J 
 
THE FAVORITE LIBRARY. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED 
 
 Natural History 
 
 For Young People 
 
 BY THE 
 
 Rev. J. G. WOOD, M. A., F. L. S. 
 
 AUTHOR OF “THE NEW ILLUSTRATED NATURAL HISTORY," ETC., ETC. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 DeWolfe, Fiske & Co. 
 
LIST OF BOOKS IN LIBRARY. 
 
 Lives of the Presidents. 
 
 Wood’s Natural History. 
 Child’s Life of Christ. 
 Robinson Crusoe. 
 
 Swiss Family Robinson. 
 
 Grimm’s Fairy Tales. 
 Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales. 
 Black Beauty. 
 
 Mother Goose Rhymes. 
 Aunt Martha’s Corner Cupboard. 
 Arabian Night’s Entertainments. 
 Alice in Wonderland. 
 
 Copyright, 1898, 
 
 BY 
 
 DeWolfe, fiske & Co. 
 
NATURAL HISTORY 
 
 QUADRUMANA; or, THE MONKEY TRIBE. 
 
 T HIS section includes the apes, baboons, and monkeys. The 
 name is given to these animals because, in addition to two 
 hands like those of man, their feet are also formed like hands, 
 and are capable of grasping the branches among which most 
 monkeys pass their lives. 
 
 Apes are placed at the head because their instinct is mostly 
 superior to that of the baboons and monkeys, of whom the former 
 are usually sullen and ferocious, when arrived at their full growth, 
 and the latter volatile and mischievous. 
 
 The first in order, as well as the largest of the Apes, is the 
 enormous ape from Western Africa, the Gorilla. The first modern 
 writer who brought the gorilla before the notice of the public seems 
 to be Mr. Bowdich, the well-known African traveller ; for it is 
 evidently of the gorilla that he speaks under the name of Ingheena. 
 The natives of the Gaboon and its vicinity use the name Gina, 
 when mentioning the gorilla. The many tales told of the habits, 
 the gigantic strength, and the general appearance of the Ingheena, 
 are precisely those which are attributed to the gorilla. 
 
 As to the habits of the gorilla many conflicting tales have been 
 told, and many have been the consequent controversies. In order 
 to settle the disputed questions, Mr. Winwoode Reade undertook a 
 journey to Western Africa, where he remained for a considerable 
 
4 
 
 GORILLA. 
 
 time. After careful investigation, he sums up the history of the 
 animal as follows : 
 
 “ The ordinary cry of a gorilla is of a plaintive character, but 
 in rage it is a sharp, hoarse bark, not unlike the roar of the tiger. 
 Owing to the negro propensity for exaggeration, I at first heard 
 some very remarkable stories about the ferocity of the gorilla ; but 
 when I questioned the real hunters, I found them, as far as I could 
 judge, like most courageous men, modest, and rather taciturn than 
 garrulous. Their account of the ape’s ferocity scarcely bears out 
 those afforded by Drs. Savage and Ford. They deny that the 
 gorilla ever attacks man without provocation. ‘ Leave Njina alone,’ 
 they say, ‘ and Njina leave you alone.’ But when the gorilla, 
 surprised while feeding or asleep, is suddenly brought to bay, he 
 goes round in a kind of half-circle, keeping his eyes fixed on the 
 man, and uttering a complaining, uneasy cry. If the hunter shoots 
 at him, and the gun misses fire, or if the ape is wounded, he will 
 sometimes run away ; sometimes, however, he will charge, with his 
 fierce look, his lowered lip, his hair falling on his brow. He does 
 not, however, appear to be very agile, for the hunters frequently 
 escape from him. 
 
 “His charge is made on all-fours: he seizes the offensive 
 object, and, dragging it into his mouth, bites it. I heard a great 
 deal about men being killed by gorillas, but wherever I tfent I found 
 that the story retreated to tradition. That a man might be killed 
 by a gorilla I do not doubt for a moment, but that a man has not 
 been killed by one within the memory of the living, I can most 
 firmly assert. 
 
 “ I once saw a man who had been wounded by a gorilla. It 
 was Etia, the Mchaga hunter, who piloted me in the forests of 
 Ngumbi. His left hand was completely crippled, and the marks of 
 teeth were visible on the wrist. I asked him to show me exactly 
 
THE GORILXA. 
 
6 
 
 CHIMPANZEE— ORANG- O UTANG. 
 
 how the gorilla attacked him. I was to be the hunter, he the 
 gorilla. I pretended to shoot at him. He rushed toward me on 
 all-fours, and seizing my wrist with one of his hands, dragged it to 
 his mouth, bit it, and then made off.” 
 
 The Chimpanzee is a native of Western Africa, and is toler- 
 ably common on the banks of the Gambia and in Congo. 
 
 Large bands of these formidable apes congregate together and 
 unite in repelling an invader, which they do with such fury and 
 courage that even the dreaded elephant and lion are driven from 
 their haunts by their united efforts. They live principally on the 
 ground, and, as their name imports, spend much of their time in 
 caves and under rocks. Their height is from four to five feet, but 
 they are said not to reach this growth until nine or ten years of age. 
 
 Several young chimpanzees have been imported into this coun- 
 try, and have shown themselves very docile and gentle. 
 
 The Orang-Outang inhabits Borneo and Sumatra. In Borneo 
 there are certainly two species of orang, called by the natives the 
 Mias-kassar and the Mias-pappan. Some naturalists suppose that 
 the Sumatran orang is also a distinct species. This is the largest 
 of all the apes, as it is said that orangs have been obtained from 
 Borneo considerably above five feet in height. The strength of 
 this animal is tremendous ; a female snapped a strong spear asunder 
 after having received many severe wounds. Its arms are of extra- 
 ordinary length, the hands reaching the ground when it stands 
 erect. This length of arm is admirably adapted for climbing 
 trees, on which it principally resides. Mr. Brooke, the Rajah of 
 Sarawak, gives the following account of the orangs of Borneo. 
 There appears also to be a third species, the Mias-rombi : 
 
 “The orangs are as dull and slothful as can well be con- 
 ceived, and on no occasion, when pursuing them, did they move so 
 fast as to preclude my keeping pace with them easily through a 
 
ORANG-OUTANG — OLD AND YOUNG, 
 
8 
 
 C. HIM PA N ZEE— ORA NG- OUTANG. 
 
 moderately clear forest ; and even when obstructions below (such 
 as wading up to the neck) allowed them to get away some distance, 
 they were sure to stop and allow us to come up. I never observed 
 the slightest attempt at defence ; and the wood, which sometimes 
 rattled about our ears, was broken by their weight, and not thrown, 
 as some persons represent. If pushed to extremity, however, the 
 pappan could not be otherwise than formidable ; and one unfortu- 
 nate man, who with a party was trying to catch one alive, lost two 
 of his fingers, besides being severely bitten on the face, while the 
 animal finally beat off his pursuers and escaped. 
 
 “The rude hut which they are stated to build in the trees 
 would be more properly called a seat or nest, for it has no roof or cover 
 of any sort. The facility with which they form this seat is curious ; 
 and I had an opportunity of seeing a wounded female weave the 
 branches together, and seat herself in a minute. She afterward 
 received our fire without moving, and expired in her lofty abode, 
 whence it cost us much trouble to dislodge her. 
 
 “The pappan is justly named Satyrus, from its ugly face and 
 disgusting callosities. The adult male I killed was seated lazily on 
 a tree. His proportions were enormous relative to his height ; he 
 was nearly six feet in stature. 
 
 “The great difference between the kassar and the pappan in 
 size would prove the distinctness of the two species ; the kassar 
 being a small, slight animal, by no means formidable in his appear- 
 ance, with hands and feet proportioned to the body, and they do 
 not approach the gigantic extremities of the pappan either in size 
 or power ; and a moderately strong man would readily overpower 
 one, when he would not stand a shadow of a chance with the 
 pappan. ” 
 
 I once saw a young orang-outang. It was rather spidery in 
 its development, having a very small and very rotund body, to 
 
AGILE GIBBON— KAHAL. 
 
 9 
 
 which were affixed very long and slender limbs. Its face was like 
 that of a very misanthropical old miser, thoroughly wearied of life, 
 and contemplating surrounding objects with a calm but derisive 
 pity. It possessed in a high degree the expressive mobile char- 
 acter of the lips, which appeared to denote its feelings much in the 
 same manner as do the ears of a horse. 
 
 When young, the orang-outang is very docile, and has been 
 taught to make its own bed, and to handle a cup and saucer or a 
 spoon with tolerable propriety. For the former occupation it 
 proved itself particularly apt, as it not only laid its own bed- 
 clothes smooth and comfortable, but exhibited much ingenuity in 
 stealing blankets from other beds, which it added to its own. A 
 young orang evinced extreme horror at the sight of a small tor- 
 toise, and, when the reptile was introduced into its den, stood 
 aghast in a most ludicrously terrified attitude, with its eyes intently 
 fixed on the frightful object. 
 
 The Agile Gibbon is a native of Sumatra. It derives its 
 name of Agile from the wonderful activity it displays in launching 
 itself through the air from branch to branch. One of these crea- 
 tures sprang with the greatest ease through distances of twelve and 
 eighteen feet, and when apples or nuts were thrown to her while in 
 the air, she would catch them without discontinuing her course. 
 She kept up a succession of springs, hardly touching the branches 
 in her progress, continually uttering a musical but almost deafening 
 cry. She was very tame and gentle, and would permit herself to 
 be touched or caressed. The height of the gibbon is about three 
 feet, and the reach of the extended arms about six feet. The 
 young gibbon is usually of a paler color than its parent. 
 
 The Kahau is a native of Borneo. It derives its name from 
 the cry it utters, which is a repetition of the word “Kahau.” It 
 is remarkable for the extraordinary size and shape of its nose, and 
 
IO 
 
 BABOONS. 
 
 while leaping it holds that organ with its paws, apparently to guard 
 it against the branches. Its length from the head to the tip of the 
 tail is about four feet ; and its general color is a sandy red, relieved 
 by yellow cheeks and a yellow stripe over the shoulders. 
 
 THE BABOON MOTHER AND HER INFANT. 
 
 Baboons are distinguished from the apes by their short and 
 insignificant-looking tails. The Mandrill is the most conspicuous 
 of the baboon tribe, is a native of Guinea and Western Africa, and 
 is chiefly remarkable for the vivid colors with which it is adorned. 
 
AMERICAN AND SPIDER MONKEYS. 
 
 i 
 
 Its cheeks are of a brilliant blue, its muzzle of a bright scarlet, and 
 a stripe of crimson runs along the centre of its nose. These colors 
 are agreeably contrasted by the purple hues of the hinder quarters. 
 
 It lives principally in forests filled with brushwood, from which 
 it makes incursions into the nearest villages, plundering them with 
 impunity. On this account it is much dreaded by the natives, who 
 feel themselves incapable of resisting its attacks. It is excessively 
 ferocious, and easily excited to anger, and when enraged, so bound- 
 less is its rage, that Cuvier relates that he has seen several of these 
 animals actually expire from the violence of their fury. The 
 greenish-brown color of the hair of this and other monkeys is 
 caused by alternate bands of yellow and black which exists on each 
 hair. The brilliant colors referred to above belong to the skin, and 
 fade away entirely after death, becoming paler when the animal is 
 not in perfect health. 
 
 The American Monkeys, or Cebidae, are found exclusively in 
 South America and are never seen north of Panama. Their tails 
 are invariably long, and, in some genera, prehensile. 
 
 The Coaita is one of the Spider Monkeys, so called from their 
 long, slender limbs, and their method of progressing among the 
 branches. The tail seems to answer the purpose of a fifth hand, as 
 it is capable of being used for every purpose to which the hand 
 could be applied ; indeed, the Spider Monkeys are said to use this 
 member for hooking out objects where a hand could not be in- 
 serted. The tail is also of considerable use in climbing among the 
 branches of trees ; they coil it round the boughs to lower or raise 
 themselves, and often will suspend themselves entirely by it, and 
 then by a more powerful impetus swing off to some distant branch. 
 The habits of all the Spider Monkeys are very similar. They are 
 extremely sensitive to cold, and when chilly are in the habit of 
 wrapping their tail about them, so that this useful organ answers 
 
12 
 
 HOWLING MONKEYS— MARMOSET. 
 
 the purpose of a boa as well as a hand. They will also, when shot, 
 fasten their tail so firmly on the branches that they remain 
 suspended after death. The great length of their tails enables 
 them to walk in the erect attitude better than most monkeys. In 
 walking, they cast their tails upward as high as the shoulders, and 
 then bend it over so as to form a counter-balance against the 
 weight of the body, which is thrown very much forward in that and 
 most other monkeys. The genus is called Ateles, or imperfect, 
 because in most of the species the thumb is wanting. The Coaita 
 inhabits Surinam and Guinea. 
 
 The Howling Monkeys are larger and not so agile as the 
 Spider Monkeys. These animals possess an enlargement in the 
 throat, composed of several valvular pouches, which apparatus ren- 
 ders their cry exceedingly loud and mournful, from which peculiarity 
 they derive their name. They howl in concert, principally at the 
 rising and setting of the sun. They are in great request among 
 the natives as articles of food, their slow habits rendering them an 
 easy prey. 
 
 The Ursine Howler or Araguato, is common in Brazil, where 
 forty or fifty have been observed on one tree. They generally 
 travel in files, an old monkey taking the lead, and the others fol- 
 lowing in due order. They feed principally on leaves and fruit ; 
 the tail is prehensile like that of the Spider Monkeys. 
 
 The Marmoset is a most interesting little creature. It is 
 exceedingly sensitive to cold, and when in America is usually 
 occupied in nestling among the materials for its bed, which it 
 heaps up in one corner, and out of which it seldom emerges 
 entirely. 
 
 It will eat almost any article of food, but is especially fond of 
 insects, which it dispatches in a very adroit manner. It will also 
 eat fruits, especially those of its native country. 
 
LEMURS— SLENDER LORIS. 
 
 13 
 
 The Lemurs derive their name from their nocturnal habits and 
 their noiseless movements. The Ruffled Lemur is a native of 
 Madagascar. It lives in the depths of the forests, and only moves 
 by night, the entire day being spent in sleep. Its food consists of 
 fruits, insects, and small birds, which latter it takes while they are 
 sleeping. This is the largest of the lemurs, being rather larger 
 than a cat. 
 
 The Slender Loris is a native of India, Ceylon, etc. It, 
 like the lemur, seldom moves by day, but prowls about at night in 
 search of food. No sooner does it espy a sleeping bird than it 
 slowly advances until within reach, then putting forward its paw 
 with a motion slow and imperceptible as the movement of the 
 shadow on the dial, it gradually places its fingers over the devoted 
 bird ; then, with a movement swifter than the eye can follow, it 
 seizes its startled prey. 
 
 BATS, OR WING-HANDED ANIMALS. 
 
 This name is derived from the singular manner in which their 
 forepaws, or hands, are developed into wings. If the fingers of a 
 man were to be drawn out like wire to about four feet in length, a 
 thin membrane to extend from finger to finger, and another mem- 
 brane to fall from the little finger to the ankles, he would make a 
 very tolerable imitation of a bat. 
 
 The usual food of bats is insects, which they mostly capture on 
 the wing, but some, as the Vampires, suck blood from other ani- 
 mals, and a few, as the Kalong, or Flying Fox, live upon fruits, 
 and so devastate the mango crops, that the natives are forced to 
 cover them with bamboo baskets, to preserve them from the ravages 
 of these animals, who would soon strip the fruit trees without these 
 precautions. Even the cocoa-nut is not secure from their depreda- 
 tions. 
 
14 
 
 VAMPIRE BA T. 
 
 The membrane of the bat’s wing is plentifully supplied with 
 nerves, and is extremely sensitive, almost appearing to supply a 
 sense independent of sight. Many bats possess a similar membrane 
 on the nose, which is possibly used for the same purpose. 
 
 The object of the elongation of the finger joints is to give the 
 animal the power of extending the wing membrane or folding it at 
 
 VAMPIRE BAT. 
 
 pleasure. When the bat wishes to walk, it half folds the mem- 
 brane, and assumes an attitude admirably represented in pictures of 
 the Long-eared Bat. The thumb-joint has no part of the wing 
 attached to it, but is left free, and is armed with a hook at the 
 extremity, by means of which it is enabled to drag itself along in 
 that singular vacillating hobble which constitutes a bat’s walk. 
 
 There are five tribes, or sub-familie|, of bats, according to 
 
LONG-EARED BAT. 
 
 5 
 
 Gray, each tribe including many genera. The Vampire Bat is a 
 native of South America, where it is very common, and held in 
 some dread. It lives on the blood of animals, and sucks usually 
 while its victim sleeps. The extremities, where the blood flows 
 freely, as the toe of a man, the ears of a horse, or the combs and 
 wattles of fowls, are its favorite spots. When it has selected a 
 subject, on which it intends to feed, it watches until the animal is 
 fairly asleep. It then carefully fans its victim with its wings while 
 it bites a little hole in the ear or shoulder. The wound is so small, 
 and the bat manages so adroitly, that the victim does not discover 
 that anything has happened until the morning, when a pool of 
 blood betrays the visit of the vampire. 
 
 There have been very different accounts of the vampires from 
 travellers, some denying that they suck the blood at all, and others 
 narrating circumstantially the injuries inflicted upon their own 
 persons. 
 
 The Long-eared Bat is found in most parts of Europe, and 
 is common in England. It may be seen any warm evening flying 
 about in search of insects, and uttering its peculiar shrill cry. The 
 ears are about an inch and a half in length, and have a fold in 
 them reaching almost to the lips. This bat is very easily tamed, 
 and will take flies and other insects from the hand. When the 
 long-eared bat is suspended by its hinder claws, it assumes a most 
 singular aspect. The beautiful long ears are tucked under its 
 wings, which envelop a great part of its body. The tragus, or 
 pointed membrane visible inside the ear, is then exposed, and 
 appears to be the actual ear itself, giving the creature a totally 
 different cast of character. 
 
i6 
 
 Q UADR UPEDS—LION. 
 
 QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The former sections have been characterized by the number 
 and properties of the hands. In this section the hands have been 
 modified into feet. At the head of the quadrupeds, or four-footed 
 animals, are placed, the carnivora, or flesh-eaters, and at the head 
 of the carnivora, the Felidae, or cat kind, are placed, as being the 
 most perfect and beautiful in that section. The Felidae all take 
 their prey by creeping as near as they can without observation, and 
 then springing upon their unfortunate victim, which seldom succeeds 
 in making its escape, as the powerful claws and teeth of its enemy 
 usually dash it insensible to the ground. The jaws and teeth of the 
 Felidae are powerful, and their teeth long and sharp. Their claws 
 are necessarily very long, curved, and sharp, and to prevent them 
 from being injured by coming in contact with the ground, they ai 
 retracted, when not in use, into a sheath, which effectually guard? 
 them and keeps them sharp. There are five claws on the fore-feet, 
 and four on the hinder feet. 
 
 The tongue is very rough, as may be proved by feeling the 
 tongue of a cat. The roughness is occasioned by innumerable little 
 hooks which cover the tongue, point backward, and are used for the 
 purpose of licking the flesh off the bones of their prey. The bristles 
 of the mouth, or w'hiskers, are each connected with a large nerve, 
 and are exceedingly useful in indicating an obstacle when the animal 
 prowls by night. Their eyes are adapted for nocturnal vision by 
 the dilating power of the pupil, which expands so as to take in every 
 ray of light. 
 
 The Lion stands at the head of the wild beasts. His noble 
 and dignified bearing, the terrific power compressed into his com- 
 paratively small frame, and the deep majesty of his voice, have 
 gained for him the name of u king of beasts.” The lion inhabits 
 Africa and certain parts of Asia, such as Arabia and Persia and 
 
THE BEAR 
 

 
 
 
 
LION. 
 
 17 
 
 some parts of India. It varies in external appearance according to 
 the locality, but there is little doubt that there is but one species. 
 
 THE EION. 
 
 The roar of the lion is one of its chief peculiarities. The best 
 description of it is in Gordon Cumming’s Adventures: 
 
 2 
 
LION. 
 
 18 
 
 “ One of the most striking things connected with the lion is 
 his voice, which is extremely grand and peculiarly striking. It 
 consists, at times, of a low, deep moaning, repeated five or six 
 times, ending in faintly audible sighs ; at other times he startles the 
 forest with loud, deep-toned, solemn roars, repeated five or six times 
 in quick succession, each increasing in loudness to the third or 
 fourth, when his voice dies away in five or six low, muffled sounds, 
 very much resembling distant thunder. At times, and not unfre- 
 quently, a troop may be heard roaring in concert, one assuming the 
 lead, and two, three, or four more regularly taking up their parts 
 like persons singing a catch.” 
 
 “As a general rule lions roar during the night, their sighing 
 moans commencing as the shades of evening envelop the forest, and 
 continuing at intervals throughout the night. In distant and 
 secluded regions, however, I have constantly heard them roaring 
 loudly as late as nine or ten o’clock on a bright, sunny morning. 
 In hazy or rainy weather they are to be heard at every hour in the 
 day, but their roar is subdued.” 
 
 The opinion that lions will not touch a dead animal is erro- 
 neous, as they were frequently shot by Mr. Cummings while 
 devouring gnoos, etc., that had fallen by his rifle. Those lions 
 who have once tasted human flesh are generally the most to be 
 dreaded, as they will even venture to spring in among a company 
 of men, and seize their victim. These lions are called Man-eaters. 
 
 The Lioness is much smaller than the lion, and is destitute of 
 the magnificent mane which is so great an ornament to her mate. 
 As a general rule she is more fierce and active than the male, 
 especially before she has had cubs, or while she is suckling them. 
 She has usually from two to four cubs at a time. They are beauti- 
 ful, playful little things, and are slightly striped. They have no 
 mane until about two years old. While her cubs are small, the 
 
TIGER. 
 
 *9 
 
 lioness knows no fear, and will attack a company of men, or a herd 
 of oxen, if they come too near her den. The cubs are remarkably 
 heavy for their age. 
 
 The lion when young is easily tamed, and shows a strong 
 attachment to its keeper. Those who have seen lion tamers will 
 know what influence man may obtain over this powerful creature. 
 There is one remarkable difference in the characters of the feline 
 and canine tribes. If a man is overcome by a wolf or a dog, the 
 animal ceases not to mangle its vanquished foe until life is quite 
 extinct. A dog killing a rat is a good instance of this trait of 
 character. 
 
 But if a lion or any other feline animal vanquishes a man, it 
 contents itself with the victory for some time without making any 
 attempt to injure him, unless he tries to escape, in which case he is 
 again dashed to the earth, and probably considerably bitten as a 
 warning. 
 
 At the extremity of the lion’s tail there is a small hook or claw, 
 which has been represented as the means by which the animal lashes 
 itself into fury, using it as a spur. This is impossible, as the claw 
 or prickle is very small, not fixed to the bone as the claws of the 
 feet are, but merely attached to the skin, and falls off if roughly 
 handled. It is not present in all lions, as Mr. Wood only discov- 
 ered it once out of numerous specimens which he examined. 
 
 The Tiger is found only in Asia, Hindostan being the part 
 most infested by it. In size it is almost equal to the lion, its height 
 being from three to four feet, and its length rather more than eight 
 feet. It has no mane, but it is decorated with black stripes, upon 
 a ground of reddish yellow fur, which becomes almost white on the 
 under parts of the body. The chase of the tiger is among the most 
 exciting and favorite sports in India. A number of hunters assem- 
 ble, mounted on elephants trained to the sport, and carry with them 
 
THE TIGER, 
 
LEOPARD. 
 
 21 
 
 a supply of loaded rifles in their howdahs, or carriages mounted on 
 the elephants’ backs. Thus armed, they proceed to the spot where 
 a tiger has been seen. The animal is usually found hidden in the 
 long grass or jungle, which is frequently eight or more feet in 
 height, and when roused, it endeavors to creep away under the 
 grass. The movement of the leaves betrays him, and he is checked 
 by a rifle ball aimed at him through the jungle. Finding that he 
 cannot escape without being seen, he turns round and springs at 
 the nearest elephant, endeavoring to clamber up it, and attack the 
 party in the howdah. This is the most dangerous part of the pro- 
 ceedings, as many elephants will turn round and run away, regard- 
 less of the efforts of their drivers to make them face the tiger. 
 Should, however, the elephant stand firm, a well-directed ball checks 
 the tiger in his spring, and he then endeavors to again escape, but 
 a volley of rifle-balls from the backs of the other elephants, who by 
 this time have come up, lays the savage animal prostrate, and in a 
 very short time his skin decorates the successful marksman’s howdah. 
 
 Tigers are usually taken by the natives in pitfalls, at the bot- 
 tom of which is planted a bamboo stake, the top of which is sharp- 
 ened into a point. The animal falls on the point, and is impaled. 
 The notion that tigers cannot be tamed is erroneous. They can be 
 tamed as easily as the lion. The coloring of the tiger is a good 
 instance of the manner in which animals are protected by the simi- 
 larity of their external appearance to the particular locality in which 
 they reside. The stripes on the tiger’s skin so exactly assimilate 
 with the long jungle grass among which it lives, that it is impossible 
 for unpractised eyes to discern the animal at all, even when a con- 
 siderable portion of its body is exposed. 
 
 The Leopard is an inhabitant of Africa, India, and the Indian 
 Islands. A black variety inhabits Java, and is not uncommon 
 there. Its height is about two feet. This and the following Felidae 
 
22 
 
 LEOPARD. 
 
 are accustomed to live much on trees, and are on that account called 
 tree-tigers by the natives. Nothing can be more beautiful than the 
 elegant and active manner in which leopards sport among the 
 branches of the trees : at one time they will bound from branch to 
 branch with such rapidity, that the eye can scarcely follow them ; 
 then, as if tired, they will suddenly stretch themselves along a 
 branch, so as to be hardly distinguishable from the bark, but start 
 
 THE LEOPARD. 
 
 up again on the slightest provocation, and again resume their grace- 
 ful antics. It is easily tamed, and expresses great fondness for its 
 keeper, and will play with him like a cat. This animal is exceed- 
 ingly fond of some scents, especially preferring lavender water, by 
 means of which predilection it has been taught to perform several 
 tricks. The Leopard and Panther are considered as the same 
 animal. 
 
JA G UAR—P UMA— O CEL O T— CA T. 
 
 23 
 
 The Jaguar inhabits America. It is larger and more power- 
 ful than the leopard, which it resembles in color, but has a black 
 streak across the chest, and a black spot in the centre of the 
 rosettes. It is fond of climbing trees, and finds little difficulty in 
 ascending, even when the trunk is smooth and destitute of branches. 
 It chases monkeys successfully, and is said to watch for turtles on 
 the beach, and to scoop out their flesh by turning them on their 
 backs and inserting its paws between the shells. Nor does it con- 
 fine its attention to the turtles themselves, for it watches them lay 
 their eggs, and then scoops them out of the sand with its claws. 
 It often makes fearful havoc among the sheep-folds, and is said to 
 depart so far from the usual habits of the Felidae, as to enter the 
 water after fish, and to capture them in the shallows by striking 
 them out of the water with a blow of its paw. 
 
 The Puma, or Mountain Lion, inhabits the whole of America, 
 where it is held in much dread by the natives. Its color is a uniform 
 gray, fading into white on the under parts of its body, and this 
 similarity of color is the reason that the name “concolor” has 
 been given to it. It lives much on trees, and usually lies along 
 the branches, where its uniform dusky fur renders it so like the 
 bark that it can scarcely be distinguished from the branch. Ameri- 
 cans always speak of this animal as the panther, or “ painter,” as 
 it is more familiarly pronounced ; and many authors still term it 
 the cougar , a word contracted from the original elongated unpro 
 nounceable Mexican name, “ Gouazouara. ” 
 
 The Ocelot, one of the Tiger-cats, is a native of Mexico and 
 Peru. Its height is about eighteen inches, and its length about 
 three feet. It is a beautiful animal, and is easily tamed. When in 
 a wild state it lives principally on monkeys, which it takes by 
 stratagem. 
 
 The domestic Cat was formerly supposed to be the same ani- 
 
MANX CAT. ANGORA CAT. 
 
LYNX. 
 
 2 5 
 
 mal as the wild cat, but it is now proved to be a distinct species, 
 and the difference is seen at once by the form of the tail. That of 
 the domestic cat is long and taper, while that of the wild cat is 
 bushy and short. 
 
 The cat is familiarly known to us as a persevering mouse- 
 hunter. So strong indeed is the passion for hunting in the breast 
 of the cat, that she sometimes disdains mice and trespasses on 
 warrens or preserves. 
 
 This instinctive desire of hunting seems to be implanted in 
 cats at a very early age. I have seen kittens but just able to see 
 bristle up at the touch of a mouse, and growl - in a terrific manner 
 if disturbed. 
 
 The cat displays a great affection for her kittens, and her 
 pride when they first run about is quite amusing. While I was 
 undergraduate at college, a cat belonging to the baker’s depart- 
 ment formed a great friendship for me, and used to come every 
 morning and evening to obtain her share of breakfast and tea. 
 She continued her attention for some time, but one morning she 
 was absent from her accustomed corner, nor did she return until 
 nearly a week had passed, when she came again, but always seemed 
 uneasy unless the door was open. A few days afterward she came 
 up as usual, and jumped on my knee, at the same time putting a 
 little kitten in my hand. She refused to take it back again, so I 
 restored it to its brothers and sisters myself. A few hours after- 
 ward, on going into my bedroom, I found another black kitten fast 
 asleep on the bed. 
 
 The Lynxes are remarkable for the pencil of hairs which tufts 
 their sharply pointed ears. The Canada Lynx is a native of North 
 America, and is remarkable for its gait. Its methods of progres- 
 sion is by bounds from all four feet at once, with the back arched. 
 It feeds principally on the American hare, as it is not courageous 
 
2 6 
 
 CHETAH. 
 
 enough to attack the larger quadrupeds. Its length is about three 
 feet. The Indians sometimes eat its flesh, which is white and 
 firm, and not unlike that of the American hare itself. Its skin 
 forms an important article of commerce. 
 
 The Chetah, or Hunting Leopard, as it is sometimes called. 
 
 EUROPEAN IyYNX. 
 
 is one of the most elegant and graceful animals known. It is a 
 native both of Africa and India, but it is only in the latter country 
 that it is used for hunting game. 
 
 The method of employing it is usually as follows : The chetah 
 is placed in a cart, and taken as near as possible to the place where 
 antelopes or deer are feeding. When close enough, the hunter takes 
 
HYENA. 
 
 2 7 
 
 the band from its eyes, and directs its head toward the game. 
 Directly the chetah sees the deer, it creeps off the cart, and makes 
 toward them as rapidly and silently as it can, carefully availing itself 
 of the cover of a bush, or stone, precisely as a cat does when steal- 
 ing after a bird. When it has succeeded in unobservedly approach- 
 ing the unsuspecting herd, it makes two or three tremendous springs, 
 and fastens on the back of one unfortunate deer, brings it to the 
 ground, and waits until its keeper comes up, who induces it to leave 
 its prey by a ladleful of the blood, which he takes care to have 
 ready. The chetah is then hooded and led back to his cart. It is 
 so easily tamable and so gentle that it is frequently led about the 
 streets by a string for sale. 
 
 It is rather larger than the leopard, and differs from it in the 
 length of its paws, its inability to climb trees, and the crispness of 
 its fur. It is therefore placed in a different genus from the leopard. 
 
 The Hyenas are remarkable for their predatory, ferocious, and 
 withal cowardly habits. There are several hyenas, the striped, the 
 spotted, and the villose, but as the habits of all are very similar, 
 only one will be mentioned. The hyenas, although very repulsive 
 in appearance, are yet very useful, as they prowl in search of dead 
 animals, especially of the larger kinds, and will devour them even 
 when putrid, so that they act the same part among beasts that the 
 vultures do among birds, and are equally uninviting in aspect. 
 They not unfrequently dig up recently interred corpses, and in 
 Abyssinia they even flock in numbers into the village streets, where 
 they prey on slaughtered men who are thrown out unburied. Their 
 jaws and teeth are exceedingly powerful, as they can crush the thigh- 
 bone of an ox with apparently little effort ; and so great is the strain 
 upon the bones by the exertions of these muscles, that the vertebrae 
 of the neck become anchylosed, as it is called, that is, become 
 united together, and the animal has a perpetual stiff neck in conse- 
 

 C/VE T—ICHNE UMON. 
 
 quence. The skull too is very strong, and furnished with heavy 
 ridges for the support of the muscles which move the jaw. 
 
 The hinder parts of the hyena are very small, and give a 
 strange shambling appearance when walking. The hyena is easily 
 tamed, and even, domesticated, so that the tales of its untamable 
 disposition are entirely erroneous. 
 
 The striped hyena is found in many parts of Asia and Africa, 
 where it is both a benefit and a pest, for when dead animals fail it, 
 the flocks and herds are ravaged, and even man does not always 
 escape. 
 
 The Civets are active little animals, averaging about two feet 
 in length. The whole group is celebrated for the perfume which is 
 secreted in a glandular pouch near the tail, and is of some impor- 
 tance in commerce. The civet is only found in North Africa, 
 especially in Abyssinia, where it takes up its abode on uncultivated 
 and barren hills. It feeds upon birds and smaller quadrupeds, 
 which it takes by surprise. 
 
 The Ichneumons, or Mangousts, well deserve their name of 
 Creepers, for with their long bodies and snouts, their short limbs 
 and slender tails, they insinuate themselves into every crevice in 
 their way in search of their expected food. Few animals are more 
 useful than the ichneumons. Snakes, lizards, crocodiles’ eggs, or 
 even young crocodiles themselves, form their principal food, and 
 their activity is so great that, when these sources fail, they are able 
 to secure birds, and even seize upon the swift and wary lizards, 
 which, when alarmed, dart off like streaks of green light glancing 
 through the bushes. 
 
 The Egyptian Ichneumon, or Pharoah’s Rat, as it is some- 
 times called, is a native of North Africa, and is often domesticated 
 for the purpose of destroying the various snakes, and other reptile 
 annoyances, which are such a pest in the houses of hot countries. 
 Its length without the tail is about eighteen inches. 
 
SPOTTED HYB)N4. 
 
30 
 
 NEWFOUNDLAND DOG— BLOODHOUND. 
 
 We now arrive at the Dog Family, which includes the Dogs, 
 Wolves, Jackals, and Foxes. The. first of the Dogs is the Kolsun, 
 or Dhale, which inhabits Bombay and Nepaul. It hunts in packs, 
 as most of the dogs do even in a wild state, and has been known to 
 destroy tigers and chetahs. Let us pass to a more interesting ani- 
 mal, the Newfoundland Dog. 
 
 This magnificent creature was originally brought from New- 
 foundland. It is often confounded with the Labrador Dog, a 
 larger and more powerful animal. Both these dogs are trained by 
 their native masters to draw sledges and little carriages, and on that 
 account are highly esteemed. 
 
 The Newfoundland dog is well known as a most faithful 
 guardian of its master’s property. It is very fond of the water, 
 and will fetch out any article that its master indicates, and lay it at 
 his feet. Many instances are known of this noble animal saving 
 the lives of people that had fallen into the water, and must have 
 perished but for its timely aid. This is one of the largest of the 
 dogs, as it stands nearly two feet two inches in height. 
 
 The Bloodhound. — There are several varieties of this animal, 
 inhabiting Cuba, Africa, England, and America. They are all en- 
 dowed with a wonderfully acute sense of smell, and can trace a man 
 or animal with almost unerring certainty. The Cuban bloodhound 
 was formerly employed by the Spaniards to hunt down the natives 
 while endeavoring to escape from their invasions. A few years since, 
 one of these dogs saved the life of its master, an American hunter, 
 by boldly attacking a puma which had sprung on him in the dark- 
 ness, and was lacerating him in a dreadful manner. The sagacious 
 animal had been tied up at home, but apparently knowing the 
 dangers of the forests through which its master was about to pass, 
 he broke his chain, and arrived barely in time to save the hunter 
 from a horrible death. 
 

 GROUP OF DOGS, 
 
32 FOXHO UND— POINTER— MASTIFF— B ULL-DOG. 
 
 The Foxhound and Beagle are not very dissimilar in form or 
 habits. They both follow game by the scent, and are used in 
 hunting. The foxhound, as its name implies, is used for hunting 
 the fox, and enters into the sport with extraordinary eagerness. 
 The height of the foxhound is about twenty-two inches. 
 
 The beagle is used principally for hare hunting. It is much 
 smaller than the foxhound, and not nearly so swift, but its scent is 
 so perfect that it follows every track of the flying hare, unravels all 
 her windings, and seldom fails to secure her at last. Sportsmen 
 usually prefer the smallest beagles obtainable. 
 
 The Pointer is used by sportsmen to point out the spot where 
 the game lies. It ranges the fields until it scents the hare or 
 partridge lying close on the ground. It then remains still as if 
 carved in stone, every limb fixed, and the tail pointing straight 
 behind it. In this attitude it remains until the gun is discharged, 
 reloaded, and the sportsman has reached the place where the bird 
 sprang. 
 
 The group of the Mastiff dogs is distinguished by the short- 
 ness of the nose and the breadth of the head. This group includes 
 the mastiff, the bull-dog, and the absurd little pug-dog. The 
 breadth of their heads is caused by the large muscles which move 
 the jaw. 
 
 The English mastiff is generally employed as a house-dog, as 
 its powerful frame and deep voice are well fitted to scare away 
 marauders, or to repel them if they approach too near. It is by 
 far the most sagacious of the whole group, and exhibits much more 
 attachment to its master than the others. 
 
 The Bull-Dog is proverbial for courage and endurance. Un- 
 fortunately its social qualities are by no means pleasing, as, although 
 it has some attachment to its master, yet it is not always safe for 
 him to disturb it. This dog was extensively used in the cruel sport 
 
TERRIER— SHEPHERD. 
 
 33 
 
 of bull-baiting, a recreation now extinct. When opposed to the 
 bull, the dog would fly at its nose, and there hang in spite of all the 
 infuriated animal’s struggles. 
 
 The Terriers never grow to any considerable size. There are 
 several breeds of terriers, among which the English and Scotch are 
 most conspicuous. These dogs are principally used for destroying 
 
 THE CUBAN MASTIFE. 
 
 rats or other vermin, and are so courageous that they do not hesitate 
 to unearth the fox or badger. Otters are also hunted by them, but 
 prove by no means an easy prey. Terriers are extremely attached 
 to their master, and are capable of learning many amusing tricks. 
 
 The Shepherd’s Dog is a rough, shaggy animal, with sharp 
 pointed ears and nose. It is an invaluable assistant to the shepherd, 
 
 
34 
 
 GREYHOUND— FRAIRIE DOG— WOLF. 
 
 as it knows all its master’s sheep, never suffers them to stray, and 
 when two flocks have mixed, it will separate its own charge with the 
 greatest certainty. It understands every look and gesture of its 
 beloved master, and drives the flock to any place which he points 
 out. 
 
 The Greyhound is the swiftest of all the dogs, and is princi- 
 pally used in the pursuit of the hare. It has but little delicacy in 
 scent, and hunts almost entirely by sight. The hare endeavors to 
 baffle it by making sharp turns, which the dog cannot do on account 
 of its superior size, and has therefore to take a circuit, during which 
 the hare makes off in another direction. The hare also has the 
 property of stopping almost instantaneously when at full speed. It 
 puts this manoeuvre into force, when it is nearing its favorite hiding- 
 place. It induces the dog to spring upon it, and then suddenly 
 checks itself. The dog is carried twenty or thirty yards away by its 
 own momentum, and the hare springs off to her place of refuge. 
 
 Prairie Dog. — The title of Prairie Dog has been given to 
 this animal on account of the sharp yelping sound which it is in 
 the habit of uttering, and which has some resemblance to the 
 barking of a very small and very peevish lap-dog. Every time it 
 yelps it gives its tail a smart jerk. This peculiar sound is evidently 
 employed as a cry of alarm ; for as soon as it is uttered all the 
 prairie dogs dive into their burrows, and do not emerge again until 
 they hear the shrill whistle which tells them that the danger is past. 
 
 Wolf. — The wolf looks much like a large shaggy dog, and it 
 has been thought by many that the first dogs sprung from wolves. 
 When taken young the wolf may be tamed, and it shows as much 
 love for its master as the dog does. The wolf is very swift, and 
 hunts deer and other animals in packs. It is sly and stealthy, and 
 often prowls about lonely farms, to catch stray sheep, calves, pigs, 
 or fowls, but is also cowardly and is easily frightened off by the 
 barking of a dog or the sound of a gun. 
 
THE WOEF. 
 
36 
 
 GREY WOLF. 
 
 When pressed by hunger it becomes dangerous, and will attack 
 horses and oxen, and even men. In hard winters packs of hungry 
 wolves come down from the forests of the Alps and other moun- 
 tains in Europe and commit great ravages ; and many terrible 
 stories have been told of travellers who have been chased by them 
 in great forests, especially in Russia and Siberia. It is said that in 
 Russia more than two hundred human beings are killed by wolves 
 every year, and a great many thousands of cattle and sheep. 
 
 The Grey Wolf of North America is usually gray above and 
 yellowish gray below, but is sometimes nearly white. It is three or 
 four feet long, with a tail about a foot and a half long. 
 
 Packs of these wolves follow the buffalo herds on the western 
 plains, feeding on the sick and straggling ones. They also attack 
 horses, and sometimes men, when very hungry. They were once 
 plentiful in New England and the other Eastern States, but now 
 only a few are found in mountainous and thickly wooded parts. 
 
 In 1739 Israel Putnam, who afterward became so well known 
 as General Putnam of the Revolutionary War, began life as a 
 farmer in the town of Pomfret, Connecticut, forty miles east of 
 Hartford. That part of the State was then quite wild, and the 
 wolves were so troublesome that they killed seventy of his sheep in 
 one night. The mischief was all done by one old she wolf and 
 her cubs, who had lived in the woods near there for several years. 
 The hunters killed the cubs, but the old one was too wary to be 
 caught. She was at last driven by bloodhounds into a den about 
 three miles from Putnam’s house. The hunters tried to smoke her 
 out by burning straw and brimstone in the mouth of the cave, but 
 the wolf would not come out, and Putnam, tired of waiting any 
 longer, for it was then ten o’clock at night, took a. blazing torch in 
 his hand and went down the hole, which was only high enough for 
 him to crawl on his hands and knees. He had a rope tied round 
 
PRAIRIE WOLF— FOX. 
 
 37 
 
 his legs, and told his friends to pull him up when he gave a signal. 
 He crawled along more than thirty feet, or six times a man’s 
 length, without seeing anything ; but all at once he saw at the end 
 of the cave the glaring eyeballs of the wolf. She gnashed her 
 teeth and gave a sudden growl, and his friends, who heard it, 
 pulled him out so quickly that his shirt was torn to strips and his 
 skin badly cut. He then loaded his gun with buckshot, and taking 
 it in one hand and a torch in the other, went down again. As 
 soon as he came near the wolf, she growled and made ready to 
 spring at him, but he shot her quickly in the head, and was hauled 
 out again nearly deaf with the noise, and choked with the smoke. 
 After the smoke had cleared away, he crawled down a third time, 
 took the dead wolf by the ears, and the two were pulled out by the 
 people above with much joy. 
 
 The Indians catch many grey wolves in traps, and also kill 
 many by surrounding them in a circle, which they make smaller, 
 little by little, until they get near enough to shoot them. 
 
 The Prairie Wolf, which the Mexicans call coyote , is smaller 
 than the grey wolf, and is much like a jackal. The true wolf has 
 a howl like that of a dog, but the prairie wolf has only a kind of 
 snapping bark, whence it is sometimes called the barking wolf. It 
 lives in burrows on the great Western plains, is very swift, and 
 hunts in packs. 
 
 The Fox. — This terror of hen-roosts and delight of sports- 
 men is found in most parts of America, and many other countries. 
 It varies very much in color and size, according to the country 
 where it lives. 
 
 The habits of this animal are mostly nocturnal. It lies by day 
 concealed in its burrow, if it be fortunate enough to possess one. 
 Toward evening it sallies out in search of food, and woe to the 
 unfortunate hare, rabbit, pheasant, or fowl that comes in its way. 
 
38 
 
 WEASEL— MAR TEN. 
 
 Sometimes he steals into the hen-roost, destroys and carries off 
 most of its inmates, some of which he devours on the spot, others 
 he carries home, and the remainder he buries for a future repast. 
 
 When irritated, the fox gives out a strong, disagreeable scent, 
 which lies so long on the ground that it may be perceived for nearly 
 an hour after the fox has passed. Partly on this account, and 
 partly on account of its speed, endurance, and cunning, the chase 
 of the fox is one of the most admired of English sports. 
 
 the fox. 
 
 The Weasels are easily distinguished by their long slender 
 bodies, short muzzle, sharp teeth, and predatory habits. They 
 inhabit almost every part of the world, and procure their food by 
 creeping on their unsuspecting victim, generally a rabbit, rat, or 
 bird, and then suddenly darting at it and piercing its neck with their 
 sharp teeth. Almost all the weasels devour the brain and suck the 
 blood of their prey, but seldom touch the flesh, unless they are 
 pressed by hunger. 
 
 There are two kinds of Martens, named, from their favorite 
 
STOA T t OR ERMINE. 
 
 39 
 
 haunts, the Pine and the Beech Marten. Some naturalists assert 
 that these two martens are not distinct animals, but only varieties 
 of the same species. The Pine Marten is common in North 
 America, where it is much too fond of chickens and ducklings to be 
 
 THE MARTEN. THE WEASEE. 
 
 a desirable neighbor. This animal, as well as the sable, is much 
 sought after on account of its skin, which furnishes a beautiful fur, 
 not much inferior to that of the sable. 
 
 The Stoat, or Ermine, is smaller than the polecat, but its 
 habits are scarcely less predaceous. Hares and rabbits fall easy 
 
40 
 
 WEASEL— BADGER. 
 
 victims to their little enemy, who despatches them with a single 
 bite, penetrating the brain. During the winter the stoat becomes 
 partially white, in northern countries wholly so, except the tip of 
 the tail, which remains black. In this state it is called the ermine, 
 and is killed in great numbers for the sake of its beautiful and 
 valuable fur. 
 
 The Weasel is the least of this tribe. It is exceedingly use- 
 ful to farmers, as it wages unrelenting war on rats and mice, and in 
 an incredibly short space of time extirpates them from a barn or 
 stack. It hunts by scent like dogs, and tracks the unfortunate rat 
 with the most deadly certainty. It is a most courageous little 
 animal, and will even attack men, who have found it by no means 
 a despicable antagonist, as its instinct invariably leads it to dash at 
 the throat, where a bite from its long, sharp teeth would be very 
 dangerous. 
 
 The Badger. — This harmless and much injured animal (which 
 is often subjected to such ill treatment that the term “ badgering ” 
 a person is used to express irritating him in every possible way) 
 lives at the bottom of deep burrows, which it excavates, and in 
 which it passes all the day sleeping on a very comfortable bed of 
 hay and grass. When the evening approaches it seeks it food, 
 consisting of roots, fruit, insects, and sometimes young rabbits. 
 It is also said to attack the wild bee, and boldly devour the honey 
 and combs, its thick hair and skin rendering it utterly regardless of 
 the stings of the enraged bees. 
 
 The power of the badger’s bite is caused principally by the 
 manner in which the under jaw is set on. Not only are its teeth 
 sharp, and the leverage of its jaw powerful, but the jaw is so con- 
 trived that, when the creature closes its mouth, the jaw locks 
 together as it were, and is held fast without much exertion on the 
 part of the badger. Its skin is rather valuable, the hair being 
 
OTTER— BROWN BEAR. 
 
 4i 
 
 extensively employed in the manufacture of brushes, and its fur 
 being in some request for holsters. The length of the badger is 
 about two feet three inches. 
 
 The Otter seems to play the same part in the water as the 
 polecat and other weasels on the land. Like the polecat, it is ex- 
 cessively rapacious, and destroys many more creatures than it can 
 devour; and as the polecat only eats the brain and sucks the blood, 
 so the other daintily eats the flakes at the back' of the fish’s neck, 
 and leaves the rest for less fastidious animals. 
 
 It is extremely interesting to watch the actions of this almost 
 amphibious creature. It slides noiselessly into the water, turns and 
 twists about below the surface with the same or greater ease than a 
 fish, then with a graceful sweep of the body it glides to the surface 
 and ascends the bank with almost the same motion. While below 
 the surface it bears a great resemblance to the seal, the method in 
 which it disposes its hind feet greatly assisting the effect. Its rapid 
 and easy movements in the water are mostly performed by the 
 assistance of its powerful tapering tail. 
 
 The otter is easily tamed, and its predatory habits have been 
 occasionally turned to account, as it is sometimes trained to catch 
 fish and bring them to shore. The Hindoos have brought the art 
 of otter training to great perfection, and keep their otters regularly 
 tethered with ropes and straw collars on the banks of the river. 
 
 The Bears and their allies are mostly heavy, and walk with 
 the whole foot placed flat on the ground, unlike the cats, dogs, etc., 
 who walk with merely their paws or toes. All the bears are om- 
 nivorous — that is, they can eat either animal or vegetable food, so 
 that a leg of mutton, a pot of honey, a potato, or an apple, are 
 equally acceptable. 
 
 The Brown Bear inhabits the north of Europe, Switzerland, 
 and the Pyrenees. 
 
42 
 
 GRIZZL Y BEAR— WHITE BEAR. 
 
 In olden times the bear used to be baited — that is to say, the 
 bear was tied to a pole, and several dogs were set at him, the object 
 being to see whether the bear could bite the dogs, or the dogs bite 
 the bear with greater force ; but this cruel sport is now happily 
 extinct. 
 
 The Grizzly Bear, a native of North America, is the most 
 ferocious and powerful of its family, and is an animal which must 
 either be avoided or fought, for there is no medium. If a grizzly 
 once sees a man, it will probably chase him, and will do so with 
 great perseverance. An American traveller told me lately that he 
 had been chased nearly thirty miles by one of these bears, who 
 would probably have kept up the chase as many miles more, had 
 not my informant crossed a wide river, over which the bear did 
 not choose to follow him. 
 
 The grizzly bear is very marvellously tenacious of life. Some- 
 times, it is said, after a party of hunters have been combating one 
 of these bears, it is impossible to find four square inches of 
 sound skin in the animal’s body, a ball through the brain or heart 
 affording the only means of safety to the hunter. It is rather sin- 
 gular that this bear has the power of moving each claw separately, 
 as we move our fingers. It is able to overcome and carry off the 
 enormous bison, and to dig a pit in which to bury it. 
 
 The Polar or White Bear, called Nennook by the Esqui- 
 maux, lives in the Arctic regions, where it feeds on seals, fish, or 
 even the walrus, but it dares not attack the latter animal openly. 
 It is a formidable antagonist either by land or water, as it dives 
 with great ease, and is able to chase the seal amid the waves. As 
 the seals frequently crawl out of the water upon rocks or fragments 
 of ice, the Polar bear is forced to swim after them ; but lest they 
 should observe him he makes his approaches by a succession of 
 dives, and contrives that the last dive brings him directly under the 
 unsuspecting seal, who is immediately grasped and killed. 
 
THE GRIZZIyY BEAR, 
 
44 
 
 RACCOON. 
 
 Richardson states that these bears are often drifted from Green- 
 land to Iceland on fields of ice, and that they find the flocks and 
 herds so very delicious after a long course of seal diet, that the in- 
 habitants are forced to rise in a body and put an end to their depre- 
 dations. To give this animal, who is constantly running over fields 
 of ice, a firm footing, the soles of its feet are thickly covered with 
 long hair. 
 
 THE RACCOON. 
 
 The Raccoon is an animal about the size of a large fox, and 
 an inhabitant of Canada and other parts of America. It is said to 
 possess the habit of washing its food before eating it. Its skin is 
 very valuable, and is much sought after by American hunters. The 
 food of the raccoon is principally small animals and insects. Oys- 
 ters are also a very favorite article of its diet. It bites off the hinge 
 of the oyster, and scrapes out the animal in fragments with its paws. 
 
MOLE. 
 
 45 
 
 Like a squirrel when eating a nut, the raccoon usually holds its 
 food between its fore paws pressed together, and sits upon its hind 
 quarters while it eats. Poultry are very favorite objects of its 
 attack, and it is said to be as destructive in a farm-yard as any fox, 
 for it only devours the heads of the murdered fowl. Like the fox, 
 it prowls by night. When taken young it is easily tamed, but very 
 frequently becomes blind soon after its capture. This effect is sup- 
 posed to be produced by the sensitive state of its eyes, which are 
 only intended to be used by night ; but as it is frequently awakened 
 by daylight during its captivity, it suffers so much from the un- 
 wonted glare, that its eyes gradually lose their sight. 
 
 The Mole. — Many ridiculous stories of the mole and its habits 
 may be found in several authors. This animal is said to be de- 
 prived of eyes, to undergo unheard-of tortures in forcing its way 
 through the earth, and to spend a life of misery in subterranean 
 damp and darkness. But so far from being a miserable animal, the 
 mole seems to enjoy its life quite as much as any other creature. 
 It is beautifully fitted for the station which it fills, and would be 
 unhappy if removed from its accustomed damp and darkness into 
 warmth and light. 
 
 The eyes of the mole are very small, in order to prevent them 
 from being injured by the earth through which the animal makes 
 its way; indeed, larger eyes would be useless underground. When, 
 however, the mole requires to use its eyes, it can bring them for- 
 ward from the mass of fur which conceals and protects them when 
 not in use. The acute ears and delicate sense of smell supply the 
 place of eyes. 
 
 Its fur is very fine, soft, capable of turning in any direction, 
 and will not retain a particle of mould. But the most extraordinary 
 part of the mole is the paw or hand with w r hich it digs. The two 
 fore paws are composed of five fingers, armed with sharp, strong 
 
 
46 
 
 MOLE. 
 
 nails, in order to scrape up the earth ; and to prevent the accumu- 
 lated mould from impeding the mole’s progress, the hands are 
 turned outwardly, so as to throw the earth out of its way. 
 
 The mole is a most voracious animal, and is incapable of sus- 
 taining even a slight fast. Its principal food is the earth-worm, in 
 chase of which it drives its long galleries underground ; but it also 
 will eat insects, bits of meat, and is said sometimes to catch birds, 
 
 the; mol,e. 
 
 which it takes by surprise, and then rapidly tears to pieces with its 
 powerful claws. This ravenous appetite causes it to suffer from 
 thirst if a supply of water is not at hand. For this reason the mole 
 always makes a tunnel toward a pond or brook, if there is one near. 
 If no water is near, it digs a number of little wells, which receive 
 the rAin or dew, and enable it to quench its thirst. 
 
 It is a good swimmer, and can pass from bank to bank, or from 
 
MOLE. 
 
 47 
 
 the shore to an island, and when the fields are inundated by floods 
 it can save itself by swimming. The construction of the mole’s 
 habitation is very singular and interesting. Each mole has its own 
 habitation and hunting ground, and will not permit strangers to 
 trespass upon its preserves, which it guards by its own claws and 
 teeth. 
 
 If a strange mole should happen to trespass upon the do- 
 mains of another, there would be a furious fight, and the con- 
 queror would devour his vanquished foe. Although each mole has 
 its own hunting ground, yet there are mostly high-roads, which 
 connect the different hunting grounds with each other, and which 
 are used by many individuals in common, the only precaution taken 
 being that, if two moles should happen to meet, the weaker imme- 
 diately retreats into one of the numerous side galleries which open 
 from the high-road, and permits its aristocratical neighbor to pass. 
 
 All the passions of the mole seem to be furious. Even its pas- 
 sion for work, i. e., search after its food, has something fierce in it. 
 The animal works desperately for several hours, and then rests for 
 as many more. The country people say that it works at intervals 
 of three hours each. The mode of burrowing by this animal is by 
 rooting up the earth with its snout, and then scooping it away with 
 its fore feet. I have often seen this operation performed. The 
 depth at which this animal works depends almost entirely on the 
 time of year. In the summer, the worms come to the surface, and 
 the mole accordingly follows them, making quite superficial runs, 
 and sometimes only scooping trenches on the surface. But in the 
 winter, when the worms sink deep into the ground, the mole is 
 forced to follow them there, and as it cannot fast above an hour or 
 two, it is forced to work at the comparatively hard and heavy soil, 
 as it did in the light earth nearer the surface. 
 
 Moles vary in color, the usual tint being a very deep brown, 
 
48 
 
 SHREW-MOUSE. 
 
 almost black, but they have been seen of an orange color, and a 
 white variety is not uncommon. I have a cream-colored skin in 
 my possession. There are several moles known — the Shrew-Mole, 
 the Changeable Mole, the Cape Mole, and the Star-nosed Mole are 
 the most conspicuous. 
 
 The Shrew-Mouse. — This pretty little animal is very like the 
 common mouse, but is easily distinguished from it by the length of 
 its nose, which is used for grubbing up the earth in search of earth- 
 worms and insects. 
 
 The reader must not imagine that the shrew has any connection 
 with the true mice. It belongs to an entirely different class of 
 animals, its teeth being sharp and pointed, not unlike those of the 
 mole and the hedgehog, whereas those of the mouse are broad and 
 chisel-shaped like the teeth of the rabbit. A peculiar scent is 
 diffused from these animals, which is possibly the reason why the cat 
 will not eat them, although she will readily destroy them. 
 
 Many species of shrews are known, inhabiting various countries. 
 There are, besides the common species, the Oared and the Water 
 Shrew, all three inhabiting England. The formation of their hair, 
 as seen under a powerful microscope, is very beautiful, but quite 
 distinct from the hair of the mouse or rat. In the autumn, numbers 
 of these little animals may be seen lying dead, but what causes this 
 destruction is not known. 
 
 This is one of the numerous animals that have suffered by false 
 reports, and have been treated with great cruelty on account of those 
 fables. Rustics formerly believed that the poor little harmless 
 creature paralyzed their cattle by running over them, and that the 
 only way to cure the diseased animal was to place a bough of shrew- 
 ash on the injured part. The shrew-ash was made by boring a hole 
 into an ash-tree, and then plugging up in the hole a living shrew- 
 mouse. By the same process of reasoning a shrew cut in half, and 
 
HEDGEHOG. 
 
 49 
 
 placed on a wound supposed to be caused by its bite, was considered 
 a certain remedy. 
 
 The Hedgehog is one of the remarkable animals that are 
 guarded with spikes. These are fixed into the skin in a very beau- 
 tiful and simple manner. When the hedgehog is annoyed it rolls 
 
 THE HEDGEHOG. 
 
 itself up, and the tightness of the skin causes all its spines to stand 
 firm and erect, bidding defiance to an unprotected hand. 
 
 While rolled up, even the dog and fox are baffled by it ; but 
 their ingenuity enables them to overcome the difficulty by rolling it 
 along until they push it into a puddle or pool, when the astonished 
 hedgehog immediately unrolls itself to see what is the matter, and 
 4 
 
50 
 
 KANGAROO. 
 
 before it can close itself again is seized by its carfty enemy. 
 
 The food of the hedgehog consists of insects, snails, frogs, 
 mice, and snakes. Dr. Buckland placed a snake in the same box 
 with the hedgehog. The hedgehog gave the snake a severe bite, 
 and then rolled itself up, this process being repeated until the spine 
 of the snake was broken in several places; it then began at the tail, 
 and ate the snake gradually, as one would eat a radish. It has been 
 known to bore down and eat the roots of the plantain, leaving the 
 leaves and stem untouched. The flesh of the hedgehog is said to 
 be good eating, and the gypsies frequently make it a part of their 
 diet, as do the people in some parts of Europe. 
 
 During the winter it lives in a torpid state, in a hole well lined 
 with grass and moss, and when discovered looks like a round mass 
 of leaves, as it has rolled itself among the fallen foliage, which adheres 
 to its spikes. The quill is as it were pinned through the skin, and 
 retained by the head. The curvature is such that when the animal 
 contracts itself, the quills are drawn upright, and form a strong and 
 elastic covering, useful for more purposes than merely defence from 
 foes. 
 
 The hedgehog has been known to throw itself boldly from a 
 considerable height, trusting to the elasticity of the spring for 
 breaking its fall. It will be seen that when the spines are upright 
 the shock of the fall would not tend to drive the end of the quill 
 upon the animal, but merely spend its force upon the elasticity of 
 the curved portion. 
 
 The Kangaroo. — In the mole we saw that the power of the 
 body was placed chiefly in the fore legs. We now come to a family 
 which has the principal power placed in the hinder part of the body. 
 In the kangaroos the hind legs are very long and immensely power- 
 ful ; the fore legs are very small, and used more as hands than for 
 walking ; the tail is also very thick and strong, and assists the animal 
 in its leaps. 
 
KANGAROO. 51 
 
 The Great Kangaroo inhabits Australia. Its singular forma- 
 tion, peculiarly adapted to the country, calls forth a corresponding 
 degree of ingenuity on the part of the natives, who live much on 
 
 THE KANGAROO. 
 
 its flesh. Its method of progression is by leaps from its long hind 
 legs. Its natural walking position is on all four legs, although it 
 constantly sits up on the hinder legs, or even stands on a tripod 
 
52 
 
 OPOSSUM. 
 
 composed of its feet and tail, in order to look out over the tops of 
 the luxuriant grass among which it lives. The leaping movements 
 are required for haste or escape, the length of each leap being about 
 fifteen feet. 
 
 Hunting this animal is a very favorite sport. The natives 
 either knock it down with the boomerang, spear it from behind a 
 bush, or unite together and hem in a herd, which soon fall victims 
 to the volleys of clubs, spears, and boomerangs which pour in on 
 all sides. The colonists either shoot it or hunt it with dogs, a pack 
 of which is trained for that purpose. 
 
 The “ old man,” or “ boomer,” as the colonists call the great 
 kangaroo, invariably leads the dogs a severe chase, always attempt- 
 ing to reach the water and escape by swimming. It is a formidable 
 foe to the dogs when it stands at bay, as it seizes the dog with its 
 fore legs, and either holds him under water until he is drowned, or 
 tears him open with a well-directed kick of its powerful hind feet, 
 which are armed with a very sharp claw. The female kangaroo 
 carries its young in a kind of pouch, from which they emerge 
 when they wish for a little exercise, and leap back again on the 
 slightest alarm. All the kangaroos and the opossums have this 
 pouch. 
 
 The length of the great kangaroo is about five feet without the 
 tail, which is about three feet long. 
 
 There are many species of kangaroo, the most extraordinary 
 being the Tree Kangaroo, which can hop about on trees, and has 
 curved claws on its fore paws, like those of the sloth, to enable it 
 to hold on the branches. 
 
 The Opossum inhabits North America, and is hunted with 
 almost as much perseverance as the raccoon, for the sake of its 
 flesh. When it perceives the hunter, it lies still between the 
 branches, but if disturbed from its hiding-place, it attempts to 
 
RODENTIA. 
 
 53 
 
 escape by dropping among the herbage, and creeping silently away. 
 
 Their flesh when cooked is much like roast pig. When 
 attacked the opossum looks very fierce, snarls, growls, and will 
 often bite, but if struck will make believe dead and will not stir il 
 it is hurt ; but it will watch slyly and crawl away as soon as its 
 •enemy is gone. From this comes our phrase “to play ’possum.” 
 
 Its food consists of insects, birds, eggs, etc., and it is very 
 destructive among the hen-roosts. The opossum uses its tail for 
 climbing and swinging from branch to branch as the spider 
 monkeys use theirs ; but the opossum uses its tail in a manner that 
 the monkeys have never yet been observed to do, that is, making 
 it a support for its young, who sit on its back and twist their tails 
 round their mother’s in order to prevent them from falling off. 
 The length of the opossum is about twenty-two inches, and its 
 height about that of an ordinary cat. When disturbed or alarmed, 
 it gives out a very unpleasant odor. 
 
 We now arrive at the Rodentia, or gnawing animals, so called 
 from their habit of gnawing through, or paring away, the substances 
 on which they feed. For this purpose their teeth are admirably 
 formed, and by their teeth it is easy to ascertain a member of the 
 rodents. They have sharp teeth called canine, such as are seen in 
 the lions and in animals which seize and destroy living animals, but 
 in the front of each jaw there are two long, flat teeth, slightly 
 curved, and having a kind of chisel edge for rasping away wood, 
 or other articles. 
 
 The constant labor which these teeth undergo would rapidlj 
 wear them away. To counteract this loss, the teeth are constantly 
 growing and being pushed forward, so that as fast as the upper 
 part is worn away, the tooth is replenished from below. So con- 
 tinual is this increase, that when an unfortunate rabbit, or other 
 rodent, has lost one of its incisors, the opposite one, meeting 
 
54 BROWN RAT— COMMON MOUSE— HARVEST MOUSE. 
 
 nothing to stop its progress, continually grows, until sometimes 
 the tooth curls upward over the lip, and prevents the wretched 
 animal from eating, until it is gradually starved to death. 
 
 The Brown Rat, sometimes called the Norway Rat, is the 
 species usually found in England and America. It was some 
 years since imported into this country, and from its superior size, 
 strength, and ferocity, has completely established itself, and ex- 
 pelled the original Black Rat. 
 
 It is at all times difficult to get rid of these dirty, noisy 
 animals, for they soon learn to keep out of the way of traps, and if 
 they are poisoned they revenge their fate by dying behind a wain- 
 scot or under a plank of the floor, and make the room uninhabitable. 
 
 The Common Mouse is so well known that a description of its 
 form and size is needless. It almost rivals the rat in its attacks 
 upon our provisions, and is quite as difficult to extirpate. It brings 
 up its young in a kind of nest, and when a board of long standing 
 is taken up in a room, it is not uncommon to find under it a mouse’s 
 nest, composed of rags, string, paper, shavings, and everything that 
 the ingenious little architect can scrape together. It is a round 
 mass looking something like a rag ball very loosely made. When 
 opened, seven or eight little mice will probably be found in the 
 interior — little pink, transparent creatures, three of which could go 
 into a lady’s thimble, sprawling about in the most unmeaning 
 manner, apparently greatly distressed at the sudden cold caused by 
 the opening of their nest. A white variety of mouse is tolerably 
 common, and is usually bred in cages. As it is very tame and 
 beautiful, it is in great repute as a pet. 
 
 The Harvest Mouse is much smaller than the ordinary mouse, 
 a half-penny weighing down two of them when placed in a pair of 
 scales. Its nest is raised about a foot and a half from the ground, 
 and supported on two or three straws. It is made of grass, about 
 the size of a cricket ball, and very compact. 
 
WA TER RA T—BEA VER. 
 
 55 
 
 The Water Rat is a native of England and America, and 
 frequents the banks of rivers, 
 brooks, etc. These animals 
 exist in great numbers round 
 Oxford, and I have repeatedly 
 watched them feeding. I 
 never saw them eating fish, 
 nor found fish-bones inside 
 their holes, except when a 
 kingfisher had taken posses- 
 sion ; but I have frequently 
 seen them gnawing the green 
 bark from reeds, which they 
 completely strip, leaving the 
 mark of each tooth as they 
 proceed. 
 
 The Beaver. — North 
 America is the principal coun- 
 try where the beaver is found, 
 but it is also common on the 
 Euphrates, and along some of 
 the larger European rivers, as 
 the Rhone and the Danube. 
 
 The houses of the beaver 
 are built of mud, stones, and 
 sticks. They are placed in a 
 stream, and their entrance is 
 always below the surface. As 
 a severe frost would freeze up 
 their doors, it is necessary to make the stream deep enough to pre- 
 vent the frost from reaching the entrances. This object is attained 
 
 THE HARVEST MOUSE. 
 
56 BEA VER. 
 
 by building a dam across the river, to keep back the water until it 
 is sufficiently deep for the beaver’s purposes. 
 
 The dam is built of branches, which the beaver cuts down with 
 
 THE BEAVER. 
 
 its strong, sharp teeth, and mud and stones worked in among the 
 branches. The beavers throw these branches into the water, and 
 sink them to the bottom by means of stones, and by continually 
 
COMMON PORCUPINE. 
 
 57 
 
 throwing in fresh supplies a strong enbankment is soon made. 
 
 As many beavers live together in one society, the formation of 
 a dam does not take very long. By their united efforts they rapidly 
 fell even large trees, by gnawing them round the trunk, and always 
 take care to make them fall toward the water, so that they can 
 transport the logs easily. The mud and stones, used in the enbank- 
 ment, are carried between their chin and forepaws. That the pond 
 may not be too deep, they always leave an opening in the dam to 
 let the water escape when it rises above a certain height. During 
 the severe winter their mud-built houses freeze quite hard, and prevent 
 the wolverine, their greatest enemy, except man, from breaking 
 through and devouring the inmates. Every year the beavers lay a 
 fresh coating of mud upon their houses, so that after the lapse of a 
 few years the walls of the house are several feet in thickness. Many 
 of the houses are built close together, but no two families can com- 
 municate with each other, except by diving below the walls and 
 rising inside their neighbors’ houses. 
 
 When in captivity the beaver soon becomes tame, and will 
 industriously build dams across the corner of the room with 
 brushes, boots, fire-irons, books, or anything it can find. When 
 its edifice is finished, it sits in the centre, apparently satisfied that 
 it has made a beautiful structure to dam up the river — a proof that 
 the ingenuity of the beaver is not caused by reason, but by instinct. 
 The fur of the beaver, like that of many other animals, consists of 
 a fine wool intermixed with long and stiff hairs. The length of 
 the beaver is about three feet and a half. 
 
 The Common Porcupine is found in America, Africa, Tar- 
 tary, Persia, India, and some parts of Europe. It lives in holes 
 which it digs in the ground, and only comes forth at night in order 
 to feed. It eats vegetable substances only, such as roots, bark, etc. 
 The array of spines or quills with which this animal is covered 
 
58 
 
 PORCUPINE. 
 
 forms its principal means of defence. If it cannot escape, it sud- 
 denly stops, erects all its quills, and runs backward against its 
 adversary, striking the quills against him by the weight of its body. 
 
 Occasionally a looser quill than usual remains in the wound or 
 falls to the ground, which evidently gave rise to the foolish error 
 that the porcupine could dart its weapons at its adversary from a 
 
 the porcupine. 
 
 distance. There are two kinds of these quills — one kind long and 
 curved, the other short, thick, and pointed. These last are the 
 weapons of defence, as the former are too slender to do much service. 
 
 When the porcupine walks, its quills make a kind of rustling 
 sound, caused principally by those arranged on the tail, which are 
 large, hollow, and are supported on long, slender stalks. 
 
CAPYBARA OR CHIGUIRA— GUINEA-PIG— HARE. 59 
 
 The American Indians use the quills for ornamenting various 
 parts of their dress, especially their moccasins or skin shoes. The 
 length of the porcupine is about two feet, and its spines or quills 
 are from six to fourteen inches long. 
 
 The Capybara or Chiguira is the largest of all the Rodentia. 
 At first sight, it looks very like a pig, and its skin is covered thinly 
 'with hairs like bristles, which adds to the resemblance. It inhabits 
 the borders of lakes and rivers in many parts of Southern America. 
 During the day, it hides among the thick herbage of the banks, 
 only wandering forth to feed at night, but when alarmed it 
 instantly makes for the water, and escapes by diving. It is hunted 
 for the sake of its flesh, which is said to be remarkably good. The 
 food of the capybara consists of grass, vegetables and fruits. Its 
 length is about three feet six inches. 
 
 The Guinea-pig or Restless Cavy belongs to the sub-family 
 Caviina. It was originally brought from South America. Its 
 beauty is its only recommendation, as it shows little intelligence 
 and is never used for food. Children, and particularly school-boys,, 
 are fond of keeping guinea-pigs, as they are wonderfully prolific, 
 easy to manage, and do not make much noise. They are popularly 
 supposed to keep off rats, and are therefore patronized in connection 
 with rabbit-hutches. 
 
 The Hare is one of our most common quadrupeds. When full- 
 grown, it is larger tjian the rabbit and exceedingly like that animal, 
 but its color is slightly different, and the black spot on the ex- 
 tremity of its ears is a simple method of distinguishing it. The 
 hare does not burrow like the rabbit, but makes a kind of nest of 
 grass and other materials. In its nest, called a “form,” the hare 
 lies, crouching to the ground, its ears laid along its back, and, 
 trusting to its concealment, will often remain quiet until the foot of 
 an intruder almost touches it. 
 
6o 
 
 RABBIT— JERBOA— DORMO USE. 
 
 Innumerable foes besides man surrround this animal. Foxes, 
 ferrets, stoats, and all their tribe, are unmerciful enemies, and some- 
 times a large hawk will destroy a leveret, as the young hare is 
 called. Although destitute of all meaiis of defence, it often es- 
 capes by the quickness of its hearing and sight, which give it timely 
 warning of the approach of an enemy. In cold countries the hare 
 changes its fur during winter, and becomes white, like the Arctic 
 fox and ermine. 
 
 The well-known Rabbit is rather smaller than the hare, but 
 closely resembles it in form. It lives in deep holes, which it digs 
 in the ground. The female rabbit forms a soft nest at the bottom 
 of her burrow, composed of fur torn from her body, hay, and dried 
 leaves. Here the young rabbits are kept until they are strong 
 enough to shift for themselves and make their own burrows. 
 
 The tame rabbit is only a variety, rendered larger by careful 
 feeding and attendance. 
 
 The Jerboas are celebrated for their powers of leaping. Their 
 long hind legs enable them to take enormous springs, during which 
 their tails serve to balance them. A jerboa when deprived of its 
 tail is afraid to leap. 
 
 The foot of the jerboa is defended by long bristly hairs, which 
 not only give the creature a firm hold of the ground for its spring, 
 but also defend the foot from the burning soil on which it lives. 
 The timidity of the jerboa is very great, and on the slightest alarm 
 it instantly rushes to its burrow, but if intercepted, skims away over 
 the plain with such rapidity that it seems to fly, and when at full 
 speed a swift greyhound can scarcely overtake it. 
 
 Grain and bulbous fruits are its chief food ; while eating, it 
 holds the food with its fore paws, and sits upright on its haunches, 
 like the squirrels and marmots. 
 
 The Dormouse is very common in all the warmer parts of 
 
THi? hare;, 
 
62 
 
 SQUIRREL. 
 
 Europe. It lives in copses and among brushwood, through which 
 it makes its way with such rapidity that it is very difficult to cap- 
 ture. During the winter its lies torpid, but takes care to have a 
 stock of food laid up, on which it feeds during the few interruptions 
 to its slumbers. A warm day in winter will rouse it, but during the 
 cold weather it lies rolled up, with its tail curled round its body. 
 While in this torpid state, a sudden exposure to heat kills it, but a 
 gentle warmth, such as holding it in the hand, rouses it without 
 injury. 
 
 It lives principally on nuts, acorns, and grain. It brings up 
 its young in a nest composed of leaves and hay, and seems to be 
 fond of society in its household labors, as ten or twelve nests have 
 been seen close to each other. 
 
 The Squirrel is a very common animal in the woods, where 
 numbers may be seen frisking about on the branches, or running up 
 and down the trunks. If alarmed, it springs up the tree with ex- 
 traordinary activity, and hides behind a branch. -By this trick it 
 escapes its enemy, the hawk, and by constantly slipping behind the 
 large branches, frequently tires him out. The activity and daring 
 of this little animal are extraordinary. When pursued, it makes 
 the most astonishing leaps from branch to branch, or from tree to 
 tree, and has apparently some method of altering its direction while 
 in the air, possibly by means of its tail acting as a rudder. 
 
 It is easily domesticated, and is very amusing in its habits 
 when suffered to go at large in a room or kept in a spacious cage ; 
 but when confined in one of the cruel wheel cages, its energies and 
 playfulness are quite lost. Men often go about with squirrels for 
 sale, and try to sell old squirrels for young, but this imposition may 
 be detected by looking at the teeth of the animal, which are nearly 
 white if young, but if old are of a light yellow. Let the purchaser 
 beware of very tame and quiet squirrels. These are generally ani- 
 
WOODCHUCK. 
 
 63 
 
 mals just caught and perfectly wild, but are made sedate by a dose 
 of opium. The color of the squirrel is usually a deep reddish 
 brown, and its tail so large and bushy as to shade its whole body 
 when carried curled over its back. 
 
 Woodchuck. — A small animal found almost all over the United 
 States and Canada. It is somewhat larger than a rabbit and is 
 usually blackish gray on the back and reddish brown below. It digs 
 
 THE SQUIRREL. 
 
 deep holes in the ground, with several parts and entrances, and so 
 built that the water cannot run into them. Its food is chiefly plants, 
 vegetables, and fruit, and it is often a great pest to the farmer. 
 Woodchucks are very cleanly in their habits, and make pretty pets 
 when tamed. In the Southern States they are sometimes called 
 ground-hogs. 
 
6 4 
 
 RUMINANTIA. 
 
 The Ruminantia, or animals that chew the cud, include the 
 oxen, sheep, and goats, deer, giraffe, and camels. They have a 
 peculiar construction of stomach, which receives the freshly gath- 
 ered food, retains it for some hours, and then passes it back into 
 the mouth to be re-masticated. The Ox is spread widely over the 
 earth, scarcely any country being without its peculiar breed. In 
 England and this country, where it is our most useful domesticated 
 animal, there are many breeds throughout the States, generally dis- 
 tinguished by the length or shape of theii horns. There is the 
 “ long-horned breed” from Lancashire, England, the ‘‘short- 
 horned” from Durham, the “middle-horned” from Devonshire, 
 and the “polled” or hornless breed. Each of these breeds has 
 its particular value ; some fatten easily, and are kept especially for 
 the butcher. Others give milk and are valuable for the dairy. 
 The best dairy cow is the Alderney, a small, short-horned animal, 
 furnishing exceedingly rick milk. 
 
 In some parts of America oxen are used to draw wagons, or to 
 drag the plough. They are not so strong as horses, and their 
 movements are much slower. 
 
 Every part of the ox is of value. We eat his flesh, we wear 
 shoes soled with his skin, our candles are made from his fat, our 
 tables are joined with glue made from his hoofs, his hair is mixed 
 with the mortar of our walls, his horns are made into combs, knife- 
 handles, drinking-cups, etc. , his bones are used as a cheap substitute 
 for ivory, and the fragments ground and scattered over the field as 
 manure, and soup is made from his tail. 
 
 The young ox is called a calf, and is quite as useful in its way 
 as the full-grown ox. The flesh is termed veal, and by many pre- 
 ferred to the flesh of the ox or the cow, which is called beef ; jelly 
 is made from its feet. The stomach is salted and dried, and is 
 named rennet. Cheese is made by soaking a piece of rennet in 
 water, and pouring it into a vessel of milk. The milk soon forms 
 

 THE ELEPHANT. 
 
CAPE BUFFALO— BISON. 
 
 65 
 
 a curd, which is placed in a press, and the watery substance, called 
 whey, squeezed from it. The curd is colored and salted, and is 
 then cheese. 
 
 The Cape Buffalo is a native of Southern Africa. It is 
 exceedingly ferocious and cunning, often lurking among the trees 
 until an unsuspecting traveller approached, and then rushing on 
 him and destroying him. The ferocious creature is not content 
 with killing his victim, but stands over him mangling him with its 
 horns, and stamping on him with its feet. 
 
 The Bison or Buffalo formerly inhabited the plains or 
 prairies of North America in countless multitudes. Its enormous 
 and heavy mane, its fierce eyes and lowering appearance, give this 
 animal a most terrific aspect. The American Indians constantly 
 hunted the bison, which they called by the name of buffalo. 
 Their weapons were principally bows and arrows, apparently weak 
 and small, but which, when wielded by a skillful hand, would 
 strike the huge bison to the heart. In Catlin’s account of his 
 travels among the North American Indians are many most interest- 
 ing accounts of “ buffalo hunts.” Mounted on a swift horse, and 
 armed with a spear and bow and arrows, the Indians kill great numbers 
 of these animals. They ride close up to the bison, and with the 
 greatest apparent ease bury an arrow up to its feather in the crea- 
 ture’s body. Indeed, many instances are known where the slight 
 Indian bow, drawn without any perceptible effort, has thrown the 
 arrow completely through the body of the huge animal. The skin 
 is so valuable that every exertion is made to procure it. Of the 
 buffalo’s hide they used to make their wigwams and tents, their 
 shields, their robes, their shoes, etc. The Indians also sold the 
 hides to the traders for a considerable sum, so that an Indian can 
 also measure his importance and wealth by the number of hides 
 that he takes. 
 
 5 
 
66 
 
 YAK, 
 
 The hunters take advantage of the gregarious instincts^ of this 
 animal, and hunt them when they are collected together in their 
 vast herds, which blacken the face of the prarie for miles. Some- 
 times they form in line, and drive the herd to the edge of some tall 
 cliff, over which they fall in hundreds, those behind pushing on 
 those in the van ; or sometimes they form a large circle, driving 
 the animals into a helpless and leaderless mass, into which the 
 hunters spring, leaving their horses, and treading with the skill 
 of rope-dancers on the backs of the bewildered bisons, whom 
 they slaughter as they pass, stepping from one to the other, and 
 driving the sharp blade of their spear through the spine of the 
 animal whose back they have just quitted. 
 
 The principal use of the flesh of the bison is to make “ jerked 
 meat ’ ’ of it. This is made by cutting the meat into long narrow 
 slips, and drying them in the sun. The cow is preferred to the bull 
 for conversion into jerked meat, while the skin of the bull is more 
 valuable than that of the cow, from the mass of wooly hair about 
 the shoulders. 
 
 The flesh of the bison is tolerable eating, but the ‘ 1 hump ’ ’ 
 appears from all accounts to be unapproachable in delicacy. It is 
 exceedingly tender, and possesses the property of not cloying even 
 when eaten in excess. The fat also is said to be devoid of that 
 sickening richness which is usually met with in our domesticated 
 animals. 
 
 The cow is smaller than the bull, and considerably swifter. 
 She is also generally in better condition and fatter than her mate, 
 and in consequence the hunters who go to “get meat” always 
 select the cows from the herd. 
 
 The Yak inhabits Tartary. Of this animal in a native state 
 little or nothing is known. The name of “ grunniens,” or grunt- 
 ing, is derived from the peculiar sound that it utters. The tail of 
 
THE BISON, 
 
68 
 
 GNOO, OR WILDEBEEST— KOODOO, 
 
 the yak is very long and fine, and is used in India as a fan or whisk 
 to keep off the mosquitoes. The tail is fixed into an ivory or metal 
 handle, and is then called a chowrie. Elephants are sometimes, 
 taught to carry a chowrie, and wave it about in the air above the 
 heads of those who ride on its back. In Turkey, the tail is called 
 a “ horse-tail,” and is used as an emblem of dignity. 
 
 From the shoulders of the yak a mass of long hair falls almost 
 to the ground, something like the mane of a lion. This hair is 
 applied to various purposes by the Tartars. They weave it into 
 cloth, of which they not only make articles of dress, but also tents, 
 and even the ropes which sustain the tents. 
 
 The Gnoo, or Wildebeest, inhabits Southern Africa. At 
 first sight it is difficult to say whether the horse, buffalo, or deer 
 predominates in its form. It however belongs to neither of these 
 animals, but is one of the bovine antelopes. The horns cover the 
 top of the forehead, and then, sweeping downward over the face, 
 turn boldly upward with a sharp curve. The neck is furnished with 
 a mane like that of the horse, and the legs are formed like those of 
 the stag. It is a very swift animal, and when provoked, very 
 dangerous. When it attacks an opponent it drops on its knees, and 
 then springs forward with such force, that, unless he is extremely 
 wary and active, he cannot avoid its shock. 
 
 When it is taken young, the gnoo can be domesticated, and 
 brought up with other cattle, but it will not bear confinement, and 
 is liable to become savage under restraint. There are several species 
 of this animal, the common Gnoo, the Cocoon, and the Brindled 
 Gnoo. The size of the gnoo is about that of a well-grown ass, that 
 is, about four feet in height. Its flesh is in great repute both among 
 the natives and .colonists. 
 
 The Koodoo is a native of South Africa, living along the 
 wooded borders of rivers. It is chiefly remarkable for its beautiful 
 
GAZELLE — CHAMOIS— ANTEL 0/E. 
 
 69 
 
 shaped horns, which are about four feet in length and twisted into 
 a large spiral of about two turns and a half. A bold ridge runs 
 along the horns and follows their curvature. When hard pressed it 
 always takes to the water, and endeavors to escape by its powers of 
 swimming. Although a large animal, nearly four feet in height, 
 it can leap with wonderful activity. The weight of the horns is 
 very considerable, and partly to relieve itself of that weight, and 
 partly to guard them from entanglement in the bushes among which 
 it lives, and on which it feeds, it carries its head backward, so that 
 the horns rest on its shoulders. 
 
 The Gazelle inhabits Arabia and Syria. Its eyes are very 
 large, dark, and lustrous, so that the Oriental poets love to com- 
 pare the eyes of a woman to those of a gazelle. It is easily tamed 
 when young, and is frequently seen domesticated in the court -yards 
 of houses in Syria. Its swiftness is so great that even a greyhound 
 cannot overtake it, and the hunters are forced to make use of 
 hawks, which are trained to strike at the head of the gazelle, and 
 thus confuse it, and retard its speed, so as to permit the dogs to 
 come up. The height of the gazelle is about one foot nine inches ; 
 its color a dark yellowish brown fading into white on the under 
 parts. 
 
 The Chamois is found only in mountainous regions, especially 
 the Alpine chains of Europe and Western Asia. It lives on the 
 loftiest ridges, displaying wonderful activity, and leaping with cer- 
 tainty and security on places where the eye can hardly discern 
 room for its feet. The skin of the chamois is used extensively by 
 shoemakers. 
 
 The Antelope. — The Pronghorn, one of the antelopes of 
 North America, is about as large as the common deer, and has 
 coarse hair, yellowish-brown above, and white on the rump and 
 under part. The hoofs, horns, and end of the nose are black. 
 
70 
 
 ANTELOPE. 
 
 The horns, which grow nearly straight up and bend toward each 
 other at the top, have each a single branch or prong about half 
 way up, and from this the animal gets its name. The pronghorn 
 is often seen by travellers on the Pacific Railway. One will some- 
 times run beside a train for a mile or two, as if trying to run a race 
 
 the gazeixe. 
 
 with it. Its speed is so great that it is almost useless to chase it ; 
 but it is not a hard animal to kill, because it has so much curiosity 
 that if the hunter waves a handkerchief it will come near enough 
 to be shot. The Indians lie flat on their backs and kick up their 
 heels, with a rag or some other thing fastened to them, and the 
 
IBEX— GOA T— SHEEP. 
 
 7 * 
 
 pronghorns, coming up to see what the strange thing is, get near 
 enough to be killed with the bow and arrow. 
 
 The Ibex inhabits the Alpine regions of Europe and Western 
 Asia. It is instantly recognized by its magnificent horns, which 
 curve with a bold sweep from the head almost to the haunches. 
 The horns are surrounded at regular intervals with rings, and are 
 immensely strong, serving, as some say, to break the fall of the 
 ibex when it makes a leap from a height. The height of the ibex 
 is two feet six inches ; the length of its horns often three feet. 
 
 The common Goat is not in much request in England and 
 America, but in some other countries, as Syria and Switzerland, 
 large herds of goats are kept for the sake of their milk, and in fact 
 almost entirely take the place of the cow. The most celebrated 
 variety of this animal is the Cashmere goat, which furnishes the 
 beautiful fine wool from which the costly Cashmere shawls are 
 made. 
 
 The Sheep. -^There are many kinds of sheep, among which 
 the common sheep, the long-tailed sheep, and the Wallachiap 
 sheep are the most conspicuous. Next to the cow the sheep is our 
 most useful animal. California produces better wool than any 
 country ; for although the wool of the Spanish sheep is finer than 
 ours, it is much less in quantity. The Merino, as this sheep is 
 called, is annually conducted from one part of the country to an- 
 other, and back again. 
 
 The Long-tailed Sheep inhabits Syria and Egypt. Its tail is 
 so large and so loaded with fat, that, to prevent it from being in- 
 jured by dragging on the ground, a board is fastened to the under 
 side of it, and wheels are often attached to the board. The peculiar 
 fat of the tail is considered a great delicacy, and is so soft as to be 
 frequently used as butter. The weight of a large tail is about 
 seventy pounds. 
 
72 
 
 GIRAFFE. 
 
 The Wallachian or Cretan Sheep is found in Crete, Wallachia, 
 Hungary, and Western Asia. Its horns are exceedingly large, and 
 are twisted in a manner resembling the koodoo. It is very strong,, 
 and extremely vicious and unruly. In this and several other sheep 
 the fleece is composed of wool and hair mixed. The hair of the 
 Wallachian sheep is long and silky like that of a spaniel, and of 
 great length, falling almost to the ground. 
 
 The Giraffe. — This beautiful and extraordinary animal is 
 found only in South Africa. As the gnoo seems to combine the 
 properties of the antelope, horse, and buffalo, so the giraffe appears 
 to bear the characteristics of the antelope and the camel. In the 
 opinion of modern naturalists, it holds a place by itself between 
 the deer and antelopes. It forms, at all events, a group to which no 
 other animals belong. 
 
 The height of the giraffe varies from thirteen to eighteen feet. 
 Its beautiful long neck enables it to browse on the leaves of the 
 trees on which it feeds. It is very dainty while feeding, and plucks 
 the leaves one by one with its long and flexible tongue. 
 
 On its head are two very remarkable projections, closely re- 
 sembling horns. These projections are not horns, but only thick- 
 enings of the bone of the skull, covered with skin, and bearing a 
 tuft of black hair at the extremity of each. The fore legs at first 
 sight appear longer than the hind ones, but this apparent differ- 
 ence is only caused by the great length of the shoulder-blades, as 
 both pair of legs are of the same length at their junction with the 
 body. Its eyes are very large and prominent, so that the animal 
 can see on every side without turning its head. Just over and be- 
 tween the eyes is a third bony prominence, resembling the project- 
 ing enlargements of the skull, called horns. 
 
 The use of these projections is not very well known, as although 
 in play the giraffe will swing its head round and strike with it. vet 
 
the giraffe. 
 
 s 
 
74 
 
 GIRAFFE. 
 
 when it wishes to repel an assailant it has recourse to violent and 
 rapid kicks from its hind legs. So light and swift are these kicks 
 that the eye can scarcely follow them, and so powerful are they that 
 the lion is not unfrequently driven off by them. 
 
 The skin of this animal is an inch and a half in thickness, so 
 that it is necessary for the hunter to make very sure of his aim be- 
 fore he fires at an animal so well defended. The giraffe has much 
 difficulty in reaching the ground with its mouth, nor does it often 
 attempt to do so, unless it is bribed with something of which it is 
 very fond, such as a lump of sugar. It then straddles widely with 
 its fore legs, and with some trouble succeeds in reaching the object 
 aimed at. The first living giraffes, in the possession of the Zoo- 
 logical Society, were brought by M. Thibaut. He succeeded in 
 taking four, all of which he brought with him. One of them is still 
 living. From this stock several giraffes have been born, some of 
 which are now in England, and others have been sent to other 
 countries. 
 
 The tongue of the giraffe is one of the most remarkable parts 
 of its structure. It is very flexible and capable of great changes of 
 form, the giraffe being able to contract it so that its tip could enter 
 an ordinary quill. The animal is very fond of exercising its tongue, 
 and sometimes pulls the hairs from its companions’ manes and tails, 
 and swallows them — no very easy feat, as the hair of the tail is often 
 more than four feet long. 
 
 The movements of the giraffe are very peculiar, the limbs of 
 each side appearing to act together. It is very swift, and can out- 
 run a horse, especially if it can get among broken ground and 
 rocks, over w r hich it leaps with a succession of frog-like hops. 
 The giraffes which were born and bred in this country seem very- 
 healthy and are exceedingly tame. They eat herbs, such as grass, 
 hay, carrots, and onions. When cut grass is given to them, they 
 
The; came;!., 
 
76 
 
 CAMEL— LLAMA. 
 
 cat off the upper parts and leave the coarse stems, just as we eat 
 asparagus. 
 
 The Camel. — There is much confusion about the names of 
 the camels. The Bactrian Camel is distinguished by bearing two 
 humps on its back, the Arabian Camel by bearing only one. The 
 Arabian camel is sometimes, but erroneously, called the Drome- 
 dary, as the Dromedary is a lighter variety of that animal, and 
 only used when dispatch is required. The camel forms the prin- 
 cipal wealth of the Arab ; without it he could never attempt to 
 penetrate the vast deserts where it lives, as its remarkable power 
 of drinking at one draught sufficient water to serve it for several 
 days, enables it to march from station to station without requiring 
 to drink by the way. The peculiar structure of its stomach gives it 
 this most useful power. In its stomach are a great number of deep 
 cells, into which the water passes, and is then prevented from 
 escaping by a muscle which closes the mouth of the cells. When 
 the camel feels thirsty, it has the power of casting some of the 
 water contained in these cells into its mouth. The habits of this 
 animal are very interesting. 
 
 The foot of the camel is admirably adapted for walking on the 
 loose sand, being composed of large elastic pads, which spread as 
 the foot is placed on the ground. To guard it from injury when it 
 kneels down to be loaded, the parts of the body on which its weight 
 rests are defended by thick callosities. The largest of these cal- 
 losities is on the chest, and others are placed on the joints of the 
 legs. 
 
 The Bactrian camel inhabits Central Asia, Thibet, and China. 
 
 The Llamas, of which there are several species, inhabit 
 America, and are used for the same purpose as the camel. When 
 wild they are very timid, and fly from a pursuer the moment that 
 they see him ; but their curiosity is so great that the hunter often 
 
RED- DEER, OR STAG. 
 
 77 
 
 secures them by lying on the ground and throwing his legs and 
 arms about. The llamas come to see what the extraordinary animal 
 can be, and give the hunter an opportunity of firing several shots, 
 which the astonished animals consider as a part of the performance. 
 
 The llamas, like the camel, have a series of cells in the stomach 
 for containing water, and can go for several days without requiring 
 to drink. If too heavily laden, or when they are weary, they lie 
 down, and no threats or punishment will induce them to rise, so 
 that their masters are forced to unload them. When offended 
 they have a very unpleasant habit of spitting at the object of their 
 anger. 
 
 The fleece of the llama is very long and fine, more resembling 
 silk than wool. It is very valuable, and is extensively imported 
 into this country for the purpose of making cloth and other fabrics. 
 The fleece of the Alpaca is considered the best, as it is sometimes 
 twelve inches in length, and very fine. In Chili and Peru the 
 natives domesticate the llama, which in the state of captivity fre- 
 quently becomes white. It is by no means a large animal, as it 
 measures about four feet six inches in height. In general shape it 
 resembles the camel, but has no hump on its back, and its feet are 
 provided with sharp hoofs for climbing the rocky hills among which 
 it lives. 
 
 The Red-Deer, or Stag, is the largest of our deer. In the 
 language of hunters, it bears different names, according to the size, 
 of its horns, which increase year by year. All the male deer have 
 horns, which they shed every year, and renew again. The process 
 of renewal is most interesting. A skin, filled with arteries, covers 
 the projections on which the horns rest. This skin, called the 
 “ velvet,” is engaged in continually depositing bone on the foot- 
 stalks, which rapidly increase in size. As the budding horns in- 
 crease, the velvet increases also, and the course of the arteries is 
 
73 
 
 FALLOW-DEER— REINDEER. 
 
 ■marked on the horn by long furrows, which are never obliterated. 
 When the horn has reached its full growth, it cannot be at once 
 used, as the velvet is very tender, and would bleed profusely if 
 wounded. The velvet cannot be suddenly removed, as the blood 
 that formed the arteries would rush to the brain and destroy the 
 animal. A ring of bone forms round the root of each horn, 
 leaving passages through which the arteries pass. By degrees, 
 these passages become narrow, and finally close entirely, tnus 
 gradually shutting off the blood. The velvet being deprived of 
 its nourishment, dies, and is peeled off by the deer, by rubbing 
 against a tree, leaving the white, hard horn beneath. 
 
 Hunting the stag is a very favorite amusement in many coun- 
 tries, and packs of hounds, called stag-hounds, are kept expressly 
 for that purpose. 
 
 The Fallow-Deer are usually seen in parks. One large buck 
 always takes the lead, and suffers none but a few favorite does to 
 approach his regal presence, all the other bucks moving humbly 
 away directly he makes his appearance. They are generally tame, 
 and will suffer people to come very close to them ; but at certain 
 times of the year they become savage, and will not permit any one 
 to approach their domains. If an intruder is bold enough to ven- 
 ture within the proscribed distance, the buck will instantly charge 
 upon him. They soon become familiar with those who treat them 
 with kindness, and will eat from their hands. 
 
 The Reindeer is found throughout the Arctic regions of 
 Europe, Asia, and America. The finest animals are those of Lap- 
 land and Spitzbergen. The Laplander finds his chief wealth in the 
 possession of the reindeer, which not only serves him as a beast of 
 burden, but furnishes him also with food and clothing. A Lap- 
 lander in good circumstances possesses about three or four hundred 
 deer, which enable him to live in comfort. The subsistence of one 
 

 THE RED-DEER, OR STAG. 
 
8o 
 
 EUROPEAN ELK— PA CHYDERMA TA— HORSE. 
 
 who only possesses one hundred is very precarious, and he who has 
 only fifty usually joins his animals with the herd of some richer 
 man, and takes the menial labors upon himself: 
 
 The reindeer feeds principally on a kind of lichen, which it 
 scrapes from beneath the snow. During the winter its coat thickens, 
 and assumes a lighter hue, many deer being almost white. Its 
 hoofs are divided very high, so that when the animal places its foot 
 on the ground, the hoofs spread wide, and as it raises the foot, a 
 snapping noise is heard, caused by the parts of the hoofs closing 
 together. When harnessed to a sledge, it can draw from 250 to 
 300 pounds’ weight at about ten miles an hour. 
 
 The European Elk inhabits the northern parts of Europe. It 
 was considered at one time to be identical with the American Elk, 
 but naturalists now believe it to be a distinct animal. Its usual 
 pace is a high awkward trot, but when frightened, it sometimes 
 gallops. It is very strong, and can destroy a wolf with a single 
 blow of its large and powerful horns. In Sweden it was formerly 
 used to draw sledges, but on account of the facility of escape 
 offered to criminals by its great speed, the use of it was forbidden 
 under high penalties. The skin of the elk is so tough, that a regi- 
 ment of soldiers was furnished with waistcoats made of its hide 
 which could scarcely be penetrated by a ball. 
 
 Like the reindeer, the elk makes a great clattering with its 
 hoofs when in rapid motion. It is a good swimmer, and is fond of 
 taking to the water in summer-time. 
 
 We now arrive at the Pachyderm ata, or thick-skinned ani- 
 mals which do not chew the cud. The first on the list is the 
 Horse, an animal too well known in all its varieties to need much 
 description. 
 
 The Arabian Horse is a model of elegance and beauty. The 
 
PIGEONS AND PEACOCK 
 
6 
 
 THE REINDEER. 
 
82 
 
 HORSE. 
 
 Arab treats his horse as one of his family ; it lives in the same tent 
 with him, eats from his hand, and sleeps among his children, who 
 tumble about on it without the least fear. Few Arabs can be 
 induced to part with a favorite horse. 
 
 The plains of La Plata and Paraguay are tenanted by vast 
 herds of wild horses. These are captured by the lasso, bitted, 
 mounted, and broken within an hour, by the daring and skilful 
 Gauchos. 
 
 The English Horse, from which the best horses in the United 
 States have come, has much Arabian and Barb blood in it. The 
 racehorse is swifter for short distances than the best Arabian horse. 
 It is much like the Arabian in looks, but is taller and longer, and 
 has changed in color. The Arabian horse is generally white, light 
 gray, or flea-bitten, but the racehorse is more usually bay and 
 chestnut. The changes have probably come from the difference in 
 the climate and in the way the horses are brought up. The Amer- 
 ican racehorse is descended from the English racehorse, and is 
 therefore also of Arabian blood. 
 
 The Godolphin Arabian, Flying Childers, Iroquois, and Fox- 
 hall are four of the most celebrated racers. 
 
 The fastest mile ever run by a racehorse in the United States 
 up to 1894 was made by the horse Salvator in one minute thirty- 
 five and one-half (1.35^) seconds. 
 
 The Trotting Horse of the United States and Canada is the 
 fastest in the world. It is not a thoroughbred horse, or a horse of 
 pure racing blood, like the racehouse, but is generally a descendant 
 of a cross between the racehorse and some common breed ; but a 
 few thoroughbred racing horses have been taught to trot very fast. 
 It is not usually as tall as the running horse, and is sometimes 
 small. There is also a good breed of trotting horses in Russia, 
 called Orloff trotter, which is faster than common horses, but not 
 
THE RACEHORSE. 
 
84 
 
 HORSE. 
 
 so fast as the American trotter. The fastest mile ever trotted in 
 the United States up to 1894 was made at Galesburg, Illinois, by 
 the mare Alix in two minutes and three and three-quarter (2.03^) 
 seconds. 
 
 Draught Horses, or horses used for drawing heavy loads, are 
 raised in many countries. In France the Percheron breed has been 
 noted for hundreds of years. Many of them are to be seen in 
 Paris, where they are much used for drawing omnibuses and busi- 
 ness wagons, and some of them are used in the United States. 
 They are large, heavy horses, with large heads. In England the 
 breeds called the Suffolk, the Cleveland Bay, and the Clydesdale 
 are noted for their size and strength. The Flanders horse, of Bel- 
 gium and Holland, is very large, heavy, and strong. Many of the 
 great horses used by brewers in London and Paris are of this 
 breed. 
 
 All these breeds are called heavy draught horses, because they 
 are used in the heaviest kinds of trucks and large wagons. There 
 are also light draught horses, for drawing lighter loads, which are 
 not quite so heavy in the body and are quicker in their motions. 
 
 The carriage horse is of a lighter and more elegant form than 
 the common draught horse, but is generally large and strong. The 
 saddle horse should be a little smaller than the carriage horse, and 
 should be graceful and active in all its movements It should be 
 taught not only to obey the rein, but to understand every motion 
 of its rider. 
 
 Ponies are found in many countries. Among the most noted 
 are the Shetland ponies, raised in the islands of the same name, 
 north of Scotland, where they are called Shelties. Some of these 
 little horses are not much larger than a great dog, but they ^re very 
 strong, and will carry a man with ease. The Indians of the west- 
 ern part of the United States have a breed of ponies which are very 
 
THE ZEBRA, 
 
86 
 
 ASS— ZEBRA— ELEPHANT. 
 
 hardy and strong. One of them will travel all day long with a 
 heavy man on its back. 
 
 The Ass. — The humble and hardy ass is scarcely less service- 
 able to man than the more imposing horse. In this country, where 
 it meets with harsh treatment, is scantily fed, and only used for 
 laborious tasks, it is dull and obstinate ; but in the East, where it 
 is employed by rich nobles, and is properly treated, it is an ele- 
 gant and spirited animal, with good action and smooth coat. 
 
 The Zebra is found in South Africa. This beautiful animal 
 lives in troops among the mountains, shunning the presence of 
 man. It is easily distinguished by the regular stripes of brownish 
 black with which its whole body is covered, even down to the 
 hoofs. It is very wild and suspicious, carefully placing sentinels to 
 look out for danger. Notwithstanding these precautions, several 
 zebras have been taken alive, and some, in spite of their vicious 
 habits, have been trained to draw a carriage. In all probability it 
 might be domesticated like the ass, as the black cross on the back 
 and shoulders of the latter animal prove the affinity between them. 
 The voice of the zebra is very peculiar. 
 
 The Elephant. — Of this magnificent animal, whose form is 
 familiar to every eye, two species are known, the Indian and the 
 African. The anatomy of the huge quadruped is well worthy 
 of consideration. Its head and tusks are so very heavy that 
 no long neck would bear them ; the neck is therefore very 
 short. But this shortness of neck prevents the elephant from put- 
 ting its head to the ground, or from stooping to the water’s edge. 
 This apparent defect is compensated by the wonderful manner in 
 which its upper lip and nose are elongated, and rendered capable 
 of drawing up water or plucking grass. In the proboscis or trunk 
 there are about forty thousand muscles, enabling the elephant to 
 shorten, lengthen, coil up, or move in any direction this most ex- 
 
ELEPHANT. 
 
 37 
 
 'traordinary organ. The trunk is pierced throughout its length by 
 two canals, through which liquid can be drawn by suction. If the 
 elephant wishes to drink, after drawing the liquid into its trunk, it 
 inserts the end of its proboscis into its mouth, and discharges the 
 contents down its throat ; but if it merely wishes to wash itself or 
 play, it blows the contained liquid from the trunk with great vio- 
 lence. Through the trunk the curious trumpet-like voice of the 
 elephant is produced. At the extremity is a finger-like appendage, 
 with which it can pick up small objects. In order to sustain the 
 muscles of the jaw and neck, the head must be very large ; were it 
 solid, it would be very heavy. The skull is therefore formed of a 
 number of cells of bone, forming the necessary expanse without 
 the weight, leaving but a very small cavity for the brain. 
 
 The Indian Elephant is almost invariably taken from its native 
 haunts and then trained. The Indian hunters proceed into the 
 woods with two trained female elephants. ■ These advance quietly, 
 and by their blandishments so occupy the attention of any unfortu- 
 nate male that they meet, that the hunters are enabled to tie his 
 legs together and fasten him to a tree. His treacherous com- 
 panions now leave him to struggle in impotent rage, until he is so 
 subdued by hunger and fatigue that the hunters can drive him home 
 between their two tame elephants. When once captured he is 
 easily trained. 
 
 In captivity, it is very docile and gentle, but sometimes when 
 provoked, will take a very ample revenge. Of this propensity, many 
 anecdotes are told. The tusks and teeth of the elephant furnish 
 exceedingly fine ivory, which is used for various purposes, such as 
 knife-handles, combs, billiard-balls, etc. 
 
 All elephants are fond of the water, and sometimes submerge 
 themselves so far that nothing but the tip of the proboscis remains 
 above the surface. In a tame state, the elephant delights in con- 
 
88 
 
 TAPIR— BOAR. 
 
 cealing itself below the water, and deluging the spectators with a 
 stream sent from its trunk. 
 
 The African Elephant is distinguised from the Indian Elephant 
 by the markings of its teeth and some differences in form. 
 
 The Tapir forms one of the links connecting the elephant 
 with the hog. The snout is lengthened into a kind of proboscis 
 like that of the elephant, but it is comparatively short, and has no 
 ringer-like appendage at the extremity. 
 
 The Common Tapir is spread throughout the warmer regions 
 of South America. It sleeps during the day, and wanders about 
 at night in search of its food, which consists of watermelons, 
 gourds, and other vegetables. It is very fond of the water, and can 
 remain below the surface for a considerable period. It is a very 
 powerful animal, and as it is furnished with a very thick hide, it 
 plunges through the brushwood, breaking its way through any obsta- 
 cles that may oppose its progress. Its disposition is gentle, but 
 when annoyed it sometimes rushes at its antagonist, and defends 
 itself vigorously with its powerful teeth. The jaguar frequently 
 springs on it, but is often dislodged by the activity of the tapir, who 
 rushes through the bushes immediately that it feels the claws of its 
 enemy, and endeavors to brush him off against the thick branches. 
 The height of the American Tapir is from five to six feet. The 
 Malay Tapir is somewhat larger, and is known by the grayish white 
 color of the loins and hind quarters, which give the animal an ap- 
 pearance as if a white horse-cloth had been spread over it. 
 
 The Boar. — The animals composing the Hog tribe are found 
 in almost every part of the globe* Their feet are cloven and ex- 
 ternally resemble those of the Ruminants, but an examination of 
 the bones at once points out the difference. 
 
 The Wild Hog or Boar inhabits many parts of Europe, es- 
 pecially the forests of Germany, where the chase of the wild boar is 
 
90 DOMESTIC HOG— BAB YROUSSA— RHINOCEROS. 
 
 a common amusement. In our Southern States the woods are full 
 of half wild ones. Its tusks are terrible weapons, and capable of 
 being used with fatal effect. They curve outward from the lower 
 jaw, and are sometimes eight or ten inches in length. In India, 
 where the boar attains to a great size, the horses on which the 
 hunters are mounted often refuse to bring their riders within spear 
 stroke of the infuriated animal, which has been known to kill a 
 horse and severely injure the rider with one swoop of its enormous 
 tusks. 
 
 The Domestic Hog scarcely needs any description. It is by no 
 means the unclean and filthy animal that moralists love to represent 
 it. It certainly is fond of wallowing in the mire, as are the ele- 
 phant, tapir, etc. , but no animal seems to enjoy clean straw more 
 than the hog. We shut it up in a dirty narrow crib, -give it any 
 kind of refuse to eat, and then abuse it for being a dirty animal and 
 an unclean feeder. 
 
 The Babyroussa inhabits the Molucca Islands and Java. It 
 is remarkable for possessing four tusks, two of which proceed from 
 the upper jaw, and do not pass out between the lips, but through 
 an aperture in the skin, half way between the end of the snout and 
 eyes. The sockets of the two upper tusks are curved upward, and 
 give a singular appearance to the skull of the animal. It looks a 
 ferocious animal, nor do its looks contradict its habits, as it is very 
 savage, and cannot be hunted without danger. Yet when taken 
 young it can be tamed without much difficulty, and conducts itself 
 much after the manner of a well-behaved pig. 
 
 The Rhinoceros. — There are, apparently, six species of this 
 formidable animal, inhabiting various parts of Asia and Africa. 
 They can be distinguished from each other by the number and 
 shape of their horns, and the color of their bodies. Their habits 
 are much alike. 
 
THE INDIAN RHINOCEROS. 
 
9 2 
 
 HIPPO P O TA MUS. 
 
 The rhinoceros is always a surly and ill-tempered animal, and 
 is much given to making unprovoked attacks on man and beast, if 
 it should happen to fancy itself insulted by their presence. Their 
 chief peculiarity, the so-called horn, is a mass of fibres matted to- 
 gether, and closely resembling the structure of whalebone. Their 
 feet are divided into three toes, encased in hoofs. The horn is not 
 connected with the skull, but is merely a growth from the skin, from 
 which it can be separated by means of a sharp penknife. Being 
 made of very strong materials, it is employed in the manufacture of 
 ramrods, clubs, and other similar implements. When properly 
 worked it is capable of taking a very high polish, and is often cut 
 into drinking-cups. 
 
 The organs of scent of the rhinoceros are very acute, and as the 
 creature seems to have a peculiar faculty for detecting the presence 
 of human beings, it is necessary for the hunters to use the greatest 
 circumspection when they approach it, whether to avoid or kill, as 
 in the one case it may probably be taken with a sudden fit of fury, 
 and charge at them, or in the other case, it may take the alarm and 
 escape. 
 
 The upper lip is used by the rhinoceros as an instrument of 
 prehension, with which it can grasp the herbage on which it feeds, 
 or pick up small fruit from the* ground. The very tame rhinoceros 
 in the Zoological Gardens will take a piece of bun or biscuit from 
 a visitor’s hand by means of its flexible upper lip. 
 
 The Hippopotamus. — There is, in all probability, but one 
 species of hippopotamus. It inhabits Africa exclusively, and is 
 found in plenty on the banks of many rivers in that country, where 
 it may be seen gambolling and snorting at all times of the day. 
 
 These animals are quiet and inoffensive while undisturbed, but 
 if attacked, they unite to repel the invader, and have been known 
 to tear several planks from the side of a boat, and sink it. They 
 
THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 
 
94 
 
 HIPPO PO TAMUS. 
 
 can remain about five or six minutes under water, and when they 
 emerge they make a loud and very peculiar snorting noise, which 
 can be heard at a great distance. 
 
 The hide is very thick and strong, and is chiefly used for 
 whips. The well-known 4 ‘ cow-hides ” are made of this material. 
 Between the skin and flesh is a layer of fat, which is salted and 
 eaten by the Dutch colonists of Southern Africa. When salted it 
 is called Zee-koe speck, or Sea-cow’s bacon. The flesh is also in 
 some request. 
 
 The hippopotamus feeds entirely on vegetable substances, such 
 as grass and brushwood. The fine animal now in the possession of 
 the Zoological Society eats all kinds of vegetables, not disdaining 
 roots. 
 
 From the construction of the head, the animal is enabled to raise 
 its eyes and nostrils above the water at the same time, so that it can 
 survey the prospect and breathe without raising more than an inch 
 or two of its person from the water. In order to attain this object, 
 the eyes are very small, and placed very high in the head, while 
 the muzzle is very large, and the nostrils open on its upper surface. 
 
 The track of the hippopotamus may be readily distinguished 
 from that of any other animal by a line of unbroken herbage which 
 is left between the marks of the feet on each side, as the width of 
 the space between the right and left legs causes the animal to place 
 its feet so considerably apart, as to make a distinct double track. 
 
 The teeth of the hippopotamus are the mainstay of the dentist, 
 who cuts from the tusk of a hippopotamus those series of elegant 
 teeth which replace those that age or accident has struck out of the 
 human mouth. The ivory is exceedingly hard, and does not readily 
 lose its beautiful whiteness, being properties which render it espe- 
 cially valuable for such purposes. This is supposed by many to be 
 the animal called Behemoth in Scripture. 
 
SEAL, 
 
 95 
 
 The Seals and Whales, although they are truly mammalia, 
 are inhabitants of the water, and specially formed for an aquatic 
 existence. 
 
 The fore feet of the seal are used as fins, and the two hinder 
 feet almost as the tail of a fish, to assist and direct its course. On 
 
 THE COMMON SEAL. 
 
 land the movements of this animal are very clumsy; it shuffles 
 along by means of its fore feet, or rather paddles, and drags its 
 hind feet after it. 
 
 Seals live during warm weather mostly in the cold regions of 
 the north and south poles, and go into milder waters in the winter. 
 Their food is chiefly fish, and they sometimes chase salmon quite 
 
SEAL. 
 
 y- 
 
 far up rivers. They like to bask in the sun upon rocks, sand' 
 banks, or ice-floes, always keeping a good lookout for danger. 
 They can see far, and their sense of smell is very sharp. 
 
 Seals live mostly on mollusks, crabs, and fish. In the winter 
 they make holes in the ice, where they can come up to breathe. 
 Sometimes one comes out to eat a fish. The Esquimaux watch near 
 seal holes until one is seen coming up, then crawl softly along on 
 the ice, making a cry like a seal, and the poor animal, who takes it 
 for another seal, does not discover its mistake until it gets a deadly 
 blow. 
 
 Seals are among the most useful of animals to man. • The 
 Greenlanders use their flesh for food ; their oil for light, warmth, 
 and cooking ; their skins for clothes, boots, and coverings of boats 
 and tents ; their sinews for thread and fishing-lines ; the skins of 
 the entrails for window-curtains and shirts ; and their blood for 
 making soup. Seal-skins are an important article of commerce, 
 and the seal fishery is largely carried on along the coast of New- 
 foundland and Labrador, and also on the islands off the coast of 
 Alaska. The fur in its natural state is yellowish, spotted and 
 marked with brown, and is unfit for use until it is dyed. Dressed 
 seal-skins are largely used for ladies’ cloaks, capes, etc. The skins 
 are tanned sometimes and made into a fine soft leather for pocket- 
 books, card-cases, and other things. Seal oil, made from the 
 blubber or fat, is more valuable than whale oil. 
 
 The length of the common seal is about four or five feet, and 
 its weight often two hundred and twenty-four pounds. When sur- 
 prised basking on the shore, it scrambles off toward the water ; but 
 if intercepted, dashes at its antagonist, oversets him if possible, 
 and makes its escape as fast as it can. 
 
 There are many seals known, among which are the Sea Leop- 
 ard, a spotted species ; the Harp Seal, so called because the mark- 
 ings on its back resemble a lyre ; the Sea Bear and the Sea Lion. 
 
 > 
 
 
WALRUS. 
 
 97 
 
 The Walrus inhabits the northern seas, but has been known 
 to visit our coasts. The most remarkable point in the walrus is the 
 great length of its upper canine teeth, which extend downward for 
 nearly two feet, and resemble the tusks of the elephant. They 
 
 THE WALRUS. 
 
 furnish very fine ivory, and are extensively used by dentists in 
 making artificial teeth, as teeth made from them remain white much 
 longer than those made from the tusks of elephants. These tusks 
 are used by the walrus for climbing the rocks or heaps of ice, and 
 
 7 
 
CETACEA, OR WHALE. 
 
 also for digging up the sea-weeds on which the animal mostly sub- 
 sists. It will also eat shrimps and young seals. 
 
 The walrus is often hunted for the sake of its oil, its flesh, its 
 skin, and its teeth. It is generally found in troops ; and if one is 
 wounded, its companions rush to its rescue, and attack the enemy 
 with their sharp tusks, which they have been known to drive 
 through the bottom of a boat. The length of the walrus is about 
 fifteen or sixteen feet, and it yields from twenty to thirty gallons of 
 excellent oil. 
 
 The Cetacea, or Whale tribe, closely resembles the fishes, and 
 have often been placed among these animals by naturalists. They, 
 however, are distinguished by possessing warm blood, and, in conse- 
 quence, being forced to rise at intervals in order to breathe the air, 
 instead of separating from the water, by means of their gills, suffi- 
 cient oxygen for supporting life. 
 
 Yet the whale remains under water for a time so much longer 
 than could be borne by any other warm-blooded animal, that the 
 most indifferent observer cannot fail to perceive that the whale is 
 furnished with some plan for supporting life during its stay under 
 the water. 
 
 Along the interior of the ribs there is a vast collection of 
 blood-vessels, ramifying from one another, and capable of contain- 
 ing a large quantity of blood, having no immediate connection with 
 that portion of the blood which is already circulating in the 
 body. As fast as the exhausted and poisonous blood returns from 
 its work, it passes into another reservoir adapted for its necessities, 
 while a portion of the arterialized blood in the arterial reservoir 
 passes into the circulation. It will be seen from this statement, 
 that the whale, and others of the same order, possess more blood 
 in proportion than any animals. 
 
 By means of this wonderful apparatus, a whale can remain 
 
WHALE. 
 
 99 
 
 below the water for more than half an hour at a time. The depths 
 to which the whale can descend are astonishing, wounded whales 
 having been known to take down perpendicularly nearly 800 
 fathoms of line. The pressure of the water at this depth is very 
 great, amounting, according to Scoresby’s calculation, to 211,200 
 tons. This pressure would certainly cause the water to burst 
 through their nostrils, and enter the lungs, were it not that the 
 nostrils are formed so as to close themselves more firmly as the 
 pressure of water increases. 
 
 The great Greenland Whale is found in the northern oceans. 
 Many ships are annually fitted out for the capture of this creature, 
 which, unhappily for itself, furnishes oil and whalebone. The oil 
 is obtained from the thick layer of fatty substance, called blubber, 
 which lies immediately under the skin ; and the whalebone — which, 
 by the way, is not bone at all — is obtained from the interior of the 
 mouth, where it fringes the jaws, and acts as a sieve for the whale 
 to strain his food through. The throat of the Greenland whale is 
 so small that the sailors, who always use forcible expressions, say 
 that a penny loaf would choke a whale. 
 
 The greater portion of its food consists of a little creature, 
 about an inch and a half long, called Clio borealis, one of the 
 marine Mollusca, belonging to the class Pteropida, or wing-footed 
 creatures, so called because it propels itself through the water with 
 two wing-like organs. The whale, when it wishes to feed, rushes 
 through the water with its immense jaws wide open, enclosing a 
 host of little sea animals and a few hogsheads of water. As the 
 whale only wants the animals, and not th« water, it shuts its mouth, 
 and drives all the water out through the fringes of whalebone, 
 leaving the little creatures in its jaws. 
 
 The whale shows great attachment for its young, which is 
 called the cub, and on the approach of danger seizes it with its fin 
 
 
IOO 
 
 CACHALOT. 
 
 or flipper, and carries it down out of the way. The whale has no 
 fins, properly so called, as it is not a fish, but one of the mammalia. 
 Its flippers, which supply the place of fins, are in fact fore legs, 
 furnished with a kind of hand covered with a thick skin. They 
 seem to be principally employed in balancing the animal. The 
 hind legs are wanting. The length of this whale averages sixty 
 feet. Its tail is placed transversely, and not vertically, as in the 
 fishes. 
 
 The Cachalot. — This animal is not furnished with “ baleen,’ * 
 or whalebone, but is armed with a number of strong conical teeth, 
 which are placed in the lower jaw, and which are often used in 
 defending itself from the attacks of the whalers’ boats. In the 
 Museum at Oxford is an under jaw-bone of this whale, sixteen and 
 a half feet in length, containing forty-eight huge teeth. Besides 
 this method of defence, it has a very unpleasant habit of swimming 
 off to a distance, and then rushing at the boat with its head, therebv 
 knocking it to pieces. One of these whales actually sank a ship 
 by three or four blows from its head. 
 
 Spermaceti is obtained from the head of the cachalot, and it 
 is this substance that causes the immense size of the head. When 
 the whale is killed, a hole is made in the upper part of the head, 
 and the spermaceti is baled out with buckets. When just procured 
 it is almost fluid, but is rendered solid and transparent by being 
 first drained of its oil, then boiled in water, and lastly set to cool 
 in wide pans, where it soon assumes the white flaky appearance so 
 well known in this country. 
 
 The skull of the cachalot occupies a comparatively small por- 
 tion of the head, the huge mass at the end of the mouth being 
 composed of a gristly kind of substance. The bone of the upper 
 jaw occupies about one-fourth of the distance between the mouth 
 and the top of the snout. It runs backward nearly straight until 
 

 
 THE GREENLAND VVHAEE. 
 
102 
 
 PORPOISE. 
 
 just before the eyes, when it joins the remainder of the skull with a 
 bold sweep. That part of the skull is called “ Neptune’s chair” 
 by the sailors, and is the part where the spermaceti is found. The 
 layer of blubber is thin, but yields a fine and valuable oil. 
 
 Ambergris, so long a riddle to all inquirers, is now found to be 
 produced in the interior of the cachalot. This substance is of the 
 consistency of wax, inflammable, and gives out a kind of musky 
 odor. It was once in great repute as a medicine, but is now only 
 used as a perfume. The cachalot, although an inhabitant of the 
 Artie seas, has sometimes been found and captured off our coasts. 
 The length of this whale is about seventy feet. 
 
 Those readers who have formed their ideas of Dolphins from 
 the very graceful and elegant creatures represented under that name 
 in the pictures of the “old masters,” will find that the real animal 
 differs very much from the ideal. Almost the whole history of the 
 dolphin is imaginary. Alas ! our unpoetical dolphin, when we 
 have harpooned and brought him on deck, is only black and white, 
 and all the change that he makes is that the black becomes brown 
 in time, and the white changes to gray. 
 
 The creature that really displays these colors when dying is a 
 fish called the Coryphene, and not a cetaceous animal of any kind. 
 The sailors generally call it the dolphin, which has led to the mis- 
 take. 
 
 The dolphin is, like the whale, a warm-blooded animal, suckles 
 its young, and it forced to come to the surface in order to breathe. 
 Its snout is very long, and is apparently used for capturing such 
 fish, and other animals as live in the mud. Its length is from six 
 to ten feet, and several species are known. 
 
 The Porpoise. — These animals may be observed in plenty 
 playing their absurd antics off every coast of America. There are 
 numbers of them off the Nore, a place which they frequent greatly. 
 
NAR WHAL— SLOTH. 
 
 103 
 
 as it is the mouth of a river, and they find more food there than in 
 the open sea. They tumble at the surface of the water for the 
 purpose of breathing. In olden times the flesh of the porpoise 
 constituted one of the standard delicacies of a public feast, but it 
 has long since been deposed from its rank at the table. Its flesh 
 has a very strong oily flavor. 
 
 It feeds on various fishes, but its great feasts are held when the 
 periodical shoals of herrings, pilcards, and other fish arrive on the 
 coasts. In the pursuit of its prey it frequently ventures some dis- 
 tance up a river, and is then often taken in nets by the fishermen. 
 
 The teeth of this animal are very numerous, and interlock 
 when the jaws are closed, so that the fish, when once seized, cannot 
 escape. Its length is about five feet, its color a rich black, becom- 
 ing white on the under side. 
 
 The Narwhal has unwittingly contributed to propagate a very 
 old error. The spiral tusk of the narwhal was accustomed to be 
 sold as the real horn of the unicorn ; and as an accredited part of 
 that animal, forming direct proof of its existence, it used to fetch a 
 very high price. Of course, when the whale fishery was estab- 
 lished, the real owner of the horn was discovered, and the unicorn 
 left still enveloped in mystery. 
 
 The narwhal possesses two of these tusks, one on each side of 
 its head. Only the left tusk projects, the other remaining within 
 the head. Sometimes a specimen has been found with both tusks 
 projecting, and some think that when the left tusk has been broken 
 off by accident, the right one becomes large enough to supply its 
 place. Although an inhabitant of the northern seas, it has several 
 times visited our coasts. Its body is from thirty to forty feet in 
 length, and its tusk from five to nine. 
 
 The Sloth is another example of the errors into which even 
 great naturalists are led from hasty observation. The great Cuvier 
 
I 
 
 104 
 
 PANGOLINS. 
 
 himself condemns the sloth as a degraded and miserable animal, 
 moving with pain, and misshapen in form. Yet no animal is more 
 fitted for its position than the sloth. “ In its wild state the sloth 
 spends its whole life in the trees, and never leaves them but through 
 force or accident, and what is more extraordinary, not upon the 
 branches, like the squirrel and monkey, but under them. He 
 moves suspended from the branch, he rests suspended from the 
 branch, and he sleeps suspended from the branch. ’ ’ 
 
 To render it fit for this singular mode of life, its long and 
 powerful arms are furnished with strong curved claws, which hook 
 round the branches, and keep the animal suspended without any 
 effort. When on the ground, these claws are very inconvenient, 
 and it can barely shuffle along ; but when it is among its native 
 branches, it moves with exceeding rapidity, particularly in a gale 
 of wind, when it passes from branch to branch, and from tree to 
 tree, with an activity which its movements on the ground by no 
 means portend. 
 
 The Pangolins are immediately known by the peculiar, strong, 
 horny plates with which their bodies are defended, giving them the 
 appearance of animals enveloped in a suit of scale armor. When 
 attacked they roll themselves up, wrap their tails round them, and 
 raise the whole array of sharp-edged scales with which their body 
 is covered, and bid defiance to almost any enemy except man. 
 They live on ants and termites, or white ants, as they are called, 
 which they take by thrusting their long, slender tongue among the 
 ants, which adhere to it by a gummy saliva. When the tongue is 
 covered it is rapidly retracted, and the. ants swallowed. To obtain 
 the ants, the pangolins are furnished with powerful claws to tear 
 down the dwellings of their prey. The Long-tailed Manis is widely 
 scattered through Africa, but is not very common. The length of 
 its body is about two feet, and that of its tail rather more than 
 
ARMADILLO— ANT-EA TER 
 
 105 
 
 three. The Short-tailed Manis, or Bajjerkeit, is very common in 
 India. Its entire length is about four feet. 
 
 The Armadillos live exclusively in the warmer parts of 
 America. They eat carrion, insects, and sometimes fallen fruit. 
 They burrow with great rapidity, and can only be forced from their 
 refuge by smoke or water. When they are hunted and are very 
 
 THE ARMADILLO. 
 
 close pressed, they either endeavor to escape their foes by rapidly 
 burrowing into the earth, or try to oppose a partial resistance by 
 rolling themselves up and trusting to the protection of their armor. 
 The natives and colonists consider them great delicacies when 
 roasted in their shells. 
 
 The Ant-eater. — This curious animal inhabits Guiana, Brazil, 
 and Paraguay. As its name imports, it lives principally upon ants 
 
io6 
 
 DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS. 
 
 and termites, which it procures in precisely the same manner as was 
 related of the manis. Its short legs and long claws would lead an 
 observer to suppose that its pace was slow and constrained, but 
 when chased, it runs off with a peculiar trot, and with such rapidity 
 that it keeps a horse to its speed to overtake it. 
 
 The tongue of this animal looks exactly like a great red worm, 
 and when the creature is engaged in devouring its food, the rapid 
 coiling and twisting of the tongue add in no small degree to the 
 resemblance. The claws are very long and curved, and as they are 
 used in tearing down the habitation of the termites or white ants, as 
 they are called, are exceedingly strong. They are placed on the 
 foot in such a manner that when the animal is walking, its weight 
 rests on the outside of the fore feet and the outer edge of the claws, 
 which make a great clattering if the ant-eater is walking upon a 
 hard surface. 
 
 When it sleeps, it lies on one side, rolls itself up, so that its 
 snout rests on its breast, places all its feet together, and covers 
 itself with its bushy tail. The fur of the animal at all times 
 resembles hay, and when it is thus curled up in sleep, it is so 
 exactly like a bundle of hay, that any one might pass it carelessly, 
 imagining it to be nothing but a loose heap of that substance. 
 The ordinary length of this animal is about three feet seven inches, 
 and its height about three feet. 
 
 The Duck-billed Platypus. — Australia, where everything 
 seems to be reversed, where the north wind is warm and the south 
 wind cold, the thick end of a pear is next the stem, and the stone of 
 a cherry grows outside, is the residence of this most extraordinary 
 animal. When it was first introduced into Europe, it was fully 
 believed to be the manufacture of some impostor, who with much 
 ingenuity had fixed the beak of a duck into the head of some 
 unknown animal. It will, however, be seen by the woodcut rep- 
 
BIRDS. 
 
 107 
 
 resenting the skull of the animal, that this duck-like beak really 
 belongs to the animal, and is caused by a prolongation of some of 
 the bones of the head. 
 
 It lives by the banks of rivers, in which it burrows like the 
 water-rat. Curiously enough, it finds no difficulty in this labor, for 
 the feet are so constructed that the animal can fold back the web 
 at pleasure, and thus the foot is enabled to perform its task. It 
 feeds upon water-insects and shell-fish, always rejecting the crushed 
 shells after swallowing the inhabitant. The male has a sharp spur 
 on its hind feet. The learned have given the animal several 
 names. The native name for the creature is “ Mullingong. ” 
 
 BIRDS. 
 
 Birds are distinguished from the Mammalia by their general 
 form, their feathery covering, and by producing their young 
 enclosed in eggs. The different orders of birds are principally 
 known by the character of the claws and beak. Before we pay 
 attention to any individual species, we will first examine some of 
 the structures common to all birds. One of the first great marks 
 of distinction in birds is the wing. This organ is a modification of 
 the arm or fore limb of mammalia, clothed with feathers instead of 
 hair. 
 
 The bones of adult birds are not filled with marrow like the 
 bones of Mammalia, but are hollow and filled with air, and are 
 therefore rendered very light, a bone of a goose being barely half 
 the weight of a rabbit’s bone of the same size, after the marrow 
 has been extracted. The bones forming the wing are worthy of 
 notice for the beautiful manner in which they are jointed together, 
 and arranged so as to give great strength together with lightness. 
 
 Most persons seem to fancy that the foot of the bird is that 
 part which grasps the branch, or by means of which it walks on 
 
108 LAMMERGEYER, OR BEARDED VULTURE . 
 
 the ground, that the joint above that member is the knee, and that 
 the thigh is the feathered portion of the limb that proceeds from 
 the bird’s body. All these ideas are wrong; with this method of 
 arrangement, the knee of the bird would bend backward, a thing 
 which no perfectly formed knee ever did or ever will do. 
 
 The leg of a bird is formed on much the same principle as the 
 hind leg of a quadruped, the part that grasps the branches being 
 composed of the toes , the so-called knee-joints being the heel bone 
 of the foot, so that the whole foot reaches half way from the perch 
 to the bird. The knee-joint is placed high up against the body, 
 and is buried in the feathers. 
 
 As the wing presents a very broad surface to the air, it is 
 necessary that very powerful muscles should be used to move it 
 with sufficient rapidity. The pectoral muscles are therefore 
 enormously developed, extending almost the whole length of the 
 body, as every one who has carved a fowl must have seen ; and in 
 order to form an attachment for these immense muscles, the ridge 
 of the breast-bone is equally enlarged. It is the want of these 
 enlarged muscles that prevents man from flying, even when he has 
 attached wings to his arms. The principal characteristics of birds 
 are taken from their foot and beak. 
 
 The Lammergeyer (Germ. Lamb' s-vultiii'e') i or Bearded 
 Vulture, inhabits most mountain ranges, and is very common in 
 the Alps of Switzerland and Germany, where, from its depreda- 
 tions on the kids and lambs, it has earned its name of Lammer- 
 geyer. It is not strictly a vulture, as its head and neck are 
 feathered, and it rejects putrid flesh, unless hard pressed by hunger. 
 It destroys hares, and young or sickly sheep and goats, nor, when 
 when rendered fierce by hunger, does it fear to attack the adult 
 chamois, or even man. It is exceedingly bold, and shows but 
 little fear of man. While Bruce was preparing his dinner on the 
 
THIS KING VULTURE. 
 
 ■■ 
 
1 1 o CO ND OR— VUL TURE. 
 
 summit of mountain, one of these birds, after scalding its feet 
 in several unavailing attempts to extract some meat out of the 
 boiling water, actually seized a piece from a platter, and went off 
 with it. 
 
 The name of “ Bearded M Vulture is given to it on account of 
 the long tuft of hairs with which each nostril is clothed. The 
 length of its body is about four feet, and the expanse of its wings 
 from nine to ten. The second and third primary feathers are the 
 longest. It lays two eggs — white, marked with brown blotches. 
 
 The Condor. — These birds are distinguished by the wattles 
 on their beaks, their naked necks, and the size of the nostrils. 
 The third primary feather is the longest. The condor inhabits the 
 Andes of South America, always choosing its residence on the 
 summit of a solitary rock. This bird does not build any nest, but 
 lays its two white eggs on the bare rock after the manner of many 
 sea-birds. It is a very large bird, the expanse of wing being nine 
 or ten feet, and the length of the bird about three feet. It is 
 exceedingly strong and tenacious of life. Two condors will attack 
 and kill the llama, or even the puma ; for by their repeated buffet- 
 ing and pecking they weary it so completely that it yields to their 
 perseverance. 
 
 We now arrive at the true Vultures. These birds are the 
 representatives of the carrion-devouring animals, such as the 
 hyenas, wild dogs, etc. They however do not, as the hyenas and 
 wild dogs, attack living animals. The neck of the vulture is 
 almost naked, very slightly sprinkled with down, and from the for- 
 mation of the lower part of the neck, the bird is enabled to draw 
 its head almost under the feathers of its shoulders, so that a hasty 
 observer would conclude that the creature had no neck at all. 
 
 The marvellous quickness with which the vultures discover a 
 dead animal has caused many discussions among naturalists as to 
 
 
 
 * 
 
EAGLE . 
 
 ii 
 
 the sense employed ; some declaring entirely for sight, and others 
 asserting that the scent of putrid animal matter leads the vultures 
 to their prey. 
 
 The probability is that both senses are used, one aiding the 
 other; for in an experiment, where a dead hog was hidden under 
 canes and briers, numbers of vultures were seen sailing in all direc- 
 tions over the spot, evidently directed by the scent, but unable to 
 discover by their eyes the exact position of the animal. The olfac- 
 tory nerves of the vulture are beautifully developed. 
 
 The Griffon Vulture is found in almost all parts of the old 
 world. It is one of the largest of its group, measuring upward of 
 four feet in length. Like most of the vultures, it does not appear 
 to move its wings while flying, but soars on expanded pinions in 
 large circles, apparently gaining the necessary impetus by the 
 movements of its head and body. 
 
 Vultures are generally protected by the natives of the country 
 where they reside, on account of their great utility in clearing 
 away the putrid animal matter. 
 
 Eagles. — The beak of this family is strong and curved, the 
 feet furnished with sharp talons, and their wings are large, power- 
 ful, and slightly rounded, the fourth primary feather being the 
 longest. 
 
 The Bald Eagle is celebrated as being the type which has 
 been chosen by the American people as the emblem of their nation. 
 
 The name of Bald Eagle has been applied to this bird on ac- 
 count of the snowy white color of the head and neck. 
 
 Its nest is generally made upon some lofty tree, and in the 
 course of years becomes of very great size, as the bird is in the 
 habit of laying her eggs year after year in the same nest, and making 
 additions of fresh building materials at every fresh breeding season. 
 She commences this task at a very early period of the year, depos- 
 
2 
 
 EA GLE—B UZZARD. 
 
 iting her eggs in January, and hatching her young by the middle of 
 February. It is always a very affectionate bird, tends its young as 
 long as they are helpless and unfledged, and will not forsake them 
 even if the tree on which they rest be enveloped in flames. 
 
 The bald eagle often takes advantage of the fishing talents of 
 the osprey by robbing the lesser bird of its prey. The eagle is, in 
 truth, no very great fisher, but is very fond of fish, and finds that 
 the easiest mode of obtaining the desired dainty is to rob those who 
 are better qualified than himself for the sport. The bald eagle is 
 found throughout the whole of North America, and may be seen 
 hunting the greater part of the sea-coasts, as well as the mouths of 
 the large rivers. 
 
 The Golden Eagle is found in most parts of Europe, and is not 
 uncommon in Great Britain. The flight of this magnificent bird is 
 peculiarly beautiful and imposing, but its gait when on land is rather 
 awkward, on account of its long talons. 
 
 Its food is usually sea-birds and the smaller quadrupeds, such 
 as hares, rabbits, etc. ; but it does not hesitate to carry off young 
 lambs, or sometimes to destroy a sickly sheep. 
 
 It generally hunts in pairs, one eagle watching from some 
 height while the other courses along the ground, and drives the 
 game from the bushes. The male and female remain together all 
 the year, and very probably for life. It lays two eggs of a yellowish 
 ►white color with pale brownish spots, on a nest composed of a great 
 mass of sticks, rushes, and grass, and the young are fledged about 
 the end of July. The eye of this bird, and of most of the birds 
 of prey, is provided with an arrangement for enabling it to see an 
 object near or at a great distance. It is shaded from the sun by the 
 projecting eyebrow. 
 
 The Buzzard. — The family of the Buzzards are distinguished 
 by their short beaks, large rounded wings, and squared tails. They 
 all live on small animals, reptiles and various insects. 
 
KITE— FALCON. 
 
 1 14 
 
 The Common Buzzard occurs throughout most of Europe and 
 part of Asia and America. When searching for food, it rests upon 
 some high branch, keeping a keen watch on the ground, and wait- 
 ing patiently until some small animal, such as a rat or young rabbit, 
 makes its appearance, when it instantly sweeps down from its eleva- 
 tion, seizes its prey without settling on the ground, and returns, if 
 not disturbed, to the same spot, very much in the same manner that 
 the fly-catcher may be observed to act. 
 
 It generally builds in high trees, but has been known to make 
 its nest among rocks. Its eggs are usually three in number, of a 
 whitish color, spotted with pale brown, and almost devoid of the 
 peculiar red tinge that generally characterizes the eggs of the 
 diurnal birds of prey. 
 
 The length of this bird is from twenty to twenty-two inches ; 
 the fourth primary feather is the longest. 
 
 The Kite, Gledge, or Gled, is not uncommon in America 
 and is spread over Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. It is 
 especially hated by the farmer for its depredations on his poultry, 
 and its appearance is the signal for a general outcry among the ter- 
 rified poultry, who perceive it long before the keenest-eyed man 
 can distinguish it from a casual spot in the distant sky. The 
 sportsman also detests it for the havoc which it makes among the 
 game. 
 
 It builds in tall trees, and lays three eggs, white, spotted with 
 reddish brown at the larger end. Its length is rather more than 
 two feet ; the fourth primary feather is the longest, the first and 
 seventh nearly equal. 
 
 Falcons. — In the genus Falco, the second primary feather is 
 the longest, the first and third being of equal length. The Pere- 
 grine Falcon, an inhabitant of most parts of Europe, Asia, and 
 South America, was in the palmy days of hawking one of the 
 
KESTREL— SPARROW-HA WK. 
 
 IJ 5 
 
 favorite falcons chosen for that sport. Its strength and swiftness are 
 very great, enabling it to strike down its prey with great ease ; in- 
 deed, it has been known to disable five partridges in succession. 
 From its successful pursuit of ducks the Americans call it the Duck 
 Hawk. 
 
 Instead of merely dashing at its prey, and grasping it with its 
 claws, the peregrine falcon strikes its victim with its breast, and 
 actually stuns it with the violence of the blow before seizing it with 
 its claws. 
 
 It changes the color of its plumage several times before it 
 arrives at full maturity, and in the days of falconry was known by 
 different names, such as “haggard” when wild, “eyeass,” “red 
 falcon” when young, “tiercel” or “tassel-gentle” when a full- 
 grown male. It builds on ledges of rocks, laying four eggs of a 
 reddish brown color. Its length is from fifteen to eighteen inches. 
 
 The Kestrel frequently falls a victim to the mistaken zeal of 
 the farmer, who takes every opportunity of destroying it, as he con- 
 founds it with the sparrow-hawk. The natural food of the kestrel 
 is field-mice, so that the farmer should protect instead of remorse- 
 lessly murdering his benefactor. These birds are not uncommon. 
 Their nest is usually built in the deserted mansion of a crow or 
 magpie. The eggs are four in number, of a dark reddish brown. 
 The length is from thirteen to fifteen inches. 
 
 The Sparrow-hawk is an inhabitant of many portions of the 
 world and displays great pertinacity in pursuit of its prey, which it 
 will chase for a long while, skimming along a few feet above the 
 ground. One of these hawks was known to dash through a window 
 in pursuit of a small bird. When taken young it is easily tamed, and 
 will then associate with the most incongruous companions. A gen- 
 tleman had a young sparrow-hawk which used to live in his dovecot 
 among his pigeons, would accompany them in their flights, and was 
 uneasy if separated from his strange friends. 
 
SECRETAR Y BIRD— OWL. 
 
 1 16 
 
 The length of this bird is from twelve to fifteen inches. The 
 fourth and fifth primary feathers are the longest. 
 
 It builds upon lofty trees, laying five eggs, of a whitish color 
 blotched with variable reddish brown markings. 
 
 The Secretary Bird derives its name from the tufts of feathers 
 at the back of its head, which bear a fanciful resemblance to pens 
 stuck behind the ear. This extraordinary bird, whose true position 
 in ornithology has been such a stumbling-block to naturalists, in- 
 habits South Africa. It feeds on snakes and other reptiles, of which 
 it consumes an amazing number, and is on that account protected. 
 When battling with a snake, it covers itself with one wing as 
 with a shield, and with the other strikes at the reptile until it 
 falls senseless, when a powerful blow from the beak splits the 
 snake’s head asunder, and the vanquished enemy is speedily swal- 
 lowed. In the crop of a secretary bird that was dissected by Le 
 Vaillant were found eleven large lizards, three serpents, each a yard 
 in length, eleven small tortoises, and a great quantity of locusts and 
 * other insects. Besides these, the bird had just overcome another 
 serpent, which would in all probability have been transferred to the 
 same receptacle had it not been killed. The secretary is easily 
 tamed, and is exceedingly useful. It builds on high trees, laying 
 three eggs, almost white. Its length is about three feet. 
 
 Owls. — A large round head, with enormous eyes looking for- 
 ward, is a distinguishing mark of the owl family. Many species 
 possess two feathery tufts placed on the head, greatly resembling 
 horns. The owls are nocturnal birds, pursuing their prey by night, 
 and sleeping during the day. Their eyes are enormously large, and 
 capable of taking in every ray of light. The power of vision is also 
 increased by the method in which the eye is fixed in a kind of bony 
 socket, just like a watchmaker’s glass. The power of hearing is 
 also very delicate, and greatly assists them. In order to protect 
 
OWL. 
 
 THE EARED OWE. 
 
 The Barn Owl affords another instance of mistaken persecu- 
 tion. This beautiful and useful bird, whose carcass we so often see 
 nailed to the barn, actually feeds upon and destroys the rats and 
 mice which bear it company in its undeserved punishment. Few 
 people know what a little bird this owl really is. The thick loose 
 
 ii7 
 
 them from th^ cold, they are furnished with a dense covering of 
 downy feathers, which also prevents the movements of the wing 
 from being heard by the wary mouse ; and so noiseless is their 
 flight that they seem to be borne along by the wind like a tuft of 
 thistle-down. 
 
1 1 8 
 
 OWL. 
 
 plumage is so deceptive, that no one unacquainted with the struc- 
 ture of the bird would imagine that it is hardly so large as a pigeon. 
 The head, too, when deprived of its feathery covering, completely 
 loses its previous aspect, being long and narrow, like that of a 
 hawk. 
 
 The domestic habits of the bird are very curious. When 
 irritated or alarmed, it has a habit of snapping its beak loudly, and 
 making a hissing sound, something like that of a cat when pro- 
 voked. Indeed there is something very cat-like in the whole 
 aspect of the owl. Its round, soft-looking face, in which are set 
 two great eyes that shine in the dusk of the evening with an almost 
 phosphoric gleam, and are capable of taking in every feeble ray of 
 light, its noiseless movements in pursuit of its prey, all strongly 
 remind the observer of the feline character. 
 
 If a mouse is given to an owl, the bird seizes it across the 
 back, and gives it one or two smart bites, much as a terrier handles 
 a rat. The mouse is then jerked upward and caught again head 
 downward. A second jerk sends the mouse half down the owl’s 
 throat, while its tail remains sticking out of the side of its bill, 
 where it is rolled about as if the owl were smoking. After some 
 time has been spent in this amusement, another jerk causes the 
 mouse to disappear altogether, and the owl looks very happy and 
 contented. But if a small bird is presented to it, the owl tears it 
 up and devours it piecemeal. 
 
 The Virginian Eared Owl is found spread over the greater 
 portion of North America, and in former days did great damage 
 among the poultry of the agriculturists, being a bold as well as a 
 voracious bird. Now, however, the ever-ready rifle of the farmer 
 has thinned its numbers greatly, and has inspired the survivors with 
 such awe that they mostly keep clear of cultivated lands, and con- 
 fine themselves to seeking after their legitimate prey. 
 
SWALLOW. 
 
 u 9 
 
 The Virginia Horned Owl takes up its residence in the deep 
 swampy forests, where it remains hidden during the day, and comes 
 out at night and morning, heralding its approach with its loud, 
 unearthly cries, as if an unquiet wandering spirit. 
 
 The nest of this bird is extremely large, and consists of a large 
 bundle of sticks, grass, leaves, and feathers, placed in the fork of 
 some large bough, and containing three or four white eggs. 
 
 The Night-Jar, or Goat sucker, sometimes called the Fern Owl, 
 is spread over Europe, and is quite common in England. It may 
 be seen at the approach of evening, silently wheeling around the 
 trees, capturing the nocturnal moths and beetles ; then occasionally 
 settling and uttering its jarring cry. When flying, the bird some- 
 times makes its wings meet over its back, and brings them together 
 with a smart snap. It arrives in this country at the beginning of 
 May, and leaves in December. It makes no nest, but lays two 
 mottled eggs on the bare ground. Its length is ten inches. The 
 Whip-poor-Will and the Chuck-Will’s-Widow both belong to this 
 family. 
 
 Swallows are remarkable for their great power of wing, their 
 wide mouths, and short legs. The whole of their plumage is con- 
 structed with a view to rapid and active motions. The feathers of 
 their bodies are firm and close, so as not to impede their passage 
 through the air; their wing feathers are long, stiff, and pointed, 
 and their tails are long and forked ; all which properties we know 
 to belong to great speed. 
 
 The Common Swift is the largest and swiftest of this family. 
 It seems to spend the whole day on the wing, wheeling with won- 
 derful velocity, and occasionally soaring until it is hardly per- 
 ceptible, but screaming so shrilly, that the sound is plainly heard. 
 The number of insects which it destroys is almost incredible ; they 
 are retained in a kind of pouch under the tongue, and when taken 
 
120 
 
 CHIMNEY MARTIN— SAND MARTIN 
 
 
 out, can hardly be pressed into a teaspoon. These are intended for 
 the young, and the supply is constantly renewed. It lays from two 
 to four* long white eggs, on a nest composed of grass, straws, 
 feathers, silk, etc. The color of this bird is a dusky black. The 
 length is eight inches, the expanse of wing eighteen inches, and its 
 weight barely one ounce. 
 
 The foot of the swift is of a singular form, unlike that of any 
 other bird. All the toes are directed forward, there being no 
 hinder toe at all. Some naturalists say that the object of this forma- 
 tion is that the bird may be enabled to climb up the eaves under 
 which its nest is made. 
 
 The Chimney Martin or Swallow is the most common of its 
 family, and too well known to need much description. When 
 skimming over ponds and rivers in search of insects the snap with 
 which it closes its bill may be easily heard. In the course of its 
 flight over the surface, it often dashes up the water with its wings, 
 which action gives rise to the opinion that swallows passed the 
 winter under water, and rose in the spring. It is so eager after its 
 prey, that it may be easily caught with a rod and line baited with 
 a fly. 
 
 It breeds twice in the year, building a nest of mud against a 
 wall or other convenient situation, and laying five very pale pink 
 eggs, spotted with reddish brown. The bird appears regularly to 
 return, year by year, to its old nest. The whole of its upper sur- 
 face is a deep purplish black, its forehead and throat chestnut. 
 Humboldt, in his “Travels,” relates that he saw a swallow perch 
 on the rigging of the vessel when it was one hundred and twenty 
 miles from the land. 
 
 The Sand Martin is the smallest of our American swallows, 
 but makes its appearance before any of its brethren. It principally 
 builds in cliffs of sandstone, boring holes three feet or more in depth, 
 
HOUSE MARTIN— ESCULENT SWALLOW. 
 
 21 
 
 and often winding in their course, most probably to avoid a casual 
 stone or spot too hard for its bill, which, although small and 
 unfitted for the task, makes its way through the sandstone with 
 extraordinary rapidity. Where a convenient sand-cliff exists, hun- 
 dreds of these pretty little birds may be seen working away at their 
 habitations, or dashing about in the air, looking at a distance like 
 white butterflies, and occasionally returning to the rock, which 
 is often completely honeycombed by their labors. 
 
 the swallow. 
 
 The House Martin reaches the States shortly after the swallow, 
 and almost invariably takes possession of its old nest, which it 
 repairs about May. It lays five eggs closely resembling the sand 
 martin. About September, immense numbers may be seen perched 
 upon houses and trees preparatory to their departure. 
 
 The Esculent Swallow, whose nests are considered such a 
 delicacy among the Chinese, builds its singular habitation in the 
 
122 
 
 TROG ON— KINGFISHER. 
 
 sides of almost inaccessible cliffs, so that the business of procuring 
 them is a most dangerous task. 
 
 The nests are harried about three times in every year, and it is 
 said that the natives who are employed in procuring them are care- 
 ful to destroy the old and deep-colored nests, in order to force the 
 birds to build new habitations, which command a high price in the 
 market. The nests are chiefly found in Java. 
 
 The Trogon. — The magnificent family of the trogons stands 
 pre-eminent in beauty and brilliancy of plumage, the usual tint 
 being a metallic golden green, boldly contrasted with scarlet, black, 
 and brown. The toes are placed two behind and two before, like 
 those of the woodpeckers. 
 
 The Resplendent Trogon is the most gorgeous of all this gor- 
 geous family. Its long and gracefully curved tail, nearly three feet 
 long, the whole of the upper surface, and the throat, are a glowing 
 green ; the breast and underparts are bright crimson ; the middle 
 feathers of the tail black, and the outer feathers white. This splen- 
 did bird is an inhabitant of Mexico, and was used by the Mexican 
 nobles as an ornament to their head-dress. 
 
 From the feathers of these and other trogons the mosaic pictures 
 of the Mexicans were made. This is a very difficult bird to stuff, 
 on account of the delicate texture of the skin, which is so fragile 
 that it tears about as easily as wet blotting-paper. 
 
 The Kingfisher is found in most parts of England and 
 America. Scarcely anything more beautiful can be conceived than 
 the metallic glitter of its plumage as it shoots along the banks of 
 the river, or darts into the water after its struggling prey. Its usual 
 method of fishing is by placing itself on a stump or stone over- 
 hanging the water, from which spot it watches for the unsuspecting 
 fish beneath. After a fish is caught, the bird kills it by beating it 
 several times against its resting-place, and then swallowing it, head 
 foremost. 
 
HOOPOE. 
 
 123 
 
 It lays its eggs in holes in the banks of rivers or ponds, and 
 appears to build no nest. A pair of kingfishers, for two successive 
 years, inhabited a bank of a very small stream, little more than a 
 drain, at Little Hinton, Wiltshire, where no fish lived, nor were 
 there any to be found within a considerable distance. The eggs 
 are from four to seven in number, of a pearly whiteness, and re- 
 markably globular in shape. 
 
 THE KINGFISHER. 
 
 The Hoopoe, one of the most elegant birds that visit this 
 country, is unfortunately a very rare guest, and seldom, if ever, 
 breeds here. Its beautiful crest can be raised or depressed at pleas- 
 ure, but is seldom displayed unless the bird is excited from some 
 cause. Its food consists of insects, which it first batters and moulds 
 into an oblong mass, and then swallows, with a peculiar jerk of the 
 head. 
 
24 
 
 HUMMING-BIRD. 
 
 In France, hoopoes are very common, and may be seen exam- 
 ining old and rotten stumps for the insects that invariably congre- 
 gate in such places. There they may be seen in flocks, but they 
 never seem to come over to England in greater numbers than one 
 pair at a time. M. Bechstein gives a curious account of the atti- 
 tude assumed by the hoopoe on perceiving a large bird in the air. 
 
 As soon as they perceived a raven, or even a pigeon, they were 
 on their bellies in the twinkling of an eye, their wings stretched out 
 by the side of the head, so that the large quill feathers touched the 
 head, leaning on the back with the bill pointing upward. In this 
 •curious posture they might be taken for an old rag ! ” The hoopoe 
 lays from four to seven gray eggs in the hollow of a tree. Its 
 length is one foot. 
 
 The Humming-bird. — These little living gems are exclusively 
 found in America, especially about the tropical parts, becoming 
 gradually scarcer as we recede from the tropics in either direction. 
 Only two species are known to exist in the northern parts, but in 
 the central portions and in the islands about Florida they absolutely 
 swarm. They glance about in the sunshine, looking like streaks of 
 brilliant light ; and so rapid is the vibration of their fine and elastic 
 wings that, when hovering over a flower, a humming or buzzing 
 sound is produced, from which peculiarity the name of humming- 
 bird has been given them in almost, every language. 
 
 Waterton’s description of the appearance of the humming-bird 
 in the sun is very characteristic : “ Though least in size, the glittering 
 mantle of the humming-bird entitles it to the first place in the list of 
 the birds of the New World. It may truly be called the Bird of Para- 
 dise ; and had it existed in the Old World, it would have claimed the 
 title instead of the bird which now has the honor to bear it. See it 
 darting through the air almost as quick as thought ! Now it is 
 within a yard of your face — in an instant gone — now it flutters from 
 
126 
 
 CREEPER — WREN. 
 
 flower to flower to sip the silver dew — it is now a ruby — now a 
 topaz — now an emerald — now all burnished gold. ’ ’ 
 
 The tongue of the humming-bird is formed much like, that of 
 the woodpecker, being curled round the head, under the skin, and 
 thus capable of being darted to a considerable distance. 
 
 Like many other little creatures, the humming-bird is remark- 
 able for its assurance and impudence. It is easily tamed for that 
 very reason, and has been known to domesticate itself in an hour 
 from the time of its capture, and even when released, it has re- 
 turned again to partake of the dainties which it had tasted during 
 its captivity. There are an immense number of species of these 
 exquisite birds varying from the size of a swift to that of a humble 
 bee. The nests are very neat and beautiful, and as may be imag- 
 ined from the diminutive size of the little architect exceedingly 
 small. They are composed of down, cotton, etc., and are some- 
 times covered on the outside with mosses and lichens. 
 
 The Creepers are remarkable for their long, slender bills and 
 claws adapted for climbing trees and capturing insects. The com- 
 mon creeper may often be seen in this country, running spirally up 
 the trunks of trees, and probing the bark with its bill ; and so 
 firmly do the claws hold, that, when shot, it does not always fall, 
 but remains clinging to the tree. The nest of this elegant little 
 bird is made in a decayed tree. The eggs are from seven to nine 
 in number, gray, with dusky spots. 
 
 The Wren shares with the robin some immunity from juvenile 
 sportsmen. Although it may be fearlessly hopping about in the 
 hedge, jerking its funny little tail, and playing its antics just at the 
 muzzle of the gun, few boys will fire at it — a privilege for which it 
 is difficult to give a reason, except, perhaps, the very incompre- 
 hensible assertion that “the robin and the wren have divine pro- 
 tection,” although why these two birds, both proverbially quarrel- 
 
NIGHTINGALE— WARBLER. 
 
 2 7 
 
 some and pugnacious, should be selected, to the exclusion of others, 
 is difficult to say. Perhaps the robin enjoys his immunity from the 
 4i Babes in the Wood,” and the wren makes a convenient rhyme. 
 
 The nest of the wren is built in any convenient cranny ; an 
 ivy-covered tree, the thatch of a barn, or a warm scarecrow, are all 
 used by this fearless little bird. The nest is usually of an oven-like 
 shape, always covered on the outside with some material resembling 
 the color of the objects round it, such as green moss if built among 
 ivy, or brown lichen if built on a rock or in the fork of a withered 
 branch. The eggs are six or eight in number — white, speckled 
 with reddish brown. 
 
 The Nightingale. — The marvellous notes of the Nightingale 
 sound comparatively weak unless backed by the accompaniments of 
 night and tranquillity ; for the inimitable song of this Mendelssohn 
 among birds loses great part of its beauty when uttered by day, 
 deadened and confused with other sounds. There are some people 
 who cannot appreciate the song of this bird. There is a story that 
 a man who was engaged as gardener in a gentleman’s family was 
 permitted to live within the grounds. In a short time he asked to 
 be allowed to change his house, and on being asked his reason for 
 giving up so good a situation, answered that he could get no sleep 
 at night, because those nasty nightingales kept up such a continual 
 guggling. 
 
 In some counties of England it is never found, but in many its 
 nightly strains are frequently heard. It must be borne in mind 
 that not only in this bird, but in other singing-birds, the male is the 
 vocalist. 
 
 The Warblers are spread over almost the entire globe, and 
 many gladden this country with their pleasant songs. The Black- 
 cap, almost a rival to the nightingale, is at once recognized by the 
 black color of the crown of the head. Only the males, however, 
 
128 
 
 GOLDEN CRESTED REGULUS— REDBREAST. 
 
 are thus decorated, the crown of the head of the female being dark 
 brown. Its sweet notes are poured forth from the concealment of 
 some thicket or tuft of trees, where it trusts to the density of the 
 foliage to elude discovery. Like the mocking-bird of America, it 
 can imitate the songs of other birds with such perfect inflection 
 that it is almost impossible to detect the imposture. Among bushes 
 and brambles it builds its nest, which is made of dried grass, moss, 
 and hairs. The eggs are five in number — reddish brown, marked 
 with dark spots. The length of the bird is nearly six inches ; the 
 third primary feather is the longest. 
 
 The Golden-crested Regulus is one of the smallest of birds. 
 Fir plantations are its favorite resort, and there it may be seen hop- 
 ping about the branches, or running round them, head downward, 
 in search of the insects hidden beneath the bark. Its name is de- 
 rived from the orange-colored tuft of feathers on the crown of its 
 head, for which reason it is often called the Kinglet. Its note is 
 weak, but very pleasing, and much resembles that of the common 
 wren. The female is very bold while sitting, and will permit close 
 observation without quitting the nest. The nest itself is an object 
 of great beauty. It is usually placed on the under side of a fir 
 branch, sheltered by the overhanging foliage, and sometimes further 
 protected by a large bunch of cones forming a kind of roof over it. 
 The eggs are from six to ten in number, very small, and of a red- 
 dish white color. The length of the bird is three inches and a 
 half. The fourth or fifth primary feather is the longest. 
 
 The Redbreast or Robin Redbreast, as it is affectionately 
 termed, has, by its fearless conduct, earned itself golden opinions 
 from all kinds of men. Every nation seems to protect it. Even 
 the American redbreast lives unharmed possibly on account of its 
 connection with its English relation, whose oft-told charity toward 
 the Babes in the Wood has turned aside from its posterity even the 
 unsparing hand of the sporting schoolboy. 
 
TITS— TITMO USE. 
 
 129 
 
 In the winter, when the berries are gone, insects dead, and the 
 worms hidden under the hard frozen soil, then the robin flies for 
 refuge to the habitations of man for shelter and food. It is very- 
 amusing to see the half-trusting, half-fearful look with which it hops 
 to the window-sill for the first time. After a while, it becomes 
 bold, and taps at the window, if the expected crumbs are not thrown 
 out. Before long, it ventures to enter the room, hops about on the 
 table, and quite seems to consider as a right what was first merely a 
 favor. When once established, it is very jealous, and will not suffer 
 a friend to be a partaker of the same comforts, but attacks him with 
 the greatest fury ; so the unfortunate second comer has to wait 
 shivering outside the window, with his feathers puffed up, and his 
 little bright eye glancing from the depths of his plumage. 
 
 The nest of this bird is built in a crevice of an old ivied wall, 
 in a bank, sheltered by the roots of trees, or in a mass of ivy cling- 
 ing to an old tree. The eggs are five in number, of a pale gray 
 color, profusely marked with reddish spots. 
 
 The Tits. — The birds of this family are remarkable for their 
 active habits among the branches of trees. There are few who have 
 not seen these beautiful and interesting little birds twisting round 
 the branches, perfectly unconcerned at the presence of the specta- 
 tor, sometimes hanging head downward, sometimes chasing an 
 unlucky beetle along the bark, and invariably catching it, in spite 
 of its swift limbs and active wings ; sometimes twisting off a bud, 
 and pulling it to pieces with marvellous rapidity, in order to secure 
 the lurking caterpillar within ; sometimes pecking away at a piece 
 of loose bark, and extracting an unwilling spider by one of its legs 
 left incautiously projecting from its lurking-place. 
 
 The little Blue Titmouse is so well known as hardly to re- 
 quire any description. It is most amusingly courageous, and from 
 the strenuous resistance it offers to its capturer, has acquired from 
 9 
 
PIED WAGTAIL. 
 
 1130 
 
 \ ^ 
 
 rustic boys the name of “Billy-biter.” The angry hiss of the 
 female has frequently caused an intruding hand to be rapidly with- 
 drawn, for the sound is so exceedingly like the hiss of an irritated 
 snake, and the little beak is so sharp, that few have the courage to 
 proceed with their investigations. A pair of these birds built their 
 nest in the coping of the Great Western Railway, at the Shriven- 
 ham station, not two feet from the fiery and noisy engines, which 
 were constantly passing. The men respected the courage of the 
 little birds, and this whole brood was hatched, and suffered to fly at 
 liberty. 
 
 The utter contempt which this bird entertains for fire-arms 
 often leads to its destruction, for when the disappointed schoolboy 
 has been wasting his powder and shot in attempting to hit larks and 
 such large game, he consoles himself by shooting the unfortunate 
 titmouse, who will allow him to come so close that few vestiges of 
 it remain except a tuft of blue feathers. The eggs of the blue tit- 
 mouse are from six to eight in number — white, marked with reddish 
 brown spots. Its length is about four inches and a half. 
 
 The Pied Wagtail. — The wagtails, so named, from the almost 
 incessant vibration of their tails, are exclusively confined to the Old 
 World. The pied wagtail is the most common of its race. We 
 often see it pass rapidly, with peculiar dipping flight ; it settles on 
 the ground and wags its tail ; it runs a few paces, and wags its tail 
 again ; pecks at an insect, and its tail again vibrates. It does not 
 hop, like the warblers, finches, etc., but runs with great rapidity, 
 and altogether looks very like a diminutive magpie. 
 
 Sand-banks by the sides of rivers are the usual resort of these 
 birds, where they may almost always be seen, running about by the 
 water’s edge, sometimes snatching at an incautious May-fly, some- 
 times wading into the water after a caddis- worm or a stray grub, or 
 pecking at an unfortunate little minnow, which has come too near 
 
THE BRITISH WAGTAILS, 
 
132 
 
 WATER OUZEL— SONG-THRUSH. 
 
 the surface — and then it flies off to another spot to repeat the same 
 manoeuvres. It also greatly frequents pastures, and may be seen 
 running about among the cows in the most nonchalant manner 
 imaginable, catching the flies that torment those animals in the 
 summer, or flying off to its unfinished nest with a beak full of hairs. 
 
 Their nests are built near the water, in crevices among stones, 
 or in the hole of a wall. Frequently when stones are piled by a 
 wet quarry, several nests may be found in one heap of stones. The 
 eggs are four or five in number, of a dusky white color, spotted 
 with ashy brown. The length of the bird is seven inches and a 
 half. 
 
 The Water Ouzel, or Dipper is found principally in hilly 
 places where there are clear and rapid streams. There it may be 
 seen to go through its far-famed movements under the water, which 
 have given rise to so much controversy. It dives for considerable 
 distances with apparent ease, and has a habit of dipping and rising 
 repeatedly, from which practice its name has been derived. The 
 nest is usually built by the water-side, and is most carefully con- 
 cealed. In general appearance it is not unlike that of the wren, 
 being made of intertwined mosses, with an entrance at the side. 
 It lays five large white eggs. The length of this bird is about seven 
 inches. 
 
 The Song-Thrush, Throstle, or Mavis, is deservedly con- 
 sidered one of our best singing-birds. Its powerful and rich notes 
 may be heard even during the month of January, when most of the 
 other singing birds are either silent, or have departed. 
 
 Its nest is built almost before any other bird has commenced, 
 and may often be seen conspicuously placed in a bush, some time 
 before the leaves have begun to sprout. In order to defend the 
 callow young from the cold winds of the season when they are 
 hatched, the nest is more substantial than birds are accustomed to 
 
BLACKBIRD. 
 
 133 
 
 build, being thickly plastered within with a coating of mud, effect- 
 ually keeping out the chilly blasts. Were it only for its singing 
 powers, the thrush would deserve protection ; but the services it 
 renders to the gardener in devouring insects, snails, and other 
 destructive creatures, entitle it to a double share of regard. 
 
 It is very amusing to watch a thrush listening for the sound of 
 the earth-worm working its way through the ground, or the gnaw- 
 ing teeth of the cockchaffer grub. The grub he unearths and 
 devours without further ceremony, but he knows that if he is not 
 cautious, the earth-worm will withdraw itself out of his reach. 
 He therefore gives several hops near the worm, which, fancying 
 that it hears its enemy the mole pursuing it, comes to the surface, 
 and is instantly seized in triumph by the crafty thrush. 
 
 It clears the shells from snails by beating them against a 
 stone, and when it has found a convenient place for that purpose, 
 it invariably returns to the same spot with its prey, so that heaps 
 of broken snail-shells may often be found where the thrushes have 
 been at work. 
 
 The eggs of the thrush are five in number, of a bluish-green 
 color, spotted with a deep reddish brown. Sometimes the spots 
 are altogether absent. 
 
 The Blackbird is another delightful songster, whose jetty hue 
 and “orange-tawny bill ” are too well known to need description. 
 It is a very shy bird, and if disturbed in a hedge, has a habit of 
 darting through it, and then escaping on the other side, uttering a 
 sharp cry of alarm. 
 
 The habits of this bird are not unlike those of the thrush, 
 especially in its zeal for unearthing the cockchaffer grubs, and 
 possibly for eating cherries when they are ripe. Its nest is built 
 usually at the foot of a hedge, frequently in the very centre of a 
 holly bush, safe from most enemies, except weasels and schoolboys. 
 
134 
 
 MOCKING-BIRD. 
 
 The eggs are five in number, of a bluish-green color, profusely 
 spotted with brown. 
 
 The Mocking-bird is a native of most parts of America. 
 This wonderful bird stands pre-eminent in powers of song. Not 
 only are its natural notes bold and spirited, but it has the faculty 
 of imitating with deceptive fidelity every sound it hears. To its 
 flexible organs, the harsh setting of a saw, the song of a night- 
 ingale, the creaking of a wheel, the whistled tune of a passer-by, 
 the full and mellow notes of the thrush, the barking of a dog, the 
 crowing of a cock, and the savage scream of the bald eagle, are 
 each equally easy of execution, and follow one another with such 
 marvellous rapidity that few can believe that the insignificant 
 brown bird before them is the sole author of these varied sounds. 
 The Virginian nightingale and the canary hear their exquisite 
 modulations performed with such supperior execution, that the 
 vanquished songsters are silent for mere mortification, while the 
 triumphant mocking-bird only redoubles its efforts. 
 
 Wilson, whose animated description of this bird has never 
 been surpassed, says : “His expanded wings and tail glistening 
 with white, and the buoyant gayety of his action arresting the eye, 
 as his song does most irresistibly the ear, he sweeps round with 
 enthusiastic ecstasy, and mounts and descends as his song swells or 
 dies away. He often deceives the sportsman, and sends him in 
 search of birds that are not perhaps within miles of him, but whose 
 notes he exactly imitates ; even birds themselves are frequently 
 imposed upon by this admirable music, and are decoyed by the 
 fancied calls of their mates, or dive with precipitation into the 
 depth of thickets at the scream of what they suppose to be the 
 sparrow-hawk. 
 
 While sitting on its eggs it is an exceedingly courageous bird, 
 attacking without discrimination man, dog, or any animal who 
 
SP O TTED FL YCA TCHER— SHRIKE. 
 
 35 
 
 may approach too near to the nest. But the black snake is the 
 special object of its vengeance. The snake, who has perhaps just 
 arrived at the vicinity of the nest, and is contemplating a pleasant 
 breakfast on the young or eggs, is violently attacked by the enraged 
 mocking-bird, who, by repeated blows on the head, generally 
 destroys its enemy, and then, mounting on a bush, pours forth a 
 triumphant song of victory. 
 
 The nest is made generally in a bush or apple-tree, frequently 
 close to houses, as the bird is protected by the inhabitants. The 
 mocking-bird is often kept tame, in which case, so far from its 
 imitative powers showing any decrease, the variety of domestic 
 sounds heard about the house is often very perplexing. 
 
 The Spotted Flycatcher, an inhabitant of America, may be 
 considered as the type of the entire family. It may be constantly 
 seen in the gardens and orchards, going through the evolutions that 
 have given it the names of Flycatcher, Post- bird, Beam-bird, etc. 
 It takes its station on some elevated spot, such as the overhanging 
 bough of a tree, a post, or a rail ; and from thence watches for a 
 passing insect, on seeing which, it darts from its post, secures the 
 insect in the air, and returns to the spot by a short circular flight. 
 It is not a timid bird, and will permit an observer to stand quite 
 close to it, provided that he does not disturb it. 
 
 Its note is a weak chirp, and even that is not often heard. The 
 nest is built usually in holes of trees or walls, or sometimes between 
 a branch of a wall-fruit tree and the wall itself. The eggs are five 
 in number, spotted with reddish brown on a gray ground. The 
 length of the bird is about five inches. 
 
 The Shrikes, or Butcher Birds, well deserve their name, as 
 they live upon insects and small birds, which they kill, and after- 
 ward transfix with a thorn, preparatory to devouring them. They 
 take their prey much after the same manner as the flycatchers, by 
 darting on it from some place of concealment. 
 
1 3 6 
 
 JAY. 
 
 The Great Gray Shrike feeds upon mice, birds, frogs, and 
 other small animals. After pouncing upon its prey, the shrike, by 
 a few blows on the head from its powerful bill destroys it. The 
 unfortunate animal is then carried to the nearest hedge, impaled, 
 on a thorn, and the shrike devours it at his leisure. Large insects 
 are treated in the same manner. The object of this impalement is 
 apparently that the creature thus suspended should become tender 
 or “high,” and after hanging a lizard or mouse in this fashion, the 
 bird generally goes off and fetches another, always preferring to eat 
 those which have remained longest on the thorn, and which are, as 
 it were, cooked in the sun. 
 
 There is a strong bodily resemblance between this shrike and 
 the mocking-bird, the distinction lying generally in the outline ; 
 while the plumage is so similar, that many persons have actually 
 confused the two birds, giving to one the habits of the other. More- 
 over, the resemblance is not merely in outward form ; the gray 
 shrike can also imitate the notes of other birds, and often does so. 
 
 The name Execubiter, or Sentinel, is given it from the habit 
 of watching for birds of prey, and chattering loudly directly it 
 perceives them, thereby, proving that, like most other tyrants, it 
 has a great objection to suffering any injury itself. The nest is 
 built on trees, and contains about six eggs, grayish-white, spotted 
 with dark ash on the larger end ; length of the bird is from nine to 
 ten inches. 
 
 The Jay, so well known for the beautiful blue markings on its 
 wings, is rather a shy bird, preferring to reside in the thickest woods, 
 and seldom coming into the open country. It is easily tamed when 
 young, and is very amusing when domesticated. 
 
 This bird possesses, like several others of the same family, con- 
 siderable talents for mimicry. It has been known to imitate the 
 sound of a saw, the bleat of a lamb, or even the neighing of a horse, 
 

 
 THE MAGPIE, 
 
MAG PIE. 
 
 138 
 
 with the most perfect accuracy. Nor do its powers cease here, for 
 although its natural voice is harsh and grating, yet it can imitate 
 the sweet notes of singing birds, such as a greenfinch, with wonder- 
 ful fidelity. It has also frequently been taught to articulate words. 
 
 The name of Glandarius has been given to the jay, because it 
 feeds on vegetable productions, such as acorns, etc. , more than the 
 true crows. It is also partial to fruits, especially ripe cherries, 
 and is consequently persecuted by the gardener. It is also said to 
 devour eggs and young birds. 
 
 Its nest is built about twenty feet from the ground, the upper 
 part of a thick bush being preferred. The eggs are five or six in 
 number, of a yellowish white, thickly speckled with brown. The 
 length of the bird is nearly fourteen inches. 
 
 The Magpie, who seems to rival the parrot in the proud title 
 of the monkey of the birds (the raven being the ornithological 
 baboon), is a well-known inhabitant of this country. Its thieving 
 and hiding propensities have been frequently told ; but I must still 
 venture to give a few anecdotes of a tame magpie that resided in 
 Wiltshire. This bird found a malicious enjoyment in pecking the 
 unprotected ankles of little boys not yet arrived at manly habili- 
 ments, and was such a terror to the female servants that they were 
 forced to pass his lurking-place armed with a broom. One of the 
 servants having neglected this precaution, was actually found sitting 
 down on the stones to protect her ankles, the magpie triumphantly 
 pacing round her, until aid was brought, and the bird driven away. 
 But to little boys and girls the magpie showed no mercy, springing 
 out of its hiding-place and chasing them completely along the gar- 
 den walk. 
 
 The nest of the magpie is built on a high tree, and curiously 
 defended with thorns, having a small hole just large enough to 
 admit the owners, so that the liberal use of a pocket-knife is fre- 
 
RA VEN. 
 
 139 
 
 quently requisite in order to obtain the eggs. The nest is covered 
 with a dome of thorns, and its interior is defended by a coating of 
 mud, worked smooth. The eggs are five in number, of a greenish 
 white, covered with brown markings. The length of the bird is 
 about eighteen inches. 
 
 The Raven is very common in parts of Europe, and some 
 parts of Asia and America. It is more frequently found in the 
 Hebrides than in any other part of Great Britain. In those 
 islands it lives principally on carrion of various kinds, such as a 
 dead sheep or lamb, whose death the raven is accused with some 
 justice in hastening, and on fishes or cetaceous animals which have 
 been cast on shore by the waves. 
 
 In these cases the raven conducts itself much in the manner of 
 the vulture. It commences by taking out the eye and tongue, and 
 then proceeds to tear open the abdomen, operations for which its 
 sharp and powerful bill seems quite as well fitted as the hooked 
 beak of that rapacious bird. It is a very crafty bitd, and can with 
 difficulty be approached ; but by laying a dead carcass near its 
 haunts, and being carefully concealed, it may be seen cautiously 
 approaching; first, perching on an eminence, it looks carefully 
 round ; then advancing with a sidelong step, it examines its ex- 
 pected prey. When fully satisfied, it pecks out the eyes, and 
 proceeds to satiate itself with food. The raven seems to revel in 
 storms, and to be deterred by no inclemency of weather from seek- 
 ing its prey. 
 
 Although formerly so plentiful in America that innumerable 
 omens were drawn from its appearance, its croaking, or its flight, it 
 has almost become extinct, much to the discomfiture of omen- 
 seekers. 
 
 A raven in our possession used to watch the gardener taking 
 particular pains to prop up and secure a valuable plant. His 
 
140 
 
 ROOK. 
 
 labor was always in vain, for the raven, with a sidelong step and 
 an unconcerned air, as if he were thinking of anything but the 
 plant, would sidle by it, when one wrench of his iron bill laid the 
 unfortunate plant on the earth, and the raven moved off with the 
 most provoking air of innocence. The lady to whom the garden 
 belonged was quite afraid of the bird, and declared that she almost 
 believed that it was possessed by some evil spirit. It used to walk 
 behind her, so that she could never see it ; for when she turned 
 round, the raven hopped round too, and kept himself completely 
 out of her sight. At last it became so very mischievous that it was 
 sent away. 
 
 It has a great capacity for imitating sounds, and can be taught 
 to pronounce whole sentences, or sing songs with wonderful ac- 
 curacy. 
 
 In the northern parts of Scotland it makes its nest on high 
 rocks, but not unfrequently builds on the summit of a tall tree. The 
 nest is a large irregular structure of heath, grass, wool, and feathers, 
 and sea-weed, if it builds near the sea-shore. It lays from four to 
 seven eggs, of a pale green color, spotted with greenish brown. 
 The length of the bird is two feet two inches, and the expanse of 
 wing four feet eight inches. 
 
 The Rook inhabits almost every part of Europe, and is very 
 common in England, where it lives in a kind of semi-domestication, 
 inhabiting a grove of trees near a house, or in a park, where it is 
 protected by the owner, although he makes it pay for this accommo- 
 dation by shooting the young ones every year. Apparently in con- 
 sequence of this annual persecution, the rook has an intense horror of 
 guns, perceiving them at a great distance. While feeding in flocks 
 in the fields, or following the ploughman in his course, and devour- 
 ing the worms and grubs turned up by the share, the rook has always 
 a sentinel planted in a neighboring tree, who instantly gives the 
 alarm at the sight of a gun, or other suspicious-looking object. 
 
JACKDAW. 
 
 141 
 
 The good which the rook does by devouring the grubs of the 
 cockchafler, and the tipulis, or daddy-long-legs, both of which are 
 exceedingly injurious to the crops, more than compensates for the 
 damage it sometimes causes by pulling up young corn, or newly set 
 potato cuttings; in the latter case more, I believe, to get at the 
 wireworms, which crowd to slices of potato, than to eat the vege- 
 table itself. 
 
 In the fruit season, the rook, like most other birds, likes to 
 have his share of the cherries, pears, and walnuts, but may be easily 
 kept away by the occasional sight of a gun. Toward evening, the 
 rooks may be seen flying in long lines to their resting-place. They 
 then perform sundry evolutions in the air, and finally settle to rest. 
 
 Round the base of the rook’s beak is a whitish-looking skin, 
 denuded of feathers, the reason or cause of which is not plain. A 
 white variety of rook is sometimes seen. The eggs of the bird are 
 five in number, similar to those of the raven in color, but much 
 smaller. The length of the bird is nineteen inches. 
 
 The Jackdaw is another well-known bird. It does not build 
 in the branches of trees like the rook, to which it is very similar in 
 many respects, but prefers holes in decayed trees or old buildings, 
 particularly frequenting church towers and steeples. The jackdaw 
 feeds upon almost any substance that it can find. It kills 
 mice with a single blow of its beak, and then devours them 
 piecemeal. Grasshoppers, beetles, etc., are also killed by a squeeze 
 across the thorax, and the head, wings, and legs are twisted off 
 before the bird begins to eat them. It treats bees, wasps, and other 
 stinged insects with much more caution. 
 
 The feathers upon the crown of its head are of a grayish white 
 color, a peculiarity instantly distinguishing it from the rook. It is 
 frequently kept tame and is very amusing in captivity. The eggs 
 are of a lighter color than those of the rook, smaller and more 
 sparingly spotted. The length of the bird is fourteen inches. 
 
142 CROW— CHOUGH— EMERALD BIRD OF PARADISE. 
 
 The Crow, or Carrion Crow, as it is erroneously called, 
 seldom feeds on carrion ; for poor indeed would be his meals were 
 he dependent on dead sheep or horses for a livelihood. Possibly 
 the name was given as a distinction between it and the rook. . 
 Waterton states that the flesh of the carrion crow is just as good as 
 that of the rook, and relates how he once served up a pie of these 
 birds to some friends, who thought them pigeons. 
 
 It will also eat cherries and walnuts like the rook, and when 
 the supply of insects has failed, it will then turn its attention to 
 the duck-pond and farm-yard, and carry off a young duckling or 
 chicken. It also carries off eggs, by pouncing upon them, and 
 driving its bill through the shell, and even mice and rats are not 
 unaccustomed food. The nests of this bird are placed on the 
 summit of some tall tree, and contain about five eggs, closely 
 resembling those of the rook. The length of the bird is eighteen 
 inches. 
 
 The Chough is rather larger than the jackdaw, and is princi- 
 pally distinguished by the red hue of its bill and legs. It inhabits 
 the counties of the western coast of England. When tame, it 
 shows a very inquisitive disposition, examining every novelty with 
 the greatest attention. It builds its nest in the cavities of high 
 cliffs, and lays four or five eggs of a yellowish white color, spotted 
 with light brown. The length of the bird is seventeen inches. 
 
 The Emerald Bird of Paradise. — This most gorgeous and 
 elegant bird was once the subject of much discussion between 
 naturalists. The natives of New Guinea were accustomed to dry 
 them, having first cut off their legs, and then to offer them for sale. 
 In this footless state they reached Europe, where it was universally 
 stated that the bird lived always in the air, buoyed up by the light- 
 ness of its feathery covering ; that the shoulders were used as its 
 nest ; that the only rest it took was by suspending itself from a 
 
THE EMERALD BIRD OF PARADISE. 
 
144 
 
 STARLING. 
 
 branch by the filamentary feathers of the tail ; that its food was the 
 morning dew ; together with many other conjectures not less 
 ingenious than amusing. 
 
 This bird is about the size of a jay. Its body, breast, and 
 lower parts are of a deep rich brown ; the front set close with black 
 feathers shot with green ; the throat is of a rich golden green ; the 
 head yellow ; the sides of the tail are clothed with a splendid 
 plume of long downy feathers, of a soft yellow color. By these 
 are placed two long filamentous shafts, which extend nearly two 
 feet in length. 
 
 Of these beautiful feathers the bird is so proud that it will not 
 suffer the least speck of dirt to remain upon them, and it is con- 
 stantly examining its plumage to see that there are no spots on it. 
 When in its wild state, it always flies and sits with its face to the 
 wind, lest its elegant filmy plumes should be disarranged. 
 
 The Starlings comprise many genera, among which the 
 Pensile Orioles of America are the most interesting. These birds 
 build, or rather weave, a fabric not unlike loose cloth, composed of 
 hemp or flax. This nest is of the singular form represented in 
 many engravings, and the entrance is at the side. In all probability 
 this singular formation is for the purpose of keeping out the black 
 snake, who is constantly on the look-out for young birds. The 
 parent orioles often attack the snake, and compel him to retreat. 
 
 The plumage of the male when full grown is very brilliant. 
 The head, throat, and back are black, the under parts are orange, 
 the breast vermilion. A band of orange passes over the shoulders, 
 and the tail is orange and black. The length of the bird is almost 
 eight inches. 
 
 This is not the only bird that constructs pensile nests ; the 
 Weaver Birds also form these nests, but of a different form. They 
 look like great pistols hung up by the butt, the entrance being at 
 the muzzle, and the nest in the butt. 
 
146 
 
 GROSBEAK, OR HAWFINCH. 
 
 The common starling is a bird well known both for its beauty 
 and its singular method of flight. When a flock of starlings begin 
 to settle for the night, they wheel round the place selected with 
 great accuracy. Suddenly, as if by word of command, the whole 
 flock turn their sides to the spectator, and with a great whirring of 
 wings, the whole front and shape of the flock is altered. No body 
 of soldiers could be better wheeled or countermarched than are 
 these flocks of starlings. 
 
 The starling lives principally among old buildings, and is very 
 fond of gaining admittance into dovecotes, where it is a harmless 
 visitor, and may be suffered to remain without detriment to the 
 pigeons or their eggs. 
 
 Its nest is made usually in a hole in a wall, sometimes in a 
 decayed tree, and contains five eggs of a very delicate uniformly 
 pale blue. There is never any difficulty in discovering the nest of 
 the starling, for if it builds in a hole of a wall it generally leaves 
 several straws sticking out, as if to indicate the locality ; and 
 when it goes to take food to its young, both parent and children 
 set up such an outcry that it may be heard a long way off. Con- 
 sequently, there are few eggs so prevalent in the string of the 
 country boy as those of the starling. 
 
 The Grosbeak or Hawfinch. — We now arrive at the 
 Finches — a very numerous and interesting family. None of the 
 species are large, and most of them are excellent songsters. Their 
 beaks are conical, and fitted for the destruction of corn, peas, etc. 
 
 The grosbeak, or hawfinch, well deserves its generic name of 
 “ Berry -breaker, ” for its beak is capable of breaking the hard 
 kernels of the cherry, and, according to Willoughby, even those of 
 the olive. It is not a very rare bird, although it is but seldom 
 seen. This fact is accounted for by its great shyness and dread of 
 mankind ; so that, although it remains in some sections throughout 
 
CHAFFINCH— GOLDFINCH. 
 
 H7 
 
 the year, it seldom ventures out of the thick woods in which it 
 delights to dwell. 
 
 The nest of this bird is very shallow, and slightly put 
 together, being hardly superior to that of the wood-pigeon. The 
 eggs are from four to six in number, of a greenish white, covered 
 with dark marks and spots. The length of the grosbeak is seven 
 inches. 
 
 The Chaffinch, or Piefinch, as it is often called, is so well 
 known as to need no description. It is chiefly remarkable for the 
 beautiful nest which it constructs. The forks of a thorn or wild 
 crab-tree are favorite places for the nest, which is composed of 
 mosses, hair, wool, and feathers, covered on the exterior with 
 lichens and mosses, so exactly resembling the bough on which the 
 nest is placed that the eye is often deceived by its appearance. 
 
 In the nest four or five very pretty eggs are laid ; these are of 
 a reddish-brown color, sparely marked with deep brown spots, 
 especially toward the larger end. The name Coelebs, or Bachelor, 
 is given to this bird, because the females quit this section about 
 November, leaving large flocks of males behind them. 
 
 The Goldfinch, or Thistlefinch, so called on account of its 
 fondness for the down of the thistle, is one of our most beautiful 
 birds. Where thistles abound small flocks of goldfinches may be 
 seen flying from hedge to hedge, and occasionally pecking the 
 white tops of the thistles. The tufted seed of the dandelion, 
 groundsel, and other plants is also eaten by the goldfinch. In 
 captivity it is very tame, and can be trained to perform a multitude 
 of tricks, the most common of which are drawing its own food 
 and water with a chain and bucket, or firing a gun when com- 
 manded. 
 
 The nest is very beautiful, being mostly made of wool and 
 down from various plants, and is usually placed on the extremity 
 
148 COMMON LINNET— CANARY— YELLOW-HAMMER. 
 
 of a spray. The eggs are small, of a whitish tint, spotted with 
 orange brown. 
 
 The Common Linnet frequents commons and neglected pas- 
 tures. Its song is very sweet, and many bird-fanciers suppose that 
 the mixed breed of a canary and a linnet has a sweeter song than 
 either bird. Its nest is usually built in the centre of a large and 
 dense bush. The eggs are five in number, grayish-white speckled 
 with red. 
 
 The Canary. — This pretty little songster is so well known as 
 to need but little description, particularly as there are no oppor- 
 tunities of studying its natural course of life. From the manner 
 in which the canary is usually reared, it is evident that the bird has 
 but very little opportunity of exhibiting its natural instincts. 
 
 The Sparrow. — The courageous, impudent, quarrelsome 
 sparrow is known to all, and, therefore, will not be particularly 
 described. There are few who have not seen this little bird, when 
 pressed by cold in the winter, come to the window, expecting his 
 donation of crumbs. It is very fond of grain of various kinds, 
 and does some damage to the farmer, but the destruction of cater- 
 pillars by the bird more than compensates for the loss of the grain. 
 The little impertinent bird has no scruple in perching on the pig’s 
 trough, and partaking of his dinner, or in mixing with fowl and 
 taking its share of their provisions ; and on a newly-thatched house 
 it absolutely revels. Dozens of sparrows may then be seen peck- 
 ing and pulling at the straws in high enjoyment. The nest of the 
 house sparrow is usually built in holes of roofs. The eggs are 
 speckled black and white. 
 
 The Yellow-Hammer, or Yellow Bunting, is a very deli- 
 cately marked little bird, very common in our hedges, where it flits 
 before the traveller, always keeping about twenty yards in front. 
 It make its nest on the ground, and lays five eggs curiously scrib- 
 
LARK—B ULLFINCH 
 
 1 49 
 
 bled over with dark chocolate lines, just as if a child had been 
 trying to write Arabic on the eggs. 
 
 The Larks are known by their very long hind toe. The sky- 
 lark, which pours forth its animated song while suspended high in 
 the air, is an inhabitant of most parts of Europe, Asia, and North 
 Africa, but is not found in America. A very interesting story is 
 told of a skylark that was brought out to this country by a poor 
 emigrant, and which used to collect crowds of delighted listeners 
 round its cage. An English settler, who happened to be passing 
 by while the bird was singing, was so affected by the reminiscences 
 which its song called up that he offered his horse and cart for the 
 bird, on the spot. The owner, however, would take no price for 
 it, although most extravagant offers were made, and kept it till his 
 death. The bird afterward passed into other hands, but refused to 
 sing until its cage was hung up in the open air. 
 
 The nest is made on the ground, frequently in the print of 
 a horse’s foot, and contains five eggs of a greenish-white, thickly 
 spotted with brown. There are generally two broods in the year ; 
 one in May, and the other in July or August. Immense numbers 
 of these birds are caught annually and sent to the London markets. 
 The mode of catching the larks is generally by means of a number 
 of horsehair nooses attached to a long line. Food is scattered 
 among the nooses, and the larks in reaching the food get their 
 limbs entangled in the horsehair, and either strangle themselves, or 
 are held until the fowler comes to take them out. 
 
 The Bullfinch affords a singular instance of the power of art 
 on the song of birds. The natural note of the bulfinch is low, 
 and can only be heard at a short distance ; but when well trained 
 the bird whistles, or “ pipes,’ * as it is called, any melody which 
 had been taught it, in a fine flute-like tone. A good piping bull- 
 finch sells at a very high price. The method of teaching is to 
 
150 
 
 RHINOCEROS HORNBILL. 
 
 confine the birds in a dark room, and, before their food is given to 
 play the air that they have to learn, on an instrument called a 
 bird-organ. The birds soon begin to imitate the notes, and by 
 degrees the whole tune is learned. Some trainers substitute a 
 small clarinet for the bird-organ. When in captivity the bullfinch 
 is very sociable, and soon learns to know its owners, and to come 
 to them when called. 
 
 The nest of this bird is made in thick bushes, or fir-trees. 
 The eggs are of a pale-greenish white, spotted with orange brown. 
 The name of bullfinch is given to it on account of the large pro- 
 portionate size of its head and neck. When in captivity, its 
 plumage sometimes turns black, the result of feeding it too pro- 
 fusely with hemp -seed. 
 
 The Rhinoceros Hornbill. — This singular and almost start- 
 ling family comprises but few species, which are all natives of 
 India and Africa. The enormous bill, with its incomprehensible 
 appendage, although heavy, is really much lighter than it looks ; 
 being composed of a kind of light honeycombed structure. The 
 upper protuberance is hollow, and the only conjecture formed of 
 its use is that it serves as a sounding-board to increase the rever- 
 berations of the air while the bird is uttering its peculiar roaring 
 cry. In spite of the apparently unwieldy bill, the bird is very 
 active, and hops about the branches of the trees with much ease. 
 The appendage to the upper mandible is small when the bird 
 is young, and only attains its enormous size when the hornbill has 
 reached its full growth. 
 
 The bill of the hoopoe presents a somewhat analogous pecu- 
 liarity, as when the bird is young the bill is short and pointed, and 
 increases with the size of the bird. From this circumstance, 
 together with some other resemblances, some naturalists imagine 
 that there is an affinity between the hornbills and hoopoes. 
 
CLIMBING BIRDS— MACAWS. 
 
 151 
 
 The hornbills seem to be omnivorous, fruits, eggs, birds, 
 reptiles, etc., forming their food. The African hornbills are ex- 
 tremely fond of nutmegs, and are, on that account, said to be pecu- 
 liarly delicate eating. The rhinoceros hornbill is a native of India 
 and the Indian islands. The length of its bill is usually about ten 
 inches. 
 
 The Climbing Birds, now engage our attention. Under this 
 order are placed the Toucans, Parrots, Woodpeckers and Cuckoos. 
 The feet of these birds have two toes in front and two behind. 
 The toucans are all natives of tropical America. Their enormous 
 bill is rendered light in the same way as that of the hornbills, by 
 being chiefly composed of a honeycomb structure. It seems to be 
 very sensitive, and well supplied with nerves, as the bird not only 
 appears to enjoy holding meat or fruits with the tip of its bill, but 
 has been seen to scratch that organ with its foot, plainly proving 
 that there must be sensation. 
 
 It seems to be omnivorous, but is particularly fond of mice and 
 small birds, which it kills by a powerful squeeze, then strips and 
 finally pulls to pieces and devours, having previously reduced them 
 to a shapeless mass by repeated lateral wrenches with its enormous 
 and saw-like bill. When sleeping, the toucan takes great care of 
 its bill, packing it away, and covering it carefully with the feathers 
 of its back, and altogether presents the appearance of a large round 
 ball of feathers. The body is about eighteen inches in length. 
 These birds, together with the hoopoes and hornbills, have a habit 
 of throwing their food down their throats with a peculiar jerk of 
 the bill. 
 
 The Macaws. — In this family the construction of the bill is 
 very remarkable. As the curved tip of the bill would prevent the 
 bird from opening it wide enough to admit its food, the upper 
 mandible is united to the skull by a kind of hinge joint, of equal 
 
THE COCKATOOS. 
 
RINGED PAROQUET— COCKATOO. 
 
 53 
 
 strength and flexibility. When climbing among the branches of 
 trees, or about their cages, the parrots invariably make great 
 use of their hooked bills in assisting themselves both in ascending 
 and descending. The crossbills have been observed to climb much 
 in the same way. 
 
 The parrots are said to be very long-lived ; some have certainly 
 been known to live upward of eighty years in captivity, and may be 
 imagined to exceed that period in a wild state. The macaws are 
 natives of South America. The blue and yellow macaw inhabits 
 Brazil, Guiana, and Surinam, living principally on the banks of 
 rivers. 
 
 The Ringed Paroquet is frequently seen domesticated in this 
 country, where its pleasing manners and gentle disposition render 
 it a great favorite. It seems to be exceedingly fond of ripe wal- 
 nuts, divided into halves ; and, while it is picking out the kernel, 
 continually utters a short clucking sound indicative of pleasure. 
 
 It soon learns to repeat words and short sentences, and to 
 speak with tolerable distinctness. Sometimes, when excited, it 
 utters most ear-piercing screams, and always appears to practice 
 any new accomplishment when it thinks that no one is within 
 hearing. The color of the bird is green, and a rose-colored band 
 round its neck gives it the name of the rose-ringed paroquet. The 
 bill is red. 
 
 The Cockatoos are remarkable for the powdery surface of 
 their wings, and the crest on the head, which can be raised or de- 
 pressed at pleasure. 
 
 The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is an inhabitant of New Guinea. 
 Its color is white, and the crest is of a sulphur yellow. Its white 
 plumage glancing among the dense, dark foliage of its native forests 
 imparts a wonderful beauty to the scene. This cockatoo is easily 
 tamed, and is of a very affectionate disposition. When in captivity 
 
154 
 
 WOODPECKER. 
 
 it has been known to live to the age of 122 years. Its nest is built 
 in hollow trees and the crevices of rocks. The eggs are white. 
 The length of the bird is about eighteen inches. 
 
 The Woodpeckers, whose name indicates their habits, are 
 widely spread, being found in all quarters of the globe except Aus- 
 tralia. They subsist on insects and grubs, which they dig out of 
 trees, or discover under the bark. For this purpose their whole 
 structure is admirably adapted. The bill is long, sharp, and pow- 
 erful, and the formation of the feet and legs is such that the bird is 
 able to grasp the tree firmly with the feet, while swinging with the 
 force of his whole body against it. 
 
 Another singular point in the woodpeckers is the method by 
 which they are enabled to thrust the tongue deep into the crevices, 
 and bring out any insects that may happen to be there. The 
 tongue is connected with two elastic ligaments which are inserted 
 near the juncture of the upper mandible with the skull. From 
 thence they sweep round the back of the head, and passing under 
 the lower mandible, enable the tongue to be thrust out a consider- 
 able distance. The tip of the tongue is sharp, and barbed with 
 several filaments; and more firmly to secure the prey, a kind of 
 gummy secretion causes those insects to adhere that would be too 
 small to be impaled. 
 
 It appears to be an erroneous opinion that these birds injure 
 trees. Their only object in pecking away the wood and bark is to 
 get at the insects, which they know are hidden within. Now in- 
 sects seldom or never bore into healthy wood, but a decayed branch 
 or stump is always full of them, as is well known to the entomolo- 
 gist ; so the winged entomologist, when he perceives a decayed 
 branch, or finds an unsound spot in the trunk, immediately sets to 
 work industriously, and is rewarded by finding plenty of insects, 
 which he draws out and demolishes. 
 
WR YNECK— CUCKO O. 
 
 *55 
 
 Although the woodpecker does not scoop away sound trees, 
 yet it is because they have no motive for doing so — not that the 
 power is wanting. Wilson had an Ivory-billed Woodpecker in his 
 possession, which pecked away lath and plaster in its efforts to 
 escape, and utterly ruined a mahogany table to which it was fastened. 
 
 The Green Woodpecker is by far the most common in this 
 country, and may be often seen in woods, tapping the trees with 
 wonderful rapidity, the blows following each other something like 
 the sound of a watchman’s rattle. It generally runs up the tree in 
 a spiral direction, occasionally striking off large pieces of dry bark. 
 When it descends, it still keeps its head uppermost. 
 
 I have more than once seen the green woodpecker busily em- 
 ployed among the trees, but I have never seen it on the ground, 
 and but once on the smaller branches of the trees. 
 
 The Wryneck is common in the southern counties of England, 
 but is scarcely ever seen in the north and west. It principally feeds 
 on ants, which it picks up with great rapidity by means of its long 
 tongue', covered with a glutinous secretion like that of the wood- 
 pecker. The rapidity with which the ants are taken is so great, 
 that 4 ‘an ant’s egg, which is of a light color, and more conspicuous 
 than the tongue, has somewhat the appearance of moving to the 
 mouth by attraction, as a needle does to the magnet.” 
 
 The term wryneck is given it from its habit of rapidly twisting 
 its head and neck, and hissing like a serpent, if disturbed upon its 
 eggs. The young also hiss if they are molested. Its eggs are laid 
 on the bare wood in the holes of trees. Like most eggs that are 
 laid in holes, they are of a pure white. The length of the bird is 
 seven inches. 
 
 The Cuckoo, spring’s harbinger, has, in all ages, obtained for 
 itself a name at once pleasing and disreputable ; pleasing, because 
 its well-known notes are a sign that the cold winter is gone ; and 
 
156 
 
 DOVE. 
 
 disreputable, because it usurps the nests of other birds, of which the 
 hedge-sparrow is the usual victim. 
 
 In its nest the cuckoo deposits one of its own eggs, which are 
 remarkably small in proportion to the size of the bird The un- 
 suspecting hedge-sparrow hatches the intruder together with her own 
 young. The cuckoo rapidly increases in size, and monopolizes no 
 small portion of the entire nest, besides taking the lion’s share of 
 the provisions. The mother, however, never seems to perceive the 
 difference, but feeds and tends the interloper with quite as much 
 care as her own young. The young cuckoo ejects the former and 
 rightful occupants of the nest, by managing to get the egg or young 
 bird upon its back, clambering up to the edge of the nest, and then 
 throwing it over by a sharp jerk. 
 
 At some times of the year, cuckoos are comparatively tame. I 
 have repeatedly decoyed them by imitating their cry, until they 
 came near enough for me to see the movement of the beak. The 
 cuckoo feeds principally on the hairy caterpillars, especially those 
 of the tiger moth, the hairs of which form a kind of lining to its 
 stomach. These hairs are placed so regularly, that it was imagined 
 for some time that they were a growth from the stomach itself. 
 To settle the point, the microscope was brought to bear on 
 the subject ; and by its aid the hairs were found to be exclusively 
 those of the caterpillar. The cuckoo will also feed on other insects, 
 as is proved by Gilbert White, who saw several cuckoos engaged in 
 feeding by a large pond. They were chiefly employed in catching 
 the dragon-flies, some of which they took while resting on the 
 water-plants, and others they caught on the wing. The length of 
 the bird is about fourteen inches. 
 
 The Dove. — This family is supposed to be more widely dis- 
 tributed than any other. The ringdove is the largest of our native 
 pigeons. A black ringlet round the neck, edged with white, gives 
 
PIGEON— PEA CO CK. 
 
 1 57 
 
 it the name of ringdove. It is very common in America; and its 
 nests are usually found to consist of a few sticks, thrown loosely to- 
 gether on a spray of fir or holly. The structure of this plat- 
 form, for nest it can hardly be called, is so loose, that the white 
 eggs can generally be seen from below through the interstices of 
 the nest. 
 
 The following group comprises the most conspicuous varieties 
 of the Domestic Pigeon. All these birds except the Carrier, the 
 Pouter, and Tumbler, are very similar in their habits, and need no 
 description. The tumbler is a small pigeon, and derives its name 
 from its singular habit of falling backward when on the wing. 
 Pigeon fanciers assert that a flight of twelve tumblers may be 
 covered with a handkerchief. The pouter is a large pigeon. It 
 stands particularly erect, and seems exceedingly vain of the swollen 
 crop which gives it the name of pouter. The bird is enabled to 
 inflate its crop with air, until the head is almost hidden behind it. 
 This inflation sometimes causes the bird to lose its balance, and fall 
 down chimneys, on which it is fond of standing. 
 
 The carrier pigeon is the bird that was so largely employed to 
 take messages, before the invention of the electric telegraph ren- 
 dered even the speed of the wind too slow for the present day. 
 The most valuable carriers were trained to carry to and from their 
 residence. A letter was written on a small piece of paper, and 
 fastened under the wings of the pigeon, or to its feet. The feet 
 were then bathed in vinegar to keep them cool, lest the bird should 
 stop on the way to bathe. When the pigeon was set free, it rose 
 high in the air, made one or two circular flights, and then darted 
 off like an arrow in the proper direction. One of these birds has 
 been known to fly nearly one hundred and fifty miles in one hour. 
 
 The Peacock. — This magnificent bird is not a native of this 
 country, but has been domesticated in America for many years. 
 
i 5 8 
 
 COMMON FHEASANT. 
 
 Some suppose that it was brought from India by Alexander, and by 
 him introduced into Europe. 
 
 The gorgeous plumes that adorn the peacock do not compose 
 the tail, as many suppose, but are only the tail coverts. The tail 
 feathers themselves are short and rigid and serve to keep the train 
 spread, as may be seen when the bird walks about in all the 
 majesty of his expanded plumage. Although pea-fowl seek their 
 food on the ground, they invariably roost on some elevated situation, 
 such as a high branch, or the roof of a barn or haystack. When 
 the bird is perched on the roof, its train l;es along the thatch, and 
 is quite invisible in the dark. 
 
 In the times of chivalry, a roasted peacock, still clothed in its 
 plumage, and with its train displayed, formed one of the chief 
 ornaments of the regal board. The nest of this bird is made of 
 sticks and leaves rudely thrown together, and contains from twelve 
 to fifteen eggs. The young do not attain their full plumage until 
 the third year, and only the males possess the vivid tints and 
 lengthened train, the female being a comparatively ordinary bird. 
 
 A white variety of the peacock is not uncommon. In this 
 case, the eyes of the train feathers are slightly marked with a 
 neutral tint. The voice of the peacock is as unpleasant and 
 unmusical as its external appearance is attractive. 
 
 The Common Pheasant was originally brought from Georgia, 
 but has completely naturalized itself in other countries. It is a 
 hardy bird, and bears the cold months very well. Although it can 
 be tamed, and will come to be fed with the poultry, yet an innate 
 timidity prevents it from being thoroughly domesticated. Young 
 pheasants that have been hatched under a hen, scamper off in terror 
 if an unexpected intruder makes his appearance among them, 
 although the remainder of the poultry remain perfectly unconcerned. 
 This bird loves to perch at night on trees, especially on the spread- 
 ing branches of the larch. 
 
DOMESTIC FOWLS . 
 
 159 
 
 A white variety of the pheasant sometimes occurs, but seems 
 never to be propagated. The nest of the bird is made on the 
 ground, and contains from ten to eighteen eggs of a uniform dun 
 color. 
 
 The Domestic Fowls are too well known to need much de- 
 
 THE PHEASANT. 
 
 scription. There are many varieties, the most conspicuous of which 
 are the Cochin-China, Crested, and Bantam. The Game Fowl was 
 formerly in great request for the cruel sport of cock-fighting. The 
 Java Fowl, of which the enormous Cochin-China bird is a variety, 
 is supposed to be the origin of the Barn-door fowl. The cock has 
 
6o 
 
 TURKEY. 
 
 been long celebrated for his warlike propensities, and his habit of 
 greeting the approach of morn by his “ shrill clarion.” 
 
 The bantam is a very little bird indeed, but exceedingly cour- 
 ageous, and does not hesitate to attack a turkey or such large bird 
 with most amusing pompousness of manner. Some bantams have 
 their legs thickly feathered down to the very toes. The hackles, 
 or long neck feathers of this and the preceding bird, are much used 
 by anglers for making artificial flies. 
 
 The celebrated Jungle Fowl of India belongs to this race, and 
 is by many supposed to be the origin of our domestic game fowl. 
 The Chinese, who are greatly addicted to the sport of cock-fighting, 
 prefer this bird for their cruel amusement. The Dorking Fowl is a 
 large and delicate species. The chief peculiarity in this bird is the 
 double hind toe, so that it has five toes instead of four. 
 
 The Turkey is an inhabitant of America, and appears to have 
 been imported into Europe about the year 1600. Its habits in a 
 state of domestication need no description, but when wild in its 
 native woods are rather interesting. It is partly migratory in its 
 habits, moving from the parts about Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, 
 toward the Ohio and Mississippi. The march is usually performed 
 on foot in large flocks, the birds seldom using their wings except 
 when attacked, or in order to cross a river. 
 
 The powerful birds can easily cross a river of a mile in length, 
 but the weaker frequently fall into the water, and then paddle to 
 shore with some rapidity. This migration is performed about the 
 end of October. 
 
 Among the birds rightly called Grouse are the Pheasant-tailed 
 Grouse or Cock of the Plains, the Pinnated Grouse, commonly 
 called the prairie hen or chicken, and the Ruffled Grouse, called 
 partridge in New England, and pheasant in the Middle States. The 
 cock of the plains is found only in the far West ; it is the largest of 
 the American grouse, being often as large as a turkey. 
 
QUAIL. 
 
 161 
 
 The Quail (Bob White so called) is a common little bird, 
 visiting America in the summer. Countless flocks of them are 
 spread over the Southern and Middle States, and many are taken 
 and sent to the New York markets. 
 
 the; turke;y. 
 
 Temminck states that in their flight to Southern Europe hun- 
 dreds of thousands arrive in Naples and Provence, and are so 
 fatigued that for several days they suffer themselves to be taken by 
 hand. The instinct to fly by night is implanted in them for the 
 purpose of avoiding the birds of prey that would attack them by 
 
162 PTARMIGAN— MOUND-MAKING MEGAPODE. 
 
 day. The female lays from seven to twelve eggs in a rude nest on 
 the ground. The length of the bird is seven inches ; the second 
 primary feather is the longest. 
 
 The Ptarmigan. — The legs and feet of the ptarmigan are 
 thickly covered with hair-like feathers, reaching as far as the claws. 
 Their plumage bears a singular analogy to the fur of the ermine and 
 ■some other quadrupeds, as it changes in winter from a rich tortoise-shell 
 ■color to a pure white. The common ptarmigan inhabits the north- 
 •ern parts of Europe and America, and is also found in the north of 
 Scotland, principally among the mountains. The color of the bird 
 is so similar to that of the mossy and lichen -covered rocks among 
 which it dwells, that a whole covey easily eludes an unprac- 
 ticed eye. 
 
 Enormous numbers of ptarmigans are annually imported from 
 the north of Europe, especially from Norway and Sweden, to the 
 London market. One poulterer has purchased fifteen thousand of 
 these birds ; and twenty-four thousand have been exported in one 
 ship from one place. Like that of the grouse, the ptarmigan’s nest 
 is a loosely-constructed heap of twigs and grass, and contains from 
 ten to fourteen eggs, of a reddish white spotted with brown. 
 
 The Mound-making Megapode inhabits the dense thickets 
 bordering on the sea-shore, and is never found far inland. Like 
 the brush turkey, it deposits many eggs in one mound, but instead 
 of placing them at intervals in the mound, the bird makes deep 
 holes, from five to six feet, at the bottom of which the eggs are de- 
 posited. 
 
 The natives obtain the eggs by scratching up the earth with 
 their fingers, until they have traced the hole to the bottom ; a very 
 laborious task, as the holes seldom run straight, and often turn off 
 at right angles to avoid a stone or root. The mounds are enor- 
 mously large. Mr. Gilbert was told by the residents that they 
 
OSTRICH. 
 
 163 
 
 were the tombs of the aborigines, nor was it until after some time 
 that their real nature was made known. The height of one mound 
 was fifteen feet, and its circumference at the base sixty feet. 
 
 The Ostrich is the largest bird as yet known to exist, its 
 height being from six to eight feet. It is an inhabitant of Africa, 
 and from thence the elegant plumes are brought. These plumes 
 are mostly obtained from the wings of the bird, and not from the 
 tail, as is generally imagined. 
 
 An immense number of eggs are laid by the ostriches in one 
 spot, several birds belonging to each nest. The eggs are very 
 large and strong, and are in general use by the Bosjesmans for 
 holding water. By means of these eggs, which they bury at inter- 
 vals in the sand, after filling them with water, they are enabled to 
 make inroads across the desert and retreat with security, as none 
 can follow them for want of water. Each egg holds rather more 
 than five pints. An excellent omelet is made by the natives, by 
 burying the fresh egg in hot ashes, and stirring round the contents 
 with a stick through a hole in the upper end, until thoroughly 
 cooked. 
 
 The principal strength of the ostrich lies in the legs. These 
 limbs are so powerful that a swift horse has great difficulty in over- 
 taking the bird. As the ostrich mostly runs in large curves, the 
 hunters cut across and intercept the bird, which would in all 
 probability escape if followed in its exact course. The ostrich is 
 easily tamed, as those who have been pursued by the magnificent 
 birds in the Zoological Gardens can testify. These frequently 
 astonish the visitors by suddenly snatching out of his hand a bun 
 or cake which he had intended for his own especial benefit, their 
 long necks enabling them to reach to a surprising distance. Many 
 of my readers have doubtless seen the tame ostriches at the Hippo- 
 drome, who ran races bearing riders on their backs, and really 
 
CASSOWARY. 
 
 164 
 
 seemed to enjoy the sport as much as any of the spectators. 
 
 The food of the ostrich is vegetable, and it swallows many 
 stones, etc. , to assist it in grinding its food. When in confinement 
 it picks up anything, glass, nails, etc. , from the effects of which it 
 sometimes dies. I have assisted at the dissection of an ostrich, and 
 have seen an astonishing amount of pebbles and other hard mater- 
 ials taken from its stomach, among which were a tolerably large 
 piece of deal and a considerable portion of a brickbat. 
 
 The Rhea, or American Ostrich, is abundant on the banks of 
 the La Plata, and is chased by the Gauchos, who pursue it on 
 horseback, and kill it by throwing the celebrated “bolas.” These 
 curious weapons are made of a long leathern thong, having a heavy 
 stone or leaden ball attached to each end. The Gaucho can throw 
 it so as either to stun his prey with a blow from the ball, or strangle 
 it by causing the thong to twist round its neck. 
 
 It is known that the rhea can swim well, and it has been seen 
 to cross rivers several hundred feet in width, a power which the 
 ostrich and the cassowary are not ascertained to possess. There 
 are two species of this bird, one, the Darwin’s Rhea, has been but 
 lately introduced to science. 
 
 The Cassowary is a native of the eastern parts of Asia. 
 Like the ostrich, it cannot fly, but runs with great swiftness, and if 
 attacked by dogs kicks with extreme force and rapidity. The 
 feathers of this bird are remarkable for being composed of two 
 long, thread-like feathers, sprouting from the same root. The 
 wing feathers are round, black, and strong, and resemble the quills 
 of the porcupine. At the end of the last joint of the wing is a 
 sort of claw or spur. The crest upon its head is composed of a 
 cellular bony substance. The food of the bird consists of vegetable 
 substances, and it will frequently swallow a tolerably large apple 
 entire, trusting to the pebbles, etc. , in its stomach to bruise it. 
 
THE OSTRICH 
 
EMU— A P TER YX. 
 
 1 66 
 
 The Emu is a native of New Holland, and nearly equals the 
 ostrich in bulk, its height being between five and six feet. Its 
 feathers lie loosely on the body, and its wings are small and hardly 
 to be distinguished. The skin of the emu furnishes a bright and 
 clear oil, on which account it is eagerly sought after. 
 
 In its manners the emu bears a close resemblance to the 
 ostrich. ... Its food appears to be wholly vegetable, con- 
 sisting chiefly of fruits, roots, and herbage, and it is consequently, 
 notwithstanding its great strength, perfectly inoffensive. The 
 length of its legs and the muscularity of its thighs enable it to run 
 with great swiftness ; and as it is exceedingly sly, it is not easily 
 overtaken or brought within gunshot. Dogs will seldom attack it, 
 both on account of some peculiar odor in its flesh which they dis- 
 like, and because the injuries inflicted upon them by striking out 
 with its feet are frequently very severe. Its flesh has been com- 
 pared to coarse beef, which it resembles both in appearance and 
 taste. There is but little fit for culinary use upon any part of the 
 emu except the hind quarters. 
 
 The voice of the emu is a kind of low booming sound. The 
 eggs are six or seven in number, of a dark green color, and are 
 much esteemed by the natives as food. When the natives take an 
 emu, they break its wings, a curious custom of no perceptible utility. 
 
 The Apteryx. — This extraordinary bird, whose name is 
 derived from the apparent absence of wings, those members being 
 merely rudimentary, inhabits the islands of New Zealand. It con- 
 ceals itself among the densest fern, and when hunted by dogs, it 
 hastens to seek a refuge among rocks and in the chambers which it 
 excavates in the earth. In these chambers its nest is made and the 
 eggs laid. The natives hunt it with great eagerness, as the skins 
 are used for the dresses of chiefs, who are so tenacious of them 
 that they can hardly be persuaded to part with a single skin. 
 
DODO— PLOVER. 
 
 1 67 
 
 The feathers are employed to make artificial flies. When 
 attacked it defends itself by rapid and vigorous strokes with its 
 powerful feet. 
 
 For many years naturalists considered the apteryx an extinct 
 species. Latterly the question has been set at rest, not only by 
 the researches of Gould and other naturalists, but by the arrival in 
 this country of several skins and one living specimen, now in the 
 Zoological Gardens. This bird has a singular habit of resting 
 with the top of its bill placed on the ground. The nostrils of the 
 apteryx are placed almost at the very extremity of the bill. The 
 aborigines of New Zealand give it the name of Kiwi Kiwi. The 
 food of 'the bird consists of snails, insects, and worms, which latter 
 creatures it obtains by striking the ground with its feet, and seizing 
 them on their appearance at the surface. 
 
 The Dodo. — This singular bird, which is supposed to be 
 extinct, was discovered in the Mauritius by the earlier voyagers. 
 For many years their accounts of the Dodars were supposed to be 
 mere flights of fancy. Lately, however, the discovery of several 
 relics of this bird in varions countries has set the question of its 
 existence at rest, but not the question of the proper position of the 
 bird. Some think it belongs to the pigeons, and some to the 
 ostriches. 
 
 It is still within the range of possibility that the bird may 
 again be discovered, as at present but little of Madagascar has been 
 searched, and in that island, if anywhere, it will be found. 
 
 The Plovers are known by their long legs, short toes, and 
 long, powerful wings. Many are inhabitants of America, of which 
 the Upland or Field and Golden Plover are the most common. 
 
 The Golden Plover is very common in most parts of the 
 United States, and is well known from its plaintive cry, and the 
 stratagems it employs to decoy intruders away from its nest, or 
 
COMMON CRANE-HERON. 
 
 1 68 
 
 rather eggs, for nest it has none. Frequently, however, the attempts 
 of the bird only draw the attention of the passer-by to the evident 
 vicinity of the eggs. These eggs are dark brown, blotched with 
 black, and are hardly to be distinguished from the soil where they 
 are laid. If an intruder approach them, the bird glides before 
 him, and flutters along, drooping her wings, as if wounded, invari- 
 ably endeavoring to lead him away from her nest. When it has 
 succeeded in decoying away the intruder, it suddenly mounts in the 
 air, uttering its cry of pee-weet, leaving the pursuer to gaze with 
 astonishment at the escaping bird. 
 
 The eggs are considered great delicacies. When flying, the 
 black and white colors of its plumage make it very conspicuous. 
 On the head of the bird is a kind of crest. 
 
 The Common Crane is now but rarely seen on our shores, 
 although formerly it was very common. It flies at so great a height 
 that, although its hoarse cry is audible, the bird itself is far out of 
 the reach of sight. It generally feeds on snails, frogs, and worms, 
 but is not by any means averse to newly-sown grain. The nest is 
 made among reeds and rushes, and contains two bluish-green eggs, 
 marked with brown. The length of the bird is nearly four feet. 
 
 The Heron, or Herne, is a bird renowned in the noble science 
 of falconry. The common heron generally breeds in company, 
 like the rooks ; indeed, these two birds frequently inhabit contigu- 
 ous trees, but never interfere with each other. 
 
 In the dawn of the early morning, or while tne moon casts an 
 uncertain light, the heron may be seen standing in shallow water, 
 stiff and motionless, and by the faint light may be mistaken for a 
 stump of a tree. But his eye is keenly directed on the water, and 
 no sooner does a fish approach, than a dart of his unerring bill 
 secures it, and the heron soars exultingly to his nest, bearing his 
 prey with him. The fixed patience that the heron displays has 
 
BITTERN— WHITE SPOONBILL. 
 
 169 
 
 caused it to be chosen as the emblem of solitude. Its plumes were 
 formerly considered as ornaments only to be worn by the noble. 
 
 The heron sometimes killed the falcon in its stoop by throwing 
 its head back, whether purposely or not is not known, and receiving 
 its enemy on the point of its sharp beak, by which the falcon was 
 transfixed as if on a bayonet. It has been lately ascertained that 
 the heron can swim in deep water, and does so when it sees any 
 prey that cannot be reached by wading, such as a nice nestful of 
 young moor-hens, or a water-rat engaged at his dinner. The nest 
 of the heron is a flat mass of sticks, laid on the highest branches 
 of a tree, and contains five bluish-green eggs. 
 
 The Bittern. — The beautiful bittern has been almost banished 
 from this country, although it was formerly a common bird. It 
 frequents morasses and dense beds of reeds, where it lies concealed 
 until the evening, when it leaves its rushy bed and soars to a vast 
 height, continually uttering its sepulchral booming cry. This 
 singular sound is not unlike the bellowing of a bull, and is most 
 startling in its effects. 
 
 In olden times the bittern was one of the birds chiefly sought 
 after in falconry, as the stout defence it makes against its enemies, 
 by darting its sharp powerful beak at them, and beating violently 
 with its feet, renders it by no means an easy prey. The plumage 
 of this beautiful bird is a rich reddish-yellow ground, boldly varie- 
 gated with various black marks, which are most conspicuous in the 
 loose, long feathers that decorate its neck. In size it is a little less 
 than the heron. It feeds principally on small reptiles, field-mice, 
 and fish. Its nest is built on some slight elevation in a morass, 
 and contains five bluish-green eggs. 
 
 The White Spoonbill. — The common spoonbill is found in 
 Europe, Asia, and Africa, and frequents Holland, together with the 
 stork. The strange shape of the tip of its beak has gained it the 
 
170 
 
 STORK— SACKED IBIS. 
 
 name of spoonbill. It has rarely been taken in this country. It 
 feeds on worms, snails, and water plants, searching for the latter 
 by agitating the water with its broad beak. 
 
 The nest of the white spoonbill is sometimes placed in trees, 
 and sometimes amid rushes. It contains three whitish eggs, slightly 
 spotted with red. The length of the bird is not quite three feet. 
 
 The Stork is extensively found throughout Europe, Asia, and 
 Africa. In Holland storks are very abundant, and are encouraged 
 by the Dutch to build in their towns. Among the ruins of Per- 
 sepolis they are very common, scarcely one pillar being without a 
 stork’s nest at the summit. In Holland a kind of false chimney is 
 built by the inhabitants for these birds to make their nests in. 
 When the stork cannot find a building on which to make its nest, 
 it chooses the flat, spreading branches of cedar or pine, and there 
 collects a large mass of sticks and twigs, on which it lays from three 
 to five whitish eggs. When disturbed, the birds make a great clat- 
 tering with their bills. 
 
 The food of this bird consists of rats, mice, frogs, etc.; and it 
 is for the benefits it confers upon man by devouring these vermin, 
 that it is so carefully protected and encouraged, especially in the 
 East, where the inhabitants do not trouble themselves to remove 
 carrion or offal, but leave that office to the vultures, hyenas, and 
 other scavengers of nature. The height of the stork is nearly four 
 feet. 
 
 The Sacred Ibis inhabits Egypt, but does not seem to breed 
 there. This is the bird so frequently depicted in the hieroglyphics 
 as playing a conspicuous part in religious ceremonies. Their mum- 
 mies are constantly found in the tombs, and in one of these mum- 
 mies Cuvier discovered remnants of skin, and scales of snakes. It 
 is a migratory bird, appearing simultaneously with the rise of the 
 Nile, and departing as the inundation subsides. The sacred ibis is 
 about the size of an ordinary fowl. 
 
THE STORK, 
 
172 
 
 CURLEW— A VOCET— WOODCOCK— SNIPE. 
 
 The Curlew is found in the northern part of England and 
 Scotland, and is spread over the whole of the Old World, from 
 South Africa to the polar regions. In winter it collects in large 
 flocks on the muddy shores of the sea, where its long, curved bill 
 can easily penetrate in search of food. 
 
 It is an excedingly shy bird, and cannot easily be approached 
 within gunshot. Its nest is composed of grass and rushes, collected 
 under the shelter of a tuft of heath or grass, and contains four 
 greenish-olive eggs blotched with brown. The length of the bird 
 slightly exceeds two feet. 
 
 The Avocet is spread throughout the warmer regions of Europe, 
 and is also found in some parts of Africa. It is very common in 
 Holland, and is frequently seen on the eastern coasts of England. 
 It frequents marshes and the mouths of rivers, where it finds in the 
 mud myriads of the small worms and insects on which it feeds, and 
 which it obtains by scooping them up from the mud with its curiously 
 curved bill. It is a good swimmer, but seldom has recourse to that 
 art except when it wades unexpectedly out of its depth. 
 
 The eggs of the avocet are laid on the ground, in a depression 
 sheltered by a tuft of herbage. Their color is a bluish green, 
 spotted with black. The birds when disturbed at their nests feign 
 lameness, like the lapwing, in order to draw the intruder to a dis- 
 tance. The length of the bird is eighteen inches. 
 
 The Woodcock, frequents dense thickets during the day, but 
 at night it leaves these retreats, and visits the swamps and flooded 
 meadows, where it finds a sufficiency of worms and insects. The 
 nest of this bird is a loose mass of grass and leaves, gathered 
 together in some sheltered depression. The eggs are four in num- 
 ber, of a yellowish brown, blotched with dark brown and gray. 
 
 The Snipe is too well known to need description. In its 
 habits it much resembles the woodcock. Its flight is very singular, 
 rendering it a difficult mark. 
 
CORNCRAKE, OR LANDRAIL— WATER-HEN. 
 
 73 
 
 The Corncrake, or Landrail, is very common in England. 
 During the early part of the summer months its harsh cry may be 
 heard in almost every field, but the bird itself is very seldom seen, 
 as it threads its way among the long grass with marvellous rapidity. 
 Its cry can be so exactly imitated by drawing a quill sharply across 
 the teeth of a comb, that the bird may be decoyed by the sound 
 until quite close to the operator. The corncrake is so averse to 
 rising on the wing, that a dog is frequently employed to hunt it. 
 
 The young when taken feign death with admirable accuracy, 
 nor do they move until they imagine that the intruder is safely out 
 of the way. The nest of the corncrake is by no means uncommon. 
 It is formed of hay, collected and worked into some depression in 
 the ground, and contains from eight to twelve eggs, of a grayish 
 yellow, covered with dark brown spots. The length of the bird is 
 about nine inches. 
 
 The Water-hen, or Moor-hen, is very common along the 
 reedy banks of rivers and ponds. It is very widely distributed, 
 being found in almost all parts of the Old World. It swims very 
 gracefully, constantly nodding its head, and dives with great skill 
 and rapidity, particularly when alarmed, in which case it generally 
 dives under some floating herbage, and remains there with merely 
 its beak above the water until the danger is passed. On account of 
 this habit, it is almost useless to shoot this bird unless the sports- 
 man is accompanied by a dog, for if it is not shot dead it instantly 
 dives, and nothing but a dog can discover its retreat. It runs on 
 land with considerable activity, constantly flirting up its tail, so as 
 to show the white feathers beneath, and when alarmed, instantly 
 makes for the water. 
 
 The nest of the water-hen is built among sedges and reeds at 
 the water-side, and contains from five to eight or nine eggs, of a 
 cream yellow spotted with dark brown. When the water-hen 
 
174 
 
 FLAMINGO— TAME GOOSE. 
 
 leaves her nest, she covers the eggs with dried grass and reeds, so 
 as completely to conceal them, apparently, lest the rats should 
 -discover them. The young when hatched look like round tufts of 
 black down. They swim and dive well, following their parent 
 with great address. The pike is their chief enemy, and destroys 
 numbers by darting at them from under the cover of water-lilies or 
 other plants. 
 
 The Flamingo is an inhabitant of the warmer parts of Europe, 
 and is common in Asia and the coasts of Africa. The singularly 
 shaped beak of this splendid bird is peculiarly adapted to its 
 long and flexible neck. When the bird wishes to feed, it merely 
 stoops its head to the water ; the upper mandible is then lowest, 
 and is well fitted to receive the nutritive substances which are 
 -entangled in a filter placed on the edges of the beak, much resem- 
 bling the analogous apparatus of the whale. 
 
 The flamingo frequents marshes, lakes, and mouths of rivers, 
 bidding defiance to the pestilent exhalations that drive man far 
 from their haunts. The color of their plumage is a deep brilliant 
 scarlet, except the quill feathers, which are black. When a num- 
 ber of these birds stand ranged in a line, according to their cus- 
 tom, they present the appearance of a small and well-drilled body 
 of soldiers. 
 
 The nest of the flamingo is a curious conical structure of mud, 
 with a cavity at the summit, in which are placed two or three 
 whitish eggs. When the female bird sits on the nest, her feet rest 
 on the ground or hang into the water. The height of the bird is 
 between five and six feet. 
 
 Of the Tame Goose, Anser ferns, nothing need be said, ex- 
 cept that enormous flocks are bred, containing from two to ten 
 thousand birds each. The birds are periodically subjected to the 
 operation of plucking out the quill feathers. 
 
THE BERWICK’S SWAN, 
 
 THE MUTE SWAN, 
 
 THE WHISTEING SWAN, 
 
176 
 
 SWAN— MALLARD— COL YMB IDjE. 
 
 The Mute or Tame Swan, a well-known ornament to our lakes 
 and rivers, is not an inhabitant of America, but was introduced 
 from Eastern Europe and Asia several years back. All are familiar 
 with the graceful deportment of this bird while sailing on the sur- 
 face of the water. Unfortunately its progress on land by no means 
 corresponds with its aquatic grace, being confined to an awkward 
 waddle. 
 
 The female swan makes its nest of a great mass of dry reeds, 
 placed among osiers or rushes near the water, and lays six or eight 
 large white eggs. During the incubation, and while the young are 
 still small, the parent birds defend them with great assiduity and 
 courage. 
 
 “ Like a Black Swan,” was formerly a well-known proverb, 
 analogous to the Horse Marines of the present day ; unfortunately 
 for the proverb, a swan has been discovered in Australia, the whole 
 of whose plumage is a jetty black, with the exception of the quill- 
 feathers, which are white. It has been domesticated in this coun- 
 try, and may be seen in the Central Park, eagerly seeking after the 
 crumbs offered by juvenile hands. It is rather smaller than the 
 Whistling Swan. 
 
 The Mallard, or Wild Duck, is the origin of our domestic 
 bird, and is widely spread over the northern parts of Europe, Asia, 
 and America. In the winter it migrates in countless flocks to the 
 warmer States. Incredible numbers of these birds are taken in a 
 very ingenious trap, called a decoy. It is a perfect edifice of poles 
 and nets, and is built in the form of a tube, very wide at the 
 mouth, and very narrow at the extremity. The ducks are induced 
 to enter the “ pipe ” by the antics of a dog, and by some hemp- 
 seed previously strewn on the water. They are then driven onward 
 to the smaller end, where they are caught and killed. 
 
 The CoLYMBiDiE are remarkable for their powers of diving. 
 
GREBE— GREA T NOR THERN DIVER— PUFFIN. 1 77 
 
 The legs are placed very far behind, and the toes are so arranged as 
 to fold up when returning from the stroke. 
 
 The foot of the Grebes is not webbed like that of most water- 
 birds, but each toe is separated and flattened, so as to serve as a 
 separate paddle. The grebes dive so instantaneously that it is diffi- 
 cult to shoot them, as they dive at the flash, and do not reappear 
 for nearly two hundred yards, and then they merely raise their head 
 above water for a second, and again disappear. 
 
 All the grebes feed upon fishes and the various water insects, 
 but their stomachs are almost invariably found to contain a mass of 
 their own feathers. This circumstance presents a singular analogy 
 to those masses of compacted hair which are found in the stomachs 
 of cows. In all probability the reason for their presence is the 
 same ; the feathers and hairs are accidentally conveyed to the 
 stomach after the creature has been making its toilet. 
 
 Of the three British species of Divers, the Great Northern 
 Diver is the largest. It is generally found on the shores of the 
 Orkneys and Shetland. This bird justly deserves its name of diver, 
 as it can pursue fish under water with the greatest ease and certainty, 
 and can remain under water without inconvenience for a consider- 
 able time. The nest of this bird is a very large flattened mass of 
 dead herbage, and is placed near the water’s edge, in some place 
 where the bird imagines that the reeds and flags, among which it is 
 laid, will guard it from discovery. But, unfortunately, the bird 
 dislikes flying, and prefers to walk to and from its nest, thereby 
 leaving a very evident track, by which it is often discovered. The 
 eggs are usually two in number, although three have been found in 
 one nest. Their color is dark olive brown, sparingly marked with 
 dark spots. 
 
 The Puffin is common at the Needles and the western islands 
 of England. It forms deep burrows in the soil, in which one egg 
 
2 7 8 
 
 CAPE PENGUIN. 
 
 is deposited, or usurps the burrow of a rabbit. The hole is gener- 
 ally from three to four feet in depth, when the puffin is forced to 
 labor for itself ; it usually takes a winding course ; and the inhabi- 
 tant is secured from surprise by forming two entrances, in order 
 that if one entrance is attacked, it may escape by the other. 
 
 The egg is always deposited at the furthest extremity of the 
 hole, and is not easy to be obtained, on account of the vigorous 
 resistance made by the parent bird. It is an excellent diver, 
 plunging fearlessly from a lofty cliff into the sea, and speedily 
 returning with its beak full of fish, usually sprats, which are secured 
 by their heads, and lie in a row along the bill of the puffin, form- 
 ing a kind of piscatorial fringe. Its enormous and sharp-edged 
 bill renders it a formidable antagonist to intruders. The length of 
 the bird is thirteen inches. 
 
 It is said that the raven and the puffin have occasional con- 
 flicts, the object of dispute being generally the egg or young of the 
 auk, for which the raven has a great predilection. The issue of the 
 combat depends principally on its position, each bird trying to keep 
 to its own peculiar element. If the puffin can drag the raven over 
 the rocks into the sea, it is speedily victorious, as it drowns its 
 adversary without much trouble, but if, on the contrary, the raven 
 can keep to shore, its superior size and strength gain the dominion. 
 
 The Cape Penguin is very common at the cape of Good Hope 
 and the Falkland Islands. From the extraordinary sound it pro- 
 duces while on shore, it is called the Jackass Penguin. Darwin 
 gives the following interesting account of this bird: “In diving 
 
 its little plumeless wings are used as fins, but on the land as front 
 legs. When crawling (it may be said on four legs) through the 
 tussocks, or on the side of a grassy cliff, it moved so very quickly 
 that it might readily have been mistaken for a quadruped. When 
 at sea and fishing, it comes tc the surface, for the purpose of 
 
STORMY PETREL— WANDERING ALBA TROSS. 1 79 
 
 breathing, with such a spring, and dives again so instantaneously, 
 that I defy any one at first sight to be sure that it is not a fish 
 leaping for sport. * ’ 
 
 These birds feed their young in a very singular manner. The 
 parent bird gets on a hillock, and apparently delivers a very 
 impassioned speech for a few minutes, at the end of which it lowers 
 its head and opens its beak. The young one, who has been a 
 patient auditor, thrusts its head into the open beak of the mother, 
 and seems to suck its subsistence from the throat of the parent 
 bird. Another speech is immediately made, and the same process 
 repeated until the young is satisfied. This penguin is very cour- 
 ageous, but utterly destitute of the better part of courage — 
 discretion ; for it will boldly charge at a man. 
 
 The Stormy Petrel is, under the name of Mother Carey’s 
 chicken, the terror of the sailor, who always considers the bird as 
 the precursor of a storm. It is the smallest of the web-footed 
 birds. Few storms are violent enough to keep this curious little 
 bird from wandering over the waves in search of food that the 
 disturbed water casts to the surface. Like the fulmar, the stormy 
 petrel is so exceedingly oily in texture that the inhabitants of the 
 Faroe Islands draw a wick through its body and use it as a lamp. 
 
 The Wandering Albatross, the largest of the genus, is a 
 well-known bird in the southern seas, following ships for many 
 miles in hopes of obtaining the refuse thrown overboard. So 
 voracious is the albatross that it will swallow entire a fish of four 
 or five pounds’ weight. The flight of this bird is peculiarly 
 majestic. Its extreme length of wing prevents it from rising at 
 once from the ground, but when once launched into the air it 
 seems to float and direct its course without effort. 
 
 The voracity of the albatross renders it an easy prey. A 
 hook is baited with a piece of blubber, fastened firmly to a string, 
 
8o SILVERY GULL— SEA-SWALLOW— CORMORANT. 
 
 and suffered to tow astern. The bird immediately sweeps down to 
 seize its prey, and is arrested by the hook, by means of which it is 
 drawn into the ship. It seems rather remarkable that a bird that 
 lives in or over the sea during its whole life should prove a lands- 
 man when taken on board. Yet, when the albatross is caught and 
 placed on deck, it begins to stagger about, and soon becomes as 
 thoroughly seasick as the most inexperienced passenger. The 
 expanse of the wing in the wandering albatross is from eleven to 
 fourteen feet. 
 
 The Silvery Gull is seen all along the Atlantic coast. Dur- 
 ing the winter it seeks the warmer coasts of the southern States. 
 Its nest is composed of grass, rushes, and other materials, and con- 
 tains three or four eggs, of an olive green marked with very dark 
 brown. Neither the gulls nor the terns dive, but snatch up their 
 prey when at or near the surface. 
 
 The Terns or Sea-Swallows are possessed of great power 
 and endurance of flight, their long forked tails and pointed wings 
 indicating strength and swiftness. The common tern is found in 
 plenty along the southern shores of Europe, and in many parts of 
 Asia and Africa. It is frequently seen on the southern shores of 
 England, and has been found in North America. 
 
 It preys on fish, which it snatches from the surface with 
 unerring aim, as it skims over the waves with astonishing velocity. 
 The nest of this bird is made on the sand above high-water mark, 
 and contains two or three eggs, on which the female usually sits by 
 night. The length of the common tern is about fourteen inches. 
 The Noddy, so frequently celebrated by travellers who have passed 
 the equator, is a species of tern. 
 
 The Cormorant is found in abundance on the American coast 
 and is widely spread over many parts of the world. It is exceed- 
 ingly voracious, and devours an almost incredible amount of fish. 
 
THE PEEICAN, 
 
1 82 
 
 WHITE PELICAN. 
 
 
 It is an excellent diver, and chases the fish actually under the 
 water, seldom if ever returning without having secured its prey. 
 Like the otter when engaged in chase, it occasionally rises to take 
 breath, and then resumes the pursuit with renewed vigor. 
 
 The cormorant has the power of perching on trees, an accom- 
 plishment which we would hardly suspect a web-footed bird of 
 possessing. 
 
 The cormorant is easily tamed, and its fishing propensities can 
 be turned to good account. The Chinese, at the present day, 
 employ a kind of cormorant for that purpose, having previously 
 placed a ring round the bird’s neck, to prevent it from swallowing 
 the fish. The eggs of this bird are usually laid on a rock, but 
 sometimes in the branches of trees. A thick coat of chalk 
 envelops the eggs, and can be easily scraped off with a knife. The 
 length of the bird is about three feet. 
 
 The White Pelican inhabits Africa, India, a great part of 
 the south eastern portions of Europe and the United States. It is 
 a very conspicuous bird, its singular membranous pouch offering a 
 distinction perfectly unmistakable. The pouch, when distended, 
 holds two gallons of water, but the bird has the power of con- 
 tracting it so that it is scarcely to be discerned. The pouch also 
 serves as a net in which to scoop up the fish on which the pelican 
 feeds. Another most important use of the pouch is to convey the 
 food to the young. The parent pelican presses the pouch against 
 its breast, in order to enable the young to obtain the fish ; which 
 action, in all probability, gave rise to the fable of the pelican feed- 
 ing its young with its own blood. The red tips of the bill prob- 
 ably aided the deception. 
 
 f 
 
 Although a web-footed bird, the pelican, like the cormorant, 
 can perch on trees, although it prefers sitting on rocks. The color 
 
REPTILES— LIZARD. 
 
 183 
 
 of this bird is a pure white, with a very slight tinge of rose-color, 
 and the pouch is yellow. The length of the bird is nearly six feet. 
 
 REPTILES. 
 
 We now arrive at the singular class of Reptiles. The animals 
 of this class vary exceedingly in their forms, sizes, and habits, but 
 the peculiar formation of the circulatory system, together with 
 many other anatomical distinctions, plainly mark them out as a 
 distinct class. 
 
 THE GREEN LIZARD. 
 
 The Lizards are usually active, bright-eyed little creatures, 
 delighting to bask in the sun, near some safe retreat, to which they 
 dart with astonishing celerity upon the slightest alarm. Two species 
 of lizards inhabit this country, the common lizard and the sand 
 lizard. The latter animal is considerably larger than the common 
 lizard, as it sometimes measures a foot in length. It frequents 
 sandy heaths, and in the sand its eggs are deposited, fourteen or 
 fifteen in number. The eggs are hatched by the heat of the sun. 
 
8 4 
 
 BLIND WORM— IGUANA. 
 
 and the young immediately lead an independent life. During the 
 winter this as well as the common lizard hibernates in a burrow 
 usually made under the roots of a tree, nor does it again make its 
 appearance until the spring. 
 
 The common lizard is only six inches in length. It is more 
 active than the sand lizard, disappearing like magic on being 
 alarmed. When seized, its tail frequently snaps off like glass. 
 Both lizards feed on insects. 
 
 The Blind-worm is not a snake, as generally supposed, but a 
 legless lizard of the Skink family. It is perfectly harmless ; its 
 small mouth and very minute teeth precluding all attempts to injure, 
 even if it had the will. When alarmed, it snaps asunder at the 
 slightest blow, like the tail of the common lizard, and from that 
 peculiarity has derived its name of “ fragilis.” It feeds almost en- 
 tirely on small slugs, its jaws not being capable of admitting any 
 larger prey. It is very common in most parts of America, and 
 may be seen basking in the sun in hedge-rows or under old walls. 
 Its eyes are very small, but brilliant. 
 
 The Iguana family is a very large one, containing 150 species. 
 The common iguana i^ a native of Brazil, Cayenne, Jamaica, etc. 
 In spite of its repulsive appearance, it is with many people a 
 favorite article of food, and is said somewhat to resemble chicken. 
 It is very fierce when attacked, and snaps at its enemies in a most 
 determined manner, often scaring away an intruder by the ferocity 
 of its aspect. 
 
 It is generally taken by throwing a noose over its head, and 
 dragging it from the branches by main force. It is then immedi- 
 ately killed, as its sharp notched teeth can inflict a very disagreeable 
 wound. Sometimes it is hunted with dogs trained to the sport. It 
 attains a considerable size, frequently reaching the length of six 
 feet. It feeds usually on vegetable substances, such as leaves, fruit, 
 
FLYING DRAGON— CHAMELEON— SNAKE. 
 
 85 
 
 and fungi ; but iguanas have been seen in the Island of Isabella that 
 feed on eggs, insects, and even the intestines of fowls. 
 
 The terrible name of a Flying Dragon belongs to a harmless 
 little lizard that lives on trees and feeds on insects. The peculiar 
 structure of its body bears a singular resemblance to that of the 
 flying squirrel. The first six false ribs are greatly elongated, and 
 support a wing-like expansion of skin, which when stretched serves 
 to bear them up as they skim through the air from one tree to an- 
 other. While running about on the branches, the so-called wings 
 are folded to the side, but when it wishes to throw itself from the 
 tree, the ribs are raised, and the wings expanded. It is common 
 in Java, India, and Borneo. 
 
 The Common Chameleon is plentifully found in northern 
 Africa, the south of Spain, and Sicily. It lives on trees, but ex- 
 hibits none of the activity usually found in aboreal reptiles. On 
 the contrary, its movements are absurdly grave and solemn. The 
 whole activity of the animal seems to be centred in its tongue, by 
 means of which organ it secures flies and other insects with such 
 marvellous rapidity that the ancients may well be pardoned for their 
 assertion that the air formed the only food of the chameleon. 
 
 Highly exaggerated descriptions have been given of the changes 
 of color in the animal. The changes are by no means so complete, 
 nor are the colors so bright, as generally supposed. 
 
 The power of the chameleon to move its eyes in different direc- 
 tions at the same time gives it a most singular aspect. Its enor- 
 mously long tongue can be withdrawn into the mouth when not in 
 use ; but when the creature sees a fly within reach, the tongue is 
 instantly darted forth, and by means of a gummy secretion at the 
 tip secures the fly. The whole movement is so quick as almost to 
 elude the eye. 
 
 The peculiar gliding movements of the Snakes render them 
 
1 86 
 
 RA TTLESNA KE. 
 
 excellent types of the reptiles ; a word derived from the Latin repo , 
 I creep. The extraordinary flexibility of their bodies is caused by 
 the structure of their vertebrae, each one of which fits into the one 
 behind it by a ball-and-socket joint, thus allowing freedom of mo- 
 tion in every direction. 
 
 The Rattlesnake is a native of America. Its name is derived 
 from the loose bony structure at the extremity of its tail, called the 
 rattle, and which by the sound of its movements gives timely inti- 
 mation of the vicinity of this terrible reptile. Fortunately, its dis- 
 position is exceedingly sluggish, and it invariably sounds its rattle 
 when irritated or disturbed. Its bite is inevitably mortal, and 
 death always ensues within a few hours after the wound has been 
 inflicted. 
 
 The deadly weapons with which the venomous serpents are 
 armed are two long curved fangs belonging to the upper jaw, and 
 moving on a hinge, by which they lie flat in the mouth when not 
 wanted. An aperture exists in the point of the fang, by which a 
 poisonous fluid, secreted in a gland at the base of the tooth, is 
 poured into the wound, and, mixing with the blood, rapidly carries 
 its deadly influence throughout tne entire system. A short time 
 since an American physician was exhibiting a caged rattlesnake to 
 his friends ; he approached his hand too near the irritated reptile, 
 who instantaneously inflicted a wound ; and, although every pre- 
 caution was taken, the bite proved fatal in a few hours. 
 
 An American traveller told me that, even when these snakes 
 are ready for a spring, they can be avoided by smartly clapping the 
 hands together, or striking the ground with a stick. The snake 
 has the whole powers of its mind bent upon its fatal stroke, and, 
 on hearing such an unexpected sound, it is startled, like a man 
 suddenly waked from sleep, and falls down in its coil again, giving 
 time for its intended victim to escape before it has made up its 
 
PUFF ADDER. 
 
 187 
 
 mind to another assault. The length of this snake has seldom 
 been known to exceed seven feet. 
 
 The Puff Adder is an inhabitant of Southern Africa. It is a 
 short, thick, somewhat flat snake, of a most sinister and malignant 
 aspect. The following alarming adventure occurred to Mr. Cole, 
 
 the rattlesnake. 
 
 a resident in the Cape : “ I was going quietly to bed one evening, 
 wearied by a long day’s hunting, when, close to my feet and by 
 my bedside, some glittering substance caught my eye. I stooped 
 to pick it up ; but, ere my hand had quite reached it, the truth 
 flashed across me — it was a snake ! Had I followed my first 
 
1 88 
 
 COMMON VIPER— BOA-CONSTRICTOR 
 
 natural impulse, I should have sprung away, but not being able 
 clearly to see in what position the reptile was lying, or which way 
 his head was pointed, I controlled myself, and remained rooted 
 breathless to the spot. Straining my eyes, but moving not an 
 inch, I at length clearly distinguished a huge puff adder, the most 
 deadly snake in the colony, whose bite would have sent me to the 
 other world in an hour or two. I watched him in silent horror • 
 his head was from me; so much the worse — for this snake, unlike 
 any other, always rises and strikes back. He did not move ; he 
 was asleep. Not daring to shuffle my feet, lest he should awake 
 and spring upon me, I took a jump backward, that would have 
 done honor to a gymnastic master, and thus darted outside the 
 door of the room ; with a thick stick I then returned and settled 
 his worship.” 
 
 It is more dangerous, because it has a way of flattening itself 
 upon the ground ; so that, when it is lying thus concealed upon the 
 sand, an incautious pedestrian is very likely to tread upon it. 
 
 The Common Viper, or Adder, is the only venomous reptile 
 inhabiting England, nor is its bite nearly so dangerous in its con- 
 sequences as has been reported. Seldom has the bite of the viper 
 proved mortal ; and in all probability, had proper precautions been 
 taken, no case would have been fatal. Viper-catchers employ olive 
 oil as a remedy against the bite, and, from all accounts, it appears 
 to be a certain preservative against all evil effects. The oil should 
 be heated to produce its full efficacy. 
 
 It is asserted that, when danger threatens, the female viper 
 opens her mouth and permits her brood to hide themselves, but it 
 is by no means an ascertained fact. Frogs, lizards, mice, and 
 other small animals, form the food of this reptile, but sometimes it 
 falls a victim to its own voracity. 
 
 The Boa-constrictor. — The enormous boa-constrictor in- 
 
COBRA DE CA BELLO. 
 
 189 
 
 habits tropical America. It is not venomous, but it is not the less 
 dangerous, as the tremendous power of its muscles enables it to 
 crush its prey in the coils of its huge body. 
 
 In order to procure its food, the boa-constrictor lies in wait 
 by the side of some river or pool, where animals of all kinds are 
 likely to come and quench their thirst. It patiently waits until 
 some animal draws within reach, when, with one spring, the boa 
 fixes its teeth in the creature’s head, coils its body round its victim, 
 and crushes it to death. After the unfortunate animal has been 
 reduced almost to a shapeless mass by the pressure of the snake, 
 its destroyer makes preparations for swallowing it entire, a task 
 which it accomplishes, although the slaughtered animal is usually 
 very much larger than the dimensions of the serpent. At last the 
 snake succeeds in swallowing its prey, and then lies torpid for 
 nearly a month, until its enormous meal is digested, when it again 
 sallies forth in search of another. Even the buffalo has been known 
 to fall a victim to this fearful serpent, whose length frequently ex- 
 ceeds twenty-five feet. 
 
 The Cobra de Capello is a native of India. The serpent- 
 charmers invariably use this formidable reptile for their perform- 
 ances. The exhibitors possess several cobras shut up in baskets, 
 and when commencing their performances, the lid of the basket 
 is opened, and the snake creeps out. Its course is arrested by the 
 sound of the rude fife that the charmer always carries, and it imme- 
 diately expands its beautiful though threatening hood, erects its 
 neck, and commences a series of undulating movements, which are 
 continued until the sound of the fife ceases, when the snake in- 
 stantly drops, and is replaced in its basket by its master. 
 
 The charmers appear to be able to discover snakes, and to 
 induce them to leave their retreat. Indeed it is rather a singular 
 fact that those ti sellers who most strongly insist that the snakes 
 

 1 9 o RINGED, OR GRASS SNA KE — T OR T OISE. 
 
 thus caught are tame and divested of their fangs, appear to forget 
 that even in that case the creatures must have been previously- 
 caught in order to deprive them of their weapons. The length of 
 this snake is about five or six feet. 
 
 The Common Ringed or Grass Snake is a harmless inhabitant 
 of this country, and may frequently be seen or heard gliding along 
 the hedge-banks in search of food. It is easily tamed, and soon 
 learns to know its master. It lives principally on frogs, mice, 
 young birds, newts, etc. It is an excellent swimmer, and from the 
 peculiar construction of its lungs, can remain under water for some 
 time. 
 
 Like all other serpents, the ringed snake sheds its skin several 
 times during the year. The entire skin comes off, even the cover- 
 ing of the eyes. A rent opens in the neck, and the snake, 
 entangling itself in the thick grass or bushes, actually creeps out of 
 its skin, turning it inside out in the effort. 
 
 The Tortoise. — The whole of this order is characterized by 
 the complete suit of bony armor with which the animals are pro- 
 tected. The so-called * 4 shell ” is in fact a development of various 
 bones, and not a mere horny appendage, like the coverings of the 
 armadillo and manis. 
 
 The upper shield is called the “carapace,” and is united to 
 the under shield or “plastron” by certain bones, leaving orifices 
 for the protrusion of the head and limbs. Most species are able to 
 withdraw their head and limbs completely within the shell, and in 
 some few the orifices are closed by a kind of hinge joint. The 
 tortoise-shell of commerce is a series of horny plates that cover the 
 exterior of the shield, and is in great request, on account of the 
 beautiful wavy markings that are so familiar to our eyes. 
 
 The tortoises and turtles possess no teeth, but the sides of their 
 jaws are very hard and sharp, enabling them to crop vegetable 
 
COMMON LAND TORTOISE. 
 
 191 
 
 substances, or to inflict a severe bite. The family is divided into 
 Land Tortoises, Marsh Tortoises, River Tortoises, and Marine 
 Tortoises, or Turtles. 
 
 The Common Land Tortoise is found in abundance in the 
 south of Europe. It is often kept in captivity in this country, and 
 is very long-lived, individuals being known to have exceeded two 
 hundred years. Its movements are very slow, but it can excavate 
 a burrow with unexpected rapidity. Secure in an impenetrable 
 covering it bids defiance to any ordinary enemy, except man and 
 the boa-constrictor. Man, however, takes him home and roasts 
 him, and the boa-constrictor swallows him whole, shell and all, and 
 consumes him slowly in the interior. 
 
 I had a common land tortoise for a few months, part of whose 
 life is described in the following passage : Some time since, a man 
 arrived in town, bringing with him tortoises for sale. They passed 
 their existence in a basket, where they were packed close, like so 
 many bricks, standing on their tails, and their heads looking out of 
 the basket. When I purchased one of them, the man emptied out 
 his whole basketful upon the table, and then turned out the con- 
 tents of four large pockets, until a large table was entirely covered 
 with them. 
 
 The tortoise which I purchased was a very small one, and was 
 tolerably lively, walking about the room, and always settling on the 
 hearth-rug. It had a great genius for climbing, and would some- 
 times spend nearly an hour in endeavoring to scale the fender, 
 probably attracted by the heat. Unfit as the form of the creature 
 may seem for such a purpose, it did contrive to scramble upon a 
 footstool which was placed by the fender. 
 
 Its method of attaining this elevation was as follows : First it 
 reared up against the footstool in the angle formed by it and the 
 fender, and after several ineffectual attempts, succeeded in hitching 
 
9 2 
 
 COMMON LAND TORTOISE . 
 
 the claws of one of its hind feet into the open work of the fender. 
 On this it raised itself, and held on to the top of the stool by its 
 fore feet, while it gained another step on the fender, and so man- 
 aged to raise itself to such a height, that it only had to fall flat on 
 the top of the footstool. When once there, it could hardly be 
 induced to leave the elevation which it had gained with such 
 difficulty. 
 
 THE GREEN TURTLE- 
 
 Its food consisted of bread and milk, which it ate several 
 times a day, drinking the milk by scooping up some of it in its 
 lower jaw, and then, by throwing its head back, the milk ran down 
 its throat. Tortoises are generally long-lived, but this animal died 
 within a few months after it came into my possession, in all prob- 
 ability because, for some days, its food was placed in a brass vessel. 
 Several days before its death it was very restless, and went about 
 
COMMON GREEN TURTLE— CROCODILE. 
 
 193 
 
 the room mewing like a young kitten, and made such a noise that 
 it had to be ejected during working hours. I could not for some 
 time believe that the mewing could proceed from the tortoise, as 
 the resemblance to that of a kitten was most exact. 
 
 The Common Green Turtle. — The feet of the marine 
 tortoises, or turtles, are modified into fins or flippers, just as are the 
 feet of the seals, and consequently, although the turtles are active 
 in the water, on land their walk is nothing but an awkward shuffle. 
 The flippers, however, are admirable instruments for scooping out 
 the sand, in which the eggs are laid, and afterward covered over. 
 Nearly two hundred eggs are laid in one nest. The eggs are held 
 in great estimation, but the albumen, or “ white,” does not become 
 hard by boiling. 
 
 The green turtle, which is named from its green fat, from 
 which turtle soup is made, is common in Jamaica, and most of the 
 islands of the East and West Indies. The turtles are captured by 
 turning them on their backs ; for the carapace is so flat, and their 
 legs are so short, that they are forced to lie helpless until their 
 captors have leisure to drag them away. The green turtle has been 
 known to reach the weight of five or six hundred pounds. The 
 tortoise-shell of commerce is almost entirely obtained from the 
 hawksbill turtle. 
 
 The Crocodile. — These animals are separated from the 
 lizards on account of the peculiar horny covering with which they 
 are protected. 
 
 The crocodile is an inhabitant of the Old World, the alligator 
 of the New, and the two animals are best distinguished by the con- 
 struction of the jaws. In the crocodiles the lower canine teeth fit 
 into a notch in the edge of the upper jaw, and there is in conse- 
 quence a contraction of the muzzle just behind the nostrils. The 
 13 
 
194 
 
 CROCODILE . 
 
 lower canine teeth of the alligators fit into a pit in the edge of the 
 upper jaw, and in consequence no contraction is needed. 
 
 At the back of the throat is a valve completely shutting out 
 water, but leaving the passage to the nostrils free, so that the 
 crocodile can keep his mouth open when beneath the surface, with- 
 out swallowing the water, or can hold his prey to drown under the 
 
 THE G A VIAL, OR GANGETlC CROCODILE. 
 
 water, while he breathes at ease with his nostrils at the surface. 
 There is no true tongue. 
 
 The common crocodile inhabits many African rivers, and is, 
 probably, the reptile infesting the Ganges. The Nile, however, is 
 the best known haunt of this terrible creature. 
 
 The crocodile feeds on fish, floating carrion, and dogs, or 
 other animals, which it is enabled to surprise as they come to drink 
 at the water’s edge, but man frequently falls a victim to its 
 
ALLIGATOR , OR CAYMAN. 
 
 l 9S 
 
 voracity. In revenge for this treatment, all nations persecuted 
 with this pest have devised various methods of killing it. 
 
 The negroes of some parts of Africa are sufficiently bold and 
 skilful to attack the crocodile in his own element. They fear- 
 lessly plunge into the water, and diving beneath the crocodile, 
 plunge the dagger with which they are armed into the creature’s 
 belly, which is not protected by the coat of mail that guards the 
 other parts of its body. 
 
 The usual plan is to lie in wait near the spot where the croco- 
 dile is accustomed to repose. This is usually a sandy bank, and 
 the hunter digs a hole in the sand, and armed with a sharp har- 
 poon, patiently awaits the coming of his expected prey. The 
 crocodile comes to its accustomed spot, and is soon asleep, when it 
 is suddenly roused by the harpoon, which penetrates completely 
 through its scaly covering. The hunter immediately retreats to a 
 canoe, and hauls at the line attached to the harpoon until he drags 
 the crocodile to the surface, when he darts a second harpoon. The 
 struggling animal is soon wearied out, dragged to shore, and dis- 
 patched by dividing the spinal cord. In order to prevent the 
 infuriated reptile from biting the cord asunder, it is composed of 
 ahout thirty small lines, not twisted, but only bound together at 
 intervals of two feet. 
 
 When on land it is not difficult to escape the crocodile, as cer- 
 tain projections on the vertebrae of the neck prevent it from turning 
 its head to any great extent. The eggs of this creature are very 
 small, hardly exceeding those of a goose ; numbers are annually 
 destroyed by birds of prey and quadrupeds, especially the ichneumon. 
 
 The Alligator or Cayman, is an inhabitant of America, and 
 is unpleasantly common in the rivers of our Southern States. It 
 pursues fish with exceeding dexterity, by driving a shoal of them 
 into a creek, and then plunging amid the terrified mass, and de- 
 
196 
 
 FROG. 
 
 vouring its victims at its pleasure. It also catches pigs, dogs, and 
 other animals that venture too close to the river. In that case, as 
 the animal is too large to be swallowed entire, the alligator conceals 
 it in some hole in the bank until it begins to putrefy, when it is 
 dragged out, and devoured under the concealment of the rank 
 herbage fringing the river. 
 
 The usual method of taking this creature is by baiting a most 
 formidable four-pointed hook, composed of wooden spikes, artis- 
 tically arranged, and suffering it to float in the river. When an 
 alligator has swallowed it, he is hauled on shore by the rope, and 
 slaughtered. 
 
 Like the crocodile, the alligator lays its eggs in the sandy bank 
 of the river. Fortunately, but few of the young ever reach ma- 
 turity, as their ranks are thinned by various birds and beasts of prey 
 before the eggs are hatched, and by the attacks of large fishes, and 
 even their own species, when they have reached the water. 
 
 The Frog. — The appearance and habits of the frog and the 
 toad are so familiar as to require but little description. A short 
 account, however, is necessary of the peculiarities common to both 
 frogs and toads. 
 
 In the early stage of their existence, these animals are termed 
 tadpoles. They at first appear to be nothing but head and tail, but 
 after several days have passed, four legs are observed to become 
 developed. These rapidly increase, and the little creature closely 
 resembles a small eft. In due time, however, the tail is lost, and 
 the creature becomes a perfect frog. 
 
 Another important change also takes place. In its tadpole 
 state the creature was essentially a water animal, but after its change 
 has taken place it is notable to exist under water for any great 
 length of time, and is forced to come to the surface to breathe. 
 
 The tongue of the frog is curiously fixed almost at the entrance 
 
FROG. 
 
 97 
 
 of the mouth, and when at rest points backward down the throat. 
 When, however, the frog comes within reach of a slug or insect, the 
 tongue is darted out with exceeding rapidity, the slug secured, car 
 ried to the back of the throat, and swallowed. 
 
 Both frogs and toads hibernate, the former congregating in 
 multitudes in the mud at the bottom of ponds and marshes, while 
 the latter choose a hole in the ground, frequently at a root of a tree, 
 and pass the winter in solitary dignity. In February, two frogs 
 were dug out of the gravelled play-ground of Magdalen School. 
 They were about a foot from the surface of the ground, and their 
 habitation was quite smooth. Both were sitting with their mouths 
 pointed upward, but I could not ascertain if there had been any 
 communication with the open air. The skin of these animals has a 
 property of imbibing water, so that if an apparently emaciated frog 
 is placed in a damp place, it will soon look quite plump. 
 
 The Common Frog is a well-known frequenter of marshy places 
 and the banks of rivers. It is an admirable swimmer, and from the 
 peculiar construction of its lungs can remain for some time under 
 water, but is forced periodically to come to the surface for the pur- 
 pose of breathing. 
 
 The Bull-Frog is an inhabitant of North America. It is very 
 voracious, feeding upon fishes, mollusks, and even young fowl. Its 
 powers for leaping are so great, that an Indian was not able to 
 overtake an irritated bull-frog after it had sprung three hops in 
 advance. It is very large, measuring about seven inches in length. 
 
 The Tree Frogs are very peculiar animals. The construction 
 of their feet, somewhat resembling that of the geckos, enables them 
 to traverse the branches, and even to hang on the under surface of 
 the pendent leaf, which it so resembles in color that the unwary in- 
 sect passes by and is instantly seized by the watchful frog. The 
 Green Tree Frog is the most common, and is plentifully found in 
 
198 
 
 TOAD— NEWT. 
 
 southern Europe and northern Africa. There are several specimens 
 in the Zoological Gardens, which present a most absurd appear- 
 ance as they stick against the pane of glass forming the front of 
 their cage. 
 
 The Common Toad has had its full share of marvellous tales. 
 Its poisonous properties are celebrated in many an ancient chronicle, 
 as are also the virtues of the jewel contained in its head. The skin 
 certainly does secrete an acrid humor, which at all events defends 
 it from dogs, who can seldom be induced to bite a toad a second 
 time. 
 
 The well-known instances of imprisoned toads, who must have 
 spent many years in their narrow habitation, are apparently ex- 
 plained by the supposition that some aperture or fissure existed, 
 through which air and minute insects could pass, sufficient for their 
 nourishment while in a semi-torpid condition. Certainly those ex- 
 perimented on by Dr. Buckland in 1865, and from whom all air 
 was cut off, died before a year’s imprisonment. The toad casts its 
 skin at certain times, but we never find the slough as we do that of 
 the snake, as the toad invariably swallows its former covering. 
 
 The Newts are separated from the lizards on account of their 
 changes while young. Like the frogs, they are first tadpoles, and 
 do not assume their perfect shape until six weeks after their exclusion 
 from the eggs. 
 
 The Common Newt is a beautiful inhabitant of the ponds, 
 ditches, and still waters. It feeds principally on tadpoles and 
 worms, which it eats with a peculiar rapid snap. I have seen 
 
 it attack the smaller newt with great perseverence, but I was never 
 fortunate enough to see it kill its prey. 
 
 I kept some newts for some time in a large glass vessel, and 
 noticed that when a new inhabitant was added, it always cast its 
 skin within two or three days. The skin came off in pieces, the 
 
PROTEUS. 
 
 1 99 
 
 covering of the feet slipping off like a glove ; but I could never see 
 how the creature contrived to pull these glove-like relics off. It is 
 constantly in the habit of rising to the surface of the water in order 
 to breathe. 
 
 The newt has received the name of Christatus, or crested, on 
 account of the beautiful crimson -tipped wavy crest of loose skin 
 that extends along the whole course of the back and tail, and which, 
 
 the TOAD. 
 
 together with a rich orange-colored belly, makes it a most beautiful 
 creature. The female has a singular habit of laying her eggs upon 
 long leaves of water-plants, and actually tying them in the leaf by a 
 regular knot. 
 
 The Proteus is an extraordinary animal, which has been found 
 in dark subterranean lakes, many hundred feet below the surface of the 
 earth, where no rays of light can possibly enter. The eyes of this 
 singular creature are mere points covered with skin, and useless for 
 
200 
 
 FISHES. 
 
 vision ; indeed, when in captivity it always chooses the darkest 
 parts of the vessel in which it is confined. 
 
 I have seen seven specimens of this strange creature which 
 have lived for several years in a glass vessel covered with green 
 baize in order to keep them in the dark. They have not been 
 known to take any nourishment whatever during the time of their 
 captivity, except the very trifling amount of nutrition that might 
 have been obtained by changing the water. 
 
 The proteus breathes in two ways — by lungs and by gills, the 
 latter organs appearing in the form of two tufts, one on each side 
 of the neck, just above the fore limbs. The circulation of the 
 blood in these branchial tufts can easily be seen with a microscope 
 of moderate power. These tufts are of a rather deeper pink tinge 
 than the remainder of the body, which is of a very pale flesh- 
 color. Exposure to light darkens the tints both of gills and body. 
 
 The blood-disks of this animal are exceedingly large; so 
 large, indeed, as almost to be distinguished by the naked eye. 
 When in captivity, its movements are slow and eel-like, nor does it 
 seem to make much use of its almost rudimentary limbs. 
 
 It has usually been found on the soft mud of a small lake in 
 the grotto of Maddalena. They have also been found at Sittich, 
 thirty miles distant, thrown up from a subterranean cavity. 
 
 FISHES. 
 
 As the Fishes live exclusively in the water, it is necessary that 
 their organs of respiration should be differently formed from those 
 of the animals breathing atmospheric air. Instead of the purifica- 
 tion of the blood being accomplished by the contact of atmospheric 
 air in the apparatus called lungs, that office is performed by the 
 water, which passes into the mouth of the fish, and thence out at 
 
FISHES. 
 
 201 
 
 the gillcovers, on its way being strained through the singular struc- 
 ture called the “ gills.” These gills are able to extract from the 
 water sufficient oxygen to purify the blood of the fish. If the 
 oxygen has already been extracted, the fish instantly dies. The 
 same effect is produced if the fish be so held as to prevent the 
 water from flowing in the proper direction, so that it is perfectly 
 proper to drown a fish. Most anglers are perfectly aware of the 
 power obtained by keeping the head of a hooked fish down the 
 stream. 
 
 The elongated form of fishes, and their smooth covering, af- 
 fording but little resistance to the water, beautifully show their per- 
 fect adaptation for the element in which they reside. Their rapid 
 movements through the water are principally performed by means 
 of a lateral vibration of the tail, just as a boat is sculled along by a 
 single oar at the stern, or by a constant vibration of the rudder. 
 The dead and mangled carcass of a flensed whale has been fre- 
 quently known to swim for a considerable distance by the mere 
 force of the muscular movements of the tail after death. The fins 
 serve principally as balancers. 
 
 Most fish possess a singular organ called the “swimming- 
 bladder. ’ ’ This is a membraneous pouch, varying exceedingly in 
 size and shape, situated close under the spine, and filled by some 
 means with gas, mostly found to be nitrogen, but in deep-sea 
 fishes, an oxygen is discovered to exist. The fish seems to be able 
 to rise or sink by means of compressing or expanding this pouch, 
 without being forced to make use of its tail or fins. 
 
 Fishes are vastly more numerous than all the other vertebrates 
 put together. Some are fitted to live in salt water only, some in 
 fresh water only, while others live in both. Some live in one place 
 and some wander from place to place in great bodies called schools. 
 Those which inhabit shallow waters are of the brightest colors, due 
 
202 
 
 
 RED GURNARD— COMMON PERCH. 
 
 mostly to the light, while those which live in deep water, where 
 much light does not reach, are generally dull in color. 
 
 Most of the common fishes are told about under their own 
 names, but there are a great many very singular fishes in the sea 
 which we have not room to describe. For instance, in Central 
 America is a fish called the dora or hassar, which leaves its pond 
 when the water dries up and marches overland in large droves 
 in search of more water, moving along by little leaps ; and in 
 Malabar is a small fish called the sennal which climbs up the trunks 
 of palm trees growing near the water’s edge. The archer-fish of 
 Japan lives on insects which it shoots with a drop of water blown 
 from its long snout. 
 
 The smooth scaly covering with which most fish are furnished 
 is admirably fitted both for defence against the water, and for 
 enabling the fish to glide easily through places where a rough cov- 
 ering would have held it prisoner. Many valuable characteristics 
 are derived from the shape of the scales in different fish. 
 
 The Red Gurnard, or Cuckoo Gurnard, as it is sometimes 
 called from the sound it utters when taken out of the water, is very 
 common on the English coast. It is rather a small fish, rarely 
 exceeding fourteen inches in length. The colors of its body when 
 living are very beautiful, the upper part being bright red, and the 
 under parts silvery white. 
 
 The Common Perch is well known to anglers both as a “ bold 
 biting fish,” and as one that does not yield up its life without 
 endangering the person of its captor ; for the formidable row of 
 spinous rays belonging to the first dorsal fin have wounded the 
 hands of many an incautious angler. 
 
 It K extremely voracious, so much so that after all the legiti- 
 mate bait has been exhausted, it is a common practice for the 
 fisherman to place on his hook the eyes of the perch already taken, 
 which are as eagerly bitten at as the worms were formerly. An 
 anecdote is related of a gentleman who struck at a perch, but 
 
MACKEREL. 
 
 203 
 
 unfortunately missed it, the hook tearing out the eye of the poor 
 creature. He adjusted the eye on the hook, and replaced the line 
 in the water, where it had hardly been a few minutes before the 
 float was violently jerked under the surface. The angler of course 
 struck, and found he had captured a fine perch. This when landed 
 was discovered to be the very fish which had just been mutilated, 
 and which had actually lost its life by devouring its own eye. It is 
 quaintly observed by Izaak Walton, that “if there be twenty or 
 
 the perch. 
 
 forty in a hole, they may be at one standing all caught one after 
 another, they being like the wicked of the world, not afraid though 
 their fellows and companions perish in their sight.” The perch 
 seldom exceeds two pounds and a half in weight, and a perch 
 weighing a pound and a half is considered a very fine fish. 
 
 The Mackerel. — The elegant shape and resplendent colors of 
 the mackerel point it out as one of the most beautiful fishes known. 
 Nor is it only valuable for its beauty, as it is highly prized as an 
 article of food in most parts of the world. 
 
204 
 
 TUNNY— S WORD-FISH. 
 
 Vast shoals of mackerel visit our coasts, and myriads are taken 
 by fishermen both by nets and with lines. The line of nets fre- 
 quently exceeds a mile in extent, and of course the number of fish 
 contained in this enormous net must be beyond all calculation. On 
 several occasions, the meshes of the net were completely choked up 
 by fish hanging by their gills, and the net acted like a dredge, 
 sweeping up myriads more fish in a solid mass. In 1808, the whole 
 net and its cargo sunk and were lost to the too successful fishermen. 
 
 The Tunny is a rather large fish, averaging four feet in length, 
 and is very common in the Mediterranean. Large fisheries are 
 established during May and June, at which season immense shoals 
 of these fish rove along the coast. 
 
 The Sword-Fish. — The well-known sword-fish inhabits every 
 part of the Mediterranean Sea, and has several times been seen near 
 other shores. 
 
 The ‘ ‘ sword ’ ’ for which this fish is so famous is an elongation 
 of the upper jaw, of great strength, and capable of doing consider- 
 able injury to any object against which it directs its attacks. In 
 the British Museum is a portion of the bottom of a ship, pierced 
 completely through by the “ sword ” of one of these fish. Its un- 
 fortunate owner must have instantly perished by the shock, for the 
 sword was imbedded almost to its base, and broken short off. In 
 one instance, a sword-fish attacked a whaling-ship, and drove its 
 weapon “through the copper sheathing, an inch-board sheathing, 
 a three-inch plank of hard wood, the solid white oak timber of the 
 ship twelve inches thick, through another two-and-a-half inch hard 
 oak ceiling plank, and lastly perforated the head of an oil-cask, 
 where it still remained immovably fixed, so that not a single drop 
 of oil escaped.” 
 
 In the Mediterranean, the fishermen eagerly chase the sword- 
 fish. The harpoon and line are used, much in the same manner as 
 
REMORA, OR SUCKING-FISH. 
 
 205 
 
 in the whale fishery. The Sicilian fishermen have a strange super- 
 stition that if the sword-fish were to hear a word of Italian, it would 
 instantly dive and escape them. They therefore restrict their vocal 
 sounds to an unintelligible chant. It is said that the whale is an 
 object of particular enmity to the sword-fish, and that ships are 
 struck by it, being mistaken for whales. The length of the fish is 
 
 THE SWORD-FISH. 
 
 usually from twelve to fifteen feet. It is said to feed principally on 
 tunnies, pursuing the shoals, and transfixing the fish with its sword. 
 
 The Remora, or Sucking-fish, is remarkable for the peculiar 
 apparatus situated on the upper part of its head. By this it can 
 adhere to any object so firmly that it is a difficult matter to make it 
 loose its hold. It is often found adhering to large fish or to the 
 bottoms of ships, probably in both instances for the sake of the 
 
206 
 
 STICKLES A CK— ANGLER. 
 
 fragments of food rejected by the one or thrown overboard from 
 the other. 
 
 The older writers on Natural History fully believed that one 
 remora had the power of arresting the largest ship in its course, 
 and fixing it firmly in the same spot, in spite of spread canvas and 
 swift gale. As the remora is about the same size as a herring, our 
 ancestors naturally considered this a very curious circumstance, and 
 wrote no few poems on the subject. 
 
 The Stickleback. — There are six species of sticklebacks 
 known, the habits of all being very similar. They are most pug- 
 nacious little creatures, and will fight on the smallest provocation, 
 dashing at each other and endeavoring to tear open their adver- 
 sary’s side with the sharp spikes that adorn their sides. The bril- 
 liant colors with which they are decorated only belong to the 
 males, and not to them if they have been vanquished. In such a 
 case, the conqueror looks more brilliant than before, and sails 
 about with as much dignity as can be assumed by an animal an 
 inch and a half in length. The unfortunate individual who has 
 been defeated sneaks off into some corner, and soon loses his beau- 
 tiful coloring, his crimson, green, and gold panoply changing into 
 a very dull matter-of-fact gray. 
 
 The Angler, or Fishing Frog, as it is more generally called, 
 is not uncommon in all the European seas. The peculiar forma- 
 tion of its pectoral fins enables it to crawl for some distance on 
 land. 
 
 On its head are two elongated appendages, curiously articu- 
 lated to the skull by a joint formed something like the links of a 
 chain, and capable of movement in any direction. The angler 
 crouches close to the bottom of the sea, and by the movement of 
 its pectoral fins stirs up the sand and mud, and agitates the bony 
 appendages amid the turbid cloud produced. The small fishes, 
 
CARP— SEA-HORSE. 
 
 20 7 
 
 observing the muddy water and taking the filaments for worms, 
 approach to seize them, and are instantly engulfed in the capacious 
 jaws of the crafty angler. The voracity of the angler is so great 
 that, when caught in a net together with other fish, it generally 
 devours some of its fellow-prisoners — a useless act, for the fisher- 
 men mostly open its stomach, and recapture the flounders and 
 other fish found in its interior. 
 
 The Common Carp is a well-known inhabitant of our ponds, 
 lakes, and sluggish rivers. It is a very shy and wary fish, rejecting 
 one day a bait which had been freely taken the day previous. 
 While fishing in a small pond I took in one hour six or seven carp, 
 weighing from half a pound to nearly three pounds each. A few 
 days afterward, although the weather was equally propitious, the 
 carp were not, and the whole day was spent without even a bite. 
 It lives to a great age, and when very old its scales turn gray, just 
 as human hairs do. In several places in France numbers of carp 
 were kept until they attained an enormous size. These great slug- 
 gish fish were accustomed to come to the water’s edge in order to 
 be fed at the call of their keeper. Feeding the carp was almost a 
 hereditary amusement of the later kings of France. 
 
 Very few fish are so tenacious of life as the carp. It is the 
 custom in Holland to keep these fish in nets filled with wet moss. 
 They are fed with bread and milk, and are preserved in health by 
 frequent immersion in water, in order to keep the moss thoroughly 
 wet. 
 
 The Sea-Horse is common in many European seas. The 
 habits of this fish are very singular and interesting. A pair were 
 kept alive for some time in a glass vessel and exhibited considerable 
 activity and intelligence. They swam about with an undulating 
 kind of movement, and frequently twined their tails round the 
 weeds placed in their prison. Their eyes moved independently of 
 
208 
 
 G UD GEON— TENCH. 
 
 each other, like those of the chameleon, and the changeable tints of 
 the head closely resemble that animal. More than once, these 
 curious fish have been seen curled up in oyster shells. The singular 
 creatures called Pipe-fish also belong to the same order. 
 
 The Gudgeon. — This pretty little fish is usually found in 
 shallow parts of rivers, where the bottom is gravelly. If the gravel 
 is stirred up, the gudgeons immediately flock to the place, and a 
 worm suspended amid the turbid water is eagerly snapped at by 
 
 THE CARP. 
 
 them. Its flesh is particularly delicate, and although its length 
 rarely exceeds seven inches, yet from the ease with which numbers 
 can be obtained, it forms a dish by no means to be despised. 
 
 The Tench. — The habits of the tench are not unlike those of 
 the carp, except that it seems even more sluggish than that fish. It 
 especially delights in muddy banks of ponds, where the weeds grow 
 thickly. Roget gives an account of a tench that had been taken 
 out of a pond almost filled with stones and rubbish, and which had 
 
ROA CH—BLEA K— MIN NO IV—LOA CRT— PIKE. 
 
 209 
 
 actually grown into the shape of the hole where it had been con- 
 fined, evidently for many years. The weight of that fish was eleven 
 pounds nine ounces. Four hundred tench and as many perch were 
 also taken out of the same pond. This fish is even more tenacious 
 of life than the carp. 
 
 The Roach is very common in most rivers of this country, and 
 is generally spread over the temperate parts of Europe. It is by no 
 means a large fish, rarely exceeding two pounds in weight, and 
 seldom attaining even that size. These fish usually live in small 
 shoals, and pass from one part of the river to another. 
 
 The roach is not unlike the dace, but may be easily distin- 
 guished by its bright red ventral fins, those of the dace being silvery 
 white. It is rather a favorite with anglers, as it bites or rather nib- 
 bles at the bait in such a dainty and delicate manner that the disap- 
 pointed fisherman not unfrequently finds the bait gone without the 
 movement of his float betraying the theft. 
 
 The Bleak and the Minnow both belong to the genus 
 Leuciscus. The former fish is remarkable for the use made of its 
 scales, which when washed in water, deposit a powder much used in 
 the manufacture ot artificial pearls. 
 
 In some countries the Loach goes by the name of “ Beardie,” 
 in allusion to the little fleshy particles that hang from its lips. It 
 has also the name of groundling, on account of its habit of living 
 close to the bottom of the w T ater. It is a common fish, and may 
 be taken in most streams, especially if the bait is drawn over the 
 bed of the stream. The principal peculiarity about the fish is the 
 comparatively great breadth of the tail where it joins the spine. 
 This formation, together with the generally pellucid appearance of 
 its body, at once distinguish it from any other fish. 
 
 The Pike. — This fierce and voracious fish is now common in 
 most rivers and lakes, although it was formerly so rare as to be rated 
 at ten times the value of turbot. 
 
 14 
 
210 
 
 FL YING-FISH. 
 
 The appetite of this fish is almost insatiable. Mr. Jesse threw 
 to one pike of five pounds’ weight four roach, each about four 
 inches in length, which it devoured instantly, and swallowed a fifth 
 within a quarter of an hour. Moor-hens, ducks, and even swans 
 have been known to fall a prey to this voracious fish, its long teeth 
 effectually keeping them prisoners under water until drowned. 
 
 THE FLYING-FISH. 
 
 The Flying-Fish. — This fish, so celebrated in most books of 
 voyages, is found in the warmer latitudes, but has several times been 
 seen off our coasts. The so-called “ flight ” is very similar to that 
 of the flying squirrels and dragons, the fish merely springing out of 
 the water with a violent impetus, and sustaining itself in the air by 
 means of its enormous pectoral fins. It is not able to change its 
 course while in the air, nor to rise a second time without repeating 
 
SALMON— COMMON TROUT. 
 
 21 I 
 
 its course through the water. The reader will notice the remark- 
 able fact that individuals of three wingless classes, the Mammalia, 
 the Reptiles, and the Fishes, have each the power of sustaining 
 themselves in the air. 
 
 The “flight” of this fish seldom exceeds two hundred yards. 
 The unfortunate creatures are pursued in the water by “ dorados,” 
 erroneously called dolphins, an<J other fishes of prey. To escape 
 their finny tyrants, they spring into the air, and for a while escape. 
 But the gulls and albatrosses are on the watch, and pounce on the 
 flying-fish from above, so that the persecuted creatures are tolerably 
 sure to fall a prey to one or the other of their foes. The size of the 
 fish is about the same as that of a herring. Its food is mollusks and 
 small fishes. 
 
 The Salmon is a migratory fish, annually leaving the sea, its 
 proper residence, and proceeding for many miles up rivers, for the 
 purpose of depositing its spawn. This duty having been accom- 
 plished, it returns to the sea in the spring. The perseverance of 
 this fish in working its way up the stream is perfectly wonderful. 
 No stream is rapid enough to daunt it, nor is it even checked by 
 falls. These it surmounts by springing out of the water, fairly 
 passing over the fall. Heights of fourteen or fifteen feet are con- 
 stantly leaped by this powerful fish, and when it has arrived at 
 the higher and shallower parts of the river, it scoops furrows in the 
 gravelly bottom, and there deposits its spawn. The young, called 
 “ fry,” are hatched about March, and immediately commence their 
 retreat to the sea. By the end of May the young salmon, now 
 called “smolts,” have almost entirely deserted the rivers, and in 
 June not one is to be found in fresh water. Small salmon weighing 
 less than two pounds are termed “salmon peel; ” all above that 
 weight are called “ grilse.” 
 
 The Common Trout is found in many rivers of this country, 
 always preferring rapid, shallow, and sparkling streams, especially 
 
212 
 
 HERRING— PIL CHARD. 
 
 
 if there should be little falls at intervals. The Derwent and the 
 Dove are particularly famous for their trout. The latter river is 
 quite the beau ideal of a trout stream. It never seems to know its own 
 mind for half a mile together. Sometimes it is rapid, frisking over 
 stones, and round trees, and throwing up the sparkling foam in all 
 directions. Presently it has changed into a silent, slow, melan- 
 choly river, with dark pools of unknown depth, shaded by over- 
 hanging trees, and suggestive of murders successfully concealed. 
 Everywhere are the trout. Lying quietly under the shelter of some 
 large stone, while the water is leaping round them, are the moderate- 
 sized trout, darting off like meteors to snatch at a passing fly, and 
 as quickly returning to their concealment. In the deeper pools are 
 the larger fish, who are too sagacious to be deceived by the artfully 
 made fly of the professional angler, yet often fall victims to the 
 less scientific but more successful ploughboy. 
 
 The usual method of fishing for trout is with a fly, but trolling 
 with a minnow is often successfully used, nor does the trout reject a 
 well-selected and properly arranged worm. The brilliant speckled 
 tints of this beautiful fish vary much according to the locality and 
 the time of year. In May the fish assume their brightest colors and 
 their most delicate flavor. The size of the fish also varies exceed- 
 ingly, being from half a pound in weight and about eight inches in 
 length, to ten or fifteen pounds’ weight. The smelt belongs to this 
 family, and in its progress to the sea is destroyed in great quantities 
 in mill-ponds, etc. 
 
 The value of the Herring family to man is almost incalculable. 
 The Pilchard and the herring are very similar in appearance, but 
 may be easily known by the position of the dorsal fin, which in the 
 pilchard is so exactly in the centre of the body, that if the fish is 
 held by it, the body exactly balances ; while in the herring, the 
 dorsal fin is placed rather backward, so that when suspended the fish 
 hangs with its head downward. 
 

 THE SALMON 
 
214 
 
 SPRA T—ANCHO VY—FLA T-FISH. 
 
 The herring makes its annual appearance on the coasts of 
 America about June. This most valuable fish arrives in enormous 
 shoals, five or six miles in length, and three or four in breadth. 
 Their advent is heralded by various sea-birds, such as the gannets 
 and gulls, which constantly hover over the shoals and commit un- 
 ceasing devastation among them. Yet in spite of the myriads de- 
 stroyed by birds and fishes, in spite of the shoals captured by man, 
 in spite of the vast quantities of spawn devoured by other fishes, 
 their numbers seem quite undiminished, and each year they are led 
 by the instinct inculcated in them by Providence, to visit the shore 
 in incalculable numbers, not only to yield to man an unfailing 
 supply, but to make the necessary provision for the increase of their 
 number. 
 
 The well-known Sprat also belongs to the genus Clupea, and, 
 like the herring, visits our shores in large shoals. The sprat fishery 
 commences in the beginning of November. Not only are enormous 
 quantities of this small but useful fish used as food, and sent into all 
 parts of this country, but they are very largely used as manure — fish, 
 according to the researches of Sir H. Davy, being a most powerful ma- 
 nure, retaining its fertilizing influence for a long time. Many thou- 
 sand tons’ weight of sprats are annually used for this purpose. The 
 whitebait belongs to the same family. 
 
 The little Anchovy is a fish of no small importance, being very 
 largely used in various sauces, besides the numbers that are preserved 
 in pickle. It is common in the Mediterranean, and is also found 
 on our coasts. The upper jaw of this fish is longer than the lower 
 one ; the entire length of the fish is usually from four to five 
 inches, but it has been seen measuring upward of seven inches. 
 
 In the Flat-fish we see a most extraordinary instance of 
 adaptation of structure to peculiar circumstances. We have all 
 seen flat-fish, and all know that the upper side is dark, and the 
 
COMMON SOLE. 
 
 215 
 
 under side nearly white. The word “side ” is used advisedly, as 
 these curious fish actually lie on their sides at the bottom of the 
 water while undisturbed or merely feeding. When, however, they 
 are alarmed, they rapidly assume the vertical position, and dart off 
 with great speed. The dark upper surface serves to protect them 
 from becoming too visible to enemies above. The two eyes are also 
 
 the cod. 
 
 placed on the upper side of the head for obvious reasons. In fact, 
 the whole fish appears as if it had been laid on its side, and rolled 
 flat, the head also being twisted round, and the lower eye removed 
 to the upper surface. 
 
 The Common Sole is too well known to need much descrip- 
 tion. This fish is the reverse of the turbot, having the eyes and 
 color on the right side, although, as in the turbot, varieties are not 
 
2l6 
 
 TURBOT— COD— ELECTRIC EEL. 
 
 rare. It is in season during most parts of the year, except a few 
 weeks in March or April. 
 
 The Turbot is found on the coasts of most parts of England, 
 but the fisheries are nearly exclusively confined to the southern 
 coasts of Ireland. The fishery is conducted both by nets and lines. 
 On the coasts one turbot-line frequently extends for three miles in 
 length, and is furnished with 2500 hooks, which are attached to 
 the main line by small horse-hair lines, each twenty-seven inches 
 in length. This enormous line is “shot” across the current at 
 the turn of the tide. 
 
 The Cod. — In this sub- order the bones of the ventral fins are 
 placed under, and support the bones of the shoulder. 
 
 The well-known codfish is principally found on the coasts of 
 Newfoundland, but is taken in great numbers on our own shores. 
 The hook is generally employed for the capture of this fine fish. 
 Such is its voracity, that nearly five hundred have been taken by 
 one man in the course of ten hours. The intense cold renders the 
 cod fishery a service of great hardship. The fecundity of this fish 
 is almost incredible, the roe of one fish having been ascertained to 
 contain nine million eggs. The whiting belongs to this family. 
 
 The Eels form a sub-order of the Apoda, or footless fish, so 
 called from the absence of ventral fins. These fish assume a form 
 very similar to the serpents. Although on a hasty examination they 
 seem to be devoid of scales, yet when the skin is dried, very minute 
 scales may be seen through the semi-transparent outer skin, and may 
 be easily detached by carefully separating the two skins. 
 
 Eels inhabit muddy ponds and rivers, and are common in 
 many canals. 
 
 The Electric Eel. — This curious fish, which exhibits the sin- 
 gular phenomenon of voluntary electric power residing in a living 
 animal, is an inhabitant of the fresh-water rivers and ponds of 
 
SHORT SUN-FISH— STURGEON. 
 
 2i 7 
 
 Surinam, and other parts of South America, where it was first dis- 
 covered in the year 1677. 
 
 This power of emitting an electric shock is apparently given it 
 in order to enable the creature to kill its prey. Those who have 
 seen the electric eel in the Polytechnic while being fed, will have 
 little doubt of this. The fish given to it are, directly it becomes 
 aware of their presence, instantly struck dead and then devoured. 
 This specimen is unfortunately blind, but it has learned to turn in 
 the direction of a paddling in the water, made by the individual 
 who feeds it. The fish is scarcely in the water before the shock 
 from the gymnotus kills it. The usual length of the gymnotus is 
 about three feet. 
 
 The Short Sun-fish. — This order derives its name from the 
 curious structure of the jaws, which are fixed together in a very 
 peculiar manner. It is of a most singular shape, looking as if three 
 fourths of a very large fish had been cut off, leaving only the head 
 and shoulders. It attains to a very large size, and has been known 
 to weigh three hundred pounds, its length being only four feet five 
 inches. It lives mostly at the bottom of the sea, but frequently 
 rises to the surface, and lies, perhaps sleeps, floating with the tide. 
 
 The Sturgeon. — The remaining fishes belong to the Cartila- 
 ginous sub-class; that is, their skeletons are composed of cartilage, 
 and not of true bone. The first sub-order possess free gill-covers, 
 like those of all the preceding fish ; but the remainder breathe by 
 means either of slits, as in the sharks, or holes, as in the lampreys. 
 The sturgeon is remarkable for the rows of bony plates extending 
 along the body. It is exceedingly common in the northern parts 
 of Europe and in North America, where regular fisheries are organ- 
 ized for its capture. Almost every part of it is used. Isinglass is 
 obtained by drying and shredding the air-bladder ; caviare is made 
 of the roe of the female, and the flesh is extensively preserved both 
 
2 1 8 
 
 SHARK— RA Y. 
 
 by pickling and salting, besides the large quantities that are con- 
 sumed fresh. The flavor of its flesh is said not to be unlike veal. 
 
 A specimen was once caught in the Esk, weighing four hun- 
 dred and sixty pounds. The female always deposits her eggs in 
 fresh water, and the young, when hatched, descend to the sea, and 
 are supposed not to return again until, in their turn, they seek the 
 fresh water in order to deposit their spawn. 
 
 The Sharks and Rays have no gill-covers, but the water 
 passes through five elongated apertures on each side of the head. 
 The sharks are proverbially ferocious and dangerous creatures, and 
 are the pest of those seas which they infest. Their mouths are 
 furnished with several rows of sharp, jagged teeth, which can be 
 raised or depressed at pleasure, and which can cut through a limb 
 or even the body of a man with the greatest ease. The mouth of 
 these fishes is placed beneath the head, so that a shark cannot seize 
 its prey at the surface of the water without turning on its side, 
 which evolution often gives time for its expected prey to escape. 
 
 The little Spotted Dogfish is the most common of the sharks 
 that visit our shores. It is principally known on account of the 
 havoc it makes among the fish during the seasons of the various 
 fisheries, for which reason it is most especially detested by the un- 
 fortunate fishermen, who not unfrequently, together with their ex- 
 pected spoil, draw up a few dogfish in their nets. The dogfish, on 
 finding themselves entangled, immediately commence tearing the 
 nets to pieces with their sharp and powerful teeth. 
 
 The empty eggs of this fish are often found washed up on the 
 sea-shore, and called by the name of “mermaids’ purses.” 
 
 The White Shark is a well-known scourge of the Mediterranean 
 Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. This is the creature so detested by 
 sailors, who, when they have caught a “shark,” subject it to 
 every possible indignity. This voracious creature has been known 
 
The white shark. 
 
220 
 
 SA WFISH— TORPEDO. 
 
 to swallow an entire man, and as it is in the habit of lurking about 
 ships for the sake of the scraps thrown overboard, and almost in- 
 variably swallows whatever is cast over the side, the contents of its 
 stomach are often of a most heterogeneous description. The sail- 
 ors always amuse themselves by seeing what the shark has “stowed 
 away, ’ ’ and the substances thus brought to light have been most 
 curious. The entire contents of a lady’s work-basket, down to the 
 scissors, were found in the interor of one shark, and another had 
 actually swallowed an entire bull’s hide — a circumstance which led 
 the operating sailor to remark that the shark had swallowed a bull, 
 but could not “digest ” the hide. 
 
 The Sawfish is found in the greatest perfection in the tropi- 
 cal seas, although it also inhabits the Mediterranean. The weapon 
 from which the fish derives its name is a flat, long prolongation of 
 the head, on each edge of which are set hard tooth-like projections, 
 curiously inserted into the bone. This fish has been known to em- 
 ploy its saw in the attack on the whale, burying the apparently in- 
 appropriate weapon to the very root in the body of the whale ; nor 
 are instances wanting where the saw has been found firmly im- 
 bedded in the hull of a ship. 
 
 The Torpedo may fairly be considered a British fish. It 
 affords a second instance of the electric power residing in a fish. 
 The organs that produce the electric shock are shown externally 
 by two elevations extending from the eyes about half way down the 
 body. Although it has once or twice been caught on our coasts, 
 it is usually found in the Mediterranean, where its powers are well 
 known, and held in some awe. The shock that the torpedo gives, 
 of course, varies according to the size of the fish, and its state of 
 health, but a tolerably large fish in good health can, for the time, 
 disable a strong man. From the effects of its shock, it is in some 
 parts called the cramp-fish. 
 
RA Y— LAMPREY. 
 
 22 I 
 
 The Rays are at first sight not unlike the turbot and sole, but 
 a closer examination will show that the rays really swim with their 
 backs upward, whereas the turbot swims on its side. The move- 
 ment of the ray is very curious. 
 
 The Skate is caught in abundance on our shores, and in Eng- 
 land is in much request as an article of food, although by many it 
 is used principally for bait. The Thornback Skate derives its name 
 from the spiny armature of the tail, with which the fish defends 
 itself most vigorously by bending itself almost into a semicircle 
 and lashing about with its tail. The female of the thornback skate 
 is termed a maid. It often attains to a large size, the largest 
 known being twelve feet in length, and nearly ten in width. The 
 jaws of the rays are exceedingly powerful, and enable them to 
 crush with perfect ease the various shell-fish on which they feed. 
 The Sting Ray is another species, which is armed with a serrated 
 bone in its tail, with which it can inflict painful and even dangerous 
 wounds. 
 
 The Lamprey. — These curious fishes, in many respects the 
 lowest in organization of the vertebrated animals, are chiefly 
 remarkable for the singular construction of the mouth, which, 
 formed like that of the leech, enables the lampreys to hold firmly 
 to any object by suction. The breathing apparatus appears exter- 
 nally to consist of fourteen small apertures, seven on each side of 
 the neck. Their progress through the water is accomplished by a 
 rapid undulating movement. 
 
 The Marine Lamprey is found in the Mediterranean, and in 
 most of the northern European rivers. It has also been discovered 
 in America. Like many other fishes, it travels for many miles up 
 rivers for the purpose of depositing its spawn, at which time it is 
 considered to be in the highest perfection. The spawn is deposited 
 in furrows, some excavated by the parent lampreys, who, by the 
 
222 
 
 MYXINE— MOLL USCS— CEPHA L OTODA . 
 
 help of their sucker-like mouths, rapidly remove even large stones. 
 
 The Lampern, or River Lamprey, is plentifully found in many 
 rivers of America. Its length is usually from twelve to fifteen 
 inches. In some counties of England it is called seven-eyes, in 
 allusion to the breathing apertures in the neck. 
 
 The Myxine, which, although a decided fish, was classed by 
 Linnaeus among the worms, occurs frequently on the eastern coasts 
 of this country. The fishermen find it within the bodies of fish 
 attached to the lines. The Scarborough fishermen call such fish 
 “ robbed,” as the myxine, in the course of a single tide, will de- 
 vour the whole fish, except the skin and bones. The length of the 
 myxine is from twelve to fifteen inches. 
 
 MOLLUSCS. 
 
 The Mollusca have neither spine nor bones, the nervous 
 system consisting of a number of nervous knobs called “ ganglia,” 
 which give off filamentous nerves in different directions. Few 
 molluscs possess eyes, but in one or two, as the snails and slugs, 
 these organs are to be found, and in the higher molluscs, such as 
 the cuttlefish, we see not only large and brilliant eyes, but also 
 organs of hearing. 
 
 The Cephalopoda, so called from the organs of movement 
 surrounding the head, are divided into naked and testaceous , or 
 covered with a shell. 
 
 The Common Cuttlefish is an example of a naked cep ha- 
 lopodous mollusc. This repulsive-looking creature is common on 
 our shores, and is, in spite of its unpleasant appearance, often used 
 for food. Its eight long and flexible arms are covered with suckers 
 of various sizes, enabling their owner not only to fix itself firmly to 
 the rocks on which it dwells, but to seize and retain with the 
 greatest tenacity any unfortunate fish or shell that may happen to come 
 
CUTTLEFISH— SQUID— OCTOPUS— ARGONA UT. 223 
 
 within its reach. Its powerful parrot-like beak enables it not only 
 to devour fishes, but even to crush the shells and Crustacea that are 
 entangled in its deadly embrace. In this country, the cuttle does 
 not grow to any great size, but in the Indian Seas it is absolutely 
 dangerous, and the crews of boats are forced to be armed with a 
 hatchet, to cut off the arms of the cuttlefish. 
 
 There are few who have not heard of the color “ sepia. ” 
 This is, or ought to be, prepared from a black pigment, secreted 
 by the cuttlefish, and used in order to escape its foes, by blacken- 
 ing the water with the ink, and hurrying off under shelter of the 
 dense cloud of its own creating. Dr. Buckland actually drew a 
 portrait of a fossil cuttlefish with some of its own ink that still 
 remained in its body. The substance sold in the shops as cuttle- 
 fish bone is a chalky substance secreted from the mouth of the fish, 
 and composed of an infinite number of plates, joined by myriads 
 of little pillars. The entire body is soft, and encased in a coarse, 
 leather- like skin, unprotected by any shell. 
 
 The Squid is much like the cuttlefish in looks. The common 
 squid, found on the coast of New England, is six to twelve inches 
 long, but very large ones have been found off the coast of New- 
 foundland. In 1872 one was seen whose body was nearly twice as 
 long as a man, while its arms were five times as long as a man. It 
 is thought that some of them grow to be at least fifty feet long, 
 such ones are very strong and dangerous. The “devil-fish” told 
 about by Victor Hugo in his book called “ The Toilers of the 
 Sea,” which catches a man and draws him down into his cave, is 
 something like an octopus, but there is really no such animal in the 
 world as the one he describes. 
 
 The principal eight-arm cephalopods are the Octopus, or 
 Poulpe and the Argonaut. The common octopus, found in the 
 European seas, has a round body about as large as a man’s fist, 
 
THE ARGONAUT, OR PAPER NAUTILUS. 
 
 swim in other ways. It can walk on its eight arms in the same way 
 with the cuttlefish. In the seas of hot countries the octopus grows 
 very large. 
 
 The Argonaut, or Nautilus, is an example of the testaceous 
 molluscs. This curious creature, about which so many marvellous 
 
 224 
 
 ARGONA UT, OR NA UTIL US. 
 
 with eight arms around it, each three or four feet long. Near the 
 body these arms are joined by a tough skin, by opening and shut- 
 ting which it can swim backward. It has also a tube which opens 
 near its mouth, through which it blows out water, which helps it to 
 
SLUGS— COMMON SNAIL. 
 
 225 
 
 and poetical tales have been told, is very abundant in the Medi- 
 terranean. It has been clearly proved that the nautilus does not 
 urge itself along the surface of the water by the expanded arms 
 used as sails. These arms are in fact used to cover the shell, and 
 it is from these that the beautiful shell is secreted. The argonaut 
 propels itself through the sea by violently ejecting water from the 
 tube with which it, as well as the cuttlefish, is furnished for that 
 purpose. The colors of the living animal of the nautilus are ex- 
 ceedingly beautiful. 
 
 The arms of this creature are furnished with suckers. Its 
 shell, when the poulpe (as the living argonaut is called) is still 
 existing, is flexible and semi-transparent ; but when the animal is 
 taken away, the shell soon becomes rather opaque, and is very 
 fragile. 
 
 The Slugs are well-known invaders of our gardens, and, to- 
 gether with the snail, the caterpillar, and the mysterious “ blight,” 
 are objects of the gardener’s most intense hatred. The black slug 
 is usually found by hedge-banks and in grassy meadows. It seldom 
 ventures out by day, especially if the day be bright ; but at night, 
 when the dew is on the ground, it may be seen trailing its dark 
 length through the herbage, or eagerly devouring the leaves. 
 
 The Common Snail. — Several species of snails inhabit this 
 country, among which the edible snail, the belted snail, and the 
 common garden snail are the most conspicuous. The edible snail 
 was imported into England by the Romans, who prized them highly, 
 and fattened them in a building erected for that express purpose, as 
 indeed is now done in some parts of Europe. This snail grows to 
 a large size, nearly attaining the magnitude of an ordinary closed 
 fist. 
 
 The eyes of the snail are placed at the extremity of the ten- 
 tacula, or ‘ ‘ horns,” as they are usually called. The common garden 
 
 15 
 

 — 
 
 226 WOODCOCK— WENTLETRAP— COWRIE— LIMPETS. 
 
 snail is so well known that no description of it is needed. It lays 
 eggs very large in comparison with the size of the parent ; they are 
 about the size of small peas, round, soft, and semi-transparent. 
 They are deposited about two inches below the surface of the earth. 
 
 The beautiful Thorny Woodcock, sometimes called by the 
 name of Venus’s comb, is an excellent example of the Muricidae. 
 This elegant shell is an inhabitant of the Indian Ocean. 
 
 The Royal Staircase Wentletrap affords us an excellent and 
 most beautiful example of the Turbinidae. It is a native of the 
 Chinese and Indian seas, and was formerly so scarce that a specimen 
 two inches in length would sell for five hundred dollars. Even 
 now, a very fine specimen cannot be obtained under thirty or thirty- 
 five dollars. For this reason, the specific name “ pretiosa ” was 
 affixed to it by Lamarck. 
 
 As an example of the large family of Cones, we will take the 
 common cone, whose beautiful marbled color and elegant shape 
 render it a most attractive shell. 
 
 The Money Cowrie and the Whelk. — The cowries are not less 
 celebrated for the elegance of their form, and the beauty of their 
 markings, than for the curious circumstance that one species is used 
 as current coin in Guinea and Bengal, thus being employed for the 
 same purpose by two entirely distinct races of men, situated in dif- 
 ferent quarters of the globe. Their value is of course small in pro- 
 portion to gold or silver. At the present time a rupee in Bengal is 
 worth 3200 cowries, the value of the rupee being about thirty cents 
 of our money. 
 
 The Limpets are spread over every latitude, except the Arctic 
 regions. The common limpet is to be found on every rock and 
 large stone at the sea-side. The mode of its attachment to the rocks 
 is very curious, and well repays a careful examination. 
 
BIVALVE MOLLUSCS. 
 
 227 
 
 THE OYSTER. 
 
 be convinced of the strength of this muscle. The two shells are 
 united by a powerful elastic hinge, which after the death of the 
 animal opens the shells widely. 
 
 The bivalves do not enjoy such powers of locomotion as the 
 univalves, yet some, as the fresh-water mussel, can urge themselves 
 
 We now arrive at the Bivalve Molluscs. It has been already 
 stated that the bivalves are all aquatic. These creatures are enabled 
 to keep their shell firmly closed by means of a powerful muscle. 
 Those who have attempted for the first time to open an oyster, must 
 
228 SCALLOP— COMMON OYSTER— SEA MUSSELS. 
 
 along by means of a fleshy organ called the foot ; and so powerful 
 in some is this organ, that by means of it the animal can not only 
 burrow in the sand, but actually leap out of a boat. The rapid 
 opening and shutting of the valves is used by some, as the scallop, 
 as a means of progression. It is believed that the bivalves ha've no 
 visual organs. 
 
 The common Scallop is found along our southern coasts, and 
 in the seas of Europe. This shell was formerly used as the badge 
 of a Pilgrim to the Holy Land. 
 
 The Common Oyster has been for many ages considered as a 
 delicacy for the table. In the times of the ancient Romans, we 
 find that English “ native oysters ’ * were exported to Rome, and 
 then placed in the Lucrine Lake, where they were fattened. 
 
 On our coasts the oysters breed in large beds, to which vast 
 quantities of young oysters are conveyed by the fishermen, and 
 suffered to increase without molestation. During the months of 
 May, June, and July, the oysters breed, and are considered unfit 
 for food. At this time the young, called “spat,” are deposited in 
 enormous numbers. They instantly adhere to the substance among 
 which they fall; and this, whatever it be, is called “ cultch,” and 
 is protected by severe penalties. About May the fishermen separate 
 the spawn from the cultch, which is then thrown back into its 
 former place. After May it is felony to disturb the cultch, as were 
 it removed, mussels and cockles would rapidly take the place of the 
 oysters. 
 
 The oysters are taken in the proper season by the “ dredge,” 
 a kind of small net fastened round an iron framework, which scoops 
 up the oysters and many other marine animals. The part of the 
 oysters called the “beard” is in reality the respiratory apparatus. 
 
 The Sea Mussels are usually fixed where the tide leaves them 
 alternately wet and dry, and it is worthy of notice that those “shell- 
 
BARN A CLE— CR USTA CEA. 
 
 229 
 
 fish” which are exposed to variations of this kind are enabled to 
 close their shells so firmly as to prevent any evaporation. One 
 species is extensively used as an article of food. The river mussels 
 occasionally produce pearls of some value. The nacre of these 
 mussels is of a beautiful azure blue. 
 
 The Barnacle is always found adhering to some larger object, 
 usually floating wood, and is very common on the hulls of ships. 
 Although the perfect animal is permanently fixed, it has been dis- 
 covered that the young are free and capable of locomotion ; nor is 
 it until a week or two has passed that they finally settle themselves. 
 
 The Crustacea are almost all aquatic animals. They have no 
 internal skeleton, but their body is covered with a strong crust, 
 which serves for protection as well as for strength. Their whole 
 framework consists of a series of rings fitted to and working in each 
 other ; some forming limbs, and others developing into the frame- 
 work supporting the different organs. From this reason they and 
 the remaining animals, as far as the star-fishes, who have no limbs 
 at all, are called “ articulated ” animals. 
 
 Their method of growth is very curious. Other animals, as 
 they increase in size, experience no particular inconvenience. Not 
 so the Crustacea. Their bodies are closely enveloped in a strong, 
 unyielding mail, which cannot grow with them. Their armor is 
 therefore cast off every year, and a fresh coat formed to suit their 
 increased dimensions. Not only is the armor cast off, but even the 
 covering of the eyes, the tendons of the claws, and lining meinbrane 
 of the stomach , with its teeth. They all possess the curious power 
 of reproducing a lost or injured limb. In the former case, a fresh 
 limb supplies the place of that lost ; and in the latter case, the ani- 
 mal itself shakes off the injured joint, and a new one soon takes its 
 place. Lobsters, when alarmed, frequently throw off their claws. 
 
 The Decapods are the fortunate possessors of ten legs, five at 
 each side. They also possess three pairs of jaws, besides the teeth 
 
230 COMMON CRAB— HERMIT CRAB— LOBSTER. 
 
 in the stomach. They breathe by means of branchiae or gills, fixed 
 at each side of the throat or chest, often erroneously called the 
 head. 
 
 The Common Crab belongs to the short-tailed Decapods. It 
 is abundantly taken on our coasts by fishermen, who employ for its 
 capture a wicker basket called a 4 ‘creel ” or crab-pot. The crab- 
 pots are made each with an aperture which permits the animal to 
 enter, but forbids its egress — just like a common wire mouse-trap. 
 A piece of a fish is fastened at the bottom of the creel, and the 
 whole apparatus let down to the bottom of the sea, guarded by a 
 line connected with a float, by means of which the fishermen draw 
 it up and then remove its contents. Each float has a peculiar mark, 
 by which the fisherman knows his own. When taken, the crabs are 
 kept alive in well-boats, until wanted. 
 
 The Hermit Crab is not so well protected as most of his rela- 
 tions, for his tail has no shelly armor. He is therefore forced to 
 protect his undefended tail by putting it into an empty shell, usually 
 that of a whelk, and then walks about, dragging his curious house 
 after him. Sometimes, two hermit crabs wish to obtain possession 
 of the same shell, and then there is a battle royal. When the crab 
 grows larger, he only has to change his old shell for a new one, and 
 it is very amusing to see these creatures slipping their tails first into 
 one shell, and then into another, until they have pleased themselves 
 with a good fit. 
 
 The Common Lobster is found in great abundance on our 
 coast, usually in the clear, rocky waters. The grasp of its claw is 
 so tight, that to break off the claws is often the only method of dis- 
 engaging its hold. Although enormous quantities are destroyed 
 every year, they are so prolific that the supply never fails. The 
 so-called lady’s-fingers of the lobster are its breathing apparatus. 
 
THE EDIBEE CRAB, 
 
232 
 
 STAR-FISHES— SHIP- WORM. 
 
 Star-fishes. — These creatures exhibit in the strongest manner 
 the radiate form of body, the various organs boldly radiating from 
 a common centre. 
 
 Many of these creatures are exceedingly common upon our own 
 coasts, so plentiful, indeed, as to be intensely hated by the fisher- 
 men. Of these the common Five-fingered Jack, often seen on the 
 New England coast, is perhaps found in the greatest number. All 
 star-fishes are very wonderful beings, and well repay a close and 
 lengthened examination of their habits, their development, and their 
 anatomy. 
 
 The movements of the star-fish are extremely graceful, the 
 creature gliding onward with a beautifully smooth and regular mo- 
 tion. It always manages to accommodate itself to the surface over 
 which it is passing, never bridging over even a slight depression, 
 but exactly following all the equalities of the ground. It can also 
 pass through a very narrow opening, and does so by pushing one 
 ray in front, and folding the others back so that they may afford 
 no obstacle to the passage. It also has an odd habit of pressing the 
 points of its rays upon the bottom of the sea, and raising itself in 
 the middle so as to resemble a five-legged stool. 
 
 The Ship-Worm, as this mollusc is appropriately called, from 
 its depredations on the bottoms of the ships and all submerged 
 wooden structures, is found in most seas, and on our own coasts 
 works fearful damage by eating into piles, planks, or even loose 
 wood that lies tossing about in the ocean. I have now before me 
 a portion of the pier at Yarmouth, which is so honeycombed by 
 this terrible creature that it can be crushed between the hands as if 
 it were paper, and in many places the wood is not thicker than or- 
 dinary foolscap. The burrow which the creature forms is either 
 wholly or partially lined with shell, and it is worthy of notice that 
 the ship-worm and its mode of burrowing was the object that gave 
 Sir I. Brunei the idea of the Thames Tunnel. 
 
PR A WN— SHRIMP— SPIDERS— ARA CHNIDA. 
 
 233 
 
 The Prawn and the Shrimp are so familiar to every one as to 
 need but little description. Both are taken in nets swept along the 
 sandy bottom of the sea. The chief distinction in the appearance 
 of these two creatures is the serrated or toothed ridge which runs 
 along the back of the head, or rather carapace, of the prawn. 
 When in their natural state, they are of a brown color, and only 
 assume the pinkish hue when boiled. The Fresh-water Shrimp 
 and the Water-flea are placed among the Crustacea. 
 
 SPIDERS. 
 
 The Class Arachnida, or the Spiders, are by many supposed 
 to be insects. Such, however, is not the case. Spiders possess 
 eight legs, while the true Insects only have six ; they undergo no 
 transformations, they possess no wings or antennae (the place of 
 the latter organs being supplied either by two jointed claws, as in 
 the Scorpions, or by two fangs, as in the Spiders); and their eyes 
 are simple instead of compound. 
 
 Could people divest themselves of the horror felt at the sight 
 of these creatures, especially of the larger sort, they would be well 
 repaid by the interesting instinct displayed by all the spiders, who _ 
 do not differ from each other more in form than in habits. Those 
 of our own country afford an ample field, which had been as yet 
 but imperfectly trodden. There are the Gossamer Spiders, who 
 float high unto the air, borne upon an almost invisible thread ; the 
 Water Spiders, who form an air-tight dwelling under the wave ; the 
 Hunting Spiders, that creep stealthily upon their prey, and then 
 spring on it like lightning ; the beautiful Garden Spiders, who wave 
 from their self-afforded stores their geometrical nets ; the 
 Pirate Spiders, who skim over the surface of the waters, and 
 snatch up the drowning and helpless fly ; together with many 
 others, whose form and habits must be familiar to any ob‘- 
 
234 
 
 GARDEN OR GEOMETRICAL SPIDER. 
 
 server of nature. On account of the limited space that can be 
 appropriated to each class, a short account of some of the principal 
 species of this class is all that can be given. 
 
 The common Garden or Geometrical Spider, as it is called 
 from the mathematical regularity of its net, is an excellent example 
 of the spiders. The net is formed from a gummy substance secreted 
 in an apparatus called the spinneret, through the holes of which 
 
 the; garden spider. 
 
 the gummy secretion is drawn, and becomes hard when exposed to 
 the air. Each thread is composed of many thousand lines. When 
 the web is completed, the spider generally hides itself under a leaf 
 or other convenient lurking-place, and from thence pounces upon 
 any unwary fly that has entangled itself in the slender meshes. 
 Should the fly be a large one, the spider rapidly encircles it with 
 fresh threads until it has bound its wings and legs to the body, and 
 
I 
 
 TARANTULA— SCORPION. 235 
 
 then breaking off the few threads that held it to the net, bears it 
 off triumphantly to its hiding-place. Frequently the geometrical 
 spider sits in the centre of the web, apparently enjoying the air, 
 and if disturbed shakes the net so violently that its shape is com- 
 pletely obscured by the rapidity of the vibrations. 
 
 The House Spider makes a thicker and irregular web, and 
 hides at the bottom of a silken tunnel communicating with the web. 
 An acquaintance of mine had so far tamed a huge house spider, 
 that it would come and take a fly out of his hand. He states that, 
 as it sat at the bottom of its den, its eyes gleamed like diamonds. 
 
 Many efforts have been made to procure silk from spiders, but 
 although a sufficient quantity has been obtained to weave gloves 
 from, yet spiders are so pugnacious that they cannot be kept to- 
 gether. The eggs of the spiders are enclosed in a silken bag, and 
 when hatched, the young keep closely together, and when dis- 
 persed by an alarm, soon reassemble. 
 
 The Tarantula whose bite was fabled to produce convul- 
 sions which could only be appeased by music, is a spider of con- 
 siderable size, inhabiting the south of Europe. It lives in holes 
 about four inches deep in the ground. 
 
 The Scorpion. — These formidable creatures inhabit most of 
 the hotter parts of the globe. They are quite as pugnacious as the 
 spiders, and if several are placed in one box, they will fight until 
 few survive, who immediately devour their fallen foes. The 
 maxillae of the scorpion are developed into large claws, like those 
 of the lobster. With these the scorpion seizes its prey, and while 
 holding it pierces it with its sting, which is situated at the extrem- 
 ity of its tail. The tail is composed of six joints, rendering it very 
 flexible. The sting of this creature is exceedingly painful, and 
 with some persons dangerous ; indeed, the sting of the large black 
 scorpion of Ceylon is said to cause death. 
 
236 
 
 HAR VEST-B UG— INSECTS. 
 
 The Harvest-bug. — These creatures are mostly minute, re- 
 quiring the aid of a microscope fully to develop their form ; but 
 some are considerably larger, and their organs can be distinguished 
 with the naked eye. In this order are included the common cheese- 
 mite, the harvest-bug, the water mites, etc. 
 
 INSECTS. 
 
 The body of an insect is divided or cut into three parts, called 
 the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. The body is defended by 
 a horny integument, divided into rings, and connected by a softer 
 membrane. The legs are six in number. Many insects possess 
 wings, and in all the rudiments of those organs are perceptible. 
 The eyes are compound, that is, a number of eyes are massed to- 
 gether at each side of the head ; and so numerous are they, that in 
 the compound eyes of the ant are 50 lenses, in the house-fly, 8000, 
 in the butterfly, 17,000, and in the hawk-moth, 20,000. 
 
 The insects pass through three transformations before they 
 attain their perfect form. The first state is called the larva , be- 
 cause the future insect is masked under that form ; the second is 
 called the pupa , on account of the shape often assumed ; and the 
 third is called the imago , as being the image of the perfect creature. 
 
 Insects breathe by means of air-tubes, called tracheae, which 
 penetrate to every part of the body, ev$n to the extremities of the 
 limbs, antennae and wings. The air gains access to the tubes by 
 means of small apertures called spiracles. The tubes are prevented 
 from collapsing by a delicate thread wound spirally between the 
 two membranes of which the tubes are composed. This wonderful 
 and beautiful arrangement not only prevents the tubes from collaps- 
 ing, but keeps them flexible. 
 
 There are, according to Stephens, whose arrangement is the 
 one usually followed, fourteen orders of insects. Examples will be 
 
BEETLES, 
 
 237 
 
 given of each, and their names explained. The most perfect insects 
 are placed first. 
 
 There are two great divisions of insects, namely, those which 
 bite and eat solid food with jaws, as the beetles, locusts, bees, etc. , 
 and those which suck liquid food through a proboscis, as the butter- 
 flies, flies, etc. The first order of insects derives its name from the 
 sheath or covering with which the wings are defended. This is a 
 very extensive order. 
 
 Beetles may be known from other insects by the two horny 
 sheaths or wing-covers called elytra , which cover their true wings 
 so closely when they are not flying that they look as if they had no 
 wings. 
 
 Tiger Beetles are so called from their stripes and because they 
 are as fierce among insects as tigers are among quadrupeds. They 
 prey on caterpillars, flies, and other beetles, and will even eat each 
 other when shut up together. The Bombardier Beetle is so called 
 from its habit of shooting a strong liquid from behind at its ene- 
 mies — bombard being an old name for a cannon. Scavenger Beetles 
 have feet fitted for digging, and make deep holes in the ground. 
 They live on filth, of which they clear up a great deal. Some of 
 them are called Carrion Beetles because they eat up dead animals. 
 Others, called Sexton Beetles, bury the bodies of animals. 
 
 Other wonderful beetles are the Stag-horn Beetles, whose long 
 jaws look like the horns of a stag. Our common Horn Bug belongs 
 to this class. In some countries this kind of beetle is very useful 
 in clearing up dead wood in forests. They lay their eggs in the 
 bark of trees blown down by tempests, and their grubs eat up the 
 whole tree, which is thus turned to dust and enriches the earth. 
 
 The Spring Beetles or Snapping Bug is so called because when 
 laid on its back it can spring up, turn over, and come down on its 
 feet. Weevils are a kind of beetles that live on fruits and grains. 
 
MUSK-BEETLE. 
 
 * 3 « 
 
 and do great injury to crops. The worms found in plums, apples, 
 chestnuts, and other fruit come from eggs laid in them by beetles. 
 The Spanish Fly, which is ground to powder and made into blister- 
 ing plasters, is a bright green beetle. Fireflys or Lightning Bugs, 
 Lady -birds , Potato Bugs, Squash Bugs, June Bugs, and many other 
 •common insects are also beetles. 
 
 The cockchaffer needs not much description. Its larva works 
 great mischief during the spring, as it feeds on the roots of plants, 
 and cuts them off with its sharp sickle-like jaws. Where many of 
 these “grubs” have been, the grass curls up and dries like hay. 
 One farmer actually collected eighty bushels of the grubs of the 
 cockchaffer on his farm. Fortunately the thrushes, blackbirds, 
 rooks, and many other birds, are inveterate destroyers of the grubs, 
 and devour myriads of them. It is for this purpose that these birds 
 pull up the grass, and not to spoil or devour the herbage, as is 
 generally supposed. 
 
 The Huge Hercules and Atlas Beetles, and larger still, the 
 Goliath Beetle, belong to the Lamellicorns. 
 
 The Glow-worm may be seen in the warm summer evenings, 
 •shedding its pale green light on grassy banks. The female insect 
 gives out a much stronger light than the male, and there is some 
 light visible even in the larva. The light of this insect proceeds 
 from the abdomen. The light given out by the firefly, another 
 kind of beetle inhabiting South America, proceeds from three 
 yollow tubercles placed on the throat. The grub or larva of the 
 glow-worm is of a singular form, and is furnished with a brush at 
 the extremity of the tail, with which it cleanses its body from dust 
 or the slime of the snails on which it frequently feeds. 
 
 The Musk-beetle. — The beautiful beetles, of which the com- 
 mon musk-beetle is an excellent example, vary considerably in 
 ;size ; some being several inches in length, while some are hardly 
 
THIJ BEETLE. 
 
240 
 
 ROVE BEETLES— WATER BEETLE . 
 
 one-quarter of an inch long. The extreme length of their antennae 
 is the most conspicuous property, and from that peculiarity they 
 are at once recognized. 
 
 The musk-beetle is a large insect. Its peculiar scent, some- 
 thing resembling that of roses, often betrays its presence, when its 
 green color would have kept it concealed. When touched, it emits 
 a curious sound, not unlike that of the bat, but more resembling 
 the faint scratching of a perpendicularly-held slate-pencil. Its larva 
 bores deep holes in the trees, which are often quite honeycombed 
 by them. 
 
 The Rove-beetles form an exceedingly extensive section. 
 Some are so small as to require the assistance of the microscope to 
 discover their shape, and others are more than an inch in length. 
 The small species are usually on the wing, and it is very amusing 
 to see them alight, and with their flexible tails tuck their long and 
 beautifully-shaped wings under the elytra, run about for a moment, 
 and then again take to flight. These are the creatures that cause 
 so much annoyance by flying into one’s mouth or eye in the warm 
 months. 
 
 The Great Rove-beetle is commonly found upon decaying 
 animal substances. It is most formidably armed with two large, 
 curved, sharp mandibles, the bite of which is tolerably severe ; and 
 more than once, when the creature has been recently feeding upon 
 putrid substances, dangerous results have followed. 
 
 Water-beetles inhabit the water, and swim with remarkable 
 activity. They occasionally come to the surface for a fresh supply 
 of air, which they carry down between the elytra and the upper 
 surface of the abdomen. They fly very well, but the construction 
 of their limbs prevents them from walking. They cannot be kept 
 in a limited space, as they are very fierce and voracious, and in 
 one case, when a male and female were placed in a jar filled with 
 
EARWIG— LOCUST— -HOUSE CRICKET. 
 
 241 
 
 water, only one day elapsed before the male was found dead and 
 half devoured by his disconsolate widow. 
 
 The Earwig is placed in an order by itself. The wings are 
 large and exceedingly beautiful, and the method of folding by 
 which they are packed under the very small elytra is very curious. 
 The use of the forceps seems principally for the purpose of folding 
 the wings and placing them in their proper position under their 
 cases. The eggs of the earwigs are hatched, and the young pro- 
 tected by the parent. 
 
 The Locust. — These pests of the warmer countries of the 
 earth belong to the order called Orthoptera, because the wings are 
 not folded transversely. They fly in countless myriads, and where 
 they descend, they devour every particle of green herbage — the 
 trees are stripped of their leaves, the grass and corn is eaten to the 
 very ground ; for their jaws are so strong as to inflict a severe 
 wound when the insect is incautiously handled. 
 
 Nor does the mischief end with their life, for their dead bodies 
 often accumulate in such numbers that the air is even dangerously 
 infected. They infest Africa and Central Asia, but they annually 
 make incursions to Europe and America, where the damage they 
 occasion is much less reparable than in their native land ; for there 
 the power of vegetation is so great that a few days repair the in- 
 juries caused by them, but in Europe a whole year is required for 
 that purpose. 
 
 Our common grasshoppers belong to this order, but require no 
 description. 
 
 The House Cricket. — This well-known insect delights to live 
 in places that are always warm, and consequently is found swarm- 
 ing about ovens, kitchen fireplaces, and localities of a similar 
 nature. It makes its residence by cutting away the mortar with its 
 powerful jaws, and so effectually will it do so, that it sometimes 
 16 
 
242 MOLE CRICKET— LEAF INSECT— COCKROACH. 
 
 eats completely through the wall, opening communications between 
 two or more houses. The manner in which it bears heat is wonder- 
 ful, as it will live within a few inches of a fierce fire. 
 
 But the aridity and heat of the atmosphere in which it lives 
 render it very liable to thirst, and it consequently seeks every op- 
 portunity of quenching its thirst, by gnawing holes in wet linen, 
 devouring any moist crumbs that may lie on the floor, or boldly 
 climbing the milk-pan, in which latter case it gets a little too much 
 liquid, and is generally “ found drowned ” next morning. The 
 wings of this insect, as well as those of the field-cricket, are very 
 beautiful, and marked with an elegant pattern. The cricket never 
 appears to use them except at night, when it may be taken on the 
 wing. 
 
 The Mole Cricket. — The curious insect called the mole- 
 cricket is not uncommon in this country. It inhabits sandy banks, 
 digging deep holes, and forming chambers, in which the eggs are 
 laid. The fore legs closely resemble those of the mole, and are 
 used for the same purpose. 
 
 The Leaf Insect is an inhabitant of South America. Not 
 only does it resemble a leaf in shape, but even color, and its legs 
 may be easily mistaken for dry twigs. Even the ramified veinings of 
 the leaf are preserved on its wings. It is singular that while some 
 insects closely resemble vegetables, some vegetables as the Orchid- 
 aceae should as closely resemble insects. 
 
 Nearly connected with this insect is the praying mantis, so 
 called from the curious manner in which it holds its fore legs. It 
 is very voracious and exceedingly quarrelsome, fighting with the 
 fore legs, which it uses like a sword. In China the inhabitants 
 keep them in cages, and set them to fight as in other countries cer- 
 tain barbarians keep cocks for the same purpose. 
 
 The Cockroach has suffered under the hands of housewives, 
 who express their contempt of it under the name of “ black 
 
MA Y-FL V 
 
 243 
 
 beetle,” a name egregiously false, as, in the first place, it is not 
 black, and in the second place, it is not a beetle. It belongs to the 
 order Orthoptera, and its color is a mahogany red. But, red or 
 black, beetle or not, it is a very great plague, and fully deserves all 
 the maledictions heaped upon it, which are not likely to be de- 
 creased by the fact that it is not even an ancient nuisance, but one 
 of modern importation. 
 
 Its unpleasant character has caused many plans to be laid for 
 its destruction. Among these, strewing the ground with the peel 
 of cucumber, or with red wafers, is said to be effectual in destroy- 
 ing the cockroaches, but perhaps no plan is so successful as the 
 glass pan with sloping sides, which lets the insects fall in, but pre- 
 vents their escape altogether. 
 
 The eggs of the cockroach are deposited, indeed, in little cases 
 or purses, something like those of the shark, but without the strings. 
 Down one side a thick toothed ridge runs, and by this ridge the 
 young escape when hatched. The male cockroach is furnished 
 with very handsome wings, while the female is entirely destitute 
 of these organs, and only possesses four little scales to mark 
 their position. 
 
 The Common May-fly is so well known an insect that it 
 needs no long description. It is the fly so familiar to anglers un- 
 der the name of the “ Drake.” It is to be found in swarms in 
 the end of May and the beginning of June, rising and falling in 
 the air in its peculiarly undulating manner. 
 
 The May-fly spends the first portion of its existence in the 
 water, under the shape of longish grub, with leaf-like appendages 
 to its tail. About May the grubs may be seen to leave the water, 
 and to crawl up the banks or climb the stems of aquatic plants. 
 The skin then splits, and the May-fly creeps out. But it cannot 
 immediately fly, as its wings are soft, and like two split peas. A 
 
244 
 
 DRAGON FLY. 
 
 short interval of exercise in the open air soon loosens them, and 
 they are gradually shaken out until they have attained their full 
 size, when the insect flies off. There is, however, another change 
 yet. In a short time, the May-fly again settles, and sheds the en- 
 tire skin a second time, even including the covering of the wings. 
 These cast skins are often found sticking on the bark of willow- 
 trees by the side of waters, and are mistaken for dead May-flies. 
 
 THE GREAT DRAGON-FLY. 
 
 The Dragon-fly. — Well do the dragon-flies deserve their 
 name. Fierce, voracious, active, and powerful, they are a scourge 
 to the insects. They are on the wing nearly the whole day, seiz- 
 ing, and devouring flies, spiders, and various insects ; nor can even 
 the broad-winged butterfly escape them ; so voracious are they, 
 that when held in the hand they will devour flies, etc., if held 
 within their reach, and they have even been known, when their 
 
ANT-LION. 
 
 2 45 
 
 bodies have been severed in two, to eat flies, although they had no 
 stomach to put them in. I once caught a dragon-fly in my net, 
 and while holding it by the wings I presented to it no less than 
 thirty-seven large large flies in rapid succession, all of which it 
 devoured, together with four long-legged spiders. It would pro- 
 bably have eaten as many more had I not been tired of catching 
 flies for it. 
 
 The larva of the dragon-fly inhabits the water, and is quite as 
 voracious as in its perfect state. Affixed to its head is a curious set 
 of organs, called the mask, which it can extend, and use for the 
 putpose of seizing its prey, and holding it to its mouth. 
 
 The Ant-Lion. — This insect in its perfect form, although it is 
 very elegant, exhibits no peculiarity worthy of notice, but in its 
 larva state its habits are so extraordinary as to have excited general 
 attention. As it is slow and awkward in its movements, it has 
 recourse to stratagem for capturing the agile insects on which it feeds. 
 
 Choosing a light sandy soil, it digs for itself a conical pit, at 
 the bottom of which it conceals itself, leaving only its jaws ex- 
 posed. When an unwary insect approaches too near the edge of 
 the pit, the sand gives away, and down rolls the insect into the 
 very teeth of the concealed ant-lion, who instantly pierces its prey 
 with its calliper-shaped fangs, and sucks out its juices through the 
 jaws, which are hollow. Should, however, the ant-lion miss its 
 prey, and the insect endeavor to escape, its captor instantly makes 
 such a turmoil by tossing up the sand with its closed jaws, and 
 covering each side of the pit with the moving grains, that the 
 insect is tolerably certain to be brought down to the bottom, and is 
 seized by the ant-lion, who immediately drags it below the sand. 
 When the insect is very strong and struggles hard to escape, the 
 ant-lion shakes it about as a dog does a rat, and beats it against the 
 ground until it is disabled. 
 
246 
 
 TERMITES \ OR WHITE ANTS. 
 
 The Termites, or White Ants, as they are very erroneously 
 called, belong to the Neuroptera, and are therefore not ants at alh 
 These insects live in large societies, and build edifices, sometimes 
 of enormous size, and almost as hard as stone. Twelve feet in 
 height is quite common, so that were we to compare our works 
 with theirs, St. Peter’s in Rome and the Capitol at Washington fall 
 infinitely short of the edifices constructed by these little creatures. 
 
 The common termite inhabits Africa. Not only does it build 
 these houses, but runs galleries undergound, as curiously enough, 
 although blind, it always works either at night or in darkness. In 
 each house or community, there are five different kinds of termites : 
 1, the single male, or king, whose life is very short ; 2, the single 
 female, or queen : these are the perfect insects, and have had 
 wings, but have lost them soon after their admission into their 
 cell ; they also have eyes ; 3, the soldiers or fighting men : these 
 possess large jaws, do no work, but repel adversaries and watch as 
 sentinels ; 4, the pupae, who resemble the workers, except that 
 they possess the rudiments of wings ; and 5, the larvae, or workers. 
 These do all the work , i. e. , they collect food, attend to the queen, 
 and watch over the eggs and young, and build and repair their 
 castle. These are more numerous than all the other kinds. 
 
 On the approach of the rainy season, the pupae obtain wings 
 and issue forth in swarms. Few, however, survive. Myriads are 
 devoured by birds, reptiles, and even by man ; and many are car- 
 ried out to sea and perish there. Those that do escape are speedily 
 found by the laborers, who inclose a pair in a clay cell from which 
 they never emerge. The male soon dies, but the female, after 
 rapidly increasing to nearly three inches in length and one in 
 breadth, continues to lay eggs unceasingly for a long time. This 
 cell becomes the nucleus of the hive, and round it all the other 
 cells and galleries are built. 
 
CADDIS-FL Y. 
 
 247 
 
 These insects are terribly destructive, as they eat through 
 wooden beams, furniture, etc., leaving only a thin shell, which is 
 broken down with the least extra weight, and many are the occa- 
 sions when an unsuspecting individual, on seating himself on an 
 apparently sound sofa or chair, finds himself, like Belzoni in the 
 Pyramid, reposing among a heap of dust and splinters. Mr. Cum- 
 ming describes the habitation of the white ant in these terms : 
 
 “ Throughout the greater part of the plains frequented by 
 blesboks, numbers of the sunbaked hills or mounds of clay formed 
 by the white ants occur. The average height of the ant-hills in 
 these districts is from two to three feet. They are generally dis- 
 tant from one another from one to three hundred yards, being 
 more or less thickly placed in different parts. These ant-hills are 
 of the greatest service to the hunter, enabling him with facility to 
 conceal himself on the otherwise open plain.” 
 
 The Caddis-fly. — This fly is well known to every angler both 
 in its larva and in its perfect state. The larva is a soft white 
 worm, of which fishes are exceedingly fond, and it therefore re- 
 quires some means of defence. 
 
 It accordingly actually makes for itself a movable house of 
 sand, small stones, straws, bits of shells, or even small living 
 shells, in which it lives in perfect security, and crawls about in 
 search of food, dragging its house after it. 
 
 When it is about to become a pupa, it spins a strong silk 
 grating over the entrance of its case, so that the water necessary 
 for its respiration can pass through, but at the same time all ene- 
 mies are kept out. When the time for its change has arrived, the 
 pupa bites through the grating, rises to the surface, and crawls out 
 of the reach of the water, which would soon be fatal to it. d he 
 skin then splits down the back, and the perfect insect emerges. 
 
248 
 
 ICHNEUMON FLY— WOOD-ANT. 
 
 The Ichneumon-fly. — We have now reached a most impor- 
 tant and interesting order. In it are contained the bees, wasps, 
 ants, etc. This is the only order where the insects possess stings. 
 The wings are four in number, with certain veinings upon them, 
 the shape and number of which in many cases distinguish the 
 species. 
 
 The ichneumons form a very large section. They are most 
 useful to mankind, as one ichneumon will destroy more caterpillars 
 than a man could kill in his lifetime. They do not, as most other 
 insects, deposit their eggs upon vegetable or dead animal substances, 
 but they actually bore holes in other insects, while they are still in 
 the larva state, and leave the eggs to hatch in their living receptacle. 
 
 I have examined hundreds of caterpillars in the course of dis- 
 section, and have seldom found them free from ichneumons. I 
 took out of one small goat caterpillar 137 of these insidious destroy- 
 ers. I found them useful auxiliaries in dissection, as they had 
 usually consumed all the fat, leaving the important organs ready 
 cleared. 
 
 The Wood-ant is the largest of our American species. It is 
 found principally in woods, and builds a large nest, which looks 
 like a hillock of sand and earth, intermixed with bits of stick, leaves, 
 etc. The interior of this hill is chambered out into a variety of 
 apartments, and is traversed by passages. The so-called ants’ eggs 
 are not eggs at all, but the pupa cases of the insect, and, if opened, 
 the perfect insect is seen curled up inside. 
 
 In the autumn the ants burst forth by thousands and may be 
 seen hovering in clouds above the nest. Their beautiful wings do 
 not last long, for when a female ant escapes, and founds an infant 
 colony, her wings are soon lost, just as a highly accomplished young 
 lady gives up her velvet painting and cross-stitchery when she mar- 
 
WASP— HORNET. 
 
 249 
 
 ries and has a large family. Few do escape, as the birds find these 
 living clouds a most agreeable and plentiful repast. 
 
 Ants do not, as has been so frequently said, lay up stores of 
 corn for the winter, for they are in a state of torpidity during the 
 cold months, and require no food. Moreover, an ant would find 
 as much difficulty in eating or digesting a grain of corn as we should 
 in devouring a truss of straw. In each nest are three kinds of ants — 
 males, females, and neuters, or workers. 
 
 The Wasps. — Let us honor the wasps as the first paper-makers, 
 for of that material is the nest composed. The paper is rough and 
 coarse certainly, but it is still paper. The wasp, in order to make 
 this paper, rasps off fibres of decayed wood, which it afterward 
 mashes with its teeth into a pulp, and then spreads the pulp in 
 layers, when it hardens and forms coarse paper. 
 
 The dreaded Hornet is usually found in woods, where it builds 
 its nest in the hollows of trees. A deserted hut is a favorite spot, 
 and when occupied by a full nest of hornets is not particularly safe 
 to enter, as the sting of this insect is peculiarly severe. It feeds 
 upon other insects, and even attacks and devours the formidable 
 wasp. 
 
 The Common Wasp builds its nest in the ground, usually in 
 banks. The combs are laid horizontally, and not vertically like 
 those of the bee. As the cells are made of paper, they will not hold 
 honey, nor does the wasp endeavor to collect honey, although it is 
 very fond of it, and never loses an opportunity of robbing a bee- 
 hive, although its natural food is flies or other animal substances. 
 Nor does it despise sugar, as every grocer’s window testifies. 
 
 Very few wasps survive the winter, and those who do imme- 
 diately set about forming a new nest. Only a few cells are made 
 at first, but the number rapidly increases, until the nest is furnished 
 with about sixteen thousand cells. Some wasps build nests upon 
 
250 
 
 BEE. 
 
 , 
 
 the branches of trees, and others suspend them from the branches. 
 
 The Bee. — This useful little creature is so well known that a 
 lengthened description of it would be useless. A merely general 
 sketch will be quite sufficient. 
 
 The cells of the bee are, as is well known, made of wax. This 
 wax is secreted in the form of scales under six little flaps situated 
 on the under side of the insect. It is then pulled out by the bee. 
 
 the bee. 
 
 and moulded with other scales until a tenacious piece of wax is 
 formed. The yellow substance on the legs of the* bees is the pollen 
 of flowers. This is kneaded up by the bees, and is called bee-bread. 
 The cells are six-sided, a form which gives the greatest space and 
 strength with the least amount of material, but the method em- 
 ployed by the bees to give the cells that shape is not known. The 
 cells in which the drone or male bees are hatched, are much larger 
 
BEE. 
 
 251 
 
 than those of the ordinary or worker bee. The edges of the cells 
 are strengthened with a substance called propolis, which is a gummy 
 material procured from the buds of various trees. This propolis is 
 also used to stop up crevices and to mix with wax when the comb 
 has to be strengthened. 
 
 The royal cells are much larger than any others, and are of an 
 oval shape. When a worker larva is placed in a royal cell, and 
 fed in a royal manner, it imbibes the principles of royalty, and be- 
 comes a queen accordingly. This practice is adopted if the queen 
 bee should die, and there be no other queen to take her place. 
 
 The queen bee is lady paramont in her own hive, and suffers 
 no other queen to divide rule with her. Should a strange queen 
 gain admittance, there is a battle at once, which ceases not until 
 one has been destroyed. At the swarming time, the old queen is 
 sadly put out by the encroachments of various young queens, who 
 each wish for the throne, and at last is so agitated that she rushes 
 but of the hive, attended by a large body of subjects, and thus the 
 first swarm is formed. In seven or eight days, the queen next in 
 age also departs, taking with her another supply of subjects. When 
 all the swarms have left the original hive, the remaining queens 
 fight until one gains the throne. 
 
 The old method of destroying bees for the sake of the honey 
 was not only cruel but wasteful, as by burning some dry “puff- 
 ball” the bees are stupefied, and shortly return to consciousness. 
 The employment of a “ cap ” on the hive is an excellent plan, as 
 the bees deposit honey alone in these caps, without any admixture 
 of grubs or bee-bread. Extra hives at the side, with a communica- 
 tion from the original hive, are also useful. The queen bee lays 
 about eighteen thousand eggs. Of these about eight hundred are 
 males or drones, and four or five queens, the remainder being 
 workers. 
 
252 
 
 B UTTER FL Y—MO THS. 
 
 The Swallow-tailed Butterfly. — We now arrive at the 
 Haustellate Insects, so called because they suck liquid food through 
 an apparatus resembling the proboscis of an elephant. The first 
 order of haustellate insects is the Lepidoptera, containing the but- 
 terflies and moths. The butterflies always fly by day, from which 
 circumstance they are sometimes called Diurnal Lepidoptera. Most 
 of the moths fly by night, and are called Nocturnal Lepidoptera. 
 Butterflies are usually lighter in the body than moths, from which 
 insects they are easily distinguished by the shape of the antennae, 
 which in the butterflies are slender and end in a small knob, but in 
 the moths terminate in a point, and are often beautifully fringed. 
 
 The name Lepidoptera is given to these insects because their 
 wings are covered with myriads of minute scales, by which the 
 beautiful coloring of the wings is produced. 
 
 The Red Admiral is one of the most gorgeous of our butter- 
 flies. The color of the wings is a deep black, relieved by a broad 
 band of scarlet across each, and a series of semicircular blue marks 
 edge each wing. It is usually found in woods and lanes, where 
 there are nettles, as the larva feeds upon that plant. It appears 
 about the middle of August. 
 
 The Death’s-head Moth is the largest of the British Lepidop- 
 tera, as it not unfrequently measures nearly six inches across the 
 wings. Its rather ominous name is derived from the singular mark- 
 ing in the thorax, which does not require much imagination to 
 represent a scull and cross-bones. Some naturalists have asserted 
 that this moth makes its way into bee-hives, and robs the inhabi- 
 tants of their honey, disarming their resentment by a curious 
 squeaking noise whfch it has the power of producing. 
 
 In common with many other nocturnal insects, the eyes of the 
 death’s-head moth shine at night like two stars, which adds consid- 
 erably to the terror inspired by its appearance. 
 
L 
 
254 
 
 MOTHS, 
 
 The Humming-bird Moth. — This curious insect is called the 
 humming-bird moth, because its appearance when on the wing ex- 
 actly resembles that of a humming-bird. It feeds on the wing as the 
 bird does, hovering before each flower and sucking out the honey 
 by means of its very long proboscis. 
 
 It is very shy, and darts off if the slightest movement is made ; 
 but if the spectator remains perfectly quiet, the moth sees no 
 danger, and will continue its meal within a yard of him. The moth 
 appears to gain confidence if it is not disturbed, and in a few days 
 will become almost tame, permitting the spectator to whom it is 
 accustomed to approach quite closely without appearing alarmed. 
 
 The Tiger-Moth. — This common but beautiful moth is found 
 in the beginning of autumn. It runs on the ground with such swift- 
 ness as to be often mistaken for a mouse. I have more than once 
 seen a kitten chasing a tiger-moth among the flowers in a garden, 
 evidently deceived by its resemblance to a mouse. 
 
 The larva is popularly called “the woolly bear.” It is rather 
 large, and is surrounded with tufts of long elastic hairs of a reddish 
 brown color, which sen e as a defence against many enemies. When 
 disturbed, it rolls itself round, just as a hedgehog does, and if on a 
 branch, suffers itself to fall to the ground, when the long hairy 
 covering defends it from being injured by the fall. When the cater- 
 pillar is about to change into a pupa, it spins a kind of hammock, 
 and lies there until it comes forth as a moth. The color and mark- 
 ings of this moth vary considerably. The usual tints are : the 
 thorax brown, the body red, striped with black ; the two anterior 
 wings are cream color, marked with bold patches of deep brown ; 
 the posterior wings are bright red, spotted with bluish black. 
 
 The Many-plumed Moth is found toward the close of autumn, 
 usually running about windows. It is very small, measuring barely half 
 an inch across the wings. The structure of the wings is very curious, 
 
COMMON GNA T. 
 
 255 
 
 each of the two anterior wings being divided into eight beautiful 
 feather-like rays, and each of the posterior into four rays. Nearly 
 allied to this are the common Feather Moths, the most common of 
 which is the White-plumed Moth, whose wings measure nearly an 
 inch across, and are divided into five feathered rays. 
 
 All are familiar with the Common Gnat. This pretty tor- 
 mentor passes its larval existence in the water, in which state 
 thousands may be seen in any uncovered water-butt, wriggling 
 about with the most untiring energy, or reposing head downward, 
 only leaving the end of the tail at the surface. The reason for this 
 is very curious. This larva breathes through ’its tail, and is 
 moreover enabled by means of a fringe of hairs to carry air down 
 with it. 
 
 It is a singular circumstance, that although the larva lives in 
 the water, yet were either the eggs or the perfect insect to be sub- 
 merged, they would be destroyed. The instinct of the gnat, in 
 order to fulfil all three conditions, is very beautiful. When the 
 gnat wishes to deposit its eggs, it rests itself on a leaf or twig on 
 the surface of the water ; it then takes each egg separately, and 
 fastens them side by side in such a manner that they actually form 
 a little boat, which will neither fill with water nor upset, however 
 the water may be agitated. In a few days the eggs are hatched, 
 when a little lid opens in the under end of each egg, and down 
 tumbles the larva into the water. After remaining in the water for 
 some days it assumes the pupa form. In this state it floats at the 
 surface with the back of the thorax uppermost. Soon this splits, 
 and the insect emerges, standing on its own cast skin, which forms 
 a raft for it till its wings are fully dry, when it takes to flight, 
 leaving behind it the empty shell floating on the water. This 
 change may be witnessed any warm day in summer. 
 
2 S6 
 
 GADFLY— HUMBLE-BEE FLY— FLEA. 
 
 The Gadfly has from the most ancient times been known 
 as the terror of the herd. At the sound of its approach the 
 cattle are driven almost mad with terror. The young gadflies are 
 nourished under the skin, where they remain until they are fit to 
 pass into the pupa state, when they bury themselves in the ground, 
 and after a few days spent under the earth, issue forth in their per- 
 fect state. 
 
 The Humble-bee Fly. — This very curious insect is found in 
 the early days of spring, and may be seen hovering over the prim- 
 roses and other spring flowers. It feeds in the same manner as the 
 humming-bird moth, and much resembles that insect in many of its 
 habits. 
 
 The Flea. — The strength and agility of this curious but 
 annoying little insect is perfectly wonderful. Many of my readers 
 have doubtless seen the exhibition of the Industrious Fleas, who 
 drew little carriages, and carried comparatively heavy weights with 
 the greatest ease. 
 
 The apparatus with which it extracts the blood of its victims 
 is very curious, and forms a beautiful object under a microscope of 
 low power. Its leap is tremendous in proportion to its size. This 
 property it enjoys in common with many other insects, among which 
 the Common Grasshopper, the Froghopper, and the Halticas or 
 Turnip-flies are conspicuous. In all these insects the hinder pair 
 of legs are very long and powerful. 
 
 THE END. 
 

 
 
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