war agairist them and in a short time it freed the 
 house from these destructive rodents, and thereby 
 especially endeared itself to its owner. 
 
 height at the shoulder is 
 about twelve inches. Its 
 distinguishing features 
 are a small head, large 
 eyes, lancet-shaped ears 
 and curved, whitish claws. 
 Its general color is tan- 
 brown on the upper part, 
 white below, and the 
 whole body shows longi- 
 tudinal rows of dark 
 spots, some of which as- 
 sume a ring-like shape 
 around a lighter center. 
 
 A slender body and 
 beautiful fur make this 
 animal one of the most 
 attractive of the whole 
 Cat family. It inhabits 
 nearly all the great for- 
 ests of Brazil. The Bra- 
 zilians call it the Spotted 
 Wild Cat, and often kill 
 it for the sake of its 
 beautiful fur. It climbs 
 very well, and likes to 
 clamber up creeping 
 vines and search the trees for birds' nests ; it also 
 catches and devours all kinds of small animals. It 
 is a dangerous foe to both wild and domestic Chick- 
 ens and often invades farmyards to steal poultry. 
 It has its lair in hollow trees, rocky holes or caverns. 
 
 THE LYNXES. 
 
 Nearly all naturalists agree in assigning the Lynx 
 (Lynx) a place of its own among' the Cats. The 
 
 
 THE LONG-TAILED TIGER CAT. This slender Brazilian feline, which is about the same size 
 
 but proportionately longer than the house Cat, has a beautiful furwith almost straight rows of spots length- 
 wise of its body, as shown in the picture. The smallness of the head and the pointed ears are also distin- 
 guishing features. (Felis macrura.) 
 
 Lynxes are distinguished by a moderately sized 
 head endowed with tufted ears, and most species 
 also possess well-developed whiskers. The body is 
 slender but strong, the legs are long and the tail in 
 most species is stumpy. 
 
 All continents except Catless Australia are well 
 stocked with Lynxes; Europe itself has two distinct 
 
130 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 species of its own. They preferably iniiabit dense 
 forests, in which they select the most inaccessible 
 places, but they are also found in plains and deserts 
 and even in districts well settled by Man. They 
 may all be regarded as highly-developed Cats; and 
 they are destructive and dangerous to both wild 
 game and domestic animals. 
 
 The The Common Lynx {Lyjix vulgaris) ranks 
 
 Common first among this group, by virtue of his 
 Lynx, beauty and strength. The museum of 
 Christiania has revealed to me the dimensions a 
 Lynx may attain; those shown in German collec- 
 tions usually are but of moderate size. A fully 
 grown Lynx is at the least as large as the Leopards 
 we usually see in zoological gardens; only he is a 
 little shorter of body and has longer legs. His 
 length is from three and one-half to four feet; the 
 tail from six to eight inches and his shoulder height 
 is thirty inches. A male Lynx may weigh sixty, 
 aye, even ninety pounds, as I was told in Norway. 
 The animal has an exceedingly strong frame and 
 powerful paws, reminding one of the Tiger and Lion, 
 and reveals his great strength at the first glance. 
 The ears are rather long and pointed, and end in a 
 thick tuft of stiff black hair, about an inch and a 
 half long. The thick upper lip is provided with 
 several rows of stiff, long whisker-hairs. The body 
 is clothed in a thick, soft fur, which is elongated in 
 the face into a beard, hanging down in points from 
 both cheeks, and in connection with the ear-tufts, 
 giving the Lynx face a rather peculiar appearance. 
 The color of the fur is reddish gray above, spotted 
 with reddish brown on the head, neck, back and 
 sides, while the under part of the body, the inner 
 sides of the limbs, the throat, lips and rings around 
 the eyes are white. The tail is covered with hair of 
 uniform length, and has a wide black tip, which oc- 
 cupies nearly half of its entire length; the other half 
 of the tail shows indistinct rings. In summer the 
 fur is short and reddish, in winter the hair is longer 
 and grayish white. The coloring may vary much in 
 different animals. The females, as a rule, are redder 
 than the males and their spots are more indistinct. 
 The young ones are almost white. 
 
 The Lynx was known to the Ancients, but was 
 exhibited much more rarely in Rome than the Lion 
 and Leopard, because even then he was so much 
 more difficult to take alive. The one that Pompey 
 exhibited had been imported from Gaul. His life in 
 the wild state was shrouded in a mystery which left 
 room for many fables. 
 
 Range and Haunts In the middle ages he was a per- 
 ofthe manent occupant of German for- 
 
 Common Lynx. gsts and was universally detested 
 and pursued. His numbers have been steadily re- 
 duced since and he may now be considered, extermi- 
 nated in Germany proper. 
 
 The present eastern range of this Beast of Prey 
 begins east of the Carpathians. He is found in Rus- 
 sia and Scandinavia, and all the mountainous and 
 wooded parts of eastern Siberia, and his southern 
 Asiatic limit is Turkestan and the Himalayas. 
 
 An essential requirement of his existence is a 
 dense forest abounding in inaccessible thickets and 
 game of all kinds. In sparsely wooded sections the 
 Lynx shows himself only in exceptional cases ; for- 
 est fires may, for instance, compel him to shift his 
 quarters, and he will sometimes search an almost 
 treeless locality for Hares. It may happen that a fire 
 will drive him as far as the orchards of a village. 
 Unlike the Wolf, the Lynx remains for some time in 
 
 one locality, searches it in all directions, often travelr 
 ing miles in one night and using highroads for this- 
 purpose, generally returning to his old quarters. 
 
 Traits and Habits The Lynx is inferior to none of 
 of the the other Cats in physical; and. 
 
 Common Lynx. mental endowments. He is ca- 
 pable of great endurance in walking, can leap an 
 astonishing distance, climbs fairly well, and seems 
 to be a good swimmer. Of his senses his hearing is 
 probably the most efficient, and he therefore has a' 
 full right to the ornamental ear-tuft. His eyesig%^ 
 is probably very keen, although modern observers 
 have given us no proofs in corroboration of the old 
 stories about the Lynx's eye. 
 
 Former writers have compared the sounds ^ he 
 makes to the barking of a Dog, but this is by no 
 means a correct comparison. His cry is a sound' 
 beginning high on the scale and ending low, resem- 
 bling more the roar of a bear. » 
 
 According to Noleken, the Lynx is an entire!^ 
 nocturnal animal. He hides at the dawn of day 
 and then, if undisturbed, lies still till evening ; 
 something the Wolf never does. He selects for his 
 lair a thicket, a cavern, and sometimes holes made 
 by Foxes and Badgers. His choice unfailingly falls. 
 on the very densest thicket that is available, like that '': 
 formed by young fir trees, and then he cares very 
 little whether the environs are much frequented or 
 not. 
 
 As the shades of evening fall he becomes active. 
 During the day he seems as rigid as a statue, but at 
 night he sets out, and during the first part of his 
 journey he makes frequent pauses, like those made , 
 by a Cat previous to entering an enclosure'' that ■■ 
 appears to threaten danger. Only a very inexperi- ' 
 enced person could mistake the spoor of the Lynx 
 for that of any other animal. The imprint is very • 
 deep, owing to the strength of the paw, which ex- 
 ceeds that of a large Wolf; and it is very round in 
 shape, and, as the claws are hidden, is blunt in 
 front. The pace is short compared with the size 
 of the imprints made, and the spoor takes a form* 
 something like that of a row of pearls, and every: 
 person who has once seen it is sure to recognize 
 it again. 
 
 The peculiar structure of the Lynx invests all of 
 his movements with a certain degree of clumsiness: 5 
 His step seems heavy ; but if he lacks the gracefufefi 
 ness of his feline kindred, he possesses their agility^ 
 in full measure, and surpasses them in rapidity o^i 
 movement and endurance. The best illustration or 
 his capabilities in these respects is furnished by a 
 view of the ground where he has attacked his prey 
 in freshly fallen snow. 
 The Common Apparently the Lynx regards as his. 
 Lynx right^yl. prey, every. animal that he may. 
 - andHis Prey, be able to subdue.' ' There is hardly: a 
 living creature, from the smallest mammal or bird 
 up to the Roe, which is secure from him; although 
 it is probable that only the very strong Lynxes will 
 venture to attack large Deer. The Lynx decidedljj^ 
 prefers large to small game and seldom condescends* 
 to catch Mice. - '"'■ 
 
 In the north the Lynx does comparatively little 
 mischief; but in countries of temperate climate he 
 makes himself equally detested by the flock-owner 
 and the sportsman, as he not only kills much more 
 than he needs for his sustenance, but often only laps, 
 the blood of his victim, eating the choicest portions 
 and leaving the remainder to Wolves and Foxes. 
 In these milder climates he seldom returns to feast 
 
THE COMUOIT LYNX. Stealth and agility characterize the movements of the Lynx, which is a restless h,unter and a relentless foe of all small 
 
 animals. Few beasts are more watchful of their young than the female Wild Boar, yet even her vigilance is no match for the cunning of the Lynx. In this 
 picture the artful animal has invaded the porcine litter, securing a little victim at a single spring, and has then as rapidly reached a place of safety in the tree, 
 •where, with its prey in its mouth it views, without apparent compunction, the impotent rage of the bereaved mother below. (Lynx vulgaris.) 
 
 (131) 
 
132 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 a second time on his prey, but in tlie north, where 
 game is scarce, he does this habitually and to such 
 an extent that he totally gives up the search for other 
 prey and remains near the carcass of his victim until 
 it is all eaten. In the Alps he makes his presence 
 felt in quite another and more emphatic way. Ac- 
 cording to Schinz, he preys upon Badgers, Hares, 
 Rabbits and Mice, pursues the Roes arid Chamois, 
 and makes -raids- upon herds of Sheep, Goats and 
 Calves. Bechstein says that a Lynx can kill thirty 
 Sheep in one night; Schinz's experience makes the 
 number from thirty to forty and Tschudi tells of a 
 Lynx who in a short time killed more than one hun- 
 dred and sixty Sheep and Goats. 
 A Tamed Lynx Captive Lynxes may unconditionally 
 an Attractive be counted among the most attract- 
 Animal. ive of Cats. If they have not re- 
 ceived careful training in youth, they do not always 
 show themselves in their most amiable light, but 
 they never fail to attract very marked attention. 
 
 her great excitement she always had enough reason- 
 ing power to gauge the distance and to approximate 
 the difference between the Hare's speed and her 
 own. She would obey only my brother's or my own. 
 summons, and showed no respect toward any other 
 person. When we were both away for a whole day, 
 nobody could control her and then woe be unto'the 
 carelessChicken or.the-thoaghtkss'Goose! iDuriflg 
 our absence she would, as soon as it becanie dusk,, 
 climb on the roof, lean against the chimney, and go. 
 to sleep. As soon as our carriage came into the 
 yard, late at night, she sprang to the stairs in a few 
 bounds. If I then called her name she would come, 
 to me quickly, put her strong fore-paws on my 
 shoulders, and purring and rubbing herself against 
 me like a Cat, she would follow me into the room 
 and prepare to pass the night on the bed or the 
 lounge. 
 
 "Once my brother and I were obliged to stay away 
 from home for a whole week. The Lynx in the 
 
 THE FABDINE LYNX. Although one of the smallest members of his family, the Pardine Lynx of southern Europe is as agile and 
 
 fierce as the largest. The principal characteristics of this Lynx, the short and distinctly spotted fur, the long whiskers and ear-tufts are shown 
 in this picture, which represents him watching for prey from a secure hiding place in a tree. (Lynx -^ardinus.) 
 
 We are indebted to Loewis for an excellent report 
 of a female Lynx that he kept. He says: "A few 
 months sufficed to teach my young Lynx her name, 
 ' Lucy.' When, during a hunting expedition, I would 
 call out this name, together with those of numerous 
 Dogs, she would always respond to her own name, 
 but to no other. Her training, had been .very easy 
 and had reached such a point that when she was en- 
 gaged' in a "passionate but forbidden chase of Hares, 
 Sheep or poultry, and I called her, she would stop 
 instantaneously and come back like a guilty Dog, 
 crouching low on the ground and pleading for 
 mercy. When she was too far away to hear our 
 voices, the report of a gun was sufficient to call her 
 back to us in breathless haste. 
 
 " Lucy took part in all my autumnal hunting expe- 
 ditions. When she caught sight of a poor Hare, she 
 immediately engaged in a hot pursuit, and in spite of 
 
 meantime grew to be afraid of Men, made piteous 
 cries while she searched the place forus, and on the 
 second day emigrated to a birch forest near by, with- 
 out receiving any supplies from the kitchen. Only 
 at night would she go back to her old place on the 
 roof near the chimney. When we at last returned 
 her joy, knew no bounds. W'ith lightning speed she 
 came; down from' the roof, ajid nearly, choked my 
 brother and myself in the embrace she gave us. 
 From that time she was reinstated in our house, and 
 every evening, when my mother would read aloud to 
 us, she would resume her place on the lounge, purring, 
 yawning or snoring, and presenting an interesting 
 spectacle. She displayed highly developed sensibil- 
 ity, an illustration of which was furnished by a scene 
 that I once observed from my window. Our great 
 pond was frozen, but a hole had been cut in the ice 
 for the benefit of the Geese. When the Lynx saw 
 
THE CAT FAMILY— LYNX. 
 
 133 
 
 the flock her eyes sparkled, and with cautious move- 
 ment she slowly crept toward them. The vigilant 
 descendants of Rome's rescuers grew uneasy, but the 
 Lynx was already near. With one bound she darted 
 like an arrow into the frightened assembly, but in- 
 stead of catching a Goose with each paw, as she had 
 evidently intended, she fell into the water. I gave 
 the Geese up as lost, for they stood about oh the slip- 
 pery ice in utter confusion, making no effort to 
 escape, but the Lynx, dripping wet and completely 
 disconcerted, slunk away, through the defenseless 
 crowd with her head lowered, evidently ashamed to 
 be seen after her failure. She hid herself and did 
 not come out again for hours." 
 
 Hunting the The Lynx is zealously hunted, not only 
 Lynx— Its because of the mischief he does, but be- 
 
 Valuable Fur. cause of the pleasure the sport affords. 
 The fur of the Lynx is very valuable. The Scan- 
 dinavian specimens are counted among the finest 
 
 Lynx by the short hairs of his fur, by the propor- 
 tionately very long whiskers, long ear-tufts- and by 
 entirely different markings on his skin. 
 The Peshoo In North America the Peeshoow Cana- 
 or Canadian dian Lynx {Lynx borealis) takes the place 
 Lynx. of the above named European species. 
 He is a little smaller than the European Common 
 Lynx, his length not exceeding forty-six' inches. 
 His fur is shorter and thicker than that of the Eu- 
 ropean Lynx. He is spread all over those parts of 
 North America to the north of the great lakes and 
 east of the Rocky Mountains; and lives in. forests 
 like the Old World Lynx. 
 
 The Canadian Lynx is, next to the, Red Lynx, the 
 most useful wild Cat of America, for his fur serves 
 a variety of purposes. Thousands of skins of this^ 
 species of Lynx are shipped every year to Europe, 
 where they are assorted according to their different 
 qualities and are given various names in commerce. 
 
 THE GABACAL LYNX, This animal is the most vicious member of the Lynx group, and the picture well shows the slender body, 
 
 long limbs, and long ear-tufts that are his prominent characteristics. He is fleet of foot, and attacks Antelopes as well as small mammals and 
 birds in the deserts and grassy plains of Africa and western Asia. (.Lynx caracal.) 
 
 and largest, and these skins command a price of 
 from twenty-five to thirty marks each. Siberia fur- 
 nishes annually about fifteen thousand, Russia and 
 Scandinavia about nine thousand Lynx furs. The 
 skins of the Lynxes of eastern Siberia are disposed 
 of exclusively in the Chinese markets and bring a 
 high price in Mongolia. ■ ~: '!'■ 
 
 Lynx flesh is said to be very savory. Kobell says 
 that during the Congress at Viehrta, in 1814, Lynx 
 , roast , frequently came on the table of Emperors, 
 and in 18 19 the King of Bavaria took a Lynx diet 
 to cure himself of vertigo. The flesh is light col- 
 ored and tender) like the best veal, and is free from 
 the disagreeable taste so often found in game. 
 
 The In the south of Europe the genus Lynx 
 
 Pardine is represented by the Pardine Lynx {Lynx 
 
 Lynx, pardinus). He is much smaller than his 
 
 northern kinsman, for his length barely reaches three 
 
 feet. He is also distinguished from the Common 
 
 The Red Lynx 
 
 or American 
 
 Wild Cat. 
 
 The species of Lynx found in forests 
 in the United States is the Red Lynx 
 or Bay Lynx {Lynx rufus). It is pop- 
 ularly known as the Wild Cat, but is a true Lynx, with 
 the ear-tufts characteristic of that group, and differs 
 from the other members of it principally in the color 
 of its fur. ' It is found all over the United States, 
 from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The general color 
 is usually red, but darker, and sometimes nearly 
 black, along the backbone, while under the body it is 
 whitish and on the breast pure white. The entire 
 fur, except the breast, is covered wi*h spots and 
 streaks of darker fur. The length of the body and 
 head is about fifty-three inches, ancf the tail is six 
 inches long. The color of the fur is a brighter red 
 in summer and a darker brownish red in winter. 
 Different writers have classified several species of 
 the American Lynx, including the Texas Lynx {Lynx 
 maculata), which is found in Texas and Southern Cal- 
 
134 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 ifornia ; the Oregon Lynx {Lynx fasciata) , which in- 
 habits northern Oregon and Washington ; the Flor- 
 ida Lynx {Lynx floridanus) , which is found in Florida, 
 Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana, and the Carolina 
 
 His mode of life is similar to that of his kindred. 
 He preys upon all srnaller mammals and birds of 
 the desert, and also attacks Antelopes; at least the 
 Arabs, who call him "Khut el Chala," have assured 
 
 me that he does. This 
 also agrees with the fact 
 that in Asia, and espe- 
 cially India, he is trained 
 for Antelope, Hare and 
 Rabbit hunting. In my 
 experience the Caracal, 
 proportionately to its 
 size, is the fiercest and 
 wildest member of the 
 Lynx group. No zoo- 
 logical garden has as 
 yet succeeded in taming 
 the ferocious little beast 
 beyond mere toleration 
 of the presence of his 
 keeper in his cage. 
 
 The The common 
 Common Jungle-Cat 
 Jungle-Cat. {Lynx chaus) 
 chiefly inhabits the low 
 swarnpy woods on the 
 shores of the Caspian 
 and Aral Seas, and also 
 in Persia, Syria, Egypt, 
 Nubia and Abyssinia. 
 He IS lilce tihe CcLrs.cs.l 
 
 FEESHOO, OR CANADIAN LYNX. This animal is somewhat smaller and is neither so active nor so fero- „!„„ j ' _„ j i „„„ r i; u' 
 
 cious as the European species. It is regarded as a lazy animal, likmg its ease, and is appropriately presented by the sicuuci diiu luiig ui iiiuu, 
 artist in an attitude of repose. Its ears are not quite so long, but its ear-tufts are longer than those of the Common but has a longer tail and 
 
 Lynx. (Lynx boreaiis.) shortcr ear-tufts. The 
 
 Lynx {Lynx carolinensis) , found in North and South fur is thick, of a yellow or greenish gray, with faded, 
 Carolina. There does not appear to be much justifi- darker stripes which are not very sharply defined, 
 cation for these divisions, which are based principally He attains a total length of thirty-six inches of 
 upon the different 
 markings of the fur. In 
 a general way it may be 
 said that the specimens 
 obtained from southern 
 climates are shorter in 
 their fur, more brightly 
 colored and more dis- 
 tinctly spotted than 
 those from the northern 
 regions, but otherwise 
 these animals do not 
 differ in their habits and 
 characteristics, which 
 are those of the Lynx 
 group in general. 
 
 The Caracal, Among 
 a Southern southern 
 Species of Lynx. Lynxes 
 the Caracal {Lynx cara- 
 cal or Caracal melanotis), 
 strikes one as a genuine 
 child of the desert and 
 plain. This animal is 
 smaller than the north- 
 ern species being from 
 twenty-six to thirty 
 inches long, while its 
 
 tail attains a length of „ COMMON jungle-cat. This animal, which is of the Lynx family, lives in western Asia and in the Nile 
 
 .,..-1,, 4-.=,« ;.^^V.oc valley. He is pictured in one of the reedy swamps which form his favorite haunts, and the somewhat slender body and 
 
 neany ten incnes. hmbs, marked with indistinct stripes, and the tail which is longer than that of other members of his family are all 
 
 The range of the Car- ^^own. (Lynx chaus.) 
 
 acal is surprisingly large. He inhabits all Africa, which about ten inches must be allowed for the tail, 
 
 western Asia and India, and lives in deserts as well I have met the Jungle-Cat several times in the 
 
 as on grassy plains, but he is not found in forests. Nile valley. He is not rare in Egypt, although he 
 
THE CAT FAMILY— CHEETAH. 
 
 135 
 
 is frequently passed unnoticed. In this country 
 there is almost an entire lack of the larger forests 
 in which a Beast of Prey could effectually conceal 
 itself, and therefore the only refuge for such an 
 animal is that furnished by reeds, high grass and 
 corn-fields. The Jungle-Cat prowls around both day 
 and night. He boldly comes up to the very out- 
 skirts of villages, and seems even to select orchards 
 in their vicinity as his favorite haunts. 
 
 Captive Jungle-Cats are seldom seen, and when 
 taken old, they are of a fierce and unamiable dis- 
 position, but young animals may, with kindly care, 
 become very affectionate. The Egyptian explorer, 
 Dumichen, recounts the following story of a young 
 Jungle-Cat which he found half-starved in a subter- 
 ranean vault as he was searching the ruin of a tem- 
 ple : " The Jungl6-Cat made no attempt at escape 
 when I seized it, but seemed to be meekly resigned 
 
 
 the Guepard. It serves to bridge over the chasm 
 between the Cat and the Dog. This animal has a 
 perfect right to its scientific name, Cyiiailurus ( Dog- 
 Cat), for he is really half Cat and half Dog. The 
 head and the long tail are Cat-like, but the rest of 
 the body, and especially the long legs, are much like 
 a Dog's. The paws still show, like the Cat's, a per- 
 fect arrangement for retracting the claws, but the 
 flexor muscles are so weak and ineffectual that the 
 claws nearly always protrude, and therefore are 
 blunted like those of Dogs. The teeth are similar 
 to those of the other Cats, but the canines are 
 pressed together as they are in Dogs. The mental 
 endowments correspond to the physical attributes : 
 The expression of the face is in the main Cat-like, 
 but the disposition of a Dog, in all its good-natured 
 gentleness, speaks to us through the eyes. 
 
 t'i^hi. 
 
 -■•<,' ' 
 
 THE FAHHAS, OR AFBICAN CHEETAH. A glance at this picture will show why the naturalist has given these animals a name 
 
 which means Dog-Cat. The limbs are long like those of the Dog, but the long tail, the head and the paws are Cat-like. The African variety, 
 shown in this picture, differs from the Asiatic species principally in the shortness of the mane on the nape of the neck and different markings of 
 the fur. ( Cynailurus guttatus.) 
 
 to its fate. It ravenously ate the food I gave it, and 
 allowed itself to be taken up and caressed. Fully 
 appreciating the service I had rendered it, the little 
 animal became my inseparable companion, jumped 
 on my Camel when I set out on a trip, wandered 
 with me through the greater part of Nubia, and 
 when I was copying inscriptions, it would keep near 
 me for hours at a time. It also was on friendly 
 tefms with my Dog. The two never quarreled, but 
 often played with each other in the most amiable 
 way." 
 
 THE CHEETAH. 
 
 We now turn to a singular species, the Cheetah or 
 Hunting Leopard, which is sometimes also called 
 
 Character- Our present knowledge is not sufficient 
 iaticsofthe to enable us to decide whether the Chee- 
 Cheetah. t^hs constitute more than one species. 
 Certain naturalists hold the African and Asiatic ani- 
 mals to be identical ; others count besides the Asi- 
 atic Cheetah, sometimes called the Maned Cheetah 
 {Cynailurus jtd?atus), and the Fahhad or African 
 Cheetah {Cynailurus guttatus^, the Spotted Cheetah 
 {Cynailurus soemmeringii), and the Woolly Cheetah 
 {Cynailurus laneus). The Asiatic Cheetah is very 
 slender, and has much longer limbs than the Cats 
 proper. The head is small and elongated in a Dog- 
 like way, instead of being round like that of a Cat ; 
 the ear is wide and low, and the eye has a round 
 pupil ; the fur is long and tangled, especially on the 
 
136 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 back, where it forms a short, though distinct mane. 
 It is of a very light yellowish gray, closely spotted 
 with black or brown, and at the extremity of the tail 
 the spots unite to form a few small rings. The length 
 of the Cheetah's body is about fifty- five inches ; the 
 tail measures thirty inches, and the height at the 
 shoulder is from thirty to thirty-three inches. In the 
 Fahhad, or African Cheetah, the mane on the nape 
 of the neck is nearly absent, and the ground color of 
 the fur is orange, except the under portion, which is 
 white and unspotted ; the spots on the back are dif- 
 ferent from those of the Asiatic species, and the tip 
 of the tail is white instead of black. 
 
 The Asiatic Cheetah is indigenous to the whole of 
 southwestern Asia, and if we count the Spotted Chee- 
 tah as belonging to the same species, also in north- 
 eastern Africa. He is a genuine animal of the plains, 
 who has to gain his livelihood by agility more than 
 by strength. 
 
 The Cheetah's His principal prey are the small and 
 Habits in a medium-sized ruminants which live 
 Wild State. j^ the regions he inhabits, and he is 
 very skillful in their capture. His favorite game are 
 Antelopes, and he is most frequently found in the 
 vicinity of the localities preferred by these animals, 
 generally taking up his abode among the rocks of 
 low hills. Experts agree in saying that for short 
 distances the Cheetah is the fastest runner among 
 mammals. Still he also uses cunning to subdue his 
 prey. Whenever he perceives a flock of Antelopes 
 or Deer, he crouches down and creeps forward, 
 stealthy and quick as a Cat. He adapts his move- 
 ments to the peculiarities of his game, always keep- 
 ing to leeward of it and lying quite still when the 
 leader of the herd lifts its head to reconnoitre. In 
 this way he approaches as near as possible to the 
 most conveniently situated animal ; then he makes 
 a rush at it, pursues it when it flees with wind-like 
 rapidity, fells it to the ground with blows aimed at 
 the feet and then seizes it by the throat. When he 
 is within a rifle shot's range of his prey he does not 
 hesitate to enter into the pursuit of the fleetest- footed 
 game, confiding in his own quickness. 
 
 The Cheetah Such innate cunning and such abil- 
 
 as a Hunting ity for the chase naturally attracted 
 Animal. the notice of the observing natives 
 of his country and incited them to an endeavor to 
 profit by this animal's hunting ability. A simple 
 training suffices to make the Cheetah an excellent 
 sporting animal, scarcely inferior to the Falcon in 
 its way. All over East India he is considered a very 
 valuable assistant in the chase. The Shah of Persia 
 imports Cheetahs from Arabia and keeps them in 
 a house of their own. In 1474 Joseph Barbaro saw 
 a hundred Cheetahs belonging to the Prince of Ar- 
 menia. In Europe the Cheetah has also been used 
 in the chase.. 
 
 It is said that packs of these Cat-Dogs are still 
 kept by a few native Indian princes at no small cost. 
 Their training is confided to specialists, and their 
 use in the chase presupposes the direction of expert 
 huntsmen, occupying a position like that formerly 
 held by falconers; . so we may imagine that this sport 
 is not of the cheapest. 
 
 In India, when such a chase is in progress, the 
 Cheetah, his head covered with a hood, is set on 
 one of the light, two-wheeled carts peculiar to that 
 country. With, this vehicle the hunters approach 
 a herd of grazing game as closely as possible, for 
 as is the case wfith wild herds everywhere else, eveil 
 the shyest Asiatiq animals will permit a carriage to 
 
 approach much nearer than people afoot. When 
 the hunters are within two hundred or three hundred 
 paces of the game the hood is removed from the 
 Cheetah's head and the keepers point the game out 
 to him with expressive gestures. All the animal's 
 latent passion for the chase, together with his nat- 
 ural craftiness, is brought into play. Softly but 
 swiftly he slips from the cart, and unseen and un- 
 heard he creeps up to the game. When he succeeds, 
 in catching his prey, he seizes it by the neck, and 
 then the trainer hurries to it and cuts its throat. 
 The flowing blood is caught in a dish and given the 
 Cheetah to drink, after which his head is again cov- 
 ered with the hood. 
 
 It is very surprising that we know so little of the 
 life in the wild state of this animal which is so often 
 domesticated. I have questioned even the African 
 nomads in vain ; these people who know the animal 
 so well could only tell me that it is caught in traps 
 and tamed in a very short time in spite of its native 
 fierceness. 
 
 The Cheetah That domestication cannot be difificult 
 in is a fact clear to everybody who has 
 
 Captivity, seen a captive Cheetah. I do not be- 
 lieve that I exaggerate when I say that there is no 
 better-natured animal in the whole Cat family, and 
 I doubt if any other wild Cat becomes so thor- 
 oughly tame. Good-nature is the essential trait of 
 the Cheetah's character. A Cheetah, when tied, will 
 never think of biting through the slender cord which 
 holds him. A tame Cheetah never attempts to 
 harm anybody and it is perfectly safe to walk boldly 
 up to him and pet him. He accepts caresses with 
 indifference, or at best only acknowledges them by 
 purring a little louder than usual ; for when he is 
 awake, he purrs all the time, just like a Cat, except 
 that the tone is louder and deeper. Frequently he 
 will stand for hours dreamily gazing in one direc- 
 tion, complacently purring, and at such periods 
 Chickens, Pigeons, Sparrows, Goats and Sheep may 
 pass him unmolested, for he will not even deign to 
 look at them. It is only other carnivorous animals 
 that can disturb his reverie and upset his good- 
 humor. A passing Dog immediately excites him ; 
 he ceases purring and turns a keen glance upon, the 
 intruder, who usually looks somewhat sheepish at 
 such a mornent, and the Cheetah pricks up his ears 
 and sometimes tries to overtake the Dog in a few 
 bounds. 
 
 I had a Cheetah which was so tame that I could 
 lead him through the town by a string. So long-as 
 we only encountered people, he walked quietly by 
 my side, but whenever he saw Dogs he became so 
 excited that once I thought I would make a trial of 
 what he would do if he had less restricted libertyr 
 so I tied him to a rope fifteen or twenty yards long, 
 wound it around my arm and set out with him. 
 Two large, lazy curs crossed our path. Jack (that 
 was my Cheetah's name) ceased his comfortable 
 purr, looked at them sharply and grew impatient. 
 I quickly unwound the rope so as to let him have 
 free play. Instantly he crouched down and crept 
 toward the Dogs, which looked at the singular crea- 
 ture with a puzzled expression. The nearer he 
 came to the Dogs, the more excited and the more 
 cautious he became. Like a Snake he glided along 
 on the ground until at last he thought himself near 
 enough ; then with three or four gigantic bounds he 
 reached one of the now fleeing Dogs and threw it 
 down. This the Cheetah did in a quite peculiar 
 manner; not trying to bury his claws in the Dog's 
 
CHEETAH OE HUNTING LEOPARD. Of the wild members of the Cat family this animal is the most easily tamed. It is sometimes called the 
 
 Hunting Leopard, 'and in India and elsewhere is used in the hunting of Antelopes. It is carried blindfolded in a two-wheeled Ox-cart until the herd is seen, 
 when it is turned'loose. It approaches the herd with cat-like stealth until near enough to spring upon the Antelope, whose jugular vein it severs with a 
 .bite and whose warm blood it drinks as its share of the booty. (Cynailaurus jubatus .) 
 
 (137) 
 
138 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 flesh but beating it with his fore-paws, until it fell. 
 The poor cur was in great terror when it saw the 
 Cat-like face above it, and expressed its fright in a 
 dismal howl which was re-echoed by all the Dogs 
 in the street with demonstrations of compassion 
 and excitement. A large crowd assembled around 
 us, and I was obliged to take my Cheetah and re- 
 turn home without having accomplished my object, 
 which was to see what the Cheetah would finally 
 do with the Dog. 
 Encounter Between I must confess, to my shame, that 
 a Cheetah I delight in no other spectacle so 
 
 and a Leopard. much as a fight between animals, 
 and so I arranged one in my yard. I possessed a 
 nearly full-grown Leopard at the time, a demon in 
 Cat's shape : I have already described him. I made 
 his chain longer and let him into the yard. The 
 Cheetah was not tied to anything. He was in an 
 
 staying in Alexandria, had called on me, expecting- 
 to see my animals, but had not found me at home. ; 
 I promised to show them some of the animals i 
 in their own houses, and once, when I knew they ; 
 were all together, I led Jack by a string and called i 
 on them. I pacified the frightened servants, and 
 went up-stairs. There I opened the , door slightly ' 
 and asked whether I could come in with my Dog. 
 Permission was granted and Jack entered the room. 
 The ladies greeted him with a shriek and then in 
 their despair jumped on a large, round table in the ; 
 middle of the room. Before they had collected! 
 their senses, Jack had followed their exainple and' 
 also stood on the table, purring very good-naturedly 
 and rubbing himself against their dresses. So their, 
 terror was soon dispelled, they started to caress and 
 pet him, and he seemed to be very proud of being 
 treated with such distinction by them. 
 
 THE fOUSSA, OE CRTFTOFBOCTA. This animal, which is confined to the island of Madagascar', forms a distinct group by itself, 
 
 connectmg the Cats and the Civets. The picture shows its peculiarities: the long tail, the short ears, long whiskers, and especially the short, 
 stumpy legs tipped with sharp, retractile claws. The animal is said to be very ferocious and bloodthirsty, and it is greatly feared by the 
 Malagassy natives. {Crypioproctaferox,) 
 
 amiable temper when I brought him into the yard, 
 and purred very expressively ; but as soon as he 
 caught sight of the Leopard he appeared a different 
 animal. His mane stood on end and he even started 
 to spit (something I had never heard him do before), 
 and courageously rushed at his opponent. Then a 
 fight followed accompanied by such a terrible spit- 
 ting and "swearing" that I must say I was frightened. 
 The Leopard was soon vanquished and lay on the 
 ground, but still threatening the Cheetah with his 
 mighty paws. Jack would certainly have come out 
 the victor, if I had not poured two pailfuls of water 
 on the enraged warriors. They stopped immediately 
 and looked rather sheepishly at each other. Then 
 the Leopard, with his antipathy to his occasional 
 baths rearoused, made for the cage, which I imme- 
 diately shut. In a few minutes Jack was licking 
 and cleaning his fur and purring as if nothing had 
 happened. 
 
 How really amiable my Jack was, may be seen 
 in the following anecdote: Several German ladies 
 
 THE FOUSSA, OR CRYPTOPROCTA. 
 
 Pollen's and Schlegel's investigations have shown 
 that the animal named Foussa, or Cryptoprbcta,; 
 which formerly was counted among the Viverridae or 
 Civets, really belongs to the Cats, or at least forms a 
 connecting link between the Cats and the Civets. It 
 possesses the general structure, the expression of 
 the face and the retractile claws of the Cats, while 
 other features, such as the elongated body, the short 
 legs, the short, egg-shaped ears and the long whis- 
 ker-hairs point to the Viverridae. 
 
 The Cryptoprocta ( Cryptoprocta ferox) attains an 
 extreme length of sixty inches, twenty-seven being 
 the length of the tail ; but it is far from tall, as the 
 legs are only six inches long. The fur is close and 
 short, having a shorn aspect on the head and legs. It 
 is reddish yellow, and darker on the upper part, as 
 there each hair is alternately yellow and brown ; the 
 ears are of lighter hue, and the whisker-hairs are 
 partly black and partly white. The pupil of the eye 
 
THE CIVET FAMILY— CAT-FOOTED CIVETS. 
 
 139 
 
 is of a grayish green color and is similar to that of 
 the Domestic Cat. 
 
 The Cryptoprocta is indigenous to Madagascar, 
 where it is called the "Foussa." It is generally 
 
 known there, and dreaded in a ridiculous way. It is 
 even said to attack human beings and is the hero of 
 a great many stories. Its life in the wild state is very 
 little known. 
 
 ^be Civet jfamil^. 
 
 SECOND FAMILY: Viverrid^. 
 
 The Cryptoprocta has led us to the family of the 
 Civets (Viverrida). Its members are distinguished 
 from the Cats by their long, round, thin body, which 
 rests on short legs; by a long, thin neck and elongated 
 head and a very long and usually pendant tail. The 
 eyes are generally small, but the ears vary greatly in 
 size in different species ; the feet have either four or 
 five toes, and the claws are retractile in a great many 
 varieties of these animals. Under the tail, where it 
 joins the body, are two or more glands containing 
 a peculiar secretion which has an odor that is not 
 always agreeable ; and this secretion is sometimes 
 stored in a special pouch. 
 
 The Civets are, in a general way, very much like 
 the Weasels, whose place they take in the southern 
 countries of the Old World. On the other hand 
 many of them remind us of the Cats, and some even 
 bear a slight resemblance to Bears. They are chiefly 
 distinguished from the Weasels by their sharper and 
 more pointed teeth. 
 Home and Habits The Civets inhabit the southern part 
 of the of the Old World, preferably Africa 
 
 Civet Family, and southern Asia. Three species 
 are found in Europe, on the Mediterranean coast, one 
 being found exclusively in Spain. The Civets are 
 distinguished by a great variety of forms, and their 
 haunts are as varied as their species. Some inhabit 
 sterile, high and arid countries, deserts, plains or the 
 unproductive forests of the rainless regions of Africa 
 and central Asia ; others prefer the most fertile val- 
 leys, especially reed-grown banks of rivers. Some 
 approach the neighborhood of human dwellings, 
 others retire into the depths of dense forests ; some 
 lead arboreal lives, while others are only found on 
 level ground. Rocky caverns and crevices, hollow 
 trees and holes in the ground, which they either dig 
 themselves or take possession of, form their abode, 
 and there they rest for the portion of the day which 
 they give up to relaxation. 
 
 Most Civets have nocturnal habits, but there are 
 also many which are active only during the day; 
 these latter hunt while the sun shines, except at high 
 noontide, and rest during the night. Very few can 
 be called lazy, slow or clumsy; the majority equal in 
 agility the quickest of Carnivora. Some walk only 
 on their toes, while others step on the whole sole of 
 their feet; some climb, but most of them remain on 
 the ground. 
 
 Their organs of sense are very keen, especially the 
 three higher attributes of sight, smelling and hearing. 
 They are perfectly endowed for a life of rapine and 
 are only equalled in rapacity by the Weasels. All 
 Civets are bloodthirsty in the extreme, and attack all 
 animals which they believe they can conquer. Their 
 principal food probably consists of small mammals, 
 
 birds, eggs, insects, and in some cases fishes and 
 Crabs. The agility and intrepidity shown by some 
 of these animals in their struggles with poisonous 
 Snakes have earned for them a wide reputation in 
 all countries where they are known, and remarkable 
 fables have been invented in regard to some species. 
 Unceasingly they prowl around during their waking 
 hours and they investigate every crevice or hole in 
 field, forest or rock, which offers the slightest prom- 
 ise of food. When at rest they usually lie curled up 
 like a ball, in quiet, contemplative reserve; and only 
 a few species have a fixed place of abode, to which 
 they constantly return after their forays. The sound 
 emitted by some species is a hoarse, dull growl, 
 while others make a shrill, monotonous, whistling 
 noise, and others have varying cries. 
 
 Many species have the singular faculty of giving 
 forth a strong odor of musk, which has its origin 
 in the glands before mentioned, whose secretion is 
 known to us under the name of civet and is of an 
 oily or greasy nature. 
 
 As with the other Carnivora, the number of young 
 at a birth greatly varies, being usually between one 
 and six. The mothers are devoted to their off^ 
 spring, and in some species the father also assumes 
 part of the training of the young. Civets taken 
 young can, as a rule, be easily tamed and then prove 
 as good-natured and familiar as the old ones are 
 fierce and obstinate. They bear captivity well, and 
 several species of these animals are extensively kept 
 for the sake of the secretion of their glands, which 
 is a valuable article of commerce. 
 
 On the whole the usefulness of the Civets may be 
 regarded as compensating for the mischief they do. 
 In their native country their depredations are not 
 much noticed, while their useful service in catching 
 harmful insects is recognized, and for this reason 
 one species of this family was declared sacred by 
 the ancient Egyptians, and enjoyed universal vener- , 
 ation among the people of that remarkable nation. 
 
 The most prominent members of this group are 
 the Civets proper or Cat-footed Civets {Atluropodd), 
 which are endowed with retractile claws, like" a 
 Cat's, and the Mungooses which have non-retractile 
 claws, like those of Dogs. 
 
 THE CAT-FOOTED CIVETS. 
 
 The bodies of the Civets proper ( Vivetra) are 
 light and elongated, the tails long, the legs also long 
 and the soles covered with hair ; the feet are pro- 
 vided with five toes and partly retractile claws. 
 Short, broad ears, moderately large eyes with round 
 pupils, a pointed snout and nose, a soft fur and a 
 very perfectly developed pouch for the glands com- 
 plete the characteristics of this family. 
 
140 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 Structure The African Civet {Viverra civetta) 
 of the African attains the size of the average Dog, 
 Civet. but its looks are feline and its whole 
 
 appearance reminds one very much of a Cat, al- 
 though it has also many points of resemblance to 
 a Weasel. The broad, rounded head ends in a rather 
 pointed snout ; the ears are also pointed and the 
 eyes, which have round pupils, are obliquely placed 
 in the face. The body is elongated but not particu- 
 larly slender, being among the stoutest in this group; 
 the tail is about half the length of the body ; the 
 legs are of medium length and the soles are entirely 
 covered with hair. The fur is not very long, but 
 thick and coarse ; a rather long mane or crest, which 
 the animal can erect at will, extends along the neck 
 and spine and is still perceptible on the tail. The 
 ground-color is a beautiful ashen-gray merging into 
 yellow, and shows numerous irregular black-brown 
 spots, which on the hind legs form distinct stripes. 
 The crest or mane is brownish-black, and the under 
 
 In captivity it is kept in special stables or cages 
 and is fed with meat and poultry. When taken 
 young it not only bears the loss of its liberty much 
 better than when captured old, but soon gets tame 
 and familiar. The strong odor of musk which cap- 
 tive Civets give forth renders them almost unbear- 
 able to people with sensitive olfactory nerves. 
 
 African Civets Alpinus saw Civets kept in iron 
 Valued cages by Jews in Cairo. They 
 
 for their Perfume, ^i^ere fed exclusively with meat to^ 
 increase their production of civet and render them 
 a profitable investment. In his presence some civet 
 was extracted from them and he had to pay an ex- 
 tremely high price for it. • These animals were at one 
 time kept for this purpose in European cities also, 
 like Lisbon, Naples, Rome, Venice, and even in Ger- 
 many, and especially in Holland. 
 
 To obtain the perfume, the animal is tied to the 
 stakes of its cage ; the pouch is turned out with 
 the fingers and the civet is expressed from all the 
 
 THE AFRICAN CIVET. This is a typical iriember of the Viverrine family of carnivorous mammals. He is shown in his native Guinea 
 
 forest where he frequently climbs trees to rob birds' nests of their eggs. The long body with spots of brownish black and a crest of long hairs of 
 the same color extending from the nape of the neck along the spine and tail ; the rounded head with its Weasel-like expression and the white 
 stripe on the side of the neck are characteristic features of the African Civet. ( Viverra civetta:) 
 
 portion of the body is, as usual, lighter. The tail, 
 which is thickly clothed with hairs at its root, shows 
 from six to seven black rings and its extremity is 
 black-brown. On both sides of the neck there is a 
 long,*oblong, white stripe running backward. The 
 length of the body is about twenty-eight inches ; 
 the tail measures fourteen inches and the shoulder 
 height is about twelve inches. 
 
 Home and The native country of this Civet is 
 Habits of Africa, chiefly the western part of the 
 African Civets. Continent ; that is. Upper and Lower 
 Guinea. In the eastern half of Africa only a few 
 scattered specimens may be met. Its habits are 
 like those of the majority of the Civet family, 
 mainly nocturnal. It sleeps during the day and 
 starts out in the evening to look for small mammals 
 and birds. It is said that eggs form its favorite 
 food and that it will even climb trees for the sake 
 of securing them. 
 
 glands terminating in the pouch. As a rule it is 
 taken from the pouch twice a week, but the amount 
 obtained varies very much. Freshly expressed it is 
 a white foam, which, after a time, becomes brown 
 and loses a little of its strength. The perfume 
 offered for sale as civet, is, for the greater part, 
 only imitation, and even the genuine civet must go 
 through a series of processes before it is fit for use. 
 The best is said to come from the Asiatic Civet, and 
 is brought from Boorou. The Javanese Civet is also 
 said to be superior to the Bengalese and African 
 kinds. During recent years the trade in civet has 
 fallen off greatly, for vegetable musk is being more 
 and more substituted for it. 
 
 The Asiatic Nearly all I have said about the Afri- 
 Civet can Civet may be applied to the Asi- 
 
 Described. atic Civet {Viverra zibetha) , vih\ch, ior 
 a long time, was taken for a variety of the African 
 species. Its color and markings are different; its 
 
THE CIVET FAMILY— CAT-FOOTED CIVETS. 
 
 141 
 
 head is more pointed, the body more slender and 
 the ears are longer, and it lacks a mane. Its ground 
 color is a dingy brownish yellow, with dark russet 
 colored spots. On the spine these spots merge into 
 one large, black band : on the sides they fade. A 
 
 THE LESSEB CIVET, OR BASSE. One of the smallest of the Viverrine, or musk-bearing family. Its 
 
 markings resemble those of the African more than the Asiatic Civets, but it is much smaller than either of the others, 
 although its tail is proportionately longer. It is an mhabitant of India. {Viverra malaccensis.) 
 
 full-grown animal has a body thirty-two inches long, 
 the tail is twenty-two inches long and the shoulder- 
 height is fifteen inches. It weighs from sixteen to 
 twenty-four pounds. 
 
 The Asiatic Civet has 
 been widely spread by 
 the Malays who call it 
 "Tinggalong." Accord- 
 ing to Blanford it is in- 
 digenous to Bengal, As- 
 sam, Burmah, southern 
 China and the Malay 
 Peninsula. The Asiatic 
 Civet leads a solitary 
 life and prowls around 
 at night, not infrequent- 
 ly visiting human dwell- 
 ings and stealing Chick- 
 ens and Ducks. It also 
 eats fruit and roots, in- 
 sects. Frogs, Snakes, 
 eggs, birds and all mamr 
 mals it can subdue. 
 The Leaser A Civet now 
 Civetyor frequently 
 Raase. seen in zoo- 
 logical gardens is the 
 Lesser Civet or Rasse 
 {Viverra malaccensis). It 
 is considerably smaller 
 than the Asiatic Civet, 
 but its tail is much 
 
 longer; the length of its body is about twenty- four 
 inches, the tail measuring nearly as much. Its head 
 is narrow and its ears very long. The rough fur is 
 grayish brown, tinged with black, showing rows of 
 dark spots, and the tail has several dark rings. 
 
 The Rasse inhabits all India, except the country 
 of the Indus and Western Rajputana. It is much 
 valued in its native country for the sake of its civet, 
 which is there put to the most varied uses. This 
 secretion is usually mixed with some other perfume 
 
 and is not only sprinkled 
 on dresses, but is also 
 used for the scenting of 
 rooms and beds in a 
 manner that is perfectly 
 unbearable by European 
 noses. 
 
 The Genettes— The sub- 
 The Common order of 
 Genette. the Gen- 
 ettps (Geneita) is distin- 
 guished by a very long 
 body, a hairless stripe 
 on the soles, five-toed 
 fore and hind paws fur- 
 nished with retractile 
 claws and a long tail. 
 The Genettes a-lso have 
 a shallow civet-pouch at 
 the root of the tail. 
 
 The best known spe- 
 cies of these animals is 
 the Common Genette 
 {Viverra genetta), the 
 only Civet inhabiting 
 Europe. It bears a great 
 resemblance to its rela- 
 tives which have already 
 been described and even 
 its coloring is similar. The body is twenty inches 
 long, its tail sixteen inches and its height at the 
 shoulders is from six to seven inches. The body 
 
 THE COMMON GENETTE. One ot the prettiest of all creatures is the Common Genette, a small, graceful, 
 
 but bloodthirsty animal, with a beautifully marked and valuable fur. Its agile but wary movements are well shown 
 in the picture, especially in the Snake-like attitude of the animal in the background. Its quickness as well as stealth 
 of movement are remarkable. ( Viverra genetta.') 
 
 rests on extremely short legs and is very slender. 
 The head is small and distinguished by a long snout 
 and wide ears. The pupil of the eye is like that of 
 a Cat, ha.ving.a slit-like appearance in the daytime. 
 The pouch secretes only a small quantity of a fatty 
 
142 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 matter, having the odor of musk. The general color 
 of its fur is light gray, tinged at the surface with yel- 
 low and showing dark spots. The fur is commer- 
 cially valuable. 
 
 This little animal, which, notwithstanding its dainty 
 appearance, is of a cruel, bloodthirsty and audacious 
 disposition, is found most plentifully in the Atlas 
 country, but it also inhabits southern Europe, espe- 
 cially Spain and southern France. It exists in large 
 numbers in the localities that are adapted for its 
 habits in Spain, although one seldom meets it. It 
 lives in forests as well as on plains, but it is most 
 frequently found in damp situations in the vicinity of 
 springs and rivers, woods rich in underbrush, moun- 
 tains abounding in crev- 
 ices and similar places. 
 A sportsman may some- 
 times come across it in 
 such a locality even in the 
 daytime, but usually he 
 has no time to shoot, for 
 its fur is so similar in 
 color to that of the rocks 
 and the ground that it is 
 difficult to keep it in 
 view, and its movements 
 are so wary, and at the 
 same time so agile, that 
 when detected it is 
 already escaping. It slips 
 through plants, grasses, 
 shrubs and stones like an 
 Eel or like a Fox. Its 
 movements are as grace- 
 ful as they are agile and 
 rapid. I do not know of 
 any other mammal which 
 so completely combines 
 the sinuosity of the Snake 
 with the quickness of the 
 Weasel. Its movements 
 are so perfect as to cause 
 involuntary admiration. 
 An Account P e c h u e 1 - 
 
 of Tame L o e s c h e 
 
 Genettes. writes from 
 Chinchocho, the former 
 station of the Gussfeldt 
 Loango exploring party: 
 "We kept several Civets 
 and Genettes. The for- 
 mer are not possessed of 
 an amiable disposition, 
 can never be trusted and 
 the odor they give forth 
 is insufferable. The Gen- 
 ettes, on the contrary, be- 
 came exceedingly tame, 
 knew the names we gave them, ran after their keeper 
 like Dogs in broad daylight and their whole demeanor 
 afforded us great pleasure. One half-grown Genette 
 had established itself in our main barrack, and 
 seemed to find abundant nourishment in the Rats 
 which infested the house. When we sat talking in 
 the large meeting room of an evening it would often 
 come out on one of the rafters of the roof, look down 
 with curious eyes and then jump down on the table 
 with one graceful bound. Then it would keep slid- 
 ing from one of our party to the other, uttering soft, 
 low sounds, submit to being stroked and teased, and 
 would soon disappear as quietly as it had come." 
 
 THE ASIATIC CIVET, This animal is commercially valuable for 
 
 the "civet," or animal-musk, which is procured from it, in which respect it 
 excels all musk-bearing animals. Its gender body bears distinct markings, 
 with a black stripe along tjie spine ; and the head has keen eyes and a 
 pointed snout. It is a night prowling animal and very destructive among 
 Chickens, Ducks and small mammals and birds. {Viverra' zibetha.) 
 
 The Paradoxures The Civets lead us to the Paradoxures 
 or or Palm Cats {Paradoxurus). These 
 
 Patm Cats. animals are semi-plantigrade, that is, 
 they step on half of their soles in walking. The tail, 
 from which the animal derives its name, Paradox- 
 urns, meaning queer-tailed, can be curled by a few 
 species of the Palm Cats, but this peculiarity is by no 
 means striking. The paws have claws that are more 
 or less retractile in different species and which are 
 used. Cat-fashion, to seize the prey and to defend 
 their owner. 
 
 All species of this group inhabit southern Asia and 
 the adjoining islands. They set out in search of prey 
 after sunset and are agile enough to catch small 
 
 mammals and birds, al-' 
 ^Iftf.' ' though they also eat fruit. 
 Description of The Indian 
 the Indian Paradoxure 
 Paradoxure. {^Paradoxu- 
 nis niger) resembles the 
 Genettes in shape as well 
 as coloring. His dimen- 
 sions approximate those 
 of our -Domestic Cat, his 
 body being about twenty 
 inches in length, and the 
 tail nearly as long. The 
 body is elongated, the 
 legs short and strong, 
 and the long tail can be 
 closely curled downward 
 as well as upward. The , 
 eyes, which are very 
 prominent, have a brown 
 iris, and a large and ex- 
 ceedingly mobile pupil, ^ 
 which may be contracted'ii: 
 until it presents only a 
 slit of a hair's breadth. 
 The general color of the 
 hair is black or brownish- 
 gray, marked with dark 
 bands and rows of spots. 
 The Indian Paradoxure 
 is common on the island 
 of Ceylon, and in India, 
 north to the Himalayas, 
 wherever there are trees, 
 in the jungles as well as 
 in settlements. Not infre- 
 quently he takes up hib 
 abode in barn§ or sheds. 
 Like all other members 
 of his family he eagerly; 
 hunts small mammals and 
 birds, eating the eggs or 
 young birds in their nests. 
 Lizards, Snakes, and in- 
 sects; and he is also fond of fruit. He is said to 
 cause great ravages in pineapple plantations, to be 
 an annoying visitor in coffee plantations, and to be 
 very fond of the juice of palms, or "palm-toddy." 
 He also makes frequent calls in the poultry-yards 
 of his vicinage. 
 The Common The Common Paradoxure or Musang 
 Paradoxure {Paradoxurjis hermaphroditus) , repre- 
 or Musang. gents the family in' Burmah, Siam, the 
 Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and Borneo. His 
 body is about seventeen inches long, the tail a little 
 shorter than the body, and his coloring is subject to 
 great variations. 
 
 .;a 
 
IITDIAN FASADOXUBE, OR PALM-CAT. This graceful animal is about the size of the ordinary house Cat. It is an eager hunter of birds and 
 
 small mammals but is also very fond of pineapples, bananas and other fruits and coffee berries, and is therefore very destructive to the plantations of India 
 and the-Malay Peninsula, where it is found. The handsome head and spotted fur are well depicted here, and its long tail is a prominent characteristic and 
 can be curled by the animal at will, upward as well as downward. The animal in the lower foreground is feeding on small fruit while the other on the tree is 
 Testing and watching. (Paradoxurus niger.) 
 
144 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 Junghuhn furnishes much information about his 
 life in the wild state and his visitations of the cof- 
 fee-plantations. When the coffee-berries begin to 
 ripen and their color becomes a vivid red, at which 
 period adults and children strip the branches of the 
 red berries and hurry to the drying-grounds with 
 
 
 THE COMMON PARADOXURE, OR MUSANG. This animal, which inhabits the Malay Peninsula, 
 
 Java, Sumatra and Borneo, is smaller than the Indian species, although his habits are much the same. The 
 broad head with pointed snout, slender body and long tail are sliown in the picture, but the markings vary in dif- 
 ferent specimens. He makes such ravages on the plantations in Java when the coffee berries are ripe that the 
 natives call him " Coffee-Rat." {Paradoxurus hertnaphroditus .) 
 
 their full baskets, then " one often sees on the paths 
 intersecting the coffee-gardens the spoor and signs 
 of the Musang, which enjoys the evil reputation of 
 being a Chicken-stealer in the mountains, but is also 
 fond of fruits, and frequently, when the berries are 
 ripe, visits the coffee-plan- 
 tations where he is often 
 cau'ght by the Javanese at 
 that season of the year. 
 The Musang also lives on 
 birds and insects, catches 
 wild Chickens, and sucks 
 the eggs of both tame and 
 wild birds. In captivity he 
 is often kept on nothing 
 but pisang for weeks at a 
 time, and gets so used to 
 the house that it is safe 
 to allow him' his freedom. 
 The keeper who occasion- 
 ally presents him with a 
 Chicken egg gains his 
 affection to such a degree 
 that he follows him around 
 like a Dog and submits to 
 being petted and stroked 
 by him." 
 
 The Masked Paradoxure 
 {^Paradoxurus larvatus) in- 
 habits China and Formosa. 
 His color is principally 
 black on the head, gray 
 on the cheeks, lower jaws, 
 throat and neck, and yel- 
 lowish-gray on the upper part of the body. A whit- 
 ish band runs from the tip of the nose to the back 
 of the head; another extends under the eyes, and 
 a third above them. The ears, the tip of the long 
 tail and the feet are black. It is sometimes called 
 the Masked Paguma. 
 
 THE DOG-FOOTED CIVETS. 
 
 Among the Viverridae with non-retractile claws, 
 or Dog-footed Civets {Cynopoda), we must first turn 
 to the Mungooses or Ichneumons, so widely cele- 
 brated in, olden times. The Mungooses {Herpestes) 
 
 have the following distinct- 
 ive features: the body rests 
 on short legs, and is long 
 and round; the head is of 
 small or rnedium size;, the 
 snout is pointed; the eyes 
 are rather small, and have 
 a circular or elliptical pu- 
 pil; the ear is short and 
 rounded; the nose is short, 
 hairless, smooth and fur- 
 rowed in the median line; 
 the feet are five-toed; the 
 tail tapers toward the end, 
 and the fur is rough and 
 long. The teeth are forty 
 in number and are for the 
 most part very strong. 
 The Ichneumon As is but 
 of Ancient just, we will 
 Fable. fij-gt consid- 
 
 er the Ichneumon, or "Pha- 
 raoh's Rat" {Herpestes ich- 
 jteumofi), the sacred animal 
 of the ancient Egyptians. 
 Herodotus tells us they were embalmed after their 
 death and buried in sacred ground. Strabo writes 
 that this excellent animal never attacked large 
 Snakes without the aid of several companions and 
 then easily got the better of the most poisonous 
 
 THE MASKED PARADOXTTBE. This species of Palm-Cat, which is found in China and Formosa, dif- 
 fers from the others in the absence of spots on its fur. It has several white bands on its face, black feet and along, 
 somewhat bushy tail. Like the other Paradoxures, it lives on fruits as well as flesh. (Paradoxurus larvatus.) 
 
 reptiles. Therefore its image stood in the Hiero- 
 glyphs as an emblem of a weak Man who could not 
 get on without the support of others, ^lianiis, on 
 the contrary, assured us that it chased the Snakes 
 unaided, but with great cunning, first wallowifig i" 
 the mud and then drying itself in the sun, so as to 
 
THE CIVET FAMILY— DOG-FOOTED CIVETS. 
 
 145- 
 
 insure certain protection from the teeth of its op- 
 ponent, while it protected its face by enveloping it 
 with its tail. Tradition is not content with all this, 
 but according to Pliny it invests this courageous 
 promoter of public welfare with a great many more 
 brilliant qualities. When the Crocodile has eaten 
 
 its fill, it comfortably _ 
 
 lies down on the sand 
 and opens its huge 
 mouth, well garnished 
 with teeth, threatening 
 dire peril to every dis- 
 turber of its peace. 
 Only one little bird is 
 impudent enough to 
 pick out the shreds 
 food 
 tween 
 sides 
 animals 
 ster, 
 
 neumon, which stealth- 
 ily approaches, enters 
 the Crocodile's mouth 
 with a bold bound, 
 bites its way through 
 the throat to the Croc- 
 odile's 'heart, lacerates 
 it, and in this way kills 
 the huge monster. 
 Then, covered with 
 blood, it works itself 
 out of the dead body 
 with its sharp teeth. 
 Or else it lurks "around 
 and finds the place 
 where the dreaded rep- 
 tile's numerous eggs 
 are buried; it digs and 
 works until it reaches 
 the treasure in the 
 depths of the earth and 
 in spite of the mother, 
 which carefully mounts 
 guard over the eggs, it 
 devours them all in a 
 short time and comes 
 out an inestimable ben- 
 efactor to mankind. It 
 is not to be doubted 
 that the Egyptians be- 
 lieved all these tales 
 and recounted them to 
 the above mentioned 
 authors; and that these 
 naturalists, ordinarily 
 so accurate, were thus 
 led into complete error 
 in this particular case. 
 All these beautiful sto- 
 ries are wholly without 
 foundation. It is only 
 in modern times that 
 exact data about the 
 
 Charaeteristics A full-grown Ichneumon consider- 
 
 ofthe ably exceeds our domestic Cat in 
 
 Ichneumon. ^^^.e. Its body is about twenty-six 
 
 inches long, and its tail at least eighteen inches. 
 
 Its short legs make the animal appear smaller than 
 
 it is. The body is slender, like that of all Viver- 
 
 THE ICHNEUMON. This animal is appropriately pictured in the Nile Valley with pyramids in the distance^ 
 
 for although they are also tound elsewhere they are most intimately connected with Egypt, as this was the sacred animal 
 of the ancient Egyptians, and is sometimes called " Pharaoh's Rat." The animal is very bloodthirsty and kills all ani- 
 mals it can overcome, among which Snakes are, very fortunately, included. The slender body thickly covered with long 
 fur, the long tail and short, black legs are shown in the picture. (Herfestes ichneumon:) 
 
 life and habits of the Ichneumon has been obtained, 
 but even several centuries ago travellers were led to 
 express grave doubts as to the usefulness of the 
 Ichneumon, and only the strong tendency of hu- 
 manity to cling tenaciously to all old and well-be- 
 loved traditions prevented these ancient tales from 
 being long ago relegated to the category of fable. 
 
 ridse, but is by no means as graceful as that of the- 
 Genette. The legs are short, the soles naked and 
 the toes are connected by membranes for half their 
 length. The long tail appears very thick at its root, 
 owing to its very long fur, presenting almost the 
 appearance of gradually merging into the body, and. 
 its extremity is provided with a tuft. The small 
 
146 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 eyes are not surrounded by hair and therefore pre- 
 sent the appearance of being even fiercer in ex- 
 pression than they really are. The fur is quite 
 peculiar. It consists of an inner woolly coat of 
 ■a russet yellow color, entirely covered with hairs 
 which are about two and one half inches long and 
 are alternately black and cream colored, the tip 
 teing pale yellow. The resultant general color is 
 a greenish gray which harmonizes perfectly with 
 the environment of the animal in its native hdme. 
 On the head and back the hue is darker and under 
 the body it is paler. The legs and the tuft of the 
 tail are black. 
 The Ichneumon's Pharaoh's Rat extends not only all 
 Home over northern Africa and part of 
 
 and Haunts. Asia, but may be found in southern 
 Spain, northern Asia, all of Africa and Madagascar ; 
 although it may have been imported by Men to the 
 latter place. It never goes far from valleys. Its 
 favorite haunts in Egypt are the thickly-grown 
 "banks of rivers and the reed thickets which often 
 surround fields in that country. Here the animal 
 
 MANGUE OK KUSIHANSE, A small, burrowing animal of West Africa, forming by itself a distinct group 
 
 of the Viverrine family. It has a thick, stout body covered with harsh fur of a chocolate brown, and its length from 
 ■snout to root of tail is fifteen inches. The tapering tail is eight inches long. Its walk is plantigrade, the soles are 
 bare, each foot, has five toes and the claws on the fore-feet are long and curved. The snout is long and the ears small. 
 It lives on mammals, insects and fruits. {Crossarchus obscuncs.) 
 
 spends the day and lays out for itself, among the 
 reeds, narrow but very carefully k^pt walks leading 
 to deep, but not very capacious dens. In these the 
 female gives birth to from two to four young ones 
 in spring or the beginning of summer. The mother 
 suckles her offspring for a very long time, and both 
 parents care for their young for a still longer period. 
 
 Habits and The name Ichneumon signifies "tracker," 
 Traits of and the animal fully justifies this desig- 
 
 Ichneumons. nation. He resembles the Weasels in 
 his traits and his mental endowments, for he pos- 
 sesses their disagreeable smell, their cunning, their 
 adroitness in stealing and their thirst for blood. He 
 is shy, cautious and distrustful to the highest degree. 
 He never ventures into an open field, but always 
 sneaks along under cover. He prowls around in 
 the daytime and attacks and eats every animal he 
 can overcome : mammals smaller than the Hare, 
 and birds from the Goose or Chicken downward to 
 the smallest. He also feeds on Snakes, Lizards, 
 
 insects and worms ; and he probably eats fruit also. 
 His thievish propensities have earned him the de- 
 testation and contempt of all Egyptian peasants, 
 for he mercilessly plunders their Hen and Pigeon 
 roosts and he is very destructive to the Chickens' 
 nests, which in that country are constructed exactly 
 like those of wild birds. He is of no real use in 
 the present age, unless the extermination of Snakes 
 be counted as a particularly useful achievement. 
 
 His gait is very peculiar, giving the animal the 
 appearance of creeping along on the ground with- 
 out moving a limb, for the short legs are entirely 
 covered by the long hair of the fur and their 
 movements are barely visible. During the summer, 
 months the Ichneumon is seldom met alone, but as 
 a rule is accompanied by his family. The male 
 comes first, then the female, and the young ones 
 bring up the rear. One animal always runs close to 
 the other, in such a manner as to create the impres- 
 sion that the whole chain is composed of but a single 
 being with a shape something like that of a huge 
 Snake. From time to time the father stops, lifts his 
 
 head and looks around 
 to see if danger threat- 
 ens, moving his nostrils 
 to all sides and snififing 
 like a panting animal. If 
 he' sees prey, he noise- 
 lessly slides up to it 
 through the grass, and 
 when he has approached 
 sufficiently near he will 
 make one or two bounds 
 even after a flying bird. 
 Before Si Mouse-hole he 
 mounts silent guard, and 
 after a. Rat or a young 
 bird he creeps with 
 amusing gravity. 
 
 Probably he tracks as 
 well as the best Dog; 
 and it is an established 
 fact that he is guided 
 by his sense of smell in 
 the chase. If he finds 
 eggs he sucks them; and 
 as a general thing he also 
 sucks the blood out of 
 small mammals and 
 birds and eats only the 
 brain. He kills a great 
 many more than he can devour. 
 
 His voice is only heard when he has been wounded 
 by a bullet, although the Egyptians say that he ut- 
 ters a shrill, monotonous whistle during the breeding 
 season. 
 
 Methods of The chase of the Ichneumon is consid- 
 Hunting the ered a pious deed by all Egyptians. It 
 Ichneumon, jg only necessary to go into a village 
 and announce that one has come to hunt the Ichneu- 
 mon, or "Nims," and old and young will joyfully 
 render all necessary assistance in the extermination 
 of the detested rogue and pillager. The hunter 
 takes his post at some place grown with reeds, and 
 the Arabs begin to drive the animal out of it. The 
 Ichneumon fully realizes what is going on, and as 
 soon as the people begin their noise, he tries to hide. 
 His efforts are of no avail, for the Arabs poke long 
 poles into the holes and burrows of the ground, and 
 he is compelled to look for an asylum in another 
 field. With the greatest caution he glides along. 
 
THE CIVET FAMILY—DOG-FOOTED CIVETS. 
 
 U7 
 
 sniffs and looks around; but as the pursuers approach 
 nearer and nearer, he attempts at last to run over 
 some place which does not afford absolute shelter. 
 This he does noiselessly and gently, so as not to be- 
 tray himself by quick movements. It is essential to 
 shoot at a short distance and with very large shot in 
 
 THE KUSTGO. Among the Mungooses the Mungo, which inhabits India, Ceylbn and Afghanistan, is 
 
 especially distinguisJied because of the skill he exhibits in destroying poisonous Snakes. His long body covered 
 with a coat of almosf uniform gray, with a tapering tail nearly as long as the body, are shown by the picture of the 
 animal in the foreground. (Herpesies mungo.) 
 
 order to kill him, for the animal has a wonderful 
 tenacity of life and if he be only wounded he is sure 
 to escape. 
 
 French naturalists say that captive Ichneumons are 
 easily domesticated, know their owner's voice and 
 will follow him about like Dogs. But they are very 
 restless creatures and 
 cause annoyance by the 
 persistence with which 
 they drag portable arti- 
 cles all over the house 
 and upset everything. In 
 one respect they are use- 
 ful. A house that harbors 
 an Ichneumon is secure 
 from' Rats and Mice, for 
 he pursues these rodents 
 with indefatigable zeal. 
 When he has caught one, 
 he runs with it into a dark 
 corner and expresses his 
 ability to take care of it 
 himself by grunts and 
 grumbling sounds. 
 The Mungo Mungooses 
 
 and Its resemble each 
 
 Habits. other in their 
 shape and mostly also in 
 their behavior. The de- 
 scription of the Ichneu- 
 mon might, therefore, 
 serve our purpose, if there 
 
 were not a few others deserving of mention. The 
 species representing Pharaoh's Rat in India is the 
 Mungo {Herpestes mu?igo). It is much smaller than 
 the Ichneumon, its body being from sixteen to twenty 
 inches long, and its tail nearly the same length. Its 
 long, coarse hair is gray, with a white band close 
 to the tip of- each hair. 
 
 It ranges to the East as far as Assam, and west- 
 ward to Afghanistan and Beloochistan, and on the 
 island of Ceylon. 
 
 The Mungo likes hedgerows, groves, plantations, 
 rocky forests grown with underbrush, and frequently 
 visits human dwellings, causing great depredations 
 
 in the Chicken-roosts. His 
 family consists of three or 
 four young ones, born in 
 burrows. He seems to be 
 fond of sweet fruit, but pre- 
 fers an animal diet. He 
 runs from rock to rock, and 
 from cavern to cavern, and 
 searches, his hunting 
 ground so thoroughly that 
 hardly anything edible can 
 be overlooked. Sometimes 
 he hides himself in a small 
 hole, and when he- makes 
 his appearance, he is sure 
 to bring with him a Mouse, 
 a Rat, a Lizard or a Snake 
 which he has caught in his 
 own hiding-place. 
 
 The Mungo The Mungo 
 as a Snake is -honored 
 Exterminator, and cele- 
 brated for his fights with 
 poisonous Snakes. It is his 
 agility which gains 'him the 
 victory in such encounters. 
 The natives believe that when he has been bitten by 
 a Snake he digs up a plant or very bitter root, known 
 as Manguswail, eats it, and instantly recovers, so 
 that he is able to resume his fight with the Snake. 
 Even exact observers assure us that there is some 
 foundation to this story, inasmuch as the Mungo, 
 
 THE BANDED MUK0DX)S. This African species of the Mungooses is one of the prettiest as well as one 
 
 of the smallest of the ^rouy, and is distinguished ftom the others also by the stripes or bands from which it derives 
 its name. It is often domesticated in Africa and becoshes as much attached to the house as the domestic Cat. 
 (Herpestesfasciatzis.) 'S 
 
 when bitten and exhausted, runs away, looks for 
 some plants with which he rehabilitates himself, and 
 then returns ready for the fray. Blanford calls the 
 story about the antidote a fable. If there was any 
 truth in it, it would be difficult to understand why 
 other Snake-hunters, such as the Secretary-bird and 
 some Eagles, should be left defenseless and the 
 
148 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 Mungo alone provided with a prophylactic. Besides 
 ■one would think that with the consciousness of se- 
 -curity he would be careless about the way he ap- 
 proached the serpent, while the truth is the very 
 thing in this animal that excites admiration is the 
 
 THE CBAB MUNGOOS. This animal, sometimes called the Urva, derives its name from the fact that it 
 
 ifeeds on Crabs, which, with Frogs, also a favorite food with it, are plentifully found in the wet valleys of Nepaul, 
 where it lives. It has a stout body, a pointed snout, and a rather long and buShy tail. The picture shows it with a 
 'Crab it has captured. (Herfestes urva.) 
 
 •adroitness with which he escapps the spring of the 
 Snake, and the cunning he exhibits in his methods 
 ■of attacking it. His thick, coarse hair, bristling with 
 excitement, and his thick skin render it very diffi- 
 cult for the Snake to bite 
 him, but if he is bitten, 
 the Mungo dies from the 
 wound as well as any 
 •other animal, although 
 the effects of the poison 
 seem to be slower in his 
 case. 
 
 The Mungo was im- 
 ported into Jamaica dur- 
 ing the '70's, and is said 
 to have exterminated so 
 many of the Rats infest- 
 ing the sugar-cane plan- 
 tations on that island 
 that his usefulness is es- 
 timated at several mil- 
 lion marks a year. 
 
 The Mungo The Mun- , 
 as a go is the 
 
 Domestic Pet. member 
 
 of his family that is best 
 adapted for domestica- 
 tion, for he is a cheerful, 
 rather good-natured ani- 
 mal of cleanly habits. 
 
 Sterndale had a Mun- 
 go, which was his steady 
 ■companion in India for 
 
 trepid fellow; once he success/ully fought with a big 
 Dog, and at another time killed a bird six times his, 
 size. He also killed many Snakes. When excited, 
 his hair stood on end and he looked twice as large 
 as usual, but his master only had to lift his finger to 
 _ make the angry pet desist 
 from his attack. He fol- 
 lowed his master to Eng- 
 land and was the favorite 
 of all who knew him. . He 
 knew a great number of 
 tricks: jumping, turning 
 somersaults, sitting on 
 chairs with a cap on, play- 
 ing soldier, etc. Pips died 
 of grief. During a tempo- 
 rary absence of his master 
 he refused all nourishment 
 and starved to death. 
 
 Besides the Ichneumon 
 there is only one Europe- 
 an Mungoos that is worth 
 mentioning, the Meloncillo 
 {Herpestes widdringtonii). 
 This animal was well 
 known to Spanish sports- 
 men long before it fell into 
 the hands of a naturalist. 
 Its chase was profitable, for 
 the hair of its tail is long 
 and especially adapted for 
 making painters' , brushes, 
 and therefore the- tailv 
 which brought a high price, was the only part that 
 was used and the remainder of the fur was thrown 
 away. 
 
 The Meloncillo lives exactly like the Ichneumon, 
 
 THE FOXY MTJNG'OOS, This animal, which is found in the southern part of Africa, is of a beautiful form 
 
 has a smooth, tan-colored fur and a bushy tail with a white tip. It resembles the Mungoos group in its nature and 
 habits, and is generally classed with them, although differences in its skeleton have caused many naturalists to place it. 
 in a group by itself. ( Cynictus fenicillala.) ' 
 
 three years. "Pips" knew 
 very well when his owner was going to shoot a bird 
 for him; he danced around when he saw the gun 
 
 • adjusted, and hurried to procure the falling prey. 
 He was very clean, and after eating picked his teeth 
 
 rin the funniest way with his claws. He was an in- 
 
 in valleys crossed by rivers, especially in Estrama- 
 dura and Andalusia. It inhabits almost exclusivelj? 
 the reedy ,woods and plains grown with Esparto and' 
 is not found in mountains, as is generally stated. Its 
 total length is forty-four inches, of which about 
 twenty inches is taken by the tail. The fur is longer 
 
THE SUBICATE. This animal, which 11 . , . n south Africa, is distinguished by its rough coat and its strong claws, of which those on the 
 
 forefeet are particularly long. It is the special enemy of the Elephant-Mouse, a remarkably prolific and destructive rodent of ^puth.Afijca, which the picture 
 shpws itin the act of attacking. The Suricate forms by itself a distinct genus of the Vi^errine qtdi»r. (.Swricaiaieiradac^yta^ 
 
 (149) 
 
150 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 on the spine and the neck and under portion of the 
 body are hairless. Its color is dark gray, sprinkled 
 with lighter hairs. 
 
 The Banded Mun- A distinguished member of the 
 
 goos, an group is the Banded Mungoos 
 
 Interesting Animal. {Herpestes fasciatus). It is small, 
 
 the length of its body being given as sixteen inches, 
 
 and that of its tail as eight inches, but I have seen 
 
 decidedly larger ones. 
 
 The best authorities intimate that this Mungoos 
 inhabits all of eastern Africa, from the Cape of 
 Good Hope to Abyssinia, and also part of western 
 Africa. 
 
 This dainty little sneak shows its bloodthirsty dis- 
 position plainly in its flashing eyes. Its food consists 
 of all small mammals, birds, insects, eggs and fruit. 
 
 In western Africa the Banded Mungoos is often 
 kept in factories, missions and on mail steamers. It 
 is allowed perfect liberty, but never attempts to 
 return to its wild habits. It is a general favorite, but 
 like the domestic Cat, seems to think more of the 
 house than of people, though it sometimes does get 
 attached to persons and will jump into their laps; and 
 it is fond of being petted. It opens eggs with its 
 fore paws, or more frequently by throwing them back- 
 wards, between its hind legs, against some hard sub- 
 stance. It treats other small, round objects in the 
 same way, and it is advisable to keep valuables secure 
 from it. Pechuel-Loesche kept mercury, which he 
 used for an artificial horizon, in a strong glass bottle, 
 which he found in pieces near a trunk, and E. Teusz 
 relates how he had a chronometer in Malandje, where 
 another one could not be bought, and his Banded 
 Mungoos had thrown it several times against walls 
 and trunks before its owner discovered what it was 
 that the animal played with so gleefully. 
 
 The Crab I will mention one other member of this 
 Mungoos or group, the Crab Mungoos or Urva {Her- 
 Urva. pestes urva), for it is a peculiar transi- 
 tional form between the Mungooses proper and the 
 Gluttons. It does not essentially differ from the 
 Mungooses, but its body recalls the Glutton in sev- 
 eral respects. The snout is pointed and the body 
 stout. The toes are connected by large webs, and 
 the scent-pouches are highly developed. The back 
 is of a dingy gray color, with an admixture of brown; 
 
 the under portion of the body and the legs are of a 
 uniform brown tinge. Sometimes it shows darker 
 stripes and a white band runs from the eye to the 
 shoulder. It is a large animal of its kind, measuring- 
 from thirty-two to thirty-six inches, of which twelve 
 inches is taken up by the tail. 
 
 Hodgson discovered the Urva in the swampy val- 
 leys of Nepaul. He thinks that it is rather aquatic 
 in its habits and feeds principally on Frogs and Crabs. 
 
 Allied to the Mungooses are a few animals which 
 differ from them mainly by the structure of their feet; 
 the fore paws havd five toes, the hind paws only four, 
 and the soles are partly covered with hair. 
 
 The Foxy The Foxy Mungoos ( Cynictis penicil- 
 
 Mungoos, an lata) is about twenty-eight inches ia 
 
 African Species, length, twelve inches of this length 
 being taken up by the tail. The fur is smooth and 
 the tail bushy. The general color is tawny, but the 
 tip of the tail is white, and long, black whisker-hairs 
 stand over the eyes and lips. 
 
 It lives north of the Cape of Good Hope, in bur- 
 rows in the sand, feeds upon Mice, birds and insects, 
 is fierce, cunning and agile, and has hardly ever been, 
 hunted; its life and habits have never been observed 
 to any extent. 
 
 The Suricate The Suricate {Suricata tetradactyla) 
 and Its inhabits Africa from Lake Tsad to 
 
 Strong Claws, the Cape of Good Hope. The snout 
 has something of the proboscis in its character, the 
 legs are long and the feet are provided with foiir 
 toes and long, stout claws. The claws of the fore 
 paws show a higher development than those of any- 
 other member of the family. With their aid the 
 Suricate can easily burrow long and deep tunnels in 
 the ground. 
 
 The Suricate reminds one as much of the Mun- 
 gooses as of the Weasels; it is a small, long-legged 
 creature, with a length of from twenty to thirty inches, 
 of which the tail takes up half. Its rough coat is 
 grayish brown, traversed by darker bands. 
 
 There are no known species of the Viverrine fam- 
 ily in America. The Cacomixle, or Mountain Cat, 
 found in Mexico and California, was formerly con- 
 sidered as forming a group of this family, but it is 
 now placed with the Raccoons, to which it is more 
 closely allied. 
 
 XTbe fIDarten jfamll^. 
 
 THIRD FAMILY: Mustelid^. 
 
 The family of the Martens, or as it is sometimes 
 called, the Weasel family, shows a greater variety of 
 species than that of the Viverridse or Civets. It is a 
 difficult matter to give a general description of this 
 family, for the structure of the body, of the teeth and 
 of the feet is Subject to more variations than those 
 of any other Carnivora. We can only say that the 
 members of this family are small or medium-sized 
 Beasts of Prey, with bodies of very elongated shape 
 resting on very short legs. The feet have either four 
 or five toes. These animals are provided with scent- 
 pouches like the Civets, but the secretion of their 
 glands is by no means an agreeable perfume, and in 
 
 some cases has an abominably fetid odor. The fur 
 is usually thick and of fine texture, and in this family 
 we find the most valuable fur-producing animals. 
 Where and Members of the Marten family are 
 How the Marten distributed over all continents ex- 
 Family Lives, cept Australia. They endureall cli- 
 mates, on plains as well as mountains. Their haunts, 
 are most often in woods or rocky regions, but they 
 also frequent the open country, gardens and human 
 dwellings. Some live in the water, some on terra 
 firma, those of the latter class being excellent climb- 
 ers, and they all know how to swim. Some burrow 
 holes in the ground, others take possession of exist- 
 
THE MARTEN FAMILY. 
 
 151 
 
 ing ones; others again live in hollow trees or seize 
 upon the nests of Squirrels or of birds; in a word, it 
 may be said that this family knows how to take ad- 
 vantage of any kind of retreat, whether it be the 
 natural crevice in a rock or an artificial cavern; a 
 dark nook in a human dwelling or the branches or 
 roots of trees in the heart of the forest. The ma- 
 jority of these animals have a permanent dwelling- 
 place, but many species prowl around. Some of 
 those which inhabit northern regions hibernate; the 
 others are active all the year round.- 
 
 Physical and Nearly all animals of this family are 
 Mental Traits of remarkably quick, adroit creatures 
 Martens. and adepts in all physical exercises. 
 They walk on the soles of their feet, use their paws 
 and tails in swimming, and climb excellently in spite 
 of their blunt claws. Their organs of sense are all 
 developed in nearly equal degree. Their mental 
 
 place of concealment to another when she scents 
 danger. When taken young and treated with care, 
 animals of this family attain a high degree of docil- 
 ity and may be trained to follow their master about 
 and hunt and fish for his benefit. The descendants 
 of one species have been domesticated for a period 
 so long that it cannot be specified, and have been 
 bred to serve the purposes of a certain class of 
 sportsmen. 
 TIte Marten Fam- Some of these animals work a great 
 ily Destructive deal of mischief through their de- 
 but Useful. structive, sanguinary instincts, but on 
 the whole their usefulness, direct or indirect, more 
 than compensates for the damage they do. Their 
 services in catching harmful animals should not be 
 underestimated, and though it may be difficult to 
 forgive them their encroachments on human prop- 
 erty, it must be admitted that the losses they occa- 
 
 THE FINE MABTEN. Beautiful in its graceful form and its rich, soft fur, the Pine Marten is one of the most attractive animals in the 
 
 forests of Europe and northern Asia. The sides of dark brown, the long, bushy tail of the same color, the black legs, the lighter tinge of the fore- 
 head and cheeks, and the very light, bright yellow of the breast are distinguishing features of the animal. It is a forest aqimali and is very 
 destructive of small quadrupeds and birds. j.TJie picture shows it with an animkl^it'hasjUst caught. (Mustela martes.) 
 
 endowments are of a high grade, and some species 
 give evidence of an astonishing amount of reason- 
 ing power. They are cunning, distrustful, wary, ex- 
 tremely courageous and sanguinary, but devoted to 
 their offspring. Some are gregarious, others live 
 singly or only temporarily with their mates. Some 
 are active both day and night, but the majority of 
 them are of nocturnal habits, and in populated dis- 
 tricts they sally forth only at night. Their principal 
 food consists of animals. Some eat fish, Crabs and 
 vegetable food, especially sweet, juicy fruit. The 
 thirst for blood that inspires them all is surprising in 
 its intensity. They slay more than they need for 
 their sustenance and some species might be said to 
 intoxicate themselves with the blood they suck from 
 their victims. 
 
 The young, whose number varies between two and 
 ten to the litter, are born blind and are under nurs- 
 ing care for a long time. The mother defends them 
 boldly when attacked and carries them from one 
 
 sion happen only through the carelessness of the in- 
 voluntary contributors to their appetites. 
 
 How great a number of animals of the Marten 
 family are killed annually for the sake of their furs 
 is best seen from the statistics of the commerce of 
 furs. According to Lomer about three million skins 
 are marketed annually, exclusive of those which 
 Indian and Asiatic hunters retain for their own use. 
 Some Indian and Mongol tribes live almost exclu- 
 sively from the product of their chase of fur-pro- 
 ducing animals, and among these the Martens rank 
 first. Thousands of Europeans and Americans owe 
 their living to the fur trade, and many extensive and 
 previously unknown tracts of country have been 
 opened to civilization by hunters and trappers who 
 have ventured into them to seek this game. 
 
 Three Sub-Fam- We will begin our description with 
 Hies of the the Martens proper and those mem- 
 
 Marten Family, bers of the family whose mode of 
 progression is digitigrade, that is, those which walk 
 
152 
 
 TffE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 on the tips of their toes. They form the first sub- 
 family, Martidce. The second sub-family, Melidce, 
 includes the Badgers and others, whose walk is plan- 
 tigrade; and the third is formed by the Otters and 
 their relatives, which we separate from the other 
 Martens under the name of Fissipedia, or web-footed. 
 
 THE MARTEN GROUP. 
 
 The first place in the first sub-family belongs to 
 the Marten and its group {Mustela). They are of 
 medium size, endowed with a slender, elongated 
 body, short legs, a head that is somewhat narrow in 
 front and ends in a pointed snout. The ears have 
 a transverse position, are rather short, nearly three- 
 sided, and somewhat rounded at the tip. - The eyes 
 are moderately large and of a vivacious expression, 
 the feet have five toes provided with sharp claws, and 
 the tail is of moderate length. The Martens all have 
 glands near the root of the tail secreting a peculiar 
 fluid, and their fur is long and soft. 
 
 The Pine Marten's The Pine Marten {Mustela martes) is 
 Physical an animal as agile as it is beautiful. 
 Characteristics, j^g body measures about twenty-two 
 inches, its tail about twelve inches in length. The 
 fur is of a dark brown color in the upper parts, pale 
 on the snout, light brown on the forehead and cheeks 
 and yellowish on the sides and under portion ; the 
 legs are a brownish black, the tail dark brown. A 
 narrow, dark brown stripe runs from the ears down- 
 ward. Between the hind legs there is a tawny spot 
 with dark brown edges, which sometimes is continued 
 as a band of dingy yellow and runs as far as the 
 throat. The lower part of the throat and the breast 
 are of a beautiful yellow tinge and constitute the 
 most prominent distinguishing feature of the animal. 
 The fur is dense, soft and lustrous and consists of an 
 outer coat of rather long, stiff hair and an under fur 
 which is short, fine and woolly, which assumes a whit- 
 ish tinge in the fore parts and a yellowish hue on the 
 sides. The upper lip is provided with four rows of 
 whisker hairs, and there are also a few bristles under 
 the corners of the eyes, under the chin and on the 
 throat. In winter the general color is darker than 
 in summer. The female is distinguished by a paler 
 hue on the back and a less distinct spot. The throat 
 and lower part of the neck of young animals are of a 
 lighter tint. 
 
 The Pine The Pine Marten inhabits all the 
 
 Marten's Home wooded parts of the northern half 
 and Habits, of the Old World. In Europe it is 
 found in Scandinavia, Russia, England, Germany, 
 France, Hungary, Italy and Spain ; in Asia it ex- 
 tends to the Altai, its southern confines being the 
 sources of the Yenisei. Corresponding with such an 
 extensive range, its fur is subject to considerable 
 modifications. The largest specimens are found in 
 Sweden, and their fur is twice as long and thick as 
 that of the German Martens, and grayer in tint. 
 The German furs are more of a yellowish brown or 
 dark brown ; and specimens of the latter color are 
 especially found in Tyrol and bear an astonishing 
 resemblance to the fur of the American Sable. The 
 Martens of Lombardy are of a pale gray-brown or 
 yellowish-brown hue ; those of the Pyrenees are 
 large and strong, but also of a light tint, while the 
 Macedonian and Thessalian Martens are of moder- 
 ate size and a dark color. 
 
 The Pine Marten inhabits forests and is found 
 most frequently in lonely, dense and gloomy spots. 
 It is a genuine arboreal animal and has no superior 
 as a climber. Hollow trees, and nests deserted by 
 
 wild Pigeons, birds of prey and Squirrels are its 
 favorite places of abode, and in rare instances it 
 looks for an asylum in the cleft of a rock. As a, 
 rule it sleeps all day ; with the approach of night, 
 usually before sunset, it sallies forth and attacks all 
 creatures that it believes it can master. No quad- 
 ruped between the Mouse and the Hare or young- 
 Fawn is secure from it. It stealthily follows its vicr 
 tim, and when near enough, makes a sudden charge 
 and kills it. The Pine Marten has been repeatedly 
 observed to attack weak young Fawns and it is 
 quite as destructive of birds as of quadrupeds. All 
 species of Chickens living in the temperate zone 
 have in it a formidable foe. Stealthily and softly 
 it creeps up to their roosts, no matter whether they 
 are on trees or on the level ground, and before the 
 watchful Hen has the slightest suspicion of its pres- 
 ence, it springs upon her neck, lacerates it with a 
 few bites, or severs the carotid arteries, and eagerly 
 laps the flowing blood. Besides it plunders birds' 
 nests, visits bee-houses and steals the honey, and 
 eats fruit and berries, pears, cherries and plums. 
 When food is scarce in the forest, it becomes bolder, 
 and extreme hunger drives it near human dwellings. 
 When once it succeeds in entering Hen-roosts or 
 Pigeon-houses it causes greater devastations than 
 any other animal, except those of its own group. 
 
 Three or four young Pine Martens are usually 
 found in each litter, the nest being warmly lined 
 with moss, and generally in a hollow tree, but more 
 rarely in a Squirrel's or Magpie's nest or a cleft of 
 rock. The mother watches over her family with 
 untiring devotion, and never leaves the vicinity of 
 the nest for fear of losing her children. In a few 
 weeks the little ones are able to accompany her on 
 her promenades on the trees, playfully and adroitly 
 climbing and leaping on the branches ; and she gives 
 them a thorough training in all physical exercises, 
 warns them of danger and hurries their flight to a 
 place of safety. Young Martens are easily brought 
 up in captivity ; at first they should be fed with milk 
 and bread, but later on they may be kept on meat, 
 eggs, honey and fruit for a long time. 
 
 Doings of a " On the 29th of January," says Lenz, 
 
 Captive Pine "I received a young Pine Marten, 
 Marten. which had been taken out of a hollow 
 tree that very day. I soon induced it to lap warm 
 milk, and in a few hours ft ate bread soaked in milk. 
 In this little animal I could clearly observe the nat- 
 ural development of taste in the species. In the 
 beginning, that is, in June and July, the young Pine 
 Marten is fed certain things by its parents, mostly 
 birds ; later it must, according to the season of the 
 year, accustom itself to Mice, fruit, etc. 
 
 " On the second day I offered it a Frog, but it paid 
 no attention to it ; then I gave it a living Sparrowiiv-' 
 which it immediately snapped at and devoured, feath- 
 ers and all. On the fourth day I let it go hangif- 
 and then tempted it with a Frog, a Lizard and a': 
 Snake. It paid no attention to them ; neither did it 
 care for a young Raven. On the sixth day it left its 
 cage and killed a Falcon in its nest, eating the head, 
 neck and part of the breast. I offered it many kinds ; 
 of food in the course of time and found that it pre- 
 ferred small birds to everything else. 
 
 "When it had attained three- fourths of its com- 
 plete growth and showed great voracity, I again ■ 
 offered it a Snake, but although very hungry the 
 Marten approached very cautiously and drew back 
 at every movement made by the reptile. Finally 
 becoming persuaded that the Snake was not danger- 
 
THE MARTEN FAMILY— MARTEN GROUP. 
 
 153- 
 
 ous, the Marten gave it a bite that broke off the 
 tail, which it ate. Then it carried the Snake into its 
 nest, from which the reptile escaped and hid in the 
 hay, but was drawn from this retreat by its adver- 
 sary. The Marten then bit off another piece of the 
 tail, but did not dare take the Snake by the neck and 
 kill it until about two hours later, when it carried 
 the dead reptile to the nest and ate it with evident 
 pleasure, but not with avidity. It had not finished 
 this meal when I threw another Snake, twenty-four 
 inches long, toward the Marten, which tried to ap- 
 proach it, but drew back frightened, as the Snake 
 resented its advance and hissed. Then I brought a 
 large Snake of another kind, freshly killed. After 
 it had become convinced that this one was dead, the 
 Marten carried it back 
 and forth and an hour 
 later ate it, head, venom- 
 ous fangs and all. Then 
 I gave it a Lizard, which 
 was greeted with a sniff ; 
 the little animal hissed 
 hoarsely, nearly like a 
 Snake, opened its mouth 
 and jumped at the Mar- 
 ten about ten times. 
 The Marten evaded its 
 bites, but* soon became 
 bolder, as it saw that the 
 Lizard could not harm 
 it, and after an hour 
 killed and devoured the 
 reptile. 
 
 "This goes to prove 
 that by nature the Mar- 
 ten has no inclination to 
 kill Snakes and similar 
 animals, yet in the light 
 of this experience it is 
 not improbable, that in 
 winter, when it finds 
 them in a defenseless 
 state, it kills and eats 
 them, for it probably 
 suffers severely from the 
 pangs of hunger at this 
 time of year, as it is ex- 
 tremely voracious. 
 
 "I wish to call atten- 
 tion to an erroneous 
 opinion that prevails 
 generally. It is com- 
 monly believed that the 
 Martens, in killing any 
 animal, always find the 
 carotid arteries and sev- 
 er them with their strong 
 teeth. This is not correct. They do seize larger 
 animals by the throat and strangle them, but with- 
 out touching the" carotids ; therefore they cannot 
 suck their blood, but content themselves with lick- 
 ing the blood that chances to ooze out, and then eat 
 the animal, beginning at the neck. The larger ani- 
 mals, like Rats of good size, Chickens, etc., do not 
 have the tough, yielding skin of their necks even 
 lacerated by the Marten while it is killing them, but 
 only when it begins to devour them. 
 
 " While my captive Marten was little it was very 
 fond of playing with people who started the play, but 
 later on play was not advisable, for when it was grown 
 up it used its teeth rather freely, although without 
 
 for their Fur. 
 career, as for the 
 
 xll£ SXOIVS KASTxlITi Sujuniiiiica ctiau uiincu the Bcc^h Mctitcii, la 
 
 distinguished by its sliort tail, small ears, white throat and beautiful, grayish 
 brown fur, darkening on the legs and tail as shown in the picture. It attacks all 
 small mammals and birds, and is particularly partial to poultry, as European and 
 Asiatic farmers frequently find. A log pile' near a dwelling is a favorite resort 
 with it, and the animal in the picture seems to be in a locality especially favor- 
 able to its habits. (Musielafoina.) 
 
 intending to do harm. Once it bit my hand through 
 thick gloves, drawing the blood, although the bite 
 was meant in a friendly way. It does not express 
 real affection in its face and gestures, but it never 
 intentionally harms those with whom it is well ac- 
 quainted when it is kindly treated. Its black eyes 
 express only avidity and sanguinary proclivities. 
 When it lies comfortably in its nest, it often utters a 
 long, drumming, murmuring sound. I never heard 
 it produce sounds similar to those made by the Pole- 
 cat. When it was angry, it growled violently." 
 
 Pine Martens The Pine Marten is hunted in all 
 Vigorously Hunted possible ways, not SO much with a 
 view to checking its murderous 
 sake of its fur. It is most easily 
 pursued on freshly fallen 
 snow, as its spoor may 
 then be seen not only 
 on the snow-covered 
 ground but also on the 
 branches of trees. Oc- 
 casionally it may be en- 
 countered lying in the 
 wood, usually stretched 
 at full length on the 
 branch of a tree. When 
 found in this position it 
 is easy to shoot it, for 
 if the first shot misse* 
 the gun may be reload- 
 ed and a second shot 
 taken, as the animal 
 does not flee, but fixedly 
 looks at its assailant. 
 
 In hunting the Pine 
 Marten one needs a 
 good Dog, which will 
 seize it boldly and hold 
 it fast, for the animal is 
 wont to jump at its pur- 
 suer and will frighten a 
 Dog that is not very 
 courageous. It is easily 
 caught in traps, which 
 are prepared in a very 
 ingenious way. The 
 bait is usually a piece oT 
 bread, fried with a small 
 piece of onion and a lit- 
 tle honey in unsalted 
 butter and strewn with 
 camphor. Other baits 
 are ingeniously mixed 
 from various strongly 
 scented materials. 
 
 The fur of the Pine 
 Marten is the most valu- 
 able of European furs, and in quality resembles that 
 of the Sable more than any other found on this con- 
 tinent. The best skins are found in Norway, the 
 next best in Scotland and others are brought from 
 Italy, Sweden, north Germany, Switzerland, upper 
 Bavaria, Tartary, Russia, Turkey and Hungary. 
 
 The Stone The Stone or Beech Marten {Mustela 
 Marten or Beech foind) is a little smaller than the 
 Marten. Pine Marten ; the legs are propor- 
 tionately shorter, the head longer notwithstanding 
 the shorter face ; the ears are smaller, the fur shorter 
 and of a lighter hue and the throat is white. The 
 total length of a full-grown male is twenty-eight 
 inches, a little over the third of which is taken up by 
 
154 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 the tail. The fur is grayish brown, assuming a darker 
 tint on the legs and tail and merging into dark brown 
 on the paws. The spot on the throat is smaller than 
 that of the Pine Marten and consists of pure white 
 hairs; though in the young animal it is sometimes of 
 a. reddish-yellow shade. The margins of the ears are 
 set with short whitish hair. 
 
 The Stone Marten is found in nearly all the coun- 
 tries that the Pine Marten inhabits ; it is a native of 
 all of central Europe and Italy, excepting Sardinia ; 
 England, Sweden; temperate European Russia, 
 bounded by the Ural, the Crimea and the Caucasus; 
 -and western Asia, especially Palestine, Syria and 
 Asia Minor. But it also extends over Afghanistan 
 and a great part of the Himalayas, although in this 
 latter region it is not found at a lower elevation than 
 4,800 feet. In the Alps it mounts higher than the 
 iir-tree belt in summer, and descends in winter. In 
 Holland it seems to be almost exterminated. Nearly 
 -everywhere it is more common than the Pine Marten 
 and approaches much more closely to human dwell- 
 ings ; in fact, one might go so far as to say that vil- 
 lages and cities are its favorite haunts. Isolated 
 barns, stables, garden-houses, old walls and large 
 piles of wood in the vicinity of villages most fre- 
 -quently harbor this dangerous foe of domestic birds. 
 Habits and Food The mode of life and habits of the 
 of. the Stone Marten correspond with those 
 
 Stone Marten, of the Pine Marten in a great many 
 respects. It is an adept at all physical exercises, 
 and is as lively and agile, as courageous, as cunning 
 and as ferocious as its kinsman ; it climbs perfectly 
 smooth trees and poles, takes long leaps, swims with 
 ease, and can creep without noise and force itself 
 through extremely narrow apertures. 
 
 Its food is nearly similar to that of the Pine Mar- 
 ten, but it is guilty of a considerably greater amount 
 of mischief, for it has larger opportunities of causing 
 ■damage to property. Whenever it has the slightest 
 chance, it enters the Chicken-coops and slays the 
 inmates with insatiable ferocity. Besides this it 
 preys on Mice, Rats, Rabbits, birds, and when it is 
 in the forest, on Squirrels and' reptiles. Eggs seem 
 to be a favorite dainty, with this animal and it also 
 revels in fruit of all kinds, cherries, plums, pears and 
 gooseberries, and hemp seed. It is necessary to pro- 
 tect valuable fruit from it, and this is best accom- 
 plished by painting the tree-trunk with tobacco-juice 
 or kerosene oil as soon as one perceives the mischief. 
 Chicken-coops and Pigeon-houses must be securely 
 locked, and every hole large enough to admit a Rat 
 must be closed up. 
 
 Taming the Even specimens that are taken old are 
 Stone capable of a certain degree of domes- 
 Marten. tication. In Scotland a Stone Marten 
 -was once caught in a peculiar way. The unwelcome 
 guest had taken up his abode near a mountain vil- 
 lage and for a long time had been guilty of murders 
 innumerable among the Chicken tribe. With the 
 aid of good Dogs the villagers succeeded in driving 
 him out of an isolated barn, which the robber had 
 appropriated for his den. They drove him to the 
 edge of a precipice, and thought they had him, but 
 he preferred to jump down, falling from a height of 
 ninety feet. The shock proved too violent for him, 
 and he lay motionless, as if dead. His pursuers felt 
 assured that he had killed himself and one of them 
 went down, in hopes of obtaining the fur, and took 
 the poor creature up. It suddenly began to move, 
 and gave its rescuer a distinct proof of its- return- 
 ing consciousness by biting him. Still the wounded 
 
 Man did not let the animal go, but seized it by the 
 neck and brought it home. The fa,inily treated it 
 with kindness and in a short time it became quite 
 tame, either owing to the fall it had taken or from 
 gratitude for the friendly care. Its owner resolved 
 to make use of its abilities in catching Mice, and 
 therefore the Marten was installed in the stable, 
 where it not only made itself at home in a short 
 time but struck up a friendship with the Horse. 
 When any person entered the stable the Marten was 
 found near its friend, whom it seemed to defend with 
 a growl. It would sit on the Horse's back, or run 
 back and forth on it ; and sometimes played with 
 the Horse's tail or ears. The Horse seemed to ap- 
 preciate the affection the little robber had for it, but 
 unfortunately the tie of friendship was severed in a 
 cruel way. While on one of its nocturnal excursions 
 the Marten entered a trap and was found dead the 
 next morning. 
 
 The Sable, a The celebrated Sable {Muste/a zibel- 
 Most Valuable lina)\s closely allied to the Martens. 
 
 Fur Animal. n jg distinguished from the Pine 
 Marten, which most resembles it, by its conically- 
 shaped head, large ears, long, stout legs, large feet 
 and lustrous, silky fur. 
 
 The fur is valued according to its thickness, soft- 
 ness and uniformity of tint. The woolly coat should 
 show a smoky brown tint merging into bluish gray. 
 The lighter the color of the outer coat, the smaller 
 is the value of the skin; the darker and more uni- 
 formly tinted it is, the greater its value. The hand- 
 somest pelts are blackish in the upper part, mixed 
 black and gray on the snout, gray on the cheeks, 
 reddish chestnut-brown on neck and flanks, a beau- 
 tiful yellow on the throat and lower part of the 
 neck,^ and the ears usually show margins of grayish- 
 white or pale brown. The yellow color of the 
 throat fades after the animal's death, and the most 
 vividly yellow specimens are the first to fade. 
 
 The Sable's Originally the native country of the 
 
 Range and Sable extended from the Ural to the 
 Principal Food. Bering sea and from the southern 
 mountainous boundaries of Siberia to latitude sixty- 
 eight degrees north, and also over a small part of 
 northwestern America, but it has much narrowed 
 during recent times. Incessant persecution has 
 driven the animal to seek refuge in the darkest for- 
 ests of northeastern Asia, and as even there Man 
 follows it eagerly, even at the risk of life, it retires 
 farther and farther back and is constantly becoming 
 more rare. While Sable hunters were still reaping 
 golden harvests, they founded associations in Kam- 
 chatka, and the decrease of the animal there as well 
 as all over Eastern Asia dates from that time. Th6 
 principal cause of its extermination is the activity 
 of hunters. The animal undertakes rather prolonged 
 wanderings, following, as the natives say, its favorite 
 game, the Scjuirrel. In the pursuit of these rodents 
 it crosses wide streams by swimming, even during 
 the season of drifting ice, although it usually avoids 
 water. Its favorite haunts are forests of fir trees, 
 whose large trunks afford shelter, while' the seeds 
 contained in the cones of the tree furnish the animal 
 food. 
 
 The Sable seems most to resemble the Pine Mar- 
 ten, partaking of its agility and masterly way of 
 climbing. Its food consists chiefly of Squirrels and 
 other rodents, birds and similar prey, but it does not 
 disdain fish, as it is sometimes induced to enter traps 
 in which fish is used as bait; it has also been observed' 
 that it is fond of the honey of wild Bees. It seems 
 
THE SABLE. Thia =ii.iw.i, i^^nd .a the ^olde. po.t.ons of As.a a-d North Americans zealously hunted because of the great value of Its fur. It is 
 
 most appropriately depicted in the snow, where one of these animals, having killed a Squirrel, seems to be called upon to defend its prey from a hungry 
 brother, which, from the position of its claws, seems inclined to fight for a sharS of the booty. The animal in the upper part of this picture shows the mark- 
 ings most prized by the Sable hunter : the lower part of the neck yellow, the cheeks gray and the rest of the fur nearly black. (MttsUla zideUina.) 
 
 (155) 
 
156 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 to consider cedar nuts desirable food, for the major- 
 ity of the Sables that Radde caught had their stom- 
 achs quite full of these nuts. 
 
 Hunting the The hunting and capturing of Sables 
 Sable for sets the whole male population of cer- 
 its Fur. tain tribes annually in motion and causes 
 -merchants to travel thousands of miles. Steller, and 
 later the Russian Stshukin, inform us that the largest 
 number of Sables are still found in the gloomy for- 
 •ests between the Lena and the Eastern Sea, and the 
 product of their furs is still the greatest source of 
 income to the natives as well as to the Russian 
 : settlers. The hunting season lasts from October to 
 the middle of November or the beginning of Decem- 
 'ber. The hunters assemble in small groups on the 
 Shunting grounds, where every association has its own 
 'dwelling; and during the journey the Dogs have to 
 <draw the sledges, packed with provisions for several 
 rmonths. The hunt is still conducted essentially in 
 rthe same manner as described by Steller. Traps and 
 mooses of the most varied descriptions are put out; 
 tthe spoor of the Sable is followed on snow-shoes, the 
 sanimal's hiding-place is surrounded by nets, and 
 ithe fleeing Sable is killed by arrows or with a gun. 
 The most popular method is to use traps that catch 
 .the animal without damaging the fur. The hunter 
 .and his associates spend several days in constructing 
 all the traps, and often enough, when he looks for a 
 wictim on his daily visit, he finds that an impudent 
 Arctic Fox or some other Beast of Prey has eaten the 
 precious booty. Or a storm may come along and 
 •compel the poor man to look out for his own safety 
 without thinking of disentangling the captive animal. 
 In this way Sable-hunting is really a series of contin- 
 uous troubles. 
 
 How Sables There are, even at this late day, very 
 Behave When few accounts about the life of Sables 
 Tamed. jn captivity. One specimen was kept 
 
 in the palace of the archbishop of Tobolsk and was 
 so completely tamed that it was allowed to walk 
 .about the town at its own will. Other tamed Sables 
 jplayed very merrily together, sat upon their hind 
 .legs in order to fight more effectually, jumped 
 .around in the cage, wagged their tails when they 
 tfelt comfortable and expressed their anger by grunt- 
 ring and growling like young Dogs. 
 
 The American In the northeast and extreme 
 Sable a north of North America the Sa- 
 
 Northern Variety, ble genus is represented by the 
 .American Sable {Mustela americana). It is eighteen 
 inches long, exclusive of the tail, which rfteasures 
 •seven inches, and is more closely allied to the Pine 
 Marten than to the Sable. Its color is a uniform 
 brown, except that the patch on the breast is yellow 
 and the head and ears are gray or white. The hair 
 is considerably coarser than that of the Sable and is 
 of about the same quality as that of the Pine Mar- 
 ten. 
 
 The finest pelts of this species come from the 
 
 .-shores of the Hudson Bay, the country around the 
 
 Little and Great Whale rivers, eastern Maine and 
 
 Labrador. According to Lomer about 100,000 pelts 
 
 are annually sold from the region named, and from 
 
 30,000 to 50,000 come from Alaska, very fine pelts 
 
 commanding a price of about nineteen dollars each. 
 
 The Fisher The Fisher Marten is a native of the 
 
 Marten, or same region of country. It is called 
 
 Pehan. Pekan in Canada and Wijack by the 
 
 Indians, and is also known as Pennant's Marten 
 
 (^Mustela pennantii) . It is a large, thick-set. Fox-like 
 
 animal, whose body measures over twenty -four 
 
 inches ; the tail from twelve to fourteen inches. 
 The fur consists of a thick, fine, lustrous outer coat 
 and a long, soft, woolly under fur. Its color is, as 
 a rule, very dark, or even black, and only • the 
 head, nape of the neck and back show an admixture 
 of gray ; but there are also individual members of 
 this species that are very light, chestnut or light 
 brown or even yellowish white. 
 
 The range of the Fisher extends over the whole 
 north of America. In his habits he resembles dif- 
 ferent species of his relatives. His usual habita- 
 tions are caverns, which he excavates near river 
 banks. His food is said to consist mainly of quad- 
 rupeds living near the water. These animals are 
 hunted by young Indians who find in this viciously 
 biting creature an antagonist which can test their 
 courage, while at the same time they are not ex- 
 posed to as much danger as are the Men of their 
 tribe who hunt the grim Bear. Lomer says that 
 there is hardly another fur so well adapted for 
 Men's clothing, and the pelt is highly esteemed in 
 northern American countries as well as in Russia, 
 commanding a price from eight to fifteen or even as 
 high as twenty dollars, a coat made from this fur 
 costing as high as from three hundred to one thou- 
 sand dollars. Comparatively few of these furs reach 
 the European market ; the number may be about 
 twelve thousand annually, and they are known com- 
 mercially under the name of Virginian Polecat. 
 
 THE WEASEL, GROUP. 
 
 "Putorius" or "Foetorius" (each meaning "foul- 
 smelling") is the name given to another group, in 
 honor of the renowned Polecat, which certainly de- 
 serves this designation, while other members of the 
 group do not. The animals belonging to this group 
 are distinguished by a head that tapers in a marked 
 degree toward the sharp snout; short, rounded, 
 three-sided ears; a slender, elongated body; short 
 legs provided with long-toed feet, and a round tail, 
 clothed with rather long hair, which does not at- 
 tain half the length of the body. 
 
 Description The Polecat {Putotius fcetidus) attains a 
 of the length of body of from sixteen to sev- 
 Polecat. enteen inches and a length of' tail of 
 six inches. The fur is of a uniform brownish black 
 color below, while the upper parts and the sides are 
 lighter, usually of a dark chestnut tinge; and the 
 upper part of the neck is also lighter, the shorter, 
 yellowish woolly coat being nearer the surface in 
 these parts of the fur. A red-brown band, indis- 
 tinctly defined, runs lengthwise under the body; and 
 the chin and tip of the snout are of a yellowish- 
 white tint, with the exception of the dark nose. 
 Above the eyes there is a yellowish white spot, fad- 
 ing at its edges, and uniting with an indistinct band 
 beginning below the ears. There are variations in 
 coloring which have by some been considered as 
 marking distinct species; and yellow or white Pole- 
 cats have also been observed. In the female all 
 those parts of the fur which are yellow in the male 
 are of a pure white. The fur of the species is thick, 
 but it is much less beautiful than that of the Pine 
 Marten. 
 The Tiger Pole- The Polecat has a kinsman, the Tiger 
 
 cat,aSepa- Polecat {Putorius sarmaticiis) , which in- 
 
 rate Variety, habits southeastern Europe, extendmg 
 as far north as Poland, and several parts of western 
 Asia; and it is of frequent occurrence in southern 
 Afghanistan, especially around Kandahar. Its mode 
 of life is identical with that of the common Pdlecat, 
 
THE MARTEN FAAJILY— WEASEL GROUP. 
 
 157 
 
 The Polecat's The Polecat inhabits the temperate 
 R(mge zone of Europe and Asia and even en- 
 
 and Habits, croaches a little upon the arctic zone. 
 It is found throughout all Europe except Lapland 
 and northern Russia. In Asia it ranges from the 
 Caspian sea through Tartary and Siberia to Kam- 
 chatka. Every locality holding out a promise of 
 food is adapted for its existence and therefore it fre- 
 quents plains as well as mountains, forests and fields, 
 and is particularly partial to the vicinity of large 
 farms. It takes up its habitation in hollow trees, 
 rocks, old Fox burrows and similar holes which it 
 happens to come across; and, if driven to it, can 
 burrow itself. It establishes itself in fields of high- 
 grown wheat or corn; it also makes its home in 
 fence corners, under bridges, in old walls, the roots 
 of large trees or close hedges; in short, it settles 
 down wherever there is a good chance to do so, but 
 fights shy of work, preferring to let other animals do 
 the digging and burrowing. In winter it shifts its 
 
 The Polecat 
 
 a Vigilant 
 
 Hunter. 
 
 Polecats, and as the result of his labors, concluded 
 that they devoured Frogs and Snakes with great 
 pleasure, never caring for the bites of venomous 
 Snakes and experiencing no discomfort from them. 
 Besides feeding on venomous Snakes 
 the Polecat, Marten-fashion, attacks 
 every creature it holds to be its inferior 
 in strength. It is a deadly enemy of all Moles, field 
 and house Mice, Rats and Hamsters, Hedgehogs, 
 Chickens and Ducks. Frogs seem to be one of its 
 favorite dainties, for it catches them in great quanti- 
 ties, and keeps them in its burrow by the dozen. 
 When food is scarce it contents itself with Grasshop- 
 pers and Snails. It also goes fishing and lies in wait 
 for fish on the banks of rivers, lakes and ponds, 
 jumps after them into the water, dives and seizes 
 them with great adroitness; it is even said to take 
 them from under the ice in winter. It is also very 
 fond of honey and fruits. Its sanguinary instincts 
 are great, but not so great as those of the Martens 
 
 THE POLECAT. An animal which is generally avoided by those of sensitive olfactory nerves is the Polecat, which inhabits the greater 
 
 part of Europe and Asia, where it ravages poultry yards, but also catches Rats, Mice and other rodents. It is also partial to Frogs, and the 
 mother Polecat in the picture is shown in the maternal act of bringing to her young a Frog she has killed. (Ptiiorius fceiidus.) 
 
 quarters and moves into villages and cities, often 
 encroaching upon the domain of the domestic Cat 
 and the Stone Marten. Occasionally it enters Hen- 
 houses, Pigeon-roosts, Rabbit-hutches and similar 
 places, where it displays an activity little calculated 
 to bring joy to their inmates or owners, and only 
 equaled but never surpassed by other members of 
 the Marten family. On the other hand it makes it- 
 self useful, and if the farmer is careful of his Hens, 
 Pigeons and Rabbits, he cannot find fault with his 
 guest, for it catches a multitude of Rats and Mice, 
 thoroughly rids the immediate neighborhood of 
 Snakes, and requires nothing for its services but 
 a warm bed in a very dark corner in the hay-loft. 
 There are localities in which the Polecat is as wel- 
 come as it is detested in others. 
 The Polecat We must agree with Lenz, who advises 
 Useful in the every forester to spare the Polecat. Its 
 Woods. right place is in the woods, and it does 
 much good by killing Mice and Snakes; its usefulness 
 in destroying Hamsters is also worthy of mention. 
 Lenz experimented a great deal with half-grown 
 
 proper. As a rule it does not kill all the poultry in 
 a house into which it has effected an entrance, but 
 takes the first fowl that it comes across and hurries 
 with it to its hiding-place; but it repeats this per- 
 formance several times in one night. More than 
 other members of the Marten family it is in the habit 
 of stocking its larder with provisions, and not in- 
 frequently goodly supplies of Mice, birds, eggs and 
 Frogs are found in its burrows. Its agility makes its 
 task of providing for its sustenance an easy one. 
 
 All movements of the Polecat are quick, agile and 
 to the purpose. It is past-master in the arts of sneak- 
 ing and leaping; it climbs, swims, dives, in short, 
 makes use of every movement that may further its 
 purposes. It is crafty, cunning, cautious, distrust- 
 ful, ingenious and, when attacked, courageous, and 
 addicted to vicious biting; in short, it is perfectly 
 fitted for committing great robberies. Like the 
 Skunk [which in America is frequently called " Pole- 
 cat "], it defends itself in extremities by ejecting a 
 foul-smelling fluid and thereby deterring the Dogs 
 from pursuing it. Its tenacity of life is incredible. 
 
158 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 It jumps from great heights without injuring itself, 
 bears pain of all kinds almost with equanimity and 
 succumbs only to extrerhely severe wounds. 
 
 A litter of Polecats is composed of four or five, 
 sometimes six young ones, for which a retreat is 
 usually established by the mother in a cavern, or 
 still better, in a heap of wood or dry branches. The 
 mother is exceedingly fond of the little ones, cares 
 for them in the tenderest way and defends them 
 against any enemy ; sometimes, when she hears a 
 noise in the neighborhood of her nest, she will attack 
 a human being of her own accord. The little ones, 
 after an infancy of about six weeks, accompany 
 the mother on her hunts, and at the end of the 
 month they are nearly as large as she is herself. 
 
 Young Polecats may be suckled by Cat-mothers 
 and tamed, but they do not afford one much pleas- 
 ure, for their sanguinary proclivities revive when 
 they grow up and they pursue every good-natured 
 domestic animal. 
 
 Polecats Sometimes Polecats in the wild state some- 
 Dangerous— times conduct themselves in the 
 Hunting Them. most audacious manner when they 
 meet human beings and may even become dangerous 
 to children. " In Verna, a village in Hessen," says 
 Lenz, " a six year old boy, who had been given care 
 of a baby, set it down on the road, near a canal. 
 Suddenly three Polecats made their appearance and 
 attacked the child. One seized it by the nape of the 
 neck, another by the side of the head, the third by 
 the forehead. The baby gave a loud scream and 
 the brother was coming to the rescue, when still 
 more Polecats emerged from the canal and charged 
 at him. Fortunately two men came to save the chil- 
 dren ; they killed two Polecats and the others then 
 made their escape." 
 
 This animal is pursued in nearly every locality it 
 inhabits because of the considerable damage it causes. 
 All the customary weapons and traps are used in its 
 extermination. In those localities that are infested 
 with Mice it would be better to leave the Polecat 
 alone and direct attention to the repairing of the 
 Chicken-coops. 
 
 The fur of the Polecat is warm and serviceable, 
 but it is not valued as much as it would be if it were 
 not for the really unbearable odor that clings to it. 
 The long hair of the tail is used for brushes ; the 
 flesh is perfectly useless and is disdained even by 
 Dogs. 
 
 The Ferret, a AH modern naturalists agree in regard- 
 
 Domesticated ing the Ferret {Putorius furo) as a 
 Variety. descendant of the Polecat, having un- 
 dergone certain modifications in captivity and domes- 
 tication. 
 
 The Ferret has been known from the earliest ages, 
 but only in a domesticated condition. Aristotle re- 
 fers to it under the name of Iktis, Pliny under the 
 name of Viverra. On the Balearic islands the Rab- 
 bits at one time had so increased that the natives 
 appealed to the Emperor Augustus for help. He 
 responded by sending them a few " Viverrae," whose 
 abilities as hunters were great. They were put into 
 the burrows of the Rabbits and drove the harmful 
 rodents out into the nets of their erlemies. 
 
 The Ferret resembles the Polecat in shape and 
 size. It is a little smaller and weaker, but we ob- 
 serve this phenomenon in many animals that live in 
 dependence upon Man, that is, in captivity. The 
 body is eighteen inches long, the tail five inches. 
 These are the relative measurements of the Polecat; 
 and the Ferret does not differ in any marked degree 
 
 from the Polecat in the structure of its skeleton. In 
 Europe the Ferret is usually seen as an Albino, 
 being of a whitish or yellowish color, a little darker 
 in the lower parts, and with pink eyes. A few spec- 
 imens are darker and look like genuine Polecats, 
 No essential differences have as yet been found be- 
 tween Polecats and Ferrets, and the reasons that 
 have been given as sufficient to entitle the Ferret 
 to being ranked as a distinct species do not bear 
 close investigation, as the principal distinguishing 
 features of the Ferret have been counted its deli- 
 cate, chilly nature, its gentleness and its tameness. 
 In my opinion this is no valid proof, as all Albinos 
 are weakly and delicate. Some naturalists supposed 
 the Ferret to be of African origin and to have ex- 
 tended from Africa to Europe, but they have not 
 been able to support their opinions by any observa- 
 tion. 
 How Ferrets The Ferret is found only in captivity 
 are Used and is kept in continental Europe only 
 
 and Kept, for Rabbit-hunting. In England the 
 Ferret is also used to exterminate Rats, and the 
 "Ratters " are considered of much higher value than 
 those that hunt only Rabbits. The animals are kept 
 in chests and cages, the hay and straw is frequently 
 changed and they are protected from the cold in 
 winter. Usually they are fed on bread and milk, 
 but a diet of tender flesh of freshly killed animals 
 is much more conducive to their health. Lenz's 
 observations show that they can be very cheaply 
 kept on Frogs, Lizards and Snakes, of which they 
 are very fond. 
 
 Habits and The Ferret resembles the Polecat in 
 Traits of the its temper, except that it is not so 
 Ferret. lively; its thirst for blood is not in- 
 
 ferior to that of its wild brother. Even when it 
 is nearly satiated, it attacks Rabbits, Pigeons and 
 Chickens with a kind of a mad frenzy, seizes them 
 by the neck and does not loosen its hold until the 
 prey is thoroughly disabled from moving. It laps 
 the blood oozing out of the wound it has made with 
 incredible avidity, and appears ta consider the brain 
 a dainty morsel. It attacks reptiles with greater 
 caution and seems to be aware of the danger apper- 
 taining to venomous Snakes. It attacks the harm- 
 less species of Snakes without hesitation, even when 
 it sees one of them for the first time, and in spite of 
 its violent writhings, the Ferret seizes it, bites it 
 through the backbone and eats a fairly large piece. 
 But it approaches a venomous Snake with caution 
 and tries to bite the treacherous reptile in the mid- 
 dle of the body. It does not die from the effects of 
 a Snake bite, but becomes sick and dejected. 
 
 Only in rare instances is the Ferret completely 
 tamed ; there are cases on record, however, where 
 Ferrets have followed their masters about like Dogs 
 and could be allowed to roam about at perfect lib- 
 erty. But in the majority of cases these animals 
 know how to profit by their freedom when once they 
 have made good their escape; they straightway seek 
 the forest, where they make themselves at home in 
 some Rabbit's burrow, which serves them as an asy- 
 lum during the summer. In a short time they forget 
 Man, and if they are not recaptured they perish dur- 
 ing the winter, as they are much too delicate to with^ 
 stand the cold. 
 
 The voice of the Ferret finds expression in a dull 
 growl, or, when expressing pain, in a shriek. It is 
 seldom heard, for the animal usually lies snugly 
 curled up and quite still, and becomes active only 
 when there is some sanguinary feat to be achieved. 
 
THE MARTEN FAMILY— WEASEL GROUP. 
 
 159 
 
 A family of Ferrets includes from five to eight 
 young ones, which remain blind during the first two 
 or three weeks of their lives. They are admirably 
 cared for by the mother and are weaned when about 
 two months old, and when this has been done they 
 are old enough to be separated from maternal care 
 and reared by themselves. 
 
 How Ferrets The Ferret is excellent as an assistant 
 
 Hunt Rabbits in a Rabbit hunt, but its real useful- 
 and Rats. ness is very slight in comparison with 
 the cost of its maintenance. 
 
 The hunt is begun in the morning. The Ferrets 
 are carried in a basket or box lined with something 
 soft or in a game pouch. On arriving at the burrow 
 the hunter looks for all the outlets and places before 
 each of them a net about a yard long and fastened 
 to a large ring ; then the Ferret enters the principal 
 outlet and this is also closed against egress in a sim- 
 ilar manner. As soon as the Rabbits become aware 
 of the presence of the intruder, they rush out and are 
 caught in the nets and killed. The Ferret itself is 
 prevented from killing them either by a muzzle or by 
 having its teeth filed, and a 
 little bell is suspended from 
 its neck so that its where- 
 abouts may be constantly 
 known. As soon as it reap- 
 pears at the outlet, it is taken 
 up, for if it should enter the 
 burrow a second time, i t 
 would lie down to rest and 
 its master would be com- 
 pelled to wait for it for hours. 
 It is very important that it be 
 taught to respond to a whis- 
 tle or a call. If it does not 
 obey this signal, resort is had 
 to coaxing in order to induce 
 it to come out. An effectual 
 expedient, for instance, is to 
 tie a Rabbit to a pole and 
 thrust it into the burrow. No 
 Ferret can withstand such a 
 temptation; its teeth close on 
 the Rabbit, with which it is 
 •drawn out of the hole. 
 
 In England the Ferret is 
 more frequently employed 
 to exterminate Rats, and still 
 oftener to fight with these 
 
 biting rodents. A Ferret which is only accus- 
 tomed to Rabbits cannot be used for Rats, for it is 
 afraid of every large Rat. A "Ratter" has to be 
 specially trained. It is at first made to fight with 
 young, weak Rats, and then becomes gradually accus- 
 tomed to combats and victories. The innate san- 
 guinary nature of the Ferret asserts itself by degrees, 
 and the courage of the little robber grows until it at 
 last attains such perfect skill in fighting the black 
 game that it accomplishes marvels. A thoroughly 
 trained Ferret can kill fifty Rats in one hour, within 
 a space two or three yards square. 
 
 The Ferret, in its search for Rabbits, may meet 
 enemies of its own family which have taken up their 
 abode in a deserted Rabbit's burrow. Then a fright- 
 ful struggle takes place between two animals well 
 matched in strength and agility. Such a combat 
 is hardly enjoyed by the owner of the tame member 
 of the tribe, as he has cause to fear for the life of his 
 assistant in the Rabbit-chase. 
 
 Weasels and The Weasels and their next of kin are 
 their Kind of still more slender and attenuated 
 Described, shape than the Martens proper. They 
 all dwell in fields, gardens, burrows, clefts of rock 
 or under stones or wood-piles and then roam about 
 by day as well as by night. They are the smallest 
 Beasts of Prey, but their courage and sanguinary 
 disposition render them model types of the Car- 
 nivora. 
 
 Characteristics The Weasel {^Putorius vulgaris) attains 
 of the a total length of eight inches, about 
 Weasel. t^vo of which go to the diminutive 
 tail. The body is extremely elongated and appears 
 to be longer than it really is on account of the 
 neck and head being of about the same circumfer- 
 ence as the body. The animal is of the same thick- 
 ness from head to tail, and only in adult Weasels do 
 the loins seem a little retracted and the nose some- 
 what pointed. The legs are very short and thin and 
 the paws are tender ; there is a covering of hair 
 between the balls of the soles, and the toes are 
 furnished with thin, sharp and pointed claws. The 
 
 THE FEBBET. A domesticated variety of tlie Polecat, which is used very largely for ridding fields 
 
 of Rabbits, and is also, in England, trained for Rat-killing purposes. It is an Albino, the fur entirely white 
 and the eyes red. The animal in the picture is evidently of the Rat-killing kind, which is considered the most 
 valuable. iPutoriusfuro.) 
 
 tail is short, in proportion to the length of the body, 
 and tapering. The nose is blunt and somewhat 
 divided by a longitudinal furrow. The wide, rounded 
 ears stand well back and low down on the side of 
 the head, the small eyes are oblique and full of fire. 
 The hair is smooth and of moderate length and ap- 
 pears a little more dense toward the end of the 
 muzzle ; and there are long whisker-hairs over the 
 eyes, and a few bristles under them.- The color of 
 the hair is reddish brown ; the margin of the upper 
 lip, the under part of the body and the inner sides of 
 the legs are white. There is a small, round, brown 
 spot at each corner of the mouth, and sometimes a 
 few brown spots show under the loins. This tint 
 does not undergo great variations in temperate and 
 , southern climes; farther north the Weasel, as well as 
 its nearest relative, changes its dress in winter and 
 makes its appearance spotted with white and brown, 
 but it does not display the beautiful black tip of tail 
 which distinguishes the Ermine. 
 
160 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 Range and The Weasel is of frequent occurrence 
 Habits of the throughout Europe, though perhaps 
 Weasel. not SO frequent as in northern Asia ; 
 it is also found in British North America, and the 
 northern portions of the United States. It inhabits 
 plains as well as mountains, forests as well as wood- 
 less stretches of country, and it frequents populated 
 districts as well as the wilderness. It discovers a 
 suitable dwelling place in any locality, for it adapts 
 itself to circumstances, and always devises for itself 
 a loop-hole of escape from enemies. In this way it 
 inhabits hollow trees, heaps of stone, hollow river 
 banks. Mole's burrows and the hiding places of 
 Hamsters and Rats, and in winter repairs to barns, 
 cellars, stables, garrets and similar retreats, fre- 
 quently even in cities. In those localities where its 
 movements are undisturbed it prowls around in the 
 daytime ; but in those where it is pursued or har- 
 assed it sallies forth only at night, or if by daylight 
 only with the greatest caution. 
 
 The observer who noiselessly approaches the hid- 
 ing place of a Weasel may easily secure the pleasure 
 of watching it. He may then hear a slight rustle of 
 leaves and see a small, brown creature gliding along. 
 As soon as the Weasel catches sight of a human be- 
 ing it stands on its hind legs to obtain a better view. 
 The idea of flight seldom enters this dwarf-like 
 creature's head, but it looks at the world with a pair 
 of bold eyes, and assumes an attitude of defiance. 
 When one goes very near it the Weasel is some- 
 times bold enough to approach him, putting on an 
 indescribably impudent look, as if it wishes to find 
 out what the intruder means by disturbing it. 
 Great Courage More than once it has happened that 
 andAudacity the audacious little creature has at- 
 of Weasels, tacked Man, and retreated only after a 
 prolonged fight. It has also been known to suspend 
 itself by its teeth from the legs of Horses, and in 
 these cases has only been made to relax its tenacious 
 hold by the joint efforts of Horse and rider. With 
 so great a degree of courage the Weasel combines 
 an incomparable presence of mind. The Weasel is 
 never at a loss for a way to escape ; it does not give 
 up hope even in the claws of a bird of prey. A nat- 
 uralist once saw a large bird swoop down on a field, 
 pick up a small quadruped and fly away with it high 
 up in the air. Suddenly the bird staggered in its 
 flight, and then dropped to the ground dead. The 
 surprised spectator hurried to the place and saw a 
 Weasel tripping merrily away. It had adroitly sev- 
 ered its formidable enemy's neck with a bite and so 
 saved itself. 
 Animals Preyed It is a natural conclusion that so 
 Upon by courageous an animal must be a ter- 
 the Weasel. j-jble Beast of Prey, and such the 
 Weasel truly is. It wages open war upon all small 
 quadrupeds and causes dreadful ravages among 
 them. Among the mammals it preys upon all Mice, 
 house Rats and water Rats, Moles, young Hamsters, 
 Hares and Rabbits. Among the birds it kills young 
 Chickens, Pigeons, Larks and others living on the 
 ground ; it attacks even those birds it finds sleeping 
 on trees, and plunders their nests. Among the rep- 
 dies it lies in wait for Lizards and Snakes, though it 
 cannot withstand the repeated bites of a venomous 
 Snake. It also feeds on Frogs and fishes, in short, on 
 every kind of flesh, including even that of its own 
 species. When it can get hold of Crabs, it opens 
 their hard shell very adroitly to get at their meat. 
 Its small size and incredible agility stand it in good 
 stead in its hunts, and it may be said that no small 
 
 animal possesses immunity from it. It has been.' 
 observed to hunt in company with others of its- 
 species, a fact which is not astonishing, as it lives 
 gregariously, and there are great numbers of these 
 animals in some places. Pechuel-Loesche once saw 
 seven adult Weasels, probably belonging to the same 
 family. They were diligently searching a piece of 
 meadow for game in bright daylight, and they did 
 not seem to be much disconcerted at having a spec- 
 tator. . The Weasel seizes small animals by the nape 
 of the neck or by the head; larger ones it tries to- 
 seize by the throat. It will make one or two aper- 
 tures in the tip of an egg and suck out the entire 
 contents without losing a drop. It is said to carry 
 away large eggs between its chin and breast; smaller 
 ones it carries in its mouth. When it has killed a 
 large animal it does not eat the flesh but contents 
 itself with lapping the blood ; but smaller prey it 
 eats up entirely. When it has once seized an animal, 
 it never lets the victim go until it is dead. It caa 
 often be seen hunting in the immediate neighbor- 
 hood of human habitations, and it displays scarcely 
 any timidity in its actions. 
 
 The Young A litter of Weasels numbers from three 
 Weasel and to eight blind young ones, the mother 
 Its Mother, usually selecting a hollow tree or a bur- 
 row and preparing a nest-like couch for them out of 
 straw, hay or leaves. She is very fond of her off- 
 spring, suckles them for a very long time and pro- 
 vides for them for a few months after they are 
 weaned, bringing them live Mice to eat. When she 
 thinks the retreat unsafe, she carries them away in 
 her mouth. In danger the faithful mother defends- 
 them with unlimited courage. When the charming 
 little animals are grown up, they often play \vith the 
 mother, and it is both curious and pretty to see such 
 a little group romping aronud in the sunshine on a. 
 meadow; they prefer one that abounds in subterra- 
 nean burrows, especially holes made by Moles. 
 
 Young Weasels while still following their mother- 
 are of the proper age to be domesticated. Buffoir 
 was the originator of the belief that the little animal 
 is not capable of domestication, but this is a wrong 
 opinion to hold, though it is not entirely without 
 foundation. Weasels which have been accustomed 
 to people from childhood are remarkably tame and 
 charming little creatures. 
 
 Anecdote Of the different anecdotes about Wea- 
 
 of the Tame sels, one, recounted by Wood in his- 
 
 Weasel. Natural History as coming from a lady, 
 
 strikes me as the most attractive, and I will here give 
 
 an extract from it : 
 
 " If I pour some milk into my hand," says this lady, 
 " my tame Weasel will drink a good deal, but if I do- ' 
 not pay it this compliment it will scarcely take a. 
 drop. When satisfied, it generally goes to sleep. 
 My chamber is the place of its residence and I have 
 found a method of dispelling its strong odor by per- 
 fumes. By day it sleeps in a quilt, into which it gets- 
 by an unsewn place which it has discovered on the , 
 edge ; during the night it is kept in a wired box or 
 cage which it always enters with reluctance and 
 leaves with pleasure. If it be set at liberty before 
 my tirne of rising, after a thousand playful little 
 tricks, it gets into my bed, and goes to sleep beside 
 me. If I am up first, it spends a full half-hour in 
 caressing me, playing with my fingers like a little 
 Dog, jumping on my head and my neck with a light- 
 ness and elegance which I have never found in any 
 other animal. If I present my hands at the distance 
 of three feet, it jumps into them without ever miss- 
 
WEASEL ATTACKING A BROWN RAT. During the present century the Brown Rat has greatly Increased in numbers in Europe, largely taking 
 
 the place of the smaller black member of his tribe. This vicious rodent has a most determined enemy in the Weasel, which, although inferior to this Rat in 
 size, pursues it relentlessly and with almost uniform success. The picture shows the Weasel attacking one of these destructive rodents, and illustrates its 
 method of seizing its victim by the neck. This small Beast of Prey is slender and handsomely proportioned, has a smooth fur, and is an agile and audacious- 
 little animal. (Putorius vulgaris.) 
 
 (i6i) 
 
162 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 ing. It exhibits great address and cunning to com- 
 pass its ends, and seems to disobey certain prohibi- 
 tions merely through caprice. 
 
 " In the midst of twenty pebple it distinguishes my 
 voice, seeks me out and springs over all the others to 
 come at me. 
 
 " One singularity in this charming little animal is 
 its curiosity. It is impossible to open. a drawer or a 
 box, or even to look at a paper, but it will examine 
 it also. If it gets into any place where I am afraid of 
 permitting it to stay, I take a paper or a book and 
 look attentively at it, on which the Weasel immedi- 
 ately runs upon my hand and surveys with an inquisi- 
 tive air whatever I happen to hold. I must further 
 observe that it plays with a young Cat and Dog, both 
 of considerable size." 
 
 If carefully tended a domesticated Weasel may 
 live from four to six years ; in its wild state it prob- 
 ably lives from eight to ten years. Unfortunately 
 these small, useful animals are much pursued by 
 
 '■■ malicious people and killed from sheer mischievous- 
 
 ' ness. A Weasel is easily caught in a trap, with bait 
 of an egg, a small bird or a Mouse. On account of 
 
 ; its great usefulness, the little animal ought to be 
 thoroughly protected instead of being pursued. It 
 may be safely stated that no other animal is so fitly 
 endowed for hunting Mice. 
 The Ermine, Closely allied to the Weasel is the Er- 
 or Stoat f mine or Stozt {Putorius erminea) which 
 Described, resembles the former in its shape and 
 mode of life, but is of larger dimensions than its 
 little kinsman. The total length of the Ermine is 
 thirteen inches, or a little more in high northern 
 latitudes. The upper part of the body and half of 
 the tail are of a brownish red color in summer 
 and white in winter, and the woolly coat is also 
 brownish red, or white, according to the season. 
 The under part of the body is always white with a 
 slight yellow tinge and the extremity of the tail is 
 always black. 
 
 Changes in The modifications of tint which the 
 the Fur of the Ermine undergoes in the different sea- 
 Ermine. sons have given rise to differences of 
 opinion among naturalists. Some assume that it 
 sheds its hair twice a year; others, with whom I 
 agree, are of the opinion that the summer-hair simply 
 bleaches out at the approach of cold weather, a 
 
 -phenomenon which is also observed in the Arctic 
 Fox and the Alpine Hare. The Swedish writer. 
 Grill, whose charming descriptions I quote below, 
 has had excellent opportunities of watching the 
 change of color in captive Ermines in the spring. 
 "On the 4th of March," he sa5'-s, "one could see the 
 first dark hairs between the eyes. On the lOth a 
 dark patch had spread over half the forehead, but 
 still showed white spots here and there. Around the 
 eyes and nose several small dark spots had appeared. 
 When it bent itself, one could see that the roots of 
 the hairs on the middle of the back, the shoulders 
 and on the head were dark. The change of color 
 took place very rapidly, especially at first, so much 
 so that its progress could be traced daily or even 
 half-daily. On the 3d of April the only white places 
 •were the lower part of the neck and throat, the 
 whole under portion of the body, the ears, a strip 
 run-ning from the ears to the eyes, which were sur- 
 rounded by a narrow dark border, a small piece 
 
 adjoining the black part of the tail, the feet, the 
 inner sides of the legs, and the buttocks. On the 
 19th the ears, with the exception of a small spot, had 
 
 become brown. At first the dark hairs grew to- 
 
 gether, and before they were as long as the white 
 ones, the latter had fallen out. We may say that 
 the real change went on during the first half of 
 March ; after the. 19th of March the brown coat only 
 spreads more and gradually takes the place of the 
 white one." 
 
 Where and The Ermine is spread over a large ex- 
 
 How the tent of country in the north of both" the 
 Ermine Lives. Qld and New World. It inhabits all 
 Europe to the north of the Pyrenees and the. Balk- | 
 ans, and northern and central Asia to the eastern 
 coast of Siberia. It has also been found in Asia ,1 
 Minor, Persia and Afghanistan and even in the Him- 
 alayas. In America it is found from the extreme "4 
 north southward, taking in the northern half of the 
 United States. Wherever it exists, it is rather com- 
 mon, and in Germany it is one of the commonest 
 Beasts of Prey. 
 
 Like the Weasel, the Ermine is found in any kind 
 of locality, and knows how to make itself at home 
 anywhere. Holes in the ground, burrows of Moles - 
 and Hamsters, clefts of rock, holes in walls, crevice^l^ 
 heaps of stone, trees, deserted buildings and a hun- 
 dred similar hiding places are used by the Ermine 
 during the day, and there it sleeps- while the sun 
 shines ; though it also frequently happens that it 
 promenades around, boldly exposing itself to human 
 eyes. Its real activity, as a rule, begins at dusk. 
 Toward evening it exhibits a lively disposition, and 
 one who looks in favorable localities at this time 
 will not need to search long before discovering this 
 ingenious little creature with its intelligent eyes, .'; 
 It may be called a master in all physical exercises; ■ j 
 runs and leaps with the greatest agility, is an excel- 
 lent climber and can swim rapidly across wide rivers. 'X 
 Its mental endowments harmonize completely with I 
 its physical attributes. It possesses as much cour- ; 
 age as its small cousin the Weasel, and has an ex- 
 tremely sanguinary disposition. ,™ 
 
 The Ermine The Ermine preys upon all small quad;ii^ 
 andltsNumer- rupeds and birds which it can conquer, .J 
 
 ous Prey, and often attacks animals greatly its ' 
 superior in size. It wages constant war on Mice,; ,^ 
 Moles, Hamsters, Rabbits, Sparrows, Larks, Pigeoijs, 
 Chickens, Swallows, which it takes from out of their 
 nests; Snakes and Lizards, and even Hares are not 
 secure from it. 
 
 It is a very pretty sight to watch an Ermine bent 
 on pursuing one of its favorite prey, a Water- Rat.- \ 
 This rodent is hunted on the ground and in the water 
 by the little rascal and, unfavorable as the proper ' 
 element of the Rats seems to be to the Ermine, it 
 succeeds in worsting them. At first it searchea.all 
 the holes. Its acute sense of smell informs it accu- 
 rately whether one or two Rats are taking repose in 
 one of the holes. When the Ermine has found a 
 promising hole, it enters it without further ado. The 
 Rat, full 'of dismay of course, rushes into the water, > 
 and makes for a thicket of reeds ; but this does not 
 place it out of the reach of its vigilant pursuer and 
 most ferocious enemy; keeping head and neck above 
 water like a Dog, the Ermine glides on and pursues 
 the Rat with indomitable perseverance. If chance 
 does not come to the rescue, the Rat is lost. 
 
 The Ermine is caught in all kinds of traps, some- 
 times in Rat traps which it chances to enter. 
 Ermines which are caught young may become very 
 tame and afford their keepers a great deal of pleas- 
 ure. Some specimens are said to have followed 
 their keepers about like Dogs. Even old Ermines 
 may sometimes be domesticated. 
 
THE EBMINE, OB STOAT. This fierce little Beast of Prey is found in the northern portion of both hemispheres. It preys upon all small mam- 
 
 inals, attacking: even flares, does not despise Snakes or Lizards, and is especially fond of birds. The animal in the picture will find no difficulty in despoil- 
 ing the nest above him. This animal's fur changes with the seasons. It is shown in this engravingr in its summer coat, the upper part brownish-red, the lower 
 white. In the winter the animal is entirely white, except at the tip of the tail, which is black at all seasons. {Pulorins enninea.) 
 
 (163) 
 
164 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 Account of "A few days before Christmas, 1843," 
 
 a Captive says Grill, " I was given a male Ermine, 
 Ermine. which had been caught in a pile of wood. 
 It wore its pure white winter dress. The round 
 black eyes, the red-brown nose, and the black tail-tip 
 stood out in bold relief against the snow-white fur, 
 which only at the root and on the inner half of the 
 tail had a sulphur yellow tint. It was a pretty, lively 
 little animal. At first I put it in a large, untenanted 
 room, which soon took on the disagreeable odor that 
 characterizes the Weasel tribe. Its skill in climb- 
 ing, leaping and hiding itself was marvelous. It 
 climbed up window curtains with ease, and if fright- 
 ened, it would drop down with a scream. On the 
 second day it ran up the stove-pipe and stayed in 
 that grimy retreat a few hours, and came out covered 
 with soot. It often eluded me for hours at a time 
 when I would be looking for it, and then it would 
 issue from some place where I thought it least likely 
 to be concealed. As the room was not heated, it 
 soon made itself a nest in a bed, but always left this 
 warm refuge when anybody entered the room. Still 
 the bed remained its favorite hiding place. It 
 would run to it when rapidly approached, but if one 
 came up to it gently, uttering a few kind words, it 
 would stop, crane its long neck and lift one fore-paw. 
 Its fondness for petting is well known, and the peas- 
 ants often say, 'Little Weasel likes to be praised.' 
 If its curiosity is aroused, or it scents danger, and 
 wishes to see farther than its small stature permits, 
 it sits up on its hind legs. If one approaches it, it 
 barks before fleeing, in a violent, yelling tone, re- 
 sembling that of a woodpecker. 
 
 " When it was put in a large cage on the third day 
 and it saw that there was no escape for it, the Ermine 
 did not suffer any one to approach toward the cage 
 without jumping to the bars, biting viciously, and 
 uttering the sound described above in a long trill re- 
 sembling the cry of the Magpie. It felt itself secure 
 in the cage, and did not even fear the Dog, and the 
 two animals used to bark into each other's faces, each 
 on its own side of the bars. When I put the fingers 
 of a glove through the bars it bit at and tore them. 
 When it was very angry (and so little a cause as 
 disturbing its sleep was sufficient to rouse its ire), all 
 the hairs of its long tail stood on end. 
 
 "In general my little Ermine was very wicked. It 
 detested music. If one played on a guitar in front 
 of its cage, it jumped against the bars as if insane, 
 and barked and hissed as long as the playing con- 
 tinued. It never tried to use its claws for the lacera- 
 tion of its prey, but always used its teeth. 
 
 " On the 7th of May, when the animal had been 
 four and one-half months in my possession, I tried 
 for the first time to pet it, having gloves on. It bit 
 into them, but I did not feel the teeth, neither did 
 they leave any traces. At first it tried to e'^ade my 
 caresses, but later it seemed to like them, lying down 
 on its back and closing its eyes. On the following 
 day I repeated the experiment, as I had a firm inten- 
 tion of rendering it as tame as I could. Soon I 
 pulled off my glove and stroked it and it did not 
 attempt to bite me. I could pet and stroke it, lift 
 its paws and even open its mouth without making it 
 angry, but when I took it by its body it slid out of 
 my hands like an Eel. It had to be approached 
 gently, if one did not wish to scare it, and the rule 
 for the treatment of all wild animals held good for 
 this one also : the trainer must show at the same 
 time that he does not fear the animal and that he 
 does not intend to harm it." 
 
 The fur of the Ermine is not very expensive, but 
 is still highly valued for its beauty. In olden times- 
 it was used only by princes, but now it is more com- 
 mon. 
 
 Special Charac- The Mink and its nearest relatives-. 
 teristics of are very closely allied to the Polecat 
 the Mink. and differ from it only by a flatter 
 head, larger canine teeth, shorter legs, the presence- 
 of webs between the toes, especially developed in 
 the hind legs, a proportionately longer tail and a 
 lustrous fur consisting of close, smooth, short hair, 
 resembling Otter fur. Its color is a uniform brown. 
 There is a European and an American species. Until 
 very recently little was known about the mode of life 
 of these two animals and even now the published 
 observations are far from satisfactory, especially 
 those relating to the European species. I owe a. 
 great deal to the experiences of a Lubeck forester, 
 who has kindly put his observations at my disposal; 
 The American Mink has been described by Auduboa 
 and Prince de Wied. 
 
 The European The European Mink or Nerz {Putoriusr 
 Mink or lutreolo) attains a length of twenty 
 Nerz. inches, about six of which go to the: 
 tail. The body is long and slender, the legs are short, 
 and the whole animal resembles the Otter, except 
 that the head is still more slender. The feet are 
 similar to those of the Polecat, but the toes are con^ 
 nected by webs. The lustrous fur consists of dense, 
 smooth, short and rather hard outer hair, of a bro'wit 
 color, and a grayish, matted, woolly inner coat. The 
 color is darker in the middle of the back, on the nape 
 of the neck and on the buttocks than on the rest of 
 the body, and the tail is usually darker than the 
 sides. On the under parts the tint merges into gray? 
 ish brown. The throat shows a small whitish of 
 light yellow spot, the upper lip is white in front and 
 so is the whole lower lip. 
 
 The American The American Mink {Putorius vison) 
 Mink's shows a similar distribution of colors^ 
 
 Superior Fur. but its fur is much more esteemed; 
 as it is softer and of a more woolly character. It is 
 a little larger than the European Mink. 
 
 In their mode of life both animals probably agree 
 in all essentials and, therefore, I will give an account ; 
 of the most important points in-ihe description of the ^ 
 American Mink by the above-mentioned naturalists,;^, 
 before I proceed to describe the European Nerz. ' 
 Audubon's According to Audubon the Mink., 
 
 Observation of ranks next to the Ermine in de- ^ 
 the Mink. structive activity, prowling around ' 
 the farm-yard or duck pond ; and its presence js- 
 soon detected by the sudden disappearance of sundry 
 young Chickens and Ducklings. Audubon ha^ a 
 personal experience with a Mink which had taken up- 
 its abode in the stone-dam of a small pond near the- 
 home of the naturalist. This pond had been dammed' 
 for the benefit of the Ducks in the yard, and in this- 
 way afforded the Mink hunting-grounds of ample 
 promise. Its hiding place had been selected with- 
 cunning and audacity ; very near the house and still 
 nearer the place where the Chickens had to pass oa 
 their way to drink. In front of its hole there were 
 two large stones, which served the Mink as a watch- 
 tower, from which it could overlook the yard as well 
 as the pond. It would lay in wait for hours every 
 day, and would carry away Chickens and Ducks 
 in broad daylight until the naturalists put an end 
 to its career. Audubon found the Mink to be espe- 
 cially plentiful on the banks of the Ohio river and 
 there observed it to be of some use in catching Mice 
 
THE MARTEN FAMILY— WEASEL GROUP. 
 
 16a 
 
 and Rats. Besides this sport, which is of some bene- 
 fit to Man, it is unfortunately addicted to poaching 
 and fishing. Audubon observed it to swim and dive 
 with the greatest agility and pursue and attack the 
 quickest of fishes, such as the Salmon and Trout, as 
 successfully as an Otter. When better provender is 
 not procurable it is content with a Frog or a Lizard, 
 but when food is plentiful, it is very fastidious. In 
 swampy regions it preys upon Water-rats, Finches 
 and Ducks ; on the shore it preys on Hares, in the 
 ocean it feeds on Oysters and from the bottom of 
 rivers it takes Mussels and other shell-fish ; in short, 
 it adapts itself to the locality and knows how to 
 profit by whatever food supplies it may be able to 
 find. When frightened, it gives forth a very fetid 
 odor, like the Polecat. 
 
 The five or six young 
 to which the female gives 
 birth at the end of April, 
 may be found in holes un- 
 der projecting banks of 
 rivers or on small islands, 
 in moors, or even in hol- 
 low trees. If taken young, 
 they get to be exceeding- 
 ly tame and become gen- 
 uine pets. Richardson 
 saw one in the possession 
 of a Canadian lady, who 
 used to carry it about with 
 her, in her pocket. 
 
 The Mink is easily 
 caught in any kind of trap 
 and is as frequently shot 
 as it is caught; but its 
 tenacity of life renders a 
 good aim necessary. 
 The European The Europe- 
 
 Minh now an Mink or 
 Rare. N e r z has 
 been described much less 
 than the American spe- 
 cies. Wildungen wrote in 
 1799 that the Mink was 
 then a rare animal, un- 
 known to most German 
 sportsmen ; he had long 
 wished to see it closely 
 and owed the realization 
 of this wish to the inde- 
 fatigable zeal of Count 
 Mellin. He proceeds to 
 give us a few details, ob- 
 served by the latter: 
 "The Mink resembles the 
 Marten in its manner of 
 walking, in its mode of arching its back, and in its 
 ability to insinuate itself into the smallest apertures. 
 Like the Ferret, it is incessantly in motion, search- 
 ing all nooks and holes. It runs badly and does 
 not climb on trees ; but it swims like an Otter and 
 can stay a long time under water. 
 
 "The Mink likes quiet and solitude around its 
 abode. It shuns human beings and avoids traps very 
 intelligently, although it sometimes visits poultry- 
 yards and then proceeds, with a zeal equal to that of 
 the Marten or the Polecat, to slay as long as there are 
 any victims left or until it is disturbed. This, how- 
 ever, happens only in isolated dwellings, and I have 
 never heard that it visited villages. Its usual food 
 consists of fish, Frogs, Crabs and Snails ; and proba- 
 
 THE EUROPEAN MINK. This animal, sometimes also called the 
 
 Nerz, much resembles the American Mink, except that it is somewhat 
 smaller and its fur is coarser. The long, slender body, the webbed feet and 
 the keen, watchful mode of waiting for and attacking its prey, are well shown 
 here. It inhabits swampy regions and banks of streams, and is an expert at 
 fishing and catches small mammals, birds and Frogs. {Putorius luireola.) 
 
 bly young Water-hens and Woodcocks also fall vic- 
 tims to it. The high price which its fur brings, even 
 in summer, increases the efforts made to capture this 
 rare animal, and it may soon be exterminated in 
 Pomerania, where Mellin observed it." 
 
 This extract contains really all we have so far 
 known about the Mink. The fear that it has been 
 exterminated in Germany has become general, but 
 luckily it is groundless. The Mink occurs all over 
 northern Germany, though not plentifully. Its real 
 home is eastern Europe, Finland, Poland, Lithuania, 
 Russia. There it is found from the Baltic Sea to the 
 Ural, from the Dwina to the Black Sea, and not very 
 rarely. It also inhabits Bessarabia, Siebenbuergeri 
 and Gallicia. In Moravia, Silesia and Holstein it is^ 
 
 very rare; yet I received 
 from Holstein the follow- 
 ing report from Mr. 
 Claudius, a forester well 
 versed in zoological mat- 
 ters : 
 Habits of the "The Mink 
 European likes the 
 Mink. broken and 
 reedy surroundings of 
 lakes and rivers, and takes 
 up its abode in dam-like 
 eminences in the roots of 
 alder trees, as near as pos- 
 sible to some body of 
 water, and it provides this 
 habitation with several 
 outlets in the direction 
 of the water. Burrows 
 leading away from water 
 are never found. When 
 a Polecat is compelled to 
 desert its hole, it cannot 
 be driven into the water, 
 but invariably looks for 
 safety on land, where it is 
 always able to find innu- 
 merable chances for es- 
 cape; but the Mink, under 
 like circumstances, drops 
 vertically into the water 
 and disappears from view. 
 It is extremely difficult 
 to shoot it in the water, 
 for it stays in a long time, 
 and emerges at a consid- 
 erable distance from the 
 place at which it dived 
 beneath the surface. 
 When under water, even 
 if the swimming space is 
 very limited, the Mink is perfectly secure from cap- 
 ture by a Dog." 
 The European For many years Claudius and I had 
 Minli in tried in vain to obtain a living Mink. 
 Captivity. At last, in 1 868, he wrote me that a 
 female Mink had been caught and brought to him. 
 It appeared to thrive on a diet of milk and meat, 
 and, as its temper seemed quiet, he hoped the wound 
 caused by the trap would soon heal. " It is a great 
 deal better-natured than the other Weasels," Clau- 
 dius writes, " it is only angry when irritated. It pre- 
 fers to pay no attention to me, but allows me to 
 stroke its fur with a little stick without taking it 
 amiss. All day long it lies curled up on a bundle of 
 hay in the cage. At night it prowls around in its 
 
166 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 spacious dwelling, and several times has left it. The 
 first time it did this, I found it hidden in a corner of 
 a room. Later on, whenever it succeeded in freeing 
 itself during the night, I always found it on its hay 
 in the mornings as if it had undertaken its nocturnal 
 wanderings with a view to relaxation rather than with 
 the intention of escape." 
 
 After the Mink had become completely reconciled 
 to its loss of liberty, and so tame that it allowed its 
 owner to take it up and seemed susceptible to 
 caresses, Claudius sent it to me in a chest. Even 
 while I was opening it, I knew that I had to deal 
 with a Mink, for there was a trace of the disagree- 
 able odor a Polecat would have given forth under 
 similar circumstances. I may well say that no other 
 animal ever gave me the joy I experienced in seeing 
 this rare specimen, a European Mink. I had been 
 yearning for years to possess one, and this animal, 
 fortunately, has thrived for many years in my care. 
 Late in the evening, never before sunset, it quits its 
 bed and prowls around in the cage. This it does 
 every night, and thus explains the ignorance that pre- 
 vails concerning its habits ; for who can follow the 
 Mink in the dark of night in its favorite hauntS: — the 
 moors ? As far as one can judge in a confined space 
 it seems to resemble the Polecat most in its move- 
 ments. It possesses the agility of the Martens, but 
 has neither their aptitude at climbing nor their activ- 
 ity. It may be said that the Mink does not make 
 one unnecessary step. The intelligent little head is 
 never at rest ; the keen eyes incessantly search the 
 room, and it pricks up its little ears to take in, by its 
 sense of hearing, what might escape the eyes. If it 
 is offered a living prey, it pounces upon it with 
 Weasel-like rapidity, kills it with a few bites and 
 drags it into its hole. 
 
 Fish and Frogs seem to be its favorite food, 
 though Claudius thought that it preferred meat and 
 ate fish only in default of it. It astonishes me, that 
 my prisoner rather shuns water than yearns for it. 
 An Otter tries to profit by the friendly element even 
 within the most limited space, but my Mink never 
 thinks of it ; it uses the water only for drinking, 
 never to bathe or play in. 
 
 THE GLUTTON. 
 
 The Glutton, or Wolverine, is one of the clumsiest 
 members of the Marten or Weasel family and rep- 
 resents a distinct group, Gulo, whose distinguishing 
 features are as follows : The body is stout and 
 strong, the tail short and very bushy, the neck thick 
 and short, the back arched, the head large, the snout 
 elongated and blunt, the legs are short and stout, the 
 clumsy paws have five toes, and are provided with 
 curved and compressed claws. 
 
 Description of The Glutton ( Gulo borealis) is a little 
 the Glutton over three feet long, six inches of 
 
 or Wolverine, which go to the tail. The shoulder 
 height is from sixteen to seventeen inches. On the 
 snout the hair is short and thin ; on the feet it is 
 thick and lustrous ; on the body long and shaggy ; 
 on the legs, the light side-bands and the tail it is very 
 long and coarse. The top of the head and the back 
 are of a brownish black, with an admixture of gray 
 hairs ; the unde'r part and the legs are black. There 
 is a light gray patch between eyes and ears and a 
 light gray band runs from the shoulders along the 
 sides. The woolly under-fur is gray, and beneath 
 the body is brownish. 
 
 The Glutton inhabits the north of the globe. 
 From southern Norway and Finland it spreads all 
 
 over northern Asia and North America to . Green- 
 land. Formerly its southern boundaries in Europe 
 were formed by lower latitudes than now ; during 
 the Reindeer period it extended to the Alps. Bech- 
 stein tells us of a Glutton that was killed in Saxony, 
 Zimmerman of another caught in Brunswick. These 
 two are considered isolated animals, for it seems 
 very improbable that the Glutton is to be found so 
 far south in modern times. Its native range is Nor- 
 way, Sweden, Lapland, northern Russia, especially 
 the country surrounding the White Sea, Perm, Sibe- 
 ria, Kamchatka and North America. 
 
 The Glutton's Older naturalists relate the most 
 Voracity marvelous tales of the Glutton, and 
 
 Exaggerated, jt is their fault that the animal bears 
 a name signifying the same thing in all languages. 
 Michow, for instance, says : " In Lithuania and Mos- 
 covia there is an animal called Rosomacha (the Rus- 
 sian name for it), which is very gluttonous. It is as 
 large as a Dog, has eyes like a Cat, very strong claws, 
 a body clothed with long brown hair, and a tail like 
 a Fox, only shorter. When it finds a carcass it eats 
 until its stomach is distended and returns to its 
 repast as soon as it is able to eat more, repeating its 
 meals until it has devoured the carcass. It seems to 
 do nothing but eat and drink and eat aga.in." Stel- 
 ler has long since refuted these silly stories, and Pal- 
 las gives a correct account of this strange animal. 
 
 Range and The Glutton inhabits the mountainous 
 Habits of the parts of the north, preferring, for in- 
 Glutton. stance, the barren heights of the Scan- 
 dinavian Alps to the immense forests of the lower 
 mountains, although it is also found in these latter 
 situations. It has no permanent hiding-place, but 
 changes its lair according to circumstances and hides 
 at the approach of night in any place that is pro- 
 pitious, be it in a thicket, a cleft of rock, a forsaken 
 Fox burrow or a natural cavern. Like all of the 
 Weasel tribe, its habits are essentially. nocturnal,, still 
 it prowls around at will in its native country, so little 
 inhabited by human beings, and shows itself also in 
 the light of the sun. It would be compelled' to do 
 this, anyway, as in the most northerly regions of its 
 native range the sun shines day and night during the 
 summer. 
 
 It spends the winter, like its nearest relatives among 
 the Weasels,without falling into a deep sleep, and its 
 large paws enable it to walk on the snow with ease. 
 As it is not fastidious in its taste it leads a comforta- 
 ble, easy life, without ever being in great straits. Its 
 movements are peculiar, and its walk especially 
 distinguishes it from all other animals of which I 
 have any knowledge. It rolls itself along with, large 
 bounds, limping and turning somersaults. Yet, de- 
 spite its peculiarities of gait, its walk is not slow, 
 and it can easily overtake small quadrupeds and 
 attack larger ones after a longer pursuit. In spite 
 of its clumsiness it can ascend small trees. It lies in 
 wait on the branches, close to the trunk, till some 
 game passes beneath. Its smelling faculty ranks first 
 among its senses, and its sight and hearing are also 
 very efficient. 
 
 How the Glut- Its principal food consists of Mice, and 
 ton Secures especially Lemmings, of which it exter- 
 
 Its Food. minates astonishing numbers. As these 
 animals abound in certain seasons, it does not need 
 to look for other prey. It follows Wolves and Foxes 
 in the hope of obtaining a portion of their prey. 
 When Mice are scarce it is obliged to hunt nobler 
 game. It is an established fact that it attacks and 
 sometimes kills Reindeer, and even Elks. Thunberg 
 
THE GLUTTON, OB WOLVERINE. This animal, which is found in the cold northern regions of Europe, Asia and America, receives 
 
 its name from the earlier belief that it was abnormally voracious, but it does not appear to deserve its title. It is a very fierce hunter, however, 
 «nd kills animals of all sizes from the Mouse to the Elk, the picture portraying its attack on the latter animal. It is a clumsy but powerful animal 
 with a coarse fur which is long and shaggy, except on the snout. {Gulo dorealis.) 
 
168 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 -was told that it could kill Cows, lacerating their 
 -throats. Loewenhjelm, in his " Travels in the North," 
 mentions that it causes ravages among flocks of 
 5he'ep, and Erman was informed by the Ostjaks that 
 it would jump upon the neck of Elks and kill them 
 -with a few bites. My hunting companion, Eric 
 5wanson, told me that in Scandinavia it gently 
 approaches Snow-birds, pursuing them in the bur- 
 rows which they excavate for themselves, and easily 
 kills them. The Glutton is heartily detested by 
 the hunters. My companion assured me that when- 
 ever, having killed a Reindeer, he neglected to hide 
 the carcass under stones, he would find, on his return, 
 that his game had been partly eaten by the Glutton. 
 Frequently it steals bait from traps or eats a portion 
 of the animals caught in them. It acts exactly in the 
 same way in Siberia and America. It often creates 
 great ravages in the huts of Laplanders. It opens 
 for itself a way into the dwelling through doors or 
 roofs, steals meat, cheese, dried fish or similar things, 
 tears the skins of animals which the inmates have 
 prepared for market, and often, when famished, eats 
 part of them. It is active day and night in winter, 
 ^nd, when tired, scoops a hole in the snow and rests 
 in comfort. It eats smaller animals on the spot 
 where it kills them, but it carefully buries the uneaten 
 portion of larger animals, to which it returns for a 
 second repast. 
 
 Methods of Owing to the great activity of its dep- 
 Hunting redations the Glutton does not enjoy 
 
 the Glutton, t^g particular esteem of the northern 
 nations, and it is hunted, pursued and killed in every 
 possible way, though its fur is by no means widely 
 ^ised. Only the natives of Kamchatka value it 
 highly, but they believe that there is no fur superior 
 to the Glutton's pelt. 
 
 Although a small animal the Glutton is an antag- 
 onist not to be despised, for it is strong, fierce, and 
 has a capacity for resistance out of proportion to its 
 size. It defends itself against Man only when there 
 are no means of escape. Usually it takes to flight 
 at sight of a hunter, and when pursued, it climbs a 
 tree or mounts high rocks, where its enemies cannot 
 follow it. In treeless plains it is soon overtaken by 
 Dogs, but defends itself against them with great 
 intrepidity. 
 
 How the A young captive Glutton is very play- 
 
 Glutton Acta ful, nearly like a young Bear. When 
 
 in Captivity, tje^j ^o a pole, it runs back and forth in 
 ^ semicircle, shaking its head and grunting. When 
 it anticipates an unfavorable change of weather it 
 becomes sulky. Though not quick in its movements, 
 it is in constant motion when awake and lies still 
 only when sleeping. When a tree is brought into its 
 cage, it climbs it with ease and seems to delight in 
 performing gymnastic feats on the branches. 
 Three Gluttons The real character of the Wolverine is 
 Observed only completely displayed when it is in 
 
 in Captivity, the society of animals of its own kind. 
 In the Berlin Tiergarten three Wolverines, an old 
 one and two young ones, shared a cage. It would be 
 difficult to imagine anything merrier than these two 
 young creatures. They were seldom seen at rest ; 
 the greater part of the day they spent in play, which 
 at first was good-natured, but soon became more 
 serious and occasionally ended in a duel, in which 
 both fighters made good use of claws and teeth. 
 When the play was over, they tripped through the 
 cage, sniffed in all corners, threw the dishes con- 
 taining food and water over and vexed the honest 
 washerwoman who had to clean their cage, display- 
 
 ing a great liking for the investigation of things 
 which did not in the least concern them. Then they 
 again picked a quarrel with each other and resumed 
 their play, keeping people for hours before their 
 cage. When the keeper entered bringing the food, 
 they behaved quite differently. The first time I saw 
 them fed, I suddenly understood why they had been 
 called "Gluttons." Whining, howling, growling, bark- 
 ing, showing their teeth and boxing each other's ears, 
 they ran about the cage in a crazy manner, looking 
 at the meat with avidity. If the keeper did not 
 hand it to them immediately, they rolled themselves 
 on the floor in despair, and as soon as a piece was 
 thrown them, they rushed at it with such eagerness, 
 chewed jt with such an accompaniment of growling 
 and smacking of lips, devoured and swallowed it so 
 greedily, that one could no more doubt that the 
 older authors had found some foundation for their 
 stories about the Glutton, by observing the animal in 
 captivity. 
 
 THE ORISONS. 
 
 The Grisons ( Galictis) are members of this family 
 which live in Brazil, and they are of slender, Marten- 
 like build. They have a rather thick head, larger 
 behind, provided with low, rounded ears and rela- 
 tively large eyes, short legs, moderately large feet 
 provided with five toes connected with webs, bear- 
 ing sharp, curved claws, and naked, callous soles, 
 The tail is of moderate size, or rather long, the fur is 
 short and the teeth differ from those of the other 
 Weasels. The secretion of their scent-glaiids has a 
 strong odor of musk. There are two species known 
 now, both inhabiting forests and bushes. They are 
 very agile, climb well and prey upon small and me- 
 dium-sized animals; they also share the predilection 
 of the Ratel and the Bears for honey. The names 
 of the two species are the Tayra {^Galictis barbara) 
 and the Grison {Galictis vittatd). 
 
 THE BADOERS. 
 
 The second sub-order of the Martens is formed by 
 the Badgers {Melidcs) and numbers among its mem- 
 bers the stoutest forms as well as those giving forth 
 the most offensive odors. Their mode of walking is 
 plantigrade. 
 
 The Badger is a complete type of a selfish, dis- 
 trustful, sulky, ill-humored creature. Nearly all 
 observers agree on this point, though they do not 
 depreciate the usefulness of the animal. The Badger 
 is the most harmless of all European larger beasts of 
 prey, yet it is hunted like the Wolf or the Fox, and 
 has not even found defenders among sportsmen, a 
 class of people who usually are fondest of the ani- 
 mals they pursue most. People condemn it, with- 
 out stopping to consider that it honestly makes its 
 living in its own way, and that only its peculiar 
 mode of life is at the bottom of this dislike. It is 
 really a sulky fellow, avoiding the society of Man or 
 beast, and as lazy withal as it is possible to be. 
 These qualities are not adapted to gain it many 
 friends, but I must confess that I personally am 
 fond of it; its mode of life and its actions amuse me, 
 
 The genus Meles, represented by the Badger, is dis- 
 tinguished by a heavy, stout body, a thick neck, and 
 a long head, the snout tapering like a proboscis, the 
 eyes and ears are small, the soles naked, and the 
 ' fore-paws are provided with strong claws. The tail 
 is short, the fur coarse and thick, and under the in- 
 sertion of the tail there is a slit leading into the 
 scent-pouch. The teeth are surprisingly strong. 
 
THE MARTEN FAMILY— BADGER. 
 
 169 
 
 Characteristics The common Badger {Meles taxus or 
 of the Meles vulgaris) attains a length of 
 
 Gommon Badger, thirty inches in its body and seven 
 inches in its tail. Adult males may weigh as much 
 as forty pounds in the fall. The fur is rather long, 
 Jiarsh, nearly bristle-like and glossy. Its color' is 
 grayish white mixed with black on the back, reddish 
 -on the sides of the body and th.e tail, black-brown 
 -on the under surface and the feet. The head is 
 white, but a faded black stripe runs on each side of 
 the snout, over the eyes and white ears and loses 
 itself in the neck. The females are smaller in size 
 and lighter in color, the whitish woolly under fur 
 coming nearer the surface. White badgers are very 
 rare, and those that are white with chestnut spots 
 are still more rarely found. 
 
 retain its independence to the most complete degree. 
 Its strength enables it to dig out burrows with ease, 
 and like a few other animals leading a subterranean 
 life it can bury itself in a few minutes. 
 
 Observations of The Badger spends nearly all its life 
 Badgers in in this burrow and goes a certain dis- 
 
 the Wild State, tance away from it only at night. In 
 very solitary woods it may come out for a walk in 
 the afternoon in late summer, and I have met it 
 myself in the daytime, on the Isle of Rugen, but such 
 instances are the exception. Tschudi says: "A 
 sportsman who had the rare chance of observing a 
 Badger in the free state, gives an interesting account 
 of it. He repeatedly visited a Badger's burrow, situ- 
 ated on the edge of a precipice, and which was 
 plainly seen from the opposite side. When the wind 
 
 THE lAYBA. ^This Brazilian animal belongs to the Marten family, having the long, slender body distinctive of the tribe. The illustra- 
 tion depicts them appropriately in the woods, for they are arboreal animals, and prey upon Rabbits and other small mammals, birds, fish, etc. The 
 claws are webbed, but they climb well and are very quick and dexterous hunters. {Galictis barbara.) 
 
 Home and With the exception of Sardinia and 
 Haunts northern Scandinavia, the Badger is 
 
 of Badgers, found all over Europe ; it inhabits Asia 
 irom Syria through Georgia and Persia to Japan, and 
 Siberia as far as the Lena. It leads a solitary life in 
 •burrows, which it digs out with its strong, curved 
 •claws on the sunny side of hills, provides with from 
 four to eight outlets, and furnishes most comfortably. 
 The round chamber at the bottom, which may be 
 approached through several conduits, is so large that 
 it can hold a soft, large heap of moss, the animal 
 and its young. Few of the conduits are regularly 
 used, most of them serving only as means of escape 
 in danger, or as ventilators. Scrupulous cleanliness 
 is observed throughout, in great contrast to most 
 ■similar subterranean habitations of other animals. 
 The site selected by the hermit is usually a wood 
 near a meadow, or a meadow on a hill, but always a 
 ■quiet, solitary spot. The animal is fond of a com- 
 :K>rtable, contemplative mode of life, and likes to 
 
 was favorable, the hunter softly approached the 
 object and soon saw an old Badger, sitting there 
 sulking and lost in its own tiresome thoughts, but 
 seemingly enjoying the warm sunshine. This was 
 no accident, for he often saw it again on bright days, 
 basking in the sun's rays. It spent its time in com- 
 fortably doing nothing. Either it sat still, gravely 
 looking around, or rocked to and fro upon its fore- 
 legs like a Bear. This comfortable quietude was 
 sometimes interrupted by sanguinary parasites, which 
 it destroyed on the spot with great expedition, after 
 which it would again bask in the sunshine, alternately 
 exposing its broad back or well-qourished abdomen 
 to the warming rays of the sun." 
 
 During the breeding season the .Badger lives with 
 its mate ; the rest of the year it lives alone, holding 
 friendly relations with no other animal. The Fox 
 sometimes forces its society upon it in old and wide- 
 extended burrows, but even then the animals care 
 little for each other, the Fox inhabiting the upper 
 
170 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 chambers and conduits, while the Badger is content 
 in the lower ones. 
 
 Habits and The movements of the Badger are slow 
 Food of and lazy, its walk is clumsy and its most 
 
 the Badger, rapid trot is so slow that it is believed 
 a good pedestrian can overtake it. The animal's 
 appearance is so strange that it is often misleading. 
 At first sight of it one is reminded of a Pig rather 
 than a Beast of Prey, and I think that in order to 
 identify it positively one has need to be fairly famil- 
 iar with its shape and habits. The grunting noise it 
 makes is very suggestive of the Pig. 
 
 During the spring and summer its food consists of 
 roots, insects. Snails and Rain-worms ; also, occasion- 
 ally, young Hares, eggs and young birds. It is very 
 expert in digging out Rain-worms with its sharp, 
 long claws, which it uses likewise in searching for 
 the larvae of the May-bug and other destructive in- 
 sects, which live in the ground, in fields and mead- 
 ows. It also digs up Humble-bees' and Wasps' nest's, 
 
 tribe and does not damage, but helps to preserve, s 
 forest. A forester who exterminates it sins against 
 himself and works detriment to the "forest which is 
 in his care. 
 Hibernation At the end of autumn the Badger is well 
 of the fattened. Then it thinks of the comiHg^ 
 Badger. winter, which it intends to speiid 'as 
 comfortably as possible, and, therefore, makes its 
 preparations to that end. It carries leaves anci grass 
 into its hole and makes a thick, warm bed. Until 
 the approach of cold weather, it lives upon the pro- 
 visions it has garnered. Then it curls up, lying on 
 its abdomen, puts its nose between its fore-paws and 
 goes to sleep. The hibernation is irregular, like 
 that of the Bear. If the cold is not intense, esper 
 cially if a thaw comes, or there are mild nights, it 
 rouses itself, and sometimes leaves its hole to drink, 
 If the weather is comparatively warm, it transiently 
 sallies forth as early as January or February to d,{g 
 but roots, or, if fortune smiles on it, to catch a 
 
 THE COKMON BAI)&£S. This animal, found in nearly all Europe and a large part of Asia, has a thick, gray fur on its back and sides, 
 
 dark brown underneath, and a white face with black' stripes, as shown in the picture. It is as clumsy as it looks, but is famous for the carefully 
 constructed burrows it scoops out with the sharp, curved claws shown in the illustration. {Meies taxus.) 
 
 delighting in the honey-combs and caring little for 
 the stings of the angry owners, protected as it is by 
 its rough fur, a thick hide and a goodly layer of fat. 
 Snails, and possibly Butterflies and Caterpillars, are 
 picked from trees and eaten with relish. 
 
 In autumn it rejects such food as acorns, etc., but 
 enjoys fallen fruit, carrots and turnips ; nor does it 
 disdain small quadrupeds, such as Mice, Moles, etc., 
 and Lizards, Frogs and snakes are welcome additions 
 to its bill of fare. Sometimes it ravages vineyards, 
 compressing the ripe fruit with its paws and reveling 
 in enjoyment of this relish. Very rarely it steals 
 young Ducks and Geese from farms lying near for- 
 ests ; for it is exceedingly shy and distrustful, and 
 leaves its abode only when it feels sure it will not 
 be observed. Frequently it feeds upon the carcasses 
 of animals it finds dead. On the whole, it eats little 
 and its winter provisions do not amount to a very 
 large store. The Badger does not cause any per- 
 ceptible damage in Europe ; or when it may do so, 
 it always amply compensates for it by catching and 
 eating all kinds of vermin that infest the forests and 
 fields. It is the most useful member of the Weasel 
 
 Mouse. Still, fasting does not agree with it, and at 
 the approach of spring its roundness has disappeared 
 and its appearance is nearly that of a skeleton; but 
 after the period of hibernation is over it rapidly ac- 
 cumulates flesh and regains its rotundity. 
 
 The Female Toward the close of February, or begin- 
 Badger ning of March, the female Badger gives- 
 
 and Young, birth to from three to five blind young; 
 for which a soft bed of moss, leaves, ferns and long 
 grass has been carefully prepared. Of course she 
 lives in her own burrow, for the female Badger is as 
 inveterate a hermit as the male. She loves her little 
 ones tenderly, and, after weaning them, brings thenx 
 worms, roots and small animals, until they are able 
 to provide for themselves. Three or four weeks later 
 the small and pretty animals appear at the mouth of 
 the hole and bask in the rays of the sun. They are 
 very playful and afford a pleasing spectacle, the 
 more so as one rarely has the chance of seeing it. 
 They remain with their mother till autumn, when 
 they leave her and undertake to cater for themselves; 
 They are fully grown in the second year and may 
 attain an age of ten or twelve years. 
 
THE MARTEN FAMILY— BADGER. 
 
 171 
 
 Methods of Various devices are employed in catch- 
 
 Catohing ing the Badger. Sometimes it is dug or 
 the Badger, bored out of its burrow in a most cruel 
 manner, with an instrument resembling a corkscrew ; 
 or it is driven out by Dogs and then shot. Its only 
 chance of escape is by hiding so successfully that 
 not even the Dogs can find it in its burrow, it being 
 so clumsy that it could never escape by flight. When 
 pursued to its burrow it therefore usually seeks to 
 save itself by noiselessly burrowing deeper with 
 great rapidity. Frequently it escapes the vigilance 
 of the Dogs by pursuing this course. 
 
 The best time for shooting the Badger is very early 
 in the morning, when it is upon its return home. 
 Waiting for it in the evening is a very tedious task, 
 as the distrustful animal comes out only in the middle 
 of the night and then it sallies forth in the most quiet 
 manner possible. 
 
 Old Badgers that are taken from their burrows 
 are most disagreeable creatures, ungrateful for kind 
 treatment and incapable of receiving instruction, 
 being lazy, distrustful, treacherous and malicious. 
 They show their teeth 
 at the slightest prov- 
 ocation, and viciously 
 bite every one who 
 approaches them in- 
 cautiously. Those 
 that are captured 
 young and handled 
 with care behave 
 differently. They are 
 capable of domestica- 
 tion and affection, es- 
 pecially if they are 
 fed a vegetable, or 
 mainly a -vegetable 
 diet. They may be- 
 come so tame as to 
 follow their keeper 
 about and return to 
 their cage at his com- 
 mand. 
 
 Account of Ludwig 
 a Tame Beckman 
 Badger. writes to 
 me as follows about a 
 tame Badger: "I have 
 had a perfectly tame female 
 sion, and I mourn her loss 
 
 ing, with her hair standing on end. In this manner 
 she would trot back and forth before the Dog, like an 
 enraged Turkey. In a few moments her hair would 
 lie flat again, she would put her fore-paws down, and 
 shaking her head with a conciliatory grunt ' hu hu, 
 gu gu,' she would resume the wild play. 
 
 " Sh,e was allowed the freedom of the whole house, 
 for she had exceedingly cleanly habits, and seemed 
 to take special delight in trotting up and down 
 stairs. Frequently she would trot quietly around in 
 the barn, putting her curious nose into every corner. 
 She esteemed it a special favor when she was al- 
 lowed to stay with me during a meal ; at such times 
 she pushed the Setter unaffectedly aside, put her 
 fore-paws and her sleek, striped head on my lap, 
 and uttering her customary 'hu hu, gu gu,' pleaded 
 for a piece of meat, which she very gently and dex- 
 terously detached from the fork with her front 
 teeth. During the winter she liked to lie in front 
 of the stove, turning her broad under surface to the 
 cheerful fire. 
 
 " In summer she often accompanied me to a little 
 
 THE AMEKICAN BASGEB, OR TAXEL. The American representative of the Badger tamily, distributed all 
 
 over this country, but especially numerous in the West, is a fierce and bloodthirsty little animal. Its bulky, squatty body, 
 and short, broad tail, and the long, strong claws and short, soft fur which distinguish this animal, are seen in this illustra- 
 tion sketched from a picture by Audubon. Although its movements are somewhat slow and ponderous its craft enables 
 it to catch not only rodents but also birds, as shown in the illustration. I^Taxidea americana.) 
 
 wood, where she felt completely at home and made 
 new discoveries at every step. Either she caught 
 a Humble-bee or dug a worm out of the ground, 
 or she found some berries, or a Snail on the wsy. 
 When I was returning, she sulkily trotted at my heels, 
 and usually would begin to pull my trousers with her 
 teeth. If I administered to her a sound kick with 
 my foot, she regarded it in the light of an encour- 
 agement to proceed with her play ; but the slightest 
 slap with the hand or a blow with the whip wounded 
 her deeply." 
 
 _, . . The American Badger or Taxel (Taxidea 
 
 R J"^'^'""" americana), which was formerly classed with 
 
 „. }: ?f/ "i its European cousin, is now justly regarded 
 
 Distinct Variety. ^^ ^ ^^^-^^^ ^^^^-^^^ ^he body il very 
 
 stoutly built, has a flattened appearance, and is about twenty- 
 four inches long ; the tail six mches. The fur is a grizzled 
 mixture of a blackish tawny-gray and white, and the tail is 
 iDroad and flattened. The claws on the fore-paws are very 
 large and strong, furnishing the animal excellent tools for dig- 
 ging. The snout is shorter and the over-hair, which projects 
 above the woolly undercoat, is softer than that of the European 
 Badger ; and this soft hair is used for making painters' pencils. 
 Dr. Elliott Coues says that 'Ithe Badger, above all our other 
 animals, is notable for its flatness ; even when running it looks 
 broad and flat, and its body seems to sweep the ground during 
 
 Badger in my posses- 
 deeply. Kaspar — that 
 was her name — was an honest soul, though not given 
 to refined notions. She desired to live at peace with 
 all the world, but her clumsy tricks often led to 
 misunderstandings and unpleasant experiences. Her 
 best chum was a very agile, sagacious Setter, which 
 I had trained from puppyhood to associate with all 
 kinds of wild animals. The Dog and the Badger 
 gave us, so to speak, veritable tournaments on beau- 
 tiful evenings, and people who were fond of animals 
 came to see them from miles around. The essential 
 feature of the fight consisted in the Badger's shaking 
 her head like a Wild Boar, and then running at the 
 Dog, trying to hit him sideways with her head in 
 pa:ssing. But the Dog would jump over her with a 
 graceful bound ; when she proceeded to a second 
 and a third attack. Then he would run into the gar- 
 den, and if, in the pursuit, she succeeded in catchmg 
 him by his hind leg, a vigorous fight ensued, which, 
 however, never proceeded to serious results. When 
 Kaspar became angry, she would retreat a short 
 distance, stand on her hind legs, trembling and pant- 
 
172 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 its rather slow, heavy and awkward progress. Seen when 
 crouching in fancied security, or hoping to escape observation 
 (and it will sometimes remain long motionless in this posture, 
 permitting near approach), the animal might easily be mis- 
 taken for a stone or clod of earth. The very hairs lie flat, as if 
 parted in the middle, and form a fringe along either side, pro- 
 jecting, as one writer has remarked, ' like the shell of a turtle 
 or the eaves of a house.' " 
 
 Home and Habits P'?T^-^'^f^V' H"*^ '!| the greater part of 
 
 nf imoyif„,n the United States, Canada and Mexico. The 
 
 B^gsT Badger inhabiting the latter country and 
 
 " portions of Texas and California has been 
 
 by some authorities classed as a distinct species under the 
 
 name of the Mexican Badger (Taxidea americana), but the 
 
 characteristics of the animal differ little from those of the 
 
 THE BATEL, OR HONEY-BADGER. This African animal is so peculiar in its markings as to be at 
 
 once distinguished from any other. The difference between the light fur which covers the upper part of the body 
 and the dark covering of the lower half is sharply defined as shown in the picture. The strong claws, which are also 
 shown, give it great digging ability, for it eats roots as well as small animals, and excavates itself a burrow with great 
 rapidity. Its predilection for honey gives it the name it bears. {MelUvora capensis.) 
 
 American Badger, of which it is now regarded as being only a 
 local variety. « 
 
 The American Badger inhabits plains principally, although 
 it is also found in wooded districts, and is especially numerous 
 in the region west of the Mississippi to the Pacific coast, 
 abounding in very large numbers in the plains watered by the 
 Missouri and the arid, sage-brush plains between the Rocky 
 Mountain and the Sierra Nevada ranges, where Badgers' bur- 
 rows are encountered constantly. The animal itself is not so 
 frequently seen, for it shuns Man and hastily retreats to its 
 burrow to escape human sight. When attacked by a hunter 
 at close range it shows fight, bristles up its hair until it appears 
 much larger than it really is, and instead of retreating advances 
 open-mouthed and with a great display of ferocity. The hunter 
 who attacks it with a stick will need much caution, for it clings 
 to life tenaciously, and snaps at its assailant viciously, and its 
 bite inflicts a serious wound. It is usually caught in traps, as 
 it is difficult to find, and only a few can be obtained by hunting 
 them. 
 
 The American Badger is more carnivorous than the Euro- 
 pean species, and its principal prey are the rodents which 
 abound in the region it occupies. Where Gophers are found 
 the Badger digs them out and kilLs them, taking possession of 
 their burrows and, according to Dr. Samuel Lockwood, " en- 
 larges the establishment to suit his own ideas of convenience." 
 
 THE RATELS. 
 
 Another group is formed by the Ratels, or Honey 
 Badgers {Mellivord). They are animals possessed 
 
 of broad backs, short snouts and short tails ; the 
 body is clumsier than that of the Badger and has a 
 flattened appearance, the back being very broad and 
 flat ; the snout elongated ; the small ears scarcely 
 visible above the fur ; the eyes are small and lie very 
 deep ; the legs are short, stout and bare-soled, and 
 the toes of the fore-paws are provided with long^ 
 claws, adapted for burrowing. 
 
 The Batel The Ratel, or Honey Badger {Mel- 
 or Honey Badger livora capensis), attains a length of 
 Described. twenty-eight inches, ten of this form- 
 ing the proportionately long tail. The hair is long 
 
 and wiry; forehead, back 
 I of head and neck, back, 
 shoulders and tail are 
 ashy gray, while the 
 snout, cheeks, ears, throaty 
 breast, underpart and legs- 
 are grayish black, the line 
 o f demarcation between, 
 the two colors being very 
 distinct. Usually a light 
 gray stripe separates the 
 coloring of the back fronv 
 that of the under surface 
 of the body, distinguish- 
 ing the African jRatel from- 
 its Indian cousin. 
 Haunts and The Ratel 
 Habits lives in sub- 
 0/ Ratels. terranean 
 burrows, which it exca- 
 vates for itself with in- 
 credible dexterity. It is^ 
 so slow and clumsy that it 
 could never escape its ene- 
 mies, were it not for this- 
 ability to bury itself, at 
 least in soft ground, dig- 
 ging a burrow so quickly 
 as to hide before its an- 
 tagonist has had time to- 
 attack it. Its habits are 
 nocturnal and it seldom 
 sallies forth in the day- 
 time. On our hunting 
 trip to the Bogos country 
 we saw the Ratel twice, both times in the eveningr 
 before sunset. At night it prowls around slowly, at 
 its own will, preying on small mammals, especially 
 Mice, or birds, Tortoises, Snails and worms; digging" 
 out roots or tubers, and looking for fruit. One pref- 
 erence determines its whole mode of life and gives- 
 it a distinguishing name : it is passionately fond of 
 honey and, therefore, is a zealous hunter of Bees, 
 The Ratel on In the treeless regions of Africa Bees- 
 the Hunt settle in all kinds of deserted holes in 
 for Honey, the ground, just like the Humble-bees- 
 and Wasps. Such a nest is the most welcome thing a 
 Ratel can find, and when discovered the creature pro- 
 ceeds to destroy it with marked satisfaction. The 
 Bees defend themselves as well as they can, seeking^ 
 to wound the enemy with their stings, but its hairy, 
 thick hide is an excellent shield, for it lies more 
 loosely on the subcutaneous layer of fat than that 
 of any other animal. The Ratel is said to be really 
 able to turn around in its skin. Bees are utterly 
 powerless before such an enemy, which greedily digs- 
 around in their abode and feasts on its contents. 
 
 The Ratel is not only fond of honey, but also 
 looks for more substantial food. Carmichael says 
 
THE MARTEN FAMILY— TELEDU. 
 
 173 
 
 that owners of poultry-yards regard it as one of the 
 most destructive creatures to be found. In Algoa 
 Bay several peasants were once quarreling over 
 some eggs, which Hens had laid outside of their 
 coops, when a Ratel put an end to the contention 
 by killing all the Hens — there were about thirty of 
 them — in a single night, and carrying three away 
 to its den. 
 
 Description The Indian Ratel (^Mellivora indica) 
 of, the is said to have the same habits as the 
 
 Indian Ratel. preceding animal and also to be a 
 destructive visitor of poultry-yards. It is found all 
 over India, to the west and northwest of the Bay of 
 Bengal, to the foot of the Himalayas (with the excep- 
 tion of the coast of Malabar) and Lower Bengal. It 
 is not found in Ceylon. 
 
 Ratels when captured young are capable of domes- 
 tication and afford much amusement by the clumsi- 
 ness and originality of their movements. 
 
 THE TELEDU. 
 
 The Teledu or Stinking Badger {Mydaus meliceps) 
 is a small member of its family attaining a length of 
 nearly fifteen inches, one of which goes to the stumpy 
 little tail. 'The color of the thick, long fur is a uni- 
 form dark brown, with the exception of the back of 
 the head and neck. A white or yellowish-white 
 band runs along the spine to the tip of the tail. The 
 under surface of the body is lighter than the upper 
 part. The fur consists of a silky inner coat and a 
 coarse outer one, form- 
 ing a kind of a mane on 
 the sides and nape of the 
 neck. The Teledu in- 
 habits Sumatra, Java and 
 Borneo, but it is not 
 known whether it is 
 found on the Malay Pe- 
 ninsula and other parts 
 of the continent. 
 
 Burrow of Horsfieldwas 
 
 the Teledu the first to 
 
 Described, describe the 
 habits of this peculiar 
 creature. It digs its hole 
 to a slight depth under 
 the surface of the ground 
 with great caution and 
 dexterity. When it has 
 found a place protected 
 by the long and large 
 roots of a tree, it scoops 
 out a hole between the 
 roots, and a central round 
 chamber about three feet 
 in diameter is built right 
 under the tree. Conduits 
 about six feet long lead 
 to the surface in various 
 being skillfully concealed by twigs and dry grass. 
 During the day it remains in its burrow; but after 
 sunset it sets forth to hunt for larvas of all kinds, 
 and worms, especially Rain-worms, which it finds in 
 great numbers in the fertile soil. It digs them out 
 like a Pig and thereby does great damage in the 
 fields. According to Horsfield it lives in Java only 
 upon mountains having an elevation of more than 
 7,000 feet above the sea, and is found there as regu- 
 larly as certain plants. Modern accounts contradict 
 these statements. Karl Bock avers that in south- 
 eastern Borneo, "where the Teledus are as common 
 
 as Rats," they are found " at an elevation of eighty 
 or one hundred feet. In Sumatra, the highest eleva- 
 tion in which they are found is lower than i,ooo feet 
 and there they occur but rarely." 
 
 Traits and The Teledu is a very slow-moving ani- 
 
 Habitsofthe mal, and is therefore often caught by 
 
 Teledu. ^^q natives, who do not fear it in the 
 
 least, but even go so far as to eat. its flesh, for they 
 
 believe that whoever can bring himself to eat this 
 
 meat enjoys immunity from disease. 
 
 During his stay in the mountains of Prahu, Hors- 
 field asked the natives to bring him a few Teledus 
 for examination and dissection, and they brought 
 him so many that he soon refused to accept any 
 more. "I was assured," says this naturalist, "that 
 the flesh of the Teledu was very savory, if one suc- 
 ceeded in killing the animal quickly and immediately 
 proceeded to remove the tail-glands, before they had 
 time to communicate their abominable odor to the 
 body. My native hunter also told me that the 
 Teledu could not eject its secretion to a longer dis- 
 tance than twenty-four inches. The fluid is of a 
 viscid character, and its effect is produced by reason 
 of its great volatility ; it may infect the surroundings 
 of a whole village, and in its immediate neighbor- 
 hood it is so strong that some people who cannot 
 escape its powerful odor faint away. The various 
 American animals remarkable for their ill odor are 
 distinguished mainly for their ability to eject the 
 fluid to a greater distance. 
 
 THE TELEDU, OR STINKING BADGER. — -This animal, which grives forth an odor fully entitling it to its 
 name, is distinguished by the white stripe that extends from its forehead to the tip of its queer, stumpy little tail as 
 shown in the illustration. Its strong, curved claws enable it to make its burrowing chamber, and with the aid of its 
 strong snout to dig and root for worms and larvJE in Java and Sumatra, where it lives. (.Mydaus melicets.) 
 
 directions, the entrances 
 
 " The Teledu is of a gentle, mild disposition, and 
 when taken young may easily be domesticated. One 
 specimen, which I caught, knew its home and its 
 keeper, and never once emitted its horrid odor." 
 
 THE SKUNKS. 
 
 It cannot be averred that any of the Weasel family 
 give forth an agreeable perfume ; there are some, 
 even among the European species, from whose bod- 
 ies a terrible stench issues forth. But the Polecat 
 cannot vie with some of its American and African 
 relatives, or with the Teledu of the southeast of the 
 Old World, which has just been described. When 
 
174 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 one reads what abominably fetid odors they are ca- 
 pable of spreading, he can understand what a genu- 
 ine scent gland means ! All accounts of American 
 travelers and naturalists agree that one cannot por- 
 tray the effect of the secretions of these animals. 
 No chemical laboratory, no heap of refuse, no foul 
 carcass, in short, no stench on earth is said to be as 
 fetid and unbearable as that which the graceful ani- 
 mals of the genus Mephitis give forth, and with which 
 they impregnate objects for weeks or even months. 
 The odor is said to be pestilential, and a person who 
 has had the misfortune to come in close relations 
 
 THE SITRILHO. This Brazilian animal is closely related to the more familiar Skunk, and ejects a mephitic 
 
 secretion which is the nearest approach in foulness of odor to that of its northern cousin. The brown or black coat 
 is generally varied with wide, white stripes, from the forehead to the root of the tail, but dividing into two along the 
 spine as shown in the picture. It is a rather handsome animal, with a head somewhat elongated and narrowing 
 toward the snout, and long claws to aid it in scratching up the ground in its search for Beetles. (Mephitis suf- 
 focans.) 
 
 with one of those animals is avoided by eyery one, 
 as though he had the plague. In spite of their small 
 size, these animals are such powerful enemies of 
 Man, that those whom their terrible secretion has 
 touched are ostracised from human society. These 
 creatures can render an entire house uninhabitable, 
 or make valueless a stock of precious goods. 
 
 Characteriatics The Mephitis have a more slender 
 of the body than the Badgers, a long tail. 
 
 Skunk Group, a large nose, a black ground-color, 
 and white striped markings. The head is small 
 in proportion to the size of the body, and pointed ; 
 the small eyes have a sharp, penetrating look, 
 the ears are short and rounded ; the short legs 
 Have medium sized paws, endowed with five toes 
 ^almost completely united, and having rather long, 
 slightly curved nails. The soles of the balls of the 
 feet are naked. The scent-glands are large, and can 
 be compressed by a special muscle. The secretion 
 is a yellow, oily fluid, which, by compressing the 
 muscle, the animal can eject a distance of several 
 yards. Old animals and males are said to produce 
 a stronger odor than young or female specimens. 
 
 Mode of Life The Mephitis cannot be called genuine 
 of the forest animals, as they prefer grassy or 
 Skunk Group, bushy plains to extensive forests of tall 
 trees. During the day they lie in hollow trees, in 
 clefts of rocks, or in caverns which they dig for 
 themselves, and sleep; at night they rouse them- 
 selves and eagerly seek for prey. Their usual sus- 
 tenance is worms, insects, birds and small quad- 
 rupeds, but they also eat roots and berries. They 
 use their fearful secretion only when irritated or per- 
 secuted and, consequently, frightened. They make 
 the most sanguinary and predaceous Felidae modestly 
 _ keep at a distance and 
 find antagonists only in 
 very courageous Dogs, 
 who, after having been 
 tainted by the secretion, 
 rush at their mephitic as- 
 sailants, evidently caring 
 little, under these odor- 
 i f e r o u s circumstances, 
 whether they, themselves, 
 live or die. The habits of 
 all known species of the 
 Skunk grou'p are very 
 similar, and it therefore 
 suffices to consider one 
 or two of them only. 
 TheSurilho The Surilho 
 of Brazil of Brazil (Jf^- 
 Described. p hit is suffo- 
 catis) inhabits the greater 
 part of South America. 
 It is sixteen inches long, 
 exclusive of the tail, 
 which measures eleven 
 inches. Its color and 
 markings are subject to 
 great variations. The 
 hair is thick and long, 
 short on the snout and 
 may be of any tint, be- 
 tween grayish black, 
 brownish black or lus- 
 trous black. The white 
 stripes begin on the fore- 
 head and run, separated 
 by a finger's breadth, to 
 the root of the tail ; in some rare instances they are 
 absent and the animal is uniformly black. Hensel 
 says that it would be difficult to find two specimens 
 exhibiting exactly the same markings. 
 
 The habits of the Surilho are not essentially dif- 
 ferent from those of the Weasels. It lives in the 
 Campos country of the valley and the Sierra and 
 shuns dense virgin forests ; yet it is confined to the 
 woods, for it is only found in isolated forests of 
 the Campos. Its presence is easily detected by the 
 small, funnel-shaped holes which it makes in the 
 grassy ground near the forest edges in its search for 
 Beetles. 
 The Skunk The ill-famed Skunk {Mephitis varians) 
 of North takes the place of the Surilho in North 
 America. America. It is about sixteen inches 
 long, its tail measuring nearly the same. The ground 
 color of the lustrous fur is black. A plain, narrow, 
 white stripe commences at the nose, broadens on the 
 forehead and still more so on the back of the head, 
 and divides at the shoulder into two bands, which 
 run the whole length of the body and unite at the 
 tip of the tail. Small, white spots appear on the 
 
THE MARTEN FAMILY— ZORILLA. 
 
 175 
 
 neck, near the shoulders, on the outside of the legs, 
 and more rarely on the breast and under portion. 
 The tail either shows two broad, white, longitudinal 
 bands or else is irregularly marked with black and 
 white. 
 
 The Skunk has been known for a long time on 
 account of the reckless manner in which it insults 
 our sense of smell, and nearly all modern travelers 
 continue to refer to it. Its range is rather extensive; 
 the -animal being most plentiful near Hudson Bay, 
 whence it is distributed southward. Its favorite 
 haunts are the rather elevated portions of country, 
 especially forests and beech-tree woods on river- 
 banks, or rocky regions, in which it takes up its 
 abode in caverns and clefts of the rocks. 
 
 The Skunk is so well aware of its formidable 
 weapon, that it is by no means shy or cowardly. 
 It is slow in its movements ; it can neither 
 jump nor climb, but only walk or hop. Its 
 walk is nearly plantigrade, and it arches its 
 back and carries its tail in a downward direc- 
 tion. From time to time it burrows^ in the 
 ground or sniffs around for something eata- 
 ble. If one happens to meet it, it "quietly 
 stops, lifts its tail, turns around and, if the in- 
 truder comes too near, ejects its noxious fluid. 
 Hensel says that when it is pursued by Dogs, 
 it lays its tail along its back like a sitting 
 Squirrel, turns its binder quarters towards the 
 Dogs and performs queer, angry, hopping an- 
 tics, such as one sometimes sees in the cages 
 of Bears. The Dogs know their opponent's 
 dangerous weapon and keep at a respectful 
 distance, but few of them having the courage 
 to seize and kill a Skunk. The attacked ani- 
 mal never wastes its secretion by unnecessary 
 haste, but continues to threaten as long as the 
 Dogs are a few yards distant from it. 
 
 Audubon's Ex- Audubon had a personal experi- 
 perienee ence with a Skunk. "This small, 
 
 with a Skunk, dainty, innocent looking anima:!," 
 he says, "is capable of putting the greatest 
 braggart to flight with its first shot, so that he 
 will run with cries of misery. I suffered from 
 it myself when I was a school-boy. The sun 
 had just set. I was slowly walking along with 
 a few friends of mine. We perceived a charm- 
 ing little animal, unknown to us ; it stopped 
 and looked at us, as if waiting for us to come 
 up and keep it company, like an old friend. 
 The little thing looked so innocent and tempt- 
 ing and it kept its tail lifted up, as if it invited 
 us to take hold of it and carry it home on our 
 arms. I was quite delighted and put out my 
 hand to take it — and the pretty little beast 
 overwhelmed me with its diabolical secretion. 
 I had my eyes, nose and mouth full of it and 
 dropped the monster as if I had, been struck 
 by lightning." 
 
 South American Skunks do not differ from 
 North American relatives in the strength of 
 secretion. 
 
 The Skunk In captivity Skunks do not emit their 
 in a terrible odor, provided one guards care- 
 Captive State, fully against irritating them. They get 
 very tame and tolerably well accustomed to their 
 keeper, though they walk backwards in the begin- 
 ning, their tails lifted, and ready for assault. Hay 
 is their favorite bed, for they prepare a perfect bed 
 with it and then curl up on it like a ball. After eat- 
 ing, they wipe their snouts with their fore-paws, being 
 
 very cleanly, and they always keep their fur dainty 
 and dressed. They are fed upon meat, and their 
 favorite food is birds. 
 
 THE ZORILLAS. 
 
 In Africa the place of the Skunks is taken by the 
 Zorillas, which are closely allied to them, but have 
 hairy soles and have teeth more closely resembling 
 those of Weasels. 
 
 The best knoWn species is the Cape Zorilla (Rhab- 
 dogale mustelina.) , which attains a length of fourteen 
 inches, exclusive of the tail which is ten inches long. 
 It extends throughout Africa, reaching into Asia 
 Minor through Suez, and is said to be found even on 
 the Asiatic side of Constantinople. Rocky regions 
 form its favorite haunts, and it lives either in clefts 
 or burrows, which it digs for itself under trees and 
 
 THE SKUNK. This American animal bears the unenviable distinction of 
 
 emitting a fetid secretion which, once smelied, makes all other stenches seem per- 
 fumes. When an enemy approaches, the animal lifts its long, bushy tail, preparatory 
 to emitting its foul secretion ; and when a Skunk is seen in the attitude of the one in 
 the picture one would do well to retreat. (Mefhiiis varians or Mephitis mefhitica.) 
 
 their 
 their 
 
 bushes. Its habits are thoroughly nocturnal and 
 therefore it is seldom seen. Its food is small mam- 
 mals, especially Mice, small birds and their €ggs, 
 amphibia and insects. It is frequently a menace to 
 poultry, effecting an entrance, Marten-like, into farm- 
 yards and slaying the Chickens like a Polecat. 
 
 The Zorilla is not Marten-like in its movements, 
 for it is not agile, and may even be called lazy. It 
 does not know how to climb and is afraid of water, 
 though it swims fairly well. It uses its abominable 
 weapon exactly like the Skunk, and finds it a very 
 effective means of defense. 
 
176 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 THE OTTERS. 
 
 The third sub-order of the Martens is formed by 
 the Otters {Lutridce), which number about twenty 
 distinct species that are distinguished by a long, flat 
 body resting on short legs, a flat head with a blunt 
 snout, small, prominent eyes and short, round ears ; 
 very well developed webs between the toes; a long, 
 tapering, flattened tail, and short, coarse, sleek, glossy 
 hair. The paws are five-toed, the two middle toes 
 being but slightly shorter than the outer ones. Otters 
 do not possess a scertt-pouch, but have two scent- 
 glands terminating at the root of the tail. The 
 structure of the teeth and skeleton resembles that 
 of the other Martens. The most peculiar feature is 
 
 THE CAPE ZOBILLA, While our own American animals of the Skunk ' group 
 
 have no rivals in the faculty of emitting offensive odors^ the Zorillas Of Africa have great 
 ability in that way. The Cape Zorilla is a prettily marked animal with . white stripes 
 extending along its body and a long, bushy tail. It hunts and kills alh small mammals and 
 birds, and is an accomplished Chicken-thief, so that the picture appropriately shows it with 
 featnered prey. {Rhabdogale musielina.) 
 
 the strikingly flat skull, with its wide cerebral part, 
 its narrow facial area, and a short snout, these char- 
 acteristics appearing in all the various species. 
 
 Aquatic Otters inhabit rivers and oceans, and 
 Nature of the range over nearly all parts of the globe. 
 Otters. with the exception of Australia and 
 very high latitudes. They leave the water only when 
 compelled to do so, and then solely with a view 
 of finding some other body of water. They swim 
 and dive in a masterly manner, being able to stay 
 under water a very long time ; they run tolerably 
 well, in spite of their short legs, and are strong, cou- 
 rageous animals. They are capable of domestica- 
 tion. Their relations to Man are always strained, for 
 
 the damage they do is far in excess of the benefit 
 they confer by their valuable furs. 
 Description Europe harbors only one species of this 
 of the Com- sub-order, the Common Otter {Lutra 
 mon Otter, vulgaris). The length of this animal is 
 forty-eight inches, sixteen of this going to the tail. 
 The head is of an oval shape; the eye is small, 
 but has a vivacious expression ; the ear is very short, 
 rounded, can be closed by a fold in the skin, and is 
 nearly hidden in the fur ; the body is slender but 
 flat ; the tail is more or less rounded and tapering 
 toward the end ; the legs very short; the feet webbed 
 to their claws and adapted for a plantigrade walk. 
 The fur is thick and fits the body closely ; its outer 
 coat consists of wiry, lustrous hair of a dark brown 
 color ; the under surface is of a slightly 
 lighter tinge, which at the throat and sides 
 of the head merges into whitish- gray- 
 brown, the hidden margin of the ear being 
 light brown ; the lower lip shows a patch 
 of faded white, and several other small 
 white spots are distributed over chin and 
 lower jaws. Some animals have a tint in- 
 clining to grayish brown, rather than dark 
 brown. 
 Where and How The common Otter inhab- 
 the Common its all Europe and the 
 Otter Liues. greater part of central and 
 northern Asia, ranging as far as the Amobr 
 to the east, and to the Himalayas on the 
 southeast. It does not seem to extend 
 very far north, for Lapland shows only a 
 few scattered specimens. In India, China 
 and Japan its place is taken by closely al- 
 lied species, while thoSe inhabiting Africa 
 and America rank as distinct species. In 
 middle and southern Europe it is found 
 in every body of water offering any prom- 
 ise of food, even in rixers running through 
 densely populated countries. In central 
 Asia it is also common everywhere. The 
 Indian Otter even goes into the sea, lives 
 at the mouth of rivers and occasionally 
 visits the ocean. 
 
 The Otter has a predilection for rivers 
 whose banks are thickly grown with for- 
 ests. There it lives in subterraneous bur- 
 rows, constructed in accordance with its 
 tastes and mode of life. The place of exit 
 is always located below the surface of the 
 water, usually at a- depth of about eighteen 
 inches ; a tunnel about two yards long 
 leads thence, slalnting upwards into a spa- 
 cious chamber, which is lined with grass 
 and always kept dry. Another narrow 
 tunnel runs from the central chamber to 
 the surface and aids in ventilation. Under 
 all circumstances the Otter has several retreats or 
 homes, unless fish is exceedingly plentiful and it is 
 not obliged to undertake extended journeys for 
 food. When the water rises and inundates its habi- 
 tation, it has recourse to trees or hollow trunks, 
 where it spends its leisure hours when not hunting. 
 Traits and The Otter entails great loss upon the 
 Mouements of owners of fisheries and upon enthusi- 
 the Otter. ^stic anglers, but is extremely attract- 
 ive to the naturalist. Its life is so peculiar that it 
 has to be observed in a special manner, and therefore 
 must furnish pleasure to every person fond of nature, 
 The Otter is remarkable in every way ; in its aquatic 
 life, as well as in its movements ; in its hunt for food 
 
THE MARTEN FAMILY— OTTER. 
 
 177 
 
 and in its mental endowments. It belongs, without 
 question, to the most attractive class of animals. 
 That it is an aquatic animal is seen even when it, is 
 on dry land, having a creeping and Snake-like. walk, 
 on account of its short legs; but its movements are 
 by no means slow. It moves quite differently in the 
 water, which is its proper element, and to which it 
 ileeswhen danger threatens it on land. Its structure 
 is admirably adapted for swimming and diving.. The 
 Snake-like, flat body, the short feet, converted into 
 vigorous oars by large webs, the rather long and 
 powerful tail serving as a very efficient rudder, and 
 the sleek, slippery fur — all these endowments com- 
 bine to enable it to glide swiftly through the waves. 
 Its sharp, vigorous teeth serve to seize the prey and 
 never let anything they once have closed upon es- 
 cape, however slippery it may be. In winter, when 
 the water is frozen, over, it looks up holes in the ice 
 and descends, and returns through them to breathe. 
 Unfailingly it finds these holes again and is just as 
 
 fishes only by night, especially in full moonlight. 
 It sometimes comes quite close to human dwellings 
 during its hunts, and passes villages that lie on the 
 bank, usually without being detected. 
 
 Old Otters usually live singly, but the females 
 swim about accompanied by their young, or other 
 females. During the breeding season one may meet 
 males and females fishing together. They always 
 swim up stream from their habitation, and some- 
 tirnes search ,a river for miles away, as well as the 
 smaller, rivers and ponds that are connected with 
 the large stream. 
 Skill of the An Otter is as effective and skillful a 
 Otter hunter in the water as are a Fox and a 
 as a Hunter. Lynx combined on the land. In shallow 
 water it drives" the fishes into a bay to prevent their 
 flight, or sometinies it beats the surface of the water 
 with its tail, and frightens them so that they seek 
 refuge in holes in the bank or under stones, and 
 thus fall an easy prey. 
 
 THE COMMON OTT£R. The characteristics of the Common Otter pf Europe and Asia are well depicted in this illustration — the rounded 
 
 head, small ears, tapering tail, short legs, ending in webbed feet, and rough wiry outer fur. ■ The predilection of the animal for fish is also shown, the 
 animal in the picture having just captured a finny meal, roming to the river bank to enjoy it. (Lutra vulgaris.) 
 
 ingenious in detecting ^thers. The hole need only 
 be large enough to admit its nose for the purpose of 
 breathing ; and where such apertures exist the frozen 
 deep is perfectly adapted for its hunting. 
 
 The voice of the Otter is much more rarely heard 
 from animals in the wild state than from those in 
 captivity, which are more easily excited. When the 
 Otter feels comfortable it utters a low chuckle ; when 
 it is hungry it emits loud cries, sounding like " girrk " 
 and so loud as to be disagreeable. It signifies its 
 anger by a loud shriek, and its contentment by a 
 shrill, harmonious whistle. 
 
 The senses of the Otter are extremely acute. The 
 presence of a Man or Dog is perceived at a distance 
 of several hundred paces, and the approach of either 
 is always deemed a signal for prompt escape into 
 the water. The incessant persecution which it has 
 suffered has rendered it extremely shy and cautious, 
 ^nd one who wishes to see it has to lie in wait for 
 •days. As a rule it sallies forth after sunset, and 
 
 The Otter also preys upon Crabs, Frogs, Water- 
 voles and small and medium-sized birds, though 
 fishes, especially Trout, are its favorite food. 
 
 Young Otters The Otter has no set breeding season, 
 and How for one meets young ones all the 
 They are Tamed, year, around. There are from two 
 to four blind young, ones in the litter. The mother 
 selects for them a secure place, warmly lining the 
 . nest with soft grass. She loves her offspring ten- 
 derly and takes great care of them. They reach 
 their full growth by the third year. Otters taken 
 young and kept on milk and bread may become 
 very tame. The Chinese tame one species and train 
 them to catch fish, and in Europe Otters have also 
 repeatedly been trained for the same purpose. A 
 tame Otter is a very pretty and sympathetic animal. 
 It soon comes to know its owner and follows him or 
 her about like a Dog. It prefers a milk and vege- 
 table diet to one of meat, and may be trained not to 
 touch fish at all. 
 
178 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 Story of "A well-known sporting gentleman," 
 a Tame says Wood, " was possessed of an Otter 
 Otter. which had been trained with singular 
 success. When called, the Otter immediately an- 
 swered to the appropriate name of ' Neptune.' The 
 animal early showed signs of docility and in proc- 
 ess of time increased in aptitude and sagacity. It 
 ran freely about and could fish at will. Frequently 
 it procured a dish of excellent Trout quite alone, the 
 fishing exploits sometimes occupying the greater 
 part of the night. When morning came it was always. 
 to be found at its post and a stranger would .have 
 been astonished to see it among several brace of 
 Pointers and Greyhounds. In fact, according* to the 
 game-keeper, ' it was the best Cur that ever ran.' 
 Its reputation as an angler was advancing rapidly, 
 and its master's neighbors intended to borrow it, for 
 
 On larger lakes and ponds it is followed in boats and 
 shot when it comes up to breathe. A light ripple on 
 the surface of the water indicates its course to the 
 sportsman and guides him in his action. ,In deep 
 water this mode of hunting is not practicable, for an 
 Otter when killed falls to the bottom like a piece of 
 lead, and when the body finally reappears on the sur- 
 face it is half-decomposed and the skin is spoilt. In 
 rivers where Otters are plentiful one can employ still 
 another method. Large nets are quietly laid across 
 ,thje river and the Otters are frightened, by Dogs. 
 Several people take their posts ^t the nets, armed 
 with guns apd spears, or else, if, possible, they accom- 
 pany the Dogs into the water. Then the predaceous 
 animal is either shot or speared. This is the method 
 of hunting usually pursued in Scotland, and to some 
 extent in Germany. A captured Otter hisses, makes 
 
 THE AUEBICAN OTTEB. In all parts of temperate North America, and encroaching closely on the Arctic region, the American Otter 
 
 makes its home on the banks of nearly all streams except those from which it has been driven by Man. While it resembles the European Otter, it is 
 much larger in size, has a lo nger tail, and has a nasal pad between the nostrils which is larger than that of any other species. The American Otter is 
 vigorously hunted for its fur, and for this purpose traps are largely used after the manner shown in this illustration. (Lutra canadensis.) 
 
 the purpose of ascertaining the size of the larger 
 Trout in the pools on their estates." 
 Methods of The Otter is ruthlessly persecuted on 
 Hunting account of the damage it does. Its cun- 
 the Otter, ning renders mj^ny mbdes of hunting 
 either impossible or tedious in its case. It is very 
 difficult to shoot it, for when it scents the approach 
 of Man it keeps out of sight. In winter the task of 
 finding it is easier, especially if one lies in wait for it 
 at a hole in the ice. It is most frequently caught in 
 traps set into the water at a depth of about two 
 inches, without any bait. The trap is concealed with 
 moss, and is best put in a ditch which the Otter has 
 to cross on its way from one pool to another. The 
 ditch is for this purpose made so narrow that the 
 Otter must run over the trap to reach its destination. 
 
 a furious show of resistance and defends itself as long 
 as it has a spark of life left ; it is especially danger- 
 ous to imprudent Dogs, as it often breaks their legs 
 with a bite. Experienced Otter-hounds know how 
 to avoid siach accidents and soon master the animal. 
 Whenit finds itself overpowered the Otter expresses 
 its agony by a plaintive whine. 
 
 The. fur is: used for trimming winter clothing, for 
 caps and fur collars, and in Kamchatka the most 
 valuable Sable pelts are packed in Otter fur for ship- 
 ment, as it is supposed that the latter absorb the 
 dampness and preserve the Sable. The hair of Ot- 
 ters' tails is used for painters' brushes and out of the 
 fine, woolly inner fur expensive and durable hats are 
 manufactured. In consequence of the demand for 
 its fur, the Otter is persistently hunted. 
 
THE MARTEN FAMILY— OTTER. 
 
 175) 
 
 The American The American Otter (Lu/ra canadensis), 
 
 Otter, a although closely allied to the Common Ot- 
 
 Laraer Soecies ^^^K ^^^ sufficient distinctive differences to 
 Larger species. ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^j^^^^^ ^^ ^ separate species. 
 
 It is considerably larger than the European animal, being 
 about four feet in length from- the tip of the snout to the root of 
 the tail, and the tail is about two feet long; it has a pad or 
 protuberance on its nose. The soles are covered with hair, 
 and have callosities. The fur is of a brownish black color. 
 
 The young are born in April in the northern, and earlier in 
 the southern part of the animal's range, and a litter is com- 
 posed of from one to three young ones, which are the object of 
 most tender care on the part of their mother. 
 
 nanae and ^^'^ '^^^" '® ^""""^ '" ^^^ greater part of 
 Habits of ^^^ United States and in Canada north to 
 
 American Otters. S^ ,?"£f °? •?^?.''^Sion. Its habits resem- 
 ble those of Its European cousin, but it has 
 one peculiarity that is noticed by all naturalists who have closely 
 observed this animal, and that is its habit of sliding, or coast- 
 ing down hill, in which it displays a zeal and proficiency that a 
 school-boy might envy. In Canada, and other sections where 
 the snow is plentiful. Otters indulge freely in this sport and, as 
 described by Godman, they select in winter the highest ridge 
 of snow they can find, scramble to the top of it, " lie on their 
 
 riers, but those from Canada are deemed more valuable than 
 those from the more southern sections. 
 
 American Otters may be most successfully tamed, especially 
 when taken young. Audubon had several young Otters which 
 he says "became as gentle as Puppies in two or three days. 
 They preferred milk and boiled cornmeal, refusing fish or meat 
 till they were several months old." They became so tame that 
 they would romp with their owner, and were very good-natured 
 animals. 
 
 Besides the American Otter three other American species 
 have been mentioned by some authorities, including the Mexi- 
 can Otter (Lutra californica), the Peruvian Otter (Lutrafelina), 
 inhabiting Central America, Peru and Chili, and the Brazilian 
 Otter (Lutra brasilienis); but as they are much alike in size and 
 coloration, and differ little, if any, from those already described, 
 It is doubtful if these can be regarded as distinct species. Lit- 
 tle is known about them or their habits. 
 
 The Sea Otter, The Common Otter and some of its 
 a Marine relatives temporarily visit the ocean, 
 Variety. j^^j. ^^^ species belongs to it entirely. 
 The Sea Otter or Kalan {Enhydris lutris) is a repre- 
 sentative of a distinct species and is perhaps a tran- 
 
 
 SEA OITEB, OR KALAN. This is the true marine Otter, for 
 
 water the Kalan makes its home in the ocean, and is found on the shores 
 short tail, flipper-like hind paws, and dense fur are shown in the animal 
 icy, northern home. {Enhydris lutris.) 
 
 ibellies with the fore-feet bent backwards and then, giving 
 themselves an impulse with their hind-legs, glide head-foremost 
 •down the declivity, sometimes for the distance of twenty yards. 
 This sport they continue, apparently with the keenest enjoy- 
 ment, until fatigue or hunger induces them to desist." 
 
 It is not only in winter that they enjoy this sport.. " Otter- 
 slides" or places on the clay banks of streams where they pur- 
 sue this diversion, are well known in the West. Audubon says: 
 ■"On one occasion we were resting on the bank of Canoe Creek, 
 -a small stream near Henderson, which empties into the Ohio, 
 when a pair of Otters made their appearance, and, not observ- 
 ing our proximity, began to enjoy their sliding pastime. They 
 glided down the soap-like, muddy surface of the slide with the 
 rapidity of an arrow from a bow, and we counted each one 
 making twenty-two slides before we disturbed them." 
 
 H„„f;„„ „» J The number of the Otters is rapidly decreas- 
 
 Trnini«n ""g '" America, because of the systematic 
 
 i,«JJ.Z^ n*t„.^ way in which they are pursued by trappers 
 
 American Otters, j^/j^^ ^^j^^ ^f /heir fur. The skin of the 
 
 American Otter is in high reputation and general use with fur- 
 
 while other species of the group make occasional excursions into salt 
 and islands of the North Pacific. The flattened face, rounded head, 
 in the picture, which is enjoying a meal of shell-fish on a beach in its 
 
 sition member between the Otters and Seals. The 
 head is somewhat flattened, but rounder than that of 
 the other Otters, the neck is short and thick, the 
 body is uniformly round, the tail is short, thick and 
 compressed, of a conical shape and clothed in thick 
 hair. While the fore-paws differ from those of the 
 Common Otter only in their short toes (which are 
 connected by tough webs, naked on their under sur- 
 face and provided with small, weak claws), the hind 
 paws are really fin-like, at least as much as a Seal's 
 flippers, from which they differ in having their toes 
 increase in- length from the inner to the outer side. 
 In some respects the hind paw of a Sea Otter resem- 
 bles that of the Beaver, only that it is covered with 
 shorjt, dense, silky hair. The outer fur consists of 
 long, wiry, brownish-black hair with white tips, which 
 
180 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 lend it a grizzled appearance. The under fur is of 
 a fine, woolly texture. Young animals have a long, 
 coarse, white or grayish brown fur, entirely covering 
 the under fur. Adult Sea Otters are at least sixty 
 inches long, about twelve of which go to the tail. 
 Their weight is from sixty to eighty pounds. 
 
 The Sea Otter is indigenous to the North Pacific, 
 extending as far north as the chain of the Aleutian 
 Isles. It extends farther south on the American 
 than on the Asiatic coast, being confined by the 
 twenty-eighth parallel of north latitude, but each 
 year shows a decrease in its numbers. 
 Steller's Account We owe the best description of the 
 of the animal to Steller, who was ship- 
 
 Sea Otter. wrecked in 1741, with Bering, and 
 had abundant opportunities for observing the animal. 
 " The fur of the Sea Otter," says he, " whose skin 
 lies loosely on the body and moves all over in run- 
 ning, exceeds that of all Beavers in length, beauty, 
 and in the intense black color of the hair. The best 
 pelts sell for thirty roubles in Kamchatka, forty in 
 Irkutsk, and one hundred at the Chinese boundary, 
 if one takes merchandise in trade. The flesh is 
 tender and savory. The Sea Otter is a beautiful 
 and pleasing animal, merry and playful, kindly and 
 affectionate in disposition. When one sees it run, 
 the lustre of its black hair is superior to that of the 
 finest velvet. Otters usually live together in fami- 
 lies, male, female, half-grown and little children. 
 The love of the parents for their offspring is so great 
 that they brave death in defending them and at .their 
 lo.=:s cry very much like human beings. They grieve 
 so that in ten or twelve days they lose all their flesh, 
 become weak and sick and remain dejectedly in one 
 spot. These animals have no special breeding sea- 
 son, but are seen with their young ones all the year 
 round. The female carries her little ones in her 
 mouth, but in the water lies on her back and "holds 
 the young one in her fore-paws as a mother holds 
 her child. She also fondles it affectionately, plays 
 'toss and catch' with it, pushes it into the water to 
 teach it how to swim, and takes it up and kisses it 
 when it is tired. 
 
 "The food of the Sea Otter consists of Crabs, shells, 
 small fish, and to a less extent of sea-weed and meat. 
 I do not doubt that if one cared to go to the expense 
 of importing specimens into Russia, they could there 
 be domesticated; they even might breed in a pond or 
 river. In reality they care little for salt water, for I 
 have seen them spend days on islands and in rivers. 
 This animal deserves the greatest consideration of our 
 crew at least, for we had scarcely any other food but 
 its flesh for six months, and it was also the only cure 
 for those suffering from scurvy. 
 
 "The Otters are very graceful and quick in their 
 movements; they swim well and run rapidly. One 
 cannot imagine anything more beautiful than this 
 animal running along, clothed in its silky, glossy 
 black fur. It is remarkable that the more beautiful 
 their fur is, the more lively and cunning they are. 
 Those that are perfectly white are probably very old 
 and can be caught only with great difficulty, they 
 are so wary. When they sleep on land, they curl 
 up like Dogs. When they emerge from the water, 
 they shake themselves and dress their fur with the 
 fore-paws, like Cats. In running they proceed at a 
 rapid pace, but make many detours. If a Man bars 
 the way, they stop, arch their backs, hiss and threaten 
 to attack him. One blow on the head is sufficient to 
 make them drop down as if dead and cover their 
 eyes with their paws. 
 
 "In July and August Sea Otters change their coats, 
 but only to a slight extent, and their color becomes 
 browner. The best pelts are taken in March, April 
 and May; the greatest number are shipped to China. 
 In Kamchatka the most gorgeous apparel is sup- 
 posed, to be a dress made from white Reindeer skins 
 and trimmed with Otter. A few 'years ago, every- 
 body was wearing Sea Otter furs, but this custom has 
 gone out since they have become so dear; besides, 
 Dogs' skins are now thought to be finer, warmer and 
 more durable in Kamchatka." 
 
 Hunters Have In modern times this valuably fur- 
 Made Sea Otters producing animal is very rare and 
 Scarce. has become so shy that it is ap- 
 proached with the greatest difficulty. ~~ Pechuel- 
 Loesche, who observed and occasionally hunted the 
 Sea Otter twenty-five years ago near the Aleutian 
 Isles, says that the wary animal rarely suffered 1 
 sailing vessel or boat to approach within gunshot. 
 Animals that do not succumb to the first shot are 
 always lost to the hunter, unless he can shoot them 
 again when they come to the surface. A single 
 boat stands little chance of success, as the animal 
 can easily remain a quarter of an hour under water 
 and often reappears at a place quite distant from 
 that expected. 
 
 How the The Otter is hunted in many different 
 Sea Otter is ways. When the sea is calm the peo- 
 Hunted. pjg go out in boats, and as soon as 
 they notice an Otter they surround the place with 
 their boats and keep a sharp lookout. When the 
 animal reappears it is immediately frightened back 
 into the water by spear-thrusts, shots and yells, and 
 a new circle is formed around the point where it dis- 
 appeared, and so on, until the Otter, which is not 
 allowed sufficient breathing time, wearies and falls 
 a prey to the nearest hunter. Such a hunt may be 
 prolonged for two or three hours unless a well- 
 aimed spear ends the chase. -In this way the hunt- 
 ers, if they have good luck, may kill from forty to 
 fifty Otters in three months, every pelt bringing a 
 price of at least fifty dollars. 
 
 Some hunters try to kill the animals from the 
 shore, fur merchants providing them with excellent 
 guns for the purpose. When the sea is rough the 
 hunter wanders around on the cliffs and tries to 
 shoot the Otters (which appear beyond the surf, in 
 the more quiet waters), aiming at their heads. The 
 roar of the waves and the flying foam prevent the 
 wary animal from recognizing the danger that 
 threatens it, and a persevering hunter may send out 
 one bullet after another. When one of his shots 
 finally reaches its aim he sits dowfi and waits pa- 
 tiently until wind and waves bear his precious booty 
 ashore. The most exciting method of hunting, oni 
 account of the dangers which attend it, is the killing; 
 of an Otter by blows from clubs. During a storm 
 the Otters are frightened by the rising fury of the 
 waves, which beat upon the nearly inaccessible cliffs 
 upon which they have taken refuge in order to es- 
 cape the pursuit of Man. The animals mount higher 
 on the cliffs to escape the wrath of the waves, and 
 there are foolhardy sportsmen who will risk their 
 lives in order to surprise the Otters on their high 
 resting-places. If they succeed in landing on the 
 leeward side of the cliffs, they mount and kill the 
 Otters with clubs. The howling of the storm and 
 the roar of the waves deaden all. sounds. the hunts- 
 men may make,while therain- and ' fog-prevent the 
 more distant animals from seeing the fate that 
 awaits them. Two men once succeeded in this way 
 

 
 
 rOKBAT BETWEEN AK OTTER AND A STONE MARTEN. Members of different species of the Marten family sometimes quarrel, and 
 
 COUBAi BJ!,lWJlt« a« uiii-xfc a.au n. j^ Marten which was observed at Bei ste n in Swabia. Both these animals are per- 
 
 "jy several severe wounds on the Otter's body. 
 
 (i8i) 
 
182 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 in killing seventy-eight of these valuable animals 
 within an hour. 
 
 If the hunting of these animals is not restricted 
 by law, the Sea Otter will be exterminated in the 
 
 near future, and, like Steller's Northern Sea Cow, 
 be among the number of the species we have seen 
 disappear from the earth, so to speak, before our 
 
 eyes. 
 
 XTbe Ib^aena ifamtl^. 
 
 FOURTH FAMILY: Hv^md^. 
 
 Among the animals exhibited in traveling shows 
 there is one which usually attracts the special atten- 
 tion of the spectators owing to the extravagant ex- 
 planations of the keeper, who never fails to depict 
 it as a genuine monster and ascribe to it the most 
 dangerous traits. Bloodthirstiness, cruelty and a de- 
 ceitful, wicked disposition are usually the mildest of 
 the qualities he ascribes to this animal. In addition 
 he accuses it of exhuming the dead bodies of human 
 beings and eating them, in order to further excite the 
 excusable indignation of those spectators who are 
 not well versed in zoology. Science has not been, 
 able so far to dispel these unfounded notions, which 
 keep their hold on people's minds despite all teach- 
 ings to the contrary. 
 
 Many Fables There are few animals whose history 
 Told About has been adorned with so many fan- 
 
 the Hytenas. tastic and horrible tales as that of the 
 Hyaenas. The ancients told the most incredible 
 stories about them. Dogs were said to lose their 
 voices and senses if the shadow of a Hysena fell on 
 them. The hideous animals were alleged to imitate 
 the human voice, in order to decoy people toward 
 their retreats and then devour them. The most 
 remarkable feature of these tales is that they found 
 credence with all the nations which came in contact 
 with the Hyaena. The Arabs especially are rich in 
 stories concerning it. They firmly believe that peo- 
 ple who partake of the brain of a Hyaena become 
 insane, and the head of a slain Hyaena is always 
 buried, lest it should be used by wicked sorcerers for 
 their diabolical charms. They are even firmly per- 
 suaded that Hyaeiias themselves are nothing but 
 sorcerers in disguise, who assume human shape by 
 day and prowl around as Hyaenas during the night, 
 working destruction upon good people. I have been 
 repeatedly and earnestly warned by my servants not 
 to shoot the Hyanas, and fearful stories were told 
 me about these despised creatures and their supposed 
 supernatural powers. 
 
 Hymnas Have Tradition always selects its heroes. 
 Many An animal which is the subject of 
 
 Peculiar Traits, many marvelous tales must have 
 something peculiar in its appearance. This is con- 
 firmed in the Hyaenas, which resemble Dogs, yet 
 differ from them in every point. Their appearance 
 is far from pleasing ; in fact, is decidedly repulsive. 
 All Hyaenas are ugly. Some naturalists have seen in 
 them a connecting link between Dog and Cat, but we 
 cannot agree with this opinion, for the Hyaenas have 
 a distinctively peculiar shape of their own. The body 
 is stout, the neck and head are thick; the snout is 
 strong and unattractive. The curved fore paws are 
 longer than the hind paws, the body sloping from 
 the shoulders to the tail, and the feet are all four- 
 
 toed. The ears are scantily clothed with hair and of 
 ignoble shape ; the eyes have a slanting position, and 
 glow with an uncanny, unsteady, repulsive expression. 
 The thick head looks stiff, the bushy tail does not 
 reach lower than the ankle-joint and the long, coarse 
 fur forms a crest on the spine, resembling a Hog's 
 bristles ; the color is sombre and all these features 
 combine to produce an unattractive appearance. 
 Air Hyenas are nocturnal animals and are possessed 
 of 'a repulsive, discordant, shrill and even ghostly, 
 laughing voice ; they are greedy, gluttonous, give 
 forth an offensive odor. and walk in a skulking, nearly 
 limping manner. In fact, these animals have many 
 oddities in their appearance and the most kindly 
 observer could not call them good-looking. Com- 
 parative anatomists credit them with still more 
 marked peculiarities. Their teeth are of an exclu- 
 sively carnivorous character, and the great strength 
 of the clumsy jaws and teeth enables them to devour 
 what has been left of the carcasses slain by other 
 carnivorous beasts, as they are able to craunch the 
 largest bones. The incisors are well- developed, the 
 canines of a blunt, conical shape; the premolars have 
 strongly depressed crowns, and the grinding-teeth 
 are distinguished by their enormous size. Powerful 
 cheek-muscles, large salivary glands, a tongue fur- 
 nished with callous projections, a wide gullet and pe- 
 culiar anal glands are further distinguishing features 
 of the animals under consideration. 
 
 Range and The range of the Hyaena is very wide, 
 Habits of the comprising all of Africa and south- 
 Hymnas. g^n Asia as far as the Bay of Bengal, 
 but not extending east of it, and excluding Ceylon... 
 These animals do not frequent close, extensive for- 
 ests, but prefer the open country grown with grass, 
 bushes, small woods, and even plains or deserts. 
 They are met in the daytime only when they haye 
 been frightened from their hiding places ; the sun 
 must have set before they think of sallying forth. 
 Then may be heard the howl of these animals, as 
 they prowl around singly or in small troops, looking 
 for carcasses or live prey. When one of them com- 
 mences its abominable nocturnal song, all the others , 
 usually join in the unearthly music. The voice of the 
 Striped Hyjena is very discordant, but not as disa- 
 greeable as common report declares; hoarse sounds 
 alternate with shrill notes, shrieks with murmurs or 
 growls. On the other hand, the howl of the spotted , 
 species consists of a really ghostly laughter. He 
 who hears these sounds for the first time cannot 
 refrain from shuddering, and recognizes in them one 
 of the main reasons for the invention of the many 
 stories concerning these animals. It is very probable 
 that Hyaenas call one another. by these howls, and 
 the noise immediately ceases when one of them has 
 
■^ "■=— '~ '^^'" ^^ . . .,„ -rently exaggerated by tradition, have much that is repulsive, both in *pear- 
 
 SPOTTED HYENAS. The Hy^"»=',^'"<'"f "■"'^'' ""^^^ri^tng its name from the brown spots on its yellowish gray fur. The picture sh^s the 
 
 ance and character. Largest of the family is the SpottedHysna deriving ^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^.j^ ^^^ g„^.io„3 Vultures, which they have driveiftway, 
 
 characteristics ol these animals. They have found a carcass 7";^ "'^J^^y/^hese beasts to crunch large bones, the thick neck affording room for the wide 
 hover above. The stout body, neck and head, the powerful jaws that enable 
 ttroat, are all well shown here, {ffytena crocuta.) 
 
 f--0 
 
184 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 •;found its prey. The animals prowl around during 
 the entire night, even entering villages and cities, 
 paying no attention to the Dogs, and retiring only 
 towards morning. 
 How Hycenas Hyaenas are guided in their wanderings 
 Prowl by their scent as well as by their sight 
 and Hunt. a.nd hearing. The ugly fellows are as 
 much attracted by any dead beasts, or the body of a 
 dead human being, as by a flock of Sheep or Goats, 
 or by a herd of Cattle, and they will prowl around a 
 fence which is too high for them to climb. As soon as 
 they have scented prey, they cease their howling and 
 silently trot nearer and nearer to their victim, stop- 
 ping every now and then to look, listen or sniff, and 
 ever ready to flee if danger threatens. The spotted 
 species are a little more courageoiis than the Striped 
 Hysena, but still may be termed exceedingly cow- 
 
 BROWN HYENAS. Frequenting the seashore on the south\*Est cbast of Afrfca, the Brown Hyjena 
 
 or Strand- Wolf looks for carrion washed ashore by the tide. The fur is long and thick, and a long mane ex- 
 tends along the back, hanging down on both sides, this mane being in part whitish gray and the.remainder 
 brownish black. The legs have black stripes on the general brown color, and the long ears are erect. 
 i^HycEna brunnea.') 
 
 ardly, when their size is considered. If they do not 
 find any carrion they confine themselves to attacking 
 defenseless prey, and therefore do damage only to 
 the weaker domestic animals, in whose ranks they 
 may make considerable havoc. Hyaenas destroyed 
 two strong Asses belonging to the traveler and hunter, 
 Selous, the marauders eating every part but the 
 skulls, and on another occasion they devoured part 
 of a Lioness he had killed in the evening. Probably 
 they attack healthy living animals only when they 
 cannot find sick, exhausted or dead ones. 
 
 In some rare instances they become veritable 
 Beasts of Prey, pursue Antelopes in the'hight, drag 
 them down as Wolves do their victims, and kill and 
 devour them. Such hunts, hpwever, must be re- 
 garded as exceptions, as they are certainly best 
 
 .pleased when they find carrion. Around a carcass 
 that lies in the Hyjenas' range there always assem- 
 bles a gathering that can hardly be described. They 
 are the Vultures among quadrupeds, and their vorac- 
 ity is really, extraordinary. When they find carrion 
 they forget all considerations of prudence, and even 
 the cowardice which they usually display. It is said 
 that feasting Hyaenas engage in violent fights, and 
 there is such a croaking, shrieking and laughing at 
 such times that a superstitious person 'might really 
 think all the inhabitants of the infernal regions had 
 been let loose. They are useful in removing dead 
 animals, but the loss, they entail by attacking flocks 
 outweighs this benefit, as carrion would, without 
 their assistance, be taken away by far better scaven- 
 gers among the birds and insects. They follow car- 
 avans through the plains and deserts ■ in greater or 
 
 smaller numbers, as if they 
 
 knew that out of such bands 
 something would surely fall to 
 their share. 
 How HycBnas Varying opinions 
 Act have prevailed as 
 
 Toward Man. to whether or not 
 they attack human beings. The 
 Striped Hyaena has not been 
 convicted of doing this, but 
 there have been so many re- 
 ports to this effect about the 
 spotted species that its danger 
 to human beings is not to be 
 disputed. It sometirnes steals 
 children, but usually does not 
 attack adults except when the 
 latter are sick, overcome by 
 fatigue, or asleep; but in ex- 
 ceptional instances it also at- 
 tacks armed Men. In some 
 African regions it is therefore 
 looked upon as a scourge to 
 be dreaded, especially where it 
 is plentiful. It is pursued in a 
 rather persistent manner by 
 European settlers as well as by 
 many native tribes. It is shot, 
 caught in nooses, traps and pits, 
 and poisoned with strychnine. 
 If taken very young. Hyaenas 
 are easily tamed and frequently 
 become very affectionate. They 
 bear captivity well, but often 
 become blind in old age. 
 Divisions of In former ages. 
 the Hyasna Hyaenas were dis- 
 Family. tributed over a 
 much greater part of the globe, and were rather nu- 
 merous in Germany, as is shown by the many remains 
 of bones. In the present day there are four species- 
 belonging to this family, three Hyaenas proper and 
 the Aard-Wolf, which may be considered a connect- 
 ing link between the Hyaenas and the Civets. 
 
 THE HYiENAS PROPER. 
 
 The Spotted Hyaena {Hy(sna crocutd) is distin- 
 guished by its greater' strength and spotted skin 
 from the striped and brown species which are much 
 oftener seen in Europe. The ground-color is whit- 
 ish gray, with a surface tinge of yellow ; the sides, 
 and thighs show brown spots. The head is browns 
 with a reddish hue on the cheeks and top ; the tail 
 is ringed with brown and its extremity is black; the 
 
THE HY^NA FAMILY— HY^NA. 
 
 I8r> 
 
 feet are whitish. These colors are likely to show 
 considerable variations, as they may be much darker 
 or lighter. The length of the body is about fifty- 
 two inches ; the height of the shoulder is nearly 
 thirty-two inches, but much larger specimens are 
 reported to have been killed. 
 
 Spotted Hytsna's The Spotted Hyaena inhabits 
 Haunts and southern and eastern Africa, ex- 
 
 MQde of Life. tending from the Cape of Good 
 Hope to about the seventeenth parallel of north 
 latitude, and wherever it is plentiful it almost com- 
 pletely crowds out the Striped Hysena. The two 
 species live together in Abyssinia and East Soudan, 
 but farther south the Spotted Hysena gradually 
 becomes sole possessor of the field. It is very com- 
 
 more stupid, and of a more wicked and brutal dispo- 
 sition than its striped relative, though it may be 
 tamed to a certain extent in a short time, with the 
 aid of the whip. Still it seems that it never attains 
 the degree of docility that is reached by the Striped 
 HyjEna. The tricks performed in wandering circuses 
 by the Hyaena do not furnish us with a standard, and 
 it is only such peripatetic zoologists as these that 
 find pleasure or profit in bestowing rriuch attention 
 upon these animals, which are so ugly, clumsy and 
 unprepossessing, in their cages. For hours they lie 
 like logs, then they jump up, look at people with 
 remarkably dull-witted expressions, rub themselves 
 against the bars from time to time and then break 
 out with their abominable laughter. 
 
 STBIFES HYENAS. This species of the Hy^na family is the best known, and derives its name from the markings of its fur.as shown in the 
 
 picture. This is, like the other species, a carrion eating animal, and the dispute over the possession of a bone, as here depicted, is a very common occur- 
 rence on the African and Asiatic plains which form its habitat. The rough, coarse fur and mane, the erect ears and somewhat slender limbs which distin- 
 guish the animal, are seen in this group. {Hyfsna striata.) 
 
 mon in Abyssinia; and is found even at an elevation 
 of twelve thousand feet above the sea. Its mode of 
 life is similar to that of the others, but it is much 
 more dreaded because of its large size and strength, 
 and probably it is on this account that it is consid- 
 ered a spirit of evil, bringing misfortune to man. A 
 great many observers agree that it attacks human 
 beings, especially when the latter are asleep or tired. 
 Ruppel says that the Abyssinians declare this to be 
 the case. 
 
 Character and The Spotted Hysna is the animal 
 Disposition of that plays the most important part 
 Spotterf Wj/cB/ios. ,. in, tradition. Of all Beasts; of Prey 
 it undoubtedly possesses the ugliest and most repul- 
 sive shape ; and its mental endowments are such 
 as to make the animal still more detestable. It is 
 
 The Brown The Brown Hy^na or Strand-Wolf 
 Hywna or (^HycBna brunnea) is mainly distin- 
 
 Strand-Wolf. guished from its relatives by a long,, 
 rough mane on the back and hanging down on both 
 sides. The hair is long over the entire fur, and its. 
 color is a general dark brown, diversified by a few 
 spots on the legs of a mixed brown and white hue ; 
 the head is dark brown and gray, the forehead black, 
 sprinkled with white and reddish brown. The hair 
 of the mane on the back is whitish gray at bottom 
 and brownish black above. The Brown Hyaena is- 
 considerably smaller than the Spotted Hyaena, and 
 at tl);e most dnly-attainstlie size of, the striped species. 
 
 This animal inhabits the south of Africa, but prob- 
 ably only the desert-like western regions, and is said 
 to exist usually near the sea-shore. It seems to be 
 
] 80 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 much less plentiful than the Spotted Hyaena, but to 
 have about the same habits, living mainly on. carrion, 
 perhaps on that washed ashore by the waves. ' ' 
 
 The Striped The Striped ny^nd. {Ny^tia stnata) is 
 Hycena a very well-known animal, and is quite 
 
 Described, often seen in zoological gardens. It 
 is very frequently shipped to Europe, for it exists 
 nearest that continent. [It is also a very familiar 
 feature of menageries in the United States.] It is, 
 in fact, a very common animal and the one usually 
 trained to perform the ordinary tricks one sees in 
 circuses. A description of its appearance may be 
 limited to a few words, since it is so extensively 
 known. The fur is rough, stiff and rather long; the 
 color is a whitish-yellow gray diversified by black 
 .stripes. The hair of the mane also has black tips 
 and the throat is not infrequently entirely black. 
 The tail is either of a uniform tint or striped. The 
 head is thick, the snout relatively thin, though still 
 clumsy enough; the ears are erect, large and entirely 
 
 THE AAED-WOLF. This animal forms a distinct group of the Hyaena family, has a yellow fur with black 
 
 stripes and a rough mane extending along its back. In the picture one Aard-Wolf has left the hole from which the 
 
 other is just emerging, for they are burrowing animals and live gregariously, 
 •of Sheep in southwestern Africa. (Proteles lalandii.) 
 
 devoid of hair. The younger specimens resemble 
 the adults. The average length of the body is about 
 three feet, a little more or less. 
 Where and How The Striped Hyaena has the most 
 Striped extensive range of the three species; 
 Hycsnas Live, jt jg common throughout the north- 
 ern part of Africa, beginning with the extreme west, 
 and is found over a considerable part of southern 
 Africa and all southern Asia, from the Mediterranean 
 to the Bay of Bengal. Like all Hyaenas it does not 
 affect woods, but delights in the open country. It is 
 the least harmful of the three species of Hyaenas, 
 and probably is nowhere much feared. 1 here are so 
 many carcasses, or bones at least, lying around in its 
 native country, that it is seldom driven by hunger to 
 boldly attack living animals. Its cowardice exceeds 
 all bounds; still it sometimes enters villages, and in 
 Egypt prowls around their outskirts. Carcasses put 
 
 out by us as a bait to decoy Vultures within range 
 of our guns always attracted Hyaenas during the 
 night, and they' annoyed us very* mtich. VVhen we 
 were camping out, they often, came sneaking up, 
 and even entered the encampment, and several times 
 we were able to fire at them without rising. In spite 
 of this animal's voracious persistence, nobody fears 
 it, and it is really too cowardly to attack even sleep- 
 ing people. Neither does it dig up the dead, unless 
 the bodies are but thinly covered with a little sand or 
 earth ; and it is quite innocent of the ghoulish prac- 
 tices imputed to it by showmen. Its habits are much 
 the same as those of the spotted species, except that 
 it is seldom found in large numbers. 
 
 Two Striped A few days after our first arrival in 
 Hyaenas Trained Khartum we purchased two young 
 as Pets. Hyaenas [for a price equal to twenty- 
 five cents in American money]. The animals were 
 about the size of a half-grown Terrier, clothed in a 
 very soft, fine woolly fur of dark gray hue and very 
 
 spiteful, notwithstanding 
 they had enjoyed human 
 society for some time. 
 We put them in a stable 
 and I visited them daily. 
 At first they were addict- 
 ed to vicious biting, but 
 repeated sound blows 
 overawed their resist- 
 ance, and three months 
 after the day of purchase 
 I could play with them 
 as I would with a Dog, 
 without having to fear 
 any mischief on their 
 part. Their affection for 
 me increased every day, 
 and they were overjoyed 
 when I visited them. 
 When they were more 
 than half-grown they sig- 
 nified their pleasure in a 
 very strange manner. As 
 soon as I entered the 
 room they rushed at me 
 with a joyous howl, put 
 their fore - paws on my 
 shoulders and sniffed my 
 face. Later on I led them 
 by a slight string through 
 the streets of Cairo, to 
 the horror of all good 
 citizens. They were so 
 affectionate that they often paid me a call without 
 being invited, and it made a surprising as well as 
 uncanny impression on strangers to see us at the 
 tea-table. Each of us had a Hyaena at his side, and 
 the animal sat on its haunches as quietly and sensi- 
 bly as a well-bred Dog, who pleads for a few scraps 
 at table. The Hyaenas did that also, and their gen- 
 tle request consisted of a low but very hoarse cry. 
 They expressed their gratitude either by the same 
 sounds and actions they used in greeting me as 
 above described, or by sniffing my hands. 
 
 They were passionately fond of sugar, but also 
 had a great liking for bread, especially if it was 
 soaked in tea. Their usual food was Pariah Dogs, 
 which we shot for the purpose. My pets were on 
 good terms with each other. If one were absent for 
 any considerable time there was great joy when the 
 two met: again; in short, they proved to me quite 
 
 They are great enemies to the flocks 
 
THE DOG FAMILY. 
 
 isr 
 
 conclusively that even Hyaenas are capable of warm 
 attachment. 
 
 THE AARD-WOLF. 
 
 The Aard-Wolf {Proteles lalandii) forms the sec- 
 ond genus of the Hyaena family. In its external 
 appearance this animal, which as yet has been stud- 
 ied but very little, strikingly resembles the Striped 
 Hyaena, and like it, has a blunt snout, long fore- 
 paws, a sloping back, a mane on its spine, and a 
 bushy tail ; but its ears are larger and the fore-paws 
 are furni&ljred' with a short thumb, after the mantjef, 
 of some Dogs. So far the Aard-Wolf is the only 
 known variety of the species. Its length is forty- 
 four inches, twelve of this going to the tail. The 
 fur is of a pale yellow color, brindled on the sides 
 with black stripes. The head is black with an ad- 
 mixture of yellow; the under surface has a yellowish 
 white color, and the second half of the tail is black. 
 
 The Aard-Wolf is a native of southern Africa, 
 especially of its western portion. From all accounts 
 
 it would seem that this animal has nocturnal habits 
 and hides in burrows resembling those of a Fox, but 
 more extensive and affording shelter to several indi- 
 viduals. Verreaux saw three Aard- Wolves killed by 
 members of his party, all of them driven out of the 
 same burrow by Dogs, although they issued from 
 separate exits. When they made their appearance 
 the mane or crest on the back was erect with angry 
 excitement, while the ears and tail were pendent. 
 They tried to run away with great celerity, and 
 one of them attempted to dig a hole to hide itself, 
 displaying a remarkable dexterity in the act. In- 
 vestigation of the burrow showed that all 'the con- 
 duits communicated with each other and led into a 
 spacious chamber, which probably was temporarily 
 inhabited by all of them. The same observer states 
 that these animals mainly feed on Lambs, but from 
 time to time also kill full-grown Sheep, from which 
 they usually eat only the fat tail. If this be correct 
 they do not need very strong teeth. In all other 
 respects the life of the Aard-Wolf is quite unknown. 
 
 ^be Dog jFamil^* 
 
 FIFTH FAMILY: Canid^. 
 
 The fifth family of the Carnivora comprises the 
 Dogs, and its limits are more or less clearly defined. 
 We have already stated that the Dogs do not differ 
 so widely in their bodily structure from the Cats as 
 a cursory glance would lead one to believe. As 
 marked as their peculiarities are in the external and 
 internal structure, in their mode of life and their 
 habits the two families still have many traits in com- 
 mon. In point of size Dogs are all inferior to the 
 large species of the Cat tribe, and therefore are 
 deprived of the fear-inspiring strength of those most 
 perfect Beasts of Prey. The body is lean, the head 
 small, the snout pointed ; the Uunt nose is promi- 
 nent, the neck rather weak. The body rests on thin 
 or long legs provided with small paws, and is re- 
 tracted in the flanks ; the tail is generally short and 
 frequently bushy. The fore paws usually show five 
 toes, the hind paws are always limited to four, bear- 
 ing strong but not retractile claws. The eyes are 
 large and better adapted for bright light than those 
 of the Cat; the ears are usually larger and more 
 pointed; the lacteal nipples are more numerous. The 
 teeth are strong and from thirty-six to forty-eight in 
 number; the incisors, especially the upper ones, are 
 proportionately large, the outer ones being enlarged 
 so as to resemble the canine teeth; the canines or 
 fang-teeth are slender and slightly .purved, the pre- 
 molars are "less sharply indented than the Cat's; the 
 molars are rather blunt, adapted to th,orpughly grind- 
 ing the food. The skull, and especially the jaws, are 
 of an elongated shape. The vertebral column is 
 formed by twenty dorsal and lumbar, three sacral 
 and from eighteen to twenty-two caudal vertebrae. 
 The visceral cavity exhibits thirteen pairs of ribs, 
 nine true and four false. The clavicle is stunted, 
 the shoulder narrow, the pelvis strong. The digest- 
 ive apparatus is distinguished by a roundish stom- 
 ach; the smaller intestines attain from four to seven 
 times the length of the body. 
 
 General Charac- Dogs show in their entire structure 
 teristics of that they are not exclusively animal 
 
 the Dog Family, feeders, and therefore admit of the 
 inference that they are of a less sanguinary nature 
 than the Felidse. This is, indeed, one of the princi- 
 pal distinguishing features between the two. They 
 are unquestionably inferior to the Cats so far as sav- 
 age, bloodthirsty instincts go, and all show more or 
 less pronounced good-nature. The expression of a 
 Dog's face is as a rule friendly, and never shows 
 much resemblance to the defiant self-reliance and 
 savage disposition expressed by a feline face. 
 
 Dogs were widely spread in former periods of the 
 world; it is unquestioned that they made their appear- 
 ance on earth in very early ages. They now extend 
 all over the globe, and are common nearly every- 
 where. Their favorite haunts are solitary, quiet 
 regions and the wilderness, be it mountainous or 
 level; gloomy, extensive forests, thickets, plains and 
 deserts. Some prowl around continuously and stay 
 in one locality only as long as a dependent little 
 family keeps them there ; others burrow habitations 
 in the earth or use ready made subterranean retreats 
 as a permanent abode. Some are of purely noctur- 
 nal habits, others are half-nocturnal, and some are 
 on excellent terms with daylight. The former con- 
 ceal themselves during the day in their burrows or 
 lonely, secluded hiding places, in bushes, reeds, or 
 fields grown with high cereals, between deserted 
 dark rocks, and prowl around during the night either 
 singly or in packs. Sometimes they cover miles in 
 their wanderings, hunting during these expeditions, 
 visiting even larger villages and cities and retiring 
 at dawn to the first - convenient hiding place they 
 come across; these species are hardly less active in 
 the day than at night. Few animals of this family live 
 singly or in couples; for even those species of which 
 the male and female keep temporarily together, 
 sometimes unite into more numerous packs; and it 
 
"188 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 may therefore be said that all Dogs are gregarious 
 animals. 
 
 Physical In respect to agility the Dogs are very 
 Capabilities of little inferior to the Cats. Their blunt 
 the Dogs. claws prevent them from climbing and 
 'Confine them to the ground; neither can they leap so 
 high and far as the Cats; but in^all other respects 
 they rather surpass them. They ar^' excellent run- 
 ners, possessed of nearly incredible endurance; they 
 swim, without exception, and some in a masterly way, 
 and we find veritable aquatic animals among them : 
 that is, such as really take delight in the water. 
 Their mode of progression is digitigrade, like that 
 of the Cats, but their gait is peculiar, as they always 
 bend their legs at the joints in walking. AH Dogs 
 have highly developed senses. Their hearing is not 
 inferior to that of the Cats, while the sense of smell 
 
 ::^ Jt 
 
 THE WOLF. The most common of the wild members of the Dog family, lean, long-legged, with erect ears 
 
 and a bushy tail. This common Wolf is found in Europe, Asia and America, although a few minor differences have 
 led certain naturalists to make separate species of some of the varieties. It is a great enemy of flocks and herds, is 
 relentlessly hunted by Man but is still found in large numbers wherever the country is /wild. {Cants lupus.) 
 
 is developed to a marvelous degree, and their faculty 
 
 of sight may be said to be better than that of the 
 
 Cats, for the nocturnal Dogs are equal to the Cats, 
 
 and those of diurnal habits decidedly surpass them. 
 
 Mental Endow- The mental endowments of the Dogs 
 
 ments of are still more highly developed than 
 
 the Dog Family, those of the Cats. Those species 
 
 that stand on the lowest plane show notable cunning 
 
 and craft, sometimes at the expense of their courage, 
 
 a quality possessed by others to a high degree ; the 
 
 higher grade of Dogs, especially those which know 
 
 Man, or, as I might better term it, are devoted to 
 
 him body and soul, daily prove to us that their intel- 
 lect has reached a higher development than that 
 ■of any other animal. The tame Dog and the wild 
 -Fox act with rational deliberation and carry out 
 
 carefully thought-out plans,, as to the outcome of 
 which they are tolerably secure in advance. It is 
 the high grade of intellect of the Dog which has 
 allied it so closely to us and puts it above the other 
 animals. 
 
 Habits and Their food is mainly animal, consist- 
 General Traits of ing of mammals and birds. They do 
 the Dogs. not eat freshly killed meat in pref- 
 erence to carrion, showing in very many cases a con- 
 siderable predilection for the latter, and some are 
 very fond of bones. Besides, they feed on reptiles, 
 amphibia, -fish. Crabs, insects or honey, , fruit, the 
 products, of the field and garden, even buds, young 
 shoots, roots, grass and moss. Some species are very 
 greedy and kill more than they can devour ; but 
 their bloodthirstiness never assumes so formidable a 
 shape as that of some of the animals of the Cat and 
 
 „. ,, , . . Marten families. • There 
 
 ' '::i;;;|;^:; is no One Dog which dc- 
 /^V /:■?,. lights in the blood of his 
 
 victims to the point of 
 intoxication. 
 
 Dogs are more prolific 
 than the Cats, the num- 
 ber of their young in 
 some instances reaching 
 the greatest limit of the 
 reproduction of mam- 
 mals. On the average a 
 litter consists of from 
 four to nine young ones, 
 but there are instances of 
 record where one female's 
 litter has amounted to 
 eighteen and even twenty- 
 three Pups at a birth. It 
 happens not infrequently 
 that the father or some 
 other male Dog pursues 
 the offspring with mur- 
 derous intent and devours 
 them, if he can, and this 
 is especially the case with 
 Wolves and Foxes, which 
 under favorable condi- 
 tions do not spare each 
 other. With most spe- 
 cies, however, the grega- 
 rious instincts also assert 
 themselves in respect to 
 the little ones; and the 
 mothers always provide 
 for them with a really 
 self-sacrificing affection. 
 The mischief caused 
 by Dogs as a family is considerable on account of 
 the fact that some species are very numerous, and 
 those that entail any loss to mankind are ruthlessly 
 pursued everywhere. The smaller species do us 
 good service, as they catch rodents and insects or 
 devour carrion and other noxious matter, also yield- 
 ing their skin, fur and teeth for useful purposes. 
 Divisions The Dogs may be divided into three 
 of the groups, and two of these may be split up 
 Dog Family, jjjto smaller sub-orders. These groups 
 are formed by the Wolves or wild Dogs (Ck«?j), with 
 a round pupil and a short tail; the Foxes {Vulpus), 
 distinguished by a slit-like pupil and a long, bushy 
 tail, and the Ldng-eared Dogs {Otocyon), animals of 
 the desert, having a different and much more numer- 
 ous set of teeth. 
 
A PACK OF WOLVES. The common Wolf is a fearful destroyer among the flocks m Europe. The manner m which Wolves assemble in packs and 
 
 relentlessly attack all animals they come across is well shown in this illustration. The Wolves have pursued their victim until it has finally fallen, and they 
 -are now sure of a meal. 
 
 (i8qi 
 
190 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 In order to judge correctly of the domestic Dog 
 and his numberless varieties, it is absolutely neces- 
 sary to become acquainted first with his relatives in 
 the wild state, the Wolves, among which we must 
 look for his progenitors. It also seems but logical 
 to consider the wild Dogs before we turn to the 
 domestic varieties. The former teach us what the 
 Dog originally was before he became the property 
 of Man; in them we see the aboriginal animal, while 
 the tamed Dog represents the changed, or if I may 
 term him such, the hu-ma«i«ed animal. 
 
 THE WOLVES PROPER. 
 
 The sub-order of Wolves proper {Lupus) comprises 
 all Wolf-like Dogs except the Hyaena- Dog; they 
 have forty-two teeth, and show a great variety in 
 their external appearance, though the head is al- 
 ways moderately large and the snout rather pointed. 
 
 takes on a yellowish hue ; in northern countries it is 
 of a whiter, and in southern regions of a blacker tint. 
 The forehead is whitish gray, the snout yellowish gray, 
 but always mixed with black; the lips are whitish, the 
 cheeks yellowish and sometimes indistinctly striped 
 with black ; the dense woolly under-fur is dull gray. 
 
 Here and there one may meet a black Wolf, which 
 as well as some other modified species is only a 
 variety. Wolves inhabiting mountains are in general 
 large and strong, while the Wolves, of -the plains are 
 most perceptibly smaller and-weaker, bnt by no-means 
 less aggressive or bloodthirsty than their mountain 
 relatives. In Hungary and Galicia a distinction is 
 generally recognized between the Wolf of the forest 
 and the Wolf of the plain. 
 
 An adult Wolf attains a length of sixty-four inches, 
 about twenty of which are taken up by the tail ; the 
 height at the shoulder is about thirty-four inches. A 
 
 THE JACKAL WOLF. This is a species of Wolf found in Egypt, Nubia, Abyssinia and the Soudan and called " Abuel Hossein" by 
 
 the Arabs. It has a stout body on slender legs, pointed snout, and a general appearance of strength and agility. While generally attacking 
 only smaller animals, the Wolves sometimes hunt in packs, and several of them are often found together, as in the picture. (Canis anihus.) 
 
 The Wolf the The Wolf {Cards lupus or Lupus vulgaris) 
 Most Common has much the shape of a large, long- 
 Species. legged, lean Dog which lets its tail 
 hang down instead of curling it upward. A close 
 inspection shows the following characteristics: the 
 body is lean, waist retracted; the legs correspond to 
 this bodily structure; the long-haired tail reaches the 
 ankle-joint ; the snout appears long and pointed in 
 comparison with the thick head; the forehead is slop- 
 ing; the eyes have a slanting position and the ears 
 are always erect. The fur is subject to changes both 
 in density and color, according to the country the 
 Wolf inhabits. In the northern regions, the hair is 
 long, rough and dense, longest on the under surface 
 of the body and the thighs, bushy on the tail, dense 
 and erect on the neck and sides ; in southern coun- 
 tries it is on the whole shorter and rougher. The 
 color is usually a dull, grayish yellow with an admix- 
 ture of black; it is lighter, often assuming a whitish 
 gray tint, on. the under surface. In summer the gen- 
 eral color has more of a reddish tinge, in winter it 
 
 large specimen may weigh eighty or even one hun- 
 dred pounds. The female differs from the male by 
 being of a slighter build, and having a more pointed 
 nose and a thinner tail. 
 Wide Range The Wolf is Still spread over a wide 
 Inhabited by area, though his territory has been much 
 the Wolf, restricted in comparison with former 
 times. He is found throughout nearly the whole of 
 Europe, though he has disappeared from the most 
 densely populated parts of this continent. He is 
 extensively distributed in Spain, being found in all 
 the mountainous sections and even on the larger 
 plains;. he is common enough in Greece, Italy and 
 France, more rare in Switzerland, and is extinct in 
 middle and northern Germany and Great Britain. 
 He is common in ea.stern Europe. The countries in 
 which he is most abundant are Hungary, Galicia, 
 Croatia, Craniola, Servia, Bosnia, the country of the 
 Danube, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Norway and Lap- 
 land. He has never been found on Iceland and the 
 islands of the Mediterranean, but he seems to exist 
 
THE DOG FAMILY— WOLF. 
 
 191 
 
 in the Atlas country. He also extends all over 
 northeastern and central Asia, throughout Afghan- 
 istan and Beloochistan south to the Indus, perhaps 
 to the upper Punjab, and has a so closely allied rela- 
 tive in North America that his range may be said to 
 extend also over the western hemisphere, and the 
 North American and Mexican Wolves may be re- 
 garded only as varieties. 
 TheWolfas Theancientsknew the Wolf well. Many 
 Known to Greek and Roman authors mention him, 
 the Ancients, some not only with the horror which he 
 has always excited, but with a secret terror of the 
 uncanny or ghost-like attributes of the animal. In 
 the old German mythology the Wolf, as the animal 
 consecrated to Woden, is rather venerated than de- 
 iested; the latter feeling arises, however, later, when 
 •Christianity takes the place of pagan mythology. 
 Then Woden became "The Wild Hunter" and the 
 
 south. It even takes up its habitation in bushy but 
 not very large thickets, in damp forests, in maize 
 fields, and, in Spain, is even found in corn fields, 
 sometimes in the immediate neighborhood of vil- 
 lages. In'densfely populated districts it shows itself 
 before sunset only in exceptional cases, but in lonely 
 forests it begins its activity in the afternoon, like th6 
 Fox under similar conditions, and prowls around, 
 seeking something for its ever famished stomach. 
 During spring and summer it lives singly, in twos 
 or in threes; during the autumn it lives' in families, 
 and in winter in more or less numerous packs, va- 
 rying in size with the favorable or unfavorable char- 
 acter of the locality for such a union. 
 How the Wolf When Wolves have once gathered 
 Hunts in into a pack they do everything in 
 Paclis or Singly, common, calling each other with a 
 howl, and mutually assisting in the search for food. 
 
 6TTABA. This is the native name of an animal also called the Red Wolf, or Maned Wolf, which has a wide range in South America 
 
 and is especially plentiful in southern Brazil, Paraguay and the Argentine Republic. It differs from other Wolves in its lighter build, more 
 pointed muzzle, shorter tail and elongated feet. The fur is yellowish on the under portion, reddish brown on the sides and a darker brown on 
 the spine, where it forms a mane about five inches long. The hair is short and smooth on the face and feet and longer on the body. Its caution 
 keeps it away from settlements, and it is cunning and cowardly, fearing Man and fleeing at his approach. It rarely attacks domestic animals, 
 but lives principally on small animals, especially rodents, which it finds in the marshes which form its favorite haunts, and is ^so said to eat 
 small fruits. ICanisjuiaius.) 
 
 Wolves his Dogs, until finally the animal becomes 
 the ghost-like Wolf of nursery fables, a monster who 
 is alternately Man and Wolf. 
 
 The numbers of the Wolf are being more and more 
 reduced, but his last days in civilized Europe are evi- 
 dently still far off. During the past century this 
 harmful Beast of Prey existed in every larger Ger- 
 man forest, and statistics show that even during this 
 century thousands have been killed. They appeared 
 in great numbers in the wake of the French army 
 fleeing from Russia, that retreat furnishing them so 
 many corpses which served them as food. 
 
 Where the The Wolf inhabits lonely, quiet regions. 
 Wolf Makes and spots in the wilderness, delighting 
 
 His Lair, jn dense, gloomy forests, bogs with alter- 
 nating swampy and dry places, and plains in the 
 
 A Wolf prowls around in company with others 
 exactly in the same way as he does singly ; he fol- 
 lows chains of mountains, wanders through plains, 
 traverses entire provinces in crossing from one wood 
 to another, and therefore may suddenly make his 
 appearance in localities where he has not been seen 
 for a long time, sometimes for a lapse of several 
 years. It has been proven that he may cover from 
 twenty-five to forty- three milas in a single night on 
 his wanderings. Not infrequently, and always in 
 winter when the snow is deep, packs of Wolves run 
 in single file, like Indians on the warpath, and tread 
 into each other's foot-marks, if possible, so that 
 even an expert finds difficulty in estimating the 
 size of the pack. The agility of the Wolf presup- 
 poses a great expenditure of strength, rapid, tissue 
 
19:2 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 change and need of a proportionately great supply of 
 food, therefore the dangerous animal causes sad 
 havoc among the flocks that he can reach. His 
 favorite game is among domestic flocks and the 
 larger wild animals, both furred and feathered, but 
 he also contents himself with the smallest, even eat- 
 ing insects ; and he does not disdain vegetable food, 
 consuming, it is said, maize, melons, pumpkins, cu- 
 cumbers, potatoes, etc. The mischief he causes 
 by his hunting might be borne, though it is con- 
 siderable, if he were not impelled by his wild 
 hunting zeal and indomitable thirst for blood to 
 slay more than he needs for his sustenance. This 
 renders him a curse to the flock-owner and sports- 
 man, and makes him everybody's cordially hated 
 enemy. During the summer he is less harmful than 
 in winter. The forest gives him much food besides 
 his regular game, such as Foxes, Hedgehogs, Mice, 
 various birds and reptiles and vegetable food, so the 
 only domestic animals which fall a prey to him are 
 the smaller ones which, graze unsuspectingly near his 
 haunt. ,He commits fearful ravages among the wild 
 animals, such as Elks, Stags, Fallow Deer and Roes, 
 and he exterminates nearly all Hares in his range, 
 
 the only prey procurable in winter in the proximity 
 of villages. He does not neglect to profit by oppor. 
 tunities, and enters stables without scruple^ slaying 
 all smaller domestic animals he can find. The in- 
 habitants of the localities he infests lose a great 
 number of their Dogs every winter, and the Wolf- 
 hunter usually sacrifices several of his faithful com- 
 panions in the chase during the summer. When the 
 Wolf hunts in packs, he also attacks Horses and 
 Cattle, though these animals know how to defend 
 themselves. It is said in Russia that hungry packs, 
 of Wolves even attack Bears and finally come out 
 victorious in the deadly struggle. It certainly is a 
 fact, that the Wolf hunts every living thing that he 
 thinks he can subdue. However, he always shuns 
 Man, as long as it is possible to do so. The horrible 
 stories which are told about the Tiger as well as the 
 Wolf, and are profusely adorned by the imagination, 
 are to a very small extent based on truth. A pack 
 of Wolves, suffering severely from hunger, may in 
 their desperation attack, kill and devour human be- 
 ings, even if they are armed Men; but the dangers- 
 to which inhabitants of Wolf-infested countries are 
 exposed are not so great as has been supposed,. 
 
 AGUARA, OR BRAZILIAN FOX. Th.s an — al, wl..cl. .s a spec.es of Wolf with many Fox-like attributes, is found throughout 
 
 South America. It is a vigoious hunter of birds and small mammals, is very cunning and agile, nocturnal in its habits, and has other indica- ' 
 tions of the Fox Inits nature besides its pointed muzzle and bushy tail. (Canis vetulus.) 
 
 but he attacks larger domestic animals only in excep- 
 tional cases. Sometimes he contents himself with 
 following the lowest of prey, pursuing the Lem- 
 mings for hundreds of miles, feeding chiefly on these 
 Mice, and also picking up Lizards, Adders, Frogs, 
 and May-bugs. He is passionately fond of carrion, 
 and wherever his range is co-extensive with that of 
 the Lynx, he clears away the remains of his cousin's 
 repasts. 
 
 Great Destruoti'on He acts quite differently in autumn 
 Inflicted and winter. Then he uninterrupted- 
 by the Wolf. \y sneaks among the Cattle grazing 
 out of doors and spares neither large nor small ani- 
 mals; refraining from attacking Horses, Cattle and 
 Hogs only when they form compact herds, and be- 
 fore he has combined with other Wolves in a pack. 
 At the beginning of winter he approaches nearer 
 and nearer to human habitations. He penetrates to 
 the very outskirts of St. Petersburg, Moscow, and 
 other Russian cities, enters Hungarian and Croatian 
 villages, daring to run through towns as large as 
 Agram, and regularly hunts in small villages, espe- 
 cially pursuing Dogs, which are a favorite game and 
 
 Single Wolves hardly ever attack a Man, even if his 
 only weapon is a club, unless circumstances are par- 
 ticularly favorable for the assault, but defenseless 
 Women and Children may be in greater danger. 
 
 The preceding accounts show clearly enough how 
 much mischief the Wolf causes. The nomadic tribes,, 
 and all those nationalities which breed Cattle, con- 
 sider him decidedly the worst of all their enemies;, 
 and it sometimes happens that he really makes Cat- 
 tle-breeding in many localities an impossibility. 
 According to Kobell, a single Wolf, which prowled' 
 around Schliersee and Tegernsee for nine years be- 
 fore he was shot, had, according to government 
 statistics, killed one thousand Sheep and much other 
 game during this time; so that the loss he entailed 
 was considered to amount to from eight to ten thou- 
 sand florins. In Lapland the word "peace" is syn- 
 onymous with freedom from Wolves. Only one 
 kind of war is known there, and that is the one 
 waged against the animals under consideration, 
 which often damage the living property of the poor 
 northern nomads to a considerable extent. In Spam 
 the Wolves also do much harm. In Russia about 
 
THE DOG FAMILY— WOLF. 
 
 193 
 
 one hundred and eighty thousand head of horned 
 Cattle and three times that number of small domes- 
 tic animals are annually slain by them; Lazarewski 
 estimates the loss in domestic animals as amounting 
 to fifteen million and that in game to fifty million 
 roubles. Besides all this, Wolves sometimes suffer 
 from hydrophobia, and then are equally dangerous 
 to Man and beast. 
 
 Animals that It is easy to understand that these 
 Withstand cfongerous animals are dreaded not 
 the Wolf. (^iy by Men but also by other ani- 
 mals, especially where they exist in large numbers. 
 Horses become extremely restless when they scent a 
 Wolf, and the other domestic animals, except the 
 Dog, take to flight when they have the slightest 
 warning of the proximity of their principal foe. 
 Good Dogs, on the other hand, delight in nothing 
 so much as in a Wolf-hunt, it being a characteristic 
 trait of Dogs that they are 
 fondest of the most dan- 
 gerous hunting. It is dif- 
 ficult to understand, or, at 
 least remarkable, that 
 hatred should become so 
 great between two species 
 as closely allied as the 
 Wolf and Dog. 
 
 There are other domes- 
 tic animals also which 
 know how to defend them- 
 selves against the Wolf. 
 In southern Russia Wolves 
 live in burrows which they 
 dig for themselves, some- 
 times as deep as six feet. 
 At night they continually 
 prowl around the herds of 
 the Russian steppes. They),/ 
 approach the Horses with 
 caution, and try to steal 
 Colts that have strayed too 
 far from the flock; or they 
 attack an isolated Horse, 
 springing at his throat and 
 throwing him down. If 
 other Horses perceive the 
 Wolf, they immediately go 
 up to him, and if he does 
 not retreat they strike him 
 with their front hoofs, and 
 the Stallions may even 
 
 seize him with their teeth. He gets into quite 
 as bad a plight when he tries to procure himself a 
 pork roast in the forests of Spain or Croatia. A sin- 
 gle Hog may fall a prey to him, but a large, com- 
 pact herd is always avoided by a Wolf If he mis- 
 times his attack by a moment, he is trampled down 
 by the enraged Hogs and devoured with as much 
 enjoyment to them as a meal of pork might give him. 
 
 Attributes The Wolf possesses all the Dogs' attri- 
 
 The Wolf is by no means inferior to the Fox in cun- 
 ning and caution; if anything he surpasses Reynard 
 in these qualities. As a rule he adapts himself to 
 circumstances, reflects before he acts and knows how 
 to find a loophole of escape in danger. He sneaks 
 up to his prey with as much cunning as caution; and 
 if he is himself pursued he trots along with the 
 utmost deliberation. His sense of smell, sight and 
 hearing are all equally acute. He is said not only to 
 track prey but to scent it at a great distance. When 
 he finds spoor in his path, he knows very well the 
 animal to which it pertains. He follows it and does 
 not suffer anything to divert him from it. His cow- 
 ardliness, his slyness and the acuteness of his senses 
 are well shown in his methods of attack. 
 
 The Mother In the early spring the female Wolf 
 Wolf and gives birth to from three to nine, usu- 
 
 Her Young, ^lly from four to six young, in some 
 
 THE STRIPED WOLF. The fox-like muzzle, long legs, long tail, and general appearance of agility and 
 
 intelligence are striking characteristics of the Striped Wolf, an African species. It does not attack large animals 
 and does little harm, unless it be the occasional killing of a Chicken, and is little molested by the natives of the 
 country it inhabits. (Cams adusius.) 
 
 hidden place in the depth of the forest. The newly 
 born whelps remain blind for twenty-one days, grow 
 very slowly at the first and very rapidly when they 
 are older, and conduct themselves exactly like young 
 Dogs. They are very playful and their howling and 
 yelping during their romps are sometimes heard at a 
 great distance. The mother treats them with all the 
 tenderness of a good canine mother, licks and cleans 
 them, suckles them for a very long time and then 
 
 and Traits of butes and traits; he has their strength - procures them ample nourishment, suitable for their 
 
 the Wolf, and perseverance, their acute senses and 
 their sagacity. But he is much more one-sided and 
 less noble than the domestic Dog, undoubtedly be- 
 cause he lacks the education which Man gives to the 
 Dog. His courage is out of all proportion to his 
 strength. When he is not hungry he is one of the most 
 cowardly and timid animals in existence. He then 
 flees not only before a Man, a Dog, a Cow, or a Goat, 
 but even before a flock of Sheep, if only the animals 
 crowd together and turn their heads towards him. 
 
 age; she is always on her guard lest she betray them, 
 and if her distrust has been aroused or danger threat- 
 ens, she carries them to another place she deems more 
 secure. The age a Wolf may attain probably reaches 
 to twelve or fifteen years. 
 
 It has been sufficiently proven by many experi- 
 ments thai; the interbreeding of the Wolf and Dog 
 produces hybrids capable of further reproduction. 
 These cross-breeds are not always intermediate in 
 character between the Wolf and Dog, and even the 
 
194 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 young of the same litter may differ among them- 
 selves. As a rule they are most wolf-like, though 
 there may be some which more resemble the Dog. 
 Taming of Wglves taken young and properly 
 the Wolf not treated become very tame and very 
 Difficult. much attached to their master. Cuvier 
 tells us of a Wolf, which had been brought up like a 
 young Dog and at full growth was donated to the 
 Jardin des Plantes. "There he showed himself very 
 dejected for a few weeks, ate very little and mani- 
 fested utter indifference towards his keeper. Finally 
 he conceived some affection for those who were eni- 
 ployed about him, and seemed to have forgotten his 
 former master, but when the latter returned to Paris, 
 after an absence of eighteen months, the Wolf heard 
 his voice in spite of the noisy crowd, and being set 
 free, signified his joy most demonstratively." 
 
 The North Ameri- 
 can Wolf 
 and Its Habits. 
 
 THE JACKAL. The comely shape of this impudent night'prowler of Asia is well shown here. The body 
 
 is stout but not clumsy, the limbs are long, the muzzle is fox-like, and the tail is long and bushy. They are noc- 
 turnal in their habits and very audacious, invading, towns as well as plantations and carrying away everything edible 
 which they can get. They kill many rodents, but they also are insatiable chicken-thieves. Their bowlings make 
 night hideous in the Orient. {Cams aureus.) 
 
 The Wolf is The Wolf is killed in every possible 
 Hunted manner; by the bullet, by insidious 
 With Zeal, poison, by the treacherous noose or 
 trap, by the club and any other obtainable weapon. 
 Most Wolves are probably killed by strychnine. 
 When food begins to be scarce in winter, a slain 
 Sheep is prepared in the following manner : The 
 animal is skinned and the poison sprinkled into lit- 
 tle incisions all over the body. Then the skin is put 
 on again and the bait is laid in a place known to be 
 frequented by Wolves. No Wolf eats his fill of an 
 animal poisoned in such a manner, as the poison 
 affects him very quickly and he succumbs to it at 
 once. This mode of extermination probably pro- 
 duces the surest results. Pitfalls are also success- 
 ful ; they are dug about three yards deep and two- 
 and-a-half yards in diameter, are covered with a 
 light roof of small, flexible boughs, moss, etc., and 
 the bait is fastened in the middle. To prevent the 
 "Wolf from making too close an investigation before- 
 
 hand and also to protect people from falling in, the 
 pitfall is surrounded by a high fence, which any one 
 who desires to reach the prey has to clear at a bound. 
 In populous districts hunts are sometimes arranged 
 on a large scale. The finding of a Wolf's spoor was, 
 and still is, a signal for the rallying of whole parishes. 
 In the larger forest districts of Poland, Posen, east 
 Prussia, Lithuania, etc., wide strips have been cleared 
 in the forest, and then divided into smaller squares, 
 for the sole purpose of Wolf-hunting. 
 
 The inhabitants of the Russian steppes hunt in a 
 different manner. They deem a gun an entirely 
 secondary feature of the chase; the Wolf is pursued 
 by hunters on horseback, until he can no longer run, 
 and is then slain. 
 
 The greatest profit that the Wolf yields is his win- 
 ter fur, which, as is universally known, may be profit- 
 ably • used. The ^best ■ and 
 largest pelts are furnished 
 by Scandinavia, northern 
 Russia, Siberia and north- 
 ern China and are sold at 
 from ;?2.50 to g8 apiece. 
 Besides this, many gov- 
 ernments give a fixed pre- 
 mium for every Wolf that 
 is killed. 
 
 The North 
 American 
 Wolf (Canis 
 occidentalis) 
 is a species closely allied to the 
 common Wolf, and the question 
 whether it is a distinct species 
 is still an open one. As a rule 
 it is a little smaller than the 
 European species, but the hab- 
 its of the two are very similar, 
 although the American Wolf is 
 not dangerous to Man except 
 when it is made desperate by 
 hunger. There are great vari- 
 eties in color among animals of 
 this species in America. Those 
 of a gray color similar to that 
 of the European Wolf are the 
 most common, and are distrib- 
 uted from the Gulf of Mexico 
 to the arctic latitudes and from 
 ocean to ocean, but in some of 
 the northwestern states-there 
 are white Wolves and in Texas 
 a variety is found with a reddish 
 fur. Black Wolves range in 
 Florida and some of the other 
 southeastern states and in the 
 lower Missouri Valley there are 
 some of a dusky drab color. The Wolf is much less numerous 
 in the greater part of the United States than formerly, but it is 
 still quite plentiful on the western plains and in many portions 
 of Canada. Packs of Wolves follow herds of Bisons and when 
 one of the herd becomes isolated they attack it, and although in 
 the combat which follows some of the pack are often killed the 
 Bison, if it happens to be sick or exhausted, frequently falls 
 a prey to the Wolves. Deer, Antelopes, Foxes, rodents and all 
 small mammals are attacked by Wolves, and those of their own 
 pack that are killed by Bisons are devoured by their compan- 
 ions. In general, what has been said of the European Wolf as 
 to habits, hunting and feeding, applies to the American Wolf. 
 
 The Jackal Wolf, The Jackal Wolf, or the Abu el Hos- 
 an African sein of the Arabs [Ca/n's afitkus), is 
 Variety. ^ small, northeast African species, 
 known to the ancient Egyptians and pictured by 
 them on their monuments. His snout is pointed ; 
 the ears are large and broad ; the body, suppoi^ted by 
 long legs, is stout and of a dark tawny color, which 
 is subject to considerable variations, according to the 
 locality. Small animals, carrion and fruit form his 
 nutriment, but sometimes he joins others of his kind 
 
THE WOLF, There is no other animal of its size and few even among the larger Beasts of Prey which equal a hungry Wolf in fierceness and bold- 
 ness. In the winter time, especially, when domestic animals are housed and burrowing animals have retired to their winter quarters, the Wolf, emboldened 
 by scarcity of food, becomes dangerous to Man, whose only safe refuge, at such a time, is to climb to a place of safety and with a trusty gun make war on the 
 lupine pack until such as are not killed are scared away. The picture represents such a scene and is typical of the dangers which may come in winter in the 
 Wolf-infested regions in the west of our own country, as well as in others where these animals range. 
 
 (195) 
 
196 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 in a pack and together they attack the Sheep and 
 Goat flocks of the natives. 
 
 The Striped A species much resembling these is 
 
 Wolf, an Inter- the Striped Wolf {Cards adustus), an 
 mediate Species, animal resembling both the Wolf and 
 the Jackal. The body is elongated; the head of a 
 conical shape, pointed toward the snout, not unlike 
 that of the Fox; the eyes have a slanting position; 
 the ears are widely separated, like those of the Jackal, 
 and rounded; the legs are strikingly long and slen- 
 der. The tail reaches to the ground. 
 
 "The Striped Wolf," says Pechuel-Loesche, who 
 observed him in Lower Guinea, especially in Loango, 
 in the wilderness as well as tamed, " is statelier and 
 has longer legs than the Fox. He has the same sly 
 expression of the face, but suggests also a decidedly 
 better disposition and has a more aristocratic bearing. 
 These Wolves are remarkably agile, lithe animals. 
 
 freedom. Not only did he run around in the enclos- 
 ure and visit our rooms, but he prowled around for 
 hours in our plantations and the forests of the neigh- 
 borhood. He searched for Beetles and Grasshpp- 
 pers, playfully jumping after those that whirred away, 
 and also caught many an unwary little mammal or 
 bird. Unfortunately $e did not catch the Rats which 
 had become quite a plague in our camp. He left 
 the poultry alone after once having received a slight 
 castigation for catching a Hen. When after this he 
 regarded some forbidden dainty with covetous eyes, ' 
 a mild word or a slight remonstrance was sufficient 
 to turn him from his evil way. Sometimes he strayed 
 from the enclosure and remained away all day, but 
 he always made his appearance in the dining-room at 
 night to receive a few scraps. If he was forgotten 
 for a longer time than he deemed proper, he pushed 
 his nose against the leg of some one present, or, like 
 
 CAPE JACKAL. Ranging in eastern-Africa. fromsouthern Nubia soutli to the Cape,' from thence aeipes the contineh,t.a^ for some dis- 
 tance up the western coast is the Cape Jackal. It is especially plentiful in Abyssinia and south Africa, and i^'^nd in both'plairisMid forests and 
 is especially abundant in the mountainous regions. It is distinguished from the other Jackals by the Fox-likeihead, and 'the longj pointed ears 
 which lie dose together. It has a thick, fine, soft fur of a beautiful yellowish gray on the sides, yellowish white on the under portion, while the 
 back is covered with a broad cape of a blackish hue crossed with white lines. It is very bold, entering villages and even camps, showing no dread 
 of camp-fires. It steals everything edible it can get hold of, and has even been known to enter boats by way of the gang-plank. It creates havoc 
 among poultry and small domestic animals, and is accused by the Somali natives of eating the fat tails off the live Sheep of their country. {Cants 
 mesometas.) 
 
 and it affords one great pleasure to observe their 
 movements. They come quite close to human dwell- 
 ings, for the village Dogs never think of picking a 
 quarrel with them; neither do the natives, who call 
 them 'Mbulu,' harm them. The Mbulu utters his 
 shrill, long-drawn yelp in the morning and evening 
 all the year round ; it is so loud that a newcomer 
 may be quite startled when he hears it in the imme- 
 diate proximity of a village or encampment. The 
 piteous cries of a Mbulu once brought us to the edge 
 of a bushy little forest just in time to rescue the ani- 
 mal from a huge Snake which was strangling it. 
 The Striped "We frequently kept half-grown Striped 
 Wolf in Wolves in our enclosure. One of them 
 Captivity, grew to be a very stately animal, and 
 was so tame and docile that he was given unlimited 
 
 a Dog, put his head on somebody's knee. He ac- 
 cepted everything thankfully : bread, beans, rice, 
 fish, meat, even raw bananas, or oil nuts ; but he 
 could crush only the smallest bones with his teeth. 
 If one of us paid him attention or spoke to him kindly 
 he would look into our eyes with a greatly pleased 
 and affectionate expression, like a Dog, but very sel- 
 dom wagged his tail. The human voice produced an 
 impression on him such as I have seen exhibited only 
 by the Gorilla ; it literally seemed to fascinate him." 
 Character. The Jackal ( Canis or Lupus aureus) is 
 istics of the the animal which the ancients called 
 Jackal. Thos or Gold- Wolf, and probably the 
 same as the " Foxes " mentioned in the Bible, with 
 which Samson, by setting fire to their tails, burned the 
 wheat fields and vineyards of the Philistines. The 
 
THE DOG FAMILY—WOLF. 
 
 197 
 
 Jackal is known all over the Orient and his actions 
 are there talked about with the same interest that 
 we give to the deeds of the Fox. 
 
 The Jackal is from twenty-six to thirty-two' inches 
 long; of this length from nine to twelve inches are 
 taken up by the tail, and the height at the shoulder 
 is from eighteen to twenty inches. He is of vigor- 
 ous build, the legs are long, the snout more pointed 
 than that of the Wolf, but blunter than that of the 
 Pox ; the bushy hanging tail reaches to the ankle- 
 joints. The ears are short, and the light-brown eyes 
 Tiave round pupils. The fur is rough, of moderate 
 length and difficult to describe. The ground color 
 is a dingy, tan-color or grayish-yellow, merging into 
 black on the back and "sides, or tinged with black 
 in waves or stripes. This color is in sharp contrast 
 to that of the sides, thighs and paws, which is a pale 
 red, and the sides of the head and neck are of the 
 same tint. The pale or grayish-yellow ground color 
 merges into whitish yellow on the throat and the 
 under-waist, reddish yellow on the breast and gray 
 on the lower part of the 
 throat. 
 
 Asia must be consid- 
 ered as the native country 
 of the Jackal. From India 
 he extends over the west 
 and northwest of the con- 
 tinent, through Beloochi- 
 stan, Afghanistan, Persia, 
 the Caucasus, Asia Minor, 
 Palestine, Arabia to north- 
 ern Africa ; but he is also 
 found in Europe, in Tur- 
 Icey, Greece and a few 
 localities of Dalmatia. In 
 India and Ceylon he is 
 found everywhere, in for- 
 ests as well as in the open 
 country, on plains and in 
 mountainous regions, and 
 in the Himalayas to an 
 elevation of, over .three 
 thousand feet. 
 
 Mode of In his mode 
 
 Life of the of life the 
 Jashal. Jackal repre- 
 sents an intermediate form 
 between the Wolf and the 
 
 Pox. He resembles the latter more than the fornier. 
 In the daytime he keeps in hiding; towards evening 
 lie sallies forth on his hunt, howling loudly to attract 
 ■others of his kind, in company with which he then 
 prowls around. He is gregarious, though he also 
 hunts alone. He might be termed the boldest and 
 most importunate of all wild Dogs, and is not at 
 all afraid of human settlements, boldly penetrating 
 into villages and even populous towns, and entering 
 yards and houses, taking away what he can find. 
 This boldness renders him a great deal more dis- 
 agreeable and annoying than do his celebrated 
 nightly songs, which he keeps up with admirable 
 perseverance. As soon as night has really set in, one 
 liears a howl of many voices, highly piteous in char- 
 acter, resembling that of our Dogs, but combining 
 a much greater variety of sounds. At any rate, 
 these melancholy bowlings cannot be regarded as 
 the expression of grief on the part of these ani- 
 mals, for they howl in a manner equally mournful 
 ■when their food is plentiful, and they have every 
 reason for expressing joyful satisfaction. 
 
 There are still other- deeds of the Jackals which 
 excite our aversion. The slight amount of useful 
 service they perform is out of all proportion to the 
 destruction wrought by them. They are useful in 
 clearing away carrion and all kinds of vermin, and 
 especially in catching Mice, but they do much harm 
 by their insolent robberies. Not only do they de- 
 vour everything edible, but they also steal all kinds 
 of non-eatable things in the house and yard, tent and 
 room, stable and kitchen, taking anything that strikes 
 their fancy. Their thievish disposition is perhaps as 
 great as their voracity. In the poultry-yard they 
 play the part of the Fox, slay with a Marten-like 
 greed, and steal with all the insolence, if not the 
 cunning, of the Fox. According to circumstances, 
 they may also attack a stray Lamb or Goat, pursue 
 small game and plunder orchards and vineyards. In 
 India they are said to ravage sugar-cane plantations 
 and maize fields and damage the coffee plantations, 
 devouring a considerable quantity of the ripe berries. 
 
 Jackals taken young become very tame, much 
 
 COYOTE OR PEAIRIE WOLF. Here is an animal familiar to the residents of the western plains. It 
 
 miffht aptly be called the Jackal of America, except that it is more cowardly than the Asiatic animal. Its long, 
 thick fufmakes the body look somewhat clumsy, but it can run very fast. The head bears a strong resemblance 
 to that of the Fox. The Coyote prowls at night, hke others of the Wolf species, and may most frequently be seen 
 in the gray dawn of the morning. (_Canis latrans) 
 
 tamer than do Foxes. They become entirely ac- 
 customed to their owner, follow him about like a 
 Dog, not only accept but beg for caresses, respond 
 to a call, wag their tails in a friendly manner when 
 petted, and, in short, show all the qualities of domes- 
 tic Dogs. Even when taken old, they finally recog- 
 nize Man's supremacy, though they may be addicted 
 to biting viciously in the beginning. 
 
 The Coyote, or A well known American Wolf, the 
 Prairie Wolf of Coyote or Prairie Wolf {Canis la- 
 America, trans), appears to be an intermediate 
 form between the Wolf and Fox, although his Wolf- 
 ish traits are unmistakable. He has the body, tail 
 and vigorous limbs of the Wolf, and the pointed snout 
 of the Fox. His strong body appears still stouter 
 than it really is, owing to his thick fur ; the neck is 
 short and strong, the head more slender than that 
 of the Wolf, broader at the top and sharper at the 
 snout ; the ears are rather large, wide near the head 
 but not rounded at the tip ; the light brown eyes 
 have a round pupil. The color of the fur is a dingy 
 yellowish-gray. 
 
198 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 Range and The Prairie Wolf is spread extensively 
 Habits of the over the central parts of North Amer- 
 Coyote. jca,, to the west of the Mississippi, and 
 to the south of British America, perhaps as far as 
 Panama ; it is especially plentiful in the great plains 
 west from the Missouri to the Rocky Mountains, in 
 California and in British Columbia. Prince de Wied, 
 to whom, as well as to Audubon, we owe the best 
 descriptions of this animal, says that it lives only 
 singly or in couples, after the manner of European 
 Wolves. It preys upon everything it can subdue 
 and is as sly as the other Wolves and Foxes. At 
 
 BAGGOON DOG. This species of Wolf, sometimes also called the Tanate, is an inhabitant of. Japan, 
 
 China and contiguous countries. It has a head that somewhat resembles the animals of the Marten family, has 
 long fur, a short, bushy tail and short legs. It does little damage, its prey being fishes and the smaller mammals. 
 {Canis ^rocyonoides.) ' ■'' 
 
 night it often goes so far as to enter the Indian vil- 
 lages and in winter, when prey is scarce, it is not in- 
 frequently seen to trot around in the daytime, as the 
 Wolf does, in deep snow or during very cold weather. 
 
 The traveler on the western plains will seldom see a Coyote 
 in the daytime during the milder seasons of the year, the ani- 
 mal being both crafty and cowardly and nocturnal in its habits. 
 At night, however, it may be frequently seen to prowl quite 
 near to a belated horseman or even in close proximity to a 
 camp fire, but it is very alert and only a quick shot is likely to 
 be successful. It continues to make its presence known, how- 
 ever, for like the Asiatic Jackal, which in its habits it much 
 resembles, it keeps up an incessant howling during the night 
 until the early morning. 
 
 This animal is much despised by the frontiersman, and " as 
 mean as a Coyote " is a proverb in the far West, proiaably be- 
 cause of its howling propensities, and its destruction of Quail 
 and other birds and small game. But the Coyote is not without 
 its redeeming traits. It kills large numbers of destructive 
 rodents, and is an adept at kilhng Rattlesnakes and other 
 venomous reptiles. 
 
 During the breeding season, it inhabits burrows or 
 caverns that it excavates for itself, and there the 
 female gives birth in April to from six to ten young 
 ones. At this time her voice is heard on the prairie. 
 It is a curious bark, ending in a drawn out note, re- 
 sembling the sound made by Foxes. 
 
 Account I can give a personal account of its life 
 
 of a Captive in captivity, for I took care of a Prairie 
 
 Coyote. Wolf for some time. He had been 
 
 reared in the house and was as gentle as a good- 
 
 natured Dog, but only towards acquaintances. His 
 actions were those of a domestic Dog in every 
 respect. When he caught sight of his friends, he 
 used to leap with joy, wag his tail and come to the 
 bars of his cage to be petted. But he never licked 
 anybody's hands ; at the most, only sniffing them. 
 When left alone, he was very miserable and relieved 
 his feelings by a pitiful howl; but when he had 
 company, he ill-treated the animals, unless they were 
 better biters than himself. 
 
 He was very susceptible to the complainings of 
 other animals. He always joined in the howl of 
 
 Wolves and even respond- 
 ed to the roar or growl of 
 Bears. If a person talked 
 to him in a plaintive toile^ 
 as if pitying him, he howled 
 and whined as some domes- 
 tic Dogs do under similar- 
 circumstances. Music alsO' 
 always moved him to loud 
 outcries, but his howling at 
 such times was evidently 
 not meant to be taken se- 
 riously. 
 
 7/ie Raccoon As a repre- 
 Dog of sentative of 
 China and Japan, a low grade 
 of Wolves on the Northern. 
 Hemisphere, may be men- 
 tioned the Raccoon Dog 
 {Cams procyonoides), a pe- 
 culiar animal, indigenous to- 
 temperate eastern Asia, es- 
 pecially China and Japan;, 
 it has a somewhat Marten- 
 like aspect and nocturnal, 
 habits, and feeds princi- 
 pally on Mice and fish. 
 
 The Wolf According 
 Species of South to modern 
 America. naturalists 
 the Wolf has a few allied 
 species among the South American wild Dogs,, 
 namely the Crab-eating Dog {Cams cancrivonts) 
 [an animal with a Fox-like muzzle, conical ears and 
 a rather long, bushy tail, which hunts in small packs]' 
 and the Aguara or Azara's Fox, also called Brazilian 
 Fox {Cards vetulus or azarce). The latter is a native 
 of all South America, from the Pacific to the Atlan- 
 tic and from the equator to the southernmost part 
 of Patagonia. This animal is said to be possessed of 
 the curious peculiarity of stealing and hiding all 
 kinds of things for which it has no use. Tschudi 
 found in the cavern of a " Zorra," as the Brazilians- 
 call this animal, a stirrup, a spur and a knife. •> 
 
 THE HY.ffiNA DOGS. 
 
 A second sub-order of the Wolves is formed by 
 one of the most remarkable as well as most beau- 
 tifully marked species, the Hyaena-Dogs {Lycaon). 
 The body is slender, but of strong build, the head is 
 moderately large or rather small, the snout is blunt. 
 Hearing and sight are very well developed; the ears 
 are high, wide and nearly devoid of hair, and the 
 large eyes have a circular pupil. The legs are mod- 
 erately long and the front feet as well as the hind 
 ones have only four toes : differing from other Dogs. 
 The further distinctive features of this species are a 
 moderately long, not very bushy tail and a smooth^ 
 short-haired fur, of a very peculiar color. 
 
THE DOG FAMILY— HY^NA DOG. 
 
 199 
 
 Ihe Hycena The Hyaena Dog or Cape Hunting 
 
 Dog or Cape Dog {Cams or Lycaon pictus) is about 
 
 Hunting Dog. the size of a lean Wolf or medium- 
 sized domestic Dog, while his aspect more closely 
 resembles the latter. In spite of the slender shape)*rt 
 produces the impression of a vigorous, strong ani- 
 mal. No two Dogs are marked exactly alike, only 
 the head and nape of the neck exhibit a certain uni- 
 formity in tint. The prevailing colors are white, 
 black and ochre-yellow. Some have their ground 
 •color white, some black, and the lighter or darker 
 spots contrast with these hues in bold relief. The 
 spots are also of irregular shape ; they may be small 
 or large, and sometimes are distributed all over the 
 body ; but the white and yellow ones always have 
 black margins. The snout is black up to the eyes 
 and this color is continued in long stripes between 
 the eyes and ears, along the top of the head and 
 nape of the neck. The ears are black, the eyes 
 brown. The root of the tail is ochre-yellow, the 
 middle black, and the bushy tip white or ochre- 
 yellow. 
 
 The Hyaena Dog is a native of Africa, but his 
 boundaries have not yet been exactly determined. 
 He ranges in south Africa; Boehm saw him in east 
 Africa to the east and 
 also to the southwest of 
 the Tanganyika Lake; 
 Ruppell fouhd him in' 
 Nubia, Schweinfurth 
 says that he is abundant 
 in the Bongo country 
 and Nachtigal says the 
 same about Kanem on 
 the Tsad Lake. 
 
 . Cumming's Gordon 
 Account of Gumming 
 
 HycsnaDogs. met Hyae- 
 na Dogs in southern 
 Africa. "These Dogs," 
 says he, " hunt in packs, 
 varying in number up to 
 sixty, and by their ex- 
 traordinary power of en- 
 durance are enabled to 
 ■overcome the largest 
 and most powerful An- 
 telope. They do not at- 
 tack Buffaloes, as far as 
 my knowledge goes. 
 They pursue their quar- 
 ry until it is worn out; 
 then it is dragged to the 
 ■ground and in a few 
 minutes torn to pieces 
 and consumed." In 
 spite of the really beau-: 
 tiful coloring and high 
 stature of the Hyaena 
 
 Dog, Heuglin calls it "an unclean, evil-smelling 
 animal, addicted to biting and incapable of hidmg 
 its false and treacherous disposition," and he says 
 that, when wounded, it does not fear to attack Man. 
 
 Hunting Abilities However this may be, the inulti- 
 of the colored Beast of Prey remams a 
 
 Hycena Dog. highly attractive creature. It niust 
 be a magnificent spectacle to see these beautiful, 
 agile and loud-voiced animals hunting. A large, 
 strong Antelope has been frightened by them ; it 
 knows its pursuers and hurries through the grassy 
 plain with all the speed its fleet legs can command. 
 
 Behind it is the pack, yelping, howling, whining and 
 uttering indescribable sounds, which might be termed 
 joyous, for they resemble the bright tones of a bell. 
 As the chase progresses, the Antelope forgets all 
 danger except that whicji> is most imminent, and 
 hurries along, heedless of human beings, whom it 
 usually shuns, followed by the close-banded pack of 
 Dogs. The pace of the latter is a long, never-tiring 
 gallop and their discipline is excellent. When the 
 leading Hounds are fatigued they fall to the rear, 
 and others, which have been reserving their strength, 
 come up, and so they relieve each other as long as 
 the chase endures. Finally the hunted animal is 
 tired out and brought to bay. Conscious of its 
 strength the Antelope turns around and faces its 
 deadly foes. The slender, pointed horns sweep the 
 sward in wide curves. But, although one or two of 
 the pursuers succumb in the struggle, it is usually 
 but a minute before the unequally matched Ante- 
 lope lies on the ground in panting agony. Some- 
 times, but rarely, it succeeds in freeing itself when 
 first brought to bay. Then the hunt begins afresh 
 and the voracious Dogs again rush after the Ante- 
 lope, their snouts covered with blood. Their thirst 
 for carnage is said to increase with the death of each 
 
 THE CEAB-EATING DOG. This is a Soutli American species of wild Dog, which is placed by some natu- 
 ralists alonK with other South American animals in a group under the name of Fox-Wolves. The muzzle is distinctly 
 Fox-like but the remainder of the body, with the exception of the bushy tail, is more like that of the Wolf. Little is 
 known about its habits except the Crab-eating propensity, from which it derives its name, and the fact that it hunts in 
 small packs. (Canis cancrivorous.) 
 
 victim, and it is also said that they eat only the 
 intestines of the killed game, leaving the rest for 
 other animals of prey. They seem to eat very little 
 of the muscular meat, for Burchell found a freshly 
 killed Antelope, of which these Dogs had eaten only 
 the inner parts, so he made use of the rest in his 
 own kitchen. 
 
 Usefulness of The Hyaena Dog is a wild animal which 
 Tamed seems to promise a great deal if it only 
 
 Hycena Dogs, were tamed. It would make an excel- 
 lent tracker, but an animal of such characteristics is 
 not easily brought under subjection to the will of 
 
200 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 Man. Schweinfurth saw a Hyaena Dog in a Seriba 
 in the Bongo country, " which was thoroughly tamed, 
 and was as docile as a Dog with its master." In 
 1859 I had the pleasure of finding an admirably kept 
 and nearly full-grown Hunting Dog in Leipzig. I 
 have seen several later and have also kept a few 
 myself. Their distinctive traits seem to me to be a 
 boisterous mischievousriess, and an indomitable habit 
 of biting, perhaps without the intention of hurting 
 anybody and only as an outlet to the fidgety live- 
 liness of their ever active spirits. As soon as a 
 Hyaena Dog is excited, its every nerve quivers and 
 moves. Its remarkably active disposition first as- 
 sumes the semblance of exaggerated mirth, and then, 
 a moment later, strikes one as a savage, sanguinary 
 mania for biting. Grandville represents a Wolf as 
 declaring: " Barking is of no avail; one has to bite.". 
 
 HY^NA DOG. The slender, long limbed animal in the picture, sometitrtes also called the Cape Hunting 
 
 Dog, is the representative of a distinct sub-order of the Wolf species. As will be seen from the picture, it is hand- 
 somely marked, has long Hound-lilce limbs, a tail with a bushy tip, and a form that suggests both agility and 
 strength, qualities that are requisite to the tracking of the Antelope, which is the favorite prey of these wild Dogs. 
 (Canis pictus.) 
 
 If he had known the Hyaena Dog, he would, doubt- 
 less, have ascribed this sentiment to that animal. 
 
 The Indian Sykes has described the Indian Wild 
 Wild Dog or Dog, or Kolsun, which he considered 
 Kolsun. the progenitor of all domesticated 
 Dogs. This animal bears, according to his account, 
 a greater resemblance to the Greyhound than to the 
 Wolf or Jackal, and belongs to a third sub-order of 
 the Wolves (Cyon), whose range is co-extensive with 
 that of the Tiger. It has much the same propor- 
 tions as a medium-sized Greyhound and its hair is of 
 uniform thickness, rather short on the body but long 
 on the tail. The color is a beautiful brownish or 
 russet red merging into brownish gray, light on the 
 under surface of the body and dark on the snout, 
 ears, feet and extremity of the tail. 
 
 This Dog is called Son-Ram-kutta, Djangli, Kol- 
 sun, Kolsa, etc., in India, Buansu, etc., in the Hima- 
 layas {Canis or Cyo?i dukhunensis and Prifticevus), and 
 
 is found all over the Himalaya country from the val- 
 ley of the upper Indus and Cashmere as far east as 
 Assam, in eastern Thibet, and in all the woody re- 
 gions of East India. 
 
 The Kolsun or Buansu is a genuine arboreal animaF 
 and inhabits principally extensive forests, but some- 
 times is also found in jungles; while in the northern 
 and elevated portions of his native country, wherer^ 
 forests are lacking, he has to content himself with 
 the open country and rocks. He does not seem to be 
 plentiful anywhere, and as he drives the game away- 
 and makes it very restless by his mode of hunting, 
 he does not stay long in one locality. He hunts in 
 packs, which were formerly said to comprise fifty or 
 sixty of these animals, but which, according to mod- 
 ern observers, seldom include tweiity, and gener- 
 ally number only from two to twelve. The Indian 
 
 Wild Dog usually pursues' 
 his game noiselessly, and 
 his voice is heard only at 
 rare intervals. He does' 
 not bark, but the sound he 
 makes is rather a plaintive 
 whine. All accounts agree 
 as to his exceedingly good 
 hunting qualities. In his 
 mode of hunting he resem- 
 bles the Hyaena 'Dog. As 
 soon as the pack has found 
 some animal that will serve- 
 for prey, they pursue it 
 with the utmost persever- 
 ance, and sometimes divide 
 into smaller packs in order 
 to cut off its escape on all 
 sides; and are thus said to 
 be able to overtake even 
 the fleetest - footed Stag. 
 Their chief attack is not 
 made from the front and is 
 not directed at the throat, 
 but rather at the flanks and 
 the soft hinder part of the 
 body, which they tear by 
 rapid bites during the 
 chase, so that the intes- 
 tines protrude and the ani- 
 mal soon succumbs. 
 
 The Malay The Malay 
 Wild Dog, or Wild Dog or 
 Adjag. Adjag (Catds^ 
 or Cyon rutilans) is smaller 
 and weaker than his Indian relative and has a yel- 
 lowish Fox-red color, which is lightest on the under 
 surface of the body. The tail is tipped with black. 
 The Adjag does not seem to differ in any marked 
 degree from the Kolsun, except that there are na 
 accounts to the effect that he preys upon large and 
 strong animals. He is a native of Sumatra and Java, 
 ranging, so far as his haunts are now known, from the 
 sea level to about three thousand feet above, preying 
 on rather peculiar game on the sea beach, as Jung- 
 huhn's observations show : " On the 14th of May, 
 1846, I came out of the bushes covering the coast of 
 the Tandjung-Sodong. Looking at the wide beach 
 before me, I thought I gazed on a battlefield. Hun- 
 dreds of skeletons of huge Tortoises lay strewn on 
 the sand. Some had been bleached by the sun so 
 as to present nothing but smooth bones, some were 
 still filled with decaying, foul-smelling intestines, and 
 some were yet fresh and bloody ; but all lay on their 
 
THE DOG FAMILY— DOG. 
 
 201 
 
 backs. This was the place where the wild Dogs 
 attack the Tortoises, which here make nightly jour- 
 neys to the downs and back to the sea. The Dogs 
 come in packs of twenty or thirty, seize the Turtle 
 at all available parts of its body, and, snapping at 
 
 INDIAN WILD DOG, OR EOLSUN. An exceedingly skillful hunter, keen of eye and fleet of foot is the 
 
 Indian Wild Dog, or Kolsun, which bears a strong likeness to some domesticated hunting Dogs. The animal in 
 the picture is shown with ears erect, and eyes watching for game. The strong though not bulky form, the bushy 
 \ail, and the fur, light below and dark above, are faithfully illustrated. {Canis dukhunensis.) 
 
 the feet and the head, succeed in turning the animal 
 over by their joint efforts, in spite of its huge size. 
 Then they begin to 
 gnaw, tear up the under 
 shields and proceed to 
 make a bloody meal of 
 the intestines, meat and 
 eggs. Many Tortoises 
 escape these attacks and 
 reach the sea, s o m e - 
 times dragging the tug- 
 ging Dogs along with 
 them. But even when 
 the Dogs have secured 
 a Turtle for their prey, 
 they are not always per- 
 mitted to quietly devour 
 it. On some nights it 
 happens that the lord 
 of the wilderness, the 
 Royal Tiger, leaves the 
 forest, stops for a mo- 
 ment and overlooks the 
 beach with glistening 
 eyes, and then, softly 
 slinking up toward the 
 Dogs, suddenly jumps 
 among the pack with a 
 low growl. They scat- 
 ter to all sides and hurry 
 to the wood in a mad 
 flight, uttering an agi- 
 tated sound that more 
 resembles whistling 
 than growling. 
 By this account it is 
 
 nized from a distance by the wanderer in the wilder- 
 ness from the birds of prey which soar, high above. 
 
 THE DOG. 
 
 "The world exists through the intellect of the 
 Dog." This saying occurs in the Vendidad (Book 
 of Laws), the most ancient and genuine part of the 
 
 Zendavesta, one of the old- 
 est books of mankind. 
 Great Merits No animal of 
 of the the globe is 
 ^09- more deserv- 
 ing of the fullest, most un- 
 divided esteern, friendship 
 and love of Man than the 
 Dog. He forms a part of 
 humanity, for he is indis- 
 pensable to our welfare. 
 "The Dog," says Cuvier, "is 
 the completest, the most 
 singular, and the most use- 
 ful conquest that Man has 
 ever made. The whole 
 species has become our 
 property, each individual is 
 devoted to Ma'n, his mas- 
 ter, adopts h i s manners, 
 distinguishes and defends 
 his property, and remains 
 attached to him even unto 
 death: and all this springs 
 not from mere necessity, 
 nor from fear, but from a true friendship. The 
 swiftness, the strength, and the highly developed 
 
 UAIiAT WILD DOG, OE AD JAG.— —On the islands of Java and Sumatra the wild Dog known as the Adjag is 
 found. The artist has appropriately depidfed these animals on the sea-shore by the side of the inverted shell of a great 
 Turtle which they have emptied, for the barren coasts frequented by these sea animals is a favorite resort for the Malay 
 Wild Dog in search of food. (Canis rutilans.) •■ 
 
 seen that these Dogs wage war with the inhabitants 
 of the deep at a place exceedingly gloomy and bar- 
 ren, never visited by. the natives of Java, but recog- 
 
 power of smelling of the Dog have made him a 
 powerful ally of Man against the other animals, and 
 were perhaps necessary to the establishment of soci- 
 
202 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 ety. The Dog is the only animal which has followed 
 Man all over the globe." 
 
 The Dog is well worthy of being considered at 
 length, and spoken of with pleasure and love, not- 
 withstanding the fact that he is so well known. 
 Wherever Man has made a habitation the Dog is 
 found, and even the most uncivilized nations pos- 
 sess him as a companion and defender. But neither 
 tradition nor research has given us sufficient clues 
 as to his progenitors, and opinions the most diver- 
 gent have been promulgated as to the origin of the 
 most important of all domestic animals. There is 
 no other animal about which so many conjectures 
 and hypotheses have been advanced. 
 
 The Dog and " If one wishes to separate the Dog 
 the Wolf from the other Wolves," says Blasius, 
 
 Compared, "there still remain no further distin- 
 guishing features than the curve of the tail to the 
 left, which Linnaeus mentions. The historic fate of 
 the Dog resembles that of Man. The total subjec- 
 tion of the Dog to Man has led to consequences for 
 which we find no parallel in the animal world. The 
 existence of the Dog is so closely allied to that 'of 
 Man, and the Dog, like Man, has been obliged to 
 adapt himself to the most diverse and antagonistic 
 influences of nature to such dn extent, in order to 
 help to conquer and reign over the whole globe, that 
 his original state in nature may only be conjectured 
 theoretically, like, that of Man. But this relates 
 only to his physical properties. As to his intellect- 
 ual nature opinions cannot differ. In the structure 
 of his skeleton, his skull and his teeth, the Dog is 
 a Wolf; still neither his skull nor his teeth serve 
 to identify him with any one species of Wolf, nor 
 disclose any sharp line of demarcation between him 
 and the known species of Wolves. The European 
 Dogs waver in the peculiarities of their skull between 
 the Wolves and the Jackals, but in such manner that 
 the peculiarities either cross, unite or vary. 
 
 Universality "The Americans had indigenous Dogs 
 of the before the Spaniards imported the Eu- 
 ros'- ropean species. In Mexico the Span- 
 iards found dumb Dogs. A. von Humboldt says 
 that the Indians of Jauja and Huanca adored Dogs, 
 before the Inca Pachacutec converted them to the 
 adoration of the sun. Their priests blew on Dog- 
 skulls, and the skulls as well as mummies of Dogs 
 were found in the oldest Peruvian torrtbs. Tschudi 
 has inspected these skulls and thinks them to be dif- 
 ferent from those of European Dogs; he believes 
 them to come from a distinct species, which he calls 
 Canis ingce. The native Dogs in Peru are called 
 Runa-allco, to distinguish them from the European 
 species which have degenerated into the wild state. 
 These Dogs are said to sustain particularly un- 
 friendly relations with Europeans. 
 
 " It is surprising that the native Dogs show in 
 their skulls an approximation to the structure of the 
 Wolves of their own country, but it is a matter of 
 still greater surprise that they also show an affinity 
 in their general appearance to the wild species when 
 they have returned to the savage state. This relates 
 not only to the coloring, but also to the shape of the 
 animal, the pointed, erect ears, the hair and other 
 characteristics. Olivier has remarked that the Dogs 
 in the environs of Constantinople resemble Jackals. 
 In southern and eastern Russia there are number- 
 less half savage Dogs running around in packs and 
 bearing a striking resemblance to the Jackal in their 
 color, their bodily shape and the structure of their 
 ears. The observation of Pallas, that the Dogs live 
 
 in decided friendship with these Jackals, is easily 
 understood in the face of such resemblances. It is 
 a known fact that Dogs and Wolves may interbreed 
 to any degree. Crosses between Dogs and Jackals 
 are no rarity. Pallas even mentions that crosses 
 between the Dog and Fox are well known to the 
 Russians, but he evidently does not found this state- 
 ment on his own observations. 
 
 " The question as to whether the Dog is a distinct, 
 separate and independent species, like the Wolf, the 
 Jackal and the Fox, is difficult to settle in the affirm- 
 ative. No single species of wild animal shows such 
 divergence in the skull, in the structure of the whole 
 body, and in the proportions of actual size. But 
 neither do the domestic animals in which we must 
 suppose the original species to be still unaltered, or 
 only changed by domestication and culture, such as 
 the Horse, Ass, Cow, Goat or Hog, show any such 
 extremes, and still less may it be said that several 
 species are contained in this great variety of forms. 
 It is clear, then, that we cannot speak of one species 
 as being the stock from which the Dog sprang. , It 
 is also improbable that such a species would as yet 
 have remained undiscovered by scientific research. 
 
 "And so, as long as one wishes to retain these 
 problematic points in the domain of natural history, 
 there remains but one conclusion, which agrees with 
 the opinion of Pallas : that the, .origin of .the: domes- 
 tic Dog must be sought in the domestication and 
 interbreeding of the different species of Wolves 
 indigenous to the different countries. Naturally 
 this supposition in relation to the point at issue is 
 but a hypothesis, but if it is founded on facts in 
 nature, it will be possible to make it a conviction by 
 direct comparison of the skulls of Dogs with those 
 of Wolves. It is clear that the fact that Dogs in- 
 terbreed without limits among themselves and with 
 Wolves and Jackals, is most readily reconciled with 
 this hypothesis. The great similarity between Jack- 
 als and Dogs which have returned to the savage 
 state, in their shape and coloring, and the ready 
 approximation and friendship of the two is also of 
 great importance. Horses returned to savagery also 
 show an approximation to wild Horses. Goats, 
 which for generations roam at large in the moun- 
 tains the greater part of the year, as often happens 
 in Dalmatia and some parts of Italy, much resemble 
 the wild Capra cegagrus; and colored Rabbits, when 
 given their liberty, after a lapse of several years 
 produce young which cannot be distinguished from 
 the wild species and are themselves perfectly wild." 
 Darwin on the "The reasons," says Darwin, "which 
 Origin have led various authors to infer that 
 
 of the Dog. qu^ Dogs have descended from more 
 than one wild species are : Firstly, the great differ- 
 ence between the several breeds, and secondly, the 
 more important fact that, at the most anciently 
 known historical periods, several breeds of Dogs 
 existed, very unlike each other, and closely resem- 
 bling or identical with breeds still alive. Youatt 
 gives^-a. drawing of a beautiful sculpture of two Grey- 
 hound Puppies from the villa of- Antonius. On an 
 Assyrian monument, dating back to about 640 B. C, 
 an enormous Mastiff is figured, and such Dogs are 
 still imported into the same country. On the Egyp- 
 tian monuments from the Fourth to the Twelfth, 
 dynasties — that is, from about 3400 to 2100 B. C— 
 several varieties of the Dog are represented, most 
 of them allied to Greyhounds. At the later of these 
 periods a Dog resembling a Hound is figured, with 
 drooping ears, but with a longer back and more 
 
THE DOG FAMILY— DOG. 
 
 203 
 
 pointed head than in our Hounds. There is, also, a 
 Turnspit, with short and crooked legs, closely resem- 
 bling the existing variety. The most ancient Dog 
 represtemtedi on the Egyptian monuments is one- of 
 the most singular; it resembles a Greyhound, but 
 has long, pointed ears and a short, curled tail. A 
 variety closely allied to it still exists in northern 
 Africa, for Mr. E. V. Harcourt states that the Arab 
 Boar-Hound is an eccentric, hieroglyphic 'animal, 
 such as Cheops once hunted with, somewhat resem- 
 bling the rough Scotch Deer-Hound. With this most 
 ancient variety a Pariah-like Dog coexisted. We 
 thus see that at a period between four and five thou- 
 sand years ago, various breeds, namely Pariah Dogs, 
 Greyhounds, common Hounds, Mastiffs, house 
 Dogs, lap Dogs and Turnspits existed, ipore or 
 less closely resembling our present breeds. But 
 there is not sufficient evidence that any of these 
 ancient Dogs belonged to 
 the same identical subva- 
 rieties with our present 
 Dogs. 
 
 "In Europe the Dog was 
 kept in a domestic state a 
 long time previous to any 
 liistorical record. The 
 bones of a canine animal 
 were imbedded, in the Dan- 
 ish Kitchen-Middens of 
 the Neolithic or Newer- 
 Stone period, and probably 
 ibelonged to a domestic 
 Dog. This ancient Dog 
 was succeeded in Den- 
 mark, during the Bronze 
 period, by a larger and 
 isomewhat different Dog, 
 which, during the Iron pe- 
 riod, was replaced by a still 
 larger kind. A medium- 
 ^ized, domesticated Dog 
 existed in Switzerland in 
 the Neolithic period, which 
 in its skull was about 
 ■equally remote from the 
 Wolf and the Jackal, and 
 partook of the characters 
 ■of our Hounds and Setters 
 ■or Spaniels. During the 
 Bronze period a larger Dog 
 •appeared which, judging 
 from his jaws, resembled 
 a Dog of the same age in 
 Denmark. Schmerling 
 
 found the remains of two notably distinct varieties 
 •of the Dog in a cave, but their age cannot be posi- 
 1;ively determined. 
 
 "The main argument in favor of the several breeds 
 •of the Dog being the descendants of distinct wild 
 :stocks, is the resemblance they bear in different coun- 
 tries to distinct species still existing there. It must, 
 however, be admitted that the comparison between 
 the wild and domesticated animal has, except in a ■ 
 few instances, been made with sufficient exactness. 
 There is no inherent difficulty in the belief that sev- 
 eral canine species have been domesticated. Mem- 
 bers of the Dog family inhabit nearly the whole 
 world, and several species correspond, to a consider- 
 able extent, in their structure and habits, with our 
 several domesticated' Dogs. Savages keep and tame 
 animals of all kinds, naturally preferring sociable ani- 
 
 mals, like the Dog. At an extremely ancient, period, 
 when Man first entered any country, the native ani- 
 mals had no instinctive or inherited fear of him, and 
 would cotfiSfeijiiently- have beefliUamed far more easily 
 than now. For instance, when the Falkland Islands 
 were first visited by Man, the large Wolf-like Dogs 
 {Catiis antarcticus) came to meet Byron's sailors with- 
 out fear ; but the latter fled into the water to avoid 
 them, mistaking the animals' curiosity for ferocity. 
 Even recently a Man, by holding a piece of meat in 
 one hand and a knife in the other, could sometimes 
 stick them at night. At the Galapagos Archipelago 
 I pushed Hawks from a branch with the muzzle of 
 my gun, and held out a pitcher of water for other 
 birds to alight on and drink. It is a more important 
 point that several canine species evince no strong 
 repugnance or inability to breed under confinement; 
 and the incapacity to breed under confinement is one 
 
 ALPINE WOLF. This animal, by some accounted a sub-order of the common Wolf, has so many points 
 
 of difference in size, color, and fur, that it may be properly called a distinct species. It is about thirty-eight 
 inches long, exclusive of the bushy tail, which measures fourteen inches, and its shoulder height is eighteen inches. . 
 Its long, coarse fur is of russet, or yellowish gray, but of lighter tint and longer about the neck; the head is broad, 
 the muzzle blunt and the ears small. It is found in northern Asia and inhabits mountains surrounding the 
 valleys of the Yenesei and Amoor rivers, attacks Deer, especially Roes and Fawns, and the Mountain Goat; 
 runs in packs usually, but sometimes singly and vigorously fights Men and Dogs when they attack it. By some 
 writers it is called the Wild Dog of Siberia. {Canis alpinus.) 
 
 of the commonest bars to domestication. Lastly, 
 savages set the highest value on Dogs — even half- 
 tamed animals are highly useful to them. North 
 American Indians cross their half-wild Dogs with 
 Wolves, and thus render them wilder than before, 
 but bolder. The savages of Guiana catch and par- 
 tially tame and use the whelps of two wild species of 
 Canis, as do the savages of Australia those of the wild 
 Dingo. From these several considerations we see no 
 difficulty in believing that Man might have don\ps- 
 ticated various canine species in different countries. 
 It would have been a strange fact if one species alone 
 had been domesticated throughout the world. 
 Points ofSimi- "We will now enter into details. The 
 larity Between accurate and sagacious Richardson 
 Dog and Wolf, gays ; ' The resemblance between the 
 North American Wolves and the domestic Dogs is so 
 
204 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 great that the size and strength of the Wolf seems 
 to be the only difference. I have more than once 
 mistaken a band of Wolves for the Dogs of a party 
 of Indians, and the howls of the animals of both 
 species is prolonged so exactly in the same key that 
 even the practiced ear of the Indian fails at times to 
 discriminate them. Dr. Kane has often seen in his 
 teams of sledge Dogs the oblique eye (a character- 
 istic on which some naturalists lay great stress), the 
 drooping eye and scared look of the Wolf. In dis- 
 position the Eskimo Dogs differ little from Wolves, 
 and according to Dr. Hayes they are capable of no 
 attachment to Man, and are so savage that when hun- 
 gry they will attack even their masters. According 
 to Kane they readily become feral. Their affinity is 
 so close with Wolves that they frequently cross with 
 them, and the Indians take the whelps of Wolves to 
 improve the breed of their Dogs. Turning to the 
 southern parts of the New World: Columbus found 
 two kinds of Dogs in the West Indies, and Fernan- 
 dez describes three in Mexico. Some of these native 
 Dogs were dumb, that is, did not bark. In Guiana 
 it has been known since the time of Buffon that the 
 natives cross their Dogs with an aboriginal species, 
 apparently the Marcong or Carissi {Canis cancrivorus). 
 A careful observer, Rengger, gives reasons for believ- 
 ing that a hairless Dog was domesticated when Amer- 
 ica was first discovered by Europeans. Some of these 
 Dogs in Paraguay are still dumb, and Tschudi states 
 that they suffer from cold in the Cordilleras. This 
 naked Dog is, however, quite distinct from that found 
 preserved in the ancient Peruvian burial places, and 
 described by Tschudi, under the name of the Inca 
 Dog {Canis ingcB) as withstanding cold well and as 
 barking. It is not known whether these two distinct 
 kinds of Dog are the descendants of native species, 
 and it might be argued that when Man first emigrated 
 into America he brought with him from the Asiatic 
 continent Dogs which had not learned to bark, but 
 this view does not seem probable, as the natives along 
 the line of their march from the north reclaimed, as 
 we have seen, at least two North American species of 
 Canidae. 
 
 "Turning to the Old World: some European Dogs 
 closely resemble the Wolf. Thus the Shepherd 
 Dog of the Hungarian plains so much resembles a 
 Wolf that Mr. Paget, who gives this description, 
 says he has known a Hungarian to mistake a Wolf 
 for one of his own Dogs. 
 
 "The European Wolf differs slightly from that of 
 North America, and has been ranked by many 
 naturalists as a distinct species. The common Wolf 
 of India is also, by some, esteemed as a third spe- 
 cies, and here again we find a marked resemblance 
 between the Pariah Dogs of certain districts of 
 India and the Indian Wolf. With respect to Jackals 
 Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hillaire says that not, one 
 constant difference can be pointed out between their 
 structure and that of the smaller races of Dogs, and 
 they agree closely in habits. Ehrenberg asserts 
 that the domestic Dogs of Lower Egypt and cer- 
 tain mummied Dogs have for their wild types a 
 species of Wolf {Canis lupaster) of the country; 
 whereas certain other mummied Dogs have the 
 closest relation to a wild species of the same coun- 
 try, namely, Canis sabbar, which is only a form of 
 the common Jackal. Jackals and Dogs sometimes 
 naturally cross in the East, and a case is on record 
 in Algeria. I may add that the domestic Dogs on 
 the coast of Guinea are Fox-like animals and are 
 dumb. On the east coast of Africa between latitude 
 
 4° and 6° south and about ten days' journey inland, 
 the Rev. S. Erhardt informs me a semi-domestic' 
 Dog is kept, which the natives assert is derived^ 
 from a similar wild animal. Lichtenstein says that 
 the Dogs of the Bushmen present a striking resem- 
 blance even in color with the Brown Hyaena. Mr. 
 E. Layard informs me that he has seen a Caffrc; 
 Dog which closely resembled an Eskimo Dog. In- 
 Australia the Dingo is both domesticated and wild. 
 Though this animal may have been introduced', 
 aboriginally by Man yet it must be considered as 
 almost an endemic form, for its remains have been' 
 found in a similar state of preservation and associ- 
 ated with extinct mammals, so that its introduction 
 must have been ancient. 
 
 " Fronj this resemblance in several countries of' 
 the half-domesticated Dogs to the wild species still 
 living there; from the facility with which they can 
 often be crossed together; from even half-tamed 
 animals being so much valued by savages, and from 
 the other circumstances previously remarked and 
 which favor their domestication, it is highly prob- 
 able that the domestic Dogs of the world have' 
 descended from two good species of Wolf (namely,.t 
 the Common Wolf and the Coyote) and from two or 
 three other doubtful species of Wolves (namely, the 
 European, Indian and north African forms); from 
 at least one or two South American canine species ; 
 from several races or species of the Jackal ; and' 
 perhaps one or more extinct species. Those authors 
 who attribute great influence to the action of climate 
 by itself may thus account for the resemblance of 
 the domesticated Dogs and native animals in the 
 same countries; but 1 know of no facts supporting 
 the belief in so powerful an action of climate. So I 
 conclude the domestic Dog is nothing but the arti- 
 ficial product of Man." 
 
 The Dingo, An instructive example of the state- 
 or Australian ment that domestic Dogs may return 
 Wild Dog. to the wild state, is given us by the- 
 Dingo or Warragal {Canis dingo), the so-called Aus- 
 tralian Wild Dog, which, in view of his mode of 
 life, I myself have considered one of the original 
 species of wild Dogs ; now that I have seen several 
 specimens of this doubtful tribe, I can only suppose- 
 him to be a domestic Dog run wild. The fact that 
 the Dingo is, with the exception of a few Wing- 
 handed animals and rodents, the only Australian 
 mammal not belonging either to the pouched ani- 
 mals or to the Monotremata, is of great importance 
 in this question. The reasons to the contrary are 
 not valid, unless one considers as such the alleged- 
 discovery of Dingo remains in diluvial strata. It. 
 is, however, difficult to establish the period and cir- 
 cumstances of the return to savagery, and to do so 
 seems of no great importance in the settling of this 
 question, in view of the general character of the 
 animal, which is that of a domestic Dog, and not 
 that of a wild one.* 
 
 Physical The Dingo attains the size of a moder- 
 Characteristics ately large Shepherd Dog. His shape- 
 of the Dingo, js thick-set, the head large and clumsy, 
 the muzzle short and blunt. The ear is erect, wide at 
 the root and rounded at the extremity ; the tail is 
 bushy and reaches lower than the ankle-joints; the 
 limbs appear muscular and are somewhat short; the 
 
 'In the latest researches of MacCoy and Nehring the fossil remains of 
 the Dingo have been found in the pliocene and quartenarystrata of Victo- 
 ria, and therefore the Dingo is proved to be a genuine Wolf, and not a 
 domestic Dog returned to the savage state. He is allied to the Wolf oi 
 India, and immigrated into Australia through the country uniting Australia 
 and southeastern Asia at a certain period of the pliocene epoch. (Note to 
 last German edition.) 
 
PRIZE DOGS or THE INTEENATIONAl DOG SHOW IN HANOVER. 1. Saul.-Schweiszhund or German Bloodhound. 2. 
 
 Hector IV.— German Short-haired Pointer. 3. Runal.— German Short-haired Pointer. 4. Mylord II.— German L'ong-haired Pointer. 5. Diana. 
 Rough-muzzled Dog. 6. Fina.— Female Badger-Dog. 7. Thyra.— Female Badger-Dog. 8. Schnipp.— Long-haired Badger-Dog. 9. Pallas.— Tiger 
 Mastiff. 10. Leo.— German Mastiff, u. Como^- Jtewjousjdland: Dog. 12. Cidwallader.— Alpine Dog. 13. Zulu II.— Pug Dog. 14. Lome.— Bull- 
 Dog. 15. German Sheep Dog. 16. Normahd.— {"re'rich Chien Courant. 17. St. Hubert.— French Chien Courant. 18. Nivernais.— French Chien 
 Courant. 19. Persian Greyhound. 20. D'.^udemer.— Spaniel. 
 
 (20s) 
 
206 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 fur is composed of hairs of uniform length. In 
 most specimens which I saw, the color varied be- 
 tween a vague pale yellowish red and a more or less 
 grayish tinge, or even,. a .ljl^,ck:is]j ,h,u,«;- :The chin, 
 throat, Iqwerparts and tail- are-usually lighter, while. 
 the hair of the upper surface is darker. Though 
 these colors prevail, one may meet black Dingos, 
 or some with white paws and other unusual mark- 
 ings. 
 
 The Dingo is still found in nearly all the denser 
 forests of Australia, upon the eminences grown with 
 shrubs; in the groves of the park-like plains, and on 
 the plains themselves. He ranges throughout the 
 whole continent and is rather common in all parts 
 of it. He is considered the most dangerous foe of 
 flocks and is hunted in every possible manner. 
 
 Habits and In his habits and practices the Dingo 
 Traits of the resembles the Fox more than the Wolf. 
 Dingo. Like the former he hides all day in his 
 lair, in localities where he is not quite secure, and 
 prowls around at night, threatening all Australian 
 quadrupeds. He also resembles the Fox in the 
 trait that he rarely hunts in great packs. Dingoes 
 are generally seen in troops of five or Six, usually a 
 mother with her offspring; but it sometimes happens 
 that a great many Dingoes assemble around a heap 
 of carrion; some settlers state that they have seen 
 as many as eighty or one hundred of these animals 
 together. It is said that Dingo families keep -faith- 
 fully together, and that each family takes posses- 
 sion of an allotted range, never encroaching on the 
 domain of another pack, nor suffering other Dingoes 
 to cross the boundaries they have appropriated for 
 their own hunting grounds. 
 
 Harmful Before the settlers inaugurated a 
 Depredations of determined warfare against this 
 the Dingo. deadly foe of their flocks, they lost 
 an astonishing number of Sheep. It is said that 
 out of one single flock one thousand two hundred 
 head of Sheep and Lambs were lost in three months 
 because of the depredations of the Dingoes. Still 
 greater than the immediate loss that a visit of this 
 predaceous animal entails, are the indirect losses, 
 for upon his appearance the Sheep are seized by an 
 insane fear, which causes them to run away into the 
 wilderness, where they fall a prey to other Dingoes, 
 or perish of thirst. The Dingo also preys on Kan- 
 garoos of all kinds and other larger and smaller 
 animals of the bush. He attacks every animal in- 
 digenous to Australia and fears only domestic Dogs. 
 Shepherd Dogs and Hounds bear eternal enmity to 
 the Dingoes and the wild and tame Dogs pursue 
 each other with eager ferocity. If a number of 
 domestic Dogs see a Dingo, they pounce upon him 
 and tear him to pieces; the reverse happens when a 
 stray tame Dog is found by Dingoes. 
 
 The Dingo When the Dingo meets a human being 
 Holds Man he always flees, if he has the time to do 
 in Fear. go. In his flight he shows all the cun- 
 ning of a Fox, and knows how to profit by every loop- 
 hole of escape, but if he is driven to bay, he turns 
 around in a savage manner and defends himself with 
 the frenzy of despair ; yet even then he tries to make 
 good his escape. Bennett relates really wonderful 
 stories about the Dingo's tenacity of life. A Dingo 
 had been surprised by his enemies and had been 
 beaten so severely that it was thought that all his 
 bones must have been broken ; so he was left lying 
 where he had been struck down. But hardly had the 
 Men left the supposed corpse, when to their great 
 surprise, they saw the animal get up, shake himself 
 
 and hurry to the woods. At the present day the 
 Dingo is being exterminated by fair means and foul. 
 Everybody's hand is against , him, and he is shot, 
 caughj, in traps or poisoned' with strychnine. It is 
 only by chance that he is shot ; for he is too timid 
 and cunning to cross a hunter's path, and even when 
 pursued by Hounds the chances are that he will 
 somehow cunningly elude them. 
 
 The Dingo The Dingo has usually been considered 
 in a incapable of domestication ; yet he is 
 
 Tame State, occasionally found, half-tamed, in the 
 keeping of the Australian natives. A great many 
 Dingos which were kept captive in Europe, remained 
 savage and ferocious and their Wolfish nature con- 
 stantly asserted itself, so that the keepers had always 
 to be on their guard. That opinions as to the char- 
 acter of a whole tribe, when formed from the obser- 
 vation of a few scattered specimens, may be very 
 deceiving, is well illustrated by the Dingoes of the 
 Breslau Zoological Garden. One of them became 
 as tame as a Dog, while the other remained savage. 
 The first named learned to bark (a noteworthy accom- 
 plishment) and used the newly-acquired language to 
 good advantage ; for instance, when a door near the 
 cage was opened, while his untamed companion pro- 
 duced long-drawn, laughing tones, like a Jackal, the 
 tamed animal always joined the duet with a truly 
 Dog-like howl. Schlegel,,to whom I am indebted 
 for this accourtt, was, like myself, of the opinion that 
 the progeny of the Dingoes might be trained to be 
 very useful companions to Man. 
 
 King has succeeded in bringing up a young Dingo, 
 and training him to assist in guarding Cattle; and 
 Pechuel-Loesche observed a beautiful, strong Dingo 
 on board the English iron-clad ship Defence, which 
 roamed about all over the ship like a Dog, climbed 
 the steep stairs with sure-footed dexterity, and was 
 on good terms with everybody on board. 
 
 The Owner- From the Dogs run wild let us now turn 
 less or to those which, though ownerless, yet 
 
 Pariah Dogs, stand in a certain relation of depend- 
 ence to Man. The English have given them the 
 name of Pariah Dogs, and we may well adopt this 
 designation, for Pariahs they are, indeed: miserable, 
 degenerated animals, cast off by the better classes; 
 they are but poor Curs, in spite of their complete 
 freedom; they lick the hand that imposes the yoke 
 of slavery upon them, and seem happy when Man 
 allows them to serve him and keep company with 
 him. 
 
 In the south of Europe the Dogs are kept in a 
 manner quite different from that usual in the north. 
 In Turkey, Greece and southern Russia herds of 
 ownerless Dogs besiege the cities and villages, 
 sometimes entering the streets, but never penetrat- 
 ing into a yard; for, if they did, they would be 
 driven away by the Dogs of the house. They feed 
 chiefly on carrion or occasionally upon small ani- 
 mals, especially Mice and the like. The Dogs kept 
 by peasants in the south of Spain are also fed' very 
 little at home, and they prowl about at night, seek- 
 ing food. According to BoUe, it has occasionally 
 happened, during recent years, on the Canary 
 Islands, that a Dog has run wild and perpetrated 
 great damage among the flocks of Sheep. 
 
 Pariah Dogs All Egyptian cities stand partially 
 of the upon the ruins of former towns, that 
 
 Egyptian Towns, jg to say, on heaps of rubbish. The 
 majority of these cities, and more particularly the 
 largest of them, like Alexandria and Cairo, are sur- 
 rounded for a considerable distance by veritable 
 
THE DOG FAMILY— DOG. 
 
 207 
 
 mountains of debris. These mounds serve as habi- 
 tations for the Dogs that have run wild. The ani- 
 mals are all of one breed, and are of the size of 
 a Shepherd Dog, but have an ungainly shape and 
 a repulsive expression of countenance. The tail is 
 long, rather bushy, and usually pendent; and -the 
 color of their coarse, matted hair is a dingy, reddish 
 brown, sometimes merging into gray or yellow. 
 Other colors, more particularly black and light yel- 
 low, are sometimes seen, but not often. These 
 Dogs live on the elevations just described in a 
 condition of complete independence. There they 
 spend the greater part of the day in sleep, and 
 prowl around at night. Each one of these Dogs has 
 his own habitation, which is arranged with peculiar 
 care, his home consisting of two holes, one of which 
 faces east and the other west. If the situation of 
 the mountain is such that the holes on both sides 
 are exposed to the north wind, each of the animals 
 digs for himself another 
 excavation, into which 
 he moves when the cold 
 wind annoys him in his 
 morning and evening re- 
 treat. In the morning 
 the Dogs can always be 
 found in the holes that 
 face toward the east un- 
 til about eleven o'clock, 
 for in these recesses 
 they await the first rays 
 of the sun to warm them 
 after the cold of the 
 night. Th6 sunshine, in- 
 creasing ill intensity, at 
 last becomes too warm, 
 and one Dog after an- 
 other arouses himself, 
 climbs ovef the summit 
 and slinks 'into his hid- 
 ing place on the other 
 side. When the after- 
 noon sun begins to an- 
 noy them in this retreat 
 the colony returns to the 
 holes on the east side 
 and stays there until 
 sunset. 
 
 Then life begins in the 
 mountains. Large and 
 small troops and some- 
 times packs are formed. 
 Sounds of barking, howl- 
 ing, or quarreling are 
 
 heard, according to the mood the animals are in. A 
 large carcass always causes them to collect in great 
 numbers; a dead Ass or Mule is eaten up even to 
 the largest bones by the hungry pack. If they are 
 very hungry, they go to the carrion even in the day- 
 time, especially if their most disagreeable rivals, the 
 Vultures, should come down, and they fear their 
 competition. They are possessed of professional 
 envy to a high degree, and enter into violent com- 
 bats with all uninvited guests. Vultures are not 
 easily driven away and of all carrion-eaters offer 
 the most determined and courageous resistance, and 
 therefore it is from the competition of these birds 
 that the Dogs sustain the greatest loss. Carrion 
 forms the chief part of their food under all circum- 
 stances ; but these Dogs may sometimes be 
 mounting guard before a Mouse-hole like Cats, or to 
 
 attack a bird, like Jackals or Foxes. When carrion 
 fails them, they undertake long journeys, enter cities . 
 and prowl through the streets. As they clear away 
 vast quantities of filth they are tolerated though not 
 welcome guests, and nowadays it is probably very 
 seldom that a pious Moslem mentions them in his 
 will, as is said to have happened not infrequently in 
 former times. 
 
 When resting in their proper abode these Dogs 
 are rather cautious and timid, and especially shun 
 people in European attire who may endeavor to 
 approach them. If one of the Dogs is attacked a 
 genuine uproar begins. A head appears at every 
 hole and in a few minutes the tops of the mounds 
 are covered with Dogs, which keep up an uninter- 
 rupted yelping. I have hunted these Dogs several 
 times, partly for the purposes of observation, partly 
 with a view to procuring their flesh, which I iised 
 either as bait for wild Vultures or to feed my cap- 
 
 DINGO The wild Dog of Australia, known as the Dingo, is generally dislilced by the present white inhabit- 
 ants because of the damage it causes among the flocks in the great Sheep ranges. The aborigines, however, frequently 
 tamed it sufficiently to make it an important assistant to them in the chase. It is about as large as a medium-sized 
 domestic Dog, has a shaggy coat and a bushy tail, and makes its living by hunting the marsupials and rodents of the 
 southern continent. ( Canis dingo.) 
 
 tive Vultures and Hyaenas. During such hunting 
 expeditions I saw how these animals keep and live 
 together and I also observed the fact that they soon 
 learned to know and fear me. In- Khartum, for 
 instance, it was impossible for me to shoot one of 
 these masterless Dogs, as they would not permit me 
 to approach them nearer than four hundred paces, 
 and they were so wary that they baffled every at- 
 tempt to get within gunshot. 
 
 Sometimes the masterless Dogs increase in such 
 numbers as to become a plague. In order to get 
 rid of these pests Mohammed Ali once freighted a 
 ship with them and threw them overboard into the 
 deep sea. Fortunately cases of hydrophobia are 
 extremely rare among these animals, and instances 
 seen of persons having been bitten by a mad Dog are 
 nearly unknown. 
 
208 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 Ownerless In Constantinople the relation of Man 
 Dogs in to Dog is said to be quite similar. 
 
 Constantinople. Hacklander says: "Inseparable from 
 the streets of the capital is the thought of their per- 
 manent inhabitants, the ownerless Dogs, which one 
 sees in countless numbers. Usually one gets an ex- 
 aggerated impression of things when he reads of 
 them and is disappointed when brought face to face 
 with the facts. This is not the case with these Dogs. 
 Though all travelers agree in representing them as a 
 plague, the majority of these writers are too mild in 
 their description of the nuisance. The animals belong 
 to a quite peculiar breed. In appearance they prob- 
 ably come nearest the Shepherd Dogs, but their tail 
 is not curled, and the short hair is of a dingy yellow. 
 When one sees them slinking along in a lazy manner, 
 ■or lying in the sun, he must confess that no animal 
 Jias a more impudent, I may even say, depraved look. 
 All the streets and squares are full of them; they 
 stand either in a row before the houses, waiting for 
 scraps that may be thrown to them, or they lie in the 
 middle of the street; and the Turks, who carefully 
 avoid harming any living creature, go around them. I 
 have never seen a Moslem kick or beat one of these 
 animals ; but, on the contrary, the tradesman throws 
 them the remains of his meal from his shop. The 
 Turkish Kaikshi and the sailors from the ships do 
 not have this tenderness of feeling, and many a Dog 
 ■ends his life in the Golden Horn. 
 
 " Every street of the city has its own Dogs, which 
 hold possession of it, just as beggars have their par- 
 ticular localities in our large cities; and woe to the 
 Dog which enters a strange domain ! I have often 
 :seen a number of these Dogs pounce upon such a 
 luckless Cur and literally tear him to pieces, if he did 
 not make a hurried escape. Every time we bought 
 ■anything eatable at some corner bazaar, all the Dogs 
 we passed would follow us, and would leave us only 
 when we entered another street, where a similar 
 -escort awaited-us." 
 
 LinncBus' The. description of the character and 
 
 Description of life of domestic Dogs is best begun 
 the Dog. by the incomparable characterization 
 -given by the father of zoology, Linnaeus, in his pecul- 
 iarly succinct and^pertinent manner,: ''Eats?meat,'.c3,r- , 
 masses, cereals, no herbs, digests bones, vomits after 
 partaking of grass. Drinks in a lapping manner ; 
 "the nose is damp, the scent is excellent ; runs side- 
 ways, walks on toes ; perspires very little, lets his 
 tongue hang when he is overheated ; before going to 
 .sleep goes round the spot where he intends to lie ; 
 hearing keen ; when asleep, dreams. The litter of 
 Pups numbers from four to eight, the males resem- 
 bling the father, the females the mother. Very 
 faithful companion of Man; wags his tail at ap- 
 proach of owner; defends him; if owner walks he 
 runs ahead, stopping at crossings; is docile, searches 
 for lost things, makes the rounds of the master's 
 premises at night, announces the approach of people; 
 guards goods, drives Cattle from fields, keeps Rein- 
 deer together, defends Cattle and Sheep from wild 
 animals, keeps' Lions at bay, drives up game, points 
 Ducks, brings killed game to the hunter, turns the 
 spit in France, draws the wagon in Siberia. Pleads 
 for scraps at table; if he has stolen, he timidly hides 
 his tail ; eats greedily. At home he lords it over 
 all ; is the enemy of beggars, and attacks strangers 
 without provocation. Heals wounds, gout and can- 
 cers by licking the affected place. Howls when he 
 hears music, bites at stones which are thrown toward 
 him; feels depressed and has an unpleasant odor 
 
 before a thunderstorm. Suffers from tape-'svorm ; 
 propagates rabies. Finally gets blind and gnaws 
 his own limbs. The American species forgets how 
 to bark. Moslems abhor him. Victim of dissect- 
 ors for observing circulation of blood, etc." 
 
 Character and This description needs nothing save 
 Life of elaboration. All domestic Dogs are 
 
 Domestic Dogs, practically alike in their mode of life 
 and conduct, so long as the influence which the hab- 
 its and customs of human beings exert over them 
 does not change their manner of living. 
 
 Dogs are both diurnal and nocturnal animals, are 
 equally well endowed for light or darkness, and are 
 as active and lively by day as by night. When 
 allowed to do so, they hunt in the daytime as well 
 as after nightfall, showing a predilection for uniting 
 into packs. One of the essential traits of their char- 
 acter is love of society, and this has a most decided 
 influence on their habits. They eat all kinds of food 
 that Man eats, both animal and vegetable food, and 
 are indifferent as to whether it is cooked or raw. 
 They are most fond of meat, especially if it has 
 begun to decompose a little, and they greedily 
 devour carcasses. Some of the breeds prefer meat 
 to any other food, others esteem it less highly. Of 
 cooked foods they prefer that which is of a wheaten 
 nature, especially if it be sweet; and those Dogs that 
 eat fruit prefer the sweet to that which has an acid 
 flavor. Bones, good broth, bread, vegetables and 
 milk are the best food for a Dog; fat and too much 
 salt are harmful. He can also thrive on an exclu- 
 sive bread diet if he is trained to eat it at regular 
 times. His food should never be given to him hot, 
 but should always be lukewarm and served to him in 
 a clean dish. An adult Dog receives sufiScient nour- 
 ishment if he eats his fill once a day, but it is better 
 to feed him twice daily, and if he is given enough 
 to eat in the evening he will be a more faithful 
 watch Dog; for a hungry Dog may not infrequently 
 be bribed into treachery by a meal. Dogs drink a 
 great d,eal of water, lapping it with the tongue, 
 which they bend in the shape of a spoon, curving 
 the tip. A plentiful supply of water is an essential 
 condition to their health. ,. • 
 
 Physical The Dbg can run and swim excellently. 
 
 Traits of the and can also climb to a limited extent, 
 ^"S- but he finds it difficult to walk on the 
 
 edge of a precipice without becoming dizzy. He 
 walks and trots in a peculiar slanting direction. 
 When running quickly, he may take leaps of consid- 
 erable length, but is not capable of making sudden 
 turns. Some Dogs are very fond of the water, but 
 those that are spoiled in training are afraid of it. 
 The climbing abilities of Dogs I observed in Africa. 
 They climb walls or the slightly inclined roofs that 
 are common in that country, very adroitly, and run 
 on the narrowest landings with the unfailing security 
 of Cats. In repose the Dog either sits on his hind 
 legs, or lies down on his side or abdomen stretching 
 his hind legs sideways and his fore-legs to the front, 
 and putting his head between them. He rarely 
 stretches his hind legs behind him. 
 
 All Dogs like to sleep, but only at intervals, and 
 their sleep is very light and restless, frequently dis- 
 turbed by dreams, which cause them a perturbation 
 which they indicate by wagging their tails, by twitch- 
 ing movements, growling or low barking. They are 
 exceedingly cleanly in their habits; and the place 
 where they are kept, and especially where they sleep, 
 must be kept clean. They perspire very little, even 
 when they have been running for a long time ; saliva 
 
PRIZE DOGS or THE INTERNATIONAL DOG SHOW AT GLEVE. 1. Druamah— Scotch Deerhound. 2. Hercules— English Blood- 
 
 Ihound. 3. Job.— German Long-Haired Pointer. 4. Cora.— German Smooth-coated female Pointer. 5. Longa.— Female Badger-Dog. 6. Nero.— German 
 "Tiger" Mastiff. 7. Prince.— English Mastiff. 8. Mohr.— Pomeranian Dog. 9. Solo.— White Poodle. 10. Gessler.— Alpine Dog. 11. Rattler.— Ger- 
 man Rough-coated Terrier. 
 
 (209) 
 
210 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 takes the place of the perspiration, and drops from 
 their tongues, which they let hang from their mouths 
 when they are overheated. 
 Development The senses of the Dog are acute, but 
 0/ the not evenly developed in the different 
 Senses in Dogs, breeds. Smelling, hearing and sight 
 seem to rank first, some being distinguished by their 
 scent, some by their keenness of sight. The sense 
 of taste in Dogs cannot be disputed, but it finds 
 expression in a strange manner. Everything th^t 
 excites their organs of sense too much is distasteful 
 to them. They are least susceptible to light, and 
 most to loud, yelling sounds and pungent odors. 
 Ringing bells and music make them howl. Cologne 
 water, ammonia and ether excite their disgust when 
 held under their noses. The sense of smell is exceed- 
 ingly well developed in some breeds of Dogs and 
 attains a degree of acuteness which is scarcely com- 
 prehensible to a human being. 
 
 Scheitlin on Books might be written about the 
 Mental Charac- mental characteristics of Dogs ; it 
 teristics of Dogs, jg very difficult to describe them in 
 a few words. The description of the Dog's mind 
 which has pleased me most, has been given by 
 Scheitlin, and I will here reproduce some portions 
 of it: "As great as may be the physical difference 
 between Dogs," says he, "the mental dissimilarity is 
 still greater; for some breeds are incapable of learn- 
 ing, while others learn all kinds of tricks and duties 
 almost instantly. Some cannot be tamed at all, 
 others become tame very soon, and what some love, 
 others hate. The Poodle goes into the water of its 
 own accord, the, Spitz desires to always remain at 
 home. The Mastiff may be trained to attack Man, 
 the Poodle cannot be made to do so. The Hound 
 alone has a perfect scent. The Bear Hound is the 
 only Dog that will attack a Bear by biting at its 
 hind legs; and it is only the long Badger Dog, 
 which seems to need an additional pair of legs in 
 the middle, that is so low in stature and ha:s such 
 crooked limbs that it can easily crawl into a Badg- 
 er's burrow; a feat it performs with a degree of 
 pleasure equal to that with which the Drover's Dog, 
 describing great curves, compels a drove of Calves 
 and Cattle to hurry onward. 
 
 " The Newfoundland Dog does not fear the Wolf, 
 and is therefore fitted for guarding flocks ; he 
 digs, swims and dives, and pulls people out of the 
 water. The Drover's Dog, which also contends 
 with the Wolf, is a good guardian of flocks, hunts 
 Wild Boars and all other large animals; shows 
 reasoning powers and affection, but will not go into 
 water unless compelled to do so. He is used and 
 abused in the chase, and according to a settled psy- 
 chological law, this renders him a real brute, espe- 
 cially with young Calves, which do not defend them- 
 selves with their heels, and which he consequently 
 does not fear. His bloodthirstiness is repellant, and 
 his inclination to bite, to drink blood, and to pull 
 about and devour remains of animals, are his worst 
 qualities. The Greyhound is said to lack nearly 
 all reasoning powers, capability of education and 
 faithfulness, and to be childishly fond of a stran- 
 ger's caresses ; still he may be trairied to course 
 Hares. The Setter indicates its most striking trait 
 by its name. The Dog and every other animal must 
 first give an intimation of what it likes, before it can 
 be trained. The King Charles Spaniels seem to have 
 been created for the sole pleasure of being carried 
 in ladies' arms, to sleep on sofas, to lie in people's 
 laps, to growl at strangers, to stay in rooms, to 
 
 drink out of their mistress' glass and eat out of her 
 plate, and to be kissed. The Hound is praised for 
 his keen scent, his . sagacity, docility and faithful 
 affection for his master. The house and Shepherd 
 Dogs are equally sagacious, and are also good 
 watch. Dogs. The Spitz, or Pomeranian Dog, is 
 said to be clever, docile, lively and agile, to be 
 addicted to biting,, and a good watch Dog, but some 
 varieties of this species are treacherous and deceitful. 
 The northern Dpg is devoted to Man, but does not 
 know his master, is not afraid of blows, has an insa- 
 tiable appetite, and yet can endure hunger for a long 
 time. The Mastiff's character is a combination of 
 faithfulness with little sagacity. He is a good watch 
 Dog, a fierce, courageous antagonist of the Wild 
 Boar, Lion,; Tiger and Panther, and sets little value 
 on his life. He can be guided by a wink of the eye, 
 a gesture, or still more by a word from his master ; 
 and may be trained to attack Man, not fearing to 
 enter into combat with three or four Men. When 
 engaged in an onslaught he pays no attention to 
 shots, stabs or lacerated limbs, and enters into- 
 dreadful fights with animals of his own kind. The 
 Mastiff is very strong, being able to pull down the 
 strongest Man and strangle him, or hold him captive 
 and helpless until he is released, and he can hold an. 
 enraged Wild Boar by the ear so that it cannot move. 
 The Mastiff is remarkably obedient, and has con- 
 siderably more sense than is usually accredited to 
 him. The Dog which stands on the lowest plane is 
 undeniably the Pug Dog. He owes his degeneration 
 to mental deterioration, and naturally cannot elevate 
 himself. He does not comprehend the human mind,, 
 neither does the human mind understand him. 
 
 Great "The body of the Dog has in life sO' 
 
 Capabilities of spiritual an expression that the skin 
 the Dog. of the dead animal cannpt be effect- 
 ually stuffed. The mind of the Dog is -undeniably 
 as perfect as an animal's mind can be. ' Of no other 
 brute creature can it so appropriately.be said that 
 the only human quality he lacks is that of speech. 
 Of no other animal have we so many pictures of all 
 his different varieties, such an extraordinary number 
 of anecdotes illustrating his sagacity, his memory, 
 his reasoning powers, his imagination and even his- 
 moral qualities, such as faithfulness, affection, grati- 
 tude, vigilance, love for his master, patience with 
 human beings, ferocity toward 'and ha.tred of- his. 
 master's enemies, etc., and no other animal is there- 
 fore so frequently pointed out to us as a pattern^ 
 How much there is to tell of his docility ! He can. 
 dance, drum, walk a rope, mount guard, take and. 
 defend fortresses, shoot off pistols; he turns the 
 spit, drags the wagon ; he can be taught to recognize- 
 notes, numbers, cards, letters; to take his master's 
 hat off, bring his slippers, and even attempt to take 
 his shoes off; he knows the language of the eyes and. 
 of the face and many other things." 
 
 "I have known Dogs," says Lenz, "which ap- 
 peared to understand nearly every word their master 
 uttered, opened and shut doors at his command, 
 brought in a chair, a table or a bench, took off or 
 brought his hat, looked for and brought a hidden 
 handkerchief or such things, sought and found a 
 stranger's hat among a lot of others by scent, etc. 
 It is a pleasure to watch a clever Dog, the manner 
 in which he turns his ears and ey€s when expecting 
 his master's command, how pleased he is when he is 
 allowed to follow his master's footsteps, what a mis- 
 erable face he makes when he is made to remain at 
 home; how, when he has run ahead, he stops at a. 
 
THE DOG FAMILY—DOG. 
 
 211 
 
 crossing and looks back for an indication as to 
 ■whetlier he shall go to the right or to the left; how 
 happy he is when he has done a clever thing, how 
 .ashamed when he makes a blunder ! How, when 
 he has been up to some mischief and is not certain 
 whether his master has perceived it, he lies down, 
 yawns, makes believe he is half asleep and indiffer- 
 ent in order to put suspicion on. a wrong track, and 
 still casts an anxious, tell-tale glance at his master 
 from time to time ! He soon knows every friend of 
 the house, easily discriminates between the welcome 
 and unwelcome visitors and harbors a dislike for 
 beggars. It is a pretty sight to see him looking for 
 truffles for his master, though naturally the Dog is 
 not fond of them; or how he helps his master drag 
 a wagon and makes greater efforts when he sees his 
 master do so." 
 Most Promi- All this goes to shew that the several 
 nent Traits species of Dogs differ from each other 
 in Dogs. mentally as much as they do physically. 
 Unwavering faithfulness 
 and affection for his mas- 
 ter, unconditional obedi- 
 ence and devotion, alert 
 vigilance, gentleness, an 
 obliging and kind dispo- 
 rsition, the'se are the prom- 
 inent traits of their 
 •character. No one Dog 
 combines them all in an 
 equally high degree; some 
 -of these characteristics 
 will be more and the oth- 
 ers less prominent in one 
 Dog than in another. Ed- 
 ucation has more to do 
 with forming a Dog's 
 character than is gener- 
 ally supposed. Only well 
 disposed human beings 
 can bring up Dogs prop- 
 erly. The Dog is a faith- 
 ful mirror of his master. 
 The kinder, the more at- 
 tentive one is to him, the 
 better and cleaner one 
 Tceeps him, the more rea- 
 sonably one demeans 
 himself with him, the 
 more sensible and good 
 -Tie becomes; and exactly 
 the reverse happens if 
 the Dog has received bad 
 treatment. He adapts 
 
 himself to all circumstances and is always devoted 
 to Man, -body and soul. This high virtue is usually 
 not appreciated and therefore the word "Dog" is 
 still used as an insulting term, while it should, prop- 
 erly, mean the reverse. The great variety of the 
 Dog's capabilities lifts him to the highest plane in 
 animal nature, and his faithfulness makes him Man's 
 most indispensable companion. 
 Ue Marked Several peculiarities are possessed by 
 Peculiarities nearly all species. Many Dogs howl 
 of Dogs. and bark at the moon, without any ob- 
 vious reason. Their nature incites them to quickly 
 follow any moving beings or objects, whether Men 
 or animals, wagons, balls or stones, which they try 
 to seize and impede even when they are well aware 
 that the object of attack is entirely useless to them. 
 They are great enemies of certain animals, without 
 
 any real cause. For example. Dogs hate Cats and 
 Hedgehogs, and eveh take pleasure in torturing 
 themselves by biting into the bristles of the latter 
 animals, although they know very well that such an 
 onslaught is sure to prove unsuccessful and result 
 in nothing better than bloody noses and snouts. 
 
 The strong presentiment which a Dog possesses 
 of impending change of weather seems worthy of 
 notice. The approach of rain is indicated by an 
 unpleasant odor exhaled by his body at such times. 
 
 Dogs rarely live on very good terms with one 
 another. When two strange Dogs meet, they first 
 sniff each other, then they show their teeth and a 
 fight is on, unless tender feelings come into play. 
 The more surprising, therefore, are the very sincere 
 friendships which Dogs sometimes strike up. Such 
 comrades never quarrel, but seek each other's society 
 and "assist each other in case of necessity. Similar 
 alliances are sometimes entered into with other ani- 
 mals, and even the popular saying about Cat and 
 
 THE GREYHOUND, Coming originally from the region of Arabia and Egypt, tlie beautiful Greyhound is 
 
 admired wherever beauty, grace and fidelity are appreciated. The slender body, long legs and intelligent head with 
 drooping ears, the long thin tail, the short smooth fur, and the graceful bearing of this noble friend of Man are fully, 
 brought out in this illustration. ( Canis familiaris grajus.) 
 
 Dog may be refuted by exceptional examples. 
 The H/lother The birth of Pups usually takes place 
 Dog and Her in some dark corner, the litter number- 
 Puppies. jfig from three to ten, usually from four 
 to six, and in rare instances twenty or more Pups, 
 which are born with incisor teeth already developed, 
 but remain blind for ten or twelve days. The mother 
 is tenderly devoted to her young, suckles and cares 
 for them, licks, warms and defends them, and, not 
 infrequently, changes their place of abode, carrying 
 therti gently by the loose skin of the neck. Her 
 love for her offspring is really touching, and there 
 are well-attested stories that must incite not only 
 our esteem, but our admiration. Bechstein relates a 
 fact, which seems almost incredible: "A shepherd 
 in Waltershaiisen was in the habit of buying Sheep 
 every spring in Eichsfeld and. of course, his Sheep 
 
212 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 Dog, a female, had to accompany him on the jour- 
 ney, which was a distance of eighteen miles. Once 
 she gave birth to seven Pups in a strange locality 
 and the shepherd had to leave her there. But a day 
 and a half after his return he found the mother Dog 
 with her seven Pups at the house door. She had 
 carried the little ones, one after another, a short 
 space at a time, and in this way made the entire dis- 
 tance thirteen times, in spite of her weakness and 
 
 ITALIAN GBETHOUND. Because of its great symmetry oi body and limb the Italian Greyhound is 
 
 highly prized by connoisseurs of Dogs. It is the smallest of the Greyhounds, but its more delicately shaped out- 
 lines and especially smooth, soft coat make it a great favorite. It resembles the other Greyhounds in its general 
 traits. ( Canis familiaris grajus italicus.) 
 
 exhaustion, and had successfully accomplished the 
 difficult task." 
 
 How Young It is usual to retain but two or three 
 Puppies Should or at the most four Pups out of a 
 
 be Trained. Htter, in order not to weaken the 
 mother too much. The little fellows need a great 
 deal of nourishment, and the mother is hardly able 
 to satisfy them. Man, being the animal's protector, 
 ought to feed a suckling mother Dog particularly 
 well. Every thoughtful owner of such an animal 
 prepares for her a soft place in some dark, warm 
 corner, and then helps her to rear the little family 
 as best he can. The mother seems to have a heart 
 capable of great love, and she tolerates strange 
 Pups, or even other animals, such- as Kittens and 
 little Rabbits that may be given her. I have often 
 tried this experiment, but think that suckling Cats 
 are still kinder than a mother Dog, which rarely can 
 refrain from wrinkling her nose somewhat disdain- 
 fully at foster children. Still they prove excellent 
 wet-nurses for Lion and Tiger cubs. 
 
 Usually the Pups are weaned after six weeks. 
 The mother is then put on short rations, so that 
 her milk will dry up. The young ones are taught to 
 eat light, solid food and trained to be cleanly in their 
 habits. They shed their first teeth during the third 
 or fourth month; at the age of six months they do 
 not care much for the mother. If one wishes to 
 educate or train them, he must not wait much longer 
 before he begins. The opinion prevailing among 
 
 hunters and Dog breeders of the old school that a 
 Dog is too young and weak to be taught before he 
 is a year old is not correct. Adolph and Karl 
 Mueller, who are distinguished both as naturalists 
 and sportsmen, begin the training of their Hounds 
 as soon as they can run, and their success has beea 
 marked. Their pupils do not receive a single ill- 
 meant blow, hardly ever an angry word or any cor- 
 rection beyond a slight remonstrance, and they turn 
 
 out to be the most efficient 
 companions and assistants 
 in the chase. Young Dogs 
 ought to be treated like 
 Children and not like stub- 
 born slaves. They are, with- 
 out exception, willing and 
 docile pupils, soon listen 
 attentively to every word 
 of the trainer, and do more 
 and better work when actu- 
 ated by love than when 
 impelled by fear. Trainers 
 of Dogs who can do noth- 
 ing without a collar of 
 thorns and a whip are igno- 
 rant torturers, and not 
 thinking educators. 
 Length of Life Dogs enter 
 and Diseases upon old age 
 of Dogs. when they 
 are twelve years old. In- 
 stances are on record, how- 
 ever, where they have* 
 lived to be twenty, or even 
 as much as thirty years old; 
 but these are rare, excep- 
 tional cases. If they do 
 not die of o 1 d age their 
 death is caused by one of 
 the many diseases to which 
 they are subject. 
 A very common Dog disease is the mange, caused 
 by parasites, and not, as was formerly believed, in 
 consequence of improper food, lack of exercise or 
 uncleanliness. Young Dogs often suffer from dis- 
 temper, consisting of a contagious inflammation of 
 the mucous membranes, occurring oftenest between 
 the fourth and ninth months of their age. It may 
 be said that more than half of the European Dogs 
 succumb to it, or at least have their usefulness 
 spoiled by it. They also suffer from parasites, of 
 which- more than a dozen kinds are known. They 
 are often infested with Fleas and Lice, and in cer- 
 tain localities suffer from Ticks. The former are 
 easily got rid of by strewing a layer of ashes on 
 the ground under the straw upon which the animal 
 sleeps, or else by rubbing Persian insect powder 
 into the fur. The Ticks which plague them most 
 may be exterminated by dropping a little brandy, 
 salt-water or tobacco juice on them. It is not ad- 
 visable to tear these insects out by force, as the head 
 is apt to remain in the wound and cause suppura- 
 tion and abscesses. 
 Hydrophobia, its The most terrible malady known tO' 
 Symptoms and Dogs is hydrophobia or rabies, 
 Dangers. which endangers not only other 
 Dogs and domestic animals, but also human beings. 
 Usually this fearful malady occurs in the older Dogs, 
 mostly in summer, when the heat is greatest, or 
 in winter, when the cold is intense. One may recog- 
 nize it by the Dog's changed conduct. He becomes 
 
THE DOG FAMILY— DOG. 
 
 21* 
 
 
 
 deceitfully amiable, or growls at his master, shows 
 an unusual drowsiness and melancholy, constantly 
 looks for warm places, often slinks to his food, but 
 does not eat, drinks water greedily, but in small 
 quantities, and generally behaves in a restless, dis- 
 turbed manner. Unmistakable signs are also a 
 change in his voice, the bark becoming a hoarse 
 howl, loss of appetite, inability to swallow, flow of 
 saliva, a bleareii look; he makes frequent trips out 
 side the house, licks and swallows strange objects, 
 and, as the disease advances, snaps and bites with- 
 out cause. In the later stages constipation sets in, 
 the ears droop, the tail hangs down, the eye has a 
 dull and squinting look. Then the eye becomes red 
 and inflamed. The Dog ceases to be susceptible to 
 caresses, pays no attention to his master's command, 
 becomes more and more restless and shy ; his look 
 is rigid or fiery, the head droops, the eyes and 
 cheeks swell, the tongue becomes very red and 
 hangs out of the mouth, from the sides of which 
 viscid saliva runs down. Soon the animal only 
 growls without barking, and ceases to recognize 
 any person, even his master. He pants for a drink, 
 but cannot swallow ; the water chokes him and the 
 muscles of the gullet contract convulsively. Then 
 a dread of water and all other liquids begins. He 
 ceases to lie down, but slinks around with drooping 
 tail and squinting eye. 
 
 After this stage the x^^^-- 
 
 malady develops into a c 
 
 quiet or a raging variety. 
 In the former the eyes 
 are inflamed, but rigid 
 and blear; the tongue 
 becomes bluish and 
 hangs out. White foam 
 covers the corners of the 
 mouth, which is always 
 open; the lower jaw be- 
 comes paralyzed and 
 droops. With his tail be- 
 tween his legs and with 
 deep sunken head the 
 Dog runs for miles, stag- 
 gering and shivering, 
 biting everything that 
 crosses his path, espe- 
 cially other Dogs. If he 
 encounters an obstacle 
 in his way, which does 
 not allow of his pro- 
 ceeding in a straight di- 
 rection, he turns around 
 in a circle, falling and 
 snapping. 
 
 In the raging variety 
 the eye glistens, the pu- 
 pil enlarges, the mouth 
 is open but little, is cov- 
 ered with saliva and the 
 bluish tongue hangs out. 
 Even in the first stages 
 
 of this form of rabies, the Dog shows a great deal 
 of obstinacy and deceit, even towards his master; 
 he involuntarily snaps after Flies or anything that 
 approaches him; attacks poultry and tears it to 
 pieces without eating; invites other Dogs to join 
 him and then makes ferocious rushes at them; shows 
 his teeth, distorts his face, whines, licks his lips with 
 his inflamed tongue, watery saliva dropping from 
 his mouth the while. He turns away from water m 
 
 a staggering manner, but still may swim across riverst 
 and pools. He bites everything he encounters, even, 
 inanimate objects, and if chained up bites his chain. 
 The ancient Greeks knew hydrophobia, though it 
 is of much rarer occurrence in the southern coun- 
 tries than in somewhat colder latitudes. In the 
 arctic and torrid zones the malady occurs very 
 rarely, or not at all. 
 
 Remedies for Per- Many remedies have been vaunted 
 sons Suffering as a cure for rabies, but they have 
 from Rabies, not proved efificacious; and it has 
 been generally found impossible to say whether the 
 animal which had bitten a person was really suffer- 
 ing from rabies or not. The only unfailing remedy 
 was the cauterization of the wound, but it had to be 
 done immediately and thoroughly. If this was neg- 
 lected, or if the poison had already penetrated into» 
 the body, it depended on circumstances over whiche 
 Man had no control, whether disease, and with it: 
 death, would result. Lately Pasteur has tried t* 
 save even such cases. His procedure consists in 
 the inoculation of the disease as early as possible, irr. 
 the same manner as small-pox is prevented by vac- 
 cination. He dries the spinal marrow of rabid ani- 
 mals, rubs it in broth and injects this mixture into 
 the skin several times. By the drying process the 
 spinal marrow is weakened in the intensity of its 
 
 SCOTCH GBEYHOUND. This breed of Greyhound is by its much longer and thicker fur, better adapted" 
 
 than any of the others to withstand cold climates. The markings of black or brown and white, added to an intelligent 
 head and a kind disposition, make this Dog both a beautiful and a faithful companion to Man. {Cams famitiaris 
 grajus hibernicus.) 
 
 poison and converted into a protective virus for in- 
 oculation. Thousands of people have been treated, 
 in this way since 1885. Many of them have un- 
 doubtedly been bitten by Dogs that were mistakenly 
 suspected of being rabid; but there still remains a. 
 great number of persons who have been bitten by 
 really mad Dogs. Of these some have died in spite; 
 of, or perhaps in consequence of, the inoculation^, 
 while the majority have been saved from death by it. 
 
214 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 Signs of Health The best sign of a Dog's health is a 
 and Sickness cold, moist nose. If the nose be- 
 in Dogs. comes dry and hot, if the eyes be- 
 
 come blear and the appetite fails, one may be sure 
 that the Dog is ill. If his condition does not rap- 
 idly improve and the remedies prescribed by a good 
 veterinary surgeon have no effect, there is little 
 hope for recovery; for few Dogs live through seri- 
 ous disease. Wounds heal quickly and well, fre- 
 quently without any assistance; but diseases of the 
 
 THE DANISH DOG. One of the noblest of Dogs, and the handsomest of the Mastiff 
 
 ■group, is the Danish Dog. The long legs give it great running ability, and the strong body and limbs 
 confer upon the animal great powers ot endurance, while the eyes speak kindness and intelligence. 
 (^Canis familiaris molossus danicus.) 
 
 inner organs generally baffle even experienced phy- 
 sicians, and bunglers still more surely, and such dis- 
 eases end fatally in a surprisingly short time. 
 Great Useful- The usefulness of the Dog can not be 
 ness of the easily overestimated. Every reader 
 ^off- knows from experience what "k part the 
 
 Dog plays with civilized peoples, but the animal is 
 still more important to savage and uncivilized tribes. 
 His flesh is eaten on the South Sea Islands, and by 
 sundry African tribes, the Tungus, Chinese, Eskimos, 
 North American Indians, etc. In China one often 
 sees butchers carrying slain Dogs, and those bearing 
 such burdens always have to defend themselves 
 against the attacks of other Dogs, which fun about 
 and attack them in packs. Let us here mention 
 another relation between Man and Dog, which may 
 seem to us horrid and uncanny : since Bernardin de 
 St. Pierre gave utterance to the idea that Dog-eating 
 was the first step towards the eating of Man, anthro- 
 pology has gathered many facts tending to confirm 
 the opinion that the habit of consuming Dog's flesh 
 is either a precursor, an accompaniment, or a remnant 
 of the cannibal habit. 
 
 Even where the Dog is occasionally or regularly 
 used as an article of food, he still is the companion 
 and assistant of Man. In the tropics he serves, in 
 the capacities of sentinel and assistant in the chase, 
 even those people of the lowest races who have no 
 individual name for him; while the northern nations 
 would be helpless without him, for he drags their 
 sleds over the deserts of ice and snow, or carries the 
 hunter's outfit on his back, like a beast of burden. 
 In northern Asia Dog furs are manufactured into 
 clothing, and even in Germany caps, 
 pouches and muffs are made out of 
 them. The bones and tendons serve 
 to make glue; the tough, thin skin is 
 tanned and made into shoes and 
 gloves, while the hair is used as a 
 stufiSng in upholstery. Dog's fat is 
 utilized to make wagon -grease, and 
 was formerly used as a medicine, in 
 consumption. On the field of battle 
 in former times. Dogs were also used: 
 not as it is in our day proposed to 
 use them, as trained warners and 
 fleet-footed messengers easily escap- 
 ing detection, but as real fighters by 
 the side of the warriors. When the 
 Spaniards were subjecting the coun- 
 tries of the New World, the Blood- 
 houndfe played no small part as fight- 
 ing companions, and many of these 
 animals were esteemed for their 
 bravery and distinguished deeds of 
 daring, and were honored as much 
 as any hero among the greedy army 
 of the conquerors. Like all partici- 
 pants in those fights and pillages, 
 these Dogs, or, rather, their masters 
 for them, received their share of 
 booty. Later on, up to very recent 
 times, it was usual to track escaped 
 slaves or subjugated natives, who 
 had deserted the yoke of the Euro- 
 peans, by Bloodhounds into the very 
 wilderness; [and similar methods 
 were sometimes resorted to in recap- 
 turing fugitive Negroes during the 
 days of slavery in the United States]. 
 The usefulness of Dogs was appre- 
 ciated in the oldest times; but the treatment they 
 received and the esteem accorded them varied much. 
 Socrates was wont to swear by the Dog; Alexander 
 the Great was so afflicted at the early death of his 
 favorite Dog that he built a city with temples in 
 honor of the lamented animal. Homer sings in a 
 touching manner the praises of Odysseus' Dog, 
 Argus. Pliny valued Dogs highly and narrated 
 many things about them ; he stated, for instance, 
 that the Colophonians kept great herds of Dogs on 
 account of their constant wars, and that the Dogs 
 were first in the attack and did not scruple to take 
 part in any battle. When Alexander the Great went 
 to India, the king of Albania made him a present of 
 a Dog of immense size, which pleased Alexander 
 very much. He pitted Bears, Wild Boars and other 
 animals against him, but the Dog lay quite still and 
 did not get up. Alexander believed him to be lazy 
 and ordered him killed. When the king heard of 
 this, he sent another Dog of the same breed, with a 
 message that Alexander should not send weak ani- 
 mals against him, but Lions and Elephants. The 
 king had had only two such Dogs, and if Alex- 
 
THE DOG FAMILY— GREYHOUND. 
 
 215 
 
 ander killed this one, his like would not remain 
 upon earth. So Alexander made the Dog fight first 
 with a Lion, then with an Elephant, and both of 
 these animals were killed. The ancient Egyptians 
 used Dogs in the chase, and, as is seen from the 
 monuments left by that interesting people^ they 
 thought highly of them. The Hebrews, on the 
 other hand, despised the Dog, as is proven by many 
 passages in the Bible, and the Arabs of to-day still 
 hold him in contempt. The ancient Germans hon- 
 ored the Dog highly. When the Cimbri were con- 
 quered by the Romans, io8 B. C, the latter still had 
 a hard fight with the Dogs which guarded the bag- 
 gage of the defeated army. The Canary Islands de- 
 rive their name from Dogs, as Pliny tells us. Von 
 Humboldt writes that in Peru it was customary to 
 beat Dogs during a lunar eclipse, until the eclipse 
 was over. 
 
 It is amusing to read what medicinal uses the Dog 
 could be put to, according to the older authors. 
 The entire Dog was, in their opinion, made up of 
 medicines of varied virtues. 
 
 Having considered the Dog in general, let us turn 
 to some of the breeds of this remarkable tribe, 
 selecting only the most 
 important out of the 
 numberless array of 
 species. Reichenbach 
 counts one hundred and 
 ninety -five different 
 kinds! 
 
 THE GREYHOUND. 
 
 The distinguishing 
 features of the Grey- 
 hound ( Cards familiaris 
 grajus) are an extreme! v 
 slender, graceful bod 
 a pointed, finely shap( 1 
 head, thin, long liml: 
 and usually smootl 
 short hair. The fine, 
 elongated muzzle, the 
 rather long, narrow, 
 pointed ears, half of 
 which stand erect, the 
 other half hanging over 
 and grown with short 
 hair, the short, stiff lips, 
 give the head an ex- 
 tremely graceful ap- 
 pearance and at the 
 same time indicate a 
 different development 
 of the senses. The Grey- 
 hound sees and hears 
 excellently, but its sense 
 of smell is deficient, as 
 the nasal bones have but 
 little room for expan- 
 sion in the narrow nose, and the nasal nerves there- 
 fore can never attain as high a development as in 
 other Dogs. The chest is the most remarkable part 
 of the body. It is wide and capacious, and con- 
 tains relatively very large lungs, capable of inhaling 
 enough oxygen to purify the blood, the circulation of 
 which is greatly increased by rapid exercise. The 
 loins, on the contrary, are extremely retracted, as 
 if they were intended to compensate for the extra 
 weight of the large chest. We have noticed a sim- 
 ilar shape in the Long-armed Apes, or Gibbons, 
 
 and the Cheetah, and we find it in a great many 
 other animals, always as an unmistakable proo^ of 
 capacity for swift and enduring motion. The limbs 
 of the Greyhound are exceedingly fine, and every 
 muscle in them, and especially the strong tendons 
 in which the muscles terminate, are plainly visible. 
 But the chest also shows all the intercostal muscles, 
 and some Greyhounds look as if their muscles had 
 already been laid bare by a skillful dissector. The 
 tail is very thin, rather long, reaching below the 
 ankle-joints, and either hangs down or the Dog 
 extends it horizontally behind him with a slight 
 upward curve. The hair is usually thick, fine and 
 smooth, but in some varieties it is longer and also 
 assumes a hue different from that of the others, most 
 breeds being of a tawny hue. The most perfect 
 Greyhounds, namely, those of Persia and central 
 Africa, are nearly always of this color. Spotted 
 Greyhounds are more rare and always weaker than 
 those of a uniform color. 
 
 Traits and The Greyhound differs from other 
 
 Uses of the Dogs in his mental qualities. He is 
 
 Greyhound. ^n exceedingly selfish animal, being, 
 
 as a rule, not very faithful to his master, but liking 
 
 iVt^hneTt 
 
 THE GESMAN KASTIFF.- 
 
 A famous breed of Dogs, popular in Germany, or sirong ana vigorous Duua 
 and great sagacity; a kind friend, but a powerful antagonist. Perhapsno animal of modern times is more widely known 
 or has been more written about than Prince Bismarck's "Dog of the Empire," a fine specimen of this breed. {Canis 
 familiaris molossus germanicus.) 
 
 to be petted by everybody and inclining to any one 
 who is kind to him. If his master treats him with 
 unvarying kindness, he is pleased and becomes to 
 a certain extent attached to him; but his unfaithful- 
 ness displays itself when somebody else pets him 
 more than his master. This faithlessness is histor- 
 ical. When Edward HI. died his Greyhound left 
 him at the very instant and went over to his 
 enemies. However, there are praiseworthy excep- 
 tions among the Greyhounds, individuals which are 
 scarcely inferior to other Dogs in point of affection 
 
;16 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 and faithfulness; and these dutiful animals reconcile 
 us to the breed in this respect. 
 
 The Greyhound acts toward other Dogs precisely 
 as he does toward human beings. He does not 
 bear them any love, and adopts a manner almost 
 of indifference toward them; but if a fight is started 
 he is the first to bite and may become dangerous; 
 for in spite of his fine, slender body he is strong, 
 and as soon as the biting stage of a fight is reached 
 he takes advantage of his high stature, holding his 
 opponent by the nape of the neck, tightening his 
 grasp when the other Dog moves, tries to lift him 
 
 THE BULLDOCr. The type of strength, courage and persistent determination, above all other animals, is 
 
 the Bulldog. The stout body and powerful chest, the blunt muzzle, the upper lip overhanging the lower jaw on both 
 sMeS and the diminutive ears, all of which are shown in the picture, are points of distinction of .this well known ani- 
 mal. He is a'faithful watch Dbg, a fearless hunter ahd a good servant, but a bold and invincible antagonist. (Canis 
 familiaris molossus hibernicus.) 
 
 and gives him a shake that makes the poor animal 
 lose his senses. All the unsympathetic qualities of 
 the Greyhound cannot diminish his importance, how- 
 ever. Among many nations he is as indispensable 
 as the Pointer to the European sportsman, or as 
 the Collie to the shepherd. In the South, espe- 
 cially in all countries abounding in plains, he is used 
 to a far greater extent than in the North. The Tar- 
 tars, the Persians, the inhabitants of Asia Minor, the 
 Bedouins, the Cabyls, the Soudanese, the people of 
 India and other tribes of central Africa and Asia 
 put a great value on him, sometimes as great as on 
 a Horse. Among the Arabian tribes of the desert, 
 or rather of the desert-like plains on the border of 
 the Sahara, there is a proverb: "A good Falcon, a 
 swift Dog and a noble Horse are worth more than 
 twenty Women." 
 
 In our temperate climes the Greyhound is not used 
 to any great extent. A level country, through which 
 a Horse may be ridden unobstructed, is the only one 
 suitable for the hunter who desires to be " in at the 
 death" when a Greyhound has caught a Hare. 
 
 The Greyhound Such a chase affords a beautiful spec- 
 
 Chasing a tacle. The Hare is not as stupid as it 
 
 Hare. looks and plays an inexperienced 
 
 Dog many a trick. The Greyhound follows his 
 
 game with fearful rapidity, making leaps of great 
 distances, sometimes vying with the larger Felidae in 
 this respect, clearing two, three or four yards at a 
 bound, so that he soon comes up with the Hare. 
 When he is nearly on the point of seizing it, the 
 hunted animal suddenly turns around and retraces 
 its steps, but the Dog, taking a straight course, 
 rushes ahead and nearly falls to the ground from his 
 sudden halt, when he finds his prey has eluded him. 
 He looks around savagely and, in great anger, again 
 seeks the Hare and sees it running along at probably 
 one hundred and fifty paces distant. He turns about, 
 
 rushes after it and just as 
 ■ he is ready to seize it, the 
 Hare turns around again 
 and the Dog fails as in 
 the first instance. In this 
 manner the hunt might be 
 continued forever if the 
 hunter did not send two 
 Dogs after one Hare; one 
 pursuing it, the other cut- 
 ting off its retreat. 
 
 The Grey- While Grey- 
 hound of the hounds of the 
 Desert. North differ 
 much in their structure 
 and fur, those of the 
 South seemingly all be- 
 long to the same breed, a 
 specimen of which, the 
 Greyhound of the Desert, 
 we will consider. He is 
 as noble as he is graceful, 
 his fur is of silky softness, 
 his color light tawny, 
 sometimes with a whitish 
 tint, frequently merging 
 into a dark roe-brown. 
 This breed of Dogs is 
 found pictured on the 
 Egyptian monuments 
 with other species, es- 
 pecially among spotted 
 Greyhounds. 
 In 1848 I spent several weeks in the village of 
 Melbes in Kordofan, and had a great many oppor- 
 tunities of watching the Greyhound of central Africa. 
 The natives, although they cultivate the soil, depend 
 chiefly on Cattle-raising and hunting for their live- 
 lihood. For this reason they keep only Shepherd 
 Dogs for their flocks and Greyhounds to guard their 
 village. It was a real pleasure to walk through the 
 village, for in front of every house several of these 
 Dogs were sitting, vying with each other in beauty. 
 They were watchful, differing in this respect from 
 other Dogs of their kind. They protect the village 
 from the attack of Hyaenas and Leopards, and the 
 Lion is the only animal with which they dare not 
 enter into a contest. During the day they were quiet 
 and it was only after sunset that they became 
 active. One could then see them climbing about on 
 the walls, and even mounting on the conical straw 
 roofs of the round huts, probably to have a better 
 vantage-ground for surveying the neighborhood. 
 Their agility in climbing was well calculated to 
 evoke astonishment. 
 
 Every week there were holidays for these animals. 
 In the early morning one would sometimes hear the 
 sound of a bugle in the village : that was the signal 
 for a hunt. The Men and the Dogs assembled and 
 
THE DOG FAMILY— GREYHOUND. 
 
 217 
 
 the whole concourse left the village in an orderly 
 jnanner, presenting a magnificent sight. They sel- 
 dom went very far, for the nearest woods furnished 
 plentiful game, and, owing to the zeal and skill of 
 the Dogs, the hunt was an easy one for the Men. 
 Arrived at a forest of bushes, the hunters formed a 
 wide circle and let the Dogs loose. The latter en- 
 tered the thicket and caught nearly every animal it 
 contained. Bustards, Guinea-fowls, and many other 
 birds which the Dogs had captured, were brought to 
 tne. An Antelope never escaped them, for from four 
 to six Dogs always united in pursuing it. 
 Daumas' Account of General Daumas tells us about the 
 
 the Greyhound of Greyhounds of the western part 
 the Desert. of the desert: " In the Sahara, as 
 well as in all other, Arabian countries, the Dog is 
 only a neglected, importunate servant whom one 
 repels, in spite of his great usefulness both in watch- 
 ing the house and guarding the Cattle ; and the 
 Greyhound alone enjoys the affection, the esteem 
 and the tender consideration of his master. Rich 
 and poor consider him their inseparable cdmpanidn 
 in all chivalrous sports, which the Bedouins' ,foUow 
 with such zest. The Dog is carejEuUy tendp'd; spe^ 
 cially fed, being, as it were, allowed to eat out of the 
 master's dish, and the breed is kept strictly pure. 
 
 "When the Greyhound is about three or four 
 months old, his education is begun. , The 
 boys let Mice run before him, and pit the 
 young racer against this game. In a. short 
 time the noble animal shows great pleasure 
 in such a chase and in a few weeks it can be 
 used against larger rodents. At the age of 
 five or six months it is taught to course the 
 Hare, the teaching of which presents much 
 greater difificulties. Then comes the turn of 
 the young Gazelles. They are approached 
 with great caution when resting by the side 
 of their mother. The Dog's attention is 
 directed to them, they are excited urttil they 
 grow restless and then are let loose. After 
 :Some practice the Greyhound becomes pas- 
 .sionately fond of hunting, even without much 
 encouragement. 
 
 "Such practice continues until the noble 
 animal is a year old and has almost reached 
 his mature development. Still the 'Slugui' 
 is not employed in the chase until he is about 
 fifteen or sixteen rnonths old. From that 
 moment he is expected to do nearly the im- 
 possible: and he meets every expectation. 
 When such a Dog catches sight of a herd of 
 thirty or forty Antelope^, he trembles with 
 excitement and pleadingly looks up to his 
 master, who takes his water-pouch and moist- 
 ens the Dog's back and flanks, knowing that 
 the Dog will be more fortified by this than 
 by anything else. Finally the Greyhound is 
 :set free, and with a yelp of joy darts for the 
 prey like an arrow, always selecting the finest, state- 
 liest animal of the herd. As soon as he has caught 
 his Antelope, he immediately receives his rightful 
 part of the game, namely, the flesh of the ribs; for 
 he would turn with disdain from the intestines. 
 
 " The noble Greyhound hunts only with his mas- 
 ter, for whom he displays great affection. When 
 the master has been absent for a few days the Grey- 
 hound rushes joyously out of the tent upon his 
 return and jumps into the saddle with one bound 
 to caress the Man whom he has missed so much. 
 Then the Arab says to him, ' My dear friend, excuse 
 
 rne, it was necessary for me to leave you; but I will 
 go with you now, for I need meat; I am tired of 
 eating dates, and you will be kind enough to pro- 
 cure me some flesh.' The Dog, listening to all these 
 kind words, acts as if he understood every syllable. 
 The price of a Slugui, trained to catch the larger 
 kinds of Gazelles, is equal to that of a Camel; a 
 Greyhound which kills the larger Antelopes easily 
 brings a price equal to that of a fine Horse." 
 
 The Italian The most graceful of the whole 
 
 Greyhound, a Grace- Greyhound family is the Italian 
 
 ful Dog. Greyhound ( Cams familiaris gra- 
 
 jus italicus), a mere dwarf compared with the others, 
 
 but a very well-formed dwarf, whose limbs and body 
 
 display the greatest symmetry. His weight seldom 
 
 exceeds six or seven pounds and the most valuable 
 
 Italian Greyhound does not weigh over four pounds, 
 
 in spite of his height, which reaches sixteen inches. 
 
 In shape and color he corresponds closely to the 
 
 Greyhound proper. 
 
 The Scotch Grey- The smooth, thin fur and the con- 
 hound a Rough- sequent sensitiveness to cold, as 
 Coated Variety. Y^,g|l a.s their frequent occurrence 
 in Africa and Asia, indicate that the Greyhounds 
 originally came from hot countries. For the greater 
 part -these breeds retained all their peculiarities, even 
 after having been transplanted to the north but some 
 
 TH£ PUG DOG. This very familiar little animal is a sort of a minialuio Bull- 
 dog, which he resembles in shape, and oil a small scale, in disposition. Landseer once 
 chose this Dog to represent "Impudence" in one of his paintings, and the selection 
 was not inapt. Pug-Dogs are easily spoiled by too much petting, and then make them- 
 selves very disagreeable. {Canis familiaris molossus fricator.) 
 
 adapted themselves to the rougher climate. To 
 these latter belongs the Scotch Greyhound {Cants 
 familiaris grajus hibemicus) whose fur is about three 
 times as long as that of the common Greyhound, 
 and is so thick as to effectually protect it from cold. 
 The color is black or brown and white, sometimes 
 reddish brown brindled with gray. The pure breed 
 is now perhaps extinct, or at least is rarely met with. 
 Yet even those now commonly known are among the 
 stateliest of Dogs; they are more affectionate and 
 faithful than other Greyhounds, but have a quick 
 temper and may become dangerous to other Dogs. 
 
218 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 The Naked Dog An Ugly, degenerated type of the 
 of Central Greyhound is the naked Dog found 
 Africa. jn central Africa ( Canis familiaris 
 
 africanus). The body is long, slender and much 
 retracted in the flanks. A few hairs are found only 
 near the tail, around the mouth and on the legs ; all 
 the rest of the body is entirely devoid of hair, and 
 this is what gives the Dog its ugly appearance. The 
 black hue of the skin, which in our climate after some 
 time merges into gray and here and there shows 
 flesh-colored spots, is not pleasing. The length of 
 the body is twenty-two inches, that of the tail ten, 
 and the shoulder height fourteen inches. 
 
 Besides this unclad relative of the Greyhound 
 other hairless Dogs exist, some of them having a 
 
 THE DOG OF TIBET. One of the largest and noblest Dogs of the Mastiff group is the Dog of Tibet, 
 
 which as a watch Dog and a guardian of flocks makes himself very useful in the mountain villages ot central Asia. 
 The long, rough, black hair, strong, heavy body, courageous' and intelligent face and pendent ears shown in the pict- 
 
 ure, represent his character as a faithful and especially useful servant ot Man. 
 canus.) 
 
 faded tuft of hair on the forehead. They may be 
 found in China, Central and South America, Manila, 
 the Antilles and the Bahama Islands. 
 
 the" MASTIFFS. 
 
 A second group of the Dog tribe is formed by the 
 Mastiffs {Canis familiaris molossus). 
 
 The Handsome. To this group belongs, in the first 
 
 Large Danish place, the Danish Dog (Cards famil- 
 Dog. iaris molossus danicus) though it may 
 
 be considered a cross between Greyhound and Bull- 
 dog. He is a large, handsome animal of noble shape, 
 has slender legs, a smooth tail and large, beautiful 
 eyes ; the muzzle is tapering, but, like the whole 
 body, is of stouter build than that of the Greyhound. 
 The German Much more common than the Danish 
 H/lastiffor Dog is his near relative and descend- 
 
 Ulmer Mastiff, ant, the German Mastiff {Canis fam- 
 iliaris molossus germamcus) distinguished as much for 
 its beauty as its sagacity, and popular in Germany 
 for still another reason. Who has not heard, or, at 
 
 least read about, Bismarck's "Dog of the Empire"? 
 The German breeders have been successful in de- 
 veloping this breed (which originally bore the title 
 of the parent stock or that of "Ulmer Mastifi") to 
 such an extent that for the last decade it has only 
 borne the name of German Mastiff. 
 
 Its fur is short and thick, both on the body and 
 on the tapering, slightly curved tail. The color is a. 
 uniform black, light or dark gray, brownish or light 
 yellow. The lighter tints are sometimes brindled with, 
 darker hues; and those of a light gray ground-color 
 usually have spots of a darker tinge; while those 
 German Mastiffs that have a fur of uniform color 
 frequently show white marks on breast and toes. 
 The ears are of moderate size, placed high on the 
 
 head, and are, as a general 
 thing, partially split. 
 
 Story of a A Dog of 
 Large German this breed, 
 Mastiff. according- 
 to Grassner's description, 
 had in his third year at- 
 tained a shoulder height of 
 thirty-seven inches, a total 
 length of seventy inches^ 
 (including the tail) and a 
 weight of 122 pounds, 
 which is an extraordinary 
 size. His master was di- 
 rector of a school and lived 
 in an unprotected neigh' 
 borhood at the outskirts- 
 of a German manufactur- 
 ing town. He deemed it 
 necessary to purchase a 
 strong Dog for the pro- 
 tection of his family and 
 home. " My choice," said 
 he, "fell on a five months' 
 old German Mastiff, whose 
 parents, owing to their 
 large size, intelligence and 
 faithfulness, were held in 
 high esteem by the Dog- 
 fanciers of the neighbor- 
 hood, but were also much 
 feared on account of their 
 fierce disposition. When I 
 brought the Dog home, his 
 clumsiness and his fero- 
 cious looks incited very unfavorable comment. But 
 it was only a few hours before he had forgotten his 
 awkwardness and began to feel quite at home in the 
 midst of his new surroundings. Naturally he be- 
 came my constant companion on my daily walkSr 
 during which he displayed an entirely unexpected 
 liveliness and activity. As I paid but little atten- 
 tion to him, he sought out for himself all kinds of 
 amusement after his own fashion, especially observ- 
 ing all human beings with constant attention, and if 
 he disliked their actions, he immediately stepped in 
 to regulate matters more in accordance with his 
 notions. Quarreling, for instance, was highly dis- 
 tasteful to him. Even if persons at a great distance 
 began to exchange loud words, he rushed between 
 them, growling and showing his teeth, and soon 
 quieted the disturbance. 
 
 "The sight of a driver maltreating a Horse aroused 
 him to the greatest excitement, and he would at 
 once go to the side of the Horse and assume a. 
 threatening attitude. If the driver then persisted in 
 
 'J" 
 
 Ca 
 
 ( Canis familiaris rnolossus tibei- 
 
THE DOG FAMILY— MASTIFF. 
 
 219 
 
 striking the Horse the Dog would throw the Man 
 io the ground with such force that he could not 
 immediately recover from the shock. On the other 
 hand, if my Dog saw a Man pushing a very heavy 
 ■wheelbarrow, he would always run to help, pulling 
 the vehicle from the front with his strong teeth. 
 
 " His strength was in keeping with his huge size. 
 It was child's-play for him to carry, for a long 
 
 THE BASOEB-DOG-, OR DACHSHUND. This animal, largely bred in Germany, is famous for its 
 
 Jiuntinff qualities, its staying powers, courage and keen scent, especially qualifying it for the pursuit of game. 
 The most marked physical characteristics are the large, pendant ears, and the crooked, short legs, whiih are 
 so little in the way that the Dog can make its way into burrows after Hares, Badgers and other earth-boring 
 animals where Dogs with longer legs could not enter. {Canis familiaris verlagus.) 
 
 distance, a basket weighing fifty pounds. A Goat 
 which had butted at him as it passed by, was seized 
 by the Dog and brought to me, the Dog clearing 
 two railway fences on his way. A ferocious Bull, 
 which was being driven to pasture with other Cattle, 
 came toward me in a threatening manner. The 
 Dog sprang at the ani- 
 mal's throat and held it 
 until the beast roared 
 with pain, and when its 
 assailant loosened his 
 hold it made a hurried 
 flight. Once Tom (that 
 was the Dog's name) 
 had to be sent away, 
 and the carpenter made 
 a box out of new boards, 
 strong enough, as he 
 said, to hold a Tiger. 
 Tom gnawed the box 
 into splinters before he 
 reached the station. 
 When he was rushing at 
 any object that had 
 excited his wrath, the 
 strongest Man could 
 not have checked him; 
 he threw down all who 
 interfered with him and 
 ■dragged them along on 
 the ground. 
 
 "He participated in all 
 family events. If one of 
 us was sick in bed, he 
 would sit by the bedside 
 
 see it unpacked, and would seize the first object that 
 came to light from the parcel and hurry with it to 
 all members of the family who had not been present 
 at the unpacking, in order to make the joyful event 
 known to them. It was not astonishing that he soon 
 became the pet of the whole household, especially 
 of the female members. 
 
 "His demeanor was most amusing when he had 
 an opportunity of stealing 
 and hiding in his huge mouth, 
 unobserved, as he thought, 
 some object which my daugh- 
 ters needed for their needle- 
 work, such as a skein of wool 
 or a pair of stockings rolled 
 together. If my daughters 
 would then pretend to make 
 diligent search for the miss- 
 ing object, he would assume 
 a very grave demeanor and 
 a foolish expression of coun- 
 tenance, to show that he had 
 no idea what the fuss was 
 about, but would give up the 
 missing object with a sly 
 twinkle of his eye, when he 
 was asked the direct ques- 
 tion: 'Tom, do you know 
 where it is?' If I happened to 
 be present before this ques- 
 tion was put to him, and he 
 saw that the girls were not observing him, he would 
 come to me, open his mouth so that I could see the 
 hidden object, give me a sly, knowing look, and then 
 turn around again and assume his former silly ex- 
 pression of countenance. 
 
 " It would lead me too far to mention all his tricks 
 
 
 ^ -'3ecA4TiaM/vi. 
 
 THE POINTER There is no more valuable Dog from the standpoint of the hunter than the Pointer, a 
 
 smooth-coated animal of the Hound group, endowed with a keen scent, great sagacity, and a capacity for perfect 
 training The Hound in the picture sees game and has assumed the position it uses to indicate to its master that the 
 opportunity for a shot has come. It is a symmetrical, shapely animal, and its physical characteristics are admirably 
 shown in this illustration. {Canis jfamiliaris sagaxaviculanus.) 
 
 for hours and look at the patient's face, from time to 
 time putting his muzzle or paw gently on the hand 
 held out to him, as if he wished to express his com- 
 miseration. If an absent member of the family sent 
 some package by mail, the Dog could hardly wait to 
 
 and qualities, some of which are usually thought to 
 be characteristic traits of certain other breeds only; 
 but I will here relate two more proofs of his intelli- 
 gence. One day I happened to be near the station 
 at the time a train was arriving. Force of habit 
 
220 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 made me look through the window, to see whether 
 an acquaintance was there. I noticed that Tom 
 kept looking alternately at me and at the train, 
 evidently thinking that I expected somebody. De- 
 sirous to know whether I had guessed his thought, I 
 said: 'Yes, Tom, run!' Like a flash of lightning 
 he was off to the station, after the train. I hurried 
 there also, and arrived in time to see how he hastily 
 looked over all the alighting passengers, went 
 through all the cars twice and then only, not having 
 found any well-known friend, sadly took his depart- 
 ure. From that time the Dog always went to meet 
 
 THE EETBIEVEE. The Retriever variety of Hounds includes besides the smooth-coated kind known as 
 
 the Pointer, the Retriever proper, or Water Spaniel, the beautiful, rough-coated Dog shown in the picture. It has the 
 same traits as the Pointer, but is more fond of the water. Well trained Dogs of this species are not only valuable 
 assistants of the chase but are amiable and especially docile friends of Man. {Cants familiaris sagax avicularius,) 
 
 all our guests who came by rail and whom he knew, 
 and really was the most trustworthy messenger we 
 could send, especially at night time. As soon as 
 the train came into the station, he would make his 
 way through the crowd to the cars, kindly greet the 
 arriving guests, coax them to give him a piece of 
 luggage to carry, and triumphantly lead the march 
 home, opening a way through the crowd in an admi- 
 rable manner, and leading our friends by the most 
 direct route to the place where we stood outside the 
 platform." 
 Physical Charao- The Bulldog {Cams familiaris molossus 
 teristics of the - hibemicus) is a sub-order of the Mas- 
 Bulldog. tiffs ; he is of a stout, vigorous build, 
 the body being but slightly retracted in the flanks ; 
 the back is not arched, the chest is broad, the neck 
 is rather short and thick, the head long and rounded, 
 the forehead is strongly curved; the muzzle is short, 
 narrows somewhat in front and is very blunt. The 
 lips hang down low on both sides, but do not come 
 together in front, and saliva is perpetually dropping 
 from them; the ears are rather long, of moderate 
 width, rounded and semi-erect, the tips hanging over. 
 The legs are strong and of medium length. The 
 tail is thick at its root, tapering towards the end and 
 reaches to the ankle-joints; it is seldom held straight 
 
 or backward, but is usually lifted and bent forward. 
 
 The ordinary coloring is a pale or brownish yellow, 
 
 sometimes with a surface tinge of black; the muzzle, 
 
 the lips and the outer margins of the ears are black. 
 
 There are many variations in coloring, however, as 
 
 with all other Dogs. 
 
 Life and Princi- The original native country of the 
 
 pal Traits of the Bulldog is probably Ireland; at 
 
 Bulldog. least it is there that one finds the 
 
 best existing types of Bulldog. In keeping with 
 
 the heavy and clumsy build of these animals their 
 
 pace is neither swift nor enduring. On the other 
 
 hand they are possessed 
 of enormous strength, 
 much determination and 
 great courage; and it 
 may be said that, with 
 a few exceptions, they 
 are the most courageous- 
 of animals. By virtue 
 of their great strength 
 Bulldogs are especially 
 adapted for a difficult, 
 dangerous chase and for 
 fights with wild animals. 
 Their mental qualities 
 are not as pronounced 
 as those of other saga- 
 cious Dogs, but neither 
 are they on as low a, 
 plane as is generally 
 supposed; for every 
 Bulldog accustoms him- 
 self to Man and sacri- 
 fices his life for him 
 without hesitation. He 
 is particularly adapted 
 for the duties of a watch 
 Dog and defends what 
 is confided to him with 
 really a wonderful intre- 
 pidity. As a travelings 
 companion to Man in a, 
 dangerous, lonely coun- 
 try he has no equal. 
 There are anecdotes, relating how he has success- 
 fully defended his master against five or six high- 
 waymen, and there are further narratives of victo- 
 ries he has won in such unequally matched fights, 
 in spite of the numerous wounds he received. He is 
 also used to guard herds of Cattle and he knows 
 how to tame the wildest Bull, for he is expert enough 
 to suspend himself by his teeth from the Bull's face, 
 and hold fast until the beast is ready to patiently 
 submit to him. He is easily trained for fights with 
 large Beasts of Prey, such as Bears, Wolves and Wild 
 Boars. He is very forbearing in his behavior t& 
 other Dogs; seldom picks a quarrel, and allows 
 smaller Dogs to take liberties with him. He is faith- 
 ful to his master, but is dangerous to strangers, no 
 matter whether he is chained up or at liberty; and 
 when pitted against people, he is a really formidable 
 foe. 
 
 Bulldogs proper are very large and strong ani- 
 mals, with a short, truncated muzzle, whose upper 
 lips, though hanging down low at the sides, do not 
 close in front, so that the teeth are always exposed. 
 The nose is not infrequently split, the fur usually 
 consists of short hair of a plain reddish color; sorne- 
 times it shows several colors. In former and less 
 secure times, when protection was more needed, 
 
THE DOG FAMILY— BADGER-DOG. 
 
 221 
 
 Bulldogs were kept in greater numbers than now, 
 for at the present time they are seldom seen, except 
 in the possession of Dog-fanciers. 
 
 The Boxer, an The breed of Bulldog known as 
 Especially Pugna- the Boxer {Canis familiaris molos- 
 cious Bulldog. ^u^ typicus) is most frequently Seen 
 in England. More than the Bulldog proper he is 
 regarded as a ferocious, dull-witted animal, though 
 he possesses these qualities only in a limited degree. 
 He is affectionate and faithful to his master, but he 
 must know him well, and also know that the master's 
 mental powers are superior to his own physical ones; 
 else he thinks he can accomplish with Man what he 
 succeeds in doing with beasts. He is extraordina- 
 rily imperious and is addicted to vicious biting, and 
 he really enjoys killing other animals. It must be 
 stated to his praise, that his courage is still greater 
 than his really formidable strength. 
 
 What the Boxer has once seized, he cannot be 
 easily made to relinquish. If a stick or handker- 
 chief be held out to him, and he closes his powerful 
 jaws upon it, one can lift the Boxer by this tightly 
 held object, swing him or throw him on his back, 
 without succeeding in making him release his tena- 
 cious hold. 
 
 There are some Mastiffs which are not agreeable 
 companions to Man. Instances are on record where 
 they have placed their own new master in a state of 
 siege, and have refused to permit hirri to move. It 
 is therefore easy to understand why Bulldogs are not 
 kept to any great extent nowadays. They are not 
 so stupid as they are supposed 
 to be, and there are individuals 
 among them whose sagacity nearly 
 equals that of the Poodle. 
 
 I knew such a Dog, which af- 
 forded much pleasure by his sagac- 
 ity. When his master said: "Go, 
 get a cab," he went to the nearest 
 cab-stand, jumped into a vehicle 
 and barked until the driver started; 
 then he either directed him by 
 barking,. or ran in front. 
 
 The Pug, a Carl- To the Mastiffs be- 
 
 cature Among longs that cari- 
 Dogs. cature of a Dog, if 
 
 such I may term him, the Pug 
 ( Cams familiaris molossus fucator) , 
 which is really a diminutive Bull- 
 dog, with the same peculiarly trun- 
 cated muzzle and curled tail. His 
 stout, vigorous build and distrust- 
 ful, grumpy character closely par- 
 take of the Bulldog type. 
 
 The Pug was widely spread in 
 former times, then became nearly 
 extinct and lately has again be- 
 come very common. He is easily 
 spoiled and petted, and in conse- 
 quence becomes capricious and 
 naughty, and is an abomination to a great many 
 people. 
 
 the Dogs and received double rations of food. 
 During an attack he used to rush into the middle 
 of the band of opposing Indians, seize one by the 
 arm and lead him away captive. Such captives as 
 obeyed, he did not harm, but any Indian who re- 
 fused to go with him, he threw down and strangled. 
 He knew the conquered Indians from the enemies 
 and never touched the former. 
 
 As late as 1798 these Dogs were used for the 
 same purposes, not by the Spaniards but by English- 
 men who employed them in the chase of Men. 
 
 The Magnificent A Mastiff which was known by 
 Dog of Tibet the Romans, is the Dog of Tibet 
 Described. (Canis familiaris molossus tibetanus) 
 
 a magnificent, beautiful, large animal of really awe- 
 inspiring appearance. One glance suffices to show 
 that this Mastiff is the giant among Dogs and is 
 distinguished as much for his nobility of form as for 
 beauty of color. He is black, for the greater part, 
 but the muzzle and eyebrows are yellowish; the 
 hair is long and rough. In his native country this 
 animal is considered as useful as he is docile; and 
 he is therefore found in all mountain villages of 
 Tibet, as guardian both of flocks and houses. 
 
 THE BADGER-DOGS. 
 
 A group very different from that of the Mastiffs is 
 that of the Badger-Dogs or Dachshunds {Canis fami- 
 liaris vertagus). They are among the most peculiar 
 and remarkable of Dogs. The body is, long, round 
 and arched downward, the back being bent in that 
 
 Mastiffs Formerly 
 Used as Man- 
 Chasers. 
 
 A large species of the Mastiff was 
 used for a brutal practice in former 
 times. It was trained to catch 
 Men, throw them down and even kill them. At the 
 invasion of Mexico by the Spaniards, such Dogs 
 were used both as fighters and trackers, and one of 
 them, called Becerillo, is celebrated, or rather, noto- 
 rious. His courage and his sagacity were equally 
 extraordinary. He occupied a high rank among 
 
 THE SCHWEISZHUND, OE GERMAN BLOODHOUND. A valuable Hound, principally 
 
 bred in Germany, stout of body, bold in disposition, with a keen scent and a cool head, is the Schweisz- 
 hund. It is allied to the Pointer and Retriever in its main characteristics, but its more vigorous build 
 makes it even more valuable than these in the pursuit of large game. The very large, pendent ears, the 
 overhanging upper lip, and the great development of the chest, are marked characteristics shown in 
 this illustration. (Canis familiaris sagax sanguinarius .) 
 
 direction; the legs are short and crooked, the head 
 and muzzle large and furnished with a set of good, 
 serviceable teeth, the ears are pendent, the paws 
 large and provided with sharp claws. The hair is 
 short, sleeic and coarse. The legs are very short, 
 clumsy and strong; the wrist-joints of the fore legs 
 are crooked inward to such an extent that they 
 nearly touch each other, and from this point they 
 again assume an outward curve; the hind legs have 
 the last toe placed higher than the others and pro- 
 vided with a claw. The tail reaches nearly to the 
 
222 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 ankle-joints and is carried in an upward line, with the 
 end curved toward the thighs, and seldom hangs 
 straight down. The short hair is coarse, but smooth 
 and of varying colors, usually black or brown above, 
 russet below, or it may be, a uniform brown or yel- 
 lowish hue, or even gray; and these colors may be 
 spotted with colors differing from the ground-tint. 
 As a rule, there are two light russet spots over both 
 eyes. 
 
 Senses and All Dachshunds have a very fine 
 Traits of the scent and an exceedingly acute fac- 
 
 Badger-Dog. uity of hearing; they possess cour- 
 age, reasoning power, bravery and endurance to a 
 high degree, and may therefore be used for any 
 kind of hunting. They will even boldly attack Wild 
 
 THE STAGHOUND. A famous but very rare species of Hound, which in its pure breed is now said to be 
 
 only found in the royal kennels of England, is the Staghound. It excels all other Dogs in speed and endurance and 
 is especially adapted for the hunting of fleet-footed game. It is appropriately depicted by the side of a wounded Stag. 
 {Canis familiaris sagax acceptorius ,') 
 
 Boars, and protect themselves very effectually from 
 the savage onslaught of these animals, as the Boar 
 cannot seize them so easily as he can taller Dogs. 
 They are sagacious, docile, faithful, lively and sym- 
 pathetic, but are very vigilant and strangers find it 
 hard to get acquainted with them. Unfortunately it 
 is also true that they are very cunning and thievish, 
 and in old age become sullen, sulky, addicted to bit- 
 ing and often treacherous. 
 
 During the chase they give one a great deal of 
 trouble. The Dachshund undertakes the pursuit 
 of game with astonishing eagerness, and will enter 
 the most impenetrable thickets. Owing to his ex- 
 cellent scent he soon finds a quarry, and then he 
 forgets everything else. Although he may have 
 received, on previous occasions, severe chastisement 
 for his disobedience, still he will let the sportsman 
 whistle, call and look for him in vain; as long as he 
 sees the quarry or can track it by, scent, he goes his 
 own way with an obstinacy that is hardly equaled 
 
 by any other Dog. He will spend hours in follow- 
 ing a Hare, or in digging and burrowing in some 
 hole in which a Rabbit has concealed itself; and 
 indifferent to fatigue, he will hurry after a Deer 
 utterly forgetful of time and space. When he is 
 tired, he lies down, rests and then resumes his hunt. 
 For these reasons the Dachshund is usually em- 
 ployed only for one kind of hunting — to drive ani- 
 mals out of their subterranean burrows. 
 
 The English The English Turnspit is bred in France 
 Turnspit and Great Britain ( Cams familiaris 
 Described, vertagus rectipes). It differs from the 
 breeds common in Germany mainly in its sturdier 
 shape, larger heacj, shorter snout, straight fore-legs 
 and a longer and thinner tail. It is a true Dachs- 
 hund in its character, be- 
 ing as eager, lively, vio- 
 lent and pugnacious as 
 its relatives. It is more 
 rarely used for hunting 
 than it is to guard the 
 house and perhaps also 
 to turn the spit. In this 
 latter capacity it is put 
 into a drum which serves 
 as a turning - wheel. It 
 can occasionally be seen 
 at work in restaurants 
 and inns in French towns. 
 It serves its term without 
 grumbling, but neither 
 cheering words nor chas- 
 tising can compel it to 
 work longer than a cer- 
 tain customary length of 
 time. 
 
 The Otter- The Otter- 
 
 HoundaRare Hound, ac- 
 
 Species. cording to 
 
 some authorities,, is a 
 
 cross breed between the 
 
 Deer-Hound and Terrier, 
 
 nearer to the latter than 
 
 to the former. It is of 
 
 vigorous frame, has a 
 
 long head, a pointed 
 
 muzzle, long, drooping 
 
 ears, a long body, straight 
 
 legs and a rough coat of 
 
 varying colors, the hair 
 
 being of medium length. 
 
 It derives its name from its ability as a hunter of 
 
 the Otter. 
 
 THE HOUNDS. 
 
 The group of Dogs, ranged under the common 
 name of Hounds {Canis familiaris sagax) displays a 
 great variety of types and forms ; they are much 
 more open to instruction than Dachshunds and 
 are indisputably entitled to rank first among the 
 domestic Dogs. The largest number of varieties of 
 Hounds is found in Great Britain, where a great 
 deal was accomplished in the breeding of these 
 excellent Dogs much earlier than German people 
 bethought themselves of undertaking the work of 
 improvement. 
 
 AH Hounds are born hunters, and if this happens 
 not to be true in exceptional cases, they are good 
 for nothing. Careful breeding is of more impor- 
 tance with Hounds than with any other Dogs, and 
 one always finds that good mothers or tried, skillful 
 
THE DOG FAMILY— HOUND. 
 
 223 
 
 parents bring up excellent Pups. They are strong, 
 swift, and more than other Dogs are fitted for the 
 chase by the perfect development of their senses, 
 especially by their delicate scent. They are en- 
 dowed with such smelling powers that they can 
 detect the track of game after hours, nay, after days 
 have elapsed. 
 
 The Pointers Among the many breeds we will first 
 and Their Traolt- consider the best known, the Point- 
 ing Abilities, ers. They are of moderate size and 
 rather strong build; the muzzle is long and thick, 
 the nose is sometimes split, the ear is wide, long and 
 drooping; the hair may be long, short or bristly 
 and the color usually is white, spotted with brown 
 or more rarely black ; but there are also entirely 
 white, brown, black or yellow varieties. 
 
 Pointers are sagacious, docile, obedient animals, 
 eager for the hunt, to the success of which they are 
 quite indispensable. They track the game by fol- 
 lowing fresh spoors or simply by scent, and, under 
 favorable circumstances, 
 they are able to scent 
 small game at a distance 
 of thirty or even fifty 
 paces. 
 
 "For many years past," 
 says Diezel, "I have com- 
 pared the capabilities of 
 the animals inhabiting 
 Germany, and have per- 
 suaded myself that there 
 is one far superior to all 
 others, and that is the 
 Pointer. 
 Requisites in "To make my 
 Training a assertion hold 
 Pointer. good, the Dog 
 must be of very pure breed 
 and possessed of all his 
 natural endowments, espe- 
 cially a delicate scent. 
 Further, he must not have 
 been brought up isolated, 
 but immediately under the 
 eyes of his trainer, and thus 
 be taught from puppyhood 
 to understand every word 
 and gesture. Then, also, 
 his trainer must possess all 
 the qualifications of a good 
 teacher, among which pa- 
 tience is not of the least 
 importance, and must be a 
 good marksman; for only 
 when all requisite condi- 
 tions are fulfilled can the 
 
 Dog reach that admirable degree of obedience, 
 self-control and skill, which I will try to describe. 
 A perfectly trained Dog, three or four years old, 
 always looks for the game by natural instinct, hold- 
 ing his nose to the wind and from time to time 
 turning to the right and to the left. Sometimes he 
 stops and looks around at his master, who by a 
 gesture indicates the locality the Dog has to search. 
 These gestures are scrupulcujsly obeyed. If he 
 scents important game, the almost constant motion 
 of the tail ceases at once, and his body is converted 
 into a living statue. Frequently he slinks nearer the 
 object with stealthy tread like a Cat before he stops. 
 After a few moments he turns his head to see 
 whether his master has noticed him and is coming 
 
 towards him. Some especially sagacious Dogs, when 
 the locality does not permit the master to follow 
 their lead (as a forest, or a field of tall corn where a 
 Dog cannot be seen), leave the quarry for a short time, 
 in order to find their master and lead him to the 
 spot. But of the many Dogs which I have had in my 
 possession, few did this, and not at the beginning; 
 they learned it only in after years." 
 
 A thoroughly trained Hound is a really admirable 
 animal, and a bad sportsman, when accompanied 
 by a good Dog, runs the risk of being frequently 
 rebuked by the Dog, by actions expressing decided 
 disapproval. 
 
 I knew a Pointer, called Basco, which belonged to 
 an excellent sportsman. His owner lent him to a 
 young friend, better accustomed to the use of the 
 pen than to that of the gun. Twice the young 
 hunter shot, and twice he failed. The Dog then 
 approached him, gave him a look of profound con- 
 tempt and straightway trotted home. This Dog was 
 
 
 THE FOXHOUND. No other Dog of any species has had so much attention paid to its training as the 
 
 Foxhound. The results are seen in an animal that combines in the most perfect degree the qualities of a hunting 
 Hound. Keen scent, most astonishing endurance and running qualities, courage and sagacity are combined in tlie 
 Dog which the picture shows intent on the Fox's trail. Its perfect proportions and vigorous build make it an ideal 
 animal of the chase. {Canis familiaris sagax vulficafus.) 
 
 an enthusiastic hunter, but after some years he could 
 not be prevailed upon to accompany a bad marks- 
 man on a chase, for his contempt for unskillfulness 
 was too deep-rooted. 
 
 General Obserua- It goes without saying that if a 
 tions on the good Dog is to be well trained. 
 
 Training of Dogs, he must have an excellent trainer. 
 The training of a Dog is a difificult matter; patience, 
 earnestness of purpose and affection for the animal 
 are essential qualities of a teacher. In former times 
 those training Dogs proceeded in a more forcible 
 manner, using the whip and a rough collar. A great 
 many trainers still pursue this plan, but others pro- 
 ceed on different and better principles. They do 
 not consider their pupil a slave, but a reasoning 
 
224 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 assistant, and consequently treat him as such even 
 from his puppyhood. 
 
 TheSchweisz- Resembling a smooth - coated 
 hund or German Pointer in size and form is the 
 Bloodhound. German Bloodhound or Schweisz- 
 hund ( Cards familiaris sagax sanguinarius) . Nothing 
 definite is known as to the origin of these Dogs. 
 They are of vigorous build and of a brown, red or 
 pale yellow color, with a blackish tinge on muzzle 
 and ears, and frequently also have a black stripe on 
 the back. The head is wide and only slightly 
 arched; the nose is black or nearly flesh-colored and 
 
 THE B£AGL£. A small but valuable Hound, which is especially useful in chasing Hares and other 
 
 small but fleet-footed game, is the Beagle. Its characteristics are a stout build with a development of the chest 
 especially adapting it for a long chase, large, pendent ears, pointed muzzle, short but strong and sinewy legs and 
 rather short tail. {Canis familiaris sagax irritans.) 
 
 much wider than that of other Hounds; the lips of 
 the wide snout hang over and form deep creases 
 at the corners of the mouth. The wide ears are of 
 moderate length and rounded. The expression of 
 the face is grave, intelligent and noble. The tail 
 gradually tapers toward the extremity. The voice 
 is full and deep and the bark is a peculiarly long 
 sound. Whoever has heard it once easily recognizes 
 it again. 
 
 The Schweiszhund is a nearly indispensable assist- 
 ant in the chase of large game; his ofifice is to pur- 
 sue the track of the wounded quarry. He is held 
 on a line and quietly leads the hunter to the place 
 where the animal has broken down. When he is let 
 loose and has found the game dead he announces it 
 by his bark; but if the hunted animal has fled, he 
 pursues it and "sets" it until his master comes and 
 ends the hunt with a shot. 
 
 The Staghound Another member of the group is the 
 a Very Rare Staghound ( Cams familiaris sagax 
 Animal. acceptorius), which is said to be a 
 descendant of the Bloodhound and Greyhound, 
 whose good qualities he is believed to combine. He 
 is distinguished by his keen scent and great speed. 
 There are but few specimens of this breed left, and 
 they are in the possession of the Queen of England. 
 It was very different in former times. George HI. 
 was passionately fond of Stag hunts, in which he 
 frequently took part personally. Not infrequently 
 the hunt was conducted with such zeal that of the 
 one hundred riders who originally set out after the 
 
 Stag ten or twenty only were left when the fleet 
 quarry was finally taken by the Hounds. Astonish- 
 ing distances were covered with wind-like speed, 
 and the hunt was continued so long that a large 
 number of Horses and even many Dogs perished. 
 Now things are different, as the cultivation of the 
 ground offers too many obstacles to .this mode of 
 hunting. 
 
 rhe Foxhound An animal of much greater impor- 
 
 Greatest of tance than the Staghound is the Fox- 
 
 Hunting Dogs, hound ( Canis familiaris sagax vulpeca- 
 
 pus). Many people of distinction have occupied 
 
 themselves with him more 
 than with other animals or 
 things, and large books 
 have been written about 
 him. He possesses the 
 speed of the Greyhound, 
 the courage of the Bull- 
 dog, the delicate scent of 
 the Bloodhound, the sagac- 
 ity of the Poodle, in short, 
 he has, in combination, the 
 superior qualities of all 
 other Dogs. His speed 
 and endurance are extraor- 
 dinary. A good pack may 
 follow the Fox for half a 
 day, or longer, with untir- 
 ing zeal. Bell tells us, for 
 instance, that, the Hounds 
 of the Duke of Richmond 
 found a Fox at 7:45 o'clock 
 in the morning, and caught 
 up with him only after ten 
 hours' hard running, shortly 
 before 6 in the evening. 
 Several of the sportsmen 
 changed Horses three 
 times, and some of the 
 Horses died from exhaustion; but of the Dogs there 
 were twenty-three present at the end of the chase. 
 The Beagle Famous The Beagle (Canis familiaris sagax 
 as a Hunter irritans) is an extremely sympa- 
 0/ Hares. thetic little animal. His height at 
 
 the shoulder does not exceed fourteen inches. He 
 resembles the Foxhound in appearance, fur and ears, 
 but his legs are shorter and stouter, and it therefore 
 would seem plausible that he is a cross between Fox- 
 hound and Badger-Dog. 
 
 Beagles are used in packs to bait Hares, and on 
 such hunts it is pleasant to hear their harmonious 
 voices, which sound like bells. The scent of the 
 Beagle is extremely acute, and he is capable of pro- 
 longed running. 
 
 THE SPANIELS. 
 
 Several Dogs which differ a great deal from each 
 other are grouped under the common title of Span- 
 iels (Canis familiaris extrarius). All Spaniels are 
 possessed of great speed, but they lack endurance. 
 They have a delicate scent and great intelligence, 
 but are not very docile. Some of them are used 
 in hunting small game, especially birds; but they 
 stand in need of very careful training, for their innate 
 hunting fever is excessive. Even when they have 
 had the best of training they will tremble with ex- 
 citement at finding a spoor, unable to restrain their 
 joy or zeal, and will yelp and bark almost inces- 
 santly. For this reason they are more frequently 
 kept as pets than used for the chase. They are very 
 
THE DOG FAMILY^SPANIELS. 
 
 225- 
 
 courageous, however, and they retain their original 
 boldness in other climes, even in tropical India, 
 which soon spoils the best of other northern Dogs. 
 Captain Williamson says that one of these small, 
 foolhardy animals once boldly went up to a Tiger. 
 The huge beast at first looked with astonishment at 
 the yelping little thing, then got up, disturbed by 
 the noise of the importunate prig, and fled ! The 
 narrator assures us that it was an indescribable sight 
 to see these two animals, so ill-matched in size and 
 strength: in front, the big, powerful Tiger with lifted 
 tail, while the courageous little Dog brought up the 
 rear, yelping and growling. 
 King Charles and The small toy Spaniels are called 
 Blenheim Spaniels, King Charles Spaniels ; and the 
 Diminutive Dogs, smallest bear the name of Blen- 
 heim Spaniels. The former owe their appellation to 
 the fact that King Charles II. of England was very 
 fond of them and always had a few around. They 
 are of a dark color, which often merges into brown, 
 while the breast is white. The hair is long and silky 
 and the ears large and long. The best and most 
 esteemed specimens weigh but five pounds, and the 
 largest not more than seven pounds. They are 
 popular pets, for they are 
 pretty, lively and docile 
 when treated properly, and 
 are very amusing compan- 
 ions. They are always in- 
 tent on some prank and are 
 easily taught a number of 
 tricks. They have one dis- 
 agreeable feature, though 
 — their eyes are always 
 moist with tears, and tear- 
 drops are incessantly fall- 
 ing from the corners of 
 their eyelids. 
 The Noble New- While we 
 foundland may con- 
 Dog Described, s i d e r the 
 species just mentioned as 
 dwarfs, the Newfoundland 
 Dog {Cams familiaris ex- 
 trarius terrce novce) is the 
 giant among Spaniels. He 
 is a powerful animal, with 
 a large, long head, a some- 
 what thickened muzzle, 
 drooping, shaggy ears of 
 moderate size, large chest, 
 stout neck and rather long, 
 strong legs; the fur is long, 
 dense, shaggy, somewhat 
 curly, and soft, being of an 
 almost silky texture. The 
 tail is rather long and 
 shaggy, and the toes are 
 
 webbed. The color of this Dog is subject to consid- 
 erable variations. Many are black, with a vivid rus- 
 set spot over each eye, and similar spots on the 
 throat and joints of the feet. Less frequently they 
 are black and white, or brown and white, or uni- 
 formly brownish black and white. 
 Traits and Quail- The Newfoundland is deservedly 
 ties of the considered one of the handsomest 
 
 Newfoundland Dog. of Dogs, and is much esteemed. 
 His mental qualities correspond with his beauty and 
 prove the excellence of the stock from which he 
 springs. He is affectionate and faithful, intelligent 
 and extremely docile. The Newfoundland is the 
 
 best of all water Dogs, and the water seems to be 
 his proper element. He is exceedingly fond of 
 swimming, dives like an aquatic animal, and can 
 remain in the water a long time. Once one of these 
 Dogs was found in a distant bay, miles from the 
 shore, and it was evident that he had been swim- 
 ming for hours. A Newfoundland Dog is perfectly 
 indifferent as to the direction he has to take in swim- 
 ming, and makes his way with equal facility against 
 the stream and waves as with them. Without any 
 preliminary training, he will take all kinds of ob- 
 jects out of the water with indefatigable zeal, even 
 during the severest cold weather, and deliver them to 
 his master; in fact, he can be given no greater pleas- 
 ure than to be afforded the opportunity of disport- 
 ing himself in the water. His pleasure is consid- 
 erably enhanced if his master goes into the water 
 with him. The Dog seems to be beside himself with 
 joy to find that Man is also at home in the water, 
 and demonstrates his delight in many ways. The 
 Dog swims around his master, dives under him, 
 makes believe to support him for a little while, and 
 plays around in the water with much glee. When 
 finally the master is weary and turns to the shore^ 
 
 JjZC KWCVWVC ■-SS3=*f^=P.V. -"- ■■ -- ^ ■ -= Jahrmi, r 
 
 THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. This noble Dog is a species of the Spaniel Group, with all the good 
 
 qualities of that tribe amplified in proportion to its great size. Strength and power are typified in the large, vigor- 
 ous body; kindness, docility and faithfulness in the intelligent face, which is adorned with drooping ears of mod- 
 erate length. These features and the large, bushy tail are shown in this excellent picture. (Canis familiaris 
 extrarius terrce novce.') 
 
 the Dog tries to invite him to more sport in the 
 water. 
 
 This extraordinary fondness of the Newfoundland 
 for water makes him a very useful animal. There 
 are a great many instances on record where he has 
 rescued drowning people. In localities which bor- 
 der on deep water, this Dog can not be surpassed 
 as a nurse for children. One may boldly confide 
 the smallest child to his vigilance and care, and may 
 rest assured that as long as the Dog is near by the 
 child will not be harmed. Besides all these excel- 
 lent qualities, the Newfoundland Dog has a great 
 fund of good-nature, gentleness and gratitude for 
 
226 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 benefits received; but his memory of injuries and 
 •castigations abides for a long time, and he may 
 become dangerous to people who intentionally tor- 
 ment him. 
 
 The St. Bernard The St. Bernard Dog {Canis familiaris 
 Dog, the extfaritis St. bemardi) resembles the 
 
 Worthiest of All. Newfoundland. Tschudi says: "The 
 St. Bernards are large, remarkably strong animals, 
 with long fur, short, wide muzzle, and long ears. 
 They are exceedingly intelligent and faithful. Then- 
 breed was kept pure during four generations, but is 
 now no longer so, because so many of these Dogs 
 
 THE ST. BEBNAKD BOG. While other Dogs may have greater capabilities as Beasts of Prey, the St. 
 
 Bernard Dog stands foremost among animals in his deeds of mercy and kindness. These are eloquently told in 
 the text ; and the physical characteristics of the Dog are faithfully depicted by the artist. The thick, Shaggy coat 
 and strong body are needed in the Dog's work of succor in the deep snows that abound in the Pass of the Great 
 St. Bernard, where the Dog lives with his masters, the good monks whose devoted lives he shares. ^Canis famil- 
 iaris extrarius st. bemardi.) 
 
 have perished in avalanches encountered in their 
 faithful service. A closely allied Dog is now being 
 bred, and even young Pups of this breed bring a 
 good price. 
 
 Noble Service "The native home of these noble ani- 
 oftheSt. mals is the Hospice of St. Bernard, 
 
 Bernard Dog, situated at an elevation of about 
 seven thousand five hundred feet above the sea, on a 
 desolate mountain crest, in the vicinity of which 
 winter lasts for eight or nine months. It is only in 
 summer that large snow-flakes fall in this locality; 
 in winter dry, small, brittle crystals of ice fall there: 
 so fine that the wind drives them through every 
 crevice in doors and windows. Near the monastery, 
 especially, the wind often piles these crystals in 
 loose walls of snow, from thirty to forty feet high, 
 covering all roads and the edges of the precipices, 
 and falling down into the latter at the slightest 
 knock. 
 
 "The journey across this old mountain pass is de- 
 void of danger, even in summer, only during clear 
 weather. On stormy days, or during the winter 
 
 months, when the numerous clefts and precipices are 
 covered with snow, the passage is fraught with much 
 danger and trouble to the stranger. Every year the 
 mountain claims a small number of victims. The 
 wanderer either falls into a cleft, or is. buried under 
 an avalanche; or the fog is so dense that he loses 
 his way and perishes in the wilderness with hunger 
 and weariness, or is overcome by a sleep from which 
 there is no awakening. Without the Christian and 
 self-sacrificing activity of the noble monks the Pass 
 of St. Bernard would be available but a few weeks or 
 months of the year. Ever since the eighth century 
 
 they have devoted them- 
 selves to the pious care 
 and rescue of travelers. 
 The latter are entertained 
 at the monastery free of 
 cost. The stone buildings 
 on the hearths of which the 
 fire never goes out, can ac- 
 commodate several hun- 
 dred people in case of 
 necessity. But the most 
 peculiar feature is the reg- 
 ular rescuing service, 
 which is much facilitated 
 by these celebrated Dogs. 
 Every day two servants of 
 the convent go over the 
 most dangerous places of 
 the pass; one goes from 
 the cottage of the Cow- 
 keeper of the monastery 
 (which is much lower down 
 on the mountain) up to the 
 Hospice, the other goes 
 down. In stormy weather, 
 or after an avalanche, the 
 number of searchers is 
 trebled and several priests 
 go with the party, accom- 
 panied by the Dogs and 
 provided with spades, 
 poles, biers and refresh- 
 ments. Every suspicious 
 track is indefatigably pur- 
 sued, signals are being 
 given all the time, and the 
 Dogs are closely watched. 
 They are trained to track a human being, and often 
 prowl around all the precipices and roads of the 
 mountains for days. If they find a frozen body, they 
 run back to the convent by the shortest way, bark 
 violently, and lead the ever ready monks to the lost 
 one. If they meet an avalanche, they make dili- 
 gent search for the track of a human being, and if 
 their keen scent discovers one, they immediately 
 proceed to dig up the snow-buried unfortunate, their 
 strong paws and great strength standing them in 
 good stead at this task. They usually carry a small 
 basket with restoratives or a flask of wine tied to 
 their neck, and sometimes they have woolen blank- 
 ets on their back. The number of people rescued 
 in this way is very great and their names are in- 
 scribed in the historical books of the Hospice. The 
 most celebrated Dog was " Barry," the indefatigable 
 creature who saved more than forty people." 
 Scheitlin's Account A poem has been written about 
 of Barry, the this Dog and Tschudi gives it in 
 Life-Sauing Dog. his work; but I know a Still finer 
 poerh on the subject, though it is not written in 
 
THE DOG FAMILY—SPANIELS. 
 
 227 
 
 verse: I mean Scheitlin's description of Barry. He 
 says: "The most excellent Dog -of which we have 
 knowledge is not the one which woke the guard- 
 ians of the acropolis of Corinth; it is not Becerillo, 
 which tore many hundreds of poor Indians to pieces; 
 not the Dog of the hangman, which, at his master's 
 command, guided a stranger safely though a great, 
 gloomy forest; not Dryden's Dracon, which rushed 
 at four highwaymen, killed some of them and saved 
 his master's life; not that one which ran home to 
 give information that the miller's little Girl had 
 fallen into the river; not the Dog in Warsaw which 
 jumped down from the bridge and saved a little 
 Girl's life; not Aubry's Dog, which seized his mas- 
 ter's murderer and would have torn him to pieces 
 before the king; not Benvenuto Cellini's Dog, which 
 woke the goldsmiths when the gems were about to 
 be stolen; but Barry, the saint on the St. Bernard! 
 Barry, the highest among Dogs, the highest among 
 all animals ! You were a great human Dog, Barry, 
 with a warm heart for the suffering. You saved the 
 lives of more than forty people. With your little 
 basket and a flask of sweet, strengthening wine on 
 your neck, you left the monastery day after day, in 
 snow-storms and in thaw, to 
 search for people buried by the 
 drifting snow or by an ava- 
 lanche, to dig them out, or, if 
 you could not do so, to run 
 home and bring the monks to 
 help you with their spades. You 
 were the reverse of a grave- 
 digger, for you resurrected peo- 
 ple who were buried. Like a 
 sympathizing human being, you 
 must have been able to show 
 your compassion, or else that 
 little Boy whom you dug out of 
 the snow would not have dared 
 to sit on your back and suffer 
 himself to be carried to the hos- 
 pitable monastery! When you 
 arrived with him, you pulled the 
 bell, to give the precious found- 
 ling into the care of the merciful 
 monks, and then you hurried 
 back to resume your search! 
 Every success made you more 
 jdyful, more compassionate. 
 That is the blessing of a noble 
 deed: that it must go on pro- 
 ducing more nobility ! " 
 
 Tschudi says that excellent 
 Dogs are also kept on the St. 
 Gotthard, Simplon, Grimsel and 
 Furka passes and in all other 
 Alpine hospices. These Dogs 
 are possessed of extremely keen 
 powers of scent where human beings are concerned, 
 and are usually Newfoundland Dogs or cross-breeds 
 with Newfoundland blood. The inhabitants of all 
 the hospices agree that these Dogs know the ap- 
 proach of a storm an hour beforehand, especially in 
 winter, and show it by their restlessness. But no 
 other Dog has become as celebrated as Barry. 
 The Poodle, His The well-known Poodle {C^nts famil- 
 Character- iaris extranus genumus) is also a span- 
 istics and Traits, jel. It does not seem necessary to 
 describe him, as he is so universally known. The 
 stout body thickly clothed in long, woolly, shaggy 
 hair, forming actual curls on some parts of the body. 
 
 and the long, wide ears, distinguish him from his 
 relatives. A Poodle, to be accounted a fine speci- 
 men of the breed, must be all black or all white, or 
 at most may have a white patch on the forehead and 
 breast, if the rest of the body is black. 
 
 The Poodle shows his close relations to the Span- 
 iels by his fondness for water. He not only swims 
 well, but likes to swim, and he may be trained for 
 hunting. He is, however, more fit to be a com- 
 panion to Man, and such he is to a greater extent 
 than any other animal. To describe him I take the 
 words of Scheitlin, who is one of the warmest ad- 
 mirers of this Dog: " The Poodle has the best built 
 body among Dogs. He has the most beautiful head, 
 the most symmetrical body, the finest shape, a full, 
 wide chest and well-formed limbs; is neither large 
 nor small, long nor short, and has the most dignified 
 bearing. Physically he is well adapted for all exer- 
 cises. He learns to dance of his own accord, for 
 his half-human nature incites him to stand on two 
 legs and walk erect. He soon sees that he can da 
 it, and does so, whenever he feels like it. His sense 
 of taste is delicate; he discriminates between two 
 different kinds of food and is fastidious. His scent 
 
 THE POODLE. Everybody is acquainted with the Poodles. Here they are shown, one white, one 
 
 black but both pert, intelligent, shaggy and curly-coated, although the white Dog has been Piirtly shorn. 
 The Poodle is a very sagacious animal, capable of great usefulness if it is not spoiled in training, and a 
 very amusing companion. {Cants familiaris extranus genuinus.) 
 
 is celebrated. If he is given a shoe or any other 
 object belonging to a lost child, he can retain the 
 memory of the smell and, by means of it, find the 
 child. He seldom errs, for his nose is his chief organ 
 of sense. His hearing is excellent. He knows a 
 voice from afar, distinguishes its inflections, recog- 
 nizes the difference between large and small bells, 
 and knows the sound of the footsteps of the differ- 
 ent people living in the house. Of his censes, only 
 that of sight is defective: he does not see well and 
 recognizes his master by sight only when quite near, 
 but what he lacks in this respect is more than made 
 up by the great acuteness of his other senses. 
 
2-28 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 Great Sagacity " The sense of locality of the Poodle 
 Shown is excellent. He finds his way home 
 
 by the Poodle, from places that are hours' or even 
 days' walking distance away. He roams about at 
 will in the city or country, and will visit houses 
 where he has been with his master and has been 
 made welcome, even if it has happened but once. 
 Therefore he can be taught to bring the meat from 
 the butcher and the bread from the baker. His per- 
 ception of time is keen. He knows when Sunday is 
 coming, and knows dinner time like a hungry human 
 being. He discriminates between colors, and by 
 
 THE SKYE TEBBIEB. The shaggy, wiry coat, the short tail, the snub nose and queer little ears of the 
 
 Skye Terrier make it one of the ugliest of Dogs, but it is a very useful ammal about premises infested with Rats, is 
 good-natured and kind in its demeanor toward its master and friends, but a.good watch Dog about a house. iCanis 
 familiaris gryphus hirsutus.) 
 
 their aid distinguishes between objects. The im- 
 pression which music produces upon him is strange; 
 some instruments he likes, some he does not. He 
 keenly watches all that goes on around him and 
 nothing escapes his notice; therefore people call 
 him sagacious. He is a perfect observer and there- 
 fore understands not only the words but also the 
 facial expressions and glances of his master. His 
 memory is exceedingly tenacious. He remembers 
 the shape and color of his master for years; and 
 retains the knowledge of a road for an equally long 
 period. The Dog is called sagacious for his dis- 
 criminating scent alone, but how much more he 
 deserves the term on account of his memory, for in 
 ordinary life a child, and sometimes even a learned 
 but stupid Man, gets praise for being clever solely 
 because he has a good memory. This faculty is one 
 of the principal reasons for the Poodle's docility, 
 but he also requires patience, good nature and 
 obedience. He can be taught to drum, shoot off 
 pistols, climb ladders, take by assault a hill de- 
 fended by other Dogs, and learns to play on the 
 stage with others of his kind. We know that Horses 
 und Elephants have been taught the same tricks. 
 
 Two other things are worth mentioning in regard 
 to the Poodle; his tendency to imitate and his ambi- 
 tion or vanity. He is always looking at his master 
 and always wishes to do something for him. As a 
 child thinks that its father is always right and that 
 wh.at the father does it can and must do likewise, so 
 does the Poodle regard his master. If his master 
 takes up a ball, he takes one between his paws and 
 tries to bite it and worries if he does not succeed; if 
 his master is a geologist and looks for stones in the 
 interest of science, the Poodle also looks for stones. 
 If the master works with the spade, the Poodle also 
 
 digs up the earth .with his 
 
 paws. If the master looks 
 
 f out of the window the 
 
 Poodle jumps up on the 
 sill, and looks at the 
 beautiful view. He also 
 likes to carry a stick or a 
 basket, because he has 
 seen his master and the 
 cook do so. He carries 
 it carefully, puts it at peo- 
 ple's feet, goes from one 
 to another to show off his 
 skill, and complacently 
 wags his tail. While he 
 carries an object, he pays 
 no attention to other 
 Dogs ; he seems to de- 
 spise them as good-for- 
 nothings, while they ap- 
 pear to esteem him." 
 Disposition "The Poodle is 
 of the not the most 
 Poodle, feared Dog, but 
 he is the most highly val- 
 ued and popular one, be- 
 cause he is the best- 
 natured of them all. He 
 especially endears himself 
 to children, as he suffers 
 them to tease him, to ride 
 on him and worry him in 
 every way, without even 
 growling, biting or show- 
 ing signs of annoyance. 
 
 He is very greedy, but will frequently allow one to 
 take his food out of his mouth, a thing very few 
 other Dogs will do. The Poodle remembers all his 
 life the person who has once shorn him, and if 
 that person enters the house at any future time to 
 shear him, he runs away and hides himself, for he 
 does not wish to be shorn. It is very interesting to 
 see how he looks for his master. He runs along the 
 street, his head held low, then he stops, reflects a 
 little, turns around, stops again at another corner, 
 reflects again, crosses the street obliquely to save 
 time, etc. 
 
 "It is strange, that the better-natured, the more 
 sagacious a Poodle is, the less useful he is as a 
 watch Dog and the less readily he will attack a Man. 
 He loves and venerates all human beings; if one pits 
 him against a Man, he only looks at his master and 
 his opponent, as if he thinks it quite impossible for 
 his master to pit him against his own kind. The 
 master might be murdered without his defending 
 him. This Dog is always highly obedient, as he 
 fears not only blows but his master's displeasure, 
 his words, his threatening fingerj and this docility 
 makes the Poodle a most amiable companion." 
 
THE DOG FAMILY— TERRIER. 
 
 229 
 
 THE TERRIERS. 
 
 Let us now turn to another remarkable group, the 
 Terriers {Canis familiaris gryphus). Some natural- 
 ists rank them among the preceding group, and in 
 fact, a few Terriers much resemble the Poodle in 
 their fur, the structure of their muzzle, ears and tail; 
 in their good nature, faithfulness, and merry, playful 
 disposition; but the structure of skull and skeleton 
 is entirely different and entitles them to be ranked 
 as a distinct species. There are two main sub-orders 
 in this group, the smooth-coated and the rough- 
 coated Terriers. The for- 
 mer resemble the Badger- 
 Dogs in their structure, but 
 differ from them in having 
 longer and straight legs, 
 and ears that are either 
 entirely erect or have only 
 their tips hanging down. 
 Most Terriers are of a 
 dark color, those that are 
 spotted being less com- 
 mon. The body is some- 
 what slender, the head is 
 stout, the muzzle long and 
 blunt. The tail is smooth, 
 and is either extended 
 straight out behind or 
 curved slightly forward. 
 The legs are straight and 
 of moderate length. The 
 ears and tail are usually 
 docked in puppyhood and 
 the animals are thereby 
 made ugly in an unjusti- 
 fiable way. 
 
 General All Terriers 
 Traits of the are exceed- 
 
 Terriers. ingly clever, 
 playful creatures, their 
 eagerness for a hunt sur- 
 passing all bounds. They 
 are very fond of catching 
 Rats and Mice and digging 
 out Moles, and are really 
 
 indefatigable in their pursuit of these small animals. 
 They cannot always be recommended as domes- 
 tic pets, as their restless temperament sometimes 
 makes them very annoying; but on the other hand 
 they are admirable companions for people who do 
 much riding or driving, for a Terrier is best pleased 
 when he is obliged to run fast. But even when 
 accompanying his master on the swiftest gallop, he 
 finds time to investigate every Mouse-hole and dis- 
 turb every Mole which is engaged in throwing up 
 its heaps of earth. With his nose high in the air, he 
 looks all around him and whenever he hears a rus- 
 tling noise he approaches cautiously and softly, stops 
 for a moment, then makes a sudden jump, beats the 
 earth with his fore-paws and in another moment has 
 the subterraneously living creature in his mouth. 
 He hunts Mice in exactly the same manner, dis- 
 playing such great zeal in hunting them, that, accord- 
 ing to Lenz, he will catch from four to five and 
 sometimes fourteen or more Mice during a toler- 
 ably long walk. He does not eat the Moles, but 
 buries them. He eats of Mice until he is satisfied 
 and throws the rest away. 
 
 His success in catching Rats has particularly 
 attracted the notice of Englishmen, and great Rat 
 
 fights in which these Dogs were brought to display 
 their activity were long a popular form of sport in 
 England [but are now rare because these contests 
 are inhibited by law]. To add to the interest of 
 these Rat fights exceedingly high bets were made 
 upon the Dogs which participated, and the contests 
 thereby assumed the character of gambling. 
 
 The mental gifts of all Terriers are worthy of 
 notice. These exhibit a great sagacity and a con- 
 siderable degree of reasoning power. There are 
 cases on record where they have known the value 
 of money and have procured coins to buy food. 
 
 'THE SHEEF DOO. — :Upon the score of usefulness no Dog stands higher in the record tlian the Sheep 
 Dog, the-companioii and faithful servitor of .those who halve charge of flocks and herds, guarding ndt Only Sheep, 
 but Cattle, Goats andjather, doinestic quadrupeds. A variety of' this Dog, known as the' Drover's Dog, is usedfor 
 driving Cattle to market. The pointed muzzle and ears, shaggy coat and tail, rather- long and sinewy legs, and 
 stout but not bulkybody of »this Dog have been faithfully reproduced by the artist. -.(Canis familiaris domesticus 
 pecuarius.) 
 
 The Shye Ter- One of the queerest of Dogs, the 
 rier, Prized for Skye Terrier ( Canis familiaris gry- 
 
 His Ugliness, pj^^ hirsutus) differs greatly from the 
 ordinary Terrier in his outward appearance. His 
 ugliness forms his beauty and he is therefore much 
 sought after and highly valued by fanciers. He is 
 a playful, amusing creature, very affectionate, of 
 amiable, winning manners towards his friends, and 
 very brave in fights with other Dogs. He is excel- 
 lent in hunting Rats, Rabbits and Quail. 
 
 DOMESTIC DOGS PROPER. 
 
 The group of Dogs we will consider last comprises 
 those species which serve mankind most faithfully 
 and are held in the utmost subjection, namely, the 
 domestic Dogs proper {Caiiis familiaris domesticus). 
 
 To this group belongs the Dog of the Pyrenees, 
 the Pomeranian Dog, the Hungarian Wolf Dog, the 
 Dog of the Laplanders, of Kamchatka and of the 
 Eskimos, as well as of other northern tribes, the Dog 
 of the Gypsies, of the Chinese, of Iceland and others. 
 
 The Sheep Dog, The Sheep Dog ( Ca?iis familiaris do- 
 Faithful Guardian mesticus pecuarius) deserves special 
 of Floclis. mention among these Dogs. He dif- 
 fers from the other domestic Dogs in that his ears 
 
230 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 hang over only at the extremities; as a rule he is of 
 slender build, endowed with a lean body and long, 
 sinewy legs, like those of a Wolf, but he is consid- 
 erably smaller than a Wolf in size. The somewhat 
 elongated head with its pointed muzzle, the lean, 
 straight legs, the moderately long tail which the 
 Dog usually carries hanging downward with the tip 
 curved upward, and the thick, curly and sometimes 
 shaggy fur of gray-brown color, are further distin- 
 guishing features that serve to complete his picture. 
 The Sheep Dog is generally used as a guardian of 
 flocks as early as his first year, but a longer time is 
 requisite for him to learn to do his duty perfectly. 
 It is by no means a matter of indifference to him 
 what kind ofanimals he has to tend, as he adapts his 
 behavior to their different characteristics. The Dog 
 of a Cow-keeper must constantly observe his master 
 and obey his commands. Cows which do not obey 
 
 THE POMERANIAN DOG, OR SPITZ. Valuable as a watch Dog, the Pomeranian Dog or Spitz is an 
 
 especial favorite in Germany with farmers, and also with carters whom it accompanies on their journeyings, 
 hjnie have short hair, but those most common have a shaggy, coarse fur on the body and tail like those shown in 
 t le picture, They are very intelligent and affectionate, and faithful in the highest degree. i^Canis famiUaris 
 d'^mesticus fiomeranus.) 
 
 immediately must be bitten, for otherwise they will 
 stand in no fear of him. When he drives the Cow 
 before him he must bite only her hind-legs, never 
 her tail, flanks or udder. If the Cow kicks, he must 
 take care of himself, but still he must bite; if a Bull 
 or a Cow tries to resist him by resorting to their 
 horns, he will still come out victorious, if he knows 
 his business, for he will seize the animal's mouth, 
 and suspend himself from it. Spanish shepherds 
 make use of a sling with unfailing security. A Bull 
 which has been punished several times by having a 
 stone flung at his head must beware of the Dog; 
 for the Dog soon picks out the fiercest in the flock 
 and allows him a very limited range of movement. 
 Strong he-Goats also have to be bitten by the Dog, 
 but only on their hind legs. He must never bite 
 Lambs or suckling Ewes, however, but must only 
 make believe that he will bite. 
 
 Like every other Dog, the Sheep Dog is the reflec- 
 tion of his master. The Spanish Sheep Dog is as 
 fierce, the German Sheep Dog as good-natured as 
 his owner. If the latter is a poacher, the Dog will 
 soon equal the best of Hounds; if the master tries to 
 eke out a livelihood by looking for mushrooms or 
 the like, the Dog will help him gather them; if the 
 master has to encounter two-legged or four-legged 
 robbers, the Dog takes his share in the fray; if 
 the Shepherd lives in peace, there is no gentler 
 being than his Dog. The two resemble and entertain, 
 each other. There are Sheep Dogs which really un- 
 derstand every word their master says. A credible 
 observer once told me that he had himself heard 
 one Shepherd tell his Dog to pay special attention 
 to the rape-seed. The animal seemed puzzled for 
 an instant, probably because he had never heard the 
 word before. Wheat and rye, barley and oats, 
 
 meadow and field were fa- 
 miliar things to him, but of 
 rape-seed he knew nothing. 
 After some reflection he 
 went around the flock, in- 
 vestigated all the fields and 
 stopped at the one which 
 was grown with something 
 different from the seeds he 
 knew, thinking that that 
 ought to be the rape-seed 
 field, and so it was. 
 
 The Pomera- What the 
 nian Dog a Good Sheep Dog 
 Watch-Dog. jg to the 
 flocks, the Spitz or Pome- 
 ranian Dog {Cams famil- 
 iaris domesticus pomeranus) 
 is to the house. He is 
 small, or at the most of 
 medium size, vigorous and 
 stout, has a narrow head 
 and pointed muzzle, short 
 legs and a long tail, me- 
 dium-sized ears and keen, 
 intelligent eyes; he is 
 clothed in either long, 
 coarse fur, or short hair of 
 fine texture, and his color 
 may be pure white, yellow, 
 Fox-red, gray, or, very 
 rarely, black, sometimes 
 with light marks on the 
 forehead and feet. Alto- 
 gether it would be difficult 
 to mistake him for any other breed of Dog. 
 
 All individuals of this species are very fond of 
 their liberty and should not be chained up; but when 
 they are allowed to prowl around at will, they can 
 not be equaled as watch Dogs, because they are so 
 faithful and incorruptible. 
 The Eshimo Dog, The Eskimo Dog ( Cams familiaris 
 a Very Useful domesticus borealis) which belongs to 
 Animai. the same family as the Pomera- 
 
 nian Dog, is ,not less useful than the two last named 
 species and must be regarded as the most impor- 
 tant domestic animal of the uncivilized tribes of the 
 whole north of the globe. His height at the shoul- 
 der is from twenty to twenty-four inches, though m 
 some localities the average is higher. He differs 
 from the Sheep Dog in having a more Wolf-like as- 
 pect, and also because of his erect ears, his thick fur 
 (which in winter assumes quite a woolly texture), 
 
THE DOG FAMILY— DOMESTIC DOG. 
 
 231 
 
 .and his cunning expression of countenance. His the journey ; and then the whole team is huddled to- 
 <iemeanor indicates a certain degree of independ- gether in inextricable confusion; they are all bark- 
 ence and liberty, though he enjoys these privileges ing, biting, growling and rushing together and not 
 but temporarily. He has closely allied relatives all even the powerfully wielded whip of the owner of 
 •over the north of the Old World, and is employed the sled suffices to restore order in the turbulent 
 as much for guarding 
 Cattle as for drawing 
 sleds. 
 
 Nearly the whole life 
 of the Eskimo Dog is 
 spent under the yoke, 
 • and is employed either 
 in drawing sleds or in 
 carrying burdens. In 
 arctic America and on 
 its islands he is a real 
 beast of burden and the 
 only one which Man 
 has there appropriated. 
 Only during the short 
 summer does his mas- 
 ter give him a limited 
 amount of liberty, but 
 in winter he is a per- 
 fect slave. 
 
 A well-fed Eskimo 
 Dog may be termed a 
 handsome animal; but 
 unfortunately his food, 
 if he does not procure 
 it himself, is adminis- 
 tered to him by his 
 master in such scant 
 proportions, that for 
 many months he re- 
 sembles a skeleton 
 more than a living be- 
 ing. His relation to 
 Man is peculiar. He 
 Icnows that he is bound 
 Ijy the chains of slav- 
 ery, and he tries to 
 treak these fetters. He 
 is Wolf-like in a phys- 
 ical as well as mental 
 aspect. He resembles 
 the arctic Wolf so much 
 in his thick fur, his erect 
 ears, the width of the 
 upper part of the head, 
 .and the pointed muzzle, 
 that from a distance the 
 two can not be distin- 
 guished from each 
 other. The Eskimo 
 Dog is an inveterate 
 thief, but on the other 
 hand is as fawning as 
 only a fear - tormented 
 slave can be. A rather 
 numerous pack is usu- 
 ally put before a sled, 
 and they follow the 
 
 leadership of an 1 d , ~ -fsKTMO dog Servant and slave of the people of the frozen North, the Eskimo Dogr is indispensable m those 
 
 ■exoerienced DOP- there rpoHons It^ the only beast of burden and a valuable assistant in the chase, very Wolf-like in its build and to a large 
 ■cxpcnencea IJOg, inere regions " ^^ ^^ on y oeas o ^^^ ^ ^^^ ^^^ ^.^^^^^ ^^^ ^^ .^^ eagerness for the fish 
 
 IS no semblance of hu- f^^^ff '" serve ?ors dinner This Dog has a warm, shaggy coat, and needs it in the frozen climate that, forms its 
 man guidance accord- home WhIn the Dog is too old to work it is killed for its fur, which is used for clothing. ( CanUfamilians domcsHcus 
 
 ing to our ideas The toreaiis.) 
 
 Dogs are fastened to a strap in a primitive manner, pack. Finally the entanglement reaches such a 
 
 In the Hudson Bay country the Dogs are sometimes stage that free progress is rendered impossible, and 
 
 put in single file. Occasionally a fight ensues during then the journey is interrupted until the driver 
 
 ^\\^^%_j 
 
232 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 alights, disentangles the animals and harnesses 
 them to the sled afresh. 
 
 The arctic nations could not exist without this 
 domestic animal, which renders them innumerable 
 useful services. Carrying a burden of from twenty 
 to thirty pounds, these Dogs accompany their mas- 
 ters on their long protracted hunting expeditions. 
 From six to ten Dogs draw a sled with a load of 
 from six to eight hundred pounds, and they are said 
 to cover considerable distances, usually from twenty- 
 five to thirty miles a day. If the load is light, 
 they may traverse fifty miles. If they scent game 
 on their way, they often start, in mad pursuit, after 
 it. They also assist in the chase, mount guard, 
 defend their owner in case of danger, and render a 
 hundred other valuable services. 
 
 Steller's Account Steller has given us an excellent 
 of the Life description of how these Dogs and 
 
 of Eskimo Dogs, their kin are used: "Among the 
 domesticated animals of Kamchatka the Dogs take 
 first rank because of their remote antiquity as well 
 as their usefulness; and besides, they are the only 
 domestic animals in that country. 
 
 " Without Dogs people could not live here, as in 
 other countries they could not do without Horses 
 and Cattle. The Dogs of Kamchatka are of various 
 colors, the white, black and wolfish -gray varieties 
 predominating. The fur is very dense and long. 
 These Dogs live on fish. From spring till late 
 autumn they receive no attention, and prowl around 
 at liberty. All day long they lie in wait for fishes 
 on river banks, catching them with great dexterity. 
 When they have enough fish, like Bears they eat 
 only the heads, and leave the rest. In October 
 every Mai; collects his Dogs and ties them to his 
 house posts. Then the animals are made to go 
 hungry for some time, so as to lose their fat and 
 be in condition to run without losing breath, and 
 with the first snow-fall their misery begins. They 
 are then heard bewailing their fate, howling and 
 lamenting day and night. Their food in winter is of 
 two kinds. As a dessert and stimulant they receive 
 putrid fish, which has been stored and soured in pits. 
 The principal food is dry, and consists of mouldy 
 fish, dried in the air. This they get in the morning, 
 to brace them up for running. The strength of 
 these Dogs is astonishing. As a usual thing only 
 four Dogs are harnessed to one sled, but they easily 
 draw three adult people and a load of fifty pounds. 
 The load ordinarily given to four Dogs is from one 
 hundred and sixty to two hundred pounds. Although 
 traveling with Dogs is very arduous and dangerous, 
 and more fatiguing than journeying on foot, and the 
 driver becomes thoroughly worn out with the work 
 of guiding these Dogs and the discomforts of this 
 method of traveling, yet it has many advantages. 
 By this means journeys from one place to another 
 can be made over the worst roads, upon which no 
 progress could be accomplished either with Horses 
 or on foot, because of the deep snow." 
 
 THE FOXES. 
 
 The Foxes ( Vulpes) differ to a considei-able ex- 
 tent from the Wolves. The long body, the long 
 head with its pointed muzzle, the elongated and 
 somewhat oblique pupils of the eyes, the short legs 
 and the very long, bushy tail or "brush" of the Foxes 
 entitle them to rank as a distinct species. In spite of 
 the resemblance to the customs and habits of other 
 Canidae, their behavior and character display many 
 peculiar traits and are worthy of special mention. 
 
 r/ie Common Fox, The Common Fox ( Vulpes vulgaris) 
 the Famous undoubtedly ranks first among; 
 Reynard. the wild mammals of Germany. 
 Scarcely any other animal, except, perhaps, the 
 Jackal, enjoys such celebrity and universal indorse- 
 ment as friend Reynard, the emblem of cunning, 
 slyness, deceit, mischief, and if I may say so, vulgar 
 chivalry. He is praised by proverb and tradition^ 
 he is glorified by poems; that greatest of poets, 
 Goethe, thought him a worthy subject of an epic. 
 Whether he deserves all this glory is another ques- 
 tion. Pechuel-Loesche says: "The Fox of traditioa 
 and poetry and the Fox iri real life are really two 
 very different animals. Whoever observes him with, 
 an unprejudiced mind, fails to discover any extraor- 
 dinary degree of that much praised presence of mind,, 
 cleverness, cunning and practical sense, or even an. 
 unusually keen development of the senses. In my 
 opinion he is by no means superior in his endow- 
 ments to other Beasts of Prey, especially the Wolf, 
 The most that can be truly said in his praise is ta 
 admit that, when he is pursued, he knows how to 
 adapt himself to the surrounding circumstances, but 
 scarcely more so than other sagacious animals. Like 
 many other animals, including the harmless species, 
 some old Foxes may have their wits unusually, sharp- 
 ened by experience, but every huntsman who has 
 had much to do with Foxes will admit that there 
 are a .great many which are not ingenious, and some 
 which may even be called stupid, and this refers 
 not only to young, inexperienced Foxes^ but also to 
 many old ones. The Fox is a rascal aixa knows his- 
 trade, because he has to make a living somehow; he 
 is impudent, but only when driven by hunger or 
 when he has to provide for his little family; and itt 
 bad plights he shows neither presence of mind nor 
 deliberation, but loses his head completely. He Is- 
 caught in clumsy traps and this even repeatedly. 1{1 
 the open country he allows a sled to approach him- 
 within a gun's shot; he permits himself to be sur- 
 rounded in a hunt in spite of the noise and shots, 
 instead of wisely taking to his heels; in short, this 
 animal, which is more relentlessly pursued than any 
 other inhabitant of the woods, still has not learned 
 to see through all the tricks of Men and shape his 
 actions accordingly. Master Reynard of traditioa 
 and the Common Fox of the forest may not very 
 well be regarded as the same animal, for the latter 
 is by no means remarkably clever." 
 General Descrip- Reynard is the hero of a hundred 
 tion of the stories and pictures, and his image is 
 Common Fox. ^gll known to everybody. Still he 
 deserves to be specially introduced to those who are 
 not very conversant with nature. His lengthis fifty- 
 six inches, twenty of which are taken up by the tail; 
 the height at the shoulder is fourteen or at the most 
 fifteen inches. The head is wide, the forehead flat, 
 the muzzle, which tapers sharply, is long and thin. 
 The eyes are oblique, and the triangular ears are 
 erect. The body appears stout on account of the 
 thick fur, but is in reality remarkably slender, though 
 very strong and capable of a great range of move- 
 ment. The legs are lean and short, the tail is long 
 and bushy, the fur is thick and soft. Reynard and 
 all his noble family are clothed in a way which is- 
 excellently adapted to their predaceous life. The 
 color is a pale, grayish red, resembling the color of 
 the ground, and is equally fit for any forest, high or 
 low, for the heath, for a field and for a rocky region. 
 The coat of the Fox seems to correspond more 
 closely to his surroundings than that of any other 
 
(233) 
 
234 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 animal, for the southern Fox differs considerably 
 from the northern one, the Fox of the mountains 
 from that of the plains. Those species living on 
 plains and deserts show the similarity of their color 
 with that of the ground still more distinctly. When 
 we come to examine the fur closely we find the dis- 
 tribution of the colors to be somewhat like this: the 
 whole upper surface is of a russet or yellowish red 
 hue; the forehead, the shoulders and the buttocks, to 
 the root of the tail, have a surface tinge of white, as 
 the hairs in these parts are tipped with white; the 
 lips, cheeks and throat are white. A white stripe 
 runs along the legs; the breast and the under por- 
 tion are ashy gray; the flanks are whitish gray, the 
 fore-legs red, the ears and the paws black; the brush 
 is either russet or yellowish red, blackened at the 
 surface, and its tip is either of the same color or 
 white. All these shades imperceptibly merge into 
 each other, none of them being placed in sharp con- 
 trast, and that is the reason why the coat is so well 
 adapted for any surroundings. 
 
 Where the Foxes Reynard inhabits the greater part 
 Make Their of the Northern Hemisphere of our 
 
 Homes. globe. He ranges throughout Eu- 
 
 rope, northern Africa, western and northern Asia; 
 we may include Afghanistan, the western Himalayas 
 and Tibet in his range, for the species prevailing 
 there can hardly be differentiated as distinct. He is 
 nowhere within this wide expanse entirely absent, 
 and in some localities is rather common. His 
 adaptability aids him in finding habitations where 
 other Beasts of Prey cannot find any, and therefore 
 cannot exist, and his agility and cunning enable 
 him to maintain these habitations with an obstinacy 
 and pertinacity which is without parallel. As the 
 Wolf opposes him as an enemy he is relatively 
 scarce in the genuine Wolf regions; but his numbers 
 increase in proportion as the Wolf is being extermi- 
 nated. 
 
 He always selects his places of abode with the 
 greatest caution. Usually they are deep hollows 
 between rocks, covered with branches, or situated 
 between roots of trees or other similar favorable 
 places, and the end is a spacious chamber. When- 
 ever he can avoid doing so, he does not dig out 
 these burrows himself, but establishes himself in 
 some old, deserted Badger's hole or shares it with 
 the Badger in spite of the latter's disinclination to 
 enter into social relations with other animals. All 
 the larger Fox burrows or "earths," as they are 
 called, have been originally constructed by Badgers. 
 If it is possible, the Fox excavates his burrows in 
 mountain walls, so that the conduits lead upward, 
 without running close to the surface. In perfectly 
 level ground, the chamber is often situated quite 
 near the surface. During the autumn he likes to 
 make his home in heaps of dead wood or stones, 
 especially on plains; and it sometimes happens that 
 an old tree or even a mere hollow in the ground 
 has to serve as his apartment and as nursery. He 
 is always found at home, when the weather is rainy, 
 stormy or cold, during the breeding season, in sum- 
 mer when the heat is intense or as long as the 
 female nurses little ones; but when the weather is 
 favorable, he roams aibout his domain and rests 
 wherever he can find a comfortable place. In plains 
 devoid of woods, as for instance in the fertile coun- 
 try of Lower Egypt, the Foxes excavate real bur- 
 rows only for their little ones, while the parents live 
 outdoors beneath the mild Egyptian sky all the year 
 round. 
 
 The Fox a Per- The Fox prefers to prey at night, 
 sistent but in quiet regions he hunts as will- 
 
 BeastofPrey. ingly when the sun shines. During 
 the long summer days, in covered places of his do- 
 main, he sometimes sallies forth with his family sev- 
 eral hours before sunset; during severe cold weather 
 or when the snow is deep, he seems to rest only in 
 the morning, for one may then see him roaming in 
 the fields as early as ten o'clock in the forenoon. 
 Like a Dog, he values warmth very much. In fine 
 weather he basks on some old tree or stone and 
 spends many' an hour in the most comfortable men- 
 tal quietude. When he deems himself secure, he 
 will sometimes go recklessly to sleep in places that 
 are little sheltered or entirely uncovered, snoring like 
 a Dog, and slumbers so soundly that an intelligent 
 Dog may succeed in warning the sportsman, who can 
 then surprise and observe him. At dusk, or earlier 
 in the afternoon, he sets out on his predaceous roam- 
 ings. Very cautiously and leisurely he saunters 
 along, looking and sniffing from time to time, always 
 trying to keep under cover and therefore selecting 
 his ways and passages among the most favorable 
 situations, between shrubs, stones, high grass or 
 similar places. He keeps in the thicket as long as 
 Jie can, and whenever he has to leave it, he takes 
 care to .select a place where isolated shrubs or simi- 
 lar coverings form, so to speak, a bridge to another 
 favorable part of the wood. Experienced- hunters 
 therefore know these passages very well and judge 
 of the route Reynard will take under given circum- 
 stances with a considerable degree of certainty. 
 
 The Fox preys on all animals from a young. Roe 
 to a Beetle, but principally on Mice, which prob- 
 ably form the staple ingredient of his repasts. He 
 spares neither young nor old, and zealously pursues 
 Hares and Rabbits and even attacks young Roes or 
 Deer. He not only plunders the nests of all birds 
 brooding on the ground, devouring both eggs and 
 young, but also tries to overcome the old birds, and 
 not infrequently succeeds in doing so. He swims 
 and wades through swamps and marshes, in order to 
 reach the birds which brood on the water, and there 
 are cases on record where he has killed brooding 
 Swans. He also attacks tame poultry and effects 
 an entrance into isolated farm-yards at night; and if 
 he is afforded a good cover, he pursues the poultry 
 even in broad daylight. In large orchards and vine- 
 yards he is a more frequent visitor than one im- 
 agines. There he catches Grasshoppers, May-bugs 
 and their grubs. Rain-worms, etc., or gathers sweet 
 pears, plums, grapes or berries. At the river-bank 
 he tries to surprise a fine Trout or a stupid Crab; at 
 the sea-shore he empties the nets of the fishers; in 
 the forest he robs the nooses spread by the hunter. 
 In this way his larder is always well stocked and he 
 becomes straitened in circumstances only when the 
 snow is very deep and impairs his opportunities. 
 Then he is satisfied with anything edible, not only 
 with carcasses, which he will feed upon at any sea- 
 son of the year and seems to like, as all Canidse do, 
 but even with an old, dried-out bone or a piece of 
 half-rotten leather. Quite frequently, also, he visits 
 the encampments of wood-choppers to pick up the 
 remains of their repasts. When his hunger is half 
 satisfied, he plays long and cruelly with his prey 
 before dispatching it. 
 The Fox is Wary, In his prbwlings he regards his se- 
 but Some- curity as paramount to every other 
 times Bold. consideration. Things he does not 
 understand arouse his suspicion, and when once he 
 
A fAUILT OF FOXES, Here is a pleasant family scene representing a summer day in a quiet European wood. Madame Reynard and her four 
 
 • little ones have come out of their secluded burrow to enjoy the pleasant air. The mother is calmly content, but watchful. The two little Foxes in the fore- 
 ground are playing with each other after the manner of young Puppies. Another, nestling by the mother, finds amusement in biting a twig, and the fourth, 
 just emerging from the burrow, is very intent on the movements of a pretty Butterfly, which he will snap at if it comes nearer. The mother is a fine specimen 
 of the Fox tribe, and her tail is a beautiful " brush " which many a sportsman would like to own. ( Vulpes vulgaris.) 
 
 (235) 
 
236 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 has become distrustful, only the pangs of hunger can 
 goad him into reckless actions; but when he has been 
 long deprived of food, he becomes downright impu- 
 dent. In broad daylight the hungry Fox will put 
 in an appearance in a yard, seize upon a Chicken or 
 Goose before people's very eyes, and hasten. away 
 with his prey. He is much averse to parting with 
 the booty so arduously procured, and if he is com- 
 pelled to relinquish it, he repeatedly returns to see 
 whether he still cannot make away with it. The 
 same boldness is occasionally displayed by him 
 under circumstances calling for immediate flight. 
 Once a Fox, vvhich was being hunted by Hounds 
 and had twice heard the shot buzzing by, seized a 
 sick Hare' in his flight and carried it with him for 
 a considerable distance. Another was surrounded 
 in. a field; he came out, attacked a wounded Hare, 
 killed it before the eyes of the huntsmen, rapidly 
 buried it in thesnow, and then fled directly through 
 the line formed by the sportsmen. 
 The Fox Usu- Reynard does not belong to the gre- 
 ally Lives garious animals, and in this respect, 
 a Lonely Life, also, he differs from the Wolves. It is 
 frequently the case, however, that- several Foxes are 
 found in one thicket or even in the same burrow. 
 As a rule every Fox goes his own way and pays only 
 as much attention to others of his kind as he deems 
 to be profitable. , Of friendship with other animals 
 he knows as little as of companionship with his own 
 species. He has been repeatedly observed to be on 
 friendly terms even with his deadly foe, the Dog, 
 but these cases have certainly been rare exceptions. 
 Neither can his relations with his cousin, the Badget, 
 be interpreted as friendly, as Reynard by no means 
 cares for the Badger, but only for his apartments. 
 
 The Mother Litters of young Foxes are born during 
 Fox and the end of April or beginning of May. 
 
 Her Young. Their number varies between three and 
 twelve; from four to seven is- probably the usual 
 count of a litter. The mother treats them with 
 great tenderness, does not leave them during the 
 first days of their life, and afterwards only for a 
 short time during dusk; and appears to be very 
 anxious not to betray their place of abode. 
 
 A month or six weeks after birth the pretty little 
 robbers, clothed in reddish gray wool, emerge from 
 their lair at some quiet hour, to bask in the sun 
 and to play with each other and with the obliging 
 xnother. She brings them food in abundance, accus- 
 toming them to a live diet from the very beginning; 
 she brings Mice, little birds, Frogs and Beetles and 
 teaches her hopeful offspring to catch, torment and 
 eat the prey. She is more cautious than ever at 
 such a time, scents danger for her brood in the 
 most innocent thing, and leads them back into the 
 lair at the ^lightest noise. If she notices pursuit, 
 she drags them to another lair in her mouth arid 
 even when she is hard pressed she still takes one 
 young Fox with her and tries to reach a place' of 
 safety. An experienced person can quite frequently 
 succeed in observing the playing family. When the 
 little ones have attained a sufficient size they like to 
 lie at the opening of the lair mornings and evenings 
 and await the mother's coming; if they have to wait 
 too long, they bark and thereby occasionally betray 
 themselves. By July they have grown sufficiently 
 to either accompany their mother or to hunt alone 
 and try to surprise a little Hare, a Mouse, a bird or 
 some other animal, if even it be only a Beetle, in the 
 daytime or at dusk. At the end of July they leave 
 the lair for good and establish themselves with their 
 
 mother in some corn-field which holds out a promise 
 of abundant prey and perfect security. After the 
 harvest they go into thick bushes, heather and 
 reeds, during this season completing their education 
 as worthy hunters and cunning poachers, and sepa- 
 rate from the mother in late autumn to begiq life 
 on their own responsibility. 
 How the Fox Foxes taken young can be easily reared, 
 
 Behaves in as they thrive on the ordinary diet of 
 
 Captivity. Pups. If one plays much with them, 
 they soon become tame and their lively, playful dis- 
 position makes them very amusing. 
 
 " Of several Foxes which I reared," says Lenz, 
 "the last, a female, was the tamest, because she was ; 
 smallest when I received her. She was just begin- 
 ning to eat solid food, but had already become so ; 
 vicious and so much addicted to biting that she 
 always growled when eating her favorite food arid ' 
 bft right and left into straw and wood, even when \ 
 nobody was disturbing her. Kind treatment soon, 
 made her so tame that she would allow me tatake a 
 freshly killed Rabbit out of her bloody mouth and 
 irisert my finger in its stead. Even when grown up' 
 she liked to play with me, was demonstrative in hef ; 
 joy when I visited her, wagged her tail, whined and ; 
 jumped around.' She was .just' as much pleased to 
 see any stranger; and she distinguished stra:ngers at ' 
 a distance of fifty paces, when they were turning the ' 
 corner of the house, and with Ibud cries would invite 
 them to come up to' her, an honor which she neyer 
 accorded either to -me or fny brother, who usually 
 fed her, probably because she knew that we would 
 go anyway." ~ <■.,;. " • ,; _ 
 
 The Fax is Relent- Reynard' is detested by all sports- , 
 lessly Hunted by men, and is. hunted all the- year 
 Sportsmen. round; there is no season when he 
 is spared. He . is shot, caught in traps,' poisoned, ' 
 dug out of his burrow and killed with a common] 
 club, baited by Hounds, driven out of the earth with 
 prongs, in short, he is being exterminated in every ' 
 possible way. Such relentless and alinostirihumari - 
 persecution, may be justified froni the point of view -i 
 of a sportsman, in whose eyes the forest exists only i 
 for game, but from every other point of view it is ! 
 very wrorig. In. hunting-grounds the Fox makes* 
 sad havoc; but in forests and fields he is more useful ^ 
 than otherwise; it is therefore: easy to understand 
 why the sportsman hates and pursues him and why,* 
 the agriculturist, who does riot hunt, interferes "in '■ 
 his behalf. . ' 
 
 Naturally a Fox hunt affords great pleasure to the 
 sportsman. Usually Reynard is baited by Hounds; , 
 sometimes the hunter lies in wait for him and de- 
 coys him by imitating ■ the voice of a young Hare 
 or a Mouse, or shoots him in broad- moonlight near 
 a carcass. A very attractive sport is afforded by ■ 
 him in winter ori the snow-covered fields. Occa- 
 sionally he is hunted in the forest with Beagles, the ' 
 best passages being occupied by sportsmen. A Fox I 
 wounded by a shot seldom complains; and occasion- ■ 
 ally he performs surprising deeds. Winckell had 
 crushed a Fox's foot with a bullet, and the paw,- 
 hindered the Fox from running, as it kept flapping"; 
 against his head. At last he angrily turned hisj 
 head around, bit off the entire paw and proceeded ' 
 on his way as if nothing ailed him. The Fox, in 
 general, is extremely tenacious of life. There are 
 several instances on record where Foxes, which 
 were left as dead, jumped up and made good their 
 escape. Hunters of the Fox must exercise vigilance 
 if they would secure his "brush" as a trophy. 
 
THE DOG FAMILY— FOX. 
 
 237 
 
 The Fox Has The Fox has a number of enemies 
 Other than Human besides Man. Not only does the 
 Enemies. Wolf catch and devour him, but 
 
 Dogs also have so great a grudge against him that 
 they will tear him to pieces. It is a remarkable 
 fact that female Foxes suckling young are often 
 
 THE BED EOX. The animal which in America nearest represents the Master Reynard of 
 
 tradition is the Red Fox, a very cunning animal and an inveterate Chicken-thief like his European 
 cousin. His depredations often get him into trouble, and traps are set for him like that which holds 
 fast the animal shown in the picture. ( Vulpes fulvus ,^ 
 
 spared by male Dogs, or not pursued at all. Other 
 mammals can not harm Reynard; but he has several 
 very dangerous enemies among the birds. . A Hawk 
 carries young Foxes away without hesitation, while 
 the Eagle will even attack the adult, though it some- 
 times fares badly enough in doing so. Tschudi 
 relates such a case: "A Fox which 
 was running over a glacier, was 
 seized by an Eagle and lifted high 
 up in the air. Soon the robber be- 
 gan to flutter its wings in a strange 
 way and was lost from sight be- 
 hind a peak of the mountain. The 
 observer mounted the summit, 
 when, to his surprise, the Fox 
 darted past him like an arrow; on 
 the other side he found the Eagle 
 with a lacerated breast. The Fox 
 had succeeded in craning his neck, 
 seizing the predaceous bird by the 
 throat and biting it through. Con- 
 tentedly he limped away, though 
 the memory of the fearful voyage 
 through the air probably clung to 
 him for life." 
 
 Among other classes of animals 
 the Fox has no enemies which 
 could be dangerous to him, but he 
 has some which greatly annoy him, 
 namely. Fleas. There is a story to 
 the effect that he takes a careful 
 bath with the result of driving 
 them to a bundle of moss which 
 he carries in his mouth, and then gets rid of the un- 
 welcome guests by throwing the bundle away. 
 
 It has been proven that the Fox shares all the 
 diseases of the Dog and is also subject to the 
 dreaded hydrophobia. Instances are known where 
 this fearful disease has driven him in broad daylight 
 
 into villages, where he bit every living thing that 
 crossed his path. 
 The Bed Fox ^° closely allied to the Common Fox of Europe 
 American '* *^^ ^e^d. Fox ( Vulpes fulvus) of North Amer- 
 Soecies '*"^' '■^^' many naturalists regard it as being 
 '^ ■ only a variety of the common species. There 
 are differences, however, which serve to distinguish the Ameri- 
 can from the European animal, for it is 
 somewhat larger, has a longer and softer 
 fur which is more brilliant m color, has a 
 narrower head and a less extended muz- 
 zle than the Common Fox. Its total length 
 is about forty-eight inches, the tail'taking 
 up about eighteen inches of this meas- 
 urement. This Fox shows much greater 
 variation in its coloring than the Euro- 
 pean species. The usual color is a yel- 
 lowish red over the greater part of the 
 body, merging into a grizzly yellow on the 
 buttocks, while a narrow white stripe ex- 
 tends under the body for almost the entire 
 length, and the hairs of the tail are tipped 
 with black. But in addition to this color- 
 ing there are others so different as to 
 have inclined some writers to separate 
 the animals bearing them into distinct 
 species, although the better authorities 
 regard them as being only varieties of the 
 Red Fox. One of these is the Cross Fox, 
 with the same yellowish red general color, 
 but having black legs and muzzle, and a 
 blacker tail than the ordinary type of Red 
 Fox; and a still more striking feature is 
 the distinct cross formed by two black 
 stripes, one between the shoulders and 
 the other at right angles with it extending 
 from the neck across the shoulders. The 
 Silver Fox or Black Fox, which is very 
 scarce, forms another variety, the overhair 
 of which is thick and fine, three inches long, and varying in 
 color from pale silver to bluish black, but the tail is tipped 
 with white. Usually the fur is given a hoary appearance by 
 the admixture of white tipped hairs with those entirely black. 
 " The fur of the Silver Fox," says M. M. Backus, who is an 
 excellent authority, "is fine and curly; its beauty places it at 
 the head of all fancy furs; the tail is a royal brush. These furs 
 
 THE KIT FOX. This is an American species of Fox, much smaller in size than either the 
 
 Red or Gray Foxes, and having proportionately longer limbs than either of them. He is known by 
 several other names, among which are the Swift Fox and the Burrowing Fox The back is a pure gray 
 and the under parts are white. It is an inhabitant of the northwestern states. ( Vulpes velox.) 
 
 are used for inuffs, boas and linings of robes, and bring from 
 fifty to two hundred dollars each." A large form of the Red 
 Fox, found in Utah, has been named the Long-tailed Fox 
 ( Vulpes macrurus) but is believed to be only a local variety 
 and not a distinct species. In some other sections Red Foxes 
 with peculiar markingrs are sometimes found, but these, bear- 
 ing different local names, are similar in structure and habits. 
 
238 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 Range and Notwithstanding the diversity in the coloring 
 Habits of the of the fur and other minor differences, these 
 Red Fox varieties may all be safely included in the 
 species of the Red Fox, which is found all over 
 North America except the Pacific coast region, extending 
 south to the gulf states and north to the region in which the 
 Arctic Fox is found, and, like other fur-bearing animals of a 
 similarly wide range, the furs of the northern specimens are 
 thicker and more valuable than those procured from the south. 
 The close relation of the Red Fox to the Common Fox of 
 Europe is especially shown in the similarity of the habits of the 
 two, tor even Reynard is not more daring or more cunning 
 than his American cousin. Some differences between the two 
 have been noted, however, for Sir J. Richardson says: "The 
 Red Fox does not possess the wind of its English congenor. 
 It runs for about one hundred yards with great swiftness, but 
 its strength is exhausted in the first burst, and it is soon over- 
 taken by a Wolf or a mounted horseman." The Red Fox has 
 the vulpine appetite for poultry to the fullest extent and is a 
 dangerous neighbor to a well stocked barnyard. It is also an 
 adept at catchmg wild fowls, but probably finds its principal 
 prey among the Rabbits, Rats and other rodents. This Fox 
 IS also very fond of fish, and when ranging near the seashore 
 is said to visit the beach in winter seeking Crabs and finny 
 prey. When very hungry it does not disdain Crickets and 
 other insects. 
 Thp Rpd Fnr "^^^ ^ed Fox needs all his cunning, for he is 
 Persistentlu Persistently hunted, especially in the northern 
 H ted P^"^' "^ ^'^ range, where the trapping of fur- 
 "" ■ bearing animals is so extensively carried on. 
 This Fox is very wary, and the Silver Fox variety is particu- 
 larly shy and difficult of approach, owing to the persistency 
 with which it is sought for its valuable fur. 
 
 Some writers hold the opinion that the Red Fox may be de- 
 scended from individuals of the European species introduced at 
 an early period, and account for the points of difference by the 
 altered conditions. In support of this theory it is argued that 
 no remains of the Red Fox have been found in the cave de- 
 posits of America, while those of the Gray Fox are abundant. 
 However this may have been, it seems certain that the Red 
 Fox has driven out the Gray Foxes from many localities in 
 which the latter were formerly very common. 
 Th *-■*■ p O'^e °^ ^^^ smallest of the Foxes is the Kit Fox 
 u/ * {Vulpes velox) which is an inhabitant of the 
 
 a western northwestern states and of the western Cana- 
 bpecies. ^jg^jj provinces; covering the region from south- 
 eastern Nebraska northwest to British Columbia. Its length is 
 about twenty inches, exclusive of the tail, which is about twelve 
 inches long. The overhair is fine and the back is a pure gray, 
 the sides yellow and the under parts white. The ears are small 
 and covered with hair and the soles are also hairy. The muz- 
 zle is shorter and the head broader, proportionately to its size, 
 than that of the Red Fox. It is sometimes called the Swift Fox 
 and also the Burrowing Fox, getting the latter name for the 
 ability and rapidity with which it makes the holes in the ground 
 in which it lives. 
 The Arctic Fox, I" the animal world we find relations 
 a Northern closely allied in a physical respect 
 Variety. but differing at all points in mental 
 characteristics. Such a degenerated fellow is the 
 Arctic Fox, a near relative of Master Reynard, but 
 -widely differing from him in manners and customs. 
 He is one of the simplest and at the same time most 
 importunate, stupidest and yet slyest members of 
 the Fox tribe. The Arctic Fox ( Vulpes lagopus) has 
 short, rounded ears, short legs — the balls of the feet 
 being as thickly grown with hair as the rest of the 
 Ijody — a full, bushy tail and a peculiar color. He is 
 perceptibly smaller than the Common Fox, being 
 about thirty-eight inches long, a third of which is 
 taken up by the tail. In summer his fur is of an 
 earthy or rocky color, in winter it assumes either a 
 snow-white or dark bluish hue. Some Foxes there 
 are which do not undergo a white change of coat 
 for winter, but preserve their slate or bluish color. 
 White mothers are often found with both bluish and 
 white young ones, for in the latter the outer coat has 
 not yet reached its full length, and the color is deter- 
 mined by the inner fur, which may be dark or white; 
 but blue-coated mothers are never found with white 
 children. A proof that white and blue Arctic Foxes 
 are constant varieties, is, according to G. Lomer, 
 
 furnished by the fact that among the furs coming 
 from Alaska, those that are blue are the larger by 
 about a hand's breadth and the hair on them is 
 shorter and coarser than that of the white furs. 
 
 Home and As the name indicates, the Arctic Fox 
 Haunts of the inhabits the high latitudes both of the 
 
 Arctic Fox. Old and New World, being of rarer 
 occurrence on the islands than on the continents. 
 It may be assumed that he became distributed all 
 over the northern part of the globe by means of ice 
 floes; at least Arctic Foxes have often been seen 
 drifting in the ocean on these natural ships and they 
 have been found in great numbers as the only non- 
 aquatic mammals on islands which ' are quite dis- 
 tant from any others, under such conditions that 
 the only reasonable explanation of their presence 
 was that they had immigrated in former times. • 
 
 Life and Only before a storm or when he deems 
 Habits of Arc- himself insecure, the Arctic Fox retires 
 
 tic Foxes, into caverns in the rocks or into bur- 
 rows which he has himself scooped out; and then 
 he sallies forth to prey only at night; but in locali- 
 ties where he is not obliged to hide from Man even 
 in daytime, he does not take the trouble to dig bur- 
 rows or pits, but lies in wait for prey under stones 
 and bushes and in other sirpilar places. He is not 
 fastidious in his feeding but is content with any 
 animal food. Mice are his favorite game; and he 
 often follows the armies of Lemmings for a long 
 distance and pursues them persistently, even if he 
 has to cross rivers and other large bodies of water 
 in doing so. Among the birds he preys on Snow 
 Birds and other birds of the sea and its shore, and 
 is especially destructive to the young broods. He 
 also claims all the animals that are washed ashore. 
 
 Arctic Foxes are frequently encountered in packs; 
 yet no great peace prevails among them, as bloody 
 combats often take place which afford an amusing 
 spectacle to the looker-on. One animal will seize 
 another, which he throws to the ground, tramples 
 under foot and keeps down until he thinks he has 
 bitten his antagonist enough. During the whole 
 performance the champions scream like Cats and 
 signify their excitement by shrill howls. 
 
 Elliott's H. Elliott, who explored Behring Is- 
 Obseruations of land and investigated the existence of 
 
 Arctic Foxes, fur-producing animals and the methods 
 of hunting them, gives us many details about the 
 Arctic Fox. He tells us that the inhabitants of Attu, 
 the westernmost island of the Aleutes, have inten- 
 tionally imported the blue Fox into their country 
 and breed him there, so to speak, in liberty and in a 
 pure way. The common Red Fox had already been 
 exterminated on Attu when the inhabitants brought 
 the beautiful blue Arctic Foxes from the Pribylow 
 Islands. Other less valuable Foxes cannot reach 
 this remote island, for not even the ice furnishes 
 them with a bridge; and besides this the inhabitants 
 guard carefully against the deterioration of the race 
 of their Foxes; consequently no detrimental cross- 
 breeding can take place and the beauty of the furs 
 of their blue Foxes, of which the inhabitants of Attu 
 sell from two to three hundred annually, is beyond 
 reproach and is universally acknowledged. 
 
 Arctic Foxes The breeding season of the Arctic Fox 
 and Their lasts through April and May. In the 
 Young. middle or latter part of July the female 
 gives birth to from nine to ten or even twelve young 
 ones in some cavern or crevice of a rock. She 
 makes her lair preferably on a mountain or at its 
 edge. The mother Foxes love their little ones 
 
THE DOG FAMILY— FOX. 
 
 239 
 
 tenderly, and, in fact, overdo their solicitude, for 
 they betray their presence with the intention of pro- 
 tecting their offspring from danger. As soon as they 
 see a Man, even at a distance, they begin to yelp 
 and bark, probably with the intention of frightening 
 him away. 
 Hunting and Arctic Foxes are trapped and hunted 
 Taming of Arc- in various ways; they are caught in 
 tic Foxes, nets, nooses and iron traps. These 
 Foxes probably have also dangerous enemies in the 
 Polar Bears, and the sea Eagles also seem to pursue 
 them. Steller saw an Eagle seize a Fox with his 
 talons, lift him up and then drop him on the ground, 
 the Fox being killed by the fall. The fur is really 
 the only thing for which the Arctic Fox is useful to 
 Man. Arctic explorers have been reduced to the 
 necessity of eating its flesh, but all such unfortu- 
 nates agree that its meat is not a dainty. 
 
 goes a change according to the season. The sum- 
 mer fur grows afresh and is reddish in tint, while in 
 the winter fur every hair has a wide silver- white ring 
 preceding the dark tip, and in the resulting general 
 color sometimes the reddish and sometimes the 
 white hue will predominate. 
 
 The Corsac ranges from the steppes surrounding^ 
 the Caspian Sea to Mongolia, but the animal inhab- 
 its only desert or steppe-like regions, never being 
 found in forests nor in mountainous countries. He 
 has no permanent place of abode, not being addicted 
 to burrowing for himself,, but roams about and 
 takes his sleep in the open country; or at times he 
 may utilize a Bobac burrow found by chance, and 
 sometimes, perhaps, may enlarge it for his own 
 occupancy. In such Marmot holes several, or at 
 least two, Corsacs are said to be frequently found 
 together. The Corsac's principal food seems to be 
 
 THE ARCTIC FOX This inhabitanl of the frigid regions of the North is a bold dnd impudent animal with all tht cunning and slyness 
 
 of its relatives. This species of the Foxes is vigorously hunted because tne tur wnicn nature nas givc.i u w wiu.»ia..d tii= n^. .hern winter is 
 dense, warm and beautiful. Some are pure white and others have a darker hue of a bluish tinge, but all are of the same species and are fre- 
 quently found in the same pack as shown in the picture. (Vul^es lagopus.) 
 
 Arctic Foxes taken young become tolerably taime 
 and may be taught to follow their master like Dogs. 
 As a usual thing they are of an irritable temper, 
 however, and when they are touched they growl like 
 angry Dogs, and their green, flashing eyes assume a 
 ferocious glare. They do not very well tolerate 
 others of their own kind in their cage. 
 
 The Corsac, Of the other Foxes I will here only 
 orFoxof' mention those which are distinguished 
 
 the Steppes, by a peculiar mpde of life or a striking 
 color. A small variety is the Asiatic neighbor of 
 the Common Fox, the Fox of the Steppes, or, as he 
 is called by the Russian, the Corsac ( Vu/pes corsac). 
 He is much the inferior of Reynard in size, his 
 length beiilg twenty-two or twenty-four inches at 
 the most, exclusive of the tail, which measures four- 
 teen inches. In appearance and manners he much 
 resembles his kinsman. His dense fur shows less 
 variety than the Wolf or Common Fox, but under- 
 
 Hares and Mice, but he also preys on birds. Liz- 
 ards and Frogs, and also, probably, on larger insects, 
 particularly Grasshoppers. 
 
 He is zealously pursued, especially by the Kir- 
 ghiz people, for his winter fur is soft, thick, warm 
 and handsome. Besides being caught in traps and 
 nooses put in front of his holes, he is baited by Dogs, 
 after having been driven out by smoke. The Tar- 
 tars have trained more dangerous animals for his 
 chase than Dogs. They use tamed Eagles and Fal- 
 cons to capture him and the poor fellow can cer- 
 tainly not escape such winged pursuers. 
 
 I have kept living Corsacs for a tolerably long 
 time and have often seen other captive Corsacs, but 
 have seen no essential differences between their 
 behavior and that of the Common Fox. A Corsac 
 is one of the happiest inhabitants of a zoological 
 garden, soon feels at home in his cage, does not 
 dread either the heat of summer or the cold of 
 
240 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 winter and endures the burning rays of the sun with 
 the same equanimity with which he lies down on the 
 stone floor of his cage when there is a hard frost. 
 
 The Graceful Some exceedingly pretty, small spe- 
 Fennecs or Large- cies of Foxes inhabit Africa and the 
 
 Eared Foxes, contiguous portions of Asia. They 
 are the dwarfs of the Dog tribe in general and the 
 Fox genus in particular; are of graceful build and 
 a pale yellow color. They are principally distin- 
 guished by the large ears, which in two species ex- 
 ceed all usual proportions, but in other allied spe- 
 cies also are notably larger than those of other 
 Foxes. They have been called Large-eared Foxes 
 or Fennecs, though their teeth are similar to those 
 of the other Foxes. 
 
 When the hot day is drawing to its close and all 
 animals of diurnal habits seem revived by the cool- 
 ness of the evening, another somewhat gloomy but 
 yet dainty tribe thinks 
 only of beginning their 
 day's or rather night's 
 work. I do not mean 
 the abominable Hyaenas 
 nor the howling Jackals, 
 which hungrily prowl 
 around for food at thslt 
 time; neither do. I mean, 
 the Lynx of the desert, 
 the Caracal; but it is an- 
 other robber, the dain- 
 tiest and most graceful 
 of them all that I wish 
 to introduce. This is the 
 Fennec, or Fox of the 
 .Desert ( Vulpes zerdo) , an 
 animial more character- 
 istic of the desert than 
 the Gazelle itself. Imag- 
 ine a Fox's face, delicate 
 and fine of feature, cun- 
 ning; and sly of expres- 
 sion like that of Reynard 
 himself. This face shows 
 a pair of unusually. large 
 eyes and both sides of it 
 are surmounted by ears 
 more huge than are 
 found in any other mem- 
 ber of the Fox family or 
 even among the rest of 
 the Canidae. The slen- 
 der body rests on small, 
 extremely delicate ' and 
 dainty feet, and ends in 
 a thick, long, bushy tail. One glance at the animal 
 suffices to show that it must be extremely quick and 
 agile, besides being most efficient in its organs of 
 sense. 
 
 Acute Sometimes, at dusk, there may be heard 
 Senses of the a low, shrieking sound, difficult to de- 
 Fennec. scribe. Then if one be fortunate, he 
 may see, between heaps of sand or stones, or in the 
 valley grass, the Fennec, gliding along with extreme 
 caution, listening, sniffing and looking to all sides. 
 Nothing could possibly escape the notice of this 
 accomplished robber. Yonder Locust, in perform- 
 ing its final leap for the evening, has made so great 
 a noise that the large ears of the Fennec have easily 
 heard it; and the graceful creature, impelled more 
 by curiosity than hunger, sneaks up stealthily and 
 despatches it; or an agile Lizard has moved, and in 
 
 THE FENNEC. Here is a peculiar species of Fox with ears that might 
 
 Incite the envy of a lively Hare or a Long Eared Bat. The Fennec, which is 
 found in African and Asiatic deserts, is a graceful, alert animal, a small but per- 
 sistent Beast of Prey. The body and tail are similar to those of ordinary Foxes, 
 but the ears give the Fennec an interesting individuality. {Vutpes zerdo.) 
 
 an instant the Fennec approaches to see what is 
 going on. His principal food, however, consists of 
 other animals, especially birds,. Woe be unto the 
 Lark which chances to sit near the Fennec's path! 
 It is doomed if it but moves a wing, or, dreamily 
 thinking of its simple song, gives forth but a single 
 note ! Woe also to the Prairie Chicken, for it is the 
 prey the Fennec hunts most eagerly ! He has no 
 need to catch many; a single one is sufficient to 
 provide him, and perhaps his hungry family also, 
 with a dainty repast. His' abilities are shown to the 
 best advantage when his fine nose has scented a sign 
 of these Chickens ! Perhaps only one or two have 
 crossed the path the thief is pursuing, but that suf- 
 fices. The track is carefully investigated and he 
 follows it with his nose to the ground, noiselessly, 
 unheard and unseen. The Fennec knows his birds 
 well and his sight is keener than that of most trav- 
 .^ , elers. He is not deceived 
 
 *iyL\sii^.,^'^^^:^> by stones or mounds of 
 /\''iC " earth of a similar color, 
 ~" " for his nose and his acute 
 hearing do their part in 
 the tracking. However 
 slight the noise which a 
 bird produces in dress- 
 ing its feathers, however 
 seemingly invisible the 
 movement of a cautious 
 male bird, which looks 
 for enemies even when 
 half asleep, and however 
 imperceptible the odor 
 of a bird's spoor, indis- 
 cernible to us, none of 
 them escapes the Fen- 
 nec. See! he has made 
 sure of the track now 
 and glides along, nearly 
 creeping on his stomach, 
 indistinguishable by 
 sight or hearing. There, 
 behind the last bush, he 
 stops. The eyes glow, 
 the ears are expanded, 
 he greedily sniffs at the 
 dreaming, slumbering 
 birds. His whole body 
 is full of life, yet one sees 
 no movement; the entire 
 soul of the Fox lies in 
 his face, and yet it seems 
 as rigid as his body, 
 which appears to be 
 made of the sand of the desert. Then — a single 
 bound, a flutter of wings — the bird is killed. The 
 others rush up, noisily flapping their wings. Un- 
 steadily they roam in the darkness, and soon fall 
 asleep again, perhaps without knowing who their 
 nocturnal foe has been. 
 Description The Fennec is the smallest of all Foxes. 
 of the Including his tail, which measures about 
 Fennec. eight inches, his length is barely twenty- 
 six and his height at the shoulder eight inches. His 
 frame is exceedingly delicate, the head is very 
 pointed; the pupils of the large eyes are nearly 
 circular and surrounded by a brown iris. The most 
 remarkable features of the animal are undoubtedly 
 the ears. They attain nearly the length of the head, 
 and are about half as wide as they are long. They 
 give the animal a truly adventurous appearance 
 
THE DOG FAMILY— FOX. 
 
 241 
 
 and in a certain respect invest it with a Bat-like 
 aspect. The inner margins of the ears are covered 
 with white hair, in such a way that two tufts go up 
 irom the aperture of the ear, which unite in one run- 
 ning to the upper tip, where it becomes short and 
 thin. The small snout is adorned by long bristly 
 
 THE GOBSAC. This species of the Fox, which roams about on the broad steppes of Asiatic Russia to 
 
 the east of the Caspian-Sea, is small but active, and seldom makes a burrow for itself, but sleeps with no further 
 attempt at concealment than is afforded by the vegetation of these treeless plains. The picture shows one of these 
 animals taking a nap, while the other, wide-awake, presents the characteristics of a true Fox, with a dense fur and 
 a bushy tail. iVuIpes corsac.) 
 
 whisker hairs, which add to the peculiar appearance 
 of the animal. The fur is of silky softness and in 
 winter is supplemented hy a woolly inner coat, 
 which in spring is rubbed off in flakes by brushing 
 the body against branches, etc. One would think 
 that the Fennec did not _ _ 
 
 need a thick fur in the 
 warm country he inhab 
 its; but the little fellow 
 seems to be very sensi 
 tive to cold, and to stand 
 in need of more than or 
 dinary protection. The 
 upper surface of the 
 body has a color decid 
 edly similar to that of 
 the sand; the under sur 
 iace is white; and there 
 is also a white patch 
 •over the eyes, while a 
 darker stripe is found 
 beneath them. The tail 
 is very long, bushy and 
 nearly of an ochre yel- 
 low tint, but with only 
 black patches at the root 
 and the tip. The fur of 
 the female is of a straw- 
 yellow tinge, and the 
 color usually becomes 
 lighter with advancing 
 age. 
 
 The Long- The Long- 
 
 EaredFoxof eared Fox {Otocyon megalotis) inhabits 
 
 South Africa, southern Africa. In appearance it re- 
 sembles other Foxes especially the Fennec, and has 
 frequently been mistaken for the latter. But it is 
 much larger, has longer legs and a much shorter 
 
 muzzle, although the ears are similar to those of the 
 Fennec and nearly as large. 
 
 Its favorite haunts are the bushy, elevated plains of 
 the interior in southern Africa, north of the Orange 
 river. During the day it lies hidden like all its rela- 
 tives, affecting thick bushes or the Ant-hills hol- 
 lowed out by the Earth- 
 hog; at night it roams 
 about and sometimes ap- 
 proaches camp fires utter- 
 ing really doleful wailings. 
 Its food consists of small 
 animals and animal refuse, 
 but mainly of Locusts. 
 The Gray Fox The Gray Fox 
 an American ( Vulpes cinereo- 
 Species. argentatus) 
 may be considered a spe- 
 cies allied to the Common 
 Fox, but standing on a 
 lower plane. It differs 
 from the latter by its shorter 
 legs, proportionately longer 
 tail and a more graceful 
 shape in general. Approx- 
 imately, its length is three 
 feet including the tail, 
 which is about sixteen 
 inches, and the shoulder 
 height is twelve inches. 
 The prevailing color is a 
 peculiar spotted gray, com- 
 . posed of black and silver 
 gray and covering the forehead, top of the head, 
 back of the cheeks, nape of the neck and the whole 
 upper surface. Each individual hair is white at its 
 base, and then black, and marked with a wide white 
 band near the tip. The cheeks and throat are yel- 
 
 THE LONG-EAEED FOX. This animal, which has long ears somewhat similar to those of the Fennec, is a 
 
 night prowling creature. Its proportionately longer legs, larger size and shorter muzzle distinguish it from the Fen- 
 nec, which it resembles in other respects. The artist has appropriately pictured it amid the surroundings of a high, 
 bushy plain, for it is in such localities in southern Africa that this Fox is principally found. {Otocyon megalotis.) 
 
 lowish white, the ears and sides of the neck grayish 
 yellow, the under portion and the inner surfaces of 
 the limbs a light russet yellow; a band on the chest 
 is darker; a black stripe marks the fore-paws; the 
 tail is black above, russet-red below, gray at the tip. 
 
242 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 According to Audubon the Gray Fox is more fre- 
 quent in the southern than in the northern states of 
 North America and it does not seem to exist to the 
 north of Maine. It is of rare occurrence in New 
 England and Canada; in Pennsylvania and New 
 Jersey it is about as frequent as the Red Fox, but in 
 the southern states, excepting the mountains of Vir- 
 ginia, it is the only existing species; and in Florida, 
 Mississippi and Louisiana especially it is quite com- 
 mon. To the west it ranges as far as California. 
 Traits and Life It is difficult to say in what respects 
 
 of the Gray the Gray Fox differs from Reynard and 
 Fox. his relatives proper. The descriptions 
 known to me, among which the detailed account of 
 Audubon ranks first, resemble the biography of the 
 Common Fox as one egg does another. The Gray 
 Fox is said not to be so rapid and enduring a runner; 
 as to the rest its ways probably do not differ mate- 
 rially from those of its kinsman. Its haunts are 
 thickets difficult of access and impenetrable to large 
 Beasts of Prey, and rocks abounding in hollows and 
 crevices ; its hunting-grounds are the surroundings 
 
 THE GRAY FOX. Here is one of our own American animals, found only in tlie United States and a small 
 
 portion of Canada. The lean legs are shorter than those of the Common Fox, but the body is less clumsy. It does 
 not ravage Hen-roosts to such an extent as the Red Fox, but this is not because it is less inclined to robbery, but 
 because it is more timid. This specifes was formerly much more common than it now is in the north, where the Red 
 Fox has supplanted it to a great extent, but Gray Foxes are still plentiful in the south. ( Vulpes cinereo-argentatus.) 
 
 of its abode, from the sea-shore to the farm-yard. 
 Audubon affirms, that though it is much more timid 
 and shy than the Red Fox and is driven to flight 
 not only by the bark of a Dog but even by the crack- 
 ling of a branch ; and although one hears little or 
 nothing of inroads made by it on protected poultry 
 yards or flocks of Sheep, yet the animal is detested 
 and pursued in the south to the same extent as the 
 Red Fox in the north. The latter, he says, may be 
 compared to a sly, bold robber, the former to a 
 sneak-thief. 
 
 How Gray The females of both species are equally 
 Foxes Live impudent, however, when they have 
 
 and Hunt young. Like Reynard, the Gray Fox 
 shows a predilection for Mice and Rats, especially 
 the Meadow Mouse and the Cotton Rat, without, 
 however, disdaining anything eatable. Audubon 
 describes in a very graphic way, how the animal, 
 which may be compared to an excellent Hound, 
 sneaks up to a bevy of Quail, pays most careful 
 attention to the wind, and succeeds in carrying off 
 one of the birds. "On a cold, rainy, traveling day," 
 
 says he, "we caught sight of a Gray Fox, whose gait 
 was exactly similar to that of a Setter. Slinking 
 on against the wind, through the high grass, it sud- 
 denly stopped and sat down on its haunches. An 
 instant later it got up, and sneaked on with slow and 
 cautious tread, occasionally lifting its nose high in 
 the air and moving it from side to side. Finally it 
 seemed to be sure of its prey and moved on in a 
 straight direction, though still very cautiously some- 
 times creeping along the ground and occasionally 
 getting out of our sight, until we noticed it again as 
 it made the last stop. We saw no Cat-like move- 
 ment of the tail ; but the ears were lowered, the head 
 raised but a few inches from the ground. In this 
 position it remained for about half a minute, and 
 then it jumped on its prey with one powerful bound. 
 The whirr of a rising bevy of Quail and two or three 
 sharp, screaming sounds were heard, and soon after- 
 ward the successful thief came into view, with a 
 Quail in its mouth. We were provided with a gun, 
 and probably could have killed it, but why should 
 we have done so? It had demonstrated to us that 
 
 it not only belonged ta 
 the Dogs, but could match 
 an excellent Hound; and 
 besides, it had procured 
 its food in a lawful way; 
 why should we kill it?" 
 Our judgment is some- 
 what less_ mild when we 
 find the nests of Turkeys- 
 and other useful birds 
 plundered by it or come 
 to a place which plainly 
 shows the traces of a com- 
 bat between it and a Tur- 
 key. We then understand 
 why it is pursued as much 
 as its kinsmen, although 
 we may assume that, like 
 them, its usefulness in 
 diminishing the numbers 
 of harmful rodents out- 
 weighs the damage it 
 causes by destroying use- 
 ful animals. Besides pur- 
 suing larger game, espe- 
 cially vertebrates of all 
 classes, the Gray Fox also' 
 hunts insects, sometimes scratching the half-rotted 
 bark from trees to get at them, and it likewise 
 feeds on all kinds of vegetable substances. In the 
 state of New York a farmer called Audubon's atten- 
 tion to a maize-field in which several unknown ani- 
 mals had caused considerable damage, feeding on 
 the ripening cobs. The trace of the culprits proved 
 them to be Gray Foxes and the suspicion was 
 shown to be correct by the capture of three of 
 these animals. 
 
 Young Gray In Carolina young Gray Foxes are 
 Foxes and their born during the last days of March 
 Training. or in the beginning of April, in the 
 northern states a little later. The young remain 
 under the mother's protection for about three 
 months and then disperse, as soon as they are in- 
 dependent and able to lead a solitary life. Even 
 when they have attained their full size, the younger 
 Foxes are still easily recognized, by their compara- 
 tive lack of caution, and if hunted with Hounds, 
 they seek safety in prolonged flight only when com- 
 pelled to do so, usually trying to climb some coo- 
 
THE BEAR FAMILY. 
 
 243 
 
 venient tree, while old and experienced Foxes fre- 
 quently foil their deadly enemies by all kinds of 
 tricks and artifices. Audubon seems to think it sur- 
 prising that a Fox should climb a tree, while we, 
 who judge from the specimens of skill furnished by 
 Master Reynard, do not share his opinion. So agile 
 an animal as a Fox sees no insurmountable obsta- 
 cles to climbing a tree with low reaching branches, 
 gnarls and other excrescences while the clumsy 
 Dog is unable to imitate it in this respect. 
 
 How the Practically, the same that has been said 
 Gray Fox is about the hunting and other methods 
 
 Hunted. of extermination of the Common Fox 
 will likewise hold true in respect to the Gray Fox. 
 Traps the most manifold are used in America also, 
 to overpower the annoying rascal, and the hunt 'is 
 followed as diligently as in England. Captive Gray 
 Foxes behave like their European kinsman in all 
 essentials, but are said never to become completely 
 tame and always to suffer from an unconquerable 
 yearning after liberty. It is said to be especially 
 
 difficult to break them of their tendency to bite; at 
 least Audubon affirms that he never saw a captive 
 animal of this species which would have become 
 more than half tame. In one respect the Gray 
 Fox differs from its relatives to its advantage : it is 
 not possessed of their unpleasant odor. 
 
 The skin of the Gray Foxes is of slight value, 
 owing to its short and coarse hair, and it is gener- 
 ally used as a lining for traveling coats. According^ 
 to Lomer about twenty-five thousand skins are sold 
 annually, and they command a price ranging from 
 about a dollar to a dollar and a half apiece. 
 
 The Coast ^'^^ °^ '•^^ lowest forms of the vulpine family 
 Fox a Small '^ shown in the Coast Fox ( Vulpes littoralis), an 
 Species American species, found along the Pacific coast 
 " ■ from Central America north to Oregon and Brit- 
 ish Columbia. It has weak jaws, small teeth, short, slender 
 limbs and a not very stout body. The fur is black on the 
 back, a cinnamon brown on the sides, and the sides and under 
 portion of the muzzle are black. There is also a stripe of 
 black along the upper surface of the tail. Its nearest relative 
 is the Gray Fox, but it is much inferior to the latter in strength 
 and agility as well as in size. 
 
 Zbc Beat jFamll^. 
 
 SIXTH FAMILY: Ursid^. 
 
 The last family of the order Carnivora consists of 
 animals which we knew and loved in the days of our 
 childhood. The Bears (^Ursidce) are animals so dis- 
 tinguished that probably everybody can recognize 
 them at a glance; but the smaller species differ from 
 the larger ones in many respects, and with some w'e 
 are yet doubtful whether we should place them in 
 this family at all. 
 
 General The body of the larger Bears is thick 
 Characteristics set, while that of the smaller ones is 
 of Bears. sometimes slender ; the head is of a 
 rounded, elongated shape, with a pointed and usu- 
 ally truncated muzzle, the neck is relatively short 
 and thick; the ears are short and the eyes compara- 
 tively small; the limbs are of medium length, both 
 hind and front paws being five-toed and provided 
 with large, curved, immovable, non-retractile claws, 
 which consequently are frequently much blunted at 
 their tips. The soles of the feet touch the ground 
 for their entire length in walking, and are almost 
 entirely hairless. The teeth are from thirty-six to 
 forty in number and consist of six incisors above 
 and below, four canines or eye-teeth, from two to 
 four premolars above and below or two above and 
 three below, and lastly two upper and from two to 
 three lower molars. The incisors or cutting teeth 
 are relatively large, and harmonize with the strong 
 canines, which latter are generally provided with 
 edges and ridges. The premolars, on the other 
 hand, are of plain conical shape or furnished with a 
 few insignificant tubercles; the carnassial tooth is 
 very weak, and is even absent in some species, while 
 with others it is only a strong premolar with an inner 
 tubercle. The grinders are flat, those of the lower 
 jaw being always longer than they are wide. The 
 brain part of the skull is elongated and marked with 
 strong ridges; the cervical vertebrae are short and 
 strong, as also are the nineteen or twenty dorsal 
 
 vertebrae, to which fourteen or fifteen pairs of ribs 
 are attached. The sacrum consists of from three to 
 five vertebrae, the tail of from seven to thirty-four. 
 The tongue is smooth, the stomach is simple, the 
 small and large intestines do not differ markedly; 
 and the caecum, or blind process, is absent. 
 
 Where Bears are Bears existed in former periods. At 
 Found — Their present they extend all over Europe, 
 Habits. Asia and America and part of north- 
 
 western Africa. They inhabit the warmest as well 
 as the coldest of countries, high mountains as well 
 as the coasts of the Arctic Sea. Nearly all species 
 select dense, extensive forests or rocky regions, 
 generally lonely spots. Some delight in watery or 
 damp situations, streams, rivers, lakes, swamps and 
 the sea, while others prefer stretches of dry land. 
 One species is confined to the sea-coast and seldom 
 penetrates the depths of the continent, but still un- 
 dertakes more extensive migrations than the others, 
 traversing great distances on drift ice, crossing the 
 northern Arctic Ocean and migrating from one con- 
 tinent to the other. AH other species roam about 
 within narrower limits. Most Bears live singly, or 
 male and female together only during the breeding 
 season; but some are gregarious and unite into larger 
 bands. Some dig holes in the earth or in the sand, 
 and use them for their lair, others take shelter in 
 hollow trees or in clefts of rock. Most species are 
 nocturnal or semi-nocturnal in their habits, go forth 
 to hunt after sunset and spend the day sleeping in 
 their hiding places. 
 
 Bears are More than the other Beasts of Prey, 
 
 Omniuorous the Bears seem to be omnivorous in 
 Animals. the full sense of the word, and able to 
 subsist on vegetable food alone for a long time. 
 They not only devour edible fruit and berries, but 
 also corn, ripe or half-ripe grains, roots, juicy herbs, 
 buds, etc. Captive Bears have subsisted on oats- 
 
244 
 
 777.5 BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 for a long time without impairing their health. In 
 youth they are probably vegetable feeders exclu- 
 sively, and later in life most species continue to 
 prefer vegetable food. They are not fastidious feed- 
 ers, and also eat animals, namely, Crabs, shell fish, 
 worms, insects and their grubs, fish, birds and eggs, 
 mammals and carcasses of animals, but they eat 
 the latter, probably, only while they are still fresh 
 and give forth no odor. When in the neighborhood 
 of human habitations they do some damage; and 
 the stronger species temporarily become great rob- 
 bers and, when driven by hunger, attack even larger 
 animals and work destruction among Cattle. Some 
 are so bold that they penetrate into the very villages. 
 Yet even the strongest are, as a rule, dangerous to 
 Man only when they are disturbed, frightened or 
 wounded; in short, provoked to do so. 
 Movements and People who think the movements of 
 
 Capabilities a Bear clumsy and slow, are mis- 
 of Bears. taken. The large species are not, 
 as a general thing, particularly fleet or active, but 
 they are possessed, to an exceptional degree, of 
 endurance ; while the smaller species are remark- 
 ably swift and agile. The Bears are plantigrade in 
 their walk and deliberately put one foot in front of 
 the other ; but when they are excited, they can pro- 
 ceed at a great pace, running in a peculiar but rapid 
 gallop ; and even the largest species, under such 
 circumstances, display an astonishing speed and 
 agility. Those which are clumsiest know how to 
 stand erect, and can walk a short distance tolerably 
 well, though with a somewhat staggering gait. They 
 all know how to climb fairly well, though they do 
 not often exercise this ability on account of their 
 heaviness, and totally give it up in old age ; at least 
 the large species do. Some avoid the water, while 
 others are excellent swimmers; some can dive deep 
 and long. The Polar Bear is often found miles from 
 shore, swimming in the ocean, and then presents an 
 opportunity for observing his quickness and endur- 
 ance. Their great strength facilitates the move- 
 ments of the Bears, enables them to surmount diffi- 
 culties which would put serious obstacles in the way 
 of other animals, and stands them in good stead in 
 their depredations, for they can drag an Ox away. 
 
 Senses of The smell is the most efficient among 
 the Bears in their senses. The sense of hearing is 
 General. good and in some species excellent, 
 sight is fairly keen, the sense of taste deficient and 
 the sense of touch rather undeveloped, though some 
 possess a genuine organ of touch in their elongated 
 muzzles. Some species are sensible and sagacious, 
 and may be trained to a certain extent ; but they 
 exhibit no high mental development. Some indi- 
 viduals become very tame, though they display no 
 particular affection for their master and keeper. 
 They always revert to their grosser animal instincts 
 in old age, for then they become wicked, intractable 
 and violent, and the strong species may be dan- 
 gerous. The Bears signify their various moods by 
 modulations of their remarkable voice, finding utter- 
 ance in dull growling, snorting and murmuring, or 
 grunting, whistling and sometimes barking sounds. 
 
 Hibernation All the larger Bears inhabiting the 
 of the north roam around only in summer 
 
 Bear Family, and retire into a lair or hiding-place 
 ,at the beginning of winter. But they do not fall 
 into an uninterrupted hibernation, but sleep, or 
 rather slumber in a half-waking condition, and they 
 are awake as soon as anything suspicious occurs 
 near them. They very seldom go forth during this 
 
 period, however, and still more rarely do they par- 
 take of food. It is surprising that only the Bears 
 of the continent proper hibernate, while the Polar 
 Bears and sea Bears roam around during the sever- 
 est cold, or, at most, calmly lie down in the worst 
 snow-storm and seek shelter in the snow itself as it 
 falls; that is, they allow it to completely cover them. 
 
 The female gives birth to from one to six young 
 ones in a nest-like lair, and feeds, tends and protects 
 them with careful tenderness. The Cubs are born 
 blind, but after they gain their sight and activity 
 they are exceedingly jolly, playful little animals. 
 
 The destruction wrought by the Bears is just about 
 compensated for by their usefulness, especially as 
 they, for the greater part, inhabit thinly populated 
 districts where they can hardly do much damage to 
 Man. The fur of nearly every species is used and 
 highly valued. The flesh is also eaten and even the 
 bones, tendons and intestines are put to some use. 
 
 THE LARGE BEARS. 
 
 The Bear family is divided into three sub-orders, 
 of which the first comprises the Large Bears {Ursina) 
 which have the bulkiest forms of the whole family. 
 They are endowed with a long snout, small eyes 
 and ears, moderately long limbs, five-toed feet with 
 naked soles, blunt, non-retractile claws, a stub-like 
 tail and thick, shaggy fur. This sub-order numbers 
 two groups; the Bears proper and the Sloth Bear. 
 
 THE BEARS PROPER. 
 
 While every person believes" he knows the Com- 
 mon Bear fairly well, zoologists have not yet come 
 to a conclusion whether they are to count his varie- 
 ties as one species or divide them into several dis- 
 tinct ones. 
 
 The Common or If we accept but one species, the 
 Brown Bear Common or Brown Bear ( Ursus arc- 
 Described, ios), we have to admit that there are 
 a great many varieties in it, differing not only in 
 fur and color, but also in shape and form of skull. 
 The fur may be called thick and is longest around 
 the face, on the under portion and behind, the legs; 
 it may consist of longer or shorter hairs, which may 
 be straight or slightly curly; the color may be any 
 shade between brownish black, dark red and yel- 
 lowish brown, or between blackish gray, silver gray 
 and Isabel color. The white collar often found in 
 young animals sometimes remains to old age, or 
 else reappears in the aged animal as distinct as it 
 was in youth. The snout is elongated (in some 
 species very much), the forehead is more or less 
 flattened, the body is either very thick set or some- 
 what slender, the limbs may be long or short. 
 There are two species living in Europe : the Ursus 
 arctos, which has several varieties and is distin- 
 guished by long legs, a long body, a high forehead, 
 a long head and muzzle, and a plain fur of a faded, 
 grayish hue. Secondly, the Ursus formicarius, en- 
 dowed with shorter, thick legs, a stout body, a wide 
 head, a flat forehead and a short muzzle. 
 
 This Bear may attain ^ length of from eighty to 
 eighty-eight inches, and a shoulder-height of from 
 forty to forty-six inches. His weight varies between 
 three hundred and five hundred pounds, but in very 
 large, fat specimens may be as great as seven hun- 
 dred pounds. 
 
 Range and If all the species be regarded as one, 
 
 Haunts of the he may be described as being spread 
 
 Brown Bear, from Spain to Kamchatka, and from 
 
 Lapland and Siberia to the Atlas, the Lebanon and 
 
BEAK AND YOUNG BATHING. The life of the Beasts of Prey presents constant examples of the universality of maternal affection among 
 
 mammals of all species. Bear mothers are very attentive to their young, and the picture shows a family of Bears which has its home in the deep forest so much 
 tavored by these animals. A convenient spring is being utilized for the purpose of givmg a bath to the little ones, which seem to enjoy it. The mother is a 
 typical specimen of the Brown Bear, with the clumsy appearing body and limbs, shaggy fur, elongated head and muzzle and high forehead belonging to 
 that species. (Ursus arcios.) 
 
 (245) 
 
246 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 the western Himalaya mountains. Extensive, nearly 
 inaccessible, or at least little frequented forests, rich 
 in berries and other fruits, are a prime condition for 
 his existence. Hollows in trees or under their roots, 
 caverns, dark, impenetrable thickets and swamps 
 with dry islands afford him shelter and protection 
 from Man, his deadly enemy. 
 Physical Quali- The Brown Bear, the clumsiest and 
 
 ties of Brown heaviest of the predaceous animals 
 Bears. of Europe, is, like most of his near 
 
 relatives, an unwieldy and rather dull-witted fellow. 
 But he really looks clumsier than he is. He goes at 
 an ambling pace, that is, he lifts both limbs of the 
 same side at once in walking and trotting, his gait 
 in consequence appearing uncouth, waddling and 
 sprawling. When hurried, he goes at a gallop, 
 overtaking Man with ease, and in other respects 
 displays a degree of speed and activity not gen- 
 erally credited to him. He is an excellent swimmer 
 and climber, but in old age, when he is large and 
 heavy, he, gives up the latter accomplishment; or, at 
 least, does not climb smooth trees, devoid of boughs. 
 His powerful muscles and strong, hard talons much 
 facilitate his climbing, and he will sometimes even 
 mount very steep, rocky walls. Of his senses, hear- 
 ing and smelling seem to be the most acute. His 
 sight is rather deficient, though his eyes cannot be 
 called weak. His sense of taste seems to be quite 
 well developed. 
 
 Forester Forester Krementz has lately pub- 
 
 Krementz on lished his experiences of many years 
 tiie Bear. with the Bears living in the Rokitno 
 swamps. His book is very instructive, but he par- 
 ticularly states that he does not know whether his 
 observations will also apply to Bears of other 
 regions. "In general," says he, "the Bear cannot 
 be called cruel or bloodthirsty. If he were, he 
 would find daily opportunities for exercising his 
 instincts, and taking into account his formidable 
 strength, the question would present itself, as to 
 whether it would not be advisable to persecute him 
 more. I have not met with a single case where he 
 would have taken the offensive in his rencontres 
 with Man on his wanderings. On the contrary, he 
 usually seeks safety in flight on such occasions, or 
 else, in the consciousness of his power, he pays no 
 attention to the miserable inhabitant of the earth, or 
 at the most vents his displeasure by a sham attack 
 accompanied by short growls. The Bear is rather a 
 good-natured animal, though he is not to be trusted 
 under any circumstances. He especially objects to 
 being provoked or disturbed in his rest. He is of 
 a very phlegmatic temper, is exceedingly fond of 
 being comfortable, and his attacks always display a 
 certain frank, open-hearted, chivalrous disposition, 
 which has nothing in common with the cowardly 
 cruelty of the Wolf or the deceiving, treacherous 
 attack of the Lynx. In certain isolated cases he is 
 even possessed of a certain kind of grim humor." 
 Food and A single glance at the Bear's teeth 
 
 Depredations teaches us that he is an omnivorous 
 of Bears. animal and more of a vegetable than 
 an animal feeder. He is best compared to the Pig: 
 everything edible is welcome to him. As a usual 
 thing, plants form his principal food, small animals, 
 such as insects, Snails and the like constituting the 
 dessert. For months he may be satisfied with such 
 food, gorging himself with young, budding rye or 
 juicy grass like a Cow, feeding on ripening grain, 
 buds, fruit, acorns, berries and mushrooms; digging 
 up an occasional Ant-hill, delighting in the larvae or 
 
 the Ants themselves, whose peculiar acid taste may 
 be to his liking. Sometimes he scents a Bee-hive, 
 which provides him with an exceedingly welcome 
 feast. In southern Carinthia the Bee-hives are car- 
 ried into the mountains in summer, and accordiiig 
 to, the season at which the various plants of the Alps 
 bloom, they are placed higher or lower on the moun- 
 tain. Sometimes a Bear comes over from Craniola 
 and then works sad havoc, breaking the hives and 
 emptying them. A few years ago one such strag- 
 gler roamed from one Bee-house to another destroy- 
 ing over a hundred of them; eight belonged to the 
 narrator, Forester Wippf 1. The attacks of Bees are 
 by no means a matter of indifference to him; he 
 growls with pain, rolls on the ground, tries to rub 
 the tormentors off with his paws, and if he can stand 
 it no longer he even makes his escape and retires 
 into the forest or into the water, but only to return 
 sooner or later and resume the struggle for his 
 favorite dainty. 
 How one Brown It is impossible 'to follow a Bear 
 Bear Spent about on his daily wanderings in 
 His Day. order to watch his doings ; and the 
 chance meetings one has with him, even when await- 
 ing him at his favorite resorts or drinking places, 
 are of too short duration to throw much light on the 
 mode of life of the Bears, which as yet is steeped in 
 darkness in many respects. The fresh spoor in dew 
 or hoar frost are of great use as furnishing an insight 
 into the daily life of Bears, so we will here give the 
 result of following such spoor : " A Bear of medium 
 size crossed a meadow early in the morning; at its 
 edge there lay a fallen pine tree, which he turned 
 over, scratching the earth under it in several places 
 in his search for worms, grubs and larvae. The 
 bark of the two year old tree had been torn away in 
 a few places, and his soul had been delighted by the 
 fat grubs and Beetles under it. His further prog- 
 ress through the forest was made clear by foliage 
 scratched away. Ant-hills thrown about, wood and 
 bark turned over, and plucked blue-berries, cran- 
 berries and mushrooms. In several places he had 
 scratched up the earth on finding fresh sign of 
 Deer. Following the Deer tracks, he had trotted 
 on; then he went in the direction of a swamp, 
 proceeded about one hundred paces, suddenly 
 turned to the left, went back to the wood he had 
 just come from, and made a jump at a few Hazel- 
 Hens, as was shown by the feathers the birds had 
 lost in their hurried flight from the sudden attack. 
 Then he again turned his face to the swamp and 
 crossed it in a straight direction without any notable 
 incident. He again entered the wood, tore an 
 empty Thrush-nest from a bush, then used his teeth 
 and claws in the endeavor to enlarge the aperture 
 of a hollow oak, in which a swarm of wild Bees had 
 stored their honey, ate some blue-berries, sniffed at 
 the entrance of a Badger's burrow, and made him- 
 self conspicuous by running back and forth on a 
 grassy plot. A closer investigation showed the sign 
 of young Woodcocks, whose track he had zealously 
 pursued. From here he crossed a swampy, dense 
 alder-tree forest, then entered a forest of old pine 
 trees, tore the bark off the lower half of a dead pine, 
 scratched up the earth and sat down on it, the ground 
 also showing a great many imprints of the claws and 
 soles of the forepaws. Then he set his face toward 
 a buckwheat field, which he crossed, and then entered 
 a district of soft-wood trees and pines, situated on 
 low land and abounding in cut trees; he seemed to 
 prefer the parts where the trees were cut, crept 
 
THE GEIZZLY BEAR AND BISONS. Except Man, the Bison or American Buffalo has little to fear from any antagonist, for its great strength, 
 
 courage and endurance overawe all Beasts of Prey, except, occasionally, a hungry Grizzly Bear. This Bear can sometimes overcome a solitary Buffalo which 
 may become isolated from the herd. The episode which is illustrated in the picture is one of excitement among the most formidable animals which are fbund 
 in valleys and foothills of the Rocky Mountain regions. The Grizzly Bear has attacked a Bison Calf which has become separated from the herd. The piteous 
 •wail of the dying Calf has brought the herd of Buffaloes to the scene and the Grizzly Bear must now reluctantly abandon his prey and seek safety in flight, or 
 be killed, for he cannot overcome the attack of the herd of infuriated beasts, although his running powers are sufficient to enable him to escape. 
 
 (247) 
 
248 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 under the root of a fallen pine, slipped over a pros- 
 trate aspen tree and his hind quarters had sunk 
 rather deep into the swamp. Finally he made for 
 the drier ground of a pine wood near by and disap- 
 peared, his pursuit being abandoned at this point." 
 
 The Brown As long as the Bear has vegetable 
 Bear in Search food in abundance he confines him- 
 
 0/ Prey. gglf to it; but when driven by neces- 
 sity, or when he has become accustomed to animal 
 food, he occasionally develops into a predaceous 
 animal in the full sense of the word. He tries to 
 sneak up to his prey; but he is also said to tire 
 out Cattle ■ by pursuit, or, when they graze on high 
 mountains to disperse and drive them over prec- 
 ipices, which he then cautiously descends and eats 
 his fill below. Success increases his boldness. In 
 the Ural mountain region the Bear is accounted the 
 worst enemy of Horses. Drivers and coachmen 
 sometimes refuse to go through a forest at night, 
 though it is probable that it hardly ever happens 
 that a Bear attacks Horses harnessed to a carriage. 
 Those, however, that graze at liberty in the forest 
 are never secure from him. A friend of mine. Von 
 Beckmann, an expert Bear-hunter, told me how .the 
 animal proceeds in his attack, having personally wit- 
 nessed the encounter. Several Horses were grazing 
 near a swampy thicket, in full view of the hidden 
 hunter. A Bear made his appearance in the thicket, 
 and slowly crept up to the Horses, until they noticed 
 him and fled in great haste. The Bear followed 
 them with enormous, bounds, overtook one of the 
 Horses in; a surprisinglyshort .time, gave it a blow 
 on the back with [ont paw, a blow on the face with 
 the other, thre^y. it down and tore its breast open. 
 When he saw that arnong the fleeing animals one 
 was lame and could not escape, he left the killed 
 prey, ran , after, the second victim, easily reached it 
 and killed it also. . Both the Horses uttered fearful 
 outcries. , 
 
 When, the Bear has become bold, he also ap- 
 proaches stables and tries to break the doors, or, 
 as has repeatedly happened, in Scandinavia, he un- 
 covers the roofs., , He is so exceedingly strong that 
 he can carry even large' animals away. Krementz 
 gives several' exarnples of the exceeding^strength of 
 the Bears, One Bear broke pine poles that were 
 three and four inches thick; another took a Cow 
 that had just received her death-blow and was still 
 struggling, with his, fore-paws and carried her across 
 a small river in a forest, walking on his hind-legs, 
 A keeper of the forest,, who was sitting at a fire, was 
 attacked by a Bear, which had been frightened out 
 of his hibernation. The Man had his skull crushed 
 by a single blow from the Bear's fore-paw, so that 
 instant death ensued. A fourth Bear dragged a 
 living Deer out of a pit into which it had fallen. 
 The Deer weighed about six hundred pounds and 
 the Bear dragged it through the swamp for about 
 one-third of a mile. It is probable that Deer often 
 escape a Bear's pursuit by their vigilance and speed; 
 still he often follows even Reindeer in the north of 
 Scandinavia for a long distance.. He alsQ preys on 
 fishes, and follows the course of rivers for miles 
 intent on catching the finny prey. 
 
 Hibernation At the approach of winter the Bear 
 of the prepares a resting place between 
 
 Brown Bear, rocks or in caverns which he either 
 finds ready for his use or excavates for himself ; or 
 in a hollow tree; or frequently chooses a retreat in 
 the thicket, or on a dry island in a swamp. When 
 severe cold weather sets in, the Bear settles down 
 
 in his winter quarters and then sleeps through the 
 cold season. The time when he begins his hiberna- 
 tion varies according to the climate of the locality 
 and the weather. A female Bear usually retires as 
 early as the beginning of November, but the male 
 Bear, heedless of cold weather and the amount of 
 snow, still roams about in the middle of December, 
 as I saw myself by his spoor in Croatia. Accord- 
 ing to Russian Bear-hunters, he thoroughly investi- 
 gates the surroundings of his den before going to 
 sleep, and shifts his quarters if he finds human 
 tracks in different directions. If the snow begins to 
 thaw in the middle of the winter, he leaves his den, 
 even in Russia and Siberia, to drink or eat. It is an 
 established fact, that he lies under the snow for 
 three or four months in Livonia, taking no nourish- 
 ment whatever, and is found with an entirely empty 
 digestive tract if killed during this period. 
 
 If the winter is mild, his rest is perhaps not pro- 
 longed more than a few weeks, and beneath gentler 
 skies he probably never thinks of a winter's retreat at 1 
 all. Observations of captive Bears seem to indicate " 
 this, for these Bears do not hibernate, and behave in 
 winter exactly as they do in summer. While they 
 are given their food regularly, they eat nearly as '.. 
 much, as at other times, and during a mild winter 
 they sleep only a little more than in summer. 
 
 The Mother A- litter of .young Bears -usually num- 
 Bear and bers two or three, sometimes one or' 
 
 Her Young, four, and , very seldom. five- Cubs at a 
 birth. As, a rule the .mother prepares a .complete; 
 nest forthem, but it has also been observed .that she: 
 occasionally placed them simply on the snow. If; 
 danger threatens her offspring, she sonietimes car- 
 ries them far away in her mouth. I;t is a surprising, 
 fact,-^that the inother often deserts her Cubs, when] 
 hard pressed, while they are still- very small and' 
 helpless, but. courageously defends them when they 
 have become-larger and stronger. In the latter case 
 she considers herself an iautocrat of the wliole, 
 locality which she has selected as her place of' 
 abode, and meets every disturbing element with an 
 immediate attack. Some she-Bears become the- 
 terrorof all who have to pass through th^ir domain 
 and may, even suspend- communication on a road;, 
 and "whoeyer enters: their neighborhood withoiit- 
 Dogs, risks .being wounded or killed. In their; 
 fourth month the Cubs are large enough to follow^ 
 their mother about ; then she diligently teaches 
 th'em to climb and to find their food, and instructs 
 them in many branches of knowledge necessary to 
 a Bear's education. 
 
 Young Bears when they are -finally deserted, by; 
 their mother,, are said to stay around the old den 
 during the summer, and make use of it in. bad 
 weather, until they are driven away; they also like to 
 associate with other young Bears. Accounts of Rus- 
 sian peasants and hunters, first published by Eversr 
 mann and yet lacking confirniation, throw, a pecu- 
 liar light on these associations. They affirm that a 
 Bear-mother employs her older children as nui;ses 
 of the younger ones, if necessary using force, and 
 the two year old Bears which run around witlj. their 
 mother, brothers and sisters are simply - called' 
 "Pestun," that is, *' child's nurse." .,Eyersniann 
 relates the following story of a Bear family which 
 crossed the Kama: "When the mother had reached 
 the other side, she saw that the Pestun was slowly 
 coming after her, instead of helping his younger 
 brother and sister, which still were on the other 
 side. As soon as he reached the shore, the mother 
 
THE BEAR FAMILY— BROWN BEAR. 
 
 249 
 
 quietly administered to him a box on the ear. This 
 enUvened his understanding, and he went back and 
 brought one ©f the Cubs over in his mouth. The 
 mother looked on, and he again went back to bring 
 the other one, which, however, he dropped in the 
 middle of the stream. Then she rushed in, admin- 
 istered another castiga- 
 tion, compelling him to 
 do his duty, and the 
 whole family went on 
 its way in peace." The 
 young peasants and 
 hunters of Russia and 
 Siberia all say that every 
 female Bear has a Pestun 
 to take care of her little 
 Cubs. It is his duty 
 among other things to 
 watch over them in some 
 thicket, when the mother 
 goes out to prey or sati- 
 ates herself with some 
 prey which she cannot 
 carry away. He shares 
 her den in winter and is 
 left free only when an- 
 other has been found to 
 take his place. There- 
 fore one may even find 
 a four year old Pestun 
 in a Bear family. 
 Amusing An- Young Bear 
 ticsofYovng Cubs, when 
 Bears. about five or 
 six months old, are very 
 amusing animals. Their 
 liveliness is great and so 
 is their unwieldy clumsi- 
 ness, and they are con- 
 stantly playing the droll- 
 est antics. Their child- 
 ishness shows in their 
 every action. They are 
 very playful, climb trees 
 from sheer mischievous- 
 ness, wrestle with each 
 other like boys, jump 
 into the water, run to 
 and fro without purpose 
 and play a hundred 
 tricks. They show no 
 particular affection for 
 their keeper, but are 
 amiable alike to every- 
 body, making no distinc- 
 tion of persons. Whoever 
 gives them something to 
 eat is the right man for 
 them; whoever rouses 
 their anger, is considered 
 a foe and if possible 
 treated as such. They 
 are as irritable as child- 
 ren; their love may be 
 won in a moment and 
 lost as rapidly. They 
 
 are clumsy and awkward, forgetful, inattentive, un- 
 wieldy and silly like their parents, with the only dif- 
 ference that these qualities are more prominent in 
 them. With careful training, however, young Cubs 
 niay be taught to perform many amusing feats. 
 
 Bear-Hunting A Bear hunt is dangerous sport; 
 
 IS a Danger- still, the formidable Stories told in 
 
 ous apart. former times are being refuted by 
 
 experienced modern Bear hunters. Good Dogs 
 
 seem to inspire all Bears with extraordinary terror 
 
 and under all circumstances are the best assistants 
 
 . THE GRIZZLY BEAB. Most formidable among the Beasts of Prey found in the United States is the 
 
 Grizzly Bear, the monster of the far West, about which more thrilling tales of adventure have been told than any other 
 American animal. The picture shows him just as he has struck down his prey with a blow of his powerful paw and 
 is about to make a meal of it. The ponderous body, elongated head and muzzle, shaggy, grizzled fur and strong limbs 
 ending in paws with five toes on each, are all brought out in faithful manner in this illustration. (Ursus cinereus.) ' 
 
 of the hunter. In southeastern Europe the Bear is 
 chiefly hunted in a battue during the autumn, rarely 
 by a single huntsman and very rarely in or in front 
 of, his winter den; in Russia, however, the latter 
 place is where he is usually sought. As the Bear 
 
■250 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 always follows the same daily route, one can count 
 on meeting him with tolerable security, provided 
 one knows his habits. Cool blood, a good, steady 
 aim and good and tried weapons are prime necessi- 
 ties of a Bear-hunter. 
 
 Krementz says: "The prevailing opinion, that the 
 Bear always stands on his hind-legs in his attacks 
 and walks up to his antagonist, is an erroneous one. 
 It would be easier to meet his attack if he did. I 
 have personally shot twenty-nine Bears, and seen 
 others shoot about sixty-five; I have been present 
 at the attack of Bears of every size and description 
 and have been several times attacked myself; but I 
 saw only one male and one female Bear walk erect 
 toward their antagonist for any considerable dis- 
 tance. I do not wish to assert that the attack, as it 
 is usually pictured in hunting accounts and other 
 scientific works, never happens that way; only that 
 such cases seem to me to be extremely rare. The 
 attack of a Bear is usually sudden and rapid, and he 
 either tries to deal his opponent a blow with a fore- 
 paw by executing a rapid and violent movement to 
 the side, or he quickly trots up to his enemy, sud- 
 denly lifts himself on his hind-legs in the immediate 
 proximity of his foe whom he tries to knock down 
 with a violent stroke of the front-paw, or else he 
 deals him a sound blow and gives him a quick bite. 
 He never keeps near his victim when Men and Dogs 
 are about, but makes his escape." 
 
 Besides being hunted in accordance with all the 
 rules of sport, the Bear is persecuted in all other 
 possible ways, in those countries where it molests 
 people. The purpose is reached by intrepidity com- 
 bined with cunning. In Galicia and Transylvania 
 strong iron traps are placed in the usual path of the 
 Bear; a chain is fastened to the trap and to the 
 chain a heavy log is tied with a long, strong rope. 
 If the Bear steps into the trap, he tries in vain to free 
 himself from the chain, and finally the long rope 
 entangles him in a tree and he tires himself out by 
 his struggles and perishes. The hunter inspects the 
 road every two days, and the track of the dragged 
 iron, chain or log clearly show him the way taken 
 by the Bear. "The natives of Asia," says Steller, 
 "construct a building of many logs, all of which 
 fall upon the Bears and kill them when they step 
 on the traps, which are carefully concealed in front 
 of the structure. The natives also dig a pit and 
 fasten a pointed, smooth, burnt pole in it, rising 
 several feet high out of the earth; the pit is covered 
 with grass. Then they arrange a sham trap, a 
 spring, fastened to a rope; when the Bear steps on 
 the rope, the spring is loosened and hits the animal, 
 which, frightened out of its wits, incautiously runs 
 on, falls into the pit on the pole and is killed." 
 
 In Norway, Russia, Transylvania and Spain there 
 are still to be found experienced and intrepid men 
 who, accompanied by a few Dogs, meet the Bear 
 armed only with a spear and knife, and risk a life 
 and death struggle with him. 
 
 Profits of The profit of a successful Bear hunt 
 a Successful is quite considerable. The flesh 
 Bear Hunt. brings a good price; the fat, which 
 is reputed to be an excellent remedy for promoting 
 the growth of hair, is much sought after and well 
 paid for. Bear-fat is white, never becomes hard, 
 rarely gets rancid if kept in closed jars, and the 
 repulsive taste it has when fresh disappears on 
 steaming the fat with onions. The flesh of a young 
 Bear is very palatable, the hams of old Bears are 
 /Considered a dainty, either roasted fresh or cured. 
 
 The paws are esteemed the most savory part by 
 gourmands; but one must first get used to their 
 appearance, for when they are skinned and prepared 
 for cooking they resemble a large human foot to a 
 disgusting extent. The head is also said to make 
 an excellent dish. The fur is used in different ways; 
 that of the smaller animals is hardly considered, 
 while that of the larger ones brings, according to 
 Lomer, a price of from twenty to eighty dollars, 
 according to its beauty. 
 
 The Romans matched Bears in the arena, receiv- 
 ing their supply principally from the Lebanon 
 region, although we read that they had some which 
 came from northern Africa and Libya. Their de- 
 scriptions of the life of this animal are mixed with 
 fables. Aristotle, as usual, gives the most correct 
 account ; Pliny borrows from him, but adds a few 
 fables ; Oppian gives an excellent account of the 
 magnificent Bear hunts of the Armenians on the 
 banks of the Tigris ; Julius Capitolinus describes the 
 fights in the circus and mentions that Gordian I. 
 brought a thousand Bears to the arena in one day. 
 
 The Barren ^^ arctic North America there is a brown 
 
 rrnnr^ Rony n„ ^ear, which was found in the barren grounds 
 
 ArofirVnZ'tu °^ ^he Arctic Zone, by Sir John Richardson, 
 
 Arctic variety. ^^^ ^.^jj^^j j^ ^j^^ B^^ren Ground Bear. It 
 
 has been classed by some naturalists as a distinct species 
 ( Ursus richardsonii) but its similarity to the common Brown 
 Bear is so great and its points of difference so few that it can 
 scarcely be regarded as more than a local variety. 
 
 The Grizzly The nearest relative of the. Brown Bear 
 Bear, an Amer- is the Grizzly Bear (Ursus cinereus or 
 ican Species. Ursus horribilis) known to the Ameri- 
 cans under the familiar appellation of " Old 
 Ephraim," and ranging over the whole of north- 
 western America. He resembles the common Bear 
 in structure and appearance, but is larger, heavier, 
 clumsier and stronger. The color varies greatly, 
 from iron gray to light reddish-brown, the former 
 hue sometimes having a somewhat silvery glint, the 
 latter a golden one, produced by the silver-white or 
 yellowish tips of the outer hair. American hunters 
 therefore distinguish between the Grizzly proper, 
 the Brown and the Cinnamon Bear, the latter. variety 
 being considered the handsomest. His range com- 
 prises the west of North America. In the United 
 States he is found from the southern part of the 
 Rocky Mountain region, thence to the northern 
 part of Dakota. The farther we go to the west, 
 the more frequently he is encountered, especially 
 in mountains. In the south he is also found in the 
 high lands of Mexico ; while in the north his range 
 extends as far as the Arctic Circle and farther. 
 Mode of Life In his mode of life the Grizzly resem- 
 ofthe bles the common Bear, and also hiber- 
 Grizzly Bear, nates ; but his walk is more staggering 
 and all his movements are clumsier. He is said to 
 be able to climb trees only in youth, not being equal 
 to this accomplishment in old age; on the other 
 hand he swims over wide streams with ease. He is 
 a capable Beast of Prey, and more than sufficiently 
 strong to conquer any creature living in his native 
 country. 
 
 Stories of Former accounts all tend to char- 
 Encounters with acterize him as a cruel and formid- 
 the Grizzly. able animal. He was said to have 
 no fear of Man but to boldly attack him, no matter 
 whether the latter was on Horseback or afoot, armed 
 or defenseless, whether he had offended him or 
 never thought of hurting him. For all these rea- 
 sons, the hunter who had measured his strength with 
 "old Ephraim" enjoyed the admiration and esteem 
 
THE BEAR FAMILY— GRIZZLY BEAR. 
 
 251 
 
 of all Men, white or Indian, who heard of him, the 
 latter praising the killing of a Bear as the highest 
 deed of Man. Among all the Indian tribes the 
 possession of a necklace of Bears' claws and teeth 
 invests its wearer with a distinction scarcely enjoyed 
 ty a European prince or commander of a victori- 
 ous army. Only he who has earned the Bear-chain 
 by his own prowess and efforts has a right to wear 
 it. It is further said that the monster, who walks 
 boldly up to other people to kill them, flees when 
 he scents the wearer of such a necklace. To the 
 same degree that the Grizzly fears the scent of such 
 a Man, all other animals are afraid of the Bear. 
 Domestic animals act exactly as if they perceived 
 the odor given forth by a Lion or Tiger, and even 
 the carcass or fur of the Grizzly inspires them with 
 a wholesome terror. Several hunters there are who 
 assert that the American Wild Dogs, so voracious in 
 other respects, show their awe of the Bear by leaving 
 iis carcass untouched. 
 
 Food and Prey The Grizzly feeds on vegetable mat- 
 of the Grizzly ter, being fond of fruit, nuts ■ and 
 Bear. roots, but he also kills animals; and 
 
 he is said to catch fish very dexterously. In Alaska, 
 where he is very common, one frequently sees paths 
 which he has trodden down and walks on regularly, 
 either on banks of rivers, or on desert plains, in 
 marshy or mountainous districts; and the direction 
 and course of these paths are selected with such skill 
 that one only needs to follow them in order to 
 strike the shortest road between two localities. " On 
 the steep slopes of the mountainous coast on the 
 west side of Cook's Inlet," says Elliott, "one can 
 occasionally see troops of twenty or thirty of these 
 unwieldy animals, in quest of berries and roots. 
 But their furs are not very valuable, because they 
 are of coarse, uneven, shaggy texture. As they are 
 also very ferocious, they are not hunted generally, 
 except by the Kenai people, who hold them in high 
 esteem like the rest of the natives, and are wont to 
 
 THE BLACK BEAB. The most common species of Bear found in America is the Black Bear, which inhabits nearly all forest regions 
 
 .of the United States and Canada. The picture well portrays this familiar animal.with its fur of almost uniform black, its clumsy body and long, 
 somewhat pointed snout. The paws are smaller than those of the Brown Bear. The artist has appropriately pictured the animal in a dense 
 forest. This animal does not often assume the offensive toward Man, but is formidable when attacked. \Ursus americanus.) 
 
 There is no doubt that these as well as other 
 reports are partly incorrect, and in part greatly 
 exaggerated. They were spread and gained cre- 
 dence when the far West was as yet little frequented 
 and a monstrous animal was needed, capable of play- 
 ing the same part in stories of adventures, as the 
 most notorious predaceous beasts played in the Old 
 World. Occasional deeds were thought to be char- 
 acteristic of the whole species under all conditions, 
 and so the Grizzly became the terror of the unknown 
 fer West. Many a Man has perished by Grizzlies, 
 as well as by the common Bear; wounded beasts 
 have defended themselves, and those taken by sur- 
 prise, especially mothers who thought their Cubs in 
 danger, have also, probably, assumed the offensive; 
 but still the American Bear is no more formidable 
 than his European relative, nor does he show greater 
 courage, but resembles him in all respects. Bears of 
 either species may become dangerous if provoked. 
 
 address eulogies to a Bear before killing or trying 
 to slaughter him. As the natives are further afraid 
 of entering on places where volcanic influences are 
 at work, the surroundings of craters, hot springs or 
 places where steam is issuing from the ground, form 
 an asylum for wild animals, especially for Bears, 
 which are all well aware of the fact that Man will 
 not molest them there." 
 
 Yourtg Grizzly A young Grizzly can easily be tamed 
 Bears are and, like the Brown Bear, is then a 
 
 Easily Tamed, companionable, amusing animal for 
 a time. In spite of its length and thickness, his fur 
 is of so fine a texture and so lovely a color that it 
 is very becoming to the little fellow. Palliser, who 
 conveyed a little Grizzly to Europe, praised his 
 prisoner very much. He ate, drank and played with 
 the sailors, and amused all the passengers, so that 
 the captain of the ship later assured the sportsman 
 that he would like to have a young Bear on board 
 
252 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 on every journey. This animal had struck up a 
 queer friendship with a little Antelope which was its 
 traveling companion, and defended it in the most 
 gallant way on one occasion. When the Antelope 
 was being led through the streets on its way from 
 the ship, a huge Mastiff pounced on it and seized it 
 in spite of the shouts and the blows which the 
 keeper administered to him with his stick. Fortu- 
 nately Palliser and his Bear had taken the same 
 road, and when the latter saw what was going on, he 
 tore himself loose ; in another instant he had seized 
 his friend's foe by the neck and administered such 
 a castigation to him that he ran away with a piteous 
 howl. 
 
 Captive Grizzlies do not differ materially from the 
 European Bears in their customs. In the London 
 Zoological Garden there were two, which once 
 played an important part from a medical point of 
 view, In their youth they suffered from a severe 
 inflammation of the eyes, as a result of which they 
 became blind. It was decided to cure them. The 
 patients were separated, and the keepers put a 
 strong collar on each, and pulled the head of the 
 gigantic Bear close to the iron bars with ropes so 
 that the sponge saturated with chloroform could be 
 held to his nostrils with safety. The effect was dis- 
 proportionately rapid and sure. After a very few 
 minutes the huge animal lay like one dead in its 
 cage, deprived of consciousness and movement, and 
 the oculist could enter safely, put the terrible head 
 in position and do his work. Just as the cage had 
 been darkened, the animal awoke, staggered to and 
 fro as if intoxicated, and seemed to become still 
 more unsteady as its consciousness returned. In 
 time it appeared to realize what had happened to 
 it during its death-like sleep, and when it was ex- 
 amined a few days after, it had become conscious of 
 its regained power of sight and appeared to rejoice 
 in the light of day, or at least to know the contrast 
 between the former perennial night and the actual 
 brightness of the sunlight. 
 
 Ti.„ ni , D„ The Cinnamon 'B&a.r (Ursus cinnamoneus) 
 
 oftheTocku '^ by ^°^^ considered as a distinct spe- 
 Mr. ,„+ ■ o cies.and bv others as being only a variety 
 
 mountains. ^j ^^^ gj^^,^ ^^^^^ while other authori- 
 
 ties class it as a variety of the Grizzly Bear. It is found in 
 the Rocky Mountain region and a portion of the Sierra Neva- 
 das, occupying a part of its range in common with the Grizzly 
 and the Black Bear, but is much more numerous than either of 
 these species in southern Utah, Arizona and northern Mexico. 
 It inhabits the mountains principally, although sometimes de- 
 scending into the valley, and is much more formidable than 
 the Black Bear, though hunters and frontiersmen do not regard 
 it as being so dangerous an antagonist as the Grizzly Bear. 
 The name "Cinnamon" Bear accurately describes the color of 
 its fur, which is nearly of a uniform shade all over the animal, 
 although the hairs are much paler at the roots than at the tip. 
 The Musquaw The best-known American Bear, the 
 or American Musquaw or Black Bear {JJrsus amer- 
 Black Bear. icaiius) is a widely spread and com- 
 paratively good-natured animal; at least it is much 
 more harmless than the Grizzly or the Brown Bear. 
 Its length is at the most six feet, its height at the 
 shoulder a little over three feet. It differs from the 
 Brown Bear mainly by its narrower head, its more 
 pointed snout, very short soles and in the texture 
 and color of its fur, which consists of long, wiry, 
 smooth hair, which is shorter only on the forehead 
 and around the snout. The hue is a brilliant black, 
 merging, into yellow on both sides of the snout; and 
 a patch of the latter color is also often found in 
 front of the eyes. More rarely Black Bears are seen 
 whose lips have white margins, and which have 
 white stripes on the breast and the top of the head. 
 
 The Cubs, which at first are light gray, assume the 
 darker hue of their parents at the beginning of the 
 second year, but it is much later before their hair 
 grows long. 
 
 Differences of color have led many hunters and others to 
 distinguish other species of Bears. There is, for instance, a 
 Yellow Bear in North and South Carolina, the color of which is 
 yellowish-brown. But this difference of hue is the only one 
 that separates it from the ordinary Black Bear, of which it is 
 merely a variety. 
 
 The Black The Musquaw spreads all over North 
 
 Bear's Home and America. He has been found in all 
 Haunts. wooded districts, from the eastern 
 coast to the Californian boundary, and from high 
 latitudes to Mexico. The forest provides for all 
 his wants ; but he shifts his quarters from one 
 locality to another, according to the season and its 
 different products. During spring he is wont to 
 look for his food in the fertile river valleys, and 
 therefore he prowls in the thickets edging the banks 
 of streams and lakes. In summer he retreats into 
 the depths of forests rich in all kinds of fruit ; but 
 in winter he seeks out a suitable den in some 
 secluded place, and either sleeps or really hibernates 
 in it. Opinions differ in regard to his hibernation. 
 Some writers hold that only a few of these Bears- 
 hide in their dens for weeks and sleep, while the 
 rnajority of them roam from one place to another in 
 winter as at other seasons, or even migrate from 
 northern regions to more southern ones. Other 
 observers believe that this happens only in mild 
 winters, and that in those that are more severe all 
 Black Bears hibernate. It is a fact that it is most 
 frequently in winter that people sally forth on Bear 
 hunts and find the animal in its den. 
 
 Characteristics Notwithstanding his stupid, clumsy and- 
 of the Black unwieldy appearance, the Black Bear 
 ^^"i"- is a watchful, active, vigorous and agile 
 animal of great endurance. He can run so swiftly 
 that a Man cannot overtake him; he is an excellent 
 swimmer and an adept at climbing. At any rate he 
 is more agile than the European Brown Bear which, 
 in other respects, he resembles. He attacks Man 
 very rarely, seeking safety in flight as soon as he 
 catches sight of this his worst foe, and does not even 
 always turn on him when wounded, though he may 
 become dangerous when hemmed in by his enemies. 
 His principal food is of a vegetable nature, con- 
 sisting chiefly of herbs, leaves, half-ripe and ripe 
 grains, berries and fruit of the most varied kinds. 
 But he also makes inroads on the live stock of the 
 farmers and, like Brown Bruin, even dares to attack 
 large Cattle. He is always in the way of the farmer,, 
 either by damaging the crops or molesting the- 
 flocks, and therefore he fares like the Brown Bear:, 
 he is pursued and exterminated whenever he showS' 
 himself near human habitations. 
 Methods of Hunt- The Black Bear is hunted by vari- 
 ing the Black ous methods. Many are caught 
 Bear. j^ large traps, but more are killed! 
 
 with bullets. Good Dogs are of inestimable service 
 in rousing the Bear or driving him into a tree, there- 
 by giving the sportsman the opportunity to take' 
 a good, steady aim and send his bullet to the right 
 spot. 
 
 Some kinds of hunting practiced by the Indians 
 are very peculiar, and still more so are the solemn 
 ceremonies they go through in order to appease 
 the manes of the deceased Bear, the performance' 
 partaking somewhat of the character of worship. 
 Alexander Henry, who traveled in the part of the 
 country where fur-producing animals are- most 
 
THE BEAR FAMILY-BLACK BEAR. 
 
 253 
 
 abundant, relates how his hosts behaved in the 
 
 presence of a Bear he had just killed. "Directly 
 
 after his death, all the Indians approached him, 
 
 especially the woman we called ' Old Mother.' 
 
 She took the animal's head into her hands, patted 
 
 and repeatedly kissed it and asked forgiveness a 
 
 thousand times, assuring the dead Bear that it was 
 
 not the Indians who had killed him, but that an 
 
 Englishman had been guilty of that evil deed. 
 
 This ceremony did not last very long, for soon the 
 
 skinning and dividing of the meat began. Each 
 
 person in the party took his burden of skin, meat 
 
 or fat and we started for home. As soon as we 
 
 arrived, the head of the Bear was adorned with 
 
 silver bracelets and all the gaudy ornaments the 
 
 family possessed. Then 
 
 it was put on a stand and 
 
 a quantity of tobacco 
 
 was deposited before its 
 
 nose. On the following 
 
 morning preparations 
 
 for a feast were made. 
 
 The hut was cleaned and 
 
 swept, the head of the 
 
 Bear was put on a high 
 
 place and covered with 
 
 a new.handkerchief 
 
 which had never been 
 
 used. After the pipes 
 
 had been put in order, 
 
 the Indian blew tobacco 
 
 smoke into the Bear's 
 
 nostrils. He asked me 
 
 to do likewise, assuring 
 
 me that I, who had 
 
 killed the animal, would 
 
 certainly appease its ire 
 
 in this way. I tried to 
 
 convince my kindly and 
 
 well-meaning host that 
 
 the Bear did not live, but 
 
 I failed in this attempt. 
 
 Finallymy host made a 
 
 speech, in which he en- 
 deavored to glorify the 
 
 Bear, and after this the 
 
 repast on the Bear's 
 
 flesh began." 
 Ihe Black All Black 
 Bear in Bears which 
 Captivity. I have ob- 
 served differ materially 
 from their kin by their 
 gentleness and good na- 
 ture. They never make 
 hostile use of their 
 strength in their rela- 
 tions with their keepers, but completely acknowl- 
 edge human supremacy, and present no difficulties 
 in their training. At any rate they fear the keeper 
 more than he does them. A small Elephant, which 
 was being led past the cages of several Musquaws 
 which I took care of, frightened them to such an 
 extent that they hurriedly climbed up a tree, as if 
 they considered themselves to be safe there. They 
 show no desire to fight with other Bears which may 
 be brought to them, and even a small individual of 
 their own species, if courageous, can acquire the 
 supremacy in the cage. 
 
 Captive Black Bears constantly display their 
 agility in climbing. Whenever they are frightened 
 
 by anything, they jump up to the first boughs of a 
 smooth oak, to the height of about six feet, and then 
 ascend to the top with the greatest security and ease. 
 Once the keeper tried to drive the old she-Bear into 
 her cell, but she jumped over him, right into the 
 tree. The voice of the Black Bear resembles that 
 of the Brown Bear, but is much weaker and more 
 plaintive. Black Bears can be easily spoiled by the 
 liberality of well-meaning friends. They soon come 
 to know a person who makes a practice of feeding 
 them, and when he forgets to give them something, 
 they remind him of it with piteous requests. They 
 accustom themselves to a kind of mendicancy which, 
 is irresistible; for their attitudes, with outstretched 
 arms are so droll and then whming so pitiful, as to 
 
 BLACK HIUALAYAIT BEAR. This species of Bear, found in China, Japan and northern India, while 
 
 having many of the characteristics of the other large Bears, has a less clumsy body, larger ears, a shorter snout and 
 shorter claws than most of the other Bears. It is found in forest regions principally, and the picture, which brings 
 out the animal's characteristics, presents the animal amid appropriate surroundings. ( Ursus torquaius.) 
 
 move any heart. A few Musquaws in the posses- 
 sion of Count Goertz would search people's pockets 
 for dainties, and they made life a burden for those 
 who brought them nothing. 
 
 The Black An Asiatic representative of the 
 Himalayan Bear family is the Black Himalayan Bear 
 Described. {Ursus torquatus). His body is com- 
 paratively slender, the head ends in a pointed snout, 
 the forehead and nose forming a nearly straight line, 
 the ears are round and relatively large, the legs are 
 acquire the of medium length; the feet are short, and the toes 
 armed with short, vigorous claws. The fur may vary 
 greatly in texture and color, if the several accounts 
 refer to this animal and not to two distinct species. 
 
25i 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 Where the Him. Wallich found this Bear in Nepal; 
 alayan Bear Siebold, in his work on the animal 
 Lwes. world of Japan, says that the Him- 
 
 alayan Bear, called Cooma by the Japanese, is of 
 frequent occurrence not only in China and Japan, 
 but also in most mountains of the continent and 
 the southern Asiatic islands. In northern India and 
 Cashmere he delights in forest thickets located 
 near fields and vineyards, while in southeastern 
 Siberia he prefers open forests of tall trees. He 
 climbs the highest trees with ease, and Radde says 
 that it is believed by the Birar-Tungus people, that 
 he rarely comes to the ground; in summer he makes 
 liimself little bowers in the tops of the trees by 
 bending and intertwining branches, and in winter 
 he sleeps in some hollow tree in a sitting posture. 
 They also say that he is cowardly and harmless, 
 having a small mouth and being able only to bite, 
 but not to lacerate those whom he attacks. Adams, 
 however, was told the reverse, and affirms that the 
 Black Himalayan Bear is feared by the inhabitants 
 of the mountains of India for very good reasons. 
 Blanford calls him the most carnivorous of all the 
 Bears of India, killing not only small Cattle and 
 Stags, but also large Cattle and Horses, and occa- 
 sionally feeding on carcasses, although his prin- 
 cipal food is of a vegetable nature. 
 
 Himalayan Bears Captive Black Himalayan Bears 
 in the Tame are now seen in all larger zoo- 
 Siate. logical gardens. They resemble 
 
 the Musquaw most in their conduct, having nearly 
 all his habits and customs ; their intellectual capaci- 
 ties are about on the same plane as those of the 
 American animal, and the best that can be said of 
 them is that they impress one favorably because of 
 the gracefulness of their movements. 
 
 The nUalayan Bear, The Malayan Bear or Bruang, or as 
 Its Habitat and Rosenberg gives it more correctly: 
 Traits. Biruang (Ursus malayanus) [which 
 
 is by some authorities called the Malayan Sun Bear] 
 differs markedly from the species we have so far 
 considered. It is of elongated yet clumsy shape, 
 with a thick head, a wide muzzle, small ears, very 
 small, stupid eyes, comparatively huge paws, long 
 and strong claws and short fur. Its length is about 
 fifty-six inches, its height about twenty-eight inches. 
 The fur is short, but close, and is of a lustrous black 
 hue, with the exception of the pale yellow sides of 
 the snout and a yellow or light mark on the breast 
 in a horseshoe or ring-like form. 
 
 The Biruang inhabits "Borneo, Sumatra, Java and 
 the Malayan Peninsula. Very little is known about 
 his life in the free state. He is known to be an 
 excellent climber, perhaps the best among all his 
 family, and is said to live as much in trees as on the 
 ground, and to feed almost exclusively on plants, 
 though he may occasionally devour a quadruped or 
 bird. According to Marsden, he causes great devas- 
 tations in the cocoa plantations on Sumatra and also 
 ascends cocoa palms to feed on the tender shoots. 
 He is said to be often kept in captivity in his native 
 country, for he may be allowed to play even with 
 children, being a good-natured, .harmless fellow, 
 which may be given the freedom of the yard. Sir 
 Stamford Raffles, who possessed an animal of this 
 species, could let him go into the nursery and 
 never had to punish him by chaining him up, or by 
 blows. More than once the Bear went to the table 
 and asked for something to eat. He also proved 
 to be a consummate gourmand, as the only fruit he 
 would eat were mangoes. He was loved and hon- 
 
 ored by the whole household and behaved in a 
 model way, never harming the smallest animal. He 
 often took his meals in company with a Dog, a Cat 
 and a small Parrot, out of the same dish. . 
 
 In our cages the Biruang proves to be very differ- 
 ent, at least in so far as my experiences go: he seems 
 stupid, though anything but good-natured, rather 
 exhibiting an obstinate, wicked temper. He rarely 
 makes friends with his keeper, in spite of the best of 
 care. 
 
 The Polar Bear, If the rather slight differences in 
 a Distinct structure and habits exhibited by 
 Species. the common Bears entitle them, in 
 the opinion of some naturalists, to be ranked as dis- 
 tinct species, it is easy to understand why the Polar 
 Bear {Ursus maritimus) is regarded as the represent- 
 ative of an independent species. The first naviga- 
 tors who mention him believed him to be only a 
 variety of Master Bruin, whose fur had assumed the 
 snowy color peculiar to high latitudes^ but this error 
 did not prevail long, as the material differences 
 between the Brown and the Polar Bear were soon 
 discovered. The latter is distinguished by an elon- 
 gated body, a long neck, short, strong legs, with 
 feet much longer and broader than those of the 
 generality of Bears, and which have their toes con- 
 nected by strong webs nearly to their middle. He 
 is by far the largest of all Bears, for his height at 
 the shoulder is from fifty-two to fifty-six inches,, 
 while he attains a length of from one hundred to 
 one hundred and twelve inches. He weighs twelve 
 hundred pounds, and, if very fat, even sixteen hun- 
 dred pounds. ' 
 
 The body of the Polar Bear is much clumsier, 
 though more elongated, and the neck much thinner 
 and longer than those of the Common Bear. The 
 head is long, flattened and comparatively narrow, 
 the back of the head is much elongated, the fore- 
 head is flat, the snout is thick at the root, pointed 
 in front ; the ears are small, short and rounded ; 
 the nostrils are wider and the mouth split less 
 deeply than those of the Brown Bear. The paws 
 are provided with thick, curved claws of moderate 
 length ; the tail is very short, thick and stub-like, 
 scarcely protruding from the fur. The long, shaggy, 
 rich and close fur consists of a short inner fur, and 
 of a plain, lustrous, soft outer coat of nearly woolly 
 texture. The hair is shortest on the head, neck and 
 back, longest on the hind quarters, the under por- 
 tion and the legs. There are a few bristle-like hairs 
 on the lips and over the eyes ; but the eyelids have 
 no lashes. With the exception of a dark ring around 
 the eyes, the bare tip of the nose, the margins of 
 the lips and the claws, the Polar Bear is of a snowy 
 white color. The hue of young animals is a pure 
 silvery white, while the older individuals assume a 
 yellowish tinge, supposed to be caused by their oily 
 food. The season of the year has not the slightest 
 influence on the coloring. 
 
 The Icy Home The Polar Bear inhabits the highest 
 of the Polar latitudes of the globe, the genuine 
 Bear. j^e region of the pole, and is found 
 
 only there where water is frozen, at least partially, 
 either a great part of the year or perennially. It 
 has not yet been established how far north he pene- 
 trates; but as far as Man has gone in those inhospi- 
 table regions, he has found the Bear to be a living 
 inhabitant of that zone so inimical to life, while to 
 the south he has been seen only in exceptional cases 
 as far as the 55th degree of North latitude. He 
 belongs to none of the three northern continents 
 
THE MALAYAN BEAB. This inhabitant of the Malayan Peninsula and Islands, sometimes called the Biruang, has a clumsy, black body to which 
 
 the pale yellow markings of the face present a decided contrast. These Bears are of arboreal habits, are expert climbers and like to disport themselves on 
 palm trees like the two shown in the picture. They are of playful disposition, and those here depicted appear to be having a pleasant time together. ( Ursus 
 fnalayanus.) 
 
 (255) 
 
256 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 exclusively, but is common to them all. Interfered 
 with and endangered by no other creature, heedless 
 of the severest cold and braving heavy storms, the 
 fierceness of which is almost beyond our power of 
 conception, he roams about through continent and 
 oceans, over the icy covering of the water or through 
 the waves, and the very snow itself may become his 
 covering and his shelter. He is plentiful on the 
 eastern American coast, around Bafifin's Bay and 
 Hudson Bay, in Greenland, Labrador and some 
 islands, and is found as well on the land as on drift 
 ice. In Asia, Nova Zembla is his headquarters; but 
 he is also seen in New Siberia and even on the con- 
 tinent, though only when he drifts there on ice-floes. 
 In this way he sometimes lands in Lapland and also 
 in Iceland; and Polar Bears have frequently been 
 seen drifting on ice-floes in water that was otherwise 
 free from ice, at great distances from the shore. 
 Sometimes they roam about by the dozen or in even 
 more numerous troops. Scoresby says that he once 
 met about one hundred .Polar Bears together on 
 the coast of Greenland, of which twenty were near 
 enough to be killed. The uninhabited island of 
 St. Matthews, in Behring Sea, seems to be a real 
 Polar Bear country, for it is full of them; hundreds 
 of them keep house there, unmolested and secluded 
 from the world. They also abound north of the 
 Behring Strait and sometimes gather in considerable 
 numbers around some food. Pechuel-Loesche says: 
 "We saw an unusually numerous troop of Polar Bears 
 on an ice field, for which we thought there must be 
 some special reason. It soon became evident to 
 us. On the edge of the field lay the swollen car- 
 cass of a whale which had been washed ashore, and 
 the Bears had collected for a repast. It was an 
 interesting sight to see the participants of this feast, 
 some of which had soiled their white fur in a de- 
 plorable way in the difficult carving of the mountain 
 of flesh. They seemed very much displeased at our 
 arrival and quite disposed to dispute the right to the 
 prey with those in the approaching boat. But when 
 the largest fellow broke down with a shot in his 
 neck, and another was severely wounded, they made 
 their escape with surprising quickness. Like a pack 
 of angry Wolves they then surrounded us at a safe 
 distance and waited for our departure with all kinds 
 of lumbering, threatening gestures." 
 Physical Traits The movements of the Polar Bear, 
 of Polar on the whole, may be termed clumsy. 
 Bears. but his powers of endurance are re- 
 markable. He exhibits them to the full in swim- 
 ming, as he is a masterful adept in this exercise. 
 Scoresby estimates the speed with which a Polar 
 Bear moves in . the water, uniformly and without 
 apparent fatigue for hours at a time, at two and a 
 half to three miles an hour. The large amount of 
 fat stands him in very good stead, counterpoising 
 the weight of his body with that of the water. He 
 is therefore enabled to swim across vast expanses of 
 water for days at a time and is often met in the 
 open ocean far from the shore. According to 
 Pechuel-Loesche's observations, he always enters 
 the water hind quarters first, unless he is hard 
 pressed, and he allows himself to glide into the 
 water in a ludicrous, cautious, nearly anxious way. 
 He dives with as much ease as he swims on the sur- 
 face. He has been observed to bring Salmon out of 
 the water, and this is certainly an admirable illustra- 
 tion of his diving powers. On the ground, also, he 
 is by no means as helpless and unwieldy as he looks. 
 His usual pace is slow and deliberate, but when he 
 
 falls into his seemingly clumsy gallop or trot, he 
 proceeds at a surprising pace, even on uneven ice or 
 ground, and he knows how to pick out the most 
 convenient path with great circumspection. His 
 organs of sense are exceedingly acute, especially 
 those of sight and smell. Scoresby says that in 
 traversing vast ice-fields, he mounts on ice-blocks 
 and looks out for prey. He scents a dead Whale or 
 a piece of bacon thrown into the fire at remarkable 
 distances. 
 
 Food and Forag- The food of the Polar Bear con- 
 ing Habits of sists of nearly all the animals 
 Polar Bears. found in the sea or on the unfer- 
 tile coasts of his native country. His formidable 
 strength (which considerably surpasses that of the 
 other ursine Beasts of Prey) and his agility in the 
 water greatly facilitate his task of providing food 
 for himself. Seals of various kinds are his favorite 
 game, and he is sufficiently cunning and agile to 
 reach these sagacious and quick creatures. When 
 he sees a Seal lying on the shore afar off, he noise- 
 lessly enters the water, swims to the Seal against the 
 wind, approaching it with the greatest caution and 
 then suddenly emerges from the water near the ani- 
 mal, and, as a rule, overpowers it. In those ice- 
 bound regions the Seals are wont to lie near holes 
 and crevices in the ice, using them as means of com- 
 munication with the water. The Polar Bear, swim- 
 ming under the surface, finds these apertures with 
 unfailing certainty and so the fear-inspiring head of 
 the most terrible enemy of the helpless Seals sud- 
 denly makes its appearance, so to speak, in their 
 own home, blocking the only road by which it is 
 possible for them to escape. The Polar Bear 
 catches fish by diving and swimming after them, 
 or driving them into crevices between the ice and 
 catching them there. He attacks land animals only 
 when deprived of other prey; still Reindeer, Arctic 
 Foxes and birds are in no way secure froin him. 
 Osborne saw a Polar Bear roll away stone-blocks, to 
 provide her Cubs with Lemmings, and Brown, as 
 well as Kukenthal, noticed that this Bear devours a 
 great many eggs of Eider-Ducks. He is wont to 
 regularly visit even those brooding-places of sea- 
 birds which are difficult of access, and levy a tribute 
 on the surplus of eggs and nestlings, occasionally" 
 displaying great climbing abilities. He feeds on 
 carrion as well as on fresh meat, and is said not' even 
 to disdain the carcass of another Polar Bear. In 
 those regions which are frequented by Seal-hunters 
 and Whalers, the carcassesof Seals and Whales de- 
 prived of skin and fat constitute a convenient and 
 plentiful article of his diet. But he is by no means 
 an exclusive animal feeder, and, wherever he can 
 procure it, he eats vegetable food, especially berries, 
 grass and moss, a fact which is well known to those 
 who have often met Polar Bears. With some old 
 fellows, vegetable food seems to be the predominant 
 if not their only food in summer, in favorable locali- 
 ties, the: contents of the stomach of animals which 
 have been killed giving unmistakable proofs to this 
 effect. 1 
 
 Only Female It is highly probable that most 
 Polar Bears Pegu- Polar Bears do not hibernate. It 
 larly Hibernate, ig an established fact that one 
 may see and hunt them all through the winter. 
 They live on the sea-coast in that season, usually on 
 the brink of the ice. The female Bears retreat for 
 the winter, however, and the Cubs make their ap- 
 pearance during the coldest months. The female 
 Bear prepares a den under rocks or projecting ice- 
 

 -^ 
 
 ~v 
 
 •V >-x^,-. 
 
 POLAR BEAK AND CUBS This presents a scene at sunrise in the- frozen regions of the north. The mother Polar Bear and her Cubs are on a 
 
 Kreat ice floe, above which the Sea Gulls hover, envious of the ursine family, which have secured a Seal for breakfast. The mother has begun her voracious 
 meal, the little ones are not yet accustomed to a meat diet, but are about to try it. The picture well brings out the physical characteristics of the animals and 
 particularly the shaggy fur covering the body and legs, as well as the powerful paws of the larger animal. (.Ursus manhmus.) 
 
 (257) 
 
258 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 blocks or else digs a pit in the snow and suffers 
 herself to be snowed in. Considering the large 
 amount of snow which falls in those regions, it is 
 not long until her winter quarters are provided with 
 a thick and rather warm covering. Before retiring 
 for the season she lays up a goodly supply of fat, 
 and on this she lives during the winter; for she 
 leaves her den only when the sun of spring stands 
 high above the horizon. During this retirement the 
 Cubs make their appearance. They accompany 
 their mother on her wanderings much earlier than 
 the children of the land Bears. They are most 
 carefully and tenderly fed and protected by her. 
 Even when they have become half-grown or little 
 short of adult age, the mother shares all dangers 
 they incur; she teaches them their craft, consisting 
 of swimming and the catching of fish, in their 
 earliest youth. The pretty little fellows soon know 
 how to do both, but they try to arrange things for 
 themselves as conveniently as possible, and even 
 when they are rather large they comfortably rest on 
 the mother's back when tired. 
 
 Female Polar Explorers and whalers have narrated 
 Bears are Good touching stories of the self-sacrificing 
 
 Mothers. and loving spirit of Polar Bear moth- 
 ers. Scoresby says: "A she-Bear, which had two 
 Cubs, was pursued by several armed sailors on the 
 ice. At first she seemed to incite the Cubs to 
 greater speed by hurrying on in advance and look- 
 ing back at them, trying to impart to them a sense 
 of the danger they were in by peculiar motions and 
 a particularly plaintive tone of voice; but when she 
 saw that her pursuers were drawing too close to her, 
 she endeavored to drive the Cubs on, pushing and 
 shoving them, and thus she succeeded in making 
 good her escape." 
 
 Polar Bears A great many accidents are charged 
 Are Dangerous to the fierce attacks of Polar Bears, 
 
 as Foes. and many a whaler is said to have 
 lost his life through his foolhardiness in eritering 
 into a combat with one. Such narratives are usually 
 found in travelers' descriptions of former times, and 
 rarely in those of more recent date. In order to 
 explain the sharp contradictions, it may be assumed 
 that either the dangerousness of the Polar Bear was 
 much overrated in the olden times, or that he has 
 since changed his grim temper, perhaps in conse- 
 quence of a better aciquaintance with Man. At any 
 rate, the idea of dangerousness, as applying to the 
 whole species, is not an accurate one. The average 
 experience of those who have hunted and observed 
 him a great deal during the last few decades goes 
 to prove the reverse. Lamont, who has undertaken 
 hunting expeditions to the far north in his own ship, 
 writes as follows: "I consider the Polar Bear the 
 strongest of all Beasts of Prey; but like all other 
 wild animals, he does not attack Man so long as he 
 can avoid him, with very rare exceptions." Nor- 
 denskiold sums up his own and a great many other 
 people's experiences in the following words: "If one 
 meets a Polar Bear unarmed,, a few violent motions 
 and shouts sufifice to rout him; but if one flees from 
 him, one may rest assured that the animal will very 
 soon be at his heels. A wounded Bear always flees. 
 Often he puts snow on his wound with his paw, and 
 sometimes, in his agony, he digs a whole in the snow 
 to hide his head. When a ship rides at anchor, a 
 Bear sometimes swims up to it, and when a tent is 
 pitched in some remote region, the occupant often 
 iinds a Bear in the morning, which has sniffed at 
 ihe tent at night, but dared not enter it. Formerly 
 
 the sight of a Polar Bear used to strike terror to the 
 hearts of Arctic explorers, but nowadays hunters, 
 armed with their spears, do not hesitate to attack 
 even great numbers of Bears. They rely less on 
 their guns. Sometimes they have killed as many as 
 twelve Bears with their spears in a short time. I 
 know of one case only, where a Norwegian hunter 
 was severely injured by a Bear." 
 How Polar Bears In eastern Greenland the Bear acts 
 Act Toward in the same way. " Encounters with 
 
 Man. Polar Bears," say Copeland and 
 
 Payer, "have the most varied issues. It not in- 
 frequently happens that a sleighing party, obliged 
 to forego a hunt by lack of time or for other reasons, 
 passes by one or several Polar Bears, which often 
 are at a distance of a few paces only, and display 
 no other emotion by their demeanor than that of 
 curiosity and amazement. Or else they content 
 themselves with going around the sleigh, their heads 
 constantly turned in its direction. One of our 
 sailors, called Klentzer, went through an experience 
 as dangerous as it was ludicrous, in our winter 
 harbor. He was walking along the decline of the 
 Germania mountain, unarmed, and v^as about two 
 thousand paces away from the ship, when he per- 
 ceived a Polar Bear close behind him. He was well 
 aware of the remarkable speed which these crea- 
 tures may attain, and which renders any attempt at 
 escape futile; he also knew about the frequently 
 isuccessful trick of distracting the Bear's attention 
 by a continuous dropping of objects, while trying to 
 gain the protecting shelter. of the ship at a leisurely 
 pace, calling all the while for help. So he gradu- 
 ally divested himself of his hood, gloves, stick, etc., 
 all of which the Bear pulled to pieces with its teeth. 
 Still the animal finally came close up to him and 
 sniffed his hand like a Dog. Then the Man, who 
 had been incessantly shouting for help, resolved 
 upon the desperate and impossible feat of strangling 
 his foe with a strap, if it should attack him. His 
 piercing cry was heard from the ship. We hurriedly 
 armed ourselves, but feared the worst. The great 
 distance we had to traverse gave the Bear enough 
 time to have destroyed his victim ten times over 
 before we could come to the rescue, but he was sO' 
 slow in making up his mind, that our approach, 
 shots and shouts drove him away. He made his 
 escape over steep rocky inclines and wa.s gone as 
 suddenly as if he had been blown away." 
 
 Polar Bears The Polar Bear is hunted, wherever 
 Are Vigorously he ranges, on account of his flesh, fat 
 Hunted. and fur. He is destroyed with gun, 
 spear and trap ; and according to Seemann, some 
 hunters are said also to have recourse to the follow- 
 ing trick. They bend a piece of whalebone, about 
 four inches wide and twenty-four inches long,in the 
 form of a spring, wrap it in seal-fat and let it freeze. 
 Then they go in search of a Bear, provoke him with 
 an arrow, throw the piece of .fat down and flee. The 
 Bear sniffs the piece, and discovering that his find 
 is eatable, he swallows it and perishes ; for in the 
 warm temperature of his stomach the fat thaws, the 
 whalebone springs apart and tears his intestines. 
 I leave it as an open question, whether such sus- 
 picious pieces of fat are really swallowed whole by 
 these distrustful creatures when they have been 
 irritated as described in this story. 
 Polar Bears are When they deem themselves secure, 
 Very Destruo- however, they devour the most varied 
 
 tiue. and remarkable objects and have a 
 
 peculiar and by no means laudable tendency to 
 
THE BEAR FAMILY— POLAR BEAR. 
 
 259 
 
 investigate and appropriate the provisions which 
 arctic explorers store away in some part of the ice- 
 bound solitudes for future use. Sand has been found 
 to be the best protection against their depredations, 
 the stores of provisions being covered with this 
 substance, and water poured on it until the whole is 
 surrounded by a sufficiently thick, frozen covering. 
 
 but also coffee, sails and the American flag, the 
 only thing which they could not grapple being the 
 chests, which were made entirely of iron. A Polar 
 Bear, which was killed by McClure's men in one of 
 the expeditions sent out to rescue Sir John Franklin, 
 had his stomach stuffed with raisins, corned beef, 
 tobacco and court-plaster, a repast which he could 
 
 
 
 i'. 
 
 
 THE FOLAB BEAR. Probably when the North Pole is finally reached by Man he w 11 find Polar Bears plant ful n the ne ghborhood 
 
 The body of this animal is very heavy and clumsy, but the neck and head are longer and more slender than most of the other Bears. The light 
 color of the fur is appropriate to the surroundings of its natural home. Here we see two of this family, which have taken possession of a boat 
 which some hapless explorers seem to have deserted in its frozen moorings. ( Ursus maritimus.) 
 
 Wooden houses are broken into by the Bears, piles 
 of stone, chests, barrels, etc., are thrown down or 
 broken to pieces, and then the animals proceed to 
 devour every imaginable item of the contents, swal- 
 lowing whatever they possibly can. Kane says that 
 the plunderers not only ate his meat and biscuits, 
 
 have only found in some devastated storehouse in 
 the high north. German explorers had their meas- 
 uring apparatus and climbing irons carried away by 
 Polar Bears; and when they were away on a sleigh- 
 ing trip, the animals devoured their sugar and their 
 candles, chewed up their rubber bottles and the 
 
260 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 tobacco-pouches, and pulled the cork out of the 
 alcohol bottle; and an important diary had just re- 
 ceived the first bites when the mischief was fortu- 
 nately discovered and the Bears were driven away. 
 
 Training and Polar Bears taken very young may bfe 
 
 Taming Young tamed and trained to a certain degree. 
 
 Polar Bears. They allow their owner to visit their 
 cage, and may on occasions go to the length of 
 romping around with him, but still captivity is never 
 to their taste. Even in their native country they 
 feel uncomfortable when housed, even during their 
 earliest youth, and the greatest pleasure that can be 
 given them is to allow them to roll in the snow and 
 on the ice. In the spacious compartments provided 
 with deep and wide tanks, such as zoological gardens 
 nowadays construct for them, a Polar Bear may be 
 tolerably content and play with companions for 
 hours in the water, or even amuse himself with 
 wooden blocks, balls and similar things. As his age 
 advances he becomes irritable and violent. Toward 
 others of his kind he is sulky and intractable where 
 food is concerned, though a real fight seldom breaks 
 out between two Bears of equal strength, the mutual 
 anger usually venting itself in furious growling. 
 With very good care it is possible to keep Polar 
 Bears for several years. 
 
 The flesh and fat of the Polar Bear are much es- 
 teemed by all inhabitants of high latitudes. Even 
 European sailors eat the meat, and, after it has been 
 separated from the fat, do not find it unpalatable; but 
 they assert that the flesh frequently disagrees with 
 those who eat it. The liver is said to be especially 
 harmful and some maintain that it is actually poi- 
 sonous. The fur of the Polar Bear is foremost in 
 value among all Bear skins and brings a price of 
 from fifty to one hundred and twenty-five dollars. 
 
 THE SLOTH BEAR. 
 
 The Labiated or Sloth Bear, called "Aswal" in 
 India {Melursus labiatus), is quite different from the 
 Bears proper, which we have so far considered, both 
 in shape and habits, and forms a species by itself. 
 It is distinguished by a short, thick body; short legs, 
 rather large feet, whose toes are armed with im- 
 mense scythe-shaped claws; an elongated, truncated 
 snout, whose lips may, at will, be very much pro- 
 truded, and long, shaggy hair, which forms a mane 
 on the neck and falls low down on both sides. All 
 these features combine to give the animal so pecu- 
 liar an appearance as to entitle it to be ranked as a 
 distinct species. How remarkable the animal must 
 be is best seen from the fact that it was first de- 
 scribed as the Ursine Sloth {Bradypus ursinus) and 
 in one book was even styled "the' Nameless Ani- 
 mal." In Europe the Sloth Bear first became known 
 toward the end of the last century, and in the begin- 
 ning of the present century the first living specimens 
 were imported. 
 
 The length of the Labiated Bear, including the 
 stump-like tail which measures from four to five 
 inches, may be as much as seventy- two inches; his 
 shoulder height is about thirty-four inches. The 
 head is flat, the forehead wide and flat, and ends in 
 a long, narrow, tapering snout, partaking of the 
 proboscis in character and of very peculiar forma- 
 tion. The nostrils are very mobile, and the Ipng 
 extensible lips are still more so. Even when at rest 
 they project to a considerable degree over the jaw, 
 but when circumstances require it, they may be 
 elongated, projected, folded and turned to such an 
 extent as to form a kind of a tube, partaking of 
 
 nearly all the qualities of a proboscis. The long, 
 flat, narrow tongue, truncated at its extremity, helps 
 to form and use this tube and in this way the animal 
 is not only capable of seizing and drawing to itself all 
 kinds of objects but, so to speak, to suck them in. 
 The remainder of the head is furnished with short, 
 blunt, erect ears and small, slanting, nearly pig-like 
 eyes. Very little of the head is seen, however, as 
 even the greater part of the snout, which is grown 
 with short hair, is covered by the strikingly long, 
 bristly hair of the top of the head; This kind of 
 fur also clothes the tail and some parts of the body, 
 especially the neck, and is so long as to form a 
 dense, shaggy mane. In the middle of the back 
 the tangled mass of hair usually forms two large, 
 puffy bumps, giving the Bear the appearance of 
 being hump-backed. In this way the front part of 
 the animal has a remarkably clumsy appearance, 
 which is materially enhanced by the heavy, un- 
 wieldy body and the short, stout legs. Even the 
 feet are peculiar and the exceedingly long, sharp, 
 curved claws are decidedly remarkable and quite 
 Sloth-like. The incisor teeth are usually lost very 
 early in the animal's life and the jaw thereby gains 
 an aspect which is difficult to describe. The color 
 of the coarse hair is a brilliant black ; the snout is 
 gray or dingy white, and the breast shows a horse- 
 shoe-shaped white patch. Sometimes the toes also 
 have a light tinge. The claws are usually of a 
 whitish, horny hue, and the soles are black. The 
 young animals differ from the old ones by a slighter 
 development of the mane on the head and shoulders, 
 the ears therefore protruding and appearing rela- 
 tively larger; and their claws are darker than those 
 of the older animals. The snout is also usually of 
 a yellowish-brown hue from the point to the fore- 
 head, and the horseshoe-shaped mark on the breast 
 is yellowish white: 
 
 Habitat and The native country of the Sloth Bear 
 Life of Sloth is India, from near the foot of the 
 Bears. Himalayas to its southern extremity, 
 
 and Ceylon. He delight^ in a hilly country, rich in 
 jungles, and though he is much hunted, he is still 
 one of the most common of the large animals of 
 India, though in some parts he may be considered 
 extinct. On Ceylon, according to Tennent, he hides 
 in the densest forests, in the hilly country on the 
 northern and southeastern coast, and he is found as 
 rarely in higher mountains as in the damp valleys. 
 In the region of Kurrachee he was so common dur- 
 ing a prolonged drought that the women had to 
 give up their beloved baths and ablutions in the 
 rivers, because Bears crossed their way not only on 
 land but in the water also, the latter often uninten- 
 tionally, for they had fallen into the water while 
 drinking and could not climb back on the shore on 
 account of their clumsiness. During the hottest 
 hours of the day this Bear lies in cavernsj either 
 natural or dug out by himself, preferably choosing 
 those between rocks on the sloping sides of hills or 
 in precipices. In spite of his thick, dark fur he is 
 not very sensitive to heat. Usually he spends the hot 
 day in a cool hiding-place, however, and goes forth 
 at night, though he is also often seen in the morn- 
 ing and evening. His senses are not acute, with the 
 exception of his smelling faculty. He hears and 
 sees so badly that no great difficulties are presented 
 in creeping quite close to him. He climbs fairly 
 well in the rocks and is wont, after the fashion of 
 other Bears, to roll head over heels down some steep 
 declivity when frightened or when shot at. 
 
fv^ -»«*»•• fc^'-r".^ ^ ^- '. *,'i?fK . 
 
 "kl* ^^ -T 'i^^^'- 
 
 .41. „t „«^„nar fnrmq of the Bear family is this animal, which the artist has appropriately pic- 
 THE LABIATED OE SLOTH BEAR —One of the ™ost pecuhar forms of '^^J^^^^^J^^.^^ ^^,, ,^^ ,„;„,„ ^s name of Labiated, or Lipped 
 lured in company with the wild Sheep of the H,malayan region. The l""?. ««='>'' ^ pr«ru 5 P'^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^.^ superficial resemblances to the 
 Bear, is the most striking feature of the animal, givmg it a comical appearance. "= "»" /„i,iatus 1 
 
 Sloth including its long claws, and also because of its slow and clumsy movements. (Melursus labtatus.) 
 
 {261) *■ 
 
262 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 The Sloth Bears' The food of the Sloth Bear consists 
 Food and How almost exclusively of vegetable sub- 
 They Get It. stances and smaller animals, espe- 
 cially invertebrates, and he is said to eat eggs and, 
 small birds only occasionally. All naturalists agree 
 in asserting that he never attacks larger animals 
 with a view to eating them, except that Sanderson 
 and McMaster tell experiences where Bears had 
 eaten part of a Stag which had been shot, and 
 another time of an Ox killed by a Tiger. Cubs 
 reared in captivity willingly eat raw and cooked 
 meat, however. Various roots and fruits of all kinds, 
 the much prized pulpy buds of the Mohra tree or 
 broad-leaved Bassia, Bees' nests, of which the combs 
 and grubs taste as sweet as the honey to him. Cater- 
 pillars, Snails and Ants form his principal sustenance, 
 and his long curved claws are of great service to 
 him in. searching for and digging out hidden roots or 
 excavating Ant-hills. He even destroys the wonder- 
 fully built fastnesses of the White Ants and in such 
 
 mammals, including Man, in the most cruel way, 
 before eating them. He is said to hug his victims 
 close with his arms and claws and then to break 
 their limbs one after another deliberately and while 
 constantly sucking them with his lips. As a rule he 
 avoids Man; but his slowness not infrequently pre- 
 vents his flight and then, either from fear or with the 
 instinct of self-preservation, he assumes the offen- 
 sive. His attacks become so dangerous under these 
 circumstances that the Cingalese consider him the 
 most terrible of animals. Sanderson writes: "Sloth 
 Bears are not harmless to unarmed people. Wood 
 cutters and other people who follow their vocation 
 in the forest and the jungle often fare very badly 
 in their encounters with these Bears. Like all wild 
 animals they are most dangerous when surprised, for 
 then, actuated by fright and fear, they may attack a 
 Man." 
 
 The animal is hunted in various ways. His trail is' 
 easily recognized in the morning in the dewy grass 
 
 THE AILPSOFUS, This is a very rare animal which was first discovered by Pere David in 1869 in eastern Tibet. It has a clumsy 
 
 body with very long fur and very short tail. The fur is for the greater part white, but the black markings are peculiar, the ears, a ring around 
 the eyes and the hmbs being black, and a wide strip extending from the front legs up to the shoulders is also black. It is said to feed princi- 
 pally on roots, bamboos and other vegetable food. (Ailuro^us melanoleucus.) 
 
 a case plays sad havoc among the young brood. 
 Sanderson also relates that in some localities the 
 Aswals visit the groves of wild date-trees, where 
 palm-wine is manufactured. They climb the trunks 
 of the trees, which are from eighteen to twenty-four 
 feet high, up to the very tops, upon which are hung 
 the vessels which catch the outflowing juice ; they 
 tilt the filled vessels with their paws until they can 
 drink the contents. A few quarts of the liquid 
 might not be begrudged, them if they did not break 
 so many vessels while making their clumsy thefts. 
 People who sustain the loss say that the thieves do 
 not go to the trouble of climbing down, but simply 
 let themselves fall to the gr-ound, and further state 
 that they often get fairly intoxicated with the wine. 
 Sloth Bears Tennent's communications concern- 
 Sometimes Very ing the habits of the Sloth Bear are 
 Dangerous. not absolutely confirmed by recent 
 accounts. In East India the Bear is said to torment 
 
 and shrubs, and may be readily followed, or one may 
 find his den, and there await his return from his noc-. 
 turnal prowlings; or may systematically search a 
 stretch of jungle where Bears are sure or likely to 
 be found, and shoot them when they are driven out 
 into the open ground. 
 
 Captiue Sloth The Sloth Bear has been repeatedly 
 Bears Become observed in captivity, in India as well 
 Very Docile. as in Europe. In his native country 
 his docility is utilized by mountebanks and jugglers, 
 and like Bruin he is trained to perform all kinds of 
 tricks. He is kept on milk, bread, fruit and meat, 
 and usually comes to the conclusion that he decid- 
 edly prefers bread and fruit to other food. Curled 
 up like a sleeping Dog he rolls from one side to 
 the other, jumps around, turns somersaults, walks 
 erect and makes the queerest faces when food is 
 offered him. He also impresses one as being com- 
 paratively good-natured, familiar and honest. 
 
THE PANDA. Here is an animal, found in the Himalaya region of Asia, which well deserved to be classed as a Cat-like Bear. Its clumsy appearing 
 
 body and stout limbs are Bear-like, while its short, broad face, its whisker hairs and its large, erect, pointed ears remind one of a Cat. It has a bushy tail 
 nearly as long as its body. It is appropriately pictured in the forest, for it lives much in trees, and feeds principally on fruits and other vegetable substances 
 (^ilurusfulgens.) 
 
 (263) 
 
264 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 CAT-LIKE BEARS. 
 
 Three remarkable animals of southern Asia consti- 
 tute the second suborder of the Bears, whose mem- 
 bers we will call Cat-like Bears {Ailurinm). They are 
 a transitional form between the Large Bears and the 
 Civets and are distinguished by their somewhat Cat- 
 like paws, the soles of which are covered with hair 
 and have claws that are slightly retractile. 
 
 The Ailuropus The first place in this suborder 
 
 of the Tibetan belongs to the Ailuropus {Ailuropus 
 Forests. melanoleucus) , which was discovered 
 by David about twenty years ago, and which on the 
 one hand resembles the Large Bfears, on the other 
 the Panda. He is of smaller size than the common 
 Brown Bear, measuring about sixty inches from the 
 tip of his snout to the end of his tail. His feet, . 
 which have hairy soles, are wide and short and he 
 does not walk on the entire sole. The snout is 
 short, and the head proportionately broader than 
 that of any other Beast of Prey. His fur is dense. 
 Bear-like and of a uniform white color, with the ex- 
 ceptions that a ring around the eyes, the ears, the 
 front legs, and a band extending from them up to 
 the shoulder, the hind feet and the tip of the tail, 
 are black. 
 
 Next to nothing is known about his life in the 
 wild state. He inhabits the most inaccessible moun- 
 tainous forests of eastern Tibet. 
 
 The Panda, or The representative of the second 
 
 Red Cat-Like species of this suborder, the Panda 
 Bear. or Red Cat-like Bear (Ailurus ful- 
 
 gem), in a certain way holds the middle position be- 
 tween the Ailuropus and the Binturong. On account 
 of his thick, soft fur, his body appears clumsier 
 than it is ; the head is covered with long hair and is 
 very broad and short, and the snout likewise. The 
 long tail is pendent and bushy, having the appear- 
 ance of being very thick ; the ears are small and 
 rounded ; the eyes are small ; the short legs are 
 furnished with soles thickly covered with hair, and 
 the walk is senii-plantigrade ; the toes are short and 
 the claws are strongly curved. The size of the 
 Panda is about that of a large Tom-cat. The fur is 
 dense and long, of a vivid and lustrous dark red on 
 the upper surface, with a light golden tinge on the 
 back, where the hairs are tipped with yellow ; the 
 under surface and the legs are lustrous black, with 
 the exception of a dark chestnut transverse band on 
 the front and sides ; the tail is of a Foxy red, indis- 
 tinctly ringed with narrow bands of a lighter hue. 
 
 The Panda is a native of the southeastern parts of 
 the Himalayas, where it is found at an elevation of 
 from six thousand to twelve thousand feet. Little 
 is known about the life in the wild state of this 
 beautiful, dainty creature. It lives in the woods 
 either in couples or in families, mounts on the trfees, 
 and makes its home in their hollows or in clefts of 
 rocks; it spends much time on the ground in its 
 search for food. It is an almost exclusively vege- 
 table feeder, but is also said occasionally to plunder 
 nests and eat insects. 
 
 The Binturong, a The last species of the suborder is 
 Southern Asiatic the Binturong {Arctitis binturong). 
 Species. He exceeds the Panda in size ; his 
 length is from fifty-four to sixty inches, nearly half 
 of this length being taken up by the very long, pre- 
 hensile tail. The body is stout, the head thick, the 
 snout elongated ; the legs short and thick, the soles 
 are naked, five-toed, armed with tolerably strong, 
 somewhat retractile claws. The body is clothed in 
 
 a thick, rather rough, loose fur. The ears are short, 
 ' rounded and surmounted by tufts. Thick, white 
 whisker-hairs on both sides of the snout surround 
 the face as with a halo. The color is a dead black, 
 merging into a grayish tinge on the head and into a 
 brownish shade on the limbs. 
 
 The Binturong is a native of Borneo, Java, Su- 
 matra, the Malayan Peninsula, Tenasserim, Aracan, 
 Assam and Siam. Its life in the wild state i^ also 
 very little known. It is nocturnal in habits, leading 
 a principally arboreal life, and is slow in its motions. 
 It is omnivorous, disdaining neither small mammals, 
 birds, fish, worms, and insects, nor fruit and other 
 vegetable food. Living as it does in lonely forests 
 and hidden from view, it is seldom seen; its voice is 
 said to find utterance in a loud howl. Though wild 
 and fierce in disposition, it soon becomes tame when 
 taken young and is as gentle as it is playful. 
 
 THE SMALL BEARS. 
 
 In the third suborder we consider the Small Bears, 
 animals of a moderate size, which are confined to 
 America. 
 
 General Fea- The Raccoons (Procyon) are distin- 
 
 tures of the guished by the following features. 
 
 Raccoons. jhe body is thick-set, the head 
 widens corisiderably in its posterior part, thq snout 
 is short ; the large eyes are close together, the large, 
 rounded ears lie quite close to the side of the head; 
 the legs are relatively long and thin ; the feet have 
 naked soles and slender toes of medium size ; the 
 nails are rather strong and compressed from both 
 sides ; the tail is long and the fur consists. of rich, 
 long, straight hair. 
 
 The Raccoon The Raccoon {Procyon lotor) attains 
 
 Proper De- a length of twenty-six inches' exclu- 
 scribed. gjvg of the tail, which is ten inches 
 long ; the height at the shoulders is from twelve to 
 fourteen inches. The fur is yellowish gray with an 
 admixture of black. The fore-legs, a tuft near, the 
 ears (which is surrounded by a brownish black patch 
 behind the ears), the sides of the snout, and the 
 chin, have a light yellowish-gray tint. . Brownish 
 black stripes run from the forehead to the tip of the 
 nose and around the eyes; yellowish white bands 
 run above the eyes to the temples. The fore and 
 hinder paws are of a brownish yellow-gray' tint, 
 while the long hair of the lower half of the limbs 
 takes a deep dark brown tinge. The grayish-yellow 
 tail is ringed with brownish black and ends in a tip 
 of dark brown. No one of these colors contrasts 
 boldly with the others, and so the general coloring, 
 regarded from even a slight distance, becomes of a 
 gray hue, difificult to determine and describe, and 
 harmonizing as marvelously with the color of tree- 
 bark as with that of the ground, whether grown with 
 fresh or dry grass. 
 
 The Raccoon is The Raccoon is indigenous to North 
 a Native America, occurring in the south as 
 
 American. ^ell as in the north. Nowadays the 
 number of the Raccoons has been greatly reduced 
 in the more populous districts, in consequence of the 
 relentless pursuit the animals have been compelled 
 to undergo ; but they are not quite exterminated 
 even in thickly settled localities. In the interior of 
 the continent, especially in the wooded regions, 
 they are stiU numerous. The favorite haunts of the 
 Raccoon are forests bordering on rivers, lakes or 
 small streams. As a rule the Raccoon is wont to 
 go forth on his hunt at dusk only, and sleep during 
 the bright, sunshiny day in hollow trees or on 
 
THE BINTUBONG. - This is an animal of such differing characteristics that it is difficult to classify. It has ear-tufts like a Lynx, its claws are 
 partly retractile like those of a Cat, it has a prehensile tail like some of the American Monkeys, has much in its structure that reminds one of the Civet family, 
 with which it is placed by some naturalists, but is somewhat clumsy and slow, and has many traits of the Bear family, with which it is generally classed. It is- 
 ippropriately pictured in a tropical forest, for it is an arboreal animal and is found in southeastern Asia and on the Malay Islands. (Arc/ictis iinhirong.) 
 
 (265) 
 
266 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 thick leaf-covered boughs ; but in localities'ywhere 
 he is entirely undisturbed, he has no particular time 
 of day for hunting but promenades through his vast 
 domain by day as well as by night. 
 
 Some Notable He is a cheerful, handsome fellow 
 Traits of the and amusing because of his great 
 Raccoon. activity and liveliness. When he 
 saunters along undisturbed, he lets his head sink, 
 arches his back, permits his tail to droop, and slinks 
 on his way rather slowly and with a sidelong move- 
 ment ; but as soon as he has made a discovery 
 worthy of arousing his interest, as for instance when 
 he finds the trail of a harmless animal, or perceives 
 the animal itself, his demeanor changes entirely. 
 Then the rough fur becomes smooth, he pricks up 
 his wide ears to listen, stands erect on his hind legs, 
 and follows at an agile pace, jumping and running, 
 and he climbs with an agility for which one would 
 scarcely have given him credit, not only on slanting 
 and perpendicular trunks, but also on horizontal 
 branches, with his body upward or downward. Fre- 
 quently one sees him running on a horizontal branch, 
 like a Sloth or a Monkey, his body hanging down- 
 ward. He often leaps from one branch to another 
 with unfailing security, and displays a mastery far- 
 above ordinary skill in the art of climbing. On level 
 ground he is also thoroughly at home and knows 
 how to proceed at a great pace by executing jumps 
 in which he alights upon all four paws at once. 
 His mental qualities are somewhat Monkey-like. 
 He is cheerful, lively, inquisitive, mischievous and 
 prone to play merry tricks, but is also courageous, 
 and, when necessity demands it, cunning as a Fox 
 in catching his prey. He lives on excellent terms 
 with his own kind and even in old age he plays for 
 hours with like-minded companions, or in captivity 
 with any animal that is moved to play with him. 
 Raccoons Live on The 'Coon [for so he is familiarly 
 Varied Kinds called] eats anything edible, but 
 of Food. seems to be rather fastidious, select- 
 ing the choicest morsels wherever he can do so. 
 Fruit of all kinds, chestnuts, wild grapes, and sweet 
 corn while the ears are still soft, are articles of diet 
 highly esteeme'd by him; but he also preys upon 
 birds and their nests, knows how to slyly circumvent 
 a Chicken or a Pigeon, is a master in finding the 
 most carefully hidden nest, and then delights in the 
 eggs, which he knows how to open and empty with 
 marvelous agility, without losing a drop of their 
 contents. Not infrequently he enters gardens or 
 houses with the sole intention of stealing Chickens, 
 or devastating Hen's nests, and therefore does not 
 enjoy a very high place in the favor of farmers. 
 He even levies tribute on the water, for he very 
 adroitly catches fish and Crabs, and. during low tide 
 he often travels far out into the sea in search of this 
 favorite dainty. He seems to be extremely partial 
 to the stout grubs of some Beetles and displays 
 great skill in the capture of Grasshoppers. He 
 possesses the peculiarity of dipping his food into 
 the water and then rubbing it between his forepaws, 
 as if to wash it. He does this only when he is not 
 very hungry, however; for, when hunger presses, the 
 demands of his stomach probably leave him no 
 time for the much liked, playful occupation, which 
 has caused the Germans to name him, "Wash-Bear." 
 
 The little Raccoons make their appearance in 
 May. They are from four to six in number to the 
 litter and very small. The mother, with consider- 
 able care, prepares a nursery for them in a hollow 
 tree. 
 
 Raccoon Hunt. The Raccoon is pursued not only on 
 ing a Favorite account of his fur, but he is also 
 American Sport, killed for mere sport. If one has 
 only his fur in view, he is easily caught in iron and 
 other traps, baited with a fish or a little piece of 
 meat. The hunt is less simple. Americans are pas- 
 sionately fond of this sport. The Raccoon is not 
 hunted by day but by night, with Dpgs and torch- 
 lights. When the Raccoon leaves his solitary den 
 and glides through the underbrush with low, noise- 
 less steps, and the forest is buried in stillness, the 
 hunters and Dogs set out. A good, experienced 
 Dog finds the trail and the whole pack rushes after 
 the fleeing, agile 'Coon, which finally mounts a tree 
 with Monkey-like quickness and tries to hide among 
 the darkest branches. The Dogs surround the foot 
 of the tree, barking and howling, while the pursued 
 animal lies cuddled far up in the branches comfort- 
 ably at rest, enveloped by the darkness of night. 
 Then the sportsmen come nigh. The torches are 
 thrown in a heap, dry wood and pine-cones are 
 gathered, and suddenly an immense fire blazes up 
 under the tree, shedding a magic light on the sur- 
 rouridings. Some good climber then mounts the 
 tree, and undertakes the ofifice of the Dogs among 
 the branches. The Man and the Monkey-like Bear 
 race with each other on the tree, till the 'Coon goes 
 forth on a wavering branch in the hope of reaching 
 another tree in this way. His pursuer follows him 
 as far as he can, and suddenly begins to shake the 
 branch with all his might. Then the poor Raccoon 
 must hold fast, or he will fall to the ground. But 
 all efforts are of no avail. The enemy advances 
 nearer and nearer, the animal's efforts to hold on 
 become more and more strenuous and then he 
 grasps a brittle branch and tumbles down. The 
 Dogs greet his downfall with joyous barks and the 
 chase is renewed with fresh vigor. The Raccoon 
 tries to escape the Dogs by climbing other trees, but 
 he is doomed to become the prey of his four-footed 
 enemies at last, and their bites end his life. 
 Raccoons May A Raccoon taken young usually be- 
 Become Very comes tame in a very short time. 
 Tame. His familiarity, cheerful disposition 
 
 and peculiar restlessness, his never ceasing enjoy- 
 ment of moving about, and his amusing, Monkey- 
 like temper, render him an agreeable pet. He en- 
 joys being petted very much, but never shows great 
 attachment to any person. He is always ready for 
 play and pranks and testifies his contentment by a 
 little growl, just as Puppies are wont to do. His 
 demeanor reminds one of a Monkey in every re- 
 spect. He is always busy with something and pays 
 a great deal of attention to all that is going on 
 around him. He causes much mischief on his walks 
 around the house and yard. He investigates and 
 tastes everything, in the pantry as well as in the 
 yard and garden. 
 
 L. Beclimann's "Foremost among the qualities of the 
 Accountof 'Coon," says L. Beckmann, "are his 
 the Raccoon, unlimited inquisitiveness and greed, 
 his obstinacy, and his tendency to search all nooks 
 and corners. In sharp contrast to these qualities, he 
 also possesses coolness, self-restraint and a marked 
 sense of humor. These contendirig instincts, natu- 
 rally, often bring about the queerest results. As 
 soon as he realizes the impossibility of attaining 
 any special object he has been striving for, the 
 fiercest curiosity immediately gives place to an 
 apathetic indifference, and obstinate perseverance 
 changes into resignation. On the other hand he 
 
THE BACGOON. Our American representative of the Small Bears, the famous 'Coon, is very fond of eggs, and many a bird's nest is levied on for 
 
 these dainties by this sly, keen animal. The Raccoon in the picture has found a feast of this kind, and the little one beneath,'too small to forage for himself,, 
 is looking on enviously while his mother is enjoying her delicate repast. (Procyon loior.) 
 
 (267) 
 
268 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 often passes quite unexpectedly from lazy sulkiness 
 into the best of spirits by turning a somersault ; 
 and in spite of all his self-restraint and sagacity he 
 commits the silliest blunders when once his desires 
 have been aroused. 
 
 "In the numerous leisure hours which fill to the 
 lot of every captive Raccoon, he occupies himself 
 with a thousand things for his amusement. He will 
 either sit erect in a lonely corner and with the 
 utmost gravity try to tie a grass-blade around his 
 nose; or he will play meditatively with the toes of 
 his hind foot, or make dashes at the wagging tip 
 of his long tail. At other times he will lie on his 
 back, pack a large heap of hay or dry leaves on 
 his stomach and try to compress the whole pile by 
 drawing his tail over it with his fore-paws. If he 
 
 THE RACCOON. Perhaps no wild animal of the forest is better known to Americans than the Raccoon. 
 
 It is destructive, raiding cornfields while the corn is green, visiting Hen roosts intent on robbery, and despoiling 
 gardens "of various kinds of vegetables. It is therefore much hunted. It has dense gray fur with markings of white 
 and blaclc, and has several brownish-black rings on its tail. These markings, the stout boHy, the pointed muzzle 
 and other, features of the Raccoons are seen in the picture. {Procyon lotbr.) 
 
 can reach a stone wall, he scratches the mortar out 
 of the joints with his sharp claws and in a short time 
 causes a sad devastation. Like Jeremiah on the 
 ruins of Jerusalem, he then crouches in the midst of 
 his mound of rubbish, casts grim glances at the sur- 
 roundings and loosens his collar with his fore-paws, 
 exhausted by the hard labor. 
 
 "After a prolonged drought, the sight of a tub 
 filled with water rouses hip enthusiasm, and he tries 
 every means of approaching it. Then the first step 
 he takes is to investigate the depth of the water, 
 for he only likes to dip his feet into it in order to 
 wash various objects in it in play, and he decid- 
 edly disapproves of standing in the water up to his 
 neck. If the investigation proves satisfactory he 
 
 steps into the water with evident delight and gropes 
 on the ground for some washable object. An old 
 pot handle, a piece of porcelain or a snail's shell are 
 welcome finds and are immediately put into use. 
 
 "One Raccoon had entered into a covenant with a 
 large Setter. He liked to be coupled with the Dog 
 and then they both followed every step of their 
 owner, while, on the other hand, when the Raccoon 
 alone was led with a rope, he would always try to 
 go his own way. As soon as he was freed from his 
 chain in the morning, he hurried to join his friend 
 with joyous bounds. Standing on his hind feet, he 
 hugged the Dog's neck with his flexible paws, and 
 caressingly put his head close to his companion, 
 and then touched and looked at the body of his four- 
 footed friend curiously from all sides. It seemed 
 
 ^ ^^ _^ that every morning he de- 
 
 i^^:|^~&%"^^o: -' tected and admired new 
 fc--^-^' _^:,t3s>;~-^2VN beauties in it. If there 
 
 were any flaws in the 
 hairy covering, he imme- 
 diately tried to remedy 
 them by licking and 
 stroking the Dog's fur. 
 
 "He did not care to 
 have any dealings with 
 the small, biting Dachs- 
 hunds; yet he occasion- 
 ally tried to embrace one 
 of the crooked - legged 
 creatures from above. If 
 he succeeded in doing 
 this, he would execute a 
 high, backward leap into 
 the air in his delight, try- 
 ing to bite his dangling, 
 curled tail between his 
 parted fore- paws, while 
 still in the air. 
 
 "He attacked smaller 
 mammals and poultry of 
 all kinds, and it was ex- 
 tremely difificult to make 
 him surrender his victims. 
 Mice, Rats and other such 
 animals he killed with a 
 bite in the neck and ate 
 them skin and all, as he 
 could only partially suc- 
 ceed in skinning them, in 
 spite of all his worrying 
 and pulling." 
 
 A Raccoon killed in the 
 
 chase is fairly profitable 
 
 game. His flesh is eaten 
 
 not only by Indians and 
 
 Negroes but also by some white people, and his 
 
 fur is extensively used: Raccoon fur being popular 
 
 for clothing. The long hair makes good painters' 
 
 brushes, the woolly fur is used in the manufacture 
 
 of hats, and the tails are used entire as boas. 
 
 The Crab-Eating Another member of the Raccoon 
 
 Raccoon De- family is the Crab-eating Ractoon or 
 
 scribed. Aguara {Procj/on caiwrivorus), which 
 
 represents the genus in South America, where it 
 
 is principally found on the eastern coasts. It is a 
 
 little taller than its relative, is of a grayish-black 
 
 or yellowish-gray hue, which is lighter on the under 
 
 than the upper surface, and the tail is bushy and 
 
 marked with yellowish rings. The face is dark, and 
 
 over the eyes there is a light patch. 
 
THE BEAR FAMILY— RACCOON. 
 
 269 
 
 TheCoatisand The Coatis (Nasua) naturally follow 
 
 Their Long the Raccoon and its companion. 
 
 Noses. They are easily recognized by their 
 
 long, slender, nearly WeaseMike body, their short 
 
 neck and long, pointed head, their tail which equals 
 
 over the mouth, and has sharp and upturned edges. 
 The ears are short and rounded, the eyes of medium 
 size, and the five toes are united and armed with 
 long and slightly curved claws. The teeth resemble 
 those of the Raccoon, but are more slender. 
 
 THE COATI In South America there is an animal resembhng: a Raccoon in many 
 
 respects, but having a most striking and distinguishing feature in its long, proboscis-like 
 nose. This-is-the Coati, of which a group is here depicted. They are arboreal in their 
 habits and are appropriately shown disporting themselves on trees 
 descending from the tree head first is also portrayed. (.Nasua rufa.) 
 
 the body in length and is thickly grown with hair, 
 and their short, vigorous legs, furnished with broad 
 paws and naked soles. Their most prominent feat- 
 ure is the nose, which projects, proboscis-like, far 
 
 Among the various species of Coatis 
 recognized by naturalists, only two are 
 differentiated in modern times. Not 
 only do the animals vary in physical 
 characteristics but they lead different 
 lives according to age, as Hensel has 
 distinctly proven. Prince von Wied 
 recognized two kinds in Brazil, the 
 Gregarious and the Solitary Coati, but 
 in the light of Hensel's researches 
 both are one and the same species; 
 for the Solitary Coatis are nothing but 
 old, sulky males which have separated 
 from the bands of the Gregarious Coa- 
 tis. It is, however, probably the case 
 that the two species which we will de- 
 scribe are correctly differentiated. 
 Characteristics The best known of 
 of the Red these species is the 
 Coati. Coati or Red Coati, 
 
 called Cuassi in Guiana {Nasua rufa). 
 Its range extends over a wide area of 
 country, from the north of South 
 America to Paraguay. Its length is 
 from forty to forty-two inches, about 
 eighteen of which go to the tail. The 
 shoulders is eleven or twelve inches. 
 The thick, long, though not shaggy fur consists of 
 wiry, coarse, lustrous hair, longer on the tail than on 
 the body, and a short, soft, slightly curly, woolly 
 
 and their method of 
 
 height at the 
 
270 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 inner fur, which is especially dense on the sides 
 and back. The ground color varies on the back 
 between red and grayish brown, and merges into a 
 yellowish tinge on the under surface. The forehead 
 and top of the head are yellowish gray, the lips are 
 white, the card brownish black behind and grayish 
 yellow in front. A round, white spot is placed 
 above each eye, another on the outer corners of the 
 eyelids, and two, which sometimes merge into one, 
 stand under the eyes; a white band runs down along 
 the root of the nose. The tail is ringed alternately 
 with brownish yellow and brownish black. 
 
 Description of Hensel considers the Narica {Nasua 
 
 the Narica, a narica) of Central America an en- 
 Distinct Species, tirely distinct species. It is about 
 the same size as the Coati and the general coloring 
 also recalls the latter. The upper surface of the fur 
 is more or less dark, according to whether the light 
 or dark hue of the hair-tips prevails in the individual 
 animal. A ring around the eye, a band commencing 
 over the eye and running toward the tip of the nose, 
 and the front part of the snout above and below, are 
 yellowish white ; the throat and sides of the neck 
 are slightly darker, the rest of the under surface 
 brownish, the feet of a pronounced brown. 
 
 The Coatis in We are indebted to Azara, Hensel, 
 His Wild Rengger and Prince von Wied for 
 State. detailed descriptions of the Coati as 
 
 it is seen in the wild state. 
 
 " The Coati," says Hensel, " is so common in 
 Brazil that I was enabled to purchase as many as 
 two hundred skulls. Comparison of these skulls 
 and observation of the Coati in the wilderness lead 
 me to the conclusion that the old males, which have 
 been considered a distinct species, lead a solitary 
 life. At a certain age they leave the troop of which 
 they have so far been members in company with 
 the females, and after that they return to the troop 
 only during the breeding season. Solitary females 
 are scarcely ever seen ; and if a single one be occa- 
 sionally found, it has probably been driven away 
 from the troop by hunters, or the troop has been 
 quite near but has remained unnoticed by the sports- 
 man. The Coatis are diurnal animals. They rest 
 at night and display an incessant activity from 
 morning till evening. During the day they seem to 
 be perpetually wandering, leaving no place acces- 
 sible to them unsearched. Their food undoubtedly 
 consists of everything edible in the animal and veg- 
 etable world. They also like to enter plantations 
 to plunder the maize fields, especially while the 
 grains are still tender." 
 
 The Daily Small animals of all kinds become 
 Life of the their prey ; and they seem to regard 
 Coati. insects and their larvae, worms and 
 
 Snails as dainties. When they have scented a 
 worm in the ground or a grub in some rotten 
 wood, they take the greatest pains to possess them- 
 selves of this prey; they eagerly dig with their fore- 
 paws, put their nose into the excavated hole from 
 time to time and sniff, like Dogs which hunt for 
 Mice in the field, until they have attained their ob- 
 ject. The morning is spent noisily in whistling, dig- 
 ging and rooting, climbing and quarreling. When it 
 begins to get hot in the forest, the troop looks out 
 for a suitable place for a nap. A well-placed tree 
 or a convenient bush is picked out and each com- 
 fortably stretches itself on a branch and takes its 
 ease in sleep. In the afternoon the wandering is 
 resumed, until the task of finding a good sleeping- 
 place at night interrupts it. If Coatis notice a foe, 
 
 they immediately apprize their companions of it by 
 loud, whistling sounds, and hurriedly climb a tree; 
 all others follow this example and in a minute the 
 whole troop is distributed on the branches at the 
 top. If one ascends after them or only gives the 
 trunk a sound blow with an axe, they go out farther 
 on the branches, jump to the ground and run away. 
 If they are undisturbed, they descend from the tree 
 head first. They turn their hind-paws outward and 
 backward and hold fast with them to the trunk. 
 On branches they proceed cautiously and do not 
 dare to take, leaps, as Monkeys do, for instance, 
 from one tree to another, though they could do so if 
 they would try, for their agility is scarcely inferior 
 to that of the Monkeys or Cats. On the level 
 ground they are much clumsier than in the branches 
 of a tree. They either walk, holding their tails 
 vertically upward, or jump in short bounds, always 
 touching the ground with but one half of their 
 soles. It is only when standing or sitting on their 
 haunches that they step on the entire sole. Their 
 running gait looks awkward, but consists really of 
 a gallop, in which much ground is quickly covered. 
 They seem to fear the water and enter it only when 
 hard pressed ; yet they are sufficiently good swim- 
 mers to cross rivers and streams. 
 
 Of their senses, that of smell is undoubtedly the 
 most acute; the one next in keenness is the sense 
 of hearing, while sight, taste and touch are relatively 
 weak. At night they do not see, and even by day- 
 light their sight is not very keen, and sensibility 
 in the animal seems to be nearly confined to the 
 proboscis-like nose, which is also the principal organ 
 of touch. 
 
 According to Rengger the young Coatis make 
 their appearance in October, from three to five in 
 number, in a hollow in a tree or in the ground, a 
 ditch grown with thick bushes, or some other se- 
 cluded nook. Here the young are kept hidden until 
 they can follow the mother on all her prowlings. 
 
 How The white inhabitants of South Amer- 
 
 the Coati is ica and Mexico hunt the Coati prin- 
 Hunted. cipally for pleasure. They roam the 
 woods with a pack of hounds,'which track a troop. 
 At sight of the Dogs, the Coatis flee, screaming, to 
 the nearest trees and are shot. It requires a well- 
 aimed shot, if one wishes to get them into one's pos- 
 session; for those which are wounded lie down on 
 an embranchment and can only be dislodged with 
 much effort. A single Dog cannot cope with this 
 animal. The Coatis which live solitary know espe- 
 cially well how to use their teeth to good purpose, 
 turning courageously on any Dog which may happen 
 to be near, screaming fiercely- and biting viciously. 
 The victory is dearly bought, at any rate, for the 
 Coati sometimes incapacitates five or six Dogs 
 before yielding to superior power. The flesh is 
 liked not only by natives, but also by Europeans. 
 
 How the Coati In captivity, the Coati becomes at- 
 Actsin Cap- tached to people, although it never 
 tiuity. shows any particular preference for 
 
 its keeper, however tame it may be. It plays with 
 everybody. Monkey-fashion, and also with its ani- 
 mal companions, such as Dogs, Cats, Chickens and 
 Ducks. It is unsafe, however, to disturb it when it 
 eats, for even the most domesticated Coati will bite 
 men or beasts if they try to take its food away. 
 Independent or even fierce traits enter into the 
 composition of its character. It by no means sub- 
 mits to the will of Man, but becomes furious when 
 compelled to obey. Not even blows are of much 
 
THE BEAR FAMILY—KINKAJOU. 
 
 271 
 
 avail, for it courageously resists and bites those who 
 punish it, be it the keeper or anybody else. 
 
 Not much docility can be expected of so irritable 
 and intractable a creature. It is hardly possible to 
 train it for anything. Rengger saw one which stood 
 on its hind legs, like a Poodle, at the command of 
 
 did the one in Paris. This enigmatical creature was 
 a Kinkajou, an animal really nearly unknown at the 
 time. Some believed it to be a Lemur; others, con- 
 sidering the teeth, which were entirely different from 
 those of the Half-Monkeys, classed it with the Civ- 
 ets, and called it the Mexican Weasel; but the pre- 
 hensile tail did not fit 
 into this category and 
 the teeth also differed 
 markedly, distinguished 
 as they were by blunt 
 grinders, adapted for a 
 mixed diet. At last it 
 was placed among the 
 Bears, together with sev- 
 eral other animals as pe- 
 culiar as itself. 
 
 The Kinkajou, Mana- 
 viri or Cuchumbi, as the 
 animal is called in its 
 native country, northern 
 Brazil {Cercoleptes caudi- 
 volvulus), seems to be a 
 transitional form be- 
 tween Bear and Civet. 
 The body is very long, 
 but clumsy, and rests on 
 short legs; the head is 
 remarkably short, thick 
 and short snouted; the 
 eyes are of moderate 
 size, the ears small, the 
 toes are five in number, 
 half grown together and 
 armed with strong claws, 
 and the soles are naked. 
 The tail is longer than 
 the body, and is as completely prehensile as that of 
 some pouched animals or of the Howlers. When 
 full-grown the Kinkajou measures thirty-six inches, 
 about nineteen of which go to the tail; the height at 
 the shoulders is six or seven inches. The fur is very 
 thick, rather long, slightly curled, soft, and of vel- 
 
 IHE KINKAJOU, This is an animal which has puzzled the naturahsts. When first made known to the 
 
 scientific world it was classed with the Lemurs, then with the Civets, but is now put with the Bear family; to which it 
 is allied by its anatomical structure, its teeth, its food and its plantigrade walk. It has a short. Cat-like head, and a 
 tail which is prehensile like the Monkeys, which are its neighbors, for its home is in South America, although it has 
 been found as far nortli as Louisiana. {.Cercoleftes caudivolvulus.) 
 
 its master, and shammed death at the report of a 
 gun, but such docile individuals are exceptions to 
 the rule. 
 
 If allowed the freedom of the house, the Coati 
 makes itself extremely disagreeable. It digs up 
 or upsets everything with its nose. It is possessed 
 of much strength in this 
 member and of a good 
 deal of agility in its fore- 
 paws, and makes good use 
 of both. It leaves nothing 
 untouched. If it can get 
 hold of a book, it turns all 
 the leaves,, using its two 
 fore-paws alternately with 
 remarkable rapidity. If it 
 is given a cigar it unrolls it 
 •completely by a like move- 
 ment. If a standing object 
 attracts its attention, it 
 gives it a blow first with 
 the right paw, then with 
 the left, until the object 
 falls down. 
 
 The Kinkajou a Some time 
 
 Very Peculiar ago the pos- 
 
 THE CACOMIXLE. Long erroneously thought to belong to the Civet family, the Cacomixle is now 
 
 A ■ I " 'r classed with the Raccoon group of the Bear family. It is found in Mexico, Texas and California, and has many 
 
 Animal. seSSOr of a populamames in the latter state, including "Raccoon-Fox "and "Mountain-Cat." It has a face much like that of 
 
 the Raccoon, but has a ringed tail as long as the body. It can be tamed very successfully and is an excellent adept 
 
 at catching Mice. (Bassaris astuta.) 
 
 zoological garden in Paris 
 
 had the right to claim that 
 
 he showed the world an animal as yet unknown to 
 
 naturalists, and which he had received from America. 
 
 This happened toward the end of the last century, 
 
 and another specimen came to London at the same 
 
 time, interesting the naturalists there as intensely as 
 
 vety lustre; the color of the upper and external sur- 
 face is a light, grayish yellow, with a reddish surface 
 tinge, and shows brownish black waves, especially 
 distinct on the head and back. Its appearance har- 
 monizes excellently with its arboreal surroundings. 
 
272 
 
 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 
 
 At present we know that the Kinkajou is widely 
 spread. It is indigenous to the whole of northern 
 Brazil, Peru and to the north as far as Mexico, or 
 even southern Louisiana and Florida. It lives in 
 virgin forests, on trees, and delights in the proximity 
 of great rivers. Its habits are completely nocturnal; 
 it spends the day sleeping in hollow trees, but at 
 night it displays great activity, climbing with remark- 
 able adroitness about the high tree-tops in search of 
 food. Its prehensile tail is extremely useful in this 
 connection. It is inferior to hardly any Monkey in 
 climbing ability. All its movements are marked 
 by great agility and security. It can hold fast to 
 branches with its hind legs or tail and grasp a tree 
 so firmly that it is able to climb down head first. 
 Its mode of progression is plantigrade. 
 
 Traits of the AH those who have so far observed 
 Kinkajou the Kinkajou agree' iw that it is 
 Described. gentle and good-natijred in its re- 
 lations to Man, and soon becornes as familiar and 
 kind as a Dog, likes to be pette.d, retognizes . its 
 owner's voice and seeks his c'ompany. By actions 
 it invites its keeper to play with it, or to speak to it, 
 and these friendly traits make it one. of the most 
 popular domestic pets of the natives in South Amer- 
 ica. In captivity, as well as in its wild state, it 
 sleeps during most of the day. It then covers its 
 body, especially the head, with its tail. It eats any- 
 thing which is given it: bread, meat, fruit, boiled 
 potatoes, vegetables, sugar or preserves; drinks milk, 
 coffee, water, and, if permitted, wine or even brandy 
 until it is intoxicated, which makes it sick for 
 several days. Occasionally it also attacks poultry, 
 kills it, sucks the blood and leaves the rest. Kap- 
 pler, who observed the Kinkajou in Guiana, says: 
 " It lives only on fruit aijd becomes extremely tame. 
 I received a young one from Indians, and gave him 
 complete liberty. Nobody knew where he spent the 
 day, but as soon as we sat down to the table in the 
 evening, "Wawa," as we called the creature, arrived 
 and amused us by his funny, caressing actions, one 
 of which consisted in his trying to insinuate his long, 
 slender tongue into my mouth, ears and nose. He 
 ate ripe bananas and. other fruit. When the house 
 
 was closed at night, Wawa was put out, and he then 
 mounted the bread-trees, cocoanut palms or Avogato 
 trees, for he did not like to stay on the ground. I 
 kept him over a year, until he suddenly died." 
 
 The Cacomixle A small Beast of Prey, which for- 
 a Small but merly was placed among the Civets, 
 
 Liuely Species, according to recent research belongs 
 to the American Small Bears. We mean the Civet, 
 or as Hernandez called it as early as 165 1, the 
 Mexican Cacomixle {Bassaris astuta). An adult 
 male attains a length of about thirty-eight inches, 
 two-fifths of which go to the tail. In shape, the 
 animal reminds one of a small Fox; in coloring, of a 
 Coati. 
 
 The Cacomixle inhabits Mejcico, Texas [and Cali- 
 fornia, and it has been found as far north as Oregon.] 
 In Mexico it takes up its abode in rocks and de- 
 serted buildings,, but in Texas is found principally 
 in hollow trees. In Mexico it is frequently found 
 in the very capital, and Charlesworth evenfsupposed 
 that it never made its habitation far from humaii 
 dwellings, as the poultry yards furnished it such 
 favorable huntirig grounds. 4 ^ 
 
 The Cacomixle is a lively, playful and active 
 creatyre, frequently recalling to mind a Squirrel by 
 its movements and attitudes, and the Mexicans call 
 it "Squirrel-Cat" for this reason. If disturbed in its 
 den, it assumes the same graceful attitud-es as the 
 Squirrel and lays its tail upon its back. It is an 
 excellent climber, but can not leap from branch to 
 branch with the agility and security of the Squirrel. 
 When frightened it runs along one branch and tries 
 • to reach another frorn its twigs. Occasionally one 
 may see it lying on some bough basking in the sun. 
 It then lies motionless, half curled up and appar- 
 ently sleeping; yet at the slightest signal of danger 
 it slips into its hole with all possible speed and re- 
 appears only after sunset. 
 
 In spite of the slyness and timidity of the Caco- 
 mixle, it may become moderately tame, and after it 
 has been kept in a cage for some time, it may be 
 allowed to run about the house at will. It is fre- 
 quently kept as a pet in Mexico, and makes itself 
 useful as a mouser. 
 
TLbc Scale or jfin*3footeb Hnimale, 
 
 FIFTH ORDER: Pinnipedia. 
 
 N THE Seals we see inhab- 
 itants of the sea, which, 
 unlike the Whales,- appear 
 to be mammals even to 
 the uninitiated. Though 
 essentially aquatic, they 
 possess four legs, which 
 are distinctly outlined 
 and not joined for their 
 entire length to the body, 
 as in the Whale, although 
 their motion is of a trail- 
 ing character, and the feet 
 show the existence of fin- 
 gers and toes with some distinctness. With most 
 of the Seals the toes are perfectly mobile and con- 
 nected only by webs, but with a few they are entirely 
 enveloped in the skin of the body and immobile, 
 but may, nevertheless, be usually recognized by the 
 little nails, which are developed externally. There is 
 nothing that should strike us as absolutely strange 
 about these animals except the feet. The structure 
 of the toes is different from that of any animals we 
 have so far. considered: the middle toe is here not 
 the longest and strongest, but all the toes are of 
 practically identical conformation. Though the 
 bodily structure of the Seals differs notably from 
 that of all other mammals which we have so far dis- 
 cussed, in other respects comparison may still be 
 drawn between it and that of the beasts of prey — 
 especially the Otter and the Bear — with a fair degree 
 of ease, and some naturalists, who class the Seals 
 among the beasts of prey, are therefore justified in 
 doing so. The head is comparatively small, toler- 
 ably distinct from the neck and resembles that of 
 the Otter or the Bear. The nose is provided with 
 oblique, slit-like nostrils, which may be closed; the 
 eye is large and furnished with a lid, the outer ear 
 may be closed, and is developed to an appreciable 
 extent oiily in one species, the other Seals lacking 
 an ear-conch. The short, thick neck merges imme- 
 diately into the body, the shape of which is more 
 or less cylindrical and gradually tapers to the but- 
 tocksj while the tail has deteriorated into a stub. 
 The thick, firm skin is, for the greater part, covered 
 only with a plain outer fur of uniform length, which 
 sometimes is elongated into a mane, or there may 
 be a somewhat thick, woolly inner fur. The teeth 
 and the inner structure show a distinct character of 
 their own, in spite of the manifold resemblance to 
 the respective parts of the beasts of prey. 
 
 The vertebral column resembles that of the Carni- 
 vora; the cervical vertebrae are distinct and furnished 
 with well-developed processes. There are fourteen 
 or fifteen dorsal and five or six lumbar vertebrae ; 
 from two to seven united vertebrae form the sacrum, 
 and from nine to fifteen go to the tail. The clavicles 
 are absent. The hones of the limbs are very short ; 
 the bones of the fore-arm and leg are always 
 
 separate, the wrist and ankle-joints are of regular 
 formation. 
 
 WitletflStribu- The Seals are distribiSted over all 
 tion of the the oceans of the globe, inhabiting 
 Seals. the higher south as well as the 
 
 north, and are even found in great inland Asiatic 
 lakes, into which they have either penetrated by way 
 of the rivers flowing from them, or in which they 
 were left, when all the means of communication 
 by water with the greater ocean were shut off. The 
 north exhibits the most species, the south is stocked 
 with those that are most striking in appearance. 
 Usually Seals delight in the proximity of a coast, 
 and many undertake wanderings from one locality 
 to another, and also often go up rivers. 
 
 Seals on the They live on the mainland only on 
 Ground and in special occasions, namely, during the 
 the Water. breeding season and in their earliest 
 youth; and the water is their proper element. Seen 
 on the ground they strike one as very helpless 
 creatures, but in the water they proceed with the 
 greatest ease. It is with difficulty that they climb 
 rocks from the beach or drifting ice, and then they 
 comfortably stretch themselves on the firm ground 
 and bask in the sun;. at the sound of danger, they 
 seek the friendly depth of the ocean with all pos- 
 sible despatch. They swim and divejn a masterly 
 way. It matters not to them, whether the dorsal 
 surface of their body lies upward or downward; they 
 are even able to move backward, as I can vouch for 
 from my own experience. In the water they can 
 turn about in any direction, and change their loca- 
 tion with the greatest agility. 
 
 Haache's Haacke writes: "We are moved to- 
 Obseruations involuntary admiration when we ob- 
 
 of Seals. serve Seals engaged in fishing. At 
 the Frankfort Aquarium, from the dark space re- 
 served for visitors, one may observe the Seals under 
 glass in a spacious tank, hunting live fish for their 
 sustenance. It is astonishing to note the accuracy 
 and speed with which they conform to every rapid 
 movement of the fish and anxiously dart through 
 the water, every movement and turn of each flipper 
 of the Seals being to the purpose and planned with 
 exactness, while they elongate or shorten their necks, 
 at will. In a few seconds the fish disappears in the 
 Seal's mouth, as if sucked in. Great, also, is the 
 dexterity with which our Seals, standing erect in the 
 water and looking for the food-bringing keeper, can 
 keep themselves in one place by a gentle movement 
 of their hinder flippers." 
 
 Movements of On the ground, on the other hand. 
 
 Seals on even those species which really walk, 
 Land. hobble along in an awkward way, 
 
 while all the other species move about in a very 
 odd fashion, peculiar to themselves. Their method 
 of locomotion is nearly the same as that of some 
 Caterpillars. The Seal which wishes to go from one 
 place to another on the ground throws itself on 
 
 (273) 
 
574 
 
 THE FIN-FOOTED ANIMALS. 
 
 its breast, arches its body as a Cat does its back, 
 then rests its weight on the hind quarters, about the 
 loins, and quickly jerks its body forward, throwing 
 its fore part further to the front by this means. It 
 is thus enabled to grovel along at a somewhat rapid 
 pace, by alternately resting its fore and hind parts 
 on the ground, and arching and stretching its body. 
 The legs are, in fact, not called into service in thus 
 moving along the ground, but are only utilized when 
 the animal climbs upward. It also uses its limbs 
 very skillfully for the purpose of dressing and clean- 
 ing its fur, or scratching itself, or to grasp some- 
 thing with them; for instance, when clasping its 
 young to the breast. 
 
 General Traits All Seals are gregarious in a high 
 
 and Habits of measure, and solitary specimens are 
 
 the Seals. hardly ever seen. The more deserted 
 
 the locality, the larger are the troops and families 
 
 sides or their under surfaces to the kindly rays of the 
 sun; they close their eyes almost completely, yawn 
 and generally deport themselves more like dead 
 masses of flesh than living creatures; and the 
 regular opening and closing of the nostrils are the 
 only signs of life they give under these circum- 
 stances. When they feel very, well, or during the 
 breeding season, they neglect eating for weeks at a 
 time ; but at last hunger urges them to rise and 
 return to the ocean, where their lean body soon 
 regains its pristine roundness and sleekness and 
 again acquires its bolsters of fat. According to 
 Haacke's observations in Frankfort they can endure 
 hunger for at least six weeks. The little Seals are 
 lively, playful and cheerful, but old animals are 
 sulky in disposition, and appear to become degener- 
 ated in consequence of their laziness. It must be 
 ■ admitted, however, that their helplessness on the 
 
 TH£ COMMOK SEAL. The typical animal among; the Ordinary or Earless Seals is the Common Seal, which is sometimes also called the Harbor 
 
 Seal. It is ane of the smallest but best known species of the Seal family, has a fur varying in color with different individuals, but usually brown or brown- 
 ish yellow with darker spots. It likes to rest on the beach or rocks bordering on the sea. but its movements on land are very slow and awkward. It is the 
 only Seal at all common on the eastern coast of the United States, and it frequently ascends large rivers, sometimes to a considerable distance above tide 
 water. It is found on both sides of the Atlantic and north Pacific, and also in the Mediterranean. (Phoca vitulina.) 
 
 formed by the Seals; and the less they come in con- 
 tact with Man, the more comfortable and sympa- 
 thetic become these creatures, which exhibit so 
 much timidity in regions frequented by human 
 beings. 
 
 The habits of the Seals are nocturnal. They pre- 
 fer to spend the day on the mainland, sleeping and 
 basking in the sunshine, and then exhibit charac- 
 teristics which are the reverse of, those they display 
 in the water. When they are on land one perceives 
 no sign of the agility and speed which mark their 
 actions when they are in their proper element, but 
 on the contrary they present a complete picture of 
 laziness. Anything that disturbs their repose is 
 highly distasteful to them; in fact, some species can 
 scarcely be incited to flee. Blissfully they stretch 
 themselves, alternately presenting their backs, their 
 
 ground makes them appear even lazier than they 
 really are. When they see that they are in danger, 
 they speedily enter the water, as I said before; but 
 if peril suddenly overshadows them, they become so 
 frightened that they sigh and tremble, and are so 
 excited that their frantic efforts fail to avert their 
 peril. But if they have to defend females and young 
 ones some of them exhibit great courage. On the 
 loneliest islands some species are so indifferent to 
 strange visitors that they calmly permit the intrud- 
 ers to walk around among them and do not flee; but 
 they develop great wariness after they have once 
 become acquainted with Man, the destroyer of the 
 animal world. 
 
 Of their senses, that of hearing is excellent, in 
 spite of the absence or small size of the external 
 ear; sight and smell are less strongly developed. 
 
THE ORDINARY SEALS. 
 
 275 
 
 The voice consists of hoarse sounds, sometimes 
 resembling the bark of a Dog, sometimes the bleat- 
 ing of a Calf, or the bellowing of a Cow. 
 
 famUy Life Everygroup of Seals is one family. 
 
 of the A male always unites himself to 
 
 Seals. several females. From about six to 
 
 twelve months after the breeding season, the female 
 
 gives birth to one, or more rarely two young Seals, 
 
 which are pretty and cheerful little creatures. 
 
 Old and young love each other with equal tender- 
 ness and the mother protects her offspring against 
 any danger at the peril of her own life. The father 
 enjoys the merry play of the little ones, and signifies 
 his approbation by a contented growl, and as his 
 constitution forbids an active participation in the 
 pranks of the young one, he follows its somer- 
 saults and rapid movements back and forth, at least 
 with his eyes. After two months at the utmost 
 the young Seals are so far developed that they can 
 be weaned. Their growth proceeds rapidly. After 
 from two to six years they have reached maturity; 
 at the age of from twenty-five to forty they are old 
 and decrepit. 
 
 Their food is of an animal character, chiefly con- 
 sisting of fish, Crustacea and mollusks. A few spe- 
 cies are also said to attack various sea-birds, which 
 smaller Pinnipedia do not annoy, or even other 
 Seals. It has happened in Dusseldorf that Seals 
 which have been peacably inhabiting a tank with 
 Ducks, suddenly dragged all the latter under water 
 and killed them. In order to promote their diges- 
 
 tion, some Seals swallow stones, after the same man- 
 ner as certain species of birds. 
 
 A Seal-hunt is nothing but merciless slaughter. 
 Therefore the word "sport" is never used in connec- 
 tion with it; Seal-hunters talk of "killing," but never 
 of "sport." Old and young, large and small Seals are, 
 or at least were, all being destroyed without distinc- 
 tion. In this way it has been brought about that 
 nearly all species of Seals are much reduced in num- 
 bers and some are on the road to complete extinc- 
 tion. In many places but few remain of the large 
 herds which during the last century covered lonely 
 islands. The oil and fat, teeth and skin of the Seals 
 are commodities much sought after, and this ex- 
 plains the zealous pursuit of these animals by Man. 
 
 Nearly all Seals may be tamed and some nearly 
 become domestic animals. They come and go at 
 will; fish in the ocean and return to their owner's 
 house of their own accord; learn to know him and 
 follow him like Dogs. 
 Divisions of the The order of the Seals is naturally 
 Fin-Footed divided into three families. The 
 Animals. flj-st are the Ordinary Seals, which 
 are entirely devoid of an ear-conch and of the 
 power of walking on their hind feet. In marked 
 distinction from them is the family of Eared Seals, 
 which are possessed of ears and have the ability to 
 use their hind legs for the purpose of walking. Be- 
 tween these two are placed the Walruses, in which 
 the ears are wanting, but which are able to advance 
 their hind legs under their body. 
 
 XTbe ©rbinar^ Seals* 
 
 FIRST FAHILY: Phocid^. 
 
 Much more numerous than all other families, the 
 Ordinary Seals populate not only the oceans of the 
 globe, but also large inland lakes, which are con- 
 nected with the former, or which formed part of 
 them in bygone times, as for instance, the Baikal 
 and the Caspian Seas. They inhabit all the zones 
 of the earth, but are especially abundant in the frigid 
 zones, and divide into a considerable number of 
 species in the north. Off some coasts these much- 
 pursued animals are still plentifully found, and, 
 speaking generally, they are not rare on any coast, 
 although their numbers continue to steadily decrease. 
 
 Habits of the In their habits they much resemble 
 Ordinary the Eared Seals ; in their movements 
 Seals. on the ground they differ from the 
 
 latter quite materially, because they are not able 
 to walk, but have to propel themselves by a sliding 
 movement. It is only in the water that they show 
 themselves to be the equals of the Eared Seals and 
 display all their swiftness, for they swim and dive 
 in masterly fashion. They dart through the water 
 with the speed of a predaceous fish, turning around 
 with lightning-like rapidity; they also can stay in 
 any particular place as long as they please. For 
 amusement they describe circles, from time to time 
 jump out of the water full length, chase or tease each 
 other, or play quite alone in the water, acting as if 
 they were intoxicated; they come to the surface 
 lying on their backs, push themselves along while in 
 
 that positioit, turn around and around, and act in the 
 oddest manner, sometimes forgetting themselves to 
 such a degree that a skillful hunter can approach 
 them unnoticed, within a harpoon's throw, and kill 
 them. 
 
 Actions of They, descend to a great depth and 
 Ordioary Seals occasionally stay under water for a 
 in Water. considerable length of time, but by 
 no means as long as is averred by some writers. If 
 they are not pursued, they come to the surface to 
 breathe, on an average once a minute. It may hap- 
 pen that Seals, when pursued, will stay three or four 
 times as long under water; but at any rate they are 
 not capable of spending half an hour there, as has 
 been repeatedly affirmed and believed. Fabricius, 
 who described the Seals living in Greenland at great 
 length, does not believe that a Seal can stay under 
 water longer than seven minutes. Seals really sleep 
 in the water. With a few strokes of their flippers 
 they rise to the surface from time to time with their 
 eyes closed, breathe, go again to the bottom and 
 repeat the performance at every breath of air. That 
 they can sleep lying on the surface is amply proved. 
 The Greenlanders, who intimately know this animal 
 which is so important to them, have a special name 
 for each of its attitudes in the water, .because they 
 decide, from the various positions assumed by the 
 animal, whether they will be able to approach a 
 swimming Seal or not. 
 
276 
 
 THE FIN-FOOTED ANIMALS. 
 
 The Ordinary Though the Seals live in the ocean 
 Seal on the for days and weeks and can dispatch 
 Land. ^11 their business in the water, they 
 
 are fond of repairing to the land for the purposes of 
 resting, sleeping and basking in the sun's rays. 
 They jerk themselves out of the water to a consid- 
 erable distance on the shore, by violently flapping 
 their expanded hind feet together. When fright- 
 ened or in danger all Seals constantly spit water, 
 perhaps in order to make their pathway smoother. 
 Clumsy as their gait may appear, it is a very rapid 
 pace: a running Man must expend some effort in 
 order to overtake a Seal gliding along on land. The 
 hind part of a Seal's body is as mobile as its neck. 
 The Seal can twist itself so as to lie on its back in 
 front and on its under surface behind, or the reverse, 
 and can turn its head in any direction. 
 
 In the higher latitudes these animals, even when 
 not compelled to do so, preferably select drift-ice as 
 their resting places, and stay there, quietly stretched 
 out, for periods as long as those in the south lie on 
 the beach warmed by the sun. The possibility of 
 lying for hours on so cold a surface without giving 
 up too much heat or catching cold is afforded them 
 by the layer of fat which spreads between the skin 
 and muscles, and is a very poor conductor of heat. 
 
 The voice of the Seals is either a hoarse bark or a 
 whine; when angry they growl like Dogs. 
 
 Development Even the ancients described the 
 
 of the Senses Seals as highly gifted animals. 
 of Seals. Their senses seem to be efficient 
 and of rather uniform development. Nose and 
 ears may be closed and in a living Seal alternately 
 have the appearance of triangular, roundish holes or 
 only of narrow slits. The nostrils are opened at 
 every breath and immediately closed again and stay 
 so, even when the animal is on land, while the ears 
 are shut only in the water and not always even there. 
 In the large and vei-y slightly protruding eyes the 
 light or dark brown iris fills the entire space left 
 open by the lids ; the white of the eye is seldom 
 seen. The pupil is neither circular nor elliptical but 
 four-cornered. The expression of a Seal's eye is 
 worthy of notice, as is also the fact, that when 
 moved by emotions of any kind, all Seals shed tears. 
 If we regard sight as the most highly developed 
 sense, as we probably have the right to do, we may 
 consider hearing as the next best. The ancients had 
 discovered the fact that Seals are fond of music and 
 singing, and modern observers have noticed that 
 they attentively listen to bells and other loud 
 sounds. Brown affirms that he has frequently seen 
 Seals lift their heads out of the water and listen to 
 the songs of sailors who were hauling in an anchor 
 with a windlass. The church at Hoy on the Ork- 
 neys is situated near a narrow, sandy bay, much fre- 
 quented by Seals, and they find particular attraction, 
 as it seems, not only in its situation but also in the 
 church-bells; for the animals have often been seen 
 swimming straight to the coast when the bells were 
 ringing, their eyes fixed in the direction from which 
 the sounds proceeded, while they listened, with rapt 
 and delighted attention, as long as the bells contin- 
 ued ringing. 
 
 Mental It is difficult to pass judgment on 
 
 Characteristics the mental qualities of Seals. There 
 of Seals. is no doubt as to their sagacity; but 
 frequently they display such stupidity and clumsi- 
 ness as to puzzle the observer. Bold in deserted 
 localities, they behave with extreme caution where 
 they know that they are threatened by deadly 
 
 enemies. It is established that the warnings of 
 older animals are heeded and acted upon by the 
 younger ones. Captive Seals soon make friends 
 with their keepers and soon become very tame, 
 respond to the names that are given them, will leave 
 the tank and take fish out of the keeper's hand and 
 show their interest and affection in other respects. 
 There are certainly some which suffer themselves to 
 be touched and stroked by the keeper, shake hands 
 with him, and even allow a friend to put his hand in 
 their mouths. 
 
 It seems that Seals are rather indifferent toward 
 all animals which are not classed as fish, moUusk or 
 Crab; but if one were to regard this as a proof of 
 their good-nature, one might be mistaken. They 
 are always violent when brought in contact with 
 Dogs ; they snort angrily and try to drive the canine 
 intruders away by gnashing their teeth together. 
 
 Development Like all members of their family 
 
 of the Young they give evidence of special tender- 
 Seals. ness toward their young. They play 
 
 with them in many ways, and defend them in peril 
 even against stronger animals. 
 
 Varying with the locality in which the Seals live, 
 their young are born during the months of May, 
 June or July, birth being given to one, or more rarely 
 two young Seals, on some lonely, uninhabited island, 
 preferably on sandy spots on the beach, in caverns, 
 on rocks or on an ice-field. The young Seals make 
 their appearance perfectly developed, but are clothed 
 in a dense, white, pliable fur, which hinders them 
 from swimming and still more from diving, but is 
 soon exchanged for the sleek, stiff fur of youth. 
 Until that time the female stays on land with the 
 little ones. 
 
 In the Zoological Garden of Hamburg a perfectly 
 developed little Seal was born on the 30th of June, 
 at an early hour, for the keeper, to whose care I 
 had committed the Seal, saw the little one playing 
 in the water near its mother when he arrived in the 
 morning. On the land I found the whole fur of the 
 newborn, consisting of a not inconsiderable heap of 
 short, wavy hair of silky softness, all of which was 
 lying on a spot of small circumference. The little 
 one wore no trace of the woolly fur; its coloring 
 closely resembled that of its mother, except that the 
 different colors were fresher and brighter. The eyes 
 had a clear and lively appearance. Even the very 
 movements of the young animal were entirely those 
 of its parent: as agile in the water, as clumsy on 
 land. It seemed, that during the first hours of its 
 life it had already acquired all the accomplishments 
 of its race, for it swam on its stomach and on its 
 back, dived easily and long, and, in a word, it acted 
 like an old Seal. But then it had been born as a 
 remarkably developed and strikingly large speci- 
 men. On the very day of its birth we succeeded 
 in weighing and measuring the already intractable 
 little fellow. He weighed seventeen and one-half 
 pounds and was thirty-four inches long. 
 
 The spectacle the two animals presented was a 
 highly fascinating one to the observer. The mother 
 seemed to, rejoice in her offspring, and displayed the 
 greatest tenderness in every respect, while the preco- 
 cious little one seemed to understand her. From 
 the very first days she played with it in a clumsy 
 way, at first in the water, then also on land. 
 
 Importance To the northern nations the Seals 
 of the Seals are the most important of all ani- 
 to Man. mals. The Greenlanders' life is ren- 
 dered possible by the Seals, and they extract profit 
 
THE ORDINARY SEALS. 
 
 277 
 
 from every portion of the animal's body. But we 
 also value highly the sleek, beautiful, waterproof 
 fur, and esteem the fat and even the flesh. It is not 
 surprising, therefore, that the Seals are most eagerly 
 hunted in all oceans. Hunt and capture are nearly 
 synonymous in this case, for fire-arms are used but 
 rarely and never on the high sea, for a Seal when 
 killed goes to the bottom like a piece of lead. It is 
 different in particularly favored haunts of the ani- 
 mals on the beach. On the eastern coast of the 
 island of Rugen there is, as Schilling says, a heap 
 of rocks, several hundred paces distant from the 
 extreme point of the high promontory, and at the 
 ordinary height of the water these rocks project 
 over three feet above sea-level. Frequently from 
 forty to fifty Seals lie on them, but they are too 
 prudent to let a boat approach them. 
 
 On the Swedish coast of the Baltic the hunt is 
 followed more regularly and frequently, usually with 
 harpoons only, or more rarely with guns. Some 
 Swedish hunters train Dogs to track the Seals on 
 the ice and keep them busy until their owners arrive. 
 On the Faroe Isles the Seals are mainly hunted dur- 
 ing the time they spend on shore with their young. 
 
 Among all peoples the Greenlanders seem to be 
 those who not only know how to hunt Seals most 
 successfully, but also how to put the animals to the 
 most manifold uses. "The Greenlanders," says 
 Fabricius, " are great masters of the art of plying 
 their oars easily and neatly, so that one hardly hears 
 a sound. If a Seal rises up in sight the Greenlander 
 watches its actions, in order to proceed with his 
 attack according to its movements. As soon as he 
 has satisfied himself in regard to the whereabouts of 
 
 V 
 
 v^y- '^''^ i 
 
 iff'^ 
 
 THE SEA LEOPARD, This animal forms a distinct group of the Ordinary Seals, and is widely distributed in the antarctic and south- 
 
 ■ern temperate seas, and frequents the coasts of Australia, New Zealand and the islands of the southern Pacific. The large males attain a length 
 of twelve feet. The ground color is a silver gray, and yellowish or brown spots are distributed over the body. (Stenorhynchus leptonyx.) 
 
 tSethodaof Schilling says that one may some- 
 Hunting the times succeed in shooting Seals 
 Seals. which are seen from a ship, if one 
 
 with a little sail boat noiselessly sails up to the 
 sleeping animals, keeping half to leeward. During 
 a prolonged frost a hunt on the ice may also yield 
 good results, but it is never sure to do so, and is 
 always fraught with danger. When the Baltic is 
 frozen over, the Seals keep artificial holes in the ice 
 open, in order to reach the outer air, and to creep 
 through on to the ice, where they sleep. Every Seal 
 usually forms such an aperture for itself, and some- 
 times has several for its own personal use. To 
 these holes a Man creeps up at night, in felt shoes 
 so as to deaden the noise of his steps, but he must 
 pay careful attention to the weather and wind and 
 he constantly on his guard. 
 
 the Seal, he strives with all means at command to 
 approach it as near as possible, in order not to miss 
 it. The point he must pay most attention to is that 
 neither the movement of the oars nor the darting 
 forward of the boat shall cause any great noise; for 
 this would disturb the repose of the Seal. Not a 
 little dexterity and practice are required for this 
 softened movement, which is accomplished partly 
 by long, deep strokes of the oars, partly by propell- 
 ing the boat with movements of the hand and body, 
 and some are such experts that they can get the 
 boat alongside the Seal without attracting its atten- 
 tion. But if it should happen to be one of the cau- 
 tious kind which is always alert, the obstacles in the 
 way are greater; yet the hunter does not give up all 
 hope, but watches it dive and then hurries along. 
 But if its head is above water, he keeps quiet, stoops 
 
278 
 
 THE FIN-FOOTED ANIMALS. 
 
 or lies down, to give the boat the appearance of a 
 lifeless object, drifting in the water. If the Seal 
 dabbles in the water and is bewildered in its play, 
 sometimes looking at the hunter, the latter whistles 
 to make it feel more secure. If it still happens 
 to dive before it is within a harpoon's throw, the 
 hunter watches the direction of its course, changes 
 his position slightly, and when it comes to the sur- 
 face keeps it constantly in view. When he at last 
 approaches sufficiently near to it, he throws the 
 harpoon at it, the line following the spear. As the 
 harpoon has barbed hooks, he sees immediately 
 whether the Seal has been hit or not; for if the animal 
 is struck it cannot easily get off, but drags more and 
 more on the line. No time must then be lost; as 
 soon as the hunter sees that the Seal is hit, he must 
 throw the bladder out of the boat, for otherwise the 
 boat itself would be dragged by the Seal when the 
 line had all been unwound and might easily turn 
 over. These are the causes why Greenland Sealers 
 so often lose their lives; for if a Seal once drags a 
 hunter away and no companion who could come to 
 the rescue is nigh, he can seldom be saved. But if 
 he manages to throw the bladder out in proper time 
 the greatest danger is past. Occasionally so coura- 
 geous a Seal is met that it charges at the thin boat 
 made of skins, and bites a hole in it, the hunter run- 
 ning the risk of sinking. Therefore this hunt is a 
 perilous one in many respects, and many Green- 
 landers do not hazard it without reflection. 
 
 " But if the Seal drags the bladder, which he can 
 rarely pull beneath the surface, along the course of 
 , its flight, the hunter keeps the bladder in sight, fol- 
 lows it and tries to kill the Seal with spears. These 
 spears have no barbed hooks, but slip out of the 
 wound and float on the water, as soon as they are 
 thrown at the Seal. These many wounds, and the 
 dragging of the large, air-filled bladder, tire the Seal 
 out. When the hunter at last approaches close to it, 
 he deals the Seal a mortal blow on its nose with the 
 fist, which stuns it, or, if it be necessary, he stabs 
 it with a knife. Then the animal is prepared before 
 its captor takes it home. All wounds are stopped 
 with little pieces of wood, lest the blood should flow 
 out, then air is blown between the skin and flesh, so 
 that the carcass will float better. If several others 
 are caught, they are fastened to the first one, and 
 a lucky sportsman may bring home four or five at 
 once." 
 
 All Seals are remarkably tenacious of life and 
 are killed instantly only when a bullet pierces the 
 brain or the heart. Besides Man, the Seals have an 
 enemy in the quick Killer-Whale, before which all 
 the smaller Seals fly in abject terror. Pursued by 
 this voracious monster, they jump in rapidly suc- 
 ceeding leaps high above the water, resort to all 
 tricks in swimming and diving, try to gain small 
 straits and shallows, hurry to the shore, and in their 
 deadly terror forget even their dread of Man. The 
 Polar Bear also pursues them relentlessly and, as 
 we have seen, he knows how to seize upon them 
 with tolerable skill. Young Seals probably also 
 suffer from the attacks of large fishes. 
 
 Manifold The northern nations use the entire 
 Uses of the Seal, not only oil and skin, as we 
 Seals. do, and the flesh besides, as do the 
 
 Swedes and Norwegians. The intestines are eaten, 
 or, after they have been thoroughly cleaned and 
 smoothed out, they are manufactured into windows, 
 clothes and curtains. A garment, the capisad of the 
 Greenlanders, is made up out of them and highly 
 
 valued on account of its excellent waterproof qual- 
 ities. The blood, mixed with sea water, is boiled 
 and eaten as soup, or after it is frozen, as a dainty, 
 or it is shaped into balls after cooking, dried in the 
 sun and stored away for future use in hard times. 
 The ribs are used to stretch the skins or are manu- 
 factured into nails; the shoulder-blades are formed 
 into spades; the tendons are made into thread, etc. 
 Yet the chief profit to the Greenlanders accrues 
 from the skin, oil and meat. 
 
 The Common The species whose life has served us 
 
 Seal, the Typical as the type in the preceding re- 
 Speoies. marks, is the Common Seal {Phoca 
 vitulina), an animal widely spread over northern 
 seas and also common in the German waters. The 
 length of an adult specimen, measured from the 
 snout to the tip of the tail, varies between sixty- 
 four and seventy-six inches and, strange to say, the 
 females are larger than the males. The head is egg- 
 shaped, the snout short, the eye is large, dark and 
 has an intelligent expression; the ear is- indicated 
 only by a small, triangular elevation; the upper lip 
 is thick, but very mobile and grown with stiff 
 whisker-hairs; the neck is short and thick, the body 
 tapers almost uniformly from the shoulders to the 
 tail. The fur consists of stiff, lustrous hairs, the 
 general coloring of which is a yellowish gray, re- 
 lieved by a number of irregular brownish or black 
 spots, distributed all over the upper surface. 
 
 Extensive ^ange The Common Seal ranges through- 
 
 ,, of the Com- out all northern parts of the Atlantic 
 mon Seal. Ocean, including all parts of the Arc- 
 tic Ocean. Beginning. at the Mediterranean, into 
 which it occasionally penetrates through the Straits 
 of Gibraltar, it inhabits the entire Atlantic coast of 
 Europe and the Baltic Sea, where it is almost as 
 plentiful in the Gtilfs of Bothnia and Finland as in 
 the Sound and the Little and Great Belt; it also 
 occurs in the White Sea and, according to some ac- 
 counts, also along the coast of northern Siberia and 
 from Behring Strait to California; it certainly has 
 been observed in' Spitzbergen, on both coasts of 
 Greenland, Davis Strait, Baffin's Bay and Hudson 
 Bay and it goes rather far to the south along the 
 eastern coast of North America, being by no means 
 a rare visitor in the Gulf of Mexico, and in a few 
 cases also of the northern coasts of South America. 
 Not infrequently it goes from the sea for a long dis- 
 tance up some river and is therefore often found far 
 from the seashore; 
 
 Different Species The Common Seal is not the only 
 of the Otdi- one frequenting the German coast, 
 nary Seals. for there also are quite regularly 
 found the Gray Seal {Halichcerus grypus) and the 
 Ringed Seal {Phoca fcetida). The Monk Seal {Stenor- 
 hynchus albiventer) is more rarely met with there, 
 being indigenous to the Mediterranean, and the 
 Crested Seal or Hooded Seal {Cystophora cristata)^ 
 which is a native of high latitudes, is also seldom 
 seen so far south as the German shores. 
 
 The Caspian Seal {Phoca caspica) is a species 
 closely allied to the Common Seal, and, as its name 
 implies, it lives in the Caspian Sea, cut off from any 
 communication with the ocean. 
 
 Characteristics The Saddle-Back Seal [also called 
 of the Saddle- the Greenland Seal and Harp Seal} 
 Back Seal. {Phoca graenlandica^ differs from the 
 Common Seal in its longer and narrower head, a 
 flatter forehead and longer muzzle, as well as in the 
 structure of the hand. The prevailing color of an 
 old male is a light or dark tawny gray on the upper 
 
THE ORDINARY SEALS— SADDLE-BACK. 
 
 279 
 
 parts, the under portion being of a dull, russet, sil- 
 ver-gray tint; and the chocolate colored, or blackish- 
 brown face, including forehead, cheeks and muzzle, 
 and the markings of the back, stand out in bold 
 relief against this hue. These markings are more 
 or less sharply defined and of oblong, horseshoe or 
 lyre shape. Some individuals of the species show 
 the saddle narrow like a ribbon, others have it per- 
 ceptibly wider. The female is smaller and its color- 
 ing differs from that of the male to such an extent 
 that it has been considered and described as a distinct 
 species by some writers. The snow white fur of the 
 cubs gradually merges into the tint of their parents 
 during the lapse of several years. 
 
 The Saddle-Back is confined to the highest lati- 
 tudes of the north, though its range perhaps extends 
 through the Straits of Behring into the northern 
 
 Adult males attain a length of from ninety-two to 
 one hundred inches; the females lack the hood and 
 are of perceptibly smaller dimensions. 
 
 Of the Seals of the northern Arctic Ocean the 
 Crested Seal seems to have a very limited range and 
 occurs in small numbers. According to Fabricius, 
 it is most frequent off the coasts of Greenland and 
 Newfoundland, less so on the western coast of Ice- 
 land and a rare visitor, probably only when it has 
 lost its way, farther south. 
 
 According to the accounts of many writers this 
 species is one of the most courageous and pugna- 
 cious of Seals, and hunting it is not devoid of danger. 
 When it lies on the ice in comfortable repose, it 
 produces the impression of utter indifference to all 
 surroundings, and the far-off look of its large, black 
 eye seems rather dull; neither does it attack any 
 
 .A>«.-!WieA' 
 
 
 THE SADDLE-BACK SEAL. This member of the Seal family is found m the Arctic latitudes extending as far north ya. the circum- 
 
 polar regions as explorers have yet penetrated. It gets its name " Saddle-Back " from the large patch of white fur on its upper surface, which is 
 in bold contrast to the brownish-black fur surrounding it. The somewhat narrow head is also a distinguishing feature. The animals in the 
 picture are comfortably resting on a great ice-floe. This species is also known by the names of "Harp Seal" and " Greenland Seal." (Phoca 
 greenlandica.) 
 
 Pacific. Single specimens have repeatedly been ob- 
 served on the coasts of Lapland and Norway, and 
 even of Great Britain 'and Germany. 
 
 The Crested or As a representative of the Hooded 
 Bladder-Nose Seals we will consider the Crested 
 Seal. or Bladder- Nose Seal {^Cystophora 
 
 cristata,) one of the largest Seals of the Arctic Ocean, 
 distinguished above all other things by a bladder 
 which extends over the nose, the whole upper par*-, 
 of the muzzle and nearly the entire upper surface of 
 the head, and which may be distended with air or 
 emptied at will. When filled with air it forms a bag 
 ten inches long and eight inches high and looks like 
 a cap drawn over the front part of the head; when 
 closed it may be compared to a keel dividing the 
 nose into two parts. The head is large, the muzzle 
 is thick and blunt, the body resembles that of all 
 •other Seals. Old and young are of different color, 
 but the hue is not affected by sex. The fur consists 
 ■of a long outer coat and a close woolly inner fur, the 
 upper part as a rule being of a dark nut-brown or 
 black tint, diversified with large or small circular 
 spots of still deeper color; the under surface is of 
 a dark gray or rusty silver-gray, devoid of spots. 
 
 living being unprovoked, but it is easily excited and 
 then prone to offer resistance. 
 
 Characteristics The Elephant Seal {Macrorhinus 
 of the leoninus) resembles the other Seals 
 
 Elephant Seal, in respect to its general s"hape but 
 is superior to all in size; the length at least of those 
 of the Californian coast has been found to be a little 
 more than twenty-two feet, though the average 
 length is about fifteen feet. The female attains 
 about half this length, but not even a third of the 
 weight, old males being estimated ta weigh mgre 
 than six thousand pounds. The head is large, wide 
 and elongated, the muzzle of moderate length, toler- 
 ably broad, slightly tapering in front and truncated 
 in a nearly vertical direction; the upper lip is grown 
 with stout, dark brown whisker hairs, sometimes six 
 inches long; the eye is relatively large, round like a 
 ball, and protuberant; the exceedingly small ear is, 
 properly speaking, only a roundish hole, which is 
 not even surrounded by a ridge of the skin. The, 
 nose differs materially according to the sex. While 
 this significant organ shows no unusual development 
 in the female, it is in the male prolonged into a pro- 
 boscis, beginning at the corner of the mouth and 
 
280 
 
 THE FIN-FOOTED ANIMALS. 
 
 extending forward for about sixteen inches, and 
 sometimes measuring double this length when the 
 animal is excited. The hue of the fur undergoes 
 modifications not only under the influence of age 
 and sex, but also according to the season of the 
 year. Immediately after a change of coat the pre- 
 vailing color is a bluish gray, which later merges 
 into light brown. 
 
 Range and Habits The Elephant Seal inhabits the south- 
 of Elephant ern regions of the oceans, from about 
 Seals. flfty degrees south latitude, perhaps 
 
 all over the southern Arctic circle. Formerly it was 
 found on the southern extremity of America and the 
 adjacent islands, off the island of Juan Fernandez, 
 and on the southern coasts of Chile; also on New 
 Zealand, Tasmania and many other islands situated 
 in these latitudes, but in most of these localities it is 
 either entirely absent or nearly extermmated 
 
 THE CBESTES OE BLADDEB-NOSE SEAL. A glance at this picture will explain the reason for 
 
 the name given to this Seal. When filled with air, the bladder at the end of this animal's muzzle, gives it a 
 very peculiar appearance. The body does not differ much in shape from that of ordinary Seals, but the numer- 
 ous dark spots distributed all over the fur, as shown in the illustration, give it a distinctive individuality. 
 {,Crystopkora crisiaia.) 
 
 The habits of the Elephant Seal remind us of 
 those of the Fur Seal and the Sea Lion. Like them 
 it undertakes annual migrations in its southern 
 range, only diseased and enervated animals stay- 
 ing behind, while the others all make the journey 
 together. They arrive in great numbers in Patagonia 
 in September and October, and sometimes as early 
 as June, and leave again at the end of December to 
 travel in a southerly direction. On the ground they 
 prefer sandy and pebbly spots, but also prowl around 
 in fresh water. Families numlaering from two to five 
 members form a separate company in the great herd; 
 and are always found closely huddled together, 
 usually sleeping in the mud or reeds. During a 
 period of intense heat they cool themselves with 
 damp sarid, into which they dig a hole for them- 
 selves, or which they throw on the upper surface 
 of their, body with their fore-feet; sometimes they 
 look more like heaps of earth than living animals, 
 and in this respect resemble Thick-skinned animals. 
 
 Their movements on dry land are exceedingly 
 clumsy and weary them greatly. If they are very 
 fat the body shakes at each jerking movement like a 
 huge bladder filled with jelly. They work to propel 
 themselves forward a little way, and then they are 
 tired and have to rest; still in California they climb 
 up inclines from five to ten yards high and reach 
 spots situated upwards of sixty feet above sea-level 
 even on very uneven ground. In the water they 
 are totally different creatures. They are excellent 
 swimmers and divers, execute rapid turnings, calmly 
 lie down to sleep on the waves and let themselves 
 drift, and display great zeal and agility in hunting 
 their food, which consists principally of fish. They 
 also swallow stones. Forster found in the stomach • 
 of an Elephant Seal twelve round stones, each of 
 the size of two fists, and so heavy that he could 
 hardlv understand how the walls of the stomach 
 could bear the burden. 
 
 Elephant Seals Their s e n s e s 
 of a Peaceable are said to be 
 Disposition. little devel- 
 oped. They are lazy, dull- 
 witted creatures, that rarely 
 suffer themselves to be dis- 
 turbed in their easy repose. 
 They .enjoy the reputation of 
 being of a gentle and peace- 
 able disposition, as they have 
 never been seen to make un- 
 provoked attacks on other 
 mammals or human beings. 
 Small Seals of other species 
 and Men quietly bathing 
 may swim among them with 
 security. Pernetty affirms 
 that his sailors rode astride 
 them, and when their gait 
 was too slow, urged them to 
 more rapid motion by knife 
 thrusts. K. von den Steinen 
 describes their manners as 
 follows: "Usually the males 
 stared at us with their mouths 
 open, but did not stir. The 
 expression of their faces was 
 wonderfully ludicrous, as 
 they gazed at us in their 
 stupid astonishment, wrink- 
 ling their thick noses up and 
 down in their discontent. A 
 hypochondriac of the most somber disposition could 
 not have refrained from a woe-begone smile at the 
 sight of the funny physiognomy of one old hook- 
 nosed fellow in particular." 
 Youthful Life of Ten months after the breeding sea- 
 the Elephant son, usually in July or August, but in 
 Seals. Patagonia the beginning of Novem- 
 
 ber, and about a month after the arrival of the herd 
 on the islands, the young Seals make their appear- 
 ance. They are large creatures, about fifty-two or 
 sixty inches long, and weigh about eighty pounds. 
 The mother suckles them for about eight weeks and 
 guards them carefully. In the seventh or eighth 
 week of their lives they enter the sea. The whole 
 herd slowly leaves the shore, and swims farther out 
 each day. The cubs follow the main body of the 
 herd on all these wanderings, but are deserted by 
 their mothers in a very few months after their birth. 
 The proboscis develops in the male in the third 
 year of life. ' ' " 
 
 }!(/Q^&yz^it> 
 
THE ORDINARY SEALS— ELEPHANT. 
 
 281 
 
 The Hunting of The Elephant Seal is pursued by 
 the Elephant Man wherever it is found. For- 
 Seala. merly these Seals were secure from 
 
 all enemies on their deserted islands; but since the 
 European sealers have gone out to seek them, or 
 from about the beginning of this century, their num- 
 bers have rapidly decreased. The sealers cause 
 merciless havoc among the defenseless creatures. 
 
 Scammon says, that the coast of California scarcely 
 furnished any Elephant Seals to the hunters even 
 'twenty years ago, and this region therefore is no 
 longer regarded as a hunting ground. In order to 
 count on sure results it is necessary to go to the 
 desert islands on the southern boundary of the Seals' 
 range and remain there for months or years. These 
 islands are uninhabited by human beings, and Ker- 
 
 with these, and also with good guns, the hunters try 
 to get between the herd on the land and the water. 
 Then they make the greatest possible noise, by 
 shouting, shooting, or in any other way, and slowly 
 advance on the herd, swinging the guns, clubs and 
 spears; and frightened by the unusual din; the herd, 
 as a rule, retreats. If, as not infrequently happens, 
 a male tries to resist and break through the line, 
 a bullet through the brain ends his life, or a spear 
 thrust into his mouth arrests him and forces him 
 down on his hinder quarters. Two men armed with 
 heavy oaken clubs hurry to the spot and stun or kill 
 him by repeated blows on the head. The slaughter 
 of their companions causes such a terror among the 
 animals that they lose all self-possession and climb, 
 roll and fall over each other, if they do not see any 
 
 THE ELEPHANT SEAL This animal, because of its great size and its truncated nose, has been aptly named after the Elephant. The 
 
 picture well brings out the characteristics of this clumsy animal and the trunk -like nose of the male. The female, in the background, has no unusual 
 development of the nose, for the probocis-like appearance is a purely masculine adornment in the species. {Macrorhtnus leomnus.) 
 
 guelen is held to be the most important of all for 
 Seal killing, but the shores are full of broken rocks, 
 partly concealed under the water, which render land- 
 ing difficult and for long distances do not allow even 
 the smallest vessel to cast anchor among them with 
 security. The sealers landing in a boat, even during 
 the calmest weather, are compelled to jump into the 
 water and hold the boat lest it be dashed against the 
 rocks. An angry surf roars around those icy, rocky 
 coasts and inundates them to a considerable depth 
 at every breeze. It was not without reason that 
 Cook called it Kerguelen Land, or Desolation Island. 
 The hunt of the Elephant Seals is pursued with 
 the help of heavy cudgels and spears about fifteen 
 feet long, provided with strong, sharp tips. Armed 
 
 other means of escape. Immediately after the kill- 
 ing, the process of cutting off the blubber begins. 
 The various pieces of blubber are tied together, 
 fastened to ropes and dragged to the ship, where 
 they are further divided and rendered in special 
 kettles, the oil which is extracted from them bein,g 
 valued more highly than that of Whales for lubricate 
 ing purposes. The flesh of the animal is black, oily 
 and nearly uneatable, and is therefore of little value, 
 but the heart is a favorite dish with the sailors, and 
 the liver is considered a dainty by these not very 
 fastidious people, though it is said that it causes a 
 drowsiness that lasts several hours and can not be 
 overcome. The tongue, salted, is said to be really 
 very savory. The short-haired, stiff skin is mam;- 
 
■282 
 
 THE FIN-FOOTED ANIMALS. 
 
 factured into excellent coverings for large trunks, 
 and made into harness, and would be turned to 
 much greater account if the largest skins were not 
 also the poorest, owing to their many scars. The 
 Elephant Seals will not inhabit the earth long. 
 
 They can not even, like the Whales, retreat into the 
 inaccessible parts of the ocean before their cruel 
 enemy: they must endure persecution until the last 
 of them shall have succumbed to the destructiveness 
 of the insatiable beast of prey called Man. 
 
 'JTbe Malrus ffamtl^ 
 
 SECOND FAMILY: Trichechid.e. 
 
 The second family of the Fin- Footed animals con- 
 sists only of one species {Trichechus), the Walrus or 
 Morse, called Seahorse by English and Rosmar by 
 Norwegian sealers, and Morsk by the Laplanders, 
 and probably contains the most gigantic members 
 of the Seal family. 
 
 Physical Struc- When this huge animal reaches com- 
 ture of the plete maturity it attains a length of 
 Walrus. about fourteen feet, in a few rare 
 cases even fifteen or sixteen feet, and a girth of 
 from nine to ten and sometimes even twelve feet. 
 Its weight is estimated to reach 2,000 pounds. As 
 with the Seals, the elongated body is thickest in the 
 middle, but it does not narrow backward to the 
 same extent as that of the other Seals. From this 
 huge body the limbs project downward and outward 
 ending in large, ragged flaps, both elbow and knee 
 joints being distinguishable. The feet are furnished 
 with five toes, which have short, blunt claws placed 
 above the extremity of each toe. The tail appears 
 like an insignificant flap of skin. But it is not the 
 body which characterizes the Walrus, it is the head, 
 which is proportionately small, round and thickened 
 to deformity by two swollen, ball-like tooth sockets 
 in the upper jaw. The muzzle is very short, broad 
 and blunt, the upper lip is fleshy and arched on 
 the sides, while the lower lip is puffy. On both 
 sides of the muzzle stand rows of round, flattened, 
 horny whisker hairs, longer behind than in front; the 
 stoutest hairs may be as thick as a raven's quill, and 
 four inches long; their number may be several hun- 
 dred. The nostrils are crescent-shaped, the very 
 deep set eyes are small, brilliant and protected by 
 projecting lids. The ears lack any trace of external 
 conch and lie far back on the head. 
 
 The teeth constitute the most remarkable feature. 
 In the front part of the muzzle two powerful tusks, 
 protruding far out of the mouth, crowd out the six 
 incisors and two canines which exist in the very 
 young animals. These tusks attain a length of 
 twenty-four and in very rare instances as much as 
 thirty-two inches, and weigh on an average from 
 five to six pounds each, or even seven pounds; but 
 there are said to have been specimens weighing 
 fourteen and sixteen pounds. The skin is nearly 
 destitute of hair and very thick, and is not merely 
 wrinkled but positively gnarled. The prevailing 
 color of old and young is a more or less vivid tan- 
 brown or skin-brown. Generally, the tusks of the 
 female are thinner, but frequently longer, and taper 
 more than those of the male, which are usually blunt. 
 
 Early Accounts For centuries the Walrus has been 
 
 of the Wat- known by pictures and descriptions, 
 
 rus. but not in its true shape or habits. 
 
 Albertus Magnus in the thirteenth century gave a 
 
 description of the animal plentifully seasoned with 
 
 fables and tales, and Olaus Magnus had scarcely' 
 anything to add to it three hundred years later. A 
 bishop of Drontheim had a Walrus head salted and 
 sent it to Rome, to Pope Leo X., in 1520. This head 
 was modeled in Strasburg and old Gessner gives 
 a fairly accurate description from it. Martens of 
 Hamburg lastly, who saw the Walrus personally at 
 the end of the seventeenth century in the Arctic 
 Ocean, gives a good and detailed account, and from 
 that time the number of descriptions increases, and 
 so does our knowledge of the animal through the 
 accurate accounts of its habits and the modes of 
 hunting it. 
 
 The Walruses Like so many other animals the Wal- 
 
 Diminishing in rus also has been by degrees gradu- 
 Numbers. ally displaced in regions nearer and 
 nearer to the North Pole by the attacks of Man and 
 now holds its own only, in those pl_aces where there 
 are difficulties in the way of sealers,' which may be 
 overcome only in certain years. We may say, in a 
 general way, that the Walrus occurs in all waters 
 surrounding the North Pole to the present day, but 
 is not found everywhere. It is met all the year 
 round in the northern parts of eastern and western 
 Greenland, in Baffin's Bay and all connecting straits, 
 sounds and gulfs, to Behring Straits, which connect 
 its eastern and western range. It also is found off 
 Nova Zembla and Spitzbergen and along the whole 
 northern cost of Siberia. 
 
 A few decades ago Walruses were met with within 
 the described area, at least occasionally, in very con- 
 siderable numbers, sometimes in herds of many thou- 
 sands, and their combined weight, according. to the 
 assurances of sealers and hunters, pressed large floes 
 of ice, which ordinarily rose high over the surface of 
 the water, down to its level. At present only a few 
 hundreds are seen congregated in a herd and this 
 only under favorable circumstances. 
 
 The first impression a Walrus produces on Man is 
 not a favorable one. The oldest seafarers found it 
 as repulsive and ugly looking as do the sailors and 
 travelers of to-day. German Arctic explorers say 
 that if there is an animal which is entitled to be 
 termed a monster, it is the Walrus, equally because 
 of its appearance as on account of its demoniacal 
 voice and unprepossessing character. The life of 
 the Morses seems to be a very monotonous one, 
 partly, perhaps, for the reason that they procure 
 their food with less pains and in less time than 
 other Seals. In brief, we may say the following of 
 their life and doings in the course of days and years: 
 Haunts and Hub- According to the conformation of 
 its of the the coast, the animals congregate in 
 Walrus. more or less numerous troops. The 
 adults are said to live in separate herds, the males 
 keeping together, and the feniales keeping apart 
 
shown in such a locality. The two anima s m the °'«e™""^ ""^"J" divide theTamUy into two species, the North Atlantic and the North Pacific Walruses, 
 
 rni''ST^srsira«rcerr^^^^^^ 
 
 (283) 
 
284., 
 
 jrUE FIN-FOQTED ANIMALS 
 
 with iheir suckling cubs. Arctic explorers say that 
 a single ice floe often carries twenty or more Wal- 
 ruses. Their dai'k bodies are -closely huddled to- 
 gether, the head being inclined to the side on 
 account of the long tusks, or resting on the body of 
 a neighbor; "in this way, bored by the sight of the 
 sun shining for months or by the monotonous noise 
 of the surf, they sleep through the greater part of 
 their existence." At least one Walrus mounts guard 
 as a sentinel among the sleeping ones, and at the 
 sight of danger it wakes the rest with its loud voice, 
 or, if necessary, with a slight push of its tusks, and 
 the whole herd then prepares either for flight or for 
 defense. Where the Morse has not yet made the 
 acquaintance of Man, a strange ship scarcely rouses 
 the attention of the sentinel or the herd in general, 
 and not even the report of a cannon disturbs them, 
 as everybody in the Arctic Ocean is used to such 
 detonations, the ice sometimes bursting on large 
 tracts with a noise as of thunder. 
 
 Movements of In regard to the character of their 
 Walruses on Land movements they seem' to approach 
 
 and in Water, nearest to the Eared Seals. On land 
 the gait of the Walrus is heavy and unwieldy ; still 
 it does not creep, but Walks, moving the feet simul- 
 taneously crosswisCj and differing from, other ani^ 
 mals of similar gait only in putting the toes pf the 
 fore-feet and the heels of the hind-feet to the froM. 
 In climbing steep blocks of ice the Walrus is said to 
 have recourse to both of its Ipug tusks, hooking 
 them into clefts and crevices and pulling the heavy 
 body up by them ; then it again stretiphes its.neCk 
 and repeats the performance until it has reached the 
 desired halting place. Still these tusks "can hardly 
 be consid.ered to be a necessary implement to aid 
 the Walrus in walking,-as the Eared Seals, which are 
 not less heavy, ;make progress in similar localities 
 without them. I believe it to, be more probable 
 that the Walrus makes for itself a way thrOugh drift- 
 ice with the help of the tusks. It is, not unlikely 
 that by similar -efforts it, forms the openings in the 
 ice for breathing,- v^hich" it uses and keeps open as 
 well as do the other Seals. It also, surely employs its 
 tusks in rooting dp the ground, sfearching for food, 
 and also uses them as a means of defense, sometimes 
 even breaking the planks of a boat with them. ".The 
 Morse enters the water either by gliding over' steep 
 places or by throwing itsfelf into the waves with one 
 leap, like other Seals. After the manner of': its ,kin. 
 it is as swift and easy in swimming as it., is slew pn 
 the ground or on the ice; it dives to a considerable 
 depth, and is certainly able to stay under water for 
 several minutes. In swimming, the creature's speed 
 is superior to that of any boat propelled by oars, and 
 it gives evidence of a nearly untiring endurance. 
 The voice of the Walrus resembles the lowing of a 
 Cow, or the deep, hoarse bark of a Dog, changing to 
 a positive bellowing when in anger. During the 
 breeding season the voice is heard so far, that Cap- 
 tain Cook and his sailors always knew, from the noise 
 they made, the distance from a coast in fog or at 
 night, and were thus enabled to avoid a collision of 
 the ship with the ice. 
 
 Mode of Life It is a very difficult matter to pass 
 
 oftlie Wal- judgment on the mental qualities of 
 '■"*■ this animal from the observations 
 
 that have so far been made, though we may suppose 
 that the Walruses are not less sagacious than the- 
 other Seals. In regard to the acuteness of their 
 senses, Pechuel-Loesche says : " Their sight is poor ; , 
 their hearing is far better, and their sense of smell is 
 
 extremely keen, as, under favorable conditions, they- 
 scent Man at least at a ^distance of severat hun(freiS 
 paces, and one who wishes to approach them must ' 
 therefore pay careful attention to the \yind." la 
 spite of the extreme indifference it assumes towardS: 
 M^n at its first encounter, the Walrus alters its de- 
 meanor as it- gathers experience, and opposes the" 
 Lord of Creation with enei-gy and intelligence. 
 Among its noteworthy qualities we must notice not 
 only the curiosity peculiar to all Seals but also an 
 amount of courage unusual in a Pinniped. Walruses 
 enter into violent combats with each other, as well 
 as with their enemies, but only duririg the breeding ! 
 season, which usually occurs during the latter part ' 
 of spring. At this time the males not only roar and ' 
 bellow at all hours of the day, but also attack each 
 other, and tear such deep wounds in the hides of 
 their antagonists that they at times afford a scarcely 
 less horrid spectacle than do other Seals, which may 
 be said to have been torn in shreds during their duels. . 
 Tiie Female Wal- The female gives birth to a single 
 rus and Her cub in a season^ and she devotes ' 
 Cub. herself to it with most faithful ma-- 
 
 ternal affection ; she looks to its sustenance and . 
 education in a self-sacrificing way, and defends it in 
 peril with all the courage, and fury of her race. The 
 cub returns her affection tenderly and does not dcr 
 sert its mother even in death. If one kills the cub, 
 he may count on the most obdurate resistance and 
 unquenchable revengefulness of the mother. 
 food of the Wal- The researches of Malmgren, and.; 
 rus— How Pro- Brown point to the' fact' that the 
 cured. Walrus feeds exclusively on animal*' 
 
 matter. Both found a shell {Myia truncata), which' 
 in the northern parts of the.Atctic Ocean covers all 
 banks and cii^s, artd another one \Saxicava rugosa) 
 to be the principal ■contents- in -the stomachs of the 
 individuals which they examined, and chey con- ' 
 eluded that the Walrus employs its- powerful tusks 
 principally-to loosen the shells from the Tocks and 
 dig thtem out of, the riiud. In doing'fhis it swallowsj.i 
 riot only other low' marine animals, bul also the algs^ 
 which are fastened to the shells , and other sea-plants, 
 and' als.Or as dp SQ-many other Seals, swallows sand 
 and pebbles. "Besides the Ib-vVer- m&rine animals the ■ 
 .creature also eats fish and- occasionally even the 
 m'eat of the larger marine mammals. , 
 
 Walruses are Walruses lying oh' the beach or on 
 Fprmidablejn the an ice field are little to be dreaded. 
 
 Water.' as their uriwieldift"ess hinders" them,, 
 from successful attacks, but in the water they comf 
 mand, all their agility and strengths ' Occasionally 
 these courageous and intrepid representatives of ihs-^'i 
 Seal family attack even without provocation, . an^ j 
 force sailors into unintended combats. Thg Arctic | 
 explorers. Payer and Copeland, givenis an animated ' 
 ahd graphic description of su.ch an enGOuhfe'r: "If J 
 such a monster catches sight of a boat, itlifts itself -i 
 above the surface of the water in sh^eramazement^.j 
 ,: utters its cry of alarm,' which Consists -Of oft-repeated '-" 
 .'short barks, and swims towards the "boat with alt-j 
 possible speed. Its cries attract ^'others, wake th^; 
 .sleeping animals which thej,bQat JiaS'. carefulljc-a 
 a^^oided touching, and in a short t.inie thetefollowf^l 
 in the -wake of the frail litj;le vessel a numbejc dfe 
 these monsters, raging in simulated or real i\Jii;p{^j&'^ 
 may be that the animals are inspired by curiosity 
 only; but the way in which this curiosity finds ex- 
 pression is by no means happily selected, and tlie , 
 , Siuspigionthat they wish to turn the boat over, in 
 order to examine it more fully, lies very near the 
 
SEA LIONS —The tvcical animal of the family of the Eared Seals is the Sea Lion, a group of which are seen in the picture. They are found in all 
 c...a^^^i.^S:^r^^a. especjny^me^ 
 swim and play together in water near the land or an ice-fioe. i he picture snows mci-ii 
 the limbs protruding from the body and peculiar shape of the toes and flippers. (Oiana steUen.y 
 
 (285) 
 
286 
 
 THE FIN-FOOTED ANIMALS. 
 
 truth. It is therefore necessary to prepare for the 
 fray, especially as the actions of the animals soon 
 convince the observer that it will be impossible to 
 escape them unmolested even with the quickest row- 
 ing by five men. The roaring, spurting and diving 
 herd of Morses is soon but a few paces distant. The 
 first shots are fired, and this volley rouses their 
 wrath. The fight waxes hot, some of the Men wield 
 their axes against the fore-flippers of the terrible 
 Sphinxes as they threaten to overturn the boat 
 and dash it to pieces ; others of the crew defend 
 themselves with spears or deal blows with their 
 oars upon the gigantic, thick heads, or else send in- 
 digestible leaden pills down the wide open abysses 
 of the incessantly roaring mouths. A wild din fills 
 the air ; the boat's defenders fight hard to keep 
 their balance ; the water foams and surges violently ; 
 new monsters suddenly raise their heads out of the 
 the water or swim up to the boat ; others, mortally 
 wounded, go to the bottom, their blood imparting its 
 
 color to the surrounding sea. The impending dan- 
 ger that the boat may be overturned or severely 
 damaged by the tusks of a Walrus, may often be 
 averted only by mortally injuring the leader of these 
 brave and hardy creatures." 
 
 Uses to Which Europeans [and Americans] use the 
 the Walrus hide, blubber and tusks of the Wal- 
 /s Put rus. The hide is tanned, the blubber 
 
 rendered, the tusks are used as ivory. The flesh is 
 coarse-grained and oily, and is eaten by Europeans 
 only when necessity impels, though the tongue is, 
 said to be very palatable. With the nations of the 
 high northern latitudes matters are different; they 
 use every part of the Morse. The hide is manufact- 
 ured into thongs, ropes and fishing nets, or even 
 summer habitations may be covered with it; .a varietj 
 of tools are made out of the bones; the sinews are 
 twisted into sewing thread; the flesh is a favorite 
 dish, and the blubber is used as shortening in their 
 food or is burned to furnish light. 
 
 Zhc Bareb Seals. 
 
 THIRD FAMILY: Otariid^. 
 
 The members of the third family of the Fin- 
 Footed Animals, the Eared Seals {Ofaritd<s),diiter 
 from their other relatives in the following features: 
 The external ear has a well-developed, though small, 
 conch. The limbs protrude from the body and are 
 clearly distinguishable; the flippers are large, elon- 
 gated beyond the toes in a ragged manner, and the 
 soles are bare; the hind toes are of fairly uniform 
 length, while the fore toes decrease in length toward 
 the outer side. The sexes differ strikingly in size, 
 the males attaining, as a rule, at least double the 
 length and three or four times the weight of the 
 females. 
 
 General Traits of AH known varieties of this family 
 the Eared resemble each other to such an ex- 
 Seals. tent that they must necessarily be 
 
 classed in one species; all lead the same mode of 
 life as regards essentials. Mainly inhabiting the 
 Pacific Ocean, they exist as well off the ice-bound 
 coasts of Behring Straits as on the continent sur- 
 rounding the Antarctic Pole and its islands, in 
 the temperate zones as well as beneath the ver- 
 tical rays of the sun in the equatorial regions. 
 They either undertake journeys of varying extent, 
 or they may remain in the same locality for years. 
 They are incessantly and -ruthlessly pursued in most 
 of the regions they inhabit, and in some sections 
 Jiave already been exterminated by the greed of 
 Man, who for centuries has waged war on them and 
 slaughtered and destroyed them by the thousand on 
 account of their skin, flesh and fat. 
 
 Structure and The species of Eared Seal, which' 
 Characteristics of nearly every visitor to San Francisco 
 Sea Lions. mentions, is the Sea Lion of the sail- 
 ors {Otaria stelleri) , a variety well known to us since 
 Steller's times. A male Sea Lion may attain a 
 length of more than twelve feet and a girth of about 
 nine feet. The females are much slighter, their 
 length not exceeding nine feet, and their average 
 weight not being more than four hundred pounds. 
 
 In its structure this animal differs less from the 
 Ordinary Seals than other groups of this family, but 
 can as little be mistaken for one of the earless Seals 
 as the others; not only because its legs and feet 
 show a different construction, but it may be distin- 
 guished at a glance by its elongated head and neck 
 and its proud and defiant attitude when excited. 
 The coloring of an old male is subject to many varia- 
 tions, as one may find, lying on the same rock, black, 
 mottled, or reddish-brown, sombre or light gray 
 specimens. A mature female is usually of a light 
 brown hue; the fur of the cubs is of a slate-gray or 
 grayish-black tint. 
 
 The Sea Lion exists in the northern part of the 
 Pacific Ocean, ranging south about as far as the 
 Galapagos Islands. 
 
 The Herd of Finsch writes about the well known 
 Sea Lions at San herd of Sea Lions at San Francisco 
 Francisco. as follows: An extremely wide and 
 no less dusty road leads through deserted downs, 
 grown with scant vegetation, where the. sand is in 
 constant motion and from time to time fills the air 
 with a kind of fog ; after a walk of three-quarters 
 ©f an hour one reaches the Cliff House, a hotel' situ- 
 ated close to the rocky beach of the' Pacific, and 
 affording a favorite picnic site for the inhabitants 
 of San Francisco. Even at a distance the noise of 
 the powerful surf greets the ear of the visitor ap- 
 proaching the Cliff House, but simultaneously he 
 hears a peculiar bark, which gains in volume and 
 variety as he comes nearer. Guided by this bark 
 one perceives a lively activity going on upon three 
 high conical cliffs, situated about" one hundred and 
 fifty paces from the coast,' the lower part of which 
 projects perpendicularly from the ocean in places, 
 against which the waves dash with deafening noise. 
 About sixty huge Sea Lions* lie on the larger steep 
 rocks of the cliff, in groups of as many as fifteen or 
 singly, comfortably stretched out in drevices or on 
 the narrow ledges, ruled over as it were by a power- 
 
FUR SEAL OR SEA BEAR, — -The most valuable of the Seals is that which is, on account of its beautiful coat, called the Fur Seal, and is also known 
 as the Sea Bear. This is the species of Seal which has been the subject of so much international controversy. Its principal home is now on the Pribyloff Islands 
 or the northern Pacific, where it seeks the most inaccessible rocks for its lair. These Seals live in large herds. The picture illustrates a group of them making 
 slow progress over the rocks, while a mother Seal aids her young one to advance by carrying it in her mouth. (0/aria ursina.). 
 
 (287) 
 
288 
 
 THE FIN-FOOTED ANIMALS. 
 
 ful male Sea Lion, enthroned on the highest part and 
 well known, to all inhabitants of San Francisco under 
 -the name of "Ben Butler." From time to time he 
 lifts his head, inflates his thick neck to a wonderful 
 extent and utters a deep bark, which is joined not 
 ,only by the weaker, finer, and higher voices of all his 
 mates, but also by the hoarse shriek of the numerous 
 Sea-gulls and the croaking of other aquatic birds 
 which sit in long rows on the rocky ledges and single 
 tops and points of the cliffs, as well as by the dull 
 bass voice of the brown Pelicans. Fascinated by the 
 striking spectacle, even the most indifferent visitor 
 observes the different animals for some time and soon 
 sees to his astonishment how these giants, which 
 are apparently so clumsy and unwieldy, climb to the 
 highest tops of the cliff. Frequently one sees them 
 throwing themselves into the ocean, simply by slid- 
 ing down the gentle incline of the rock or leaping 
 from some higher point. Dolphin-like they then 
 play about in the water, sometimes literally jumping 
 out of it, pursuing each other and making pretense 
 of being engaged in a furious fight, though in reality 
 these encounters are nothing but mere sham and 
 play. In a seemingly great rage two of them may 
 open their huge mouths and roar at each other as if 
 preliminary to the most earnest combat, but soon 
 they peacefully lie down side by side and perhaps 
 even begin to lick each other. For hours one may 
 watch the ever varying spectacle, and still continue 
 to observe and find something new." 
 
 Sea Lions are easily kept in captivity, are capable 
 of becoming very tame and if taken young they ex- 
 hibit an extra,ordinary degree of affection for their 
 keepers. 
 
 The Northern Fur The Northern Fur Seal, Sea Bear or 
 Seal or Sea Ursine Seal {Otaria ursina), is of 
 Bear. srnaller dimensions than the Sea 
 
 Lion, the largest males measuring not over six feet 
 or six feet six inches, and the females seldom ex- 
 ceeding the half of this. The hair is perceptibly 
 longer on the neck and the fore part of the body 
 ■and somewhat longei' along the spine; it consists of 
 an outer fur which is not very stiff and a close inner 
 woolly fur of exceeding softness and delicate, silky 
 texture. The ground color is dark brown, merging 
 into brownish black in some individuals, having a 
 mottled appearance on the head, neck and fore part, 
 "but assuming a lighter tint on the under and inner 
 sides of the limbs. The older females are of a sil- 
 very gray tinge and young animals of both sexes 
 have a fur of silvery hue. 
 
 Range, Haunts Few Seals have SO wide a distribu- 
 
 and Habits of tion as the Fur Seals, as they are 
 Fur Seals. found on the coasts of Patagonia and 
 southwestern Africa, on the Falkland Islands, off 
 southern Nova Scotia, on the St. Paul Islands in the 
 Indian Ocean, and the Pribyloff Islands in the Beh- 
 ring Sea. In their natural history the attractive 
 picture Steller drew of them has been greatly added 
 to in recent times. 
 
 The observations of all sailors, who know the Fur 
 Seals, tend to show that they visit the islands and 
 rocks on which they appear at regular intervals, for 
 the sole purpose of breeding, and during the other 
 months they live exclusively in the ocean, undertak- 
 ing very extensive wanderings. Still, as the obser- 
 vations of several consecutive years show, they 
 always return to the same known breeding grounds 
 or "rookeries." When the season of their landing 
 4raws nigh, one first sees a few old males arrive. 
 
 ■(yhich seem to do service as explorers. The others 
 follow them, a few at a timie. They exhibit great* 
 circumspection in selecting their sites, perhaps.only . 
 because experience has taught them the necessity 
 of guarding as much as possible against their worstj 
 enemy, Man. In general they select islands, or 
 stretches of coast on larger islands, against which 
 the surf dashes with special violence, and then they 
 choose the least accessible rocks lying immediately 
 above high-water level, as temporary habitations. ■ 
 
 Two or three days after landing each female gives 
 birth to one, some of them, perhaps, in very rare 
 cases, to two, young ones. The little Sea Bear, 
 like all Seals, very fully developed and with his 
 eyes open, is about fourteen inches long at birth. 
 During the first weeks after birth, the cubs are left 
 by their mothers only for a few minutes at a time 
 at the most, but after awhile they go into the water , 
 for a longer time in search of food. Up to that time \ 
 the cubs follow every movement their mothers make j 
 on land, but are entirely incapable of swimming dur- ; 
 ing the first four or six weeks, and are sure to drown ! 
 if by any accident they fall into the water. After ' 
 these early weeks of their lives they gradually and 
 awkwardly learn how to swim, trying to imitate the 
 old ones, but always scrambling back to the shore 
 in a hurry during the first attempts. In time they 
 gain confidence and go farther out, and become 
 quite skillful swimmers by the middle of September. 
 
 Great Value of The Sea Bear is a still more valuable 
 the Furs of animal than any of the other mem- 
 Sea Bears. ^gj-s of his tribe, on account of his 
 excellent fur. The natives of the islands which he 
 frequents also kill-him for his flesh, which forms an 
 important part of their sustenance and is held to be 
 savory even by Europeans. The main profit of the 
 chase has always accrued from the fur of the young 
 animals; but people have acted in as improvident 
 and senseless a manner in the chase of the Fur Seals 
 as they have in the hunting of other marine animals 
 in general, and within a few decades such extraordi- 
 nary numbers of them have been exterminated, that 
 some islands which were formerly populated by 
 them have gradually become deserted. The furs of 
 this species form the most valuable commodity of 
 the entire fur trade. 
 The Southern Sea The Southern Sea Lion {^Otaria jubatd^, 
 
 Lion an Antarc- has a very noticeable distinguishing 
 tic Variety. mark in the smallness of its ears.' 
 Full grown males attain a length of seventy-eight 
 inches from the tip of the nose to the end of the 
 short tail. The females are distinguished from the 
 males by their darker coloring and considerably 
 smaller size, which in the majority of cases is not 
 more than half that;, of the males, the weight being 
 in proportion. These animals are found on the 
 coasts of the southern portion of South America 
 and islands in the same latitudes and south^to 
 Graham Land. They are most numerous on the 
 coast of Terra del Fuego and on the Falkland. 
 Islands. Their habits and modes of life are similar 
 to those of the northern Sea Lion: Like the latter 
 tliey undertake extended migrations, and have regu- 
 larly selected haunts where they make their home 
 until the young have been born and trained to swim 
 and to provide for themselves. During such a so- 
 journ, strange to say, these animals enter the water 
 very reluctantly, for Abbott says that although he 
 threw stones at a family of these Sea Lions, he could 
 not drive them into the sea. 
 
^be irn6cct«£atin9 Hnimals. 
 
 SIXTH ORDER: Insectivora. 
 
 HE Insect - Eating animals 
 are small creatures, mostly 
 of a striking appearance, 
 whose mode of progres- 
 sion is plantigrade; they 
 are distinguished by an 
 elongated head and a nose 
 prolonged so as to par- 
 take of the character of 
 a proboscis. The body, as 
 a rule, is of stout build; the 
 fore limbs are regular, the 
 tail in some species is 
 short, the hind limbs long, 
 the organs of sense may be highly developed or 
 stunted; the texture of the fur includes every variety 
 between velvety softness and a coat bristling with 
 spines. The teeth are of all three kinds; but the 
 incisors differ materially in number and shape in the 
 different groups and varieties; the canines attain an 
 astonishing length in some species, while in others 
 they are smaller than the incisors; only the molars 
 show uniformity to the extent of being single pointed 
 in front and furnished with several cusps behind. 
 The feet are usually provided with five toes, the 
 development of which, as well as that of the wrist 
 and ankle joints, varies materially. Of the muscles, 
 that which serves to rotate the skin (especially devel- 
 oped in some species), is deserving of mention. 
 General Traits The Insectivora are dull, sulky, dis- 
 of Inaecti- trustful and timid creatures of soli- 
 vorea. t^ry tendencies and possessed of a 
 
 violent temper. By far the larger number live under 
 ground, digging and rooting, or at least keeping 
 from view in secluded hiding places; some, however, 
 inhabit the water and some live on trees. Their 
 astonishing activity puts a successful check on the 
 increase of harmful insects and worms, Snails and 
 other animals of low development, and eyen some 
 small rodents. Therefore, they are all, nearly with- 
 out exception, useful laborers in the vineyard, but 
 are known and esteemed only by persons well 
 versed in natural history; the mass of people hold 
 them in abomination. These small diggers fire pur- 
 sued, on account of their ugly looks and their habits, 
 wherever they are found, by people who utterly ig- 
 nore the services these animals render. He who 
 studies their life is certain to act differently. He 
 finds so many attractive and fascinating traits that 
 he soon forgets their lack of good looks and gives 
 them his hearty interest and approval. 
 Hibernation of Many species of Insectivora hiber- 
 tlie Insecti- nate and would perish if nature had 
 vorea. not provided for their conservation in 
 
 this way. At the approach of cold weather, nature, 
 to a certain degree, puts a stop on the lower forms 
 of animal life, and thousands upon thousands of the 
 creatures, which are destined to be the food of the 
 animals now under consideration, doze off either 
 
 into eternal or temporary sleep. In this way earth 
 is rendered desolate for the foes of insect life, and 
 as they cannot migrate like the birds, they are in a 
 certain way compelled to follow the example set by 
 the insects. So they retire into the best concealed 
 hiding places they can find, or prepare such them- 
 selves, and fall into that deep lethargy, which tem- 
 porarily stops all activity, but preserves life in 
 their bodies until they wake again. But only those 
 species hibernate which feed on vegetable matter as 
 well as insects, while the most zealous insect hunters 
 ply their craft in winter as well as in summer. 
 Under the snow and earth and in the depth of the 
 water, life, pillage and carnage still go on in win- 
 ter; and these processes continue, of course, in those 
 countries where there is perennial summer, or where 
 there is no winter that brings freezing cold with it. 
 
 The Insect-Eating animals are chiefly found in the 
 temperate countries of the north and are not found 
 in South America or Australia. They delight in 
 watery, or at least damp, forests, groves, plantations 
 and gardens, scarcely ever leaving such situations. 
 Quietly and noiselessly they follow their hunt, by 
 far the larger iiumber being active by night, although 
 some pursue their prey in the bright daylight. 
 
 The opinions of scientists as to the division of the 
 Insectivora show some discrepancy. We will admit 
 seven families, including a remarkable animal of the 
 Malayan Islands, the Galeopithecus. 
 
 ^be Ibebgeboae. 
 
 FIRST FAMILY: Erinaceid^. 
 
 The hedgehogs, which we put at the head of this 
 order, are such remarkable animals, that the shortest 
 description suffices to characterize them. A set of 
 teeth, thirty-six in number, and a coat of spines are 
 the most important features of the few varieties 
 which we consider as really belonging to this family. 
 All Hedgehogs are of a stout build, and though 
 their heads are not particularly long, the muzzle 
 part is drawn out into the form of a proboscis; the 
 eyes are moderately large, the ears fairly so, the 
 short thick legs end in clumsy feet, the front pair 
 always having five toes, the hind ones usually hav- 
 ing five, and exceptionally four. The tail is short 
 and the wiry fur consists of short spines above and 
 hair below. 
 
 Habitat The family is disseminated over Eu- 
 
 and Traits of rope, Africa and Asia. Forests and 
 Hedgehogs. meadows, fields, gardens and exten- 
 sive plains are the principal haunts of its mem- 
 bers. Here the Hedgehogs take up their abode in 
 the densest of thickets, under hedges, hollow trees, 
 and roots, in rocky crevices, burrows deserted by 
 other animals, or similar places, or they dig short 
 shafts for themselves. The greater part of the year 
 
 (289) 
 
290 
 
 THE INSECT-EATING ANIMALS. 
 
 they live singly or in couples and lead a perfectly 
 nocturnal life. It is not until after sunset that they 
 wake from their daily slumber and go out in search 
 of food, which, with most of them, consists of plants 
 and animals, and with some only of the latter. 
 Fruit and juicy roots, seeds, small mammals, bi^rds, 
 insects and their grubs. Snails, Rain-Worms, etc., 
 form the ingredients which lavish nature has pro- 
 vided for their meals. In exceptional cases some 
 of them also dare attack larger animals, such as 
 poultry or young Hares. They are slow, heavy and 
 rather lazy creatures, confined to the ground; and 
 they step on the entire sole in walking. Among 
 their senses smell ranks first; but their hearing is 
 also acute, while sight and taste are very deficient 
 and their dullness of sensibility of touch is really 
 unrivalled. The mental qualities of the Hedgehogs 
 are on a rather low plane. They are timid, shy and 
 stupid, but fairly good-natured, or rather indifferent 
 with regard to the surrounding circumstances, and 
 therefore easily tamed. The young are from three 
 to eight in number and blind at birth; the mother 
 tends them carefully and even exhibits a certain 
 amount of courage in their defense, which she lacks 
 entirely under different circumstances. The major- 
 ity have the peculiar habit of rolling themselves 
 into a ball at the slightest danger, in order to pro- 
 tect their soft parts against any possible attack. In 
 this attitude, also, they sleep. Those which inhabit 
 northern climes spend the cold season in uninter- 
 rupted hibernation, and those which exist in the 
 equatorial regions sleep during the dry season. 
 
 The direct usefulness of the Hedgehogs is slight. 
 Nowadays at least one hardly knows what to do 
 with a Hedgehog which has been killed. Their in- 
 direct use, however, is greater, as they destroy a mul- 
 titude of noxious animals. For this reason they 
 deserve our fullest sympathy and the most generous 
 protection, instead of the contempt they usually are 
 subjected to. 
 
 The Common Of the Common Hedgehog {Eniia- 
 
 Hedgehog De- ceus europCBUs), the whole body with 
 scribed. all its parts is very stout, thick and 
 short, the muzzle is pointed and indented in front, 
 the mouth is cleft far back; the ears are wide, the 
 eyes black and small. A few black whisker hairs 
 stand among the whitish or , reddishryellow hair 
 of the face, the fur on the sides of the nose and 
 upper lip being dark brown ; a white patch lies 
 behind the eyes. The hair on the neck and under 
 portion is light red with an admixture of yellowish 
 or whitish gray. The spines are yellowish, with 
 dark brown rings in the middle and at the tip; their 
 upper surface shows twenty-four to twenty-five fine 
 longitudinal grooves, which are separated by arched 
 ridges; the center shows a marrow tube filled with 
 large cells. The bodily length of the animal is from 
 ten to twelve inches; the tail measures one inch, the 
 height at the shoulder is about five or seven inches. 
 The female differs from the male by its slightly 
 ' larger size, a more pointed muzzle, stouter body and 
 lighter, more grayish hue; her forehead is also usu- 
 ally not so deeply set with spines, the head appear- 
 ing longer because of this arrangement. 
 
 The Common Hedgehog is distributed not only, 
 over all Europe, with the exception of the coldest 
 parts, but also over the greater part of northern 
 Asia; it is found in Syria as well as in western and 
 southeastern Siberia. It is a quite common animal 
 in Great Britain, especially in the south of England. 
 It is rare, but not entirely absent, in Ireland. 
 
 Peculiarities of The Hedgehog is a queer fellow, but 
 the Hedge- a good-natured, tinjiid one withal, 
 ^off- and gains its. livelihood as best it 
 
 can, by means of hard toil and trouble. Having 
 little aptitude for society, it is always found singly, 
 or at the most in the society of its mate. Under the 
 densest of thickets, heaps of dry wood or in hedges, 
 each Hedgehog settles down singly and as com- 
 fortably as it can. If no ready-made burrow can be 
 found, it digs one out for itself with great labor, and 
 lines it with some appropriate material. The bur- 
 row reaches about twelve inches below the surface 
 and is provided with two exits, of which one, as a 
 rule, faces south, the other north. But thfese doors 
 are subject to change, like those of the Squirrel, 
 especially during a violent northern or southern 
 wind. In high corn the creature usually only makes 
 a large nest. 
 
 If our bristled hero, while walking, hears anything 
 suspicious, he stops, listens and sniffs, and one clearly' 
 sees that the sense of smell is by far the most acute, 
 especially in comparison with that of sight. It not 
 infrequently happens that a Hedgehog runs right 
 under the feet of a hunter, then suddenly stops, 
 sniffs around and runs away in a hurry, unless it 
 should prefer to resort to its method of. defence, 
 that is, to roll itself up into a ball. The former 
 shape of the animal then shows in nothing;' it forms 
 an egg-shaped lump, showing an indentation at one 
 place; but the rest is of fairly regular roiindness. 
 The indentation leads to the abdomen, and in it lie, 
 closely pressed together, the snout, the fore legs and 
 the little stub-like tail. When the creature moves 
 quietly along, the coat has a rather smooth appear- 
 ance and the thousand spines lie quite smoothly, 
 arranged like shingles on a roof; they bristle on all 
 sides as soon as the Hedgehog assumes the ball- 
 shape and give it the appearance of a terrible ball 
 of spines. A somewhat experienced person, how- 
 ever, even then finds no difficulty in carrying a 
 Hedgehog away in his hands. To do this it is only 
 necessary to place the ball in the position the ani- 
 mal would assume for walking, gently stroking the 
 spines in a backward direction, and then they do 
 not hinder one in the least. 
 
 If one of its principal foes, a Dog or a Fox, finds 
 it, the Hedgehog rolls itself together in a hurry, and 
 stays in that attitude under all circumstances. It 
 notices by the furious barking and growling- of its 
 pursuers, that their intentions are earnest, and it 
 carefully guards against giving up its inherited 
 privileges. There are, however, many expedients 
 to induce a Hedgehog to give up its ball shape. 
 If water is poured on it, or it is thrown into the 
 water, it unrolls itself immediately; not only Rey- 
 nard, the rascal, but also many a Dog knows hoV to 
 profit by this use of water, to the detriment of the 
 little creature. Tobacco smoke blown into its nose 
 through the Spines, has the same effect. ' 
 
 The Hedgehog The Hedgehog is by ho means an 
 Seeiiingfor unskilled or clumsy hunter; it knows 
 Food. how to perform certain tricks for 
 
 which one would never give it credit. The princi- 
 pal part of its food consists of insects, though, and 
 this is how it becomes so useful. But it does not 
 content itself with this unsubstantial food, and wages ■ 
 war on other animals also. None of the small mam- 
 mals or birds is secure from it, and among the 
 animals of the lower orders it plays sad havoc. Be- 
 side the multitude of Grasshoppers, Crickets, Cock- 
 roaches, May-bugs, Beetles of all kinds and their 
 
THE H£OG£S0G. An animal very familiar to Europeans, and possessed of peculisr charaeUiTttiis, is t! ,. Hi ig, h g 11= method of defending 
 
 Itself against attacks, by rolling itself into a round ball which presents only sharp spines to the enSrnies' onslaught, is well known. Another famous and use- 
 'Ul trait of the Hedgehog is its boldness in attacking venomous reptiles. The picture shows a Hedgehog busily employed in a fight with an Adder, which it is 
 about to despatch with a bite on the venomous head. The Snail, crawling slowly up the bank, is in no danger, for its enemy is intent on larger and more 
 Mportant game. (Erinaceus europaus.) 
 
 f29i) 
 
292 
 
 THE INSECT-EATING ANIMALS. 
 
 larvje, it devours Rain-worms, Snails, Mice, small 
 birds and even the young of larger ones. One really 
 would not think it capable of catching the small, 
 nimble Mice; but it knows its business, and accom- 
 plishes this seemingly impossible feat. 
 
 Snake Killing Much more important are its com- 
 Propensities of bats with Snakes, in which it exhibits 
 Hedgehogs. ^ courage which it would scarcely be 
 suspected of possessing. Lenz has made excellent 
 bbservations upon this trait of the animal: "On the 
 24th of August," he says, " I put a Hedgehog into a 
 large box, in which, two days later, it gave birth to 
 six little ones, covered with embryo spines. The 
 mother took care of her children with faithful love. 
 To test her appetite I proffered her various kinds of 
 food, and found that she ate Beetles, Rain-worms, 
 Frogs, and Blindworms with great gusto, and also 
 ate even Toads, but these not so willingly. Mice 
 were her favorite dainty; fruit she ate only when 
 there was no animal food to be had, and when I once 
 gave her nothing but fruit for two days, she ate so 
 scantily that two of her young starved for want of 
 ihilk. She exhibited great courage also in contend- 
 ing against dangerous animals. 
 
 " But let us come to the main point, the fight of 
 pur heroine with an Adder. Although it gave us 
 great admiration for the Hedgehog's exploits, we 
 must confess that we would lack the courage to imi- 
 tate them. On the 30th of August I put an Adder 
 in the Hedgehog's box, as she was quietly suckling 
 her young. I had previously demonstrated by ex- 
 periment that this Snake did not lack poison, as it 
 had killed a Mouse very quickly two days before. 
 The Hedgehog soon scented it (the creature was 
 always guided by scent, never by sight,) rose from 
 her bed, carefully groped around the Snake, as it lay 
 stretched out, sniffed at it from the tail to the head, 
 and paid special attention to the mouth. The Snake 
 hissed and bit repeatedly intothes^ut and lips of 
 the Hedgehog. Scorning the Snake s impotent rage 
 the Hedgehog comfortably licked her wounds, with- 
 out flinching, and while so engaged received a sound 
 bite in her tongue. Without being the least con- 
 fused, she went on sniffing at the enraged, biting 
 Snake, repeatedly touching it with her tongue, with- 
 out biting, however. Finally she quickly seized the 
 head of the Snake, and, in spite of its resistance, 
 crushed it, poisonous teeth, glands and all, between 
 her teeth, and ate it to the middle of the body. 
 Then she stopped and went back to , suckle her 
 young. In the evening she ate the rest of this.Snake 
 and also a young new-born Adder. On the follow- 
 ing day she devoured three more new-born Snakes, 
 neither the Hedgehog nor her young ones feeling 
 any the worse for these repasts; nor was there any 
 swelling or anything else of the kind to be seen on 
 the wounds. This Hedgehog has since frequently 
 fought with equal success, and she always crushed 
 the head first, while she never paid any attention to 
 this careful selection of the head in killing non- 
 venomous Snakes. The remains of her repast she 
 was wont to carry into her nest and devour them at 
 leisure." 
 
 These observations are undoubtedly remarkable 
 in every respect. In the light of physiology, one 
 cannot understand how a warm-blooded animal can 
 stand bites which would mean death to others of its 
 class. We must bear in mind that the bite of an 
 Adder kills mammals which are of at least thirty 
 times the size and weight of the Hedgehog, and 
 apparently ought to be much stronger than it is. 
 
 But our bristly hero really seems to be proof against 
 venom ; and devours not only poisonous snakes, the 
 venom of which, as everybody knows, is effective only 
 when it enters the blood directly, but also animals the 
 poison of which acts when taken into the stomach, as,, 
 for instance, the well-known Cantharides, or Spanish 
 Flies, the bodies of which cause violent inflamma- ' 
 tion if applied to the external skin, and which taken 
 internally would unfailingly cause the death of other 
 animals. 
 Birth and Train- Young Hedgehogs are born in litterS. : 
 Ing of Hedge- of from three to six, and in rare case& 
 hogs. eight, in a nest which the mother has 
 
 specially .prepared, for t.hpv occasion, and which is of 
 ^large, roomy dimensions, warmly lined and situated 
 under thick hedges, heaps of leaves or moss, or in a. 
 corn field. The little Hedgehogs, which are blind 
 at birth, are about two and one-half inches long, of 
 a white color in the beginning and have a nearly 
 naked appearance, as the spines do not develop, 
 until later. 
 
 Hedgehogs Towards autumn the young HedgCr , 
 in their Winter hogs are, SO far grown-up that each 
 Retreat. one of them can cater for itself, and 
 before the cold weather comes, each has stored a. 
 goodly supply of fat on 4ts little body and thinks, 
 of preparing its winter quarters, like the parents. 
 The winter abode is a heap of straw, hay, leaves and 
 moss, carefully lined in the interior. The building- 
 materials are brought there by the Hedgehog itself 
 in a very queer manner. It rolls around in the 
 leaves where they lie thickest, in this way pinning a. 
 load of them to its spines, and giving itself a quite 
 magnificent appearance. In the same manner it 
 carries fruit home. With the first intense cold the 
 Hedgehog buries itself deeply in its habitation and 
 there spends the cold season in uninterrupted , hiber- 
 nation, which usually lasts till Maixh. JJitiieb favor- 
 able ciroSrhstances a Hedgehog in the free state 
 probably reaches an age of from eight to ten years. 
 The Hedgehog To tame a Hedgehog it is only nec-^, , 
 in Captiu- essary to confine it in a convenient' '; 
 '^y- place. It soon becomes accustorned 
 
 to its captivity and loses its fear of Man. It eats-' 
 what is offered it without hesitation and even looks 
 for additional food- for itself in, house and yard,: 
 and. stiir more freely in barns and sheds. In some- 
 localities it is highly esteemed. as a mouser and is-' 
 extensively, employed as such ^ in warehouses where- 
 Cats are not desirable.. The Hedgehog is admirably:^ 
 , adaptedior-the extejtminatipn of obnoxious; insects„| ; 
 especially for the devouring of the repulsive Cock- ; 
 roaches, end it does ■ its work -with great zeal. If it ' 
 is only treated kindly and a secluded corner is pro-'- 
 vided for it, captivity causes it no grief whatever. 
 Enemies of the The Hedgehog has. many enemies-. 
 Hedge- beside ill-natured, ignorant human- 
 
 fiog- beings. Dogs hate it with great in- ^ ; 
 
 tensity and signify their enmity by a prolongedi-4,i 
 fierce bark, whenever they discover a Hedgehog; 
 and take every means to demonstrate their dislike 
 of the bristle-wearing creature. But the latter re- 
 mains in a ball-like position, so long as a Dog busies- 
 himself with it, and the aggressor gets nothing but. 
 a bloody nose as the reward for his violence, for the 
 Dog can do nothing to the animal in its coat of 
 mail, but only harms himself. The Fox is said to- 
 pursue Hedgehogs with great zeal and to cause, them, 
 to unroll, in a mean way, by slowly rolling the .ball, 
 of spines to the water with his fore-paws and throw- 
 ing it in. In this way many Hedgehogs perish. 
 
THE COMMON MOLE. No family of animals is more adapted to a life of digging than the Moles, which have effective spades or scoops in the strong, large 
 
 claws of their forepaws. The Common Mole, the European animal which is regarded as typical of the entire family, is depicted in the picture. It is a morose, surly 
 and unsocial animal, and when two Moles meet, a combat usually ensues, and therefore the scene depicted in the illustration indicates trouble for the weaker of the ' 
 •wo animals. (Talfa euroi,<ea.) 
 
 (21)3) 
 
294 
 
 THE INSECT-EATING ANIMALS. 
 
 especrally in youth; and they have a still more 
 dangerous enemy in the Screech-Owls which con- 
 stantly prey upon these animals wherever they can 
 find them. 
 
 Uses of the The flesh of the Hedgehog is proba- 
 Hedgehog in the bly eaten only by Gypsies and simi- 
 Past. lar wandering tribes, who have in- 
 
 vented a special mode of cooking it. The "chef" 
 covers the Hedgehog with a thick layer of well 
 kneaded, sticky clay, and puts it into the fire, turn- 
 ing it carefully at regular intervals; As soon as the 
 clay has become hard and dry, the roast is taken 
 out of the fire, set to cool, and then the outer layer 
 is broken off, removing with it all the spines, which 
 are embedded in the earth. The Romans used the 
 bristly skin to card their woollen shawls, and Hedge- 
 hog skins were therefore largely employed as an 
 article of commerce, the gains being so considerable 
 that the trade had 6 , / 
 
 to be regulated by ^' • "^*' 
 
 laws passed by the 
 Roman senate. The 
 skin with its spines 
 was also used as a 
 flax-comb. Even 
 to the present day 
 some farmers are 
 said to make use 
 of a Hedgehog 
 skin when they 
 wish to wean a Calf. 
 They tie a piece of 
 the skin to the 
 Calf's nose and 
 leave it to the 
 mother to drive 
 away the young 
 animal, which nat- 
 urally annoys her extremely when it wears such 
 a nose piece. Occasionally a Hedgehog skin in its 
 natural shape is manufactured into a queer, bristly 
 -cap by hatters. 
 
 COMMON AMEAICAN MOLE. The Mole most common in the eastern portion of 
 
 the United States. Its liabits are in every way similar to those of the Common Mole of Europe, 
 although its burrows are not, perhaps, so elaborately constructed as those of .its European 
 cousin. (Scatops aquaiicus;) i 
 
 XTbe flDoles. 
 
 SECOND FAMILY: Tai,pid^. 
 
 The Insect-Eating animals which follow the 
 Hedgehogs, and which we consider as animals of 
 iairly high order, on account of their forelegs being 
 developed into perfect scoops for digging, live 
 almost completely in underground retreats where 
 they lead a life peculiar in every respect. 
 General Descrip- The Moles are disseminated over 
 tion of the nearly all Europe, a great part of Asia, 
 Moles. southern Africa and North America. 
 
 Their varieties are not numerous, but it is possible, 
 however, that there are still a great many species of 
 Moles as yet unknown to naturalists. The Moles 
 are all shaped and endowed in so striking a manner 
 as to be instantly recognizable. The body is stout 
 and of cylindrical shape, and merges into a small 
 head without the intervention of a distinct neck. 
 The head is elongated and tapers into a kind of pro- 
 boscis, while the eyes and ears are little developed 
 and from the external view are barely seen, or else 
 entirely invisible. The body is supported on short 
 legs; the forward pair appear to be relatively gigan- 
 tic digging tools, while the hind limbs are longer 
 and slender and resemble those of the Rat; the tail 
 
 is short or altogether absent. The teeth are from 
 thirty-six to forty-four in number. The structure 
 and position of the fore legs imply a degree of com- 
 parative strength in the upper part of the chest, such 
 as no other animal possesses. The shoulder-blade 
 is the narrowest and longest, the clavicle the thick- 
 est and longest found among the Insectivora;. the 
 upper arm is exceedingly broad, the lower one 
 strong and stout. The wrist is composed of .ten 
 bones. It is evident that these gigantic fore limbs 
 can serve only for digging; they are such effective 
 scoops that it would seem impossible to improve 
 upon them. Particularly strong muscles are attached 
 to these bones, and from this muscular development 
 the remarkable relative strength of the animal's fore 
 part is derived. 
 
 Moles all delight in fertile plains, though they 
 are not absent in mountains. Being children of 
 
 darkness, the effect 
 of light is painful- 
 to them. Therefore 
 they seldom, of 
 their own free will, 
 come to the surface 
 and even in the 
 depth of the earth 
 they are more act- 
 ive by night than 
 by day. Their bod- 
 ily structure is not 
 adapted to a life on 
 the upper surface. 
 They can neither 
 leap nor climb, and 
 can scarcely walk 
 properly, though 
 some of them pro- 
 ceed at a rapid 
 pace, touching the ground only with the soles of 
 their hind feet and the iiiner edge of the forepaws. 
 Their movements in their underground passages are 
 much more rapid, and the dexterity with which they 
 dig is marvelous. They are also good swimmers, 
 although they resort to this mode of locomotion 
 only when compelled by necessity. Their broad fore- 
 paws are effectual oars and the strong arms are less 
 readily wearied in the water than, they are by digging. 
 Physical and Of the senses of the Moles those 
 Mental Traits of of smell, hearing and touch are es- 
 Moles. pecially well developed, while that 
 
 of sight 'is very deficient. The voice finds utter- 
 ance in hissing and squeaking sounds. The mental 
 capacity is slight, though not to such an extent as 
 is generally believed. The so-called bad qualities 
 however seem to be much more strongly developed 
 than the good ones, for all Moles are highly quar- 
 relsome, sanguinary creatures, addicted to vicious 
 biting and surpassing even the Tiger in cruelty, 
 devouring their own kind with pleasure whenever 
 they encounter them. Their food is exclusively of 
 an animal nature, for they never eat anything of a 
 vegetable character. All kinds of insects living 
 underground, worms and the like, form the main 
 portion of their food; but they also feed on small 
 mammals and birds. Frogs and Snails, whenever 
 they can. Their voracity equals their activity, and 
 as they can endure hunger only for a very short 
 time without injury to themselves, they do not hi- 
 bernate. For this very reason they become useful 
 as exterminators of insects; but their digging pro- 
 pensities cause them to be considered a nuisance. 
 
THE MOLES— COMMON MOLE. 
 
 295 
 
 Birih Once or twice a year the young 
 
 and Training of Moles make their appearance, three 
 Moles. to five at a birth, and the mother 
 
 takes care of them with great solicitude. The little 
 ones grow rather rapidly and stay with their mother 
 for one or two months. Then they become inde- 
 pendent and begin digging on their own account. 
 They can only be kept in captivity by bestowing 
 the utmost care upon them, as it is very difficult 
 to satisfy their great voracity. 
 
 The Common The Common Mole {Talpa europaa), 
 Mole of which is the type of the whole fam- 
 Europe. ily, is a species confined to Europe 
 and Asia. Inclusive of the tail, which measures one 
 inch, the length is six, at the utmost seven inches, 
 and the height at the shoul- 
 ders is about two inches. 
 The body is of cylindrical 
 shape and the very short 
 legs end in short toes of 
 which the middle one is 
 longest. The toes are unit- 
 ed by a membrane for nearly 
 their entire length. The 
 eyes are about the size of a 
 poppy seed; they lie mid- 
 way between the tip of the 
 snout and the ears and are 
 completely covered with the 
 hair of the head; still they 
 are protected by lids and 
 may be projected or re- 
 tracted at will; therefore 
 they may be used. The ears 
 are small, and have no ex- 
 ternal conch. The uniform, 
 black fur is very close, short, 
 soft and velvety all over. 
 The animal is covered .all 
 over with it with the excep- 
 tion of the paws, soles, tip 
 of the snout and end of the 
 tail. It has a somewhat 
 vivid lustre and sometimes 
 varies from the typical black 
 into a brownish, bluish or 
 even whitish tint. Yellow or 
 white Moles are found very 
 rarely. 
 
 This Mole ranges all 
 over Europ6 and northern 
 Africa and extends through Asia to the Altai, or 
 even into Japan. It goes as far as the Amoor and 
 southward down to the Caucasus; in the Alps it is 
 found at an elevation of 6,000 feet. It is common 
 everywhere within this range and increases in a sur- 
 prising way in all sections where it is not pursued. 
 How the It betrays its domicile by its own 
 
 Mole Digs and handiwork in the surest way, as it is 
 
 Makes Hills. obliged to constantly construct new 
 hillocks in order to earn its living. These hillocks 
 always indicate the direction and extent of its exist- 
 ing hunting grounds. Owing to its extreme vorac- 
 ity, it is compelled constantly to enlarge these little 
 hills and therefore it is forever working at the exten- 
 sion of its underground domain. Incessantly it digs 
 horizontal shafts at a slight depth from the surface 
 and in order to remove the earth it has dug up, it 
 throws up the well known hillocks. 
 
 I^igging is very easy work for a Mole. With the 
 aid of the strong muscles of its neck and the im- 
 
 THE STAR-NOSED MOLE 
 
 the Insect-Eating; Animals is the American species of Mole shown in 
 this picture. Its tail is longer than that of any other Mole, but the 
 strangest feature is the cartilaginous rays which are placed in star- 
 like form around the nostrils. (Condylura cristata.) 
 
 mense spade-like hands, with which it holds itself 
 steady, it bores its snout into the loose ground, 
 loosens the surrounding earth with its fore-paws and 
 throws it backward with extraordinary rapidity. Its 
 ears are perfectly protected from the entrance of 
 sand and earth by their ability to close themselves. 
 The loosened earth is left to lie behind in the pas- 
 sage that is being constructed until the quantity 
 becomes inconvenient. Then the Mole makes its 
 way to the surface and throws the earth out little by 
 little with its snout. During these operations it is 
 nearly always covered with a layer of loose earth 
 from five to six inches deep. In loose ground the 
 animal works with really admirable rapidity. Oken 
 kept a Mole in a box of sand for three months, and 
 
 observed the animal work 
 its way in it nearly as rap- 
 idly as a fish glides through 
 the water, snout foremost, 
 using the fore-paws to throw 
 the sand to the side and the 
 hind limbs to push it back- 
 ward. In its underground 
 passages the Mole proceeds 
 with still greater speed, as 
 has been demonstrated by 
 very pretty experiments. 
 
 Lecourt wished to investi- 
 gate the speed of a Mole in 
 its conduits, and for this 
 purpose he employed a 
 means as ingenious as it was 
 amusing. He set up in a row 
 a number of heavy straws in 
 the main conduit, arranged 
 so that the Mole could not 
 run along the passage with- 
 ou touching them. To the 
 tops of these straws he fast- 
 ened small paper flags, and 
 when the Mole was occupied 
 in its hunting ground, he 
 frightened it with the sound 
 of a bugle, and thus caused 
 it to run into the main con- 
 duit. Then the little flags 
 fell down one after another, 
 the instant the Mole touched 
 them, and the observer and 
 his assistants had an oppor- 
 tunity to correctly record 
 the speed of its course for a short distance. 
 
 Principal The Mole has many foes besides 
 Foes of the Man. Polecats, Stoats, Owls and 
 Mole. Falcons, Ravens and Storks watch it 
 
 as it throws up its hillocks; the little Weasels even 
 pursue it in its conduits, where, as already men- 
 tioned, it also frequently falls a prey to the Adder. 
 Terriers find great pleasure in watching a digging 
 Mole, then throwing it up with a sudden jerk, and 
 killing it with a few bites. Only Foxes, Weasels, 
 Hedgehogs and the before mentioned birds eat it; 
 the other adversaries only kill it and let it lie. 
 
 n, , D I J. J The American species of Moles are re- 
 
 Closely Related g^^ded as distinct from those of Europe 
 
 American because of differences in dentition and other 
 
 Species. variations. The Common American Mole 
 
 {Scalops aquaticus) inhabits the eastern portion of the United 
 
 States, and in its size, appearance and mode of life so much 
 
 resembles the European species that to the ordinary observer 
 
 the differences are scarcely apparent. A Mole known as the 
 
 Silver or Prairie Mole {Scalops argentatus) is found in Texas 
 
 and Mexico, but shows little to distmguish it from the Common 
 
 One of the most peculiar of 
 
2U(', 
 
 THE INSECT-EATING ANIMALS. 
 
 American Mole beyond the fact that it is usually somewhat 
 larger in size. 
 
 Two other species, showing another difference in dentition, 
 are the Hairy-tailed Mole (Scapanus breweri), and a blackish 
 purple variety popularly known as the Oregon Mole {Scapa- 
 nus townsendi), both of these animals being found principally 
 in the western part of the United States. 
 
 r/ifi Rfnr-tintPd ^ "^^^^ peculiar appearance is presented by 
 MoleDe- *^ Star-Nosed Mole [Condylura cristatd) a 
 
 scribed' ^^^ common species found in all the north- 
 
 ern part of the United States and through- 
 out Canada, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It receives 
 its generic name " Condylura " or " Knotted Tail," from the fact 
 that when a specimen is dried the skin of the tail shrinks to 
 such an extent that the bones show through and all the joints 
 are seen through the skin, like a succession of knots. The 
 head and body are together about four and a half inches in 
 length, while the tail is two inches long, which is much longer 
 than that of any other Mole. The specially distinguishmg 
 feature of this animal, however, is the long snout and the 
 peculiar adornment of its tip, from which about twenty rose- 
 colored rays of fleshy cartilage radiate around the nostrils, like 
 the tentacles of the sea anemone or the petals of a daisy. The 
 Star-Nosed Mole has a coat of very soft olackish gray fur. Its 
 habits correspond with those of the other species of Moles. 
 
 The Tana Typ- One of the largest species of the 
 ical of the family is the Tana {Tupaia tana). 
 Family. It is distinguished from the others 
 
 not only by its size, but also by its long tail, and it is 
 clothed in a dark brown fur, the tint deepening into 
 black, with a surface tinge of red on the under por- 
 tion, and showing an admixture of gray on the head 
 and muzzle. In size the Tana comes nearest to our 
 Squirrel; the body is not quite eight inches long, 
 and the tail is of equal length. 
 
 The Tana is a nimble and lively creature, though 
 not quite so speedy as our Squirrel; it makes the 
 most of its long, curved nails and climbs nearly as 
 well as a Monkey. Its food consists of insects and 
 fruit. 
 
 ^be ^upaias. 
 
 THIRD FAMILY: Tupaiid^. 
 
 A third family is formed by the Tupaiidae. They 
 remind one of Squirrels, though the resemblance can 
 only be regarded as superficial. , The head tapers 
 
 ^^=wwaw«f>«iir«frrtw>,aj»».** 
 
 THE TANA* A lively species of the Insect-Eaters is the Tana of India, slender and having a \ong. bushy 
 
 tail, and a tapering muzzle. The picture appropriately represents the Tanas in the trees, for they live on fruit as 
 well as insects and seek for food in the trees as well as on the ground. ( Tupaia tana.') 
 
 into a muzzle, the blunt extremity of which is usu- 
 ally bare of fur. The body is elongated, the tail, 
 which is long in all species of this family and espe- 
 cially so in some varieties, is bushy, and coyered with 
 long hair which is divided by a distinct parting and 
 hangs equally on each side; the fur is dense and soft. 
 The eyes are large, the ears oblong and rounded, 
 the limbs five-toed, the feet have naked soles; the 
 toes have no connecting membrane and are armed 
 with short, scythe-shaped claws. The female has 
 four mammae on the abdomen. 
 
 The Tupaiidae inhabit parts of India and the In- 
 dian Archipelago. Their habits are truly diurnal 
 and they perform their robberies in the light of day. 
 Their fur and movements resemble those of Squir- 
 rels and the natives of the countries they inhabit 
 have but one name for the two kinds of animals. 
 
 FOURTH FAMILY: Macroscelidid^. 
 
 The Long-Legged Shrews are better known to us 
 than the Tupaias, though by no means adequately, 
 for they form one of the most remarkable families 
 of the order. While the Tupaias show an approxi- 
 mation in the structure of their tails to the Jerboas, 
 the Macroscelididae also resemble the latter, as they 
 have long, slender hind legs, nearly devoid of hair, like 
 those of the Jerboa. In addition to this character- 
 istic, which gives them 
 their Latin name, signify- 
 ing " Long-Legged," they 
 also have a nose longer 
 than that of any other spe- 
 cies of Insectivora, and 
 which is elongated into a 
 veritable proboscis. This 
 long snout shows a slight 
 vestige of hair only in the 
 middle, and a ra,ther thick 
 crest of fur at its base, its 
 extremity being quite des- 
 titute of hair. Other dis- 
 tinguishing features of the 
 head are the large eyes, 
 the prominent, protruding 
 ears, furnished with inner 
 lobes, and the long whisk- 
 ers. The rather short, thick 
 body is supported by legs, 
 showing a great difference 
 in length between the fore 
 and hind pairs. The two 
 fore legs are not short, but 
 the hind legs are of re- 
 markable length and formed much like those of- the 
 Jerboas. The fur is rich, very dense and soft. The 
 teeth are forty in number. 
 
 The Elephant The Elephant Shrew {Macroscelides 
 Shrew De- typicus) is ten inches long, about four 
 scribed. inches being taken by the tail and 
 not quite one inch by the proboscis. Its fur is of a 
 reddish-brown or mouse-gray tint on the back, sides 
 and head, and of a more or less clear white under the 
 body and on the paws. 
 
 The Elephant Shrew has the same habits as the 
 other Macroscelididae, of which hitherto about ten 
 species have been differentiated. All of these spe- 
 cies are at home in Africa, especially in the southern 
 and eastern parts, and they enliven the barren, sun- 
 burnt stretches of country. These animals delight 
 in rocky mountains, where they seek safety in deep, 
 
THE SPINY HEDGEHOGS— TANREC. 
 
 297 
 
 inaccessible holes under stones and in rocky crevices 
 and the burrows of other animals. They are very 
 timid and look upon the most trifling disturbance as 
 foreboding danger. They are true diurnal animals, 
 and might even be termed creatures of the sun which 
 feel most comfortable in the most torrid noonday 
 heat when they follow the chase with the greatest 
 ardor. Their food consists mainly of insects, which 
 they capture very dexterously, and pull out of crev- 
 ices and holes in the hillside. Nothing is so far 
 known about their mode of reproduction and no 
 observations seem to have been made with captive 
 specimens of the species. 
 
 makes its appearance only after sunset. It shows 
 itself only during the spring and summer of those 
 countries: that is, after the first rain and until the 
 commencement of the dry season. During the great- 
 est drought it retreats into the deepest chamber of its 
 burrow, hibernating from April to November in the 
 same way that the Common Hedgehog lies torpid in 
 winter. Its food consists principally of insects, but 
 also of worms, Snails, Lizards and various fruits. It 
 seems to have a special predilection for water. 
 
 In captivity the Tanrec eats raw meat, boiled rice 
 and bananas. It sleeps through the day and be- 
 comes very lively at night. 
 
 FIFTH FAMILY: Centetid^. 
 
 The members of the fifth family of the order 
 under consideration are the Centetidae, or Spiny 
 Hedgehogs, taking their appellation from an insect- 
 ivorous, Hedgehog-like in- 
 habitant of Madagascar. 
 They are of elongated build, 
 long-headed and distin- 
 guished by a fairly long 
 snout; the eyes are small, 
 the ears of moderate size, 
 the tail either altogether 
 lacking or long and desti- 
 tute of hair; the legs are 
 short and termmate in five- 
 toed feet, armed with strong 
 claws. They are clothed 
 partly with quills, partly 
 with stiff hair. 
 
 Principal The Tanrec 
 Traits of the (Centetes ec- 
 Tanrec. audatus) is 
 
 mainly remarkable because 
 of its pointed snout. The 
 entire body is clothed rather 
 thickly with spines, bristles 
 and hairs, which to a certain 
 extent merge into one an- 
 other or at least distinctly 
 serve to show that the 
 spines are nothing but mod- 
 ified hairs. True and some- 
 what flexible spines, about 
 half an inch long, are found 
 only on the back of the head 
 and on the nape and sides 
 of the neck. The tip of the 
 snout and the ears are en- 
 tirely bare, but the feet are 
 covered with short hair. 
 Quills and hair are of a light yellow color, ringed 
 with brownish black in the middle, this marking 
 being more pronounced on the back than on the 
 sides. The length of an adult animal is about ten 
 or eleven inches. 
 
 The Tanrec was originally indigenous only to 
 Madagascar, but has been naturalized also on the 
 islands of Mauritius, Mayotte and Reunion. It de- 
 lights in mountainous regions abounding in bushes, 
 ferns and moss, and there it excavates the burrows 
 and passages in the ground, which form its hiding 
 place. It is a shy, timid creature, which spends the 
 greater part of the day in the utmost retirement and 
 
 >i:"S&55^?*«^ 
 
 THE ELEPHANT SHBEW. — - The picture shows a very 
 odd looking animal, *ith its remarkably long hind-legs and its pro- 
 boscis-like muzzle, adorned with straggling whisker hairs. They 
 roam in the glare of the African sunlight and seek, in the holes and 
 crevices of stony hillsides, the insects which form their food. (A/a- 
 croscelides iyficus.) 
 
 ^be Sbrew0. 
 
 SIXTH FAMILY: Soricid^. 
 
 The Shrews among the Insectivora remind us of 
 the Weasels among the beasts of prey. Like them, 
 they are possessed of all faculties implied by a true 
 
 predatory life, inhabit the 
 most diverse regions, and 
 exhibit an amount of cour- 
 age, bloodthirstiness and 
 cruelty utterly at variance 
 with their small size. 
 
 General The Shrews 
 Account of the belong to 
 Shrews. the smallest 
 of mammals, like the Bats; 
 they are of well propor- 
 tioned build, their external 
 appearance recalling Rats 
 and Mice. The body is slen- 
 der, the muzzle elongated, 
 the teeth are complete in 
 number and exceedingly 
 sharp; usually there are two 
 or three cutting teeth, which 
 are sometimes indented, 
 from three to five premo- 
 lars and from three to four 
 true molars, furnished with 
 four or five sharp cusps in 
 every row. Canine teeth 
 proper are absent. There 
 are peculiar glands at the 
 base of the tail. The body 
 is clothed in soft, velvety 
 fur; lips, feet and tail are 
 grown with small, stiff hairs J 
 the whisker hairs on the 
 cheeks are long, the sides 
 of the feet are covered with 
 bristly hair, in sharp con- 
 trast with the naked soles. 
 Distribution and At present the Shrews are distrib- 
 Traits of uted over the Old World and North 
 Shrews. America; in Australia and South 
 America they do not occur. They frequent plains 
 as well as mountainous regions and even the Alps, 
 delighting in dense forests and bushes, meadows 
 and. pasture-grounds, gardens and houses. The ma- 
 jority give the preference to damp localities; some 
 are remarkable for their water-loving propensities. 
 Many lead a subterranean life, either scooping out 
 burrows and passages for themselves or profiting by 
 already existing retreats, after driving away the 
 rightful owners, in accomplishing which they resort 
 
598 
 
 THE INSECT-EATING ANIMALS. 
 
 to force, when milder means do not avail. Nearly all 
 seek darkness and shadows and shun drought, heat 
 and light, being so sensitive that sunlight frequently 
 kills them. Their movements are exceedingly rapid 
 and nimble, of whatever character they may be. 
 Shrews which only run, skim along the ground with 
 
 less against strong animals. From our point of 
 view we must consider most of them not only as 
 harmless, inoffensive animals, but acknowledge theni 
 to be highly useful creatures, which render us con- 
 siderable service by exterminating harmful insects. 
 For they seek their food almost exclusively in the 
 
 
 THE lAHBEC. This animal has its principal home in Madagascar, so famous as the home o£ strange forms of animal life. Its long, 
 
 tailless body and elongated snout are distinguishing features, while its coat which, besides hair, includes bristles like a Hog's and spines like a 
 Hedgehog's, is a noteworthy peculiarity. {Cenietes ecaudatus.) 
 
 the swiftness of an arrow, while the swimmers among 
 them are inferior to none of the other mammals. 
 
 Among the senses of the Shrews that of smell 
 seems to rank first and hearing comes next in effi- 
 ciency, while sight is more or less deficient. Their 
 intellectual capacity is of a low grade; still it can not 
 be denied that they possess a certain amount of rea- 
 
 animal world; insects and their larvae, worms, small 
 birds and mammals, occasionally also fishes and their 
 eggs. Shrimps, etc., constitute their prey. Their vo- 
 racity, is remarkable, and what they devour daily 
 is equal to their own entire weight. No one species 
 can bear hunger except for a short time; therefore 
 they do not hibernate, but prowl over the snow cov- 
 
 THE ALMIQUI. An insectivorous animal living on the Island of Cuba, principally in the high lands. It measures about nineteen 
 
 inches, including the naked tail, which is eight inches long. It has a remarkably long, cylindrical snout, feet well formed for running or digging, 
 and the body is clothed with long coarse hair. {Solenodon cubanus.) 
 
 soning power. They are of a highly predaceous and 
 sanguinary disposition and are really formidable 
 foes to smaller animals, although they usually avoid 
 larger ones. At the slightest noise most species of 
 Shrews will retire into their holes, and they have good 
 reasons for doing so, as they are almost defense- 
 
 ered ground when the weather is in the least propi- 
 tious, or seek their nourishment in protected places, 
 as for instance, in human dwellings. The voice of all 
 species consists of high pitched, chirping, squeaking 
 or piping sounds; terror is signified by plaintive tones, 
 and when in danger they all give forth a more or less 
 
THE SHREWS— SHREWS PROPER. 
 
 299 
 
 strong odor of musk, which, though it does not pro- 
 tect their life from enemies, renders their flesh 
 unpalatable to all but a few animals, for Dogs, Cats 
 and Weasels usually let killed Shrews lie without 
 eating them while most "birds, whose senses of smell 
 and taste are less developed, do not disdain to 
 devour them. 
 
 Most Shrews are prolific animals, for the number 
 of their young ranges between four and ten at a 
 birth. They are usually born with closed eyes and 
 
 THE COUMON SHREW. Tte most numerous family of the Insect-Eating animals, is that of the 
 
 Shrews, and the typical species of this family is the Common Shrew of Europe, which is no larger than a common 
 Mouse, but is a fierce, sanguinary and vdracious little creature. The characteristics of the animal are well shown 
 In the picture, and the little insect which is being pursued Is evidently doomed. {Sorex vulgaris.) 
 
 destitute of any hairy covering, but they grow apace, 
 and in a month they are able to ply their craft. 
 
 THE SHREWS PROPER. 
 
 In the first sub-order we include the Shrews 
 proper {Soricince). They constitute the center of 
 the family; their teeth' are from twenty-eight to 
 thirty-two in number, the skuU is long and narrow 
 and there are no webs between the toes. 
 
 Description of The Shrews in the narrowest sense 
 
 the Common {Sorex) are distinguished by having 
 Shrew. thirty-two teeth, tipped with dark 
 
 brown, feet and toes surrounded on all sides with 
 short, soft hair, and a tail clothed in fur of uniform 
 length. Their typical representative is the Common 
 Shrew {Sorex vulgaris). It is somewhat inferior in 
 size to the domestic Mouse; its length is four and 
 one-half inches, one and three-fourths inches of 
 which is taken by the tail. The coloring of the 
 fine, velvety fur ranges between a vivid reddish 
 brown and the most lustrous black; the sides always 
 exhibit a lighter tinge than the back, the lower parts 
 are grayish white with a surface tinge of brown; the 
 lips are whitish, the long whisker hairs black, the 
 paws brownish, the tail dark brown on its upper and 
 brownish yellow on its under surface. The various 
 tints have given rise to different classifications, some 
 authorities recognizing several species, others con- 
 sidering them only varieties. 
 
 Range of the The Common Shrew is found m 
 
 Common Germany, Sweden, England, France, 
 
 Shrew. Italy, Hungary and Galicia, and 
 
 probably also in the adjacent parts af Russia, on 
 
 heights as well as in low lands, on mountains and m 
 
 valleys, in fields and gardens, in the neighborhood 
 
 of villages or in the villages themselves, and usually 
 near water. In winter it seeks refuge in houses, 
 stables and barns. In Germany it is the commonest 
 species of the whole family. It likes best to live in 
 underground holes, and therefore is prone to take 
 up its abode in the burrows of Moles or in deserted 
 Mouse holes, if it does not find natural crevices in 
 rocks. In soft ground it scoops out runs for itself 
 with its muzzle and weak fore-paws: the runs always 
 being very near the surface. As with most other 
 
 species of the family, its 
 habits are wholly nocturnal, 
 and it is averse to leaving 
 its underground abode in 
 the daytime. It never does 
 sa in the midday sunshine, 
 and there is good reason to 
 believe that the rays of the 
 sun cause it serious dis- 
 comfort; at least it is sup- 
 posed that the many dead 
 Shrews which are found on 
 roads and in ditches in the 
 latter part of summer, have 
 been unable to find the en- 
 trance of their underground 
 retreats, being dazzled by 
 the glare of the sun, and 
 therefore have perished. 
 Habits and Move- The Shrew 
 ments of Com- is occupied 
 mon Shrews, incessantly 
 in snififing in all directions 
 seeking for food, accom- 
 panying its explorations 
 with rapid twitchings of its 
 mobile muzzle; and whatever it is able to despatch 
 is devoured, not sparing its own young or the 
 slain of its own species. Lenz says: "I have often 
 kept Shrews in boxes. One can hardly satisfy their 
 appetites with Flies, Mealworms, Earthworms and 
 such food. I had to give to each of them daily a 
 dead Mouse, Shrew or bird equal in size to itself. 
 Small as they were, they invariably ate the entire 
 animal, leaving nothing but the skin and bones. In 
 this way I sometimes succeeded in fattening them; 
 but if Shrews have to endure the slightest fast, they 
 die. I have also tried to keep them alive by feed- 
 ing them on bread, turnips, pears, hemp seed, poppy 
 
 BBOAD-NOSED SHBEW. The most common species of the 
 
 true Shrews which is found in the eastern portion of the United States, 
 and resembles the Common Shrew of Europe more than any other Amer- 
 ican species. {Sorex ^laiyrhinusi) 
 
 seed, rape seed, canary seed, etc.; but they preferred 
 starvation to this food. If I gave them rich cake, 
 they tried to eat it on account of the fat; if they 
 found a Shrew or Mouse caught in a trap, they 
 immediately set to work and devoured it. With 
 good care, a Shrew may be kept for months." 
 
 Welcker tied a string to the hind leg of a living 
 Shrew and let it creep into holes in a field infested 
 
300 
 
 THE INSECT-EATING ANIMALS. 
 
 with Mice. In a short time, from a hole entered by 
 the Shrew, a Field-Mouse came creeping in great 
 terror, with the Shrew on its back. The greedy 
 beast of prey had fastened its teeth to the neck of 
 its victim, and it speedily killed and ate it. The 
 movements of the Shrew are exceedingly rapid and 
 nimble. It whisks along the ground with great 
 speed, takes fairly long leaps, can climb inclined 
 trees, and swims tolerably well when compelled to 
 do so. Its voice consists of a soft chirping or whist- 
 
 MOLE SHSEW. — -One of the most common species of Insect-Eating 
 animals of the United States. Its short tail and its very small ears, hidden 
 in the fur, are characteristic features. {Blarina trevicauda.) 
 
 ling sound of high pitch, similar to that heard from 
 the other members of the family. The most acute 
 of its senses is undoubtedly that of smell. It often 
 happens that Shrews caught alive, when let loose, 
 run back into the trap, for the reason that the odor 
 of the Shrew clings to it. It does not seem as if 
 Shrews were guided by sight. Their hearing must 
 also be rather deficient; but their fine scent fur- 
 nishes almost complete compensation for the defi- 
 ciency of the other two senses. 
 The Character of There are few other animals that are 
 the Common possessed of so unsociable a dispo- 
 Shrew. sition, or act so atrociously toward 
 their own kind, as the Shrews; the Moles alone can 
 be considered as a match for them in iniquity. Not 
 even t|ie opposite sexes of the Shrews can live to- 
 gether in peace, except during the breeding season. 
 One Shrew will devour the other whenever oppor- 
 tunity offers. Frequently these animals become en- 
 gaged in combats so fierce that one can easily capture 
 them. In fighting they interlock in close embrace 
 and roll over the ground, their teeth fastened into 
 each other with a fury worthy of the most ferocious 
 Bulldog. It is fortunate that the Shrews are not so 
 large as Lions: they would depopulate the earth and 
 ultimately be reduced to starvation. Very rarely do 
 Shrews live together in real peace. Cartrey once 
 heard a continuous rustle and noise in some dry 
 leaves, and discovered a multitude of these little 
 creatures, which he estimated to number about one 
 hundred; they seemed to play among themselves, 
 running back and forth keeping up a constant chirp- 
 ing and squeaking, without any apparent reason: 
 perhaps it was nothing but a grand wedding. A 
 female Shrew builds for her little ones a nest of 
 moss, gra!ss, leaves and stems of plants, if possible 
 in a wall or under a hollow tree; she provides the 
 nest with several side entrances, lines it softly, and 
 between May and July from five to ten little Shrews 
 make their appearance, entirely devoid of hair, and 
 with theii eyes and ears closed. At first the mother 
 suckles them with great tenderness, but her solici- 
 tude soon flags, and the young ones set out to pro- 
 vide for themselves. After this, as has already been 
 stated, all fraternal considerations cease; for even 
 
 in youth, every Shrew understands food to mean all 
 flesh it can lay its claws on, even if it be the carcase 
 of its own brother or sister. 
 
 Enemies of the It is surprising that few animals eat 
 Common Shrews. Cats catch them, probably 
 Shrew. because they at first mistake them 
 for common Mice, but only kill them without eating 
 them. The Weasels also seem to disdain them; but 
 the Adder and several birds of prey, like the Stork, 
 devour them unceremoniously and with great gusto,. 
 Undoubtedly the aversion to these animals shown 
 by such mammals as are endowed with fine powers 
 of scent, is to be explained by the great disgust 
 which the odor given forth by the Shrews excites 
 in them. This powerful musk-like odor is produced 
 by two secretory glands, found on the sides of the 
 body, nearer to the fore legs than to the hind ones, 
 and it is imparted to all objects with which a Shrew 
 comes in contact. 
 
 It is possible that the superstitious abhorrence with 
 which Shrews are regarded in many parts of Europe 
 derives its origin in part from this odor. In some 
 cpuntries, as for instance England, the inoffensive 
 creature is held by many people in nearly as great 
 dread as a venomous Snake. Everybody is aware of 
 the fact that a Shrew with its fine, thin teeth cannot 
 do the slightest harm to a human being, but still the 
 direst consequences are ascribed to its bite. The 
 mere touch of a Shrew is considered as a certain 
 herald of evil, and animals and Men, who have been 
 
 DOMESTIC SHREW. The small animal known as the Do- 
 mestic or House Shrew derives its name from the fact that it is 
 fond of entering buildings in order to procure food, besides foraging 
 in fields and gardens. It has a wide range through Europe and Asia. 
 {Crocidura aranea.) 
 
 "Shrew-struck, 
 future, unless 
 remedy. 
 
 American Rela- 
 tives of the Com- 
 mon Shrew, 
 
 eastern portion of 
 
 " are expected to fall ill in the near 
 they have recourse to a particular 
 
 The Common Shrew has several American 
 relatives, the species which resembles it 
 most being the Broad-Nosed Shrew {SoreX 
 platyrhinus) which is found all over the 
 the United States. It has conspicuous ears- 
 

 ^ / ^-^"^ 
 
 
 THE WATER SHEEW. These animals, which make their burrows in river banks and lead an emphatically aquatic life, possess all the sang,uinary 
 
 proclivities of their kind, and besides insects they eat any fishes they are able to overcome, and their voracity incites them to attack quite large members of 
 the finny tribe, as is clearly shown by this picture, which was taken from life. The Water Shrew is distributed over nearly all of Europe and part of Asia and 
 IS found in abundance in all congenial places. {Crossofus fo4iens.) 
 
 (301) 
 
302 
 
 THE INSECT-EATING ANIMALS. 
 
 and a rather long tail, and its habits are very similar to those 
 of the common species of Europe and Asia. 
 
 The Marsh Shrew [Sorex J>alustris) takes the place of the 
 Water Shrew in the United States, from the Rocky Mountains 
 east to the Atlantic. Its toes have a fringe of stiff hairs; the 
 ears are moderately well developed; the thirty-two teeth are of 
 a brownish red tint; the tail is equal in length to the head and 
 body together. It is as aquatic in its habits as the Water Shrew 
 of Europe, and Professor Cope observed it swimming in a lake 
 in New Hampshire forty feet from the bank. Besides these 
 there are other species of Long-tailed Shrews, among which 
 Sorex bendiri is the largest known species of the Shrew fam- 
 ily, while another, Sorex personata, is nearly as small as the 
 Etruscan Shrew. 
 
 The Mole-Shrew ^^ eastern American species is the Mole- 
 £ "i Shrew (Blarina brevicaudd) which derives 
 
 Soecies '** Latin name from its extremely short tail. 
 
 " ' This animal has very small ears, which are 
 
 concealed in the fur. Dr. Merriam, who observed the Mole- 
 Shrew in the Adirondack region says: "The rigors of our 
 northern winters seem to have no effect in diminishing its 
 activity, for it scampers about on the snow during the severest 
 weather, and I have known it to be out when the thermometer 
 indicated a temperature of twenty degrees Fahrenheit. It 
 makes long journeys over the snow, burrowing down whenever 
 it comes to an elevation that denotes the presence of a log or 
 stump, and I am inclined to believe that at this season it must 
 feed largely upon the chrysalides and larvae of insects that are 
 always found in such places." Besides their insectivorous 
 food these animals are also said to eat beech nuts. 
 
 THE ETBUSCAN SHBEW. Except one species of Bat, this Shrew is the smallest of known mammals. 
 
 Hbw small it is may be seen from this picture, which shows the animal in its full natural size. Itis found princi- 
 pally in southern Europe, and has all the sanguinary instincts of its race, (Crocidura suaveolens.) 
 
 Characteristics The Field Shrews {Crocidura) have 
 of the Field from twenty-eight to thirty white 
 Shrews. teeth. In other respects they cor- 
 respond with the Common Shrew to a great extent. 
 
 The Domestic Shrew {Crocidura araiie a) is a small 
 creature whose total length is about four and one- 
 half inches. It is of brownish gray color above, 
 merging into a lighter tint beneath, without a sharp 
 line of demarcation; and the lips and feet are brown- 
 ish white. 
 
 From northeastern Africa the Domestic Shrew 
 spreads over southern, western and central Europe 
 as far as northern Russia; it is also found in central 
 Asia and northeastern Siberia, but seems to be 
 absent in England, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and 
 Holland. According to Blasius, it is to a certain 
 extent confined to fields and gardens, preferring 
 them to forests. On the outskirts of forests it is 
 occasionally encountered. None of its kin become 
 so easily accustomed to human beings, and none 
 enter buildings, especially stables and barns, so fre- 
 
 quently as this species. Outdoors in the morning 
 and evening hours it preys on small animals of all 
 kinds, ranging from the smaller mammals down to 
 worms; in the house it forages on animal matter, and 
 oily substances. Its habits are nearly identical with 
 those of the Common Shrew. 
 
 The Etruscan Another species, possessing thirty 
 Shrew, a Tiny teeth, the Etruscan Shrew [Croci- 
 Creature. dura suaveolens, Crocidura etrusca), 
 deserves mention for the fact that, with the exception 
 of one species of Bat, it is the smallest of all known 
 mammals. Its total length is two and one-half 
 inches, one inch of this being included in the tail. 
 The coloring of the velvety fur is a light brownish 
 or reddish gray tint, the tail is brownish above, 
 lighter beneath; the muzzle and paws are flesh-col- 
 ored, the feet show whitish hair; older individuals 
 look lighter and have a russet hue, while the younger 
 ones are darker and more of a grayish tint. The 
 relatively very large ear-conch is worth notice. 
 
 The Etruscan Shrew occurs in nearly all countries 
 surrounding the Mediterranean and Black Sea. It 
 has been found in northern Africa, southern France, 
 Italy and the Crimea. Its habits are similar to those 
 
 of its kind already men- 
 tioned. 
 
 The Water Of the other 
 Shrew and its Shrews we 
 Habits. will mention 
 ^S^ only one more species, the 
 Water Shrew {Crossopus 
 fodiens). It differs from its 
 relatives principally in hav- 
 ing the under surface of its 
 toes edged with stiff, stout 
 i and rather long hairs, tak- 
 ing the place of webs. 
 
 It seems that the Water 
 Shrew is distributed over 
 nearly all Europe and part 
 of Asia, and is found in 
 abundance in all congenial 
 places. To the north its 
 range is bounded by Eng- 
 land and the country sur- 
 rounding the Baltic Sea; 
 its southern boundaries are 
 Spain and Italy. It is found 
 at considerable altitudes, in 
 the Alps at about 6,000 feet 
 
 above §ea-level. It delights in the waters of moun- 
 tainous countries, especially those which remain un- 
 frozen in the most intensely cold weather, as' such 
 streams are indispensable for its unobstructed travel 
 in winter. Small rivers of mountainous, wooded 
 regions, having sandy or pebbly beds, fringed by 
 trees and bordered by gardens and meadows, seem 
 to be its favorite haunts. It finds equal pleasure, 
 however, in ponds the water of which is clear and 
 covered with duck-weed, and sometimes astonish- 
 ingly large numbers of the species congregate in 
 such situations. Frequently it is found in villages, 
 being attracted by the food to be obtained in prox- 
 imity to mills, granaries, etc. Its range is not en- 
 tirely confined to water, however, but it runs oyer 
 the meadows lying on the banks of streams, creeping 
 under hay-stacks, entering sheds and stables, and 
 even houses, and sometimes frequents fields situated 
 far away from the water. In porous soil near the 
 water it digs conduits for itself, but it prefers to 
 make use of the runs of Mice and Moles, which it 
 
THE SHREWS— DESMAN. 
 
 303 
 
 •finds near its haunts. The essentials of its dwelling 
 are that the main conduit shall have several exits, 
 ■one of which ends in the water, another being higher 
 than the surface of the water and still others termi- 
 nating inland. Such a burrow serves as a sleeping 
 place and asylum to afford the little creature secure 
 shelter from danger. 
 
 In this habitation the Water Shrew usually spends 
 all day in populous localities; but where it need fear 
 no persecution, it is much abroad in the daytime, 
 especially in spring during the breeding season. It 
 rarely swims along the shore, being fond of cross- 
 ing from one bank to the other. If it wishes to go 
 along the stream, it either runs under the bank or 
 on the bottom of the stream beneath the surface of 
 the water. It is an extremely lively, sagacious and 
 nimble creature, and its movements delight the 
 .observer in every respect. 
 
 Prey and Foes In proportion to its size, the Water 
 
 of the Water Shrew is a really formidable beast 
 Shrew. of prey. It not only eats insects of 
 .all kinds, especially those which live in the water, 
 worms, small Crustacea, Shrimps and similar crea- 
 tures, but also reptiles, fish, birds and small mam- 
 jnals. The Mouse which 
 encounters it underground 
 js lost;.^ the newly- fledged 
 Wagtail, which imprudent- 
 ly approaches too close to 
 the water, is pounced upon 
 . with the same avidity with 'v'^ 
 which a Lynx charges at a Nvj 
 Roe, and is killed in a few 
 moments; the Frog which 
 heedles'sly hops past a con- 
 duit, feels itself seized by 
 the hind legs and drawn 
 into the depths in spite of 
 its plaintive cries, and soon 
 has to succumb. Minnows 
 .are driven into small creeks 
 and there caught in a pe- 
 culiar manner; the Water 
 .Shrew roils the water and 
 watches the entrance of 
 the creek; and whenever 
 •one of the small fishes is 
 about to swim past it, the 
 Shrew pounces on and 
 usually catches it. Thus 
 it fulfills the proverb, and 
 
 "fishes, in troubled waters." But the Water Shrew 
 attacks not only small creatures, but also animals 
 the weight of which is over sixty times its own; and 
 it may be said that there is no beast of prey which 
 attacks such large quarry, proportionately, as does 
 the Water Shrew. 
 
 The foes of the Water Shrews are nearly the same 
 as those of the Common Shrew. During the day 
 they are usually comparatively safe; but when they 
 venture forth on the bank at night, they frequently 
 fall victims to Owls and Cats; the latter, however, 
 •only kill them and then discard the carcasses be- 
 cause of the musky odor which pervades them. 
 
 THE DESMANS. 
 
 The few species of the second sub-family, the 
 Beaver Shrews or Desmans {Myogalincs), seem to be 
 .intermediate forms between the Shrews and Moles. 
 Their bodies are stouter than those of the other 
 Shrews, the neck is exceedingly short, and as thick 
 
 as the body; the legs are short and the feet have 
 five toes, which are connected with one another by 
 long webs; the tail is -of oblong, roundish shape, 
 with its extremity compressed like the blade of an 
 oar, and is ringed and scaly and scantily covered 
 with hair. There are no external ears and the eyes 
 are very small. The most remarkable feature of the 
 animal is its nose, which more nearly resembles a 
 proboscis than that of the Elephant Shrew. It con- 
 sists of two long, thin, confluent, cartilaginous tubes, 
 which may be moved in any direction by two large 
 and- three small muscles on each side, and it may 
 subserve the most varied purposes, but more espe- 
 cially that of touching objects. At the base of the 
 tail there is a musk gland, the secretion of which 
 has an extremely powerful odor. 
 
 So far only one species of this sub-family is known, 
 but this species has two south European varieties. 
 One inhabits the Pyrenees and their spurs, the other 
 southern Russia. The first is the species called 
 Almizilero in Spain {Myogale pyrenaica) . It is ten 
 inches long, half of which is included in the tail. 
 
 The Desman or Wychochol {Myogale moschata) is, 
 at the first glance, distinguished by its size; for its 
 
 THE BESUAN. — rThis is an aquatic species of the Insect-Eating animals. It has an elongated snout, a 
 long tail and webbed feet and spends a great part of its time in the water. The group in the picture is shown 
 amid appropriate surroundings: one animal disporting itself in the water, and the others on the bank regaling 
 themselves with shell fish. {Myogale moschata.) 
 
 total length in some instances amounts to nearly 
 seventeen inches. 
 
 The Desman inhabits southeastern Europe, prin- 
 cipally the banks of the Volga and Don, but is also 
 found in Asia, in Buchara. Its habits confine it to 
 the neighborhood of water and if it undertakes short 
 journeys from one river to another, it does so most 
 unwillingly. Wherever it occurs, it is found in large 
 enough numbers to render it quite common. Its 
 life is a peculiar one, resembling that of the Otter. 
 It spends half of its time underground, half in the 
 water. It shows a predilection for stagnant or 
 slowly flowing waters with high banks, in which it 
 can easily dig conduits. Its food consists of worms, 
 Leeches, Water-Snails, Water-Snakes, Water-Moths 
 and the larvae of insects. 
 
 Pallas is the only naturalist who gives us infor- 
 mation about the Desman in the free state and in 
 captivity. It endures confinement but a very short 
 time, rarely surviving more than three days. It 
 
304 
 
 THE INSECT-EATING ANIMALS. 
 
 amusGS by reason of its active and lively disposition, 
 but a captive Desman becomes very disagreeable 
 because of its musky odor, which is so strong that 
 it not only pervades the atmosphere of a room, but 
 any animal eating of the Desman becomes sensibly 
 impregnated with the odor. 
 
 American There is an American animal which is a 
 
 Relatiue of the ?I?^^,/^'^^'°P^ °* *^ Desmans of the Old 
 
 Desmans World, or rather, which may be regarded as 
 
 an intermediate form between the Desmans 
 and the Moles, but also resembling the Shrews in having only 
 two incisors in the lower jaw. This is the Neurotrichus (Neu- 
 rotrichus gibbsii) only found in western North America, and 
 first discovered in Washington Territory. Its total length is 
 slightly more than four inches, of which one and one-half 
 inches belongs to the hairy tail. The nose is elongated into a 
 snout, with nostrils at the tip. The animal makes burrows in 
 the ground, lined with leaves or dry grass. 
 
 ^be CoIuQo, or IkaguatiQ. 
 
 SEVENTH FAMILY: Galeopithecid^. 
 
 a distinct family, Galeo- 
 a single species, Galeo- 
 
 The representatives of 
 pithecidje, containing but 
 pithecus, are neither 
 Half-Monkeys, Bats nor ^ 
 Insect-Eaters, but pos- 
 sess distinctive charac- 
 teristics of all three, and 
 have ever been to nat- 
 uralists subjects of great 
 perplexity. In accord- 
 ance with this uncer- 
 tainty prevailing among 
 naturalists, the best 
 known variety of this 
 species is termed Flying 
 Monkey, Flying Lemur, 
 Flying. Cat, Marvelous 
 Bat, etc. 
 
 The Galeopithecus is 
 a slender animal, of the 
 size of a Cat; its limbs 
 are of moderate length 
 and are united by wide, 
 thick skin, covered with 
 hair on both sides. The 
 toes are five in number 
 and have retractile, 
 claw-like nails, and no 
 opposable thumb. The 
 short tail is involved in 
 the membrane. The 
 head is relatively small, 
 the muzzle much elon- 
 gated, the eyes are mod- 
 erately large, the fur- 
 covered ears small. The 
 membrane is not adapt- 
 ed for flying, but is only 
 a parachute, intended to 
 favor longer leaps and slower descent, and does not 
 correspond to the wing membrane of Bats. It is a 
 continuation of the skin of the body; it begins on 
 each side at the neck, envelops the fore-legs to the 
 paws, extends laterally, in unvarying width, to the 
 hind-legs, which it also envelops to the paws and 
 then continues to an apex at the tip of the tail. In 
 this way the limbs and tail are, to a certain degree, 
 encased in a common membrane. 
 
 The Colugo, or Kaguang, called Cubin by the Ma- 
 lays {Galeopithecus volam), attains a total length of 
 
 TH£ COLUGO. This animal, also known as the Kaguang, has proven 
 
 a puzzle to zoologists. ltwas*formerly placed among the Bats, then with the 
 Half-Monkeys, and is now ranked as a species of the Insect-Eating animals. 
 Its notable feature is the membranous formation which it uses as a parachute 
 in jumping long distances from the tops of trees, {Galeopithecus volans.) 
 
 twenty-four inches, about four and one-half inches 
 of which go to the tail; the fur is close on the 
 back and scanty on the fore-arms, while the shoul- 
 der region and sides of the body are naked. Its. 
 upper surface is brownish red, the under one assum- 
 ing a duskier hue; in youth the upper parts are 
 brownish gray and the sides dark gray, but the limbs 
 and flying membrane are marked with light spots at 
 all periods of life. If we assume the different varie- 
 ties to form but one species, we may say that the 
 Kaguang is distributed over the Sunda Islands, the 
 Moluccas, the Philippine Islands, and the Malayan 
 Peninsula as far as Tenasserim. 
 
 Life of the In the daytime the Galeopithecus, 
 Colugo De- which leads a solitary life on the 
 scribed. mountainous forests of Java, sits so. 
 still amidst the branches of trees between forking 
 limbs that it is nearly impossible to detect it. Its- 
 sharp claws enable it to climb with agility and 
 immunity from falling, while its progress on the 
 ground is limited to a painful, lumbering crawl. 
 Plucking fruit, and searching for insects, it climbs- 
 upward until it has reached the top of a tree, and 
 
 then launches itself 
 obliquely downward to- 
 another tree-top, "re- 
 minding the observer of 
 a paper - kite," as Von 
 Rosenberg has it. When 
 engaged in walking or 
 climbing its flying rnem- 
 brane is lightly folded 
 against the body in such 
 a manner as not to hin- 
 der its movements. 
 When it wishes to make 
 use of the membrane, it 
 runs out to the extrem- 
 ity of a bough, leaps off 
 with a vigorous bound,, 
 spreading all its limbs- 
 in the air and then floats- 
 slowly and obliquely 
 down, traversing dis- 
 tances which are said 
 to frequently measure 
 horizontally as much as 
 one hundred and eighty 
 feet. It never ascends- 
 to a higher plane than 
 the one from which it 
 started ,on its flight, but 
 always sinks downward 
 at an angle of consider- 
 able inclination. During 
 the day it suspends itself 
 from trees, according to 
 Wallace, mainly pro- 
 tected from discovery 
 by its fur, which, with 
 its irregular whitish spots disseminated on a ground- 
 work of olive or brown, closely resembles the color 
 of the mottled bark. Its tail is prehensile and 
 it probably makes use of it in its search for food, 
 which consists principally of leaves. "It is said," 
 Wallace further observes, "that the Galeopithecus- 
 produces only a single young one at a birth, and my 
 observations confirm this statement; for once I shot 
 a female, which had a very small, tender, nakedp 
 wrinkled and blind creature clinging to her breast^ 
 reminding one of the young pouched animals." 
 
^be 1Ro6ent6 or (3nawinG Hnimale. 
 
 SEVENTH ORDER: Rodentia. 
 
 OH E order of the Rodents or 
 Gnawing Animals presents 
 a class of animals with 
 clearly defined limits. The 
 creatures belonging to it 
 are perhaps still more en- 
 titled to their name than 
 the beasts of prey 'are to 
 theirs. The distinctive 
 feature, common to all, is 
 found in the fact that two 
 incisors in each jaw are de- 
 veloped into large gnaw- 
 ing teeth, while the canine 
 teeth are lacking. Little can be said about the gen- 
 eral appearance of Rodents, as the order is rich in 
 families and species and comprises the most varied 
 forms. The following general characteristics may 
 be said to be found in them. The body, in the major- 
 ity of cases, is cylindrical and is supported by short 
 legs, usually of .unequal length, the hind-legs gen- 
 erally being somewhat the longer, and frequently 
 very much longer, than the fore-legs. The head is 
 set on a short, thick neck; the eyes are large and 
 usually very prominent, and the upper lip, which is 
 adorned with whiskers, is fleshy, very mobile and 
 cleft in front. The front feet, as a rule, have four 
 toes, the hind feet five, the toes being armed with 
 more or less strong claws and occasionally webbed. 
 The fur is nearly always of uniform length, except 
 that it sometimes shows tuft-like elongations at the 
 tips of the ears or becomes bushy at the tail. 
 
 Diatinctiue The gnawing teeth (incisors) are 
 Gnawing Teeth considerably larger than any of the 
 of Rodents. others, the upper ones being always 
 the lower ones. Both upper and 
 are curved, the cutting edge being 
 broad or chisel-shaped; the base is either three or 
 four sided, and they may be flat or arched, smooth 
 or furrowed, of white, yellowish or red color. The 
 external or front surface of these teeth is covered 
 with enamel, which has the hardness of steel, and 
 forms the sharp point or the broad, chisel-shaped 
 cutting edge. The rest of the tooth consists of the 
 usual tooth pulp. Being subjected to continuous 
 use, these principal teeth would become blunt ' and 
 worn out in a short time, if they were not possessed 
 of a great advantage over the teeth of all other 
 mammals: their growth is unlimited. The root of a 
 tooth lies in a socket, which pierces deeply into the 
 jaw, and at the open extremity, in a funnel-shaped 
 cavity, the tooth contains a permanent germ, which 
 constantly supplies the tooth with a new growth as 
 it wears off in front. The trenchant sharpness of 
 the edge is preserved by the reciprocal friction of 
 the upper and lower teeth and the grinding effected 
 by it; the jaws have no lateral motion, and the lower 
 jaw can work only vertically or with a slightly pro- 
 jectile or retractile motion' from front to rear. In 
 
 stronger than 
 lower incisors 
 
 this way these teeth meet all the requirements of the 
 enormous expenditure of material the gnawing proc- 
 ess entails. It is easy to demonstrate the constant 
 growth of the gnawing teeth by forcibly breaking 
 one of them in some Rodent, for instance a Rabbit. 
 Then the tooth opposite the broken one, as it is no 
 longer worn off by friction, grows rapidly until it 
 stands out of the mouth in a narrow arch, and curves 
 inward like a horn, thereby mutilating all the other 
 teeth and rendering the sustenance of the animal 
 extremely difficult. With many of the Rodents 
 cheek-pouches open on the inner side of the jaws; 
 they may extend to the shoulders and serve to store 
 away the food as it is gathered. A special muscle 
 pulls these pouches back when they are about to be 
 filled. 
 Rodents Spread The Rodents are distributed over all 
 allouerthe continents and are found in all cli- 
 Earth. mates of any latitude and altitude, 
 
 as far as there is any vegetation. "In the midst of 
 perennial ice and snow," says Blasius, "where a 
 warm ray of the sun shining but for a few weeks 
 calls forth a short-lived, scanty vegetation in places, 
 on the quiet, lonely, snowy heights of the Alps, in 
 the wide, desolate plains of the north, one still 
 finds Rodents, which do not yearn for a more beau- 
 tiful sun. The richer and more abundant the vege- 
 tation is, however, the more varied and manifold 
 grows the life of this order of animals, which scarcely 
 leaves a spot on earth uninhabited." 
 
 Life and These widely distributed animals ex- 
 Habits of the hibit a great diversity in their ways 
 Rodents. and habits' Not a few of them lead 
 an arboreal life, many live on the ground; some live 
 in the water, others in underground burrows which 
 they dig for themselves; some in bushes, some in 
 the open field. All are more or less' active creatures, 
 and according to the character of their different 
 habitations and modes of life are either excellent 
 runners or climbers, diggers or swimmers. Most of 
 them are inquisitive and lively, but still they do not 
 impress one as sagacious or specially intelligent. 
 The great mass of them form a dull-witted mob, 
 which while timid, are neither cautious nor cunning, 
 and are never distinguished by any prominent intel- 
 lectual capacity. Some live in couples, some in 
 colonies, and not a few congregate in large com- 
 munities; they are on good terms with other ani- 
 mals, but do not associate much with them. Very 
 few exhibit a wicked, malicious, fierce or impudent 
 disposition, unless excited thereto by some extrane- 
 ous cause. At the approach of danger they retreat 
 to their places of concealment with all possible 
 speed; but only a very few species are intelligent 
 enough to baffle pursuit by craft. All Rodents feed 
 mainly on vegetable substances: roots, barks, leaves, 
 buds, fruit of all kinds, plants, grass, farinaceous 
 tubers and even wood fibres are consumed by them; 
 the majority, however, eat animal food also, and are 
 
 (305) 
 
306 
 
 THE SQUIRRELS— SQUIRRELS PROPER. 
 
 truly omnivorous. A peculiarity of some, which are 
 too weak to undertake extended wanderings or resist 
 the cold of winter, is that they gather provisions and 
 store them in concealed chambers. The Rodents 
 are the architects among mammals; for some of 
 them construct really ingenious dwellings, which 
 have been admired by men since the earliest times. 
 Not a few Rodents become tprpid for the winter, 
 spending the season in a lethargic sleep during 
 which life is maintained by the absorption of the fat 
 abundantly accumulated in their bodies during sum- 
 mer, which is gradually consumed. All voluntary 
 activity pertaining to life is entirely suspended, and 
 even the involuntary functions are, in every respect, 
 at a low ebb during this period of torpor. 
 
 Much Harm In proportion to their small size, the 
 Caused by the importance of the Rodents is very 
 Rodents. considerable; for they are our most 
 harmful and dangerous enemies. Were it not for 
 the fact that they too have to contend with an 
 innumerable army of foes, and are subject to epi- 
 demics and diseases to a great degree, they would 
 reign over the earth and devastate it. The inces- 
 sant war which is being waged against them does 
 not always counterbalance their amazing fecundity. 
 The assertion seems surprising, but is nevertheless 
 true, that a pair of Rodents can have a progeny of 
 one thousand descendants within one year. It is 
 possible to feel really friendly to only very few 
 members of this numerous order, and of these few 
 still fewer are worthy of domestication. The skin 
 and flesh of the Rodents render them of greater 
 economic importance than any good qualities of 
 character they may possess. 
 
 ^be Squirrels. 
 
 FIRST FAMILY: Sciurid^. 
 
 In the first family we place the Squirrels, compris- 
 ing two sub-orders, the True Squirrels and the Mar- 
 mots. The body of the True Squirrel {Sciurince) is 
 elongated, the tail is also long with its fur evenly 
 parted lengthwise along the upper surface. The 
 eyes are large and prominent, the ears may be either 
 small or large, scantily covered with hair or fur- 
 nished with tufts. The fore-legs are perceptibly 
 shorter than the rear pair. The fore-paws have four 
 toes and one rudimentary thumb, the hind paws have 
 five toes. 
 
 Squirrels The Squirrels are found in all parts 
 are Almost of the globe, with the exception of 
 Universal. Australia; they extend tolerably far 
 north and are found in the hottest parts of the 
 south. They live in lowlands and on heights, sev- 
 eral species frequenting plains as well as mountains. 
 Natural woods or plantations of trees form their 
 favorite haunts and by far the majority of these ani- 
 mals lead a truly arboreal life, while some take up 
 their abode in subterranean burrows of their own 
 digging. 
 
 Movements AH Squirrels are lively, quick and 
 
 and Habits of nimble in their movements both in 
 Squirrels. the trees and on the ground. Only 
 the Flying Squirrels are not at ease upon the surface 
 of the earth, but, on the other hand, they are pos- 
 sessed of the faculty of making exceedingly long 
 leaps, which are, however, only taken in an obliquely 
 descending direction. The mode of locomotion of 
 the majority of the Squirrels is a series of jumps, 
 
 the animals stepping on the entire sole of the 
 foot. Nearly all of the species are excellent climb- 
 ers, and leap from one tree to another, covering 
 long distances. In sleeping they assume curled up 
 positions, preferably selecting comfortable resting 
 places; they therefore find retreat in subterranean 
 burrows or in hollows of trees, or in nests, which 
 they have partially reconstructed or entirely built 
 themselves. Those which live in cold countries 
 migrate at the approach of winter or hibernate unin- 
 terruptedly; they therefore gather large or small 
 supplies of provisions, to which they have recourse 
 in case of need. Their vocal expression consists of 
 a whistle and an indescribable growl and hiss. 
 
 The Young Most species seem to produce young 
 
 Squirrels and more than once a year. During the 
 Parents. breeding season a male frequently 
 lives for some time with the female and occasionally 
 helps -her to build the more or less complicated 
 dwelling, which is expected to harbor the offspring. 
 The number of the young of one litter ranges be- 
 tween two and seven. The little ones make their 
 appearance blind and nearly naked, and stand in 
 need of a warm bed and careful tending. Squirrels 
 taken olit of the nest young may be tamed without 
 especial difficulty, but in old age the intractable, 
 sulky temper, which seems peculiar to niany Ro- 
 dents, almost always shows itself, and they become 
 vicious and addicted to biting. 
 
 Though all Squirrels have a predilection for vege- 
 table food and at times live exclusively, on it, yet, 
 like many other Rodents, they do not disdain flesh, 
 but attack small mammals, zealously hunt for birds 
 and ruthlessly plunder their nests. Though the 
 skins of several species of Squirrels are used as fur, 
 and the flesh is frequently eaten, this slight useful- 
 ness cannot compensate for the destruction wrought 
 by these animals to our plants and among useful 
 birds. 
 
 THE SQUIRRELS PROPER. 
 
 By far the majority of the members of the sub- 
 order belong to the species of the Tree Squirrels 
 {Sciurus), absent only in Australia. All its varieties 
 correspond so closely in form, structure, habits and 
 character that it is entirely sufficient to describe the 
 Common Squirrel and its habits, in order to gain an 
 insight into the life of the whole tribe. 
 
 The Common The Common Squirrel {Sciurus vul- 
 Squirrel and its garis) is one of the few species of 
 Traits. Rodents with which Man has entered 
 
 into friendly relations. In spite of many disagree- 
 able qualities, it is a welcome visitor in our houses 
 and impresses even poets as a sympathetic creature. 
 The ancient Greeks were fully cognizant of its 
 attractive qualities, and to them we are indebted for 
 the name by which the Squirrel now goes in science. 
 That Greek name signifies: "he who is under the 
 shadow of his tail," and every one who knows the 
 meaning of the word Sciurus, must involuntarily 
 think of the lively little creaUu^^as it sits on the 
 loftiest branches of the trees'j^Bfcte^erman poet, 
 Ruckert, has sung about the cMJJjpiittle animal 
 in a way that naturalists can not hope to surpass. 
 Physical Features T^^e body of the Squirrel is about 
 of Common ten inches long, the tail'eight inches; 
 Squirrels. the height at the shoulders is four 
 inches and the weight of an adult animal is a little 
 over one-half a pound. The fur is subject to mani- 
 fold diversification, according to the season — whether 
 summer or winter — and the latitude and consequent 
 

 THE SKULL-CAPS OE LOFHIOMYS. One of the strangest Rodents ever captured was taken in 1865 to the Jardin d' Acclimation in Paris. The 
 
 long mane along the middle of the back and the tail was found to be erectile like a boar's, and the Greek name " Lophiomys," signifying " a mouse with boar's 
 bristles, " was given it, and a separate family (Lophiomyida) was created for it It is, however, closely allied to the Mouse family. The muzzle of the rather 
 small head is brown and adorned with long whisker hairs, and the general color of the animal is a dark gray, but there are white stripes on the sides and on the 
 forehead. The inner toe of each hind foot is opposable, like a human thumb, and the paw is thus converted into a prehensile hand, which the animal freely 
 uses in climbing. After the first specimen was taken to Paris no other was seen in Europe until 1893, when one was secured by the Museum at Stuttgart. 
 i.Lofhiomys im/iausii.) 
 
 '307) 
 
;308 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 variations of climate. In;summer the color of the 
 upper parts is brownish rfed, with an admixture of 
 .gray on the sides of the head; the under parts, be- 
 ginning with the chin, are white. In winter the 
 upper surface is brownish* red, mingled with grayish 
 white hair; the lower surface is white, or, in Siberia 
 and northern Europe, frequently whitish gray, while 
 the summer fur in those regions resembles that of 
 the German Squirrel. Black individuals are fre- 
 quently found in the German forests also; but they 
 by no means belong to a distinct species, for red 
 and black specimens are frequently found together 
 in one litter of young. On very rare occasions one 
 meets white or spotted Squirrels, or such as are pos- 
 sessed of a white or half white tail, and so on. The 
 tail is very bushy and the hair on it is arranged in 
 two lateral rows. The ear is adorned by a tuft of 
 long hair, the soles of the feet are bare. 
 
 Home and The Common Squirrel is widely dis- 
 
 Hauntsofthe tributed throughout all of Europe 
 
 Squirrel. and across ' the Caucasus and Ural 
 
 through southern Siberia to the Altai and eastern 
 
 Asia. But it is not equally common everywhere, or 
 
 
 COMMON SQUIRREL. This European animal is regarded as the typical species among the Tree 
 
 Squirrels, and its character and that of the common species of American Squirrels are very ^similar. The attitudes 
 of the animals in the picture are familiar to all who have watched the antics of Squirrels in their arboreal home^. 
 {Sciurus vuigaris.) 
 
 every year. Its favorite haunts are dry, sha!dy for- 
 . ests with high trees; and it is as much averse to 
 dampness as to sunshine. When friiit and nuts are 
 ripe it visits the gardens of villages, but only when 
 they are connected with the forest by small tracts 
 of trees or at least bushes. Where there are many 
 pine cones, it makes its permanent home, and builds 
 one or several habitations, usually in old Crows' 
 nests, which it improves quite ingeniously. If it 
 intends to make a shorter stay, it uses the forsaken 
 nests of Magpies, Crows, or of birds of prey, just 
 as it finds them, but the nests which it intends ro 
 serve as a permanent sleeping place, a shelter against 
 bad weather, or a nursery, are built new, though the 
 materials collected by birds are often utilized. It is 
 said that every Squirrel has at least four nests; but 
 nothing has been definitely proven on this score. 
 Hollows in trees, especially hollow trunks, are also 
 frequented by them and occasionally built in. The 
 open-air nests usually lie in a fork, close to the main 
 trunk of the tree; the bottom is built like one of the 
 
 larger birds' nests, while above there is a flat con- 
 ical roof, after the manner of Magpies' nests, close 
 enough to be impermeable to the rain. The main 
 entrance is placed sideways, usually facing east; 
 a slightly smaller loop-hole for escape is found 
 close to the trunk. Tender moss forms a soft lining 
 inside. The outer part consists of twigs of various 
 thicknesses, intertwined. The Squirrel especially 
 likes to use the firm bottom of a forsaken Crow's 
 nest, filled with earth and clay, as a base upon which 
 to construct a nest of its own. 
 
 The Lively This lively little creature is undoubt- 
 Waysofthe edly one of the principal ornaments 
 Squirrels. of a forest. In quiet, fine weather it 
 is incessantly active, keeping as much as possible to 
 the trees, which at all times afford it food and cover. 
 Occasionally it will deliberately descend a tree, run 
 to another tree and climb that; doing this often in 
 pure playfulness; for it need not touch the ground 
 at all, unless it wishes to do so. The Squirrel is the 
 Monkey of the woods of temperate climes, and is 
 possessed of many attributes which remind one of 
 those capricious inhabitants of the warmer zone. 
 
 There are probably few 
 mammals which are pos- 
 sessed of such constant 
 briskness and remain for 
 so short a time in the same 
 place as the Squirrel does 
 in tolerably fair weather. 
 It is ever going front tree 
 to tree, from top. to top, 
 from branch to branch; 
 and even on the ground it 
 is anything but clumsy or 
 out of place. It never 
 walks or trots, but always 
 proceeds in longer or 
 shorter bounds, and so 
 quickly that a Dog can 
 hardly overtake it, and a 
 human being has to give 
 up the pursuit after a short 
 time. It glides up even 
 the smoothest trees with 
 wonderful ease and speed. 
 The long, sharp claws on 
 the toes stand it in good 
 stead, for it hooks them 
 into the bark, all four 
 feet at once. Then it takes a running start for 
 another leap and darts further upward; but one 
 bound succeeds another with such rapidity that the 
 ascent proceeds uninterruptedly, and looks as if the 
 creature glided up the tree. Usually it ascends to 
 the top of the tree without pausing, not infrequently 
 reaching the highest point; then it goes out on some 
 one of the horizontal branches and generally jumps 
 to the tip of a branch of another tree, covering in 
 these jumps distances of four or five yards, always 
 in a downward direction. How necessary the bushy 
 tail is for leaping has been demonstrated by cruel 
 experiments, which consisted in cutting off the tail 
 of some captive Squirrel. It was then seen that the 
 mutilated creature could not leap half so far as one 
 having a tail. The Squirrel is an excellent swimmer 
 though it does not go into the water willingly. 
 
 Principal When a Squirrel believes itself to be 
 Foo&ofthe unobserved, it is on a constant look- 
 Squirrel. out for food on its roamings. Ac- 
 cording to the season it eats fruit or seeds, buds, 
 
THE SQUIRRELS-SQUIRRELS PROPER. 
 
 309 
 
 twigs, shells, berries, grain and mushrooms. The 
 seeds, buds and young shoots of fir and pine trees 
 probably form its principal food. It bites pine 
 cones off at the stem, comfortably sits down on its 
 haunches, lifts the cone to its mouth with its fore- 
 paws, and turning it constantly around, it bites off 
 one little scale after another with its exceedingly 
 sharp teeth, until the kernel is reached; this it takes 
 out with its tongue and puts into its mouth. It pre- 
 sents a very pretty sight when it has plenty of hazel 
 nuts, which are its favorite dainty. Bitter kernels, 
 like almonds, for instance, are poison to it; two bitter 
 almonds are sufficient to kill it. 
 
 As soon as the animal is provided with food in 
 abundance, it lays by stores for later and less plente- 
 ous times. In the crevices 
 ■ and holes of hollow trees and 
 their roots, in holes which it 
 has excavated under bushes 
 and stones, in one of its nests 
 and other similar places it 
 establishes its store rooms, 
 and carries the respective 
 nuts, grains and kernels to 
 them sometimes from a great 
 distance. In the forests of 
 southeastern Siberia, the 
 Squirrels also store away 
 mushrooms, and that in a 
 highly peculiar manner. 
 "They are so unselfish," says 
 Radde, "that they do not 
 think of hiding their supply 
 of mushrooms, but pin them 
 on the pine needles or in 
 larch woods on the small 
 twigs. There they leave the 
 mushrooms to dry, and in 
 times of scarcity of food 
 these stores aire of good ser- 
 vice to some roaming indi- 
 vidual of their kind." By 
 thus guarding against winter 
 the Squirrels show how ex- 
 ceedingly sensitive they are 
 to all influences of 
 temperature. If the 
 sun shines a little 
 warmer than usual, 
 they sleep in their 
 nest during the heat 
 of the day and roam 
 about in the forest 
 only early in the 
 mornings and even- 
 ings; but they hold 
 rain showers, violent 
 wind storms, thun- 
 der storms and especially snow storms in still greater 
 dread. Their presentiment of temperature to come 
 cannot be denied. As early as half a day before a 
 storni they signify their restlessness by an incessant 
 hopping about on the trees and by quite peculiar 
 whistling and clacking noises, which one usually 
 hears from them only when they are greatly excited. 
 As soon as the first presentiments of the storm are 
 felt, they retreat into their nests, a single nest some- 
 times harboring several Squirrels, and the exit on 
 the side of the wind being carefully stuffed, they 
 comfortably curl up and wait till the tempest has 
 spent itself. A severe autumn is usually very de- 
 
 GBAY SQITIBBELS. This is a group of familiar American animals, which in 
 
 several varieties are found in aU parts of the United States, and are among the handsomest 
 and liveliest of the family. {Sciurus carolinensis or migratorius.) 
 
 structive to them, as' they consume their winter 
 stores, and if it is followed by a winter that is in any 
 way severe, a multitude of the animals perish. 
 
 The Squirrel's With the advent of night the Squir- 
 ing// Oeye/operf rel, which steadily lives in the same 
 Senses. locality, retires into its nest and 
 sleeps there as long as the darkness lasts, but it is 
 by no means helpless, for a suspicious sound wakes 
 it instantly. A frightened Squirrel utters a loud 
 " duck, duck"; a sense of comfort or slight anger is 
 testified by a strange murmuring sound which can 
 not very well be rendered by syllables. Special 
 joy or excitement are expressed by a whistle. All 
 senses, and in particular sight, hearing and smell 
 are acute in the Squirrels, and feeling must also be 
 much developed, as their presentiments 
 of changes in the temperature admit of 
 no other explanation; and from observa- 
 tions of captive Squirrels we may con- 
 clude that their sense of taste is also de- 
 cidedly keen. Good mental qualifications 
 may be inferred from the retentive mem- 
 ory the animal possesses and from the 
 slyness and cunning with which it escapes 
 its enemies. Like a flash of lightning it 
 darts to the highest among the surround- 
 ing trees, goes up the trunk to the first 
 fork nearly always on the opposite side 
 from its enemy, the most of its body that 
 it shows being the little head, as it con- 
 ceals itself as much as possible and 
 tries to make good its escape as nearly 
 uhperceived as it can. 
 Four weeks after the breeding 
 season the female gives birth to 
 from three to seven 
 young, in the softest, 
 best located nest; 
 the little ones re- 
 main blind for nine 
 days and are ten- 
 derly nurtured by 
 their mother. After 
 they have been 
 weaned, the mother,, 
 and perhaps also the 
 father, brings them 
 food for several 
 days; then the par- 
 ents leave the young 
 family to their fate. 
 The young ones re- 
 main together for a 
 while, play with 
 each other and soon 
 acquire the habits of 
 their parents. By 
 June the female has 
 another family, and when they also are so far grown 
 up that they can roam around with her, she fre- 
 quently joins her first litter, and one may see the 
 entire band, sometimes consisting of from twelve to 
 sixteen members, gamboling about in the same part 
 of a wood; and it would be difficult to find a more 
 lively, playful group. 
 
 The cleanliness of the Squirrel is remarkable: for 
 it licks and dresses its fur unceasingly. For this 
 reason it is specially adapted to be kept in a room. 
 Half-grown young Squirrels are taken out of the 
 nest for this purpose, and kept on milk and bread, 
 until one can give them grain. 
 
310 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 In youth all Squirrels are lively, playful and very 
 inoffensive creatures, and delight in being petted. 
 They know and love their keeper and show a certain 
 amount of docility in that they respond to their 
 name. Unfortunately nearly all, even the tamest, 
 become deceitful, or at least addicted to biting, in 
 advanced age. 
 
 The Squirrel's The Marten is the most formidable 
 Foes are foe of the Squirrel. The Fox seldom 
 Many. succeeds in capturing a Squirrel, and 
 
 Kestrels, Hawks and large Owls it escapes by climb- 
 ing rapidly around a tree in a spiral course, when 
 the birds are after it. As the birds have to describe 
 much greater curves in their flight than the Squirrel 
 does in its climbing, it finally succeeds in reaching 
 a hole or dense foliage on the tree-top, where it 
 is safe from further molestation. It is a different 
 matter to escape the Marten. This bloodthirsty 
 beast climbs as well as its victim and pursues it step 
 by step, in the tree-tops as well as on the ground. 
 Young Squirrels are exposed to many more dangers 
 than old ones; and quite young animals can even be 
 overtaken by a human being who is a good climber. 
 When we were boys we pursued such young Squir- 
 rels, climbed after them, 
 and the indifference with 
 which they regarded our 
 approach frequently led to 
 their capture. As soon 
 as we could reach the 
 branch on which the 
 young animal sat, it was 
 doomed. We would shake 
 the branch violently up 
 and down, and the thor- 
 oughly frightened Squirrel 
 generally thought only of 
 holding fast, lest it should 
 fall. We would then go 
 farther and farther out, 
 still shaking the branch, 
 until we could seize the 
 little animal with a quick 
 grasp. 
 
 The Fur of On the banks of the Lena the peas- 
 
 the Common ants are entirely engrossed by the 
 Squirrel. Squirrel-chase from the beginning of 
 March to the middle of April, and some put out as 
 many as a thousand traps. The Tungus shoot it 
 with blunt arrows, lest they should spoil the fur, or 
 else they use guns of a small calibre, with bullets 
 the size of a pea, and kill it by shooting it in the 
 head. According to Radde's verbal accounts Squir- 
 rel hunting in southeastern Siberia is both entertain- 
 ing and exciting. The great quantity of the game 
 is a source of satisfaction and revenue to the hunter, 
 for the pelts are much esteemed as fur and a great 
 number of people are engaged in the trade in them. 
 The finest skins come from Siberia, and the farther 
 east they are procured the darker and more valuable 
 they are; west of the Ural they are lighter. The 
 back and under-part of the furs are used separately. 
 Russia and Siberia annually furnish from six to 
 seven million skins, valued at a little short of a mil- 
 lion dollars; only two or three million skins are 
 shipped to western Europe; the rest are manufact- 
 ured in Russia or exported to China. Besides the 
 skins, the tails are employed as boas, and the hair 
 of the tail makes good painters' brushes. The flesh 
 is white, tender and savory, and is much esteemed 
 by epicures. 
 
 CHICKAEEE OR BED SQTJIEBEL. A species of Squirrel found 
 
 in British America and also through the northern portion of the United 
 States. It is especially noteworthy as resembling, more than any other 
 American species, the Common Squirrel of Europe. {Sciurus hudsonii.) 
 
 The Chicha- Very nearly allied to the Common Squirrel 
 rPP nr Red of Europe is the Red Squirrel, or Chickaree, 
 p (Sciurus hudsonius) a small but quite nu- 
 
 Squirrel. merous and very handsome American spe- 
 
 cies, found throughout British North America as far as the for- 
 ests'extend, and also in the most northern states in this country; 
 and a local variety of this Squirrel is found as far south as Col- 
 orado. The reddish hue of the back may be dark or light, the 
 animal showing great variety in this respect. The under parts 
 are almost always white, but there is a black streak along the 
 flank and the russet tail is fringed with black. The chirping 
 noise made by this animal as it busies itself in the woods gives 
 rise to its name of " Chickaree," which resembles the sound it 
 makes. The length of this animal is about eieht inches, exclu- 
 sive of the tail, which is a little less than that. Its habits are 
 the same as those of the Common Squirrel; in fact, the habits 
 of all species of the true Squirrels are so very similar that what 
 has been said of the Common Squirrel may apply to them all. 
 „ . , The best known of American Squirrels is 
 Gray Squirrels ^^^ q^^^ Squirrel, a name given to several 
 of Several varieties or species which have been differ- 
 Kinas. entiated by naturalists. The Gray Squirrel 
 
 (Sciurus carolinensis) is larger than the Chickaree, being about 
 ten inches long, with a tail that is longer than the body. Those 
 of the north are larger than their relatives in the south. The 
 back and flanks of this Squirrel are reddish gray, the under 
 portion being white. It is found in all of the Atlantic states, 
 north and south. In the southwest its place is taken by 
 another Gray Squirrel (Sciurus arizonensis) found in New and 
 Old Mexico and Arizona principally, which is a large variety 
 
 and has a specially prominent 
 tail, very bushy and longer than 
 its body. This Squirrel is some- 
 times found at considerable alti- 
 tudes, especially among the 
 mountain forests of pine, pinon 
 and cedar trees in the northern 
 part of Arizona. A little farther 
 north in the Rocky Mountains 
 is found a very beautiful chest- 
 nut-backed Gray Squirrer(5««- 
 rus aberti) which is of a pure 
 gray on the upper surface, white 
 below, has a chestnut band on 
 the back and a black stripe on 
 the flanks, and which has.tufted 
 ears like those of the Common 
 and Red Squirrels. Another 
 and very handsome form is that 
 of the California Gray Squirrel 
 (Sciurus fpssor)a. large variety, 
 which is dark gray above and 
 white below and which has a 
 long and bushy tail. 
 ■ Traits of the There are several varieties of Squirrels in 
 American Fox ^^^ United States known as Fox Squirrels. 
 o • o/b the distinguishing characteristics of these 
 
 squirrels. species are that the under portion, which is 
 white in all the species of Squirrels heretofore described, is, 
 in the Fox Squirrels, always dark, and ranges from a russet 
 red through intermediate hues to jet black in different varie- 
 ties. These Fox Squirrels, have a length of about twelve 
 inches exclusive of the tail, which is of about the same length. 
 The largest variety of this species is the Black Squirrel (Sciu- 
 rus niger) which inhabits the south Atlantic and Gulf states. It 
 is about thirteen inches long, has a white nose and white ears, 
 These last distinguishing features are not found in the com- 
 mon Fox Squirrel (Sciurus cinereus) which ranges from a light 
 reddish gray to black in color, although when black it has not 
 the white nose and ears of its southern relative. This variety 
 is found through the New England and Middle states, and 
 south to Virginia. The Western Fox Squirrel (Sciurus ludovi- 
 cianus) is always of a reddish hue, including the feet and ears, 
 and its bones are red, but its skin is never jet black. This 
 animal inhabits the entire Mississippi Valley region. 
 
 Pechuel-Loesche's The forests of America, Africa and 
 Little African India are populated by Squirrels, 
 Squirrel. some of which are beautifully col- 
 ored, and among these are species which by their 
 lively actions sometimes attract observation as much 
 as do the Monkeys. Some of them are easily do- 
 mesticated besides, and amuse their keeper as much 
 as they surprise him by all kinds of peculiar traits, 
 which cannot be observed in those which roam in 
 
THE SQUIRRELS-FLYING. 
 
 311 
 
 freedom in the wilderness. A relatively diminutive 
 African Squirrel, the markings of which differed 
 materially from Sciurus minutus, was for a time in 
 the possession and under the observation of Pechuel- 
 Loesche in Loango. He writes about it: "A charm- 
 ing living Squirrel, with a fur of a rusty red color, 
 adorned by two double black and white side bands, 
 was once presented to me. The natives called it 
 Mkaka. It seemed completely grown, though it 
 was only of the size of a large Mouse, so that one 
 could conceal it in one's hand. In a few days it 
 was so tame that we could give it the freedom 
 of the house. With a constant, cheerful 'tak tak,' 
 
 while the lower one shows but a scanty covering. 
 A bony spur at the first joint of the fore-legs gives 
 especial strength to the membrane. The tail serves 
 as an effective rudder and is always vigorous, though 
 it is not of the same conformation in the different 
 species, one group having it simply bushy, while the 
 other has the hair on it arranged in two lateral rows. 
 There are also slight differences in the structure of 
 the teeth. 
 
 The Taguan or The Taguan i^Pteromys petauristd) is 
 
 East Indian Fly- the largest member of the whole 
 
 ing Squirrel. family, nearly equaling a Cat in size. 
 
 The flying membrane begins on the fore-legs, ex- 
 
 THE lAGUAIT. Of the sub-family known as the Flying Squirrels the largest member is the Taguan, and it is one of the most attractive 
 
 denizens of the forests and jungles of Hindostan. The very long tail serves as an effective rudder when the animal spreads its membrane to take 
 its long and swift leaps from the tree-tops. These animals, with the membrane spread and folded, are admirably depicted in the illustration. 
 (Pteromys fetaurista.) 
 
 accompanied by a movement of the wide, bushy tail, 
 it frolicked about at all hours, but was much more 
 active at night than in the daytime." 
 
 THE FLYING SQUIRRELS. 
 
 The diurnal Tree Squirrels are followed by the 
 nocturnal Flying Squirrels {Pteromys). They differ 
 from the foregoing mainly in having their fore and 
 hind legs connected by a wide flying membrane. 
 This membrane acts as a parachute, and enables the 
 Squirrels to execute considerable leaps with ease, in 
 an inclined plane from above downward; it consists 
 of a stout skin, extending along both sides of the 
 body, thickly grown with hair on the upper side. 
 
 tends down the flanks, and is attached to the hind- 
 legs, whence it is prolonged to the tail by a small 
 fold of skin. In a state of repose the membrane is 
 folded against the body. On the top of the head, 
 the back and the base of the tail, the color of the 
 fur is a mixture of gray and black. On the whole 
 under surface the fur has a dingy whitish gray tint. 
 The membrane is of a brownish black or maroon 
 color above, edged with light ashy gray and yellow- 
 ish gray below. The tail is black. 
 
 The Taguan is a native of all parts of East India 
 and Ceylon, where there are extensive forests. It 
 lives either singly or in couples, in the densest parts 
 of the woods and preferably on the highest trees. 
 
312 
 
 777^ RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 In the daytime it sleeps in hollow trees; by night 
 it sallies forth and climbs and jumps about in the 
 tree-tops with exceeding rapidity, agility and pre- 
 cision, executing very long leaps, but always in the 
 obliquely descending line heretofore described. In 
 doing so it stretches its feet horizontally and 
 spreads the membrane. The tail is used as a rud- 
 der, and is said to enable the animal to change its 
 course suddenly in the midst of a leap. Sanderson, 
 however, contradicts this statement, saying that 
 when once the animal is launched it cannot deviate 
 from its course, and the natives profit by this inabil- 
 ity, as they await the animal at the end of its flight 
 and kill it with sticks. The speed of its bounds and 
 movements generally is said to be so great that the 
 eye can scarcely follow them. 
 
 The Liatuga, a The north harbors Flying Squirrels 
 
 Russian Flying with long, bushy tails on which the 
 Squirrel. hair is arranged in two lateral rows. 
 One of them, the Russian Liatuga {Pteromys volans) 
 inhabits the northern part of. eastern Europe and 
 nearly all Siberia. The .animal is considerably 
 smaller than the Common Squirrel, its body meas- 
 uring only six and one-half inches and its tail four 
 inches. The dense fur is of silky softness and of 
 a dull brown color in summer in its upper part, the 
 flying membrane and the outer face of the limbs 
 being darker grayish white and the under surface 
 white. In winter the fur becomes longer, denser 
 and lighter in color and the upper part and the tail 
 have a silvery gray appearance. 
 
 The Liatuga inhabits birch woods or forests in 
 which pines, firs and birches commingle. The birch 
 tree seems to be a necessity with this animal, and 
 the coloring of its fur also seems to indicate this, as 
 it generally resembles birch bark as much as the fur 
 of the Common Squirrel corresponds to the trunks 
 of firs and pines. These Squirrels are decreasing in 
 numbers, and they have been nearly exterminated in 
 some localities where they were formerly plentiful, 
 although it may be that they occur oftener than is 
 commonly believed. The food of the Liatuga con- 
 sists of nuts and seeds of various trees, principally 
 birch seeds, berries, buds and shoots. With the 
 advent of the cold weather it becomes dull and 
 inactive, sleeping on cold days and running about, 
 for several hours at least, on mild ones. ■ 
 
 The Asaapan The Assapan, the Flying Squirrel of 
 or American Fly- North America {Pteromys or Sciurus 
 ing Squirrel, volucella), is nearly the smallest va- 
 riety of the whole species. It is only ten inches long, 
 inclusive of the tail which measures four inches. Its 
 fur is exceedingly soft and delicate, of a yellowish 
 or brownish gray color on the upper portion, lighter 
 on the sides of the neck, silvery white on the paws 
 and yellowish white on the whole of the under sur- 
 face. The tail is ashy gray with a surface tinge of 
 brown, the flying membrane is edged with black and 
 white, and the eyes are brownish black. The little 
 animal lives gregariously in the forests of the tem- 
 perate and warm districts of North America, its 
 habits being similar to those of the Liatuga. It is 
 frequently caught and shipped to foreign lands and 
 bears captivity for years without obvious injury, if 
 adequate care is bestowed on it, and it breeds freely 
 in the cage. 
 
 By day, when in captivity, the Assapans lie curled 
 up in their cage, as much hidden from view as possi- 
 ble. Overcome with sleep, they suffer the observer 
 to gently handle them in any way. There is no 
 exhibition of the senseless fury of a disturbed Dor- 
 
 mouse; one may take them up, turn them over and 
 around and examine them without their making use 
 of their sharp teeth. The most they do is to 
 attempt to escape, and their silky little fur is so 
 sleek and flexible that they slip out of one's hand 
 like quicksilver. 
 
 Liuely Move- Some time after sunset, rarely before 
 mentsofthe nine o'clock at night, they bestir 
 Assapan. themselves. On the upper edge of 
 the sleeping box,, which one must give them as a 
 substitute for their nest, a round little head becomes 
 visible; the body follows and soon one of the little 
 creatures sits on the narrow edge of the box in a 
 graceful Squirrel-like attitude, the flying membrane 
 half folded against its body, half hanging down in 
 a soft curve. The small, expanded ears move back 
 and forth as does the bewhiskered muzzle, and the 
 large, dark eyes inquisitively scan the cage and sur- 
 roundings. If nothing suspicious is visible, the 
 Assapan glides down like a shadow, no matter 
 whether the plane is inclined or vertical, always 
 head first, without any noise, without a perceptible 
 movement of the limbs, the greater part of which is 
 covered with the membrane. It proceeds on the 
 woven ceiling of, the cage, back downward, as if it 
 walked on level ground in a usual gait; it "rope 
 dances" over thin twigs with unsurpassed precision 
 and agility at a uniform speed; over the ground it 
 trips quicker than a Mouse; spreading its membrane 
 to the full, it darts through the whole space of the 
 cage like an arrow, and the next instant it seems 
 glued to a perch as if it were an excrescence belong- 
 ing to the branch, without having made an effort to 
 regain its balance. During all this moving about it 
 picks up a crumb, a nut, a grain of wheat or a morsel 
 pf meat from its dish; drinks, sipping more than it 
 laps, washes its head with saliva, combs its hair with 
 the nails of its fore-feet, smooths it with the soles 
 of its small paws, turning, stretching, stooping all 
 the while, as if its skin was a bag in which its body 
 sat quite loosely. In the meantime its companions 
 also have left the sleeping box and crouch, sit, cling 
 to, hang from, run and climb in all imaginable posi- 
 tions of a Rodent on the perches, walls, nooks and 
 corners of the cage. 
 
 After hunger and thirst are somewhat appeased, 
 and all parts of the fur have been satisfactorily 
 dressed, the desire for freer and more playful move- 
 ment exhibits itself. For a short time the Assapan 
 sits in one place, as if lost in thought. Then it 
 rouses itself for a leap with its flying membrane 
 spread, traversing the whole length of the cage. It 
 only remains for an instant on the spot on which it 
 alights; for immediately after reaching it, the Squir- 
 rel throws itself backward, making use of any con- 
 venient object as a fulcrum; then returning to its 
 starting point, it hurries in some other direction. 
 Up and down, head upward or inverted, hither and 
 thither, along the ceiling or the floor, up one wall, 
 down another, through the sleeping box, past the 
 dishes for food and water, from one corner into the 
 other, running, jumping, gliding, soaring, hanging, sit- 
 ting, the incomparably quick little creature changes 
 every instant, rushing ahead as if it could move a 
 thousand joints at once, and as if there were no such 
 thing as gravity to be overcome. A very keen obser- 
 vation, prolonged for some time, is necessary to fol- 
 low an Assapan at all, to distinguish and understand 
 the purport of its different movements, and if there is 
 a whole band of these creatures (which far surpass 
 all other climbers) running, jumping and soaring 
 
THE SQUIRRELS— GROUND. 
 
 313- 
 
 together, it is entirely impossible to fathom the 
 intention of its evolutions. The suddenness of the 
 changes from one movement to another is what sur- 
 prises one most The Assapan can suddenly end 
 the wildest chase at any time it sees fit to do so, and 
 therefore the eye of the observer, in trying to follow 
 
 ASSAPANS, OR AMERICAN PLYING SQUIRRELS. One of the daintiest little animals found in the 
 
 United States is the Assapan, or Flying Squirrel, so called because it has a membrane which it can spread to aid 
 it in taking long leaps from a tree-top through the air. It is one of the smallest of -the Squirrel family but one of 
 the prettiest. A typical group of these animals is shown in the picture. It is found all over the United States and 
 Central America. {Pteromys volucella.) 
 
 it, still roams about, while the creature sits on some 
 twig, of a pencil's thickness, as quiet as if it had 
 never moved. 
 Aasapansare The Assapans are very peaceful 
 Pugnadious and among their own kind, and appar- 
 Pluchy. ently inoffensive and good-natured, 
 
 but they never hesitate to 
 attack any small animal of 
 another species, especially 
 small birds, and kill them 
 without mercy, Face to 
 face with a victim, they 
 appear as bloodthirsty as 
 beasts of prey, and their 
 indescribable agility and 
 ferocious disposition prob- 
 ably render them quite for- 
 midable foes to small ani- 
 mals. They show no. fear, 
 of mammals in size equal- 
 ing themselves: other Ro- 
 dents, for instance. An in- 
 truder in their domain is 
 first subjected to an exami- 
 nation by use of their pow- 
 ers of scent; if it be found cj^j?'', 
 objectionable it is at- 
 tacked, and is scratched, 
 bitten and otherwise an- 
 noyed, and if it is not very 
 plucky it is sure to be 
 driven away. So we can 
 not deny that the Assapans 
 
 are decidedly courageous, besides being bloodthirsty. 
 The little animals are so prepossessing in other re- 
 spects, however, that one forgets their bad qualities 
 in thinking of the good ones and accordingly de- 
 clares them to be the most attractive of all Rodents. 
 
 THE GROUND SQUIRRELS. 
 
 A genus of this family which is worthy of men- 
 tion is that of the Ground Squirrels ( Tamias). Their 
 possession of cheek-pouches reaching to the back 
 of the head, and their more or less subterraneous, 
 habits, characterize them as intermediate links be- 
 tween the true Squirrels, 
 and the Spermophiles, al- 
 though they agree with the 
 former more than with the 
 latter. The tail of the 
 Ground Squirrels is scant- 
 ily grown with hair and' 
 slightly shorter than the 
 body; the fur is short and. 
 not very soft and is usually 
 diversified with a few 
 sharply defined longitudi- 
 nal stripes on the back.. 
 There are few varieties,, 
 and they inhabit eastern. 
 Europe, Siberia and North. 
 America. 
 
 The Burunduk or Striped. 
 Siberian Ground Squirrel. 
 (Tamias striatus), is consid- 
 erably smaller than the 
 Common Squirrel, but of 
 much clumsier build. The 
 coloring of the short, rough 
 close fur is yellowish,, 
 mixed with long, white- 
 tipped hairs on the head,, 
 neck and flanks; five black stripes run along the 
 back at unequal intervals, the middle band marking- 
 the spine; the next two run from the shoulders to 
 the hind legs, and have a band of pale yellow 
 between them. The whole of the under surface is, 
 grayish white. 
 
 THE CHIPMUNK. A familiar, lively American animal, which, in some one of its several local varieties, 
 
 is found all over the United States and the greater part of Canada. Seeds, nuts and grain are its food, and it 
 inhabits the wooded regions and also causes havoc on farms. The picture shows a group of Chipmunks seeking for 
 acorns, and illustrates with fidelity their appearance and the markings of their fur. {Tamias lysteri.) 
 
 A large part of northern Asia and a small portion 
 of eastern Europe are the native range of the Old 
 World Ground Squirrel. It lives in forests of firs 
 and pines as well as of birches, but is most fre- 
 quently found in woods where the stone-pine tree 
 
514 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 abounds. Under the roots of these trees it exca- 
 vates a rather simple burrow which forks, one pass- 
 age leading to the nest and the other to the store 
 rooms, situated laterally, a long, tortuous passage 
 forming the exit. The food of the animal consists 
 of plant seeds and berries, and preferably cereals 
 •and nuts, of which it may carry from ten to sixteen 
 pounds home during a single winter, lising it^ cheek- 
 pouches to carry these supplies, and storing them in 
 its larder. 
 
 The Familiar The American counterpart of the 
 Chipmunii Burunduk is the Chipmunk, Hackee, 
 Described. or Chipping Squirrel {Tamias lysteri). 
 It is distributed all over the United States. It is of 
 about the same dimensions as the Buruiftiuk. The 
 face is of a reddish brown tint, with darker spots on 
 the forehead and cheeks; the nape of the neck is 
 ashen gray, the hind quarters reddish brown, the 
 under surface whitish; there is a dark brown stripe 
 on the back, a black stripe over the eye, with white 
 above and below it, and there is a wide white side- 
 streak edged with blackish brown; the upper surface 
 
 TH£ XERUS. In Africa there are Squirrels which burrow in the ground, but whi^ch differ from the other 
 
 Squirrels in the texture of the fur, which is coarse and bristly, almost equal in roughness to the spines of a Hedge- 
 hog. They form a distinct group of which the Abyssinian -animal, shown in the picture, is typical. It is about 
 twenty inches long, has short ears placed low on the head, and a long tail covereij with coarse hair. (Xerus 
 rutilus.) 
 
 of the tail is dark brown, the base being grayish yel- 
 low, the tip whitish and the lower surface a ruddy hue. 
 
 Manu Different Naturalists, as well as ordinary observers, 
 
 „ . =. ■" ^ +. „ recognize numerous varieties among the 
 
 varieties of tne chipm,unks of the United States, founded 
 LnipmunH. principally on the markings of the fur, for in 
 their habits they are all very similar. Thus there are described 
 by Elliott Coues four varieties found in this country. The first 
 is the Four-Striped Chipmunk ( Tamias quadrivittatus) which 
 inhabits the central region, north and south, comprising the 
 Mississippi Valley in the larger sense. It is the smallest spe- 
 cies, being not longer than five inches, and its name is derived 
 from four white stripes enclosed within five dark or black ones 
 along the back of the animal. Another is the Eastern Chip- 
 munk ( Tamias striatus) larger, brighter in color and having on 
 its back five black stripes and also having a white streak on 
 each side of the body. The Mountain Chipmunk {Tamias 
 lateralis) inhabiting the Rocky Mountains, and the Southwest- 
 em Chipmunk ( Tamias harrisi) are other local varieties. 
 
 Chipmunks and Late in summer the Chipmunk may 
 Their Hiber- be seen running about, its cheek 
 nation. pouches filled and its eyes beam- 
 
 ing with the satisfaction which its riches afford it. 
 According to the different months in which they 
 mature, it gathers its varied stores, for the most part 
 consisting of buckwheat, hazel nuts, maple seeds 
 and corn. It becomes torpid during the winter, but 
 its hibernation is an interrupted one, and it seems 
 
 to stand in need of food during the whole winter. 
 Audubon dug up a burrow in January, and at the 
 depth of about four feet he found a large nest of 
 leaves and grass in which three Chipmunks were 
 ensconced; others seemed to have retreated to the 
 lateral passages at the approach of the diggers. 
 The animals were overcome with sleep and not very 
 active, but they were by no means as torpid as true 
 hibernating animals are, and they snapped viciously 
 at the naturalist, who tried to handle them. The 
 Chipmunk does not become torpid before Novem- 
 ber, nor does the Burunduk in central Siberia, where 
 the cold begins early, begin its hibernation before 
 the middle of October. Neither of these animals 
 leaves its subterranean residences during the win- 
 ter, but both keep a passage open, and when the 
 snow thaws, the Burunduk, at least, rpay be seen 
 very busily occupied in cleaning the entrance of its 
 burrow and protecting it from the water. When the 
 snow melts, both species begin their activity above 
 ground. The young are born in May, and a second 
 litter usually in August. The males engage in fierce 
 
 combats during the breed- 
 ing season, and it is said 
 that more pugnacious little 
 creatures than these small, 
 active animals are hard to 
 find. They display an 
 amazing nimbleness and 
 dart between and under 
 hedges like Wrens. 
 
 IMany Foes of The farmer 
 the Ground regards the 
 Squirrels. Ground 
 Squirrels with by no means 
 friendly eyes. They enter 
 barns, after the fashion of 
 Mice, and if backed by 
 large numbers they cause 
 great devastations. In Si- 
 beria the furs of the Bur- 
 unduk are put to good ac- 
 count and shipped to China 
 where they are principally 
 used for trimming other 
 furs. The Chipmunk is 
 hunted to a greater extent than its Siberian cousin. 
 A whole army of enemies is constantly engaged in 
 its pursuit. Boys utilize it to practice the npble 
 sport of hunting; Weasels pursue it both on and 
 under the ground; Cats deem it a prey equally 
 as good as Rats and Mice, and all larger birds of 
 prey carry it off whenever they have a chance. 
 One of these birds has even gained for itself the 
 name of Squirrel-hawk, because of its attacks on 
 these animals. The Rattlesnake, according to the 
 observations of Geyer, also follows the poor Chip- 
 munk with a great deal of perseverance. Winter 
 often causes sad havoc among the numerous young 
 brood born in summer. Yet they are very plentiful, 
 at least in favorable years, the great fecundity of the 
 female making up for the losses. 
 The Ground Squir- The pretty color, the gracefulness 
 rels as Tamed and liveliness of the Ground Squir- 
 Pets. feis recommend them as pets. But 
 
 they never become quite tame, always remaining 
 timid and addicted to biting. Their predilection for 
 gnawing everything must also be contended with. 
 They practice this accomplishment with an adept- 
 ness equal to that of Rats, and few things in the 
 cage or room can escape defacement or destruction. 
 
THE SQUIRRELS—MARMOT. 
 
 315 
 
 The care of Ground Squirrels presents no difficul- 
 ties, and they thrive well on the simplest diet of 
 grain and fruit. 
 
 THE MARMOTS. 
 
 The Marmots {ArctomyincB), -which form the second 
 sub-order, differ from the Squirrels proper by having 
 
 plunder the nests of the latter. Some Marmots do 
 harm in fields and gardens; but the mischief they 
 do is very slight. While eating they sit on their 
 haunches like Squirrels and lift the food to the 
 mouth with their fore-paws. When the fruit ripens 
 they begin to gather treasures and fill their burrows 
 with grasses, leaves, seeds and grain. At the be- 
 ginning of winter they bury themselves in their bur- 
 rows and fall into a deep and uninterrupted lethargy. 
 
 The voice of the Marmofs consists of a whistle or 
 yelp, louder in some species than in others, and a 
 kind of murmur, which, uttered softly, signifies con- 
 tent, but otherwise is an expression of wrath. They 
 are highly cautious, vigilant, shy and timid and 
 many species put out special sentinels, in order to 
 enhance the security of the band, and at the slight- 
 est apprehension of danger these watchers hurry to 
 their subterranean hiding places. The intelligence 
 of the Marmots shows itself in the fact that they can 
 be tamed to a considerable degree. The majority 
 recognize their keeper and become very familiar, 
 and some get to be quite obedient and docile. 
 
 They are very prolific. On the average there is 
 only one litter of young in a year, but it numbers 
 from three to ten little ones. _ The fur of some spe- 
 cies and the flesh of others are used; and tamed 
 
 
 #•5 
 
 Range and 
 
 Habits of the 
 
 Marmots. 
 
 THE BUBUNSUK. This animal, otherwise knovm as the 
 
 Striped Siberian Ground Squirrel, is the Old World relative of the 
 American Chipmunk. It lives in the woods and subsists on seeds and 
 berries, which it conveys to its mouth in true Squirrel-fashion. ( Tamias 
 sMatus.) 
 
 a clumsier, stouter body, and a short tail, and also in 
 their dentition. 
 
 The Marmots are found in central 
 Europe, northern Asia and North 
 America, in considerable variety. 
 The majority of them inhabit level country, but 
 some exist in the very highest mountains of their 
 native homes. Their haunts are dry, clayey, sandy 
 or rocky localities, grassy plains and steppes, fields 
 and gardens, and only the mountain Marmots prefer 
 the grazing country beyond the limit of forest- 
 growth or isolated ravines and rocky valleys be- 
 tween the snow boundary and the forests. All 
 species have permanent residences and never mi- 
 grate. They build deep, subterranean burrows and 
 live there in communities sometimes composed of 
 astonishingly great numbers. Some have more than 
 one burrow, according to the season or the business 
 they have on hand, while others stay in the same 
 burrow year after year. They are animals of the 
 ground, lively and quick in their movements, but 
 slower than the Squirrels; several species of Mar- 
 mots, however, impress one as being very clumsy. 
 Grass, herbs, tender shoots, young plants, seeds, 
 field produce, berries, roots, tubers and bulbs go to 
 form their food, and only those few which can, with 
 much labor, climb trees or bushes, eat young leaves 
 and buds from the trees. Probably they also feed 
 on insects, small mammals and awkward birds, and 
 
 SOUSLIK, f his ]Mirru\Mng iiii ii i), frun 1 in t ist( i n !Europe, delights 
 
 in grassy localities such as that depicted in the illustration. They are socia- 
 ble animals, always foupd in company with others of their kind. (Spermo- 
 philus cHitlus.) 
 
 Marmots also make attractive pets, but these are 
 all the uses to which the animals are put. 
 
 The first group of the Marmots is formed by the 
 pouched species known as Spermophilus. 
 
 The Souslik The Souslik {^Spermophilus citillus), 
 
 a Russian Sper- occurring in central Europe, is a 
 
 mophile. pretty little animal, nearly of the 
 
 size of a Hamster, but more slender and having a 
 
316 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 prettier head. Its fur consists of loose, rather wiry 
 hair; the upper surface is yellowish gray, diversified 
 with irregular waves of russet yellow and small 
 spots; the under parts are reddish yellow, and the 
 chin and throat are white. 
 
 The Souslik is mainly found in the east of Europe, 
 its range taking in the northern provinces of the 
 Austro- Hungarian empire and all of southern and 
 temperate Russia. In most localities where the 
 Souslik is found it is common, and is occasionally 
 perceptibly prejudicial to agriculture. It selects 
 dry, treeless localities as its haunts; preferring above 
 all others firm sand or clay ground, which is princi- 
 pally fields and grassy plains. According to Herk- 
 lotz, it has recently paid special attention to rail- 
 ways, the embankments of which facilitate digging 
 and afford a certain shelter from rain showers. The 
 Souslik always lives gregariously, but every animal 
 
 savory flesh, and he hunts them with nooses, catches 
 them in traps, digs them_ out or drives them out of 
 their burrows, flooding 'their retreats with water, 
 and in other ways. In this way the propagation of 
 the Souslik is checked. 
 
 ,, . „ . , Of the Spermophjles proper there are sev- 
 Various Species of ^^.^j spgc^gs inhabiting North America. In 
 American bper- ^^^ j^jgj^ ^orth is found the species nearest 
 mophiles. ^^ ^j^g Souslik. It is known as Parry's Mar- 
 
 mot Squirrel (Spermophilus empetra). In Illinois, Indiana and 
 south to Kansas, north to Dakota and into Canada, is the species , 
 variously known as the Gray Prairie Squirrel and the Gray 
 Gopher {Spermophilus franklini). Another is the Thirteen- 
 lined Spermophile, sometimes called "Stars and Stripes" 
 {Spermophilus tridecum-lineatus) which has on its dark red- 
 dish brown back and sides rows of light spots alternating with 
 from six to eight black, longitudinal stripes. It is found m the 
 .eastern states. There are other local varieties -in California 
 and Mexico. Their life resembles that of the Souslik, the 
 northern varieties laying up large stores of provisions for the 
 winter, while those further south do not find so large a stock 
 
 FBAIBIE DOGS. These animals are familiar to all who have lived in or visited the western plains of the United Stafes, or the elevated 
 
 table-lands of Nevv Mexico. The picture shows these cheerful, harmless little creatures e n gaged in eating-grass-oramusing themselves, and brings 
 out the characteristics of the animals— the stout body, the large head, the alert, watchful eyes and the small ears. {Cynomys ludovicianus.) 
 
 digs its own individual burrow, the male a shallow 
 one, the female a deeper retreat. 
 
 Food and Tender herbs and roots, cereals. 
 Foes of the beans and peas, various berries and 
 Souslik. vegetables form the usual food of 
 the Souslik. Towards autumn it gathers provisions, 
 which it carries home in its cheek pouches. Hamster 
 fashion. Besides this the Souslik is a dangerous foe 
 to Mice and birds having their nests on the ground, 
 for it not only plunders the nests, but also attacks 
 the animals themselves, if they are not wary. 
 
 The devastation a Souslik perpetrates by its pluri- 
 derings is noticeable only in places where the ani- 
 mal is numerous. Ermines, Weasels, Polecats and 
 Martens, Falcons, Crows, Herons, Bustards, even 
 Cats, Terriers and other well-known exterminators 
 of Rodents, zealously pursue the Souslik. The Bus- 
 tard shows great zeal and skill in pursuit, killing 
 the animal with one blow of its beak and eating it, 
 skin and all. Man also pursues the Sousliks, partly 
 on account of their skins, partly on account of their 
 
 necessary, for the reason that their seclusion is of shorter 
 duration. 
 
 The Prairie Dogs' The Prairie Dog ( CyTtomys ludovicia- 
 Leading Char- nus), living in North America, is in a 
 acteristics. certain sense a connecting link be- 
 tween the Spermophiles and the true Marmots; for 
 though, properly speaking, it belongs to the former, 
 it more resembles the latter. The body is stout, the 
 head large, the tail short and bushy, the hair of equal 
 length above and on the sides; the cheek pouches 
 are of inferior development. Adult Prairie Dogs 
 attain a total length of about sixteen inches, not 
 quite three inches of which belong to the tail. The 
 coloring of the upper parts is light reddish brown, 
 mixed with blackish gray; the under surface is 
 dingy white and the tip of the short tail shows 
 brown rings. 
 
 The appellation of " Prairie Dog," which h^s been 
 adopted more and more generally, derived its origin 
 from the first discoverers, the old Canadian trappers 
 or hunters who gave the little animal the name on 
 
THE SQUIRRELS— MARMOT. 
 
 3ir 
 
 account of its barking voice; but the most superficial 
 comparison cowdd not find a point of resemblance 
 between this animal and a Dog in external appear- 
 ance. 
 The Prairie Dog The Pjairie Dogs' extensive settle- 
 Towns of the ments, which are called " Dog-towns" 
 West. on account oi their great size, are, as 
 
 a rule, found on some- 
 what low lying prairies, 
 ■where the grass makes a 
 beautiful natural lawn 
 and at the same time 
 affords the animals con- 
 venient food. "The al- 
 most incredible propor- 
 tions which the settle- 
 ments of these peaceful 
 inhabitants assume," 
 says Baldwin Moellhau- 
 sen, "can best be real- 
 ized by a person who 
 journeys continuously 
 for days among little 
 hillocks of which every 
 one represents the res- 
 idence of two or more 
 of these animals. These 
 dwellfngs are usually 
 from five to six yards 
 apart, and each little 
 mound rising in front 
 of their entrances may 
 contain a good cart load 
 of earth, which has been 
 gradually conveyed 
 from the subterranean 
 passages to the surface 
 by these inhabitants. 
 Some have a single en- 
 trance, some have two. 
 A well trodden path 
 leads from one dwelling 
 to another, and fully 
 justifies the inference 
 that close friendship 
 prevails among the live- 
 ly, little animals. The 
 selection of a site for 
 their "towns" seems to 
 be determined by prox- 
 imity to short, crisp 
 grass, which generally 
 grows on high plains, 
 and which, besides one 
 species of root, forms 
 the only food of the lit- 
 tle animals. Even on 
 the high plateaux of 
 New Mexico, where not 
 a drop of water is to be 
 found for miles around, 
 there are very densely 
 populated communities 
 of this sort, and as there 
 
 is no rain for months, and it is necessary to dig to a 
 depth of one hundred feet in order to reach a water 
 vein, there is good reason to believe that Prairie 
 Dogs need but very little water, and content them- 
 selves with the moisture which a heavy dew tem- 
 porarily leaves on the slender grass blades. When 
 the Prairie Dog feels the approach of the time for 
 
 hibernation, usually in the last days of October, it 
 closes all the entrances to its burrow to protect 
 itself from the cold and, as the season advances, it 
 becomes torpid, not emerging from its hole until the 
 warm days of spring awaken it to new, gladsome 
 life. According to the accounts. of the Indians, it 
 sometimes opens the doors of its habitation while 
 
 THE BOBAC. Very similar in appearance and habits to the American Prairie Dog is its Old World relative, 
 
 the Bobac. In the steppes and valleys of central Asia it throws up mounds at the entrance to its burrows, living in 
 large " towns" with others of its kind, for like the Prprie Dog it is of very sociable disposition. [Arctomys iobac.) 
 
 the days are still cold. This is regarded as a sure 
 
 sign of the near advent of warm weather. 
 
 Appearance of a "Such a settlement affords a remark- 
 
 Prairie Dog able sight, if one is only lucky 
 
 Village. enough to approach it unperceive'd 
 
 by the sentinels. As far as the eye can reach, a 
 
 busy activity prevails: on nearly every mound the 
 
318 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 little, yellow-brown Prairie Dog sits on his haunches 
 like a Squirrel; the erect little tail is in constant 
 motion and the fine, shrill, yelping little voices of 
 many thousands unite to form a peculiar droning 
 sound. If the observer comes a few steps nearer, 
 he hears and distinguishes the deeper voices of the 
 older and more experienced leaders; but as soon as 
 the intruder is observed, a sharp note of warning is 
 uttered, and, as if by magic, every moving creature 
 disappears, plunging head first into its burrow. In 
 places, after a short interval of time, an investigating 
 head, in which is set a pair of eager eyes, protrudes 
 from the entrance of a burrow, while a constant bark- 
 ing warns its friends of the dangerous pjro^cijnity of 
 Man. If the observer lie down and patiently keep 
 quiet and motionless, the sentinel will soon resume 
 its post upon the top of its mound, and communi- 
 cate the disappearance of danger to its companions 
 by incessant yelping. One by one they leave their 
 dark burrows, and the harmless activities of the 
 sociable little creatures are presently resumed. For 
 hours one could look at the ever changing spectacle 
 without tiring, and it is no wonder that the observer 
 begins to wi^h that he could understand the lan- 
 guage of the animals; could mingle with them and 
 listen to their private conversations." 
 
 It is a remarkable fact, vouched for by various ob- 
 servers, tliSSMJh'e.burrows of Prairie Dogs are shared 
 by two dangerous foes of smaller Rodents. Not 
 infrequently the Prairie Dogs, Burrowing Owls and 
 Rattlesnakes are seen coming and going through 
 the same entrance. 
 
 Comments upon this alleged friendliness and good-fellowship 
 between Prairie Dogs, Owls and Rattlesnakes appear very 
 frequently in accounts of the Prairie Dog, but the belief in the 
 existence of such relations is founded on one of those half 
 truths which so often lead to erroneous impressions. The Owls 
 and Rattlesnakes are inhabitants of the same regions as the 
 Prairie Dogs and make use of their burrows, but, as Elliott 
 Coues says: "Owls and Snakes are enemies of each other, and 
 both of the Marmots. The birds would devour the young 
 Marmots if they could get at them, and do devour the young 
 Snakes; and the Snakes devour the young Marmots, the Owlets 
 arid the eggs of the Owls." 
 
 ' Prairie Dogs Haacke writes as follows about cap- 
 Obserued in tive Prairie Dogs : " There are prob- 
 Oaptiuity. ' .ably few animals, the lives of which 
 in. captivity so readily become assimilated to their 
 habits in the free state, as the Prairie Dogs, the 
 ingenious habitations . of which, together with the 
 attractive activity of the animals therhselves, fasci- 
 nate many visitprs to the z6ologic?il garden at Frank- 
 fort. Scarcely had we put new tenants in our Prairie 
 Dog park, which had been improved the previotis 
 summer by sfeveral new, arrangements, when the ani- 
 mals cbrrimenced their digging. We put them in 
 the park in the afternoon, and by the following night 
 they were able to sleep in .the burrows which they 
 had by that time completed. The Prairie Dog works 
 with great intelligence when enlarging its burrows. 
 It never begihs to dig at the lower end of the tun- 
 nel to be excavated, for by so doing it would stop 
 its exit of at least narrbw it to a great extent; so it 
 always begins at the upper end. The earth left 
 from former diggings is shoved under the abdomen 
 by the fore-paws, and the hinder paws fling it out- 
 side, and so the animal gradually disappears from 
 view, working alternately with its fore and hind 
 paws. But its building operations do not stop short 
 with the digging of tunnels. An important part 
 of its labor is the erection of a dam around the 
 mouth of the tunnel, protecting the burrow from 
 inundations. For this purpose the earth that has 
 
 been flung out is collected. What has been thrown 
 too far away is flung back near the entrance of the 
 burrow by using the hind legs, and then, as the work 
 has to be exact, the animal carefully pushes the 
 earth with its fore-paws and heaps it around the 
 entrance. Then, to make it permanent, able to re- 
 sist rain, arid form an effective dam, it is thoroughly- 
 pressed with the nose; and for this work of puddling^ 
 the mound and the walls of the entrance, the Prairie 
 Dog selects rainy days as best, and on such days 
 the impressions of the animal's nose can be seen all 
 around the entrance. 
 
 " According to the weather the Prairie Dog makes 
 temporary changes in its burrow. When, in Octo- 
 ber, the weather became cold, our Prairie Dogs 
 closed three of the five entrances of their subter- 
 ranean residence. The earth around the mounds 
 was utilized, the dams being partially destroyed for 
 this purpose. I have seen them do just the opposite 
 thing in summer, when the sun would shme warmly 
 after rainy days, and the dwelling had to be dried. 
 Ventilating tunnels, promoting the evaporation of 
 moisture, were then dug. To make the burrow 
 habitable the bed is upholstered with hay and simi- 
 lar substances. When the weather is dry we throw 
 a handful of hay to our Prairie Dogs. Then the 
 animals form bundles of the hay with their forepaws 
 and muzzle, so thick that they can hardly grasp them 
 in their mouths and carry them imderground. They 
 utilize paper in a similar way; entire sheets of news- 
 paper are moulded into balls and carried away. 
 When the hay on the bed has become too damp, it 
 is removed and replaced by a fresh supply." 
 
 The Bobao, an The Bobac {Arctomys bobac) takes 
 European the place of the Prairie Dog in the 
 Species. Old World; and. like it, is an inhab- 
 itant of the plains. It has only recently been gener- 
 ically distinguished from the Alpine Marmot. Its 
 body is fifteen inches long, its tail not quite four; 
 the tolerably thick fur is of a pale russet yellow tint. 
 The young have a darker color than the mature 
 animals. 
 
 The Bobac's range gxtends from southern Poland 
 and Galicia eastward through part of central Asia to 
 the Amoor, and perhaps to Kamchatka, and through 
 the Himalayas to Sikkim. It inhabits plains and 
 jfocky, hilly stretches of country, shunning forests 
 as well as sandy localities, which do not admit of 
 the .burrowing of its deep habitations. Adams 
 f6un,d it' in the wide valleys and table-lands of Cash- 
 mere, at elevations of six thousand or even nine 
 
 :,;thousand feet above sea level. There it lives in 
 'fertile valleys in which a luxuriant but stunted 
 vegetation covers the ground during the summer. 
 
 . The Bobac is always, gregarious, gathering in rather 
 .'||)4merous bands. Its presence impresses a certain 
 
 rvpeculiar, stamp upon the localities it affects. Innu- 
 merable moiinds, which one notices in the grassy 
 sfep.peS of central, Asia, pwe their existence princi- 
 pally to these Marmots, which attract the attention 
 of the traveler by their activity, while their flesh 
 renders them an important article of food to the 
 inhabitants of the steppes and to various predaceous 
 lower animals. 
 
 Home of the High up in the most elevated rocky 
 Alpine Marmot regions of the Alps, where there 
 Described. grows neither tree nor shrub, where 
 no Cow, and scarcely a Goat or a Sheep can pene- 
 trate, even on the small, rocky islands in the' very 
 midst of the huge glaciers, where the warm rays of 
 the sun do not melt the snow for more than six 
 
THE ALPINE MABMOT, In the heights of the mountainous district of Europe is found the typical animal of the sub-family of the 
 
 Marmots. The summers are short in the regfion inhabited by this Marmot, and the animals in the picture are shown enjoying themselves during 
 ihis period. In the winter they disappear, their hibernation lasting from six to eight months. (Arciomys ptarmota.) 
 
 >J.^^' 
 
 (319) 
 
820 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 weeks of the year, there is the home of a member rf 
 this family known from remote ages, the habits of 
 which, though resembling those of its previously de- 
 scribed relatives in all essentials, still differ in many 
 minor respects in consequence of the character of its 
 native country. 
 
 Characteristics of The Common or Alpine Marmot 
 the Alpine {Arctomys marmota) attains a total 
 Marmot. length of nearly twenty-five inches, 
 its body measuring not quite twenty and one-half 
 inches, its tail four and one-half inches, while its 
 height at the shoulders is ten inches. In appearance 
 and anatomical peculiarities it resembles its kindred. 
 The fur consists of a short woolly under coat and a 
 longer outer one; it is close, abundant and rather 
 long, its color on the upper surface being a more or 
 less brownish black, interspersed with a few whitish 
 
 THE WOODCHUCK. This is a familiar American animal found in woods and forests of the 
 
 northern Uni ted States and Canada. Its stout body and Mouse-like head are well shown iu the picture 
 which represents the animal amid appropriate surroundings. {Arctomys vtonax.) 
 
 points on the top and back of the head; the nape 
 of the neck, the base of the tail and the whole 
 of the under surface are dark reddish brown, the 
 tint becoming lighter on the legs, the flanks and 
 jowls; the muzzle and feet are rusty yellowish white. 
 The eyes and claws are black, the front teeth are 
 brownish yellow. One may also find entirely black 
 or white individuals, or some that are spotted with 
 pearly white. 
 B/ea/r Retreat of Recent investigations have proven 
 the Alpine that the Common Marmot is con- 
 Marmot. fined to Europe. The high parts of 
 the Alps, Pyrenees and Carpathian mountains are 
 its favorite homes, and it generally selects the 
 meadows close to the line of perpetual snow, its 
 lowest point of habitation being the forest belt. It 
 selects for its haunts open spots, bounded all around 
 by steep, rocky walls, or small, harrow, deep valleys 
 between isolated peaks, spots lying as far as pos- 
 sible from human presence. The lonelier the moun- 
 tain, the more frequently is the Marmot found; and 
 ■where Man has redeemed the country from its orig- 
 
 inal wildness the animal has usually become .ex- 
 tinct. As a rule it chiefly affects the mouritaia 
 plains and slopes facing south, east and west, for, 
 like most animals of diurnal habits, it rejoices in the 
 rays of the sun. There it digs its burrows, some 
 small and simple, others deep and more intricate. 
 The former are intended to serve for summer^ the 
 others for the winter; the first as shelter from tem- 
 porary danger and in bad weather, the latter from 
 the terribly severe winter, which in those regions 
 holds sway for six, eight or even ten months. 
 This remarkable creature hibernates and sleeps 
 throughout at least' two-thirds of the year, and fre- 
 quently rhore; for at the extreme altitudes in which 
 it is found, its life and activity in the waking, state 
 and outside of its burrow last scarcely as much as 
 one-sixth part of the year. 
 
 Marmots Towards autumn 
 and Their Winter the Marmots dig- 
 Quarters. their winter bur- 
 row, which is always situated lower 
 down on the mountain than the 
 summer retreat, which is sometimes 
 built as high as 8,000 feet above sea j 
 level, while the winter burrow, as 
 a rule, lies in the locality of the 
 highest meadows, and often even 
 in the forest belt. When placed 
 low down it is designed to harbor 
 the whole family, of from five ta 
 fifteen members, and is, therefore, 
 very spacious. The sagacious ani- 
 mals begin in August to bite off 
 grass, dry it and carry it to their 
 burrow in their mouths. They 
 amass such a quantity of grass 
 that often one Man cannot carry- 
 it away at a single load. 
 
 The Marmot's The movements of 
 Peculiar Moue- the Marmot are re- 
 ments. markable, especial- 
 
 ly the walk, which consists of a pe- 
 culiar waddle, with legs wide spread 
 and the body nearly or quite drag- 
 ging on the ground. I never saw 
 any Marmots which I kept in, cap- 
 tivity jump : they are too clumsy. 
 
 Fresh, juicy, Alpine plants, herbs 
 and roots form the food of the 
 Marmot. It seldom drinks during early summer; 
 when it does do so, it takes a great deal of water, and 
 it smacks its lips and lifts its head after every iswal- 
 low like a Hen or a Goose. 
 
 Hunting and Cap- The hunting and capture of Mar- 
 turing the Alpine mots present manifold difficulties. 
 Marmot. The approaching sportsman is nearly 
 always detected by a member of the colony, which 
 communicates danger signals to its companions' by a 
 shrill whistle. Traps of various kinds are used tO' 
 catch Marmots and they are also dug out of their 
 burrows in the beginning of winter. In many cantons 
 of Switzerland the digging out of Marmots is legally 
 forbidden; for their complete extermination would 
 be accomplished in a short time by this proceedings 
 while simple hunting is not very disastrous to them. 
 When pressed very hard, the Marmots defend them- 
 selves against their enemies with courage and resolu- 
 tion, biting strongly or using their vigorous claws. 
 A Marmot captured when young may be trained ta 
 be so inoffensive and tame that it becomes a source 
 of amusement to both young and old, and its cleanli- 
 
THE DORMICE. 
 
 321 
 
 The Woodohuck, 
 
 an American 
 
 Animal. 
 
 ness and pretty appearance win for it a great many 
 friends. 
 
 Very similar in its bodily structure to the 
 Alpine Marmot is its nearest American rela- 
 tive, the well-known Woodchuck or Ground 
 Hog {A rciomy,s monax). Its head and body 
 measure about fourteen mches, the tail about four inches The 
 body is stout, the head broad and flat, the legs short and thick. 
 The fur is blackish or grizzled on the upper portion and of a 
 chestnut red on the under surface of the body. 
 
 The Woodchuck is found in all parts of the region extend- 
 ing from the Carolinas north to Hudson Bay, and from the 
 Atlantic coast west to Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota. It in- 
 habits woods, prairies and meadows, lives on roots, vegetables, 
 and herbs and is especially fond of red clover. Its burrows 
 are large excavations, and in the early autumn it busies itself 
 in storing provisions for its long winter retreat. It is one of 
 the first hibernating animals to retire to winter quarters and 
 one of the earliest to come forth from its hiding place, the 
 length of its hibernation varying with the locality and being 
 shorter in the south than in the north. In the northern United 
 States it usually retires about the first of October and reap- 
 pears about the middle of March. When it begins its hiberna- 
 tion it carefully closes the entrance to its burrow. The winter 
 retreat usually contains a male and female. Dr. Bachmann, 
 who had marked a burrow to which he knew a pair of Wood- 
 chucks had retired, caused it to be opened early in November, 
 and found the two animals, perfectly dormant, lying coiled up 
 close together in a nest of dry grass, twenty-five feet from the 
 entrance. 
 
 The young Woodchucks, of which there, are from four to 
 six in a litter, are born about the end of April and are tenderly 
 cared for by the mother until they are old enough to shift for 
 then»selves. Woodchucks are vigorously hunted, not only for 
 the harm they do, for where numerous they are very destruc- 
 tive in fields and gardens, but also because they are an easy 
 prey to small boys who, accompanied by Dogs, pursue them 
 or dig them out of their burrows. 
 
 Besides the Common Woodchuck there are other American 
 species, notably the Rocky Mountain Marmot {Arctomys flavi- 
 ventor) which was first described by Audubon and Bachmann 
 from a specimen brought from California in 184 1. It is con- 
 siderably larger than the Woodchuck, the head and body 
 attaining a length of eighteen inches and the tail ten inches. 
 Still larger is the Hoary Marmot or Whistler {Arctomys prui- 
 nosus) which attains a length of from twenty-three to twenty- 
 five inches and has a tail about twelve inches long. It is an 
 inhabitant of northwestern America, from the Columbia river 
 north to the Arctic circle. 
 
 tLbe Dormice. 
 
 SECOND FAMILY: Myoxid^. 
 
 The Squirrels are followed by a group of graceful 
 little Rodents, the Dormice {Myoxidce). In appear- 
 ance and character they exhibit some affinity to the 
 Squirrels, but differ from these latter by peculiarities 
 in their anatomical structure. They have a narrow 
 head with a more or less pointed snout, rather large 
 eyes and large ears, devoid of fur; the body is stout. 
 The limbs are of moderate length; the feet are of 
 delicate mould and the fore-paws have four toes and 
 a flat-nailed thumb mark; the hinder-paws have five 
 toes; the tail is moderately long' and very bushy and 
 its fur is arranged in a double row. The fur is rich 
 and soft. 
 
 Life and Traits Up to the present time scarcely more 
 of the Dor- than half , a dozen distinct species of 
 .""'o^- this family are known, and all these 
 
 are confined to the Old World. Their haunts are in 
 hilly and mountainous localities, in forests, groves 
 and gardens. They live on and in the trees; more 
 rarely in burrows dug out between roots of trees or 
 in clefts of rocks and walls, and they habitually hide 
 from view as much as possible. , By far tjie majority 
 of these animals sleep through the day and search 
 for food only in the dusk of morning and evening, 
 and for this reason it is rarely and only by chance 
 that they are seen. When they have had enough 
 
 sleep they are very active animals. They are excel- 
 lent runners and still better climbers, but cannot 
 leap as far as the Squirrels. 
 
 In temperate climes they become torpid at the 
 approach of the cold season and spend the winter 
 sleeping in their nests. Some species lay by provis- 
 ions for this time and subsist on the stores thus 
 hoarded, which they eat at the intervals of their 
 hibernation, when they awake temporarily. Others 
 do not need even this winter store, as they become 
 so fat before retiring to winter quarters that they 
 can subsist on this adipose accumulation. 
 
 The food of the Dormice consists of fruit and all 
 kinds of seeds; the majority also feed on insects, 
 eggs and young birds. While eating, they sit on 
 
 
 " THE LOIB. Sometimes called the Fat Dormouse. It is the 
 
 largest of the Dormouse family and is found principally in southern Eu- 
 rope and in a portion of Asia. It is an arboreal animal, and spends the 
 summer and early autumn seeking for food in the WQods, as shown in 
 the picture, preparatory to its long winter hibernation. iMyoxus glis.) 
 
 their hind legs, like the Squirrels, and lift the food 
 to the mouth with their fore-paws. The Dormice 
 are of no use worth mentioning, while their depreda- 
 tions in gardens may cause considerable harm. 
 
 The Loir The first species is formed by the 
 or Fat Dormouse Loir, or Fat Dormouse {Myoxus glis) 
 Described. and an allied variety. The Loir at- 
 tains a length of six and one-half inches, exclusive 
 of the tail, .which is five inches long. The soft and 
 rather close fur is of a uniform ashen gray on the 
 upper surface, with a surface tinge of brownish 
 black; the under surface of the body and the inner 
 surface of the limbs are milk white and of silvery 
 lustre, the line of demarcation being sharply defined. 
 Haunts and The Loir exists all over southern and 
 Habits of eastern Europe. Its principal home 
 the Loir. js in moderately high mountains, 
 preferably forests of oak or beech. It keeps in hid- 
 
322 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 ing during the day and prowls around every night, 
 while the summer lasts, searching for food. It eats 
 acorns and nuts, does not despise sweet, juicy fruit, 
 and attacks, kills and devours any little animal it 
 can overcome. Few Rodents surpass it in voracity, 
 and it eats as long as it can do so. During the 
 autumnal months it amasses provisions and stores 
 them in its hiding place. At this time of the year it 
 becomes very fat, and prepares its winter quarters, 
 making a nest of tender moss in deep holes in the 
 ground, hollow trees, crannies in rocks or old walls. 
 There it curls up, usually in company with several 
 
 
 THE L£BOI. This animal is sometimes called the Garden 
 
 Dormouse, for it enters gardens and is very destructive, devour- 
 ing iruit, vegetables and cereals. Its markings are admirably 
 shown in the picture. {Eliomys niiela.) 
 
 others of its kind, and falls into a sleep which is per- 
 haps the soundest experienced by any of the hiber- 
 nating animals. It begins this sleep early in the fall 
 and rarely wakes before April. 
 
 The worst persecutors of the Loir are probably 
 Martens, Polecats, Wild Cats, Weasels and Owls. 
 The little creature defends itself very courageously, 
 though vainly, against the strongest enemies. Where 
 it is common, the Loir is eagerly pursued by Man 
 for its flesh as well as its skin, and is caught in ttaps 
 of various kinds. 
 
 It is seldom seen in captivity, for it is an uninter- 
 esting animal, always irritable, and never becomes 
 friendly with its keeper. It ferociously growls, with 
 a peculiar snoring sound, at every person who ap- 
 proaches it. Its only virtue is its cleanliness. 
 
 The Lerotin {Myoxus dryas) is intermediate be- 
 tween the Loir and the Lerot. Its length is seven 
 inches, about half of which is taken by the tail. 
 The body is reddish brown or brownish gray above 
 with a sharp line marking the margin of the white 
 under surface. A black stripe runs between the 
 eyes, broadening out above the eyes so that it 
 reaches the ears. The tail is dark brownish gray 
 above, white below. It is a rare species and ranges 
 in southern Russia, lower Austria arid-Silesia. Its 
 habits correspond with those of the Loirs and 
 Lerots, as far as they are known. 
 
 The Group of The group of the Lerots {Eliomys) 
 
 the Lerots differs from the preceding mainly 
 
 Described. jn dentition. The teeth of the Loir 
 
 are ground flat at the crown, while those of the 
 
 Lerots become hollow. An external distinguishing 
 feature of the Lerots is in the tail, which is short- 
 haired at the base and is bushy and of two colors at 
 the tip. The upper and under surfaces are of differ- 
 ent colors. 
 
 Physical Char- The Lerot {Eliomys niteld) attains a 
 
 acteristics of length of body of nearly six inches, 
 Lerots. and a length of tail of nearly four 
 
 inches. The head and upper parts are of a reddish 
 gray-brown tint, the under parts are white. 
 
 The Lerot, which was known to the ancient Ro- 
 mans under the name of Nitela, belongs chiefly to the 
 temperate parts of central and western Europe. Its 
 food is the same as that of the Loir. 
 
 Hibernation and For hibernation, the Lerot selects 
 Food of the dry, sheltered holes in trees and 
 Lerot. walls, or Moles' burrows, or else it 
 
 invades farms lying near forests, and creeps into 
 some hiding place in garden houses, barns, hay-lofts, 
 coal men's shanties, or other dwellings. Usually 
 several Lerots sleep in one nest, the entire party 
 nestling close together and nearly rolled into a ball. 
 Their sleep is unbroken, but not so sound as that of 
 other hibernating animals, for whenever the weather 
 is mild they .wake up, eat a little of thei^ provisions, 
 and become torpid again only when the weather 
 again becomes cold. 
 
 The Lerot is a detested visitor in gardens, where 
 the finer kinds of fruit are grown. A single animal 
 is sufficient to ruin an entire crop of peaches or ap- 
 ricots. It shows a taste in its depredations which 
 does it great credit, for it selects only the best and 
 juiciest of fruit to eat although it often gnaws into 
 other varieties, to try them, and in this way it 
 ruins much more than it really eats. Therefore, as 
 it works only destruction and is not of the slightest 
 use either for its flesh or its skin, it is zealously pur- 
 sued by garden owners. 
 
 Peculiarities of The third species of the family, which 
 the Common comprises the Dormice proper [Mm- , 
 Dormouse. cardinus) also differs from the pre- 
 ceding mainly in respect to its teeth. The ears are 
 also smaller. The fur of the tail is rather short and 
 of uniform length throughout. 
 
 A single variety of this species exists. in Europe. 
 It is the Common Dormouse {Muscardinus avellana- 
 rius), one of the prettiest, nimblest and most grace- 
 ful creatures among European. Rodents, distinguished 
 as much by its dainty figure and beautiful coloring 
 as by its cleanly habits, pretty ways and gentle 
 temper. The little creature is about as large as a 
 domestic Mouse; its total length is five and one- 
 half inches, about half of this going to the tail. The 
 fur is of a uniform yellowish red tint; the under sur- 
 face is a little lighter, and the breast and throat are 
 white. Central Europe is the native country of the 
 little Dormouse, and its haunts are nearly identical 
 with those of its family relations. Low bushes and 
 hedges, especially thickets of hazel nuts, form its 
 preferred places of abode. 
 
 All day long the Dormouse lies somewhere in hid- 
 ing and sleeps. At night it looks for food, which 
 consists of nuts, acorns, hard seeds, juicy fruits, 
 berries and buds; but it is fondest of hazel nuts. 
 It lives in small communities, which can not be said 
 to be closely united. Either singly or two together 
 the Dormice build a soft, warm, ingenious nest 
 out of grass, leaves, moss, small roots and hair, in 
 some dense bush, and from there they set out on 
 their nocturnal prowlings over their domain, nearly 
 always in company with others, which live in prox- 
 
THE BEAVER. 
 
 323 
 
 imity to them. Being genuine arboreal animals they 
 are marvelous climbers, even among the thinnest 
 twigs. In August from three to four naked, blind 
 young make their appearance in the ball-shaped 
 .summer nest, which is always built in the thickest of 
 bushes and about three feet from the ground. 
 
 Long Hiberna- About the middle of October the 
 tionofDor- Dormice retire into the hiding-place 
 mioe. where they have stored their win- 
 
 ter provisions, and prepare a ball-shaped covering 
 made of twigs, foliage, fir-needles, moss and grass; 
 this they wrap around themselves, curl up into a ball 
 and fall into a still deeper torpidity than do their rela- 
 tives; for one can take them up and roll them around 
 without their giving a sign of life. According to 
 whether the winter be mild or severe, they sleep 
 through six or seven months in a more or less un- 
 broken repose, until the beautiful, warm spring sun 
 •awakes them to new life. 
 
 ^be Beaver. 
 
 THIRD FAMILY: Castorid^. 
 
 Though corresponding with the preceding E.odents 
 in many respects, the Beaver differs from them and 
 its other relatives in 
 rsuch marked degree that 
 it must be considered as 
 the representative of an 
 •entirely distinct family 
 {CastoridcB). 
 
 The Beaver has at- 
 tracted attention since 
 the earliest times and is 
 frequently mentioned by 
 ancient authors under 
 the name of "Castor" 
 and "Fiber." Yet the 
 old observers of nature 
 impart little knowledge 
 in respect to its habits. 
 The Beaver is now dis- 
 tributed over three con- 
 iinents in regions be- 
 tween the thirty- third 
 and sixty- eighth par- 
 allels of north latitude. 
 The European countries 
 in which it is most fre- 
 ■quently found are Bos- 
 nia, Russia, particularly 
 in the northern tributa- 
 ries of the Pripet in the 
 ■Government of Minsk, 
 •and Scandinavia, espe- 
 cially Norway. It is 
 much more numerous in 
 Asia than in Europe. It 
 is quite plentiful along 
 
 ous thinly populated parts of the United States 
 [Since Audubon's time the fauna of the Rocky 
 Mountain regions has become better known, and 
 Beavers have been plentifully found in the western 
 rivers. They still exist in wooded regions on the 
 banks of the Platte and also in other like localities 
 from the Canadian line to Arizona.] 
 
 Physical Char- The Beaver {Castor fiber) is one of 
 acteristics of the largest Rodents. The body of 
 Beavers. an adult male is from thirty to thirty- 
 eight inches long; the tail measures twelve inches, 
 and the height at the shoulders is about twelve 
 inches. The weight is from forty to sixty pounds. 
 The body is clumsy and strong, the hinder part be- 
 ing considerably thicker than the fore part; the back 
 is arched, the abdomen pendulous, the neck short 
 and thick, the head broad at the skull and narrow in 
 front, and having a flat top and a short, blunt snout. 
 The legs are short and very sturdy, the hind pair 
 being slightly the longest; the feet are five-toed and 
 the hind ones are furnished with broad webs to 
 the very claws. The tail is round at its root, flat- 
 tened above and below, and about eight inches wide 
 in the middle, rounded above, and nearly sharp 
 edged at the tip. The ears are small and short, fur- 
 clad on both sides and can be folded against the 
 head so as to close the auditory passage almost com- 
 
 THE COMMON DOKMOUSE. A pretty Rodent famous for its torpidity in the winter and its liveliness in 
 
 the summer months The animals shown in the picture are appropriately placed amid arboreal surroundings, and the 
 Dormouse to the right is shown in a Squirrel-like, sitting posture which is often assumed by these animals. (Mus- 
 cardinus avellanarius.) ♦ 
 
 the great streams 
 
 of cen- 
 tral and northern Siberia, and is also said to exist 
 along the rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea. It 
 is certainly found along the tributaries of the Kooban 
 on the-northem-slopeof the Caucasus and in Meso- 
 potamia. In America it was formerly common, but its 
 numbers have been greatly diminished by relentless 
 pursuit. Audubon in 1849 mentions only Labrador, 
 Newfoundland, Canada and a few localities in Maine 
 and Massachusetts, as still harboring Beavers, but 
 a^ds that isolated specimens were still found in vari- 
 
 pletely. The small eyes are furnished with lids; the 
 pupil has a vertical position. The nostrils are fleshy 
 and may also be closed like the ears. The fur con- 
 sists of an exceedingly thick, flaky, woolly coat of 
 silky softness, and a thin, long outer coat composed 
 of strong, stiff, shining hair, sHort on the head and 
 rear part of the back, and over two inches long on 
 the rest of the body. The coloring of the upper 
 part is a dark maroon, with more or less of a grayish 
 tint; the lower surface is lighter; the woolly under 
 fur is silvery gray at the root, yellowish brown at 
 
324 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 the tip. The tail is grown with very long hair at the 
 base and is naked farther down, being covered with 
 small, elliptical, nearly hexagonal, flat pits, between 
 which grow a few scattered, short, stiff hairs. The 
 prevailing color of the fur is subject to modifica- 
 tions. In a few rare instances white or spotted 
 Beavers have been found. 
 
 The large, strong gnawing teeth are flat, and 
 smooth in front, a cross section appearing nearly 
 three-sided; the sides are chisel shaped, and the 
 teeth protrude far out of the jaw. Both sexes pos- 
 sess two peculiar secretive glands, the castoreum 
 bags, in the lower part of the abdomen. The inner 
 walls of these glands secrete the so-called castoreum, 
 a dark reddish brown, yellowish brown or blackish 
 brown salve-like substance, possessed of a pecul- 
 iarly pungent, strong odor, which strikes few people 
 as agreeable, and is of a bitter, balsamic taste. In 
 former times it was extensively used as a sedative 
 and as a remedy for convulsions, but has come more 
 and more into disuse. 
 
 The Canadian The Canadian Beaver ( Castor cana- 
 
 Beaver.theAmen- densis or Castor americanus) differs 
 can Species. from the European species by hav- 
 ing the line of its face more arched; its head is nar- 
 rower, and the skull also shows other peculiarities; 
 the fur is darker and the "scent bags" are differ- 
 ently situated. According to Blasius, its independ- 
 ence as a species can not be doubted. 
 
 Home and In the majority of cases the Beavers 
 
 General Habits of now live in couples, forming more 
 Beauers. or less numerous families only in 
 the most solitary localities. In all populous coun- 
 tries the Beaver lives like the Otter, in simple, sub- 
 terranean tunnels, and never thinks of building its 
 so-called "lodges' or strongholds. Still some of the 
 latter were found not very long ago on the banks of 
 the Nuthe, near the Elbe, in a lonely spot grown 
 with willow trees, and traversed by the little river, 
 which measures but six to eight paces in width, and 
 has been known under the name of Beaver's Pool 
 since the oldest times. 
 
 From the accounts of observers we extract the 
 following: After mature deliberation the animals 
 select a stream or pool, the banks of which afford 
 them ample provender, and seem specially adapted 
 for the construction of their " lodges." Those which 
 live singly dwell in simple subterranean burrows, 
 after the manner of Otters; societies, which gener- 
 ally consist of families, as a ruje construct houses, 
 and, if there should be a necessity for it, dams, in 
 order to hold back the water and preserve it at a 
 uniform height. Some of these dams are from four 
 hundred and fifty to six hundred feet long, from six 
 to nine feet high, from twelve to eighteen feet thick 
 at the base, and from three to six feet at the top. 
 They consist of logs varying in size from the thick- 
 ness of an arm to that of a thigh, and from three to 
 six feet long. One end of the log or stake is thrust 
 in the ground, the other stands upright in the water; 
 the logs are fastened together by means of thin twigs 
 and made tight with reeds, mud and earth, in such a 
 way that one side presents a nearly vertical, firm 
 wall to the stream, while the other side is sloped. 
 From the ponds rising above the dams, canals are 
 constructed to facilitate the carrying or floating of 
 the necessary construction materials and food. 
 
 Beavers do not, forsake a settlement they have 
 founded unless the direst necessity compels them 
 to do so. Beavers' lodges, the origin of which dates 
 very far back, are often found in lonely woods. 
 
 How Beauers The working methods of the Beavers 
 Work and Fell are so closely allied to their general 
 Trees. habits that one pictures their life in 
 
 describing them at work. Like most Rodents they 
 are active at night, and roam about by day only in 
 remote regions, where they have not for a long time 
 encountered any human being. " Shortly after sun- 
 set they leave the tunnels, give a loud whistle and 
 drop into the water with loud splashes. For a time 
 they swim near the lodge, going as rapidly against 
 as with the stream and occasionally come to the sur- 
 face, showing either the nose and forehead or the 
 head and back, according to whether they deem 
 themselves secure or not. When they have taken 
 their bearings, they come to the bank and go as far 
 as fifty paces or more, to fell trees for their food 
 and for their building processes." Branches of the 
 thickness of an inch the Beaver bites off with 
 apparent ease, and it fells trees by gnawing the 
 trunk all around and then more on the side near the 
 river, until the tree inclines to that side and falls 
 into the water. Its work may be traced by innumer- 
 able flat, shell-shaped incisions, which appear as 
 smooth and clear-cut as if they had been chopped 
 out with a slightly curved chisel. It is known that 
 the Beaver fells trees thicker than a man's body. 
 Sprigs with plenty of branches are carefully exam- 
 ined before being carried away; occasionally they 
 are split, troublesome stubs of branches arecut off> 
 but all pieces of wood are carried into the water and 
 there the bark is peeled off and stored away for 
 future use. It is not until after a log has been 
 stripped of its bark that the Beaver uses it for con- 
 struction purposes, takes it out of the water, carries 
 it to the nearest "lodge" and makes use of it there. 
 No regular arrangement of the logs can be traced. 
 The requirements are met in a deliberate way, but a 
 regular, orderly arrangement of the building mate- 
 rials does not appear to be thought of. Some stakes, 
 lie horizontally, some are oblique, some vertical; 
 some protrude to some distance over the walls of 
 the lodge, others are entirely covered with earth;, 
 and something is continually being changed or en- 
 larged or improved. All the substances required' 
 for stopping the interstices, such as earth, sand, loam, 
 or mud, are moved in various ways, but only by 
 means of the mouth and fore-paws; they are worked 
 only with the paws. The tail is, at the most, only 
 used to preserve the animal's balance, and is never 
 made to serve as a trowel, as was formerly believed. 
 As is the case with most animals, the female is 
 the real architect, the male being only a helper and 
 understrapper. Both work all the year through, but 
 not always with the same zeal. In summer and the 
 beginning of autumn they play more than they ad- 
 vance their work; but just before the cold weather 
 sets in they devote the nights uninterruptedly to< 
 their work. They are possessed of a keen presenti- 
 ment of impending change of temperature and en- 
 deavor to prepare for it as much as possible. 
 Food and Moue- The principal food of .Beavers is th^: 
 'mentsofthe barks and leaves of various trees.. 
 Beaver. Among all branches, which I threw 
 
 to my captive Beavers, the first selection always fell, 
 on willows; and it was only when these were lacking 
 that they would take poplars, black poplars, aspens, 
 ash trees and birches^alder trees and oaks always 
 being the least liked.., Harder. branches, which they 
 take in their forepaws and keep turning around, they 
 strip with consummate skill and adroitness; they 
 peel them so neatly that a stripped branch shows no- 
 

 
 
 THE BEAVER, This Rodent is found in three Continents,' but more numerously in North America than elsewhere. Beavers are famous as the 
 
 most skillful architects amongst the mammals below Man, not only because of their well constructed "lodges," but especially because they build with 
 great engineering skill, strong dams in order to secure for themselves a sufficient depth of water in all seasons. These they construct of logs, tree branches, 
 mud and stones, and the picture shows a party of Beavers engaged in a work of this character. (Castor fiber.) 
 
 (325) 
 
32G 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 trace of their teeth. They soon get used to bread 
 and ship biscuit, apples and carrots, and ultimately 
 become very partial to fruit. 
 
 The attitudes assumed by Beavers vary, but on the 
 "whole not very much. While sitting, the animal 
 looks like a large, clumsy Mouse. When walking, 
 one leg is moved after another, for the abdomen, 
 which nearly touches the ground, does not admit of 
 rapid, uniform movement. When in a very great 
 hurry the Beaver executes leaps, which in point of 
 clumsiness and awkwardness exceed those of all 
 terrestrial mammals with which I am acquainted. 
 These jumps comprise an alternating throwing up of 
 the fore and hind quarters, but in spite of all this 
 they are well directed to accomplish their purpose. 
 In swimming, the Beaver dips its hind quarters 
 so deeply into the water that only the nostrils, 
 €yes, ears and middle of the back remain above the 
 water, the root of the tail being submerged. It pro- 
 ceeds by simultaneous, rarely by alternate, strokes 
 ■of the hind paws; the tail acts as rudder and often 
 moves in vigorous jerks, but the fore-paws take no 
 part in the swimming. The animal can stay sub- 
 merged for about two minutes, before the want of 
 breath compels it to rise to the surface. 
 
 Voice and The voice of the Beaver is a weak 
 
 Senses of the sound which might most appropri- 
 Beavers. ately be styled a moan. This sound 
 is made whenever the animal is excited. And an 
 observer soon learns to understand the different 
 meanings of the various sounds made by these ani- 
 mals. Of their senses, hearing and smell seem to 
 rank first; the small eyes look rather dull, yet the 
 sight is as keen as the taste; neither can some acute- 
 ness of sensibility be denied in the animal. As to 
 the degree of reasoning power of a Beaver there 
 may reasonably be different opinions; it must be 
 acknowledged, however, that it ranks high among 
 Rodents. It submits more easily to altered circum- 
 stances than other Rodents and learns how best to 
 profit by them; and more than any of the other 
 Gnawing Animals it reflects before acting, deliber- 
 ates and draws conclusions. Its constructions are 
 not more ingenious than those of other Rodents, 
 tut they are always built in conformity with the 
 locality, and any damages to them are always 
 repaired with a careful consideration of the sur- 
 roundings. 
 
 How the Beaver The behavior of captive Beavers is 
 Acts in Cap- sullen towards other animals and at 
 tiuity, least reserved towards human beings. 
 
 Those which are well treated finally allow them- 
 selves to be caressed, and they may go up to their 
 keeper and offer a formal greeting, but they resist 
 any violence. Beavers living in zoological gardens 
 soon find out that women and children are gifted 
 with gentle hearts, and therefore they not only ap- 
 pear earlier than is their custom in front of their 
 house, but also, standing up before passing women 
 and children, beg for apples, nuts, sugar and bread. 
 They dexterously take such gifts with their hands 
 and begin to eat; but people who make pretense to 
 give and do not do so, or who tease them, they strike 
 on the fingers. 
 
 Beavers caught young may become very tame. 
 Those^ authors who deal with the American species 
 tell of' Beavers' which they found in India'n villages, 
 installed, so to speak, as domestic animals, or which 
 they kept themselves. La Hontan says: "I saw 
 nothing more remarkable in these villages than 
 Beavers, as tame as Dogs, in the river as well as 
 
 running about unmolested in the hedges." Hearne 
 had tamed several Beavers to such an extent that 
 they responded to his call, ran after him like Dogs 
 and received his caresses with joy. They seemed 
 to feel quite comfortable in the society of the Indian 
 women and children; they grew restless in their 
 absence and showed much pleasure on their return. 
 A litter of Beavers consists of from two to three 
 fur clad, but blind, young, which are born in a dry 
 "lodge." Eight days later they open their eyes and 
 then, or sometimes not until the tenth day, the 
 mother takes her offspring along with her into the 
 water. 
 
 Breeding Beavers Except Prince Schwarzenberg, who 
 as an Occupa- exhibited a couple of Beavers at the 
 tion. World's Exposition at Vienna, no- 
 
 body is nowadays engaged in the breeding of Bea- 
 vers though it is both an attractive and remunerative 
 occupation; neither is it attended by any special 
 difficulties. A couple of Beavers which had settled 
 in Rothenhof in 1773 had increased to fourteen six 
 years later and to twenty-five after a lapse of ten 
 years; then the breeding was restricted, as the Bea- 
 vers were allowed free range and they caused too 
 great devastations. In Nymphenburg, in Bavaria, 
 where Beavers were also kept, it was found that some 
 of these animals endured captivity for fifty years. 
 Methods of The Beaver in the free state has few 
 
 Catching and Kill- enemies other than Man. Its wari- 
 ing Beavers. ness frequently bafifles even a skill- 
 ful sportsman. After it has once been alarmed the 
 slightest danger will drive the Beaver into the water, 
 which protects it with tolerable safety. The North 
 American trappers assert that in regions where it is 
 plentiful, it puts out sentinels which are said to 
 apprise their companions of an approaching danger 
 by loudly slapping the surface of the water with their 
 tails. This account may be taken to mean that in 
 a community of cautious animals, like the Beavers, a 
 number is more likely to notice a foe than a single 
 one, and every member of the community becomes 
 a sentinel in this way. As the clapping noise is pro- 
 duced only when a Beaver suddenly dives into the 
 water, and the latter, as a rule, happens when the 
 animal believes itself menaced, of course the others 
 notice the loud noise and disappear from the sur- 
 face whenever they hear it. In America, the Beaver 
 is hunted with guns, but is also caught in traps of 
 various kinds. In winter holes are cut in the ice 
 and the Beavers which come to them to breathe are 
 killed; or sometimes the ice is removed from part of 
 the river, a strong pet is spread over it, the "lodges" 
 are broken into and the frightened animals are 
 driven into the net. 
 Usefulness and The usefulness of a Beaver nearly 
 Value of the compensates for the damage it works. 
 Beaver. Q^e must keep in mind that it prin- 
 cipally inhabits deserted localities and preferably 
 fells young shoots of trees, which soon grow agaiii. 
 On the other hand the skin and flesh, and still more 
 the castoreum, very amply repay not only the 
 destruction wrought, but also all pains and trouble 
 taken in hunting it. About 1 50,000 pelts, valued at 
 nearly three-quarters of a million dollars, are taken 
 annually. According to its grade a pelt commands 
 a priceof from four tovthirteen dollars. 
 
 The Arherican Indian tribes hold the Beaver in 
 high esteem. They believe it to be nearly as intel- 
 ligent as a human being and they affirm that this 
 excellent animal is undoubtedly possessed of an im- 
 mortal soul. 
 
THE JERBOAS. 
 
 327 
 
 Z\iz Serboae. 
 
 FOURTH FAMILY: Dipodid^. 
 
 The Jerboas vividly remind us of the Kangaroos 
 in shape and show a disproportionateness of struc- 
 ture similar to that of the latter animals. The hind 
 part of the body is exceptionally strong, and the 
 
 JUUFINCr KO^SE- This North American Rodent is fapious for its 
 
 ability to make flyiok leaps of from eight to ten feet at a bound, although 
 its size is only about that of the Common Mouse, The picture gives a good 
 idea of its jumping ability. {Jaculus hudsonius.) 
 
 hind legs are about three times the size of the fore- 
 legs; the tail is of proportionate length, but its 
 extremity usually shows a tuft, the hair of which is 
 arranged in a double row. On the other hand, the 
 head of the Dipodidae differs materially from that of 
 the Kangaroos, It is very thick and adorned with 
 mustaches, which, pro- ^ 
 portionately to the size ' 
 of the animal, are the 
 longest among all mam- &-' <?; 
 mals, for they are often < 
 as long as the body. 
 The eyes are large but 
 have an expression^ that 
 is vivid and prepossess- 
 ing to an extent equaled 
 by few other nocturnal 
 animals. The ears are 
 erect and spoon-shaped, 
 and of varying length 
 in different species. In 
 some the ears equal the 
 head in length, in others 
 they are only a third as 
 long, but they are all suf- 
 ficiently large to show 
 that hearing is a well- 
 developed sense with 
 these animals. The neck 
 is thick and immobile, 
 the trunk slender, and 
 the fur is close, soft and 
 of a sandy hue. 
 
 General The Jerboas principally inhabit 
 Traits of the Africa and Asia; some species, how- 
 Jerboas. ever, reach over into southern Eu- 
 rope, and one species or sub-family is indigenous to 
 North America. They all inhabit dry, open fields, 
 grassy plains or arid deserts of sand. On clayey 
 
 or sandy soil, in low-lying situations; sometimes^ 
 but rarely, on hills, or amid dense bushes border- 
 ing on meadows or near fields, they take up their 
 abode, excavating subterranean burrows which they 
 furnish with plenty of tunnels and with many rami- 
 fications, but which are usually very shallow and 
 have numerous exits. By day they stay hidden in 
 their burrows, and after sunset they sally forth and. 
 spend the night in a lively manner. Their food con- 
 sists of roots, bulbs, various kinds of grains and seeds,, 
 fruit, leaves, grass and herbs. Some also feed on in- 
 sects or even on small birds and the decaying flesh, 
 of carcasses, and occasionally they kill and devour 
 each other. They take their food in a semi-erect 
 position, supported by their hind quarters and tail,, 
 lifting the food to their mouths with their fore-paws. 
 Peculiar Move- Their movements are of a peculiar 
 ments of the character. Their usual gait differs 
 Jerboas. from that of the Kangaroo in that, 
 they put one foot in front of the other in quick suc- 
 cession, but in a hurried course they proceed by 
 leaps, their vigorous hind feet propelling them high 
 into the air, and the distichous tail regulating the 
 direction and preserving the balance of the body. 
 The fore-legs are either held against the chin or 
 crossed in front of the chest, as a human being 
 when running might place his hands, and at such, 
 times these animals produce the impression of pos- 
 sessing only two legs. The larger species may exe- 
 cute immense leaps, and it may be said of all of 
 them that they clear a space amounting to twenty 
 times the length of their bodies at a bound. One 
 leap rapidly succeeds another, and when one of 
 these animals is in full flight all that can be seen, 
 of it is a yellow object shooting through the air in. 
 short curves, like an arrow. The dexterity with 
 which they dig in the ground is equally noteworthy,, 
 in spite of the weakness of their fore-paws, with 
 
 EGYPHAN JEBBOAi One of the strangest of kodents is the Jerboa, with its elongated hind legs, its long, 
 
 tufted tail afid its large ears. The Egyptian species inhabits the deserts of northern Africa and Arabia. The artist 
 has pictured these animals amid such desert surroundings, with no living neighbors save a bevy of Desert Larks. 
 (Vipus agypticus.) 
 
 which they do this work. While grazing, they 
 walk on all fours, and in this respect also resemble 
 the Kangaroos, but they then move very slowly and 
 maintain this position but a short time. In sitting 
 they rest on the soles of their hind feet and present 
 a somewhat grotesque appearance. 
 
328 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 Senses of the All species of this family are en- 
 Jerboas are dowed with acute senses, their hear- 
 Acute. jjig and sight in particular being very 
 
 :good, so that they can easily escape menacing dan- 
 ■gers. Being exceedingly shy, timid and fleet, they 
 try to gain their burrows with all possible speed at 
 the slightest alarm, or, if they cannot do this, they 
 seek safety in flight, proceeding with astonishing 
 •speed. The largest species, if driven to bay, defends 
 itself with its hind legs. Kangaroo-fashion, while the 
 -smaller ones never resort to their natural arms when 
 seized upon. Their voice consists of a kind of 
 whine, resembling the cries of young kittens, though 
 some. utter a hollow grunting noise; but they seldom 
 make any sound. When the temperature is low, 
 they enter into the hibernating state, or at least 
 become torpid for a little while, but they do not lay 
 up a store of provisions, like other Rodents. 
 
 Captive Jerboas make exceedingly agreeable and 
 pretty companions; their good-nature and gentle 
 ■and cheerful disposition render them general favor- 
 ites. 
 
 Nearly all kinds are entirely harmless. The open 
 desert offers them so much provender that they do 
 not make inroads on the property of Man. 
 
 THE JUMPING MOUSE. 
 
 The Jumping Mouse of North America {Jaculus 
 hudsonius) represents a distinct species and sub-fam- 
 ily. Its structure shows an affinity to its Old World 
 relatives, but its shape and the fur of the tail also 
 remind one of a Mouse. Its dimensions are about 
 the same as those of the Wood Mouse; its body is 
 about three inches long, its tail about five inches. 
 The fur is smooth and close, and the color of the 
 upper surface is a dark leather-brown, with an ad- 
 mixture of brownish yellow. 
 
 The Jumping Mouse is indigenous to the higher 
 latitudes of America. It is found throughout the 
 fur-producing region from Missouri to Labrador, 
 and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It lives on the 
 borders of meadows thickly grown with bushes and 
 in the proximity of forests, and remains hidden by 
 day but roams about with a large band of others of 
 its kind by night. Its burrows are about twenty 
 inches ' deep, and still deeper in the cold season. 
 Before the advent of winter it constructs a hollow 
 ball of clay, rolls itself up in it, curls its tail around 
 its body and lies in perfect lethargy till the begin- 
 ning of spring. A gardener, working out doors in 
 March, is said to have found a lump the size of a 
 child's bouncing ball which astonished him because 
 of its regular shape. When he had split it, in two 
 pieces with his spade, he found a small animal 
 curled up in it, nearly like a Chick in an egg. It 
 was a Jumping Mouse which had taken winter quar- 
 ters in this well enclosed retreat. In summer it is 
 exceedingly nimble and jumps about on its hind 
 legs with extraordinary quickness and agility. It 
 is said to be quite impossible to catch a Jumping 
 Mouse in a forest. It easily clears bushes which a 
 Man cannot readily jump over, and is never at a loss 
 to iind a secure hiding place. Audubon doubts 
 whether there is another mammal which can match 
 it in agility. According to many accounts this 
 pretty little animal can be kept in captivity without 
 any difficulty. 
 
 THE TRUE JERBOAS. 
 
 The True Jerboas {Dipodijice) we regard as types 
 -of the whole family, showing all the peculiarities in 
 
 the most perfect development. Hasselquist aptly 
 remarks that they look as if they were made up 
 from several different animals. "One might say 
 that the little animal had the head of a Hare, the 
 whiskers of a Squirrel, the snout of a Pig, the body 
 and the fore-paws of a Mouse, the hind feet of a 
 bird, and the tail of a Lion." The head is the most 
 prominent feature: one glance at it shows the Jer- 
 boa to be a true inhabitant of the desert. There is 
 ample room for all organs of sense. The ears are 
 large and membranous, and are but scantily covered 
 with hair. The eyes are large and their expression , 
 is mild and full of life, like those of some other noc- 
 turnal animals of the desert; the nostrils are wide, 
 and whiskers of prodigious length surround the head 
 on both sides, duly representing the sense of touch. 
 The neck is exceedingly short and but slightly 
 mobile. The tail is very long, being either a little 
 or much longer than the body.* The portion near 
 the base is round, but the extremity, in most spe- 
 cies, is adorned with a tuft, which is parted in such 
 a way as to resemble an arrow. The fore feet are of 
 small size, and in leaping they are folded against the 
 body and partly hidden in the fur, in a way which 
 justifies the animal's old appellation of "two- 
 footed." The fore-paws have only four toes, armed 
 with moderately long, curved and sharp claws and a 
 rudimentary thumb, which in some species has a 
 nail, and in others none. The hind legs are in some 
 species six times longer than the fore-legs,, gaining 
 these proportions not only because of the elongation 
 of the leg bones, but also from that of the instep or 
 metatarsus. The fur is soft and of silky texture, 
 and on the back the hairs are bluish gray at the 
 base, then sand-colored, and have tips of black or 
 dark brown; the under surface is always white, diver- 
 sified with longitudinal side streaks. It is a remark- 
 able fact that in many swift running animals, and 
 among them the Jerboas, the structure of the feet is 
 of the plainest type and they are but slightly mobile. 
 The jumping feet have three, four or five exceed- 
 ingly short toes, composed, as a rule, of only two 
 joints. The toes are incapable of lateral motion and 
 can only slightly bend downward, simultaneously. 
 In running only the extreme tip of the nail-joint 
 touches the ground, and that is specially protected 
 by a feathered mass of cartilage. 
 
 The Egyptian I select the Egyptian Jerboa {Dipus 
 Jerboa, the Typ- cBgypticus) as the representative of 
 ical Speoies. this species. It is an exceedingly 
 pretty little animal, with a body measuring nearly six 
 inches, while its tail, without the tuft, is nearly eight 
 and one-half inches long. The Jerboas, and' prob- 
 ably this very Egyptian species, were well known to 
 the ancients. We frequently find them mentioned 
 by Greek and Roman authors, always under the 
 appellation of "Two-Footed Mice," this being the 
 origin of the present scientific designation of the 
 species. 
 
 The Jerboa is distributed over the greater part of 
 northeastern Africa, as well as the adjoining part of 
 western Asia. Open, dry plains, steppes and sandy 
 deserts are its habitation. It populates the most 
 arid, deserted regions and lives in localities which 
 barely seem to afford the possibility of an existence. 
 On those dreary plains, covered with hard grass, 
 one occasionally finds it in large cominunities. It 
 shares those spots with the Desert Hen and the 
 little Desert Lark, and other birds, and it is difficult 
 to understand how it can find sustenance in compe- 
 tition with the others, which make but a scanty liv- 
 
THE JERBOAS— ALACT AG AS. 
 
 329 
 
 ing, although they feed on insects as well as seeds. 
 In the hard, pebbly ground the Jerboa digs tunnels 
 with many branches, but tolerably shallow, and re- 
 tires to them on the slightest alarm. 
 
 Hahita of the In spite of their large numbers these 
 Egyptian pretty animals are rarely seen, for 
 Jerboa. they are restless and timid and at 
 the slightest noise or at the appearance of a strange 
 object they repair to, their holes in a great hurry. 
 The movements of these Jerboas succeed each other 
 with a speed bordering on the miraculous; they 
 apparently become birds. No Man can overtake a 
 Jerboa engaged in full flight. Though the Jerboa is 
 a truly nocturnal animal, and begins its wanderings 
 only.after sunset, it. may sometimes be seen in broad 
 sunlight, sitting at or playing about the entrance of 
 its burrow during the noonday heat. It exhibits an 
 indifference towards the glowing heat of the Afri- 
 can sun, which is really admirable; for hardly an- 
 other animal stirs in the desert at this time, as the 
 burning heat becomes simply unbearable even to 
 the native children of that elevated region. On the 
 other hand the Jerboa is 
 highly sensitive to cold 
 and moisture, and there- 
 fore always keeps in hid- 
 ing in its hole when the 
 weather is bad, and it may 
 temporarily enter into a 
 state of torpidity, which 
 resembles the hibernation 
 of northern animals. 
 
 There is nothing definite 
 known about the propaga- 
 tion of the Jerboa. The 
 Arabs hunt it diligently, 
 for its flesh is much es- 
 teemed by them; they 
 catch it alive without any 
 special trouble, or kill it as 
 it comes out of its burrow. 
 
 These animals have few 
 enemies besides Man. The 
 Fennec and the Caracal, 
 and perhaps some few 
 species of Owls are the 
 worst among the foes that 
 lurk for the Jerboas, but 
 
 fer visibly, and ultimately die. If one gives them 
 wheat, rice, a little milk, and occasionally a grape, a 
 piece of an apple, a carrot or some other fruit, they 
 feel and keep well a long time, and their interesting 
 doings amply repay the slight attentions they need. 
 
 THE ALACTAGAS. 
 
 The sub- family of the Alactagas {Scirtetes) differ 
 from the true Jerboas in the structure of the skull, 
 the teeth and especially the hind-legs. A long and 
 strong metatarsal bone is there, but on both its sides 
 are smaller ones, which support rudimentary toes. 
 This arrangement renders the hind foot five-toed in 
 reality, for the large bone is connected to three toes 
 and each of the lateral bones to one toe. 
 
 By the excellent descriptions of Pallas, Brandt 
 and others, the Alactaga of the Mongolians {Scirte- 
 tes jaculus) is the species that is best known to us. 
 This animal is of about the same dimensions as a 
 Squirrel; its body is about seven inches long, its tail 
 ten and one-half inches, and its ears are as long as 
 its head. The prominent eyes have circular pupils. 
 
 THE ALACTAGA This inhabitant of the steppes of Asia and southeastern Europe resembles the Jer- 
 boas in many respects, biit the stronger thigh bones enable it to run on its two hind legs at a pace even more 
 rapid than that of the Jerboas. (Scirtetes jaculus.) 
 
 the Egyptian Cobra di 
 Capello is probably more dangerous to them. This 
 :reptile lives in the same localities inhabited by the 
 Jerboas, easily penetrates into the tunnels which the 
 latter construct, and kills a great number of them. 
 How Jerboas Europeans versed in zoological mat- 
 Act in Cap- ters and living in Egypt and Algeria, 
 tiuity. often keep Jerboas. I can assert 
 
 from my own experience that the animal affords 
 •great pleasure when kept in a cage or room. Dur- 
 ing my sojourn in Africa I was often given frorn ten 
 to twelve Jerboas at a time. I was wont to give a 
 whole chamber up to these animals, so as to be able 
 to observe their actions. The captive animals would 
 show themselves to be harmless and friendly from 
 the very first. They suffered themselves to be 
 touched, and did not try to evade any person who 
 came near them. When walking in their room 
 care was necessary to avoid stepping on them, for 
 they calmly remained sitting when one approached 
 them. Toward each other the Jerboas preserve an 
 admirably peaceful and sociable temper in captivity. 
 They are' accustomed to scanty and dry food, and if 
 ■entirely denied dry food they lose their spirits, suf- 
 
 The hind legs 
 fore-legs. 
 
 Range and 
 
 Habits of the 
 
 Alactaga. 
 
 Crimea, Asia 
 
 are nearly four times as long as the 
 
 Though the Alactaga is found also 
 in southeastern Europe, especially 
 in the steppes of the Don and in the 
 is its real home. It does not range 
 farther north than fifty-second parallel of north lati- 
 tude; and in the other direction it is found as far to 
 the southeast as eastern Mongolia. 
 
 As the Jerboa inhabits the African deserts, so does 
 the Alactaga exist in the steppes of southern Eu- 
 rope and Asia. It lives gregariously like its kind, 
 but not in great conlmunities. By day it rests hid- 
 den in its artfully constructed burrow, at nightfall it 
 sallies forth, but repeatedly returns to its hole dur- 
 ing the hours of darkness. Its movements resemble 
 those of the other members of its family which we 
 have already described. When it is unmolested and 
 engaged in its quest for food, it runs on all fours 
 after the manner of a feeding Kangaroo; but when 
 alarmed or pursued it makes its escape by long 
 bounds, using the hind-legs alone. Its leaps are said 
 to exceed those of the Jerboas; and the animal in 
 full flight proceeds with such speed that the swiftest 
 
330 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 Horse, it is claimed, is unable to overtake it. Shy 
 and timid as it is, it retreats at the slightest alarm; 
 and even when quietly feeding, it frequently rises 
 upon its hinder limbs to look around. When pur- 
 sued, it does not flee in a straight line, but bounds 
 away, making many doubles and turns until it tires 
 out its pursuers or has found some convenient hole 
 in which to hide. 
 
 The Alactaga feeds on all kinds of plants and 
 vegetable substances. Bulbs and roots form its 
 principal sustenance, but it does not disdain insects 
 and it may also devour an occasional Desert Lark, 
 or at least its eggs or young. It gnaws the bark 
 from shrubs, but of the juicy steppe plants it eats 
 only the tenderest shoots. At the approach of 
 severe frost the Alactaga goes into winter quarters. 
 Later in the season it closes the entrances of its tun- 
 nels more carefully than before, and together with 
 others of its kind it curls up into a ball, in the softly 
 lined chamber, and begins its winter sleep. 
 
 Account The Alactaga is an object of a great 
 of a Captive deal of pursuit, as the inhabitants of 
 Alactaga. t^g steppes are very fond of its flesh 
 The nomads of those regions very rarely keep an 
 Alactaga in captivity, though it endures confine- 
 ment quite well. It has several times been kept in 
 Europe, not for pleasure only, but for use as well. 
 Strangely enough, we are indebted for the best 
 description of the animal not to a naturalist, "but to 
 the antiquary Haym. In order to interpret a gold 
 coin of Cyrene, which on one side presented a Man 
 on horseback and on the other the well-known 
 plant Silphium and under it an Alactaga, Haym pro- 
 cured one of the little animals, kept it over a year, 
 during which time he carefully observed it and then 
 made public the result of his observations. 
 
 For the first three or four months it ate nothing 
 but almonds, pistachios and rough ground corn, 
 abstaining entirely from water; later it fed on apples, 
 carrots and plants, selecting only those having but 
 little odor, such as spinach, lettuce, nettles, etc., 
 and it acquired a taste for an occasio.nal drink of 
 water. It was partial to bread, sugar and similar 
 food, but obstinately refused cheese and all other 
 diet made from or containing milk. Ultimately it 
 preferred hemp seed to anything else. It was free 
 from the disagreeable odor which so often ema- 
 nates from similar animals, such as Mice, Squirrels 
 and Rabbits. It had so gentle a disposition that 
 one could safely handle it; it never attacked any 
 one. Timorous as a Hare, it was afraid of even 
 smaller, harmless animals. It suffered much from 
 cold during the winter and it was necessary to keep 
 it near the fire during that season. 
 
 THE JUMPING HARE. 
 
 The Jumping Hare {Pedetes caffer), which is re- 
 garded as representing a distinct sub-family, materi- 
 ally differs from the other Dipodidae in its dentition, 
 and also to a less degree in other characteristics. 
 The body is elongated, gradually growing stouter 
 towards its hinder quarters. The neck is fairly 
 thick, but distinct from the body and much more 
 mobile than the necks of its relatives. The fore- 
 legs are very short, but much stronger than those of 
 the true Jerboas, and the toes of the fore-feet, five 
 in number, are armed with strong, long and sharply 
 curved claws. The hinder limbs are long, vigorous 
 and formed for jumping. The hind feet have four 
 toes attached to distinct metatarsal bones, and pro- 
 vided with strong, broad nails, which are rather 
 
 short and nearly hoof-like. The middle toe sur^ 
 passes the others in length; the short outer toe is. 
 situated so high upon the foot that it hardly reaches 
 the ground. The tail is very long, strong and bushy; 
 it is slender at its base, but appears larger towards 
 the end by reason of the thickness of the encom- 
 passing fur, and it terminates in a blunt-pointed 
 tuft of hair. The fur is long, thickset, copious and 
 soft, its coloring resembling that of the Common 
 Hare, the upper surface being of a dull, rusty, 
 brownish-yellow hue, witji an admixture of black, 
 many of the hairs having black tips. The under 
 surface is white. The proportions of the body of 
 the animal are about the same as those of the Hare, 
 it measuring about twenty- four inches from the tip 
 of the nose to the root of the tail; the tail is slightly 
 longer than the body. 
 
 Range and Habits The Jumping Hare inhabits sterile 
 of Jumping regions and even desert-like plains. 
 Hares. jt jg distributed over a great part of 
 
 southern Africa, being found in the western portions 
 of that district as far north as Angola, and in the 
 eastern portions its range extends as far as the 
 German possessions of eastern Africa. In Cape 
 Colony it is quite frequently encountered, occurring 
 in mountainous localities as well as open plalins, and 
 sometimes congregating in such numbers as to form 
 considerable settlements. After the manner of the 
 other species of the family it digs long, subterranean 
 tunnels near the surface of the earth leading, after 
 frequent ramifications, to a deeper chamber. Usu- 
 ally several couples or entire faniilies inhabit one 
 burrow. 
 
 The Jumping Hare carries its food to its mouth 
 with the fore-paws, after the manner of the true Jer- 
 boas. In proportion to the sloth of its movements 
 when it proceeds on all fours, is the rapidity of its 
 course when its mode of progression is a series of long 
 and powerful jumps. It springs into the air by means 
 of its long hind legs and alights without falling for- 
 ward. During flight the fore-legs are folded against 
 the chest. The usual length of its leaps is from two 
 to three yards, but when it is pursued it increases its 
 exertions to such an extent that the average dis- 
 tance covered is from six to ten yards. 
 
 In the rainy season it retreats to its burrow and 
 the entire colony remains there curled up and closely 
 huddled together. The Jumping Hare endures cap- 
 tivity well and will live for a long time if it receives 
 proper treatment. It soon becomes tame and famil-: 
 iar with its keeper. Its cleanly habits make it a fa- 
 vorite and the procuring of its proper diet is a matter 
 of no difficulty: wheat, bread, lettuce and cabbage 
 are entirely sufficient for its sustenance. 
 
 The Dutch settlers of south Africa are very fond 
 of hunting this animal; for its flesh is esteemed for 
 the table and its fur is used in the manufacture of 
 various articles of wearing apparel. 
 
 ^be fiDice. 
 
 FIFTH FArtlLY: Murid^. 
 
 No other family of the order affords us so advan- 
 tageous and complete an opportunity to become 
 ^thoroughly acquainted with the Rodents as does 
 that which comprises the Mice. This family is not 
 only the richest in species and varieties but also by 
 far the most widely distributed, and, owing to its 
 association with Man, it is constantly gaining a more 
 
THE MICE. 
 
 331 
 
 extensive range, at least so far as concerns some of 
 its species. The individuals of the family are 
 commonly small, but what they lack in size they 
 more than compensate in numbers. To outline a 
 general description of the whole family it may be 
 said that their distinguishing characteristics are: a 
 pointed muzzle; large black eyes; wide, deeply con- 
 cave ears with a scanty covering of hair; a long tail 
 sometimes covered with hair or quite as often bare 
 and showing scales; slender legs, terminating in 
 graceful, narrow, five-toed paws; and a short soft 
 fur. Many Mice, however, in the exhibition of some 
 characteristic, show an affinity to other families of 
 the order: thus a bristly, outer fur may recall the 
 Porcupine; genuine swimming feet, short ears and 
 feet may remind us of the Beavers; a bushy tail of 
 the Squirrels, etc. The structure of the teeth in 
 these aberrant species corresponds more or less with 
 the variations of the typical shape. 
 
 
 with but scanty supply of grass and shrubs, furnish 
 them subsistence. Some shun the proximity of 
 human settlements, others intrude upon and follow 
 Man wherever he goes to make his home, even 
 though it be across the ocean. They infest house 
 and yard, barn and stable, garden and field, meadow 
 and forest, carrying devastation everywhere with 
 their destructive teeth. But a small portion of the 
 family live singly or in couples, the majority being 
 of gregarious habits, and some species occasionally 
 increase to immense numbers. Nearly all are ex- 
 ceedingly fecund, the number of young in a single 
 litter rd,nging between six and twenty -one; the ma- 
 jority have several litters a year, breeding even in 
 winter. 
 
 Principal Mice are an especial annoyance to 
 
 Traits of the Man, their characteristics appearing 
 
 '^'°^- to fit them in an unusual degree for 
 
 the infliction of damage upon his possessions. Quick 
 
 THE JUMPING HABE. While resembling the Jerboa in the remarkable elongation of its hind legs as compared with its fore limbs, the 
 
 Jumping Hare is a much larger and stronger animal. It creeps on all fours when searching for food, but when it wishes to travel rapidly it uses the 
 hind legs alone, making enormous leaps after the manner of the animals pictured here. (Pedetes coffer.) 
 
 Uice now Distrib- Mice are cosmopolitan, but unfortu- 
 utedin all Coun- nately not in a good sense. All con- 
 triea. tinents are inhabited by members of 
 
 the family and those happy islands (if such there 
 te) which so far have been spared their visitation, 
 "will in course of time be populated by one or other 
 of the numerous species. Mice, by reason of their 
 migratory propensities, have secured foothold in all 
 countries and climes, and though they prefer the 
 balmy breezes of the plains of temperate or warm 
 countries to the rigorous climate of high mountains 
 or the cold of the far north, still they may be found 
 in altitudes marking the boundary line between 
 vegetation and the perpetual snow of the mountains. 
 Well cultivated localities, fruit fields and gardens 
 undoubtedly are their favorite haunts, but swampy 
 regions, banks of rivers and small streams also afford 
 •them food and shelter, and even arid, dry plains, 
 
 of movement, they are excellent runners, jumpers, 
 climbers and swimmers; they know how to insinu- 
 ate themselves into the smallest apertures or, if 
 they find no ready made avenue of admission, they 
 open a way by means of their sharp teeth. They 
 are usually moderately sagacious and prudent, but 
 sometimes bold, impudent and cunning; all their 
 senses are well developed, though those of smell 
 and hearing are far superior to the others. Their 
 food consists of all eatable substances of the vege- 
 table and animal world. Seeds, fruits, roots, barks, 
 herbs, grasses and buds, all contribute to their sus- 
 tenance, and are devoured by them with no less 
 avidity than are insects, meat, tallow, blood and 
 milk, butter and cheese, skin and bones; and what- 
 ever substances they cannot eat, they at least gnaw 
 and perforate with their teeth, such as paper and 
 wood. Water they seldom drink ; on the other 
 
332 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 hand, they are extremely fond of liquids of a more 
 substantial character and often exercise great in- 
 genuity in obtaining access to them. They destroy 
 much more than they eat, and hence are among the 
 most detested plagues of mankind. A few of them 
 are harmless, innocent animals, and have found favor 
 in our sight by reason of their graceful movements, 
 symmetrical shape and prepossessing habits. These 
 exceptions are principally found among the archi- 
 tects of the family. They construct the most ingen- 
 ious nests of any of the inferior mammals and do not 
 annoy Man much, as their numbers are few and they 
 commit little depredation when seeking food. Some 
 species that mhabit cold and temperate countries, 
 hibernate and store away winter provisions; others 
 temporarily migrate in immense numbers, their wan- 
 derings usually leading them to their death. 
 
 Few species are capable of domestication. Only 
 a very small number are tractable, or responsive to 
 kindness. The others, even after long captivity and 
 continued efforts for their reclamation, remain but 
 treacherous creatures, addicted to biting and badly 
 repaying the friendship and care bestowed upon 
 them. Mice are never really useful; for even though 
 the skin of a few species may be employed for vari- 
 ous purposes or the flesh of other species eaten, 
 the benefit derived from both of these uses is not 
 worthy of consideration in comparison with the 
 extreme harmfulness of the entire family. 
 
 RUNNING MICE. 
 
 The Running Mice (^Merionidince) are separated 
 from the rest as a distinct sub-family. 
 
 They are confined in habitat to Africa, southern 
 Asia and southeastern Europe. They preferably in- 
 habit cultivated districts, but are also found in the 
 most arid plains and steppes, often in extraordinary 
 numbers. The majority dig rather shallow, under- 
 ground burrows in which they spend the day. Their 
 movements are exceedingly quick and some are said 
 to be able to make jumps of considerable length. 
 
 On account of the devastations which the Meri- 
 onidinae cause in the fields, they are detested and 
 pursued to extermination by the inhabitants of those 
 countries which they infest, as are Rats with us. 
 
 The Sand Rat, The Sand Rat {Psammomys obesus) 
 Common in attains about the same size as the 
 Egypt. Common Brown Rat, but its tail is 
 
 much shorter, measuring only five inches, the, total 
 length of the animal being nearly thirteen inches. 
 The upper parts are of a ruddy sand color, sprinkled 
 with black; the flanks and under surface are light 
 yellow. - 
 
 In Egypt this Mouse is seen in the sandy parts 
 of the desert, being particularly frequent on the 
 mounds of rubbish which surround all the cities of 
 the land, of the Pharaohs. It burrows out rather 
 deep, branching tunnels and passages, preferably 
 under and between the low shrubs and the few 
 creeping plants, which afford its habitation a scanty 
 covering and at the same time give it its daily food. 
 As it is not nocturnal in its habits and often emerges 
 from its burrow during the daytime, one can easily 
 observe it. Frequently ten to fifteen are seen frisk- 
 ing about, playing with one another or nibbling at a 
 plant. The Sand Rat is one of the prettiest of the 
 Rodents. It can easily be domesticated and be- 
 comes very tame, leaves its cage, runs fearlessly 
 about in the presence of Man, and suffers itself to 
 be handled without exhibiting any vicious propensi- 
 ties. Its large and not very prominent eyes and its 
 
 beautiful fur contribute much to the agreeable im- 
 pression it produces on the spectator; even its tail> 
 with its close fur and black tuft at the tip, is quite 
 ornamental. 
 
 THE MICE PROPER. 
 
 The real types of the family, the Mice proper 
 {MurincB), are only too well and too widely knowa 
 in respect to their habits and their activity. To' 
 them belong those species which have spread all 
 over the globe in the wake of Man and are at pres- 
 ent established on even the most remote islands. 
 This migration of the animals over the world took 
 place not so very long ago; in many localities the 
 year in which they first made their appearance is- 
 yet within memory of living Men; but nowadays, 
 they have completed their tour around the world.. 
 Nowhere is Man grateful to them for the unalter- 
 able attachment they exhibit towards his persoa 
 and his home ; everywhere he detests and pur- 
 sues them without mercy and resorts to all kinds 
 of devices to rid himself ' of them: and still their 
 predilection remains unchanged, and they cling to 
 him more persistently than a Dog or any other 
 animal. Unfortunately these tenacious domestic 
 friends are detestable thieves which know how to 
 insinuate themselves anywhere with the help of 
 their rascally tools, and cause their host nothing but 
 damage and loss. This is the reason why all true. 
 Mice are stigmatized as ugly, nasty animals, though 
 in reality they are by no means such, but it must, on 
 the contrary, be confessed that they are good-look- 
 ing, graceful and pretty creatures. 
 
 The Distinctiue Even in common parlance we distin- 
 
 Features of Rats guish two main groups, the Rats and 
 
 and Mice. the Mice, and science adopts this ^ 
 
 distinction. The Rats are the clumsier and uglier 
 
 forms, the Mice the lighter and daintier ones. The- 
 
 tail of the former shows between two hundred and 
 
 two hundred and sixty scaly rings, the tail of the 
 
 latter only between one hundred and twenty and 
 
 one hundred and eighty, the feet of the first are.- 
 
 thick and stout, those of the second slender and deli- 
 
 . cate, and the full-grown Rats are considerably larger 
 
 than their more prepossessing relatives. 
 
 Original We may assume with tolerable safety- 
 Homeofthe that the Rats which at present are 
 Rats. settled in Europe, were not origi- 
 
 nally indigenous to the continent, but immigrated. 
 In the works of the ancients there is only one place 
 in which it is probable that the animals mentioned 
 were identical with our Rats; and in this one in- 
 stance it is not clear which species were meant by 
 Amyntas, whose accounts are quoted by yElian. It 
 has been proven that the Black Rat appeared first 
 in Germany and other parts of Europe; it was fol- 
 lowed by the Brown Rat and then quite recently by 
 the Egyptian Rat {Jlliis a/exandrinus). The Brown 
 Rat, however, being the strongest of all, drove out 
 and almost exterminated the other species and has 
 obtained supremacy nearly everywhere. Let us 
 hope that we may not have to deal with other mem- 
 bers of the family, which are given to migration, 
 and in particular that we will be spared the immi- 
 gration of the Hamster Rat {Mtis or Cricetomys gam- 
 bianus), which by far surpasses our Rats not only in 
 size but also in respect to its activity, and at pres- 
 ent worries the merchants of Zanzibar more than all 
 European Rats together. If that animal should elect 
 to visit us, then truly would we know what mischief 
 a Rat can accomplish! 
 
THE MICE—MICE PROPER. 
 
 333 
 
 It is sufficient for the present to describe the two 
 
 best known species, the Black and the Brown Rat. 
 
 The Black Rat— The Black Rat {Mus rattus) attains a 
 
 its Origin and length of body of six and one-half 
 
 Peculiarities. inches, and a length of tail of seven 
 
 and one-half inches, or a total length of fourteen 
 
 ''I Kvvm ' 
 
 I ' ' I 
 
 IJ 
 
 It is still distributed sparsely over nearly all parts of 
 the globe, however. It rarely occurs in Europe in 
 compact bodies, existing nearly everywhere it is 
 found at all in small, straggling and widely dis- 
 persed colonies. In Germany it seems to be nearly 
 extinct; but there are yet a few places infested by 
 
 it, such as Bremen and 
 
 
 THE BLACK BAT Th s was formerly the nost comii on of the Rats n Europe and unt 1 the invasion of 
 
 the Brown Rat the most form dable It is st 11 found not only n Europe but also n Asn Amer ca and nearly all 
 parts of the world. Its vicious head, coarse fur and scaly, hairless tail are well depicted here. (Mus ratius.) 
 
 inches. Its upper surface is dark brownish black, 
 the lower parts being of a somewhat lig'hter grayish 
 Wack hue. The feet are of a grayish brown tint, 
 slightly lighter on the sides. The relatively slen- 
 der tail shows from two hundred and sixty to two 
 hundred and seventy 
 scaly rings. White in- 
 dividuals are not un- 
 common. 
 
 The time when this 
 species first appeared 
 in Europe cannot be 
 •definitely determined. 
 Albertus Magnus is 
 the first naturalist to 
 mention it as a Ger- 
 man animal ; conse- 
 quently it was a com- 
 mon animal as early 
 as the thirteenth cen- 
 tury. Gesner speaks 
 of it as being "an 
 animal that is better 
 known to many than 
 is agreeable to them;" 
 the bishop of Autun 
 excommunicated 
 it from the church in 
 the beginning of the 
 "fifteenth century. 
 Possibly it originally 
 came from Persia 
 where it still exists in 
 
 Brodigious numbers, 
 p to the first half of the last century it reigned 
 alone in Europe; since that time the Brown Rat 
 has contested the field and has been so success- 
 ful that the Black Rat has been oGliged to recede. 
 
 Luneburg in northwest- 
 ern Germany, and Rud- 
 olstadt in Thuringia. It 
 has followed Man into 
 all climes of the globe, 
 wandering through the 
 world over land and sea. 
 Undoubtedly it was not 
 indigenous to America, 
 Australia and Africa; 
 but ships conveyed it to 
 all coasts and from the 
 coasts it penetrated far- 
 ther and farther inland. 
 At present it is found in 
 the southern parts of 
 Asia, especially India; 
 in Africa, especially in 
 Egypt, Barbary and the 
 Cape of Good Hope; in 
 parts of America, in Aus- 
 tralia and the islands of 
 the Pacific. 
 
 The Brown The Brown 
 Rat— its origin, Rat {Mus 
 ^*°- decumanus) 
 
 is considerably larger, measuring nearly seventeen 
 inches, inclusive of the tail, which is seven inches 
 long. Its color is different on the upper surface 
 from that of the lower parts of the body, the upper 
 parts being a brownish gray; the under parts grayish 
 
 THE BBOWII BAT. The animal snown in tne picture is oniy too lamiliar. Originally a native of India, he has, 
 
 during the past two centuries overrun all lands, driving out the weaker Black Rat. The animal in the picture has evi- 
 dently been despoiling the poultry yard. Rats of this species are the most destructive of all Rodents. (Mus decumanus.') 
 
 white, the line of demarcation being quite sharply 
 defined. The tail has, approximately, two hundred 
 and ten scaly rings. The upper surface of the fore- 
 feet sometimes shows short, fine brownish hairs; 
 
334 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 black specimens, white ones with red eyes (true albi- 
 nos), dull or pied individuals, also occur. The lat- 
 ter are either black and white, or gray and white, 
 and nearly always the head, neck, shoulders and 
 fore-feet, together with a wider or narrower stripe on 
 the back, are black or gray, the rest being white. 
 The Brown Rat a It is very probable that the Brown 
 
 Formidable Rat came to us from some portion 
 Pest. of Asia, namely, India or Persia. 
 
 Pallas is the first to describe the Brown Rat as an 
 European animal and says that it invaded Europe 
 in immense hordes in the autumn of 1727 after an 
 earthquake, coming from the Caspian country. At 
 that time it crossed the Volga at Astrakhan in enor- 
 mous numbers and rapidly spread westward. Nearly 
 at the same time, namely in 1732, it was conveyed 
 to England from East India in ships, and thence it 
 began its tour over the world. In eastern Prussia 
 it appeared in 1750, in Paris in 1753, in Germany it 
 was common in 1780; in Switzerland it has been 
 known since 1809, and in Denmark it gained a foot- 
 hold at about the same time. In 1755 it was carried 
 to North America and there also it multiplied at a 
 wonderfully rapid rate; still it had not spread much 
 farther than Kingston in Upper Canada in 1825, and 
 more recently still it had not reached the regions 
 about the upper Missouri. It is distributed, how- 
 ever, over all the islands of the Pacific, even the very 
 remotest and most solitary of them. Being larger 
 and stronger than the Black Rat, it invades the 
 localities where the latter formerly lived in peace, 
 and its numbers are on the increase, as those of the 
 latter diminish. 
 
 Similar Habits of The two species agree so closely as 
 the Brown and to their mode of life and habits that 
 
 Black Rats. i\iq description of one almost ex- 
 actly fits the other. If it be noted that the Brown 
 Rat settles more in the lower parts of buildings, 
 especially in damp cellars and vaults, in sewers, 
 sluices, cess-pools, drains, and along the banks of 
 rivers, while the Black Rat prefers the upper part 
 of the house, corn-lofts, garrets, etc., little will be 
 left that is not a common attribute of both. Both 
 species of this vermin inhabit all available apart- 
 ments of a human habitation and all imaginable 
 places holding out a promise of food. They can be 
 found from the cellar to the garret, from the draw- 
 ing-room to the closet, and in both palace and hovel. 
 Neither fence nor wall, neither door nor lock insures 
 protection from them; where there is no ready-made 
 way they open one; they gnaw and dig passages 
 through the strongest oaken timber or the thickest 
 wall. Only when one sinks foundation walls deep 
 into the ground, closes all crevices between the 
 stones with hard cement and takes the precaution of 
 putting a layer of broken glass between the stones 
 is a building tolerably safe from their intrusion. 
 
 Vicious Pro- And yet the destruction of dwell- 
 pensities of the ings, the abominable undermining 
 
 Brown Rat. of and digging through walls, is the 
 smallest of the misdeeds of which the Rats are 
 guilty. The damage they cause by their feeding is 
 much more considerable; anything eatable is accept- 
 able to them. Man eats nothing that Rats will not 
 partake of, and they do not stop short at eating, 
 but go further and share many of his beverages. 
 Were they to become drunk on alcoholic liquors 
 they could be charged with helping to consume all 
 articles of food and drink of which mankind makes 
 use. Not contented with so multifarious a bill of 
 fare, the Rats greedily attack other substances, not 
 
 sparing living creatures. The foulest offal of the 
 domestic economy is occasionally eaten by Rats, 
 and decomposing carcasses are acceptable to some 
 of them. They eat leather and horn, grain and the 
 bark of trees; no imaginable vegetable substance 
 comes amiss and what they cannot eat they gnaw" 
 and destroy. Sometimes they commit serious dep- 
 redations in plantations of 'Sugar-cane and coffee. 
 There are also authenticated cases on record where 
 they have attacked and attempted to devour small 
 children, and every farmer knows how they prey^ 
 upon domestic animals. They eat holes into the 
 bodies of very fat Pigs; they eat the webs between 
 the toes of closely penned-in Geese; they drag- 
 young Ducklings into the water and drown them. 
 Hagenbeck, the dealer in animals, had three young^ 
 African Elephants killed by them, the Rats gnaw- 
 ing through the soles of those powerful animals. 
 
 Great Audacity When they abnormally multiply in a 
 of the Rat locality they become very formid- 
 Family. able, and there are places where they, 
 
 appear in numbers which almost exceed belief. In 
 Paris sixteen thousand Rats were killed in four 
 weeks in a single slaughter-house, and in a place for 
 flaying dead animals near the same city they de- 
 voured thirty-five Horses' carcasses to the bones in 
 a single night. As soon as they perceive that Man 
 is helpless against them their audacity increases 
 amazingly. Las Casas tells us that on the 27th of 
 June, 1816, Napoleon and his companions on St. 
 Helena were left without breakfast, as the Rats had 
 invaded the kitchen on the preceding night and de- 
 voured everything. They existed there in great num- 
 bers and were vicious and exceedingly impudent. 
 It usually took them but a few days to gnaw through 
 the walls and planks of the slightly-built houses of 
 the Emper(^r. During meals they entered the din- 
 ing-room and at the conclusion of dinner a regular 
 war was waged against them. The Emperor's at- 
 tendants had to abandon the keeping of poultry, as 
 the Rats would eat the fowls. They even succeeded 
 in stealing the poultry from the trees on which they 
 perched during the night. In the large depots or 
 repositories of merchandise on the coasts of remote 
 countries they usually make a lodgment coinci- 
 dently with the removal of goods from the trading- 
 ships, and are a grievous nuisance, frequently caus- 
 ifig serious damage. All travelers, and especially 
 collectors, complain that many objects, some of 
 them very rare and obtained with great pains, are 
 destroyed by these pests. How effectually they 
 disturb one's sleep at night by their savage conflicts 
 and noisy scamperings over the ground, the walls 
 and the roofs, is well known by every one. 
 Rats a Source of Sailors, particularly, are badly off in 
 
 Annoyance on this respect, for there is no ship- 
 Shipboard. without Rats. On old vessels they 
 cannot be exterminated, and of new ones they take 
 possession when the first cargo is brought on board. 
 On long voyages, especially when they have enough, 
 to eat, they increase considerably, and then one can 
 scarcely endure life on board. When Kane's ship' 
 was frozen near the Both parallel of north latitude 
 on his arctic voyage, the Rats increased so prodig- 
 iously that they caused grievous damage. 
 
 The Rats are experts in all physical exercises. 
 They run quickly, climb excellently, even up toler- 
 ably smooth walls, swim in masterly fashion, jump- 
 far and with precision, and dig fairly well, though 
 they do not exhibit much endurance in the last 
 accomplishment. The stronger Brown Rat in all 
 
THE MICE— MICE PROPER. 
 
 335 
 
 these regards seems to surpass the Black Rat; at 
 least it is a much better swimmer. It can dive 
 nearly as well as a truly aquatic animal. 
 
 Development Among the senses of the Rats, hear- 
 of the Phyaical ing and sight stand foremost; the 
 Senses of Rats, former is especially excellent, and 
 sight also is highly developed. Their acuteness of 
 taste is but too often exhibited in pantries, where the 
 Rats always select the choicest morsels. As to their 
 intellectual capacities there is little to say. One 
 certainly cannot deny that they are possessed of 
 reasoning power, and, still more, of calculating sly- 
 
 THE COTTON BAT, Among the native species of Rats found in this country is the Cotton 
 
 Rat, found in the southern states. Like tlie Black Rat, its numbers are diminishing as those of the 
 Brown Rat increase. (Sigmodon hisfidus^ 
 
 ness'and a certain craftiness with the help of which 
 they escape from dangers of the most varied kinds. 
 There have been several accounts of the way in 
 which they remove eggs unbroken. Doubts as to 
 their manner of proceedings are no longer justified, 
 since a Man like K. von Dalla Torre related the fol- 
 lowing incident in 1880, witnessed by himself: "In 
 the cellar of a house at Innsbruck, eggs, which were 
 kept there, were repeatedly found missing this win- 
 ter. Suspicion pointed to the servant girl, who did 
 all she could to prove her innocence, but in vain. 
 In this plight she bethought herself of watching for 
 the thief and by this means she wit- 
 nessed the cunning with which the 
 Rats got at the eggs. The eggs 
 lay piled up in a loose heap, and a 
 greedy Rat emerged from a hole, 
 soon followed by another. The 
 first seized an egg with its fore- 
 paws, and with the aid of the other 
 Rat, pushed it to one side as far as 
 a few gentle shoves would carry it. 
 Then the first Rat hugged it with 
 its fore-limbs, after the method 
 by which Spiders carry their e^^^ 
 pouches. Of course this Rat could 
 move himself no further, his fore- 
 legs being employed in holding the 
 &gg. Then the second Rat seized 
 the tail of the first with its mouth 
 and with apparent ease quickly pulled its compan- 
 ion toward the hole whence they had issued. The 
 whole proceeding, which, concluding from the num- 
 ber of missing eggs, was the result of considerable 
 practice, lasted barely two minutes; one hour after 
 the thievish couple had first appeared on the scene, 
 they reappeared, undoubtedly with the same inten- 
 tion. By the kindness of the family, in whose 
 house the incident happened, I had the opportunity 
 of being an eye-witness to this mode of theft, which. 
 
 according to the assurances of the servant girl, was 
 always accomplished in the same manner." 
 Birth and Deuel- Rats are exceedingly prolific ani- 
 opment of Young mals. The female gives birth to 
 Rats. from five to twenty-two young Rats, 
 
 which are charming little creatures, and would 
 please anybody if they did not happen to be Rats. 
 "On the 1st of March, 1852," says Dehne, "a white 
 Rat in my possession had seven young. She had 
 built a snug nest of straw in her wire cage. The 
 young were as large as May Bugs and of a blood- 
 red color. At every movement of the mother they 
 uttered a shrill, piping, squeaking 
 sound. On the 8th their color had 
 already become tolerably white; 
 from the 13th to the i6th they 
 ceased to be blind. On the night 
 of the i8th they came out for the 
 first time; but when the mother 
 saw that they were observed, she 
 took one after another into her 
 mouth and carried them into the 
 nest. Some of them emerged from 
 another hole, however. Charming 
 little animals they were, of the 
 size of a Harvest Mouse and with 
 tails about three inches long. On 
 the 2 1st they had already attained 
 the size of Common Mice, and on 
 the 28th that of Wood Mice. They 
 were still occasionally suckled by 
 the mother, played and romped in the most enter- 
 taining manner, sitting on their mother's back and 
 letting her carry them about. They were a great 
 deal more amusing to watch than white Mice." 
 
 Rats Easily Rats which are closely confined and 
 Domesticated and well cared for become so tame that 
 Tamed. they not only suffer themselves to be 
 
 touched or used as playthings by children, but be- 
 come accustomed, to come and go in house, yard 
 and garden, follow their keepers about like Dogs, 
 respond to calls, in short, become domestic animals 
 in the true sense of the word. 
 
 FLORIDA WOOD RAT, An indigenous species of Rat which, while especially numerous in 
 
 the south is distributed over nearly all parts of the country east of the Rocky Mountains. It is a large 
 Rat, yellowish brown above, white below. {_Neotomaftoridana.) 
 
 Rats Subject to In the natural state Rats are some- 
 Peculiar Disease — times subject to a peculiar disease 
 
 the "King Rat." which causes the tails of several Rats 
 to grow together and then they form the so-called 
 "King Rat," which was formerly imagined to be 
 something quite different from what it is now known 
 to be. One can occasionally see it in some of the 
 museums. In olden times it was popularly believed 
 that the King Rat, adorned with a golden crown, sat 
 enthroned on a group of Rats thus grown together, 
 
336 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 and thence ruled over a kingdom of Rats. It is true 
 that one sometifnes encounters a group of Rats the 
 tails of which are permanently joined together and 
 which, being unable to move, are fed by compassion- 
 ate individuals of their own kind. It is believed 
 that a contagious disease causes an exudation of 
 serum on the surface of the tails, and, in conse- 
 quence of the change of this serum into organized 
 cell (or muscle) tissue, the tails coalesce and grow 
 together; but nothing definite has yet been estab- 
 lished on this score. In Altenburg, Germany, the 
 remains of a King Rat which is formed of twenty- 
 seven Rats is preserved in a collection of curiosities; 
 others have been found in other portions of Ger- 
 many, notably at Bonn, near Schnepfenthal, in 
 Frankfort, Erfurt and Lindenau near Leipzig. 
 
 Means Used to The means used for the extermina- 
 Exterminate tion of Rats are innumerable. Traps 
 Rats. of many kinds are set for them, and 
 
 sometimes persistent Rat hunting may bring tem- 
 porary relief from the annoyance of their presence. 
 If the animals perceive that they are the objects of 
 determined pursuit, it not infrequently happens that 
 they retire from the scene of conflict, returning, how- 
 ever, when the vigilance of their persecutors be- 
 comes lax. 
 
 Poison to The destroyers oftenest employed 
 be Giuen With Ex- against them are various kinds of 
 
 treme Caution, poison, food being impregnated 
 therewith and deposited near their favorite haunts. 
 But this method of extermination is to be repro- 
 bated, for, not to speak of the fact that the poisoned 
 creatures are tortured to death in the most cruel 
 manner, this administration of poison is always dan- 
 gerous for the reason that the Rats are prone to 
 vomit part of what they have eaten, in this way be- 
 ing likely to poison corn or potatoes, and thus the 
 lives of domestic animals or even of human beings 
 are put in jeopardy. It is less dangerous, though 
 scarcely less cruel, to give them a mixture of malt 
 and unslaked lime; when they have partaken of this 
 they become thirsty and death is brought about as 
 soon as they have drunk the water required for the 
 slaking of the lime. This method must cause the 
 victims intense agony, by reason. of both the genera- 
 tion of heat and the liberation of the carbonic acid 
 gas of the lime, which inflates the animals to the 
 point of bursting. 
 Best Extermina- The best exterminators of Rats under 
 tors of the all circumstances are their natural 
 Rats. enemies, particularly Owls, Ravens, 
 
 Weasels, Cats and Terriers. , As among all domestic 
 animals there are particular strains of blood espe- 
 cially fitted for some special use or function, so 
 among Cats there also are families the members of 
 which are passionately fond of Rat-hunting, though 
 at first they have much difificulty in acquiring the 
 art of properly seizing and overcoming the biting 
 Rodents. However, it is not really necessary that a 
 Cat should catch the Rats; it drives them away by 
 merely prowling about in stable and barn, cellar 
 and pantry. The presence of such an arch enemy 
 is highly distasteful to the Rats, for they are well 
 aware that they have not a moment of safety. 
 Noiselessly the Cat creeps upon them in thfe dead of 
 night, no sound and hardly a movement betraying 
 its approach; its greenish eyes with their uncanny 
 lustre look into all their holes, and it sits in- waiting 
 near their most frequented passages; before they 
 know it, it pounces on them and the grasp of the 
 pointed claws and sharp teeth is so firm that escape 
 
 is well-nigh impossible. Even Rats, audacious as 
 they are, cannot stand this; they are fain to emigrate 
 to places where they can dwell unmolested. In 
 this way the Cat always proves the best helper of 
 Man when Rats or other such annoying vermin have 
 to be driven away. Not less valuable are the ser- 
 vices of the Polecat and Weasel, the former working 
 in houses, the latter in gardens and about stables, 
 barns or granaries. 
 
 o , . The Black, Brown and Egyptian Rats, al- 
 
 Seueral Amencan ^^^^ described, have invaded America 
 
 bpecies of f J.QJJJ jj^g Qjjj World, and here, as well as 
 
 there, the Brown Rat has succeeded in 
 
 driving away other species of its own family. 
 
 Besides these there are numerous species which are indige- 
 nous to the United States. One which forrns a separate sub- 
 family {Sigmodon) is the well known Cotton Rat, or Rice Rat 
 (Sigmodon hispidus). It is widely distributed through the 
 southern states. It has a stout body four inches in length, a 
 tail over two inches long, a coarse fur of blackish yellow-gray 
 above and grayish-white on the under portion. 
 
 Still another American sub-family is that of the Wood Rats 
 (Neotoma), which includes many large, handsome species. 
 Especially numerous is the Florida Wood Rat (Neotoma flori- 
 dand) which, while especially plentiful in the southern states, 
 is found in nearly all parts' of the country. These Rats when 
 young are of a bluish gray color, but -the fur of the mature 
 animal is yellowish brown on the upper portion and white on 
 the under parts and the feet. The Florida Wood Rat is over 
 nine inches long, exclusive of the tail, which is about six inches 
 long. 
 
 Another species of the same sub-family is the California 
 Wood Rat [Neotoma fuscipes), which resembles the Florida 
 Wood Rat in many respects, but has a longer tail and dark 
 feet. 
 
 Occupying a region between those which form the homes of 
 the two last named species, is the Gray Wood Rat (Neotoma 
 cinereus) of the Rocky Mountain country, which is distin- 
 "guished from the others by the possession of a bushy tail. The 
 Indians of the West find the flesh of this animal an acceptable 
 article of food. 
 
 Mice Much Better Much more graceful, good-looking 
 Looliing Than and dainty than these ugly, long- 
 Rats. tailed domestic thieves, are the Mice, 
 
 though, they too are great pests to mankind, in spite 
 of their pretty looks and lively, prepossessing ways, 
 and they are pursued with nearly the same relent- 
 less hatred that falls to the lot of their larger, uglier 
 relatives. We may affirm that anybody will find a 
 Mouse in a cage charming, and that even ladies, 
 who are usually seized by a great, although un- 
 founded terror, when a Mouse crosses their path in 
 kitchen or cellar, will declare it to be a pretty crea- 
 ture when they make its closer acquaintance. The 
 possession of pointed gnawing-teeth and the fond- 
 ness for good things to eat are attributes, however, 
 ' adapted to inspire wrath and revengeful feelings 
 against them even in the gentle heart of woman. 
 
 The Com- The Common Mouse {Mus musculus) 
 mon Mouse and its shows some resemblance to the 
 Appearance. Black Rat in its appearance, but its 
 structure is much more delicate and symmetrical 
 and it is much smaller. Its total length amounts 
 to about seven and one-half inches, of which three 
 and one-half inches is occupied by the body. The 
 tail shows one hundred and eighty scaly dermal 
 rings. Its color is nearly uniform: the dark yellow- 
 ish-gray hue of the upper part of the body and tail 
 gradually merges into the slightly lighter tint of the 
 lower surface; feet and toes are yellowish-gray. 
 The Wood, or The Wood or Long-tailed Field 
 Lbng-tailed Field Mouse {Mi/s sylvaticus) attains a 
 Mouse. length of eight inches; the tail which 
 
 has about one hundred and fifty scaly dermal rings 
 measures nearly four and one-half inches. It is 
 parti-colored, the upper surface of the body and 
 tail being brownish yellow-gray, the under parts and 
 
THE MICE— MICE PROPER. 
 
 337 
 
 the feet and toes being white; the line of demarca- 
 tion between the two colors is sharply defined. 
 
 Both the foregoing species may be easily distin- 
 guished from the third mentioned (the Old World 
 Meadow Mouse) by the much longer ears. In the 
 latter species the ear attains a size equaling only 
 about one-third of the head and, if deflected forward 
 and folded against the sides of the head, they do not 
 reach the eyes, while the ears of the others attain 
 
 'v«.ft?-' 
 
 THE COMMON MOUSE. These little animals which have fol- 
 lowed Man all over the globe are pretty, but pestiferous, and are well 
 known to all. Those in the picture are in mischief, as usual, and will 
 make short work of the piece of candle which attracts their attention. 
 (Mus musculus.) 
 
 half the length of the head and reach the eye if 
 pressed, in the manner described, to the sides of the 
 head. 
 
 TheOld World The Old World Meadow Mouse 
 Meadow (Mus a^ranus) is seven inches long; 
 HHouse. the tail three inches. Its fur is tri- 
 
 colored: the upper part of the body is brownish 
 red, diversified on the back with black longitudinal 
 stripes; the sharply defined color of the under sur- 
 face and feet is white. The tail has about one hun- 
 ■dred and twenty scaly dermal rings. 
 
 Similarity of All these species of Mice display 
 Tastes and Habits many common characteristics in 
 
 Among Mice, theif selection of haunts, their dis- 
 position and their habits, though each may have its 
 individual peculiarities. All three agree in one 
 respect: they show a great predilection for the 
 proximity of human beings, at least at certain inter- 
 vals. All species, the Common Mouse oftener than 
 the others, are, especially in winter, frequently found 
 in all portions of houses, from the cellar to the gar- 
 ret. None of them is exclusively confined to the 
 localities which its name would indicate as its 
 •abode; the Wood Mouse temporarily lives in a 
 barn or a house as well as in the field, and the 
 Meadow Mouse is as little confined to fields as the 
 
 Common Mouse to houses, so that one may occasion- 
 ally see all three species together. 
 Range and Char- The Common Mouse is said to have 
 acteristicsofthe been the most tenacious compan- 
 Common Mouse. Jon of Man from the earliest ages. 
 Aristotle and Pliny mention it and Albertus Magnus 
 was familiar with it. At present it is distributed all 
 over the globe. It has followed Man in his migra- 
 tions to the farthest north and to the highest cot- 
 tages on the Alps. There are but few localities at 
 present from which it is absent, and even where it is 
 supposed to be wanting, the supposition is probably 
 founded on the fact that it has escaped observation. 
 On the Sunda Islands, for instance, it is said that 
 there are no Mice, but their advent even there is 
 but a matter of time. 
 
 The Mouse takes up its abode in all parts of a 
 
 human dwelling. In the country it may temporarily 
 
 live in a garden or in a field or grove; in the city it 
 
 confines itself to dwellings and outhouses. Every 
 
 crevice, every hole, in a word, every cranny where it 
 
 can hide, affords it sufficient shelter and a base of 
 
 operations from which it sallies forth on its forays. 
 
 Physical It runs with great rapidity, climbs 
 
 Powers of the remarkably well, jumps considerable 
 
 Mouse. distances and sometimes petf cwms 
 
 journeys of no small magnitude, proceeding on its 
 
 way by a series of short leaps. How agile it is in 
 
 THE BARBARY MOUSE. TJiis species of Mouse, which is a native 
 
 of northern Africa, is larger than the Common Mouse, but smaller than the 
 Rats. Its principal distinction is in the markings of whitish-yellow stripes 
 on a dark brown ground color, becoming lighter on the under portion than 
 on the back. {Mus barbarus.) 
 
 all its movements can be seen by observing a tame 
 Mouse. Even when it sits quiet, it produces the 
 pleasing impression on the mind always awakened 
 by the sight of a pretty animal; but when it sits on 
 its haunches, Rodent fashion, and washes and dresses 
 its fur, it is a really fascinating little creature. It 
 can stand up on its hind legs, like a human being. 
 
338 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 and can even walk a few steps while thus erect, 
 occasionally supporting itself a little with its tail as 
 it moves. It can also swim, though it enters the 
 water only under compulsion. It is good-natured, 
 not treacherous, and does not resemble its vicious, 
 deceitful, biting relatives, the Rats, in the least; it is 
 inquisitive and investigates everything very care- 
 fully; it is cunning and intelligent, soon perceiving 
 where it is tolerated, and in such places becomes so 
 used to Man that it runs about its business in human 
 presence, as if nothing menaced or frightened it. 
 Harmonious sounds please and attract it and cause 
 it to forget all timidity and oftentimes to leave its 
 retreat, in order to approach nearer the source of its 
 enjoyment. It appears in broad daylight in rooms 
 in which instruments are played, and rooms regularly 
 devoted to music are favorite haunts with it. 
 
 Several periodicals have published articles about 
 so-called singing Mice, and I also have received 
 a few accounts of such specimens. All reports 
 agree in that in some places a Common Mouse may 
 be found which utters its natural chirping note in 
 a way which resembles the song of a bird. Some 
 people speak of the song of the Mouse with enthu- 
 siasm, and compare it to that of a Canary or even of 
 a Nightingale; others judge less enthusiastically and 
 are probably more nearly right. Herr Schacht, a 
 well-known educator and reliable and well-informed 
 observer, possessed such a singing Mouse for some 
 time. It usually sang a>t dusk but often only at 
 night. Its song did not bear the slightest resem- 
 blance to the bright song of a Canary or the deep 
 trills of a Nightingale. It was nothing but "a twit- 
 tering, a mixture of long-drawn, squeaking, piping 
 sounds," which in the quiet of night could be heard 
 at a distance of twenty paces. The' song of another 
 Mouse, observed by Herr Mueller, another tutor, 
 consisted of "soft, whistling sounds, uttered slowly 
 or in a more lively manner, in the latter case remind- 
 ing one distinctly of a bird's song, but being much 
 weaker." This Mouse was excited by rnusic and 
 when" listening to it in the daytime would some- 
 times whistle. Both singing Mice which I observed 
 were males, and it therefore appears not, improbable 
 that in this case also the sweet gift of song has been 
 bestowed on the male sex alone. Pechuel-Loesche 
 simultaneously and for months observed two singing 
 Mice living at liberty in a kitchen. One of them 
 produced only an irregular chirping and trills, mixed 
 with a low snarling, smacking and occasional deeper 
 murmuring sounds; the other had softer tones at its 
 command, some of which it could prolong for some 
 time, so that it really produced an effect which was 
 melodious in a certain way. It certainly would be 
 more congruous to speak of "twittering" Mice than 
 of "singing" ones. 
 
 Partiality AH agreeable qualities of our do- 
 of Mice for mestic companion are unfortunately 
 Dainties. more than counterbalanced by its 
 fondness for choice and delicate food. One can 
 hardly imagine a daintier feeder than a Mouse 
 which can range at will in a well filled larder. It 
 proves in the most unequivocal way that its sense 
 of taste is highly developed. It gives preference 
 to sweetmeats of all kinds, milk, meat, cheese, fats, 
 fruit and grains, and where it has to choose it 
 takes the best among the good things. Water it 
 does not drink at all if it can procure food contain- 
 ing liquid enough to meet its physical necessities, 
 and even when its diet is dry, it rarely drinks un- 
 mixed water, but it sips sweet beverages of all kinds. 
 
 Destructive- The damage the Common Mouse en- 
 nessof tails by the eating of provisions is 
 Mice. slight, on the whole; its principal 
 
 harmfulness arises from its abominable habit of 
 gnawing all kinds of objects. Mice sometimes work 
 dire destruction among valuable collections of tex- 
 tiles, rare fabrics, books or natural curiosities; if 
 their propensities are not checked by all possible 
 means, they can do incalculable damage. 
 
 Fecund- The Common Mouse is exceedingly 
 ityofthe prolific. Litters of young Mice in- 
 Mpuae. elude from four to six and of^en 
 
 eight young, and each female gives birth to five or 
 six litters a year, so that the immediate progeny 
 from one mother number at least thirty in one year. 
 The young are exceedingly small at birth and quite 
 translucent; their growth is rapid, however; between 
 the seventh and eighth day their hair begins to ap- 
 pear, but their eyes are not opened until the thir- 
 teenth day. They remain in the nest but a few days 
 longer, and then proceed to earn their living on 
 their own account. 
 
 The Mouse has become a domestic animal in the 
 true sense of the word with the inhabitants of 
 China and Japan, who attain wonderful results in 
 the breeding of animals and the culture of plants. 
 Haacke writes as follows concerning the Mice which 
 of recent years have been exported from these two 
 countries: "From time to time a Hamburg dealer 
 in animals sends me two breeds of Common Mice, 
 which he calls Chinese Climbing Mice and Japanese 
 Dancing Mice. It- is true that the first are distin- 
 guished , only by their differing colors, for their 
 climbing accomplishments are not greater than 
 those of other Mice. The color, however, is sub- 
 ject to many variations. Besides individuals of uni- 
 form gray, light yellow and white color, I have had 
 specimens mottled with gray and white, black and 
 white, yellow and white, and blue and white. Tri- 
 colored Mice seem to be very rare. It is a known 
 fact that we also have white, black and yellow Mice 
 and occasionally also pied ones, and the Chinese 
 have profited by the variations of the Common 
 Mouse also, to satisfy their fancy in breeding ani- 
 mals. The Japanese, however, who are no less 
 enthusiasts on this point, know how to transform 
 the Common Mouse into a really admirable animal. 
 The Japanese Dancing Mice, which perfectly justify 
 their appellation, also occur in all the described 
 colors. But what distinguishes them most is their 
 innate habit of running around, describing greater 
 or smaller circles, or more frequently whirling 
 around on the same spot with incredible rapidity. 
 Sometimes two or, more rarely, three Mice join in 
 such a dance, which usually begins at dusk and is at 
 intervals resumed during the night, but it is usually 
 executed by a single individual." 
 
 The Natural Whatever one may say, the direst 
 
 Enemies of foe of the Mouse is a Cat. In old 
 Mice. ruins the Owl is the Cat's faithful 
 
 ally in its warfare against Mice, and in the country, 
 Polecats, Weasels, Hedgehogs and Shrews render 
 good service in the same direction; better aid than 
 any kind of trap, at any rate. 
 
 The Wood The Wood Mouse and the Meadow 
 Mouse and its Mouse possess most of the charac- 
 Range. teristics of the Common Mouse. The 
 
 first named is distributed all over Europe and cen- 
 tral Asia, with the exception of very high latitudes, 
 and in mountainous regions it is found at an altitude 
 of 6,000 feet above the sea. It lives in the depths dr 
 
THE MICE— MICE PROPER. 
 
 339 
 
 on the edges of forests, in gardens, and more rarely 
 in wide, treeless fields; in winter it enters houses, at 
 first confining itself to cellars and larders, but soon 
 climbs higher and finds its favorite haunts in attics 
 and under roofs. . It rivals the Common Mouse in 
 agility, if it does not surpass it, but differs from it 
 in its mode of locomotion — proceeding mostly by 
 jumps. Outdoors it feeds on insects and worms or 
 even small birds or fruit, cherry kernels, nuts, acorns. 
 
 WHITE-FOOTED MOUSE. The Common Mouse is thoroughly at 
 
 liome in .America, but there are other species which belong to a distinctively 
 American sub-family. They are especially represented by the White-footed 
 Mouse, the pretty graceful animal shown in the picture. {.Hesperomys leu- 
 tofus.) 
 
 beech seeds, and in times of scarcity probably also 
 the bark of young trees. It lays up for winter use 
 ■a store of provisions, but does not hibernate, and 
 draws its sustenance from its gathered treasures 
 only on gloomy or stormy days. 
 
 The Range The Meadow Mouse {Mm agrarius) 
 
 of the Old World has a more restricted distribution 
 meadow Mouse, than its allied species: it lives be- 
 tween the Rhine and 
 western Siberia, between 
 northern Holstein and 
 Lombardy. It is com- 
 mon in nearly all parts 
 of central Germany and 
 is absent on high moun- 
 tains. It delights in 
 cultivated fields, forest 
 ■edges, light shrubbery, 
 ■and in winter makes its 
 home in granaries, grain 
 stacks or barns and sta- 
 bles. When the grain is 
 teing carried from the 
 stacks one sees the little 
 animals scampering 
 through the stubbles in 
 troops. The Meadow 
 Mouse is less agile and 
 much more indolent, 
 passive and better na- 
 tured than its relatives. 
 Its food mainly consists j?^ 
 •of corn, seeds, plants, tu- /f^ 
 bers, insects and worms. 
 It also lays up winter 
 stores of provisions. 
 
 Ctmracteriaticsof Pretty and neat as all small Mice may 
 
 the Harvest be, and charmingly as they conduct 
 
 Mouse. themselves in captivity, the smallest 
 
 member of the family, the Harvest Mouse {Mus 
 
 mt?mtus or messorius), surpasses all the others in these 
 
 respects. It is livelier, nimbler, in short, a much 
 more prepossessing creature than any other Mouse. 
 Its length is about five inches, one-half of which is 
 included in the tail. The color of the fur is subject 
 to variations. Usually it is parti-colored, the upper 
 parts and the tail being yeltowish or brownish red, 
 the under surface and the feet being white; the line 
 of demarcation is sharply defined. 
 
 The Harvest Mouse has perplexed naturalists 
 from the earliest ages of zoological research. Pallas 
 discovered it in western Siberia and gave a detailed 
 description and a fairly good picture of it; but nearly 
 every naturalist after him classified it as a new spe- 
 cies, and each believed his theory to be right. Con- 
 tinued investigation only gave as a result the irre- 
 fragable truth, that the diminutive creature really 
 ranges from Siberia throughout Russia, Hungary, 
 Poland and Germany to France, England and Italy 
 and is absent in only a few regions. It lives in all 
 localities where agriculture is pursued, and by no 
 means always in fields, but preferably in swamps 
 among reeds, rushes, etc. During the summer the 
 pretty little creature is found in the fields in the 
 society of the Wood and Field Mouse; in winter it 
 exists in great numbers in ricks or in barns into 
 which it is conveyed from the field along with the 
 grain. When it spends the winter in the open 
 country, it sleeps through part of the season, but 
 never really hibernates or becomes torpid and there- 
 fore lays by stores for winter during the. summer. 
 
 Peculiarities of The Harvest Mouse is distinguished 
 the Harvest by its movements from all other 
 Mouse. species of -the family. In spite of 
 
 its diminutive size, it runs with great, fleetness, and 
 climbs with exceeding agility and grace. It climbs 
 the smallest twigs of bushes, grass blades so weak 
 and pliable that they bend to the ground under its 
 weight; it ascends nearly as quickly on the trunks 
 
 TWO VICE. This picture presents a view of two Mice of different species. That on the left is the Meadow 
 
 Mouse of central Europe {Mus agrarius), while on the right is the pretty, white-breasted Wood Mouse, or Long- 
 tailed Field Mouse. (Mus sylvaticus,) Both delight in outdoor life in summer, but invade dwellings or barns in winter. 
 
 and aiilid the branches of trees, and the dainty little 
 tail is skillfully used in this latter operation, being 
 in some degree prehensile. It, is also an expert 
 swimmer and proficient in the att of diving, and all 
 its movements are lively and graceful. 
 
340 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 The Harvest The greatest skill of the Harvest 
 Mouse an Mouse is displayed in another direc- 
 Artist. tion, however. It is an architect, 
 
 such an one as has few equals among the lower 
 mammals — an artist which emulates the most ac- 
 complished of birds, for it builds a nest which far 
 surpasses all other mammalian nests in point of 
 beauty. The neat construction is so peculiar that it 
 would seem as if the Mouse had been taught its art 
 by a reed Snipe. According to the requirements of 
 the locality, the nest either stands on from twenty to 
 thirty blades of reed grass, the extremities of which 
 are split and intertwined so as to surround the nest 
 from all sides, or it is suspended from the branches 
 of a bush, or from a reed at a height of two or three 
 feet, looking as if it soared in the air. Its shape 
 most resembles a blunt egg — as, for instance, a par- 
 ticularly round Goose egg — which it also equals in 
 size. The outer covering usually consists of split 
 leaves of the reeds or of reed grass, the stems of 
 which form the foundation of the structure. The 
 Mouse takes every leaf between its teeth and pulls 
 it several times across their points which are sharp 
 as needles, until each leaf has been separated into 
 six, eight or ten parts, or, so to speak, into several 
 distinct threads; then these threads are intertwined 
 and interwoven with utmost care. The inside is 
 lined with various soft substances of woolly or mossy 
 texture, which are supplied by both the vegetable 
 and animal kingdoms, the animal sometimes using 
 hair or wool of beasts and sometimes buds and 
 leaves of trees, flowers, etc. A small opening leads 
 into the nest at one side, and if one puts his hand 
 into it he may feel how uniformly smooth and ex- 
 tremely soft the nest is above as well as below. 
 The component parts are so closely interwoven' that 
 the nest has a very firm support. If the observer 
 compares the much less serviceable equipment of 
 the Mice for such work with the more useful and 
 available beak of the artist birds, he can not but 
 regard the nest with admiration, and will award the 
 work of the Harvest Mouse the palm for superiority 
 over the architecture;.of many a bird. The outside 
 of the nest is always;formed from the leaves of the 
 plants upon which it is built. As a consequence of 
 this the nest is concealed from all but the closest 
 observation for th^ reason that its exterior assimi- 
 lates very closely "the color of the foliage by which 
 it is surrounded. 
 Maternal Affec- If one is fortunate enough to be' 
 tion in the present the first time the mother 
 Species. takes her little ones out, he has the 
 Opportunity of witnessing one of the most attractive 
 family pictures in mammalian lifp. Agile as the 
 members of the little crowd may be they have to 
 receive some instruction, and thfey are also a great 
 deal too much attached to the mother to wish for 
 immediate independence or to rush out into the dan- 
 gerous world. Therefore one little creature climbs 
 up this grass stem, another is suspended from the 
 next; again another chirps after the mother, while 
 one may still require lacteal sustenance from her; one 
 washes itself and dresses its fur, another has found a 
 little grain which it daintily holds between its fore- 
 paws and cracks open; the weakling restricts its 
 exploits to the inside of the nest, while the most 
 vigorous and courageous male has gone away farth- 
 est, and perhaps is already swimming in the water 
 below; in short, the entire family is actively engaged 
 and the'mother is the central figure of it all, helping, 
 calling, leading, and protecting the whole society. 
 
 Tractable to One can observe this graceful pic- 
 Captiu- ture at ease if he takes the whole 
 %• nest home and puts it in a close wire 
 
 cage. Harvest Mice are easily maintained on hemp 
 seed, oats, pears, sweet apples, meat and Flies, and 
 the trouble one takes is repaid a thousand times by 
 their many amusing traits. They make a pretty pic- 
 ture when one holds out a Fly to them. AH pounce 
 upon it in great bounds, endeavor to seize it with 
 their paws, and lift it to their mouths; and the ani- 
 mal which succeeds in capturing it kills it with all 
 the ferocity of a Lion slaughtering an Ox. Captive 
 young Mice become very tame, but with advaijcing- 
 age their shyness returns, if their owner does not 
 very frequently fondle them, and thus keep a sense 
 of companionship constantly alive in them. 
 
 INDIGENOUS AMERICAN MICE. 
 
 The Mouse family, with the two "hundred and fifty or more: 
 species, has a number of American representatives in addition 
 to the immigrant Common Mouse, which has gained a very 
 strong foothold, and is now distributed all oyer this country. 
 The indigenous American Mice compose a distinct sub-family 
 {Hesperomys) in which are very many distinct species. The 
 typical representative of this family is the White-footed Mouse 
 (Hesperomys leucopus). It is about three or four inches long^ 
 has a fawn colored fur above and is white on the under portion 
 and on the feet; has large eyes with circular pupils, large- 
 rounded ears, graceful limbs, cheek pouches to carry its food,, 
 and a well shaped head and muzzle on which is a luxuriant 
 growth of long whisker hairs. The movements of this pretty 
 animal are quick and full of grace, befitting the woodland life- 
 it leads, but it sometimes invades dwellings and especially out- 
 houses. There are several local varieties of this Mouse. 
 
 An especially handsome species is that of the Golden Mouse 
 (Hesperomys aureolus) with its striking fur of a golden brown 
 above and yellowish white on the under part. This animal is 
 only found in the central and southern states. Many other 
 species are known including the dark colored Michigan Mouse 
 (Hesperomys michiganensis); the large Californian Mouse (/^i?j- 
 peromys califomicus) with nearly naked tail and ears, which is 
 a large species; and the Missouri Mole Mouse (Hesperomys- 
 leucogaster), a short-tailed variety. The Rice-field Mouse 
 {Hesperomys oryzomys) is the largest of American Mice, large 
 specimens of which attain a length of five inches. It has a 
 dark grizzly color on the back and sides, but the under portion 
 and the feet are snow-white. There are numerous other spe- 
 cies of American Mice, but those named are the best known. 
 As to habits, the description of those of the Common Mouse is- 
 about equally applicable to the indigenous American animals. 
 
 THE HAMSTERS. 
 
 The Hamsters comprise the last sub-family ( Cri~ 
 cetinm). They are Mice of more or less clunisy form, 
 and sometimes of large size; their upper lips are cleft 
 and they are provided with large cheek pouches, and 
 three molars in each jaw. 
 
 The principal anatomic characteristics of the best 
 known species {Cric^tus) are: a clumsy, sturdy b.pdy, , 
 a very short tail scantily covered with hair,, and 
 short limbs. There are sixteen teeth and. two pairs 
 of remarkably large gnawing teeth. The- species , 
 usually dwell in corn fields in the fertile 'p?.rts of 
 temperate Europe, Asia and America. They dig . 
 deep burrows composed of severall compartments in. , 
 which they store provisions in autumn, and in these 
 burrows they spend their lives, the joys and sorrows 
 of which we can best ascertain by investigating the- 
 habits and occupations of the Common Hamster.' 
 
 The Common Hamster ( Cricetus frumentarms or 
 vulgaris) is rather good looking in appearance, but 
 its temper is ugly, sulky and irritable; it is also very 
 pugnacious. The animal attains a total length of 
 about twelve inches, about two of which are iii- 
 cluded in the tail. The color, of the upper parts is. 
 usually a light brownish yellow, with a surface tinge 
 of gray. The under parts, the inner and outer sur- 
 

 ■ HARVEST MICE ATTACKED BY SKAKE. Prettiest of all the Mouse family is the little Harvest Mouse. It is also noteworthy for the great 
 
 cleverness it shows in the construttion of its nest, which in compactness and neatness rivals those of some of the best nest-building birds. Such a nest is shown 
 ' in the picture as the center of a scene of panic and terror. A great Snake has attacked a colony of Harvest Mice, and the little Rodents are doing their best 
 lo escape the monster. {Mus minutus.) 
 
 (541) 
 
M2 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 faces of the fore legs down to the feet, the inner 
 surface of the hind legs, and a band over the fore- 
 head are black, while the feet are white. There are, 
 in point of coloration, a great many varieties, how- 
 ever: some are quite black, others are black with a 
 white throat and a gray scalp; others again are pale 
 above and light gray below, with whitish shoulders; 
 completely white individuals are also found occa- 
 sionally. 
 
 The Burrow of Its burrows consist of a large living 
 the Ham- chamber, from three to six feet deep, 
 ster. a sloping tunnel, termed a "creeping 
 
 hole," and a perpendicular entrance tunnel. The 
 chamber communicates with the store-room by pas- 
 sages. A Hamster's burrow is easily recognized by 
 the heap of earth in front of the creeping hole, 
 which is usually strewn with chaff and pods, the ref- 
 use of its food. The entrance tunnel is always per- 
 pendicular, sometimes being so straight that one can 
 thrust a long stick into it; it does not lead straight 
 to the sleeping chamber, however, but diverges from 
 a right line either horizontally or obliquely. The 
 secondary tunnel, on the other hand, seldom runs 
 straight, usually describing a curve. One can easily 
 see by the appearance of the tunnels whether a bur- 
 row is inhabited or not. If moss, mould or grass be 
 found in them, or if they have a rough, unbeaten 
 appearance, it is certain that they are deserted; for 
 every Hamster keeps his house and its doorway 
 remarkably clean and in order. Of the chambers, 
 the smooth-walled living room is the smaller and it 
 is always filled with very fine straw, usually the 
 sheaths of grass blades, which form a soft bedding. 
 Three tunnels converge in it: the one from the en- 
 trance tunnel, the other from the creeping hole, and 
 the third leading from the store-room. The store- 
 room bears a complete resemblance to the first 
 chamber, and is usually filled with the winter store 
 of corn toward autumn. Young Hamsters have 
 only one store-room, but old ones dig from three to ' 
 five store-rooms, and in each at least a peck of grain 
 may be found. 
 
 Formerly it was erroneously believed and asserted 
 that the Hamster piled up different kinds of grain 
 in separate heaps. The fact is that it brings in the 
 grains as it finds them and the depositing of these 
 grains in separate stores is not due to the sense of 
 order in the Hamster but it is because it finds only 
 one certain kind of grain at a certain time. The 
 burrow of the female differs in some respects from 
 the one we have described; it has only one creepiiig 
 hole, but from two to eight perpendicular entrances, 
 though only one of them is in constant use as long 
 as her progeny are still young. 
 
 Physical Pecul- The Hamster is a comparatively 
 
 iarities of the agile animal in spite of its apparent 
 Hamster. clumsiness. Its gait is of a creeping 
 character and resembles that of the Hedgehog, the 
 abdomen nearly trailing on the ground; the length of 
 its steps is short. When it is excited or aroused its 
 movements are more violent and it may then make 
 fairly long and high leaps. It is an expert in digging. 
 If put into a barrel containing earth it immediately 
 sets to work. It usually breaks the ground with its 
 fore-feet, but when the soil is hard it uses its teeth 
 also; the earth is first thrown under the abdomen; 
 from there the hind legs fling it backward. When 
 it reaches a depth too great to thus cast out the loose 
 earth it walks backward and pushes out quite a 
 quantity at once; but it never conveys earth in its 
 mouth or fills its cheek pouches with it, as has been 
 
 erroneously asserted. Its movements when swim- 
 ming are not awkward, though it sedulously shuns 
 water. If it is thrown into a vessel filled with a 
 liquid it swims briskly around, growling furiously 
 all the time and generally showing that it feels 
 highly indignant and uncomfortable. When taken 
 by surprise by an enemy it immediately rises upon 
 its hind legs and lets its fore-paws hang down, one 
 usually being a little lower than the other. In this 
 position it glares at the object of its resentment, 
 evidently quite ready for an opportunity of rushing 
 at it and using its teeth on it. 
 
 The perceptive faculties of the Hamster' seem to 
 be developed pretty uniformly;' at least oiie does 
 not perceive any one of them to be specially keen. 
 Its intellectual endowments are not such as to makd 
 it a favorite of Man. The feeling of vicious pug- 
 nacity is exhibited by it to an extent unknown 
 among other Rodents of this size, with perhaps the 
 exception of Rats and Lemmings. At the slightest 
 provocation it assumes a defiant attitude, utters a 
 deep, hollow growl, grinds its teeth and opens and 
 shuts them with exceeding rapidity and violence. 
 Its. courage equals the violence of its temper. It 
 defends itself against any animal that attacks it as 
 long as it can. It often foils unskilled Dogs; only 
 the cleverest Terriers know how to seize it and then 
 to escape injury themselves they must almost in- 
 stantly shake it to death. , All Dogs detest the 
 Hamster nearly as much as the Hedgehog, because 
 it vexes them that they cannot force so small an 
 animal to acknowledge their supremacy. The Ham- 
 ster defends itself, not only against Dogs, but boldly 
 attacks Man even if the latter does not take the ini- 
 tiative in the combat. It happens not infrequently 
 that a person in quietly passing by a Hamster's bur- 
 row suddenly has the ferocious animal hanging from 
 his clothes by its teeth. It also flies at Horses, and 
 if a bird of prey lifts it from the ground it continues 
 to defend itself in the air. Once it has fastened 
 upon something it retains so firm a hold that it must 
 be killed before it lets go. 
 The Vicious Dis- It is easily understood that so viciqus 
 position of the an animal is not of a sociable disposi- 
 Harfister. tion. In captivity Hamsters seldom 
 live in peace with each other: old ones probably 
 never do. Young individuals, less than a year old, 
 agree somewhat better. I have kept three in a box 
 for some time; they never quarreled, but, on the con- 
 trary, huddled together in a quite friendly manner, 
 one usually sitting lipon the other. Y9ung'Harnsters 
 from different litters attack each other immediately, 
 however, and the fight is a deadly one. An amus- 
 ing spectacle is afforded when a Hamster is given a 
 Hedgehog as a companion. At first it looks with 
 curiosity at the queer looking animal, which pays no 
 attention to it, but calmly goes about its business. 
 The quiet is soon disturbed, however. The Hedge- 
 hog happens to come near its fellow-prisoner, an 
 angry growl greets it and the frightened creature 
 rolls up into a ball. Then the Hamster goes on an 
 exploring tour. It sniffs at the bristly ball and a 
 bloody nose teaches it an impressive lesson about 
 the formidable exterior of the Hedgehog. Fiercely 
 it pushes the ball away — alas ! the ,paw is also 
 wounded! Then it gnashes its tefeth iiiTa^e, hisses, 
 squeaks, jumps on the ball, hops down in anguish, 
 then tries to push the spiny mass with its back and 
 pricks its shoulder; its fury waxes hotter with every 
 fruitless effort to rid itself of the monster; it only 
 reaps new pricks in its feet and lips and finally, 
 
THE MICE— HAMSTER. 
 
 343 
 
 partly subdued — more amazed than furious — it 
 stands up on its hind legs in front ,of its bristly 
 antagonist and regards it with a thoroughly ludi- 
 crous mixture of trepidation and grim fury, or else 
 it vents its rage on some other object, such as an 
 innocent Hamster fellow-prisoner, upon which it 
 inflicts the bites originally intended for the Hedge- 
 hog. Whenever the Hedgehog stirs the perform- 
 ance is repeated, to the intense amusement of the 
 spectator. 
 
 With other smaller animals it naturally agrees 
 still less and even hunts them; for it is predaceous 
 and its food in a great measure consists of living 
 creatures. It is more partial to a diet of small 
 birds. Mice, Lizards, Blindworms, Ringed Snakes, 
 and insects than to vegetable food. 
 
 food As soon as the vegetables and greens 
 
 of the Ham- in the fields are mature, the Ham- 
 sters, sters are very busy with the harvest. 
 -Husks of linseed, lima beans and peas seem to be 
 
 Hamsters in In the beginning of October, when 
 Winter Quar- the weather becomes cold and the 
 ters. fields are bare, the Hamster begins 
 
 earnestly to prepare for winter. Its bed is very 
 small and is closely lined with the finest straw. 
 Then the half torpid animal eats its fill and curls up 
 and goes to sleep. Its circulation is so diminished 
 that its limbs when touched feel ice cold and are so 
 rigid that the joints can only be moved with great 
 effort, and if forcibly bent they immediately re- 
 sume their former position, like those of animals 
 which have only recently died. The eyes are closed. 
 Respiration and heart beat are imperceptible. Usu- 
 ally the heart beats fourteen or fifteen times a min- 
 ute. The first symptom of returning animation 
 before the animal awakes is a diminution of the 
 rigidity. Then respiration increases in activity and 
 the animal stirs; it yawns, uttering a rattling sound, 
 stretches itself, opens its eyes, staggers like a 
 drunken animal, tries to sit up and falls, gets on 
 
 HAMSTEBS. ^These Rodeats,. though nearly related to the Mice, have special characteristics, among which the possession of capacious 
 
 cheek poucfies is noteworthy. They are lively, alert animals which steal grain and store it in large quantities. The animal when approached by an 
 enemy assumes the position shown by the sitting animal on the right hand side of the picture. ( Cricetus frumentarius.) 
 
 ^given the preference for winter storage. The Ham- 
 ster works at its harvesting in the daytime only in 
 those thinly peopled localities where it is entirely 
 undisturbed; its usual working time are the first half 
 •of the night and the early morning before sunrise. 
 It bends the high blades of grain with its fore-paws, 
 detaches the ear with one bite, seizes it in its paws 
 and by dint of turning it around a few times, takes 
 all the grains off, and collects them in its cheek 
 pouches. In this way the capacious pouches are 
 stored to plethoric fullness, and some Hamsters may 
 carry a weight of fifty grains home at one time. An 
 animal so heavily, loaded has an extremely ludicrous 
 appearance and" is one of thexlimrtsiest creatures in 
 the world. One can pick it up without fear, for the 
 croTivded pouches prevent its biting; but one must 
 be quick and not give it time, else it empties the 
 pouches and assumes the defensive, and it can then 
 ■inflict a painful wound. 
 
 its feet, reflects a little and finally^ moves slowly 
 
 about; if food be given it, it devours it immediately, 
 
 washes and strokes its fur and awakes completely. 
 
 The Enemies It is really fortunate for humanity 
 
 of the Ham- that the Hamster, the rapid increase 
 
 sters. of which gives it a prodigious power 
 
 for evil, has so many enemies. Owls, Ravens and 
 
 other birds, and even more Polecats and Weasels, 
 
 are on its trail unceasingly and kill it wherever and 
 
 whenever they encounter it, and many of these pests 
 
 are thus destroyed. 
 
 In some regions Man wages a relentless war 
 against the Hamster. The principal profit of the 
 chase accrues from the provisions which.. this singu- 
 lar quarry lays up; the people simply wash the 
 grains, dry and then grind them like other grain. 
 The skins are also put to account; experience has 
 shown that they yield an excellent, light and dura- 
 ble fur. In some localities the flesh is also eaten. 
 
344 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 VciZ Dolea. 
 
 SIXTH FAMILY: Arvicolid^. 
 
 The family of the Voles {Arvicolidcs) comprises a 
 considerable mimber of small Rodents, very similar 
 to each other and showing an affinity to the Mice 
 in many respects, for which reason they were for- 
 merly counted to be a sub-family of them. Exter- 
 nally they differ chiefly in their clumsy shape, thick 
 head, ears which are entirely hidden in the fur or 
 protrude to a very slight extent,, and a short tail 
 which attains a length equal at the most to two- 
 thirds of the length of the body. 
 
 The Arvicolidse inhabit the north of the Old and 
 New Worlds. They frequent plains and mountains, 
 cultivated and rather thinly populated regions, fields, 
 meadows, gardens, banks of rivers, lakes and ponds, 
 and live in holes and burrows dug by themselves. 
 Nearly all shun the proximity of Man and but few 
 occasionally enter stables, barns or even gardens. 
 Their burrows usually consist of single or branching 
 tunnels of varying lengths, which often differ from 
 those of others of their genus by reason of their 
 great shallowness; some of them build dome-shaped 
 habitations or other more or less intricately and art- 
 fully constructed residences. The majority of the 
 family live singly or in couples; occasionally, how- 
 ever, they herd together in considerable numbers. 
 They take their food mostly from the vegetable 
 kingdom but do not disdain animal substances. 
 Many lay up winter provisions, though they do not 
 hibernate. In nearly all other respects they are 
 similar to the' true Mice. 
 Wafirts anrf Peoi//- Their habits are nearly identical 
 
 iarities of the with those of the Mice; their move- 
 Voles. ments are comparatively quick, 
 
 though not as nimble and agile as those of the true 
 Mice. Few species can climb, but nearly all swim 
 in a masterly way; some live entirely in the water, 
 others at least for months in the snow, where they 
 excavate long tunnels and build complicated nests. 
 Some species undertake long migrations, probably 
 impelled by scarcity of food, and it is owing to these 
 migrations that several species, which formerly were 
 confined to Asia, have become implanted in Europe. 
 Among their perceptive senses those of smell and 
 sight rank first. Their intellectual capacities are 
 slight. All the species are very prolific, the fecund- 
 ity of some being well-nigh incredible. Nearly all 
 species are very harmful to Man and have no good 
 qualities compensating for their vices, and are there- 
 fore rightly detested and pursued to extermination 
 in every possible manner. 
 
 THE MUSKRAT. 
 
 The Muskrat, Musquash or Ondatra {Fiber zibethi- 
 cus) is the only useful species of the family. One 
 may term it a large Water-vole with a long tail, 
 broad hind paws^ a blunt snout and short, hair-cov- 
 ered ears which niay be closed to exclude water. 
 The tail is rounded only near the base, being near 
 the extremity vertically compressed; the tip is two- 
 edged and scaly. The fur is close, smooth, soft and 
 lustrous, the woolly under fur being extremely deli- 
 cate, fine and short; the outer coat has a strong lus- 
 tre and is double' the length of the former. The 
 upper surface is either of a brown, or of a yellow- 
 ish hue; the under surface is gray, with an occasional 
 reddish glint; the tail is black. Adult males attain 
 a total length of twenty-three inches, the tail occupy- 
 ing about half of this. 
 
 Range and Habi- The Muskrat inhabits that part of: 
 tationsofthe North America which is included. 
 Muskrat. between the thirtieth and sixtieth, 
 parallels of north latitude. It is most numerous in. 
 Alaska and Canada which are so rich in lakes and 
 rivers. This animal yields a fur which is of consid- 
 erable use and value. Its favorite haunts are grassy 
 banks of large lakes or wide, slowly flowing streams, 
 quiet rivers and swamps, but it delights most in 
 rather large ponds, grown with reeds and aquatic 
 plants; and there it erects a permanent habitation 
 and dwells either in small colonies or in communi- 
 ties of considerable numbers which form tolerably 
 stable settlements. Its mode of life is in many 
 respects similar to that of the Beaver; for this reason 
 the Indians call the two animals brothers and affirm 
 that the Beaver is the older and more intelligent, 
 one, while the Muskrat is the younger and more 
 stupid one. The burrows of the Muskrat are like- 
 those of the Beaver, consisting of either plain un- 
 derground chambers provided with several tunnels, 
 all terminating under water, or of strongholds or 
 "lodges" above ground. The latter predominate in 
 the north and are of a round and spherical or dome 
 shape; they stand on a heap of mud and rise above, 
 the surface of the water. The walls are composed 
 of reeds, reed grass and sedge, cemented with mud;, 
 some observers, however, assert that the whole hut 
 originally consisted only of mud and gradually^ 
 became covered with a thin layer of drifting grass 
 and sedge. The interior of the "lodge" contains a. 
 single chamber from sixteen to twenty-four inches 
 in diameter. A tunnel which opens beneath the 
 water leads to it. Other tunnels, without any open- 
 ing, run from it for some distance under the ground, 
 being more or less prolonged according to circum- 
 stances, their only use being for storage of the roots- 
 of aquatic plants. In winter the Ondatra lines its. 
 chambers softly with water lilies, leaves, grasses and. 
 reeds and provides for ventilation by loosely cover- 
 ing the centre of the dome-shaped roof with plants,,, 
 which admit a sufficient quantity of fresh air and let 
 the vitiated air out. As long as the pond or swamp- 
 does not freeze to the very bottom it leads a highly 
 comfortable existence in its warm habitation which 
 is additionally protected by a covering of snow. 
 The Food of The food consists almost wholly of" 
 
 the Musk- aquatic plants, though the empty 
 ''"*• shells of bivalves have been found 
 
 in some of their lodges. Audubon saw captive 
 Muskrats which were very fond of Mussels. The- 
 species are very lively, playful creatures when in the 
 water, which is their proper element. Sometimes, 
 on a calm night many of them may be seen in a mill 
 pond or some other deep, sequestered pool, dis- 
 porting themselves, crossing and recrossirig in every 
 direction, leaving long, glittering ripples in their 
 wake as they swim, while others stand for a few 
 moments on little tufts of grass, or on stones or 
 logs, from which they can reach their food floating 
 on the water; others sit on the banks of the pond, 
 and then plunge one after the other into the water 
 like Frogs. Should a fowling piece be fired while 
 the Muskrats are thus occupied, a terrible fright and 
 quick dispersion ensues; dozens dive at the flash or- 
 disappear in their holes with frantic haste. 
 The Progeny of About the reproduction of the Musk- 
 
 the Musk- rat but little is known. From three 
 
 '■°*- to six young are born in the burrow 
 
 or in a hole. If they are caught young, they are- 
 
 easily tamed, this species being distinguished by a- 
 
THE VOLES—VOLES PROPER. 
 
 345 
 
 remarkably gentle and equable disposition. Old 
 specimens remain vicious and intractable and can 
 only be kept in boxes which are lined throughout 
 with some metal which can withstand their teeth. 
 They are pursued not so much on account of the 
 damage they cause as owing to the profit they 
 bring. Notwithstanding that some people dislike 
 
 THE UUSKRAT. Among the Vole family of Rodents the most useful is the Muskrat, the American 
 
 animal shown in the picture. The fur is very much sought aftSr and is one of the warmest and softest. Muskrats 
 hve in burrows near the water's edge for their food consists of aquatic plants. {.Fiber sibethicuf.) 
 
 the fur on account of the odor of musk which clings 
 to it for a long time, it is often used for trimming 
 clothing, or in the manufacture of collars and muffs, 
 especially in America and China. The best pelts 
 are deprived of the long outer fur, dyed a dark 
 brown color and used as a trimming which reseixibles 
 the true Sealskin. The 
 flesh is eaten only by In- 
 dians to whom the odor, 
 which pervades it to such 
 a degree as to render it 
 wholly unpalatable to Eu- 
 ropeans, does not seem to 
 be disagreeable. 
 
 Methods of The Muskrat 
 
 Trapping the is caught in 
 Muskrat. traps baited 
 with apples ; steel traps are 
 put in front of the holes, or 
 they are sometimes killed 
 in their burrows. The In- 
 dians know exactly which 
 "lodges" are inhabited; 
 they noiselessly creep up 
 to those in which the ani- 
 mals remain and with i all 
 their might drive a sharp 
 spear through the walls, 
 usually transfixing the in- 
 habitants. 
 
 The Water Vole is from eight and one-naif to- 
 nearly ten inches long, the tail measuring from two 
 and one-half to rather more than three inches. The 
 color of the fur may be said to be uniform ; for 
 the grayish brown or brownish black of the upper 
 surface gradually merges into the lighter whitish or 
 gray, black or brownish black hue of the under 
 
 parts. The Water Vole 
 may be readily distin- 
 guished from the Domes- 
 tic or Black Rat by its 
 thick, round, short head,, 
 with strikingly short ears 
 covered with fur and not 
 attaining a quarter of the 
 length of the head, and its 
 short tail. The color is 
 variable, three variations 
 of the typical form being 
 particularly distinguish- 
 able: the Water Rat or 
 Water Vole, the Italian 
 Water Rat and the Ger- 
 man Schermouse, the lat- 
 ter a variety often found 
 some distance from water. 
 The Water Vole is widely 
 distributed and is really no- 
 where absent within its 
 range, which extends from 
 the Atlantic Ocean to the 
 Sea of Okhotsk, from the White Sea to the Mediter- 
 ranean, and it frequents alike plains and mountain- 
 ous regions,^, occurring even in high mountains. 
 
 Water Voles resemble Moles, Muskrats and other 
 aquatic Rodents, in many respects in their habits. 
 The burrows dug. by the Vole near the water are al- 
 
 SNOW MOUSE.-" — Up in the mountains, feeding on the vegetation which grows so sparsely at such lofty 
 elevations, live the animals which the picture appropriately shows seeking for herbs and grass on the snow-man- 
 tled Alps. (Arvicola nivalis.) 
 
 THE VOLES PROPER. 
 
 After the Muskrats we may consider the Voles 
 
 Proper {Arvicola) and their allies. 
 
 Description of None of thfe species renders itself so 
 
 the Water conspicuous and obnoxious as the 
 
 Vole. Water Vole {Arvicola amphibius), 
 
 which is one of the most harmful of Rodents, well 
 
 known to naturalists, among whom it has repeatedly 
 
 been the object of dissension. 
 
 ways simpler than those it excavates in dry gardens 
 and fields. In the former a sloping tunnel leads to 
 the chamber which is lined very warmly at times; 
 while the Schermice variety of the species construct 
 tunnels, which may be many hundred paces long, 
 throwing up hillocks after the fashion of Moles and 
 building the chamber in one of the larger hillocks. 
 'The long tunnels usually run close to the surface of 
 the ground, sometimes being so nearly superficial 
 
346 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 that the soil seems to be raised in the digging proc- 
 ■ess, and the upper covering of the tunnel consists 
 •of a layer of earth only about an inch thick. Such 
 tunnels are very often destroyed by accident and 
 made impassable; but the Vole is tireless in its work 
 of repairing, even if it has to do the same work over 
 several times a day. The tunnels may easily be 
 distinguished from those of the Mole, as, the hills 
 are more irregular, are composed of larger lumps of 
 •earth, do not lie in straight lines relatively to one 
 another and are never open at the apex. In these 
 burrows the Schermice live in couples, but these 
 couples exhibit a tendency to seek locations in the 
 vicinity of others thus mated. The Schermouse is 
 not possessed of great running powers, but it is an 
 •excellent digger and swims remarkably well, though 
 not so well as the Water Shrew. In secluded local- 
 ities one sees it active by 
 day and night; it is a wary 
 creature, however, and re- 
 tires into its hole when it 
 notices the presence of an 
 observer. It can be easily 
 "watched only when it roams 
 among the reeds. In the 
 park in Leipzig, the Water 
 Voles have become so ac- 
 customed to human pres- 
 •ence, however, that one can 
 observe them with the 
 greatest ease at any hour of 
 the day, if he brings food 
 for them. A bridge has 
 been built over the narrow- 
 est part of the park pond 
 and under this bridge they 
 have taken up their abode; 
 they swim back and forth 
 quite fearlessly, approach- 
 ing when the children pass- 
 ing or standing on the 
 bridge, throw pieces of 
 bread to them. Probably 
 these morsels were origi- 
 nally intended for fish and 
 Swans, but they attracted 
 the Water Voles; the nim- 
 ble swimmers, however, us- 
 ually succeeded in catching 
 them, and now they receive 
 them on their own account. 
 
 Among the perceptive 
 faculties of the Water Vole 
 sight and hearing seem to be the senses most ex- 
 cellently developed. Its intellectual attributes are 
 superior to those of the Rats. It is inquisitive but 
 rather impassive and fairly good-natured. 
 
 Its food is largely of a vegetable nature, and from 
 this fact its presence sometimes becomes extremely 
 harmfuUto Man especially if it takes up its abode in 
 gardens. In ponds the Water Voles are much less 
 destructive, except for the fact that they dig through 
 dams and in this way inadvertently give the water 
 an outlet. In the water they feed mainly on* reed 
 stems. But while preferring a vegetable diet they 
 do not refuse animal food. In the water, insects and 
 their larvae, small Frogs, fish and Shrimps forrti the 
 principal portions of their meals; on the ground 
 they prey upon the various species of smaller Mice, 
 steal the eggs of birds hatching in the grass, and 
 sometimes eat large pieces off animal skins, put out 
 
 WATER VOLE. This animal, which is usually known in Eng- 
 land as the Water Rat, is found over a very large part of Europe and 
 Asia, and is very mischievous both in the ■water, where it destroys 
 dams, and in gardens. (.Arvicola amphibia.) 
 
 to soak by tanners, etc. In autumn they enlarge 
 their habitations by building a store-room which is 
 connected with the old nest by tunnels. The store- 
 room is filled with peas, beans, onions and potatoes 
 from the neighboring fields and gardens and on this 
 they subsist during late autumn and spring or as 
 long as the weather is mild. It is only when the 
 cold is intense that they fall asleep without becom- 
 ing algid, however. 
 
 The fecundity of the Water Voles and Schermice 
 is considerable. Three or four times a year from 
 two to seven young are to be found in the under- 
 ground warm and soft nest, individuals of various 
 colors sometimes forming one litter. Sometimes 
 their nests are built in a thick shrub, immediately 
 above the surface of the earth and sometimes they 
 are placed on the ground between reeds. 
 
 Water Voles The W a t e r 
 Incapable of Do- Vole is not 
 mestication. suited for 
 confinement. It is rather 
 delicate in its constitution 
 and therefore requires care- 
 ful attention and its dispo- 
 sition is such that it never 
 becomes really tame. 
 The Snow Mouse High up in 
 an Inhabitant the Alps, far 
 of the Alps. beyond the 
 limits of other animal life, 
 there exists a second vari- 
 ety of this species, defying ' 
 the severity of all seasons , 
 and never even temporarily 
 seeking shelter in openings 
 in the earth after the fash- 
 ion of other Rodents in win- 
 ter. We know as yet noth- 
 ing of a reliable nature 
 about it, and notwithstand- 
 ing the fact that the ablest 
 naturalists have tried to ob- 
 tain an insight into its life, 
 the inhospitable climate of 
 its native country puts too 
 many obstacles in the way 
 of observation. 
 Physical Charac- The Snow 
 teHstids of the Mouse {Ar- 
 Snow Mouse, -vicola niva- 
 lis) is a rather small crea- 
 ture, the total length being 
 seven inches, of which the 
 body occupies nearly five inches, the tail not quite 
 two and one-half. Its fur is parti-colored; the upper 
 surface is light brownish gray, the middle of the 
 back being darker than the flanks. The under parts 
 are grayish white and the line of demarcation is 
 fairly sharp. Well-defined variations also occur. 
 The Bank Vole— The Bank Vole {Arvicola glareolus) 
 Its Home and is a small animal, the body of which 
 Habits. js two inches in length, while its tail 
 
 is nearly two inches long. It is parti-colored, the 
 upper surface being brownish red, dashed with gray 
 at the hips and tire under parts and feet are white, 
 the colors being separated by a sharp line of de- 
 marcation. 
 
 It is generally found in forests or on their out- 
 skirts, among shrubbery or in groves or park-like 
 gardens. It is known in Hungary, Croatia, Molda- 
 via and Russia. ' Its diet is more of an animal than 
 
THE VOLES— FIELD MICE. 
 
 34T 
 
 Red-Backed Meadow Mouse. 
 (Bvotomys gafiperi.) 
 
 of a vegetable character, as it .mainly subsists on in- 
 sects and worms and in a wild state may occasion- 
 ally catch a small bird. When in a state of captivity 
 it is partial to an animal diet. It also eats corn, 
 seeds and bulbous roots and the bark of young trees, 
 especially in winter. When the species is numerous 
 in a forest it can cause untold damage by gnawing 
 the bark of young shoots and it sometimes com- 
 pletely destroys an immense number of newly 
 planted trees. It rarely wanders far away from its 
 forest home but will occasionally visit neighboring 
 fields and there causes great damage after the man- 
 ner of others of 
 its family. 
 
 It bears con- 
 finement and be- 
 comes tolerably 
 tam« in a short 
 time. It gener- 
 ally lives peace- 
 ably when asso- 
 ciated with oth- 
 ers of its own or 
 allied species. 
 The Red-backed MeaAow yionse (Evotomys gap^ert) is the 
 representative of a distinct sub-family of the Voles distin- 
 guished from all the other Atvicoles by peculiarities of denti- 
 tion and cranial development. It is the American congener 
 of the Bank Vole to which it is closely allied. In fact, it is held 
 by several authorities that the Red-backed Meadow Mouse and 
 the Bank Vole are both southern climatic offshoots of a gtiU 
 more northern species, the Red Vole {A rvicola rutilus) which is 
 an inhabitant of northern Europe, Siberia and arctic America. 
 
 Field Vole or The Field Vole or Short Tailed Field 
 Short Tailed Field Mouse [Arvicola agresds) is the rep- 
 Mouse, resentative of a distinct sub-species. 
 Its fur is two-colofed; the upper parts are dark 
 brownish gray, the flanks somewhat lighter, the 
 abdomen and feet grayish white; the tail is also dark 
 brown above and grayish white below. 
 
 The Field Vole inhabits the northern portions of 
 the Old World: Scandinavia, Denmark, Great Brit- 
 ain, northern Germany and France; it usually lives 
 in shrubs, woods, edges of woods, ditches, on dams, 
 etc., but only in localities where there is plenty of 
 water, sometimes co-existing ' with allied species. 
 Its diet is mainly vegetable.- Its rnovements are so 
 slow and clumsy that one can easily catch it. It is 
 not shy or timorous, but often appears at the en- 
 trance of its hole in broad daylight. Its round nest 
 is constructed just below the surface of the earth 
 but is strongly protected from collapse or caving 
 from above by thick tufts of grass and similar ma- 
 terials. Three or four times a year litters containing 
 from four to seven young are born. The offspring 
 grow rapidly and from their birth greatly resem- 
 ble their parents in appearance and characteristics. 
 They can easily be kept in confinement. 
 
 , . „ . In the United States are very many species 
 
 American Speoies ^^ ^^j^ ^^^^^^ ^f Rodents related to the 
 0/ the Heia p jgjjj Voles, and the Meadow Mice of North 
 voles. America are as destructive on the farms of 
 
 this country as are the Voles in Europe. All of the American 
 Arvicolidse, except the Muskrat, are diminutive creatures, m 
 size comparing most aptly with the Mice proper, but showmg 
 marked differences from the latter by their short limbs, short 
 tail, stout form and blunt muzzle. 
 
 The American Meadow Mouse {Arvicola riparius) is the 
 most common species in this country, and has many local vari- 
 eties, covering nearly all parts of North America, and is espe- 
 cially plentiful in all of the region from Virginia north to the 
 Hudson Bay country. It is found in many modifications of 
 color and markings, about twenty-five varieties having been 
 distinguished and described by naturalists. The Pine Mouse 
 of the southern states is a near relative pf the northern Meadow 
 Mouse, but has a smoother coat and is more highly colored. 
 
 THE FIELD MICE PROPER. 
 
 The Field Mice proper, which occur in Europe 
 and northern Asia in several varieties, differ from 
 the preceding species mainly in their dentition. la 
 central Europe there are two kinds of true Field. 
 Mice and two kinds of Meadow Mice, one of each 
 variety, not heretofore mentioned, deserving to be 
 described at greater length. 
 
 Characteristics The most important member of the 
 of the Cam- sub-species is the Field Mouse, usu- 
 pagnol. ally distinguished from the other- 
 variety by the name Campagnol {Arvicala arvalis),. 
 the total length of which is nearly six inches. The 
 body is four and one-half inches long, the tail a. 
 little over one inch. The fur is indistinctly parti- 
 colored, the upper parts being yellowish gray, lighter 
 on the flanks, and rusty white on the under parts;, 
 the feet are more purely white. 
 
 All of central and part of northern Europe, as well, 
 as the western part of central and northern Asia, are: 
 included in the native country of this small creature,, 
 ■which is of so great importance in the domestic 
 economy of Man. It frequents alike the plain and 
 the mountain, though it is more common in the low- 
 lands. In the Alps it is found at elevations 6,000 
 feet above the sea. It delights in treeless regions,, 
 fields and meadows. It is more rarely met with on 
 the outskirts of forests or in lonely glades ; and not, 
 onlyindryj cultivated land but also in damp.'marshy 
 regions. In wet localities it makes its nests with, 
 a network of tunnels and runways on the dry tus- 
 socks and clods of peat, but in dry , situations it 
 builds shallow tunnels with from four to six en- 
 trances, connected on the outside by downtrodden,, 
 deepened paths. In autumn it retreats under corn 
 ricks or into houses, barns, stables and cellars. In 
 houses it prefers cellars to attics, thereby differing 
 froni the true Mice. In winter it digs long tun- 
 nels under the snow. Wherever it can, it lays by 
 provisions, consisting principally of corn and seeds;; 
 in times of scarcity it emigrates in large bodies, usu- 
 ally going only to a neighboring field, but some- 
 times it wanders from ' one locality to another in 
 great numbers, ■_ | y 
 
 crossing moun- -^ ^ " - 
 
 tain ridges and 
 wide rivers. It is 
 a good runner 
 and an excellent 
 swimmer, but 
 climbs little and 
 awkwardly. In 
 digging it is an 
 expert. It bur- 
 rows more quick- 
 ly than any other 
 Mouse and seems 
 to be tireless in 
 makingnests. Its 
 habits partake equally of daily and nightly activity. 
 One may see it abroad in the hottest sunshine, 
 though it seems to prefer morning and evening to 
 the hot noontide. A warm and dry temperature are 
 essential conditions for its well-being; continued re- 
 striction to damp localities is fatal to it. 
 
 The Diet of It feeds on all kinds of vegetable 
 
 the Cam- substances. If it has seeds at its 
 
 pagnol. disposal it confines its selection to 
 
 them; otherwise it contents itself with fresh grass 
 
 and herbs, roots, clover, fruit and berries. It com- 
 
 Amehican Meadow Mouse {Armcola rtpanus ) 
 
348 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 mits great depredations on beech seeds and nuts, 
 grains, turnips and potatoes. During the severest 
 cold of winter seasons it hibernates intermittently; 
 in mild weather it awakes and feeds on its provis- 
 ions. It is remarkably voracious and requires a 
 great deal of food before it is satisfied. It cannot 
 ■abstain from water. 
 
 The Social The Campagnol has the social in- 
 
 Insiinct of the stinct highly developed and lives 
 Campagnol. quite peacefully with others of its 
 own kind, the mated couples congregating in large 
 numbers and digging their burrows side by side. 
 Its fruitfulness in the propagation of its species is 
 extremely great, and it may thus become the cause 
 of great damage. 
 
 "In favorable circumstances," says Blasius, "the 
 Campagnols increase in a marvelous manner. There 
 are many cases on record where their excessive mul- 
 tiplication has resulted in the destruction of a great 
 part of the harvest over a large extent of country, 
 and where young beech plantations have been ruined 
 on more than a thousand acres by the animals gnaw- 
 ing off the bark. In the second decade of the pres- 
 ent century this plague occurred repeatedly on the 
 lower Rhine." 
 
 Inadequacy Unfortunately Man is utterly power- 
 
 of Attempts to less to resist these Mice. All means 
 Exterminate. of extermination, which have so far 
 been devised, appear insuiificient in the face of the 
 enornious multiplication of those voracious hordes; 
 only epizootics, breaking out among them and to a 
 certain extent also among the beasts of prey, which 
 in common with the Mice are objects of relentless 
 persecution at the hands of Man, can remedy the 
 evil. The devices for their destruction are numerous. 
 Among others is a kind of earth auger or post hole 
 digger with which one bores holes in the ground, 
 from five to seven inches in diameter and twenty- 
 four inches deep, the result being that the Mice 
 which fall into them devour each other, never at- 
 tempting to dig tunnels and in this way escape. 
 The annoyed agriculturist throws poisoned grains 
 into their burrows, drives smoke into them, or 
 sprinkles whole fields with a decoction of nux 
 vomica or euphorbia; in short, he resorts to every 
 expedient to get rid of the abominable plague; but 
 usually all efforts are in vain and some of the 
 methods employed (especially that of using poison) 
 are highly dangerous even to human life. The most 
 effective poison fails to destroy all the Campagnols 
 of a field, but may cause the unintended death 
 of their relentless enemies — and consequently our 
 friends — Foxes, Stoats, Weasels, Buzzards, Pole- 
 cats, Owls, Crows, to say nothing of the Partridges, 
 Hares and domestic animals, from the Pigeon up- 
 wards to the Cow or Horse which may fall victims. 
 This fact alone should be sufficient to induce the 
 utter cessation of the practice of laying out poisons 
 in places accessible to any other animals than those 
 aimed at. 
 
 The Root In Siberia, from the Ob to the Onon, 
 Vole of Si- there exists an Arvicole, which is 
 beria. also worthy of notice, though for 
 
 reasons different from those entitling the Campagnol 
 to notice; it is the Root Vole i^Arvicola ceconomus). 
 It is somewhat larger than the Field Mouse, being 
 seven inches long, the tail occupying two inches of 
 this length. It is of a light yellowish gray tint 
 above and gray below. It is distinguished from the 
 Field Mouse by its shorter head, smaller eyes and 
 short ears, nearly buried in the fur. 
 
 Habits The Root Vole is sometimes found 
 
 of the Root in great numbers in plains and is 
 \lole. deemed a benefactor by the inhabit- 
 
 ants of those desolate, solitary regions; for it works 
 for the benefit of mankind instead of for its damage. 
 It digs long tunnels under the sod, which lead to a 
 large, round nest, twelve inches in diarneter. The 
 nest does not lie very deep underground and is con- 
 nected with several very spacious store-rooms; it is 
 softly lined with various kinds of vegetable sub- 
 stances and serves as both couch and nursery; the 
 store-rooms are filled with various roots. 
 
 The uncivilized, nomad tribes, who are not given 
 to agricultural pursuits, dig up the treasured stores 
 of the Voie in autumn, when the store-rooms are 
 filled, reject the white roots (which have benumbing 
 properties) and keep the black roots of the meadow- 
 button, which they use not only as an article of diet 
 but also as a tea. These provisions, taken from the 
 Mice, often last the poor country-folk all through 
 the winter; what is left is given to the wild Pigs, 
 and if a Mouse happens to be taken along with a 
 bundle of the roots it too is eaten as well as the food. 
 
 The Vole's Fond- A remarkable trait of this and allied 
 nessfor species of Arvicolidse is their fond- 
 Ttavel. ness for change of habitation. To 
 
 the grief of the natives they set out on their migra- 
 tions in the spring of some years and go westward 
 in hordes, always pushing straight ahead, over rivers 
 and mountains. Thousands of them are drowned 
 and devoured by fish and Ducks, and other thou- 
 sands are eaten by the Foxes and Sables which 
 always accompany these armies. 
 
 THE LEMMINGS. 
 
 The Lemmings {Myodes) are, among the Arvicoles, 
 what the Hamsters are among the true Mice, in 
 shape an^d character: they are the members of 
 the family having specially vigorous organization. 
 Short, stumpy tails are their most notable physical 
 characteristic. The head is large in relation to the 
 body and thickly grown with hair; the upper lip is 
 deeply cleft, the roundish ear is small and com- 
 pletely hidden by the fur; the eyes are small. The 
 feet are provided with five toes and even the soles 
 are fur-clad, and the fore feet in particular are armed 
 with large, strong claws well adapted for digging. 
 
 Appearance of The typical form of the variety, the 
 the Lem- Lemming {Myodes lemmus, Lemmus 
 ming. norwegicus) , attains a total length of 
 
 six inches, some three-fourths of an inch being in- 
 cluded in the little stubby tail. The rich, long fur is 
 marked in a manner very agreeable to the eye of the 
 beholder. The ground color is a brownish yellow, 
 having wavy, shimmering lights on the nape of the 
 neck, and relieved with darker spots; two yellow 
 bands run from the eyes to the back of the head. 
 Tail and paws are yellow, and the under parts are 
 also of a plain yellow, nearly sandy color. 
 
 An Object of The Lemming is in many respects 
 
 Scientific Per- without doubt the most perplexing 
 plexity. a,nd mysterious of all Scandinavian 
 
 animals. The peasants of the mountains believe, de- 
 spite the civilization of the present day, that it rains 
 down from heaven, thereby explaining its appear- 
 ance at times in such extraordinary numbers. As an 
 offset to this, and accounting for the great deple- 
 tion which often takes place among them, the ani- 
 mals are said to fatally impair their digestion by their 
 voracity, and thus perish. Olaus Magnus says that 
 he saw a great many Stoats in the forest in 1518, the 
 
THE VOLES— LEMMING. 
 
 ]49 
 
 animals filling the whole wood with their stench, degree of fear, and if one throws them into a large 
 The cause of this assemblage were four-footed little vessel of water or into a small stream they squeak 
 creatures.calledLemars, which occasionally dropped and growl very angrily and try to regain the dry 
 from heaven during a sudden thunderstorm and land as soon as possible. They often betray them- 
 ram; whether they had been wafted from distant selves, for frequently, as they sit in their holes 
 parts to the place of their discharge to the earth or so well hidden that they certainly would not be 
 
 noticed by a passer-by, the 
 appearance of a human 
 being excites them to such 
 a degree that they can not 
 remain silent. A loud 
 grunting and squeaking, 
 after the fashion of Guinea 
 Pigs, greets the intruder 
 into their domain, as if 
 they wished to forbid his 
 treading on their ground. 
 It is only when they are 
 abroad that they flee from 
 human approach, hurrying 
 to one of their innumer- 
 able holes, and secreting 
 themselves in it. Once in, 
 there they stay, not stir- 
 ring or trying to escape, 
 ^^^^^ -- '*e. '«=as^^«i but leaving it to fate, as to 
 
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^ whether or not they will 
 
 FIELD MOUSE OE CAMPAGNOL. The little Rodents so amusTiigly" depicted in this illustration are be killed or taken away. 
 
 so numerous in many parts of Europe and Asia that they work sad havoc in the fields, and frequently destroy a The COUrageOUS little 
 
 large part of the crops. (Arvicola arvalis.) fcllowS fumishcd me COn- 
 
 produced in the clouds, was not known. Other siderable amusement. I never could help provok- 
 authors simply copy the account of the bishop, and ing them. Once they are driven to bay, they never 
 Linnaeus was the first who truly described the Lem- think of surrender. If a boot be held out to one of 
 ming (in his Swedish treatise of 1740) according to them, the animal will bite into it, as it would into a 
 nature and with so. many details th^t there is very stick or a gun, even though it sees that the latter pro- 
 little to add to his description. I had the pleasure ceeding avails it nothing. Some Lemmings on one 
 myself of encountering a 
 great many Lemmings in 5.^,,^ 
 1860 especially on the V, 
 Dovenfjeld, and so have 
 been able to become fa- 
 miliar with them by my 
 ■own experience. 
 
 The Lemming a The ani- 
 Charming mals are 
 Animal. charming 
 
 little creatures. They 
 look like small Marmots 
 or Hamsters, resembling 
 the latter particularly in 
 their habits. They take 
 "up their abode in the less 
 moist portions of the 
 marshes which cover so 
 large a part of Norway. 
 There they domesticate 
 in small hollows under 
 stones or in the moss; 
 and they may often be 
 seen roaming between 
 the little hillocks which 
 rise out of the swamp. 
 One seldom sees beaten 
 paths extending from 
 one of their holes to an- 
 other; permanent passages are used by them only to 
 avoid wandering through unbroken snow during the 
 winter. They are lively and active during both day 
 and night. Their usual method of locomotion is a 
 rapid tripping walk, though Man can easily outrun 
 and capture them. Water they shun with a certain 
 
 THE LEMMINGS. Overrunning northern Europe, and sometimes undertaking great migrations in large 
 
 companies, the Lemmings are among the most interesting of Rodents. They are shown in the picture engaged on 
 one of their journeys, although those in the foreground are picking up a meal on their way. {Myodes kiiitnus.) 
 
 occasion fastened upon my trousers, so that I could 
 hardly shake them off. Fighting throws them into 
 a great fury, and then they resemble fierce Ham- 
 sters. Sometimes they spring up to their antagonist 
 with short leaps, and in general they seem to be 
 afraid of no animal whatever, but offer battle to any 
 
350 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 and every creature in a foolhardy way. Many are 
 
 run over in the streets by carriages, as they defiantly 
 
 put themselves in the, roadway and dp not move. 
 
 The Dogs on farms kill a great number of them and 
 
 the Cats probably eat so many that they are never 
 
 hungry. 
 
 Propagation of According to the assurances of my 
 
 the Lem- old hunting companion, the young 
 
 '"'"S- . are born in the holes in which they 
 
 in maturer years continue to live. Linnaeus says 
 
 that the animals mostly bear from five to six young 
 
 at a birth, and Schaffer adds that they have several 
 
 litters a year. No further particulars as to their 
 
 propagation are known to me. 
 
 The Food of The principal foods of the Lemmmgs 
 the Lem- are the few mountain plants which 
 ming. thrive in their sterile native country, 
 
 especially grasses. Reindeer lichen, the buds of 
 the smooth dwarf-birch, and probably also various 
 roots. Lemmings are found as high as lichens grow, 
 and are absent where these are lacking. As far as I 
 have been able to discover they do not lay by stores 
 of food for winter, but even then subsist on what 
 they find under the snow. They do not cause any 
 damage, worth mentioning, to Man, for there are no 
 cultivated fields where they live, and they do not 
 enter human habitations. Their native country, ster- 
 ile and barren as it may appear, is fertile and pro- 
 ductive enough to meet their wants, however, and 
 generally supplies them with all they need. In 
 some years,- however, this does not. seem to be the 
 case; then the Lemmings are obliged to migrate. 
 
 Reasons for My opinion is that the cause of such 
 Migration of Lem- migrations must be a temporary lack 
 mings. of food, brought about by a peculiar 
 
 combination of circumstances, as happens some- 
 times with other Arvicolidae. When a mild winter 
 is followed by a good spring and a dry summer, all 
 conditions are fulfilled for a propagation of the 
 species which, like that of some other Arvicolidae, 
 may in point of numbers be termed an unlimited 
 one. At the same time the dry weather favors a 
 drying up or at least a stunting of the growth of the 
 principal nourishing plants; when this occurs the 
 diminished pasturage can not satisfy the needs of 
 the hosts of these creatures, voracious like all Ro- 
 dents, and they are compelled to look for food-els«-- 
 where. It is a known fact, that in similar conditions 
 not only Rodents make common cause and troop 
 together, but also other vegetable feeding animals, 
 as for instance Antelopes; they migrate, are joined 
 by others of their kind on the way, and ultimately 
 wander along in an apparently aimless manner, as 
 they neither follow a given direction nor bend their 
 course toward such localities as will really afford 
 them something to eat. Only after hundreds of 
 thousands have perished from hunger, disease and 
 the fatigue and casualties of traveling, the survivors 
 again try to gain those heights which are their real 
 abode, and then it may happen that instinct resuiHes 
 its deserted throne and they push on in a straight 
 line. Taking all this in consideration, the migra- 
 tions of the Lemmings do not strike me as at all 
 more wonderful or less explicable than those of 
 Other wandering Mammalia, especially of other 
 Arvicolidae. 
 
 The Migration It certainly is fortunate that the 
 
 Fortunate creatures have so many natural foes 
 for Man. and perish in such immense num- 
 bers on their journeys; else they would overrun the 
 whole country, and devour everything eatable. The 
 
 climate doubtless is the most effective extermina- 
 tor of these animals. A wet summer, or a cold, 
 early, snowless autumn kills millions of them, and it 
 is evident that several years are then required to 
 repair the havoc made in their ranks, which in its 
 effects resembles the ravages of an irresistible epi- 
 demic. Besides this, an almost countless number of 
 living foes pursue the Lemmings. One may. really 
 say that in Scandinavia all species of beasts of 
 prey grow fat on them. Wolves and^ Foxes follow 
 them for miles and eat nothing else, when Lemmings 
 are to be had; the Wolverine, Polecat, Marten and 
 Ermine hunt no other prey during the Lemming sea- 
 son; the Dogs of the Laplanders, ever hungry beasts 
 that they are, consider a Lemming year a festal sea- 
 son such as is seldom provided for them; the Owls 
 follow the migrating hosts;' the Buzzards are tireless 
 in their efforts to exterminate these hapless crea- 
 tures; Ravens feed their young on them and Crows 
 and Magpies also do their best to kill the biting 
 little beasts; even the Reindeer are said occasionally 
 to eat Lemmings, or at least to kill them by stamp- 
 ing upon them with their fore-hoofs. 
 
 The Lemming Man attacks the Lemmings only 
 Economically when compelled by the utmost neces- 
 Useless. sjty. The skin is not worth much 
 and, as is easily conceived, the idea of eating their 
 flesh inspires the natives of the countries they infest 
 with much the same feelings that the thought of a 
 diet of Rat's flesh does us. The Laplanders are fre- 
 quently driven by hunger -to eat the . Lemmings, 
 however. 
 
 ru I ■ A little animal of the United States and 
 
 1/ / f u Su Canada, extending from the Ohio Valley to 
 
 Ar^e ic Alaska, is the Lemming Vole or Coopeii's 
 
 America. Mouse {Synaptomys cooperi), which in form 
 
 much resembles the ordinary Field Mouse, but which in its 
 
 dentition resembles the Lemming so closely as to cause it to 
 
 be classified with the latter animal. It makes its home in 
 
 fields or grassy plains and woods. 
 
 Z\iZ fIDole 1Rat0. 
 
 SEVENTH FAHILV: Spalacid^. 
 
 The family of the Mole Rats (ySpalacid<je) consists 
 of ill-shaped, ugly Rodents, which lead subterrane- 
 ous lives. Reminding one of the Moles, they pos- 
 sess all the disagreeable qualities of the latter but 
 not their useful ones. The body is clumsy and of 
 cylindrical shape, the head is thick and the muzzle 
 blunt; the eyes are exceedingly minute or are en- 
 tirely hidden under folds of the external skin; the 
 diminutive ears are deprived of an external conch; 
 the tail is either wanting or hidden in the fur. The 
 more prominent anatomical features are the nearly 
 uniformly developed, five-toed feet; as is the case 
 with the Moles, the fore pair are the stronger, and 
 all four paws are armed with very strong claws, well 
 adapted for digging. 
 
 The Mole Rats AH Mole Rats belong to the Old 
 Peculiar to the World. They generally inhabit dry, 
 Old World. sandy plains and dig long, shallow 
 tunnels across extensive tracts of ground, after the 
 manner of Moles. None of the various species are 
 gregarious; each individual lives alone in its burrow 
 and exhibits the sullen, solitary disposition of the 
 Mole. They dig with extraordinary rapidity, some 
 of them being able to descend in even a perpendicu- 
 lar direction. Above the ground they are unwieldy 
 and helpless, but in their subterranean tunnels they 
 
THE MOLE RATS. 
 
 351 
 
 move forward and backward with nearly equal facil- 
 ity. Their diet is exclusively vegetable, for the 
 most part consisting of roots, tubers and bulbs, 
 which they dig out of the earth; a few of them may 
 in exceptional cases also feed on grass, bark, seeds 
 and nuts. Those that live in cold regions store up 
 winter provisions, but do not hibernate. 
 
 THE MOLE BAT. The clumsy, almost blmd creature, shown in the picture is the repie 
 
 sentative of a peculiar deep burrowing family of Rodents. LiKe the Mole, from which it derives its 
 name, it makes mounds at the mouth of its burrow. Its strong claws for digging and its powerful 
 protruding gnawing teeth are shown here. {Sfalax typhlus.) 
 
 The Common The best known species of the fam- 
 MoleRator i\y jg the Common Mole Rat or 
 Slepez. Slepez {Spalax typhlus). The head 
 
 terminates in a blunt snout and is stouter than the 
 body, while the short, immobile neck is as thick as 
 the tailless body. The short legs terminate in wide 
 paws with strong toes armed with sharp, vigorous 
 claws. The rudimentary 
 
 the Volga and Don, Moldavia, part of Hungary and 
 Galicia, and it also occurs in Turkey and Greece; 
 towards Asia its range is bounded by the Ural and 
 Caucasus, being especially frequent in the Oukraine. 
 Like nearly all of the family, the Common Mole 
 Rat inhabits fertile countries and lives in subterra- 
 nean, complicated burrows, the existence of which 
 is recognized by innumerable mounds. 
 It is said to use its strong incisors in 
 digging, gnawing through roots and 
 pulverizing the earth between them. 
 Physical Char- The movements of 
 acteristics of the the Mole Rat are not 
 Mole Rat. go awkward as is gen- 
 erally believed. Among its percep- 
 tive senses (which probably are all 
 only slightly developed), hearing 
 seems to be most important. It has 
 been observed that the Mole Rat is 
 very sensitive to noise and is mainly 
 guided in its movements by its sense 
 of hearing. It is said to be a cou- 
 rageous, vicious creature, which ia 
 case of emergency knows how to use 
 its vigorous teeth in the most effect- 
 ive manner. It evinces its anger very 
 plainly, growls and snorts, grinds its 
 teeth and snaps furiously when 
 handled by Man. 
 
 The Mole Rat feeds principally, it 
 not exclusively, on vegetable food, 
 and when pressed by hunger lives on the bark of 
 trees. If the plants upon which it feeds put forth 
 deep-reaching tap roots, it sinks tunnels to con- 
 siderable depth under the hard frozen crust of the 
 ground in winter; but if it finds its food nearer the 
 surface, it digs its shallow passages just below the 
 snow. Provisions for winter have not yet been 
 
 eyes are very small, at- 
 taining, usually, barely the 
 size of a poppy seed, and 
 lie hidden under folds of 
 the skin so that they are 
 practically useless for 
 purposes of sight. The 
 length of the body is 
 eight inches. Large and 
 powerful gnawing teeth 
 project far beyond the 
 mouth. All the toes of 
 the feet are strong and 
 provided with vigorous 
 claws for digging. The 
 tail is rudim,.entary, its 
 position being indicated 
 by a slightly protruding 
 wart. The body is clothed 
 in a copious, close, soft 
 fur; rigid, bristly hairs 
 cover the sides of the 
 head from the nostrils to 
 the eyes, and form a 
 brush-like crest. The 
 
 .X;^ 
 
 ^$2fe"' 
 
 
 \ 
 
 ^^ 
 
 •I ' 
 
 >*4 
 
 
 '4M 
 
 *** 
 
 2 \ *, ^ ' 
 
 general color is a yellowish brown, tinged with ashy 
 gray; the under parts are of dark ashy gray hue, re- 
 lieved with white longitudinal stripes on the lower 
 portions of the abdomen, and small, white spots be- 
 tween the hind legs. 
 
 The Mole Rat is a native of southeastern Europe 
 and western Asia, principally of southern Russia near 
 
 OKD'S POCKET UOTTSE,^ — This is the typical animal ot tne exclusively American family of the Pocket 
 Mice. Its long hind legs, short fore-feet and long-tufted tail remind us of the Jerboas, but its fur lined cheek pouch 
 and many other peculiarities pl^ce it in a distinct family. It is appropriately depicted in a desert spot where cacti 
 form almost the sole vegetation. \Dipodomys fhili^fii.) 
 
 found stored in its tunnels, but in many instances 
 nests have been discovered built from the finest of 
 roots. In such a nest from two to four young Mole 
 Rats make their appearance in summer. On the 
 whole the creature does little damage to the pos- 
 sessions of Man; but, on the other hand, its exist- 
 ence does not afford the human species any benefit. 
 
:352 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 VciZ pocF^et flDice. 
 
 EIGHTH FAMILY: Saccomyid^. 
 
 Leaving the Mole Rats we may pass to the con- 
 ■sideration of a family, indigenous to North and Cen- 
 tral America, the Pocket Mice (Saccomyidcs) . This 
 division contains Rodents, possessing great diversi- 
 ties in shape, some being graceful and good-looking, 
 others again having an ungainly appearance, and all 
 being little known in respect to character and habits. 
 They dil^er from all others by the possession of 
 cheek pouches of variable length or depth, opening 
 externally and lined with fur on the inside. The 
 presence of this inner coat of fur in the cheek 
 pouches suffices to distinguish these species of the 
 order from all their relatives. The external fur of 
 the animal consists of only one wiry or stiff-haired 
 coat. 
 
 THE POCKET MICE PROPER. 
 
 The first and typical sub-family commonly bears 
 the name of Pocket Mice {Saccomyincz ;) their bodies 
 are slender and graceful, the hind legs are elongated, 
 the tail long and the muzzle pointed. Of this sub- 
 family the Dipodomys constitute the most promi- 
 nent variety. They bear a resemblance to the Jer- 
 boas in their outward form; the head is large, wide 
 and flat, the ears rounded, the innermost toe of each 
 foot is rudimentary but armed with a claw; the 
 tail is as long as, or longer than, the body, is fur-clad 
 and terminates in a tuft, the hind legs are distin- 
 guished by their length; the teeth contain among 
 their number rootless molars. 
 
 Ord's Among the few varieties that have 
 
 Pocket Mouse so far been differentiated in this spe- 
 Described. cies, Ord's Pocket Mouse {Dipodo- 
 mys philippit) is known best. Its total length is 
 about twelve inches, nearly seven of which are in- 
 cluded in the tail; the female is in length nearly an 
 inch shorter than the male. The color is similar to 
 that of the True Jerboas, head and ears, back and 
 thighs are light brown; along the under surface and 
 the flanks and crossing the thighs a stripe of white 
 extends to the root of the tail, as does another from 
 the ears to the shoulders. The tip of the tail is also 
 white; on the sides of the body the white merges 
 into a yellowish tint. 
 
 This prettily colored and lively little creature is 
 found in California and from thence east to the 
 Rocky Mountains and south to Mexico, where it 
 lives in the most solitary and desolate regions, in 
 localities of a desert-like character, sparsely grown 
 with gigantic, wonderfully-shaped cacti. The short 
 description of its habits, which Audubon gives, 
 shows that its traits and character correspond with 
 those of the Jerboas in many respects. It emerges 
 from its hole at dusk only, and trips about amidst 
 the stones, neitl^er knowing nor fearing Man. In 
 the arid regions which compose its domain, scarcely 
 a living creature is to be found, except a great many 
 Lizards and Snakes, and hence the question often 
 arises in one's mind, how it is possible for a mam- 
 mal to exist there. Most probably Ord's Pocket 
 Mouse subsists also on seeds, roots and grasses, and 
 can go without drinking water for a considerable 
 length of time, like the Jerboas of the desert, or it 
 may be that it contents itself with the tiny dew- 
 drops which are condensed on some of the plants 
 during the night. Authoritative information as to 
 its manner of propagation and habits of life when 
 in confinement are still wanting. 
 
 Other Species This family of Mice with cheek pouches 
 of Poohet o'' pockets situated entirely outside- their 
 J,. mouths includes several other genera, but 
 
 mice, none which have such elongated hind limbs 
 
 as those which characterize Ord's Pocket Mouse.' These Ro- 
 dents are called Pocket Mice, Kangaroo Rats and various 
 other local names, without much distinction of species by ordi- 
 nary observers, although science divides them into two genera, 
 each with several species. Of these Perognathus, with three 
 species, show little if any elongation of the hind limbs, the soles 
 of the paws have little hair or are bare and the fur is harsh' 
 and coarse. One species ( Perognathus penicillatus ), which 
 is found in New Mexico, Arizona and adjoining states, is about 
 the size of the Common Mouse, but has a long, tufted tail. A 
 much larger species {Perognathus fasciatus) is about the size 
 of a Chipmunk, is of more ponderous build and has a shorter, 
 tuftless tail. The third species {Perognathus hispidus) is in 
 size intermediate between the other two species and has 
 coarser hair than either of them. 
 
 L'p it Pnrlipt ^^® third genera of this sub-family com- 
 M- "n- ■ J.- prises what have been appropriately called 
 SnTc'ies t^^ Least Pocket Mice [cricetodipus). 
 
 " ■ These little animals are not quite two inches 
 
 lOng, exclusive of the tail, which is of the same length as the 
 body and head together. The hind limbs are longer than the 
 fore legs, though the disparity is not so great as in Ord's 
 Pocket Mouse, but the character of their movements is such 
 that they are known in some localities as Hopping Mice. The 
 typical animal of this species is Cricetodipus flavus, which has 
 a soft, silky fur of yellowish red on the upper portion, fading 
 to a fawn colored band along the sides as a dividing hne be- 
 tween the ruddy fur of the back and the white of the under 
 portion and legs. There are other species of this group, one 
 of which is scientifically known as Cricetodipus parvus. They 
 all live in the West, from Mexico to Canada, and from the Mis- 
 sissippi river to the Pacific coast. 
 
 An allied but little known genera of this sub-family is found 
 in the Prickly Pocket Mice {Heteromys) which are found in 
 Mexico, Central America and the West Indies, of which there 
 are several species. These are of stouter build and have spines 
 mingled with their harsh fur. 
 
 THE GOPHERS. 
 
 The Gophers {Geomys) show a furrow in the mid- 
 dle of their upper incisors and their ears are rudi- 
 mentary. Of the many varieties which recently 
 have been differentiated and classified, the best 
 known may serve us as a typical example. 
 
 The Pouched The Pouched Gopher ( Geomys bursa- 
 Gopher a rius), is somewhat smaller than a 
 Type. European Hamster, being fourteen 
 
 inches long, inclusive of the tail, which measures two 
 and one-half inches. The fur is exceedingly thick- 
 set and of a fine, soft texture, reddish on the upper 
 surface and yellowish gray below; the tail and the 
 feet, which show but a scanty covering of hair, have 
 a whitish hue. The name of Gopher is applied in 
 some American localities to various other widely 
 variant Rodents. 
 Faulty Represen- The zoologists, who first described 
 
 tations of the the Gopher, obtained their speci- 
 Gopher. mens from Indians, who had amused 
 themselves by cramming both cheek pouches of the 
 animal full of earth, distending them to such a 
 degree that if the animal had walked the pouches 
 would have trailed on the earth. These artificially 
 distended pouches obtained for the Gopher its name; 
 the taxidermists who prepared the dead specimens 
 endeavored to give them what was supposed to be 
 a life-like appearance by following the practice of 
 the Indians ifi distending the cheek pouches, and 
 the artists who delineated the animal followed the 
 models which were accessible to them but too truly 
 in their drawings. Owing to these circumstances, 
 the pictures of Gophers of even recent date repre- 
 sent really monstrous animals, when they honestly 
 intend to familiarize us with the Gopher. 
 
 The Gopher is distributed over the country to 
 the east of the Rocky Mountains and to the west of 
 
THE POCKET MICE— GOPHER. 
 
 353 
 
 the Mississippi, between the thirty-fourth and fifty- 
 second parallel of north latitude. It leads an under- 
 ground life, exactly similar to that of the Mole, dig- 
 ging numerous, complicated tunnels in various and 
 imost erratic directions and throwing up heaps of 
 •earth, resembling Mole's hills. 
 
 Tunnels of old standing are packed hard and firm 
 from constant use, while newer ones are not. Lat- 
 eral passages branch off at intervals. The main 
 chamber is situated under the roots of a tree at a 
 depth of about four and one-half feet; the entrance 
 tunnel is sunk down to it with a spiral direction. 
 
 Least Pocket Mouse. 
 (Cricetodifus flavus.) , 
 
 This chamber is of 
 great dimensions, lined 
 throughout with soft 
 grass, not unlike a 
 Squirrel's nest, and 
 serves the animal as a 
 resting and sleeping 
 place. The nest in 
 , which the young, num- 
 bering from five to 
 seven in each litter, are 
 born about the end of 
 March or beginning of April, is much like the de- 
 scribed chamber, but it is lined with the hair of the 
 mother. Like the Mole's nest, it is also surrounded 
 by cjrcular passages from which the tunnels radiate. 
 Gesner found that a passage leads from the nest to 
 a larger hole, the store-room, which is usually filled 
 with roots, potatoes, nuts and seeds. The Gopher 
 works most diligently at the excavation and enlarg- 
 ing of its habitation in the morning hours from four 
 to ten, undoubtedly with the intention of obtaining 
 roots. If the locality has an abundant supply of 
 food, from three to five yards of burrow may be ex- 
 
 cavated in this time and 
 from two to five mounds 
 are thrown up, but if food 
 be scanty the animal digs 
 for a greater distance and 
 works for a longer time. 
 Sometimes it suspends its 
 work for weeks, apparently 
 subsisting on its stored-up 
 provisions at such times. 
 When throwing up the 
 earth, which it does in a 
 manner resembling that of 
 the Mole, the Gopher ex- 
 poses itself to view as little 
 as possible and immediate- 
 ly after accomplishing its 
 purpose, plunges back into 
 the hole. It appears above 
 ground to gather dry grass 
 for its living-room or nest, 
 and also, according to Au- 
 dubon, to bask in the sun. 
 Its acute sense of hearing 
 and excellent power of scent 
 
 --->. 
 
 its cheek pouches, which are of dimensions to excite 
 astonishment in the mind of one unacquainted with 
 the animal, by using its tongue in the process of 
 deposition while grazing, and empties them with its 
 fore paws. As is the case with other Rodents, when 
 they become obese their increase of bulk is alto- 
 gether lateral, and they become broad, measured 
 across the back; in this condition they assume an 
 oblong ovoid shape, never having hanging-down 
 sacks on the sides of the snout nor the body drag- 
 ging on the earth. The assertion that they use their 
 cheek pouches to remove the excavated earth from 
 their burrows is based wholly on imagination. 
 
 The Gopher The damage done by a Gopher may 
 an Enemy of assume considerable proportions. It 
 '"""■ sometimes destroys hundreds of 
 
 valuable trees in a few days, by gnawing their roots, 
 and sometimes destroys entire plots of bulbous or 
 tuberous plants. For this reason Man is arrayed 
 against it and is really its most dangerous enemy, 
 the only other foes it has to fear besides the agricul- 
 turist being water and Snakes. 
 
 Audubon's Obser- Audubon kept several Gophers in 
 uations of captivity for weeks, feeding them on 
 Gophers. potatoes. They exhibited an ex- 
 ceedingly voracious appetite, but refrained from 
 drinking, though he offered them not only water 
 but also milk. Their efforts to regain their liberty 
 were incessant, consisting in gnawing their way 
 through boxes and doors. They exhibited an 
 extremely acquisitive disposition, and constantly 
 dragged clothing and all kinds of similar objects 
 together, utilizing them as bedding, suiting them to 
 such purpose by gnawing them to pieces. One of 
 them, straying into a boot, instead of turning back, 
 simply gnawed its way through the tip. This habit 
 
 THE POUCHED GOPHEE. The western agriculturist often finds this animal a great nuisance, for it 
 
 digs up the earth like a Mole, and it destroys an enormous quantity of potatoes and similar crops. This animal's 
 stout, clumsy body, long, strong claws for burrowing and sharp chisel-edged teeth for gnawing, its small ears and 
 almost bare tail are all well depicted here. (Geomys iursarius.) 
 
 protect it from sur- 
 prises; when it apprehends danger it instantly rushes 
 underground, even if it has to secure its retreat by 
 sinking a new shaft. 
 
 Peculiari- On the surface of the ground the 
 ties of the Gopher hobbles along in a clumsy 
 Gopher. ^^y, proceeding at a pace about as 
 fast as a Man's walk. While eating it often sits on 
 its haunches and uses its fore-paws after the manner 
 of Squirrels. When sleeping, it curls up and reposes 
 its head on the chest, between its fore legs. It fills 
 
 of constantly gnawing, and the noise thereby pro- 
 duced, made the animals unbearable, even to so de- 
 voted and self-denying a naturalist as Audubon. 
 
 Besides the typical animal just described 
 there are the Southern Gopher or Salaman- 
 der (Geomys tuza) which is very much like 
 the ordinary Pouched Gopher but has its 
 tail and feet entirely bare and shows some differences in den- 
 tition. It is found in the southern Atlantic states. "Sala- 
 mander" is its common name in that section, and, curiously 
 enough, the name "Gopher" is there applied to a species of 
 turtle, and in some or the western states various Kinds of 
 Spermophiles, or Ground Squirrels, are also erroneously called 
 
 Other Gophers 
 
 and Pocket 
 
 Rats. 
 
354 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 " Gophers." The Chestnut-Cheeked Gopher ( Geomys casta- 
 nops) is a small species, about ten inches long, found in Texas 
 and New Mexico. The fur of this species is soft and glossy. 
 In striking contrast is the harsh, lustreless fur of the Quachil 
 ( Geomys hispidus) of Central America, and the closely allied 
 Mexican Gopher (Geomys mexicanus) both of which are large 
 species about equal in size to the common Pouched Gopher. 
 
 Belonging to the same sub-family as the Gophers are the 
 animalslcnown as Pocket Rats ( Thomomys), which differ from 
 the Gophers in having smooth-edged incisors, ears slightly 
 more developed, smaller claws, and relatively larger cheek 
 pouches. The common Pocket Rat (Thomomys talpoides) is 
 about eight inches long, the upper part of the fur varying in 
 color from a gray to a brown or reddish hue. The lower por- 
 tion is always of lighter tint and quite often white. From the 
 Mississippi valley west to California from the Gulf of Mexico 
 to Hudson's Bay these Rodents may be found. Like the Go- 
 phers, they are burrowing animals. Other species of Pocket 
 Rats are known, one being the Rocky Mountain Pocket Rat 
 ( Thomomys clusius), six inches long, with a tail about one and a 
 quarter inches. 
 
 Common Pocket Rat. 
 
 ^be porcupines, 
 
 NINTH FAMILY: Hystrichidve. 
 
 The Porcupines (Hystrichida) show a much greater 
 development of a defensive coat (its armor being 
 composed of quills) than do other mammals which 
 are simply equipped with bristles. The entire group 
 takes its name from its best known member, and to 
 enable one to recognize any individual, there is not 
 needed a lengthy descrip- 
 tion of the anatomical 
 peculiarities which char- 
 acterize the species. The 
 quills are a common attri- 
 bute of all animals belong- 
 ing to the group, though 
 the different species ex- 
 hibit a great diversity in 
 form. 
 
 ftange and Habits AH Porcu- 
 of the Porcu- pines are 
 
 pines. natives of the temperate and warm 
 
 countries of the Old and New Worlds. In the West- 
 ern Hemisphere one finds the climbing species, in 
 the Eastern the burrowing species predominate. 
 The Old World Porcupines are confined to a life on 
 the ground, and those of the New World to an ex- 
 istence on trees. In accordance with these condi- 
 tions the former live in thinly grown forests and 
 steppes, hidden during the day in tunnels and holes 
 dug in the hard, compact soil; the latter inhabit ex- 
 tensive forests and pass their hours of retirement 
 curled up in a fork of the branches of a thick tree-, 
 top, or sitting in a hollow tree trunk. The move- 
 ments of the species during the day are slow, meas- 
 ured, sluggish. With the advent of night, however, 
 when they have become thoroughly awake, some 
 run along very nimbly on the ground and at a con- 
 siderable pace, while others climb up and down the 
 branches with considerable agility, although in this 
 respect they do not equal Squirrels. Those inhab- 
 iting the ground are most skillful burrowers, and 
 know how to remove all obstructions that the hard- 
 ness of the ground may occasion. Among their 
 perceptive senses that of the organ of smell seems 
 to be most efficient, the sense of touch being devel- 
 oped to a high degree in the climbing Porcupines; 
 sight and hearing are more or less deficient in all 
 the species. Their intellectual capacities are on a 
 low plane of intelligence. They are stupid, forget- 
 ful, deficient in resources, malicious, violent, shy and 
 
 timid, though when confronted by an enemy all of 
 them try to intimidate their opponents by erecting 
 their quills and some by producing a rattling noise 
 with the spines on their tails. They are as little in- 
 clined to live on amicable terms with creatures of 
 other species as with individuals of their own kind; 
 a choice morsel may provoke a serious quarrel be- 
 tween even male and female. One never sees two 
 Porcupines playing together or engaged in friendly 
 intercourse with each other. They never evince 
 friendship for the keeper who cares for ■them and 
 apparently never know how to distinguish him from 
 other persons. Their vocal expressions are a dull 
 grunt, a snort, a low moan, or a squeal which is diffi- 
 cult to describe. 
 
 Food The food of the Porcupines consists 
 
 of the Porcu- of all vegetable substances, from 
 pines. roots up to fruit. Nearly all Por- 
 
 cupines seem to be able to abstain from water for a 
 considerable time; probably the dew which is de- 
 posited on the leaves, which they eat, is sufficient 
 for their needs. 
 
 THE PORCUPINES PROPER. 
 
 The Porcupines proper {Hystrix) are easily recog- 
 nized by their short, stoutly formed body, their 
 heavy blunt muzzled head set on a stout neck, their 
 short tail thickly studded with quills, as is the 
 remainder of the body, which is thus incased in a 
 
 defensive armor of spines 
 developed out of all pro- 
 portion to the size of the 
 body. Their further char- 
 acteristics are the small, 
 roundish ears, the wide 
 upper lips and the cleft 
 betweeii the nostrils. 
 The Common The. Common 
 Porcupine Porcupine 
 a Type. ( Hystrix cris- 
 tata) is of stouter propor- 
 tions, though not longer than a European Badger, 
 and appears to be much larger than it really is, 
 owing to its quills. Its length amounts to twenty- 
 six inches ; the tail measures four and one-half 
 ihcheSj and the height at the shoulder is nine and 
 one-half inches; the weight ranges between thirty 
 and forty pounds. The short, blunt muzzle and the 
 nose are adorned with only a few hairs; the thick 
 upper lip is covered with several rows of lustrous 
 black whisker-hairs and similar bristles grow on 
 small protuberances above and behind the eyes. 
 Along the neck there is a mane composed of very 
 long, strong, curved quills, slanting when at rest in 
 a backward direction; these may be erected or de- 
 pressed at will. They are thin and flexible, in part 
 white, in part gray and usually tipped "With white. 
 The remainder of the upper surface of the body is 
 overgrown with smooth and sharply pointed bristles 
 of varying lengths, alternately of- dark or blackish 
 and white color, implanted but loosely in the skin 
 and therefore easily pulled out and intermingled in 
 all parts with bristly hairs. On the sides of the 
 body, on the shoulders and near the tail the quills 
 are shorter and blunter than those in the middle of 
 the back. The long and flexible quills attain a 
 length of sixteen inches, while the short,' stout ones 
 are only from six to twelve inches long and may be 
 one-fifth of an inch thick. They are all hollow in 
 the middle or else they are filled with a sponge- 
 like marrow, the base and tip being mostly white. 
 
 C Thomomys ialpoides.) 
 
THE COMMON FOKCnPINE. The long spines that clothe this animal have made it known all over the world, although only found in 
 
 northern Africa and southern Europe. The picture shows a Porcupine with spines erect ready to defend itself. It is very properly shown in 
 arboreal surroundings, and its fighting attitude is doubtless assumed because of the threatening appearance of the Snake in the foreground.. 
 (ffysMx cristaia.) 
 
 (355) 
 
356 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 The shorter quills are blackish brown and ringed, 
 but the base and tip are generally white. The tip 
 of the tail is implanted with quills of a different 
 kind, which are about two inches long and one- 
 fourth of an inch thick, and which consist of trun- 
 cated, thin-wallpd tubes, with an open extremity 
 resembling the quills of a fowl with their ends cut 
 off, their roots being long, thin and flexible. All 
 the quills of the body may be erected and depressed 
 at pleasure by a large, strong flexor muscle, ramify- 
 ing beneath the skin of the animal and capable of 
 strong contraction. The under parts of the body 
 are covered with dark brown hair, overshot with a 
 reddish tinge; the throat is encircled by a white 
 band. The claws are darkish, but translucent. The 
 eyes are black. 
 
 The European The Porcupines inhabiting Europe 
 
 Porcupine an Im- are said to be natives of northern 
 migrant. Africa, and to have been imported 
 by the Romans. At present the animal is found in 
 northern Africa along the coasts of the Mediterra- 
 nean, especially in Algiers, Tripoli, Tunis and as far 
 as Senegambia and the Soudan. In Europe it is 
 frequently found in the Campagna of Rome, in 
 Sicily, Calabria and Greece. In lower Egypt, where 
 it is said to be found, I never saw a trace of it. 
 
 Habits of The Porcupine leads a solitary life. 
 
 the Common Por- During the day it rests in the long, 
 cupine. Jqw tunnels which it excavates in the 
 
 ground; at night it emerges from them and prowls 
 around after food. Its diet consists of plants of all 
 kinds, such as thistles and other herbs, roots and 
 fruit, the bark of many trees and various leaves. 
 Its manner of feeding resembles that of others of 
 its kind. It bites a piece off, seizes it with its front 
 teeth and holds it with its fore-paws while eating. 
 All its movements are awkward and sIqw; it walks 
 in a lazy, deliberate way and its running capacities 
 are also limited in point of speed. Only in burrow- 
 ing is the clumsy animal possessed of a certain 
 amount of celerity, which is far from sufficient, how- 
 ever, to enable it to escape a skillful, nimble antago- 
 nist. In winter it is said to occupy its burrow more 
 than at other seasons, and sometimes remain.s in it 
 sleeping for several days at a time. It does not 
 really hibernate. 
 The Porcupine's If a- Porcupine be taken by surprise 
 
 H/lethodsof Intim- outside of its burrow, it threaten- 
 idation. ingly rears its head and neck, erects 
 
 all the spines on its body and rattles them together 
 in a peculiar way, especially those of the tail with 
 which it produces a peculiar rattling sound, quite 
 adapted to frighten an ignorant or timid person. 
 When highly excited it stamps on the ground with 
 its hind feet, and if it be seized it utters a hollow 
 grunt, similar to that of a Pig. Notwithstanding its 
 belligerent demonstrations the animal is perfectly 
 inoffensive, easily frightened, retreating upon the 
 approach of a person and hardly ever making de- 
 fensive use of its sharp teeth. The quills also are 
 intended more for the defensive than an offensive 
 purpose. Whoever approaches it carelessly may 
 hurt himself, but a dexterous sportsman seizes the 
 creature by the mane and carries it off with ease. 
 Propagation of A litter of young Porcupines num- 
 the Porcu- bering from two to four is born in 
 pine. the burrow in a soft nest lined with 
 
 leaves, roots and herbage. The little creatures 
 make their appearance with open eyes, and have 
 short, soft spines lying close to the body. The 
 spines grow rapidly and soon harden, though they 
 
 attain their full length only at a more advanced age. 
 As soon as the young are capable of shifting for 
 themselves, they leave their mother. 
 Method of Hunt- It can scarcely be truly asserted that 
 ing Porcu- the Porcupine causes any damage. 
 pines. Nevertheless it is an object of dili- 
 
 gent pursuit. The quills are used in many ways and 
 the flesh is also occasionally eaten. In the Roman 
 Campagna the hunting of the animal is considered 
 a particularly enjoyable sport; there certainly is no 
 denying the fact that the way in which the animal is 
 hunted is somewhat peculiar and attractive. The 
 huntsman sets out in the dark of night, accompa- 
 nied by a few well trained Dogs, which are set on 
 the trail and left to track the quarry. A loud, furi- 
 ous bark signifies their meeting with the hero of the 
 quills and also serves to guide the huntsman to the 
 spot in which the combat takes place — if the en- 
 counter may be called a combat at all. All the 
 sportsmen light the torches which they have kept in 
 readiness and hurry to the scene of action. As soon 
 as the Dogs become aware of their masters' ap- 
 proach, they howl with joy and proceed to furiously 
 attack their antagonist. The Porcupine tries to re- 
 pel them, rattling its quills, grunting and growling 
 in all toties and protecting itself as much as possible 
 with its quills, which stand out in all directions. 
 Finally the sportsmen form a circle around the game 
 and its pursuers, and the glaring light of the torches 
 enables the sportsmen to view the conflict and ren- 
 ders it possible for the Dogs to subdue the quarry 
 by means of their trained methods of attack. In 
 this way the hunter may either kill the Porcupine or 
 take it home alive. 
 
 TREE OR CLIMBING PORCUPINES. 
 
 The Tree or Climbing Porcupines (Cercolabind) are 
 distinguished from other members of the family 
 principally by their slender bodies and tails of 
 greater or less length, prehensile in most of the 
 genera. All varifties comprised in this group are 
 natives of America. 
 
 The Urson In the northern half of America the 
 or Canadian Por- Tree Porcupines are represented by 
 cupine. tj^g Urson or Canadian Porcupine 
 
 {Erithizon dorsatiini) . It, as well as its only known 
 kinsman, differs from the South American Cercola- 
 binae in having a stout body, and short, flattened or 
 broadly compressed tail, thickly set with quills on 
 its upper surface and with bristles on the under side. 
 The Urson attains a length of thirty-two inches; 
 seven and one-half of which are included in the tail. 
 The head is short, thick ahd blunt, the muzzle is 
 truncated, the apertures of the small nostrils. may be 
 more or less entirely closed by a semi-lunar flap or 
 valve. The fore feet have four toes and no digit 
 analogous to a thumb; the hind feet are five-toed, 
 the claws are long and strong, the soles destitute of 
 hair, covered with a skin showing a network of fur- 
 rows. A thickset fur, which attains a length of 
 four and one-half inches on the nape of the neck 
 and changes into sharp spines on the under parts of 
 the body, and the tip of the tail, clothes the animal. 
 Dispersed among the hair and spines, quills rather 
 more than three inches long and for the greater part 
 concealed in the fur, are distributed over the upper 
 surface. The color of the animal is a blending of 
 brown, black and white. 
 
 The Canadian Porcupine is a native of the forests 
 of North America, ranging from the sixty-seventh 
 parallel of north latitude south to Virginia and Ken- 
 
THE PORCUPINES— TREE OR CLIMBING. 
 
 357 
 
 lucky, its eastern and western boundaries being Lab- 
 rador and the Rocky Mountains. It is not uncom- 
 mon in the forest regions to the west of the Mis- 
 souri, but it is nearly extinct in the east. " The Ur- 
 ■■ says Cartwright, "is an accomplished climber 
 
 son, 
 
 and probably never descends a tree in winter, before 
 
 UKSON OR CANADIAN PORCUPINE. Formerly plentiful in the northern United States but now quite 
 
 rare in this country, although not so scarce in Canada is the Urson, otherwise called the Canadian Porcupine, of 
 which an admirable illustration is here siven. The strange, blunt head, the long, erectile hair interspersed with 
 spines, the four strong claws of the fore feet are shown in the animals here portrayed. {Eriihizon dorsalum.) 
 
 it has entirely denuded the upper branches of bark. 
 It is most partial to the tenderest shoots or seedling 
 trees. A single Urson may ruin hundreds of them 
 •during one winter." Audubon affirms that he has 
 passed through woods, in which all the trees had 
 been stripped by the Urson, producing an appear- 
 ance similar to that in- 
 duced when a forest has 
 been devastated by fire. 
 Elms, poplars and firs fur- 
 nish its favorite food, and 
 therefore usually suffer 
 more than other trees from 
 its destructiveness. 
 
 The nest of the Urson is 
 ^^enerally found in holes in 
 trees or in rocky hollows, 
 and in it the young, usually 
 two, more rarely three or 
 four in number, are born in 
 April or May. Those that 
 are taken out of the nest 
 and kept in confinement, 
 unlike the common Euro- 
 pean Porcupine, soon be- 
 come accustomed to their 
 master and to their sur- 
 roundings. They may be 
 fed on all kinds of vegeta- 
 bles and are very fond of 
 bread. If given the free- 
 dom of the garden, they 
 
 mount trees and eat the bark and leaves. Audubon 
 says that an Urson he had in his possession never 
 exhibited anger, except when some one tried to 
 remove it from a tree which it was in the habit of 
 mounting. " Our Urson had gradually become very 
 tame, and seldom made any use of its nails, so that 
 
 we could occasionally open its cage and afford it the 
 pleasure of a free walk in the garden. It knew us: 
 when we called it, tempting it with a sweet potato 
 or an apple, it slowly turned its head toward us, 
 gave us a gentle, friendly look and then slowly 
 hobbled up to us, took the fruit out of our hands, 
 
 sat down on its hind legs 
 and raised the food to its 
 mouth with its fore-paws. 
 Frequently, when it would 
 find the door of our room 
 open, it would come in, 
 approach and rub itself 
 against us, looking at us 
 pleadingly, as if asking for 
 some dainty. We tried in 
 vain to arouse it to an 
 exhibition of anger; it 
 never used its spines with 
 us. When a Dog came 
 in view, matters were dif- 
 ferent. Then it instantly 
 assumed the defensive. 
 With its nose lowered, all 
 its quills erect, and its tail 
 moving back and forth, it 
 was ready for the fray. 
 
 "A large, ferocious and 
 
 exceedingly troublesome 
 
 Mastiff, belonging to the 
 
 neighborhood, one day 
 
 sprang upon the Urson 
 
 with open mouth. The 
 
 Porcupine seemed to swell up in an instant to nearly 
 
 double its usual size, sharply watched the Dog and 
 
 at the right moment dealt it such a well-aimed blow 
 
 with its tail as to cause the Mastiff to lose courage 
 
 in an instant and set up a loud howl in an agony of 
 
 pain. His mouth, tongue and nose were full of Por- 
 
 THE MEXICAN PORCUPINE. Among the Tree Porcupines the Mexican species is one of strongly 
 
 marked physical peculiarities. The long curly hair, concealing to great extent the quills with which the animal 
 bristles, the prehensile tail, the strong claws and queer bewhiskered muzzle are all shown in the picture. (Cer- 
 colabes novte his^anice.) 
 
 cupine quills. He could not close his jaws, but 
 hurried, open-mouthed, off the premises. Although 
 the servants immediately extracted the spines from 
 the mouth of the Dog, we observed that his head 
 was terribly swelled for several weeks afterwards, 
 and it was months before he finally recovered." 
 
358 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 The Urson Indians alone know how to utilize 
 
 Eaten by In- the Urson. The flesh is much es- 
 
 dians. teemed by them and is said when 
 
 properly prepared to be quite acceptable to white 
 
 people also. The skin is of agreeable softness after 
 
 the spines have been extracted and therefore can be 
 
 used in the manufacture of moccasins, shoes, etc; 
 
 the spines are used by the Indians in the decoration 
 
 of hunting pouches, head-dresses, etc. 
 
 Distinctive Char- The Cercolabes proper comprise the 
 
 acteristics of the species furnished with a prehensile 
 
 Cercolabes. tail and four-toed feet. When the 
 
 fur is so much more copious than the spines that 
 
 these latter project in places only and are entirely 
 
 BRUSH-TAILED PORCUPINE. A separate group of the Porcupine family is formed by two species, one 
 
 found in west Africa and one in the Malay region of Asia. The spines of the back are sharp pointed, and e'ach has a 
 deep groove which extends along its entire length. The tail is the most characteristic feature, the tuft consisting of a 
 bunch of spines so flattened that Buffon compares their appearance to narrow, irregular strips of parchment. The 
 African species is well portrayed in this picture. {Atherura africana.) 
 
 absent on the throat, breast and abdomen, the vari- 
 eties are placed in the sub-species Sphingurus; those 
 in which the spines prevail are classified as belong- 
 ing to the sub-species Synetheres. 
 
 The Mexican The eastern coast of Mexico is in- 
 Porcu- habited by the Mexican Porcupine 
 
 pine. {Cercolabes nova hispanice), a crea- 
 
 ture of thirty-eight inches total length, the tail occu- 
 pying about one-third of this. The glossy hair is 
 very thick and soft, slightly curly and so long as 
 to completely cover many of the spines. The under 
 parts are deficient in spines with the exception of 
 the lower portions of the throat, the inner surfaces 
 of the limbs, the muzzle and the outer half of the 
 tail. This latter organ toward the end is devoid of 
 any covering above, while below it is thickly set 
 with black bristles. Along its flanks the animal dis- 
 plays a yellow coloration. The muzzle is equipped 
 with very long whiskers. The quills are sulphur 
 yellow, tipped with black; thin at the base, of uni- 
 form thickness along their middle portions, and then 
 again taper suddenly; the middle part is smooth and 
 polished and the point is sharp as a needle and pro- 
 vided with a barbed hook. So long as the creature 
 is peacefully reposing but very little of the quills is 
 exhibited with the exception of those implanted 
 around the eyes and ears. When it is excited by 
 the presence of an enemy and its blood is up, it 
 erects all its quills so that they stand out in all 
 directions, and if one strokes the fur with one's 
 hand he feels them everywhere. These quills are 
 
 set so loosely in the skin that they fall^ out at the 
 slightest touch, and if a person strokes the fur but 
 once, dozens of them are pulled out, some of them 
 invariably sticking to the hand. 
 
 The Couiy a Accurate information concerning the 
 South American life in the free state of this and all 
 Species. other species of the CercolabinK is 
 very meager. We know most about a closely allied 
 species, the Couiy {Cercolabes villosus), of which 
 Azara, Rengger, Prince von Wied and Burmeister 
 have written the results of their observations. It is 
 thinly distributed all over Brazil and the country 
 south of it as far as Paraguay, being known every- 
 where but common nowhere. It usually selects 
 
 dense forests of high 
 trees as its habitations. 
 The greater part of the 
 year it lives solitary in 
 a fixed location, always 
 keeping to the trees, in 
 the branches of which it 
 moves about with con- 
 siderable agility. Dur- 
 ing the day it rests, 
 sleeping in a curled up 
 attitude in its nest in the 
 fork of a limb; during 
 the night it prowls about, 
 climbing slowly and with 
 great circumspection. 
 Hensel lays stress on the 
 fact that it is protected 
 by what Mr. Darwin and 
 other eminent naturalists 
 term "natural imitation," 
 in that it corresponds to 
 its surroundings with re- 
 gard to shape and color- 
 ing. " Nature," says he, 
 "seems to specially favor 
 this Porcupine, for she did not content herself with 
 protecting it from foes among the inferior animals 
 and beasts of prey, but also made provision against 
 the attack of birds of prey. A quantity of long, fine 
 hairs project beyond the quills. When the animal 
 sits quietly and half curled up on the branches of a 
 treCj these long hairs give it a striking and most 
 deceptive resemblance to a lump of a certain kind 
 of gray moss (beard moss), and even a keen-sighted 
 sportsman often readily passes it by, deceived by the 
 long hair flowing in the wind, or occasionally shoots 
 into a piece of that parasitic plant, not being able 
 to exhibit a trophy of his prowess or boast much of 
 his deed afterwards." The attitude assumed by the 
 Cercolabes on trees is peculiar. It sits on its hind 
 legs, keeps its fore-feet close to them, sometimes 
 inverting them so as to support itself on the backs 
 of the fore-paws, instead of the soles; the head is 
 kept to one side, the tail is extended and curved 
 upwards, forming a hook. Usually it assures its 
 holds by coiling its tail round a branch. It sits very 
 securely without this help, however, even on the 
 smallest twigs, as the wide fore-feet, with their in- 
 ward curve, afford a firm hold. In climbing it 
 presses the broad, fleshy soles of the feet close to 
 the branches and grasps them with the toes which 
 have a prehensile power analogous to that of human 
 fingers. 
 
 The food of the Cercolabes consists mainly of 
 fruit, buds, leaves and roots, which it carries to its- 
 mouth with its hands. 
 
THE GUINEA PIG FAMILY. 
 
 359 
 
 The Couiy To describe its life in captivity I will 
 
 in Captiu- quote Azara's observations: "I had 
 Hy- a specimen in my possession which 
 
 liad been captured when fully matured; I permitted 
 it to range my room at will and left it a year without 
 water; for it does not drink. When frightened by 
 anything it ran with comparative agility; I could 
 always overtake it, however, by following at a lei- 
 surely pace. All its movements are more or less 
 clumsy; but it readily climbs up and down a stick and 
 grasps it so firmly that it requires considerable effort 
 to loosen its hold. The back of a chair, the point of 
 a perpendicular stake afford it a sufficiently good 
 resting-place upon which to sleep and even recu- 
 perate. It is slow-witted and of so quiet and lazy 
 a disposition that it sometimes does not change 
 its place or attitude for twenty-four or forty-eight 
 hours. My prisoner never moved except when it 
 -was feeding. Once only did I see it running about 
 at night, nevertheless I believe it to be a nocturnal 
 animal. In the first days of its captivity my Cerco- 
 labes would sit down on the back of a chair, but 
 never on anything having a plane surface; one day, 
 however, it climbed up a window and discovered the 
 €dge of the window-shutter; it sought no further for 
 a retreat after this. On the shutter it spent all its 
 time, sitting like a statue in its extraordinary posi- 
 tion, without the slightest movement. It held on 
 only with its hinder feet, using neither fore feet nor 
 tail to secure its position, crossed its fore legs and 
 put its muzzle into them, as if it wished to kiss its 
 hands. Thus it sat, without moving, without look- 
 ing about even, till the 
 hour of its meal arrived. 
 It ate very little of the 
 proffered bread, maize, 
 manioc roots, herbs, leaves 
 and flowers, but showed a 
 tendency to vary its diet. 
 It never exhibited vicious 
 tendencies, never bit rior 
 scratched, and never did 
 anybody any harm. 
 Physical Senses "The serise 
 and Appearance of smell is 
 
 of the Couiy. the acutest 
 among its senses of per- 
 ception. I observed my 
 pet raise its head when I 
 ■drank chocolate or entered 
 the room carrying flowers, 
 so I could safely infer that 
 it perceived odors at con- 
 siderable distances. Never 
 did I see it exhibit intel- 
 lectual emotion or signify 
 its grief or pleasure. 
 Sometimes it would recog- 
 nize the voice of its famil- 
 iars and turn its head when its name was called." 
 
 The external appearance of this species presents 
 so few inviting features that it is but rarely caught 
 and reared by the savage tribes inhabiting the coun- 
 tries of which it is a native. These tribes eat its 
 flesh, however, which is disdained by Europeans on 
 account of its unpleasant odor. 
 
 The Coendou The Coendt)u ( Cercolabes preheiuilis) 
 a South Ameri- is very similar in appearance to the 
 
 can Species. Couiy, so far as relates to its 
 general shape, but is of a perceptibly stronger 
 and larger build. Its length amounts to forty-four 
 
 inches, eighteen of which are included in the tail. 
 The surface covered by quills begins with the face, 
 continues throughout the entire upper surface, 
 clothes the legs to the ankle-joints, and includes the 
 upper half of the tail and all the lower part of 
 the body. The quills are not habitually depressed, 
 and do not lie close to the body. A few hairs, which 
 intermingle with them, are concealed from view and 
 become visible only when the quills are removed to 
 one side. 
 The Coendou in Little is known about the life of the 
 a State of Coendou in its natural condition. 
 Nature. "x^g animal is distributed over a con- 
 siderable part of southern and Central America and 
 is quite plentiful in some localities. After the habit 
 of its relatives it sleeps through the day, perched on 
 the top of a tree in the curled-up attitude already 
 described in connection with the accounts of its kin 
 heretofore given; at night it runs among the branches 
 slowly, but with considerable skill and great sure- 
 footedness. Leaves of all kinds constitute its nour- 
 ishment. The flesh is in great demand with the 
 natives as an article of food and the quills are also 
 put to manifold uses. 
 
 ^be Cavic0 or Guinea ipio Jfamili?. 
 
 TENTH FAMILY: Caviid^. 
 
 The external distinguishing features of the Cavies 
 {Caviidts) to which our well-known Guinea Pig be- 
 
 THE COENDOIT One of the most common of the South A'merican Tree Porcupines is the Coendou. It 
 
 is completely covered with quills which conceal the hair, and its long tail possesses a prehensile quality equal to 
 that of the Monkeys inhabiting the same region. It is a distinctly arboreal animal and the artist has placed 
 the two in the picture amid appropriate surroundings. {Cercolabes prehensilis.) 
 
 longs, and which occupy an intermediate position 
 between the murine and leponine families, consists 
 of a more or less elongated body, supported by long 
 legs, four-toed fore-feet, and from three to five-toed 
 hind feet, provided with large, hoof-like, triangular 
 nails (resembling those of an Ox or. Goat), and 
 with naked soles; a stub-like tail, ears of varying 
 size and a coarse fur. The teeth consist of four 
 molars in each row of about uniform size and large, 
 broad gnawing teeth, the external surfaces of which 
 are generally of a white color. All Cavies are re- 
 stricted in habitat to southern and Central America. 
 
360 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 THE GUINEA PIG. 
 
 Our universally known Guinea Pig {Cavia porcel- 
 lus) has so far, in point of pedigree, shared the fate 
 of many domestic animals; its progenitors can not 
 be traced with accuracy. The record of its geneal- 
 ogy is lost in antiquity. As far as known the little 
 creature was introduced into Europe by the Dutch, 
 soon after the discovery of America, that is, in the 
 sixteenth century. Gesner had even at his early 
 day become acquainted with it, and from that time 
 it has been bred continuously, but until recently the 
 original stock from which it descended was quite 
 commonly (and probably erroneously) thought to 
 be the Brazilian Aperea or Restless Cavy {Cavia 
 apered). Nehring's investigations, however, have 
 proved that it springs from the Peruvian Cavy 
 {Cavia cutleri), a species closely allied to the Rest- 
 less Cavy, and kept in that country in a domesti- 
 cated state as early as the times of the Incas. As 
 
 GUINEA PIGS.— The Guinea Pig is indigenous to South America although it has become a not uncommon 
 domestic pet in Europe. Cultivation has developed many variations in their color. The term "Guinea Pig " is prob- 
 ably a corruption oi " Guiana Pig." As will be seen by the picture, they are plump, intelligent, pretty animals, and 
 are very docile in captivity. (Cavia porcellus.) 
 
 A. Stubel told Nehring, it is even to-day bred and 
 used as an article of diet by the Indians of Peril, 
 Ecuador and Columbia; but it has never been found 
 with the isolated and uncivilized aborigines of Brazil. 
 Color of the Besides uniformly colored Guinea 
 
 Guinea Pig a Re- Pigs, among which the white ones 
 
 suit of Breeding, predominate, one usually sees- them 
 of three colors: spotted with white, tawny yellow 
 and black. As a result of Nehring's investigations 
 of the Guinea Pig mummies in the cemetery of 
 Ancon in Peru, it is claimed that the Inca Guinea 
 Pigs showed no black spots. They were either all 
 white, or reddish brown, or, if piebald, spotted re- 
 spectively with tawny or yellowish white. Accord- 
 ing to Haacke's observations, tri-colored specimens, 
 with spots of ashy gray instead of black, are not 
 uncommon; the eyes of such individuals are always 
 red. Lately the long-haired Guinea Pig has become 
 very popular; it is a breed which has a long fur, 
 exhibiting peculiar convolutions on different parts 
 of the body. 
 
 The Guinea Pig is one of the most popular domes- 
 tic animals in the entire order of the Rodents, as- 
 much on account of the small cost of its mainte- 
 nance as because of its inoffensive, good-natured dis- 
 position. If it has an airy, dry hutch or cage, it is 
 easily kept anywhere. It feeds on the most multi- 
 farious vegetable diet, ranging from roots to leaves, 
 on grains as well as fresh juicy plants and requires 
 only a little variety in its food. If it is given juicy 
 fruit it can thrive without drinking water at all,, 
 though it is exceedingly fond of milk occasion- 
 ally. It is naturally very hardy and bears even ill- 
 treatment without apparent ill results. For this 
 reason it is a very pleasant pet for children, which 
 are generally the ones that most enjoy the keeping" 
 of Guinea Pigs. In its habits and disposition it 
 shows an approximation to the Rabbits in some 
 respects, and to the Mice in others. Its manner of 
 vocal expression is a grunt, which probably gives 
 rise to the appellation of "Pig," and a peculiar 
 
 murmur, or Cat-like 
 purr and squeal. The 
 murmur seems to be an 
 expression of comfort, 
 while the squeal always 
 signifies excitement. 
 
 Domestic Guinea 
 Habits of the Pigs live 
 Guinea Pig. in pairs 
 and the male and female 
 of the species keep to- 
 gether and treat each 
 other with marital affec- 
 tion and tender consid- 
 eration. Cleanly, like 
 most Rodents, on^ mate 
 often licks the other, 
 and sometimes lises its 
 fore - feet to comb the 
 other's fur. While one 
 of the couple sleeps, the 
 other mounts guard; if 
 it finds the time tedious 
 and becomes weary 
 itself, it awakes its mate, 
 licking and stroking it, 
 and as soon as it sees it 
 thoroughly awake it lies 
 down to sleep while its 
 mate keeps watch. 
 Propagation of Few mammals are as prolific as the 
 the Guinea Guinea Pig. In Germany from two 
 Pigs. to three, sometimes four or five 
 
 young are born two or three times a year; in hot 
 countries the fecundity of the female is greater and 
 the young number six or seven. The little ones are 
 highly developed at birth, their eyes are open and 
 a few hours after they are born they are able to run 
 about with the mother. At the age of five or six 
 months they are capable of breeding themselves, 
 and at eight or nine months old they have attained 
 their full size. With good care they may attain an 
 age of six or eight years. 
 Susceptibiiity to If one pays much attention to the 
 Domestication of Guinea Pigs, he can render them very 
 Guinea Pigs. tame, though they never lose all 
 their timidity and rarely acquire sufficient intelli- 
 gence to distinguish their keeper from other peopla, 
 owing to their slender mental capacities. There are 
 exceptions to this rule, however. " A Guinea Pig^ 
 belonging to my children," writes Friedel, "greetS' 
 

 
 MABA OB FATAGONIAIf CAVY. Inhabiting the most unproductive regions of a desolate country, living in holes in the barren earth and fleeing 
 
 at the slightest sound, these animals are seldom seen by investigators. As a usual thing these queer, long-eared, long-legged Rodents are very peaceably 
 disposed and friendly with others of their kind. Occasionally disputes will arise between two male Maras, however, and then they stand on their hind legs. 
 and fight with their fore-paws, as depicted by the artist. (Dolichotis fatagonica.) 
 
 (361) 
 
.362 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 my son with a loud, excited squeal whenever it 
 hears his steps; when he gives it food it utters a 
 loud grateful purring sound; my little daughter is 
 not greeted with a squeal, but with a low murmur; 
 my wife and myself are never saluted with the purr- 
 ing noise. When my wife passes the nest of the ani- 
 mal late at night, a plaintive squeal invariably greets 
 her, while the animal is always silent when I go by, 
 for it knows that I never give it anything so late. 
 The creature is then capable of distinguishing be- 
 tween four persons. It also performs tricks, feigns 
 death and jumps up at a word of command." 
 Guinea Pigs are very sensitive to a cold and damp 
 temperature; they become sick when exposed to 
 Tough weather and are then likely to die. 
 
 Services of The Guinea Pigs have rendered good 
 the Guinea Pig services to science, though, it is true, 
 
 to Science. against their will. Bischoff has used 
 them in his investigations of animal development 
 and thereby secured them an honorable place in the 
 literature of science. [Pasteur, likewise, in his in- 
 vestigations of the rabies bacillus, has made good 
 use of the species in the propagation of the germs 
 of hydrophobia. Thus, taking all things into con- 
 sideration, aside from the mere amusement which 
 Guinea Pigs have afforded Man, they have played a 
 not unimportant part in advancement of scientific 
 knowledge.] 
 
 THE MARA OR PATAGONIAN CAVY. 
 
 An uncommonly queer animal of the desert, the 
 Mara i^Dolichotis patagonica) , represents the second 
 species of Cavies. Resembling the Hare in many 
 respects, it "differs from them very greatly in its 
 long legs and the greater shortness and bluntness 
 J of the ears. An adult specimen measures twenty 
 inches, the stub-like tail occupying about two inches 
 of this total; the shoulder height in some individuals 
 may amount to as much as eighteen inches, thus at 
 a first glance giving the animal the appearance of a 
 small Ruminant rather than of a Rodent. 
 
 The Range The Mara is not found north of the 
 of the thirty-seventh parallel of south lati- 
 
 n/lara. tude. The stony, arid desert of Pata- 
 
 gonia is its native country, and at the point where 
 the Sierra Tapalquen bounds this desert, and the soil 
 becomes damper and more fertile, it disappears. To 
 the west it ranges nearly to Mendoza; reaching then 
 the thirty-third parallel of south latitude. A few 
 decades ago it was much commoner than now, being 
 at present found only where the inhospitable char- 
 acter of the country protects it most from the pres- 
 ence of its enemies. Despite the fact that it is 
 fairly numerous it is not generally easy to obtain a 
 specimen of the animal, for the simple reason that 
 its shy and retiring habits render it difficult to catch. 
 Either it is hidden in its hole, or lies closely and 
 flatly against the ground where it is easily over- 
 looked by reason of the close assimilation to the 
 ground in the earthy color of its fur. Its timidity 
 also protects it from capture. The Mara flees at 
 the slightest alarm. It is entirely diurnal in its 
 habits, though it takes refuge in its hole during the 
 noon heat. Its food consists of plants, and their 
 roots and bark, substances usually of a character 
 refused by other mammals. In some parts of Pata- 
 gonia, where but few dry, thorny shrubs lead a mis- 
 erable existence on the stony ground, it is the only 
 living animal to be perceived. 
 
 Goering observed an adult Mara for a considerable 
 time in confinement in Mendoza. It was an amiable, 
 
 good-natured, Inoffensive creature. From the first 
 day it showed great confidence in its master, unhesi- 
 tatingly took the food he proffered out of his hands, 
 and suffered itself to be touched and stroked withr 
 out exhibiting any sign of uneasiness. It was very 
 responsive to caresses; when one petted it, it arched 
 its back, put its head to one side as if it wished to 
 see the friendly hand, and uttered a highly gratified 
 but indescribable squeal or grunt. Indians and 
 Gauchos are passionately fond of hunting it, espe- 
 cially on account of the skin, of which exceedingly 
 pretty, soft rugs and blankets may be made. 
 
 THE AGOUTIS. 
 
 The Agoutis i^Dasyproctce) show a striking resem- 
 blance to the little Musk-Deer in th,eir shape; they 
 are long-legged, strongly built Rodents, with long 
 heads and pointed muzzles, small, round ears, bare, 
 rudimentary tails, and hind legs which are percepti- 
 bly longer than the fore pair. The fore paws have 
 four toes and a small rudimentary thumb, while the 
 hind feet possess only three very long and com- 
 pletely separated toes. All their toes are armed 
 with strong, broad, slightly curved, hoof-like nails, 
 those of the hinder feet being especially developed; 
 the thumb-like protuberances on the fore paws are 
 furnished with small, flat nails. On the whole, the 
 build of the Agoutis is light and elegant, and makes 
 upon the observer an agreeable impression. The 
 teeth are strong; the flat gnawing teeth are espe- 
 cially prominent, and would be conspicuous by rea- 
 son of their color alone, the upper pair being of a 
 tolerably bright red, the under pair yellowish 
 
 The Agoutis are generally found in couples or 
 small communities in wooded plains, the thickest 
 forests of river valleys being particularly favored by 
 them ; some of them, however, range in mountainous 
 districts as high as 6,000 feet above the sea. 
 
 The Common The Common Agouti, sometimes 
 
 Agouti, or Gold called Gold Hare on account of the 
 Hare. golden color of its pretty fur {Dasy- 
 
 procta aguti), is one of the handsomest members of 
 the whole family. It has a thick, heavy, close-set 
 fur; the wiry, coarse, bristle-like hair is very lus- 
 trous and is of a reddish lemon-yellow tint, dashed 
 with blackish brown. The general colormg is sub- 
 ject to modifications according to the season, being 
 lighter in summer, darker in winter. The length of 
 the body of an adult male is sixteen inches, while 
 the tail measures only about half an inch. 
 
 Native Country The Agouti is a native of Guiana, 
 oftheSpe- Surinam, Brazil and northern Peru. 
 <"^®' It is tolerably common in most local- 
 
 ities, especially near the low-lying river valleys in 
 Brazil. There, as in other places, it inhabits wood- 
 lands, frequenting alike the damp unbroken forests 
 and the drier ones of the interior country; it roams in 
 the adjacent grassy plains, however, taking the place 
 of the Hare in those regions. It does not exist in 
 cultivated regions. Usually it is found above the 
 ground, in hollow trees near the ground, and more 
 often solitary than in company with others of its spe- 
 cies. By day it quietly lies in its lair and it prowls 
 about only in such localities as afford it security 
 from interruption At sunset, it sallies forth to seek 
 food and spends the whole night in feeding if the 
 weather is good. It is in the habit of leaving and 
 returning to its habitation by a uniform route, and 
 this repeated travel to and fro causes the wearing of 
 a narrow footpath, sometimes one hundred yards 
 long, which betrays the situation of its abode. If a 
 
THE GUINEA PIG FAMILY— PACA. 
 
 363 
 
 X)og be set on the trail, and the lair of the animal is 
 not in the thicket, the hunter nearly always succeeds 
 in catching it. The Dogs give tongue when the 
 game is run to earth, and one can then pull it out of 
 its hole or dig it out. If, however, the Agouti per- 
 ceives its pursuers in good time, it makes off imme- 
 diately, and its agility and speed soon put it out of 
 the reach of danger. 
 Characteristics, The Agouti is an inoffensive, timid 
 Food, etc., of the little animal surrounded by many 
 Agouti. perils, so that only its extraordinary 
 
 agility and keen organs of sense can save it from 
 death. In jumping it reminds one of a small Ante- 
 lope and the little Musk-deer. Its food consists of 
 the greatest variety of vegetation, from roots to 
 buds or the grain. No vegetable substance can 
 resist the sharp gnawing teeth, which easily crack 
 the hardest nuts. In cultivated portions of country 
 to which it sometimes, 
 makes incursions, the 
 Agouti becomes annoy- 
 ing by reason of its vis- 
 its to the sugar-cane 
 plantations and or- 
 ■chards. \ 
 
 About the propaga- 
 tion of the Agoutis in a 
 state of nature we still 
 lack exact accounts. It 
 is known that the ani- 
 mal is rather prolific, the 
 breeding not being re- 
 stricted to a special sea- 
 son of the year, and that 
 the litters number sev- 
 eral young. 
 
 Rengger says that 
 when an Agouti is taken 
 young and reared with 
 care, it may become al- 
 most completely domes- 
 iicated. "I have seen 
 several Agoutis," says 
 he, " that could be per- 
 mitted to run about pro- 
 miscuously, never at- 
 tempting to escape. 
 When once tamed they 
 do not yield to tempta- 
 tion to abscond, even 
 when liberated in large 
 woods, which are their 
 .abode in the free state. 
 In the forests of northern Paraguay, in the huts of 
 natives, I saw two tame Agoutis which spent the 
 morning and evening in the forest, noon and night 
 . with the Indians. Their yearning for liberty is sub- 
 dued, not so much by their attachment to people as 
 ■by their growing accustomed to one place. They 
 are but little devoted to human beings, do not dis- 
 tinguish their keeper from other people, seldom re- 
 spond to the calls of their keeper and look for him 
 only when pressed by hunger. Neither do they like 
 to be fondled by him; they tolerate no restriction, 
 live entirely according to their own wishes and the 
 most they can be trained to do is to look for their 
 food in one particular place. They are fed on every- 
 thing that is eaten in their owner's house. They are 
 not so fond of meat, however, as Azara has alleged 
 them to be, eating it only when their proper food is 
 wanting. They like to eat roses, and whenever one 
 
 THE COMMON AGOUTI. This long-legged Rodent, sometimes called 
 
 the Gold Hare, is an inhabitant of South America. Its coarse hair is of a bright 
 yellow, and the tail is a very short naked stump. The hind legs are considerably 
 longer than the fore limbs and the feet have strong claws. (.Dasyfrocta agutz.) 
 
 is brought near their domiciles they scent it imme- 
 diately, and assiduously search for it. Their food is 
 usually taken up with the incisor teeth; then they 
 seize it between the rudimentary thumbs of the fore- 
 feet, sitting on their haunches like Squirrels. Some- 
 times they also eat after the manner of Rats in a 
 crouching position, usually when the morsels are 
 very small or too small to be effectively handled by 
 the fore-paws. I never saw them drink, but they 
 are said to occasionally drink water, lapping it after 
 the manner of a Cat or Dog." 
 
 The Agouti an Bodinus justly remarks that the 
 Eligible dainty form, beautiful appearance 
 ^®*'. and cleanly habits of the animal 
 
 recommend the Agoutis to fanciers of animal pets, 
 and that their only drawback is their great gnaw- 
 ing propensities. Those kept by Bodinus became, 
 in course of time, so tame as to take proffered dain- 
 _ ties from people's hands 
 and eat them, giving the 
 donor a really grateful 
 look. Others are partic- 
 ularly interesting by rea- 
 son of one trait, which I 
 have as yet never seen 
 mentioned. They are 
 wont to bury a goodly 
 portion of their food, 
 storing it up to insure 
 against want in hard 
 times. As soon as their 
 food is given them, they 
 begin to eat eagerly if 
 not greedily; then they 
 select small pieces of 
 carrot or certain kinds 
 of imperishable fruit, 
 carry them away in their 
 mouths, dig little holes 
 in the earth and put their 
 treasures into them. 
 Then they put the earth 
 back and press and pack 
 it closely with their fore- 
 paws. It is extremely 
 ludicrous to see how 
 carefully they look 
 around all the while, en- 
 deavoring to escape ob- 
 servation while burying 
 their treasures. They 
 thus continue in captiv- 
 ity the habits natural to 
 them in the wild state, of retaining food until such 
 time as they need it. 
 
 THE PACA. 
 
 The Paca ( Ccelogenys paca) is distinguished by a 
 peculiarly thick head, large eyes and small ears, a 
 rudimentary tail, five-toed feet, coarse, stiff hair and 
 especially by the remarkably expanded cheek bone, 
 the expansion being due to an internal molar cavity 
 or hollow. The fur consists of short, thickly set 
 hairs of a yellowish brown color on the upper parts 
 and yellowish white on the under surface of the 
 body and inner portions of the legs. Five rows of 
 yellowish white spots of a circular or ovoid shape 
 extend along both sides from the shoulder to the 
 hinder portion of the thigh. Adult males attain a 
 length of twenty-eight inches, are about fourteen 
 inches high and weigh as much as eighteen pounds. 
 
364 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 Natiue Country The Paca is distributed over the 
 of the greater part of South America, from 
 
 Paca. Surinam in Dutch Guiana through- 
 
 out Brazil to Paraguay, and is also found among the 
 West Indies on the southern Antilles. The lonelier 
 and wilder the locality the more abundantly is it 
 found; in all cultivated regions its numbers have 
 been greatly reduced. It delights in the edges of 
 forests, wooded banks of rivers or swampy places. 
 There it scoops out a burrow from three to six feet 
 deep and spends the day in it sleeping. At dusk it 
 goes out in quest of food, paying an occasional visit 
 to sugar cane and melon plantations, in which it 
 does considerable damage. At other times it feeds 
 on leaves, flowers and the fruits of various plants. 
 It lives either in couples or singly. The female 
 gives birth to one or at the most two young in the 
 
 THE FAGA. This is the representative of a distinct sub-family among the Cavies. It is a forest animal, 
 
 preferring damp localities, and a male and female usually live together.so that the picture appropriately shows two of 
 the species. The tail is lacking, the head thick and the coarse hair is marked by five rows of spots as shown in the 
 picture. {Cxlogenys paca.) 
 
 middle of the summer; while they suckle she keeps 
 them hidden in the burrow and even after they are 
 weaned she keeps them near her for a few months 
 longer. ^ 
 
 In Brazil the Paca is the commonest forest game 
 except Agoutis and various species of Armadillos. 
 Prince von Wied often caught it in traps in the for- 
 ests. It is also hunted with hounds and brought to 
 market as " royal game." There is no possibility of 
 taking it in its burrow, but if the huntsman atten- 
 tively examines the edge of plantations, he will 
 soon notice the tracks of the animal under the close 
 hedges of reed grass. There the sportsman puts 
 out his noose, baited with an ear of corn, and the 
 next morning he will usually find his trouble well 
 repaid. The Paca is the best game animal of 
 Brazil, probably being surpassed by no other in 
 point of flavor and tenderness. The skin is so thin 
 
 and tender that it is not pulled off, the entire ani- 
 mal being scalded like a Pig. A Paca prepared ia 
 this way and having its head and feet cut off, looks- 
 strikingly like a young Pig. According to Kappler 
 a hunted Paca which can not reach its hole some- 
 times jumps into water, where it dives and remains 
 submerged until its pursuer has withdrawn; he sup- 
 poses that it swims off under the surface. 
 
 The Paca Of late years the animal has been 
 Well Known to carried to Europe quite frequently. 
 Naturalists. Buffon had a female Paca, which was 
 quite tame; it took up its abode behind the stove, 
 slept during the day and ran about at night, and 
 when it was shut up in a box, it at once began to 
 gnaw. It licked the hands of friends and allowed 
 them to pet it, stretching itself and signifying its 
 pleasure by a low-voiced, faint sound. Strangers, 
 
 children and Dogs it 
 tried to bite. When 
 angry, it grunted and 
 gnashed its teeth in a- 
 quite ferocious manner. 
 It was so little sensitive- 
 to cold, that Buffon be- 
 lieved it could be intro- 
 duced into and bred in. 
 Europe. It is contented 
 with very few comfortSf 
 and requires neither spe- 
 cially good food nor a 
 well-equipped stable. I 
 must agree with Buffoa 
 in regard to its hardi- 
 hood in enduring cold; 
 but I do not think that 
 it would be profitable tO' 
 transplant it to Europe, 
 
 THE WATER PIG 
 OR CAPYBARA. 
 
 The Water Pig or 
 Capybara {Hydrochaerus 
 capybard) may be consid- 
 ered the most remark- 
 able of Rodents in one 
 respect; it is the largest 
 and clumsiest member 
 of the whole order. It 
 justifies its name, for its 
 shape and bristle -like 
 pelt remind one quite 
 forcibly of a Pig. Its dis- 
 tinguishing features are, 
 small ears, cleft upper lip, absence of a tail, short 
 webs between the toes and strong hoof-like nails, 
 as well as a very peculiar dentition. The incisors or 
 gnawing teeth are of gigantic proportions, and are at 
 least four-fifths of an inch wide, not very thick and 
 characterized by several shallow grooves on their 
 front faces; among the molars, the rearmost one is as 
 large as the three preceding. The body is strikingly 
 clumsy and thick, the neck is short, the head oblong, 
 deep through from the upper to the lower sur- 
 face, broad, blunt-muzzled and exhibits a peculiat; 
 appearance. The tolerably large, roundish eyes are 
 quite prominent; the ears are rounded at their upper 
 ends, the front edges being turned over and the 
 backs abrupt. The hind legs are much longer than 
 the fore pair, the fore-feet are four-toed, the hind-feet 
 three-toed. No particular coloring can be ascribed 
 to the thin, coarse fur; an undecided brown with ^ 
 
THE GUINEA PIG FAMILY— WATER PIG. 
 
 3(J5 
 
 dash of red or brownish yellow is distributed over 
 the body, being nowhere sharply defined. Only the 
 bristles around the mouth are decidedly black. An 
 adult Capybara attains about the size of a year-old 
 Pig and weighs about one hundred pounds. The 
 length is over three feet, the height from the ground 
 to the top of the shoulders about twenty inches. 
 Distribution of The Capybara is distributed all over 
 the Oapy- South America and is found from the 
 bara. Orinoco river to the La Plata and 
 
 from the Atlantic Ocean to the foot of the Andes 
 Mountains. Low, swampy woodland, especially 
 water-courses and the edges of lakes and swamps, 
 are its favorite haunts. It delights in large streams, 
 and never leaves their vicinity unless it should some- 
 times follow the course of small rivers or ditches 
 emptying into much larger water-courses. In some 
 regions it is quite numerous, and often to be en- 
 
 plants and the bark of young trees and only where 
 it exists near plantations does it sometimes make 
 inroads on water-melons, maize, rice or sugar canes, 
 and may then inflict considerable damage. The 
 Capybara is a quiet animal. The first glance shows- 
 the observer that he has to deal with an extremely 
 dull-witted and stupid creature. One never sees it 
 playing with others of its kind. The members of a 
 herd either graze slowly or they rest in a sitting 
 posture. From time to time they turn their heads 
 in all directions to see whether an enemy is ap- 
 proaching. If a foe be descried they do not hurry, 
 but run slowly toward the water When terrified 
 they frantically rush and dive into the water with 
 a cry. If they are not accuslomed to the sight of 
 human beings they sometimes gaze curiously at 
 them for a long time before they scamper away. 
 One never hears them utter any other sound than 
 
 THE GAFYBABA OR WATER PIG. This is the largest of all the Rodents. It is a heavy clumsy animal which inhabits low-lying 
 
 woods in the vicinity of streams or lakes, and although a favorite prey to the Jaguar on land and the Alligator in the water, the Capybaras are 
 sometimes seen in large packs at places remote from settlements. The extremely coarse hair, heavy body and hoof-like toes of these animals are 
 well illustrated in the picture. (Hydrochxrus capybara.) 
 
 countered. As is easily understood, it is less fre- 
 quently met with in populous localities than in the 
 wilderness. In the former it is seen only at evening 
 or in the early morning, but one may see large num- 
 bers of them, by day also, on the lonely little-fre- 
 quented banks of rivers, foraging for food or sitting 
 on their haunches like Dogs. 
 Peculiarities of Its ordinary pace in walking is slow; 
 the Capy- its running powers of short duration; 
 bara. when hard pressed it sometimes re- 
 
 sorts to flight by means of a series of jumps. It is 
 an excellent swimmer, however, and easily crosses 
 streams, though it does so only when pursued or 
 when food has become scarce on the side it occu- 
 pies. However attached it is to a certain locality, it 
 is sure to leave it when subject to pursuit. It has no 
 real den, though it regularly haunts certain selected 
 spots on the bank. Its food consists of aquatic 
 
 that cry of alarm, which Azara expresses by the syl- 
 lable "ap." This cry is so piercing, however, that 
 one can hear it at the distance of more than a mile. 
 
 The female has but one litter a year, which num- 
 bers five or six young. The little Pigs follow their 
 mother immediately, but do not exhibit feelings of 
 natural affection or even much attachment for her. 
 
 The Capybara The animal has of late years been 
 in Captiu- repeatedly brought to Europe. I 
 iiy- took care of one of them for some 
 
 time. It was very much attached to me, knew my 
 voice, came to me when I called it, was much 
 pleased when I petted it, and followed me about 
 like a Dog. It did not exhibit the same gentle 
 temper to everybody : when its keeper once was 
 opposing its disposition to wander and endeavoring 
 to drive it home, it jumped on his chest and bit him, 
 fortunately, however, getting more of his coat than 
 
366 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 teeth. It could not be 
 it obeyed only when it 
 
 of his body between its 
 called obedient, anyway ; 
 elected so to do. 
 
 Characteristic I can not characterize the move- 
 Mou^ments of the ments of the Capybara a^ clumsy or 
 Capybara. lumbering. It seldom runs rapidly, 
 its usual gait consisting of long, deliberately taken 
 steps, but it can easily clear fences three feet high at 
 a bound. It is perfectly at home in the water. It 
 swims across wide streams in a very straight direc- 
 tion, and at the same rate of speed at which a Man 
 walks; it dives like a waterfowl, with one plunge, 
 staying under water for several minutes, and can 
 swim under the surface without mistaking its direc- 
 tion. Its maintenance in captivity causes no trouble 
 at all. It feeds on all kinds of vegetable substances 
 like a Pig and while it requires nourishment in great 
 quantity it is by no means choice as to quality. 
 It is most partial to fresh, succulent grass; but car- 
 rots, turnips and bean pods are also much appre- 
 ciated by it. It crops grass like a Horse, with its 
 
 ThE OCTOSON. a irue Rodent with sharp gnawing teeth which are always ready for business, is the Octo- 
 
 don, shown in this picture. The form of the animal is suggestive of both the Rat and the Squirrel, the tufted tail, 
 especially, being Rat-like. These animals live in South America where their gnawing propensities cause great dam- 
 age to vegetation. {Ociodon vummingii.) 
 
 broad incisors, and also drinks like one, absorbing 
 long draughts at each effort of suction. While it is 
 fond of warmth, it is not very sensitive to cold. It 
 plunges into icy water of streams in winter without 
 any hesitation. 
 
 The Flesh According to the accounts of travel- 
 
 ofthe Capybara ers only Indians partake of its flesh; 
 Unpalatable. jt is unpalatable to Europeans owing 
 to its peculiar, insipid, oily taste. The thick hide, 
 nearly devoid of hairy covering, is exceedingly loose 
 and soft and yields a kind of leather readily per- 
 meated by water, and, in consequence, used only for 
 the manufacture of straps, an inferior sort of moc- 
 casin and pack-saddles. The Botocudo Indian girls 
 string the incisor teeth of the animal together and 
 use them as bracelets and necklaces. There is no 
 other economic use to which the animal is put. 
 
 The South Americans, particularly the Indians, 
 hunt the Capybara for amusement's sake, taking it 
 by surprise, cutting off its retreat and throwing it 
 down with their lassos. Excepting Man, the Jaguar 
 is probably the worst foe of the Capybara. 
 
 ^be ©ctobons. 
 
 ELEVENTH FAMILY: Octodontid^. 
 
 This family, not very numerous, but exhibiting 
 great diversity and peculiarity in shape, comprises a 
 group of Rat-like Rodents, inhabiting South America 
 and Africa. The Octodontidae to some extent re- 
 mind us of Rats in their anatomical peculiarities and 
 coloring. The ears are short, broad and scantily 
 covered with hair; the feet have four or five toes, the 
 tail is variable in length and often shows scaly der- 
 mal rings, like those of the true Rats; but the resem- 
 blance of these animals to Rats ceases with these 
 peculiarities. The fur of some species is soft and 
 of a fine texture; that of others is wiry, bristly 
 or even intermingled with a few flat, longitudinally 
 ringed spines, and the tail is not only hairy, but 
 bushy. The teeth number four or, in exceptional 
 cases, three rooted or rootless molars in each row. 
 The Octodontidae live in forests or in the open 
 
 country; some prefer 
 hedges and shrubbery; 
 others make their homes 
 in plantations, along 
 roads, between rocks, 
 along the banks of rivers 
 and streams or even on 
 the sea - shore. Gener- 
 ally they live gregari- 
 ously in subterranean 
 burrows which they dig 
 and provide with numer- 
 ous outlets. Some are 
 genuine burrowers, 
 throwing up mounds 
 like those of the Moles 
 and spending nearly all 
 their life underground ; 
 others dwell in thickets 
 and nimbly climb about 
 on trees. Most of them 
 are nocturnal in their 
 habits, but a few are 
 quite active in the day- 
 time. Some species are 
 truly aquatic in their 
 habits and are excellent 
 swimmers and divers. 
 Confinement is easily borne by them; they are in- 
 quisitive, active, know and follow their keeper, and 
 furnish much amusement by their extremely grace- 
 ful ways. Their propagation is prolific, for they 
 have from two to seven young at a litter, and 
 their numbers may sometimes increase to such an 
 extent as to enable them to inflict considerable 
 damage in plantations and fields. The slight eco- 
 nomic advantage and profit which accrue from the 
 use of their flesh and fur are not worthy of any 
 comparison with the loss which they entail through 
 the destruction caused by their ravages. 
 
 OCTODONS PROPER. 
 
 The species Octodon, which inhabit Chile, Peru 
 and Bolivia, are as it were, intermediate in character 
 between Squirrels and Rats. Their teeth consist of 
 smooth, ridgeless, pointed incisors (or gnawing 
 teeth) and rootless molars, the upper surfaces of 
 which nearly simulate in shape the; Arabic figure 
 "8" and from this they derive their name of Octo- 
 don or "eight-tooth." 
 
THE GUINEA PIG FAMILY— COYPU. 
 
 36T 
 
 The Degu and The D e g u ( Octodon cummingii) is 
 
 its Peculiari- brownish gray upon its upper sur- 
 
 *''es- face, marked with irregular spots ; it 
 
 is grayish brown below, the breast and nape of neck 
 
 are darker and the base of the tail is nearly white. 
 
 The total length is about ten and one-half inches, 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ^^a'i/!'/iinid,.ia 
 
 THE TUCO-TDCO. A member of the Octodon family of Rodents which forms a distinct 
 
 genus is an inhabitant of Patagonia, called by the native tribes Tuco-tuco. It has five toes on each 
 foot, the innermost toe being much shorter than the other four. It measures about ten inches, 
 of whidh about two and a half inches belong to the tail. The fur is brownish gray tinged with yellow, 
 and lighter on the under portion. It inhabits the plains of Patagonia north of the Rio Colorado, where 
 it lives in burrows. {Cienotnys magellanicus.) 
 
 curved, pointed claws, the inner toes of the fore-feet 
 showing a flat naiil. The long tail is cylindrical, scaly 
 and rather plentifully overgrown with strong, close 
 bristly hair. The rest of the fur is thick, rather long 
 and soft and consists of a short, soft, downy, woolly 
 coat, nearly impermeable to water and a longer, 
 soft, slightly lustrous outer fur, 
 which determines the color, as it 
 completely covers the inner fur. 
 In regard to its dentition, the enor- 
 mous, broad, gnawing teeth remind 
 the observer of those of the Beaver. 
 The Coypu attains to nearly the 
 proportions of a European Otter, 
 Its body is on the average from six- 
 teen to eighteen inches long, and 
 its tail nearly the same in length; 
 one sometimes finds old males, 
 however, which are fully three feet 
 long. The usual color is maroon 
 red on the back, deepening into 
 nearly blackish brown on the un- 
 der parts, and brightening into a 
 fiery red on the flanks. 
 
 Range and This important fur- 
 Habits of the producing animal 
 Coypu. is indigenous to a 
 
 large portion of temperate south- 
 ern America. The Coypu is known 
 rather more than one-third of this length being in nearly all the countries south of the tropic of 
 occupied by the tail. Capricorn. It is exceptionally plentiful all over 
 
 The Degu is one of the commonest animals of the the country drained by the River La Plata, and in 
 middle province of Chile. Hundreds of them in- Buenos Ayres, Patagonia and central Chile. Its 
 fast the hedges and bushes; even in the immedi- range extends from Atlantic to Pacific, crossing the 
 ate neighborhood of populous cities they fearlessly mountains, and from the twenty-third to the forty- 
 run about on the high 
 roads, boldly invading 
 gardens and orchards, 
 where they cause as much 
 damage by mischievously 
 gnawing (apparently for 
 pastime) at the plants as 
 they do by their voracity. 
 They rarely leave the 
 ground to climb on the 
 lower Dranches of trees. 
 In respect to their habits 
 these animals resemble 
 Squirrels much more than 
 do the Rats. Notwith- 
 standing the mildness of 
 the climate of the coun- 
 tries in which they live, 
 they lay by provisions but 
 do not hibernate. 
 
 THE COYPU OR 
 NUTRIA. 
 
 The Coypu or Nutria of 
 Spanish Americans {Mj/o- 
 potamus coypu) also be- 
 longs to this family. Its 
 body is stout and plump, 
 the neck short and thick, 
 the head thick, long and 
 
 broad, blunt-muzzled and flat at the top; the eyes are 
 round and prominent, the ears small and somewhat 
 longer than they are broad; the limbs are short but 
 stoutly fashioned, the hinder pair being slightly the 
 longer; the feet are five-toed, the digits being joined 
 by a wide web and furnished with long, strongly 
 
 HUTIA TONGA. This Rodent of the Octodon fan y is the largest md genous an mal of Cuba and Hayti 
 
 attaining a length of ifro'm fourteen to sixteen inches exclus ve of the ta 1 Its fur sofa dull black color It is arbo 
 real in its habits, makes its home in the hollows and clefts of trees and feeds on leaves and fruits. It is sometimes 
 eaten, but its flesh is insipid to the taste. (Capromys piloridss.) 
 
 third parallel of south latitude. It lives in couples 
 on the banks of lakes and rivers, especially near mo- 
 rasses and stagnant waters in which there is a rank 
 enough growth of aquatic plants to form a suffi- 
 ciently firm surface to the water to hold it up or en- 
 able it to pass over on the distended vegetation. 
 
:368 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 Every couple excavates a burrow about three feet 
 deep and from sixteen to twenty-four inches wide, in 
 which they spend the night and sometimes also part 
 of the day. In this habitation the female gives birth 
 to from four to six young, which begin to follow her 
 about at a very early age. The Coypu is an excel- 
 lent swimmer, but an indifferent diver. On dry land 
 its gait is very slow, for its legs are so short as to 
 allow the abdomen to nearly drag on the ground; the 
 animal therefore proceeds by land only when it is 
 crossing the intervening country from one body of 
 water to another. When alarmed it instantly rushes 
 
 THE COYPU OK NUTRIA. — -This Rodent, inhabiting the temperate regions of South America, is aquatic in 
 its habits, frequenting interior streams and bodies of water. As shown by the picture, it has a bare. Rat-like tail and 
 such short legs that its body nearly touches the ground. It is awkward on land but at home in the water. (Myopota- 
 mus coypu.) 
 
 and dives into the water; if it be pursued closely it 
 finally retreats into its hole, which it inhabits only 
 at night at times when it is left undisturbed. 
 Intellectual Char- Its intelligence is slight. It is shy 
 acten'stics of and timid and evinces these qualities 
 the Coypu. even when in captivity. It can not 
 be called a teachable animal, though it gradually 
 comes to know its keeper. In the London zoolog- 
 ical garden it is a permanent feature and recently it 
 has also been kept in other zoological gardens. 
 "The Coypu," says Wood, "is a quick and lively 
 animal and very amusing in its habits. I have often 
 watched its funny antics and have been much amused 
 by the manner in which it traverses its domain, and 
 examines everything that seems to be novel. If a 
 tuft of grass is thrown to it, the Coypu picks it up 
 in its fore-paws, shakes it violently to get rid of the 
 earth that clings to the roots, and then, carrying it 
 to the water-side, washes it with a rapid dexterity 
 that might be envied by a professional laundress." 
 
 Habits Captive Coypus that I had in my 
 
 of the care spent the entire day, with few 
 
 Coypu. intervals, in the water and on the 
 
 banks, at the most taking a rest at noon; in the even- 
 ing they were specially active. They sometimes 
 give evidence of the possession of accomplishments 
 which one hardly expects of them. It is true that 
 their movements are neither rapid nor constant,, but 
 they are vigorous and agile enough. In their habits 
 and disposition and in their manner of swimming 
 they resemble Water Vqles more than they do Bea- 
 vers. So long as they are unmolested they are wont 
 to swim straight ahead, the hinder quarters deeply 
 submerged, the head lifted about two-thirds above 
 
 the water, the tail stretched out. The whole labor 
 of propulsion rests with the hind feet, the fore feet 
 being used as little as are thoie of the Beavers. 
 The voice is a plaintive sound which is not entirely 
 discordant and serves as a call, being responded to 
 by others of the species, which may hear it; it is, 
 therefore, uttered frequently. If the animal is angry 
 or annoyed it utters a petulant growl. Grass is the 
 favorite food of the Coypu, but it also feeds on 
 roots, bulbous plants, leaves, grains, and in captivity 
 on bread; it is quite fond of some kinds of animal 
 food, as for instance, fish; in this respect also show- 
 ing an affinity with the 
 Rats and not with the 
 Beaver. It does not 
 seem to be partial to the 
 bark of trees. The grass 
 is skillfully eaten by it, 
 not being torn to pieces 
 or cut; food thrown to it 
 is seized and carried to 
 the mouth with the fore- 
 paws. Towards winter 
 captive Coypus make 
 preparations for more 
 secure shelter, continu- 
 ally digging wherever 
 they can with the inten- 
 tion of building larger 
 burrows. If they are not 
 interfered with they dig 
 deep tunnels in a short 
 time and display great 
 activity in providing a 
 soft bed ; for this pur- 
 pose they carry some of 
 the food given them, es- 
 pecially grasses, into their sleeping chamber. 
 
 The care of the Coypus is simple, their feeding 
 easy and cheap, and their breeding presents no dif- 
 ficulties, so that their keeping may be recommended 
 to any person fond of animals and possessing a suit- 
 able place for them; I would say more — it would be 
 well worth one's while to try to establish a little 
 colony of some four or five in a sheltered forest, 
 containing a pond or some slowly flowing stream 
 and sufficient herbage. In the light of my experi- 
 ences I believe that the animals would find sufficient 
 nourishment and would be able to stand the winter 
 of northern climates without inflicting any percep- 
 tible damage either on the trees of the forest or 
 upon the growing crops. 
 
 The Fur The animal is an object of eager 
 of the Coypu pursuit owing to the economic value 
 Valuable. of its fur. In 1827 the province of 
 Entre-Rios exported 300,000 skins, according to the 
 official reports of the custom house in Buenos Ayres, 
 and the export was still on the increase; for in the 
 beginning of the '30's the swamps of Buenos Ayres 
 and Montevideo alone shipped 50,000 skins to Eng- 
 land. At present about a million and a half of 
 skins are sold annually, about two-thirds of which 
 are of an inferior quality and are used in the manu- 
 facture of felt. Those having long, close hair are 
 used for trimming garments, after the long hair of 
 the outer coat has been pulled out; they are utilized 
 in both their natural color and when dyed. The 
 flesh is white and savory and is eaten by the na- 
 tives of many localities, but disdained by others. 
 
 The Coypu is hunted in Buenos Ayres chiefly 
 with hounds trained for the purpose, which find the 
 
THE CHINCHILLAS. 
 
 369 
 
 Coypu in the water and drive it towards the hunter, 
 or else they enter into combat with it, though the 
 large Rodent defends itself courageously and effect- 
 ually. Traps are set out on the shallow places of its 
 favorite haunts and in front of the holes. 
 
 THE AFRICAN GROUND PIG. 
 
 An African form, called Ground-Pig by the na- 
 tives {Aulacodus swinderianus) , is a stout animal 
 with a small head, a short, broad muzzle, small, 
 naked half-round ears, and short four-toed feet with 
 rudimentary thumbs. The fur consists of smooth, 
 spine-like bristles with a 
 flexible extremity. The 
 bristles are ashy gray at 
 the base, darker in the 
 middle and black at the 
 tip, which is usually sur- 
 rounded a short . distance 
 from its end by a brownish 
 yellow ring. The Ground- 
 Pig is, as far as our pres- 
 ent information extends, 
 distributed throughout 
 eastern Africa as far to the 
 50uth as Cape Colony, and 
 in western Africa its range 
 comprises both Upper and 
 Lower Guinea. The ani- 
 mals live near the water 
 and chiefly inhabit banks 
 of rivers, thickly grown 
 with grass, reeds and 
 sedge, or bushes. Their 
 food consists of grass, 
 roots and bulbs, Drum- 
 mood describes them as 
 
 very harmful animals that can work great devasta- 
 tions especially on sugar-cane and maize plantations 
 and therefore are diligently pursued in cultivated 
 portions of the country. 
 
 The Ground Pig a Another reason for the pursuit of 
 
 Choice Food the Ground-Pig at the hands of both 
 
 Animal. Europeans and natives is, that its 
 
 iflesh yields a more palatable roast than any other 
 
 African mammal. 
 
 of perpetual snow; only one species is found living 
 in the plains. They take up their abode in natural 
 holes or tunnels excavated by themselves. They 
 are all gregarious, and sometimes a considerable 
 colony inhabits one common hole. Averse to day- 
 light, like the Hares, they are most active by dusk 
 or at night. They are quick, lively, nimble and 
 timid, and their movements also partake in charac- 
 ter half of those of Rabbits, half of Mice. Hearing 
 seems to be their best developed sense. Their in- 
 tellectual capacities are slight. Roots and moss, 
 bulbs and bark, and probably fruit also are their 
 
 ^be CbincbilIa0. 
 
 TWELFTH FAMILY: Lagostomid^e. 
 
 It is only in recent times that we have obtained 
 accurate knowledge of the members of a small 
 iamily of American animals, the pelts of which have 
 been used by the aborigines of South America from 
 time immemorial, and have also been shipped to 
 Europe since the end of the last century. The 
 ■Chinchillas {Lagostomidcs) might be classified as an 
 intermediate variety between the Mice and Hares, 
 in respect to their external appearance. The most 
 succinct description that can be given would consist 
 in calling them Rabbits with a long, bushy tail. 
 Their dentition, however, separates them distinctly 
 from the Hares. The fur of the Chinchilla is the 
 finest of any known mammal. The coloring is a 
 light gray and white, and brownish black or yellow. 
 
 Habitat The Chinchillas inhabit South Amer- 
 ofthe Chin- ica exclusively, for the greater part 
 
 chiilaa. dwelling on mountains at a consider- 
 able altitude, among the barren rocks below the line 
 
 THE AFRICAN GROUND PIG. The Rodent shown in this picture is a short, chubby animal with a 
 
 bristly but smooth coat, small ears and a Rat-like tail. In the cornfields and sugar plantations of Africa it is an 
 unwelcome guest on account of the damage it does, but its flesh is palatable and its usefulness when dead some- 
 what compensates for its ravages when living. {Aulacodus swinderianus.) 
 
 chief food. Their fecundity about equals that of 
 the Hares. They easily bear confinement and grat- 
 ify their owners by their tameness and cleanly 
 habits. Some of the species cause considerable 
 annoyance by digging under the ground and de- 
 stroying roots of plants, but all are useful on account 
 of flesh and fur. 
 
 THE CHINCHILLAS PROPER. 
 
 The True Chinchillas {Eriomys) which compose 
 the first mentioned species are distinguished from 
 the kindred species by a thick head, broad, rounded 
 ears, five-toed fore-feet, four-toed hind feet and a 
 long, exquisitely soft and silky fur. The molars are 
 formed of three laminae. Only two varieties of this 
 animal are known: The Common Chinchilla (^'n^iw/j 
 chinchilla) and the Smaller Chinchilla {Eriomys lani- 
 gera). The former attains a size of twelve inches, 
 its tail being five inches long, or eight inches, if the 
 hair on it be measured. The fur is of uniform, fine 
 and exceedingly soft texture; on the back and sides 
 the hair is nearly an inch long, being of a bluish 
 gray color at the roots, then ringed with white and 
 dark gray at the outer ends. The resulting general 
 tint is a silver color with a surface tinge of darker 
 hue. The under parts and the feet are pure white; 
 the tail shows two dark bands on its upper part. 
 The large eyes are black. 
 The Chinchilla of At the time of the Incas, as far back 
 Ancient Use- as our knowledge of the country ex- 
 fulness. tends, the Peruvians had already be- 
 come skilled in manufacturing the fine, silky fleece 
 of the Chinchillas into cloth and similar stuffs, which 
 were in great demand. In the last century the first 
 
870 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 pelts were shipped to Europe by way of Spain and 
 were esteemed extremely valuable and treasured as 
 great rarities; they have now become common. 
 
 Chinchillas The traveler who climbs the Cordil- 
 Numerous in the leras from the western coast of South 
 Cordilleras. America perceives, when he has 
 reached an altitude of from six to nine, thousand 
 feet that the rocks for miles around are frequented 
 by great numbers of this Chinchilla and two varie- 
 ties of another species of the same family. In Peru, 
 Bolivia and Chile these animals must be very plenti- 
 ful, for travelers tell us that they have encountered 
 thousands of them in one day. The Chinchillas are 
 to be seen sitting in front of their holes on bright 
 days, but never on the sunny side of the rocks; 
 they invariably select the densest shade. In the 
 morning and evening hours they are still more fre- 
 quently to be seen. Then the mountains, and espe- 
 cially the tops of ridges of sterile, stony and rocky 
 regions, where vegetation i$ scantiest, is fairly alive 
 with them. On the apparently quite barren rocky 
 walls they skip about with the greatest speed and 
 activity. With surprising ease they climb to and fro 
 on walls which appear to offer no hold whatever. 
 They ascend perpendicular heights of from twenty 
 to thirty feet with an agility and rapidity so great 
 that the eye can hardly follow them. Though not 
 exactly shy, they do not suffer people to approach 
 them closely, and they disappear immediately at the 
 first signs of pursuit. 
 Propagation of No exact knowledge has as yet been 
 
 the Chin- obtained as to the details of repro- 
 chilla. duction of the Chinchilla, though 
 
 specimens in the ' London zoological garden have 
 given birth to young. In its untamed state the 
 breeding season seems not to be restricted to any 
 particular time of the year, and the natives say that 
 the number of young varies between four, and six. 
 In its native country the Chinchilla is often kept in 
 captivity, but it is still rarely shipped to Europe. 
 The grace of its movements, its cleanly habits and 
 the resignation with which it accepts its fate, soon 
 make it a favorite pet with people fond of animals. 
 It is so innocent and tame that one can permit it to 
 range the house at will. The only annoying trait 
 it possesses is its inquisitiveness; for it investigates 
 everything it finds, even dishes of food which are put 
 away rather high, for climbing tables and cupboards 
 is but child's play to it. Not infrequently it jumps 
 on somebody's head and shoulders. Its intelligence 
 is of about the same grade as that of the Rabbit or 
 the Guinea Pig. 
 
 The Chinchilla In former times the Chinchilla is 
 Decreasing in said to have been as often found on 
 
 Numbers. ^hg lower portions of mountains 
 down to the sea-coast as on the heights. The inces- 
 sant persecution to which it is subject on account of 
 the value of its fur has driven it upwards into moun- 
 tain fastnesses. Europeans occasionally kill it with 
 a gun or a cross-bow; but this kind of hunt is always 
 an affair of uncertain result, for if a Chinchilla is 
 not hit in a way which causes immediate death it 
 invariably slips into a crevice between the rocks 
 and is lost to the hunter. The Indians spi'ead well- 
 made nooses in front of all crevices and take the 
 Chinchillas which have been caught in them dur- 
 ing the night out the next morning. Besides this 
 they know perfectly well how to tame the Peruvian 
 Weasel and train it for a Chinchilla hunt; then they 
 proceed in the same manner as the European does 
 when hunting with Ferrets. 
 
 The Smaller In northern and central Chile the 
 Chinchilla Smaller Chinchilla (Enomj/s lani- 
 Described. gerd) takes the place of the Commoa 
 Chinchilla. Its habits are much the pame as those 
 of the common species, and its form and coloring 
 are also similar to those of the other. It is much 
 smaller, however, for its total length amounts at the 
 most to fourteen or sixteen inches, one-third of 
 which is included in the tail. The fur is close and 
 of silky softness, the hair being less than an inch, 
 long on the back and rather more than an inch on 
 the sides. The coloring is a light ashy gray, mottled 
 with a dark hue. 
 
 Of this species it was only after repeated efforts 
 on the part of naturalists that a few skulls, and later 
 some living specimens, were brought to Europe, 
 though it had been mentioned in accounts given by 
 travelers of a very early date. 
 
 In 1829 a living Chinchilla of this variety arrived 
 in London and was described by Bennett. It was a 
 very gentle creature, thou.gh it occasionally tried ta 
 bite when annoyed or teased. It was rarely in a 
 playful mood and seldom performed its strange 
 antics. It usually sat on its haunches but could alsa 
 raise itself on its hind legs and retain this erect posi- 
 tion; it carried its food to the mouth with its fore- 
 paws. In winter it showed great susceptibility to 
 cold. 
 
 The observations which I made as to the habits of 
 a captive Smaller Chinchilla tally with Bennett's 
 accounts in all material points. My pet was more of 
 a nocturnal animal, however. It was awake in the 
 daytime only when disturbed. This animal shuns 
 the light and always keeps in the darkest spots. 
 There it settles down with contracted body. Any 
 cranny offers it a place of refuge. Its voice is heard 
 only when some one touches it; then the animal 
 utters a sharp squeak like a Rabbit. It dislikes to 
 be handled and tries to effect its release by sudden 
 spasmodic jerks when taken up, but never resorts to- 
 biting. It prefers hay and grass to all other food^ 
 disdaining grains and scarcely touching juicy roots^ 
 The question, whether it drinks water at all, has not 
 been settled; it, however, seems as if it could en- 
 tirely abstain from drinking. 
 
 Chinchilla's Flesh South Americans are fond of the 
 an Article of flesh of both varieties of Chinchillas, 
 Food. and European travelers also seem to 
 
 have found it to their taste, though they say it can 
 not be compared in excellence to that of the Hare, 
 The flesh is only of secondary consideration from an 
 economic standpoint", however, the principal profit 
 of the chase arising from the value of the fur. 
 
 Two Varieties of Two kinds of fur are distinguished 
 Chinchilla in commerce: that of the larger, 
 '^"'■- true Chinchillas, the hair of which is 
 
 long and fine, and that of the smaller, short-haired 
 Chinchillas; the former brings from three and one- 
 half to six dollars apiece, the latter from twenty-five 
 cents up to one dollar and a quarter. About twenty 
 thousand of the former and two hundred tl^ousand 
 of the latter are sold annually. 
 
 THE LAGOTIS. 
 
 Considerably longer ears, a tail equaling the body 
 in length and bushy along its upper surface, four- 
 toed feet and very long whiskers distinguish the 
 Lagotis {Lagidium) from the Chinchillas proper. 
 The dentition is very similar in both species and 
 their mode of life is nearly identical. So far only 
 two varieties are definitely known, both living on 
 
THE CHINCHILLAS— VISCACHA. 
 
 371 
 
 the table-lands of the Cordilleras, just below the 
 line of perpetual snow among the barren rocks, at 
 an elevation of from nine to fifteen thousand feet 
 above sea-level. They are as gregarious, playful 
 and agile as the preceding species, Exhibit the same 
 physical and mental peculiarities and feed more or 
 less on the same, or, at least, similar plants. One 
 of two varieties inhabits the table-lands of southern 
 Peru and Bolivia, the other the northern part of 
 Peru and Ecuador. 
 
 /(" !■■ •S"«" 
 
 THE COMMON CHINCHILLA. Sitting in the shadow of a ro 
 
 the sterile slopes of the Cordilleras, the little Rodent in the picture is e 
 lug itself amidst barren surroundings. It is a very lively, agile an 
 and assumes many attitudes, of which that shown in the picture is a 
 mon one. iEriomys chinchilla.') 
 
 The former is the Cuvier's Lagoti {Lagidium a 
 en) an animal about the size and shape of a Rab l 
 The fur is soft and long and of an ashy gray h n. 
 softening into a yellowish tint on the flanks. 
 
 THE VISCACHA. 
 
 The representative of the third species, the Vi^- 
 cacha {Lagostomus trichodactylus) assimilates more 
 nearly to the Chinchilla than to the preceding spe- 
 cies. Its body is covered by a tolerably thick fur. 
 The upper surface of the pelt consists of uniformly 
 distributed gray and black hairs, the back in conse- 
 quence appearing rather dark; the whole under sur- 
 face and the inner portions of the limbs are white. 
 The body measures twenty inches in length, while 
 the tail rather exceeds seven inches. 
 
 The Viscacha is the sole representative of its 
 family east of the Andes; it is at present a native of 
 the pampas or vast grassy plains, ranging from 
 Buenos Ayres to Patagonia. Before the general 
 cultivation of the ground in that country it was also 
 found in Paraguay. Wherever it is found at all, it 
 exists in large numbers. In some regions it is so 
 common that one frequently, especially in the dusk 
 of evening, sees groups of them sitting on either 
 side of the road. The very loneliest and most 
 deserted spots are its abode; it comes close to the 
 
 boundaries of cultivated regions, however, and trav- 
 elers may generally, with good reason, feel sure that 
 Spanish settlements are near when they find a great 
 number of "Viscacharias," as the burrows of these 
 animals are termed. 
 
 The Abode of The Viscacha takes up its abode in 
 the Vis- arid plains covered with a scant 
 cacha. vegetation, or even occasionally bar- 
 
 ren; there it digs extensive underground -bufrows^ 
 preferably near bushes and at a small distance from 
 fields. The burrows are both excavated and inhab- 
 ited by colonies in common. They are provided 
 with numerous tunnels and holes for escape, often as 
 many as forty or fifty, and are divided into several 
 chambers internally, according to the number of 
 individuals in the family inhabiting it. The number 
 of niembers of the family may sometimes increase 
 to eight or ten; then some of the inmates forsake 
 the old burrow and dig another, if possible- close to 
 the former. Now it sometimes happe.ns that the 
 Burrowing Owls, which we know as the companions- 
 of the Prairie Dogs, put in an appearance here also, 
 and without further ado take possession of one or 
 the other burrow. The cleanly Viscacha:s never 
 tolerate a companion which has not the same strict 
 ideas of orderliness as they; and consequently leave 
 the burrow and proceed to dig another for them- 
 
 THE SMALLER CHINCHILLA. This species of Chinchilla is; 
 
 smaller than the Common Chinchilla but it differs little from that ani- 
 mal in other respects, being as lively and agile as its southern neighbor, 
 which it also resembles in habits. (Sriomys lanigera.) 
 
 selves as soon as the intruders annoy them by their 
 uncleanliness. In this way it may happen that the 
 soil is completely undermined for a space a quar- 
 ter of a mile square. During the day the family lie 
 hidden in their burrow; towards sunset they emerge, 
 one by one and at the advent of night a more or 
 less numerous company gather in front of the 
 holes. They investigate very carefully to ascertain 
 
372 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 "whether or not everything is quiet and safe, and for 
 some time stay near their holes, before they set out 
 in search of food. 
 Physical Peoul- The movem,ents of the Viscachas re- 
 iarities of the semble those of Rabbits; but they 
 Viscacha- are much their inferiors in speed, 
 though they are of a more vivacious and playful dis- 
 position. While grazing they play with one another 
 nearly all the time, running, jumping over each 
 other, grunting, showing their teeth, etc. Like 
 Jackals, they carry home the most heterogeneous 
 collection of objects they may find and pile them up 
 in front of their holes in a confused heap, like toys, 
 as it were. One finds bones and nests, and lost 
 articles, which certainly are not of the slightest use 
 to them, piled up before their holes, and when the 
 Gauchos mysteriously lose anything they go to the 
 nearest Viscacherias to look for the missing article. 
 
 The Visoacha an The Viscacha is pursued less on 
 Annoyance to account of the value of its flesh and 
 H/lan. skin than it is for the purpose of ex- 
 
 termination because of its annoying habits of bur- 
 rowing. In those places where it is common, riding 
 on horseback becomes extremely dangerous, be- 
 cause the Horses often plunge through the roofs 
 of its shallow tunnels, and if they do not fall and 
 throw their riders or break their own legs they 
 usually become very restive and greatly excited 
 over it. The natives know the haunts of the Vis- 
 cachas from afar by the presence of a small, wild, 
 bitter musk-melon, of which the animals are said to 
 be very fond. This plant is always found where 
 there are many Viscacherias or vice versa — the lat- 
 ter are always established where the plants spread 
 their green tendrils. In this way it serves as a guide 
 and warning for the horseman to avoid the danger- 
 ous places. 
 
 All expedients for driv- 
 ing the Viscachas from 
 the neighborhood of set- 
 tlements are resorted to, 
 and even fire and water, 
 literally, are employed 
 for this purpose. The 
 grass around their holes 
 is burned and they are 
 thereby deprived of 
 nourishment; their holes 
 are inundated ' and they 
 are forced to go out, 
 straight into the jaws of 
 the waiting Dogs. 
 
 The South American 
 Indians eat the flesh of 
 the animal, and may also 
 put the skins to account, 
 though the latter are of 
 much less value than 
 those of the before men- 
 tioned kindred species. 
 
 ^be Ibares, 
 
 THIRTEENTH FAfULY: 
 
 . Leporid^. 
 
 CUVIEB'S L&GOTI. This member of the Chinchilla family is about the size of a Rabbit, but has a long 
 
 bushy tail, long whiskers that Puss might envy, and very long ears. It is a native of the mountains and is there- 
 fore here correctly depicted among the boulders of its native Cordilleras. (Lagidium cuvieri.) 
 
 From the interior of the burrows, however, the ani- 
 mals remove anything not belonging there, as they 
 also do the dead bodies of their own kind. Whether 
 they gather and store up provisions for winter has 
 not yet been decided. Their method of vocal ex- 
 pression consists of a queer, loud and disagreeable 
 snort or grunt, which can not be described. 
 Propagation of Nothing definite is as yet known 
 the Vis- about the method of their reproduc- 
 caeha, tion. The number of young is said 
 
 to be from two to four in each litter, and they are 
 believed to be fully grown at the age of from two to 
 four months. Goering never saw more than a single 
 young one with one of the old females. It always 
 kept in the closest proximity to its mother, which 
 seemed to be very fond of it and defended it in 
 danger. If the young are captured and carefully 
 tended, they become tame and may be kept as 
 easily as Rabbits. 
 
 As the last family of 
 this order we consider 
 the Hares {^Lepondce), a 
 family with characteristics so distinctive that one 
 might regard it as a sub-order. 
 
 They are the only Rodents which have more than 
 two front teeth; for the sharp, broad gnawing teeth 
 have on each side a true incisor, shaped like a small, 
 blunt, nearly quadrilateral peg. This gives the denti- 
 tion so peculiar a stamp as to isolate the Hares com- 
 pletely. Each side of both jaws also contains five 
 or six molars, composed of two laminae. The gen- 
 eral distinctive anatomical characteristics of the 
 Hares are: an elongated body with long hinder legs, 
 a long skull with large eyes and long ears, five-toed 
 fore-feet and four-toed hind-feet, thick, deeply cleft 
 and highly mobile lips, furnished with stout whisk- 
 ers on both sides, and a close, nearly woolly fur. 
 Extensive The family embraces few species. 
 Distribution of but is distributed over a great ex- 
 Wares, tent of country. In the Australia^ 
 belt alone the Hares would be absent were it not for 
 
THE HARES. 
 
 373 
 
 the interference of Man. Two imported species are 
 at present widely spread in Australia and New Zea- 
 land also. The Hares' are found in all climates, in 
 plains and on mountains, in the open country and in 
 clefts of rock, above and below the surface of the 
 earth: in short, everywhere, and where one species 
 ceases another commences; the locality which is 
 not adapted for occupancy by the one possesses 
 a contented inhabitant in another. All prefer to 
 feed on tender, juicy plants, but one might say that 
 they reaUy refuse nothing within their reach. They 
 eat all portions of plants from the roots to the fruit, 
 though they are most partial to the leaves of low 
 growing herbs. Most of them live gregariously to 
 a certain extent and rarely forsake their domicile 
 when they have once selected it, or it has been given 
 them. There they lie hidden during the day in a de- 
 pression or hole, and prowl about at night, looking 
 
 sion consists of a dull growl, or when frightened a 
 loud, pitiful squeal. The "Crying Hares," belonging 
 to this family justify their name. The voice is sel- 
 dom heard though, and is accompanied and sup- 
 plemented by a peculiar flopping of the hind legs, 
 which signifies either fear or anger and is intended 
 to convey a warning. The various species exhibit 
 somewhat wide differences in intellectual capacity. 
 In general the Hares do not justify our precon- 
 ceived ideas of them. They are said to be good- 
 natured, peaceable, inoffensive and cowardly; they 
 prove, however, that they can be the very reverse of 
 all this. Close observers flatly deny the good-na- 
 ture and pronounce the Hares malicious and quar- 
 relsome to the utmost. Their timorous disposition, 
 watchfulness and shyness are universally known, 
 while the cunning which they acquire and which 
 reaches really wonderful development in advanced 
 
 THE VISCAGHA. In the pampas of the .Argentine Repubhc the Viscacha, an animal related to the Chinchillas, is one of the most com- 
 mon of Rodents. The picture appropriately depicts this species in the high, coarse grass of its native plains, and shows them in company tor they 
 are gregarious animals. Its actions resemble a Rabbit's but it is not so timid nor so fleet of foot as the latter. (Lagostomus trichodactylus.) 
 
 for food. Strictly speaking, when in thinly popu- 
 lated districts they rest only during the noon hours 
 and run about in broad daylight of evenings and 
 mornings if they deem themselves secure from dan- 
 ger. Their movements are very peculiar. The well 
 known speed of the Hares is exhibited only in full 
 course; when their gait is a slow walk they are very 
 clumsy and awkward, owing to the disproportionate 
 length of their hind legs, which renders an even gait 
 difficult. They are able, however, to turn about 
 sharply when in full flight, and give evidence of an 
 agility for which one would not give them credit. 
 They shun water, though they swim across rivers 
 when hard pressed. 
 
 Physical and Among their perceptive senses that 
 
 Mental Character- oi hearing certainly ranks first: this 
 
 istios of Hares, faculty undoubtedly attains among 
 
 Rodents a development found in few other animals. 
 
 Their sense of smell is weaker, though not deficient, 
 
 and their sight is fairly keen. Their vocal expres- 
 
 age, is much less well known. Neither are they 
 such cowards as is usually believed. One certainly 
 wrongs them in emphasizing this quality in the way 
 Linnpeus has done, who denounced the Alpine Hare 
 as a coward beyond redemption. 
 
 Propagation Though the rate of reproduction of 
 of the the Hare is not as excessive as that 
 
 Hares. of some other Rodents, it is still 
 
 great enough, and the old saying of sportsmen that 
 the Hare goes out alone in spring and comes back 
 in autumn in a company sixteen strong, has its full 
 value in localities where life uses our subject kindly 
 and pursuit does not wax hot. Most species have 
 several litters a year, each numbering from three to 
 six, nay, even eleven young; but nearly all are defi- 
 cient in the parental instinct and treat their off- 
 spring in an exceedingly careless way; hence many 
 of their progeny perish. In addition to this, a vast 
 army of enemies lie in wait for the savory game, 
 foes of widely variant species in every continent, 
 
874 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 but at no point less in number than elsewhere. No 
 wonder that, beset by so vast a host of enemies, the 
 Hares do not multiply as fast as they otherwise 
 would. It is fortunate for us that such is the case, 
 for else they would lay all our fields completely 
 in waste. As it is, they become a sore pest in all 
 localities where their numbers increase to any con- 
 siderable extent. 
 
 THE HARES PROPER. 
 
 The distinctive features of the Hares proper 
 (Lepus) are the ears, equaling the head in length, 
 the shortened thumbs of the fore-paws, the very long 
 hind legs, the erect stumpy tail and six molars in 
 the upper jaw. 
 
 The Com- The Common Hare {L^pus vulgaris, 
 mon Hare, and its erroneously called Lepus timidus) 
 Peculiarities. ig a stoutly built Rodent of a total 
 length of thirty inches, only three of which are in- 
 cluded in the tail; it is twelve inches high and is 
 one of the two species" iijdigenous to Germany. It 
 attains a weig(ht of about?,^n or twelve pounds, but 
 in a few rare instances tnere are old males weighing 
 fourteen, sixteen or even eighteen pounds. The 
 coloring of the fur is difficult to describe in few 
 words. There is a short woolly inner fur and a long 
 outer one of a genuine earthy color. The upper 
 surface is brownish yellow dashed with black; the 
 neck is a yellowish brown mottled with white; the 
 hind parts are whitish gray and the under surface 
 white. The color is subject to regularly recurrent 
 variations in winter and summer, and the female has 
 a more ruddy hue than the male; there are different 
 variations, however, and one meets with dark, pie- 
 bald and white individuals. In the majority of cases 
 the coloring is excellently adapted to conceal the 
 animal from discovery by its enemies when it lies 
 on the ground. 
 The Home of the The Common Hare is indigenous to 
 
 Common all of central Europe and a small 
 Hare. part of western Asia. In the south 
 
 it is replaced by the Hare of the Mediterranean, 
 which is a variety of smaller size and ruddy hue; on 
 the high mountains by the Alpine Hare, and in the 
 north by the Varying Hare, which is perhaps dis- 
 tinct from the Alpine variety, but certainly assimi- 
 lates very Qlose to it. The northern boundary of 
 the Common Hare is Scotland, southern Sweden and 
 northern Russia, to the south it is confined by south- 
 ern France and the north of Italy. Fertile plains, 
 with or without forests, and the wooded, low-lying 
 spurs or foothills of mountains are its favorite 
 haunts; in the Alps, however, it is found 4,500 feet 
 above the sea and in the Caucasus above 6,000 feet. 
 Habits and Food In general the Hare's habits are more 
 of the Common nocturnal than diurnal, though it is 
 Hare. often seen roaming about in the 
 
 fields before sunset and in the morning on a clear 
 day. It is very averse to leaving the locality in 
 which it has grown up. All kinds of vegetables 
 similar in nature to cabbage and turnips are favorite 
 dainties with it. It seems to be especially fond of 
 parsley. 
 
 The Hare The Hare spends the main portion 
 a Nocturnal of the day sleeping or dozing in its 
 
 Animal. "form." It never goes straight to 
 the locality where it once occupied an old form or 
 intends making a new one, but runs a little past the 
 place, then turns round, makes a few bounds for- 
 ward, one to the side and so on, and thus reaches, 
 by an indirect course, the spot where it wishes to 
 
 remain. In preparing its " form," it digs a depres- 
 sion in the open field from two to three inches deep 
 and slightly curved at the rear end. The size of 
 this depression is such that when the Hare, lying in 
 this "form," stretches out its fore-legs, puts its head 
 with the folded ears on them and presses the hind 
 legs close to the body, the hind part of the back is 
 all of the animal that is exposed to view. Such a 
 hole is a passably good shelter against storm and 
 rain during the mild season. In winter it hollows 
 out this "form" until only so much of its body as 
 appears to be a small, grayish black dot is seen. 
 Speed of The great speed of the Hare in run- 
 
 a Hare in Run- ning is chiefly due to the fact that 
 "''"£'• its hind legs are longer than the 
 
 fore pair. This is also the reason why it can run 
 better up hill than down. Generally it utters a 
 sound only when it sees itself in danger. This cry 
 resembles that of little children, being a shrill 
 scream or squeak. 
 
 Among the perceptive senses of the Hare, hearing 
 is developed best, as is indicated by the large size of 
 the external ear; the smell is fairly keen, but sight 
 is rather deficient. Among its intellectual qualities 
 an exceeding prudence and vigilance stand out most 
 prominently. The slightest noise, the wind rustling 
 in the leaves, a falling leaf suffice to excite its atten- 
 tion and wake it when it sleeps. The supposed 
 inoffensiveness of the Hares is based more on fic- 
 tion than on truth. Dietrich aus dem Winckell 
 says outright that the greatest vice of the Hare is 
 its malice, not because it expresses it in biting and 
 scratching, but because it often proves its disposi- 
 tion in the most revolting manner, the female deny- 
 ing her maternal love, the male by his cruelty to the 
 little Leverets. 
 Propagation of The first litter in a family of Hares 
 
 the Hare Spe- is generally born between the middle 
 cies. and the end of March, the fourth and 
 
 last litter in August. The first litter consists of one 
 or two, the second of three or four, the third of three 
 , and the fourth again of one or two Leverets; in very 
 rare cases there may be five or more young. There 
 are five litters in the twelve months in only very 
 rare, favorable years. The young are born with their 
 eyes open and certainly in a well developed con- 
 dition. It is an established fact that the mother 
 spends only five or six days with her progeny and 
 then leaves them to their fate. From time to time 
 she comes back to the spot where she gave birth to 
 the little family, calls them by a peculiar flopping of 
 the ears and suckles them. At the approach of an 
 enemy she leaves her young, though there are cases 
 on record where old female Hares have defended 
 their offspring against birds of prey and Ravens. 
 The majority of first litters perish. 
 l\/lany Monstrosi- Among no other animals living in a 
 ties Among state of nature have been observed 
 the Hares. go many deformities as among the 
 Hares. Two-headed individuals, or such as have 
 double tongues or projecting teeth, are no rarities. 
 
 The True Way Whole books have been written 
 of Hunting about the right and wrong methods 
 Hares. of hunting Hares, and it therefore is 
 
 not my intention to discuss the different modes of 
 hunting at length. In my opinion, the greatest 
 pleasure is derived in looking for the Hare and 
 shooting it. The coursing of the Hare with Grey- 
 hounds is highly exciting, but degrades the hunt; 
 the sport where the game is driven into an enclosure 
 may be very gratifying in regions where the animals 
 
THE HARES-HARES PROPER. 
 
 375 
 
 are few, but where there are a great many Hares, 
 coursing in this manner becomes a mere butchery. 
 Shooting a Hare after having successfully stalked 
 the game is the reward of skill and most worthy of a 
 sportsman. 
 Adaptability of Captive Hares are easily tamed, be- 
 
 Harea to Con- come readily used to all kinds of 
 flnement. nourishment with which one feeds 
 Rabbits, but are very delicate and apt to die. If 
 they are fed only on hay, bread, oats and water, and 
 never anything green, they live longer. If young 
 Leverets are put with old Hares they are always 
 bitten and killed by the latter. Other weak animals 
 rarely fare any better. I once found a killed and 
 half-eaten Rat in the warren of Hares committed to 
 my care. With Guinea Pigs Hares agree perfectly. 
 
 According to an account of the "Jagdzeitung," 
 Mr. Fuchs in Wildenberg had a tame Hare in his 
 
 itself to the soil and climate according to circum- 
 stances; peculiar variations occur, however. The 
 Alpine Hares are of a pure white in winter, only the 
 tips of the ears being black; in summer they are 
 uniformly grayish brown, lacking the mottled ap- 
 pearance of the Common Hare. The Irish Hares, 
 which are very similar, are said never to become 
 white and are therefore considered a distinct species 
 {Lepus hibemicus) by some authorities. On the other 
 hand, the Polar Hares living in the highest latitudes 
 undergo no modification of color in summer, and are 
 therefore also held to be an independent species 
 {Lepus glacialis). The Scandinavian Hares, all of 
 which belong to this species, are also different: 
 some of them turn white, excepting their black ear 
 tips, while others do not change. The roots of their 
 fur are slate gray, the middle dingy reddish brown 
 and the tips white. This coloring seems to be 
 
 r~. —Jl rr ' 
 
 THE COUMON HABE, ^The typical animal of its family inhabiting the central portion of the European Continent and Great Britain 
 
 Its long ears are a prominent feature and its shape and general structure fit it for running and it is known as one of the fleetest of mammals The 
 animals are admirably drawn in this picture, which represents one of the species moving lapidly over the snowy ground (Lepus vtdgar-s ) 
 
 possession which, slept and ate with his Dogs and 
 won the special affection of a young Setter. This 
 Hare ate vegetable food only in default of meat; 
 veal, pork, liver and sausage caused it to go into 
 such raptures that it used to execute a regular dance 
 to get at these dainties. 
 
 Besides the flesh, which as food is justly es- 
 teemed, the fur is also put to account The skin is 
 deprived of its hair, tanned and used in the manu- 
 facture of shoes, of one kind of parchment, and of 
 glue; the hair is used in the manufacture of felt. 
 
 Tiie Alpine and It is still an undecided question 
 
 the Polar whether the Varying or Alpine Hare 
 
 Hares. and the Arctic or Polar Hare of 
 
 high latitudes are properly of the same variety. In 
 
 general both prove themselves to be true children 
 
 of their native country. Their fur accommodates 
 
 purely fortuitous, however; at least it is maintained 
 that different Hares of one litter often exhibit the 
 two colors indiscriminately. 
 The Alpine Hare The Alpine or Varying Hare {Lepus- 
 —its Pecul- timidus or Lepus variabilis) differs 
 iarities. distinctly from the Common Hare in 
 
 anatomical structure and in disposition. Tschudi 
 says: "It is more cheerful, livelier, bolder; its head 
 is shorter, stouter, more curved in its outlines; it has 
 a shorter nose, smaller ears, broader cheeks; the hind 
 legs are longer, the soles of the feet more heavily 
 covered with fur; the paws provided with deeply 
 cleft toes capable of much extension, and armed 
 with long-pointed, curved, retractile claws. The 
 eyes are not pink, like those of white Rabbits, white 
 Squirrels and white Mice, but of a darker brown 
 than those of the Common Hare. 
 
376 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 Change of the "When the Alps are buried in snow 
 Fur of the Alpine in December this Hare is as purely 
 Hare. white as the snow itself, only the 
 
 tips of the ears remaining black. The spring sun- 
 shine induces a very remarkable change of color, 
 this change beginning in March. The animal first 
 becomes dark on the back, and gray hairs appear 
 more and more numerously amid the white of the 
 flanks. In April it has a queer, pie-bald appearance. 
 The dark brown hue gains more ground every day, 
 and finally in May the change is complete, the color 
 being uniform and not mottled like that of the Com- 
 
 and crannies that the spectator can not long remain 
 concealed from the alert animals, or have an oppor- 
 tunity to observe for any length of time their domei^- 
 tic routine. 
 The Alpine Hare "A surprising fact is that the Alpine 
 Easily Domes- Hare is more tamable than the Com- 
 ticated. mon Hare; it behaves more quietly 
 
 and shows greater confidence, but seldom endures 
 long and fails to get fat even with the most abun- 
 dant nourishment. It misses in the valley below the 
 rarefied air of the upper Alps. It turns white in 
 winter in confinement also. Its fur is not valuable, 
 
 but 
 
 is very 
 
 THE ALFIN£ HAB£, This animal with its white winter coat is a very appropriate inhabitant of the snowy 
 
 regions of the Alps. In the summer the coat is dark brown, but in winter it is all white except the margins of the ears. 
 These are very pretty creatures, agile, easily frightened, and always active. {Le^tts timidus.) 
 
 mon Hare, the fur of which is of a coarser texture 
 than that of the Alpine Hare. In autumn the first 
 white hairs appear with the first snow; but as winter 
 reaches its climax in less time than does spring in 
 the Alps, the change is wrought more rapidly, and 
 is completed sometime during the period extending 
 from the beginning of October to the middle of 
 November. When the Chamois becomes black, 
 its neighbor, the Hare, turns white. The Alpine 
 Hare is commonly found in all the higher Alpine 
 regions, where it is at least as numerous as is the 
 brown Hare in the lower belt. Its favorite country 
 lies between the point at which the fir-trees cease to 
 grow and the line of perpetual snow, at about the 
 same altitude as is favored by the Snow-Hen or 
 Ptarmigan and the Marmot, from 4,800 to 7,800 feet 
 above the sea; it may sometimes range much higher, 
 however. 
 
 "The female gives birth to from two 
 to five young, which are no larger 
 than Mice and have a white spot on 
 The first litter usually appears in 
 April or May, the second in July or August; there 
 are doubts as to whether there is a third. It is 
 nearly impossible to observe their family life, as the 
 power of scent of these animals is so delicate and 
 the young know so well how to hide in all crevices 
 
 its flesh 
 toothsome.' 
 
 The Rabbit {Lepus cuni- 
 culus) differs from the 
 Hares proper in its much 
 smaller physical propor- 
 tions — a more slender 
 frame, shorter head, 
 shorter ears and shorter 
 hind legs. The length 
 of the body of the ani- 
 mal is sixteen inches, 
 nearly three inches of 
 which are occupied by 
 the tail. The ear is 
 shorter than the head 
 and if pressed forward 
 and downward along the 
 cheek it does not reach 
 to the point of the muz- 
 zle. The tail is black 
 above, white beneath, 
 and the remainder of 
 the body is covered by 
 a gray fur, dashed with 
 yellow-brown above, 
 reddish yellow in front, 
 light rusty on the flanks 
 and thighs and merging 
 into white on the under 
 surface, the throat and 
 the inner sides of the 
 the throat is of a rusty 
 
 Original 
 
 Home of the 
 
 Rabbit. 
 
 The Propagation 
 
 of Alpine 
 
 Hares. 
 
 the forehead. 
 
 limbs. The upper part of 
 
 yellow grayish hue, the nape of the neck is palpably 
 of a rusty red color. Variations in coloration seem 
 to occur more rarely than with the Common Hare. 
 Nearly all naturalists suppose the 
 original home of the Rabbit to be 
 southern Europe and that it was 
 introduced by transplantation into all portions of 
 Europe north of the Alps. Pliny mentions it under 
 the name of Cuniculus, Aristotle calls it Dasypus. 
 All old authors name Spain as its native country. 
 Present At present the wild Rabbit is dis- 
 Range of the tributed throughout southern and 
 Rabbit. central Europe and is quite plentiful 
 
 in some places. The countries of the Mediterranean 
 al-e infested by the species in enormous numbers, 
 though it is pursued there all the year round and 
 spared in none of the seasons. In England it was 
 introduced into several localities for sporting pur- 
 poses and was held in high esteem at first; as late as 
 1309 a wild Rabbit cost as much as a little Pig. In 
 northern countries it does not thrive. Attempts to 
 introduce it into Russia and Sweden have been futile- 
 , Requisites for The Rabbit requires for its domicile 
 the Rabbit's a hilly and sandy country, broken 
 Domicile. by ravines, rocks and shrulabery, in 
 short, offering sheltered spots where it can hide it- 
 
THE HARES^HARES PROPER. 
 
 377 
 
 self. There in suitable locations it establishes rather 
 inconspicuous burrows, if possible, with a sunny ex- 
 posure. The animals congregate generally in colo- 
 nies which often seem to haye an organized func- 
 tional government. Every burrow consists of a 
 rather deep-lying central chamber from which radi- 
 ate curving tunnels, each of which is provided with 
 several places of exit. These tunnel mouths usually 
 are more or less enlarged by the frequent passing of 
 the animals in and out; the tunnel proper, however, 
 is so narrow that the inhabitants can just creep 
 through. Every couple has its own domicile, and 
 allows no other animal in it; the tunnels of several 
 burrows often communicate, however. In its bur- 
 row the Rabbit lies hidden all day, unless the bushes 
 around are so thick that it can, entirely screened 
 from observation, obtain its food. As soon as even- 
 ing draws on it emerges, using a great deal of pre- 
 caution and carefully reconnoitering before it leaves 
 its hole. If it suspects danger it warns its compan- 
 ions by a vigorous drumming on the earth with its 
 hind legs, and all scramble back into their holes. 
 
 The movements of the 
 Rabbit differ materially 
 from those of the Hare. 
 In the first place the 
 Rabbit usually surpasses 
 the Hare in speed and 
 always in agility. It is 
 thoroughly conversant 
 with the art of baffling 
 its pursuers by a series 
 of short doubles, and 
 executes its turns and 
 crooks in a masterly 
 way, requiring an excel- 
 lently trained Dog or a 
 good marksman to bring 
 it down. Much craftier 
 than the Hare, it very 
 rarely suffers itself to 
 be surprised when feed- 
 ing and always finds a 
 hole in which to hide. 
 If it were to pursue a 
 line of flight straight 
 ahead, it could be caught 
 in a short time by any 
 moderately swift Dog; 
 but it takes refuge in 
 bushes, crannies, and 
 holes, and usually suc- 
 ceeds in baffling the pur- 
 suit of its enemies. The 
 senses of sight, hearing 
 and scent are as acute 
 and perhaps even keener 
 than the same senses in 
 the Hare. The char- 
 acter of the Rabbit presents many prepossessing 
 phases. Vlt is sociable and gentle, the mothers nur- 
 ture their young with warm affection and the young 
 hold their parents in great veneration, the patriarch 
 of a whole society being accorded particularly great 
 honor. From early spring until October the female 
 Rabbit gives birth to a litter of from four to twelve 
 young every five weeks, these broods being born 
 in a special chamber, which the mother carefully 
 lines with fur from her own fleece. The little ones 
 remain blind for several days and stay in the warm 
 nest with the mother, who suckles them until the 
 
 next litter arrives. The mother is tenderly attached 
 to them and leaves her family alone only when she 
 is forced by hunger to seek food. 
 
 Early Fecund- In warm countries the young are 
 
 ity of Rab- capable of reproduction in their 
 ^'*s- fifth month, in cold climates in the 
 
 eighth, but they do not attain their full growth until 
 a full year old. If we suppose that there are seven 
 litters a year, averaging eight individuals, the prog- 
 eny of one pair of Rabbits would attain the prodig- 
 ious number of 1,274,840 in four years. 
 
 The Food of The food of the Rabbit is exactly 
 the Rab- the same as that of the Hare. But 
 *"*• it inflicts a great deal more palpable 
 
 damage, not only because it confines itself in its for- 
 aging to a smaller space, but also owing to its fancy 
 for gnawing the bark of trees, through which means 
 it sometimes destroys entire orchards or groves. It 
 is difficult to realize what ravages may be perpe- 
 trated by a colony of Rabbits,' especially consider- 
 ing the enormous fecundity of the species, if their 
 multiplication be not checked. 
 
 THE EUROPEAN RABBIT. 
 
 One of the most common of mammals found in a wild state. It differs from the 
 
 Hares in its more slender build, smaller head and shorter ears, and other particulars, 
 family of these animals enjoying themselves in fancied security. (Leptis cumculus.) 
 
 The picture shows a happy 
 
 The Rabbit an Rabbits also drive away other game 
 Undesirable by their restless activity, and Hares 
 Tenant. are seldom found where the Rabbits 
 have gained supremacy. Where they believe them- 
 selves secure their impudence assumes incredible 
 proportions. In the Prater at Vienna there formerly 
 were thousands of them that fearlessly ran about by 
 day and did not suffer themselves to be disturbed in 
 their foraging for food either by calls or by missiles 
 thrown at them. They are nowhere protected and 
 are killed even during the close season — the time 
 when no other game is to be molested. Neverthe- 
 
878 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 less they cannot be exterminated without the help 
 of some natural antagonists such as Ferrets. Unless 
 Polecats, Weasels or Martens have multiplied con- 
 siderably in a particular locality, or there are Screech 
 Owls or other kindred birds of prey to destroy them, 
 a diminution of their numbers is of rare occurrence. 
 Rabbits Often a In localities favorable to their mul- 
 MenacetoAgri- tiplication, Rabbits may become a 
 culture. i-ea.! pest and exceedingly prejudi- 
 
 cial to agriculture. In New Zealand and in Aus- 
 tralia, where they have prodigiously multiplied in 
 some localities to such an extent as to entirely 
 
 AMERICAN VARYING HARE. This is the typical American spe- 
 cies of the Hare family, of which there are many varieties, the one shown in 
 the picture being scientifically known as Baird's variety, inhabiting the 
 Rocky mountain region. {Lepus americanus dairdii.) 
 
 consume the pasturage of domestic Cattle, the at- 
 tempt to exterminate them has so far been in vain. 
 How seriously damage caused by them is estimated 
 may be seen from the fact that the government of 
 New South Wales has expended over one million 
 pounds sterling in bounties for the killing of the 
 animals during the last decade and finally promised 
 a reward of fifty thousand pounds to the inventor 
 of an effective method of exterminating the pests. 
 Poison, nooses, Ferrets, wire fences, etc., have proved 
 insufficient to check the damage done by these 
 Rodents. An experiment, said to be successful in 
 France at least, has been made in that country by 
 Pasteur. His plan to exterminate Rabbits quickly 
 and thoroughly is to infect them with Chicken chol- 
 era by mixing with their food the germs producing 
 the disease; the experiment has been repeated in 
 Australia on a large scale, but is said to have been 
 unsuccessful. 
 
 Origin The tame Rabbit undoubtedly owes 
 
 of the Tame its parentage to the wild one; for 
 Rabbit. while the latter may be tamed in a 
 
 short time, the former returns to the wild state com- 
 pletely in a few months, if left alone by Man, and in 
 such cases its offspring have the coloring of the wild 
 ones. Tame Rabbits are usually kept in a hutch 
 having a stone or wooden floor, and provided with 
 artificial places for concealment, consisting .either of 
 long boxes with several branches or apartments or 
 artificial burrows in the walls; they are given a good 
 supply of straw and dry moss, protected against 
 cold in winter and fed with hay, grass, leaves, etc. 
 Some Varieties of The Silver-colored, the Russian and 
 the Domestic the Angora or Silky Rabbit are vari- 
 Rabbit. eties of the domestic Rabbit. The 
 
 first is larger than the Common species and usually 
 
 of a bluish gray hue with a silvery or dark tint. 
 The Russian Rabbit is gray, with brown head and 
 ears, and it is distinguished by a dewlap under the 
 throat. The Angora Rabbit has shorter ears and 
 thickset, soft fur; its long, wavy hair often reaches 
 to the ground and is of a silky lustre. Unfortu- 
 nately it is of very delicate constitution and requires 
 great care. Attempts to introduce it into other por- 
 tions of Europe have failed. 
 
 J, , . . The Hare family has its greatest develop- 
 Nortti Atnerica ^^^i jn North America, which contains 
 Abounds in more than twenty species and varieties. 
 Mares. Among these are animals that illustrate all 
 
 the differences in structure and habits known to this family, 
 from the largest slender Hare to the smallest and fattest Rab- 
 bit; species that burrow like the Rabbit of Europe," in under- 
 ground retreats, while others like the Common Hare crouch in. 
 shallow "forms" which scarce conceal them from view. 
 Tu D I u Because of its close resemblance to th-.- 
 
 'ne Polar flare, fountain or Alpine Hare the Polar Hai.- 
 " !:°.^''" {Lepus glacialis) is considered as the near- 
 rariety. ^^^ connecting link between the Hares of 
 
 the Old and New Worlds. The northern varieties of the 
 Mountain Hare change their coat with the seasons and except 
 for a brownish tinge on the ears and limbs, turn white in the 
 winter, and these arctic varieties are, by some authorities, 
 separated into a distinct species under the name of the Vary- 
 ing Hare {Lepus variabilis) because of this change of coat. 
 The Polar Hare, however, is white all the year round except 
 the tips of the ears, which, are black. It attains a weight of 
 from eight to ten pounds. This Hare occupies a burrow which 
 consists of a hole about four feet in length, extending horizon- 
 tally into a snowdrift. The number of young composing a 
 litter of these Hares is seven or eight. This species has been 
 found inhabiting the highest latitudes yet visited by Man. Sir 
 George Nares found it on the shores of Grinnell Land, and by 
 observing its footprints in the snow obtained evidence of its 
 
 NORTHERN PRAIRIE HARE. This is the most northern species 
 
 of the group of Hares, familiarly known in the United States as Jack Rabbits 
 because of their large size and enormous ears. They are lively animals of 
 astounding jumping powers. {Le;pns campestris.) 
 
 existence in latitude 83° 10', about twenty miles north of the 
 nearest land. In these high northern latitudes this animal 
 " subsists on the stoneworts and other hardy plants which form 
 the scanty vegetation of the circumpolar valleys." 
 
 The American ^ species which has an especially wide dis- 
 tribution is the American Varying Hare 
 {Lepus americanus) which is found in all 
 the regions from the arctic barren grounds 
 This species differs from the Mountam Hare 
 of Europe in its relatively smaller ears and, smaller size, but 
 like that animal changes its fur during winter. This change 
 is more marked in the more northern varieties, and the nearer 
 the approach is to the arctic regions the more closely the color 
 of this Hare's winter fur approximates to the snow white of the 
 
 Varying Hare's 
 Wide Range. 
 
 to New Mexico. 
 
THE HARES— CRYING. 
 
 379 
 
 Polar Hare. It is especially abundant on the banks of the 
 Mackenzie River, where it is killed in great numbers by the 
 Hare Indians. The typical animal of this species is that of 
 the high north, but there are other varieties of the same spe- 
 cies which have been named Lepus americanus virginianus, 
 inhabiting the eastern United States; Lepus americanus wash- 
 ingtonii, found in Oregon and Washington, and Lepus ameri- 
 canus bairdii, in the Rocky Mountain region south to New 
 Mexico. The principal difference between these varieties is 
 in the coloration of the fur in summer. All are of similar 
 habits and make their resting place in "forms" just large 
 enough to accommodate their bodies, and which are usually 
 situated in long grass- Hunters pursue the Varying Hare 
 for its ilesh and fur. This is the species most common in 
 the northern markets in winter. The fur is used by furriers 
 
 WOOD BABBIT, OB COTTON-TAIL. A familiar animal in all the 
 
 forest regions of the United States is the Wood or Cotton-Tail Rabbit, some- 
 times Called " Molly Cotton Tail." It is a timid, pretty creature and al- 
 though it has many foes, holds its own in our woods. {Lepus sylvaticus.) 
 
 for various purposes and is also used in the manufacture of 
 hats, but is very plentiful, and therefore cheap. Besides Man 
 it has still more dangerous enemies in Wolves, Gluttons and 
 Lynxes, which kill large numbers of these Hares. 
 ThcDrnirioHitros In Amcrican common parlance there is no 
 inerramenares,-^^^^ distinction between the term "Hare" 
 Rabbits " ^'''^ " R^-^bit" as there is in Europe where 
 the large, long-eared, stout varieties, liv- 
 ing in shallow "forms," are named "Hares," and the smaller 
 and more slender kind, which digs a deep burrow, is the " Rab- 
 bit." In this country no well defined distinction exists. The 
 several species popularly known as Jack Rabbits have none of 
 the distinctive features of the Rabbit (Lepus cuniculus) of 
 Europe. Of these so-called Jack Rabbits the Northern Prairie 
 Hare [Lepus campestris) may be taken as the type. It is one 
 of the largest species of Hares, measuring about twenty inches 
 in length, and it has long, strong and vigorous limbs, and such 
 remartably long ears that the popular name it bears is fully 
 justified. The general color is yellowish gray with black ear 
 tips. The under portion of the body is of lighter hue, and the 
 tail is white above arid below. 
 
 This northern species is found on the western prairies from 
 British America to Colorado. It undergoes a winter change of 
 coat, becoming nearly white, but the blanching is never com- 
 
 glete and russet streaks or patches remain through the winter, 
 'ther species of the Jack Rabbits are the Texas Hare (Lepus 
 mllotis) inhabiting Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, and the 
 Californian Hare (Lepus californicus) of the Pacific Coast. 
 These two do not change their fur with the seasons and their tails 
 are black on the upper surface. The habits of these animals are 
 those of Hares in general, and all the species known as Jack 
 Rabbits are famous for their great speed and for the astound- 
 ing leaps they make in running. They are the most fleet and 
 agile of American mammals. They are not much pursued for 
 the reason that they are difficult to shoot, and their celerity of 
 movement enables them to elude four-footed foes also. 
 
 Swamn Hnre T^° distinct species, both of which are 
 nnH MrHihu^l^ aquatic in their habits, are found in the 
 AauatZFnrZ' southern states. These are the Swamp 
 Aquatic Forms. ^^^^ ^^^^^^ aquaticus) and the Marsh 
 
 Hare, often called the Marsh Rabbit (Lepus palustris). These 
 
 have similar habits, take readily to the water, and are said to 
 dive for some distance, their legs being less thickly clothed 
 with hair than are the less amphibious species. Both subsist 
 chiefly on aquatic plants, but, although alike in their mode of 
 life, they differ widely in physical characteristics, the Swamp 
 Hare being one of the largest and longest of limb of the Amer- 
 ican Hares, while the Marsh Hare has short limbs and is small 
 and plump, and is not found so far from the coast as is the 
 Swamp Hare. 
 ■fho /^nf+nn T„;/ „ Most abundant of all American species of 
 Q^hh%t;Ll this family is the Wood Rabbit (Lepus syl- 
 0°:'/:' vaticus) or Cotton-tail, also called the Gray 
 
 opecies. Rabbit. It ranges from Hudson's Bay to 
 
 Florida, and is a small gray species with white fur on the under 
 surface of its tail — from which it derives its popular name. In 
 general form and habits it much resembles the Rabbit of the 
 Old World, although it does not burrow to the extent observed 
 in the European species. In the warmer sections of the 
 country the Cotton-tail does not trouble itself about shelter — 
 a shallow excavation by a root or fallen tree serving its pur- 
 pose. Further north it digs out its refuge to greater depth. 
 It is more gregarious than the larger species and, in the 
 south especially, quite a number of these Rabbits will some- 
 times congregate m a friendly thicket or convenient briar- 
 patch. In the extreme southern states this animal, as well as 
 other species of the Hares, is much subject to parasitic inflic- 
 tions, and its flesh is therefore inedible, but farther north it is 
 not so infested and is well liked as food. It is shot and 
 trapped, not only for its fur but also on account of the damage 
 it does in fields and gardens, and it is subject to the attacks of 
 all carnivorous beasts, birds and reptiles, yet it is so prolific in 
 the propagation of its species that its numbers do not much 
 decrease, and it is common in nearly all sections. 
 The Sage Rabbit In the prairies of the west and particularly 
 nndnther "^ the valleys and sage brush plams which 
 Snedes Stretch between the Rocky Mountain aijd 
 
 " Sierra Nevada ranges, is the Sage Rabbit. 
 
 (Lepus artemesia) much like the Cotton-tail, of which it seems 
 to be a local variety with such changes as are appropriate to 
 its environment. It exists in very large numbers in spite of 
 the attacks of Coyotes and other predaceous beasts. In size it 
 is about equal to the Cotton-tail. There are other less promi- 
 nent forms of the Hare family in the United States, mostly in 
 Texas and on the Pacific coast. 
 
 THE CRYING HARES OR PIKAS. 
 
 The Crying Hares or Pikas {Lagomys) are indige- 
 nous to Asia [and western North America]. They 
 differ from the common Hares by their considerably 
 
 AKEBIGAN PIKA.— This animal, perched on a flat rock in its native 
 Rocky Mountains as shown in the picture, keeps up a squeaking noise, 
 which as many of them are usually together, infallibly attracts the attention 
 of the passer by. It is a peculiar creature and the only representative of 
 the Crying Hares on this continent. (Lagomys princeps.) 
 
 shorter ears, only slightly elongated hind legs, a 
 short or a hidden and rudimentary tail, and in their 
 dentition, which exhibits five molars instead of six 
 
 in each row. 
 _, . . A single species of this sub-family is found 
 
 n #»*"''"* °'^ in America. It is known as the American 
 Rocky Mountain pjj^^ ^^ ^^^ Rocky Mountain Pika (Lagomys 
 
 "■ princeps). The scientific name is borrowed 
 
 from that given to the animal by the Indians of the western 
 mountain regions, who call it the "Little Chief " Hare. Miners 
 and frontiersmen call it the "Coney" or "Starved Rat," so 
 
380 
 
 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 
 
 that It will be seen that it does not lack for names. It is from 
 SIX to seven mches in length. Each hair of the upper parts of 
 this Pika is of a yellowish hue next to the skin, then a brownish 
 gray, and black at the tip, the resulting color being a dark 
 grizzly hue. The under portions of the body are of a yellowish 
 or dingy white, and the entire fur is dense and soft. The head, 
 which is two inches long, is ornamented with black whisker 
 hairs and the ears have a blackish tinge with a white margin. 
 The legs are short. A bunch of hairs, less than an inch long, 
 grows out from the rudimentary tail. 
 Range and Habits ^" *^ Rocky Mountain and Sierra Nevada 
 0/ American ranges from Arizona and New Mexico north 
 pjifds ™^° British Columbia and the Canadian 
 
 northwest, but seldom seen below the timber 
 line, these Rodents are found as high up on the mountains as 
 vegetation extends. They are gregarious in their habits and 
 are usually found in colonies. Their favorite retreats are 
 places where stones, dropping from precipitous heights, have 
 found lodgment. In such localities the attention of an ob- 
 server may be attracted by squeaking sounds, short, sharp and 
 persistent. Then may be seen these creatures, which are 
 neither Hares, nor Rats, nor Guinea-Pigs, but which have 
 strong resemblances to each of those animals. Slowly the 
 Pika emerges from between the rocks, its body seeming to 
 
 ALPINE CRYING HARES. These are Asiatic animals which inhabit the iiighest altitudes. They lay 
 
 up piles of hay for food and shelter and the animals in the picture seem to be so engaged. They are burrowing 
 Rodents, have shorter ears than the Hares proper, and are practically tailless. (Lagomys alpinns.) 
 
 touch the ground as its short legs carry it with jerky, uneven 
 gait.. Then it mounts a rock, squats on it and looks around, 
 keeping up its squeaking song, which is echoed by its com- 
 panions near by. The chorus may be kept up for a long time 
 unless the observer approaches too near, when the whole party 
 scampers with all possible speed to safe retreats among the 
 rocks and boulders. Sometimes the colony may be seen in 
 grassy spots looking for the food which these animals lay up, 
 in large supply, for the time of need, their rocky retreats be- 
 ing kept well stored with hay, roots and herbage of varied kinds. 
 The female prepares a comfortable, grassy nest among the 
 rocks for her litter of three or four young, which are born in 
 June. The Pika is not a harmful animal, for it lives in locali- 
 ties not susceptible of .cultivation, and it is not pursued to any 
 great extent by Man, though it doubtless finds formidable 
 enemies in- all the birds and beasts of prey which frequent its 
 mountain haunts. 
 Peculiarities of The Alpine Crying Hare {Lagomys 
 tfie Alpine Crying alpinus) is one of the better known 
 Hare. species and recalls to the mind of 
 
 the beholder a Guinea Pig, by reason of both its 
 shape and physical proportions. The rough, thick, 
 
 and short fur shows a reddish yellow ground color, 
 sprinkled with black on the upper surface, while the- 
 flanks and throat are of a plain russet color ; the 
 under parts and legs are of an ochre yellow hue. 
 Some individuals are of a deep black color. Adult 
 Crying Hares attain a length of about ten inches. 
 The Home of AH [Old World] Pikas are natives of 
 the Crying the high mountains of central Asia, 
 Hares. at an altitude of from three thousand 
 
 to twelve thousand feet above the sea. There they 
 live in the rocky, wild, mountain fastnesses upoa 
 the grassy spots abounding near mountain torrents,, 
 either singly or in couples, or sometimes in commu- 
 nities of considerable numbers. This species is found 
 throughout the whole of the immense mountain 
 range of the northern edge of central and farther 
 Asia, and also occurs in Kamchatka. 
 
 Small holes are excavated by themselves, or nat- 
 ural crevices in the earth or between rocks are 
 
 chosen as their abodes by 
 the Pikas. On bright days 
 the animals stay hidden 
 until sunset; on cloudy 
 days they are in full activ- 
 ity. For fear of enemies 
 they often expose but half 
 their bodies at the openings 
 of their holes and stretch 
 their heads to see whether 
 or not an enemy is in sight. 
 Inquisitiveness and fear are 
 about equally blended in 
 the composition of their 
 character. Radde charac- 
 terizes the Pikas as active, 
 peaceable and very diligent 
 Rodents, that gather great 
 supplies of hay, pile them 
 correctly according to or- 
 derly rules, and sometimes 
 cover them with broad 
 leaves to protect them 
 from the rain. The heaps- 
 of hay collected by them 
 may have a height of six 
 or seven inches and a diameter of from six to twelve 
 inches. Narrow pathways, worn by repeated travel 
 over them, lead to their burrows, oh both sides of 
 which the Pikas eat off the grass. During the 
 snowy season of winter they drive tunnels under the 
 snow to their haystacks; these tunnels are curved 
 and tortuous and each has an opening for purposes 
 of ventilation. 
 
 The cry of the Pika, which one may hear as late 
 as midnight, resembles the call of the Woodpecker, 
 and is repeated in rapid succession, but rarely over 
 three times. 
 
 Unfortunately for them, the little creatures have a 
 great many enemies. Though they are not pursued 
 by the sportsmen of eastern Siberia, they suffer 
 much from the voracity of Wolves, Corsacs and 
 various Eagles and Falcons, and in winter they at- 
 tract their most dangerous foe, the Snow Owl. 
 
Zhc XCootbless Hnimals. 
 
 EIGHTH ORDER: Edentata. 
 
 F THE mammals comprised 
 in this order, the day of the 
 greatest development is 
 past. In the earlier ages 
 there existed in Brazil 
 edentate animals of phys- 
 ical proportions equal to or 
 greater than those of the 
 Rhinoceros; at the present 
 time the largest members of 
 the order barely equal in 
 size a large Wolf. Among 
 the extinct species there 
 were transitional forms — 
 connecting links — between the now existing families; 
 at present these latter seem in many instances to be 
 separated by wide chasms. And as was the case 
 with their extinct kinsmen some of the species still 
 living are nearing their doorn, and their days are 
 
 numbered 
 
 The Edentata 
 
 a Variable 
 
 Group. 
 
 exhibited by 
 
 The Edentata show little of the har- 
 mony exhibited by other orders. 
 The striking peculiarity of dentition 
 all the animals comprised in this 
 group, constitutes the most important characteristic 
 whereby they can be distinguished from other mam- 
 mals. We find animals among the Edentata to 
 which their ordinal name is applicable in its most 
 extended sense, as they do not exhibit the merest 
 vestige of teeth, while the others which are really 
 possessed of teeth, and sometimes a great number 
 of them, at least lack the front incisors. The teeth; 
 which they exhibit and which from their position 
 are strictly called premolars or incisors, because 
 placed in the intermaxillary bohe correspond so per- 
 fectly with true molar teeth in shape and structure 
 that we cannot apply to them the term incisors in its 
 full meaning. The canine teeth, which are found in 
 extremely rare cases, also differ from' the molars only 
 by their considerable length; the molar teeth them- 
 selves are of a plain cylindrical or prismatic form and 
 are separated from each other by gaps. They consist 
 only of dentine and cement, being usually destitute 
 of enamel; they are generally produced but once, as 
 but few families shed their teeth. The number of 
 the teeth is subject to considerable variation, not 
 only in the different families but also in the differ- 
 ent species of one group; some have only twenty 
 teeth, others about a hundred. 
 
 The Claws In contradistinction to the teeth, the 
 of the Edentates claws show a peculiar development 
 
 Peculiar. 
 
 m 
 
 these animals. The toes are sel- 
 
 dom capable of unrestricted movement, but they 
 always bear claws, which engage and surmount the 
 entire ends of the digits, and for this reason mate- 
 rially differ from other claws. They are either of 
 considerable length, strongly curved and laterally 
 compressed, or else shorter, broad, and nearly spade- 
 
 shaped, in the former case being adapted for climb- 
 ing, in the latter for digging and throwing aside 
 earth. 
 External Cover- These two features exhaust the cata- 
 ings of Edentates logue of general characteristics; for 
 Much Varied. j^ the remainder of their anatomical 
 structure the edentate animals show the widest di- 
 versity. The variation of external covering of the 
 body ranges over the greatest latitude that the gen- 
 eral description of mammals allows. Some have a 
 thick, soft fur, others a diy, wiry hair; some are 
 covered with bristles, others with scales, and some 
 are enveloped in a large, hard coat of mail, such as 
 is nowhere else found among mammals. 
 
 The Home of The members of this family are now 
 the Eden- confined to the Oriental, Ethiopian 
 tatea. and South American zones. South 
 
 America showing the greatest number of species. 
 Asia harbors only Manididse, and Africa has the 
 Aard-varks in addition to these. South America 
 affords a larger variety, the Sloths, Ant-eaters and 
 Armadillos being natives of that continent. The 
 Edentata now extant, as well as the extinct spe- 
 cies, exhibit a great diversity in habits as well as in 
 structure. 
 
 ^be Slotb0. 
 
 FIRST FAMILY: Bradypodid^. 
 
 At the head of the order we place the family of 
 the Sloths {jBradj/J>odidcs), though we must confess 
 that they are but poorly developed, dull and slug- 
 gish creatures, which excite in us a feeling of pity or 
 contempt. 
 Anatomical Peoul- Their fore limbs are considerably 
 
 iarities of the longer than the hind ones, the feet 
 Sloths. are armed with huge, scythe-shaped 
 
 claws; the neck is proportionately long and supports 
 a short, Monkey-like head, with a small mouth, the 
 lips being more or less firm or slightly mobile; small 
 eyes, and ears entirely concealed from sight by the 
 fur; the tail is a barely visible rudimentary stump; 
 the hair is long and coarse, becoming in old age like 
 dry hay, and the direction in which it lies on the 
 skin is the reverse of that of other animals, the 
 " grain " running from the abdomen to the back. 
 Animals living in a state of nature sometimes appear 
 of a green color, owing to the presence of a parasitic 
 plant {chlorococcus) which grows on their hides. The 
 structure of the vertebral column is quite remarkable 
 and unparalleled among mammals. Instead of the 
 seven cervical vertebrae which usually form the neck 
 of mammals, some Sloths have but six, others have 
 nine and in exceptional cases even ten; and the 
 number of their rib-bearing vertebrae varies between 
 fourteen and twenty-four. The teeth consist of five 
 
 (381) 
 
382 
 
 THE TOOTHLESS ANIMALS. 
 
 cylindrical molars in each upper row, the first of an ashy gray, dashed with a pale reddish tint, and 
 
 The Two-Toed 
 Sloths De- 
 scribed. 
 
 ■development. 
 
 which sometimes has a canine shape; the lower jaw 
 usually has but four teeth or rather rudiments of 
 teeth. 
 
 I regard the Two-toed Sloths {Cko- 
 loepus) as standing among all the 
 Sloth family on the plane of highest 
 They have a rather large head, sur- 
 mounted by a flat forehead, and ending in a blunt 
 snout; the neck is relatively short, the body slender, 
 •without a visible tail; the limbs are long and thin, 
 ■the claws of the fore pair being armed with two and 
 those of the hind pair 
 with three laterally 
 compressed scythe- 
 shaped claws. Other 
 peculiar characteristics 
 are the plain, soft fur, 
 having no woolly inner 
 coat; the dentition, and 
 the small number of the 
 cervical vertebrae. 
 
 The Unau or Two- 
 toed Sloth ( Cliolcepus 
 didactylus) , a native of 
 Guiana and Surinam, 
 attains a length of 
 about twenty -eight 
 inches. The long hair 
 on the head points back- 
 ward, but on the breast 
 and abdomen its direc- 
 tion is toward the back, 
 forming a crest on the 
 spine; it is of a whitish, 
 olive-green gray tint in 
 the face, on the head 
 and the neck; the body 
 is olive-gray, the back 
 being darker than the 
 under parts; the breast, 
 forelegs and shoulders, 
 as well as the lower 
 part of the haunches, 
 are olive brown. 
 
 The second species 
 embraces the Three- 
 toed Sloths {Bradypus). 
 They are of a sturdy 
 physical conformation; 
 have a small head with 
 an obliquely truncated, 
 hard-lipped muzzle and 
 a small mouth, a very 
 long neck, a well de- 
 veloped, laterally-com- 
 pressed tail, and rather 
 short, stout limbs, the paws of which are furnished 
 both in front and behind with three flatly- com- 
 pressed, scythe-shaped claws. The hair shows a 
 parting on t!:e head, and is directed downward; on 
 the rest of the body its line of direction is upward; 
 the soles of the feet are almost entirely covered with 
 fur. 
 
 The Ai or Three-toed Sloth {Bradypus tridactylus) 
 is indigenous to Brazil and attains a total length of 
 nearly twenty-one inches, about one and one-half of 
 which are included in the tail. The fur consists of a 
 fine, short, thick inner coat, which best shows the 
 true markings of the creature, and a long, dry, hard, 
 somewhat smooth hay-like outer fur. The color is 
 
 TJNAU OB TWO-TOED SLOTH. This animal of British and Dutch Guiana 
 
 is a peculiar creature Vith its long slender limbs, its queer head, flattened at the fore- 
 head and its short neck, and above all its toes, two each on the fore and three each 
 on the hind feet, with their long strong claws. With these hooks it can hang to a 
 tree limb with perfect security. {Cholxpus didaciylus.) 
 
 the abdomen is of a silver gray hue. The claws are 
 yellowish or brownish yellow. 
 
 Habits The Sloths are confined to South 
 
 and Life of America. Those extensive forests 
 the Ai. in the damp, low country, where the 
 
 vegetation reaches its highest development, are the 
 abode of these remarkable beasts. The more de- 
 serted, sombre and shady a forest, the more impene- 
 trable the thicket, the better is the locality adapted 
 for the life of these helpless animals. They are as 
 truly arboreal animals as the Monkey or the Squir- 
 rel; but the latter for- 
 tunate climbers reign 
 in the tree-tops, while 
 the Sloths must la- 
 boriously and with 
 difiiculty crawl from 
 one branch to an- 
 other. A space that 
 is traversed in play 
 by the agile and mis- 
 chievous inhabitants 
 of the upper regions, 
 is a journey of great 
 magnitude for the 
 Sloth, and these lazy 
 creatures lead a mo- 
 notonous quiet life, 
 slowly creeping from 
 branch to branch. In 
 comparison with their 
 movements when on 
 the ground they cer- 
 tainly exhibit great 
 agility in climbing. 
 Their long forelegs 
 permit them to reach 
 considerable dis- 
 tances and the huge 
 claws enable them, 
 without fatigue, to 
 hang on to branches. 
 They climb quite dif- 
 ferently from all oth- 
 er arboreal animals, 
 however; for what is 
 an exception with 
 others is the rule with 
 them. With body 
 hanging down, they 
 reach up with their 
 long arms, hook their 
 claws firmly around a 
 small limb and com- 
 fortably drag them- 
 selves along from 
 branch to branch. They appear lazier than they 
 really are, however. Being of nocturnal habits they 
 may spend entire days without stirring; but when 
 dusk comes they rouse themselves, and during the 
 night traverse a greater or smaller space, accord- 
 ing to their requirements, slowly but not lazily. 
 They feed exclusively on buds, young shoots and 
 fruit and the plentiful dew which they lick off the 
 leaves supplies them with water, which otherwise 
 they would lack. An undeniable slowness of move- 
 ment is exhibited in their search for and appropria- 
 tion of food. They are frugal, easily satisfied, and 
 capable of enduring hunger and thirst for days, 
 some say for weeks, without harm resulting to them. 
 
AI, OE THREE-TOED SLOTH.— These animals are very appropriately named, for their movements are pamfuUy slow. They have 
 scythe shaped ™ on each foot, and move with considerable labor from branch to branch. The positions they assume are well shown in 
 ihe picture! and the female with the young one seems to have a specially difficult task in moving about. iBrady^us tndactylus.) 
 
 ('"!•?) 
 
384 
 
 THE TOOTHLESS ANIMALS. 
 
 They do not leave a tree as long as it affords them 
 nourishment; only when the supply of food which 
 it furnishes has been exhausted do they think of mi- 
 grating. Slowly they descend to the lower branches, 
 seek a point at which the branches of some neigh- 
 boring tree interlocks with that upon which they are 
 hanging, and then, clinging with their hooked claws, 
 pass over on this aerial bridge. 
 Movements and On the ground these miserable na- 
 
 Peculiarities tives of the trees are bewildered. 
 of Sloths. Their gait consists of such a painful 
 dragging along of the body as to invariably excite 
 the spectator's pity. In a like manner with the 
 slow Tortoise, the Sloth tries to propel its clumsy 
 bulk. With sprawling limbs, supporting itself on 
 its elbows, slowly describing with its legs segments 
 of a circle, it very gradually pushes itself onward; 
 the abdomen nearly touches the ground, and its 
 head and neck constantly and slowly move from one 
 side to the other, as if their function were to pre- 
 serve the balance of this extremely awkward ani- 
 mal. One would not readily believe this creature, 
 which reels along so miserably, capable of saving 
 itself if by any mischance it fell into the water. The 
 Sloth swims tolerably well, however, moving with 
 even greater speed than in climbing, holding its head 
 high above the surface, breasting the waves with ease 
 and readily regaining the shore. Bates and Wal- 
 lace saw a Sloth crossing a river at a place where it 
 was about nine hundred feet wide. This tends to 
 show that the appellation "Sloth," pertinent as it 
 may have been in its original sense of mere slowness 
 of action, really can justly refer only to the move- 
 ments of this animal when attempting to walk on 
 the ground; for on the trees its laziness, as before 
 stated, does not impress the observer as being so 
 great as one would be likely to believe, judging 
 by the exaggerated accounts of those who first 
 described the animal. The admirable security and 
 certainty with which it climbs is worthy of notice. 
 The Sloth is capable of hooking on to a bough by 
 one foot and remaining suspended from it, not only 
 letting the full weight olE the body be borne by the 
 one foot, but also lifting itself up by it. 
 
 It is exceedingly difificult to loosen the hold of 
 a Sloth from a branch. While sleeping and resting 
 the animal assumes a position similar to the one or- 
 dinarily taken. It puts its four legs close together, 
 curls itself into a nearly spherical ball-shape, and 
 lets its head sink forward over its breast, without let- 
 ting it rest there, however, or supporting it. In this 
 position it hangs on, always in the same place, during 
 the day, without tiring itself. 
 
 Insusceptible as the animal seems to be to hunger 
 and thirst, it is very sensitive to moisture and the re- 
 sultant sensation of cold. During the rainy season 
 it often hangs in the same place for days, droop- 
 ing and miserable, obviously greatly annoyed by the 
 downpouring water. 
 
 Very rarely, usually only in the evening or at the 
 dawn of day, or when the Sloth is alarmed, does one 
 hear its cry. The cry is not loud, and consists of a 
 plaintive, long-drawn, short and shrill sound, which 
 is rendered by some as the frequent repetition of the 
 sound of long "a" in English. Modern observers 
 have never heard the Sloth utter sounds resembling 
 diphthongs, or consisting, as former observers have 
 afifirmed, of ascending or descending tones of the 
 scale. The nearest approach to vocal utterance one 
 may hear from a Sloth during the day is a deep sigh 
 frequently repeated; on the ground it does not cry. 
 
 The Mother Only a single young Sloth appears 
 Sloth and at a birth. It comes into the world. 
 Young. completely covered with hair and 
 
 even its claws and toes are fairly well developed; 
 immediately after birth it fastens itself to the long 
 hair of the mother by its claws, clasping her neck 
 with its forelegs. The mother then carries it about 
 everywhere in this position. At first it would appear 
 as if she regarded her progeny with great tenderness; 
 but the maternal love apparently soon subsides, and 
 then the dull-witted creature barely takes the pains 
 to nourish her infant, cleaning it or attending to the 
 sundry other duties of a nurse. 
 
 The indisposition to action of the Sloths is also- 
 seen when they are ill-treated or wounded. It has- 
 been sufficiently demonstrated that the lowest ani- 
 mals can endure proportionately the greatest ill- 
 treatment, injuries or pain; the Sloths also seem to 
 prove this general rule. The remarkable tenacity of 
 life in these creatures cannot be denied. They bear 
 severe injuries with the indifference of a corpse, • 
 Frequently they do not even alter their position after 
 receiving a full charge of shot into the body. Schom- 
 burgk says that they are the creatures which are 
 also able to longest withstand the terrible Woorari 
 poison, with which the Indians charge the barbs of 
 the darts from their blow-guns, used in, hunting. 
 
 The Sloths Not One cannot say that these helpless 
 Much Persecuted animals have many enemies. Their' 
 by Enemies. arboreal life puts them out of the 
 reach of the worst beasts of prey, which are always 
 to be found among the mammalia. Then their fur is 
 so similar in coloring to the branches from which 
 they are suspended, immovable like an excrescence 
 on a limb or the fruit on a tree, that the experienced 
 falcon eye of an Indian is needed to discover a sleep- 
 ing Sloth. Besides, the animals are not quite so de- 
 fenseless as would seem at a first glance. They are 
 difficult to overcome on the tree and if they are 
 taken by surprise and attacked on the ground^ they 
 throw themselves on their backs with sufficient read- 
 iness and seize their assailant with their claws; the 
 strength of their limbs is certainly considerable. " It 
 is difftcult for even a strong man to free himself 
 from the clasp of the animal or to tear it from, the 
 bough to which it clings; if the would-be captor does 
 not unhook one foot after another and hold it firmly 
 to prevent the animal from regaining its hold, it is 
 impossible to succeed in the latter undertaking. 
 The Sloth in Cap- Up to a comparatively recent date 
 tiuity, an Inter- little was known about the life of 
 
 esting Animal. Sloths in confinement. Buffon re- 
 lates that the Marquis of Montmirail bought a Sloth 
 in Amsterdam, which had been kept on tender' foli- 
 age in summer and ship's biscuit in winter. Trav- 
 elers tell us that one can hardly imagine a more 
 inane and insipid creature than a captive Sloth. 
 My joy at finding a living Sloth in Amsterdam will 
 be easily understood, as it gave me the opportunity 
 of personally observing the habits of the animal. 
 Later on I succeeded in obtaining several Sloths- 
 and in completing my observations. I am not bold 
 enough to affirm that" my deductions apply also to 
 the life of the beast in the free state ; but I mean to 
 say, that Sloths are not altogether contemptible and 
 tiresome, but interesting and in many respects wor- 
 thy members of a collection of animals. 
 
 " Kees" (that was the name of the Amsterdam 
 Sloth) had been an inmate of his cage for nine years- 
 and certainly exhibited as much contentment in cap' 
 tivity as any other animal. Whoever has kept mani' 
 
6SDAT ANT-EATEE OE AlfT-BEAE. One of the strangest appearing of mammals is the Ant-Bear, of which a characteristic picture is here 
 
 given, depicting the long slender head, the coarse long fur which increases in length toward the flanks and tail, and the heavy, short limbs. It lives on Ants 
 and tlieir larvae and is a harmless and helpless animal, its long clumsy cJaws not permitting escape from its enemies. (.Myrmecophagajubata.) 
 
THE TOOTHLESS ANIMALS. 
 
 mals in captivity knows that he has reason to be well 
 satisfied if his pets survive nine years on the aver- 
 age, and he who has intimate knowledge of the 
 edentates will admit that so long a time is truly a 
 great age for a member of this order. The cage in 
 which Kees was confined had a scaffolding of wood 
 in the centre, on which the animal could climb; it 
 had a thick litter of hay on the floor, strong panes 
 of glass formed its sides and it was open above. I 
 have kept my own pets in a similarly constructed 
 cage. He was fed on boiled rice and carrots usually, 
 but did not refuse any vegetable food offered him. 
 Habits of If one pays the animal a visit in the 
 Captive daytime, the only thing to be seen in 
 
 Sloths. this glass box is a ball, strikingly re- 
 
 sembling a heap of reed-grass. This ball presents no 
 particular significance by its shape, as at such times 
 almost nothing of the limbs of the Sloth can be dis- 
 cerned. A closer inspection shows that the limbs 
 have assumed the attitude usual when the animal is 
 at rest or sleeping. 
 
 However, the furry ball can be brought to life, if 
 one knows how to proceed; for the Sloth is by no 
 means as dull-witted as it is popularly supposed to 
 be, being on the contrary a nice, honest fellow, only 
 requiring to be handled in the right way. If the 
 keeper simply comes to the cage and calls it, the 
 ball gradually begins to show signs of animation. 
 Deliberately, or as one might say, slowly and some- 
 what clumsily, it evolves itself and little by little it 
 develops into an animal, which may not be good- 
 looking, but still is not so. hideous as it has been 
 depicted. Slowly and steadily the animal lifts one 
 of its long forelegs, and hooks the sharp claws to 
 one of the cross bars of the scaffolding. If one 
 holds some tidbit, especially a lump of sugar, to the 
 upper bars, it climbs up with moderate rapidity to 
 obtain this choice morsel, sniffs along the wall and 
 opens its mouth as wide as possible, pleading, as it 
 were, to have the sugar thrown in. Then with its 
 eyes closed it eats it, smacking its lips, clearly show- 
 ing how much it relishes the sweet morsel. 
 
 Uses of the The economic value of Sloths to Man 
 Sloth to is very small. In some regions In- 
 ^""- dians and Negroes eat the flesh, the 
 
 unpleasant odor and taste of which disgust Caucas- 
 ians, and in some places coverings and pouches are 
 manufactured out of the tough, strong and durable 
 hide. On the other hand the animals inflict but very 
 little damage, as they retire in the same ratio as 
 man advances. They also are in the list of those 
 animals which are approaching utter extinction. 
 They can maintain their hold on life in only the 
 remotest forest, and no longer than the magnificent 
 trees which give them shelter and food are spared 
 by the axe of the white settlers will their existence 
 be possible. 
 
 ^be Hnt*cater0. 
 
 SECOND FAniLY: MvRMECOPHAGiDiE. 
 
 The Ant-eaters, which are comprised in the sec- 
 ond family, bear but a slight external resemblance 
 to the Sloths. The body is elongated; the head, and 
 especially the snout, are very long and slender; the 
 tail attains nearly half the length of the body. The 
 fur is thick, rough and peculiar, especially on the 
 upper surface. The hinder limbs are slender and 
 weaker than the fore limbs. The bony structure of 
 the feet shows five toes, not all of which are armed 
 
 with claws, however. The cavity of the mouth is 
 very small, while the tongue is long, thin and 
 rounded, in appearance resembling a worm. The 
 ears and eyes are very small. The structure of the 
 skull is still more striking. In consequence of the 
 elongation of the facial region the snout is long and 
 tubular; the intermaxillary bone is small and curved 
 and ddes not properly articulate with the maxillary, 
 but is joined thereto by cartilage only. One looks 
 in vain for teeth, but no vestige of any is found. 
 
 The Great Ant- The largest species of the family is 
 eater or Ant- the Great Ant-eater, or Ant-bear, 
 Bear. called Yurumi in Paraguay and Tam- 
 
 anoa in Surinam {Myrmecophagajubata). The fur of 
 this very remarkable animal consists of thick, stiff 
 bristles, prickly to the touch. Short on the head, 
 they become longer on the neck and along the back- 
 bone, where they form a mane and may be nine 
 and one-half inches long. The hair of the tail is 
 from ten and one-half to sixteen inches, the fur of 
 the rest of the body and legs being only from three 
 to four and one-half inches long. The coloring of 
 the fur is somewhat variable. The prevailing color 
 of the head is ashy gray mixed with black. Nearly 
 the same hue obtains on the nape of the neck, back, 
 part of the sides, the forelegs and the tail. The 
 throat, neck, breast, abdomen, hind feet and under 
 part of tail are blackish brown. A black band, 
 tapering toward the hind quarters, runs from the 
 head and breast over the back obliquely to the rump 
 and is bounded on each side by a narrow stripe of 
 pale gray, running parallel with it. A black band 
 encircles the end of the fore arnj, and the toes of the 
 fore-feet and naked parts of the body are also black. 
 The length of an adult Yurumi is fifty-two inches, 
 the tail without hair measuring twenty-seven inches 
 and with the hair at least thirty-eight inches, and 
 often more than this. That means that the animal 
 attains a total length of ninety-two inches; some- 
 times one finds old males, however, which are larger. 
 
 The Yurumi is not very common in Paraguay, and 
 inhabits the wholly or partially deserted fields in the 
 north of the country. It has neither a fixed retreat 
 nor other permanent domicile, but roves about the 
 plains in the day and sleeps where night finds it, 
 for this purpose generally selecting a spot where 
 the grass grows very high or where there is a growth 
 of bushes. It is usually solitary in its wanderings, 
 unless it be a female with her young one. Its gait 
 is a slow walk, sometimes, when it is pursued, chang- 
 ing into a clumsy gallop, which, at best, is so slow 
 that a human being, walking, can overtake it. Its 
 sustenance is confined to a diet of Ants, Termites, 
 and the larvae of both. In order to obtain access to 
 them it scratches and tears with the long nails of 
 its fore-feet at the heaps of earth which form their 
 domicile, protrudes its long tongue under the insects 
 which pour out from all sides and then draws it into 
 its mouth when it is covered with them. It repeats 
 the performance until it is satisfied or until the Ants 
 or Termites are all exterminated. 
 
 Propagation To the female Sloth a single young 
 
 of Ant- one is born in spring and she traris- 
 
 eaters. ports it on her back for a time. It 
 
 is a quiet, peaceable animal, which annoys neither 
 
 Man nor other mammals in any way, unless it be 
 
 much provoked. 
 
 Uses to Which The flesh and skin of the Yurumi 
 Ant-eaters are utilized only by the uncivilized 
 are Put. Indians; still, there are country peo- 
 ple in Paraguay who believe the skin to be an unfail- 
 
THE ANT-EATERS— TREE CLIMBING 
 
 387 
 
 ing remedy for lumbago and sciatica and for this 
 purpose place it under their sheets. The Great 
 Ant-eater is rarely hunted; but if one chances to 
 meet it in the field, it is easy to kill it by a few blows 
 on the head. These animals ought to be protected 
 rather than persecuted, however; instead of being 
 
 THE TAUANSUA, This repulsive looking creature, which is also known as the Caguare, is an inhab- 
 itant of South American forests and is a species of the Tree-climbing Ant-eaters. The powerful claws, elongated 
 snout and long, prehensile tail are notable features of the animal here depicted. {Tamandua teiradaciyla.) 
 
 harmful, they are exceedingly useful in diminishing 
 the numbers of the Termites and Ants, which have 
 multiplied to such an extent in some portions of 
 Paraguay that entire plantations are overrun and 
 devastated by them. The Jaguar and the Cougar 
 probably are the only enemies of the Yurumi, ex- 
 cept Man. The fabulous stories 
 of the natives of Paraguay con- 
 cerning combats between it and -v,.^ 
 the Jaguar, were long ago re- 
 futed by Azara." 
 
 Home and Habits y^e learn from 
 of the Ant- other naturalists 
 eaten that the Ant-eat- 
 
 er inhabits nearly the entire east 
 of South America as well as Par- 
 aguay and therefore ranges from 
 the La Plata to the Caribbean 
 Sea. It is said to walk holding 
 its head very low, seeking food 
 by scenting the ground. It car- 
 ries its tail stretched out straight 
 behind and the mane on the 
 back stands erect, so that it pro- 
 duces the impression of being 
 very much larger than it is. 
 Modern observers have found 
 not only Ants and Termites in 
 its stomach but also considera- 
 ble quantities of earth and par- 
 ticles of wood, which the animal 
 swallows with the insects. There 
 is no doubt that the Yurumi, besides its principal 
 food, is fond of devouring chrysallids, millipeds and 
 worms, when these latter are not too large. 
 
 Adaptability of Captive Ant-Bears have repeatedly 
 
 Ant-Beata to been taken to Europe and have been. 
 
 Captivity. by ji^t of adequate care, kept living 
 
 for years. The captive specimens of the London 
 
 Zoological Garden are fed raw, finely shredded meat 
 and yolk of egg; the one that Noll observed in 
 Hamburg was also very fond of a mush made of 
 Indian meal and hot milk and sweetened, with a 
 spoonful of molasses, and it was a sight to see the 
 strange-looking animal standing before its dish, eat- 
 ing with its queer tongue. 
 The blackish, cylindrical 
 tongue is ejected out of 
 the mouth to a length of 
 about twenty inches, with 
 almost incredible rapidity, 
 its alternations reaching a 
 speed of about one hun- 
 dred and sixty times a min- 
 ute; it is revolved in the 
 mush and withdrawn with 
 small particles of food ad- 
 hering to it. 
 
 The Ant-eater is not only 
 a queer-looking creature in 
 human eyes; it excites sur- 
 prise and even terror in 
 most animals also, as was 
 proven in one case at least, 
 when in one of the German 
 zoological collections the 
 animal was first quartered 
 in the Monkey house. A 
 panic of fright prevailed 
 among the inmates of the 
 house; the Monkeys cre- 
 ated such a noise that their cages had to be cov- 
 ered and even a Chimpanzee hid itself in the straw. 
 
 THE TREE-CLIMBING ANT-EATERS. 
 
 Among the other Ant-eaters which are of arbo- 
 real habits, the Tamandua or Caguare {Tamandua 
 
 LITTLE ANT-EATEK. This queer little animal, about the size of a squirrel, is about as well 
 
 equipped for holding on to a tree as a mammal can well be. Besides his two-toed fore-feet and five-toed 
 hind paws, both of which are curved so as to make the hold secure, the animal has a prehensile tail by 
 which he can take hold, as shown in the picture. (Cycloturus didactylus.) 
 
 tetradactyla) most resembles the species already de- 
 scribed; nevertheless it is classified as a distinct 
 species, as it has four toes on its fore-feet and five 
 on its hinder ones, and possesses a prehensile tail. 
 It inhabits the same country as the species just 
 described, but extends over a great area of territory, 
 ranging westward to Peru, Its length is about three 
 
:388 
 
 THE TOOTHLESS ANIMALS. 
 
 feet, the body measuring about twenty-four inches; 
 the height from' the ground to the top of the shoul- 
 der is said to average from twelve to fourteen 
 inches. 
 
 Habits and Haunts ^o far we have been able to learn 
 of the Taman- very little concerning the life of this 
 <'""• remarkable creature. In Paraguay 
 
 :and Brazil the Tamandua lives everywhere in the 
 lonely forest districts, affecting the edges of woods 
 and bushes, sometimes being found near human 
 dwellings. It not only lives on the ground, but 
 climbs trees with moderate agility, though its speed 
 does not exceed that of the Sloths; its tail also 
 comes into requisition to render secure its position 
 in sitting. Its food consists mainly of Ants, and 
 .especially such as live on trees. 
 Observations Re- The Tamandua has also been taken 
 garding Captive to foreign lands in recent years, es- 
 Tamanduas. pecially to London. Bartlett kept 
 the first specimen in his own room in order that he 
 might be able more accurately to observe its move- 
 ments. With the help of its powerful, hook-like 
 claws and prehensile tail it quickly climbed upon the 
 different articles of furniture, and finally, becoming 
 more familiar, it jumped thence to Bartlett's shoul- 
 der, and in search for food inserted its pointed snout 
 and long, vermiform tongue into all the folds of his 
 clothing, and explored his ears, nose and eyes in a 
 not exactly pleasant manner. As it became more 
 tame, whenever a visitor approached, the Ant-eater 
 .quickly came to the front bars of its cage and 
 ■slipped its investigating tongue over the hand held 
 out to it; one had to be careful, however, not to let 
 it grasp his fingers with its claws. 
 
 The Peculiar The Tamandua gives forth from 
 
 Odor of the the scent-glands with which it is 
 
 Tamandua. equipped, a remarkably strong, 
 
 musk-like odor, especially when it is irritated or 
 
 excited by the approach of an enemy. 
 
 [According to some late authorities there are two 
 species of the Tamanduas: one called the Collared 
 Tamandua {Tamandua bivittata) and the other the 
 Yellow Tamandua (Tamandua lo?igicauda) .'\ 
 
 LITTLE OR TWO-TOED ANT-EATER. 
 
 The Little or Two- toed Ant-eater [Cycloturus didac- 
 tylus) is a little animal of about the size of a Squir- 
 rel, being some sixteen inches long, seven inches of 
 which are included in the prehensile tail. There 
 are four toes on the fore-feet, two of which bear 
 stout claws; the hind feet have five toes. The fur 
 is of silky softness and its hue is foxy red above 
 and gray below, some of its hairs are grayish brown 
 at the base, others black, and tipped with yellow 
 brown. 
 
 Though the Little Ant-eater is of rather clumsy 
 build, it still may be called a prepossessing creature, 
 especially distinguished by the beauty of its fur. 
 Its distribution is restricted. So far it has been 
 seen only in northern Brazil, Guiana and Peru, em- 
 bracing countries between the loth parallel of south 
 and the 6th parallel of north latitude. In moun- 
 tainous districts it sometimes ascends as high as 
 1, 800 feet above the sea. It is of rare occurrence 
 nearly everywhere. It inhabits, through choice only, 
 the densest woods. Being entirely nocturnal in 
 its habits, it sleeps through the day in trees. Its 
 movements are clumsy, slow and measured; but it 
 climbs fairly well, though very cautiously and al- 
 ways with the help of, its tail. Ants, Termites, Bees, 
 Wasps and their grubs constitute its food. 
 
 Z\iz armabillO0. 
 
 THIRD FAMILY: Dasypodid^. 
 
 The Armadillos {Dasypodidce) are, like the Sloths, 
 the survivors of a once larger family. In compari- 
 son to some of their extinct relations they can at 
 best be considered only dwarfs. 
 
 The Glyptodon attained the gigantic proportions 
 of a Rhinoceros; the relatives of some other spe- 
 cies were at least as large as aTn Ox, while the Arma- 
 dillos of the present time attain an extreme length 
 of sixty inches, or forty inches not including the tail. 
 Armadillos are clumsy creatures with elongated 
 head and muzzle, large, pig-like ears, a stout tail and 
 short legs and strong feet, armed with very stout 
 fossorial (digging) claws. They owe their name to 
 the peculiar nature of their external covering, re- 
 sembling a coat of mail; this coat is distinguished 
 by rectilinear belts or bands along the middle of 
 the back, and the scales differ from those of other 
 mammals by the arrangement of the scutae or shields. 
 The median zones, which serve to distinguish the 
 species, though they are not always of the same 
 number in the same species, consist of quadrangu- 
 lar, oblong scales or scutes, while the anterior and 
 posterior portions of its armor are formed of trans- 
 verse rows of four and six-cornered scales, inter- 
 spersed with others of small, irregular form. The 
 shield on the head is for the most part also com- 
 posed of five or six-cornered scutes. The animals 
 are protected with a buckler on the upper portions 
 of the body alone, however; the under surface be- 
 ing covered with a more or less coarse, bristly hair; 
 similar bristles also project between the shields. 
 Home and Habits AH Armadillos are natives of the 
 of Armadil- southern American belt extending 
 '°^- as far north as Mexico. They live 
 
 in sparsely grown and sandy plains, in fields, and 
 are found only on the edges of woods, never enter- 
 ing the latter. Only in the breeding season do a 
 few of the same species consort; during the rest of 
 the year every Armadillo leads a solitary life, exhib- 
 iting no regard for any other living thing except 
 those that serve it as food. 
 
 At d-usk the mail-clad creatures appear in front of 
 their deep, subterranean abodes and move about for 
 some time, proceedihg at a slow pace from one spot 
 to another. The level ground is their domain and 
 there they are at home as are but few other animals. 
 Slow and lazy as they appear when walking or mov- 
 ing, they are quick and nimble when they have to 
 burrow their way into the ground. When startled, 
 frightened or pursued, they have no better recourse 
 than to entrust themselves to the earth, in the truest 
 sense of that expression. And they are such ex- 
 perts at digging, that they sink very rapidly into 
 the ground before the gaze of the spectator. Their 
 extraordinary defenselessness would leave them 
 helpless in the face of enemies, if they were not 
 adepts at this method of escape. One kind of Ar- 
 madillo is able to roll itself into a ball, like the 
 Hedgehog, but does so only in the last extremity 
 when its retreat by burrowing is cut off, and recom- 
 mences its burrowing and hiding in the earth at the 
 first opportunity. In the water these animals, ap- 
 parently so unwieldy, also know how to take care of 
 themselves. 
 
 The Armadillos are inoffensive, peaceable crea- 
 tures, with dull organs of sense and devoid of any 
 prominent intellectual faculty. Their method of 
 
THE ARMADILLOS— ARMADILLOS PROPER. 
 
 389 
 
 vocal expression consists in grunting sounds, neither 
 harmonious nor emphatic in the conveyance of any 
 particular meaning. 
 
 The Armadillos also, like others of this order, 
 are nearing their complete extinction. Their rate 
 of propagation is slight. It is true that some spe- 
 cies have as many as nine young at a birth ; but the 
 (rrowth of the animals is so slow, and they are so 
 ittle able to withstand the many enemies which 
 ihey have, that their increase in number is a most 
 unlikely contingency. 
 
 THE ARMADILLOS PROPER. 
 
 The Armadillos proper {Dasypus) are all more 
 or less of a similar anatomical conformation. The 
 body is supported by short legs, the conical tail is 
 of moderate length, mail-clad and stiff, and the car- 
 apace is bony and intimately attached to the dermal 
 processes of the body. There are six or more mo- 
 Tbile bands along the dorsal median region. All 
 four of the feet are five-toed; the claws of the fore 
 ieet are laterally compressed and the outer claws 
 are slightly curved outward. 
 
 yellow, through the polishing and attrition of sur- 
 face received by friction against the walls of the 
 burrows. The color of the hair-covered skin of the 
 under surface is similar to that of the outside of 
 the scales on the back. The hair is light, the bare 
 skin brown. The length of the animal is twenty 
 inches, the tail measures nine and one-half inches, 
 and its height is about the same. 
 
 The The Six-banded Armadillo {Dasy- 
 
 Six-banded pus sexcinctus) resembles its relative 
 Armadillo. j^gt described; it is from twenty-two 
 to twenty-four inches long, inclusive of the tail, 
 which measures eight inches, and it is furnished 
 with a shield behind and between the ears, consist- 
 ing of eight pieces; the anterior and posterior por- 
 tions of the carapace are separated by six broad 
 transverse zones or bands and is of a brownish yel- 
 low hue, the armor part being darker, the skin paler. 
 Armadillos of Ml- Armadillos do not live in any one 
 gratory and Noo- particular locality, but frequently 
 turnal Habits, change their place of abode. Their 
 retreat usually consists of a tunnel-like hole, from 
 three to six feet long and is excavated by them- 
 
 THE SIX-BANDED ABUADILLO. The animal with the natural coat of mail, of which this is a picture, is especially endowed for a bur- 
 rowing, insect-hunting life. Its long strong claws enable it to dig with great agility, not only for purposes of retreat, but also to secure the Ants, 
 Termites, etc., which form its food. (Dasyfus sexcinctus.) 
 
 All Armadillos bear the generic name of Tatu 
 in the South American Guaran Indian language, a 
 name which also was adopted in the European lan- 
 guages. The name Armadillo is of Spanish origin 
 and literally signifies "the mail-clad," or "the ar- 
 mor-clad." This appellation is given to the Dasy- 
 pus sexcinctus (the Six-banded Armadillo) in pref- 
 erence, the others of the tribe usually going by their 
 Guaran or other native names. 
 The Tatupoyu or One of the best-known Armadillos, 
 
 Yellow-banded the Tatupoyu of the Guarani, which 
 Armadillo. means the Tatu with the Yellow 
 Hand {Dasypus villosus), a native of the Pampas 
 of Buenos Ayres, has the ugliest and clumsiest ap- 
 pearance of any of its relatives. The nape of the 
 neck is covered with a row of nine oblong, quadran- 
 gular scutes or shields, the fore part of the back 
 has seven lateral and five median rows of irregular, 
 hexagonal plates. This shoulder armor is adjoined 
 to the rear by six separate, movable bands or girdles 
 of oblong, four-cornered scutes and then comes the 
 posterior armor, consisting of ten rows of oblong, 
 . four-cornered plates. The color of the scales is a 
 brownish yellow, but sometimes they become light 
 
 selves. At the entrance the hole is circular and has 
 a diameter of from eight to twenty-four inches, ac- 
 cording to the size of the animal; towards the lower 
 end the tunnel widens and finally assumes the shape 
 of a chamber so that the animal can comfortably 
 turn around in it. In the wilderness they move 
 about by daylight, when the sky is cloudy and the 
 glaring sunlight does not annoy and daze them; in 
 populated localities they do not leave their holes 
 before the fall of dusk and then rove about all night. 
 It appears to be a matter of indifference to them, 
 whether they come back to their holes or not; for if 
 they miss their way, they forthwith dig a new bur- 
 row. They have a two-fold purpose in doing so. 
 Azara observed, and other naturalists confirmed his 
 observations, that the Armadillos excavate their 
 burrows chiefly under the hills of Ants or Termites, 
 as this location puts them in a position favorable' 
 for gathering their principal food with the greatest 
 convenience by day as well as by night. Besides 
 Ants and Termites their food consists chiefly of bugs 
 and their grubs, Caterpillars, Locusts and Earth- 
 worms. It is also established beyond doubt, that 
 the Armadillos feed on plants, for these latter have 
 
390 
 
 THE TOOTHLESS ANIMALS. 
 
 been found in the stomach of specimens of the ani- 
 mals which have been killed and dissected. 
 Movements and It is to be expected that their rov- 
 Propagation of ings are confined within narrow 
 Armadillos. limits. The usual gait of all Arma- 
 dillos is a slow walk and the greatest effort at 
 speed of which they are capable is a slightly accel- 
 erated shuffling, which, however, is sufficiently rapid 
 to enable them to distance a human being. Jump- 
 ing or turning around quickly are feats they can not 
 accomplish. The first is precluded by their stout- 
 ness, the latter by the close fit of the armor and 
 rigidity consequent thereon. So, when they wish to 
 accelerate their course to the utmost, they can only 
 proceed in a right line, sometimes slightly trending 
 to .an arc of a circle in direction and they would be 
 delivered into the hands of their enemies utterly 
 defenseless, if they had no other tricks at their comT 
 mand. What they lack in agility, they compensate 
 in great muscular power. This latter is particularly 
 shown in the celerity with which they cut their way 
 
 BOLITA OR THBEE-BANDED ABUASILLO. One of the queerest of a peculiar family. The pic- 
 ture presents a view of a group of these oddities traversing the cactus-grown valleys of their native South America. 
 The three bands which give the animal its name are shown, and the manner in which it rolls itself into a ball when 
 it fears an enemy is also shown. ( Tolypeutes iricinctus,) 
 
 into the earth, and that in places which a hoe 
 wielded by a strong man can pierce with difficulty, 
 as for instance the foot of Termites' hills. An adult 
 Tatu, which scents the approach of an enemy, needs 
 only three minutes to drive a tunnel, the length of 
 which considerably exceeds that of its body. As 
 soon as Tatus have dived deep enough into the earth 
 to conceal the entire body, the strongest man is in- 
 capable of pulling them out, by the tail. As their 
 holes are only just sufficiently large to admit of their 
 squeezing in, they need but to arch the back a little, 
 and the edges of the scales on the belts above and 
 the sharp claws beneath offer so effective a resist- 
 ance that nobody can overcome it. 
 
 The female gives birth to from four to six young 
 in winter or spring and hides them carefully in her 
 burrow for some time. Probably they are not 
 suckled long, for they are soon seen running about 
 in the fields. As soon as they are somewhat grown, 
 each goes its own way, and the mother cares no 
 more for her offspring. 
 
 Method of The Tatu is usually hunted on moon- 
 Hunting the lit nights. The sportsman arms him- 
 Armadillo. self with a stout club of hard wood, 
 pointed or conical at the end and hunts the Tatu by- 
 trailing with Dogs. If the Tatu perceives the Dogs 
 in time, it flees forthwith into its hole or digs an- 
 other as quickly as possible, rather than take refuge 
 in a strange one. If the Dogs overtake it, however, 
 before it gains its asylum, it is lost. As they can 
 not penetrate the carapace of the animal with their 
 teeth, they seize it and prevent its escape by holding 
 it with mouth and paws, until the sportsman arrives 
 and kills it with a blow on the head. Experienced 
 Dogs will overturn the running Tatu with their noses, 
 and attack it from beneath, and as soon as they 
 succeed in doing so, they literally tear it to pieces, 
 the armor crackling between their teeth after the 
 manner of crushed egg-shells. A Tatu in its hole is 
 always secure from Dogs, for their efforts to dis- 
 lodge it by digging are of no avail. When it is 
 seized by the Dogs, it never defends itself in any 
 
 way, though it undoubted- 
 ly could inflict severe in- 
 juries with its claws. 
 
 All Armadillos are held 
 in detestation by the South 
 Americans, because they 
 are the cause of many ac- 
 cidents. The bold riders 
 of the plains, who spend 
 the greater part of their 
 lives on horseback, are oc- 
 casionally brought to grief 
 by plunging into the sub- 
 terranean workings of the 
 Armadillos. A Horse hur- 
 rying on at a gallop, sud- 
 denly stepping into a hole, 
 is likely to injure both it- 
 self and its rider. There- 
 fore the owners of farms 
 and plantations persecute 
 the poor armor-bearers in 
 the most ruthless and cruel 
 manner. Besides having 
 Man for their arch enemy, 
 they are hunted down by 
 the larger Felidae, the Bra- 
 zilian Wolf and the Jackal 
 Fox. 
 Tatus are rarely domesticated and 
 reared in Paraguay. They are much 
 too tiresome as companions, and 
 
 Armadillos Un- 
 fit for Domes- 
 tication. 
 
 also annoy their keeper too much by their digging 
 propensities to become favorites as domestic pets, 
 The Armadillos, which are frequently brought to 
 Europe and in some zoological gardens are quar- 
 tered together with the Monkeys, are fed on worms, 
 insects, grubs, and raw and cooked meat, the latter 
 being fed to them in small pieces, as they can bite 
 nothing from large morsels. They take the food 
 with their lips or their tongue, the latter organ being 
 capable of much extension. If the care bestowed 
 on them is in any way adequate, they preserve their 
 health for years, serve the Monkeys as beasts of 
 burden or playmates, either willingly or involunta- 
 rily, endure everything, become used to taking walks 
 by day and may even bear young. Young Armadil- 
 los, born in the London zoological garden, were 
 blind at birth and their soft skin showed all the fur- 
 rows and divisions of the adult animal. 
 
THE ARMADILLOS— THREE-BANDED. 
 
 391 
 
 Economic Value The usefulness of the Armadillos is 
 ofArma- by no means inconsiderable. The 
 dillos. Indians are exceedingly fond of 
 
 the flesh of all the species, Europeans eating only 
 that of two kinds. Kappler says that their flesh 
 loses its unpleasant odor of musk if it is soaked over 
 night in a solution of salt and lemon juice. Reng- 
 ger says that the flesh of an Armadillo, fried and 
 seasoned with Spanish pepper and lemon juice, is 
 one of the most palatable of dishes. The Indians 
 of Paraguay manufacture small baskets out of the 
 shell; the Botocudos make speaking-tubes from the 
 skin of the tail which they strip off in one piece; 
 formerly bodies of guitars were made out of the 
 shields. 
 
 THE THREE-BANDED ARMADILLO. 
 
 The still less known Three -banded Armadillos, 
 called Apar or Mataco by the natives and Bolita 
 by the Spaniards (Tolypeutes tricinctus), is the repre- 
 sentative of another species, the first appellation of 
 which was said to refer to a shell which had been 
 
 says, in the open country, but Goering could not 
 learn whether or not it excavated burrows. The 
 natives occasionally capture it when out hunting 
 other Armadillos, the flesh of which, as has been 
 said, constitutes a favorite dish with the Gauchos. 
 But as the Mataco is a pretty creature, it is usually 
 the recipient of mercy and is kept as a pet. 
 The Bolita a Fa- The children play with it, roll it 
 uorite Pet for back and forth or let it run along a 
 Children. board and rejoice in the clattering 
 which the contact of its feet with the plank pro- 
 duces. Goering had many visitors who begged to 
 be shown the animal. Though it had not been long 
 in confinement, it showed great docility, and from 
 the first moment it would without any hesitancy 
 take food proffered in one's hand. It would eat all 
 kinds of fruit and leaves, especially peaches, gourds 
 and lettuce, never refusing food when it was offered 
 it. On account of the smallness of the aperture 
 of its mouth, the food had to be cut into small 
 pieces, which it took very daintily. It slept by day 
 as well as by night. When sleeping, it would stretch 
 
 
 THE GIANT TATU. This large member of the Armadillo family has other peculiarities besides its great size. It is thoroughly protected 
 
 by its armor, and other distinguishing features shown in the picture are its long armored tail and its especially long and strong claws. Altogether it 
 is admirably endowed for a digging and insect-hunting life. {Priodon gigas.) 
 
 artificially put together. Azara, however, early gave 
 so clear a description that the existence of the ani- 
 mal could no longer be doubted. He says that the 
 Mataco does not exist in Paraguay, first being found 
 south of the 36th parallel of south latitude. " Some 
 call it Bolita, because it is the only Tatu, which, 
 when it is frightened, or apprehends capture, con- 
 ceals its head, its tail and its four legs, forming a 
 ball out of its body, which one can roll in all direc- 
 tions without its relaxing itself. One can open this 
 ball only by the exercise of great strength." 
 
 Its length , from the tip of the snout to the ex- 
 tremity of the tail is eighteen inches; the tail meas- 
 ures not quite three inches and is round or conical 
 ■at the tip and compressed horizontally at the base; 
 neither are the scales like those of the others of the 
 ;Species, having somewhat the aspect of stout grains 
 and being very prominent. 
 
 Habitat of the Anton Goering obtained a living Bo- 
 
 'Bolita or Hta from San Luis in western Argen- 
 
 Mataeo. tinja^ which is its true native country 
 
 or at least the country where it occurs most fre- 
 
 ■quently. There the animal lives, exactly as Azara 
 
 out its fore-legs, draw in the hinder ones, lie down 
 on them- and on its abdomen, and hide its head be- 
 tween its fore-legs. The back always looked much 
 curved: no matter what attitude it assumed, the ani- 
 mal could not really straighten itself. Though it ate. 
 and ran about quietly in the presence of Several 
 persons, it drew itself together whenever it was 
 touched, and when pressed, it rolled up into an 
 impenetrable ball. When the annoyance ceased, it 
 gradually unrolled itself again and resumed its wan- 
 derings. 
 
 THE PRIODONS. 
 
 Another species- {Priodon) inhabits the woodland 
 of Brazil and Guiana. Prince Wied everywhere was 
 assured of its existence, but never could succeed 
 in either seeing or procuring a specimen. He be- 
 lieves that it is distributed over the greater part of 
 Brazil, and perhaps is found throughout all South 
 America. In the extensive virgin forests his hunters 
 often found boles or burrows, especially under the 
 roots of old trees, from the dimensions of which 
 conclusions could be drawn as to the size of the ani- 
 
392 
 
 THE TOOTHLESS ANIMALS. 
 
 mal. The native sportsmen affirmed that it equaled 
 a large Pig in size, and this statement seemed to be 
 borne out by the diameter of the entrance to these 
 burrows and still more by the size of the skins of 
 tails which the prince found among the Botocudos. 
 The Botocudos of the Rio Grande de Belmonte 
 had speaking tubes, which were plainly called "Tatu 
 tails," and were fourteen and one-half inches long 
 and three and one-fifth inches in diameter at the 
 larger end. 
 The Giant Tatu, Later investigations show that the 
 a Monster Giant Tatu (Priodon gigas) attains a 
 Species. body length of three feet or over, 
 the tail measuring about half as much; Kappler 
 gives its weight as ninety pounds. The entire cere- 
 bral dome of the skull is covered by very irregular 
 bony plates. The shoulder part of the armor con- 
 sists of ten bands, another row being interpolated on 
 the lower portion of the flanks; twelve or thirteen 
 zones consisting of mobile scutes follow; the pos- 
 terior buckler contains sixteen or seventeen rows. 
 The plates may be square, rectangular, or may have 
 five or six angles, and the hindmost rows of the 
 posterior shield are irregular in shape, the tail is 
 covered by square bony plates of irregular thick- 
 ness. Probably the most remarkable anatomical 
 feature of the animal, however, is its dentition. The 
 upper jaw on each side contains from twenty-four to 
 twenty-six teeth, the under jaw in each row from 
 twenty-two to twenty-four, of which several are 
 frequently lacking, however. Still there are from 
 ninety to one hundred fully developed teeth or rudi- 
 mentary organs, performing the office of teeth; but 
 in the anterior portion of the rows they are only 
 thin plates, gradually assuming stouter proportions 
 toward the rear. What use the Giant Tatu finds for 
 all these teeth is quite a mystery, as its food, so fair 
 as is at present known, does not differ from that of 
 the other species. 
 
 THE BICHOCIEGO. 
 
 Harlan, an American, first discovered a very re- 
 markable member of the family, the Bichociego 
 {Chlamydophorus truncatus), in 1824, near Mendoza in 
 the west of the Argentine Republic; the discovery 
 was a surprise to the natives, who had hardly a sus- 
 picion of its existence. For a long time two speci- 
 mens only were known, kept in the collections of 
 Philadelphia and London, which could fortunately 
 be examined most closely. Later on others were 
 obtained and accounts of the inner anatomical struc- 
 ture and external appearance could be accurately 
 given. The Bichociego is justly regarded as a rep- 
 resentative of a distinct species, though it differs 
 from the heretofore described Armadillos more in 
 the peculiarities of its armor than in its inner ana- 
 tomical structure. 
 
 The Bichociego The Bichociego shows the most er- 
 an Abnormal ratic deviation of shape and belongs 
 Species. to the most remarkable group in the 
 entire animal world in respect to the horny, nearly 
 leathery armor covering its body. This strange 
 creature is a real dwarf when it is compared with 
 even the smallest of the known Armadillos, while 
 it forcibly reminds one of a mole in respect to its 
 shape, and still more so in regard to its habits. Its 
 head is short, broad in the posterior portion, taper- 
 ing toward the front and terminating in a rather 
 short, truncated muzzle. The eyes are small and 
 hidden under the hair which falls over them. The 
 ears, which lie close to the head, are devoid of any 
 
 external conch. The dentition is normal. Incisors 
 and canines are absent, and the molars, eight in 
 number on each side of the upper and lower jaws, 
 are composed of pulp encased in a layer of enamel, 
 devoid of roots and hollow in the lower half ; they 
 afe of cylindrical shape, and with the exception of 
 the first two in each jaw, which are somewhat 
 pointed, their grinding surface is flattened. The 
 legs are short; the fore limbs are very sturdy, 
 clumsy and nearly mole-shaped, while the hinder 
 ones are much weaker, ending in long, narrow feet. 
 All its toes bear blunt-pointed claws, those of the 
 fore-feet being very large and stout, forming power- 
 ful tools for digging. The tail which is set on at 
 the lower edge of the armor covering the hinder 
 part of the body, in a notch, makes a sudden curve 
 and is folded along the under surface between the 
 hind legs, lying close to the abdomen. 
 
 External Appear- The whole upper surface of the body 
 ance of the is covered by a horny shield, some- 
 Bichociego. what resembling leather in charac- 
 ter, rather thick and less flexible than sole-leather, 
 beginning on the head near the tip of the snout, 
 extending all over the back to the rump, where it 
 ceases abruptly, the animal being thereby endowed 
 with a truncated, and as it were, mutilated appear- 
 ance. This armor is composed mostly of regular* 
 transverse rows or zones, consisting principally of 
 rectangular shaped and partly of rhombic, or even 
 irregular, hump-shaped shields; it is not connected 
 everywhere so firmly with the skin of the body as 
 the armor of the Armadillos proper, but for the 
 greater part, lies but loosely on it, being fastened 
 along the median line of the back by means of a 
 loose membrane, to the spinous processes of the 
 vertebrae; on top of the head the points of attach- 
 ment are the two semi-circular prominences of the 
 frontal bone through the agency of an integument 
 connecting them with two shields. The effect of 
 this arrangement is that the armor gapes open on 
 the sides of the body and can be raised in a flap- 
 like manner. On the other hand it is seturely con- 
 nected to the bone at the fore part of the head, and 
 likewise at the rump, where it presents an abruptly 
 abcised plane. Though the dermal intervals between 
 the zones are not very wide, they still admit of a 
 considerable degree of movement, which to a cer- 
 tain extent, accounts for the capability of the ani- 
 mal to assume a spheroidal shape. The buckler of 
 the rump is firmly fixed and immobile, connected 
 with the tail by a membrane only; its line of direc- 
 tion forms a right angle with the longer axis of the 
 body and it lies upon the animal perfectly flat; it 
 consists of five or six semi-circular rows of little 
 shields, some of rectangular, others of rhomboid 
 shape. The armor is nearly destitute of hair and is 
 smooth on the upper parts as well as on the de- 
 tached under surface; only the lower edges of the 
 carapace show numerous, rather long and silky hairs. 
 The external skin of the animal, however, is cov- 
 ered everywhere, and even that portion beneath the 
 carapace with long, fine, soft, silky hair; only the 
 tail, the soles of the feet, the tip of the snout and 
 the chin are bare. The body rather exceeds five 
 inches in length; the tail measures nearly one and 
 one-half inches and the height is two inches. 
 
 Information as In zoological works we find only the 
 
 to the Bichociego following data about the life of the 
 
 Limited. Bichociego. The animal lives in 
 
 sandy plains, and like the Mole, it digs long tunnels 
 
 under the ground; it carefully avoids leaving this 
 
THE PANGOLINS. 
 
 393 
 
 subterranean palace and probably appears on the 
 surface by xJiance alone. It is said to burrow with 
 the greatest speed and run like the Mole, but is very 
 slow and awkward above ground. Most probably it 
 hunts for insects and worms and perhaps also at 
 times contents itself with tender roots. Nothing is 
 known about the details of propagation, except 
 that it is not a prolific animal. The natives believe 
 that the female carriesJier young hidden under the 
 carapace. We see how scanty the information is 
 and how much of it is yet mere conjecture; hence 
 the greater pleasure did I derive from Goering's 
 communications. ' , , 
 
 Goering's "The Bichociego," says he, "lives not 
 
 AftPfiunt of the only in the province of Mendoza, but 
 mh&ciego. also in San Luis. The Spaniards call 
 it Bichociego, because they believe it to be quite 
 blind; some give it the name of Juan Calado (Lace- 
 trimmed Johnny). The little animal inhabits dry, 
 sandy, stony, localities, especially such as are over- 
 grown with thorny shrubs and cacti. During the 
 day it keeps hidden in the earth; at night, however, 
 it appears above ground and runs around, and can be 
 seen under bushes on 
 moonlit nights." 
 
 The animal is always 
 caugrht by chance only, 
 usually on such occa- 
 sions as the digging of 
 channels of irrigation 
 canals where land is to 
 be made cultivable. It 
 has sometimes also been 
 captured along with oth- 
 er Armadillos. Recently 
 a little more pains have 
 been taken to obtain 
 Bichociegos owing to 
 the frequent demand for 
 them; but it must be a 
 very difficult matter to 
 procure them, as Goer- 
 ing, who spent seven 
 months in their native 
 country, could not ob- 
 tain a specimen either 
 living or freshly killed, 
 
 in spite of. all efforts and promises. The Bicho- 
 ciego is even now an object of wonder and admira- 
 tion to the natives. If they happen to capture one, 
 th«y- let it live as long as it can, and then preserve 
 it as a great curiosity, in the best way possible; 
 South Americans in general have a peculiar habit 
 of keeping animals that strike them as remarkable, 
 the idea of caring for them not entering their heads, 
 however. As the people do not know how to skin 
 and stuff animals, the Bichociegos one finds in their 
 possession are nothing but mummies. 
 
 teristic of the family and is unique among mammals; 
 for the shields of the Armadillos and Bichociegos 
 bear but a remote resemblance to these peculiar 
 horny formations, which in their shape partake more 
 of the nature of the scales of a fish or a reptile than 
 of any other dermal adjunct of a mammal. 
 
 Physiological The following may serve to charac- 
 Peculiarities of terize the Pangolins more closely: 
 the Pangolins, the body is elongated, the head 
 small, the snout is shaped like a cone, the legs are 
 short, the feet five-toed and armed with strong dig- 
 ging claws. The scales are absent on the throat, 
 the under surface of the body and the inner faces 
 of the limbs, all other portions of the body being 
 enveloped in armor. All scales are attached to tjle 
 skin at only one point and are of a rhombic shap^; 
 their edges are very sharp and they are exceedingly 
 hard and firm. Their arrangement admits of a tol- 
 erable facility of movement in all directions; the 
 scales can be moved laterally, as well as erected 
 and depressed. Between the scales and on the 
 naked portions of the body there are thin hairs, 
 which, on the under portion, are often worn away 
 
 THE BICHOCIEGO. This queer animal was first discovered by Dr. Richard Harlan, of Philadelphia. It 
 
 has a coat of armor on its back but the sides under the shield as well as the under surface and limbs are clothed with 
 soft, silky hair. It is essentially a burrowing animal. {Chlamydophorus iruncaius.) 
 
 by friction. The muzzle is destitute of scales, but 
 covered with a firm, horny skin. The jaws are en- 
 tirely lacking in teeth. A broad flexor muscle, 
 which lies just below the skin, as is the case with 
 the Hedgehog, provides for the rolling up of the 
 body. The tongue is moderately long and fairly 
 extensile; salivary glands of exceedingly large pro- 
 portions furnish the viscid liquid necessary to insure 
 the adherence to the tongue of the food, probably 
 consisting chiefly of Ants and Termites. 
 Native Country These strange animals are natives of 
 of the Pan- a large part of Africa, all southern 
 golins. Asia and a few adjacent islands; 
 
 they affect grassy or weedy spots or woodland in 
 mountains and in plains. Probably they all live 
 alone in burrows, in solitary places, like their rela- 
 tives, hidden by day, roving by night. As has been 
 observed in captive specimens, they sleep in a curled 
 up position, the head concealed under the tail. At 
 dusk they awake and begin the search for food. 
 Buttikofer's Ac- Their movements are not nearly so 
 countof the Giant slow and lazy as was formerly be- 
 Pangolin. lieved. Buttikofer says, in speaking 
 of a species, the Giant Pangolin {Manis gigantea). 
 
 FOURTH FAMILY: Manidid^. 
 
 The Pangolins {Manidida) constitute a family 
 quite distinct from the Ant-eaters, notwithstanding 
 the similarity of form and habits. The body of all 
 animals comprised in this group is covered on its 
 upper surface with large, shield-like, horny scales, 
 overlapping each other like shingles on a roof, or 
 rather Jike the scales on a pine-cone. This cover- 
 ing constitutes the principal distinguishing charac- 
 
394 
 
 THE TOOTHLESS ANIMALS. 
 
 observed in Liberia: "Contrary to all accounts in 
 books, this animal runs very swiftly; so fast, indeed, 
 that a man can hardly overtake it, and during its 
 flight it from time to time stands erect upon its hind 
 legs and tail and looks around, letting its fore-legs 
 hang down." He also aiifirms that two other Afri- 
 can species are good runners and agile climbers. In 
 regard to one of the last named species, he says : 
 " It is easily tamed, and can be kept in a house for a 
 long time; it is generally permitted to range the 
 house at will, because it diligently pursues and de- 
 stroys Ants, Cockroaches and other insect nui- 
 sances. They are very agile animals and can climb 
 on the roofs of houses and in tree-tops in play." 
 The Pangolins With adequate care the Pangolins 
 
 Readily Adapted can endure captivity for a long time. 
 
 to Domestication. They readily become accustomed to 
 a diet of milk, bread and even grains, though insects 
 always remain their favorite food. The flesh is 
 eaten by the native Africans and is said to be sa- 
 
 close upon each other and are thick and firm 
 enough to protect the animal from the claws and 
 teeth of other animals which attack it. The Leop- 
 ards pursue it incessantly and have no trouble in 
 overtaking it, as it runs much more slowly than 
 they. As neither claws nor teeth furnish it with 
 effectual arms against the formidable teeth and 
 claws of these beasts of prey, when it is overtaken 
 it rolls itself up into a ball and folds the tail against 
 the abdomen, bristling all around with the sharp 
 edges of the scales. The large Cats gently roll it 
 back and forth with their claws, but prick them- 
 selves when they handle it more roughly and are 
 compelled to leave it alone. The Negroes kill it 
 with sticks, skin it, sell the hide to white men, and 
 eat the flesh. Its snout might be compared to the 
 beak of a Duck. It possesses a very long, extensile 
 tongue covered with a viscid secretion; this it pro- 
 jects into the holes of Ant-hills or exposes in the 
 vicinity of the usual haunts of Ants; attracted by 
 
 THE FAKGOLIN, Th.s is the typ.cal an.mal g.v.ng .ts name to a family of queer armored creatures which are inhabitants of Asia and 
 
 Africa. The species shown here is an inhabitant of India, Ceylon and the Malay country. It is strongly armored and admirably fitted for a bur- 
 rowing and insect-eating life. {Manis pentadactyla.) 
 
 vory; the shields are used by several tribes as orna- 
 ments of various kinds. 
 
 Characteristics of The Long - tailed Pangolin {Manis 
 the Long-tailed longicaudata) has a total length of 
 Pangolin. three or four feet, nearly two-thirds 
 of which is occupied by the tail. The tail of 
 young animals is double the length of the body 
 and becomes shorter in proportion as the growth 
 of the body progresses. With the exception of the 
 inferior external face of the fore-legs, the scales 
 cover the whole upper and external surface of the 
 body and also the under surface of the tail; the 
 scaleless places are grown with stiff bristles. Face 
 and throat appear nearly naked. The scales are ex- 
 ceedingly firm and sharp-edged, and are largest on 
 the middle of the back of the animal. The general 
 color is blackish brown, with a reddish tint; the 
 individual scales are dark brown at the center of the 
 base, edged with yellow at the margins. The bristly 
 hair looks black. The animal is a native of western 
 Africa. 
 
 Deamarchais' Desmarchais gives the first details 
 
 AcoQunt of this concerning its habits. " In Guinea 
 Pangolin. one finds a four-footed animal in the 
 forest, which the Negroes call Quoggelo. From the 
 neck to the tip of the tail it is covered with scales, 
 which somewhat resemble in shape the leaves of 
 artichokes, only they are more pointed. They lie 
 
 the odor of the secretion with which the tongue is 
 covered, the Ants rush towards it and adhere to it. 
 When the tongue is loaded with insects it is drawn 
 back into the mouth and the insects are eaten." 
 
 The Pangolin The Pangolin {Manis pentadactyld) 
 Proper De- [the Malay name of which furnishes 
 scribed. the popular designation of the en- 
 tire family, and which for distinction is sometimes 
 named the Five-fingered Pangolin] possesses a 
 short tail and its shield covers the outer face of the 
 fore-limbs, this peculiarity differentiating it from 
 some of the other species. The animal inhabits 
 India and Ceylon, apparently preferring a hilly 
 country, but is nowhere plentiful. Aelian, even in 
 his eajrly.day, mentions that there is an Indian ani- 
 mal which looks like a terrestrial crocodile. 
 
 Distinguishing The Pangolin proper differs from 
 Characteristics of the other Manididae, excepting the 
 
 the Pangolin. Temminck's Pangolin {Manis tem- 
 minckii), by reason of its size and by having its 
 scales arranged in from eleven to thirteen rows; 
 they are very broad on the back and tail and never 
 externally exhibit the course of the spinal column 
 by the apex or ridge shown in most mammals. An 
 adult male may attain a length of four feet, the 
 body occupying about half of this. 
 
 We know as yet very little about the habits of this 
 species. The animals dig burrows, which run ob- 
 
THE AAED-VARK. Here is one of the most clumsy, odd looking animals in the world. The name, which is Dutch, signifies " Ground-hog," 
 
 although the animal is very widely different from that which we know by the same name. It lives in southern and central Africa. Its 'coarse, bristle-likt. 
 liair. long tail, elongated head and ears, strong claws, and long tongue make a strange picture. (Orycteroi>us capensis.) 
 
 (395) 
 
396 
 
 THE TOOTHLESS ANIMALS. 
 
 liquely downward from the surface to the depth of 
 from two to four yards, and terminate in a large, 
 roomy chamber. In this retreat they live in couples, 
 and are found from January to March with one or 
 two young. When they are in their hole they are 
 wont to stop up the entrance with earth in a way 
 which would render it quite difficult to discover 
 their lair if their queer tracks outside did not be- 
 tray them. Burt says that the Pangolin feeds ex- 
 clusively on Ants and like insects, and destroys a 
 great many of them, but that it can also endure 
 hunger for two months; that it roams about at^ight, 
 and is very restless in captivity; that it is quite 
 quick in its movements, and when attacked, quietly 
 suffers itself to be taken up by the tail without the 
 least attempt at defending itself against an enemy, 
 etc. The Chinese manufacture a defensive armor 
 out of its skin. 
 
 in its habits like that animal, it emerges only after 
 dusk, and as it is neither agile nor fleet, it cannot 
 defend itself against enemies. Ants, Termites, Lo- 
 custs, Beetles and perhaps also worms constitute 
 its food. 
 
 TEMMINCK'S FAIT60LIN, ^A very queer form of animal life is shown here in this African creature. The 
 
 strength of the armor, the strong legs and claws, and above all the remarkably long and heavy tail which are the ani- 
 mal's chief characteristics, are brought out in accurate completeness. (Manis lemminckii.) 
 
 Peculiarities of A proportionately short, broad tail, 
 
 the Temminclt's bluntly rounded at the tip, charac- 
 Pangolin. terizes Temminck's Pangolin {Manis 
 temminckii). In size and shape it assimilates most 
 closely its Indian relative. The tail which attains 
 nearly the length of the body does not decrease in 
 size for the greater portion of its length, and begins 
 to taper at a point near the tip, where it suddenly 
 becomes rounded and abruptly cut off. The body 
 IS broad and the head is short and thick. Ovoid 
 scales cover the head; the rest of the scales are 
 very large, marked with fine, longitudinal furrows 
 at the base and smooth at the apex, and arranged 
 in from eleven to thirteen rows on the back, five on 
 the tail and four behind. Adult males attain a total 
 length of thirty-two inches or thereabouts, the tail 
 occupying some twelve inches of this length. This 
 species chiefly inhabits eastern and southern Africa, 
 but is also found in the west. 
 
 The Habits of the The Abu-Khirfa or Father of Cattle, 
 Temmincti's as the nomads of Kordofah call 
 Pangolin. Temminck's Pangolin, finds suffi- 
 cient nourishment and the desired solitude in the 
 steppes, of Africa abounding in Termites. Holes 
 in the earth form its domicile; but it never buries 
 itself as deeply as does the Aard-vark. Nocturnal 
 
 FIFTH FAfllLY: Orycteropodid^. 
 
 The last family comprises the Aard-varks, clumsy 
 animals, endowed with a stout, short body, sparsely 
 covered with thin bristles, a thin neck, a long, slen- 
 der head, a cylindrical snout, a conical tail of mod- 
 erate length, and short, proportionately thin legs; 
 the forfe-feet have four toes, the hinder feet five, tlje 
 toes being armed with strong, nearly straigh't, flat, 
 hoof-like nails with chisel-shaped edges. The mouth 
 
 is rather large, the eyes 
 deep-set in the head, the 
 ears are very long. The 
 upper jaw of a young 
 animal contains eight 
 teeth on each side, the 
 lower jaw six. Adult ani- 
 mals, however, usually 
 have only five, and some- 
 times four teeth on each 
 side, of a cylindrical 
 shape, rootless, fibrous 
 and composed of a great 
 number of fine tubes; the 
 grinding surface is flush 
 with the external edges 
 of the teeth, but the op- 
 posite or basal end is 
 hollow. 
 
 The Aard-vark {Oryc- 
 teropus capensis) attains a 
 total length of nearly six 
 feet, the tail including 
 about thirty-four inches 
 of this total. The weight 
 is from one hundred to 
 one hundred and twenty 
 pounds. The skin is very thick, sparsely covered 
 with smooth, bristly hair, shorter on the upper part? 
 of the body than on the under surface; at the base of 
 the toes the hair forms tufts. The coloring of the 
 animal is quite uniform. Back and flanks are yel- 
 lowish brown, dashed with red; the under-surface 
 and the head are light reddish yellow; the buttocks, 
 root of tail and limbs are brown. Newborn AarcJ- 
 varks are of a pale pinkish or flesh-color. 
 
 The Dutch settlers at the Cape qf Good Hope 
 gave the animal its name of Aard-vark (Ground- 
 hog) , because its flesh resembles that of a Wild Boar 
 in taste; they have hunted it extensively and there- 
 fore know it well. 
 Habits and Home The Aard-vark is a native of south- 
 of the Aard- ern and central Africa, ranging from 
 vark. the eastern to the western coast, like 
 
 the Armadillos affecting the plains, desert-like spots 
 and grass-grown table-lands abounding in Ants and 
 Termites. It is a solitary animal, though one some- 
 times finds it in company with others; strictly speak- 
 ing, however, every Aard-vark lives alone, resting by 
 day in large burrows excavated by themselves, and , 
 moving about by night. It is an expert burrower, a 
 few moments being sufficient for it to completely 
 bury itself in the ground. 
 
XLbc leiepbants. 
 
 NINTH ORDER: Proboscidea. 
 
 STEADILY decreasing 
 tribe, the last survivors of 
 a formerly numerous group 
 of mammals, invite our at- 
 tention in the Proboscidea. 
 They appear to us to be liv- 
 ing f-elics of former periods 
 of creation, as creatures 
 bequeathed by bygone 
 ages. Of all the species 
 of this order, which were 
 formerly numerously and 
 widely distributed over our 
 globe, the representatives 
 of only one family, consisting of two or three spe- 
 cies, have come down to our age; but they are 
 the obvious links which connect modern times with 
 prehistoric eras; for to their . family belonged the 
 giants, the well-preserved bodies of which the ice 
 of Siberia has retained through the lapse of thou- 
 sands of years. A glance at the extinct species, with 
 which Neumayr deals in his "History of the Earth," 
 Tvill facilitate our comprehension of this order. 
 Characteristics Our Elephants {Elephas), the only 
 0/ the Elephant living representatives of the family 
 Tribe. Elephantidae, are distinguished by 
 
 their long, movable proboscis and the peculiar den- 
 tition, especially the tusks, which may be desig- 
 nated as exaggerated incisors. The body is short 
 and thick, the neck very short, the head round and 
 protuberant in places on account of the cavities in 
 the upper skull-bone; the legs are tolerably long 
 and pillar-like and the feet are furnished with five 
 connected toes and flat, horny soles. 
 
 Importance of The most important organ of an 
 the Proboscis to Elephant's anatomy is its proboscis, 
 the Elephant, ^n elongation of the nasal process, 
 •distinguished by its mobility, sensitiveness and es- 
 pecially by the finger-like appendage at its extrem- 
 ity. It is an organ of smell, touch and prehension. 
 It is composed of annular and longitudinal muscles, 
 the^rrmnber^cf-iwhielt Cuvier estimates at about 
 forty thousand, and -which enable it to turn, extend 
 -and contract in all directions.' It is also a substitute 
 for the absent upper*' lip, and through its manifold 
 uses life is rendered possible to the animal. 
 
 Other Physical AH other limbs and even the organs 
 Characteristics of of sense of the Elephant appear to 
 Elephants. be less worthy of notice. The eyes 
 are small and have a dull, but good-natured expres- 
 sion, while the ears are very large and comparable 
 in appearance and texture to leather rags. The 
 toes are so firmly enclosed in the general skin of 
 the body as to preclude their moving against each 
 other. They are covered at the extremities by very 
 small, but strong, broad and flat hoofs. 
 
 The dentition is very peculiar. The Elephant has 
 ■two excessively developed tusks in the upper jaw, 
 
 but neither incisors nor canines, and usually only 
 one huge molar on each side of both jaws. This 
 tooth consists of a large number of plates of 
 enamel, closely united with each other. When the 
 molar has so far worn away by grinding food that 
 it can no longer perform its office in an efficient 
 manner, a new tooth forms behind it, which gradu- 
 ally advances and assumes its functions contempo- 
 raneously with the shedding of the stub. This shed- 
 ding of teeth has been observed to occur six times, 
 and one may therefore speak of twenty-four molars, 
 which the animal possesses during its lifetime. 
 The tusks which are not shed have an uninter- 
 rupted growth and hence can attain a considerable 
 length andean enormous weight. 
 
 The Powerful The Asiatic Elephant {Elephas asiat- 
 Asiatic Ele- icus or Elephas indicus), which we 
 phant. are wont to consider the type of its 
 
 species and family, is a powerful, clumsy, robust 
 animal, with a massive broad-browed head, short 
 neck, powerful body and pillar-like legs. Its head, 
 which is set on the neck at right angles to the 
 spinal column, and usually carried nearly perpen- 
 dicularly, assists materially in enhancing the over- 
 whelming impression of power the animal makes 
 on the spectator. Huge in all its proportions, it 
 strikes one as being endowed with great mobility 
 of limb, notwithstanding the apparent clumsiness 
 of its shape. 
 
 The measurements of the size of the Elephant 
 are mostly exaggerated and frequently incorrectly 
 determined. The largest males attain a length of 
 about twenty-one feet from the tip of the trunk to 
 that of the tail, about six feet of which length 
 will be occupied by the proboscis, and the tail 
 may take up as much as five feet, thus leaving for 
 the body and head a length of eleven feet; the 
 height may amount to nine feet. Larger specimens 
 are rarely found. Sanderson, who was the English 
 government superintendent of the Elephant depart- 
 ment in British India for half a lifetime, and who 
 from his experience in that capacity is surely trust- 
 worthy authority, measured the largest among hun- 
 dreds of animals under his care and determined 
 the shoulder height as follows : The two largest 
 males were respectively 120 inches and 118 inches 
 high; the two largest ferriales measured respectively 
 103 and lOi inches. The weight of the heaviest 
 may amount to eight thousand pounds, or perhaps 
 slightly more. 
 
 The Hindoo Classi- The natives of India, who are doubt- 
 flcation of Ele- less the most expert in this line, dis- 
 phants. tinguish three kinds of Elephants, 
 according to the shape of the animal and the work- 
 ing capacity dependent upon that shape; they call 
 these three grades Kumiria, Dwasala and Mierga. 
 The Kumiria is the most perfect variety, of heavy, 
 symmetrical build, with a capacious chest, a power- 
 
 (397) 
 
398 
 
 THE ELEPHANTS. 
 
 ful body and head, and a straight, broad, sloping 
 back. Its eye is full, clear and prepossessing.- Phys- 
 ically and mentally it is a noble.animal, triastworthy 
 and fearless, moving with stately and measured 
 tread, as if expressly created for royal pageantry. 
 The Mierga is its reverse; it is of light, ill-looking 
 build, long-legged, small-headed, pig-eyed, with 
 arched, steep back, narrow chest and iull abdomen, 
 a weak, flabby trunk and a thin skin which is easily 
 injured. The Dwasala is a medium between these 
 two widely differing breeds and is also the most 
 numerous of the three. It is not humap interfer- 
 ence that has produced these three breeds so dif- 
 ferent from each other; they are found in the same 
 wild herd, and we may, therefore assume that they 
 are but physical variations of the same species and 
 hence are closely related. 
 Albinos or White Light-colored or light-spotted speci- 
 Elephants Very mens, so-called white Elephants, are 
 Rare. rarely seen. In Siam, where albinos 
 
 of all kinds of animals are much esteemed, as they 
 are believed to be the rulers of their kind, where 
 the white Elephant is held sacred as the most pow- 
 erful of all animals and one title of the king is 
 " Lord of the white Elephant," it appears that the 
 people have been able to obtain but few light-col- 
 ored specimens, notwithstanding all possible efforts 
 have been made, and a really white one does, not 
 seem to have been found as yet. 
 Birtli and Growth In India the Elephant is full-grown 
 
 of the Ele- at twenty-five years of age, though 
 phant. ii does not reach its prime until the 
 
 age of thirty-five. A male is capable of reproduc- 
 tion at about the twentieth year. The first offspring 
 is born to a female at about the age of sixteen, and 
 other young ones follow at an average interval of 
 two years and a half. The newborn Elephants are 
 about thirty-six inches high at the shoulder and their 
 average weight on the second day is one hundred 
 and eighty pounds. For six months they feed ex- 
 clusively on the mother's milk; then they gradually 
 begin to eat some tender grasses, but milk still 
 continues for a few months longer to be their main 
 article of diet. From the hour of birth they appear 
 to be less awkward than other young anirrials, and 
 strike one as pretty, though droll animals; dur- 
 ing the first period of life they preferably keep un- 
 der the body and between the legs of their mother 
 and do not even leave that place of security when 
 she assumes a quicker gait. It is stated that they 
 , are under the mother's protection for several years, 
 at any rate until the birth of a brother or sister ousts 
 them from the first place in maternal care. The first 
 shedding of teeth occurs during the second year, 
 the second in the sixth, the third in the ninth year. 
 Habitat of the This animal is a native of the greater 
 
 Asiatic Ele- part of wooded country of south- 
 phant. eastern Asia, existing in India, from 
 
 the foot of the Himalayas to its southern extremity, 
 in Assam, Burmah, Siam, and on the Malayan penin- 
 sula, and in smaller numbers on the adjacent islands 
 of Ceylon, Sumatra and Borneo. In some regions it 
 is already extinct or at least its numbers have been 
 greatly diminished, yet it still occurs in all of the 
 larger forests, in mountains and plains within the 
 designated range. 
 
 The African There can be no doubt as to the 
 Elephant's Char- specific difference of the African 
 
 acteristics. Elephant (Elepkas africanus) from 
 the Asiatic species. It exceeds its Asiatic kins- 
 man in size, but its shape is, on the whole, less sym- 
 
 metrical, though in the institution of such a com- 
 parison we must consider the different breeds of 
 the African species also according to external ap- 
 pearance, and classify them in the same way as is 
 done in India. Its body is shorter, but the legs are 
 longer than those of its relative; its flat head with 
 its thin trunk, large tusks and enormous ears, the 
 arched line of its back, its narrow chest and ugly legs 
 constitute a union of distinctive features, which- defi- 
 nitely separate it from the Asiatic Elephant. 
 
 The Range of The range of the African Elephant 
 the African has been considerably restricted 
 Elephant. within the present century, espe- 
 cially from the south, and now ex;tends fjrom about 
 the latitude of Lake Chad in the north to that of 
 Lake Ngami in the south. Ther^ is no invalHable 
 boundary line, as the Elephants not only wander 
 over immense distances, but also change their 
 haunts, disappearing in some regions for years 'or 
 even for decades and as unexpectedly appearing in 
 others. 
 
 The Elephant Both species were well known to the 
 Known in An- ancients, and living specimens were 
 cient Times. early brought to Europe. The Me- 
 dian and Persian Emperor Darius, if we accept the 
 records of history, was the first to employ Ele- 
 phants in battle in his conflicts with Alexander 
 the Great. Aristotle was fortunate enough to see 
 some Elephants taken by the latter and thus was 
 enabled to give a fairly accurate description of 
 the animal. From that time Elephants are fre- 
 quently mentioned in history. For nearly three 
 hundred years they were employed in Europe in the 
 incessant wars waged by the various nations for 
 supremacy until the Romans finally emerged' victo- 
 rious from the contest. Besides the Indian Ele- 
 phant, the African species was also used in warfare, 
 especially by the Carthagenians, who seem to have 
 been adepts in the training of these animals, subse- 
 quently declared untamable. 
 
 The Romans employed Elephants mainly in their 
 circuses. To what extent the African Elephants 
 were trained may be judged from the fact that the 
 Roman showmen taught them to write letters with 
 pencils, and to walk up and down a slack rope; four 
 of them would carry in a sedan chair a fifth one 
 which pretended to be ill; they could dance to- 
 music, eat at a table luxuriously loaded with gold 
 and silver dishes, observing all rules of etiquette, 
 and decorum, and had learned other tricks. 
 The Chosen Dom- In their native countries Elephants 
 idle of Ele- may be found in extensive forests. 
 phants. i-^e more swampy and unbroken or 
 impenetrable the jungle of woodland, the more fre- 
 quent is the animal. But one would be greatly mis- 
 taken if he entertained the belief that it is to be 
 found only in such forests. It has been affirmed 
 that this largest of terrestrial mammals shunned the 
 cool air of elevated regions, but this is most em- 
 phatically disproved by the testimony of conscien- 
 tious and reliable observers. In Ceylon, the hilly 
 and mountainous spots are the regions most fa- 
 vored by the Elephants. A similar taste may be 
 affirmed of the African species. In the Bogos 
 country I found signs that Elephants had ranged at. 
 an elevation of 6,000 feet, and have been informed 
 that in the neighboring regions the animals regu- 
 larly frequent the highest mountains, which would 
 give them a range certainly extending to an altitude- 
 of about 9,000 feet above the sea. Von der Decken. 
 found traces of them at this height on the Kilima- 
 
THE INDIAN ELEPHANT. The Indian or Asiatic Elephant is still found wild in various parts of Asia, but is also largely domesticated and 
 
 iised as an animal of state by rajahs, princes, etc, and is also trained for purposes of sport, more particularly for hunting the Tiger. The herd in the illus- 
 ration with the female Elephant and her young one in the foreground is a characteristic group. The small ears and less powerful tusks which distinguish 
 this from the African species will be noted. (Elephas asiaticus.) 
 
 (399) 
 
400 
 
 THE ELEPHANTS. 
 
 Njaro, and Hans Meyer saw them at an elevation of 
 even 12,000 feet above the sea. Tamed Elephants 
 also give evidence of great skill and untiring endur- 
 ance in the ascent of high mountains. 
 The Elephant a Numerous as Elephants may be in 
 
 Wary Beast the centre of Africa, it is sometimes 
 of Game. exceedingly difficult to discover their 
 exact haunts, as they lead an extremely restless life. 
 While on their journeys from one locality to another 
 they always follow the steps of their leader, choos- 
 ing either an old path or selecting a new route, 
 always in a direct line, exhibiting a perfect indiffer- 
 ence as to whether the road leads them through for- 
 ests, bogs, or narrow chasms or over steep heights. 
 It seems as if natural obstacles could offer no im- 
 pediment to their course: they swim across streams 
 and lakes, easily work their way through the very 
 thickest primeval forests, frequently forming regu- 
 lar roads with firm foundations, because in their 
 migrations they not only march in squads of close 
 formation, but sometimes in single columns, which 
 leave comparatively narrow tracks or paths. Their 
 roads deviate at regular intervals from the dry re- 
 gions of the heights to such places as furnish them 
 with water for drinking and bathing purposes. 
 [ Peculiarities of The leader of a herd calmly stalks 
 : Elephants on through the forests, heedless of the 
 
 the March. underbrush, which it treads down 
 with its broad feet, unmindful of the branches of 
 ti^ees. In the mountains the Elephants select and 
 , build roadways as in the forest, display an ingenuity 
 which arouses the admiration of even human engi- 
 neers. The Elephants always choose for their route 
 the most favorable passes found in the locality 
 through which they journey. Some of these passes 
 are used by them so regularly and for so long a 
 time, that the animals' feet wear off hard stones. 
 The Muscular The Elephant is clumsy in appear- 
 
 Actiuity of ance only, being in reality very agile. 
 
 Elephants. j^g usual gait is a quiet, uniform am- 
 ble, similar to that of the Camel and the Giraffe, 
 covering from two and one-half to three and three- 
 fourths of a mile in an hour. This ordinary pace can 
 be accelerated to such an extent, however, that the 
 speed can be doubled for a distance of nine and 
 one-half to twelve and one-half miles. The huge 
 creature is an expert in slinking softly through the 
 woods so as not to be heard at all. "At first," says 
 Sir Emerson Tennent, speaking about the Asiatic 
 Elephant, "a wild herd rushes through the under- 
 brush with a great deal of noise, soon, however, this 
 noise subsides into a perfect silence so that a tyro is 
 led to the belief that the fleeing giants have made 
 but a few steps and then stopped short.". When 
 ascending acclivities of considerable steepness, the 
 Elephant gives evidence of the qualities of a genu- 
 ine climber. On the ascent of a mountain its prog- 
 ress goes on tolerably well, but in the descent the 
 enormous weight of the animal naturally causes it to 
 labor under greater disadvantage. If the Elephant 
 under these conditions employed its usual gait it 
 would certainly lose its balance, turn a somersault 
 and perhaps lose its life in the fall. But the wary 
 creature does not do so; it kneels down at the edge 
 of the declivity so that its chest rests on the ground, 
 and then it very deliberately pushes its fore-legs on, 
 until they have found a point of support; then it 
 draws its hind legs up and reaches the bottom in 
 this way, gliding and sliding. Yet it sometimes 
 happens that an Elephant gets a bad fall in the 
 course of its nocturnal wanderings. 
 
 The old belief that an Elephant cannot lie down 
 is thoroughly refuted by every Elephant we see in a 
 circus. It is true that the giant does not always 
 sleep lying down, but often in a standing position, 
 yet if it wishes to be quite comfortable, it liess down, 
 and when it arises does so with the ease character- 
 istic of all its movements. The unwieldy animal is 
 no less proficient in the art of swimming, and throws.: 
 itself into the water with evident delight, and divest 
 below the surface at will. If it so pleases it swims' 
 across broad and swift streams and may even stay- 
 under water for a long time, lifting only the tip of 
 the trunk above the- surface for thp purpose of 
 breathing. V 
 
 Proficiency of the '^^^ probosCis. is , an organ of high 
 
 Elephant's Pro- development, capable of serving a 
 boscis. variety of purposes. Only in excep- 
 
 tional cases^ .is it used to deal a blow or to seize an 
 enemy, for the trunk is a very sensitive organ, and is 
 therefore carefully guarded against all collisions and 
 rough or dangerous operations, by being closely 
 curled up under the mouth. It is mainly used to 
 take up fo6d, water, etc., and convey them to the 
 mouth, and is also an organ of scent. With the ex- 
 tremely mobile muscular projections at the end of 
 the organ it can easily pick up the smallest objects, 
 such as pins, etc. With its proboscis the animal 
 breaks off branches and uproots small trees, using 
 the feet for pressing down larger ones; for pushing 
 objects it uses that portion of the frontal bone of the 
 skull which is situated just below the eyes and be^ 
 tween that point and the base of the trunk. When, 
 in the service of Man, it has to lift heavy burdens, it 
 takes the rope which is fastened to them into its 
 mouth, usually looping it over one of its tusks, if it 
 has any. The tusks are also used in many other 
 ways, but always with the same great' caution dis- 
 played in using the trunk, and certainly not as levers 
 for the removal of stone-blocks or pulling up of 
 roots of trees; they chiefly serve as weapons of de- 
 fence or attack, and their miscellaneous or careless 
 use is scrupulously avoided, as they are compara- 
 tively easily broken. 
 
 Development of AH the higher perceptive faculties of 
 
 the Senses of the Elephant are in accord with its 
 Elephants. before mentioned qualities. Sight 
 does not seem to be highly developed; at least 
 hunters are of the opinion that the range of vision 
 of this animal is very restricted. Smell and hearing 
 are all the better developed, however, while taste 
 and touch are at least proportionately acute, as can 
 easily be ascertained by observation of captive ani- 
 mals. All sportsmen have stories to tell about the 
 acute sense of hearing of the animal. The slightest 
 noise suffices to rouse an Elephant's attention; the 
 breaking of a small twig is sufficient to put an end 
 to its tranquillity. The sense of smell is exceed- 
 ingly delicate and is effectual at great distances; no 
 sportsman can approach within reasonable range of 
 this animal if the wind blow from the hunter to- 
 ward the Elephant, The proboscis is the main organ 
 of the sense of touch, and the finger-shaped append- 
 age at the lower extremity can vie with the trained 
 finger of a blind man in its power of transmission of 
 delicate sensatioa.- 
 
 The vocal expression of the Elephant has a wf cle ' 
 range and the sounds by which it makes manifest its 
 emotions are tnanifoid. A feeling of comfort is sig- 
 nified by a very low murmur; fright is expressed by 
 powerful, noisy chest sounds rising, when absolute 
 terror is expressed, to short, shrill trumpet-notes. 
 
THE ELEPHANTS. 
 
 401 
 
 coining through the trunk; when enraged it utters 
 an uninterrupted, deep, rumbling, guttural sound; 
 an attack is accompanied by harsh trumpet-tones, 
 the "trumpet" sounds in reality amounting only to 
 a loud squeal of rage. 
 
 Elephants of a Every herd of Elephants is a large 
 Clannish Dis- family, and vice versa, every family 
 position. forms a separate herd. The num- 
 ber of members constituting it may vary a great 
 deal; for a herd may "grow from ten, fifteen or 
 twenty members to a band containing hundreds. 
 Some travelers have told of four, five or even eight 
 hundred Elephants, congregated together. Von 
 Heuglin affirms that he met a troup, which he esti- 
 mates to have numbered at least five hundred, and 
 Sir John Xirk states that he once found eight hun- 
 dred Elephants together on the Zambesi. They cer- 
 tainly band together to such an extent very rarely, 
 and one may suppose that under such circum- 
 stances several herds have come together, meeting 
 by chance while on an extended migration and keep- 
 ing together for a short time only. 
 
 Though each distinct herd forms one family, 
 strange Elephants, such as young bulls or females 
 that have escaped from captivity, seem to be ad- 
 mitted into it generally without difficulty, though 
 there may be exceptions. At any rate it would be 
 assuming- too much to suppose that the so-called 
 "solitary' Elephants are expelled members which 
 can nowhere find admittance to tribal relations. 
 Sanderson flatly contradicts such a statement. In 
 his opinion the majority of such animals, which 
 oftener happen to be young bulls than old ones, 
 are solitary only in appearance, temporarily keeping 
 aloof from the herd of their own accord, and follow- 
 ing the movements of the whole troup. A really 
 solitary Elephant, one that no longer consorts with 
 its own kind, is seldom met with and even then is 
 not necessarily a ferocious fellow or " rogue," as it is 
 technically called. On the other hand it frequently 
 develops into an incorrigible plunderer of planta- 
 tions, not to be easily scared away by the employ- 
 ment of usual means. It is true, that some of these 
 solitary individuals become dangerous to human be- 
 ings who chance to disturb or surprise them, sud- 
 denly and unexpectedly charging at a man, in their 
 first movement of terror, so to speak, like so many 
 other strong animals. 
 
 The Intellect The intellectual capacities of the Ele- 
 oftheEle- phant have been greatly overrated, 
 phant. especially by those who have based 
 
 their conclusions on observations made of it when a 
 pupil of Man and not in its natural condition. Most 
 of the stories of the sagacity and reasoning power qf 
 tame Elephants, that one hears so often, are pretty 
 inventions, and are not founded on incidents ob- 
 served in life. Such is the story of the tailor who 
 administered a prick with his needle to an Elephant 
 instead of the' accustomed sweetmeat; the animal 
 went to the river, and on its return, in revenge 
 squirted a quantity of muddy water on the tailor and 
 his work; or the story of the animal which lifted the 
 wheel of a cannon over a fallen soldier, to save him 
 from being crushed, and so on. An Elephant in the 
 wild state undoubtedly exhibits far more of simplic- 
 ity than sagacity, and the trained animal, which 
 apparently sometimes acts on its own ideas, does in 
 reality only what its trainer suggests. Sanderson 
 says: "Let us see \yhether the wild Elephant exhibits 
 more intelligence than ahy other' animal. Though 
 its trunk is furnished with an appendage which 
 
 could protect it very efficiently from a clumsily made 
 pit fall, covered with a few poles and branches, it 
 usually falls easily into the trap. Its companions 
 run away in terror, though they could readily extri- 
 cate it by treading down the earth at the edges of the 
 pit. If the animal that has fallen in is young, the 
 mother stays near until the hunters arrive, but she 
 has no thought of helping her offspring; she does 
 not even bethink herself of breaking off branches 
 and throwing them to it, to appease its hunger; but 
 stories which ascribe such natural stupidity to the 
 Elephant find far less of credence than those which 
 falsely affirm that the mother assists her -young in 
 every way, throws it grass to feed on, fetches water 
 in her trunk for it to drink, or fills the pit with 
 sticks and branches to aid her infant to escape. 
 Further evidence, of stupidity is furnished in the fact 
 that entire herds of Elephants are driven into en- 
 closures surrounded by indifferent fences, into which 
 no other wild animal could be driven, and some are 
 caught by having their legs tied by small parties of 
 Men who creep up together with a few tame Ele- 
 phants. Escaped Elephants are recaptured in this 
 way with little trouble; even experience does not 
 teach them wisdom. Such facts surely do not har- 
 monize with the assertion that Elephants are uncom- 
 monly intelligent animals, and still less, that they 
 are capable of judicious deliberation. I do not be- 
 lieve that I wrong the Elephant by saying that in 
 many respects it is a stupid creature; and I can, 
 without hesitation, affirm that many of the remark- 
 able stories told of its exhibitions of wisdom are 
 only fables, in the main crediting the animal with 
 too high a grade of intelligence, unless, indeed, they 
 refer to tricks of strength or docility, which it ac- 
 complishes under the guidance of its trainer. 
 Elephants are of " Let what has already been said suf- 
 
 Amiable Dis- fice as to the intelligence of the Ele- 
 position. phant. Let us pass to the considera- 
 tion of its display of emotion in captivity. I think 
 that everybody who has had to deal with Elephants, 
 will agree with me, when I say that hardly enough 
 commendation can be given to their good qualities, 
 while bad traits are to be observed in only excep- 
 tional cases. The best qualities of the Elephant are 
 obedience, gentleness and patience. In these re- 
 spects it is surpassed by ho other domestic animal, 
 even under the most trying circumstances. When it 
 has to wait in the glare of the sun or has to endure 
 painful surgical operations, it seldom exhibits any 
 irritation. It never refuses to do anything, when 
 properly guided, unless it is afraid. Elephants, no 
 matter whether they be wild or tame, are exceed- 
 ingly timorous, and their fear is easily aroused by 
 objects with which they are unfamiliar. Neverthe- 
 less many of them indicate dispositions naturally 
 courageous, which only need skillful development 
 to render them invincible; this is proven by the be- 
 havior of many Elephants on a Tiger-hunt." 
 Caution and Tim- Timidity is exhibited by wild Ele- 
 
 idity ofEle- phants in all their actions and habits; 
 phants. whether they are in search of food; 
 whether they go to the natural licks to procure salt, 
 of which they are very fond, or to their drinking 
 pools or bathing places, they always proceed with 
 the utmost caution; but once assured of their safety 
 they seem to extract from life the greatest comfort. 
 They break branches off the trees, as if only bent on 
 pleasure, fan themselves with them, drive away an- 
 noying Flies and then leisurely proce'ed to eat the 
 twigs, after having previously prepared them by 
 
402 
 
 THE ELEPHANTS. 
 
 breaking into small fragments. But though their 
 repasts are usually accompanied with all the com- 
 forts to be derived from leisurely deliberateness they 
 do not pass off noiselessly, but are on the contrary 
 sometimes accompanied by a frightful din, as Heug- 
 lin witnessed near the upper Nile. The breaking of 
 twigs, the crash of the boughs and trees, often broken 
 through the united efforts of several individuals, the 
 chewing and breathing, the dull, roaring or growling 
 sound caused by the circulation of air or friction in 
 their huge intestines, the thumping of the ponderous 
 feet as they are stamped upon the soil, usually work- 
 ing it into a semi-fluid condition; the squirting of 
 water over the body through' the trunk, the flapping 
 of the huge ears, which are often extended as sun- 
 shades, the rubbing of the massive bodies against 
 thick tree-trunks, and the high-pitched, trumpet-like 
 sounds uttered from time to time, all these unite to 
 create a deafening concert of sound. In like pro- 
 portion to such noise is the indescribable devasta- 
 tion which a herd of Elephants is capable of inflict- 
 ing on a forest. "What the powerful foot does not 
 tread into the ground is overthrown, the strongest 
 trees are uprooted, their branches are broken; the 
 underbrush is heaped in wild confusion, as if torn 
 down by a raging whirlwind; trees which have de- 
 fied the storms of more than a hundred years, are 
 snapped short off like reeds." Boughs, of a cir- 
 cumference greater than that of a human arm, are 
 swallowed by an Elephant without difficulty. Very 
 large limbs they denude of leaves and branches en- 
 tirely or partially, leaving the wood. In dry, desert- 
 like regions they also dig up the soil, to reach the 
 succulent roots. 
 
 Methods of In the open country, for instance in 
 Hunting Ele- southern Africa, where one can circle 
 phants. about on a well-trained Horse at any 
 
 desired distance from the Elephant, the sportsman 
 generally uses a magazine gun, often choosing a 
 military rifle, such as the Sharp, Martini-Henry or 
 Spencer, or the heavier calibers of the Winchester 
 pattern, the rapid fire of these arms rendering them 
 capable of hitting the animal with a great many 
 bullets in quick succession until it falls. Wherever 
 the prevalence of the pestiferous Tsetse Fly renders 
 the use of Horses impossible, or where by reason 
 of the obstructions of forests or undergrowth the 
 movements of a mounted huntsman are impeded, 
 the Elephant hunter generally travels on foot and 
 uses a smooth-bore gun of heavy Caliber, or else a 
 ponderous double rifle. As the hunter generally ap- 
 proaches close to the quarry in the thicket and fires 
 at short range, usually at a distance of some thirty 
 paces, aiming with unerring precision at the most 
 vulnerable part of the body (ordinarily, if the posi- 
 tion of the game allows, midway between the ear 
 and eye), a single bullet of heavy weight propelled 
 by a strong charge of powder usually suffices to fell 
 the most gigantic Elephant. 
 
 Perils of Ele- The perils and privations met with 
 phant Hunt- on such hunts are so serious that 
 i"g- only the hardiest Men can endure 
 
 them; but the danger for the sportsman is not as 
 great as one would be apt to imagine. It does hap- 
 pen though that sometimes an enraged or wounded 
 Elephant rushes at his destroyer; and it is also true 
 that occasionally hunters have breathed their last 
 under the feet of one of these forest giants. When 
 such a rrionster is in a rage the sight of it produces 
 an indelible impression, even aside from that left by 
 the swift movements of its huge bulk which make 
 
 the ground tremble. With trunk rolled up, and ears 
 slightly extended on each side, swinging its tail in a 
 circle, it fiercely charges at the enemy; its fore part 
 seems to grow, or at any rate strikes the observer, 
 especially if he be the object of attack, as higher 
 and more powerful than ever before; the long folds 
 of skin on its hinder quarters shake and protrude; 
 the huge mass pushes on rapidly and relentlessly; 
 angry snorts alternate with cries of rage, the like of 
 which he who has never heard such sounds, can not 
 realize. If the enraged beast reaches its victim 
 under these circumstances, that object of its wrath 
 is lost — given over beyond rescue, a sacrifice to the 
 wild fury of the maddened brute. 
 
 The extermination of the Indian Elephants is not 
 so near at hand. The regulations of thinking offi- 
 cials have modified and restricted the modes em- 
 ployed by the natives, of capturing these animals, 
 by which so many of them were crippled, and the 
 wild Elephants now enjoy complete immunity, not 
 only in the Western Ghauts, but also in the dense 
 jungles and forests extending along the foot of the 
 Himalayas to Burmah. and Siam. The number of 
 those which are annually caught by the government 
 is small, and there is no doubt that the wilderness 
 which has been given over to the thick skinned 
 creatures is at present populated as densely as is 
 either expedient or desirable. 
 
 Methods of Trap- ^^ Africa the natives still pursue their 
 ping African hunt of the gigantic quarry as cruelly 
 Elephants. and ruthlessly as they did in the 
 ancient times. In the west of Africa, in the Ogowe 
 region, the Negroes twine creepers from tree to tree 
 in the form of hurdles, drive the Elephants into 
 those parts of the forest which they have thus en- 
 closed, and when the animals stop in indecision in 
 front of the barrier formed by the interlaced creep- 
 ers, they thrust hundreds of spears into the bodies 
 of the strongest and largest, until they fall. It is 
 more usual, though, to construct such a fence in a 
 wide circular course, leaving a point open for the en- 
 trance and then, with all possible speed, to complete 
 the enclosure, when some of the Elephants have 
 inadvertently wandered in or have been driven in. 
 Sentinels are then posted all around, and fires are 
 lighted in order to frighten back those animals which 
 have come too near the fence. Though the smallest 
 Elephant could easily break through the loose and 
 weak enclosure and escape from the poorly armed 
 natives, the captive animals do not dare to try to 
 escape. They are completely starved by the patient 
 hunters, shot at, made targets of a constant shower 
 of spears, and finally succumb either from wounds or 
 hunger, having reached a state of utmost exhaustion. 
 Method of Domes- T^i^^ mode of procedure for the cap- 
 ticating Asiatic ture of living Elephants with a view 
 Elephants. to taming them and training the wild 
 beast to the service of Man, is much more attractive 
 and humane than any other kind of hunt. The 
 Indians have perfectly mastered this art. Among 
 them are regular professional Elephant catchers, 
 called "panikis," who follow the trail of an Elephant 
 as a good Hound tracks a Stag; traces imperceptible 
 to other eyes are to them distinctly legible pages 
 of a book to be unerringly construed. Their only 
 appliance is a strong, elastic noose of Deer or Buf- 
 falo hide, which the hunter, if he be alone, casts 
 around the Elephant's foot. Sometimes a couple will 
 follow the animal with noiseless tread and ensnare it 
 at an opportune moment, or even wind the noose 
 themselves around two of its legs as the Elephant 
 
THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT. This species of the Elephant family differs from the other or Indian species by its larger ears, more 
 
 powerful tusks and darker skin. It roams wild over a large portion of Africa, although the eager pursuit of the ivory hunters is constantly thin- 
 ning the herds. This picture brings out the characteristics of this great animal with wonderful fidelity. (Elephas africanus.) 
 
 (403) 
 
404 
 
 THE ELEPHANTS. 
 
 stands quietly. How they manage to get up, unper- 
 ceived, to the wary animal is a mystery. A Euro- 
 pean cannot follow them on such a trip, as his pres- 
 ence would spoil everything; so he must content 
 himself with the accounts the hunters themselves 
 give of their exploits. That mode of capture which 
 delivers entire herds into the power of Man, is an 
 undertaking of much grander proportions and more 
 profitable results. For this purpose the beginning 
 of the dry season is usually selected. Then the head 
 huntsman repairs to the locality where a numerous 
 herd of wild Elephants has been ascertained to ex- 
 ist, accompanied by a few hundred trained natives, 
 and as many tame Elephants as possible. The wild 
 herd is first noiselessly surrounded by a double line 
 of sentinels, the circumference of the circle extend- 
 ing over a distance of from three to six miles, and 
 the Sentinels are posted from sixty to one hundred 
 paces apart, according to the nature of the locality. 
 As a rule, a herd surrounded in this manner can 
 effect its escape only through gross carelessness of 
 the guards. Within a few hours the huntsmen have 
 silently fenced in the Whole area with split bamboo, 
 and have created for themselves shelters made of 
 branches and heavy foliage. In this manner a large 
 portion of the forest is completely enclosed, due 
 care being taken to provide an abundance of food 
 and water from natural sources. The Elephants are 
 thus nominally confined, but are usually restless only 
 for the first few nights, when any attempt to break 
 through the barrier is easily defeated by means of 
 torches, rifle shots and shouting. This enclosure is 
 maintained for from four to ten days, or, until tfce 
 time that a strong pale, ox pea, the "Khedda," be- 
 gUiQ ^simuitaiieonsly -with the larger outside circle, is 
 completed at some favorable spot within the first en- 
 closure. The solid pale is constructed of trunks and 
 posts, and is about twelve feet high; it encloses acir- 
 cular space of from twenty to fifty yards in diame- 
 ter, leaving free an entrance about four yards wide, 
 which can be closed by a heavy portcullis or trap- 
 door of logs, two lines of palisades, forming two sides 
 of a triangle of which this gate is the apex, leading 
 from it like wings to the distance of about one hun- 
 dred yards. As soon as these arrangements are 
 completed, the circle around the herd is contracted. 
 The nearest sentries are posted at the ends of two 
 wing-palisades, while the more distant ones advance 
 against the Elephants, slowly and prudently at first, 
 then increasing in speed; finally, when the animals 
 have reached the wide funnel-shaped opening of the 
 Khedda, a general assault takes place, accompanied 
 by shouts and discharge of firearms, the animals 
 effecting their retreat between the two converging 
 lines of palisades and entering the inner paling by 
 the narrow gate. The portcullis drops down, as the 
 rope which holds it is cut in two, and the herd is 
 taken. This driving-in process is not always unat- 
 tended with risk and danger, for the huge animals 
 often take alarm, and in their wild rush at the hunts- 
 men, break through the lines and escape. They 
 must then either be encircled once more or else be 
 given up entirely. As a rule, however, the hunters 
 succeed in driving the surrounded herd into the pen 
 and keeping them there in spite of their restlessness 
 and occasional attempts to break through the pal- 
 ing. When the first tumult has subsided, tame Ele- 
 
 phants, together with their trainers and the hunts- 
 men, are sent into the Khedda. Here the operation 
 of individually securing the wild Elephants, one by 
 one, is slowly pursued. As each animal is suffi- 
 ciently subjugated, it is chained and led into the ad- 
 jacent forest to be firmly secured to a tree, and held 
 for further disposition. This ends the work of the 
 huntsmen, and that of the trainer begins. The wild 
 Elephants at first exhibit a, more or less refractory 
 temper, but as soon as they have become used to 
 Man and to their tame associates they are taken tO' 
 the government training parks or to the place of 
 residence of their captors, where their training is 
 completed. 
 
 African Elephants In our zoological gardens the Af- 
 Bear Captiu- rican Elephant thrives as well as. 
 ity Well. its Asiatic brother, and is fer- 
 
 tile in devices for meeting its wants under circum- 
 stances which correspond little to its natural environ- 
 ments; for instance, where it lacks sufficient Space 
 for free exercise or a large enough bath tub, it com- 
 pensates for the want of the former by walking up 
 and down or by lifting and setting down its feet,, 
 and for the absence of the latter by squirting water 
 over its body with its trunk. Its excellently devel- 
 oped organs of the perceptive senses, its docility 
 and its gentle temper are patent to every observer. 
 It learns to play and "works" willingly and with: 
 pleasure, and therefore cojistitutes one of the most 
 prominent features of every menagerie, as it also be- 
 comes the iavorite pet of the visitors to a zoological 
 ;gardeii. The amount of food it consumes is very 
 large. Haacke says that an Asiatic Elephant in 
 the Frankfort Zoological Garden, about forty-three 
 years old, received daily sixteen pounds of wheat 
 bran, sixteen pounds of rye bread, four pounds of 
 rice and fifty pounds of hay, not counting the straw 
 of his, bpddiog, which he occasionally ate and the tid- 
 bits of the visitors, which usually assumed the shape 
 of wheat and rye bread, sugar, fruit and similar 
 things. The same animal drank about sixteen pails 
 of water daily. 
 Flesh of African The flesh of the African elephant 
 Elephants as an has the taste of beef, but is much 
 Article of Food, tougher and of coarser grain. The 
 Negroes cut the muscles into long strips, dry them 
 in the sun or over the fire and grind them to a coarse 
 powder before using, which they mix with their other 
 plain dishes. During the hunts of the Niam-Niam a 
 sufficient number of Elephants are sometimes killed 
 to supply several villages with meat for months. 
 " Often did I see people," says Schweinfurth, "walk- 
 ing towards their huts, carrying what I believed to- 
 be large bundles of fire-wood, these being their 
 portion of Elephant flesh, which, cut in long strips, 
 and dried over the fire, had assumed an appearance 
 closely resembling that of wood and dry branches." 
 Economic Value For the world's commerce the only 
 of the Elephant part of importance in the make-up' 
 Product. of the Elephant is the ivory, but that 
 is of very considerable value. The total movement 
 of the ivory of now existing species of Elephants, 
 which was handled in commerce during a period of 
 five years recently noted, gave an annual average of 
 about 1,736,000 pounds. Ceylon and Sumatra fur- 
 nished 4,000 pounds, the Indies 36,000 pounds, and 
 Africa 1,696,000 pounds. 
 
Zhc (^bt^Zocb Hnimals. 
 
 TENTH ORDER: Perissodactyla. 
 
 IKE that of the Elephants, 
 the order of the Odd-Toed 
 Animals contains only the 
 few survivors of a tribe of 
 a formerly extensive devel- 
 opment; they are large ani- 
 mals, moving on hoofed 
 toes, the toe equivalent to 
 the third in five-toed ani- 
 mals being of greater de- 
 velopment than all the 
 others. With the Horses 
 it is the only one that is 
 developed at all. The 
 dentition of the Perissodactyla is distinguished by 
 the small size or absence of canines and the tuber- 
 cles of the molars connected by ridges. Both jaws 
 contain incisors. 
 
 There are about twenty-five species of Odd-Toed 
 Animals, and they are indigenous to well-nigh the 
 entire globe, with the exception of Australia; they 
 may be divided into four sharply-defined families: 
 the one-toed Horses, the Tapirs with four toes in 
 front and three behind, the three-toed Rhinoceroses 
 and the Hyracidee or Coney family, possessing four 
 toes on their fore-feet and three on the hinder pair. 
 A general description of the order can not be given, 
 as the four families have very little in common with 
 each other, even in their modes of life. 
 
 ^be Iborsee. 
 
 FIRST FAMILY: Equid^. 
 
 All the now existing Horses form so clearly dis- 
 tinguishable a group and are so similar to each other 
 in anatomical development and general peculiarities 
 t^at one can not help uniting them all in one spe- 
 cies. 
 
 THE HORSES PROPER. 
 
 The Horses proper {Equus) are of moderate size, 
 have a beautiful form, relatively vigorous limbs and 
 a lean, elongated head with large, lustrous eyes, 
 moderately large, pointed, mobile ears and wide- 
 open nostrils. The neck is strong, the body is 
 rounded and fleshy, the hair soft and short, not 
 erect, but lying close to the body, growing into 
 long waving strands in the mane and tail. The 
 one daintily hoofed toe on each foot sufifices to 
 distinguish the Horses from all other odd-toed ani- 
 mals. Each side of the jaws above and below con- 
 tains three incisors, six long, quadrilateral molars 
 exhibiting intricate and tortuous convolutions ■ of 
 enamel on the grinding surface and one small, 
 hooked canine tooth of a blunt, conical shape, which 
 may in individual cases be absent. Among the 
 
 digestive organs the narrow gullet, the communica- 
 tion of which with the stomach is closed by a valve, 
 is deserving of notice. The stomach itself is a sim- 
 ple, undivided, oblong and proportionately rather- 
 small sac. 
 
 NaXioe We must regard the greater part of 
 
 Country of the northern hemisphere as the orig- 
 the Horse. jnal native country of the Horses, 
 the fossil remains of which are first met with in the 
 strata of the tertiary period. In Europe the wild 
 Horses seem to have become extinct not very long- 
 ago; in Asia and Africa they still roam in herds- 
 over high table-lands and mountains. In America, 
 where they were extinct, descendants of imported 
 stock have reverted to the wild state; Australia, also, 
 has become inhabited by Horses that have returned, 
 to savagery. Herbage and other vegetable sub- 
 stances form their food; in confinement they have 
 learned to consume even animal food, such as fleshy, 
 fish and Locusts. 
 
 Gcmrcd AttfJ- All Horses are lively, active, intelli- 
 butesofthe gent 3m".ma,ls; their gait is graceful 
 Horse. and stately. The -usial pace oi the 
 
 untamed varieties is a tolerably brisk trot, their 
 faster gait being a relatively light gallop. They are 
 peaceful and good-natured to other animals which 
 do not harm them, but anxiously shun Man and the 
 larger beasts of prey; when hard pressed, they 
 courageously defend themselves, however, by strik- 
 ing with their feet and biting. Their rate of prop- 
 agation is small, the mare giving birth to only a 
 single infant, called a "colt," in any one year. 
 
 The Domestic At least two and probably three va- 
 Horse an Animal rieties have been subjugated by Man. 
 
 of Antiquity. History does not record, nor does tra- 
 dition tell us of the time when they were first won_ 
 to our service; no one can with certainty affirm upon 
 which continent the Horses were first tamed. The 
 tribes of central Asia have been generally believed 
 to be the ones to whom we are indebted for the first 
 subjugation of the Horse; the half-savage former in- 
 habitants of central Europe also reduced the Horse 
 to a state of domestication. But we lack any defi- 
 nite knowledge about the times in which the subju- 
 gation was accomplished and in regard to the na- 
 tions to whom we should turn in gratitude for it. 
 Various Breeds of Even at the present time the steppes. 
 
 Wild Horses of southeastern Europe contain herds 
 Known. of Horses which roam over them 
 and are regarded by some as the progenitors of our 
 domestic animal and by others as springing from the 
 latter and having reverted to the savage state. These 
 Horses, called Tarpans, have all the characteristics 
 of unregenerated wild animals, and are considered 
 such by the Tartars .and, .Qo§sacks. The Tarpan is a 
 small Horse, with thin but strong, enduring legs, a 
 rather long, thin neck, a relatively thick, blunt-muz- 
 zled head, pointed ears inclined in a forward direc- 
 
 (405) 
 
406 
 
 THE ODD-TOED ANIMALS. 
 
 tion, and small, lustrous, fiery, wicked eyes; in 'sum- 
 mer its hair is thick, short and wavy, especially on 
 the hinder quarters, where it becomes almost curly; 
 in winter it is thick, coarse and long, especially on 
 the chin, where it nearly reaches the proportions of 
 a beard; the mane is short, thick, bushy and curly; 
 the tail is of moderate length. The prevailing color 
 in summer is a uniform pale brown, yellowish brown 
 or sorrel tint; in winter the hair becomes lighter, 
 sometimes even white, and the mane and tail look 
 uniformly dark. Piebald specimens are never seen, 
 and black ones very rarely. 
 
 Habits of the The Tarpan is always found in herds, 
 
 Wild Horse of which may number several hundred. 
 
 Tartary. Usually the herd is subdivided into 
 
 smaller, family-like groups, each led by a stallion. 
 
 These herds inhabit wide, open and high table-lands 
 
 or plains and wander from one spot to another, usu- 
 
 their fore-hoofs. The story which represents them 
 as forming a circle and kicking with their hind legs 
 has been disproven long ago. 
 The Tarpan Diffi- ^^^ Tarpan is difficult to tame; it 
 cult to Domes- seems that the animal cannot endure 
 ticate. captivity. His lively temper, his 
 
 strength and savage disposition, defy even the Mon- 
 gols, well • acquainted as they are with the break- 
 ing of Horses. The Tarpan is hunted to its death 
 with zeal and passion on account of the considera- 
 ble damage it causes among herds of domesticated 
 Horses by enticing them away whenever they are 
 left to run at liberty. 
 
 These accounts leave the question as to the origin 
 of the Horse unsolved; opinions oppose each other. 
 The characteristics of the Tarpan offer no decisive 
 evidence as to its original character, for Horses re- 
 vert to the wild state easily and rapidly. The herds 
 
 ^^ 
 
 THE TABPAN.— In the steppes north of the Sea of Azof, are large herds of these wild Horses which are made up of numerous families 
 led by a stallion. These Horses are small, of dun color, have short manes, rather short tails, and are very fleet and timid. {Eguus tartan.) 
 
 ally pursuing their course against the wind. They 
 are exceedingly wary and shy, - look around with 
 high, uplifted heads, snort, whinny, prick their ears, 
 expand their nostrils, and as a rule perceive any 
 menacing danger in good time. The stallion is the 
 sole ruler of the society. He cares for their security 
 but tolerates no irregularity among his subjects. As 
 soon as something arouses his attention, this patri- 
 arch begins to snort and quickly erects his ears; with 
 head held high he trots in one particular direction, 
 neighing violently if he perceives any danger and 
 the whole herd scampers off at a frenzied gallop. 
 Sometimes the animals disappear from sight as if by 
 magic. This occurs, when they conceal themselves 
 in some deep depression to await further develop- 
 ments. Beasts of- prey do not intimidate the cou- 
 rageous and' pugnacious stallions. Against Wolves 
 they sally forth, neighing, and beat them down with 
 
 inhabiting the pampas of South America are an 
 effective example of this. Let us cast a glance at 
 them. 
 
 Origin of the "The town of Buenos Ayres," says 
 Wild Horse of the Azara, "founded in 1535, was subse- 
 Pampas. quently abandoned. The emigrating 
 inhabitants did not even go to the trouble of collect- 
 ing all their Horses and about five to seven of them 
 were left behind, free to follow their own devices. 
 When the same city was again taken possession of 
 and populated in 1580, a number of wild Horses 
 were found, the progeny of those which had been left 
 behind. As early as 1 596 everybody was allowed to 
 capture those Horses and use them. This is the orig- 
 inal stock from which sprung the innumerable herds 
 of Horses which now rove south of the Rio de la 
 Plata." The Cimarrones, as these Horses are called, 
 now live in all parts of the pampas in enormous 
 
THE HORSES— HORSES PROPER. 
 
 4or 
 
 herds, some of which are occasionally composed of 
 thousands of individuals. They are a nuisance be- 
 cause they not only consume good pasturage, but 
 also lead away domestic Horses. Fortunately they 
 do not come by night. The natives of the pampas 
 eat the flesh of the Cimarrones, especially that of 
 colts and mares. They also capture some with a 
 view to taming them; the Spaniards, on the other 
 hand, make no attempt to use them. Very rarely 
 does a European capture a wild specimen and tame it. 
 In Paraguay no wild Horses are found, but the con- 
 dition of the domestic Horses of this country does 
 not differ materially from that of the wild ones. The 
 animals called Mustangs are so neglected that they 
 really degenerate. They are of medium height, have 
 
 with their mothers until they are three or four 
 years old, and as long as they are not weaned the 
 mothers are greatly attached to them and some- 
 times defend them even against the Jaguar. When 
 the animals are a little over two or three years old, 
 one of the young male colts is selected and given 
 some fillies, with which he has been accustomed to 
 graze in one particular spot. The Horses belonging 
 to one herd never associate with those belonging to 
 others, and they keep so faithfully together that it 
 is difificult to separate a grazing Horse from the 
 main body of his clan or group. If two or more 
 herds are put together, as for instance when collect- 
 ing all the Horses belonging to one farm, they 
 immediately seek their customary companions and 
 
 THE A&ABIAN STEED —The Horse has been the most prized of animals with the Arabs from an early period. The Arabian Horse, though not 
 very tall in stature, is of beautiful form. It is fleet, docile and of great endurance and is treated with great consideration by the Arabs. 
 
 their 
 
 a large head, long ears and large heavy joints; only 
 the neck and body are of tolerably regular build. 
 The hair is short in summer, long in winter, and the 
 mane and tail are always thin and short. 
 
 The Domestic The Horses of South America live 
 Horse in South out of doors all the year round. 
 America. Every week they are collected, to 
 prevent their going altogether astray; their wounds 
 are looked after and cleansed, and the manes and 
 tails of stallions are cut about every three years. 
 Nobody thinks of improving the breed. " Usually," 
 says Rengger, " the Horses live in small herds or 
 groups in some locality, to which they have been 
 accustomed from birth. Each stallion is given from 
 twelve to eighteen mares, which he keeps together 
 ind defends against strange Horses. The colts live 
 
 divide themselves into their original groups. The 
 animals not only show great attachment to each 
 other, however, but also to their pasturage. I have 
 seen some that returned to their old haunts from 
 a distance of eighty hours' travel. Yet more strange 
 is the fact, that sometimes the Horses of a whole 
 region set out upon a migration, either singly or 
 in troops. This happens most frequently when a 
 violent rain falls after a season of dry weather, and 
 they are probably actuated by the fear of hail, which 
 often accompanies the first thunderstorm." 
 
 Senses of Wild The senses of these nearly wild 
 Horses Highly animals seem to be more acute than 
 Deueloped. those of European Horses. Their 
 hearing is extremely delicate. At night the move- 
 ments of their ears show that they hear the slight- 
 
408 
 
 THE ODD-TOED ANIMALS. 
 
 •est noise, even when it is unperceived by their rid- 
 ers. Their sight is rather deficient, like that of all 
 Horses; but their free life gives them wide expe- 
 rience in distinguishing objects at a great distance. 
 Their sense of smell helps them to a closer and 
 more thorough knowledge of their surroundings, for 
 they carefully sniff everything that is strange to 
 them. Through this organ of scent they learn to 
 know their riders, their harness, the barn in which 
 they are saddled, etc.; by it they recognize bottom- 
 less quagmires in marshy regions, and readily find 
 their way in the darkness of night, or in a dense fog, 
 to their domicile or their pasturage. Good Horses 
 sniff at their riders at the moment of mounting, and 
 I have seen some that would not let a person mount 
 at all, or resisted his guidance, if he did not carry a 
 
 devoid of danger; for one often sees animals which 
 are severely wounded in the hoofs and lamed by 
 these cactus-thorns. When the coolness of night at 
 last succeeds the glaring heat of day, the Horses and 
 Cattle are still deprived of their rest. The Vampires 
 disturb them in their sleep and fasten on their backs 
 to suck their blood." 
 
 Many Wild Horses When finally the protracted drought 
 Perish During the is followed by the beneficent rainy 
 Rainy Season, season, the scene changes. Now 
 the surface of the soil is barely permeated by water 
 and the prairie becomes covered with the most mag- 
 nificent verdure. Horses and Cattle graze in the full 
 enjoyment of life. The Jaguar hides in the high 
 grass and destroys many a Horse and colt. Soon 
 the rivers swell, and those same animals which Ian- 
 
 poncho or cloak, such as thj^ natives wear w^ovbreak-.-guished, with thirst during part of the year, now have 
 in the Horses. Their power of smell does not ex- to'live like amphibious creatures. The mares, to- 
 tend to a great distance, however. I rarely saw a gether with their colts, retreat to the knolls and ele- 
 Horse which could scent a Jaguar at the distance of vations of the plains, which emerge above the watery 
 
 surface like islands. But the dry 
 space becomes more contracted 
 every day. For lack of food the 
 half famished animals swim about 
 for hours and miserably subsist 
 on the leaves of the water-rushes 
 which float and wave on the sur- 
 face of the brown, muddy, seeth- 
 ing water. Many of the colts 
 are drowned, while others are 
 caught by Crocodiles, crushed by 
 blows from the tails of these Sau- 
 rians, and then devoured. Not 
 infrequently one sees Horses 
 which bear marked traces of en- 
 counters with Crocodiles. Among 
 the fish they also have a danger- 
 ous enemy. The sloughs or pools 
 left by the receding waters are 
 filled with innuraerable Electric 
 Eels. These remarkable fish can 
 kill the largest animals by means 
 of their powerful discharges if 
 their efforts are concentrated 
 upon certain portions of the body. 
 The road near the Uri Tucu had 
 to be abandoned, because these Eels increased and 
 congregated to such an extent in a little river cross- 
 ing the route that every year many Horses were 
 drowned while stunned from shocks administered to 
 them as they attempted to ford the stream. 
 Panio-Striclien Another element, yet more dangerous 
 Herds Destroy to the herds, is found in the frantic 
 Themselves, terror which sometimes takes posses- 
 sion of them. When struck by a panic, hundreds 
 and thousands of them rush on in a frenzy of fright; 
 stopped by no obstacle, running against rocks and 
 dashing themselves to pieces by falling over preci- 
 pices. They suddenly appear in the camps of travel- 
 ers spending the night in the open country; rush on 
 between the fires, over tents and vehicles, inspire 
 with their own fears the beasts of burden, which 
 tear themselves loose and are borne along in the 
 irresistible current to certain destruction or irre- 
 trievable loss. Farther north the Indians swell the 
 number of foes which embitter the life of the wild 
 creatures. They catch them to use in hunting, and 
 in breaking them torment them so badly that the 
 boldest and most refractory Horse must succumb in 
 a short time. As with the Bedouins of the Sahara, 
 the Horse is often the cause of the bloodiest com- 
 
 THE TBAEEHNEN HORSE. — A famous German breed of fine Horses, receiving tliis name 
 from tlie noted stables in wliich its excellent faculties and fine running qualities were developed. Next 
 to the English Thoroughbred it is the best runner among European varieties of the domestic Horse. 
 
 fifty paces. Therefore they are the most frequent 
 victims of this beast of prey in the populated dis- 
 tricts of Paraguay. 
 
 Wild Horses A. von Humboldt has given us in a 
 Described by Von few words a masterly description of 
 Humboldt. the manner of life of the wild 
 Horses in the llanos lying more to the north: 
 "When the grass of those immense plains becomes 
 charred and resolves iMo dust in summer, under the 
 perpendicular rays of the never-clouded sun, the 
 soil gradually cracks, as if it were torn by powerful 
 earthquakes. Enveloped in dense clouds of dust 
 and pressed by hunger and a burning thirst, the 
 Horses and Cattle roam about, the former with their 
 heads lifted high up, against the'wind, snorting and 
 inflating their nostrils, trying to discover by the 
 dampness of the air-current the location of some 
 pool that has not yet all evaporated. The Mules 
 try to quench their thirst in another way more delib- 
 erate and showing a higher order of intelligence. A 
 spherical and spinous-coated plant, the melon cac- 
 tus, encloses a watery pulp in its prickly exterior. 
 The Mule beats these thorns aside with its fore-feet 
 in order to drink the cool juice. But the drawing 
 of water from this living, vegetable source is not 
 
THE HORSES— HORSES PROPER. 
 
 409 
 
 bats among the Indians. He who owns no Horses 
 
 tries to steal a few. Horse-stealing is considered 
 
 an honorable occupation by the Red-skins. Gangs 
 
 of thieves follow wandering tribes or caravans for 
 
 weeks, until they find an opportunity of stealing all 
 
 the saddle Horses. The Horses of America are also 
 
 zealously pursued on account of the value of their 
 
 5kins and flesh. 
 
 Unit WiiH Hnrsps '^^^ Horses in the United States and Can- 
 
 ^'h. North ^^^ ^^^ ^" *^ descendants of imported 
 
 America varieties, there being no species of Horse 
 
 indigenous to this continent. In Texas, 
 
 Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona and California, the descendants 
 
 of various Spanish breeds, as well as the Mustang proper, are 
 
 kept in large numbers; and being allowed to range at large 
 
 over sparsely populated regions, have reverted to practically a 
 
 long, arched neck, a broad chest and broad crupper, 
 a narrow back, round thighs, very long true ribs and 
 very short false ones, a compact cylindrical body, 
 long thighs and hams, the latter, with the hocks, 
 forming a slight angle "like those of the Ostrich," 
 with muscles "like those of the Camel"; a black, 
 unspotted hoof, a fine, scanty mane and an abun- 
 dant tail, thick at the root and thin at the extremity. 
 Four parts must be broad: the forehead,the chest, 
 the hips and the limbs; four must be long: the neck, 
 the upper part of the limbs, the abdomen and the 
 flanks; and four short: the crupper, the ears, the frog 
 of the foot and the tail. These physical character- 
 istics prove that the Horse comes of good stock and 
 is swift;, for its shape then resembles "the Grey- 
 
 wild state. It is true that these Horses are the property of 
 
 , various owners, but many of the Horses in the larger herds are hound, the Pigeon , and the Camel.' 
 only seen by their masters at 
 the time of the annual or semi- 
 annual "round-up," when the 
 Horse owners combine their 
 forces to drive to a "corral" or 
 enclosure, all the Horses within 
 their range, in order that the 
 colts may be branded. It is 
 necessary, in order to settle the 
 question of ownership, that the 
 colt be brought to the branding 
 pen while it is still following its 
 mother, otherwise it is regarded 
 as a "gread" or orphan, and 
 any Horse owner may brand it. 
 The breaking of these Horses 
 to harness is usually a very dif- 
 ficult feat. Most of them are 
 fiven to what is popularly 
 nown as "bucking." The 
 Horse piills vigorously at the 
 bridle, plants its four feet nearly 
 •together, and with its back 
 arched keeps up a vigorous and 
 jerky jumping up and down 
 which only experts can over- 
 come. Even the most accom- 
 plished riders will often be 
 thrown by these wild creatures. 
 There are great differences in 
 the animals, however, and not 
 infrequently a Horse of this 
 kind will prove as easy to break 
 to saddle or harness as the most 
 docile of ordinary colts. 
 
 The description, or even 
 a mere catalogue, of the 
 various, almost innumer- 
 able, breeds of the Horse 
 {Equus caballus) is not with- 
 in the scope of this book; 
 besides many excellent, 
 comprehensive works have 
 been devoted to the Horse. 
 
 It will suffice if we mention the most important 
 
 breeds, which, have ^jbecome distinguished for their 
 
 high development under careful training. 
 
 The Arabian Horse The Arab steed ranks first among 
 
 the Type of the Horses. "The thoroughbred 
 
 ENGLISH IHOBODGHBBED HOBSE. Largely but not solely descended from the Arab steed, the 
 
 Knglish Thoroughbred represents the results of two centuries of cultivation of the qualities of endurance and 
 speed. The American racing stock is practically of this breed, descended from Horses imported from England 
 within the past century. 
 
 The Training . At eighteen months the training of 
 o/ an i-4ra6 , thfeinoblB animal begins. At first a 
 Steed. boy tries to mount it. He leads the 
 
 Horse to drink and to graze, cleans it and cares for 
 it in every way. Both learn simultaneously: the 
 boy becomes a rider; the colt becomes a saddle 
 Horse. But the young Arab never will require of 
 the colt the performance of tasks which it can not 
 accomplish. Every movement of the animal is 
 watched; it is treated with consideration and ten- 
 
 Excellence. Horse," says Count WrangeC "has 
 no nobler representative than the Arabian Horse of 
 pure descent, which stands on the boundary line 
 between the natural breeds and those of civilization, 
 and is praised as the noblest animal of creation by , 
 
 the naturalist, the expert and the poet." According derness, but a refractory or malicious disposition is 
 
 to the standard of requirements set for the Horse 
 by the code of the Arabs, a pure-bred Horse must 
 combine a symmetrical frame, short and nervously 
 mobile ears, heavy but at the same time symmetrical 
 bones, a fleshless face, nostrils " as wide as the mouth 
 of a Lion," beaiitiful, dark, prominent eyes, "with 
 ■an expression like that of a loving woman," a 
 
 not tolerated. The saddle is first put upon it when 
 it has arrived at its second year; after the third year 
 it is gradually accustomed to make use of all its 
 powers. Only when it has attained its seventh year 
 is its education regarded as complete, and therefore 
 the Arabian proverb says: "Seven years for my 
 brother, seven for myself and seven for my foe." 
 
410 
 
 THE ODD-TOED ANIMALS. 
 
 The Arabs distinguish many strains of blood among 
 their Horses and every locality, every tribe, boasts of 
 its special breed. At present there are twenty-one 
 tribes or families distinguished in Arabia, the five 
 best of which are ranged under the title of "Kham- 
 sa," and are said to be descended from the five mares 
 of Solomon. [The Arab always reckons the breeding 
 of the colt by that of the female ancestors.] The 
 oldest and noblest of these families is the " Kehilan" 
 or "Kohlani." 
 
 Bombastic Praise The eulogies bestowed by the Arabs 
 Bestowed on their on blue-blooded Horses are very 
 Worses by Arabs, amusing. " Do not tell me that this 
 animal is my Horse; say that it is my son. It runs 
 more quickly than the wind of a storm, more swiftly 
 than the glance that sweeps the plain. It is pure as 
 gold. Its eye is clear and so keen that it sees a 
 
 FEBCHEBON HOBSE.— An especially fine breed of draft Horses, of great strength and endurance. 
 The picture shows the- strong and well developed muscles and powerful limbs of this animal which has become 
 especially popular in this country during recent years. 
 
 liair in the dark. It overtakes the Gazelle in its 
 course. To the Eagle it says: I hurry on like you! 
 When it hears the shouts of girls, it neighs with joy, 
 and the whistling of bullets rejoices its heart. From 
 the hands of women it begs for alms; the enemy it 
 beats in the face with its hoofs. When it can run 
 to its heart's desire, it weeps tears. It recks not 
 whether the sky be clear or the blasts of the desert 
 obscure the light of the sun with dust; for it is a 
 noble steed and despises the rage of the storm. 
 There is no other in this world that could vie with 
 it. Swift as a Swallow, it courses on; so light is its 
 weight that it could dance on the breast of your 
 beloved and not annoy her. Its pace is so gentle 
 that you could drink a cup of coffee on its back, 
 when its speed is highest, and not spill a drop. It 
 understands all like a son of Adam, and all it lacks 
 fe speech." 
 
 The English Thor- The noblest relative of the Arab in 
 oughbred Europe is the English thoroughbred 
 Racer. racer. Many experts are, of the 
 
 opinion that the difference between these two breeds 
 lies only in the diversifications caused by altered 
 environment of climate and system of breeding, 
 and that consequently the English racer has pure- 
 oriental blood in his veins. The genealogy of the- 
 racer, however, furnishes an irrefragable proof that 
 there is no one thoroughbred, the pedigree of which 
 can be traced to exclusively oriental ancestors,, 
 either on the father's or mother's side. At the 
 present day the English thoroughbred is nothing 
 but a product of the racer, its selection, breeding, 
 feeding and training, being all rendered subservient 
 to the production of the two indispensable attributes 
 of speed and endurance. The race Horses of to- 
 day surpass their ancestors ' 
 in every respect, in shape 
 as well as in capability of 
 performance, and comprise: 
 among their ranks many- 
 excellent Horses, attain- 
 ing a height of seventjr 
 inches or more. Their 
 shape has become nobler 
 and more symmetrical in 
 its proportions. The En- 
 glish racer is exported to- 
 all countries of the globe, 
 inhabited by Europeans, to 
 improve the breed. A third 
 representative of the no- 
 ble breeds is the Anglo- 
 Arab, produced by the 
 immediate interbreeding of 
 the English- and Arab 
 Horses, effected in recent 
 times only. 
 
 The thoroughbreds are^ 
 followed by the much more 
 numerous half-bloods. 
 Many crossings with ori- 
 ental Horses and especially 
 with English thorough- 
 breds have gradually pro- 
 duced the Trakehnen, a 
 well-shaped and very ca- 
 pable animal of great pow- 
 ers of endurance, which 
 one at present might term 
 the German Horse, espe- 
 cially as the Trakehnen 
 institutions have exerted 
 
 Horse farm and kindred 
 
 and are still exerting the most important influence 
 on the breeding and improvement of all Prussian 
 Horses, and are factors of the greatest moment in 
 promoting the efficiency of the German cavalry. 
 Various Other Other half-bloods are bred in Ger- 
 Half-Breed many, in Hanover, Oldenburg, 
 Horses. Mecklenburg and Holstein. Yet 
 
 other members of this group are: in Austria, the 
 Lippizaner and Kladruber, which are closely allied 
 to the Spanish half-blood, the Andalusian Horse; 
 in France the Anglo-Norman and Anglo-Breton 
 Horse; in Russia the Orloff trotters, as well as cer- 
 tain breeds of Don and Circassian Horses; in Eng- 
 land different breeds of highly improved Horses, 
 known as Hunters, Hacks and Roadsters, as well as 
 the powerful Cleveland Bay Horse, now become 
 comparatively rare; in America certain breeds ot 
 
THE HORSES— HORSES PROPER. 
 
 411 
 
 fast trotters. As may be expected, the Horses de- 
 scending from all these mentioned half-bloods vary- 
 widely in appearance and capacity of performance. 
 They may be light, medium or heavy, and serve as 
 excellent saddle, carriage or strong working Horses; 
 some are distinguished by their immense draught- 
 power. 
 
 TL. A ■««» Although allied by ties of close relationship 
 
 Jl'e»'"^"<'"" to the English thoroughbred, the American 
 
 th Rest fottinS Horse has been developed upon 
 
 the Best. Xmts so peculiarly its own as to be entitled 
 
 to classification as a national variety. It has been shown by 
 
 several writers that fast trotting is not natural to the Horse 
 
 family. If the Horse wishes to go quickly it runs or gallops, 
 
 and only trots when inclined to leisure. 
 
 In an early day in New England there was a prejudice 
 against Horse racing, and Horses were encouraged to trot. 
 
 The Shetland Horses of the largest breeds often 
 Pony the Smallest attain a height of seventy-two inches 
 
 of the Horses, a^d over at the withers; the antitypes 
 of them are the ponies, which are often but half this 
 size. The smallest Horse, the Shetland Pony, has a 
 full, long, shaggy mane and a bushy tail, and is fre- 
 quently only thirty-six inches high, and sometimes 
 only thirty-four or even thirty-three inches in height, 
 and having no greater physical proportions than 
 those of a large Dog. 
 
 Distribution of Nowadays the tame Horse is distrib- 
 
 the Domestic uted nearly all over the globe. It is 
 
 Horse. absent in only the coldest regions 
 
 and on several islands, where as yet, by reason of 
 
 lack of use, it has not been introduced. It is bred in 
 
 
 
 THE AUEBICAN TBOTTING HOBSE. This is a portrait of " George Wilkes " thefijipous American trotter. He was foaled in 1856 and died 
 
 in 1882 and was regarded as a typical representative of tlie American Trotting Horse, having himself a record of a mile in two minutes, twenty-two seconds, 
 ■and being the sire of a numerous progeny of celebrated trotters and pacers. 
 
 Later it was a matter of neighborhood pride to own the 
 lastest trotter in the vicinity, and trotting became the favorite 
 gait for Horses. Finally some imported thoroughbreds and 
 their progeny were trained to trot in harness, and in 1818 a 
 Horse named Boston Blue was matched to trot a mile in three 
 minutes— a feat then deemed impossible, but which he accom- 
 plished. This was the beginning of the contests against time, 
 which have since reduced the trotting record second by second 
 down to the last record made by the mare Alix, who trotted a 
 mile in 2:o3K at Galesburg, III, September 19, 1894. 
 
 In no other country have trotting races become so popular as 
 in the United States, and with the exception of Russia, no dis- 
 tinctively fast-trotting variety of Horses has been developed 
 ■outside of those of the United States. 
 
 Of the third group, comprising the sluggish, slow- 
 paced draught breeds, we will mention here only the 
 following heavy ones: the English Clydesdale and 
 Dray Horse, the Percheron, the Ardenner, the Pinz- 
 gauer, the Jutlander and the Russian Bitjug. 
 
 wild, half-wild and tame studs. In the wild studs of 
 Russia the herds are left to their own devices all the 
 year round. The Horses born under these condi- 
 tions are very hardy, vigorous and frugal, but never 
 attain the beauty of those which are born and bred 
 under the supervision of Man. Half-wild studs are 
 those in which the herds of Horses roam over exten- 
 sive grazing ranges from spring to autumn under 
 supervision; in tame studs the breeding is condu'^'^ed 
 under the strictest supervision of Man. 
 
 Reproduc- The mare usually gives birth to a 
 
 tion of the single colt, which has its eyes open, 
 
 Horse. is fully covered with hair, and in a few 
 
 minutes is able to stand and walk. It is allowed to 
 
 suckle, play and romp for about five months, after 
 
 which it is usually weaned. In the first year its coat 
 
412 
 
 THE ODD-TOED ANIMALS. 
 
 consists of a mixture of wool and hair; its mane is 
 short, erect and curly, and the hair of the tail also 
 partakes of a crinkly, curly character. During the 
 second year the hair becomes more lustrous, mane 
 and tail grow longer and less inclined to kink. After 
 this the age may be determined from the appear- 
 ance of the incisor teeth with tolerable correctness. 
 From eight to fourteen days after birth the two cen- 
 tral teeth, the so-called " nippers," make their ap- 
 , pearance ; two or three weeks later another breaks 
 through at each side of the nippers. After five or six 
 months the lateral incisors pierce the gum and then 
 the colt has its full complement of milk-teeth. These 
 are in course of time replaced by the permanent teeth. 
 At the age of two and one-half years the "nippers" 
 are shed and replaced by new teeth; a year later 
 the next pair are supplanted, and after another year 
 the outermost incisors are changed. Simultaneously 
 with this last alteration the canines break through, 
 and this indicates that the development of the ani- 
 mal is completed. After the fifth year a person 
 wishing to judge of the age of a Horse, looks at the 
 hollows on the grinding surface of the teeth: black- 
 brown marks of the size of a small pea. They be- 
 gin to disappear in the lower jaw at the age of five 
 or six years; in the middle incisors they are obliter- 
 ated in the seventh year, in the canines in the eighth 
 year; then the upper teeth are developed in like 
 order of succession, until all the marks have van- 
 ished by the eleventh or twelfth year. As age ad- 
 vances the teeth also gradually assume a different 
 shape; they become narrower as they grow older. 
 Another physical change noticeable in the animal is 
 the variation of its coat with the seasons. With the 
 access of the warm weather, usually beginning in the 
 spring of the year, the shaggy, furry coat of long 
 winter hair covering its body commences to fall out, 
 and is shed so rapidly that the bulk of it disappears 
 within a month or so. Gradually the hair is replaced 
 and it becomes perceptibly longer in the beginning 
 of September or October. The mane and tail remain 
 unchanged through all seasons. 
 
 Diseases to Unfortunately the noble Horse is 
 
 Which the Horse subject to many diseases. The most 
 is Subject. important and serious of these are 
 the spavin, a swelling on the leg (generally induced 
 by a violent sprain) which affects the joint of the 
 knee or of the hock, and usually results in stiffness of 
 the leg; the farcy or "button," a swelling and hard- 
 ening of the glands beneath the jaw; the mange, a 
 dry or moist eruption, which causes the hair to fall 
 out; the glanders, a violent inflammation of the nasal 
 mucous membrane which also causes a hardening of 
 the glands beneath the jaw, and is extremely infec- 
 tious, and which may be communicated to human 
 beings; the mad staggers, an acute inflammation of 
 the brain, and the blind staggers, a somewhat similar, 
 though less violently manifested disease, induced by 
 apoplexy (or congestion of blood in the brain); the 
 gray and black cataract and others. Besides all this 
 the animal is subject to the torments of internal and 
 external parasites. 
 
 A Horse may attain an age of forty years and 
 over, but frequently is so ill treated that it is old at 
 the age of twenty; as a general rule it may be 
 affirmed that it is only in very rare cases that it lives 
 to be thirty years old. 
 Soheitlin' 8 Eulogy I leave to Scheitlin the pleasant 
 
 of the Horse's task of speaking of qualities, habits 
 
 Endowments, and peculiarities, in short, of the 
 mental characteristics of Horses: "The Horse," says 
 
 he, "has the power of discrimination in matters per- 
 taining to food, domicile, space, time, light, color,, 
 shape, his family, his neighbors, friends, foes, ani- 
 mal companions, people and objects. He has the 
 gift of perception, imagination, memory and mani- 
 fold sensations induced by a number of conditions 
 of body and mind. Circumstances strike him as 
 agreeable or disagreeable, and he is capable of either 
 being satisfied with given surroundings or else desir- 
 ing different environment, and even of love and 
 hatred. His great intelligence is easily changed to 
 skill; for the Horse is exceedingly docile. His mem- 
 ory and good-nature render it possible to teach him 
 all the tricks of the Elephant, Ass or Dog. He can 
 solve riddles, answer questions, say "yes" and "no" 
 by moving his head, designate the time on a clock 
 by striking his foot, etc. He correctly interprets 
 movements of his teacher's hands and feet, under- 
 stands the swinging of a whip and the meaning of 
 words, really having a small dictionary by heart. 
 H.e feigns death, first stands listless, with widespread 
 legs and hanging head, then staggers, slowly sinks 
 down, falls like a log and lies upon the ground as it 
 dead; one may sit on him, stretch his legs, pull his 
 tail, poke a finger into his sensitive skin without 
 result; but if a hint be given that the poundmaster is 
 to be sent for, he jumps up and is <Juite lively and 
 animated again. One can not see that he likes the 
 trick he has to repeat so often; he delights only in 
 running and jumping. How long will he have to 
 be taught until he learns how to jump through two 
 large hoops, covered with paper and placed at a 
 distance from each other? We are not surprised 
 that a human being can and will learn, but we won- 
 der that a Horse can learn. One really must not. 
 say: 'What can he learn?' but: 'What can he not 
 learn?' 
 
 "He who wishes to teach a Horse anything 
 human must, in the beginning at least, teach him 
 humanely, that is, not by blows, threats or hunger, 
 but with kind words, exactly as a kind, intelligent 
 Man treats another kind, intelligent Man. As a rule 
 Horses are perfect prototypes of children in their 
 good and bad qualities. Besides his sense of local- 
 ity, the Horse also has an idea of time. He learns 
 to walk to music, to trot, gallop and dance. He 
 also knows the greater divisions of time, whether it 
 is morning, noon or night. He does not even lack 
 a perception of harmony. Like a warrior, he is fond 
 of the exciting clangor of the trumpet. Joyfully he 
 paws the ground with his fore-feet when the trumpet 
 resounds as a signal for a race or a battle; he also 
 knows and understands the signals given by the 
 drum and all sounds which present an association 
 of ideas to his courage or his fears. He knows the 
 thundering noise of cannon, but when he sees the 
 lacerated carcasses of companions killed in battle, 
 he evinces dread and repugnance. 
 
 "The Horse is very susceptible to fear, in this 
 respect resembling a human being. He starts at a 
 sudden sound, an unusual object, a waving flag, a 
 garment hanging- in a window. He carefully looks 
 at the ground covered with stones, and treads 
 cautiously when entering a river. He is thoroughly 
 awed by lightning. During a thunderstorm he per- 
 spires from fear, perhaps the dread of being struck. 
 When two are harnessed together and one attempts 
 to run away, the other, if he be not also frightened, 
 can hold him back; usually, however, both are simul- 
 taneously seized by terror, and run in ever increas- 
 ing panic, rushing over and through every possible 
 
THE HORSES— ASSES. 
 
 413 
 
 thing, sometimes dashing into a wall in their insane 
 
 -career. . . tt 
 
 "The one real enjoyment of a Horse is running. 
 He is a traveler by nature. Horses grazing in the 
 Russian steppes run merely for the pleasure of it. 
 They will drag coaches at a gallop, and thus accom- 
 ^)lish a day's journey, without misgivings about find- 
 ing the long way home again. On the pasturage 
 they romp and play all kinds of antics, such as run- 
 ning races and biting each other. There are some 
 -which constantly annoy the others. The animal 
 which measures his strength with Man must feel 
 himself near to humanity; must, in fact, believe him- 
 self nearly, if not quite, Man's equal. 
 
 " The stallion is a terrible animal in every way. 
 His strength is immense, his courage surpasses our 
 understanding, and hence is generally underesti- 
 mated; his eye is full of fire. The mare is much 
 
 THE ASSES. 
 
 The second sub-species of the Horses is formed 
 by the Asses and Zebras (Asinus). They differ from 
 the Horses proper by having only the extremity of 
 the tail covered with long hair, and by the absence 
 of the rudimentary nail at the top of the fetlocks on 
 the fore-feet. 
 Physical Charac- The Koulan of the Khirgiz or Dzig- 
 
 ten'stics of the getai of the Mongols (Eguus [^Asinus] 
 Koulan, hemionus) is possessed of certain 
 points of beauty which place it, in the elegance of its 
 appearance, far above the Ass. An exceedingly light 
 body, slender limbs, a wild, fleet appearance and the 
 beautiful color of its hair are its strong points. It is 
 somewhat larger than the small variety of Mules, 
 nearly equaling a small Horse in size. The head is 
 somewhat heavy, the chest large, angular in its lower 
 
 THE SHETLAND PONY,— Although all varieties of the domestic Horse are of one species, training and environment have produced widely diver- 
 •sified types. One of the extremes is the Shetland Pony, which owes its dwarfed form to centuries of breeding in the uncongenial climate of Shetland. 
 Though the smallest variety it is very strong and has great endurance. The flowing mane and tail contribute much to this animal's beauty. 
 
 gentler, more good-natured, obliging, obedient, do- 
 cile; hence she is generally preferred to the stallion. 
 The Horse is susceptible of almost every mental 
 emotion. He loves and hates, feels the promptings 
 of envy, revenge, caprice, etc. No two Horses are 
 alike. The one is vicious, treacherous and false, the 
 other is docile and gentle. Either nature or train- 
 ing, or both, have made them what they are. 
 
 " How different are the various periods in the life 
 ■of Horses; the fate of most is to be petted, pampered 
 •and kept in clover when young, and to be despised 
 and neglected cart Horses fed on the coarsest hay, 
 and plentifully, treated to blows when old. Many a 
 favorite steed has been mourned with sorrowful tears 
 and has justly had a marble monument erected in 
 his honor. Horses, like Men, have their infancy for 
 mischief, their yoiith for beauty, their maturity for 
 work, their old age in which they grow lazy and 
 weak: they bloom, mature and fade!" 
 
 part and slightly compressed. The ears are longer 
 than those of the Horse, but shorter than those of 
 common Mules. The mane is short and erect, sim- 
 ilar to that of the Ass, and the tail and hoofs also 
 resemble those of that animal. The chest and upper 
 parts of- the fore-legs are narrow and far from being 
 as muscular as those of the Horse; the hinder quar- 
 ters are also thin, and the limbs are exceedingly light 
 and fine and moderately long. The prevailing color 
 of the Dziggetai is a light yellowish brown; the nose 
 and inner faces of the limbs are of a pale yellow 
 color; the mane and the tail are blackish, and a dainty 
 brown-black stripe runs along the spine, broadening 
 on the croup and then again becoming quite nar- 
 row near the tail. The total length of the animal 
 amounts to about one hundred inches, the head oc- 
 cupying twenty inches of this, and the tail sixteen, 
 exclusive of the tuft; the height at the top of the 
 shoulders varies between fifty-two and sixty inches. 
 
414 
 
 THE ODD-TOED ANIMALS. 
 
 The Range The Dziggetai or Koulan is a child 
 oftheKou- of the steppes. Though it prefer- 
 lan. ably affects the environs of lakes and 
 
 rivers, it does not shun the arid, waterless, desert-like 
 regions; neither does it avoid mountains, provided 
 that' the open country continues to prevail, and the 
 regibn is not overgrown with forests. It is not the 
 rarefied air of the heights in the mountain, the 
 glaring heat of the sun in summer, nor the icy cold 
 of the low plains in winter; not the piercing snow- 
 storms of the heights, nor the hot cloud of sand 
 whirling in the valley below, which bounds the do- 
 main of this hardy animal of the steppes. It is solely 
 Man, who determines, or at least dominantly influ- 
 ences, its range of territory and manner of existence. 
 When the wide country has been in the least 
 
 Ti;ait8 and Habits A fondness for the society of its kind 
 of the Kou- or even of other species of animals, 
 /"''• is one of the main traits of the char- 
 
 acter of this wild Horse, as well as of the solid- 
 hoofed animals in general. As the Zebra, Quagga 
 and Dauw join the herds of African Antelopes and 
 Ostriches, one also sees the Dziggetai in the moun- 
 tains in company with various kinds of wild Sheep, 
 the Antelope of Tibet and the Grunting Ox in the 
 lowlands, or grazing together with the Saiga or 
 others of the numerous family of Antelopes. It is 
 also on friendly terms with stray Horses. 
 
 A person who has seen Koulans in their native 
 country and at full liberty, will not hesitate to de- 
 clare them highly-endowed animals. The eye of the 
 observer, fascinated by their movements, regards the 
 
 THE KOnLAN The largest and one of the wildest and swiftest of the wild Asses of Asia is this animal which is here appropriately 
 
 depicted in its high home in the table-lands of Tibet. It has more the aspect of a Horse than an Ass, although the shape of the body and tail are 
 Ass-like. It looks so much like the Mule that it has been given a scientific name meaning " half- Ass." (Equus hemiomis.) 
 
 invaded by nomad tribes, or where the wandering 
 shepherd regularly goes back and forth at long in- 
 tervals with his herds, the Koulan is driven away. 
 Where, in the midst of abundant pasturages, there are 
 strips of country so poor, so desolate and so barren 
 that even that precursor of civilized Man, the shep- 
 herd, never enters but sedulously shuns them: there 
 one is sure to find this wild Horse led thither by its 
 unquenchable thirst for unbounded freedom, enjoy- 
 ing itself amid the general desolation. 
 
 It still inhabits several districts of Akmolinsk in 
 tolerably large numbers, a strip of steppes between 
 the Altai and the Saisan Lake, and is found in all 
 congenial places to the south and east of that region, 
 in southern Siberia and Turkestan, though in less 
 numbers than in the wide, deserted plains of Mon- 
 golia and northwestern China, or on the mountains 
 of Tibet. 
 
 incomparable agility of the swift creatures with de-_ 
 lighted amazement. "It is the most wonderful spec- 
 tacle," says Gay, "to see with what rapidity they 
 climb the mountains, with what skill they pick their 
 way down without stumbling. Koulans which we 
 pursued, scoured over the hills and dales of the 
 steppes, as if they were amusing themselves with the 
 exercise of their indefatigable strength." 
 
 An animal of this kind easily escapes the pursuit 
 of the larger beasts of prey. In the steppes of west- 
 ern Asia there is none which possesses the temerity 
 to attack Koulans; even Wolves in that country do' 
 not dare attack healthy wild Horses, as these latter 
 make excellent use of their vigorous hoofs in ward- 
 ing off their enemies. Weak and diseased Koulans, 
 which stray away from the herd, are probably the 
 only ones attacked by Wolves. In the southern and 
 southeastern portion of its range the Tiger may oc- 
 
THE HORSES— ASSES. 
 
 415 
 
 casionally secure one of them as a trophy of his 
 might. Man is a more dangerous foe to them. The 
 wandering native shepherds are passionately fond 
 of hunting the Koulan — the more so as the chase 
 calls all of the hunter's ability into play. In zoo- 
 logical gardens the Koulan is as yet a rarity, though 
 it has been repeatedly introduced within the last 
 twenty years, and has frequently bred in captivity, 
 Paris alone having a record of the birth of sixteen 
 young. It also has been successfully crossed with 
 the -Ass, the Quagga, the Zebra and recently also 
 with the Horse. 
 
 The Onager an Another wild Horse of Asia, per- 
 Asiatic Wild haps in reality being but one and 
 Horae. the same animal with the Koulan, is 
 
 the Onager of the ancients, which is also repeatedly 
 mentioned in the Bible. According to Sclater's com- 
 parisons of living wild Horses, it is more than prob- 
 
 exceedingly smooth and delicate. The mane stands 
 erect and consists of soft, woolly hair about four 
 inches long; the tuft on the tail measures from 
 seven to twelve inches. The mode of life of the 
 Onager resembles that of the Koulan. A stallion 
 is the leader of each herd, the other members of 
 which are mares and foals of both sexes. In point 
 of activity the Onager is not surpassed by the Dzig- 
 getai. 
 
 The perceptive senses of the Onager, especially 
 those of hearing, sight and smell, are so well devel- 
 oped that it is impossible to surprise it in the open 
 plain. Its habits being very frugal, it comes to drink, 
 at the most, every other day, and one who thinks to 
 surprise it while drinking, therefore usually lies in 
 wait for it in vain. Plants containing salt are its 
 preferred food, and those it likes next best are the 
 bitter, juicy kinds, such as the dandelion, the flag. 
 
 THE 01TA6EB. A wild Ass of central Asia, which is larger th; 
 
 endurance, and is found throughout an extensive range in central Asia. 
 
 able that the wild Ass of the deserts of India does 
 not differ from the Onager. Thus it would range 
 from Syria, across Arabia, Persia and Baluchistan to 
 India. 
 
 The Onager (Equus [Asinus] onager) is perceptibly 
 smaller than the Dziggetai, although it is taller and 
 possessed of finer limbs than the common Ass. 
 The head is proportionately longer and larger than 
 the Koulan's; the fleshy lips are thickly covered with 
 stiff, bristly hair to their very margins; the ears are 
 tolerably long, though shorter than those of the Ass. 
 The prevailing color is a beautiful white with a sil- 
 very lustre, merging into a pale sorrel tint on the 
 upper part of the head, the sides of the neck and 
 body and the hips. On the side of the withers a 
 lyhite stripe of a hand's breadth runs down; a sec- 
 ond stripe runs along the backbone and down the 
 back of the hind legs; in its centre is a smaller 
 brown stripe. The hair is softer and silkier than 
 that of the Horse. The winter hair may be com- 
 pared with Camel's wool, while the summer hair is 
 
 It has a short, stiff mane, has great speed and 
 
 an the domestic species. 
 {Equus onager.) 
 
 and kindred vegetation. It does not disdain varie- 
 ties of clover and lucerne or any kinds of cereals. 
 On the other hand it dislikes all aromatic, balsamic 
 plants,, marsh herbs, buttercups and prickly plants, 
 including the thistle. It is more partial to brackish 
 or salty water than to fresh, but the liquid must be 
 clear; it never drinks muddy or turbid water. 
 Varieties and CAar-The progenitors of our Ass {Equus 
 acteristics of \_Asmus'\ asinus) live in Africa, repre- 
 the Ass. sented by two sub-species. The first 
 of these, the Ass of the Plains (^Equinus asinus afri- 
 canus) resembles its tamed offspring in Egypt in 
 physical proportions and appearance, while its de- 
 meanor and habits recall its wild Asiatic kinsman. 
 It is large, slender and of pleasing contour, brownish- 
 yellow colored, lighter on the under surface, with a 
 distinct stripe on the back crossed by another at the 
 shoulders,' and several more or less well-defined 
 transverse stripes on the outer surface df the lower 
 limbs. The mane is erect and short, the tail-tuft 
 long and stout. 
 
416 
 
 THE ODD-TOED ANIMALS. 
 
 The Appearance The Somal Ass {Equus asinus somal- 
 and Habits of the icus) differs from the Ass of the 
 Somal Ass. Plains in its greater size and longer, 
 pendent mane. It is gray with an indistinct stripe 
 on the back. The shoulder cross is absent; the legs, 
 however, show numerous distinct black transverse 
 bands. It is a native of the Somal country, while 
 the more widely known Ass of the Plains is found in 
 the deserts of Upper Nubia. It is plentiful near the 
 Atbara, the main tributary of the Nile, and also in 
 the plains of Barka. Its range extends to the coast 
 of the Red Sea. There it exists under circumstances 
 
 THE DOMESTIC ASS. Plodding, hardworking and very useful, the Donkey, while not 
 
 much used in the northern and eastern parts of the United States, is a principal beast of burden in 
 many foreign countries and also in the southwestern mountain regions of our own country. The 
 hind foot is the favorite weapon of the Domestic Ass, and the little Dog in the picture is in great 
 danger. {Bguus asinus.) 
 
 quite similar to those of the Dziggetai and Onager. 
 Every stallion is the leader of a herd of from ten to 
 fifteen mares, over which he watches and which he 
 defends. It is extremely shy and wary, and very 
 difficult of pursuit. All tame Asses employed in the 
 south, and probably also in Abyssinia, appear to de- 
 scend from this stock, for the Arabs declare that 
 they strikingly resemble the wild Asses. The striped 
 feet of southern Asses, especially those of the Somal 
 Ass, are a noteworthy feature: for they prove that 
 the Ass is a link between its Asiatic relatives and the 
 Zebras. 
 
 The Ass of the Plains has been domesticated from 
 the earliest times, and wild specimens have been 
 continually used to improve the breed. The ancient 
 Romans expended large sums of money on its im- 
 provement, and the Arabs still make great efforts 
 to constantly improve the blood of the domestic 
 variety. It is only in some parts of Europe that 
 the tame Ass has degenerated into a mere cripple 
 through constant neglect. 
 
 Aaaea of fhrthfrn U we compare the German Ass, con- 
 
 £urope Saiily veying the flour to the mill or drag- 
 
 Deteriorated. gjng the milk-cart, with his southern 
 
 brothers, we are sometimes almost tempted to regard 
 
 the two as different animals,, so slight is the resem- 
 blance they bear to each other. The northern Ass 
 is everywhere known to be a lazy, self-willed and 
 often an especially obstinate fellow, though wrongly 
 believed to be the embodiment of dullness and stu- 
 pidity; the southern Ass, on the other hand, espe- 
 cially the Egyptian Ass, is a handsome, lively, ex- 
 ceedingly diligent animal of great endurance, with 
 a working capacity very little less than that of the 
 Horse, which latter, indeed, in some respects the 
 Ass surpasses. But it is subjected to very much 
 more careful treatment than its northern brother. 
 In many parts of the Orient the best 
 breeds are kept as pure as those of 
 the noblest Horses; they are well fed, 
 -=r— ^_ not overworked in youth, and an 
 
 adult Ass can therefore do work the 
 
 ^^^^4;S^rr Ass of northern Europe could never 
 "" " accomplish. The nations of the East 
 
 are perfectly right to bestow much 
 attention on the breeding of Asses, 
 for with them it is a domestic animal 
 in the full meaning of the word. It is 
 found attached to the establishments 
 of the rich and in the huts of the 
 poor, and is the most indispensable 
 domestic of every southerner. In 
 Greece and Spain one may see very 
 beautiful Donkeys, though they are 
 much inferior to the average Ass of 
 the Orient, especially of Persia, Tur^ 
 comania and Egypt. The Greek and 
 Spanish Asses are of about the size 
 \./ of a small Mule; their hair is sleek 
 and soft, the mane is tolerably long, 
 and the tail-tuft proportionately very 
 long; the ears are long, but fine; the 
 eyes are lustrous. The great power 
 of endurance, the easy, traveling pace 
 and gentle gallop of the Ass render 
 it an animal unsurpassed in good 
 qualities for riding. 
 The Arabian Ass The Arabian Asses, 
 the Finest especially those bred 
 Variety. j^ Jemen, are even su- 
 perior to the other varieties of orien- 
 tal Asses. There are two breeds; one is large, coura- 
 geous, swift, well adapted for travel under the saddle; 
 the other is smaller and weaker and is generally used 
 to carry burdens. The large Ass has probably been 
 improved by successive crosses with the Onager. 
 Quite similar breeds are found in Persia and Egypt, 
 where a good Donkey commands a high market 
 price. A saddle Donkey fulfilling all requirements 
 is more expensive than an indifferent Horse and it 
 is by no means seldom that its price amounts to 
 as much as three hundred and fifty dollars. Bo- 
 gumil Goltz speaking of the Egyptian Donkey says: 
 "One really can not imagine a more serviceable and 
 honest creature than this Donkey. Some large fel- 
 low throws himself on a little Donkey, the size of a 
 six weeks old calf, and urges it on at a gallop. 
 These slenderly built creatures proceed^ at an excel- 
 lent amble; but their possession of the strength 
 necessary to enable them to drag an adult person 
 around for hours, trotting and galloping even during 
 the great heat of midday, seems to me beyond the 
 possibilities of nature, and might be called a Don- 
 key mystery." The saddle Donkeys have their hair 
 very carefully clipped short over all portions of 
 the body, except on the thighs where the hair is 
 
THE HORSES— ASSES. 
 
 417 
 
 left long and various designs, and arabesques are cut 
 in it, giving the animal quite a peculiar aspect. 
 
 In former times half-wild Asses were found on 
 some islands of the Grecian archipelago and in Sar- 
 dinia, and even now they are to be found in South 
 America. Wherever individuals of the species es- 
 cape from the restraint and training of Man, they 
 soon revert to all the habits of their wild progeni- 
 tors. 
 
 The preceding data have already indicated the 
 extensive range of the Ass. The eastern part of 
 •western and central Asia, northern and eastern 
 Africa, south and central Europe and South Amer- 
 ica are the countries in which it thrives best. The 
 drier the .soil the- better its health and development. 
 Damp and cold agree less with it than with the 
 Horse. 
 
 //nporta/iceo/t/ie Riding on Donkeys is probably no- 
 Donheij in where so much in vogue as in Egypt. 
 Egypt. jhe willing animals are really indis- 
 
 pensable as a complement of the conveniences and 
 comforts of life in all greater cities. They are hired 
 in the same way that our cabs are, and therefore no 
 dignity is forfeited by employing them. Such condi- 
 tions are brought about by the nar- 
 rowness of Egyptian streets, that 
 Donkeys alone are fit to render 
 easy and practicable the necessary 
 journeys one takes about town. 
 Therefore they are seen every- 
 where, as for instance in Cairo, 
 mingling with the continuous 
 stream of people filling the streets. 
 The Donkey drivers of Cairo con- 
 stitute a distinct profession, a gen- 
 uine caste, which forms as much 
 an integral part of the city as do 
 the minarets and palms. They are 
 indispensable to the natives and to 
 foreigners; every day a person lives 
 in Cairo he has occasion to be 
 thankful to them, although at the 
 same time they frequently arouse 
 one's ire. "It is a genuine pleasure 
 and a real misery," says Bogumil 
 Goltz, " to deal with these Donkey 
 boys.. One is at a loss to decide 
 "whether they are good-natured or 
 morose, obstinate or obliging, lazy 
 or active, cunning or impudent; 
 they are a mixture of all possi- 
 ble qualities. 
 
 " ' Look, sir,' says one, ' see this 
 locomotive of a Donkey, which I 
 offer you, and compare it with 
 those of the other boys ! Why, they 
 must fall down under you; for they 
 are miserable creatures and you are 
 a stout man! But my Donkey! He 
 will run away with you like a Gazelle, in pure play.' 
 'This is a Donkey of Kahirin," says another. 'His 
 grandfather was a Gazelle, and his great-grand- 
 mother a wild. Horse. Run, you son of Kahirin, 
 prove my words to the. gentLeman!, Be a credit to 
 your parents: go in the,kord's name, my Gazelle, my 
 Swallow!' The fl^rd-'dods stiU better, jyaising his 
 DonJ^ey as. a .BiSn>|xck pr^a Von Moltke of his spe- 
 cies*, ^iitid 'so ori, until the visitor mounts a Donkey, 
 which is then urged into a gallop by a series of 
 inimitable jerks, blows, pushes, a:nd pricks adminis- 
 tered with the goad, and the boy runs after, calling. 
 
 screaming, urging, chattering — abusing his own 
 lungs as much as he does the Donkey. Thus the 
 rider is hurried through the crowd of animals, street 
 carts, loaded Camels, carriages and walking people, 
 and the Donkey never loses courage for a moment, 
 but rushes on at a very agreeable gallop, until he 
 has reached his destination. Cairo is a veritable 
 training school at which to accustom one to the use 
 of Donkeys, and the only place where one learns to 
 fully know, appreciate, esteem and love this excel- 
 lent creature." 
 Traits and Capabil- Oken's words apply perfectly to 
 
 ities of Tame the north European Ass, however: 
 Asses. •< The tame Donkey has degenerated 
 
 to such an extent through prolonged ill-treatment 
 that it has lost nearly all resemblance to the parent 
 stock. Not only has it become much smaller, but it 
 has also a duller, ashy color and longer, flabbier ears. 
 Courage in it has turned to obstinacy, speed to slow- 
 ness, vivacity to dullness, love of liberty to patience, 
 sturdiness to endurance of blows." 
 
 All the perceptive senses of the tame Ass are well 
 developed. Hearing ranks highest; sight comes 
 next and then smell; it seems to possess little ner- 
 
 AYRICAJSS WILD ASS In the northern part of Africa is found, in its wild state, the animal 
 
 shown in the picture. It is a symmetrical, active animal of a uniform reddish cream tinge except for 
 the marked black stripes placed along the back and transversely across the shoulders. (Esuus ast- 
 nus africanus.) 
 
 vous sensibility, and the sense of taste is probably 
 also not particularly well developed, else it certainly 
 would be more exacting in its diet than the Horse. 
 Scheitlin tells us that its mental capacities are not 
 so slight as is generally believed. It has an excel- 
 lent memory arid easily finds its way again over 
 any road which it has once traveled; in spite of its 
 stupid looks, it is sometimes possessed of no small 
 cunning; neither is it always so good-natured as 
 people think. Occasionally it even displays an 
 abominable viciousness; It may suddenly stop on 
 the road, oblivious of blows, and may even throw 
 
418 
 
 THE ODD-TOED ANIMALS. 
 
 itself down, carrying its burden with it and biting 
 and kicking the while. Some people believe that its 
 delicate hearing is the cause of all this, as every 
 noise dazes and frightens it, though as a rule, it is 
 not timid, but only capricious. 
 
 The Ass contents itself with the most indifferent 
 quality and the scantiest quantity of food. Grass 
 and hay from which a well-bred Cow would turn 
 with a snort expressive of disgust, and which a 
 Horse would disdain, are dainties to it, and it even 
 accepts thistles and thorny bushes and prickly herb- 
 age. It is only fastidious in the selection of its 
 drink; for it touches no turbid water. The liquid 
 may be salty or brackish, but it must be clear. In 
 traveling through deserts an Ass sometimes gives 
 its master a great deal of trouble, for in spite of the 
 greatest thirst it will not drink the roily water in 
 the leather water bottles. 
 
 K^^fil - ^- 
 
 THE QUAG'GA. The south African animal shown in the picture is a very lively, fleet- 
 footed species of wild Horse. The picture very appropriately depicts it in company with the 
 Ostrich, for these birds are frequently found in the society of a herd of Quaggas on the sultry 
 African plains. {.Equus quagga.) 
 
 Propagation of The young of the Ass are generally 
 Asses and born one, very rarely two, at a time, 
 Hybrids. and are perfectly developed and able 
 to see, and the mother tenderly cares for thern. After 
 five or six months the foal may be weaned, but it 
 continues to follow the mother on all her journeys 
 for a long time. It does not require any particular 
 care or attention from Man, even in early youth, but 
 contents itself with any food given it, just like its 
 parents. It is an exceedingly lively, active creature, 
 and. vents the gaiety of its heart in the funniest 
 capers. In the second year the Ass is grown up, 
 but does not reach its full maturity until the third 
 year. It may attain quite a great age, even when 
 subject to hard toil; for there are instances on 
 record where Asses have lived to be forty or fifty 
 years old. 
 
 From the earliest ages Horse and Ass have been 
 bred together, the resuilt being a hybrid offspring 
 called a Mule, if the father belonged to the Ass tribe, 
 or a Hinny if the mother was of that specie?. Both 
 partake more of their mother's form than of their 
 
 father's, while their traits resemble those of the 
 male progenitor. 
 
 The Mule and The "^vXe: {Equus mulus) attains 
 tfie Hin- nearly the physical proportions of 
 "y- the Horse, and resembles it some- 
 
 what in appearance also, but differs from it by the 
 shape of the head, the length of the ears, the tail cov- 
 ered with short hair at its root, the thin, but power- 
 ful thighs, and the narrower hoofs, which show an 
 affinity to the Ass. The coloring, as a rule, is that 
 of the mother. It brays like its father. 
 
 The Hinny {Equus hinnus) conserves the insignifi- 
 cant form, the small size and the long ears of its 
 mother, showing only the thinner and longer head, , 
 the fuller thighs, the hairy tail and the neighing 
 voice of the Horse. From the mother it also in- ' 
 herits its laziness, besides its exterijal appearaince. 
 The newborn Mule foal is sitronger and stands on 
 its legs much soqner than a young 
 ^. Horse does; pn ^^e other hand the 
 
 period of its gro^tli is much more 
 _ protracted. No Mule ought to be put 
 
 ~ to work before it is four years old; 
 
 but to compensate for this delay, its 
 strength lasts into its twentieth and 
 thirtieth and sometimes to its fortieth 
 year. 
 
 On account of their greater useful- 
 ness Mules are nearly exclusively 
 bred. Only in Spain and Abyssinia 
 did I see Hinnies; there seemed to be 
 no Mules there. The Mule combines 
 the good qualities of both parents. 
 Its frugality and endurance, its gentle, 
 sure pace are inherited from the Ass; 
 its strength and courage can be traced 
 to its mother. In all mountainous 
 countries Mules are regarded as indis- 
 pensable; in South America they are 
 as important as the Camel to the 
 Arab. A good Mule carries a burden 
 of three hundred pounds and covers 
 a distance of from twelve and one- 
 half to seventeen and one-half miles 
 daily. At this rate of progress one 
 hardly perceives a decrease of power 
 after a quite prolonged journey, even 
 when its food is but scarce and so bad 
 that a Horse would not eat it at all. 
 Even in the most recent times it has repeatedly- 
 been asserted that Mules or Hinnies are sterile. This 
 is not always the case, however. Instances are on 
 record dating from the remotest antiquity, where 
 crosses between Ass and Horse gave birth to young 
 in their turn. Several observations of more recent 
 times also put the capability of reproduction of the 
 Mule beyond doubt; thus Mules have propagated 
 themselves to the second generation in the Jardin 
 d' acclimation in Paris, within the last two decades. 
 
 STRIPED HORSE OR ZEBRA GROUP. 
 
 An old Latin author relates how in the year 211 
 Caracalla, besides fighting with a Tiger, Elephant 
 and Rhinoceros, also had a H-ippotigris brought'for- 
 ward, which he killed with his own.hapds. There is 
 hardly a doubt that the author mqapt by "Tiger- 
 Horse" one kind of the striped African wild Horses. 
 Five species of striped Horses have been classified, 
 but whether this classification has a justifiable foun- 
 dation is an open question, for the points of differ- 
 ence are, in some cases, very slight. 
 
THE HORSES-ZEBRA GROUP. 
 
 419 
 
 Characteris- The Quagga {Equus quaggd) shows a 
 tka of the greater similitude to the Horse tiian 
 Quagga. to the Ass in its outward appear- 
 ance, though it is much inferior in beauty to the 
 Dauw. The body is of very pleasing outline, the 
 head is moderateily large and graceful, the ears are 
 short, the legs strong. A short, erect mane adorns 
 the whole length of the neck; the tail is hairy from 
 the root and longer than that of the other varieties of 
 the Zebras, though considerably shorter than that of 
 the Horse. In respect to the rest of its hairy cover- 
 ing the Quagga resembles the latter— the hair is short 
 and lies close to the bewiy.. The ground-color is a 
 brown tint, dark on the h^ad,' lighter on the back, 
 the crupper and the flanks; the abdomen, the inner 
 face of the thighs, and the hair of the tail are pure 
 
 7-/»eOauw/Vea>-estBurch ell's Zebra, or the Dauw 
 
 Kinsman of the (^Equus burchellii), is undoubtedly the 
 
 Horse. noblest member of the whole family, 
 
 because it shows the greatest resemblance to the 
 
 Horse in appearance, being scarcely smaller than the 
 
 Quagga. The soft, sleek coat is of a sorrel color 
 
 above, and white underneath. Fourteen small black 
 
 stripes commence at the nostrils. Along the spine 
 
 runs a black band edged with white; the neck is 
 
 marked by ten broad, black and sometimes forked 
 
 stripes; the legs are usually of a plain white color. 
 
 Peculiarities The Zebra {Equus zebra) has much 
 
 of the Ze- the same physical proportions as the 
 
 '"■"• Dauw, but is striped all over the 
 
 body, and thereby readily distinguished from that 
 
 animal. Its conformation is approximate to that of 
 
 THE ZEBBA. ^Thjs species of the Horse family, once, common in soutli Africa, is now found there in much decreased numbers. It is the 
 
 most perfectly striped of all the family, not ouly.being marked on the body but also on the legs, down to the hoofs. The group in the picture is 
 shown running, rolling and romping in. true H»rse fashion. (Eguus zei^i;a. ) 
 
 ■white. Grayish white stripes, dashed with a reddish 
 tint, run across the head, neck and shoulders; on fore- 
 head and temples they are longitudinal and lie close 
 "together, and on the cheeks they run transversely and 
 at greater intervals. Between the eyes and the mouth 
 they form a triangle. The neck contains ten such 
 stripes which are continued in the mane also; the 
 shoulders have four and the body a few more, which 
 become shorter and paler as they approach nearer the 
 hindquarters. Along the entire spine, back to the tail, 
 runs a blackish-brown band, bordered along its edges 
 with reddish gray. The ears are covered with white 
 hairs on the inside, the outside being yellowish white 
 ■and marked with one dark brown band. The sexes 
 resemble each other very much, the female being 
 somewhat smaller and possessed of a shorter tail. 
 The adult male attains a length of eighty inches, 
 ■or one hundred and four inches including the tail; 
 ihe height at the vvithers is about fifty-two inches. 
 
 the Ass rather than to the Horse, reminding one 
 most of the Dziggetai. The body, supported on 
 slender, well-shaped limbs, is stout and vigorous, the 
 neck is arched, the head short, the muzzle large and 
 somewhat obtuse, the tail of moderate length, for 
 the greater part overgrown with short hair but hav- 
 ing long hair 'only toward its lower extremity, thus 
 resembling an Ass' tail; the mane is thick, but very 
 short. Transverse stripes of a lustrous black or 
 reddish brown hue run on a white or light yellowish 
 ground, from the muzzle to the hoofs; only the pos- 
 terior part of the abdomen and the inner sides of 
 the upper parts of the legs are free from stripes. 
 The dark, brown-black, longitudinal stripe on the 
 back is also conspicuous. 
 
 Range and Habits The real native country of the Ze- 
 
 oftheZe- bras is southern and eastern Africa; 
 
 bras. they are not found within the 
 
 narrower equatorial regions of the western half of 
 
420 
 
 THE ODD-TOED ANIMALS. 
 
 Africa nor any part of the Congo district, with 
 the exception of the remotest southeastern portion. 
 The Quagga is found to the north of Cape Colony, 
 in the Kalahari and German possessions in south- 
 western Africa to the Cunene, as well as in the 
 Transvaal. Burchell's and Chapman's Zebras occur 
 nearer to the Zambesi and the Cunene. The Zebra, 
 on the contrary, preferring a mountainous country, 
 has a far wider range than its relatives: in Cape 
 Colony it maintains its foothold to the present day 
 and to the north it penetrates as far as Benguela in 
 the west, and to about the twelfth parallel of south 
 latitude in the east. 
 
 The Zebras live gregariously. Generally they are 
 seen in groups of ten to thirty; but there are many 
 accounts of herds of them numbering hundreds 
 which when seen were probably in the act of migrat- 
 ing. Every different species is always met apart 
 from other species of the same family. Perhaps one 
 species of Zebra fears the other; but it is not afraid 
 of other animals. Thus all observers agree that 
 Quagga herds nearly always contain Spring-boks, 
 Gnus, Ostriches and also Buffalos. Ostriches in 
 particular are said to be the constant companions of 
 this species of wild Horse, doubtless because the 
 latter derive greater benefit from the wariness and 
 vigilance of those gigantic birds. 
 
 All Zebras are exceedingly fleet, wary and timid 
 animals. They scour over hill and dale with wind- 
 like rapidity. A well-mounted rider finds it not 
 so very difficult to overtake a compact body of 
 fleeing Zebras, though a single individual easily es- 
 cape's the swiftest rider. It is said that when the 
 pursuer succeeds in scattering the herd and separat- 
 ing the foals from their mothers, the young Quaggas 
 become willing captives and follow the Horses as 
 they did their mothers. There seems to exist a 
 certain friendship between the Zebras and the one- 
 hoofed domestic animals, for it is said that the Quag- 
 gas and Burchell's and Chapman's Zebras some- 
 times follow the Horses of traveling parties and 
 quietly graze among them. 
 Traits and Capa- The Zebras are not very fastidious 
 bilities of in the choice of their food ; yet they 
 Zebras. are more exacting than the Asses. 
 Their native country offers them sufficient nourish- 
 ment, and if food becomes scarce in one place, they 
 set out in search of more productive localities. 
 
 The vocal expression of the Zebras is as different 
 from the neighing of the Horse as it is from the 
 braying sounds of the Ass. Cuvier says, that the 
 Quagga reiterates the syllables "oa oa"some twenty 
 times in succession, while other travelers describe 
 its cry with the words " qua qua;" or " quaha," which 
 also account for the origin of the Hottentot name of 
 the animal. The Dauw utters short sounds, some- 
 thing like "yu, yu," which, in captivity at least, are 
 rarely uttered more than three times in succession. 
 All the perceptive senses of the Zebras are acute. 
 The slightest noise fails to escape their ear, and 
 their eye is exceedingly keen and very rarely de- 
 ceived. In their mental attributes all are about on 
 a common plane. An unlimited love of freedom, 
 a mischievous disposition, a certain wildness, even 
 some malice and much courage are common charac- 
 teristics of them all. They valiantly defend them- 
 selves against the attacks of beasts of prey by kick- 
 ing and biting. Hyenas prudently let them alone. 
 Perhaps the powerful Lion is the only brute foe 
 which succeeds in overcoming a Zebra; the impu- 
 dent Leopard probably attacks only weak speci- 
 
 mens. The worst enemy of the Zebras is Man. 
 The difficulty of the pursuit and the beautiful skin 
 of the animal, which serves a variety of purposes, 
 prompt Europeans to vigorously hunt this quite 
 harmless quarry. Europeans kill Zebras with bullets, 
 natives with javelins; more frequently, however, the 
 dainty creatures are taken in pitfalls and then either 
 killed with little trouble or consigned to captivity. 
 
 The Zebras have been wrongly held to be untam- 
 able. The people who are properly qualified for the 
 undertaking have not occupied themselves suffi- 
 ciently with the subjugation of these magnificent, 
 animals. A few attempts have been crowned with 
 success, others have failed. Quaggas have been, 
 repeatedly trained to convey burdens and draw 
 carts. In England a couple of the beautiful animals 
 are recorded to have been tamed to such an extent 
 that they could be harnessed to a light carriage and 
 used like Horses. Other accounts, however, are ta 
 contrary effect. Sparrmann relates the first attempt 
 of a rich settler in Cape Colony to break Zebras ta 
 harness. He had reared several young Zebras and 
 seemed to be satisfied with their conduct and had 
 confidence in their docility. One day he bethought 
 himself of harnessing the pretty animals to his car- 
 riage. He took the lines himself, and set out with 
 his racers. The trip must have been accomplished 
 in a very short time; for the happy owner of the 
 Zebras presently found himself in their stable, to- 
 gether with the remnants of his carriage. This and 
 a few similar attempts rendered the settlers of Cape 
 Colony thoughtful, and convinced them that the 
 taming of Zebras is impossible. All intelligent ob- 
 servers do not doubt, however, that we will win the 
 Zebras to our service in the course of time. Bar- 
 row affirms that success would be assured if people 
 proceeded with more patience and circumspection 
 than do the peasants of the Cape. 
 
 How the Zebra AH species of Zebras bear confine- 
 Acts in Cap- ment in other than their native coun- 
 tiuity. tries without harmful results. They 
 
 enjoy the best of health if they receive good food; 
 and if they are properly managed they propagate 
 their young even if kept within narrow confines. It 
 has been demonstrated that the Zebras may produce 
 cross-breeds with others of the one-hoofed tribe also. 
 So far the following cross-breeds have been pro- 
 duced: Zebra and female Ass; male Ass and Zebra; 
 half Ass (Mule or Hinny) with Zebra mare; half Ass 
 with Quagga, and Quagga with female Ass; also off- 
 spring of Zebra and female Ass, and offspring of Ass 
 and Zebra mare both breeding with a Pony. These 
 cases have proved the possibility of hybrids possess- 
 ing the power of propagating the species. 
 
 SECOND FAfllLY: Tapirid^e. 
 
 We regard the Tapir? {TapiridcB) as the family 
 most closely allied to the Horses, for though rela- 
 tively small animals, of a clumsy organization, their 
 kinship to the Horse family is instantly recognized 
 by eyes observant of natur,al...,affiwties. They, are 
 distinguished by a tolerably well-shaped body, with 
 long, slender head, a slender neck, a short, stub-like 
 tail and proportionately long, stout legs. The erect 
 ears are short and rather broad, while the slanting 
 eyes are small. The upper lip is elonga:ted into a 
 prehensile proboscis or trunk, which hangs down far 
 
THE DAUW OE BUKCHELL'S ZEBRA.— The commonest species of the Horse family found mjhe great plains of Afnca Its sym- 
 metrical form regular ftripes. novel mane and graceful bearing make it one of the handsomest o quadrupeds » assoaates with Antelopes and 
 Ostriches on its native plains, and the picture therefore correctly portrays its real home and habits. {Equus burchelht.) 
 
 (421) 
 
422 
 
 THE ODD-TOED ANIMALS. 
 
 beyond the lower lip. The stout feet are equipped 
 with four toes on the front pair and three on the 
 hinder pair. The strong hide has no wrinkles and 
 lies smoothly on the body. The hair is short, but 
 thick, and in the American species it is prolonged 
 into a mane from the middle of the head to the with- 
 ers. The dentition exhibits six incisors and one ca- 
 nine tooth in each side of both jaws, seven molars in 
 each side of the upper, and six in the corresponding 
 portions of the lower jaw. The bony structure of the 
 animal is distinguished by its comparative lightness. 
 
 Of the species of this family, for the most part 
 American, at least one has been known to us for a 
 considerable length of time, the others having been 
 discovered, described and classified only in a recent 
 period. It is rather surprising that the American 
 Tapir was the. first enrolled in the books of natural 
 science, while the earliest definite information con- 
 cerning the Malayan Tapir came to the knowledge of 
 the white races in the beginning of this century; 
 though it was known a Ibng time before, not to us, 
 but to the Chinese, whose natural histories and 
 school books mention it. In the Tapirs the same 
 physical comparison may be instituted which is al- 
 most invariably justified when a family has repre- 
 sentatives in the Old and New World: the Old World 
 species are of nobler physical organization, and, so 
 to speak, more perfect animals than those living in 
 the New World. 
 Distinctive Features The Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus 
 
 of the Malay or Tapirus malayanus) is easily dis- 
 Tapir. tinguished from its American kins- 
 
 man by its greater size; its proportionately more 
 slender shape; its head, thinner in the facial parts 
 and more curved in the skull portion; its stronger and 
 longer trunk; its stouter feet; the absence of a mane, 
 and lastly by its color. The difference in structure 
 of the trunks of these animals seems to me to be of 
 special importance. While the trunk of the Amer- 
 ican Tapir is abruptly projected from the upper lip 
 and has a rounded, tubular shape, the upper half of 
 the muzzle of the Malayan Tapir almost impercept- 
 ibly graduates into the trunk, the cross-section of 
 which is similar to that of an Elephant's trunk, 
 rounded in its upper half, but flattened in its lower 
 portion. 
 
 The color of the hairy coat which envelops the 
 entire body is highly characteristic. A pure, deep 
 black may be regarded as the ground-color; a grayish 
 white caparison stands out on it in bold relief. The 
 exact bodily measurements of an adult female were: 
 the total length amounted to one hundred inches, 
 inclusive of the tail, which was nearly two and one- 
 half inches long; the height from ground to shoulder 
 was forty inches, the height at the buttocks forty- 
 two inches. The animal is a native of Tenasserim and 
 Siam, south of about the fifteenth parallel of north 
 latitude, the Malayan peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. 
 
 It is a striking fact that despite our active com- 
 merce with India and southern Asia nothing definite 
 was known of this Tapir until 1819, when the animal 
 was introduced to the notice of the western world 
 through the publication of the researches of Cuvier. 
 In 1820 the first skin, skeleton and various internal 
 parts of the yet very little known creature arrived in 
 Europe. We have received more inforrnation about 
 it since, but still we cannot boast of a perfect knowl- 
 edge concerning it. There is yet no authentic ac- 
 count given of the life of the animal in the free state; 
 neither do the observations of its life in captivity 
 entirely comprehend the subject. Sterndale charac- 
 
 terizes it as a shy animal, living in seclusion, which, 
 if taken young, can be easily tamed and is capable 
 of great affection. 
 
 Description of the A short mane on the neck and a 
 American skin of one color characterize the 
 Tapir. American Tapir {Tapirus americanus 
 
 or Tapinis terrestris) which is also called Anta or 
 Danta in Brazil. It is that species of the familj^ 
 with which we first become acquainted. A few 
 years after the discovery of the American continent 
 travelers began telling tales of a large animal, which 
 they believed to be a Hippopotamus, and the Euro- 
 pean naturalists therefore bestowed the appellation 
 of Hippopotamus terrestris on it. The. famous Mar- 
 grave of Liebstad first gave a detailed description 
 and picture of it about the middle of the eighteenth 
 century. Later travelers and explorers completed 
 the first description, and at present there are few 
 animals about which we are better informed than 
 about this species of Tapir. The body shows a 
 rather uniform covering of hair, which is elongated 
 into a stiff but short mane from the middle of the 
 upper part of the head along the neck to the shoul- 
 ders. The color is a blackish gray-brown, assuming 
 a lighter tint on the sides of the head, especially on 
 the neck and breast; the feet and tail, the spine and 
 nape of the neck are usually darker; the ears are 
 edged with whitish gray. Various modific'ations in 
 the color of the coat of hair occur. There are pale 
 gray, yellowish or brownish individuals. Young 
 animals show only on the back the ground color 
 prevalent all over the bodies of the old ones. The 
 upper surface of the head is closely besprinkled 
 with circular, white spots, and along each side of the 
 body riin four continuous lines of dots of a light hue, 
 extending also over the limbs. As age advances, 
 these spots coalesce into each other, forming bands, 
 and disappear entirely at the end of the second 
 year. According to Tschudi's measurements, the 
 Tapir may attain a length of eighty inches and a 
 height of sixty-eight; Kappler, however, finds that 
 with this length the height of the animal at the 
 shoulder is barely forty inches. It is a strange fact 
 that these measurements apply to the female Tapir, 
 she as a rule being the larger of the two. 
 
 Range of the Recent investigations show the range 
 
 American of the Tapir to be restricted to the 
 
 Tapir. south and east of South Ameirica, 
 
 while in the north and in the west of the southern 
 
 half, as well as in Central America, it is replaced by 
 
 closely allied but distinct species. 
 
 The accounts of the Tapirs given' in this work are 
 based on the communications of Azara, Rengger, 
 Prince of Wied, Tschudi, Schomburgk and others, 
 regarding the American species; for we lack any 
 detailed accounts of the life of the Asiatic Tapir. 
 Besides, all species are so similar that it suffices to 
 examine closely into the life and doings of the one. 
 
 All species of Tapirs inhabit woodlands, and sed- 
 ulously shun gaps or open land. For this reason 
 they are the first to recede before the strides of 
 human civilization and retreat into the depth of the 
 forest, while, as Hensel says in speaking of South 
 America, the remaining animals of the tropics press 
 to those parts of the wood which border on the 
 lands which have been made arable. Iii the brush- 
 wood of the South American forests the Tapirs 
 make well defined, beaten roads, which are with 
 difficulty distinguished from the paths of the Indi- 
 ans and an inexperienced person is often induced to 
 follow them to his detriment and confusion. The 
 
THE TAPIRS. 
 
 423 
 
 animals use these paths as long as they are not 
 molested; when alarmed or pursued, however, they 
 plunge through the most tangled thicket with ease. 
 Habits and Move- The Tapirs are mainly animals of 
 merits of the the darkness. Tschudi says: "For 
 Tapir. months we roamed through the 
 
 dense forests, containing hosts of Tapirs, but we 
 never saw one during the day, for in the daytime 
 they seem to remain concealed in the dense brush- 
 wood, in cool, shady places, affecting the proximity 
 of stagnant water, in which they like to wallow. 
 In quite undisturbed and very dense forests, how- 
 ever, they also rove about by day. It is true, that 
 they are averse to moving about in the sunshine, 
 and in the middle of- the day they always seek in 
 dense shades shelter from the fatiguing heat and 
 from Mosquitoes, which annoy them to an extent 
 almost unbearable." Prince Wied says: "If one 
 
 In their movements the Tapirs remind the on- 
 looker of Hogs. Their walk is slow and deliberate; 
 one leg is leisurely put in front of the other, the 
 head is bent to the ground and only the sniffing 
 trunk, constantly moving back and forth, as well as 
 the restless ears, enliven the lazy aspect of the crea- 
 ture. The Tapir is an excellent swimmer and a still 
 better diver, and crosses the widest rivers with ap- 
 parent ease, not only when compelled to swim by 
 pursuit, but whenever occasion offers. 
 The Senses and Among the perceptive senses of the 
 General Traits of Tapir those of smell and hearing de- 
 .apirs. . cidedly rank highest, and are prob- 
 ably of equal keenness; sight is comparatively weak. 
 This deficiency is, however, partially compensated 
 by an exquisitely susceptible sense of touch, espe- 
 cially in the trunk, in which it is very delicate, and 
 is used in manifold ways. The vocal expression is 
 
 MALAYAN TAFIB. Thoughsofarfromits American cousin the Malayan Tagit closely resembles it in physical characteristics and habits. It 
 
 13 longer and not quite so clumsy as the American Tapir, but the special distinguishing mark of the Asiatic species is the large white patch on th6 reai 
 portion of the back and sides, as indicated in this picture. ( Tafirus indicus.) 
 
 goes to a river in the early morning or in the even- 
 ing, softly and noiselessly, he may frequently see 
 Tapirs bathing, for the purpose of cooling them- 
 selves or of getting rid of the torments of Mosqui- 
 toes. No animal knows better how to protect itself 
 from these annoying insects; every mud-pool, every 
 <^^eek^or pond is utilized by thern with this end in 
 view." Towards evening the Tapirs sally forth in 
 quest of food, and probably they are active all night. 
 Their habits show a resemblance to those of the 
 Wild Boar, but they do not herd together in such 
 numbers as do Hogs, but live singly, like the Rhi- 
 noceros. The males especially are said to possess 
 solitary habits and join the females only during the 
 breeding season. Herds or groups are seldom met 
 With, and bands numbering more than three have 
 been observed only where a particularly good, rich 
 pasturage had attracted several Tapirs. 
 
 a peculiar, shrill whistle, out of all proportion to the 
 bulk of the animal. 
 
 All Tapirs seem to be good-natured, timid and 
 peaceable creatures, which have recourse to the use 
 of their natural weapons only in dire necessity. They 
 flee from every foe, even from the smallest of Dogs, 
 but most anxiously from Man, of whose superior 
 might they are well aware. This is shown by the 
 mere fact of their being much more wary and shy 
 in regions near plantations than in the untrodden 
 forest. This rule of extreme timidity has exception^, 
 however. Occasionally they defend themselves and 
 when aroused are by no means despicable antago- 
 nists. They rush at the enemy in blind fury, try to 
 run over him, and sometimes they may use their teeth 
 after the manner of enraged Hogs. In this way the 
 mothers defend their young, when the latter are 
 menaced by a sportsman. Then they brave any dan- 
 
424 
 
 THE ODD-TOED ANIMALS. 
 
 ger and heed no wound. Any one who has dealt with 
 captive Tapirs for any sufficient length of time knows 
 that they are mentally much above Rhinoceroses and 
 Hippopotami, and about on the same level of intel- 
 ligence as Pigs. "A Tapir taken young," says Reng- 
 ger, "accustoms itself in a few days to human beings 
 and habitation, not leaving the latter after once be- 
 coming thoroughly acquainted with the surround- 
 ings. It becomes restless if its keeper leaves it for 
 any considerable time, and seeks him, if it is at lib- 
 erty. It allows anybody to touch and stroke it." 
 Kappler, who frequently reared young Tapirs, says 
 that he always used to make somebody a present of 
 them while still young, because they became so an- 
 noyingly familiar; an adult specimen once pulled 
 the cloth off a set table with everything that was on 
 it. Those that I have taken care of justified these 
 statements. Both species proved to be very good- 
 natured creatures. They were quite tame, possessed 
 of peaceable intentions toward all animals, perfectly 
 agreeing among themselves, and affectionate toward 
 their friends. Keller-Leuzinger is persuaded that 
 the Anta could be reduced to a domestic state. He 
 says that those which are taken young become as 
 tame as Dogs in a few days, and never think of es- 
 caping. "In Curitiba, the capital of the province of 
 Parana," he says, "a tame, ownerless Tapir used to 
 run about in the streets for several years; from morn- 
 ing to night Negro boys would ride on it. A tem- 
 perature of two or three degrees below zero, centi- 
 grade, as happens there quite frequently in June and 
 July, seemed to affect it very little." 
 
 Tapirs in the free state feed exclusively on vege- 
 table substances, such as leaves of trees. In Brazil 
 they are partial to young palm leaves; not infre- 
 quently, however, they invade plantations and prove 
 that they are also fond of sugar cane, mangoes, mel- 
 ons and other vegetables. 
 
 Tapirs Vigorously AH species of Tapirs are vigorously 
 Hunted by hunted by the natives of the coun- 
 Natiues. tries they inhabit, as both their flesh 
 and skin are utilized. The flesh is said to be tender, 
 juicy and savory; the thick hide is- tanned and cut 
 into long strips, which are rounded, made flexible 
 by repeated rubbing in of hot lard, and then made 
 into whips or bridles. 
 
 In America the Tapir is usually hunted with 
 Hounds. The Dogs eagerly pursue the fleeing ani- 
 mal, until, as is always the case, it reaches the near- 
 est body of water. There . a hunter is hidden in a 
 light boat near the bank, and he helps the Dogs to 
 run down the swimming and diving quarry. Unless 
 the water surface be so small that the Tapir can 
 cross it quickly and obscure the trail, it is soon over- 
 taken and killed by a bullet or a long hunting knife. 
 Von den Steinen graphically describes a Tapir hunt, 
 which happened during his trip on the Xingu : 
 "Valentin discovered a Tapir swimming near the 
 bank; everybody came hurrying up to assist in the 
 chase. Irineo hit it with two bulldts, one lodging in 
 the flanks, the other in the trunk; Valentin sent a 
 charge of small shot whistling by its ears — still it 
 scampered into the forest. The Dogs rush on in 
 pursuit and we row with all our might; then follow 
 fresh reports from the guns and the Tapir disap- 
 pears into the thicket. The Dogs look stupidly into 
 the water, completely at fault. Soon a little Pom- 
 eranian Dog regains the trail, traces the animal 
 and the others help it. Then, at a distance of a 
 third of a mile, the Tapir reappears in the water; an 
 exciting race and indescribable confusion follow. It 
 
 dives and comes up again; Pedro shoots at a dis- 
 tance of five paces and misses; he sends off an 
 arrow, which rebounds from the tough hide; Mer- 
 elles also misses it at a close distance, while some- 
 body else hits it. The boats nearly upset each other,. 
 as we try to seize it; our boat careens over and is- 
 filled with water. We stick knives into the Tapir; 
 the Yuruma pricks it with an arrow, the Woman 
 waves her arms in excitement and screams that we 
 ought to lasso the creature. Antonio's knife thrust is 
 followed by a jet of blood, the animal again plunges 
 under water, but, coming up between two boats, it is 
 seized by a leg, killed and dragged to the nearest 
 rock. It is a huge beast, a ' regular Mule,' and is- 
 covered with large, brown ticks. The short, stiff 
 mane is rather good-looking, appearing like that 
 of the Greek Horses of the gods." 
 
 ^be IRbinoceroses. 
 
 THIRD FAfllLY: RniNOCEROXiDiE. 
 
 Even purely superficial consideiation and compar- 
 ison reveal some of the common anatomical fea- 
 tures \vhich cause Horses, Tapirs and Rhinoceroses- 
 to be classified within the same order; but a still 
 closer analysis is necessary in order to recognize the 
 comparatively near kinship of the families repre- 
 sented by them. • 
 
 CeTiera/ CAaz-acter- The Rhinoceroses i^Rhinocerotiddy 
 istics ofRhi- are stout, unwieldy animals of rather 
 noceroses. bulky proportions, distinguished by 
 a strikingly elongated head, the lower or nasal por- 
 tion of which supports a horn, or two horns standing 
 one behind the other; a short neck, a thick, rotund 
 body, covered with a tough, armor-like skin, almost 
 entirely, or for the greater part, devoid of hairy over- 
 growth; a short tail, and short, sturdy, but by no- 
 means clumsy legs, the feet of both the front and. 
 hinder pair having each three hoofed toes. Every 
 individual member of the body appears queer and pe- 
 culiar, even if compared with the corresponding por- 
 tion of other members of the family of the Perisso- 
 dactyla. The head is much elongated, the facial part 
 in particular being disproportionately lengthened,, 
 while the skull part is greatly compressed from front 
 to rear, so that the forehead recedes abruptly, giving 
 rise to a deeply indented saddle or ridge between 
 it and the perceptibly higher nasal portion. The 
 mouth is disproportionately small, and the upper lip- 
 is drawn out at its center, into a gradually tapering, 
 trunk-like appendage. The lower lip is slightly 
 rounded, or else its extremity presents a flattened, 
 chopped-off appearance. The eyes are strikingly 
 small; the ears are rather large and rounded on their 
 outer margins. The short, wrinkled neck, which is. 
 thicker than the head, merges into the bulky body 
 without any perceptible line of demarcation. The 
 body is characterized by a peculiar formation of the 
 backbone, the spines of which are sharp and growr 
 longer and more prominent toward the middle of the 
 back; the buttocks are slightly higher than the shoul- 
 ders; the abdomen is "paunchy" and pendulous; the 
 short tail is either much compressed laterally toward! 
 its extremity, in which case its width from root to 
 tip is nearly uniform, or else it is long and tapering. 
 The legs, down to the ankle joints, crook inward like 
 those of a German Badger Dog, but below that point 
 are straight. The feet broaden out equally on all 
 sides, down to the soles, which are of ovoid shape. 
 
THE RHINOCEROSES. 
 
 425 
 
 Of the three toes on each foot the width of the mid- 
 dle one is nearly double that of either of the others. 
 The skin is very thick, and in most species of the 
 family is of an almost armor-like toughness. It 
 either envelops the body snugly, with the exception 
 of a few not very prominent folds, or else it is di- 
 vided into several distinct shields, separated by deep 
 furrows. The loose skin of these interstices affords 
 the only means of mobility, for the shields may be 
 niade to touch or even overlap each other at these 
 furrows, which are composed of a thinner and much 
 more flexible skin than that which forms the shields. 
 Deep wrinkles surround the eyes and mouth, and in 
 the latter instance impart an unexpected degree of 
 flexibility to the clumsy appearing, but actually very 
 mobile lips. A network of shallow depressions cross 
 
 in individual instances and not as a general rule, the 
 superficial skin exhibits horny excrescences attain- 
 ing the height of an inch or thereabouts, on different 
 portions of the body, but usually on the head. 
 
 The bony skeleton is of a clumsy, vigorous struct- 
 ure. In respect to dentition it may be said that 
 the canines are absent; the African species also lack 
 the incisors in both jaws, but the Asiatic species 
 usually show them during their entire life. The re- 
 maining teeth consist of seven molars on both sides 
 of each jaw. 
 
 The Rhinoceroses, which at present inhabit the 
 Oriental and Ethiopian belts, were more widely 
 distributed in former times, their earlier range in- 
 cluding southern Germany, France, England, Rus- 
 sia and Siberia. Among the extinct species which. 
 
 
 AMEBICAII TAFIBS, Here is a group of these South American animals luxuriating in the native swamps which furnish them plentifully 
 
 with the leaves, shoots and fruits which form their food. The clumsy body, head and proboscis-like snout of the adults are shown, and the peculiar spots 
 and stripes of the infant Tapir are also portrayed. These markings disappear with maturity. (Tapirus amencanus.) 
 
 each other on the skin, separating it into elevations 
 of very uniform shape, apparently arranged into a 
 pattern of regular design; and which forms, on the 
 thick, shield-like portions of the hide, an especially 
 odd but attractive adornment. The hairy covering 
 of the Rhinoceroses is usually restricted to a moder- 
 ately long fringe upon the ear margins and upon the 
 broadly-compressed extremity of the tail, but in a 
 few varieties it also extends to several spots on the 
 skin. The horns, which have their foundations in, 
 and are really .developments of the superficial skin, 
 consist of extremely fine, round or angular fibres of 
 horny tissue arranged in parallel lines and forming 
 hollow cones; and their broad, rounded bases are 
 attached to the thick skin which covers the nasal 
 portion of the face. Not infrequently, though only 
 
 have been classified, one particularly deserves to be 
 mentioned — the two-horned prehistoric Rhinoceros,, 
 with a bony nasal partition f^Rhinoceros tichorhinus) — 
 because its remains have been found preserved not 
 alone in a few separate bones, but quite complete 
 with skin and hair. In northern Asia, from the Ob 
 to the Straits of Behring, there is no river in the 
 open country on the banks of which the fossil re- 
 mains of prehistoric animals, especially of Elephants, 
 Buffaloes and Rhinoceroses, can not be found. 
 Flower's Classifica- Our knowledge of the existing spe- 
 tion of the Rhi- cies has been materially extended 
 noceroses. duripg recent times, but is even yet. 
 far from satisfactory. Flower, in the year 1876, sub- 
 jected the family to a new revision and considera- 
 tion. This naturalist distinguishes three main groups 
 
426 
 
 THE ODD-TOED ANIMALS. 
 
 of the family, arranged in accordance with their 
 dentition and the folds of the skin. , The first group 
 comprises all species, the stin of which is divided 
 into shields; the second embraces those, the skin of 
 which shows less folds, and in the third group the 
 skins do not exhibit any permanent folds. 
 
 One horn and well developed folds on neck and 
 loins, which bound the coat of mail formed by the 
 skin and surround shield-like areas, characterize the 
 Shielded Rhinoceroses {Rki7ioceros) , represented by 
 two living varieties. 
 
 Description of the The Rhinoceros or Unicorn, usually 
 Indian Rlii- called the Indian Rhinoceros (Rhi- 
 noceros, twceros u?ticorms) attains a total length 
 of twelve and one-half feet, including the tail, which 
 is two feet long; the height at the shoulders is five 
 feet, eight inches, and the weight amounts to 4,000 
 pounds or thereabouts. Of sturdy and strong build, 
 it is distinguished from its relatives by its compara- 
 tively, short, broad, thick head, and the character of 
 the margins of the shields, which is peculiar to this 
 species. The range of this Rhinoceros now extends 
 throughout the northern part of India. 
 
 Tlie Jauan or The Other variety of this sub-species 
 Wara Rhi- is the Wara Rhinoceros, commonly 
 noceros. known as the Javan Rhinoceros {Rhi- 
 noceros sondaicus). As far as our knowledge goes, 
 this species appears to have a much more extensive 
 range than the Indian Rhinoceros. 
 
 The African Rhinoceros {Atelodiis) is characterized 
 by either the absence or rudimentary character of 
 incisors in its dentition. Its smooth, even and- hair- 
 less skin is marked by distinct folds only at the base 
 ■of the neck and is divided neither into shields nor 
 zones. Its defensive weapons consist of two slender 
 horns, placed one behind the other. 
 Biac\< Rhinoceros The best known representative of 
 the Best Known this sub-species is the Two-horned 
 Variety. Rhinoceros {Rhinoceros bicornis), 
 called the Black Rhinoceros by the Boers and Eng- 
 lish hunters, Borele by the natives of south Africa, 
 and Keitloa, if its posterior horn is very long. Its 
 color varies between a uniform dark, slaty gray, and 
 a dingy, reddish brown. Full-grown bulls have a 
 total length of thirteen feet, four inches, inclusive of 
 the tail, which is usually about two feet long; the 
 height at the shoulders is five feet, four inches. The 
 horns are inclined in a backward angle, and are 
 from twenty-eight to thirty-two inches long. In 
 rare cases the rear horn is as long or slightly longer 
 than the foremost one, but in the majority of cases 
 it does not attain half the length of the anterior horn 
 and often appears as a mere stub. The range of the 
 animal has been considerably restricted, especially 
 from the south, but it is still quite extensive, as it 
 comprises a large part of Africa, especially its east- 
 ern half, south from about the fifteenth parallel of 
 north latitude. 
 The Rhinoceros The ancients were familiar with the 
 Well Known to Rhinoceros. Pliny records that 
 the Ancients. Pompey introduced the first Unicorn 
 .at the games in Rome in the year 61 B. C, at the 
 same time that he imported the Lynx from Gaul and 
 the Baboon from Ethiopia. Agatharchides.was the 
 first to speak of these animals; Strabo, who saw a 
 Rhinoceros in Alexandria, was the second. Pausa- 
 nias refers to it under the name of " Ethiopian 
 Ox," Martial also mentions it in one of his verses. 
 Early Arabian authors speak about both varieties 
 and discriminate between the Indian and African 
 species, and in their folk-lore tales the animals fre- 
 
 quently play the part of magical beings. Marco 
 £.olo, that renowned traveler and author, .who plays 
 so important a part in respect of the ancient rec- 
 ords of zoology, was the first to break the silence 
 after the long lapse of time, during which nothing 
 had been heard about the Rhinoceros. He saw it 
 on his journey to the East Indies, namely in Suma- 
 tra, in the thirteenth century. In 1513 the King of 
 Portugal received a living Rhinoceros from the East 
 Indies. Its fame resounded throughout the Euro- 
 pean countries. Albrecht Durer published an en- 
 graving, which he had made after a poor picture he 
 received from Lisbon. It represents an animal 
 which appears as if it were clothed in a suit of 
 armor, the feet being also incased in scales of mail, 
 and the shoulder being surmounted by a small horn. 
 For nearly two hundred years that engraving of the 
 famous master was the only existing European pic- 
 ture of the Rhinoceros. Chardin, who saw the ani- 
 mal in Ispahan early in the eighteenth century, was 
 the first to give an approximately correct picture of 
 this animal. Bontius had corrected the description 
 of its life about the middle of the seventeeth cen- 
 tury. 
 
 On the whole, all Rhinoceroses have much in 
 common in their mode of life, their character, their 
 qualities, their movements and their food; yet every 
 variety seems to have its individual peculiarities. 
 The Asiatic varieties of the Rhinoceros, for instance, 
 are thought to be exceedingly vicious animals. The 
 Javan variety is described as much better natured, 
 and that of Sumatra {Rhinoceros sutnatreTisis) is said 
 to be quite inoffensive. The same variation in char- 
 acteristics holds good in regard to the African Rhi- 
 noceroses. The Two-horned Rhinoceros is said to 
 be the fiercest of all African animals, despite its 
 small size; while the larger "white" variety exhibits 
 a much milder and comparatively harmless dispo- 
 sition. There is probably some truth in this ac- 
 count, but the whole truth may be that every Rhi- 
 noceros shows good nature at its first acquaintance 
 with Man, and while it is not provoked, but becomes 
 vicious when taught by experience that Man is an 
 enemy, or when its enmity is aroused by provoca- 
 tion. 
 Favored Haunts The favorite haunts of the Rhinoc- 
 of the Rhi- eros are watery localities such as 
 noceros. marshy districts, rivers which over- 
 flow the country adjacent to their banks to a great 
 distance; lakes with bushy, muddy banks, in the 
 proximity of which there is rich pasturage;-^ wood- 
 lands through which flow creeks, and simitar locali- 
 ties. The African variety is also very comfortEtble in 
 rather dry stretches of country, rich in grass and 
 bushes, provided there are pools within its feach. 
 Even the most tangled thicket, inaccessible to other 
 creatures, opens its innermost recesses to these bulky 
 animals, for against their coats of mail the most pen- 
 etrating thorns are powerless. Therefore nearly all 
 species of Rhinoceroses are most frequently en- 
 countered in forests, stretching inland from the sea- 
 coast, others of them occurring more regularly and 
 frequently in the hilly country than in the plains. 
 Every Rhinoceros probably visits the water once a 
 day to drink and wallow in the mud. 
 
 A mud bath is an actual necessity to all thick- 
 skinned animals living on dry land; for appropriate 
 as the adjective "thick" is in regard to their skins, 
 they are exceedingly sensitive to the stings of the 
 various species of Flies, Gnats and Mosquitoes, and 
 obtain some degree of relief only by incasing them- 
 
INDIAN BHINOCEBOS. Here in a deep, damp part of the jungle, where a convenient stream invites to aquatic exercise, are two 
 
 Rhinoceroses of the One-Homed or Indian species. The thick skin, divided into several shields, the strange, wrinkled neck, and the single 
 horn. Surmounting the muzzle,.combine to give this animal an especially formidable appearance. {Rhinoceros unicornis.) 
 
 (427) 
 
428 
 
 THE ODD-TOED ANIMALS. 
 
 selves in a thick crust of mud. Before even going 
 in search of food, the animals hurry to the soft 
 banks of lakes, pools and rivers, dig a hole in the 
 marshy soil and wallow and turn about in it, until 
 their backs, shoulders, sides and abdomen are covered 
 with mud. This wallowing in the mire is so grate- 
 ful to them that they utter loud grunts of satisfac- 
 tion and may even be entranced and occupied by 
 the comfortable bath to such an extent as to forget 
 their usual wariness. 
 
 The Rhinoceroses are more active by night than 
 by day. Great heat is distressful to them; for this 
 reason they sleep through the warmer part of the 
 day in some shady place, lying recumbent, half on 
 the side, half on the abdomen, the head stretched 
 ■out upon the ground between their forelegs, or rest- 
 ing on those members, or sometimes they lazily 
 stand in some quiet place in the wood, where the 
 thick foliage of the larger trees protects them from 
 the burning rays of the sun. All observers agree 
 that the sleep of these animals is very deep. Fre- 
 quently one may approach sleeping Rhinoceroses 
 without special caution, for they lie apparently as 
 lifeless as blocks of stone. Generally one hears the 
 resounding snore of a sleeping Rhinoceros at quite a 
 ■distance and has his attention attracted even if he fail 
 to see the creature. It sometimes happens, however, 
 that a Rhinoceros breathes quietly when asleep, and 
 that one suddenly confronts one of these monsters 
 without having had a suspicion of its proximity. 
 Feeding Grounds At the approach of night, and in 
 
 and Food of the many localities as early as the after- 
 Rhinooeros. noon, the unwieldy creature rises, 
 takes a mud-bath, luxuriously stretching its limbs in 
 it and then goes forth to forage. It feeds in dense 
 forests, hardly accessible to other animals, as well 
 as in the open country; in the water and pens and 
 thickets of the swamps, no less than in high dry 
 lands of the mountains and valleys. In the jungles 
 •of India the traveler frequently observes long and 
 perfectly straight roads made by Rhinoceroses, all 
 vegetation along the way being crushed aside, and 
 the soil being trampled compactly and much worn. 
 In the center of Africa similar paths may be seen. 
 
 In regard to its food, the Rhinoceros occupies 
 about the same relation to the Elephant as the Ass 
 to the Horse. It browses on branches and dry, hard 
 :shrubbery of all kinds, eats thistles, broom-grass, 
 underbrush, reeds, prairie-grass and so on, without, 
 however, being averse to more succulent food. In 
 Africa the main sustenance of some individuals con- 
 sists of branches, especially those of the widely 
 plentiful thorny mimosas; others confine themselves 
 principally to a diet of tuft-grass. Occasionally the 
 animals commit considerable depredations in the 
 ■cultivated fields of the districts in' which agriculture 
 flourishes. They trample down and destroy a great 
 ■deal more in plantations than they eat. The food is 
 gathered with the wide mouth or seized and broken 
 Avith the prehensile extension of the upper lip, which 
 fulfills the functions of a hand-like appendage, when 
 the animal eats. The Indian Rhinoceros can extend 
 the trunk-like projection of the upper lip to the 
 •extent of about six inches, and seize a thick tuft of 
 grass with it, pull it up and convey it to the mouth. 
 Wfiether the grass is clean or, whether some earth 
 adheres to the roots, seems to .be a matter of indif- 
 ference. It is true that the animal beats ft puUed-up 
 bush against the ground once, in order tb shake off 
 the bulk of the earthy matter adhering to the roots, 
 .but after that one effort it conveys the plant into its 
 
 huge mouth with the utmost complacence, and swal- 
 lows it without evincing any discomfort or making 
 any obvious effort. It is also partial to roots; these 
 it is able to obtain with great skill and ease. When 
 in a playful humor, it amuses itself by digging a 
 small tree or shrub out of the ground, for pure pas- . 
 time, sweeping its powerful horn about under the 
 roots, until it can finally seize the bush and lift it up; 
 then the roots are broken off by successive blows 
 and consumed. 
 
 Mental Character- The character of the Rhinoceros is 
 istics of Rhi- not very attractive. Its entire time 
 noceroses. is passed in eating and sleeping, and 
 it seems to be unaware of the existence of the rest 
 of the world. Unlike the Elephant, the Rhinoc- 
 eroses do not live in herds, but usually singly or at 
 the utmost in small bands numbering from four to 
 ten. There is little connection between the members 
 of such a herd; as a rule each lives for itself and acts 
 as it likes. Ye); it cannot be truthfully affirmed that 
 one regards the other with dull indifference; for, 
 leaving, a mother and her young out of considera- 
 tion, friendly, and even affectionate relations often 
 exist between the two sexes, which may be of a Very 
 tender and lasting character, sometimes ending Only 
 with death. Their mental faculties appear as slug- 
 gish as their bodies, but in reality neither are so. A 
 Rhinoceros generally strides along with a ponderous 
 and somewhat clumsy gait, and when it lies down 
 and wallows, it seemingly does so as awkwardly as 
 possible; but these movements appear more clumsy 
 than they really are. The Rhinoceros does not pace 
 or amble like the Elephant, but strikes out with the 
 opposite fore and hind legs simultaneously, after the 
 manner of a trotting Horse. Every Rhinoceros in- 
 dulges in swimming, but generally remains on the 
 surface of the water, and does not dive unless it is 
 absolutely necessary. 
 
 Senses and Mental Among the perceptive senses of the 
 Attributed of Rhi- Rhinoceros, that of hearing rinks 
 noceroses. first; smell comes next and then 
 touch. Sight is very weak. The sense of hearing 
 must be extremely acute, for the animal is cogni- 
 zant of very slight sounds proceeding from a great 
 distance. The presence of the sensation of taste 
 can not be denied; at least I observed that sugar 
 was an article considered highly desirable by tame 
 specimens, and consumed by them with special de- 
 light. The vocal utterance of the Rhinoceros con- 
 sists of a dull growl, changing into a ferocious snort- 
 ing and panting in anger. In a state of natural 
 freedom these snorts may be frequently heard J for 
 the rage of a Rhinoceros is easily excited and its 
 habitual indifference toward everything that does 
 not come under the classification of food, may very 
 soon turn to the direst anger. It is then absoliitely 
 reckless of the number or strength of its enemies, 
 and blindly rushes straight at the object of its wrath. 
 The frenzied animal seems to care very little whether 
 a troop of armed Men oppose it, or whether the ob- 
 ject of its ire is perfectly inoffensive and insignifi- 
 cant. Red objects are said to irritate it, as they do 
 ,. a Bull; at least it has been known to attack people 
 attired in bright colors, who had done noth1tig-^o 
 provoke it. Fortunately escape from a Rhinpceros 
 rushing on in blind rage is not difficult. An experi- 
 enced hunter allows it to approach to within teh or 
 fifteen, paces distance and then suddenly jumps ,#'de 
 out of its pathway; the frenzied beast rushes|.past 
 him, unable to turn until it has gone too far to scent 
 its foe any longer, and continues its mad chase at 
 
TWO-HOENED RHINOeEBOS-. ^TWs'isaii'^rican.species, very much at home in the dense forest, which amply supplies it with 
 
 the leaves and young shoots which form its food. Once very common throughout Africa, its numbers are decreasing yearly because of the 
 vigor with which it is hunted. (Rhinoceros iicomis.) 
 
 (429) 
 
480 
 
 THE ODD-TOED ANIMALS. 
 
 haphazard, perhaps venting its rage on another and 
 innocent object which it may chance to meet. 
 Reproduction and The female Rhinoceros gives birth 
 Growth of the to onlv a single young one in any 
 Rhinoceros. one year. It is a small, clumsy 
 beast about the size of a half-grown Pig, and born 
 with open eyes. Its ruddy skin is devoid of folds, 
 but a rudiment of the horn is already to be dis- 
 covered. It is not known how long the young Rhi- 
 noceros remains under the care of its mother; 
 neither is the relation of the father toward his off- 
 spring known. The growth of the young animal 
 progresses rapidly during the first few months. A 
 Rhinoceros which measured about twenty-four 
 inches in height and forty-four inches in length on 
 the third day, grew five inches in height and six 
 inches in length in one month. By the time it is 
 thirteen months old it has usually attained a height 
 of forty-eight inches, a length of eighty and a girth 
 of eighty-four inches. 
 
 Relations Between In former times many tales were 
 Rhinoceroses and current relative to the friendships 
 Other Animals, and animosities of the Rhinoceros. 
 Especially was the Elephant said to be in continu- 
 ous strife with it and to be always defeated. These 
 stories, descending to uS from the days of Pliny, 
 are occasionally warmed over by some traveler, but 
 doubtless should be regarded as fables. The stories 
 recounting the friendly relations existing between 
 this animal and weaker creatures are more correct. 
 Anderson, Gordon Gumming and other noted trav- 
 elers and writers, nearly always found the Two- 
 horned as well as the large White Rhinoceros at- 
 tended by a friendly bird, to which the animal has 
 lent its own name, and which faithfully accompanies 
 its giant friend throughout the day, in a certain way 
 performs the services of a sentinel and feeds on the 
 vermin with which the animals swarm.. It therefore 
 keeps in the immediate neighborhood of the ani- 
 mals or perches on their very bodies. These birds 
 are the best friends of the Rhinoceros and rarely 
 fail to apprize it of an impending danger. Naturally 
 the faithful attendance of these b'irds is appreciated, 
 for the most dull-witted mammal would fee^l, grate- 
 ful for the great benefit they render it by picking 
 off the tormenting insects. Yet I will leave it an 
 open question whether or not, at the approach of an 
 enemy, especially Man, the birds peck at the ears 
 of the animal upon the body of which they find 
 their favorite food. -I incline to the belief that the 
 general restlessness which the feathered sentinels 
 exhibit at the sight of anything suspicious, is sufifi- 
 cient to put the Rhinoceros on the alert. We know 
 beyond peradventure, that certain specially cautious 
 or timid birds are appreciated by other animals as 
 sentinels and warners, and encouraged by them to 
 cultivate intimate social relations. The Rhinoceros 
 probably encounters few willing antagonists besides 
 Man. Lions and Tigers shun the animal, because 
 they know that their claws are too weak to inflict 
 deep or effective wourlds upon it because of the 
 protection afforded by its thick coat of mail, but 
 they may occasionally menace a calf separated from 
 its mother. The . RJ.iinoceros fears other small ani- 
 mals much more than it does the large beasts of 
 prey, and finds most annoying foes especially among 
 some kinds of Gad-flies and Mosquitoes. 
 Man the Arch Ene- Man is undoubtedly its most dan- 
 my of the Rhi- gerous foe. The people of nations 
 noceros. within whose domain the unwieldy 
 
 creature lives, as well as European sportsmen, pur- 
 
 sue it most diligently. It was formerly erroneously- 
 believed that the thick hide was bullet-proof; there 
 is no doubt, however, that a knife, a spear or even, 
 an arrow projected from a strong bow can pierce it. 
 The native hunters endeavor to approach the Rhi- 
 noceros against the wind during its sleep, and thrust 
 their spears into its body or apply the muzzles of 
 their guns very close to some vulnerable part in order 
 that it may receive the full impetus of their bullets. 
 The Abyssinians employ javelins, sometimes fling- 
 ing as many as fifty or sixty at one Rhinoceros. 
 When it is somewhat exhausted with the loss of 
 blood, one of the boldest approaches it and tries to 
 hamstring it by severing the main tendon of the 
 hind-leg with a sharp sword, in order to paralyze 
 the movements of the animal and render further 
 resistance impossible. In India Elephants are em- 
 ployed in the chase, but even they are sometimes, 
 endangered by the attacks of the infuriated animal. 
 The African species are hunted by Europeans in the 
 same way that Elephants are: the sportsman lies in 
 wait for them at night at their drinking place; they 
 are stealthily approached in the thicket where they 
 lie asleep by day, or the hunters ride up to them in 
 the open country, in order to secure an opportunity 
 to send bullets of large caliber, propelled by heavy 
 charges of powder, into the most vulnerable region 
 of their bodies from the nearest possible distance. 
 Various Methods of The capture of the beast alive is 
 
 Capturing the attended by greater difficulties than. 
 Rhinoceros. the hunt. The Wara Rhinoceros is 
 taken mainly on account of its horn, which brings a 
 high price among the Chinese. In order to capture it 
 deep, narrow pits are dug in the course of its paths; 
 these pits are planted with stout, sharp-pointed poles 
 intended to pierce and impale the heavy animal as it 
 falls; they are then carefully covered with branches 
 of trees. The Rhinoceros pursues its usual pathway, 
 breaks through the branches and tumbles into the 
 pit, and even if it escapes being injured, it is still un- 
 able to climb out and effect an escape. The young 
 Rhinoceroses, which are occasionally sold in the 
 various markets of the world, are caught in Africa 
 by hunting parties duririg-the breeding season. Old 
 cows with calves are sought; the mothers are killed 
 and the young are then easily captured. 
 
 Selous recounts a remarkable case of helpless con- 
 fidence shown by a young Two-horned Rhinoceros. 
 One morning as he was setting out for a hunt with 
 his companion, Mr. Wood, they unexpectedly met an 
 old Rhinoceros near a fence, and immediately shot 
 it, hitting it with two bullets. The animal was seri- 
 ously wounded and fled, and then only did they dis- 
 cover that it was a cow, and that a calf a ffew days 
 old was vainly endeavoring to follow it. The little 
 creature desisted from its purpose and crept under 
 Wood's Horse, while Selous despatched the mother 
 with a final shot. " On returning to- my friend," says 
 he, " I found him sitting under a tree, and the calf 
 standing close to his Horse, which did not seem to 
 be at all afraid of the little monster. The little calf 
 was hardly larger than a half-grown Pig, and showed 
 no sign of fear when we or our native attendants 
 came up to it and stroked it. One circumstance 
 struck me as odd; it perspired violently all over its 
 back, something which I never saw an adult Rhinoc- 
 eros do. As the untamed little orphan followed 
 Wood's Horse, as if it were its mother, we concluded 
 to take it along to our vehicles, which were some six 
 miles away, and to try to rear it. So we set out and 
 the little creature followed us like a Dog. The hot 
 
THE CONIES. 
 
 431 
 
 sun seemed to inconvenience it greatly, for it stopped 
 at every shady bush ; but as soon as we would ad- 
 vance about thirty paces ahead, it would wave its 
 little tail, squeal and trot on to join its Horse. Fi- 
 nally we reached the wagons and then the behavior 
 of the confiding little creature underwent a sudden 
 change. Whether it was due to the presence of the 
 Dogs, which jumped around it barking, or to the un- 
 familiar appearance of the carts, the general aggre- 
 gation of human beings, smells and miscellaneous 
 objects which go to make up a camp, I do not know, 
 but our protege was suddenly transformed into a 
 veritable little devil, furiously charging at Men, Dogs 
 and even cart -wheels. We secured it by means of a 
 strap around its neck and shoulders, but it proved 
 very refractory during the operation, jumping into 
 the air, rushing at me and furiously thrusting at my 
 knee with its nose. We .fastened it to a cart-wheel, 
 and it began to quiet 
 down, but whenever ap- 
 proached by Man or 
 Dog it relapsed into its 
 former savagery. As I 
 had feared, it took none 
 of the nourishment pre- 
 pared and offered to it 
 by us; milk would prob- 
 ably have proven ac- 
 ceptable, but unfortu- 
 nately we could not get 
 it, as we had no cows. 
 As all attempts to induce 
 it to eat failed, and we 
 could foresee that if we 
 set it free, it would 
 either miserably starve 
 or breathe its last be- 
 tween the teeth of some 
 Lion or Hyaena, I decid- 
 ed to shoot the forlorn 
 creature, which it would 
 have given me so much 
 pleasure to rear." 
 
 In our zoological gar- 
 dens the majority of 
 Rhinoceroses are good- 
 natured and tame, suffer 
 themselves to be petted, 
 driven back and forth, 
 and generally managed 
 
 without offering any resistance, and gradually be- 
 come strongly attached to every keeper who treats 
 them judiciously. There is only one case on record 
 in which a captive Rhinoceros exhibited a vicious 
 disposition, and that was where one of these animals 
 attacked and killed two Men. 
 
 are the Conies, the smallest and daintiest of all the 
 existing species of Odd-toed animals. 
 Claasification and Naturalists have held widely diver- 
 Characteriatics gent opinions as to the classification 
 of Conies. of these pretty cliff-dwellers. Pallas, 
 because of their habits and outward appearance, 
 classed them as rodents; Oken thought them to be 
 related to the marsupials, or pouched animals; Cuvier 
 placed them in his order of " Many-toed animals." 
 Lately his classification has also been disputed, and 
 Huxley has raised them to the dignity of represent- 
 atives of a distinct order. We regard them as be- 
 longing to the order of the Odd-toed animals, with- 
 'out entering into a discussion as to whether our 
 doing so is the correct solution. They constitute 
 only one family. 
 
 The distinctive features of the Conies (Hyracida) 
 are as follows: the body is of elongated, cylindrical 
 
 THE SQUABE-MOTTTHED BHINOCEROS. This species, sometimes called the White or Burchell's 
 
 Rhinoceros, differs from the others in having a square truncated upper lip, and the great length of the front horn. It 
 lives by browsing on grass and is therefore partial to grassy valleys between the tracts of bush. It is only found in 
 Africa south of the Zambesi, and its flesh being of excellent flavor it has been hunted until it is very scarce. No speci- 
 men has been brought alive to America or Europe. (.Rhinoceros simus.) 
 
 form; the head is comparatively large and clumsy, 
 tapering toward the front and much compressed lat- 
 erally; the upper lip is cleft, the top of the nose fine 
 and delicately shaped; the eye small, but prominent, 
 the ear, nearly buried in the fur, is short, broad and 
 round, the neck short and stout, the tail a barely per- 
 ceptible stump; the legs are moderately long and 
 somewhat weak, the delicate feet are rather long, 
 and there are four toes on each of the front pair, and 
 three to each of the hinder feet, the toes being joined 
 together to the last joints by a web of skin, all being 
 provided with flat, hoof-like nails, except the inner- 
 most toes of the hind feet, which are each surmounted 
 by a claw-shaped nail. The naked soles consist of 
 several flexible, callous pads, divided by deep fissures. 
 A copious, soft fur, consisting of one coat only, 
 covers the body and limbs. 
 
 The Cony an Ani- The Conies are mentioned by various 
 
 mal of Ancient writers as well-known animals in days 
 
 Prestige. of remotest antiquity. The variety 
 
 inhabiting Syria and Palestine seems to be referred 
 
 ^be Conies, 
 
 THIRD FAMILY: Hyracid^. 
 
 At many places in the wild, desolate, mountain re- 
 gions of Africa and western Asia, the arrival of Man 
 induces a great display of activity. Lively animals 
 about the size of Rabbits, which have been basking 
 in the sunshine, are frightened from their stony beds 
 by the unusual invasion, whisk about on the rocks, 
 disappear in the innumerable crevices, and then re- 
 turn to the openings and watch their strange invad- 
 ers with a quaint air of harmless curiosity. These 
 
432 
 
 THE ODD-TOED ANIMALS. 
 
 to in the Hebrew text of the Bible under the name 
 of Laphan, which Luther translated by the word 
 " Rabbit," and in the authorized and revised versions 
 is rendered "Cony." The Conies may for the 
 greater part be considered characteristic animals of 
 mountainous regions of the deserts and of elevated 
 table-lands. Represented by several varieties, they 
 inhabit all the mountains of Syria, Palestine and 
 Arabia, perhaps also of Persia, the Nile country, 
 east, west and south Africa alike, frequenting eleva- 
 tions of 6,000 or 9,000 feet above sea level, and the 
 peaks and cones that rise like islands sheer above 
 the surface of the plains — the presence of the little 
 animals constituting one of the characteristic features' 
 of the high table-lands of northeastern Africa. 
 
 THE CONT. The Book of Proverbs, enumerating four animals wliich it describes as "exceeding wise," 
 
 says "the Conies are bu,t,a feeble folk, yet they make their houses in the rocks." These are the animals in the pic- 
 ture, which are timida'ndwary, and' congtc^ateiin large' nunibers in the mountains of northern Africa and western 
 Asia. (Hyrax aiyssinicus.) 
 
 The Abyssinian 
 
 Cony, or Ash- 
 
 lioko. 
 
 For the purpose of our description 
 we select the Abyssinian Cony, or 
 Ashkoko {Hyrax abyssimcus) as it is 
 the variety best known to us. The animal measures 
 from ten to twelve inches in length; the fur consists 
 of moderately long, fine hairs, gray-brown at the 
 base, lighter gray in the middle portions, merging 
 into a dark brown surmounted by a light colored tip, 
 the resulting general color of this combination being 
 a mottled pale gray. Modifications of tint seem to 
 be of rather frequent occurrence. 
 
 The more fissures and crannies there are among 
 the rocks, the more numerous these animals are. If 
 the observer quietly passes through the valleys he 
 sees them sitting, or more frequently lying, in rows 
 on the projecting ledges; for they are a lazy, com- 
 fort-loving tribe, which like to bask in the warm sun- 
 shine. A rapid movement or a loud noise disperses 
 them instantly; the whole assemblage quickens to 
 
 life, all flee with an agility like that usual among 
 rodents, and almost instantly disappear. In the 
 neighborhood of villages, where they are also to be 
 found, sometimes in immediate proximity to houses, 
 they show scarcely any fear of the natives, and boldly 
 attend to their various affairs as if they understood 
 that nobody thinks of molesting them; but when ap- 
 proached by people whose color or attire differs 
 from that of their usual human neighbors, they im- 
 mediately retreat to their holes in the rocks. A Dog 
 or other animal of the lower orders inspires them 
 with much greater fear than does a human being. 
 When startled by a canine foe, even after they have 
 become hidden, safe from pursuit, in their rocky 
 crevices, they continue to give utterance to their 
 
 curious, tremulous yell, 
 which resembles the cry 
 of small Monkeys. 
 
 We must confirm the 
 observation of a former 
 traveler, who called at- 
 tention to the striking 
 fact that the peaceable 
 and ddfenseless Hyrax 
 lives in the permanent 
 society and on the best 
 of terms with a by no 
 means despicable beast 
 of prey, a variety of 
 Mungoos {Herpestes ze- 
 bra). A Lizard, prob- 
 ably one of the species 
 of the Star Lizard {Stel- 
 lio cyanogaster) also joins 
 the two. It would seem 
 that the prudent Cony 
 fills the office of sentinel 
 in this triple alliance, for 
 as soon as it utters its 
 shrill whistle the entire 
 collection disappears in 
 the crevices between the 
 stones. 
 
 The Conies are averse 
 to leaving their moun- 
 tainous, rocky domicile. 
 When the grass growing 
 between the boulders 
 has been eaten off, they 
 descend for food to lower regions, but they always 
 post sentinels on the most prominent peaks of rock, 
 and a warning signal from one of these guards suf- 
 fices to incite a hurried flight of the entire body. 
 Traits, Reproduc- In regard to their movements and 
 tion and Hunt- mental characteristics, the Conies 
 ing of Conies, seem in certain particulars to be in- 
 termediate in position between the unwieldy Rhi- 
 noceroses and the nimble Rodents. They are excel- 
 lent climbers. A close investigation of the soles of 
 their feet, which are as elastic and springy as rubber, 
 reveals the fact that the Hyrax is able to contract 
 and distend the middle cleft or fissure of its sole- 
 pad at will, and thereby to secure a hold on a 
 smooth surface by means of suction. The behavior 
 of the Conies indicates great gentleness, and even 
 simplicity, combined with excessive timidity. The 
 social instinct is highly developed in them and they 
 are rarely met singly. 
 
Zbc Clovcn*Dootcb Hnimale. 
 
 ELEVENTH ORDER: Artiodactyla. 
 
 SPECIALLY comprehensive 
 is the order of the Artio- 
 dactyla or Cloven-hoofed 
 Animals, which includes all 
 hoofed animals which have 
 only two fully developed 
 toes on each foot, or in 
 which these two at least 
 greatly exceed the three 
 other toes in size. The 
 third and fourth toes, cor- 
 responding to the middle 
 and ring-finger in the hu- 
 man hand, are the digits 
 which are especially large and are of equal develop- 
 ment one with the other, while the others are more 
 or less stunted or merely rudimentary. The first toe, 
 corresponding to the human thumb, is entirely want- 
 ing in all Artiodactyla. The bony skeleton is re- 
 markable for the great uniformity existing among 
 all the species in the number of dorsal and lumbar 
 vertebrae which together always amount to nineteen, 
 except in the case of some domestic breeds, and by 
 the absence of the clavicle or collar-bone. If we 
 add further, that the molar teeth or " grinders " sel- 
 dom exhibit internal convolutions of enamel, but 
 have a filling of dental pulp alone, we will have enu- 
 merated all the common peculiar features in the 
 bony structure of the Artiodactyla, not taking into 
 consideration resultant peculiarities of development. 
 In regard to their mode of life all Artiodactyla re- 
 semble each other in that the majority of them are 
 exclusively herbivorous, while the remainder are, to 
 say the least, chiefly vegetable feeders. In all other 
 regards the order shows widely different forms, cor- 
 responding to its abundance of species. 
 
 The Artiodactyla are not indigenous to New Zea- 
 land and the continent of Australia, but are natives 
 of all other countries in which terrestrial mammalia 
 are to be found. Prehistoric fossil Artiodactyla are 
 first met with in Tertiary geological formations and 
 of some families there are many fossil genera nearly 
 related to existing forms. 
 
 The abundance and variety of species of the Ar- 
 tiodactyla render it desirable for convenience in 
 classification to divide the order first into subor- 
 ders. We distinguish two of these : the Many- 
 hoofed, in the individuals of which the second and 
 fifth toes are more or less developed in addition to 
 the two principal toes, and the Ruminants or Two- 
 hoofed, in which the -toes other than those devel- 
 oped into the two hoofs have either entirely or for 
 the greater part disappeared. In the former the 
 metatarsal and metacarpal bones are separate, but 
 jointed together in a manner similar to those of 
 human fingers and toes, but in the Two-hoofed 
 species these bones are fused together, or anky- 
 losed, forming in each foot a solid bone. 
 
 IRuminante or ^wo^lboofeb Hnimals* 
 
 FIRST SUBORDER: Bidactyla. 
 
 The Ruminants, or Two-hoofed animals {Bidactyla), 
 are all closely allied to each other, notwithstand- 
 ing the fact that they exhibit a great variety in their 
 external structure and appearance. They may pos- 
 sess horns or entirely lack those appendages, may 
 be beautiful or ugly, of graceful or clumsy form, 
 and they also show great diversity in size. Speak- 
 ing generally, the following may be enumerated as 
 distinctive features of the animals of this suborder. 
 The neck is long and very mobile, the head broadens 
 considerably across the forehead or frontal region, 
 and is frequently adorned by horns or antlers. The 
 eyes are large, lustrous, and are frequently exceed- 
 ingly beautiful, the erect ears are well shaped, the 
 lips are mobile, often naked and nearly always de- 
 void of whisker hairs or bristles. The tail is usually 
 short, rarely reaching to the ankle-joints. The hair, 
 which is for the greater part short and thicjcset, lies 
 close to the body; but sometimes grows into a mane 
 or tuft on the neck, on the lower part of the under 
 jaw or chin, on the back and at the tip of the tail. 
 The hair is never bristly, and is often of fine texture, 
 woolly and curly, and its color varies very widely in 
 different species. In all species the structure of the 
 skeleton and of the teeth shows great similarity. Of 
 incisors there are from six to eight in the lower, and 
 none, or in rare cases, two in the upper jaw. There 
 are either no canines or only one on each side of both 
 jaws. There are from three to seven molars on each 
 side of the upper and from four to six molars on 
 each side of the lower jaw. The incisors are usually 
 sharp, broad and spade-shaped, but those of the up- 
 per jaw have a shape similar to the incisors of a Dog. 
 The canine teeth of such Ruminants as possess them 
 are conical, and in a few species protrude laterally 
 frbm the mouth. The molars consist of two pairs 
 of crescent-shaped pillars, the surfaces of which 
 exhibit protruding folds or convolutions of enamel. 
 The skull is elongated and tapers toward the ex- 
 tremity of the muzzle; the orbits of the eyes are sep- 
 arated from the temples by a bony bridge formed 
 by the temporal and molar or cheek bones; the brain 
 cavity of the skull is small. In the spinal column 
 the unusually long, narrow mobile cervical or neck- 
 vertebrae attract the anatomist's attention. In all 
 Ruminants, without exception, only two toes, the 
 third and fourth, are perfectly developed. The mouth 
 is characterized by strong labial or lip muscles and 
 numerous papillae or minute excrescences on the 
 inside; the salivary glands are comparatively large; 
 the stomach consists of four, or at least three differ- 
 ent compartments; the paunch, the honeycomb bag, 
 the manyplies and the reed or rennet. The first 
 is in immediate communication with the gullet or 
 
 (433) 
 
434 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 cesophagus, the last with the intestinal canal. The 
 paunch receives the coarsely masticated food, and 
 by muscular action pushes it in small quantities into 
 the honeycomb bag, the network of folds in which 
 accomplishes preliminary digestion and forms the 
 food into pellets, which are again brought up into 
 the mouth, finely ground by the molars, thoroughly 
 mixed with saliva, and then sent into the manyplies 
 through two folds of the gullet, which form a chan- 
 nel; and thence the food passes to the rennet, in 
 which it is finally digested. 
 Horns a Factor in The horns or antlers possessed by 
 
 Classification of many Ruminants are of some im- 
 Ruminants. portance in the grouping and clas- 
 sification of species. In general they are divided 
 into two groups: The Two-hoofed animals wearing 
 horns, and those possessed of antlers. By the use 
 of the term horns are indicated those formations of 
 horny substance which are articulated with or rest 
 on a bony basis of the elongated frontal bone, and 
 are really mere hollow, conical, horny shells; they 
 are never shed and renewed, but only increase in 
 size as the animal develops. Antlers, on the other 
 hand, are horns, rooted in comparatively small 
 prominences of the frontal bone, and which consist 
 of solid, bony tissue throughout, and as the age of 
 the animal increases, branch more and more until 
 they attain a certain point of development. The 
 antlers are shed every year and replaced by new 
 ones in the course of a few months. As a rule, only 
 the male animals have antlers; while horns are com- 
 mon to both sexes of the animals bearing them. 
 The hoofs are subject to much variation in shape 
 and size. 
 
 Distribution and The Ruminants are indigenous to all 
 Habits of Ru- continents with the exception of 
 minants. Australia. There does not seem to 
 be a uniform distribution of the main groups. The 
 horned animals or bovine group and the Deer have 
 the widest range, while the Giraffe and Musk Deer 
 group have the most restricted distribution; the 
 Deer are wanting in the Ethiopian belt, being on the 
 ■other hand the only Ruminants in the South Amer- 
 ican belt; the Musk Deer are indigenous to central 
 Asia only, the Giraffes only to Ethiopia; and the 
 Chevrotains are wanting in America. 
 
 Nearly all Ruminants are shy, fleet, peaceably 
 inclined animals, well-endowed in most physical re- 
 spects, but equipped to only a limited extent with 
 intellectual attributes. Many live in herds, all col- 
 lect into bands or troops. Some inhabit the mount- 
 ains, some the plains; no species is really aquatic, 
 though some prefer swampy lowlands to dry plains. 
 They are exclusively vegetarian in diet. They are 
 fond of herbage, Ifeaves, young shoots and roots, 
 some also of grains, and others of lichens. The 
 young of the Ruminant species are usually born 
 singly, although in rare cases there are two and in 
 exceptional instances three at a birth. In the case 
 of most Ruminants their usefulness to Man out- 
 weighs the damage they inflict upon his posses- 
 sions, whether we consider the species that have 
 been domesticated or those yet in a free state, al- 
 though, a few species are great annoyances to the 
 people of certain countries in which agriculture has 
 yet attained to but an inferior phase of develop- 
 ment. The flesh, hide, horns, hair and bones of 
 both wild and tame species are put to almost innu- 
 merable uses. That the Ruminants furnish mate- 
 rials for the manufacture of the greater part of our 
 •■clothing, is well known. As domestic animals they 
 
 do not exhibit any remarkable sagacity, but are 
 docile, patient and easily maintained,^ and for these 
 reasons have become indispensable to Man. The 
 four families of the Chevrotains, Musk Deer, Prong- 
 horns and Giraffes, which exhibit such a paucity of 
 species, are the only ones which have not been em- 
 ployed as domestic animals; of all the other families 
 one or more species have become the servants and 
 allies of Man. The majority of the species living 
 in a wild state have always been considered the 
 choicest quarry of sportsmen, and thus have been 
 the recipients of regal honors. 
 
 The evidence of geological strata, dating-from the 
 remote period of the Tertiary formation, goes to 
 show that the Ruminants have not undergone many 
 radical changes, and that in a majority of cases the 
 prehistoric species are identical with those now in 
 existence. 
 
 Division of the We divide the Ruminants into seven 
 Order of Rw families: the Girs.^es {Camelofarda- 
 > minants. Udm), the Camels {Camelidw), the 
 Horned Animals (Bovidcs), the Prong-horns {Aniilo- 
 capridcs), the Deer {Cervidce), the Musk Deer, {Mos- 
 chidcs), and the Chevrotains (TragulidoB), of the char- 
 acteristics of each of which we will speak when we 
 reach their respective divisions. 
 
 ^be (Biraffee. 
 
 FIRST FAMILY: CamelopardaliDjE. 
 
 Among existing Ruminants we still find forms 
 which present characteristics peculiar to themselves, 
 and suggest an affinity to no other creatures of the 
 present day, but rather reminding us of the crea- 
 tures described in the fairy tales of a by-gone age. 
 The most striking of these anomalies is the Giraffe. 
 Varro is not so very far wrong in defining this 
 strange animal as a "mixture of Panther and Camel," 
 and those who lived at a much later date were cer- 
 tainly excusable when they scornfully pronounced 
 the pictures of the animal (of which commercial stag- 
 nation had made them ignorant, but which in the 
 revival of intercourse they had found again on Egyp- 
 tian monuments) the dream-fancies of an unbridled 
 artistic imagination. And as the Romans wondered 
 at the Giraffes which they beheld at the games of 
 Julius Czesar and on several subsequent occasions, 
 so do we, the enlightened generation, of the nine- 
 teenth century, marvel when we first see the curious 
 creature that we know so well from having often 
 seen its pictures. 
 
 Peculiarities of The Giraffe is the representative of 
 the Giraffe a distinct family (Camelopardalidcs) 
 Family. distinguished by the most character- 
 istically developed structure of the foot. In the 
 present stage of evolution of original species the 
 Giraffe or, as would be most correct, " Serafe " 
 (^Camelopardalis giraffa) is the only member of the 
 family. It is characterized by a neck the length of 
 which exceeds all normal measurements, very long 
 legs, a stout body with a sipping back, a delicate, 
 fine head with large, beautiful, clear eyes and two 
 queer, horn-like projections of bone arisinigfrom the 
 frontal region and covered with skin. The long legs 
 and neck combine to render the Giraffei the tallest 
 and at the same time comparatively the shortest of 
 all mammals, for its body measures only ninety 
 inches in length, while the height at the shoulders is 
 ten feet, and the head is from sixteen and one-half 
 
^^^^S=^^^^^'^^^^^MMmMm:&sb 
 
 ,,,.,. •!„„;*= .vrPTitional heieht from its great length of neck and limbs. The group in this picture 
 THE GIEAFFE.— The-tallest of all ammals. denving its ^^^'^fj^'^^' ^^^ J^^ eoat and tufted tall are here seen, and the animal hav- 
 is shown with its native surronndings among the ■"l^^f^'Xr t,Sritv of these animals-the long prehensile tongue. ( CamelotardalU giraffa.) 
 ing Its head most to the right in the picture also exhibits another peculiarity oi inese ouim 
 
 (435) 
 
436 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 to twenty feet above the ground. The tail measures 
 forty-four inches, including the tuft of hair at the 
 end and thirty-two inches without it. The distance 
 from the tip of the muzzle to the base of the tail 
 amounts to thirteen and one-third feet ; the weight 
 is 1,000 pounds. These external measurements alone 
 serve to show that the Giraffe deviates in its shape 
 from all other mammals; but its anatomical structure 
 is so remarkable as to require a detailed description. 
 The Giraffe appears, as we said before, not only as 
 a queer compromise between the Panther and the 
 Camel, but seems to have been fabricated, as it were, 
 out of the component parts of the bodies of different 
 animals. Head and body seem to be taken from 
 the Horse, neck and shoulders from the Camel, the 
 ears from the Ox, the tail from the Ass, the legs 
 from the Antelope, while the coloring and mark- 
 ings of the sleek skin remind one of th6 spots of a 
 Panther. Such a combination can not fail to pro- 
 duce an animal of abnormal shape, and nobody is 
 likely to be inclined to call a Giraffe beautiful. The 
 short body is entirely out of proportion to the long 
 legs and neck ; the precipitously sloping back must 
 be pronounced ugly from an artistic standpoint, and 
 the immense height of the animal does not con- 
 tribute to its beauty by any means. The lines of the 
 head are magnificent, the eye of wondrous beauty 
 and the markings of the skin are attractive, but all 
 the rest is queer and striking, making the Giraffes 
 varitable oddities. 
 
 Special Char- The elongated head of the Giraffe 
 acteristics of the appears longer than it really is, on 
 Giraffe. account of its rather thin muzzle; it 
 has very large eyes of an exceeding brightness, and 
 yet extremely gentle in expression, large, delicate 
 and excessively mobile ears about six inches long; 
 and two projections on the forehead, which faintly 
 resemble horns, and are somewhat shorter than the 
 ears. Between the two there is a third roundish pro- 
 tuberance of the bone, a third horn, as it were. The 
 neck is as long as the fore-legs, thin, laterally com- 
 pressed and adorned with a pretty crest of hair on 
 the upper posterior surface. The body is broad 
 across the chest, much higher at the withers than at 
 the crupper; and somewhat depressed along the mid- 
 dle line. It is strongly characterized in the fore part 
 of its structure by the shoulder-blades, which pro- 
 trude at nearly right angles to the axis of the body; 
 and as the animal's body is greatly narrowed toward 
 the buttocks it follows that on a front view of the 
 animal, the observer does not see the hinder quar- 
 ters at all. The legs are comparatively slender and 
 nearly of equal length; the hoofs are of dainty shape. 
 A naked callosity, like that of the Camel, covers the 
 knees of the fore-legs and the hock-joints of the 
 hind-legs. The hide is very thick and its hairy cov- 
 ering is uniform throughout, except upon the callous 
 pads just mentioned, the crest of the neck and the 
 tuft of the tail. A faded sandy yellow forms the 
 ground-color, darkening on the back, and merging 
 into a whitish, hue on the under part. It is marked 
 by rather large' irregularly shaped russet-brown spots 
 of varying shades, which are so close together as to 
 give the light ground ah appearance resembling a 
 network. . ',t)n ttieneck ^nd legs the spot's are smaller 
 than on the remainder of the body. The abdomen 
 and the inner surfaces of the limbs are free from 
 spots. The mane is of a pale tint and banded with 
 brown; the ears are white in front and at the base, 
 and brownish behind, and the hair-tuft is of a deep 
 black tint. 
 
 The Distribution The present range of the Giraffe ex- 
 of Existing tends in a wide curve over the east- 
 Giraffes. ern half of Africa, from about the 
 sixteenth parallel of north latitude to the twenty- 
 third parallel of south latitude; in the Kalahari alone 
 it may extend somewhat farther southward, but by 
 no means as far as the Orange River. In the whole 
 of the Congo region the Giraffe seems to be absent, 
 being also unknown in Upper and Lower Guinea and 
 the country further to the interior. In former times 
 its range extended to the coasts of the Atlantic 
 ocean in southwestern Africa. It was exterminated, 
 however, all along the coast more than a generation 
 ago. 
 
 In its native woods the Giraffe certainly produces 
 a different impression from that made by it when con- 
 fined within the narrow enclosure of a zoological gar- 
 den. The curious but frequent correspondence bf the 
 shape and general appearg.nce of an animal with the 
 other natural objects of the locality in which it lives, 
 is also seen in this case. Gordon Gumming says: 
 "When a herd of Giraffes is seen dispersed in a 
 grove of the picturesque, umbrella-shaped mimosas, 
 which adorn their native plains, and on the topmost 
 branches of which their immense height enables 
 them to browse, the observer would be really defi- 
 cient in appreciation of natural beauty, if he failed 
 to find the sight a very attractive one." The Giraffe 
 is frequently encountered in stretches of country 
 abounding in old, half-decayed, weather-beaten trees, 
 the branches of which sometimes, owing to the moss 
 covering them, strikingly resemble the long necks 
 of Giraffes. The above-mentioned sportsman says: 
 " I was often in doubt as to the presence of a whole 
 troop of Giraffes, until I had recourse to my spy- 
 glass. Even my half-savage companions had to 
 acknowledge that their keen, experienced eyes were 
 deceived sometimes; either they mistook those 
 weather-beaten trunks for Giraffes, or else they con- 
 founded the real Giraffes with the old trees." 
 Habits and Mode Giraffes are most often seen in groups 
 of Life of of from six to eight. Where they 
 Giraffes. are undisturbed, however, they fre- 
 quently congregate in greater numbers. Gumming 
 mentions herds of thirty and forty, but believes six- 
 teen to be the average number. 
 
 AH the movements of 'the Giraffe'^are cuHous. It 
 looks best when proceeding at a quiet walk, as it 
 then presents a dignified and graceful appearance. 
 Its usual gait is a slow, measured amble, and both 
 legs of one side move simultaneously, after the man- 
 ner of a pacing Horse. , Its running gait is a remark- 
 ably uncouth, halting and ponderous gallop rendered 
 ludicrous by the striking disproportion between its 
 height in front and that behind, as well as between 
 its height and length. Still, as every individual leap 
 is very long, the aniinal is enabled to traverse dis- 
 tances at a very rapid rate. The great size and 
 weight of the fore part of the body render it impos- 
 sible for the animal to clear the ground of its fore 
 feet by mere muscular strength. It is therefore nec- 
 essary for it to arch backward its long lieck and 
 thus shift the centre of gravity- of the body farther 
 toward its hind quarters, in order to make it pos- 
 sible for the animal'fb raise its fore quarters from the 
 earth and leap. The Giraffe leaps without bending 
 the fore-legs, lifting them stiffly, with a simultaneous 
 movement of the neck; then follows the springing 
 motion of the hind legs, attended by another move- 
 ment of the neck. Thus as Lichtenstein has it, "the 
 neck of a leaping Giraffe moves steadily, swinging 
 
THE CAMELS. 
 
 437 
 
 back and forth like the mast of a ship dancing on 
 the top of high waves." One requires a very good 
 Horse to overtake a fleeing Giraffe, and it is espe- 
 cially difficult to pursue it to the end, as nearly all 
 other animals tire out sooner than it does. 
 
 The attitude the animal assumes when desirous of 
 picking up some object from the ground, or of drink- 
 ing, is very peculiar. Old descriptions assert that 
 the Giraffe kneels down for this purpose, and in ex- 
 ceptional cases it may do so. As a rule, however, 
 it lowers its fore-quarters by straddling its fore-legs 
 to such an extent as to enable it to reach the ground 
 conveniently with its long neck. People who have 
 not witnessed this feat believe it to be impossible. 
 While sleeping it lies on its side and folds both or 
 only one of its fore-legs. Its sleep is not very pro- 
 found, and lasts but a short time. 
 Peculiarities of It stands to reason that the food of 
 the Diet of the Giraffe harmonizes with its shape 
 Giraffes. and other characteristics. The ani- 
 mal is entirely unfitted for devouring grass from the 
 surface of level ground, but is far better able to 
 break the foliage from trees. Its remarkably mobile 
 tongue is of the greatest help to it. Most Ruminants 
 use the tongue for the plucking of their food, but 
 none of them use it so much and so effectually as 
 the Giraffe. What the trunk is to the Elephant, the 
 tongue is to the Giraffe. It can pick up the smallest 
 ■objects with it, pluck the tenderest leaf and convey 
 it to its mouth. "In our zoological garden," says 
 Oken, "more than one lady, while gazing at the 
 Giraffes, has been deprived of the artificial flowers 
 adorning her hat. It seems as if the Giraffe is guided 
 by its eye rather than by its nose in the selection of 
 its food, and thus it frequently happens that the ani- 
 mal deceives itself, as in the cases where it tears the 
 artificial flowers from a hat." In the free state the 
 branches, buds and leaves of the mimosas furnish the 
 principal diet of the Giraffe; but it is also fond of 
 browsing on the creepers, which envelop the forest 
 trees of northern Africa in such profusion. As the 
 -above-mentioned trees do not grow to be much higher 
 than the animal, the latter obtains its sustenance with- 
 -out difiSculty. In the dry season, when the majority 
 of the trees are bare of foliage, and the tall, dry grass 
 •affords it but scant fare, it sometimes tt'avels for miles 
 to drink from some pool or the puddles which re- 
 main from the streams that only flow during the 
 rainy season. 
 Deveiopment of The perceptive senses of the Giraffe, 
 the Senses of especially those of sight and hearing, 
 the Giraffe. are acutely developed; and its mental 
 ■capacity is of a very high order. It is clever, intelli- 
 gent and extremely gentle, and in propartion to its 
 size it is a highly good-natured, peaceable creature, 
 living on amicable terms not only with its own kind, 
 but also with other animals, as long as the latter do 
 not annoy or persecute it. In case of necessity it 
 knows full well how to defend itself effectually, not 
 with its horns, which seem to be merely ornamental, 
 but by dint of vigorous kicks administered by its 
 long^ sinewy legs. 
 
 Methods of ' The hunting of the Giraffe is a pas- 
 Hunting the time of which the African natives as 
 Giraffe. ^gH as, Europeans are passionately 
 fond. The former hunt it with the aid of a Camel 
 ■or a Horse, pursuing the Giraffe until it is thor- 
 oughly exhausted, when the pursuers first hamstrifig 
 it to disable it from kicking, and then kill it. The 
 flesh of the animal is in great demand as an article 
 'of food, and other parts of its body are put to va- 
 
 rious uses. Europeans in hunting it employ fire- 
 arms, but as a rule succeed in despatching the wary 
 animal only after a prolonged chase, even when pos- 
 sessed of long range arms. According to Selous' 
 experiences, one can overtake a fleeing Giraffe with 
 even an indifferent Horse, sufficiently at least to al- 
 low the sportsman to dismount and send a well-aimed 
 bullet after it, for it develops its highest speed only in 
 the last extremity. The different parts of the carcass 
 of a Giraffe are put to good use in many ways. The 
 hide is tanned into an excellent durable leather, the 
 tail-tuft is used for fly brushes, the hoofs furnish a 
 good quality of horn, and the flesh is excellent food. 
 Yet the natives especially rejoice when they can 
 possess themselves of a living Giraffe. The striking 
 animal is liked everywhere and everybody is pleased 
 to own one. In the villages in the interior of Africa 
 the traveler frequently sees a couple of Giraffes' 
 heads looming up and peering over the high walls 
 of a garden; and not infrequently one meets tame 
 specimens coming and going at will in the environs 
 of a settlement. At our arrival in Karkodj, a ham- 
 let on the Blue River, a Giraffe was the first inhab- 
 itant to come up to our barge to greet us. It fear- 
 lessly and confidingly approached quite close to 
 the boat, ate bread and grains of durra out of our 
 hands, and demeaned itself toward us as if we were 
 old friends. It soon appreciated how great a pleas- 
 ure it was giving us; for during our sojourn in the 
 place it came several times daily to be caressed. 
 The Arabian name "Serafe," "the lovely one," which 
 has been corrupted into Giraffe, became thoroughly 
 appreciable to me at that time. 
 
 Unfortunately the Giraffes exported to other coun- 
 tries endure confinement for a protracted time only 
 with the best of care. The majority die of a pecu- 
 liar disease of the bones, which has been termed 
 "Giraffe disease." Lack of exercise and inappro- 
 priate diet may be the causes of this fatal malady. 
 
 ^be Camels. 
 
 SECOND FAMILY: Camelid^. 
 
 The family of the Camels {CamelidcB) are distin- 
 guished by callous foot-soles; by the absence of 
 horns and of rudimentary toes; by a cleft upper lip, 
 and by their peculiar dentition. In regard to the 
 latter the Camel differs from all other Ruminants by 
 the possession of two (and in earliest youth six) 
 incisor teeth in both the upper and the lower jaws. 
 The hoofs are very small, being really only ungulate 
 toe-nails of the callous soles. The stomach has only 
 three compartments, as the manyplies is so small 
 that it is usually considered one with the rennet. 
 Physical Charac- The Caniels are very large Rumi- 
 
 teristics of the nants, with long necks, elongated 
 Camels. heads, bodies cylindrically com- 
 pressed in the region of the loins, and shaggy fur of 
 nearly wooUy texture. 
 
 North Africa, central Asia and southwestern Amer- 
 ica are the homes of these animals. The few spe- 
 cies which this family contains have been almost 
 entirely domesticated in the Old World and partly 
 in the New. In the latter they inhabit the moun- 
 tains up to elevations of 13,000 feet above sea level; 
 in the former they preferably range over the hot, 
 parched plains. Herbage, leaves and branches of 
 trees, thistles and thorns constitute their food. They 
 are very frugal feeders, and are able to endure hun- 
 
438 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 ger and thirst a long time. Tiieir usual gait is a 
 heavy, jerky amble, and their course appears waver^ 
 ing and awkward in the extreme, although it is really 
 adapted to the speedy traversing of long distances. 
 The wild species are all gregarious and live in herds; 
 Their mental endowments are on a rather low plane, 
 and their moral attributes worse yet. They can not 
 be termed gentle, good-natured, sagacious or patient 
 animals, though they assume the yoke of servi- 
 tude and acknowledge human supremacy with a cer- 
 tain exhibition of resignation. There is only a single 
 young one at a birth, and the mother bestows much 
 loving care on it. 
 
 THE CAMELS PROPER. 
 
 The true Camels {Camelus), all Old-World forms, 
 are distinguished by their large size and by the pres- 
 ence of either one or two humps on the back; they 
 possess two more molars in each jaw than the Llamas 
 or New World species. Their form is ungainly, 
 the head being especially ugly; the hair is very un- 
 even, longer in some places on the body than in 
 others, but on the whole woolly. Callosities are 
 found on the chest and the joints of the legs wher- 
 ever they come in contact with the ground as the 
 animal kneels to receive a load or when it lies down 
 to rest. There are two species, one predominating 
 in Africa, the other in Asia. They are the Drome- 
 dary and the Bactrian Camel, respectively. 
 Traits and Char- The Dromedary is doubtless the most 
 acteristics of useful of all African domestic ani- 
 Dromedaries. mals; but it is also the most una- 
 miable, stupid, obstinate and disagreeable creature 
 imaginable; certainly those with which I came in 
 contact deserve such an arraignment. It is indebted 
 for its good reputation solely to its physical attri- 
 butes; its mental qualities have not been praised 
 even by an Arab, though hundreds of that race could 
 not live without this animal. 
 
 The Dromedary, or one-humped Camel {Camelus 
 dromedarius) , called Djemmel in Arabia, is a very 
 large Ruminant, averaging in height from six feet, 
 eight inches, to seven feet, eight inches, and a 
 length of from ten to eleven feet, counting from 
 the tip of the muzzle to the end of the tail. Though 
 the Camel does not exist in such a variety of breeds 
 as does the Horse, yet it is subject to numerous 
 artificial modifications. In general it may be as- 
 serted that the Camels of the plains or the desert 
 are slender, tall, long-legged creatures, while those 
 indigenous to fertile countries, especially to north- 
 ern Africa, are clumsy, heavy animals. Between 
 a '* Bisharin," that is, a Camel bred by the Bisharin 
 wandering tribes, and an Egyptian baggage Camel, 
 the difference is as great as that between an Arab 
 steed and a cart Horse. The former Camel is excel- 
 lent for riding purposes, while the latter is one of 
 the strongest beasts of burden in the service of Man. 
 The Arabs enumerate over twenty different breeds 
 of the "ships of the desert," for there is a science 
 of the breeds of Camels as there is of those of 
 Horses, and in speaking of the Dromedary, one 
 also uses the terms "noble" or "thoroughbred" 
 or "common." In the typical specimen of the 
 Dromedary the following are the salient points: 
 The head is rather short, but the muzzle is long and 
 bulging; the eyes are large and of dull expression, 
 the ears very small but mobile. The neck is long, 
 laterally compressed and thickest in the middle. 
 The body is protuberant and rounded on all sides. 
 The hump stands erect but is subject to great modi- 
 
 fications in size at different seasons of the year. 
 The more abundant the nourishment of the Camel, 
 the larger the hump; the more its fare is restricted 
 the more the hump shrinks. With fat, well nour- 
 ished animals it is conical in shape and covers at 
 least one-fourth of the back; but in quite lean spec- 
 imens it almost entirely disappears. During the 
 rainy season, which implies succulent pasturage, the 
 hump, which during the dry months of hunger had 
 been barely visible, grows at an astonishing rate, 
 and its weight may then amount to as much as 
 thirty pounds, while under the contrary circum- 
 stances it can diminish to four or six pounds. The 
 legs are awkwardly placed, and the hinder thighs, 
 especially, protrude so far from the body that they 
 accentuate the uncouth appearance of the animal. 
 The tail has a thin tuft of hair at its extremity and 
 descends to the ankle joint. The hair is soft and 
 woolly, and is much longer on the top of the head, 
 on the neck beneath the throat, on the shoulders 
 and on the hump, and greatly thickened in the tail 
 tuft. Another peculiarity is to be noted in the cal- 
 losities on the breast and joints of the legs, which 
 grow larger and harder with advancing age. The 
 callosity on the chest projects like a hump beyond 
 the other portions of the skin of the breast, and 
 forms a cushion for the body to rest upon when the 
 animal lies down. 
 
 The color of the animal varies widely and con- 
 stantly. A light sandy color is the hue most fre- 
 quently met with, and there are also gray, brown or 
 quite black Camels, or individuals with paler or 
 lighter feet, but no pied ones. 
 
 The Range of At present the Dromedary is known 
 the Drome- only as a domestic animal; it is 
 dary. found in all African countries from 
 
 the Mediterranean to about the twelfth parallel of 
 north latitude, in the Somal country to the fifth 
 parallel, and in southwestern Asia. It ranges from 
 Bokhara and Turcomania, in the extreme east, where 
 the Two-humped Camel begins, throughout Persia, 
 Asia Minor, Syria, Arabia and northern Africa to 
 the Atlantic Ocean. But it is also found on the 
 Canary Isles, and has been introduced, into Australia, 
 North America, Italy and southern Spain. It thrives 
 fairly well in the dry stretches of northern India. 
 Hans Meyer informs us that the Dromedary is em- 
 ployed in the oil-mills of the sultan of Zanzibar, but 
 that it suffers greatly in health and comfort from 
 the effects of the climate. It seems to have originally 
 come from Arabia, and it probably was introduced 
 into northern Africa in comparatively modern times. 
 But of its origin nothing is certainly known. The 
 old Egyptian monuments shaw no picture of this 
 notable animal, neither do the Roman and Greek 
 authors who traveled in Egypt allude to the Camel 
 as an indigenous product. In the Bible the animal 
 is frequently mentidjifd under tlie name of Gamal. 
 Job is said to have possessed, at one time three thou- 
 sand, and later six thousand Caijiels; the Midianites 
 and Amalekites had as matiy '*as the sands of the 
 sea." The animal was used in precisely the same 
 way as it is now. It was ^striputed thrc[ugh north- 
 ern Africa, being probably introduced"- by Pe,Ara!^s., 
 Its domestication took place in prehistoric tijn;i^. ' 
 Wild Camels, or such as have reverted. to savagery, 
 are nowhere to be found at present. 
 
 The Camel a The Camel is a genuine animal of 
 
 Son of the the desert and thrives only in the 
 
 Desert. driest and hottest portions of the 
 
 globe, while it languishes and perishes away in cul- 
 
fectioJ^ A«hi?"i^?^^^"~~T''^ single-humped species of the Camel tribe is sometimes called the Arabian Camel, because found in its greatest per- 
 -water and Tk . *° ""^^"''' ''°™^'' ''"*'' indispensable yhere great deserts are to be traversed, its capacity for traveling long distances wihnnt 
 *oInd." (LSS;ii:';""" ™^'''"^"'''« --^ "^*"'°' ^" "-^'-^ "-l- throughout northern Ifrica. and in AsL^rom the Red ta 
 
 (439) 
 
440 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 tivated and damp countries. In Egypt very large, 
 heavy varieties have been bred, probably by giving 
 them more abundant food; but they have lost sev- 
 eral of their most valuable qualities, such as the 
 light, even pace, endurance and frugality ; these 
 strains are therefore held in slight 'esteem by the 
 Arabs of the desert. In the equatorial portions of 
 Africa, where the vegetation grows more abundant, 
 the Camel does not thrive.. Repeated attempts to 
 penetrate to the interior of the continent with it, 
 have been attended by failure.' Within its natural 
 range the animal enjoys sound health and attains its 
 highest physical development; if taken to the south 
 it becomes sickly and finally succumbs without any 
 evident reason, notwithstanding it has received good 
 care and the most abundant food. 
 
 As yet no effort has been made to transplant the 
 animal to the regions north of the great tract of the 
 desert; but there is scarcely any doubt that it would 
 thrive there also in countri'es not too much unlike 
 its native home. In 1622 Ferdinand de Medicis (the 
 second) introduced Dromedaries into the province 
 of Tuscany in Italy, and this breed has survived to 
 the present day. In the district of San Bossore near 
 Pisa, a few Camels appear to enjoy life with comfort 
 in a large sandy plain, their habits there being ex- 
 actly the same as those they possess in their native 
 habitat. In 1810 there were one hundred and seventy 
 Camels, and in 1840 the herd had increased in num- 
 bers only one more. In Sicily Camels were also in- 
 troduced, with a view to being employed as beasts of 
 burden in the sulphur mines, but they all perished. 
 In southern Spain the experiment of breeding Cam- 
 els has been tried with favorable results. 
 Experiment with In 1856 the government of the United 
 Camels in the States purchased seventy-five Drom- 
 United States, edaries at Smyrna, through Henry 
 C. Wayne; they were to be utilized as beasts of bur- 
 den in Texas, Arizona and other portions of the arid 
 regions. Secretary S. Langley, of the Smithsonian 
 Institution, Washington, has very kindly informed 
 us as to the result of this experiment: "At the be- 
 ginning of the war of secession all the Dromedaries 
 went into the hands of the .authorities of the South- 
 ern Confederacy. At the end of the war they again 
 came into the possession of the government of the 
 United States, but the attention the officers had be- 
 stowed on the animals was relaxed as a consequence 
 of the war. In 1866 the government sold them at 
 auction and people soon ceased to occupy their atten- 
 tion with them. Some died, some were turned loose, 
 and it is said that one or two of these animals still 
 roam about the Llanp Estacado. At the time of the 
 auction some were transported to California, where 
 they were intended for carrying burdens between 
 Inyo in California, and Carson ift Nevada. As the re- 
 sult was by no means adequate to the expectations, 
 they were set free. Some survivors are said to still 
 live in the desert portions of southern Arizona and 
 California. In January, 1889, one of these wild Drom- 
 edaries was caught in Arizona near Gila Bend, fhis 
 is the last information we have had of these animals." 
 John W. Leonard, who lived for several years in Arizona, 
 says that he saw at one time, in 1877, six of these Dromedaries 
 in the valley that stretches several miles north of the Gila 
 River. One of the herd was a young animal still following its 
 mother. At that time there were certainly many more than the 
 six mentioned, for the same authority says that he frequently 
 conversed with people who had often encountered the herds, 
 and the estimates as to the total number of the animals, made 
 by the prospectors and hunters who most frequented that sec- 
 tion of Arizona, never ran less than forty, while others claimed 
 that there were fully one hundred Camels in the Gila valley. 
 
 The Dromedary All over the north and east of Africa 
 Bred Extensively the Dromedary is bred in great 
 in Africa, numbers. Immense hosts of them 
 traverse the great roads of the desert between the 
 Niger countries and the north of Africa. The num- 
 ber of Camels that perish yearly along the trails of 
 caravans through the desert can not be estimated; 
 how great it is, however, can best be comprehended 
 by traveling through the desert. In the Nubian 
 desert as well ae in the Bajuda, at the entrance and 
 outlet of these roads, I found one skeleton after an- 
 other in rapid succession for miles, so that the road 
 was plainly mapped out by these blanched bones. 
 The desert is not only the home and place of birth 
 of the Camel, it is also its deathbed and tomb. The 
 numbers of Camels that are slaughtered are insignifi- 
 cant when compared with the numbers which perish 
 while on duty. 
 The Camel an Ex- The Camel chooses its sustenance 
 clusiuely Vegeta- exclusively from the vegetable world 
 ble Feeder. and is far from being fastidious in its 
 choice. It may be truthfully asserted that its fru- 
 gality is its greatest virtue: the worst quality of food 
 satisfies it. When it is but scantily provided with 
 the driest vegetation of the arid regions it can hold 
 out against the hardships of desert travel for weeks. 
 In adverse circumstances, when other food is lack- 
 ing, an old basket or a mat woven out of the split 
 leaves of the date-palm furnishes it with an accept- 
 able meal. In East Soudan the huts of the na- 
 tives, which consist of a frame-work of slender poles 
 thatched with grass from the plains, have to be pro- 
 tected from the Camels by a dense outer coating of 
 thorns, else the voracious animals would devour the 
 whole house to its very foundations. It is really 
 wonderful that the sharpest thorns and spines do 
 not wound their callous mouths. If Camels are 
 allowed a juicy meal once in awhile, they accept 
 it with evident enjoyment; in cultivated fields they 
 are sometimes guilty of perpetrating the most an- 
 noying havoc, devastating enti^districts of country. 
 They are very fond of small b^^s, peas and vetches^ 
 and seem to look upon grains of all sorts as dainties. 
 On journeys through the desert where the load must 
 be as small as possible, every Arab takes only a little 
 durra or barley along for his Camel, and feeds the 
 animal a few handsful of it every evening, generally 
 from the only apology for a handkerchief which he 
 possesses, which is furnished by the lap of his bur- 
 noose or robe. 
 
 The Dromedary's If giv^H moist juicy food, the Drom- 
 
 Ability to With- edafy can go without drinking water 
 stand Thirst, for weeks, provided it is not heavily 
 loaded or especially overworked, and is allowed to- 
 select its plant food after its own desire. It has 
 been said that Camels could go without water for 
 from fourteen, to twenty days even under conditions- 
 imposing hard labor upon it ; but such accounts 
 smack of the faibulous in flavor and always ehcit a 
 smile from the initiated. In the glaring heat of the 
 African dry. season, a traveling Camel must have 
 sufficient nourishment, water, and fully thirty or 
 forty hours of complete rest at least every four days- 
 in order to_ endure the fatigue its work imposes 
 upon it. 
 Stories of a Camel's In former times this abstemious- 
 
 Ability to With- ness of the Ca'mel in the matter of 
 stand Thirst False, water drinking, was explained by 
 the peculiar structure of its stomach. People be- 
 lieved that the large cells in the first two compart- 
 ments of the stomach might be regarded as reser- 
 
THE CAMELS—CAMELS PROPER. 
 
 441 
 
 voirs, and one reads in many an old book of travel 
 how the travelers in the desert in their last extrem- 
 ity could still find a store of the much needed water 
 in the stomachs of their Camels. Though I have 
 always doubted these stories, I have expressly ques- 
 tioned experienced drivers of Camels, grown old in 
 the desert. None of them knew anything about 
 such a story; none of them had ever as much as 
 heard this enormous falsehood. Later on, as I was 
 present at the killing of Camels which had drunk 
 the day before, I convinced myself personally that 
 it is quite impossible to drink water which has been 
 mixed tor days with the food accumulating in the 
 stomach and with the gastric juices. The whole 
 body exhales a repulsive smell ; and such a mush 
 in the stomach is calculated to inspire even a person 
 
 as no other domestic animal can accomplish. All 
 Camels when proceeding at a pace more rapid than 
 a walk exhibit a gait that is apparently a very 
 clumsy amble, whether they run slowly or rapidly; 
 the amble of a trained riding Camel, however, is a 
 very easy and pleasant one for the rider. The usual 
 walking gait is a queer, stiff kind of stalk, the Camel 
 moving its head back and forth in a very peculiar 
 manner at every step, so that one can hardly imag- 
 ine anything uglier than the appearance of such a 
 slowly moving monster. If a Camel accustomed to 
 that gait and belonging to the good breeds, which 
 keep up a uniform pace without interruption, is 
 brought to a trot, the cumbersome creature appears 
 graceful and good-looking. In the beginning of a 
 race the speed of a trotting Horse may surpass that 
 
 • THE BACTBIAN CAUEL, The two-humped species of Camel is found in Asia in the region to the north and east of that occupied by the 
 
 Dromedary. It is larger and more robust than the latter animal, and in some parts of its native home sustains severe cold. Its fur is thicker and more 
 plentiful than that of the other species. (Camelus baclrianus.) 
 
 half dead with thirst with feelings of unconquerable 
 disgust. The stench from the freshly opened stom- 
 ach of a Camel is simply unendurable. 
 
 It is a really interesting sight when thirsty, tired- 
 out Camels draw near to a well or a river. They 
 lift their heads high in the air, inhale long breaths 
 with half-closed eyes, lay their ears back and then 
 start to run, so that one has to sit firmly in the sad- 
 dle if he does not wish to be thrown out. When the 
 beasts finally reach the well they crowd to the water 
 and give themselves up to the enjoyment of drinking. 
 Dromedaries as If one looks at a Dromedary in re- 
 Saddle and Pack pose he Alvill hardly be willing to 
 Animals. believe that this animal can nearly 
 equal the Horse in speed. And yet such is the case. 
 The Camels born in the desert or upon the plains 
 are excellent runners in many respects, and are able 
 to cover distances without intervals of rest, such 
 
 of a Camel, if the two go at the same gait; but the 
 Horse soon lags behind while the Camel trots on 
 uninterruptedly at its initial rate. If a rider gives 
 a saddle Camel a rest at noon, during a ride from 
 early morning till late at night, the animal will trot 
 for sixteen hours and in that time easily cover a dis- 
 tance of eighty-seven and one-half miles. A good 
 Camel that receives abundant food and water may 
 sustain such a strain for three or even four days 
 without an intervening day's rest, and cover upwards 
 of three hundred and twelve miles in the longer 
 period. 
 
 The work of the average or common variety, and 
 that of the baggage Camel conform to a different 
 standard. The former at best covers but half the 
 distance that the best saddle animals do, as a rule 
 averaging only about thirty miles a day; the latter 
 travel on the average two and one-half miles an 
 
442 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 hour, carrying a load of three hundred pounds, and 
 is able to march for twelve hours, or even longer, 
 without a rest. 
 Requisites for a The Arab requires three things from 
 Good Saddle a good Dromedary: it must have a 
 Camel. gQft back, must not require a whip, 
 
 and must not cry when getting up or lying down. 
 Only he who has had experience with Camels knows 
 what this means. An ordinary baggage Camel is the 
 most disagreeable of all animals to ride. The un- 
 even, jolting, pacing gait causes the rider to be jerked 
 up and down, back and forth, describing curious 
 curves, comparable to the lines of a figure described 
 by a Chinese pagoda set in motion. As soon as the 
 Camel begins to trot, matters assume a different as- 
 pect. The steady alternating movement of the legs 
 on the opposite side stops the sidewise jolting mo- 
 tion, and if the rider skillfully lies back in the saddle, 
 he experiences no more inconvenience from the still 
 somewhat violent shaking-up than he would if he 
 were on Horseback. A Camel in a fit of rage always 
 goes at a gallop, but it is not capable of keeping this 
 pace up for any length of time; neither does it need 
 to, for usually -the rider who has not a very firm seat 
 in his saddle, lies on the ground within the few very 
 first minutes, while the Camel gallops on at its sweet 
 will and soon resumes its usual gait. For these rea- 
 sons the Arabs have accustomed their riding Camels 
 to go only at a trot. 
 
 A Dromedary reared on the plains can be used to 
 only a limited extent in a mountainous country, as it 
 climbs with great difficulty. In the water the ani- 
 mal is at a still greater disadvantage. Even when 
 driven into a small stream or pool to drink it acts as 
 if insane; but when it has to cross a wide stream it 
 becomes much worse. As it can not swim, and the, 
 ferry-boats are usually too small to accommodate 
 the unwieldy creature, the driver compels it to enter 
 the water, alongside of the boat, prevents it from 
 sinking by keeping hold of its head and tail, and 
 thus drags it over to the place of landing. 
 Mental and Phys- The vocal utterance of the Drome- 
 ical Characteris- dary is indescribable. Gurgling 
 tics of Camels. and moaning, grunting, growling 
 and roaring alternate in the most curious way. 
 Among the perceptive senses that of hearing is 
 probably best developed, for the sight seems to be 
 much less acute and the sense of smell is certainly 
 weak. The sense of touch, however, seems to be 
 delicate and that of taste is occasionally manifested. 
 On the whole the Camel must be regarded as a 
 creature of poorly developed physical senses. A 
 judgment of its mental faculties is not much more 
 favorable. It can not be denied that the Drome- 
 dary possesses a really surprising faculty for annoy- 
 ing a person incessantly and in almost unheard of 
 ways. Stupidity and a vicious disposition are gen- 
 erally found together ; but if they are combined 
 with cowardice, obstinacy, a sulky temper, an aver- 
 sion to everything sensible, hatred or indifference 
 toward the keeper and benefactor, and a hundred 
 other vices, all possessed by the same brute and 
 practiced by it to perfection, it is enough to drive 
 insane the person who has to deal with such a crea- 
 ture. He thoroughly understands and appreciates 
 this, who has been thrown from the back of a 
 .Camel, trampled on by it, bitten, forsaken in the 
 wilderness and mocked at, after the creature has 
 vexed him hourly for days and weeks with inex- 
 haustible perseverance, and after all means of im- 
 provement and castigation have been in vain applied 
 
 to the beast. It is of no moment in this connection 
 — and we do not hold the facts in malice against it — 
 that the Camel exhales an odor, compared with which 
 the stench of a Billy-goat is perfume, that it tortures 
 the ear by its roar as much as it does the nose by 
 its stench and the eye by the forced sight of its 
 unspeakably stupid head on its long, ostrich-like 
 neck; what gives it so low a place in my opinion is 
 that it always deliberately acts contrary to its mas- 
 ter's will. Among the thousands of Camels which I 
 observed in Africa, I saw only one that displayed 
 anything approaching affection towards its master. 
 These remarks apply to the Dromedary only within 
 certain restrictions, however. Many travelers have 
 not undergone such unpleasant experiences, and 
 the Dromedaries of other and much more extensive 
 regions than that to which my observation was con- 
 fined are judged much more leniently. According 
 to popular report those of southwestern Asia, the 
 Somal country, and the Sahara, must be animals of 
 an entirely different stamp. 
 
 Reproduction of The female gives birth to a single 
 Camels and Appear- young one. It is true that the infant 
 ance of Young. jg g. misshapen little creature from 
 the very first day of its life, but it has something droll 
 and playful about it, like all young animals. It is 
 born with open eyes and covered with long, thick, 
 soft woolly hair. The hump is very small and the 
 callosities are barely indicated. In size it consider- 
 ably surpasses a newborn colt; for it is rather more 
 than three feet high and much taller after the lapse 
 of one week. With advancing growth the wool 
 becomes much thicker and longer and the young 
 Camel develops a really striking resemblance to its 
 American relative, the Alpaca. Almost immedi- 
 ately after its birth it begins to follow its mother 
 about, she caring for it with great solicitude. If 
 two mothers with their colts happen to meet, the 
 latter play with each other in the most amiable way, 
 while the mothers grunt in approbation. The Camel 
 suckles her young upwards of a year and shows un- 
 usual courage during this time, defending her off- 
 spring to the extent of her strength if circumstances 
 require it. But she only cares for her own infant, 
 never for a strange one. 
 
 Economic J- Williams pronounces the flesh of 
 
 Value of the young Camels one of the greatest 
 
 Camel. delicacies. The hide is manufactured 
 
 into tent covering and various utensils, though the 
 
 leather is not very durable while the hair is woven 
 
 into strong textures. The milk of the animal is so 
 
 thick and rich in fat as to be repulsive to the taste of 
 
 Man, and is therefore but little used. 
 
 The Two Humped '^^^ part which the Dromedary 
 
 orBactrian plays within its range is almost sim- 
 
 Camel. jiar to that of the Bactrian Camel 
 
 ( Camelus bactrianus) in east and central Asia. It is 
 
 to be distinguished from the Dromedary by its two 
 
 humps, one rising on the withers, the other in front 
 
 of the croup. In form it is lumbering and clumsy, 
 
 the bulk of the body being greater and the hair 
 
 much more copious than that of the Dromedary; the 
 
 color also is generally darker, usually a deep' brown,. 
 
 with a ruddy tint in summer. 
 
 I have become doubtful as to whether or not the 
 Bactrian Camel ought to be considered a species dis- 
 tinct from the Dromedary. The two readily breed 
 together, and their hybrid offspring may in turn con- 
 tinue the mixed species by breeding with each other 
 with either variety of the parent stock. If we admit 
 their identity of species, we would have to regard 
 
THE CAMELS— LLAMA. 
 
 443 
 
 the Badtrian Camel as the original stock and the 
 Dromedary as a breed produced by selection; for 
 the Kirghiz and Mongols describe the wild Camels as 
 being two-humped. Prshewalski has proven within 
 the past forty years that there are numerous troops 
 of Bactrian Camels in central Asia, which are, and 
 always have been, really wild, and have not merely 
 reverted to the wild state. They possess smaller 
 humps than those bred in a state of domesticity, cal- 
 losities on the knees of the fore-legs, and a somewhat 
 different structure of the skull, and as far as is now 
 known, they range from southern Dzungaria over 
 eastern Turkestan to Tibet. 
 
 The Bactrian Camel is bred in all level countries 
 of central Asia, and is especially useful in the traffic 
 of merchandise carried on between China and south- 
 ern Siberia and Turkestan. In Bokhara and Turco- 
 mania the Dromedary gradually supersedes it, and 
 replaces it entirely where the plains become more 
 barren and at last merge into the desert. 
 
 Iraits of the Though it may be asserted that the 
 Bactrian Bactrian Camel shows in its char- 
 Came/, acter and qualities an affinity to the 
 Dromedary, it can not be denied that it is better 
 natured than the latter. It readily allows itself to 
 be approached and caught, and willingly obeys its 
 master's commands without causing a great deal of 
 commotion. But it is still a Camel in all that the 
 name implies. Its mental faculties are on the same 
 low level as those of the Dromedary; it is just as 
 stupid, listless and cowardly as the latter animal. A 
 Hare springing up between its feet may throw it into 
 a panic. It starts aside in terror, and then rushes on 
 like a senseless creature, and its fellows, moved by 
 common impulse, follow without knowing why. A 
 large, black stone lying by the roadside, a heap of 
 bones, a fallen saddle, in fact, any unfamiliar object 
 may frighten it to such an extent that it completely 
 loses its wits and causes rout and confusion in the 
 entire caravan. 
 
 The Bactrian Camel, like the Dromedary, can not 
 thrive on rich pasturage; it requires the coarse vege- 
 tation of the sterile plains, which would barely sat- 
 isfy other animals ; its favorite food consists of worm- 
 wood, garlic, shoots of all kinds of shrubs, and 
 especially plants containing salt, which are indis- 
 pensable to the maintenance of its good health, and 
 to its recuperation if it becomes debilitated from 
 any cause. ' 
 
 To the female Bactrian Camel is born a single 
 young one — usually at the beginning of the spring 
 season. The little creature is very helpless during 
 the first few days of its life, but soon becomes strong 
 enough to follow the mother about, and she evinces 
 for it a most tender maternal affection. A few 
 weeks after birth it begins to eat vegetable food, and 
 then is temporarily separated from the mother, the 
 latter being milked, as is every other female animal 
 belonging to the herds of the inhabitants of the Asi- 
 atic plains. In the second year the colt has its nose 
 pierced, and the bridle-stick is put through the ap- 
 erture, for at this age its training commences. In 
 the third year of its life it is used for short rides, in 
 the fourth to convey light burdens; in the,fifth. year 
 It is looked upon as fully developed and capable of 
 working. With good treatment it may continue to 
 work until its twenty-fifth year. 
 
 (ireat Uaefulness A strong Bactrian Camel can daily 
 
 of the Bactrian travel from nineteen to twenty- five 
 
 Camel. niiles, carrying a burden of four hun- 
 
 ■^red and forty pounds, and a very strong one can 
 
 carry one hundred pounds more; with half this load 
 it is able to cover nearly double the distance at a 
 trot. In summer it can abstain from water for two or 
 three days, in winter from five to eight, and endures 
 abstinence from food from two to four days without 
 suffering material harm or discomfort. On trips of 
 considerable length it requires a day's rest at inter- 
 vals of every six or eight days. In the Kirghiz 
 plains it is not used exclusively as a beast of burden, 
 but also as a draught animal in single and in double 
 harness, and on tracts of country liable to the con- 
 tingencies arising from the ever changing sand drifts, 
 it even takes the place of Horses in the mail service. 
 Nothwithstanding all its faults, the Bactrian Camel 
 must be acknowledged to be one of the most use- 
 ful creatures that Man has subjugated to his service. 
 It well fulfills all the tasks required of it, and could 
 not be replaced by any other domestic animal. Its 
 hair, milk, skin and flesh are all put to account, and it 
 is harnessed to carts and used as a beast of burden. 
 With its help Man is enabled to traverse the water- 
 less, treeless wastes of wilderness in which Horses 
 would succumb to the hardships incident to their 
 passage; with its help its owner climbs mountains 
 upwards of thirteen thousand feet high, to points of 
 elevation which the Yak is the only other animal 
 able to endure. The Horse is the companion of the 
 inhabitant of the steppes, the Bactrian Camel is his 
 servant. 
 
 THE LLAMAS. 
 
 The New World Camels include those numerous 
 American animals which appear but dwarfs in size 
 when compared with their Old World family or gen- 
 eric relations. The Llamas {Auchenia) are Camels, 
 but they are much smaller than the Old World spe- 
 cies. True, the American Camels are inhabitants of 
 the mountains and for this reason alone they can 
 not attain the same size as their Old World relatives 
 which belong to the fauna of the plain. The Llamas 
 differ from the true Camels not only by reason of 
 smaller size, however, but also by the relatively large 
 head, the frontal region of which recedes sharply 
 and connects at a considerable angle with a pointed 
 muzzle; by their large ears and eyes, their thin, lean 
 neck, long, slender legs with hoofs more deeply 
 cleft; by their smaller callosities and their long, 
 woolly fleece. The hump is lacking, and the loins 
 are still more contracted than those of the true 
 Camels. 
 
 Four Species of The Llamas are divided into four 
 Llamas Now species, which have been well known 
 Existent. from remote ages under the names of 
 Huanaco or Guanaco, Llama, Paco or Alpaca and Vi- 
 cugna. Authorities are not yet agreed as to whether 
 all four animals are to be regarded as original spe- 
 cies or not. Some consider the Guanaco to be the 
 progenitor of the Llama and Alpaca, and base their 
 chief ground for this opinion in the fact that the 
 Llama and the Guanaco may interbreed and produce 
 offspring capable of continuing the species; others 
 deem the slight differences in outward form impor- 
 tant enough to regard the four Llamas as distinct 
 species, as the natives have always done. Tschudi, 
 who has been able to observe all the Llamas on their 
 native ground, agrees with the natives, and his opin- 
 ion has long been regarded as decisive. Let us con- 
 sider, however, how potent in inducing variation of 
 form is the influence of domestication on animals, 
 and we will then alsp find. the contrary opinion to be 
 based on reasonable grounds, and will hardly be pre- 
 
444 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 pared to acknowledge the Llamas and Alpacas to 
 be anything but the domesticated offspring of the 
 Guanaco. 
 
 The Guanaco and Vicugna have remamed untamed 
 to the present day, while the Llama and Alpaca have 
 been domesticated from time immemorial. The first 
 discoverers of America found the two already in a 
 state of subjection to Man. Peruvian tradition sup- 
 poses the taming of the animals to have taken place 
 in the earliest stage of human existence, and connects 
 them with the terrestrial appearance of their demi- 
 gods. The Spaniards, who landed first, found every- 
 where considerable herds of Llamas in the posses- 
 sion of the mountaineers, and described the animals 
 in a somewhat confused manner, yet with sufficient 
 accuracy of detail to enable us to recognize and dis- 
 tinguish the various forms. Pedro de Cieza clearly 
 discriminated between the four species as early as 
 1 54 1, by an account which serves to show beyond a 
 doubt that the four different kinds of Llamas have 
 not undergone any change within the last three hun- 
 dred years. 
 
 Home and All Llamas are indigenous to the 
 
 Haunts of the table-lands of the enormous moun- 
 Llama. tain chains of the Cordilleras or 
 Andes. They thrive only in cold regions and there- 
 fore descend to the pampas or great plains of Pata- 
 gonia only in the extreme south near the Antarctic 
 regions. Near the equator their usual haunts lie 
 between thirteen thousand and fifteen thousand feet 
 above the sea, and they do not thrive below an alti- 
 tude of 6,600 feet in the warm parts of the country, 
 while Patagonia, being a colder country, affords 
 them suitable haunts below this level. Those of the 
 species living in the wild state retreat to the highest 
 crests and ridges of the mountains in the rainy sea- 
 son, and descend into the fertile valleys during the 
 dry season. They are gregarious, sometimes living 
 in flocks of several hundred, and are assiduously 
 hunted by natives. 
 
 Description The Guanaco {Auckenia huanaco) 
 oftfie Guan- claims, together with the Llama, the 
 "<"'■ distinction of being the largest 
 
 South American mammal, and though it occurs only 
 in an untamed state, is one of the most important. 
 In size it about equals a European Stag or Red 
 Deer; as regards its shape it is a queer compound of 
 Camel and Sheep. In a full-grown individual the 
 total length of the body is seven and a half feet, the 
 tail occupying about nine and a half inches; the 
 height at the withers is three feet ten inches, and 
 the height from the ground to the top of the head, 
 five feet four inches. The female is smaller, but of 
 exactly the same shape and hue as the male. A 
 tolerably long, copious, but loose fur covers the 
 body. This coat consists of a short, woolly layer 
 of fine texture and a thinner, longer outer fur. The 
 general color is a dingy reddish brown, while the 
 middle of the breast, the abdomen and the buttocks, 
 as well as the inner surface of the limbs, are whitish. 
 
 The Guanaco is distributed over the Cordilleras, 
 from the wooded islands of Terra del Fuego to 
 northern Peru. It is specially plentiful in the south- 
 ern part of the mountain range, and is gregarious 
 in its habits. Meyen saw flocks numbering from 
 seven to one hundred grazing near rivers. A herd 
 usually consists of many females and only one full- 
 grown male. 
 
 All the movements of the Guanaco are quick and 
 lively, though the animal is not as swift in flight 
 as one might suppose. Over level ground a good 
 
 Horse soon overtakes a fleeing herd, but ordinary 
 Dogs have some difficulty in keeping up with them. 
 The usual gait of the Guanacos is a short, halting 
 amble; and when fleeing at the top of their speea 
 they extend their necks forward, somewhat after 
 the manner of a Goose. The Guanaco is an excel- 
 lent climber; it runs like a Chamois along the steep- 
 est crags and precipices, even where the most ex- 
 perienced mountaineer fails to gain a foothold, and 
 fearlessly looks down into the abyss. When at rest 
 the animal lies on its breast and legs. Camel-fashion, 
 and its method of lying down and arising is very 
 similar to the action of the Camel under the same 
 circumstances. During its rest it dreamily chews, 
 the cud. 
 
 The Guanacos are generally very wild and shy. 
 The leader nearly always stands a few paces from^ 
 his flock and mounts guard with the utmost vigi- 
 lance, while the herd grazes in peace. On the slight- 
 est alarm he utters a loud, neighing bleat; instantly 
 all the members of the herd raise their heads, 
 sharply look around, and then betake themselves to 
 flight. 
 
 The female gives birth to one perfectly developed 
 infant during the season. The newborn Guanaco is 
 covered with hair and has its eyes open. The mother 
 suckles it for four months, guards it carefully, dis- 
 plays toward it great tenderness and keeps it near 
 herself until it is completely matured. 
 Peculiar l^ethods The Guanaco defends itself against 
 of Defence Prac- its own kind by kicking and biting, 
 ticed by Guanacos. but timorously takes refuge in flight 
 without so much as making a pretence of defending 
 itself against an enemy which it fears. When the 
 Guanacos have become accustomed to Men and 
 domestic animals, they become bolder, sometimes 
 courageously charging at an opponent, trying to bite 
 and kick him, and in other cases resorting to a mode 
 of defence peculiar to all Llamas. They allow their 
 antagonist to approach quite closely, then put their 
 ears back, assume a surly expression of counte- 
 nance and then suddenly and violently spit upon the 
 enemy, the discharge consisting of saliva and the 
 herbage that is either held at the time in the mouth, 
 or which they have procured expressly for this pur- 
 pose out of the stomach by retching. 
 
 Man is under all circumstances the worst foe of 
 these animals; their ileetness protects them against 
 other assailants. Whether the Condor really cause? 
 among them such havoc as has been ascribed to that 
 bird of prey remains an open question. The South 
 Americans are passionately fond of hunting the 
 Guanaco, both on account of the sport which it af- 
 fords, and the economic value of the carcass, for the 
 profit accruing from the flesh and skin is not to be 
 despised. 
 
 In mountainous regions, as well as on plains, 
 Guanacos are not infrequently taken with a view to- 
 domestication. While they are young they exhibit 
 no vicious tendencies, and altogether conduct them- 
 selves in a pleasing manner. They are tame and 
 affectionate, follow their master about like Dogs, 
 and may be treated as Lambs; but the older they 
 grow, the more their love and affection for Man di- 
 minishes. They are easily maintained on ^hay, grass,, 
 bread and grains, even in Europe, where they prop- 
 agate their species if they are well taken care of. 
 The Llama The Lama, or more properly Llama. 
 
 a Domesticated {Auckenia lama), is found principally 
 
 Species. {„ Peru, and there thrives best on the 
 
 table-lands. Its physical proportions are slightly 
 
THE CAMELS— LLAMA. 
 
 445 
 
 larger than those of the Guanaco, and it is character- 
 ized by callosities on the breast and on the external 
 surface of the first joints of the fore-legs. The head 
 is narrow and short, the lips are hairy, the ears short 
 and the soles of the feet large. The coloring is very 
 variable; it may be white, black, pied, reddish-brown 
 spotted with white, dark brown, ochre-yellow, gray- 
 ish-red, or of other hues. The adult animal attains 
 a height of from eight feet eight inches to nine feet 
 four inches from the soles of its feet to the top of its 
 head; at the withers it is about four feet high. 
 
 Acosta relates that the Indians lead entire herds 
 of "these Sheep," loaded like beasts of burden, over 
 the mountains, the herds often numbering from three 
 
 such a hard task is imposed only on those animals 
 belonging to poor soldiers wandering through Peru. 
 All these animals prefer cold air and thrive in the 
 mountain, while they succumb to the heat of the 
 plain. They are often entirely covered with hoar- 
 frost and ice and yet remain in good health. The 
 short haired specimens often furnish the beholder 
 with cause for merriment. Ever and anon they sud- 
 denly stop on the road, lift their heads and fixedly 
 stare at people, standing still a long time without 
 showing any sign of fear or displeasure. At other 
 times they suddenly take fright and shy at some- 
 thirig, and run up on the top of the highest crags 
 taking with them their burdens, and they often have 
 
 
 THE LLAMA In southern Peru the Llama is one of the most common of the domesticated animals, and is now no longer known in a wild state.. 
 
 It -S the tj p.^ J opctico uf uhc New v\ oud <iiiim<us of mc Caiiici family, though much smaller than the Camels proper. It was formerly much used as a 
 beast of burden and is still used as such, but since the introduction into Peru of Horses, Asses and Mules its importance in that respect has greatly dimin- 
 ished. Its hairy covering is long and woolly. (Auchenia lama.) 
 
 to be shot down in order to prevent the loss of the 
 goods they carry." 
 
 Only the males are used for conveying burdens,, 
 the females serving exclusively for breeding pur- 
 poses. "There is nothing more beautiful," says Ste- 
 venson, "than a caravan of these animals, as they 
 march one behind the other, in the greatest order, 
 each with its burden of a hundred weight or so. 
 They are guided by a leader, adorned with a taste- 
 fully decorated halter, a little bell and a flag on its 
 head. Thus they travel along the snow-covered 
 peaks of the Cordilleras or by the side of the moun- 
 tain, along roads where Horses and Mules would 
 pick their way with difficulty; and they are so tract- 
 able that their drivers need neither goad nor whip to 
 guide or urge them forward. Quietly and without 
 interruption they move on toward their goal." 
 
 hundred'to five hundred, or even one thousand. "I 
 have been astonished," says he, "to see these herds 
 of Sheep loaded with two or three thousand bars of 
 silver, of the value of about three hundred thousand 
 ducats, accompanied only by a few Indians who 
 guide, load and unload the Sheep, the escort at the 
 most being supplemented by a few Spaniards. They 
 sleep all night in the fields and yet so great is pub- 
 lic security in Peru that nothing has ever been lost 
 by robbery on these long journeys. In suitable rest- 
 ing places, where there are rivers and pasturage, the 
 leaders unload their animals, put up tents, cook 
 meals and take their ease despite the long journey. 
 If the trip requires only one day's travel, those 
 Sheep carry eight arrobas (about two hundred 
 pounds) and traverse from eight to ten leguas 
 (eighteen to twenty-two and one-half miles); but 
 
446 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 The Llama of Meyen estimates the importance of 
 Great Value to the the Llama to the Peruvians as equal 
 Peruvians. to that of the Reindeer to the Lap- 
 lander. The animals are kept on the table-lands in 
 enormous herds. All species of Llamas produce at 
 ■a birth only a single young one, which is by mothers 
 of most species suckled for about four months, and 
 for a period somewhat longer by females of the 
 Llama species proper. 
 
 The same naturalist informs us that the importance 
 
 and also the price of the Llama have considerably 
 
 diminished since the introduction of animals of the 
 
 Horse tribe, and further that the herds of Llamas 
 
 are occasionally ravaged by terrible plagues, and 
 
 stricken down in appalling numbers. 
 
 Peculiarities of At present the Llama is seen in 
 
 Temper of the nearly all zoological gardens. If it 
 
 Llama. jg kept in company with others of its 
 
 kind, it seems to be much more amiable than when 
 
 say that I never knew one to be gentle or good- 
 natured. 
 
 Characteristics The third form of the group, the 
 oftheAl- Paco or Alpaca (Auckenia pacos), is 
 paca. smaller than the Llama, and shows a 
 
 similarity to the Sheep in physical structure, but has 
 a longer neck and a more delicate head. Its fleece 
 is very long and of exquisite softness; on some spots, 
 as for instance, on the sides of the body, the hair at- 
 tains a length of from four to five inches. The color 
 is usually entirely white or black, but there are also 
 pied or mottled specimens. 
 
 The Alpacas are kept in large herds, which graze 
 on the high plains all the year round; they are driven 
 to the huts or booths of the owners for shearing 
 only. There is, perhaps, no other animal that has so 
 refractory a temper as the Alpaca. If one is sepa- 
 rated from the herd, it throws itself on the ground, 
 and neither coaxing nor blows can persuade it to 
 
 TfiE Ji^V&CiL. ^Smaller than the Llaina,.W;hich. it otherwise resem.b)es„tlte,.Alpaca is distinguished- ffii; its heavy coat o f wool which is lustrous 
 
 and of a fine quality. Alpacas congregate in herds in the high mountains of Peru m'a s'emi-dome'sticafed fcoiidi-tioni' being onlydTi«6naattivviM«j^"to 
 be shorn. {Auchenia faco.) 
 
 it is alone, and has nothing to claim its attention. It 
 agrees peaceably with its generic and family rela- 
 tions, and mated couples especially are tenderly 
 attached to each other. They learn to know their 
 keeper and act tolerably well toward him, but toward 
 strangers they exhibit the ugly disposition of true 
 Camels, being constantly in an ill humor, and ex- 
 ceedingly irritable. In the Berlin Tiergarten there 
 was a Llama which was endowed with an especially 
 unpleasant temper; a placard was attached to its 
 cage, asking visitors to refrain from provoking the 
 Llama, the natural result being that everybody did 
 his best to irritate the animal. Consequently it was 
 in a state of perpetual agitation. Whenever a visitor 
 approached, its comfortable rumination instantly 
 ceased; it laid its ears back, stared at the stranger, 
 then suddenly walked up and spit at him. The other 
 Llamas, which I have seen, or have had under my 
 charge, behaved in a similar manner, and I can truly 
 
 get up. It prefers the severest castigation, and even 
 the most painful death to obedience. A single indi- 
 vidual can be induced to move only by making it 
 join a herd of Llamas or Sheep. From time im- 
 memorial the Indians have manufactured blankets 
 and cloaks out of the wool of the Alpacas and 
 Llamas. 
 
 The attempt to transplant Alpacas 
 in Europe has been repeatedly made, 
 but so far has been uniformly a fail- 
 ure, and like attempts to colonize them in Australia 
 have met with no better success, although the exper- 
 iments of that kind in the latter country have been 
 on a larger- scale than those ia Europe. The Alpacas- 
 possess great powers of endurance, can be main- 
 tained with but little care, and propagate rapidly. 
 Besides being valuable for their wool, which sells 
 for about seventy dollars per hundred weight on the 
 western coast of South America, the flesh of the Al- 
 
 Value of the 
 
 Alpaca to 
 
 Man. 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS. 
 
 4iT 
 
 paca is very palatable. In their native country they 
 are not used as beasts of burden, but are bred exclu- 
 sively for their wool and flesh. From their wool the 
 Indians manufacture artistic table-covers and other 
 valuable articles, which are noteworthy for their 
 beautiful lustre and their wearing qualities. 
 The Vicugna, its " The Y icugna. {Auckenia vicugna) is 
 Home and more graceful than the Llama," says 
 Haunts. Tschudi. , "In size it holds the mean 
 between Llama and Alpaca, but is distinguished 
 from both by its wool, which is much shorter, more 
 curly and of an exquisitely fine texture. The top of 
 the head, the upper part of the neck, the body and 
 the thighs are of a peculiar reddish yellow hue 
 known as Vicugna color; 
 the throat and the inner 
 faces of the limbs are 
 light ochre yellow; the 
 breast-hair, which is 
 nearly five inches long, 
 and the abdomen are 
 white. 
 
 "During the rainy sea- 
 son the Vicugnas live on 
 the ridges of the Cordil- 
 leras, which afford but 
 scant vegetation. As the 
 hoofs are soft and the 
 soles sensitive, the ani- 
 mals always remain on 
 the grass plots, and even 
 when pursued, they rare- 
 ly retreat to the craggy, 
 bare peaks and still less 
 to the glaciers and snow- 
 fields, as is the habit of 
 the Chamois. During 
 the hot season they de 
 scend to the valleys 
 The apparent contradic- 
 tion of habits that in- 
 duces the animals io 
 keep in cold regions in 
 winter and in warm ones 
 in summer, is explained 
 by the fact that the crest 
 of the Cordilleras is 
 quite parched during the 
 dry season, and vegeta- 
 tion capable of affording 
 them sufficient nourish- 
 ment can be found only 
 in the valleys, where 
 there are -rivers and mo- 
 rasses. 
 
 "The female usually 
 gives birth to a single 
 young one, which immediately after it is born exhib- 
 its extraordinary powers of endurance and great 
 fleetness. The young male Vicugnas remain under 
 the protection of their jnothers amtil they are fully 
 grown; then a Jarge number o,f females unite and 
 drive the males away by dint of biting and kicking^ 
 These discarded individuals unite to form their own 
 herds, eveiitually joining others, so that they some- 
 times number from twenty to thirty." 
 
 The Vicugna Vicugnas caught young are easily 
 
 Easily Domes- tamed and become very familiar, at- 
 
 ticated. taching themselves to their keeper 
 
 and following him like well-bred domestic animals. 
 
 With advancing age, however, they become vicious, 
 
 like their wild relatives, and unbearable by reason of 
 their unpleasant habit of continually spitting. The 
 experiment of taming them is seldom tried, and their 
 freedom is disturbed only to procure their wool. 
 
 As early as the times of Acosta the Indians used to- 
 shear the Vicugnas and use their wool to manufact- 
 ure a fabric of great value, which had the appearance 
 of white silk, and was very durable, as it did not re- 
 quire dyeing or the usual process of bleaching and 
 finishing. Clothing made from this stuff was espe- 
 cially adapted for hot weather. Even now the finest 
 and most durable materials are woven out of this 
 wool, and felt made from it is used for making strong,, 
 soft hats. 
 
 THE VICUGNA. Inhabiting 
 
 herds. This animal is the. smallest of 
 domestication when young. They are 
 fabrics. {Auchenia vicugna.) 
 
 the most elevated localities of Bolivia and northern ChiH the Vicugnas live m 
 the American species of the Camel family, is yer-y wild, and is only capable of 
 pretty animals with a soft, silkyifur which is much in requestifor making fine 
 
 ^be Iborneb Hnimale, 
 
 THIRD FAMILY: Bovid^. 
 
 The third main section of the Ruminants contains 
 the Horned Animals : {.Bovidtz),. which, constitute a 
 single, clearly defined family, separated into five sub- 
 families. Closely allied to the hollow-horned ani- 
 mals as the Deer may appear to be, they differ from 
 them decidedly in shape and structure, as well as 
 in the manner of the growth of their horns, the de- 
 velopment and progression of those members being 
 a constant one. The Horned Animals have conical 
 projections on the forehead, which remain enclosed 
 
448 
 
 THE ClOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 in the horn; the bony projection forms the core of 
 the horn and grows uninterruptedly from the base, 
 and thereby extends in length and also in thickness 
 ■at the root. As it grows, new horny mass is devel- 
 oped on this bony projection along its whole length, 
 the old continually forming a firm sheath around it. 
 With the hollow-horned animals also the existing 
 older external horny coat is separated from the inner 
 bony core by the newly formed horny process, but 
 it is not shed mechanically, as with the Deer, the 
 conical shape of the parts by which union is formed 
 with the frontal bone of the head, and the firm sheath 
 of the previously grown external horny coat prevent- 
 ing the falling off of the horns. Further particular 
 characteristics of the family are, that all animals be- 
 longing to it have six incisors and two canine teeth 
 in the lower jaw, and twelve molars — six on each 
 side — in both upper and lower jaws, incisors and ca- 
 nines, however, being absent in the upper jaw, the 
 family showing great uniformity in dentition. 
 The Horned Family Nothing general can be said about 
 ■Have Few Features the Horned Animfl.ls, except in re- 
 in Common. gard to their horns and dentition. 
 The structure of the body is very variable, as the 
 family contains clumsy, bulky forms as well as 
 light and graceful ones. The shape of the horns 
 •and hoofs, the length of the tail, the hairy covering 
 and color vary to a great extent. Widely different 
 as is their outward appearance, the mode of life of 
 the BovidjE presents an equally great diversity of 
 habit. Indigenous to nearly all parts of the globe, 
 with the exception of South America and Australia, 
 they divide into many species and live in all lati- 
 tudes and heights, in all regions and fields, from the 
 lonely desert to the forest gorgeous in its tropical 
 splendor, from the swampy plain to the glacier- 
 covered mountains. By far the majority of them 
 live gregariously, not a fe\y herding in considerable 
 numbers, some, at least temspWrarily collecting in 
 b®dies, the number of the individuals composing 
 which is not approached by any similar collection of 
 ;mammals unless we except the gatherings of the 
 rodents. As is to be expected from their varying 
 ;shape, some move with a clumsy, lumbering gait, 
 while the others exhibit great speed and agility; 
 •again, ' adapting themselves to the environment of 
 their customary haunts, some are as excellent swim- 
 mers as the others are climbers. 
 Importance to Man To Man the Bovidse are of a higher 
 of the Horned and greater importance than all other 
 Animals. Ruminants, with the single exception 
 of the Camels. From their number humanity has 
 reclaimed the most important domestic animals so 
 far as regards nourishment and use; to them we are 
 indebted for a material part of our usual diet and 
 ■our clothing; without them we would be incapable 
 of prolonging our existence. Even the untamed 
 species, enjoying unlimited freedom, are as a rule 
 more useful than otherwise, as their inroads on what 
 we term our property do not injure us as much as 
 the ravages of other large animals, and as they, by 
 giving up to our use their palatable flesh for food, 
 • and other portions of their bodies for various pur- 
 poses, on the whole even more than repay for all the 
 damage they inflict, and as game no animals are 
 more popular than those of this family. 
 
 The five sub-families, into which we divide the 
 
 BovidaE) we will call Caprinae, comprising the Goats 
 
 and Sheep; Ovibovinae, or Musk Oxen; Bovinae, or 
 
 the Ox tribe; Aplocerinae, or Mountain Goats, and 
 
 „Antilopinae, or Antelope, tribe.. ; .. 
 
 THE SHEEP AND GOAT TRIBE. 
 
 The two kinds of Caprinae, namely the Goats and 
 the Sheep, exhibit so close an affinity to each other 
 that it seems scarcely possible to decide on special 
 distinctive features between them. 
 
 All species of this family attain what is to be con- 
 sidered but a moderate size when compared with 
 other Ruminants; they are of sturdy and sometimes 
 even of clumsy organization, have short necks and 
 generally stout, coarse heads, low, sturdy legs with 
 comparatively obtuse hoofs, a round or broad tail 
 naked on its under surface, short or moderately long 
 ears, tolerably large eyes with obliquely placed ob- 
 long pupils, more or less compressed and angular 
 horns curving backward and outward, not infre- 
 quently spirally twisted, and more rarely conforming 
 to a lyre-shaped outline. These horns are often very 
 bulky and possessed by both sexes, though those of 
 the female are considerably shorter than those of the 
 male. The pelt, which is usually of a subdued, neu- 
 tral color, is very thick, and consists of a long outer 
 fur/and a copious woolly inner layer. 
 
 The Sheep and Goat tribe is for the greater part 
 indigenous to the regions of the north of the Old 
 World; they were originally absent in the South 
 American, Ethiopian and Australian Zones, and are 
 represented by only one native species in the North 
 American and Oriental belts, respectively. 
 
 THE GOATS. 
 
 The sturdy, vigorous body of the Goats {Caprd),^.o 
 which we unhesitatingly concede the first place in 
 their sub-family, have a sturdy, vigorous body which 
 rests upon strong and comparatively short legs; the 
 neck is stout and the head proportionately short and 
 broad at the forehead. The tail, which is usually 
 carried erect, is triangular and devoid of hair on its 
 under surface. The eyes are large and lustrous, the 
 ears erect, acutely pointed and very mobile. The 
 horns a<fe quadrilatemil with rounded edges, or two- 
 edged with an elliptical cross-section distinctly 
 marked by rings denoting the growth of each suc- 
 ceeding year, broad and flattened on their anterior 
 surfaces and possessed by both sexes. The. direc- 
 tion of the horns is either backward, with a simple, 
 cresCent-'shapfed sweep, or they curve outwardly at 
 the tips iproduciiig a lyre-shaped contour. Those^of 
 the he Goats are always much heavier than those of 
 the she Goats. The fur consists of two layers, the 
 finer woolly coat being concealed by the coarse outer 
 hair. With some species the outer fur lies tolerably 
 close to the body, with others it grows into a mane 
 on certain parts of the body, with most species it 
 forms a stiff beard on the chin. The hue of the fur 
 is always dull and neutral, either earthy or rock- 
 colored, brown and gray tints prevailing. Another 
 feature characteristic of these animals, i.s the power- 
 .ful, rank odor, with which all Goats afflict our sense 
 of smell. 
 
 Goa,ts in a free state inhabit central and southern 
 Asia, Europe and northern Africa. Domesticated 
 species are distributed over the entire globe. They 
 are as a rule inhabitants of mountains, especially of 
 high ranges, where they affect' lonely spots inacces- 
 sible to Man. The majority of species range higher 
 than the line of perpetual snow. Sunny spots with 
 dry pasturage, thinly grown woodland glades and 
 craggy walls, as well as bare cliffs and rocks, loom- 
 ing straight above the eternal snow and ice, are their 
 favorite haunts. All species are gregarious. They 
 are active, lively, restless, intelligent and sportive 
 
IBEX OE STEINBOGK. These mountain dwellers are the liveliest members of the Goat tribe. They are found in the highest regions of the 
 
 European Alps, spending the day in localities above the line of perpetual snow. At night they descend to the highest woods to graze, retiring at sunrise 
 to their snowy fastnesses. They jump from crag to crag with great security and facility. They live in small herds and the picture shows them as they 
 ■appear in their Alpine home. {Cafra Hex.) 
 
 (449) 
 
450 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 animals, which incessantly run and gambol, and only 
 lie quietly on one spot when engaged in chewing the 
 cud. Old males are the only individuals which lead 
 solitary lives, and they but seldom; others always 
 tenaciously keep together. Though they are active 
 by day and by night, they give the preference to the 
 day. Their peculiarities are displayed at every op- 
 portunity. They are exceedingly good climbers and 
 jumpers and in the exercise of these accomplish- 
 ments they display an amount of courage, intelli- 
 gence and resolution which redounds greatly to 
 their credit. They are remarkably sure-footed, and 
 traverse the most dangerous spots in the mountains. 
 They are free from dizziness, and they stand on the 
 narrowest ledges and with apparent indifference 
 gaze into the most terrible abysses. With foolhardy 
 carelessness they graze on nearly vertical walls. In 
 proportion to their physical stature they are pos- 
 sessed of enormous strength and of wonderful pow- 
 ers of endurance and thus are perfectly adapted 
 to inhabit a sterile domain, in which every leaflet, 
 every little blade of grass has to be acqiaired by 
 labor, and existence must be maintained by dint of 
 incessant struggle. Sportive and playful toward 
 each other, they are wary and shy in all their rela- 
 tions toward other beings and generally flee at the 
 slightest noise; though one can not ascribe such 
 action entirely to fear, for in case of necessity they 
 fight with much courage and determination, and 
 exhibit a certain pughaciousness which is certainly 
 entitled to respect. 
 
 Diet and Prop- Succulent mountain herbs of all 
 
 agation of kinds furnish the fare of the Goats. 
 
 Goats. Fastidious to a high degree, they 
 
 always select the choicest morsels. Water is an 
 
 essential with them, and therefore they shun regions 
 
 where there are no rivers or creeks. 
 
 The number of young brought forth at a birth 
 ranges between one and four. With wild species 
 the number reaches two at the most; with tame ones, 
 in rare cases, four. The kids are perfectly devel- 
 oped at birth, have their eyes open and are able to 
 follow the mother about at once. Those of wild' 
 species run about the mountains on the first day of 
 their life, exhibiting as much boldness and being as 
 sure of foot as their parents. 
 
 Great Value of We may truly assert that all Goats 
 Goats to are eminently useful animals. The 
 "'""■ damage they inflict is of slight ac- 
 
 count generally, and is to be noticed in but few 
 countries, while their usefulness is considerable, 
 especially in regions where the animals are used to 
 extract, for the benefit of man, profit from localities 
 which would otherwise lie waste. The desolate 
 mountains of the south of Europe are covered with 
 herds of Goats, which browse the grass from prec- 
 ipices where 'no human being could gain a foothold 
 and thus turn into food for man through the medium 
 of, their own flesh, vegetation' that otherwisje. would 
 be lost. Nearly every .portion of . the carcass of the 
 wild species is useful to man, such as flesh, skin, 
 horn and hair, and the tame Goats are not only the 
 most valuable friend of the poor, but also come very 
 near being the only producers of milk in the south, 
 where they are regarded as animals of great utility. 
 
 The classification and identification of the wild 
 Goats is a difficult matter, because the species are so 
 very similar and, there are so many obstacles in the 
 way of observing their life. • vThere are several va- 
 rieties among them, of which we will now consider 
 the Ibex and the Goats proper. 
 
 The Ibex, and its The Ibex or Steinbock {Ibex) inhab- 
 Peculiari- its mountains, at an altitude so great 
 *''^s- that other large mammals ranging 
 
 there would fail to find sufificient food and hence 
 would be stunted. Few Ruminants follow them 
 into the high altitudes, where they roam about from 
 year to year, descending but slightly lower during 
 only the severest winter weather. It is in accord- 
 ance with this mode of life, that every species of 
 Ibex has a very restricted distribution. Some natu- 
 ralists admit only one species, not only for Europe, 
 but in general. We, however, prefer to consider the 
 various forms as species, for the time being. In do- 
 ing so, we regard the Ibex as a sub-genus rich in 
 species. Europe alone possesses three different va- 
 rieties: one, the Ibex proper {Capra Ibex),mha.h\is the 
 Alps, the second, the Pyrenean Ibex ( Capra pyrena- 
 ica), dwells among the Pyrenees and other Spanish 
 mountains, the third, the Caucasan Ibex {Capra. 
 caucasica), finds its domicile in the Caucasus. Then 
 there is a fourth species in Siberia, a fifth in Arabia, 
 a sixth in Abyssinia and a seventh in the Himalayas. 
 All these animals are very similar in anatomical 
 shape and the color of their coats and differ mainly 
 in the formation of their horns and in their beards. 
 Intermediate forms have as yet not been discovered, 
 and thus we must regard them for the time being as 
 distinct species. 
 Description of the The Ibex of the Alps, Bouquetin or 
 
 Alpifiv Ibex or Steinbock ( Capra ibex), is a handsome, 
 Steinbock. stately creature, the body of which 
 measures from five feet to five feet four inches in 
 length. Its height at the shoulder is from thirty-two 
 to thirty-four inches,, and it weighs from one hun- 
 dred and fifty to two hundred pounds. The animal's- 
 appearance produces upon the observer the impres- 
 sion that it possesses great strength and endurance. 
 The body is sturdy, the neck of medium length, the 
 head is proportionately small, but strongly arched on 
 the forehead. The legs are vigorous and moderately 
 long, the horns, possessed by both sexes, attain a 
 comparatively large size and great strength in the 
 case of old males, and they curve obliquely back- 
 ward in either a straight direction or in a crescent 
 shape. At their bases, where they are thickest, the 
 horns stand nearest to each other. From that point 
 they diverge widely, and gradually taper toward 
 their extremities. Their cross-section forms an ob- 
 long quadrangle slightly depressed on the hinder 
 surface of the horn, and becoming flatter toward the 
 upper extremity. The rings produced by growth, 
 protrude especially in front,- forming bulky knots or 
 tubercles, and then run along the sides of the horn,- 
 being much less prominent there, however, than in 
 front. Toward the, base and the extremity the rings 
 diminish in width; toward the middle of the horn 
 they are widest and are found most closely together. 
 The horns may attain a length of from thirty-two to 
 forty inches, snd a-weight of twenty or thirty pounds. 
 The horns of. the female bear a greater resemblance 
 to those of a domestic she Goat than to those of the 
 male Steinbock. 
 
 The fur is rough and thick, undergoing modifica- 
 tions in the different seasons, being longer, coarser, 
 curlier and of duller tint in winter, shorter, .finer .a,nd 
 more lustrous in summer, and during the cold season 
 it is mixed with a thick under wool, which is shed 
 as the temperature becomes warmer. The hair is 
 erected into a kind of mane on the back of the neck, 
 and in old males it also'becomies longer on the back 
 of the head and on the lower jaw. In the latter sit- 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS—GOATS. 
 
 451 
 
 nation the hair forms a short beard, not over two 
 inches long and absent in the young males and all 
 females. The color of the beard slightly differs 
 with age and season. In summer a reddish gray tint 
 prevails, in winter it is yellowish gray or of a pale 
 tint. 
 
 Habits and Pecui- The Bouquetins form herds of vari- 
 iarities of the ous sizes, the old males joining them 
 Steinbock. only during the breeding season, 
 however, and leading a solitary life during the re- 
 mainder of the year. The she Goats and kids al- 
 ways live in a lower belt of mountain region than do 
 the males, in whoni the yearning fnr the frV^est 
 
 altitudes is so powerful 
 that only lack of food 
 and the severest cold can 
 compel them to descend. 
 According to Berthoud 
 von Berghem, whose ac- 
 counts are still accepted 
 as authentic, all males 
 that are over six years 
 old retire to the highest 
 spots in the mountain, 
 lead a more and more 
 solitary life and finally 
 become so insensible to 
 the severest cold thai 
 they will sometimes stand 
 •on the highest peaks with 
 their faces turned against 
 the storm, motionless as 
 statues, as a result of 
 which they not infre- 
 quently get the tips of 
 their ears frozen. Like 
 the Chamois, the Ibex 
 also grazes during the 
 night in the forests near- 
 est the line of vegetation, 
 in summer never descend- 
 ing lower than a quarter 
 of an hour's journey from 
 the perpetual snow limit. 
 At sunrise they begin to 
 climb upwards, grazing, 
 and finally settle down to 
 rest on the highest and 
 warmest places, facing 
 east and south; in the 
 afternoon they descend 
 again, grazing, to spend 
 the night in the forest, if 
 possible. 
 
 No other Ruminant 
 seems to be so well fitted 
 to climb mountains as the 
 wild Goats in general and 
 
 mals reach the spots at which they aim. A young 
 Bouquetin in Berne sprang voluntarily and without 
 having been pursued, alighting on the head of a tall 
 Man, and kept its place there with all four hoofs. 
 Another was seen to stand on all four, feet on the 
 top of a pole, a third stood on the narrow upper 
 edge of a door and mounted a vertical wall without 
 any other support than that formed by the projec- 
 tions of the bricks, at such joints as had been de- 
 nuded by the falling off of mortar. Running along 
 this wall, it scaled it to the top with three bounds. 
 It took its stand opposite the goal it had selected 
 a"d measured the distance with its eye then it trav- 
 
 FYSEHEAII^ IBEX. Closely allied in its nature to the Steinbock is tlie Pyienean Ibex, which is distin- 
 guished froffl.lts Alpine relative by a more graceful form and by differently shaped and twisted horns. It inhabits 
 the snowy h^ghts of the Pyrenees, and is very difficult to hunt because at the slightest alarm it retreats to places 
 inaccessible to Man. (Capta pyrenaica.) 
 
 m general and the Ibex in particular. 
 All the movements of the latter are quick, vigorous 
 and yet easy. It runs with great speed, climbs with 
 admirable facility and exhibits a truly astonishing 
 security and speed in going along almost perpen- 
 dicular walls of rock where it alone can gain a foot- 
 hold. An uneven spot or indentation in the wall, 
 which a human eye barely sees when quite close to 
 .it, affords it sufficient support; minute crevices and 
 small holes constitute for it the steps of a conven- 
 ient ladder. It plants its hoofs so firmly and se- 
 curely that it can keep its hold upon the smallest 
 spots of standing room. Schinz has observed and 
 interestingly recorded with what precision these ani- 
 
 ersed an equal horizontal space taking short steps, 
 repeatedly coming back to the starting point; it 
 swayed to and fro on its legs as though trying their 
 elasticity, then jumped and reached the top in three 
 bounds. They scarcely seem to touch the rocks or 
 walls in leaping, and their bodies bound upwards 
 like balls. The ease and security with which the 
 Ibex crosses the deepest and most dangerous cre- 
 vasses and abysses are also truly wonderful. 
 Sensory and Mental The vocal expression of the Ibex 
 Attributes of resembles the whistle of the 
 Ibexes. Chamois, but is longer drawn-out. 
 
 Among the perceptive senses that of sight ranks 
 first. The eye of an Ibex is much keener than that 
 
452 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 of a Chamois, while its scent is much weaker; the 
 faculty of hearing is excellent, the mental capacity- 
 is probably on a level with that of the Goats in gen- 
 eral. The Ibex proves its sagacity by the judicious 
 selection of its haunts and walks, by its calculating 
 caution, skillful avoidance of danger and easy resig- 
 nation to altered circumstances. 
 
 In qiiiet, elevated valleys the Ibex feeds in the 
 forenoon and afternoon; in regions where it fears 
 rpolestation it selects as its meal-times the hours of 
 dawn and twilight and perhaps the night. Its food 
 consists of the juicy, delicate Alpine herbs, grass, 
 buds of trees; leaves and tips of branches, especially 
 varieties of fennel and wormwood, thyme, the buds 
 and branches of the dwarf-birch, birches, Alpine 
 roses, gentian and in winter also dry grass and moss^ 
 
 Propagation Usually at the end of June or at the 
 of the beginning of July the females give 
 
 Ibex. birth to one or two young, equaling 
 
 newborn kids in size. A few hours after birth the 
 little creatures prove themselves to be nearly as 
 bold mountain-climbers as their mother. She loves 
 her young exceedingly, licks them clean, guides 
 them, talks to them, through the medium of her 
 kind bleating calls them, keeps hidden with them 
 in caverns while she suckles them, and never leaves 
 them unless the greatest danger threatens her, and 
 she must save her own life, without which that of 
 her infant would also be lost. In such a case she 
 runs along dizzy precipices and seeks safety in rocky 
 crevices and crannies. The kids, however, very 
 adroitly conceal themselves behind stones and in 
 holes, lying quite still and motionless, looking, list- 
 ening, sniffing in all directions. The gray fur of 
 the young Ibex is so similar in coloration to the 
 rocks and earthy matter surrounding it that the 
 keenest Falcon's eye could not discern it and dis- 
 tinguish it from the rock, which thus takes a mother's 
 place and shelters it for the time being. Large birds 
 of prey, especially the Golden Eagle and perhaps 
 also the Golden Vulture, are a menace to the safety 
 of young kids, but owing to the mother's vigilance, 
 they probably are rarely successful in their attempts 
 to seize her young. The older animals are probably 
 preyed upon by the Lynx, Wolf and Bear. More 
 fatal than all these foes combined are the severe 
 climate and the accidents concomitant with the 
 inhospitable nature of their haunts in winter and 
 spring. But the worst foe of the Ibex is Man, 
 especially the poacher. Probably no more difficult 
 and dangerous undertaking can be conceived than 
 the Ibex hunt as conducted by a poacher. All that 
 can be said of the dangers of a Chamois hunt ob- 
 tains in this instance only in a higher measure. On 
 account of the scarcity of the game, the hunter must 
 be prepared to live from eight to fourteen days far 
 away from all human habitations, braving the perils 
 of outdoor life in the high mountains; he must en- 
 dure frost, snow, hunger, thirst, fog and storm, often 
 spend several nights on a hard rock, without shelter 
 from the ice-cold wind, and very often he has to 
 return home empty-handed after many trials of his 
 patience. In the event of the most favorable result 
 he must shun all frequented paths with his dearly 
 bought prize, in order to avoid detection by the 
 forest guards; he must be able to walk the edges of 
 the most frightful precipices without dizziness, and 
 have strength to carry heavy burdens in order to be 
 able to convey the reward of his efforts home at all. 
 Thus it happens but too often that he brings pov- 
 erty and misery into his hut instead of the carcass 
 
 of his game, not to speak of the fact that he daily 
 runs the risk of falling into an abyss and being 
 dashed to pieces, or of ending his life by the bullet 
 of a guard. 
 
 /bexes Very Sus- Bouquetins taken young, as a rule, 
 ceptible of Do- thrive well, if they are given a Goat 
 mestication. as wet-njirse. They soon become 
 tame, though they lose this quality with advancing 
 age. They are as full of curiosity, fun and frolic as 
 kids of other species, and so playful and droll that 
 they can not but amuse the observer. They make 
 friends with their foster-mother in <a few days, and 
 with their keeper after some time, distinguishing him 
 from other people and showing much joy if they see 
 him again after a prolonged separation. They are 
 highly susceptible to caresses, but do not brook any 
 violence, and defiantly and most amusingly resist 
 even their keepers attempting to move their heads 
 by means of their short horns. If scratched between 
 the horns, they remain as motionless as Lambs, but 
 not infrequently requite such benefits by a thrust of 
 the head meant in play but not always devoid of 
 painful results. The older they grow, the more self- 
 conscious and presumptuous do they become. 
 Stories of a Bernese There are some difficulties and un- 
 Halfbred pleasant consequences in the way of 
 Ibex. letting crosses between the Ibex and 
 
 domestic Goat run free. This was proven by the 
 result of experiments made at Berne about seventy 
 years ago. The Bouquetins and their hybrid off- 
 spring were turned loose on part of the ramparts of 
 the town, where they received their food and propa- 
 gated themselves in the desired manner. But the 
 half-bloods, as well as the Bouqueftins themselves, 
 soon forgot all the benefits received and finally dis- 
 played neither affection for, nor fear of, Man. One 
 hybrid male found great pleasure in attacking a sen- 
 tinel on the ramparts, and displayed a perseverance 
 in this occupation, which soon caused him to be- 
 come highly unpopular. Once he interrupted the 
 observations of the astronomer working in his tower 
 and tore his coat-sleeve. Later he amused himself 
 by joining the promenades of honest citizens, and 
 causing the people to flee before him. Finally he 
 bethought himself of mounting on the roofs of 
 houses and demolishing the bricks of the chimneys. 
 Numerous complaints were lodged against him, and 
 the wise and mighty city government was obliged to 
 respond to them ; the mischievous buck was solemnly 
 banished and transported to a mountain near Unter- 
 seen, together with his female Goats. The latter 
 soon became accustomed to their allotted heights 
 but the buck preferred the inhabited parts of the 
 mountain to the proximity of glaciers. He began 
 by visiting the huts on the Alps, and he there struck 
 up a closer friendship with the domestic Goats of the 
 vicinity than was agreeable to the Goat herds, and 
 finally became so regular and importunate a visitor 
 that he could not be driven away, as he made very 
 free use of his horns. 
 
 Such deeds of violence and various other pranks 
 at last made his removal imperative. The task of 
 taking him higher up in the mountain to the Saxe- 
 tenthal devolved on four strong Men. The wild 
 creature was fastened to a strong rope, and he suc- 
 ceeded more than once in throwing all his leaders 
 to the ground. Then a strong Chamois hunter un- 
 dertook the supervision of the intended Bouquetin 
 removal. He also had a hard time of it, for the buck 
 seemed to be utterly devoid of gratitude. Once he 
 challenged his guardian to a duel, the Man being 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS— GOATS. 
 
 453 
 
 compelled from motives of self-preservation to ac- 
 cept it, as it occurred on the edge of a precipice. 
 For a whole hour he had to struggle with the animal 
 before he subdued it. Besides these chivalrous ex- 
 ploits the buck was guilty of greater deeds of mis- 
 chief. He continued to be the terror of the goat- 
 herds, whom he frequently attacked and ill-treated, 
 coming down from the heights to visit their huts. 
 The people living on the mountains again began 
 handing in petitions to the government, and the con- 
 sequence was another removal of the buck. The 
 Grimselalpe was allotted to him; but there also he 
 evinced his old disposition; he picke'd quarrels with: 
 all Dogs with which he came in contact, even with 
 the largest; and if they stood their ground he simply 
 threw them over his head, sending them through the 
 air in a bold curve. He defiantly put himself in the 
 
 formation of its horns. The favorite haunts of the 
 Pyrenean Ibex are as inaccessible as those of the 
 Steinbock-, and it is equally as difficult to hunt. 
 General Character- The Goats proper {Hircus) are, on an 
 istics of Domes- average, of a smaller size than the 
 tic Goats. Ibex. The horns are more or less 
 compressed, those of the male having longitudinal 
 angular ridges or "keels," while those of both male 
 and female are marked by wrinkles or transverse 
 rings, each depression indicating a deposit of horny 
 matter acquired during the growth of the horn. In 
 , all other respects the Goats resemble the Ibex. 
 * Ancestry of the As is the case with the other domes- 
 Domestio tic "animals we do not know which 
 Goat. species of wild animals was the orig- 
 
 inal progenitor of the domestic Goat. Our informa- 
 tion about the wild Goats, which are especially nu- 
 
 THE 2GAQIIUS G-OAT. The wild Goat, called Paseng by the Persians, is believed by many naturalists to be the original stock from which the 
 
 domestic breeds are descended. The long horns of the male, transversely ridged, are proportionately longer than those of any other Ruminant animal. It 
 inhabits the remote heights of all Asiatic mountain ranges from the Caucasus to the Himalayas. (Capra agagrus.) 
 
 merous in Asia, is so meager that we have no means 
 of forming even an approximate estimate of the 
 number of their species. Many naturalists believe 
 that to the Agagrus more than any other wild spe- 
 cies-of Goa^s due the honor of having enriched us 
 with s«2[|^4i^ul a domestic animal. The .^Egagrus 
 and the domestic Goat are alike in all physical es- 
 sentials except in the direction and twist of their 
 horns. 
 
 Description of the The Agagrus or Paseng {Copra cBgag- 
 /Egagruaor rus) is smaller than the European 
 Wild Goat. Bouquetin, but perceptibly larger 
 than the domestic Goat. The length of a full-grown 
 male is about five feet; the height at the shoulder 
 is thirty- eight inches and at the croup nearly 
 an inch more. The female is perceptibly smaller. 
 The horns are very large and strong, much com- 
 pressed laterally, sharp-edged in front and behind 
 
 W£^y of climbing travelers and spread terror and panic 
 wherever he appeared. So the government at last 
 was obliged, to take extreme measures against him 
 and the freedom-loving, vigorous fellow was sen- 
 tenced to die. , His offspring. were distinguished by 
 a particularly savage disposition, which manifested 
 itself as they grew older. While they were young, 
 they diverted the goatherds by their mischievous 
 pranks ^nd antics; but when they grew older and 
 stronger, they became a burden to their owners and 
 were slaughtered, one and all. Such wa^ the termi- 
 nation of the Bouquetin breeding at Berne, the in- 
 tended object being found impracticable, or if not 
 impracticable was certainly not achieved in this at- 
 tempt. 
 
 The Ibex of the Pyrenees {Capra pyrenaicd) attains 
 exactly the same dimensions as the Steinbock of the 
 Alps, but differs materially from it in the shape and 
 
454 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 and rounded or arched on the outer side. In me- 
 dium sized animals they often measure upward of 
 sixteen inches and more than double this, size in old 
 individuals. Beginning from the base they sweep 
 backward in a bold, direct curve, and in old males 
 describe almost a semicircle. They are set close 
 together at their bases, gradually diverge for more 
 than half their length, and for the remainder of their 
 length to their extremities curve boldly forward and 
 inward. The knots or transverse rings on the horns, 
 between which are numerous snialler ridges, number 
 
 defined black-brown stripe runs along the course of 
 the backbone to the black tail. 
 
 Range and The JEgagrus is a native of an exten- 
 HabitB of the sive portion of western and central 
 
 /Egagrus. Asia. It is found on the southern 
 slope of the Caucasus, and in the Taurus and other 
 mountains of Asia Minor and Persia, and from thence 
 far south through Afghanistan and Beluchistan. It 
 is also found on the islands of the Mediteranean, es- 
 pecially among those of the Grecian Archipelago, 
 and perhaps even on the higher parts of the Greek 
 
 THE MABKHOOB. The lofty mountains which enclose the famous valley of Cashmere in Asia form the favorite home of the Mark- 
 
 hoor, or Markhor, popularly, but erroneously, called the Serpent-eater. It is rather larger than the Ibex, is of a slaty gray color with a long beard 
 of darker hue, and has strange, triangular, spiral horns which are sometimes as much as five feet long in the large males. ' Markhoors have 
 bred several times in the gardens of the Zoological Society, London. (Caprafalconeri.) , 
 
 from ten to twelve in old individuals. .iEgragus 
 Goats of both sexes have coarse beards; the remain- 
 der of the hairy covering consists of a rather long, 
 smooth, wiry outer fur, and a short, woolly inner 
 coat of a medium degree of softness. The coloring 
 is a bright reddish-gray, or a rusty hue of brownish- 
 yellow, assuming a lighter tint upon the sides of 
 the neck and the flanks. The breast and throat 
 are blackish-brown, the abdomen and the inner and 
 ' rear surfaces of the thighs are white. A sharply 
 
 peninsula. Investigation has demonstrated, almost 
 to a certainty, that the /Egagrus is the same aninial 
 mentioned by Homer in his description of the Cy- 
 clopean Island: 
 
 "A wooded isle, wherein do roam wild Gpajs unnumbered; 
 For path of Man, or presence there, affrights them not." 
 
 The actions and habits of the .Egagrus strikingly 
 resemble those of the Ibex. With heedless fleetness 
 it runs along the most perilous paths or stands for 
 hours, entirely free from vertigo, looking down into 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS— GOATS. 
 
 455- 
 
 deep gulfs which yawn below. It is an excellent 
 climber, and executes dangerous leaps with great 
 courage and skill. It is exceedingly wary, and 
 generally succeeds in aivoiding the most insidious 
 daftgers. 
 
 The little ones of this species appear in April or 
 May. The younger mother Goats give birth to one 
 or two kids, older mothers always to two and not 
 rarely three at a time The newborn kids follow 
 their mother about immediately after birth, and 
 after the third day are able to tread with facility the 
 most difficult paths. Their growth is rapid and they 
 are always inclined to play and caper. 
 
 There are but few living specimens of the ^gag- 
 rus Goat now to be found in zoological gardens, 
 though the transportation of animals of this., kind, 
 tamed from infancy, would present few difficulties. 
 
 with a taste something like that of venison. It is- 
 either eaten fresh or is cut into long, narrow strips 
 and dried in the air for future use. The long-haired 
 fur obtained in winter is used by the Moslems as a. 
 carpet on which to say their prayers and is highly 
 valued, as its pungent odor is much liked by those 
 Orientals. The short-haired summer fur is manu- 
 factured into bags, the horn into sabre-handles, pow- 
 der horns, etc., and thus the carcass of a buck is put: 
 to account in a good many ways. 
 The Evolution of Neither tradition nor history furnish 
 the Domestio us any aid in the attempt to solve 
 Coat. thg problem of the descent of our 
 
 domestic Goat {Capra hircus) and its exceedingly- 
 numerous breeds. We are unable to decide at what, 
 time one or the other of the wild species was reduced 
 to a state of domesticity, when any crossing of the: 
 
 THE ANGOBA GOAT One of the most valuable varieties of the domestic Goat is the Angora Goat so called because it inhabits the section 
 
 of Asia Minor of which the town of Angora is the principal market Its long fleece furnishes the textile staple known as mohair, used in making fine 
 fabrics. Th6 horns of the male are spirally twisted, as shown in the picture. iCafra hircus angorensts.) 
 
 breeds occurred, if it occurred at all, or how the 
 peculiarities of breeds that have been proven tO' 
 exist for thousands of years have been developed. 
 The Angora Goat W^ may call the Angora Goat {Capra 
 and its Native hircus angorensis) the noblest of all 
 Home. the domestic breeds. It is a beauti- 
 
 ful, large animal of sturdy organization, with strong 
 legs, short neck and head, curiously twisted horns 
 and a remarkable coat of hair. Both sexes have 
 horns. Those of the buck are much compressed, 
 not twisted, sharply edged longitudinally, and bluntly 
 pointed behind; they usually stand out at a vertical 
 angle from the head, describe a wide double spiral 
 curve and have their extremities directed upward, 
 appearing to make three curves. The she Goat has 
 smaller, weaker, round and directly curved horns. 
 Only the face, the ears and the lowest parts of the 
 legs are covered with short, sleek hair; the other 
 portions of the fleece are extremely rich, thick and 
 long; fine, soft, lustrous, silky and curly. Both sexes 
 
 Vigorous Pursuit A superstitious belief is still widely 
 ofthe^gag- prevalent among the unenlightened 
 rus Goat. peoples of the world, that the bezoar 
 stones, or earthy concretions found in the intestines 
 of the Ruminant animals, are of miraculous medicinal 
 value, particularly as antidotes to poisons. Though 
 the supposed virtues of bezoar stones have long 
 since been shown to be non-existent, the erroneous 
 belief that these concretions are oftener contained in 
 the stomachs of the .^gagrus Goats than in those of 
 other Ruminants is the cause of a relentless, exter- 
 minating war, waged against these frolicsome deni- 
 zens of the mountains by people who still believe in 
 the magical powers of bezoar stones. This charlatan 
 belief is unknown on the Grecian isles, in the Cauca- 
 sus and in the Cilician Taurus region, and in those 
 portions of their range these wild Goats are pursued 
 solely on account of their flesh, fur and horns. 
 
 The profit accruing from the chase is not inconsid- 
 erable. The flesh is exceedingly savory and tender. 
 
456 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS.- 
 
 are adorned with a rather long beard, composed of 
 wiry or stiff hair. A dazzling, uniform white is the 
 prevailing color of this breed of Goats; individuals 
 showing dark spots on a light ground are of rarer 
 occurrence. In summer the hair pulls out or is shed 
 in large locks or bunches, but soon grows again. 
 French breeders have found that one fleece weighs 
 from two and one-half to five pounds. 
 
 This Goat derives its name from the small town of 
 Angora, now in the Turkish pashalic of Anadoli in 
 Asia Minor, but which was once the commercial 
 town Ancyra, famous among the ancients. The na- 
 tive country of the animal is dry and hot in summer, 
 but very cold in winter, though this latter season 
 lasts only three or four months. In times of great 
 scarcity, or when there is no food to be found in 
 the mountains, the Goats are sheltered in miserable 
 stables, but they are left to graze outdoors for the 
 remainder of the year. During the hot season the 
 fleece is washed and combed several times a rrionth, 
 to preserve its beauty. 
 
 Great Value The number of these Goats kept in 
 of Angora Goat's Anadoli is estimated at half a mil- 
 Hair. lion, and there are a hundred or more 
 
 female Goats to every male. Angora alone furnishes 
 nearly two million pounds annually of the hair of 
 these Goats [which is the mohair of commerce], the 
 value of this quantity amounting to about ^900,000. 
 Part of the product is locally woven into strong 
 fabrics for Men's wear, and finer ones for the use of 
 Women, as well as into stockings and gloves, and 
 the residue of the product is shipped to the English 
 markets. 
 
 Ever since the value of mohair became known in 
 civilized lands attempts have been made to intro- 
 duce this Goat into Europe and other portions of 
 the globe, and the results so far leave no cause for 
 complaint. It is even said that the wool of the ani- 
 mals born in France is finer than that of the parents. 
 In Cape Colony, South Africa, the Angora Goat has 
 been introduced with especially excellent results, 
 the demand for these Goats in that colony increas- 
 ing to such an extent that in 1880 a consignment of 
 bucks commanded prices ranging from five hundred 
 to two thousand dollars each. The animals throve 
 excellently, and the export of mohair increased at a 
 surprising rate. ' In 1862 the amount exported barely 
 amounted to one thousand pounds, while in 1885 it 
 aggregated four million eight hundred pounds, the 
 value of which was officially given at over one 
 million dollars; so that the Cape Colonists are not 
 without warrant for their expressed hope that they 
 will soon outdo the Asiatic producers in the quan- 
 tity as well as the quality of their product of mohair. 
 
 The Cashmere The Cashmere Goat ( Capra hircus 
 Goat and its Value laniger) is scarcely less valuable than 
 to Man. the Angora. It is a rather small ani- 
 mal, of graceful build, measuring nearly five feet in 
 total length, and twenty-four inches in height at the 
 shoulder. A long, stiff, fine and straight outer fur 
 covers the short, soft, down-like wool of an exquis- 
 itely fine texture; only the face and ears are covered 
 with short hair. The color of the coat is variable. 
 Usually the sides of the head, the tail and the upper 
 portions of the body are of a silver white or a faint 
 yellowish hue. 
 
 The range of this beautiful Goat extends from 
 Tibet, throughout Bokhara to the Kirghiz country. 
 It has been introduced into Bengal, but it is espe- 
 cially numerous in the mountains of Tibet, among 
 which it ranges even during the severest cold. 
 
 For a long time doubt prevailed in Europe as to 
 what animal furnished the hair which is used in the 
 manufacture of the finest of all woolen fabrics, until 
 a French physician, Bernier, visited Tibet in 1664, 
 accompanying the Great Mogul, and was informed 
 that two varieties of Goats furnished such wool, one 
 being a wild and the other a tame species. The pure 
 white is in greatest request, really possessing the 
 lustre and beauty of silk. One animal yields from 
 three-fifths to four-fifths of a pound of downy wool 
 fit for use. 
 
 Forty thousand establishments for weaving shawls 
 are said to have existed in Cashmere during the 
 reign of the Great Mogul; but gradually this impor- 
 tant branch of industry was neglected to such an 
 extent that thousands of the sixty thousand weavers 
 who earned their living by their craft were forced to 
 emigrate for lack of work. Even yet the weaving 
 industry has not been restored to its former flourish- 
 ing condition. 
 
 The Cashmere Goat Naturally, the idea of introducing 
 Successfully Ac- this profitable animal into Europe 
 climated in Europe, ^as entertained years ago, Ter- 
 naux, who was the pioneer of the weaving of fine 
 shawls in France, bethought himself of procuring 
 Cashmere Goats, and the celebrated Jaubert offered 
 his services for the realization of this plan. He 
 sailed for Odessa in 18 18, and was there informed 
 that the nomad tribes in the steppes between As- 
 trachan and Orenburg kept Cashmere Goats. He 
 joined these people, convinced himself of the genu- 
 ineness of the animals by a close examination of the 
 down, and bought one thousand three hundred of 
 them. This flock he brought to Kaffa in the Crimea, 
 embarked with it and landed in Marseilles in April, 
 1819. Only four hundred of the Goats had lived 
 through the long, troublesome journey, and they 
 had suffered so much hardship that there was little 
 hope that they would be able to propagate them- 
 selves. The bucks especially were very wea,k. For- 
 tunately the French naturalists, Diard and Duvaucel, 
 sent a strong Cashmere buck to the zoological gar- 
 den in Paris, at nearly the same time, having received 
 the animal as a present in India. This Goat became 
 the male ancestor of all the Cashmere Goats now 
 living in France, which yield an annual income of 
 from three million to four million dollars. From 
 France the Cashmere Goat was imported into Aus- 
 tria and Wurtemberg, but unfortunately the breed 
 did not prosper there. 
 
 Vxtrious Other The Syrian Goat ( Capra hircus mam- 
 Breeds of Domes- brica) somewhat resembles the Cash- 
 tic Goats. mere Goat on account of its long 
 hair, but differs from it in having extremely long, 
 pendulous ears: no other variety of Goat having ears 
 of such size and shape. At present it is very nu- 
 merous in the territory near Aleppo and Damascus. 
 Beginning in Asia Minor, it seems to range over a 
 great part of the Asiatic continent. The Kirghiz 
 Tartars keep these Goats in large herds. 
 
 Next to this variety the Egyptian or Nile Goat 
 (Capra hircus cegyptica), the animal which is so fre- 
 quently seen represented on the ancient monuments 
 of Egypt, seems to me to be the most worthy of 
 note. It is somewhat smaller in its physical struct- 
 ure than our domestic Goat, but has longer legs and 
 shorter horns and is especially characterized by its 
 small head and disproportionately large, flat muzzle. 
 Egyptian Goats of both sexes are either devoid of 
 horns or else these appendages are small, thin and 
 stubby, and none of the Goats of this breed which I 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS— GOATS. 
 
 457 
 
 observed had beards. The usual color of the animal 
 is a vivid, reddish brown. This Goat is extensively 
 bred in all the lower Nile valley as far up as central 
 Nubia, where another breed supplants it. 
 The Duiarf Goat This is the Dwarf Goat {Capra hirciis 
 
 of Northern reversa), which measures at most 
 Africa. twenty-eight inches in length and 
 
 twenty inches in height at the withers, and does not 
 exceed fifty pounds in.weight. It is 'one of the most 
 graceful in physical form of the entire group. It 
 has a stout body, short, vigorous legs, and a broad 
 head. Dwarf Goats of both sexes have short horns, 
 barely as long as a Man's finger. The fur is com- 
 posed of rather short but thickset hair of dark color, 
 the prevailing hues being black, mingled with hair 
 of a subdued red tint. This breed is probably indig- 
 enous to the country lying between the White Nile 
 and the Niger. ' 
 
 Because their usefulness 
 has been recognized by 
 people of all nations, the 
 domestic Goats are now 
 found in nearly all parts 
 of the globe, and are sure 
 to be included among the 
 domestic animals of all na- 
 tions, the people of which 
 lead settled lives. Goats 
 exist under the most va- 
 ried circumstances, though 
 the majority of species live 
 in flocks which graze at 
 will during the day and are 
 kept under human super- 
 vision at night. Goats that 
 have reverted to a wild 
 state are probably found 
 only on some of the mount- 
 ains of southern Asia and 
 a few of the least frequent- 
 ed islands of the Mediter- 
 ranean. 
 
 The far-famed Goats of 
 the Pacific island of Juan 
 Fernandez (made famous 
 by Defoe as the scene of 
 the adventures of Robin- 
 son Crusoe) are the de- 
 scendants of a few Goats 
 which were left there by 
 Juan Fernandez, the dis- 
 coverer of the island, in 
 1563. Thei/ new moun- 
 tainous home seemed to 
 
 fully meet the requirements of these Goats, which 
 multiplied exceedingly. 
 
 Traits and Attri. The Goat is especially adapted to 
 bates of tiie mountain life. The wilder a mount- 
 Goata. .ain is, and the steeper and rougher 
 its surface, the better a Goat seems to thrive on it. 
 In southern Europe and in the temperate portions 
 of other continents scarcely a mountain range can 
 be visited without encountering flocks of grazing 
 Goats. 
 
 The attributes of the Goat greatly differ from 
 those of the Sheep, to which it is so closely allied. 
 The Goat is a lively, capricious, inquisitive, playful 
 creature, disposed to indulge in antics and cut 
 capers which are amusing to the unprejudiced ob- 
 server. Lenz has depicted its character in an ad- 
 mirable way: "Even a small kid, only a few weeks 
 
 old, displays a propensity for embarking in perilous 
 undertakings, in addition to indulging in many odd 
 pranks. An innate longing ever impels the Goats 
 upward, and their greatest pleasure is to climb 
 heaps of wood or stones, walls, rocks or stairs. 
 Frequently it is barely or not at all possible for a 
 Goat to descend from an eminence to which it has 
 laboriously climbed. It knows no dizziness, and 
 without concern walks or lies down by the edge of 
 the most frightful precipices. The fights in which, 
 on first meeting, horned males or even she Goats 
 engage are fierce enough to inspire spectators with 
 uneasiness." 
 
 Lilies and Dis- The Goat has a natural affection for 
 
 lihesofthe human beings, and it is of a vain 
 
 Goat. nature and highly susceptible to 
 
 caresses. In the high mountains it importunately 
 
 THE TAHB. Living in the mountains of Simla, Nep^ul and Cashmere at an elevation of not less than 
 
 _n_ is the Tahr, a species of Goat which because of differences in the conxormauon of 115 norns and 
 muzzle Trom other species of Goats has been by some naturalists classed as a separate genus under the name of 
 Half Goat (Hemitragus). It is a large beast about seventy inches long and thirty-four mches high at the shoulders. 
 Its wild life is little known, but it is easily tamed. (Ca/ra or Hemitragus jemlaica.) 
 
 accompanies a traveler, sometimes for half an hour, 
 cuddling to his side, and he who responds to its 
 mute appeals and gives it something to its liking is 
 never forgotten and is always greeted joyfully when- 
 ever he comes again. If a Goat knows that it is a 
 favorite with its master, it is as jealous as a spoiled 
 Dog and attacks and butts any other Goat toward 
 whfch the master shows a preference. It is intelli- 
 gent ahd sagacious, and is perfectly aware whether 
 it has been wrongfully treated or justly punished. 
 Trained Goats readily assume their harness, but de- 
 cidedly and obstinately refuse to work if they are 
 teased or tormented. The intelligence of these sa- 
 gacious animals goes even farther. It is well knowh 
 that trained Goats perform a wide range of tricks on 
 command, but I can positively assert, from nly tfvv^n 
 experience, that they give, a3 it were, spoken an- 
 
458 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 swers to propounded questions, without having been 
 previously trained to do so. My mother used to keep 
 Goats and was very fond of them, and therefore paid 
 great attention to their care. She could always tell 
 whether her proteges were satisfied or not ; for she 
 had only to question them from her window, to re- 
 ceive an intelligible answer. When the Goats heard 
 the voice of their mistress and felt themselves in 
 any way neglected, they immediately gave a loud 
 cry; if they were satisfied, they remained silent. 
 
 Uses and Care, On the high mountains of Spain 
 of Domestic Goats are, because of their great 
 Goats. ■ sagacity, employed as leaders of 
 flocks of Sheep. The better breeds of Sheep graze - 
 there during the entire summer on the mountain 
 heights, and in. the south often ascend to altitudes 
 between six thousand and seven thousand five hun- 
 dred feet above sea level. There the shepherds 
 could not accomplish their mission without the aid 
 of Goats; yet they regard these useful animals only 
 as a necessary evil, because they entice the Sheep on 
 perilous climbing expeditions. In Greece Goats are 
 about the only animals kept in herds. They popu- 
 late the mountains and make known their presence 
 to the traveler from a great distance by reason of 
 the pungent odor arising from their bodies. In 
 many countries Goats are largely left to follow their 
 own devices, as, for instance, is done in the Alps. 
 They are driven, in the spring, into some particular, 
 entirely isolated pasturage. In autumn the herd is 
 collected, but sometimes many of the Goats are 
 found to be missing when the flock is recounted. 
 Some owners send a little salt to their Goats, daily 
 or weekly, by one of the farm hands, whose visits, 
 made regularly to the same spot at the same hour of 
 the day, the Goats learn to eagerly look for. 
 
 In central Africa also, the Goats are left to graze 
 at their own discretion during the day, but at night 
 they collect in the enclosure of thorny hedge, called 
 the seriba, where they are protected from wild beasts. 
 In western Africa they also run about at will, climb 
 the trunks of low, sloping trees, and mount even the 
 cross railed fences, but are carefully stowed away 
 for the night in those districts where Leopards exist, 
 for these beasts of prey are the worst enemies of the 
 Goats. 
 
 America received the Goat from Europe, and it is 
 now distributed over the northern and the southern 
 divisions of the continent, but it is not always care- 
 fully bred. On the contrary, it seems to be much 
 neglected in some South American countries, as for 
 instance in Peru, Paraguay, Brazil and Surinam, 
 while rnore attention is bestowed on it in Chile. In 
 Australia the useful creature has also been intro- 
 duced and has attained an extensive distribution. 
 The Goat an Om- Observation shows that in Germany 
 nivorous the Goat eats four hundred and forty- 
 Feedisr. ■ nine kinds of plants out of five hun- 
 dred and seventy-six. Its variable, capricious dis- 
 position shows itself distinctly when the animal is 
 eating. It is ever eager for a novelty, plucking a 
 little everywhere, investigating and nibbling at this 
 and that andj^npt stopping long even at the best. It 
 is especially fond of the foliage of trees and there- 
 fore is liable to conlmit considerable depredations in 
 nurseries. It is a remarkable fact that it feeds with- 
 out harmful results to itself on some plants which are 
 very pernicious to other animals; thus it consumes 
 spurgewort, spurge -olive, celandine and carline- 
 thistle, the acrid stonecrop, coltsfoot, sage, hemlock, 
 the common balm and similar herbs, also partaking 
 
 of smoking-tobacco, cigar-stubs and so on, with pleas- 
 ure. The digestive powers of the Goat are enormous, 
 and some of the food it eats seems almost impos- 
 sible for reception into the stomach of an animal — 
 as for instance, print paper, brown straw-board, etc. 
 It is most partial to young leaves and buds, pods of 
 peas and beans, leaves of cabbage and turnips and 
 of most trees; it thrives best on vegetation which 
 grows on dry, sunny, fertile, elevated spots. Goats 
 grazing in pastures get only water to drink, while 
 Goats kept in stables are usually given a lukewarm 
 mixture of rye-bran, with a little salt and water. 
 , Kids of the domestic Goat are usually born one or 
 two, more rarely three, and only in exceptional cases 
 four or five, at a birth. The next day after birth 
 they run • about . and after four or five days they 
 follow their mother everywhere. They grow rap- 
 idly: during the second month the little horns begin 
 to sprout; in about a year the young ones have 
 attained their full growth. 
 Great Economic The Goat may in many countries be 
 Value of truly called the friend of the poor. 
 Goats. and its usefulness is undoubtedly 
 
 great. It is maintained at trifling cost the greater 
 part of the year and in summer at really none at all. 
 On the other hand it provides the household with 
 milk and furnishes the fertilizer for the piece of land 
 of its poor owner. Lenz kept a careful account and 
 found that a Goat which is well fed will furnish 
 about eight hundred and eighty-five quarts of milk a 
 year. 
 
 Besides the milk and the cheese, as well as the 
 butter — which play an important part in some coun- 
 tries — the Goat is very valuable on account of the 
 usefelness of its flesh, skin, bones and horns. The 
 flesh of young kids is very savory, though perhaps a 
 little too tender, and that of older Goats is good. 
 The skin .is manufactured into Spanish leather, 
 morocco and more rarely into parchment; the Ori- 
 ent is still the chief source of the two former kinds 
 of leather. The skins of the bucks are. made into 
 breeches and strong gloves; in Greece wine-bags 
 and in Africa water-bags are made of Goat skins. 
 The skin of the common Goat of Cape Colony is 
 valued most for the manufacture of leather. The 
 coarse hair is occasionally used for brushes or 
 twisted into ropes. The horns fall to the use of 
 turners, and in the Orient and among many so-called 
 savage tribes they are appropriated by physicians, 
 who use them as cupping glasses. Thus the esti- 
 mable; animal is useful both while living and when 
 dead. 
 
 THE SHEEP. 
 
 When an anatomical comparison is made it is seen 
 that the Sheep ( Ovis) are clo.sely allied to the Goats, 
 but in point of intellect only the wild species of the 
 two groups bear any resemblance to each other. 
 The Sheep differ anatomically from the Goats in the 
 possession of tear pits, a flat forehead,(jtriangular, 
 somewhat spirally twisted horns marked with trans- 
 verse furrows, and by the lack of a beard. On the 
 whale^ the Sheep is slenderly formed, with a lean 
 body; long legs, a short tail, a head the fadalpor- ■ 
 tion of which tapers sharply, moderately large eyes 
 and ears, and a double, shaggy or woolly fur; 
 
 Ratige and AH wild Sheep inhabit mountains of 
 
 ■ Habitat hf Wild the northern henrispfeere. Their 
 
 Sheep. range extends from Asia- to southern 
 
 Europe, Africa and the northern part of America. 
 
 Every group of mountains in A,sia possesses one or 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS—SHEEP. 
 
 459 
 
 more species peculiar to it, while Europe, Africa 
 and America appear poorly endowed, and so far as 
 is now known possess only one indigenous species 
 apiece. Several species are very closely allied to 
 each other and are dependent for their distinctive 
 features mainly on the difference of the horns, the 
 shape, size and twist of which are considered deci- 
 sive. One variety has the right horn twisted to the 
 left from its base to its extremity, while the left 
 horn is twisted to the right; the extremities diverge 
 in an outward direction; in the others the twist of 
 the right horn is a right curve, of the left horn a left 
 curve; then the extremities point backward and the 
 horns recall to the miiid of the observer those of the 
 Goats. 
 
 All wild Sheep are natives of the mountains; and 
 seem to thrive only at a considerable altitude. For 
 the greater part they ascend beyond the line of 
 
 mountain vegetation, in winter of moss, lichens a«d 
 dry grass. Sheep are fastidious when they hziVe a 
 . choice of food, and 6^Ugal to a marked degree wliien 
 but little is offered t]iem. Dry grass, shoots, baicjE 
 of trees and similar things constitute their only fafe 
 in winter, without their showing any signs of detri- 
 ment from insufficient nourishment. 
 
 The Sheep De- More than, other .domestic aitt- 
 teriprated by Do- mals, perhaps with".|j|ie sole except 
 mesticatioh. tjon of the Reindeer, do the Sheep 
 show the degenerating effects of slavery. Xfce tMB)e 
 Sheep is a mere shadow of the wild one. The Goat 
 retains its indepeirdent spirit to a certain degree i§ 
 captivity as well as in freedom, but the ShC^p be- 
 comes a weak slave in the service of Man. N<^ okib^ 
 animal suffers itself to be more easily restraineci aoa^ 
 mastered than a tame Sheep; it seems to be^lanj^ 
 when another creature relieves it of the burden qi- 
 
 THE AOUDAD -^i"n thegreat mountain ranges of north Africa is found the Aoudad the wild variety of Sheep nearest resembliSB the 
 Goats. It afcends to IMt^ de*ations and avoids Man as much as possible. Its broad, curved horns, and the mane-hke growth of the hair on the 
 breast are distinctive features of this animal. (Ovis tragelafhus.) 
 
 ■perpetual snow, some of them going as high as 
 from twenty thousand to twenty-three thousand feet 
 above sea level, where, no other creatures can live 
 -except Goats, the Musk Ox and a few birds. Only 
 tame Sheep inhabit the plains, and those that are 
 bred in mountainous regions show clearly enough 
 how much they enjoy existence in a locality which 
 assimilates their natural requirements. Abundant 
 pasturages or light. forests, rocky, precipitous mount- 
 ain slopes, which bear but; here and there a small 
 ■sproutingf plaflt, form the Blunts of the wild Sheep. 
 According to^the season they wanderfrona the higher 
 regions downward or vice versa: summer invites 
 them to go higher, winter -drives them into more 
 hospitable regions, for it clears away their table in 
 the heights, and they must seek food elsewhere. In 
 •summer their food consists of fre^h and succulent 
 
 caring for its own welfare. It ought not to surprise 
 us that such creatures are good-natured, gentle, 
 peaceable; inoffensive; their mental qualities have 
 their origin in stupidity and dullness, and a lamb 
 is for this very reason not a very happily selected 
 prototype of innocent, virtuous people. In south- 
 ern countries, where the Sheep are. left more to their 
 own devices than they are in more northerly regions, 
 their mental qualities are better developed and they 
 appear more independent, bold and courageous. 
 
 The multiplication of the Sheep is rapid. The 
 ewfe gives birth to one or two and more rarely three 
 or four young in a season, which are able to walk 
 and follow their mother about soon after birth. The 
 wild ewes defend their young at the peril of their 
 own lives and evince for them an extraordinary 
 affection. 
 
460 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 Wild Sheep Nearly all wild species may te "tamed 
 Easily Domes- without special trouble, and retain 
 ticated. their lively disposition at least 
 
 through several generations, and as a rule breed in 
 captivity. They become sincerely attached to those 
 persons to whom they must look. for their sustenance 
 and care, respond to their calls, are fond of caresses 
 and may become so thoroughly tame that one can 
 send them to pasture with other domestic animals, 
 withou^ -{neifjjattemptirig to profit by such favorable 
 opportunities ■ to regain their freedom. The tame 
 
 TH£ UOUFI'LOIT. Inhabiting the mountains of Corsica and Sardinia is the Mouf- 
 flon, a species of wild Sheep now much reduced in numbers. It is a very agile, timid animal, an 
 excellent climber, sure-footed and climbing to great heights inaccessible to Man. The male has 
 broad, boldly curved horns as shown in the picture. (Outs musimon.) 
 
 Sheep have been under Man's supervision for thou- 
 sands of years and are now distributed all over the 
 globe and everywhere held in high esteem on ac- 
 count of their surpassing usefulness.. 
 
 The Aoudad We place the Aoudad {Ovis tragela- 
 its Range and phus) foremost among the wild 
 Hixblta., Sheep to be described; it is an ani- 
 mal markedly characterized by its long, hanging 
 mane. The fleece consists of a strong, rough outer 
 
 fur, and an undercoat of fine, curly wool, completely 
 investing the body. The hair is longer on the neck 
 and withers, forming a short, erect, mane-like ridge 
 or comb; on the breast and sides it develops into a 
 rich mane, beginning at the throat and nearly reach- 
 ing the ground, and covering the forelegs and a por- 
 tion of the neck. 
 
 Various naturalists from Caius Brittanicus, who 
 mentioned it in 1 561, have described the animal as 
 an inhabitant of Morocco, Algiers, Egypt, Abyssinia 
 and the upper Nile. Buvey says : "The Aoudad is 
 generally called Arui by the natives of 
 southern Algiers. Undoubtedly it oc- 
 curs with still greater frequency in the 
 loftier mountain levels in the Atlas 
 range in Morocco than it does in Al- 
 giers, as the immunity from human 
 invasion which characterizes that part 
 of the mountain range can not but be 
 agreeable to a Rumiftant. 
 I "The Arui, is fond of the highest 
 mountain ridges, which can be reached 
 only by penetrating through barriers of 
 bowlders, and masses of stone, and 
 therefore its', pursuit is, extremely diffi- 
 cult and often very perilous. Nor does 
 it, even; if successful, hold out a promise 
 of much gain, for the Aoudad lives soli- 
 tarily, and oiily at certain periods, gen- 
 erally in November, can several Sheep 
 be found congregated. They keep to- 
 gether for a time, and then they disperse 
 again, each -going its own way. The 
 Arabs are very fond of the flesh of 
 these wild Sheep, the mutton closely 
 'Resembling the flesh of Deer. The 
 fleeces are made into rugs by the Arabs; 
 the skin is sometimes tanned and used 
 as Morocco leather. 
 
 "Though the Arui is classified among 
 the rarer animals, it is sometimes caught 
 in nooses by the inhabitants of the 
 mountains and is then usually disposed 
 of to the commander of the nearest mil- 
 itary post at a low price. In the gar- 
 dens of the clubrooms at Biskra there 
 was a young Arui, which was accus- 
 tomed to surmount a wall sixteen feet 
 high, surrounding the enclosure in 
 which he was kept; he would climb it 
 with a few nearly vertical bounds ap- 
 parently as easily as if he ran along 
 level ground, and then maintain his 
 hold on the top, which was barely a 
 hand's breadth in width, with a security 
 which warranted the belief that he felt 
 himself entirely at home on it." 
 The Moufflon th? Only two degreesof lat- 
 Only Wild SheSp itude separate the Aou- 
 Nafive in Europe, dad frorti the Moufflon 
 {Ovis musimon), the only wild Sheep' 
 inhabiting Europe, and which ranges in 
 mountains of the islands of Sardinia and Cor- 
 sica. It is more or less generally believed that the 
 Moufflon in former times existed also in other parts 
 of southern Europe, as for instandie on the Balear- 
 ic Islands and in Greece, but there is no positive 
 proof upon which to base this belief. At present •, 
 the Moufflon is found in herds that may sometimes " 
 rise in number to half a hundred, but are usually- 
 much smaller. 
 
 the 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS—SHEEP. 
 
 461 
 
 We see in the writings of old-time authors that 
 these wild Sheep were formerly found in great 
 numbers. Sometimes from four to five hundred were 
 slain in one single great hunt; nowadays huntsmen 
 are satisfied if they succeed in killing or capturing 
 several of them; on hunting expeditions which are 
 organized at great expense, and with much attention 
 to completeness of equipment, it very rarely happens 
 that one or two score of the animals are bagged. 
 
 r/ie Moufflon one The Moufflon belongs among the 
 fif the Smallest of smaller species of wild Sheep, 
 
 the Wild Sheep. though its length may amount to 
 fifty inches, inclusive of the tail, which at.most meas- 
 ures four inches; the height at the withers is twenty- 
 eight inches and the weight ranges between eighty 
 and one hundred pounds. The horns, measured 
 along their line of curvature, are about twenty-six 
 inches long and weigh from eight to twelve pounds. 
 The structure of the body has the sturdy character 
 common to all wild Sheep. There is a dark brown 
 
 on the discovery of some suspicious object give a 
 note of alarm which arouses their companions, upon 
 which the whole party instantly takes refuge in 
 flight. At certain seasons the herds separate into 
 smaller troops, each band consisting of one ram and 
 several evires, which the brave ram has attracted by 
 his exhibition of prowess during a prolonged series 
 of fierce fights. During the months of December 
 and January the passer-by may hear, echoing through 
 the mountains, the noise which the horns produce 
 in clashing against each other, and if he cautiously 
 and quietly follows the guidance of the sound he 
 may see the strong rams of the herd take opposing 
 positions and then charge against each other with 
 such violence that it is almost incomprehensible how 
 the fighters can retain their places on the ground. 
 Young Moufflons In April or May one or two young 
 and Their Char- ones make their appearance. After 
 acteristics. ^ fg^ j^ys they follow their mother 
 about on the most dangerous break-neck paths with 
 
 THE KKATSCHKAB OB WILD SHEEP OF TUBKESTAN Interest ng because t s by many authorities conjectured to be the ancestor 
 
 of o„i i,«mniw* Sheep is mus uuimcii, uvuig in TuiKcsLim, wiicic ii» ictugc io i^uiifiiicd iu tiic Prtmii piALcau, where it breeds by thousands. It climbs the 
 highest ridges, which it prefers to the valleys, and is a magnificent animal, with horns only less prominent than those of our American Big Horn. It was 
 first made known to Europeans in the thirteenth century by the famous Venetian traveler, Marco Polo, from whom it derives its scientific name. (Ovis 
 polii.) 
 
 line along the cdufae of the spinal column, while 
 the prevailing color is a foxy red, dashed with ashy 
 gray on the head and merging into white on the 
 muzzle, the croup, the sides of the tail, the ends of 
 the feet, and the abdominal surface. The horns of 
 the ram are strong, long, very thick at the base and 
 trianbfular in their cross-section. The ewe is per- 
 ceptibly smaller, and is easily distinguished from 
 the ram by het more subdued color, and the horns, 
 as a rule, are absent or occur only in rare cases. 
 Th6 Moufflon a In contradistinction to the Aoudad 
 Gregarious the Moufflon lives in herds, the guid- 
 Animal. ^nce of which devolves on some 
 strong -adult ram. These herds, select the loftiest 
 mountain-peaks for their haunts, establishing their 
 quarters on steep and more or less inaccessible prec- 
 ipices. As is the habit of other gregarious Rumi- 
 Jiahts, a few individuals keep a careful lookout, and 
 
 apparently the utmost security and soon match her 
 in all her accomplishments. 
 
 The Moufflon is lively in its movements, agile, 
 quick and sure-footed; but not capable of enduring 
 continued exertion, at least on level ground. Climb- 
 ing is its specialty. Cetti says that it is very timor- 
 ous and trembles with fear on hearing the slightest 
 unusual noise, taking refuge in flight as quickly as 
 possible. 
 
 Men have recourse to various means 
 to enable them to obtain this valua- 
 ble quarry. It is said that sometimes 
 attracted by sportsmen concealed in 
 the bush imitating the bleating of the Sheep, but 
 the usual mode of hunting is to shoot with a rifle, 
 though it rarely gives favorable results. 
 
 Strong, fully developed Moufflons are probably 
 never caught, and young ones can be captured only 
 
 Metho()s of 
 
 Hunting the 
 
 Moufflon. 
 
 rams may be 
 
462 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 after the mother has been killed. They soon be-' 
 come used to their keeper, but in spite of the high 
 degree of docility which they usually exhibit, they 
 always retain the lively disposition and vivacious 
 manners characteristic of them in the free state; a 
 passive attachment to their accustomed companions 
 and an affection for their young — these are the sole 
 signs of mental activity which I observed in them. 
 The Argali Central Asia and North America 
 
 the Largest of contain the largest wild Sheep char- 
 the Sheep. acterized by powerful horns and long 
 legs. The Argali of the Mongols ( Ovis argali) is a 
 huge Sheep equaling a nine-months-old calf in size. 
 The powerful, triangular, broad horns stand closely 
 together at their bases; they first turn backward and 
 outward, then downward and outward and the tip 
 again curves backward and upward. They are cov- 
 ered from their very roots with transverse ridges, 
 .entirely encircling the horn in a series of intricately 
 .intertwined convolutions. T<hickset, wavy hair and 
 fine, short wool cover the body, the pelt being very 
 uniform all over. " The prevailing color is a dull, 
 pale gray, merging into a darker brownish gray tint 
 on the face, the thighs, the upper part of the legs, 
 on the margins of the buttocks and the posterior 
 portion of the abdomen, and into grayish white 
 on the fore-part of the muzzle, on the upper portion 
 of the hams and on the lower half of the legs. 
 
 The Range and The Argali ranges from the mount- 
 
 Habitatofthe ains of the district of Akmolinsk to 
 Argali. the southeastern boundaries of the 
 
 Mongolian tableland, and from the Altai to the 
 Alatau, and possibly still farther southward. 
 
 The Argali shuns damp, wooded mountains and 
 localities of great altjtude. It prefers mountain 
 ranges from two thousand to three thousand three 
 hundred feet above sea-level, abounding in barren 
 crags, with scantily wooded slopes and wide valleys. 
 There it lives wirtter and summer on approximately 
 the same territory, at the most moving only from 
 one mountain range to another. 
 
 Diet and Mental During the summer the Argali 
 Development of the feeds on the same kind of vegeta- 
 Argali. tion as is appreciated by the domes- 
 
 tic Sheep; in winter it contents itself with moss, 
 lichens and dried grass, and such other scanty prov- 
 ender as its range affords at that season. 
 
 The sensesrof the Argali seem to'be excellently 
 and uniformly developed. It sees, hears and smells 
 remarkably well, is fastidious in its food, whenever 
 there is a possibility of choice;- neither has its sense 
 of touch apparently been slighted. The demeanor 
 of the Argali is expressive of deliberation and self- 
 complacency, and these animals also give evidence 
 of a certain amount of reasoning powers and judg- 
 ment. Whenever constant pursuit has made them 
 wary, they display much caution, though they are 
 hot excessively shy; but where they are habitually, 
 unmolested they, are surprisingly trustful. Their, 
 foolish arid sometimes dangerous curiosity is worthy 
 of note. Stell'er recounts how the hunters of Kam- 
 chatka occupy the attention of the Big Horn Sheep, 
 or the closely allied variety living on the mountains 
 in that region. Jay, dressing up a dummy to attract the 
 Attention of the animals, and then cautiously steal 
 lip to within shooting distance of the Sheep by cir- 
 cuitous routes. ' Prejevalsky heard the same story. 
 aboiit the Argali ^nd tested .the truthfulness of the 
 Moiigolian statement by hanging his shirt on a ram- 
 rtod arid' thereby arresting the attention of a fleeing 
 flock of wild Sheep for a quarter of, an hour. 
 
 Argali Sheep a Notwithstanding such devices the 
 Favorite Game pursuit of Argali Slieep requires an 
 Animal. experienced sportsman, and still 
 
 more ,a good marksman. The mutton is highly 
 esteemed by the Kirghiz and is really excellent^ 
 though somewhat strong in flavor. In addition to 
 being pursued by Man the adult Argali ■ sometimes 
 falls a victim to the Tiger, the common Wolf and 
 the Alpine Wolf, though the efforts of these beasts, 
 to capture it are rarely successful. The beasts of 
 prey may oftener succeed in taking a lamb, but the 
 most dangerous foe of the young Sheep, probably, 
 is the Golden Eagle. 
 
 If Man could succeed in taming these Sheep he 
 
 would win in them domestic animals which would be 
 
 of great economic value and importance. It would 
 
 be hard to find another animal as suitable to be 
 
 introduced into other countries as this one. Which 
 
 defies alike the severe cold of the winter and the 
 
 burning heats of the summer of the steppes. 
 
 Kamchathan Wild A wild Sheep, inhabiting Kam.- 
 
 Sheep Related to chatka {Ovis nivicola), is thought 
 
 the Big Horn. to belong to the same species as 
 
 the Big Horn or Rocky Mountain Sheep {Ovis 
 
 montana) though it differs from the latter in the 
 
 structure of its horns, which are similar in external 
 
 appearance to those of the Big Horn but much 
 
 weaker. 
 
 Range and Habits The Big Horn inhabits, the Rocky 
 of Rochy Mount- Mountains and the country west of 
 ain Sheep. it, ranging from the sixty-eighth 
 parallel of north latitude south to about the fortieth- 
 parallel and existing only iri the wildeft and most 
 inaccessible stretches of mountain country. 
 
 The information we possess ; about the Big Horn, 
 especially regarding its habits, is very scant. Adult 
 rams attain a length of six feet four inches, only 
 four and four-fifths inches being occupied by the 
 tail and the height at the shoulder is forty-two 
 inches. The ewe measures from fifty-six to sixty 
 inches in length and from thirty-six to thirty-eight 
 inches in height. The males attain a- weight of three 
 hundred and sixty pounds, the horns alone some- 
 times weighing as much as fifty pounds; the females 
 weigh from two hundred and sixty to two hundred 
 and eighty pounds. The physical organization is 
 sturdy and muscular and the head resembles that of 
 the Ibex. The length of the enormous horns, meas- 
 ured along the <jurvature, may be as much as twenty- ., 
 eight inches. The "hair bears no resemblance to 
 ..wool and is of firm texture, though soft td'fhe tbuch, 
 slightly wavy and at the most two inches long. Its 
 prevailing color is a. dingy, grayisli- brown, deepen- 
 ing into a darker tint along the course of the spine. 
 In their habits the Big Horns do-not differ from 
 their relatives, nor even materially from the. Ibex. 
 Like the latter, they are matchlessly adept at climb' 
 ing. As soon as they perceive anything strange or 
 suspicious they seek refuge among the most inac- 
 cessible heights and there take up .a position on 
 some projecting ledge which overlooks their do- 
 main. Wherever they have come in contact with 
 Man, they fear him as much as their arch enemy; the' 
 Wolf. Thp mutton is eaten by white people as well 
 as by Indians, but has a peculiar shepp-like odor, 
 especially perceptible in the meat of tlie ram. The 
 skin is durable and strong, but also soft and flexible 
 and is in great request among the Indians for the 
 manufacture of leather hunting shirts. 
 . It has always been esteemed a very difEcult feat 
 to capture young Big Horns, as they easily follow 
 
 t.. 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS— SHEEP. 
 
 463 
 
 their mothers into the most inaccessible spots. The 
 attempt has recently met with success, however, and 
 in the west young rams have not only been tamed 
 to such an extent that they could be safely lett to 
 run free with the domestic flocks, but they have also 
 been successfully crossed with the common Sheep. 
 The flesh of the mixed breed is said to be excellent. 
 Origin oftlte We have as little definite knowledge 
 Domestic about the origin of the domestic 
 Sheep.. Sheep {Ovis aries) as about the de- 
 scent of other Ruminants that have entered our 
 service and have become completely domesticated. 
 Opinions of naturalists concerning this subject di- 
 verge widely. . Some believe that all breeds of Sheep 
 spring from one common wild parent species, which 
 presumably became entirely extinct in prehistoric 
 times or else was completely exhausted by the com- 
 plete domestication of all the individuals compris- 
 
 In the light of recent investigations, the opinion 
 seems justified that the different breeds of Sh6ep 
 are nothing but artificial products of the efforts of 
 Man, variable in shape and size, formation of horns 
 and fleece, habits, behavior and all other qualities. 
 The varieties of the domestic Sheep are numerous, 
 but from the naturalist's standpoint are much alike. 
 The Merino Sheep The Merino Sheep ( Ovis aries his- 
 a Profitable panica) is at present by some au- 
 Variety. thorities considered to be the most 
 
 profitable of all domestic Sheep. It has been proven 
 that it acquired its peculiar character in Spain and 
 it has gradually been used for the improvement of 
 nearly all European breeds. Of moderate size and 
 plump, stout build, it is distinguished by a large 
 head with a flat forehead, arched nose and blunt 
 muzzle, small eyes and large tear-pits and moder- 
 ately long, acutely pointed ears. The horns are 
 
 THE BI& H(&K, A species of wild Sheep indigenous to North America is the Big Horn, found in the Rocky Mountains., often called the mounbr 
 
 ain Sheep. It is the^mily-native Sheep found in America, is of stout build and gets its common name from the great and cunously curveilioms which adorn 
 the males of this sjiecies. . (Ovis montana.Y 
 
 ing the species, and is therefore nowhere to be 
 found in a state of nature at ■ the present time. 
 Others, however, hold that several species of wild 
 Sheep must certainly be considered as factors in 
 this' evolutipIX,-^and that the. almost numberless 
 breeds of domestic Sheep must be regarded as prod- 
 ucts of continued -interbreeding of those species 
 and their offspriiig, Some regard the Moufflon as 
 the original stock, others theArgalj; some the Aou- 
 dad, a few the Sha ( Ovis vignei) of Little Tibet; 
 some, whose ranks I join, admit their ignorance 
 frankly and honestly, and justly emphasize the fact 
 that mere suppositions cannot aid in the solution of 
 the question. The difference between the breeds 
 consists mainly in the convolutions or twi^i?igs of 
 the substance of the horns, the length and anatom- 
 ical structure of the tail and texture of the fleece. 
 
 strong and curve laterally and backward from their 
 base; then they turn forward and upward fn a double 
 spiral curve. As a rule horns grow on the head 
 of the ram only. The neck is short and thick, the 
 skin usually lying on it loosely and being deeply 
 wrinkled and furrowed, and a dewlap usually de- 
 pends from its lower portion, while the muscular 
 and fatty tissue about the upper part of the throat 
 proper bulges out in a goitre-like fashion. The 
 legs are comparatively short, but strong and stout, 
 and the hoofs are obtusely pointed. The fleece is a 
 short, soft, fin&w:ool,Avhich is quit6 uniformly curly. 
 Merino sheep have been introduced with great suc- 
 cess into Cape Colony, North and South America 
 and Australia, in some of these countries being 
 raised as separate herds and in. others they, have 
 been used to improve native breeds. 
 
464 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANi'MALS. 
 
 The Persian Besides the Merino Sheep I will also 
 Sheep aPecul- mention the Persian Sheep (Ovis 
 iarSpecies. aries steatopygd). This is a fat-but- 
 tocked breed of Sheep which in several varieties 
 closely allied is found in innumerable quantities in 
 central Asia and northeastern central Africa; all 
 the wandering tribes of the northern and interior 
 portions of the country, as well as the free Negroes, 
 breed it. This Sheep is an animal of rather large 
 physical proportions, with small horns, and differs 
 from most other tame species by reason of the fact 
 that its fleece consists entirely of hair instead of 
 
 
 UEBINO SHEEP. A famous species of the domestic Sheep, which is found,, in its greatest purity in 
 
 Spain. It is valuable for the quality of its wool and it has been used very largely to improve many breeds of 
 Sheep in Europe, Australia and America. It has the mild, inoffensive qualities of domestic Sheep in general. 
 ( Ovis aries his^anica.) 
 
 wool. Its pelt resembles that of the wild Sheep, 
 bearing no resemblance to the genuine woolly fleece; 
 and the hairy covering of adult specimens is not 
 suitable for spinning and weaving. The lambs have 
 a woolly coat, which is of exquisitely fine texture. 
 Mental Character The domestic Sheep is quiet, patient, 
 
 of the Domes- gentle, simple-minded, servile, weak, 
 tic Sheep. timid and cowardly, in short, an un- 
 interesting creature. One hardly can ascribe any 
 particular qualities to it, for it is characterless. It 
 understands and learns but little and is therefore un- 
 able to shift for itself. If selfish humanity did not 
 accord to it particular protection, it would shortly 
 cease to exist. Its timorous disposition is ridicu- 
 lous artd its cowardice piteous. Any mysterious or 
 unusual noise startles the entire flock, thunder and 
 lightning completely unsettles them, and not infre- 
 quently foil all human efforts to render them quiet. 
 
 In the steppes of Russia and Asia the shepherds 
 often have the most arduous tasks in preserving 
 
 their charges. During a snow-storm or thunder 
 storm the panic stricken flocks disperse in a wild 
 stampede, rushing out into the wastes of the steppe 
 like senseless creatures and then resignedly suffer 
 themselves to be snowed under or to freeze, without 
 making any attempt to shelter themselves from the 
 storm or even to seek for food. Sometimes thou- 
 sands perish in a single day. In Russia a Goat is 
 generally used as a leader for a flock of Sheep; but 
 even a Goat is not always able to keep the stupid 
 animals under proper guidance. During a thunder 
 storm they huddle together and can not be made to 
 
 move. "If lightning strikes 
 into the flock," says Lenz, 
 "many are killed at once; 
 if fire breaks out in the 
 sheepfold, the Sheep do 
 not run out but on the con- 
 trary may sometimes even 
 rush into the fire. I once 
 saw the charred ruins of a 
 large fold full of roasted 
 carcasses of Sheep; in spite 
 of all efforts the attendants 
 had succeeded in rescuing 
 but a few." The best man- 
 ner of rescuing Sheep from 
 a burning fdld or structure 
 is to let the Sheep Dog, to 
 which they are accustomed, 
 drive them out. 
 
 To a certain degree, how- 
 ever, the Sheep exhibits 
 mental capacity. It learns 
 to know its keeper, obeys 
 his call and displays a cer- 
 tain amount of affection 
 and docility towards him. 
 It seems to have a liking 
 for music, or at least it pa- 
 tiently and passively listens 
 to the bagpipe playing of 
 the shepherd, and it has 
 evidently some premoni- 
 tion of impending changes 
 in the weather. 
 
 The Sheep prefers and 
 ranges in diry and high lo- 
 calities more than in low 
 and damp ones. Accord- 
 ing to Linnaeus it feeds on 
 three hundred and twenty-seven of the common cen- 
 tral European plants, refusing to eat one hundred 
 and forty-one. Ranunculus, cypress spurge, meadow- 
 saffron, shave-grass, wild cabbage or skunk cabbfige 
 and rushes are poison to it. It thrives best on a diet 
 of various dried plants; a grain diet fattens it too 
 much and has a deteriorating effect on the wool. 
 It is very fond of salt, and fresh drinking water is 
 indispensable to its welfare. 
 
 The ewe usually gives birth to only one lamb, 
 though there are sometimes two and very rarely 
 three at a birth. The little creatures must at first be 
 carefully protected from the influence of sudden. and 
 marked changes in the temperature, but later they 
 are allowed to follow their dam to pasture. They 
 cut their milk teeth in their first month; the first 
 permanent molar comes out in the sixth month; dur- 
 ing the second year the two first incisors drop Out 
 and are replaced by permanent teeth; the anterior 
 milk molars are shed during the fifth year only and 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS— MUSK-OX. 
 
 465 
 
 this completes the dentition. All breeds affiliate 
 readily with each other and for this reason they may 
 easily be improved. 
 Foes Dangerous In Germany this valuable domestic 
 to the Domes- animal has few foes; in the north and 
 tic Sheep. south of Europe, however, the Wolf 
 is prone to hang about the outskirts of flocks. In 
 Asia, Africa and America the larger species of the 
 Cat tribe and larger kinds of wild Dogs pursue the 
 defenseless creature, and in Australia the Dingo and 
 the Tasmanian Wolf prey upon it. Bruin, the Bear, 
 may also occasionally regale himself with a Sheep. 
 Eagles and Horse-kites are dangerous foes of lambs. 
 On the other hand those Sheep which suffer most 
 from these enemies possess greater immunity from 
 the ravages of diseases and so the damage is about 
 equalized. The most frequent of all diseases in 
 Sheep is staggers, which is most common among 
 young Sheep; it is caused 
 by the presence of a para- 
 sitic worm {Tcenia coenurus) 
 in the brain. Other intes- 
 tinal worms, the so-called 
 Elukeworms {Distoma hep- 
 ^ticum), cause consumption 
 of the liver, and Thread- 
 worms cause consumption 
 ■of the lungs. Sheep are 
 also formented by exter- 
 nal parasites, such as the 
 Sheep-ticks (belonging to 
 the genus Hippoboscidm) 
 and the Mites. Then they 
 are subject to hemorrhage 
 of the kidneys, to a dis- 
 temper in the feet, known 
 as the hoof-rot, to the 
 smallpox, wind colic, and 
 other diseases which are 
 often fatal. 
 
 A Sheep may become 
 fourteen years old; but it 
 loses most of its teeth as 
 ■early as the ninth or tenth 
 year of its life. This ren- 
 ders it unable to maintain 
 itself by grazing and then, 
 if it is to be used for food 
 purposes, it has to be fat- 
 tened and killed with all 
 possible speed. 
 
 THE MUSK-OX. 
 
 In the high latitudes of 
 the far north, in those des- 
 olate regions where the 
 ■ground thaws but partially 
 in summer, whfere dwarfed 
 
 trees endure a miserable existence, wherever the 
 patches of nloss and lichen extend, there the Rem 
 
 Physical Pecul- The Musk-ox {Ovibos moschatus), 
 iarities of the called Umingarok by the Eskimos, 
 Musk-ox. combines the peculiarities of Sheep 
 and Oxen in a curious way, and it therefore seems 
 justifiable to consider it as a representative of a dis- 
 tinct sub-family. The absence of a dewlap under 
 the throat, the peculiarity of its facial conformation, 
 the shortness of the stub-like tail, the peculiarly 
 shaped hoofs and the presence of only two mamnae: 
 all these features serve to differentiate the animal as 
 decidedly from the other Oxen, as they suggest an 
 affinity to the Sheep. The total length amounts to 
 about eight feet two inches, inclusive of the tail, 
 which occupies n'early three inches; the height at 
 the shoulders is three feet eight inches. The bulky 
 body is supported by short, vigorous legs, the neck 
 is short and thick, the tail really nothing but a stub 
 buried in the fur; the head is very clumsy and pro- 
 
 -^^^^'W4:my^j^, 
 
 ->u\^^i^»»•''*'''' 
 
 <^ 
 
 'P'E'^DfiTAW ■noMTTSTIC SHEEP. The variety of domestic Sheep Jound in Persia and adjacent countries 
 
 is espiciaHynofed for the accumulations of fat which are secreted on the posterior part of the body around the 
 root of the tail. (Ovis aries sieatofyga persica.) 
 
 portionately narrow and high; the forehead is for 
 patches of moss and lichen extend, there tne Kern- the greater part covered by the horns; the eye is 
 .Seer and Musk-ox -m through the inhospitaH^^ '-t&'l'^^^X^ittSl^ktU^^ 
 
 ■country. Formerly these Ruminants ranged much 
 more to the south. The Musk-ox has, as Duncan 
 says, hiid a hard struggle for life, as we can see by 
 the fragments of bone it has left in many an old 
 river bed of Europe and Asia. The southern bound- 
 ary of its , range lay over fifteen degrees of latitude 
 more southward, while it now begins beyond the 
 sixtieth parallel of north latitude ia America, the 
 •only continent it still inhabits, and in which it is 
 numerously found. 
 
 with thick lips. The horns are ridged longitudinally 
 from their base to their middle. Their manner of 
 growth is peculiar; after emerging from the forehead 
 they first curve slightly backward, lying close to the 
 head; then they sweep straight downward, then turn 
 forward and outward and their pointed tips finally 
 curve upward again. An exceedingly thick fur 
 clothes the body, being of surprising density on the 
 face and legs. The relatively strong outer fur be- 
 comes longer from the lower portion of the under 
 
466 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 lip to the breast and forms a mane which nearly 
 reaches the ground; on both flanks tlie hair hangs to 
 the hoofs, and it also grows in profusion oii the 
 withers, its appearance resembling a cushion-like 
 saddle, which begins behind the horns and covers 
 both sides of the neck to the extent of concealing 
 the ears. The general color of the animal -is a dark 
 umber brown, merging into lighter brown on the face 
 and the hair of the breast and foreparts and becom- 
 ing yet lighter on the saddle-like tuft which extends 
 along the crest of the neck and shoulders. 
 Range and Food Within its wide domain the Musk-ox 
 of the Mush- inhabits all localities which afford it 
 ^"^ at least temporary shelter and suste- 
 
 nance. Collected into herds of varying numbers it 
 takes up its abode preferably in valleys and low 
 lands. It seems to be more numerous in the more 
 remote regions that lie far toward the north than it 
 is further south and closer to Man. The members 
 of the Second German Polar expedition from their 
 experience believe that this theory is true at least in 
 regard to eastern Greenland. They met herds of 
 twenty or thirty Oxen. On the remotest islands of 
 the northeast, however, Mecham saw one hundred 
 and fifty individuals of the species distributed over 
 a stretch of country which it would take but a short 
 day's journey to traverse, and at another time he 
 counted about seventy Oxen grazing within sight. 
 During the summer the herds in the north of conti- 
 nental America delight in the proximity of rivers, 
 moving southward in the fall of the year. At the 
 same time they also keep closer to one another and 
 begin to congregate in larger herds, having previ- 
 ously grazed in more scattered and smaller groups. 
 If the ice is firm enough to bear their weight, one 
 can see them wandering in long trains from one 
 island to another, in order to find a range affording 
 for the time being sufificient pasturage. Their ex- 
 treme hardiness and frugality alone enable them to 
 endure the terribly severe winter. In a slow, delib- 
 erate manner they traverse the endless waste of 
 snow, in order to reach a spot which holds out a 
 promise of food. At the melting of the snow the 
 time of plenty commences for them, which while it 
 brings with it an abundance of food, yet has its ac- 
 companiments which inflict on them great suffering. 
 Irt winter they have to seek and dig for their miser- 
 ablte food deep under the snow; in summer they can 
 easily feed on the low-growing vegetation which 
 with the advent of warmer weather and sunshine 
 sprouts up in rank profusion, at least in spots; but 
 they are greatly annoyed by swarms of Gnats which 
 somfetimes accompany them in astonishing numbers, 
 and to the attacks of which they are peculiarly sub- 
 ject while they are undergoing a change of coat. It 
 does not seem as if the shedding and renewal of the 
 ceat is an easy or agreeable process, for they fre-' 
 quently wallow in muddy pools and quagmires, prob- 
 ably with the intention of obtaining a crust which 
 wilfshield them from the attacks of their tormentors. 
 The shedding process seems also to affect their 
 strength, for they appear to confine their wanderings : 
 to narrower limits during this time. Only after they 
 have, completed Iheir change of cbat do they re- 
 sume their patient, persevering journeys across the 
 vast stretches of their dreary and sparsely inhabited 
 native country. 
 
 The cow gives birth to one calf: a small and at- 
 tractive little creature, which is most tenderly loved ' 
 and cared for, and if necessary courageously de- 
 fended by its mother. 
 
 The Mush-Ox an Notwithstanding their awkward look- 
 Agile, Actiue . ing shape, the Musk-oxen move 
 Animal. ^vith admirable ease and with the 
 agility and nimbleness of Antelopes. Goat-like 
 they climb about the rocks; without any apparent 
 great effort they ascend steep walls and look down^ , 
 entirely free from dizziness. Confronted by Man, 
 those Musk-oxen that have seen little or nothing- 
 of the arch-enemy of animals act in an undecided 
 and perplexed manner. It is not long, however, 
 before they acquire a correct idea of the formidable 
 qualities of this adversary so suddenly appearing in 
 their native fields, which have before been frequented 
 only by the Wolf or Polar Bear. Recognizing the 
 menacing danger arising from the presence of Man, 
 they take timely refuge in flight. 
 
 Methods of If several hunters stealthily approach 
 Hunting the a quietly grazing.herd of -Musk-oxen 
 Mush-Ox. simultaneously from different direc- 
 tions, the animals sometimes huddle closer together 
 instead of fleeing and dispersing, and thus the sports- 
 men are afforded the opportunity of firing several 
 shots. Under these conditions the hunting of the 
 Miisk-ox certainly answers the description of Payer 
 and Copeland, who style it a pursuit perfectly de- 
 void of danger, saying that such a hunt presents no 
 more difficulties than would the shooting down of 
 a herd of Goats or Cattle grazing around a cow- 
 keeper's cottage present to a hunter who has taken 
 his position on the cottage. I believe it, however, 
 wrong to deduce from this the unqualified statement 
 that hunting the Musk-ox has in it no element of 
 danger, the more so as the experiences of former ob- 
 servers emphatically discredit the truth of such state- 
 ments. Wounded animals are likely to become en- 
 raged, and when aroused do not hesitate to charge 
 fiercely and desperately at the hunter, and the latter 
 has a fortunate escape if he is not run over or gored 
 with the pointed horns. 
 
 The Economic The flesh of the Musk-ox is always 
 Value of the permeated with a palpable odor of 
 Mush-Ox. musk. In the carcasses of cows, 
 however, it is by no means strong enough to render 
 the dressed meat unpalatable, as is said to be the 
 case with bulls, especially those killed during the 
 breeding season. The wool and hair are in great 
 request with the Indians and the Eskimos. The 
 wool is so fine that excellent cloth could be woven ' 
 out of it if one could only get enough . of it. The 
 tails are manufactured into fly-brushes by the Eski- 
 mos and the hide furnishes good shoes. 
 
 THE OX TRIBE, 
 
 The Ox tribe (Bovince), which forms the third sub- 
 family of the Horned Animals, is comprised of large,, 
 strong and heavy Ruminants, the principal distinc- 
 tive physical characteristics of which are: more or 
 less round, smooth horns, a broad muzzle with nos- 
 trils widely separated, a long tufted tail, reachjng to 
 the "heel-joint, and a lack of tearpits and digital pro- 
 tuberances for the support or reception of claws. 
 The': majority are also distinguished by a pendent, 
 deiwlap under the throat. The skeleton shows an 
 organization in which strength rather than agility or 
 grace: of movement has been the prime considera- 
 tion. The horns, which expand at the base, may in- 
 volve ahd occupy the entire forehead, but in the 
 grea.t majority of instgnces leave it free; they are 
 smooth, rouiided or -in some cases transversely fur- 
 rowed or ringed at the base, and curve: outward or 
 inward, backward or forward, upward or downward. 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS— OX TRIBE. 
 
 467 
 
 The hair-is generally short and sleek, but is sortie-' 
 times developed into a mane on certain parts of the 
 body. 
 
 The Ox Tribe AH Europe, Africa, central and 
 Widely Distributed southern Asia, as well as the north- 
 Over tiie Earth, grn portions of America maybe re- 
 garded as the native country of the Ox tribe; at 
 present the species which have been subjected to 
 the dominion of Man, are distributed over all parts 
 of the globe. The wild species inhabit the most 
 widely variant localities, some affecting dense wood- 
 land; others, open grassy spots, some delighting in 
 plains, others in mountains, where they may ascend 
 to a height of sixteen thousand or twenty thousand 
 feet. Some prefer swampy situations and moors, 
 others dry regions. Very few live habitually in one 
 place; nearly all lead a roving life. Those which 
 
 swimmers,- and cross the widest streams without hes- 
 itation. Their strength is uncommonly great, their 
 endurance wonderful. Among the perceptive senses 
 that of smell ranks first; hearing is also acute, but 
 sight is not so well developed. The mental capaci- 
 ties are of a low order; the wild species, however, 
 display much more intelligence than the tame ones. 
 The character of the Ox tribe is manifold and 
 widely at variance in the different species.i' On the 
 whole, they are gentle and trustful toward fcreatures 
 which are not dangerous to them or do not annoy, 
 them; but they also may upon occasion become ex- 
 ceedingly fierce, pugnacious and courageous. If they 
 are irritated, they charge at the strongest beasts of 
 prey, regardless of apy peril, and know how to em- 
 ploy their weapons with such skill and effect that, 
 they frequently come out Victorious. In general. 
 
 TEE UnSK-OX.^ — This inhabitant of the arctic r^on»a£ Ametica^is an intervening genus between the Sheep ^nd the Ox. It is clothed with 
 brown hair, nearly a yard in l^gth, covering the thick, woolly under fm; The horns of the adult m^le meet in the middle line of the forehead, as shown 
 in the picture. It is lieavily bnilt, with short legs, but climbs rocks and precipices with ease. {Ovibos moschatus.) 
 
 inhabit mountains descend into the valleys in winter; 
 those living in the north move southward; others 
 migrate, urged by lack of food, seeking niore abun- 
 dant pasturage. The species are, without exception, 
 gregarious and congregate in herds, under the lead- 
 ership of stfoagf experienced animals. Some spe- 
 cies band together by thousands. Old males pcca- 
 siorially segregate themselves from the herd and 
 lead the life of hermits. 
 PItyaioal Attri- All Oxen in their movements appear 
 butes ofihe lumberjng and slow, but they are .per- 
 Ox Tribe. feetl)r well able to travel at a rapid 
 rate; and they dfepfay a great many more accoro- 
 plisnments than one would give them credit for. 
 Their usual gait is a sloW walk; but they can also 
 trot dnd occasionally brisak into a remarkably awk- 
 ward but swift gallop. The species inhabiting moun- 
 tains are mastefly climbers. AU are accomplished 
 
 their disposition one toward another is peaceable, 
 though they figh-t with a decided ferocity at certain 
 times. The usual vocal expression of the species 
 consists of a bellowing or " lowing " of a variable 
 pitch, or of a grunt and growl, generally emitted 
 under the influence of excitement. 
 
 "The Diet Plants of a great variety constitute 
 of tiie the food of the animals of the Ox 
 Tribe. tribe. They consume foliage and 
 
 tender buds, shoots and branches of the greatest 
 variety of ti-ees, herbage, bark of trees, moss and 
 lichens, aquatic plants and those growing in bog 
 and swamps, -even sharp reed-grass and reed-like 
 plants. In the domestic state or in captivity they 
 feed on all kinds of vegetables. They are all very 
 fond of salt, and water is indispensable for them; 
 some delight in wallowing in muddy pools or lie in 
 rivers or ponds for hours. 
 
468 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 Propagation of the The cow gives birth usually to a 
 Species of the single young one, or very rarely to 
 Ox Tribe. two. The calf is always perfectly 
 
 ■developed and able to. follow its mother almost im- 
 mediately after birth. The mother gives evidence 
 of the strongest maternal love and treats her calf 
 with great tenderness, suckles, cleans, licks and 
 caresses it and defends it against any dangerous 
 attack with the most reckless courage. The bulls 
 of some species assume the office of protector and 
 guardian of the calves when they have grown suffi- 
 ciently to be weaned by their mothers. 
 The Entire Tribe of AH species of Oxen may be more 
 Oxen Adaptable or less readily tamed and trained to 
 to Domestication, devote themselves to the service of 
 Man; they soon become accustomed and attached 
 to their keeper, respond to his calls and yield obedi- 
 ence even to weak children; but they do not evince 
 a special preference for their master above others, 
 deporting themselves toward every one with equal 
 kindness when once they are tamed. 
 Hunting of Oxen The hunting of the wild species of 
 an Exciting and Oxen is a dangerous pursuit; an 
 Noble Pursuit, irritated bull especially is an ad- 
 versary not to be lightly regarded, and one to be 
 approached with the utmost caution. But in this 
 very element of. danger is to be found the reason 
 which renders this sport popular to the true hunts- 
 man and for the fact that among some nations this 
 Icind of sport is regarded as truly noble and surpass- 
 ing all others of its kind. 
 Physical Pecul- The Yak or Grunting Ox (Bos grun- 
 iarities of the niens) has a body of sturdy build and 
 Ka/f. a moderately large and very broad 
 
 head which tapers uniformly from the long, flat 
 forehead to the club-shaped muzzle. The eyes are 
 small and of a dull expression, and the ears are 
 small and rounded. The horns are set on the rear 
 portion of the dome of the skull, one on each side 
 of the frontal ridge. In shape they are horizontally 
 •compressed, rounded in front but ridged on the back 
 surface. They curve first backward, then again for- 
 ward and upward, and the tips point outward and 
 backward. The neck is short, like that of the com- 
 mon bull.. The pufline of tjh\^^ bas;k;s.hows promi- 
 nent projections and depressions in the regidh of the 
 shoulders and then slopes gently toward the tail. 
 The tail itself is long and tipped with a bushy tuft 
 which reaches to the ground. The outer covering 
 of the body consists of uniformly colpfeS, long hairs 
 of fine texture, which sometimes fall all gver-.the 
 face and also form a heavy, wavy, mahe-like appeftd- 
 age which falls, curtain-like, ', on, ^he;. withers" and 
 along both sides of the bodys ' Adult lYaks'are of a 
 beautiful deep black, tinted witji l?rown o^n the back 
 and sides;, but the muzzle is of a grayish hue, and a 
 silvery gray stripe extends alopg the back. Old 
 Bulls attain a total length pf wurteeji feet two 
 inches; the height from the gropnd to the, top of 
 the hump is six feet fqur iilc|)qs,,aijdithe horns are 
 from thirty-two to thirty-six mche^ long. A full- 
 grown cow, however, barely attains a -length of nine 
 feet four inches, and a height of five feet four inches. 
 Kange and The plateaus and mountain ranges of 
 Habits of the Tibet and adjacent countries harbor 
 ''«''■ the Yak; table-lands of from thirteen 
 
 to twenty thousand feet elevation are its favorite 
 haunts. The barren soil of its bleak home is covered 
 with wiry grass only in those spots which raging 
 storms bury under the snow in winter. Amid such 
 wastes the Yak satisfies its frugal wants, secures pro- 
 
 tection from human attacks and thus succeeds in its 
 struggle to maintain its existence more easily than 
 one would suppose. 
 
 Notwithstanding its great strength, the Yak is in- 
 ferior, in physical endowments, to the other animals 
 of the mountains. It is true that it vies with the 
 wild Sheep and the Ibex in climbing, and is equally 
 as sure-footed among the loftiest and wildest crags, 
 ridges and steep declivities; but when it runs over 
 level ground any Horse can overtake it. Among its 
 perceptive senses that of smell surpasses all others 
 in keenness. That its intelligence is of a low grade 
 is attested not only by its disproportionately small 
 brain, but still more by its behavior in danger. The 
 most notable characteristic of the Yak is its laziness. 
 Early in the morning and at night it seeks its food; 
 the remainder of the day it devotes, to rest, which it 
 takes either standing or lying down. The only sign 
 of life it then gives is the chewing of its cud, but for 
 which it might, from its motionless attitude, be easily 
 taken for a stone monument. 
 
 A single calf is born to the cow of this species, 
 and is suckled and kept under its mother's care for 
 presumably over a year, as the Mongols say that the 
 Yak cow gives birth to young only once in two 
 years. In its sixth or eighth year the Yak is said 
 to be full grown, and in its twenty-fifth year it dies 
 of old age, unless its life be prematurely ended by 
 disease or a sportsman's bullet. No other enemy 
 which might prove fatal to it clinibs to the heights 
 where the Yak makes its home. . 
 
 Yak Hunting a The pursuit of the Yak is as attract- 
 Dangerous ive to a bold and well armed hunter 
 Sport. _ as it is dangerous. The powerful ani- 
 mal, if not mortally wounded, is apt to charge at the 
 sportsman without hesitancy, and even if the latter 
 has courage, skill, presence of mind and the best of 
 arms, he can never count with certainty upon felling 
 with a second shot the beast which, mad with rage 
 and pain, rushes at him. A bullet from the most 
 powerful rifle can only inflict a mortal wound in the 
 head when it penetrates the small area occupied by 
 the brain and lacerates that organ; and a body-shot 
 ■ is fatal only when it pierces the heart; . For these 
 ^reasons the Mongols fear the Yak as they would a 
 demon, and go out of their way to avoid it. If they 
 do summon up the courage to hunt it, they do so in 
 parties of from eight to twelve or more, and fire at 
 the Yak only from ambush. 
 
 Kenlock praises the excellent flavor of the Yak's 
 
 flesh, though he always found it very lean, and he 
 
 esteems the tongue and marrow bones as delicacies. 
 
 The Yak In all those countries which harbor 
 
 Is Extensiuely the Yak in their high mountains, this 
 
 Domesticated, beast is also found in a state of bond- 
 age as a useful and important domestic animal. 
 The tame Yak differs little from the wild one in 
 respect to shape and hair, but it varies from the 
 parent stock in the matter of coloring. Yaks of a 
 pure black hue are rare; generally even those most 
 resembling the wild ones show white spots. Brown, 
 red and mottled individuals are frequently to be 
 seen. Several strains have already been artificially 
 produced perhaps by crossing with other species of 
 Oxen. Occasionally tame Yaks have reverted to 
 the wild state and after a few generations have re- 
 gained their original color. The tame herds, like^ 
 their wild kinsmen, thrive only in cold, lofty moun- 
 tainous regions, and sicken and perish in countries 
 where the climate is hot, while they bear intense 
 cold with great indifference. 
 
THE TAK —The wild variety of the Yak ,oams in the high plateaus and mountains of Tibet near the line of .perpetual snow. The aiiimal which i. 
 also caUed the Granting rbecLseoi its Hog-like method of vocal expression.is about the size of the common Ox, to which it bears a general resemblance, 
 but it has a remarkable covering of long, silky hair. {Bos grunniens .) 
 
 {469) 
 
470 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 The Tibetan employs the Yak as a beast of burden 
 and as a saddle animal. The disposition of the Yak 
 toward its friends and familiars is one of compara- 
 tive gentleness, as it allows itself to be handled, 
 groomed and led by a rope secured to a ring put 
 through its nose. Towards strangers it behaves dif- 
 ferently, as a rule: it expresses uneasiness, lets its 
 head drop to the ground and acts generally as if it 
 intended to challenge an antagonist. It always re- 
 tains a certain amount of its natural fierce disposi- 
 tion. 
 
 Yahs Especially The Yak easily carries on its back 
 Useful in Mount- from two hundred to three hundred 
 ain Country, pounds, and that over the most diffi- 
 cult, rocky paths and snow fields. It may be used 
 to convey burdens across very high mountain passes, 
 for it retains its vitality and strengtJi there also, in 
 spite of the rarefied air which so exhausts and op- 
 presses other creatures. It can not be employed on 
 roads interrupted by boulders and wide fissures, for 
 a heavy burden hinders it from jumping over high 
 rocks or wide crevices. 
 
 The milk and the flesh of the tame Yak are 
 equally valuable as food for Man. The hide . is 
 tanned into leather and the hair is twisted into 
 ropes. The most valuable part of the beast in the 
 eyes of the warlike tribes of its neighborhood is the 
 tail, which furnishes them with those famous insig- 
 nia of war or decorations borne before persons of 
 rank, the " horse tails " so frequently mentioned in 
 works treating of Oriental subjects. 
 
 The Yah Easy of The Yaks which hav.e been taken to 
 Acclimation in For- Europe have thriven better than 
 eign Lands. ^^s expected. The suggestion was 
 thus made that this beautiful Ox might be success- 
 fully acclimated in foreign lands and the rearing of 
 the animals in a domestic state might be expected to 
 yield abundant profit; for the Yak furnishes excel- 
 lent wool, palatable flesh and riqh milk; is a strong 
 and indefatigable worker and contents itself with 
 cheaper food than other Cattle. The Grunting Ox is 
 certainly useful in all these respects on the table- 
 lands of Tibet and Turkestan, and there proves to 
 be an almost invaluable animal. But beyond the 
 mere suggestion nothing has ever been done in the 
 matter, as in Europe it was thought that the ranges 
 of mountains are sufficiently stocked with mountain 
 Cattle and Alpine Goats and it was contended that 
 the Yak would certainly not render greater service 
 or prove of more value than they. 
 
 The Home of the A game preserve of a peculiar kind 
 European is found in western Russia, in the 
 Bison. southern portion of old Lithuania. 
 
 It is the famous forest of Bialowitch, a genuine 
 northern virgin forest of an area of 2,000 square 
 kilometers. It is entirely unconftected with any 
 •other forest and it may be compared to an island, 
 surrounded by fields, villages and treeless heaths. 
 Within the boundaries of the forest there is only 
 one village,. the name. of which is identical with that 
 of the forest; this settlement is inhabited not by 
 farmers but by foresters alone. About four-fifths of 
 the trees are pines, which exist to the, exclusion of 
 other species over extensive stretches; in the damper 
 spots they are iiiterspersed with oaks, linden ttees, 
 hornbeams, bij-ches, alder trees, poplars and willows. 
 This forest still harbors the greatest mammal of 
 the European continent, the European Bison. This 
 huge animal nowadays exists only there and in a few 
 forests on the Caucasus and in the woods of Mezer- 
 :zitz in Silesia; on the remainder of the globe, if we 
 
 except a kindred American species, it is extinct. 
 Stringent laws protect it in the forest of Bialowitch, 
 and if the successive owners of this remarkable 
 game park had not fostered it during several hun- 
 dred years, the European Bison would now be found 
 only in small numbers in the Caucasus. 
 
 In former times this was different; for the Bison 
 ranged all over Europe and a large portion of Asia; 
 but in spite of efforts to preserve it the attacks of 
 poachers and finally a general epizootic, which dcr 
 stroyed the greater portion of the herds in the be- 
 ginning of the eighteenth century, reduced their 
 numbers most materially. 
 
 The Bisons (Bonassus) are considered the repre- 
 sentatives of a distinct sub-genus of the Oxen and 
 are characterized by small, round horns, which are 
 placed well to the front and curve upwards; a very 
 broad, arched forehead, soft, long hair and the 
 great number of their ribs. The European Bison 
 or Wisent has fourteen pairs of ribs, the American 
 Bison fifteen. 
 
 Description of the T^iiough vie may safely assume that 
 European the European Bison {Bos bisirii or 
 Bison, Bonassus bison) has diminishef|, in 
 
 size, it is still a huge animal.-^ A specimen of the 
 species slain in Prussia in 1555 was seven feet high 
 and thirteen feet long, and weighed over nineteen 
 hundred pounds. Nowadays the most gigantic bulls 
 rarely grow higher than five feet eight inches or 
 longer than eleven feet four inches, nor do they 
 weigh more than one thousand to one thousand four 
 hundred pounds. The Bison impresses the beholder 
 as the incarnation of rude strength and vigor. Its 
 head is moderately large and well shaped, the fore- 
 head is high and very broad, the facial portion 
 tapers uniformly towards the extremity; the muzzle 
 is blunt and broad, the ears short and rounded and 
 the eye may be. called small. The neck is very 
 stout, short, and thick through from upper to lower 
 surface, and is encased in a loose skin which devel- 
 ops into a dewlap, extending from the throat down 
 to the breast. The body is supported by stout legs 
 and has a bulky appearance, and the shoulders are 
 strongly arched from the rear of the withers to the 
 middle of the neck. The tail is short and thick. 
 The horns are set on very much to the sides of the 
 frontal bone of the skull and are comparatively 
 small, round and pointed; they first curve outward, 
 then upward and at the same time slightly forward, 
 and then inward and backward, so that the tips 
 stand nearly vertically above the bases. The fur is 
 dense and long all over the body, and consists of 
 a thickset, curly outer coat and a woolly matted 
 shorter under fur. On the back of the head the hair 
 grows into a broad tuft, and along the spine rises 
 into a moderately high crest; on the chin it forms a 
 beard which hangs down after the manner of a 
 queue and on the lower part of the throat it de- 
 velops into a wide mane, covering the whole of 
 the dewlap. The prevalent. color is a. light,brown, 
 dashed with a faded yellow tint; on the sides, of the 
 head and on the beard it deepens into black-brown', 
 on the legs into dark brown, on the tail- tuft into 
 black, and on the tuftiof hair overhanging the top of 
 the head it softens into a light , brownish-yellow. 
 The cow is of a perceptibly smaller and more grace- 
 ful build than tKe bull; her hofps; are weaker and 
 the mane. is much less dieveloped,. but she is of the 
 same colorings as the male. 
 
 In summer and autumn the Bison lives concealed 
 in damp spots of the wood, usually in thickets; in 
 
l»,rf i^Ki BISON. This large and pow^rfnl''^intenvHittt''ori(^i>flttHited nearhr the whple of Eiifop& .s novv alaiq»t cximci exeepi a 
 
 rasra wWch is-kept tJndel- the pfotictioh of -the Russian czar in the foresr of BlalbWitch, in Lithadnia. It much resembles the American Bison to which it 
 '"'°^'y«'»t6<'> but is naturally a forest dweller, while the Americaii speetes prefers the ptaias. The picture represents the animal in its forest home 
 
 (471) 
 
472 
 
 THE CLOVEN- HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 winter it prefers higher and drier regions. Very old 
 bulls live in solitude but the younger members of 
 the herd consort in companies of fifteen or twenty 
 in summer and of thirty to fifty jn winter. Every 
 herd occupies its permarient domicile and always re- 
 turns to it when the search for. food has terminated. 
 
 The Bison Semi- The Bison's are active both by day 
 Nocturnal in and by night, but like best to graze in 
 its Habits. thg evening and morning hours, and 
 sometimes also by night, Herbage, leaves, buds and 
 bark constitute their food; they strip the trees as 
 high as they can reach, and bend young, flexible trees 
 down, by straddling themi'in order to reach the top, 
 which they generally destroy entirely. The ashtree 
 furnishes their favorite diet, as they seem to prefer 
 its succulent bark to that of any other speciels; trees 
 with spiny or thorny foliage are avoided by them. 
 In winter they feed almost exclusively on bark, twigs 
 and buds of the trees within their reach and also 
 probably on lichens and dry grass. The hay crop of 
 the meadows in the forest of Bialowitch is stored 
 away for them, and they sometimes possess them- 
 selves of that belonging to farmers on the outskirts 
 of the wood by breaking down the fences. Fresh 
 water is a necessity withthem. 
 The Bison an Ani- Thpugh the Bisons produce upon the 
 mal of Speed beholder the impression of heavy and 
 
 and Endurance, lumbering animals, they appear suf- 
 ficiently active, when their movements can be fairly 
 seen. Their ordinary gait is a rapid walk; their run- 
 ning pace is an awkward but speedy gallop, the head 
 being carried very low, and the tail uplifted and 
 stretched out behind. They wade and swim through 
 bogs and rivers with ease. Among their senses of 
 perception that of smell ranks highest; sight and 
 hearing are less acute; taste and touch attain ordi- 
 nary development. Their disposition and character 
 change with age. Young Bisons are lively and play- 
 ful creatures; they are moderately good-natured, and 
 though they are not exactly gentle and peaceable, 
 they are not vicious. Old Bisons, however, espe- 
 cially old bulls, are dignified if not sullen in their 
 bearing, of an irritable, violent temper and averse to 
 trifling or play. Generally they ignore those who do 
 not annoy them, but the slightest cause may arouse 
 their ire and render them formidable. In summer 
 they always shun Man, but in winter they do not 
 give way to anybody, and it has sometimes hap- 
 pened that travelers through their haunts have had 
 to wait a long time before it pleased a Bison to re- 
 move from the path he occupied and which the way- 
 farer wished to travel, there being no room to pass 
 by the animal. A fierce, defiant, violent temper also 
 characterizes this species of wild Ox. Younger in- 
 dividuals are always, more timid than the old bulls, 
 some among which, especially those leading a soli-,, 
 tary life, may develop into seripus plagues of the 
 neighborhood which they infest.. It^S^ms to afford 
 them a special pleasure to p'rovbke battles with the 
 human species. :, 
 
 At certain seasons the bulls engage' in fights, per- 
 haps beginiiin|J. in.'pl&y; but ending'in avery serioqs 
 manner. The animals rush franticallyat each'other 
 and clash their horns with so miich violence that it 
 seems surprising that they do not break from the 
 force of the collision. 
 
 Propaga- The calves of the Bison species are 
 
 tion of the born singly, generally in May or 
 
 Bison. August. Prior to the appearance of 
 
 her calf the cow separates from the herd and selects 
 
 a suitable secluded spot in the thickest of the wood 
 
 or in some quiet, peaceful locality. There she keeps; 
 herself and her calf in hiding during the first few^ 
 days after its birth, and defends the little one with 
 extraordinary courage in case of danger. During its- 
 early youth the calf, in the presence of an enemy 
 seeks safety by croughing close to the ground;' it 
 pricks and nervously twitches its ears, dilates its. 
 nostrils and eyes, and anxiously watches the foe, 
 while the mother prepares for the encounter. The 
 Man or beast that approaches a Bison cow at such 
 a moment does so at his peril, for- she rushes upon, 
 an adversary without hesitation. The calves are 
 pretty, prepqssessing animals, though they ■ very 
 early exhibit indications of what they will become 
 in old age. Their growth is very slow, and they 
 probably attain their full size only in their eighth or 
 ninth year. The age tp which Bisons may usually 
 attain is believed to range between thirty and fifty 
 years. Cows die about ten years younger than bullsi 
 but with the latter blindness generally supervenes in 
 old age; they lose their teeth, become unable to bite 
 off and masticate young twigs or otherwise provide 
 for their sustenance, waste away and finally succumb 
 to the lack of nourishmerit. 
 
 Hunting the These powerful animals are perfectly 
 
 Bison. a Royal able to defend themselves from their 
 
 Pastime. ' adversaries. Bears and Wolves may 
 
 endanger the life of a calf, but only when the mother 
 
 has lost her life by .some accident, and the calf is. 
 
 unprotected. 
 
 In former times Bison hunting was the favorite 
 sport of kings, and many such royal hunts have 
 taken place in the forest of Bialowitch, and as late 
 as i860 the Emperor of Russia gave a hunt in which 
 he himself shot six, and the Princes Charles and 
 Albrecht of Prussia killed eight Bisons. 
 
 I have seen and closely observed several European 
 Bisons in different zoological gardens, and have in- 
 formed myself in regard to them. These animals are 
 all alike, and however kindly may be their demeanor 
 in youth their natural ferocity breaks out in advanced 
 age and then even their keepers dare not trust them. 
 Even at their best they are obstinate and difficult to 
 manage, though they gradually come to treat their 
 friends with some degree pf toleration. Red is said 
 to excite these animals to anger, and hence a person 
 clad in bright colors runs some risk of being at- 
 tacked by them. ' . . 
 
 Several naturalists have advanced the opinion 
 that the Bison was a factor in the origin of several 
 of the domestic breeds of Cattle, but recent expe-j 
 riences seem to show this theory to be fallaciousi 
 A violent animosity exists between the Bisoii- iand 
 domestic Cattle, andi'evEq where young Bison calve^ 
 and tame Cattle are kept together, as ha^ been <done 
 in the forest of, Bja(Iowitch, their relatjpns'are any- 
 thing but friendly. ^ •■ :'■ •. ' 
 
 The American ' The" same - fate.; which oyertpok the 
 5/son a/so ^/most European Bison in the course of 
 Extinct , centuries^ befell its only relative, the. 
 American Bison, in a,n i.Bcr,edib!ly sho^'t.time:, one 
 mj'ght say, during a 4i^i«i5^eca-de.>j Qiily onfe;g'€faer-i 
 atioh ago, millions of these hiige aninials royed over 
 immense tracts of lancj in North AmericaT— to-day 
 there are but a few hundreds of them left at various 
 points throughout the country, and even those few 
 now in existence would soon disappear did not the 
 general government strenuously protect them. His7 
 tory knows no other instance like this, nor will it 
 have to record one in its future annals, of harmless, 
 useful animals being methodically shot down and 
 
THE AMERICAN BISON Only a few years ago this, the largest of native American animals, roamed the western plains in countless thousands. 
 
 Relentless pursuit has nearly exterminated them, and they are now only represented by a herd protected by the United States government and a few 
 smaller herds in zoological collections. This Bison popularly but erroneously called the Buffalo, is a large and powerful ammal, with great humped 
 shoulders and a shaggy mane. It is pictured here as it formerly lived in large herds on the great plains. 
 
 {Bos americanus.) 
 
 (473) 
 
474 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 ruthlessly slaughtered in enormous numbers for a 
 slight profit, and until entirely too late left utterly 
 unprotected by law. The only traces of the once 
 innumerable herds of Buffaloes are to be seen in the 
 blanched bones dispersed in the vast solitudes of 
 the great plains of the West. The result of the 
 close investigation of William T. Hornaday gives 
 the" number of the survivors on January i, 1889, as 
 eight hundred and thirty-five, inclusive of the two 
 hundred then living in Yellowstone Park under the 
 protection of the government. This extermination 
 of the Bisons has in the main been accomplished 
 since the beginning of the seventies, and principally 
 through the agency of the railways traversing the 
 far West. Over fifty thousand Indians whose sub- 
 sistence, like that of their ancestors, was either 
 entirely or partly dependent on the existence of the 
 Buffaloes, are exposed to privations and the danger 
 of starvation if the government of the United States 
 does not always provide for their maintenance in 
 due time. 
 Former Range of When the first Europeans settled in 
 
 the American North America the range of the 
 Bison. Bison extended nearly from the 
 
 Atlantic coast westward to the boundaries of Ne- 
 vada and Oregon, southward to the twenty-fifth 
 parallel and to the northwest to about the sixty-fifth 
 parallel of north latitude, comprising woodland as 
 well as prairie country. 
 
 If there had been laws in any way judicious and 
 timely regulating the hunting of the animal, there 
 might have been shot annually about half a million 
 of young bulls, the product of the carcasses of which 
 would have yielded a profit of about two million 
 five hundred thousand dollars, and the enormous 
 herds would not have been perceptibly decreased; 
 now the most strenuous efforts are necessary to pre- 
 serve the few hundred surviving animals^ 
 
 ■ From the foregoing remarks it will be seen that 
 the following description deals with the life and 
 habits of creatures which populated the wilderness 
 oIE North America in enormous herds about twenty 
 or more years ago but now are practically extinct. 
 
 Description of The American Bison or Buffalo, 
 
 the American {Bos americanus) occupies the same 
 Bison. relative position in regard to the 
 
 J^orth American animals, that the European Bison 
 does to the various European species — that of the 
 giant of all terrestial mammals of its native country. 
 The bull measures from nine to ten feet in length, 
 exclusive of the tail, which is twenty inches long, or, 
 including the hair- tuft, twenty-six inches; the height 
 at the withers varies from five feet eight inches to 
 six feet four inches; the weight ranges between one 
 thousand two hundred and two thousand pounds. 
 The cows are always considerably smaller than the 
 bulls. The differences between the American and 
 European Bison are greater than those between any 
 other so closely allied species of Oxen. The head ' 
 of the American Bison is very large — proportionately 
 much larger — has a broader brow, is clumsier and 
 heavier than that of its European relative; the nose 
 is more strongly arched and the ears longer. The 
 dull eyes are of moderate size and a dark brown 
 color — the whites having a vascular, reddish, in- 
 flamed appearance. The short, deep, narrow neck 
 ascends abruptly to the shapelessly high withers; 
 the legs are comparatively short and very slender. 
 The horns curve backward, outward and upward and 
 the tips do not materially converge. The hair re- 
 sembles that of the European Bison. The head. 
 
 neck, shoulders, fore-parts of body and upper parts 
 of the fore-legs, the fore-parts of the hams and the 
 extremity of the muzzle are clothed with long hair; 
 the withers and shoulders have a large mass of 
 mane-like fur; the chin and throat show an append- 
 age of beard-like hair; the forehead and back of the 
 head are covered with curly, matted hair and all the 
 other parts of the body are clothed with short, thick 
 hair. In winter the hair grows to a considerable 
 length; in the beginning of spring the winter fur is 
 shed in large locks. As a result of this shedding,- 
 the color of the beast is modified. That of the new 
 coat is a uniform grayish-brown, deepening into 
 black-brown in the mane, which covers the top part 
 of the head, forehead, neck and the under surface 
 of the throat. The horns and hoofs, as well as the 
 naked muzzle, are of a lustrous black hue. 
 Range and Habits In contradistinction to the European 
 of American Bison, which is invariably a forest-: 
 
 Bisons. dweller, the Buffalo must, at least 
 
 since its range has been restricted by advancing civ- 
 ilization, be regarded as an animal peculiar to the im- 
 mense western plains of North America, There it 
 lived gregariously, though the herds were not or- 
 ganized in compact form but were somewhat loosely 
 divided into numerous, smaller groups. A plain 
 overgrown with succulent herbage, if viewed from 
 a distance, may seem to be literally packed with 
 Buffaloes, but on a nearer view one soon sees how 
 the apparently compact mass resolves itself into 
 numerous smaller herds of varying size; and each of 
 these, though but a few hundred paces distant from 
 the other, possesses a leader of its own and pre- 
 serves, as it were, its right of independent action. 
 
 The Bisons used to undertake annual migrations 
 with greater or less regularity. Beginning in July, 
 they moved- southward; at the advent of -spring they 
 returned to the north, distributed into smaller troops 
 or herds. Evidences of these migrating hosts could 
 be seen even when the Buffaloes themselves could 
 not be perceived; for packs of lean Wolves followed 
 in their wake upon the surface of the earth while 
 flocks of Vultures, Eagles and Buzzards followed them 
 in'the air, the former as well as the latter being well 
 assured of prey. Wherever the Buffaloes had taken 
 up a permanent abode, they went back. and .forth; 
 over the same paths with great regularity, especially! 
 in going from their abundant pasturage to the rivers,; 
 which they frequented to drink or to take cooling' 
 baths, and on these journeys they wore the roajds, 
 known in the language of the prairie frontiersman, as 
 "Buffalo- trails." TheSe Buffalo-trails generally ran; 
 in absolutely direct lines hundreds in number, par- 
 allel to one another and crossing rivers at points con- 
 venient for entering and leaving the water.- They 
 closely resembled the paths trodden down and regu- 
 larly frequented by our domestic Cattle, wherever 
 they unrestrainedly graze in large numbers in forests 
 and pastures. 
 European Travel- In 1851 Moellhausen saw hundreds 
 ers and the of thousands of Bisons in the prairies 
 
 Buffalo. to the west of the Missouri; in 1858 
 Froebel traveled with a train of wagons from Mis- 
 souri to Mexico and was surrounded by herds of 
 Buffaloes for eight days. As Hepworth Dixon de- 
 scribes it: "in bands, in masses, in hosts, the shaggy, 
 black creatures thunder along in front of us, soriie- 
 times from north to south, sometimes from south to 
 north; for forty consecutive hours we had them in 
 sight, thousands upon thousands, tens of thousands, 
 upon tens of thousands, an innumerable mass of un- 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS— OX TRIBE. 
 
 475 
 
 tamed animals, the flesh of which, as we believe, is 
 sufficient to provide the wigwams of the Indians into 
 all eternity." 
 
 Freiherr Max von Thielmann, who hunted in the 
 far west in 1875, recorded even at that date a differ- 
 ent experience. He expressed it in the following 
 ■words: "The bjame for greater part of the extermi- 
 nation of the Buffalo may be laid at the door of the 
 three railroads, which traverse the prairie from the 
 Missouri to the Rocky Mountains. In the begin- 
 ning of this decade (the seventies) successful hunts 
 ■could be arranged between the Union Pacific and the 
 Kansas Pacific roads, and the Atchison, Topeka and 
 Santa Fe road Sent 200,000 skins east during the first 
 year of its existence; but now the Buffalo has per- 
 
 their offspring, until the latter are strong enough to 
 ]om the herd. From this time on the bulls assume 
 the protectorship of the calves, though the latter 
 are wont to follow their mothers faithfully, until 
 they are supplanted by their younger brothers or 
 sisters. 
 
 Physical Features The Bison moves with considerable 
 . "?"' ^Al''"o*®''' agility in spite of its clumsy appear- 
 ist,csoftheB,son. ^rice; notwithstanding the shortness 
 of Its legs It covers considerable distances in a brief 
 time. Its movements are curiously abrupt, and 
 when hurried, the animals describe queer wa:vy lines 
 of motion, produced by uplifting the bulk of the 
 body alternately in front and behind. The Bison 
 swims with the same vigor and endurance which 
 
 
 THE GAYAL A noble handsome species of Oxen found both wild and domesticated in the mountainous regions of Assam and all the country 
 
 irom eastern Bengal east to B.rmah. The fig-re, *ell sho^n .n the p.ct„re, s-ggests strength, and besides the mass.vc body the biuad furcueaa ana inicK 
 horns are espedaUy noteworthy features of the animal. (.Bos frontalis.) 
 
 manently disappeared from the territory inclosed by 
 these roads, and also from the strips of land skirting 
 the two outermost lines to the north and south, 
 Tvhich are broad enough to require a journey of 
 several days to cross them. A few herds only still 
 cross the tracks on their migrations northward in the 
 spring and southward in the fall of the year." 
 
 During the months of August and September, the 
 herds become excited; they draw more closely to- 
 gether and form a swarming mass. The bulls drive 
 the cows onward, meet and engage in fights, until 
 they in their turn are crowded away by others. The 
 calves, one and not infrequently two, at a birth, make 
 their appearance from March to July, and sometimes 
 as late as August. Wherever it is possible, the cows 
 retreat to a sheltered place, and stay there with 
 
 characterize its movements in general; and it enters 
 the water and crosses wide streams without the 
 slightest hesitancy. The voice is a dull growl, par- 
 taking more of the nature of a deep guttural roar 
 than of the lowing sound made by others of the Ox 
 family. When thousands simultaneously lift their 
 voices, the deep booming sound which results has 
 been likened to distant peals of thunder. 
 
 Among the Bison's perceptive senses those of 
 smell and hearing rank first. In its mental qualities 
 it does not differ from its other relatives. It is little 
 gifted, good-natured and timid, incapable of rapid 
 excitement, but when it is irritated it is apt to forget 
 all considerations which generally influence it, and 
 it will then oppose an enemy with courage. Cap- 
 tive Bisons show, more than wild ones, that their 
 
476 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS 
 
 intellects are capable of development. On the other 
 hand, wild specimens by their actions clearly prove 
 that they discriminate between innocuous and harm- 
 ful things. They are not intractable to domestica- 
 tion, readily entering into friendly relations with 
 individuals who treat them kindly; at least they 
 learn to recognize their keeper and to love him to a 
 certain degree. It is true, however, that it takes a 
 long time to overcome their innate shyness and alter 
 their preconceived opinions. 
 
 During the summer the coarse lookmg, but nutri- 
 tious grass of the prairies furnishes the grazing 
 Bisons with ample provision, but in winter they 
 must content themselves with scanty fare. 
 
 The Bison's Life The perils by which a Bison's life is 
 Encompassed witfi surrounded are many and serious. 
 Many Perils. Winter, which is usually severe in 
 the prairie, destroys hundreds of its tribe after first 
 starving and weakening them. Their end is still 
 more sudden in winter when they trust the ice cov- 
 ering the rivers more than they are, by its thickness, 
 warranted to do. Their habit of galloping in col- 
 umn abreast with thousands, one behind another, 
 frequently proves fatal to them in such a case. The 
 ice breaks beneath the enormous weight of the 
 Bisons: the animals in front of the long column fall 
 into the water; they vainly endeavor to get out, 
 being pushed forward and trampled under by the 
 hundreds which crowd after them and thus they 
 miserably perish. Many Bisons are destroyed in a 
 similar way when crossing rivers in summer, intend- 
 ing to land at a spot where quicksand or mud render 
 the ascent of the bank difificult. 
 i/wng fnem/es 0/ The American Bison has as little 
 
 the American lack of living enemies as have others 
 Bison. of its tribe. It is said that the Griz- 
 
 zly Bear enters into combat even with a strong bull, 
 and that the Wolf becomes dangerous at times to 
 the younger Buffaloes. The direst foe, however, is 
 Man, especially the white Man, the devastations of 
 whose hunting rifle assumed serious proportions as 
 early as the third or fourth decade of this century. 
 "In former times," says Moellhausen, writing some- 
 time during the fifties, "when the Buffalo could, in a 
 certain sense, be considered a domestic animal of 
 the Indians, no diminution of the innumerable herds 
 could be noticed; on the contrary, they throve and 
 multiplied on the rich pastures. Then the white 
 people came into that part of the country. The 
 large skins with their rich covering of hair pleased 
 them, the savory Buffalo flesh was to their taste, and 
 both promised them rich gain. The lust for the 
 glittering baubles or the stupefying and intoxicating 
 liquors of the white Man was first kindled in the 
 breast of the red-skinned natives of the prairies, and 
 then a very small price was offered them for the 
 produce of their chase, and the devastation com- 
 menced. Thousands of Buffaloes were slain for the 
 sake of securing their tongues, and more frequently 
 still for their shaggy skins, and in a few years a sur- 
 prising diminution was perceived. The improvident 
 Indian thinks not of the future; he lives only in the 
 present, and its pleasures. He needs no further en- 
 couragement; he will hunt the Buffalo until the last 
 one shall have left its skin in his hands. Surely, the 
 time is not far off, when the enormous herds will 
 live only in the memories of the people, and three 
 hundred thousand Indians will be deprived of their 
 sustenance, and urged by hunger they will, together 
 with millions of Wolves, become the pests of the 
 adjoining civilization." 
 
 Value of the The dried flesh is said to be palata- 
 Carcass of the ble and nourishing; especially that 
 Buffalo. preparation of it which is dried in 
 the sun, minced or pounded and mixed with fat, and 
 known under the name of " pemmican." When used 
 for expeditions on which much nourishment must be 
 compacted in small space it is generally also mixed 
 with raisins and pressed into cakes. The tongue of 
 the Bison is esteemed a great delicacy. The flesh 
 of the cows is richer than that of the bulls and that 
 of the calves is exceedingly tender. Out of the 
 skin the Indians used to make warm articles. of 
 clothing, tents and beds, saddles, belts, etc., and 
 occasionally would cover the frames of their canoes 
 with it. The bones furnished^emwith saddle-trees 
 and scalping knives, with ^bfch they then would 
 deprive their enemies of their scalps. The sinews 
 were made into strings for their bows and thread for 
 sewing; and out of the feet and hoofs they manu- 
 factured a durable glue, boiling the gelatine out of 
 them. The strong hair of the head and neck were 
 twisted into ropes; the tails were made into fly- 
 brushes. The white Man also prizes the Buffalo 
 hides. The leather is excellent, though somewhat 
 porous and coarse in grain, the skin with the hair 
 may be used for all kinds of coverings, and skins 
 without blemish, which commanded a price of from 
 seven to twelve dollars thirty years ago, are now 
 three or four times as high, and soon will entirely 
 disappear from the market. The wool, of which a 
 single fleece may furnish as much as eight pounds, 
 can be usfed as well as Sheep wool and was in some 
 localities utilized for the manufacture of warm and 
 very durable materials. 
 
 The Buffalo Capa- American Bisons have been seen in 
 ble of Trans- European zoological gardens for the 
 plantation. last few decades only. I received a 
 communication from London to the effect that an 
 English lord had introduced several couples from 
 America and bred a herd numbering from fifteen to 
 twenty on his estates in Scotland. After his death, 
 however, they were sold. They propagate normally 
 and easily if given adequate care. The calves born 
 in confinement are most vigorously defended by their 
 mothers against any kind of interference, and grow 
 up as readily as do the offspring of our domestic 
 Cattle. Nevertheless, the American Bisons in the 
 European zoological gardens are also becoming ex- 
 tinct. 
 
 The Oxen proper (£os), to which species our do- 
 mestic Oxen belong, form a group by themselves^ 
 characterized by a long and broad flat forehead, large 
 horns, not very much expanded at their bases, and 
 set on the head in a line with the frontal ridge, and a 
 comparatively thick, short covering of fur; they are 
 also anatomically characterized by thirteen or four- 
 teen rib-bearing vertebrae, six not supporting ribs 
 and four sacral articulations. We will first cast a 
 cursory glance at several Asiatic species living in the 
 wild state. 
 Peculiarities and The Gayal {Bos frontalis), attains a 
 Habits of the total length of twelve feet, about 
 Gayal. thirty-two inches of which are in- 
 
 cluded in the tail; the height at the shoulder is from 
 five feet to five feet four inches. The proportions 
 of its body show the most pleasing symmetry, every 
 part being strong and full, without appearing clumsy; 
 the bull thus produces the impression of the highest 
 vigor and perfect, harmonious beauty and nobility. 
 The horns are very large in diameter, of a conical 
 shape and show a slight curve outward and back- 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS— OX TRIBE. 
 
 477 
 
 ward. The fur is short, thick, sleek and lustrous, 
 and is uniform in length nearly all over the body; it 
 becomes only slightly longer at the throat, forms a 
 rich tuft on the lower portion of the tail and also 
 pendent curly tufts or fetlocks on the ankles of the 
 fore-legs. The prevailing color is a deep black; the 
 hair of the forehead is grayish or fallow brown, the 
 tufts on the fore-legs are of a rich sepia brown, and 
 the under portion of the lower lip, the corners of 
 the mouth and a narrow margin on the upper lip are 
 white. 
 
 The Gayal is a native of the mountainous regions 
 to the east of the Brahmaputra river as far as Bur- 
 mah; and it is possessed of nearly as good climbing 
 powers as the Yak. It is usually found in herds, 
 
 milk of the Gayal is said to be very rich and the 
 flesh of the animal is excellent. 
 The Gaur a Near The Gaur or Gour {Bos gaurus) ex- 
 Kinsman of the hibits a great affinity to the Gayal, 
 Gayal. ^^^ seems to differ from it always in 
 
 various internal and external anatomical features, 
 especially in the number of ribs. Sir Walter Elliot, 
 in describing a Gaur slain by himself, says that it 
 differs materially from the ordinary Cattle of India, 
 rather showing a close approach 'to the Bison, by 
 which name English sportsmen are wont to call it. 
 The head is shorter than that of the common Ox, 
 the forehead very broad, the frontal outline of the 
 face curved, the eye and ear smaller than those of 
 the Buffalo, the neck short, thick and stocky, the 
 
 THE GATTB, Inhabiting India, Burmah and the Malay Peninsula, the Gaur is one of the handsomest and largest of the Ox tribe 
 
 head, stout figure and strong horns are prominent physical characteristics of the animal (Bos gaurus ) 
 
 The broad fore- 
 
 goes forth to graze in the morning, evening and on 
 moonlit nights; and during the oppressive noonday 
 heat it retreats into the innermost recesses of the 
 woods and rests there in the shade, chewing the cud. 
 It is fond of water, but not of mud, and therefore 
 shuns swamps, but likes to cool itself in clear moun- 
 tain waters. Its temper is described as gentle and 
 trustful. It never attacks human beings, but rather 
 sedulously and anxiously shuns them. It defends 
 Itself from the attack of beasts of- prey with- great 
 courage, however, and is said to put to flight even 
 the Tiger and Panther. If it does itself flee from 
 an enemy its keen senses and its agility and speed 
 secure its safety. 
 
 The natives have domesticated the Gayal or 
 Mithun from time immemorial, and either breed it 
 pure or cross it with other breeds of Oxen. The 
 
 body stout, the chest broad. The horns are very 
 much expanded at their bases and taper to a point; 
 they are set on laterally and curve backward and 
 upward. The skin is unusually thick on the upper 
 part of the neck and shoulders as well as on the 
 thighs, and is clothed with short, dense hair, which 
 grows slightly longer on the throat and chest and 
 forms a curly tuft between the horns. The prevail- 
 ing color is a beautiful dark brown, brightening into 
 a deep ochre yellow on the under surface, then 
 changing into a dingy white on the legs, into light 
 grayish brown on the forehead and deepening into 
 grayish black around the eyes. According to El- 
 liot's measurements the total length of a full, grown 
 bull of this species would be fourteen feet, four 
 inches, the tail measuring thirty- four inclies; the 
 height at the shoulder is about six feet two inches. 
 
478 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 The Domicile The range of the Gaur is greatly ex- 
 ofthe tended. Wherever the country is of 
 
 Gaur. wooded, mountainous or hilly char- 
 
 acter, however rugged the district may be, it is 
 found over all the territory extending from the 
 southern extremity of India to the Himalayas, and 
 eastward through Assam and Chittagong to Burmah, 
 and on the Malayan peninsula. A thickly grown 
 wilderness consisting of impenetrable thickets of 
 wild vines and ferns and brakes of bamboo, as well 
 as grassy, dense primeval forests, are hiding places 
 adapted to the taste of the Gaur, especially when 
 incorporating among other features deep ravines 
 abounding in water, steep walls covered with frag- 
 ments of rock, and rugged, barely accessible peaks. 
 
 can hardly be driven away. Towards morning it re- 
 turns from pasture and hides in the fields of tall 
 grass or the brakes of bamboo, to rest, sleep and 
 ruminate. 
 
 Hfethods of 
 
 Hunting the 
 
 Gaur. 
 
 In hunting the Gaur, rifles of very 
 heavy caliber are used, as is generally 
 the case with large quarry. It is 
 hunted by following its tracks, stalking and shooting 
 it or occasionally by having one driven by beaters 
 or hounds within shot. Good sportsmen in general 
 do not hunt herds, but only old bulls which live soli- 
 tarily and, next to the Elephant, are considered to be 
 the largest game one can slay. That the perils of the 
 chase have been greatly exaggerated, all recent au- 
 thors agree, though they also admit that a wounded 
 
 THE BANTENG. The most handsome of the wild Oxen is the Banteng, found on the Malay Peninsula, Java, Sumatra and Borneo. The picture 
 
 shows the distinctive features of the animal, its graceful shape, the white spot on the back of its thighs, and its not very long but pointed and powerful 
 horns. It likes to forage in swampy or marshy ground. {Bos bajiteng.) 
 
 \'et it descends occasionally into the low-lying val- 
 leys, attracted by newly sprouting, tender, verdant 
 grasses. Its capacity for locomotion over the most 
 difificu'lt paths is said to be little short of marvelous. 
 The heavy animals tear along, on the broken surface 
 of an almost perpendicular acclivity, with a speed 
 and facility that almost equal those of the Deer, or 
 descend into the valley with a rush, in a good round 
 trot or a swift gallop. 
 
 The Gaur Noc- Generally the Gaur grazes only by 
 turnal in its night, delighting in spots where 
 Habits. j^oung, juicy grass is sprouting, as it 
 
 prefers this and tender bamboo shoots to any other 
 food. If, however, it lives in the neighborhood of 
 cultivated fields, it makes incursions into them and 
 occasionally becomes so bold and persistent that it 
 
 bull brought to bay may prove himself to be a far 
 from despicable antagonist. 
 
 The Banteng, I must award to the Banteng of the 
 Handsomest of Malayan ^QxnnsvXdi {Bos banteng) tht 
 
 the Ox Tribe. meed of praise as the most beautiful 
 of all known wild Oxen. In gracefulness of form it 
 can vie with the Antelope, and its coloring is re- 
 markably attractive. The horns are expanded at the 
 bases and irregularly ridged for about the first third 
 of their length; from this point they are smooth, 
 with very sharp tips. They first curve outward and 
 backward, then upward and forward, and their ends 
 point upward and inward; they are from sixteen to 
 twenty inches long* The hair is uniform throughout 
 and lies close to the body; its color is dark grayish- 
 brown, tinted with red in the hinder parts. A wide 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS—DOMESTIC OXEN 
 
 479 
 
 white mark on the buttocks may be considered the 
 most conspicuous distinctive feature; the lower half 
 of the legs and the upper surface of the tips of the 
 ears are also white. 
 The Habitat, Range The Banteng is. a native of Java, 
 
 and Habits of Borneo and the eastern portion of 
 the Banteng. Sumatra; but it also inhabits por- 
 tions of the Asiatic continent, namely, the Malay 
 Peninsula, Tenasserim and Pegu, and probably also 
 Burmah. It delights in damp or marshy woodland. 
 In watery situations in general, low lying valleys 
 traversed by slowly flowing rivers being more to its 
 taste than any other kinds of forest country. 
 
 The retiring yet courageous disposition of this 
 wild Ox renders its pursuit both perilous and diffi- 
 cult. It is true that it generally flees on perceiving 
 an a,ppfoaching human be- 
 ing, but if brought to bay 
 arid wounded, it exhibits . 
 
 little fear of the sportsman, |< 
 
 not infrequently turning on 
 him and using its pointed 
 horns with ^eat skill and 
 effect. 
 
 Adult Bantengs cannot 
 be tamed, but calves may 
 become com pletely domes- 
 ticated, as the temper of 
 this animal ., seems to be 
 more tractable and respon- 
 sive to kindness than that 
 of any other "known spe- 
 cies of wild Oxen. i 
 
 DOMESTIC OXEN. M 
 
 None of the Oxen that 
 have so far been described 
 have probably had any 
 part, or at the most only a 
 small one, in the produc- 
 tion of our domestic Cattle. 
 The darkness beclouding 
 the origin of these ex- 
 tremely useful creatures, _^ 
 which have been subject to ^^^Ji 
 Man from the earliest ages, '^'' 
 does not seem so dense as 
 that which conceals from 
 view the history of the 
 descent of other dornestic 
 animals; yet a decision on 
 the subject is no less diffi- 
 cult in this case than in 
 that of any of the others. 
 
 Authorities nearly all agree that the origin of Oxen 
 won to domesticity at nearly the same time in all 
 three continents, of the Old World must be traced 
 not to one but to several different priinary species. 
 Which were these original species, however, not 
 even the boldest conjectures, based on the skeletons 
 of extinct animals, can suffice to approximately de- 
 termine. As has been seen from the preceding de- 
 scriptions, several different kinds of wild Oxen are 
 even at the present day being trained and won to 
 domesticity, or at least used to improve existing 
 domestic breeds; but the period at which Man first 
 mastered the wild Ox or, as is more probable, formed 
 a herd of its offspring taken young, lies outside the 
 pale of all history and tradition. The earliest leg- 
 ends mention herds of tame Cattle; on the oldest 
 monuments of the countries which we consider the 
 
 nurseries of civilization we find the effigies of domes- 
 tic Cattle; we dig their anatomical remains out of 
 the alluvial soil around the former sites of lacustrine 
 dwellings. Not without warrant do we lay special 
 stress on the importance of these relics; but the 
 rnost careful examination of them sheds as little 
 light on this (in more than one respect) mysterious 
 question, as does the comparison of the ancient 
 monumental images with the breeds of Cattle of 
 to-day, and by no means solves the mystery of their 
 ancestry. 
 
 The ancient animal pictures of the Egyptian mon- 
 uments are drawn with great skill and show us dis- 
 tinctly three breeds of Cattle: first, a long-horned 
 variety, the most common breed, which had the 
 great honor of furnishing the sacred bull. Apis;" sec- 
 
 TH£ SAN&A. This Abyssinian variety of domestic Ox lias a well developed hump and long and pecul- 
 iarly shaped horns, but is otherwise a well shaped animal. Its limbs and tail are long. In habits it does not differ 
 from other domestic Cattle. (Bos afiicanus.') 
 
 ondly, a short-horned breed, quite similar to the 
 former, but with short horns describing a curve of 
 a quarter of a circle; and thirdly,, humped Oxen, 
 usually represented among the tribute brought to 
 the Egyptian rulers by the tribes of the Soudan. 
 
 The delineation of the anatomical structure of the 
 head in all these representations shows features 
 having a close resemblance to those of a Zebu head. 
 The humped Ox, which is even at the present day 
 distributed all over central Africa, is the progenitor 
 of both the ancient and modern strains of Egyptian 
 domestic Cattle, which are and have always been of 
 the humped breeds. If one travels from Lower 
 Egypt up the Nile, through Nubia and Dongola to 
 Sennaar, he can but observe how the high-necked 
 Egyptian domestic Ox is gradually superseded by 
 the genuine humped Ox of central Africa. The 
 
480 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 old Egyptian long-horned breed, especially the one 
 with the lyre-shaped horns, very decidedly resembles 
 the Abyssinian Sanga. 
 Humped Oxen— The Sanga {Bos africanus) may prob- 
 
 The Sanga and ably be regarded as the most beauti- 
 Zebu. fui breed of all humped Oxen. It is 
 
 large, slender, yet vigorous, long-legged and rather 
 long-tailed and the hump is well developed. The 
 horns are very strong, and differ materially from 
 those of most European species; they are fully 
 forty inches long, stand rather close together at 
 their bases and curve first outward, then straight 
 upward, in the last third inward,, and the tips again 
 turn outward. The hair is straight and fine and the 
 general color is chestnut brown. 
 
 Th'e Zebu {Bos indtcus) must be regarded as closely 
 allied to the Sanga, though it markedly differs from 
 it and also is divided into a series of sub-breeds. It 
 
 definitely settle the problem. According to Ruti- 
 meyer three different species of wild Oxen took 
 part in the production of the forty or fifty breeds 
 of domestic Cattle now existing and classified in 
 Europe and America; first the Bos primo^enius, which 
 probably belonged to the same species as the Urus 
 or Aurochs described by ancient authors; second 
 the Bos longifrons and the Bos frontosus, the remains 
 of which have been found in different parts of 
 Europe. 
 
 Rutimeyer gives it as his opinion that direct lineal 
 descendants of the Bos primogenius, although much 
 degenerated, still live in a. half wildstate.in some of 
 the larger forests of the north of England and Scot- 
 land. An animal the description of which is very 
 similar to that of the Park Ox, existed in Wales as 
 early as the tenth century. Four hundred head of 
 white Cattle with red ears were sent to King John, 
 
 
 
 THE ZEBU, This East Indian animal, which is one of the humped varieties of doiheptic Cattle, is noticeable for its short, straight horns and its 
 
 long ears. The cow and calf in the picture are of the ligliter breed, although there are also Zebus of other colors, and some that are pied. (Bos indicus.) 
 
 attains in some regards about the same physical 
 proportions, but is comparatively stouter and shorter 
 legged than the Sanga. The ears are long and pend- 
 ent; the horns are very short. The coloring is less 
 uniform than that of its African relative, the usual 
 reddish or yellowish brown frequently merging into 
 a dingy yellow or a white hue, pied Zebus being no 
 rarity. In India individuals of this species are not 
 infrequently true dwarfs, barely attaining the size 
 of a small Donkey. The zoologist still searches in 
 vain for a species to which he can positively ascribe 
 the most active agency in the prdductfon of the 
 Zebu breeds. Various experiments have clearly 
 proven that the Zebus readily propagate with other 
 breeds of domestic Cattle, and that the hybrids are 
 fertile to the most remote relationship. 
 Probable Ancestors The solution of the question as to 
 of Humpless the origin of the humpless Euro- 
 Cattle. pean breeds seems to be somewhat 
 
 easier, though in this case also we can not hope to 
 
 and one hundred were required of culprits as a pen- 
 alty for some misdemeanors, according to an old 
 statute. It has been proven that the animal then 
 lived in a wild state in a virgin forest, extending 
 transversely all over the north of England and south 
 of Scotland from Chillingham to Hamilton; and in 
 the two parks bearing these two names, lying on the 
 margins of the larger main forest, the Cattle are still 
 preserved. As early as 1260 William of Farrars 
 caused Chartley Park in Staffordshire to be guarded 
 by an, enclosure, with a view to preserving the wild 
 OxenNon that stretch of swampy woodland, and this 
 example found followers. As the Ox became rarer, 
 other owners of large estates acted on the hint, and 
 thus the Park Ox was seen only in enclosures even 
 at a period antedating the Reformation. Fourteen 
 of these parks were still in existence in the begin- 
 ning of the present century, and five are preserved 
 to the present day, each of them stocked with herds 
 of these British wild Oxen. 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS— DOMESTIC OXEN. 
 
 481 
 
 ne Park Ox, or The Park Ox (Bos scoticus) is of mid- 
 mid Ox of die stature, and of strong but not 
 Britain. clumsy structure. The hair is short 
 
 and lies close to the body; on the neck and top of 
 the head it is longer and curly; it is uniformly of 
 a milk white hue, except on the muzzle, the ears, 
 horns and hoofs. The ears are reddish-brown on 
 their inner surface, the fore part of the muzzle is 
 brown, the eyes are bordered with black, the hoofs 
 black and the horns are grayish white with black 
 tips. The latter are moderately long, rather thin, 
 slender and sharply pointed, and curve from their 
 bases outward and upward, while the tips turn very 
 slightly inward again. 
 
 The aristocratic owners of the parks still existing 
 in Scotland take a certain pride in extending their 
 especial protection to 'these animals, the relics of 
 
 peculiarities with the exception of the white color, 
 being generally a plain black, brown, red or yel- 
 lowish brown — a black ring encircling the eyes and 
 mouth. 
 
 The Freiburg or In describing a few breeds of the 
 Swiss Ox De- humpless domestic Ox, I will briefly 
 scribed. mention three specially prominent 
 breeds. The Ox of Freiburg or Swiss Ox {Bos 
 taurus friburgensis) may be taken as a type of the 
 Alpine Cattle, which are bred in a great many 
 strains, showing a marked variety among them- 
 selves. It is a well-shaped animal with a moder- 
 ately large head, a broad forehead, a short thick 
 neck, a prominent dewlap, a long, broad-backed 
 body, sturdy limbs and a long tail terminating in a 
 large tuft. It has relatively short, rather weak, but 
 very pointed horns, which curve outward and upward. 
 
 
 THE FABK OX. The wild Cattle of Britain are still preserved in several British parks, and are believed by some authorities to approach nearest 
 
 to the ancient tjrus, or Aurochs, which are by many supposed to have been progenitors of the humpless breeds of domestic Cattle. The Park Ox is of stout 
 form and is of white color except the tips of the horns, the ears and the muzzle. {^Bos scoticus.) 
 
 olden times, and they are preserved at a considerable 
 expense. Special guards watch over them, try to 
 ward off all danger from them and finally segregate 
 the Bulls which have become vicious on account of 
 their old age, or- otherwise useless. These Cattle 
 have all the characteristic attributes of the wild ani- 
 mals of the present. They hide their young, graze 
 during the night, sleep and bask in the sun by day. 
 They are fierce only when driven to bay; on all 
 other occasions they are very shy and flee before the 
 most insignificant of humanity, even when but re- 
 motely menaced. 
 
 Oeacendants of the Among the distinctively Scotch 
 Park Ox Frequent breeds of Cattle there are occa- 
 in Scotland. sionally to be found single individ- 
 uals or entire breeds, which seem to have descended 
 directly from the Park Ox. They display all its 
 
 in the shape of a crescent, the tips turning outward 
 and either forward or backward. The hairy coat is 
 sleek and shows black or brownish .red spots on a 
 white ground. This Ox is bred especially in Frei- 
 burg and the adjacent cantons of Switzerland; it 
 yields both excellent beef and extremely rich milk. 
 Peculiarities and The most widely distributed breed 
 Merits of the of marsh Cattle is probably the 
 Dutch Ox. Dutch Ox (Bos taurus hollandicus) 
 which, in Fitzinger's opinion, is a direct descendant 
 of the Aurochs. Stately proportions marked by a 
 graceful uniformity in the development of all parts 
 of the body, and very uniform coloring and mark- 
 ings, comprise its most prominent features. The 
 head is long, tapering towards the muzzle; the neck 
 long and thin the abdomen barrel-shaped; that is, 
 long and pendent; the withers are narrow, the croup 
 
482 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 broad, and the tail moderately long. The legs are 
 especially stoutly and strongly developed, long, but 
 not clumsy. The horns are short, weak, and usually 
 turn outward and forward; the coloring is pied, the 
 white or grayish white ground showing black or 
 sometimes brown or red spots, of varying size and 
 shape. In Holland this Ox has been bred for cen- 
 turies. It is distinguished for its abundant yield of 
 milk, and is easily fattened. 
 The Durham or The Durham or Short-horned breed 
 English Short- of England {Bos taurus dunelmensis) 
 horn. jj-,ay be mentioned as a not exactly 
 
 handsome product of continued systematical breed- 
 ing. It is, in fact, an Ox with no symmetry of pro- 
 portions — a shapeless animal — with a small head, 
 
 Wild Cattle in 
 
 the United 
 
 States. 
 
 FREIBURG OR SWISS OX. A well developed, sturdy animal is the Freiburg Ox, which is typical of the 
 
 Alpine Cattle. It is a short-horned variety, has a thick neck with a prominent dewlap, a small head and the white 
 ground color of its sides shows several dark spots. (,Bos taurus friburgensis.) 
 
 very weak horns, a straight back and short legs, a 
 thick neck and unwieldy body, bred especially to 
 furnish the greatest possible amount of beef when 
 fattened and butchered. The coloring of the short, 
 smooth hair is subject to much variation. Originally 
 the Durham was bred almost exclusively in the east- 
 ern coast counties of England; now it is to be seen 
 in all the counties of England and Ireland and oc- 
 casionally in Germany, Holland and France [and 
 is also nurnerous in the United States]. In the yield 
 of milk it is inferior to many of the other breeds, 
 but in the production of beef it surpasses them all. 
 Oxen Easily Re- With as much ease as that with which 
 uert to a Wild a wild Ox is tamed and reduced to a 
 State. state of domesticity, the domestic 
 
 Ox reverts to the habits of the original species, when 
 it escapes from the supervision and care of Man. 
 Oxen which have reverted to complete or partial 
 savagery are found mainly in those countries over 
 which Spaniards once ruled or which are still sub- 
 ject to their dominion. The bull which is so highly 
 esteemed in Spain because it is indispensable to the 
 conduct of bull-fights, descends from Cattle which 
 once were tame. It leads the life of wild Oxen, 
 never entering a stable the whole year round, and is 
 
 really the recipient of no care at all. Only occa- 
 sionally does some person commissioned to inspect 
 the herd visit its haunts. It is not of particularly 
 large stature, though a beautifully proportioned and 
 uncommonly strong creature, characterized by toler- 
 ably long and very pointed horns, curving outward; 
 the color is a dark red or bay, or a blackish-brown, 
 as a rule, but there are exceptions. 
 America the Par- In the New World circumstances 
 adise of Reverted have always favored the reversion of 
 Cattle. Cattle to the wild state. Colum- 
 
 bus first imported the useful creature on his second 
 trip to San Domingo. There it multiplied with such 
 rapidity that a few years later calves of both sexes 
 could be distributed all over the island, and twenty- 
 seven years after the 
 discovery of Domingo 
 herds of four thousand 
 head were of common 
 occurrence. In 1587 
 thirty-five thousand 
 skins were exported 
 from this island alone. 
 About 1540 Oxen were 
 transported from Spain 
 to the southern portions 
 of America. They found 
 the climate of the New 
 World so favorable to 
 their well-being that 
 they shortly emancipat- 
 ed themselves from hu- 
 man protection. A cen- 
 tury later they inhabited 
 the pampas in such 
 enormous numbers that 
 people in those regions 
 pursued the same course 
 in regard to them that 
 the hunters of North 
 America did later with 
 regard to the Bisons: 
 that is, slaughtered the 
 animals solely for the 
 sake of their skins. The 
 flesh and fat were left 
 for the consumption of the tame and wild Dogs and 
 of the Vultures. Such indiscriminate slaughter soon 
 thinned the numbers of even these enormous herds, 
 and only recent improvements in the manner of util- 
 izing all parts of the carcasses of the beasts led to a 
 change in the methods of slaughter and saved these 
 wild Cattle from utter extinction. 
 
 In Texas, California and some of the west- 
 ern states and territories there are immense 
 herds of what are known as "range" Cattle. 
 These are the direct descendants of the 
 Spanish Cattle brought to America in the early days of Span- 
 ish dominion on this continent. A few decades ago the care 
 of Cattle in Texas was very lax, all of the animals being left to 
 follow their own devices on a common range. Now the stock 
 owners largely use fenced-in pastures, so as to restrict the 
 travels of their Cattle within proper bounds. Some of these 
 pastures enclose many thousands of acres within one fence. 
 
 Cattle belonging to smaller owners are still turned out on 
 the prairie and allowed to wander about promiscuously. Each 
 owner has a brand.which he can register with the county clerk, 
 such registry making the brand the indisputable property of 
 the one in whose name it is entered. With this brand he 
 marks all the Cattle he owns. At least once a year there is a 
 general " round-up " of the Cattle, the owners in a county 
 uniting to drive all the Cattle to a corral, or enclosure. From 
 there the calves following their mothers are driven into the 
 branding pen, and the brand of their owner is placed on them 
 and they remain his until rebranded. 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS-DOMESTIC OXEN. 
 
 483 
 
 In Texas it was formerly quite frequently the case that many 
 Cattle would wander away or conceal themselves so effectually 
 that the vigilance of the cowboys was eluded, the result being 
 that there would be next year a number of two-year-old calves 
 unbranded. The rule for these calves was that the first Cattle 
 owner who caught such an outcast could brand it. A shrewd 
 stockman named Maverick, seeing a chance of profit in it, 
 made a special feature of capturing these ownerless yearlings 
 and branding them, doing the busmess so successfully that it 
 
 JEESEY COW,- — The breeds of Cattle from the British Channel 
 Islands bear the palm for choice quality of cream and butter obtained from 
 their milk. The Jersey is the type of these animals and is a favorite dairy 
 •cow in .America and Great Britain. 
 
 became the custom for the other stockmen to call unbranded 
 yearlings "Mavericks," and they are known by that name to this 
 •day. Such opportunities as those of Maverick are not now 
 •open. Closer attention is paid to the Cattle and it is seldom 
 that a calf escapes being branded. The Cattle raising industry 
 is one of great importance in the West, where there are large 
 areas not fitted for cultivation, which are admirably adapted 
 for Cattle raising. 
 
 On the Falkland Islands the Oxen have com- 
 pletely returned to savagery and are entirely eman- 
 -cipated from the yoke of Man, 
 being but occasionally hunted 
 by sailors whose provisions of 
 meat have run out. On the 
 Galopagos Islands, the Philip- 
 pine and Sandwich Isles and 
 ■on the Celebes, Oxen having 
 jeverted to a wild state are 
 also found, and the same may 
 be said of Australia and New 
 Zealand. In the high moun- 
 tainous regions of central Asia 
 Cattle which have resumed 
 their wild habits also occur, 
 •especially in instances in 
 which herds have become 
 ■ownerless in consequence of 
 wars. In Colombia, as in 
 most other countries of South 
 America, they live in unre- 
 strained freedom, not in the 
 low lands, however, but on 
 the heights of the Cordilleras. 
 nmmr of Life of A glimpse at 
 Cattle in Vari- the manner of 
 
 ous Nations. Ufg of the do- 
 mestic Cattle of various coun- 
 tries is instructive as well as 
 fascinating. In order to begin 
 our consideration in histor- 
 ical fashion, let us turn our attention first to those 
 herds which still lead the same manner of existence 
 as did those belonging to the patriarchs. The wan- 
 dering tribes of eastern Soudan are herdsmen, who 
 attend to their duties in exactly the same way as 
 their ancestors did thousands of years ago. Herds 
 
 of Cattle constitute their only riches. Their wealth 
 is estimated by the number of their Sheep and 
 Cattle, as that of the Laplander is estimated by the 
 number of his Reindeer. 
 
 The greatest of European land-owners and cattle- 
 breeders, including those of Holland and Switzer- 
 land, can hardly realize the vast numbers contained 
 in the herds of those nomads. Near the village of 
 Melbess, which I have already mentioned once, the 
 plain shows a deep depression, at the bottom of 
 which a number of wells have been dug, one beside 
 the other, for the sole purpose of watering the herds 
 congregating there during the noon hours. Begin- 
 ning in the afternoon and during the whole night, far 
 on towards noon of the next day nearly a hundred 
 people are busy hauling water from the wells and 
 pouring it into pools in which a little salty earth is 
 added to it. From all sides innumerable herds of 
 Sheep, Goats and Cattle draw near, first the Sheep 
 and Goats, then the cows.. In a few minutes the 
 valley is filled with them. One sees nothing but an 
 unbroken herd of animals pressing back and forth, a 
 dark human form looming up between them at inter- 
 vals. Thousands of Sheep and Goats keep arriving, 
 while as many are departing, satisfied. I believe it 
 impossible to count the number of Cattle; for one 
 soon gives up as hopeless the task of counting in 
 the confusion of the throng; yet I believe I do not 
 exaggerate if I put down the number of the animals 
 daily congregating at the spot as sixty thousand. 
 
 In the south of Africa the Oxen are of great im- 
 portance, as without them the extended trip neces- 
 sary for purposes of trading and hunting through 
 the vast wastes in parts entirely devoid of water and 
 grass would be impossible. 
 
 
 
 '^i^i^M^ 
 
 DUTCH COW. The breed of Dutch Oxen, of which the female is depicted in the illustration, has 
 
 been bred'in HoUand'for hundreds of years, and is especially adapted to marshy regions. It is a rather hand- 
 some animal, easily fattened, and the cows yield milk abundantly. (Bos taurus hollandicus.) 
 
 Cattle Life in Tern- In southern Russia, Tartary, and 
 perate and North- probably also a great portion of 
 ern Lands. central Asia, considerable herds of 
 
 Cattle are kept. All of the steppes of southern 
 Russia are covered with herds of Horses, Sheep and 
 Cattle. In summer all these animals live outdoors; 
 
484 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 during the severe, long winter they find some pro- 
 tection against the storms on the lee side of a 
 mound of earth thrown up to break the force of 
 the freezing winds prevailing. If such a mound is 
 provided with a miserable piece of roof on one 
 side, it is considered an excellent stable. Among 
 these herds the Cattle rank first in point of num- 
 ber, and have naturally many advantages over the 
 others: they are hardier and do not perish so easily 
 in the snow storms which play such dire havoc 
 among the Horses and Sheep, as they do not lose 
 their instinct of locality and become bewildered, but 
 hurry straight home to shelter— unless, indeed, as 
 sometimes happens, the storm is too high. In most 
 of these regions the herds are left to roam at will. 
 The animals had to shift for themselves, and were 
 given neither shelter nor food. Some of them were 
 so wild that they would let no human being ap- 
 proach them. The calves were suckled as long as 
 they craved milk, and herdsmen never thought of 
 
 
 ■t^. 
 
 Ill 
 
 
 DURHAM OE SHOBT-HORN COW. The Durham breed of Cattle is a famous English variety now com- 
 mon also in the United States. Its large, unwieldy body, straight back, and small head and horns, make it an 
 ungainly looking animal, but it is famous for the quantity and quality of beef it furnishes. (Bos taurus dunelmensis.) 
 
 separating them from their mothers until they had 
 reached their second year. This method of Cattle 
 raising has been greatly changed in recent years, 
 however. 
 
 Even in Italy there are still Cattle living in a half- 
 savage condition. In the Maremmas, those strips 
 of coast country between Pisa and Naples, which are 
 nearly perfectly level, fertile in spots and marshy 
 throughout the remainder of their extent, ill-famed 
 for their unhealthy, miasmatic climate and thinly 
 populated, numerous herds of Cattle rove about, 
 living outdoors year after year, migrating over ex- 
 tensive tracts of territory, and guarded only by the 
 hardiest Men. In Wallachia, Servia, Bosnia, Bul- 
 garia and Syria similar conditions of life prevail 
 among the Cattle. 
 
 In the mountainous countries of central Europe, 
 especially in the Alps, the valuable domestic ani- 
 mal receives quite a different sort of care, though 
 there is yet much left to be desired. Tschudi says: 
 "Usually there is no provision made for a suitable 
 
 stable, or even for any shelter at all. And yet these 
 badly protected beasts apparently thoroughly enjoy 
 the beautiful, calm period of their existence in the 
 Alps. One has only to bring the large bell, which 
 in spring sounds the signal for the departure to and 
 the return from the Alps, among the Cattle in the 
 valley, and it will excite immediate and general 
 attention. The cows collect, lowing and jumping- 
 with joy, thinking they hear the signal for departure, 
 and when they set out, and the finest cow has the 
 largest bell hanging from a gay ribbon around her 
 neck and a bouquet of flowers between her horns; 
 when the beast of burden is packed with cheese- 
 kettles and provisions, when the milk stools are set 
 between the horns of the Cattle, and the neatherds- 
 men begin their Alpine songs and the yodling re- 
 sounds through the valleys, then, indeed, one ought 
 to see the manifestations of pleasure with which the 
 good-natured and mischievous creatures take their 
 places in the procession, and, lowing, shape their 
 
 course towards the 
 mountain. Cows left in 
 the valley often escape 
 the vigilance of their 
 owners and follow their 
 mates to distant mount- 
 ains." 
 
 In the very high 
 northern latitudes win- 
 ter is a particularly hard 
 time for Cattle. The 
 short summer of Nor- 
 way and Lapland does 
 not produce enough 
 vegetation to supply the 
 Cattle with winter prov- 
 ender, therefore they are 
 fed in winter not only 
 'hay and straw, leaves 
 and birch branches, 
 reindeer-moss, aquatic 
 plants, algae and so on, 
 but also fish and espe- 
 cially the heads of Had- 
 docks, which are caught 
 in great quantities dur- 
 ing the time forage is 
 scarcest. 
 
 In most other coun- 
 tries of Europe, the cow 
 is a miserable slave of man; in Spain, however, the 
 bull is esteemed of some importance, and may be- 
 come the hero of the day and occasionally aro'use a 
 great deal more sympathy than anything else in the 
 breast of a Spaniard. This is because the Spaniards 
 —both those dwelling in their own country and those 
 living abroad, especially in the warmer parts of 
 the New World— are passionately fond of spectacles 
 such as were in vogue in ancient Rome, but are 
 not now in favor with any other civilized nation; and 
 every bull passing under the observation of a Span- 
 iard is mentally estimated by a standard the highest, 
 excellences of which are great capacity and invari- 
 able inclination for fighting. 
 
 Mental Attributes After all that has already been said, 
 and Capacities I need not further predicate much 
 of the Ox. about the intellectual qualities of the 
 domestic Ox. The animal undoubtedly occupies a 
 low plane of intelligence: for it is certainly the most 
 stupid of our domestic animals except the Sheep. It 
 learns to know its keeper and evinces a certain 
 
 )j^-.<^;^-V"'' 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS— BUFFALOES. 
 
 485 
 
 amount of affection for him; it obeys his summons 
 and follows his call and exhibits a certain degree of 
 fellowship with the person who comes much in con- 
 tact with it. Habit seems, however, to have more to 
 do with this than conscious knowledge. 
 
 Various plants, whether fresh or dried, such as 
 vetches, peas, young grains and succulent herbage, 
 seem to constitute the favorite foods of the Ox tribe. 
 Plants and veggtabie substances inimical to their 
 Tvell being are: flax, leaves of the yew-tree, water- 
 hemlock, louse-wdi-t, bent-grass, pond- weed, meadow- 
 saffron, spurge, monkshood, young oak-leaves and 
 ■walnut tree -leaves, wet clover and similar things. 
 Parsley, celery, garlic and onions, when eaten, are 
 said to decrease the production of milk. Thyme, 
 ranunculus and plantains are eaten in times of 
 scarcity of food, while cows of all breeds are pas- 
 
 ever, they may again slightly turn forward or de- 
 scribe a gentle curve downward, and assume a 
 slightly outward direction. 
 
 The Fierce and Among the animals belonging to 
 Powerful Cape this group, we assign to the Cape 
 Buffalo. Buffalo {Bos or Bubalus caffer) the 
 first place; it is the fiercest and most powerful mem- 
 ber of the sub-genus and particularly characterized 
 by its curious horns. It is of a sturdier organization 
 than other Buffaloes; the head is proportionately 
 small and the neck rather thick; the withers are 
 slightly raised, the tail is long and thin and deco- 
 rated with a strong, copious tuft, occupying half its 
 length. The horns are curved outward and back- 
 ward at the roots, then up and backward, and the 
 tips again show a marked inward curve. In the 
 cases of old bulls they are greatly expanded at the 
 
 HEKEFOBS BULL. The Hereford breed is one especially favored by graziers because of its large size, its sturdy constitution, the ease 
 
 with which it is fattened and the large yield and excellent quality of its beef. It leads among the heavy English breeds and has become a favorite 
 with Cattle raisers in the United States. 
 
 sionately fond of all kinds of fruit and most vege- 
 tables, such as potatoes, carrots, squashes, turnips, 
 •etc.; salt is necessary for tlieir continuance in health. 
 The cow is justly held to be the most profitable of 
 ^11 domestic animals. 
 
 THE BUFFALOES. 
 
 The Buffaloes {Bubalus) are clumsily built Oxen 
 with a heavy, ungainly body, rather short, stout 
 legs, a broad head with a strongly convex low fore- 
 head, dull, sinister-looking eyes, and laterally pro- 
 jecting ears, which are usually large and wide. The 
 horns are set on the apices of the extreme upper 
 posterior angles of the skull and are generally dis- 
 proportionately enlarged in diameter at their bases; 
 their direction is at first downward and backward, 
 then outward and finally upward; occasionally, how- 
 
 roots, and covered with thick, annular furrows; they 
 overshadow the whole forehead so that a narrow 
 strip in the middle only is left uncovered. With the 
 exception of the ears and the extremity of the tail, 
 the growth of hair is extremely scant, so that some 
 places have an almost naked appearance, and a truly 
 hairy covering can be properly spoken of only in 
 connection with the head and legs. The color of 
 the animal is produced less by the black hair, tipped 
 with a lighter tint, than by the dark brownish-gray 
 hide. The height of a Cape Buffalo at the shoulder 
 varies between five and six feet, according to sex 
 and the development of the animal. The horns, 
 which in the female are more slender and cover the 
 forehead only half as broadly and bulkily as in the 
 male, may in both sexes attain a spread of from 
 forty to nearly forty-five inches. 
 
486 
 
 THE tWVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 Range and Habits The range of the Cape Buffalo com- 
 of the Cape prises, like that of the Giraffe, the 
 Buffalo. greater part of the eastern half of 
 Africa. In Cape Colony it has, together with the 
 few surviving Elephants of that country, only a 
 restricted and quite isolated habitat between the 
 bays of Mossel and Algoa. The southern boundary 
 of its present range might be described by a line 
 running along the Cubangu to the Ngami lake ; 
 thence eastward to the Limpopo and to the east of 
 the Transvaal; thence it would run south to about 
 the bay of St. Lucia. To the north of this line it is 
 found in most of the African territory, up to about 
 the sixteenth parallel of north latitude. It affects 
 the plain more than the mountains, and for its per- 
 manent abode it always selects a locality where 
 water is plentiful. 
 
 The Cape Buffalo is gregarious by nature, and 
 constantly lives in association with its own kind, in 
 bands of from thirty to sixty in regions where it is 
 pursued, and in herds numbering hundreds or even 
 thousands in those localities in which it is little or 
 not at all molested. 
 
 During the hot hours of the day the Cape Buffalo 
 lies in its retreat still and motionless, sleeping or 
 sometimes ruminating; it not infrequently makes its 
 resting place in a pool of water or a mud-hole, for 
 this reason often appearing covered with a goodly 
 crust of mud. In the late afternoon or toward even- 
 ing it rises, and grazes at intervals from that time till 
 early morning, not in leisurely comfort, like other 
 Oxen, but by fits and starts. With a restless haste, 
 driving away the obnoxious Flies, and often uttering 
 its dull growl, it sways from side to side its ever 
 damp, thick muzzle, pricks up its broad ears, deco- 
 rated with a bristly fringe of hair, and lashes its 
 flanks nervously with its tufted tail. Apparently 
 ever sulky and completely inaccessible to any mol- 
 lifying influence, grim and vicious, it carries its 
 broad, bulky head partly concealed by its horns 
 halfway lowered, as if ever ready to make an attack, 
 and the large, blue-black eyes glare wildly from 
 under the huge horns, so that the animal can not 
 avoid producing upon the beholder the impression 
 of unrestricted fury and deliberate malice. 
 
 Without being really timorous, the Buffaloes flee 
 at the approach of Man, and, especially if they have 
 been repeatedly pursued, they shun the proximity 
 of their most formidable enemy as much as possible; 
 but if driven to bay or provoked, they turn against 
 him without scruple and then heed neither spear 
 nor bullet in their blind rage. A wounded Buffalo, 
 which does not immediately charge at his enemy, 
 never flees far, but hides in ambush in the high grass 
 and there awaits the approach of his pursuers, with 
 the intention of rushing at them with lightning-like 
 rapidity. If its enemies flee or hide, it follows them 
 snorting, trying to trail them by its powers of scent. 
 The old solitary bulls separated from their herds are 
 said to be simply terrible. Drayson says: "It is well 
 known that it is the habit of nearly all animals to 
 flee from Man, provided he does not wound them 
 or intrude on them at an unsuitable time; these old 
 hermits, however, certainly do not wait for such ex- 
 cuses, but meet the sportsman half way, and pick a 
 quarrel with him." 
 
 The Pursuit of Selous, who shot several hundred 
 
 the Cape Buffaloes in south Africa, says: "I 
 
 Buffalo. did not find the old solitary bulls 
 
 any more dangerous than the animals living in 
 
 a herd. Unless they are wounded, they generally 
 
 flee from Man; and even when injured, they are no- 
 worse than any Buffalo out of a herd under similar 
 circumstances." He further relates, to indicate the 
 strength of an old bull, that he once was charged at,. 
 while on horseback, by a wounded bull, which threw 
 the Horse into the air "as if it were a Dog." 
 
 Thus one may conclude that the chase of the Cape 
 Buffalo is not devoid of danger; the animal prob- 
 ably is not usually felled by the first shot, hence 
 generally has time and strength enough to confront 
 its antagonist. 
 
 The beef of the Cape Buffalo vies with that of 
 fattened Oxen in its savory taste. It is tougher and. 
 of coarser grain, but is very juicy in spite of the lack 
 of fat; hence it is an object of zealous pursuit among 
 African huntsmen. But Man is not the only dan- 
 gerous enemy of the Buffalo; the Lion also dares, 
 attack the powerful creature and sometimes succeeds, 
 in killing it by breaking its neck. At any rate it, is. 
 nothing uncommon for hunters in south Africa ta 
 encounter Buffaloes which have succeeded in shak- 
 ing off, and perhaps in killing, the beast of prey, hut 
 bear deep wounds on neck and shoulders received, 
 during their struggle. 
 The Cape Buffalo The first living Cape Buffaloes were 
 
 Capable of Do- taken to Europe by Th von Heug- 
 
 mestication. \{^_ He says: "Notwithstanding its 
 
 ferocious temper in the wilderness, it seems that the 
 
 animal may be easily tamed and then probably put 
 
 to excellent use." 
 
 Cape Buffaloes have propagated themselves in. 
 various zoological gardens; but those which are born 
 in confinement differ little or not at all from those 
 which are imported from Africa. Both grow as 
 rapidly as other Oxen; but the huge horns of the 
 bulls are very slow in development, and extended, 
 observations lead to the belief that many years are 
 needed for their growth before they assume their 
 chai'acteristic shape and size. 
 
 The Indian Buf- The ancestor of the completely 
 
 falo's Physical tamed and domesticated Buffaloes, 
 
 Peculiarities, which are to be frequently seen Jii 
 the valley of the Danube and in Italy and in much 
 greater numbers in Egypt and India, is not the Cape 
 Buffalo,- but an animal still living in southeastern 
 Asia. 
 
 The Indian Buffalo {^Bos or Bubalus ami) attains,, 
 according to its breed, a total length of from nine 
 feet four inches to ten feet, including the tail, which 
 measures from. twenty to twenty-four inches. The 
 height at the shoulder ranges from four feet eight 
 inches to six feet. The head is shorter and broader 
 than that of the Ox, the forehead large, the facial 
 portion short, the neck short and stout, longitudi- 
 nally wrinkled in front, but destitute of a dewlap. 
 The abdomen is slightly elongated, but full and 
 rounded. The body shows a hump-like elevation 
 on the withers, and a depression along the back. 
 The chest is narrow, and the flanks are retracted r 
 the tail is rather short; the sturdy legs are pro- 
 portionately short and the feet are equipped with 
 broad hoofs, capable of a remarkable degree of lat- 
 eral extension. The small eyes have a ferocious, de- 
 fiant expression; the ears are long and broad,, 
 covered with short hair on the outside, and decorated 
 with long tufts of hair on the inner surface. The 
 horns are long and strong, expanded at their roots, 
 then tapering and ending in blunt points; on their 
 two anterior surfaces they show deep transverse fur- 
 rows from their bases up to their middles; from that 
 point to their extremities, as well as along the entire 
 
THE CAPE BUFFALO. These wild and ferocious animals inhabit eastern Africa from Abyssinia to Cape Colony. Where they are little disturbed 
 
 they are found in hundreds or even thousands, but usually in smaller herds. They are sturdy animals with stout horns, and are very formidable and dan- 
 gerous antagonists of the sportsman who hunts them. (Bos caffer.) 
 
 (487) 
 
488 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOORED ANIMALS. 
 
 posterior surfaces, they are perfectly smooth; their 
 cross-section is an irregular triangle. The hairy cov- 
 ering is scant, stiff and bristly, growing a trifle longer 
 only on the forehead, the shoulders, along the entire 
 front of the throat and on the tail-tuft, while the 
 hinder part of the back, the buttocks, breast and ab- 
 dominal surface, the thighs and the greater part of 
 the legs have a nearly naked appearance; thus the 
 coloring of the hide, which as a rule is dark blackish- 
 gray or black, is a greater factor in producing the 
 general color than the bluish-gray hair, tinged with 
 brownish or red-brown. There also are white or 
 mottled individuals, but they are rare. The cow 
 differs from the bull only by its smaller proportions. 
 Range-and Habits The range of this wild Buffalo ex- 
 
 of the Indian tends from the foot of the Himala- 
 Bijffalo. yas, through Bengal and the eastern 
 portions of central India southward about to the 
 Godavari, and eastward, through Assam and Burmah, 
 at least as far as northwestern Siam. It is also a 
 native of Ceylon. 
 
 Being as fond of water as all other members of its 
 tribe, the Indian Buffalo is found only in the wetter 
 portions of its range, either near rivers or in the im- 
 mediate neighborhood of small lakes, which may 
 contain water only at certain times, or else around 
 shallow lagoons on the shores of the ocean. It is 
 clumsy in its movements, but is strong and possesses 
 great endurance, and in swimming it is particularly 
 proficient. Among the perceptive senses those of 
 smelling and hearing rank first; sight and suscepti- 
 bility to sensation of touch appear to be little devel- 
 oped, neither does the sense of taste seem of a high 
 order, as the animal contents itself with the worst 
 quality of food, such indeed as other Oxen disdain. 
 The Buffaloes graze especially during the night and 
 in the early morning; they are given to incursions 
 into plantations and sometimes commit great depre- 
 dations in them. 
 
 The temper of the Indian Buffalo is said to be 
 sulky and uncertain; its strength and courage are 
 said to be so great that Hindu poetry places the 
 animal on a level with the Tiger. "The bull," says 
 Hodgson, "is so strong and pugnacious thr: it not 
 only dares attack a full-grown Elephant, but occa- 
 sionally subdues it." Jerdon also states that an en- 
 raged Buffalo will sometimes turn and charge straight 
 against a hunting Elephant, and he adds: "The 
 Buffaloes are anything but shy, except in those 
 regions in which they have suffered much from con- 
 stant pursuit, and one can approach them within 
 easy range even on Elephants, without the aid of 
 which the chase can not very well be successfully 
 conducted." 
 
 The vocal expression of the Buffalo is a deep, 
 rumbling bellow. Hodgson says that the bull seeks 
 his mate in the fall; then the larger herds gener- 
 ally resolve themselves into smaller bands, one of 
 which each bull collects around himself. 
 
 The Indian Buffalo is, in a certain sense, the 
 natural enemy of the Tiger, and nearly always 
 issues victorious from its combats with that beast. 
 W.Rice relates that adult Buffalo bulls are occa- 
 sio;ially attacked by Tigers, but frequently succeed 
 in quieting the beast, of prey forever. When one 
 Buffalo is attacked the others fly to its rescue and, 
 as a rule, succeed in despatching or driving off the 
 assailants. Herdsmen tending tame Buffaloes may, 
 without feai* of molestation from beasts of prey, 
 spend their time in the jungle, riding one of the 
 animals. Johnson relates how a Tiger attacked the 
 
 rearmost Man of a caravan. A herdsman, who 
 was guarding Buffaloes near by, flew to the rescue 
 and wounded the beast of prey. The Tiger imme- 
 diately relinquished its first victim and seized the 
 herdsman; but the Buffaloes, seeing the danger their 
 master was in, rushed at the Tiger and assailed it so 
 furiously that it soon lay dead upon the ground. 
 
 Distribution and We do not know when and how the 
 
 Life of tiie Tame tame Buffalo has been distributed, 
 Buffalo. but we suppose that it was probably 
 brought to Persia in the train of great armies or of 
 migrating tribes, as the companions of Alexander 
 the Great found it there. Later the Moslems may 
 have transported it to Egypt and Syria. In the 
 year 596, during the reign of Agilulf, it landed in 
 Italy, to the great surprise of Europeans. At first 
 it seems to have spread very slowly; it is now found 
 from southern China, throughout India and Farther 
 India, Afghanistan, Persia, Armenia, Syria, Palestine, 
 Turkey, Greece, and the valley of the Danube, Italy, 
 and very commonly also in Egypt, but not in Nubia. 
 Like all of its relatives, it most delights in hot, 
 swampy or watery situations. The Nile Delta is a 
 paradise for it. On the lower Danube it apparently 
 feels very comfortable; in the Italian swamps it is 
 the only member of its family to be found, as all 
 others succumb to the noisome atmosphere of the 
 unhealthful climate. In Lower Egypt it is plentiful 
 everywhere, and, except the Goat, is the only source 
 of supply for milk and butter. Every village in 
 the Delta and most of the villages in Upper Egypt 
 have a large pool between the huts, the sole purpose 
 of which is to afford the Buffaloes a convenient 
 bathing place. One sees them much oftener in the 
 water than on the pasturage, and if possible, they 
 submerge themselves so deeply that only the head 
 and a small portion of the back protrude above the 
 surface. 
 
 The Buffalo's One cannot sufficiently admire the 
 Actions and mastery by the Buffaloes of the art 
 Mouements. q{ swimming. They act as if water 
 was their proper element, for they dive, lie on their 
 sides or half on their backs, and either permit them- 
 selves to comfortably float without stirring, or swim 
 straight across a stream, except for the slight dis- 
 tance they are drifted down by the current. On 
 land the Buffalo impresses one as being much 
 clumsier than it appears in the water. Its walk 
 is shambling and lumbering and its running gait, 
 though tolerably swift, is also an awkward, halting 
 mode of progression. 
 
 When one first meets tame Buffaloes, he is apt to 
 become really frightened. The expression of their 
 faces indicates ineradicable defiance and smoulder- 
 ing ferocity; the expression of their eyes seems to 
 signify a deceitful, base disposition. The observer 
 soon becomes convinced, however, that it would be 
 totally wrong to judge a Buffalo by its external ap- 
 pearance. In some countries, certainly in Egypt, it 
 is an extremely good-natured animal, which every 
 peasant will unhesitatingly and safely trust to the 
 guidance of the weakest child. Buffaloes appear 
 indifferent to everything except food or drink. 
 
 Propagation and In the more northern regions, in 
 Economic Value of February or March, the Buffalo cow 
 the Buffaloes. usually gives birth to a calf. The 
 little one is an ungainly creature, but the mother 
 loves it tenderly and defends it from harm with the 
 well-known heroic courage of the Ox. tribe. In its 
 fourth or fifth year the Buffalo is mature and it may 
 live for about eighteen or twenty years. 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS— ROCKY , MOUNTAIN GOAT. 
 
 489 
 
 The Buffalo is relatively more profitable to Man 
 than our domestic Ox, as it requires next to no care 
 and is satisfied with food which all other domestic 
 animals disdain. In marshy localities it is highly 
 useful in tilling the fields also, for what it lacks in 
 inteUigence it more than compensates by its enor- 
 mous strength. 
 
 The flesh of the adult Buffalo is not eaten, at least 
 by white Men of other than its native countries, oh 
 account of its toughness and the odor Of musk 
 which clings to it. The flesh of the calves is "said to 
 be very good, however, and their fat to be almost 
 ■equal to pork in taste and tenderness. The strong 
 hide yields excellent leather and durable and useful 
 articles of many kinds are made from the horns 
 
 formerly sometimes classified with the Antelopes, 
 sometimes with the Goats. 
 
 Description of the The Rocky Mountain Goat, called 
 Roclty Mountain Nane by the Canadians {Aplocerus 
 Goat. moiitanus or amencaftus), has the gen- 
 
 eral shape of a domestic Goat, but appears sturdier 
 and shorter-necked in consequence of its rich, long 
 fleece, though the body itself must be considered 
 slender. The head is elongated, the eye is large, and 
 the ears are moderately large and sharply pointed. 
 The short tail is bushy on the upper surface and 
 the sides; the legs are sturdy and look still more 
 so because of their profuse covering of hair. The 
 hoofs, the upper parts of which are covered with 
 wiry hair do not differ materially from those of wild 
 
 THE EOCKY MOUNTAIN CrOAT. With its home in the highest parts of the Rocky Mountains this animal is not much molested. Its body is 
 
 . -shaped much like that of a domestic Goat, but the two differ in their horns so much that they are placed in distinct sub-families. Rocky Mountain Goats 
 are very lively, agile and wary animals. {Aplocerus montanus.) 
 
 The Natural Ene- The Buffalo has enemies which 
 miesofthe might prove fatal to it only in India 
 Buffalo. and perhaps in Persia. It is prob- 
 
 ably rarely the case that a pack of Wolves attack a 
 Buffalo in the Danube country, and then the animal 
 must be either debilitated or fatigued if they are to 
 be successful. The conditions are similar, in India, 
 though there the tame Buffalo encounters the same 
 ■enenjy as the wild one, namely the Tiger. It is true 
 that this formidable beast of prey secures an occa- 
 sional victim from among the Buffaloes, but it seems 
 to hold equally true that a herd of Buffaloes are able 
 to invariably rout any Tiger. 
 
 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT. 
 
 On the high mountains of North America there 
 lives a Horned Animal which deviates so consider- 
 ;ably from its family relations in the formation of 
 Jts horns, that we recognize in it the representative 
 of a distinct sub-family, the Aplocerinse. It was 
 
 Goats. The fleece is uniformly white all over the 
 body and consists of a long, hard outer coat and a 
 fine, long, straight, woolly inner fur, the two kinds 
 of hair occurring singly in some and together on 
 other parts of the body. On the face and forehead 
 appears nearly exclusively the thick, fine, curly 
 wool; on the neck, abdominal surface and thighs 
 both kinds of hair are found; on the nape and sides 
 of the neck, back, tail and in the mane-like covering 
 of the throat, breast, shoulders and front part of the 
 hams the wool is entirely absent. On the back of 
 the head there is a thick, long tuft of hair, which 
 falls down on all sides and merges into the mane of 
 the upper part of the neck and back. From the 
 chin and lower jaw the rich beard hangs down in 
 thick curls, which look as if they were intentionally 
 divided and artificially twisted. The neck is covered 
 by a drapery of long hair, which falls down over the 
 shoulder-blade and is continued into a kind of mane 
 on the shoulders and thighs and nearly envelops the 
 
490 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 fore-legs, leaving only about one-third of those 
 members bare. A similar appendage covers the fore- 
 part of the hind-legs. The tail is decorated with a 
 long, thick tuft of the outer hair. The face is en- 
 tirely covered by the wool, as are also the eyes up to 
 the edges of the lids and the nose to the margin of 
 the nostrils. The ear, however, is covered with stiff 
 hair on both sides. The fleece feels soft and pliable 
 to the touch, like Sheep's wool, and the individual 
 hairs are somewhat matted and adhere perceptibly 
 to each other. The length of the animal is from 
 forty-eight to fifty-six inches, the tail taking up 
 rather less than four inches of this total; the height 
 at the withers is from twenty-seven to twenty-nine 
 and one-half inches, the height at the croup varies 
 between twenty-nine and thirty-one inches. The 
 horns, which are borne by both sexes, but are 
 slightly stronger in the buck, attain a length of from 
 eight to nearly eleven inches and turn upward, back- 
 ward and outward in a direct slight curve. They are 
 nearly round at the base and slightly ringed on the 
 lower half; in the middle section they are a little 
 compressed laterally and the tip is again rounded. 
 flange of the The range of this animal is re- 
 
 Rocky Mountain stricted to the northern part of the 
 Goat. Rocky Mountains and extends north- 
 
 ward to the sixty-fifth parallel of latitude. Accord- 
 ing to Baird, it is commonest in the elevated por- 
 tions of the state of Washington, and the Prince of 
 VVied says that it exists in greatest profusion near 
 the sources of the Columbia river. Some informa- 
 tion as to its mode of life has been obtained, but 
 only in recent times. It inhabits such lofty heights 
 that it finds no other food than lichens, mosses- and 
 mountain plants of the hardiest kind, or in excep- 
 tional cases a few stunted shrubs of a kind of pine 
 {Pitius contortd) and similar scant bushes. Never- 
 theless it leads a rather comfortable life most of the 
 time, and care and trouble beset it only when winter 
 drives it away from its high pasturage. In summer 
 it climbs up to an elevation of over thirteen thou- 
 sand feet and there selects its headquarters, generally 
 choosing the lower edge of the melting snow fields. 
 In winter it is wont to descend to a somewhat lower 
 level, without, however, leaving the high mountains 
 proper. In such a mountainous wilderness, which is 
 trodden by human feet in exceptional cases only, it 
 goes on its intricate paths with careless speed, jump- 
 ing from one rock to another with the precision 
 peculiar to its tribe and climbing about the most 
 maccessible looking walls. Differing from other 
 Goats, the bucks are said to undertake the leader- 
 ship, and the she Goats and kids follow them in sin- 
 gle file. When the herds are alarmed or frightened 
 by a shot, they skim along the edges of the most 
 frightful precipices at a full gallop, or cross an abyss, 
 stepping on the same spots one after another, show- 
 ing more of the lightness and grace of winged crea- 
 tures than the actions of even the most agile quad- 
 rupeds. Being exceedingly wary, and endowed with 
 extremely keen senses of hearing and smell, the 
 Rocky Mountain Goat usually thwarts any attempt 
 of Man to approach it, and is therefore as difficult 
 of observation as of pursuit. From the beginning 
 of June little kids are seen following their mothers, 
 usually one behind each Goat, but sometimes there 
 are twins. The kids are extremely pretty. 
 The Rochy Mount- Excepting a few naturalists and 
 
 ain Goat Rarely hunters addicted to this sport, the 
 
 Molested. Indians alone engage in the chase of 
 
 these wary inhabitants of those desolate heights; 
 
 and the latter do not display any special zeal in the 
 pursuit. The flesh of this Goat is not esteemed, for 
 it is tough and impregnated with the strong, rank 
 smell which usually characterizes the male Goat, and 
 which in this species is not absent even in the kid. 
 It is for this reason repulsive even to the Indians,^ 
 whose taste is by no means fastidious. The Rocky 
 Mountain Goat is therefore pursued only for the 
 sake of its fur, which is either disposed of to the 
 white fur traders at the trading posts or made into 
 plain rugs by the Indians. 
 
 As far as my knowledge goes, this Goat has never 
 been tamed and is to be seen in very few museums. 
 
 THE ANTELOPE TRIBE. 
 
 The Antelopes {AnHlopifice) constitute the sub- 
 family among the Horned Animals which is richest in 
 forms, but also stands on the lowest plane of devel- 
 opment. Speaking in a general way this sub-fam.ily 
 comprises the most graceful and elegant of the 
 Horned Animals, but this statement is only true in 
 the wide sense, for among the Antelopes are in- 
 cluded several species which conform but little to 
 the commonly entertained notion of an Antelope. 
 As a rule the animals of this tribe bear the charac- 
 teristic of the family, as it includes the most dainty 
 and slender of all the hollow-horned animals; but 
 there are also included in the sub-family some 
 clumsy, lumbering creatures which at first glance 
 one would be inclined to classify with the Oxen. 
 Therefore great difficulties attend the effort to make 
 a general characterization of these animals, nor is it 
 easy to set the line of demarcation for the sub- 
 family, as some Antelopes show much greater affin- 
 ity to the Oxen or the Goats than to the original 
 type, which we consider to be the Gazelle, world 
 famed from the earliest ages. 
 
 Characteristics and ^"^ general, the Antelopes are 
 Range of the slender. Deer-like animals, with 
 Antelopes. short, and nearly always thickset 
 hairy covering and more or less twisted horns, which 
 are usually borne by both sexes. The different spe- 
 cies show much similarity in bodily structure, and 
 the only marked distinctive features are found in 
 the formation of the horns, the hoofs and the tail, 
 as well as several modifications of the hairy cover- 
 ing. But the number of species of Antelopes is so 
 great that the members placed at either extremity 
 of the group bear little resemblance to each other. 
 
 The Antelopes inhabit the whole of Africa, south- 
 ern, western and central Asia, southern and central 
 Europe. Each species seems to have its favorite 
 food, which determines its place of abode so long as 
 human interference does not drive the shy, fleet 
 animals to pastures new. The majority inhabit the 
 plains, but some decidedly prefer the high mountains 
 to the valleys, -and ascend to the lower limits of 
 perpetual snow. Some inhabit open country cov- 
 ered with a sparse vegetation, others are found in 
 thin ranges of scrubby bushes; some in the thickest 
 of forests, a few species even in marshes and bogs. 
 Food and Their food consists exclusively of 
 Osesofthe vegetable substances, mainly of 
 Antelopes. herbage, leaves, buds and young 
 shoots. Some content themselves with the coarsest 
 food, others are exceedingly fastidious and feed 
 only on the most succulent and dainty of plants. If 
 provided with fresh, green provender, the majority 
 can abstain from water for a long time, and those 
 that live in arid deserts can go entirely without 
 water for days and even weeks. 
 
THt. HORNED ANIMALS— ANTELOPES PROPER. 
 
 491 
 
 One may call the Antelopes, with hardly an ex- 
 ception, useful and valuable animals. In the locali- 
 ties which they inhabit, they seldom work any con- 
 siderable damage; and they are of use on account 
 of their flesh, their horns and their excellent hide. 
 Therefore they are invariably objects of the chase 
 with people of all races who share their native coun- 
 tries. Some Antelopes of great repiitation from the 
 earliest ages have had their praises sung by poets 
 and travelers; and in the pursuit of others the hunter 
 risks his life a hundred times. In various ways Man 
 feels himself attracted by all Antelopes. The ma- 
 jority of species easily bear confinement, at least in 
 their native country; they propagate themselves and 
 delight their keeper by their tame and trustful ways. 
 Some of them literally become domestic animals, 
 and in many instances were so regarded and treated 
 in former times. 
 
 We will mention only - ,', yx 
 
 the most important forms 
 of this sub-family, the rich- 
 est in variety among the 
 Ruminants. 
 
 THE ANTELOPES 
 PROPER. 
 
 I will begin the descrip- 
 tion of the series of ani- 
 mals thus classified with 
 an account of the Ante- 
 lopes proper {Antilope). 
 The group comprised un- 
 der this name is charac- 
 terized by physical propor- 
 tions approaching the Roe- 
 buck in size, elongated 
 horns the outlines of which 
 resemble those of a lyre or 
 which may be spirally 
 twisted, tear-pits which are 
 large as a rule and small 
 only in exceptional cases, 
 the existence of inguinal 
 glands, and a hairless muz- 
 zle of small extent gener- 
 ally restricted to a spot 
 on the upper lip. 
 
 Account The Sasin {An- 
 
 ofthe Sasin tUope cervica- 
 
 Antelope. p^^-^ pj^yg an 
 
 important part in Hindu mythology, and is sacred, 
 along with many other species, to the goddess Chan- 
 dra or the moon. It is smaller, and more slender 
 and elegant than the Fallow Deer. Its body is from 
 forty-eight to fifty-two inches long, the tail meas- 
 ures six inches and the height at the withers is 
 thirty-two inches. The color varies in accordance 
 with the sex and age. Dark brownish-gray tints 
 prevail among old bucks. The female is much 
 lighter and of a sorrel tint. Young females are said 
 to differ from the old ones by the exhibition of a 
 reddish hue. The horns, which are borne only by 
 the bucks, attain an average length of from sixteen 
 to twenty inches, and in some rare cases from twent}- 
 four to twenty-six inches, and are generally bent in 
 a slight spiral of three or four and sometimes five 
 turns. At the roots both horns stand close together, 
 hut at the extremities they are from twelve to six- 
 teen inches apart; they are stouter or more slender 
 according to the age of the animal and are ringed 
 nearly to the tip, which is smooth. Bucks of ad- 
 
 vanced age sometimes show as many as thirty such 
 rings, though their number does not stand in a di- 
 rect proportion to age and growth. 
 
 The Sasin inhabits the open, flat territory of India 
 with the exception of lower Bengal and the coast of 
 Malabar. It usually lives in bands of twenty or 
 thirty and frequently even from forty to sixty. It 
 affects the open country in all cases and shuns 
 thickly grown regions, for it exercises great watch- 
 fulness. Williamson is authority for the statement 
 that a few young males or old females are always 
 posted as sentinels, when the herd is occupied in 
 grazing on some favorite spot. These sentinels keep 
 a particularly watchful eye on bushes behind which 
 a hunter might creep up and hide. The same ob- 
 server says it would be foolish to let Greyhounds 
 course them, for the hunter can expect to be sue- 
 
 THE SASIN. This species of Antelope is a graceful, beautiful animal whicfi lives in India in the opea 
 
 country. The horns, which are borne only by the males, are long and spiral. The Sasin is so fleet that Hounds 
 are useless to hunt it, and Cheetahs and Falcons are employed for that purpose. {Aniilope cervicapra.) 
 
 cessful only if he takes them by surprise; else they 
 instantly seek refuge in flight and dart along at a 
 truly marvelous speed. "The height and length of 
 their leaps amaze everybody; they rise over ten feet 
 above the ground and clear a distance of from twenty 
 to thirty-three feet at a bound, as if they mocked at 
 the pursuing Hound." For this reason the Indian 
 princes never think of chasing them with Hounds, 
 but hunt them with Falcons or Cheetahs. 
 
 Sasins taken young become remarkably tame. 
 They readily bear confinement, usually agree with 
 their own kind and delight one by their trustful, 
 affectionate disposition. They thrive best if they 
 are allowed considerable liberty. 
 
 The Gazelles, The Gazelles are slender and ex- 
 the Typical tremely graceful Antelopes, with an- 
 Antelopes. nulated, lyre-shaped horns, tear-pits, 
 thin, slender loins, long, pointed ears, a small, rudi- 
 mentary toe, and two mammae. The tail is short 
 and tufted at the tip; other tufts exist only on the 
 ankles of the fore-legs. Both sexes are horned. A 
 
492 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 Gazelle in the desert forms an exceedingly attract- 
 ive picture, and one which has inspired Oriental 
 poets with enthusiastic songs from the remotest 
 times. Even the stranger from the Occident, if he 
 sees them in a state of liberty, can understand why 
 it is that they appear to the Oriental the personifi-. 
 ■cation of grace and loveliness; for he also feels a 
 breath of that enthusiasm which inspires the words 
 and sentiments of those glowing songs of praise. 
 The son of the desert compares the bright eye of 
 the maiden who moves his heart to its very depths, 
 with that of the Gazelle; he knows no more fitting 
 •designation for the slender white neck of his be- 
 loved, than to call it the neck of a Gazelle. The 
 pious man finds in this graceful daughter of the 
 •desert an emblem to aptly typify the yearning of his 
 heart after everything sublime. The Gazelle exer- 
 <:ises a fascination over everybody. The Egyptians 
 dedicated it to the supreme goddess Isis on account 
 •of its gracefulness, and sacrificed its young to the 
 queen of the gods; its beauty serves as an emblem 
 to the poet in the "Song of Solomon;" for in that 
 book it is the Roe and the young Hart with which 
 the beloved is compared. The Arabian poets of all 
 times fail to find words sufficiently laudatory in 
 which to picture it; the oldest books of this nation 
 are full of its praises, and the singers on the Arabian 
 streets glorify it to-day. 
 Physical Pecul- The Gazelle {Aiitilop: dorcas) is rather 
 iaritiesofthe smaller than the European Roe, but 
 Gazelle. jg of a much more delicate and 
 
 slender build and has more beautiful rnarkings. Old 
 bucks are forty-four inches long, or fifty-two includ- 
 ing the tail, and are twenty-four inches high at the 
 withers. The body is sturdy, though it looks slender 
 on account of the long legs; the back is somewhat 
 arched, higher at the croup than at the withers, the 
 tail is tolerably long and thickly grown with hair 
 at the tip. The legs are extremely delicate, slender 
 and terminate in very shapely hoofs. The neck is 
 elongated and the head of moderate length, broad 
 and high above the. eyes, tapering below, and 
 slightly rounded at the muzzle. The ears are about 
 three-fourths as long as the head. The large, softly 
 lustrous eyes show a nearly round pupil; the tear- 
 pits are of moderate size. The prevailing color is a 
 sandy yellow, warming into a more or less dark red- 
 dish brown on the back and legs. A still darker 
 stripe runs along both flanks and separates the daz- 
 zlingly white under surface from the darker upper 
 parts. The horns vary in size and appearance ac- 
 cording to the sex. In the case of the buck they 
 are larger and the rings of growth are always jnuch 
 more prominent. In both sexes the horns curve up- 
 ward and backward, the tips again curving forward 
 and somewhat converging, so that their front view 
 bears a resemblance to the lyre of ancient nations. 
 The Range and The range of the Gazelle extends 
 Food of the from Barbary to Arabia and Syria, 
 Ga:zelle. and from the coast of the Mediter- 
 ranean to the mountains of Abyssinia and the plains 
 of central Africa. The entire territory of the desert 
 and the plains adjoining it may be properly re- 
 garded as its native country. In the Abyssinian 
 mountains it ascends to an elevation of about five 
 thousand feet. The more abundant the vegetation 
 of the wilderness, the more frequent the animal is 
 in it; but it must be borne in mind that an abundant 
 vegetation from a north African point of view is 
 very different from what is meant by the expression 
 in regard to oUr country. It would be a mistake to 
 
 suppose the Gazelle to be a permanent inhabitant of 
 really fertile valleys; it pays but flying visits to such 
 regions, and probably enters them only if compelled 
 by hunger to do so. It is true that it prefers the 
 cooler climate and shade of the lowlands to the hot 
 glare of the table-lands, but only of the lowlands of 
 the wilderness; in valleys traversed by rivers it is 
 found as rarely as in high mountains. Its favorite 
 haunts are groves of mimosas, or better still, those 
 sandy stretches where hills alternate with valleys 
 and mimosas are found uniformly distributed all 
 over the country without forming isolated groves or 
 patches of woods, for the mimosa must be regarded 
 as its principal food. In the plains it also occurs, 
 and that quite numerously in some localities; but in 
 such situations also it prefers thinly grown tracts of 
 brush to fields of waving grass. In the plains of 
 Kordofan there are bands of forty or fifty which 
 extend their wanderings to considerable distances, 
 though they perhaps do not continue them the 
 whole year round. In their favorite haunts, how- 
 ever, they are only seen in small groups, numbering 
 from two to eight, and often singly. 
 
 The Gazelle at The Gazelle is indisputably a highly 
 Liberty and gifted animal, as active and agile as 
 Tamed. ^ny Other Antelope and remarkably 
 
 graceful besides. Its step is exceedingly light, and 
 it seems, in running, to barely touch the ground. A 
 fleeing herd affords a truly magnificent spectacle, 
 for even when danger is quite near they seem to be 
 at play. One Gazelle often leaps over another in 
 pure sportiveness, making leaps of from three to 
 six feet in height. With like playfulness it leaps 
 over stones and bushes in its path, even when it ap- 
 pears much easier to go around them. The Gazelle's 
 perceptive senses are excellently developed: that 
 of smell is acute, the eye is keen and the sense of 
 hearing delicate. The animal is intelligent, cunning 
 and even shy, is possessed of an excellent memory, 
 and where it gathers experience it becomes more 
 and more sensible. Its behavior is really charm- 
 ing. It is an inoffensive and somewhat timid crea- 
 ture, but by no means so devoid of courage as is 
 usually believed. There is always a certain amount 
 of quarreling and fighting going on in a herd, espe- 
 cially among the bucks. With all other animals 
 the Gazelle lives in peace; therefore it is often seen 
 in companionship with other nearly allied species 
 of Antelopes. 
 
 Gazelles taken into houses while yet young be- 
 come tame in a few days, and bear confinement well 
 and for a long time, especially in their native coun- 
 try. In the European households of the larger cities 
 of northern and eastern Africa there are always to 
 be seen tamed Gazelles, and among them are many 
 which have become so accustomed to human com- 
 panionship that they can be regarded as genuine 
 domestic animals. 
 
 The Gazelle The Gazelle is, in its native country, 
 
 Esteemed as a the object of a diligent and most en- 
 
 Game Animal, thusiastic chase. It is shot, caught 
 by Falcons or coursed to death by Greyhounds. 
 The second mode requires a great number of peo- 
 ple, Dogs and Falcons, thus entailing great expense, 
 and is engaged in only by the great people of the 
 world. Quietly and slowly, as much as possible 
 from the leeward, the huntsmen apjpfoach a herd of 
 Gazelles, profiting by all natural advantages for 
 concealment which the ground may offer. At a 
 suitable distance from the herd the hood is taken 
 off a trained Falcon, and as soon as the bird has 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS— ANTELOPES PROPER. 
 
 49S 
 
 caught sight of the Gazelle, it is set free. The 
 Falcon rises high up in the air, like an arrow, 
 swoops down on the Gazelle and tries to fasten 
 its claws upon the animal's head near its eyes. 
 The surprised beast endeavors to rid itself of the 
 bird of prey by shaking and rolling itself, and 
 the Falcon eventually loosens its hold on the head 
 of the victim but instantly fastens on to it again, 
 usually selecting the hind leg for its point of at- 
 tack. Though the Dogs have as yet seen nothing 
 of the Gazelles, they know by experience that the 
 hunt commences with the removal of the Falcon's 
 hood. They become uneasy, pull at their leashes, 
 and finally can not be kept back any longer. They 
 are let loose and follow the Falcon, keeping it in 
 sight, and behind them the hunters hurry on their 
 Horses. If the Falcon is a good one, it can stop any 
 
 The hunter made as good use of his time as 
 he could, and in the majority of cases was able to 
 obtain a successful shot from one of the thicker 
 bushes, usually at a distance not exceeding from 
 ninety to one hundred and fifty paces. The surviv- 
 ing Gazelles would make off with all possible speed 
 after the report, generally trying to gain the nearest 
 hill, to the top of which they would climb. There 
 they would stop, however, exactly as if they wished 
 to inform themselves of what had taken place, and 
 more than once we succeeded in creeping up near to- 
 the place where they were posted like sentinels. In 
 some localities the higher hills would gradually all 
 become covered with Gazelles, which, alarmed by 
 the reports of our shots, had drawn near from all 
 sides to survey the ground from their watch-towers. 
 I may well say that those mountains, which are for 
 
 Long the favorite theme of Oriental poets, the Gazelle, or Barbary Antelope, is one of the most graceful and agile of animals,, 
 rmount a beautiful head which is further adorned by long but symmetrical ears, and the entire contour of the animal is delicate: 
 
 THE GAZELLE. „ 
 
 The slender, black horns surmount 
 and shapely. [Antiloi>e dorcas.) 
 
 Antelope that is not too large, until the Dogs come 
 up and tear it to pieces. 
 
 Methods Employed The hunt with a gun yields very 
 in Shooting good results. Whenever we, my 
 Gazelles. companion Van Arkel and myself, 
 
 saw a troop of Gazelles, we would cautiously con- 
 tinue on our way, making at the most a small detour 
 and approach the Gazelles as closely as we deemed 
 advisable. Then one of us would jump down from 
 his Mule and hide behind a bush, surrendering the 
 Mule to the servant who accompanied us. Then 
 the dismounted hunter would creep up to the quarry, 
 carefully keeping to the leeward and occasionally 
 crouching on the ground; the other one continued 
 his journey. Generally the leader of the herd would 
 curiously follow the latter with its eyes, forgetting 
 to examine the rest of its surroundings, and thus 
 exposed the herd to attack. 
 
 the greater part bare of trees, were in this way deco- 
 rated in a wonderfully beautiful fashion. The fine 
 forms were so clearly outlined on the deep blue sky 
 that one could distinctly perceive every limb, even 
 at a great distance. It also happened frequently that 
 the frightened Gazelles would go over one of the 
 numberless hills and stop as soon as they had passed 
 down the other side and lost the hunter from view. 
 In the beginning they deceived me several times by^ 
 this strange conduct. I would climb the hill with 
 the greatest caution and look for my quarry in the 
 distance, while it stood right beneath me. A rolling 
 stone or some other noise which I occasioned would 
 alarm them and they would start away with wind- 
 like rapidity. But I never saw Gazelles pursued by 
 Men have recourse to their utmost speed, which 
 they display only when Dogs are at their heels. I 
 can not describe the spectacle then afforded by^ 
 
494 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 these two animals; the most 1 could say being that 
 a Gazelle, skimming over the ground, seems to fly 
 rather than to run: but that statement would still fall 
 short of describing its fleetness. 
 Peculiarities and The Springboks {Antidorcas) exhibit 
 Structure of the a great affinity to the Gazelles, but 
 Springbok. differ from them and all other rela- 
 tives by reason of one important feature, peculiarly 
 their own. Along the back, beginning about its 
 middle, runs a furrow formed by a doubling of the 
 skin and covered with very long hair ; it is usually 
 closed, but opens in response to violent movements, 
 especially in bounding. The horns, which are. borne 
 by both sexes, rise vertically from the forehead and 
 form an outline similar to that of a Grecian lyre. 
 The organization is both vigorous and graceful, the 
 head is moderately large, the neck slender, the tail 
 ■of medium length, the feet somewhat long from the 
 
 ^-^i^. 
 
 cJf^^ 
 
 THE'SFBINGBOK. In southern Africa these beautiful members of the Antelope family live on the plains, 
 
 but frequently undertake migrations when seasons of drought and scarcity make their accustomed range undesirable 
 ■On these occasions they assemble in bands of thousands. They are veryfieet and agile. {.AntUope euchore.) 
 
 soles to the ankles, the ears long and pointed, the 
 eyes very large, lustrous and long-lashed, the tear- 
 pits small and obscure. 
 
 The only representative of this sub-genus is the 
 Springbok {Antilope euchore'), a wonderfully beauti- 
 ful Antelope, measuring five feet in length, the tail 
 occupying eight inches of this total; the height at 
 the shoulders is thirty-four inches. The color is a 
 lustrous, dark cinnamon-brown; a stripe running from 
 the roots of the horns across the eyes towards the 
 nose, and another broad one extending along the 
 flank from the fore-thighs to the hams, are nut-brown; 
 all other parts are white. The horns are black, and 
 measured in a straight line they may attain a length 
 of from eleven to twelve inches in the case of the 
 buck; measured along the curvature, they are from 
 twelve to sixteen inches long and show about twenty 
 complete transverse rings, the tip being smooth. 
 
 The range of the Springbok is restricted to south- 
 ern Africa. It is still found in Cape Colony, espe- 
 
 cially in the northwestern parts, but is plentiful 
 principally in the endless, desolate and desert-like 
 plains, extending from the Orange river to the 
 Ngami region. The majority of the Springboks 
 probably populate the Kalahari and some strips of 
 territory in German Southwestern Africa. They are 
 found there ranging from groups of twos and fives 
 up to herds from thirty to fifty in number, and some- 
 times even one hundred and two hundred. They 
 change their places of abode, disperse over their 
 vast territory or aggregate in large herds, according 
 to the amount of pursuit to which they are subjected, 
 the.abundance or scarcity of food, and the filling 
 or drj^ing up of water places. When the south Af- 
 rican regions are visited by great droughts, as hap- 
 pens at variable intervals, the suffering Antelopes 
 are obliged to desert their haunts, to evacuate vast 
 regions and migrate to others. The wandering bands 
 
 of animals are joined by 
 
 "" other troops and herds; 
 
 growing into thousands 
 they form hosts, and are 
 followed by the various 
 beasts of prey which feast 
 on the weary and dead 
 animals. Keeping closely 
 or loosely together, the 
 Springboks push on in a 
 direct course, destroying 
 the scanty remains of 
 vegetation and finally in- 
 vading more favored lo- 
 calities like swarms of 
 Locusts. In recent times 
 these migrations, or"trek- 
 boken," as they are called 
 by the Boers, have lost 
 much of their magnitude 
 and also occur much less 
 frequently, not because 
 the times of scarcity are 
 no more, but evidently 
 becailse the numbers of 
 Springboks have greatly 
 decreased. 
 
 Gordon Cumnjing thus 
 writes, speaking of a pe- 
 riod about forty years ago: 
 " Every traveler, who like 
 myself has seen the large 
 hosts which the Spring- 
 boks form in their pilgrimages, and gives an accurate 
 and true description of what he has seen, must fear 
 that he will encounter disbelief, so wonderful is the 
 sight of the migrating hordes. They have justly and 
 pertinently been likened to the devastating swarms 
 of Locusts with which the wanderer in this land of 
 wonders is so familiar; like them they devour all 
 verdure on their way in a few hours, and destroy in a 
 single night the fruits of a farmer's years of toil. 
 
 "On the twenty-eighth of December I first had 
 the pleasure of seeing a ' trek-boken.' In respect to 
 animals, this was, I believe, the grandest spectacle I 
 ever witnessed. For about two hours before the day 
 dawned, I had been lying awake in my wagon, list- 
 ening to the grunting' of the bucks within two hun- 
 dred yards of me. I imagined that some large herd 
 of Springboks was feeding beside my camp. But 
 upon rising when it was clear, I beheld the ground 
 to the northward of my camp actually covered with 
 a dense living mass of Springboks, marching slowly 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS—OX-ANTELOPES. 
 
 495 
 
 and steadily along, extending from an opening in a 
 long range of hills on the west, through which they 
 continued pouring like the flood of some great river, 
 to a ridge about a mile to the east, over which they 
 disappeared.' I stood upon the fore-chest of my 
 wagon for nearly two hours, lost in wonder at the 
 novel and beautiful scene. Immense and astonish- 
 ing as was the herd of Springboks which I saw that 
 morning, it was far surpassed by the one I saw the 
 same night; for when we had crossed the range of 
 hills, through the opening of which the Springboks 
 had poured, I saw the plain and even the slopes of 
 the hills which extended all around, covered not 
 with herds, but with one continuous mass of Spring- 
 boks. As far as eye could see, the country swarmed 
 
 queer, perpendicular leaps, bounding into the air 
 with folded legs, the long, snow white hair upon the 
 back waving in the air and giving the animal a truly 
 fairy-like appearance, which distinguishes this An- 
 telope from all others. They sometimes leap higher 
 than six feet, and clear from thirteen to sixteen feet 
 at a bound, apparently without the slightest exertion. 
 Before leaping, they bend their heads towards the 
 fore-legs, then bound up, using all four feet, rise to 
 the given height, their backs strongly curved and the 
 fold of skin expanded like a fan. For one moment 
 they literally seem to soar, then they come down on 
 all four feet at once and again go up in the air. 
 
 Springboks soon become tame when taken young. 
 Those which I saw were shy and cautious towards 
 
 THE HABTEBEEST. This'"si)ecitfs'of' An'telSpe.'existihfe in laVge numbers in central and sDutfrern Afriea,-is-o£ somewHat.ungainlyform, 
 
 because of the larger development of the fore quarters as compared with the hindci one= Ihe most striding peculiarity of the animal is its peculiarly 
 shaped horns', which are well illustrated in this picture. {Bubalis caama.) 
 
 "with them, until they merged into an indistinct con- 
 fusion of living creatures." Le Vaillant also speaks 
 about herds numbering from ten to fifty thousand, 
 pursued by Lions, Leopards and Hyaenas, and E. 
 Kretschmar tells of masses, which he estimated to 
 contain millions. The density of such a moving 
 herd is sometimes simply wonderful. Harris tells 
 us that a herd of Sheep, which once happened to 
 mingle with the wandering Springboks, were com- 
 pelled to go along with them; even the powerful 
 Lion, which diligently pursues these Antelopes, is 
 said to be sometimes taken prisoner and compelled 
 to move in their midst. 
 The Springbok's The Springbok is well entitled to 
 Traits and Move- the name which the Dutch settlers 
 ments. bestowed on it — namely, the Jump- 
 
 Jng Buck. When fleeing, it executes a series of 
 
 strangers, but full of sport when in the presence of 
 friends. If several are kept in the same enclosure, 
 they do not always agree; the bucks especially are 
 quarrelsome fellows that torment or at least mildly 
 tease even their female mates. With the exception 
 of this quarrelsome disposition, captive Springboks 
 are charming animals. Their soft, magnificently 
 colored fur, their elegant form and graceful move- 
 ments fascinate everybody, even in the small space 
 of an enclosure where they can not be justly appre- 
 ciated. Unfortunately few living specimens arrive 
 in foreign countries. 
 
 THE OX-ANTELOPES. 
 
 We will let the Gazelles be followed by the Ox- 
 Antelopes {Bubalis), as they, in a certain sense, are 
 transitional forms between the true Antelopes and 
 
496 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 the heavy bovine forms of the family. This group 
 comprises large, stout, almost clumsy Antelopes, 
 with high withers and sloping backs, shapeless, 
 elongated, broad-muzzled heads, short necks, stout 
 limbs and doubly curved horns, placed on the 
 frontal ridge and existing in both sexes. 
 • The Hartebeest The south African Hartebeest of the 
 of South Africa Boers, called Kama by the Bechuanas 
 Described. (Budalts caama) , is distinguished from 
 its relatives by its longer head and the stronger 
 horns, bent in more acute angles, its proportionately 
 smaller ears and its color. The horns are very stout 
 at their roots, short, and marked by knotty excres- 
 cences about sixteen in number; from their bases 
 they at first ascend parallel to each other, then they 
 curve slightly forward, and in the last third of their 
 length again turn outward and backward at nearly 
 
 hours, standing in the shadow cast by tree trunks or 
 the gigantic Ant-hills which are situated invariably 
 in sunny spots, and thus the animal may long escape 
 the detection of watchful eyes by its persistent re- 
 pose and the choice'of a background similar in color 
 to itself." Notwithstanding the ungainly shape and 
 the ugly, shapeless head, which give the Kama a 
 striking and clumsy appearance as it strides along,, 
 it still produces a majestic impression, which is at. 
 its best when the animal falls into a gallop. Active, 
 like any other Antelope, it often delights in queer 
 leaps and antics and not infrequently indulges in 
 strange pranks. 
 
 Hartebeests which are under human care from 
 early youth become extremely tame; they follow 
 their keeper about, take bread and tidbits out of his 
 hand and signify their affection for him in various. 
 
 THE BIETBOK, OR BEEB ANTELOPE This African species of the Antelope sub family derives its name from its pVeference for leed grown 
 
 marshes, such as shown in the picture. It is of strong build, fleet of foot and has curved horns the tips of which point forward. (Reduncus ekotragus.) 
 
 right angles; the horns have very sharp points. The 
 color of this Antelope is a beautiful, light cinnamon- 
 brown. In former times the Hartebeest was fre- 
 quent in northern Cape Colony, but incessant per- 
 secution has caused it to retreat across the Orange 
 river. It is found in considerable numbers only to 
 the north of settlements or beyond the localities 
 frequented by hunters; and in the interior of the 
 eastern half of Africa in suitable regions it is among 
 the commonest of the Antelopes. Schweinfurth 
 found it to be one of the most frequent inhabitants 
 of the Bongo and Niam-Niam country. " Most fre- 
 quently," says he, " one meets troops froni five to 
 ten in number in the uninhabited wildernesses of the 
 frontiers. In cultivated countries the animal prefers 
 the light forests of bushes in the neighborhood of 
 river valleys, rarely, however, entering the open low- 
 lands. It is in the habit of resting during the noon 
 
 and manifold ways. Unfortunately, these beautiful 
 relations between Man and beast do not last long; 
 for as soon as they become conscious of their 
 strength, the animals, especially the bucks, exhibit 
 the innate pugnacity of their tribe and generally 
 display a special animosity and the greatest vicious- 
 ness against those to whom they have previously 
 been most attached. Their flesh is esteemed, as it 
 is among the most savory meats yielded by the 
 Antelope family. The fur is made into rugs, the 
 tanned hide into straps and harness, and the horns, 
 on account of their hardness and lustre, into all 
 kinds of vessels and ornaments. 
 
 THE REED ANTELOPES. 
 
 The Reed Antelopes (Reduncd), like the preceding 
 species, also resemble both the Gazelles and the 
 (Dxen in some respects. They have large or medium- 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS— WATER-BUCKS. 
 
 497 
 
 sized forms, are of sturdy organization, and have 
 a comparatively large tail. The male alone is pos- 
 sessed of horns, which are round, ringed at the base 
 and curved forward at the tips. 
 TheRiet-Bok Typ- The Riet-bok {Redunca eleotragus) is 
 ical of the Reed the best known species of this ge- 
 Antelopes. nus. This beautiful animal attains 
 a length of from four feet eight inches to five feet, 
 inclusive of the tail; it is about thirty-eight inches 
 high at the withers and thirty-two at the croup. On 
 the whole the Riet-bok resembles the Roe-buck, but 
 is of a more slender organization. The Riet-bok is a 
 native of south Africa, as well as of the eastern parts 
 of central Africa. It is found only beyond the great 
 swamps of the upper Nile and lives in couples in the 
 
 *• 
 
 
 developed, and the animals have glands between the 
 
 digits of their hoofs and are ornamented with a lonn- 
 
 tail-tuft. 
 
 The Water-buck's The Water-buck {Kobus ellipsiprym- 
 
 Rojtge and nus) is a stately animal of nearly the 
 
 Habits. same physical proportions as the 
 
 larger species of Deer. Its total length is six feet 
 
 eight inches, the length of the tail being twenty 
 
 inches, and the height at the croup four feet four 
 
 inches. The prevailing color is gray. The horns 
 
 attain a length of thirty-two inches, measured along 
 
 the curvature, and usually show thick, triangular, 
 
 transverse rings, except near their extremities. 
 
 A. Smith found the Water-buck in south Africa in 
 small herds, numbering from eight to ten, their favo- 
 
 
 THE WATER BUCK, One of the best known of the African species of Antelopes is the Water-buck, which has be^n given its name from its habit 
 
 of frequenting rivers and its abilities as a swimmer. The large curved horns are borne only by the male. . The picture appropriately shows these animals, 
 one male and two females, in a damp African forest amid aquatic vegetation and with the companionship of water fowl. (Kobus elli^sifrymnus.) 
 
 rite haunts being the banks of rivei^s. Von Heuglin, 
 and later Schweinfurth, met it in the northeastern 
 part of central Africa, and Pechuel-Loesche found 
 it to be plentiful in some localities on the western 
 Congo. Despite its almost clumsy appearing form 
 the Water-buck produces a favorable impression on 
 the spectator. Its eyes are lustrous and expressive, 
 reflecting an independent, if not fierce spirit, and 
 its movements are comparatively graceful. Accord- 
 ing to Heuglin's observations it is by no means a 
 genuine habitual swamp-dweller, but delights in 
 spots which are overgrown with reeds higher than 
 a Man's head. Like the Black Antelope it is wont 
 to ascend Ant-hills, and assuming a statuesque atti- 
 tude, survey its swampy domicile from them. If 
 the leader scents danger, it hurries off at a frenzied 
 
 thick brush-wood in the neighborhood of water- 
 courses or bogs, as well as in the rush-banks and 
 cane brakes and the high sedge grass along the mar- 
 gins of swampy, periodically inundating or tempo- 
 rarily flowing rivers. In consequence of its secluded 
 mode of life one sees it much more rarely than its 
 frequency would seem to warrant. 
 
 THE WATER-BUCKS. 
 
 The Water-bucks {Kobus) are regarded as nearly 
 allied to the Reed Antelope. They are large Ante- 
 lopes of symmetrical shape, long-haired, and often 
 haying manes, the males being equipped with long, 
 pointed, ringed horns, which bend backward and 
 then forward in a soft curve, and lastly in an upward 
 •and outward direction. The muzzle is moderately 
 
498 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 gallop, followed by the whole herd. The flight is 
 always directed toward the water and the frightened 
 beasts plunge into the waves with a splash. 
 
 The flesh of these beasts is said to be almost en- 
 tirely uneatable, being tough, coarse-grained and 
 pervaded with a disagreeable, rank odor, sufficiently 
 strong to disgust even a hungry Caffre. 
 
 THE ORYX ANTELOPES. 
 
 The genus of Antelopes classed as Oryx includes 
 animals which have been known from early ages. 
 At least one species has been found frequently de- 
 picted on the Egyptian and Nubian monuments, in 
 various positions: usually with a rope around its 
 neck, betokening that the animal has been pursued, 
 caught and subdued. In the chambers of the great 
 pyramid of Cheops the same animal is portrayed, 
 being sometimes represented with only one horn. 
 On this evidence some naturalists have based a 
 belief that the Oryx was the original of the fable of 
 the Unicorn, whereas the truth is that only the Rhi- 
 noceros can be meant by the name " Rem," which is 
 translated "Unicorn" in our Bible. 
 
 The Passan The Passari, called "Gemsbok" by 
 or Gemsbok of the Dutch and Kukama by the Bach- 
 South Africa, uanas {Oryx capensis) is generally 
 regarded as the type of the genus. It is eight feet 
 long, counting in the sixteen-inch tail, and its height 
 is four feet from the ground to the top of the 
 shoulders. The back, sides, flanks and nape of the 
 neck are yellowish white, merging into a snowy 
 white on the head, the ears, the under portion of the 
 body, the upper parts of - the fhighs .and the legs 
 from the pastern joint downwards. There are black 
 markings on the head, including a stripe on the fore- 
 head, a broad patch on the nose, a band extending 
 from the horns across the eyes to the lower jaw, and 
 another running parallel with it, and a black stripe 
 bordering the externaL margins of the ears, which 
 give the Gemsbok the appearance of wearing a 
 halter on its head, and there are other black patches 
 and stripes oh various parts of the body. The 
 stately horns, which are borne by both sexes, are 
 bent very little, and oftentimes are perfectly straight, 
 are ringed on the lower half, smooth on the upper 
 portion and end in sharp points.. So far as is known 
 the Gemsbok is only found in southern Africa, but 
 is represented in the northeast by a closely aljied 
 species. . 
 
 TheBeisaof The latter- is the Beisa.- {Oryx diiia), 
 Northeastern probably the genuine Oryx de- 
 Afriea, scribed by ancient writers. .^ It is not 
 
 inferior to the Passan in size, and like that animal 
 has horns which are straight, or only slightly curved, 
 and which are borne by both sexes and slightly ex- 
 ceed three feet in, length.. In markings and -general 
 coloring the Beisa resembles the Passan. It inhab- 
 its northeastern Africa up to about the twentieth 
 parallel of north latitude. 
 
 The Algazel or Wild The third species of this group, the 
 Cow of the Algazel, called by the Arabs the 
 Arabs. Wild Cow, or the Cow of the Plains 
 
 {Oryx leucoryx), is of a more clumsy build than its 
 relatives, and bears horns of the same length as 
 those of the Beisa, ringed, and gently curved in an 
 outward and backward direction, the tips inclining 
 downward. The ground color of the short, sleek 
 outer coat is an, almost pure yellowish white, lighter 
 on the under surface of the body and the inner faces 
 of the limbs, and deepening into a russet color on 
 the neck. Six patches of a dull brown tint mark 
 
 the head. Old bucks attain a length of six feet 
 eight inches, or more, the height at the shoulders 
 being four feet four inches. 
 
 The range of this Antelope extends throughout 
 the northeastern part of central Africa. It is fre- 
 quently encountered in Sennaar and Kordofan, more 
 rarely in central and western Soudan, but occurs in 
 the north and in a few, desert valleys of Nubia. 
 
 Characteristics The Oryx Antelopes ■ are generally 
 of the Oryx seen in pairs or in very small bands. 
 Antelopes. the company frequently consisting 
 of only a mother with her young. Their walk is 
 light, their trotting uneven and hard, their gallop 
 very heavy, but enduring and steady; yet a well- 
 mounted hunter can occasionally capture the Pas- 
 san without firing a single shot, simply pursuing the 
 animal untjl it is exhausted and ceases its flight. 
 The Passan of south Africa is apparently foiicf of 
 the society of its kind, as one frequently sees it graz- 
 ing in perfect harmony with 6th6r Antelopes. The 
 Algazel, however, sometimes proves to be a highly 
 intractable animal, as I have observed myself, and it 
 often severely ill-treats other animals while in a fit 
 of ill-humor. When Antelopes of this species are 
 provoked, they are said to turn upon their assailant 
 in a great rage and attack him in a most vicious 
 manner. Lichtenstein relates how one of his com- 
 panions, found the skeletons of a Leopard and an 
 Oryx lying beside each other in the Karroo' country. 
 The buck' had killed its dangerous enemy by a thrust 
 with its ho,rns, but had .succumbed to the injuries it 
 had received. Harris thinks if not improbable that 
 a Lion may occasionally meet its doom in a similar 
 way. -, , ' 
 
 The pursuit of all Oryx Antelopes is usually 
 undertaken on - horseback. Gordon Gumming de- 
 scribes a. hunt in a graphic manner and, relates how 
 he followed' a wounded Passan a whole day, until the 
 animal stopped from-sheeir exhaustion. No other 
 Antelope is said to afford' a more magnificent spec- 
 tacle than a fleeing Oryx buck. ' . ' 
 • The wandering inhabitants of the African plains 
 frequently catch some ope of the species of Oryx of 
 their native regions and bring it to; town to dispose 
 of it to some native aristocrat or to a European. 
 From such a source I obtained several during vciy 
 sojourn in Africa'. I can not say anything in praise 
 of my captives. They are lazy, uninteresting and 
 quarrelsome. . They easily bear confinement' and 
 readily .fecoghize their keeper; but he ca;n rie^er 
 trust ^them, as they sometimes, apparently in play, 
 make' tise of their hprns in a most dangerous mari- 
 ner. They ckn not be kept together with' other ani- 
 mals, as they soon assert their riiastery and atro- 
 ciously ill-treat their companions. They also pick 
 quarrels among themselves and viciously engage in 
 combats with one another. They are vdry obstinate 
 and can be transported only with the greatest diffi- 
 culty. 
 
 The skin and flesh of the Oryx Antelopes are 
 utilized for food and leather. The straight horns of 
 the Passan and the Beisa are often employed by 
 native warriors as spear tips.. The Europeans at the 
 Cape offen have the horns polished, decorated with 
 silver knobs and use them as canes. 
 
 THE ADDAX. 
 
 The Addax Antelopes are most nearly allied to- 
 the Oryx, as their horns, which are well developed in 
 both sexes, form the sole distinctive feature. These 
 members are light, twisted either spirally or in a. 
 
„,fi„. onH neculiarlv marked Antelope having its home in southern Africa. 
 PASSAN PUESUED BY HYiENA DOGS.— The Passan is a «'™f • ^"^''^^'Tp^..^^ ;, frequently picked out by these fierce canine animals as a 
 In the same region live the Hysna Dogs or Cape Hunting Dogs ^Lan^s ptciusj. overcome by superior numbers, although it may kill several of 
 
 victim. The pack of Dogs pursues the Antelope, which fl"^"''^ « "Jl" ZnTof such a scene as here depicted will be found on page 199. (Oryx capcnsis.) 
 its pursuers with its sham horns before it is finally conquered. A full accountof such scene 
 
 (499) 
 
500 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 lyre shape, ringed along their whole length, slender 
 and long. The Addax is repeatedly found depicted 
 on Egyptian monuments. The horns which adorn 
 the head of the sculptured images of the gods, of 
 the priests and kings of ancient Egypt, are patterned 
 after the horns of this Antelope. From Egypt the 
 reputation of the animal spread and the Greeks and 
 Romans were familiar with it. 
 
 The Addax {Addax nasomaculatus) is of rather 
 clumsy physical proportions. The hairy coat is 
 thickset and, with the exception of that covering a 
 few places about the body, is short and coarse. In 
 front of the base of the horns there is a tuft hang- 
 ing over the forehead; a strip of rather long hair 
 extends from the ear to the back of the head; the 
 
 chiefs of the wandering tribes of Bedouins regard 
 it as being one of the noblest animals that can be 
 hunted, and pursue it partly for the sake of its flesh, 
 partly to test the speed of their Horses and Grey- 
 hounds, and partly to capture the young, which they 
 rear. 
 
 Living specimens have repeatedly been kept and 
 observed in various zoological gardens. Their con- 
 duct shows how nearly allied they are to the Oryx'; 
 for they are just as capricious and quarrelsome as 
 the latter. Exceptions have been observed, how- 
 ever. If kept on plain food, these Antelopes bear 
 long captivity easily and propagate themselves with- 
 out any special difficulty, as the animals are by na- 
 ture fitted to bear privations. 
 
 THE ADDAX, A heavy ard ritl er unga nly species of Antelope is tl e Addax which is an inhabitant of northern Africa. Besides' the peculiar 
 
 twist of the horns this animal is specially marked by a tuft of long dark'hair on the forehead and a lighter one on the neck. {.Addax nasomaculatus.) ; " 
 
 fore part of the neck is adorned by a long mane. 
 During the cool season the yellowish white hue 
 gradually merges into gray. Young animals are of 
 a pure white color. The body measures six feet 
 eight inches- in length, and the height at the withers 
 rather exceeds forty inches. 
 
 The range of the Addax embraces the heart of 
 northern Africa; lying south of the eighteenth paral- 
 lel of north latitude, from the Nile country to the 
 Lake Tchad region. It inhabits the most arid 
 regions, in which, as the nomads say, not a drop of 
 water can be;;fQund for miles around. If the stories 
 of these people are to be believed, the animal can 
 abstain from water for months. It is shy and timid, 
 like the rest of the Antelopes, agile and hardy, 
 but exposed to a great deal of persecution. The 
 
 SPIRAL HORNED ANTELOPES. 
 
 The Spiral Horned Antelopes (5/i»'^j*.KV^wi) coin- 
 prise large Antelopes with spirally twisted, com- 
 pressed and acutely-angled horns, borne only lay 
 the males, and a fur relieved by stripes or otherwise 
 marked in light colors. 
 
 The Koodoo a A representative of this group is the 
 Large, Stately stately Koodoo {Strepsiceros. kudu). 
 Animal. an Antelope surpassing' the Euro- 
 pean Stag in size. Adiilt males rheasure about ten 
 feet in length, from .the nose to the tip of the tail, 
 the latter organ being about twenty inches long. 
 The height at the withers is five feet eight inches,, 
 and the weight ranges frorn six hundred pounds up- 
 wards. The doe is considerably smaller. In its 
 bodily structure the KoWkfo resembles the St^g in 
 
IfiE KOODOO. This aniAial, belonging to the group of Spi'ral-Hornea- Antelopes, is large, sy'inittiitfical and prettily marked, the white stripes on 
 
 its sides being a specially prominent feature. The female resembles the male except that the latter bears on his head a magnificent pair of spirally twisted 
 horns, over three feet in length. It ranges through all of eastern Africa, from the Nile to Cape Colony. (Strefsiceros kudu.) 
 
 (501) 
 
502 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 many respects. The ground color of its coat is a 
 reddish brown-gray tint, difficult to describe, which 
 merges into whitish gray on the hinder parts of the 
 abdomen and the inner surfaces of the limbs. This 
 color is relieved with white stripes, usually from 
 seven to nine in number. The horns are a magnifi- 
 cent adornment of the buck, being certainly the 
 stateliest members of their kind found among the 
 Antelope group. They attain a height, measured 
 in a direct line, of from thirty-six to forty or even 
 forty-two inches, their tips diverging to the extent 
 of from twenty-eight to thirty-two inches. It is dif- 
 ficult to understand how the animal is able to carry 
 the weight of such horns with the ease and majesty 
 it displays in its bearing, 
 ffanpe anrf Wunf- The Koodoo, called Agasen and 
 ingofthe Tigrish in Abyssinia, has a wide 
 Koodoo. range, extending from Cape Colony, 
 throughout the eastern half of Africa, to the Nile 
 regions. It seems to be absent in the middle por- 
 tions of the western half of Africa, that is, in the 
 Congo region. The Koodoo probably chiefly in- 
 habits rocky and mountainous regions, but it occurs 
 also on the plain, at least in southern Africa it ranges 
 over the plains overgrown with bushes and trees and 
 is also at home among thorny bushes growing in 
 jungle-like thickets, but cannot be considered a for- 
 est dweller in the common sense of the term. In 
 the Bogos country we found it at an elevation as low 
 as one thousand eight hundred feet above the sea, 
 •ascending to an altitude of six thousand feet, always 
 among the precipices, along the brinks of which, 
 among the green mimosas, it stalked in a majestic 
 manner. Full-grown bucks live solitarily, but the 
 does assemble in small bands of from four to six. 
 
 In all countries where the stately, beautifully 
 marked Koodoo is found, it is subject to the most 
 zealous pursuit. Its flesh is really excellent, as I 
 have convinced myself personally, its taste being 
 similar to that of the venison of the European Stag. 
 The marrow of the bones is considered a rare deli- 
 cacy by many of the south African tribes. The 
 Caffres, especially, have no more pressing business 
 on hand, when they have killed a Koodoo, than to 
 strip the flesh off the bones and break the larger 
 bones, and suck the marrow out, raw as it is. The 
 hide is also much valued in south Africa and is con- 
 sidered unsurpassable for some purposes. In Abys- 
 sinia the skin is tanned, and of the horns, after their 
 internal cancellated structure has been removed by 
 ■decay, are made receptacles for honey, salt, coffee 
 -and other articles. 
 
 BOVINE ANTELOPES. 
 
 The group of the Bovine Antelopes (Buse/apkus) 
 represents in a certain measure an intermediate link 
 between the Antelopes and the Oxen. The anatom- 
 ical proportions of all the species comprised in this 
 group are cumbersome and clumsy; the body and 
 neck are short and stout, the head large, the tail 
 resembles that of a cow, the skin of the throat is 
 elongated into a low, pendulous dewlap, the horns, 
 which are characteristic of both sexes, are slightly 
 curved backward from the line of the face, are tri- 
 angular in shape and exhibit several spiral turns of 
 the seam produced by the union at acute angles of 
 the three sides. 
 The Eland a Fa- The Eland {Buselaphus areas) attains 
 mous African a total length of nearly thirteen feet 
 Antelope. four inches, twenty-eight inches 
 -of which are included in the tail. The height at 
 
 the withers ranges between five feet and six feet 
 four inches, and the weight is i,ooo, or, according to 
 Harris, even 2,000 pounds. The color undergoes 
 various modifications according to age and also the 
 locality which the animal inhabits. Adult bucks are 
 light brown or yellowish gray on their upper surface, 
 with a surface tinge of rusty red; the flanks are whit- 
 ish yellow, the under parts and the outer faces of the 
 lower portions of the thighs are yellowish white, the 
 head is light yellow-brown. Some individuals show 
 bold and usually transverse stripes upon the body; 
 with others the stripes are faint, and some have none 
 at all. The largest horns which Selous measured 
 ■ attained a direct length of thirty and one-half inches 
 in the males, in which, by reason of use, they arte 
 generally worn or broken, and thirty-four and one- 
 half inches in the female. 
 
 Habitat and The Eland is distributed over a much 
 
 Habits of the larger portion of Africa than was 
 Eland. formerly believed. Prior to the in- 
 
 vestigations of Heuglin and Schweinfurth the ani- 
 mal > was thought to inhabit only the south of thb 
 continent; at present we know that it occurs in all 
 available parts of the southern half and the eastern 
 half to a point far north of the equator. In the last 
 century it was found in Cape Colony; at present it 
 has retreated far into the interior. Its favorite past- 
 ures are the high grassy plains scantily overgrown 
 with mimosas, from which it descends into the damp 
 lowlands in times of drought. A strange fact con- 
 cerning it is that it is also found in mountainous 
 localities, and that on the roughest places, most diffi- 
 cult of access. Hans Meyer observed several troops 
 on the high plain of the Kilimanjaro, at an altitude 
 of 14,000 feet, and saw the spoor of the stately ani- 
 mals at a height of upwards of 15,000 feet. Seen 
 from a distance a herd of Elands resembles a 'herd 
 of domestic Cattle, to such an extent as to often mis- 
 lead the observer.. If they are pursued, they pro- 
 ceed at a gallop, which does not seem to be very 
 swift but in reality rapidly puts distance between 
 them and their enemies. If pressed hard, they 
 quicken their pace to a steady swinging gallop. 
 The Eland in Cap- The Eland Antelopes at one time 
 
 tiuity—Profita- were familiar features of European 
 ble Game. zoological gardens, but are now be- 
 coming rare. Weifiberg says that all specimens 
 existing in them now are the descendants of two 
 couples, introduced; into England in 1840 and 185 1. 
 London first furnished the gardens and parks of 
 Great Britain with these animals and then the zoo- 
 logical gardens of the rest of Europe. The descend- 
 ants of thesq animals show the docility and stu- 
 pidity of domestic Cattle and readily propagate 
 themselves. Once a choice young bull was killed 
 and its flesh was served at the royal table at Wind- 
 sor, at the Tuileries of Paris, and also at a banquet 
 of the Houses of Lords and Commons, and the cor- 
 rect proportion of fat and lean in the meat was 
 thought to be particularly excellent. 
 
 The profit of a successful Eland hunt is consider- 
 able. The flesh is dried or salted; the fat, of which 
 there is not infrequently a large quantity, is mixed 
 with a little beef-suet and alum and made into good 
 candles, while the uncommonly thick and tough 
 hide is manufactured into excellent straps. 
 
 THE NYLGHAU. 
 
 In recent years an Indian Antelope, which travel- 
 ers often mentioned under the name of Blue-bull, 
 the Nylghau {Portax pictus) has frequently been taken 
 

 __ ^^- s=^ _ "^-:^^=:^r:^£"-^'^J°^'^ 
 
 S^l^~ , - -/// ///// ^-^=^^ -^g^= 
 
 cies of the Antelope tribe, the Eland is a favorite game animal ma large portion of Afnca, its flesh being the 
 Oxen, and resemble the latter in many particulars, notably in the dewlap hanging from their t 
 
 THE Ei'AND.— Oneof the largest ^Pff^f °' '"" """'"^^j;';;; ^^nsTto^d "as beloftgini to an intermediate group between the Antelopes and the 
 most palatable of all the Antelope species of hat contmen Elan^are cons^ere ^^^^^ g^^B^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^ (Buselaphus areas.) 
 
 (503) 
 
504 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 to Europe and the same animal anciently was some- 
 times kept in captivity in India itself. The Nyl- 
 ghau is one of the most noticeable species of the 
 whole sub-family on account of its shape and color, 
 and appears in a certain way to be intermediary 
 between Deer and Ox. The horns, which adorn 
 both sexes, are nearly erect, of conical shape, gently 
 curving in the form of a crescent and from eight to 
 ten inches in length; those of the female are much 
 shorter or may be altogether absent. The prevail- 
 ing color is a roan — a mixture of dark brown and 
 ashy gray, with a faint bluish tint. The fore part of 
 the under surface, the fore legs and the outer sur- 
 face of the hind legs are blackish-gray, the hind 
 legs black, the middle and hinder part of the under 
 surface and the inner faces of the thighs are white. 
 Two transverse stripes of the same hue run across 
 the lower portions of the legs, surrounding the pas- 
 tern joint like a ring; a large, crescent-shaped patch 
 marks the throat. Old females are of a more fallow, 
 often deer-like, gray-brown hue. Adult bucks attain 
 3l total length of from eight feet to eight feet eight 
 inches, from eighteen to twenty inches of this be- 
 ing included in the tail; the height at the shoulders 
 ranges between fifty-two and fifty-six inches. The 
 animal is indigenous to India, ranging from the foot 
 of the Himalayas to Maisur. 
 
 The Nylghau does not usually prefer mountainous 
 regions, but sometimes inhabits them, provided they 
 are overgrown with light woods and not very dense 
 jungles. Occasionally it also enters the open, bush- 
 grown country, if it is not entirely devoid of water, 
 for, as Sterndale assures us, it drinks every day. 
 Generally one sees these animals in herds of from 
 six to twenty in number, but old bucks sometimes 
 lead a solitary life. Nothing else is known of their 
 life in the free state, except that they graze less dur- 
 ing the night than in the morning and evening hours 
 and rest during the hottest part of the day. 
 
 The movements of the Nylghau are somewhat 
 peculiar on account of the queer attitudes which the 
 animal assumes. Its ordinary pace is similar to that 
 of other Antelopes, but as soon as it becomes ex- 
 cited, it arches its back, draws in its neck and creeps 
 slowly along, casting gloomy looks about through 
 half closed eyes. The tail is then drawn in between 
 the legs. In full flight the bearing of the Nylghau 
 is stately and dignified and affords a handsome 
 spectacle, especially if the animal lifts its tail erect 
 in the air. 
 
 The hunt of the Nylghau is not a sport of which 
 European sportsmen are passionately fond; the 
 hunter usually approaches cautiously and shoots 
 down the largest and nearest buck, or pursues it on 
 horseback, for it is not very difficult" to overtake, if 
 it be pursued hotly from the very beginning and 
 made to exhaust itself more rapidly. The subjects 
 of Indian princes have from remote times taken 
 great pleasure in presenting this species of Antelope 
 to their lords and masters; it therefore may yet be 
 seen in parks owned by aristocrats. In 1767 only 
 the first pair were taken to England, and at the close 
 of the century others came to France, Holland and 
 Germany. At present the Nylghau is seen in nearly 
 all European and American zoological gardens, 
 where it propagates seasonably and regularly. 
 
 FOUR-HORNED ANTELOPE. 
 
 Before we leave India to return to Africa, the 
 ■country most abounding in Antelopes, we will call 
 to mind one of the most remarkable species of the 
 
 whole family, nay, of all Ruminants, the Four-horned 
 Antelope (Tetraceros quadricomis) . Among the do- 
 mesticated Ruminants we may sometimes find indi- 
 viduals possessed of four or even eight horns; but 
 they are never at the foundation of a distinct spe- 
 cies, but rather to be regarded as singular exceptions 
 or freaks of nature. No other wild animal shows 
 a growth of horns similar to that of this Antelope. 
 Thus it stands completely isolated, at least so far as 
 our pi-esent experience extends. 
 
 The Four-horned Antelope is a small, dainty ani- 
 mal. Its length amounts to from twenty-eight to 
 thirty-two inches, the tail measuring nearly five 
 inches of this total. The height at the withers varies 
 between twenty-four and twenty-six inches. The 
 female is hornless. Of the horns of the buck the 
 fore pair are set on above the inner corners of the 
 eyes, and incline slightly backward; the hinder pair 
 are plaped above the outer corners of the eyes, 
 slightly curved forward and are ringed at the base 
 and smooth at the tip. The hinder pair may be 
 from four to five inches long, the fore pair rather 
 rhore than an inch or an inch and a half in length. 
 The animal is apparently found throughout all 
 India, being quite frequent in places where wooded 
 or bush-grown hills afford it a compatible abode, 
 and it lives either singly or in pairs. 
 
 THE BUSH-BUCKS. 
 
 Under the name of Bush-bucks {Cephalolophus) 
 we comprise several small species, with short horns 
 which are straight or slightly curved forward, and 
 are usually borne only by the males, but sometimes 
 are also developed in the female. There is a furrow 
 between eye and nose, and a long tuft of hair be- 
 tween the horns, which may be erected at will. 
 
 The Duyher The Duyker or Diver ( Cephalolophus 
 or Diver An- mergens) is one of the largest species 
 telope. of the group. It attains a length of 
 
 forty-four inches, of which about eight inches are 
 included in the tail; the height at the shoulders is 
 twenty-two inches. Its straight, awl-shaped horns 
 show from four to six not very prominent rings and 
 attain an average length of from three to four and in 
 some rare cases five inches; they nearly disappear 
 among the hair of the tuft when that appendage is 
 erected by the animal. The color is very variable, 
 but generally is a grayish olive tint on the upper 
 surface, or dark yellow-brown in case of the male, 
 fading into white on the under surface. The animal 
 mainly inhabits south Africa, where it is still com- 
 mon in forests of trees of second growth or of small 
 underbrush. 
 
 The Duyker is one of the first Antelopes a new- 
 comer meets in Cape Colony, as it inhabits the 
 thickets of bushes along the sea-coaBt in probably 
 greater numbers than are to be found in the wooded 
 inland country. Like all smaller or dwarf-like Ante^ 
 lopes, one meets it either singly or in pairs. It is 
 never seen outside of the bushes in which it habit- 
 ually conceals itself. 
 
 "At the approach of a Man or some other enemy," 
 says Drayson, " it will lie still, watching him atten- 
 tively, until it is sure that it is discovered. It will 
 then jump up and start off, making a series of sharp 
 turns and plunges resembling the motions of a diver, 
 sometimes over bushes and at others through them. 
 It crouches and crawls in the long grass or bet^uieen 
 the bushes, so softly as to make the pursuer think, 
 it has disappeared or lain down. But the latter sup- 
 position is never correct, foi the Duyker simply pro- 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS-DWARF ANTELOPES. 
 
 505 
 
 ceeds under cover of the foliage, until it has gained 
 a start: then it again bounds away. The cleverest 
 hunter and the best Dog are often baffled by the 
 DUyker; if the course of the buck can be traced and 
 the place in which it lies down, after its erratic ma- 
 neuvering, discerned, it can easily be approached 
 from the leeward side. The irregular course which 
 it pursues necessitates great accuracy and quickness 
 of aim in shooting it, however. The Duyker is not 
 very swift; an old Pointer, which served me as a 
 Dog of all work, frequently caught and held a Duy- 
 ker until I came up and despatched it. The skin of 
 
 THE FOUB-HOBNED ANTELOPE. One of the most peculiar of 
 
 the Antelopes is the Four-horned species shown in the picture. The ani- 
 mals are found in India. The most characteristic feature of this Antelope 
 is the small, extra pair of horns in front of the main pair borne by every 
 finale. {JTetraceros guadricornis.) 
 
 the Duyker is used for the thongs of long wagon 
 whips; the flesh is highly esteemed for making good 
 soup. As a general rule the venison of South Afri- 
 can Antelopes and Deer is very inferior, being dry 
 and tasteless, but to the epicurean sportsman I can 
 recommend the liver of all the small Antelopes as 
 a great delicacy. The Dutch grease and baste the 
 flesh of the Duyker with fat taken from the Eland 
 or the Hippopotamus and greatly improve the flavor 
 of the venison." 
 
 DWARF ANTELOPES. 
 
 The smallest species of the family are ranged un- 
 der the title of Dwarf Antelopes {Neotragus). They 
 arfe exceedingly elegant little animals, exhibiting 
 great similarity among themselves, and only the 
 males bear horns, those members being very small, 
 thin and erect. The roundish head and the pointed 
 nose, with its small muzzle, are further distinctive 
 
 features. All known species strongly resemble each 
 other in their habits and demeanor, so that it will 
 suffice if I draw a pen picture of one observed by 
 myself and connect what is known of other species 
 with this description. 
 The Greyhound The Greyhound Antelope {Neotra- 
 Antelope of gus hemprichii), called Beni Israel 
 East Africa. by the inhabitants of Massowah, 
 is one of the daintiest of Ruminants. The buck 
 has a pair of small horns with from ten to twelve 
 rings extending half around on the lower half of 
 the outer. side and with tips which curve forward; 
 these horns are nearly covered by the strongly de- 
 veloped hair-tuft and entirely overshadowed by the 
 very long ears. The body is sturdy, the tail a short- 
 haired stump; the legs are of moderate length, but 
 extremely weak; the hoofs are long, narrow and 
 pointed, the rudimentary toes barely perceptible. 
 The hair is very fine and rather long. The color 
 appears reddish-gray or bluish-gray. On the back 
 the hue warms into reddish-brown; the thighs of 
 the fore-legs are often mottled, the under parts and 
 inner surfaces of the legs white. A broad band 
 above and below the eyes is white; the ears are 
 edged with a blackish tint; the horns and hoofs are 
 black. 
 
 THE BUSH-BUCK. This Antelope, which is also called the Duy- 
 ker or Diver, is especially numerous in the southern part of Africa. Al- 
 thouEh not large it is a very agile animal, and on its head it bears in 
 addition to its short horns a tuft ot hair which it can erect at will. (Cefli- 
 alolophus mergens.) 
 
 In Abyssinia one can hardly miss the Beni Israel, 
 in suitable places, beginning from the sea-coast to 
 an elevation of six thousand feet. Nearly all Dwarf 
 Antelopes are inhabitants of the forests of under- 
 brush so abundant in Africa. Thickets which would 
 be impenetrable for other larger Antelopes provide 
 these Lilliputians with magnificent residences. They 
 find a path among the densest of tangles and an exit 
 
506 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 between the sharpest of thorns. The Beni Israel 
 decidedly prefers the valley to the heights. It de- 
 lights most in the green woods bordering the course 
 of those streams flowing only during the rainy sea- 
 son. There it revels in a profusion of hiding-places, 
 for in these localities, mimosas, thorns, cypress, 
 spurge bushes and other larger plants are interwoven 
 and intertwined by a genuine network of creepers; 
 and there it finds grateful retreats in bushes entirely 
 closed from the outside, while the inside is habita- 
 ble and completely hidden from view, or eke there 
 are narrow thickets which are connected on long 
 stretches. Farther away from the vivifying water- 
 course, the shrubs become fewer in number and 
 green, succulent grass can grow unhindered. There 
 ■one is sure to meet the little Antelope. Like the 
 majority of its relations, about which we have ac- 
 quired any information, it lives invariably in pairs, 
 never in larger companies unless there has been an 
 addition to the family, and the offspring still re- 
 quires motherly care. In such instances the young 
 one trots along behind the parents. 
 Method of Hunting At first the hunter experiences some 
 
 the Greyhound difficulty in ■ discovering the little 
 Ante/ope. creature; but when he has become 
 
 familiar with its habits and haunts he knows how to 
 find it, for he needs but to proceed logically. The 
 tints of the animal's fur, which correspond almost 
 exactly with those of the surroundings and really 
 appear to merge into them, contribute materially to 
 hide these dwarfs. 
 Reproduction and Very meagre accounts have so far 
 Capture of Grey- reached us as to the reproduction of 
 hound Antelopes, the Dwarf Antelopes. Ehrenberg 
 mentions the month of May as the usual time when 
 the little ones are born; but I have seen kids follow- 
 ing couples in March and more frequently in April. 
 
 The Caffres put into the way of the dwarf bucks 
 nooses which, when the animal steps into them, are 
 drawn tight and hold fast one of the legs of the 
 Antelope; or, if the natives only wish to obtain the 
 venison of the animals they put out snares, which 
 catch them by the throat and strangle them. The 
 venison of this animal is rather hard and tough, but 
 still is a somewhat palatable dish. It may be more 
 suitable to make soup than to serve as a roast. 
 Keeping Drayson's advice in mind, I have mainly 
 confined my gastronomic experiments to the liver 
 of the Dwarf Antelope and agree with that observer 
 that it is truly a delicacy. 
 Dwarf Antelopes Outside of its native country, the 
 
 Easily Tamed — Dwarf Antelope soon succumbs to 
 Their Foes. the influences of a foreign climate 
 and it is therefore very difficult to bring it to Eu- 
 rope. At the Cape and in other parts of Africa, 
 however, it has been kept for a long time in houses 
 or in yards. It is said that specimens which are 
 taken young soon become warmly attached to their 
 keeper, follow his call, suffer themselves to be 
 fondled, petted and to be carried about and gener- 
 ally resign themselves to human domination without 
 offering any resistance; therefore their exceeding 
 good- nature, gentleness and amiable temper are 
 greatly praised. 
 
 Next to Man the most deadly enemy of the Dwarf 
 Antelopes is probably the Leopard. Smaller Felidae 
 may also prey on the unresisting dwarf and most 
 probably the Eagle occasionally snatches away a 
 kid. Jackals, Foxes and other members of the band 
 of marauders also figure among the enemies of the 
 Eeni Israel and its relations. 
 
 THE MOUNTAIN ANTELOPES. 
 
 All the Mountain Antelopes are to be distin- 
 guished iron), the others of their family by their 
 stout, bulky, short bodies. They are comparatively 
 thick and pudgy in body and short of leg, and they 
 are digitigrade animals, that is, their hoofs are so 
 formed that the entire weight of the animals rests 
 on the tips. A more or less dense and wiry fur is 
 no less a characteristic feature of the inhabitants of 
 the cooler heights. Such a bodily structure is com- 
 mon to all; but there are differences in regard to the 
 horns, sometimes both sexes being endowed with 
 them, sometimes only the males. 
 Physical Formation The Goral of India, an animal be- 
 
 and Habits of longing to the genus Nemorhoedus, 
 the Goral. jg possessed of a remarkable fac- 
 ulty for climbing. Both sexes bear horns, resem- 
 bling those of Goats. So far few species of that 
 genus are known, and that but imperfectly. 
 
 The Goral {^Nemorhoedus goral) has about the same 
 proportions as a Goat. Its range is restricted to the 
 Himalayas, and that to a belt between three thou- 
 sand and seven thousand eight hundred feet of alti- 
 tude. Kinloch says that it is gregarious, sometimes 
 living in great herds, but generally widely dispersed 
 in small troops or even singly and in pairs., It dwells 
 in forests as well as among barren crags and stony 
 walls, apparently preferrmg steep cliffs thinly over- 
 grown with bushes and small trees. The inhabitants 
 of Nepal believe it to be the speediest of ail crea- 
 tures. No living Goral has as yet been talcen to 
 Europe or America and even the skins of these ani- 
 mals are classified among the rarities in a museum. 
 
 These Oriental Antelopes are followed in the cate- 
 gory by the European Chamois, the graceful, much 
 pursued child of German mountains. It is held to 
 be the representatives of a distinct genus ( Capella), 
 the main distinctive features of which are erect 
 horns, with tips curved backward like hooks. 
 
 Physical Pecul- The Chamois ( Capella rupicapra), the 
 
 iarities of the only species of the genus, averages 
 Chamois. ^ length of forty-four inches, about 
 three inches of which are included in the tail; the 
 height at the withers iS thirty inches, at the croup 
 thirty-two, and the weight ranges between eighty 
 and ninety pounds. The horns are about ten inches 
 long, measured along the curvature, and are not 
 only farther apart in the buck than they are in the 
 doe, but also stouter and more decidedly hooked. 
 In all other respects Chamois of the two sexes re- 
 semble each other, though the bucks are as a rule 
 larger than the does. The fur undergoes modifica- 
 tions according to the season. In summer the pre- 
 vailing color, a dingy reddish brown, or rusty red, 
 fades into a light reddish yellow hue on the lower 
 surface; a black brown stripe runs along the course 
 of the spine; the throat is of a yellowish, fallow tint 
 and the nape of the neck yellowish white. This 
 hue deepens on the shoulders, thighs, breast and 
 flanks; a stripe on the buttocks shows a tint of yel- 
 low which fades almost into white. A narrow black- 
 ish longitudinal band runs from the earS across the 
 eyes, standing out in bold relief on the fallow 
 ground color. In winter the Chamois is of a dark 
 brown or lustrous brown-black hue above and white 
 below; the legs are lighter in the lower than in the 
 upper portions and their color warms into a faint 
 red; the feet are yellowish white, like the head, 
 which somewhat darkens on top and on the muzzle. 
 Both summer and winter coat change so gradually 
 that they are in their entirety worn but a very short 
 
THE CHAMOIS. Scaling- the Alpine heights, sure-footed, swift and agile, the Chamois is one of the most graceful as well as one of 
 
 amous of the Antelope Species. It is a hardy animal, with erect horns, hooked at the tip, and is most at home in the mountains from the forest 
 •tfte line of perpetual show. The picture shows a family of these animals amid characteristic surroundings, {Capella ruficapra.) 
 
 the most 
 belt up to 
 
 (507) 
 
508 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 time. Young animals are reddish brown and lighter 
 around the eyes. Light varieties or white individ- 
 uals are seldom seen. 
 
 Range and The Alps may be termed the true 
 
 Habits of the home of the Chamois. Its range 
 Chamois. really extends much farther, as the 
 Chamois is also found in the Abruzzi, the Pyrenees, 
 the mountains of the Cantabrian coast, of Dalmatia 
 and Greece, on the Carpathian mountains, especially 
 on the peaks of the high Tatra, the Transylvanian 
 Alps, and lastly on the Caucasus, in Taurida and 
 Georgia. In the Swiss Alps it is at present of com- 
 paratively rare occurrence, being much less numer- 
 ous there than in the eastern Alps, where it exists in 
 considerable numbers especially in upper Bavaria, 
 Salzburg and the Salzkammergut, Styria and Car- 
 inthia, cared for and protected by wealthy and judi- 
 cious land-owners or people who rent the hunting 
 privileges. The steep, inaccessible heights of the 
 middle Carpathian mountains also harbor it in num- 
 bers satisfactory to sportsmen, though it is not pro- 
 tected there. 
 
 The current belief that the Chamois is an Alpine 
 animal in the narrowest sense of the term, that is, 
 that it roams invariably above the forest belt, in the 
 immediate neighborhood of the glaciers, is an erro- 
 neous one; for it unreservedly belongs to the family 
 of the forest Antelopes. Wherever it is protected, 
 it shows a decided preference for the upper forest 
 belt. In summer it does ascend in greater or smaller 
 numbers to the higher belts of the mountain, and 
 remains for weeks and months in proximity to the 
 snow and glaciers, selecting the highest meadows 
 and treeless crags as its temporary abode; but the 
 majority of the Chamois of a district are found in 
 summer, as well as winter, in the upper forest belt. 
 
 The Chamois is wont to rest at night. At dawn it 
 rises and begins to feed, as a rule descending the 
 mountain slowly. The latter part of the forenoon 
 it spends in ruminating in the shade of a projecting 
 rock or under the branches of an old fir tree, usually 
 lying, comfortably stretched out, on its folded legs. 
 At about noon it begins to slowly ascend the moun- 
 tain, feeding as it goes, and in the afternoon again 
 rests for a few hours under trees, on projecting, 
 smooth ledges of rock, or snow, or some similar 
 spot selected at random. It feeds again towards 
 evening and retires at the approach of dusk. It is 
 said to occasionally vary this history of its day 
 by feeding during moonlit summer nights. 
 
 Being in high degree gregarious, the Chamois 
 associate in flocks, which often consist of great num- 
 bers. These societies are formed by the does, their 
 kids and the young bucks, up to their second or at 
 most their third year. The old bucks, except at 
 certain seasons, live solitary, or they join one, two 
 or three others of their own sex. It seems, how- 
 ever, that these animals never associate closely for 
 any long time. Of the larger flocks an old, expe- 
 rienced doe assumes the leadership and usually, but 
 not invariably, guides the actions of the flock, which, 
 however, does not rely entirely on her vigilance. 
 
 The Chamois' In regard to its movements the 
 l^ovements on the Chamois vies with the other mount- 
 Mountains. ain-climbing members of its family 
 already known to us. It is a skillful climber, a sure- 
 footed jumper and a bold and indefatigable ascender 
 of mountains, moving rapidly and nimbly about on 
 the most dangerous places to which no Goat dares 
 attempt to climb. When it proceeds slowly its gait 
 is lumbering and clumsy and its bearing ungainly; 
 
 but as soon as its fear is aroused and it takes ta 
 flight, the animal changes completely. It then 
 impresses one as far livelier, bolder, nobler and 
 stronger, as it bounds away, every one of its move- 
 ments characterized by vigor and grace. Some 
 definite observations have been made about its ex- 
 traordinary leaping powers: Von Wolten measured 
 the leap of one Chamois and found it to have cov- 
 ered a distance rather exceeding twenty-three feet. 
 The same observer saw a tame Chamois jump up a 
 wall thirteen feet high, and leap down on the other 
 side, alighting on the back of a servant girl' who was 
 cutting grass. The Chamois can gain a foothold on 
 the smallest projection, and in scaling an eminence, 
 it looks more like a bird in flight than an animal 
 climbing. It takes a run and generally ascends 
 obliquely. It goes uphill more easily than down- 
 hill, and sets its mobile and sensitive forefeet on the 
 ground with extreme caution, lest it should loosen 
 some of the stones over which it passes. Even 
 when severely wounded it rushes up the most dan- 
 gerous paths; nay, even when deprived of a leg, it 
 exhibits scarcely less agility than when it is sound. 
 The Chamois proceeds with the utmost caution 
 when crossing snow-covered glaciers, and carefully 
 avoids all snow filled crevices even though it can 
 not distinguish them by its sight. It also skirts the 
 edges of an abyss very carefully and slowly. Some 
 members of the flock concentrate their attention on 
 the path, while the others incessantly look out for 
 any other danger. "We have seen," says Tschudi, 
 " how a flock of Chamois crossed a dangerous and 
 very steep ledge of rock, which was covered with 
 loose, rolling stones, and it was a pleasure to observe 
 their patience and sagacity. One of them took the 
 lead and walked gently upwards, while the others 
 waited their turn, until it had reached the height, 
 and only when all the loosened stones had ceased 
 rolling, the second followed, then the third and so 
 on. Those which had arrived at their, destination 
 showed not the slightest inclination to disperse on 
 the pasturage, but stood watching on the edge of 
 the chasm until the last companion had joined 
 them in safety." An unusual sense of locality stands 
 the Chamois in good stead on its bold wanderings. 
 It never forgets a road it has once traveled and one 
 might say it knows every stone in its domain; this is 
 just why it is so thoroughly at home on the high 
 mountain and seems awkward when it leaves it. 
 The Perceptive The • senses of the Chamois are un- 
 Sensesofthe equal in acuteness, but not weaker 
 Chamois. tha.n those of its relatives. Those of 
 smell and hearing seem to be developed best, while 
 that of sight is less keen. The delicacy of the first 
 is manifested not only by their commonly demon- 
 strated keen scent, but also by their surprisingly 
 good powers of trailing which enable, them to take 
 up, the track of each other and unerringly follow it. 
 He who wishes to observe Chamois or to approach 
 them, must pay careful attention to the direction of 
 the wind and approach them from the leeward, as 
 the shy animals will certainly otherwise escape. At 
 what distance their sense of scent is efficient, cannot 
 be determined definitely, but it may be confidently 
 asserted that it considerably exceeds the range of a 
 rifle-shot. At any rate the sense of smell is the one 
 which apprises a Chamois first and most unmistak- 
 ably of an approaching danger and consequently in- 
 cites it to flight. Their sense of hearing deceives 
 them much of tener, though it is very delicate. They 
 usually pay very little attention to the noise of falling 
 
THE HORNED ANIMALS— MOUNTAIN ANTELOPES. 
 
 509 
 
 stones; for they are accustomed to it in the moun- 
 tains. Even the report of a gun does not always 
 excite their attention; but when once Chamois rec- 
 ognize the sound and know what it portends, they 
 hurriedly scamper off. In many cases, however, the 
 report perplexes them and the sportsman has an op- 
 portunity of sending another shot at them. This 
 may be partly explained by the fact that even a Man 
 often finds it very difficult, on account of the echoes 
 in mountain regions, to judge from what direction a 
 shot was fired or whether the noise was produced 
 by the report of a giin or only by concussion of a 
 rolling stone dashing against a boulder. The sense 
 of sight of the Chamois is undoubtedly efficient at 
 long distances, but does not enable them to distin- 
 guish enemies who remain quietly under cover. 
 JLike most other animals they do not seem to recog- 
 nize an enemy in a quiet human being, and see in 
 him an object of fear only when he moves. 
 
 The Chamois a Towards the middle of November, 
 Courageous, Pugna- the strong bucks join the flocks and 
 
 cious Animal. remain with them for two or three 
 weeks. Taciturn and silent as they are during the 
 remainder of the year, they then exercise their voices, 
 emitting a dull, hollow bellow or grunt, hard to be 
 described. At the appearing of the old males the 
 young bucks disperse in alarm; old warriors, how- 
 ever, that encounter each other in a flock, always 
 refuse to retreat, and at once enter into combat, a 
 strong buck never tolerating the presence of another 
 one in his flock, even if the latter consists of thirty 
 or forty females. The little Chamois appear during 
 the last days of May or at the beginning of June. 
 Old does sometimes have two, or even three, young 
 at a birth; young does only one. 
 Jnfancy and Train- The young kids are lovely little 
 
 ingofCham- creatures with a thick woolly coat 
 o/s Kids. of a pale fallow red hue; they follow 
 
 their mothers everywhere and in a very few days 
 display the same agility as is possessed by older 
 animals. The does treat them with the greatest 
 maternal tenderness for at least six months, exercis- 
 ing great vigilance in their behalf and teaching them 
 all that is necessary to enable them to fill their mis- 
 sion in life. The mother guides her offspring with 
 a bleat, bearing a slight resemblance to that of a 
 Goat; she teaches them to climb and jump, and 
 sometimes executes some leap for that purpose a 
 great many times, until they can accomplish it them- 
 selves. The kids are sincerely attached to their 
 mother and do not, \*hile they are young, desert her 
 even in death. Their growth is very rapid, for, as 
 Kobell, who is well versed in these matters, says, 
 they are the only animals which suffer compara- 
 tively little from the severe weather of winter. They 
 still find some food on the steep rocky precipices 
 from which the snow is usually blown away, or 
 under the shelter of rocks and trees, which keep it 
 away to some extent, while Deer are driven into the 
 valleys and, if not fed by man artificially, frequently 
 succumb. 
 Food of the Cham- In summer the Chamois feeds on the 
 
 ois in Summer best and most succulent of Alpine 
 
 and Winter. herbs, especially on those which 
 grow near the snow line, and also on tender young 
 shoots of the bushes and dwarf trees of that altitude, 
 its bill of fare ranging from the rose of the Alps to 
 the young seed cones of pines and firs. In late fall 
 and winter, however, it must content itself with the 
 long grass protruding above the snow, and with 
 moss and lichens. Salt seems to be an essential to 
 
 its well being, as it is to most Ruminants; as to 
 water, however, it does not seem to need it and 
 probably quenches its thirst by licking the dewy 
 leaves. It is fastidious from choice and frugal from 
 necessity and rapidly increases in fat, bulk and 
 weight when it feeds on good food, but scanty fare 
 soon reduces it. Flocks of Chamois often gather 
 around the hay-ricks which are piled up in some 
 districts of the Alps, and they gradually eat such 
 deep holes or tunnels into the piles that they can 
 go into the hay to shelter themselves from the 
 storms. In other localities where such hay-ricks are 
 unknown, they accept no food from the hands of 
 Man even in the severest of weather of winter, but 
 suffer and pine. 
 
 Winter for the Chamois not only implies great 
 scarcity of food, but it also menaces them with 
 avalanches, which sometimes bury entire flocks. 
 The animals know this danger and confine them- 
 selves to places where they are safest; but even then 
 their doom often overtakes them. Rolling masses 
 of earth and boulders also sometimes kill them; 
 diseases and epizootics thin their numbers, and an 
 array of foes, chief among which are the Lynx, 
 Wolf, Bear and Eagle, are constantly at their heels. 
 Lynxes lie in wait for them in the forests in winter, 
 and commit great ravages among them; Wolves fol- 
 low them, especially when the snow lies deep, and 
 Bears also inflict great losses on their ranks. In the 
 Engadine it is said to have happened that a Bear 
 pursued a Chamois into a village, in which the ani- 
 mal was saved by entering a barn. Eagles are no 
 less dangerous, as they swoop down on them as un- 
 expectedly as a flash of lightning coming from a 
 clear sky, take up a young kid without the least ado 
 and try to drag larger ones into some abyss, despite 
 their resistance. These assailants are, fortunately, 
 nearly extinct in all protected localities, but their 
 number is everywhere, augmented by the most 
 deadly foe — Man — unless the government has estab- 
 lished definite hunting rules and customs which 
 warrant or tend to attain a regulated protection of 
 this noble game. 
 The Chamois a The hunting of the Chamois has 
 Favorite Game ever been held to be a sport worthy 
 Animal. of practice by the highest in the 
 land, and at the present day has become almost ex- 
 clusively a sport for princes. The greatest abun- 
 dance of Chamois are found in the game preserves 
 owned by the Emperor of Austria, the King of Ba- 
 varia, various archdukes and wealthy noblemen of 
 the Austro-Hungarian empire; they are guarded by 
 experienced forest guards, usually living right in 
 the midst of the hunting district, and therefore the 
 chase of the animals in these regions is both attract- 
 ive and generally rewarded with success. 
 
 Von Kobell' s Ac- "A great deal has been written 
 count of a Chamois SihoMt the Chamois hunt," says 
 Hunt. Franz von Kobell, "and there are 
 
 some people who have but barely seen a few hunts, 
 and yet have taken to writing and have, according 
 to their humor and the experiences of the expedi- 
 tions in which they have taken part, either made it 
 out to be the most dangerous of all sports or else 
 described it as if it were not more perilous than the 
 coursing of Hares or the chase of Deer. That this 
 hunt is more romantic than others, is implied by 
 the character of the scenery amidst which it must 
 occur, but as regards the perils of the hunter, they 
 depend upon the methods used and the conditions 
 surrounding the hunt. He who has hunted many 
 
510 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 Chamois will hardly have been spared the feelings 
 of inward terror, as he climbed over a precipice or 
 threaded his way through a chasm and was suddenly 
 aware of a rolling of stones above him, caused by 
 a fleeing flock and he could barely save himself by 
 crouching behind a boulder or ledge; or as he fol- 
 lowed a wounded Chamois and unexpectedly found 
 himself in spots where the consequences of a mis- 
 take in a step or leap, which had to be made, were 
 but too obvious. One certainly must not think 
 that both Chamois and hunter always have to crawl 
 about rocky precipices like Flies on a wall. The 
 locality often is so favorable that the hunter can 
 obtain his prey without the exercise of special skill 
 and with little trouble, as, for instance, when the 
 spoor follows the course of a road or extends through 
 a wood or valley. There is scarcely any variety of 
 hunt in which the conditions differ so widely. 
 The Usual Method "To shoot a good buck with a rifle 
 
 of Hunting the is usually a difficult feat; but as 
 Chamois. chance in some instances spoils op- 
 portunities, so is it favorable in others. One some- 
 times has chances for a shot where he does not 
 expect them at all. The paths which Chamois may 
 select when driven by beaters are very uncertain and 
 present a thousand aspects, for precipices, chasms 
 and crags alternate in the most variable manner. 
 Over the face of steep precipices the flock nearly 
 always takes the same road, unless driven off by a 
 shot. Over a chasm they all spring; sometimes 
 they go down the rocky inclines, jumping from point 
 to point, in a zigzag direction, without stopping. 
 They like to hide in the heaps of wood, which have 
 been cut and piled for the charcoal burners, and it is 
 almost incredible how quickly they work their way 
 through the intricate tangle of trunks and limbs. If 
 the wind is good — that is, blows from the hunter 
 toward the game — they are usually urged forward 
 easily; but the main thing is to make them see the 
 beater, for while stones thrown down the mountain 
 side startle them, they do not disturb them enough 
 to put them to flight. The Chamois know whether 
 the stones are dangerous to them or not; so if they 
 are under cover of a rock, they calmly wait, in 
 spite of all the stones that may come bounding 
 down over it. If the atmosphere is foggy the hunts- 
 man can be successful only when there are a great 
 many beaters, and they proceed in close order. 
 When a flock approaches, one can frequently ob- 
 serve with interest and pleasure how frivolous and 
 unconcerned a crowd a herd of Chamois is. For the 
 main body leaves all care to the leading doe, and 
 while she stops to listen and watch the others butt 
 against each other and fight, unless the beaters are 
 too near. 
 
 "As regards distance, especially across a chasm, it 
 is easy to be deceived, and many a Chamois owes its 
 escape to miscalculation in this respect. There is 
 a rule among experienced hunters that the distance 
 is too great for successful shooting when one can 
 not easily distinguish the horns. A badly wounded 
 Chamois soon, lies down; but if it is pursued, or a 
 Dog is set upon its trail, it resumes its flight and 
 generally mounts on a crag where a Dog can not 
 follow it — and then the hunter must shoot it down. 
 In craggy, precipitous mountains a Dog is useless, 
 for the trail of the wounded Chamois can be easily 
 traced by the blood drops on the gray stones. 
 Sometimes, however, the hunter loses his game be- 
 cause of inability to reach the spot where the animal 
 lies dead." 
 
 Chamois in Ma- The flesh of the Chamois can vie 
 terial and Poetical with that of any other animal in 
 Aspects. flavor and excellence, in my opinion 
 far surpassing even that of the Roe, which is deemed 
 the tenderest and most palatable of all indigenous 
 European kinds, the Chamois venison being distin- 
 guished by a savory taste, which can not be com- 
 pared to anything else. The hide which is manu- 
 factured into excellent leather, is nearly as valuable 
 as the venison. The horns are also put to account 
 and the hair taken in a strip running along the 
 course of the backbone serves as an ornament on the 
 hats of professional as well as amateur hunters. 
 
 The Chamois plays the same part in the poetry of 
 the inhabitants of the Alps, as the Gazelle does in 
 the literature and folklore of the Orient. Hundreds . 
 of songs describe it and its pursuit in an interesting 
 and poetical manner; numerous and widely varying 
 traditions and fables are intertwined with its natural 
 history, so far as it has become known to the com- 
 mon people. 
 
 The Chamois Chamois taken young are capable of 
 in a State of domestication. They are fed upon 
 Domestication. Goat's milk, succulent grass and 
 herbs, cabbage, turnips and bread. If the owner 
 have some good-natured Goats in his possession he 
 may install them as foster parents, and the small, 
 light-hearted natives of the mountain will thrive all 
 the better for it. They merrily play with the kids 
 and saucily romp with the Dogs; they follow their 
 keeper about trustfully and come up to him to beg- 
 for food. They always exhibit their natural inclina- 
 tion for the highest attainable points and objects 
 upon which they may mount. Blocks of stone, piles 
 of any sort of material in the yard, walls and other 
 eminences are their favorite haunts, on which they 
 sometimes remain standing for hours. They never 
 become as strong as Chamois in the natural, un- 
 tamed state, but seem to bear confinement qiiite 
 well. In some individuals a certain fierceness of 
 temper makes itself apparent in old age and they 
 sometimes use their little horns in quite a bellicose 
 and resolute manner. Their frugality in the matter 
 of food renders captivity more easy for them to bear. 
 In old age they are still less fastidious about their 
 food than in youth. In respect to bodily endurance 
 end indifference to hardship one might say that they 
 are born hardy. In winter a little straw under a. 
 small open shed is sufficient provision for them. 
 They do not appear to be comfortable in a stable;^ 
 space for exercise and a supply of fresh air are 
 essentials for their continued well being. Those in- 
 dividuals that are taken old always remain timid 
 and shy. 
 
 Chamois seldom propagate themselves in cap- 
 tivity. In 1863, however, Schoepff had the pleasure 
 of having his captive Chamois give birth to a 
 healthy kid. The nurture of the little one was en- 
 trusted to a Goat, and it grew and throve so well 
 that it nearly equaled its mother in size when one 
 and a half years old. After two years the old 
 Chamois gave birth to another kid. 
 
 THE SAIGA. 
 
 The Saiga ( Colus tataricus) differs so considerably 
 from all other known Antelopes in some important 
 peculiarities, that it is justly regarded as the repre- 
 sentative of a distinct species. It exhibits some 
 affinity to the Sheep in shape and action, in other 
 respects, however, resembling Reindeer. Its body 
 is very short and thick, the fur consists of extremely 
 
THE SAIGA. On the Russian and Siberian steppes the animal shown in the picture is very common, frequently assembling in large herds. Its. 
 
 gait is speedy but awkward as it endeavors to escape from the Kirghiz Tartars who pursue it over the arid stretches of its native region. Only the male 
 Saiga has horns, but both sexes are marked with the distinguishing feature of the species, the large! projecting nose which gives these animals so odd an 
 appearance. (Coins tartaricus.) 
 
 (5") 
 
512 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 long filaments and is so close as to resemble a rug 
 of smooth wool. More than by any other feature, 
 however, the Saiga is characterized by the anatom- 
 ical structure of its muzzle and especially of the 
 nose. This latter organ projects beyond the lips, is 
 divided by a longitudinal furrow, and is composed 
 of thin, almost membrane-like cartilage, with a 
 wrinkled surface and furnished with delicate retrac- 
 tile muscles, and therefore very mobile, the whole 
 forming a somewhat well-developed snout or trunk, 
 so that the group might properly bear the name of 
 " proboscis Antelopes." The buck alone has horns, 
 and they stand somewhat far apart, are lyrate in the 
 contourof their curves, pale in hue and transparent. 
 The color of the back and sides is grayish yellow in 
 summer; the limbs below the knee are darker, the 
 sides of the neck and under surface of the abdomen, 
 as well as the inner surfaces of the limbs are white; 
 forehead and top of the head are ashy gray, a 
 lancet-shaped patch on the croup is beset with 
 coarser, longer hair and appears to be blackish 
 brown. Towards winter the fur becomes lighter 
 and fades into a yellowish gray, with a whitish sur- 
 face tinge. The length of an adult buck is fifty-two 
 inches, four and a half inches of which are included 
 in the tail; the height at the withers is barely thirty- 
 two inches, the horns, measured along the line of 
 curvature, are from ten to twelve inches long. 
 
 The Range and The Saiga is a native of ,the steppes 
 
 Habits of the of eastern Europe and Sfceria, rang- 
 Saiga. jng from the Polish boundary to the 
 
 Altai mountains. It always lives in flocks, gather- 
 ing together in the fall of the year in great herds, 
 consisting of several thousand in number, which 
 undertake peri&dical migrations and return to their 
 former haunts in troops towards spring. It is very 
 rarely that one sees a solitary Saiga; for the old 
 bucks remain with the flocks throughout the year. 
 They manifest but little agility, their perceptive 
 senses exhibit on an average but a slight degree of 
 acuteness and their mental capacities are not of a 
 high order. The speed of adult animals is so great 
 that neither Horse nor Greyhound can overtake 
 them, but younger ones soon get but of breath and 
 the old animals also fall victims to the united efforts 
 of beasts of prey, such as Wolves. 
 
 The food of the Saiga consists .chiefly of saline 
 plants and herbs, which grow in enormous masses in 
 some places of the sunny, arid Tartar steppes which 
 are also intersected by many streams flowing from 
 saline springs. The does give birth to a single 
 young one, which is very helpless at first, and gen- 
 erally makes its appearance towards the middle of 
 May. 
 
 Notwithstanding the fact that their venison is bad, 
 the Saigas are persistently and extensively hunted 
 by the natives of the steppes. They a,re pursued on 
 horseback and with Hounds and are, as a rule, over-~ 
 taken, if the chase extends over a long distance. 
 AVolves also commit great depiredations among them 
 and completely devour those j^hat they kill, leaving 
 only the skull and horns. TheSe remnants are picked 
 lip by the Kirghiz or Cossacks and sold for a small 
 price to Chinese merchants. 
 
 THE GNU. 
 
 The Gnus {Catoblepas) are probably the most strik- 
 ing in appearance of all Antelopes; they are very 
 queer looking Ruminants, intermediate links, if such 
 we may term them, between the Antelopes, Oxen 
 and Horses, and true caricatures of the more noble 
 
 and graceful members of their families. When one 
 sees a Gnu for the first time, he is uncertain what 
 kind of a creature he really confronts. The animal 
 impresses one as a Horse with cloven hoofs and a 
 bovine head, and its whole demeanor is in perfect 
 harmony with its hybrid shape. It is impossible to 
 call the Gnu a beautiful animal, exquisitely delicate 
 as the anatomical structure of some of its parts may 
 be, because of the oddity of its general appearance. 
 
 Physical Fea- The genus of the Gnus is poor in 
 
 turesofthe species and its distinctive features 
 Gnus. are as follows: The body, supported 
 
 on moderately long legs, is stout, the head nearly 
 square, the muzzle broa:d, the nostril appears as if it 
 were closed by a valve, the eye is surrounded by a 
 circular, radiating wreath of white bristles and is 
 wild and fierce in expression. Both sexes have 
 horns, which are set on the frontal ridge of the 
 skull, flatly compressed, very broad and have their 
 tips hooked upward. The tail is ornamented with a 
 long tuft like a Horse's tail. The median portion of 
 the face, the upper surface of the neck, the back, 
 throat and cheeks are furnished with a stout mane, 
 while the rest of the hairy covering is smooth. 
 
 The Gnu, called Wildebeest by the Boers {Catob- 
 lepas gnu), averages a total length of nine feet four 
 inches, inclusive of the tail, which measures twenty 
 inches without the hair, and from thirty-two to 
 thirty-six inches with the hair; the height at the 
 shoulders is four feet. The prevailing color is a dark 
 grayish brown, lighter in some parts, darker in 
 others, and assuming a yellowish, reddish or black- 
 ish tint. The female is smaller in body and its 
 horns are also smaller than those, of the male, but 
 the hue in both sexes exactly corresponds. 
 
 Habitat and The Gnu is a native of South Africa; 
 
 Habits of the it has been exterminated in Cape 
 6"". Colony. According to accounts of 
 
 trustworthy observers it migrates annually, actuated, 
 in our opinion, by the want of food. It is a very 
 active, sportive animal, and enlivens the wide plains 
 to a wonderful degree. 
 
 Gordon Gumming was informed that the Wilde- 
 beest does not retreat from its domicile, even when 
 attacked by a large number of hunters. Incessantly 
 describing circles, pawing and capering in the most 
 eccentric manner, the shaggy herds of these remark- 
 able and queer looking Antelopes surround their 
 pursuers. While the latter ride towards them, in- 
 tending to kill' a few, they run in circles on either 
 side and take up their positions on the places the 
 hunters have vacated a few minutes previously. 
 Sometimes one sees on the plains old Wildebeest 
 bucks, singly or in troops of four or five, standing 
 short distances apart and motionless during a whole 
 forenoon, gazing at the movements of some other 
 animal, and continually emitting a loud, grunting 
 noise and a peculiar short, sharp nasal snort. 
 
 The movements of the Gnu are quick and spirited, 
 and its fondness for play and sport is equaled by 
 no other Ruminant. In serious combats males and 
 females exhibit equal courage. Their vocal expres- 
 sion resembles the lowing of Oxen. In captivity 
 the animals often prove wild and intractable, insus- 
 ceptible to petting and domestication, but also rather 
 indifferent as to the loss of their freedom. The 
 young Gnus are born singly at various seasons of the 
 year, the little one a few days after birth exhibiting 
 its delight in the execution of the same capers and 
 antics as its parents and, on account of its small size, 
 appearing still more droll than they. The mother 
 
THE PRONGHORNED ANIMALS. 
 
 513 
 
 .apparently loves it tenderly and perils her life in 
 -defense of it without hesitation. 
 
 Difficulty and The pursuit of adult Gnus is rendered 
 Profit of a Gnu difficult by reason of the extreme 
 Hunt. speed and endurance of the animal. 
 
 ■Gnus when pursued exhibit a striking resemblance 
 to fleeing wild Oxen. Occasionally Gnus are caught 
 in pitfalls or snares. Those which are taken when 
 already old act as if mad; young ones, however, 
 that are reared on cow's milk and caressed and fon- 
 dled become accustomed to Man and so tame that 
 one can send them to pasture with the flocks and 
 allow them the liberty accorded a domestic animal. 
 . The profit accruing from the carcass of a slain 
 Gnu is about the same as that arising from any other 
 wild African Antelopes. The flesh is eaten, being 
 juicy and tender, the hide is used as leather, and the 
 horns are made into knife handles and other articles. 
 
 Horns of Prong. This Ruminant, the Pronghorned 
 horns Not Those of Antelope, differs from all its rela- 
 an Antelope. tives of the entire order, by having 
 hollow, pronged horns, which do not increase by a 
 contmuous growth, as do those of the Horned Ani- 
 mals, but are shed and formed anew from time to 
 time, as are those of Deer, but in a totally different 
 manner. Other peculiarities, such as the existence 
 of special glands, the resemblance of the hoofs to 
 those of the Giraffe, the texture and appearance of 
 the hair, etc., induced Murie, who dissected the 
 animal, to describe it as " an Antelope with a head 
 like a Deer, "hoofs like a" Giraffe, glands like a Goat, 
 hair like a Sheep," which can mean nothing else but 
 that the Pronghorn is no Antelope. All character- 
 istics of the Ruminant in question are of so peculiar 
 and important a character that the animal cannot be 
 united with any other family of its order, but must 
 
 
 THE GNU. This s 
 
 Siristles around the strange! 
 
 tTbe pronQborneb animals. 
 
 FOURTH FAMILY: Antilocaprid.e. 
 
 We let the hollow-horned animals be followed in 
 ■our consideration by a Ruminant which was, until 
 recently, classified among the Antelopes, although 
 the distinctive difference in the formation of its 
 horns from those of all other Horned Animals made 
 5uch a classification manifestly incorrect. This is 
 probably the animal mentioned by old Hernandez as 
 •existing in Mexico, under the name of "Teutlama- 
 zame," but as the scientific description of this re- 
 markable Ruminant dates back only to the year 
 i8i5itwas reserved for the naturalists of our own 
 time to correct a scientific error which had been 
 obstinately persisted in, and to give the animal its 
 true position in its order. 
 
 be classified as the representative of a distinct family 
 which we will call the Pronghorned Animals. 
 Description and The Pronghorn, or, as it is variously 
 Range of the called the Pronghorned Antelope, 
 Pronghorn. Prongbuck, Cabree or Cabrit {Anti- 
 locapra americana or Antilope furcifer) has, on the 
 whole, the shape of a vigorous Antelope, measuring 
 about five feet in length, from seven to eight inches 
 of which total are included in the tail; and the 
 height at the shoulders is thirty-two inches. The 
 head is ungainly, sheep-like and elongated, the eye 
 large, dark and expressive; the ear is rather long and 
 is acutely pointed. The neck is of moderate length, 
 and the body appears more slender than it really is, 
 for it is supported on very delicate legs of more than 
 medium length. Three different and usually sharply 
 contrasting tints — a rusty sorrel, white and dark 
 brown — make the coat one of very gay appearance. 
 
514 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 The hair is long, wavy and brittle. The horns and 
 hoofs are black. Both sexeS' have horns, but only 
 those of the bucks are pronged; they rise vertically 
 from the head and their tips are sharply curved in- 
 ward and backward; in the old buck they are nearly 
 doubly as wide as they are thick, peculiarly rough 
 and uneven and beset at irregular intervals with 
 short, pointed excrescences. The horns of the buck 
 attain a length of from ten to twelve inches, those 
 of the female only from three to nearly five inches. 
 
 The Pronghorn is an inhabitant of western North 
 America, ranging from the Saskatchawan river in the 
 north to the Rio Grande in the south, and from the 
 Missouri to the shores of the Pacific. It does not 
 by any means confine its domicile to the plains, as 
 has been supposed, but has been found in the wild, 
 sterile, high valleys of the Rocky Mountains up to 
 an altitude of 8,300 feet. Finsh believes it to be 
 plentiful in the wide prairies of Kansas, and down to 
 Texas, as well as in the prairies between the Rocky 
 Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, or in the western 
 territory between the latter and the sea. 
 
 Daily Life The daily life of the Pronghorns, as 
 
 of the Prong- well as the modifications which they 
 horns. undergo in the course of the year, 
 
 have been described most minutely, and probably 
 also most correctly, by Canfield, who claims to have 
 become as familiar with them as other people are 
 with Goats and Sheep. He says: "From the first 
 of September to the first of March one always sees 
 them in larger groups composed of bucks, does and 
 yearlings. Shortly afterward the does individually 
 retire from these herds and give birth to their young. 
 After a short interval they again unite with other 
 suckling does and their little calves, possibly with a 
 view to common defense against the Wolf and Coy- 
 ote. The adult bucks roam about singly or two 
 together, leaving the mothers with their latest prog- 
 eny to their fate, the young Pronghorns in the 
 meantime gathering in groups of their own apart 
 from the older animals. Apparently tired of the 
 world and bored by society the old bucks wander 
 about for one or twq months, frequenting localities 
 in which they are not ordinarily seen. Two or three 
 months subsequently the adolescent bucks again 
 join the old does and their calves, and finally the 
 old bucks also put in an appearance, so that one can 
 observe herds numbering hundreds, or sometimes 
 even thousands, after the first-of September. A herd 
 never leaves its native locality or roams over more 
 than a few miles of range. In dry summer weather 
 they seek water and go to drink regularly once a day 
 or twice in three days; but if the grass is fresh and 
 green, as is the case during the greater part of the 
 year, the Pronghorns do not drink at all." 
 Food, Mouements The food of the Pronghorns consists 
 and' Faculties of mainly of the short succulent herb- 
 Pronghorns. age of the prairie, of moss and per- 
 haps of young and tender branches of trees and 
 shrubs. They are exceedingly fond of saline water 
 and pure salt, like most other Ruminants, and they 
 often take up their abode in the neighborhood of 
 saline deposits, and also rest for hours around salty 
 outcroppings, after they have licked to satisfaction. 
 With sufficient pasturage they become very fat in 
 fall, but often suffer greatly from hunger in winter, 
 when the snow covers the ground to the depth of a 
 foot or more and they are obliged to content them- 
 selves with the scantiest food. They soon decrease 
 in flesh, for running in the snow wears them away, 
 and too often they perish in a miserable way. 
 
 All observers agree in their admiration of the- 
 speed and agility of the Pronghorns. They may, 
 perhaps, in this regard be inferior to some of the Old 
 World Antelopes, but stand unequaled among the 
 animals of the prairies of the New World. Agile 
 and light, reaching far with the bold stride of their 
 long legs and, moreover, putting to shame every 
 other American mammal in point of endurance, 
 "they scour over the plain like the wind." Finsh 
 says that "a fleeing herd of Pronghorns affords an 
 incomparable and never-to-be-forgotten spectacle." 
 Skimming over the hills, the animals display the 
 same agility in going either up or down hill as on 
 the level ground and, as Audubon says, they move . 
 their four legs along the ground with such celerity 
 that one can no more distinguish the limbs than he- 
 can the spokes of a rapidly revolving wheel. 
 
 The perceptive senses of the Pronghorns are acute. 
 They can see at great distance, hear excellently^ and 
 scent an enemy approaching with the wind at several 
 hundred paces. They are wary and shy, to a cer- 
 tain degree intelligent and certainly cautious, and, 
 judiciously select their abode, especially the spots in 
 which they are wont to rest and chew the cud about 
 noon-time, always taking care that they have an 
 unobstructed view, profiting by the wind in a most, 
 ingenious way and moreover putting out. special sen- 
 tinels. They carefully avoid human settlements, but' 
 pay little attention to herds of domestic animals — 
 even of Horses and Cattle — and quietly graze in 
 their proximity. Several observers lay stress on the 
 fact that they do not always flee from an approach- 
 ing railway train, sometimes escorting it and ap-; 
 parently testing its speed by running beside it for 
 awhile. Audubon and others assure us that they can 
 easily swim across wide rivers. 
 ne Growth and The growth of young Pronghorns is 
 Horn Shedding of relatively very rapid, as is that of all 
 
 the Pronghorn. Ruminants. The horns appear in 
 both sexes towards the end of July, first as short, 
 bluntly conical tips, which attain a length of one to-, 
 two inches by December; for the first year they da| 
 not grow farther, but are shed and renewed. This 
 process, however, differs so completely from the 
 shedding of antlers by Deer, and is so remarkable^ 
 in itself, that I must describe it at greater length. 
 
 The first to observe and describe the shedding of 
 horns was Canfield; but as his paper relating to this 
 subject and sent to Baird in' September, 1858, was 
 published by the latter naturalist only in 1886, the 
 fame of having given to science the first account of 
 the strange fact belongs to Bartlett, who had the 
 care of captive Pronghorns in the London Zoological 
 Garden. The accounts of both' agree perfectly and. 
 have recently been substantiated by other observa- 
 tions. Bartlett says that the Pronghorn he took 
 care of had little horns which, towards the middle 
 of October, suddenly seemed to grow very rapidly, 
 not only increasing in length, but also increasing in 
 circumference. On the morning of the 7th of No- 
 vember, the keeper informed him rather excitedly 
 that the Pronghorn had lost one of its horns. In 
 consequence of this message Bartlett repaired to the 
 stable and arrived just in time to see that the second 
 horn had also been shed. A closer examination of 
 the animal revealed to his astonishment two new 
 horns in place of the old ones, the new embryo 
 members being clothed with long, straight, soft hair 
 and having their bony core enveloped with a horny 
 substance. There was no trace of bleeding, such as 
 always attends the loss by fracture of the true hollow 
 
THE PRONGHORNED ANIMALS. 
 
 515 
 
 horns or the shedding of antlers by the Deer. The 
 new horns seemed to be of larger diameter than the 
 hollow space of the old ones, a circumstance ex- 
 plained by the fact that the hair at their bases had 
 concealed the gradual shedding of the old sheaths. 
 The rapid growth of the new horns led to the conclu- 
 sion that the process was an entirely natural one: 
 the animal in accordance with its nature had to shed 
 its horns in this manner. This supposition received 
 a complete confirmation in the account of the Amer- 
 ican naturalist Canfield, published in consequence of 
 Bartlett's report. A Pronghorn which was kept by 
 Canfield attained an age of nearly three years, regu- 
 larly shedding its horns during this time, thus af- 
 fording the naturalist an opportunity of observing not 
 only a double shedding of the horns, but also of the 
 
 neously with the beginning of the shedding process, 
 and thus pushes the old horns out of place. From 
 November till January no strong line of demarcation 
 can be noticed between the hairy covering and the 
 horn proper, the entire new formation being closely 
 covered with a sheath of hair, which is not rubbed 
 off as is the case with the Deer, but gradually falls- 
 off as the growing of the horny substance progresses. 
 In summer the line of demarcation between hair and 
 horn is very distinct. 
 The Pronghorn's Pronghorned Antelopes, when taken 
 Behavior in ' in old age, do not seem to become 
 Captivity. reconciled to the loss of their free- 
 dom. Suph as could be captured in winter during 
 the prevalence of a deep snow, and were then turned 
 loose in an enclosure, proved to be very tractable and 
 
 '^--'^-H''': 
 
 ^Si^P^^^ss^^^s?'^ 
 
 THE FBONGHOBN This animal, popularly known as the Antelope in the United States, differs from all other Horned Animals in the shape of 
 
 ' its horns which it sheds in' the same manner as the Deer. Jt is a familiar feature of the region west of the Missouri and noted as the most fleetfooted of 
 the larger American mammals, having no rival in this respect except its neighbor, the Jack-rabbit. (Antilocapra amencana.) 
 
 further development of those members. The third 
 year's horns exhibit a modification of form, no longer 
 having a circular but an ovoid cross-section rudiment- 
 ary development of the prong. On the forehead, at 
 the root of each horn there forms a second excres- 
 cence, at first separated from it, thus forming a sec- 
 ond pair of tubercles as it were, which soon unites 
 permanently with the older bony core, however, and 
 only serves for the attachment of the prong. The 
 complete horn is developed by the following June 
 and henceforth remains more or less the same after 
 each shedding, only increasing a little in size. We 
 may fairly assume that the new horny substance is 
 formed by the fusion of the capillary substance be- 
 tween the cancellated matter of the bony core and 
 the horny sheath, which begins to grow simulta- 
 
 good-natured, or even trustful, but only while their 
 exhausted and weakened condition lasted. As soon 
 as the effects of starvation had been overcome, the 
 yearning after freedom would assert itself and they 
 exhibited their natural savage disposition. They 
 would run and butt against the fence of the enclos- 
 ure as if they were mad and give vent to their rage 
 until they sustained some mortal injury. 
 
 Kids taken soon after birth also generally die 
 very early, unless special care is bestowed on them. 
 Of about twenty little kids, which Canfield took 
 in the course of three summers, he succeeded in 
 rearing only two. Nearly all of them suffered from 
 diarrhcea, probably in consequence of the diet of 
 cow's milk, which is not suitable for them. If they 
 succeeded in overcoming this, they would live for 
 
516 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 two or three months longer, then fall ill of pysemic 
 sores or inflammations of the limbs and die. Mr. 
 Canfield might have had more favorable results 
 if he had given the wild young creatures a robust, 
 good-natured Goat as a wet nurse, for, as he says 
 himself, the milk of the Pronghorns is so rich and 
 sweet, that it can not possibly be substituted by 
 cow's milk. 
 
 The Pronghorn buck, in the case of which Can- 
 field observed the shedding of the horns, was as 
 pretty and playful as he was bold and restless. He 
 always ranged in sight of the house while grazing 
 in the daytime and slept near by at night. He was 
 fond of huntmg- with the Hounds, however, and as 
 none of them could equal him in speed he always 
 took the lead of the pack, when they tracked a 
 Coyote by night. He liked to go hunting with his 
 master, and if he happened^to lose sight of Mr. 
 'Canfield or of the Dogs, he straightway betook him- 
 self home, once doing so from a distance of twelve 
 miles. He would often join his wild kin, when they 
 crossed the valley or came to drink, but he always 
 left them and came back home. He willingly let 
 people scratch his head or play with his horns, but 
 would let nobody touch any other part of his body. 
 Unfortunately he received a kick from a Mule, which 
 broke his leg; he was bandaged and braced and soon 
 recovered, but lost his former agility and shortly 
 after fell a prey to the Wolves. All Pronghorns 
 brought to Europe have experienced ill health, and 
 have succumbed to various diseases. 
 The Pronghorn Diffi- About twenty or twenty-five years 
 
 cult to Capture ago the Pronghorn was not often 
 or Kill. hunted, and as Prince of Wied says, 
 
 "only when no Bison flesh was to be had." At that 
 time the Indians were still the most deadly foe of 
 the animal, but they have since been superseded by 
 the white Man. 
 
 There are, however, few people who habitually 
 engage in the difficult pursuit of this animal, even 
 where the Antelopes are plentiful. The sportsman 
 has to depend on his skill in stealthily approaching 
 the quarry unperceived by it, and he who is familiar 
 with the western prairies, devoid of trees and shrubs, 
 knows what this means. 
 
 The profit of the chase is not slight. The venison 
 of the animal is distasteful to some on account of its 
 strong, repulsive odor; most people, however, find 
 that it has an exceedingly fine gamy flavor, entirely 
 different from that of the European Stag or Roe, 
 and therefore it may justly be ranked among the 
 most excellent dishes of the West. The fat is noted 
 for its hardness and is made into excellent candles; 
 the fur is light and soft but not durable and is used 
 by the Indians in the manufacture of their shirts and 
 by white people in the making of gloves. 
 
 ^be Deer. 
 
 FIFTH FAHILY: Ceryid/e. 
 
 No other group of the order is so easily distin- 
 guished as the family of the Deer {CervidcB). They 
 are Ruminants with antlers. These words describe 
 them sufificiently; for everything else appears to be 
 of minor consideration when contrasted with this 
 peculiarity. 
 
 The antlers are generally borne only by the males. 
 They are a double, bony, branching development of 
 horns, which is deciduous, that is, cast annually and 
 
 renewed. At the sixth or eighth month of age a 
 bony projection makes itself apparent, attended by 
 an elevation of the outer table of the frontal bone, 
 this projection being retained through life, and the 
 antlers being attached to it. At first they are 
 straight and pointed; later they branch more and 
 more, the branches sprouting from each main shaft 
 and sometimes numbering as many as twelve. 
 Process of Growth Blasius says: "As the age of Deer 
 
 of Deer's Ant- increases, the antlers undergo a great 
 lers. modification. The first and gener- 
 
 ally very striking change that takes place is that in 
 the bony projections at the bases, which expand 
 every year to a greater extent and approach a junc- 
 tion with each other in the middle of the forehead. 
 They seem to appropriate the osseous matter of the 
 head, for other portions of the skull annually dimin- 
 ish in size, as the thickness of the frontal ridge in- 
 creases. The changes in the shape of the antlers 
 and the number of branches are still more striking. 
 The young horns, in the incipient development of 
 which lies the reason for the casting of the old ones, 
 are at first surrounded by a hairy integument, abun- 
 dantly supplied with blood-vessels and glandular, 
 and soft and flexible to the touch. The lower spurs 
 sprout first from the main horn, then the higher ones 
 follow, and after all have attained their ultimate pro- 
 portions the circulation of blood ceases and the ani- 
 mal feels the need of rubbing off the skin or 'velvet' 
 which then begins to peel off of its own accord." 
 The further development of the antlers then pro- 
 ceeds in the following manner: Before the Deer com- 
 pletes its first year, horns (which are the immediate 
 continuation of the bony projections on the frontal 
 ridge) are formed. These may be shed by some 
 species of the family, but they are always replaced 
 in the same manner, while the antlers succeeding 
 these horns and constituting the decoration of the 
 head during the second year, show one or two 
 branches in most of the Deer. In the spring of the 
 third year the same process is repeated; but the 
 new horn contains one more spur than that of the 
 preceding year, and so it goes on until the greatest 
 possible development of the animal has been at- 
 tained. Diseases, or insufiicient nutrition, sometimes 
 cause a retrogression, the new horns numbering one 
 or two spurs less than those of the preceding year, 
 and, on the other hand, the formation of the antlers 
 may be accelerated by abundant nourishment and a. 
 quiet manner of life, devoid of trouble or hardship. 
 The antlers are fastened to the bony projections at 
 their bases by articulation, that is, by having smaller 
 or larger projections of the roots of the horns inter- 
 locking and fitting into corresponding depressions on 
 the upper surface of the bony projection, and vice 
 versa. A few days before casting their antlers most 
 Deer show a swelling of the edges of the skin sur- 
 rounding the projections and the roots of the antlers; 
 the animal takes care not to strike its antlers so as to 
 hurt them and thereby proves that it experiences an 
 unusual sensitiveness at this place. 
 
 The casting itself is occasioned either by the 
 weight of the horns themselves or by a slight exter- 
 nal collision. It happens very rarely that both ant- 
 lers are cast simultaneously; there is usually an in- 
 terval ranging from a few minutes to several days, 
 between the casting of the first and second horn. 
 At this period the whole demeanor of the Deer, 
 especially the carriage of the head and the droop- 
 ing of the ears, is expressive if not of pain, yet of 
 an uncomfortable feeling. A few days previously 
 
THT vr K This animal which is the largest of the existing species of the Deer family m the Old World, ,s of sturdy form, has long legs with 
 
 , , ™f ^^\ , ^ animal, whicn is rne b enormous size. The Elk, notwithstanding the great expanse of these antlers, manages to 
 
 stout hoofs and the male is crowned with antlers ''h'ch ^'Um »" e"°™°'^^ ^^ ^„ ^^„id entanglement with vines and branches. The female i^ 
 
 go through the woods without much inconvenience, carrying the horns in sucn a way 
 without horns. (Aices palmatus.) 
 
 (517) 
 
518 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 it ceases tlirusting with its horns, and defends itself 
 by striking with its forelegs, after the manner of 
 the doe. \yhen one horn has been cast, the un- 
 balanced weight of the remaining horn causes the 
 animal to carry its head inclined to one side, and to 
 frequently shake it, as if to hasten the casting of the 
 annoying member. 
 Distribution and The Deer were originally distributed 
 General Traits over a large part of the globe. At 
 of Deer. present they inhabit all continents, 
 with the exception of the Ethiopian belt and Aus- 
 tralia; they exist in nearly all climates, in plains and 
 in mountains, in the open country and in woods. 
 All Deer are lively, timid and fleet creatures, quick 
 and agile of movement and keen of sense, but 
 endowed rather poorly mentally. The method of 
 vocal expression consists of short, dull grunting or 
 roaring sounds in the male and a shrill bleating in 
 the female. 
 
 The food of the Deer is of an exclusively vege- 
 table nature; at least it has never been proven 
 
 , whether or not, as has been affirmed, the Reindeer 
 eat Lemmings. Herbage, buds, leaves, the needles 
 of the fir and pine, blossoms, cereals, fruit, berries, 
 young shoots and branches, bark, moss, lichens and 
 mushrooms are their main articles of food. They 
 are very fond of salt and require water. 
 
 The young Deer make their appearance, one or 
 two, or in rare cases three at a birth, perfectly de- 
 veloped, and they follow their mother about within 
 a few days after birth. With a few species the 
 father as well as the mother shows a kind regard for 
 the offspring. The fawns take great pleasure in re- 
 ceiving the caresses which their mothers bestow on 
 them, and the mothers take the utmost care of the 
 fawns and valiantly defend them when in danger. 
 In localities where agriculture and forestry are 
 pursued according to the requirements of modern 
 times, Deer can not be tolerated. The damage 
 wrought by these beautiful animals exceeds the 
 slight use which they are to Man. Unquestion- 
 ably they are inimical to the cultivation of the 
 ground and the proper keeping of the forest. If it 
 were not for the chase, which is justly considered to 
 be one of the noblest and manliest of sports, all Deer 
 would long ago have been exterminated in every 
 densely peopled agricultural country. This point 
 has not yet been reached; but all the members of 
 this family, distinguished as it is in so many respects, 
 are nearly everywhere approaching their doom and 
 probably will soon be seen only in parks and zoo- 
 logical garden^. 
 Domestication of The taming of Deer is not as easy as 
 Deer Somewhat is usually supposed. Those which 
 Difficult. have been from early times in pos- 
 session of Man, and have become accustomed to 
 him, exhibit an amiable, trustful and affectionate 
 temper when they are young. As age increases, 
 however, all these qualities gradually disappear and 
 nearly all old Deer are cross, vicious and pugnacious 
 
 ' creatures. Even the one species that has been 
 domesticated for a great length of time, the Rein- 
 deer, is no exception to this rule. Its domestica- 
 tion is by no means a perfect one, such as we see in 
 other Ruminants, but is only partially successful. 
 
 THE ELKS. 
 
 We will place the giants of the family at the 
 head. The Elks (Alces) at present have only one 
 representative, or, if the American Moose is re- 
 garded as a distinct species, two. They are huge, 
 
 clumsy, long-legged animals; their antlers broadly 
 expand, somewhat like spades, and are marked by 
 finger-like indentations with many spurs; they have 
 small tear-pits, hair tufts on the inner side of the 
 tarsus and glands between the toes, but no canine 
 teeth. The head is ugly, the hairy upper lip pro- 
 jects over the lower; the eyes are small, the ears 
 long and broad; the tail is very short. 
 
 The European Elk The Elk {Alces palmatus or Cervics 
 Known in Early alces) has enjoyed a wide celebrity 
 Ages. from early ages. The origin of the 
 
 name is not quite clear: some hold that it has been 
 corrupted from the old word "elent," which sig- 
 nifies strong; others believe it to come from the 
 Sclavic word "jelen" (Deer). The old Roman au- 
 thors speak of the Elk as a German animal. Julius 
 Csesar said: "There are Alces in the Hircynian for- 
 est, animals resembling Goats in shape and variety 
 of color, but larger, devoid of horns and with joint- 
 less feet. Never do they lie down to rest, nor can 
 they get up, when once they have fallen. They lean 
 against trees, when sleeping; therefore the hunter 
 undermines the trees or chops them nearly in two 
 so that they fall down, along with the animals, 
 which lean against them." In writings of the mid- 
 dle ages the animal is mentioned quite frequently, 
 also in the song of the Nibelungen, in which it is- 
 called Elk. 
 
 Diminished Range Within the last few hundred years 
 of the European the number of Elks in Europe has 
 ^"'- undergone a yery rapid and consider- 
 
 able decrease. Elks are now kept in small herds 
 in Germany in forest preserves, under the strictest 
 supervision; and the Elk is found" in the free state in 
 the higher latitudes of all wooded countries of Eu- 
 rope and Asia. In Europe it is confined to the low- 
 lands about the Baltic, meaning Lithuania, Corland 
 and Livonia, except eastern Prussia, as well as in 
 Sweden, Norway and a few regions of Russia. In 
 Asia the Elk is much more common; it spreads there 
 north of the fiftieth parallel over the entire north to 
 the Amoor and occurs wherever there are extensive 
 forests. 
 
 The Elk is a powerful animal. The length of 
 body of an adult Elk ranges between eight feet eight 
 inches and nine feet eight inches; the tail is about 
 four inches long and the height at the withers aver- 
 ages six feet four inches. Very old animals may 
 weigh as much as one thousand pounds; the average 
 weight, however, varies between six hundred and 
 eight hundred pounds. The body of the Elk is 
 comparatively short and stout, broad in the chest; 
 high, with an incipient hump on the withers; straight 
 along the back, low at the croup. It is supported 
 by very long, vigorous legs of equal length, terminat- 
 ing in narrow, straight, deeply-cloven hoofs, which 
 are joined to one another by an elastic connecting 
 membrane; the rudimentary toes slightly touch the 
 ground. The shorty stout, strong neck supports a 
 large, elongated head, narrowing in front of the eyes 
 and terminating in a long, thick, bulbous snout, 
 abruptly flattened in front. The antlers of the male 
 each consists of a large, plain, expanded, triangular, 
 flat, spade-shaped and furrowed blade, serrated with 
 numerous spurs along its outer edge, and supported 
 by a short, thick, rounded shaft; both these shafts 
 are marked with small knob-like protuberances, and 
 are set on short, bony prominences at the upper ex- 
 terior angles of the skull, and curve laterally from 
 their bases. The antlers may weigh as much as forty 
 pounds. The hair of the Elk is long, thick and 
 
THE DEER— ELKS. 
 
 519 
 
 straight. The color is a rather uniform reddish 
 brown, deepening into a brilliant black-brown on the 
 crest of the neck and sides of the head, and fading 
 into gray at the extremity of the snout; the legs are 
 whitish ashy-gray, the rings around the eyes gray. 
 The doe is of slightly smaller proportions, but has 
 no antlers. 
 The Domicile, Hab- The Elk delights in wild, lonely 
 
 its and Diet of forests, abounding in grassy swamps 
 the Elh. and inaccessible marshes, especially 
 
 those grown with willows, birches, aspens and other 
 thickly leaved woods. Bogs and marshes seem to 
 be essential to its well-being and comfort. The 
 awkward, stupid-looking creature confines itself to 
 the lower, watery situa- 
 tions in summer, and in 
 winter to the higher ones, 
 which are not exposed to 
 inundations and are not 
 covered with ice. In se- 
 rene weather it prefers 
 forests of ordinary leaved 
 trees; in rain, snow and 
 fog, thick growths of trees 
 with needle-like foliage, 
 such as pines and firs. It 
 readily changes its place 
 of abode if disturbed or 
 urged by want of food. 
 
 In its habits the Elk 
 difiEers from the ordinary 
 Deer in many respects. 
 Like the latter it gathers 
 into troops of variable 
 numbers and it is only 
 towards the time that the 
 young are born that the 
 old males separate from 
 these herds and consort 
 in societies of their own. 
 
 The Elk dislikes being 
 disturbed in any way, 
 • even more than do other 
 Deer. It requires abso- 
 lute freedom from moles- 
 tation and forsakes the 
 locality in which it has 
 been annoyed. Wherever 
 it knows that it is secure, 
 it rests only in the morn- 
 ing and afternoon hours, 
 ■except, perhaps, a few 
 short intervals, and roams 
 about in quest of its food 
 from four o'clock in the 
 afternoon, and during the 
 
 early night and early morning; under different cir- 
 cumstances it sometimes chooses the night for its 
 search for food. The Elk's principal diet in the 
 forest uplands consists of leaves and shoots of the 
 .swamp-willow, birch, ash, aspen, mountain ash, ma- 
 ple, linden, oak and pine; on the heath of young 
 reeds and sedge, supplemented with sprouting corn 
 and flax. When taking its food from the tree it 
 drives its incisor teeth in like a chisel, peels a piece 
 of bark a little distance, seizes the loosened end 
 with its teeth and lips and then tears long strips off 
 in an upward direction. Trees of medium growth it 
 bends down with its head and breaks off their tops; 
 as is, easily explained, it prefers trees and shrubs, 
 the bark of which contains a large amount of sap. 
 
 such as the aspen, ash, willow and poplar, some- 
 times completely stripping very stout aspen trees. 
 Peculiar Modes of The movements of the Elk are much 
 
 Locomotion of less uniform and lighter than those 
 t/ie Elh. of the Stags or Red Deer. It is not 
 possessed of great powers of endurance, but is capa- 
 ble of trotting along rather rapidly for a long time; 
 some authorities aver that it can at this gait travel 
 thirty miles a day. 
 
 Wangenheim describes a very queer mode of loco- 
 motion of the Elks over swampy districts. Where 
 the soil will not bear a running Elk, the animal 
 crouches down on its body, flexing the strong ten- 
 dons of its hind legs; then it stretches out its fore- 
 
 THE MOOSE The Moose of North America and the Elk of Europe and Asia are so nearly related that 
 
 they can scarcely be regarded as more than varieties of the same species. The Moose shows slight variations in 
 horns and fur from the Elk, and is restricted in its habitat to British America, and is most plentiful m the northern 
 forests of that region. (Alces americana or malc/iis.) 
 
 legs, hooks its hoofs on some point of resistance, 
 such as a grass tuft or partly submerged log or 
 branch, pushes with its hind legs and pulls with its 
 fore feet, and thus glides over the muddy surface; 
 where the ground is quite quaky, it sometimes lies 
 down on its side and works its way along by kicking 
 and beating the mud with its legs. In the art of 
 swimming the Elk is an adept. It enters the water 
 not only from necessity, but, like many of the bovine 
 species, for its own comfort and pleasure, to bathe 
 and cool itself. In eastern Siberia it seeks the deeper 
 gorges in the mountains, in which the snow lies for 
 a long time, and there wallows in the cooling ele- 
 ment. It x;an not long proceed on smooth ice, un- 
 covered by snow, and. if it once falls on the slippery 
 
520 
 
 THE CLOVEN- fiOOm-£> ANIMALS. 
 
 surface, it is very difficult for it to rise. Wiien it 
 runs, one hears distinctly a clicking, rattling noise 
 produced by the clattering of the rudimentary toes 
 against the heel of the hoof. An Elk which has. 
 started to run can not be made to swerve from a 
 direct course, but proceeds straight through the 
 thickest of the wood, through lakes, rivers, and 
 bogs, which may lie before it. 
 Physical and Men- The sense of hearing of the Elk is 
 
 tal Faculties of acute, while its faculties of sight and 
 the Elk. smell are inferior. In regard to 
 
 mental capacity it does not seem to belie the indica- 
 tions of its lumpish, stupid appearance. Its actions 
 indicate very little intelligence. It possesses little 
 shyness and still less caution, and hardly learns to 
 discriminate between real and imaginary danger. A 
 firm bond of union between the members of a herd 
 does not seem to exist, but each individual acts 
 according to its own judgment. It is true that the 
 fawn follows its mother, but the herd does not inva- 
 riably follow its leader, as is the case with other 
 Deer. During the mating season the males are very 
 much excited, challenging each other and fighting 
 with great obstinacy and ferocity. They readily 
 attack Man at this time and continually wander 
 around, day and night, apparently possessed of a 
 feeling of vague disquiet and unrest. The affec- 
 tion of the Elk mother for her fawn is very great. 
 She defends even her slain young one, and if her 
 infant be taken from her she roams about the place 
 of its capture searching for it for days. 
 
 The Bill's In spite of the Elk's strength, it has 
 Enemies and to fear other enemies besides Man, 
 Uses. especially the Wolf, Lynx, Bear and 
 
 Glutton. The Wolf usually tears an Elk down in 
 winter in deep snow; the Bear is prone to sneakingly 
 approach only solitary animals and refrains from 
 attacking a troop; the Lynx and occasionally the 
 Glutton spring on an Elk passing under the tree 
 which shelters them, fasten their claws into its neck 
 and bite through its arteries. They are the most 
 dangerous enemies of the strong Elks. Wolves and 
 Bears, however, need to proceed cautiously in at- 
 tacking an Elk, for the latter knows how to ward off 
 an attack successfully, even when deprived of its 
 vigorous antlers, using the hard, sharp hoofs of its 
 forelegs with much skill and vigor. 
 
 Elks taken young may be tamed and even allowed 
 to wander about at liberty; in Germany, however, 
 they rarely survive captivity for a long time. In 
 Sweden they are said to have been trained to draw 
 sleds, but a law was passed prohibiting this practice, 
 " for the speed and endurance of the Elks would have 
 rendered the pursuit of criminals impossible." Later 
 attempts to domesticate the Elk have failed. The 
 young appear to thrive at first, but subsequently they 
 become reduced in condition and die. 
 
 The profit to Man of the carcass of an Elk is con- 
 siderable. Venison, hide and antlers are all put to 
 account, like those of the other Deer. The flesh is 
 tougher, but the hide is firmer and better than that 
 of the Red Deer. Elk hide was highly esteemed 
 and brought a high price, in the middle ages espe- 
 cially. But all the profit of the Elk is far from 
 compensating for the damage it inflicts. The ani- 
 mal is most destructive to the trees in woods which 
 it inhabits and is so great a menace to the exist- 
 ence of well kept forests that it ought not to be 
 cared for or protected in those regions in which 
 there is any attempt made to practice forestry after 
 modern and improved methods. 
 
 Difference Between The Moose or Moose Deer of Eng- 
 the Moose and Eu- lish-speaking Americans, and called; 
 ropean Elk. Orignal by French Canadians {Alces 
 americanus, or alces malchis) differs from its Old 
 World relative in the deeply indented blades of its 
 antlers, with separate spur sprouts, its dewlap scantil)- 
 grown with hair and its darker color. Opinions about 
 this animal are as yet by no means settlpd, though ^ 
 some naturalists have claimed to find point of dis- 
 tinction not only in the texture of the fur but also 
 in its darker color, particularly on the hams of the 
 animal. I have seen living animals of both hemi- 
 spheres beside each other, and have not been able 
 to find any considerable difference, so that I hardly 
 believe that they can be« considered distinct species. 
 The antlers of the Moose are stronger and heavier 
 than those of the European Elk and may attain a. 
 weight of sixty to eighty pounds. Hamilton Smith 
 gives the following description: "The Moose Deer 
 is the largest species of Deer, for it is taller than a 
 Horse at the withers. If one were to deny the 
 grand impression this animal produces on the spec- 
 tator, it would be probable that he had seen only 
 stuffed females or young individuals. We had the 
 opportunity of beholding Moose Deer in the prime 
 of their development, with completed antlers and in 
 their wild state, and we must confess that no animal 
 makes a more magnificent appearance. The head is 
 over two feet long, but has a clumsy appearance; 
 the eye is proportionately small and deep-sunken; 
 the ears resemble those of a Donkey and are long, 
 and hairy; the spurs of the antlers may sometimes 
 number as many as twenty-eight." 
 The Range of the The Moose Deer is still found in 
 NIoose and Method the northern portions of North 
 
 of Hunting it. America, especially in Canada, New 
 Brunswick and on the shores of the Bay of Fundy. 
 Franklin found it at the mouth of the Mackenzie 
 and eastward along the Coppermine river at the 
 sixty-fifth parallel. Mackenzie also found it on the 
 heights of the Rocky Mountains and along the 
 sources of Elk River. The Moose Deer casts its 
 antlers later than does the European Elk, usually in 
 January and February, and in severe winters as late 
 as March. The food of the Moose is probably iden- 
 tical with that of the Elk. 
 
 The northern Indians hunt the Moose extensively 
 and in various ways. One of their principal devices 
 consists in driving the animal into the water, where 
 they approach it in their canoes and slay it without 
 difficulty. These people affirm that after partaking 
 of the flesh of the Elk, they can travel three times as 
 far as after a meal consisting of other meat. They 
 make large spoons out of the antlers and utilize the 
 hide for covering their canoes. Young Moose Deer 
 can easily be tamed, for they learn to know and 
 trust their keeper after a few days captivity. But 
 with increasing age they, like their relatives, become 
 savage, hasty-tempered and dangerous. 
 
 THE REINDEER. 
 
 Among the Reindeer {Rangifer') both sexes have 
 antlers, which rise from a short bony protuberance 
 on the frontal ridge, describe first a backward and 
 then a forward curve, expand in a blade-like manner 
 at their extremities, have finger-shaped indentations 
 and are slightly furrowed. Very broad hoofs and 
 rather long, bluntly pointed rudimentary toes distin- 
 guish this species of Deer. Their shape is rather 
 cumberous, the head being specially ungainly; the 
 legs are relatively short; the tail is very short. The 
 
THE DEER— REINDEER. 
 
 521 
 
 old males sometimes, but not uniformly, have small 
 canine teeth in the upper jaw; the females never 
 have them. 
 
 The Reindeer may be styled the most useful of 
 Deer. Entire nations owe their existence to it; for 
 they would cease to be did they not possess this 
 strangely chosen domestic animal. To the Lap- 
 lander or Finlander the Reindeer is much more of 
 2. necessity than the Ox or Horse is to us, or the 
 Camel and Goat to the Arab; for it must perform 
 the aggregated services of nearly all other domestic 
 animals. The tame Reindeer yields flesh and skin, 
 bones and tendons, to furnish its master with food 
 and raiment; it yields its milk, it serves as beast of 
 burden and drags the family and the household 
 goods from one place to another on a light sled; in 
 short, the Reindeer renders the, nomad life of the 
 northern tribes possible. 
 
 ' I know of no other animal in the life and treat- 
 ment of which the burden of servitude, the curse of 
 slavery, is expressed so clearly as in the case of the 
 Reindeer. There is no doubt that the wild Scandi- 
 navian Reindeer is the ancestor of the domestic ani- 
 mal of that country. Tame ones, released from the 
 restraint and protection of Man, revert to savagery 
 in a very short time and become entirely assimilated 
 to the wild ones after a few generations. Yet there 
 hardly exist two creatures differing so very widely 
 in shape and temper as the tame and wild Reindeer. 
 The former is a miserable slave of a poor, miserable 
 master, the latter a proud monarch of the lofty 
 mountains, a Chamois-like Deer, possessing all the 
 noble qualities pertaining to so beautiful a creature. 
 He who has seen free Reindeer in troops and tame 
 ones in herds and compared them, can hardly be- 
 heve that both are children of the same ancestor. 
 Description The Reindeer {Rangi/er tamndus) is 
 of the Rein- a stately creature of Stag-like pro- 
 deer. portions, though not of a Stag's 
 
 height. Its length varies between five feet eight 
 inches and six feet eight inches; the' tail measures 
 five inches, the height at the withers is three feet 
 seven inches. The antlers are inferior in size and 
 still more in beauty to those of the Stag, yet consti- 
 tute a stately ornament. The body of the Reindeer 
 differs from that of the Stag, perhaps only by the 
 greater breadth of the hinder quarters; but the neck 
 and head are much clumsier and less beautiful, the 
 legs considerably shorter and the hoofs much more 
 unsightly than those of the Red Deer. The Reindeer 
 also lacks the proud bearing of the Stag: it carries 
 itself much less haughtily than that noble animal. 
 The neck has about the same length as the head; it 
 is sturdy and laterally compressed and barely curves 
 upwards; the head is slightly narrower in front, with 
 a blunt, bulbous snout, straight along the nasal 
 ridge. The ears are shorter than those of the Stag, 
 but of similar formation; the eyes are large and 
 beautiful; the tear-pits small and covered .with tufts 
 of hair. The thighs are thick, the legs stout and 
 short, the hoofs very large, broad, flatly compressed 
 and deeply cloven; the rudimentary toes reach to 
 the ground. In tame Reindeer the hoofs increase 
 •so much in width that one would have to separate 
 the wild and tame ones into different species, if he 
 considered the structure of the hoofs alone. The 
 Tvild Reindeer are generally of a much more dainty 
 ■and attractive appearance than the tame ones, which 
 by contrast seem deformed and plain. 
 
 The coat is closer than that of any other Deer. 
 The lower portion of the neck is adorned with a 
 
 mane, which sometimes reaches to the chest, and the 
 hair on the cheeks is also longer than on other parts 
 of the body. In winter the hair is nearly three 
 inches long all over, and as the hairs lie very close 
 together they form a coat of over one and a half 
 inches in thickness, which explains the fact that the 
 Reindeer can easily bear an exceedingly cold tem- 
 perature. The general color varies in the different 
 individuals and also according to the season. The 
 wild Reindeer change their coat and its hue, rather 
 regularly, twice a year. In spring the copious winter 
 hair is shed and is replaced by a short, gray coat; 
 then other hair gradually mingles with it, its white 
 tips entirely overshadowing the gray hair, until the 
 whole animal appea,rs whitish gray, strikingly re- 
 sembling the tint of melting, dirty snow. The tame 
 Reindeer is of a dark brown hue in summer. In 
 winter the brown color disappears, and the white 
 hair predominates; but there are many Reindeer 
 which are characterized in winter only by a greater 
 length of hair, the hue remaining unchanged. The 
 antlers of the female are smaller and have fewer 
 spurs than those of the male._ 
 
 Early History and Some naturalists regard the Ameri- 
 Present Range of can Reindeer as a distinct species, 
 tiie Reindeer. and base their opinion on the fact 
 that the European Reindeer is also found on the 
 American continent and differs from the other in 
 dimensions, hue and habits. The Caribou {Rangifcr 
 caribu) is said to be larger than the Reindeer, to 
 have smaller antlers and a da,rker color and live 
 more solitarily, and mainly in woods. 
 
 The high north latitudes of the Old World, and 
 if the American Caribou is counted as belonging 
 to the same species, also the northmost habitable 
 regions of the New, are the native country of the 
 Reindeer. It is generally found north of the six- 
 tieth parallel in all countries; in some localities' 
 descending as far south as the fifty-second parallel 
 and ranging northward invariably beyond the eight- 
 ieth parallel. One finds it wild in the glacial moun- 
 tains of Scandinavia and Lapland, in Finland, in the 
 whole of northern Siberia, in Greenland and on 
 the northmost mountains of continental America, 
 and it also lives on Spitzbergen. It was introduced 
 into Iceland over a century ago, and it has com- 
 pletely reverted to the wild state on that island and 
 has spread in considerable numbers over all of its 
 mountains. In Norway I found it in considerable 
 numbers on the Dovrefjeld. It also occurs on the 
 lofty mountains of Bergen and certainly descends 
 there as far south as to the sixtieth parallel of north 
 latitude. 
 The Domicile and The Reindeer is a genuine mountain 
 Habits of the child, like the Chamois, and is found 
 Reindeer. only on the broad, treeless ridges of 
 the northern mountains, called by the natives fjelds, 
 and overgrown with moss and a few mountain plants. 
 " In Norway the belt between three and six thou- 
 sand feet of altitude forms its usual place of abode. 
 It never descends in those regions to the forest belt, 
 anxiously avoiding woods in general. The barren 
 table-lands and slopes, between the rocks of which 
 grow some straggling plants, or those vast elevated 
 plains, which are thinly covered with reindeer-moss, 
 must be regarded as the home of these animals, and 
 it is only in migrating from one range of mountains 
 to another, that they traverse the boggy, morass- 
 like, low plains; and even during such changes of 
 location do they anxiously shun the forest. Pallas 
 states that the Reindeer is occasionally to be found 
 
522 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 in the woods of northern Siberia, and Von Wrangel 
 confirms this statement. Both tiiese writers inform 
 us that it undertakes extensive and regular migra- 
 tions in Siberia. "Towards the end of May," says 
 Von Wrangel, "the wild Reindeer leaves the woods 
 in large herds, having sought shelter there against 
 the severe cold during the winter; it wends its way 
 towards the northern plains, partly because it finds 
 there on the surface more abundant nourishment of 
 moss, but partly, also, to escape the Gnats and Flies, 
 which abound in such enormous swarms at the com- 
 mencement of spring as to darken the air. The 
 migration in spring is not profitable to the native 
 
 defined, beaten roads. In crossing a river, they 
 select a spot where a firm, stable road from the 
 valley leads to the point of entrance on one bank 
 and a hard sandy bottom facilitates their landing- 
 on the opposite shore. Each separate herd crowds 
 closely together and the whole surface is covered 
 with swimming animals." On the continent of Amer- 
 ica the animals migrate, as do their kin in Siberia, 
 from the mountains to the coast and back. Sir John 
 Franklin says that they leave the lowlands with their 
 young (which have been born there) in July and 
 August; in October they have reached the boundary 
 of the cold tracts of country and seek shelter and 
 
 THE BEINDEEB. The most useful of all species of the Deer family is the Reindeer, which, in the countr.es of the frozen north, is the principal 
 
 draught animal. The tame breed is somewhat deteriorated in size, but the number of the wild species is much diminished on account of the manner in. 
 which they are trapped and domesticated by the natives. The antlers, which are borne by both sexes, grow to great size and branch in a peculiar manner, 
 as shown in the picture. (Rangifer tarandus.) 
 
 tribes; for at that season the animals are lean and 
 quite covered with lumps and wounds from the 
 poisonous stings of insects. In August and Sep- 
 tember, however, when the Reindeer again returns 
 from the plain to the forest, they are sound and 
 well nourished and their venison is palatable and 
 wholesome. In favorable years the herds consist of 
 several thousand in number, which may be resolved 
 into smaller flocks of two and three hundred each, 
 keeping rather close together, however, so that the 
 whole makes up one immense, tolerably compact 
 mass. In their migrations they always travel over 
 the same route, making in their wanderings well- 
 
 sustenance in the forests in winter. As soon as the 
 snow begins to melt on the mountains, they again 
 leave the elevated woodlands and gradually descend 
 to the plains. Packs of Wolves, which seize many a. 
 victim, follow their footsteps, and bands of Indians- 
 lie in wait for them along their established "runs," 
 which the- animals, traverse -with -the greatest regu- 
 larity. . , , . -,^. 
 
 Physical andliHeri-" Th"e Reindeer are admirably adapt- 
 tal Development of ed to inhabit those northern regions, 
 the Reindeer. which in summer are really only one: 
 stretch of morass and in winter only one continuous, 
 snow-field. Their broad hoofs enable them to trav- 
 
THE DEER— REINDEER. 
 
 523 
 
 erse the fenland and the surface of snow as well 
 as to climb up the slopes. The gait of the Reindeer 
 is a rather quick pace or a rapid trot, and nearly 
 €very step is attended by a peculiar crackling sound, 
 comparable to that produced by an electric spark. 
 When walking slowly over a marshy surface the 
 Reindeer expands its hoofs to such an extent that 
 the footprint resembles that of an Ox much more 
 than that of a Deer, and walks over the snow in a 
 similar manner, not sinking into it after the snow 
 has settled down in any measure. Swimming comes 
 very easily to a Reindeer. 
 
 AH the perceptive senses of the Reindeer are ex- 
 cellent. Its power of smell is extremely acute, being 
 efficient at a distance of five or six hundred paces, as 
 I have personally convinced myself. Its hearing is 
 at the least as sensitive as that of the Stag, and its 
 sight is so quick that a huntsman, if he wishes to be 
 successful, has every reason to hide most carefully, 
 ■even if he apprpaches against the wind. 
 
 In summer the wild Reindeer feeds on juicy moun- 
 tain plants, especially on the leaves and flowers of 
 the snow-ranunculus, the Reindeer sorrel, the com- 
 mon crowsfoot, and the fescul-grass, in winter on 
 lichens. 
 
 Reproduction, In Norway the little ones make their 
 Chase and Value of appearance towards the middle of 
 
 thefleindeer. April. Wild Reindeer are said never 
 to give birth to more than one fawn, which is a trim 
 little creature, and the mother apparently loves it 
 tenderly and suckles it a long time. 
 
 The chase of the wild Reindeer requires a sports- 
 man passionately fond of it or a true naturalist who 
 ■does not mind hardships and privations. The first 
 shot throws a troop into such confusion that the 
 Reindeers stand still in utter astonishment, and flee 
 only after they have descried the hunter. The Nor- 
 wegian hunters are aware of this peculiarity of the 
 animal, and like to hunt alone or in small parties. 
 They cautiously approach a troop, take aim at some 
 particular, animals, and one of them fires first; then 
 the others shoot also. The chase of the Reindeer is 
 ■of the utmost importance to many Siberian tribes. 
 "The Yukaghirs and the other inhabitants of the 
 country along the Anyui river in Siberia," says Von 
 Wrangel, "depend entirely on the Reindeer, which 
 furnishes them almost exclusively with food, rai- 
 ment, means of locomotion and houses, just as it 
 •does for the people of Lapland. The results of the 
 Reindeer chase determine whether famine or com- 
 fort shall prevail, and the season of the Reindeer 
 migration is the most important part of the year. 
 When the animals reach the rivers in their period- 
 / ical migration, and prepare to swim over, the hunters, 
 who have been skulking behind bushes and rocks, 
 dart forward in their little boats, surround the herd 
 and endeavor to stop it, while two or three of the 
 most skillful row among the swimming crowd and 
 succeed, in an incredibly short time, in slaying, or 
 severely injuring, a great number of animals that, as 
 a result of their wounds, are scarcely able to reach 
 the shore where they fall into the hands of the 
 women, girls and children. The hunt is exceedingly 
 perilous, however, for the small, light boat easily 
 capsizes in the midst of the enormous throng of 
 animals swimming, one closely beside another, and 
 moreover the pursued animals defend themselves in 
 every possible way: the males with their antlers and 
 teeth, the females with their forelegs with which 
 they are wont to jump on the gunwale of the boat. 
 If the boat capsizes the hunter is usually lost, for it 
 
 is well-nigh impossible for him to work his way out 
 of the throng." 
 
 The Indians of the extreme northern parts of 
 North America hunt the Reindeer in a similar man- 
 ner. King says. These people are also almost entirely 
 dependent on this animal for everything which con- 
 tributes to their comfort or permits their existence. 
 Vast herds — many thousands in number — migrate 
 northward to the Arctic Ocean in spring and south- 
 ward again in the fall. At the time of this last mi- 
 gration they have a layer of fat from three to five 
 inches in thickness under the skin of the back and 
 croup and therefore they are the main object of 
 the chase. They are shot with fire-arms, caught in 
 snares or killed with spears while crossing rivers; 
 deep pitfalls are dug for them, or the trapper con- 
 structs two fences of branches and shrubs, and 
 leaves narrow gaps in each, provided with snares; 
 the herd is driven between the fences and the peo- 
 ple capture those which try to break through, or 
 stab them when they come out. 
 
 Economic Value The Indians make similar uses of 
 of the Rein- the carcasses of the wild Reindeer as 
 deer. (;Jq t^g Laplanders of those of their 
 
 tame herds. The antlers and bones are made into 
 fish-spears and hooks; the meat, fat and hair are 
 scraped off the hides with the split shin bones; the 
 skin is rubbed with the brains, to render it pliant; the 
 leather is tanned by being smoked with rotten wood 
 and is then hung around the tent-poles; the raw 
 hides are made into bow-strings and nets; the ten- 
 dons of the back are split into fine thread; the soft, 
 fur-like skins of the fawns must provide the Indians 
 with clothing. They wrap themselves in Reindeer 
 skins from head to foot, throw a soft tanned skin on 
 the snow, cover themselves with another, and thus 
 are enabled to bid defiance to the severest cold. No 
 part of the Reindeer is left unutilized, not even the 
 partly digested food found in the stomach, which 
 when it has lain for some time and undergone a cer- 
 tain fermentation, is reckoned to be a very dainty 
 dish. 
 
 The wild Reindeer has many enemies besides 
 Man. The most dangerous of all is the Wolf. This 
 beast of prey always hangs on the outskirts of the 
 herds, but is most dangerous in winter. In Norway 
 the attempts at Reindeer breeding which were made 
 in the southern mountains had to be abandoned on 
 account of the Wolves. The Wolverine, Lynx and 
 Bear also prey on the Reindeer. Next to these 
 large predaceous animals, small and apparently in- 
 significant insects must be counted their most an- 
 noying if not their worst foes. 
 
 Reindeer taken young become tame very soon; 
 but one would err greatly if he were to place Rein- 
 deer, in regard to tractability,- on a level with other 
 animals reduced to a state of domesticity.' Not 
 even the descendants of those which have been in 
 captivity from time immemorial, are as tame as our 
 common domestic animals, but they always remain 
 in a half savage condition. Only Laplanders and 
 their Dogs are able to guide and rule such herds. 
 Characteristics and Laplanders are not the only race 
 Habits of Domes- to occupy themselves with Reindeer 
 tic Reindeer. breeding, in which pursuit the Fin- 
 landers and many Siberian tribes also engage. The 
 tame Reindeer is the support and the pride of the 
 Laplander; it is alike his pleasure and wealth, his 
 burden and his torment. In his opinion he who 
 numbers his Reindeer by the hundred, has reached 
 the pinnacle of human bliss. Some few Laplanders 
 
524 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 possess from two to three thousand, but the majority 
 do not exceed five hundred. The fjeld Laplander, 
 who is the genuine Reindeer breeder, looks proudly 
 down on all other members of his tribe, who have 
 given up nomad life and have either settled on the 
 shore as fishermen or gone out in service among the 
 Scandinavians; he believes himself alone to be truly 
 independent and he knows nothing more desirable 
 than his Reindeer herd. 
 
 Such a herd presents a curious and highly inter- 
 esting spectacle. It really resembles a wandering 
 forest — assuming of course the forest to have been 
 deprived of its leaves for the time being. The Rein- 
 deer proceed in close ranks like Sheep, but at a brisk, 
 even pace, skimming over the ground more rapidly 
 indeed than any of our domestic animals. The 
 keeper with his Dogs walks on one side, busily 
 engaged in keeping the herd together. ' 
 
 If there is good pasturage near, the Laplanders 
 build a penfold, to facilitate milking, and drive the 
 animals into it every evening. Reindeer remind one 
 of Sheep by their restlessness and their continual 
 bleating, though the sounds which they utter are 
 more like the grunting of swine. The great majority 
 of those kept in herds are very small: one sees but 
 a few large animals among hundreds. The irregu- 
 larity of the size of the antlers also impresses one 
 disagreeably. In approaching the penfold, one first 
 hears the constant bleating and then a sharp, crack- 
 ling noise, as if hundreds of electric batteries were 
 active, due to the perpetual moving to and fro of 
 the animals and the castanet-like action of their 
 hoofs. In the middle of the penfold lie several large 
 trunks of trees, to which the Reindeer are fastened 
 while they are being milked. No Reindeer suffers 
 itself to be robbed of its milk without being first 
 secured with a lasso, and therefore every Laplander 
 of either sex always carries a long strap or a rope. 
 In use as a lasso this is lightly coiled, held by both 
 ends and thrown so as to fall around the neck or 
 antlers of the animal; then the milker gradually 
 pulls it nearer until he has drawn it up quite close; 
 a sailor-knot is next hitched and put around the 
 animal's mouth, thus securely bridling it and com- 
 pelling complete obedience. Then the end of the 
 lasso is fastened to the tree trunk and the business of 
 milking begins. While this lasts, the Reindeer makes 
 various efforts to run away; but the Laplanders 
 know how to foil them and draw the noose around 
 the nose of especially refractory animals so close as 
 to compel them to stand still. The milker ap- 
 proaches the Reindeer from behind, and gives the 
 udder a few slaps with the hand, which empties it. 
 The milk has a pleasing sweetish taste and is as rich 
 as cow's cream. As soon as the milking is accom- 
 plished, the penfold is opened and the animals go 
 out to pasture, no matter whether they have been 
 collected in the early morning or late at night, for 
 they graze both day and night. 
 The Great Useful- The entire value of tame Reindeer 
 ness and Value of to their owners can not be estimated 
 
 the Reindeer. at all, when we reflect that it fur- 
 nishes to them almost every necessity of life. Every 
 thing the animal produces is put to account, not 
 only the milk and the palatable cheese made from 
 it, but also the flesh, the blood and every single part 
 of the body. The horns in their early cartilagenous 
 state are eaten with as much gusto as are those of 
 the Elk when in the same condition. The soft skins 
 of the fawns are made into garments; the woolly 
 hair is spun and woven; the bones furnish materials 
 
 for various tools; the tendons are utilized as thread- 
 Then the animal must supply the motive power for 
 conveying the entire family with all their chattels 
 from one place to another, especially in winter. In 
 Lapland the Reindeer is mainly used for purposes of 
 draught and less for carrying burdens on its body, 
 as the latter mode of conveyance is very hard upoa 
 it on account of its weak back and loins. The Tun- 
 gus and Koryak tribes in Siberia, however, ride on 
 the strongest male Reindeer, placing a saddle over 
 the shoulder blades, and sitting astride of the queer 
 looking saddle animal. In Lapland nobody rides 
 on Reindeer and it is only the strongest males or 
 "oxen" as the Norwegians say, that are employed 
 for driving. Good beasts of draught easily bring a 
 price of from eight to twelve dollars, while the ordi- 
 nary Reindeer costs from three to four and a half 
 dollars at the most. A Reindeer is never previously 
 trained or broken; but a strong animal is selected 
 out of the herd and harnessed to a sled, which 
 is highly suitable for the purpose, being perfectly 
 adapted to the nature of the country and to the 
 powers of draught of the Reindeer. It is very dif- 
 ferent from the sleighs in use elsewhere and resem- 
 bles a boat. It consists of very thin birch boards 
 which are nailed to each other, curved in boat shape, 
 beginning at a broad keel, thus forming a trough, 
 the front part of which is covered. Naturally only 
 a single person can sit in such a boat-like sled. 
 For luggage or merchandise the traveler employs 
 sleds which can be covered on top with sliding^ 
 lids, but are similar to the passenger sleds in all 
 other respects. A good Reindeer travels about six 
 miles an hour, dragging a load of from two hun- 
 dred and forty to two hundred and eighty pounds; 
 but usually the load is much lighter. In summer it 
 is not used in the capacity of a beast of draught in 
 Norway. If one is careful with strong, well-fed 
 Reindeer — that is, if the beasts are permitted to work 
 only a few hours in the morning and evening, and are 
 allowed to graze at noon and night — he can travel 
 over astonishingly great distances with them, with- 
 out overtaxing their strength. 
 
 Close captivity is very distasteful to a Reindeer; 
 yet it thrives fairly well in zoological gardens if 
 tended with proper care, and it usually propagates 
 in captivity. The warm temperature of the low 
 country in summer does not agree with its health, 
 while it is perfectly indifferent to the severest winter 
 cold. Correspondingly it would be more adapted 
 than any other Deer for introduction into for- 
 eign countries on woodless high table-lands among 
 mountains where the Reindeer-lichen grows. It 
 would be very comfortable there, would soon be- 
 come used to its surroundings, propagate its species 
 and become an object of the chase. I mentioned 
 this fact years ago, and tried to demonstrate that it 
 must necessarily thrive on the high mountains of 
 Germany. The attempts that have been made have 
 fulfilled my predictions if not my desires. It is only 
 necessary now to proceed to further experiments 
 with due earnestness and the proper knowledge, and 
 consequent success cannot fail to follow. 
 
 THE FALLOW DEER. 
 
 The Reindeer are naturally followed by the Fallow 
 Deer {Dantd). The genus is known by their horns, 
 which are round and furnished with two spurs on 
 their lower portion and expand above into an elon- 
 gated blade with spurs on the margins, directed up- 
 ward and backward. 
 
FALLOW SEEB. This is a very handsome species of Deer, formerly wild in all northern and central Europe, but now only found in those 
 
 countries in parks and preserves, although it still occurs wild in western Asia. The picture presents an exciting forest scene. The family has been dis- 
 turbed by a feline intruder intent on making a meal of the fawn, but the antlered buck is showing his objection in a vigorous way and the Wild Cat will 
 probably be glad to escape. iDama vulgaris.) 
 
 (525) 
 
526 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 Range and History The Fallow Deer affects temperate 
 of the Fallow climes more than cold ones and 
 '^^^''- therefore has always been frequent 
 
 along the Mediterranean. Its range extends south- 
 ward to the northern margin of the Sahara, north- 
 ward to the southern portions of Sweden and Nor- 
 way. It is probably most plentiful in England, 
 where it is bred in great numbers in the parks of the 
 large land-owners. It especially delights in a rolling 
 country where gentle slopes alternate with low hills, 
 groves, underbrush and forest trees and where the 
 soil is grown with short grass. It seems created for 
 parks and one can hardly imagine a better ornament 
 for large pleasure-groXinds than the Fallow Deer. 
 
 Physical Pecul- The Fallow Deer {Dama vulgaris) is 
 iarities oftheFal- greatly the inferior of its noble kins- 
 low Deer, man, the Stag, in size. Inclusive of 
 the tail, which is from six to eight inches long, it 
 measures about five feet four inches in length; its 
 height at the shoulders varies between thirty- four 
 and thirty-six inches and the height at the croup be- 
 tween thirty-six and thirty-eight inches; its weight 
 probably seldom exceeds from two hundred to two 
 hundred and forty pounds. The doe is smaller. 
 But few of the other Deer show such modifications 
 in color as the Fallow Deer, according to the season 
 and its age. In summer the upper surface, the 
 thighs and the tip of the tail are reddish brown, the 
 under parts and inner sides of the legs being white; 
 blackish rings surround the mouth and the eyes; the 
 hair of the back is whitish at the base, reddish brown 
 in the middle and black at the tip. In winter the 
 head, neck and ears are brownish gray, the back and 
 sides blackish,"^ the lower surface ashy gray, some- 
 times tinged with red. White individuals are not 
 very uncommon. They do not change their color at 
 any season and are distinguished in winter only by 
 the greater length of their hair. Some Deer also 
 have a yellowish coat in youth; black specimens are 
 rarer. 
 
 Habits and Omental The Fallow Deer is less shy and 
 Attributes of Fal- cautious than the Stag, neither can 
 low Deer. it by its sense of smell detect the 
 
 presence of Man at so great a distance, but only for 
 about three hundred paces. It often roams about in 
 clear spots in the woods in bright daylight, but does 
 not undertake its journeys so regularly or for so 
 great a distance as its relative. It is inferior to the 
 Stag in fleetness, leaping power and agility; it lifts 
 its legs higher in trotting and jumps in bounds, after 
 the manner of Goats, clearing the ground simulta- 
 neously with all four feet. If not engaged in full 
 flight the tail is lifted when running. It can clear 
 obstacles of over six feet in height, swims fairly 
 well, but never wallows like the Stag. The food of , 
 both Deer is the same; but the Fallow Deer does 
 more stripping of bark and thereby renders itself a 
 nuisance. It is a surprising fact that this Deer 
 sometimes eats poisonous plants, which cause its 
 death. 
 
 Reproduction and The doe gives birth to one or, more 
 Development of the rarely, two fawns, generally in June. 
 Fallow Deer. The little one is very helpless in the 
 first days of its life and receives from its mother 
 careful protection and shelter. Smaller predaceous 
 animals that may exhibit intentions inimical to the 
 bright colored little fawn are driven off by the 
 mother by striking them with her fore-legs; larger 
 and more dangerous beasts she decoys away from 
 the place where her infant rests by walking slowly 
 away, inducing the beast of prey to follow her as 
 
 an intended victim; when she has accomplished this 
 object, she completes the stratagem by fleeing rap- 
 idly from the presence of the enemy and returning 
 to the spot where the young one lies, after innumer- 
 able detours and doubles. When the fawn is six 
 months old an elevation can be noticed on the bony 
 projections of the frontal ridge of the skull in the 
 male, out of which the horns sprout by the end of 
 February and go on developing till August, when 
 they are shed. It is not until the fifth year that the 
 blades of the antlers begin to develop, and they 
 increase with time in size and in the number of mar- 
 ginal spurs. The old Deer shed their horns in May, 
 the young ones in June, usually not both antlers 
 simultaneously, but with an interval of two or three 
 days between the periods of denudation. The new 
 antlers are developed- by August or September. 
 The Fallow Deer The Fallow Deer is either "stalked" 
 as a Game and shot with a rifle, or . hunted with 
 Animal. a great number of hounds; some- 
 times Men are employed as beaters to rouse the 
 game. Success generally rewards one who has pa- 
 tience to lie in wait for it, as it invariably passes 
 along its regular "runs," as its paths are technically 
 called. The skin is valued more than that of Red 
 Deer on account of its softness and pliability. The 
 venison is very savory, especially when the animal is 
 killed during the season, from July to the middle of 
 September, the Deer accumulating much fat during 
 that period. 
 
 This Deer is better adapted for parks than any 
 other species; it readily becomes familiar with man- 
 kind, frequents spots cleared of trees in the day, 
 thus allowing itself to be seen, and is of a playful 
 or even mischievous disposition. In one respect 
 it can also be considered a weather prophet: when 
 it is especially restless and capricious, unpleasant 
 or stormy weather may be looked for with a con- 
 siderable degree of confidence. The Fallow Deer 
 preserve their cheerful temper in closer confinement 
 also, easily becoming accustomed to it. They seem 
 to be especially fond of music; even: those in the 
 free state approach to listen when they hear the 
 sounds of a bugle. 
 
 THE RED DEER. 
 
 Among the Deer in the narrowest sense, are the 
 Red Deer (Cervus) which belong to both northern 
 belts; the males alone have antlers, with rounjd 
 branches. Of the more or less numefous spurs, at 
 least three are directed forward. The outer face of 
 the hinder ankles are furnished with, hair tufts. The 
 tear-pits are distinct. In old males, and more rarely 
 with very old females, the canines in the upper jaw 
 protrude far beyond the others. 
 
 Description of One of the stateliest and noblest 
 theStag or Red forms of this sub-genus is the Stag 
 ^ Deer. or Red Tieer {Cervus elapkiiS).. Not- 
 
 withstanding- its slenderness it is of vigorous and 
 handsome organization, and its bearing is, noble and 
 proud. Its physical . proportions vary considerably, 
 according to the country in which it is indigenous. 
 It attains a total length of from six feet two inches 
 to seven feet two inches, some six inches of this 
 being included in the tail. The height at, the 
 shoulders, varies between four and five feet and, the 
 weight between three hundred and twenty and five 
 hundred and forty pounds; but there. also occur un- 
 commonly large specimens, which may weigh six 
 hundred pounds and upwards The female is consid- 
 erably smaller and is differently colored. In respect 
 
STAG OE BED SEEB, This is a noble species of Deer, found in the temperate regions of Europe and northern Asia. It is largely preserved in 
 
 forests in Scotland, where a Stag which has more than twelve points or tines on its antlers is known as a "Royal Stag." This number is, however, frequently 
 exceeded. The female of this species is known as a "hind," and has no horns, the term "stag" properly applying to the antlered male of the Red Deer. 
 iCervus eta^kus.) 
 
 (527) 
 
528 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 to size the Stag is inferior only to the Wapiti and 
 the Persian Deer, exceeding the other known spe- 
 cies of its genus. It has an elongated body, re- 
 tracted in the flanks, with a broad chest and strongly 
 projecting shoulders, a straight, flat back, which is 
 somewhat high at the withers and rounded on the 
 croup, and a long, slender, laterally compressed 
 neck. It has a long head, high and broad at the 
 back, strongly tapering in front, with a flat fore- 
 head and with depressions between the eyes and 
 along the nasal region from the eyes to the' muzzle. 
 The eyes are of moderate size, and are bright and 
 animated in expression, with long, round pupils. 
 The tear-pits are placed obliquely towards the cor- 
 ner of the mouth; they are rather long and form a 
 narrow, oblong depression, the walls of which 
 secrete a fatty mucous matter, which the animal 
 presses out by rubbing against trees. The body 
 is supported on slender legs of moderate length, 
 and the toes are encased in straight, pointed, narrow 
 and slender hoof-like nails; the rudimentary digits 
 are rounded and long, cut off squarely at the extrem- 
 ity and hang straight down, without touching the 
 ground, however. The tail is of conical shape, 
 tapering towards the tip. A fine woolly coat and a 
 coarse outer-fur cover the body and lie rather 
 smooth and close, becoming considerably longer at 
 the throat. The stiff upper lip, which does not 
 hang over, is beset with three rows of thih, long 
 bristles; -similar hairs stand out above the eyes. 
 The color of the animal is subject to modification 
 according to the* season, sex and age. In winter the 
 outer-fur has more of a grayish brown tint, in sum- 
 mer more of a reddish brown; the woolly coat is 
 ashy gray with a brownish tip. The fawns alone 
 show white spots on a red-brown ground color, dur- 
 ing the first months of their lives. 
 
 The antlers of the Stag are set on short shafts, 
 and are very pronounced in their branching, bearing 
 many spurs and standing erect. They curve from 
 the base in a strongly arched outline, directed, in 
 relation to the plane of the forehead, backward and 
 outward; toward the upper extremities they again 
 curve inward and turn their tips slightly towards 
 each other. There is a spur at the base in front, 
 directed up and forward; above this is another, and 
 others spring from the middle of the horns; the 
 extremities form the crown, the spurs of which 
 differ in position and size according to the age 
 of the Stag, varying in different individuals. The 
 horns are round, rough and more or less burred, 
 especially in the lower parts, and have numerous 
 straight or convoluted longitudinal furrows. The 
 tips of the spurs are smooth, polished, of a dingy 
 white or yellowish color, while the color of the 
 main portions of the antlers themselves ranges from 
 a light tan to blackish brown, according to the color- 
 ing effects of the juices of the plants which have 
 stained them. Large antlers weigh from ten to six- 
 teen pounds, and may in exceptional cases attain a 
 weight of from twenty to twenty-four pounds, or 
 even more. The horns may measure from thirty- 
 two to forty-eight inches along the curvature, or 
 even more in some rare cases. 
 
 In the language of hunters, especially as expressed 
 in the ancient " art of venery," the fawn of tJFie Red 
 Deer is called a "hind-calf;" in its second year it is 
 called a "pricket," in its third a "brocket," in the 
 fourth a "stagon," in the fifth a "stag," and from 
 its sixth year the name of "hart," is applied. Other 
 authorities use the term "brocket" for the second 
 
 year, "spay" for the third and "staggard" for the 
 fourth year. The female is known as a "hind." 
 Range and Mom- The Stag still inhabits nearly alL Eu- 
 menta of the rope, with the exception of thehigh- 
 Stag. est northern latitudes, and closely 
 
 allied species inhabit a large part of Asia. The 
 northern limit of its range reaches to about the 
 sixty-sixth parallel in Europe and the fifty-fifth in 
 Asia. To the south its range is restricted by the 
 Caucasus and the mountains of Manchuria. Its 
 numbers have greatly decreased in all populous 
 countries and in some it has become extinct. It is 
 most plentiful in the Caucasus and the vast forests 
 of southern Siberia. The Red Deer prefers the 
 mountainous regions to the plains and especially de- 
 lights in large tracts of umbrageous forest. These 
 Deer assemble in large or small herds which divide 
 off with reference to their age and sex. The hinds 
 and young fawns usually remain together; the old 
 females form small troops of their own, and the old 
 males usually live solitarily. In winter the Red 
 Deer descends from the mountains to the plain; in 
 summer it ascends to the summits of the secondary 
 ranges [the mountains which are intermediate be- 
 tween the foothills and the highest snow-capped 
 peaks]. It adheres to its established range unless 
 pursued, and only strays away of its own volition 
 during the mating season, or while the new antlers 
 are growing, or when impelled by lack of food to 
 seek new pastures. 
 
 The movements of the Stag are all light and 
 graceful, but at the same time its bearing is proud 
 and majestic, the male, especially, being an animal 
 of noble carriage. The ordinary gait is a rapid 
 'walk. In trotting the Stag moves with gfeat swift- 
 ness, and in running attains remarkable speed. In 
 play it takes enormous bounds, clearing obstacles of 
 great height. It is a fearless swimmer, entering deep 
 and broad streams, and in Norway even arms of the 
 ocean, straits and fjords are crossed with ease. 
 
 Mental Traits Of the perceptive senses of the Stag 
 and Habits of those of hearing, smelling and sight 
 Stags. are very acute. It scents a human 
 
 being at a distance of six; hundred paces; and not. a 
 sound in the forest escapes its keen ears. It is very 
 timid and shy, but is neither sagacious nor clever. 
 Its memory appears to be weak and its powers of 
 comprehension slight; but yet it gradually learns to 
 profit by experience. When, however, its passions 
 are aroused, it often forgets the consideration of 
 safety, w^hich is usually uppermost with it. Its usual 
 timidity is undoubtedly the result of its experience 
 that Ma,n is its, most deadly foe; but when it is fully 
 conscious of protection, it becomes very familiar, 
 When kept in close confinement, or even when at 
 liberty during the mating season, the Stag frequently 
 becomes irritated from the most trifling cause, and 
 may attack human beings. Both ancient and mod- 
 ern books of hunting contain many stories of Stags 
 which have, without any apparent provocation, 
 made injurious or fatal attacks upon people. Be- 
 tween old Stags, during the mating season, most de- 
 termined battles occur, the combatants using their 
 antlers as weapons. There are instances on recofa 
 wh^re the antlers of the two participants in such 
 coftibats have become so firmly interlocked that the 
 animals have been unable to separate' and have died 
 in consequence. In some such cases even human 
 ingenuity and strength have been unequal to the 
 task of separating, without injury to the antlers, the 
 bodies of animals which have died in this manner. 
 
THE DEER— RED DEER. 
 
 5ii9 
 
 Fawns of the Red Deer make their appearance 
 one, or in rare cases two,at a birth, at the end of May 
 or in June in some lonely, quiet spot in the woods 
 where the vegetation is most dense. The little ones 
 are so weak and helpless during the first three days 
 of life that they cannot move from their place. One 
 may even take them up in his hand. The mothers 
 leave them but rarely and only for a short time dur- 
 ing this period, and even when driven away, move 
 only just far enough to ward off the real or imagi- 
 nary danger by decoying the enemy by means of a 
 sham flight. After the fawn is a week old, it is 
 worse than useless to attempt to capture it without 
 nets. It follows its mother everywhere, and imme- 
 diately crouches in the tall grass whenever she 
 gives a sound of alarm or stamps her fore-foot on the 
 ground. It suckles until the next pairing season, and 
 the mother instructs it from early infancy in the 
 choice of proper food. The female attains maturity 
 in its third year; but the male has to pass through 
 several years more before it attains the right to rule 
 as the "antlered monarch of the forest." Its first 
 horns grow in its seventh month; after that its head 
 decoration changes annually. As a usual thing the 
 spurs of the antlers increase in number annually, but 
 antlers with over twenty regularly shaped spurs have 
 probably been found very rarely. Antlers with 
 eighteen spurs are in- 
 cluded in every consid- 
 erable collection ; and 
 on living Stags antlers 
 with sixteen spurs are 
 no rarity. 
 
 The natural enemies 
 of the Red Deer are the 
 Wolf, the Lynx and the 
 Glutton, and rarely the 
 Bear. The Wolf and 
 Lynx are probably the 
 worst. The former, in 
 packs, pursues the Deer 
 in the deep snow, wor- 
 ries and exhausts it; the 
 latter jumps on its neck 
 from the branches of a 
 tree when it unsuspect- 
 ingly passes under them. 
 The most deadly foe 
 under all circumstances, 
 however, is Man, though 
 now he does not longer 
 pursue and kill the Red 
 Deer in the former reckless and reprehensible man- 
 ner. I believe I may leave the mode of hunting 
 undiscussed, as a detailed description would lead us 
 too far, and those who are interested in the matter 
 can find full accounts of it in other books. At pres- 
 ent this noble sport has been greatly restricted, and 
 the majority of the professional hunters of to-day 
 have never shot a Stag: such quarry is reserved for 
 more aristocratic people. 
 
 The Red Deer is also grievously tormented by 
 some kinds of Gad-flies. These disgusting insects 
 hatch their pestiferous progeny upon the body of 
 the Deer, exactly as they do on the Reindeer, per- 
 forating holes almost entirely through the skin of 
 the poor animals. A species of Louse, which settles 
 in the hair, and Mosquitoes and Gnats also torment 
 this Deer to a great extent. 
 
 Unfortunately the damage wrought by the Red 
 Deer is much greater than the profit it brings; not- 
 
 THE WAPITI. The Wapiti is 
 
 lated to the Stag of the Old World, but 
 well developed antlers are effectively ill 
 
 withstanding the fact that the venison,, skin and 
 antlers bring a high price, and one may highly ap- 
 preciate the pleasure of the hunt, the harm caused 
 by the Deer is not compensated. 
 
 The Barbary In northwestern Africa there is a 
 Deer Related to Deer, which has been separated from 
 the Stag. \]^q Stag under the name of the 
 Barbary Deer {Cervus barbarus), but it has by no 
 means been acknowledged as a distinct species by 
 all authorities, rather being considered only a va- 
 riety, for it comes nearest the Stag in all respects. 
 Of the other species of the sub-genus, the largest of 
 all, the Wapiti of North America {^Cervus canadensis^ 
 remains to be mentioned. 
 
 The Waoiti a ^^® American representative of the genu? 
 
 Noble American Cervus, to which the Stag also belongs, is 
 
 Deer ^^^ Wapiti (Cervus canadensis), sometimes, 
 
 but erroneously, called the American Elk or 
 
 Gray Moose, and which is named Wawaskeesh by the Cree 
 
 Indians and La Biche by the French Canadians. There is 
 
 no more noble species in the 
 entire Deer family than this 
 animal, which is larger than 
 the Stag, to which it bears a 
 close resemblance in many 
 respects. The antlers of the 
 two animals are much alike, 
 but those of the Wapiti are 
 heavier, corresponding to the 
 greater stature of the animal, 
 which stands considerably 
 higher than the Stag, its 
 shoulder height being about 
 fifty-four inches. The hoofs 
 are ^emi- circular in shape 
 and broader than those of the 
 Stag, and the tail is shorter. 
 The general color of the 
 summer coat is a light chest- 
 nut red, which deepens into 
 a brownish hue on the neck 
 and legs, and almost into 
 black on the throat and along 
 the median line of the under 
 surface of the animal. The 
 buttocks are yellowish white, 
 bordered by a dusky band 
 which extends down the pos- 
 terior surface of the hmd- 
 legs. The winter fur is dense 
 and soft and its hues are 
 grayer than those of the 
 summer coat. 
 
 Like its Old World rela- 
 tive the Wapiti has retreated 
 from its former haunts in 
 those sections where human 
 beings have become numer- 
 ous. Its former range in- 
 cluded all of the northern 
 and middle states, and in the 
 western part of the continent it extended south to New Mexico ; 
 but it is now found in few places east of the Rocky Mountains, 
 such as in Montana and the Dakotas. It is still by no means 
 rare in northern California, Oregon and Washington, but it is 
 much more frequent in Canada, where its range extends north 
 to Hudson's Bay. It frequents low grounds, preferably well 
 wooded tracts in the vicinity of marshes, and is quite numer- 
 ous in the clumps of wood bordering on the upper Missouri 
 and its tributaries, and on the Saskatchewan and other Cana- 
 dian rivers; and it feeds on grasses and the young shoots of 
 the willow and poplar. During the mating season the males 
 have fierce combats similar to those engaged in by the Stag'in 
 like conditions, and at this time the male Wapiti emits a pecul- 
 iar noise, resembling the braying of an Ass, beginning with a 
 loud shrill tone and ending in a deep, guttural note. The 
 growth and shedding of the horns is about the same as with 
 the Red Deer, the horns reaching their full growth about the 
 sixth year. In May or June the female, in some convenient 
 thicket, gives birth to a fawn, or in rare cases to two. The 
 development of the young Wapiti is not different from that of 
 the fawns of the European Red Deer. 
 
 The Wapitis, in regions where little molested, associate in 
 large herds, but as such localities are few they are usually 
 
 an American species of Deer nearly re- 
 larger. Its sturdy form and its large and 
 ustrated here. {Cervus canadensis.) 
 
530 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 seen in small families of six or seven, for which the older 
 females act as sentinels. The gait of these animals is a swing- 
 ing; easy trot, or, when pursued, a clumsy gallop. They are not 
 difficult to hunt, but their principal utility is for their skin and 
 antlers. The flesh is coarse and the fat is excessively hard, 
 and the meat is not held in great esteem. 
 
 THE AXIS DEER. 
 
 Among the Deer of India we must first mention 
 the Axis, called by the Hindus, Chital, and by the 
 English, the Spotted Deer {Axis axis). It rep- 
 resents a distinct sub-genus, and attains a length of 
 body of from fifty-four to sixty inches, the height at 
 the shoulders being only from thirty-six to thirty- 
 eight inches. , So far as color is concerned it may be 
 called one of the handsomest, if not the handsomest, 
 
 plentiful and collects in great herds, which graze in 
 the open places during the night, and seek the shade 
 of the forest in the day. The Axis is the object of 
 persistent pursuit by the natives and by Englishmen; 
 this continual pursuit may be the reason why it is as 
 shy as the common Deer in localities where experi- 
 ence has familiarized it with being hunted. A cap- 
 tive Axis soon becomes entirely docile, however. It 
 was introduced into England many years ago and it 
 thrives excellently in the mild English climate. 
 
 THE RUSINE GROUP. 
 
 Most other Deer of India bear a peculiar stamp, 
 which distinguishes them from their European or 
 American relatives, but can better be appreciated on 
 
 THE AXIS SEEK One of the most beautiful of the many species of the Deer family is the 'Vxis Deer found in India The coat of this 
 
 animal, in both sexes and at all seasons, is distinctly spotted. The antlers of the male are long but thebiaiiches aie not very numerous. {Cervus axis.) 
 
 of all Deer. An attractive grayish fawn hue is the 
 ground color; the stripe on the back appears very 
 dark, nearly black on the withers; the throat, abdo- 
 men and inner faces of the limbs are yellowish- 
 white, the outer surface of the limbs yellowish- 
 brown. Seven rows of white, rather irregularly 
 placed spots, conspicuously adorn each side. 
 Range and Pecul- The Axis is a native of all India, 
 iarities of the with the exception of the Punjab, 
 Axis. and of the country east of it to 
 
 Cochin China and is also found in the island of Cey- 
 lon. The animal inhabits the level as well as the 
 hilly country and is found at the foot of the Hima- 
 layas and in the Sundarbans, in stately forests as 
 well as in the jungle, but generally near water. 
 Wherever the surroundings are to its taste, it is quite 
 
 personal inspection than described. In general one 
 may say that these Indian Deer, which form the sub- 
 genus Rusa, are of more or less compact organiza- 
 tion, with stout limbs, short head and neck, but with 
 a proportionately long tail, and are thinly covered 
 with coarse, brittle hair. Only the males have horns 
 and the horns have, as a rule, no more than six spurs. 
 In my opinion the Sambhar {Rusa aristotelis), which 
 was described by Aristotle under the name of "Hip: 
 pelaphus" in a manner leaving no doubt as to its 
 identity, may be designated as the stateliest and 
 noblest Deer of this group. 
 
 The Great Rusa— The Great Rusa (i?«i« hippelaphus) 
 Its Physical Propor- is little inferior to the Stag and 
 
 tions, Range, etc. Sambhar in size, and measures fully 
 six feet eight inches, twelve inches of which are in- 
 
THE DEER— AMERICAN DEER. 
 
 531 
 
 eluded in the tail; the height at the withers is about 
 forty inches. The female is considerably smaller. 
 In general the distinctive characteristics of this Deer 
 are those of its group. A notable feature is the 
 strong mane, which is developed at the throat and 
 chin, the hair composing which hardly differs in 
 •character from the hair of other portions of the 
 body. 
 
 As far as is now known the Great Rusa is a native 
 of Java; to Borneo it is said to have been ihiported 
 by Man. Travelers say that this Deer gathers into 
 very numerous troops, which frequent open grass- 
 covered plains more than they do woodlands. Dur- 
 ing the heat of the day the animals lie hidden in the 
 grass and reeds or in the bushes; before sunset they 
 set out for a pool and at the advent of evening they 
 begin grazing. They are exceedingly fond of water, 
 and this trait can be observed in cap- 
 tive specimens, which always display 
 great eagerness for a mud-bath. 
 
 The movements of the Kusa de- 
 serve a short description. No other 
 Deer that I know struts along with 
 ■so much dignity as this one. Its gait 
 exactly resembles an artificial pace, 
 the so-called "Spanish walk" of a 
 trained saddle Horse. Every one of 
 its movements is like those which a 
 Horse executes under the direction 
 of his rider. 
 
 On the grand hunts held by the 
 Malayan princes, in which the ani- 
 mals are driven by beaters, many 
 hundreds of this species of Deer are 
 sometimes slain; though the hunters 
 do not employ fire-arms, but use only 
 swords and spears to slay them or 
 nooses to capture them alive. Jung- 
 huhn says that this Deer is hunted 
 only for its flesh, which is cut into 
 thin slices, rubbed with salt, dried in 
 the sun and called "jendeng." It is 
 considered the most palatable accom- 
 paniment of the various rice-dishes, 
 which are never absent from the table 
 of Javanese chiefs, and is also es- 
 teemed as an excellent dish in the 
 menu of Europeans. The skiri is not 
 used. 
 
 Physical Propor- The Hog Tleer {Rusa 
 tions and Habitat porcinus) is one of the 
 
 o/tte Hog Deer, commonest species in 
 India and exhibits the most awkward 
 ■and ungainly forms of the whole fam- 
 ily. It is of a moderately heavy organization, thick- 
 bodied, short-legged, short-necked and short-headed. 
 The general color, usually, is a coffee-brown, which 
 deepens into blackish-brown in the male and fades 
 into tan color in the female. The antlers of the 
 male, as a rule, bear six spurs; the horns are weak, 
 stand on rather high cranial protuberances and at- 
 tain a length of from fourteen to sixteen inches. 
 
 The Hog Deer is a native of the greater part of 
 British India and Burmah. It is commonest m the 
 Ganges country, and rarer in central India. Gener- 
 ally the animals live singly, but sometimes one finds 
 two or three together. They prefer grassy spots 
 thinly grown with bushes to the jungle or to a forest 
 of tall trees, though they occasionally also occur m 
 the latter in large glades. They lie hidden by day 
 -and feed by night; when alarmed, they flee in a 
 
 curious and rather awkward manner, with the head 
 held low, their name being derived from this gait. 
 
 The majority of the Hog Deer which are found 
 in zoological gardens are exported from Bengal. 
 The climate of temperate Europe agrees tolerably 
 well with them, but they require a sheltered place 
 to which they can retreat in rough weather. They 
 breed readily, and increase considerably even when 
 kept in a narrow enclosure. 
 
 NORTH AMERICAN DEER. 
 
 The Mazama Deer ( Cariacus) live in North Amer- 
 ica and northern parts of South America; they are 
 delicately formed, graceful Deer, distinguished as 
 much by their structure as by the antlers of the 
 male. Their shape is very slender, and the neck 
 and head are long; the legs are of moderate length, 
 
 IH£ SAMBHAR.-^ — This is an Indian species of Deer whicli derives its scientific name from 
 the fact that it is mentioned by Aristotle. Its antlers are heavy and it has a mane-like growth of 
 hair under the neck. (Cervus or Susa aristotelis.) 
 
 but slender, and the tail rather long. The antlers 
 are either forked or bent in one curve from behind 
 outward and forward and branch in from three to 
 seven spurs, which are all directed inward. These 
 antlers have a basal spur, but the two other anterior 
 spurs, found in Old World species, are absent. The 
 coat is formed of close, soft, glossy hair. It devel- 
 ops into a mane in the male and into a tuft on the 
 tail of both sexes. 
 
 Structure and The best known species is the Vir- 
 Range of the Vir- ginia. Deer or Carjacou {Cariacus 
 ginia Deer. virginianus) which exhibits an affin- 
 ity to the Fallow Deer in many respects, about 
 equaling it in size, but differing markedly from it 
 by reason of its graceful form and especially the 
 elongated, fine head, which one may, with some jus- 
 tice, call the most beautiful head belonging to any of 
 
532 
 
 THE CLOVEN- HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 the Deer. The Prince of Wied says, however, that 
 the animal often exceeds the Fallow Deer in size 
 and is but little inferior in that respect to the Stag. 
 The color varies according to the season of the year. 
 The prevailing color of the summer coat is a beauti- 
 ful, uniform reddish yellow, deepening on the back, 
 but becoming lighter on the flanks; the abdomen 
 and inner faces of the limbs are paler. In winter the 
 upper surface is grayish brown, the under parts pure 
 white. The length of a male of average size is six 
 feet, the tail measures twelve inches, the height of 
 the antlers is twelve inches, and the' length of each 
 horn, taken along the curvature, is about twenty 
 inches. The height of the buck at the withers is 
 about forty inches. The doe is considerably smaller, 
 being only four feet four inches long and not over 
 thirty-two inches high. The fawn is spotted very 
 
 TIBGINIA D££B. Here is our common American Deer, famous 
 
 beautiful of the entire family. Its range includes all of the United States 
 River, and all the southern states includinst Texas. In the far western regi 
 closely allied species. (Cariacus virginianus.) 
 
 daintily with white or yellowish white, on a dark 
 brown ground, resembling the parents in other re- 
 spects. 
 
 From the accounts of American naturalists this 
 beautiful Deer is distributed through all forests of 
 North America, with the exception of those of the 
 extreme north. It is said not to be usually found in 
 the sub-arctic regions, but it occurs in Canada. It 
 ranges from the eastern coast of North America to 
 the Rocky Mountains and southward to Mexico. In 
 former times it is said to have been plentiful every- 
 where in its native country; at present it has been 
 nearly exterminated in the more densely populated 
 parts and has retreated to the forest country or the 
 fastnesses of the mountain regions. In general its 
 habits coincide with those of the Red Deer, allow- 
 ing for differences in environment. 
 
 Audubon's Account Audubon says: "The Deer has a 
 of the Virginia strong attachment to the locality it 
 Deer. has selected as its domicile and 
 
 always returns to it when it has been driven away. 
 It does not rest on the same bed on different days, 
 however, but still is found in the same locality, 
 sometimes at a distance of less than fifty paces from 
 the spot on which it has been molested. Its favor- 
 ite haunts are fallow fields, which have partly re- 
 verted into bushland again, the underbrush on which 
 conceals it and affords it shelter. In the southern 
 states it often selects brushwood along the bound- 
 aries of plantations, especially in summer, when in 
 most states it is protected by law from molestation. 
 There it reposes during the day, in a gloomy thicket 
 of canes, wild grapes, thorn bushes, etc., always 
 selecting the place of its domicile in the closest pos- 
 sible proximity to its feeding ground. 
 The fancy for similar localities is not 
 general, however, for one often finds 
 its tracks in fields, which can have 
 been invaded only by animals coming 
 from a great distance. In mountaia 
 regions the traveler sometimes sees 
 one lying on a rocky projection, re- 
 minding the observer of a Bouquetin 
 or a Chamois, but it generally hides 
 among low bushes, beside fallen tree 
 trunks, or in similar places. In the 
 cold season it prefers prot6cted, dry 
 spots, often standing and basking in 
 the sunshine. In summer it retreats 
 into shady parts of the woods dur- 
 ing the day and ranges in the vicin- 
 ity of small rivers or cool streams. 
 To escape the attacks of Mosquitoes 
 it often takes refuge in a river or 
 pond, and submerges itself in the 
 water up to its nostrils. 
 
 "The food varies with the time of 
 year. In winter the Deer devours the 
 branches and leaves of bushes, ia 
 spring and summer it selects the ten- 
 derest herbage, exhibiting great fas- 
 tidiousness, and often enters fields ia 
 quest of young Indian corn and other 
 grain. It is very partial to berries of 
 various kinds, nuts and the smaller 
 fruits. One would think that such 
 variety of food would tend to keep 
 it always in good physical condition; 
 but such is not the case, for, with the 
 exception of certain seasons, these 
 Deer are very lean. They are fat 
 from August to November. We have slain some 
 ourselves, which weighed about one hundred and 
 sixty pounds each, an4 have been informed that 
 some attain a weight of upwards of one hundred 
 and eighty pounds. 
 
 "The does are fattest from November to January; 
 then their condition is reduced until the fawns are 
 born, but they become fatter again while they are 
 suckling their young. The young fawns are born in 
 April in the south Atlantic states, and when but few 
 days old, sometimes sleep so soundly that they can 
 be surprised and taken before they are aware of 
 the approach of Man. They are very easily tamed, 
 and become greatly attached to their keepers after 
 several hours of captivity. A friend of ours pos- 
 sessed a female fawn, which was brought to a Goat 
 after its capture and adopted by her, and we have 
 
 as one of the most 
 east of the Missouri 
 on it is replaced by 
 
THE DEER— AMERICAN DEER. 
 
 533 
 
 seen others reared by cows. They readily endure 
 confinement, but we have found them to be trouble- 
 some pets. A couple which we kept for some years 
 acquired the habit of visiting our study by way of 
 the open window, and continued their visits when 
 the window was closed, heedless of broken glass. 
 The animals seemed to have a destructive disposi- 
 tion in general, licked and nibbled at the covers of 
 our books, and scattered our papers in sad confusion. 
 No bush in the garden, however valuable to us, was 
 sacred to them; they even gnawed our carriage har- 
 ness and finally took to biting off the heads and feet 
 «f our young Ducklings and Chickens, leaving the 
 mutilated bodies. 
 
 "The venison is the most savory of any that we 
 have tasted. It is more delicate than that of the 
 "Wapiti or of the European Deer; but it possesses its 
 best flavor only during the months when it is fat. 
 
 The Virginia Deer Mazama Deer, which I took care of, 
 Eaaily Domes- would trustfully approach their 
 tioated. friends and would not only accept 
 
 proffered dainties in a friendly manner, but also grate- 
 fully lick the giver's hand. Unfortunately there is 
 one drawback to the keeping of these Deer in small 
 enclosures: they frequently break their delicate legs, 
 and injure themselves so severely that a cure is diffi- 
 cult or impossible. 
 "Fire Huntina" '^'^ portions of the southern states, partic- 
 for Deer in the "'^""'y ■'^ 'he regions known as the "pinejr- 
 South woods" of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, 
 
 Louisiana and eastern Texas, where the 
 long-leaf yellow pine forests extend for many miles with little 
 undergrowth, the Virginia Deer was formerly very plentiful, 
 and is still found, though in reduced numbers. In those sec- 
 tions a peculiar mode of hunting was formerly resorted to. A 
 party of hunters, with their Dogs, would start out after dark, 
 carrying besides their guns a queer receptacle, shaped like a 
 frying pan but larger and with a longer handle. Into this 
 
 THE PAMPAS DEEB. In the extensive grassy plains of South 
 
 than the Virginia Deer, but, like the latter, is a graceful and agile animal. 
 
 "The chase of this Deer required all the cunning 
 and patience of the Indians, before the pale-face 
 entered the hunting grounds with his rifle, his Horse 
 and his Dogs. The Indian disputed the prey with 
 the Wolf and the Puma, and the most varied modes 
 ■of hunting were brought in requisition. The Deer 
 ■was oftenest slain after it had been decoyed to the 
 vicinity of the hidden hunter by an imitation of the 
 cry of the young or that of the buck. Sometimes 
 an Indian would dress in the skin of a slain Deer, 
 the antlers of which he fastened on his head; he 
 would faithfully imitate the gait and movements of 
 the Deer, succeed in approaching close to the herd 
 and then kill several with his bow and arrows, one 
 after another, before the animals would become 
 alarmed and take flight. Since the introduction of 
 fire-arms, however, most of the Indian tribes have 
 laid aside the bow and. arrow for the rifle, in the use 
 of which they have become quite adept." 
 
 America ranges the species of Deer shown in the picture. It is smaller 
 (Cariacus or Blastocerus campestris.) 
 
 vessel, known as a "fire-pan", the hunters placed and ignited 
 from time to time, pine-knots, which are plentifully found 
 in those forests. This hard and resinous fuel burns easily and 
 with a bright light. As the fire-pan was behind the hunter, 
 the handle being carried on the shoulder, the blaze did not 
 dazzle his eyes, and yet brought into bold relief every object 
 for a long distance ahead of him. Deer tracks were followed 
 until at last the hunter saw before him two balls of lustrous, 
 bluish-red light, reflected by the eyes of the mystified Deer, 
 which, although dazzled and amazed by the bright glare of the 
 resinous torch, stood still. The hunter could approach within 
 easy shot of the animal, before the latter comprehended the 
 necessity of flight, and by aiming at the spot between the eyes 
 secured his game. Adepts in this method of sport learned 
 to discriminate between the eyes of Deer and those of colts 
 and calves, which much resemble those of Deer when seen by 
 firelight, and which beginners sometimes shot by mistake. It 
 was claimed that each animal inhabiting the woods had a dis- 
 tinguishable gleam of its eyes, differing from all others in size, 
 shape or color; and other animals besides Deer, including 
 Raccoons, Opossums, the Red Lynx and other nocturnal ani- 
 mals were hunted by the same method of "shining their eyes," 
 as it was called. A' kind of lamp to wear on the hat was in- 
 vented and sold for fire-hunting purposes to replace the fire- 
 
534 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 pan, but this method of hunting has become almost obsolete. 
 
 The White-Tailed J^^^.^tl^^l 'f'^^'y-f °^ *^ Virginia Deer is 
 Deerofthe White-tailed Deer {Cartacus leuciirus). 
 
 \Nest ^'^ ®"^^ ''^ '^ ^^"^y much the same as the Vir- 
 
 ginia Deer, but the tail is longer and is 
 white with a reddish tinge on the upper surface, and the under 
 portion of the muzzle is also white. The legs and hoofs are 
 more slender than those of the Virginia Deer and the general 
 color is paler. From the western portions of Nebraska and 
 Dakota to the Pacific coast, through the northern part of Cali- 
 fornia and all portions of Oregon and Washington the White- 
 tailed Deer make their home amid the trees and bushes on 
 the borders of rivers and swamps. The valleys immediately 
 east of the Cascade range harbor them most abundantly. In' 
 their habits they resemble other species of the family. They 
 are lively, and, when alarmed, make their escape with remark- 
 able speed, and are sufficiently wary usually to keep out of 
 range of any but long-distance shooting. 
 
 The Black- Another species quite common in the far 
 Tailed Deer west is the Black-tailed Deer (Cariactis co- 
 Described lumbianus). The upper surface of the tail 
 , is black, the under portion white. The ant- 
 lers branch out in prongs, the number of branches increasing 
 with age. From the western slope of the Cascade Mountains 
 this Deer extends southward through Oregon and California, 
 and is especially a familiar feature of the redwood forests of 
 those states, although to the south the thick growths of the 
 manzanita and chapparal afford it a convenient shelter. Its 
 flesh is not much esteemed, and it is therefore not hunted so 
 vigorously as some other species. Not much success has at- 
 tended the effort to domesticate Black-tailed Deer. They ■ 
 seem to be sufficiently amiable and friendly, but the changed 
 conditions do not agree with them, and they soon die. " 
 
 The (ilule De'>r ^^ Mule Deer (Cariacus macrotis) is a 
 / o g ' neighbor of the two laSt mentioned species, 
 
 ? ^ ' as it inhabits the mountains of Washington, 
 Oregon and Idaho. .This animal never de- 
 scends to the valley unless it is driven by very severe weather 
 from its usual home on the heights. The antlers branch off 
 in double prongs and constitute a striking adornment; another 
 marked characteristic is the ears, eight inches long, which 
 give the animal its name. The color of the coat is a dingy 
 brown, changing to gray in winter. There is a black stripe^ 
 along the back which, according to some authorities, can be 
 erected by the animal at will. The margins of the large ears 
 and the tuft of the tail are black. The remainder of the tail, 
 which is about eight inches long, and the buttocks are white. 
 Its movements are not so lively as those of the Virginia 
 Deer. 
 
 The venison of the Mule Deer is excellent, and it is therefore 
 a favorite game animal. A single fawn is born to the doe in 
 May or June. The little creature, which is of.a pale yellow hue 
 with white spots, is very pretty, and is cared for with great 
 tenderness by the doe until it is old enough to be weaned, 
 and even after that remains with its mother for a consider- 
 able period. The males of the Mule Deer species shed their 
 horns in March. \ 
 
 There is a variety of the Mule Deer found in southern Cali- 
 fornia, Arizona and northern Sonora which is smaller than 
 those of the more northern region. Its general color is more 
 of a reddish hue, and the upper surface of the tail is black. It 
 is not found east of the Sierra Nevada range. 
 
 Thp Mexican '^ small species, inhabiting Mexico, Central 
 or Sonora America and a part of Texas is known as 
 Dppr ^^* Mexican or Sonora Deer {Carmcus mex- 
 
 icanus). Its size varies with locality, for 
 those living in the northern part of the range are, the largest, 
 the smallest being found in Central America. This animal has 
 a short tail, broad and short hoofs and its coat is of a grayish- 
 brown color, resembling the winter coat of the Virginia Deer, 
 but the Mexican Deer does not change color with the seasons. 
 Its habits are similar to those of the Virginia Deer. 
 
 SOUTH AMERICAN DEER, 
 
 In the Blastocerus genus, which succeed the Vir- 
 ginian Deer and its relatives, and the native country 
 of which is South America, the antlers are erect 
 and forked; the main anterior branch is always less 
 developed than is the main posterior branch; the 
 anterior member is sometimes forked; the posterior 
 always. 
 
 Description of The best known species of this 
 the Pampas Deer genus, the Pampas Deer or Guazuy 
 or Guazuy. {Blastocerus campestris) is of moder- 
 ate proportions compared with other members of 
 
 the family; its body is from forty- four to fifty-twO' 
 inches long, the length of the tail being four inches; 
 the height at the withers is twenty-eight inches; at 
 the croup thirty inches; and both the shape and 
 color of the animal are deer-like. Its antlers re- 
 semble those of the Roe buck, but they are more 
 slender and the spurs are longer. 
 
 This Deer is plentiful in Paraguay, Uruguay and 
 northern parts of the Argentine Republic. Reng- 
 ger says that it ranges chiefly in the open, dry 
 country in thinly-populated regions and shuns the 
 neighborhood of swamps and forests even when 
 hotly pursued. It lives in pairs and in small troops; 
 old males live in solitude. During the day the 
 Deer rests in the high grass and keeps so still that 
 one can go by on horseback without arousing it. 
 After sunset it goes in quest of food and roams 
 about all night. The doe produces only one fawn 
 at a birth, either in spring or in autumn. 
 
 A Pampas Deer taken young becomes exceed- 
 ingly tame. It soon learns to know all members of 
 the household, follows them about, responds to their 
 calls, plays with them and licks their faces and 
 hands; with Dogs and Horses it is not only on 
 , peaceable terms, but evfen goes so far as to tease 
 them with playful butts and thrusts; it shuns strange 
 people and Dogs:- Its sustenance consists of raw 
 and cooked vegetables of all kinds; it is specially 
 fond of salt, as are all its relatives. In fine weather 
 it disports itself in the open air; during the noon 
 hours it chews the cud, and when it rains it betakes 
 itself to shelter. 
 
 THE ROE. 
 
 The Roe represents a special genus {Capreolus)^ 
 the horns of which are round, but slightly branched, 
 forked, rough and have no basal spur. 
 
 The Roe buck [Capreolus caprcea) attains a length 
 of fifty-two inches and a height of thirty inches at. 
 the croup; the small stub-like tail-is not an inch 
 long. The weight ranges between forty and fifty, in 
 some rare cases sixty, pounds; the doe is of smaller 
 proportions. Conipared with the Stag, the Roe is of 
 sturdy build, and its head is short and blunt. The 
 antlers are characterized by large, bulbous expan- 
 sions or "burrs" and relatively . large shafts beset 
 with quite broad protuberances, technically called 
 "pearls." Generally the main shaft of the horn has 
 only two spurs, but the full development of Roe's 
 antlers does not stop short at this. Blasius says 
 that ten spurs form the highest regularly developed 
 form of the Roe buck antlers. - Malformations are 
 remarkably frequent in Roe buck's horns. One can 
 see antlers of the most abnormal shape in collec- 
 tions: some show a whole series of the usual spurs,, 
 others are enlarged into blades, and beset with mar- 
 ginal spurs. There are Roe bucks with three horns 
 and three cranial protuberances for them, while 
 others have only one horn, the so-called " wig horn." 
 
 The close hair of the Roe changes with the season. 
 The upper surfaces of the body and the outer sur- 
 faces of the limbs are dark rusty red in summer,, 
 brownish gray in winter; the under parts and the 
 inner surfaces of the limbs are lighter. 
 
 The Range and With the exception of the extreme 
 Favorite Haunts of north, the Roe is distributed all 
 the Roe. over Europe and the greater part of 
 
 Asia. In the latter continent its range northward 
 includes middle and southern Siberia as far as the 
 forests extend, eastward to the mouth of the Amoor^ 
 southward to the lofty mountains of India and Man- 
 
THE EOE DEEB. A very pretty species of Deer, although small in size, is the Roe. The antlers of the male have no basal tine or branch, are 
 
 "Pright and are deeply furrowed. The Roe Deer is found in southern and central Europe and also in Asia Minor. It is kept in parks, in Great Britain, 
 and it is everywhere fond of large, dense forests. {Cafiriolus capraa.) 
 
 (535) 
 
536 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 churia, but it is quite scarce in the barren, treeless 
 table-lands. 
 
 In general one may say that, within its range, the 
 .Roe is found alike in young forests and in older 
 ones, provided they abound in underbrush, no mat- 
 ter whether they are situated on mountains or in 
 plains or whether they consist of deciduous or ever- 
 green trees. The Roe seems to delight in the latter, 
 especially in a marshy country. In winter it de- 
 scends from the heights, in summer it mounts higher. 
 In agricultural countries it often rests in the fields 
 of tall grain during the day. 
 
 Characteristics The Roe is nimble and graceful in 
 
 and Habits of its movements. It can cover consid- 
 the Roe. erable distances in its agile bounds, 
 leaping over wide ditches, high hedges and shrubs 
 without any 'obvious effort, and it is also a good 
 swimmer and an adept at climbing hills and moun- 
 tains. Its senses of hearing, smell and sight are 
 acute, and it is cunning and cautious. While the 
 animal is yoiing it is remarkably amiable, but in old 
 age it is very obstinate, defiant and vicious. 
 
 Roes never form as large troops as do the Red 
 Deer. During the greater part of the year they live 
 in families, consisting of one buck and one, or more 
 rarely of two or three does and their fawns. Dur- 
 ing the day the Roe remains hidden in a quiet, 
 secluded spot of its temporary domicile; towards 
 evening (and in quiet localities in the late after- 
 noon) it goes out to graze in young forests, in 
 glades or in fields; towards morning it betakes itself 
 back to the thicket or into high grain, and beats 
 away the moss or sod with its fore-paws, thus 
 preparing itself a lair for resting. It usually perti- 
 naciously frequents the neighborhood in which it 
 has once established its, domicile, but not invariably. 
 Its food is nearly the same as that of the Stag; only 
 the Roe selects more of the tenderer plants, being 
 more fastidious. 
 
 Only a single fawn is, as a rule, born to a young 
 doe; old ones give birth to two, or in rare cases even 
 to three. The mother conceals her offspring from 
 an approaching enemy with great care, and at the 
 slightest premonition of danger she gives signals' 
 of alarm. During the first days of life, when the 
 fawns are yet too weak and awkward to run, the 
 mother resorts to dissimulation and tries to decoy 
 the enemy away from the vicinity of the little ones. 
 If a fawn be taken away from her, and she can not 
 rescue it, she follows the robber, whether Man or 
 bea^t, for a long time and expresses her distress by 
 constantly running to and fro and bleating. About 
 eight days after their birth, the fawns accompany 
 the doe when she is grazing, and after ten or twelve 
 days they are strong enough to run after her. Then 
 she returns with them to her old quarters, with the 
 intention, as it were, of introducing the offspring to 
 their father. 
 Hunting the Roe, The Roe is hunted in nearly the 
 
 and the Profit same manner as are other Deer, 
 Therefrom. though shotguns are now used 
 more extensively than are rifles in districts which 
 are not under the restriction of game laws. The 
 Roe is also pursued by Lynxes, Wolves, Wild Cats 
 and Foxes, the first preying upon large and small 
 alike, the last chiefly selecting the fawns; the very 
 young fawns are said also to fall victims to the 
 diminutive but bloodthirsty Weasel. 
 
 The profit that accrues to Man from the Roe is 
 inconsiderable; the harm it does is not slight, and 
 outweighs the profit. It works sad destruction in 
 
 young forests especially, and sometimes destroys the 
 painstaking labor of years in a few days. 
 The Roe Difficult The Roe is more difficult to keep 
 to Keep Cap- than other Deer, either in p&rks, in / 
 tiue. zoological gardens or in smaller in- 
 
 closures, for its liberty-loving mind rebels at all 
 restriction. It proves to be a very fastidious, capri- 
 cious creature, difficult to satisfy; it is frail and weak, 
 does not always breed in a cage and often dies in 
 consequence of some insignificant cause. If reared 
 from early youth, it is readily tamed, is on friendly 
 terms with Man and beast, acts like a true domestic 
 animal and affords one great pleasure. In the long 
 run, however, the doe alone is satisfactory; the 
 buck ends by exhibiting his true nature; he becomes 
 bold and importunate, while the doe as a rule re-, 
 tains her gentle disposition. 
 
 THE MUNTJAK DEER. 
 
 In conclusion, we will cast a glance at the genus of 
 the Muntjak Deer (Cervulus), which are character- 
 ized by their small size, their short, imperfect antlers, 
 their strikingly large canine teeth, their deep, wide 
 tear-pits and lack of a hair-tuff on the hinder ankles. 
 The species ranged in this group are natives of the 
 southern and southeastern parts of Asia, up to south 
 China, and of the adjacent islands. 
 Description of the The Muntjak or Kidang, sometimes 
 Muntjak or called " Wrinkle- face" by English- 
 Kidang. men {Cervulus munljac), is the best 
 
 known form; it is somewhat smaller than a Roe, 
 being from forty-six to forty-nine and one-half 
 inches in length, from six to seven inches of which 
 are included in the tail; the height at the shoulders 
 ranges between twenty-six and twenty-eight inches. 
 The hair is short, smooth and close, the color on the 
 upper surface being a warm, yellowish brown, some- 
 times deepening into maroon; the hinder part of the 
 abdomen and the inner surfaces of the limbs, the 
 back part of the cheeks and the lower part of the 
 tail, are white; the fore part of the abdomen and the 
 chest are more yellowish. The horns are set on very 
 high basal protuberances, are directed obliquely 
 backward, and bend at first slightly outward and for- 
 ward, then curve boldly backward and inward. The 
 basal prominences, which are from three to four 
 inches in length, are very peculiar; they are covered 
 with a hairy skin up to the "burr," as the bulbous 
 protuberance at the beginning of the horn proper is 
 called; the margin near the burr is decorated with 
 tufted hair, and the burr is composed of a single row 
 of large " pearls" or button-like excrescences. The 
 female has hair-tufts in the place of horns. 
 
 The Range and The Muntjak is a native of Sumatra, 
 Habits of the Java, Borneo, Banca and Hainan, as 
 Muntjak. ^vell as of the Malayan peninsula, 
 Burmah and British India. A country that is not 
 too high and shows alternating hills and dales, or 
 still better, which lies at the foot of high mountains 
 or near extensive forests, seems to unite all the con- 
 ditions that are essential to the wellbeing of this 
 Deer. It is found singly or in pairs. Spots which 
 moreover have an abundance of water and are un- 
 frequented by Man, form the choicest abode for the 
 Muntjak. With its head held low, it slips through 
 matted thickets and among broken trees like a 
 Weasel, and nimbly threads its path through the 
 smallest gaps. Day and night it utters its sharp 
 cry, a hoarse, sharp, resounding bark, which has 
 caused it to be known in some places as "the 
 "Barking Deer." The Muntjak is a very courageous 
 
THE DEER—AMERICAN DEER. 
 
 537 
 
 beast and uses its small horns and its canine teeth 
 with much vigor and skill. Many Dogs are wounded 
 in attacking it and they sometimes sustain injuries 
 on neck, throat or abdomen, which end in death. 
 
 The Muntjak endures confinement very well iii its 
 own country and fairly well in Europe. It is often 
 found in the possession of Europeans and natives. 
 The venison is said to be savory, but lean. 
 
 ^be fiDusft 2)eer. 
 
 SIXTH FAMILY: Moschid^. 
 
 Some naturalists have placed among the Deer 
 several small and very dainty Ruminants, which 
 among others include the dwarfs of the entire order 
 namely, the Musk Deer and the Chevrotain. We 
 regard them as distinct families, however. 
 
 The Musk Deer {Moschidce) have no antlers, no 
 tear-pits, no hair-tuft on the hinder legs, and a rudi- 
 mentary tail. The males 
 are, like male Chevrotains, 
 distinguished from other 
 Ruminants by the posses- 
 sion of long, protruding 
 canine teeth in the upper 
 jaw, projecting downward 
 from ,the mouth. The 
 lofty mountains of China 
 and Tibet constitute the 
 native habitat of these ani- 
 mals. There they live in 
 the rockiest portions of the 
 mountains — seldom rang- 
 ing in the valleys, into 
 which they descend only 
 when a severe winter drives 
 them from their heights 
 and lack of food compels 
 them to turn toward more 
 favored regions. 
 
 The family is represent- 
 ed by one genus and one 
 species only, the Musk 
 Deer {Moschus moschiferus). 
 It is a graceful Ruminant, 
 from thirty-six to forty 
 
 inches in length, and . from twenty to twenty-two 
 inches in height at the shoulders. It is of sturdy 
 build; higher at the croup than in front, slender- 
 legged, short-necked. It has a rather long head, 
 obtusely rounded at the muzzle; its eyes are of mod- 
 erate size with long lashes and a very mobile pupil; 
 and it has ears of ovoid shape which are half as long 
 ■as its head. The toes are encased in rather small, 
 long, narrow and pointed ungulate nails; but the feet 
 can be expanded considerably by means of a fold 
 of skin connecting the hoofs with the rudimentary 
 toes, which reach to the ground. This arrangement 
 •enables the animal to walk sure-footed and without 
 difficulty on snow-fields or glaciers. By all accounts 
 the color of the coat of the animal must be very 
 variable; some individuals are very dark above, 
 ■dingy white below; others are reddish brown; some 
 yellowish brown above, white beneath; others again 
 show a longitudinal row of light spots on the back. 
 The canines protrude from the mouth of the male 
 two or three inches, and show first a gentle bend out- 
 ward, then a scythe-shaped curve backward. The 
 female also has canine teeth, but they do not pro- 
 trude beyond the lips. 
 
 Description of the The musk pouch lies in the hinder 
 ML t **^ P^^*^ °* ^^^ abdomen and has the ap- 
 Musk Deer. pearance of a sac-like, slightly prom- 
 inent, roundish pouch rather exceeding two inches 
 in length, one inch in width and about two inches in 
 height. On both sides it is beset by a margin of 
 stiff hair, the direction of the growth of which on 
 one side is opposed to that of the other side, a cir- 
 cular spot in the middle being left uncovered. This 
 spot contains two little apertures, one behind the 
 other and connected with the pouch itself by short 
 canals. Small glands within the pouch secrete the 
 musk, and when the pouch becomes too full it is 
 emptied by means of the anterior canal. The pouch 
 attains its full dimensions and normal contents of 
 musk only in the adult animal. The average quan- 
 tity of the valuable substance is little short of an 
 ounce, but nearly double that amount has been 
 found in some pouches. Young bucks yield about 
 one-eighth of this quantitv. In the living animal the 
 
 THE 1II1TNT7AK. The species of Deer shown in the picture are small animals with rather short legs 
 
 inhabiting India, the Indian Archipelago and the Malay Peninsula. Their most notable peculiarity is the leneth 
 of the articulation which connects the antlers of the male with the frontal bones. \Cervulus mtmtjac.) 
 
 musk has the consistency of a salve; when dried it is 
 a granulated or pulverized substance, which is at 
 first of a red-brown hue, but later darkens and may 
 become coal-black. 
 
 Neither the Greeks nor the Romans knew any- 
 thing of the Musk Deer, notwithstanding their fool- 
 ish fondness for perfumed ointments, and the fact 
 that they obtained most of them from India and 
 Arabia. The Chinese, on the other hand, have been 
 using musk for thousands of years. We obtained 
 the first information concerning the Musk Deer 
 from the Arabs. 
 Range and Attri- The Musk Deer is distributed over 
 butes of the the region from the Amoor to the 
 Musk Deer. Caspian Sea and from the sixtieth 
 parallel of north latitude to China and Farther India. 
 It is most abundant around the Lake of Baikal and 
 in the mountains of Mongolia, as well as in the 
 Himalayas, where it is said rarely to descend below 
 seven thousand five hundred feet in summer. In 
 parts of these regions it is yet so plentiful that pro- 
 fessional hunters can slay several hundred in one 
 winter. The craggy slopes and tangled forests are 
 the proper haunts of these noted animals, and there 
 
538 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 they are found usually singly, but sometimes in 
 couples. Kinloch compares the habits of the Musk 
 Deer to those of the Hare, as it prepares itself 
 "forms" like those of the latter animal and lies -in 
 them during the day. When grazing it selects 
 slopes, where grassy pastures alternate with patches 
 of low underbrush. It enters the ope'n, uncovered 
 pastures only at dusk or in the early morning hours. 
 Its movements are quick and sure. It runs with the 
 speed of an Antelope, jumps with the precision of 
 a Bouquetin, and climbs with the boldness of a 
 Chamois. Over the soft surface. of snow-fields, in 
 which a Dog sinks and a Man can hardly move, 
 Musk Deer proceed quite comfortably, barely leav- 
 ing a trace. When pursued, they jump just like the 
 Chamois from a considerable height, without ^sus- 
 taining any injury, or they run along precipices 
 which barely afford a possibility of gaining a foot- 
 hold. In case of necessity they do not hesitate to 
 swim across broad rivers. 
 
 ■Their perceptive senses are excellent, but their 
 mental capacity is slight. The Musk Deer is shy, 
 but neither sagacious nor prudent. When an acci- 
 dent befalls it, it is frequently at a complete loss 
 how to act, and runs about as if it were deprived of 
 its senses. A newly captured individual behaves in 
 the same manner. 
 
 Reproduction, Pur- The female gives birth to one or 
 suit and Value of two brightly mottled voung ones, 
 
 the IVIusli Deer. and guards them faithfully till the 
 next pairing season, at which time she casts them 
 off. At the end of the third year the young have 
 completed their growth. 
 
 The pursuit of this important and profitable creat- 
 ure is very difficult, at least in Siberia. Its shyness 
 seldom allows a hunter to approach within shoot- 
 ing distance. The course usually pursued is to lay 
 snares on its way. The plans of the trapper for the 
 capture of the Deer are often nullified by the Glut- 
 ton, the Siberian Weasel and the Ravens. The furred 
 beasts of prey follow the trail of the animal and eat 
 the captives out of the snares. The Golden Vulture 
 and the Eagle also prey on the young Musk Deer, 
 the Panther and Cheetah on the old ones. English 
 sportsmen kill the Deer in the Himalayas with a 
 rifle, and either stalk it alone or have it driven out 
 by beaters. 
 
 The venison is much esteemed by Europeans in 
 India; the musk pouch is worth from ^2.50 to ^7.50. 
 The greater part of the musk is shipped to England 
 from China; but it is seldom unadulterated, for that 
 crafty, long-cued nation has been zealously studying 
 the art of adulteration of the precious substance for 
 ages. Old travelers relate queer things concerning 
 the strength of the odor of musk. Tavernier and 
 Chardin say that hunters are obliged to stop their 
 noses and mouths before cutting off the pouch, for 
 incautious inhalation of the odor causes fatal hem- 
 orrhages. Chardin affirmed that he had never been 
 able to nearly approach dealers in musk, and had to 
 make his purchases from them through the interven- 
 tion of commercial friends. According to his asser- 
 tion the odor is unbearable and really dangerous 
 to Europeans who are not used to it. 
 
 We still lack detailed accounts of the life of this 
 animal in confinement. In the year 1772 a Musk 
 Deer reached Paris, after a journey of three years, 
 and it lived there for three more years. It died 
 from the effects of a ball of hair, which had formed 
 in its stomach from the hair the animal had licked 
 off itself, and had become attached to the wall of the 
 
 stomach in such a manner as to prevent the passage 
 of food from that organ to the smaller intestines. It 
 had always been well previous to the accident caus- 
 ing its death, and this fact led French naturalists to 
 believe that this important animal might be intro- 
 duced into high European mountains. 
 
 ^be Cbevrotaine. 
 
 SEVENTH FAMILY: Tragulid^. 
 
 The last family of the Ruminants comprises the 
 Chevrotains or Pigmy Musks (Tragulidm), and forms 
 the connecting link between the Ruminants and the 
 Swine. The animals classified under this title in- 
 habit western Africa and south Asia and are exceed- 
 ingly pretty creatures. If one imagines a roe-like, 
 dainty little animal, with a rather stout body, a 
 slender, well-shaped head, beautiful, lustrous eyes, 
 and legs which are scarcely thicker than a lead 
 pencil, with extremely neat hoofs, a small, trim, stub 
 tail and a soft, close fur of attractive hue, he will 
 have a correct idea of a Chevrotain. 
 Appearance and The Kanchil or' Pigmy Musk {Tret- 
 Habitat of the gulus kanchil or Tragulus py'gmceus) 
 Kanchil. jg about eighteen inches in length, 
 less than two inches of which are included in the 
 tail; the height at the withers is eight inches, the 
 croup being nearly an inch higher. The hair is of 
 rather fine texture, and of reddish fallow hue on the 
 head, lighter on the sides, and nearly black on the 
 top. The upper surface of the body is reddish yel- 
 low-brown, strongly mingled with black along the 
 back, lighter on the flanks, spotted with white on the 
 upper part of the neck, and the under surface is white. 
 The older males have strongly curved canine teeth, 
 which protrude rather more than an inch beyond the 
 gums. The small, fine hoofs are of a light brown 
 horn color. Young animals do not differ from the 
 old ones in these particulars. 
 
 Java, Singapore and the Malayan peninsula are the 
 chief regions constituting the home of this lovely 
 little creature; in Sumatra, Borneo, Ceylon, as well as. 
 in India, from its southern extremity to the Hima- 
 layas, up to an altitude of eighteen hundred feet, it is 
 represented by allied species. In Java it inhabits 
 the mountains more than it does the plains, existing 
 along the lower edges of the primeval forests cover- 
 ing all mountain ranges, selecting for its retreat the 
 brushwood forming the forest boundaries; from its 
 domicile it can easily reach the grassy slopes below 
 in a few minutes. One never encounters it in herds,, 
 for it usually lives singly, or, at the most, in pairs dur- 
 ing the mating season. During the day it lies hid- 
 den, resting and ruminating, in the thickest part of 
 the bushes; at dusk it sallies forth to graze upon 
 various leaves, herbage and berries. Water is indis- 
 pensable to it. 
 
 Physical and Men- All movements of the little animal 
 tal Endowments are extremely light and graceful, 
 of the Kanchil. and lively withal. In proportion to^ 
 its size it is capable of executing long leaps, and it 
 skillfully surmounts all obstacles in its way. But its 
 delicate limbs are not gifted with great endurance, 
 and it would soon fall into the hands of its enemies 
 if it did not possess a means of defense in the exe- 
 cution of a peculiar trick. Generally it endeavors tO' 
 escape pursuit by hiding in a bush; but as soon as it 
 sees that it can no longer do so, it calmly lies down 
 and feigns death, as the Opossum does under siinilar 
 
THE SWINE. 
 
 539' 
 
 circumstances. The enemy approaches, thinking 
 the prey is his for the taking, but before he has 
 reached it, the little creature gives a bound and 
 scampers off like a flash. 
 
 In modern times specimens of this or the other 
 species of Pigmy Musk have frequently been taken 
 to foreign lands and kept in confinement for a con- 
 siderable time. Wandering menageries also have 
 occasionally shown some one of the species all over 
 the country. The appearance of the animal is neat 
 and trim; it keeps itself exceedingly clean, and is 
 continually licking and dressing its fur. The large, 
 
 MUSK DEES. Animals so peculiar that they form a tamily by them 
 
 selves are the Musk Deer, which, while closely related to the Deer proper, 
 have many special traits of their own, including the secretion of musk. 
 [Moschus moschiferus.) 
 
 beautiful eyes seem to indicate that it is an animal 
 highly gifted mentally; but such is not the case, for 
 it gives no proof whatever of superior intellectual 
 powers: being a dull, uninteresting creature. It 
 spends its day sleeping, ruminating and eating. 
 One seldom hears the sound of its voice — a soft, 
 low gurgle, resembling somewhat a note of the 
 tremolo stop of an organ. 
 
 Cloven^lboofet) IRon^lRuminants. 
 
 SECOND SUBORDER: Sum^. 
 
 The second suborder of the Artiodactyla com- 
 prises the non-ruminating Swine and Hippopotami, 
 which may be collected into two families. 
 
 ^be Swine. 
 
 EIGHTH FAMILY: Sum^. 
 
 The Swine have a laterally compressed body; the 
 head is nearly conical in shape with a truncated 
 muzzle, the tail is thin, long and curly, the elongated 
 snout is broadened in front ]nto a disc, which con- 
 
 tains the nostrils; the ears are of moderate size and 
 are generally erect; the aperture of the lids of the 
 eye is oblique and proportionately small; the legs 
 are slender and thin, the toes stand in pairs, the 
 rniddle ones, which support the body, being mate- 
 rially larger than the outer ones. A more or less 
 dense coat of 'bristles covers the body. The female 
 has numerous mammae placed in two parallel rows 
 on the abdomen. The skeleton shows light, graceful 
 formations. AH Swine have three kinds of teeth- 
 incisors, canines, and molars — in the upper and 
 lower jaws. The number of the incisors varies be- 
 tween two and six in the upper jaw, and four and 
 six in the lower; these teeth frequently drop out 
 in old age, however. Canines exist always and are 
 of very characteristic shape — three-edged, strongly 
 curved and bent upwards. The remaining, or molar, 
 teeth, the number of which is variable, are more or 
 less compressed, the grinding surface being broad 
 and beset with many cusps, or projections. Among 
 the muscles, the set that moves the lips is particu- 
 larly noticeable; the muscles of the upper lip are- 
 especially strong and mobile, and furnish the trunk 
 with the strength necessary for rooting in the earth. 
 Distribution and With the exception of Australia, the 
 Attributes of Swine are natives of nearly all coun- 
 ttie Swine. ^j-ies of the remaining continents. 
 They affect extensive, damp, marshy forests in 
 mountainous or lowland countries, thickets, bushes,. 
 
 THE KAHCHIL. This is the smallest of all the Cloven Hoofed ani- 
 mals, and is very agile and wary. It is snared by the Malays for the sake 
 of its flesh. {Tragulus kanckil.) 
 
 damp plains and fields grown with high grass. They 
 all delight in water, in bogs, pools, and the banks of 
 rivers and lakes. In such places they make a bed in 
 the mud or marsh and spend their time of rest in it, 
 often lying half in the water. Some species seek 
 shelter in large holes between the roots of trees. 
 The majority are gregarious; but the herds which 
 they form seldom attain to great numbers. Their 
 mode of life is nocturnal; for even in localities where 
 they are unmolested they begin active operations 
 
540 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 only at dusk. They are by no means as clumsy and 
 helpless as they seem, their movements being com- 
 paratively light. Their walk is somewhat swift, 
 their running rapid; their gallop consists of a series 
 of peculiar bounds, each of which is accompanied by 
 an expressive grunt. They are all excellent swim- 
 mers, and even cross straits in order to pass from 
 one island to another. The perceptive senses of the 
 Swine are also well developed, those of smell and 
 hearing being especially acute. The small, dull 
 eye, on the contrary, does not seem to be very 
 keen, neither do taste and sensitiveness to touch 
 seem to be well developed. They are wary and shy, 
 and flee, as a rule, .from all danger, but when they 
 are hemmed in, they bravely take up the defense 
 and often furiously charge against their antagonists. 
 In doing so they try to knock down and overrun 
 the enemy and rip him with their sharp tusks, and 
 they use these formidable weapons with so great 
 skill and vigor that they sometimes become very 
 dangerous. The males defend their mates, and the 
 mothers protect their young with great devotion. 
 They seem but slightly amenable to instruction, of 
 an obstinate disposition, and not capable of domesti- 
 cation of a high degree, their qualities in general not 
 being very attractive. Their vocal expression is a 
 queer grunt, expressive of a great deal of self-con- 
 tent and a comfortable state of mind and body. 
 Old males also utter a deep growl. 
 
 Dietand Repro- The Swine are omnivorous in the 
 
 duetion of the most extended sense of the word. 
 Swine. Whatever is in any way edible is 
 
 acceptable to them. A few Hogs feed exclusively 
 on vegetable food, such as roots, herbs, cereals and 
 fruit, onions, mushrooms, etc.; the others consume in- 
 sects and their larvje, Snails, worms, reptiles, Mice — 
 nay, even fish — and show a great liking for carrion. 
 Their voracity is so well known that nothing need be 
 said about it; all other qualities are really absorbed 
 and overshadowed by it, with the sole exception of 
 the unparalleled uncleanliness which has made them 
 the objects of the aversion of mankind. 
 
 In few species does the female give birth to but a 
 single young one or a small litter; the others bring 
 forth a large number at a time, often more than any 
 other mammal, the number occasionally rising as 
 high as twenty-four. The little ones are charming, 
 playful, active creatures, that would delight any- 
 body, if they did not display the uncleanly predilec- 
 tions of their parents, from the first day of life. 
 Their growth is surprisingly rapid, and they are 
 capable of reproduction when they are a year old. 
 For this reason all countries in which they thrive 
 swarm with them, and they are exterminated with 
 difficulty even where they are in nowise protected. 
 
 Their exceeding fecundity and indifference toward 
 a change of environment render them highly suit- 
 able for a state of domesticity. Few animals are 
 tamed so easily; but few revert again to the wild 
 state so readily as they do. A young Wild Hog 
 usually soon becomes used to confinement and to 
 the filthiest of stables, while a domestic Hog, born in 
 such quarters, becomes a savage, fierce animal after a 
 few years in the free state, being scarcely different 
 from its ancestors, and (if it be a female) as a rule 
 producing young at her first litter which are in every 
 respect similar to wild specimens. 
 
 The Enemies AH wild Swine are so destructive to 
 
 of the agriculture that they must be re- 
 
 Swine. garded as enemies to the cultivation 
 
 of the ground. They are therefore most diligently 
 
 pursued wherever Man assumes sovereignty. The 
 chase of the Wild Hogs is counted one of the noblest 
 of sports and has many attractive features, for they 
 are animals which occasionally offer a desperate 
 resistance. 
 
 Man, however, is the worst enemy of the Wild Hogs 
 in the northernmost countries only. In the equato- 
 rial regions the larger species of the Cat tribe and of 
 the Dogs pursue them and often make sad inroads 
 on their ranks. Foxes, smaller Felidae and birds of 
 prey dare attack only young Swine, and always dis- 
 play great caution when doing so, as the mother 
 vigorously protects her litter of little ones. 
 
 THE SWINE PROPER. 
 
 All Swine of the globe display great affinity to 
 each other in structure and character. The slight 
 differences which may be established are based on 
 the greater slenderness or bulkiness of structure, the 
 number of toes and teeth and the formation of the 
 tusks. Forty-four teeth, four toes on each foot, and 
 usually ten or at least eight mammae on the abdo 
 men of the female, elongated oval hairy ears and a 
 tail of moderate size, terminating in a tuft; such are 
 the characteristics of the Swine proper (Sus), which 
 are adequately represented in the common or Wild 
 Hog or Boar [Sus scrofa). This strong, stout and by 
 no means defenseless animal is fully eighty inches 
 in total length, including from eight to ten inches 
 for the tail. The height at the shoulders is thirty- 
 eight inches and the weight averages from three to 
 four hundred pounds, size and weight being subject 
 to considerable modifications, however, according to 
 the locality, season and food. The Wild Boars living 
 in swampy regions are always larger than those 
 which live in dry forests; those which exist on the 
 islands of the Mediterranean never equal in size 
 those of the continent. The Wild Boar much resem- 
 bles its tamed descendant in shape, though the body 
 is shorter and sturdier, the legs are stouter, the head 
 is somewhat longer and slenderer, the ears are more 
 erect, slightly longer and more acutely pointed; the 
 tusks are also larger and sharper than those of the 
 domestic Swine. The hue is variable, but is usually 
 black; gray, rusty white or mottled Wild Hogs are 
 rare. The young display yellowish stripes on a red- 
 dish gray ground, running rather straight from the 
 fore parts to the hindquarters and fading out in the 
 first months of life. The hairy covering consists of 
 stiff, long, pointed bristles, frequently split at the 
 top; rather short fine woolly hair is mingled with 
 them, according to the season; a kind of crest 
 or mane forms on the back. Rusty-colored, white 
 spotted individuals and such as are half black, half 
 white, are generally considered to be descendants of 
 degenerated domestic Swine, set free at some former 
 period to increase the number of Wild Boars. 
 
 The Ancient and In former times the Wild Boar was 
 Present Range of spread all over Europe, being equally 
 
 the Wild Boar, plentiful in the central and in the 
 southern part of this continent; at present, to the de- 
 light of all agriculturists and foresters and to the 
 regret of all sportsmen, it is extinct in several coun- 
 tries and in many others it exists only in a few 
 parks protected by game laws. Its range does not 
 extend northward beyond the fifty-fifth parallel. In 
 Germany it still exists in a completely wild state in 
 greater numbers than is agreeable to the agricul- 
 turist. Still more numerously than in Gern^iany does 
 it exist in some of the mountain forests of France 
 and Belgium, and also in Poland, Galicia, Hungary, 
 
(54') 
 
542 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 the Danube valley, southern Russia, on the Balkan 
 and the Spanish peninsula. In Asia it ranges from 
 the Caucasus to the Amoor and from latitude fifty- 
 five degrees north to the northern slope of the Him- 
 alayas; in Africa it inhabits all suitable localities 
 along the entire northern coast. Beyond the given 
 boundaries it is represented by other species, in 
 part still to be examined by naturalists and thus not 
 yet conclusively defined. Such are the Maned Hog 
 of continental India {Sus cristatus), the Andamanese 
 Hog of the Andamans {Sus andamanensis) , the 
 Bearded Hog of Borneo {Sus barbatus), the Striped 
 Hog {Sus vittatus) of Java, Amboina and Bangka, 
 the Javan Wild Hog {Sus verrucosus) of Java and 
 Ceram, the Celebes Hog, found on Celebes {Sus 
 celebensit), the Timor Hog on Timor {Sus tintorensis) , 
 the New Guinea Hog {Sus papuensis) and the Black 
 Hog {Sus niger) on New Guinea, the. White-bearded 
 Hog {Sus leucomystax) in Japan and Formosa, and 
 finally the Sennaar Hog {Sus sentiaremis) in the cen- 
 tre of northeastern Africa. A strong Indian Boar 
 is by no means afraid of a combat with a Tiger, and 
 not infrequently proves itself master of the field. 
 The Preferred Damp and swampy localities are 
 
 Domicile of the often the abode of the Wild Boar, 
 Wild Hog. no matter whether they are covered 
 with extensive forests or only a swampy growth; it. 
 shows a great predilection, however, for extensive, 
 young and dense forests of fir, pine, and other trees 
 with needle-like foliage. In many localities of 
 Egypt the Wild Boars live all the year around in 
 sugar-cane fields, without ever leaving them; they 
 feed on the canes, wallow in the water which is con- 
 ducted through the fields, and feel so thoroughly 
 satisfied t'here that they can not be driven away by 
 any means. In constructing its bed the Boar roots 
 out a depression, just large enough to take in its 
 body; if the material is obtainable it lines this lair 
 with moss, dry grass and foliage, and rests in it 
 quite comfortably. Herds of Wild Boars prepare 
 their lairs in a similar manner, but in lying down 
 so dispose of themselves that the heads of all are 
 directed toward a common centre. 
 
 Omniuorous Pro- Being very gregarious, the Wild 
 pensities of Hogs are wont to gather into herds, 
 Wild Hogs. the sows with the young, by them- 
 selves. The mature males not infrequently form 
 troops of their own; but males of seven years or 
 older live solitary and join the herds only during the 
 breeding season. During the day the members of 
 the herd'lie in their lairs, quietly and lazily; towards 
 evening they rise and start in search of food. At 
 first they root up the earth in the woods or in the 
 fields, or they run to a pool, and wallow in it for half 
 an hour or so. Such a cooling bath seems to be in- 
 dispensable to them, for sometimes they run miles to 
 obtain it. Only when complete quiet prevails do 
 they attack the fields and from any place upon which 
 they then settle they are driven away with extreme 
 difficulty. When the heads of grain are filling out 
 it is very hard to drive them out of the fields and to 
 protect the crop from damage. They eat much less 
 than they trample down or uproot, and this is why 
 they are so exceedingly destructive. In the woods 
 and on the meadows the Hogs look for worms and 
 insects and their grubs and truffles, or in fall and 
 winter for acorns, hazel-nuts and chestnuts; in the 
 cultivated fields, they take potatoes, turnips, cereals, 
 peas and beans. One may say in general,, that they 
 eat all imaginable kinds of plants and various animal 
 substances, even dead beasts, slain Deer and car- 
 
 casses of their own kind, and occasionally they may 
 become truly beasts of prey, for they attack fawns, 
 pursue Red or Fallow Deer or Roes which are 
 wounded or weak from scant food, and in times of 
 scarcity they eat their own young. According to 
 whether food is plentiful or the winter a severe one, 
 they may temporarily change their quarters and 
 even undertake considerable migrations. 
 
 General Mental Wild Hogs are wary and ever on the 
 Characteristics of alert, though not exactly shy, as they 
 
 the Wild Hog. can depend on their own strength 
 and weapons. Their character is a queer blending 
 of a preference for comfortable repose, inoffensive 
 good-nature, impetuosity and uncommon irritability. 
 The strongest Boar will not molest a person if it is 
 not provoked: but it always attacks a Dog and en- 
 deavors to kill it. No sow, however, and still less 
 an old male will endure insult, or even teasing. 
 If a person quietly goes his own way the Wild Boar 
 pays no attention to him, or else makes off; but 
 if it is provoked, it will turn even upon an armed 
 Man. Dietrich aus dem Winckell relates how, when 
 an inexperienced youth, he once gave a Pig, which 
 ordinarily was quite a good-natured fellow, a blow 
 with his whip when riding past it, after which he 
 was obliged to ride as fast as he could to escape' it. 
 He says: "Even a hunter must be on his guard when 
 confronted with wounded Swine. When a Hog at- 
 tacks Man or beast, it rushes at its antagonist with 
 great rapidity. It deals powerful, dangerous blows 
 with its tusks; it rarely ceases the aggressive and 
 still less frequently does it retreat. If one does not 
 lose his presence of mind in such cases he lets the 
 Hog approach quite close and then jumps quickly 
 behind a tree; or, if this is not feasible, simply 
 aside; thus the animal, not being very agile, rushes 
 past. But he who has no time or opportunity for 
 the execution of these maneuvres for safety, can 
 only throw himself flat upon the ground ; for a 
 fighting Hog can strike only in an upward direction, 
 never downward." The female is not of so hasty a 
 temper as the male, but is little inferior to it in 
 courage. She can not inflict severe injuries with her 
 tusks, but this fact only results in making her still 
 more dangerous than the male, for she stops near 
 the object of her wrath, tramples on it with her feet 
 •and tears out pieces of flesh with her teeth. Even 
 half-grown sows or young Pigs attack human beings; 
 little ones are defended by older animals with in- 
 domitable courage. Sows which have Pigs do not 
 easily give up the pursuit of any person who has 
 robbed them of a little one. 
 
 If one looks at the tusks of a large Hog he realizes 
 that they may become formidable weapons. Both 
 tusks are white and lustrous and extremely sharp and 
 pointed, and as age increases, they become more so 
 through constant mutual friction. The tusks of the 
 male increase in length and size and become more 
 strongly curved as the animal grows older. 
 Birth and Infancy The weaker sows give birth to from 
 of Wild four to six, the stronger ones to 
 
 Pi9s. eleven or twelve Pigs at a litter, in 
 
 a lair which the mother has previously prepared in 
 some lonely thicket and lined with moss, pine or 
 fir needles, or other foliage. In this retreat she 
 hides her little ones during the first two weeks, 
 leaving them for short intervals only when she goes 
 in search of food. 
 
 A group of these handsomely marked, young ani- 
 mals affords a pleasing spectacle, for the little Pigs 
 are lively and extremely amusing creatures. Their 
 
THE SWINE— SWINE PROPER. 
 
 543 
 
 markings are very becoming to them, and the play- 
 ful, mischievous disposition of youth presents a 
 perfect contrast to the laziness and fierceness of the 
 animal in old age. The sow advances gravely, the 
 pigs run back and forth, squealing and grunting, dis- 
 persing and then collecting again, stopping, per- 
 
 THE BEBKSHIBE HOG. This is a favorite English breed of domestic Swine, dis- 
 
 linguished by a stout body, pointed, erect ears, comparatively short limbs and early maturity 
 of growth. (Sus scrofa.) 
 
 petrating some clumsy little joke, surrounding the 
 mother and stopping her to suckle, and again mer- 
 rily trotting on. So it goes all night: and even by 
 day the restless brood can scarcely bear the restraint 
 •of the lair, continually moving to and fro. The age 
 a Wild Boar may attain is estimated at twenty or 
 thirty years. A tame Hog never becomes 
 so old; lack of exercise and dearth of 
 suitable food shorten its life. The wild 
 Swine are probably subject to few diseases. 
 In central Europe their principal foes are 
 the Wolf and Lynx and probably also the 
 sly Fox, which catches at least an occa- 
 sional little pig. In more southern regions 
 the larger members of the Cat tribe, espe- 
 <;ially the Tiger, pursue this choice game 
 ■extensively. The greatest foe of the ani- 
 mal, however, is Man. 
 The Boar a Fauor- The chase of the Wild Boar 
 ite Game An- has ever been held to be a 
 imal. gallant, manly sport; at 
 
 present, however, it has become more of 
 a farce — a travesty on the old hunts — than 
 an equal struggle between hunter and ani- 
 mal. In olden times matters were cer- 
 tainly seriously different, especially when 
 the only arms in common use were the 
 bow and the spear. 
 
 A Wild Boar defends itself against Dogs 
 with unyielding rage. In former times 
 people used in hunting Wild Hogs only 
 the so-called Boar-hounds, strong, fleet 
 and courageous animals, which were kept 
 in a half-savage state and used only in Boar hunts. 
 One breed of Dogs was used to follow the trail of 
 the quarry and the other kind fought it. Before 
 they would be able to seize the Boar and hold it 
 fast by the ears, many a Dog had his body ripped 
 
 open or sustained some other injury. When once 
 seized by the ears the Boar would be held until 
 the hunters came up and dispatched it. 
 
 The flesh of the Wild Boars is justly much es- 
 teemed, for it has not only the taste of pork but a 
 genuine gamy flavor besides. The skin is also util- 
 ized and the bristles are in great request. 
 But however great the profit may be, it 
 can never outweigh the damage the ani- 
 ^- mal inflicts on the agricultural districts 
 sit may infest. 
 Origin of the Com- Not only the European 
 mon Domestic Wild Boar, but also sev- 
 '^°9- eral of its Indian, Ma- 
 
 layan and eastern Asiatic relatives seem 
 to have been reduced to the domestic 
 state from the earliest ages. In Julien's 
 opinion domestic Pigs were bred in the 
 Celestial Empire about 4,900 years be- 
 fore Christ; Rutimeyer's investigations 
 of the lake dwellings show two different 
 breeds of the useful domestic animal in 
 Switzerland. "The ancient Egyptians," 
 says Dumichen, "kept the Hog as a 
 domestic animal. The monumental in- 
 scriptions mention it and it is pictured 
 singly and in herds. Yet it seems to 
 have been kept for the sole purpose of 
 being offered as a sacrifice on certain 
 feasts of the year." It is frequently 
 mentioned in the Bible; the Odyssey 
 speaks of it as of a universally known 
 and generally cared for animal. 
 Innumerable breeds have arisen and become ex- 
 tinct since those times and even now, as a result 
 of the requirements of neceissity or fashion, or by 
 chance, new breeds originate and older ones die out. 
 Fitzinger and Von Nathusius assume that all breeds 
 now living may be traced back to two different 
 
 THE HARRISSON HOG. A variety of domestic Swine with pointed, semi- 
 pendent ears, short legs, and tapering muzzle. It becomes excessively fat and is valuable 
 for pork production. (Sus scrofa.') 
 
 forms or species: the European Wild Boar and one 
 south Asiatic species (Sus cristatus). This, however, 
 does not preclude the fact that other Indo-Malay- 
 Chinese species have also taken part in the evolution 
 of the domestic species. Great as the difference be- 
 
544 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 tween these breeds may be, their existence as well 
 as the origin and dying out of forms bred under the 
 influence of Man are explained by independent or 
 compelled selection in breeding and also by the 
 variable conditions of climate, food, etc., surround- 
 ing domestic Hogs. All the popular and admired 
 breeds of modern times are only artificial products 
 of Man: the sturdy Berkshire, the fat Harrisson, and 
 the compactly built Runt Hog. The Masked Hog 
 is also an artificial production and owes its existence 
 to the caprice of Japanese breeders. We leave it to 
 others to describe that, as well as all other breeds, 
 and will onl}' cast a cursory glance at the habits and 
 qualities of the domestic Hog in general. 
 
 Distribution of The domestic Hog is at present dis- 
 the Domes- tributed all over the globe. As far 
 tic Hog. north as agriculture is pursued it 
 
 lives in a state of domesticity; in the southern coun- 
 tries it is kept in herds more or less remote from 
 human companionship. As swampy countries con- 
 stitute its natural and preferred range it undergoes 
 
 MASKED HOGS. A curious variety of the domestic Swine is the Masked Hogs, to 
 
 which breed the animals shown in the picture belong. This species has its home in Japan, 
 and its notable features are the deep furrows in its face, and the large pendulous ears. 
 {Stts pliciplcps. ) 
 
 certain modifications as a consequence of enforced 
 life among mountains. The higher it ascends the 
 more it assumes the character of a mountain animal. 
 The body becomes smaller and sturdier, the head 
 shorter and less pointed, the forehead broader; the 
 neck shortens and augments in thickness, the hinder 
 quarters are more rounded and the legs become 
 stronger. Mountain Hogs accumulate little fat, but 
 have tenderer and finer grained flesh and are less 
 prolific than those living in the valleys. The cli- 
 mate, the conditions of the soil and breeding and 
 crossing also exercise a certain influence on the 
 color and so it happens that in some countries one 
 hue prevails, in others different ones. Thus the 
 Hogs in Spain are almost exclusively black, while 
 individuals of that color are very rare in the north. 
 Method of Life Swine are kept and fattened either 
 of Domestic in stables or folds, or are kept out- 
 Hoga. doors for a great part of the year. 
 
 The animals which are penned in become larger and 
 fatter, but are weaker and more subject to diseases 
 
 than those which spend the greater part of their 
 lives outdoors; these latter are usually somewhat 
 longer-legged and leaner, but much stronger physic- 
 ally and mentally, and more independent and cour- 
 ageous than the former. This forest breeding, if 
 such I may term it, is followed not only in America, 
 but also in most provinces of Russia, in the Danube 
 valley, in Greece, Italy, southern France and Spain. 
 In Scandinavia the Hogs run at large at least during 
 the whole summer, each having a small triangular 
 wooden collar around its neck, which prevents it 
 from entering fenced-in land, but does not hinder it 
 in the le^st in other respects. In traveling through 
 Norway one sees Hogs running along the high roads 
 very leisurely and contentedly, seeking all kinds 
 of refuse and procuring other food by vigorous ex- 
 ploration of the ground by rooting. In southern 
 Hungary, Croatia, Slavonia, Bosnia, Servia, Turkey 
 and Spain, they are left to their own devices all the 
 year round, and are cared for only sufficiently to 
 keep them from running away. They appear tO' 
 appreciate their surroundings in the forest 
 and find very suitable feeding and fattening 
 grounds, especially in the oak woods. In 
 Spain they ascend high up in the moun- 
 tains, in the Sierra Nevada, for instance, 
 as high as 7,500 feet, and seem contented 
 and thrifty in localities in which other ani- 
 mals could not find enough to sustain them. 
 Life in the free state greatly develops all 
 their physical and mental qualities. They 
 are good runners and climbers and are 
 amply able to protect themselves. In some 
 instances, particularly in the colder tem- 
 perate climates, the Hogs are kept in for- 
 ests in summer and in folds in the winter. 
 It has been held, but quite erroneously,, 
 that a Hog needs mud and dirt for its 
 physical welfare. Recent investigations 
 have demonstrated that this animal. thrives 
 much better when it is kept clean, than 
 when it constantly wallows in the mud;, 
 therefore well informed and progressive 
 breeders no longer coop up their Pigs in 
 the abominable prisons, called pig-sties, 
 but give them spacious, airy premises, that 
 can easily be cleaned, and there they rear 
 much healthier and stronger domestic Pigs 
 than they formerly did in the small, dirty 
 sties. The best plan is to have the floor 
 of the swine-fold made of stone slabs. 
 Mental Attribute The domestic Hog is voracious, re- 
 of the Donfies- fractory and awkward, and displays 
 tioHog. little attachment to humanity. There 
 are exceptions, however. Domestic Hogs, which 
 from early youth have lived more in contact with 
 the family than by themselves, as not infrequently 
 happens in rural regions, exercise their intellectual 
 powers and prove themselves much more intelligent 
 than others of their kind. A forest guard told me, 
 that he at one time had a little Pig of the so-called 
 Chinese breed in his possession. It followed him 
 like a Dog, knew its name, always came when it was 
 called, went up the stairs with him, behaved quite 
 decently in the house, obeyed orders and performed 
 tricks. It had been taught to look for morels in the 
 woods and performed its duty with great zeal. In 
 France especially are Hogs trained to seek truffles. 
 They also acquire many other accomplishments. 
 When Louis XI was sick, nothing could cheer the 
 melancholy king until a troop of well-trained little 
 
THE SWINE—SWINE PROPER. 
 
 Pigs were brought to him; they were attired in 
 ■queer clothing and danced to the music of a bag- 
 pipe. Other Pigs have been trained to form words 
 -of large printed letters, to indicate the time after 
 looking at a clock, etc. An Englishman had a Pie 
 trained to hunt. The animal was called "Slut" it 
 was very fond of the sport and would follow 'any 
 hunter. It would point at any kind of game with 
 the exception of the Hare, which it never ^seemed to 
 notice. So sensitive was its nose that it would fre- 
 quently point at a bird at a distance of forty yards 
 "Slut" was employed in the capacity of pointer for 
 several years, but was at last killed, because it had 
 become a dangerous neighbor to the Sheep. Other 
 Pigs have been trained to run in harness. A farmer 
 near St. Albans, England, often came in with a team 
 ■of four Hogs, drove once or twice around the mar- 
 ket-place, fed his team, and then drove back to his 
 
 o45 
 
 cause its death: as to the rest it eats anything Man 
 eats and a hundred things beside. It selects its food 
 indiscriminately from the vegetable and animal king- 
 doms. It makes itself very useful on fallow land 
 and in stubble-fields, as it destroys Mice, Maggots, 
 bnails Earth-worms, Grasshoppers, chrysalids of 
 Butterflies, and various weeds, and as a result gets 
 very fat while it is rooting up the earth. Black 
 Hogs are said to enjoy the advantage of being able 
 to consume poisonous plants of all kinds without 
 mjury to themselves, and therefore they are kept in 
 some countries to either partial or total exclusion 
 of all others. 
 
 While one tries, as much as possible, during the fat- 
 tening process to keep domestic Hogs from taking 
 exercise, he must allow some space for recreation 
 to those destined for breeding. They also require 
 clean, warm folds. The pairing usually occurs twice 
 
 THE TUFTED HOO. This animal, sometimes known as the Red River Hog, is noted for its vivid coloring its sninpwhaf (,„Tr,„»j k.-i j 
 
 hght-colored mane, and above all for its long, penciled ears. It is a native of west Africa, where it runs wiM TS^Vt^^s Tp^fl^o^r^s^lrcl"^^ 
 
 house. Another farmer laid a wager that he would 
 in one hour ride his Pig from his own house to Nor- 
 folk, a distance of four miles, and he won his wager. 
 . These stories prove that Hogs are docile and 
 carry with them the corollary that we ought not to 
 underrate their mental capacity. It is a queer fact 
 that Hogs always display a certain aversion towards 
 Dogs. Tame and wild Hogs have no scruples 
 against eating all other sorts of carrion, but are said 
 never to touch Dog-flesh; on the other hand strange 
 Dogs are often attacked by a gang of village Hogs, 
 and sportsmen and promenaders, who, with their 
 Dogs, visit villages where Hogs are allowed to run 
 abroad, do well in being cautious. , 
 Feeding and Uses In general a tame' Hog is almost 
 of the Domes- absolutely omnivorous. There really 
 tic Hog. is hardly' a nutritive substance which 
 this animal would scorn. Some plants are not 
 toiiche'd by it and acrid, pungeht spices sdmetimes 
 
 a year, in the beginning of April or in September. 
 From sixt^ien to eighteen weeks later, the sow pro- 
 duces from four to six, sometimes from twelve to 
 fifteen, and in rare cases from twenty to twenty-four 
 young. The mother displays little maternal solici- 
 tude for her Pigs, often not even preparing a bed 
 before their arrival. It happens not infrequently, 
 when the number of her progeny annoys her, that 
 she eats some of them, this usually happening' after 
 she has smothered them by rolling over the Pigs 
 accidentally. Some sows have to be watched and 
 denied animal food a longtime before the little ones 
 make their appearance. If the mother is patient 
 and careful with them, the young are left to suckle 
 for four weeks, and require no other attentiom 
 Then they are taken away and reared on light, easily- 
 digested food. Their growth is very rapid anci a 
 Hog is capable of reproduction at the early age of 
 eight months. '' ' ■■■,,,;■ j . & , ,.- 
 
546 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 , I need say nothing about the utilization of the car- 
 cass of the animal; for everybody knows that abso- 
 lutely no part of the body is wasted. 
 
 THE HUMPED HOGS. 
 The Hogs that have so far been considered are 
 followed by the Humped Hogs {Potamochcerus), 
 which are undoubtedly the handsomest members of 
 the entire family. Their distinctive features consist 
 in a bony protuberance situated between eye and 
 nose, an elongated face, a moderately long and finely 
 shaped muzzle, large, narrow, pointed ears, decorated 
 with hairy tufts, a moderately long, bushy tail and 
 four mammjE in the female. 
 
 Dsscription of The Tufted Yiog {Potamoclicerus por- 
 the Tufted cus) the most beautiful of all Swine, 
 ^"9- has been known since the middle of 
 
 the seventeenth century. This animal is consider- 
 ably smaller than the Wild Boar, though it attains, 
 at full growth, a length of from iiv.e feet to five feet 
 four inches, inclusive of the tail, which is ten inches 
 in length; the height at the shoulders ranges from 
 ■twenty-two to twenty-four inches. The skin is cov- 
 ered with short, soft bristles, which are elongated 
 into a weak mane along the course of the spine 
 and develop into tufts beneath the eyes, into stout 
 whiskers on the cheeks and into a bushy tuft at the 
 extremity of the tail, the remaining portion of which 
 is naked along the greater part of its length. 
 The prevailing color of the animal is a fine lustrous 
 brownish red, dashed with yellow. The animal 
 abounds mainly in west Africa, but Boehm mentions 
 having seen it several times in eastern Africa. 
 
 We still have very scanty information concerning 
 the life of the Tufted Hog in a wild state. The 
 Gussfeldt Loango exploring party obtained several 
 young Tufted Hogs. One of them was installed in 
 the Monkey cage, was on excellent terms with its 
 fellow-prisoners and was very amusing by reason of 
 its cheerful, active disposition. Pechuel-Loesche 
 says, in speaking of the wild specimens: "They are 
 lively and very fleet; judging from their trails, they 
 always roam about in considerable herds, especially 
 in damp forests, near rivers, though they are not 
 rare in the mountains. Occasionally one may be 
 heard grunting in the thicket, quite near the traveler, 
 or still more frequently they growl in quite a pecul- 
 iar, contented way. When they are alarmed, they 
 seldom give a sound, but retreat noiselessly, hoping 
 to remain unseen. They are tenacious of life and 
 may go quite a long distance after being struck by a 
 well-aimed bullet. The flesh is savory.'' 
 
 Like all Wild Boars, they endure the change from 
 a torrid to a temperate climate fairly well and usu- 
 ally survive if protected during the severe weather 
 of the winter; they would excite great hopes of 
 successful propagation in captivity if they would 
 only take better care of their young than they have 
 so far done under human supervision. 
 
 The Bush Hog A second species of the genus, the 
 of Southern and Bosch Vark or Bush Hog (Potamo- 
 Eastern Africa, choerus africanus), it is believed, in- 
 habits only southern and eastern Africa. It is some- 
 what larger than the Tufted Hog, has a uniform 
 growth of hair, except a recumbent mane on the 
 neck and rather stout whiskers. The beard and 
 mane are whitish gray, the face is fallow gray, the 
 rest of the body reddish grayish-brown. 
 THE BABIRUSA. 
 
 A very curious Hog lives on Celebes afld' tlie 
 adjacent islands east of it, especially on Sulu, Man- 
 
 gola and Burn. It is much slenderer and has longer 
 legs than all the others of its kin, but is chiefly dis- 
 tinguished by its tusks, which have the appearance 
 of horns, for they attain such great length that they 
 may quite appropriately be compared to those mem- 
 bers. Europeans have simply accepted the original 
 native name, Babirusa, which is equivalent to^'Boar- 
 Deer. The Babirusa differs from all other members 
 of the family by reason of its canines and is justly 
 regarded as the representative of a distinct genus 
 ( Porcus. ) 
 
 Description of The Babirusa {Porcus babyrussd) is an 
 the Babi- animal of comparatively large phys- 
 rusa. ical proportions. Modern sportsmen 
 
 report having seen male Babirusas as large as me- 
 dium-sized Donkeys. The average length of body^ 
 of an adult animal amounts to forty-four inches,, 
 the tail is eight inches in length, the height at the 
 withers and croup is thirty-two inches. The body 
 is elongated, the back slightly arched, the head 
 comparatively small, the legs are long and quite 
 vigorous, each having four toes, and the tail is slen- 
 der and pendent. The canine teeth of the upper 
 jaw of the male Babirusa are extremely long, thin, 
 and pointed, rounded on their front face, later- 
 ally compressed, blunt-edged behind, and directed 
 upwards and at the same time strongly curved 
 backwards, so that they sometimes penetrate into 
 the skin of the forehead when the animal is of an 
 advanced age; they pierce the root of the mouth 
 and curve backward in a crescent shape or even still 
 more markedly. The shorter and thicker tusks of 
 the lower jaw are directed upwards in a straighter 
 manner. The canines' of the female are very short. 
 The hairy coveiring consists of sparse and rather 
 short bristles, which are thickset along the course of 
 the spine, between the numerous wrinkles of the 
 skin and at the extremity of the tail, where they 
 form a small tuft. The skin is thick, hard, rough,, 
 greatly wrinkled and deeply furrowed on the face, 
 around the ears and on the neck. A dingy, ashy 
 gray on the upper and exterior surface and a rusty- 
 red on the inner faces of the limbs are the prevaihng 
 colors; a brownish yellow band^ formed by the tips 
 of the bristly hair, extends along the middle line. 
 The ears are blackish. 
 History, Range and It seems that the Babirusa was- 
 
 Habits of the known to the ancients. Skulls of 
 Babirusa,. ^jjg animal have been known to- 
 naturalists for several hundred years, but skins have 
 ever been rare in Europe, and are so still; the pic- 
 tures have been caricatures and the natural history 
 of the animal consisted of a series of the most in- 
 sipid fables. 
 
 Celebes ,must be regarded as the real native 
 country of the Babirusa, for it is only found there 
 and on the previously mentioned adjacent islands, 
 being absent from the other islands of the Austra- 
 lian Archipelago and also on the Asiatic and Aus- 
 tralian continents. Its habits are similar to those of 
 other Swine. Swampy forests, cane-brakes, moors- 
 and lakes grown with a profusion of aquatic plants, 
 are its favorite haunts. There it assembles into 
 greater or smaller societies, sleeping by day and 
 roaming about by night in search of food, accepting 
 anj'^thing in the line of provender. The Babirusa 
 avoids Man as long as it can, but when driven to 
 bay, it defends itself with the resolute courage com- 
 mon j:o all male Hogs, and its lower canine teeth are 
 such effective^ weapons that they may well inspire 
 the most courageous Man with a sentiment of cau- 
 
THE SWINE-WART HOGS. 
 
 547 
 
 tion. The natives are said to kill it with spears and 
 sometimes to organize hunts in which the animal 
 is driven by beaters, under which circumstances it 
 usually seeks safety in flight. 
 
 T'Ue sow is said to give birth to one or two young, 
 in February. They are pretty little creatures, from 
 seven to eight inches in length, and are loved and 
 defended by their mother with great devotion. If 
 the young are taken early, they gradually acquire a 
 certain degree of tameness; they become used to 
 Man, occasionally follow their keepers about and 
 express their gratitude by shaking their ears and 
 tails. One sometimes finds a living Babirusa in the 
 possession of a native chief, for the people of the 
 islands which it inhabits regard it in the light of a 
 queer creature and keep it in confinement as a curi- 
 osity. This, however, happens quite seldom, and a 
 high price is asked for a Hog of this kind. 
 
 the London Zoological Garden, and some of them 
 throve quite well, and propagated in captivity, under 
 the careful treatment accorded to them. 
 
 THE WART HOGS. 
 
 Besides the Humped Hogs {Potamochoerus) , Africa 
 harbors genuine monsters of the same family, the 
 Wart Hogs {Phacochcerus) . They are the clumsiest 
 and ugliest of all known Swine, distinguished above 
 all by the ungainliness of their heads and the pecul- 
 iarity of their dentition. The body is of cylindrical 
 shape, the neck short, the head bulky, with a low, 
 broad forehead, the nasal area being perceptibly 
 broadened all over and disproportionately so in the 
 front part of the upper lip. On the sides the head 
 is disfigured by three wart-like growths; one of these 
 IS over an inch high, pointed and mobile and is situ- 
 ated below the eye; another, a smaller one, stands 
 
 THE BABIBUSA. A peculiar species of the Swine family found in some of the islands of the Malay Archipelago. The tusics of the lower jaw are 
 
 long and sharp,' but the upper pair grow very long and curve backward. Only the male Babirusa has these tusks. {Porous bahyrussa.) 
 
 Markus, the Dutch governor of the Moluccas, 
 made a present of a couple of Babirusas to the 
 French naturalists, Quoy and Gaimard, when they 
 visited him on their tour around the world. These 
 two Babirusas were the first that were brought 
 to Europe alive, arriving in 1820. Both animals 
 became tolerably tame. They proved to be ex- 
 tremely sensitive to cold. In March the female 
 gave birth to a young one and immediately became 
 very irritable and vicious. She allowed nobody to 
 touch her offspring, tore the clothes of the keepers 
 and snapped violently at those who approached her. 
 Unfortunately the animals did not long survive, for 
 the cold climate proved fatal to them. The little 
 Pig, a male, grew rapidly and attained to a consid- 
 ^ble size in a few weeks. It died before it was 
 two years old. . Later, other living Babirusas reached 
 
 erect on the fore part of the side of the upper jaw, 
 and the third, which is long at the root, begins on 
 the lower jaw and extends along it to the mouth. 
 The small eyes are prominent, like those of the 
 Hippopotamus; the disk on the snout is enlarged 
 and is of an ovoid shape, the longest diameter being 
 horizontal. The skin is covered with very short and 
 thinly set bristles, with the exception of whiskers 
 and a spinal mane-like crest. The dentition con- 
 sists originally of six incisors above and below, 
 gigantic, longitudinally furrowed tusks, which bend 
 directly upward, as they do with the Hogs, and six 
 molars in each row, above and below. Thus there 
 are forty teeth, of which, however, not only the mo- 
 lars, but also a majority of the incisors, usually drop 
 out, although the loss of the teeth is not uniform 
 but varies in different individuals. 
 
548 
 
 THE CLQVEN-HQOFEP ANIMALS. 
 
 Physical Charac- TheWartUog (Pkacocka;n(safncafms) 
 teristios of the attains a total length of six feet four 
 WartHog. inches, inclusive of the tail, which 
 measures eighteen inches; the height at the shoulders 
 is twenty-eight inches; the appearance of the animal 
 is also characterized by the very elongated, broad 
 snout somewhat furrowed along the center, the erect 
 excrescences and the tusks which are but very 
 slightly, if at all, bent laterally. The hairy cover- 
 ing of the sides and under parts of the body is short 
 and thin, even during the cold season. On the 
 other hand a mane, which begins on the forehead, 
 broadens on the back, and extends to the croup, 
 attains so considerable a length that it falls down to 
 the abdomen along the sides. The range of the 
 Wart Hog extends principally over the eastern 
 parts of central Africa. 
 
 ish brown, mingled .with white, on the sides [and 
 there is an oblique whitish stripe on the neck and 
 shoulders, from which it derives its name of Collared 
 Peccary]. The inguinal gland secretes a fluid of 
 pungent odor, offensive to human nostrils, but which 
 seem to be a grateful perfume to the animals them- 
 selves, for they frequently rub their muzzles over 
 each other's glands, and seem to derive a considera- 
 ble degree of satisfaction from the act. 
 The White Lipped The second species of the genus, the 
 Peecary De- White-lipped Veccury {Dicotyles labi- 
 ■■'scribed. atus) is perceptibly larger than its 
 relative, from which, also, it differs in color: and it 
 has a large white patch on the lower jaw. Its gen- 
 eral color is grayish brown, rather uniform on the 
 entire body, the light patch on the muzzle standing 
 out in bold relief. 
 
 il' I- 
 
 THE WART HOG. ;This African animal lias many peculiar features, those from which it derives its name being the fleshy warts which disfigure 
 
 its face. It is avery strong annnal and its back is surmounted by \onR bristles forming a mane. {.Phacochxrus africanus.) 
 
 THE PECCARIES. 
 
 Among the distinctive characteristics of the Pec- 
 caries {Dicotyles) are, first, their dentition: the teeth 
 are thirty-eight in number and the tusks do not 
 curve upward, nor do they ^pierce the upper lip. 
 These animals are further characterized by a compact 
 structure; a short head and short, slender snout, 
 and rather small ears; by the lack of an outer digit 
 on each hind foot, the rudimentary tail, the cutane- 
 ous gland opening near the loins, and the mammas 
 of the female, which are two in number. 
 
 Description of The Collared Peccary {Dicotyles tor- 
 
 the Collared quatus) is a small Hog measuring not 
 
 Peccary. more than thirty-eight inches, with a 
 
 tail less than an inch long, and the height at the 
 
 shoulders is from fourteen to sixteen inches. The 
 
 general color is a blackish brown, fading into yellow- 
 
 Range and Habits The Peccaries are of common occur- 
 ofthe Pec- rence in all wooded regions of South 
 caries. America, up to an altitude of about 
 
 three thousand feet above the sea. [The range of 
 the Collared Peccary extends also northward through 
 Central America, Mexico and Texas, the Red River 
 in Arkansas being the northeastern boundary of its 
 range.] The White-lipped Peccaries roam through 
 the woods in lar^e herds numbering thousands, 
 under the leadership r.of. the . strongest males. The- 
 Collared Peccaries form into troops only numbering 
 from ten to fifteen, and they daily change their place 
 of abode and are continually migrating. Rengger 
 afiirms that one may follow them for days without 
 seeing them. " In their wanderings," says this nat- 
 uralist, "neither the open country (which ordinarily 
 they seldom frequent) nor water can stop them, If 
 
THE HIPPOPOTAMI. 
 
 54& 
 
 they reach a field, they cross it at a run, and if they 
 arrive at the banks of a river, they do not hesitate an 
 instant, but swim across it. I saw them crossing the 
 Paraguay River at a place where it required about 
 half an hour to do so. The herd keeps together in 
 a close throng, the males in advance, each mother 
 female having her young behind her. The noise 
 made by the herd can be heard from afar, not only 
 on account of the dull, hoarse sounds made by the 
 
 ^be Ibippopotami. 
 
 NINTH FAMILY: Hippopotamid^. 
 
 The Hippopotamus {Hippopotamus amphibius) is- 
 very much clumsier than any of the other Artiodac- 
 tyla and is, besides one niuch smaller relative (the. 
 Liberian Hippopotamus, which is yet little known^ 
 and occurs in Upper Guinea) the only living repre- 
 
 animals, but still niore by reason of the crackling of sentative of a distinct family, the Hippopotami (Hip 
 
 the branches which they break in their impetuous 
 pi-ogress." 
 
 The Peccaries search for food both day and night, 
 and it is probably the lack of suitable food which 
 actuates them in their more extensive wanderings. 
 All kinds of arboreal fruit and roots furnish their 
 usual fare. Their teeth are so strong that, as 
 Schomburgk says, they can easily open the hardest 
 of palm-seeds. In inhabited countries they fre- 
 quently make inroads on plantations and do great 
 mischief to the crops. They are said also to eat 
 Snakes, Lizards, worms and grubs, besides vege- 
 table food. In their move- 
 ments and character they ex- 
 hibit an affinity to the Wild 
 Boars, but show neither the 
 voracity nor uncleanliness of 
 the latter; for they never eat }' 
 more than they require and \ 
 seek water only during pe- ' 
 riods of the most intense ; 
 heat, and then they wallow 
 only in pools. During the 
 day they hide in hollow tree- 
 trunks or between loose roots; 
 when they are hunted, they 
 always flee to such hiding 
 places. Their perceptive 
 senses are weak, their mental 
 capacity slight. The senses 
 of hearing and smell seem to 
 be best developed, but that 
 of sight is very poor. 
 
 "The White-lipped Pecca 
 ries," says Rengger, " are ex- 
 tensively hunted, partly for 
 the sake of their flesh, and 
 
 partly because they are so hurtful to the crops. 
 They are usually tracked in the woods by Dogs and 
 killed with fire-arms or spears. If they are in the 
 habit of invading a certain plantation, the planter 
 digs a pit, which may be as deep as nine feet, on that 
 portion of his possessions through which they are 
 wont to pass as they take their departure. He then 
 waits for them to put in an appearance, and when 
 they come he drives them towards the pit, with the 
 help of Dogs and Men, who raise a great outcry; if 
 the herd is numerous, the pit is sometimes half filled 
 with them. The Indians catch them with snares." 
 
 The female gives birth to a single young one, or 
 in some rare cases two; the little ones follow their 
 mothers perhaps as early as the first day, but cer- 
 tainly in a very short time after their birth. These 
 little Peccaries do not grunt, but cry somewhat like 
 Goats. They are tamed without trouble and be- 
 come true domestic animals if accorded good treat- 
 ment. 
 
 The skin of the Peccaries is principally used for 
 bags and thongs, the flesh being eaten by the poorer 
 classes. It has an agreeable taste which has, how- 
 ever, no resemblance to pork. 
 
 pappfdmida). The ancient Egyptians", who called the 
 uncouth giant "River-Hog," were much more cor- 
 rect in their appellation than the Greeks, who. 
 called it "River-Horse," or the Arabs,- who call it 
 "Water-Buffalo;" for if the Behemoth mentioned in. 
 the Bible can be compared to any animal,'that ani- 
 mal is the Swine. 
 
 General Character- From a purely external considera- 
 
 istics of the Hip- tion the head differs more than any- 
 
 popotamus. thing else from all others mammals. 
 
 It is distinguished by its nearly rectangular shape,. 
 
 and by the small ears and eyesj as well as the ob- 
 
 THE COLLABES PECCARY. Though placed with the Swine in scientific classification, the Pec- 
 caries have many peculiarities. The Collared Peccary has a peculiarly shaped head, rough, bristly coat, and 
 short tail which are among its most characteristic features. (Dicotyles torquatus.) 
 
 liquely placed, large nostrils of a curved, slit-like 
 shape, which, together with the other organs of 
 sense, form the highest points of a plane, below 
 which lie the forehead and facial part. The head is 
 also characterized by the shapeless muzzle, the thick^ 
 smooth upper part of which is rather narrow pos- 
 teriorly, broadens and becomes thicker in ffont,. 
 and is abruptly cut off, giving to the beast a thick 
 upper lip which covers and closes the hideous mouth 
 from all sides. The neck is short and stout, the 
 body long, but at the same time thickened out of 
 all proportion and therefore inordinately clumsy; 
 the back is higher at the croup than at the withers,, 
 and depressed in the middle, and the abdomen is- 
 full and round, and so pendulous as to touch the 
 earth when the animal walks on muddy ground. 
 The tail is short, and. thin, and towards. the extremity, 
 laterally compressed; and the disproportionately- 
 short, shapeless legs have broad, four-toed feet, the. 
 digits being joined by short webs and all directed 
 forward. The extremity of the tail alone has short,, 
 wiry bristles. The remainder of the hide, which is 
 nearly an inch thick and is characterized by several 
 deep folds, especially on the neck and chest, is very 
 
550 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 sparsely covered by short, bristly hair. Furrows, 
 which cross each other, divide the skin into scale- 
 like plates, which may be of large or small size. 
 The color is of ,a peculiar coppery brown, which 
 merges into a dark, dirty-looking red on the upper 
 surface and into a bright, purple-brownish tint be- 
 neath. Brownish and bluish spots, placed with a 
 -considerable degree of regularity, give the rather 
 uniform mass a certain diversification in coloring. 
 The hue changes, however, with reference to whether 
 the Hippopotamus is dry or wet. On just leaving 
 the water, its upper parts appear brownish blue, and 
 the lower surface nearly flesh-colored, but when the 
 skin dries, it becomes darker, nearly blackish brown 
 or slate-colored, or when the sun shines on its back, 
 it looks uniformly bluish gray. The total length of 
 an adult male Hippopotamus is from fourteen feet 
 to fifteen feet, inclusive of the tail, which is eighteen 
 inches long; the height at the shoulders is five feet. 
 The weight of the animals may'average from four 
 thousand to five thousand pounds, and probably 
 may rise as high as six thousand in an old bull. 
 The head alone of such a giant weighs fully four 
 hundred pounds. 
 
 The dentition of the Hippopotamus differs from 
 that of the Swine, with which it most nearly corre- 
 sponds, less in the number of teeth than in their for- 
 mation. Each jaw contains four incisors, two ca- 
 nines and fourteen molars: thus the teeth are forty 
 in number. The two central incisors of the lower 
 jaw are separated from each other by a gap, are con- 
 siderably larger than the lateral ones, and are in a 
 certain sense similar to canine teeth. Those of the 
 upper jaw are smaller, curved and placed perpendic- 
 ularly to the jaw. The canine teeth of the lower 
 jaw are enormous tusks, averaging twenty inches in 
 length and eight pounds in weight; they are three- 
 sided, curved in a crescent shape, beveled at the 
 extremity, and marked with deep longitudinal fur- 
 rows; the upper ones, which are directed downward, 
 are perceptibly smaller and weaker than the lower 
 pair, but are also curved and beveled. The skele- 
 ton is exceedingly bulky in all its parts; the skull is 
 nearly rectangular, flat and compressed, the cerebral 
 area is small, the orbit is surrounded by a high ridge 
 formed by the frontal and malar bone, the remainder 
 of the bony framework is thick, clumsy and heavy. 
 
 The Range of At present one must penetrate rather 
 the Hippo- deeply to the interior, coming from 
 potamus. the north, if he wishes to encounter a 
 Hippopotamus in Africa. The noted animals have 
 receded far towards the center of the continent along 
 the Nile. Only when one reaches the very heart of 
 Africa do the sculptured effigies in the Egyptian 
 temples, which date four thousand years back, be- 
 come living pictures before one's sight. There the 
 same animals are found to-day, among the un- 
 changed people; there we meet the Baboon and the 
 Crocodile, the sacred Ibis and the Tantalus, and be- 
 side them what remains of the Elephant, the Rhi- 
 noceros and the Hippopotamus. Wherever Man 
 rules undisputed the latter have succumbed to the 
 terrible firearms; but where he is armed only with 
 a spear or bow, they still confront him as living 
 enemies. The Hippopotamus is now extinct in all 
 parts of Egypt and also in Nubia, where Ruppell 
 found it in considerable numbers as late as the be- 
 ginning of this century. 
 
 In east, south and west Africa the Hippopotami 
 descend much lower towards the coast than in the 
 northern half of the continent, and not infrequently 
 
 even swim out to sea. They likewise go up a river, 
 as far as the force of the current permits them, and 
 thus it happens that they are found in the lake of 
 Tana in Abyssinia, which is situated 6,460 feet above 
 the sea. 
 General Traits of The River Horse is confined more 
 
 the Hippopot- closely to the water than any other 
 amus. thick-skinned animal; for properly 
 
 speaking it comes to the shore only in exceptional 
 cases: when the stream itself does not abound in 
 the plants which form the animal's customary food, 
 it leaves the water for the purpose of feeding. 
 Sometimes, however, it seeks the bank during the 
 day, to bask in the sun's rays. 
 
 In favorable spots along a watercourse an expert 
 can soon discover the whereabouts of these gigantic 
 animals. At intervals of three or, at the most, four 
 minutes, during calm weather, one may see a jet of 
 spray rising to the. height of, about eighteen inches, 
 ^d-may hear a'riis'hihg, pufifing or snorting sound. 
 This means that a Hippopotamus has just risen to 
 the surface to breathe, and then, if the observer is 
 near enough, he may also see a part of the animal's 
 head: a shapeless, red or brownish red mass, upon 
 which may be distinguished two points — the ears; 
 and four little hillocks — the eyes and nostrils. It is 
 seldom that more than the upper part of the head of 
 a Hippopotamus is seen in the water, and even this 
 portion can be easily mistaken for something else, 
 when it is seen for the first time. By keeping to 
 the leeward and remaining quiet, it is easy to ob- 
 serve the animal swimming up and down as if in 
 play. 
 
 The Hippopotamus is gregarious, only the old 
 males living a solitary life. A large pool is some- 
 times utilized for a somewhat protracted sojourn of 
 a herd of these animals. When they inhabit narrow, 
 shallow waters which, in many places, dry up during 
 the arid season, it can be observed that the animals 
 do not leave certain favorable spots during any part 
 of the day. They are also wont to hollow out for 
 themselves pits in the middle of the beds of shallow 
 rivers: long, deep depressions — the longest diameter 
 of which follows the same direction as the current — 
 in which they can dive conveniently and hide when 
 they are pursued. These, depressions are sometimes 
 connected by channels, hollowed out like ditches, 
 which form submarine pathways for the animals. 
 The Hippopotami In places where they deem them- 
 by Day and selves free from danger of molesta- 
 Night tion the animals seek, during the day, 
 
 some spot near the bank, either in shallow water or 
 on the shore, and bask in the sunshine, abandoning 
 themselves to a dreamy, half-dozing condition, dur- 
 ing which they display a degree of blissful content- 
 ment equaling that exhibited by wallowing Swine or 
 bathing Buffaloes. At intervals the male animals 
 grunt like Hogs, or one of them lifts its head a little 
 to look around, but otherwise pay little attention to 
 the surroundings except in those localities where 
 they have learned to dread Man and his terrible fire- 
 arms. 
 
 Toward evening the group shows signs of life. 
 The grunting of the male becomes louder and the 
 entire herd dive up and down the stream in play 
 and sometimes indulge in a merry chase. They 
 seem to like the neighborhood of vessels, and often 
 accompany boats on evening trips for considerable 
 distances. Sometimes they make such a terrible 
 noise, with their snorting, grunting, roaring and gur- 
 gling that they become veritable nuisances. They 
 
-A* --'I "*« -»■>. 5- 
 
 
 4i 
 
 
 
 ;v4 
 
 
 I S . '. ■' 34" 
 
 
 :h:r; t:^Z^^"r^^^<!^X tntst«taTrl:rd» to its Character. The native ho.e of the Hippopotamus is in the lar.e rive, ot 
 the northern part of central Africa. (HitfoPotamus amphtbius. ) 
 
 (551) 
 
552 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 -swim in any depth of water witli a degree of ease 
 •and agility that is amazing and they go through the 
 water as swiftly as a row-boat, without making a rip- 
 ple, when they swim quietly. When, on the contrary, 
 a Hippopotamus is enraged and charges at an enemy, 
 •or blusters about after having been wounded, it jerks 
 its hind legs backward with extreme violence,, shoots 
 forward with powerful bounds, and may trouble the 
 ■waters of an entire lake, causing high waves on the 
 "whole of its surface. The force of its movements 
 under such circumstances is such that it has been 
 "known to lift boats of considerable size and dash 
 them to pieces. 
 
 "To describe the vocal utterance of these giants 
 with even approximate accuracy," says Heuglin, 
 ■quite truly, "is beyond the power of words. It 
 •consists of a roar, bearing some resemblance to that 
 >of a Buffalo. Its tone is a deep, reverberating bass, 
 which sounds as if it came from the recesses of a 
 large, hollow barrel. The roar of a number of 
 males, each striving to outdo the others, suddenly 
 resounding through the quiet loneliness of night, 
 ■combined with the rushing, blowing and pufifing of 
 the diving Hippopotami, produces an infinitely ma- 
 jestic impression, which does not seem to be lost 
 even on the animals of the wilderness; for the Jackal, 
 the Hyaena, and even the Lion, are silent and listen, 
 when, like the rolling of an earthquake, the thunder- 
 ing voice of Behemoth booms over the watery sur- 
 face, resounds through the distance, and is lost in 
 the vast virgin forest." The voice of the Hippopot- 
 amus surpasses that of all other animals in volume, 
 "but is seldom heard in full force. 
 Habits of Feeding In the broad lagoon-like spots of the 
 
 of the Hippo- upper Nile, abounding in vegetation, 
 
 potamus. the Hippopotamus does not leave 
 
 the stream even at night, or does so very rarely. It 
 
 feeds in such places day and night on the plants 
 
 growing in the water. 
 
 Such is not the case in localities where it must 
 -ascend the bank to graze. About an hour after sun- 
 set it emerges from the water, listening and watching 
 with the greatest caution; in the neighborhood of 
 •cultivated localities it shapes its course towards the 
 plantations. There it works great devastation, some- 
 times laying waste an entire field in one night. Its 
 voracity is enormous, and if its numbers increase to 
 any extent, it, may become a serious plague, in spite 
 <)f the fertility Of its native country; for a much 
 jgreater quantity than the amount consumed is trod- 
 den down under its huge feet or broken <vhen it 
 wallows contentedly, like a Hog, in some shallow de- 
 pression after it has satisfied its wants. It consumes 
 all kinds of grain and all vegetables which are raised 
 in the country. 
 
 The Hippopot- The Hippopotamus, however, is not 
 
 amua a Danger- only hurtful to the crops on its forag- 
 0U8 F09. ':: ing expeditions, but may become a 
 monster perilous to the life of Man and beast. The 
 four powerful tusks are formidable weapons when 
 used against other anirrlals. Ruppell tells us of a 
 case, in which a Hippopotamus crushed four draught 
 6xen, which were quietly standing near a water- 
 wheel. "On the Kingani," says Boehm, "two women 
 who were loudly talking to each other, as they 
 passed by several feeding Hippopotami, were sud- 
 denly attacked by one of the animals and injured so 
 :severely by a few bites, that both died." The Hip- 
 popotami are not, however, regarded everywhere as 
 uncommonly dangerous; in some regions they are 
 jiot feared when on land, but only in the water. 
 
 They seldom molest large vessels, but light boats 
 sometimes fare rather badly from their attacks. 
 "Lieutenant Vidal," says Owen, "had just started on 
 his trip on the river Tembi in southwestern Africa, 
 in a light boat, when he suddenly felt an exceed- 
 ingly powerful thrust from beneath, so that the stern 
 of the boat was nearly lifted above the water and 
 the pilot was precipitated overboard. The next 
 instant a gigantic Hippopotamus rose out of the 
 water, and, open-mouthed and with a fierce, menacing 
 look, rushed at the boat. It seized the craft between 
 its fearful jaws and tore seven boards off it at one 
 bite. Then it disappeared, but soon came up again 
 to renew its attack and was made to desist from 
 its purpose only by a shot fired at its face. The 
 boat, which immediately filled with water, was fort- 
 unately so near the shore that its occupants could 
 gain the land before it sunk. Probably the little 
 vessel had grazed the back of the animal and thus 
 provoked the attack." 
 
 Similar stories, with manifold additions and mul- 
 tiplications, are current in many of the regions in- 
 habited by the thick-skinned fellows, if not in all, 
 and he who hears them is led to the belief that 
 they relate to everyday occurrences. Hippopotami 
 are quite frequently to be seen on some African 
 rivers, and in some special localities exist in large 
 numbers, and if they were as dangerous as they are 
 sometimes represented to be, all travel and traffic on 
 water-courses frequented by them would cease, or at 
 least would be greatly impeded. In reality, how- 
 ever, numberless frail craft ply along those streams, 
 past the huge creatures or between them, and are 
 not molested. 
 Birth and Youth The Hippopotamus is dangerous 
 of the Hippo- only when it is defending, its ybung. 
 
 potamus. jt ig only during modern times that, 
 by watching captive animals which have bred in 
 confinement, observations concerning the pairing of 
 these animals and the birth of their young have 
 been made. In the free state, the young are born 
 about the first third of the rainy season, which 
 period always affords them the most abundant quan- 
 tity and succulent quality of food. This season of 
 tropical spring varies greatly in different parts of 
 Africa. The maternal Hippopotamus is tenderly 
 solicitous for her progeny, seeing impending danger 
 in the most harmless objects. Probably the father 
 also guards his offspring, but the mother is easily 
 recognized, never losing sight of her infant for an 
 instant, watching it with truly maternal care and 
 sometimes playing merrily with her pet. She suckles 
 it under water, but Theodor von Heuglin says that 
 the female gives birth to her young on the land, or 
 in some swamp, in a secluded lair. After birth she 
 does not always lead it straightway to the river, but 
 sometimes puts it into a pit, which the little beast 
 can not leave Without her aid. 
 
 Dangers of Hunt- The blind rage of an infuriated Hip- 
 ing the Hippo- popotamus indicates clearly that the 
 
 potamus. pursuit of the animal without fire- 
 arms of heavy calibre and great power is a sport not 
 exactly suitable for amateur hunters. Light rifle 
 bullets, even when fired at short range, seldom have 
 any effect. Ruppell says: "With one Hippopota- 
 mus which we killed we fought for four hours, and~ 
 it came very near destroying our large canoe and all 
 of us along with it. The twenty-five bullets we ficed 
 at the monster's head, from a distance of about sik 
 feet, pierced only the skin and the bone near the 
 nose. All other bullets lodged in the thick hide. 
 
ATTACK ON A HIPPOPOTAMUS. The hunting of the Hippopotamus is fraught with great danger, and the scene depicted here represents a 
 
 moment of peril. The huge beast, compelled to take the defensive, has broken the rude paddle used by the natives to propel the canoe. One of the boat- 
 men is endeavoring to give the monster such a thrust with the spear as will either end its life or cause it to retreat and expose some vital spot to the aim 
 of the white Man's gun. If this fails, the frail craft may readily be crushed by the animal's vicious attack. (Hippopotamus amfhibius.) 
 
 (553) 
 
054 
 
 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 
 
 At every snort the beast squirted copious jets of 
 blood over the boat. Then we finally made use of a 
 large stationary swivel gun which we had deemed 
 unnecessary, considering the short distance. But 
 only after five of its balls, fired at the distance of 
 several yards, had inflicted the most terrible wounds 
 in its head and body, did the giant breathe its last. 
 The darkness of night still increased the ghastliness 
 of the struggle." 
 
 But without such weapons of offense, the native 
 hunter has from tipie immemorial attacked the mon- 
 ster with javelin ahd spear and followed the sport as 
 successfully as these arms permitted. In all essen- 
 tial respects the African sportsman proceeded and 
 still proceeds after the fashion of the ancient Egyp- 
 tians, with whose Hippopotamus hunts we are famil- 
 iar through the pictures on the monuments, and the 
 accounts given in the writings of several of the old 
 authors. The spear and a suitable harpoon provided 
 with a line and a buoy are the only weapons which 
 the inhabitants of the upper Nile country use against 
 the Hippopotamus even in the present day. At 
 about midnight the harpoon caster creeps along the 
 shore to the place at which the animals issue from 
 the water. He hides in the bushes to the leeward of 
 this place of egress and waits until an animal, return- 
 ing from pasture, has about half entered the river. 
 Then he throws the harpoon into its body with all 
 his force, and flees, hoping that the frightened ani- 
 mal will rush into the water. This is what usually 
 happens; but on the other hand the monster gener- 
 ally turns upon its assailant if attacked when going 
 up the shore. After the harpoon throwing, either 
 immediately or on the next morning, the sportsman 
 and his assistants enter one of the boats held in 
 readiness, and go in search of the wounded animal, 
 looking first for the spear-end protruding above the 
 water or the floating wooden buoy. As soon as they 
 have found these traces of the animal they cau- 
 tiously row near, with javelins and spears ready for 
 instant use, and the line is taken up. The slightest 
 pull causes the Hippopotamus to rise to the surface 
 in a paroxysm of pain and rage; it rushes at the 
 canoe, but is greeted by a shower of spears, which 
 frequently compels it to retreat. Yet it not infre- 
 quently happens that it reaches the boat and de- 
 stroys it with its tusks. In a fortunate case, however, 
 the beast is assailed with all the weapons, until it 
 succumbs to the wounds. 
 Economic Vali/e The profit of the chase is not slight. 
 
 of the Hippo- The flesh of the monster, particularly 
 potamus. the fatter portion, is esteemed and 
 eaten by everybody. In the good old times the set- 
 tlers of Cape Colony could hardly imagine a greater 
 treat than a Hippopotamus hunt. The flesh and fat 
 were cut off the body of the slain gigantic creature 
 on the spot, and transported home by the cart-load. 
 Young animals are said to yield especially savory 
 meat and the fat of the old ones is reputed to be 
 preferable to fat pork; the tongue is considered a 
 delicacy, either fresh or smoked. This latter state- 
 ment nearly all sportsmen agree upon, but many are 
 of a different opinion concerning the flesh, which 
 some think insipid, soft and tasteless. In east Africa 
 the fat is considered the best ointment for the hair 
 or the body. The thick hide is manufactured into 
 excellent riding-whips, canes and shields; the teeth 
 are, according to Westendarp, in great request for 
 the manufacture of a number of fine turner's articles, 
 
 as the composition of the tusks surpasses the gen- 
 uine Elephant's ivory in fineness of texture, hardness 
 and whiteness. The capture of the monster alive 
 requires a patient, skillful chase. Every Hippopot- 
 amus seen in captivity has, almost without excep- 
 tion, been taken while young, and it is scarcely nec- 
 essary to say that the mother of the little animal 
 must be first killed, before such a capture is possible. 
 The unreasoning affection of the clumsy, little crea- 
 ture for its mother facilitates the capture, however; 
 it follows its wounded mother anywhere and does 
 not even desert her dead body. A harpoon is then 
 thrown at some sensitive spot of its body, or the 
 hunter entangles it in a net, and thus it is pulled 
 ashore. At first it endeavors to free itself, uttering 
 yelling, piercing cries, like a Hog about to be killed, 
 and ofifers a great deal of resistance; but it soon be- 
 comes used to Man and follows its keeper aboi^l;. 
 The Hippopota- AH experiments show that the Hip- 
 mus Easily popotamus endures confinement 
 Tamed. readily and for a long time in the 
 
 various temperate climates. When a couple of the 
 animals are installed in a place, where they can move 
 about in accordance with their natural propensities, 
 that is, can go into the water or be on 'shore as the 
 fancy takes them; and one may count on their hav- 
 ing offspring. They are satisfied with any kind of 
 food, especially with anything that is usually fed 
 to domestic Hogs. During my stay in Cairo I 
 saw the first captive Hippopotamus which has been 
 shipped to Europe in niodern times. It had become 
 so used to its keeper, that it ran after him like a 
 Dog and allowed itself to be easily managed. 
 [Since then many Hippopotami have been taken to 
 Europe and America.] 
 
 Age and Develop- Behemoth hardly has another enemy 
 ment of the Hip- besides Man that could seriously im- 
 popotamus. peril its safety. In those places 
 which "Man does not reach with his torment" the 
 Hippopotamus probably attains a very great age. 
 Though its growth is comparatively rapid, it requires 
 many years before it attains its full size. Probably 
 it is capable of reproduction in its second year and 
 is certainly so in the third; but, as observations of 
 captive specimens have demonstrated; it continues 
 to grow steadily for several years, even after it has 
 borne young, and when the body has at last attained 
 its full size, the teeth at least continue to increase in 
 length and bulk. It is not known when the decay 
 incident to old age bagins, nor is it known how old 
 it may become in the free state. 
 The Liberian Hippo- The second existing representative 
 potamus a Smaller of the family, the Liberian Hippo- 
 Species. potamus, or, as it might be termed 
 
 also, the Dwarf Hippopotamus {^Hippopotamus or 
 Chceropsis liberiensis) is very much smaller than the 
 preceding species, and is apparently restricted to a 
 small range in Upper Guinea. It differs from its 
 gigantic kinsman not only by reason of its much 
 smaller proportions but also by the lack of two in- 
 cisor teeth in the lower jaw. Buttikofer, who has 
 seen freshly killed specimens, says that the back is 
 of a slate-black hue, the abdomen a dingy, greenish 
 white, the sides a greenish slate-gray. An adult fe- 
 male, which he obtained, weighed, according to his 
 estimate, only eight hundred pounds, its height at 
 the shoulders was thirty and a half inches, its total 
 length seventy-four inches, nearly seven of which 
 were included in the tail. 
 
^be Sea Cow6. 
 
 TWELFTH ORDER: Sirenia. 
 
 TUDENTS reading the name 
 "Sirenia" in zoology would 
 naturally think of the fabu- 
 lous creatures of antiquity 
 which were said to be half 
 Woman and half fish, which 
 inhabited the crystal waves 
 of the ocean and by their 
 wonderful sweet singing 
 aftd still more enticing ges- 
 tures, by the stately poise of 
 their heads and their glow- 
 ing glances, lured the poor 
 sons of the earth to follow 
 them to the ocean's depths and be lost; but if he 
 should expect in this connection an account of such 
 beings, he would be greatly mistaken. Naturalists 
 have in this case only proven their predilection for 
 adopting poetical names, without having fulfilled the 
 requirements of poetry. The name of Sirenia has 
 been about as appropriately chosen for the ocean- 
 dwellers in question as has been that of the Greek 
 wood-nymphs (Hamadryas) which has been bestowed 
 upon the queerest of Monkeys, which, indeed, is 
 beautiful only in the eyes of a naturalist, and neither 
 in its looks nor its actions has any suggestion of a 
 nymph. 
 General Cfiarao- The Sirenia or Sea Cows form an 
 teristics of the order by themselves. In their inte- 
 Sirenia. j-ior anatomical structure they show 
 the greatest afifinity to the hoofed animals and may 
 be regarded as a branch of them, which has adapted 
 itself to an aquatic life. Many naturalists place 
 them among the Whales as a special division or 
 family, but the differences between them and the 
 latter animals are so great that the plan of placing 
 them apart is well justified. They are distinguished 
 by a small head, separated by distinct demarcation 
 ■from the body and furnished with a bulbous snout, 
 bristly lips, and nostrils opening at the extremity of 
 the muzzle; by the clumsy, peculiarly articulated 
 body, sparsely covered with short, bristle-like hair, 
 and by their peculiar dentition. They have only 
 two limbs, namely, the anterior pair, but they are 
 genuine fin-limbs. The general integument incases 
 the toes so completely that all independent mobility 
 of the individual parts is destroyed. Only the traces 
 of nails indicate externally the digital divisions of 
 the hand. The tail, which performs the functions of 
 the hinder limbs, terminates in a fin. It requires a 
 vivid imagination to see mermaids in these animals, 
 even if they should show themselves at a great dis- 
 tance; the only thing these lumbering, uncouth crea- 
 tures have in fcommon with the beautiful body of a 
 human female is that their mammae are also placed 
 on the chest, between the fore limbs, and are more 
 prominent than those of other aquatic mammals, but 
 -these animals are nevertheless very interesting. 
 
 ^be fiDanateee. 
 
 SOLE FAMILY: Manatid^. 
 
 This order has only one family {Manatidce), which 
 is divided into three genera, of which one, composed 
 of the Sea Cow proper, can no longer be classified 
 among the living ones, however. The genera differ 
 so materially in their dentition that it does not seem 
 suitable to discuss it here and at the, present time. 
 While the Sea Cow or Stellerine possessed, instead 
 of teeth, only a horny plate for mastication, which 
 was developed on the inner side of the lower jaw and 
 on the palate, the rest of the Sirenia have toothed 
 jaws. Upon this difference have been based the 
 genera, which, if one follows the more recent classi- 
 fications of Dollos (who regards the Stellerine, which 
 has not been long extinct, as a Halicore that has 
 lost its teeth) would be limited to the Dugong (Hal- 
 icore) and the Manatees (Manatus). 
 
 Habitat and The Sirenia inhabit shallow banks 
 Habits of the and gulfs of tropical countries, estu- 
 Sirenia. aries and streams, and especially the 
 shoaly waters of the latter. They seem to occur 
 only in exceptional cases in the temperate zone, but 
 nothing definite can be said in regard to this sub- 
 ject, as they usually baffle observation. We know, 
 however, that their abode is not always the same: 
 they often wander for many miles, sometimes pene- 
 trating far inland, entering the lakes which are con- 
 nected with great rivers. They are to be seen either 
 in couples or in small societies; yet it is afifirmed 
 that they live in strict monogamy and that a male 
 always keeps faithfully to his mate. They are much 
 more aquatic than the Seals. In exceptionally rare 
 cases only do they thrust their bulky bodies above the 
 surface of the water. They lack the agility of other 
 aquatic mamrfials, for, though they are excellent 
 swimmers and divers, they shun very deep waters, 
 probably because they are too awkward for a con- 
 stant ascent and descent. On dry land they drag 
 themselves along for short distances with the great- 
 est difificulty; their finny limbs are much too weak 
 to move the great bulk of the body, the more so as 
 the latter does not seem to possess any of the flexi- 
 bility of the body of a Seal. 
 
 Diet and Attn- The food of the Sirenia is composed 
 
 butesofthe of marine plants, algae and grasses 
 
 Sirenia. which grow in shoaly water or close 
 
 to the bank, as well as of various aquatic plants 
 
 which grow luxuriantly in shallow spots of rivers. 
 
 Like all voracious creatures the Sirenia are lazy, 
 dull-witted beings with weak senses. They are 
 called peaceable and harmless for the reason that 
 they do nothing but eat and rest. They are neither 
 shy nor bold, and live in peace with all other animals, 
 caring for nothing but their food. Their intellectual 
 power is exceedingly slight, but there is no doubt of 
 
 (555) 
 
556 
 
 THE SEA COWS. 
 
 the existence of some intellect. The sexes exhibit 
 great affection for each other and endeavor to pro- 
 tect one another; the mothers tend their children 
 lovingly and are even said to carry them, when they 
 are suckling, as Women carry their balaes, using one 
 of their fins as an arm to press the little ones to the 
 breast. The vocal expression of the Manatees con- 
 sists of a weak, dull moan. In breathing, they make 
 a noise much resembling a loud snore. 
 
 It is worthy of notice that these clumsy creatures 
 not only endure confinement, but may be tamed to a 
 high degree of docility. 
 
 Their flesh, fat, hide and teeth are used; but, so 
 far as known, no other portions of their carcass are 
 put to account in any way. 
 
 THE MANATEES PROPER. 
 
 In the Manatees {Manatus) the tail-fin is rounded; 
 the somewhat shapeless, fish -like body is very 
 
 and a weight of six hundred or, according to Kap- 
 pler, sometimes of eight hundred pounds. Ameri- 
 cans assert, however, that they have seen much larger 
 individuals, measuring seventeen or even twenty feet 
 in length. The skin is nearly destitute of covering, 
 having only short bristles, which stand about four- 
 fifths of an inch apart. The coloring is a rather 
 monotonous bluish gray, darker on the back and 
 sides than on the under surface. The bristles have a 
 yellowish tint. 
 
 We owe the first exact account of the animal to 
 A. von Humboldt. In dissecting a Lamantin, which 
 was ten feet long, in Carrichana, on the lower Ori- 
 noco, he found the following: The upper lip, which 
 is clothed with a very tender skin and serves as an 
 antenna, or feeler, when coming in contact with ob- 
 jects, protrudes greatly, and the cavity of the mouth,, 
 which has an abnormally warm temperature in a. 
 freshly killed animal, shows a very curious organiza- 
 
 LAMANTIN OR AHDBICAN MANATDE, From Florida to Brazil and in the Gulf of Mexico, this strange aquatic mammal frequents 
 
 creeks, lagoons and the estuaries of rivers, and ascends many of the latter to a considerable distance. Its head is of moderate size, oblong, with 
 a blunt, truncated muzzle. It has only one pair of limbs, which are flattened, oval paddles, and it has a flat, horizontal tail, with rounded edges. 
 {Manatus americanus or latirostrzs.) 
 
 sparsely covered with short hair, which becomes 
 more thickset only on the snout, where it changes 
 into bristles. On the toes of the rounded pectoral 
 fins can be discerned four small flat nails. Only 
 young animals exhibit incisor teeth, as the incisors 
 fall out very soon and only the molar teeth are left 
 in the mouths of old animals. The two American 
 species of this genus occur in the rivers flowing into 
 the Atlantic and the adjacent sea-shore between the 
 twenty-fifth parallel of north latitude and the nine- 
 teenth parallel of south latitude. The African spe- 
 cies {Manatus senegalensis) inhabits the Tchad lake, 
 the upper parts of the great western rivers and the 
 small rivers of the coast which flow into the Atlantic 
 Ocean between the twentieth parallel of north lat- 
 itude and the tenth parallel of south latitude. 
 
 The Lamantin The Lamantin, called Ox-fish by the 
 
 and Other Portuguese (Manatus latirostris), is 
 
 Species. the species that has been observed 
 
 most closely. It attains a length of about ten feet 
 
 tion. The tongue is nearly immobile, but in front of 
 it there are, on both sides of the jaws, a fleshy excres- 
 cence and a cavity covered with hard skin, one fit- 
 ting into the other. If the back of the animal is laid 
 open, the dissecter is astonished at the size, shape 
 and length of the lungs; for they are about a yard 
 long, have exceedingly large cells and resemble huge 
 floats; they admit an enormous quantity of air. 
 The stomach is divided into compartments, and the 
 intestine is over one hundred feet long. The other 
 American species [which, from its principal habitat, 
 may be termed the Amazonian Manatee] {Manatiis 
 inunguis) differs from this Lamantin by its narrower 
 skull, which also has more delicate bones. This 
 species is so far definitely known to exist only on 
 the upper Amazon and the Orinoco rivers. 
 
 Habitat and The Lamantin inhabits the eastern 
 
 Habits of the coast of Florida, the coasts of the 
 
 Lamantin. Greater and Lesser Antilles, the Mag- 
 
 dalena River and the eastern coast of South Amer- 
 
THE MANATEES. 
 
 557 
 
 ica and its rivers as far south as Cape North, occur- 
 ring principally in Surinapi. Probably it' is the 
 only member of the order to be found in the Gulf 
 of Mexico. A. von Humboldt observed that the 
 Lamantins prefer those places in the sea in which 
 there are fresh water inlets or springs; in rivers 
 they penetrate far inland and in times of inundation 
 they also wander into lakes and swamps. "In the 
 evening," says A. von Humboldt, "we passed the 
 •estuary of the Cano del Manati, which derives its 
 name from the enormous number of Lamantins or 
 Manatis which are annually caught there. They are 
 plentiful on the Orinoco below the waterfalls, in the 
 Meta and the Apure." 
 
 The habits of the Lamantin are much like those 
 of other Sirenia. Several travelers have affirmed 
 that it sometimes leaves the water to graze on land; 
 but as early as the last century others most decid- 
 edly refuted this. It browses only on the grass 
 
 arrows, which have ropes and light wooden floats 
 fastened to them to indicate the direction the ani- 
 mal takes, or he harpoons and kills and then flays 
 and dresses it in one of those light, raft-like boats, 
 which are used for travel on South American rivers. 
 This latter operation is sometimes done in the mid- 
 dle of the stream, the hunters first filling the boat 
 two-thirds full of water, pushing it under the Laman- 
 tin and then causing it to float by baling the water 
 out with a gourd. The thick hide of the beast is 
 cut into strips and used for whips and cords, the 
 latter are of no service in the water as they soon rot. 
 
 THE DUGONG. 
 
 The Chinese and Arabs have for centuries known 
 one of the most important representatives of the 
 family of which we received but scant, occasional in- 
 formation up to the beginning of the present cen- 
 tury; we mean the Dugong {Halicore dujong). 
 
 THE SUGOITG. In the Red Sea and on the eastern coast of Africa and all coasts of southern Asia, the Indo-Malayan ."irchipelago and 
 
 Australia, the Dugong is numerously found, living on seaweed in shallow harbors, bays and mouths of rivers. The tail is fish-like, but the head 
 is of oblong shape, and the only limbs are two nailless flippers. (Halicore dugong.) 
 
 which grows in the water. As all southern rivers in 
 quiet places abound in aquatic plants of all kinds it 
 does not suffer from want, nor is it obliged to swim 
 far to procure its food. It eats enough to completely 
 fill the stomach up to the oesophagus, but when 
 its appetite is satisfied it often lies down in shallow 
 places, in such a way that the snout projects above 
 the water, so that it does not need to be constantly 
 rising to the surface to breathe and thus it sleeps 
 through several hours of the day. When it is awake 
 it can be seen above the water only when it comes 
 up to breathe; this, however, happens very often, 
 notwithstanding the capacious lungs, and it is prob- 
 ably for this reason that it prefers the shallower 
 
 spots in rivers. 
 
 Hunting and 
 Taming the La- 
 mantin, 
 
 Lamantins in 
 comes up to 
 
 The method of hunting this animal 
 is rather simple. The hunter ap- 
 proaches the grazing -place of the 
 a boat and waits until one of them 
 breathe. He either shoots it with 
 
 Description of The Dugong attains a length of from 
 the Du- ten feet to sixteen feet eight inches. 
 gong. jhe short, thick neck, which exhibits 
 
 distinct demarcation from the head, merges almost 
 imperceptibly into the body, which is uniformly 
 rounded, gradually becoming thicker from the head 
 to the middle and then tapering towards the tail. 
 The pectoral fins are placed at a short distance be- 
 hind the apertures of the ears, in the lower third of 
 the perpendicular thickness of the body; they are 
 not particularly long; but broad, rounded at the 
 anterior margin, sharper at the posterior; the toes 
 may be recognized only by touch, for no trace of 
 claws exists. The tail is formed by a flattened, 
 crescent-shaped fin. The most striking feature in 
 the short, thick snout is the flat upper lip, sloping 
 from above backwards and downward, and beneath 
 which projects a thick piece of flesh, truncated be- 
 low. This projection communicates behind with a 
 peculiar plate in the mouth, which covers the inter- 
 
358 
 
 THE SEA COWS. 
 
 maxillary bone. A similar plate is placed on the 
 lower jaw. The lower lip forms a thick bulbous 
 roll, sharply defined behind. The nostrils lie on the 
 upper sm-face of the snout, are placed close together 
 and form two crescent-shaped slits; the eyes are 
 small, of ovoid shape, but strongly arched and of 
 black hue; they lie in an oblique slit, surrounded by 
 lashes along its upper margin, devoid of true lids, 
 but furnished with a winking membrane, and can 
 be closed at will by a muscle which produces con- 
 traction of the skin ; the ears are only indicated 
 by small roundish apertures. The skin is of a dull 
 leaden or bluish gray color, marked with dark lon- 
 gitudinally arranged spots; it is smooth and shining, 
 wrinkled only on the abdomen and overgrown with 
 short, thin and stiff bristles, which nearly develop 
 into spines on the upper lip. The fins are perfectly 
 naked. The dentition consists of rootless incisors 
 and molars, part of which fall out in old age. Canine 
 teeth are lacking; the male, however, develops two 
 of its front teeth into tusks, measuring from eight to 
 ten inches in length and nearly an inch in thickness; 
 they are covered by the gums for. about seven-eighths 
 of their length. 
 
 Habitat and Habits It seems that the Uugong is caught 
 of the Du- in all parts of the Indian Ocean and 
 gong. the regions communicating with it. 
 
 It occurs all over the southern Chinese seas, and off 
 the coasts of Sulu, Banda and Sunda; towards the 
 north it extends to about the middle of the Red Sea. 
 In this last locality it is a very well-known animal. 
 All sailors have seen it, and one will hardly question 
 any of them in vain about the Nakhe el Bahr (Camel 
 of theiwater). In the east it inhabits the coast of 
 New Guinea and Queensland, as far southward as 
 Moreton Bay. 
 
 The Dugong frequents the sea, and in exceptional 
 cases the fresh water of the estuaries, but not the 
 rivers themselves; it prefers the neighborhood of 
 coasts and proceeds only as far from shore as the 
 submarine vegetation extends. Its favorite haunts 
 are shallow inlets in which the sun shines through 
 the calm waters to the very bottom and the pro- 
 fuse vegetation of the sea can develop with par- 
 ticular luxuriance. It does not frequent the land; at 
 least it may be inferred that Dugongs found lying on 
 the shore have been left by the ebb-tide, and being 
 too lazy to push their heavy bodies back into the 
 water, prefer to wait until the next high tide. From 
 the bottom of shallow creeks the Dugong rises to 
 the surface about once a minute, thrusts out its nose 
 or sometimes half its body, breathes and slowly 
 sinks back into the deep. 
 
 The fishermen say that the Dugongs usually live 
 in couples and rarely in small families; but this 
 statement applies better to the Arabian Gulf than to 
 other parts of the Indian Ocean, where they are said 
 sometimes to have been seen in schools. The Ara- 
 bian fishermen say that one always finds at least two 
 Dugongs together in the Red Sea, but not infre- 
 quently as many as ten. 
 
 THE SEA COW. 
 
 "Along the whole beach of the island, especially 
 where little streams flow into the sea and all kinds 
 of sea-plants are most plentiful, one finds at all sea- 
 sons great herds of Sea Cows, which our Russians 
 call Morskaia Korova. As the Sea Otters had been 
 scared away from the northern coast and the obtain- 
 ing of provisions began to become- difificult, we 
 
 thought of catching these animals and using them 
 for food as presenting an easy way out of our diffi- 
 culty, because they were near to us. To this end 
 the jolly-boat was repaired towards the end of June» 
 as it had been badly damaged on the rocks in fall; a 
 harpooner, a steersman and four oarsmen were 
 placed in it; and each was given a harpoon and a 
 rope, coiled as are ropes used in whaling, the other 
 end being held on the beach by the remaining forty 
 Men. The sailors quietly rowed up to the animals^ 
 which were grazing in herds along the banks at the 
 bottom of the sea, deeming themselves in perfect 
 security. As soon as the harpooner had securely- 
 buried his weapon in the body of one, the Men on 
 the beach gradually pulled it ashore; those in the 
 boat approached it in the meanwhile, exhausting it 
 still more by the wounds they inflicted, and when it 
 seemed quite spent they dealt it other wounds with 
 large knives and spears, so that it lost nearly all its 
 blood, which streamed out of the wounds in jets; 
 then it could be pulled ashore during flood tide and 
 there secured. When the ebb came, and the animal 
 lay on dry land, we cut the flesh and fat off in pieces 
 and carried them to the dwelling-places, amidst great 
 rejoicing, the flesh being stored away in large barrels 
 and the fat hung on high posts. It was not long^ 
 before we saw ourselves surrounded by such plenty 
 of food that we could uninterruptedly go on with 
 the construction of our^new boat, which was to be 
 our means of escape." 
 
 The naturalist, Steller, who was shipwrecked in 
 November, 1 741, on the previously unknown Behring 
 Island, where he spent ten dreary months, thus be- 
 gins his description of one of the most remarkable 
 of marine mammals, a creature which seems to have 
 been completely exterminated, and has been named 
 the Sea Cow, Rhytina, or after its dispoverer, Steller- 
 ine {JJaltcore stellerii). Allured by the accounts of 
 the Russian exploring party to which Steller be- 
 longed, whalers and foolhardy adventurers flocked 
 to I5ehring Sea in great crowds and there com- 
 menced so terrible a slaughter among the defense- 
 less dwellers of the ocean that the Sea Cows were 
 exterminated from the face of the globe. All later 
 endeavors to procure at least one of these animals 
 have been in vain. Every ship bound for Behring- 
 Sea has had its instructions concerning them, but 
 none has brought one back with it. It is supposed 
 that the last was killed in 1768 by an expedition 
 under Popoff. Nordenskjold, however, who visited 
 Behring Island in 1879, is inclined to place the date 
 of the final extinction of the tribe in the year 1854.. 
 
 Steller believed the Sea Cow to be the Lamantin 
 discovered by Hernandez. His description shows 
 clearly, however, that the Sea Cow was a very differ- 
 ent creature from the remainder of the Sirenia. The 
 jaws were covered with grinding plates, instead of 
 teeth connected only with the gums. This feature 
 alone suffices to characterize the animal. "The 
 largest of these animals," says Steller, " are from 
 twenty-four to thirty-three feet long, and about 
 twenty-three feet in girth at the stoutest place. I 
 estimate the weight to be about forty-eight thou- 
 sand pounds. The fat is not oily or flabby, but 
 hard and glandular, white as snow, and after lyings 
 a few days in the sun it assumes an agreeable yel- 
 lowish tint like that of Dutch butter. Boiled, it 
 surpasses the best beef suet in sweetness and flavor; 
 when melted, it is like fresh olive oil in hue and 
 freshness, and like sweet almond oil in taste." 
 
^be Mbalee. 
 
 THIRTEENTH ORDER: Cetacea. 
 
 HALES are among the 
 mammals what the fish 
 are among the vertebrates: 
 creatures belonging exclu- 
 sively to the water and an- 
 atomically constructed in 
 accordance with the neces- 
 sities of such a mode of 
 life. Their size is an indi- 
 cation of this: for the water 
 alone admits of the easy 
 progress of such giants, 
 and only the infinite abun- 
 dance of the sea affords 
 them the required nourishment. 
 
 The Whales exhibit the warm blood, the breath- 
 ing through the kmgs, the suckling of the 'young 
 and all other essential features of the mammalia, 
 along with the other orders of the class. In every 
 other respect, however, they deviate from the higher 
 mammalia still more than do the Sirenia. Slightly 
 educated persons, and nations in the childhood of 
 civilization, have invariably classed them among the 
 fishes, and only the close modern investigation of 
 their character has assigned them their proper place. 
 General Descrip- The body of the Whales is bulky, 
 tion of the clumsy, and devoid of any external 
 Whales. joints. The head is frequently mon- 
 
 strously large and as a rule unsymmetrical, and 
 merges into the trunk of the body without distinct 
 demarcation of a neck region; the trunk tapers 
 backwards, and terminates in a broad, horizontal 
 tail-fin. The hinder limbs, which distinguish all 
 other mammalia, with the exception of the Sirenia, 
 are absent; the fore pair have become fins: one has 
 to examine these with the dissecting knife, if he 
 wishes to discover the digits in them, and even then 
 he finds peculiarities of structure. An occasional 
 dorsal fin, which extends along the spine, still fur- 
 ther increases the resemblance of these animals to 
 fish. Otherwise the Whales are characterized exter- 
 nally by the wide-gaping mouth, devoid of lips, 
 and provided-either with an abnormally large number 
 of teeth or barbs; by the thin, smooth, soft, greasy- 
 feeling skin, velvety to the touch, and scantily over- 
 grown with bristles in a few small spots. The color 
 is sombre, and the skin contains a thick layer of fat, 
 the entire integument forming a strikingly thickened 
 hide, between the cells of which the fat is deposited. 
 The Anatomical The inner anatomical structure of 
 Structure of these giants of the sea also exhibits 
 Whales. peculiar features. The bones of the 
 skeleton are distinguished by their loose, porous 
 formation, and they are so pervaded by a fluid fat, 
 that the liquid can hardly be eradicated and they 
 preserve a fatty, yellowish appearance even after 
 prolonged bleaching; on the other hand no bone 
 contains a cavity for marrow. The huge skull bears 
 
 a regular proportion to the body in a few species 
 only; the bones of the head are found in queer 
 malpositions : put loosely together if articulated, 
 or are connected with other bones only by soft 
 cartilage; some of them appear stunted, others strik- 
 ingly enlarged and there seems to be no vestige 
 of order or regularity. In the vertebral column the 
 formation of the neck part is most striking. The 
 number of the individual vertebrse is normal, seven, 
 but they are similar in shape to thin, flat rings and 
 not infrequently are partly ankylosed or fused to- 
 gether, producing, in consequence, the little mobility 
 characteristic of the necks of such species as possess 
 this formation- of the cervical region. It is owing 
 to this fact that one often recognizes the seven 
 articulations only by the foramina or apertures in 
 the bony substance through which the pairs of 
 nerves emerge from the spinal cord. Besides the 
 cervical vertebrae the Whales possess from eleven to 
 fourteen dorsal, from ten to twenty-four lumbar and 
 from twenty-two to twenty-four caudal vertebrae. 
 It must be remarked, however, that strictly speak- 
 ing, one may talk only of pectoral or dorsal verte- 
 brae, and of lumbar-caudal ones, as a developed 
 pelvis is absent and no sacral bone exists. The 
 number of true ribs is very small; the true Whales 
 have only one, and more than six do not seem to 
 occur in any member of the order. False ribs al- 
 ways occur in greater number than true ones. The 
 fore limbs are characterized by their shortness and 
 the flatness of all bones, and the strikingly great 
 number of joints in the digits; for while other mam- 
 mals have three joints in the phalanges all Whales 
 have more, with the exception of the first and some- 
 times of the fifth phalange, and the number of 
 joints in one phalange rriay rise to thirteen. 
 
 The dentition of the Whales not only differs from 
 that of all other mammalia but also materially di- 
 verges between the two main divisions of the order. 
 According to Carus, teeth germs form in longitu- 
 dinal pits of the mucous membrane of the jaw in all 
 Whales, but they do not develop into permanent 
 teeth, which are not shed,, except in the case of the 
 Toothed Whales. They disappear in the Whalebone 
 Whales and in their stead there develops an arma- 
 ment of the upper jaw and of the palate peculiar 
 to these animals. In transverse furrows there are 
 formed horny plates or laminae -suspended by one 
 edge perpendicularly to the plane of the cavity of 
 the mouth; the outer ones, fastened to'the upper jaw, 
 are the longest, those on the palate the shortest; 
 they are the baleen, which forms whalebone. 
 
 The epiglottis is not adapted for producing a har- 
 monious voice, but for the passage of a great quantity 
 of air at once. The windpipe is very wide, the 
 lungs have considerable capacity, and all branches of 
 the bronchial tubes communicate with one another, 
 so that from either one both lungs may be filled. 
 
 (559) 
 
560 
 
 THE WHALES. 
 
 The muscles are simple, in accordance with the 
 proportions of the animal, and exceedingly vigorous. 
 The bulk of the brain and nerves is Very small. In a 
 Whale of twenty feet in length and ten thousand 
 pounds in weight, the brains did not weigh four 
 pounds: that is, not more than the weight of those of 
 a human being, who seldom attains a weight of two 
 hundred pounds! The development of all organs of 
 sense is apparently deficient. The eyes are small, 
 the ears barely perceptible externally, being, so to 
 speak, rudimentary. Yet one cannot suppose the 
 senses of sight and hearing to be inadequate. All 
 Whales prove that when they are submerged their 
 sight is not only very keen, but is effective at great 
 distances, and also that they hear noises of all kinds. 
 It is only when they are above the water, in the 
 rarer medium of the air, that these senses appear 
 weak. The sense of smell is very deficient. We 
 cannot judge of the taste, but we know that the 
 sense of touch is somewhat developed. 
 The Whale Emi- It is hardly necessary to explain that 
 
 nently Fit for such an organization is eminently 
 Its Habitat. fitted for the aquatic life of the 
 Whales. The horizontal tail-fin admits of easy div- 
 ing or ascent, or the exploration of regions of vary- 
 ing depth. The smoothness of the skin facilitates 
 the progress of the enormous mass through the 
 water, the layer of fat diminishes the weight, com- 
 pensates for the lack of warm, hairy covering and 
 also offers the necessary resistance to the almost 
 incalculable pressure that a Whale has to endure in 
 descending into the depths of the ocean. The ex- 
 tremely capacious lungs permit a prolonged stay 
 under water. 
 
 The Whales shun the proximity of coasts as much 
 as possible: for peril assails them from land. Only 
 a few Dolphins live in fresh water: others occasion- 
 ally penetrate into rivers, but do not usually proceed 
 farther than the influence of the tide is felt. No 
 other Whales leave the salt water, but traverse 
 shorter or greater distances of the ocean with more 
 or less regularity. Eschricht gives the following 
 a-ccount of these migrations: 
 
 General "There are Whales in all oceans; but 
 
 Traits of the no single species has a permanent 
 Whales. place of abode anywhere, having, 
 
 apparently, certain favorite haunts for summer, and 
 others, perhaps very remote, for winter; and after 
 the fashion of migratory animals in general, they 
 traverse more or less definite routes, in spring, from 
 one to the other, and back again in the fall of the 
 year. Like most migratory animals, the Whales are 
 gregarious. Where food is plentiful one often finds 
 hundreds or over a thousand congregated together, 
 not only of one but of different species; and accord- 
 ing to the testimony of inhabitants of coasts, the 
 numerous migrating 'schools' are sometimes joined 
 by a few animals of entirely different orders." 
 
 All Whales are highly active animals. They are 
 masterly swimmers, evincing in the action not the 
 slightest effort, and some displaying incomparable 
 speed. When they wish to do so, they exhibit such 
 an extraordinary strength of the powerful tail -fin 
 that they can jerk themselves above the water, in 
 spite of the enormous weight of the body, and 
 take long leaps. Generally they keep near the 
 surface of the water, and perhaps they descend 
 into great depths only when wounded. The upper 
 stratum of the water is their proper element, as they 
 have to expose their heads and parts of their backs 
 to breathe. This latter process is accomplished in 
 
 the following manner: the Whale blows up the water 
 which has entered the imperfectly closed nostrils, 
 with a snorting noise and such force that it is sepa- 
 rated into fine drops, and yet is thrown to a height 
 of five or six yards. This breathing jet may best 
 be likened to a column of vapor, escaping from a 
 narrow pipe; the snorting also resembles the noise 
 caused by escaping steam. A jet of water such as 
 is given forth by a fountain is never thrown up by a 
 Whale, though most artists thus represent the spout- 
 ing of the animals, and many naturalists still thus 
 describe it. Immediately after the spouting of the 
 water, the animal inhales the air which it requires, 
 with a rapid inspiration, emitting an audible, moan- 
 ing sound, and sometimes it breathes three, four or 
 five times a minute, but the jet is thrown up only at 
 the first time of breathing after rising, though one 
 may, in cool weather, often see lingering in the air 
 the mist produced by the breath. The nostrils are so 
 placed that the Whale, in rising, elevates them above 
 water first, and thus breathing is as easy to it as to 
 other animals. A large Whale, swimming undis- 
 turbed, may pass continuously along the surface 
 from five to fifteen minutes, breathing uniformly, or 
 it may sink slightly below the water after every 
 breath, but sometimes it goes on in this way much 
 longer, until it has satisfied its desire for air. Then 
 it may plunge down and remain invisible for ten or 
 twenty minutes or even longer. The large species 
 may remain under water for from thirty to fifty min- 
 utes, when they are pursued. A harpooned Sperm 
 Whale remained under water for nearly an hour, 
 according to the observation of Pechuel-Loesche; 
 another, which was also injured, remained there for 
 eighty minutes, diving down about three thousand 
 nine hundred feet. When the breathing is stopped, 
 a Whale is asphyxiated just as is any other mammal, 
 and that, too, as the observations of whalers show, in 
 a very short time. The animals also die in a com- 
 paratively brief period when they are on dry land. 
 The Diet and All Whales subsist on animal food. 
 Reproduction of and probably take in plants only by 
 
 Whales. chance; at least more exact observa- 
 tion is required before we can positively assert that 
 one species, namely, the Razorback, browses on the 
 sea-weeds which are often found in its stomach in 
 great quantities, and that a Dolphin eats the fruit 
 fallen into a river. Larger and smaller aquatic ani- 
 mals are the prey after which they strive. The very 
 largest species feed on the very smallest animals, 
 and, vice versa, the smaller ones are the most invet- 
 erate beasts of prey. 
 
 The young Whale is at birth very well developed 
 and is from one-fourth to one-third as long as its 
 mother. The mother tends it with touching tender- 
 ness, risking any danger for its sake and never for- 
 sakes it while it lives. The growth of the young one 
 seems to be comparatively slow. How long the life 
 of the Whale lasts is not known. 
 The, Enemies and The Whales also have their enemies. 
 Pursuit of especially during the early portion 
 
 Whales. Qf their lives. Several species of 
 Sharks, and the Killer-whale are said to regularly 
 hunt for young Whales in the same way in which 
 they attack older ones and then feast on the gigan- 
 tic carcass for days. But Man is a much more 
 deadly enemy to the Whales than any monster of 
 the sea. It is he who has, for over one thousand 
 years, systematically pursued many species of the 
 order, and has nearly exterminated some of them. 
 The Americans became the most diligent whalers. 
 
THE WHALES. 
 
 561 
 
 During the period from 1835 to 1872, that is, cover- 
 ing thirty-eight years, 19,943 ships were engaged in 
 the Whale industry; they secured 3,671,772 barrels of 
 .■spermaceti as well as 6,553,014 tons of oil, and real- 
 ized from them the sum of $272,274,916. In Scam- 
 morl's estimation they must have killed annually 
 3,865 Sperm Whales and 2,875 Whalebone Whales, 
 to which must be added one-fifth of this amount as 
 the proportion of wounded which escaped final cap- 
 ture, so that one must count the total number of 
 the Whales caught or in any way destroyed within 
 this period to be no less than 292,714. 
 I Methods of The capture of the Whale, though 
 Hunting the accidents happen during the hunt, is, 
 Whale. on the whole, less dangerous than 
 
 the voyage in itself, if it leads into ice-bound parts 
 of the sea. During many years the commerce sus- 
 tains heavy losses. Fortunately human lives are 
 seldom lost in the shipwrecks, as the sea is usually 
 •calm and the crew have sufficient time to make 
 their way to another ship. Whale-fishing is not only 
 a dangerous and arduous undertaking, however, but 
 also a very uncertain one. Up to a few decades ago 
 the fishing was mainly done by ships fitted out for 
 long cruising, and they hunted principally three of 
 the largest species: the Greenland Whale, the 
 Right Whale and the Sperm Whale, which repre- 
 sented a value of from $3,750 to $10,000 apiece, 
 accoKiing to its condition and the state of the 
 market. The method of capture is as follows: 
 When the ship has reached the whaling grounds, it 
 cruises back and forth, and two Men are usually 
 on the lookout on the mast. When Whales are 
 sighted the call, " There they spout !" throws the 
 entire crew into excitement. "The behavior of the 
 animals under inspection," says Pechuel-Loesche, 
 "the manner of the spouting, the shape of the back 
 and tail-fin, enable experienced whalemen to recog- 
 nize with tolerable certainty, whether they have met 
 the species of Whale that they have been seeking, 
 or any other Whale the capture of which is at all 
 remunerative. When this question has been settled, 
 the captain gives the order for lowering the boats, 
 of which the large whaler usually has four. These 
 boats are from twenty-one to twenty-seven feet long 
 and about six feet broad, of light but perfect build, 
 devoid of keel and pointed at both ends, so that 
 they can go backwards and forwards with equal 
 facility, and may be quickly turned. The weapons 
 include about four harpoons, several lances, a very 
 heavy gun, which shoots wedge-shaped grenades, a 
 short blubber-spade, a hatchet and a strong knife, 
 -which are placed in the stern of the boat within 
 •convenient reach of the harpooner. The compass, 
 -a ladle, and a small cask containing ship's biscuit, 
 a lantern, candles and matches, are placed in the 
 stern locker; another small keg with drinking water 
 usually lies in the middle of the boat. The most 
 important part of the capturing implements is the 
 line, about an inch in thickness, about three hundred 
 and fifty fathoms in length and made out of the best 
 quality of hemp. It is coiled in spiral form in two 
 flat tubs behind the row-benches, with the most con- 
 scientious care, as any tangle, occurring while it is 
 being run out, would entail an accident. From the 
 ■end of this rope left outside of the tub the harpooner 
 takes a length of five to eight fathoms and af^xes 
 two harpoons to it. These an experienced thrower 
 hurls against the Whale, at its first approach, in 
 rapid succession; and to enable him to grasp them 
 securely, they are placed on a low stand to his right. 
 
 "A good harpooner must be sure of his aim at a 
 distance of four or five fathoms. Generally, however, 
 he goes much nearer the Whale, sometimes even 
 letting the boat touch it, so that the harpoon is 
 thrown instead of being thrust into its body. This 
 intrepid mode of attack leaves nothing to be desired 
 in regard to precision of stroke, but it is the most 
 dangerous. As soon as the harpoon is fast, the boat 
 is rowed backwards, away from the Whale, with 
 all possible speed. This moment is always fraught 
 with peril; by chance or intentionally the wounded 
 animal may capsize the boat with its huge tail, or 
 hurl it into the air or smash it from above as if it 
 struck down upon the frail craft with a gigantic fly- 
 flopper. If the frightened Whale flees (in a deep 
 part of the sea it usually dives perpendicularly, in 
 shallow water it swims off at a slight depth), th& 
 line rolls off the next instant; sometimes from one 
 hundred to one hundred and fifty fathoms are un- 
 reeled in one minute. The crew has to be on a 
 sharp lookout then, for whoever is entangled by 
 the line is generally lost. After this the boat is 
 "fast." Steersman and harpooner change places; 
 the latter had the task of attacking the Whale, but 
 the prerogative of killing it belongs to the former. 
 Then only begins the real struggle and the greater 
 danger. Naturally nobody thinks of stopping a 
 diving Whale; any large Whale would pull the boat 
 down with it, as a fish does the light piece of cork 
 which forms the float of a fishing line. If the animal 
 dives very deep, the next boat is called upon, and 
 its line is added to that already attached to the 
 harpoons; if the Whale does not come up quickly 
 enough, the last fathom of line may go overboard — 
 and then the Whale is free. It is very seldom that 
 the boatsmen succeed in regaining possession of the 
 line, by rowing in the direction which the animal 
 has taken and fishing up the dragging line after its 
 reappearance. 
 
 "In most cases the line of one boat is sufficient, 
 however. The Whale may dive to the depth of one 
 or two hundred fathoms and stay there, scarcely 
 moving. If the line begins to be loose it is pulled 
 up with joint efforts, to incite the prey to rise. If the 
 uncouth fellow takes this proceeding amiss, however, 
 it baffles any attempt to bring it to the surface with 
 irresistible force and goes deeper down. Thus the 
 struggle back and forth goes on according to the 
 size and species of the animal for ten, twenty or 
 thirty minutes, and in some rare cases for double 
 this time, until the Whale begins to realize the need 
 for air and rises. The direction of the line shows 
 whereabouts it will appear and a second boat en- 
 deavors to surprise and engage it there, planting 
 additional harpoons in its body; only when this has 
 been accomplished does success seem assured. At 
 this point the wounded animal either turns upon its 
 tormentors or makes an effort to escape by darting 
 along the surface, as it can not dive immediately for 
 lack of breath. Then begins a mad pursuit, the ani- 
 mal only drawing out a few fathoms of the line 
 which is securely hitched to thq boat but ready to be 
 cast off in an instant. The dark, gigantic body 
 shoots through the waves, puffing and snorting, 
 while the water parts and is hurled up in milk-white 
 masses as the animal, by furious strokes of its tail, 
 endeavors to free itself. Two or three boats, filled 
 with intrepid sailors, fly in pursuit of the Whale. 
 They disappear among the foaming, splashing, tow- 
 ering waves, often seeming to sink during their mad 
 course over and through the surging waters, but 
 
562 
 
 THE WHALES. 
 
 they contiHue their course over the 'vasty deep' no 
 matter whether it be day or night. An unprepared 
 observer might imagine he saw in them a gathering 
 of the maddest of water spooks. At last the Whale 
 stops, exhausted, and either rolls in the water in a 
 tired and sluggish manner or rages and beats around. 
 Then the boats can approach it, and this they do, 
 cautiously keeping out of reach of the animal's dan- 
 gerous tail. The crew then try to kill the Whale 
 either with a gun-harpoon or a hand lance, the thin 
 iron blade of which is thrust behind the fin to the 
 depth of about six feet. If the Whale dives again 
 or makes off, the performance is repeated, until it is 
 finally killed or its pursuers are obliged to set it free 
 by cutting the line. If a gun-harpoon or a lance 
 pierces the lungs the Whale spouts blood — it 'hoists 
 the red flag' — and dies in a comparatively short 
 time, though sometimes only after the exhibition of 
 a powerful agony called by whalers ' the flurry,' 
 during which all boats wait at a safe distance." 
 
 If a Whale is killed and the ship can not conven- 
 iently approach it, it must be taken in tow by the 
 boats. On its arrival at the ship it is secured by a 
 strong chain around the root of the tail and also 
 fastened near the head; it is made fast to the star- 
 board side of the ship so that it floats with its head 
 directed backward. Two powerful pulleys are se- 
 cured to the main mast, the running tackle of which 
 has its free ends coiled around the capstan. At the 
 side of the ship a frame-like scaffolding is lowered, 
 and swings horizontally above the Whale, serving 
 as a running stage for the blubber-cutters, who pre- 
 pare for cutting off the blubber with ^harp spades. 
 An incision is made on three sides of the fin, to 
 which the tackle of a pulley is fastened; then the fin 
 is torn away, and a continuous strip of "blubber," 
 follows as it is raised up the ship's side, the width of 
 the strip being from fifty-two to seventy-six inches. 
 When this has been hoisted to the height of the 
 lower mast, a second tackle is fastened to it at the 
 level of the deck, the strip of blubber is cut off just 
 above it and the piece is lowered into the hold, 
 while the second pulley in turn winds the ribbon of 
 blubber again up to the lower mast. The hoisting 
 of t(ie blubber is hard work and progresses only by 
 inches; by the slow but powerful traction the strip 
 of blubber, the width of which is determined by the 
 distance apart of the incisions made by the cutting 
 spades, is torn off the carcass of the Whale and 
 wound up in about the same manner as an apple is 
 pared or the wrapper is peeled off a cigar. The 
 body of the animal slowly revolves around its 
 longer axis; in the very beginning, when the oppor- 
 tune moment arrives, a Man secured by ropes and 
 armed with an axe descends to the body of the 
 Whale and cuts off the upper jaw of a Whalebone 
 Whale or the lower jaw of a Sperm Whale, which is 
 taken directly on deck, to have the Whalebone 
 taken from the former and the beautiful teeth from 
 the latter. The huge upper part of the head of a 
 Sprem Whale is also taken on deck in two pieces, 
 in order to secure the spermaceti. The taking off of 
 the blubber lasts from four to eight hours, according 
 to the size and species of the Whale and the state 
 of the weather: the process is technically termed 
 " flensing." When all valuable parts have been 
 stored away, the mass of flesh is cast adrift. 
 Proceas of Render- The enormous strips of blubber let 
 ing Sperm down into the hold are there cut 
 Oil- with short spades into small, oblong 
 
 pieces, which are thrown back on the upper deck 
 
 and are deeply incised by a machine provided with a 
 sharp knife and run by hand; -then they go into the 
 "rendering pot," or boiler. The boiling is done in 
 huge iron kettles, walled in on deck, and the hearth 
 of which is surrounded by water. At first wood is 
 used as fuel, but later on only the "cracklings" or 
 residue of the blubber, which possess enough heat- 
 ing power to "try out" the entire remaining supply. 
 The oil is cooled in a cooling-pan and then poured 
 into barrels. "Attired in their worst clothes," writes 
 Pechuel-Loesche, "half-naked, dancing and singing, 
 running after one another and brandishing their 
 tools, dripping with fish-oil and sooty like devils, 
 the crew disport themselves about the hearth. An 
 intensely active life prevails on board. The sight of 
 this activity is doubly striking by night when a mass 
 of the cracklings is hoisted up in an iron basket. 
 This strange torch burns merrily, casting a weird 
 light on the scene as the blazing flames throw glar- 
 ing, fitful rays on the deck and bring out in bold 
 relief the black clouds of smoke and the masts with 
 their sails, the reflection extending far out over the 
 sea. By day huge masses of smoke on the horizon 
 betray the presence of a Whaler which "tries out" 
 the blubber, long before one catches sight of the 
 ship itself." 
 
 Proper Diuis- The Whales are naturally divided 
 ion of the into two main groups, which one 
 Whales. may justly call suborders: the 
 Toothed Whales and the Whalebone Whales. In 
 the former both jaws, or at least one, is furnished 
 with teeth which are not generally shed, but may in 
 some instances be partially or entirely cast. This 
 feature suffices to distinguish them from the Whale- 
 bone Whales in any case. As Kuekenthal has re- 
 cently demonstrated, the Whalebone and Toothed 
 Whales ought to be classified in two independent 
 orders, as the Toothed Whales derive their origin 
 from a much older group than the Whalebone 
 Whales. The attributes they have in common are 
 only similarities which may be traced back to the 
 common adaptation of the two groups to a life in 
 the water. 
 
 ^be Mbalebone Mbales. 
 
 FIRST SUBORDER: Mysticete. 
 
 The Whales belonging to the suborder of the 
 Whalebone Whales {Mysticete) are few in species;, 
 they are mainly distinguished by the lack of teeth 
 in both jaws, the upper jaws and palate being fur- 
 nished with plates of baleen or whalebone. These 
 plates do not stand in' the stead of teeth, neither do 
 they resemble them in their organization, their mode 
 of connection with the jaw nor their shape. In very 
 young Whales the jaws have been found to contain 
 small, bone-like corpuscles, which might be thought 
 to be tooth-germs; the baleen, however, appears, 
 much later and does not proceed from the jaws at alU 
 but frorn the palate, and the plates are not connected 
 immediately with the bone. Their transverse posi- 
 tion in the vault of the cavity of the mouth resembles- 
 that of the palate-teeth of fish. The baleen is a. 
 horny but not bony formation of the integument and 
 consists of triangular or, more seldom, of square 
 plates, in which may be distinguished thin external 
 layers of horn and an inner substance formed of 
 close-lying parallel filaments which terminate ini 
 bristly fibers that form the split portions which com- 
 
THE WHALEBONE WHALES. 
 
 563 
 
 pose the extremity of the plate. Curved layers of 
 horn coalesce with the individual plates at the roots, 
 connecting them with the skin of the roof of the 
 mouth, from which they derive their nourishment. 
 This skin, which is four-fifths of an inch thick, is 
 , abundantly supplied with blood-vessels. The total 
 number of plates is from two hundred and fifty to 
 four hundred, the longest being found in the middle 
 of the jaw, while the shortest are at the ends and at 
 the curve, as they grow rather uniformly shorter 
 from the middle to the two sides. When the Whale- 
 bone Whale closes its mouth the lower jaw adjusts 
 itself to the entire upper jaw, the plates touch the 
 tongue around the edges, thus entirely closing the 
 cavity from the outside and, like a sieve, holding 
 fast the smallest and most slippery prey beyond the 
 possibility of c^cajiing 
 
 phants or from one hundred and fifty to one hundred 
 and seventy Oxen. Over seven thousand five hun- 
 dred gallons of oil have sometimes been rendered 
 from the blubber of such a giant. 
 
 In spite of a Whale's enormous bulk it moves 
 with great speed and agility in the water, swimming 
 straight ahead, but in constant vertical curves, com- 
 ing up to the surface or appearing above it and 
 then again plunging to the depths beneath. 
 
 Food oj the The food of this largest animal 
 Whalebone on earth consists of small, insignifi- 
 Whale. cant mollusks, crustaceans, cephalo- 
 
 pods, sea-nettles and worms, many species of which 
 are barely visible to the eye. But it swallows 
 millions of these creatures at once. With its huge, 
 widely-gaping mouth open the Whale traverses the 
 ocean, fills the great cavity with water, together 
 
 BA7ftB.BArK WHALE One of the longest species of the Wfiales is the Razorback, wliich malces its home in the north Atlantic and 
 
 Arctic Oceins It att^fs alfngthof over eighty feet, and besides being a powerful is also an agile animal, moving through the water with great 
 rapidUy annevourfng^g^at.nmnbers of Haddocks, Herrings and other fish. {PAysalm anUguorum.) 
 
 with the little animals that exist in it, and when the 
 tongue, which is not devoid of sensibility, feels their 
 presence, the giant closes the trap. All the fibers 
 of the baleen are directed perpendicularly down- 
 ward, thus forming a sieve through which the water 
 can escape, but which retains all the small creatures. 
 A single muscular action of the clumsy and scarcely 
 mobile tongue drives the jelly-like mass through the 
 gullet into the stomach. 
 
 Noteworthy Traits I" the Whalebone Whales the senses 
 of Whalebone of sight, hearing and touch are 
 Whales. those best developed. Their intel- 
 
 lectual faculties seem to be weaker than those of 
 the Toothed Whales. All Whalebone Whales are 
 fearful, shy and fleet, and therefore probably live in 
 peace among themselves and with most other 
 aquatic mammals. When they are attacked their 
 
 Physical Charac- The Whalebone Whales are enor- 
 teristics of Whale- mous creatures with huge heads, a 
 bone Whales. vvide gape of the mouth, double 
 nostrils and blowing-holes, valved apertures for the 
 ears which the animal can close at will, and very 
 small eyes. The spinal column consists of seven 
 cervical, fourteen or fifteen dorsal, eleven to fifteen 
 lumbar and twenty-one or more caudal vertebrae. 
 The tongue is grown fast in the mouth, and is im- 
 mobile, the gullet is narrow, and the stomach has 
 three compartments. , r r 
 
 Adult Whalebone Whales attain a length of from 
 sixty to one hundred faet and a weight of from forty 
 thousand to three hundred thousand pounds Ihey 
 are therefore the largest animals now found on the 
 globe. The bulk of body of a large Whale corre- 
 sponds to that of about thirty or thirty-five Ele- 
 
5<:U 
 
 THE WHALES. 
 
 natural courage sometimes awakes, however, and 
 may develop into fierceness, and they defend them- 
 selves with violence and not infrequently with suc- 
 cess, but on the whole they do little harm, even 
 to their most formidable enemy. Their principal 
 weapon is the tail, the enormous force of which can 
 be realized when it is considered that it is the organ 
 -which propels the huge body through the waves with 
 the speed of a steamboat. A single blow of the tail 
 suffices to smash the strongest boat to pieces or to 
 hurl it into the air, and to kill a strong animal, or a 
 human being. 
 
 We know very little about the reproduction of the 
 Whalebone Whale; only that the female gives birth 
 to one, or in rare cases two very large young, which 
 have from a third to a fourth of their mother's 
 length and are far progressed in development. The 
 mother suckles them for a very long time, defends 
 them with courage and persistence, hides them under 
 her fins in case of danger, and leads them about until 
 they become independent. 
 
 IRorquals or jfurrowet) Mbalea. 
 
 FIRST FAHILY: Bal^nopterid^. 
 
 The Furrowed Whales or Rorquals {Balcenopteridce) 
 owe their name to deep, parallel, longitudinal fur- 
 rows, which extend over the throat, breast and part 
 of the abdomen; they are of comparatively slender 
 build, furnished with a distinct dorsal fin and lancet- 
 shaped pectoral fins of variable length, and their 
 baleen plates are short, but wide. 
 
 THE HUMP-BACK WHALES. 
 
 Very long pectoral fins or flippers, which attain at 
 least one-fifth and often one-fourth of the total 
 length, distinguish the Hump-back Whales (Megap- 
 icra ) . 
 Description of the This genus is represented by the 
 Hump-Back Hump-back of English and Ameri- 
 Whale. can sailors, the Rorghval of Norwe- 
 
 gians and Keporkak of the Greenlanders {^Megap- 
 tcra longimana). This Whale is widely distributed, 
 occurring in all of the oceans; it is about fifty feet 
 in length; its flippers are about three feet wide and 
 from nine to twelve feet long and the tail fin has a 
 spread of about twelve feet. It is one of the clum- 
 siest members of the family. Compared with other 
 Rorquals it is decidedly ugly, its body being short 
 and thick, its flippers almost disproportionately long 
 and its tail-fin excessively developed. In the last 
 quarter of the total length the back shows a fat-fin, 
 the hump, which may be of very variable shape and 
 formation. The color of the skin is subject to many 
 modifications. A more or less uniform, deep black 
 hue generally prevails on the upper surface, while the 
 lower surface of the body and the flippers is diversi- 
 fied by whitish, marbled markings. 
 Habitat and Habits Few Whalebone Whales are seen 
 of the Hump- oftener or in greater numbers than 
 Bacli Whale. the Hump-back, occurring as it 
 does in all latitudes between the equator and the 
 polar oceans of the north and south, in the high seas 
 and near the coast, in .all larger gulfs and bays; and 
 it seems to migrate regularly ever)' year from the 
 poles to the equator. Off the coast of Greenland it 
 is seen only during the summer months, while it is 
 found all the year round off the western coasts of 
 America and Africa, though not in the same places 
 every month. 
 
 Though the profit of a slain Hump-back is not 
 small, it is greatly inferior to that derived from a 
 Sperm Whale or a Greenland Whale, as its blubber 
 yields proportionately far less oil than one would 
 naturally believe. For this reason the Hump-back 
 is molested by whalers only when there is no better 
 to be procured, at least off the Greenland coast. 
 Along the American and African coasts, however, it 
 is pursued, with some regularity and a considerable 
 degree of profit by the coast-dwellers. 
 
 THE RAZORBACK WHALE. 
 
 In Gray's classification the Fin-fish, which is so 
 frequently spoken of and often mistaken for some 
 other of the Rorquals, has only recently been placed 
 in its proper position, and represents a genus (Pky- 
 salus) the special features of which are as follows: 
 the head takes up about a quarter of the total length, 
 the dorsal fin is placed in the last quarter of the 
 middle line; the joints of the flippers are close be- 
 hind the head; the tail-fin is indented in the middle 
 and divided into two more or less distinct flukes. 
 Description, Habi- The Fin-fish or Razorback, called 
 tat and Habits of Sildror in Norway and Tunnolik in 
 
 the Razorback. Greenland {Physalus antiquorum) , is 
 one of the slenderest forms among the Whales, and 
 may attain a length of eighty-three feet. The flip- 
 pers are one-tenth as long and one-fiftieth as wide, 
 and the dorsal fin is one-fifth as long as the entire 
 length of the animal. 
 
 The northernmost part of the Atlantic and the 
 Arctic Oceans are the usual haunts of the Razor- 
 back. At the beginning of fall it migrates into more 
 southern waters, and thus it is also met in the seas of 
 the temperate and torrid zone; and is said even to 
 have been found in the Antarctic Ocean. 
 
 As one may conjecture from its slender form, 
 the Fin-fish is rapid and agile in its movements. It 
 is considered one of the swiftest of all Whalebone 
 Whales. In swimming quietly it proceeds in a 
 straight direction and rises very frequently to 
 breathe: every ninety seconds, according to my ob- 
 servation. I could hear the noise made by it in 
 blowing at the distance of one knot. The Razor- 
 back often appears in the immediate proximity of 
 sailing vessels, swims around them, sometimes faith- 
 fully follows them for several hours. 
 
 The food of the Razorback consists principally of 
 fish, which it often drives before it in shoals, and of 
 which it catches great numbers at once in its vast 
 mouth. When it finds an abundance of prey, it 
 remains in one place for days and even weeks, nota- 
 bly off the coast of Greenland, where it devours as- 
 tonishing numbers of Haddock and Codfish, or other 
 fish which assemble in large "schools." 
 
 The Razorback The capture of the Razorback is 
 Difficult of more difficult than that of the Green- 
 Capture. j^nd Whale on account of the great 
 speed and violence of the animal, but the profit 
 derived from its carcass is much less. In compari- 
 son with the Greenland Whale it is considered nearly 
 valueless by the cruising whalers. It is different in 
 those localities where the pursuit may be engaged 
 in from the coast-, for in these instances, all parts of 
 the body being put to account, a much higher profit 
 may be derived from it than is possible to accrue 
 to the whalers, as, for instance, off the northern 
 coast of Norway. Kuekenthal says that the value 
 of a large individual of this species is estimated 
 there to amount to ;i5625, of which only $75 repre- 
 sents the value of the short whalebone. 
 
THE SMOOTH-SKINNED WHALES-GREENLAND. 
 
 565' 
 
 THE BEAKED WHALES. 
 
 The last genus of the family comprises the Beaked 
 Whales {BalcBtwptera) which are, as far as is now 
 known, the smallest and most gracefully built of all 
 Whalebone Whales. 
 The Pike Whale the The best known representative of 
 
 Smallest of its this genus is the Pike Whale {Balce- 
 Family. noptera rostrata), the smallest known 
 
 member of its family, for its length hardly exceeds 
 thirty-three feet. A sombre slate black is the hue 
 of the entire upper surface, from the extremity of 
 the upper jaw to the angle of the flippers of the tail,' 
 including the pectoral fin; a more or less reddish 
 white color prevails on the lower surface; the flip- 
 pers have the same hue as that of the back above, 
 relieved by a white transverse stripe in the middle; 
 their under surface is white 
 like the abdomen. The 
 range of the Pike Whale 
 extends over all oceans 
 surrounding the north pole. 
 From there it wanders 
 southward, at the com- 
 mencement of winter and 
 then appears also on the 
 European, east and west 
 American and east Asiatic 
 coasts. 
 
 In respect to habits and 
 mode of life it greatly re- 
 sembles the Razorback. 
 Generally it lives singly, 
 very rarely in couples, and 
 hardly ever consorts in 
 greater numbers. It feeds 
 preferably if not' exclu- 
 sively on small fish, per- 
 haps also on cephalopods, 
 and pursues its prey with 
 such avidity that it often 
 strands itself in the act of 
 pursuit and in many cases 
 loses its life in this v/ay. 
 
 Along the American 
 coast the Pike Whale is 
 not generally hunted, and 
 along the coasts of north or central Europe 
 when it shows itself near the shore. 
 
 twenty-two feet four inches; length of the largest 
 plate of whalebone, ten feet ten inches. Yet it can 
 not be denied that larger specimens have been found 
 and still exist in remote parts of the sea. Karl 
 Giesecke tells of a Whale, taken in 1813, \yhich was 
 sixty-eight feet long, and in the commencement of 
 this century one was killed near Spitzbergen, which 
 was of about the same length and had whalebone 
 sixteen and one-half feet long. 
 
 Proportions of the A Whale sixty feet in length is really 
 Greenland an awe-inspiring monster. On an 
 Whale. . average, the shapeless head includes, 
 one-third of the total length of the animal; the 
 mouth might easily admit a boat of moderate size 
 with her crew, being from sixteen to twenty feet 
 long and from eight and one-third to ten feet wide. 
 
 THE PIKE WHALE. Smallest among the family of the Rorquals or Furrowed Whales 'is the animal 
 
 shown in the picture. It lives in Arctic waters except during the winter months, when it frequents the northern 
 American and European coasts. Its length is about thirty feet. The under surface of the animal is nearly white. 
 t^Bal(Snoptera rostrata^ 
 
 only 
 
 ^be Smootb*S^inne& Mbales. 
 
 SECOND FAMILY : Bal^nid^. 
 
 The Smooth-skinned Whales {BalcenidcB), which 
 form the last family of the suborder, are of heavier 
 and at the same time more awkward organization 
 than any of the Furrowed Whales; they possess 
 neither dorsal fin, nor- furrows in the skin; their flip- 
 pers are broad and truncated, their baleen plates 
 long and narrow. 
 
 THE GREENLAND WHALE. 
 
 We must consider the most important of all 
 Whales, the Greenland Whale {Balcena mysticeius),3.s 
 the type of this family; it is a shapeless creature, 
 which exhibits a lack of proportion in all its parts 
 and members. 
 
 Pechuel-Loesche gives the proportions of a speci- 
 men caught north of Behring Straits as follows: 
 Length, fifty-four feet eight inches, spread of tail, 
 
 In comparison with all of its relatives in the order 
 that have so far been described, this Whale is of ex- 
 tremely clumsy build. The body is short, thick and 
 round, tapering strongly towards the tail, and show- 
 ing an elevation in the middle of the head where 
 the blow-holes terminate. The eyes, which hardly 
 exceed those of an Ox in size, are placed immedi- 
 ately above the beginning of the lower jaw, the ears, 
 the outer auditory tubes of which have about the 
 diameter of a goose-quill, lie a little farther behind. 
 The two narrow, slit-like, S-shaped blow-holes, which, 
 are about eighteen inches long, are placed about ten 
 feet from the extremity bf the upper jaw on the 
 highest point of projection in the center of the head. 
 The baleen plates are from three hundred to three 
 hundred and sixty in number and those situated in 
 the middle may attain a length of about sixteen feet 
 eight inches and weigh from six to seven pounds 
 apiece. The soft tongue, with its whole lower sur- 
 face grown fast to the jaw, lies immobile in the 
 gigantic mouth. Except a few bristles at the ex- 
 tremity of the muzzle, some soft hairs on each side of 
 the head, and two or three rows of very short hairs 
 between the blow-holes, the skin is completely- 
 naked. 
 
566 
 
 THE WHALES. 
 
 The upper skin is thin, of dense texture and vel- 
 vety softness, comparable to leather saturated with 
 oil, and under it lies the layer of blubber, from eight 
 to eighteen inches in thickness. 
 
 Range and Habits The Greenland Whale inhabits the 
 of Greenland highest latitudes of the Atlantic and 
 Whales. Pacific Oceans and the Arctic Ocean 
 proper, but takes up no permanent abode. It is at- 
 tracted by the ice to a greater extent than any other 
 species of Whale, and of its own accord selects its 
 haunts in the immediate neighborhood of the ice 
 fields, and wanders south or north in seasons coinci- 
 dent with the formation or thaw of the ice. It not 
 only leaves a locality where the ice melts, but un- 
 doubtedly also travels through great distances under 
 the ice, as it has been found amidst immense ice- 
 fields, in which, in order to breathe, it was obliged to 
 rise to one of the few crevices formed by the ebb 
 and flow of the tide. 
 
 The Greenland Whale is gregarious. Generally it 
 is found associated only in small groups of three or 
 four, but during its more extended migrations it may 
 collect into schools composed of large numbers. 
 Experienced Whalers report that generally Whales 
 of the same age consort, young and old forming 
 separate troops. 
 
 Physical and Men- The movements of these animals are 
 tal Attributes of of an irregular character, but by no 
 Greenland Whales, means slow or heavy. "Clumsy as 
 the Whale's body apparently is," says Scoresby, "its 
 movements are quick and agile; it can put itself be- 
 yond the reach of its pursuers in five or six seconds. 
 So great a speed, however, can be maintained only 
 for a few minutes. Sometimes it darts upwards to 
 the surface of the water with such force that it 
 springs beyond it; sometimes it stands on its head, 
 lifting its tail into the air, and lashing the water 
 with terrific violence. The noise which this lashing 
 causes may be heard at a great distance in calm 
 weather, and the circles made in the water expand to 
 a considerable width. When it is pierced by a har- 
 poon, it dives toward the bottom, as straight as an 
 arrow, and though this direction can be maintained 
 for only a few minutes, the action is performed with 
 a speed and force that sometimes, in shallow places, 
 causes it to break its jaws in a collision with the 
 ground." 
 
 There is not much to say about the higher attri- 
 butes of this Whale. Among the perceptive senses 
 those of sight and touch alone seem to be fairly de- 
 veloped; but it may be reasonably supposed that the 
 organs of sense are sufficiently effective so long as 
 the animal remains under water, and are deficient 
 only when called on to perform their functions in the 
 -air. 
 
 In serene weather this Whale has been observed 
 in its sleep. It lies then on the surface of the water, 
 like a dead body, without moving, the extremity of 
 its head lifted above the waves; it breathes quietly, 
 without throwing up a jet, and keeps its balance 
 ■with its flippers. 
 
 As a rule, the female gives birth to one, or in rare 
 •cases two young, usually in March or April. The in- 
 fant Whale nurses for a long time, perhaps a whole 
 year, the mother lying on her side while suckling it. 
 Its growth is exceedingly rapid, and a nursing Whale 
 attains a length of at least twenty feet, a girth of 
 thirteen feet four inches and a weight of twelve 
 thousand pounds. According to all accounts the 
 mother is devotedly attached to her progeny and 
 tends and defends it with solicitude. 
 
 Economic Value of The value of the carcass of a 
 the Greenland slain Greenland Whale is very 
 Whale. great. The average production of 
 
 the animal is from 12,000 to 15,000 quarts of oil and 
 from 1,400 to 2,000 pounds of baleen. According 
 to the very variable prices of oil and whalebone, 
 the average value of a Greenland Whale amounts 
 to five thousand dollars; a large Whale, however, 
 may bring in double that sum. The greater part 
 of the profit generally comes from the baleen, 
 which no other species of Whale possesses in such 
 excellent quality. The flesh can not be said to be 
 altogether uneatable; French ship-cooks know how 
 to prepare it remarkably well. The people of the 
 high northern latitudes have no scruples about eat- 
 ing it, and they habitually consume the blubber. 
 Enemies of the Besides Man the formidable Gram- 
 Greenland Whale pus or Killer Whale is probably the 
 and their Inroads, only other foe to attack a Greenland 
 Whale. It is apparently greatly annoyed, however, 
 by various parasites, which prey upon its body. The 
 so-called Whale Lice, a genus of crustaceans, some- 
 times take up their abode on it by hundreds of thou- 
 sands and cause such ravages on its back that one 
 might think it suffered from a malignant disease. 
 Sea acorns or Barnacles also sometimes cover it in 
 large numbers and form suitable points of attach- 
 ment for various aquatic plants, so that there are 
 Whales which are obliged to carry a miniature 
 world of animals about on themselves. 
 
 Though a constant decrease in the number of 
 Whales can not be denied, we are hardly warranted 
 in believing that the Greenland Whale will be exter- 
 minated for some time. Its inhospitable native 
 waters still contain a number of refuges inaccessi- 
 ble to ships and preserve the species from the total 
 extinction which would otherwise be its lot. 
 
 Zbe ^ootbeb Mbales. 
 
 SECOND SUBORDER: Denticete. 
 
 The remarkabre difference in dentition between 
 the Whales has led to the division of the Cetacea 
 into two suborders, one of which, as we have seen, 
 comprises animals which are toothless, having the 
 place of the teeth supplied by a substance, baleen, 
 popularly known as "whalebone," which is peculiar 
 to themselves. The other suborder is known, by 
 contradistinction, as that of the Toothed Whales 
 {Denticete), including four families: the Dolphins 
 {Delphinidce), the Narwhals {Monodontidce), the Bot- 
 tle-nosed Whales {Hyperoodoniidce) , and the Sperm 
 Whales i^Catodontidce). 
 
 Z\iZ Dalpbins. 
 
 FOURTH FAMILY: Delphinid^. 
 
 The first family of the Tbothed Whales comprises 
 the Dolphins, which are medium sized or small 
 Whales having both jaws, either for their whole 
 length or partly, beset with more or less conical 
 teeth, nearly uniform in shape. The body is pro- 
 portionately long, the head comparatively small, the 
 snout in several species is elongated and pointed, 
 and there is usually a dorsal fin. 
 Range and Gen- The Dolphins inhabit all oceans, un- 
 eral Traits of dertake great migrations, but are the 
 Dolphins. only Whales which frequent rivers or 
 even spend their whole lives in them or in the lakes 
 

 
 THE GEEENIAND WHALE. This marine monster is the most important of its order, yielding both oil and whalebone in large 
 
 ■quantities and of the best quality. In the northern parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Arctic seas this giant of the mighty deep 
 makes its home, and is sometimes found in large numbers, although it is zealously hunted. The picture shows a female of the species attended 
 by her young. The older animal is shown in the act of " blowing." (Balxna mysticetus.) 
 
 (5W) 
 
568 
 
 THE WHALES. 
 
 connected with them. They are all gregarious, some 
 of them collecting in very large shoals and roam- 
 ing about the sea together for days and weeks. 
 Their liveliness, playfulness and lack of shyness have 
 earned them the friendship of sailors and poets 
 from the most remote ages. 
 
 Nearly all Dolphins swim with remarkable speed 
 and agility, and are therefore highly adapted for 
 catching fish, and among their numbers are some of 
 the most formidable and predaceous beasts of the 
 ocean. Some species even dare attack the largest of 
 Whalebone Whales, and often conquer them by dint 
 of perseverance. The food of the Dolphins consists 
 principally of cephalopods, moUusks, crustaceans 
 and minute sea organisms, but some are also said to 
 consume sea-wedds and even fruits of trees, pluck- 
 ing the latter from the branches that hang over the 
 water. They are all voracious, greedy and cruel, 
 consuming every eatable thing which they can pro- 
 cure and not even disdaining the young of their own 
 
 are eaten; the skin and intestines are utilized, and 
 the blubber yields a very fine oil, which is in great 
 request. 
 
 THE GRAMPUS. 
 
 Among the numerous species, of which this family 
 consists, the Grampus or Killer Whale, known from 
 the earliest ages and notorious for its voracity, de- 
 serves to be mentioned first. It represents a genus 
 of' the same name {Oreo). The most prominent fea- 
 ture is the exceedingly long, erect dorsal fin. The 
 body is stout, the head short, the forehead sloping, 
 the snout rather broad and the teeth are few in num- 
 ber, but very strong. 
 Characteristics and The Grampus or Killer Whale {Orca 
 
 Range of the gladiator) may sometimes attain a 
 
 Grampus. length of thirty feet, but averages 
 
 a smaller size, usually from thirteen to twenty feet. 
 
 The color seems to be very variable. A more or 
 
 less deep black extends over the greater part of the 
 
 THE GKAMPITS. This animal, also known as the Killer Whale, has, because of its ferocious and voracious nature, been aptly termed 
 
 "the Wolf of the Seas." Several of them sometimes unite in attacking the ijreat Greenland Whale and kill it, while White Whales, Porpoises and 
 Seals are killed by the Grampus singly. A stout body and short head, powerful jaws beset with strong teeth, and a long, dorsal fin, are prominent 
 features in this species. (Orca gladiator.) 
 
 kind or of their nearest relatives. The females give 
 birth to one or two young, suckle them for a long 
 time, carefully protect and tend them and defend 
 them in danger. It is believed that the young grow 
 very slowly. 
 
 Pursuit of the AH Dolphins are pursued very much 
 Dolphins and its less by Man than are the other 
 Profits. Whales. Their worst foes are the 
 members of their own family; but their own indis- 
 creet zeal is still more fatal to them than are the 
 attacks of any of their enemies. They pursue their 
 prey with such greed and eagerness that they often 
 allow it to lead them to disaster on the treacherous 
 shore: they run aground, can not swim back, and 
 thus perish on the dry land. Fishermen sometimes 
 find dozens of them lying on the beach. In their 
 agony some of them utter moans, a few shedding 
 copious tears at the same time. 
 
 Man derives considerable profit from many spe- 
 cies, for nearly all parts of the body are put to ac- 
 count. The flesh, fat and some of the internal parts 
 
 upper surface, a rather pure white over the lower 
 surface, with the exception of the extremities of 
 head and tail. It inhabits the northern Atlantic, 
 the Arctic Ocean and the northern Pacific, perma- 
 nently frequenting the coasts of England, France 
 and Germany. An odd feature in connection with its 
 migrations is that it appears in the southern waters 
 in the summer months, being wont to arrive in May 
 and disappear in the late fall. 
 
 The Grampus is numerous nowhere, but is found 
 in mid-ocean as well as near coasts, not infrequently 
 entering bays or even ascending rivers. 
 
 It hunts not only small fish, but also the giants 
 of the ocean, for it is not only the largest but also 
 the greediest and the most predaceous of all Dol- 
 phins. Wherever it appears it is the terror of all 
 creatures to which it is an enemy, and if possible 
 they leave its dangerous vicinity. Its voracity often 
 compels it to live near the coast, where it generally 
 frequents the mouths of rivers, teeming with fish; 
 but when in pursuit of larger prey it swims out into 
 
THE DOLPITINS— PORPOISES. 
 
 569 
 
 the high seas for miles and avoids the coast for days 
 or even weeks. Wherever Greenland Whales, White 
 Whales and Seals are found, one will never miss see- 
 ing this their tireless enemy. The White Whale and 
 the Seal rush toward the coast in terror at the sight 
 ■of it; the former always and the latter usually en- 
 dangering their safety in such flight. All whalers 
 hate the sight of the Grampus, for its arrival is an 
 indication that all other Whales will at once forsake 
 that part of the sea, even if they have to hide be- 
 tween the ice to escape pursuit. Eschricht took 
 ■out of the stomach of a Grampus over thirteen feet 
 long the remains of thirteen Porpoises and fourteen 
 Seals. The fifteenth Seal had stuck in its throat and 
 choked it. 
 
 Scammon says: "The attack which these Wolves 
 of the ocean make on so gigantic a prey as the 
 Greenland Whale recalls to mind a Stag pursued 
 and run down by a pack of Hounds. Some fasten 
 on to the head of the Whale, others attack it from 
 below, while a few seize it by the lips and hold it 
 
 and placed in the middle of the body, and the teeth 
 are numerous and sharp-edged. 
 The Porpoise and The Porpoise i^Phoccena communis) 
 its Habits De- attains a length of five feet to six 
 scribed. fget eight inches, or perhaps in rare 
 cases of ten feet. The skin is naked, soft, smooth 
 and glistening; the color is a dark blackish brown 
 or black with a greenish or violet lustre above, and 
 pure white beginning narrowly at the tip of the 
 lower jaw and from thence broadening backward; 
 below, the flippers are of a more or less dark brown 
 tint. The teeth are from forty to fifty in each jaw, 
 thus numbering in all from eighty to one hundred. 
 It is the Porpoise that one so frequently sees on 
 every journey through the North Sea; that prowls 
 about the mouths of western European rivers and, 
 swimming against the current, not infrequently pen- 
 etrates to a considerable distance inland. Thus it 
 has been repeatedly found in the Rhine ahd Elbe 
 and killed in the Seine at Paris and the Thames at* 
 London. 
 
 THE FOBFOISE One of the smallest animals among the Whales is the Porpoise, which is very common in all parts of the North 
 
 Atlantic It follows vessels of all kinds, has no difficulty in keeping up with the fastest steamships, but specially likes to play around saihng 
 vessels as long as they are near the coast. It has a broad tail, a short, dorsal fin and a short body. -— - "" 
 
 iPhoctcna communis.^ 
 
 under water or tear its tongue when it opens its huge 
 moutB. In the spring of 1858 I was a witness to 
 such an attack made by three Killers on a female 
 ■Gray Whale and her young." After so many ac- 
 counts, tallying in all particulars, there can hardly 
 be a doubt of the truth of the stories told of the 
 ferocity and voracity of these beasts. 
 The Grampus of Though the body of^ the Grampus 
 Little Value possesses hardly any flesh, as Steller 
 to Ufan. says, but consists of fluid fat, still it is 
 siowhere generally hunted. Grampuses are occa- 
 sionally caught in rivers; and there are on record 
 three instances of Killer Whales havmg been har- 
 pooned in the Thames. 
 
 THE PORPOISES. 
 
 The commonest Dolphin of the northern Atlantic 
 seas is the Porpoise or Sea Hog, a representative of 
 the genus Phoccena, so poor .in species Its body is 
 short and spindle-shaped* the forehBad ge-ntly slop- 
 ing, the dorsal fin is low,' broid-rooted, t^iangulftt 
 
 The native region, proper, of the Porpoise may be 
 considered to be the whole north of the Atlantic, 
 from Greenland to north Africa, inclusive of the 
 Baltic Sea. It seems that it also goes north in sum- 
 mer and turns its face south in winter. In spring it 
 goes in the wake of the Herrings and pursues them 
 so diligently that it often annoys the fishermen. Its 
 voracity is proverbial; it digests its food very quickly 
 and requires a considerable quantity of sustenance 
 to meet its needs. Fishermen detest it, as in a gen- 
 eral way it injures their trade, and sometimes in- 
 flicts upon them actual personal loss; for it easily 
 tears the weak nets in which they have captured fish 
 of the smaller varieties and then leisurely eats up 
 the prisoners. Strong nets, however, are often fatal 
 to it, as it entangles itself in them and chokes. 
 
 THE WHITE WHALE. 
 
 Martens, who visited Spitzbergen in 1671, as a 
 barber on board a whaler, and gave an account' of 
 northern marine animals, first mentions one of thfe 
 
570 
 
 THE WHALES. 
 
 most remarkable Dolphins: the White Whale or 
 Beluga, which represents the genus Beluga. The 
 lack of a dorsal fin may be considered as the most 
 important distinctive physical feature of the animals 
 of this genus. The strongly-arched forehead ter- 
 minates abruptly in the broad, truncated muzzle, the 
 jaws of which are armed with a few conical teeth, 
 which usually fall out in old age. The short, blunt 
 flippers, which are placed in the first quarter of the 
 total length, are of an ovoid shape. 
 Characteristics of The Beluga or White Whale {Be- 
 the White luga leucas) averages a length of 
 ly/ia/e. from thirteen to twenty feet. The 
 
 color is a yellowish white in old animals, brownish or 
 bluish gray in young individuals, and later is mottled 
 until it gradually fades into the hue of maturity. 
 
 The Beluga ranges throughout all waters around 
 the north pole, but does not usually roam far south. 
 In rare cases it may stray into southern seas, having 
 
 ships and gambols joyfully up and down in their im- 
 mediate proximity; yet it always remains timid, and 
 flees at the slightest noise. The principal reason, 
 however, why whalers do not hunt the animal, which 
 yields more or less profit, is, that the Beluga often 
 bafHes pursuit in the open sea by its great speed 
 and agility; and its hunt requires too much time to 
 be profitable for civilized whalers. It is different 
 with the natives of the high north: for them the- 
 Beluga is the most important of Whales, on account 
 of its oil and flesh. The majority are caught in 
 nets, which are set at the mouths of ocean creeks or 
 the inlets of bays, or in straits between islands. The 
 flippers and tail are esteemed as special delicacies,, 
 if they are well prepared. The skin is dried and 
 tanned and serves a variety of purposes. In Kam- 
 chatka, for instance, thongs are made out of it, 
 which are highly esteemed on account of their plia- 
 bility and strength. 
 
 THE WHIii. WKALZ. I . . af a white body this animal is notable as having no dorsal fin, while its blunt muzzle, 
 
 its short, oval flippers and broad, forked tail are also notable characteristics. As it ranges in polar seas, the artist has appropriately depicted 
 it in the vicinity of an iceberg. (Beluga leucas.) 
 
 several times descended to the coasts of centrai 
 Europe. Small fishes, Shrimjjs and cephalopods - 
 form their food, and besides these animals sand is 
 invariably found in their stomachs, a fact which ha[s 
 led to the joke, common among the Greenlanders, 
 that it can not swim without ballast. 
 
 In its demeanor and character the Beluga differs 
 in nearly every respect from the impetuous Gram- 
 puses, and likewise from the Porpoises. White 
 Whales are hardly ever seen singly, but generally in 
 groups, which may grow into immense schools. The 
 sight of such a school is said to afford a truly mag- 
 nificent spectacle, as the dazzlingly white animals 
 sometimes, as they rise to breathe, lift their bodies 
 half above the dark waves. 
 
 The Beluga of Great The whalers greet the Beluga with 
 
 Value to the Arc- joy, as they see in it the precursor 
 
 tic Dwellers. of the large Whale, and they often 
 
 sail on in its company, without molesting it. Under 
 
 these circumstances this Dolphin comes close to 
 
 ROUND-HEADED WHALES. 
 
 ' Among all the gifts of , the sea none is more im- 
 portant for the northern native than the one prof- 
 fered in the' shape of an animal belonging to the- 
 famiiy which we have now under consideration. 
 The Ca'ingW hale, I mean the Ca'ing or PilotWhaie 
 its Haunts and {^Globiocephalus melas), a representa- 
 Habits. tive of the genus of the Roundheaded 
 Whales (Globiocephalus). The Ca'ing Whales [which 
 name is a Scotch contraction of " Calling" Whales] 
 are characterized by the almost globular head, which 
 has a swollen appearance; the crescent shaped flip- 
 pers, placed well under the body; the dorsal fin, erect 
 in the middle of the back, and the wide intermaxil- 
 lary bones of the lower jaw. The body is not spin- 
 dle-shaped, but compressed laterally. In each jaw,, 
 placed at tolerably wide, intervalsi. -there ' are from 
 twelve to fourteen rather long," nearly- cottical, in- 
 terlocking teeth, the sharp points of which are. 
 curved slightly backward and inward. The naked> 
 
THE DOLPHINS— DOLPHINS PROPER. 
 
 571 
 
 shining skin is deep black above, grayish black be- 
 low, marked with a broad, heart-shaped, white patch 
 •on the lower part of the neck. Very old males at- 
 tain a length of from twenty feet to twenty-three 
 feet four inches. The Ca'ing Whale inhabits the 
 Arctic Ocean and also the northern part of the 
 Pacific. From the Arctic Ocean it prowls throughout 
 the northern part of the Atlantic, occasionally pene- 
 trating as far south as the latitude of Gibraltar, but 
 it does not follow definite routes as do other Whales.. 
 More gregarious than others of its family and order, 
 it always lives in schools and herds, which may 
 swell from ten and twenty to one thousand or more. 
 It seems that they are led by old, experienced 
 males, which they follow with the same indifference, 
 ■or rather stupidity, that Sheep exhibit in following 
 their leading ram, even if it be to their own peril. 
 
 The diet consists principally of various varieties of 
 Cuttle-fish I' yet thestomach of a Ca'ing Whale which 
 was killed was found to contain Haddocks, Herrings 
 and other small fish, and several kinds of moUusks, 
 
 pers are placed squarely on the sides, in about the 
 first fifth of the length of the body; the dorsal fin is 
 situated nearly in the middle of the upper surface; 
 the tail-fin is proportionately very large and of an 
 almost exact crescent shape. 
 The Dolphin De- The Dolphin {Delphinus delphis) at- 
 scribed — lts tains an average length of six feet 
 Wide Range, eight inches. The skin is exceed- 
 ingly smooth, and not only shining but varied in 
 color. It is greenish brown or greenish black above, 
 dazzlingly white below, with a sharp but not straight 
 line of demarcation; the sides are irregularly spotted 
 with a grayish or blackish tint. The number of 
 teeth is subject to considerable variations. Usually 
 there are from eighty-four to one hundred in each 
 jaw, but there also have been found Dolphins which 
 had fifty-three teeth on each side of the jaws above 
 and below: that is, the amazing number of two hun- 
 dred and twelve in all. The teeth stand at regular 
 intervals, the upper ones interlocking between the 
 lower ones; they are long, conical and very pointed. 
 
 rA'ING OR PILOT WHALE Belonging to the genus of the Round-headed Whales is the Ca'ing or Pilot Whale which inhabits the 
 
 Arctic and the northern portions o£ the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The head is almost lound and its dorsal fin is rather large and of crescent 
 shape These animals often pursue their prey to the shore and meet destruction on the shallow banks. {Globioceflialus melas.) 
 
 The Ca'ing Whale No other Whale is stranded so fre- 
 Frequently quently and in such numbers as the 
 Stranded. Ca'ing Whale, the gregarious habits 
 of which lead it into fatal danger; perhaps it is not 
 going too far to say that this Whale does not meet 
 with death in the sea, but almost invariably on land. 
 Hardly a year passes, but that a greater or smaller 
 number of Ca'ings are stranded in some place. In 
 1779 a herd of two hundred met with this fate, m 
 1805 another of three hundred was stranded on the 
 Shetland Isles; and in 1809 and 18 10 eleven hundred 
 Whales were cast ashore in a bay called Walfjord m 
 Iceland. On all northern islands the inhabitants 
 have endeavored, from ancient times, to strand all 
 Ca'ing Whales which show themselves m the neigh- 
 borhood, in order to take advantage of the very con- 
 siderable profit which results from their capture. 
 THE DOLPHINS PROPER. 
 
 The Dolphins, and several species closely allied to 
 them, represent a distinct genus {Delphmus). ihe 
 comparatively small head tapers in front into a snout, 
 elongated in a beak-like manner and armed with a 
 great number of conical permanent teeth; the Hip- 
 
 AU the seas of the northern hemisphere are in- 
 cluded in the habitat of this celebrated animal, 
 which contributes so much to the amusement of sea- 
 farers and travelers. In its habits and ways the Dol- 
 phin exhibits, if possible, a still more playful, capri- 
 cious disposition than its relatives. Sometimes it 
 prowls about the high seas, sometimes it ascends far 
 towards the sources of rivers. Dolphins approach 
 ships in schools and play around them for a long 
 time before they shape their course in another direc- 
 tion; they plunge up and down incessantly, lift their 
 heads above the water for a few moments, blowing 
 with a snorting noise, and then disappear again in 
 the deep. They swim with such extraordinary 
 speed, that they not only follow the course of the 
 swiftest steamer with ease, but gambol near it on 
 their way, circling around it at will, without being 
 left behind. Occasionally one of them jerks itself up 
 into the air and, turning a somersault, falls noise- 
 lessly back into the water and hurriedly resumes 
 its former position. 
 
 The teeth show clearly enough that the Dolphin 
 belongs among the most predaceous and voracious 
 animals of the sea; it is said to even turn upon its 
 
572 
 
 THE WHALES. 
 
 wounded companions. Its food consists ot fish, 
 Shrimps, cephalopods and other marine animals. 
 Its favorite prey are Sardines, Herrings and Flying- 
 fish. 
 
 Dolphins are born singly; the young one is from 
 twenty to twenty-four inches in length, and the 
 mother nurses it very tenderly for a long time. 
 
 The Dolphin encounters a worse foe in the Killer 
 Whale than it does in Man; for the latter pursues it 
 only when the lack of the fresh meat of land ani- 
 mals forces him to supply his need' with the flesh 
 of the Dolphin. This fact is to be attributed to a 
 certain reverence on the part of Man which the ani- 
 mal enjoys up to the present day. 
 
 As early as 1819 A. von Humboldt published an 
 account of a Dolphin inhabiting the fresh waters of 
 South America, without, however, giving a detailed 
 description of it. The painstaking German natural- 
 ists, Spix and Martens, published a more accurate 
 description in 1831, but the final account is due to 
 the Frenchman, D' Orbigny. 
 
 and in the Orinoco. It is said to differ from the 
 ocean Dolphin in that its movements are slower and 
 less active; it swims more quietly, often rising to 
 the surface to breathe and generally gathers only 
 into small groups. 
 
 Bates tells us that the Amazon River is inhabited 
 by at least three different kinds of Dolphins .and 
 that Whales are numerous everywhere but surpris- 
 ingly plentiful in some places. "On the wider parts 
 of the riverbed," says this. observer, "from its mouth 
 upward k>i: fifteen ,hundred;,:miies,;some one of the! 
 species can be constantly heard to roll, blow or 
 snort, especially at night, and it is these very sounds- 
 which contribute not a little to inspire the traveler 
 with the conception of oceanic vastness and soli- 
 tude." The food of these Dolphins consists mainly 
 of small fish; but they are said not to disdain varipus 
 fruits which fall from the trees into the river. The 
 Inias show the greatest preference for the dear, 
 deep estuaries formed by those waters at the junc- 
 tions of tributaries with the main streams, evidently 
 
 THE DOLPHIN, The smootM-skinned, lively and voracious Dolphin which finds itself just as much at home in the deep ocean as near 
 
 shore, is a familiar sight to all who go to sea, for it follows in the wake of vessels sometimes for days. It is a smooth-skinned, compact animal, 
 and its muzzle is elongated into a beak-like projection. (Delphinus delfhus.) 
 
 Thelnia,or The Inia or Bonto {Inia amazonica) 
 Bonto, of South represents the genus of the Long- 
 America. beaked Dolphins {Inia). Its muzzle 
 is elongated into a narrow, roundish, obtuse beak, 
 overgrown with stiff hair, and each jaw has sixty- 
 six or sixty-eight pointed teeth with curved, strong 
 crowns. The slender body is equipped with long 
 flippers, notched at the upper ends and tapering in 
 crescent shape towards the extremities; the tail-fin 
 has no flukes and the dorsal fin is very low. The 
 length of the male varies between six and ten feet. 
 The female is said to be only' half as large. The 
 Inia is of a pale bluish color on its entire upper 
 surface and pinkish red beneath; but there are many 
 deviations; sometimes one finds individuals of a pro- 
 nounced reddish or even blackish tint. Recently 
 naturalists have differentiated and classified several 
 allied species. 
 
 As far as is now known, this Dolphin inhabits 
 nearly all South American rivers between the tenth 
 and seventeenth parallels of south latitude. It is 
 well known in the Amazon River and its tributaries, 
 
 because such places harbor the greatest number ot 
 fish. 
 
 The Inia is not pursued by the natives. Its flesh, 
 is said to be tough, its blubber small in quantity, and 
 its skin suitable for scarcely anything but the manu- 
 facture of shields, the capture thus being remunera- 
 tive only in very slight degree. 
 
 THE SOOSOO. 
 
 Pliny mentions a Dolphin under the name of Pla- 
 tanista, which lives in the Ganges River in India, and 
 a.ccording to his description is twenty-three feet, 
 long. The animal really exists, but is much smaller 
 tfjan the celebrated old authgr says, bejng only six 
 feet eight inches long. This Whale is the Soosoo of 
 the Ganges {Platanista gangetica) and is specifically 
 characterized by a very slender body, a crescent 
 shaped, forked tail-fin, and a long, beak-like snout 
 curving upward, the upper jaw of which forms a 
 crest projecting in front and surrounding the blow- 
 holes. The "jaws contain thirty or thirty-two strong,, 
 conicajj pqinted teeth. The fin on the back is indi- 
 
THE NARWHAL. 
 
 573 
 
 cated only by an elevated, fatty skin, the color is 
 grayish black above, grayish white beneath. 
 
 This remarkable Dolphin, which, however, recent 
 investigations have shown to be bv no means the 
 only representative of the order living in the rivers 
 of southeastern Asia, exists not only in the Ganges 
 and its tributaries, but has also been found in the 
 Brahmaputra and the Indus. The food of this spe- 
 cies consists chiefly of fish and Shrimps; occasion- 
 ally grains of rice and remains of insects are also 
 found in its stomach, but they are said to come from 
 the intestines of fish it has devoured. 
 
 Z\iz marwbal. 
 
 FOURTH FAniLY: Monodontid^. 
 
 Important distinctions separate the Narwhal or 
 Sea Unicorn {Monodon mo/ioceros), the representative 
 of the genus of the same name, so widely from the 
 
 behind. The tail-fin is very large and branches into 
 two large flukes. The hue of the shining, soft, 
 velvety skin seems to be subject to considerable 
 modifications according to the sex and age. In the 
 male the white or yellowish white ground color is 
 diversified with numerous, irregularly shaped, dark 
 brown spots set closest together on the back, widest 
 apart on the abdomen, and merging into one an- 
 other on the head; young animals are darker than 
 old ones. There are also nearly purely white and 
 grayish, unmarked individuals. The total length of 
 the Narwhal is said to sometimes be as great as 
 twenty feet, not averaging, however, more than from 
 thirteen to sixteen and one-half feet. 
 Superstitions and We must not be astonished at the 
 Facts Concerning fact that marvelous stories concern- 
 the Narwhal. [^g the Narwhal were rife among 
 our ancestors. An animal so remarkable in shape 
 necessarily arouses the wonder of mankind, and so 
 long as science had not yet spoken a decisive word, 
 there was food for imagination. The tusk especially 
 
 THE INIA. This animal, sometimes called the Bonto, is quite common in the larger rivers of South America. Its muzzle is elongated 
 
 into a beak and its flippers are long. It is especially prominent in the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers. Its movements in the water are quite 
 lively. It lives on fish and is very voracious, i/nia amazonica.') 
 
 other Toothed Whales that a distinct family has 
 been based on the animal. The dentition differs 
 from that of all other Whales in the development of 
 two enormous tusks, which are from six and one- 
 half to ten feet long, comparatively weak, twisted 
 from right to left, hollowed inwardly and projected 
 horizontally from the upper jaw. The right tusk is 
 stunted as a rule, and in the female both tusks attain 
 but a limited development. There are two small 
 incisors and one molar besides, in the upper jaw, but 
 they are invariably found only in young animals. 
 The cylindrical head is rounded in front and occu- 
 pies about one-seventh of the total length of the 
 elongated, spindle-shaped body; the snout is very 
 short, broad, thick, somewhat shortened on the right 
 side and is not differentiated by any line of demar- 
 cation, from the flat forehead, but is abruptly trun- 
 cated, being cut off almost perpendicularly in front. 
 There is no fin on the back, its place being supplied 
 by a. fold of skin. The pectoral fins are situated in 
 about the first fifth of the length of the body. They 
 are short, of oval outline and thicker in front than 
 
 has given rise to manifold conjectures. Albertus 
 Magnus speaks of this animal as a fish, which has 
 a horn on its forehead, with which it can pierce 
 fish and frail ships, but says it is very slow in its 
 movements, and the objects of its attacks can eas- 
 ily escape. On our part we regard this tusk as a 
 weapon, such as is often given the male sex alone. 
 
 The Narwhal is an inhabitant of the northern seas 
 and is oftenest found between the seventieth and 
 eightieth parallels of north latitude. It is plentiful 
 in Davis' Straits and Baffin's Bay, in the Arctic 
 Ocean between Greenland and Iceland, around 
 Nova Zembla and farther in the north Siberian seas, 
 and it is rare south of the Arctic Circle. In its 
 native latitudes it is nearly always seen in schools 
 containing large numbers, for in point of gregari- 
 ousness it is inferior to none of its relatives. "Dur- 
 ing its migrations," says Brown, " I have seen schools 
 numbering many thousands. With tusks and tails 
 aligned, they swam beside each other, going north, 
 their movements recalling to the mind of the ob- 
 server those of a cavalry regiment; bobbing up and 
 
574 
 
 THE WHALES. 
 
 dovvn with seeming greatest regularity, pursuing 
 their course in wavy lines. Such schools are not 
 always composed of individuals of the same sex, 
 but consist of males and females mixed." 
 Disposition, Food Modern seafarers describe this Whale 
 
 and Foes of the as a very lively, agile animal, which 
 Narwhal. gives the sea an aspect of animation 
 by reason of its extraordinary speed and repeated 
 divings and reappearances, and enchains the atten- 
 tion of the observer. It certainly does not wage 
 such bloody wars with other Whales as have been 
 fabled, and it lives on amicable terms with its own 
 kind. 
 
 Sea cucumbers, mollusks and fish form the food 
 of this notable creature. 
 
 Manifold dangers and many foes menace the life 
 of the Narwhal. Of no other Whale does one find 
 so many remains as of this on6. Winter, which 
 often arrives with surprising abruptness, binding the 
 seas of the high north in fetters of ice, endangers 
 and renders difficult the existence of all air-breath- 
 ing marine animals, puts an end to the lives of hun- 
 dreds and thousands of this species, and when the 
 
 than they are now, for we see in them only an ivory- 
 like masg. About one hundred and fifty years ago 
 there were still very few Narwhals' tusks in Europe 
 and those that seafarers chanced to find met with a 
 ready sale. They were held to be the horns of the 
 Unicorn of the Bible, and that is why Englishmen 
 place this member on the fabulous Unicorn of their 
 national coat- of -arms. Emperors and kings had 
 them made into rods, adorned with the daintiest 
 carvings, for the purpose of being carried behind 
 these monarchs on state occasions, and valuable 
 crosiers for bishops were also manufactured out of 
 them. As late as the sixteenth century four Nar- 
 whals' tusks were preserved in the Baireuth museum 
 on the Plassenburg as extraordinary curiosities. One 
 of them had been accepted by two margraves of 
 Baireuth as payment of a debt owed by King Charles 
 V, and for the larger one. the Venetians offered the 
 enormous sum of 30,000 sequins, as late as 1559, with- 
 out succeeding, however, in obtaining possession of 
 it. One tusk, which was suspended by a golden 
 chain in the electoral collection of Dresden, was 
 valued at g 100,000. 
 
 THE SOOSOO. With a long, slender body ending in a forked tail at one end and a long beak in another, the Soosoc is one of the stran- 
 gest members of the Dolphin family. It is found in the Ganges and other principal rivers of India, where it lives on fish. (Platanista gangetica.) 
 
 ice fields break the sea washes their dead bodies 
 or fragmentary remains ashore. Small parasites 
 torment the Narwhal, large enemies menace it, and 
 Man in many localities also pursues it. Some are 
 harpooned in the high seas; on the whole, however, 
 the extent of the chase is nowhere considerable, the 
 results therefrom not being remunerative according 
 to the European or American standard of profitable 
 adventure. Flesh and oil are equally esteemed. 
 When the Danish ladies living in Greenland bring 
 the flesh on the table, boiled or fried and served in 
 the jelly made of the fat skin of the same animal, 
 they are filled with the consciousness that the most 
 fastidious foreigner will soon learn to appreciate the 
 dish. Native Greenlanders eat the flesh boiled and 
 dried, the skin and blubber raw; they burn the oil in 
 lamps, make thread out of the sinews and air-bag 
 floats out of the stomach, which they use in fishing; 
 they even know how to put the intestines to account. 
 Tushs and Teeth of In former times very large sums 
 the Narwhal Highly were paid for the tusks. All kinds 
 Valued. of occult powers were ascribed to 
 
 them, and they were put to far more varied uses 
 
 ^be 36ottlc*=mo0e& Mbales. 
 
 FIFTH FAMILY: Hyperoodontid^. 
 
 For the sake of completeness I will briefly men- 
 tion the third family of the suborder, which com- 
 prises the Bottle-nosed Whales {Hyperoodontidm) and 
 is represented by several species, chiefly in southern 
 seas. The Whales belonging to this family differ 
 from the Dolphins as much by the snout which is 
 prolonged into a more or less beak-like formation as 
 by the dentition, the peculiarity of which is that 
 the lower jaw has on each side only one or two 
 developed teeth, and besides them, if any at all, but 
 few rudimentary ones, which do not project beyond 
 the gums. 
 
 Characteristics and One of the better-known members 
 Habitat of the Bot- of this family is the Bottle-nosed 
 tIe.Nosed Dolphin. Dolphin {Hyperoodon bidens) a stur- 
 dily framed Whale ranging in length between twenty 
 feet and twenty-six feet eight inches. The snout is 
 prolonged like a beak and protrudes to the extent of 
 from twelve to twenty-four mches; a short but deep 
 fold of skin extends from the middle of the lower 
 
THE SPERM WHALES. 
 
 575 
 
 jaw backward on each side of the mouth; a similar 
 furrow is found farther back at the throat; the rest 
 of the skin is smooth and glistening, of a more or 
 less uniform black tint, but as a rule darker on the 
 upper than on the lower surface. 
 
 The range of the Bottle-nosed Dolphin seems to 
 be restricted to the Arctic Ocean and the north of 
 the Atlantic; but it undertakes regular migrations 
 thence, which lead it into waters that are a consid- 
 erable distance south of its usual range. It makes 
 an annual appearance near the Faroe Islands and 
 not infrequently appears off the coasts of Great 
 Britain and even ascends some of the favorably 
 situated British rivers. Cuttle-fish, moUusks and 
 small fish form its diet. Of the former it consumes 
 enormous numbers: the remains of over 10,000 of 
 these animals have been found in the stomach of a 
 captured specimen. Kuekenthal affirms that its div- 
 
 greater part of their length, and are beset with an 
 array of conical teeth of nearly equal length, while 
 the dental formations of the upper jaws hardly de- 
 serve the name of teeth. 
 
 Description of The Sperm Whale is inferior in size 
 ttie Sperm only to some of the largest Whale- 
 Whale. bone Whales. There are statements 
 to the effect that some old males have been encoun- 
 tered which measured one hundred feet, but one will 
 probably come nearer the truth, when no exact meas- 
 urements are given, if he accepts the length to range 
 between sixty-six and seventy-six feet, the circum- 
 ference between thirty and forty feet and a width of 
 tail of sixteen and one-half feet. This holds good 
 for male or "bull" Whales, for the females are, 
 without exception, considerably smaller, not eveji 
 attaining half the length of the males. In propor- 
 tion to the dimensions of the body the pectoral fins 
 
 THIf WA-RWH AT This species diffeis so gieatly from all other members of the order of the Whales that it is classed alone in a sepa- 
 rate Eenuf Its most characteristic feature is found in th. long tusks which project from six to teii feet; and another is the numerous spots which 
 mark fts sWes. TtTs plentiful in all the seas of the north, but is rarely seen south of the Arctic circle. (^Monodon monocerus.) 
 
 In the largest of the Sperm 
 
 ing powers are remarkable considering its compara- 
 tively small size: a harpooned Bottle-nose took off 
 three hundred fathoms of line and remained forty- 
 five minutes under water. 
 
 ^be Sperm iKHbales. 
 
 SIXTH FAMILY: Catodontid^. 
 
 The fourth family of the Toothed Whales i^Cato- 
 dontidce) is represented by the Cachalot Spermaceti 
 Whale or Sperm Whale {Catodo?, or Physcter macro- 
 cephalus), the type of the genus of the same name 
 (Catodon), the most uncouth member of the whole 
 order. It is, characterized by its enormous head, 
 protuberant at the extremity of the snout and ab- 
 ruptly cut off; by the possession of a single blow- 
 hole, placed somewhat to the left, and by the pecul- 
 iar formation of the lower jaw, the two ha ves of 
 which lie close together and almost parallel for the 
 
 are remarkably small. 
 
 Whales they measure only six and one-half feet in 
 length and forty inches in width. The huge, block- 
 like head, which is abruptly truncated in front, has 
 the same height and breadth as the body, into which 
 it merges without distinct demarcation or the inter- 
 position of a neck. The body is very thick in the 
 anterior two-thirds and then tapers towards the tail. 
 In the last third there is a low, humpy bulbous, im- 
 mobile dorsal fin, which sometimes has a cut-off 
 appearance behind and gradually merges into the 
 body in front. The short, broad, thick pectoral fins 
 are placed immediately behind the eyes and have 
 five longitudinal furrows on the upper surface, cor- 
 responding to the five phalanges or fingers encased 
 in the integument, while the lower surface is smooth. 
 The tail-fin is not deeply forked and has two flukes, 
 the margins of which are indented in youth. The 
 blow-hole is a slit of from eight to twelve inches, 
 and curved sorriewhat like the letter S ; in contra- 
 
576 
 
 THE WHALES. 
 
 distinction to its position in other Whales it is placed 
 quite in front on the head, somewhat to the left of 
 the median line. The small eye lies far back; the 
 ear, a small longitudinal slit, lies a little below the 
 eye. The gape of the mouth is very wide, the jaws 
 opening back nearly to the eyes. The lower jaw is 
 considerably narrower and shorter than the upper 
 one, into which it fits when the mouth is closed, and, 
 like it, is beset with rootless, conical teeth, the num- 
 ber of which varies considerably, as some drop out 
 in old age and others become nearly covered by the 
 gums. Only the teeth in the lower jaw, from thirty- 
 nine to fifty-two in number (sometimes more numer- 
 ous on one side of the jaw than on the other) are 
 proportionately large. The skull is remarkable for its 
 lack of symmetry, the head for its bulk and uniform 
 thickness. Beneath the layer of blubber, which on 
 the head is several inches thick, spread layers of 
 cartilage, which serve as a covering for a large cavity 
 which a horizontal wall divides into two compart- 
 ments, connected by several apertures. The entire 
 cavity is filled with an oily, light substance, the 
 spermaceti, which is also found in a tube running 
 from the head to the tail, and in many little sacs 
 interspersed in the flesh and blubber. The flesh is 
 tough and coarse-grained and interwoven with many 
 thick, stiff, cartilaginous integuments. Over it lies a 
 layer of blubber, variable in thickness and enveloping 
 all is the naked, nearly smooth, glistening skin, of a 
 dusky black or deep dark brown hue, lighter in places 
 on the abdomen, the tail and the lower jaw, and in 
 very old Whales also on the top of the head. The 
 tongue is fixed along its entire under surface to the 
 lower jaw. The stomach has four compartments and 
 the bladder is filled with an orange colored, oily fluid 
 which sometimes contains ball-shaped lumps from 
 three to twelve inches in diameter and twelve to 
 twenty pounds in weight, probably products of dis- 
 ease, similar to the stones or calculi found in the 
 bladders of other animals. These balls furnish the 
 well-known and valuable substance known as am- 
 bergris. 
 Habitat and Habits The Sperm Whale is almost cosmo- 
 
 9/ the Sperm politan in range. All oceans of the 
 Whale. globe, with the exception of the 
 
 Arctic and Antarctic, harbor it. Pechuel-Loesche 
 considers the waters between the fortieth parallels of 
 north and south latitude as the proper range of the 
 Sperm Whale, and from this region it makes irregu- 
 lar excursions to the north, following warm currents 
 and also south to the fiftieth parallel and occasion- 
 ally beyond it. All specimens which have been 
 observed between the fifty-fifth and sixtieth parallels 
 of north and south latitude and still farther from the 
 equator can only be regarded as stragglers. Cer- 
 tainly no experienced and trustworthy whaler has 
 ever found or hunted groups or so-called "schools" 
 of the animals in these regions. 
 
 After the fashion of Dolphins this gigantic Whale 
 traverses the ocean in compact groups or schools of 
 greatly varying numbers, selecting the deepest waters 
 as its haunts. It is fond of prowling near those 
 coasts washed by deep water but it carefully shuns 
 dangerous shoaly water, though it may occasionally 
 accidentally appear in it. The schools usually con- 
 sist of twenty or thirty members; at certain times, 
 however, several schools are said to unite and jour- 
 ney along together. 
 
 In respect to its movements the Sperm Whale is 
 little inferior to the swiftest members of its order. 
 In quiet swimming it travels from three to six knots 
 
 an hour, but when excited it rushes through the 
 waves, plowing them up like a steamer. One can 
 recognize it from afar by its movements. When 
 moving calmly, it glides lightly under the surface, 
 but when hurrying it violently strikes its tail up 
 and down, so that its head alternately goes up high 
 and down low. Not infrequently it assumes a per- 
 pendicular position, holding either its head or its 
 tail high above the surface: differing in this from 
 most other Whales. When playing it stretches out 
 one of its flippers and beats the water with great 
 force; or it lashes the waves with its tail so th^t 
 the splash can be heard far away and huge white 
 sheaves of water shoot up which can be seen at a 
 distance of ten knots on clear days and serve as 
 good signs to experienced whalers. On calm days 
 Sperm Whales lie in the water quite motionless and 
 let themselves be rocked by the waves, or they put 
 their heads high up in a ludicrous way, assuming an 
 erect position in the water. One might take them 
 for the ends of huge tree-trunks or the necks of 
 gigantic bottles, gently rocking to and fro on the 
 waves. 
 
 Various kinds of Cuttle-fish form the principal 
 food of the Sperm Whale. Small fish that stray 
 into its large mouth, are naturally swallowed like- 
 wise, but the Whale does not hunt them. Occasion- 
 ally it also indulges in vegetable food, devouring 
 the various fruits of trees, which the rivers take into 
 the sea. 
 The Sperm Whale The Sperm Whale has been hunted 
 an Object of Vigi- from remote times, but more exten- 
 
 lant Pursuit. sively since the end of the seven- 
 teenth century, the precedence in this form of 
 enterprise belonging to the Americans. Since the 
 beginning of this century the South Sea has been 
 the principal hunting ground for these Whales, and 
 even now they are nearly exclusively Englishmen 
 and North Americans who engage in this pursuit. 
 During the years from 1820 to 1830 English whalers 
 took 45,933 barrels of spermaceti, giving an annual 
 average of nearly 4,600 barrels; in 1831 and 1832 
 the yield grew to 7,605 and 7,165 barrels. During 
 the last thirty or forty years, owing to the develop- 
 ment of the petroleum industries, the profit of Sperm 
 Whale hunting has decreased considerably. An 
 adult male Whale yields from eighty to one hun- 
 dred and twenty barrels of oil; the value of such a 
 specimen varies, according to the exceedingly un- 
 stable condition of the market, between $2,200 and 
 $5,000; the females are not worth half so much, 
 being much smaller. 
 
 The pursuit of the Sperm Whales is fraught with 
 greater, danger than that of other Whales. A Whale- 
 bone Whale endeavors to injure its enemy only in 
 exceptional cases, while the Cachalot defends itself 
 when attacked, turns courageously upon its adver- 
 sary and makes use not only of its tail, but also of 
 its formidable teeth. That it defends itself with its 
 teeth against other enemies than Man is substan- 
 tiated by various observations. Thus, sometimes an 
 old male, with a totally mutilated lower jaw, is 
 killed, the animal evidently having been engaged in 
 a fight with one of its own species, or some yet un- 
 known Leviathan of the deep; besides this, whalers 
 also know from hard experience, that not only does 
 a fighting Sperm Whale sometimes run its head 
 against a boat or smash it with its tail, but really 
 takes it into its mouth and crushes it quite easily. 
 Definite observation has shown that it can adjust 
 its tooth-studded lower jaw at almost a right angle 
 
THE SPERM WHALES. 
 
 577 
 
 to the upper one, and also move it laterally to 
 a remarkable extent. When it is harpooned, it 
 sometimes remains lying quite still in the water for 
 a few moments as though it were paralyzed, thus 
 giving a vigilant whaler opportunity to despatch it 
 quickly. As a rule, however, it engages in a des- 
 perate conflict for its life and by no means always 
 seeks safety in flight, but retaliates for the injury 
 received, with stern fury. All experienced seafarers 
 have stories to tell about accidents, caused by it; 
 some of these tales may be exaggerated or invented, 
 but others have been thoroughly proven. 
 Adventure of What- The ship Nantucket was made a 
 
 ers with Sperm complete wreck, in the year 1807, 
 Whales. by a Sperm Whale, off the coast 
 
 of Massachusetts. In 
 1820 the boats of the 
 ship Essex hunted a 
 school of Sperm Whales 
 in the South Sea, while 
 the ship was following 
 under shortened sail. A 
 gigantic bull appeared 
 in proximity to the ship 
 and leisurely swimming 
 up to it, struck itself 
 against it, as it seemed, 
 quite accidentally. The 
 ship was severely shaken 
 and the Whale also ap- 
 peared to be seriously 
 injured, for it rolled 
 furiously about in the 
 water; soon, however, it 
 recovered and made off 
 — at least such was the 
 belief of the crew, who 
 were working at the 
 pumps, for a consider- 
 able leak had been 
 sprung in consequence 
 of the collision. The 
 Whale was seen to sud- 
 denly halt at a distance 
 of about one hundred 
 fathoms, turn around and 
 charge full at the vessel ; 
 it struck one side of the 
 bow and crushed it to 
 such an extent that the 
 ship immediately began 
 to sink. Some old bulls 
 are well known to the 
 whalers, and have ac- 
 quired a kind of celeb- 
 rity as "fighting Whales," 
 or "biting Whales," as for 
 instance "New Zealand 
 
 Tom," a gigantic fellow, named after its favorite 
 waters. It is said to have its wits sharpened to such 
 an extent that it meets any attack half way and 
 smashes or bites through the boats which do not 
 escape in time. The ships themselves it leaves un- 
 molested. It is immortalized in songs and in tales; 
 its back is said to be studded with harpoons, resem- 
 bling that of a Porcupine. At any rate one may re- 
 gard the Sperm Whale as the most gallant or the 
 noblest of all Whales; it is the type of a genuine 
 monster of the sea. 
 
 The gain to be expected from the pursuit of the 
 
 to compensate for the serious dangers with which 
 the undertaking is fraught. Besides the blubber, 
 which yields very good oil, spermaceti and ambergris 
 are also taken from the Cachalots. The spermaceti 
 which is baled out of the cavity in the head, is fluid, 
 transparent and nearly colorless in its fresh state; 
 it coagulates in a cold temperature and then assumes 
 a white color. It is used in medicine and in the 
 manufacture of candles, which are preferred to all 
 others. Of still greater value is the ambergris, about 
 which so many fables were current from ancient 
 times, until it was recognized to be an excretion of 
 the Cachalot; it is a light, wax-like substance of very 
 variable color, and possessed of a very agreeable 
 odor; it softens in heat, changes into an oily liquid 
 
 THE SFEBK WHALE. This great monster, which frequently exceeds seventy feet in length, has a heavy. 
 
 log-like head vvhich is flattened at the extremity, and the blow-holes are placed in front of the head, fhis Whale is 
 extensively hunted, principally for its oil, which is a valuable article of commerce. ( Catodon macrocefhalus.) 
 
 in boiling water, and evaporates when subjected to 
 great heat. It is largely used for fumigating pur- 
 poses and is also mixed with perfumed oils and 
 soaps. It is more frequently found floating in the 
 ocean than in the body of a Whale. There is no 
 doubt that pieces one hundred and eighty pounds 
 in weight, five feet in length and over twenty inches 
 in thickness have been found floating on the water. 
 Besides these substances the teeth of the Sperm 
 Whale are also put to account. The pulp is some- 
 what yellowish, but firm and durable, and the teeth 
 are extensively used for buttons and chips; one 
 
 Sperm Whale, however great it may be, is too little pound is worth from half a dollar to one dollar. 
 
jr^' 
 
 THE GIANT KANGAROO. One of the most interesting of mammals is tlie Kangaroo, a typical Pouched Animal, which is also pote^orthy for 
 
 the disproportionate size and strength of its hind limbs. When moving about on all fours, grazirig,- it, presents an awkward appearance, but it mikes rapid 
 progression by great bounds, using its powerful hind limbs only, after the inanner of a Jerboa, When the Kangaroo is at rest it often assumes a perfectly 
 upright position; the tail 'aiding the two hind legs to form a sort of supporting tripod for the body. When two of these animals iight, which sometimes 
 happens, the weak fore paws prove only ineffective weapons, but the Kangaroo can inflict severe wounds with the sharp claws of its powerful hind feet, 
 sustaining itself meanwhile upon its tail. (Macropus giganteus.) 
 
 (578) 
 
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 FOURTEENTH ORDER: Marsupialia. 
 
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 AMMALIA, except those of 
 the Apes, the Whales and 
 the Momotremes, includes 
 no order which is equally 
 important, or more worthy 
 of the attention of natural- 
 ists and students, than that 
 of the Pouched Animals, 
 or Marsupials. Close con- 
 sideration of the latter 
 order shows that under this 
 classification are ranged 
 families which have little 
 in common except the 
 pouch and the mode and organs of propagation, 
 and which could be, not inaptly, grouped as inde- 
 pftident orders of a distinct sub-class of mammals. 
 Examination of these animals leads involuntarily 
 to the opinion that we have before us a group which 
 was in the palmy period of its existence in the ages 
 when lived and thrived the shapeless amphibia of 
 the mainland, the Flying Lizards of the air, and the 
 marine Dragons of the sea. Very weighty evidence 
 indicates that the Pouched Animals are only slightly 
 modified offspring of mammals of bygone periods 
 of creation and development. 
 
 By comparing a Pouched Animal to a beast of 
 prey or to a rodent, the dullest eye will instantane- 
 ously perceive that the Pouched Animal is in all 
 respects much less developed and perfected than 
 the corresponding predaceous or gnawing mammal. 
 This shortcoming of the Pouched Animal is found 
 •either in the formation of the body, or in the con- 
 struction of some of the limbs, or in the dentition. 
 "We speak with pleasure of the graceful frame of 
 many carnivores or rodents, but it is seldom that we 
 experience the same feeling in regard to a Pouched 
 Animal. At best some one species may excite our 
 Avonder, but not our pleasurable emotions; another 
 our sense of the ludicrous; a third simply repels us. 
 Something is always wanting in a Pouched Animal 
 to meet the sense of propriety of one accustomed 
 to other animal forms. In examining the dentition, 
 our opinion of the importance of the animal is no 
 more favorable; for the teeth, also, seem imperfect 
 .and deficient, compared to those of the corre- 
 sponding carnivores and rodents. The predaceous 
 Pouched Animal has a sufificient number of teeth 
 in its mouth, and they are arranged in a manner 
 similar to those of the beasts of prey, but they are 
 always less developed. What holds good in respect 
 to the predaceous Pouched Animals may also be 
 said of the others, and thus the impression that the 
 Marsupials are imperfect and insufficiently devel- 
 oped beings seems thoroughly justified. 
 
 General Charac- Little can be said of the bodily form- 
 
 ■teriatics of Pouched cLtion of the Marsupials in general. 
 
 Animals. The various members of the order, 
 
 as to physical characteristics, differ more from one 
 
 another than do those of any other order. Natu- 
 rally, the formation of the digestive organs and, in a 
 certain sense, also the articulation of the supporting 
 bony skeleton, harmonizes with the dentition, and as 
 the order of the Pouched Animals contains genuine 
 carnivorous forms as well as true vegetable; feeders, 
 and even groups recalling to mind the traits of the 
 ruminants, we would hardly be justified in speaking 
 of a prevailing type among the members of this 
 order. Without considering the size, which ranges 
 between that of a medium-sized Deer and that of a 
 Shrew, no other order comprises such a variety of 
 animals, and it seems unnecessary to say anything in 
 this place that would have to be repeated in the 
 course of description. A common characteristic of 
 all members of the order is the structure of the 
 organs of reproduction and the possession of mar- 
 supial (or pouch) bones. These latter are formed 
 from the tendons of the external oblique abdominal 
 muscle, which are inserted in front into the pubis, 
 ossify and thus become the so-called marsupial-' 
 bones, found also in the male, but in the female 
 probably serving to protect, by strengthening the 
 abdominal wall, the young placed in the pouch from 
 the pressure exerted by the abdominal viscera.. The 
 mammae, to which the newborn young attach them- 
 selves, are situated in the pouch. This pouch may 
 be a perfect pocket, or degenerate into merely two 
 folds of skin, or be entirely rudimentary. The 
 young are born under conditions not found existing 
 in any other higher mammal. They are sinkll, 
 naked and blind and their limbs are mere stubs. . 
 Birth and Deuel- The female Pouched Animal gives 
 opmentof Mar- birth to its young in an immature 
 aupials. state of development, takes them up 
 in its mouth and puts them to the mammse. There 
 they remain until the organs of sense and the limbs 
 have developed, and, in the forms possessing a devel- 
 oped pouch, this latter is, during this time, not only 
 a nest and refuge for the young, but also the place 
 in which it develops into a perfect infant. Thence 
 the young one undertakes excursions later, which it 
 gradually extends; but it spends its entire infancy 
 suckling, and with more than one member of this 
 remarkable order the embryonic period preceding 
 birth lasts only a month or little more, while its 
 development during pouch-life extends through a 
 period lasting from six to eight months. In the case 
 of the Giant Kangaroo, the little animal puts its 
 head out of the pouch about nine weeks before it 
 first leaves it, and for about nine weeks more the 
 young creature lives part of the time in the pouch 
 and the remainder outside of it. The number of 
 young may be quite large. 
 
 Habitat and Attri- The Marsupials at present inhabit 
 
 butes of the Australia and a few adjacent islands, 
 
 Marsupials. South and North America. In 
 
 America the members of one family only are found, 
 
 and the majority of species exist in the southern 
 
 (579) 
 
580 
 
 THE POUCHED ANIMALS. 
 
 parts. In accordance with their great diversity in 
 physical structure, the Pouched Animals have little 
 in common in their mode of life: some are carniv- 
 orous, others are vegetable feeders; many live on the 
 ground, others on trees, some temporarily even in 
 the water; the majority have nocturnal habits, but 
 some are active by day also. 
 
 In 1888 Thomas differentiated six families, thirty- 
 seven genera and one hundred and fifty-one species 
 of Marsupialia, which may all be classified accord- 
 ing to their dentition into two suborders, the carniv- 
 orous and the herbivorous forms. 
 
 Iberbivorous poucbeb animal0. 
 
 FIRST SUBORDER: Diprotodontia. 
 
 In the suborder of the Herbivorous Pouched Ani- 
 mals there are three incisors in the upper and only 
 one in the lower jaw, but the latter is particularly 
 long and strong. The premolars are always small 
 and weak, especially those in the lower jaw, which 
 usually fall out early in life and are generally absent 
 in the adult animal. The molars are blunt, but strong, 
 and the entire dentition adapts the animals of this 
 suborder to a diet of fruit and grass. The suborder 
 includes three families: The Leaping Pouched Ani- 
 mals, the Climbing Marsupials, and the Wombats. 
 
 Xeaping poucbeb animals. 
 
 FIRST FAMILY: Macropodid^. 
 
 The first family of the vegetable feeders comprises 
 the Leaping Pouched Animals {Macropodidce), dis- 
 tinguished by their dentition and by their peculiari' 
 ties of form, which in most species are very marked. 
 The upper jaw normally contains three incisor teeth, 
 the anterior one being largest, and a canine tooth 
 being present only in exceptional cases; in the lower 
 jaw there is only one wide, chisel-shaped incisor 
 tooth and the canine tooth is always absent; there 
 are besides four premolars and eight molars in each 
 jaw. The mode of locomotion of the Leaping 
 Pouched Animals is by a series of leaps ; some 
 species, however, know how to climb trees. 
 
 THE KANGAROOS. 
 
 The sub-family of the Kangaroos {MacropodincB) 
 contains, besides the giants of the order, creatures 
 of a Rabbit's size, but all possess a highly character- 
 istic structure. The body of the Kangaroo increases 
 in girth from the throat toward the buttocks; and the 
 most largely developed part of the body is the loin 
 region, on account of the great muscular proportions 
 of the hinder limbs. On the other hand, the head 
 and chest are almost rudimentary in development. 
 The locomotion of the Kangaroo is almost exclu- 
 sively performed by the hinder part of the body, 
 and thus the great development of that portion is 
 explicable. The Kangaroo can use its weak fore 
 legs only in a very insignificant way for locomotion 
 and for the grasping of food, while the greatly 
 lengthened hinder legs and the powerful tail enable 
 it to proceed by leaps. The hinder legs and the tail 
 are undoubtedly the most characteristic feature of 
 the animal's structure. The legs have strong thighs, 
 long shins and a disproportionately lengthened foot 
 
 region with strong, long toes, the fourth of each hav- 
 ing a huge, hoof-like nail. The number of toes is 
 only four, as the thumb is lacking. The tail is pro- 
 portionately thicker and longer than that of any 
 other mammal, and extremely muscular. The fore 
 feet of the Kangaroo, which have five toes, each fur- 
 nished with round, moderately and equally devel- 
 oped nails are used by the animal after the fashion 
 of hands. The head partakes of the character of 
 that of a Deer and also bears some resemblance to 
 the head of a Hare. 
 
 Range and Australia and its adjacent islands are 
 
 Habits of the the home of the Kangaroo; the wide, 
 Kangaroo. grassy plains in the interior of the 
 continent form its favorite haunts. Some species 
 prefer bushy localities, others the rocky*- mountains 
 to the lawn-like, grassy plains, and still others have 
 taken up their abode in almost impenetrable thick- 
 ets, through which they must make passages and 
 paths by breaking limbs and branches; or else they 
 live on the rocks and trees themselves, incredible as 
 this may seem. Most species are active by day; the 
 smaller species, however, are nocturnal animals, hid- 
 ing by day in shallow depressions, which they make 
 their permanent abodes. A few also permanently- 
 inhabit rocky crevices. 
 
 The Kangaroos undoubtedly take rank among the 
 most remarkable of mammals. Everything about 
 them is really extraordinary: their movements and 
 their attitudes when at rest, the way they seek their 
 food, their reproduction, their development and their 
 mental qualities. Their ordinary gait, which they 
 assume principally when they are grazing, is a heavy, 
 awkward hobble. The animal supports its fore feet 
 on the ground and then pushes the hinder legs on 
 between them. While doing so, it must also sup- 
 port itself on its tail, as else it could not lift its 
 long hinder legs high enough to render such move- 
 ments possible. But the Kangaroo remains in this" 
 inconvenient position no longer than is absolutely 
 necessary. When browsing upon bushes or trees 
 it always sits on its hinder legs and tail and lets 
 the fore legs hang down limply. Whenever it has 
 plucked some favorite plant, it assumes the erect 
 position to consume it. It supports its body on the 
 soles of its hind feet and on its tail, which is firmly 
 planted on the ground behind, the body thus resting 
 securely and conveniently as if on a tripod. In their 
 sleep the smaller species adopt a position similar 
 to that of a Hare in its form: closely crouched to 
 the ground, they squat down on all fours, the tail 
 being extended at length behind the body. This 
 position enables them to take flight instantly. 
 
 When a Kangaroo's suspicion is aroused, its first 
 impulse is to flee. Then it displays all its agility. 
 When its gait is faster than its ordinary grazing hob- 
 ble, it leaps only on its hinder legs, but its bounds 
 surpass those of any other animal in length. It 
 presses its fore limbs tightly against the chest, 
 stretches the tail Straight backwards, thrusts the 
 long and slender hind legs against the ground with 
 all the force of the powerful thigh muscles, and 
 darts like an arrow through the air in a low curve. 
 The leaps follow in immediate succession, aijd each 
 is at least nine feet, but the larger species cover, not 
 infrequently, from twenty to thirty-three feet at a 
 bound, the height of each leap being from six to 
 ten feet. Even captive specimens take leaps of 
 twenty-six feet, if chased back and forth in a large 
 enclosure. It takes quite an excellent Dog to keep 
 pace with a Kangaroo, and indeed there are few 
 
LEAPING POUCHED ANIMALS— KANGAROOS. 
 
 581 
 
 Hounds that can do so. When there is anv cover, 
 such as brushwood, the pursuit has soon to be given 
 up; for the agile Kangaroo easily clears the bushes 
 in its way by leaping over them, while the Dog has 
 to go around. On uneven ground its speed is less, 
 and it experiences great difficulty in going down 
 hill, as it is apt to fall forward in its violent bounds. 
 
 YELLOW-LEGGED KANGAROO. The Mountain or Rock Kanga- 
 roos make their retreat in caverns and crevices and leap -with agility from 
 ■one ledge to another. The Yellow-legged Kangaroo, shown in the picture, 
 ■witli the little baby Kangaroo which rests in her pouch, belongs to this 
 genus. [Petrogale xanthofus.) 
 
 A running Kangaroo may hold out for hours, with- 
 out tiring. 
 
 Mental Capacity Among the perceptive senses of the 
 ■and Propagation of Kangaroo that of hearmg probably 
 Kangaroos. ranks highest: at least there is a 
 ■continual movement of the ears in captive speci- 
 mens, just as in other captive large game animals. 
 ■Sight is less keen, and smell, probably, is rather defi- 
 cient. Some observers, however, aver that the ani- 
 mals see, hear and scent excellently. They are very 
 dull in intellect: even Sheep are far superior to them 
 in this regard. Anything out of the accustomed 
 order confuses them, for they are not capable of 
 a rapid comprehension of new surroundings. The 
 brain works slowly; every impression they receive 
 becomes clear to them only gradually. A captive 
 Kangaroo becomes used to Man in general, but I 
 doubt whether it discriminates between its keeper 
 and other people. 
 
 The reproductive powers of all Kangaroos are 
 •slight. The large species rarely give birth to more 
 than one young one at a time. When the young 
 one is born the mother takes it up with her mouth, 
 opens the pouch with both fore feet, and attaches 
 the insignificant little creature to the breast. Twelve 
 
 hours after birth the young Giant Kangaroo has a 
 length of only a little over one and one-fifth inches. 
 It can be compared only to the embryos of other ani- 
 mals, for it is quite immature, transparent, soft and 
 worm-like; its eyes are closed, the ears and nostrils 
 are only indicated, the limbs yet unformed. There 
 is not the slightest resemblance between it and the 
 mother. The fore legs are one-third longer than 
 the hinder ones. It hangs from the breast in a 
 strongly curved position, its short tail bent upwards 
 between the hinder legs, without a noticeable move- 
 ment; it is even incapable of sucking. As soon as 
 it has been attached to the nipple, the latter swells 
 so considerably that it completely closes the mouth 
 of the little one. As before indicated it is supposed 
 that the young Kangaroo does not suck at all, but 
 is provided with milk without making any effort of 
 its own, the milk squirting into its mouth in re- 
 sponse to contraction of the lacteal muscles of the 
 mother. For nearly eight months it is nourished 
 exclusively in the pouch; it sometimes protrudes its 
 head slightly a little before this period expires, but 
 it is not yet capable of moving independently. 
 
 THE BEAR KANGAROO. This .animal, which is one of the Tree 
 
 Kangaroos, has its home in New Guinea. It climbs with facility and feeds 
 on the fruit, bark and leaves of trees, Its hind limbs are proportionately 
 shorter than those of the Kangaroos proper, although still longer than the 
 fore pair. {Dendrolagus ttrsinus.) 
 
 A considerable time after it first peeps out of the 
 pouch, the young one occasionally leaves its refuge 
 and roams about near its mother, but for a long 
 time it flees back to the pouch whenever it appre- 
 hends any danger. It approaches its mother with 
 long bounds and dives headlong into the half-open 
 pouch of the quietly sitting female. 
 
582 
 
 THE POUCHED ANIMALS. 
 
 Kangaroos The Kangaroos are the most impor- 
 Important Game tant objects of the chase in their na- 
 
 Animals. tjyg country and are hunted very ex- 
 tensively by beasts of prey as well as by Men, natives 
 or whites. The white Men, however, cause much 
 greater havoc in the ranks of the Kangaroos than do 
 the natives. Numerous methods are employed to 
 exterminate the animals; they are shot with fire-arnis, 
 or coursed to death by Hounds: and that for very 
 wantonness, for the slain bodies are left to rot in 
 the woods. "That is the reason," says an anony- 
 mous writer, "why the Kangaroos are already exter- 
 minated in the environs of all larger cities and set- 
 tlements; and if this savage chase is permitted to 
 continue, it will not be long ere they will be num- 
 bered among the rarer mammals in the interior 
 also." 
 
 Kangaroos Easily AH species of Kangaroo readily re- 
 Tamed and Ac- sign themselves to confinement, and 
 
 climated. are easily maintained on hay, green 
 
 fodder, turnips, grain, bread and similar articles of 
 food; they do not require a specially warm shelter 
 in winter and breed readily if given proper care. 
 
 THE GIANT KANGAROO. 
 
 The Giant Kangaroo {Macropus giganteus) , known 
 by the appellation of "Boomer" among the Aus- 
 tralian settlers, belongs to the largest species of the 
 family. Very old males have, when in a sitting posi- 
 tion, nearly the height of a human being. Their total 
 length amounts to about ten feet, about three feet of 
 this being included in the tail; the weight ranges 
 between two and three hundred pounds. The female 
 is, on an average, one third smaller than the male. 
 The fur is copious, thick, smooth and soft, nearly 
 woolly in texture. The coloring is a brown that can 
 hardly be described, mixed with gray. The fore- 
 legs, and the hind shins and ankles are white or 
 grayish white, the toes are blackish; the head shows 
 the color of the back with dark stripes on the sides; 
 the tail is brownish, gradually darkening- towards 
 the extremity, being entirely black at the tip. 
 
 Traits of the Cook discovered this species of Kan- 
 Giant Kan- garoo in 1770 on the coast of New 
 garoo. South Wales and described it under 
 
 the name in use among the natives. The animal 
 lives in grassy pastures or in the sparsely grown 
 scrubby woods, such as are often found in Australia. 
 It retreats to the bush especially in summer, seeking 
 shelter from the hot noonday sun. At present it 
 has been driven far into the interior of the country 
 by incessant pursuit, and even there it is becoming 
 rare. It lives in groups, but is not as gregarious 
 as we were formerly led to believe by reports that 
 many different families unite. Usually only three 
 or four are seen together, and they regard the social 
 bond so loosely, that one cares very little for the 
 other, but goes its own way independently. A par- 
 ticularly good pasturage may cauSe a larger number 
 of the animals to congregate, but they separate 
 again when they have exhausted the resources of 
 the locality. Formerly it was believed that males 
 were leaders of the bands, probably because their 
 large size seemed to render them fit for this office; 
 but this supposition has been proven to be incorrect. 
 All observers agree that the Giant Kangaroo is ex- 
 ceedingly shy and timorous and seldom allows a 
 person to approach it. At present it is more rarely 
 seen in confinement in Europe and America than 
 when it was more numerous and easier to capture in 
 its native country. With good treatment it survives 
 
 a long time; specimens have lived in Europe from 
 ten to twenty-five years. 
 
 MOUNTAIN KANGAROOS. 
 
 The Mountain Kangaroos {Petrogale) are animals 
 fitted for a life in mountainous regions; to them 
 belong the Yellow-legged Kangaroo {Petrogale xan- 
 tkopus) and the South Australian Rock Kangaroo 
 {Petrogale penicillata). The latter attains a length of 
 fifty inches, inclusive of the tail, which is as long as. 
 the body and has a tuft of hair at its end. The pre- 
 vailing color is purple-gray, merging into a whitish 
 brown hue on the sides, black behind, brown or yel- 
 lowish beneath. 
 Home and Habits The mountains of South Australia 
 of the Rook harbor the Rock Kangaroo in con- 
 Kangaroo. siderable numbers ; yet it is not oftea 
 seen, as it is a lover of the night ajid very rarely^ 
 comes out of the dark caves and gulches betweea 
 the rocks before sunset. The agility which it dis- 
 plays in climbing along the rocky precipices would, 
 do credit to a Monkey. By its climbing accomplish- 
 ments it is protected much more effectually than its 
 relatives from pursuit by Man and other foes. la 
 modern times Rock Kangaroos have been repeatedly- 
 brought alive to Europe and they may be frequently- 
 seen in zoological gardens. They do not differ from 
 their relatives in their habits or behavior, except ia 
 their climbing propensities. 
 
 THE TREE KANGAROOS. 
 
 The climbing powers of the Macropodinae are 
 brought to the highest point of development in the 
 four species constituting the Tree Kangaroos {Den- 
 drolagus), of New Guinea and north Queensland. 
 The large, strong fore legs are but little inferior ta 
 the hinder limbs and are a very characteristic feature 
 of this genus. The Bear Kangaroo {Dendrolagu^ 
 ursinus) of New Guinea is a medium large animal,, 
 fifty inches in length, a little more than half of which 
 is included in the tail. 
 
 All observers agree that one can hardly imagine 
 a more remarkable creature than a Tree Kangaroo,, 
 merrily moving about among the branches and dis- 
 playing nearly all climbing abilities that have been 
 observed in mammals. The animal climbs up tree 
 trunks with the greatest ease, going up and down with 
 the security of a Squirrel; yet it looks so strange 
 in the tree tops that every spectator is much amazed 
 when, for the first time, he sees the dark-haired, 
 long-limbed creature, hopping from the ground to 
 the tree and moving about the waving branches. In 
 accordance with the nature of its haunts, it feeds 
 principally on leaves, buds and shoots of trees; 
 probably it also eats fruit. One seldom sees it ia 
 captivity. 
 
 THE KANGAROO RATS. 
 
 The small leaping forms are called Kangaroo Rats 
 {Potoroincs) . They generally resemble their large 
 relatives greatly, but differ froni them not only by 
 reason of their small size, but also in the long nails 
 on the middle toes of the fore limbs and especially in 
 their dentition. This sub-family is restricted to the 
 continent of Australia and Tasmania. 
 
 THE OPOSSUM RAT. 
 
 One of the largest species of the Kangaroo Rats 
 is the Opossum Rat {BettOTigia penicillata), an animal 
 of the size of a Rabbit, with very short, round ears, 
 and rather long hair. The color of the upper sur- 
 
THE CLIMBING MARSUPIALS. 
 
 583 
 
 face of the body is grayish brown, sprinkled with 
 black and white; the under surface is dingy white 
 or yellowish. The Opossum Rat is especially dis- 
 tinguished by a brush of long, black, bushy hair, 
 covering the last third of the tail; it is nearly twenty- 
 seven inches long, twelve and one-half of which are 
 included in the tail. It is indigenous to the whole 
 
 KANGABOO BAT, This Australian animal well deserves its name, 
 
 of the rat-like appearance of its head and tail. The other portions of the 
 formed like those of the Kangaroos. (Potorous tridaciylus.) 
 
 of continental Australia with the exception of the 
 northernmost region. 
 
 Gould says: "Like the other species of the 
 genus, the Opossum Rat scoops out a hollow in the 
 ground for the reception of its thick-walled, grassy 
 nest, the appearance of which is so thoroughly in 
 harmony with the surroundings, that one is sure to 
 overlook it, except by the 
 most careful examination. 
 The way the dwarf Kan- 
 garoo transports the dry 
 grass for the construction 
 of its nest is very pecul- 
 iar. Jt is done by means 
 of the tail, which is quite 
 prehensile. The animal 
 seizes a tuft of grass with 
 the tail and drags the ma- 
 terial to its destination; 
 one may imagine how 
 queer and curious a sight 
 is presented when, in con- 
 finement, it gathers the 
 material for its lair in a 
 similar way." 
 
 THE KANGAROO RAT. 
 
 The Kangaroo Rat 
 {^Potorous tridactylus) may 
 be recognized by its ob- 
 long head, its short legs 
 and its rat-like tail. Its 
 body is sixteen inches OPOSSUM eat — This ammai 
 
 long, its tail ten inches, broad head a long tail with tufted end 
 ,, o'. , . , , . fleet, as it lumps about on Its hind feet, 
 
 the body is of short, 
 
 sturdy organization, and the neck is thick. The tail 
 is long, flat, and distinctly ringed and scaly; it is 
 covered very sparsely with short, stiff hairs. The 
 long, loose, feebly-glistening fur is dark brown above, 
 dingy or yellowish white beneath. 
 
 The Kangaroo Rat is a native of the colonies of 
 Nfew South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and 
 Tasmania. It affects localities sparsely grown with 
 
 bushes, and shuns an open prairie country. It scoops 
 out a hole in the ground between tufts of grass, 
 carefully lines it with dry grass and hay and there it 
 spends the day sleeping, usually in company with 
 others of its kind; it is of truly nocturnal habits, 
 appearing abroad only towards sunset. 
 
 The Kangaroo Rat differs very markedly from 
 the other Kangaroos in its movements. It 
 runs quite differently and much more swiftly 
 than they, more after the manner of the Jer- 
 boas; that is, it moves the hind legs alter- 
 nately and not both at once. In respect to 
 diet it also differs from its heretofore de- 
 scribed relatives. It digs chiefly after tubers, 
 plants and roots and therefore sometimes 
 causes considerable damage in cultivated 
 fields. Since the establishment of zoological 
 gardens the Kangaroo Rat has not infre- 
 quently been taken alive to Europe and 
 America. It thrives excellently on plain 
 food and requires no particular shelter. A 
 box lined with hay or a small earth-house 
 suffices; if it is given no place of abode it digs 
 out a lair for itself and lines it carefully with 
 grass, leaves and hay, in the same manner 
 that it prepares a nest when free in its native 
 country. 
 
 because 
 body are 
 
 ^be Climbing flDarsupiale. 
 
 SECOND FAMILY : Phalangerid.e. 
 
 In the family of the Climbing Pouched Animals 
 {Phalangeridce) we range three sub- families, the mem- 
 bers of which are mostly herbivorous, and seldom 
 
 belongs to the sub family of the Kangaioo Rats It has a short, somewhat 
 and strongly developed hind quarters and limbs Its movements are very 
 but slow when on all fours. (Bettongia penicillata.) 
 
 carnivorous or insectivorous; they lead an arboreal 
 life, have five toes on each foot, a single-cham- 
 bered stomach and a well developed pouch, opening 
 in front. On the hinder feet the second and third 
 toe are grown together, while the fourth is the long- 
 est and the nailless great-toe (corresponding to the 
 thumb of Man) is opposable to the others; the toes 
 of the fore feet are of more or less equal size. 
 
584 
 
 THE POUCHED ANIMALS. 
 
 KOALA OR AUSTRALIAN BEAR. 
 
 The first sub-family is formed by only one genus 
 and species, and presents to us one of the most re- 
 markable of all the Pouched Animals, the Koala or 
 Australian Bear {Phascolarctus chiereus). The tail- 
 less body is stout, the head very thick and short- 
 snouted, the mouth is provided with cheek-pouches, 
 the ear is large and overgrown with bushy hair, the 
 fore and hinder paws have five toes and are genuine 
 hand-feet, or feet capable of seizing and holding an 
 object. On the fore paws the two inner toes are 
 opposed to the three others; the hinder feet have a 
 strong, nailless, opposable thumb and toes of very 
 
 
 THE SPOTTED CUSCUS. One of the handsomest of the Marsupials is the 
 
 Spotted Cuscus, which mal<es its home in the northern part of Australia, New Guinea and 
 the islands north to the Celebes. The prehensile tail is long and is nalced and scaly for its 
 terminal half. The animal is a tree-dweller and lives on vegetable food and also on such 
 birds and mammals as it can overcome. (Phalnnger macnlalus.) 
 
 unequal size, armed with sharp, long and curved 
 nails, thus being eminently adapted for climbing. 
 In respect to dentition, the unequal upper incisors, 
 of which the first is the largest and strongest, the 
 small canine teeth, and the grinders, provided with 
 cusps, are worthy of notice, as special characteristics 
 in which this animal differs from its relatives. 
 
 The name of "Pouched Bear" is characteristic, 
 for the Koala bears a striking likeness to a young 
 Bear in shape, gait and general behavior. Its 
 length is about twenty-four inches, the height at the 
 withers about half as much. The color of the upper 
 part of the body is reddish ashy gray, the under sur- 
 face is yellowish white; the outer sides of the ears 
 are blackish gray. 
 
 The Koala is indigenous to east Australia from 
 Queensland to Victoria. It is nowhere common and 
 is therefore little known as yet. In pairs it moves 
 about the loftiest trees with a slowness which has*- 
 also gained for it the name of "Australian Sloth." 
 The animal is of semi-nocturnal habits, sleeping at 
 least through the greatest heat and light of the day, 
 deeply hidden in the tops of gum-trees, which form 
 its favorite haunts. Towards evening it begins its 
 quest for food. Quietly and unmolested by any 
 other creature of the wilderness, it proceeds leis- 
 urely to browse off the young leaves and shoots of 
 branches, holding them with its fore paws and biting 
 them off with its front incisors or cutting teeth. 
 
 Being of dull senses it suffers itself to 
 be taken with little trouble and resigns 
 itself with equanimity to the inevitable, 
 including confinement. It not only quickly 
 becomes very tame, but in a short time 
 learns to know its keeper and even dis- 
 plays a certain attachment for him. 
 
 So far as is known, the female gives birth 
 to only one young one. After the infant 
 has outgrown the pouch, she carries it 
 around on her back and shoulders for a 
 long time, and treats it with great care and 
 affection. Europeans have known the 
 Koala only since 1803; the nati"ves, who 
 call it Goribum, have always regarded it 
 as a valuable object of the chase. They 
 hunt it diligently for its flesh, climbing 
 after it on trees. 
 
 SMALL POUCHED APflMALS. 
 
 The sub-family richest in species is 
 formed by the Small Pouched Animals 
 {PhalangerincE), which attain, at the most, 
 the size of large Martens. The tail is 
 generally long and prehensile, ths snout 
 is short and broad. 
 
 THE CUSCUS. 
 
 In the forests of Celebes, the Moluccas, 
 New Guinea, the Timor group and north 
 Queensland are found the members of a 
 peculiar genus of this sub-family, the Cus- 
 cus {Phalavger). They are of clumsy, awk- 
 ward structure, with moderately long ears, 
 perpendicular pupils of the eyes and a 
 thick, more or less woolly fur: the tail is 
 hairy only around the root, the terminal 
 half being naked and nearly covered with 
 warts. 
 
 The Spotted The Spotted Cuscus, known 
 Cuscus the Hand- to the inhabitants of Aru as 
 somest Species. Wangal ( Phalanger macula- 
 tus), is one of the handsomest species of the genus; 
 it attains a total length of forty-four inches, the tail 
 including about nineteen inches of this. A thick, 
 woolly fur of silky softness clothes the body. The 
 color is subject to many modifications. The upper 
 surface is generally white, dashed with yellow or 
 with gray, relieved by large, irregular, rusty red, 
 deep brown or black spots; the outer faces of the 
 limb are lighter. The under parts are always spot- 
 less and of a pure white hue. 
 
 The Spotted Cuscus inhabits the islands east of 
 Celebes to New Guinea and North Australia. We 
 are indebted to the Dutchman, Valentyn, for the first 
 accounts of the life and habits of these animals. He 
 relates that the Cuscus or Kusus, as the Malays call 
 
THE CLIMBING MARSUPIALS-COOSOOS. 
 
 585 
 
 them, are among the queerest members of the Weasel 
 tribe on Amboina. "The head bears much resem- 
 blance to that of a Rat or a Fox. The end of the 
 tail is bare and prehensile; with it they cling>.so 
 firmly to branches that one can pull them off only 
 with a great effort. On the Moluccas also they do 
 
 KOALA OE AUSTRALIAN POUCHED BEAK. Combining many 
 
 ■characteRstics of the Bear and the Sloth, although a true Marsupial, the 
 Koala, with its short, thickset body, short.snout and large head is one of the 
 most singular and interesting arboreal animals of Australia and Tasmania. 
 •(Phascolarctus cinereus.) 
 
 not live in burrows, but on the trees, in the woods, 
 especially where there are tree -nuts. There are 
 more of them on Ceram and Buru than on Amboina, 
 for on the latter island they fear the people, who 
 ■catch them in a peculiar way and eat them; for they 
 are a delicacy for the natives, and when fried, the 
 flesh tastes like that of a 
 Rabbit. To capture one 
 of these animals the hunt- 
 er must stare fixedly at it 
 when it is suspended by its 
 tail; this will cause it to let 
 go in fear and it will fall 
 from the tree. However, it 
 is not given to every one 
 to be able to 'look a Cus- 
 •cus off a tree.' The animals 
 •eat green leaves, the outer 
 shells of canary nuts, pisang 
 and other succulent fruits. 
 While eating they sit like 
 ■Squirrels. Between the 
 hinaer legs is a pouch, in 
 which from two to four 
 young are kept." In the 
 forests all known species 
 feed on fragrant fruit; in 
 ■confinement they also eat 
 raw meat, in default of 
 vegetable food. Their 
 conduct in the cage or in 
 a room is as little prepos 
 
 particularly stupid and dull; at night the eyes glow 
 like those of other nocturnal animals: then they re- 
 semble the Loris in many respects. 
 
 THE COOSOOS. 
 
 The Coosoos {Trichosurus) are seen much more 
 commonly in Europe; they are nearly allied to the 
 Cuscus, have a similar dentition and are distin- 
 guished from the latter by reason of the roundish 
 pupils, large ears, smooth fur, and a tail which is 
 hairy for its entire length, except on the under sur- 
 face of the tip. 
 
 The Vulpine Pha- One of the best-known species of 
 langer— Its Habits, this genus is the Vulpine Phalanger 
 Range, etc. ^ Trichosurus vulpecula or Phalangista 
 vulpind), an animal which appears to combine the 
 graceful form of the Squirrel with that of the Fox. 
 The body is twenty-four inches long, the tail eight- 
 een inches. The upper surface of the body is of a 
 brownish gray hue, with a fallow reddish tinge, very 
 marked in places; the under parts are light ochre 
 yellow, the throat and chest are generally of a rusty 
 red, and the back, tail and whisker-hairs are black. 
 The Vulpine Phalanger inhabits Australia and Tas- 
 mania, and is one of the most common of all Aus- 
 tralian Pouched Animals. Like its relatives, it lives 
 exclusively on trees in the woods and its habits are 
 thoroughly nocturnal. Its food is for the most part 
 of a vegetable nature, but it by no means despises a 
 little bird or some other vertebrate. 
 
 Only two young ones are born to the female and 
 they are carried in her pouch for a considerable 
 time, but later she carries them on her back, until 
 the little ones can dispense with maternal care. 
 They are readily tamed. . Of late, living Vulpine 
 Phalangers have frequently been exported to for- 
 eign countries, and most zoological collections pos- 
 
 THE VULPINE PHALANGER OR COOSOO. This animal, which looks like a relative both ot tne Fox 
 
 and the Squirrel, is one of the most common of the tree-inhabiting Marsupials of Australia. It sleeps during the 
 day but is lively at night, although its food is principally vegetable, with a preference for fruit. ( Trichosurus vul- 
 pecula.) 
 
 sessmg as their looks. , „ . . ^i j 
 
 They are slow, quiet, sleepy and peevish; they eat sess several. Captive specimens are gentle and 
 greedily and drink verv much. They do not live at peaceable: that is, they do not bite; but they are so 
 peace with each other,' but often strike one another, stupid, listless and lazy that they afford the ob- 
 
 Iccompanying the blows with growls and yelling ^- ''-1° ^1-=.-^ Ti.. ...„..= ,.nr=n. th. 
 
 ■cries; they spit like Cats, hiss and pull one another 
 about. During the day their large carmine-red eyes, 
 the pupils of which contract into narrow slits, look 
 
 server but little pleasure. The natives pursue the 
 animal diligently and consider its flesh an excellent 
 delicacy, in spite of the repulsive odor which it gives 
 forth, and they also find many uses for its skin. 
 
586 
 
 THE POUCHED ANIMALS. 
 
 They wear a mantle of Coosoo fur with the same 
 gratification of vanity which we derive from a gar- 
 ment of Sable or Marten. 
 
 THE POUCHED SQUIRRELS. 
 
 The Pouched Squirrels {Petauroides) bear such a 
 striking resemblance to the better known Flying 
 Squirrels in their physical conformation, that they 
 might easily be mistaken for them, if their dentition 
 were not so different from that of those rodents. 
 
 r.WiT/-v»w.^« 
 
 SUG-AB SQTJIBEEL. This pretty ag le an mal nakes its home in eastern Austral a in the dense for 
 
 ests of eucalyptus trees, the bark of which contains a kind of sugar, known as "melitose." From this favorite 
 food the Sugar Squirrel gets its popular name. It has a flying membrane like the American Flying Squirrel and 
 can use it with great effectiveness. [Petaurus sciureus.) 
 
 The Pouched Squir- The single species of the genus, the 
 
 rel, its Haunts Pouched Squirrel {Petauroides vo- 
 and Habits. tans'), possesses a flying membrane 
 extending from the top of the fore leg to the base 
 of the large toe of the hind foot. It attains a length 
 of body of twenty inches; the tail, which is bare on 
 the under side of the tip, being of about the same 
 length. The head is small; the snout short and 
 pointed; the eyes are very large and the ears are 
 broad and grown with thick, bushy hair. The feet 
 have strong, curved and sharp nails. The fur is 
 very long, soft, bushy on the tail and subject to 
 great modifications in point of hue. Generally the 
 upper surface of the animal is brownish black, the 
 head a more decided brown; the flying membrane is 
 marked with whitish spots; the snout, chin and paws 
 are black, and the throat, chest and abdomen are 
 white. 
 
 The Pouched Squirrel inhabits Australia, from 
 Queensland to Victoria, especially the extensive for- 
 ests between Port Philip and Moreton Bay, and is 
 said to be common throughout that region, though 
 it is rarely seen in confinement. Nocturnal, like 
 all its relatives, it hides towards morning in the 
 hollows of large dead trees and spends the day 
 sleeping, secure from any enemy, with the sole ex- 
 ception of the ever-hungry and ever-watchful Aus- 
 tralian native. It is said to fight desperately when 
 
 brought to bay, and to make equally good use o£ 
 both teeth and claws. The flesh is considered a 
 delicacy, and, as the animal attains a considerable 
 size, it is eagerly pursued on this account both by 
 the black aborigines and by the white Man. 
 
 When the Pouched Squirrel is wide awake, it is; 
 distinguished by the agility and precision of its 
 movements. It seems to fly from one branch to the 
 other, leaping across considerable spaces, climbing 
 to the top with exceeding speed and going from 
 
 treetop to treetop. Its 
 long,, soft hair has a silky 
 lustre and becomes irides- 
 cent in its leaps, and the 
 pale moonlight glints on 
 it with a really beautiful 
 effect, the rays being re- 
 flected by the shining hair 
 m a peculiar way. 
 
 The food of the Pouched 
 Squirrel consists of leaves, 
 buds and young branches, 
 and perhaps also of roots. 
 The animal rarely de- 
 scends to the ground for 
 food. It is said to endure 
 confinement for a consid- 
 erable time ; but hunters 
 succeed very rarely in cap- 
 turing it. 
 
 SUGAR SQUIRRELS. 
 
 The Pouched Squirrels; 
 are followed by'the Sugar 
 Squirrels {Petaurus), the 
 tad of which is hairy over 
 its entire surface. The best 
 known species is probably 
 the Sugar Squirrel {Petau- 
 rus sciureus), the very name 
 indicating that the species, 
 must be a well-known one. 
 The animal resembles a 
 Squirrel, and still more a Taguan, not only in shape 
 but also in size. 
 
 Habitat and Char- The Sugar Squirrel is found from 
 acteristics of the Queensland to Victoria. It is truly 
 Sugar Squirrels, arboreal, and nocturnal in its habits, 
 like most creatures of a similar physical structure. 
 It climbs about the trees with the agility of a Squir- 
 rel, always from below upwards, and is capable of 
 executing exceedingly long leaps, changing its di- 
 rection at will. Even when jumping from a height 
 of thirty feet, it is capable of reaching a tree ficm 
 sixty to ninety feet distant. 
 
 All observers are unanimous in their admiration 
 of its movements when flying, and affirm that the 
 animal displays a grace and daintiness which hardly 
 have an equal. The Sugar Squirrel is a prepos- 
 sessing animal in general, for it is readily tamed,, 
 though not entirely inoffensive, and is extremely 
 lively, active and cheerful at night, but unfortu- 
 nately it is always somewhat timid. It is frequently 
 found in the houses of settlers, who take great care 
 of it. Its intelligence is not great, but its merry 
 ways, its gentleness and grace to a certain extent 
 atone for its lack of mental powers. It readily be- 
 comes accustomed to any diet, though fruit buds- 
 and insects are most favored by it, these forming its 
 natural food. It is specially fond of eucalyptus 
 honey; insects, probably, also form a not inconsider- 
 
WOMBATS OR RODENT-LIKE MARSUPIALS. 
 
 68T 
 
 able portion of its food. Captive specimens in the 
 London Zoological Garden have been observed to 
 devour dead Sparrows and pieces of meat with 
 great pleasure, and therefore naturalists have been 
 led to believe that they noiselessly approach sleep- 
 ing birds and other small animals at night, after 
 the manner of a Loris, and kill them. In some re- 
 gions they work considerable destruction among the 
 peaches and oranges. 
 
 The social instincts are very pronounced in the 
 Sugar Squirrel, for it is always found in the woods 
 in company with others of its species. 
 
 THE OPOSSUM MOUSE. 
 
 The pigmy among the Climbing Marsupials is the 
 Opossum Mouse {Acrobates pygmceus) , which is prop- 
 erly classified as a distinct genus. Its broad flying 
 membrane extends to the lower joints of the legs. 
 The tail, which is thickly covered with hair, is dis- 
 tichous: that is, the hair grows parted into a double 
 row. The ears are moderately large. The pretty 
 little animal has about the physical proportions of a 
 domestic Mouse, and when it sits on a branch, with 
 its elastic membrane folded against the body, it 
 might be mistaken for one of our dainty, though 
 detested, rodents. The Opossum Mouse attains a 
 length of about five and one-half inches, of which a 
 little, more than half is the length of the tail. The 
 short soft fur is gray-brown 
 above, and yellowish white 
 beneath. 
 
 ■ The Opossum Mouse is 
 indigenous to eastern Aus- 
 tralia from Queensland to 
 Victoria. Like its relatives, 
 it feeds on leaves, fruit, buds 
 and other tender parts of 
 plants; and will generally 
 devour a small insect, when 
 it happens to come across 
 one. It is scarcely inferior 
 to its relatives in liveliness 
 and activity, and few sur- 
 pass it in ability to leap or 
 fly over long distances with 
 the help of the outstretched 
 flank membrane. The little 
 creature is said to be a great 
 favorite with the natives as 
 well as with the immigrants 
 in the vicinity of Port Jack- 
 son, and is frequently kept 
 tame in a cage. It is lively 
 and good-natured, and soon 
 becomes tractable in captiv- 
 ity, but likes freedom and will escape if possible. 
 
 only on the big toes of the hind feet; the soles are 
 broad and devoid of fur. All the toes of the hind 
 feet, except the largest one on each, are partly- 
 grown together. The dentition is very remarkable,, 
 the broad front incisors, of which th^re are two in 
 each jaw, corresponding to the gnawing teeth of- 
 the rodents. Besides them there are one premolar 
 and four long curved molars on each side above and 
 below. 
 
 Description of The Tasmanian Wombat {Phascolo- 
 
 the Tasmanian mys ursinus) reaches a length of 
 Wombat. about thirty-eight inches and has- 
 short, rounded ears. The color is a spotted, dark, 
 grayish brown. 
 
 This ' species is a native of Tasmania and the 
 islands of Bass' Strait, while the Broad-fronted Wom- 
 bat {Phascolomys latifrons) is indigenous to South 
 Australia. All species live in dense woodland; they 
 dig large caverns and very deep tunnels in the 
 ground and spend the day sleeping in them. Only 
 when night has completely set in, does the Wom- 
 bat hobble out to look for food. Its diet consists- 
 chiefly of a hard, rush-like species of grass, which 
 covers vast tracts of land, and also includes various 
 kinds of herbage and roots, the latter being secured 
 by vigorous digging. 
 
 The Wombat appears even clumsier than it really 
 is. Its movements are slow, but persistent and vig- 
 
 Mombats or 1Ro&ent^li^e riDarsupials. 
 
 THIRD FAniLY: Phascolomyid^. 
 The third family of the herbivorous Pouched Ani 
 
 mals comprises the Wombats {Phascolomyidcs) and 
 introduces to us the Rodent-like Marsupials. So far 
 three species of Wombats are known, all of vvhich 
 are very similar in form and habits. These animals 
 are of exceedingly clumsy frame, the body heavy 
 and stout, the neck thick and short, the head un- 
 couth, the tail a small, nearly bare stub; the limbs 
 are short and crooked,.,the feet five-toed and armed 
 with long strong, curved claws, which are lacking 
 
 THE OPOSSUM MOUSE This small animal about the size of a common Mouse is a pretty 1 ttle crea 
 
 ture with a head much like that of a Mouse but a long tail bushy like a Squirrel s and a flying membran* sin i 
 lar to that of the Assapan or Taguan. lAcrobates pygmaus.) 
 
 i 
 
 orous. It is so dull-witted and indifferent that it 
 can only be roused to action with great difficulty. It 
 pursues its way without stopping and never shrinks 
 from any obstacle, but endeavors to accomplish 
 whatever it has decided to do, in spite of all difficul- 
 ties. If it has commenced digging a burrow, a per- 
 son may fill up the excavation over and over again, 
 but the Wombat will a hundred times or more re- 
 sume its work and repair all the damage, with the 
 equanimity of a philosopher. 
 
 In captivity, if given proper food, the Wombat 
 enjoys good health and becomes so accustomed to- 
 contact with Man that it may safely be allowed the 
 range of the house. It can be kept without diffi- 
 culty on green fodder, carrots, turnips, fruit and 
 various kinds of grain. 
 
588 
 
 THE POUCHED ANIMALS. 
 
 Cbe Carnivorous fiDarsupials. 
 
 SECOND SUBORDER: Polyprotodontia. 
 
 The second suborder of the Pouched Animals is 
 constituted by the carnivorous forms (^Polyprotodon- 
 tia), which are distinguished from the members of 
 the first suborder by reason of the great number of 
 incisor teeth — from fourteen to eighteen — of which 
 eight or ten are found above and six or eight below. 
 These teeth are small and of nearly uniform size, 
 and are greatly surpassed in size by the long, pointed 
 canine teeth. 
 
 ^be BanMcoots. 
 
 FOURTH FAHILY: Peramelid^. 
 
 Even an inexperienced, amateur naturalist will 
 readily recognize the members of the first family of 
 the Carnivorous Marsupials, namely the Bandicoots 
 {Peramelidce) . The corvsiderably lengthened hinder 
 
 peculiar and tolerably quick, as their pace consists 
 of a series of leaping steps of varying length. Their 
 diet consists mainly of plants, especially of succu- 
 lent roots and tubers; but they also eat insects, 
 worms and seeds. 
 
 The Long-nosed The Long-nosed Bandicoot {Peram- 
 Bandicoot and its eles nasutd) belongs to the Bandi- 
 
 Characteristics. coots proper, indigenous not only to 
 Australia but also to New Guinea. It is an animal 
 of peculiar physical structure, having many points 
 of resemblance to a Rabbit and also to a Shrew. 
 Adult animals measure rather more than twenty 
 inches, including the tail, which is nearly five inches 
 long. 
 
 Zbc lprebaceou0 flDar0upial0. 
 
 FIFTH FAMILY: Dasyurid^. 
 
 The predaceous Pouched Animals {Dasyunda) 
 form the second family of their suborder. Fore and 
 
 THE BKOAD-FBONTED WOMBAT. This inhabitant of the forests ot South Australia subsists on grass, herbage and roots. It lives in deep 
 
 burrows which it makes for itself and is a persistent digger, and when it is not scooping out a home it is generally busy digging for roots. {Phascolomys 
 Jatifrons.) 
 
 legs and the deviating toe formation constitute fea- 
 tures likely to be noticed by anybody. Of the five- 
 foretoes only the two or three middle ones are large 
 and well developed, and they are armed with strong, 
 curved claws. The second and third toes of the 
 hinder feet are grown together; the great toe is 
 absent or rudimentary; the fourth toe is very long. 
 The body is, on the whole, stout, the head very 
 pointed, especially the nasal extremity ; the tail 
 usually very short and sparsely grown with hair, but 
 in exceptional cases long and bushy; the ears are 
 strikingly large in some species. 
 
 The Bandicoots live in Australia and New Guinea, 
 in burrows which they excavate in the ground, and 
 to which they repair in great haste on the slightest 
 alarm. Occasionally they are found in the vicinity 
 of plantations or settlements, but generally they 
 keep aloof from the arch-enemy of all animals: Man. 
 Most species seem to be gregarious and to have ex- 
 clusively nocturnal habits. Their movements are 
 
 hind legs are of nearly the same length, the former 
 bearing five toes, the latter sometimes five, or only 
 four. The hairy tail is long and not prehensile. 
 
 THE DASYURINES. 
 
 The sub- family of the Dasyurines {Dasyurimz) 
 
 occupies the first rank among the animals of this 
 
 group. All species belonging to it now live only in 
 
 the Australian belt, from New Guinea to Tasmania. 
 
 General Charac- The Dasyurines inhabit woodlands as 
 
 teroftheDasy- well as rocky localities or the shores 
 urincB. of the ocean, and live either in deep 
 
 burrows and holes, under roots of trees, in rocky 
 clefts, or in hollow trees. Some move only on the 
 ground, others are excellent climbers and some live 
 exclusively on trees. Their tread is stealthy and 
 deliberate, and they are classed among the planti- 
 grades, as they step on the entire sole. 
 
 Nearly all are nocturnal anipials, sleeping by day 
 in their holes and sallying out to prey by night. On 
 
THE PREDACEOUS MARSUPIALS-ZEBRA-WOLF. 
 
 58& 
 
 their raids they go to the sea beach and devour all 
 animals cast ashore, both fresh and putrid. Those 
 that live on trees subsist mainly on insects, their 
 largest prey being small mammals, and birds and 
 their eggs. The largest species may occasionally 
 visit human habitations and kill all the poultry of a 
 coop in one night; after the fashion of Martens, or 
 like the impudent F"oxes of the north, they despoil 
 granaries and larders, stealing meat and bacon. The 
 smaller species are able to squeeze through the 
 smallest apertures, and render themselves as de- 
 tested as Martens and Polecats; the largest of them 
 attack flocks of Sheep and occasionally make off 
 with a victim. Maliy take their food up to their 
 mouths in their forepaws. Their vocal expression 
 consists of a peculiar growl and a yelping bark. 
 The larger species are very savage, untamable and 
 addicted to biting, and defend themselves furiously 
 with their sharp teeth, when attacked, while the 
 smaller ones seem gentle and good-natured. Some 
 may be easily kept in confinement, and tamed with- 
 out great trouble, but never 
 show any signs of affection 
 for their keepers. The fe- 
 males give birth to four or 
 five young in spring. 
 
 The harm inflicted by the 
 memljers of this sub-family 
 far outweighs the profit de- 
 rived from them, and justi- 
 fies persistent pursuit. 
 
 THE ZEBRA- WOLF. 
 
 The Zebra-wolf or 
 Pouched Dog ( Thylacinus 
 cynocepkalus) , the only liv- 
 ing representative of a dis- 
 tinct genus, did not come 
 by its name wrongfully, for 
 it really resembles a wild 
 Dog. Its elongated body, 
 the shape of the head, the 
 strong demarcation of the 
 snout, the erect ears, the 
 eyes, the tail, which is car- 
 ried extended straight be- 
 hind, all are similar to the 
 
 corresponding members of the Dog; the limbs are 
 proportionately short, however, and the dentition 
 differs markedly from that of the Dog. 
 
 The Pouched Dog is the largest of all carnivorous 
 Pouched Animals. Its body is over forty inches 
 long, the tail measures twenty inches and old males 
 are said to become still larger, measuring in all about 
 six feet four inches. The fur is close and loose, of 
 gray-brown hue and marked with twelve or fourteen 
 black transverse stripes on the back. 
 Habitat and Habits The Pouched Dog is a native of 
 of the Pouched Tasmania. In the first period of 
 ''"ff- European settlements it was very 
 
 common, to the great detriment and vexation of the 
 cattle breeders, to whose sheep-folds and poultry- 
 yards it paid frequent visits. Later, however, fire- 
 arms caused it to retreat more and more, and it is 
 now restricted to the interior, where it still exists in 
 considerable numbers in mountainous districts, being 
 most frequently found at an altitude of about three 
 thousand feet above the sea level. During the day 
 it seeks refuge in clefts of rock in dark, deep 
 gulches, nearly inaccessible to Man, or in natural re- 
 treats, or deep burrows which it digs for itself, and 
 
 from which it undertakes its raids. It is a nocturnal 
 animal and to a great extent shuns light. Even if it 
 is not the most savage of all predaceous Pouched 
 Animals, it still exceeds all its family relations in 
 strength and courage and deserves its name for this 
 reason also. 
 
 The food of the Zebra-wolf consists of all smaller 
 animals that it can subdue, vertebrates or inverte- 
 brates, from insects and mollusks to domestic ani- 
 mals. When it is especially hungry, it despises nO' 
 kind of food and is not even frightened by the sharp, 
 spinous weapons of the Echidna. When the animal 
 extends its raids to the settlements, it is caught in 
 traps or hunted with Dogs. It knows how to take 
 care of itself in an encounter with the latter and dis- 
 plays a savage disposition. 
 
 THE TASMANIAN DEVIL. 
 
 The nearest relative of the Pouched Dog, the Tas- 
 manian Devil {Sarcopkt/us ursinus), is very much 
 uglier, and is repulsive and filthy in the highest de- 
 
 
 ^./i.i^i'i:''-' 
 
 LONG-NOSED BANDICOOT, This peculiar animal with ears like a Rabbit, muzzle like a Shrew, tail' 
 
 like a Rat and hind quarters like a Kang^aroo, is also distinguished by the queer elongation of two or three toes^ 
 on each foot, especially the middle toe of the hind foot. It belongs to the suborder of Carnivorous Marsupials. 
 (Perameles nasuta.) 
 
 gree; it also forms a distinct genus. The animal 
 obtained its significant name through its ineradica- 
 bly savage and untamable disposition. All observ- 
 ers agree in saying that it is difficult to conceive 
 of a more disagreeable, raving, frantic, furious crea- 
 ture than this pouched Devil, whose ill humor and 
 vexation arq never spent, and whose blood is aroused 
 at the slightest provocation. Not even in confine- 
 ment, with the most careful treatment, does it lose 
 these qualities. It never learns to know or like 
 the person who provides it with food and takes care 
 of it, but attacks its keeper with the same senseless 
 fury and ferocity which it shows towards any other 
 person who dares approach it. 
 
 The fur consists of short, wiry hair. The chest 
 
 and neck are marked with a white collar and usually 
 
 with two white spots; the remainder of the body is 
 
 clothed in a coal-black fur. The total length of the 
 
 animal is about forty inches, twelve inches of which 
 
 are occupied by the tail. 
 
 Destructiueness I" the early days of the colony the 
 
 of the Tasma- Tasmanian Devil gave the settlers a 
 
 nian Deuil. great deal of trouble, and came near 
 
 spoiling their poultry-breeding. After the manner 
 
590 
 
 THE POUCtTED ANIMALS. 
 
 of Martens it would invade the poultry-yards, and 
 massacre with a bloodthirstiness equaled only by 
 that exhibited by one of the Weasel tribe. It there- 
 fore became an object of general execration and 
 vindictive pursuit from the very outset, the more so 
 as its flesh was found to be savory, or at least eat- 
 able. Traps of all kinds were put out, and thus it 
 came about that it also soon learned to know and 
 fear the reign and intelligence of Man, and retreated 
 to the densest and least accessible forests in the 
 mountains. In many localities it has already been 
 exterminated, and even where it still exists, it is now 
 seen but rarely. It is a genuine nocturnal animal, 
 and as shy of daylight as the Pouched Dog or one 
 of the Owl-tribe. 
 
 on the head than on the body. A mature animal 
 attains a body length of sixteen inches, with a tail 
 twelve inches long, the height at the withers being 
 six inches. The members of the species are dis- 
 tributed over New South Wales, Victoria, South 
 Australia and Tasmania. 
 
 The Spotted Dasyure delights in forests along 
 the sea coast. By day it hides in burrows under 
 trees and stones or in hollow trunks. After night- 
 fall it prowls far around in its search for food. It 
 feeds principally on dead animals cast ashore by 
 the sea, but preys also on smaller mammals or birds 
 nesting on the ground in the woods, not even dis- 
 daining iij.sects. The number of young ranges be- 
 tween four and six. The Dasyure is pursued with as 
 
 ZEBRA-WOLF OE POUCHED DOG. This animal, the largest of the Carnivorous Marsupials, makes its home in the interior of Tas- 
 mania, mostly in the mountain districts. It bears a great resemblance, superficially, to the Dog, but differs in dentition and the stripings of the 
 coat and is a typical Pouched Animal. ( Thylacinus cynocefhalus .) 
 
 THE DASYURES. 
 
 The Dasyures, sometimes called the Brush-tailed 
 Opossums {Dasyurus), constitute a distinct genus. 
 In their appearance they partake of the character of 
 both Foxes and Martens, without, however, showing 
 a striking resemblance to either of them. The body 
 is slender and elongated, the neck comparatively 
 long, the head pointed in front. The tail is long, 
 non-prehensile and covered with thick, bushy hair; 
 the legs are short and of medium stoutness, the 
 hind limbs being somewhat longer than the fore 
 pair, and the hind feet distinguished by the lack of 
 a great toe; the toes are separated and armed with 
 strong, curved, pointed claws. 
 
 Habitat and Char- One of the best known species, the 
 act^r of the Spotted Spotted 'Dasyure {Dasyurus viverri- 
 Daayure. nus), is usually of a fallow brown 
 
 hue, although some individuals are lighter; the lower 
 parts of the body are white. The entire upper sur- 
 face is studded with irregular, white spots, smaller 
 
 much pertinacity as are the preceding predaceous 
 Pouched Animals. It is frequently caught in great 
 numbers in steel traps baited with some kind of 
 animal food. It is not to be recommended as a pet, 
 for it is one of the most uninteresting of creatures. 
 
 THE BANDED ANT-EATER. 
 
 The Banded Ant-eater {Myrmecobius fasciatus) is 
 the only representative of the second sub-family of 
 the predaceous Pouched Animals {Myrm.ecobiinm). 
 Its body is long, the head very pointed, the hinder 
 feet four-toed, the fore feet five-toed, the hinder legs 
 somewhat longer than the fore legs, the soles bare, 
 the toes separated. The tail is non-prehensile, long 
 and shaggy. The female has' no pouch. The great 
 number of teeth is notable, being greater than that 
 of any other mammal, and ranging from fifty to 
 fifty-four. 
 
 The Ant-eater is justly considered to be one of the 
 handsomest and most striking in appearance of any 
 
THE POUCHED RATS—COMMON OPOSSUM. 
 
 591 
 
 of the Marsupials. Its proportions are about the 
 same as those of a common Squirrel. The coloring 
 is very peculiar. The ochre yellow tint of the an- 
 terior upper part, which appears lighter by reason 
 of being interspersed with white hair, gradually 
 deepens into black on the greater part of the poste- 
 rior half of the body and is diversified with white or 
 reddish, transverse stripes. The principal food of 
 the Ant-eater is implied by its name. Hence, it is 
 mainly found in those woodlands in which Ants 
 'occur in large numbers. It stretches out its tongue 
 into the teeming heap, after the fashion of the Ant- 
 bear, and quickly withdraws it, as soon as a multi- 
 tude of the enraged insects have fastened on to it. 
 It is also said to consume other insects and occasion- 
 ally it eats the resin which exudes from the branches 
 of the eucalyptus, or even grass. 
 
 Quite unlike the preceding carnivorous forms, the 
 Ant-eater is entirely inoffensive. It readily resigns 
 jtself to captivity, which usually proves fatal to it, as 
 
 ring chiefly in the South American belt, since only 
 one species, also represented in the southern conti- 
 nent, is found in North America. Nearly all of the 
 species live in the forest or in the underbrush, taking 
 up their abodes in hollow trees, holes in the ground, 
 among thick grass and in bushes. One species in- 
 habits the banks of small rivers, being an excellent 
 swimmer, and it seeks shelter in burrows. All are 
 nocturnal in their habits and lead a solitary, roving 
 life. Their gait when walking on level ground is 
 rather slow and unsteady, and the mode is plariti- 
 grade. Most species of this family can climb on 
 trees, suspend themselves by means of their prehen- 
 sile tails and remain in that attitude for hours. 
 Among their perceptive senses that of smell seems 
 to be best developed. The mental faculties are of a 
 very low grade, though it can not be denied that 
 they possess a certain degree of cunning, and they 
 are especially skillful in evading any kind of trap. 
 Their food consists of small mammals, birds and 
 
 -This animal of diabolical name is ugly enough to deserve it, is savage and untamable, ferocious and destruc- 
 eni', . . , 
 
 retreats in the interior of the island. (Sarcofhilus urisinus.) 
 
 tive. '?t^b^^^'ToS^daw'e an enemrirthe poulTr7yarlis"oT"thrT7sman^^^^^^ have nearly exterminated it, except in a few 
 
 the necessary food is procured with 
 sufficient quantities. The number of 
 l)irth is said to range between five and 
 
 difficulty in 
 young at a 
 eight. 
 
 ^be poucbe^ IRats. 
 
 SIXTH FAHILY: Didelphyid.e. 
 
 The Pouched Rats constitute the third family of 
 the suborder; they attain at most the size of a Cat, 
 but often do not exceed that of a Mouse. The body 
 is stout, the head more or less pointed at the snout. 
 The tail is usually long, bare at the tip and prehen- 
 sile; sometimes it is short and more or less hairy; 
 the hinder legs are slightly longer than the fore 
 pair, the paws are five-toed, webbed in one genus, 
 and the hinder great toes are opposable to the other 
 digits of the feet. The females of some species are 
 destitute of pouch; in others it exists, and opens 
 more frequently backward than forward. The denti- 
 tion is of a decidedly carnivorous character. 
 
 In former periods Pouched Rats were also found 
 in Europe, but now only inhabit America, being ar- 
 ranged in two genera and twenty-four species, occur- 
 
 their eggs, and probably also includes small reptiles, 
 insects and their grubs and worms; in times of scar- 
 city they also feed on fruit. The aquatic forms feed 
 principally on fish, while the larger species frequent 
 human habitations and slay all the weaker animals 
 they can get hold of, reveling in their blood and 
 really intoxicating themselves with it. Their voices 
 are heard only when they are ill-treated, and then 
 they utter peculiar, hissing sounds. When pursued 
 they never defend themselves, but resort to dissimu- 
 lation, when they can no longer hide themselves. 
 When in anguish they give forth a disgusting, gar- 
 lic-like odor. 
 
 THE COMMON OPOSSUM. 
 
 The Common or Virginian Opossum {Didelphys 
 marsupialis) is probably the best known of the 
 Pouched Rats. Neither its hue nor any grace or 
 charm of manper distinguishes the animal, and thus 
 it is justly held to be a repulsive looking creature. 
 The length of body is nearly nineteen inches and 
 the tail measures about seventeen inches. The latter 
 is quite thick, round and tapering, hairy only at the 
 base, and naked from that point to the end; it is 
 
592 
 
 THE POUCHED ANIMALS. 
 
 surrounded by rows of fine scales, between which 
 protrude a few short, straggling hairs. The female 
 has a perfect pouch. 
 
 The Opossum is a native of America, from the 
 northern United States to Chile and southern Brazil. 
 In the central parts of this vast territory it is found 
 in abundance, and that by no means to the pleasure 
 of Man. It inhabits forests and bushes, and the 
 denser the foliage the more the Opossum delights 
 in its haunts. 
 
 Audubon's Ac- Andubon says: "Methinks I see one 
 count of the at this moment slowly and cautiously 
 Opossum. trudging over the melting snow, 
 scenting as it goes for the fare its ravenous appetite 
 prefers. Now it has come upon the fresh track of a 
 Grouse or Hare and it raises its muzzle and sniffs 
 the pure air. At length it has decided on its course, 
 and it speeds onward at a rate equaling the speed 
 of a Man's ordinary walk. It stops and seems at a 
 loss in which direction to go, for the- object of its 
 pursuit has either taken a considerable leap or has 
 
 and juicy stems it gladly feeds. The matin calls of 
 the wild Turkey-cock delight the ear of the cunning 
 creature, for it well knows that it will soon hear 
 the answering cry of the female and thus be enabled 
 to trace her to her nest, when it will suck the eggs 
 with delight. Traveling through the woods, per- 
 haps on the ground, perhaps aloft, from tree to tree^ 
 it hears a cock crow, and its heart swells as it re- 
 members the toothsome food on which it regaled 
 itself last summer in the neighboring farmyard. 
 Thither then the hungry rogue bends its way, and 
 if the opportunity is favorable, it sneaks into the 
 chicken coop." 
 Life and Habits The Opossum is an arboreal animal, 
 of the Opos- as is shown by its entire equipment,. 
 sum. and on the ground it is rather slow 
 
 and awkward. Its mode of walking is plantigrade. 
 All its movements are apparently lazy and even its- 
 running gait is slow, though it consists in a series of 
 ambling leaps. In the tops of trees, on the other 
 hand, the animal climbs with great precision and 
 
 
 V 
 
 7% 
 
 .^^ 
 
 
 SPOTTED SASYURE. This animal, which is quite common in Australia and Tasmama has a fox like head a stout body the coat of which is 
 
 studded with white spots on a groundwork of soft brown. It is a burrowing animal, hiding by day and at night living on animals it Rills and also on cai- 
 rion, {Dasyurus viverrinus.) 
 
 doubled backward upon its track before the Opos- 
 sum entered. It raises itself up, stands for a while 
 on its hind feet, looks around, sniffs the air again 
 and then proceeds; but now, at the foot of a noble 
 tree, it comes to a full stop. It walks round the 
 base of the large trunk, over the snow-covered roots 
 and among them finds. an aperture, which it at once 
 enters. 
 
 " Several minutes elapse, after which it reappears, 
 dragging along the carcass of a Squirrel, and with it 
 in its mouth begins to ascend the tree. Slowly it 
 climbs until it gains a cluster of branches inter- 
 twined with grape-vines, and there, composing itself, 
 it twines its tail round one of the twigs and with its 
 sharp teeth devours the unlucky Squirrel which it 
 holds all the while with its fore paws. 
 The Omnivorous "The pleasant days of spring have 
 Propensities of arrived and the trees vigorously 
 the Opossum, shoot forth their leaves; but the 
 Opossum seems nearly exhausted by its enforced 
 abstention from food. It visits the margins of 
 creeks and is pleased to see the young Frogs, which 
 afford it a tolerable repast. Gradually the poke- 
 berry and the nettle shoot up and on their tender 
 
 tolerable speed. The great toes, or thumbs, of its 
 hind paws enable it to grasp and hold the limbs of 
 trees, and its prehensile tail greatly assists in secur- 
 ing for the animal stability of position and immu- 
 nity from falls. Not infrequently it suspends itself 
 by means of its tail and stays in that position for 
 hours. 
 
 In the vast, dark woods the Opossum prowls 
 about day and night, though it prefers darkness to 
 light. But when it apprehends danger, or even when 
 daylight annoys it, it appears only by night and 
 sleeps through the day in earth holes or hollow trees. 
 It lives with its mate only during the pairing time,, 
 leading a solitary life duripg the rest of the year, 
 like aH its kin. It has no fixed habitation, but uses 
 any cranny which it descries in the morning after 
 having completed its nocturnal wanderings. If for- 
 tune favors it particularly and it finds a burrow in 
 which lives some weak rodent, it is naturally the 
 more pleased; for then the original inhabitant of the 
 dwelling furnishes it with a ready-prepared meal 
 As we can infer from Audubon's description, it feeds 
 on all the srnaller mammals and birds it can cap- 
 ture, also on eggs, various reptiles, larger insects and 
 
OPOSSnW AND PHIPMUNK The only American Marsupial is a carnivorous animal, always hungry and untiring in pursuit of prey. It pos- 
 sesses feu tenowers of scent and is very persistent in following the trail of any smaller animal. In the picture it has followed to its lair and overcome a 
 ■Chipmunk which it has dragged to a convenient tree and is in the act of devouring. This picture shows the manner in which it holds on to limbs by its tail 
 ^nd is an excellent portrait of this predaceous Marsupial. {Didciphys marsu^iahs.) 
 
 (593) 
 
594 
 
 THE POUCHED ANIMALS. 
 
 their grubs, even worms; and in default of animal 
 food it contents itself with vegetable substances, 
 such as maize and nourishing roots. It prefers blood 
 to any other food and therefore it slays with inde- 
 scribable bloodthirstiness whenever it can do so. In 
 the poultry yards it often kills all the fowls and then 
 sucks their blood only without touching the flesh. 
 It is said to become so gorged with the blood, as 
 Martens do, that one sometimes finds it in the morn- 
 ing, sleeping among the dead fowls. Cautious in 
 general, it becomes blind and deaf when it can 
 assuage its thirst for blood; forgetting all danger 
 and without desisting from its murderous purpose, 
 it unresistingly suffers itself to be killed by Dogs or 
 by the enraged farmer. 
 The Opossum as It is not easily killed, however, for 
 an Expert in an Opossum is very tenacious of life, 
 Deceit. and resorts to dissimulation when 
 
 very hard pressed. " Conscious of its inability to 
 resist," says Audubon, " it rolls up like a ball. The 
 more the farmer rages the more reluctant is the 
 animal to manifest resentment; at last there it lies, 
 not dead but exhausted, its jaws open, its tongue 
 extended, its eyes dimmed; and there it would lie 
 until the Bottle-fly should come to deposit its 
 eggs in its carcass did not its tormentor walk off. 
 'Surely,' says he to himself, 'the beast must be 
 dead.' But no, reader, it is only ' 'possum'ing,' and 
 no sooner has the enemy withdrawn, than it grad- 
 ually gets on its legs and once more makes for 
 the woods." 
 
 The Opossum is extensively hunted chiefly on 
 account of the havoc it works among poultry. The 
 Negroes are particular enemies of the animal and kill 
 it whenever and wherever they can. The flesh is 
 unpalatable to most white persons, for two glands 
 impart an exceedingly strong and repellant odor of 
 garlic to it, but the Negroes seem to like it and the 
 flesh repays them for the trouble of the pursuit. 
 
 The ways of a captive Opossum are hardly inter- 
 esting to the observer. I must say from my own 
 experience that the animal is even more tiresome 
 than other predaceous Pouched Animals. Rolled up 
 and motionless, it lies in its cage all day, and only 
 when one provokes it, does it make the slightest 
 movement. It opens its mouth as wide as possible, 
 and for as long a time as one stands before it, as if 
 it suffered from lock-jaw. It is lazy and sleepy and 
 appears to be disgustingly stupid. 
 
 THE PHILANDERS. 
 
 The subgenus Philander differs from the Opos- 
 sums proper mainly by reason of the imperfect 
 pouch of the female. This pouch is formed by two 
 cutaneous folds, which are laid over the unformed 
 young attached to the mammae. 
 
 Description of the The largest species of this subgenus 
 Crab-Eating and one of the largest Opossums in 
 Opossum. general, is the Crab-eating Opossum 
 (^Philander philander) . The body is nine and one- 
 half inches long, and the tail nearly thirteen inches. 
 The thick, soft, woolly hair is dingy, yellowish or 
 
 reddish gray, yellow beneath. The pale gray face is 
 marked with a brown median line and dark circles- 
 around the eyes, while the terminal half of the tail 
 has a whitish appearance. 
 
 The Crab-eating Opossum has a wide geograph- 
 ical range, extending perhaps throughout all of trop- 
 ical America. It is numerous in the woods of Bra- 
 zil, affecting the proximity of swamps, which furnish 
 it with Crabs. It lives almost exclusively on trees, 
 and descends to the ground only when it wishes to 
 forage. Its tail is prehensile and entirely naked, 
 aiding it in climbing. On the ground it proceeds 
 slowly and awkwardly; yet it knows how to entrap 
 smaller mammals, reptiles and insects, and especially 
 Crabs, its favorite food. In the trees it preys on 
 birds and their nests; but it also^ eats fruit, like the 
 Opossum and its kin. It is said to also visit poultry 
 yards occasionally and cause great devastations 
 among Chickens and Pigeons. The young of the 
 Crab-eating Opossum differ in color from the old 
 animals. They are completely naked at birth, but 
 when they are sufficiently developed to leave the 
 pouch, they grow a short, silky fur of a shining nut- 
 brown color, which gradually deepens into the dark 
 brownish black color of maturity. AH observers 
 agree that the little creatures escape from the pouch 
 and, moving around and upon the mother's body, 
 afford a charming spectacle. 
 
 THE WATER OPOSSUM. 
 
 The second genus of the family is represented by 
 the only Pouched Animal, which so far is known to 
 have aquatic habits, the Water Opossum or Yapock 
 i^Chironectes minimus). 
 
 Character and Do- The animal has, on the whole, the 
 ings of the Water appearance of a Rat. The tail is 
 Opossum. nearly as long as the body, and pre- 
 
 hensile, though it probably is not used for grasping 
 objects. The fur is of a beautiful ashy gray hue on the 
 back, sharply defined from the white under surface. 
 Six black, broad transverse stripes mark the back. 
 A dark band runs along the course of the spine 
 from one stripe to another. The ears and tail are 
 black. The body of an adult animal is about sixteen 
 inches long, and the tail measures the same. 
 
 The Water Opossum is distributed over a great 
 part of the South American belt. It is found from 
 Guatemala to southern Brazil, but seems to be every- 
 where of rare occurrence, or at least to be obtained 
 with difficulty, and is therefore found in few collec- 
 tions. It is said to prosecute its search for food by 
 day as well as by night, to swim with ease and to 
 proceed quickly and readily on land. The food is 
 said to consist of small fish and other small aquatic 
 animals and of spawn; yet the large cheek-pouches 
 seem to indicate that the Yapock does not disdain 
 vegetable food. 
 
 "The female gives birth to about five young, which 
 complete their development in the pouch; she leads 
 them to the water rather early and instructs them for 
 some time in swimming, diving and the art of acquir- 
 ing food. 
 
^be )Egg»%a^inQ flibammals. 
 
 FIFTEENTH ORDER: Monotremata 
 
 lOR a long time the point 
 has been eagerly argued, 
 as to the order in which 
 the Monotremes or Egg- 
 laying Mammals ought to 
 be placed; but now this 
 question has been settled. 
 The opinion of older zo- 
 ologists, who saw a dis- 
 tinct class of the animal 
 world in the Monotremes, 
 had certainly, temporarily 
 at least, lost its sway, yet 
 it has now partly regained 
 it, and no zoologist of the present time places the 
 Duck-mole and the Echidna (both of which might 
 justly be regarded as representing distinct sub- 
 classes among mammals) among the pouched ani- 
 mals, or still less among the edentates. 
 Physical Peculiar- That the Monotremes really suckle 
 ties of the Mono- their young has long been estab- 
 tremes. lished beyond a doubt; yet the close 
 
 investigations of Gegenbaur were necessary to ac- 
 quaint us with the true nature of the organs of lacta- 
 tion. The glands, which are situated on the sides 
 of the abdomen, open in many fine ducts of the 
 skin, which in these places is covered with hair. 
 As many male mammals have similar glands in 
 the same places, the first dissectors did not take 
 these to be real organs of lactation until Meckel 
 proved that these glands were not developed in the 
 male Duck-mole, and Baer noticed that the lacteal 
 glands of Whales were similarly constructed. Owen 
 examined the glands in 1832 and found each to have 
 about one hundred and twenty openings in the skin, 
 secreting a nutritive fluid, which he found in the 
 stomach of the young in a coagulated state. There- 
 fore he classified the Monotremes among the mam- 
 mals. But on the second of September, 1884, 
 Haacke reported to the Royal Society of South 
 Australia, in Adelaide, that- he had a few weeks pre- 
 viously found an egg, which he produced at the 
 meeting, in a so far unknown brooding pouch of a 
 living Echidna, and on the same day a cablegram 
 was read in Montreal, which informed the assembled 
 members of the British Association that another 
 naturalist, Caldwell, who was at that very time work- 
 ing in Australia, had found that the Monotremes/ 
 lay eggs. These discoveries again rendered the 
 closer relation of the Monotremes to other mammals 
 more questionable, the more so, as Gegenbaur proved, 
 in 1886, that the glands which furnish nourishment 
 to the young do not correspond in their structure 
 with the sebaceous glands, as do the lacteal glands 
 of all other mammals, but represent modified sweat- 
 
 glands. If pne further considers that, according to 
 
 the discovery made by Thomas as late as 1888, the 
 Duck-mole has, during a considerable time of its life, 
 teeth, which are true teeth but differ greatly from 
 those of any other living mammal, and that the 
 blood-heat of the Monotremes amounts to twenty- 
 eight degrees Celsius (sixty degrees Fahrenheit) at 
 the most, differing in this from all other warm- 
 blooded animals, one would think the action justified 
 if we were to separate the Monotremes as a second 
 main division of mammals from the first, in which 
 arrangement we would classify the pouched ani- 
 mals and higher Mammalia as genuine mammals; or 
 it would not be erroneous even it we were to place 
 them as a distinct class among the vertebrates. 
 Such a division will perhaps be decided on finally; 
 but up to the present we classify these animals as 
 the last and lowest order of mammals, composed 
 only of themselves. 
 
 The Monotremes have an outer envelope of skin 
 similar to that of other mammals. The Duck-mole 
 is clothed in fur and the Echidna has its covering of 
 spines and bristles; but in other respects they differ 
 markedly from the other known forms of the class 
 in external appearance as well as internal structure. 
 A hard beak, similar to that of an aquatic bird, 
 stands them in stead of a mouth, and the intestines, 
 the urinary and genital organs all terminate in one 
 orifice, the so-called "cloacal aperture." This is 
 a formation we find again in the birds, which the 
 Monotremes also resemble by reason of their large- 
 yolked eggs, the possession of a single forked ster- 
 nal bone, formed by the two ankylosed or conjoined 
 collar bones or clavicles, and the partially developed 
 condition of the right ovary. While for these rea- 
 sons their relation to both birds and reptiles can 
 not be denied, they exhibit an affinity also to the 
 pouched animals by reason of their possession of 
 marsupial bones. 
 
 The Monotremes are small mammals, with a 
 sturdy, somewhat flattened body, very short legs, 
 beak-shaped -jaws covered with a -dry skin, small 
 eyes, a short tail, feet placed at a diverging angle 
 in regard to one another, armed with strong claws 
 and a hollow spur upon the heel of the male, 
 this spur communicating with a special secretory 
 gland. The outer ear-conch is absent; teeth exist 
 only in the Duck-mole and consist of flat, disk-like, 
 laminse or "plates" furnished with tubercles or cusps 
 along the edges of their upper surfaces, and articu- 
 lated loosely superficially with the jawbone, rather 
 than having inserted roots. 
 
 Besides the bones of an extinct Echidna, teeth of 
 prehistoric animals, similar to those of the Duck- 
 mole have been found; but at present this peculiar 
 order is limited to the two families of the Echidni- 
 dae and the Duck-moles. 
 
 (595) 
 
596 
 
 THE EGG-LAYING MAMMALS. 
 
 Vciz Hnt^eaters. 
 
 FIRST FAMILY: Echidnid^e. 
 
 The family of the Ant-eaters {Echidnidce) consists 
 of two genera, containing one species each. They 
 are distinguished by their clumsy body, covered by 
 a bristly fur which is for the greater part interspersed 
 with spines; by their cylindrical and absolutely 
 toothless beak, slit at the lower end; their short, 
 stub-like tail, their free, imperfectly mobile teeth 
 and their long, thin, worm-like tongue, which is freely 
 protractile in a manner analogous to that character- 
 izing the motion of that organ in other Ant-eaters. 
 In their external appearance the Ant-eaters differ 
 from the Duck-mole much more than they do in 
 their internal anatomical structure. The two lacteal 
 glands have hundreds of opening canals and lie 
 laterally on the abdomen of the female in shallow 
 depressions, which at least in the Porcupine Ant- 
 eater, according to the authority of Haacke, are 
 enveloped in the lateral folds of a brooding-pouch, 
 developing as required for the purpose of the recep- 
 tion, incubation and hatching of the egg, later shel- 
 tering the young and becoming more spacious as the 
 growth of the young advances, and then again dis- 
 appearing by process of absorption after the wean- 
 ing of the progeny. This pouch opens in front and 
 is, even at the beginning of the process of reproduc- 
 tion, large enough to admit a watch. The depres- 
 sions form shortly before the laying of the eggs, 
 and may become entirely obliterated temporarily. 
 R von Lendenfeld found that during the incubation 
 of the eggs the heat in the pouch was higher than 
 that in any other part of the body, and that the skin 
 forming it appears greatly reddened, and, so to speak, 
 congested, on account of the increased local circula- 
 tion of the blood. The Porcupine Ant-eater seems 
 to lay only one small, large-yolked, parchment-cov- 
 ered egg. The duration of the period of incubation 
 has not yet been established. The young, when first 
 hatched, is like that of the pouched animals — very 
 tiny, naked and blind and differs from its parents 
 especially by reason of its short snout. It is not 
 definitely known how it is nourished. It seems that 
 it remains in the maternal pouch for a long time. 
 
 The Ant-eaters range from New Guinea over Aus- 
 tralia to Tasmania. 
 
 The Australian The Australian Porcupine Ant-eater 
 
 Porcupine Ant- {Echid?ia acideata typicd), the physical 
 eater. proportions of which are intermedi- 
 
 ate between those of the Papuan and the Tasmanian 
 Ant-eater, possesses a comparatively long beak. 
 The face and the region around the ears are either 
 completely, or for the greater part, beset with smooth 
 spines, leaving a strip on the forehead and on either 
 cheek bare. The spines on the back are long, stiff 
 and strong, often attaining a length of two and one- 
 half inches and usually completely overgrowing the 
 hair interspersed among them. Their color is a pale 
 yellow at the base, orange yellow in the middle and 
 black at the tip. The hair on the back is black or 
 deep brown, but is often entirely absent, occasionally, 
 however, protruding above the spines of the hind 
 quarters, this phenomenon perhaps occurring at cer- 
 tain seasons only. The legs, and the entire under 
 surface, are covered by a dark brown fur, plentifully 
 mingled with smooth spines. The animal is about 
 sixteen inches in length, about half an inch of 
 which is included in the tail. This sub-species is 
 distributed over the entire continent of Australia, 
 
 and also occurs on Kangaroo Island, off the southern 
 coast of Australia. 
 
 The Papuan and The Papuan Porcupine Ant-eater 
 Tasmanian Porcu- {Echidna aculeata lawesi) differs from 
 pine Ant-eaters, the Australian sub-species by reason 
 of its smaller size, shorter dorsal spines, between 
 which the hair is visible, a greater number of spines 
 on the head, the legs and the under surface of the 
 body, and by a comparatively longer beak. This 
 sub-species is known only from specimens taken 
 near Port Moresby in southeastern New Guinea. 
 
 The Tasmanian Porcupine Ant-eater {Echidna acu- 
 leata setosa) differs from the Australian variety by 
 reason of its greater proportions, as it attains a 
 length of twenty inches, and by the lack of spines 
 on the head, sides, abdomen aiid legs. The hue 
 of the head is generally lighter tha.n that of the rest 
 of the body. 
 
 Habitat and Habits T^^e Porcupine Ant-eater affects 
 of the Porcupine mountainous regions more than it 
 Ant-eaters. does plains, sometimes ascending 
 to an altitude of 3,000 feet above the sea. It partic- 
 ularly delights in dry woodland, where it can exca- 
 vate burrows and holes under the roots of the trees. 
 There it hides during the day; at night it sallies 
 forth and searches for food, sniflfing and digging. 
 Its movements are lively, especially when digging, 
 as it is an adept at this employment. Insects and 
 worms, but especially the various kinds of Ants and 
 Termites, constitute its principal food. It finds 
 them with the help of the very sensitive tip of its 
 snout, which is probably less adapted to smelling 
 purposes than it is as an organ of touch It eats 
 after the fashion of other animals with a vermiform 
 tongue, protruding that member, and, when it is 
 covered with Ants, retracting it quickly. Like all 
 other Ant-eaters it apparently involuntarily mixes 
 much sand and dust or dry wood with its food, for 
 its stomach is always filled with such substances. 
 Occasionally grass is also found in the digestive 
 organs. 
 
 When an Echidna is menaced with capture it 
 instantly rolls up into a ball, and it is then verj' ' 
 hard to obtain a hold upon it, as the sharp spines ' 
 usually inflict wounds which cause great pain to its 
 assailant. The muscular contraction of the animal 
 in rolling up is sufficient to insert the spines. A ■ 
 rolled-up Echidna is not easy to transport, the best 
 way being to grasp it by the hinder legs, disregard- 
 ing its efforts and strugglings. When an Echidna 
 has dug for itself a burrow of moderate depth, it is 
 extremely difficult to pull the animal out of its sub- ' 
 terranean retreat. It first relaxes and then enlarges 
 itself, after the manner of Armadillos, and presses 
 its spines so closely against the circumference of its 
 burrow that it really seems to be glued in it. The 
 assertion of the natives of the regions which it in- 
 habits, that the male wounds its assailant with the '' 
 spur on its hinder leg, and injects a poisonous fluid 
 through the hollow weapon into the wound, must be 
 regarded as untrue in the light of the results, of all 
 the experiments that have been made in this direc- 
 tion. 
 
 The vocal expression of this queer creature, which 
 is heard when it is very uneasy, consists of a weak 
 grunt. Of its perceptive senses those of hearing and 
 sight rank first; the others are less developed. 
 Haaclie's Obserua- Haacke has repeatedly kept Echid- 
 tionsofthe nse in Australia and made observa- 
 Echidnce. tions, especially concerning their 
 
 climbing ability, endurance of hunger and method of 
 
THE DUCK-MOLES. 
 
 597 
 
 propagation. "The first Echidna which I received," 
 says he, "I put under a box in my study; but that 
 treatment did not seem to please it at all. It persist- 
 ently and continuously endeavored to escape from its 
 prison, and where there was enough space between 
 the floor and the edge of the box, it constantly put 
 out its long tongue in an exploring way. Finally it 
 succeeded, during the night, in lifting the heavy box 
 and liberating itself. For a long time I looked 
 for it in vain. At last, to my great surprise, I found 
 it in another box about sixteen inches high, which 
 was open above and half fiUei.'. with pieces of gold 
 quartz the size of a Man's fist, and wrapped in paper; 
 this seemed to impress it as a more fitting sleeping 
 place than the level surface of the ground. Keep- 
 ing this experience of the climbing a'.ility of the 
 animals in mind, I put two other Porcupme Ant- 
 eaters in a barrel about three feet high and twenty 
 inches wide, and placed it in the spacious basement 
 of the museum building in Adelaide. An escape 
 from this prison, having the usual shape of barrels, 
 seemed impossible. Yet one of the animals suc- 
 ceeded in escaping. After days of 
 search I found it, again in the barrel 
 with its companion. It may have 
 heard the latter, and worked its way 
 up to the edge of the barrel between 
 that receptacle and the wall and then 
 dropped down into it. As I intended 
 dissecting the animals, and therefore 
 wished to free them from all interfer- 
 ing fat, I starved them, and found 
 that they could fast at least a month 
 without any visible impairment of 
 their health. I found the intestinal 
 tract of one of them, killed after a 
 six weeks' fast, filled exclusively with 
 sand, to which the animal had access. 
 This was a hint in regard to the prep- 
 aration of food for these animals 
 when in confinement. If it be 
 given a diet of a fine grained, mixed 
 food, consisting of equal parts of 
 powdered dry meat, scraped yolk of 
 egg, finely ground hemp seed, crumbs 
 of crackers, grated carrots and pure 
 sand, an Echidna may, in my opinion, 
 thrive for a long time, and possibly 
 propagate its species. An addition 
 of Ants, grubs and Meal-worms will make the food 
 still more wholesome. The animal must be treated 
 exactly as are insectivorous birds. The majority of 
 Echidnids could fast through the time occupied 
 by the journey from Australia to Europe, the fast 
 steamers having shortened the duration of the trip. 
 THE WOOLLY ECHIDNA. 
 
 The -second genus, with its one species, of the 
 Echidnidae is constituted by a recently discovered 
 
 The Woolly Echidna is so far known to exist 
 only in the northwest portion of New Guinea; noth- 
 ing has been written of its mode of life. 
 
 ^be Ducft^moles. 
 
 SECOND FAMILY: Ornixhorhynchid^. 
 
 The Duck-mole {Ornithorhynchus anatinus or para- 
 doxus) is the only known member of the second 
 family of this order. We are indebted to Dr. George 
 Bennett for the first good description of this really 
 striking animal, which continued to be an object of 
 wonder to naturalists and the public at large long 
 after its discovery. Its form and habits were so 
 queer, that Bennett traveled to Australia for the sole 
 purpose of observing the animal. Up to that time 
 only indefinite information had reached us. We 
 simply knew that the Duck-mole lived in the water 
 and was persistently hunted by the natives, for it 
 yielded a savory flesh and laid eggs. The assertion 
 
 animal of New Guinea, which we 
 Echidna (Proechidna bndjnii), in 
 to the Porcupine Ant-eater. The ^ 
 sharplv differentiated from the preceding and is 
 principally distinguished from it by the number of 
 toes, there being only three on each toot ine 
 beak, which is curved downward, is nearly double 
 as long as the remainder of the head. The animal 
 is about twenty inches long and is covered on head, 
 bodv and limbs by a dense, coarse dark brown or 
 black woolly fur, with which a few bristles are mixed 
 and scattering spines are hidden in the hair. 
 
 THE PORCUPIHE ANT-EATEK. Belonging to tne last ana strangest oraer of mam- 
 mals, the Porcupine Ant-eater has many physical peculiarities. It has a bird-like head and beak; a 
 bristly fur beset with spines, a rudimentary tail, and many other odd characteristics. {^Echidna 
 aculeata.) 
 
 of the latter fact was considered untrue until Cald- 
 well reported his discovery of its eggs in 1884. 
 
 Description of The Duck-mole is somewhat larger 
 the Duck- 'than the Echidna, being about two 
 mole. feet in length, six inches of which 
 
 are included in the tail. The males are considerably 
 larger than the females. The flattened body shows 
 a certain similitude to that of a Beaver or an Otter. 
 The legs are very small, all four feet being five-toed 
 and webbed. In the fore feet, which possess greater 
 muscular power than the hind pair and serve for 
 swimming as well as for digging, the webs extend 
 slightly beyond the claws, are very flexible and 
 elastic and are retracted from the claws when the 
 animal is engaged in scratching or burrowing in the 
 earth. All the toes are very strong, blunt and ex- 
 cellently adapted for digging. The two middle 
 digits are the longest. The short hinder paws are 
 directed backward and resemble those of a Seal, and 
 are most effective when exerted in a backward and 
 outward direction. The first toe on each hind foot 
 is verv short; the nails are all curved backward and 
 
 will call Woolly 
 contradistinction 
 3-enus can not be 
 
598 
 
 THE EGG-LAYING MAMMALS. 
 
 are longer and sharper than those of the fore feet', 
 the web extends only to the base of the toes. The 
 male has on each hind foot a pointed, mobile spur, 
 which can be rotated either on its own axis or 
 around the leg to a considerable extent. It is placed 
 a little above the toes and directed inward. The 
 tail is flat and is broad at the end, the extremity 
 being formed by long hairs. It is abruptly cut off, 
 and in old animals is either entirely naked beneath 
 or covered with a few coarse hairs. In young ani- 
 mals it is quite hairy, the fur in the older specimens 
 probably being worn away by long continued fric- 
 tion. The head is rather flat, small and so markedly 
 characterized by its broad duck-like beak as to be 
 without an equal in point of singularity among 
 mammals. Both jaws are elongated, and are sur- 
 rounded along their entire length by a horny envel- 
 ope, which is continued backward in a curious shield. 
 The adult animal has only four horny teeth in its 
 two jaws, of which the upper front tooth is long, 
 narrow and sharp, while the posterior tooth is broad 
 and flat, and resembles a grinder. Before the Duck- 
 mole attains one third or a half of its size, it has, in 
 the place of these horny teeth, eight true teeth which 
 have the appearance of flat, irregularly rounded 
 disks, beset at their edges with larger or smaller 
 cusps or protuberances. These teeth, which have 
 been discovered only recently, resemble those of 
 the small fossil mammals of the Jurassic group. 
 After they have been almost entirely worn away and 
 cast, the horny formations replace them, being 
 developments of mucous membrane' which has be- 
 come indurated and horny in character. The ori- 
 fices of the nostrils are situated on the upper surface 
 of the beak, near its extremity; the small eyes are 
 placed high in the head; the aperture of the ear, 
 which may be closed by a special muscle acting as a 
 valve, is situated near the outer corner of the eye. 
 The fold of integument, which projects like a shield 
 from the beak over the front of the head and the 
 throat, is of great use to the animal, as it keeps the 
 mud off the adjacent fur during the search for food 
 and shelters the eyes when the Duck-mole is- dig- 
 ging. The tongue is fleshy but beset with callous 
 projections' and is supplemented with a curious 
 bulbous organ behind, which completely closes the 
 mouth. Thus the beak is an excellent sieve, ena- 
 bling the animal to examine the water, separate the 
 eatable substances from others, and to store them 
 away in the capacious cheek-pouches extending 
 along the sides of the head. 
 
 The fur of the Duck-mole consists of a thick, 
 coarse outer coat of daj-k brown color with a silvery 
 white surface tinge, and a very soft, grayish inner 
 fur, similar to that of the Seal and Otter. A peculiar 
 fish-like odor, probably due to some oily secretion, 
 is given forth by the fur, especially when it is wet. 
 The Australians, however, are very fond of the flesh 
 of the animal in spite of this disgusting odor. 
 Habits and Dom- The Duck-mole is fondest of calm 
 idle of tine spots in rivers filled with an abun- 
 Duch-moie. dance of aquatic plants and the banks 
 of which are shaded by the dense foliage of trees; 
 and it constructs more or less complicated bur- 
 rows in the banks. A tortuous tunnel, usually about 
 eighteen feet long, terminates in a spacious cham- 
 ber: both the chamber and its approaches being 
 strewn with dry aquatic plants. Generally, however, 
 every chamber has two entrances, one below the 
 surface of the contiguous water, the other about 
 twelve inches above. 
 
 The Duck-moles are seen at all times in the rivers 
 of Australia, but most frequently during the spring 
 and summer, and the question has been propounded 
 whether they might not hibernate. Their habits 
 usually induce them to emerge from their retreats 
 at dusk, though they sometimes also appear on the 
 surface of the earth in the daytime, searching for 
 food. When the water is very clear, the observer 
 can follow with the eyes the movements of the ani- 
 mal as it dives and reappears above the surface. 
 He who wishes to observe it must be quiet and 
 motionless; for not the slightest movement eludes 
 its keen eye, nor does the least noise escape its 
 delicate sense of hearing. It rarely remains above 
 water over one or two minutes at a time; then it 
 dives and reappears at a short distance. As Bennett 
 saw exemplified in his captive specimens, the Duck- 
 mole likes to stay near the shore, amidst the mud, 
 searching for its food between the roots of the 
 aquatic plants, which form the main abode of in- 
 sects. The diet which it obtains during its forays 
 consists mainly of small aquatic insects and mol- 
 lusks; it stores them temporarily in its cheek- 
 pouches and then consumes them iv greater leisure. 
 Bennett's Anec- "On a beautiful summer evening," 
 dote of a Ducli- says Bennett, "I approached a small 
 mole. river in Australia, and as I knew the 
 
 predilection of the Duck-mole for the hour of dusk, 
 I tried to obtain a glimpse of one. With a constant 
 grasp on our guns, we patiently stood on the shore. 
 It was not long before we saw a black object appear 
 near us on top of the water, the head being raised 
 but little above the surface. We stood motionless, 
 lest we should scare the animal, carefully observing 
 and following its movements, for one must be ready 
 to shoot just as the Duck-mole reappears after div- 
 ing. Only a shot in the head is effective, as the 
 loose, thick fur will not allow a bullet .to penetrate 
 it readily. We wounded one which gave evidence 
 of severe injury and sank immediately, but soon 
 rose again. When the Dog brought it to us we 
 found it to be a fine male. It had not yet expired, 
 for it made an occasional movement; but no noise, 
 except a frequent stertorous breathing through the 
 nostrils, escaped it. Several minutes after it had 
 been brought out of the water it apparently revived, 
 and, instantly rising to its feet, staggered towards 
 the river. About twenty-five minutes later it turned 
 over several times and then died. As I had heard 
 much about the danger of being pierced by its spur, 
 even when the animal is mortally injured, I put my 
 hand near the so-called "poisonous" spur at the first 
 grasp. In its violent exertions to escape the animal 
 scratched me slightly with its hind paws and also 
 with its spur, but despite the roughness with which 
 I seized it, it did not wound me intentionally. I 
 had also been further told that the Duck-mole lay 
 on its back when it wished to use the spur, which 
 statement will not be received as at all probable by 
 any one who knows the animal in ever so slight a 
 way. I put it into this position, but it only strove 
 to regain its feet without attempting to wound me 
 by using its spur. In short, I tried in every way to* 
 induce the animal to make use of its spur as a 
 weapon, but in vain; and I am perfectly convinced 
 that the spur has. another function than that of a 
 weapon ; the more so, as later experiments with 
 wounded animals have always yielded the same 
 result. The natives characterize the spur as "mis- 
 chievous," that being with them a word which in 
 general conveys the idea of dangerous or poisonous 
 
THE DUCK-MOLES. 
 
 599 
 
 character; yet they use the same expression in 
 speaking of the scratches inflicted by the animal 
 with the hinder feet, and they are not at all afraid 
 of seizing a living Duck-mole. When the queer 
 creature runs along the ground, it produces an im- 
 pression of something unnatural, and its strange 
 shape easily startles a timid person. Cats instantly 
 take flight at its appearance, and even Dogs, which 
 are not specially trained, stare at it, prick their ears 
 and bark, but are afraid to touch it, so strongly are 
 they impressed by the strange appearance and oddi- 
 ties of this animal." 
 
 Bennett had many burrows explored and thus had 
 the advantage of observing several Duck-moles in 
 captivity. " I had one burrow dug up," says he, " in 
 spite of all dissuasions of a lazy native, who could 
 not understand why I wished for Duck-moles, since 
 I possessed an abundance of Cattle and Sheep. The 
 entrance of the burrow was large in proportion to 
 the width of the tunnel, for the latter became nar- 
 rower as we advanced, until it only permitted the 
 passage of the animal. We had followed it to a 
 depth of nine feet, when suddenly the head of a 
 Duck -mole appeared be- 
 low, just as if it had been 
 awaked from sleep and 
 had come to see what we 
 wished. It seemed to rec- 
 ognize the fact that our 
 noisy work was not con- 
 ducive to its welfare; for it 
 retreated quite hurriedly. 
 As it turned around it was 
 seized by the hind leg and 
 pulled out. It seemed to 
 be very uneasy and aston- 
 ished at this treatment. 
 We placed our prisoner, 
 which was a full-grown fe- 
 male, in a barrel full of 
 grass, river-mud, water, etc. 
 It scratched all around the 
 sides of the barrel trying 
 to escape from its prison; 
 but as it found all its labor 
 vain, it became quiet, 
 curled up and seemed to 
 sleep. During the night it 
 was very restless and again 
 scratched with its fore 
 paws, as if it were intent 
 on burrowing a tunnel. In 
 
 the morning I found it fast asleep, the tail turned in, 
 head and beak under its chest, the body curled up. 
 When I disturbed its slumber it growled, somewhat 
 like a Dog, only a little more gently and perhaps 
 more harmoniously. During the day it was usually 
 quiet, but during the night it renewed its attempts to 
 escape' and growled continuously. All Europeans 
 of the neighborhood, who had often seen the dead 
 animal, were glad of the opportunity to observe a 
 living specimen, and I believe that this was the first 
 time a European had taken a living Duck-mole and 
 had examined its burrow. 
 
 "When I left I put my 'Mallangong' into a little 
 box lined with grass, and took it with me. To afford 
 it some recreation I woke it after a short time, tied a 
 long string to one of its hind legs and set it ashore. 
 It soon found its way into the water and swam up 
 the stream, 
 spots as were 
 
 After the animal had enough of diving, it crept 
 ashore, lay down on the grass and gave itself up to 
 the luxury of scratching and combing itself. 
 
 "A few days later I allowed it to take another 
 bath in a clear river, in the water of which 1 could 
 see its movements distinctly. It quickly dived to 
 the bottom, stayed there for a little while and then 
 rose again. It roved along the bank, guided by the 
 sense of touch in its beak, which seemed to be very 
 frequently used, and also to be a very sensitive organ 
 of touch. Its appetite was probably quite well sat- 
 isfied, for whenever it withdrew its beak from the 
 mud, something eatable was undoubtedly in it, as its 
 jaws were then working laterally with a movement 
 peculiar to its method of chewing. Various insects, 
 which hovered closely about it, were unmolested by 
 it, either because it did not see them or because it 
 preferred the food which the mud afforded it. 
 After its repasts it would sometimes lie down on the 
 grassy bank, half out of the water, or it would bend 
 backward, combing and cleaning its fur. It re- 
 turned to its prison very unwillingly, and this time it 
 did not quiet down at all. During the succeeding 
 
 DUCK-MOLE. — ^ Last among the known mammals is the strange and aptly named Duck-mole. It is web- 
 footed and lays eggs, like a Duck, and burrows in river banks like a Mole or a Beaver, but spends most of its 
 waking moments in the water searching for the aquatic insects and Mollusks which constitute its food. (Omitho- 
 rhynchus anaiinus.) 
 
 night I heard it scratching in the box which stood in 
 my bed-room, and lo! the next morning the box was 
 empty. The Duck-mole had succeeded in detach- 
 ing a lath and had effected its escape. Thus all my 
 hopes of further observations were foiled." 
 Bennett's Account On another voyage Bennett succeed- 
 o/ Young Duck- ed in discovering a burrow contain- 
 moles. ijig three young ones, upon which 
 
 the hair had already grown, and which he could ob- 
 serve for some time. "When we found the nest 
 with the young ones," says he, "and placed them on 
 the ground, they ran to and fro but did not make 
 such savage attempts to escape as did the old ones. 
 The natives, whose mouths watered at sight of these 
 fat young animals, said that they were about eight 
 months old, and added that the young Duck-moles 
 were fed milk by their mother only during their 
 early infancy and later were given insects, small 
 shells and mud. 
 
 swam 
 evidently most delighted with such 
 thickly covered with aquatic plants. 
 
600 
 
 THE EGG-LAYING MAMMALS. 
 
 "I could allow the young animals the liberty of 
 the room, but one old one scratched the wall so 
 incessantly that I had to shut it up. Then it lay 
 quietly all day, but always renewed its attempts to 
 escape during the night. When I disturbed the ani- 
 mals in their sleep, there was always a murmuring. 
 
 " My little Duck-mole family lived for some time 
 longer and thus I could observe their habits. The 
 little animals appeared frequently to dream of being 
 in the water: for their fore-paws were often seen to 
 move as they would in swimming. When I placed 
 them on the ground by day, they sought a dark rest- 
 ing-place and in such a spot or in their prison they 
 soon fell asleep, their bodies being disposed of in a 
 curled-up attitude; but they preferred their usual 
 resting place to any other. 
 
 "At evening my two little pets emerged from 
 their cage at dusk and usually ate their food; then 
 they began to play like a couple of young Dogs, 
 attacking each other with their beaks, lifting their 
 fore paws and climbing over each other. They were 
 extremely lively; their little eyes gleamed and the 
 apertures of their ears opened and closed in remark- 
 ably rapid succession. As their eyes stand quite 
 high in their heads they can not see very well 
 straight ahead, and therefore are apt to come into 
 collision with contiguous objects. 
 
 " Soon after my arrival in Sydney the animals, to 
 my great regret, lost much of their flesh, and their 
 skins lost their fine, shining appearance. Their ill 
 health was plainly seen in all their actions, and their 
 appearance could only excite pity. On the 29th of 
 January the female died and was followed on the 
 2d of February by the male. I had kept them 
 alive only about five weeks." 
 
 Incubation and The Duck-mole lays several soft- 
 
 Deuelopmentofthe shelled eggs, in which, according to 
 
 Duck-mole. Caldwell's discoveries, the embryos 
 
 before being hatched, are developed to about the 
 
 same stage of growth as are those in a Hen's tgg 
 which has been incubated for thirty-six hours. The 
 eggs are hatched in the nest. The newly-hatched 
 young are small, naked, blind and as helpless as 
 those of the Echidna or of the pouched animals. 
 Their beaks are short. 
 
 In the zoological garden at Melbourne Duck- 
 moles have occasionally been kept of late years, but 
 none have, so far, reached Europe alive. 
 
 TWO OTHER MONOTREMES. 
 
 The already described Monotremes should per- 
 haps be followed by a recently discovered, unnamed 
 animal of the interior of Australia. Its fur has a 
 metallic lustre and it lives subterraneously. So far 
 only one — and that, unfortunately, mutilated — speci- 
 men is known, and it still awaits a detailed descrip- 
 tion. 
 
 A still more important acquisition to the natural 
 history of the lowest forms of mammals, however, 
 would probably be the description of the sole in- 
 digenous terrestrial mammal of New Zealand. This 
 animal resembles an Otter in general appearance; it 
 livfs near and in the water like that animal and is 
 now probably restricted to the elevated lakes of the 
 New Zealand southern mountain chain. It has been 
 seen several times, and once so near that the ob- 
 server dealt it a blow with a whip, after which it dis- 
 appeared in the water, uttering a shrill cry. Julius 
 von Haast saw the animal's tracks in the snow, but 
 no one has yet succeeded ip obtaining a specimen. 
 New Zealand possesses the lowest forms of bird life 
 of any country of the globe; and it is very possible 
 that its single living, indigenous mammal stands as 
 much below the Monotremes in development as the 
 Monotremes are below the pouched animals, and 
 thus would furnish important and perhaps surpris- 
 ing disclosures concerning the origin of the highest 
 class of vertebrates, which includes Man. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 MAMMALS. 
 
 Introductory Preface • iji x^e I,ife of Animals— Preliminary Notes on Mammals 
 
 First Order: THE APES AND MONKEYS. Pitheci. 1. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 First Family : The Narrow-Jfosed 
 Apes {Catarrhini) 8 
 
 SlAN-SHAPED APES {Anthropomorpha.') 
 
 I. — Genus: Gorillas (CorzV/a) ... 9 
 Gorilla (C gina) 9 
 
 2. — Genus: Chimpanzees (5«w«a) . 16 
 Chimpanzee (S. troglodytes) . 16 
 
 3. — Genus: Orang-utans (Pithecus) iS 
 Orang-Utan {P. satyrus) ... 18 
 
 4. — Genus : (Sibbons (Hylobates) . 23 
 Siamang {ff. syndactylus) . . 23 
 Hoolock {H. hulock) .... 23 
 Lar or White-handed Gibbon 
 
 {H. lar) 23 
 
 Ungko (^H. rafflesii) 23 
 
 Wau-wau or Oa {H. variegatus) 23 
 
 POG-SHAPED MONKEYS {CynopUkecini). 
 
 5. — Genus : Slender or Sacred Monk- 
 eys (Semnopithecus) . . 25 
 Hoonuman (S. entellus) . 25 
 
 Budeng {S. maurus) 27 
 
 6. — Genus : Proboscis Monkeys (Na- 
 
 salis) 28 
 
 Proboscis Monkey or Kahau 
 
 [N. larvatus) 28 
 
 7. — Genus : Thumbless Monkeys 
 
 (Colobus) 28 
 
 Guerezas (C. guereza) .... 28 
 
 Ursine Colobus {C. ur sinus) . 30 
 
 Black Colobus (C. satanas) . . 30 
 
 S. — Genus: Guenons: {Cercopithecus) 30 
 
 Green Monkey ( C. sabcsus) . . 32 
 
 Diana Monkey (C. diana) . . 34 
 
 Blue-faced Guenon (C. cephus) 34 
 
 *Red or Patas Monk ey ( C. ruber) 34 
 
 *Sooty Mangabey (C fulig- 
 
 inostis) 35 
 
 9. — Genus : Macaques (Matacus) . . 36 
 Common Macaque (M. cyno- 
 
 molgus) 36 
 
 Bhunder, or Rhesus Monkey 
 \M. rhesus) 38 
 
 PAGE 
 
 *Bonnet Monkey {M. sinicus) 36 
 *Pig-tailed Macaques {M. ne- 
 
 mestrinus) 39 
 
 Magot or Barbary Ape {M. syl- 
 
 vanus) 39 
 
 10. — Genus : Baboons (Cynocephalus) 41 
 Black Baboon (C niger) ... 43 
 Cotnmon Baboon {C. babuin) 44 
 Chacma Baboon {C. porcarius) 44 
 
 Sphinx (C sphinx) 44 
 
 Hamadryas or Sacred Baboon 
 
 (C. hamadryas) 46 
 
 Gelada Baboon (C..g-^/arfa) . . 48 
 Mandrill (C. mormon) . . 49 
 
 Ttrill {C. leucophizus) .... 49 
 Wanderoo {C. silenus) . . . 50 
 
 Second Family: American or Broad- 
 Nosed Monkeys. (Platyrrhini) . . 50 
 
 PREHENSILE-TAILED MONKEYS ( Cfiiife'). 
 
 I.— -Genus : Howlers {Myceies) ... 52 
 Aluate or Red Howler (M. sen- 
 
 iculus) 53 
 
 Caraya or Black Howler {M. 
 
 niger) 53 
 
 2. — Genus : Spider Monkeys (Ateles) 54 
 
 Coaita (A. paniscus) 55 
 
 Marimonda or Aru (A. beelze- 
 
 buth) 55 
 
 Chameck {A. pentadactylus) 55 
 Miriki (A. hypoxanthus) ... 55 
 Gold-Faced Monkey (Jf. bart- 
 
 letiii) . 55 
 
 3. — Genus : Woolly Monkeys (Lago- 
 
 thrix) 55 
 
 *Humboldt's Lagothrix Monk- 
 ey (Z,. humboldtii) .... 55 
 4. — Genus : Capuchins (Cebus) . . 56 
 Cai or Sai (C. capucinus) ... 56 
 Apella or Brown Capuchin 
 
 (C. apella) 57 
 
 *White-Bearded Capuchin {C. 
 leucogenys) 58 
 
 pagb 
 *White-Faced Capuchin (C. hy- 
 
 •polencus) 58 
 
 *Green Capuchin (C olivaceus) 58 
 
 NON-PREHENSILE TAILED AMERICAN 
 
 MONKEYS {Pithecidce) 
 
 5. — Genus : Sakis (Pithecia) . . .58 
 Cuxio (P. satanas) . . .58 
 
 White-headed Saki (P. leuco- 
 
 cephala) 58 
 
 *Hairy Saki {P. hir'suta) ... 59 
 6. — Genus: Short-tailed Monkeys 
 
 (Brachyurus) 59 
 
 Black-headed Saki (B. melano- 
 
 cephalus) 59 
 
 *Short-tailed Monkey (B. cal- 
 
 vtts) 61 
 
 7.— Genus: Callithrix (Callithrix) . 59 
 Widow Monkey (C. lugens) . 59 
 *Lovely-Haired Monkey (C.per- 
 sonata) ..... . 61 
 
 8. — Genus : Saimaris ( Chrysothrix) 59 
 Squirrel Monkey (C. sciurea) . do 
 9. — Genus: Owl Monkeys (Nyctiptth- 
 
 ecus) 60 
 
 Mirikina Monkey (N. triver- 
 gatus) (j/l 
 
 Third Family : The Marmosets. {Are- 
 topitheci) 62 
 
 r. — Genus : Marmosets {Hapale) . 64 
 *Silky Tamarin (H. rosalia) . 62 
 Silver Monkey (H. argentata) 62 
 Lion-like Monkey {H. leonina) 63 
 Silky Monkey {H.pygmcsa) . 63 
 Common Marmosets {H. jac- 
 
 chus) 63 
 
 Tufted Marmoset {H. penicil- 
 
 lata) 64 
 
 Pinche Marmoset {H. cedipus) 64 
 Golden Marmoset (//. chryso- 
 
 leucus) 64 
 
 Second Order: THE HALF=MONKEYS OR LEMUROIDS. Frosimii. 65. 
 
 First Family : The Lemurs iLemur- 
 idce) .65 
 
 I.— Genus: \n&.r\& [Lichanotus). . . 67 
 
 Babacoto (L. brevicaudatus) . 67 
 
 2.— Genus : Makis {Lemur) .... 67 
 
 Ruffed Lemur (Z^. Z'a^'jw) . . 67 
 
 Catta {L. catta) 67 
 
 Mongoose {L. mongoz). . . 67 
 
 Black Maki {L. macaco) . . 67 
 
 3. — Genus: Loris {Stenops) ... 68 
 
 Slender Loris {S. gracilis). . . 68 
 
 Slow Loris {S. tardigradus). 69 
 
 4.— Genus: Gentle Lemurs {Hapa- 
 
 lemur) 69 
 
 *G^ay Lemur {H. griseus) . 69 
 
 5.— .Genus: Prehensile-Handed Le- 
 mur ( Chirogaleus) 69 
 
 *Fork- Crowned Lemur {C.fur- 
 
 cifer) 69 
 
 6. — Genus: Large- Eared Makis 
 
 {Otolicnus) 70 
 
 Common Galago {O. galago) . 71 
 Comba {O. agisymbanus). . . 71 
 7. — Genus: Stump- fingered Lemurs 
 
 {Perodicticus) 72 
 
 *Potto Lemur (/>. />o/i!o) . . 72 
 8. — Genus: Bear-like Lemurs (^rrfo- 
 
 cebus) 72 
 
 *Augwdntibo Lemur {A. calaba- 
 rensis) . 72 
 
 PAGfi 
 
 9. — Genus : Dwarf Lemurs {Micro- 
 
 cebus) 73 
 
 *Little Galago Lemur {M. myox- 
 inus) . . 73 
 
 Second Family : The Tarsiers ( Tar- 
 sidts) 72 
 
 I. — Genus : Tarsier ( Tarsius) ... 72 
 Spectre Tarsier ( T. spectrum). 72 
 
 Third Family : The Bare-flngered An* 
 imals {Leptodaclyla) .... 73 
 
 I. — Genus: Queer-Handed Animals 
 
 {Chironiys) 73 
 
 Aye-Aye (C.madagascariensis) 73 
 
 *Not mentioned ia text except iu description accompanying illustraffon. 
 
602 
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 Thied Oeder: THE WINQ=HANDED ANIMALS. 
 
 First Division : Flying Dogs {Ptcr- 
 opiiia) 79 
 
 I. — Genus: Flying Dogs (Pteropus) "ji) 
 I'h&K.a.loag (P. eduHs) . ... 80 
 
 2. — Genus: ii\gb.t-'Dog,s(Cynotiycten3) 79 
 
 Egyptian Flying-Dog (C. CEgyp- 
 
 tiacus) 81 
 
 Second Division : The Smooth-Nosed 
 
 'BaX% (Gynutoy/iiiia) 81 
 
 I . — Genus : Long-eared Bats (Pleco- 82 
 
 ins) 
 
 Long-eared Bat {P. auritus) . 82 
 
 2. — Genus : Night-Flyers ( Vesper- 
 
 tilio) 82 
 
 PAGE 
 
 *Daubenton's Bat ( V. dauben- 
 
 tonii) 79 2. 
 
 Mouse-Colored or Common Bat 
 
 ( V. niiirinus) 82 
 
 3. — Genus : Noctules { Vesperugo) 
 *Pipistrelle ( V. pipistrellus). . 79 
 Noctule or Great Bat ( V. noc- 
 
 ttila) 82 3. 
 
 4. — Genus : Pug-Dog Bats (Synotus) 82 
 Barbastelle or Pug-Dog Bat (S. 
 barbastellus) 82 a. 
 
 Third Division : Leaf-Jfosed or Blood- 
 sucking Bats (Isiiophora) .... 83 
 
 I.— Genus : Vampires (Phyllostoma) . 84 
 
 Chiroptera. 75. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Vampire Bat {P. spectrum) . . 84 
 -Genus : Horseshoe Bats (Rhino- 
 
 lophus) 85 
 
 Lesser Horseshoe Bat {R. hip- 
 
 pocrepis) 85 
 
 Greater Horseshoe Bat {R.fer- 
 
 ruin-equinum) 86 
 
 -Genus : Nose-leaf Bats {Mega- 
 derma) . . 86 
 
 Lyre Bat {M. lyra) 86 
 
 -Genus: Rhinopomes (Rhinopoma) S6 
 Egyptian Rhinopome (A*, mi- 
 
 crophyllum) 86 
 
 -Genus : Scotophiles (Scotopkilus\ 86 
 Welwitch's Bat (S. wetwitchii 86 
 
 Fourth Order: THE BEASTS OF PREY. Garnivora. 87. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 First Family : The Cat Family {Fe- 
 lidce) 88 
 
 I, — Genus : Cats Proper {Felis) . . 92 
 Royal Tiger (F. tigris) . . 92 
 Clouded Tiger (F. nebulosa) . 99 
 Common Wild Cat {F. catus) . 99 
 *Marbled Cat {F. marmorata) . 99 
 Egyptian Qa.t(F. maniculata) . 102 
 Domestic Cat {F. maniculata 
 
 domestica) 105 
 
 Angora Cat (F. maniculata do- 
 mestica angorensis) . . . 105 
 Barbary Lion {F. leobarbarus).\o() 
 Senegal Lion (F. leo senegal- 
 
 ensts) 106 
 
 South African Lion (F. leo ca- 
 
 pensis) 106 
 
 Persian Lion (F. leo persicus) . 106 
 GuzeratLion (F. leoguzeraten- 
 
 sis) 106 
 
 Leopard (F. pardus) . . . 112 
 
 Va.n'CD.ex {F. panther a) . . .112 
 Long-tailed Panther {F. va- 
 
 riegata) 114 
 
 Black Panther {F. melas). . 114 
 Snow Leopard or Ounce {F. 
 
 uncia) 119 
 
 Viverriue Cat (Z'". viverrina) . 119 
 Leopard Cat(^. bengalensis) . 119 
 
 Serval {F. serval) 119 
 
 Cougar or Puma (/^ concolor) . 120 
 Yaguarundi {F. yaguarundi) . 122 
 Jaguar (F. onza) . . . 124 
 Ocelot (F. pardalis) . . .128 
 
 Pampas Cat (F. pajeros) . 128 
 
 Marguay {F tigrinis) .... 129 
 Long-tailed Tiger Cat {F. ma- 
 
 crura) 129 
 
 S. — Genus : Lynxes (Lynx) . . . 129 
 Common Lynx(Z. vulgaris) 130 
 Pardine Lynx (L. pardinus) . 133 
 Peeshoo or Canadian Lynx (L. 
 
 borealis) 133 
 
 Red or Bay Lynx (Z,. rufus) . 133 
 Texas Lynx (L. macutata) . 133 
 Oregon Lynx {L./asciata) . .134 
 VlondaliynT^ {L.yioridanus) 134 
 Carolina Lynx (Z,. carolinen- 
 
 sis) 134 
 
 Caracal {L. caracal) 134 
 
 Common Jungle Cat (L. chaus). 134 
 
 3. — Genus: Cheetahs (Cy«az7Mr«j) . 135 
 
 Asiatic Cheetah (C. jubatus) . 135 
 
 Fahhad (C. guttatus) 135 
 
 Spotted Cheetah (C. soemmet- 
 
 ringii) 135 
 
 Woolly Cheetah {C. laneus) . . 135 
 4.— Genus: Cryptoprocta (Crypto- 
 
 procta) 138 
 
 'Poassa. (C. Ferox.) 138 
 
 Second Family : Civet Family 
 
 ( Viverridce) . . .... 139 
 
 cat-footed civets. ( Ailuropoda) . 139 
 
 I. — Genus : Civets Proper ( Viverra) 139 
 African Civet ( V. civetta) . 140 
 Asiatic Civet ( V. zibetha) . . 140 
 Lesser Civet ( V. malaccensis) 141 
 Common Genette ( V. genetta) 141 
 2. — Genus: Palm Cats (Paradoxurus) 142 
 Indian Paradoxure (P. niger) . 142 
 Common Paradoxure {P. her- 
 
 maphroditus) 142 
 
 Masked Paradoxure (/-". laiva- 
 
 tus) 144 
 
 dog-footed civets. (Cynopoda) 144 
 
 3. — Genus : Mungooses (Herpestes) 144 
 Ichneumon (H. ichneum.on) . 144 
 
 Mungo (H. mungo) 147 
 
 Meloncillo (H. widdringlonii) 148 
 Banded Mungoos (H. fascia- 
 
 tus) 150 
 
 Crab Mungoos (H. urva) . . 150 
 4. — Genus : Dog-like Mungooses 
 
 (Cynictus) 150 
 
 Foxy Mungoos (C. penicillata) 150 
 
 5. — Genus: Mangues (Crossarchus) 146 
 
 Mangue (C obscurus) . . 146 
 
 6. — Genus : Suricates (Suricata) . 150 
 
 Suricate (S. tetradactyla) . .150 
 
 Third Family : The Marten Family 
 
 (Mustelidce) . ... 150 
 
 THE martens. (Martidee) . 152 
 
 I. — Genus : Martens Proper (il/ai^^/a) 152 
 Pine Marten (M. martes) . . 152 
 Stone Marten (Jf/. foina) . . 153 
 The Sable (A/, zibellina) . . . 154 
 American Sable (.1/. america- 
 
 na) 156 
 
 Fisher Marten (M. pennantii) 156 
 
 2 — Genus : Foul Martens (Putorius) 156 
 Polecat (P. fastidus) .... 156 
 Tiger Polecat (P. sarmaticus) 156 
 
 Ferret (P. furo) 158 
 
 Weasel (/". vulgaris) . . . 159 
 
 Ermine (P. erminea) .... 162 
 Mink or Nerz (P. lutreola) . . 164 
 American Mink (P. vison) . . 164 
 
 3. — Genus: Gluttons ( C«fo) . . i66 
 
 G\vM.on(G. borealis) . .' . 166 
 
 4. — Genus : Grisons (Galictis) . . . 168 
 
 Tyra (G. barbq.ra) 16S 
 
 Grison (G. vittata) 168 
 
 THE BADGERS. (MelidcB) 168 
 
 5. — Genus : Badgers (Metes) . . . .168 
 Common Badger (M. taxus) . 169 
 6. —Genus: New World Badgers 
 
 ( Taxidea) 171 
 
 American Badger (iT. Ameri- 
 cana) 171 
 
 Mexican Badger (T. berban- 
 
 dieri) 172 
 
 7. — Genus : Honey Badgers (Dfelli- 
 
 vora) . . 172 
 
 Ratel (M. capensis) 172 
 
 Indian Ratel (M. indica). . . 175 
 8. — Genus : Stinking Badgers (My- 
 
 daus) 173. 
 
 Teledu (M. meliceps) ... 173 
 
 9. — Genus : Skunks (Mephitis) . . 173^ 
 
 Surilho (M. suffocans) . . .174 
 
 Skunk (M. vdrians) 174- 
 
 lo.' — Genus: ZoriWas (Rhabdogale) . 175- 
 Cape Zorilla (R. mustelina) . 175- 
 
 THE OTTERS. i^Lutridce) 176 
 
 II. — Genus: Otters (Lit,trd). . . . 176 
 Common Otter (L. vulgaris) . 176 
 American Otter (_L. canaden- 
 sis) 179 
 
 Mexian Otter (L. californica) . 179' 
 Peruvian Otter (L.felina) . . 179 
 Brazilian Otter (L. brasilienis) 179- 
 
 12. — Genus : Sea Otters (Enhydris) . 179 
 Sea~ Otter (£, lutris) 179 
 
 Fourth Family : The Hyaena Family 
 
 (Hycznidce) i8^ 
 
 I. — Genus : Hyaenas (Hycena) . . iS? 
 Spotted Hysena (H. crocuta) . 184 
 Brown Hyaena (H. brunnea) . 185 
 Striped Hyaena (ff. striata) . iS(r 
 
 2. — Genus: Aard-Wolfs (Protetes) . 187 
 Aard-Wolf (P. lalandii) . .18/ 
 
 Fifth Family : The Dog Family 
 
 (CanidcE). . 187 
 
 I. — Genus : Wolves (Canis) .... 18S 
 
 Wolf (C. lupus) 190 
 
 GusLra. (C. Jubatus) 191 
 
 North American Wolf ( C. occi- 
 
 dentalis) 194 
 
 Jackal Wolf (C anthus) . 194 
 
 Striped Wolf (C. adustus) . .196- 
 
 Jackal (C a«^(?a5) . . . 1.96 
 
 *Csipe Jacka.\(C.fnesomelas) . . 196 
 
 Coyote (C. latrans) 197 
 
 Raccoon Dog ( C. procyonoides).T.^?r 
 Crab-eating Dog (C. cancri- 
 
 vorus) 19& 
 
 Aguara (C. vetulus) 198 
 
 Hyaena Dog ( C />zrf(<.s) . . . .199 
 
 Kolsun (C. dukhunensis) . . . 200 
 
 K$i\z.%(C. rutilans) . . . .200 
 
 *Alpine Wolf (C a/^««ai) . . .203 
 
 Dingo (C. dingo) 204 
 
 Pariah Dog 206- 
 
 DOMESTIC DOGS (Canis familiaris) 207 
 
 I.— Group: Greyhounds (C.f.grajus).2\i 
 
 Greyhound 215 
 
 Greyhound of the Desert . . 216- 
 *Scotch Greyhound . . . 217 
 
 Italian Greyhound 217 
 
 African Naked bog (Cy. a/ri- 
 
 cavus) 21S 
 
 2. — Group: Mastiffs (C. /am. mo- 
 
 lossus) . 2l8 
 
 Danish Dog . . . 21& 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 603 
 
 German Mastiff . . ...... 218 
 
 Bulldog 220 
 
 Boxer 221 
 
 Pug 221 
 
 Dog of Tibet 221 
 
 3.— Group: Badger Dogs {Canisfam- 
 
 iliaris vertagus) . . . .221 
 Englisli Turnspit ... 222 
 
 ' Otter-Hound .... . 222 
 
 4.— Group : Hounds {Cams /am. sa- 
 
 gax) ■ . . . 222 
 
 Pointers 223 
 
 *Retriever 220 
 
 German Bloodhound . . . 224 
 
 Staghound 224 
 
 Foxhound . . . 224 
 
 Beagle 224 
 
 5. — Group : Spaniels (Canis/am. ex- 
 
 trarius) . . 224 
 
 King Charles 225 
 
 Blenheim 225 
 
 Newfoundland 225 
 
 St. Bernard 226 
 
 Foodie 227 
 
 6. — Group: Terriers (Canis fam. 
 
 gryphus) 229 
 
 Skye Terrier 229 
 
 7. — Group : Domestic Dogs Proper — 
 
 ( Canis familiaris domesticus)22<) 
 Sheep dog 229 
 
 Spitz . 
 Eskimo 
 
 THE FOXES 
 
 PAGE 
 
 . 230 
 . 230 
 
 . 232 
 
 2. — Genus : Foxes ( Vulpes) . . . 232 
 Common Fox ( V. vulgaris) . . 232 
 Red Fox ( V.fulvus)) . . . . 237 
 Long- tailed Fox ( V. macrurus) 237 
 K.\\.'BoiL{V.velox) . . . . 238 
 
 Arctic Fox ( V. lagopus) . . . 238 
 
 Corsac ( V. corsac) 239 
 
 Fennec ( V. zerdo) 240 
 
 Gray Fox — ( V. cinereo-argen- 
 
 taius) 241 
 
 Coast Fox ( V. littoralis) . . . 243 
 
 3- — Genus: Long-eared Foxes {Oto- 
 
 cyon) 241 
 
 Long-eared Fox (O. megalotis) 241 
 
 Sixth Family: Bear Family (Wrsz- 
 
 d^) 243 
 
 The large bears (Ur sines) . 244 
 
 I. — Genus : Bears Proper (Ursus) . 244 
 Brown Bear ( U. arcios) , . . 244 
 Barren Ground Bear ( U. rich- 
 
 250 
 250 
 
 ardsonii) 
 
 Grizzly Bear ( U. cinereus) . . 
 Cinnamon 'Bsax (U. cinnamon- 
 
 eus) 
 
 Black Bear ( C/. aftiericanus). . 
 
 252 
 252 
 
 pagS 
 Black Himalayan Bear— ( (J. 
 Torquaius:) .... . . a-53 
 
 Malayan Bear (6'^ matayanus) 254 
 
 Polar Bear ( U. maritimus) . . 254 
 
 2. — Genus : Sloth Bears (Melursus) . 260 
 
 Sloth Bear [M. labiatus). . . . ido 
 
 CAT-LIKE BEARS {AilurincE) . 264 
 
 3. — Genus : Cat-Pawed Bears {Ailur- 
 
 opus) 264 
 
 Ailuropus (A. melanoleucus) . 264 
 4. — Genus : Cat-Bears Proper (Ailu- 
 
 rus) 264 
 
 Panda (A.fulgens) 264 
 
 5. — Genus : Binturongs (Arctitis) 264 
 Binturong (A. oinlurong) . , 264 
 
 THE SMALL BEARS {Procyonifics). 264 
 
 6. — Genus : Raccoons (Procyon) . . 264 
 
 Raccoon {P. lotor) 264 
 
 Crab-eating Raccoon (/". cancri- 
 varus) 268 
 
 7. — Genus : Long-nosed Bears {Na- 
 
 sua) .... . 269 
 
 Coata {N. ru/a) . . . . 269 
 
 Narica (A^. narica) . . 270 
 
 8. — Genus : Kinkajous (Cercoleples) 271 
 Kinkajou (C. caudivolvulus) . 271 
 
 9. — Genus : Cacomixles (Bassaris) . 272 
 Cacomixle {B. astuta) .... 272 
 
 Fifth Order: THE SEALS OR FIN=FOOTED ANIHALS. Pinnipedia. 273. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 First Family : Ordinary Seals 
 (Phocidis) 27s 
 
 I. — Genus : Common Seals {Phoca) 278 
 
 Common Seal {P. vitulina) . 278 
 
 Caspian Seal {P. caspica) . . . 278 
 
 Saddle-Back Seal {P. grasn- 
 
 latidica) . 278 
 
 3. — Genus : Hooded Seals (Cysto- 
 
 phora) 279 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Crested or Bladder-Nose Seal 
 (C cristata) 279 
 
 3. — Geuus : Elephant Seals {Macro- 
 
 rhinus) 279 
 
 Elephant Seal {M. leoninus) . 279 
 
 4. — Genus : Narrow-nosed Seals 
 
 (Stenorhynchus) ...... 277 
 
 *Sea Leopard {S. leptonyx) . . 277 
 Monk Seal (S. albiventer) . . 278 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Second Family : Walruses ( Triche- 
 
 chida) ... 282 
 
 Genus : Walruses ( Trichechus) . 282 
 Walrus ( T. rosmarus) .... 282 
 
 Third Family : Eared Seals {Otar- 
 
 iidcE) 286 
 
 Genus : Eared Seals (Oiaria) . 
 Sea Lion {O. stelleri) . . . 286 
 Sea Bear : (O. ursina) .... 288 
 Southern Sea Lion (O.jubata) 288 
 
 Sixth Order: THE INSECT- EATING ANIflALS. Insectivora. 289. 
 
 First Family : 
 ceida) . . . 
 
 Hedgehog's {Erina- 
 
 289 
 
 Genus : Hedgehogs (Erinaceus) . . . 289 
 Common Hedgehog {E. europ- 
 ceus) 290 
 
 SECOND family : Moles ( Talpidez) . 294 
 
 I. — Genus : Moles ( Talpa) 
 
 Common Mole ( T. europcsa) . 295 
 
 2. — Genus : Shrew-Moles (Scalops) . 295 
 American Mole (S. aquaticus) 295 
 Prairie Mole (S. argentatus) 295 
 
 3.— Genus: Spade-footed Shrew- 
 Moles {Scapanus) 296 
 
 Hairy-tailed Mole (5. breweri) 296 
 Oregon Mole {S. townsendi) . 296 
 
 4. — Genus: Star-Nosed Moles (Cb«a^j/- 
 
 lura) 296 
 
 Star-Nosed Mole {C. cristata) 296 
 
 Third Family : Tnpaias ( Tupaiida) 296 
 
 Genus : Tupaias ( Tupaia) . . 296 
 Tana ( T. tana) 296 
 
 Fourth Family ; Long-Legged Shrews 
 {Macroscelidida) 296 
 
 ' Genus : Elephant Shrews (Macros- 
 
 celides) 296 
 
 Elephant Shrew {M. typicus) . 296 
 
 Fifth Family: Spiny Hedgehogs 
 
 (Centetidcs) 297 
 
 Genus : Spiny Hedgehogs (Cen- 
 
 tetes) . 297 
 
 Tanrec (C. ecaudatus) .... 297 
 
 Sixth Family : Shrews (Soricida) . 297 
 
 shrews proper (SoricincB') .... 299 
 
 I. — Genus : Shrews (Sorex) .... 299 
 Common Shrew [S. vulgaris) . 299 
 Broad-Nosed Shrew (S. platy- 
 
 rhinus . 300 
 
 Marsh Shrew (S. palustris) . . 302 
 
 Giant Shrew (S. hendiri) . . . 302 
 
 'Dvia.riS'htem{S.personata) . .302 
 
 2 . — Genus : West Indian Shrews {Sol- .. 
 
 enodon) 298 
 
 Almiqui {S. cubanus) 298 
 
 3. — Genus : Mole Shrews (.5/aW«a) . 300 
 
 Short-tailed Mole Shrew {B. 
 
 brevicauda) 300 
 
 4. — Genus : Field Shrews ( Crgcidura ) 302 
 
 Domestic Shrew {C. aranea) . 302 
 
 Etruscan Shrew ( C. suaveolens) 302 
 5.— Genus: Water Shrews (Crosso- 
 
 pws) 302 
 
 Water Shrew {C. fodiens) . . . 302 
 
 THE DESMANS {Myogalina) . 
 Shrews 
 
 303 
 
 {Myo- 
 
 6. — Genus: Beaver 
 
 gale) 303 
 
 Almizilero {M. pyrenaica) . . 303 
 Desman {M. moschata) .... 303 
 7. — Genus : Neurotrichus {Neuro- 
 
 trichus) 304 
 
 Neurotrichus {N. gibbsii) . . 304 
 
 Seventh Family : Colugos {Galeopi- 
 thecidcs) 304 
 
 Genus : Colugos {Galeopithecus) 304 
 Colugo {G. volans) 304 
 
 Seventh Order: THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIHALS. Rodentia. 305. 
 
 First Family: Squirrels {Sciurida) 306 
 
 ■The true squirrels {Sciurtnce) . . 306 
 
 J.— Genus : Tree Squirrels {Sciurus) 306 
 Common Squirrel {S. vulgaris) 306 
 Chickaree Squirrel {S. hudson- 
 
 ius) 310 
 
 Gray Squirrel (5. carohnensis) 310 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Arizona Gray Squirrel {S. ari- 
 zonensis) 310 
 
 Chestnut-backed Gray Squir- 
 rel (5. aberti) 310 
 
 California Gray Squirrel (S. 
 fossor) 310 
 
 Black Squirrel {S. niger) . . . 310 
 
 Fox Squirrel (S. cinereus) . . 310 
 
 Western Fox Squirrel {S. lu- 
 dovicianus) 310 
 
 Little African Squirrel (5. 
 
 minutus) 311 
 
 2. — Genus : Flying Squirrels {Pter- 
 
 omys) . . . .311 
 
 Taguan {P. petaurista) . . 311 
 
 Liatuga [P. volans') .... 312 
 
604 
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Assapan {P. volucella) ... 312 
 3, — Genus: Ground Squirrels {Ta 
 
 mias) . ; 313 
 
 '&\xiVLn&.VL)ii{T.striatus) . . . 313 
 Chipmunk (T. lysteri) . . . .314 
 Four-striped Chipmunk ( T. 
 
 quadrivittatus) 314 
 
 Mountain Chipmunk {T. la- 
 teralis) 314 
 
 Southwestern Chipmunk (T. 
 
 harrisi) 314 
 
 4. — Genus: Xerus(J['ifr»j) 314 
 
 Xerus {X. ruiilus) 314 
 
 THE MARMOTS (Arciomyina:') .... 315 
 5. — Genus : Pouched Marmots {Sper- 
 
 mophilus) 315 
 
 Souslik (5. citillus') 315 
 
 Parry's Marmot Squirrel (5. 
 
 empetra) 316 
 
 Gray Prairie Squirrel {S. 
 
 franklini) 316 
 
 Thirteen-lined Spermophile 
 
 {S. tridecum-lineatus) . . 316 
 6. — Genus : Prairie Dogs (Cynomys) 316 
 Prairie Dog {C. Itidovicianus) ^iS 
 7. — Genus : Marmots Proper {Arc- 
 
 iomys) 318 
 
 Bobac (^A. bobac) 318 
 
 Alpine Marmot (A. marmota) 320 
 Woodchuck [A. fnonax) . . 321 
 Rocky Mountain Marmot {A. 
 
 flaviventor) 321 
 
 Hoary Marmot (A. pruinosus) 321 
 
 Second FamiIiY: Dormice {Myoxidce). 
 I. — Genus: 'Pa.tTiottn.\cs(Myoxus) 321 
 
 Ivoir (M.glis) 321 
 
 Lerotin {M. dryas) .... 322 
 2. — Genus : Lerots {Eliomys) . . . 322 
 
 Lerot (£. nitela) 322 
 
 3.— Genus: Dormice Proper (Mus- 
 
 cardinus) 322 
 
 Common Dormouse (M. avel- 
 
 lanarius) 322 
 
 Third Pamii,y: Beayers (Coi^nA^) 323 
 Genus : Beavers (Castor) . . 323 
 
 Beaver (C fiber) 323 
 
 Canadian Beaver (C canaden- 
 sis) 324 
 
 Fourth Famhy: Jerboas {Dipodidce)i2-i 
 Jumping mice (Jaculims) ...... 328 
 
 I. — Genus : Jumping Mice (Jaculus) 
 Jumping Mouse (y. hudsofiius) ^28 
 TRUE JERBOAS {Dipodina) .... 328 
 
 2. — Genus : Jerboas Proper (Dipus) 
 
 Egyptian Jerboa (D.agypticus)2,2& 
 3. — Genus : Alactagas (Scirtetes) . 329 
 
 Alactaga {S. jaculus) 329 
 
 JUMPING HARES (Pedfiince) 328 
 
 4. — Genus : Jumping Hares (Pedetes) 
 
 Jumping Hare ( P. to^^r) . . .330 
 
 Fifth Famhy: l&.\(iQ {Muridi^) . .330 
 
 RUNNING MICE (Merionidiniz) . . 332 
 
 I, — Genus : Sand 'B.ats(Psammomys) 332 
 
 Sand Rat (P. obesus) 332 
 
 THE MICE PROPER {Murines) .... 332 
 
 2. — Genus : Mice (Mus) 332 
 
 Egyptian Rat (M. alexandri- 
 
 nus) 332 
 
 Hamster Rat (M. gambianus) 332 
 Black '&.a.t(M. raitus) .... 333 
 Brown Rat (M. decumanus) . 333 
 Common Mouse (M. musculus) 336 
 Wood Mouse i^M. sylvaticus) . .336 
 Old World Meadow Mouse (M. 
 
 agrarius) 337 
 
 Harvest Mouse (M. minutus). 339 
 *Barbary Mouse {M. barbarus\ 337 
 3. — Genus : Cotton Rats (Sigmodon) 336 
 Cotton or Rice Rat (5. hispi- 
 
 dus) 336 
 
 4. — Genus : Wood Rats (Neotoma) . 336 
 Florida Wood Rat (N. flori- 
 dana) . . .... . 336 
 
 PAGE 
 
 California Wood Rat {N.fusci- 
 
 pes) 336 
 
 Gray Wood Rat {N. ctnereus) 336 
 INDIGENOUS AMERICAN MICE . . 340 
 
 5. — Genus : Western Mice (Hespero- 
 
 mys) 340 
 
 White-footed Mouse (H. leuco- 
 
 pus) 340 
 
 Golden Mouse (^H. aureolas). 340 
 Michigan Mouse (//. michi- 
 
 ganensis) 340 
 
 California Mouse (H. califomi- 
 
 cus) .... 340 
 
 Missouri Mole Mouse (//. leu- 
 
 cogaster) 340 
 
 Rice-field Mouse (H. oryzo- 
 
 tnys) 340 
 
 THE HAMSTERS {CricetincB) 340 
 
 6. — Geuus: Hamsters (CWr^/ai) . .340 
 Common Hamster ( C./rumen- 
 
 iarius) 340 
 
 Sixth Family : Yoles {Arvicolida) 344 
 I. — Genus ^ Muskrats (Fiber) . . .344 
 Muskrat (F. zibethicus) . . . 344 
 2. — Genus: Voles Proper (r:/>-i'«(»/a) 345 
 Water Vole (A. amphibius) . . 345 
 Snow Mouse (^A. nivalis) . 346 
 Bank Vole (A glareolus) . . . 346 
 Field Vole (A. agrestis) . . . 347 
 Red Vole (A. ruiilus) . . . 347 
 American Meadow Mouse (A. 
 
 riparius) 347 
 
 Campagnol (A. arvalis) . . . 347 
 
 Root Vole i^A. oeconomus) . . 348 
 
 3.— Genus : Lemmings (Myodes) . 348 
 
 Lemming (M. lemmus) . . . 348 
 
 4. — Genus : Lemming Voles (Syn- 
 
 aptomys) 350 
 
 Lemming Vole {S. cooperi) . 350 
 
 Seventh Famii,y : Mole Eats (Spa- 
 
 laddcB) 350 
 
 Genus : Mole Rats (Spalax) .... 351 
 Common Mole Rat [S. iyphlus) 351 
 
 Eighth Family : Pocket Mice (Sac- 
 
 comyida) 352 
 
 POCKET mice PROPER (Saccomyinis). 
 I. — Genus : Leaping Pocket Mice 
 
 (Dipodomys) 352 
 
 Ord's Pocket Mouse (D. phi- 
 
 lippii) 352 
 
 2. — Genus : Kangaroo Rats{/i?n?g-«a- 
 
 thus) 352 
 
 Brush Tailed Pocket Mouse (P. 
 
 penicillatus) 352 
 
 Greater Pocket Mouse (P./as.- 
 
 ciatus) ... 352 
 
 Coarse-haired Pocket Mouse 
 
 (P. hispidus) 352 
 
 3.— Genus : Least Pocket Mice (Cri- 
 
 cetodipus) . . 352 
 
 Hopping Mouse ( C. yfaz/aj) . .352 
 Little Hopping Mouse (C. par- 
 vus') .... 352 
 
 THE GOPHERS (Geomidce) 352 
 
 4. — Genus: Go'phsrs (Geomys) . . . 352 
 Pouched Gopher (C bursarius)z$2 
 Southern Gopher (C tuza) . . 353 
 Chestnut-Cheeked Gopher (G. 
 
 castanops) 354 
 
 Qa&chiX (G. hispidus). . . . 354 
 Mexican Gopher {G. mexica- 
 
 nns) • . 354 
 
 5. — Genus : Pocket Rats (7%owowi'.s)354 
 Common Pocket Rat (T. tal- 
 
 poides) 354 
 
 Rocky Mountain Pocket Rat 
 
 ( T. clusius) 354 
 
 Ninth Family : Porcupines (Hys- 
 
 irichidcs) 354 
 
 I. — Genus : Porcupines Proper {Hys- 
 
 trix) . .354 
 
 Common Porcupine {H. Cris- 
 tata) . . 354 
 
 P.AljIl- 
 
 2. — Genus : Brush-tailed Porcupines 
 
 (Atherura) 35S 
 
 'Brush-tailed Porcupine (A. 
 
 africaua) 358 
 
 TREE OR CLIMBING PORCUPINES ( Cif*'- 
 
 colabince) 356' 
 
 3. — Genus : Climbiug Porcupines 
 
 (Erethizon) 356 
 
 Urson (E. dorsatum) 356 
 
 4. — Prehensile-tailed Porcupines 
 
 (^Cercolabes) 2>5^ 
 
 Mexican Porcupine (C, nova 
 
 hispania) 358- 
 
 Couiy {€. villosus) ... . 358 
 
 Coendou (C. prehensilis). . . . 359 
 Tenth Family: Cavies, or Gninea 
 
 Pig Family (CaviidcB) 359' 
 
 I. — Genus : Guinea Pigs (Cavid) . . 359 
 Guinea Pig (C. porcellus) . . . 360 
 
 Aperea (C. a/^y^a) 360 
 
 Peruvian Cavy (C£'«^/^y/) . .360 
 
 2. — Genus : Maras (Dolichotis) . . . j,(i2 
 
 'M.&ra.(D. patagonica) .... 362 
 
 3. — Genus : Agoutis (Dasyproctcz) . 362 
 
 Common Agouti (D. aguti) . . 362 
 
 4. — Genus: Pacas (Ccelogenys) . . . 365 
 
 Paca ( C. paca) 365 
 
 5. — Genus : Water Pigs (Hydrochce- 
 
 rus) . 
 
 Water Pig (jEf. capybara) . . . 364 
 Eleventh Family : Octodons (Octo- 
 
 dontidce) 366 
 
 I. — Genus : Octodons Proper (Octo- 
 
 don) 367 
 
 Degu (O. cummingii) . . . 367 
 2. — Genus : Nutrias (Myopotamus) . 367 
 
 Coypu (M. coypu) 367 
 
 3. — Genus: Ground Pigs (Aulacodus) 369 
 Ground Pig (A. sztdnderianus) 369 
 Twelfth Family : ChihchillaB (La- 
 
 gostomidce) 369 
 
 I. — Genus : Chinchillas Proper (Eri- 
 
 otnys) 369 
 
 Common Chinchilla (E. chin- 
 chilla) 369 
 
 Smaller Chinchilla (E. lani- 
 
 gera) 369 
 
 2. — Genus : Lagotis (Lagidium) . . 370 
 
 Cuvier's Lagoti (L. cuvieri) . 371 
 
 3. — Genus : Viscachas (Lagostomus)yjt 
 
 Viscacha (L. trichodactylus) . 371 
 
 Thirteenth Family : Hares (Lepor- 
 
 idce) 372 
 
 1. — Genus : Hares (Lepus) . . . . 374 
 Common Hare (L. vulgaris) . 374 
 -llpine Hare (L. timidus) . . 375 
 Irish Hare (Z,. hibemicus) . . 375 
 Polar Hare (Z.^/a«WM) . . .378 
 Rabbit (L. cuniculus) .... 376 
 American Varying Hare (L. 
 
 americanus) 378 
 
 Virginian Varying Hare (/.. 
 
 amer. virginianus) .... 379 
 Washington Varying Hare (L. 
 
 amer. washingtonii) . . . 379 
 Northern Prairie Hare (L. cam- 
 
 pestris) 379 
 
 Texas Hare (L. callotis) . . . 379 
 Californian Hare (L. califomi- 
 
 cns) 379 
 
 Swamp Hare (L. aquaticus) . 379 
 Marsh Hare (L. palustris) . 379 
 Cotton Tail (L. sylvaticus) . 379 
 Sage Rabbit (Z,. artemesia) . 379 
 
 THE CRYING HARES OR PIKAS. 
 2. — Genus : Crying Hares (Lagoinys)zT) 
 PLmtrica.nV\ka.(L. princeps) .379 
 Alpine Crying Hare (L. al- 
 
 pinus) 380 
 
 Fourteenth Family : Bristled 
 
 Mice (Lophiomyidce) 30f 
 
 Genus : Bristled Mice (Lophi- 
 
 omys) 307 
 
 *Skull-cap (L. imhausii) . . 307 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 605 
 
 Eighth Oedee: THE TOOTHLESS ANIMALS. Edentata. 381. 
 
 First Famii,y : Sloths {Bradypo- 
 
 didx) 381 
 
 I.— Genus: Two-toed Sloths [Cho- 
 
 Icepus) 382 
 
 Unau (C. didactylus") .... 382 
 2. — Genus : Three-toed Sloths [Bra- 
 
 dypus) 382 
 
 Ai (B. tridactylus) 382 
 
 Second Famii,y : Ant-Eaters (Myr- 
 mecophagidcz) 386 
 
 I. — Genus : Ant Bears {Myrmeco- 
 
 phaga) 386 
 
 Great Ant-Eater {M. jubata)ii(s 
 2. — Genus : Tree-Climbing Ant-Eat- 
 ers ( Tamandua) 387 
 
 Tamandiia {T. telradadyla) . 387 
 3.— Genus.— Little Ant- Eaters \,Cy- 
 
 cloturus) 
 
 Two-toed Ant- Eater (C didac- 
 tylus) 388 
 
 Third Family : Armadillos {Dasy- 
 
 podidcs) . . 388 
 
 I. — Genus : Armadillos Proper (ZJa- 
 
 sypus) 389 
 
 Tatupoyu {D. villosus) . . .389 
 Six-banded Armadillos {D. 
 
 sexcinctus) 389 
 
 2. — Gmius : Three-banded Armadil- 
 los ( Tolypeutes) 391 
 
 Three-banded Armadillo ( T. 
 
 tricinctus) 391 
 
 3. — G^nus : Priodons (Priodon) . 391 
 Giant Tatu (P. gigas) . . . . 392 
 4. — Genus : Cloaked Armadillos 
 
 {Cklamydophorus) 392 
 
 Bichociego {C. truncaius) . . 392 
 
 Ninth Order: THE ELEPHANTS. Prohoscidea. 397. 
 
 FA)vq:i,Y: Elephants (Elephantidce.) 
 
 Genus: Elephants (Elephas) . . 397 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Asiatic Elephant {E. asiati- 
 cus) 397 
 
 PAGE 
 
 African Elephant (E. qfrica- , 
 nus) 398 
 
 Tenth Order: THE ODD-TOED ANIMALS. Perissodactyla. 405. 
 
 First Family: Horses {Equideg) . . 405 
 
 Genus: Horses (Equus) . . . 405 
 
 Tarpan .... .... 406 
 
 Cimarrones 406 
 
 Mustang 409 
 
 Arabian 409 
 
 Trakehnen 410 
 
 English Thoroughbred .... 410 
 
 Anglo-Arab ... . 410 
 
 . American Trotting Horse . ..411 
 
 Percheron 411 
 
 Shetland Pony 411 
 
 Koulan {E. hemionus) . 413 
 
 Onager (E. onager) . . .415 
 Domestic Ass {E. asinus) . . . 415 
 African Wild Ass {E. asinus 
 africanus) 415 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Somal Ass (E. asinus somali- 
 
 cus) .... 416 
 
 Mule (E. mulus) . . . .418 
 
 Hinny {E. hinnus) 418 
 
 Quagga (.£'.y«a^^fl) ... 419 
 
 Burchell's Zebra {E. burchel- 
 
 lit) 419 
 
 Zebra {E. zebra) 419 
 
 Second Family : Tapirs ( Tapirida) 420 
 
 Genus : Tapirs ( Tapirus) .... 422 
 Malayan Tapir ( T. indicus . . 422 
 American Tapir (7". america- 
 nus) 422 
 
 Third Family : Rhinoceroses (Rhi- 
 nocerotidcE) 4^4 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Genus : Rhinoceroses {Rhinoc- 
 eros) 424 
 
 Indian Rhinoceros {R. unicor- 
 nis) 426 
 
 Wara Rhinoceros {^R. sondai- 
 cus 426 
 
 Two-horned Rhinoceros (R. bi- 
 comis) 426 
 
 Sumatran Rhinoceros {R. su- 
 
 tnairensis) ... . • . 426 
 *Square - mouthed Rhinoceros 
 \R. simus) 431 
 
 Fourth Family: Conies (Uyracida) 4i^ 
 Genus : Conies (Hyrdx) . . i . 432 
 
 Abyssinian Cony (H. abyssini- 
 cus) 432 
 
 Eleventh Order: THE CLOVEN=HOOFED ANIflALS. Artiodactyla. 433. 
 
 Fi&ST Suborder : Ruminants or 
 Two-hoofed Animals {Bidactyla) . 433 
 
 First Family: Giraffes {Camelopar- 
 
 dalidce) 434 
 
 Genus : Giraifes [Camelopardalis) . 434 
 Giraffe {C. giraffa) 434 
 
 Second Family: Camels [Camelidcs) 437 
 
 I.— Genus: Camels (C"aw«/a5) . . .438 
 
 Dromedary ( C. dromedarius) 438 
 
 Bactriau Camel (C. bacirianus) 442 
 
 2.— Genus : Llamas (Auchenia) . . 443 
 
 0\ia.nex.o (A . kiianaco) . . . .444 
 
 Llama (A. lama) 444 
 
 Alpaca (A. pace) ... • 44^ 
 
 Vicugna {A. vicugna) . . .447 
 
 Third Family: Horned Animals 
 
 {Bovidcs) 447 
 
 goats and sheep {Caprince) . 448 
 
 I.— Genus : Goats (Capra) . . . . 458 
 Alpine Ibex (C. ibex) .... 450 
 Pyrenean Ibex (C. pyrenaica) 450 
 Caucasian Ibex (C.caucasica) . 450 
 iB<agrus (C. cggagrus) .... 453 
 *Markhoor (C. falconer i) ■ ■ 454 
 Domestic Goat {C. hircus) . . 455 
 Angora Goat {C.h. angorensis) 455 
 Cashmere Goat(C. h. laniger) 456 
 Svrian Goat {C. h. mambrtca) 456 
 E°-yptian Goat(<r./2. cegyptica) /!,$(> 
 Dwarf Goat (C h. reversa) . . 457 
 *TahT { C. jemlaica) . • • 457 
 
 2.— Genus : Sheep (Ovis) . . • ■ 458 
 Aoudad {O. tragelaphus) . . .459 
 Moufaon [O. musimon) . . .400 
 *Kratschkar {O. polii) .... 461 
 Argali {0. argali) 402 
 
 Kamchatkan Wild (O. nivicola)462 
 Big Horn {O. montana). . . . 462 
 Merino {O. aries hispanica) . . 463 
 Persian {O. aries steatopyga) . 464 
 
 the musk-oxen ( Ovibovince) .... 465 
 
 3.— Genus : Musk-Oxen (Ovibos) . , 465 
 Musk-Ox 1^0. moschatus) . . . 465 
 
 THE ox tribe {Bovine^} 466 
 
 4— Genus : Oxen (Bos') 468 
 
 Yak {B. grunniens) 468 
 
 European Bison {B. bison) . 470 
 American Bison (B. ameri- 
 
 canus) 474 
 
 Gayal (5. frontalis) . . . . 476 
 
 Gaur {B. gaurus) 477 
 
 Banteng(/^. banteng). . . .478 
 S2ca%a. { B. af ricanus) . . .479 
 
 Zebu (B. indicus) 480 
 
 Park Ox (B. scoticus) . .481 
 
 Freiburg Ox {B. tauius fri- 
 
 burgensis) 481 
 
 Dutch Ox {B. t. hollandicus) 481 
 Short -Horn {B. t. dunelmen- 
 
 ■ sis) 482 
 
 United States Wild Cattle . . 482 
 
 Jersey Cow • 483 
 
 Hereford Bull 485 
 
 Cape Buffalo (B. caffer) . . 485 
 Indian Buffalo {B. arni) . . .486 
 
 mountain goats {Aplocerina) . . .489 
 
 5. —Genus : Mountain Goats {Aplo- 
 
 cefus) 489 
 
 Rocky' Mountain Goat (.A. 
 montamis) 489 
 
 ANTELOPE TRIBE {Antilopinee). 
 
 6. — Genus : Antelopes (Aniilope) . 491 ' 
 Sisan (A. cervicapra). . . . 491 
 
 Gazelles {A. dorcas) 492 
 
 Springbok {A. euchore) . . . 494 
 7. — Genus : Ox-Antelopes (Bubalis) 495 
 Hartebtfest (B. caama). . 496 
 
 8. — Genus : Reed Antelopes • {Re- 
 
 dunca) ... 496 
 
 Riet-bok (R. eleotragus) . . . 497 
 9. — Genus : Water-bucks (Kobus) . . 497 
 Water-buck (A', ellipsiprym- 
 
 nus 497 
 
 io. — Genus : Oryx Antelopes (Oryx). 498 
 
 Passan CO. capensis) 498 
 
 Beisa (O. Beisa) 498 
 
 Algazel (O. leucoryx) . . . 498 
 II. — Genus: Addax Antelopes (Ad- 
 
 dax) 498 
 
 Addax [A. nasomaculatus) . . 500 
 12. — Genus : Spiral Horned Antelopes 
 
 (Strepsiceros) . . . . 500 
 
 Koodoo (S. kudu) 500 
 
 13. —Genus : Bovine Antelopes (Buse- 
 
 laphus) . . ... 502 
 
 Eland (.5. areas) 502 
 
 14. — Genus : Nylghaus {Portax) . . . 502 
 
 Nylghau (P. pictus) 502 
 
 15. — Genus : Four-Horned Antelopes 
 
 (Tetraceros) . . ... 504 
 
 Four-Horned ( T. guadricornis) 504 
 i5. — Genus: Bush-Bucks (Cephalolo- 
 
 phus) 504 
 
 Duyker (C. mergens). . . . 504 
 17. — Genus : Dwarf Antelopes {A^eo- 
 
 tragus) 505 
 
 Greyhound Antelope (N. hetn- 
 prichii) . . . . . 505 
 
60G 
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 PACE 
 
 iS. — Genus : Mountain Antelopes 
 
 [yemorhwdiis). , , 506 
 
 Goral (iV. goral) 506 
 
 49.— Genus : Chamois (Capella) . . go6 
 
 Chamois (C rupicaprd) . . . 506 
 20. — Genus : Saigas {Coins) 510 
 
 Saiga (C. taiaricns) ... . 510 
 21. — Genus : Gnus {Catoblepas) . . 512 
 
 Qnn (C. gmt) 512 
 
 Fourth Family: Prong-horned 
 
 Animals {AntilocapridcE) . . . . 513 
 
 Genus : Pronghorns {Antiloca- 
 
 pra) 513 
 
 Pronghorn {A. atnericana) . 513 
 
 Fifth Famii<y : Deer {Cervidcs) . .516 
 
 I. — Genus : Elks [Alces) . 518 
 
 Elk (A. palmatus) 518 
 
 Moose {A. atnericana) . . 520 
 
 ■2. — Genus: Reindeer {^a«^2/^) . . 520 
 
 Reindeer [R. iarandus) . . 221 
 
 Caribou [R. caribti) 521 
 
 3. — Genus : Fallow Deer (Dania) . 524 
 Fallow Deer (Z). vulgaris) . 526 
 
 4. — Genus : Red Deer {Cervus) . . . 526 
 
 Stag (C. elaphus) 526 
 
 Barbary Deer (C barbarus^ , . 529 
 Wapiti (C. canadensis) . . 529 
 
 5. — Genus : Axis Deer (Axis) . . 530 
 Axis Deer (A. axis) ... . 530 
 
 6. — Genus : Rusine Deer (/?aia) . .530 
 Great Rusa (R. hippelaphus) . 530 
 Sambhar (R. aristotelis) . . . 531 
 Hog Deer {R. porcinus) . . .531 
 
 PAGE 
 
 7. — Genus : North American Deer 
 
 (Cariacus) 531 
 
 Virginia Deer(C z'ifgiiiianus) 5^1 
 White-Tailed Deer (C. leucu- 
 
 rus) 534 
 
 Black-Tailed Deer (C. colum- 
 
 biantis) 534 
 
 Mule Deer (C. macrolis) . . , 534 
 Mexican Deer (C. mcxicanus) 534 
 
 8. — Genus : Pampas Deer (Blasto- 
 
 cerus) 534 
 
 Pampas Deer {B. campestris) . 534 
 
 9. — Genus : Roe Deer (Capreolus) . 534 
 Roe Deer (C. Capraa) .... 534 
 10. — Genus : Muntjak Deer (Cervu- 
 
 his) 536 
 
 Muntjak Deer (C ntuntjac) , 536 
 
 Sixth Family : Musk Deer (3Ios- 
 chidce) 537 
 
 Genus : Musk Deer (Moschus) . 537 
 Musk Deer [M. moschiferus . 537 
 
 Seventh Family : Chevrotains 
 ( TragulidcB) 538 
 
 Genus : Chevrotains ( Tragulus) 538 
 Kanchil ( T. kanchil) 538 
 
 Second Suborder : CloTen-hoofed 
 ?fon-ruminants {Stiince) 539 
 
 Eighth Family : Swine (Suida) . 539 
 
 I. — Genus : Swine (5«.y) . . . .539 
 Maned Hog (S. cristatus) . . . 542 
 AndamaneseHog (5. andaman- 
 ensis) 542 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Bearded Hog (S. barbatus) . . 542 
 Striped Hog (S. viilatus) . . . 542 
 Ja van Wild Hog (5. verrucosus) 542 
 Celebes Hog (S. celebensis) . 542 
 Timor Hog (5. timorensis) . . 542 
 New Guinea Hog (5. papuen- 
 
 sis) " 542 
 
 Black Hog (5. niger) .... 542 
 White-bearded Hog {S. leu- 
 
 comystax) 542 
 
 Sennaar Hog (S. sennarensis) . 542 
 Wild Hog {§. scrofa) .... 542 
 
 Berkshii-e Hog 543 
 
 Harrisson Hog 543 
 
 Masked Hog (S. plicipleps) . . 544 
 
 2. — Genus : Humped Hogs {Poia- 
 
 mochosrus) 546 
 
 Tufted Hog {P. porcus) . . 546 
 Bush Hog (/". africanus) 546 
 
 3. — Genus : Babirusa {Porcus) . 546 
 Babirusa {P. babytussa) . . . 546 
 
 4. — Genus : Wart Hogs {Phacochcer- 
 
 ■us) 547 
 
 Wart Hog {P. africanus) . . . 548 
 
 5. — Genus : Peccaries {Dicotyles) . . 548 
 Collared Peccary (D. torqua- 
 tus) . ...... 548 
 
 White-lipped {D. labiatus) . 548 
 
 Ninth Family : Hippopotami (Hip- 
 popotamidcB) 549 
 
 Genus : Hippopotami {Hippopo- 
 tamus) 549 
 
 Hippopotamus {H. amphibius) 
 Liberian Hippopotamus {H. 
 liberiensis 554 
 
 Twelfth Order: THE SEA COWS. Sirenia. 555. 
 
 First Family : Manatees (^Mana- 
 
 Hdcr) . . 555 
 
 r. — Genus : Manatees (Manatus) . . 556 
 
 L,amantin (M. latiroslris) . . 556 
 
 Amazonian {M. inunguis . . 556 
 
 2. — Genus : Dugongs (Halicore) . . 507 
 
 Dugong (H. dugong) . 
 Sea Cow {H. stellerii) 
 
 page 
 • 557 
 .558 
 
 Thirteenth Order: THE WHALES. Getacea. 559. 
 
 First Family : Furrowed Whales {Bal- 
 anopleridce) 564 
 
 I. — Genus : Hump-back Whales {Me- 
 
 gaptera) • ■• 564 
 
 Hump-back Whale (i(/. longi- 
 mana) 564 
 
 2.— Genus: Razorback Whales (/%y- 
 
 salus) 564 
 
 Razorback Whale {P. anti- 
 quorum) ... .... 564 
 
 3. — Genus : Beaked Whales (^Balmn- 
 
 optera) 565 
 
 Pike Whale {B. rosirata) . . 565 
 
 Second Family : Smooth-Skinned 
 Whales (^BalcenidcB) 565 
 
 Genus : Greenland Whales (.5a/- 
 cena) 565 
 
 Greenland Whale {8. mysli- 
 cetus) 565 
 
 Third Family : Dolphins {Delphin- 
 idc^) 566 
 
 I . — Genus : Grampus ( Orca) . 568 
 
 Gra.tnp\is{0. gladiator) . . .568 
 — Genus : Porpoises (Pkocizna) . 569 
 
 Porpoise (P. communis) . . . 569 
 — Genus : White Whales {Beluga) 569 
 
 Beluga {B. leucas) 570 
 
 —Genus : Round-headed Whales 
 
 (Globiocephalus) 570 
 
 Pilot Whale {G.melas) . . .570 
 — Genus : Dolphins {Delphinus) . 571 
 
 Dolphin (i?. rff//>te) . . . .571 
 —Genus : Long-beaked Dolphins 
 
 {Inia) 572 
 
 Inia (/. amazonica) 572 
 
 — Genus : Soosoos {Plaianistd) . . 572 
 
 Soosoo {P. gangetica) 
 
 PAGE 
 •572 
 
 Fourth Family : Narwhal {Mono- 
 dontidcB) 573 
 
 Genus : Narwhals {Monodon) . . 573 
 Narwhal {Jlf. monoceros) . . 573 
 
 Fifth Family : Bottle-Nosed Whales 
 
 {Hyperoodontidce) 574 
 
 Genus : Bottle-nosed Whales 
 
 {Hyperoodon) 574 
 
 Bottle-nosed Dolphin {H. bi- 
 d-ens) 574 
 
 Sixth Family: Sperm Whales {Cato- 
 
 dontidcE) . . .... 575 
 
 Genus: Sperm Whales {Catodon) 575 
 Sperm Whales {C. macroceph- 
 alus) 575 
 
 Fourteenth Order: THE POUCHED ANIMALS. Marsupialia. 579. 
 
 PAOE 
 
 First Suborder : Herbivorous 
 Pouched Animals {Diprotodontia) 579 
 
 First Family : Leaping Pouched Ani- 
 mals {Macropodidce) . .... 580 
 
 THE ■K.A.j>.OA.v.oos.{MacropodincE) . . 580 
 I.— Genus: Giant Kangaroos (j^/Vzcro- 
 
 pus) 582 
 
 Giant Kangaroo {M.giganieus) 582 
 2. —Genus : Mountain Kangaroo 
 
 {Petrogale) 582 
 
 Yellow-legged Kangaroo {P. 
 
 xanthopus) 582 
 
 Rock Kangaroo {P . penicillata) 582 
 
 3. — Genus : Tree Kangaroos {Den- 
 
 drolagus) 582 
 
 Bear Kangaroo {D. ursinus) . 582 
 
 kangaroo rats {PotoroincB) .... 582 
 
 4. — Genus : Opossum Rats {Betton- 
 
 gia) 
 
 Opossum'Rai (_B. penicillata) 582 
 5.— Genus: Kangaroo Rats (Potor- . 
 
 ous 583 
 
 Kangaroo Rat (P. tridactylus) 583 
 
 Second Eamily : Climbing' Marsup- 
 ials {P/ialangeridcs) 583 
 
 AUSTRALIAN BEARS ( PhascolarcH- 
 «^) 584 
 
 I. — Genus : Pouched Bears {Phascol- 
 
 arctus 584 
 
 Koala {P. cinereus) 584 
 
 SMALL POUCHED ANIMALS {Phalang- 
 erince) . 584 
 
 2.— Genus: Cuscus (/%a/a«^ifr) . .584 
 Spotted Cuscus {P. maculaius) 584 
 
 3.— Genus: Coosoos {Trichosurus) . 585 
 
 Vulpine Phalanger ( T. vulpe- ' 
 
 cula) . . . 585 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 607 
 
 4.— Genus : Pouched Squirrels {Pe- 
 
 tauroides) 586 
 
 Pouched Squirrel (P. volans) . 586 
 5.— Genus : Sugar Squirrels (Petau- 
 
 rus) 586 
 
 Sugar Squirrel (P. sdureus) . 586 
 6. — Genus: Opossum Mouse {Acro- 
 
 batss) 587 
 
 Opossum Mouse {A.pygfnizus) 587 
 
 Third Family: Wombats or Kodent- 
 like Marsupials {Phascolomyidcs). 
 Genus : Wombats (Phascolomys) 587 
 Tasmanian Wombat (P. ursi- 
 
 nus) 587 
 
 Broad-fronted Wombat (P. lat- 
 ifrons) 587 
 
 Second Suborder : Carnivorous 
 
 Marsupials (Polyprotodontia) . . 588 
 
 Fourth Family: Bandicoots (Per- 
 amelidcs) . 588 
 
 Genus : Bandicoots {Perameles) 588 
 Long-nosed Bandicoots (P. na- 
 sutd) .588 
 
 Fifth Family : Predaceous Marsu- 
 pials (Dasynridcs) 588 
 
 THE DASYURINES (Dasyuriticg). 
 
 I. — Genus: Zebra-wolves (Thylaci- 
 
 nus) 589 
 
 Zebra- wolf {T. cynocephalus) 589 
 2. — Genus : Tasmanian Devil (Sarco- 
 
 philus) 589 
 
 Tasmanian Devil {S. ursinus. . 589 
 3. — Genus : Dasyures (Dasyurus) . . 590 
 Spotted Dasyure {D. viverri- 
 nus) 590 
 
 PAGE 
 THE BANDED ANT-EATERS {Myr- 
 
 mecobiince) 590 
 
 4. — Genus : Banded Ant- eaters (/J/yr- 
 
 mecobius) 590 
 
 Banded Ant-eater {M./asciaius)5go 
 
 Sixth Family : Pouched Kats (Z?«- 
 delphyidce) 591 
 
 I. — Genus : Pouched Rats {Didel- 
 
 phys) ■ 591 
 
 Common Opossum (D. niarsu- 
 
 pialis) 591 
 
 2. — Genus : Philanders {Philander) . 594 
 Crab-eating Opossum {P. phi- 
 lander] 594 
 
 3. — Genus : Water Opossums {Chiro- 
 
 nectes) 594 
 
 Water Opossum {C. tmnimus).5S4 
 
 Fifteenth Order: EGG=LAYINQ MAfiriALS. Monotremata. 595. 
 
 •piRST Family : Ant*eaters (Echid- 
 nidcs) 596 
 
 I. — Genus : Porcupine Ant-eaters 
 
 [Echidna) 596 
 
 Australian Porcupine Ant-eater 
 {E. aculeaia typica) .... 596 
 
 Papuan Porcupine Ant-eater . 
 
 (E. aculeaia lawesi) . . . 596 
 Tasmanian Porcupine Ant- 
 eater {E. aculeaia selosa) . 596 
 2. — Genus • Woolly Echidna ( Pro- 
 echidna) 597 
 
 Woolly Echidna {P. bruijnit) 597 
 Second Family: Duck-moles (Cr- 
 
 nilhorhynchideg) 597 
 
 Genus: Duck -moles {Ornilho- 
 
 rhynchus) 597 
 
 Duck-mole (C. analinus) , , 597 
 
 Addenda to the Table of Contents (revised edition.) 
 
 American Long-eared Bats (Plecolus mocrolus) 82 
 
 Common Brown Bat ( Vesperlilio subulalus) 82 
 
 ( Vesperlilio lucifugui) 82 
 
 ( Vesperlilio Hindus') 82 
 
 ( Vesperlilio evolis) 82 
 
 Serotine Bats ( Vesperugo seronitus) 82 
 
 ( Vesperugo hesperus) 82 
 
 ( Vesperugo georgianus) S2 
 
 ( Vesperugo noclivagans) 82 
 
 Red or New York Bat (alalapha noveboracensis) 82 
 
INDEX TO TEXT. 
 
 Aard-vark, 396 
 Aard-Wolf, 187 
 Abyssinian Cony or 
 
 Ashkoko, 432 
 Abyssinian Lion, 106 
 Acrobates, 587 
 
 " pygmseus, 587 
 
 Addax, 498 
 
 " antelopes, 498 
 
 " nasomaculatus, 500 
 Adjag, 200 
 
 ^gagrus or Wild Goat, 453 
 African Cheetah, 135 
 African Civet, 140 
 African Elephant; 398 
 African Ground Pig, 369 
 African Hartebeest, 496 
 African Naked Dog, 218 
 African Rhinoceros, 426 
 African Wild Ass, 415 
 Agbutis, 362 
 
 Agnara or Azoras Fox, 198 
 Ailnropoda, 139 
 Ailuropus, 264 
 Ailurinse, 264 
 Ailurus, 264 
 
 " fulgens, 264 
 Alactagas, 329 
 Albinos, 398 
 Alces, 518 
 
 " americana, 520 
 
 " palmatus, 518 
 Algazel or Wild Cow, 498 
 Almizilero, 303 
 Alpaca, 446 
 
 Alpine Crying Hare, 380 
 Alpine Hare, 375 
 Alpine Ibex or Steinbeck, 450 
 Alpine Marmot, 320 
 Alpine Wolf, 203 
 Almiqui, 298 
 Aluate or Red Howler, 53 
 American Badger or Taxel, 171 
 American Bison, 472 
 American Feline Animals, 120 
 American Fox Squirrels, 310 
 American Meadow Mouse, 347 
 American Mink, 164 
 American Mole, 295 
 American or Broad-Nosed 
 
 Monkeys, 50 
 American or Rocky Mountain 
 
 Pika, 379 
 American Otter, 179 
 American Sable, 156 
 American Skunk, 174 
 American Spermopbiles, 316 
 American Tapir, 422 
 American Trotting Horse, 411 
 American Varying Hare, 378 
 American Wild Cat, 133 
 Audamanese Hog. 542 
 Angora Cat, 105 
 Angora Goat, 455 
 Angwdntibo Lemur, 72 
 Ant-bear, 386 
 Ant-eaters, 386 
 Ant-eaters, 596 
 Antelopes, 490 
 Antilocapra, 513 
 
 " americana, 513 
 
 Antilocapridee, 513 
 Antilope, 491 
 
 " cervicapra, 491 
 " dorcas, 472 
 " euchore, 494 
 Antilopinse, 490 
 Anthropomorpha, 8 
 Aoudad, 460 
 
 Apella or Brown Capuchin, 57 
 
 Apes and Monkeys, i 
 
 Aplocerinse, 489 
 
 Aplocerus, 489 
 
 " montanus, 489 
 
 Arabian Ass, 416 
 
 Arabian Horse, 409 
 
 Arctic Fox, 238 
 
 Arctitis, 264 
 
 " binturong, 264 
 
 Arctocebus, 72 
 
 Arctocebus Cilabarensis, 72 
 
 Arctomyinae, 315 
 
 Arctomys, 315 
 
 " bobac, 318 
 " flaviventor, 321 
 " monax, 321 
 " marmota, 320 
 " pruinosus, 321 
 
 Arctopitheci, 62 
 
 Argali, 462 
 
 Armadillos, 388 
 
 Artiodactyla, 433 
 
 Aru, 55 
 
 Arvicola, 345 
 
 " agrestis, 347 
 " amphibius, 345 
 " arvalis, 347 
 " glareolus, 346 
 " nivalis, 346 
 " oeconomus, 348 
 " riparius, 347 
 " rutilus, 347 
 
 Arvicolidse, 344 
 
 Ashkoko, 432 
 
 Asiatic Cheetah, 135 
 
 Asiatic Civet, 140 
 
 Asiatic Elephant, 397 
 
 Ass, 415 
 
 Ass of the Plains, 415 
 
 Assapan, 312 
 
 Asses, 413 
 
 Ateles, 54 
 
 " bartlettii, 55 
 " beelzebuth, 55 
 " hypoxanthus, 55 
 " paniscus, 55 
 " pentadactylus, 55 
 
 Athemra, 358 
 
 Atherura africana, 358 
 
 Auchenia, 443 
 
 " huanaco, 444 
 " lama, 444 
 " pacos, 446 
 " vicugna, 447 
 
 Angwdntibo, 72 
 
 Aulacodus, 369 
 
 " swinderianus, 369 
 
 Australian Bear, 584 
 
 Australian Porcupine Ant- 
 eater, 596 
 
 Australian Wild Dog, 204 
 
 Axis, 530 
 " axi.s, 530 
 
 Axis Deer, 530 
 
 Aye- Aye, 73 
 
 Babirusa, 546 
 Baboons, 41 
 Bactrian Camel, 442 
 Badger Dogs, 221 
 Badgers, 168 
 Balaenidse, 565 
 Balseaa, 565 
 
 " mysticetus, 565 
 Balsenoptera, 565 
 
 " rostrata, 565 
 
 Balsenopteridse, 564 
 Banded Ant-eater, 590 
 
 Banded Mungoos, 150 
 Bandicoots, 588 
 Bank Vole, 346 
 Bauteng, 478 
 Barbary Ape, 39 
 Barbary Deer, 529 
 Barbary Lion, 106 
 Barbastelle orPug-DogBat, 82 
 Barren Ground Bear, 250 
 Bashful Billy, 69 
 Bassaris, 272 
 
 " astuta, 272 
 Bay Lynx, 133 
 Beagle Dogs, 224 
 Beaked Whales, 565 
 Bearded Hog, 542 
 Bear Family, 243 
 Bear Kangaroo, 582 
 Beasts of Prey, 87 
 Beaver, 323 
 Beaver Shrews, 303 
 Beech Martin, 153 
 $eisa, 498 
 Beluga, 569 
 
 " leucas, 570 
 Bettougia, 582 ' 
 
 " penicillata, 582 
 
 Ehunder, or Rhesus Monkey, 
 
 38 
 Bichociego, 392 
 Big Horn Rocky Mountain 
 
 Sheep, 462 
 Binturong, 264 
 Black Baboon, 43 
 Black Bear, 252 
 Black Colobus, 30 
 Black Fox, 237 
 Black-headed Saki, 59 
 Black Himalayan Bear, 253 
 Black Hog, 542 
 Black Howler, 53 
 Black Maki, 67 
 Black Panther, 114 
 Black Rat, 333 
 Black Rhinoceros, 426 
 Black Squirrel, 310 
 Black-tailed Deer, 534 
 Bladder-nose Seal, 279 
 Blarina, 300 
 
 " brevicauda, 300 
 Blastocerus, 534 
 
 " campestris, 534 
 
 Blenheim Spaniels, 225 
 Blood-sucking Bats, 83 
 Blue-faced Guenon, 34 
 Brachyurus, 59 
 
 " calvus, 61 
 
 " melanocephalus, 59 
 BradypodidcB, 381 
 Bradypus, 382 
 
 " tridactylus, 382 
 Brazilian Otter, 179 
 Broad-fronted Wombat, 587 
 Broad-nosed Monkey, 50 
 Broad-nosed Shrew, 300 
 Brown Bear, 244 
 Brown Capuchin, 57 
 Brown Hyaena, 185 
 Brown Rat, 333 
 Brush-tailed Opossum, 590 
 Brush tailed Porcupine, 358 
 Bobac, 318 
 Bonnet Monkey, 36 
 Bos, 468 
 " africanus, 479 
 " americanus, 474 
 " ami, 486 
 " banteng, 478 
 " bison, 470 
 
 Bos, caffer, 485 
 
 " frontalis, 476 
 
 " gaums, 477 
 
 " grunniens, 468 
 
 " indicus, 480 
 
 " scoticus, 481 
 
 " taurus friburgensis, 481 
 
 " " dunelmeusis, 482; 
 
 " " hollandicus, 481 
 Bottle-nosed Dolphin, 574 
 Bottle-nosed Whales, 574 
 Bouquetins, 450 
 Bovidae, 447 
 Boviuffi, 466 
 Bovine Antelopes, 502 
 Boxer, 221 
 Bubalis, 495 
 
 " caama, 496 
 Budeng or Negro Monkey, if 
 Buffaloes, 485 
 Bulldog, 220 
 Burchell's Zebra, 419 
 Bumnduk, or Striped Siberian! 
 
 Ground Squirrel, 313 
 Bush-bucks, 504 
 Bush Hog, 546 
 Buselaphus, 502 
 
 " oreas, 502 
 
 Cacajao, 59 
 Cachalot, 575 
 Cacomixie, 272 
 Ca'ing Whale, 570 
 Cai or Sai Monkey, 56 
 California Gray Squirrel, 31a; 
 California Wood Rat, 336 
 Califomian Mouse, 340 
 Californian Hare, 379 
 Callithrix, 59 
 
 " lugens, 59 
 
 " personata, 61 
 Camelidse, 437 
 Camels, 437 
 Camelus, 438 
 
 " bactrianus, 442 
 " dromedarius, 438 
 Cam«lopardalidse, 434 
 Camelopardalis, 434 
 
 giraffa, 434- 
 Campagnol, 347 
 Canadian Beaver, 324 
 Canadian Lynx, 133 
 Canadian Porcupine, 356 
 Canidae, 187 
 Canis, 188 
 
 " adustus, 196 
 
 " alpinus, 203 
 
 " anthus, 194 
 
 " aureus, 196 
 
 " cancrivoms, 198 
 
 " dingo, 204 
 
 " dukhuuensis, 200 
 
 " familiaris, 207 
 
 " jubatus, 191 
 
 " latrans, 197 
 
 " lupus, 190 
 
 " mesomelas. 196 
 
 " occidentalis, 194 
 ' pictus, 199 
 
 " procyonoides, 198 
 
 " rutilans, 200 
 
 " vetulus, 198 
 Cape Buffalo, 485 
 Cape Hunting Dog, 199 
 Cape Zorilla, 175 
 Capella, 506 
 
 " rupicapra, 5Gu 
 Capra, 448 
 
 " aegagrus, 453 
 
 (6ogj 
 
610 
 
 INDEX TO TEXT. 
 
 Capra, caucasica, 450 
 " falcoueri, 454 
 ' ' hircus, 455 
 " h. jegyptica, 456 
 " h. angorensis, 455 
 " h. laniger, 456 
 " h. mambrica, 456 
 " h. reversa, 457 
 " ibex, 450 
 " jemlaica, 457 
 " pyreuaica, 450 
 •Capreolus, 534 
 
 caprjea, 534 
 CapriuEe, 448 
 Capybara, 364 
 Capuchins, 56 
 Caracal, 134 
 
 Caraya or Black Howler, 53 
 Cariacus, 531 
 
 '■ columbianus, 534 
 " leucurus, 534 
 " macrotis, 534 
 " mexicanus, 534 
 " virginianus, 531 
 ■Carjacou, 531 
 Carnivora, 87 
 
 Carnivorous Marsupials, 588 
 •Carolina Lynx, 134 
 Cashmere Goat, 456 
 Caspian Seal, 278 
 ■Castor, 323 
 
 " canadensis, 324 
 " fiber, 323 
 ■Castoridse, 323 
 Catarrhiui, 8 
 Cat Family, 88 
 ■Cat-Footed Civets, 139 
 Cat-like Bears, 264 
 ■Catoblepas, 512 
 
 " guu, 512 
 
 Catodon, 575 
 
 " macrocephalus, 575 
 Catodontidas, 575 
 Cats Proper, 92 
 ■Catta Lemur, 67 
 'Cavia, 360 
 
 " aperea, 360 
 " cutleri, 360 
 " porcellus, 360 
 Cavies or Guinea Pig Family, 
 
 359 
 Caviidae, 359 
 Cebidae, 52 
 Cebus, 56 
 
 " apella, 57 
 " capucinus, 56 
 " leucogenys, 58 
 " hypoleucus, 58 
 " olivaceus, 58 
 Celebes Hog, 542 
 Centetes, 297 
 
 " ecaudatus, 297 
 Centelidse, 297 
 Cephalolophus, 504 
 
 " mergens, S04 
 
 Cercopithecus, 30 
 iCercolabes, 358 
 
 " no vse hispanis, 358 
 " prehensilis,359 
 " villosus, 358 
 Cercolabinse, 356 
 Cercoleptes, 271 
 ■Cercoleptes caudivolvulus, 271 
 Cercopithecus diana, 34 
 " cephus, 34 
 
 " fuliginosus, 35 
 
 " ruber, 34 
 
 " sabteus, 32 
 
 Cervidae, 516 
 Cervus, 526 
 
 " barbarus, 529 
 " canadensis, 529 
 " elaphus, 526 
 Cervnlus, 536 
 
 " muntjac, 536 
 Cetacea, 559 
 Chacma, 44 
 Chameck, 55 
 
 Chamois, 506 
 Cheetah, 135 
 
 Chestnut-backed Gra}^ Squir- 
 rel, 310 
 Chestnut-Cheeked Gopher, 
 
 354 
 
 Chevrotains, 538 
 
 Chickaree or Red Squirrel, 
 310 
 
 Chimpanzee, 16 
 
 Chipmunk, 314 
 
 Chinchillas, 369 
 
 Chirogaleus, 69 
 
 " furcifer, 69 
 
 Chiromys, 73 
 
 " madagascariensis, 73 
 
 Chirouectes, 594 
 
 " mimimus, 594 
 
 Chiroptera, 75 
 
 Chlamydophorus, 329 
 
 "' truncatus, 392 
 
 Choloepus, 382 
 
 " didactylus, 382 
 
 Chrysothrix, 59 
 
 " sciurea, 60 
 
 Cinnamon Bear, 352 
 
 Civet Family, 139 
 
 Climbing Marsupials, 583 
 
 Climbing Porcupines, 356 
 
 Clouded Tiger, 99 
 
 Cloven-hoofed Animals, 433 
 
 Cloven - hoofed Non - Rumi- 
 nants, 539 
 
 Coaita, 55 
 
 Coast Fox, 243 
 
 Coatis, 269 
 
 Ccelogenys, 363 
 
 " paca, 363 
 
 Ccendou, 359 
 
 Collared Peccary, 548 
 
 Colobus, 28 
 
 " guereza, 28 
 " satanas, 30 
 " ursinus, 30 
 
 Colugo or Kaguang, 304 
 
 Colus, 510 
 
 " tataricus, 510 
 
 Comba, 71 
 
 Common Agouti, 362 
 
 Common Baboon, 44 
 
 Common Badger, 169 
 
 Common Bat, 82 
 
 Common Brown Bear, 244 
 
 Common Chinchilla, 369 
 
 Common Dormouse, 322 
 
 Common Fox, 232 
 
 Common Fox Squirrel, 310 
 
 Common Galago, 71 
 
 Common Genelte, 141 
 
 Common Hamster, 340 
 
 Common Hare, 374 
 
 Common Hedgehog, 290 
 
 Common Jungle Cat, 134 
 
 Common Lynx, 130 
 
 Common Macaque, 36 
 
 Common Marmoset, 63 
 
 Common Marmot, 320 
 
 Common Mole, 295 
 
 Common Mole Rat or Slepez, 
 351 
 
 Common Mouse, 336 
 
 Common Opossum, 591 
 
 Common Otter, 176 
 
 Common Pocket Rat, 354 
 
 Common f aradoxure, 142 
 
 Common Porcupine, 354 
 
 Common Seal, 278 
 
 Common Shrew, 299 
 
 Common Squirrel, 306 
 
 Common Wild Cat, 99 
 
 Condylura, 296 
 
 " cristata, 296 
 
 Conies, 431 
 
 Cooper's Mouse, 350 
 
 Coosoo, 585 
 
 Corsac or Fox of the Steppes, 
 
 239 
 Cotton or Rice Rat, 336 
 
 Cotton-tail or Wood Rabbit, 
 
 379 
 Cougar or Puma, 120 
 Couiy, 358 
 Coyote, 197 
 Coypu or Nutria, 367 
 Crab-eating Dog, 198 
 Crab-eating Raccoon, 268 
 Crab-eating Opossum, 594 
 Crab Muugoos or Urva, 150 
 Crested or Hooked Seal, 278 
 Cricetinse, 340 
 Cricetodipus, 352 
 
 " flavus, 352 
 
 " par-vus, 352 
 
 Cricetus, 340 
 
 " frumentarius, 430 
 Crocidura, 302 
 
 " aranea, 302 
 
 " suaveolens, 302 
 
 Crossarchus, 146 
 
 " obscura, 146 
 
 Cross Fox, 237 
 Crossopus, 302 
 
 " fodiens, 302 
 Crying Hares or Pikas, 379 
 Cryptoprocta, 138 
 
 " ferox, 138 
 
 Cuscus, 584 
 
 Cuvier's Lagoti, 371 , 
 
 Cuxio Monkey, 58 
 Cycloturus, 388 
 
 " didactylus,.388 
 
 Cynailurus, 135 
 
 " guttatus, 135 
 " jubatus, 135 
 " laneus, 135 
 " scemmerringii, 135 
 Cynictus, 150 
 
 " penicillata, 150 
 Cynocephalus, 41 
 
 " labuin, 44 
 
 " gslada, 48 
 
 " hamadryas, 46 
 
 " leucophseus, 49 
 
 " mormon, 49 
 
 " niger, 43 
 
 " porcarius, 44 
 
 " sileuus, so 
 
 " sphinx, 44 
 
 Cynomys,,3i6 
 
 " ludo'viciauus, 316 
 Cynopithecini, 25 
 Cynopoda, 144 
 Cynonycteris, 79 
 
 " aegyptiacus, 81 
 
 Cyon, 200 
 Cystophora, 279 
 
 " cristata, 279 
 
 Dachshunds, 221 
 Damaj 524 
 
 " vulgaris, 526 
 Danish Dog, 218 
 Dasypodidse, 388 
 Dasyproctae, 362 
 
 aguti, 362 
 Dasypus, 389 
 
 " sexcinctus, 389 
 
 " villosus, 389 
 Dasyuridae, 588 
 Dasyurinae, 588 
 Dasyurines, 588 
 Dasyurus, 590 
 
 " viverrinus, 590 
 Daubenton's Bat, 79 
 Dauw, 419 
 Deer, 516 
 Degu, 367 
 Delphinidae, 566 
 Delphinus, 571 
 
 " delphis, 571 
 
 Dendrolagus, 582 
 
 " ursinus, 582 
 
 Desmans, 303 
 Diana Monkey, 34 
 Dicotyles,^548 
 
 " labiatus, 548 
 
 Dicotyles torquatus, 548 
 Didelphyidae, 591 
 Didelphys, 591 
 
 " marsupialis, 591 
 
 Dingo, 204 
 Dipodidse, 327 
 Dipodinse, 327 
 Dipodomys, 352 
 
 " philippii, 352 
 
 Dipus, 328 • 
 
 " aegypticus, 328 
 Dog, The, 187 
 Dog-footed Civets, 144 
 Dog-shaped Monkeys, 25 
 Dog of Thibet, 221 
 Dolphin, 571 
 Dolphins, 566 
 Dolphins Proper, 571 
 Dolichotis, 362 
 
 " patagonica, 362 
 
 Domestic Ass, 416 
 Domestic Cat, 102 
 Domestic Dogs, 229 
 Domestic Goats, 453 
 Domestic Hog, 543 
 Domestic Oxen, 479 
 Domestic Sheep, 463 
 Domestic Shrew, 302 
 Donkey, 417 
 Dormice, 321 
 Drill, 49 
 Dromedary or One-Humped 
 
 Camel, 438 
 Duck-mole, 597 
 Dugong, 557 
 
 Durham or Shorthorn, 482 
 Dutch Cow, 483 
 Dutch Ox, 481 
 
 Duyker or Diver Antelope, 564 
 Dwarf Antelopes, 505 
 Dwarf Goat, 457 
 Dwarf Hippopotamus, 554 
 
 Eared Seals, 286 
 Eastern Chipmunk, 314 
 Echidna, 596 
 
 " aculeata lawesi, 596 
 " aculeata setosa, 596 
 " aculeata typica, 596 
 Echidnidae, 596 
 Edentata, 381 
 Egg-laying Mammals, 595 
 Egyptian Cat, 102 
 Egyptian Flying-Dog Bat, 87 
 Egyptian Jerboa, 328 
 Egyptian or Nile Goat, 456 
 Egyptian Rhinopome, 86 
 Eland, 502 
 Elephantidae, 397 
 Elephants, 397 
 E'ephas, 397 
 
 " africanus, 398 
 " asiaticus, 397 
 Elephant Seal, 279 
 
 " Shrew, 296 
 Eliomys, 322 
 
 " nitela, 322 
 Elks, 518 
 English Thoroughbred Horse, 
 
 410 
 English Turnspit, 222 
 Enhydris, 179 
 
 " lutris, 179 
 Equidse, 405 
 Equus, 405 
 
 " asinus, 415 
 
 " aginus africanus, 415 
 
 " asinus somalicus, 416 
 
 " burchellii, 419 
 
 " hemionus, 413 
 
 " hinnus, 418 
 
 " mulus, 41 S 
 
 " onager, 415 
 
 " quagga, 419 
 
 ' ' zebra, 419 
 Erethizon, 356 
 
 " dorsatum, 356 
 Erinaceidae, 289 
 
INDEX TO TEXT. 
 
 611 
 
 Erinaceus, 290 
 
 " europaeus, 290 
 
 Eriomys, 369 
 
 " chinchilla, 369 
 
 " lanigera, 369 
 Ermine or Stoat, 162 
 Eskimo Dog, 230 
 Etruscan Shrew, 302 
 European Bison, 410 
 European Elk, 518 
 European Mink or Nerz, 164 
 European Porcupine, 356 
 
 Fahhad or African Cheetah, 
 
 135 
 Fallow Deer, 524 
 Felidse, 88 
 Felis, 92 
 
 " bengalensis, 319 
 
 " catus, 99 
 
 " concolor, 120 
 
 " leo barbarus, 106 
 
 " leo capensis, 106 
 
 " leo guzeratensis, io5 
 
 " leo persicus, 106 
 
 " leo senegalensis, 106 
 
 " macrura, 129 
 
 " maniculata, 102 
 
 " maniculata domestica, 
 
 " maniculata domestica 
 angorenesis, 105 
 
 " marmorata, 99 
 
 " maniculata, 102 
 
 " melas, 114 
 
 " nebulosa, 99 
 
 " ouza, 124 
 
 " pajeros, 128 
 
 " panthera, 112 
 
 " pardalis, 128 
 
 " pardus, 112 
 
 " serval, 119 
 
 " tigrinis, 129 
 
 " tigris, 92 
 
 " uncia, 119 
 
 " variegata, 114 
 
 " viverrina, 119 
 
 " yaguarundi, 122 
 Fennec, 240 
 Ferret, 158 
 Fiber, 344 
 
 " zibethicus, 344 
 Field Shrew, 302 
 Field Vole or Short Tailed 
 
 Field Mouse, 347 
 Fisher Marten, 156 
 Florida Lynx, 134 
 Florida Wood Rat, 336 
 Flying Dogs or Fruit-Eating 
 
 Bats, 79 
 Flyiug Squirrels, 311 
 Fork-crowned Lemur, 69 
 Four-horned Antelope, 504 
 Four-striped Chipmunk, 314 
 Foussa or Cryptoprocta, 138 
 Foxhound, 224 
 Foxes, 232 
 Fox Squirrels, 310 
 Foxy^MuDgoos, 150 
 Freiburg Ox, 481 
 Fruit-eating Bats, 79 
 
 Galagos, 70 
 Galeopithecidse, 304 
 Galeopithecus, 304 
 
 " volans, 304 
 
 Galictis, 168 
 
 " barbara, 168 
 
 " vittata, 168 
 Gaur, 477 
 Gayal, 476 
 Gazelle, 491 
 Gelada Baboon, 48 
 Genettes, 141 
 Gentle Lemurs, 69 
 Geomys, 352 ^ 
 
 " bursarius, 352 
 " castanops, 354 
 
 Geomys hispidus, 354 
 " mexicanus, 354 
 
 tuza, 353 
 German Bloodhound, 224 
 German MastiflF, 218 
 Giant Kangaroo, 582 
 Giant Pangolin, 393 
 Giant Tatu, 392 
 Gibbons, 23 
 Giraffes, 434 
 Globiocephalus, 570 
 
 " melas, 570 
 
 Glutton or Wolverine, 166 
 Gnu, 512 
 Goats, 448 
 
 Gold-haired Monkey, 60 
 Golden Marmoset, 64 
 Golden Mouse, 340 
 Gold-faced Monkey, 55 
 Gophers, 352 
 Goral, 506 
 Gorilla, 9 
 
 " gina, 9 
 Grampus, 568 
 Gray Fox, 241 
 Gray or Gentle Lemur, 69 
 Gray Gopher, 316 
 Gray Lemur, 69 
 Gray Prairie Squirrel, 316 
 Gray Seal, 278 
 Gray Squirrel, 310 
 Gray Wood Rat, 336 
 Great Ant-eater or Ant-bear, 
 
 386 
 Great Bat, 82 
 Great Rusa, 530 
 Greater Horseshoe Bat, 86 
 Greenland Whale, 565 
 Green Monkey, 32 
 Greyhound, 215 
 Greyhound Antelope, 505 
 Grisons, 168 
 Grizzly Bear, 250 
 Ground Squirrels, 313 
 Grunting Ox, 468 
 Guanaco, 444 
 Guara, 191 
 Guenons, 30 
 Guereza, 28 
 Guinea Pigs, 360 
 Gulo, 166 
 
 '•' borealis, 166 
 Guzerat Lion, 106 
 Gymnorhina, 81 
 
 Hairy Saki, 59 
 Hairy-tailed Mole, 296 
 Half-monkeys or Lemuroids, 
 
 65 
 Halicore, 557 
 
 dugong, 557 
 " stellerii, 558 
 Hamadryas, 46 
 Hamsters, 340 
 Hapale, 62 
 
 " argentata, 63 
 " chrysoleucus, 64 
 " jacchus, 63 
 " leonina, 63 
 " cedipus, 64 
 " penicillata, 64 
 " pygmsea, 63 
 " rosalia, 62 
 Hapalemur, 69 
 
 " griseus, 69 
 
 Hares, 372 
 Harrisson Hog, 543 
 Hartebeest, 496 
 Harvest Mouse, 339 
 Hedgehogs, 289 
 Hereford Bull, 485 
 Herpestes, 144 
 
 " fasciatus, 150 
 " ichneumon, 144 
 " mungo, 147 
 " urva, 150 
 " widdringtonii, 148 
 Hesperomys, 340 
 
 Hesperomys aureolas, 340 
 
 " californicus, 340 
 
 " leucogaster, 340 
 
 " leucopus, 340 
 
 " michiganensis, 
 
 340 
 " oryzomys, 340 
 
 Hinny, 418 
 Hippopotami, 549 
 Hippopotamidse, 549 
 Hippopotamus, 549 
 
 " amphibius, 549 
 
 " liberiensis, 554 
 
 Hoary Marmot, 321 
 Hog Deer, 531 
 Honey Badgers, 172 
 Hooded Seal, 278 
 Hoolock, 23 
 Hoonuman, 25 
 Hopping Mice, 352 
 Horned Animals, 447 
 Horses, 405 
 Horseshoe Bats, 85 
 Hounds, 222 
 Howlers, 52 
 Hulmau, 25 
 
 Humboldt's Lagothrix Monk- 
 ey, 55 
 Hump-back Whales, 564 
 Humped Hogs, 546 
 Hunting Leopard, 135 
 Hutia Tonga, 367 
 Hyaena, 182 
 
 " brunnea, 185 
 " crocuta, 184 
 " striata, 186 
 Hyena Dogs, 198 
 Hyena Family, 182 
 Hysenidse, 182 
 Hydrochcerus, 364 
 
 " capybai-a, 364 
 
 Hylobates, 23 
 
 " hulock, 23 
 
 " lar, 23 
 
 " rafflesii, 23 
 
 " syndactylus, 23 
 
 " variegatus, 23 
 
 Hyperoodon, 574 
 
 " bidens, 574 
 
 Hyperoodontidffi, 574 
 Hyrax, 432 
 
 " abyssinicus, 432 
 Hyracidas, 431- 
 Hystrichidae, 354 
 Hystrix, 354 
 
 " cristata, 354 
 
 Ibex or Steinbock, 450 
 Ichneumon, 144 
 Indian BufiFalo, 486 
 Indian Paradoxure, 142 
 Indian Ratel, 173 
 Indian Rhinoceros, 426 
 Indian Wild Dog, 200 
 Indris, 67 
 Inia or Bonto, 572 
 Inia amazonica, 572 
 Insect- Eating Animals, 289 
 Insectivora, 289 
 Introductory Preface, iii 
 Irish Hares, 375 
 Istiophora, 83 
 Italian Greyhound, 217 
 
 Jackal, 196 
 Jackal Wolf, 194 
 Jack Rabbit, 379 
 Jaculinse, 328 
 Jaculus, 328 
 
 " hudsonius, 328 
 Jaguar, 124 
 
 Javan or Wara Rhinoceros, 426 
 Javan Wild Hog, 542 
 Jerboas, 327 
 Jersey Cow, 483 
 Jumping Hare, 330 
 Jumping Mouse, 328 
 Jungle Cat, 134 
 
 Kalan, 179 
 
 Kalong, 80 
 
 Kamchatkan Wild Sheep, 462 
 
 Kanchil, 538 
 
 Kangaroos, 580 
 
 Kangaroo Rats, 583 
 
 King Charles Spaniels, 225 
 
 King Rat, 335 
 
 Kinkajou, 271 
 
 Kit Fox, 238 
 
 Koala or Australian Bear, 584 
 
 Kobus, 497 
 
 " ellipsiprymnus, 497 
 Kolsun, 200 
 Koodoo, 500 
 Koulan, 413 
 
 Labiated or Sloth Bear, 260 
 Lagidium, 370 
 
 " cuvieri, 371 
 Lagomys, 379 
 
 " alpinus, 380 
 " princeps, 379 
 Lagostomidae, 369 
 Lagostomus, 271 
 
 " trichodactylus, 371 
 Lagothrix, 55 
 
 " humboldtii, 55 
 
 Lagotis, 370 
 Lamantin, 556 
 Lar, 23 
 
 Large-eared Foxes, 240 
 Large-eared Makis, 70 
 Leaf-nosed Bats, 83 
 Leaping Pouched Animals, 
 
 580 
 Least Pocket Mice, 352 
 Lemming Vole, 350 
 Lemmings, 348 
 Lemur, 65 
 
 " catta, 67 
 " macaco, 67 
 " mongoz, 67 
 " varius, 67 
 Lemuridae, 65 
 Lemuroids, 65 
 Leopard Cat, 119 
 Leopards, 112 
 Leporidffi, 372 
 Leptodactyla, 73 
 Lepus, 374 
 
 " americanus, 378 
 
 " americanus virgin- 
 
 ianus, 379 
 " americanus washing- 
 
 tonii, 379 
 " aquaticus, 379 
 " artemesia, 379 
 " californicus, 379 
 " callotis, 379 
 " campestris, 379 
 " cuniculus, 376 
 " glacialis, 378 
 " hibernicus, 375 
 " palustris, 379 
 " sylvaticus, 379 
 " timidus, 374 
 " vulgaris, 374 
 Lerot, 322 
 Lerotin, 322 
 
 Lesser Civet or Rasse, 141 
 Lesser Horseshoe Bats, 85 
 Liatuga or Russian Flying 
 
 Squirrel, 312 
 Liberian Hippopotamus, 554 
 Lichanotus, 67 
 
 " brevicaudatus, 67 
 Lion, 105 
 
 Lion-like Monkeys, 63 
 Little or Two-Toed ant-eater, 
 
 388 
 Little African Squirrel, 310 
 Little Galago Lemur, 73 
 Llamas, 443 
 
 Loir or Fat Dormouse, 321 
 Long-eared Bat, 82 
 Long-eared Fox, 241 
 Long-legged Shrews, 296 
 
■612 
 
 INDEX TO TEXT. 
 
 I/ong-nosed Bandicoot, 588 
 Xiong-nosed or Proboscis 
 
 Monkey, 28 
 Loug-tailed Fox, 2.^7 
 Ivong-tailed Pangolin, 394 
 Long-tailed Panther, 114 
 :I/ong- tailed Tiger Cat, 129 
 Xiophiomyidffi, 307 
 Lopliiomys, 307 
 
 " imhausii, 307 
 
 Loris, 68 
 
 Lovely-Haired Monkey, 61 
 Lupus, 190 
 Lutra, 176 
 
 " brasilienis, 179 
 
 " californica, 179 
 canadensis, 179 
 
 " felina, 179 
 
 " vulgaris, 176 
 Lutridae, 176 
 Lycaon, 198 
 Lynx, 129 
 
 " borealis, 133 
 
 " caracal, 134 
 
 " caroliuensis, 134 
 
 " chaus, 134 
 
 " fasciata, 134 
 
 " florid an us, 134 
 
 '■ maculata, 133 
 
 " pardinus, 133 
 
 " rufus, 133 
 
 " vulgaris, 130 
 Lynxes, 129 -■- 
 
 iyre Bat, 86 
 
 Macaco, 67 
 JMacacus, 36 
 
 Cj nomcjgus, 36 
 nemestriuus, 39 
 rhesus, 38 
 sinicus, 36 
 sylvanus, 39 
 JMacaques, 36 
 JVIacropodidae, 580 
 Macropodiuse, 580 
 JVIacrorhinus, 279 
 
 " leoninus, 279 
 
 Macroscelides, 296 
 
 " typicus, 296 
 
 Macroscelididae, 296 
 Macropus, 582 
 
 " giganteus, 582 
 Magot Monkey, 39 
 Makis, 67 
 
 Malay Wild Dog or Adjag, 200 
 Malayan Bear, 254 
 Malayan Tapir, 422 
 Manatees, 555 
 Manatids, 555 
 JVIanatus, 556 
 
 " inunguis, 556 
 " latirostris, 556 
 Mandrill, 49 
 JVIaned Cheetah, 135 
 JManed Hog, 542 
 JManeless Lion, 106 
 Mangue or Kusimanse, 146 
 Manididae, 393 
 Manis, 393 
 
 " gigantea, 393 
 " longicaudata, 394 
 " pentadactyla, 394 
 " temminckii, 394 
 Man-shaped Apes, 8 
 Mara or Patagonian Cavy, 362 
 Marbled Cat, 99 
 Marguay, 129 
 Marimonda or Aru, 55 
 Markat Monkey, 38 
 Markhoor, 454 
 Marmosets, 62 
 Marmots, 315 
 Marsh Rabbit, 379 
 Marsh Shrew, 302 
 , Marsupialia, 579 
 MartejQ Family, 150 
 Marten Group, 152 
 Martidee, 152 
 
 Masked Hog, 544 
 Masked Paradoxure, 144 
 Mastiffs, 218 
 Mazama Deer, 531 
 Megaderma, 86 
 
 lyra, 86 
 Megaptera, 564 
 
 " longimana, 564 
 
 Meles, 168 
 
 " taxus, 169 
 Melidffi, 168 
 Mellivora, 172 
 
 " capensis, 172 
 
 " indica, 173 
 
 Meloncillo, 148 
 Melursus, 260 
 
 " labiatus, 260 
 Mephitis, 173 
 
 " suffocans, 174 
 
 " varians, 174 
 Merionidinse, 332 
 Merino Sheep, 463 
 Mexican Badger, 172 
 Mexican Cacomixle, 272 
 Mexican Gopher, 354 
 Mexican Otter, 179 
 Mexican Porcupine, 358 
 Mexican Deer, 534 
 Mice, 330 
 
 Michigan Mouse, 340 
 Microcebus, 73 
 
 " myoxinus, 73 
 
 Mink, 164 
 Miriki, 55 
 
 Mirikina Monkey, 61 
 Missouri Mole Mouse, 340 
 Mole Rats, 350 
 Mole Shrew, 302 
 Moles, 294 
 Moose, 520 
 Mongoose Lemur, 67 
 Monk Seal, 278 
 Monkeys, i 
 Monodon, 573 
 
 " monoceros, 573 
 Monodontidse, 573 
 Monotremata, 595 
 Monotremes, 595 
 Moschidse, 537 
 Moschus, 537 
 
 " moschiferus, 537 
 Moufflon, 460 
 Mountain Antelopes, 506 
 Mountain Chipmunk, 314 
 Mountain Kangaroos, 582 
 Mouse-colored Bat, 82 
 Mule, 418 
 
 Mule Deer, 534 ' ' 
 
 Mungo, 147 
 Mungooses, 144 
 Muntjak Deer, 536 
 Muridse, 330 
 Murinse, 332 
 Mus, 332 
 
 agrarius, 337 
 
 alexandrinus, 332 
 
 barbarus, 337 
 
 decumanus, 333 
 
 gambianus, 332 
 
 minutus, 339 
 
 musculus, 336 
 
 rattus, 333 
 
 sylvaticus, 336 
 Musang, 142 
 Muscardinus, 322 
 
 " avellanarius, 322 
 
 Musk Deer, 537 
 Musk-Oxen, 465 
 Muskrat, 344 
 Musquaw, 252 
 Mustela, 152 
 
 " americana, 156 
 
 foina, 153 
 " martes, 152 
 " pennantii, 156 
 " zibellina, 154 
 Mustelidas, 150 
 Mycetes, 52 
 
 Mycetes niger, 53 
 
 " seniculus, 52 
 Mydaus, 173 
 
 " meliceps, 173 
 Myodes, 348 
 Myodes lemmus, 348 
 Myogale, 303 
 
 " moschata, 303 
 
 " pyrenaica, 303 
 
 Myogalinae, 303 
 Myoxidae, 321 
 Myoxus, 321 
 
 " dryas, 322 
 glis, 321 
 Myoptamus, 367 
 
 " coypu, 367 
 
 Myrmecobiinse, 590 
 Myrmecobinus, 590 
 
 " fasciatus, 590 
 
 Myrmecophaga, 386 
 
 " jubata, 386 
 
 Myrmecophagidae, 386 
 
 Naked Dog, 218 
 Narica, 270 
 Narrow-nosed Apes, 8 
 Narwhal, 573 
 Nasalis, 28 
 
 " larvatus, 28 
 Nasua, 269 
 
 " uarica, 270 
 " rufa, 269 
 Negro Monkey, 27 
 Nemorhoedus, 506 
 
 goral, 506 
 Neotoma, 336 
 
 ' ' cinereus, 336 
 
 " floridana, 336 
 " fuscipes, 336 
 Neotragus, 504 
 
 " hemprichii, 505 
 
 Nerz, 164 
 Neurotrichus, 304 
 
 " gibbsii, 304 
 
 Newfoundland Dog, 225 
 New Guinea Hog, 542 
 Nilbhandar or Wanderoo 
 
 Monkey, 50 
 Noctule, 82 
 
 North American Deer, 531 
 North American Wolf, 194 
 Northern Fur Seal, 288 
 Northern Prairie Hare, 379 
 Nyctipithecus, 60 
 
 " trivirgatus, 61 
 
 Nylghau, 502 
 
 Ocelot, 128 
 Octodon, 367 
 
 " cummingii, 367 
 Octodontidse, 366 
 Odd-Toed Animals, 405 
 Old World Meadow Mouse, 
 
 337 
 Onager, 415 
 Opossum, 591 
 Opossum Mouse, 587 
 Opossum Rat, 582 
 Orang-utan, 18 
 Orca, 568 
 
 " gladiator, 568 
 Ordinary Seals, 275 
 Ord's Pocket Mouse, 331. 
 Oregon Lynx, 134 
 Oregon Mole, 296 
 Ornithorhynchidse, 597 
 Ornithorhynchus, 597 
 
 " anatinus, 597 
 
 Oryx, 498 
 
 " beisa, 498 
 
 " capensis, 498 
 
 " leucoryx, 498 
 Oryx Antelopes, 498 
 Orycteropodidse, 396 
 Crycteropus, 396 
 
 " capensis, 396 
 
 Otaria, 286 
 
 " jubata, 2S8 
 
 Otaria stelleri, 2S6 
 " lirsina, 288 
 Otariidse, 286 
 Otocyon, 241 
 
 " megalotis, 241 
 Otolicnus, 70 
 
 " agisymbanus, 71 
 
 " galago, 71 
 
 Otter Hound, 222 
 Otters, 176 
 Ounce, 119 
 Ovibos, 465 
 
 " moschatus, 465 
 Ovibovinas, 465 
 Ovis, 458 
 
 " ar^ali, 462 
 
 " aries hispanica, 463 
 
 " aries steatopygapersica, 
 
 464 
 " montana, 462 
 " musimon, 460 
 " nivicola, 462 
 " polii, 461 
 " • tragelaphus, 459 
 Owl Monkeys, 60 
 Ownerless or Pariah Dogs, 206 
 Ox Antelopes, 495 
 Oxen, 476 
 Ox.Tribe, 466 
 
 Paca, 363 
 
 Paco or Alpaca, 446 
 
 Palm Cats, 142 
 
 Pampas Cat, 128 
 
 Pampas Deer, 534 
 
 Panda or Red Cat-like Bear, 
 
 264 
 Pangolins, 393 
 Panthers, 112 
 Papuan Porcupine Ant-eater, 
 
 596 
 Paradoxurus, 142 
 
 " hemaphroditus, 
 
 342 
 " larvatus, 144 
 
 niger, 142 
 Pardine Lynx, 133 
 Pariah Dogs, 206 
 Park Ox, 481 
 
 Parry's Marmot Squirrel, 316 
 Paseng, 453 
 Passan, 498 
 Patagonian Cavy, 362 
 Patas Monkey, 34 
 Peccaries, 548 
 Pedetes, 330 
 
 " caffer, 330 
 
 Pedetinae, 330 
 Peeshoo or Canadian Lynx, 
 
 133 
 Pekan, 156 
 
 Pennant's Marten, 156 
 Perameles, 588 
 
 nasuta, 588 
 Peramelidse, 588 
 Percheron Horse, 410 
 Perissodactyla, 405 
 Perodicticus, 72 
 
 " potto, 72 
 
 Perognathus, 352 
 
 " fasciatus, 352 
 
 " hispidus, 352 
 
 " penicillatus, 35^ 
 
 Persian Lion, 106 
 Persian Sheep, 464 
 Peruvian Otter, 179 
 Petauroides, 586 
 
 " volans, 586 
 
 Petaurus, 586 
 
 " sciureus, 586 
 Petrogale, 582 
 
 " penicillata, 582 
 " xanthopus, 582 
 Phacochcerus, 547 
 
 " africanns, 54S 
 
 Phalanger, 584 
 
 " maculatuSi 584 
 Phalangeridae, 583 
 
INDEX TO TEXT. 
 
 613 
 
 Phalangeridae, 584 
 Pharaoh's Rat, 144 
 Phascolarctinse, 583 
 Phascolarctus, 584 
 
 " cinereus, 584 
 
 Phascolomyidae, 587 
 Phascolomys, 587 
 
 " latifrons, 587 
 
 " ursinus, 587 
 
 Philander, 594 
 
 " philander, 594 
 
 Phoca, 278 
 
 " caspica, 278 
 " grcenlandica, 278 
 " vitulina, 278 
 Phocaena, 569 
 
 " communis, 569 
 Phocidae, 275 
 Phyllostoma, 84 
 
 " spectrum, 84 
 
 Physalus, 564 
 
 " antiquorum, 564 
 Pigmy Musk, 538 
 Pikas, 379 
 Pike Whale, 565 
 Pilot Whale, 570 
 Pinche Marmoset, 64 
 Pine Marten, 152 
 Pinnipedia, 273 
 Pipistrelle Bat, 79 
 Pitheci, I 
 Pithecia, 58 
 
 " hirsuta, 59 
 " leucocephaia, 58 
 " satanas, 58 
 PithecidsE, 58 
 Pithecus, 18 
 
 " satyrus, 18 
 Platanista, 572 
 
 " gangetica, 572 
 Platyrrhini, 50 
 Plecotus, 82 
 
 " auritus, 82 
 Pocket Mice, 352 
 Pocket Rats, 354 
 Pointer Dogs, 223 
 Polar Bear, 254 
 Polar Hares, 375 
 Polecat, 156 
 Polyprotodoatia, 587 
 Pomeranian or Spitz Dog, 230 
 Poodle Dog, 227 
 Porcupines, 354 
 Porcus, 546 
 
 " babyrussa, 546 
 Porpoises, 569 
 Portax, 502 
 
 " pictus, 502 
 Potamochoerus 546 
 
 ' ' africanus, 546 
 
 Potamochoerus porcus, 546 
 Potorous, 583 
 
 " tridactylus, 583 
 Potto Lemur, 72 
 Pouched animals, 579 
 Pouched dog, 589 
 Pouched gopher, 352 
 Pouched rats, 591 
 Pouched squirrels, 586 
 Prairie dogs, 316 
 Prairie hares, 379 
 Prairie mole, 295 
 Praine Wolf, 197 
 Predaceous Marsupials, 588 
 Priamus monkey, 25 
 Prickly pocket mice, 352 
 PrioHon, 391 
 
 gigas, 392 
 Proboscidea, 397 
 ProCyon, 264 
 
 " cancrivorus, 268 
 " lotor, 264 
 Procyoninae, 264 
 Proechidna, 597 
 
 " bruijnii, 597 
 
 Proteles, 187 
 
 " lalandii, 187 
 Pronghorned Animals, 513 
 
 Prosimii, 65 
 Psammomys, 332 
 
 " obesus, 332 
 
 Pteromys, 311 
 
 " petaurista, 311 
 
 " volans, 312 
 
 " volucella, 312 
 Pteropina, 95 
 Pteropus, 79 
 
 " edulis, 80 
 Pug Dog, 221 
 Pug-Dog Bat, 82 
 Puma, 120 
 Putorius, 156 
 
 " erminea, 162 
 
 " fcetidus, 156 
 
 " furo, 158 
 
 " lutreola, 164 
 sarmaticus, 156 
 
 " vison, 164 
 
 " vulgaris, 159 
 Pyrenean Ibex, 451 
 
 Quachil, 354 
 Quagga, 419 
 
 Rabbit, 376 
 
 Raccoon, 264 
 
 Raccoon D6g, 198 
 
 Rangifer, 520 ' 
 " caribu, 521 
 " tarandus, 521 
 
 Rasse, 141 
 
 Ratel or Honey Badger, 172 
 
 Razorback Whale, 564 
 
 Red Backed Meadow Mouse, 
 347 
 
 Red or Bay- Lynx, 133 
 
 Red Coati, 269 
 
 Red Deer, 526 
 
 Red Fox, 237 
 
 Red Howler, 53 
 
 Red or Patas Monkey, 34 
 
 Red Squirrel, 310 
 
 Redunca, 496 
 
 " eleotragus, 497 
 
 Reed Antelopes, 496 
 
 Reindeer, 520 
 
 Rhabdogale, 175 
 
 " mustelina, 175 
 
 Rhesus Monkey, 38 
 
 Rhinoceros, 424 
 
 " bicornis, 426 
 
 " simus, 431 
 
 " sondaicus, 426 
 
 " sumatrensis, 426 
 
 " unicornis, 426 
 
 Rhinocerotidffi, 424 
 
 Rhinolophus, 85 
 
 ' ' ferrum - equin - 
 
 um, 86 
 
 " hippocrepis; 85 
 
 Rhinopoma,, 86 
 
 " micropliyllum, 86 
 
 Rhinopomes, 86 
 Rice-field Mouse, 340 
 Rice-Rat, 336 
 Riet-bok, 497 
 Ringed Seal, 278 
 Rock Kangaroo, 582 
 Rocky Mountain Goat, 489 
 Rocky Mountain Marmot, "321 
 Rocky Mountain Pika, 379 
 Rocky Mountain Pocket Rat, 
 
 354 
 Rocky Mountain Sheep, 462 
 Rodentia, 305 
 Rodents or Gnawing Animals, 
 
 305 
 Roe, 534 
 Root Vole, 348 
 Rorquals or Furrowed Whales, 
 
 564 
 Round-Headed Whales, 570 
 Royal Tiger, 92 
 Ruffed Lemur, 67 
 Ruminants, 433 
 Running Mice, 332 
 
 Rusa, 530 
 
 Rusa aristotelis, 531 
 
 " hipjjelaphus, 530 
 
 " porcinus, 531 
 Russian Flying Squirrel, 312 
 Rusine Group, 530 
 
 Sable, 154 
 
 Saccomyidse, 352 
 
 Saccomyinae, 352 
 
 Sacred Baboon, 46 
 
 Sacred Monkeys, 25 
 
 Saddle-Back Seal, 278 
 
 Sage Rabbit, 379 
 
 Saguin ouistiti marmoset, 63 
 
 Saiga, 510 
 
 Saint Bernard Dog, 226 
 
 Salamander, 353 
 
 Sambhar, 531 
 
 Sand Rat, 33a 
 
 Sanga, 480 
 
 Sarcophilus, 589 
 
 " ursinus, 589 
 
 Sasin Antelope, 491 
 
 Sasyures, 590 
 
 Scalops, 295 
 
 " argentatus, 295 
 " aquaticus, 295 
 
 Scapanus, 296 
 
 " breweri, 296 
 
 " townsendi, 296 
 
 Scirtetes, 329 
 
 " jaculus, 329 
 
 Sciuridae, 306 
 
 Sciurinse, 306 
 
 Sciurus, 306 
 
 " aberti,3io 
 
 " arizonensis, 310 
 
 " carolinensis, 310 
 
 " cinereus, 510 
 
 " fossor, 310 
 
 " hudsonius, 310 
 
 " ludovicianus, 310 
 
 minutus, 311 
 " uigef, 310 
 " . vulgaris, 306 
 
 Scotch Greyhound, 217 
 
 Scotophiles, 86 
 
 Scotophilus, 86 
 
 " welwitchii, 86 
 
 Sea Bear, 288 
 
 Sea Cow, 558 
 
 Sea Cows, 555 
 
 Seals or Fin-Footed Animals, 
 
 273 
 Sea Hog, 569 
 Sea Leopard, 277 
 Sea Lion, 286 
 Sea Otter, 179 
 Sea Unicorn, 573 
 Semnopithecus, 25 
 
 " entellus, 25 
 
 " maurus, 27 
 
 Senegal Lion, 106 
 Sennaar Hog, 542 
 Serval, 119 
 Sharmindi Billi, 69 
 Sheep, 458 
 Sheep Dog, 229 
 Sheep and Goat Tribe, 448 
 Shetland Pony, 411 
 Shielded Rhinoceroses, 426 
 Short Horn Cow, 484 
 Short-tailed Indris Lemur, 67 
 Short-tailed Monkey, 61 
 Short-tailed Saki, 59 
 Shrews, 297 
 Siamarig, 23 
 Sigmodon, 336 
 
 " hispidus, 336 
 
 Silky Tamarin, 63 
 Silver Fox, 237 
 Silver Monkey, 63 
 Silver or Prairie Mole, 295 
 Simia, 16 
 
 " troglodytes, 16 
 Sirenia, 555 
 Six-banded Armadillo, 389 
 
 Skunks, 173 
 
 Skye Terrier, 229 
 
 Slender Loris, 68 
 
 Slender or Sacred Monkeys, 25 
 
 Slepez, 351 
 
 Sloth Bear, 260 
 
 Sloths, 381 
 
 Slow Loris, 69 
 
 Small Bears, 264 
 
 Smaller Chinchilla, 370 
 
 Small Pouched Animals, 584 
 
 Smooth-nosed Bats, 81 
 
 Smooth-skinned Whales, 565 
 
 Snow Leopard, 119 
 
 Snow Mouse, 346 
 
 Solenodon, 298 
 
 " cubanus, 298 
 
 Somal Ass, 416 
 
 Soosoo, 572 
 
 Sooty Mangabey, 35 
 
 Sorex, 299 
 
 " bendiri, 302 
 " palustris, 302 
 " personata, 302 
 " platyrhinns, 300 
 " vulgarus, 299 
 
 Soricidse, 297 
 
 Soricinae, 299 
 
 Souslik, 315 
 
 South African Lion, 106 
 
 South American Deer, 534 
 
 South Australian Rock Kan- 
 garoo, 582 
 
 Southern Gopher, 353 
 
 Southern Sea Lion, 288 
 
 Southwestern Chipmunk, 314 
 
 Spalacidae, 350 
 
 Spalax, 351 
 
 typhlus, 351 
 
 Spaniels, 224 
 
 Spectre Tarsier, 72 
 
 Spermophilus, 315 
 
 " citillus, 315 
 
 " empetra, 316 
 
 " franklini, 316 
 
 " tridecum-linea- 
 
 tus, 316 
 
 Sperm Whale, 575 
 Sphinx Baboon, 44 
 Spider Monkeys, 54 
 Spiny Hedgehogs, 297 
 Spiral-horned Antelopes, 500 
 Spitz Dog, 230 
 Spotted Cheetah, 135 
 Spotted Cuscus, 584 
 Spotted Dasyure, 590 
 Spotted Hyaena, 185 
 Springbok, 494 
 Square-mouthed Rhinoceros, 
 
 431 
 Squirrel-Monkey, 60 
 Squirrels, 306 
 Stag or Red Deer, 526 
 Staghound, 224 
 Star-nosed Mole, 296 
 Steinbock, 450 
 Stenops, 68 
 
 " gracilis, 68 
 " tardigradus, 69 
 Stenorhynchus, 277 
 
 " albiventer,278 
 
 " leptonyx, 277 
 
 Stinking Badger, 173 
 Stoat, 162 
 
 Stone or Beech Marten, 153 
 Strepsiceros, 500 
 
 " kudu, 500 
 
 Striped Hog, 542 
 Striped Horse orZebra Group, 
 
 418 
 Striped Hysena, 186 
 Striped Siberian Ground 
 
 Squirrd, 313 
 Striped Wolf, 196 
 Suricata, 150 
 
 " tetradactyla, 150 
 Suricate, 150 
 Suidae, 539 
 
614 
 
 INDEX TO TEXT. 
 
 Sugar Squirrel, 586 
 Surilho, 174 
 Sus, 539 
 
 " andamanensis, 542 
 
 " barbatus, 542 
 
 " celebensis, 542 
 
 " cristatus, 542 
 
 " leucomystax, 542 
 
 " niger, 542 
 
 " papuensis, 542 
 
 " plicipleps, 544 
 
 " scrofa, 542 
 
 " sennarensis, 542 
 
 " verrucosus, 542 
 
 " timorensis, 542 
 
 " vittatus, 542 
 Swamp Hare, 379 
 Swine, 539 
 Swiss Ox, 481 
 Synaptomys, 350 
 
 " cooperi, 350 
 
 Synotus, 82 
 
 " barbastellus, 82 
 Syrian Goat, 456 
 
 Taguan Squirrel, 311 
 Tahr, 457 
 Tailless Ape, 39 
 Talpa, 295 
 
 " europaea, 295 
 Talpidae, 294 
 
 Tamandua or Caguare, 387 
 Tamandua, 387 
 
 " tetradactyla, 387 
 
 Tamarins, 63 
 Tamias, 313 
 
 " striatus, 313 
 
 " harrisi, 314 
 
 " lysteri, 314 
 
 " quadrivittatus, 314 
 
 " lateralis, 314 
 Tana, 296 
 Tanrec, 297 
 Tapiridse, 420 
 Tapirs, 420 
 Tapirus, 422 
 
 " americanus, 422 
 " iudicus, 422 
 Tarpan, 406 
 Tarsidse, 72 
 Tarsier, 72 
 Tarsius, 72 
 
 " spectrum, 72 
 Tatupoyu, 389 
 Tasmanian Devil, 589 
 Tasmanian Wombat, 587 
 
 Tasmanian Porcupine Ant- 
 eater, 596 
 
 Taxel, 171 
 
 Taxidea, 171 
 
 " americana, 171 
 " berlandieri, 172 
 
 Tayra, 168 
 
 Teledu or Stinking Badger, 
 
 173 
 Temminck's Pangolin, 394 
 Terriers, 229 
 Tetraceros, 504 
 
 " quadricornis, 504 
 
 Texas Hare, 379 
 Texas Lynx, 133 
 Thirteen-lined Spermophile, 
 
 316 
 Thomomys, 354 
 
 " clusius, 354 
 
 " talpoides, 354 
 
 Three-banded Armadillo, 391 
 Three-toed Sloths, 382 
 Thumbless Monkeys, 28 
 Thylacinus, 589 
 
 " cynocephalus, 589 
 
 Tiger, 92 
 
 Tiger Polecat, 156 
 Timor Hog, 542 
 Tolypeutes, 391 
 
 " tricinctus, 391 
 
 Toothed Whales, 566 
 Toothless Animals, 381 
 Tragulidae, 538 
 Tragulus, 538 
 
 " kanchil, 538 
 
 Trakehnen Horse, 408 
 Tree-Climbing Ant Eaters, 
 
 387 
 Tree or Climbing Porcupine, 
 
 356 
 Tree Kangaroos, 582 
 Tree Squirrel, 311 
 Trichechidse, 282 
 Trichechus, 282 
 
 " rosmarus, 282 
 
 Trichosurus, 585 
 
 ' ' vulpecula, 585 
 
 True Jerboas, 328 
 Tuco-Tuco, 367 
 Tufted Hog, 545 
 Tupaia, 296 
 
 " tana, 296 
 Tupaias, 296 
 Tupaiidse, 296 
 Two-Horned Rhinoceros, 426 
 
 Two Humped Camel, 442 
 Two-toed Ant-eater, 388 
 Two-toed Sloth, 382 
 
 Ulmer Mastiff, 218 
 
 Unau or Two-Toed Sloth, 382 
 
 Ungko, 23 
 
 Ursidse, 243 
 
 Ursinse, 244 
 
 Ursine Colobus, 30 
 
 Ursine Seal, 288 
 
 Urson or Canadian Porcupine, 
 356 
 
 Ursus, 244 
 
 " americanus, 252 
 " arctos, 244 
 " cinereus, 250 
 " Cinnamoneus, 252 
 " malayanus, 254 
 " maritimus, 254 
 " richardsonii, 250 
 " torquatus, 253 
 
 Urva, 150 
 
 Vampire Bat, 84 
 Vari or Ruffed Lemur, 67 
 Varying Hare, 375 
 Vespertilio, 82 
 
 " daubentonii, 79 
 
 " murinus, 82 
 
 Vesperugo, 82 
 
 " pipistrellus, 79 
 
 " noctula, 82 
 
 Vicugna, 447 
 Virginia Deer, 531 
 Virginian Opossum, 591 
 Viscacha, 371 
 Viverra, 139 
 
 " civetta, 140 
 
 " genetta, 141 
 
 " malaccensis, 141 
 
 " zibetha, 140 
 Viverridse, 139 
 Viverrine Cat, 119 
 Voles, 344 
 Vulpes, 232 
 
 " cinereo-argentatus, 241 
 
 " corsac, 239 
 
 " fulvus, 237 
 
 " lagopus, 238 
 
 " littoralis, 243 
 
 " macrurus, 237 
 
 " velox, 238 
 
 " vulgaris, 232 
 
 " zerdo, 240 
 
 Vulpine Phalanger, 585 
 Walrus Family, 282 
 Wanderoo Monkey, 50 
 Wapiti, 529 
 Wara Rhinoceros, 426 
 Wart Hogs, 547 
 Water-buck, 497 
 Water Opossum, ^94 
 Water Pig or Capybara, 364 
 Water Shrew, 302 
 Water Vole, 345 
 Wau-wau, 23 
 Weasel Group, 156' 
 Weasels, 159 
 Welwitsch's Bat, 86 
 Western Fox Squirrel, 310 
 Whalebone Whales, 562 
 Whales, 559 
 
 White-Bearded Hog, 542 
 White Footed Mouse, 340 
 White-handed Gibbon, 23 
 White-Headed Saki, 58 
 White Lipped Peccary, 54S 
 White-Tailed Deer, 534 
 White Whale, 569 
 Widow Monkey, 59 
 Wild Boar, 540 
 Wild Cat, 99 
 Wild Dogs, 188 
 Wild Horse, 406 
 Wild Pigs, 542 
 Wild Sheep, 548 
 Wing Handed Animals 75 
 Wolverine, 166 
 Wolves Proper, 190 
 Wombats, 587 
 Woodchuck, 321 
 Wood Mouse, 336 
 Wood Rabbit, 376 
 Wood Rats, 336 
 Woolly Echidna, 597 
 Woolly Cheetah, 135 
 
 Xerus, 314 
 
 " rutilus, 514 
 
 Yaguarundi, 122 
 
 Yak, or Grunting Ox, 468 
 
 Yapock, 594^ 
 
 Yellow-legged Kangaroo, 58a 
 
 Zebra, 419 
 Zebra-wolf, 589 
 Zebu, 480 
 Zorillas, 175 
 
INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Jvion and Lioness, Frontispiece . . 
 
 (Gorilla 3 
 
 Family of Gorillas 5 
 
 The Gorilla and the Leopard ... 7 
 
 Pace of a Chimpanzee 9 
 
 Profile of a Chimpanzee 9 
 
 The Gorilla 10 
 
 Orang-utan 11 
 
 Family of Chimpanzees 13 
 
 Champanzees at School 15 
 
 Female Orang-utan and Child 17 
 
 Young Orang-utan 19 
 
 Baboons' (colored) opp 25 
 
 White-handed Gibbons 21 
 
 The Wau-Wau 23 
 
 Ursine Colobus 24 
 
 Black Colobus 24 
 
 Hoonuman Monkeys . . . 25 
 
 Budeng or Negro Monkey .... 26 
 
 Hoonuman Monkeys 27 
 
 Loog-nosed Monkeys 29 
 
 Diana Monkeys 30 
 
 Ouereza Monkeys 31 
 
 ■Green Monkeys 33 
 
 Red or Patas Monkey 34 
 
 Sooty Mangabey 35 
 
 Bonnet Monkey 36 
 
 Common Macaque 37 
 
 Bhunder or Rhesus Monkey ... 38 
 
 pig-tailed Macaques 39 
 
 "Black Baboon • • • 39 
 
 MagotjBarbary or Tailless Ape ... 40 
 
 Common Baboon 41 
 
 ■Chacma Baboon 42 
 
 Sacred Baboon or Hamadryas . . 43 
 
 Gelada Baboon 44 
 
 Mandrill _ 45 
 
 Drill 47 
 
 Wanderoo 48 
 
 Red Howlers 49 
 
 Black Howler Monkeys 51 
 
 Miriki Spider Monkey 52 
 
 CoaitaSpider Monkey 52 
 
 ■Chameck Spider Monkey .... 53 
 
 •Gold-Faced Monkey 54 
 
 Humboldt's Lagothrix Monkey ... 55 
 
 ■Cai Weeper Capuchin Monkeys . . 57 
 
 A Group of Capuchins 58 
 
 •Cuxio Monkey 59 
 
 Hairy Saki 59 
 
 WhiteHeadedSaki Monkey . ... 60 
 
 Short-tailed Monkey 61 
 
 Lovely Haired Monkey 61 
 
 Squirrel Monkeys 62 
 
 .Silky Tamarin 62 
 
 Night Monkeys 63 
 
 ■Common Marmosets 64 
 
 Pinche Marmoset 64 
 
 Vari,- or Ruffed Lemur 65 
 
 Short-tailed Indris Lemur 66 
 
 Cat-like Lemur ... .... 67 
 
 Mongoose Lemur 67 
 
 Macaco or Black Lemur 68 
 
 •Gray or Gentle Lemur 69 
 
 Fork-Crowned Lemur 69 
 
 Slender Loris 7° 
 
 Slender Loris Lemur. . , 7° 
 
 Slow Loris Lemur 7i 
 
 Potto Lemur 72 
 
 Angwdntibo Lemur 72 
 
 Little Galago Lemur 73 
 
 Large-eared Galago Lemur .... 73 
 
 Aye-Aye 74 
 
 Barbastelle or Pug-Dog Bat ... . 75 
 
 JKalong Bats 77 
 
 Kalong Bat 7» 
 
 Pipistrelle Bat 79 
 
 Daubenton's Bat 79 
 
 Ivong-eared Bat 80 
 
 Noctule Bat 81 
 
 Egyptian Rhinppome 82 
 
 Vampire Bat 83 
 
 Greater Horseshoe Bat 84 
 
 Greater Horseshoe Bat 85 
 
 Welwitsch's Bat 86 
 
 Royal Tiger 87 
 
 Royal Tiger 89 
 
 Tigress and Cubs 91 
 
 An Interrupted Meal 93 
 
 Tiger Attacking a Buffalo 95 
 
 A Tiger Hunt . . 97 
 
 Marbled Cat 99 
 
 Common Wild Cat 100 
 
 Female Wild Cat and Young . . . . loi 
 
 The Egyptian Cat 102 
 
 The Domestic Cat 103 
 
 The Angora Cat 105 
 
 Head of the Barbary Lion 107 
 
 The Barbary Lion 109 
 
 Female Panther and Young (colored) 
 
 opp .... 112 
 
 The Senegal Lion iii 
 
 Lions Attacking a Buffalo 113 
 
 The Leopard 114 
 
 Leopardess and .Young 115 
 
 The Black Panther 117 
 
 The Long-tailed Panther . . . . 118 
 
 The Ounce 119 
 
 The Leopard Cat 119 
 
 The Serval 120 
 
 Puma Attacking an Ant Bear . . . 121 
 
 The Cougar or Puma 122 
 
 The Jaguar 123 
 
 Jaguar Attacking a Tapir 125 
 
 Ocelot and Sloth 127 
 
 The Pampas Cat 128 
 
 The Marguay or Tiger Cat .... 129 
 
 The Long-tailed Tiger Cat 129 
 
 The Common Lynx 131 
 
 The Pardine Lynx 132 
 
 Leopard and Tapir (colored) opp . . 132 
 
 The Caracal Lynx 133 
 
 Peeshoo or Canadian Lynx .... 134 
 
 Common Jungle Cat 134 
 
 The Fahhad or African Cheetah . . 135 
 
 Cheetah or Hunting Leopard . . . 137 
 
 The Foussa or Cryptoprocta .... 138 
 
 The African Civet 140 
 
 The Lesser Civet or Rasse 141 
 
 The Common Genette 141 
 
 The Asiatic Civet 142 
 
 Indian Paradoxure or Palm Cat . . 143 
 
 The Common Paradoxure or Musang 144 
 
 The Masked Paradoxure 144 
 
 The Ichneumon 145 
 
 Mangue or Kusimanse 146 
 
 The Mungo i47 
 
 The Banded Mungoos I47 
 
 Crab Mungoos 148 
 
 The Foxy Mungoos 148 
 
 TheSuricate 149 
 
 The Pine Marten 151 
 
 The Stone Marten 153 
 
 The Sable i55 
 
 The Polecat i57 
 
 The Ferret 159 
 
 Weasel attacking a Brown Rat . . 161 
 
 The Ermine or Stoat 163 
 
 The European Mink 165 
 
 The Glutton or Wolverine 167 
 
 The Tayra 169 
 
 The Common Badger 170 
 
 The American Badger orTaxel . . 171 
 
 The Ratel or Honey-Badger .... 172 
 
 The Teledu or Stinking Badger, . . 173 
 
 TheSurilho I74 
 
 The Skunk I75 
 
 The Cape Zorilla 176 
 
 (615) 
 
 The Common Otter 177 
 
 The American Otter 178 
 
 Sea Otter or Kalan 179 
 
 Combat between an Otter and a 
 
 Stone Marten 181 
 
 Spotted Hysenas 183 
 
 Brown Hysenas 184 
 
 Striped Hysenas 185 
 
 The Aard- Wolf 186 
 
 The Wolf 188 
 
 A Pack of Wolves 189 
 
 The Jackal Wolf 190 
 
 Guara .191 
 
 Aguara or Brazilian Fox 192 
 
 The Striped Wolf 193 
 
 The Jackal . . ' ' 194 
 
 The Wolf 195 
 
 Cape Jackal 196 
 
 Coyote or Prairie Wolf 197 
 
 Raccoon Dog .... .... 198 
 
 The Crab-eating Dog 199 
 
 Hysena Dog 200 
 
 Indian Wild Dog or Kolsun . . . 201 
 
 Malay Wild Dog or Adjag . . . 201 
 
 Alpine Wolf 203 
 
 Prize Dogs of the International Dog 
 
 Show in Hanover 205 
 
 Dingo 207 
 
 Prize Dogs of the International Prize 
 
 Show at Cleve ... ... 209 
 
 The Greyhound 211 
 
 Italian Greyhound 212 
 
 Scotch Greyhound 213 
 
 Danish Dog ... 214 
 
 The German Mastiff 215 
 
 The Bulldog 216 
 
 The Pug-Dog 217 
 
 The Dog of Tibet 218 
 
 Badger Dog or Dachshund . ... 219 
 
 Pointer 219 
 
 Retriever 220 
 
 The Schweiszhund or German Blood- 
 hound 221 
 
 The Staghound 222 
 
 The Foxhound 223 
 
 The Beagle 224 
 
 The Newfoundland Dog 225 
 
 The St. Bernard Dog 226 
 
 The Poodle ... 227 
 
 The Skye Terrier .... 228 
 
 The Sheep Dog 229 
 
 The Pomeranian Dog or Spitz . . 230 
 
 Eskimo Dog .... ... 231 
 
 A Fox Family Dining . . . 233 
 
 A Family of Foxes . . . . ' 235 
 
 The Red Fox ... ... 237 
 
 The Kit Fox . 237 
 
 The Arctic Fox . 239 
 
 The Fennec 240 
 
 Corsac . . . 241 
 
 Long-eared Fox . . 241 
 
 The Gray Fox 242 
 
 Bear and Young Bathing 245 
 
 Grizzly Bear and Bisons . . - . 247 
 
 The Grizzly Bear ..... 249 
 
 The Black Bear 251 
 
 Black Himalayan Bear 253 
 
 Malayan Bear 255 
 
 Polar Bear and Cubs 257 
 
 The Polar Bear 259 
 
 Labiated or Sloth Bear 261 
 
 Ailuropus . ; 262 
 
 Panda 263 
 
 Binturong 265 
 
 Raccoon 267 
 
 Raccoon 268 
 
 Coati .... 269 
 
 Kinkajou 271 
 
 Cacomixle . 271 
 
61G 
 
 INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Commou Seal 274 
 
 The Sea Leopard 277 
 
 Saddle-Back Seal 279 
 
 Crested or Bladder-Nose Seal . . . 380 
 
 Elephant Seal 281 
 
 Walrus 283 
 
 Seal/ions 285 
 
 Fur Seal or Sea Bear 287 
 
 The Hedgehog 291 
 
 Common Mole 293 
 
 Common American Mole . . . . 294 
 
 Star-Nosed Mole 295 
 
 The Tana 296 
 
 Elephant Shrew 297 
 
 Tanrec 298 
 
 The Almiqui 298 
 
 Common Shrew 299 
 
 Broad-Nosed Shrew 299 
 
 Mole Shrew 300 
 
 Domestic Shrew 300 
 
 Water Shrew . . 301 
 
 Etruscan Shrew 302 
 
 Desman . . 303 
 
 Colugo 304 
 
 Skull-Caps or Lophiomys 307 
 
 Common Squiriel 308 
 
 Gray Squirrels 309 
 
 Chickaree or Red Squirrel 310 
 
 Taguan 311 
 
 Assapans or American Plying Squir- 
 rels 313 
 
 Chipmunk 313 
 
 Xerus 314 
 
 Burunduk 315 
 
 Spuslik 315 
 
 trairie Dogs 316 
 
 Bobac 317 
 
 Alpine Marmot 319 
 
 Woodchuck 320 
 
 Loir 321 
 
 Lerot 322 
 
 Commou Dormouse 323 
 
 Beaver 325 
 
 Jumping Mouse 327 
 
 Egyptian Jerboa 327 
 
 Alactaga 329 
 
 Jumping Hare 331 
 
 Black Rat 333 
 
 Brown Rat 333 
 
 Cotton Rat 335 
 
 Florida Wood Rat 335 
 
 Common Mouse . . . .- 337 
 
 Barbary Mouse 337 
 
 White-Footed Mouse ... . 339 
 
 Meadow Mouse 339 
 
 Wood Mouse or Long-tailed Field 
 
 Mouse . 339 
 
 Harvest Mice Attacked by Snake- 341 
 
 Hamsters . . 343 
 
 Miiskrat 345 
 
 Snow Mouse .... .... 345 ■ 
 
 Water Vole 346 
 
 Red-Backed Meadow Mouse . . . 347 
 
 American Meadow Mouse .... 347 
 
 Field Mouse or Campagnol . . 349 
 
 Lemmings 349 
 
 Mole Rat .... 351 
 
 Ord's Pocket Mouse 351 
 
 Least Pocket Mouse 353 
 
 Pouched Gopher 353 
 
 Common Pocket Rat. ... . . 354 
 
 Common Porcupine 355 
 
 Urson or Canadian Porcupine. . . . 357 
 
 Mexican Porcupine 357 
 
 Brush-tailed Porcupiue 358 
 
 Coendou . . 359 
 
 Guinea Pigs 360 
 
 Mara or Patagonian Cavy 361 
 
 Common Agouti 363 
 
 Paca t 364 
 
 Capyhara or Water Pig 365 
 
 Octodon • . . 366 
 
 Tuco-Tuco 367 
 
 Hutia Tongo 367 
 
 Coypu or Nutria 368 
 
 African Ground Pig 369 
 
 Common Chinchilla 371 
 
 Smaller Chinchilla 371 
 
 Cuvier's Lagoti 372 
 
 Viscacha 373 
 
 Common Hare 375 
 
 Alpine Hare 376 
 
 European Rabbit 377 
 
 American Varying Hare 378 
 
 Northern Prairie Hare 378 
 
 Wood Rabbit or Cotton-tail .... 379 
 
 American Pika 379 
 
 Alpine Crying Hares 380 
 
 Unatt or Two-toed Sloth 382 
 
 Ai or Three-toed Sloth 383 
 
 Great Ant-eater or Ant-bear . . . 385 
 
 Tamandua 387 
 
 Little Ant-eater 387 
 
 Six-banded Armadillo 389 
 
 Bolita or Three-banded Armadillo . 39Q 
 
 Giant Tatu 391 
 
 Bichociego 393 
 
 Pangolin 394 
 
 Aark-vark 395 
 
 Temminck's Pangolin 396 
 
 Indian Elephant 399 
 
 African Elephant . . , 403 
 
 Tarpan 406 
 
 Arabian Steed 407 
 
 Trakhenen Horse . 408 
 
 English Thoroughbred Horse . . . 409 
 
 Percheron Horse 410 
 
 American Trotting Horse 411 
 
 Shetland Pony 413 
 
 Koulan 414 
 
 Onager 415 
 
 Domestic Ass 416 
 
 African Wild Ass 417 
 
 Quagga 418 
 
 Zebra 419 
 
 Dauw or Burchell's Zebra ... 421 
 
 Malayan Tapir ... .... 423 
 
 American Tapir 425 
 
 Indian Rhinoceros 427 
 
 Two-horned Rhinoceros 4?9 
 
 Square-mouthed Rhinoceros 431 
 
 Cony 432 
 
 Giraffe 435 
 
 Dromedary 439 
 
 Bactrian Camel 441 
 
 Llama 445 
 
 Alpaca 446 
 
 Vicugna .■ 447 
 
 Ibex or Steinbock 449 
 
 Pyrenean Ibex 451 
 
 ^gagrusGoat 453 
 
 Markhoor 454 
 
 Angora Goat 455 
 
 Tahr 457 
 
 Aoudad 459 
 
 MouflSon 460 
 
 Kratschkar or Wild Sheep .... 461 
 
 Big Horn 463 
 
 Merino Sheep 464 
 
 Persian Domestic Sheep 465 
 
 Musk-Ox . . 467 
 
 European Bison 471 
 
 Yak ... . 469 
 
 American Bison 473 
 
 Gayal 475 
 
 Gaur 477 
 
 Banteng 478 
 
 Sanga 479 
 
 Zebu . 480 
 
 Park Ox 481 
 
 Freiburg or Swiss Ox 
 
 Jersey Cow 
 
 Dutch Cow 
 
 Durham or Short-hoiu Cow. . . . 
 
 Hereford Bull 
 
 Cape Buffalo 
 
 Rocky Mountain Goat ..... 
 
 Sasin 
 
 Gazelle 
 
 Springbok 
 
 Hartebeesit 
 
 Rietbok or Reed Antelope .... 
 
 Water-Buck 
 
 Passan Pursued by Hyaena Dogs . 
 
 Addax 
 
 Koodoo 
 
 Eland 
 
 Four-horned Antelope 
 
 Bush-Buck 
 
 Chamois 
 
 Saiga 
 
 Gnu '. . 
 
 Pronghorn 
 
 Elk 
 
 Moose 
 
 Reindeer 
 
 Fallow Deer (colored) opp 
 
 Fallow Deer . . 
 
 Stag or Red Deer 
 
 Wapiti . . 
 
 Axis Deer 
 
 Sambhar 
 
 Virginia Deer 
 
 Campus Deer 
 
 Roe Deer 
 
 Muntjak 
 
 Musk Deer 
 
 Kanchil 
 
 Female Wild Boar and Young . . 
 
 Berkshire Hog 
 
 Harrisson Hog 
 
 Masked Hogs 
 
 Tufted Hog 
 
 Babirusa 
 
 Wart Hog 
 
 Collared Peccary 
 
 Hippopotamus 
 
 Attack on a Hippopotamus . . . 
 Lamantih or American Manatee . 
 
 Dugong 
 
 Razor-back Whale 
 
 Pike Whale 
 
 Greenland Whale 
 
 Grampus 
 
 .Porpoise 
 
 White Whale 
 
 Ca'ing or Pilot Whale 
 
 Dolphin 
 
 Inia 
 
 Soosoo 
 
 Narwhal 
 
 Sperm Whale 
 
 Giant Kangaroo 
 
 Yellow-legged Kangaroo ...... 
 
 Bear Kangaroo 
 
 Kangaroo Rat 
 
 Opossum Rat 
 
 Spotted Cuscus 
 
 Koala or Australian Pouched Bear 
 Vulpine Phalanger or Coosoo . . 
 
 Sugar Squirrel 
 
 Opossum Mouse 
 
 Long-nosed Bandicoot 
 
 Zebra-wolf or Pouched Dog. . . . 
 
 Tasmanian Devil 
 
 Spotted Dasyure 
 
 Opossum and Chipmunk . . . . 
 
 Porcupine Ant-Eater 
 
 Duck-mole 
 
 . 482' 
 ■ 483- 
 
 483. 
 
 484- 
 
 485- 
 487 
 489. 
 491 
 493' 
 494 
 495 
 49& 
 497 
 499. 
 
 500 
 501 
 503^ 
 505 
 505 
 507 
 511 
 513- 
 515 
 517 
 
 522 
 
 524 
 525 
 527 
 szg' 
 530 
 531 
 
 53^ 
 533- 
 535 
 537 
 539 
 539^ 
 541 
 543- 
 545 
 54+ 
 545 
 547 
 548- 
 549- 
 551 
 553 
 556' 
 557 
 563- 
 565 
 
 567 
 56S 
 
 569' 
 S?^ 
 571 
 572- 
 573 
 574 
 575 
 577 
 57» 
 581 
 581 
 583 
 583- 
 584 
 585 
 ,585 
 58& 
 581 
 589 
 590 
 591 
 592 
 
 593 
 597 
 599