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A GENERAL 
 
 H I S r O R r 
 
 O F 
 
 Q^U ADRUPEDS. 
 
 THE FIGURES ENGRAVED ON WOOD BY T. BEWICK 
 
 THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 NEWCASTLE UPON TTNE.‘ 
 
 PRINTED BY AND FOR S. HODGSON, R. BEILEY, & T. EEWiC 
 NEWCASTLE: SOLD EY THEM, EY G. G. J. & 
 
 J. ROBINSON, AND C. DILLY, LONDON. 
 
 1791. 
 
 [price TWELVE SHILLINGS IN BOARDS.] 
 
Tr.1^. 
 
 48653 '^ 
 
Advertisement 
 
 I N difpofing the order of the following work, we have not 
 thought it neceffary to confine ourfelves llridlly within the 
 rules prefcribed by fyllematic writers on this part of Natural 
 Hlftory ; as it was not fo much the objedl of our plan to lay 
 down a methodical arrangement of the various tribes of four- 
 footed animals, as to give a clear and concife account of the 
 nature, habits, and difpofitlon of each, accompanied with more 
 accurate reprefen tatlons than have hitherto appeared In any work 
 of this kind. Our difregard of fyftem, however, has not pre- 
 vented us from attending to the great divifions of Quadrupeds, 
 fo obvloufly marked out by the hand of Nature, and fo clearly 
 dlftinguifiied, that the raoft carelefs obferver cannot avoid being 
 forcibly ftruck with an agreement of parts In the outward ap- 
 pearance of the different individuals of which each confifls. 
 
 The intermediate ftatlons, however, have not been always fo 
 clearly defined ; thefe are frequently occupied by charafters fo 
 dubious, that naturallfts have not always agreed in afcribing to 
 each its proper place : Of this kind are the Elephant, the Hip- 
 popotamus, the Rhinoceros, the Cameleopard, the Beaver, the 
 Hedge-hog, the Sloth, the Jerboa, See. which bear in them- 
 felves charadferiftics fo pecuh’ar, that they, might feem to confti- 
 tute diftinft genera. 
 
 We have endeavoured to lay before our readers a particular 
 account of the animals with which our own country Is abundant- 
 ly llored, efpeclally of thofe which fo materially contribute to 
 the ftrength, the wealth, and the happinefs of this kingdom ; of 
 thefe the Horfe, the Cow, and the Sheep, claim the firft place ; 
 and in treating of thefe, rve have noticed the Improvements 
 which an enlarged fyftem of agriculture, fupported by a noble 
 fpiiit of emulation, has introduced into all parts of the countr}% 
 
 a 2 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 To thefe we may add that moll ufefiil animal the Dog, the 
 account of which forms a confpicuous part of our hiftory, and 
 we truft will afford fome entertainment to thofe who arc pleafed 
 with contemplating the various talents of that trufty fervant and 
 humble companion of man : We have feledted the moll re- 
 
 markable of the different kinds, and have given faithful por- 
 traits of them, drawn from the life ; there are Hill others, not 
 unworthy of attention, which might have been added ; but to 
 have noticed all the variations and fliades of difference cbferva- 
 blc in the canine race, would have fwelled our account, already 
 large, to an immoderate length, and have left us too little room 
 for others of equal Importance, in a comprehenfivc view of this 
 part of the animal creation. 
 
 Our attention has been directed in a particular manner to 
 the various Inllinctive powers of animals — that hidden principle, 
 which adluates and impels every living creature to procure its 
 fubfiftence, provide for its fafety, and propagate its kind. To 
 difeover more and more of this unerring guide, diredling the 
 brute creation to their higheff good by the fimpleft and moll 
 certain methods, is a purfuit worthy of the moll refined under- 
 llanding, and leads us to contemplate the wifdom and goodnefs 
 of the adorable Author of nature, who “ openeth his hand, and 
 all things are filled with good.” 
 
 It may perhaps be thought neceffary to offer fome apology for 
 the evident want of proportion obfervable in the fizes of the dif- 
 ferent animals ; a defedl to which every work of this kind muff, 
 in fome meafure, be liable. In adverting to this, we found, 
 that at whatever point, between the Elephant and the Moufe, 
 the fcale were to be fixed, a gi'eat and unavoidable deficiency 
 would be the confequence ; we were therefore obliged to relin- 
 quifir a plan, which, fo far from being pradficable, would have 
 been the means of throwing the whole Into irregularity and con- 
 fufion. 
 
INDEX 
 
 A PAGE. X 
 
 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 ADIVE - - 
 
 Agouti 
 
 295 X 
 
 Bat, the BarbaRelle 
 
 - 
 
 477 
 
 349 § 
 
 the Serotine 
 
 . 
 
 ibid. 
 
 Ai - - - 
 
 458 § 
 
 the Horfe-fltoe 
 
 - 
 
 ibid. 
 
 Ant-eater, the Great - 
 
 459 A 
 
 the Rouflette, 
 
 or 
 
 
 the Middle - 
 
 460 g 
 
 Great Ternate • 
 
 ■ 479 
 
 the Leffer - 
 
 ibid. ? 
 
 the Rougette, 
 
 or 
 
 Antelope, the Common ■ 
 
 ■ 95 5 
 
 Leffer Ternate 
 
 - 480 
 
 the Barbary - 
 
 ibid. C 
 
 i the Spedtre 
 
 - 
 
 481 
 
 the Scythian • 
 
 • 98 ‘i 
 
 ' the Senegal 
 
 - 
 
 ibid. 
 
 the Striped 
 
 89 X 
 
 i the Bull-dog 
 
 - 
 
 ibid. 
 
 Ape, the Barbary 
 
 417 ^ 
 
 r the Bearded 
 
 - 
 
 482 
 
 Armadillo 
 
 462 ?! 
 
 V 
 
 ; tlie Striped 
 
 - 
 
 ibid. 
 
 the Three- 
 
 : Bear, the Brown 
 
 . 
 
 261 
 
 banded 
 
 46 d \ 
 
 ’ the Polar 
 
 - 
 
 268 
 
 the Six-banded 464 ) 
 
 : the Black 
 
 . 
 
 266 
 
 the Nine-band- 
 
 
 } Beaver 
 
 - 
 
 3^3 
 
 ed 
 
 465 \ 
 
 ; Bifon 
 
 . 
 
 39 
 
 the Weafel- 
 
 
 ; Blue-Goat 
 
 . 
 
 80 
 
 headed 
 
 466 j 
 
 1 Boar, the Wild 
 
 - 
 
 144 
 
 Afs - - - 
 
 ^7 > 
 
 Common or Do- 
 
 Axis ... 
 
 128 1 
 
 i meftic 
 
 - 
 
 146 
 
 
 
 the African Wild 
 
 149 
 
 B 
 
 
 ; Bucha 
 
 . 
 
 42 
 
 Baboon 
 
 418 ) 
 
 [ Euffhlo 
 
 - 
 
 43 
 
 the Great Rib- 
 
 
 t 
 
 
 
 bed-nofe 
 
 420 c 
 
 c 
 
 
 
 the Small Rib- 
 
 
 i Cagvi 
 
 - 
 
 439 
 
 bed-nofe 
 
 422 r 
 
 J CalHtrix 
 
 - 
 
 430 
 
 the Pig-tailed - 
 
 423 : 
 
 J; Camel 
 
 - 
 
 136 
 
 the Dog-faced - 
 
 424 ! 
 
 X the Arabian 
 
 - 
 
 140 
 
 the Urfine 
 
 425 ' 
 
 S Caplbara 
 
 - 
 
 348 
 
 BabiroufTa 
 
 *53 ; 
 
 { Caracal 
 
 - 
 
 215 
 
 Babr ... 
 
 192 ^ 
 
 ) the Nubian 
 
 . 
 
 216 
 
 Badger - . - 
 
 254; 
 
 ) Caribou 
 
 - 
 
 120 
 
 Bat . . - 
 
 474 1 
 
 i Cat, the Domeftic 
 
 - 
 
 208 
 
 the Short-eared 
 
 ibid, i 
 
 < the Wild 
 
 . 
 
 205 
 
 the Long-eared 
 
 476 j 
 
 1 . the Wild Red 
 
 - 
 
 ibid. 
 
 the Noftule, or 
 
 i Angora 
 
 - 
 
 207 
 
 Great 
 
 ibid. 1 
 
 1 Ca\y, the Reftlefs 
 
 - 
 
 345 
 
 the Pipiftrelle 
 
 477 ! 
 
 ( the Spotted 
 
 - 
 
 346 
 
VI 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Cavy, the Long-nofed - 
 
 349 X 
 
 the Akouchi 
 the Rock 
 
 350) 
 351 i 
 
 Chevrotain 
 
 91 0 
 
 Civet - 
 
 244 X 
 
 Coaita . . - 
 
 435 X 
 
 Coati ... 
 
 V 
 
 251 -5 
 
 Coendou 
 
 447 t 
 
 Conepate 
 
 242 X 
 
 Corin - 
 
 96 y 
 
 Gouguar ... 
 
 197 X 
 
 Coquallin 
 
 336 1 
 
 D 
 
 349 X Dog, the Englifh Setter 
 the Newfoundland 
 the Rough Water 
 the Large Water- 
 Spaniel 
 
 the Small Water- 
 Spaniel 
 
 the Springer, or 
 Cocker 
 
 King Charles’s - 
 the Pyrame 
 the shock 
 the Lion 
 the Comforter - 
 the Turnfpit 
 the Pug 
 
 129 
 
 29*5 X Dormoufe, the Greater 
 
 299 
 
 X 
 
 Deer, the Fallow 
 Dog 
 
 the Shepherd’s 
 the Cur 
 the Greenland 
 the Bull 
 the Maftilf 
 the Ban 
 
 the Dalmatian or 
 Coach 
 
 the Irifli Greyhound 3 1 1 X the American 
 the Highland Grey- | Elk-Antelope 
 3 ^ 2 X Ermine 
 
 3°' ,v Douc 
 3°3 A Dromedary 
 
 307 y 
 
 309 I 
 
 y Elephant 
 
 310 X Elk 
 
 the Leffer - 
 
 hound 
 the Gazehound 
 the Lyemmer 
 the Greyhound 
 
 ibid. Q Exqiiima 
 ibid. 0 
 
 3'3 % 
 
 325 
 
 326 
 
 328 
 
 329 
 
 330 
 
 331 
 
 ibid. 
 
 ibid. 
 
 ibid. 
 
 332 
 ibid. 
 
 333 
 ibid. 
 
 359 
 
 360 
 
 433 
 
 140 
 
 166 
 108 
 1 1 2 
 86 
 223 
 436 
 
 hound 
 
 ibid, y 
 
 Ferret ... 
 
 225 
 
 the Lurcher 
 
 3 H 1 
 
 Foffane ... 
 
 239 
 
 the Tumbler 
 
 3'5 ? 
 
 Foumart - 
 
 228 
 
 the Terrier 
 
 ibid. V 
 
 Fox ... 
 
 276 
 
 the Beagle 
 
 3 i <5 X 
 
 the Greyhound 
 
 279 
 
 the Harrier 
 
 3 1 7 y 
 
 the Malliff 
 
 280 
 
 the Fox-Hound - 
 
 318 X 
 
 the Cur 
 
 ibid. 
 
 the Old Englifh 
 
 X 
 
 y 
 
 the Black 
 
 282 
 
 Hound 
 
 320 X 
 
 the Crofs 
 
 ibid. 
 
 the Kibble-Hound 
 
 321 X 
 
 the Corfac 
 
 ibid. 
 
 the Blood-Hound - 
 
 ibid, t} 
 
 the Ardfic 
 
 283 
 
 the Spanifh Pointer 
 
 324 X 
 
 Free Martin 
 
 33 
 
vii 
 
 I N D. E X. 
 
 G 
 
 Gazelles - 
 Gemfe-Bok - - - 
 
 Genet . . - 
 
 Gibbon . - - 
 
 Giraffe, or Cameleopard 
 Gnu ... 
 
 Goat - - - 
 
 the Chamois 
 of Angora 
 of Thibet 
 of Portugal 
 the Syrian 
 African 
 Grunting-Ox 
 Grys-Bok 
 Guanacos 
 Guinea-Pig 
 
 H 
 
 ,75 I Jackall 
 90 I Jaguar 
 243 y Jerboa 
 416 X 
 
 106 
 
 X 
 
 K 
 
 Hamller 
 
 370 1 
 
 Hare ... 
 
 SSI i 
 
 the Alpine 
 
 340 5 
 
 Hart-Beeft 
 
 88 X 
 
 Hedge-hog 
 
 448 ? 
 
 Hippopotamus 
 
 163 t 
 
 Hog, the Common 
 
 146 0 
 
 Horfe - - - 
 
 I t 
 
 the Arabian 
 
 3 6 
 
 the Racer 
 
 5 y 
 
 the Hunter 
 
 7 A 
 
 the Black 
 
 8 X 
 
 Old Englifh Road 
 
 10 ^ 
 
 Pony 
 
 ibid. X 
 
 the Common Carter 1 1 X 
 
 Hyena, the Striped 
 
 271 ^ 
 
 the Spotted 
 
 274 X 
 
 I 
 
 y 
 
 V 
 
 (; 
 
 Ibex ... 
 
 70 1 
 
 Ichneumon 
 
 237 X 
 
 Irbys - - - 
 
 212 X 
 
 93 X Kabaflbu 
 y Kanguroo 
 i Kanguroo- Rat 
 . 70 X Kevel - - 
 
 ibid. ^ Khp. Springer 
 
 77 y Koedoe 
 
 78 ^ 
 
 42 X j. 
 
 92 !j, ^ 
 
 142 Q Lama 
 345 X Leming 
 Leopard 
 ^ Lion 
 Lion- Ape 
 Loris 
 Louchu 
 Lynx 
 
 the Bay 
 
 M 
 
 the Ring-tailec 
 the Tail-lefs - 
 the Mongooz 
 the Black 
 
 Malbrouck 
 
 the Long-tailed - 
 
 Marikina 
 
 Marmot 
 
 292 
 
 196 
 
 364 
 
 466 
 
 404 
 
 406 
 
 96 
 
 93 
 
 96 
 
 89 
 
 141 
 
 375 
 
 193 
 
 179 
 
 440 
 
 410 
 
 192 
 
 212 
 
 213 
 
 427 
 
 407 
 
 408 
 
 409 
 
 410 
 
 411 
 417 
 
 423 
 
 428 
 
 429 
 
 461 
 
 462 
 204 
 202 
 440 
 366 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Marmot, the Quebec 
 the Earlefs 
 the Tall-lefs 
 
 369 
 
 373 
 
 374 
 
 231 
 
 97 
 
 151 
 
 392 
 
 394 
 
 394 
 
 368 
 
 the Lapland - 375 
 Martin - - - 232 
 
 the Yellow- 
 breafted 
 
 Meminna 
 Mexican Hog 
 Mole - 
 
 Radiated 
 the Yellow 
 
 Monax ... 
 
 Monkey, the Patas, or 
 
 Red - 427 
 
 the Chlnefe 
 
 Bonnet - 429 
 
 the Callitrlx, or 
 Green - 430 
 
 the Varied, or 
 Mona - 432 
 
 the Howling - 434 
 the Spider - 435 
 
 the Saimirl, or 
 
 Orange _ - 437 X 
 
 the Fox-tailed ibid. 
 the Great-eared 438 
 the Silky - 440 
 
 the Pinche, or 
 Red-tailed - 441 
 
 X 
 
 X Nanguer 
 X Nems 
 V Nyl-Ghau 
 
 N 
 
 O 
 
 5 Ocelot - 
 0 Opoffum, Saragoy 
 X Murine 
 
 § Mexican 
 
 X the Phalanger 
 
 X the Spotted - 
 
 0 the Vulpine - 
 
 V the Flying - 
 
 X of Van Die- 
 
 0 men’s Land 
 
 X Squirrel 
 
 5 Oran-Outang 
 ¥ Otter - - - 
 
 X the Small 
 
 •A the Minx 
 
 X the Sea 
 
 A Ouarine, or Preacher - 
 
 V ... 
 
 0 Ouilllti - - - 
 
 1 Ounce . - - 
 
 X Ox 
 
 f Holftein or Dutch 
 
 X Breed 
 
 ■5 the Lancafhire 
 
 V Kyloe 
 
 Fair 
 
 4^2 1 Wild Cattle 
 
 Mouflon, or Mufmon 
 
 64 X 
 
 Moufe - 
 
 387 0 ^ 
 
 Long-tailed Field 
 
 388 V Pacos 
 
 Short-tailed Field 
 
 389 X Pangolin 
 
 Shrew 
 
 ibid. 0 Panther 
 
 Water Shrew - 
 
 390 V Patas 
 
 Dwarf 
 
 391 X Peccary 
 
 Mule - - - 
 
 14 § Perfian Savage 
 
 Mufli 
 
 X03 X Phalanger 
 
 Mullc-Bull 
 
 45 5 Phatagin 
 
 Muftache 
 
 431 X Pied-Goat 
 
 94 
 
 227 
 
 100 
 
 200 
 
 395 
 
 397 
 
 398 
 
 399 
 
 400 
 ibid. 
 
 401 
 
 402 
 
 403 
 413 
 451 
 
 4?4 
 
 ibid. 
 
 455 
 
 434 
 
 439 
 
 195 
 
 23 
 
 26 
 
 27 
 
 31 
 
 34 
 
 143 
 
 461 
 191 
 427 
 
 151 
 
 425 
 
 399 
 
 462 
 8t 
 
Pigmy 
 
 Polecat 
 
 Porcupine 
 
 the Brazilian 
 the Canada . 
 
 0. 
 
 Quagga 
 
 R 
 
 Rabbit 
 
 the Domeftic . 
 of Angora 
 the Hooded 
 
 Racoon 
 
 Rat 
 
 Water 
 
 Mufle of Canada . 
 Mufcovy Muflc 
 Ratel 
 Ree-Bok 
 
 RIet 
 
 Rein-Deer 
 
 Rhinoceros 
 
 the Two- 
 
 Roe-Buck 
 
 horned 
 
 Sable 
 
 S 
 
 Sagoin 
 
 
 Sai 
 
 * ^ 
 
 Saiga 
 
 • 
 
 Saimiri 
 
 B 1 
 
 Sajou 
 
 
 Saki 
 
 • •» 
 
 Sand-Bear 
 
 
 Sapajou 
 
 
 Sarluc 
 
 
 Scaly Lizard 
 
 
 Sea-Horfe 
 
 
 Seal 
 
 
 the Hooded 
 
 y 
 
 Seal, the Urfine 
 
 472 
 
 0 
 
 Serval 
 
 204 
 
 V 
 
 Sheep 
 
 46 
 
 V 
 
 A 
 
 Llncolnfhlre Breed 
 
 
 X 
 
 Dorfetlhlre ditto 
 
 ibid. 
 
 X 
 
 the Short 
 
 53 
 
 A 
 
 Leicefterlhire ditto 
 
 54 
 
 V 
 
 Mr Culley’s breed 
 
 56 
 
 1 
 
 V 
 
 the Shetland 
 the Dunky, or 
 
 58 
 
 0 
 
 Dwarf 
 
 60 
 
 0 
 
 A 
 
 y 
 
 ‘■j 
 
 the Tartarian 
 the African or 
 
 61 
 
 A 
 
 V 
 
 Guinea 
 
 ibid. 
 
 A 
 
 the Many-horned 
 
 . 62 
 
 A 
 
 the Broad-tailed . 
 
 ibid. 
 
 X 
 
 of Thibet 
 
 63 
 
 V 
 
 the Walachian . 
 
 ibid. 
 
 X 
 
 Sifac . . 
 
 433 
 
 0 
 
 A 
 
 Skunk 
 
 240 
 
 y 
 
 Sloth . . 
 
 457 
 
 A 
 
 V 
 
 Souflik 
 
 373 
 
 X Springer 
 
 84 
 
 3 
 
 X 
 
 y 
 
 Squirrel 
 
 the Hudfon’s 
 
 352 
 
 X 
 
 y 
 
 Bay 
 
 354 
 
 
 the Grey 
 
 ibid. 
 
 V 
 
 A 
 
 the Black 
 
 ibid. 
 
 •y 
 
 A 
 
 y 
 
 the Ground 
 
 35*5 
 
 
 the Barbary 
 
 358 
 
 
 the Palm 
 
 ibid. 
 
 V 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 the Fat 
 
 359 
 
 the Garden 
 
 ibid. 
 
 V 
 
 A 
 
 V 
 
 the Flying 
 
 361 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 the Great Flying 362 
 
 u 
 
 A 
 
 the Hooded . 
 
 ibid. 
 
 X 
 
 the Long-tailed 
 
 363 
 
 (] 
 
 Stag, or Red Deer 
 
 122 
 
 ¥ 
 
 X 
 
 y 
 
 the Corlican 
 the Axis, or 
 
 127 
 
 A 
 
 y 
 
 Ganges 
 
 128 
 
 A 
 
 Steen-Bok 
 
 94 
 
 A 
 
 V 
 
 Stifling, or Squafli 
 
 241 
 
 X 
 
 Stoat 
 
 223 
 
 415 
 
 228 
 
 444 
 
 446 
 
 447 
 
 21 
 
 341 
 
 343 
 
 ibid. 
 
 ibid. 
 
 252 
 
 377 
 
 380 
 
 381 
 
 382 
 
 249 
 
 91 
 
 92 
 
 1 14 
 
 156 
 
 160 
 
 132 
 
 233 
 
 433 
 
 43 ^ 
 
 98 
 
 437 
 
 436 
 
 437 
 
 257 
 
 433 
 
 42 
 
 462 
 
 467 
 
 469 
 
 471 
 
index. 
 
 Suricate 
 
 Syah-Gufh 
 
 T 
 
 Talapoin 
 
 Tamarin 
 
 Tanrec 
 
 Tapiir 
 
 Tarfier 
 
 Tatou 
 
 Tatuapara 
 
 Tatuette 
 
 Tendrac 
 
 Tiger 
 
 the Black 
 Cat 
 
 U 
 
 Unau 
 
 Urfon 
 
 Urus, or Wild Bull 
 V 
 
 Vanfire 
 
 248 X W 
 
 I Walrus . . 
 
 X Wanderou 
 I Weafel 
 
 431 I the White *. 
 
 43 ® a the Madagafcar 
 
 450 0 the Pine 
 
 A the Fifher 
 
 4 ^^ 0 the Four-toed 
 
 404 y the Brazilian . 
 
 463 5 Wolf 
 
 4*54 X the New South- 
 449 I Wales 
 
 186 9 Wolverine, or Glutton 
 ^99 X Wood-Goat 
 204 0 
 
 X 
 
 V '7 
 
 45 ^ X Zebra 
 
 447 ( 
 
 ) Zebu 
 
 38 1 
 
 ( Zemni 
 
 
 ; Zibet 
 
 
 1 Zikl 
 
 227 1 
 
 [ Zorilla 
 
 467 
 426 
 219 
 224 
 • 227 
 231 
 236 
 . 248 
 251 
 285 
 
 291 
 . 258 
 82 
 
 20 
 
 40 
 
 373 
 
 247 
 
 373 
 
 242 
 
A GENERAL 
 
 H I S T O R r 
 
 O F 
 
 QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The horse. 
 
 T he various excellencies of this noble animal, the 
 grandeur of his ftature, the elegance and propor- 
 tion of his parts, the beautiful fmoothnefs of his Ikin, 
 the variety and gracefulnefs of his motions, and above 
 all, his utility, entitle him to a precedence in the hif- 
 tory of the brute creation. 
 
 The Horfe, in his domeftic ftate, is generous, docile, 
 fpirited, and yet obedient; adapted to the various pur- 
 pofes of pleafure and convenience, he is equally fervicea- 
 ble in the draught, the field, or the race. 
 
 There are few parts of the known world where the 
 Horfe is not produced ; but if we would fee him in the 
 enjoyment of his native freedom, (unfubdued by the re- 
 ftraints man has impofed upon him) we mull look for 
 him in the wild and extenfive plains of Africa and Ara« 
 
 A 
 
2 
 
 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 bia, where lie, ranges without controul, in a (late of en= 
 tire Independency. In thofe immenfe tra£ls, the wild 
 Horfes may be fecn feeding together, in droves of four 
 or five hundred ; one of them always a£ling as centinel, 
 to give notice of approaclilng danger ; This he does by a 
 kind of fnorting noife, upon which they all fly oft' with 
 afloniftiing rapidity. The -wild Horfes of Arabia are 
 efteemed the molt beautiful in the world ; They are of a 
 brown colour, their mane and tail of black tufted hair, 
 very fhort ; they are fmaller than the tame ones, are ve- 
 ry a£Uve, and of ,great fwiftnefs. The moft'ufual me- 
 thods of taking them are by fnares or pits formed in 
 the fand. — It is probable there were once wild Horfes 
 in Europe, which have long fince been brought under 
 fubjeftion. Thofe found in America were originally of 
 the Spaniflt breed, fent thither upon its firft difcovery, 
 which have fince become wild, and fpread themfelves 
 over various parts of that vaft continent. They are ge» 
 nerally ^fmall, not exceeding fourteen hands high ; with 
 thick heads and clumfy joints; Their ears and necks 
 are longer than thofe of the Engllfli Horfes. They are 
 eafily tamed j and if by accident they be fet at liberty, 
 they feldom become wild again ; but know their maf- 
 ter, and may be eafily caught by him. 
 
HISTORY OF QJTADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Arabian HORSE. 
 
 There is fcarcely an Arabian, how poor foev'er in 
 other refpedbs, but is pofTefled of his Horfe, which he 
 confiders as an invaluable treafure. Having no othea? 
 dwelling but a tent, the Arabian and his Horfe live 
 upon the moft equal terms : His wife and family, his 
 mare and her foal, generally lie indifcriminately toge- 
 ther; whilft the little children frequently climb with- 
 out fear upon the body of the inoffenfive animal, which 
 permits them to play with and carefs it without injury. 
 The Arabs never beat their Horfes ; they fpeak to, and 
 feem to hold friendly intercourfe with them ; they never 
 whip them, and feldom, but in cafes of neceflity, make 
 ufe of the fpur. Their agility in leaping is wonderful ; 
 and if the rider happen to fall, they are fo tradlable as 
 to Hand (till in the midft of the moft rapid career. — The 
 Arabian Horfes are in general lefs than the Race-Horfes 
 of this country, eafy and graceful in their motions, and 
 
 A a 
 
4 
 
 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 rather inclined to leannefs. — It is worthy of remartj; 
 that, inflead of crofhng the breed, the Arabs take every 
 precaution to keep it pure and unmixed ; They preferve 
 with the greateft care, and for an amazing length of 
 time, the genealogies of their Florfes — Thofe of the firft 
 kind are called Nobles, being “ of a pure and ancient 
 race, purer than milk.” They have likewife two other 
 kinds, which, having been degraded by common alli- 
 ances, fell at inferior prices. 
 
 From Arabia, the race of Horfes has probably extend- 
 ed into Barbary and other parts of Africa ; thofe being 
 confidered as next to the Arabian Horfes in fwiftnefs and 
 beauty, though they are fomewhat fmaller. 
 
 The Spanijh Genette is held in great eftimation : Like 
 the former, it is fmall, but beautiful, and extremely 
 fwift. 
 
 The Horfes of India and many parts of China are ex- 
 tremely fmall and vicious. One of thefe was fome years 
 ago brought into this country as a prefent to the queen, 
 which was very little larger than fome maftiffs, mea- 
 furing only nine hands in height. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 5 
 
 In Great-Britain, the breed of Horfes feems to be as 
 mixed as that of its inhabitants. — By great attention to 
 the improvement of tliis noble animalj by a judicious 
 mixture of feveral kinds, and by fuperior fkill in manage- 
 ment, the Englifli 
 
 RACE - HORSE* 
 
 is allowed to excel thofe of the reft of Europe, or per- 
 haps the whole world. For fupporting a continuance of 
 violent exertion, (or what is called, in the language of 
 the turf, bottom J they are fuperior to the Arabian, the 
 
 A 3 
 
 * The following account of the prizes won by fome of our ca- 
 pital Race-Horfes, will tbew the importance of that breed in Eng- 
 land, where fuch vaft fums frequently depend on the iffue of their 
 contefts : — 
 
 Bay Malton, (by Sampfon) the property of the late marquis 
 of Rockingham, in feven prizes won the amazing fum of 5,900!. 
 At York, he ran four miles in feven minutes and forty-threa and 
 an half feconds, which was feven and an half feconds lefs time 
 than it was ever done before over the fame courfe. 
 
 Childers, (well knowm by the name of Flying Childers) the 
 property of the duke of Devonfhire, was allow'ed by fportfmen to 
 be the fleeteft Horfe that ever was bred in the world ; He ftarted 
 
6 
 
 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 Barb, or the Perfian j and for fwlftnefs, they will yield 
 the palm to none. An ordinary Racer is known to go 
 at the rate of a mile in lefs than two minutes; but there 
 have been inftances of mucli greater rapidity : The fa- 
 mous Horfe Childers has been known to move eighty- 
 two feet and an half in a fecond, or nearly a mile in a 
 minute ; he has run round the courfe at Newmiarket, 
 which is little lefs than four miles, in fix minutes and 
 forty feconds. 
 
 repeatedlv at Newmarket againft tlie befb Horfes of his time, and 
 was never beaten : He won, in diflerent prizes, to the amount of 
 nearly 2, cool. ; and was afterwards referved as a ftallion. — The 
 lire of Childers was an Arabian, fent by a gentleman as a prefent 
 to his brother in England. 
 
 Dor'imant, a famous Horfe belonging to lord Oflbry, won 
 prizes to the amazing amount of 13,363!. 
 
 Eclipse was allowed to be the lleeteft Horfe that ever ran in 
 England fince the time of Childers. After winning king’s plates 
 and other prizes to a great amount, he covered, by fubfcription, 
 forty mares, at thirty guineas each ; befides thofe of his owner. 
 
 Highflyer was accounted the belt Horfe of his time in Eng- 
 land. The fums he won and received amounted to near 9,000!. 
 though he never darted after five years old. He was never beaten, 
 nor never paid a forfeit. 
 
 Matchem, a Horfe belonging to the late W. Fenwick, efq; 
 belides being a capital Racer, was particularly remarkable as a 
 llallion ; and may be truly faid to have earned more money than 
 any other Iforfe in the world. He was engaged, during nine 
 years of his life, to cover twenty-live mares, at fifty guineas 
 a mare ; and was uncommonly fuccefsful in the celebrity of his 
 progeny, having been fire to many of our mofl famous running 
 Horfes. He was remarkable for being the quieted dallion that 
 ever was known ; to which, perhaps, may be attributed his great 
 age, being in his thirty-third year when he died. 
 
 Shark won, befides a cup value izogs, and eleven hoglheads 
 of claret, the amazing fum of 13,507 gs, in plates, matches, anti 
 forfeits. 
 
 The mod extraordinary indance of fleetnefs, in a trotting pace, 
 we remember to have feen recorded, was performed, on the 4th 
 of July, 1788, for a wager of thirty guineas, by a Horfe, the pro- 
 perty of a gentleman of Billiter-fquare, London. He trotted thir- 
 ty miles in an hour and twenty minutes, though he was allowed, 
 by the terms of the bet, an hour and an half. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 j 
 
 The hunter 
 
 is a happy combination of the Race-Horfe witli others 
 of fuperior ftrength, but inferior in fwiftnefs ; and may 
 be confidered as the mofl ufeful breed of Horfes in Eu- 
 rope. Their fpirit and adlivity in the field is well 
 known, and can only be equalled by the perfeverance 
 with which they endure the much more fevere labour of 
 polling on the road, which is now carried on by this 
 a£live and hardy race, with a celerity unknown at any 
 former period. 
 
 Geldings of this kind are fent over to the continent 
 in great numbers : Their fuperior worth is univerfally 
 acknowledged abroad ; and they are fold at very high 
 prices to foreigners of the firll dillin£lion. 
 
 The mixture of this with others of inferior rank forms 
 an endlefs variety, the different gradations becoming too 
 minute to be difcriminated. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS, 
 
 The BLACK-HORSE. 
 
 No other country has produced a breed of Horfes 
 equal in fize and ftrength to the larger kind of our 
 draught Horfes. The cavalry of England is in general 
 formed of this clafs of Horfes; but their inutility being 
 experienced in fome fituations, others of a lighter and 
 more a£live kind have been fubftituted in a few regi- 
 ments. The fens of Lincolnfliire generally produce a 
 larger breed than any other part of the kingdom. In 
 London, there have been inftances where a fingle tiorfe 
 of that kind has drawn, for a fmall fpace, the enormous 
 weight of three tons, half of which is known to be their 
 ordinary draught. 
 
 Confiderable improvements have of late years been 
 made in this kind of Horfes, by Mr Bakeweil of Dilh- 
 iey, and others; who, by great attention and ingenuity, 
 have acquired fuch celebrity, that they frequently fell 
 ftallions of their refpedlive breeds for two hundred gui- 
 
9 
 
 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 rieas ; or, what is a more general praftice, let them to 
 hire by the feafon, for forty, eighty, or perhaps an hun- 
 dred guineas ; and fome of them cover at five guineas a 
 mare. The form of the black Lincolnfhire Horfe has, 
 by their management, been materially altered : The long 
 fore-end, long back, and long thick hairy legs, have 
 gradually contracted into a fhort thick carcafe, a fhort 
 but upright fore-end, and fhort clean legs'; experience 
 having at length proved, that ftrength and activity, ra- 
 ther than height and weight, are the more effential pro- 
 perties of farm Horfes. 
 
 Another advantage poflefTed by this improved breed, is 
 Its hardinefs, or thriving quality ; its being able to carry 
 flefh, or fland hard work, with comparatively little pro- 
 vender. This hardinefs of conflitution, or natural pro- 
 penfity to thriving, the Leicefterfliire breeders afl'ert is 
 hereditary in particular individual breeds or lines of 
 horfes. If this obfervation be juft, and that the feeding 
 quality can be obtained with any degree, of certainty by 
 management in breeding, in this as well as other kinds 
 of live flock, it is a moft interefting circumftance in the 
 nature of domeftic animals. 
 
 A ftrong, bony, and acftive kind of Horfes Is now 
 ufed in our carriages, Inftead of the old black Coach- 
 Horfe, which is almoft univerfally laid afide. The 
 docked tail, ofFenfive both to humanity and decency, is 
 rarely to be feeri ; Propriety and good fenfe have at 
 length prevailed over a cuftom replete with abfurdity; 
 and our Horfes are permitted to retain a mem.ber both 
 ufeful and ornamental. But we have ftill to regret, that 
 the cruel pra£lice of forming the tail, by cutting and 
 nickmg it on the under fide, is yet continued. 
 
10 
 
 HISTORY OF qOADRUPEDS. 
 
 Although it would be impoflible to trace out the kind 
 of Horfes with which our Britiih anceftors oppofed them- 
 felves to the legions of Julius Caefar, on his landing in 
 this country ; yet that celebrated warrior himfelf bears' 
 teftimony to their aftivity and difcipline. 
 
 The Old EngliJJj Road-Horfe was ftrong, vigorous, and 
 active, and capable of enduring great hardfliip ; was ra- 
 ther low, feldom exceeding fourteen hands; his body 
 round and compadf, his limbs ftrong, and his head thick. 
 
 The Ponies of Wales, and thofe brought out of the 
 Highlands of Scotland, feem to be original and unmix- 
 ed. They are both much efteemed for the neatnefs and 
 beauty of their forms, for the nimblenefs of their mo- 
 tions, and above all, for being remarkably fure-footed 
 in the moft difficult roads, which renders them extreme- 
 ly valuable in thofe mountainous tratls to which they 
 originally belong. — Thofe brought from Shetland are the 
 fmalleft of the genus, being in general much lefs than 
 the Afs. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 ir 
 
 The Common CART-HORSE 
 
 is inferior to the laft in fize and ftrength : His form is 
 heavy, his motions flow, and his afpe£l: without fpright- 
 linefs : He is neverthelefs extremely ufeful, and is em- 
 ployed in the bufinefs of agriculture and other domeftic 
 concerns. 
 
 Till of late years, Pack-Horfes were employed, in the 
 northern counties of England, to carry the different ma- 
 nufa£Iures and articles of traffic from one part of the 
 kingdom to another; but the improved ftate of our roads 
 has caufed that mode of conveyance to be almofl entirely 
 laid afide. In their journies over tracklefs moors, they 
 flridlly adhere to the line of order and regularity cuflom 
 has taught them to obferve : The leading Horfe, which 
 is always chofen for his fagacity and fleadinefs, being 
 furniflied with bells, gives notice to the reft, who follow 
 the found, and generally without much deviation, though 
 fometimes at a confiderabie diftance. The following in- 
 
12 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 fiance will fliew with what obflinate perfeverance they 
 have been knov/n to obferve the line of their order: — 
 Some years ago, one of thefe Horfes, which had been 
 long accuftomed to follow his leader, by accident or fa- 
 tigue, was thrown into an inferior rank : The poor ani- 
 mal, as if fenfible of his difgrace, by the mofl flrenuous 
 exertions, at length recovered his ufual ftation, which he 
 maintained during the remainder of the journey; but, on 
 his arrival in the inn-yard, he dropped down dead upon 
 the fpot, his life falling a facrifice to his ambition — A 
 fpecies of heroifm W'e muft admire even in the brute cre- 
 ation. 
 
 At the age of two years *, the Horfe is in a condition 
 to propagate. — The mare is generally in feafon from the 
 
 * There are various ways of judging of the age of a Horfe. 
 The following are the moft general : — The eye-pits of old Horfes 
 are commonly hollow ; but that mark is equivocal, young Horfes, 
 begot by old ftallions, having them alfo hollow. — The teeth afford 
 the belt criterion of the age of Horfes. The Horfe has, in all, 
 forty teeth; viz. twenty-four grinders, four canine teeth or tulks, 
 and twelve fore teeth : Mares have either no tulks, or very Ihort 
 ones. Five days after birth, the four teeth in front begin to flioot : 
 Thefe are called nippers, and are call at the age of two years and 
 a half: They are foon renewed: And the next year, he again 
 cads two above, and twp below, — one on each fide of the nippers. 
 At four years and a half, other four fall out, next thofe lad placed : 
 Thefe lad four foal teeth are fucceeded by other four, which grow 
 much more flowly than the fird eight : And it is from thefe lad 
 four corner teeth, that the age of a Horfe is didinguilhed ; They 
 are fomewhat hollow in the middle, and have a black mark in the 
 cavities. At five years, thefe teeth fcarcely rife above the gums ; 
 at fix, their cavities begin to fill up, and turn to a brownifn fpot, 
 like the eye of a garden bean ; and before eight years, the mark 
 generally difappears. — The tulks alfo indicate the age of a Horfe. 
 Thofe in the under jaw generally fhoot at the age of three years 
 and a half ; and the two in the upper jaw at four : Till fix, they 
 continue ftiarp at the points; but at ten, they appear long and 
 blunted. — Thefe are the general rules for afcertaining the age of a 
 Horfe ; but there are frequent exceptions, as forae Horfes retain 
 the mark two or three years longer. 
 
HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 
 
 latter end of March till the beginning of June ; but her 
 chief ardour for the Horfe continues only fifteen or 
 twenty days. She goes with young eleven months and 
 fome days; continues to breed till the age of fixteen or 
 eighteen years ; and lives, on an average, between twen- 
 ty and thirty years. 
 
 Although the Horfe is endowed with vail ftrength and 
 powers, he feldom exerts either to the prejudice of his 
 mailer : On the contrary, he fliares with him in his la- 
 bours, and feems to participate in his pleafures ; gene- 
 rous and perfevering, he gives up his whole powers to 
 the fervice of his mailer; though bold and intrepid, he 
 reprefles the natural vivacity and fire of his temper, and 
 not only yields to the hand, but feems to confult the in- 
 clination of his rider. 
 
 But it mull continue to be matter of regret to every 
 feeling mind, that thefe excellent qualities fhould be 
 often lhamefully abufed in the moll unnecefiary exer- 
 tions ; and the honell labours of this noble animal 
 thrown away in the ungrateful talk of accomplilliing the 
 purpofes of unfeeling folly, or lavillied in gratifying the 
 expe£lations of an intemperate moment. 
 
14 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The mule. 
 
 T his ufeful and hardy animal is the offspring of 
 the Florfe and the Afs, and being generally bar- 
 ren, furniflies an indifputable proof that the two fpe- 
 cies are perfeftly diftindt. Nature has providently 
 flopped the further propagation of thefe heterogeneous 
 produdfions, to preferve, uncontaminated, the form of 
 each animal ; without which regulation the races would 
 in a fliort time be mixed with each other, and every 
 creature, lofing its original perfection, would rapidly de- 
 generate. 
 
 Mules have not unfrequently been known to bring 
 forth young, efpecially in hot countries ; and inftances 
 have not been wanting, though they are rare, both In 
 England and Scotland, But it would require a fucceffion 
 of experiments to prove, that Mules will breed with each 
 other, and produce an offspring equally capable of conti- 
 nuing the race. 
 
 The common Mule is very healthy, and will live above 
 thirty years. It is found very fervigeable in carrying 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 15 
 
 burthens, particularly in mountainous and ftony places, 
 
 where Horfes are not fo fure-footed. The fize and 
 
 ftrength of our breed have lately been much improved 
 by the importation of Spanifh Male-AlTes; and it were 
 much to be wiflied, that the ufeful qualities of this ani- 
 mal were moi'e attended to : For, by proper care in its 
 breaking, its natural obftinacy would in a great meafure 
 be correfted ; and it might be formed with fuccefs, for 
 the faddle, the draught, or the burthen. 
 
 People of the firft quality in Spain are drawn by 
 Mules, where fifty or fixty guineas is no uncommon 
 price for one of them ; nor is it furprizing, when we 
 confider how far they excel the Horfe in travelling in a 
 mountainous country, the Mule being able to tread fe- 
 curely where the former can hardly ftand. — Their man- 
 ner of going down the precipices of the Alps, the Andes, 
 &c. is very extraordinary j and with it we will conclude 
 their hiftory. In thefe paflages, on one fide, are fteep 
 eminenees, and on the other, frightful abyfies; and, as 
 they generally follow the direftion of the mountain, the 
 road, inftead of lying in a level, forms at every little 
 diftance fteep declivities, of feveral hundred yards- down- 
 ward. Thefe can only be defcended by Mules ; and the 
 animal itfelf feems fenfible of the danger, and the cau- 
 tion that is to be ufed in fuch defcents. When they 
 come to the edge of one of thefe precipices, they flop 
 without being checked by the rider; and if he inadver- 
 tently attempt to fpur them on, they continue immovea- 
 ble. They feem all this time ruminating on tlie danger 
 that lies before them, and preparing themfeives for the 
 encounter. They not only attentively view the road, 
 but tremble and fnort at the danger. Having prepared 
 for the defcent, they place their fore feet in a pofture, as 
 
i6 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS, 
 
 if they were flopping themfelves ; they then alfo pitt 
 their hind feet together, but a little forward, as if they 
 were going to lie down. In this attitude, having taken 
 as it were a furvey of the road, they Aide down with the 
 fwiftnefs of a meteor. In the mean time, all the rider 
 has to do is to keep himfelf fall on the faddle without 
 checking the rein, for the leaft motion is fufficient to 
 diforder the equilibrium of the Mule ; in which cafe they 
 both unavoidably perifh. But their addrefs in this rapid 
 defcent is truly wonderful ; for in their fwiftefl motion, 
 when they feem to have loft all government of them- 
 felves, they follow exa£lly the different windings of the 
 road, as if they had previoufly fettled in their minds the 
 route they were to follow, and taken every precaution for 
 their fafety. In this journey, the natives place them- 
 felves along the fides of the mountains ; and holding by 
 the roots of the trees, animate the beafts with ftiouts, 
 and encourage them to perfevere. Some Mules, after 
 being long ufed to thefe journies, acquire a kind of repu- 
 tation for their fafety and fkill ; and their value rifes in 
 proportion to their fame. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 17 
 
 The ass. 
 
 T he Afs, it is probable, was originally a native of 
 Arabia and other parts of the eaft ; The deferts of 
 Lybia and Numidia, and many iflands of the Archipe- 
 lago, contain vaft herds of wild Afles, which run with 
 fuch amazing fwiftnefs, that even the fleeteft Horfes of 
 the country can hardly overtake them. They are chiefly 
 caught by the natives on account of their flefh, which 
 is eaten by them, and confidered as a delicious repaft. 
 The flefti of the common or tame Afs is however drier, 
 more tough, and difagreeable than that of the Horfe; 
 Galen fays, it is even unwholefome ; Its milk, on the 
 contrary, is an approved remedy for certain diforders. — 
 The wild Afs is not ftreaked like the Zebra, (with which 
 it has often been confounded) nor is his form fo beauti- 
 ful : His figure refembles that of the common Afs, his 
 colour is brighter, and he has a white ftreak extending 
 from his head to his tail. 
 
 B 
 
i8 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Afs, like the Ilorfe, was originally Imported into 
 America by the Spaniards, where it has run wild, and 
 become extremely numerous. , Ulloa informs us, that, In 
 the kingdom of Quito, they hunt them in the following 
 manner : — A number of perfons on horfeback, attended 
 by Indians on foot, form a large circle in order to drive 
 them into a narrow compafs, where at full fpeed they 
 throw a noofe over them, and having fecured them with 
 fetters, leave them till the chace is over, which frequent- 
 ly lafts for feveral days. They have all the fwlftnefs of 
 Horfes ; and neither declivities nor precipices can retard 
 them in their flight. When attacked, they defend them- 
 fclves with their heels and mouths with fuch a£livity, 
 that^ without flackening their pace, they often maim 
 their purfuevs. 
 
 A warm climate is moft favourable to the growth of 
 this animal : The Afs produced in this country is much 
 inferior in fize and beauty to thofe of Spain and other 
 warm countries; In Guinea, they are larger and more 
 beautiful than even their Horfes: In Perfia, they have 
 two kinds, — the one flow and heavy, which is made ufe 
 of for carrying burthens ; the other nimble, fmooth, and 
 ftately, ufed chiefly for the faddle. They are managed 
 as Horfes ; and, like them, are taught to amble. They 
 generally flit their nollrils to give them more room for 
 breathing. Many of thefe are fold as high as forty or 
 fifty pounds. 
 
 Holingflied informs us, that, in the reign of queen 
 Elizabeth, there were no Afles in this country : How 
 foon after they might be introduced is uncertain. How- 
 ever they are at prefent naturalized in this kingdom, 
 where their utility becomes daily more univerfally expe- 
 rienced. 
 
19 
 
 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The qualities of this animal are fo well known, as to 
 need no defcription : His gentlenefs, patience, and per- 
 feverance, are without example : He is temperate with 
 regard to food, and eats contentedly the coarfeft and 
 mod; negle£ted herbage ; If he give the preference to any 
 vegetable, it is to the plantain, for which he will negle£t 
 every other herb in the pafture. In his water he is Angu- 
 larly nice, drinking only from the cleared; brooks. He is 
 fo much afraid of wetting his feet, that, even when load- 
 en, he will turn afide to avoid the dirty parts of the road. 
 
 He is dronger, in proportion to his fize, than the 
 Horfe j but more lluggidi, dubborn, and untradlable. 
 He is healthier than the Horfe ; and, of all other quadru- 
 peds, is lead infeded with lice or other vermin ; proba- 
 bly owing to the extreme hardnefs and drynefs of his 
 fkin. For the fame reafon, perhaps, he is lefs fenfitive 
 of the goads of the whip, or the dinging of flies. 
 
 He is three or four years in coming to perfedlion ; and 
 lives to the age of twenty, or fometimes twenty-dve 
 years. He fleeps much lefs than the Horfe, and never 
 lies down for that purpofe but when he is much fa- 
 tigued. The She-Afs goes eleven months with young, 
 and feldom produces more than one at a time. 
 
 The fervices of this ufeful creature are too often re- 
 paid by hard fare and cruel ufage ; and being generally 
 the property of the poor, it partakes of their wants and 
 their didrelTes : Whereas, by due cultivation and care in 
 its education, the Afs might be ufefully and profitably 
 employed in a variety of domedic purpofes, and in ma- 
 ny cafes fupply the place of the Horfe, to which only it 
 is fecond, though generally degraded into the mod ufe- 
 lefs aftd negledted of domedic quadrupeds. 
 
 B 2 
 
20 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS, 
 
 The zebra, 
 
 W HICFI many authors have miftaken for a wild 
 Afs, is the moft beautiful, as well as the wild- 
 eft, moft timid, and untameable animal in nature. Be- 
 ing larger than the Afs, it rather refembles the Mule in 
 fhape : Its head is large ; its ears longer than thofe of the 
 Horfe ; its legs beautifully fmall, and well placed ; and 
 its body well formed, round, and fleftiy : But the beauty 
 of its fhape is greatly heightened by the glofly fmoothnefs 
 of its fkin, and the amazing regularity and elegance of 
 its colours, which in the male are white and brown, and 
 in the female white and black, ranged in alternate ftripes 
 over the whole body, in a ftile fo beautiful and ornamen- 
 tal, that it would at firft fight feem rather the effe£l of 
 art than the genuine produdfion of nature : The head is 
 ftriped with fine bands of black and white, which form a 
 center in the forehead; the neck is adorned with ftripes 
 of the fame colour running round it ; the body is beau- 
 tifully variegated with bands running acrofs the back, 
 and ending in points at the belly; its thighs, its legs, its 
 
21 
 
 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 ears, and even its tail, are all beautifully ftreaked in the 
 fame manner. 
 
 The Zebra inhabits the fouthern parts of Africa, 
 where whole herds are feen feeding in thofe extenfive 
 plains that lie towards the Cape of Good Hope. How- 
 ever, their vvatchfulnefs is fuch, that they will fufFer no- 
 thing to come near them •, and their fwiftnefs fo great, 
 that they eafdy leave their purfuers far behind. 
 
 Such is the beauty of this creature, that it feems by 
 nature fitted to gratify the pride, and formed for the fer- 
 vice of man ; and it is moft probable, that time and affi- 
 duity alone are wanting to bring it under fubjedlion. As 
 it refembles the Horfe in regard to its form, as well as 
 manner of living, there can be little doubt but it poflell'es 
 a fimilitude of nature; and only requires the efforts of an 
 induflrious and fkilful nation, to be added to the numbejr 
 of our ufeful dependants. Neverthelefs, its liberty has 
 hitherto remained uncontrouled, and its natural fiercfi- 
 nefs has as yet refifted every attempt to fubdue it: Thofe 
 that have been brought to this country, have difcovered a 
 degree of vicioufnefs that rendered it unfafe to approach 
 them too familiarly ; but it is by no means to be con- 
 cluded from hence, that they are untameable. They 
 have continued to be wild, becaufe they are natives of a 
 country where the wretched inhabitants have no other 
 idea of advantage from the animal creation than as they 
 are good for food, paying more regard to that which af- 
 fords the moft delicious repaft, than to delicacy of co- 
 louring, or beauty of conformation. 
 
 ^^aggasy or IF'i/d AJfeSy hitherto but little known, and 
 not much defcribed, abound in the fame country. They 
 live in herds, and are extremely fwift. 
 
 B 2 
 
22 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 RUMINATING ANIMALS. 
 
 HE various animals of tills kind being entirely 
 
 confined to grain and herbage for their nourilh- 
 ment and fupport, it is necefiary that they fhould be ena- 
 bled to receive a large quantity into the ftomach, as well 
 as to retain it a confiderable time before it be reduced 
 to proper chyle : For this purpofe, their inteflines are 
 remarkably long and capacious, and formed into a va- 
 riety of foldings. They are furnifhed with no lefs than 
 four ftomachs. The food, after maftication, is thrown 
 into the firft ftomach, where it remains fome time ; after 
 which, it is forced up again into the mouth, and under- 
 goes a fecond chewing: It is then fent direftly into the 
 fecond ftomach, and gradually pafl'es into the third and 
 fourth ; from whence it is tranfmitted through the con- 
 volutions of the inteftines. By this conformation, rumi- 
 nating animals are enabled to devour large quantities of 
 vegetable aliment, to retain it long in their bowels, and 
 confequently extracSb from it a quantity of nutritious mat- 
 ter fufficient for their growth and fupport. 
 
 The great obligations we are under to thofe of this 
 clafs, render them obje£ls of the higheft importance to 
 us. We are nouriftied with their milk, we are fupported 
 by their flefli, and we are cloathed and warmed with 
 their fleeces : Their hannlelTnefs and innocence endear 
 them to us, and claim from us that prote£lion which 
 their natures feem to require ; and, in return, they fup- 
 ply us with the necelfaries and comforts of life. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 23 
 
 The ox Kind. 
 
 F all quadrupeds, the Cow feems moft extenfively 
 
 propagated : It is equally capable of enduring the 
 rigours of heat and cold ; and is an inhabitant of the 
 frozen, as well as the moft fcorching climates. Other 
 animals preferve their nature or their form with inflexible 
 perfeverance ; but thefe, in every refpedi, fuit themfelves 
 to the wants and conveniences of mankind. In no ani- 
 mal is there to be met with a greater variety of kinds ; 
 and in none, a more humble and pliant difpofition. 
 
 The climate and paftures of Great-Britain are well 
 adapted to the moderate nature of this animal ; and we 
 are indebted to the variety and abundance of our whole- 
 fome vegetables, for the number and excellence of out 
 cattle, which range over our hills, and enliven our plains 
 —a fource of inexhauftible wealth — the pride and boaft 
 of this happy country. 
 
 Being deftitute of the upper fore teeth, the Cow pre- 
 fers the high and rich grafs in paftures, to the ftiort and 
 more delicate herbage the Horfe generally feledts. For 
 this reafon. In our Englilh paftures, where the grafs Is 
 rather high and flourilhing, than fucculent and nutritious, 
 the Cow thrives admirably ; and there is no part of Eu- 
 rope in which this animal grows larger, yields more milk, 
 nor fattens fooner. 
 
 It has often been remarked, that the Horfe and Sheep 
 impoverifli the foil on which they graze 5 whilft the paf- 
 ture where the Cow is fed, acquires a finer furface, and 
 every year becomes more level and beautiful : The Horfe 
 feledls the grafs that is moft delipate and tender; and, 
 being furniftied with fore teeth on each jaw, nips it 
 
24 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 clofe, and frequently pulls it up by the roots, thereby 
 preventing its future growth and propagation : The 
 
 Sheep alfo, though formed like the Cow with refpeft 
 to its teeth, only bites the moft fucculent parts of the 
 herbage. 
 
 The age of a Cow is known by its horns: At the age 
 of four years, a ring is formed at their roots; and every 
 fucceeding year, another ring is added. Thus, by allow- 
 ing three years before their appearance, and then reckon- 
 ing the number of rings, the creature’s age may be ex- 
 actly known. 
 
 The quantity of milk given by Cows is very vari- 
 ous: Some will yield only about fix quarts in one day; 
 while others give from ten to fifteen, and fometimes even 
 twenty. The richnefs of the pafture contributes not a 
 little to its increafe. There have been inftances of Cows 
 giving upwards of thirty quarts of milk in one day. In 
 fuch cafes, there is a neceffity for milking them thrice.— 
 From the milk of fome Cows, twelve or fourteen pounds 
 of butter are made in a week. 
 
 It has been advanced, by fome naturalifts, as a general 
 principle, that neither animals, nor parts of animals, ap- 
 pear to be primarily intended for the ufe of man ; but 
 are only capable of a fecondary application to his pur- 
 pofes: Yet it mull be allowed, that, in many inftances, 
 what they term the fecondary ufe, is fo manifeft and im- 
 portant, that it cannot, with propriety, be fuppofed to 
 be excluded from the original defigns of the all-wife Cre- 
 ator: And it muft be allowed, that the Cow, in its fa- 
 culty of giving in fuch abundance, and with fo much 
 eafe, its milk, which forms fo rich and nutritive an ali- 
 ment for the human fpecies, is a ftriking example of this 
 fubordination to the interefts of mankind: For this ani- 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 25 
 
 mal differs, in fome parts of its organization, from inoft 
 others, having a larger and more capacious udder, and 
 longer and thicker teats, than the largeft animal we 
 know of: It has likewife four teats, while all other ani- 
 mals of the fame nature have but two : It alfo yields the 
 milk freely to the hand, while moft animals, at leaft thofe 
 that do not ruminate in the fame manner, refufe it, ex- 
 cept their own young, or fome adopted animal, be allow- 
 ed to partake. 
 
 The Cow, having four teats, is a flriking peculiarity; 
 the number in all other animals bearing fome proportion 
 to the number of young ones they bring forth at a time ; 
 as in the Bitch, the Cat, the Sow, &c. 
 
 The Cow will yield her milk as freely, and will conti- 
 nue to give it as long, without the aid of the calf, as if 
 it were permitted to fuck her conftantly. This is not the 
 cafe with the Afs ; which, it is well known, will foon 
 grow dry, if her foal be not permitted to fuck part of 
 her milk every day. 
 
 Upon the whole, it appears, that the property of yield- 
 ing milk, without the young one, is confined to thofe 
 kinds of ruminating horned animals which have cloven 
 hoofs, four ftomachs, long inteftines, are furnifhed with 
 fuet, and have no fore teeth in the upper jaw; that 
 Cows, Sheep, Goats, and Deer, are of this kind, and no 
 other ; and that the Cow has this property in a more 
 eminent degree than others, owing to the capacioufnefs 
 of her udder, and the fize and form of her teats. 
 
 By great induftry and attention to their breed, and by 
 judicious mixtures with thofe of other countries, our 
 horned cattle are univerfally allowed to be the fineft i« 
 Europe ; although fuch as are purely Britifh are inferior 
 m fize to thofe on many parts of the continent. 
 
26 HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Holstein or Dutcei Breed 
 
 has been introduced with great fuccefs, and is now the 
 prevailing ftock in all the counties on the eaftcrn coaft of 
 this kingdom. — In good paftures, cattle of this kind grow 
 to a great fize*; and the Cows yield a greater abun- 
 dance of milk than thofe of almoft any other kind. 
 
 * An Ox was fed by Mr Edward Hall, of Whitley, in North- 
 umberland ; and killed in March, 1789, when feven years old.-- 
 It meafmed, from the head to the rump, nine feet eight inches 
 
HISTORY OF QTJADRUPEDS. 27 
 
 The Long-horned or Lancashire Breed 
 
 is common in Lancafliire, Weftmorland, and Cumber- 
 land, and fome of the neighbouring counties and, not- 
 withftanding the changes which have taken place by the 
 introduflion of foreign kinds, there is reafon to believe, 
 that this, for a confiderable time at leaf!, has been the 
 prevailing fhock of the kingdom at large. 
 
 Mr Marfhall, in his excellent treatife on the “ Eco- 
 nomy of the Midland Counties,” obferves, that, from 
 this kind, the prefent improved breed of cattle, in Lei- 
 cefterfhire, is traceable, by the moll indifputable evi- 
 dence. From Bulls brought out of Weftmorland and 
 Lancalhire, and Cows from the banks of the Trent, the 
 celebrated Ca?iley breeds the property of Mr Webfter, de- 
 rived its origin ; and about fifty years ago, it was efteem- 
 
 and an half ; the height, at the fhoulder, was five feet ten inches j 
 and it weighed, without the offal, one hundred and eighty-feven 
 ftone five pounds,— fourteen pounds to the ftone. 
 
28 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 ed the mofl: valuable at that time in the kingdom. From 
 this breed, Mr Bakewell obtained the fource of his pre- 
 fent fuperior ftock of cattle ; and feveral other eminent 
 breeders are alfo indebted to the fame origin, for the ce- 
 lebrity they have fince attained. 
 
 The rapid improvements which have taken place in 
 this truly valuable Leicefterlhire breed, form an interell- 
 ing fubjeil: of enquiry ; of which, the limits of our work 
 will only allow us to give the outlines. We have how- 
 ever noticed the general principles which have been laid 
 down, and fteadily adhered to, in the improvement of 
 the feveral breeds of cattle ; and which have been fo fuc- 
 cefsfully brought into pra£tice. The firft, and moft ob- 
 vious, is beauty of form, — a principle, which has been 
 in common applied to every fpecies of domeftic cattle ; 
 and, with great feeming propriety, was fuppofed to form 
 the bafis of every kind of improvement j under an idea, 
 that beauty of form, and utility, were infeparable. But 
 at prefent, a diftindlion is made, by men who have 
 been long converfant in praftice, between a ufeful fort, 
 and a fort that is merely handfome. Utility of form is 
 therefore the next general principle, and may be confi- 
 dered as arifing from a larger proportion of thofe parts 
 which are the moft ufeful : Thus, for inftance, all thofe 
 parts which are deemed offal, or which bear an inferior 
 price, ftiould be fmall in proportion to the better parts. 
 A third principle of improvement, laid down by breeders, 
 confifts in the finenefs of the mufcular parts, or what is 
 termed jleff. But the great objedl which engrofles the 
 attention of breeders at prefent, is the fatting quality, or 
 a natural propenfity in cattle to arrive at a ftate of fat- 
 nefs at an early age, and in a fhort fpace of time : And 
 it appears, from obfervatjon, that beauty and utility of 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 29 
 
 form, the quality of the flefh, and its propenfity to fat- 
 nefs, are principles confident with each other, are fre- 
 quently found united in the fame individual, and heredi- 
 tary in particular lines or families of cattle. — In regard to 
 the means of improvement, it has long been an eftablifli- 
 ed maxim, that, to improve the breed, it is neceflary to 
 crofs it with others of an alien dock ; under an opinion, 
 that continuing to breed from the fame line, weakens the 
 dock. This idea, however rooted it may have been in 
 the minds of former pradlitioners, is now entirely fet 
 afide by the modern pradlice of breeding, not from the 
 fame line only, but from the fame family: The fire and 
 the daughter, the fon and the mother, the brother and 
 fider, are now permitted to improve their own kind. 
 This pra£lice is well known under the term of breeding, 
 in-and-in; and, in this way, the improvement of the fe- 
 veral breeds has advanced rapidly to a height unknown 
 before in any age or nation. 
 
 The pra£lice of letting out Bulls by the feafon, has 
 contributed very materially towards the improvement of 
 this valuable breed ; as, by this means, one Bull, indead 
 of being ufeful to his proprietor only, may, in a few 
 years, extend the benefits of his dock through a whole 
 didridb ; and fo fully are the dock-maders convinced of 
 its advantages, that eighty guineas have been given for 
 the ufe of a Bull for one feafon. Some Bulls are in fuch 
 edimation, as to leap at the extraordinary price of five 
 guineas a Cow : And it is, perhaps, a circumdance 
 
 worth mentioning, that Mr Fowler, of Rollright, in Ox- 
 fordfhire, in 1789, for ten Bull calves, refufed five hun- 
 dred guineas. 
 
 Great improvements have alfo, of late years, been 
 made in the old Lancajlnre hndy both in fize and beauty. 
 
3 ° 
 
 HISTORY OF OUADRUPEDS. 
 
 — Craven, in Yovkfliire, has long been celebrated for a 
 fuperior variety of the long-horned kind : And from 
 
 thence the graziers of Weftmorland and Lancalhire pur- 
 chafed the floM^er of their Heifers ; which, by crolhng 
 with the original ftock of thofe counties, have produced 
 a breed, which is now had recourfe to, for the improve- 
 ment of this kind of cattle, in every part of the kingdom. 
 — Some of the Bulls are extremely large. Their horns 
 are not long, but beautifully turned ; their hair fhort and 
 fmooth ; their crefts rife extremely high ; their chefts are 
 let down to their knees; their bodies are long, and in 
 the form of a perfe£l cylinder. 
 
 The Lancashire OX. 
 
 The Cows and Oxen are fmaller. Their horns are 
 long and fmall, very fmooth ; and their colour, in gene- 
 ral, approaches to yellow : Their hair is beautifully curl- 
 ed ; and their whole form extremely handfome. — The 
 Oxen frequently grow to a confiderable fize, are very 
 ailive, and confequently ufeful in the draught. They 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 31 
 
 are well fuited to a cold climate, and grow fat on indif- 
 ferent paftures. 
 
 In Scotland, there are two kinds, which differ greatly 
 from each other, as well as from all thofe in the fouthern 
 parts of this ifland. 
 
 Thofe of the county of Galloway are without horns, 
 and generally of a reddifh-brown colour, mixed with 
 black. Large droves of thefe are yearly brought into the 
 fouthern parts of this kingdom, where they foon greatly 
 improve. 
 
 The Highland cattle are very fmall, and partake much 
 of the wildnefs of the country in which they are bred. 
 They are moftly black, with fine white horns, very Iharp, 
 and nearly black, at the points ; and their hair is thick 
 and furry. Large droves of thefe are likewife fold into 
 England at the great northern fairs. They are greatly 
 efteemed for the finenefs and fweetnefs of their beef, as 
 well as for the facility with which they acquire a confi- 
 derable degree of fatnefs, even with moderate feeding. 
 
32 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 Although the Oxen of this breed, when fed in the or- 
 dinary way, do not exceed forty ftone the four quarters, 
 — one of them, fed by Mr Spearman, of Rothley Park, 
 in Northumberland, weighed, when killed, in 1790, at 
 the age of fix years, eighty-one ftone. 
 
 The Cow feems more liable to changes from its paf- 
 ture and climate than any other quadruped. In the dif- 
 ferent parts of this narrow illand, we can trace a won- 
 derful variety of thefe animals, produced by the richnefs 
 or poverty of the foil. In ftiort, in every part of the 
 world, the Cow is found either large or fmall, in propor- 
 tion to the quality and quantity of its food. Among 
 the Eluth Tartars, where the paftures are remarkably 
 rich and nourifhing, the Cow grows to fuch an amazing 
 fize, that a man can fcarcely reach the tip of its Ihoulder ; 
 In France, on the contrary, where this animal is ftinted 
 in its food, and driven from the beft paftures, it greatly 
 degenerates. 
 
 In Great-Britain, the Ox is the only horned animal 
 that will apply his ftrength to the fervice of mankind 5 
 and, in general, is more profitable than the Horfe, for 
 the plough or the draught. There is fcarcely any part of 
 this animal without its ufe : The fkin is made into va- 
 rious kinds of leather; the hair is mixed with lime for 
 plaiftering ; the bones are made ufe of as a fubftitute for 
 ivory, and, being calcined, are ufed by the refiner as an 
 abforbent to carry off the bafer metals in refining filver, 
 &c. ; combs, and many other articles, are made of the 
 horns; we are fupplied with candles from the tallow; 
 and from the feet is procured an oil, of great ufe in pre- 
 paring and foftening leather; befides the well-known be- 
 nefits derived front butter, milk, and cheefe ; its blood. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 33 
 
 gall, liver, and urine, have their refpeftive ufes in ma- 
 nufaftures and medicine. 
 
 The Cow goes nine months with young, and feldom 
 produces more than one at a time. 
 
 It is a curious fadl, that, in fome inftances. Cows are 
 naturally barren ; and this is faid to happen, when a 
 Cow brings forth two calves, — one of them a male, the 
 other a female : The former is a perfedb animal ; but the 
 latter is incapable of propagation, and is well known to 
 farmers under the denomination of a Free Martin. It 
 refembles the Ox, or fpayed Heifer, in figure ; and is 
 confiderably larger than the Cow. It is fometimes pre- 
 ferved by the farmer, for the purpofe of yoking with the 
 Oxen, or fattening for the table. — Mr Hunter obferves, 
 that the flefh of the Free Martin, like that of the Ox, is 
 in common much finer in the fibre than either the Bull 
 or Cow. It is fuppofed to exceed that of the Flelfer in 
 delicacy of flavour, and bears a higher price at market. 
 
 C 
 
Wild Cattle. 
 
 There was formerly a very fingular fpecies of wild cat- 
 tle in this country, which is now nearly extirnff. Nume- 
 rous herds of them were kept in feveral parks in England 
 and Scotland ; but they have been deftroyed by various 
 means : And the only breeds now remaining in the king- 
 
 EIISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 35 
 
 dom, are in the park at Chillingham-caftle, in Northum= 
 berland ; at Wollaton, in Nottinghamfliire, the feat of 
 lord Middleton; at Gifburne, in Craven, Yorklhire; at 
 Lime-hall, in Chefliire ; and at Chartley, in Stafford^ 
 fhire. 
 
 The principal external appearances whieh dillinguifli 
 this breed of cattle from all others, are the following : — 
 Their colour is invariably white ; muzzles black *, the 
 wliole of the infide of the ear, and about one-third of the 
 outfide, from the tip downwards, red * ; horns white, 
 with black tips, very fine, and bent upwards: Some of 
 the Bulls have a thin upright mane, about an inch and an 
 half, or two inches long. 
 
 At the firft appearance of any perfon, they fet olf in 
 full gallop ; and, at the diftance of two or three hun.> 
 dred yards, make a wheel round, and come boldly up 
 again, tolfing their heads in a menacing manner : On a 
 fudden they make a full flop, at the diftance of forty or 
 fifty yards, looking wildly at the objecft of their furprize ; 
 but, upon the leaft motion being made, they all again 
 turn round, and fly off with equal fpeed, but not to the 
 fame diftance : Forming a ftiorter circle, and again re- 
 turning with a bolder and more threatening afpefl than 
 before, they approach much nearer, probably within 
 
 * About twenty years fince, there were a few, at Chillingham, 
 with BLACK ears; but the prefent park-keeper deftroyed them ; 
 — fince which period, there has not been one with black ears. — 
 The ears and nofes of all thofe at Wollaton are black. — At Gif- 
 faurne, there are fome perfectly white ; except the infide of their 
 ears, which are brown. They are without horns, very ftrong- 
 boned, but not high. They are faid to have been originally 
 brought from Whalley-abbey, in Lancafhire, upon its diffolutiorl 
 in the thirty-third of Henry the Eighth. Tradition fays, they 
 were drawn to Gilburne by the ‘ power of mufic.’ 
 
 C 2 
 
36 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 thirty yards; when they make another (land, and again- 
 fly ofF: This they do feveral times, (hortening their dif- 
 tance, and advancing nearer, till they come within ten 
 yards; w'hen moft people think it prudent to leave them, 
 not chufing to provoke them further; for there is little 
 doubt but in two or three turns they would make an at- 
 tack. 
 
 The mode of killing them was, perhaps, the only mo- 
 dern remains of the grandeur of ancient hunting. On 
 notice being given, that a w'ild Bull would be killed on a 
 certain day, the inhabitants of the neighbourhood came 
 mounted, and armed with guns, 8cc. fometimes to the 
 amount of an hundred horfe, and four or five hundred 
 foot, who flood upon walls, or got into trees, while the 
 horfemen rode off the Bull from the reft of the herd, un- 
 til he ftood at bay ; when a markfman difmounted and 
 fliot. At fome of thefe huntings, twenty or thirty ftiots 
 have been fired before he was fubdued. On fuch occa- 
 fions, the bleeding vi£lim grew defperately furious, from 
 the fmarting of his wounds, and the Ihouts of favage joy 
 that were echoing from every fide : But, from the num- 
 ber of accidents that happened, this dangerous mode has 
 been little praftifed of late years ; the park-keeper alone 
 generally ftiooting them with a rifled gun, at one (hot. 
 
 When the Cows calve, they hide their calves for a 
 week or ten days in fome fequeftered fituation, and go 
 and fuckle them two or three times a-day. If any per- 
 fon come near the calves, they clap their heads clofe to 
 the ground, and lie like a hare in form, to hide them- 
 felves: This is a proof of their native wildnefs, and is 
 corroborated by the following circumftance that happen- 
 ed to the writer of this narrative, who found a hidden 
 calf, two days old, very lean, and very weak : — On ftrok- 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 37 
 
 ing its head, it got up, pawed two or three times like an 
 old Bull, bellowed very loud, ftepped back a few fteps, 
 and bolted at his legs with all its force ; it then began to 
 paw again, bellowed, ftepped back, and bolted as before ; 
 but knowing its intention, and ftepping afide, it mlfled 
 him, fell, and was fo very weak that it could not rife, 
 though it made feveral efforts : But It had done enough : 
 The whole herd were alarmed, and, coming to its refcue, 
 obliged him to retire; for the dams will allow no perfon 
 to touch their calves, without attacking them with impe- 
 tuous ferocity. 
 
 When any one happens to be wounded, or is grown 
 weak and feeble through age or ficknefs, the reft of the 
 herd fet upon it, and gore It to death. 
 
 The weight of the Oxen is generally from forty to 
 fifty ftone the four quarters ; the Cows about thirty. 
 The beef is finely marbled, and of excellent flavour. 
 
 Thofe at Burton-Conftable, in the county of York, 
 were all deftroyed by a diftemper a few years fince. 
 They varied flightly from thofe at Chillingham, having 
 black ears and muzzles, and the tips of their tails of the 
 fame colour: They were alfo much larger, many of 
 
 them weighing fixty ftone ; probably owing to the rich- 
 nefs of the pafturage in Holdernefs ; but generally attri- 
 buted to the difference of kind between thofe with black 
 and with red ears, the former of which they ftudioufly 
 endeavoured to preferve. The breed which was at 
 Drumlanrig, in Scotland, had alfo black ears. 
 
38 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The URUS, or WILD-BULL, 
 
 4s chiefly to be met with in the extenfive forefls of Li- 
 thuania. It grows to a fize almoft equal to the Ele- 
 phant, and is quite black ; the eyes are red and fiery, 
 the horns thick and fhort, and the forehead covered with 
 a quantity of curled hair; the neck is Ihort and ftrong, 
 and the fkin has an odour of mulk. The female, though 
 not fo big as the male, exceeds the largeft of our bulls 
 in fize: Neverthelefs, her udder is extremely fmall. 
 
 Upon the whole, however, this animal, which greatly 
 refembles thofe of the tame kind, probably owes its va- 
 xiety to its natural wildnefs, and the richnefs of the paf- 
 ture§ where it is produced. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 39 
 
 The bison 
 
 difFers from the reft of the Ox kind, in having a large 
 lump between its flioulders, almoft as high as that of a 
 camel. He has a long fliaggy mane, which forms a 
 kind of beard under his chin ; his eyes are fierce, his 
 forehead large, and his horns extremely wide. It is dan- 
 gerous to purfue him, except in forefts abounding with 
 trees large enough to conceal the hunters. He is gene- 
 rally taken in pits covered with branches of trees and 
 grafs, on the oppofite fide of which the hunters tempt 
 the animal to purfue them ; and the enraged creature 
 running towards them, falls into the trap prepared for it, 
 and is then overpowered and flain. 
 
 The Bifon, or the animal with the hump, is found in 
 all the fouthern parts of the world, though greatly differ? 
 ing from each other in fize and form; while the Urus, 
 or the one without the hump, chiefly occupies the tem- 
 perate and cold climates. The former extend through? 
 
 C 4 
 
40 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 out the vaft continent of India, and from Mount Atlas 
 to the Cape of Good Hope. In fome parts, they arc 
 extremely large; while in others, they are very fmall, 
 fuch as the Zebu, or Baibary Cow. 
 
 The zebu. 
 
 They are all equally docile and gentle, when tamed ; 
 and are in general covered with fine gloffy hair, fofter 
 and more beautiful than that of the common Cow. — 
 Their humps are of different fizes, in fome weighing 
 from forty to fifty pounds, but in others lefs. That part 
 is in general confidered as a great delicacy ; and, when 
 drefled, has much the appearance and tafte of udder. 
 
 The Bifons of Madagafcar and Malabar are of the 
 great kind ; thofe of Arabia Petrea, and moll parts of 
 Africa, are of the Zebu or fmall kind. 
 
 In America, efpecially towards the North, the Bifon is 
 well known. They herd together, in droves of from one 
 to two hundred, on the banks of the Miffifippi ; where 
 the inhabitants hunt them, their fielh being efteemed 
 good eating. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 41 
 
 They all breed with the tame Cow. The hump, 
 which is only an accidental charadleriftic, gradually de- 
 clines ; and, in a few generations, no veftiges of it re- 
 main. — Thus we fee, whether it be the wild or the tame 
 Ox, the Bonafus or the Urus, the Bifon or the Zebu, by 
 whatever name they are difliinguilhed, or however vari- 
 oully clafled by naturalifts, in reality they are the fame; 
 and, though diverfified in their appearance and proper- 
 ties, are defcendants of one common flock ; of which 
 the mod unequivocal proof is, that they all mix and 
 breed with each other. 
 
 The Oxen of India are of different fizes, and are made 
 ufe of in travelling, as fubflitutes for horfes. Their 
 common pace is foft. Inflead of a bit, a fmall cord is 
 paffed through the cartilage of the noflrlls, which is tied 
 to a larger cord, and ferves as a bridle. They are fad- 
 died like horfes ; and, when puflied, move very brifkly. 
 They are likewife ufed in drawing chariots and carts. 
 For the former purpofe, white Oxen are In great efteem, 
 and much admired. They will perform journies of fixty 
 days, at the rate of from twelve to fifteen leagues a day ; 
 and their travelling pace is generally a trot. 
 
 In Perl) a, there are many Oxen entirely white, with 
 fmall blunt horns, and humps on their backs. They arc 
 very ftrong, and carry heavy burthens. When about to 
 be loaded, they drop down on their knees like the Ca* 
 mel, and rife when their burthens are properly faftened . 
 
42 
 
 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The GRUNTING-OX. 
 
 The Sarluc, or Grunting-Cow of Tartary, from Its 
 refemblance to the Bifon, may be confidered as belong- 
 ing to the fame fpecies. Its horns are fhort, upright, 
 flender, and very fharp the hair on its body is black, 
 except the mane and ridge of the back, where it is 
 white ; its whole body is covered with very long hair, 
 which hangs down below its knees, and makes its legs 
 appear fhort ; it has a hump on its back ; its tail refem- 
 bles that of a horfe, is white, and very bufliy ; it ftrikes 
 with its head like a goat, and is very unruly ; its diftin- 
 guifhing peculiarity is, that it makes a grunting noife 
 like a hog, inftead of lowing like the Ox, which in every 
 other inftance it greatly refembles. It abounds greatly 
 in the kingdom of Thibet, where it is domefticated. 
 
 The wild breed, called Bucha, is extremely fierce. 
 When wounded, it will fometimes turn upon its alTail- 
 ant, and attack him with great fury. It copulates with 
 the tame Cow. Their produce is employed in domeftic 
 purpofes. 
 
 Its tail is very valuable, and is fold at a great price in 
 Thibet. When mounted on a filver handle, it is ufed, 
 by the principal men In India, as a brufh to chafe away 
 the flies. It is fometimes faftened, as an ornament, to 
 the ear of the Elephant. — The Chinefe dye the hair red, 
 and form it into tufts to adorn their bonnets. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 43 
 
 The buffalo. 
 
 Though there is the mod ftriking general refemblance 
 between the Buffalo and our common Ox, both in regard 
 to form and nature, their habits and propenfities being 
 nearly fimilar, are both equally fubmiffive to the yoke, 
 and may be employed in the fame domeftic fervices ; yet 
 it is certain, from experience, that no two animals can, 
 in reality, be more diftinct : The Cow refufes to breed 
 with the Buffalo, while it is known to propagate with 
 the Bifon, to which it bears, in point of form, a much 
 more diftant fimilitude. 
 
 The Buffalo is found, in a wild ftate, in many parts 
 of Africa and India ; and is common in the countries 
 near the Cape of Good Hope, where he is defcribed, 
 by Sparrman, as a fierce, cruel, and treacherous animal. 
 He frequently rufhes from behind a thicket upon fome 
 unwary paffenger ; and, having thrown him down, tram- 
 
44 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 pies him to death with his feet and knees, tearing him 
 ■with his horns and teeth, and licking him with his rough 
 tongue, till the (kin Is nearly ftripped from the body. — 
 The following accurate defcription we owe to the fame 
 author : — The length of the Buffalo, from head to tail, is 
 eight feet ; the height five and a half ; and the fore legs 
 two feet and a half long: From the tip of the muzzle to 
 the horns, twenty-two inches : His limbs, in proportion 
 to his fize, are much ftouter than thofe of the Ox ; his 
 fetlocks likewife hang nearer the ground : The horns are 
 fmgular, both in their form and pofition; the bafes of 
 them are thirteen inches broad, and only an inch diftant 
 from each other, having a narrow channel or furrow be- 
 tween them ; from this furrow, the horns affume a fphe- 
 rical form, extending over a great part of the head ; the 
 diftance between the points is often above five feet : The 
 ears are a foot long, fomewhat pendulous, and in a great 
 meafure covered and defended by the lower edges of the 
 horns, which bend down on each fide, forming a curve 
 upwards with the points : Their hair is of a dark-brown 
 colour, about an inch long, harfh, and, upon thofe males 
 that are advanced in years, ftraggling and thin, efpecially 
 on each fide of the belly, which gives them the appear- 
 ance of being girt with a belt : They frequently roll 
 
 thenifelves in the mire, of which they are very fond : 
 The tail is fliort, and tufted at the end : The eyes are 
 large, and fomewhat funk within their prominent orbits, 
 which are almoft covered with the bafes of the horns 
 overhanging its dangling ears ; this, with a peculiar in- 
 clination of the head to one fide, which is Its ufual man- 
 ner, produces an afpeft at once fierce, cunning, and tre- 
 mendous: The flefh is coarfe, rather lean, but full of 
 juice of a high, but not unpleafant flavour; The hide is 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 45 
 
 thick and tough, and of great ufe in making thongs and 
 harnefs ; it is fo hard, as not to be penetrated by a com- 
 mon muiket-ball ; thofe made ufe of for fhooting the 
 Buffalo, are mixed with tin ; and even thefe are fre- 
 quently flattened by the concuflion. 
 
 In Italy, the Buffalo is domefticated, and conftitutes 
 the riches and food of the poor, who employ them for 
 the purpofes of agriculture, and make butter and cheefc 
 from their milk. 
 
 The female produces but one at a time, and continues 
 pregnant twelve months j — another ftriking chara£terifl;ic 
 difference between the Buffalo and the common Cow. 
 
 The MUSK-BULL 
 
 inhabits the interior parts of North-America, on the 
 weft fide of Hudfon’s Bay, between Churchill and Seal 
 rivers. They are very numerous in thofe parts, and live 
 in herds of twenty or thirty. The Indians eat the flefh, 
 and make coverings of their Ikins. They are brought 
 down in fledges, to fupply the forts during the winter. 
 Notwithftanding the flefh is faid to have a ftrong flavour 
 of mufle, it is reckoned very good and wholefome. 
 
 The Mulk-Bull is fomewhat lower than a Deer, but 
 more bulky. Its legs are ihort ; and it has a fmall hump 
 on its ftioulder: Its hair is of a dufley-red colour, very 
 fine, and fo long, as to reach to the ground : Beneath 
 the hair, its body is covered with wool of an afti colour, 
 which is exquifitely fine, and might be converted into 
 various articles of ufeful manufacture ; — Mr Jeremie 
 fays, that ftockings made of it are finer than filk ; Its 
 tail is only three inches long, and is covered with long 
 
46 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 hairs, of which the Efquimaux Indians make caps ; 
 which are fo contrived, that the long hair, falling round 
 their faces, defends them from the bites of the mufqui- 
 tos: Its horns are clofe at the bafe, and bend down- 
 wards, turning out at the points ; they are two feet long, 
 and two feet round at the bafe •, fome of them will weigh 
 fixty pounds. 
 
 Thefe animals delight chiefly in rocky and mountain- 
 ous countries. They run nimbly, and are very a£tive in 
 climbing fleep afcents. 
 
 HE Sheep, in its prefent domeflic ftate, feems fo 
 
 far removed from a ftate of nature, that it may be 
 
 deemed a difficult matter to point out its origin. Cli- 
 mate, food, and above all, the unwearied arts of cultiva- 
 tion, contribute to render this animal, in a peculiar man- 
 ner, the creature of man; to whom it is obliged to truft 
 entirely for its prote<£lion, and to whofe neceflities it 
 largely contributes. Though Angularly inofienfive, and 
 harmlefs even to a proverb, it does not appear to be that 
 ftupid, inanimate creature, defcribed by BufFon, “ devoid 
 of every neceffary art of felf-prefervation, without cou- 
 rage, and even deprived of every inftincTive faculty, wc 
 are led to conclude, that the Sheep, of all other animals, 
 is the moft contemptible and ftupid:” But amidft thofc 
 numerous flocks which range without controul on exten- 
 live mountains, where they feldom depend upon the aid 
 of the Ihepherd, it will be found to alTumc a very difFe- 
 
 The sheep. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 47 
 
 tent character: In thofe fituatlons, a Ram or a Wedder 
 will boldly attack a fingle Dog, and often comes off vic- 
 torious; but when the danger is more alarming, they 
 have recourfe to the colledled ftrength of the whole flock. 
 On fuch occafions, they draw up into a compaft body, 
 placing the young and the females in the center ; while 
 the males take the foremoft ranks, keeping clofe by each 
 other. Thus an armed front is prefented to all quarters, 
 and cannot eafily be attacked without danger of deftruc- 
 tion to the aflailant. In this manner, they wait with 
 firmnefs the approach of the enemy ; nor does their cou- 
 rage fail them in the moment of attack : For, when the 
 aggreflbr advances within a few yards of the line, the 
 Rams dart upon him with fuch impetuofity, as lays him 
 dead at their feet, unlefs he fave himfelf by flight. A- 
 gainfl: the attacks of fingle Dogs or Foxes, when in this 
 fituation, they are perfedUy fecure. — A Ram, regardlefs 
 of danger, will fometimes engage a Bull ; and his fore- 
 head being much harder than that of any other animal, 
 he feldom fails to conquer: For the Bull, by lowering 
 his head, receives the ftroke of the Ram between his 
 eyes, which ufually brings him to the ground. 
 
 In the feledfion of th'eir food, few animals difcover 
 greater fagacity than the Sheep ; nor does any domeftic 
 animal fhew more dexterity and cunning in its attempts 
 to elude the vigilance of the fhepherd, in order to fleal 
 fuch delicacies as are agreeable to its palate. 
 
 Befides its hardinefs in enduring great feverities of 
 weather, the natural inftindf of the Sheep, in forefeeing 
 the approach of a ftorm, is no lefs remarkable : In their 
 endeavours to fecure themfelves under the fhelter of 
 fome hill, whole flocks have frequently been buried for 
 many days under a covering of fnow, and have after- 
 
48 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 wards been taken out without any material injury. Thu$^ 
 beautifully defcribed by Thomfon : — 
 
 Oft the whirlwind’s wing 
 “ Sweeps up the burthen of whole wintry plains 
 “ At one wide waft; and o’er the haplefs flocks, 
 
 “ Hid in the hollow of two neighbouring hills, 
 
 “ The billowy tempefl whelms. ” ■ ■■ 
 
 There have been inftances, where Sheep, at the ap- 
 proach of a ftorm, have fled for fhelter to a neighbouring 
 cottage, and taken refuge under the fame roof with their 
 fhepherd. 
 
 The variety in this creature is fo great, that fcarcely 
 any two countries produce Sheep of the fame kind ; 
 There is found a manifeft difference in all, either in the 
 fize, the covering, the fliape, or the horns. 
 
 The ’woolly Sheep is found only in Europe, and in the 
 temperate provinces of Afia. When tranfported into 
 warmer climates, it lofes its wool, and becomes hairy 
 and rough : It is likewife lefs fertile ; and its flefh no 
 longer retains the fame flavour. 
 
 No country produces finer Sheep than Great-Britain ; 
 Their fleeces are large, and well adapted to the various 
 purpofes of cloathing. The Spanifh fleeces are indeed 
 finer, but fland in no degree of comparifon with thole of 
 Lincolnfliire or Warwickfhire for weight or utility. — In 
 Edward the Third’s time, when wool was allowed to be 
 exported, it brought 150,000!. per annum, at 2I. los. 
 a pack, which was a great fum in thofe days. At this 
 time, when our woollen manufa£lory ftands unrivalled 
 by any nation in the world, and every method is taken 
 to prevent this valuable commodity from being fent out 
 of the kingdom, the annual value of wool, Ihorn in Eng- 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 49 
 
 land, is fuppofed to be about five millions fterling ; and, 
 when manufatSIured conjointly with the Spanifli wool im- 
 ported, amounting to about fix hundred thoufand pounds, 
 muft be above twenty millions.' 
 
 Like other ruminating animals, the Sheep wants the 
 upper fore teeth : It has eight in the lower jaw ; two of 
 which drop out, and are replaced at two years old; four 
 of them are renewed at three years, and the remainder 
 at the age of four. 
 
 The Ewe produces one or two lambs at a time, and 
 fometimes, though rarely, three or four. She bears her 
 young five months, and brings forth in the fpring *. — 
 The Ram lives to the age of about fifteen years, and be- 
 gins to procreate at one. When caftrated, they are call- 
 ed Wedders. They then grow fooner fat; and the flefii 
 becomes finer and better flavoured. 
 
 There is hardly any part of this animal that Is not fer- 
 vlceable to man : Of the fleece we make our cloaths ; the 
 fkin produces leather, of which are made gloves, parch- 
 ment, and covers for books ; the entrails are formed into 
 firings for fiddles and other mufical infiruments, likewife 
 coverings for whips ; its milk aifords both butter and 
 cheefe ; and its flefh is a delicate and wholefome food. 
 
 The following remarks, taken from Mr Cully’s “ Ob- 
 fervations on Live Stock,” will not be unacceptable to 
 
 * An Ewe, of the fmall black-faced Scotch breed, produced 
 two ewe Iambs before the had compleated her firft year ; and be- 
 fore the end of the fecond year, thefe two produced each of them 
 two lambs alfo. It is a remarkable circumftance, that this great 
 increafe took place in the coldeft and moft mountainous part of 
 Northumberland ; and it is further necelfary to obferve, that this 
 breed of Sheep feldom produces more than one Iamb at a time, 
 and that not till they arc two years of age. 
 
 D 
 
50 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 many of our readers, as they convey a juft idea of fome 
 of the moft noted kinds of Sheep at this time in the 
 ifland. — He begins with thofe of Lincolnfliire, which are 
 of a large fize, big-boned, and afford a greater quantity of 
 wool than any other kind, owing to the rich, fat marflies 
 on which they feed ; but their flefli is coarfe, leaner, and 
 not fo finely flavoured as that of fmaller Sheep. The 
 fame breed extends, with fome variations, through moft 
 
 of the midland counties of England. But the largeft 
 
 breed of Sheep, in this Ifland, Is to be met with on the 
 banks of the Tees, which runs through a rich and fertile 
 country, dividing the two counties of Yorkfhire and Dur- 
 ham. This kind differs from the preceding, in their 
 wool not being fo long and heavy ; their legs are longer, 
 but finer boned, and fupport a thicker, firmer carcafe ; 
 their flefti is llkewife much fatter, and finer grained. 
 Thefe Sheep weigh from twenty-five to forty-five pounds 
 per quarter ; fome have been fed to fifty pounds ; and 
 one in particular was killed, which weighed fixty-two 
 pounds ten ounces per quarter, avoirdupois — a circum- 
 ftance never before heard of in this ifland. The Ewes of 
 this breed generally bring forth two lambs each feafonj 
 fometimes three, four, and even five. As an inftance of 
 extraordinary fecundity, it deferves to be mentioned, that 
 one of thefe Ewes, at the age of two years, brought forth 
 four lambs at one time ; the next feafon five, — both 
 within eleven months. — The Dorfetfhire breed is likewlfe 
 remarkably prolific, the Ewes being capable of bringing 
 forth twice a year. It is from thefe, that the tables of 
 our nobility and gentry are fupplied with early lamb at 
 Chriftmas, or fooner if required. Great numbers of 
 thofe early viftims to luxury are yearly fent to the Lon- 
 don markets, where they are fold at the enormous price 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 51 
 
 of I os. 6d. or perhaps 15 s. per quarter. — The manner 
 of rearing the lambs is curious : They are imprifoned in 
 little dark cabins ; the Ewes are fed with oil-cakes, hay, 
 corn, turnips, cabbages, or any other food which the fea- 
 fon of the year affords ; thefe are given them in a field 
 contiguous to the apartments where the lambs are kept ; 
 and, at proper intervals, the nurfes are brought in to 
 give fuck to their young ones ; while the attendants, at 
 the fame time, make their lodgings perfe£lly clean, and 
 litter them with frefti ftraw. Great attention is paid to 
 this, as much of the fuccefs of rearing thefe unfeafonable 
 produ£tions depends upon warmth and cleanlinefs. 
 
 The Dorfetlhire Sheep are moftly white-faced ; their 
 legs are long and fmall ; and great numbers of them have 
 no wool upon their bellies, which gives them an uncouth 
 appearance. They produce a fmall quantity of wool, 
 but of a good quality; from which our fine Wiltfhire 
 cloths are made. The mutton of thefe Sheep is very 
 fweet and well flavoured. — The variations of this breed 
 are fpread through moll of the fouthern counties ; but 
 the true kind is only to be found in Dorfetlhire and 
 Wiltlhire. — There is a breed, not unlike this, in Nor- 
 folk and Suffolk ; but they are all grey or black-faced. 
 
 D 2 
 
52 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS, 
 
 The Black - faced RAM.' 
 
 The north- weft part of Yorkfliire, with all that moun- 
 tainous traft of country running towards Lancaftiire 
 fouthward, and to Fort Williani northward, is occupied 
 by a hardy, black-faced, wild-looking tribe, generally 
 called J1:ort Sheep, which differ from our other breeds 
 not only in the darknefs of their complexions and horns, 
 but principally in the coarfe fliaggy wool which they 
 produce. Their eyes have a very ftiarp and wild caft. 
 They run with great agility, and feem quite adapted to 
 the heathy mountains they inhabit. Their flefli is pe- 
 culiarly fine and high-flavoured. The three great fairs 
 for thefe Sheep (where amazing numbers of them are 
 fold every year) are, Stagfhawbank, in Northumberland j 
 Brough, in Weftmorland; and Linton, in Scotland. — - 
 There is likewife a breed of Sheep inhabiting the fame 
 country as the former ; but peculiarly diftinguiflied from 
 them by long, thin bodies, white legs, white faces, and 
 by having no horas. Their ■wool is fine, and thickly 
 {)lanted. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 53 
 
 The Sheep in the low parts of Northumberland are of 
 a mixed breed, between the long kind, the Tees water, 
 and the Lincolnflrire. — The mug or muff kind was for- 
 merly common in that county. They were fo called, 
 from their wool growing round their heads into their 
 very eyes, fo as almofl to prevent them from feeing. 
 This breed is now nearly exploded, being confidered, by 
 every breeder of experience, as unprofitable, from their 
 thriving flowly, and being very tender. 
 
 In the northern diftridls of Scotland, and in many of 
 the iflands, there is a breed of Sheep, which differs from 
 the others in the fmallnefs of their fize ; many of them, 
 when fed, weighing no more than fix, feven, or eight 
 pounds per quarter. They have dun faces, without 
 horns ; and their wool, which is very line, is varioufly 
 mixed, and ftreaked with black, brown, and red. 
 
 D 3 
 
54 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Leicestershire Improved Breed. 
 
 To thefe various and numerous tribes of this ufeful 
 animal, we muft add, that, by the perfevering induftry 
 and attention of Mr Bakewell, of Difhley, in Leiceftei'- 
 fliire, our breed of Sheep has been greatly improved ; 
 and he has been followed by many eminent breeders, 
 with nearly equal fuccefs. 
 
 It feems to be generally agreed, that in Sheep, as well 
 as in all other animals, there is a certain fymmetry or 
 proportion of parts, which is beft adapted to the fize of 
 each particular animal : All thofe of each kind that ex- 
 ceed or fall fhort of thfs pitch, are more or lefs dif- 
 proportioned, according to the fize they attain ; and in 
 the degree they are advanced beyond this line of perfec- 
 tion, we find them lefs adlive, weaker, and always lefs 
 able to endure hardflrip. Thus, by feledling the hand- 
 fomeft and beft proportioned of their kinds, the judicious 
 breeder has gradually arrived at a degree of perfedlion in 
 improving this animal, unknown at any former period. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 55 
 
 The fuperior qualities of the Leicefterfhire breed are, 
 that they will feed quickly fat at almoft any age, even on 
 indifferent paftures, and carry the greateft quantity of 
 mutton upon the fmalleft bone. Their carcafes are 
 round, have remarkably broad backs, and fhort legs ; 
 and to fliew the immenfe weight to which they may be 
 fed, we give the meafurement of a Ram of Mr Bake^ 
 well’s, mentioned by Young in his “ EafternTour:” — 
 At three years old, his girt was five feet ten inches 5 
 height, two feet five inches ; breadth over his flioulders, 
 one foot eleven inches and an half; breadth over his ribs, 
 one foot ten inches and an half ; breadth over his hips, 
 one foot nine inches and an half. 
 
 The great importance of this breed of Sheep will bell 
 be Ihewn, by ftating the following fa£i;s refpefting the 
 modern practice of letting out Rams for hire by the fea- 
 fon ; which, from very fmall beginnings, has already 
 rifen to an aftonifhing height; and is likely, for fome 
 time, to prove a copious fource of wealth to the country 
 at large; — About forty years ago, Mr Bakewell let out 
 Rams at fixteen and feventeen {hillings a-piece ; and, 
 from that time, the prices kept gradually rifing from one 
 guinea to ten. But the moll rapid increafe has taken 
 place fince the year 1780. Four hundred guineas have 
 been repeatedly given. Mr Bakewell, in the year 1789, 
 made twelve hundred guineas by three Rams ; two thou- 
 fand of feven ; and, of his whole flock, three thoufand 
 guineas. Aftonifhing as this may appear, it is never- 
 thelefs an undoubted fa£t. But it ought to be obferved, 
 that thefe great prices are not given by graziers, for the 
 purpofe of improving their grazing flock ; but by princi- 
 pal breeders, in order to procure a flock of Rams of the 
 
 D 4 
 
56 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 improved 'breed, which they let out again to breeders of 
 an inferior clafs. The prices given by graziers, for the 
 foie purpofe of getting grazing ftock, feldoni exceed ten 
 guineas, which is confidered as an extraordinary price, 
 five or fix guineas being inofl frequently given. 
 
 This valuable breed has likewife found its way into 
 Northumberland. Mefi. Gulley, of Fenton ; Mr Thomp- 
 fon, of Lilburn ; and Mefl’. Donkin and Co. of Hexham 
 brewery, with great fpirit, and at confiderable expence, 
 have greatly improved their refpeftive breeds of Sheep, 
 by an admiffion of the Dilhley blood. 
 
 A WEDDER OF Mr Gulley’s Breed. 
 
 We are favoured, by Mr Gulley, with the following 
 account of a Wedder of his breed, fed at Fenton, in 
 Northumberland, and killed at Alnwick in Oddober, 
 1787, when four years old: — His dimenfions were as 
 follow, — girt, four feet eight inches and an half ; breadth 
 over his flioulders, one foot three inches ; over his mid- 
 
HISTORY OF qUADRUPEDS. 57 
 
 die, one foot feven inches and a quarter ; acrofs the 
 breaft, from the infide of one fore leg to the infide of 
 the other, nine inches. At the dividing of the quarter^, 
 through the ribs it meafured feven inches and one-eighth 
 of folid fat, cut ftraight through without any dope ; and 
 his mutton was of the moil beautiful bright colour. But 
 in nothing was he fo remarkable, as in the fmallnefs of 
 his bones. — The proprietor of this Sheep laments, that 
 he had not the offals exadlly weighed (by offals, we 
 would be underftood to mean not only the tallow, but 
 the head, pluck, and pelt, with the blood and entrails); 
 becaufe it is now well known, that this breed of Sheep 
 have a greater quantity of mutton, in proportion to the 
 offal, than any other kind we know of, and is confe- 
 quently cheaper to the confumer. 
 
 [The drawing, from which the preceding cut was 
 taken, was made by Mr Bailey, of Chillingham, foon 
 after the Sheep had been fliorn.] 
 
 Before we quit this article, we muft take notice of 
 a breed of Sheep, which have hitherto been but little 
 known or attended to ; although it is probable, they pof- 
 fefs advantages of equal importance with thofe we have 
 juft mentioned ; and, in all likelihood, they might have 
 continued ftill longer in the fame negletfed ftate, but 
 for the endeavours of a fet of men, who, actuated by a 
 truly patriotic zeal, are labouring to draw out the na- 
 tural refources of their country, and fecure, to the moft 
 diftant and long-negle£led parts of this kingdom, thofe 
 permanent advantages, to which they are by their fitua- 
 tion entitled. In purfuing thefe important objects, the 
 Highland Society cf Scotland have difcovered, that the 
 
58 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 Shetland iflands, and fome parts of the Highlands of 
 Scotland, are in pofleffion of a breed of Sheep, which 
 produces wool infinitely fuperior to that of any other in 
 the kingdom, and equal to the Spanifli wool in finenefs 
 and texture. By order of the Society, fpecimens of thefe 
 Sheep have been obtained, for the purpofe of a fair in- 
 veftigation into the nature and quality of their wool i 
 which, upon examination, proves much finer than was 
 at firft imagined. — We are favoured, by Dr James An= 
 derfon, with the following particulars. 
 
 The Shetland SHEEP 
 
 are handfome, fmall, and in general hornlefs; and are 
 peculiarly diftinguiflied by the unufual fhortnefs and 
 fmallnefs of their tails. They weigh, when fat, from 
 eight to ten pounds per quarter. Their fleeces are, on 
 an average, about two pounds weight. The wool, when 
 properly drefled, is of a pure and glofly white : Some 
 fmall fpecimens of it, compared with Vigognia wool, 
 were allowed, by good judges, to be fully as fine ; and, 
 in foftnefs, equal to that of which the Indian fhawls are 
 made. The Sheep producing this fine wool, are faid to 
 be of the hardieft nature : They are never houfed ; and, 
 in the winter feafon, are often fo pinched for food, that 
 they are obliged to feed upon the fea-ware driven upon 
 the fliore. Befides the wool with which they are cover- 
 ed, they have long hairs growing amongft; it, which ferve 
 to flielter it. 
 
 It is a fingular circumftance, that the Shetland Sheep 
 are never fhorn; but, about the beginning of June, the 
 wool is pulled off, without the fmalleft pain or injury to 
 the animal, leaving the long hairs already mentioned, 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 59 
 
 which contribute to keep the creature warm and com- 
 fortable, at a feafon of the year when cold and piercing 
 winds may be expected, in fo northern a latitude. 
 
 From the fpirited meafures which are now taking to 
 preferve this valuable breed *, we are led to hope, that 
 Britifh wool may in time regain that great fuperiority for 
 which it was once fo famous ; and that, by perfeverance 
 and attention to this important obje£l, we may in time 
 be enabled to produce not only as fine wool as can be 
 obtained from any other country, but may alfo, in the 
 fame breed, be able to conjoin with it every other defira- 
 ble peculiarity, — fuch as clofenefs of fleece, beauty and 
 utility of form, hardinefs, a capability of being cafily fat- 
 tened, largenefs of fize, and other valuable qualities, a- 
 dapted to every peculiarity of fituation in thefe iflands. 
 
 * See the Report of the Committee of tli£ Highland Society, 
 on the fubje<ft of wool. 1789. 
 
6o HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The DUNKY, or Dwarf SHEEP, 
 
 another variety of the Sheep kind, deferves to be noticed 
 for the fingular and grotefque formation of its features. 
 The wool, growing round its head, forms a kind of hood 
 or ruff ; before which ftand its fhort ere£f ears : The 
 uncommon protrufion of its under jaw confiderably be- 
 fore the upper, by which the fore teeth are left expofed, 
 and the fhortnefs of the nofe, which lies under its high 
 projecting forehead, altogether give it the appearance of 
 deformity, and make a ftriking contrail to moll animals 
 of the Sheep kind. The Ram, from which the drawing 
 was made, came from abroad, with two Ewes, as a pre- 
 fent to a gentleman in the county of Northumberland. 
 
 They are very fmall, and have no horns In Lincoln- 
 
 Iliire, there Is a fmall kind, mentioned, by Mr Culley, 
 under the name of Dimkies ; which we fuppofe to be the 
 fame with this. 
 
HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 6i 
 
 The Tartarian SHEEP. 
 
 The Sheep, of which the annexed cut is an accurate 
 reprefentation, feeni to be the fame with thofe defcribed, 
 by Mr Pennant, under the name of the fat-ruinped Sheep. 
 A pair of them was brought to this country, by way of 
 Ruffia, from the borders of Tartary. They are rather 
 larger than the Englilh Sheep. The colour of the male 
 is roan, or light-brown mixed with white ; that of the 
 female, black and white: Their ears are pendulous; 
 and, inftead of a tail, they have a large protuberance of 
 fat behind, which covers the rump. When the drawing 
 was made, they had juft been ftiorn ; at other times, the 
 wool is fo long and thick, that their form cannot be well 
 diftinguifhed. 
 
 The fat-rumped Sheep abound in Tartary; and are an- 
 nually fold, in great numbers, into Ruftia. They are ve- 
 ry prolific; and ufually bring forth two at a time, often 
 three. 
 
 The African or Guinea Sheep are found in moll of the 
 tropical climates. They are large, ftrong, and fwift; 
 
62 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS, 
 
 with coarfe hairy fleeces, fliort horns, pendulous earSy 
 have a kind of dew-lap under the chin, and, though do- 
 mefticated, feem to approach nearefl; to a ftate of nature. 
 
 The Many-horned SHEEP. 
 
 The Iceland Sheep, as well as thofe of Mufcovy and 
 the coldeft climates of the North, refemble our own in 
 the form of the body, but differ in the number of their 
 horns, having generally four, and fometimes eight, grow- 
 ing from the forehead. Their wool is long-, fmooth, and 
 hairy: They are of a dark-brown colour: And, under 
 the outward coat of hair, v/hich drops off at ftated pe- 
 riods, there is an internal covering refembling fur, which 
 is fine, fhort, and foft the quantity produced by each 
 Sheep, is about four pounds. 
 
 The broad-tailed Sheep, common in Perfia, Barbary, Sy- 
 ria, and Egypt, are remarkable chiefly for their large and 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 63 
 
 heavy tails, which grow a foot broad, and fo long, that 
 the fhepherds are obliged to put boards with fmall wheels 
 under them, to keep them from galling. The flefh of 
 thefe tails is efteemed a great delicacy: It is of a fub- 
 ftance between fat and marrow, and eaten with the lean 
 of the mutton : They generally weigh from twenty to 
 fifty pounds each. 
 
 The Sheeps bred on the mountains of Thibet, produce 
 wool of extraordinary length and finenefs, of which is 
 made the Indian fhawl, frequently fold in this country 
 for fifty pounds or upwards. 
 
 The Walachian SHEEP. 
 
 In Walachia, they have Sheep with curious fpiral 
 horns. Handing upright, in the form of a fcrew ; long 
 fhaggy fleeces ; and, in fize and form, nearly refembling 
 ours. They are alfo found in the ifland of Crete, and in 
 many of the iflands of the Archipelago. — -This is faid to 
 be the Strepfichem of the ancients. 
 
64 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The MOUFLON, or MUSMON, 
 
 H as been clafTed both with the Sheep and the 
 Goat kind ; and may be confidered as handing 
 in a middle place, and forming the link between each r 
 For it is curious to obferve, that Nature, in all her vari~ 
 ations, proceeds by flow and almoft infenfible degrees, 
 fcarcely drawing a firm and dlfhinguifliing line between 
 any two races of animals that are eflentially different, 
 and yet, in many refpefts, nearly allied to each other. 
 In all tranfitions from one kind to the other, there is to 
 be found a middle race, that feems to partake of the na- 
 ture of both, and that can precifely be referred to nei- 
 ther. Thus it is hard to difeover where the Sheep kind 
 ends, or the Goat begins. — The Mufmon, therefore, 
 which is neither Sheep nor Goat, has a ftrong affinity to 
 both. Though covered with hair, it bears a ftrong fimi- 
 litude to the Ram : Its eyes are placed near the horns | 
 and its ears are ffiorter than thofe of the Goat : Its horns 
 refemble thofe of the Ram, in being of a yellow colour 
 and a triangular fliape ; they likewife bend backward be- 
 
6 ^ 
 
 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 Find the ears : In fome, they grow to an amazing fize, 
 meafuring above two yards long. The general colour of 
 the hair is reddifh-brown j the infide of the thighs and 
 belly white, tindlured with yellow ; the muzzle and in- 
 fide of the ears are of a whitifh colour •, the other parts 
 of the face are of a brownifh-grey. 
 
 The Mufmon is found in the wild and uncultivated 
 parts of Greece, Sardinia, Corfica, and in the defarts of 
 Tartary. 
 
 The form of this animal is ftrong and mufcular; and 
 it runs with great agility. It is very fearful of mankind ; 
 and when old is feldom taken alive. It frequents the 
 higheft fummits of the mountains, and treads fecurely on 
 the moft dangerous precipices. — The old Rams have of- 
 ten furious battles with each other, in which one of the 
 contending parties will fometimes be thrown down from 
 the heights on which they hand, and dallied in pieces 
 at the bottom. If their horns Ihouid by accident entan- 
 gle, they have been known to fall and perillr together. 
 
 The chafe of the Mufmon is attended with great dan- 
 ger. At the fight of a man, they fly to the higheh parts 
 of the rocks, where they cannot eafily be followed. 
 They are fometimes taken in pit-falls. The Tartars pur- 
 fue them with Iiorfes and dogs ; and, furrounding a pret- 
 ty large tradl of land, 4rive them towards the center, 
 where they are caught. 
 
 The Kamtfchatkans pafs the latter part of the fummer, 
 with all their families, among the mountains, in purfuit 
 of thefe animals. — The flelTi and fat of the young Muf- 
 mons are elleemed, by the natives, as moft delicious eat- 
 ing. The fkins ferve them for warm raiments and co- 
 
 E 
 
66 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 verings: The horns are made ufe of for a variety of ufe-> 
 ful purpofes. 
 
 This creature has been known to breed with the 
 Sheep ; and, from that circumftance, is fuppofed, by M. 
 BufFon and others, to be the primitive race. 
 
 The female of this fpecies is rather lefs than the male ; 
 and her horns never grow to that prodigious fize. 
 
 Thofe of Kamtfchatka are fo ftrong, that ten men can 
 fcarcely hold one ; and the horns fo large, that young 
 foxes often flielter themfelves in the hollow of fuch as 
 fall off by accident. They grow to the fize of a young 
 flag, copulate in autumn, and bring forth one young at 
 a time, though fometimes two. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 6? 
 
 The Common GOAT. 
 
 T his lively, playfuI, and capricious creature occu^ 
 pies the next ftep In the great fcale of Nature ; 
 and, though inferior to the Sheep in value, in various 
 inflances bears a llrong affinity to that ufeful animal. 
 The Goat and the Sheep will propagate together : The 
 He-Goat copulates with the Ewe, and the Ram with the 
 She-Goat ; the offspring llkewlfe is prolific. 
 
 The Goat is much more hardy than the Sheep ; and 
 Is, in every refpeft, more fitted for a life of liberty. It 
 is not eafily confined to a flock, but chufes its own paf- 
 ture, ftraying wherever its appetite or inclination leads. 
 It chiefly delights In wild and mountainous regions, 
 climbing the loftiefl; rocks, and Handing fecure on the 
 verge of inacceffible and dangerous precipices j although, 
 as Ray obferves, one would hardly fuppofe that their 
 feet were adapted to fuch perilous achievements; yet, 
 upon a nearer infpedfion, we find that Nature has pro- 
 vided them with hoofs well calculated for the purpofe of 
 
 E 2 
 
68 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 climbing, being made hollow underneath, with fharp’ 
 edges, like the infide of a fpoon, which prevents them 
 from Hiding off the rocky eminences they frequent. 
 
 Tlie Goat is an animal eafdy full'ained, and is chiefly 
 tlierefore the property of thofe who inhabit wild and un- 
 cultivated regions, wliere it finds an ample fupply of 
 food from the fpontaneoas prodinStions of Nature, in fi- 
 tuations inaceeffible to other creatures. It delights ra~ 
 iher in the heathy mountain, or the fhrubby rock, than 
 the fields cultivated by human induftry. Its favourite 
 food is the tops of the boughs, or the tender bark, of 
 young trees. It bears a warm climate better than the 
 Sheep, and frequently fleeps expofed to the hotteft rays 
 of the fun. 
 
 The milk of the Goat is fweet, nouriflring, and medi- 
 cinal, being found highly beneficial in confumptive cafes : 
 It is not fo apt to curdle upon the ftomach as that of the 
 Gow. From the flirubs and heath on which it feeds, the' 
 milk of the Goat acquires a flavour and wdldnefs of tafte 
 very different from that of either the Sheep or Cow, and 
 is highly pleafing to fuch as have accuftomed themfelves 
 to its ufe : It is made into whey for thofe whofe digef- 
 tion is too weak to bear it in its primitive ftate. Several 
 places in the North of England and the mountainous 
 parts of Scotland are much reforted to for the purpofe of 
 drinking the milk of the Goat ; and its effecSls have been 
 often falutary in vitiated and debilitated habits. 
 
 In many parts of Ireland, and in the Highlands of 
 Scotland, their Goats make the chief pofleffions of the 
 inhabitants ; and, in moft of the mountainous parts of 
 Europe, fupply the natives with many of the neceffaries 
 of life : They lie upon beds made of their fkins, which 
 are foftj clean, and wholeforae j they live upon their 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 69 
 
 rnllk, and oat bread ; they convert part of it into butter, 
 and fome into cheefe. The ilefli of the kid is confider- 
 ed as a great rarity ; and, when properly prepared, is 
 cfteemed, by fome, as little inferior to venifon. 
 
 The Goat produces generally two young at a time, 
 fometimes three, rarely four : In warmer climates, it Is 
 more prolific, and produces four or five at once ; though 
 the breed is found to degenerate. The male is capable 
 of propagating at one year old, and the female at feven 
 months ; but the fruits of a genei'ation fo premature are 
 generally weak and defedtive : Their befl time is at the 
 age of two years, or eighteen months at leaft. 
 
 The Goat is a fhort-lived animal, full of ardour, but 
 foon enervated. His appetite for the female is excelGve, 
 fo that one buck is fufficient for one hundred and fifty 
 females. 
 
 E 3 
 
70 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS, 
 
 The ibex, 
 
 if we believe M. BulTon, is the flock from whence our 
 domeftic Goat is defcended, being very fimilar to it in 
 the fhape of its body, but differing confiderably in the 
 fize of its horns, which are much larger ; They are bent 
 backward, and full of knots ; and every year the creature 
 lives, it is allerted, one is added to the number of them. 
 Some of thefe horns have been found at leafh two yards 
 long. — The head of the Ibex is fmall, adorned with a 
 dufky beard ; and has a thick coat of hair of a deep- 
 brown colour, mixed with afh : A ftreak of black runs 
 along the top of its back : The belly and thighs are of a 
 delicate fawn colour. 
 
 The Ibex inhabits the highefl Alps of the Grifons’ 
 country and the Vallais, and is alfo found in Crete. 
 Tiiey are very wild, and difficult to be ffipt; and as they 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 71 
 
 2'lways keep on the higheft points of the rocks, the chafe 
 of them is attended with great danger : Being very 
 
 ftrong, they often turn upon the incautious huntfman, 
 and tumble him down the precipice, unlefs he have time 
 to lie down, and let the animal pafs over him. They 
 bring forth one young at a time, feldom two; and are 
 faid not to be long-lived. 
 
 The CHAMOIS-GOAT. 
 
 The Chamois, though a wild animal, is very eafily 
 «iade tame and docile. It is to be found only in rocky 
 and mountainous places ; is about the fize of the domef- 
 tic Goat, and refembles it in many refpeUs. It is moft 
 agreeably lively, and a£Uve beyond expreffion. — The hair 
 ■is ftiort, like that of the Doe : In fpring, it is of an afli 
 
 jE 4 
 
72 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 colour; in autumn, dun, inclining to black; and in win- 
 ter, of a blackifli-brown. 
 
 This animal is found, in great plenty, in the moun- 
 tains of Dauphiny, Piedmont, Savoy, Switzerland, and 
 Germany. They are very gentle, and live in fociety 
 with each other. They are found in flocks of from four 
 to fourfcore, and even an hundred, difperfed upon the 
 crags of the mountains. The large males are feen feed- 
 ing, detached from the reft ; except in rutting time, 
 when they approach the females, and drive away the 
 young. The time of their coupling is from the begin- 
 ning of Odlober to the end of November ; and they 
 bring forth in March and April. The young keep with 
 the dam for about five months, and fometimes longer, 
 if the hunters and the wolves do not feparate them. It 
 is alTerted, that they live between twenty and thirty 
 years. Their flefli is good to eat ; and they yield ten or 
 twelve pounds of fuet, which far furpafles that of the 
 Goat in hardnefs and goodnefs. 
 
 The Chamois has fcarcely any cry: It has a kind of 
 feeble bleat, by which the parent calls its young : But in 
 cafes of danger, and when it is to warn the reft of the 
 flock, it ufes a hifling noife, which is heard at a great 
 diftance ; For it is to be obferved, that this creature is 
 extremely vigilant, and has an eye remarkably quick and 
 piercing: Its fmell alfo is not lefs diftinguifhing. When 
 it fees its enemy diftindtly, it ftops for a moment ; and 
 then, if the perfon be near, in an inftant flies off. In 
 the fame manner, by its fmell, it can difcover a man at 
 half a league diftance, and gives the earlieft notice. Up- 
 on any alarm, therefore, or any apprehenfions of danger, 
 the Chamois begins his hifling note with fuch force, that 
 the rocks and the forefts re-echo the found. The firft 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 73 
 
 Iilfs continues as long as the time of one refpiration: In 
 the beginning, it is very fliarp, and deeper towards the 
 clofe. The animal having, after this firft alarm, repofed 
 a moment, again looks round ; and, perceiving the reali- 
 ty of its fears, continues to hifs by intervals, until it has 
 fpread the alarm to a very great diftance. During this 
 time, it feems in the moll violent agitation ; it ftrikes the 
 ground with one fore foot, and fometimes with both ; it 
 bounds from rock to rock, turns and looks round, runs 
 to the edge of the precipice, and, Hill perceiving the ene- 
 my, flies with all its fpeed. The hiflTing of the male is 
 much i^uder and fliarper than that of the female : It is 
 performed through the nofe, and is properly no more 
 than a very ftrong breath driven violently through a fmall 
 aperture. 
 
 The Chamois feeds upon the bell herbage, and chufes 
 the mod delicate parts of the plants, the flowers, and the 
 tender buds. It is not lefs delicate with regard to feve- 
 ral aromatic herbs, which grow upon the Tides of the 
 mountains. It drinks very little whilll it feeds upon the 
 fucculent herbage, and chews the cud in the intervals of 
 feeding. 
 
 This animal is greatly admired for the beauty of its 
 eyes, which are round and fparkling, and mark the 
 wai'mth of its conflitution. Its head is furnilhed with 
 two fmall horns of about half a foot long, of a beau- 
 tiful black, rifing from the forehead almoft betwixt the 
 eyes : Thefe, contrary to thofe on almoft all other ani- 
 mals, inftead of going backwards or Tdeways, ftand for- 
 ward, and bend a little backward at their extremities, 
 ending in a very fliarp point. The ears are placed in a 
 very elegant manner, near the horns ; and there are two 
 ftripes of black on each Tde of the face, the reft being 
 
74 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 of a whitifli-yellow, which never changes. The horns 
 of the female are lefs, and not fo much bent : The na- 
 tives have been known to bleed cattle with them. 
 
 Thefe animals are fo much incommoded by heat, that 
 they are never found in fummer, except in the caverns 
 of rocks, amidfh fragments of unmelted ice, under the 
 fliade of high and fpreading trees, or of rough and hang- 
 ing precipices, that face the North, and keep off entirely 
 the rays of the fun. They go to pafture both morning 
 and evening, and feldom during the heat of the day. 
 They run along the rocks with great eafe and feeming 
 indifference, and leap from one to another, fo that no 
 dogs are able to purfue them. Nothing can be more ex- 
 traordinary than the facility with which they climb and 
 defcend precipices, that, to all other quadrupeds, are in- 
 acceffible : They always mount or defcend in an oblique 
 direftion, and throw themfelves down a rock of thirty 
 feet, and light with great fecurity upon fome excrefcence 
 or fragment, on the fide of the precipice, which is juft 
 large enough to place their feet upon : They ftrike the 
 rock, however, in their defcent, with their feet, three or 
 four times, to ftop the velocity of their motion ; and, 
 when they have got upon the bafe below, they at once 
 feem fixed and fecure. In fa£l, to fee them jump in this 
 manner, they feem rather to have wings than legs. Cer- 
 tain it is, that their legs are formed for this arduous em- 
 ployment ; the hind being rather longer than the fore 
 legs, and bending in fuch a manner, that, when they de- 
 fcend upon them, they break the force of the fall. 
 
 During the rigours of winter, the Chamois fleeps In 
 the thicker forefts, and feeds upon the fhrubs and the 
 buds of the pine-tree. 
 
 The hunting the Chamois is very laborious, and exs 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 75 
 
 tremely difficult. The mofl; ufual way is to ffioot them 
 from behind the clefts of the rocks. Some alfo pur- 
 fue them as they do the Stag, by placing proper per- 
 fons at all the paflages of a glade or valley, and then 
 fending in others to roufe the game. Dogs are quite 
 ufelefs in this chafe, as they rather alarm than overtake : 
 Nor is it without danger even to the men ; for it often 
 happens, that, when the animal finds itfelf overprefled, 
 it drives at the hunter with its head, and often tumbles 
 him down an adjoining precipice. — The Chamois cannot 
 go upon ice when fmooth ; but If there be the leaft Ine- 
 qualities on its furface, it then bounds along in fecurity, 
 and quickly evades all purfuit. 
 
 The Ikin of the Chamois was once famous, when tan- 
 ned, for its foftnefs and warmth; At prefent, however, 
 fince the art of tanning has been brought to greater per- 
 fe£Hon, the leather called JJjammoy^ is made alfo from 
 thofe of the tame Goat, the Sheep, and the Deer. 
 
76 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The goat of Angora 
 
 is well known for its long hair, which is thick, gloffy, 
 of a dazzling whitenefs, and fo fine, that cloths as beau- 
 tiful as filk, known among us by the name of camhlets^ 
 are made of it. Its ears are long and pendulous. The 
 male is furnilhed with horns, curioufly twifted, whieh 
 proceed horizontally from each fide of the head, forming 
 a fcrewj thofe of the female are fliorter, and encircle 
 the ear fomewhat like thofe of the common Ram. They 
 inhabit the rocky mountains of Pontus, where they ex- 
 perience a confiderable degree of cold ; and might thrive 
 in Britain as well as in their native country. — The fame 
 might be faid of the Goat of Thibet^ fo famous for the 
 finenefs of its wool. It lives in a climate colder than 
 ours in winter, and might probably be tranfplanted with 
 fuccefs. 
 
 In Portugal, there is a breed of fine large Goats, re- 
 ~ markable for yielding a great quantity of milk, — a gallon. 
 
HISTORY OF qUADRUPEDS. 77 
 
 and a half per day. Thefe, if introduced into our navy, 
 might be of infinite fervice in long voyages. 
 
 Experiments of this kind would certainly be attended 
 with many great advantages ; and it were much to be 
 wifhed, that the great and opulent would employ fome 
 portion of their time and affluence in procuring, from 
 dillant countries, fuch ufeful animals as would propagate 
 in our ifland, and are yet unknown in it. By this 
 means, many of our lofty mountains might contribute 
 to fupport a variety of ufeful creatures, that would, at 
 the fame time, beautify the moft barren and rugged parts 
 of our country. 
 
 
 The Syrian GOAT, 
 
 which M. BufFom makes a variety of the Goat of Angora, 
 differs from ours in nothing more than the length of its 
 ears, which are pendulous, and from one to two feet 
 long: They are often troublefome to the creature In 
 feeding 5 for which reafon, the owners are fometimes 
 
78 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 obliged to cut one of them off. Their horns are fhort 
 and black. — They are very numerous in the neighbour*' 
 hood of Aleppo, and fupply the inhabitants with milk, 
 which they prefer to that of the Cow or the Buffalo. 
 
 Thefe are the principal varieties of the Goat kind ; of 
 which there are others of lefs note ; fuch as the African 
 Goat, or Buck of Juda, which is much fmaller than the 
 domeftic kind, being not much larger than a hare, ex- 
 tremely fat, and its flefh well tailed : The horns are 
 fhort, fmooth, and turn a little forward. It is common 
 in Guinea, Angola, and all along the coafl of Africa. 
 
 In America, there are Goats of a fmall kind, not much 
 larger than a kid, with long hair : The horns, which are 
 fhort and thick, bend downwards fo clofe to the head, 
 as almoft to penetrate the Ikull. Thefe are, in every re- 
 fpe£l, fimilar to the dwarf Goat found in Africa j and, 
 according to Buffon, have been fent from that country. 
 — It is certain, that, before the difcovery of America by 
 the Spaniards, the Goat, and every other domeftic ani- 
 mal, were unknown there. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 79 
 
 The gazelles, or ANTELOPES, 
 
 R E a numerous and beautiful race of animals, 
 
 inhabiting the hotteft parts of the globe. They 
 
 are clafled, by fyftematic writers, with the Goat kind ; 
 and, like them, have hollow horns, which they never 
 call : In other refpe£ls, they greatly referable the Deer ; 
 efpecially in the elegance of their form, and the fwift- 
 nefs of their motions. They are of a reftlefs and timid 
 difpofition, remarkably agile ; and moll of their bound- 
 ings fo light and elallic, as to llrike the fpedlators with 
 aftonifhment. 
 
 Of all animals, the Gazelle has the moll beautiful 
 eye *, to which the eaftern poets have made frequent al- 
 lulions, in defcribing thofe of their favourite beauties. 
 
 The dillinguilhing marks of this tribe of animals, in 
 which they differ both from the Goat and Deer, are 
 principally thefe: — Their horns are different, being an- 
 nulated or ringed round, and at the fame time marked 
 with longitudinal depreffions or furrows, running from 
 the bafe to the point : Befides the extreme beauty and 
 meeknefs of its afpedl, the Gazelle is more delicately and 
 finely limbed than the Roe-buck ; its hair is finer and 
 more gloffy : Its fwiftnefs is fo great, that the Grey- 
 hound, the fleeteft of Dogs, is unequal to the courfe ; 
 and the fportfman is obliged to call in the aid of the Fal- 
 con, which, being trained to the work, feizes on the 
 animal, and impedes its motion, fo as to enable the Dogs 
 to overtake it. In India and Perlia, a fort of Leopard is 
 fometimes made ufe of in the chafe, which takes its prey 
 by the greatnefs of its fprings ; but flrould he fail in his 
 firft effay, the game efcapes. 
 
8o HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 Some fpecies of the Antelope form herds of two of 
 three thoufand, while otliers keep in fmall troops of five 
 or fix. They for the moft part live in hilly countries, 
 though fome inhabit plains. They often browfe like the 
 Goat, and feed on the tender fhoots of young trees, 
 which give their fleflt an excellent flavour. 
 
 There are many varieties of this animal; fome of them 
 little known or defcribed. — We fitall begin with 
 
 The BLUE- goat, 
 
 whleh Mr Pennant confiders as being next to the Goat, 
 from the length of its hair, and form of its horns. 
 
 The colour of this creature is a fine blue, refembling 
 velvet ; but when dead, it is faid to change to a bluifh- 
 grey : Its belly is white ; and beneath each eye, it has a 
 large white mark : Its tail is feven .inches in length, with 
 long hairs at the end ; Its horns incline backward, form- 
 ing a curve ; three-fourths of their length are decorated 
 with twenty-four rings; the uppermoft quarter is fmooth, 
 and runs tapering to a point. It inhabits the hotteft 
 parts of Africa. — Sparrman deferibes one which he faw 
 at the Cape of Good Hope, and calls it a Blaaw-bsk. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 8i 
 
 The PIED- goat 
 
 is llkewife an inhabitant of the fame country, as well as 
 the plains and woods of Senegal, where large herds o£ 
 them are to be feen. 
 
 This animal is remarkable for having a white band 
 running along each of its fides, eroded by two others 
 from the back to the belly, difpofed fomewhat like a har° 
 nefs, from whence it is called the Harttejfed Antelope: 
 On each fide of the rump, it has three white lines point- 
 ing downward ; its thighs are fpotted with white 5 the 
 colour of the body is a deep-tawny, and beneath each 
 eye there is a white fpotj its horns are ftraight, nine 
 inches long, pointing backward, with two fpiral ribs. 
 Great flocks of them are found in the plains and woods 
 of the country of Poder, in Africa. — It is called, by Mo 
 Buffon, the Guib ; and, by Sparrman, the Bonti-bok, or 
 Spotted Goat. 
 
 F 
 
82 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The W O O D - G O a T. 
 
 We are indebted to the indefatigable labours of Dr 
 Sparrman, for an accurate defcriptlon of this rare animal, 
 which is found in the country about the Cape of Good 
 Hope, and lives chiefly in woods and groves, from 
 whence it derives its name. 
 
 The horns of this animal are black, fomewhat more 
 than ten inches long, and have three fides wreathed In a 
 fpiral dire£lion towards the top ; at the bottom, they are 
 rough, in confequence of a number of wavy rings, which 
 however are not elevated much above the furface ; at the 
 top, they are round, fharp-pointed, and in that part as- 
 fmooth as if they had been polllhed ; their pofition Is al- 
 mofl; in the fame line with the forehead, inclining a little 
 forwards, and, by means of the twift they make, recede 
 from each other towards the middle, where they are 
 three inches and a half diftant; at the bafe, they are 
 only one inch. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 83 
 
 The Wood-Goat is fomewhat more than two feet and 
 a half high, of a dark-brown colour, in fome parts bor- 
 dering upon black : On each cheek-bone there are two 
 large round white fpots ; another, ftill larger, occupies 
 the fore part of the neck, fomewhat below the top of the 
 windpipe ; and feveral fmaller white fpots are fcattered 
 over the haunches : A narrow line of white hair extends 
 from the neck all along the back and tail, but is not eafi- 
 ly diftinguiOied, being hid by the length of the dark- 
 brown hairs on the top of the back, which are three or 
 four inches long, fo as to form a kind of mane : The 
 hair on the head is very flrort and fine ; in other parts of 
 the body, it is longer, refembling that of Goats : Its tail 
 is not more than a finger’s breadth in length, covered 
 with long hairs, which extend down the hind part of the 
 thighs and buttocks ; the legs and feet are {lender ; the 
 fetlock joints are likewife fmall ; the nofe and under lip, 
 which are white, are decorated with black whifkers about 
 an inch long. 
 
 As this creature runs but flowly, it is fometimes 
 caught with dogs. When it finds there is no other re- 
 fource, it boldly puts itfelf into a pofture of defence ; 
 and, when going to butt, kneels down, and in that po- 
 Ction fells its life at a very dear rate, killing and goring 
 fome of the beft and moft fpirited hounds. It carries its 
 head ftraight forward whilft it runs, laying its horns up- 
 on its neck, to prevent their being entangled in the 
 bulhes, which is fometimes the cafe. The female is 
 without horns; and, being lighter than the male, runs 
 more freely through the forefts, and is not fo eafily 
 caught. Her bread is faid to be very plump: But the 
 flefli of this animal is not very tender. 
 
 F 2 
 
84 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The springer. 
 
 The JVhlte-Antekpe, which is fivppofed to be the fame 
 with the Pygcirg, mentioned in the book of Numbers, is 
 an inhabitant of the Cape of Good Hope, where it is 
 called the Spring-bok ; and is to be feen in herds of fe~ 
 veral thoufands, covering the plains as far as the eye can 
 reach. Sparrman fays, that, having fliot at a large herd 
 of them, they formed a line, and immediately made a 
 circular movement, as if to furround him ; but after- 
 wards flew off in different diredlions. 
 
 The height of this beautiful creature is two feet and a 
 half ; and meafures, from the ears to the tail, fomewhat 
 above three feet : The tail is rather lefs than a foot long : 
 The length of the ears, fix inches and a half ; that of the 
 horns, meafuring them along their curvatures, nine 
 inches i and their diftance at the bafe, where they are 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 85 
 
 nearly three inches thick, is one inch; they gradually 
 widen from thence to the diftance of five inches from 
 each other, when they turn inwards, fo that at the tip 
 they are not above three inches and a half afunder; they 
 are of a deep-black colour, annulated above half way up ; 
 toward the top they are quite fmooth, and end in a fharp 
 point. 
 
 The predominant colour of this animal is brown, or a 
 light ruft colour: The breaft, belly, and infide of the 
 limbs, are white ; as is alfo the head, excepting a dark- 
 brown lift, which pafles from each corner of the mouth, 
 over the eyes, to the bafe of the horns : A ftripe of the 
 fame dark colour extends, on each fide, from the fhoul- 
 ders to the haunches, forming a boundary between the 
 fnowy whitenefs of the belly and the rufty colour of the 
 fides: The buttocks are white; and, from the tail half 
 way up the back, is a ftripe of white, bounded on each 
 fide by a dark-brown lift : The tail, at leaft the lower 
 part of it, is not thicker than a goofe-quill; the under 
 fide is quite bare ; towards the tip there are a few dark- 
 brown hairs, from one to two inches and a half long : 
 The ears are of an afh colour, tipt on the edges with 
 fine light-grey hairs : The eye-brows and whilkers are 
 black : The hair in general is fine and fhort ; but the 
 dark line which borders upon the white, confifts of 
 longer hairs, which the animal is able to expand to the 
 breadth of eight or nine inches, particularly on taking a 
 high leap. When purfued, it is no lefs pleafant than cu- 
 rious to fee the whole herd jumping over each other’s 
 heads to a confiderable height : Some of them will take 
 three or four high leaps fuccefllvely. In this fituation, 
 they feem fufpended in the air, looking over their flioul- 
 
 F 3 
 
86 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 ders at their purfuers, and at the fame time fliewing the 
 white part of their backs in a mofl; beautiful manner. 
 
 The Springers are fo extremely fwift, as to require a 
 good Horfe to overtake them ; although they are fome- 
 times bold enough to allow a fportfman, either on foot 
 or on horfeback, to come within gunfliot of them. — 
 Their flefli is very palatable, and has a more juicy and 
 delicate tafte than that of the other Gazelles. 
 
 The elk- antelope 
 
 is likewife an inhabitant of the Cape, as well as the 
 greateft part of India 5 and is one of the larger kinds of 
 Gazelles. It has flraight horns, two feet in length, of a 
 dark-brown colour, marked with two prominent fpiral 
 ribs running near two-thirds of their length, but fmooth 
 tov/ards the ends, which are turned a little inwards : The 
 
HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 87 
 
 forehead is flat, and broad at the top; and has a forelock, 
 ftanding eredf, the whole length of it : Its nofe is fliarp ; 
 and its breafl: is covered with a loOfe Ikin. 
 
 This animal is of an alli colour, inclining a little to- 
 wards blue ; has a thin upright mane, quite black, which 
 extends from the nape of its neck along the top of the 
 back ; and has likewife a tuft of black hair at the end of 
 the tail. 
 
 The Elk-Antelopes live chiefly in plains and vallies ; 
 and, when hunted, always run, if polTible, againft the 
 wind : They are not very fwift ; and being in general 
 fat, efpecially the males, which are always the largefl 
 and fatteft in the herd, are foon tired. The hunter ge- 
 nerally endeavours to get to the windward of the animal, 
 which when he has accomplilhed, he takes an opportu- 
 nity of throwing himfelf from his horfe, and inftantly 
 fhoots the flying game ; At this pradice, the Dutch colo- 
 nifts at the Cape are fo expert, as feldom to fail. Sparr- 
 man fays, there have been many inftances where keen 
 fportfmen, as well for their own pleafure as convenience, 
 have hunted Elk-Antelopes and other Gazelles, for many 
 miles together, from the open plains, and driven them 
 to their own doors, before they thought it worth while 
 to flioot them. 
 
 The female has horns like the male, but fmaller. 
 They are ufed by the Hottentots for tobacco-pipes. 
 
88 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The HART-BEEST 
 
 is the mofl; common of all the larger Gazelles, known 
 in any part of Africa. — The following accurate defcrlp- 
 tion is taken from Sparrman, to whom we are indebted 
 for the bell accounts of fuch of thefe rare animals as are 
 Jo be met with near the Cape : — The height of this ani- 
 mal is fomewhat above four feet; The horns are fron) 
 fix to nine inches long, very ftrong and black, almoll 
 clofe at the bafe, diverging upwards, and at the top 
 bending backwards in an horizontal direction almoll to 
 the tips, which turn a little downwards ; they are em- 
 bofled with about eighteen rings of an irregular form. 
 The general colour of the Hart-beeft is that of cinna- 
 mon ; the front of the head is marked with black, as 
 is likewife the fore part of the legs ; the hind part of 
 the haunch is covered with a wide black ftreak, which 
 reaches down to the knee ; a narrow llripe of black be- 
 gins behind each ear, and runs all along the ridge of the 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 89 
 
 neck ; a dark-brown oval fpot extends over the back, ter- 
 minating juft above the tail, which is flender, fomewhat 
 like that of an Afs, and is covered with ftrong black 
 hairs about fix inches long : There is a pore about an 
 inch below the eye, from which a matter is diftilled, 
 fomewhat like ear-wax, which the Hottentots preferve as 
 a rare and excellent medicine. 
 
 This animal is fuppofed to be the Bubalus of the an- 
 cients ; it is the Cervine Antelope of Mr Pennant, and 
 the Buhale of M. Buffon. 
 
 The hair of the Hart-beeft is very fine ; and its long 
 ears are covered with white hair on the infide : It has 
 only eight teeth in the lower jaw, none in the upper; 
 the legs are rather flender, with fmall fetlocks and hoofs. 
 
 The large head and high forehead, together with the 
 alfinine ears and tail, of the Hart-beeft, render it one of 
 the leaft handfome of the whole tribe of Antelopes. Its 
 pace, when at full fpeed, appears like a heavy gallop ; 
 notwithftanding which, it runs as fall as any of the large 
 Antelopes. When it has once got a-head of its purfuers, 
 it is very apt to turn round, and ftare them full in the 
 face. — Its flefh is fine, rather dry, but of an agreeably 
 high flavour. 
 
 The KOEDOE, or Striped ANTELOPE, 
 
 is a beautiful, tall Gazelle, inhabiting the Cape of Good 
 Hope; has long, flender flianks; is larger, though not fo 
 clumfy, as the Elk-antelope : Its horns are fmooth, twill- 
 ed fpirally, with a prominent edge or rib following the 
 wreaths ; they are three feet nine inches long, of a pale- 
 brown colour, clofe at the bafe, and at the points round 
 and ftiarp. 
 
90 HISTORY OF qUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The colour of this animal is a rufty-brown ; along the 
 ridge of the back there is a white ftripe, mixed with 
 brown; from this are eight or nine white ftripes point- 
 ing downwards; the forehead and the fore part of the 
 nofe are brown; a white ftripe runs from the corner 
 of each eye, and meets juft above the nofe; upon each 
 cheek-bone there are two fmall white fpots ; the inner 
 edges of the ears are covered with white hair, and the 
 upper part of the neck is adorned vvdtli a brown mane, 
 an inch long ; beneath the neck, from the throat to die 
 breaft, are fome long hairs hanging down ; the breaft 
 and belly are grey ; the tail is two feet long, brown a- 
 bove, white beneath, and black at the end. 
 
 The Koedoe, though a tall and /lender animal, is not 
 fo fwift as many of the Gazelle kind, and is ea/ily over- 
 taken by the hounds : On thefe occafions, the males de- 
 fend themfelves with great fpirit with their horns, and 
 will come to clofe quarters with the dogs ; but the fe- 
 males, having no horns, are obliged to depend on their 
 fpeed. 
 
 Another of the larger kind of Gazelles, to be found 
 at the Cape, is 
 
 The GEMSE-BOK; 
 
 which is called, by Mr Pennant, the Egyptian Aritelope ; 
 and, by M. Buffon, the Pafan. — The horns are ftraight, 
 flender, of a black colour, about three feet long, with 
 above twenty rings reaching half way to the points, 
 which are fmooth and taper ; it is of an aflr colour, in- 
 clining to red ; the belly, legs, and face, are white ; a 
 black line extends from the neck to the loins ; the tail is 
 about two feet long, terminated with black hairs. 
 
91 
 
 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 This animal is famous for a concretion in its ftomach 
 or inteftines, called the oriental bezoar^ which was well 
 known in former times for its great virtue in expelling- 
 poifon in the human frame, and was fold at enormous 
 prices ; its value encreafing in proportion to its fize. 
 There was a time, when a ftone of four ounces fold in 
 Europe for above 200I.; at prefent, however, its eftima- 
 tion and price are greatly decreafed. The virtues which 
 ignorance and inexperience attributed to it, are now 
 found no longer to exifl: ; and this once-celebrated medi= 
 cine is now only confumed in countries where the know- 
 ledge of Nature has been but little advanced. — Similar 
 concretions are likewife found in a variety of animals of 
 the Gazelle and Goat kind : Even Apes, Serpents, and 
 Hogs, are faid to have their bezoars. In Ihort, there is 
 fcarcely an animal, except of the carnivorous kind, that 
 does not produce fome of thefe concretions in the fto- 
 mach, inteftines, kidnies, and even the heart. 
 
 Thefe are the principal animals of the Gazelle kind 
 defcribed by Dr Sparrman in his voyage to the Cape of 
 Good Hope. He mentions a variety of others that are 
 yo be met with there, of which he gives us little but 
 their names. 
 
 The REE-BOK 
 
 is a gregarious animal ; two feet in height ; of an afii 
 colour, fomewhat refembling that of a hare, but a little 
 more inclining to red : The belly and anus are white : 
 The tail is fliort : The horns are black and ftraight, very 
 fimilar to thofe of the Gemfe-bok, but barely a foot long, 
 t'^ery taper, and fltarp-pointed j they are ufed by the Hot- 
 
92 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 tentots as awls or bodkins for boring holes in making 
 their (hoes or cloaks. 
 
 The flelh of this animal is dry, and accounted worfe 
 to eat than that of any other Gazelle. 
 
 The RIET-REE-BOK 
 
 is twice as big as the laft-mentioned animal, is mono- 
 gampus (or keeps in pairs) ; it generally lies concealed 
 among the reeds and marfhy places, and refembles the 
 Ree-bok. 
 
 The GRYS-BOK 
 
 is of a greyifh or afh colour ; with large black ears, and 
 a black fpot round the eyes *, ftraight black horns, flender 
 and fharp-pointed, not three inches long, flightly annu- 
 lated at the bafe : Its height is about eighteen inches ; 
 and it is moil elegantly formed : Beneath each eye is a 
 cavity, that contains a ftrong-fcented oily liquor, which 
 fmells fomething like mulk, and, when expofed to the 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 93 
 
 air, becomes hard and black. — It is the Guinea Antelope of 
 Mr Pennant, and the Grimme of M. BufFon. 
 
 The klip-springer 
 
 is of a light-red colour, inclining to yellow, intermixed 
 with black ftreaks j the tips and edges of its ears are 
 black : It runs with great fwiftnefs, and makes large 
 bounds, even on the fteepeft precipices, and in the mod 
 rocky places, where it cannot eafdy be caught with 
 hounds. 
 
 The gnu. 
 
 To thefe we may add the the Hottentot name 
 for a fingular animal, which, with refpedl to its form, 
 is between the Horfe and the Ox. It is about the fize 
 of a common galloway ; the length of it being fomewhat 
 above five feet, and the height rather more than fou-r. 
 
 This animal is of a dark-brown colour; the tail and 
 mane of a light-grey ; the fliag on the chin and bread, 
 
94 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 and the ftiff hairs which hand ereft on the forehead and 
 upper part of the face, are black : The cui'vature of the 
 horns is fingular; and the animal is reprefented in the 
 cut in the attitude of butting, to give an idea of their 
 form and pofition. 
 
 The legs of the Gnu are fmall ; its hair is very fine ; 
 and it has a cavity beneath each eye, like mofl. of the^ 
 Antelope kind. 
 
 The STEEN-BOK 
 
 is found in Senegal, and at the Cape of Good Hope. — - 
 Its whole body is of a pale-red colour ; it is as large as a 
 Roe-buck •, its horns, which do not exceed fix inches in 
 length, are almofl; fmooth, and bend a little forward ; its 
 ears are five inches long ; and it has a white fpot over 
 each eye. — It is called, by Mr Pennant, the Red Antelope; 
 and, by M. Buffon, the Nagor. 
 
 The NANGUER, or SWIFT- ANTELOPE, 
 
 is likewife a native of Africa, and is found in Senegal. — 
 It is three feet and a half in length, and two and a half 
 high; the horns are black and round, eight inches in 
 length, and, what is fingular, bend forward at the points; 
 its general colour is tawny ; belly and thighs white ; it 
 has likewife a white fpot under the neck, is a very hand- 
 fome animal, and eafily tamed ; its fwiftnefs is compared 
 to that of the wind. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 95 
 
 The Common ANTELOPE. 
 
 The Antelope, properly fo called, abounds in Barbary, 
 and in all the northern parts of Africa. — It is fomewhat 
 lefs than the Fallow-deer: Its horns are about fixteen 
 inches long, furrounded with prominent rings almoft to 
 the top, where they are twelve inches diftant from point 
 to point. The horns of the Antelope are remarkable for 
 a beautiful double flexion, which gives them the appear- 
 ance of the lyre of the ancients. The colour of the hair 
 on the back is brown, mixed with red ; the belly and in- 
 fide of the thighs, white ; and the tail fliort. 
 
 The Barbary ANTELOPE 
 
 is likewife common in all the northern part of Africa, 
 in Syria, and Mefopotamia ; and feems to be a variety of 
 the laft-mentioned animal, which it ftrongly refembles; 
 only the two colours on the back are feparated from each 
 
9(5 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 other by a ftrong dufky line on each fide, and on each 
 knee there is a tuft of hair. 
 
 The KEVEL 
 
 is a native of Senegal ; and, in colour and marks, very 
 much refembles the preceding animal. It is about the 
 fize of a fmall Roe-buck; and its horns, inftead of being 
 round, are flatted on their fides, and the rings are more 
 numerous. It lives in great flocks, may be eafily tamed, 
 and is excellent meat. 
 
 The C O R I N 
 
 is flill lefs than the two former anmials : Its horns are 
 very flender, only fix inches long, and almoft fmooth, 
 the annular prominences being fcarcely difcernible ; each 
 fide of its face is marked with a white line, and beneath 
 that a black one ; the upper part of the body is tawny ; 
 the belly and infide of the thighs, white ; a dark line oa 
 each fide forms a feparation between the two colours 
 on the back and belly ; on each knee is a tuft of hair. 
 Some of thefe animals are irregularly fpotted with white. 
 
 The K O B a 
 
 is remarkable for the form of its horns, which are almoft 
 clofe at the bafe, bending out towards the middle, where 
 they form a curve inwards, and again fly off at the 
 points, which bend backward ; they are feventeen inches 
 long, furrounded with fifteen rings j the ends are fnrooth 
 and lharp. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 97 
 
 The CHEVROTAIN and MEMINNA. 
 
 The Chevrotain, or little Guinea Deer, is the fmallell: 
 of all the Antelope kind, the lead of all cloven-footed 
 quadrupeds, and, we may add, the mod beautiful. Its 
 fore legs, at the fmalled part, are not much thicker than 
 a tobacco-pipe j it is not more than feven inches in 
 height, and about twelve from the point of the nofe to 
 the infertion of the tail •, its ears are broad ; and its 
 horns, which are draight, and fcarcely two inches long, 
 are black and fhinirig as jet ; the colour of the hair is a 
 reddifh-brown ; in fome a beautiful yellow, very fliort 
 and gloffy. 
 
 Thefe elegant little creatures are natives of Senegal 
 and the hotted parts of Africa ; they are likewife found 
 in India, and in many of the illands adjoining to that 
 Tad continent. 
 
 In Ceylon, there is an animal of this kind called Me^ 
 minna, which is not larger than a hare, but perfectly re- 
 fembling a fallow-deer. It is of a grey colour ; the Tides 
 and haunches are fpotted and barred with white ; its ears 
 are long and open *, and its tail Ihort. 
 
 G 
 
98 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 None of thefe fmall animals can fubfii!; but in a warm 
 climate. They are fo extremely delicate, that it is with 
 the utmoft dithculty they can be brought alive into Eu- 
 rope, where they foon perifli. They are gentle, familiar, 
 mofl beautifully formed •, and their agility is fuch, that 
 they will bound over a wall twelve feet high. In Gui- 
 nea, they are called Guevei. The female has no horns. 
 
 The Scythian ANTELOPE, or SAIGA, 
 
 is the only one of the fpecies that is to be found in 
 Europe. — The form of its body refembles the domeftic 
 Goat 5 but its horns are thofe of an Antelope, being 
 marked by very prominent rings, with furrows between ; 
 they are a foot long, the ends fmooth, of a pale-yellow 
 colour, almoft tranfparent. 
 
 The male, during winter, is covered with long rough 
 hair, like the He-Goat, and has a ftrong fcent ; the fe- 
 male is fmoother, and without horns. The general co- 
 lour is grey, mixed with yellow ; the under part of the 
 body, white. 
 
 Thefe animals inhabit Poland, Moldavia, about Mount 
 Caucafus and the Cafpian Sea, and Siberia ; are fond of 
 fait, and frequent the places where falt-fprings abound. 
 In the rutting feafon, at the latter end of autumn, great 
 flocks of them, confifting of feveral thoufands, migrate 
 towards the South; and return' in the fpring, in fmaller 
 flocks, to the great northern deferts ; where the females 
 bring forth their young, and rear them. 
 
 The males, the females, and their young, generally 
 feed together; and, when a part of them are refting, 
 others, by an inflindlive kind of caution, are always 
 keeping watch; thefe again are relieved in due time; 
 
HISTORY OF OJJADRUPEDS. 99 
 
 and, in this manner, they alternately reft and keep 
 watch ; frequently preferving themfelves, by this means, 
 from the attacks of men and wild beafts. 
 
 Their common pace is a trot ; but, when they exert 
 their fpeed, they bound like the Roe-buck, and exceed it 
 in fleetnefs. They are fo timid, as to fuffer themfelves 
 to be taken through fear : If once bitten by a dog, they 
 inftantly fall down, and give themfelves up without fur- 
 ther effort to efcape. — When taken young, they are eafily 
 tamed •, but the old ones are fo wild and obflinate, as to 
 refufe all food, whilft in a ftate of captivity. — They are 
 hunted for the fake of their flefh, horns, and Ikins ; the 
 latter are excellent for gloves, belts, &c. The huntfman 
 is extremely cautious in approaching a herd of thefe ani- 
 mals, left they ftiould difcover him by the excellency of 
 their fmell. They are either fhot, or taken by dogs, and 
 fometimes by the black eagle, which is trained for that 
 purpofe. In running, they feem to incline to one fide j 
 and their motion is fo rapid, that their feet feem fcarcely 
 to touch the ground. 
 
 G 2 
 
ISO I-IISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS 
 
 The NYL.GHAU. 
 
 T his animal is a native of the interior parts of In- 
 dia. — It feems to be of a middle nature, between 
 the Cow and the Deer, and carries the appearance of 
 both in its form. In fize, it is as much fmaller than the 
 one, as it is larger than the other : Its body, horns, and 
 tail, are not unlike thofe of a bull *, and the head, neck, 
 and legs, are fimilar to thofe of a deer. The colour, in 
 general, is afh or grey, from a mixture of black hairs 
 and white : All along the ridge or edge of the neck, the 
 hair is blacker, longer, and more eredf, making a fhort, 
 thin, and upright mane, reaching down to the hump. 
 Its horns are feven inches long, fix inches round at the 
 root, tapering by degrees, and terminating in a blunt 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. loi 
 
 point : The ears are large and beautiful, feven inches in 
 length, and fpread to a confiderable breadth ; they are 
 white on the edge and on the in fide, except where two 
 black bands mark the hollow of the ear with a zebra- 
 like variety. The height of this animal at the flioulder 
 is four feet one inch ; beliind the loins, it only meafures 
 four feet. 
 
 The female differs confiderably from the male both in 
 height and thicknefs, being much fmaller; in fliape and 
 colour, very much refembling a deer ; and has no horns. 
 She has four nipples, and is fuppofed to go nine months 
 with young: She commonly has one at a birth, but 
 fometimes two. 
 
 Several of this fpecies were brought to this country in 
 the year 1767, which continued to breed annually for 
 fome years after. — Dr Hunter, who had one of them in 
 his cuftody for fome time, defcribes it as a harmlefs and 
 gentle animal ; that it feemed pleafed with every kind of 
 familiarity, always licked the hand that either ftroaked 
 or fed it, and never once attempted to ufe its horns of- 
 fenfively. It feemed to have much dependence on its or- 
 gans of fmell, and fnuffed keenly whenever any perfon 
 came in fight ; It did fo likewife, when food or drink 
 was brought to it *, and would not tafte the bread which 
 was offered, if the hand that prefented it happened to 
 fmell of turpentine. 
 
 Its manner of fighting is very particular, and is thus 
 defcribed: — Two of the males at Lord Clive’s, being put 
 into an inclofure, were obferved, while they w'ere at 
 fome diftance from each other, to prepare for the attack, 
 by falling down upon their knees : They then fhuffled 
 towards each other, keeping ftill upon their knees ; andp 
 
 G 3 
 
vox HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 at the diftance of a few yards, they made a fpring, and 
 darted againft each other with great force. 
 
 The following anecdote will ferve to fhew, that, durr 
 ing the rutting feafon, thefe animals are fierce and vi- 
 cious, and not to be depended upon ; — A labouring man, 
 ■yvithout knowing that the animal was near him, went up 
 to the outfide of the inclofure ; the Nyl-ghau, with the 
 quicknefs of lightning, darted againft the wood-work 
 with fuch violence, that he broke it to pieces, and broke 
 off one of his horns clofe to the root. The death of the 
 animal, which happened foon after, was fuppofed to be 
 owing to the injury he fuftained by the blow. 
 
 Bernier fays, that it is the favourite amufement of the 
 Mogul emperor to hunt the Nyl-ghau ; and that he kills 
 them in great numbers, and diftributes quarters of them 
 to his omrahs ; which fhews that they are efteemed good 
 and delicious food. 
 
 The Nyl-ghau is frequently brought from the interior 
 parts of Alia, as a rare and valuable prefent to the na- 
 bobs and other great men at our fettlements in India. 
 
 It remains to be confidered, whether this rare animal 
 might not be propagated with fuccefs in this country. 
 That it will breed here, is evident from experience ; and, 
 if it Ihould prove docile enough to be eafily trained to la- 
 bour, its great fwiftnefs and confiderable ftrength might 
 be applied to the moft valuable purpofes. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 103 
 
 The musk, 
 
 HERE have been various accounts given of this 
 
 animal by naturalifts and travellers; by whom it 
 
 feems to have been taken notice of more for the perfume 
 which it produces, than for the information of the cu- 
 rious enquirer into its nature and qualities: For we are 
 ftill at a lofs what rank to affign it among the various 
 tribes of quadrupeds. — It has no horns; and whether it 
 ruminates or not, is uncertain: But, by its wanting the 
 fore teeth in the upper jaw, we are led to fuppofe that 
 it belongs either to the Goat or the Deer kind ; and have 
 therefore given it a place after the Gazelles, relying up- 
 on thofe charadleriftic marks which are known, and leav- 
 ing it to thofe naturalifts who may be pofiefled of better 
 means of information, to afcertain its genuine charafter. 
 
 The Mulk of Thibet refembles the Roe-buck in form. 
 It is fomewhat above two feet in height at the Ihoulder ; 
 the hind legs are longer than the fore legs, being two 
 
104 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 feet nine inehes high at the haunches ; in length, it is 
 three feet fix inches from the head to the tail ; the head 
 is above half a foot long : Its upper jaw is much larger 
 than the lower ; and on each fide of it there is a llender 
 tufk, near two inches long, which hangs down, bending 
 inwards like a hook, and very fharp on the inner edge : 
 Its lower jaw contains eight fmall cutting teeth ; and in 
 each jaw there are fix grinders : Its ears are long, fmall, 
 and eredd, like thofe of a rabbit : The hair on the whole 
 body is long and rough, marked with fmall waves from 
 top to bottom : The colour is a rufty-brown ; under the 
 belly-and tail it is white : On each fide of the lower jaw 
 there is a tuft of thick hair, about an inch long : Its 
 hoofs are deeply cloven, flender, and black j the fpurious 
 hoofs are likewife very long ; Its tail is not more than 
 two inches in length, and hid in the hair. — The ufe it 
 makes of its tulks is not well known : The moll probable 
 is- that of hooking up roots out of the ground, and catch- 
 ing at fmall twigs and branches of trees, upon which it 
 feeds. — The female has no tuflcs, is lefs than the male, 
 and has two fmall teats. 
 
 The Mulk is found in the kingdom of Thibet, in fe- 
 veral of the Chinefe provinces, about the lake Baikal, 
 and near the rivers Jenifea and Argun, from lat. 6 o to 
 45 ; but feldom fo far fouth, except driven by great falls 
 of fnow to feek for food in more temperate climates. — It 
 is naturally a timid animal, and endowed with a quick 
 fenfe of hearing. Its folitary haunts are ufually moun- 
 tains, covered with pines j where it avoids mankind, 
 and, when purfued, flies to the higheft and moll inac- 
 cefTible fummits. 
 
 The perfume produced by this animal, which is fo 
 well known in the falhionable circles, and of late fa 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 105 
 
 much ufed in the pra£lice of phyfic, needs little defcrip- 
 tion. It is found in a bag or tumor, nearly of the fize 
 of a hen’s egg, on the belly of the male only. Thefe 
 bags the hunters cut off, and tie them up for fale ; many 
 thoufands of which are fent over annually to Europe, be- 
 fides what are confumed in different parts of the Eaft. 
 To account for this great confumption, it is fuppofed 
 that the mulk is frequently adulterated and mixed with 
 the blood of the animal. It comes to us from China* 
 Tonquin, Bengal, and Mufcovy; but that of Thibet is 
 reckoned the bell, and fells at a much higher price. 
 
 The flefh of the males, efpecially in the rutting feafon, 
 is much infefted with the flavour of the mulk ; but is* 
 neverthelefs, eaten by the Ruffians and Tartars. 
 
io6 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The giraffe, or CAMELEOPARD. 
 
 T his animal (the exiftence of which has frequent- 
 ly been called in queftion) is a native of the wild 
 and unfrequented defarts of Ethiopia, and other interior 
 parts of Africa ; where it leads a folitary life, far from 
 the habitations of men ; for whofe ufe it is rendered un- 
 fit, by the enormous difproportion of its parts. — It has 
 hitherto been regarded chiefly as an obje£l of curiofity, 
 and may lead us to admire the wonderful productions of 
 that creative Power which has filled the earth with life 
 in fuch a boundlefs variety of forms. 
 
 The height of this extraordinary animal, from the 
 crown of the head to the ground, is feventeen feet; 
 while at the rump it only meafures nine ; the neck alone 
 is feven feet long; and the length, from the extremity 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 107 
 
 of the tail to the end of the nofe, is twenty-two feet: 
 The fore and hind legs are nearly of an equal height; 
 but the ftioulders rife fo high, that its back inclines like 
 the roof of a houfe : Its neck is flender and elegant, a- 
 dorned on the upper fide with a fhort mane : On the 
 higheft part of the head, it has two perpendicular horns, 
 fix inches long, covered wdth hair, and round at the 
 ends, wdiere they are encompaffed with a circle of fliort 
 black hairs *' : On the middle of the forehead, there is a 
 protuberance, about two inches high: Its ears are long; 
 and its eyes large and beautiful. 
 
 The colour of the male is light- grey, Interfperfed with 
 large dark-brown fpots over the whole body ; the fpots 
 on the female are of a pale-yellow colour. 
 
 It is a timid and gentle creature, but not fwift ; from 
 the gi'eat length of its fore legs, it is obliged to divide 
 them to a great diftance when it grazes, which it does 
 with great difficulty; it lives chiefly by browfing on the 
 leaves and tender branches of trees ; it lies on its belly, 
 and has hard protuberances on its breaft and thighs, like 
 the Camel; its tail is fimilar to that of an Ox, with 
 ftrong black hair at the end ; it is cloven-footed, has no 
 teeth in the upper jaw, and is a ruminating animal. — 
 The female has four teats, and is lefs than the male. 
 
 This animal was known to the Romans in early times; 
 and its figure has been handed down to fucceeding ages 
 in fome of their moft celebrated works of fculpture. It 
 tvas exhibited in their games, among other rare and un- 
 common animals; and is finely and juftly defcribed by 
 Oppian. 
 
 * M. Vaillant, who fhot feveral of thefc animals, fays, thaf 
 thefe horns differ from thofe of the Stag or the Ox, in being 
 formed by a continuation of the bone of the ikull. 
 
lo8 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The elk 
 
 I S the largefl; and moft formidable of all the Deer 
 kind. — It is a native of both the old and the new 
 continent, being known in Europe by the name of the 
 Elkf and in America by that of the Moofe-deer . — It is 
 fometimes taken in the forells of Ruffia and Germany 5 
 though it is rarely to be feen, on account of its extreme 
 wildnefs. It likewife inhabits Norway, Sweden, Poland, 
 and Tartary, as far as the North of China. It is com- 
 mon in Canada, and in all the northern parts of Ame- 
 rica. 
 
 The Elk has been varioufly defcribed by naturalifts and 
 travellers: By fome, it is faid to be twelve feet high; 
 whilfl: others, with greater appearance of probability, de- 
 fcribe it as being not much higher than a horfe. It is, 
 however, a matter of doubt to which a greater degree of 
 credibility fhould be given. 
 
 From a variety of Elks’ horns preferved in the cabinets 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 109 
 
 of the curious, fome of which are of a moft enormous 
 iize, there is every reafon to conclude, that the animal 
 which bore them mull have been of a proportionable 
 bulk and ftrength. 
 
 Thofe who fpeak of the gigantic Moofe, fay, their 
 horns are fix feet long, and meafure, from tip to tip, 
 above ten feet : The beams of the horns are fhort ; from 
 which they fpread out into large and broad palms, one 
 fide of which is plain, but on the outfide are feveral 
 fharp fnags or flioots. 
 
 The European Elk grows to the height of feven or 
 eight feet; and in length, from the end of the muzzle 
 to the infertion of the tail, meafures ten feet : The head 
 is two feet long; the neck, on which is a fhort, upright 
 mane, of a light-brown colour, is much fhorter: Its eye 
 is fmall; and, from the lower corner of it, there is a 
 deep flit, common to all the Deer kind, as well as moft 
 of the Gazelles : The ears are upwards of a foot in 
 length, very broad, and fomewhat flouching ; the nof- 
 trils are wide ; and the upper lip, which is fquare, and 
 has a deep furrow in the middle, hangs greatly over the 
 lower, from whence it was imagined by the ancients, 
 that this creature could not graze without going back- 
 ward; The withers are very high, the bind legs much 
 fhorter than the fore legs, and the hoofs deeply cloven: 
 From a fmall excrefcence under the throat, hangs a long 
 tuft of coarfe black hair: The tail is very fliort, duflcy 
 above, and white beneath : The hair is long and rough, 
 like a Bear, and of a hoary-brown colour, not much dif- 
 fering from that of the Afs. 
 
 The pace of the Elk is a high, fhambling trot ; but it 
 goes with great fwiftnefs. — Formerly thefe animals were 
 tnade ufe of in Sweden to draw fledges; but as they 
 
I lO 
 
 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 were frequently acceffary to the efcape of fuch as had 
 been guilty of murders or other great crimes, this ufe of 
 them was prohibited under great penalties. 
 
 In pafling through thick woods, thefe animals carry 
 their heads horizontally, to prevent their horns being en- 
 tangled in the branches. 
 
 The Elks are timid, and inoffenfive ; except when 
 wounded, or during the rutting feafon, when the males 
 become very furious, and at that time will fwim from 
 ifle to ifle in purfuit of the females. They ftrike with 
 both horns and hoofs ; and poflefs fuch agility and 
 ftrength of limbs, that, with a Angle blow of the fore 
 feet, they will kill a wolf or a dog. 
 
 Their flelh is extremely fweet and nourifhing. The 
 Indians fay, they can travel farther after eating heartily 
 of the flefh of the Elk, than any other animal food. 
 Their tongues are excellent ; but the nofe is efteemed 
 the greateft delicacy in all Canada. The Ikin makes ex- 
 cellent bulF leather ; and is ftrong, foft, and light : The 
 Indians make their fnow-lhoes, and likewife form their 
 canoes, with it. The hair on the neck, withers, and 
 hams, of a full-grown Elk, from its great length and 
 elafticity, is well adapted to the purpofe of making ma- 
 trafles and faddles. 
 
 The methods of hunting thefe animals in Canada are 
 curious. The firft, and moll Ample, is, — before the 
 lakes or rivers are frozen, multitudes of the natives af- 
 femble in their canoes, with which they form a vaft cre- 
 feent, each horn touching the ftiore ; whilft another party 
 on the Aiore furround an extenAve tra£l : They are at- 
 tended by dogs, which they let loofe, and prefs towards 
 the water with loud cries. The animals, alarmed by the 
 noife, fly before the hunters, and plunge into the lake. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. in 
 
 where they are killed by the people in the canoes with 
 lances and clubs. — Another method requires a greater 
 degree of preparation and art. The hunters inclofe a 
 large fpace with flakes and branches of trees, forming 
 two Tides of a triangle ; the bottom opens into a fecond 
 inclofure, which is fafl on all Tides : At the opening are 
 hung numbers of fnares, made of the flips of raw hides. 
 They alTemble, as before, in great troops ; and, with all 
 kinds of hideous noifes, drive into the inclofure not 
 only the Moofe, but various other kinds of Deer with 
 W’hich that country abounds. Some, in forcing their 
 way through the narrow pafs, are caught in the fnares 
 by the neck or horns ; whilfl thofe which efcape thefe, 
 meet their fate from the arrows of the hunters, diredled 
 at them from all quarters. — They are likewife frequently 
 killed with the gun. When they are firfl difcovered, 
 they fquat with their hind parts, and make water; at 
 which inftant the fportfman fires : If he mifs, the Moofe 
 fets off in a moft rapid trot, making, like the Rein-deer, 
 a prodigious rattling with its hoofs, and running twenty 
 or thirty miles before it flops or takes the water. The 
 ufual time for this diverfion is in winter. The animal 
 can run with eafe upon the firm furface of the fnow; 
 but the hunters avoid entering on the chafe till the heat 
 of the fun is flrong enough to melt the frozen crufl with 
 which it is covered, and render it fo foft as to impede 
 the flight of the Moofe, which finks up to the fhoulders, 
 flounders, and gets on with great difficulty: The fportf- 
 man purfues in his broad-rackets or fnow-fhoes, and 
 makes a ready prey of the diflreffed animal. 
 
 “ As weak againft the mountain-heaps they pufli 
 
 “ Their beating breall in vain, and piteous bray, 
 
 “ He lays them quiv’ring on th’ enfanguin’d fnows, 
 
 “ And with loud Ihouts rejoicing bears them home.” 
 
II2 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The female is lefs than the male, and has no horns. 
 They are in feafon in the autumn; and bring forth is 
 April, fometimes one, but generally two young ones at 
 a time, which arrive at their full growth in fix years. 
 
 The American ELK, 
 
 of which we here give a faithful portrait from a living 
 one lately brought from the interior parts of America, 
 feems to be a different animal from that generally de- 
 fcribed under the name of the Elk or Moofe-deery to 
 which it has very little refemblance. It feems, indeed, 
 to belong to a diftindl fpecies ; and is probably the Elk 
 or Origttal of Canada and the northern parts of America. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 113 
 
 At the age of five years, the length of this creature 
 was nine feet, from the end of the muzzle to the infer- 
 tion of the tail ; the head and neck being extended in a 
 line with the body : Its height at the fhoulder was four 
 feet fix inches ; length of the head, one foot fix inches ; 
 breadth over the forehead, feven inches ; length of the 
 fore legs, two feet five inches ; length of the neck, two 
 feet fix-, its ears, nine inches-, and tail, three. Its horns, 
 which it had juft flied, are not palma'ted, like thofe of 
 the Moofe ; They are large '; and, when full grown, mea- 
 fure above fix feet, from tip to tip. The antlers are 
 round, and pointed at the ends : The lowermoft antler 
 forms a curve downward over each eye, to which it ap- 
 pears a defence. Its hair was long, of a dark dun colour 
 on the back and fides; on the head and legs, dark-brown: 
 Its eyes full and lively -, and below each there is a deep 
 flit, about two inches in length, the ufe of which we are 
 unable to difcover. 
 
 It was very lively and a£Hve ; of great ftrength of bo= 
 dy and limbs: Its hoofs Ihort, and like thofe of a calf; 
 the divifion between them is lefs than in thofe of the 
 Rein-deer ; and, when the animal is in motion, they do 
 not make a rattling noife. It has no mane ; but the hair 
 under its neck is longer than that on any other part of 
 the body. 
 
 We were told by the owner of this very rare and beau- 
 tiful animal, that it does not attain its full growth till 
 twenty years old, and that it Iheds its horns every third 
 year. 
 
 H 
 
II4 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The REIN-DEER. 
 
 This extraordinary animal is a native of the Icy re- 
 gions of the North ; where, by a wife and bountiful dif- 
 penfation, which diffufes the common goods of Nature 
 over every part of the habitable globe, it abounds, and is 
 made fubfervient to the wants of a hardy race of men in- 
 habiting the countries near the pole, who would find it 
 impolfible to fubfift among their fnowy mountains with- 
 out the aid of this moft ufeful creature. 
 
 In more temperate regions, men are indebted to the 
 unbounded liberality of Nature for a great variety of va- 
 luable creatures to ferve, to nourilh, and to cloath them. 
 To the poor Laplander, the Rein-deer alone fupplies the 
 place of the Horfe, the Cow, the Sheep, the Goat, &c. ; 
 and from it he derives the only comforts that tend to 
 foften the feverity of his fituation in that moft inhofpita- 
 ble climate. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 115 
 
 The Rein-deer of Lapland are of two kinds, — the wild 
 and the tame : The former are larger, ftronger, and more 
 hardy than the latter; for which reafon, the tame fe- 
 males, in the proper feafon, are often fent out into the 
 woods, where they meet with wild males, and return 
 home impregnated by them. The breed from this mix- 
 ture is ftronger, and better adapted for drawing the 
 fledge, to which the Laplanders aecuftom them at an 
 
 The sledge. 
 
 early age. They are yoked to it by a collar; from which 
 a trace is brought under the belly between the legs, and 
 faftened to the fore part of the fledge. Thefe carriages 
 are extremely light, and covered at the bottom with the 
 flcin of the Rein-deer. The perfon who fits in it guides 
 the animal with a cord faftened to its horns; he drives it 
 with a goad, and encourages it with his voice. Thofe of 
 the wild breed, though by far the ftrongeft, often prove 
 refra£l:ory ; and not only refufe to obey their mafter, but 
 turn againft him, and ftrike fo furioufly with their feet, 
 that his only refource is to cover himfelf with his fledge, 
 upon which the enraged creature vents its fury; The 
 
 H 2 
 
ii6 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 tame Deer, on the contrary, is patient, aftive, and wil- 
 ling. — When hard puflied, the Rein-deer will trot the 
 diftance of fixty miles without Hopping; but, in fuch ex- 
 ertions, the poor obedient creature fatigues itfelf fo ex- 
 ceedingly, that its mafter is frequently obliged to kill it 
 immediately, to prevent a lingering death that would en- 
 fue. In general, they can go about thirty miles without 
 Hopping ; and that wdthout any great or dangerous effort. 
 
 ■ — This mode of travelling can be performed only in the 
 winter feafon, when the face of the country is covered 
 with fnow •, and, although the conveyance is fpeedy, it 
 is inconvenient, dangerous, and troublefome. ^ 
 
 As the Rein-deer conHitutes the foie riches of the 
 Laplander, it may well be fuppofed, that a conHant at- 
 te/ition to preferve and fecure it, forms the chief employ- 
 ment of his life. It is no uncommon thing, for one per- 
 fon to poffefs above five hundred in a fingle herd. 
 
 As foon as fummer appears, which forms but a fhort 
 interval from the moH piercing cold, the Laplander, who 
 had fed his Rein-deer upon the lower grounds during the 
 winter, drives them up to the mountains, leaving the 
 woody country and the low paHures, which at that fea- 
 fon are in a Hate truly deplorable. Myriads of infe£ls, 
 bred by the heat of the fun in the woods and fens with 
 which this country abounds, are all upon the wing ; thc- 
 whole atmofphere fwarms with life ; every place and eve- 
 ry creature is infeHed ; the natives are obliged to cover 
 their faces with a mixture of pitch and milk, to fhield 
 them from thefe minute invaders, which are drawn in 
 with the breath, and enter the noHrils, and even the 
 eyes: But they are chiefly inimical to the Rein-deer: 
 The horns of that animal being then tender, and covered 
 with a fldn, which renders them extremely fenfitive, a 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 117 
 
 cloud of thefe infefts fettle upon them, and drive the 
 poor animal almofl; to diftraftion. In this extremity, 
 there is no refource but flight. The herdfmen drive 
 their flocks from the plains to the fummits of the moun- 
 tains, whither the foe cannot follow them : There they 
 will continue the whole day, with little or no food, ra- 
 ther than venture down into the lower parts, where they 
 have no defence againfl their unceafing perfecutors. 
 
 Bcfides the gnat, the gadfly is a common peft to the 
 Rein-deer. In the autumn, this infe£l depofits its eggs 
 in their fldn •, where the worms burrow, and often prove 
 fatal to them. The moment a Angle fly is feen, the 
 whole herd is in motion : They know their enemy, and 
 endeavour to avoid it, by tolling up their heads, and run- 
 ning among each other; but all this too often proves in- 
 effe£lual. 
 
 Every morning and evening during the fummer, the 
 herdfman returns to the cottage with his Deer to be 
 milked ; where a large lire of mofs is prepared, for the 
 purpofe of filling the place with fmoke, to drive off the 
 
 gnats, and keep the Deer quiet whilft milking. The 
 
 quantity of milk given by one female in a day, is about a 
 pint. It is thinner than that of a cow, but fweeter and 
 more nourifliing. 
 
 The female begins to breed at the age of two years, is 
 in feafon the latter end of September, goes with young 
 eight months, and generally brings forth two at a time. 
 The fondnefs of the dam for her young is very re- 
 markable. They follow her two or three years, but do 
 not acquire their full llrength until four. It is at this 
 age that they are trained to labour; and they continue 
 ferviceable four or live years. They never live above fif» 
 
 H 3 
 
ii8 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 teen or fixteen years. — At eight or nine years old, the 
 Laplanders kill them for their fkins and their flefli. Of 
 the former they make garments, which are warm, and 
 cover them from head to foot : They alfo ferve them for 
 beds ; they fpread them on each fide of the fire upon 
 the leaves of trees, and in this manner lie both foft and 
 warm. The latter affords a conftant fupply of good and 
 wholefome food, which, in the winter, when other kinds 
 of provifions fail, is their chief fubfiftence. The tongue 
 of the Rein-deer is confidered as a great delicacy ; and 
 when dried, great numbers of them are fold into other 
 countries. The finews ferve for thread, with which the 
 Laplanders make their cloaths, flioes, and other necef- 
 faries; and, when covered with the hair, ferve them for 
 ropes. 
 
 Innumerable are the ufes, the comforts, and advan- 
 tages, which the poor inhabitants of this dreary climate 
 derive from this animal. We cannot fum them up bet- 
 ter, than in the beautiful language of the poet:- — r 
 
 “ Their Rein-deer form their riches ; Thefe their tents, 
 
 “ Their robes, their beds, and all their homely wealth, 
 
 “ Supply, their wholefome fare, and chearful cups: 
 
 “ Obfequious at their call, the docile tribe 
 “ Yield to the fled their necks, and whirl them fwifc 
 “ O’er hill and dale, heap’d into one expanfe 
 “ Of marbled fnow, as far as eye can fweep, 
 
 “ With a blue cruft of ice unbounded glaz’d. ” 
 
 The horns of the Rein-deer are large and flender, 
 bending forward ; with brow antlers, which are broad 
 and palmated. A pair in our polfeffion are in length 
 two feet eight inches, and from tip to tip two feet five ; 
 they weigh nine pounds : The projefting brow antler is 
 fourteen inches long, one foot broad, and ferrated at the 
 fnd : It Ihould feem, both from its fituation and form, 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 119 
 
 an excellent inftrument to remove the fnow, under which 
 its favourite roofs lies. Both fexes have horns: Thofe 
 of the female are lefs, and have fewer branches. 
 
 We are happy in being able to give an accurate repre- 
 fentation of this fingular creature. The drawing was 
 taken from one in the polfelTion of Sir H. G. Liddell, 
 Bart. •, which he brought over from Lapland, with four 
 others, in 1786. The height at the fhoulder was three 
 feet three inches : The hair on the body was of a dark- 
 brown colour ; and on the neck, brown, mixed with 
 white : A large tuft of hair, of a dirty-white colour, 
 hung down from the throat, near its bread *, and it had 
 a large white fpot on the infide of each hind leg, clofe 
 by the joint; Its head was long and fine; and round 
 each eye was a large black fpace : Its horns w'ere covered 
 with a fine down, like velvet. The hoofs of this animal 
 are large, broad, and deeply cloven : They fpread out to 
 a great breadth on the ground ; and, when the animal is 
 in motion, make a crackling noife, by being drawm up 
 forcibly together. 
 
 Not many attempts have been made to draw the Rein- 
 deer from its native mountains, and tranfport it to mild- 
 er climes; and of thefe, few have fucceeded. Natural- 
 ids from thence have concluded, that it cannot exid but 
 amidd ice and fnow. M. BufFon regrets the impodlbi- 
 lity of procuring the animal alive ; and fays, that when 
 tranfported to another climate it foon dies. M. Regnard 
 mentions fome that were brought to Dantzick ; where, 
 being unable to endure the heat of the climate, they all 
 peridied. Queen Chridina of Sweden procured five and 
 twenty, which fhe purpofed fending to Oliver Cromwell : 
 They were brought as far as Stockholm ; but the Lap- 
 landers who attended them refufing to come to England* 
 
 H 4 
 
120 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 fifteen of the number were killed by the wolves, and the 
 remaining ten did not long furvive, the climate being 
 confidered as too warm. 
 
 To thofe brought over by Sir H. G. Liddell, five more 
 were added the year following. They produced young 
 ones, and gave promiling hopes of thriving in this coun- 
 try: But, unfortunately, fome of them were killed; and 
 the others died, in confequence of a diforder fimilar to 
 that called the rot in Sheep, which was attributed to the 
 richnefs of the grafs whereon they fed. Nor can we 
 wonder at the failure of this fpirited enterprize, when 
 we confider, that it is the foie employment of the Lap- 
 lander to tend and herd his Rein-deer, to drive them in 
 the fummer time to the fummits of the mountains, to the 
 fides of clear lakes and dreams, and to lead them where 
 they can find the mod proper food. Want of knowledge 
 or attention to minute particulars, is fufiicient to over- 
 turn the bed-laid plans. 
 
 There is, however, little doubt but this animal will 
 live without the Lapland lichen; to which, perhaps, it 
 only hath recourfe, becaufe there is in thofe latitudes no 
 other fudenance during the winter. It is alfo, in Eng- 
 land, free from its mortal enemy — the gadfly. But as 
 the defire of pofleding this animal has hitherto been ex- 
 cited only by curiofity, it is not likely that much atten- 
 tion will be paid to it in a country like this, abounding 
 with fuch variety of ufeful quadrupeds. 
 
 The Rein-deer is wild in America, where it is called 
 the Caribou . — It is found in Spitzbergen and Greenland ; 
 and is very common in the mod northern parts of Eu- 
 rope, and in Afia as far as Kamtfchatka, where fome of 
 the riched of the natives keep herds of t?ji or twenty 
 thoufand in number. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 121 
 
 In the neighbourhood of Hudfon’s Bay, there are great 
 herds of wild Rein-deer: Columns of many thoufands 
 annually pafs from North to South in the months of 
 March and April. In that feafon, the mulkatoes are ve- 
 ry troublefome, and oblige them to quit the woods, and 
 feek refrefliment on the fhore and open country. — Great 
 numbers of beafts of prey follow the herds. The wolves 
 fingle out the ftragglers, detach them from the flock, and 
 hunt them down : The foxes attend at a diftance, to 
 pick up the offals left by the former. — In autumn, the 
 Deer, with the fawns bred during the fummer, remigrate 
 northward. 
 
122 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The stag, or RED-DEER, 
 
 is the moil beautiful animal of the Deer kind. The ele- 
 gance of his form, the lightnefs of his motions, the flex- 
 ibility of his limbs, his bold, branching horns, which are 
 annually renewed, his grandeur, ftrength, and fwiftnefs, 
 give him a decided pre-eminence over every other inha- 
 bitant of the foreft. 
 
 The age of the Stag is known by its horns. The firfl: 
 year exhibits only a fhort protuberance, which is covered 
 with a hairy Ikin ; the next year, the horns are ftraight 
 and Angle ; the third year produces two antlers, the 
 fourth three, the fifth four} and, when arrived at the 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 123 
 
 Exth year, the antlers amount to fix or feven on each 
 fide; but the number is not always certain. 
 
 The Stag begins to flied his horns the latter end of 
 February, or the beginning of March. Soon after the 
 old horn is fallen off, a foft tumour begins to appear, 
 which is foon covered with a down like velvet : This tu- 
 mour every day buds forth, like the graft of a tree ; and, 
 rifing by degrees, fhoots out the antlers on each fide : 
 The Ikin continues to cover it for fome time, and is fur- 
 nilhed with blood-vefiels, which fupply the growing 
 horns with nourilhment, and occafion the furrows ob- 
 fervable in them when <-’ at covering is ftript off: The 
 imprelTion is deeper at the bottom, where the veflels are 
 larger ; and diminifiies towards the point, where they are 
 fmooth. When the horns are at their full growth, they 
 acquire ftrength and folidity ; and the velvet covering or 
 fkin, with its blood-vefiels, dries up, and begins to fall 
 off ; which the animal endeavours to haften, by rubbing 
 them againfl; the trees ; and, in this manner, the whole 
 head gradually acquires its compleat hardnefs, expanfion, 
 and beauty. 
 
 Soon after the Stags have poliflied their horns, which 
 is not compleated till July or Auguft, they quit the 
 thickets, and return to the forefts : They cry with a 
 loud and tremulous note ; and fiy from place to place, 
 in fearch of the females, with extreme ardour; Their 
 necks fwell : They ftrike with their horns againfl; trees 
 and other obftacles, and become extremely furious. — At 
 this feafon, when two Stags meet, their contefts arc 
 often defperate, and terminate in the defeat or flight of 
 one of them ; while the other remains in pofiefiion of his 
 miftrefs and the field, till another rival approaches, that 
 he is alfo obliged to attack and repel.— During this time, 
 
124 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 which ufually lads about three weeks, the Stag is fre- 
 quently feen by the fides of rivers and pools of water, 
 where he can quench his third, as well as cool his ar- 
 dour. — He fwims with great eafe and drength ; and, it 
 is faid, will even venture out to fea, allured by the 
 Hinds, and fwim from one ifland to another, though at 
 a confiderable didance. 
 
 The Hinds go with young eight months and a few 
 days; and feldom produce more than one young, called 
 a Fawn . — They bring forth in May, or the beginning of 
 June ; and conceal their young with great care in the 
 mod obfcure retreats. They will even expofe themfelves 
 to the fury of the hounds, and fuffer all the terrors of 
 the chafe, in order to draw off the dogs from their 
 hiding place. The Hind is alfo very bold in the protec- 
 tion of her offspring, and defends it with great courage 
 againd her numerous and rapacious enemies : The Wild 
 Cat, the Dog, and even the Wolf, are frequently obliged 
 to give way to her upon thefe occafions. But what ap- 
 pears to be drangely unnatural, the Stag himfelf is fre- 
 quently one of her mod dangerous foes ; and would de- 
 ftroy the fawn, if not prevented by the maternal care of- 
 the Hind, which carefully conceals the place of its re- 
 treat. 
 
 The calf never quits the dam during the whole fum- 
 mer ; and in winter, the Stags and Hinds of all ages 
 keep together in herds, which are more or lefs numerous, 
 according to the mildnefs or rigour of the feafon. They 
 feparate in the fpring : The Hinds retire, to bring forth ; 
 while none but the young ones remain together. 
 
 Stags are gregarious, and fond of grazing in company : 
 It is danger or neceflity alone that feparates them. 
 
 The ufual colour of the Stag, in England, is red; in 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 125 
 
 other countries, it is generally brown or yellow. His 
 eye is peculiarly beautiful, foft, and fparkling: His hear- 
 ing is quick *, and his fenfe of fmelling acute. When 
 liftening, he raifes his head, erefls his ears, and feems 
 attentive to every noife, which he can hear at a great 
 diftance. When he approaches a thicket, he flops to 
 look round him on all Tides, and attentively furveys every 
 obje£l near him : If the cunning animal perceive nothing 
 to alarm him, he moves flowly forward; but, on the 
 leafl appearance of danger, he flies ofF with the rapidity 
 of the wind. He appears to liflen with great tranquillity 
 and delight to the found of the fhepherd’s pipe, which 
 is fometimes made ufe of to allure the poor animal to its 
 deftru£lion. 
 
 The Stag eats flowly, and is nice in the choice of his 
 paflure. When his flomach is full, he lies down to 
 chew the cud at leifure. This, however, feems to be 
 attended with greater exertions than in the Ox or the 
 Sheep ; for the grafs is not returned from the firfl fto- 
 mach without violent flraining, owing to the great length 
 of his neck, and the narrownefs of the paffage. This ef- 
 fort is made by a kind of hiccup, v/hich continues during 
 the time of his ruminating. 
 
 The voice of the Stag is flronger and more quivering 
 as he advances in age : In the rutting feafon, it is even 
 terrible. That of the Hind is not fo loud ; and is fel- 
 dom heard, but when excited by apprehenfion for herfelf 
 or her young. 
 
 The Stag has been faid to be an uncommonly long- 
 lived animal ; but later obfervations have fully confuted 
 this unfounded opinion. It is a generally received max- 
 im, that animals live feven times the number of years 
 that bring them to perfeilion : Thus the Stag, being five 
 
126 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 or fix years in arriving at maturity, lives feven times that 
 number, or from thirty-five to forty years. 
 
 The following faft, recorded in hiftory, will ferve to 
 fhew, that the Stag is pofiefled of an extraordinary fhare 
 of courage, when his perfonal fafety is concerned: — 
 Some years ago, William, Duke of Cumberland, caufed 
 a Tiger and a Stag to be inclofed in the fame area; and 
 the Stag made fo bold a defence, that the Tiger was at 
 length obliged to give up. 
 
 The hunting of the Stag has been held, in all ages, 
 a diverfion of the noblefl kind ; and former times bear 
 witnefs of the great exploits performed on thefe occa- 
 fions. In our ifland, large trafts of land were fet apart 
 for this purpofe ; villages and facred edifices were wan- 
 tonly thrown down, and converted into one wide wafte, 
 that the tyrant of the day might have room to purfue his 
 favourite diverfion. In the time of William Rufus and 
 Henry the Firft, it was lefs criminal to deftroy one of the 
 human fpecies than a beaft of chafe. Happily for us, 
 thefe wide-extended fcenes of defolation and opprelBon 
 have been gradually contracted ; ufeful arts, agriculture, 
 and commerce, have extenfively fpread themfelves over 
 the naked land ; and thefe fuperior beafts of the chafe 
 have given way to other animals more ufeful to the com- 
 munity. 
 
 In the prefent cultivated ftate of this country, there- 
 fore, the Stag is almofl; unknown in its wild ftate. The 
 few that remain are kept in parks among the Fallow- 
 deer, and diftinguiflied by the name of Red Deer . — Its 
 vicioufnefs during the rutting feafon, and the badnefs of 
 its flefh, which is poor and ill-flavoured, have occafioned 
 almoft the extinCUon of the fpecies. — Some few are yet 
 to be found in the forefts that border on Cornwall and 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 127 
 
 Devonfliire, on moft of the large mountains of Ireland, 
 and in the Highlands of Scotland, where Dr Johnfon 
 defcribes them as not exceeding the Fallow-deer in fize, 
 and their flefh of equal flavour. 
 
 The Red Deer of this kingdom are nearly of the fame 
 fize and colour, without much variety ; In other parts of 
 the world, they differ in form and fize, as well as in 
 their horns and the colour of their bodies. 
 
 The Corsican STAG 
 
 is very fmall, not exceeding half the height of ours ; his 
 body is fhort and thick, his hair of a dark-brown colour, 
 and his legs fhort. 
 
128 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The axis, or Ganges STAG, 
 
 is an inhabitant of thofe iminenfe plains of India, wa- 
 tered by the river Ganges. — M. BulFon confiders it as a 
 variety or fhade between the Stag and the Fallow-deer. 
 It is of the fize of the latter; but its horns are round, 
 like thofe of the Stag ; and it has no brow antlers. Its 
 whole body is marked with white fpots, elegantly dif- 
 pofed, and dlftindf from each other; the belly, infide of 
 the thighs, and legs, are white ; along the back there 
 are two rows of fpots, parallel to each other; thofe on 
 the other parts of the body are irregular ; the head and 
 neck are grey ; and the tail, which is red above, and 
 white beneath, is as long as that of the Fallow'-deer. 
 
 The continent of America abounds with Stags, and 
 other animals of the Deer kind, in great variety. In 
 fome parts of that vaft country, the inhabitants have 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS, 129 
 
 domefticated them, and live chiefly upon the milk and 
 cheefe with which they fupply them. 
 
 Thus we find, that the fame animal, which in fome 
 parts contributes only to the amufement of man, may in 
 others be brought to fupply his necelTities. The (lores of 
 Nature are various and abundant : It is necelfity alone 
 that draws them out to fupply our wants, and contribute 
 to our comfortSi 
 
 The FALLOW-DEER. 
 
 The principal difference between the Stag and the 
 Fallow-deer, feems to be in their fize, and in. the form 
 of their horiis, — the latter being much fmaller than the 
 former ; and its horns, inflead of being round, like thofe 
 of the Stag, are broad, palmated at the ends, and better 
 
 I 
 
?3o HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 garnifiied with antlers : The tail is alfo much longer 
 than that of the Stag, and its hair is brighter; in other 
 refpe£Is they nearly refemble each other. 
 
 The horns of the Fallow-deer are fhed annually, like 
 thofe of the Stag ; but they fall off later, and are renew- 
 ed nearly at the fame time. — -Their rutting feafon arrives 
 fifteen days or three weeks after that of the Stag. The 
 males then bellow frequently, but with a low and inter- 
 rupted voice. They are not fo furious at this feafon as 
 the Stag, nor exhauft themfelves by any uncommon ar- 
 dour. They never leave their pafture in quefl; of the fe- 
 males ; but generally fight with each other, till one buck 
 becomes mafter of the field. 
 
 They affociate in herds, which fometimes divide into 
 two parties, and maintain obftinate battles for the poffef- 
 fion of fome favourite part of the park : Each party has 
 its leader, which is always the oldeft and ftrongeft of the 
 flock. They attack in regular order of battle ; they fight 
 with courage, and mutually fupport each other ; they re- 
 tire, they rally, and feldom give up after one defeat : 
 The combat is frequently renewed for feveral days to- 
 gether ; till, after feveral defeats, the weaker party is 
 obliged to give way, and leave the conquerors in poffef- 
 fion of the objedl of their contention. 
 
 The Fallow-deer is eafily tamed, feeds upon a variety 
 of things which the Stag refufes, and preferves its condi- 
 tion nearly the fame through the whole year, although 
 its flefli is efteemed much finer at particular feafons. 
 
 They are capable of procreation in their fecond year ; 
 and, like the Stag, are fond of variety. — The female goes 
 with young eight months ; and produces one, fometimes 
 two, and rarely three, at a time. — They arrive at perfec- 
 tion at the age of three years> and live till about twenty. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 131 
 
 We have, in England, two varieties of the Fallow-deer, 
 ■which are faid to be of foreign origin : The beautiful 
 fpotted kind, fuppofed to have been brought from Ben- 
 gal ; and the deep-brown fort, now common in this 
 country. Thefe laft were introduced by King James the 
 Firft, out of Norway *, where having obferved their har- 
 dinefs in bearing the cold of that fevere climate, he 
 brought fome of them into Scotland, and from thence 
 tranfported them into his chafes of Enfield and Epping. 
 Since that time they have multiplied exceedingly in ma- 
 ny parts of this kingdom, which is now become famous 
 for venifon of fuperior fatnefs and flavour to that of any 
 other country in the world. 
 
 The Fallow-deer, with fome variation, is found in al- 
 moft every country of Europe. Thofe of Spain are as 
 large as Stags, but darker; their necks are alfo more 
 flender ; and their tails, which are longer than thofe oT 
 ours, are black above, and white beneath. 
 
 In Guiana, (a country of South-America) according to 
 Labat, there are Deer without horns, fmaller than thofe 
 of Europe, but refembling them in every other particular. 
 They are very lively, light, and excelTively timid ; of a 
 reddifli colour ; with fharp, piercing eyes, and fliort tails. 
 When purfued, they fly into places of difficult accefs. 
 The natives frequently Hand and watch for them in nar- 
 row paths; and, as foon as the game appears within 
 reach, flioot them unperceived. Their flefli is confidered 
 ^s a great delicacy. 
 
132 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The ROE- buck 
 
 was formerly common in many parts of England and 
 Wales; but at prefent is only to be found in the High- 
 lands of Scotland, 
 
 The Roe is the fmalleft of all the Deer kind, being 
 only three feet four inches long, and fomewhat more 
 than two feet in height : The horns are from eight to 
 nine inches long, upright, round, and divided into three 
 branches ; the body is covered with long hair ; the lower 
 part of each hair is afh colour, near the end is a narrow 
 bar of black, and the point is yellow ; the hairs on the 
 face are black, tipped with alh colour ; the ears are long, 
 their infides of a pale-yellow, and covered with long 
 hair; the cheft, belly, legs, and the infide of the thighs, 
 are of a yellowilh-white *, the rump is of a pure white, 
 and the tail very Ihort. 
 
 The form of the Roe-buck is elegant, and its motions 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 133 
 
 light and eafy. It bounds feemingly without effort, and 
 r4ns with great fwiftnefs. — When hunted, it endeavours 
 to elude its purfuers by the molt fubtle artifices: It re- 
 peatedly returns upon its former fteps, till, by various 
 windings, it has entirely confounded the fcent. The 
 cunning animal then, by a fudden fpring, bounds to one 
 fide ; and, lying clofe down upon its belly, permits the 
 hounds to pafs by, without offering to ftir. 
 
 They do not keep together in herds, like other Deer, 
 but live in feparate families. The fire, the dam, and the 
 young ones, affociate together, and feldom mix w'ith 
 others. 
 
 Their rutting feafon continues but fifteen days, — from 
 the latter end of Odlober till about the middle of No- 
 vember. During this period, they wdll not fuffer the 
 fawns to remain with them : The buck obliges them to 
 retire, in order that the dam and her fucceeding progeny 
 may remain undiflurbed. 
 
 The female goes with young five months and a half; 
 and brings forth about the end of April, or beginning of 
 May. On thefe occalions, fhe feparates from the male, 
 and conceals herfelf in the thickefl; and mofl. retired part 
 of the woods. She generally produces two fawms at a 
 time, fometimes three. In ten or twelve days, thefe are 
 able to follow their dam. When threatened with dan- 
 ger, fire hides them in a thicket; and, to preferve them, 
 offers herfelf to be chafed : But, notwithflanding her 
 care, fhe is frequently robbed of her young. Numbers 
 of fawns are found out and taken alive by the peafants; 
 and many more are worried by dogs, foxes, and other 
 carnivorous animals. By thefe continual depredations, 
 this beautiful creature is daily becoming more fcarce; 
 
 I 3 
 
134 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 and, in many countries, where once It was common, the 
 race is now wholly extln£}:. 
 
 When about eight or nine months old, their horns be~ 
 gin to appear in the form of two knobs : The firfl: year 
 they are without antlers. They flied their horns the lat- 
 ter end of autumn, and renew them in the winter; in 
 which they differ from the Stag, whofe horns fall off in 
 the fpring, and are renewed in fummer. 
 
 The life of the Roe-buck feldom exceeds twelve or fif- 
 teen years. 
 
 They are very delleate in the choice of their food ; 
 and require a large trail: of country, fuited to the wild- 
 nefs of their nature, which can never be thoroughly fub- 
 dued. No arts can teach them to be familiar with their 
 keeper, nor in any degree attached to him. They are 
 eafily terrified ; and, in their attempts to efcape, will run 
 with fuch force again ft the walls of their inclofure, as 
 fometimes to difable themfelves : They are alfo fubjeit 
 to capricious fits of fiercenefs ; and, on thefe occafions, 
 will flrike furioufly with their horns and feet at the ob- 
 jeit of their difllke. 
 
 Some years ago, one of thefe animals, after being 
 hunted out of Scotland, through Cumberland and various 
 parts of the North of England, at lafl took refuge In the 
 woody receffes bordering upon the banks of the Tyne, 
 between Prudhoe Caflle and Wylam. It was repeatedly 
 feen and hunted ; but no dogs were equal to its fpeed : 
 It frequently eroded the river ; and, either by fwiftnefs 
 or artifice, feluded all its purfuers. It happened, during 
 the rigour of a fevere winter, that being purfued, it 
 croffed the river upon the Ice with fome difficulty; and 
 being much ftrained by its violent exertions, was taken 
 alive. It was kept for fome weeks in the houfe, and 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 135 
 
 was then again turned out ; but all its cunning and a£li- 
 vity were gone ; it feemed to have forgotten the places of 
 its former retreat ; and, after running fome time, it laid 
 down in the midft of a brook, where it was killed by the 
 dogs. 
 
 The flefti of the Roe-buck is fine and well-tafted : 
 That of the male, after the age of two years, is hard; 
 the flefh of the females, though farther advanced in 
 years, is more tender: When very young, it is loofe 
 and foft ; but, at the age of eighteen months, is in its 
 higheft ftate of perfection. 
 
 In America, the Roe-buck is much more common 
 than in Europe. — In Louifiana, it is very large. — The in- 
 habitants live chiefly upon its flefh, which is good and 
 well-flavoured. 
 
136 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The camel 
 
 P OSSESSES the various qualities of the Horfe, 
 the Cow, and the Sheep ; and is to the Arabian, 
 in a great meafure, v/hat thofe ufeful creatures are to us. 
 Its milk is rich and nouriOiing; and, being mixed with 
 water, makes a wholefome and refreflring beverage, much 
 ufed by the Arabs in their journies : The fleflr of young 
 Camels Is alfo an excellent and wholefome food. Their 
 hair or fleece, which falls ofl' entirely in the fpring, is fu- 
 perior to that of any other domeftic animal, and is made 
 into very fine fluffs, for cloaths, coverings, tents, and 
 other furniture. 
 
 Poffeffed of his Camel, the Arabian has nothing either 
 to want or to fear : In one day, he can perform a jour- 
 ney of fifty leagues into the defert, where he Is fafe from 
 every enemy: For, without the aid of this ufeful animal, 
 no perfon could purfue him amidll fandy deferts, where 
 nothing prefents itfelf to the eye but one uniform void^ 
 naked and folitary. ' ‘ 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 137 
 
 The Arabian regards the Camel as the moll precious 
 gift of Heaven •, by the afliftance of which he is enabled 
 to fubfift in thofe frightful intervals of Nature, which 
 ferve him for an afylum, and fecure his independence. 
 
 But it is not to the plundering Arab alone, that the 
 fervices of this ufeful quadruped are confined : In Tur- 
 key, Perfia, Barbary, and Egypt, every article of mer- 
 chandife is carried by Camels. Merchants and travellers 
 unite together, and form themfelves into numerous bo- 
 dies, called caravans, to prevent the infults of the Arabs. 
 One of thefe caravans frequently confifts of many thou- 
 fands ; the Camels being always more numerous than 
 the men. Each Camel is loaded in proportion to his 
 ftrength. At the command of their condudfor, they lie 
 down on their belly, with their legs folded under them, 
 and in this pofture receive their burden : As foon as they 
 are loaded, they rife of their own accord, and will not 
 fufFer any greater weight to be impofed upon them than 
 they can bear with eafe ; when overloaded, they fet up 
 the moft piteous cries, till part of the burden be taken 
 off. The common load of a Camel is from three to four 
 hundred weight ; and the medium of the expence of the 
 conveyance for each hundred appears to be about one 
 farthing per mile. The ufual rate of travelling is three 
 miles in the hour ; and the number of hours that are ac- 
 tually employed on the route, exclufive of thofe allotted 
 to refrelhment, is feldom more than feven or eight in a 
 day. Of the number of days which are confumed in a 
 long journey, many are devoted to the purpofes of occa- 
 fional trade, recruiting the ftrength of the Camels, and 
 procuring additional ftores of provifions and water. — A 
 particular mode of eafy conveyance is provided for wo- 
 men and children, and for perfons oppreffed with infir- 
 
138 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 mity or illnefs : Six or eight Camels are yoked together 
 in a row ; and a number of tent poles are placed in pa- 
 rallel lines upon theijr backs; Thefe are covered with 
 carpets ; and bags of corn are fuperadded to bring the 
 floor to a level, as well as to foften the harflmefs of the 
 Camels’ movements : Other carpets are then fpread ; and 
 the travellers fit or He down with the moll perfeft eafe. 
 — The general food of the Camels is fuch only as their 
 nightly pafture affords ; and is frequently confined to the 
 hard and thorny fhrubs of the defert, where a fullen kind 
 of vegetation is created by the rains of the winter, and 
 fuflained by the dew that defcends in copious abundance 
 through all the remainder of the year. 
 
 But the peculiar and diflinguifhing characleriftic of 
 the Camel is, its faculty of abflaining from water for a 
 greater length of time than any other anima. ; for which 
 Nature has made- a wonderful provifion, in giving it, be- 
 fides the four ftomachs which it has in common with 
 other ruminating animals, a fifth bag, ferving as a refer- 
 voir for water, where it remains without corrupting or 
 mixing with the other aliments. When the Camel is 
 prefled with thirft, and has occafion for water to mace- 
 rate its food while ruminating, it makes part of it pafs 
 into its ftomach, by a fimple contradbion of certain muf- 
 cles. By this fingular ftrudbure, it can take a prodigious 
 quantity of water at one draught, and is enabled to pafs 
 feveral days without drinking; Leo Africanus fays fif- 
 teen. — Camels can difcover water by their fmell at half 
 a league’s diftance; and, after a long abftinence, will 
 haften towards it, long before their drivers perceive 
 •where it lies. 
 
 The feet of the Camel are peculiarly adapted to the 
 foil on which he treads. On moift or flippery ground, 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 139 
 
 he cannot well fupport himfelf ; and his broad and ten- 
 der feet are liable to be injured by the refiftance of 
 ftones : But he is obferved to tread with perfect eafe and 
 fecurity on the dry and yielding fand ; and whilft, from 
 its peculiar ftruflure, his hoof is incapable of faftening 
 with any degree of fecurity on the ground of a fteep 
 afcent or flielving declivity, his movements on a fmooth 
 and level furface are fingularly firm and fafe. 
 
 Many attempts have been made to introduce this fer- 
 viceable animal into other countries ; but, as yet, none 
 have fucceeded. The race feems to be confined to cer- 
 tain diftrifls, where its utility has been known for ages. 
 
 Though a native of warm climates, the Camel dreads 
 thofe which are exceffively hot : It can neither fubfift in 
 the burning heat of the torrid zone, nor in the milder air 
 of the temperate. It feems to be an original native of 
 Arabia ; for, in that country, it is not only more nume- 
 rous, but thrives better than in any other part of the 
 world. 
 
 There are two varieties of this animal, which have 
 been diftinguiflied previous to all hiftorical record: That 
 which is called the BaEirian Gamely has two hunches on 
 its back, and is found chiefly in Turkey and the coun- 
 tries of the Levant ; whilft the Arabian Camel has only 
 one hunch. 
 
140 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDSo 
 
 The Arabian CAMEL, or DROMEDARY, 
 
 is common In Arabia and all the northern parts of Afri- 
 ca, from the Mediterranean Sea to the river Niger j and 
 is infinitely more numerous, and more generally diffufed, 
 than the Camel : It is alfo much fwifter, and is therefore 
 generally employed on bufinefs which requires difpatch. 
 
 In Arabia, they are trained for running matches ; and, 
 in many places, for carrying couriers, who can go above 
 a hundred miles a day on them, and that for nine or ten 
 days together, over burning and uninhabitable deferts. 
 They require neither whip nor fpur to quicken their 
 pace; but go freely, if gently treated; and are much en- 
 livened by finging or the found of the pipe, which gives 
 them fpirits to purfue their journey. 
 
 They are mild and gentle at all times, except when 
 they are in heat: At that period, they are feized with a, 
 fort of madnefs ; they eat little, and will fometimes at- 
 tempt to bite their mafters ; fo ^hat it is not fafe to ap- 
 proach them. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 141 
 
 The Camel arrives at its full ftrength at the age of fix 
 yearSj and lives forty or fifty. 
 
 The females are not ufually put to labour, but are al- 
 lowed to pafture and breed at full liberty. Their time 
 of geftation is nearly twelve months ; and they generally 
 bring forth one at a birth. 
 
 The lama 
 
 is the Camel of Peru and Chili ; and, before the con- 
 quefl of thofe countries by the Spaniards, was the only 
 beaft of burden known to the Indians. — Its difpofition is 
 mild, gentle, and traftable. 
 
 Before the introdudtion of Mules, thefe animals were 
 ufed by the natives to plough the land, and now ferve to 
 carry burdens. They march llowly, and feldom accom- 
 plifli journies of more than four or five leagues a day; 
 but what they want in fpeed is made up by perfeverance 
 and induftry. They travel long journies in countries im- 
 paffable to moft other animals ; are very fure-footed ; 
 and are much employed in tranfporting the rich ores, 
 dug out of the mines of Potofi, over the rugged hills and 
 narrow paths of the Andes : Bolivar remarks, that, in 
 his time, three hundred thoufand of them were conftant- 
 ly employed in this work. They lie down to be loaded, 
 and when weary no blows can excite them to quicken 
 their pace. — They neither defend themfelves with their 
 feet nor their teeth. When angry, they have no other 
 method of revenging injuries, but by fpitting. They can 
 throw out their faliva to the diftance of ten paces ; and 
 if it fall on the Ikin it raifes an itehing, accompanied 
 with a flight inflammation. — Their fiefir is eaten, and 
 laid to be as good as mutton. 
 
142 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 Like the Camel, they have the faculty of abftaining 
 long from water (fometimes four or five days); and like 
 that animal’s, their food is coarfe and trifling. They are 
 neither allowed corn nor hay ; green herbage, of which 
 they eat very moderately, being fufficient for their nou- 
 rifhment. 
 
 The wild Lamas, called Guanacos, are ftronger and 
 more active than the domeftic kind. They live in herds, 
 and inhabit the higheft regions of the Cordelieres. They 
 run with great fwiftnefs in places of difficult accefs, 
 where dogs cannot eafily follow them. The mod ufual 
 way of killing them is with the gun. They are hunted 
 for the fake of their fleffi and their hair : Of the latter 
 the Indians make cloth. 
 
 The Lama refembles the Camel in the form of its bo- 
 dy, but is without the dorfal hunch : Its head is fmall 
 and well ffiaped ; its neck long, and very protuberant 
 near its junction with the body: In its domeftic ftate, 
 its hair is fhort and fmooth ; when wild, it is coarfe and 
 long, of a yellowiffi colour : A black line runs along the 
 top of the back, from the head to the tail. The tame 
 ones vary in colour : Some of them are white, others 
 black, others of a mixed colour — white, grey, and rulTet, 
 difperfed in fpots. Its tail is fhort : Its ears are four 
 inches long : Its feet are cloven, like thofe of the Ox ; 
 and are armed behind with a fpur, by which the ani- 
 mal is enabled to fupport itfelf on rugged and difficult 
 ground. The height of the Lama is about four feet; 
 and its length, from the neck to the tail, fix feet. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 143 
 
 The PACOS 
 
 very much refembles the Lama in figure, but is much 
 fmaller. Its body is covered with very fine long wool, 
 of the colour of dried rofes, or a dull purple ; the belly 
 is white. — They live in vaft herds, and inhabit the mofl; 
 elevated parts of the higheft mountains, where they en- 
 dure the utmoft rigour of froft and fnow. They are ex- 
 ceedingly fwift ; and fo timid, that it is very difficult to 
 come near them. 
 
 The manner of taking them is fingular. The Indians 
 tie cords, with fmall pieces of wool or cloth hanging 
 from them, acrofs the narrow pafles of the mountains, 
 about three or four feet from the ground : They then 
 drive a herd of thefe animals towards them ; and they 
 are fo terrified by the flutter of the rags, that they dare 
 not pafs, but huddle together, and fufFer themfelves to 
 be killed in great numbers. 
 
 Their wool is a valuable article of commerce ; and is 
 made into gloves, ftockings, bed-cloaths, carpets, See. 
 
 The Pacos are domefticated ; and, like the Lamas, are 
 employed in carrying burdens ; but cannot bear more 
 than from fifty to feventy-five pounds •, and are ftill more 
 fubje£l to capricious fits of obftinacy. When once they 
 lie down with their load, no blows can provoke them to 
 rife. 
 
 The great advantages derived from the wool of thefe 
 creatures, induced the Spaniards to attempt their intro- 
 du£lion into Europe. Some of them were brought over 
 to Spain ; but, by not fufficiently attending to the necef- 
 fity of placing them in fituations fimilar to thofe which 
 they had always been accuftomed to, the experiment 
 proved unfuccefsful. 
 
144 history of quadrupeds. 
 
 The hog Kind. 
 
 N I M A L S of the Hog kind feem to polTefs 
 
 a middle nature, between thofe that live upon 
 
 grafs and fuch as are carnivorous ; and unite in them- 
 felves moft of thofe diftindlions which are peculiar to 
 each clafs. Like the one, they will feed on animal fub- 
 ftances, and do not ruminate •, like the other, they are 
 cloven-hoofed, live chiefly on vegetables, and feldom feek 
 after animal food, except when urged by necelTity. 
 
 which is the original of all the varieties to be found In 
 this creature, is much fmaller than thofe of the domef- 
 tic kind ; and does not, like them, vary in colour, but is 
 uniformly of a brinded or dark-grey, inclining to black. 
 ■ — His fnout is longer than that of the tame Hog ; and 
 his ears are ftiort, round, and black. He is armed with 
 
 The WILD-BOAR, 
 
MISTORY QUADRUPEDS. 145 
 
 formidable tufks in each jaw, which ferve him for the 
 double purpofe of annoying his enemy, ot procuring his 
 food, which is chiefly roots and vegetables: Some of 
 thefe tufks are almoll a foot long ; Thofe in the upper 
 jaw bend upwards in a circular form, and are exceeding- 
 ly fharp at the points; thofe of the under jaw are alway'^s 
 moll to be dreaded ; for with them the animal defends 
 himfelf, and frequently gives mortal wounds. 
 
 Wild-Boars are not gregarious •, but while young, live 
 together in families, and frequently unite their forces 
 againft the wolves, or other beafts of prey. When likely 
 to be attacked, they call to each other with a very loud 
 and fierce note : The ftrongell face the danger, and form 
 themfelves into a ring, the weakeft falling into the cen- 
 ter. In this pofition, few beafts dare venture to engage 
 them ; but leave them to purfue a lefs dangerous chafe<s 
 . — When the Wild-Boar is arrived at a ftate of maturity^ 
 he walks the foreft alone and fearlefs. At that time he 
 dreads no fingle foe ; nor will he turn out of his way 
 even for man himfelf. He offends no animal; at the 
 fame time he is furnilhed with arms which render him a 
 terror to the fierceft. 
 
 The hunting of the Wild-Boar is a dangeroUs but 
 common amufement of the great in thofe countries 
 where it is to be found. The Dogs chiefly ufed for this 
 fport are of a flow and heavy kind. — When the Boar is 
 roufed, he goes flowly forward, not much afraid, nor 
 Very far before his purfuers. Ele frequently turns round, 
 ftops till the hounds come up, and offers to attack them : 
 After keeping each other at bay for a while, the Boar 
 again goes flowly forward, and the Dogs renew the put- 
 fuit. In this manner the chafe is continued till the Boaf 
 
 K 
 
146 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 becomes quite tired, and refufes to go any farther; The 
 Dogs then attempt to clofe in upon him from behind ; 
 and in this attack the young ones, being generally the 
 moft forward, frequently lofe their lives: The old fea- 
 foned Dogs keep the animal at bay until the hunters 
 come up, who kill him with their fpears. 
 
 The Common BOAR 
 
 is, of all other domeftic quadrupeds, the moft filthy and 
 impure. Its form is clumfy and difgufting, and its ap- 
 petite gluttonous and exceffive. — In no inftance has Na- 
 ture more confpicuoufly fliewn her oeconomy than in this 
 race of animals, whofe ftomachs are fitted to receive nu- 
 triment from a variety of things that would be otherwife 
 wafted : The refufe of the field, the garden, the barn, 
 or the kitchen, affords them a luxurious repaft. 
 
 Ufelefs during life, and only valuable when deprived 
 of it, this animal has fometimes been compared to a mi- 
 fer, whofe hoarded treafures are of little value till death 
 has deprived them of their rapacious owner. 
 
HISTORY OF qUADRUPEDS. I47 
 
 The parts of this animal are finely adapted to its mode 
 of living. Nature has given it a form more prone than 
 that of other animals. Its neck is ftrong and brawny; 
 its fnout is long and callous, well calculated for the pur- 
 pofe of turning up the earth for roots of various kinds, 
 of which it is extremely fond ; and it has a quick fenfe 
 of fmelling, by which it is enabled to trace out its food. 
 It is naturally ftupid, ina£Hve, and drowfy ; much in- 
 clined to increafe in fat, which is difpofed in a different 
 manner from that of other animals, and forms a thick 
 and regular coat between the fiefh and the fkin. It is 
 reftlefs at a change of weather ; and during certain high 
 winds is fo agitated, as to run violently, fcreaming hor- 
 ribly at the fame time. It appears to forefee the ap- 
 proach of bad weather, as it previoufly carries ftraw in 
 its mouth to its fty, prepares a bed, and feems endea- 
 vouring to hide itfelf from the impending ftorm. 
 
 Linnaeus obferves, that the fiefh of the Hog is a 
 wholefome food for thofe that ufe much exercife, but 
 bad for fuch as lead a fedentary life. It is of univerfal 
 ufe, and makes in various ways a conftant article in the 
 elegancies of the table. It is of great importance to this 
 country, as a commercial nation ; for it takes fait better 
 than any other kind, and confequently is capable of be- 
 ing preferved longer: It is therefore of great ufe in 
 
 fhips, and makes a principal part of the provifions of the 
 Britilh navy. 
 
 The domefiic Sow brings forth twice a year, and pro- 
 duces from ten to twenty at a litter: She goes four 
 months with young, and brings forth in the fifth. At 
 that time fhe mud be carefully watched, to prevent her 
 from devouring her young ; Still greater attention is ne- 
 
 K 2 
 
148 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 ceffary to keep off the male, as he would deftroy the 
 whole litter. 
 
 The moft numerous breed of Flogs in this illand is 
 that generally known by the name of the Berhjlnre Pigs, 
 now fpread through almofl. every part of England, and 
 fomc parts of Scotland. They are in general of a red- 
 difh-brown colour, with black fpots upon them; have 
 large ears hanging over their eyes ; are fliort-legged, 
 fmall-boned, and are readily made fat. Some of thefe 
 have been fed to an almoft incredible fize. Mr Culley, 
 in his Treatife on Live Stock, gives an account of one 
 that was killed at Congleton in Cheflnre, which mea- 
 fured, from the nofe to the end of the tail, three yards 
 eight inches ; in height, it was four feet and a half ; and 
 weighed, after it was killed, eighty-fix ftones eleven 
 pounds, avoirdupoife. 
 
 The Cliinefe or black breed are now very common in 
 England. They are fmalier, have fliorter legs, and their 
 flefir is whiter and fweeter than the common kind. — Of 
 this fort were thofe found in New Guinea, which proved 
 fo feafonable a relief to our circumnavigators, when that 
 country was firft vifited by them. — There are likewife 
 great numbers of them in the Friendly and Society Ifles, 
 the Marquefas, and many other of the newly-difcovered 
 iflands in the South feas. Thefe are fed with plantains, 
 bread-fruit, and yams ; and are exceedingly fat. They 
 are frequently feen by the natives in their canoes, fwim- 
 ming from one illand to another, and killed by them 
 with lances and arrows. 
 
 The Hog fpecies, though very numerous, and diffufed 
 over Europe, Afia, and Africa, did not exift in Ame- 
 rica, till tranfported thither by the Spaniards. In ma» 
 ray places they have multiplied exceedingly, and becomer 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 149 
 
 wild. They refemble the domeftic Hog; but their bo- 
 dies are fliorter, and their fnout and fkin thicker. 
 
 The African WILD-BOAR, or 
 W O O D - S W I N E, 
 
 lives in a wild, uncultivated ftate, in the hotteft parts of 
 Africa. — It is a very vicious animal, and quick in all its 
 motions. It is as dangerous to attack one of them, as a 
 Lion : For, though much fmaller, it ruilies upon a man 
 as fwift as an arrow ; and throwing him down before he 
 has time to ftrike with his javelin, breaks his legs, and 
 almofl at the fame inftant rips up his belly. 
 
 It has four tulks: Two very large ones proceed from 
 the upper jaw, and turn upwards like a horn — they are 
 nine inches long, and full five inches round at the bafe j 
 the two other tulks, which come from the lower jaw, 
 projetSt but three inches from the mouth. Thefe tulks 
 the animal makes ufe of as the dreadful inftruments of 
 his vengeance. — He will attack a man on horfeback, if 
 
 K3 
 
150 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 he fhould venture to come too near him ; and firfl break- 
 ing the Horfe’s legs, kills both him and his rider. 
 
 Sparrman defcribes it as being of a bright-yellow co- 
 lour, like the domellic kind. Its nofe is broad, flat, and 
 of a horny hardnefs ; its head is very large, in proportion 
 to the fize of its body ; underneath each eye it has a 
 great lobe or wattle, lying almofl; horizontally, broad, 
 flat, rounded at the end, and placed fo as to intercept 
 the view of any thing immediately beneath it ; the ears 
 are large and fliarp-pointed, lined on the iufide with long 
 whitifli hairs ; its tail is flender and flat ; when the ani- 
 mal is purfued, it always holds it quite ere£l. 
 
 They live in holes under ground, the avenues to which 
 are exceedingly narrow. The natives feldom dare attack 
 them in their retreats, as there is always danger of their 
 rufhing out unawares. When purfued with their young 
 ones, it is no uncommon thing to fee them take them up 
 in their mouths, and run with them in that manner at a 
 great rate. 
 
 Fronr the Ihortnefs of their necks, they frequently fall 
 on their knees to feed ; and change this pofture to that 
 of (landing with the greateft eafe. 
 
 The flefli of this animal is good, and very much re- 
 fembles that of the common Hog. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 
 The peccary, or Mexican HOG, 
 
 inhabits the hotteft parts of South-America, where the 
 fpecies is very numerous : Herds, confifting of two or 
 three hundred, are fometimes to be feen together. — It is 
 very fierce ; and will fight ftoutly with beafts of prey, 
 when attacked by them. The Jaguar, or American Leo- 
 pard, is its mortal enemy ; and frequently lofes its life in 
 engaging a number of thefe animals. They aflift each 
 other, furround their enemies, and often come off viddo- 
 rious. 
 
 They live chiefly in mountainous places; and are not 
 fond of wallowing in the mire, like the common Hog. 
 They feed on fruits, roots, and feeds : They likewife eat 
 ferpents, toads, and lizards ; and are very dexterous in 
 firft taking off the fkins with their fore feet and teeth. 
 
 The Peccary in appearance refembles the Hog, though 
 fomewhat fmaller : Its body is covered with ftrong briff 
 ties, which, when the creature is irritated, rife up like 
 the prickles of a hedgehog, and are nearly as ftrong — ■ 
 they are of a dufky colour, with alternate rings of white ^ 
 
 K 4 
 
JS2 HISTORY OF qUADRUPEDS. 
 
 acrofs the flioulclers to the breaft, there is a band of 
 white ; its head is fliort and thick ; it has two tuiks in 
 each jaw; its ears are fmall and eredb ; and inftead of a 
 tail, it has a fmall flefliy protuberance, which does not 
 cover its polleriors. It differs moft efl'entially from the 
 Hog, in having a fmall orifice on the lower part of the 
 back, from whence a thin v;atery humour, of a moll dif- 
 ngreeable fmell, flows very copioufly. In the Philofophi- 
 cal Tranfadtions, Dr Tyfon has defcribed this orifice ve- 
 ry minutely, as well as fome other peculiarities in the 
 conformation of its ftomach and inteftines. 
 
 Like the Hog, the Peccary is very prolific. The 
 young ones, if taken at firft, are eafily tamed, and foon 
 lofe all their natural ferocity ; but can never be brought 
 to difcover any figns of attachment to thofe that feed 
 them. They do no mifchief, and may be allowed to run 
 about at pleafure. They feldom Itray far from home, 
 and return of their own accord. — When angry, they 
 grunt like the Hog, but much ftronger and harflier and 
 when fuddenly alarmed, make a fharp noife with their 
 breath, and ere£f their briftles. 
 
 The flefh of the Peccary, though drier and leaner than 
 that of our Hog, is by no means difagreeable, and may 
 be greatly improved by callration. When killed, the 
 dorfal gland mull be immediately cut off. If this ope- 
 ration be deferred for the fpace of half an hour, the flefh 
 becomes utterly unfit to be eaten. 
 
 Although the European Hog is common in America, 
 and in many parts has become wild, the Peccary has ne- 
 ver been known to breed with it. They frequently go 
 together, and feed in the fame woods ; but hitherto no 
 intermediate breed has been known to arlfe from their 
 intercourfe. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 153 
 
 M. de la Borde defcribes two kinds of this animal,— 
 one fmaller than the other. — He relates, that being one 
 day engaged with fome other in hunting a drove of Pec- 
 caries, they were furrounded by them, and obliged to 
 take refuge upon a piece of rock ; and, notwithllanding 
 they kept up a conftant fire among them, the creatures 
 did not retire till a great number of them were flain. 
 
 The BABIROUSSA, 
 
 chough clafled by naturalifts with the Hog kind, differs 
 from animals of that fpecies in a variety of particulars : 
 Its legs are longer, and its body more flender ; it is co- 
 vered with flrort hair as foft as wool, and of a dark-grey 
 colour, mixed with red ; its ears are fliort and pointed ; 
 its tail is long, tufted at the end, and twifled. Its mofi; 
 diftinguifhing characteriftic confifts in four large tufks, 
 the two ftouteft of which proceed, like thofe of the Wild 
 Boar, from the under jaw, pointing upwards, and Hand- 
 ing near eight Inches out of the fockets-, the two others 
 rife up like horns on the outfide of the upper jaw, juft 
 
154 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 above the nofe, and extend in a curve above the eyes, 
 almofl touching the forehead, and are twelve inches in 
 length. Thefe tufks are of the moll beautiful ivory, but 
 not fo hard as thofe of the Elephant. 
 
 The Babiroufla abounds in feveral of the iflands of the 
 Eaft-Indies ; particularly Buero, a fmall ifle near Am- 
 boyna. 
 
 It is eafily tamed ; and its flelh is well tailed. It lives 
 on leaves of trees and other vegetables. Its fcent is ex- 
 quifite : It can difcover the approach of dogs at a dif- 
 tance. When clofely purfued, it plunges into the fea, 
 fwims and dives with great facility from one ifland to 
 another, and by that means frequently efcapes from its 
 purfuers. 
 
 They live in herds ; and when any number of them 
 are together, their odour is fo ftrong, that the dogs can 
 fcent them at a confiderable diftance. — When attacked, 
 they growl frightfully, and defend themfelves with their 
 under tufks : The upper ones are ferviceable to them in 
 taking their repofe, by hooking them on the branches of 
 trees. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 155 
 
 The Long-nosed TAPIIR 
 
 is the Hippcpotamus of the new world, and has by fome 
 authors been miftaken for that animal. — It inhabits the 
 woods and rivers on the eaftern fide of South-America, 
 from the ifthmus of Darien to the river of the Amazons. 
 — It is a folitary animal, fleeps during the day, and goes 
 out in the night in fearch of food ; lives on grafs, fugar- 
 canes, and fruits. If difturbed, it takes to the water; 
 fwims with great eafe, or plunges to the bottom ; and, 
 like the Hippopotamus, walks there as on dry ground. 
 
 It is about the fize of a fmall Cow : Its nofe is long 
 and flender, and extends far beyond the lower jaw, form- 
 ing a kind of probofcis, which it can contra£I or extend 
 at pleafure ; each jaw is furniflied with ten cutting teeth, 
 and as many grinders ; its ears are fmall and ere£l ; its 
 body formed like that of a Hog; its back arched; legs 
 fhort ; and hoofs, of which it has four upon each foot, 
 fmall, black, and hollow; its tail is very fmall; its hair 
 fhort, and of a dufky-brown colour. 
 
 The Tapiir is mild and inofFenfive, avoids all hoftilities 
 
JS6 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 with other animals, and flies from every appearance of 
 danger. Its Ikin, of which the Indians make bucklers, is, 
 very thick ; and when dried, is fo hard, as to refill the 
 impreffion of an arrow. The natives eat its flefli, which 
 is faid to be very good. 
 
 The rhinoceros. 
 
 We are indebted to the labours of many learned and 
 ingenious naturalifls for accurate defcriptions of this 
 wonderful creature, which in fize is only exceeded by 
 the Elephant, and in ftrength and power is inferior to no 
 other animal. Bontlus fays, that in the bulk of its body 
 it equals the Elephant, but is lower only on account of 
 the flrortnefs of its legs. 
 
 The length of the Rhinoceros, from the extremity of 
 the muzzle to the infertion of the tail, is ufually twelve 
 feet ; and the circumference of its body nearly equal to 
 its length. Its nofe is armed with a formidable weapon, 
 peculiar to this creature, being a very hard and folid 
 horn, with which it defends itfelf from every adverfary. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. I57 
 
 The Tiger will rather attack the Elephant, whofe trunk 
 it can lay hold of, than the Rhinoceros, which it cannot 
 face, without danger of having its bowels torn out. 
 
 The body and limbs of the Rhinoceros are covered 
 with a (kill fo hard and impenetrable, that he fears nei- 
 ther the claws of the Tiger, nor the more formidable 
 probofcis of the Elephant : It will turn the edge of a fci- 
 mitar, and even refill the force of a mulket-ball. The 
 Ikin, which is of a blackifh colour, forms itfelf into large 
 folds at the neck, the Ihoulders, and the crupper, by 
 which the motion of the head and limbs is facilitated ) 
 round the neck, which is very Ihort, are two large folds j 
 there is alfo a fold from the flioulders, which hangs down 
 upon the fore legs ; and another from the hind part of 
 the back to the thighs. The body is every-where cover- 
 ed with fmall tuberofities or knots, which are fmall on 
 the neck and back, but larger on the fides ; The thighs, 
 legs, and even the feet, are full of thefe incruftations, 
 which have been miltaken for fcales by fome authors : 
 They are, however, only fimple indurations of the Ikin, 
 without any uniformity in their figure, or regularity in 
 their pofition. Between the folds, the Ikin is penetrable 
 and delicate, as foft to the touch as filk, and of a light 
 flefh colour : The Ikin of the belly is nearly of the fame 
 colour and confiftency. 
 
 The body of the Rhinoceros is long and thick: Its 
 belly is large, and hangs near the ground ; its legs fhort, 
 round, and very ftrong; and its hoofs are divided into 
 three parts, each pointing forward. The head of this 
 animal is large ; its ears long and efe£t ; and its eyes 
 fmall, funk, and without vivacity ; The upper lip is long, 
 overhangs the lower, and is capable of great extenfion : 
 It is fo pliable, that the Rhinoceros can move it from 
 
158 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 fide to fide, twift it round a (tick, colle£I its food, of 
 feize with it any thing it would carry to its mouth. 
 
 The Rhinoceros, without being ferocious, carnivorous, 
 or even extremely wild, is, however, totally untradfable 
 and rude. It feems to be fubjedf to paroxyfms of fury, 
 which nothing can appeafe. That which Emanuel, king 
 of Portugal, fent to the pope in the year 1513, deftroyed 
 the veflel in which they were tranfporting it. 
 
 Like the Hog, the Rhinoceros is fond of wallowing in 
 the mire. — It is a folitary animal, loves moifl and marfhy 
 grounds, and feldom quits the banks of rivers. — It is 
 found in Bengal, Siam, China, and other countries of 
 Afia ; in the ifles of Java, Sumatra, Ceylon, &c.; in 
 Ethiopia, and the country as low as the Cape of Good 
 Hope: But in general, the fpecies is not numerous, and 
 is much lefs difFufed than that of the Elephant. 
 
 The female produces but one at a time, and at confi- 
 derable intervals. — During the firft month, the young 
 Rhinoceros exceeds not the fize of a large dog. At the 
 age of two years, the horn is not more than an inch 
 long ; at fix years old, it is nine or ten inches long ; and 
 grows to the length of three feet and a half, and fome- 
 times four feet. The horn is much efteemed by the na- 
 tives as an antidote againft poifon, as well as a remedy 
 for particular difeafes. 
 
 The Rhinoceros feeds on the grolTefl; herbs, and pre- 
 fers thiftles and fhrubs to foft or delicate pafturage. It 
 is fond of the fugar-cane, and eats all kinds of grain. 
 
 Dr Parfons remarks, that this animal has an acute and 
 very attentive ear. It will liften with a deep and long- 
 continued attention to any kind of noife; and, though it 
 be eating, lying down, or obeying any preffing demands 
 of Nature, it will raife its head, and liften till the noife 
 ceafe. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 159 
 
 From the peculiar conftru£l:ion of his eyes, the Rhi- 
 noceros can only fee what is immediately before him. 
 When he purfues any objedf, he proceeds always in a 
 dire£l: line, overturning every obftru<fl:ion. With the 
 horn on his nofe, he tears up trees, raifes ftones, and 
 throws them behind him to a confiderable diftance. — His 
 fenfe of fmelling is fo exquifite, that the hunters are 
 obliged to avoid being to windward of him. They fol- 
 low him at a diftance, and watch till he lies down to 
 lleep: They then approach with great precaution, and 
 difcharge their mulkets all at once into the lower part of 
 the belly. 
 
 The Rhinoceros is fuppofed to be the Uttlcorn of holy 
 writ, and polTefles all the properties afcribed to that ani- 
 mal, — rage, untameablenefs, great fwiftnefs, and im- 
 inenfe ftrength. — It was known to the Romans in very 
 early times, and is handed down to us in fome of the 
 works of that celebrated people. Auguftus introduced 
 one into the ftiows, on his triumph over Cleopatra. 
 
 Its flelh is eaten, and much relifhed by the natives of 
 India and Africa. 
 
i6o HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Two-piorned RHINOCEROS. 
 
 We have given the figure of this hitherto undefcribed 
 animal from Mr Sparrman, whofe authenticity there i3 
 every reafon to depend upon, and who has given a moft 
 exaft anatomical defcription of it. Of two that were 
 Allot, he only mentions the fize of the fmaller of them ; 
 which was eleven feet and a half long, feven feet high, 
 and twelve in circumference. Its Ikin was without any 
 folds, and of an afti colour ; excepting about the groin 
 where it was flefli'^coloured : The furface was fcabrous, 
 and knotty, of a clofe texture, and when dry extremely 
 hard. There were no hairs on any part of the body, ex- 
 cept the edges of the ears and the tip of the tail, on 
 which were a few dark briflly hairs, about an inch long. 
 
 The horns are placed one behind the other, in a line 
 with the nofe : The foremoft of them meafures about 
 eighteen inches in length, and is always the larger of the 
 two. They are of a conical fliape, and the tips incline a 
 little backward ; the lower parts are rough, and feem as 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. i6i 
 
 if compofed of horny fibres ; the upper parts are fmootli 
 and plain, like thofe of an Ox, It is remarkable, that 
 the Rhinoceros makes ufe of the fhorter horn only for 
 the purpofe of digging up roots, of which its food chiefly 
 confifts, being endued with the power of turning the 
 larger horn on one fide out of the way. — The feet are 
 round, and do not fpread much : They have three hoofs 
 on each of them, which projedl but little; the middle 
 one is the longeft. 
 
 The eyes of the Rhinoceros are fmall, and funk into 
 its head ; in confequence of which it fees Indiftindtly. 
 But its organs of hearing and fmelling are very acute : 
 At the leaf!; noife, the creature takes the alarm, pricks 
 up its ears, and liftens with great attention : If it happen 
 to catch the fcent of any perfon within a fmall diftance, 
 it rufhes out with aflonifhing rapidity ; and it is diffi'^' 
 cult to avoid the impetuous attack of this powerful ani- 
 mal. 
 
 It has been generally fald of the Rhinoceros, that its 
 tongue is fo hard and rough, as to take away the fldn and 
 flelh wherever it licks any perfon that has unfortunately 
 fallen a vi£lim to its fury. Mr Sparrman fays, however, 
 that he thruft his hand into the mouth of one that had 
 juft been ftiot, and found the tongue perfedlly foft and 
 fmooth. — From the account of its inteftines, given us by 
 the fame ingenious author, we Ihall juft mention the fol- 
 lowing, which will enable our readers to form a more 
 perfedb idea of its enormous bulk : — The ftomach was 
 four feet in length, and two in diameter ; to which was 
 annexed a tube or canal, twenty-eight feet long, and fix 
 inches diameter; the kidnies were a foot and a half in 
 breadth; the heart was a foot and a half long, and near- 
 ly 
 
i 62 history of quadrupeds. 
 
 ly the fame in breadth ; the liver, when meafured frona 
 right to- left, was found to be three feet and a half in 
 breadth, and two feet and a half deep, as it hangs in the 
 animal’s body when in a Handing pofition: It had no 
 gall-bladder, in which it refembles the Horfe. Upon 
 opening the ftomach, the contents of it were found to 
 confift of roots and fmall branches of trees mafticated, 
 fome of which were as big as the end of a man’s finger; 
 in the mafs there appeared a great quantity of fucculent 
 plants, as well as fome that were harfh and prickly : The 
 effluvium arifing from this mafs was fo far from being 
 offenfive, that it diffufed around a very ftrong and not 
 difagreeable aromatic odour. We fliall conclude this ac- 
 count by obferving, that the cavity which contained the 
 brains was fmall, being only fix inches long, and four 
 high, and of an oval fhape ; Being filled \Vith peafe, it 
 was found to contain barely one quart ; a human Ikull, 
 meafured at the fame time, did not require much lefs 
 than three pints to fill it. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 163 
 
 The hippopotamus. 
 
 The great difficulties that have always attended a com- 
 plete inveftigation of this huge animal, have arifen as 
 well from the remotenefs of its fituation, as from its pe- 
 culiar habits and difpofition. 
 
 Though the Hippopotamus has been celebrated from 
 the remoteft antiquity ; though the facred writings men- 
 tion him under the name of Behemoth ; and though his fi- 
 gui'e is to be feen engraven on Egyptian obelifks, and on 
 Roman medals ; yet his hiftory was very imperfedtly 
 known to the ancients. Ariftotle fays, that he has a 
 mane like a Horfe, and hoofs like an Ox j tufks and tail 
 like a Boar; that he is of the fize of an Afs, and has the 
 voice of a Horfe ; with other things equally abfurd ; — all 
 which Pliny has copied ; and, inftead of correcting, has 
 added to the number of his errors. — Of the accounts of 
 later writers, it is much to be lamented that fuitable de- 
 lineations have not accompanied their accurate defcrip- 
 tions— A general defeCt, by which the ftudy of nature 
 
 L 2 
 
1^4 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 has been much retarded, tire laborious refearches of ma-* 
 ny learned and ingenious naturalifts greatly fruftrated, 
 and the errors of former times repeatedly copied and 
 multiplied without number. 
 
 The fize of the Hippopotamus is nearly equal to that 
 of the Elephant. M. Vaillant fays, that one which he 
 killed, meafured, from the tip of the nofe to the infertion 
 of the tail, ten feet feven inches, and was eight' feet ele- 
 ven inches in circumference ; but, from the fmallnefs of 
 its tulks, he fuppofed it to be a young one. In its fto- 
 inach were found leaves and reeds, grofsly chewed; like- 
 wife fmall branches of trees, a little bruifed. 
 
 It inhabits all the larger rivers of Africa, from the Ni- 
 ger to the Cape of Good Hope ; but is found in none of 
 the African rivers that run into the Mediterranean, ex- 
 cept the Nile, and in that part of it only w-hich runs 
 through the Upper Egypt, and in the fens and lakes of 
 Ethiopia. 
 
 The head of this animal is enorraoufly large ; its 
 mouth vaflly wide. Ray fays, that the upper mandible 
 is moveable, like that of a Crocodile. In each jaw there 
 are four cutting teeth; thofe in the lower jaw point 
 ftraight forward : It has four large tufks ; the largeft, 
 which are always in the lower jaw, are fometimes above 
 two feet long ; It is faid that the canine teeth are fo 
 hard, as to emit fire on being ftruek with fteel ; they are 
 perfe£Uy white, and preferable to ivory for making arti- 
 ficial teeth : The grinders are fquare or oblong, like 
 thofe of a man ; and fo large, that a Angle tooth weighs 
 above three pounds : The fkin is of a dulky colour, bears 
 a refemblance to that of the Rhinoceros, but is thicker, 
 and is made into whips : The tail is nearly a foot long, 
 taper, and flatted at the end, which is thinly furnifhed 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 165 
 
 with hairs like briftles : Its legs are fo fiiort, that its belly 
 almofl touches the ground; The hoofs are divided into 
 /our parts, unconne<£led by membranes. 
 
 When alarmed or purfued, it take§ to the water, 
 plunges in, and finks to the bottom ; where it walks at 
 full eafe. It often rifes to the furface, and remains with 
 its head out of the water, making a bellowing noife, 
 which may be heard at a great diftance. — It feeds during 
 night on the banks of the rivers, and fometimes does 
 great damage in the adjacent plantations of rice and 
 other grain. 
 
 The Hippopotamus is naturally mild and gentle, very 
 flow, and heavy in its movements upon land, but in the 
 water bold and active ; and when provoked or wounded, 
 will rife, and attack boats or canoes with great fury. 
 Dampier fays, he has known one of thefe animals fink a 
 boat full of people, by biting a hole in the bottom with 
 its tuflcs. — The method of taking it is by digging pits in 
 the fand, in thofe parts through which the animal pafles 
 in its way to the river after it has been feeding. 
 
 The flefh of the Hippopotamus is tender and good : 
 The fat is fine and well tailed, and much in requell with 
 the colonills at the Cape, who look upon it as the moH 
 wholefome meat that can be eaten : The gelatinous part 
 of the feet in particular is accounted a great delicacy : 
 The tongue, when dried, is alfo confidered at the Cape 
 as a rare and excellent dilh. 
 
 Sparrman has given an engraving of this animal, taken 
 from a young one which he caught at the Cape, from 
 
 which ours is copied. The female brings forth one 
 
 young at a time. 
 
 Scaurus treated the Romans with one of thefe crea- 
 
 I- 3 
 
i66 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 tures, and five crocodiles, during his sedilefhip, and ex- 
 hibited them on a temporary lake. Auguftus produced 
 one in the celebration of his triumph over Cleopatra. 
 
 The elephant. 
 
 Of all the creatures that have hitherto been taken into 
 the fervice of man, the Elephant is pre-eminent in the 
 fize and ftrength of his body, and inferior to none in fa- 
 gacity and obedience. 
 
 From time immemorial this animal has been employed 
 either for the purpofes of labour, of war, or of oftenta- 
 tious parade ; to increafe the grandeur of ealtern princes, 
 extend their power, or enlarge their dominions. 
 
 The Elephant is a native of Afia and Africa, and is 
 not to be found in its natural ftate either in Europe or 
 America. From the river Senegal to the Cape of Good 
 Hope, they are met with in great numbers. In this ex- 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 167 
 
 tenfive region, as they are more numerous than in any 
 other part of the world, fo are they lefs fearful of man. 
 The favage inhabitants of this dreary country, inftead of 
 attempting to fubdue this powerful animal, and render it 
 fubfervient to their neceflities, feem defirous only of a- 
 voiding its fury. 
 
 Sparrman fays, that in the country near the Cape they 
 are fometimes feen in large herds, confifting of many 
 hundreds; and thinks it probable, that in the more re- 
 mote and unfrequented parts of that vail country they 
 are ftill more numerous. 
 
 They are frequently hunted by the colonifts at the 
 Cape, who are very expert in lliooting them, and make 
 great advantage of their teeth. The largeft teeth weigh 
 an hundred and fifty Dutch pounds, and are fold to the 
 governor for as many guilders ; fo that a man may earn 
 three hundred guilders at one (hot. It is not therefore 
 to be wondered at, that a traffic fo lucrative ffiould tempt 
 the hunter to run great rilks. In approaching this ani- 
 mal, great care mull be taken to fteal upon him unper- 
 ceived. If the Elephant difcover his enemy near, he 
 ruffies out, and endeavours to kill him. One of thefe 
 hunters being out upon a plain, under the fhelter of a 
 few fcattered thorn trees, thought he could be able to 
 advance near enough to Ihoot an Elephant that was at a 
 little diftance from him ; but he was difcovered, purfued, 
 and overtaken by the animal, which laid hold of him 
 with his trunk, and beat him inftantly to death. 
 
 The height of the Elephant at the Cape is from twelve 
 to fifteen feet. The female is lefs than the male, and 
 her tufks do not grow to fuch a fize. 
 
 In proportion to the fize of the Elephant, his eyes ar^: 
 L 4 
 
j68 history of QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 very fmall ; but they are lively, brilliant, and capable of 
 great expreflion. Ele turns them flovvly, and with gen- 
 tlenefs, towards his mafler. When he fpeaks, the ani- 
 mal regards him with an eye of mildnefs and attention. 
 — His ears are very large, and much longer, in propor- 
 tion to his body, than thofe of the Afs : They lie flat on 
 the head, and are commonly pendulous ; but he can raife 
 and move them with great facility, and frequently ufes 
 them as a fan to cool himfelf, or defend his eyes from 
 
 dull and infe£ts. His hearing is likewife remarkably 
 
 fine i for he delights in the found of mufical inllruments, 
 and moves In cadence to the trumpet and tabor. — There 
 are four grinders in each jaw, clofely united together; 
 forming, with the jaw-bone, one hard and compaU body. 
 One of thefe grinders fometimes meafures nine inches 
 broad, and weighs four pounds and a half. — The texture 
 of the fldn is uneven, wrinkled, and knotty ; full of deep 
 filTures, nearly refembling the bark of an old oak tree, 
 which run in all directions over its furface. It is of a 
 tawny colour, inclining to citron. In the filTures there 
 are fome briflly hairs, which are alfo thinly fcattered 
 over the body. — The legs refemble mafly columns, of 
 fifteen or eighteen inches diameter, and from five to fix 
 feet high. — The foot is fiior|:, and divided into five toes, 
 covered with the fkin, fo as not to be vifible. To each 
 toe there is affixed a nail or hoof, of a horny fubflance. 
 
 The molt remarkable feature of the Elephant is his 
 trunk or probofcis, which is compofed of membranes, 
 nerves and mufeles. It is both an organ of feeling and 
 of motion. The animal cannot only move and bend it, 
 but can contraCl, lengthen, and turn it in every direction. 
 The extremity of the trunk terminates in a protuberance, 
 which ftretches out on the upper fide in the forna of a 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 169 
 
 finger, and poffefles in a great degree the nicenefs and 
 dexterity of that ufeful member. It is equally flexible, 
 and as capable of laying hold of objedds as the fingers of 
 a man. He lifts from the ground the fmallelt piece of 
 money *, he feledds herbs and flowers, and picks them up 
 one by one ; he unties the knots of ropes, opens and 
 fliuts gates, &c. With his trunk he grafps any body 
 which it is applied to, fo firmly, that no force can tear 
 it from his gripe. 
 
 Of all the inftruments which Nature has fo liberally 
 bellowed on her moll favourite produdlions, the trunk of 
 the Elephant is perhaps the moll complete and admira- 
 ble. Ray fays, it is divided into three partitions or 
 chambers; two of which run in fpiral diredlions, and 
 the other in a right line. It is eight feet long in an Ele- 
 phant of fourteen feet high, and five feet in circumfe- 
 rence at the thickell part. The nollrils are fituated at 
 the extremity ; through which it draws in water by a 
 ftrong fudtion, either for the purpofe of quenching its 
 thirll, or of walliing and cooling itfelf, which it fre- 
 quently does, by taking up a large quantity ; part of 
 which it carries to its mouth, and drinks ; and by ele- 
 vating the trunk, allows the remainder to run over every 
 part of its body. 
 
 Roots, herbs, leaves, and tender wood, are the ordi- 
 nary food of the Elephant. He does not ruminate, and 
 has but one llomach : This want, however, is amply fup- 
 plied by the magnitude and length of his intellines, and 
 particularly of the colon, which is from fifteen to twenty 
 feet in length, and two or three in diameter. When 
 one of them difcovers a plentiful pafture, he calls to the 
 others, and invites them to partake. As they require a 
 great quantity of forage, they frequently change their 
 
170 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 pafture, and do incredible damage whenever they hap- 
 pen to ftray into cultivated ground. From the weight 
 of their bodies and the fize of their feet, they deftroy 
 much more than they ufe for food. — The Indians and ne- 
 groes ufe every artifice to prevent the approach of thefe 
 unwelcome vifitants, making loud noifes, and kindling 
 fires round their habitations ; but in fpite of all their pre- 
 cautions, the Elephants often break through their fences, 
 deftroy their whole harveft, and overturn their huts. It 
 is not eafy to feparate them : They generally aft in con- 
 cert, whether they attack, march, or fly. 
 
 The ordinary walk of the Elephant is not quicker than 
 that of a Horfe ; but when pufhed, he allumes a kind of 
 ambling pace, which in fleetnefs is equal to a gallop. 
 He goes forward with eafe and celerity ; but it is with 
 great difficulty that he turns himfelf round ; and that not 
 without taking a pretty large circuit. It is generally in 
 narrow and hollow places that the negroes attack him, 
 and cut off his tail, which they value above every other 
 part of his body. — He fwims well, and is of great ufe in 
 carrying great quantities of baggage over large rivers. 
 When fwimming, he raifes his long trunk above the fur- 
 face of the water for the fake of refpiration, every other 
 part of his body being below : In this manner feveral of 
 thefe animals fwim together, and fteer their courfe with- 
 out danger of running foul of each other. 
 
 The Elephant, when tamed, is gentle, obedient, and 
 docile : Patient of labour, it fubmits to the moft toil- 
 fome drudgery •, and fo attentive to the commands of its 
 governor, that a word or a look is fufficient to ftimulate 
 it to the moft violent exertions. Its attachment to its 
 keeper is fo great, that it careffes him with its trunk, 
 and frequently will obey no other mailer ; It knows his 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 171 
 
 voice ; and can diftinguifh the tone of command, of an- 
 ger, or of approbation ; and regulates its a£lions accord- 
 ingly : It receives his orders with attention, and executes 
 them with eagernefs, but without precipitation. All its 
 motions are orderly, and feem to correfpond with the 
 dignity of its appearance, being grave, majellic, and cau- 
 tious. It kneels down for the accommodation of thofe 
 who would mount upon its back, and with its pliant 
 trunk even alTifts them to afcend. It fufFers itfelf to be 
 harneffed, and feems to have a pleafure in the finery of 
 its trappings. It is ufed in drawing chariots, waggons, 
 and various kinds of machines. One of them will per- 
 form with eafe the work of many horfes. 
 
 The conductor of the Elephant is ufually mounted on 
 its neck •, and makes ufe of a rod of iron, fliarp at the 
 end, and hooked ; with which he urges the animal for- 
 ward, by pricking its head, ears, or muzzle ; But in ge- 
 neral, a word from the keeper is fufficient to encourage 
 this intelligent creature to proceed on its way, or per- 
 form the talk affigned to it. — In India, where they were 
 once employed in launching fliips, one of. them was di- 
 refted to force a large veflel into the water ; which prov- 
 ing fuperior to his ftrength, the mailer, in an angry tone, 
 cried out, ‘ Take away that lazy beall, and bring another 
 in its place.’ The poor animal inftantly redoubled its 
 efforts, fra£lured its Ikull, and died upon the fpot. 
 
 The Indians, from very early periods, have employed 
 Elephants in their wars : Porus oppofed the paffage of 
 Alexander over the Hydafpes with eighty-five of them. 
 M. de Buffon imagines, that it was fome of the Ele- 
 phants taken by that monarch, and afterwards tranfport- 
 ed into Greece, which v/ere employed by Pyrrhus againlt 
 the Romans.— Singe the invention of fire-arms, the Ele- 
 
172 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 phant has been of little ufe in deciding the contefts of 
 hoftile nations ; for, being terrified with the flafh of the 
 powder, and the report that immediately fucceeds, they 
 are foon thrown into confufion, and then become dan- 
 gerous to their employers. — They are now chiefly ufed 
 for the purpofes of labour or magnificent parade. 
 
 The Indian princes, in their travels, are attended by 
 hundreds of thefe animals : Some are employed to con- 
 vey the ladies which compofe the feraglio, in latticed 
 cages made for that purpofe, and covered with branches 
 of trees; whilfl others tranfport immenfe quantities of 
 baggage, with which the fovereigns of the Eaft are al- 
 ways accompanied in their marches from one place to 
 another. — They are likewife made ufe of as the dreadful 
 inflruments of executing condemned criminals — a tafk 
 which they perform with great dexterity. At the word 
 of command, they break the limbs of the criminal with 
 their trunks; they fometimes trample him to death, or 
 impale him on their enormous tufks, juft as they are di^ 
 rented by their more barbarous keeper. 
 
 It is a Angular circumftance in the hiftory of this ex- 
 traordinary animal, that, in a ftate of fubjedion, it is 
 unalterably barren ; and, though it has been reduced un- 
 der the dominion of man for ages, it has never been 
 known to breed, — as if it had a proper fenfe of its de- 
 graded condition, and obftinately refufed to increafe the 
 pride and power of its conqueror by propagating a race 
 of flaves. It therefore follows, that of all the numerous 
 bands of Elephants that are trained to fervice, there is 
 not one that has not been originally wild, nor one that 
 has not been forced into a ftate of fubje£Hon. To re- 
 cruit, therefore, the numbers that are unavoidably con- 
 fumed by difeafe, accident, or age, the eaftern prince^ 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 173 
 
 are obliged every year to fend into the forefts, and ufe 
 various methods to procure frefh fupplies. 
 
 The manner of taking, taming, and rendering thefe 
 animals fubmiffive, is curious, and well deferves a place 
 in the hiftory of the Elephant. In the midft of a forefl 
 abounding v/ith Elephants, a large piece of ground is 
 marked out, and furrounded with ftrong palifades, inter- 
 woven with branches of trees ; One end of the inclofure 
 is narrow ; from which it widens gradually, fo as to take 
 in a great extent of country. Several thoufand men are 
 employed upon the occafion, who place themfelves in 
 fuch a manner as to prevent the wild Elephants from 
 making their efcape : They kindle large fires at certain 
 diftances, and make a dreadful noife with drums and va- 
 rious kinds of difeordant inftruments, calculated for the 
 purpofe of ftunning and terrifying the poor animals; 
 whilft another party, confifting of fome thoufands, with 
 the alfiftance of tame female Elephants, trained for the 
 purpofe, drive the wild Elephants llowly towards the 
 great opening of the inclofure, the whole train of hun- 
 ters clofing in after them, fhouting, and making a great 
 noife, till they are driven by infenfible degrees into the 
 narrow part of the inclofure, through which there is an 
 opening into a fmaller fpace, ftrongly fenced in, and 
 guarded on all fides. As foon as one of the Elephants 
 enters this ftrait, a ftrong bar clofes the paftage from be- 
 hind, and he finds himfelf completely environed. On 
 the top of this narrow paftage fome of the huntfmen 
 ftand with goads in their hands, urging the creature for- 
 ward to the end of the paftage, where there is an open- 
 ing juft wide enough to let him pafs. He is now re- 
 ceived into the cuftody of two females, who ftand on 
 each fide of him, and prefs him into the fervice : If he 
 
174 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 be likely to prove refractory, they begin to difcipline him 
 with their trunks, till he is reduced to obedience, and 
 fuffers himfelf to be led to a tree, where he is bound by 
 the leg with flout thongs, made of untanned elk or buck 
 Ikin. The tame Elephants are then led back to the in- 
 clofure j and the others are made to fubmit in the fame 
 manner. They are all fufFered to remain fall to the trees 
 for feveral days. Attendants are placed by the fide of 
 each animal, who fupply him with food by little and lit- 
 tle, till he is brought by degrees to be fenfible of kind- 
 nefs and carefies, and allows himfelf to be led to the fta- 
 ble. In the fpace of fourteen days, his abfolute fubmif- 
 fion is completed. During that time, he is fed daily 
 with cocoa-nut leaves, and led once a day to the water 
 by the tame ones. He becomes accuftomed to the voice 
 of his keeper, and at laft quietly refigns his prodigious 
 powers to the dominion and fervice of man. 
 
 The time of geflation of the Elephant is hitherto but 
 imperfectly known : Arillotle fays, it goes two years 
 
 with young ; which is the more likely, as the feafon of 
 defire in the male returns but once in three years. The 
 female produces one young at a time. The young Ele- 
 phants are faid to fuck with their trunk ; the teats of the 
 female being fituated between its fore legs. 
 
 The Elephant is thirty years in arriving at its full 
 growth ; and is faid to live, though in a ftate of capti- 
 vity, to the age of an hundred and twenty or an hundred 
 and thirty years : In a ftate of unreftrained freedom, it 
 is fuppofed to live much longer. 
 
 The Elephant will drink wine, and is fond of fpiritous 
 liquors. By fhewing him a veflel filled with arrack, he 
 is induced to exert the greateft efforts, and perform the 
 moft painful talks, in hopes of receiving it as the reward 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 175 
 
 of his labour. To difappoint him is dangerous, as he 
 feldom fails to be revenged. The following inftance is 
 given as a fa£f, and deferves to be recorded : — An Ele- 
 phant, difappointed of its reward, out of revenge killed 
 his comae or governor. The poor man’s wife, who be- 
 held the dreadful fcene, took her two infants, and threw 
 them at the feet of the enraged animal, faying, ‘ Since 
 you have flain my hulband, take my life alfo, as well as 
 that of my children.’ The Elephant inftantly flopped, 
 relented, and, as if flung with remorfe, took the eldefl 
 boy in its trunk, placed him on its neck, adopted him 
 for its cornac, and would never allow any other perfon 
 to mount it. 
 
 This animal feems to know when it is mocked, and 
 never fails to retaliate accordingly. A painter wifhed to 
 draw one in an unufual attitude, with its trunk elevated, 
 and its mouth open. In order to induce the Elephant to 
 exhibit to more advantage, a perfon was employed to 
 throw fruit into its mouth, who fometimes deceived it 
 by only making an offer of doing fo, and retaining the 
 fruit in his hand. Enraged at this kind of treatment, 
 and, as it fliould feem, gueffing the painter to be the 
 caufe, it ejedled a quantity of water from its trunk, 
 which fpoiled his paper, and prevented him from pro- 
 ceeding in his work. 
 
 We might quote many other fa£ls equally curious and 
 interefling : Thofe we have already recited are fufEcient 
 to fhew, that the Elephant is poffelfed of inflin£live fa- 
 culties fuperlor to thofe of any other animal. We mufl 
 at the fame time admire the admirable order of that 
 difpenfation, which, to an animal of fuch unequalled 
 powers, has added a difpofition fo mild and tra£lable. 
 What ravages might we not expert from the prodigious 
 
iy6 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 ftrength of the Elephant, combined with the fiercenefs 
 and rapacity of the Tiger ! 
 
 We cannot clofe our account of the Elephant, with- 
 out taking fome notice of the teeth of that animal, which 
 have been fo frequently found in a foffil flate in various 
 parts of the world. Some years ago, two great grinding- 
 teeth, and part of the tulk of an Elephant, were difco- 
 vered, at the depth of forty-two yards, in a lead mine, 
 in Flintfhire, lying in a bed of gravel: The grinders 
 were almoft as perfeft as if they had been juft taken 
 from the living animal ; the tufk was much decayed, and 
 very foft. — Near the banks of many rivers in Siberia, 
 large tulks and teeth have been frequently dug up, which 
 were formerly attributed to a creature called the Mam- 
 month ; but they are now univerfally believed to have be- 
 longed to the Elephant. The molares or grinders are 
 perfectly the fame with thofe of the prefent race ; but 
 both they and the tulks are much larger: Some of the 
 latter have been known to weigh four hundred pounds ; 
 and grinders, of the weight of twenty-four pounds, have 
 not unfrequently been difcovered. One of thefe was 
 taken from a Ikeleton of the fame head in which the 
 tulks were found : And as the ivory of the latter was 
 in every refpe£l the fame as that generally known, and 
 made ufe of for the purpofes of ufeful and ornamental 
 works, we cannot deny our aftent to the opinion of thofe 
 who fuppofe them to have been once parts of the animal 
 we have juft defcribed. — Tulks of a prodigious fize, 
 teeth, jaw-bones, thigh-bones, and vertebrae, have like- 
 wife been frequently found on the banks of the river 
 Ohio, in America, five or fix feet beneath the furface. 
 Some of the tulks are near feven feet long; one foot 
 nine inches in circumference at the bafe, and one foot 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 177 
 
 near the point. They differ from thofe of the Elephant, 
 in having a larger twifl or fpiral curve towards the fmall 
 end. There is a fUll greater difference in the form of 
 the grinders, which are made like thofe of a carnivorous 
 animal, not flat and ribbed tranfverfely on their furface, 
 like thofe of an Elephant, but furnifhed with a double 
 row of high and conic projedlions, as if intended to maf- 
 ticate, not grind, their food. — Specimens of thefe teeth 
 and bones are depofited in the Britifli Mufeum, that of 
 the Royal Society, and in the cabinet of the late inge- 
 nious Dr Hunter. — Thefe foffil bones are alfo found in 
 
 Peru, and in the Brazils. As yet, the living animal 
 
 has evaded the fearch of the curious naturalifl ; but it is 
 not improbable, that it may exifl in fome of thofe remote 
 parts of that vaft continent, yet unpenetrated by Eu- 
 ropeans. 
 
 M 
 
178 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 Animals of the CAT Kind. 
 
 E have hitherto been employed in the pie: 
 
 talk of defcribing molt of thofe numerous tribes 
 of animals that are more nearly connefted with the inte- 
 refts of mankind ; that ferve as the inftroments of man’s 
 happinefs, or at leaft, that do not openly oppofe him i 
 that depend upon his care for their fubfiftence ; and in 
 their turn contribute largely to his comfort and fupport. 
 We have taken an ample range among the wilder inha- 
 bitants of the foreft, which, though in a more remote 
 degree dependant on man, are neverthelefs obje£ls of 
 his attention and purfuit. We have followed Nature to 
 her mofl; retired recefl'es, and have feen and admired 
 her works under a variety of the mofl; beautiful living 
 forms ; but our progrefs has hitherto been unftained with 
 blood. 
 
 The attention of our readers will now be engaged in a 
 different purfuit. The fcene mufl be diverfilied. 
 
 We come now to a fanguinary and unrelenting tribe, 
 — the bold and intrepid enemies of man ; that difdain to 
 own his power, and earry on unceafing hoftilities againft 
 him. 
 
 This numerous and feroeious tribe is chiefly diftin- 
 guifhed by their fharp and formidable claws, which are 
 lodged in a fheath, and are capable of being extended or 
 drawn in at pleafure. — They lead a folitary and a raven- 
 ous life j and never unite for mutual defence or fupport, 
 like thofe of the herbivorous kinds. They feek their 
 food alone, and are frequently enemies to each other. 
 Though differing greatly in fize and in colour, they are 
 nearly allied to each other in form and difpofition, being 
 
HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 179 
 
 equally fierce, rapacious, and artful. At the head of 
 
 this numerous clafs we fiiall place 
 
 The lion, 
 
 which is eminently diftinguiflied from the reft, as well 
 in fize and ftrength, as by his large and flowing mane. 
 
 This animal is produced in Africa, and the hotteft 
 parts of Afia. It is found in the greateft numbers in the 
 fcorched and defolate regions of the torrid zone, in the 
 deferts of Zaara and Biledulgerid, and in all the interior 
 parts of the vaft continent of Africa. In thefe defert re- 
 gions, from whence mankind are driven by the rigorous 
 heat of the climate, this animal reigns foie mafter : Its 
 difpofition feems to partake of the ardour of its native 
 foil ; Inflamed by the influence of a burning fun, its rage 
 is moft tremendous, and its courage undaunted. Happi- 
 
 M 2 
 
i8o HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 ly, indeed, the fpecies is not numerous, and is faid to 
 be greatly diminiflied; for, if we may credit the tefti- 
 mony of thofe wlio have traverfed thefe vafl; deferts, the 
 number of Lions is not nearly fo great as formerly. Mr 
 Shaw obferves, that tlie Romans carried more Lions 
 from Lybia in one year for their public fpe£tacles, than 
 could be found in all that country at this time. It is 
 likewife remarked, that in Turkey, Perfia, and the In- 
 dies, Lions are not now fo frequently met with as in for- 
 mer times. 
 
 It is obferved of this animal, that its courage dimi- 
 nifhes, and its caution and timidity are greater, in pro- 
 portion as it approaches the habitations of the human 
 race. Being acquainted with man, and the power of his 
 arms, it lofes its natural fortitude to fuch a degree, as to 
 be terrified at the found of his voice. It has been known 
 to fly even before women and children, and fuffer itfelf 
 to be driven away by them from its lurking places in the 
 neighbourhood of their villages. 
 
 This alteration in the Lion’s difpofition fufficiently 
 flrews, that it will admit of a certain degree of educa- 
 tion : And it is a well-known fadf, that the keepers of 
 •wild beads frequently play with him, pull out his tongue, 
 hold him by the teeth, and even chadife him without 
 caufe. The animal feems to bear all with a fullen kind 
 of compofure, and rarely retaliates this unmerited treat- 
 ment. It is dangerous, however, to provoke him too 
 
 far, or to depend upon his temper with too great fecu- 
 rity. Labat tells us of a gentleman who kept a Lion in 
 his chamber, and employed a fervant to attend it ; who, 
 as is ufual, mixed his blows with carefles. This ill- 
 judged affociation continued for fome time. One morn- 
 ing the gentleman was awakened by an unufual noife in 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. i8i 
 
 liis room; ami, drawing his curtains, he perceived it to 
 proceed from the Lion, which was growling over the bo- 
 dy of the unhappy man, whom it had juft killed, and had 
 feparated his head from his body. The terror and con- 
 fufion of the gentleman may be eafdy conceived : He 
 flew out of the room ; and, with the alTiftance of fome 
 people, had the animal fecured from doing further mif- 
 chief. 
 
 As the pafllons of this animaj are ftrong, and its appe- 
 tites vehement, w'e ought not to prefume that the im- 
 prefTions of education will always be fufficiently power- 
 ful. It muft be dangerous, therefore, to fufter it to re- 
 main too long without food, or to perfift in irritating or 
 abufing it. 
 
 However, numberlefs accounts alTure us, that the an- 
 ger of the Lion is noble, its courage magnanimous, and 
 its temper fufceptible of grateful imprellions. It has 
 been often feen to defpife weak and contemptible ene- 
 mies, and even to pardon their infults, when it was in 
 its power to punifti them : It has been knowm to fpare 
 the life of an animal that was thrown to be devoured by 
 it, to live in habits of perfedl cordiality with it, to fhare 
 its fubfiftence, and even to give it a preference where its 
 portion of food was fcanty. 
 
 The form of the Lion is ftrlkingly bold and majeftic : 
 His large and fhaggy mane, which he can eredl at plea- 
 fure, furrounding his awful front ; his huge eye-brows ; 
 his round and fiery eye-balls, which, upon the leaft irri- 
 tation, feem to glow with peculiar luftre ; together with 
 the formidable appearance of his teeth, — exhibit a pic- 
 ture of terrific grandeur, which no words can defcribe. 
 
 The length of the largeft Lion is between eight and 
 
 M 3 
 
i 82 history of quadrupeds. 
 
 nine feet, the tail about four, and its height about four 
 feet and a half. The female is about one-fourth part 
 lefs, and without the mane. 
 
 As the Lion advances in years, its mane grows longer 
 and thicker. The hair on the reft of the body is fliort 
 •and fmooth, of a tawny colour, but whitilh on the belly. 
 
 The roaring of the Lion is loud and dreadful : When 
 heard in the night, it refembles diftant thunder. Its cry 
 of anger is much louder and fliorter. 
 
 The Lion feldom attacks any animal openly, except 
 when compelled by extreme hunger : In that cafe, no 
 danger deters him. But as moft animals endeavour to 
 avoid him, he is obliged to have recourfe to artifice, and 
 take his prey by furprize. For this purpofe, he crouches 
 on his belly in fome thicket, where he waits till his prey 
 approaches ; and then, with one prodigious fpring, he 
 leaps upon it at the diftance of fifteen or twenty feet, 
 and generally feizes it at the firft bound. If he mifs his 
 objeft, he gives up the purfuit; and, turning back to- 
 wards the place of his ambufti, he meafures the ground 
 ftep by ftep, and again lies in wait for another opportu- 
 nity. — The lurking-place of the Lion is generally chofen 
 near a fpring, or by the fide of a river ; where he fre- 
 quently has an opportunity of catching fuch animals as 
 come to quench their thirft. 
 
 There are, however, inftances where the Lion deviates 
 from his ufual method of taking his prey ; of which the 
 following, related by Sparrman, is remarkable: — A Hot- 
 tentot, perceiving that he was followed by a Lion, and 
 concluding that the animal only waited the approach of 
 night to make him his prey, began to confider of the beft 
 method of providing for his fafety, which he at length 
 effected in the following fingular manner; — Obferving a 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 183 
 
 piece of broken ground, with a precipitate defcent on 
 one fide, he fat down by the edge of it; and found, to 
 his great joy, that the Lion alfo made a halt, and kept at 
 the fame diffance as before. As foon as it grew dark, 
 the Hottentot, Aiding gently forward, let himfelf down a 
 little below the edge of the hill, and held up his cloak 
 and hat upon his flick, making at the fame time a gentle 
 motion with it : The Lion, in the mean while, came 
 creeping foftly towards him, like a Cat; and miflaking 
 the fkin cloak for the man himfelf, made a fpring, and 
 fell headlong down the precipice : By which means, the 
 poor Hottentot was fafely delivered from his infidious 
 enemy. 
 
 That the Lion does not always kill whatever animal 
 happens to be in its power, has already been obferved ; 
 and this peculiarity in its temper is remarkably obvious, 
 with regard to the human fpecies. Of this there have 
 been many inftances. At St Catherine Cree’s church, 
 Leadenhall-ftreet, London, provifion is made, under the 
 wnll of Sir John Gager, who was lord-mayor in the year 
 1646, for a fermon to be annually preached on the i6th 
 of November, in commemoration of his happy deliver- 
 ance from a Lion, which he met in a defert as he was 
 travelling in the Turkifh dominions, and fufFered him to 
 pafs unmolefted. The minifter is to have 20s. for the 
 fermon, the clerk 2s. 6d. and the fexton is. The fum 
 of 81 . ids. 6d. is likewlfe to be diftributed among the 
 neceffitous inhabitants, purfuant to the wall of Sir John. 
 — Sparrman, among feveral inftances of the fame nature, 
 mentions a perfon who, though he was thrown down by 
 a Lion, and wounded by it in feveral places, was after 
 all generouAy left with his life. 
 
 M 4 
 
i 84 history of QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The ftrength of this animal is great: One of them 
 was obferved to feize a heifer, which it carried off in its 
 mouth with eafe, and leaped over a ditch without much 
 apparent difficulty. 
 
 At the Cape of Good Hope, the Lion is frequently 
 hunted by the colonifts. — In the day time, and upon an 
 open plain, twelve or fixteen dogs will eafily get the bet- 
 ter of a large Lion. As the Lion is not remarkably 
 fwift, the dogs foon come pretty near him ; when, with 
 a fullen kind of magnanimity, he turns round, and waits 
 for the attack, ffiaking his mane, and roaring with a ffiort 
 and (harp tone. The hounds furround him ; and, rulh- 
 ing upon him all at once, foon tear him to pieces. It is 
 faid, that he has feldom time to make more than two or 
 three ftrokes with his paws ; each of which is attended 
 with the death of one of his aflailants. 
 
 The Lionefs goes with young five months, and brings 
 forth three or four at a time. The young ones are about 
 the fize of a large pug-dog, harmlefs, pretty, and playful. 
 They continue at the teat twelve months, and are above 
 five years in coming to perfection. 
 
 The Lion is a long-lived animal, although naturalifts 
 have differed greatly as to the precife period of its ex- 
 iftence. Buffon limits it to twenty, or twenty-two years 
 at mofl. It is however certain, that it lives much be- 
 yond that time. The great Idon, called Pompey, which 
 died in the year 1760, was known to have been in the 
 Tower above feventy years ; and one, brought from the 
 river Gambia, died there not long ago at the age of fix- 
 ty-three. — Several of thefe animals have been bred in the 
 Tower : So that the time of their geftation, the number 
 they produce, and the time of their arriving at perfec- 
 tion, are all pretty well known. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. i8^ 
 
 The attachment of the Lionefs to her young is re- 
 markably ftrong : For their fupport, fhe is more fero- 
 cious than the Lion himfelf, makes her incurfions with 
 greater boldnefs, deftroys, without diftindtion, every ani- 
 mal that falls in her way, and carries it reeking to her 
 cubs. — She ufually brings forth in the moft retired and 
 inacceffible places ; and when afraid of her retreat being 
 difcovered, endeavours to hide her track, by brufliing the 
 ground with her tail. When much diflurbed or alarm- 
 ed, fhe will fometimes tranfport her young from one 
 place to another in her mouth ; and, if obflrutled in her 
 courfe, will defend them to the laft extremity. 
 
 The flefh of the Lion is faid to have a ftrong, difagree- 
 able flavour; yet it is frequently eaten by the negroes. 
 The fkin, which was formerly a I’obe of diftindtion for 
 heroes, is now made ufe of by thofe people as a mantle 
 or a bed. They alfo preferve the greafe, which is of a 
 penetrating nature, and is ufed in medicine. 
 
 The reprefentation we have given, was drawn from a 
 remarkably fine one, exhibited at Newcaftle in the year 
 1788. It was then young, extremely healthful, adtive, 
 and in full condition. 
 
i86 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The tiger 
 
 is the mofl; rapacious and defl;ru£Hve of all carnivorous 
 animals. Fierce without provocation, and cruel without 
 neceffity, its third for blood is infatiable: Though glut- 
 ted with {laughter, it continues its carnage, nor ever 
 gives up fo long as a fmgle obje£l remains in its fight : 
 Flocks and herds fall indifcriminate vidlims to its fu- 
 ry ; It fears neither the fight nor the oppofition of man, 
 whom it frequently makes its prey ; and it is even faid 
 to prefer human flefh to that of any other animal. 
 
 The Tiger is peculiar to Afia, and is found as far 
 North as China and Chinefe Tartary : It inhabits Mount 
 Ararat, and Hyrcania, of old famous for its wild beads. 
 The greated numbers are met with in India, and its 
 idands. They are the fcourge of the country : They 
 lurk among the budies, by the fides of rivers, and al- 
 mod depopulate many places. They feldom purfue their 
 prey ; but bound upon it from the place of their ambudi, 
 with an eladicity, and from a didance, fcarcely credible. 
 It is highly probable, that, from this circumdance, the 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 187 
 
 Tiger may derive its name, which, in the Armenian lan- 
 guage, fignifies an arrow; to the flight of which this 
 creature may very properly be compared, in the quick- 
 nefs and agility of its bounds. 
 
 The ftrength of this animal is fo great, that, when it 
 has killed a Deer or other animal, it carries it off with 
 fuch eafe, that it feems no impediment to its flight. If 
 it be undifturbed, it plunges its head into the body of 
 the animal up to its very eyes, as if to fatiate itfelf with 
 blood. 
 
 The Tiger is one of the few animals whofe ferocity 
 can never be wholly fubdued. Neither gentlenefs nor 
 conftraint has any effedl in foftening its temper. It does 
 not feem fenfible of the attention of its keeper; and 
 would equally tear the hand that feeds, with that by 
 which it is chaftifed. 
 
 A beautiful young male Tiger, lately brought over 
 from China in the Pitt Eaft-Indiaman, at the age of ten 
 months, was fo far domefticated, as to admit every kind 
 of familiarity from the people on board. It feemed to 
 be quite harmlefs, and was as playful as a kitten. It 
 frequently flept with the failors in their hammocks ; and 
 would fuffer two or three of them to repofe their heads 
 upon its back, as upon a pillow, whilft it lay ftretched 
 out upon the deck. In return for.this, it would, howe- 
 ver, now and then fteal their meat. Having one day 
 taken a piece of beef from the carpenter, he followed 
 the animal, took the meat out of its mouth, and beat it 
 feverely for the theft ; which punifhment it fufFered with 
 all the patience of a dog. It would frequently run out 
 on the bowfprit; climb about the fliip, like a cat; and 
 perform a number of tricks, with an agility that was 
 truly aftonifhing. There was a dog on board the fliip, 
 
i88 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 with which it would often play in the mod diverting 
 manner. — From thefe circumftances, one might be led 
 to fuppofe, that the difpofition of the Tiger, like that of 
 many other animals, was capable of fome degree of cul- 
 ture. But it ought to be remembered, that at the time 
 this one was taken on board the fliip, it was only a 
 month or fix weeks old ; and when arrived in this coun- 
 try, it had not quite compleated a year. How much 
 longer its good humour might have continued, it is im- 
 pofiible to fay : But it is much to be doubted, that the 
 fame innocent playfulnefs would have formed a part of 
 its character when arrived at its full date of maturity. 
 
 Notwithdanding the cruelty of this creature’s difpofi- 
 tion, a fudden check has fometimes had a good effe<fl: in 
 preventing its meditated attack. Some ladies and gentle- 
 men being on a party of pleafure, under a fiiade of trees, 
 on the banks of a river in Bengal, were fuddenly fur- 
 prized at feeing a Tiger ready to make its fatal fpring : 
 One of the ladies, with amazing prefence of mind, laid 
 hold of an umbrella; and unfurling it diredlly in the ani- 
 mal’s face, it indantly retired. — Another party had not 
 the fame good fortune. A Tiger darted among them 
 whild they were at dinner, feized on a gentleman, and 
 carried him off in the fight of his difconfolate compa- 
 nions. 
 
 They attack all kinds of animals, even the Lion ; and 
 furious combats have frequently been maintained be- 
 tween them, in which both have periflied. 
 
 Father Tachard gives an account of a battle between 
 a Tiger and two Elephants, at Siam ; of which he was 
 an eye-witnefs. The heads, and part of the trunks of 
 the Elephants, were defended from the claws of the Ti- 
 ger by a covering made for the purpofe. They were 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 189 
 
 placed in the midft of a large inclofure. One of them 
 was fuifered to approach the Tiger, which was confined 
 by Cords, and received two or three heavy blows from 
 the trunk of the Elephant upon its back, which beat it 
 to the ground, where it lay for fome time as if it were 
 dead ; But, though this attack had a good deal abated its 
 fury, it was no fooner untied, than, with a horrible roar, 
 it made a fpring at the Elephant’s trunk, which that ani- 
 mal dexteroufly avoided by drawing It up ; and, receiving 
 the Tiger on its tuflcs, threw it up into the air. The 
 two Elephants were then allowed to come up ; and, after 
 giving it feveral heavy blows, would undoubtedly have 
 killed it, if an end had not been put to the combat. — 
 Under fuch reftraints and difadvantages, we cannot won- 
 der that the iffue was unfavourable to the Tiger. We 
 may however, by this, judge of its great ftrength and 
 fiercenefs, — that, after being difabled by the firft attack 
 of the Elephant, whilft it was held by its cords, it would 
 venture to continue fuch an unequal engagement. 
 
 We are happy in being able to prefent our curious 
 readers with an engraving of this rare animal, drawn 
 from the life, from a Tiger that was exhibited at New- 
 caftle in 1787, and was generally allowed to be one of 
 the fineft creatures of its kind ever feen in England. 
 The beautiful bars of black with w^hich every part of its 
 body was ftreaked, are accurately copied : The colour of 
 the ground was yellow, deeper on the back, and foften- 
 ing by degrees towards the belly, where it was white ; as 
 were alfo the throat and infides of the legs: A white 
 fpace, fpotted with black, furrounded each eye ; and on 
 each cheek, a ftripe of the fame colour extended from 
 the ears to the throat. It was nearly the fame height as 
 the Lion; and was of the largeft fpecies of the Tiger, 
 
rpo HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 which is called the Royal Tiger. The fmalleft of them is 
 not above two feet high, faid to be extremely cunning, 
 and delights in human flefli. The fecond kind is about 
 three feet high, and is fond of deer, wild hogs, &c. 
 which it frequently takes by the fides of rivers, as they 
 come down to quench their third. 
 
 The Ikin of this animal is much efteemed all over the 
 Eaft, particularly in China. The Mandarins cover their 
 feats of juftice with it; and, during the winter, ufe it 
 for cufliions and pillows. 
 
 We have now defcribed the two great heads of this 
 mifchievous family, which are eminently diflinguiflted 
 from the reft in fize, ftrength, and colour. 
 
 The three fucceeding fpecies have been frequently con- 
 founded with each other; and, although there is fome 
 difference in their fize and in the difpofition of their 
 fpots, yet thefe have been fo indifcriminately defined, as 
 to make it difficult to form a true criterion, fo as accu- 
 rately to diftinguifh each fpecies. Strikingly fimilar in 
 the form of their bodies, in the beauty of their fkins, as 
 well as in their difpofitions and habits, which feem to be 
 equally formed for rapine and cruelty, — there is great 
 room to conjefture, that commixture may be one great 
 caufe of producing the flight differences obfervable in 
 them. — If we regard the figure and diverfity of the fpots, 
 we fliall find many varieties not taken notice of by na- 
 turalifts; if we be led to judge by the fize, we fhall find 
 an almoft imperceptible gradation from the Cat to the 
 Tiger. It would be vain, therefore, to make as many 
 varieties in thefe animals, as we fee differences in fpots 
 or ftature : It will be fufficient to point out the moft ge- 
 neral diftiaftions. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 191 
 
 The panther 
 
 is next in fize to the Tiger; and has, by many natural- 
 ifts, been miftaken for that animal. — Its hair is fhort and 
 fmooth ; and, inftead of being ftreaked like the Tiger, is 
 beautifully marked on the back, fides, and flanks, with 
 black fpots, difpofed in circles, from four to five in each, 
 with a Angle fpot in the center ; on the face, breaft, and 
 legs, the fpots are Angle : The colour of the body on the 
 back and Tides is yellow, deep on the back, and paler to- 
 wards the belly, which is white : Its ears are fliort and 
 pointed ; its eye is reftlefs ; and its whole afpedl fierce 
 and cruel. 
 
 It is an untameable animal ; and inhabits Africa, from 
 Barbary to the remoteft parts of Guinea. 
 
 Its manner of taking its prey is the fame with that of 
 the Tiger, — always by furprize, either lurking in thick- 
 ets, or creeping on its belly till it comes within reach. 
 When prefled with hunger, it attacks every living crea- 
 ture without diftin£l:ion, but happily prefers the flelh of 
 brutes to that of mankind ; It will even climb up trees 
 in purfuit of monkies and lefler animals ; fo that nothing 
 is fecure from its attacks. 
 
ip2 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Panther is about the fize of a large MaftifF Dog j 
 but its legs are not quite fo long. Its voice is ftrong and 
 hoarfe ; and it growls continually. 
 
 The ancients were well acquainted with thefe animals. 
 The Romans drew prodigious numbers from the deferts 
 of Africa, for their public fliews; fufficient, one might 
 fuppofe, to have entirely exhaufted them. ScauruS ex- 
 hibited an hundred and fifty of them at one time j Pom- 
 pey four hundred and ten ; and Auguftus four hundred 
 and twenty. They probably thinned the coafts of Mau- 
 ritania of thefe animals ; but they ftill fwarm in the 
 fouthern parts of Guinea. 
 
 In China, there is a moft beautiful animal of this kind, 
 called Louchu ; the fkin of which fells for fix pounds fter- 
 ling. 
 
 An animal of this fpeeies is likewife found in Afiatic 
 Tartary, called there the Babr. It is feven feet long, ex- 
 tremely rapacious, and very deftrudlive of horfes and ca- 
 mels. Its Ikin is very fine, and valued in Ruflia at one 
 pound fterling. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 193 
 
 The leopard. 
 
 The very trifling difference between this and the laft- 
 mentloned animal gives reafon to fuppofe, that it confifls 
 chiefly in the name. It inhabits the fame countries ; and 
 in fome places goes by the fame name, being called the 
 Panther of Senegal; and Is chiefly found there. It is 
 mentioned by Ray as the female Panthery but is rather 
 fmaller than that animal. Its length, from nofe to tail, 
 is about four feet : The colour of the body is a more 
 lively yellow; and the fpots with which it is dlverfified, 
 are fmaller and clofer than thofe of the Panther. 
 
 The interior parts of Africa abound with thefe ani- 
 mals; from whence they come down in great numbers, 
 and make dreadful havock among the numerous herds 
 that cover the plains of the Lower Guinea. When 
 beafts of chafe fail, they fpare no living creature. 
 
 The negroes take them in pitfalls, flightly covered at 
 the top, and baited with flefh. Their chief inducement 
 for purfuing them is their flefh, which they eat, and is 
 faid to be white as veal, and well tailed. The ne- 
 
 N 
 
ip4 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 creffes make collars of their teeth, and wear them as 
 charms. 
 
 The fkins of thefe animals are brought to Europe^ 
 where they are greatly efteemed. 
 
 In India, there is a fpecies of Leopard about the fize 
 of a large Greyhound, with a fmall head, and fliort ears: 
 Its face, chin, and throat, of a pale-brown colour, in- 
 clining to yellow •, the body is of a light tawny-brown, 
 marked with fmall round black fpots, fcattered over the 
 back, fides, head, and legs 5 the hair on the top of the 
 neck is longer than the reft 5 the belly is white ; the tail 
 very long, marked on the upper fide with large black 
 fpots. 
 
 This is the animal, mentioned in our account of the 
 Antelope, which is made ufe of in India for hunting that 
 
 and other beafts of the chafe. It is carried in a fmall 
 
 kind of waggon, chained and hoodwinked till it ap- 
 proaches the herd ; when it is unchained, and fufFered 
 to purfue the game. It begins by creeping along, with 
 its belly clofe to the ground, (topping and concealing it- 
 felf till it gets an advantageous fituationj it then darts 
 on its prey with great agility, frequently making five or 
 fix amazing bounds. If it (hould not fucceed in its firft 
 effort, it gives up the point for that time, and readily re- 
 turns to its mailer. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS* 195 
 
 The ounce 
 
 is fmaller than the Leopard, being three feet and a half 
 long from the nofe to the tail, very ftrong, long-backed, 
 and fliort-legged. The hair is long, and of a light-grey 
 colour, tinged with yellow ; lighter on the breaft and 
 belly : The head is marked with fmall round fpots ; Be= 
 hind each ear there is a large black fpot : The back is 
 beautifully varied with a number of oval figures, formed 
 by fmall fpots almoft touching each other ; the fpots on 
 the fides are more irregular; thofe on the legs and thighs 
 fmall, and thinly difperfed : The tail is full of hair, irre- 
 gularly marked with large black fpots, and upwards of 
 three feet long. 
 
 It is common in Barbary, Perfia, and China ; is much 
 more gentle than the Leopard; and, like the Hunting- 
 Leopard, is fometimes trained to the chafe. Inftead of 
 being conveyed in a waggon, it is carried on the crupper 
 of the Horfe, is as much under command as a Setting- 
 Dog, returns at a call, and jumps up behind its niafler. 
 
 The fcent of the Ounce is not fo fine as that of the 
 Dog.— It neither follows animals by their foot, nor is it 
 
 N 2 
 
ig6 HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 
 
 able to overtake them in a continued chafe : It hunts 
 folely by the eye, and makes only a few fprings at its 
 prey. It is fo nimble, as to clear a ditch or a wall of 
 many feet. It often climbs trees to watch animals that 
 are paffing, and fuddenly darts upon them. 
 
 It is fiippofed to be the Lejpr Panther of Oppian, and 
 the Panthcra of Pliny. 
 
 The jaguar 
 
 is the mofl formidable animal of the new continent, ra- 
 ther larger than the Panther, with hair of a bright-tawny 
 colour. The top of the back is marked with long flripes 
 of black; the fides beautifully variegated with irregular 
 oblong fpots, open in the middle ; the tail not fo long as 
 that of the Ounce, and irregularly marked with large 
 black fpots. 
 
 It is found in the hotteft parts of South-America ; is 
 very fierce ; and, when preffed with hunger, will fome- 
 times venture to feize a man. 
 
 The Indians are much afraid of it, and think it prefers 
 them to the white inhabitants, who, perhaps, are better 
 
HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 197 
 
 prepared to repel its attacks. In travelling through the 
 deferts of Guiana, they light great fires in the night, of 
 which thefe animals are much afraid. 
 
 They howl dreadfully. Their cry, which is expreffive 
 of the two monofyllables — hou, hou^ is fomewhat plain- 
 tive, grave, and ftrong, like that of an Ox. 
 
 The Ant-eater, though it has no teeth to defend itfelf 
 with, is the moft cruel enemy the Jaguar has to encoun- 
 ter. As foon as the Jaguar attacks this little animal, it 
 lies down on its back, and, with jts long claws, feizes 
 and fufFocates him. 
 
 The COUGUAR 
 
 inhabits the continent of America, and is called by fome 
 the Puma., or American Lion ; but differs fo much from 
 that noble animal, as not to admit of any comparifon. — 
 Its head is fmall ; it has no mane ; its length, from nofe 
 to tail, is five feet three inches ; the tail two feet : The 
 predominant colour is a lively red, mixed with black ; 
 efpecially on the back, where It is darkeft : Its chin, 
 
 N 3 
 
ipS HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 throat, and all the inferior parts of its body, are wliitilh: 
 Its legs are long ; clav/s white ; and the outer claw of 
 the fore feet much longer than the others. 
 
 It is found in many parts of North- America, from Ca- 
 nada to Florida : It is alfo common in Guiana, Brazil, 
 and Mexico. 
 
 It is fierce and ravenous in the extreme, and will 
 fwim rivers to attack cattle even in their inclofures. — In 
 North-America, its fury feems to be fubdued by the ri- 
 gour of the climate ; for it will fly from a dog in com- 
 pany with its mailer, and take flielter by running up a 
 tree. 
 
 It is very deflrudlive to domeftic animals; particularly 
 to Hogs. It preys alfo upon the Moofe and other Deer ; 
 lies lurking upon the branch of a tree till fome of thefe 
 animals pafs underneath, when it drops down upon one 
 of them, and never quits its hold till it has drunk its 
 blood. It will even attack beafts of prey. In the Mu- 
 feum of the Royal Society is preferred the fldn of one of 
 thefe animals, which was fliot juft as it had feized a 
 Wolf. — When fatisfied with eating, it conceals the reft 
 
 of the carcafe, covering it carefully with leaves. It 
 
 purrs like a Cat, and fometimes howls dreadfully. 
 
 The fur is foft, and is ufed by the Indians for a win- 
 ter habit ; when drelTed, it is made into gloves and ftioes. 
 The flefli is white, and, by the natives, reckoned excel- 
 lent food. 
 
 The Couguar, when brought into captivity, is almoll 
 as gentle as the domeftic Cat, allows itfelf to be carelTed, 
 
 and will permit boys to mount on its back. It is 
 
 fometimes called the Peltron Tiger.. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 199 
 
 The BLACK-TIGER 
 
 differs from the former chiefly in the colour, which is 
 duflcy, fometimes fpotted with black, but generally plain. 
 The throat, belly, and infide of the legs, are of a pale- 
 afh colour; the upper lip white, covered with long whlf- 
 kers: Above each eye, it has very long hairs; and at the 
 corner of the mouth, a black fpot : Its paws are white ; 
 and its ears fliarp and pointed. 
 
 It grows to the fize of a heifer of a year old, and has 
 great ftrength in its limbs. 
 
 It inhabits Brazil and Guiana, is a cruel and fierce 
 animal, much dreaded by the Indians ; but fortunately 
 the fpecies is not numerous. 
 
 M. de la Borde, in his defcription of thefe animals, 
 fays, that they frequent the fea-fliore, and eat the eggs 
 depofited there by the turtles. They likewife eat cai- 
 mans- or alligators, lizards, and fifhes, and fometimes 
 the buds and tender leaves of the Indian fig. — They are 
 excellent fwimmers. — In order to catch the alligator, 
 they lie down on their belly at the edge of the river, 
 
 N 4 
 
200 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 ftrike the water to make a noife, and as foon as the alli- 
 gator raifes its head above the water, dart their claws in- 
 to its eyes, and drag it on fliore. 
 
 The ocelot. 
 
 The fkln of the male Ocelot is extremely beautiful, 
 and moll elegantly variegated. Its general colour is that 
 of a bright-tawny ; a black ftripe extends along the top 
 of the back, from head to tail; its forehead is fpotted 
 with black, as are alfo its legs ; its flioulders, fides, and 
 rump, are beautifully marbled with long (tripes of black, 
 forming oval figures, filled in the middle with fmall 
 black fpots ; its tail is irregularly marked with large 
 fpots, and black at the end. — The colours of the female 
 are not fo vivid as thofe of the male ; neither is it fo 
 beautifully marked. 
 
 The Ocelot very much refembles the common Cat in 
 the form of its body, although it is a great deal larger. 
 BufFon makes its height two feet and a half, and about 
 four feet in length. 
 
 It is a native of South-America, inhabits Mexico and 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 2oi 
 
 Brazil, is very voracious, but timid, and feldom attacks 
 men. It is afraid of dogs; and vidien purfued, flies to 
 the woods. 
 
 It lives chiefly in the mountains, and conceals itfelf 
 amongft the leaves of trees ; from whence it darts upon 
 fuch animals as come within its reach. It fometimes ex- 
 tends itfelf along the boughs, as if it were dead, till the 
 monkies, tempted by their natural curiofity, approach 
 within its reach. — It is faid to prefer the blood of ani- 
 mals to their flefli. 
 
 The Ocelot cannot eafily be tamed, and retains its ori- 
 ginal wildnefs in a flate of captivity. Nothing can foften 
 the natural ferocity of its difpofition, nor calm the refl- 
 lefTnefs of its motions. For this reafon, it is always kept 
 in a cage.-^ — One of thefe animals, fliewn at Newcaftle 
 ip 1788, although extremely old, exhibited gi-eat marks 
 of ferocity. It was kept clofely confined, and would not 
 admit of being carefled by its keeper in the fame manner 
 as the Lion ; but growled conflantly, and always appear- 
 ed in motion. — A male and female Ocelot were brought 
 to France fome years ago, which had been taken when 
 very young. At the age of three months, they became 
 fo ftrong and fierce, as to kill a bitch that was given 
 them for a nurfe. When a live Cat was thrown to 
 them, they fucked its blood, but would not tafte its flefh. 
 The male feemed to have a great fuperiority over the fe- 
 male, as he never allowed her to partake till his own ap- 
 petite was fatisfied. 
 
 The female Ocelot, like all the larger animals of the 
 Cat kind, produces a fmall number at a time. The two 
 above mentioned were the only young ones found with 
 the mother, which was killed at the time they were 
 
202 HISTORY OP QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 taken ; and makes it probable, that they bring forth only 
 that number. 
 
 The MARGAY 
 
 is another beautiful animal of the fpotted tribe, and 
 known in many places by the name of the Tiger Cat. 
 The ground colour of the body is tawny ; the face is 
 flriped with black ; the body is marked with ftripes and 
 large fpots of black ; the breaft, and infides of the legs, 
 are white, fpotted with black ; the tail is long, marked 
 with alternate fpots of black, tawny, and grey. 
 
 The Margay is fmaller than the Ocelot, and about the 
 fize of the Wild Cat, which it refembles in difpofition 
 
 and habit, living on fmall animals, birds, &c. It is 
 
 very wild, and cannot eafily be brought under fubjec- 
 tion. 
 
 Its colours vary, though they are generally fuch as 
 have been defcribed. 
 
 It is common in Guiana, Brazil, and various parts of 
 South-America. 
 
 It is called the Cayenne Caty and is not fo frequent in 
 temperate as in warm climates. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 203 
 
 In taking a furvey of this beautiful race of animals, we 
 are unavoidably led to obferve, that much remains for 
 the laborious refearches of the natural hiftorian, before a 
 complete account can be made out of the various kinds 
 of which it is compofed. — Several fpecies are frequently 
 found in the Eaft-Indies, in the woods near the Cape of 
 Good Hope, and in the continent of America; but in 
 general thefe have been fo negligently or fo injudicioufly 
 mentioned, as to render it impoffible to form a perfect 
 
 defcription of them. A good hiftory of thefe animals 
 
 is one of the many defiderata of the naturalift ; but when 
 we confider the great dillance which moft of this fero- 
 cious tribe obferve in their reparation from mankind, and 
 the dangers that mull be encountered in approaching 
 their folitary habitations, we are obliged to lament that 
 jhis defirable object is not likely to be foon accomplilhed. 
 
204 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The SERVAL 
 
 inhabits the mountainous parts of India; and is called, 
 by the natives of Malabar, the Marapute . — It is larger 
 than the Wild-Cat. — Its general colour is a pale-yellow; 
 ■white on the breaft and belly ; variegated with round 
 fpots, which are equally diftributed over every part of its 
 body : Its eyes are extremely brilliant, and have a wild, 
 piercing look ; its whiflcers are long and ftifF ; its tail 
 Ihort ; and its feet are armed with long hooked claws. 
 
 It is feldom to be feen upon the ground; but lives 
 chiefly in trees, where It makes its neft, and breeds its 
 young. It feeds on young birds, and leaps with great 
 agility from tree to tree. It is extremely fierce ; but a- 
 voids mankind, unlefs provoked ; when it darts furioufly 
 upon the offender, and teai's and bites nearly in the fame 
 manner as the Panther. 
 
 Sparrman mentions an animal of this kind, found at 
 the Cape of Good Hope, which he calls the Tiger Cat^ 
 and fuppofes to be the fame with the Serval. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 205 
 
 The fame author mentions another animal of this kind, 
 called at the Cape the Wild Red Cat ; the Ikin of which 
 is fuppofed by the natives to polTefs great medicinal 
 powers, and give eafe to perfons afflicted with the gout, 
 lumbago, and pains in the joints. The fur Is very fine 
 and foft ; And probably, there are many other (kins, 
 which, if applied with an equal degree of good faith, 
 might have the fame falutary eifedfs. 
 
 The colour of the upper part of this creature is of a 
 very bright-red ; towards the fides it is mixed with white 
 and grey *, the belly is white ; the upper part of the ears, 
 which have tufts of hair on their tips, is dark-brown, 
 fprinkled with grey. Its body is long, and about two 
 feet in height. 
 
 The WILD- cat. 
 
 The hiftory of this animal is fo intimately connedfed 
 with that of the common or domeflic kind, that we fliall 
 include our account of both under one general head, and 
 defcribe them as conftituting the fame fpecies. 
 
 The domeftic Cat, if fuffered to efcape into the woods, 
 becomes wild, and lives on fmall birds and fuch other 
 
2o6 history of qjjadrupeds. 
 
 game as it can find there. It likewife breeds with the 
 wild one. It is no uncommon thing for females of the 
 tame fpecies to quit their houfes during the time they are 
 in feafon, go in queft of male Wild-Cats, and return 
 to the fame habitations impregnated by them. It is by 
 this means, that fome of our domeftic Cats fo perfeftly 
 refemble thofe of the wild breed. 
 
 The hair of the Wild-Cat is foft and fine, of a pale- 
 yellow colour, mixed with grey ; a dufky lift runs along 
 the middle of the back, from head to tail ; the fides are 
 ftreaked with grey, pointing from the back downwards 5 
 the tail is thick, and marked with alternate bars of black 
 and white. It is larger and ftronger than the tame Cat, 
 and its fur much longer. 
 
 It inhabits the moft mountainous and woody parts of 
 this ifland, lives in trees, and hunts for birds and fmall 
 animals; fuch as rabbits, hares, rats, mice, moles, &c. 
 It frequently makes great havock among poultry; will 
 even kill young lambs, kids, and fawns ; and is the 
 fiercefl and moft deftruclive beaft of prey in this king- 
 dom. 
 
 It is taken either in traps, or by {hooting. There is 
 frequently danger in the latter mode; for if it be only 
 {lightly wounded, it will attack the perfon who has in- 
 jured it, and is not eafily repelled. 
 
 Wild-Cats are found, with very little variety, in almoft 
 every climate. — They exifted in America before its difco- 
 very by the Europeans. One of them was brought to 
 Columbus, which was of the ordinary fize, of a brown- 
 i{h-grey colour, with a long tail. — They are common in 
 many places of Afia and Africa. — Sparrman gives a de- 
 fcription of one which he {hot at the Cape, which was in 
 every refpeft fimilar to thofe of this country. It was of 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 207 
 
 a grey colour; and meafured, from the nofe to the tail, 
 nearly twenty-two inches : The tail was thirteen inches 
 long ; Its height was about a foot and a half. Its intef- 
 tines were full of moles and rats. 
 
 Some Wild-Cats have been taken in this kingdom of a 
 moft enormous fize. We recolledl; one having been kill- 
 ed in the county of Cumberland, which meafured, from 
 its nofe to the end of its tall, upwards of five feet. 
 
 The province of Chorazan, in Perfia, is particularly 
 famous for a moll beautiful Caty about the fize of the 
 tame one, of a fine grey colour, without any mixture, 
 and as foft and fnining as filk. It is darker on the back, 
 foftening by degrees towards the breaft and belly, where 
 it is almofl; white. The tail is long, and covered with 
 hair, five or fix inches in length. The animal frequent- 
 ly turns it upon its back, like a fquirrel ; the point of it 
 refembling a plume of feathers. 
 
 The Cat of Angora differs greatly from the Wild-Cat, 
 in having much longer hair, efpecially about the neck, 
 where it forms a fine ruff, and gives it a lion-like appear- 
 ance. Some of thefe are of a filvery whitenefs, and filky 
 texture ; others are of a dun colour, mixed with yellow. 
 
2o8 history of qjjadrupeds. 
 
 The Domestic CAT 
 
 differs from the Wild-Cat, in being fomewhat lefs ; and, 
 inftead of being uniformly the fame, is diftinguifhed by 
 a great variety of fhades and colouring. 
 
 To defcribe an animal fo well known, might feem a 
 fuperfluous tafk: We fliall only, therefore, feleft fuch of 
 its peculiarities as are leaft obvious, and may have efca» 
 ped the notice of inattentive obfervers. 
 
 It is generally remarked, that Cats can fee in the dark; 
 but, though this is not abfolutely the cafe, yet it is cer- 
 tain that they can fee with much lefs light than mofl 
 other animals, owing to the peculiar ftrudfure of their 
 eyes, the pupils of which are capable of being contra£led 
 or dilated in proportion to the degree of light by which 
 they are affefted. The pupil of the Cat, during the day, 
 is perpetually contradfed ; and it is with difficulty that it 
 can fee by a ftrong light : But in the twilight, the pupil 
 refumes its natural roundnefs, the animal enjoys perfedl 
 
HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 209 
 
 Vifion, and takes advantage of this fuperiority to dlfcover 
 and furprize its prey. 
 
 The cry of the Cat is loud, piercing, and clamorous 5 
 and whether exprellive of anger or of love, is equally vi- 
 olent and hideous. — Its call may be heard at a great dif- 
 tance j and is fo well known to the whole fraternity, 
 that on fome occafions feveral hundred Cats have been 
 brought together from different parts. Invited by the 
 piercing cries of diftrefs from a fuffering fellow-creature, 
 they affemble in crowds ; and, with loud fqualls and 
 yells, exprefs their horrid fympathies. They frequently 
 tear the miferable obje£I to pieces ; and, with the moffc 
 blind and furious rage, fall upon each other, killing and 
 wounding indifcriminately, till there is fcarcely one left. 
 Thefe terrible conflidls happen only in the night; and, 
 though rare, inftances of very furious engagements are 
 well authenticated. 
 
 The Cat is particularly averfe to water, cold, and bad 
 fmells.— It is fond of certain perfumes ; but is more par- 
 ticularly attra£led by the fmell of valerian, marum, and 
 cat-mint. It rubs itfelf againft them ; and, if not pre- 
 vented from coming at them in a garden where they are 
 planted, would infallibly, deftroy them. 
 
 The Cat brings forth twice, and fometimes thrice, a 
 year. The period of her geftation is fifty-five or fifty-fix 
 days ; and fire generally produces five or fix at one litter. 
 She conceals her kittens from the male, left he flrould 
 devour them, as he is fometimes inclined ; and, if appre- 
 henfive of being difturbed, will take them up in her 
 mouth, and remove them one by one to a more fecure 
 retreat: Even the female herfelf, contrary to the efta- 
 blilhed law of Nature, which binds the parent to its oft- 
 
 O 
 
2X0 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 fpring by an almoft InclilToIuble tie, is fometimes known 
 to eat her own young the moment after flie has produced 
 them. 
 
 Though extremely ufeful in deftroying the vermin that 
 infeft our houfes, the Cat feems little attached to the 
 perfons of thofe that afford it proteftion. It feems to be 
 under no fubje£Hon, and a6ts only for itfelf. All its 
 views are confined to the place where it has been brought 
 up; if carried elfewhere, it feems lofl and bewildered: 
 Neither carelfes nor attention can reconcile it to its new 
 fituation ; and it frequently takes the lirfl opportunity of 
 efcaping to its former haunts. — Frequent inftances are in 
 our recolledfion, of Cats having returned to the place 
 from whence they had been carried, though at many 
 miles diftance, and even acrofs rivers, when they could 
 not poffibly have any knowledge of the road or fituation 
 that would apparently lead them to it. — This extraordi- 
 nary faculty is, however, pofTeffed in a much greater de- 
 gree by Dogs ; yet it is in both animals equally wonder- 
 ful and unaccountable. 
 
 In the time of Hoel the Good, king of Wales, wha 
 died in the year 948, laws were made as well to pre- 
 ferve, as to fix the different prices of animals; among 
 which the Cat was included, as being at that period of 
 great importance, on account of its fcarcity and utility. 
 The price of a kitten before it could fee was fixed at one 
 penny; till proof could be given of its having caught a 
 moufe, two-pence ; after which it was rated at four- 
 pence, which was a great fum in thofe days, when the 
 value of fpecie was extremely high : It was likewife re- 
 quired, that it fhould be perfedl in its fenfes of hearing 
 and feeing, fliould be a good moufer, have its claws 
 whole, and, if a female, be a careful nurfe : If it failed 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 211 
 
 in any of thefe good qualities, the feller was to forfeit to 
 the buyer the third part of its value. — If any one fhould 
 fteal or kill the Cat that guarded the prince’s granary, he 
 was either to forfeit a milch ewe, her fleece, and lamb, 
 or as much wheat as, when poured on the Cat fufpended 
 by its tail (its head touching the floor), would form a 
 
 heap high enough to cover the tip of the former. 
 
 From hence we may conclude, that Cats were not ori- 
 ginally natives of thefe iflands ; and, from the great care 
 taken to improve and preferve the breed of this prolific 
 creature, we may fuppofe, were but little known at that 
 
 period. -Whatever credit we may allow to the cir- 
 
 cumftances of the well-known (lory of Whittington and 
 his Cat, it is another proof of the great value fet upon 
 this animal in former times. 
 
 O 
 
 •*0 
 
212 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS, 
 
 The lynx 
 
 differs greatly from every animal of the Cat kind we 
 have hitherto defcribed. Its ears are long and ere£f, 
 tufted at the end with long black hairs, by which this 
 fpecles of animals is peculiarly diftinguiflred : The hair 
 on the body is long and foft, of a red-afh colour, marked 
 with dufky fpots, which differ according to the age of 
 the creature j fometimes they are fcarcely vifible : Its 
 legs and feet are very thick and ftrong ; its tail fhort, 
 and black at the extremity ; its eyes are of a pale-yellow 
 colour ; and its afpedl fofter and lefs ferocious than that 
 of the Panther or the Ounce. The fkini of the male is 
 more fpotted than that of the female. 
 
 The fur is valuable for its foftnefs and warmth, and is 
 Imported in great quantities from America and the North 
 of Europe. — -The farther North they are taken, the whi- 
 ter they are, and the fpots more diftindf. — The moft ele- 
 gant of thofe is called the Irbys ; and is taken near lake 
 Balkafh, in Ufbec Tartary, It is much larger than the 
 common kind. Its Ikin fells in that country for one 
 
213 
 
 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 pound fterling. — The colour of its hair changes with the 
 climate and the feafon. The winter furs are richer and 
 more beautiful than thofe taken in fummer. 
 
 The Lynx is faid to be very long-lived, is a very de- 
 ftru6tive animal, lives by hunting, and purfues its prey 
 to the tops of the higheft trees. It feeds on Weafels, 
 Ermines'^ Squirrels, &c. which are unable to efcape it. 
 It watches the approach of the Fallow-deer, Hare, and 
 other animals ; and darts upon them from the branches 
 of trees, where it lies concealed ; feizes them by the 
 throat, and drinks their blood ; after which, it abandons 
 them, and goes in quell of frelh game. — Its fight is re- 
 markably quick ; and it fees its prey at a great dillance. 
 — It often eats no more of a Sheep or a Goat than the 
 brain, the liver, and the intellines. It will fometimes 
 dig under the doors to gain admiffion into the Iheepfold. 
 
 When attacked by a Dog, it lies down on its back, 
 
 Itrikes defperately with its claws, and frequently obliges 
 its affaiiant to retreat. 
 
 Although the Lynx has nothing in common with the 
 Wolf, it has been diftinguiflied by the name of Lupus- 
 CervariuSy or the Stag-Wolf Its manner of howling is 
 fimilar to that of the Wolf; and when heard at a dif- 
 tance, is not eafily diftinguiflied from the cry of that ani- 
 mal. The epithet cervarius has been added, becaufe its 
 Ikin is variegated with fpots like that of a young Stag. 
 
 A variety is found in the inner parts of the province 
 of New-York, which is called the Bay Lynx^ and is a- 
 bout twice the fize of a large Cat. Its hair is Ihort and 
 fmooth ; its general colour is a bright-bay, obfcurely 
 marked with dulky fpots; on its face there are black 
 
 O 3 
 
214 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 ftripes, pointing downward towards the nofe ; on each 
 fide of the upper lip it has three rows of fmall black 
 fpots, with long whilkers ifluing from them ; each cheek 
 is marked with long black Ilripes, of a circular form 
 proceeding from the corners of the eyes ; the under part 
 of the body, and infides of the legs, are white; the in- 
 fide of each fore leg is marked on the upper part with 
 two black bars ; its tail, which is flrort, is marked with 
 bars of a dufky colour, and at the end with one of a 
 deep-black ; the tip and under fide are white. 
 
 The Lynxes of our days muft be very different animals 
 from thofe which have been defcribed by poets as draw- 
 ing the chariot of Bacchus ; for, befide the impra£tica- 
 bility of training thefe animals to the yoke, we find, that 
 the Lynx is not an inhabitant of India, nor of any of the 
 warmer countries of Afia conquered by that hero. — It 
 prefers cold to even temperate climates; and is common 
 in the forefts of the northern parts of Europe, Afia, and 
 America. 
 
 The ancients feem to have given the name of Lynx to 
 an animal which exifted only in imagination, and may be 
 ranked with their other ideal monfters and prodigies, — 
 the Sphynx, the Pegafus, and the Unicorn. — Its fight 
 was faid to penetrate the moft opaque bodies, and its 
 Virine to be converted into a precious ftone. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 215 
 
 The caracal 
 
 refembles the Lynx In fize, figure, and afpedb, as well 
 as in having its ears tipt with a pencil of black hairs. — It 
 differs from the laft-mentioned animal, in not being fpot- 
 ted ; its hair is rougher, and of a pale reddifli-brown ; 
 its tail is longer, and of an uniform colour ; its face is 
 more lengthened, its look more fierce, and its nature and 
 difpofition more favage. 
 
 This animal is found only in warm climates ; and Is 
 common in Perfia, India, Barbary, and In all the coun- 
 tries inhabited by the Lion, the Panther, and the Ounce. 
 — It is called in Perfia the Syah-Gujh ; and in the Turk- 
 ifh language, the Karrah-Kulak. Both thefe names fig- 
 nify the Cat with black Ears . — It is faid to follow the 
 Lion, and to feed on the remains which that animal 
 leaves of his prey ; for which reafon it is called among 
 the Arabs the Lion’s Guide. 
 
 The Caracal is about the fize of a Foxj but much 
 O 4 
 
2i6 history of quadrupeds. 
 
 ftronger, and more ferocious. It has been known to at- 
 tack a Hound, and inftantly tear it to pieces. 
 
 This animal is extremely difiieult to tame ; but when 
 taken young, and reared with great caution, it may be 
 
 trained to the chafe. It is ufed in taking the fmall- 
 
 er fort of animals, in which it is very fuccefsful ; but it 
 is aftive only in the purfuit of thofe that are too fee- 
 ble for refiftance, or too timid to exert their powers. 
 Whenever it meets with one that is fuperior to it in 
 fti'ength, it lofes its courage, and gives up the chafe. — . 
 It is likewife employed in catching birds ; fuch as cranes, 
 pelicans, peacocks, See. ; which it furprizes with fingular 
 addrefs. — When it has feized its prey, it holds it fall in 
 its mouth, and lies upon it for fome time quite motion- 
 lefs. 
 
 There are fome varieties in this animal. — The face of 
 the Niibiati Caracal is rounder ; the ears black on the 
 outfide, interfperfed with filver-coloured hairs ; on the 
 brealt, belly, and infides of the thighs, there are fmall 
 bright-yellow fpots •, and it has the mule crofs on the 
 withers, like molt of the Barbary Caracals. 
 
 In Lybia, there are Caracals with white ears, tufted 
 at the end with thin black hairs : They have white tails, 
 the extremities of which are furrounded with four black 
 rings ; and on the hind part of each leg, there are four 
 black fpots. They are fmall, not exceeding the fize of a 
 tlomellic Cat. 
 
 We have now gone through all the principal varieties 
 which conllitute this numerous race ; in all of which, as 
 has been already obferved, from the Lion to the common 
 Cat, we may perceive a Itriking fimilitude in difpolitionj 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 217 
 
 form, and manners. This agreement is likewife obferva- 
 ble in their internal conformation, which is ftill more ex- 
 3(3:, — in the fhortnefs of their inteftines, the fliarpnefs 
 and number of their teeth, and in the ftru<3ure of their 
 feet and claws. They are all equally carnivorous; and 
 tear, rather than chew their meat. They eat flowly ; 
 and growl whilfl; they feed, as if afraid of lofing their 
 prey. They are all cowardly, and feldom make an at- 
 tack but where conqueft is certain. 
 
 Animals of this race may be confidered as the mofl; 
 formidable enemies of mankind. There are others more 
 powerful ; but their difpofitions are milder ; and they 
 feldom offend till they find themfelves injured: Others 
 are more numerous; but they are weaker, and find their 
 fafety not in oppofing, but in Hying from man. Thefe 
 are the only quadrupeds that in any degree make good 
 their ground againft him, and maintain a kind of divided 
 fway over many fair and fertile tra<3s, that feem, in other 
 ?efpe(3s, formed for the comfort and convenience of fo» 
 cial life. 
 
2iS HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 Animals of the WEASEL Kind. 
 HESE little, aftive, and enterprizing animals are 
 
 particularly diftinguiflied from other carnivorous 
 kinds, by the length and flendernefs of their bodies, 
 which are admirably adapted to their manner of living, 
 and methods of taking their prey. They are fo fmall 
 and flexible, as to wind like worms into very fmall ere-, 
 vices and openings ; whither they eafily follow the little 
 animals that ferve them for food. 
 
 All the animals of this kind are furnilhed with fmall 
 glands, placed near the anus, from which an unftuous 
 matter continually exudes : The effluvia of it is extreme- 
 ly ofFenfive in the Polecat, Ferret, Weafel, &c. ; but in 
 the Civet Cat, Martin, and Pine Weafel, it is an agree- 
 able perfume. — They are all equally marked for rapine 
 and cruelty : They fubfifl only by theft, and find their 
 chief proteftion in their minutenefs. They are all, from 
 the fhortnefs of their legs, flow in purfuit ; and make up 
 that deficiency by patience, alflduity, and cunning. 
 
 As their prey is precarious, they can live a long time 
 without food. When they fall in with plenty, they im- 
 mediately kill every thing within their reach, before they 
 begin to fatisfy their appetite; and always fuck the blood 
 of every animal they kill, before they eat its flefli. 
 
 Thefe are the principal peculiarities common to this 
 kind ; all the fpecies of which have fo ftriking a refem- 
 blance to each other, that having feen one, we may form 
 a very juft idea of the reft. — The moft obvious difference 
 confifts in their fize. ,We fhall therefore begin with the 
 fmalleft of this numerous clafs, and proceed gradually 
 upwards to the largeft. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 219 
 
 The weasel. 
 
 The length of this animal does not exceed fevert 
 inches, from the nofe to the tail ; which is only two 
 inches and a half long, and ends in a point : Its height 
 is not above two inches and a half ; fo that it is nearly 
 five times as long as it is high. 
 
 The moft prevailing colour of the Weafel is a pale 
 reddifli-brown on the back, fides, and legs; the throat 
 and belly are white ; beneath the corners of the mouth, 
 on each jaw, is a fpot of brown. It has whifkers, like a 
 Cat ; Its ears are large, and have a fold at the lower 
 part, that gives them the appearance of being double; 
 its eyes are fmall, round, and black ; its teeth are thirty- 
 two in number, and extremely fharp. 
 
 The Weafel is very common, and well known in moft 
 parts of this country ; is very deftru£live to young birds, 
 poultry, rabbits, &c. ; and is a keen devourer of eggs, 
 which it fucks with great avidity. It will follow a hare, 
 which is terrified into a ftate of abfolute imbecility at the 
 fight of this little animal, and gives itfelf up to it with- 
 out refiftance, making at the fame time the moft piteous 
 outcries. 
 
220 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The bite of the Weafel is generally fatal. It feizes its 
 prey near the head, and fixes its fharp teeth into a vital 
 part. A hare, rabbit, or any other fmall animal, bit in 
 this manner, is never known to recover ; but lingers for 
 fome time, and dies. The wound is fo fmall, that the 
 place where the teeth enter can fcarcely be perceived. 
 
 It is remarkably aftive ; and will run up the Tides of a 
 wall with fuch facility, that no place is fecure from it. 
 
 The Weafel is very ufeful to the farmer, and much en- 
 couraged by him. During winter, it frequents his barns, 
 out-houfes, and granaries ; which it effedlually clears of 
 rats and mice. It is, indeed, a more deadly enemy to 
 them than even the Cat itfelf; for, being more a£tive 
 and fiender, it purfues them into their holes, and kills 
 them after a fliort refiftance. It creeps alfo into pigeon 
 holes, and deftroys the young ones; catches fparrows, 
 and all kinds of fmall birds ; and when it has brought 
 forth its young. It hunts with ftill greater boldnefs and 
 avidity. — In fummer, it ventures at a diftance from its 
 ufual haunts ; is frequently found by the fide of waters, 
 near corn-mills; and is almofl; fure to follow wherever a 
 fwarm of rats has taken pofleffion of any place. 
 
 The evening is the time when it begins its depreda- 
 tions. Towards the clofe of the day, it may frequently 
 be feen ftealing from its hole, and creeping about the 
 farmer’s yard in fearch of Its prey. If it enter the place 
 where poultry are kept, it feldom attacks the cocks or 
 the old hens, but always aims at the young ones. It 
 does not eat its prey on the fpot where it has killed it ; 
 but, where it is not too large, carries it away to its re- 
 treat. It alfo breaks and fucks all the eggs it can meet 
 with; and, not unfrequently, kills the hen that attempts 
 to defend them. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 221 
 
 The Weafel is a wild and untraftable little animal. 
 When kept in a cage, it feems in a continual ftate of 
 agitation, is terrified at the fight of every perfon that ap- 
 proaches to look at it, and hides itfelf in the wool or hay 
 which is given to it for that purpofe. 
 
 It conveys all its food to its hiding-place, and will not 
 touch it till it . begin to putrefy. — It palTes the greateft 
 part of the day in fleeping, and ufually employs the night 
 in exercife and eating. 
 
 The female brings forth in the fpring, and generally 
 produces four or five at one litter. She prepares a bed 
 for them of ftraW, leaves, and mofs. The young are 
 brought forth blind ; but very foon acquire ftrength 
 enough to follow their dam, and alfift in her excurfions. 
 They will attack ferpents, water-rats, moles, field-mice. 
 See, : They overrun the meadows *, and frequently kill 
 the partridges, and fuck their eggs. 
 
 The motion of the Weafel confifts of unequal and pre- 
 cipitant leaps -, and in climbing a tree, it makes a confi- 
 derable fpring of fome feet from the ground. It jumps 
 in the fame manner upon its prey j and being extremely 
 limbe^ evades the attempts of? much ftronger animals to 
 feize It. 
 
 We are told, that an eagle having fei'zed a Weafel, 
 mounted into the air with it, and was foon after obferved 
 to be in great diftrefs. Its little enemy had extricated it- 
 felf fo far, as to be able to bite it feverely in the throat; 
 which prefently brought the eagle to the ground, and 
 gave the Weafel an opportunity of efcaping. 
 
 Notwithftanding the wildnefs of its nature, there are 
 not wanting inftances to prove, that it is capable of being 
 thoroughly tamed. M. Buffon, who afferted the impolli- 
 bility of bringing the Weafel into any degree of fubjec- 
 
222 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 tion, is afterwards corre£led by a lady; who afTures him, 
 that file had tried the experiment upon a young Weafei 
 taken in her garden ; whieh foon learned to recognize 
 and lick the hand from which it received its food, and 
 became as familiar, carefling, and frolicfome, as a dog or 
 a fquirrel. The fame author mentions another experi- 
 ment, made by a gentleman; who trained a young Wea- 
 fei fo completely, that it followed him wherever he went. 
 — The method of taming them is to ftroke them gently 
 over the back ; and to threaten, and even to beat them, 
 when they bite. 
 
 Thefe fa£ls may ferve to fhew the poflTibility of render- 
 ing this animal domeftic; and hold out a ufeful hint to 
 us, that its fervices might be very great in clearing fhips, 
 granaries, and other places, from the vermin with which 
 they are frequently infefted : For it is very well known, 
 that one of thefe animals will kill more rats and mice 
 than any Cat, being better able to purfue them into their 
 holes and lurking-places. 
 
 The odour of the Weafei is very flrong, efpecially in 
 the fummer time, or when it is irritated or purfued ; it is 
 then intolerable, and may be fmelt at feme diftance. 
 
 The following circumftance, related by BufFoi^, will 
 (hew, that this animal has a natural attachment to every 
 thing that is corrupt: — A Weafei was taken in his neigh- 
 bourhood, with three young ones, out of the carcafe of a 
 Wolf that had been hung on a tree by the hind feet. 
 The Wolf was almofl: entirely putrefied; and the Weafei 
 had made a neft of leaves and herbage for her young in 
 the thorax of the putrid carcafe. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 223 
 
 The stoat. 
 
 The difFerence In fliape between this animal and the 
 Weafel is fo fmall, that they have frequently been de- 
 fcribed under the fame denomination ; the fmall Stoat 
 being fometimes miftaken for a Weafel. 
 
 Its length is about ten Inches ; the tail five inches and 
 a half, very hairy, and tipt with black at the end; the 
 edges of the ears, and the ends of the toes, are of a yel- 
 lowifli-white : In other refpedls, it perfedUy refembles 
 the Weafel in colour as well as form. 
 
 In the moll northern parts of Europe, it regularly 
 changes its colour in winter, and becomes perfectly 
 white ; except the end of the tail, which remains inva- 
 riably black. It is then called the Ermine ; and is much 
 fought after for its valuable fur, which makes a confider- 
 able article of commerce in Norway, Lapland, Ruflia, 
 and other cold countries; where it Is found in prodigious 
 numbers. — It is alfo very common in Kamtfchatka and 
 Siberia, and is taken in traps baited with flefli. The 
 
224 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 Ikins are fold in the country for from two to three 
 pounds fterling per hundred. — In Norway, they are ei- 
 ther fhot with blunt arrows, or taken in traps made of 
 two flat ftones, one being propped up with a flick, to 
 •which is faflened a baited firing ; and as foon as the ani- 
 mal begins to nibble, the flone falls down, and crufhes it 
 
 to death. The Stoat is likewife found white in the 
 
 winter time in Great-Britain, and is then erroneoully 
 called a White Weafel. Its fur, however, among us, is 
 of little value, having neither the thicknefs, the clofenefs, 
 nor the whitenefs, of thofe which come from Siberia. 
 
 One of them, which we had in our pofTefllon, had en- 
 tirely aflumed its winter robe ; but with a confiderable 
 mixture of yellow, efpecially on the top of the head and 
 back. 
 
 They begin to change from brown to white in Novem- 
 ber, and refume their fummer veflure in March. 
 
 The natural hiflory of this animal is much the fame 
 with that of the Weafel; its food being young birds, 
 rabbits, mice, &c; its agility the fame; and its fcent 
 equally fetid. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 225 
 
 The ferret 
 
 is only known to us in a kind of domeftic ftate. — It is 
 originally a native of Africa; from whence, according to 
 Strabo, it was brought into Spain ; and, from its known 
 enmity to the Rabbit, was made ufe of to reduce the 
 numbers of them with which that kingdom abounded. 
 It has fince been employed for the fame purpofe in vari- 
 ous parts of Europe ; but as It is not able to bear the fe- 
 verity of a cold climate, it cannot fubfifl without great 
 care and fhelter. It is ufually kept in a box, with wool ; 
 of which it makes itfelf a warm bed. It lleeps a great 
 part of the day ; and the moment it awakes, feems eager 
 for Its food, which is commonly bread and milk. 
 
 It breeds twice a year. The female goes fix weeks 
 with young. Some of them devour their offspring as 
 foon as they are brought forth ; when they immediately 
 come In feafon again, and have three litters, which gene- 
 rally confifl of five or fix, but fometimes feven or eight, 
 and even nine. 
 
 It is apt to degenerate In this country, and lofe in 
 P 
 
226 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 fome degree its ferocity. Warreners are therefore obli- 
 ged to procure an intercourfe between the female and the 
 Foumart. The produce is a breed of a much darker co- 
 lour than the Ferret, partaking more of that of the Fou- 
 mart. 
 
 Its length is about fourteen Inches ; that of the tail 
 
 O * 
 
 five; Its nofe is fliarper than that of the Weafel or the 
 Foumart ; its ears are round ; and its eyes red and fiery : 
 The colour of the whole body Is a very pale yellow. 
 
 The Ferret is naturally fuch an enemy to the Rabbit, 
 that if a dead Rabbit be laid before a young Ferret, it 
 inftantly feizes upon it, although it has never feen one 
 before : If a living Rabbit be prefented to it, the Ferret 
 is ftill more eager, feizes it by the neck, winds itfelf 
 round it, and continues to fuck its blood till it be fa- 
 tiated. — When employed in the bufinefs of the warren, 
 it muft be muzzled, that it may not kill the Rabbits in 
 their holes; but only oblige them to come out, that the 
 warrener may catch them in his nets. If the Ferret be 
 fuffered to go in without a muzzle, or fhould difengage 
 itfelf from it whilft in the hole, there is great danger of 
 lofing it : For, after fatisfying itfelf with blood, it falls 
 afleep ; and it is then almoil impoflible to come at it. — 
 The moll ufual methods of recovering the Ferret are, by 
 digging it out, or fmoking the hole. If thefe do not 
 fucceed, it continues during the fummer among the Rab- 
 bit holes, and lives upon tlie prey It finds there; but 
 being unable to endure the cold of the winter, is fure to 
 perifli. 
 
 It is fometimes employed with great fuccefs in killing 
 Rats, and is frequently kept in granaries and mills for 
 that purpofe. It is extremely vigilant in the purfuit of 
 them, and will not fulFer one to live where it is.-— -A 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 227 
 
 young Ferret, after it has felzed a Rat, will fuffer itfelf 
 to be dragged by it a confiderable way before it has kill- 
 ed it, which it never fails to do in a fhort time. 
 
 If the Ferret could be kept M^arm enough at fea, it 
 might be extremely ferviceable in deftroying the Rats, 
 which frequently commit fuch great depredations on 
 board of fhips, and have fometimes been the occafion of 
 their total lofs. 
 
 The Ferret, though eafily tamed, is foon irritated. — Its 
 odour is fetid ; its nature voracious ; it is tame without 
 attachment ; and fuch is its appetite for blood, that it 
 has been known to attack and kill children in the cradle. 
 - — When angry, it is apt to bite ; and the wound is diffi- 
 cult: to cure. 
 
 The Madagafcar Weafel^ or Vanjtre of M. Buffon, may 
 be referred to this fpecies; to which its fize and form 
 
 are ftrikingly fimilar. It is about fourteen inches in 
 
 length : The hair is of a dark-brown colour, mixed with 
 black ; It differs from the Ferret in the number of its 
 grinding-teeth, which amount to twelve; whereas, in the 
 Ferret, there are but eight : The tail is longer than that 
 of the Ferret, and better furnlfhed with hair. 
 
 The fame author mentions another animal of this fpe- 
 cles under the name of the Nems, which is a native of 
 Arabia. — It refembles the Ferret in every thing but the 
 colour, being of a dark-brown, mixed with white ; the 
 belly is of a bright-yellow colour, without any mixture ; 
 the prevailing colour on the head and round the eyes is a 
 clear yellow ; on the nofe, cheeks, and other parts of the 
 face where the hair Is fficrt, a tinfture of brown more or 
 lefs prevails, and terminates gradually above the eyes; 
 
 P 2 
 
228 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 the legs are covered with Ihort hair, of a deep-yellow co* 
 lour; on each foot there are four toes, and a fmall one 
 behind ; the claws are fmall and black ; the tail, which 
 is more than double the length of that of the Ferret, is 
 very thick at its origin, terminates in a point, and is co- 
 vered with long hair, fimilar to that on the body. 
 
 The foumart, 
 
 fo called from its offenfive fmell, as well as to diftin- 
 guifh it from the Martin, to which it bears a ftrong re- 
 femblance. It is likewife called the Polecat, or Fitchet } 
 and is the Putois of M. BufFon, and the Putoriiis of Ray. 
 
 Its length is about feventeen inches, exclufive of the 
 tall, which is fix inches ; its eyes are fmall, very bril- 
 liant, and when the animal is irritated or afraid, fhine in 
 the dark with fingular luftre; its ears are fhort, broad, 
 and tipt with white on their edges ; it is white about the 
 mouth; the reft of the body is for the moft part of a 
 deep-chocolate colour; the Cdes are covered with hairs 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 229 
 
 of two colours ; the ends being dark like the reft of the 
 body, and the middle of a full tawny colour. 
 
 The (hape of the Foumart, like all others of this ge- 
 nus, is long and flender, the nofe lharp-pointed, and the 
 legs ftiort ; the toes are long, and the claws ftrarp. It is 
 in every refpedl admirably formed for that peculiar mode 
 of life afligned to it by the all-wife Author of Nature. 
 
 It is very aftive and nimble, runs very fall, and will 
 creep up the fides of walls with great agility. In run- 
 ning, its belly feems to touch the ground •, in preparing 
 to jump, it arches its back, and makes its fpring with 
 great force. 
 
 It is very deftruclive to poultry, pigeons, and young 
 game of all kinds. It makes great havock amongft rab- 
 bits ; and its thirft for blood is fo great, that it kills ma- 
 ny more than it can eat. One or two of them will al- 
 moft deftroy a whole warren. 
 
 It is never feen abroad in the day time, unlefs forced 
 from its hole; and is feldom hunted but in the winter, 
 being at that feafon eafily found by tracing its footfteps 
 
 in the fnow. It generally refides in woods or thick 
 
 brakes ; where it burrows under ground, forming a fhal- 
 low retreat about two yards in length, commonly ending 
 among the roots of trees. 
 
 In the winter feafon, it frequents houfes, barns, &c. 
 
 feeding on poultry, eggs, and fometimes milk. But it 
 
 has another mode of procuring fubfiftence, w'hich has 
 hitherto efcaped the obfervation of the naturalift j and 
 which, though fingular, we can vouch for the truth of. 
 During a fevere ftorm, one of thefe animals w'as traced 
 in the fnow from the fide of a rivulet to its hole, at fome 
 diftance from it : At it was obferved to have made fre;* 
 
 P 3 
 
230 HISTORY OF C^ADRUPEDS. 
 
 quent trips, and as other marks were to be feen in the 
 fnow which could not eafily be accounted for, it was 
 thought a matter worthy of greater attention : Its hole 
 was accordingly examined, the Foumart taken, and ele- 
 ven fine eels were difcovered to be the fruits of its noc- 
 turnal excurfions. The marks in the fnow were found 
 to have been made by the motion of the eels in the crea- 
 ture’s mouth. 
 
 From the above curious circumftance, we have given 
 a reprefentation of this animal (which was drawn from 
 the life) in poflefiion of this fingular booty. — It may be 
 matter of curious inveftigation for fome future naturalifi;, 
 to enquire by what arts this wily animal finds a booty fo 
 apparently difficult to attain. 
 
 In attending to the inftindfive faculties of animals, 
 there is room for deep and diligent enquiry ; and, though 
 our progrefs is liable to many interruptions, it is a de- 
 lightful talk to follow the workings of Nature through all 
 her intricate and curious windings : Every ftep we gain 
 is a fufficient reward for our trouble, and leads us to 
 admire the wifdom and goodnefs of that Difpenfation 
 which furniflies every creature with fufficient and ample 
 powers to provide for all its wants, neceffities, and com- 
 forts. 
 
 The female Foumart brings forth in the fummer, ge- 
 nerally five or fix at a time. She fuckles them but a 
 fhort time, and accuftoms them early to live upon blood 
 and eggs. 
 
 Though the fmell of this animal is rank and difagreea- 
 ble, even to a proverb ; yet the fkin is dreft with the hair 
 on, and ufed as other furs, without retaining its offenfive 
 odour. 
 
 The Foumart is very fierce and bold. When attacked 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 231 
 
 by a dog, it will defend itfelf with great fpirit, attack in 
 its turn, and fallen upon the nofe of its enemy with fo 
 keen a bite, as frequently to oblige him to defill. 
 
 The PINE-WEASEL, or Yellow= 
 BREASTED MARTIN, 
 
 inhabits the North of Europe, Afia, and America : It 
 is likewife found in Great-Biitain, but is not numerous 
 there. — It lives chiefly in large forefts ; efpecially where 
 the pine-tree abounds, of the tops of which it is very 
 fond. 
 
 North-America abounds with thefe animals. Prodi- 
 gious numbers of their fldns are annually imported from 
 thence : Above thirty thoufand Ikiris have been brought 
 over from Canada in one year, and from Hudfon’s Bay 
 tiearly fifteen thoufand in the fame time. 
 
 The principal difference between the Pine-Weafel and 
 P 4 
 
232 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 the Martin is in the colour. The breaft of the former is 
 yellow; the colour of the body much darker; and the 
 fur, in general, greatly fuperior in fincnefs, beauty, and 
 value. 
 
 The martin 
 
 is much more common in this country than the Pine- 
 Weafel. — It lives wholly in woods, and breeds in the hol- 
 lows of trees. It produces from four to fix young ones 
 at a time. 
 
 This fpecies is the moft beautiful of all the Weafel 
 kind. Its head is fmall, and elegantly formed ; its eyes 
 are lively; and its motions quick and graceful. 
 
 When taken young, it is eafily tamed, and becomes 
 extremely playful and good-humoured. Its attachment, 
 however, is not to be depended upon. It readily takes 
 advantage of the firft opportunity to regain its liberty, 
 and retire to the woods, its natural haunts. 
 
 The food of the Martin is much the fame with other 
 animals of its kind. It makes incelTant war with rats, 
 mice, and other vermin : Poultry, game, and fmall birds, 
 are its conftant prey : It feeds alfo on grain, and is ex- 
 tremely fond of honey. 
 
 M. Buffon tells us of one of them that he had tamed, 
 vvhieh, he remarks, drank frequently. It fometimes fiept 
 two days fueceffively, and at other times would continue 
 awake as long. In preparing itfelf for deep, it folded 
 itfelf up in a round form, and covered its head with its 
 tail. When awake, its motions were fo violent, fo con- 
 ftant, and fo troublefome, that it was necelTary to keep 
 it chained. From the flexibility of its body, it eafily 
 eluded its fetters ; and, after returning once or twice, at 
 laft abfented itfelf entirely. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 233 
 
 The Martin is about eighteen inches long; tKe tail 
 ten, and full of hair, efpecially towards the end, which 
 is thick and bufliy; the ears are broad, rounded, and 
 open ; the body is covered with a thick fur, of a dark- 
 brown colour ; the head brown, mixed with red ; the 
 throat and bread are white ; the belly is of the fame co- 
 lour with the back, but a little paler ; the feet are broad, 
 and covered on the under fide with a thick fur; the 
 claws white, large, and flrarp, well adapted for climbing 
 trees, which in this country are its condant refidence. 
 
 The fkin and excrements have an agreeable mufky 
 fcent, and are entirely free from that ranknefs which is 
 fo difguding in other animals of this kind. Its fur is va- 
 luable, and in high edimation. 
 
 fo highly edeemed for its fkin, is a native of the fnowy 
 regions of the North, being found chiefly in Siberia, 
 Kamtfchatka, and fome of the iflands which lie between 
 that country and Japan. A few are alfo found in Lap- 
 land. 
 
 The darked furs are the mod valuable. A fingle fkin, 
 though not above four inches broad, is fometimes valued 
 
234 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 as high as fifteen pounds. The fable differs from all 
 other furs in this, that the hair turns with equal eafe to 
 either fide. 
 
 The Sable refembles the Martin in form, and is about 
 the fame fize. — It lives in holes in the earth, by the 
 banks of rivers, and under the roots of trees. It makes 
 its neft of mofs, fmall twigs, and grafs. 
 
 The female brings forth in the fpring, and produces 
 from three to five at one time.^ — Sometimes, like the 
 Martin, it forms its neft in the hollow of a tree. 
 
 It is very lively and active, and leaps with great agi- 
 lity from tree to tree, in purfuit of fmall birds, wood- 
 cocks, fquirrels, &c. It likewife lives upon rats, fifties, 
 pine tops, and wild fruits. 
 
 It is affirmed by naturalifts, that the Sable is not a- 
 verfe to the water j and, from the finenefs and clofenefs 
 of its fur, there is great reafon to fuppofe that it is much 
 accuftomed to that element ; from which it alfo derives 
 a part of its fubfiftence : And as a farther proof that this 
 animal is in fome degree amphibious, we are told by tra- 
 vellers *, that it is very numerous in fmall iflands, where 
 the hunters go in queft of them. It is mentioned by 
 Ariftotle as a water animal, and is defcribed by him un- 
 der the name of Satheritis. 
 
 The hunting of the Sables is chiefly carried on by cri- 
 minals confined to the defert regions of Siberia, or by 
 foldiers fent thither for that purpofe, who generally re- 
 main there feveral years. Both are obliged to furnifh a 
 certain quantity of furs. They ftioot with a Angle ball, 
 to injure the fkin as little as polfible. They frequently 
 take them in traps, or kill them with blunt arrows. — As 
 
 ^ Avrifts Travels, p. 140 . 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 235 
 
 an encouragement to the hunters, they are allowed to 
 (hare among themfelves whatever fkins they take above 
 the allotted number; and this, in a few years, amounts 
 to a confiderable premium. — The hunters form them- 
 felves into fmall troops, each of which is direfled by a 
 leader of their own chufing. 
 
 The feafon of hunting is from November to February ; 
 for at that time the Sables are in the highefl; perfe£fion; 
 Thofe caught at any other time of the year are full of 
 fhort hairs, and are fold at inferior prices. The bed; 
 fkins are fuch as have only long hair, which is always 
 black, and of a glolTy brightnefs. Old furs do not retain 
 their glofs. — Both the Ruffians and Chinefe have a me- 
 thod of dying their furs ; but the dyed fables are eafily 
 difcovered, having neither the fmoothnefs nor the bright- 
 nefs of the natural hair. 
 
 The bellies of Sables, which are fold in pairs, are 
 about two fingers in breadth, and are tied together in 
 bundles of forty pieces, which are fold at from one to 
 two pounds flerling. The tails are fold by the hundred, 
 from four to eight pounds. 
 
 There are inftances of Sables being found of a fnowy 
 whitenefs ; but they are rare, and bought only as curl- 
 ofities. 
 
 The hunters of thefe animals are frequently obliged to 
 endure the utmofl extremity of cold and hunger in the 
 purfuit of their booty. They penetrate deep into im- 
 menfe woods, where they have no other method of find- 
 ing their way back but by marking the trees as they ad- 
 vance : If this fliould by any means fail them, they are 
 inevitably loll. They fometimes trace the Sables on the 
 new-fallen fnow to their holes, place their nets at the 
 entrance, and wait frequently tw'o or three days before 
 
236 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 the animal comes out. — It has happened, by the failure 
 of their provifions, that thefe poor wretches have been 
 reduced to the necefhty of tying thin boards tight to their 
 ftomachs to prevent the cravings of appetite — Such are 
 the hardfhips our fellow-creatures undergo to fupply the 
 wants of the vain and luxuriant ! 
 
 An animal, fimilar to the Sable, is mentioned by Mr 
 Pennant under the name of the Fifier . — It is found in 
 North-America •, and, by the number of Ikins imported, 
 niufL be very numerous there, nearly fix hundred of them 
 having been brought in one feafon from New-York and 
 Penfylvania. — The hair on the body is mofily black ; the 
 fides brown •, the ears are broad and round, dulky on 
 their outfides, and edged with white ; the face and fides 
 of the neck pale-brown, mixed with black ; the feet are 
 very broad, and covered with hair, even on their foies j 
 the tail is full and bufliy ; the length, from nofe to tail, 
 is twenty-eight inches ; the tail feventeem 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 237 
 
 The ichneumon. 
 
 This animal, in Egypt, is domeftic, like the Cat; and, 
 is retained by the natives for the fame ufeful purpofes of 
 
 clearing their houfes of rats and mice. With all the 
 
 ftrength and agility of the Cat, it has a more general ap- 
 petite for carnage. It attacks, without dread, the mod 
 deadly ferpents ; and preys on every noxious reptile of 
 the torrid zone, which it feizes and kills with great avi- 
 dity. — It is faid, that when it is wounded by a ferpent, 
 and begins to feel the elFedl: of the poifon, it immediate- 
 ly has recourfe to a certain root, which the Indians call 
 after its name, and alTert that it is an antidote for the 
 bite of any venomous reptile. 
 
 The Ichneumon is the mod formidable enemy of the 
 crocodile : It dedroys its eggs, which it digs out of the 
 fand, where they are laid to hatch by the heat of the 
 fun ; and kills great numbers of young crocodiles foon 
 after their produdlion, before they are able to reach the 
 water. It was for this reafon that the ancient Egyptians 
 worfhipped this animal, and ranked the Ichneumon a- 
 mong thofe deities that were mod propitious to them. 
 
 In its domedic date, it is perfedfly tame and gentle. 
 M. d’Obfonville fpeaks of one which he reared from a 
 
238 HISTORY OF qUADRUPEDS. 
 
 young one. It became tamer than a Cat, was obedient 
 to the call of its mafter, and followed him wherever he 
 went. One day he brought a fmall water-ferpent alive, 
 being defirous to know how far its inftindl would carry 
 it againft a being with whom it was hitherto entirely un- 
 acquainted. Its firft emotion feemed to be aftonilhment 
 mixed with anger : Its hair became ere£l : In an inftant, 
 it flipped behind the reptile ; and, with remarkable fwift- 
 nefs and agility, leaped upon its head, feized it, and 
 cruflied it with its teeth. This firft eflay feemed to have 
 awakened in it its natural appetite for blood, which till 
 then had given way to the gentlenefs of its education : 
 It no longer fuffered the poultry, among which it was 
 brought up, to pafs unregarded ; but took the firft op- 
 portunity, when it was alone, to ftrangle them : It eat a 
 part of their flefli, and drank only the blood of others. 
 
 Thefe animals are numerous in all the fouthern re- 
 gions of Afia, from Egypt to the ifland of Java : They 
 are alfo found in Afrlc,a, in the country about the Cape 
 of Good Hope. — They frequent the banks of rivers, are 
 fond of fifli, are faid to take the water like an Otter, and 
 will continue in it a confiderable time without rifing to 
 take breath. 
 
 The Ichneumon varies in fize. The domeftic kind is 
 generally larger than thofe that are wild, and its colours 
 more variegated. It is In general about the fize of a 
 common Cat ; fomewhat longer in the body, and fhorter 
 in the legs. Its fur contains tints of white, brown, 
 fawn-colour, and a dirty filver-grey, which altogether 
 form a mixture very agreeable to the eye. Its form is 
 like that of the Polecat. Its eyes are fmall, but inflamed, 
 and fparkle with a Angular vivacity ; its nofe is long and 
 flender ; its ears fmall, rounded, and almoft naked ; its 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 239 
 
 tail is very thick at the bafe, and tapers to a point; un- 
 derneath the tail is an orifice, from which a moft fetid 
 humour is fecreted ; its claws are long. — It darts upon 
 its prey like an arrow, and feizes it with inevitable cer- 
 tainty. 
 
 It has a fmall foft voice, fomewhat like a murmur; 
 and, unlefs {truck or Irritated, never exerts it. When 
 it fleeps, it folds itfelf up like a ball, and is not eafily 
 awaked. It frequently fits up like a Squirrel, and feeds 
 itfelf with its fore feet ; catches any thing that is thrown 
 to it ; and will often feign itfelf dead till its prey come 
 within its reach. 
 
 The FOSSANE 
 
 Is rather fmaller than the Martin. Its body is {lender, 
 and covered with hair of an a{h colour, mixed with taw- 
 ny ; the fides of the face are black ; at the hind part 
 of the head there are four black lines, extending from 
 thence toward the flioulders ; the tail is long, and annu- 
 lated with black ; its eye is full, round, and black, which 
 gives it a wild and mifchievous afpedf. 
 
 It inhabits the ifland of Madagafcar, Guinea, Cochin- 
 china, and the Philippine Ifles. It feeds on {lelh and 
 
240 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 fruits, but prefers the latter, and is peculiarly fond of 
 bananas. It is very fierce, and not eafily tamed. 
 
 In Guinea, it is called the Berbe ; and, by Europeans-, 
 the Wine-bibber, being very greedy of palm-wine. — When 
 young, its fleflt is reckoned very good to eat. 
 
 The skunk, 
 
 which is called the Chinche by the natives of Brazil, is 
 about the fize of a common Cat. Its nofe is long and 
 flender, and extends a confiderable way beyond the lower 
 jaw ; its ears are large, fliort, and rounded ; a white 
 ftripe extends from the nofe over the forehead and along 
 the back, wdiere it is interfered with a fmall line of 
 black, commencing at the tail, and extending upwards 
 along the middle of the back j its belly and legs are 
 black; its hair is long, efpecially on the tail, which is 
 thick and bufliy. 
 
 It inhabits Peru, Brazil, and other parts of South- 
 America; and is likewife found in North-America, as 
 far as Canada. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 241 
 
 It is remarkable for a moft intolerable, fulFocating, fe- 
 tid vapour •, which it emits from behind, when attacked, 
 purfued, or frightened. The ftench of this effluvia is in- 
 fupportable, and is the creature’s beft means of defence. 
 
 There are three or four varieties, mentioned by M. 
 BufFon under the name of the Stinking Polecats; all of 
 which poffefs this wonderful faculty of annoying their 
 enemies from the fame quarter. 
 
 Some turn their tail to their purfuers, and emit a moll 
 horrible ftench, which keeps both dogs and men at a 
 confiderable diftance. Others eje£l their urine to the 
 diftance of feveral feet; and it is of fo virulent a qua- 
 lity, as almoft to occafion blindnefs, if any of it fhould 
 happen to fall into the eyes. Clothes infedled with it, 
 retain the fmell for many days : No wafliing can make 
 them fweet ; but they mull be even buried in frefli foil 
 before they can be thoroughly cleanfed. Dogs that are 
 not properly bred, turn back as foon as they perceive the 
 fmell : Thofe that have been accuftomed to it, will kill 
 the animal ; but are obliged to relieve themfelves by 
 thrufting their nofes into the ground. 
 
 The Stifling^ or Squajh, which is the fecond variety, is 
 nearly of the fame fize with the Skunk. Its hair is long, 
 and of a deep-brown colour. It lives in holes ^nd clefts 
 of rocks, where the female brings forth her young. It is 
 a native of Mexico ; and feeds on beetles, worms, and 
 fmall birds. It deftroys poultry, of which it only eats 
 
 the brains. When afraid or irritated, it voids the fame 
 
 offenfive kind of odour, which no creature dares venture 
 to approach. ProfelTor Kalm was in danger of being 
 
242 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 fufFocated by one that was purfued into a houfe where he 
 flept ; and it affefled the cattle fo much, that they bel'.' 
 lowed through pain. Another, which was killed by a 
 maid-fervant in a cellar, fo affedded her with its flench, 
 that file lay ill for feveral days: All the provifions that 
 were in the place were fo tainted by the fmell, as to be 
 utterly unfit for ufe. 
 
 Another variety is called the Co?iepate; and Is, perhaps, 
 no more than the female of the lafl-mentioned animal. 
 It is fomewhat fmaller, and differs chiefly from the 
 Squafh in being marked with five parallel white lines, 
 which run along its back and fides from head to tail. 
 
 It is a native of North-America. When attacked, 
 
 it briftles up its hair, throws itfelf into a round form, 
 and emits an odour which no creature can fupport. 
 
 The lafl of this peftiferous family which we fhall men- 
 tion is the Zorilla. 
 
 This animal is a native of New-Spain, where it Is call- 
 ed the Mariputa. It Is found on the banks of the river 
 Oronoque; and, although extremely beautiful, it is at 
 the fame time the mofl offenfive of all creatures. Its bo- 
 dy is beautifully marked with white ftripes upon a black 
 ground, running from the head to the middle of the 
 back •, from whence they are croffed with other white 
 bands, which cover the lower part of the back and 
 flanks : Its tail is long and bufliy, black as far as the 
 middle, and white to its extremity. It is an adlive and 
 mifchievous little animal. Its flench is laid to extend to 
 a confiderable diflance ; and is fo powerful, as to over- 
 come even the Panther of America, which is one of its 
 greateft enemies. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. ^43 
 
 Notwithftanding this ofFenfive quality in thefe animals^ 
 they are frequently tamed, and will follow their mafter. 
 They do not emit their odour, unlefs when beaten or ir- 
 ritated. They are frequently killed by the native Indi- 
 ans, who immediately cut away the noxious glands; 
 thereby preventing the flefli, which is good eating, from 
 being infe£led. Its tafte is faid nearly to refemble the 
 flavour of a young pig. The favage Indians make purfes 
 of their Ikins. 
 
 The genet 
 
 is as much diflingulflied for the agreeable perfume which 
 it yields, as thofe we have juft defcribed are for the rank- 
 eft and moft difagreeable odour in nature. 
 
 The body of the Genet is longer than that of the Mar- 
 tin; its head is long and flender, with a (harp muzzle; 
 its ears are a little pointed ; its hair foft, fmooth, and 
 ihining; of a tawny-red colour, fpotted with black; a- 
 on^ the rid^e of the back there is a kind of mane of 
 Jong hair, which forms a black line from head to tail ; 
 tie fpots on the fides are round and diftinft, thofe on 
 th^ back almoft clofe ; its tail is long, and marked with 
 
 0.2 
 
244 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 feven or eight rings of black. From an orifice beneath 
 its tail, it yields a kind of perfume, which fmells faintly 
 of muflc . 
 
 It is found in Turkey, Syria, and Spain. — We are told 
 by Belon, that he fa%v Genets in the houfes at Conftan- 
 tinople as tame as Cats ; and that they were ufeful to the 
 inhabitants in deftroying rats, mice, and other vermin. 
 
 It is a moft beautiful, cleanly, and induftrious animal, 
 and very adlive in purfuing its prey. Its nature is mild 
 and gentle, its colours beautifully variegated, and its fur 
 valuable. Upon the whole, it feems to be one of thofe 
 animals that, with proper care and attention, might be- 
 come a ufeful addition to our flock of domeflic quadru- 
 peds. 
 
 The civet 
 
 Is larger than the Genet, and yields a perfume in much 
 greater quantities, and of a ftronger quality. 
 
 Though originally a native of the warm climates of 
 Africa or Afia, it can live in temperate, and even in cold 
 countries j but it muft be fed with nourifhing diet, anl 
 carefully defended againft the feverities of the weather. 
 
 Numbers of them are kept in Holland, for the purpofe 
 
HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 245 
 
 of colle£Hng this valuable perfume. The civet procured 
 at Amflerdam is more efteemed than that which comes 
 from the Levant or India, being lefs adulterated. — To 
 colle£l this perfume, the Civet is put into a cage, fo nar- 
 row, that it cannot turn itfelf : The cage is opened at 
 one end, and the animal drawn backwards by the tail, 
 and fecurely held by its hind legs : A fmall fpoon is then 
 introduced into the pouch which contains the perfume, 
 with which it is carefully fcraped, and the matter put in- 
 to a velTel properly fecured. This operation is perform- 
 ed two or three times a week. 
 
 The quantity of odorous humour depends much on the 
 quality of the nourifliment, and the appetite of the ani- 
 mal, which always produces more in proportion to the 
 goodnefs of its food. Boiled flefli, eggs, rice, fmall ani- 
 mals, birds, and particularly fifh, are the kinds of food 
 the Civet moftly delights in ; and thefe ought to be va- 
 ried, fo as to excite its appetite, and preferve its health. 
 It requires very little water; and, though it drinks fel- 
 dom, it difcharges its urine frequently. It is fomewhat 
 remarkable, that in this operation the male is not to be 
 diftinguilhed from the female. — From this circumftance, 
 it has been fuppofed, that this was the Hyena of the an- 
 cients ; and it is certain, that moll of the fables related 
 concerning that monlter are in a certain way applicable 
 to the Civet. 
 
 The ancients were well acquainted with the pomatum 
 of the Civet, and aferibed to it certain powers of exciting 
 love; for which purpofe it ftill conftitutes one of the 
 luxuries of the Eaft. 
 
 What has been fabuloully related concerning the un- 
 certainty of fex in the Hyena, applies much more ftrong- 
 
 0.3 
 
246 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 ly to the Civet; for in the male nothing appears exter- 
 nally but three apertures, fo perfetlly fimilar to thofe of 
 the female, that it is impoffible to diftinguifli the fex 
 otherwife than by diHeftion. 
 
 The perfume of this animal is fo (Irong, that it infefts 
 every part of its body : The hair and the Ilcin are fo tho- 
 roughly penetrated with it, that they retain it long after 
 being taken from the body. If a perfon be fliut up in 
 the fame apartment, it is almoft infupportable ; and, 
 when heated with rage, it becomes ftill more pungent. 
 
 The Civet is naturally favage, and fomewhat fero- 
 cious; yet it is eafily tamed, fo as to be handled with- 
 out danger. 
 
 The teeth are ftrong and fliarp ; but its claws are 
 weak. It is very aftive and nimble, leaps like a Cat, 
 and runs with great fwiftnefs. Ii lives by hunting ; fur- 
 prizes fmall animals and birds ; and, like the Weafel, 
 will fometimes fteal into the yard, and carry off poultry. 
 — Its eyes fliine in the dark ; and it is probable, that it 
 can fee well enough to purfue its prey during the night, 
 as it is known to be mod aftive at that time. 
 
 The Civet is very prolific in its native climate; but, 
 though it lives and produces its perfume in temperate re- 
 gions, it is never known to breed there. Its voice is 
 
 llronger than that of the Cat, and has feme refemblance 
 to the cry of an enraged Dog. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 247 
 
 The zibet 
 
 is fo fimilar to the Civet, as to be confidered by fome 
 authors as only a variety of that animal ; and it muft be 
 allowed, that they have many eflential relations, both 
 in their external and internal flruflure ; but they differ 
 from each other by fuch diftinguifliing chara£leriftics, 
 as entitle them to be regarded as two diftindl fpecies. 
 The ears of the Zibet are larger and more ere£l: ; and its 
 muzzle is thinner and flatter: Its body is longer than 
 that of the Civet ; and its tail, which is longer, is mark- 
 ed with annular fpots, like that of the Genet: It has no 
 mane nor long hair on the neck and fpine j and its hair 
 is fhorter and fofter. 
 
 The perfume of the Zibet is peculiarly violent and 
 piercing, beyond that of either the Civet or the Genet. — 
 This odorous liquor is found in a fiflure near the organs 
 of generation. It is a thick humour, of the confiftence 
 of pomatum ; and, though very ftrong, it is agreeable 
 even as it iflues from the body of the animal. — This mat- 
 ter of the Zibet muft not be confounded with mufk, 
 which is a fanguineous humour, derived from a fpecies 
 of the Roe-buck, or Goat without Horns * ; and has 
 
 * See page 103. 
 
 0.4 
 
248 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 nothing in common with the Zibet, but its ftrong per- 
 fume. 
 
 The SURICATE, or Four-toed WEASEL, 
 
 is rather lefs than the Rabbit; and pretty much refem- 
 bles the Ichneumon, both in fize and in the colour of its 
 hair, only it is rougher, and its tail is not quite fo long. 
 Its upper jaw is much longer than the lower, and very 
 pliant and moveable. It has only four toes on eaeh foot. 
 
 One of them, in the poffeffion of M. de Seve, was ob- 
 ferved fometimes to walk on its hind legs, and frequent- 
 ly to fit upright, wdth its fore feet hanging down on its 
 breaft. 
 
 The Suricate is carnivorous, and preys on fmall ani- 
 mals. It is fond of fifli, and Hill more fo of eggs. Like 
 the Squirrel, it makes ufe of its fore paws to convey its 
 vi£luals to its mouth. In drinking, it laps like a Dog; 
 but will not drink water, except when it is warm. 
 
 That kept by M. de Seve, was extremely playful and 
 familiar, knew its own name, and would return at a call. 
 What was remarkable, it feemed to have an averfion to 
 particular perfons, whom it would always bite on their 
 approaching it : Some people were fo difagreeable to it, 
 that even when reftrained, it would make ufe of feveral 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 249 
 
 artifices to come near enough to bite them ; and when it 
 could not lay hold of their legs, would fly at their fhoes 
 or petticoats. When difcontented, it made a noife like 
 the barking of a whelp ; and when pleafed or carefled, 
 would utter a found like the fhaking of a rattle. 
 
 The R a T E L, 
 
 defcribed by Mr Pennant under the name of the Fizzler^ 
 
 is a native of the Cape of Good Hope. It lives chiefly 
 
 upon honey, and is endowed with a wonderful faculty 
 of difcovering the fecret retreats where the bees depofit 
 their ftores. About fun-fet, the Ratel is particularly at- 
 tentive in watching the motions of thefe induftrious in- 
 feds ; and, having obferved their route. It follows wdth 
 great care the diredion in which they fly. It is fre- 
 quently alfifled in difcovering its delicious booty by a 
 bird called the Honey-Guide, ( cuculus indicator J which 
 is extremely fond both of honey and the eggs of bees; 
 and, in the purfuit of its food, excites the attention of 
 the Ratel by a loud grating cry of cherr^ cherry cherr ; at 
 the fame time flying flowly on towards the place where 
 the fwarm of bees have taken up their abode. The Ra- 
 tel follows the found with great attention; and having 
 
250 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 plundered the nefl, leaves fufficient behind it as a reward 
 for the fervices of its faithful guide. The Ratel is well 
 adapted to this purpofe, as the toughnefs and thicknefs 
 of its fkin effe£tualy defends it from the flings of the 
 bees. On this account, it is not eafily killed ; for its 
 fkin is fo loofely attached to its body, that when feized 
 by a hound it gives way, and the animal has an opportu- 
 nity of turning round, and biting its aflailant, which it 
 frequently does fo feverely, as to oblige him to defifl. 
 
 The Rate], according to Mr Pennant, is two feet long 
 from the nofe to the tail, which is eight inches; its legs 
 are fhort ; on each foot it has four toes, armed with long 
 claws ; thofe on the fore feet are above an inch long, and 
 very fharp ; its tongue is rough ; it has no ear-laps ; the 
 orifice of the ear is wide, and furrounded by a callous 
 rim ; a broad flripc, of an afli colour, extends along the 
 back from the forehead to the tail, which is feparated 
 from the black hair on the fides and belly by a light-grey 
 lift running from behind each ear to the tail. It bur- 
 
 rows in holes under ground, is faid to be very fetid, and 
 is called the Stinking Badger by M. de la Caille. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 251 
 
 The COATI, or Brazilian WEASEL, 
 
 has fome refemblance to the Bear, in the length of its 
 hind legs, in the form of its feet, in the bufliinefs of its 
 hair, and in the ftru£lure of its paws. It is fmall. Its 
 tail is long, and variegated with different colours; its 
 upper jaw is much longer than the lower, and very pli- 
 ant; its ears are rounded; its hair is fmooth, foft, and 
 glolfy, of a bright-bay colour; and its breaft is whitifh. 
 
 Linnaeus defcribes one of them, which he kept a con- 
 fiderable time, and in vain attempted to bring into fub- 
 jedUon. It was very obflinate and capricious. It killed 
 the poultry, tore off their heads, and fucked their blood. 
 It defended itfelf with great force whenever any perfon 
 attempted to lay hold of it contrary to its inclination ; 
 and it ftuck faff to the legs of thofe with whom it was 
 familiar, when it wanted to ranfack their pockets, and 
 carry off any thing that it found in them. It had an ex- 
 treme averfion to hog’s briftles ; and the fmallefl brufh 
 made it defifl. — Its mode of living was very lingular ; It 
 flept from midnight till noon, kept awake the reft of the 
 day, and uniformly walked about from fix in the evening 
 tiU midnight, without the leaft regard to the weather. 
 
252 HISTORY OF qUADRUPEDS. 
 
 This is probably the time affigned by Nature to this fpe- 
 cies of animals for procuring their food, which confifts 
 chiefly of young birds, eggs, and fmall animals. 
 
 It inhabits Brazil and Guiana, runs up trees very nim- 
 bly, eats like a Dog, and holds its food between its fore 
 legs like the Bear. 
 
 The Coati Bands with eafe on its hind feet. — It is faid 
 to gnaw its own tail, which it generally carries ered, 
 and fweeps it about from fide to fide. 
 
 The racoon 
 
 is very common in the warm regions of America. It is 
 found alfo in the mountains of Jamaica; from whence 
 great numbers of them frequently defcend into the plan- 
 tations, and make great havock among the fugar-can^s, 
 of which they are particularly fond. The planters con- 
 fider thefe animals as their greateB enemies, as they 
 frequently do infinite mifchief in one night’s excurfion : 
 They have contrived various methods of deflroying them ; 
 yet Bill they propagate in fuch numbers, that neither 
 traps nor fire-arms can repel them. 
 
 The Racoon is fomewhat lefs than the Badger: Its 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 253 
 
 head refembles that of a Fox ; but its ears are round, and 
 much fliorter; and its upper jaw very pointed, and lon- 
 ger than the lower : Its eyes, which are large, are fur- 
 rounded with two broad patches of black ; its body is 
 thick and fhort, covered with long hair, black at the 
 points, and grey underfieath; its tail is long and bulhy, 
 and marked with alternate rings of black and white; its 
 feet and toes are black. 
 
 The Racoon is very aflive and nimble. Its claws, 
 which are extremely fharp, enable it to climb trees with 
 great facility. It moves forward chiefly by bounding; 
 and, though it proceeds in an oblique direifion, runs ve- 
 ry fwiftly. 
 
 When tamed, it is good-natured and fportive ; but is 
 almoft conftantly in motion, and as unlucky and inquifi- 
 tive as a Monkey, examining every thing with its paws, 
 which it makes ufe of as hands to lay hold of any thing 
 that is given it, and to carry its meat to its mouth. It 
 fits up to eat, is extremely fond of fweet things and 
 ftrong liquors, with which it will get excelTively drunk. 
 It has all the cunning of the Fox, is very deftruftive to 
 poultry ; but will eat all forts of fruits, grain, and roots. 
 It has a peculiar method of dipping every thing in water 
 it intends to eat, and will feldom tafte bread till it be 
 well foaked. It opens oyfters with aftonifliing dexterity, 
 feparates the fliells, and leaves not a veftige of the fifli. 
 It does this without looking at the oyfter ; but places it 
 under its hind paws, and with its fore feet fearches for 
 the weakeft part, where it fixes its claws, forces it open, 
 and fnatches out the fifli. It likewife devours all kinds 
 of infedls; delights in hunting fpiders; and when at li- 
 berty in a garden, will eat grafshoppers, fnails, worms, 
 &c. It is very cleanly, and always retires to obey the 
 
254 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 calls of Nature. It is familiar, and even careffing, leaps 
 upon thofe it is fond of, plays fportively, and moves a- 
 bout with great agility. 
 
 This animal is hunted for its fkin, which is next in va-* 
 lue to that of the Beaver for making hats. 
 
 The badger. 
 
 Although Nature has furnllhed this animal with for- 
 midable weapons of offence, and has befides given it 
 ftrength fufficient to ufe them with great effeft, it is, 
 notwithflanding, very harmlefs and inoffenfive ; and, un- 
 lefs attacked, employs them only for its fupport. 
 
 The Badger retires to the moft fecret receffes ; where 
 it digs its hole, and forms its habitation under ground. — 
 Its food confifts chiefly of roots, fruits, grafs, infe£ls, and 
 frogs. It is charged with deftroying lambs and rabbits | 
 but there feems to be no other reafon to confider it as a 
 beaft of prey, than the analogy between its teeth and 
 thofe of carnivorous animals. 
 
 Few creatures defend themfelves better, or bite with 
 greater keennefs, than the Badger. On that account it 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 255 
 
 is frequently baited with Dogs trained for that purpofe. 
 This inhuman diverfion is chiefly confined to the idle and 
 the vicious, who take a cruel pleafure in feeing this 
 harmlefs animal furrounded by its enemies, and defend- 
 ing itfelf from their attacks, which it does with aftonifla- 
 ing agility and fuccefs. Its motions are fo quick, that a 
 Dog is frequently defperately wounded in the firfl; mo- 
 ment of aflault, and obliged to fly. The thicknefs of the 
 Badger’s flcin, and the length and coarfenefs of its hair, 
 are an excellent defence againft the bites of the Dogs : 
 Its fkin is fo loofe, as to refill the imprelfions of their 
 teeth, and give the animal an opportunity of turning it- 
 felf round, and wounding its adverfaries in their tender- 
 eft parts. In this manner this lingular creature is able to 
 refill repeated attacks both of men and dogs, from all 
 quarters ; till, being overpowered with numbers, and en- 
 feebled by many defperate wounds, it is at laft obliged to 
 fubmit. 
 
 The Badger is an indolent animal, and fleeps much. 
 It confines itfelf to its hole during the whole day, and 
 feeds only in the night. It is fo cleanly, as never to de- 
 file its habitation with its ordure. It breeds only once in 
 a year, and brings forth four or five at a time. 
 
 It is not known to exift in warm countries. It is an 
 original native of the temperate climates of Europe ; and 
 is found, without any variety, in Spain, France, Italy, 
 Germany, Britain, Poland, and Sweden. 
 
 The ufual length of the Badger is fomewhat above two 
 feet, exclulive of the tail, which is about fix inches long ; 
 its eyes are fmall, and are placed in a black ftripe, which 
 begins behind the ears, and runs tapering toward the 
 nofe ; the throat and legs are black ; the back, fides, and 
 tail, are of a dirty-grey, mixed with black ; the legs and 
 
2 s 6 history of quadrupeds. 
 
 feet are very fhort, ftrong, and thick ; each foot confifts 
 of five toes; thofe on the fore feet are armed -with ftrong 
 claws, well adapted for digging its fubterranean habita- 
 tions. 
 
 In walking, the Badger treads on its whole heel, like 
 the Bear ; which brings its belly very near the ground. 
 
 Immediately below the tail, between that and the a- 
 nus, there is a narrow tranfverfe orifice, from whence a 
 white fubftance, of a very fetid fmelf, conftantly exudes. 
 
 The Ikin, when drefled with the hair on, is ufed for 
 piftol furniture. — Its flefti is eaten: The hind quarters 
 are fometimes made into hams, which, when cured, are 
 
 not inferior in goodnefs to the beft bacon. The hairs 
 
 are made into brufties, which are ufed by painters to 
 foften and harmonize their fhades. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 257 
 
 The SAND-BEAR. 
 
 We have given the figure of this animal, drawn from 
 one kept in the Tower; of which we have not been able 
 to obtain any further defcription, than its being fome- 
 what lefs than the Badger, almoft without hair, extremely 
 fenfible of cold, and burrows in the ground. From thefe 
 circumftances, as well as from the ftriking fimilarity of 
 its figure to that of the Badger, we are inclined to think 
 it is a variety of that animal, mentioned by naturalifts 
 under the name of the Sow-Bado-er. 
 
 O 
 
 Its colour is a yellowifh-white : Its eyes are fmall ; and 
 its head thicker than that of the common Badger: Its 
 legs are fliort; and on each foot there are four toes, arm- 
 ed with fharp white claws. 
 
 M. Briflbn defcribes a white Badger, from New-York, 
 fo fimilar to this, that we fufpedl it to be the fame fpe- 
 cies. 
 
 R 
 
258 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The wolverene, or GLUTTON. 
 
 This voracious animal is found in all the countries 
 bordering on the Northern Ocean, both in Europe and 
 Afia : It is likewife common in Canada, the country a- 
 bout Hudfon’s Bay, and other parts of North-America ; 
 where It is known by the name of the Carcajou. 
 
 It has been varloully defcribed by naturalifts. — We 
 have felefted the account given by M. Buffon, which 
 was taken from a living one in his poffelfion. Its length, 
 from the nofe to the infertion of the tail, was two feet 
 two inches ; the tail eight inches long ; the length of the 
 fore legs was eleven inches, and the hind ones twelve ; it 
 had five toes on each foot, armed with long fliarp claws ; 
 the middle claw of the fore foot was one inch and a half 
 long 5 the muzzle, as far as the eye-brows, was black; 
 its eyes were fmall and black, and Its ears fliort ; its 
 breaft and under jaw were fpotted with white ; the back, 
 legs, belly, and tail, were black. — During its confine- 
 ment, it did not difcover fymptoms of great ferocity. It 
 eat voracloufly ; and after a full meal, covered itfelf in 
 its cage with ftraw. It eat no bread ; but would devour 
 more than four pounds of flefti every day, which it fwal- 
 lowed greedily, almoft without chewing. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 259 
 
 In a Hate of liberty, it is faid to lead a life of continual 
 rapine. It lurks in the branches of trees, in order to 
 furprize Deer and other animals that pafs under them. 
 It waits with great patience the arrival of its prey, and 
 darts from its hiding-place with unerring certainty. In 
 this manner it indifcriminately furprizes the Horfe, the 
 Elk, the Stag, or the Rein-deer; and fixes itfelf between 
 their fhoulders with its teeth and claws. 
 
 The wild Rein-deer, which are numerous both in Lap- 
 land and North-America, frequently fall vidlims to the 
 Glutton. When feized by this blood-thirfty animal, it is 
 in vain that the wounded Deer endeavours to difengage 
 Itfelf from its enemy by ruftling among the branches of 
 the trees : No force can oblige it to quit its hold : It 
 maintains its pofition, and continues to fuck the blood of 
 the flying animal till it falls down exhaufted with pain 
 and fatigue. It then devours the carcafe with infatiable 
 voracity, and gorges itfelf with the flefh till it is almofl; 
 in danger of burfting. 
 
 In Kamtfchatka, the Glutton makes ufe of a Angular 
 ftratagem for killing the Fallow-deer. It climbs up a 
 tree, taking with it a quantity of that fpecies of mofs 
 of which the Deer is very fond. When one of them ap- 
 proaches the tree, the Glutton throws down the mofs ; 
 and if the Deer flop to eat it, the Glutton darts upon its 
 back, and fixing itfelf firmly between its horns, tears out 
 its eyes, and by that means fecures its prey. It then 
 divides the flefh of the Deer into a number of portions, 
 which it conceals in the earth to ferve for future provi- 
 fions. 
 
 The motions of the Glutton are flow. There are few 
 quadrupeds that cannot efcape from it, except the Bea- 
 
 R 2 
 
26 o history of quadrupeds. 
 
 ver, which it frequently purfucs and overtakes. In 
 
 America, it is called the Beaver-eater . — It fometimes lies 
 in wait, and furprizes thofe animals coming out of their 
 burrow ; or breaks into their habitation, and kills great 
 numbers of them. 
 
 The Glutton often defeats the labours of the huntf- 
 men, by ftealing away the Sables and other animals that 
 have been caught in their traps; and it is fometimes 
 taken in the fnares laid for them. 
 
 When attacked, it makes a ftrong refiftance. It will 
 tear the ftock from the gun with its teeth, or break the 
 trap in pieces in which it is caught. — Notwithftanding its 
 fiercenefs, it is capable of being tamed, and of learning 
 feveral entertaining tricks. 
 
 It is hunted only for its fkin, which is very valuable, 
 of a mofl beautiful gloffy black, w'hich fliines with a pe- 
 culiar luftre, and refle£ls the light like damalk filk. 
 
 The Ikins are fold in Siberia at five or fix {hillings 
 each, at Jakutilc at twelve, and ftill dearer in Kamtfchat- 
 ka. There the women drefs their hair with its white 
 paws, which they efteem a great ornament. 
 
 The furs of this animal, from the North of Europe 
 and Afia, are infinitely finer, blacker, and more gloffy, 
 than thofe of the American kind. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 261 
 
 The Brown BEAR, 
 
 T here are two principal varieties of the Bear,— 
 the brown and the black. The former is found in 
 almoft every climate, the black Bear chiefly in the forefts 
 of the northern regions of Europe and America. 
 
 The brown Bear is fometimes carnivorous ; but its ge- 
 neral food is roots, fruits, and vegetables. 
 
 It is a favage and folitary animal, lives in defert and 
 unfrequented places, and chufes its den in the moR 
 gloomy and retired parts of the foreft, or in the moR 
 dangerous and inaccelTible precipices of unfrequented 
 mountains. — It retires alone to its den about the end of 
 autumn, (at which time it is exceedingly fat) and lives 
 for feveral weeks in a Rate of total inaftivity and abRi- 
 nence from food. — During this time, the female brings 
 forth her young, and fuckles them. She chufes her re- 
 treat for that purpofe in the moR retired places, apart 
 from the male, leR he fliould devour them. She makes 
 a warm bed for her young, and attends them vyith unre- 
 
 R 3 
 
2^2 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 mitting care during four months, and in all that time 
 fcarcely allows herfelf any nourifhment. She brings 
 forth two, and fometimes three young at a time. — The 
 cubs are round and fliapelefs, with pointed muzzles ; but 
 they are not licked into form by the female, as Pliny and 
 other ancient naturalifts fuppofed. At firft they do not 
 exceed eight inches in length : They are blind during 
 the firft four weeks, are of a pale-yellow colour, and 
 have fcarcely any refemblance of the creature when ar- 
 rived at maturity. — The time of geftation in thefe ani- 
 mals is about fix months ; and they bring forth in the 
 beginning of January. 
 
 In the fpring, the old Bears, attended by their young, 
 come out from their retreats, lean, and almoft famiflied 
 by their long confinement. They then ranfack every 
 ijuarter in fearch of food. They frequently climb trees, 
 and devour the fruit in great quantities 5 particularly the 
 date-plumb tree, of which they are exceedingly fond. 
 They afeend thefe trees with furprizing agility, keep 
 themfelves firm on the branches with one paw, and with 
 the other colledl the fruit. 
 
 The Bear is remarkably fond of honey, which it will 
 encounter great difficulties to obtain, and feeks for with 
 great cunning and avidity. 
 
 It enjoys, in a fuperior degree, the fenfes of hearing, 
 fmelling, and touching. — Its ears are ffiort and rounded ; 
 and its eyes fmall, but lively and penetrating, and de- 
 fended by a nictating membrane : From the peculiar 
 
 formation of the internal parts of its nofe, its fenfe of 
 fmelling is -exceedingly exquifite : The legs and thighs 
 are ftrong and mufcular : It has five toes on each foot, 
 and ufes its fore foot as a hand, although the toes are 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 263 
 
 not feparated as in moft animals that do fo ; the largeft 
 finger is on the outfide. 
 
 The voice of the Bear is a deep and furly kind of 
 growl, which it frequently exerts without the leaft caufe. 
 
 It is very eafily irritated ; and at that time its refent- 
 
 ment is furious, and often capricioufly exerted. 
 
 When tamed, it appears mild and obedient to its maf- 
 ter ; but it is not to be trufled without the utmoft cau- 
 tion. — It may be taught to walk upright, to dance, to lay 
 hold of a pole with its paws, and perform various tricks 
 to entertain the multitude, who are highly pleafed to fee 
 the aukward meafures of this rugged creature, which it 
 feems to fuit to the found of an inftrument, or to the 
 voice of its leader. But to give the Bear this kind of 
 education, it mult be taken when young, and accuftom- 
 ed early to reftraint and difcipline: An old Bear will 
 fuiTer neither, without difcovering the moll furious re- 
 fentment ; neither the voice nor the menaces of his keep- 
 er have any elFedh upon him ; he equally growls at the 
 hand that is held out to feed, as at that which is raifed 
 to corre£l him. 
 
 The exceffive cruelties pradifed upon this poor animal 
 in teaching it to walk eredl, and regulate its motions to 
 the found of the flagelet, are fuch as make fenfibility 
 Ihudder. Its eyes are put out ; and an iron ring being 
 put through the cartilage of the nofe to lead it by, it is 
 kept from food, and beaten, till it yield obedience to the 
 will of its favage tutors. Some of them are taught to 
 perform by fetting their feet upon hot iron plates, and 
 then playing to them whilfl in this uneafy fituation. — It 
 is truly fliocking to every feeling mind to refleft, that 
 fuch cruelties ftiould be exercifed upon any part of the 
 
 R 4 
 
264 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 brute creation by our fellow-men. That they fhould be 
 rewarded by numbers of unthinking people, who crowd 
 around them to fee the animal’s rude attempts to imitate 
 human actions, is not to be wondered at : But it is much 
 to be wiflied, that the timely interference of the magl- 
 ftrate would prevent every exhibition of this kind, that, 
 in England at leaft, we might not be reproached with to- 
 lerating praftices fo dlfgraceful to humanity. 
 
 One of thefe animals, prefented to the prince of Wales 
 a few years ago, was kept in the Tower. By the care- 
 lefTnefs of the fervant, the door of his den was left open-, 
 and the keeper’s wife happening to go acrofs the court at 
 the fame time, the animal flew out, feized the woman, 
 threw her down, and faftened upon her neck, which he 
 bit; and, without olTering any further violence, lay upon 
 her, fucking the blood out of the wound. Refiftance 
 •was in vain, as it only ferved to irritate the brute and 
 ilie mufl; inevitably have periflred, had not her hufband 
 luckily dlfcovered her fituation. By a fudden blow, he 
 obliged the Bear to quit his hold, and retire to his den, 
 ■which he did with great reluftance, and not without 
 making a fecond attempt to come at the woman, who 
 ■was almoft dead through fear and lofs of blood. It is 
 fomewhat remarkable, that whenever it happened to fee 
 her afterwards, it growled, and made moft violent ftrug- 
 gles to get out to her. — The prince, upon hearing of tlie 
 circumftance, ordered the Bear to be killed. 
 
 The of America are fmall and black, live entire- 
 
 ly upon vegetable food, and are particularly fond of 
 maize, potatoes, honey, and milk. Though preflbd with 
 extreme hunger, they will not eat animal food. — They 
 lodge in the hollow trunks of large trees, which they 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 265 
 
 afcend and defcend with great eafe and agility. — The 
 hunters take them by fetting fire to their habitations. 
 The old one comes out firft, and is generally llain before 
 ihe reaches the ground ; the cubs follow her, and are 
 taken alive. 
 
 The fiefh of the young Bear is reckoned a great deli- 
 cacy j and the paws of an old one are efteemed as a mod 
 exquifite morfel. The fat is white, and very fweet; and 
 the oil is faid to be of great ufe in foftening fwellings 
 proceeding from fprains. 
 
 Great numbers are killed annually in America for the 
 fake of their Ikins, which form a confiderable article of 
 commerce. 
 
 Bears were formerly common in Greece. The Ro- 
 mans brought them from Lybia to be exhibited in their 
 public fpeflacles. — They are likewife found in China, 
 Japan, and as far as the illand of Java. 
 
 The mountains of Great Tartary produce great num- 
 bers of Bears perfeftly white, which do not differ in 
 form from thofe jufl mentioned. — Some, from the con- 
 fines of Ruffia, are of a mixed colour, with black and 
 white hairs. 
 
 The Bear was once an Inhabitant of this illand, and 
 was included in the ancient laws and regulations refpeft- 
 ing beafts of chafe. — Long after their extirpation, they 
 were imported for the cruel purpofe of baiting them, 
 which at that time was a favourite amufement of our an- 
 cellors. We find it, in queen Elizabeth’s days, among 
 the various entertainments prepared for her majefty on 
 her vifit at Kenilworth. 
 
266 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 We have here given^a faithful reprefentation, drawn 
 from the life, of an animal which has hitherto efcaped 
 the obfervations of naturalifts. — Its features and leading 
 charadlers feem to be fo ftrong, as to leave no room for 
 doubt with refpe£l to its rank in the animal creation ; 
 And, from the ftriking correfpondence of parts obferva- 
 ble between it and the common Bear, we are induced to 
 difpofe of them in the fame clafs. We are the more 
 confirmed in this opinion, from an attentive examination 
 of its difpofition and manners; notwithftanding, it feems 
 to differ in fome of thofe charafteriftics which have been 
 pointed out by naturalifts as the guides to a regular and 
 fyftematic arrangement. 
 
 Its body is covered with a long, rough, and Ihaggy 
 coat of hair, which gives it, when lying down, the ap- 
 pearance of a rude and Ihapelefs mafs ; on the top of its 
 back, the hair, which is twelve inches long, rifes up like 
 a hunch, feparates in the middle, and falls down in dif- 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 267 
 
 ferent dire£Iions ; its head Is large, very broad at the 
 forehead, and is the only part on which the hair is Ihort ; 
 its fnout is long, and ends in a thin, broad cartilage, 
 overhanging the noftrils about an inch and a half ; its 
 lips are thin and very long, and feem to be furniftied 
 with mufcles, by which the animal can protrude them in 
 a mod fingular manner, which it never fails to do when 
 its attention is dire£fed to any particular obje£l, or when 
 food is held out to it ; its eyes are fmall, black, and hea- 
 vy, and its afpecf louring ; its ears and tail are Ihort, and 
 hid in the hair; its legs and thighs are remarkably thick 
 and ftrong; it treads on its heel like a Bear, and its toes 
 are not divided ; it has five long crooked white claws on 
 each foot, which it ufes with great dexterity, either fe- 
 parately or together, like fingers, to break its food into 
 fmaller portions, or to convey it to its mouth. Its co- 
 lour is a deep, fhining black ; excepting the fnout, and a 
 fpot above each eye, which are of a yellowllh-white co- 
 lour; there is Ilkewife a crefcent of white underneath 
 the throat. It has no cutting teeth ; but two very ftrong 
 canine teeth,'' and fix grinders, in each jaw. 
 
 It appears to be a gentle, good-natured animal ; but 
 when irritated or difturbed, utters a fhort abrupt roar, 
 like a Bear, ending in a whining tone, expreffive of im- 
 patience. — It feeds on bread, fruit, and nuts ; is fond of 
 honey ; and will eat marrow, or the fat of meat, either 
 raw or drelTed ; but refufes roots of all kinds, and the 
 lean or mufcular parts of flefti. 
 
 This rare animal is faid to have been brought from the 
 interior parts of Bengal ; and that it burrows in the 
 ground. 
 
268 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Polar or Great White BEAR 
 
 differs greatly from the common Bear in the length of 
 its head and neck, and grows to above tvyice the fize. 
 Some of them are thirteen feet long. — Its limbs are of 
 great fize and ftrength ; its hair long, harfh and difagree- 
 able to the touch, and of a yellowifli-white colour; its 
 ears are fhort and rounded ; and its teeth large. 
 
 It inhabits only the coldeft parts of the globe ; and has 
 been found above latitude 8o, as far as navigators have 
 penetrated northwards. Thefe inhofpitable regions feem 
 adapted to its fullen nature. 
 
 — — “ There — the fhapelefs Bear, 
 
 “ With dangling ice all horrid, ftalks forlorn : 
 
 “ Slow-pac’d, and fourer as the florms increafe, 
 
 “ He makes his bed beneath th’ inclement drift ; 
 
 “ And, with ftern patience, fcorning weak complaint, 
 
 “ Hardens his heart againll afikiling want.” 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 269 
 
 It has been feldom feen farther fouth than Newfound- 
 land ; but abounds chiefly on the fhores of Hudfon’s Bay, 
 Greenland, and Spitzbergen, on one fide, and thofe of 
 Nova-Zembla on the other. It has been fometimes 
 found in the intermediate countries of Norw'ay and Ice- 
 land ; but fuch as have appeared in thofe parts have al- 
 ways been driven thither upon floating flieets ^f ice •, fo 
 that thofe countries are only acquainted with them by ac- 
 cident. 
 
 During fummer, they take up their refidence on large 
 iflands of ice, and frequently pafs from one to another- 
 — They fwim well, and can go to the diftance of fix or 
 feven leagues : They likewife dive, but do not continue 
 long under water. — When the pieces of ice are detached 
 by ftrong winds or currents, the Bears allow themfelves 
 to be carried along with them, and as they cannot re- 
 gain the land, or abandon the ice on which they are em- 
 barked, they often perilh in the open fea. Thofe which 
 arrive with the ice on the coafts of Iceland or Norway, 
 are almoft familhed with hunger from the length of their 
 voyage, and are extremely voracious. As foon as the na- 
 tives difcover one of them, they arm themfelves, and pre- 
 fently difpatch him. 
 
 The ferocity of the Bear is as remarkable as its attach- 
 ment to its young. A few years fince, the Ciew of a 
 boat belonging to a fhip in the whale-fiflrery Biot at a 
 Bear at a fiiort diftance, and wounded it. The animal 
 immediately fet up the moft dreadful yells, and ran along 
 the ice towards the boat. Before it reached it, a fecond 
 fliot was fired, and hit it. This ferved to increafe its 
 fury. It prefently fwam to the boat; and in attempting 
 to get on board, reached its fore foot upon the gunnel ; 
 but one of the crew having a hatchet, cut it off. The 
 
270 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 animal ftlll, however, continued to fwim after them till 
 they arrived at the fltip ; and feveral fhots were fired at 
 it, which alfo took effe£l: : But on reaching the flop, it 
 immediately afcended the deck ; and the crew having fled 
 into the fhrowds, it was purfuing them thither, when a 
 fhot from one of them laid it dead upon the deck. 
 
 Its fleQi is white, and is faid to tafle like mutton. 
 The fat is melted for train-oil; and that of the feet is 
 ufed in medicine. 
 
 The White Bear brings forth two young at a time. 
 Their fondnefs for their offspring is fo great, that they 
 will die rather than defert them : Wounds ferve only to 
 make the attachment more violent : They embrace their 
 cubs to the lafl, and bemoan them with the moll piteous 
 cries. 
 
 They feed on fifh, feals, and the carcafes of whales. 
 Allured by the fcent of feal’s flefh, they often break into 
 the huts of the Greenlanders. — ^They fometimes attack 
 the Morfe, with which they have terrible conflidts : But 
 the large teeth of that animal give it a decided fuperiority 
 over the Bear, which is generally worfted. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 271 
 
 The Striped HYENA. 
 
 A lthough naturalifts, both ancient and mo- 
 dern, have defcribed the Hyena under difFerent 
 denominations, and have afcribed to it properties which 
 it is now known not to poffefs ; yet its charadlers are fo 
 fingular, that it is impoffible to miftake them, and fo pe- 
 culiar, as to diftinguifh it from every other clafs of ani- 
 mals. In many refpe£ts it refembles thofe of the Dog 
 kind, has fome fimilitude to the Wolf in form and difpo- 
 fition, and is about the fame fize. 
 
 The Hyena has only four toes on each foot ; its head 
 is broad and flat, and its muzzle fliorter than that of the 
 Wolf ; its fore legs are longer than the hind ones ; its 
 ears are long, pointed, and bare , and its eyes are re- 
 markably wild, fullen, and ferocious. 
 
 There are two varieties, — the one ftriped, and the 
 other fpotted, The hair of the former is of an afh co- 
 
 lour, marked with long black ftripes, difpofed in waves, 
 
272 HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 
 
 from the back downward ; there are otliers acrofs the 
 legs ; the hair, in general, is coarfe and rough ; its tail is 
 fhort and bufhy, with pretty long hair, fometimes plain, 
 and fometimes barred with black ; immediately under- 
 neath the tail, and above the anus, there is an orifice like 
 that of the Badger, which opens into a kind ef pouch, 
 and contains a fubftance of the confiftence of civet, but 
 of a rank, difagreeable odour. This opening may proba- 
 bly have given rife to the error of the ancients, who af- 
 ferted, that the Hyena was every alternate year male and 
 female. Its manner of holding its head is fomewhat like 
 a Dog purfuing a fcent, with its nofe near the ground. 
 This pofition of the head makes the fhoulders appear 
 more elevated. A briftly mane runs along the top of the 
 back from head to tail, which gives it an appearance 
 fomething like a Hog ; from whence, probably, it may 
 have derived its name ; the word huaina being a Greek 
 word derived from hus^ which fignifies a Sow. — Such are 
 the moft ftriking diftindlions of the Hyena, which has 
 been pidlured by ignorance and timidity under every 
 form that can ftrike terror into the imagination. Won- 
 derful powers were afcribed to it by the ancients ; who 
 believed, that it changed its fex ; that it imitated the hu- 
 man voice, and by that means attradfed unwary travel- 
 lers, and deftroyed them ; that it had the power of 
 charming the fiiepherds, and as it were rivetting them 
 to the place where they flood. Many other things, e- 
 qually abfurd, have been told of this animal: But thefe 
 are fufficient to lliew, that objedls of terror and fuperfti- 
 tion are nearly allied; and when once they have taken 
 pofleflion of the human mind, the mofl improbable {lo- 
 ries are eafily received and credited. 
 
 It refides in the caverns of mountains, in the clefts of 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 273 
 
 rocks, or in holes and dens, which it digs in the earth. — 
 Its difpofition is extremely ferocious j and, though taken 
 young, it never can be tamed. — It lives by depredations, 
 like the Wolf; but is ftronger, and more daring and ra- 
 pacious. It follows the flocks, ravages the fheepfold, 
 and deftroys every thing within its reach with the moR 
 infatiable voracity. — Its eyes fhine in the dark ; and it is 
 aflerted, with fome appearance of probability, that it can 
 fee nearly as well by night as by day. — When deftitute 
 of other provifions, it ranfacks the graves, and devours 
 putrid human bodies that have been long buried. 
 
 The voice of the Hyena is very peculiar : Its begin- 
 ning feems to be fomewhat like the moaning of a human 
 voice, and the ending like one making a violent effort to 
 vomit. 
 
 It inhabits Afiatic Turkey, Syria, Perfia, and Barbary. 
 — The fuperftitious Arabs, when they kill one of them, 
 carefully bury the head, left it fhould be applied to ma- 
 gical purpofes. 
 
 The courage of the Hyena is equal to its rapacity. It 
 will defend itfelf with great obftinacy againft much larger 
 quadrupeds : It Is not afraid of the Lion nor the Panther, 
 will fometimes attack the Ounce, and feldom fails to con- 
 quer. 
 
 S 
 
274 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Spotted HYENA 
 
 is called, at the Cape of Good Hope, the Tiger-Wolf; 
 
 and is very common in that part of the -world. Sparr- 
 
 man defcribes it as a cruel, mifchievous, and formidable 
 animal. — Its horrid yells are to be heard every night, 
 whilfl it prowls about for its prey, and lurks near farm- 
 yards, where cattle are kept. Thefe are well defended 
 by Dogs, of which the Hyena, though larger and ftrong- 
 er, is much afraid ; and will not venture an attack, un- 
 lefs prelTed by the moft urgent necefTity : Neither will it 
 dare to feize upon any of the larger animals, fuch as Ox- 
 en, Cows, Horfes, &c. whilfl; they make the leafl; ap- 
 pearance of defending themfelves, or even if they do not 
 betray any fymptoms of fear. It fometimes endeavours 
 to difperfe the cattle by its hideous roaring ; after which 
 it felefts and purfues one of them, which it foon difables 
 by a deadly bite, and then devours. 
 
 Thefe animals were formerly fo bold, as to moleft the 
 Hottentots in their huts, and fometimes carry off their 
 children } but, fince the introdu(5Uon of fire-arms, thofe 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 275 
 
 and other wild hearts keep at a greater dirtance from the 
 habitations of mankind. — It is a fa£l, however, that num- 
 bers of them attend almort every night about the Iham- 
 bles at the Cape, where they meet Vt^ith bones, fkin, and 
 other offals, which are left there by the inhabitants, who 
 fuffer thefe animals to come unmolerted, and carry off 
 their refufe ; and it is fomewhat remarkable, that they 
 have feldom been known to do any mifchief there, 
 though fed in the very heart of the towoi 
 
 The bowlings of the Hyena are dreadful beyond all 
 conception, and fpread a general alarm : They are al- 
 mort inceffant, and feem to be the natural confequence 
 of its craving appetite. Perhaps it may not be going too 
 far to fay, that Nature has kindly impreffed this involun- 
 tary difpofition to yelling upon this animal, that every 
 living creature might be upon its guard, and fecure itfelf 
 from the attacks of fo cruel an enemy. 
 
 The general colour is a reddifh-brown, marked with 
 dirtin£l round black fpots, the hind legs with tranfverfe 
 black bai's ; its head is large and flat j above each eye, as 
 well as on the lips, it has long whifkers; a fhort black 
 mane runs along the top of the back ; its ears are ftiort 
 and a little pointed ; its face and the upper part of its 
 head are black. 
 
 S 2 
 
276 HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 
 
 T HE F O X. 
 
 T his lively and crafty animal is common to every 
 part of Great-Britain ; and is fo well known, aS 
 not to require a particular defcription. 
 
 M. BufFon has taken great pains to prove, that the 
 Dog and the Fox will not breed together. For this pur- 
 pofe, he kept two males and a female for a confiderable 
 time, and tried to make the males copulate -. ith bitches, 
 wdiich they uniformly refufed ; and from thence he con- 
 cludes, that no mixture can take place between the two 
 fpecies. But it fliould be remembered, that the Foxes 
 were in a ftate of confinement *, and of courfe, many cir- 
 cumllances might concur to difguft them, and render the 
 experiment abortive. In confirmation of this, we need 
 only obferve, that the fame Foxes, which, when at liber- 
 ty, darted on the poultry with their ufual eagernefs, ne- 
 ver attempted to touch a fingle fowl after they were 
 chained: And we are told further, “ that a living hen 
 was generally fixed near them for a whole night ; and, 
 though food was kept from them for many hours, yet, in 
 fpite of hunger and opportunity, they never forgot that 
 they were chained, and difturbed not the hen.” Now 
 if any one fliould be fo hardy as to aflert from this, that 
 Foxes have a natural averfion to poultry, one may eafilv 
 conceive how little credit would be given to the conclu- 
 fion, and how much laughter it would excite. We juft 
 mention this, to fhew, that experiments of this kind, 
 where Nature is thwarted in her procefs, or reftrained in 
 any of her operations, are not always to be depended up- 
 on. — That the Fox and the Dog will breed together, is a 
 fadl, too well known in feveral parts of the North of 
 England, to admit of the fmalleft doubt. — -It is a common 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 277 
 
 pradlice in many places to tie up a bitch that is in feafon, 
 where fte may be vifited by a Fox, and be impregnated 
 by him. The fruits of the connection are fufficiently ob- 
 vious: Moft, if not all the puppies, have a flrong refem- 
 blance to the Fox : The fliarp nofe, prick ears, long bo- 
 dy, and fliort legs of the Fox, evidently point out their 
 origin. — Thefe Dogs are highly efteeraed by farmers and 
 graziers, as the moft ufeful kind for driving cattle. 
 They bite keenly; are extremely active and playful; and 
 are very expert at deftroying weafels, rats, and other ver- 
 min. 
 
 The Fox deeps much during the day; but the night is 
 its feafon of adtivity, and the time when it roams about 
 in fearch of prey. — It will eat flefti of any kind ; but pre- 
 fers that of hares, rabbits, poultry, and all kinds of birds. 
 Thofe that refide near the fea coafts will, for want of 
 other food, eat crabs, flirimps, mufcles, and other lliell- 
 filh. 
 
 In France and Italy, the Fox does great damage among 
 the vineyards, by feeding on the grapes, of which it is 
 
 extremely fond. It boldly attacks the wild bees, and 
 
 frequently robs them of their ftores ; but not with impu- 
 nity : The whole fwarm flies out, and faftens upon the 
 invader ; but he retires only for a few minutes, and rids 
 himfelf of the bees by rolling upon the ground; by which 
 means he cruflies fuch as ftick to him, and then returns 
 to his charge, and devours both wax and honey. 
 
 The cunning of the Fox in furprizing and fecuring its 
 prey is equally remarkable. When it has acquired more 
 than it can devour, its firft care is to fecure what it has 
 killed, which is generally all wdthin its reach. It digs 
 holes in different places, where it conceals its booty by 
 
 S 3 
 
278 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 carefully covering it with earth to prevent a difcovery. 
 If a fl ock of poultry have unfortunately fallen vi£lims to 
 its ftratagems, it will bring them, one by one, to thefe 
 hiding-places; where it leaves them till hunger demands 
 frefli fupplies. 
 
 The chafe of the Fox is a very favourite diverfion in 
 this kingdom, and is no-where purfued with fuch ardour 
 and intrepidity. Both our Dogs and Horfes are confelT- 
 edly fuperior to thofe of any other country. — ^The inftant 
 the Fox finds he is purfued, he flies towards his hole ; 
 and finding it flopped, which is always carefully done 
 before the chafe begins, he has recourfe to his fpeed and 
 his cunning for fafety. He does not double and meafure 
 Ills ground back like the Hare, but continues his courfe 
 ftraight forward before the Hounds with great flrength 
 and perfeverance. Both Dogs and Horfes, particularly 
 the latter, have frequently fallen vidims to the ardour of 
 the purfuit, which has fometimes continued for upwards 
 of fifty miles without the fmallefl intermilhon, and al- 
 
 mofl at full fpeed*. As the fcent of the Fox is very 
 
 ftrong, the Dogs follow with great alacrity and eagernefs, 
 and have been known to keep up a conftant chafe for 
 eight or ten hours together; and it is hard to fay, whe- 
 ther the fpirited eagernefs of the Hounds, the ardour of 
 the Horfes, or the enthufiafm of the hunters, is mofl to 
 
 * Mr Charles Turner’s Hounds hunted at Ayreyholm, near 
 llurworth, in the county of Durham, and found the noted old 
 Fox CESAR, which made an extraordinary chafe. After a round 
 of four miles, he led to Smeaton, through Hornby and Appleton ; 
 then back, again to Hornby, Worfet-moor, Pierfburgh, Limpton, 
 Craythorn, Middleton, Hilton, Seamer, Newby, Marton, Orml- 
 by; then upon Hambleton, through Kirkleatham-park, Uplea- 
 tllam, Skelton, and Kilton. Mr Turner tired three Horfes ; and 
 only three Hounds were in purfuit, when he thought proper to 
 call them off, it being near five in the evening. The chafe was 
 upwards of fifty miles. ’ ' 
 
HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 279 
 
 be admired. The Fox is tlie only one of the party which 
 has the plea of neceffity on his fide ; and it operates fo 
 ftrongly, that he often efcapes the utnjoft efforts of his 
 purfuers, and returns to his hole in fafety. The fmell of 
 his urine is fo offenfive to the Dogs, that it fometimes 
 proves the means of his efcape from them. When all 
 his fliifts have failed him, and he is at laft overtaken, he 
 then defends himfelf with great obflinacy, and fights in 
 filence till he is torn in pieces by the Dogs. 
 
 There are three varieties of Foxes in this ifland, which 
 differ from each other more in form than in colour. 
 
 The Greyhound FOX 
 
 is the largeftj and is chiefly found in the mountainous 
 parts of England and Scotland : He is likewife the bold- 
 eft, and will attack a well-gro\vn Sheep. — His ears are 
 long and ereft, and his afpedt wild. 
 
 S 4 
 
280 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Mastiff FOX 
 is rather lefs ; but his limbs are more flrongly formed. 
 
 The Cur FOX 
 
 is the leaft, but the moft common ; and approaches near- 
 ell to the habitations of mankind. It lurks about the 
 out-houfes of the farmer, and carries off all the poultry 
 within its reach. — It is remarkably playful and familiar 
 when tamed; but, like all wild animals half-reclaimed, 
 will, on the leaft offence, bite thofe it is moll familiar 
 with. 
 
 Tlie eye of the Fox is of a lively hazel colour, very 
 fignificant and expreffive ; and difcovers very fenfibly the 
 different emotions of love, fear, or anger, by which it 
 may be affe£led. — It feems greatly to admire its bufliy 
 tail, and frequently amufes itfelf by endeavouring to 
 catch it as it runs round. In cold weather, when it lies 
 down, it folds it about its head. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 281 
 
 The Fox lleeps found j and, like the Dog, lies in a 
 round form. When he is only repofmg himfelf, he 
 ftretches out his hind legs, and lies on his belly. In this 
 pofition, he fpies the birds as they alight on the hedges 
 or places near him, and is ready to fpring upon fuch as 
 are within his reach. He rarely lies expofed, but chufes 
 the cover of fome thick brake, where he is pretty fecure 
 from being furprized. — Crows, magpies, and other birds, 
 which confider the Fox as a common enemy, will often 
 give notice of his retreat by the mod clamorous notes, 
 and frequently follow him a confiderable way from tree 
 to tree, repeating their outcries. 
 
 Foxes produce but once a year, from three to fix 
 young ones at a time. When the female is pregnant, 
 fhe retires, and feldom goes out of her hole, where hie 
 prepares a bed for her young. She comes in feafon in 
 the winter 5 and young Foxes are found in the month of 
 April. If (he perceive that her habitation is difcovered, 
 fire carries them off, one by one, to a more fecure retreat. 
 The young are brought forth blind, like puppies. They 
 grow eighteen months or two years, and live thirteen or 
 fourteen years. 
 
 The Fox is frequently taken in traps *, but great cau- 
 tion muft be ufed to deceive this wily animal. The trap 
 mull; be placed in the midft of a field, where there is nei- 
 ther hedge nor path near it, and fo nicely covered with 
 mould, that not the lead vedige can be feen where it 
 lies: About the trap, and at a fmall didance from It, in 
 different places, a few pieces of cheefe, or other drong- 
 ly-fcented food, mud be carelefsly fcattered ; Then with 
 a flreep’s paunch, or fome other animal fubdance, a trail 
 is made, of about a mile in length, to the diderent places 
 where the bait is laid, and from thence to the trap : The 
 
282 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 fhoes of the perfon who carries the trail mufl: be likewife 
 well rubbed with the paunch, that the Fox may not dif- 
 cover his fcent. He then approaches with more confi- 
 dence ; and if the defign be well condudfed, feldom fails 
 of being caught. 
 
 There are many varieties of this animal, apparently 
 produced by the influence of climate. Thofe of this 
 country are moftly of a tawny-red, mixed with alh co- 
 lour; the fore part of the legs is black, and the tail tipt 
 with white. — In colder countries. Foxes are of various 
 colours. 
 
 The Black FOX 
 
 is mofl valuable for its fur, which is efteemed in Ruffia 
 fuperior to that of the fineft fable. A Angle Ikin will fell 
 for four hundred rubles. 
 
 The Cross FOX 
 
 inhabits the coldeft parts of Europe, Afia, and North- 
 
 America. Its fur is very valuable, being thicker and 
 
 fofter than the common fort. — Great numbers of Ikins 
 are imported from Canada. 
 
 It derives its name from a black mark which pafles 
 over its back acrofs the fhoulders, and another along the 
 back to the tail. 
 
 The Corsac FOX 
 
 is common in the deferts beyond the Yaick river, and 
 feems to be the fame animal defcribed by M. BufFon un- 
 der the name of the Ifatis. In fummer, it is of a pale- 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 283 
 
 tawny colour, with a white throat; in winter, it is grey: 
 The tip of the tail is black. — It is fmaller than the com- 
 mon Fox ; and its hair is foft and downy. 
 
 It lives in holes in the earth, and is caught by the 
 Kirgis-KhailTacs with falcons and greyhounds. Forty or 
 fifty thoufand are taken annually, and fold to the Ruf- 
 fians at the rate of forty copeics (about twenty-pence) 
 
 each. The natives, in their traffic, ufe their fkins in- 
 
 ftead of money. Great numbers are fent into Turkey. 
 
 The Arctic FOX 
 
 inhabits the countries bordering on the Frozen Sea. It 
 is found in Greenland, Iceland, Spitzbergen, Nova-Zem- 
 bla, and Lapland ; in Kamtfchatka, and the oppofite 
 
 parts of America. It burrows, and makes holes in the 
 
 ground, feveral feet in length ; at the end of which it 
 forms a neft with mofs. In Greenland and Spitzbergen, 
 it lives in the clefts of rocks, being unable to burrow on 
 account of the froft. Two or three of them inhabit the 
 fame hole. 
 
 It is endowed with all the cunning of the common 
 Fox ; preys on young geefe, ducks, and other water-fowl, 
 before they are able to fly; likewife, on hares, wild birds, 
 
284 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 and eggs : And in Greenland, for want of other food, 
 it feeds on berries and ftiell-fifh. In Lapland and the 
 North of Afia, its principal food is the Leming, or Lap- 
 land Marmot ; immenfe fhoals of which fometimes cover 
 the face of the country. The Foxes follow them, in 
 their migrations, from one place to another ; and as the 
 return of the Marmot is very uncertain, and frequently 
 after great intervals of time, they are fometimes abfent 
 three or four years in purfuit of this their favourite prey. 
 
 The hair of the Ar£fic Fox is of an afh colour, but 
 changes to white in the winter, when it is long, foft, 
 and fomewhat woolly : Its tail is fliorter than that of the 
 common Fox, and more bulhy ; and its toes are covered 
 with fur on the under part, like thofe of a Hare : It is 
 fmaller and more flender than the European Fox : Its 
 nofe is fliarp and black ; and its ears Ihort, and aim oft 
 hid in the fur. — It is fometimes taken in traps : But its 
 Ikin is of little value. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 285 
 
 The wolf. 
 
 A ll naturalifts agree in placing the Wolf and the 
 Dog in the fame clafs ; and, from the llighteft in- 
 fpedlion of its external form only, it would feem that 
 the Wolf was in every refpeft a Dog in its (late of na- 
 tural freedom. The fhape of its head is different; and 
 its eyes, being fixed in a more oblique pofition, give it a 
 look of more favage fiercenefs: Its ears are fharp and 
 eredl ; its tail long, bufhy, and bending inwards between 
 its hind legs ; its body is flronger than that of almoft any 
 fpecies of Dogs, its jaws and teeth larger, and its hair 
 coarfer and thicker. The internal ftru£lure of thefe ani- 
 mals is perfedlly fimilar. The Wolf couples in the fame 
 manner as the Dog ; and its immediate feparation is pre- 
 vented from the fame caufe ; The time of geftation is 
 alfo nearly the fame ; and from a variety of fuccefsful 
 experiments related by the celebrated Dr Hunter, there 
 is no longer any room to doubt, that the Wolf and the 
 Dog will copulate together, and produce an intermediate 
 fpecies, capable of fubfequent propagation. 
 
286 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The appetite of the Wolf, for every kind of animal 
 food, is exceffively voracious ; and, although Nature has 
 furniflied it with every requifite for purfuing and con- 
 quering its prey, it is frequently reduced to the laft ex- 
 tremity, and fometimes perilhes for want of food. So 
 great is the general deteftation of this deftruftive crea- 
 ture, that all the wild animals endeavour to avoid it, and 
 moft commonly efcape by their fuperior fwiftnefs. 
 
 When prell'ed with hunger from repeated difappoint- 
 ments, the Wolf becomes courageous from neceffity. It 
 th,en braves every danger, and even attacks thofe animals 
 that are under the prote£l:ion of man. Sometimes whole 
 droves of them join in the cruel work of general devafta- 
 tion, roam through the villages, and attack the fheep- 
 folds : They dig the earth under the doors, enter v/ith 
 dreadful ferocity, and put every living creature to death 
 before they depart. The Horfe is the only tame animal 
 that can defend itfelf againfl them : All the weaker ani- 
 mals become their prey : Even man himfelf, upon thefe 
 occafions, frequently falls a vi£lim to their rapacity *, and 
 it is faid, that when once they have tailed human blood, 
 they always give it the preference.— From hence, many 
 fuperftitious ftories have been told of the Wolf. The 
 old Saxons believed, that it was poffefled by feme evil 
 fpirit, and called it the Were-Wulf ; and the French pea- 
 fants, from the fame reafon, call it the Loup-garou. 
 
 The language of the poet is beautifully deferiptive cf 
 this creature’s infatiable fury 
 
 “ By wintry famine rous’d, from all the tradh 
 “ Of horrid mountains, which the fhining Alps, 
 
 “ And wavy Appenine, and Pyrenees, 
 
 “ Branch out, llupendous, into diftant lands, 
 
 “ Cruel as death ! and hungry as the grave ! 
 
 Burning for blood] bony, and ghaunt, and grim! 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 287 
 
 “ Aflembling Wolves, in raging troops, defcend; 
 
 “ And, pouring o’er the country, bear along, 
 
 “ Keen as the north wind fweeps the glofly fnow: 
 
 “ All is their prize. ” ' - 
 
 The Wolf has great ftrength, efpecially in the mufcles 
 of his neck and jaws : He can carry a Sheep in his 
 
 mouth, and eafily run off with it in that manner. His 
 bite is cruel and deadly, and keener as it meets with lefs 
 refiftance; but when oppofed, he is cautious and circum- 
 fpedd, and feldom fights but from neceflity. He is hard- 
 er and more robuft, but not fo fenfible as the Dog. He 
 almoft inceflantly prowls about for prey, and of all ani- 
 mals is the moft difficult to conquer in the chafe. His 
 fenfe of fmelling is peculiarly ftrong : He fcents the 
 
 track of animals, and follows it with great perfeverance ^ 
 The odour of carrion ftrikes him at the diftance of near 
 a league. 
 
 Wolves are capable of bearing want of food for a long 
 time. To allay their hunger, they will fometimes fill 
 
 their ftomachs with mud. They have been known to 
 
 follow armies, and affemble in troops upon the field of 
 battle ; tear up fuch bodies as have been carelefsly in- 
 terred, and devour them with infatiable avidity. 
 
 In all ages, the Wolf has been confidered as the mod 
 favage enemy of mankind, and rewards given for its 
 head. Various methods have been taken to rid the 
 world of this rapacious invader : Pit-falls, traps, and 
 
 poifon, have all been employed againft him; and, hap- 
 pily for thefe iflands, the whole race has long been ex- 
 tirpated here. King Edgar attempted to effedt it in Eng- 
 land by remitting the punifhment of certain crimes on 
 producing a number of Wolves’ tongues; and in Wales, 
 the tax of gold and filver was commuted for an annual 
 tribute of Wolves’ heads.-~Some centuries after that, 
 
288 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 they increafed to fuch a degree, as to become an objedl 
 of royal attention •, and great rewards were given for de- 
 llroying them. Camden informs us, that certain perfons 
 held their lands on condition of hunting and deftroying 
 the Wolves that infehed the country; whence they were 
 
 called the Wolve-hunt. In the reign of Athelftan, 
 
 Wolves abounded fo much in Yorkfhire, that a retreat 
 was built at Flixton to defend paflengers from their at- 
 tacks. As the ravages of thefe animals were greateft 
 
 during winter, particularly in January, when the cold 
 was fevereft, our Saxon Anceftors diftinguiflied that 
 month by the title of Wolf-moneth. They alfo called an 
 outlaw Wolfpedy as being out of the protection of the 
 law, and as liable to be killed as that deftruCtive beaft. — • 
 They infefled Ireland many centuries after their extinc- 
 tion in England ; the laft prefentment for killing Wolves 
 being made in the county of Cork about the year 1710. 
 
 Thefe animals abound in the immenfe forefts of Ger- 
 many, where the following methods are taken to deftroy 
 them: — In fome very fequeftered part of the foreft, they 
 hang up a large piece of carrion to the branch of a tree, 
 having previoufly made a train of fome miles long, leav- 
 ing fmall pieces of putrid flefh here and there to allure 
 the Wolves to the fpot: They then wait till it is dark, 
 and approach the place with great circumfpeCfion; where 
 they fometimes find two or three Wolves aflembled, leap- 
 ing up, and (training themfelves to catch the bait, which 
 is placed juft within their reach; and while the animals 
 are bufily employed in this way, the hunters being pro- 
 vided with fire-arms, feldom fail to difpatch them. — In a 
 convenient place, at the foot of a declivity, they make a 
 fmall inclofure of ftrong pales, fo high, that the Wolf 
 having once entered, cannot return again. An opening 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 589 
 
 is left at the top of the bank ; and a Sheep that has been 
 long dead, is the bait ; to which he is allured by long 
 trains, made from different places where he is known to 
 haunt. As foon as he arrives at the fpot, he examines 
 every part of the inclofure ; and finding no other way 
 to come at the booty, he precipitates himfelf to the bot- 
 tom ; and having made a plentiful meal, endeavours in 
 vain to reafcend. His difappointment at not being able 
 to get back is produ« 3 ;ive of the moft dreadful bowlings, 
 which alarm his enemies ; and they either take him alive, 
 or difpatch him with bludgeons. It is remarkable, that 
 when this animal finds there is no poffibility of efcaping, 
 his courage entirely forfakes him ; and he is for fome 
 time fo ftupified with fear, that he may be killed without 
 offering to refill, or taken alive without much danger.— 
 Wolves are fometimes taken in flrong nets, into which 
 they are driven by the hunters, who furround a large 
 tra£l of land, and with drums, horns, and other inftru- 
 ments, accompanied with loud cries from a large compa- 
 ny affembled upon the occafion, drive the animals to- 
 wards the entrance of the nets ; where they are entan- 
 gled, and killed with clubs and hatchets. Great care 
 mull be taken to fecure them at firft: If they recover 
 from their confternation, they eafily efcape by tearing the 
 net to pieces. 
 
 Wolves are found, with fome variety, in almoft every 
 country of the world. Thofe of Senegal are larger and 
 fiercer than thofe of Europe.- — In North-America, they 
 are fmall, of a dark colour, and may be eafily tamed. 
 Before the introdudlion of Dogs, the favages made ufe 
 of them in hunting the wild animals of the country ; and 
 they are ftill employed for the fame purpofe in the more 
 
 T 
 
290 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 remote parts of that vafl: continent. They are faid td 
 hunt in packs, and run down the Deer by their fcent. 
 The appearance of thefe animals near the habitations of 
 the Indians, fometimes indicates that the Bifon or the 
 Deer is at no great diftance; and when any of thofe are 
 taken, the Wolves are rewarded with the offal. Catefby 
 affirms, that the Wolves of that country have mixed with 
 the Dogs carried thither by the Europeans, and produced 
 an intermediate race. — In the northern regions, there are 
 Wolves entirely white, and others of a deep-black. — In 
 Mexico, there is a variety of the Wolf, with a very large 
 head, ftrong jaws, and great teeth: On the upper lip it 
 has flrong briftles, not unlike the fofter fpines of the 
 Porcupine, of a grey and white colour ; its ears are large 
 and ere£l ; its body is afh-coloured, fpotted with black 5 
 on its fides there are black ftripes from the back down- 
 ward ; its neck is fat and thick, covered with a loofe 
 fiiin, marked with a long tawny ftroke *, on the bread is 
 another of the fame kind ; the tail is long, and tinged in 
 the middle with tawny ; the legs and feet are driped 
 with black. It inhabits the hot parts of Mexico or New- 
 Spain, is equally voracious with the European Wolf, at- 
 tacks cattle, and fometimes men. — There are no Wolves 
 farther fouth on the new continent. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 2511 
 
 The New South-Wales WOLF 
 
 has been called a Dog; but its wild and favage nature 
 feems ftrongly to point out its affinity to the Wolf; to 
 which, in other refpedls, it bears a great refemblance. 
 It neither barks nor growls; but when vexed, ere£l:s the 
 hairs of its whole body like bridles, and appears extreme- 
 ly furious. — It is fond of rabbits and poultry, which it 
 eagerly devours rav/ ; but will not touch dreffed meat. 
 
 One of them, fent to this country from Botany-Bay, 
 was extremely nimble ; and fo fierce, as to feize on every 
 animal it faw. If not rellrained, it would have run 
 down Deer and Sheep : An Afs had alfo nearly fallen a 
 viftim to its fury. 
 
 Its height is rather lefs than two feet ; the length two 
 feet and a half : It is formed much like a Wolf; its ears 
 ffiort and ere£f, and its tail long and buffiy ; The general 
 colour is a pale-brown, lighter on the belly ; the feet and 
 pfide of the legs are white. 
 
292 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 W E beg leave to make our acknowledgments to 
 Mr Pennant for the drawing of this animal, 
 which he afl'ures us was drawn from the life ; and we 
 doubt not, therefore, its being a faithful reprefentation. 
 
 The fpecies of the Jackal is diffufed, with fome varie* 
 ty, through almoft every part of Afia; and is found in 
 Barbary, and other parts of Africa, as far as the Cape of 
 Good Hope. 
 
 Although it is one of the mod; numerous of all the 
 wild animals of the Eaft, there is fcarcely any lefs known 
 in Europe, or more confufedly defcribed by natural hif- 
 torians. 
 
 They vary in fize. Thofe of the warmeft climates are 
 faid to be the largeft. They are of a reddifh-brown co- 
 lour.. — The fmaller Jackal is about the fize of a Fox; 
 and its colour is a bright-yellow. 
 
 That the Jackal is nearly allied to the Dog, has been 
 clearly proved, from a cireumftance related by Mr Hun- 
 ter, of a female Jackal taken on board an Eaft-Indiaman 
 at Bombay whilft a cub, and being impregnated by a 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 293 
 
 Dog during the voyage, brought forth fix puppies; one 
 of which afterwards produced young ones, from an inter- 
 courfe with a Dog.-. — From thefe and other recent fafts, 
 it appears, that the Fox, the Wolf, the Jackal, and the 
 Dog, may be confidered as different fpecies of the fame 
 genus; and that the Jackal makes nearer approaches to 
 the Dog than either the Fox or the Wolf. 
 
 Jackals go in packs of forty or fifty, and hunt like 
 hounds in full cry from evening till morning. They de- 
 jltroy the poultry, and attack the flocks : They roam 
 
 through the villages and gardens, and carry off every 
 thing they can eat : They enter flables, yards, and out- 
 houfes'5 and devour Ikins, and every thing that is made 
 of leather; fuch as harnefling, boots, flioes, &c. No- 
 thing can efcape their rapacity. They will ranfack the 
 repofitories of the dead, and greedily devour the moft pu- 
 trid bodies ; for which reafon. In thofe countries where 
 they abound, the inhabitants are obliged to make the 
 graves of a great depth, and fecure them with fpines, to 
 prevent the Jackals from raking up the earth with their 
 feet. They are faid to attend caravans, and follow ar- 
 mies, in hopes of being furniflied with a banquet by 
 difeafe or battle.— They may be confidered as the vulture 
 among quadrupeds; and, like that deftrudlive bird, de- 
 vour every thing indifcriminately that has once had ani- 
 mal life. — They hide themfelves in holes and dens by- 
 day, an.d feldom appear abroad till the evening ; when 
 they fill the air with the moft horrid howlings, and begin 
 the chafe. The Lion, the Panther, and other beafts of 
 prey that do not follow by the fcent, take advantage of 
 the general confternatlon, and follow in filence behind 
 till the Jackals have hunted down their prey : They then 
 
 T 3 
 
294 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 devour the fruits of their labours, and leave them only 
 the remains of the fpoil ; from whence the Jackal has 
 been vulgarly called the Lion's Provider, as if thofe two 
 animals acted in concert, and had formed a plan for 
 their mutual fupport. 
 
 The Jackal frequently purfues the Gazelle-, and Is fo 
 bold, as to follow it even into the midft of a town or 
 village, whither that timid animal frequently flies for 
 protection, and by that means fometimes efcapes. 
 
 Sparrman’s defcription of thofe he faw at the Cape 
 differs materially from the accounts we have been able 
 to collect from other authors. He fays they are about 
 three feet in length, and their tails little more than a 
 foot long : The predominant colour is a reddifli-yellow ; 
 the legs are of a pale gold colour; under the belly, and 
 on the infide of the legs, the colour inclines to white; 
 the nofe and ears are of a brighter red ; the head, neck, 
 and back, are grey ; the tail Is partly grey, and partly of 
 an umber colour, and black at the tip. He fays it re- 
 fembles the European Fox in form, manners, and dlfpofi- 
 tlon ; and is not known to affemble in packs for the pur- 
 pofe of hunting ; neither is its voracity equal to that 
 
 afcribed to It by other naturalifts. It is probable it 
 
 may have been confounded with the Wild Dog, which is 
 common at the Cape, and hunts its prey In packs. It is 
 very fierce and mifchievous, and very deftruCHve to the 
 flocks of Sheep and Goats in thofe parts. — -There are two 
 kinds of thefe Dogs, — the one large, and of a reddiflr co- 
 lour; the other lefs, and browner. They are yery bold, 
 and wander about night and day in fearch of prey. 
 They make a noife fomewhat like the cry of our common 
 Hounds, and hunt with great fagacity, aCHng perfeCfly 
 i.n concert with each other till the game falls a prey to 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS, 295 
 
 the pack. They are faid to be always extremely lean, 
 and very ugly. 
 
 M. Buffon mentions an animal of the Jackal kind by 
 the name of the Ad'ive ; of which he gives a drawing, 
 fomewhat refembling a fmall Fox. It is lefs than the 
 common Jackal j and is fometimes tamed, and kept in a 
 domeftic ftate. 
 
/ 
 
 296 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS, 
 The dog. 
 
 T H E fervices of this truly valuable creature have 
 been fo eminently ufgful to the domeftic interefts 
 of men in all ages, that to give the hiftory of the Dog 
 would be little lefs than to trace mankind back to their 
 original ftate of fimplicity and freedom, to mark the pro- 
 grefs of civili2;ation through the various changes of the 
 world, and to follow attentively the gradual advancement 
 of that order which placed man at the head of the animal 
 world, and gave him a manifeft fuperiority over every 
 part of the brute creation. 
 
 If we confider for a moment the ftate of man without 
 the aid of this ufeful domeftic ; — with what arts fliall he 
 oppofe the numerous hofts of foes that furround him on 
 all fides, feeking every opportunity to encroach upon his 
 pofleffions, to deftroy his labours, or endanger his per- 
 fonal fafety ? or how fhall he bring into fubje£tion fuch 
 as are neceffary for his well-being ? His utmoft vigilance 
 will not be fufhcient to fecure him from the rapacity of 
 the one, nor his greatefl; exertions enable him to over- 
 come the fpeed of the other. To maintain his indepen- 
 dence, to infure his fafety, and to provide for his fup- 
 port, it was neceflary that fome one among the animals 
 Iliould be brought over to his alTiftance, whofe zeal and 
 hdelity might be depended on : And where, amidfl all 
 the various orders of animated being, could one be found 
 fo entirely adapted to this purpofe ? where could one be 
 found fo bold, fo traftable, and fo obedient, as the Dog ? 
 - — To confirm the truth of thefe obfervations, we need 
 only turn our attention to the prefent condition of thofe 
 nations not yet emerged from a ftate of barbarifm, where 
 the ufes of the Dog are but little known or attended to, 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 297 
 
 and we will find that they lead a precarious and wretch- 
 ed life of perpetual warfare with the Hill more favage in- 
 habitants of the foreft, with which they are obliged to 
 jdifpute the pofl'effion of their uncultivated fields, and, not 
 unfrequently, to divide with them the fruits of their la- 
 bours. — From hence we may conclude, that the attention 
 of mankind, in the earlieft ages, would be engaged in 
 training and rendering this animal fubfervient to the im- 
 portant purpofes of domeftic utility; and the refult of 
 this art has been the conqueft and peaceable pofleflion of 
 the earth. 
 
 Of all animals, the Dog feems mod fufceptible of 
 change, and mod eafily modified by difference of cli- 
 mate, food, and education ; not only the figure of his 
 body, but his faculties, habits, and difpofitions, vary in a 
 furprizing manner : Nothing appears condant in them 
 but their internal conformation, which is alike in all ; in 
 every other refpedt, they are very diffimilar : They vary 
 in fize, in figure, in the length of the nofe and fliape of 
 the head, in the length and direction of the ears and tail, 
 in the colour, quality, and quantity of the hair, &c. To 
 enumerate the different kinds, or mark the diferimina- 
 tions by which each is didinguilhed, would be a talk as 
 fruitlefs as it would be impoffible ; to account for this 
 wonderful variety, or invedigate the charadfer of the pri- 
 mitive dock from which they have fprung, would be 
 equally vain. Of this only we are certain, that, in every 
 age. Dogs have been found poffeffed of qualities mod 
 admirably adapted for the various purpofes to which they 
 have been from time to time applied. — We have feen, in 
 the hidory of the Cow and the Sheep, that thofe animals 
 which have been long under the management of man, 
 never preferve the damp of nature in its original purity. 
 
298 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 In wild animals, which ftill enjoy their original freedom 
 from reftraint, and have the independent choice of food 
 and climate, this impreffion is Hill faithfully preferved j 
 but thofe which man has fubdued, tranfported from cli- 
 mate to climate, changed their food, habits, and manner 
 of living, mull neceflarily have fuifered the greateft alter- 
 ations in their form ; and as the Dog, of all other do- 
 meftic animals, is moll accuftomed to this influence, is 
 endowed with difpofitions the mo'll docile and obedient, 
 is fufceptible of every imprelhon, and fubmilTive to every 
 rellraint, we need not wonder that he lliould be fubje£l 
 to the greateft variety. — To an attentive obferver of the 
 canine race, it is truly wonderful and curious to obferve 
 the rapid changes and Angular combinations of forms, 
 arifing from promifcuous intercourfe, which every-where 
 prefent themfelves: They appear in endlefs fucceflion, 
 and feem more like the effe£l of whimfical caprice than 
 the regular and uniform production of Nature : So that, 
 in whatever light we confider the various mixtures which 
 at prefent abound, and render every idea of a fyftematic 
 arrangement dubious and problematical, we may fairly 
 prefume, that the fervices of the Dog would be firft re- 
 quired in maintaining and preferving the fuperiority of 
 man over thofe animals which were deftined for his fup- 
 port. 
 
HISTORY OF QLTADRUPEDS. 299 
 
 The Shepherd’s DOG. 
 
 This ufeful animal, ever faithful to his charge, reigns 
 at the head of the flock ; where it is better heard, and 
 more attended to, than even the voice of the fliepherd. 
 Safety, order, and difcipline, are the fruits of his vigi- 
 lance and activity. 
 
 In thofe large trails of land which, in many parts of 
 our ifland, are folely appropriated to the feeding of 
 Sheep and other cattle, this fagacious animal is of the 
 utmoft importance. Immenfe flocks may be feen conti- 
 nually ranging over thofe extenfive wilds, as far as the 
 eye can reach, feemingly without controul: Their only 
 guide is the Ihepherd, attended by his Dog, the conftant 
 companion of his toils : It receives his commands, and is 
 always prompt to execute them ; it is the watchful guar- 
 dian of the flock, prevents them from ftraggling, keeps 
 them together, and condudls them from one part of their 
 pafture to another ; it will not fuffer any flrangers to mix 
 u'ith them, but carefully keeps off every intruder. In 
 driving a number of Sheep to any diftant part, a well- 
 trained Dog never fails to confine them to the road, 
 watches every avenue that leads from it j where he takes 
 
300 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 his ftand, threatening every delinquent : He purfues the 
 ftragglers, if any fliould efcape *, and forces them into 
 order, without doing them the lead injury. If the herdf- 
 man be at any time abfent from the flock, he depends 
 upon his Dog to keep them together ; and as foon as he 
 gives the well-known fignal, this faithful creature con-. 
 du£ls them to his mafter, though at a confiderable dif- 
 tance. 
 
 There is a very remarkable fingularity in the feet of 
 the Shepherd’s Dog, which we have likewife obferved in 
 thofe of the Cur and the Spaniel. All of them have one, 
 and fome two toes more than mod Dogs, though they 
 feem not to be of much ufe. They appear to be dedi- 
 tute of mufcles, and hang dangling at the hind part of 
 the leg more like an unnatural excrefcence than a necef- 
 fary part of the animal. But the adage, that * Nature 
 has made nothing in vain,’ ought to corre£l our decifion 
 on their utility, which probably may exid unknown tp 
 us. 
 
 This breed of Dogs, at prefent, appears to be pre- 
 ferved, in the greated purity, in the northern parts of 
 Scotland ; where its aid is highly necelTary in managing 
 the numerous herds of Sheep bred in thofe extenflve 
 wilds. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 301 
 
 The CUR-DOG 
 
 is a trufty and ufeful fervant to the farmer and grazier; 
 and, although it is not taken notice of by naturalifts as a 
 diftindl race, yet it is now fo generally ufed, efpecially 
 in the North of England, and fuch great attention is paid 
 in breeding it, that we cannot help confidering it as a 
 permanent kind. 
 
 They are chiefly employed in driving cattle; in which 
 way they are extremely ufeful. They are larger, ftrong- 
 er, and fiercer than the Shepherd’s Dog ; and their hair 
 is fmoother and ftiorter. They are moftly of a black and 
 white colour. Their ears are half-pricked : And many 
 of them are whelped with fhort tails, which feem as if 
 they had been cut : Thefe are called Self-tailed Dogs. 
 They bite very keenly ; and as they always make their 
 attack at the heels, the cattle have no defence againft 
 them: In this way, they are more than a match for a 
 Bull, which they quickly compel to run. — Their fagacity 
 is uncommonly great: They know their mailer’s fields, 
 and are fmgularly attentive to the cattle that are in them ; 
 
302 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 A good Dog watches, goes his rounds ; and, if any 
 ftrange cattle fhould happen to appear amongft the herd, 
 although unbidden, he quickly flies at them, and with 
 keen bites obliges them to depart. 
 
 Similar to the Cur, is that which is commonly ufed in 
 driving cattle to the daughter: And as thefe Dogs have 
 frequently to go long journies, great flrength, as well as 
 fwiftnefs, is required for that purpofe. They are there- 
 fore generally of a mixed kind ; and unite in them the 
 feveral qualities of the Shepherd’s Dog, the Cur, the 
 MaftilF, and the Greyhound. — Thus, by a judicious mix- 
 ture of different kinds, the fervices of the Dog are ren- 
 dered (till more various and extenfive, and the great pur- 
 pofes of domeftic utility more fully anfwpred. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 303 
 
 The Greenland DOG. 
 
 The favage afpedl and difpofition of this Dog feem to 
 bear fome affinity to the rigours of the climate it inha- 
 bits. 
 
 The Pomeranian or Wolf Dog of M. Buffon, the Si- 
 berian, Lapland, and Iceland Dogs are fomewhat fimilar 
 to it in the ffiarpnefs of their muzzles, in their long Ihag- 
 gy hair, and bufty curling tails. The principal differ- 
 ence is in their fize. — Though much larger, they all of 
 them have fome refemblance to the Shepherd’s Dog. 
 
 Moll of the Greenland Dogs are white ; but fome are 
 fpotted, and fome black. They may rather be faid to 
 howl than bark. — The Greenlanders fometimes eat their 
 fleffi : They make garments of their Ikins, and ufe them 
 in drawing fledges ; to which they yoke them, four, five, 
 and fometimes fix together*. 
 
 * Five of thefe Dogs, that had efcaped with their trappings, 
 were found in Greenland, and brought to this country a few years 
 ago by one of our (hips in the filhery. 
 
304 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Dogs of Kamtfchatka are commonly black or* 
 •white. They are ftrong, nimble, and a£live ; and are 
 very ufeful in drawing fledges, the only method of tra- 
 velling in that dreary country during the winter. They 
 travel with great expedition. Captain King relates, that, 
 during his flay there, a courier with difpatches, drawn 
 by them, performed a journey of 270 miles In lefs than 
 four days. 
 
 The fledges are ufually drawn by five Dogs, four of 
 them yoked two and two abreaft : The foremofl atSts as a 
 leader to the reft. The reins being faftened to a collar 
 round the leading Dog’s neck, are of little ufe in dire£t- 
 ing the pack ; the driver depending chiefly upon their 
 obedience to his voice, with which he animates them to 
 proceed. — Great care and attention are confequently ufed 
 in training up thofe for leaders, which are more valuable 
 according to their fteadinefs and docility; the fum of 
 forty roubles, or ten pounds, being no unufual price for 
 one of them. — The rider has a crooked flick, anfwering 
 the purpofe both of whip and reins; with which, by 
 ftriking on the fnow, he regulates the fpeed of the Dogs, 
 or flops them at his pleafure. When they are inatten- 
 tive to their duty, he often chaftifes them by throwing it 
 at them. He difcovers great dexterity in regaining his 
 flick, which is the greateft difficulty attending his fitua- 
 tion ; for if he fhould happen to lofe it, the Dogs imme- 
 diately difcover the eircumftance, and feldom fail to fet 
 off at full fpeed, and continue to run till their ftrength is 
 exhaufted, or till the carriage is overturned, and dafhed 
 to pieces, or hurried down a precipice. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 305 
 
 * In December, 1784, a Dog was left by a fmuggling 
 Veflel near Boomer, on the coaft of Northumberland. Finding 
 himfelf defected, he began to worry Sheep ; and did fo much, 
 damage, that he became the terror of the country within a cir- 
 cuit of above twenty miles. We are allured, that when he 
 caught a Sheep, he bit a hole in its right fide, and after eating 
 the tallow about the kidneys, left It : Several of them, thus la- 
 cerated, were found alive by the Ihepherds ; and being taken 
 proper care of, fome of them recovered, and afterwards had 
 lambs. From his delicacy in this refpeft, the deftruftion he 
 made may in fome meafure be conceived ; as it may be fup- 
 pofed, that the fat of one Sheep in a day would hardly fatisfy 
 his hunger. — The farmers were fo much alarmed by his depre- 
 dations, that various means were ufed for his deftruftion. They 
 frequently purfued him with Hounds, Greyhounds, &c. ; but 
 when the Dogs came up with him, he laid down on his back, 
 as if fupplicating for mercy ; and In that pofition they never 
 hurt him : He therefore laid quietly, taking his reft till the hun- 
 ters approached, when he made off", without being followed by 
 the Hounds, till they were again excited to the purfuit, which 
 always tenninated unfuccefsfully. And it is worthy of notice, 
 that he was one day purfued from Howick to upwards of thirty 
 miles diftance ; but returned thither, and killed Sheep the fame 
 evening. — His conftant refidence, during the day, was upon a 
 rock, on the Heugh-hlll, near Howick, where he had a view of 
 four roads that approached it ; and In March, 1785, after many 
 fruitlefs attempts, he was at laft Ihot there. 
 
3o6 history of QJJADRUPEDS« 
 
 The BULL- dog 
 
 is the fierceft of all the Dog kind, and is probably the 
 moft courageous creature in the world. It is low in fta- 
 ture, but very ftrong and mufcular. Its nofe is Ihort; 
 and the under jaw projects beyond the upper, which 
 gives it a fierce and unpleafing afpefl. — Its courage in 
 attacking the Bull is well known ; Its fury in feizing, 
 and its invincible obftinacy in maintaining its hold, are 
 truly aftonifliing. It always aims at the front*, and ge- 
 nerally faftens upon the lip, the tongue, the eye, or fome 
 part of the face ; where it hangs, in fpite of every effort 
 of the Bull to difengage himfelf. 
 
 The uncommon ardour of thefe Dogs in fighting will 
 be befl illuflrated by the following fa£lr, related by an 
 eye-witnefs ; which at the fame time corroborates, in 
 fome degree, that wonderful account of the Dogs of 
 Epirus, given by Elian, and quoted by Dr Goldfmith in 
 his hiftory of the Dog : — Some years ago, at a bull- 
 baiting in the North of England, when that barbarous 
 cuftom was very common, a young man, confident of 
 the courage of his Dog, laid fome trifling wagers, that 
 he would, at feparate times, cut off all the four feet of 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 307 
 
 his Dog ; and that, after every amputation, it would at- 
 tack the Bull. The cruel experiment was tried ; and the 
 Dog continued to feize the Bull as eagerly as if he had 
 been perfedtly whole. 
 
 Of late years, this inhuman cuftom of baiting the Bull 
 has been almoll entirely laid afide in the North of Eng- 
 land *, and, confequently, there are now few of this kind 
 of Dogs to be feen. 
 
 As the Bull-Dog always makes his attack without 
 barking, it is very dangerous to approach him alone, 
 without the greateft precaution. 
 
 The mastiff 
 
 is much larger and ftronger than the Bull-Dog ; its ears 
 are more pendulous ; its lips are large and loofe ; its af- 
 peel is fullen and grave, and its bark loud and terrific. — 
 He feems every way formed for the important truft of 
 guarding and fecuring the valuable property committed 
 
 U 2 
 
3o8 history of qjjadrupeds. 
 
 to his care. Houfes, gardens, yards, &c. are fafe frorra 
 depredations whilft in his cuftody. Confined during the 
 day, as foon as the gates are locked, he is left to range 
 at full liberty: Fie then goes round the premifies, exa- 
 mines every part of them, and by loud barkings gives no- 
 tice that he is ready to defend his charge. 
 
 Dr Caius, in his curious treatife on Britifli Dogs, tells 
 us, that three of thefe animals were reckoned a match 
 for a Bear, and four for a Lion. 
 
 We have a curious account, recorded in Stow’s An- 
 nals, of an engagement between three MaftilFs and a 
 Lion, in the prefence of James the Firfl;. “ One of the 
 Dogs being put into the den, was foon difabled by the 
 Lion •, which took it by the head and neck, and dragged 
 it about ; Another Dog was then let loofe, and ferved in 
 the fame manner : But the third being pat in, immedi- 
 ately feized the Lion by the lip, and held him for a con- 
 fiderable time •, till being feverely torn by his claws, the 
 Dog was obliged to quit its hold ; and the Lion, greatly 
 exhaufted in the conflidF, refufed to renew the engage- 
 ment; but taking a fudden leap over the Dogs, fled into 
 the interior part of his den. Two of the Dogs foon died 
 of their wounds : The laft furvived, and was taken great 
 care of by the king’s fon ; who faid, “ he that had 
 fought with the king of beafts, fliould never after fight 
 w'ith any inferior creature.” 
 
 The MaftilFs of Great-Britain were noted in the time 
 of the Roman emperors ; who appointed an officer, 
 whofe foie bufinefs it was to breed, and fend from hence, 
 fuch as would ^rove equal to the combats of the amphi- 
 theatre. 
 
 The following anecdote will fhew, that the MaftifF, 
 confcious of its fuperior ftrength, knows how to chaftife 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 309 
 
 the impertinence of an inferior: — A large Dog of this 
 kind, belonging to the late M. Ridley, efq; of Heatton, 
 near Newcaftle, being frequently molelled by a IMongrel, 
 and teazed by its continual barking, at laft took It up in 
 his mouth by the back, and with great compofure drop- 
 ped It over the quay into the river, without doing any 
 farther injury to an enemy fo much his inferior. 
 
 The Maltiff, in its pure and unmIxed Hate, is now fel- 
 dom to be met with. The generality of Dogs diflin- 
 guiflied by that name, feem to be compounded of the 
 BuII-Dog, Danifli MaftifF, and the Ban-Dog. 
 
 The BAN- dog 
 
 Is a variety of this fierce tribe, not often to be feen at 
 prefent. It is lighter, fmaller, more adlive and vigilant, 
 than the Maltiff, but not fo pow'erful ; its nofe is fmall- 
 er ; and it poffelfes, in fome degree, the fcent of the 
 Hound 5 its hair is rougher, and generally of a yellowilh- 
 
 U 3 
 
310 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 grey, ftreaketl with fliades of a black or brown colour. 
 It does not invariably, like the preceding kinds, attack its 
 adverfary in front; but frequently feizes cattle by the 
 flank. It attacks with eagernefs ; and its bite is keen 
 and dangerous. 
 
 The Dalmatian or Coach DOG 
 
 has been erroneoufly called the DattJlj Dog; and, by M. 
 BufFon, the Harrier of Bengal ; but for what reafon it is 
 difficult to afcertain, as its incapacity of fcenting is fuffi- 
 cient to dellroy all affinity to any Dog employed in the 
 purfuit of the Hare. 
 
 It is very common in this country at prefent; and is 
 frequently kept in genteel houfes, as an elegant attendant 
 on a carriage. — We do not, however, admire the cruel 
 praftice of depriving the poor animal of its ears, in order 
 to encreafe its beauty : A pra£lice fo general, that we do 
 not remember ever to have feen one of thefe Dogs unmu- 
 tilated in that way. 
 
HISTORY OF QTTADRUPEDS. 311 
 
 The Irish GREYHOUND 
 
 is the largeft of the Dog kind, and its appearance the 
 
 moft beautiful and majeftic. It is only to be found in 
 
 Ireland, where it was formerly of great ufe in clearing 
 that country from Wolves. — It is now extremely rare, 
 and is kept rather for Ihow than ufe, being equally un- 
 ferviceable for hunting either the Stag, the Fox, or the 
 Hare. 
 
 Thefe Dogs are about three feet high, generally of a 
 white or cinnamon colour, and made fomewhat like a 
 Greyhound, but more robuft : Their afpe£l is mild, and 
 their difpofition gentle and peaceable : Their ftrength is 
 fo great, that in combat the MaftifF or Bull-Dog is far 
 
 U 4 
 
312 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 from being equal to them. They moftly feize their anta- 
 gonifts by the back, and fliake them to death, which 
 their great fize generally enables them to do with eafe. 
 1\I. BufFon fuppofes the Great DaniJIj Dog to be only a 
 
 variety of the Irifli Greyhound. Next to this, in fize 
 
 and ftrength, is 
 
 The Scottish Highland GREYHOUND, 
 OR WOLF-DOG; 
 
 which was formerly ufed by the chieftains of that coun- 
 try in their grand hunting parties. One of them, which 
 
 we faw fome years ago, was a large, powerful, fierce- 
 looking Dog; its ears were pendulous, and its eyes half 
 hid in the hair ; its body was ftrong and mufcular, and 
 covered with harlh, wiry, reddifh hair, mixt with white. 
 
 The gaze hound 
 
 was fomewhat fimilar to the Greyhound; and, like that 
 animal, hunted only by the eye. It was formerly in 
 great repute, but is now unknown to us. It was ufed in 
 hunting either the Fox, the Hare, or the Stag. It would 
 feleft from the reft the fatteft Deer, purfue it by the eye, 
 and though it fhould rejoin the herd, would infallibly fix 
 upon the fame, and purfue it till taken. 
 
 The LYEMMER, 
 
 fo called from its being led in a thong, and flipped at 
 the game. — Dr Caius informs us, that it hunted both by 
 the feent and fight; and, in its form, was between the 
 Hound and the Greyhound.— It is now unknown to us. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 313 
 
 The greyhound, 
 
 M. BufFon fuppofes to be the Irifh Greyhound, rendered 
 thinner and more delicate by the difference of climate 
 and culture : But whatever truth there may be in the 
 fanciful arrangements of that ingenious author, there is 
 an evident fimilarity of form in all of thofe juft mention- 
 ed ; particularly in the depth of the cheft, in the length 
 of the legs, and in the fmallnefs of the muzzle. 
 
 The Greyhound is the fleeteft of all Dogs, and can 
 outrun every animal of the chafe ; but as It wants the fa- 
 culty of fcenting, it only follows by the eye. — It was for- 
 merly held in fuch eftimation, as to be confidered the pe- 
 culiar companion of gentlemen ; and, by the foreft laws 
 of king Canute, it was enadled, that no perfon under 
 that degree fliould prefume to keep a Greyhound. 
 
 The %mall Italian Greyhound is not above half the fize, 
 but perfe£Uy fimilar in form. Its fhape is exquifitely 
 beautiful and delicate. — It is not common in this country, 
 the climate being too rigorous for the extreme delicacy of 
 its conftitution. 
 
314 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The lurcher 
 
 is lefs and fliorter than the Greyhound, and its limbs 
 ftronger : Its body is covered with a rough coat of hair, 
 moft commonly of a pale-yellow colour; its afpeft is ful- 
 len ; and its habits, from whence it derives its name, are 
 dark and cunning. 
 
 As this Dog polTefles the advantage of a fine fcent, it 
 is often employed in killing Hares and Rabbits in the 
 night time. When taken to the warren, it fteals out 
 with the utmoft precaution, watches and fcents the Rab- 
 bits while they are feeding, and darts upon them without 
 barking or making the leaft noife. One of them will 
 fingly make incredible havock in a fiiort time ; and is fo 
 trained, as to bring its booty to its mailer, who waits in 
 fome convenient place to receive it*. — They are fo de- 
 flru£live, and have been fo often employed in illicit prac- 
 
 * We have feen a Dog and Bitch of this kind in the pofiellion 
 of a man, who had formerly ufed them for the purpofe above de- 
 fcribed. He declared, that he could at that time procure in an 
 evening as many Rabbits with them as he could carry home. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 315 
 
 tices, that they are now, with great propriety, profcribed ; 
 and the breed is almoft extinft. 
 
 Another Dog of this family, formerly in vife, but now- 
 only known to us by its name, is 
 
 The TUMBLER; 
 
 which was fo called from its cunning manner of taking 
 Rabbits and other game. It did not run diredtly at 
 them ; but, in a carelefs and inattentive manner, tum- 
 bled itfelf about till it came within reach of its prey, 
 which it always feized by a fudden fpring. 
 
 The terrier 
 
 has a moll acute fmell, is generally an attendant on eve- 
 ry pack of Hounds, and is very expert in forcing Foxes 
 or other game out of their coverts. It is the determined 
 enemy of all the vermin kind; fuch as Weafels, Fou- 
 marts, Badgers, Rats, Mice, &c. It is fierce, keen, and 
 hardy; and, in its encounters with the Badger, feme- 
 
3i6 history of QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 times meets with very fevere treatment, which it fuftains 
 with great courage and fortitude : A well-trained veteran 
 Dog frequently proves more than a match for that hard- 
 bitten animal. 
 
 There are two kinds of Terriers, — the one rough, 
 fliort-legged, long-backed, very ftrong, and moll com- 
 monly of a black or yellowilh colour, mixed with white j 
 the other is fmooth, fleek, and beautifully formed, having 
 a ftiorter body, and more fprightly appearance : It is ge- 
 nerally of a reddifh-brown colour, or black, with tanned 
 legs; and is fimilar to the rough Terrier in difpofition 
 and faculties, but inferior in fize, ftrength, and hardi- 
 nefs. 
 
 The beagle. 
 
 Of thofe Dogs that are kept for the bufinefs of the 
 chafe in this country, the Beagle is the fmalleft, and is 
 only ufed in hunting the Hare. Although far inferior in 
 point of fpeed to that animal, it follows by the exquifite- 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 317 
 
 nefs of its fcent, and traces her footfleps through all her 
 various tvindings with great exaftnefs and perfeverance. 
 Its tones are foft and mufical, and add greatly to the 
 pleafures of the chafe. 
 
 The harrier, 
 
 which chiefly differs from the Beagle in being fomewhat 
 larger, is very nimble and vigorous. It purfues the Hare 
 with the moft impetuous eagernefs, and gives her no 
 time to breathe nor double. The moft eager fportfmen 
 generally find it fufficient exercife to keep in with their 
 fpeed. — They exert their voices with great chearfulnefs, 
 and make delightful harmony. 
 
 A mixt breed, between this and the large Terrier, 
 forms a ftrong, a£tive, and hardy Hound, ufed in hunt- 
 ing the Otter. — It is rough, wire-haired, thick-quartered, 
 long-eared, and thin-fliouldered. 
 
3i8 history of QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 There is reafon to fuppofe, that the Beagle and the 
 Harrier mull have been introduced into Great-Britain af- 
 ter the Romans became mailers of the ifland ; as, before 
 that period, the Britons were occupied in clearing their 
 extenfive forefts of the various wild beafts, fuch as Wild- 
 Boars, Bears, Wolves, &c. with which they abounded; 
 and, for that purpofe, larger and ftronger Dogs than the 
 Harrier or the Beagle would be required. 
 
 The FOX- hound. 
 
 No country in Europe can boaft of Fox-Hounds equal 
 in fwiftnefs, ftrength, or agility, to thofe of Britain ; 
 where the utmofl; attention is paid to their breeding, e- 
 ducation, and maintenance. The climate allb feems con- 
 genial to their nature ; for it has been faid, that when 
 Hounds of the Englilh breed have been fent into France 
 or other countries, they quickly degenerate, and in feme 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 319 
 
 degree lofe thofe qualities for which they were originally 
 fo admirable. 
 
 In England, the attachment to the chafe is in fome 
 meafure confidered as a trait in the national charafter; 
 confequently, it is not to be wondered at, that our Dogs 
 and Horfes fhould excel all others in that noble diverfion. 
 This propenfity appears to be encreafing in the nation ; 
 and no priee feems now thought too great for Hounds of 
 known excellence*. 
 
 The Fox-Hounds generally preferred are tall, light- 
 made, but ftrong, and poflelTed of great courage, fpeed, 
 and a£Iivity. 
 
 The habits and faculties of thefe Dogs are fo generally 
 known, as to render any defcription unneceflary. 
 
 Dogs of the fame kind are alfo trained to the hunting 
 of the Stag and other Deer. 
 
 The following anecdote affords a proof of their won- 
 derful fpirit in fupporting a continuity of exertion : — 
 
 “ Many years fince, a very large Stag was turned out of 
 Whinfield Park, in the county of Weftmorland ; and purfued 
 by the Hounds, till, by fatigue or accident, the whole pack 
 were thrown out, except two ftaunch and favourite Dogs, which 
 continued the chafe the greateft part of the day. The Stag re- 
 turned to the park from whence he fet out ; and, as his laft ef- 
 fort, leapt the wall, and expired as foon as he had accompliflied 
 it. One of the Hounds purfued to the wall ; but being unable 
 to get over it, laid down, and almoft immediately expired ; The 
 other was alfo found dead at a fmall diftance. 
 
 “ The length of the chafe is uncertain : But as they were 
 feen at Red-kirks, near Annan, in Scotland, diftant, by the 
 poft-road, about forty-lix miles, it is conjeftured, that the cir- 
 cuitous and uneven courfe they might be fuppofed to take, 
 would not be lefs than 07ie hundred and tnnenty unites. 
 
 “ To commemorate this faft, the horns of the Stag, which 
 were the largeft ever feen in that part of the country, were 
 
 * In 1788, Mr Noel’s pack was fold to Sir Wm Lowther, 
 bart. for 1000 guineas. 
 
320 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 placed on a tree of a moll enormous fize, in the park, (after-* 
 wards called the Hart-horn tree) accompanied with this infcrip- 
 tion ; — 
 
 “ Hercules kill’d Hart o’Greece; 
 
 “ And Hart o’Grecce kill’d Hercules.” 
 
 “ The horns have been fince removed ; and are now at Ju” 
 Han’s Bower, in the fame county.” 
 
 The Old English HOUND 
 
 is defcribed by Whitaker, in his Hiftory of Mancheller, 
 as the original breed of this ifland, ufed by the ancient 
 Britons in the chafe of the larger kinds of game, with 
 which their country abounded. 
 
 This valuable Hound is diftinguiflied by its great fize 
 and ftrength. Its body is long, its cheft deep, its ears 
 long and fweeping, and the tone of its voice is peculiarly 
 deep and mellow. — From the particular formation of its 
 
HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 321 
 
 organs, or from the extraordinary moiftuve that always 
 adheres to its nofe and lips, or perhaps from fome other 
 unknown caufe, it is endued with the molt exquifite 
 fenfe of fmelling, and can often diftinguifh the fcent an 
 hour after the lighter Beagles have given it up. Their 
 flownefs alfo difpofes them to receive the diredlions of 
 the huntfman : But as they are able to hunt a cold fcent, 
 they are too apt to make it fo, by their w'ant of fpeed, 
 and tedious exadlnefs. 
 
 Thefe Dogs were once common in every part of this 
 illand, and were formerly much larger than at prefent. 
 
 The breed, wTich has been gradually declining, and 
 its fize ftudioufly diminiflied by a mixture of other kinds 
 in order to increafe its fpeed, is now almoft extindl. 
 
 It feems to have been accurately defcribed by Shake- 
 fpeare, in the following lines : — 
 
 “ My Hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind, 
 
 “ So flew’d, fo funded ; and their heads are hung 
 “ With ears that fweep away the morning dew ; 
 
 “ Crook-knee’d and dewlap’d, like Theflalian bulls; 
 
 “ Slow in purfuit ; but match’d in mouth like bells, 
 
 “ Each under each. ” ■ . ■ ■ .. .. 
 
 Befides thefe, there is a variety called the Kihhle -Hound y 
 produced by a mixture of the Beagle and the Old Eng- 
 lifli Hound. 
 
 The BLOOD - hound 
 
 was in great requeft with our aaceftors; and as it was 
 remarkable for the finenefs of its fcent, it was frequently 
 employed in recovering game that had efcaped wounded 
 Irom the hunter. It could follow, with great certainty, 
 
 X 
 
322 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 the footfteps of a man to a confiderable diftance: And in 
 barbarous and uncivilized times, when the thief or mur- 
 derer had fled, this ufeful creature would trace hinl 
 through the thickefh and moft fecret coverts •, nor would 
 it ceafe its purfuit till it had taken the felon. For this 
 reafon, there was a law in Scotland, that whoever de- 
 nied entrance to one of thefe Dogs, in purfuit of ftolen 
 goods, fliould be deemed an acceflary. 
 
 Blood-IIounds were formerly ufed in certain diflrifts 
 lying between England and Scotland, which were much 
 infefled by robbers and murderers ; and a tax was laid 
 upon the inhabitants for keeping and maintaining a cer- 
 tain number of them. But, as the arm of juftice is now 
 extended over every part of the country, and there are no 
 fecret recedes where villainy may lay concealed, thefe 
 fervices are no longer neceflary. 
 
 In Scotland, it was diftinguifhed by the name of the 
 Sleuth-Hound. 
 
 Some few of thefe Dogs are ftill kept in the fouthern 
 part of the kingdom, and are ufed in purfuit of Deer 
 that have been previoufly wounded by a fhot to draw 
 blood, the fcent of which enables them to purfue with 
 moft unerring fteadinefs. — They are fometimes employed 
 in difcovering deer-flealers; whom they infallibly trace 
 by the blood that iffues from the wounds of their victims. 
 
 They are alfo faid to be kept in convents, fituated in 
 
 the lonely and mountainous countries of Switzerland, 
 both as a guard to the facred manfion, as well as to find 
 out the bodies of men that have been unfortunately loft 
 in crofting thofe wild and dreary traifts. 
 
 The Blood-Hound is taller than the Old EngKfh 
 Hound, moft beautifully formed, and fuperior to every 
 other kind in adlivity, fpeed, and fagacity. — They feldom 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 323 
 
 bark, except In the chafe ; and are commonly of a red» 
 difli or brown colour. 
 
 Somervile thus beautifully defcribes their mode of pur« 
 fuing the nightly fpoiler: — 
 
 “ Soon the fagacious brute, his curling tail 
 “ Flourifh’d in air, low bending, plies around 
 “ His bufy nofe, the {learning vapour fnufFs 
 “ Inquifitive, nor leaves one turf untry’d, 
 
 “ Till, confcious of the recent flains, his heart 
 “ Beats quick ; his fnuffling nofe, his adive tail, 
 
 “ Attefl his joy: Then with deep-op’ning mouth, 
 
 “ That makes the welkin tremble, he proclaims 
 “ Th’ audacious felon : Foot by foot he marks 
 “ His winding way, while all the lift’ning crowd 
 “ Applaud his reas’nings : O’er the wat’ry ford, 
 
 “ Dry fandy heaths, and {lony barren hills; 
 
 “ O’er beaten paths, with men and bea£ls diftain’d, 
 
 “ Unerring he purfues, till at the cot 
 “ Arriv’d, and feizing by his guilty throat 
 “ The caitiff vile, redeems the captive prey ; 
 
 “ So exquiiitely delicate his fenfe! ” 
 
 X 2 
 
324 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Spanish POINTER 
 
 is of foreign origin, as its name feems to imply ; but it 
 is now naturalized in this country, which has long been 
 famous for Dogs of this kind ; the greateft attention be- 
 ing paid to preferve the breed in its utmoft purity. 
 
 This Dog is remarkable for the aptnefs and facility 
 with which it receives infl:ru£l;ion. It may be faid to be 
 almoft felf-taught ; whilfl: the Englifli Pointer requires 
 the greateft care and attention in breaking and training 
 to the fport. The Spanifli Pointer, however, is not fo 
 durable and hardy, nor fo able to undergo the fatigues of 
 an extenfive range. It is chiefly employed in finding 
 partridges, pheafants, &c. either for the gun or the net. 
 
 It is faid, that an Englifli nobleman (Robert Dudley, 
 duke of Northumberland) was the firft that broke a Set- 
 ting-Dog to the net. 
 
 The Setting-Dogs, now ufed by fportfmen, are gene- 
 rally of a mixt breed, between the Englifli and Spanifli 
 Pointer. 
 
HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. - 315 
 
 The English SETTER 
 
 is a hardy, aftive, handfome Dog. — Its fcent is exqui- 
 fite •, and it ranges with great fpeed and wonderful per- 
 feverance. Its fagacity in difcoveriiig the various kinds 
 of game, and its caution in approaching them, are truly 
 aftonifliing. But as the ufes of this valuable Dog are fo 
 well known, we will conclude with the following beau- 
 tiful quotation from Somervile: — ■ 
 
 “ When autumn fmiles, all-beauteous in decay, 
 
 “ And paints each chequer’d grove with various hues, 
 
 “ My Setter ranges in the new-fhorn fields, 
 
 “ His nofe in air eredl ; from ridge to ridge 
 “ Panting he bounds, his quarter’d ground divides 
 “ In equal intervals, nor carelefs leaves 
 “ One inch untry’d : At length the tainted gales 
 “ His noftrils wide inhale; quick joy elates 
 “ His beating heart, which, aw’d by difcipline 
 “ Severe, he dares not own, but cautious creeps, 
 
 “ Low-cow’ring, ftep by flep ; at lull attains 
 “ His proper diftance; there he flops at once, 
 
 “ And points with his inflrudlive nofe upon 
 “ The trembling prey.” ' - 
 
 X 3 
 
326 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Newfoundland DOG. 
 
 The drawing of this Dog was taken from a very fine 
 one at Eflington, in the county of Northumberland, the 
 feat of Sir H. G. Liddell, bart. — Its dimenfions were as 
 follow : — From its nofe to the end of its tail, it meafured 
 fix feet two inches ; the length of its tail, one foot ten 
 inches; from one fore foot right over its fhoulders to the 
 other, five feet fev^en inches; girt behind the flroulder, 
 three feet two inches ; round its head over its ears, two 
 feet; round the upper part of its fore leg, nine inches 
 and a half. It was web-footed, could fvvim extremely 
 fall, dive with great eafe, and bring up any thing from 
 the bottom of the water. It was naturally fond of filh ; 
 and ate raw trouts, or other fmall fiflr, out of the nets. 
 
 This breed of Dogs was originally brought from the 
 country of which they bear the name, where their great 
 ftrength and docility render them extremely ufeful to the 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 327 
 
 fettlers on thofe coafts, who ufe them in bringing down 
 w’ood from the interior parts of the country to the fea- 
 fide : Three or four of them yoked to a fledge, will draw 
 two or three hundred weight of wood piled upon it, for 
 feveral miles, with great eafe : They are not attended 
 with a driver, nor any perfon to guide them *, but after 
 having delivered their loading, they return immediately 
 to the woods, where they are accuftomed to be fed with 
 dried fifh. See. 
 
 The extraordinary fagacity of thefe Dogs, and their at- 
 tachment to their mafters, render them highly valuable in 
 particular fituations. 
 
 During a fevere ftorm, in the winter of 1789, a fhip, 
 belonging to Newcaftle, was loft near Yarmouth; and a 
 Newfoundland Dog alone efcaped to ftiore, bringing in 
 his mouth the captain’s pocket-book. He landed amidft 
 a number of people, feveral of whom in vain endeavour- 
 ed to take it from him. The fagacious animal, as if fen- 
 fible of the importance of the charge, which in all proba- 
 bility was delivered to him by his perifhing mafter, at 
 length leaped fawningly againft the bread of a man, who 
 had attracted his notice among the crowd, and delivered 
 the book to him. The Dog immediately returned to the 
 place where he had landed, and watched with great at- 
 tention for every thing that came from the wrecked vef- 
 fel, feizing them, and endeavouring to bring them to 
 land. 
 
 The following Is another inftance of their great doci- 
 lity, and ftrength of obfervation ; — A gentleman walking 
 by the fide of the river Tyne, and obferving, on the op- 
 pofite fide, a child fall into the water, gave notice to his 
 Dog, which immediately jumped in, fwam over, and, 
 
 X4 
 
328 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 catching hold of the child with its mouth, brought it fafe 
 to land. 
 
 The Large Rough WATER-DOG 
 
 is web-footed, fwims with great eafe, and is ufed in 
 hunting ducks and other aquatic birds. — From its aptnefg 
 to fetch and carry, it is frequently kept on board of flnps, 
 for the purpofe of recovering any thing that has fallen 
 overboard; and is likewife ufeful in taking up birds that 
 are fliot, and drop into the fea. 
 
 There is a variety much fmaller. They are both re- 
 
 markable for their long and fliaggy coat, which frequent- 
 ly incommodes them by growing over their eyes. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 329 
 
 The Large WATER-SPANIEL. 
 
 The drawing of this beautiful animal was made from 
 one of the fineft of its kind, in the pofleffion of J. E. 
 Blackett, efq; of Newcaftle upon Tyne. 
 
 This kind of Dog is valuable for its great docility and 
 attachment to its mafter. It receives inftruftions with 
 readinefs, and obeys with uncommon alacrity. — Its form 
 is elegant, its hair beautifully curled or crifped, its ears 
 long, and its afpedf mild and fugacious. — -It is fond of 
 the water, and fwims well. It is chiefly ufed In difco- 
 vering the haunts of wild-ducks and other water fowl ; 
 and alfo In finding birds that have been fhot or difabled. 
 —It is probably the Finder, defcribed by Caius. 
 
330 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS 
 
 The Small WATER-SPANIEL 
 
 is fimllar to the other in form, habits, and difpofition ; 
 and its capacity for receiving inftruftion is equally good. 
 With looks of extreme attention and fenfibility, it ob- 
 serves the motions of its mailer, and catches the well- 
 known fignal with amazing promptitude. 
 
 The various tricks which thefe Dogs are fometimes 
 taught to perform, feem more like the elFe£l of reafoning 
 powers, than of undifcerning inllin£l. 
 
HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 
 
 331 
 
 The springer, or COCKER, 
 
 is lively, a£Hve, and pleafantj an unu'^earled purfuer of 
 its game ; and very expert in raifing woodcocks and 
 fnipes from their haunts in woods and marflies, through 
 which it ranges with amazing perfeverance. 
 
 Of the fame kind is that beautiful little Dog, which, 
 in this country, is well known under the appellation of 
 King Charles's Deg; the favourite and conftant compa- 
 nion of that monarch, who was generally attended by 
 feveral of them. — It is Itill preferved as an idle but inno- 
 cent companion. — Its long ears, curled hair, and web- 
 feet, evidently point out its alliance with the more ufeful 
 and a£tive kind laft mentioned. 
 
 Similar to this, but fmaller, is the Pyranie-Dog . — It is 
 generally black, with reddifh legs ■, and above each eye is 
 a fpot of the fame colour. 
 
 Still farther removed, we have the Shock-Dog : A di- 
 minutive creature, almoft hid in the great quantity of its 
 hair, which covers it from head to foot. 
 
332 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 Another variety is the Lion-Dog; fo called from the 
 fliaggy hair which covers the head and all the fore part 
 of the body ; whilll the hinder part is quite fmooth, fav- 
 ing a tuft of hair at the end of the tail. — This fpecies is 
 become extremely rare. 
 
 The comforter 
 
 is a moft elegant little animal, and is generally kept by 
 the ladies as an attendant of the toilette or the drawing- 
 room. It is very fnappifh, ill-natured, and noify j and 
 
 does not readily admit the familiarity of ftraugers. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 333 
 
 The turnspit 
 
 is generally long-bodied, has fhort crooked legs, its tail 
 curled upon its back, and is frequently fpotted with black 
 upon a blue-grey ground. It is peculiar in the colour of 
 its eyes ; the fame Dog often having the iris of one eye 
 black, and the other white. 
 
 It is a bold, vigilant, and fpirited little Dog. At pre- 
 fent, however, its fervices feem but little attended to ; 
 a more certain method of doing the bufmefs of the fpit 
 having fuperfeded the labours of this induftrious animal. 
 
 The PUG-DOG, 
 
 in outward appearance, is every way formed like the 
 Bull-Dog ; but much fmaller, and its tail curled upon 
 its back. — It was formerly very common in many parts 
 of England ; however, at prefent, it is rarely to be met 
 with. — Although it has no longer its admirers here, Mrs 
 Piozzi informs us, that fhe faw great numbers at Padua, 
 in Italy ; and that it ftill maintains its place in the favour 
 of the fair-ones of that country. 
 
 From thefe, and a mixture of others, proceeds a num- 
 berlefs variety of Mellets, Lap-Dogs, Dancers, Waps, 
 Mongrels, and compounds without end. 
 
334 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 That all thefe, however divided, compofe one general 
 family, is apparent, from the facility with which they 
 intermix, produce, and re-produce. In all of them the 
 fame attachment to mankind, the fame pliant and hum- 
 ble difpofition, fubmitting with patience to the various 
 indignities to which they are expofed by their dependant 
 fituation, is eminently obfervable. Even thofe that, by 
 accident or negledb, have been abandoned, and become 
 wild, when taken home, are eafily reclaimed by kindnefs 
 and attention : They quickly become familiar, and conti- 
 nue faithfully attached to their mafters. — Multitudes of 
 thefe are to be found in South-America, which have 
 fprung from thofe taken thither by the Europeans. They 
 breed in holes in the ground, are formed fomewhat like 
 a Greyhound, have ere6l ears, are very vigilant, and ex- 
 cellent in the chafe. 
 
 To mention fome of the more common inltances of 
 this creature’s fagacity, by way of elucidating its general 
 charadber, may not be amifs ; and amongft thefe, its care 
 in diredling the fteps of the blind man is not the leafl 
 worthy of notice. There are few who have not feen an 
 unfortunate objedb of this defcription, led by his Dog, 
 through the various paflages of a populous town, to the 
 accuftomed place where he fits to fupplicate the contri- 
 butions of palTengers. It may fometimes be feen to (top 
 at particular houfes, to receive the morfel from the hand 
 of charity, or pick from the ground the money thrown 
 out to relieve its miferable owner. When the day is 
 paired, it condu£ts him home again j and gratefully re- 
 ceives, as the reward of its fervices, the fcanty pittance 
 which poverty and wretchednefs can bellow. 
 
 Dogs will fometimes imitate the a£lions of their maf- 
 ters, will open a door that is fattened with a latch, or 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 335 
 
 pull a bell, where they are defirous of gaining admit- 
 tance. — Faber mentions one, belonging to a nobleman of 
 the Medici family, which always attended at its mafter’s 
 table, took from him his plates, and brought him others; 
 and if he wanted wine, would carry it to him, in a glafs 
 placed upon a filver plate, which it held in its mouth, 
 without fpilling the fmalleft drop. The fame Dog would 
 alfo hold the ftirrups in its teeth, whilft its mailer was 
 mounting his horfe. 
 
 That Dogs are capable of mutual attachment, is evi- 
 dent, from the well-known ftory of the Dog at St Al- 
 ban’s ; which, being left by its mailer at an inn there till 
 he returned from London, and being ill-treated by a large 
 Dog belonging to the houfe, ftole privately olF. It foon 
 returned with a friend, that was much larger and flrong- 
 er than itfelf ; and both fell upon the aggrelTor, and pu- 
 nilhed him feverely for his cruelty to a ftranger. 
 
 There are feveral peculiarities common to all animals 
 of the Dog kind, briefly mentioned by Linnaeus, with 
 which we lhall conclude its hiftory ; the principal of 
 which are as follow : — The Dog is carnivorous ; its llo- 
 mach digells bones; it eats grafs for a vomit; voids its 
 urine fideways, and commonly where other Dogs have 
 done fo before ; fmells at a ftranger ; fcarcely ever 
 fweats, but lolls out its tongue when hot ; remembers 
 injuries done to it; is fubjedl to the hydrophobia; its 
 fenfe of hearing very quick ; when alleep, is fuppofed to 
 dream ; goes with young fixty-three days, and brings 
 forth from four to eight at one time. It barks at ftrange 
 Dogs, fnaps at a Hone thrown at it, howls at certain mu- 
 fical notes ; when about to lie down, frequently goes 
 round the place ; fawns at the approach of its mailer, 
 and will not patiently fuffer any one to ftrike him ; runs 
 
33^ HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 before him on a journey, often going over the fame 
 ground ; on coming to crofs ways, flops, looks back, ami 
 waits to obferve which of them he takes; fits up and 
 begs; and, when it has committed a theft, flinks away, 
 with its tail between its legs; is an enemy to beggars 
 and ill-looking people, and attacks them without the lead 
 provocation; is alfo faid to be fick at the approach of bad 
 weather. — We cannot, however, agree with the learned 
 naturalift, when he aflerts, that the male puppies refem- 
 ble the Dog, and the female the Bitch; or that it is a 
 chara£ler common to the whole fpecies, that the tail al- 
 ways bends to the left fide. To thefe we may add, as 
 equally void of foundation, a remark of M. Buffon, that 
 a female Hound, covered with a Dog of her own kind, 
 has been known to produce a mixed race, confiding of 
 Hounds and Terriers. — We barely mention thefe, to 
 fliew, that too much caution cannot be ufed in forming 
 general chara6lers or fydematic arrangements ; and we 
 leave it to the experience of the mod inattentive obfervesr 
 to dete£l fuch palpable abfurdities. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 337 
 
 The hare. 
 
 T his harmlefs and inofFenfive animal, deftitute of 
 every means of defence, and furrounded on all 
 fides by its enemies, would foon be utterly extirpated, 
 if Nature, ever kind and provident, had not endowed it 
 with faculties, by which it is frequently enabled to evade 
 their purfuit. 
 
 Fearful of every danger, and attentive to every alarm, 
 the Hare is continually upon the watch ; and being pro- 
 vided with very long ears, moveable at pleafure, and 
 eafily direcSted to every quarter, is warned of the mod 
 diftant approaches of danger. Its eyes are large and pro- 
 minent, adapted to receive the rays of light on every fide, 
 and give notice of more immediate alarms. To thefe 
 may be added its great fwiftnefs, by which it foon leaves 
 mod of its purfuers far behind. — The hind are much 
 longer than the fore legs, and are furnifiied with drong 
 mufcles, which give the Hare a fingular advantage in 
 running up a hill; and, as if fenfible of its powers in 
 this refpeft, it is always obferved to fly towards rifing 
 ground when fird darted. 
 
 Y 
 
338 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 Thus formed for efcape, the Hare might be fuppofed ^ 
 to enjoy a ftate of tolerable fecurity ; but as every rapa- 
 cious creature is its enemy, it is feldom permitted to live 
 out its natural term. Dogs and Foxes purfue it by in- 
 Ain£l ; Wild-Cats, and Weafels of all kinds, catch and 
 devour it ; birds of prey are ftill more dangerous ene- 
 mies; whilft man, far more powerful than all, makes ufe 
 of every artifice to obtain an animal which conftitutes 
 one of the numerous delicacies of his table. — If we were 
 to enumerate the various flratagems which ingenuity has 
 fuggefted to circumvent this perfecuted creature, we 
 would willingly omit the notable achievements and gal- 
 lant exploits of the chafe ; which, to a cool and difpaf- 
 fionate obferver, feem to demand a nobler game. 
 
 “ Poor is the triumph o’er the timid Hare. ” 
 
 Another remarkable means of fafety to the Hare is its 
 colour, which being fimilar to the ground where it fits, 
 fecures it from the fight of its enemies ; and, as a further 
 inftance of the care of Providence in the prefervation of 
 its creatures, thefe, as well as fome other animals, in 
 more northern regions, are obferved to change their co- 
 lour, and become perfedUy white during winter, which 
 renders them lefs confpicuous in the fnow. Some rare 
 inftances occur, of white Hares being met with in Great'* 
 Britain. 
 
 The Hare is very prolific, and breeds three or four 
 times in the year. The females go with young thirty 
 days, and generally bring forth three or four at a litter. 
 The rutting feafon begins in February. 
 
 During the day. Hares fleep or repofe in their feats, 
 and feldom remove from them : The night is the feafon 
 when they go about in fearch of food ; and they are fure 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 33$ 
 
 to return to their forms or feats by the fame paths which 
 they took in leaving them* 
 
 “ ’Tis inftindl: that direfts the jealous Hare 
 “ To chufe her foft abode. With ftep revers’d, 
 
 “ She forms the doubling maze; then, ere the morn 
 “ Peeps through the clouds, leaps to her clofe recefs. ” 
 
 The following inftances of the fagacity of the Hare in 
 endeavouring to efcape from its enemies are worthy of 
 notice : — Fouilloux fays, he has feen a Hare ftart from its 
 form at the found of the hunter’s horn, run towards a 
 pool of water at a confiderable diftance, plunge itfelf in, 
 and fwim to fome rulhes in the middle, where it lay- 
 down, and concealed itfelf from the purfuit of the Dogs. 
 He mentions another, which, after running two hours 
 before the Dogs, pufhed a Hare from its feat, and took 
 pofleffion of it. Others he has feen run into a fheepfold, 
 and lie down among the Sheep ; and fome have effedled 
 their efcape by mounting an old wall, and clapping them-^ 
 felves down in the midfl of the ivy which covered it. 
 
 The fur of the Hare is of great ufe in making hats 5 
 for which purpofe many thoufands of their Ikins are an* 
 nually imported from Ruffia. 
 
 The Hare was reckoned a great delicacy among the 
 Romans; but was forbidden to the Jews, and held fa- 
 cred among the ancient Britons, who religioully abftain- 
 ed from eating it. — We are told, that Boadicea, immedi- 
 ately before her laft confliH with the Romans, let loofe 
 a Hare fhe had concealed in her bofom ; which, taking 
 what was deemed a fortunate courfe, was looked upon 
 as a good omen. — It is to this day deemed unclean by the 
 Mahometans. 
 
 The Hare is found in moft parts of the world, with 
 
34° HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 very little variety. — Thofe of North-America are rathet 
 lefs than the European. They frequent marflies and 
 meadows, and when purfued take refuge in hollow trees. 
 
 The Alpine HARE 
 
 is grey in fummer, with a flight mixture of black and 
 tawny. Its hair is foft ; its ears fhorter, and Its legs 
 more flender, than the common Hare’s. In winter, the 
 whole body changes to a fnowy whitenefs, except the 
 tips and edges of the ears, which remain black. 
 
 This animal lives on the higheft hills in Scotland, 
 Norway, Lapland, Ruflla, and Siberia ; never defcends 
 from the mountains, nor mixes with the common Hare, 
 although they abound in the fame parts. — It does not run 
 faft; and, when purfued, often takes flielter In clefts of 
 rocks. It is eafily tamed, is very frolicfome, and fond 
 of honey and other fweets. It changes its colour in Sep- 
 tember, and refumes its grey coat in April. — Troops of 
 five or fix hundred are fometimes feen, which migrate 
 towards the South in fpring, and return in autumn. 
 
 A variety is found in thofe mountains of Tartary 
 which extend as far as the lake Baikal. It inhabits the 
 middle regions of the hills, among thick woods, and in 
 moifl; places abounding with grafs and herbage. It lives 
 in the crevices of rocks, and fometimes burrows in the 
 earth lodged between the clefts. — Its voice is a Iharp 
 whiftle, not unlike the chirping of a fparrow. 
 
 In the autumn, great numbers of them aflemble to- 
 gether, and colledb vaft quantities of the fineft herbs, 
 which, when dried, they form into pointed ricks of va- 
 rious fizes i fome of them four or five feet in height, and 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 341 
 
 of proportionable bulk. Thefe they place under the lliel- 
 ter of an overhanging rock, or pile round the trunks of 
 trees.— By this means, thefe induftrious little animals lay 
 up a ftock of winter food, and wifely provide againft the 
 rigours of thofe ftormy regions-, otherwife, being pre- 
 vented by the depth of the fnow from quitting their re- 
 treats in quell of food, they mull all inevitably perifli. 
 
 The rabbit. 
 
 N otwithstanding the great fimilarity be- 
 tween the Hare and the Rabbit, Nature has 
 placed an infeparable bar between them, in not allow- 
 ing them to intermix, to which they mutually difcover 
 the moft extreme averfion. Befides this, there is a wide 
 difference in their habits and propenfities : The Rabbit 
 Jives in holes in the earth, where it brings forth its 
 young, and retires from the approach of danger; whiUl 
 the Hare prefers the open fields, and trufls to its fpeed 
 for fafety. 
 
 O 
 
 3 
 
 Y 
 
342 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The fecundity of the Rabbit is truly aflonifhing. It 
 breeds feven times in the year, and generally produces 
 eight young at a time ; from which it is calculated, that 
 one pair may increafe, in the courfe of four years, to the 
 amazing number of 1,274,840: So that, if frequent re- 
 tludfions were not made in various ways, there is reafon 
 to apprehend they w'ould foon exceed the means of their 
 fupport, and over-run the face of the country. But as 
 their increafe is great, fo is the number of their enemies ; 
 for, befides thofe that are taken for the ufc of man, great 
 numbers are devoured by Foxes, Weafels, Foumarts, and 
 other beads of prey. — In Spain, they formerly increafed 
 to fuch a degree, as to become fo obnoxious, that the in- 
 habitants were obliged to procure Ferrets from Africa to 
 deftroy them. 
 
 The Rabbit is capable of procreating at the age of five 
 or fix months. — The female goes with young about thirty 
 days. Previous to her bringing forth, (he makes a bed 
 with down, that fhe pulls off her own coat. She never 
 leaves her young but when prefTed with hunger, and re- 
 turns as foon as that is allayed, which die effects with 
 furprizing quicknefs. During the time fhe tends and 
 fuckles her young, fhe carefully conceals them from the 
 male, left he fhould devour them ; and frequently covers 
 up the mouth of the hole, that her retreat may not be 
 difcovered. 
 
 It lives to the age of eight or nine years, and prefers 
 warm and temperate climates. — Pliny and Ariftotlc men- 
 tion it as being anciently known only in Greece and 
 Spain : It is now, however, common in various parts of 
 Europe; but in Sweden and other cold countries, it can 
 only be reared in houfes. 
 
 It abounds in Great-Britain, where its fkin forms a 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 343 
 
 very confiderable article in the manufa£l:ure of hats 
 
 Lincolndiire, Norfolk, and Cambridgefliire, are mofh 
 noted for the produftion of them. 
 
 The flefh of the Rabbit, as w^ell as the Hare, was for- 
 bidden to the Jews and Mahometans. 
 
 The Domestic RABBIT 
 
 is of various colours, — white, brown, black, and varie- 
 gated. — It is fomewhat larger than the wild Rabbit ; but 
 its flefh is not fo good, being fofter and more infipid. — 
 Its food is generally cabbage leaves, colewort, blades of 
 corn, four-dock, and other fucculent plants; but fweet 
 fliort hay, with a little clean oats, make the beft diet. 
 
 The Rabbit of Angora, like the Goat and Sheep 
 of that country, is covered with long hair, which falls 
 down its fide in wavy curls, and is of a filky finenefs. 
 
 Mr Pennant defcribes a remarkable variety under the 
 name of the Hooded Rabbity which has a double Ikin over 
 its back, into which it can withdraw its head : It like- 
 wife conceals Its fore legs in a part which falls down un- 
 der its throat. There are fmall holes in this loofe fltin 
 
 Y 4 
 
344 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 on the back, which admit light to the eyes. — The colour 
 of the body is cinereous; that of the head and ears is 
 brown. 
 
 A manufcript account of this animal, with a drawing 
 by Mr G. Edwards, is preferved in the Britifli Mufeum. 
 
 The Rabbit is not a native of America. — There are 
 great numbers of them in many of the Weft-India 
 iilands, which have originated from a flock carried thi- 
 ther from Europe. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 345 
 
 The GUINEA-PIG, or Restless CAVY. 
 
 T his llttle animal, though a native of Brazil, lives 
 and propagates in temperate, and even in cold cli- 
 mates, when protected from the inclemency of the fea- 
 fons. — Great numbers are kept in a domeftic Hate ; but 
 for what purpofe can hardly be determined. They have 
 neither beauty nor utility to recommend them : Their 
 fkins are of little value ; and their flefli, though eatable, 
 is far from being good. Their habits and difpofition are 
 equally unpleafant and difgufting: Void of attachment 
 even to their own offspring, they fuffer them to be de- 
 voured the moment they are brought forth, without mak- 
 ing the fmalleft attempt to defend them. The males fre- 
 quently deftroy their own young ; and are fo ftupid, as 
 to allow themfelves to be killed by Cats, without refift- 
 ance. They pafs their whole lives in fleeping, eating, 
 and in the propagation of their fpecies. They are by na- 
 ture gentle and tame : They do no mifchief, but feem to 
 be equally incapable of good. — Rats are faid to avoid the 
 places where they refide. 
 
 The Guinea-Pig is conGderably lefs than the Rabbit; 
 its upper lip is only half divided; it has two cutting- 
 teeth in each jaw; large and broad ears; its hair is of 
 different colours,— white, varied with orange and black 
 
346 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 in irregular patches *, has no tail ; is a reftlefs animal j 
 feeds on bread, grain, and vegetables ; and makes a noife 
 like the grunting of a pig. 
 
 It is capable of breeding at the age of two months^ 
 and produces from four to twelve at one time. 
 
 The fpecies would be innumerable, if many of them 
 were not taken off by various means : Some are killed by 
 Cats; others by the males; and more, both young and 
 old, perifli by the feverity of the climate, and want of 
 proper care. 
 
 The Spotted CAVY 
 
 is about the fize of a Hare ; but its body is much thicker, 
 plumper, and fatter. The colour of the hair on the back 
 is dark-brown, or liver-coloured ; it is lighter on the 
 fides, which are beautifully marked with lines of white 
 fpots, running in parallel dire£lions from its throat to its 
 rump ; thofe on the upper part of the body are perfe£tly 
 dillin£t ; the belly is white. Its head is large ; its ears 
 fhort and naked ; its eyes full, and placed high in its 
 head, near the ears; in the lower part of each jaw, im- 
 mediately under the eye, it has a remarkably deep flit or 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 347 
 
 furrow, which feems like the termination of the jaw, 
 and has the appearance of an opening of the mouth ; its 
 upper jaw projedfs beyond the under; it has two llrong 
 yellow cutting-teeth in each jaw; its mouth is fmall, and 
 its upper lip is divided ; it has long whifkers on its lips, 
 and on each fide of its head, under the ears ; its legs are 
 (hort; it has four toes on the fore feet, and three on the 
 hind ; it has no tail. 
 
 The Spotted Cavy is a native of South-America, and 
 lives on the banks of rivers in warm and moift places. 
 It digs holes in the ground, fecretes itfelf during the day, 
 and goes out at night in quell of food. 
 
 Its motions are heavy and ungraceful. It runs feldom, 
 and with extreme aukwardnefs; fits frequently upon its 
 polleriors ; and, in that fituation, fmooths and drefles it- 
 felf with Its paws, drawing them over its body with the 
 utmoll nicety. 
 
 It is a cleanly animal, and will not bear the fmalleft 
 degree of dirtinefs in its apartment. 
 
 In a domeltic Hate, it is gentle and tra£lable, fond of 
 attention, and licks the hand of any one that carefles it. 
 When irritated, it is apt to bite. Its anger is exprefled 
 by chattering its teeth, and is always preceded by a kind 
 
 of grunting. It feeds on grain, roots, fruits, and al- 
 
 mofl; every kind of vegetable. 
 
 When purfued, it takes to the water, and efcapes by 
 diving. If attacked by Dogs, it makes a vigorous de- 
 fence. 
 
 Its flelli is elleeraed a great delicacy by the natives of 
 Brazil. 
 
 We have been minute in our defcriptlon of this curi- 
 ous little animal, which w'as drawn from the life ; and 
 think there is good reafon to conclude, that the fpecies 
 
3^8 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 ipight be eafily naturalized in this country, and added to 
 our flock of ufeful animals. It is not much afraid of 
 cold ; and being accuftomed to burrow, it would by that 
 means defend itfelf againft the rigours of our winter. 
 
 There are feveral varieties of them ; fome of which 
 weigh from fourteen to twenty, and even thirty pounds. 
 
 The CAPIBARA 
 
 is a native of South-America, and lives on the banks of 
 great rivers, fuch as the Oronoque, Amazons, and Rio 
 de la Plata; fwims and dives remarkably well, and is ve- 
 ry dexterous in catching fifli, upon which it chiefly fub- 
 fifts : It likewife eats grain, fruits, and fugar-canes ; 
 
 feeds moflly in the night, and commits great ravages in 
 the gardens. — They generally keep in large herds, and 
 make a noife not much unlike the braying of an Afs. 
 
 Its flefli is fat and tender; but, like that of the Otter, 
 has an oily and filliy tafte. 
 
 It is about the fize of a fmall Hog ; and, by fome na- 
 turalifts, has been claffed with that animal. 
 
 Its fore hoofs are divided into four, the hind ones into 
 three ; its head is large and thick, and on the nofe there 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 349 
 
 are long whilkers ; its ears are fmall and rounded, and its 
 eyes large and black ; there are two large cutting-teeth, 
 and eight grinders, in each jaw; and each of thefe grind- 
 ers forms on its furface what appears to be three teeth, 
 flat at their ends ; the legs are Ihort ; the toes long, and 
 connedled at the bottom with a fmall web ; the end of 
 each toe is guarded by a fmall hoof ; it has no tail ; the 
 hair on the body is fhort, rough, and of a brown colour. 
 
 It is a gentle animal, eafily tamed, and will follow 
 thofe who feed it and treat it kindly. 
 
 As it runs badly, on account of the peculiar conftruc- 
 tion of its feet, its fafety confifls not in flight ; Nature 
 has provided it with other means of prefervation : When 
 in danger, it plunges into the water, and dives to a great 
 diftance. 
 
 The agouti, or Long-nosed CAVY, 
 
 is about the fize of a Hare ; its nofe is long, upper lip 
 divided, fkin fleek and ftiining, of a brown colour mixed 
 with red, tail fhort, legs llender and almofl naked ; has 
 four toes on the fore feet, and three on the hind ; grunts 
 like a Pig; fits on its hind legs, and feeds itfelf with its 
 paws; and when fatiated with food, it conceals the re- 
 
350 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 mainder. — ■ — It eats fruits, roots, nuts, and almoft every 
 kind of vegetable; is hunted vrith Dogs; runsfafl; and 
 
 its motions are like thofe of a Hare. Its flefli, which 
 
 refembles that of a Rabbit, is eaten by the inhabitants of 
 South-America. 
 
 Great numbers of them are found in Guiana and Bra- 
 zil. — They live in woods, hedges, and hollow trees. 
 
 The female brings forth at all times of the year ; and 
 produces three, four, and fometimes five, at a time. 
 
 If taken when young, the Agouti is eafily tamed, and 
 
 Mull go out and return of its own accord. It delights 
 
 in cutting or gnawing every thing with its teeth. 
 
 When irritated, the hair of its back rifes, it ftiikes the 
 ground with its hind feet, and at the fame time makes a 
 noife like the grunting of a Pig. 
 
 The AKOUCHI 
 
 feems to be a variety of the Agouti ; and, though fome- 
 what lefs, is nearly of the fame form; but its tail is 
 longer. It inhabits the fame countries, is of an olive co- 
 lour ; its flelh is white, delicate, and has the flavour of a 
 young Rabbit; is much efteemed by the natives, who 
 hunt it with Dogs, and reckon it among the fined game 
 of South-America. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 351 
 
 The Rock CAVY 
 
 Is likewife found in Brazil, is about twelve inches in 
 length, the colour of the upper part of its body refembles 
 that of the Hare, its belly is white, the upper lip divided, 
 the ears Ihort and rounded like thofe of a Rat, and has 
 no tail. It moves like the Hare, its fore legs being Ihort- 
 er than the hind. It has four toes on the fore feet, and 
 only three on the hind. — Its flefli is like that of the Rab- 
 bit i and its manner of living is alfo very fimilar. 
 
352 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The S Q^U I R R E L. 
 
 T his beautiful little animal is equally admirable 
 for the neatnefs and elegance of its formation, as 
 for its livelinefs and aftivity. — Its difpofition is gentle 
 and harmlefs. — Though naturally wild, it is foon famili- 
 arifed to confinement and reftraint; and though excef- 
 Cvely timid, it is eafily taught to receive with freedom 
 the moll familiar carefles from the hand that feeds it. 
 
 It ufually lives in woods, and makes its neft of mofs 
 or dry leaves in the hollows of trees. — It feldom defcends 
 upon the ground, but leaps from tree to tree with great 
 agility. 
 
 Its food confifts of fruits, almonds, nuts, acorns, &c. ; 
 of which it accumulates great ftores for winter provi- 
 fion, and fecures them carefully near its neft. In the 
 fummer, it feeds on buds and young fhoots, and is par- 
 ticularly fond of the cones of the fir and pine trees. 
 
 The fpring is the feafon of love with Squirrels. At 
 that time the males purfue the females, and exhibit won- 
 derful proofs of agility j whilft the latter, as if to make 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 353 
 
 trial of the conftancy of their lovers, feem to avoid them 
 by a variety of entertaining fallies; and, like true co- 
 quets, feign an efcape, by way of enhancing the value of 
 the conqueft. — They bring forth four or five young at a 
 time. 
 
 The Squirrel is of a bright-brown colour, inclining to 
 red } the bread and belly are white ; the ears are orna- 
 mented with long tufts of hair; the eyes are large, black, 
 and lively ; the fore teeth ftrong and fharp ; the fore legs 
 are curioufly furnifhed with long ftiff hairs, which pro- 
 
 jedd on each fide like whilkers. When it eats, it fits 
 
 eredf, and ufes its fore feet as hands to convey food to 
 its mouth. 
 
 The tail of the Squirrel is its greatefl ornament, and 
 ferves as a defence from the cold, being large enough to 
 cover the whole body ; it likewife affifts it in taking leaps 
 from one tree to another ; and we may add a third appli- 
 cation of it, which would feem altogether improbable, 
 were we not aflured of it by Linnseus and other natural- 
 ids : — In attempting to crofs a lake or river, the Squirrel 
 places itfelf upon a piece of bark ; and, eredding its tail 
 to catch the wind, boldly commits itfelf to the mercy of 
 the waves. The fmalled gud of wind is fufficient to 
 overfet a whole navy of thefe little adventurers ; and in 
 fuch perilous voyages many hundreds of them are faid to 
 perilh. 
 
 Of the Squirrel there are feveral varieties; fame of 
 which are to be found in almod every country ; but they 
 chiefly abound in northern and temperate climates. 
 
 Z 
 
354 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Hudson’s-Bay SQUIRREL 
 
 is fmaller than the European. It is marked along the 
 middle of the back with a dulky line, from head to tailj 
 the belly is of a pale afh colour, mottled with black ; and 
 the tail, which is dulky, and barred with black, is not fo 
 long, nor fo full of hair, as that of the common kind. 
 
 The Grey SQUIRREL 
 
 is about the fize of a young Rabbit : Its ears are fhort, 
 and not tufted at the ends ; its hair is grey, mixed with 
 black; on each fide there is a red ftreak, which runs 
 lengthwife ; its tail is long and bufliy, of a grey colour, 
 
 variegated with black and white. It is common to 
 
 both continents. — In Sweden and other northern coun- 
 tries, it changes its colour in the winter. 
 
 It is very numerous in North-America, and does incre- 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 355 
 
 dible damage to the plantations. Great flocks of them 
 defcend from the mountains, and lay wafte the fields of 
 maize, by eating the young ears. — A reward of three- 
 pence per head was given for every one that was killed ; 
 and fuch numbers were deftroyed in one year, that Pen- 
 fylvania alone paid in rewards the fum of 8000I. of its 
 currency. 
 
 It makes its neft In hollow trees, with mofs, fliraw, 
 wool, &c. — It lays up (lores of provifions in holes made 
 in the ground, for its winter fuftenance. Thefe hoards 
 are often deflroyed by Swine ; and are fometimes fo long 
 covered with fnow, that the Squirrels perilh for want of 
 food. 
 
 They are not eafily (hot, but evade the gun with great 
 
 quicknefs the moment they fee it levelled. They are 
 
 eafily tamed ; and their flefh is elteemed very delicate. 
 
 The fur is very valuable, and is imported under the 
 name of petit-gris. 
 
 The Black SQUIRREL 
 
 is about the fame fize and form with the Ia(l; but its 
 tail is not fo long. It is generally blaek, with white on 
 the nofe, ears, and end of the tail. 
 
 Its difpofition and habits are fo fimllar to the Grey 
 Squirrel, that it might be taken for a variety of that 
 kind ; but it is faid to aflbeiate in feparate troops, and is 
 equally numerous. 
 
 It is found in the northern parts of Alia, North-Arae- 
 rica, and Mexico. 
 
 In the latter country, there is a variety with plain 
 found ears i the upper part of the body variegated with 
 
 Z 2 
 
35^ HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 black, white, and brown. It is twice the fize of the 
 common Squirrel, lives under ground, where it brings 
 forth its young, and lays in its flock of provifions. It 
 feeds on maize; and is extremely lively, gentle, and do- 
 cile. — It is the CoquaUin of M. Buflon. 
 
 The Ground SQJJIRREL 
 
 is very numerous in the forefls of North- America, as 
 well as the North of Afia. — It burrows in the ground, 
 and makes two entrances to its habitation ; that if one 
 fhould be flopped up, it may have accefs by the other. 
 Its hole is formed with great fkill, having feveral branch- 
 es from the principal paffage, each of which is termi- 
 nated by a flore-houfe, in which its winter food is depo- 
 fited : In one Is contained acorns, in another nuts, in a 
 third maize, and in another chefnuts, which are its fa- 
 vourite food. 
 
 Thefe animals feldom flir out during winter, nor fo 
 long as their provifions laft : When thofe fail, they fome- 
 tlmes work their way into places where apples are laid 
 up, or into barns where maize- is flored, and make great 
 havock. During harvefl, they fill their mouths fo full 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 357 
 
 with corn, that their cheeks are quite diftended; and in 
 this manner carry it to their concealed ftore. They give 
 great preference to certain kinds of food 5 and if, after 
 filling their mouths with rye, they chance to meet with 
 wheat, they difcharge the one, that they may fecure the 
 other. 
 
 The Ground Squirrel is marked with a ftripe of black, 
 which runs along the ridge of the back ; and on each fide 
 a yellow ftripe, bordered with black ; Its head, body, and 
 tall, are of a reddifh-brown ; breaft and belly white ; its 
 nofe and feet of a pale-red colour •, its eyes full and live- 
 
 ly- 
 
 It is very wild, bites feverely, and is tamed with diffi- 
 culty. Its fttin is of little value. 
 
358 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Barbary SQUIRREL 
 
 is of an adi colour, inclining to red ; each fide is beau- 
 tifully marked with two white flripes, running length- 
 wife; its belly is white; its tail bulhy, and variegated 
 with regular fliades of black, one beneath the other ; its 
 eyes are full and black, with white orbits. — It is about 
 the fize of the common Squirrel. 
 
 The Palm SQUIRREL 
 
 is fimilar to the laft, having a pale-yellow flripe on the 
 middle of the back, and two on each fide parallel to it ; 
 the belly is of the fame colour; the reft of the body 
 black and red clofely mixed : Its tail is long, does not lie 
 on its back like that of the Squirrel, but is carried ereft. 
 
 Both thefe Squirrels inhabit Barbary and other hot 
 countries. — They live chiefly in palm-trees, from whence 
 the latter has its name. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 359 
 
 The Fat SQUIRREL 
 
 is found in France and the fouthern parts of Europe. — ■ 
 Its body is covered with foft hair, of an afh colour ; its 
 belly whitifh ; its ears thin and naked. It is about fix 
 inches long, and thicker than the common Squirrel. It 
 dwells chiefly in trees, leaps from bough to bough, feeds 
 on fruits and acorns, and lodges in the hollows of trees. 
 It remains in a torpid ftate during winter, and grows ve-- 
 ry fat. 
 
 It was confidered as a great delicacy among the Ro- 
 mans ; who had places conflru( 3 ;ed on purpofe to keep 
 and feed them in, which they called gliraria. 
 
 The Greater DORMOUSE, or 
 Garden SQUIRREL, 
 
 is rather lefs than the lafl-mentioned. Its eyes are fur- 
 rounded with a large black fpot, which reaches to the 
 ears; its body is of a tawny colour; its throat and belly 
 white, tinged with yellow ; its tail is long, and bufhy at 
 the end. 
 
 It is common in the South of Europe, infefts gardens, 
 is particularly fond of peaches, and very deflru£Hve to all 
 
 kinds of fruit. It lodges in holes in the walls, and 
 
 brings forth five or fix young at a time. 
 
 It has a ftrong odour, like a Rat; and, like the Fat 
 Squirrel, remains torpid during the winter. 
 
360 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Lesser DORMOUSE 
 
 is rather larger than the Moufe, of a tawny-red colour, 
 
 with a white throat, and full black eyes. It lives in 
 
 woods or thick hedges; makes its nell with grafs, dried 
 leaves, or mofs, in the hollow of a tree, or the bottom 
 of a thick bufli ; and brings forth three or four young at 
 a time. 
 
 It lays up {lores of nuts, acorns, and beans; ar,d re- 
 tires at the approach of cold weather to its retreat; 
 where it rolls itfelf up in a warm neft, made of foft 
 mofs, &c. ; and remains in a torpid flate during the con- 
 tinuanee of winter. The warmth of a funny day, or a 
 temporary change from cold to heat, will fometimes re- 
 vive it; but, after taking a little food, it foon relapfes 
 into its former Hate. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 361 
 
 The Flying SQJJIRREL 
 
 is peculiarly diftinguilhed by a membranous continua- 
 tion of the fkin of the Tides and belly, which extends 
 from the fore to the hind feet, and affifts it greatly in 
 making leaps from one tree to another, frequently at the 
 di fiance of twenty or thirty yards. Its head is fmall and 
 round, and its upper lip cloven ; its eyes are full, round, 
 and black ; and its ears fmall and naked. 
 
 It is found 'in all the northern regions, both of the old 
 and new continents. It is more numerous in America 
 than in Europe, is lefs than the common Squirrel, lives 
 in trees, and lleeps In the day, hut is extremely adlive 
 during the night. 
 
 In the a£l of leaping, the loofe fkin is flretched out by 
 the feet ; whereby the furface of the body is augmented, 
 the animal becomes lighter in proportion to its bulk, the 
 acceleration of its fall is retarded, and it appears to fail 
 or fly from one place to another. Where a number of 
 them are feen at a time leaping, they appear like leares 
 blown off by the wind. 
 
362 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 There are feveral kinds, difFering much in fize. In 
 
 the iflands of the Eaft-Indies, there is a variety as large 
 as a Hare, called the Taguan, or Great Flying 
 Squirrel; which perfe£Hy refembles the other in fi- 
 gure, and in the form of its lateral membrane. The 
 head is fmaller in proportion to the fize of the body; the 
 colour of the Ikin is dark-brown, mixed with white ; the 
 under part of the body whitilh ; the tail is brown, and 
 grows gradually deeper towards the end, where it is 
 black ; the claws are long, thin, and hooked, like thofe 
 of a Cat, and enable it to keep hold where it happens to 
 fall ; it alfo catches hold with its tail, which is long and 
 mufcular. 
 
 It is a wild and timid animal. Its bite is fo ftrong, 
 
 that it can make its efcape from a wooden cage with 
 great facility. 
 
 A variety is found in Virginia, called, by Mr Pennant, 
 the Hooded Squirrel; the lateral membrane begin- 
 ning at the chin and ears, where it forms a kind of 
 hood ; and extending, like that of the former, from the 
 fore to the hind legs: Its body is of a reddifli colour 
 above, and of a yellow ifh afii beneath. — It is a rare fpe- 
 cies, not much noticed by naturalifts. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 353 
 
 The Long-tailed SQUIRREL. 
 
 This fpecles is found in Ceylon and Malabar. — — In 
 the Cingalefe tongue, It is called Dandoelana ; and, from 
 the noife it makes, Roekea. 
 
 It is about three times the fize of the European Squir- 
 rel : The ears are tufted with black hairs ; the end of the 
 nofe is pink-coloured ; the cheeks, legs, and belly, are of 
 a dull yellow ; between the ears is a yellow fpot ; the 
 crown of the head and the back are black *, from each ear 
 is a bifurcated line of the fame colour, pointing down 
 the cheeks; the upper part of the feet is covered with 
 black hairs, the lower part naked and red : The tail is 
 nearly twice the length of the body, of a light afli colour, 
 and extremely bufliy ; the part next the body quite fur- 
 rounded with hairs ; on the remainder the hairs are fepa- 
 rated, and lie flat. 
 
 We are indebted to Mr Pennant for the drawing of 
 this curious animal, the defcriptign of which is taken 
 from his Indian Zoology. 
 
364 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 HIS animal, remarkable for the fingular conftruc- 
 
 tion of its legs, is found in Egypt, Barbary, and 
 
 Palefliine. It is fomewhat lefs than a Rat : Its head has 
 
 a great refemblance to that of a Rabbit; its eyes are 
 large and full ; the fore legs are only one inch in length, 
 and are ufed as hands to convey vi 61 ;uals to its mouth ; 
 the hind legs are naked, and very much refemble thofe 
 of a bird, having only three toes on each, the middle one 
 longeft ; its tail is much longer than its body, and termi- 
 nated with a black tuft, the tip of which is white ; its 
 hair is long and foft, of a reddifli colour on the back; 
 the under parts of the body are white ; acrofs the thighs 
 there is a large black band, in the form of a crefcent. 
 
 The motions of the Jerboa are fimilar to thofe of the 
 Kanguroo. It goes forward very nimbly on its hind feet, 
 taking leaps of five or fix feet from the ground. 
 
 It is a lively, harmlefs animal, lives entirely on vegeta- 
 bles, and burrows in the ground like a Rabbit. 
 
 It is the Daman Ifrael of the Arabs, or Lamb of IJrael ; 
 
 The jerboa. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 365 
 
 and is fuppofed to be the Coney of holy writ, our Rabbit 
 being unknown in Paleftine. It is alfo the Moiife men- 
 tioned in Ifaiah*; Achhar^ in the original, fignifying a 
 Jerboa. 
 
 There are fome varieties of the Jerboa, found in Sibe- 
 ria, Tartary, and various parts of Afia. They differ 
 
 chiefly in fize, the largeft being about the fize of a Rat : 
 Its ears are large, pointed, and tipped with white ; the 
 hair on the back is of a tawny colour, and very foft ; the 
 belly and under part of the body are white ; the end of 
 the tail is diftinguifhed by a white feathered tuft, an inch 
 long ; it has five toes on the fore feet, three on the hind ; 
 and about an inch above the laft, are two long flender 
 toes, with nails on each. 
 
 This creature makes its neft of the finefl and mofl de- 
 licate herbage ; rolls itfelf up, with its head between its 
 thighs; and fleeps during the winter, without taking any 
 nutriment. 
 
 When purfued, it fprings fo nimbly, that its feet 
 fcarcely feem to touch the ground. It does not go 
 ftraight forward, but turns here and there till it gains a 
 burrow, where it quickly fecretes itfelf. — In leaping, it 
 carries its tail ftretched out ; but in ftanding or walking, 
 carries it in the form of an S, the lower part touching 
 the ground. 
 
 The Jerboa is eafily tamed, is fond of warmth, and 
 feems to be fenfible of the approach of bad weather by 
 wrapping itfelf up clofe in hay. 
 
 Among the Mogul Tartars, this animal is called the 
 
 Alaghtaaga. It is fuppofed to be the Two-footed Moiife, 
 
 and the Egyptian Moiife of the ancients, which were faid 
 to walk on their hind legs. 
 
 * Chap, Ixvi. ver. 17. 
 
366 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The marmot 
 
 H as been placed by naturalifts in the fame clafs 
 with the Hare and the Rat; and on examining 
 its parts, we find a partial agreement with both thefe 
 animals. In Its nofe and lips, as well as In the general 
 form of its head, it refembles the Hare ; its ears are like 
 thofe of the Rat, with which it likewife agrees in the 
 number and form of Its teeth and claws : In other re- 
 fpefts. It is no way fimllar to either of thofe kinds ; and 
 is Hill farther feparated from them by habitudes which 
 feem peculiar to itfelf, and diftinguifh it from almoft eve- 
 ry other fpecles of quadrupeds. 
 
 The Marmot inhabits the higheft regions of the Alps ; 
 and is likewife found in Poland, Ukraine, and Chinefe 
 Tartary. 
 
 It is fomewhat lefs than a Hare : Its ears are round, 
 and fo fhort, that they are almoft hid in the fur ; its tail 
 is Ihort and bufhy ; the hair on the back is of a brown- 
 iflr-afli colour ; and that on the belly reddilh, foft, and 
 buftiy. Its voice refembles the murmuring of a young 
 puppy : When irritated or frightened, it makes a whif- 
 tllng noife, very loud and piercing. 
 
 It feeds on infefts, roots, and vegetables; but when 
 tamed, is remarkably fond of milk and butter.-—It lives 
 in holes, formed with great art in the fide of a moun* 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 367 
 
 tain. There are two entrances to each ; and the cham- 
 ber to which they lead is deep and fpacious: The bottom 
 is lined with mofs and hay, of which thefe provident ani- 
 mals lay in a ftore during fummer; and, at the approach 
 of winter, fhut themfelves up in their holes by flopping 
 the entrances with earth, fo efFe£lually, that no difcovery 
 can be made of the place of their retreat. The chamber 
 in which they lodge is large enough to contain a family 
 of from five to a dozen Marmots. They roll themfelves 
 up 5 and being well covered with hay, remain in a torpid 
 ftate, infenfible to the rigours of the feafon, and perfedl- 
 ly fecure from the ftorm that rages without ; till the 
 cheering influence of the fun again calls them out to re- 
 new their exhaufted flrength, to propagate their kind, 
 and provide for their future retreat. The torpid ftate 
 lafts from about Michaelmas till April. They go in ex- 
 tremely fat, but gradually wafte ; and at the end of their 
 long fleep, they appear lean and extremely emaciated. 
 
 The Marmot produces once a year ; and the litter ge- 
 nerally confifts of three or four. 
 
 When a number of them are feeding together, they 
 place one as a centinel, which makes a whiftling noife on 
 tfie leaft appearance of interruption ; and the party im- 
 mediately betake themfelves to their holes, the centinel 
 driving up the rear. 
 
 The Marmot is very playful, and ealily tamed. It 
 learns to hold a flick, to dance, and to exhibit various 
 geftures : It will obey the voice of its mafter. Like the 
 Cat, it has an antipathy to Dogs, which it attacks fierce- 
 ly upon the leaft irritation. It is very apt to gnaw linen 
 or woollen fluffs, often fits upright, and walks with eafe 
 on its hind feet. — It eats in the manner of a Squirrel, 
 and carries its food to its mouth with its fore paws. 
 
HISTORY OF QJY\D RUPEDS. 
 
 iiC-iE is ■j.o’.r.rnr.'cs but ;s al\rir$ atrendird 
 
 tritE a tiiia^ccabk' C'dour, 
 
 T K s yi O N A X 
 
 is ft'uui in varii^us narts of North- A morion, and foems 
 to be the fame xiriA Ae Marmot of Canada, deforibed br 
 M Bnfbn. 
 
 It is larger than a Rabb;:, and in form and colour re- 
 fcntbles Ae Mai;-Rat: Its tail is ibort and roug-h; its 
 ribs fo nenrible, that it can eanlr rats through a hole of 
 no't more than rwo inches dianteter , its eyes are black 
 and -rc.minent : its ba A is of a deer-broxm colour, 
 lighter cn the cues and belly ; and its feet and lees 
 black. 
 
 It neers dnrine "wrinter in holes under the roots of 
 
 An animal of the lame kind is found in Ae Bahama 
 ines: but vrhether it retires ro neer, in a climate fo mild, 
 is no: well knewn. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 369 
 
 The Qjj' e b e c MARMOT 
 
 is ratlier larger tlaan a Rabbit : Its ears are Ciort, and its 
 •whole head round ; its cheeks are of a grey colour, and 
 its nofe black ; its back is variegated, each hair being 
 grey at the bottom, black in the middle, and -white at the 
 tips ; its belly and legs are of an orange colour ; its toes 
 black and naked ; and its tail fhort, and rather bufhy. — 
 It inhabits Hudfon's Bay and Canada, 
 
 One of them, exhibited in London lome years age, 
 was perfectly tame. 
 
 Mr Pennant fuppofes it to be the fpecies called the 
 SiFFLEtja by the French of Canada, 
 
370 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS, 
 
 The hamster. 
 
 Although the qualities of this animal are fufficientljr 
 noxious to render it an objeft of univerfal deteftation, in 
 thofe countries where it abounds; yet, when confidered 
 with regard to thofe inftinfts which conduce to its own 
 prefervatlon and fupport, it well deferves our higheft ad- 
 miration. 
 
 Its habitation Is curious, and conftru£l;ed with great 
 art. It confills of a variety of apartments, adapted to 
 various purpofes, and extremely well fitted both for the 
 comfort and convenience of the inhabitants. The firft 
 entrance is formed in an oblique dire£Hon ; at the end of 
 which the male finks a perpendicular hole, which he re- 
 ferves for his own ufe. The female makes feveral, for 
 the accommodation of herfelf and family, that her young, 
 during the flrort time they are allowed to ftay with her, 
 may have a free pafiage to the general (lores. One of 
 the holes is lined with ftraw, and ferves as a lodging; 
 the others contain provifions, of which great quantities 
 are always accumulated during the time of harvefl. — 
 They begin to lay in their ftores in Auguft. — To facili- 
 tate the tranfportation of their food. Nature has furnifli- 
 ed them with two pouches in each cheek, which they fill 
 with corn, beans, or peafe, till they feem ready to burft ; 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 371 
 
 and, on their return to their holes, empty them, by prelP- 
 ing their two fore feet againft their cheeks. — The quan- 
 tity of provifion found in thefe magazines, depends on 
 the age or fex of the inhabitants. The old Hamfters 
 often amafs an hundred pounds weight of grain j but the 
 young and the females are fatisfied with much lefs. 
 
 At the approach of winter, the Hamfters retire into 
 their fubterraneous abodes, the entrance to which they 
 fhut up with great care : There they remain in perfedl 
 tranquillity, and feed on their provifions till the froft; 
 becomes fevere, w'hen they fink into a torpid ftate, in 
 which they continue till the return of fpring. During 
 this period, if any of the holes be opened, the Hamfter is 
 always found lying upon a bed of foft ftraw, with its 
 head turned under its belly, between the two fore legs ; 
 whilft the hind ones reft upon the muzzle: Its eyes are 
 fhut, every member perfectly ftift’, and fenfation fo to- 
 tally fufpended, that neither refpiration nor any other 
 fign of life can be perceived. When diftecfed in this fi- 
 tuation, the heart may be feen alternately contratling 
 and dilating very llowly; the fat appears to be coagu- 
 lated; and the inteftines are quite cold. During this 
 operation, the animal feems to feel very little : It fome- 
 times opens its mouth, as if it wanted to refpire ; but 
 the lethargy is too ftrong to admit of its entirely awak- 
 ing. 
 
 They copulate about the end of April ; when the 
 males enter the apartments of the females, but remain 
 only a few days. — If two males happen to meet in the 
 fame hole, a furious combat enfues, which generally ter- 
 minates in the death of the weaker. 
 
 The females bring forth twice or thrice every year; 
 A a 2 
 
372 HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 
 
 eacli litter confiftlng of fix or eight. In about three 
 
 weeks, the young are driven from their holes, and left 
 
 to provide for themfelves. Their increafe is fo rapid 
 
 in fome years, as to be almoft fufhcient to occafion a 
 dearth ; but the ferocity with which they upon all occa- 
 fions attack and devour each other, is fo great, as to be 
 the happy means of preventing the ill effedts of their fe- 
 cundity. 
 
 It is not only its own fpecies to which the fury of the 
 Hamller is direfted : He attacks and devours every ani- 
 mal, without diftindlion, that he is able to conquer; and 
 frequently oppofes himfelf to enemies much fuperlor to 
 himfelf in ftrength. Rather than fly, he allows himfelf 
 to be beaten to death. If he feize a man’s hand, he 
 mud be killed before he can be made to quit his hold. 
 A Horfe or a Dog are equally objedls of his rage ; and 
 wherever he feizes, it is with difficulty he can be difen- 
 gaged. 
 
 The Plamfler is about the fize of a large Water-Rat; 
 has a fliort tail, almoft n.aked : Its head and back are of 
 a reddilh-brown colour, not unlike that of a Hare ; its 
 throat is white, and it has three white fpots on each 
 fide ; its breaft and belly are black. 
 
 It is found in various parts of Germany, Poland, and 
 Ukraine. 
 
 The Polecat is its gieateft enemy. It purfues the 
 Hamfter into its hole, and deftroys great numbers. 
 
 Mr Ray obfevves, that the hair of this animal is fo 
 clofely united to the fkin, that it cannot be pulled off 
 without great difficulty ; on which account it is held in 
 high eftimation. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 373 
 
 The SOUSLIK 
 
 is about the fize of a large Rat. Its fkin is beautifully 
 marked with fmali white fpots upon a yellowifli ground. 
 
 It is found upon the banks of the Wolga, and in the 
 adjoining provinces as far as Auflria. — It burrows in the 
 ground like a Rabbit, and lays in (lore of provifions, con- 
 fiding of grain, herbs, and roots : It alfo feeds on young 
 Mice, is very fond of fait, and is frequently taken on 
 board the barges laden with that commodity.- The fe- 
 
 males bring forth from two to five at one time. 
 
 The ZISEL, or Earless MARMOT, 
 
 Inftead of ears, has only a fmall orifice on each fide of 
 its head.. It is of a dark-grey colour. Its body is long 
 and fender, and its tail fliort. 
 
 It is found in Bohemia, Audria, Hungary, and Sibe- 
 ria. — -It forms its hole in the ground, with a double en- 
 trance ; and deeps during the winter in the center of its 
 lodge. — It lays in a fore of corn, nuts, &c. ; and fits up 
 like a Squirrel when it eats. — It is eafily provoked, and 
 bites hard. 
 
 Its fur is of little value ; but its flefli is reckoned good 
 eating. 
 
 A a 3 
 
374 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 In Poland and Ruffia, there is an animal of this kind, 
 called the Zemni; and, by Mr Pennant, the Podolmi 
 Marmot. 
 
 Its habits are fimilar to thofe of the Souflik ; but it is 
 larger, ftronger, and more mifchievous. 
 
 The head is thick, the body flender, and the ears fliort 
 and round: It has two cutting-teeth in each jaw; thofe 
 of the under jaw are much longer than the upper: The 
 eyes are fmall, and concealed in the fur like thofe of the 
 Mole : Its tail is fliort, and of an afli colour. 
 
 The Tail-less MARMOT. 
 
 We are favoured by Mr Pennant with the drawing of 
 
 this animal, which has hitherto been undefcribed. In 
 
 the form of its body, it feems to agree with the defcrip- 
 tion given of the Zifel, and probably may be a variety of 
 that animal. 
 
HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 
 
 375 
 
 The LEMING, or Lapland MARMOT. 
 
 This wonderful little animal is found only in the nor- 
 thern parts of Europe and Afia; and is fornetimes feeii 
 in immenfe numbers, overfpreading large tracls of coun- 
 try, in Norway, Sweden, and Lapland. But as its ap- 
 pearance is at very uncertain periods, and the fource 
 from whence it is derived has not been hitherto explored 
 by any naturalift, its exiftence has been ferioufly attri- 
 buted, by fuperllitious ignorance, to the generation of 
 the clouds; from whence, it has been fuppofed, it was 
 
 poured down in Blowers of rain. Myriads of them 
 
 march together ; and, like a torrent which nothing can 
 refift, their courfe is marked with ruin and defolation. 
 Neither fire nor water prevents their progrefs. They go 
 ftraight forward, in regular lines, about three feet afun- 
 der, and generally in a fouth-eaft direftion : They fwim 
 acrofs lakes and rivers ; No oppofition impedes them. If 
 thoufands, are deflroyed, thoufands fupply their places : 
 The void is quickly filled up ; and their number does not 
 appear diminiflied. They perfift in their cqurfe, in fpite 
 of every obitacle ; and if prevented from proceeding, 
 they either by afliduity furmount it, or die in the at- 
 tempt. — Their march is moflly in the night. They reft 
 during the day, and devour every root and vegetable thev 
 A a 4 
 
376 HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 
 
 meet with. They infeft the very herbage ; and cattle 
 are faid to perifli that feed upon the grafs they have 
 touched. 
 
 An enemy, fo numerous and deftru£live, would foon 
 render the countries they pafs through utterly uninhabit- 
 able, did it not fortunately' happen, that the fame rapa- 
 city that excites them to lay wafte the produftions of the 
 earth, at lall impels them to deftroy each other. — Having 
 nothing more to fubfifl; on, they are faid to feparate into 
 two armies, which engage with the moll deadly hatred, 
 and continue fighting and devouring each other till they 
 are all entirely deftroyed. Thoufands of them have been 
 found dead ; and the air, infefted by their putrid car- 
 cafes, has fometimes been the occafion of malignant dif- 
 tempers. — Great numbers of them are likewife deflroyed 
 by Foxes, Lynxes, Weafels, and other beafts of prey, 
 which follow them during their march. 
 
 The Leming runs fwiftly, although its legs are fiiort 
 and flender. — It is fomewhat lefs than the Rat : Its head 
 is pointed ; and in each jaw are two very long cutting- 
 teeth, with which it bites keenly ; Its ears are fliort, eyes 
 fmall, fore legs fhorter than the hind : The colour of the 
 head and body black and tawny, difpofed in irregular 
 patches; the belly white, tinged with yellow. 
 
 Though perfe£lly difgufting to every other people, its 
 flefii js faid to be eaten by the Laplanders. 
 
 "Where thefe emigrants are colle£led, as v/as before 
 obferved, is not certainly known. Linnaeus fays, they 
 are produced among the Norwegian and Lapland Alps ; 
 and Pontoppidan fuppofes, that Kolen’s Rock, which di- 
 vides Nordland from Sweden, is their native place. But 
 wherever they come from, none return. Their courfe is 
 predefined ; and they purfue their fate. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 o < / 
 
 The rat, 
 
 T HOUGFI fmall, weak, and contemptible in its 
 appearance, poflelTes properties which render it a 
 more formidable enemy to mankind, and more injurious 
 to the Interefts of fociety, than even thofe animals that 
 are endued with the greateft ftrength and mod rapacious 
 difpofitions. To the one we can oppofe united powers 
 and fuperior arts; with regard to the other, experience 
 has convinced us, that no art can counteraO; the effects 
 of its amazing fecundity, and that force is ineffe£Iually 
 oppofed to an enemy pofl'effed of fuch variety of means 
 to elude it. 
 
 There are two kinds known in this country, — the 
 Black Rat, which was formerly univerfal here, but is 
 now very rarely feen, having been almoft extirpated by 
 the large brown kind, generally diftinguilhed by the 
 
 name of the Norway Rat. This formidable invader 
 
 is now univerfally diffufed through the whole country; 
 from whence every method has been tried in vain to ex- 
 terminate it. — It is about nine inches long ; of a light- 
 brown colour, mixed with tawny and afli ; the throat 
 and belly are of a dirty white, inclining to grey ; its feet 
 are naked, and of a pale fleflr colour ; the tail is as long 
 ^s the body, covered with minute dulky fcales, thinly in- 
 terfperfed with fhort hairs. 
 
378 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 In fummer, it frequents the banks of rivers, ponds, 
 and ditches; where it lives on frogs, fifhes, and fmall 
 animals. But its rapacity is not confined entirely to 
 thefe : It deftroys rabbits, poultry, young pigeons, &c. : 
 It infefts the granary, the barn, and the ftorehoufe ; does 
 infinite nsifchief among corn and fruit of all kinds ; and, 
 not content with fatisfying its hunger, frequently carries 
 off large quantities to its hiding-place. 
 
 It is a bold and fierce little animal ; and, when clofely 
 purfued, will turn and fallen on its aflailant. — Its bite is 
 keen; and the wound it infli£ts is painful, and difficult 
 to heal, owing to the form of its teeth, which are long, 
 fharp, and of an irregular form. 
 
 The Rat is amazingly prolific, ufually producing from 
 twelve to eighteen at one time. — Their numbers would 
 foon increafe beyond all power of rellraint, were it not 
 for an infatiable appetite, that impels them to deltroy 
 and devour each other. The weaker always fall a prey 
 to the Itronger; and the large male Rat, which ufually 
 lives by itfelf, is dreaded by thofe of its own fpecies as 
 their moll formidable enemy. 
 
 It is a fingular fa£l, in the hillory of thefe animals, 
 that the Ikins of fuch of them as have been devoured in 
 their holes have frequently been found, curioully turned 
 infide out ; every part being completely inverted, even to 
 the ends of the toes. How the operation is performed, 
 it would be difficult to afcertain ; but it appears to be ef- 
 fected in fome peculiar mode of eating out the contents. 
 
 Befides the numbers that perlfli in thefe unnatural con- 
 flicts, they have many fierce and inveterate enemies, that 
 take every occafion to dellroy them. Several kinds of 
 Dogs purfue them with great alacrity, and eagerly kill 
 them, though they invariably refufe to eat their flel)t': 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 379 
 
 The Cat is alfo a very formidable enemy, but generally 
 finds greater difficulty in the conteft : The Rat makes a 
 vigorous refiftance, and fometimes efFefts its efcape. 
 The Weafel is the moft determined enemy of the Rat 
 kind: It hunts them with unceafing avidity; purfues 
 them into their holes, where it foon kills them, and 
 fucks their blood : And in particular fituations, the Fer- 
 ret is a ftill more deadly adverfary. Mankind have like- 
 wife contriv’^ed various methods of deftroying thefe bold 
 intruders. For that purpofe, traps are often found inef- 
 fe£lual ; fuch being their extreme fagacity, that when 
 any are drawn into the fnare, the others by that means 
 learn to avoid the dangerous allurement, notwithftanding 
 the utmoft caution may have been ufed to conceal the de- 
 fign. The fureft method of killing them is by poifon: 
 Nux vomica ground, and mixed with oatmeal, wdth a 
 fmall proportion of oil of rhodium and mulk, have been 
 found from experience to be very effeClual. 
 
38 o history of QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The WATER-RAT 
 
 is fomewhat fmaller than the former, its head and nofe 
 are thicker ; its eyes are fmal! ; its ears fliort, fcarcely 
 appearing through the hair; its teeth are large, ftrong, 
 and yellow. In an old one which we examined, the low- 
 er incifors meafured fomewhat more than half an inch in 
 length. The hair on its head and body is thicker and 
 longer than that of the common Rat, and chiefly of a 
 dark-brown colour, mixed with red ; the belly is grey ; 
 the tail five inches long, covered with fhort black hairs, 
 and the tip with white. 
 
 The Water-Rat generally frequents the fides of rivers, 
 ponds, and ditches ; where it burrows, and forms its 
 
 It feeds on frogs, fmall fifli, and fpawn ; fwims 
 
 and dives remarkably fall; and can continue a long time 
 under water. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 381 
 
 The MUSK-RAT of Canada 
 
 is about the fize of a young Rabbit : Its head is thick 
 and fhort, refembling that of a Water-Rat; its hair foft 
 and glofly^ beneath the outward hair there is a thick fine 
 down, very ufeful in the manufacture of hats ; it is of a 
 reddlfli-brown colour; its bread and belly alh, tinged 
 with red; its tail is long and flat, covered with fcales; 
 its eyes are large ; its ears fliort and hairy ; it has two 
 drong cutting-teeth in each jaw, — thofe of the under jaw 
 are about an Inch long, but the upper ones are fliorter. 
 
 This animal is a native of Canada, where it is called 
 the Ondatra. 
 
 In many refpeCls, it very much refembles the Beaver, 
 both in form and manners. It is fond of the water, and 
 fwims well. — At the approach of winter, feveral families 
 aflbciate together. They build little huts, about two feet 
 in diameter, compofed of herbs and ruflies cemented 
 with clay, forming a dome-like covering: From thefe 
 are feveral palTages, in different directions ; by which 
 
 they go out in qued of roots and other food. The 
 
 hunters take them in the fpring, by opening their holes, 
 and letting in the light fuddenly upon them. — At that 
 time their flefh is tolerably good, and is frequently eaten; 
 
382 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 but in the fummer, it acquires a fcent of muik, fo ftrong, 
 as to render it perfe£lly unpalatable. 
 
 The Muscovy MUSK-RAT 
 
 is about the fize of the common Rat: Its nofe is long 
 and flender, like that of the Shrew-Moufe ; it has no ex- 
 ternal ears, and its eyes are very fmall ; the tail is com- 
 prefl’ed fideways, and its hind feet are webbed; it is of a 
 dulky colour; the belly of a light afh. 
 
 It is a native of Lapland and Ruffia, frequents the 
 banks of rivers, and feeds on fmall fifhes. It is often 
 devoured by pikes and other fiflies ; to which it commu- 
 nicates fo ftrong a flavour of mulk, as renders them very 
 unpleafant to the tafte. 
 
 From its tail is extradled a kind of mulk, very much 
 refembling the genuine fort. — Their flcins are frequently 
 
 laid amongft cloaths to preferve them from moths.- In 
 
 Lapland, it is called the Defman. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 3S3 
 
 The beaver 
 
 is the moft induftrious of all animals. Its labours feem 
 the refult of a focial compa£l, formed for mutual conve- 
 nience, prefervation, and fupport ; and as, in all well-re- 
 gulated focieties, a due fubordination is neceflary for the 
 well ordering and condudling each individual effort to the 
 advantage of the whole fo, amongft thefe curious ani- 
 mals, we find, that, in forming their habitations, all have 
 their proper part of the work affigned to them, that, by 
 dividing their labours, fafety, ftability, and expedition, 
 may be the general effe£l. To this purpofe, a communi- 
 ty of two or three hundred affemble together : An over- 
 feer is chofen, whofe orders are pundlually obeyed ; and, 
 by ftrlking the water fmartly with his tail, gives the 
 fignal where the united force of numbers is neceffary to 
 be applied, in order to ftrengthen or fupport the fabric ; 
 or, at the approach of an enemy, to apprize the fociety 
 of their danger. — As foon as a convenient place is chofen 
 for the ere£lion of their building, which is generally a le- 
 vel piece of ground, with a fmall rivulet running through 
 it, they divide into companies : Some are employed in 
 cutting down trees of great fize, which is done by gnaw- 
 
384 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 ing them with their teeth: Thefe they lay acrofs the dam 
 with ftirprizlng labour and perfeverance, or form into 
 piles, which others roll down to the water, where they 
 make holes at the bottom for receiving the ends, and 
 placing them upright, fecure them in that pofition ; 
 whilft another party is engaged in collecting twigs, inter- 
 weaving and twilling them with the piles, and thereby 
 ftrengthening the work : Some colledl large quantities of 
 earth, ftones, clay, and other folid materials, which they 
 difpofe of on the upper fide of the piles next the ftreani, 
 forming a mound ten or twelve feet thick at the bottom, 
 tapering gradually upwards, and capable of fultaining a 
 confiderable weight of water. The length of the dam, 
 occafioned by this means, is fometimes not lefs than one 
 hundred feet. — Having compleated the mole, their next 
 care is to erecEl their apartments, which are built on 
 piles : They are of a circular form, and generally confiH 
 of three {lories, about eight feet high above the water : 
 The firft lies below the level of the dam, and is generally 
 full of water ; the other two are above it. The walls are 
 two feet in thicknefs, neatly plalflered with clay on the 
 infide, which is arched like an oven, and at the top re- 
 fembles a dome. — In each houfe there are two openings, 
 — one toward the water, to which the animal has always 
 accefs, in cafe of furprize ; the other toward the land, 
 by which it goes out in queft of food. — The number of 
 houfes in one of thefe dams is from ten to twenty-five ; 
 fome of them large enough to contain a family of twenty 
 or thirty Beavers. — Each Beaver forms its bed of mofs 5 
 and each family lays in its magazine of winter provifion, 
 which confifts of bark and boughs of trees : They pile up 
 the latter with great ingenuity and regularity, and draw 
 it out to their apartments as their wants require. They 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 385 
 
 are faid to be fondeft of the faflafras, afli, and fweet 
 gum. During fummer, they feed on leaves, fruits, and 
 fometimes crabs or cray-filh ; but fifh is not their favour- 
 ite food. — Their time of building is early in the fummer. 
 In winter, they never go farther than to their provifion 
 ftores j and, during that feafon, are very fat. 
 
 They breed once a year, and bring forth two or three 
 at a birth. 
 
 Beavers are found chiefly in the northern parts of Eu- 
 rope, Afia, and America ; particularly the latter, from 
 whence many thoufands of their (kins are annually 
 brought into Europe. In 1763, the Hudfon’s Bay com- 
 pany fold 54,670 Beaver fldns at one fale. — They vary in 
 colour. The moft valuable are black ; but the general 
 colour is a chefnut-brown, more or lefs dark. Some 
 have been found entirely white, others fpotted j but both 
 thefe kinds are very rare. 
 
 The Beaver is remarkable for the fize and flrength of 
 its cutting-teeth, which enable it to gnaw down trees of 
 great magnitude with eafe. Its ears are Ihort, and almoft 
 hid in the fur •, its nofe blunt ; tail broad and flat, nearly 
 of an oval form, and covered with fcales — it ferves not 
 only as a rudder to direct its motions in the water, but 
 as a moft ufeful inftrument for laying on the clay, pref- 
 fing it into the crevices, and fmoothing the outward co- 
 vering j its fore feet are fmall, and not unlike thofe of a 
 Rat; the hind feet are large and ftrong, with membranes 
 between each toe ; its length, from nofe to tail, is about 
 three feet ; the tail is eleven inches long, and three 
 broad. 
 
 The caftor produced from thefe animals is found in 
 a liquid ftate, in bags near the anus, about the fize of an 
 
 B b 
 
386 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 egg. When taken off, the matter dries, and is reducible 
 to a powder, which is oily, of a fliarp bitter tafte, and 
 a llrong difagreeable fmell. — Thefe bags are found indif- 
 ferently in males and females, and were formerly fup- 
 pofed to be the animal’s tefticles, which, when purfued, 
 it was faid to bite off, and by that means efcape with its 
 life. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 387 
 
 The mouse. 
 
 well-known little animal is difFufed in great 
 § numbers over almofl; every part of the world. It 
 feems a conftant attendant nn man, and is only to be 
 found near his dwelling. Its enemies are numerous and 
 powerful, and its means of refiftance weak and inconfi- 
 derable : Its minutenefs feems to be its beft fecurity ; 
 and it is faved from utter extindlion only by its amazing 
 fecundity. 
 
 The Moufe brings forth feveral times in the year, and 
 generally from fix to ten each litter. The young are 
 produced without hair, and in little more than fifteen 
 days are able to fubfifl: by themfelves; fo that the in- 
 creafe is prodigious. Ariftotle tells us, that having (hut 
 up in a velTel a Moufe big with young, and provided 
 plenty of grain for hef and her offspring, in a fliort time 
 he found 120 Mice, all fprung from the fame ftock. 
 
 The Moufe, when viewed without the difguft and ap- 
 prehenfion which ufually accompany the fight of it, is a 
 beautiful little animal : Its fldn is ffeek and foft, its eyes 
 bright and lively, all its limbs are formed with exquifite 
 delicacy, and its motions are fmart and active. 
 
 Some few of this fpecies are of a pure white colour; 
 but whether they be a permanent kind, or only an acci- 
 
 B b 2 
 
388 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 dental variety, cannot well be determined. Its appear- 
 ance is, liowever, very beautiful : Its fine full eyes, of a 
 red colour, form an agreeable contrail with the fnowy 
 whitenefs of its fur. 
 
 The Long-tailed FIELD-MOUSE 
 
 is rather larger than the common Moufe, and very fimi- 
 lar to it in form : It is of a yellowilh-brown colour, its 
 belly white, and its eyes remarkably large and prominent. 
 
 It is found only in the fields, woods, and gardens; 
 
 feeds on nuts, corn, and acorns ; and lays up great (lores 
 for its fupport during winter. It burrows in the earth, 
 and generally forms its nell near the root of a tree or 
 thick bulh. If provifions fail during a llorm, they de- 
 vour each other ; are very prolific, and bring nine or ten 
 young at a time. 
 
 Mr Pennant mentions a fpecles, found in Hamplhire, 
 only two inches and an half long from nofe to tail, of a 
 fine rull colour above, and white beneath. It appears in 
 great numbers in harveft-time among the fheaves and 
 I'icks of corn. During the winter, it fhelters itfelf under 
 ground, where it makes a warm bed of dry grafs and 
 leaves. — Its young are brought forth on a neft made be- 
 tween the llraws of the Handing corn, and are generally 
 about eight in number each time. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 389 
 
 The Short-tailed FIELD-MOUSE 
 
 differs from the laft, in having a thicker head, and fhort- 
 er tail : Its ears are very fnort, and almoft hid in the 
 hair; its body is about three inches long, and the tall 
 one inch; the upper part of the body is of a reddilh- 
 brown, and the belly a deep-afli colour. — Like the laft, it 
 frequents the fields and woods, but is feldom troublefome 
 in gardens : It alfo lives on the fame kinds of food, 
 
 which it hides in holes under ground. — It makes its neft 
 in moift meadows, and brings forth feven or eight young 
 at a time. 
 
 The SHREW-MOUSE 
 
 is fmaller than the common Moufe, being only two inch- 
 es and a half long from the nofe to the tail : The nofe is 
 long and llender ; the ears (liort ; and the eyes, like thofe 
 of the Mole, almoft concealed in the fur. It is of a red- 
 B b 3 
 
390 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 difli-brown colour; the belly white. -The two upper 
 
 fore teeth of this animal are Angularly conftrufted, and 
 deferve particular notice; having a fmall barb on each 
 fide, fo fine, as to be fcarcely vifible. 
 
 The Shrew-Moufe frequents old walls and heaps of 
 {tones ; feeds on infects, corn, and putrid fubftances ; 
 and is fometimes feen on dunghills, where it roots with 
 its nofe like a Hog. — It has fo ftrong and difagreeable a 
 fnicll, that the Cat, after fhe has killed, refufes to eat it. 
 — It forms its neft of dry grafs, mofs. See. on the furface 
 of meadows or paftures ; and is faid to breed four or five 
 young at a time. 
 
 There feeras to be an annual mortality of thefe animals 
 in Auguft ; numbers of them being found dead in the 
 fields, highways, &c. about that time. 
 
 The Water SHREW-MOUSE 
 
 is larger than the laft. The upper part of its body is 
 black ; the throat, breaft, and belly, of a light afh colour. 
 — It is rarely to be feen ; frequents the banks of rivulets 
 and marfiiy places, where it burrows. 
 
 It is very numerous in Lincolnfhire, but was never ob- 
 ferved there till about twenty years ago. — It is called, in 
 that country, the Blhtd Moufe, 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 391 
 
 The Dwarf MOUSE 
 
 is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, where it was dif= 
 
 covered, and firfl defcribed, by Sparrman. It is diftin- 
 
 guifhed from every other fpecles of the genus, by four 
 black lines along its back, from the head to the tail. 
 
 It is fuppofed to be the mofb diminutive quadruped in 
 the world, being fcarcely two inches in length. In the 
 annexed reprefentation, it is drawn the natural fize, and 
 forms a ftriking contrail with thofe gigantic animals 
 which inhabit that quarter of the world. 
 
 B h A 
 
392 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The mole. 
 
 T his animal, dellinefl to feek its food and pro- 
 vide for its fubfiftence under the furface of the 
 earth, is wonderfully adapted, by the all-wife Author of 
 nature, to its peculiar mode of living. It enjoys the 
 fenfes of hearing and fmelling in a very eminent degree : 
 The former gives notice of every approach of danger; 
 whilft the latter enables it to find its prey in the midft of 
 darknefs, and compenfates in a great meafure for an 
 almofi; total want of fight. To an animal fo circum- 
 Itanced, a larger degree of vifion would be attended with 
 manifeft inconveniences, as well as liable to continual in- 
 juries. We are told by anatomifts, that, for their better 
 fecurity, the eyes of the Mole are furniflied with mufcles, 
 by which it has the power of withdrawing or exerting 
 them at pleafure. Its eyes are extremely fmall, and per- 
 fectly hid in the fur; but it is probable, they are fo 
 formed, as to admit dillinCt images of the diminutive ob- 
 jects of its purfuit. ^ ^ 
 
 The form of this creature’s body, and particularly the 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 393 
 
 €onftru£lion of its fore feet, are admirably adapted to the 
 purpofe of making its way in the earth, which it does 
 with wonderful facility : They are quite naked, very 
 
 broad, with large palms, almoft like a hand : There are 
 five toes on each, terminated with ftrong nails, very con- 
 cave on the under fide ; and in place of a thumb, a 
 ftrong bone under the fkin. The hind feet are very 
 fmall, with five flender toes, and a fmall thumb on the 
 infide. — Whenever it happens to be furprized on the fur- 
 face of the ground, it difappears in an infhant ; and every 
 attempt to prevent its fubterraneous retreat would be 
 vain. 
 
 The Mole is moftly found in grounds where the foil is 
 loofe and foft, and affords the greateft quantity of worms 
 and infedts, on which it feeds. 
 
 The female brings forth in the fpring, and generally 
 produces four or five at a time. The young are quite 
 naked, and continue fo till they are grown to a confider- 
 able fize. — It makes its neft a little below the furface of 
 the ground, forming a commodious apartment, where ic 
 prepares a warm bed of mofs and herbage : From this 
 there are feveral palfages in different diredlions, to which 
 it can retreat with its young ones in cafe of danger; into 
 thefe likewife it makes excurfions in quefi: of food. — In 
 the adl of forming its tracks or runs, it throws up large 
 heaps of mould, which are extremely troublefome and in- 
 jurious in meadows, grafs lands, and cultivated grounds. 
 Its deftrudlion is confequently an objedl of importance to 
 farmers, gardeners, &c. 
 
 The fkin of the Mole is extremely tough ; its fur fliort, 
 clofe-fet, and fofter than the finefl velvet, or perhaps the 
 fur of any other animal : It is ufually black, fometimes 
 fpotted with white, and fometimes (though rarely) white. 
 It is about fix inches in length, and its tail one inch. 
 
394 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Radiated MOLE 
 
 is lefs than the common Mole, being not quite four 
 inches long : Its fur is very clofe, fhort, and fine : Its 
 nofe is very curioufly befet with radiated tendrils. — It is 
 a native of North-America, feeds on roots, and forms 
 fubterraneous paflages in different dire£lions. 
 
 There is a kind, found in Siberia, with a very fiiort 
 nofe, and no tail. It is of a beautiful green and gold co- 
 lour, variable with the light. 
 
 There are fome other varieties, that differ chiefly in 
 the colour of the hair ; fuch as the Yellow Mole of 
 North-America, which is larger than the European. Its 
 hair is foft, and of a filky glofs. 
 
 That which is found in Virginia, refembles the com- 
 mon Mole. It is of a black colour, mixed with deep 
 purple. 
 
 It is fald, that hats, peculiarly fine and beautiful, have 
 been made of the fur of the Mole. 
 
 c 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 395 
 
 The opossum 
 
 I S found in great numbers in various parts of North 
 and South- America, and was fuppofed by BufFon to 
 belong entirely to the new continent : We are novt^, 
 
 however, aflured, that it exifts in many of the Indian 
 illands. Several varieties of the Opoffum kind have been 
 feen alfo in the newly-difcovered countries in the South 
 feas. 
 
 The Saragoy. The Murine. 
 
 The Saragoy, or Mulucca Opossum of Mr Pen- 
 nant, is about the fize of a Cat: Its head is long; nofe 
 fliarp and pointed ; ears large, thin, and naked ; eyes 
 fmall, black, and lively, having a white fpot above each 
 of them; its fur is foft, long, and of a dufky afh colour; 
 its belly white ; its tail is fimilar to that of a Rat, naked 
 and fcaly, except a fmall part near the body, which is 
 
396 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 covered with hair; its legs are Ihort; and its feet or 
 hands not unlike thofe of a Monkey, having five toes or 
 fingers on each ; the thumbs on the hind feet are defti- 
 tute of nails. But the peculiar and diftinguifliing cha- 
 radleriftic of the Opoflum is a pouch or falfe belly, in 
 which the female depofits her young immediately after 
 they are brought forth, and nourlfiies them in it till they 
 are able to provide for themfelves. 
 
 The Chevalier d’Aboville, whilft in America during 
 the late war, in order to be fatisfied refpedling the time 
 of its geftation, manner of bringing forth, and fuckling 
 its young, procured a male and female OpolTiim, which 
 he tamed, and kept in his chamber till they copulated. 
 Ten days after, he obferved a confiderable alteration in 
 the fize and form of the pouch; its aperture being wider 
 than it was before, and its orifice thicker : From that 
 time it gradually grew clofer, leaving only a fmall open- 
 ing in the middle, fimilar to a navel : On the fifteenth 
 day he introduced his finger, and found at the bottom of 
 the bag a fmall round body, about the fize of a pea: The 
 twenty-fifth day he could feel a motion under his finger. 
 After the young had been a month in the pouch, they 
 were plainly to be feen, on opening it a little. At the 
 end of two months, on examining the pouch, there ap- 
 peared to be fix young ones ; all of them attached to the 
 mother by a canal that entered the mouth, which, if 
 withdrawn, could not be replaced ; but when fix weeks 
 old, the young OpolTum could refume it by ftrong fuc- 
 tion, the mouth being then large enough to receive the 
 pap, which is about two lines in length, and the fize of 
 the fecond or third firing of a violin. 
 
 The number of the young varies from five to ten or 
 eleven. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 397 
 
 The paps are not difpofed in regular order, as in other 
 animals ; but feem as if they were formed in thofe places 
 where the embryos attach themfelves to the mother. 
 
 The Opoflum is a flow, helplefs animal, when on the 
 ground ; but climbs trees with great eafe and quicknefs ; 
 fometimes conceals itfelf among the branches, and fur- 
 prizes the birds that come within its reach. It frequent- 
 ly hangs, fufpended by its tail ; and, in that fituation, 
 watches for its prey, which it darts upon with great agi- 
 lity. 
 
 By means of its tail, the Opoflum flings itfelf from 
 one tree to another. — It feeds on birds, reptiles, infeHs, 
 roots, leaves, and the bark of trees. — It is eafily tamed, 
 is neither mifchievous nor ferocious ; but its figure is dif- 
 agreeable, and the odour that exhales from its Ikin rank 
 and difgufling. 
 
 The Murine Opossum, or Marmose of M. Buf- 
 fon, inhabits the warmeft parts of South-America. — It 
 refembles the former, but is much lefs. Its food and 
 manner of living are likewife very fimilar to it. 
 
 It brings forth from ten to fourteen young at a time ; 
 but, inftead of a bag, the female has two longitudinal 
 folds under her belly, within which the young are fe- 
 cured. When firft produced, they are not larger than 
 beans, and remain clofely attached to the teat till they 
 attain fufficient growth and ftrength to provide for them- 
 felves. 
 
398 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS, 
 
 The Mexican OPOSSUM 
 
 clifFers little from the preceding either in fize or form - 
 
 It is found in the mountainous parts of New-Spain, lives 
 in trees. Its tail is ufeful in iwlftlng round the branch- 
 es, and fecuring its hold. 
 
 The young attach themfelves to their mother by their 
 hands and tails ; and, upon the leaft alarm, embrace her 
 clofely; whilft flie carries them to the fhelter of fome 
 neighbouring tree. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 399 
 
 The PHALANGER, or Surinam 
 OPOSSUM, 
 
 is fomewhat larger than a Rat; Its nofe is thick; ears 
 Ihort and hairy; its fur of a reddilh colour, variegated 
 with light alh and yellow; the under part of the body 
 yellowilh-white ; it is diftinguilhed from all thofe of the 
 OpolTum kind we have hitherto mentioned, in having the 
 firft and fecond toes of the hind feet clofely united ; its 
 claws are large; tail long, very broad and thick at its 
 jun6lion with the body, and naked at the end. 
 
 It inhabits Surinam ; is fuppofed to be the animal call- 
 ed the Cane-Rat^ very deftru£llve to the fugar-canes. 
 
400 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Spotted OPOSSUM of New 
 South-Wales. 
 
 The general colour of this animal is black ; the body 
 fpottecl with irregular roundilh patches of white; the 
 ears are large and eredl ; muzzle long, pointed, and fur- 
 nifhed with long flender whilkers; both fore and hind 
 legs thinly covered with hair of an afh colour ; on the 
 fore feet it has five claws, and on the hind four ; length, 
 from nofe to tail, about twenty-five inches; tail thick 
 and bulhy, like that of a Squirrel, except a part near the 
 body, which is fmall, and covered with Ihort hairs. The 
 female has fix teats, placed circularly within the pouch. 
 
 The Vulpine OPOSSUM of New 
 South-Wales 
 
 is long-bodied and Ihort-legged ; from the nofe to the ir]~ 
 fertion of the tail, meafures two feet two inches ; tail fif- 
 teen inches ; upper part of the body grifly, confifting of 
 dulky, reddifli, and white hairs; the under parts light- 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 401 
 
 tawny; two-thirds of the tail black; a blackilh fpace 
 round each eye ; long black whifkers ; five toes on the 
 fore feet, and four on the hind, with a thumb of two 
 joints placed at the bafe of the inner toe ; the toes of the 
 fore feet are long, and anfwer the purpofe of a hand ; 
 the ears are about an inch and a half in length ; in the 
 upper jaw are fix cutting teeth, four grinders, and two 
 canine teeth; in the lower jaw, two long cutting teeth, 
 like thofe of a Squirrel, and four grinders, but no canine 
 teeth. 
 
 The Flying OPOSSUM of New 
 South-Wales. 
 
 Its nofe is pointed ; its ears large and eredl ; the fur 
 more delicate, and of a finer texture, than that of the 
 Sea-Otter, — is of a beautiful dark colour, and very glofiy, 
 mixed with grey; the under parts white; on each hip is 
 a tan-coloured fpot ; the fur is continued to the claws ; 
 
 C c 
 
402 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 the failing membrane is the fame as that of the Grey 
 Squirrelj but broader In proportion 5 on the fore legs it 
 has five toes, with a claw on each ; on the hind ones, 
 four toes, and a long thumb, which enables the animal 
 to life it as a hand it is remarkable, that the three out- 
 fide claws of the hind feet are not feparated like the 
 others. 
 
 The opossum of Van Diemen’s Land 
 
 was dlfcovered by Captain Cook in January, 1777; who 
 defcribes it as about twice the fize of a large Rat. — It is 
 covered with long foft glolTy hair, of a rufty brown co- 
 lour ; its belly is of a dirty white. 
 
 It inhabits Van Diemen’s Land, the fouthern point of 
 New-Holland. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 403 
 
 The SqUIRREL-OPOSSUM. 
 
 We are favoured with a drawing of this beautiful ani- 
 mal, taken from a living one in the polTeffion of the re- 
 verend Mr Egerton, prebendary of Durham, by the in- 
 genious Mr Carfrae. 
 
 It is a native of New South-Wales ; is about eighteen 
 inches long, exclufive of the tail, which is twelve : Its 
 head is broad, and pointed at the muzzle, which is fur- 
 nifhed with long whifkers ; its eyes are full, exceedingly 
 prominent, and of a fiery rednefs; It has five claws on 
 the fore feet, — three on the hind, and a thumb ; two 
 cutting teeth in each jaw, the upper projecSlIng beyond 
 the under. — Its manners are fimilar to thofe of a Squir- 
 rel. It fits up, holds its food in its fore paws with great 
 dexterity, and feeds Itfelf. When irritated, It fits flill 
 more ereft, or throws itfelf upon its back, making a loud 
 
 and harfh noife. -It feeds on vegetables, fmall birds, 
 
 &e. 
 
 C c 2 
 
404 HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 
 
 The fur is long, foft, and very clofe ; of a mixed 
 brown or greyifli colour on the back ; the under parts of 
 a yellowifli-white. Its tail is prehenfile, very broad at 
 the bafe, tapers to the end, and is naked on the under 
 fide. — The female is furnillied with a pouch. 
 
 The KANGUROO 
 
 is a native of New-Holland, where it was firft difeover- 
 
 ed by Sir Jofeph Banks. Its head is fmall and taper, 
 
 ears large and ere£l, upper lip divided, the end of the 
 nofe black, noftrils wide, lower jaw Ihorter than the up- 
 per, and there are whilkers on both ; It likewife has 
 ftrong hairs above and below the eyes ; its head, neck, 
 and Ihoulders, are fmall ; the lower parts of the body in- 
 creafing in thicknefs to the rump ; its tail is long, very 
 thick near the rump, and taper; its fore feet are ex- 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 405 
 
 tremely fhort, and are moftly ufed in digging or bringing 
 its food to its mouth; it moves altogether on its hind 
 legs, making fucceffive bounds of ten or twelve feet, 
 with fuch rapidity, as to outftrip the fleeted Greyhound ; 
 it fprings from rock to rock, and leaps over bullies feven 
 or eight feet high, with great eafe; it has five toes on 
 its fore feet, — three on the hind, the middle one very 
 long; the inner claw is divided down the middle into 
 two parts. 
 
 The Kanguroo refts on its hind legs, which are hard, 
 black, and naked on the under fide. Its fur is fhort and 
 foft, of a reddilli afh colour, lighter on the lower parts. 
 
 It is the only quadruped our colonills have yet met 
 with in New South-Wales that fupplies them with ani- 
 mal food. There are two kinds. The larged that 
 
 had been diot weighed about iqolb. ; and meafured, 
 from the point of the nofe to the end of the tail, fix feet 
 one inch ; the tail, two feet one inch ; head, eight inch- 
 es; fore legs, one foot; hind legs, two feet eight inches; 
 circumference of the fore part of the body, near the legs, 
 one foot one inch; and of the hind part, three feet. 
 The fmaller kind feldom exceed 60 lb. 
 
 This animal is furnilhed with a pouch, fimilar to that 
 of the OpolTum; in which its young are nurfed and fliel- 
 tered. 
 
 C c 3 
 
4o6 history of QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The KANGUROO-RAT of New 
 South-Wales 
 
 Is about the fize of a Rabbit, and in fbape refembles the 
 Kanguroo, both in refpedl to the fhortnefs of the fore 
 legs, and the peculiar conftruftion and ufe of the hind 
 ones; the form of the head is like that of a Rat, and its 
 body nearly of the fame colour; in the upper jaw it has 
 two long cutting teeth, with three fliort ones on each 
 fide of them; in the lower jaw, two long cutting teeth, 
 and three grinders on each fide. 
 
 The female, like moll of the animals of that country, 
 has a pouch, like the Opoflum. 
 
 It feeds on vegetables, burrows in the ground, and is 
 very tame and inofFcnfive. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 467 
 
 The Yellow MACAUCO. 
 
 The Ring-tailed MACAUCO. 
 
 Yellov/ Macauco has been clafled with the 
 i Weafel tribe by Mr Pennant, in his Hiftory of 
 Quadrupeds ; and it feems to bear fome general refem- 
 blance to that fpecies of animals. Its head is flat and 
 broad; its ears are fliort, eyes fmall, body long and flen- 
 der, legs and thiglis fliort and thick, and it has five 
 ftraight toes on each foot : Its fur is fliort, foft, and 
 glofly, — of a black colour, mixed with yellow, on the 
 back; the cheeks, infide of the legs, and belly, yellow; 
 along the back, from head to tail, there is a broad dufky 
 ftripe ; and another on the belly, half way from the tail, 
 C c 4 
 
4o8 history of QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 which is nearly as long as its body, of a bright tawny 
 colour, mixed with black, and has the fame prehenfile 
 faculty as thofe of fome kinds of Monkies. Its length, 
 from nofe to tail, is nineteen inches. 
 
 One of this fpecies was fhewn in London fome years 
 ago, and was faid to have been brought from Jamaica, 
 where it is called the Potto. It was good-natured and 
 fportive, would catch hold of any thing with its tail, and 
 fufpend itfelf by it. 
 
 The Ring-tailed Macauco is a very beautiful 
 animal, about the fize of a Cat. Its body and limbs are 
 long and flender ; its tail very long, and marked with al- 
 ternate bars of black and white : In the conformation of 
 its paws, it feems to approach the Monkey kind ; but its 
 nofe is long and fliarp, like that of a Fox ; and its ears 
 are alfo large and pointed : Its head and throat are 
 
 white ; eyes large, and furrounded with black : Its fur 
 is glolTy, foft, and delicate, — of a reddifli-afli colour on 
 the back ; belly white. 
 
 It is found in Madagafcar and the neighbouring ides, 
 is very playful, but not mifchievous. When in mo- 
 
 tion, it makes a fort of galloping progrefs in an oblique 
 direifUon, and carries its tail almoll eredl ; but when fit- 
 ting, it is twilled round the body, and brought over its 
 
 head. Troops of thirty or forty are fometimes feen 
 
 together. 
 
 It is a cleanly animal; and, when taken young, may 
 be eafily tamed. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 409 
 
 The Tail-less MACAUCO. 
 
 The M O N G O O Z. 
 
 The Tail-less Macauco is found in Ceylon and 
 Bengal, lives in woods, and feeds on fruits ; is fond of 
 eggs and fmall birds, which it devours greedily. 
 
 It is a very ina£live animal, and its motions flow ; very 
 tenacious of its hold, and makes a plaintive noife. 
 
 Its head is fmall, and nofe pointed ; each eye is edged 
 with a circle of white, which is alfo furrounded with 
 another of black ; its body is covered with a Ihort filky 
 fur, of a reddifh-afh colour ; the toes naked ; nails flat, 
 except thofe on the inner toes of the hind feet, wliich 
 are fharp and crooked. Its length, from the nofe to the 
 rump, is fixteen inches. 
 
410 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Mongooz is nearly of the fame fize as the Ring- 
 tailed Macauco. 
 
 Its fur is fine, foft, and woolly, — of a deep brownifh- 
 afh colour; the eyes are of a beautiful orange colour, 
 furrounded with black; the ears are fliort; cheeks white; 
 end of the nofe black ; the tail very long, and covered 
 with hair of the fame fort and colour as the body; its 
 hands and feet are naked, and of a dufky colour; its 
 nails, except one upon the inner toe of each hind foot, 
 are flat. 
 
 It inhabits Madagafcar and the ifles adjacent, fleeps in 
 trees, is very playful and good-natured, feeds on fruits, 
 is extremely tender, and cannot bear any change to a lefs 
 temperate climate. 
 
 The LORIS 
 
 is a very flender animal, and differs greatly from the pre- 
 ceding, both in form and manners. 
 
 It is not much larger than a Squirrel, but its limbs are 
 longer ; the hind legs greatly exceed the fore in length ; 
 the thumbs on each foot are more diftindt and feparate 
 from the toes than thofe of other Macaucos ; its nofe is 
 pointed, like that of a Dog ; its forehead high ; ears 
 round and thin ; its fur is Ihort and delicately foft, of a 
 tawny colour on the back, and whitifli below; It has no 
 tail. 
 
 The Loris is a native of Ceylon, very a£Hve, lives in 
 trees, and feeds on fruit. Seba fays, the male climbs 
 the trees, and taftes the fruit before he pvefents it to his 
 mate. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS, 411 
 
 The Black MACAUCO, 
 
 or Vari of M. BufFon, is larger than the Mongooz. 
 
 It is a native of Madagafcar, is very fierce, and makes a 
 loud noife in the woods ; but, when tamed, is gentle and 
 
 good-natured. Its eyes are of a deep orange colour. 
 
 Round its head, the hair is long, and Hands out like a 
 rufF. 
 
 The general colour of this animal is black ; but fome 
 are white, fpotted with black. The feet are black and 
 naked. 
 
 The TARSIER 
 
 is remarkable for the great length of its hind legs, in 
 which it refembles the Jerboa ; has four flender toes and 
 a dlftindF thumb on each foot; Its vifage is pointed; eyes 
 large and prominent ; ears ere£t, broad, and naked : Its 
 hair is foft and woolly, of a deep afh colour, mixed with 
 tawny: Its length, from the nofe to the rump, is nearly 
 fix inches; the tail is nine inches long, round, fcaly, al- 
 moft naked, like that of a Rat, and tufted at the end. 
 
 It is found in fome of the remote iflands of India, 
 efpecially Amboyna, 
 
412 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 Animals of the MONKEY Kind. 
 
 W E come now to the defcription of a numerous 
 race of animals, confiding of a greater variety 
 of kinds, and making nearer approaches to the humafi 
 fpecies, both in form and a£l:ion, than any other clafs of 
 quadrupeds. 
 
 Monkies are found only in the warmed parts of the 
 world, and chiefly in the torrid zone. They abound in 
 the woods of Africa, from Senegal to the Cape of Good 
 Hope, and from thence to Ethiopia ; in all parts of India 
 and its ifles; in the South of China; in Japan; and in 
 South-America, from the Idhmus of Darien as far as Pa- 
 raguay. A fpecies or two arc alfo met with in Arabia 
 and the province of Barbary. 
 
 On account of the numbers and dilTerent appearances 
 of thefe animals, they have been divided into three 
 clafles, and defcribed under the following denominations; 
 viz, — A pes, or fuch as have no tails; Baboons, or fuch 
 as have diort tails; Monkies, or fuch as have long tails. 
 
 In the Ape kind, v^e fee the whole external machine 
 drongly imprefled with the human likenefs, and capable 
 of fimilar exertions : They walk upright, their poderiors 
 are flediy, their legs are furnidied with calves, and their 
 hands and feet are nearly like the human. 
 
 In the Baboon, we perceive a more didant refem- 
 blance of the human form : He generally goes upon all 
 four, feldom upright, but when condrained to it in a 
 date of fervltude. — Some of them are as tall as a man. 
 — They have diort tails, long faces, funk eyes, are ex- 
 tremely difguding, lafcivious, and poflefl’ed of the mod 
 brutal fiercenefs. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 413 
 
 The Monkey kind are removed ftlll farther, and 
 are much lefs than the former. Their tails are generally 
 longer than their bodies ; and, although they fit upon 
 their pofleriors, they always move upon all four. — They 
 are a lively, a£live race of animals, full of frolic and gri- 
 mace, greatly addicted to thieving, and extremely fond 
 of imitating human actions, but always with a mifchiev- 
 ous intention. 
 
 The ORAN-OUTANG, or WILD- 
 MAN OF THE Woods, 
 
 is the largelt of all the Ape kind, and makes the nearePi 
 approach to the human figure. One of this kind, dif- 
 fe£led by Dr Tyfon, has been very accurately defcribed 
 by him. The principal external differences pointed out 
 
414 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 by that learned phyfician, confifted in the great length of 
 the arms, and fliortnefs of the thighs ; the thumb is alfo 
 much fmaller, and the palm of the hand longer and nar- 
 rower, than in man j the form of the feet is very diffimi- 
 lar, the toes being much longer, and the large toe placed 
 at a greater difhance from the others; the forehead is 
 higher, the nofe flat, and the eyes much funk : Befide 
 thefe, the anatomift has enumerated a variety of eflential 
 differences in the internal conformation of the Oran-Ou- 
 tang; all of which fufficiently evince, that, though he 
 has the ftrongefl; affinity to the human form of any other 
 quadruped ; yet, as Buffbn elegantly obferves, “ the in- 
 terval which feparates the two fpecies is immenfe ; the 
 refemblance in figure and organization, and the move- 
 ments of imitation which feem to refult from thefe fimi- 
 larities, neither make him approach the nature of man, 
 nor elevate him above that of the brute.” 
 
 The Oran-Outang is found in the interior parts of 
 Africa, in Madagafcar, Borneo, and fome parts of the 
 Eaft-Indies. 
 
 It is a folitary animal, avoids mankind, and lives only 
 in the moll defert places. 
 
 The largeft of the kind are faid to be about fix feet 
 high, very a£l:ive, ftrong, and intrepid, capable of over- 
 coming the ftrongefl; man : They are likewife exceeding- 
 ly fwift, and cannot eafily be taken alive. — They live en- 
 tirely on fruits and nuts, will fometimes attack and kill 
 the negroes who wander in the woods, and drive away 
 the elephants that happen to approach too near the place 
 of their refidence. They fometimes furprize the female 
 negroes, and carry them olF into the woods, where they 
 compel them to ftay with them. 
 
 When taken young, however, the Oran-Outang is ca- 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 415 
 
 pable of being tamed, and rendered extremely docile. — 
 One of them, fhewn in London fome years ago, was 
 taught to fit at table, make ufe of a fpoon or fork in eat- 
 ing its vi£tuals, and drink wine or other liquors out of a 
 glafs. It was extremely mild, alFe£tionate, and good-na- 
 tured ; much attached to its keeper, and obedient to his 
 commands. Its afpeft was grave, and its difpofition me- 
 lancholy. It was young, and only two feet four inches 
 high. Its body was covered with hair of a black colour, 
 which was much thicker and clofer on the back than on 
 the fore part of the body j the hands and foies of the feet 
 were naked, and of a dulky colour. 
 
 A variety, called the Pigmy, is found in Guinea, 
 Ethiopia, and other parts of Africa, much fmaller than 
 the laft, being not more than a foot and a half in length. 
 It is very tradlable, good-natured, and eafily tamed ; is 
 fuppofed to have been the Pithecos of the ancients. It 
 lives in woods, and feeds on fruits and infe£ls. — Troops 
 of them aflemble together, and defend themfelves from 
 the attacks of wild beafts in the defert by throwing a 
 cloud of fand behind them, which blinds their purfuers, 
 and facilitates their efcape. 
 
416 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The gibbon 
 
 is dlftinguiflied by the extraordinary length of its arms, 
 which reach to the ground when its body is upright, and 
 give it a difgufting appearance. Its face is flat, and of a 
 tawny colour, furrounded with a circle of grey hair, 
 which adds to the Angularity of its afpedt ; its eyes are 
 large and deep funk ; ears round and naked ; body cover- 
 ed on all parts with black rough hair, except its buttocks, 
 which are quite naked. 
 
 It is a mild, gentle, and tractable animal ; feeds on 
 fruits, leaves, and barks of trees ; is a native of the Eaft- 
 Indies, Sumatra, and the Molucca ifles ; and meafures 
 from three to four feet in height. 
 
 4 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 417 
 
 The MAGOT, or Barbary APE, 
 
 is wilder and more untradlable than the others. His 
 head is large, and his nofe prominent ; He likewife dif- 
 fers from the lafl, in having cheek pouches, which he 
 frequently fills with food before he begins to eat; The 
 canine teeth are large and ftrong ; ears round, and fome- 
 what like thofe of a man : The body is covered with hair 
 of a brown colour, inclining to green ; lighter on the 
 belly. When Handing ere£l upon his hind legs, he is 
 generally two feet and a half or three feet high. Pie 
 walks oftener on four than on two feet ; and, when reft- 
 ing, fupports his body on two prominent callofities, fitu- 
 ated on his buttocks. 
 
 The Magot is a very common fpecies ; and is found in 
 moft parts of Africa, from Barbary to the Cape of Good 
 Hope. 
 
 D d 
 
4i8 history of quadrupeds. 
 
 The baboon 
 
 differs from animals of the Ape kind, not only in ex- 
 ternal appearance, but alfo in temper and difpofition. 
 Fierce, untradlable, and libidinous, its difpofition feems 
 to partake of the hideous and difgufting deformities of 
 its outward figure. — Its body is thick, corapadl, and ner- 
 vous; and its ftrength prodigious. — Neither art nor ca- 
 relTes can render it in any degree docile or obedient. It 
 feems to be continually fretting with rage, and feeking 
 every opportunity of (hewing its favage and vicious pro- 
 penfities. — In a ftate .of captivity, it muft be kept clofely 
 confined ; and, even in that ftate, we have feen one fhake 
 the bars of its cage fo powerfully with its hands, as to 
 excite the utmoft terror in the fpedlators. 
 
 This animal, of which we have given a very faithful 
 reprefentation from the life, was about four feet high 
 when (landing on its hind legs: Its head was large, 
 
 (lioulders of an amazing ftrength and thicknefs, its muz- 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 419 
 
 zle long and thick, eyes fmall and deep funk, its canine 
 teeth very large and formidable, and it had pouches in 
 its cheeks : The hair on its head was long, and formed a 
 very elegant toupee from its forehead and each fide of its 
 face, which, when angry, it ere£led ; the hair on the bo- 
 dy was uniformly of a light reddilh-brown ; the tail fliort, 
 and darker at the end; buttocks red and naked. 
 
 The Baboon inhabits the hotteft parts of Africa; feeds 
 on fruits, roots, and other vegetables. — Numerous troops 
 fometimes make their appearance, plundering gardens 
 and cultivated grounds. They are extremely dexterous 
 in throwing the fruit from one to another, and by this 
 means will do incredible damage in a very fnort time. 
 
 The female brings forth only one young at a time, 
 which fhe carries in her arms, and fuckles at her bread:. 
 
 Notwithftanding its libidinous difpofition, it will not 
 
 breed in temperate climates. 
 
 D d 2 
 
420 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS, 
 
 The Great Ribbed-nose BABOON. 
 
 This fingular creature is no lefs remarkable for its 
 great fize and ftrength, than for the variety of beautiful 
 colours on different parts of its body. Its nofe is marked 
 with broad ribs on each fide, of a fine violet-blue colour : 
 A vermilion line begins a little above the eyesj and, run- 
 ning down on each fide of the nofe, which is fomewhat 
 fimilar to that of a Hog, fpreads over the tip of it : The 
 infides of the ears are blue, which gradually foftens to a 
 purple, and terminates in vermilion; the rump. is alfo of 
 a vermilion colour ; and the beautiful colours on the hips 
 are gradations from red to blue : The hair on the fore- 
 head is long, turns back, and forms a kind of pointed 
 creft : Its beard is dark at the roots, orange at the mid- 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 421 
 
 die, and yellow at the end : The back and legs are cover- 
 ed with fhort hair, of a dark brown colour, mixed with 
 yellow ; the breall and belly with long whitifh hair, 
 fpeckled with fmall dark fpots : Its tail is fhort and hairy, 
 nails flat, feet and hands black and naked. 
 
 One of this kind was exhibited about twelve years ago 
 in the North of England. It was five feet high, ex- 
 tremely fierce, libidinous, and ftrong. At the fight of 
 women, it difcovered marks of the molt violent paffion: 
 It once caught hold of a lady, who was fo incautious as 
 to approach too near it; and flie was with fome difficulty 
 refcued by the interference of the keeper. Its voice was 
 ftrong and harfh, not unlike the ordinary growl of the 
 Lion. It generally went upon its four feet, unlefs 
 obliged by its keeper to ftand erect. Its moft ufual atti- 
 tude was fitting on its rump, with its arms placed before 
 it. 
 
 This creature inhabits the hotter parts of Africa. 
 
 Schreber fays, it lives on fucculent fruits and nuts, is 
 fond of eggs, will put eight at once into its pouches, 
 then take them out one by one, break them at the end, 
 and fwallow the contents. 
 
 Our reprefentation of this animal was done from a 
 drawing in the poflefllon of the Rev. Mr Egerton, taken 
 from the life by an eminent painter. 
 
 We fuppofe the Mandrill of Buffon to be a variety of 
 this fpecies. 
 
 d 3 
 
422 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Small Ribbed-nose BABOON 
 
 feems to agree in every refpeft with that defcribed by 
 Mr Pennant, in the firft volume of his Hiftory of Qua- 
 drupeds, under the name of the Mandrill. 
 
 The annexed cut was done from the living animal, in 
 the poireffion of Mr Rayne, furgeon, in Newcallle. 
 
 It is about fifteen inches In height; its face flat, of a 
 fine blue colour; eyes bright hazel, exceedingly brilliant 
 and lively; the cheeks marked with fmall ribs, bounded 
 with thick bufliy hair, of a greenifh colour, beautifully 
 fpeckled with black, falling back on each fide ; the hair 
 on the forehead is of the fame colour, very long, and 
 runs up to a point on the top of the flioulders; the muz- 
 zle is broad, and furnifiied with fliort hair, thinly fcat- 
 tered on each fide ; on the chin it has a fliort thin beard, 
 ending in a point, where it is of an orange colour; the 
 hair on the body is dark brown, mixed with fliades of 
 green on the back and fides, — the haunches dufky ; the 
 ears are fm.all, naked, and pointed ; the tail fliort and 
 hairy ; the buttocks bare, and of a red fleflr-colour ; 
 hands and feet naked ; It has cheek pouches ; feeds on 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 423 
 
 fruits, nuts, roots, and other vegetables. It Is livel)', 
 playful, and full of mifchievous frolics*, walks commonly 
 on all four, is in continual motion, and leaps with aflo- 
 
 nifhing agility. This fpecics is faid to come from the 
 
 eoaft of Guinea. 
 
 The MAIMON, or Pig-tailed BABOON, 
 
 fo termed from its fhort naked pig-like tail, is the leafl; 
 of ail the Baboon kind; a gentle, mild, and tradbable 
 animal ; very lively and frolicfome ; but has none of that 
 impudent petulance fo peculiar to moll of its fpecies. — 
 Its muzzle is large and thick ; face and ears naked, and 
 of a fielh colour; the hair on the head and back is of a 
 deep olive, paleft on the belly ; it has hazel eyes, cheek 
 pouches, callofities on the buttocks, which are naked, 
 
 and of a red colour. It is a native of Sumatra and 
 
 Japan. 
 
 One of this kind was fhewn in the North in 1788, 
 from which this drawing was made. 
 
 D d 4 
 
424 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 It is a curious circumftance, that not only this, but 
 every animal of the Baboon and Monkey kind we have 
 yet feen, have fliewn a remarkable greedinefs for tobac- 
 co, muftard, and even fnufF, which they eat without ex- 
 preffing the fmalleft inconvenience, and always feem ex- 
 tremely defirous for more. 
 
 The Dog-faced BABOON 
 
 is diftinguilhed by a longer tail than the reft of its kind : 
 In this refpeft, it feems to bear fome affinity to the Mon- 
 key, and has been mentioned under that denomination 
 by feveral naturalifts. 
 
 We may obfcrve here, that, in tracing the progrefs of 
 animated Nature, we are led, by the moft imperceptible 
 gradations, from one kind to another : The line of fepa- 
 ration feems fo faintly drawn, that w'e are frequently at 
 a lofs how to fix the boundaries of one clafs without en- 
 croaching upon that of another; and, notwithftanding 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 425 
 
 the regularity and order which every-where prevail a- 
 mong the numerous families that inhabit the earth, the 
 bell and mod approved fyftems of arrangement fall infi- 
 nitely flrort of precifion : They ferve, indeed, to dire£b 
 us to the general charafters which form the dlflinguifh- 
 ing features of each genus, but are very inadequate to 
 difcriminate the intermingled fhades and nice touches by 
 v.'hich all are diverfified. 
 
 The drawing of this animal was taken from one fiiewn 
 in London under the name of the Persian Savage. — 
 Its head was large; muzzle long and thick; eyes fmall ; 
 face naked, and of an olive colour; the hair on its fore- 
 head feparated in the middle, and hung down on each 
 fide of the face, from thence down its back as far as Its 
 walft ; it was long and fliaggy, of a bluifli-grey colour, 
 freckled with dark fpots; the hair on the lower part of 
 the body fiiort ; its buttocks bare and red. 
 
 That deferibed by Mr Pennant, which feems to agree 
 with this, is reprefented as very fierce and untradlable. 
 
 It inhabits the hotteft parts of Africa and Afia, lives in 
 troops, and commits great depredations in gardens and 
 cultivated grounds; Is above five feet high, exceedingly 
 ftrong, vicious, and impudent. 
 
 The Ursine BABOON 
 
 is not unlike the laft, but rather lefs. Its nofe is long ; 
 head large ; ears Ihort ; forehead high and prominent, 
 terminating in a ridge ; the body thick and ftrong, co- 
 vered with long dulky hair, which gives it the appear- 
 ance of a young Bear ; its tail half the length of the bo- 
 dy; buttocks red. 
 
 This animal is very numerous about the Cape of Good 
 
426 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 Hope. — Troops of them aflemble together, and make ex- 
 peditions for the fake of plunder, in which they obferve 
 the utmoft precaution. To prevent furprize, they place 
 a centinel, which, upon fight of a man, gives a loud yell ; 
 when the whole troop retreats with the greateft precipi- 
 tation. It is highly entertaining to fee the females car- 
 rying off their young ones clinging to their backs ; whilft 
 their pouches are crammed fo full of fruit, that they 
 feem ready to burft. They fometimes form a line, and 
 throw the fruit from one to another, in order to carry it 
 off the more expeditioufly. 
 
 The WANDEROU 
 
 is a native of Ceylon and the Eaft-Indies. Its head is 
 
 thick and long, and furrounded with a large quantity of 
 white hair, which falls down below the chin, forming a 
 rough, fhaggy beard ; the reft of the body is covered 
 with a dark-brown coat, almoft black. Like all ani- 
 
 mals of this kind, it is wild and vicious ; but, when 
 taken young, may eafily be tamed ; and appears to be 
 more fufceptible of education than other Baboons. 
 
 There are feveral varieties of this fpecies. — The bodies 
 of fome are black, with white beards ; in others, the bo- 
 dy is whitifti, and the beard black : Some are found en- 
 tirely white; but this fpecies is extremely rare, and is 
 faid to be ftronger and more mifchievous than the others. 
 
 Thefe bearded Baboons are much efteemed for the 
 gravity of their appearance ; and are ufed by the Indians 
 in their ceremonies and fhows, in which they are faid to 
 acquit themfelves to the admiration of the fpeftators. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 427 
 
 The M a C a Q^U E, 
 
 or Hare-lipped Monkey of Mr Pennant, is placed 
 next to the Baboons, and makes the neareft approach to 
 them in the form of its body, which is fliort and thick ; 
 Its head and muzzle are large ; its vifage ugly, naked, 
 and wrinkled ; and its noftrils divided, like thofe of a 
 Hare : Its tail, however, is long, like that of a Monkey : 
 The colour of the hair on the upper part of the body is a 
 greenifh-afli, — lighter on the breafi; and belly. 
 
 There are feveral varietiefs, which differ both in fize 
 and colour. 
 
 This animal is found in Guinea, Congo, a«d feme of 
 the fouthern parts of Africa. — They go in troops, and do 
 Infinite mifehief to plantations of millet, which they car.* 
 ry off under their arms and in their mouths. They are 
 extremely nice and delicate in their choice; and, by pull- 
 ing up what does not pleafe them, do more damage than 
 by what they really eat. 
 
 The PATAS, or Red MONKEY, 
 
 is nearly of the fame fize with the Macaque, and inhabits 
 the fame country ; its body is, however, rather longer, 
 its face lefs hideous, and its hair more beautiful. It Is 
 remarkable for the brilliancy of its coat, which is of fo 
 bright a red, as to have the appearance of being painted. 
 
 There are two varieties of this kind : The one is dif- 
 tlnguifhed by a black line above the eyes, extending from 
 ear to ear ; in the other, the line is white. Both have 
 long hair under the chin, and round the cheeks ; which 
 in the firft is yellow, and in the fecond white ; The nofe 
 
428 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 is black ; the under part of the body of an afli colour, 
 tinged with yellow. 
 
 Thefe Monkies are very numerous on the banks of the 
 river Senegal. — They are fo curious, as fometimes to de- 
 fcend from the tops of trees to the extremities of the 
 branches, while boats are pafTing, and feem to obferve 
 them with great attention. If not difturbed, their fami- 
 liarity becomes troublefome : They break off branches, 
 throw them at the palTengers, and frequently with fo fure 
 an aim, as to annoy them not a little ; but, upon being 
 Ihot at, they fet up moft hideous cries, endeavour to re- 
 venge themfelves by colle£l;ing more oftenfive materials, 
 fuch as (tones, dirt, &c. which they throw at the enemy, 
 and foon retire. 
 
 Travellers relate, that in Guinea Monkies are fre- 
 quently feen together in troops of forty or fifty, plun- 
 dering gardens and fields of corn with great boldnefs. 
 One of them Hands on a tree, lifteus, and looks about 
 on all fides, while the reft are bufy. Upon the leaft ap- 
 pearance of interruption, he fets up a loud cry to alarm 
 the party ; when they immediately fly off with the booty 
 they have collected, leaping from tree to tree with prodi- 
 gious agility. 
 
 The MALBROUCK 
 
 differs little from the laft, either in difpofition or man- 
 ners. It is a native of Bengal, is fond of fruits, fre- 
 
 quently fteals into plantations of fugar-canes, loads itfelf 
 with them, and, if purfued, will throw away a part to 
 carry off the remainder with more eafe. — It efcapes the 
 purfuit of Tigers and other wild beafts, by climbing 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 429 
 
 trees, and leaping from one to another. Serpents are 
 the moft deadly enemies of this and all the Monkey kind : 
 They follow them to the higheft branches of the trees, 
 and frequently furprize them whilft they are fleeping. 
 
 The Chinese Bonnet MONKEY 
 
 appears to be only a variety of the Malbrouck : The prin- 
 cipal difference confifts in its having the hair on its head 
 difpofed in the form of a flat bonnet, from which its 
 name has been derived. It inhabits the fame country, 
 and lives in the fame manner. 
 
 When fruits and fucculent plants fail them, thefe ani- 
 mals are faid to eat infedts, and fometinies watch by the 
 fea-fide for crabs and other fhell-fifh, which they are ve- 
 ry dexterous in catching. 
 
 They are never thoroughly tamed, and cannot be truft- 
 ed without a chain. — They do not breed when in a ftate 
 of confinement, even in their own country ; but require 
 to be at perfedf freedom in their native woods. 
 
 The MANGABEY 
 
 is diftinguifhed from all other Monkies by a very remark- 
 able charadler. Its eye-lids are naked, of a pure white 
 colour ; and round each eye there is a prominent ring : 
 The hair on the head and body is of a yellowifh-brown 
 colour; that on the belly white. Some of them have a 
 broad collar of white hair furrounding their neck and 
 face. — They are natives of Madagafcar. 
 
43 ° 
 
 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The CALLITRIX, or Green MONKEY, 
 
 fo called from its beautiful hair, which, on the upper 
 part of the body and tail, is of a fine green colour; the 
 throat, belly, and under fide of the limbs, are of a filvery 
 whitenefs: The tail is eighteen inches long, length of 
 the body thirteen, height eight and a half. 
 
 It is common in the Cape de Verd iflands and the 
 Eaft-Indies ; and is alfo found in Mauritania, and in the 
 territories of ancient Carthage. — Hence it is probable, 
 fays M. BufFon, that it was known to the Greeks and 
 Romans ; and that it was one of thofe long-tailed Mon- 
 kies, to which they gave the general name of Callitrix. 
 
 It feems to be the fame kind as that mentioned by 
 Adanfon ; who relates, that the woods of Podor, along 
 the river Niger, are full of Green Apes, which, from 
 their colour, are fcarcely difcernible among the branches 
 of the trees where they live. 
 
 The animal from which the above was taken, was a 
 female, in the pofleffion of William Hargrave, efq; of 
 Shawdon. 
 
HISTORY OF qUADRUPEDS. 431 
 
 The mustache 
 
 IS a beautiful little animal, having a tuft of yellow hair 
 on each cheek, and another on the top of the head, 
 which is long and upright ; Its face is of a bluilh colour, 
 body of a greenifli alh, bread: and belly lighter. Its 
 length is only one foot ; that of the tail eighteen inches. 
 — It is a native of Guinea. 
 
 The TALAPOIN 
 
 is a native of the Eall-Indies, where it is fufFered to mul- 
 tiply without moleftation, owing to the religious fuperfti- 
 tion of the bramins, which forbids them to take the life 
 of any kind of animal whatever. They are fo tame and 
 familiar, that numbers of them frequently come Into 
 their towns, enter the houfes, and, if not prevented, help 
 themfelves to whatever they meet with that is agreeable 
 to them ; fuch as fruits, fweetmeats, &c. 
 
 The Talapoin is about twelve inches long ; Its head is 
 round ; ears black, and Ihaped like the human ; eyes of 
 a bright hazel colour, with black pupils ; the hair on the 
 back, upper part of the body, and limbs, of a dufky yel- 
 low, tinged with green, — the belly lighter ; its tail very 
 long, flender, and of an olive colour. 
 
432 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Varied MONKEY, or MONA, 
 
 is beft known of all the Monkey tribe, being more fre- 
 quently brought into Europe than any other. It is a 
 
 native of Barbary and other northern parts of Africa, 
 Arabia, and Perfiaj where it is called the Mona; from 
 which our general term is derived. 
 
 Its nofe is fhort and thick ; its face of a dark lead co- 
 lour ; the beard on each fide long, and of a greenifh-yel- 
 low ; the top of the head is bright yellow, freckled with 
 black ; back and Tides deep brown, with black freckles ; 
 legs, feet, and tail, black; infide of the thighs* of a pale 
 blue colour, thinly covered with whitifli hairs; and on 
 each fide of the rump, clofe by the tail, is a large white 
 fpot. 
 
 The drawing and defcription were taken from the liv- 
 ing animal, in the poflelfion of Robert Hedley, efq; of 
 Newcaftle. It was remarkably gentle, tame, and fami- 
 liar ; and feemed to have fome attachment to thofe with 
 whom it was acquainted. Its length was eighteen inch- 
 es ; tail about two feet. It was fed with bread, roafted 
 meat, and fruit of all kinds, of which it was particularly 
 fond. 
 
HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 433 
 
 All the Baboons and hlonkies we have yet defcribed, 
 are furniftied with cheek-pouches, capable of containing 
 food fufficient to fupply them for a day or two : They 
 alfo ferve as receptacles for whatever they obtain more 
 than fupplies their prefent wants. But we have thought 
 it unneceffary to repeat this circumftance in the account 
 of every animal of thofe kinds. 
 
 The D O U C 
 
 differs from other Monkies, in having no callofities on 
 its buttocks, which are entirely covered with hair; it is 
 alfo much larger, being nearly four feet high when ere£l. 
 Its face is fhort and rather flat, furnifhed on each fide 
 with long hairs, of a pale yellow colour; its body is 
 beautifully variegated with differently coloured hair ; 
 round the neck there is a collar of a bluifli-purple co- 
 lour ; the top of the head and body are grey ; breaft and 
 belly yellow ; arms white below, and black above ; tail 
 white ; feet black ; face and ears red ; lips black ; and 
 
 round each eye there is a black ring. It is found in 
 
 Cochin-China, and in the ifland of Madagafcar; where 
 it is called the Sifac. 
 
 M. Buffon places the Douc in the lafl clafs of thofe 
 animals of the Monkey kind that belong to the old conti- 
 nent; and defcribes it as forming a fliade between them 
 and the Monkies of America, which he diftinguifhes by 
 the generic names of Sapajous and Sagoins. — They 
 both of them differ from Monkies, in having neither 
 cheek-pouches nor callofities on their buttocks ; and they 
 are diftinguifhed from each other by charadfers peculiar 
 to each. The Sapajou is furnifhed with a prehenfile tail, 
 
 E e 
 
434 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 the under part of which is generally covered with a 
 fmooth naked Ikin : The animal can coil it up or extend 
 it at pleafure, fufpend itfelf by its extremity on the 
 branches of trees, or ufe it as a hand to lay hold of any 
 thing it wants. The tails of all the Sagoins, on the con- 
 trary, are longer than thofe of the Sapajous, flraight, 
 flaccid, and entirely covered v/ith hair. — This difference 
 alone is fufficient to diftinguifli a Sapajou from a Sagoin. 
 
 We now proceed to the hiflory and defcription of the 
 mofl; remarkable of this numerous race. 
 
 The OUARINE, or PREACHER, 
 
 is the largefl of all the American Monkies, being about 
 the fize of a large Fox. Its body is covered with long 
 fmooth hair, of a fliining black colour, forming a kind of 
 ruff round the animal’s neck : Its tail is long, and always 
 twifted at the end. 
 
 Great numbers of thefe Monkies inhabit the woods of 
 Brazil and Guiana ; and, from the noife they make, are 
 called Howling Monkies. Several of them affemble toge- 
 ther j and placing themfelves in a kind of regular order, 
 one of them begins firft with a loud tone, which may be 
 heard to a great diftance ; the reft foon join in a general 
 chorus, the moft diflbnant and tremendous that can be 
 conceived ; On a fudden they all flop, except the firft, 
 who finifhes fingly; and the aflembly breaks up. 
 
 Thefe Monkies are faid to be very fierce, and fo wild 
 and mifchievous, that they can neither be conquered nor 
 
 tamed. They feed on fruits, grain, herbs, and fome- 
 
 times infe£fs ; live in trees, and leap from bough to 
 bough with wonderful agility, catching hold with their 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 435 
 
 hands and tails as they throw themfelves from one 
 branch to another, and maintain themfelves fo firmly, 
 that, even when fhot, they remain fixed to the trees 
 where they die. 
 
 The flefli of the Ouarine is good ; and is not only 
 eaten by the natives, but alfo by Europeans who frequent 
 thofe parts. 
 
 The COAITA 
 
 is fomewhat lefs than the Ouarine. Its body and limbs 
 are long and flender; hair black and rough; tail long, 
 and naked on the under fide. 
 
 This animal is found in the neighbourhood of Car- 
 thagena, in Guiana, Brazil, and Peru. — Great numbers 
 aflbciate together. — They feldom appear on the ground; 
 but live moftly in trees, and feed on fruits: When thefe 
 are not to be had, they are faid to eat fiflies, worms, and 
 infects; are extremely dexterous in catching their prey, 
 and make great ufe of their tails in feizing it. 
 
 The Coaitas are very lively and a£tive. — In pafling 
 from one tree to another, they fometimes form a chain, 
 linked to each other by their tails ; and fwing in that 
 manner till the loweft catches hold of a branch, and 
 draws up the reft. When fruits are ripe, they are ge- 
 
 nerally fat; and their flefli is then faid to be excellent. 
 
 There are many varieties of the Coaita, which differ 
 chiefly in colour. Some are totally black, others brown, 
 and fome have white hair on the under parts of the body. 
 --—They are called Spider Monkies by Edwards, on ac- 
 count of the length and flendernefs of their legs and tails. 
 
 E e a 
 
436 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 M. BufFon fuppofes the Exqjjima to be another va- 
 riety of this fpecies. — It is nearly of the fame fize ; but 
 its colour is variegated. The hair on its back is black 
 and yellow ; its throat and belly white. — Its manner of 
 living is the fame with that of the Coaita; and it inha- 
 bits the fame countries. Both kinds are remarkable in 
 
 having only four fingers on each hand, being quite defti- 
 tute of the thumb. 
 
 The SAJOU, or CAPUCIN. 
 
 There are two varieties of this fpecies, — the Brown 
 and the Grey •, which, in other refpe£ls, are perfectly 
 fimilar. Their faces are of a flefli colour, thinly covered 
 with down ; tails long, full of hair on the upper fide, 
 naked below, and prehenfile ; hands black and naked •, 
 length of the body about twelve inches. 
 
 Thefe animals inhabit Guiana, are extremely lively 
 and agile, and their conftitution feems better adapted to 
 the temperate climates of Europe than moft of the Sapa- 
 jou kind. M. BufFon mentions a few inftances of their 
 having produced in France. 
 
 The Sajous are very capricious in their attachments, 
 being fond of particular perfons, and difcovering the 
 greateft averfion to others. 
 
 The SAI, or WEEPER, 
 
 inhabits Brazil ; is very mild, docile, and timid ; of a 
 grave and ferious afpeft ; has an appearance of weeping; 
 and, when irritated, makes a plaintive noife. — It is about 
 fourteen inches long ; the tail longer than the body ; hair 
 on the back and fides of a deep brown colour, mixed 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 437 
 
 with red on the low^er parts. — There is a variety with 
 white hair on the throat and bread;. 
 
 Great numbers of thefe creatures aiTemble together, 
 particularly in ftormy weather; and make a great chat- 
 tering. They live much in trees, which bear a pod- 
 
 ded fruit as large as beans, on which they principally 
 feed. 
 
 The SAIMIRI, or Orange MONKEY, 
 
 is a moft beautiful animal; but fo extremely delicate, 
 that it cannot well bear to be brought from its own cli- 
 mate to one lefs warm and temperate. 
 
 It Is about the fize of a Squirrel : Its head is round ; 
 eyes remarkably lively and brilliant ; ears large ; hair on 
 the body fliort and fine, of a fiiining gold colour ; feet 
 orange ; its tail is very long : Its prehenfile faculty is 
 much weaker than the reft of the Sapajous; and on that 
 account, it may be faid to form a ftiade between them 
 and the Sagoins, which have long tails, entirely covered 
 with hair, but of no ufe in fufpending their bodies from 
 the branches of trees or other objedbs. 
 
 The S a K I 
 
 is fometimes called the Fox-tailed Monkey ; be- 
 caufe its tail, like that of the Fox, is covered with long 
 hair. Its body Is about feventeen inches in length ; hair 
 long, — of a dark brown colour on the back, lighter on 
 the under fide ; its face Is tawny, and covered with a fine 
 fiiort whitilh down ; the forehead and Tides of the face 
 are white ; its hands and feet are black, with claws in*- 
 ftead of nails. 
 
 E e 3 
 
438 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Saki is a native of Guiana, where it is called the 
 Saccawinkee. 
 
 The TAMARIN 
 
 is about the fize of a Squirrel ; Its face is naked, of a 
 fwarthy flefh colour ; its upper lip fomewhat divided ; its 
 ears are very large and ereft, from whence it is called 
 the Great-eared Monkey; its hair is foft, fhaggy, 
 and of a black colour ; hands and feet covered with 
 orange-coloured hair, very fine and fmooth; its nails 
 long and crooked ; tail black, and twice the length of its 
 body. 
 
 The Tamarin inhabits the hotter parts of South-Ame- 
 rlca; is a lively, pleafant animal; eafily tamed; but fo 
 delicate, that it cannot bear a removal to a lefs temperate 
 climate. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 439 
 
 The OUISTITI, or CAGVI, 
 
 5S ftill fmaller than the Tamarin; its head and body not 
 exceeding feven inches in length : Its tail is long, buflay, 
 and, like that of the Macauco, marked with alternate 
 rings of black and afh colour ; its face is naked, of a 
 fwarthy flefh colour; ears large, and like the human; 
 body beautifully marked with du&y, afh-coloured, and 
 reddifh bars ; its nails are fharp ; and its fingers like 
 thofe of a Squirrel. 
 
 The Ouftiti inhabits Brazil ; feeds on fruits, vegeta- 
 bles, infedbs, and fnails ; and is fond of fifli. 
 
 Mr Edwards gives a defcription of one of thefe ani- 
 mals, accompanied with an excellent figure. — He fays, 
 that, one day being at liberty, it darted upon a fmall 
 gold-fifli that was in a bafon, which it killed and devour- 
 ed with avidity ; and that afterwards fmall eels were 
 given to it, of which it feemed at firft afraid, from their 
 twifting themfelves round its neck ; but that it foon over- 
 came and eat them. — He likewife fays, that the Ouftiti 
 produced young ones in Portugal, which at firft were 
 extremely ugly, having hardly any hair on their bodies. 
 E e 4 
 
440 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 They adhered clofely to the teats of the mother; and, 
 when grown a little larger, fixed themfelves upon her 
 back, from whence flie could not eafily difengage them, 
 without rubbing them off againll a wall : Upon thefe oc- 
 cafions, the male always allowed them to mount upon 
 his back to relieve the female. 
 
 is by fome called the Lion- Ape, from the quantity of 
 hair which furrounds its face, falling backwards like a 
 mane ; its tail is alfo fomewhat bulhy at the end : Its 
 face is flat, and of a dull purple colour; its hair long, 
 bright, and filky, — from whence it is likewife called the 
 Silky Monkey; it is of a pale yellow colour on the 
 body ; the hair round the face of a bright bay, inclining 
 to red ; its hands and feet are without hair, and of the 
 fame colour as the face ; its body is ten inches long, tail 
 thirteen. 
 
 This creature is a native of Guiana, is very gentle and 
 lively, and feems to be more hardy than the other Sa- 
 goins. — BufFon fays, that one of them lived at Paris feve- 
 ral years, with no other precaution than keeping it in a 
 warm room during winter. 
 
 The MARIKINA 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 441 
 
 The PINCHE, or Red-tailed MONKEY, 
 
 is fomewhat larger than the Ouftltl. — It is remarkable in 
 having a great quantity of fmooth white hair, which falls 
 down from the top of its head on each fide, forming a 
 curious contrail with its face, which is black, thinly co- 
 vered with a fine grey down : Its eyes are black and live- 
 ly ; throat black ; hair on the back and flioulders of a 
 light reddilh-brown colour; breaft, belly, and legs, 
 white; the tail is long, of a red colour from the rump 
 to the middle, from thence to the end it is black. 
 
 The Pinche inhabits the woods on the banks of the 
 river of Amazons; is a lively, beautiful little animal; 
 has a foft whiftling voice, refembling more the chirping 
 of a bird than the cry of a quadruped.—^ — It frequently 
 walks with its long tail over its back. 
 
442 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The MICO, or Fair MONKEY, 
 
 is the lafl; that we fliall defcribe of this numerous race, 
 
 and is the moft beautiful of them all. Its head is fmall 
 
 and round ; face and ears of fo lively a vermilion colour, 
 as to appear the effeft of art ; its body is covered with 
 long hair, of a bright fdvery whitenefs, and uncommon 
 elegance; tail long, and of a fhining dark chefnut colour. 
 
 It frequents the banks of the river of Amazons, where 
 it was difeovered by M. Condamine, who preferved one 
 alive till almofi; within fight of the French coaft; but it 
 died before his arrival. 
 
 We have now laid before our readers a few of the 
 mod noted varieties of this numerous race : Many others 
 might likewife be added to fwell the account ; but of 
 thefe, little more is known than their names and places 
 of habitation. There are, probably, ftill more, which 
 neither the affiduity of the naturalift, nor the curiofity of 
 the traveller, has been able to draw from their native 
 woods. Indeed, there is great room to conjeddure, that 
 the variations of the Monkey kind are fomewhat like 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 443 
 
 thofe of the Dog, continually encreafing; for it is very 
 obvious, that, among the fmaller kinds of Monkies, the 
 charadleriftic differences do not appear to be great, how- 
 ever they may vary in fize or in colour ; and it is certain, 
 that the modes of living, faculties, and propenfities of 
 thefe animals, are ftrikingly fimilar : So that, if we rea- 
 fon from analogy on this fubjeft, we may fairly con- 
 clude, that different kinds of Monkies may unite and 
 propagate with the fame facility as the Goat and the 
 Sheep, or the almofl innumerable kinds of Dogs. 
 
 The greater part of the cuts we have given of the Ba- 
 boons, Apes, and Monkies, we were fortunate in pro- 
 curing from living fubjedls, or drawings which might be 
 depended on : And it is to be lamented, that, amongft 
 the numbers that have been publiflied, fo few Ihould pof- 
 fefs that peculiar chara£ler fo obfervable in the various 
 members of this imitative tribe, which it is wholly im- 
 poffible to trace from a fluffed fkin, void of every kind of 
 expreffion ; the mufcular parts, which fhould convey the 
 idea of adlion, being generally ill fupplied, or entirely 
 wanting. 
 
444 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The porcupine 
 
 HIS animal, fo formidable in its appearance. 
 
 would be much more truly fo, if it pofTefTed the 
 power erroneoufly afcribed to it, of darting its quills at 
 its enemies, and wounding them at a diftance. 
 
 Though denied the privilege of making ofFenfive war, 
 it is fufficiently armed to refift the attacks of animals 
 much more powerful than itfelf. — Upon the fmalleft irri- 
 tation, it raifes its quills, and fhakes them with great vi- 
 olence, dire£Hng them to that quarter from whence it is 
 in danger of being attacked, and ftriking at the objeft of 
 its refentment with its quills at the fame time. We have 
 obferved, on an occafion of this fort, at a time when 
 the animal was moulting or cafting its quills, that they 
 would lly out, to the diftance of a few yards, with fuch 
 force, as to bend the points of them againft the board 
 where they ftruck j and it is not improbable, that a cir- 
 cumftance of this kind may have given rife to an opinion 
 of its power to ufe them in a more effedbual manner. 
 
 The largeft of the quills are from ten to fifteen inches 
 in length, thick in the middle, and extremely (harp at 
 the end : Between the quills, the hair is thin, black, and 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 445 
 
 briftly : The tail is covered with white quills, which are 
 (hort and tranfparent : Its legs are fliort ; and it has four 
 toes before, and five behind. 
 
 The Porcupine is found in India, Perfia, and Palef- 
 tine : It is likewife common in all parts of Africa. — The 
 Indians hunt it for its quills, of which they make a kind 
 of embroidery : They alfo eat its flefli. 
 
 There are Porcupines in a wild ftate in Spain and 
 Italy, though they are not originally natives of any part 
 of Europe. — Their flelh is fometimes expofed in the mar- 
 kets at Rome, where it is eaten. 
 
 The Italian Porcupines have fliorter quills and a lefler 
 crell than thofe of Afia or Africa. 
 
 The Porcupine is an inoffenfive animal ; lives on 
 fruits, roots, and vegetables; fleeps during the day, and 
 feeds by night. 
 
 The female goes with young feven months, and brings 
 
 forth one at a time. ^The drawing of this animal was 
 
 made from the life. 
 
446 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Brazilian PORCUPINE 
 
 differs fo greatly from the laft, that it can fcarcely be 
 faid to bear any relation to it, except in its being cover- 
 ed with fpines about three inches in length: They are 
 white, very (harp, and have a bar of black near the 
 points. The breaft, belly, and lower part of the legs, 
 are covered with ftrong briftly hairs of a brown colour. 
 Its tail is long and flender, and alnaoft naked at the end: 
 The animal ufes it in defeending trees, by twilling it 
 round the branches. 
 
 It inhabits Mexico and Brazil, lives in woods, and 
 feeds on fruits and fmall birds. It preys by night, and 
 fleeps in the day. It makes a noife like the grunting of 
 a Swine, and grows very fat. — Its fleflr is white, and 
 efteemed good to eat. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 447 
 
 The COENDOU 
 
 of M. BufFon, which he likewife calls the Brazilian 
 Porcupine, inhabits the fame countries with the laft, 
 and its habits and mode of living are fimilar ; but, in re- 
 fpedf to its figure, It feems to be a very different animal. 
 Its ears are fhort, and hid in the hair; its head, body, 
 and upper part of its tail, are covered with long foft 
 hair, in which are interfperfed a nuniber of ftrong fharp 
 fpines; its tail is fhorter than that of the preceding fpe- 
 cies, and it ufes it in the fame manner in defcending 
 trees, frequently fufpending itfelf from the branches. 
 
 An animal, fimllar to this, Is found in Canada, and 
 various parts of North-America, as high as Hudfon’s 
 Bay. — It is called the Urson, or Canada Porcupine. 
 
 Many of the trading Indians, during their long excur- 
 fions, depend on this creature for a fupply of food, and 
 efteem it both wholefome and pleafant: They alfo make 
 ufe of the quills to trim the edges of their deer-fkin ha- 
 bits, fo as to look like fringe ; and flick them in their 
 nofes and ears to make holes for their rings. 
 
448 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The HEDGE-HOG, or URCHIN, 
 
 D estitute of every other means of defence, 
 is provided by Nature with a fpinous armour, 
 which fecures it from the attacks of all the fmaller beafts 
 
 of prey; fuch as Weafels, Martins, Polecats, &c. 
 
 When alarmed, it immediately collefts itfelf into the 
 form of a ball, and prefents on all fides a furface covered 
 with fliarp points, which few animals are hardy enough 
 to engage. The more it is harralTed, the clofer it rolls 
 itfelf ; till its fears become an additional means of fafety, 
 by caufing it to void its urine, which, running over its 
 whole body, frequently obliges its enemy to defift, dif- 
 gufted by the fmell. 
 
 There are few Dogs that will venture to attack the 
 Hedge-hog, except fuch as are trained to the fport, 
 merely to gratify the cruel pleafure of feeing a harmlefs 
 animal endure, with aftonilhing patience, the moft wan- 
 ton outrages *, whilft the Dogs, becoming more enraged 
 at the wounds they receive from its prickles, at laft 
 oblige it to unfold itfelf; and it then foon falls a vidlim 
 to their fury. 
 
 The Hedge-hog generally refides in fmall thickets and 
 hedges ; lives on fruits, worms, beetles, and all kinds of 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 449 
 
 infedls ; conceals itfelf in the day, and feeds during the 
 night. — It is eafily taken; for it neither flies nor attempts 
 to defend itfelf; but, when touched, Ihrinks into its cir- 
 cular form, which it will not eafily quit, unlefs thrown 
 into water. 
 
 The Hedge-hog, in the winter, wraps itfelf up in a 
 warm neft, made of mofs, dried grafs, and leaves; and 
 fleeps out the rigours of that feafon. It is frequently 
 found , fo completely encircled with herbage on all fides, 
 that it refembles a ball of dried leaves. When taken out 
 and placed before a fire, it foon recovers from its torpid 
 ftate. 
 
 The TENDRAC 
 
 is about the fize of a Rat. The upper part of its body 
 is covered with fpines, Ihorter and fmaller than thofe of 
 the Hedge-hog, which it fomewhat refembles, but does 
 not roll itfelf up like that animal ; the reft of the body is 
 covered with a kind of fine hard hair, of a whitilh co- 
 lour ; about the head and nofe it has feveral long hairs, 
 like whilkers. 
 
450 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 An animal fimilar to this is mentioned by M. BufFony 
 under the name of 
 
 The TANREC; 
 
 which is farger than the laft, and has fewer briftlesi 
 They only occupy the top of the head, and along the 
 back, as far as the flioulders ; thofe on the neck are the 
 longeft, and ftand ere£f : The reft of the body is covered 
 with a briftly kind of hair, of a yellowifti colour, among 
 which are intermixed fome black hairs, much longer 
 than the other. Its nofe is long, and its ears more appa- 
 rent than thofe of the Tendrac. 
 
 Both thefe animals are natives of India. — They make 
 a grunting noife, and are fond of wallowing in mud, like 
 Hogs: They frequent the banks of rivers, can live a long 
 time in the water, and are frequently caught in fmall in- 
 lets of the fea: They dig holes in the ground, where 
 they continue in a kind of torpid ftate during feveral 
 months. — They are generally very fat ; and the Indians 
 eat their flefh, though it is reckoned infipid and ftringy. 
 
The otter. 
 
 A lthough the otter is not confidered by 
 naturalifts as wholly amphibious, it is neverthe- 
 lefs capable of remaining a confiderable time under wa- 
 ter, and can purfue and take its prey in that element 
 with great facility. 
 
 Its legs are very fhort, but remarkably ftfong, broad, 
 and mufcular j on each foot are five toes, conne£l:ed by 
 ftrong membranes, like thofe of water fowl ; its head is 
 broad, of an oval form, and flat on the upper part ; the 
 body is long and round, and the tail tapers to a point; 
 ‘the eyes are brilliant, and placed in fuch a manner, that 
 the animal can fee every objeft that is above it, which 
 gives it a Angular afpeft, very much refembling an eel or 
 an afp ; the ears are fhort, and their orifice narrow. 
 
 The fur of the Otter is of a deep brown colour, with 
 two fmall light fpots on each fide of the nofe, and ano- 
 ther under the chin. 
 
 F f 2 
 
452 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 This animal makes Its neft in fome retired fpot by 
 fide of a lake or river, under a bank, where it has an 
 eafy and fecure accefs to the water, to which it immedi- 
 ately flies upon the lead alarm ; and, as it fwims with 
 great rapidity, generally efcapes from its purfuers. 
 
 It deftroys great quantities of fifiii and, in purfult of 
 Its prey, has been obferved commonly to fwirii againft 
 the dream. 
 
 As foon as the Otter has caught a fidi, it Immediately 
 drags It to the fliore ; devours a part, as far as the vent ; 
 and, unlefs prefled by extreme hunger, always leaves the 
 remainder, and takes to the water in qued of more. 
 
 Otters are generally taken in traps placed near their 
 landing places, where they are carefully concealed in the 
 
 fand. When hunted with Dogs, the old ones defend 
 
 themfelves with great obdinacy : They bite feverely, and 
 do not readily quit their hold where they have once faf- 
 tened. An old Otter w'ill never give up while it has 
 life ; nor make the lead complaint, though wounded 
 ever fo much by the Dogs, nor even when transfixed 
 with a fpear. 
 
 There are many indances of Otters being tamed ; but 
 in thofe which have come to our knowledge, they were 
 taken when young, accudomed by degrees to obedience 
 and redraint, and became fo far domedicated, as to fol- 
 low their mader, anfwer to a name, and employ their 
 excellent talents at fidiing in his fervice. 
 
 Otters, when taken young, may be eafily reared and 
 made tame. — We have feen two young ones fucking a 
 Bitch, and treated by her with as much tendernefs as her 
 own offspring. 
 
 William Collins, of Kimmerdon, near Wooler, had a 
 tame Otter, which followed him wherever he went. He 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 453 
 
 frequently carried it to fifli in the river ; and when fati- 
 ated, it never failed returning to its mafter. One day, 
 in the abfence of Collins, being taken out by his fon to 
 fifli, inftead of returning as ufual, it refufed to come at 
 the accuftomed call, and was loft. The father tried eve- 
 ry means to recover it ; and after feveral days fearch, be- 
 ing near the place where his fon had loft it, and calling 
 it by its name, to his inexpreftible joy, it came creeping 
 to his feet, and fliewed many genuine marks of affe£lion 
 and firm attachment. — Its food, exclufive of fifti, confift- 
 ed chiefly of milk and hafty-pudding. 
 
 Some years ago, James Campbell, near Invernefs, had 
 a young Otter, which he brought up and tamed. It 
 would follow him wherever he chofe ; and, if called on 
 by its name, would immediately obey. When apprehen- 
 five of danger from Dogs, it fought the protection of its 
 mafter, and would endeavour to fly into his arms for 
 greater fecurity. — It was frequently employed in catching 
 fifh, and would fometimes take eight or ten falmons in a 
 day. If not prevented, it always made an attempt to 
 break the fifti behind the fin next the tail; and as foon as 
 one was taken away, it immediately dived in purfuit of 
 more. When tired, it would refufe to fifti any longer ; 
 and was then rewarded with as much fifti as it could de- 
 vour. Being fatisfied with eating, it always curled itfelf 
 round, and fell afleep ; in which ftate it was generally 
 carried home. — The fame Otter fiftied as well in the fea 
 as in a river, and took great numbers of codlings and 
 other fifti. — Its food was generally frefti fifti, and fome- 
 times milk. 
 
 Another perfon, who kept a tame Otter, fuffered it to 
 follow him with his Dogs. It was very ufeful to him in 
 F f 3 
 
454 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 fifliing, by going into the water, and driving trouts and 
 other fifh towards the net. — It was remarkable, that the 
 Dogs, though accuftomed to the fport, were fo far from 
 giving it the fmalleft moleftation, that they would not 
 even hunt an Otter whilft it remained with them ; on 
 which account the owner was under the neceffity of dif- 
 pofing of it. 
 
 Notwithftanding the Otter’s avidity for fifli, it will not 
 eat it, unlefs it be perfeftly frefli. When that cannot be 
 procured, it is fed with milk, or pudding made of oat- 
 meal, &c. 
 
 Otters are found in mod parts of the world, with no 
 great variation. They are common in Guiana, and fre- 
 
 quent the rivers and marflies of that country. They are 
 fometimes feen in great numbers together; and are fo 
 fierce, that it is dangerous to come near them. They 
 live in holes, which they make in the banks of the rivers. 
 
 The Otters of Cayenne are very large, weighing from 
 ninety to one hundred pounds. They frequent the large 
 rivers of that country. Their cry is loud, and may be 
 heard at a great diftance. They are of a dark brown co- 
 lour. — Their fur is fliorter than that of the Beaver, and 
 very foft. 
 
 The Small Otter, found in Poland and the North 
 of Europe, is much lefs than the common Otter, and of 
 a duilcy brown colour. Its feet are broad, webbed, and 
 covered with hair. — Its fur is very valuable, being next 
 jn beauty to that of the Sable. 
 
 This Otter is found alfo in North-America, where it 
 is called the Minx; frequents the water, and lives on 
 
HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 455 
 
 fifli ; is fond of poultry ; frequently fteals into the hen 
 roods, bites off the heads of the fowls, and fucks their 
 blood; is very fetid; and, when irritated, has a mod 
 loathfome fmell. — Its length, from nofe to tail, is twenty 
 inches ; tail four. — Its fur is of a dark brown colour, ve- 
 ry gloffy and beautifuL 
 
 The SEA-OTTER. 
 
 Vad numbers of thefe animals inhabit the coad of 
 Kamtfchatka, and the numerous iflands contiguous to it ; 
 as well as the oppofite coads of America : They are alfo 
 found in fome of the larger rivers of South-America. 
 
 Their fkins are of great value, and have long formed a 
 confiderable article of export from Ruffia. They difpofe 
 of them to the Chinefe at the rate of feventy or a hun- 
 dred rubles each, and receive in return fome of their 
 mod valuable commodities. 
 
 The fur of the Sea-Otter is thick and long, of a beau- 
 tiful fhining black colour, but fometimes of a filvery 
 hue; the legs are thick and fhort; the toes joined bv a 
 
 F f 4 
 
4s6 history of quadrupeds. 
 
 web j the hind feet like thofe of a Seal *, length, from 
 nofe to tail, four feet two inches •, tail thirteen, flat, and 
 pointed at the end. — The largefl; of them weigh from fer 
 venty to eighty pounds. 
 
 The Sea-Otter is remarkably harmlefs, and molt affec- 
 tionately fond of its young : It will pine to death for its 
 lofs, and die on the very fpot where it has been taken 
 away. Before its young can fwim, it will carry it in its 
 paws, and fupport it in the water, laying upon its back. 
 
 It fwims in various pofitions, — on its back, fides, and 
 
 even in a perpendicular pofture ; and in the water is very 
 fportive. — Two of them are fometimes feen embracing 
 each other. — It frequents (hallow places, abounding with 
 fea-weed ; and feeds on lobfters, crabs, and other (hell- 
 fifli. 
 
 It breeds but once a year, and produces one young at 
 a time, which it fuckles and carefully attends almoft a 
 year. 
 
 The flelh of a young Otter is reckoned delicate eating, 
 and not eafily diftinguifhed from that of a lamb. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 457 
 
 The sloth, 
 
 O F all animals, is the mofl; fluggifh and inactive j 
 and, if we were to judge from outward appear- 
 ance, would feem the moft helplefs and wretched. All 
 its motions feem to be the effeft of the moft painful ex- 
 ertion, which hunger alone is capable of exciting. 
 
 It lives chiefly in trees; and having afcended one with 
 infinite labour and difficulty, it remains there till it has 
 entirely ftripped it of all its verdure, fparing neither 
 fruit, bloflbm, nor leaf ; after which it is faid to devour 
 even the bark. Being unable to defcend, it throws itfelf 
 on the ground, and continues at the bottom of the tree 
 till hunger again compels it to renew its toils in fearch of 
 fubfiftence. 
 
 Its motions are accompanied with a moft piteous and 
 lamentable cry, which terrifies even beafts of prey, and 
 proves its beft defence. 
 
 Though flow, aukward, and almoft incapable of mo- 
 tion, the Sloth is ftrong, remarkably tenacious of life, 
 and capable of enduring a long abftinence from food. 
 We are told of one that, having faftened itfelf by its feet 
 to a pole, remained in that fituation forty days without 
 the leaft fuftenance. — The ftrength in its legs and feet is 
 
458 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 fo great, that, having feized any thing, it is almoft im- 
 poffible to oblige it to quit its hold. The fame animal 
 laid hold of a Dog that was fet loofe upon it, and held 
 him fall with its feet till he perifiied with hunger. 
 
 There are two kinds of Sloths, which are principally 
 diftinguiflied by the number of their claws. — The one, 
 called the Ai, is about the fize of a Fox, and has three 
 long claws on each foot : Its legs are clumfy, and auk- 
 wardly placed ; and the fore legs being longer than the 
 hind, add greatly to the difficulty of its progrelfive mo- 
 tion : Its whole body is covered with a rough coat of 
 long hair, of a lightifh brown colour, mixed with white, 
 not unlike that of a Badger •, and has a black line down 
 the middle of the back : Its face is naked, and of a dirty 
 white colour; tail fhort; eyes fmall, black, and heavy. 
 It is found only in South-America. 
 
 The Unau has only two claws on each foot: Its head 
 is fhort and round, fomewhat like that of a Monkey ; its 
 ears are fhort ; and it has no tail. It is found in South- 
 America, and alfo in the ifland of Ceylon. 
 
 The flefh of both kinds is eaten. They have feveral 
 
 ftomachs, and are faid to belong to the tribe of rurnir 
 Stating animals. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 459 
 
 The ant. eater, 
 
 T here are feveral animals diftinguiflied by the 
 common name of Ant-eaters, which differ great- 
 ly in form. They are divided into three claffes; viz. 
 
 the Great, the Middle, and the Leffer Ant-eater. 
 
 The Great Ant-eater is nearly four feet in 
 length, exclulive of its tail, which is two and a half. 
 It is remarkable for the great length of its fnout, which 
 is of a cylindrical form, and ferves as a {heath to its long 
 and {lender tongue, which always lies folded double in 
 its miouth, and is the chief inftrument by which it finds 
 fubfiftence. 
 
 This creature is a native of Brazil and Guiana, runs 
 {lowly, frequently fwims over rivers, lives wholly on 
 ants, which it colledls by thrufting its tongue into their 
 holes, and having penetrated every part of the nelt, with- 
 draws it into its mouth loaded with prey. 
 
 Its legs are fo ftrong, that few animals can extricate 
 themfelves from its gripe. It is faid to be formidable 
 
46 o history of quadrupeds. 
 
 even to the Panthers of America; and fometimes fixes jt- 
 felf upon them in fuch a manner, that both of them fall 
 and perifh together; for its obftinacy is fo great, that it 
 will not extricate itfelf from its adverfary even after he is 
 dead. 
 
 The flefli has a ftrong difagreeable tafte, but is eaten " 
 by the Indians. 
 
 The Middle Ant-eater is one foot feven inches 
 from nofe to tail. It inhabits the fame countries, and 
 procures its food in the fame manner, as the laft. Its 
 tail is ten inches long, with which it fecures its hold in 
 climbing trees by twifting it round the branches. 
 
 Both thefe animals have four ftrong claws on the fore 
 feet, and five on the hind. 
 
 The Lesser Ant-eater has a fharp-pointed nofe, 
 inclining a little downward : Its ears are fmall, and hid 
 in the fur : It has two ftrong hooked claws on the fore 
 feet, the outward one being much the largeft ; and four 
 on the hind feet : Its fur is long, foft, and filky, — of a 
 yellowifh-brown colour : Its length, from nofe to tail, is 
 feven inches and a half; tail above eight, thick at the 
 bafe, and taper to the end. — It inhabits Guiana ; climbs 
 trees in queft of a fpecies of ants which build their nefts 
 among the branches. 
 
 Animals of this kind are found in Ceylon and the 
 
 Cape of Good Hope. Kolben defcribes the latter as 
 
 having long heads and tongues ; that they feed on ants ; 
 and are fo ftrong, that, if they faften their claws in the 
 ground, they cannot eafily be pulled away.— —It is call- 
 ed in Ceylon the Talgoi, or Ant-Bear. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 461 
 
 The Great MANIS, or PANGOLIN. 
 
 T his fmgular animal is defended by a coat of mail, 
 which protedls it from the attacks of the moft 
 powerful animals. All the upper parts of its body are 
 clofely covered with fcales of different fizes, which it can 
 eredl at pleafure, oppofing to its adverfary a formidable 
 row of offenfive weapons. The Tiger, the Panther, or 
 the Leopard, in vain attempt to force it. The moment 
 it perceives the approach of an enem.y, it rolls itfelf up 
 like a Hedge-hog, and by that means fecures all the 
 v/eaker parts of its body. 
 
 It is a native of Formofa and the Indian ifles ; is like- 
 wife found in Guinea, where it feeds on ants, which it 
 takes by laying out its long red tongue, covered with an 
 undluous dime, acrofs the paths of thofe infedls. 
 
 It is flow in its motions ; grows to the length of eight 
 feet, including its tail, which is four. 
 
 Its flefh is much efteemed for its delicacy; but it is 
 difficult to procure, as the animal avoids mankind, and 
 lives in obfcure retreats, in woods, and marffiy places. 
 
46a HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The PHATAGIN, or Long-tailed MANISj 
 
 is lefs than the Pangolin, being not more than a foot 
 long from head to tail. Its body is covered with Iharp- 
 pointed fcales ; its throat and belly with hair : Its legs 
 are fhort ; and each foot has four claws. It is remarka- 
 ble for the great length of its tail, which in fome is a- 
 bove a yard long. 
 
 It is a native of Guinea, has been fometimes called the 
 Scaly Lizard, and may be faid to be the connefting 
 link in the chain of being between quadrupeds and rep^ 
 tiles. 
 
 The armadillo 
 
 I S found only in South-America, where there are fe- 
 veral varieties of them. — They are all covered with 4 
 ftrong cruft or ftiell, and are diftinguiflied from each 
 other by the number of the flexible bands of which it is 
 compofed. 
 
 It is a harmlefs, inoffenfive animal; feeds on roots, 
 fruits, and other vegetables ; grows very fat ; and is 
 greatly efteemed for the delicacy of its flelh. 
 
 The Indians hunt it with fmall Dogs, trained for that 
 purpofe. When furprized, it runs to its hole, or at- 
 
 tempts to make a new one, which it does with great 
 expedition, having ftrong claws on its fore feet, with 
 which it adheres fo firmly to the ground, that, if it 
 fhould be caught by the tail whilft making its way into 
 the earth, its refiftance is fo great, that it will fometimes 
 leave it in the hands of its purfuers : To avoid this, the 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 463 
 
 hunter has recourfe to artifice ■, and, by tickling it with 
 a ftick, it gives up its hold, and fufFers itfelf to be taken 
 alive. If no other means of efcape be left, it rolls Itfelf 
 Up within its covering by drawing in its head and legs, 
 and bringing its tail round them, as a band to connedl 
 them more forcibly together: In this fituatlon it fome- 
 times efcapes by rolling itfelf over the edge of a preci- 
 pice, and generally falls to the bottom unhurt. 
 
 The moll fuccefsful method of catching Armadillos Is 
 by fnares laid for them by the fides of rivers or other 
 places where they frequent.— They all burrow very deep 
 in the ground, and feldom ftir out, except during the 
 night, whillt they are in fearch of food. 
 
 To give a minute defcriptlon of the (hells or coverings 
 of the Armadillos would be extremely difficult, as they 
 are all compofed of a number of parts, differing greatly 
 from each other in the order and difpofition of the fi- 
 gures with which they are diftInguKhed : But it may be 
 neceffary to obferve, that in general there are two large 
 pieces that cover the ffioulders and the rump, between 
 which lie the bands, which are more or lefs in number 
 in different kinds. Thefe bands are not unlike thofe in 
 the tail of a lobfter ; and, being flexible, give way to the 
 motions of the animal. The firft we (hall mention is 
 
 The TATUAPARA, or Three-banded 
 ARMADILLO. 
 
 Its (hell is about twelve inches long, with three bands 
 in the middle : The cruft on the head, back, and rump, 
 is divided into a number of elegant raifed figures, with 
 five angles or fides : Its tail is not more than two inches 
 long : It has neither cutting nor canine teeth ; and has 
 five toes on each foot. 
 
464 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 ARMADILLO, 
 
 is about the fize of a young Pig. Between the folds of 
 the bands there are a few fcattered hairs : Its tail is long, 
 
 thick at the bafe, and tapers to a point. It is found in 
 
 Brazil and Guiana. 
 
 The TATUETTE 
 
 is furnilhed with eight bands. Its ears are long and up- 
 right; eyes fmall and black : It has four toes on the fore 
 feet, and five on the hind : Its length, from nofe to tail, 
 
 is about ten inches; the tail nine. It inhabits Brazil, 
 
 and is reckoned more delicious eating than the others. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 465 
 
 The Nine-banded ARMADILLO 
 
 has a tenth band, moveable half way up on each fide : 
 The fliell on the fiwulders and rump is marked with hex- 
 angular figures; the breaft and belly are covered Muth 
 long hairs; its tail is long and taper; and the whole ani- 
 mal three feet in length. 
 
 One of this kind was brought to England a few years 
 ago from the Mufquito fhore, and lived fome time. It 
 was fed with raw beef and milk, but refufed to eat our 
 fruits and grain. 
 
 Gg 
 
466 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The K a B a S S O U 
 
 is furnillied with twelve bands, and is the largeft of all 
 the Armadillos, being almoft three feet long from nofe to 
 tail : The figures on the fhoulders are of an oblong 
 
 form ; thofe on the rump hexangular. It is feldom 
 eaten. 
 
 The Weasel-headed ARMADILLO, 
 
 fo called from the form of its head, which is fender, 
 has eighteen bands from its flioulder to its tail : The 
 
 fltell is marked with fquare figures on the fhoulders ; 
 thofe on the legs and thighs are roundifh : The body is 
 about fifteen inches long; tail five. 
 
 All thefe animals have the power of drawing them- 
 felves up under their fliells, either for the purpofe of re- 
 pofe or fafety. They are furnifhed with ftrong lateral 
 mufcles, confining of numberlefs fibres, crofTmg each 
 other in the form of an X, with which they contradl 
 themfelves fo powerfully, that the ftrongefl man is 
 fcarcely able to force them open.— — The fhells of the 
 larger Armadillos are much ftronger than thofe of the 
 fmaller kinds. Their flefh is likewife harder, and more 
 unfit for the table. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 4^5? 
 
 The walrus, or SEA-HORSE. 
 
 T here are feveral animals whofe refidence is al- 
 moft conftantly in the water, and which •feem to 
 partake greatly of the nature of fiflies, that are neverthe- 
 lefs clafled by naturalifts under the denomination of qua- 
 drupeds; and being perfectly amphibious, living with 
 equal eafe in the water as on land, may be confidered as 
 the lall ftep in the fcale of Nature, by which we are 
 condufled from one great divifion of the animal world to 
 the other. — Of thefe the Walrus is the moil confiderable 
 for its fize, being fometiines found eighteen feet in 
 length, and twelve in circumference at the thickeft part : 
 It is likewife remarkable for two large tulles in the upper 
 jaw, which fometimes exceed two feet in length, and 
 weigh from three to twenty pounds each. 
 
 The head of the Walrus is round ; its lips very broad, 
 and covered over with thick pellucid briftles; its eyes 
 fmall and red ; inftead of ears, it has two fmall orifices ; 
 and above the whilkers, femicircular nollrils, through 
 
 G g 2 
 
463 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 which it throws out water like the whale, but with much 
 lefs uoife : Its Ikin is thick and wrinkled, and has a thin 
 covering of flrort brownifii hair ; Its legs are fliort : It 
 has five toes on each foot, connecEled by membranes ; 
 and on each toe a fmall nail : The hind feet are very 
 broad, and extended nearly on a line with the body. 
 
 The Walrus is chiefly found in the northern feas. 
 
 Great herds of them are fometimes feen together on the 
 fea fhore, or fleeping on an ifland of ice. When alarm- 
 ed, they inftantly throw themfelves into the water with 
 great precipitation. If wounded, they become bold and 
 furious, and unite in the defence of each other : They 
 will attack a boat, and endeavour to fink it by flriking 
 their great teeth into its fides, at the fame time bellowing 
 in a molt hideous manner. 
 
 It is hunted for its teeth, which are equal to thofe of 
 the Elephant for durability and whitenefs. 
 
 An ordinary Walrus is faid to yield half a ton of oil, 
 equal in goodnefs to that of the whale. 
 
 The female produces one or two young at a time, 
 which fire fuckles upon land. 
 
 In climbing upon the ice, the Walrus makes ufe of its 
 teeth as hooks to fecui’e its hold, and draw its great un- 
 wieldy body after it. 
 
 It feeds on fea-weeds and fhell-fifh, which it is faid to 
 difengage from the rocks to which they adhere with its 
 tuflcs. 
 
 The White Bear is its greateft enemy. — In the com- 
 bats between thefe animals, the Walrus is faid to be ge- 
 nerally vi£lorious, on account of the defperate wounds it 
 inflidls with its teeth. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 469 
 
 The seal 
 
 is found, with fome variety, in alrnoft every quarter of 
 the globe : In the northern feas of Afia, Europe, and 
 America 5 as well as the lefs frequented regions towards 
 the fouth pole. 
 
 Its ufual length is from five to fix feet. The body is 
 clofely covered with fliort hair of various colours, fmooth 
 and flrining; its tongue is forked at the end; it has two 
 canine teeth in each jaw, fix cutting teeth in the upper, 
 and four in the lower ; it has five toes on each foot, fur- 
 nifhed with flrong (harp claws, which enable it to climb 
 the rocks, on which it frequently balks. 
 
 It fwims with great ftrength and fwiftnefs, is very 
 playful, and fports without fear about Ihips and boats. — 
 It feeds on various kinds of filh, and is frequently feen 
 near the fhore in purfuit of its prey. 
 
 Seals are found in great abundance on the coafts of 
 Great-Britain ; particularly in the deep recefies and ca- 
 verns in the northern parts of the illand, where they re- 
 fort in the breeding time, and continue till the young 
 ones are old enough to go to fea. 
 
 The time for taking Seals is in the month of 0£lober, 
 or the beginning of November. The hunters, provided 
 G g 3 
 
470 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 with torches and bludgeons, enter the mouths of the ca= 
 verns about midnight, and row in as far as they can : 
 They then land ; and, being properly ftationed, begin by 
 making a great noife, which alarms the Seals, and brings 
 them down from all parts of the cavern in a confufed bo- 
 dy, making frightful flirieks and cries. In this hazard- 
 ous employment, great care is necelTary on the part of 
 the hunters to avoid the throng, which preffes down with 
 great impetuofity, and bears away every thing that op- 
 pofes its progrefs ; but when the firft crowd is paft, they 
 kill great numbers of young ones, which generally ftrag- 
 gle behind, by ftriking them on the nofe. 
 
 A young Seal yields above eight gallons of oil. — When 
 full grown, their fkins are very valuable, and make a 
 beautiful kind of leather, much ufed in making flioes, 
 &c. 
 
 The flefh of the Seal is fometimes eaten ; and that it 
 was formerly admitted to the tables of the great, may be 
 feen in the bill-of-fare of a fumptuous entertainment 
 given by archbifhop Nevil in the reign of Edward the 
 Fourth. 
 
 The growth of Seals is fo amazingly rapid, that after 
 nine tides from their birth they are as a£i:ive as the old 
 ones. 
 
 The female brings forth her young on the land, fits on 
 her hind legs while fhe fuckles them, and as foon as they 
 are able carries them to fea, learns them to fwim and 
 fearch for food: When they become fatigued, flie places 
 them on her back. — The young ones know the voice of 
 their mother, and attend to her call. 
 
 The voice of the Seal has been compared to the hoarfe 
 barking of a Dog ; when young, it is clearer, and refem- 
 bles the mewing of a Cat. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 471 
 
 Seals are likewife found in the Mediterranean and Caf- 
 pian feas, in the lake Baikal, and feme of the larger 
 lakes. Thefe are fmaller than the falt-water Seals ; but 
 fo fat, that they feem almoft fliapelefs. 
 
 The Hooded SEAL 
 
 is found in the South of Greenland ; and is diftinguiflied 
 by a thick fold on its forehead, with which it can cover 
 its eyes and nofe. Its hair is white, with a thick coat of 
 black woolly hair underneath, which makes it appear of 
 a fine grey colour. — The hunters fay, that it is not eafily 
 killed, till the covering on its head is removed. 
 
 . Gg4 
 
472 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS 
 
 The Ursine SEAL, or SEA-BEAR, 
 
 is much larger than the common Seal, being eight feet 
 in length, and weighing eight hundred pounds. 
 
 Thefe animals are found among the illands which lie 
 betv/een Kamtfchatka and America ; alfo on the coafts of 
 New Zealand, Staten lOand, New Georgia, and Falk- 
 land’s Iflands. They lie in thouhmds on the fliore, in 
 
 feparate families, each confifling of above an hundred. 
 One male will fometimes have fifty females, which he 
 guards with extreme jealoufy. They are excefilvely fat 
 and indolent, fometimes fcarcely ever moving Aom the 
 place where they lie for the fpace of three months ; 
 during which time the females breed and fucklc tlieir 
 young, if another approacli their ftation, they are rouf- 
 ed from their fupinenefs: A battle enfues, which fre- 
 
 quently becomes general, and fpreads confufion through 
 the whole fliorc. Thefe conflifts are extremely violent ; 
 and the wounds given are very deep, refembling a cut 
 with a fabre. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 473 
 
 The attachment of the male to the young is very 
 rtrong ; He defends them with great obftinacy, and fre- 
 quently revenges their lofs upon the female, whom he 
 beats moft cruelly; whilft flie crawls to his feet, and 
 feems to deprecate his wrath with the moft obfequious 
 geftures. 
 
 The female generally brings forth one, feldom two, at 
 a time. 
 
 They fwim with great eafe, at the rate of about feven 
 miles in an hour. — When wounded, they will felze on a 
 boat, carry it along with them, and fometimes fink it. — 
 They can continue a long time under water. — In climb- 
 ing rocks, they faften their fore paws, and draw them- 
 felves up. 
 
 Thefe, and all the Seal kind, will live a long time 
 after receiving the moft dreadful wounds ; but the moft 
 trifling blow on the fnout or forehead inftantly kills 
 4 hein. 
 
 The general colour of thefe animals is black. They 
 are covered with a coat of long rough hair, under which 
 is a foft down of a bay colour. On the neck of the old 
 ones, the hair is ere£t, and a little longer than the reft. 
 
 The fat and flefli of the old males are very naufeous; 
 but thofe of the females and the young, when roafted, 
 are faid to be as good as the flefh of a fucking pig. 
 
474 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The bat, 
 
 HIS fingular animal is diftinguiflied from every 
 
 other quadruped by being furniflied with wings, 
 and feems to pofTefs a middle nature between four-footed 
 animals and birds : It is allied to the one by the faculty 
 of flying only, to the other both by its external and in- 
 ternal ftrufture: In each refpedl it has the appearance 
 of an imperfeft animal. In walking, its feet feem to be 
 entangled with its wings, and it drags its body on the 
 ground with extreme aukwardnefs. Its motions in the 
 air do not feem to be performed with eafe ; it raifes it- 
 felf from the ground with difficulty, and its flight is la- 
 boured and ill diredled 5 from whence it has very fignili- 
 
 cantly been called the Flitter-Mouse. There are 
 
 feveral varieties of the Bat kind. 
 
 The Short-eared BAT 
 
 is found in almofl; every part of Europe, and is moll 
 commonly known in Great-Britain. — Its ufual length is 
 about two inches and a half; the extent of the wings 
 nine inches. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 475 
 
 It makes its firft appearance early in the fummer. It 
 fleeps during the day, and begins its flight in the duflc of 
 the evening. It frequents the fides of woods, glades, 
 and fliady walks; and is frequently obferved to fkim a- 
 long the furface of the water in quell of gnats and other 
 infe£ls, which are its principal food. 
 
 Its membranes or wings are of a dufky colour, and ve- 
 ry thin : They extend from the fore feet to the tail. 
 The hind feet are divided into five toes, furnifhed with 
 claws ; The body is covered with a fhort foft fur, of a 
 moufe-colour, tinged with red: The eyes are very fmall; 
 and the ears like thofe of a Moufe : It has four cutting 
 teeth in the upper jaw, and fix in the under. 
 
 The female produces two young at a time, which ftie 
 fuckles at her breaft ; and is faid to carry them when fly- 
 ing. 
 
 Towards the end of fummer, the Bat retires into 
 caves, old buildings, or hollow trees ; where it remains 
 in a Hate of inactivity. During winter, fome cover 
 themfelves with their wings as with a mantle, and fuf- 
 pend themfelves by the hind feet ; others flick fall to old 
 walls ; and fome retire into holes. 
 
416 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS, 
 
 The Long-eared BAT 
 
 is only an Inch and three quarters in length : The extent 
 of its wings is feven inches •, its ears are above an inch 
 long, very thin, and almofl: tranfparent ; within each of 
 them there is a membrane, refembling an ear, which 
 may poffibly ferve as a valve to defend the organs of 
 hearing during its inactive ftate. 
 
 The NOCTULE, or Great BAT, 
 
 is found in Great-Britain, but is not fo common as the 
 two laft mentioned: It is likewife found in France, and 
 is common in various parts of Ruffia. 
 
 Its length is nearly three inches ; that of the tail one 
 and feven-tenths ; the extent of the wings thirteen inch- 
 es ; the ears are fhort, the hair of a reddilh-afh colour, 
 and on the chin there is a very fmall wart. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 477 
 
 The pipistrelle 
 
 is the fmalleft, and its appearance the leaft difgufting, 
 of all Bats. Its length is not quite one inch and a quar- 
 ter; the extent of its wings fix and a half; its nofe is 
 fmall, ears broad, and its forehead covered with long 
 hairs ; the upper part of the body is of a yellowilh-brown 
 colour, the lower part duflcy, and the lips yellow. — It in- 
 habits France, and is common in Ruffia and Siberia. 
 
 - The BARBASTELLE 
 
 is diftinguilhed by the fhortnefs of its face, almoft con- 
 cealed by its large broad ears ; the bafes of which touch 
 each other, and cover the forehead and eyes : Its cheeks 
 are full, and its lips hairy ; its nofe is very fhort, and the 
 end of it flat. Its length is about two inches ; the ex- 
 tent of the wings ten and a half. — It is found in France. 
 
 The SEROTINE 
 
 is about the fize of the common Bat ; its nofe is fome- 
 what longer ; its ears are fhort, and broad at the bafe ; 
 the hair on the upper part of the body is of a light-brown 
 or ruft colour, and the belly paler.— It is likewife found 
 in France. 
 
 The Horse-shoe BAT 
 
 is diftinguilhed by a membrane furrounding its nofe and 
 upper lip fomewhat in the form of a horfe-lhoe; from 
 whence it derives its name. Its ears are long, very broad 
 at the bafe, and are not furnifhed with a fmaller or in- 
 
478 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 ternal ear, common to almofl all the Bat kind : The up- 
 per part of the body is of an afh colour, the belly whi- 
 
 tifli. They vary in fize : The largeft are above three 
 
 inches and a half long from the nofe to the end of the 
 tail ; the extent of the wings is above fourteen. 
 
 This kind is very common in France, and is the laft of 
 feven diftin£l fpecies defcribed by M. BufFon as natives 
 of that climate. — Thefe are all equally harmlefs, diminu- 
 tive, and obfcure ; fhunning the light, and endeavouring 
 to conceal themfelves in holes and caverns. They never 
 come out, but during the night, in quell of food ; and 
 
 return at day-break to their dreary habitations. But 
 
 under the influence of a warmer climate, the Bat aflumes 
 a very different charadler, and poflelfes powers which 
 render it formidable to mankind, and a fcourge to thofe 
 countries where it is found. Some of them are as large 
 as a well-grown pullet ; and fo numerous, that they fre- 
 quently darken the air as they fly. They are fond of 
 blood, and will attack men whom they find afleep; they 
 are faid to introduce their lharp-pointed tongues into a 
 vein, fucking the blood till they are fatiated, without 
 awaking the fufferer. 
 
 The ancients had an imperfedl knowledge of thefe 
 animals ; and from their aptnefs to convert every obje£l 
 of terror into an imaginary being, it is probable they had 
 conceived the idea of Flarpies, from the cruelty, voracity, 
 and difgulling deformity of thefe creatures. 
 
 Thefe monfters inhabit Madagafcar, and all the iflands 
 of the Indian Ocean : They have likewife been found in 
 New Holland, the Friendly Ifles, the New Hebrides, and 
 New Caledonia. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 479 
 
 The ROUSSETTE, or Great 
 Ternate bat, 
 
 is the largeft, being above one foot in length, and the 
 extent of its wings more than four : It has large canine 
 teeth, four cutting teeth above, and the fame below; its 
 tongue is pointed, and terminated with lharp-pointed pa- 
 pillae, or prickles; its nofe is lharp, and its ears large 
 and naked; it has five toes on the hind feet, furnifhed 
 with ftrong hooked claws ; it has no tail ; the head is of 
 a dark rufi; colour ; the back dufky ; the neck, Ihoulders, 
 and under fide, of a lighter brown, inclining to red ; the 
 membranes of the wings duflcy. 
 
 They feed on fruits, and are extremely fond of the 
 
48 o history of QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 juice of the palm-tree, with which they will frequently 
 intoxicate themfelves, fo as to drop on the ground. One 
 hundred and fifty or two hundred of them may fome- 
 times be feen on the fame tree, all hanging with their 
 heads down, and their wings folded; and in this manner 
 they repofe during great part of the day. — They grow ve- 
 ry fat at certain times of the year; and when young, 
 they are eaten by the Indians, and confidered as excel- 
 lent food. 
 
 The ROUGETTE, or Lesser 
 Ternate bat, 
 
 inhabits the fame countries, and is very fimilar to the 
 laft in the fliape of its head and body : The hair is of a 
 cinereous brown colour ; and on the neck it has a half- 
 collar, of a lively red, mixed with orange. , It is about 
 five inches long ; and the extent of its wings little more 
 than two feet. 
 
 The Rougettes fly in flocks, and perfeftly obfcure the 
 air with their numbers. They fly from one ifland to 
 another, and begin their flight about fun-fet. During 
 the day, they lodge in the hollow trunks of trees. They 
 fkiin along the furface of the water with great eafe, and 
 frequently dip and wafli themfelves in the fea. They 
 live chiefly in trees; and when about to fly, they beat 
 the air with their wings, before they can difengage 
 themfelves from the branch to which they are attached. 
 When {hot at or fuddenly furprized, feveral of them fall 
 to the ground ; and in that fituation are incapable of re- 
 fuming their flight, till they climb upon fome elevated 
 object. They move aukwardly on the ground, and ufe 
 their utmoft efforts to quit it as foon as polfible. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 481 
 
 Both thefe kinds bring only one young at a time, once 
 a year. 
 
 The Spectre BAT 
 
 is a native of South-America. It is called the Vampyre 
 by M. BufFon ; who fuppofes it to be one of the blood- 
 fucking tribe. 
 
 Its nofe is long ; and at the end there is a membrane, 
 of a conical form, fomewhat like a horn, but flexile, 
 which gives it a hideous and difgufting afpedt. It has 
 no tail. Its body is covered with long hair, of an afh 
 colour. 
 
 The Senegal BAT 
 
 has two cutting teeth in the upper, and fix in the under 
 jaw; and two canine teeth, and eight grinders, in each 
 jaw: Its head is long, ears fliort and pointed, head and 
 body of a tawny-brown colour, belly lighter, length ra- 
 ther more than four inches, extent of the wings twenty- 
 one. 
 
 The Bull-dog BAT. 
 
 Its nofe is thick ; lips large, and fomewhat pendulous ; 
 its ears are broad and round, the edges touching each 
 other in the front; the upper part of the body is of a 
 deep afh colour, the lower paler ; its tail is long ; length 
 about two inches, — extent of the wings nine and a half : 
 It has twenty-fix teeth ; two cutting and two canine in 
 each jaw; eight grinders in the upper, and ten in the 
 lower jaw. 
 
482 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 The Bearded BAT. 
 
 The noftrils of this animal are not feparated by a car- 
 tilage, as in moll animals, but are placed on the fide of a 
 fmall gutter or furrow, which is open from one end to 
 the other *, the ears are long and narrow ; the upper part 
 of the head and body is of a reddifli-brown colour, — the 
 lower part whitifli, tinged with yellow; hair on the fore- 
 head and under the chin very long ; length of the body 
 about an inch and a half, — extent of the wings little 
 more than feven. 
 
 The Striped BAT 
 
 has a fmall, fhort nofe; ears fliort, broad, and pointing 
 forward. — — Thefe Bats vary in colour. The body is ge- 
 nerally of a clear brown, — the under part whitiHi: Its 
 wings are ftriped with black, and fometimes with yellow 
 
 and brown. — Length of the body two inches. It is a 
 
 native of Ceylon, where it is called Kiriwotila. 
 
 To this we may add a very minute kind, mentioned by 
 Mr Forfter, v;hich was feen and heard in myriads on the 
 ifland of Tanna, one of the New Hebrides; but every 
 attempt of our voyagers to obtain a nearer infpedlion of 
 them failed of fuccefs. 
 
 Bats differ very much in the number and difpofition of 
 their teeth, which has occafioned no fmall confufion in 
 the arrangements of fyftematic writers; fome of them 
 being furnifhed with two, others with more, cutting 
 teeth in each jaw. 
 
HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 483 
 
 We have now given the mod diftinguiflied varieties of 
 this curious fpecies. It would be fruitlefs, if not impof- 
 fible, to point out all the peculiarities to be found in the 
 various tribes which abound in every country in the 
 world, and differ from each other more in their habits 
 and difpofitions than in their exterior form and appear- 
 ance, which in all of them feem to be equally deformed 
 and difgufting. — But we ftiould not from hence conclude, 
 that imperfedtion and deformity are always in uniform 
 analogy with the notions we have pre-conceived of what 
 is fair and beautiful. — Amidft the Infinite produdfions of 
 creative power, variety of form, difference of faculties, 
 and degrees of utility, are eminently obfervable; com* 
 pofmg one general plan, in which wifdom, order, and 
 fitnefs, are difplayed through all its parts. 
 
 FINIS. 
 

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